#Advance Pricing Agreements

[ifindtaxpro]

🌐 Dive into the world of transfer pricing and its profound impact on multinational corporations' tax strategies. Get insights on compliance, BEPS, and optimizing your global tax approach. 💼🌍 #TransferPricing #TaxStrategy #BusinessTax 📈💰

[steadfastconsultant]

Audit Firms in Hitech City for Articleship: Unlocking Opportunities for Aspiring Chartered Accountants

For aspiring Chartered Accountants (CAs), choosing the right firm for articleship is crucial in shaping their professional career. Hitech City, located in the heart of Hyderabad, is known for being a thriving business hub, home to numerous organizations that provide ample opportunities for growth. Among the audit firms in Hitech City for articleship, Steadfast Business Consultants LLP (SBC) stands out for its commitment to developing young talent and providing a robust learning environment.

Why Hitech City is Ideal for Articleship Opportunities

Hitech City, often considered the IT and business hub of Hyderabad, is not only a center for technology and innovation but also a vibrant location for finance and accounting firms. For aspiring Chartered Accountants, this presents a unique opportunity to gain exposure to a wide variety of industries, including IT, manufacturing, and services, all while working in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

The audit firms in Hitech City for articleship offer aspiring CAs the chance to work with well-established companies and gain practical experience in key areas like auditing, taxation, financial reporting, and compliance. These firms often collaborate with top multinational companies, providing articleship candidates with an opportunity to gain diverse exposure in both local and international financial practices.

The Importance of Articleship for Chartered Accountants

An articleship is a mandatory part of becoming a Chartered Accountant, offering candidates hands-on experience in real-world accounting, auditing, and tax practices. This stage allows aspiring CAs to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. For those looking to work with audit firms in Hitech City for articleship, the benefits include:

Practical Experience: Articleship provides direct exposure to auditing processes, financial reporting, taxation, and compliance work. Working with experienced professionals, you gain knowledge that will be invaluable for your future career.

Industry Exposure: Articleship in audit firms in Hitech City allows you to work with businesses from various sectors, giving you a well-rounded understanding of financial practices in different industries. This broad exposure strengthens your expertise and prepares you for a wide range of career opportunities.

Mentorship and Guidance: One of the most significant advantages of articleship is the mentorship you receive from senior Chartered Accountants and professionals. Learning from their real-world experiences can help you navigate complex accounting and auditing challenges effectively.

Networking Opportunities: Working in a bustling business hub like Hitech City provides aspiring CAs with numerous networking opportunities. Building relationships with professionals in your field helps you expand your career prospects and enhances your professional growth.

Why Choose Steadfast Business Consultants LLP (SBC) for Your Articleship?

At Steadfast Business Consultants LLP (SBC), we understand the importance of a well-rounded and comprehensive articleship program. As one of the top audit firms in Hitech City for articleship, we offer an enriching learning experience that prepares you for a successful career as a Chartered Accountant. Here’s why SBC should be your firm of choice:

Comprehensive Learning Environment: At SBC, we offer exposure to a wide range of audit, accounting, taxation, and compliance services. Our articleship program is designed to provide you with hands-on experience in real-world scenarios, ensuring you gain practical knowledge in all aspects of accounting.

Guided Training: We focus on structured training, with regular workshops, seminars, and one-on-one mentoring. Our senior professionals guide you through complex tasks and provide ongoing support, allowing you to learn efficiently while gaining industry insights.

Diverse Clientele: SBC works with a diverse range of clients, including large corporations, small businesses, and startups. This gives our articled trainees exposure to different business environments, industries, and financial operations, which is essential for building a well-rounded skill set.

Focus on Professional Development: We believe in nurturing talent. Our articleship program is not just about fulfilling mandatory requirements but also about preparing you for a successful career in the finance and accounting sector. We offer ample opportunities for professional development, including soft skills training, leadership workshops, and career counseling.

Strong Work Culture: At SBC, we foster a positive and supportive work culture. Our team members collaborate in a way that promotes learning and knowledge sharing. This environment allows you to grow professionally while contributing meaningfully to the firm’s success.

How to Apply for Articleship at SBC?

Applying for an articleship at Steadfast Business Consultants LLP (SBC) is straightforward. We welcome applications from motivated and passionate individuals who are eager to learn and grow in the field of Chartered Accountancy. If you are looking for an opportunity to work with one of the most reputed audit firms in Hitech City for articleship, we encourage you to reach out to us.

To apply, please send your resume and a brief cover letter detailing your interest in articleship to SBC at 040-48555182 or visit our office in Madhapur, Hyderabad. We will guide you through the next steps and help you begin your professional journey.

Conclusion

Choosing the right firm for articleship is a significant decision in your career as a Chartered Accountant. With audit firms in Hitech City for articleship offering ample opportunities for growth, Steadfast Business Consultants LLP (SBC) stands out as an ideal choice for aspiring CAs. Our structured learning approach, diverse industry exposure, and mentorship programs are designed to help you thrive in your career and set you up for future success. Contact us today to kickstart your articleship with a firm that prioritizes your professional growth and development.

[cheer-nympho]

The older kids all have wills.

Nancy, Robin, Steve and Jonathan, ages 18 to 21, all have wills tucked away in various boxes under beds and behind wardrobes.

Their similarities only extending to the fear felt when writing them, mixed with resigned acceptance. A common feeling of “Man, it sure is sad that my late teenage years are spent contemplating the very real possibility of gruesome early death, I should be at the club.”

But in every other aspect they are completely different.

Nancy’s was written on a cream notepad with dainty flowers surrounding the border. Written from a view of logic and forward planning, a need to protect her family. All of the demands straight to the point, no nonsense.

Warped only by the small tear stains across the bottom.

Robin’s was clearly written in a panic, barely legible handwriting on a ripped off lined sheet.

Written after she read an article about a man whose boyfriend was refused access to him after his death because there was no will.

She refused to leave anyone in the dark like that.

Jonathan’s was the most emotional, surprisingly. But most of that emotion was palpable anger, the word “nothing” pressed so hard into the yellow paper next to Lonnies name it had almost ripped the page.

Even if it was the last thing he did, Jon would keep Lonnie away from them.

Steves was written begrudgingly, more out of a need to prevent his parents from tossing it all. They weren’t around to know about Robin or the kids, wouldn’t know he’d promised Lucas the car or Max his records.

They weren’t evil people, they just didn’t know. This way they would.

They hadn’t spoken about it in advance, hadn’t co-ordinated it or hidden them together like a morbid friendship pact. They had all just at some point come to the realisation that, given their current lives, it may one day be necessary.

Eddie had not had that thought.

Eddie Munson had many thoughts.

He had thoughts on the disease of pop music sweeping the last worthwhile radio station, he had thoughts on the price increases in his favourite gaming store in Indy, he had thoughts on selling enough stock to buy a new trailer gas canister.

What he very rarely had thoughts on was death.

It took a lot for him to say that these days, considering where he’d been not too many years ago. But these days the only thoughts on death he had were more abstract and fleeting, nothing more than the average schmuck.

And even if the thought would have crossed his mind, he would have shrugged it off with a ‘Wayne knows what to do.’

He had no other family and, as far as Eddie was concerned, nothing particularly valuable to single out to anyone. He may need one of the guys to burn the shoebox hidden under his bed, but that could be a more verbal agreement between bros.

So Eddie didn’t have a will.

Didn’t have a plan, didn’t have the worry.

And it’s not until he’s lying on his back, being cradled by a child that frankly should not have to see the insides of Eddies stomach, that he remembers that.

It rushes to him in a panic, the thoughts feeling slow and syrupy but in reality only taking a split second.

He needed to write a will.

He needed Wayne to know that Eddie /wanted/ him to have everything, not just given it by family rights.

He needed to write Dustin in, and Corroded Coffin, maybe even some random shit for all the other nerds.

A donation to Hawkins Church to really confuse them, not that Eddie would be leaving any money behind. Maybe they could have his guitar.

When he got back he would write it up on the finest non-scrunched up paper he could find.

When he got back he would take care of it all.

But that was a job for later Eddie, right now he really needed to sleep.

He could see Dustin crying above him but that was okay, he’d take care of it when he woke up.

When he wakes up he’ll take care of it all.

When he wakes up he’ll write his will.

When he wakes up.

[ceoofglytchell]

A safe bet

Summary: During a night out with his friends, Aegon drunkenly makes a bet with one of them that he can charm a woman without even needing to bed her- he set his sights on you, a merchant’s daughter with a heart of gold. The only problem? You are not going to give in to his charms so easily.
Pairing: Aegon II Targaryen x merchant’s daughter!Reader
Word count: 8596 words
Warnings: mdni, no descriptions for the Reader except that you are female and have longer hair, manipulation, canon typical misogyny, aegon is an ass at first, slight angst, aeg being a pervert, suggestive thoughts, infidelity, masturbation, oral sex (m receiving), no mention of Y/N 
Notes: Likes and reblogs are always appreciated. Enjoy 💛

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The air was heavy with the smell of roasted meat and stale beer, the floor was slippery with spilled beer and old straw. The clatter of wooden mugs and the quiet murmur of voices was mixed with occasional laughter, the clinking of coins and the creaking of the inn door opening.

At the very back, in one of the furthest corners of the tavern, sat Aegon of House Targaryen with three of his friends, Leon, Eddard and Martyn. All of them were drunk and the ones who slurred the loudest in the vast interior of the building and shouted something to each other, even though they were sitting right next to each other. On the wooden table where they had sat down a few hours ago, there were a few empty vessels that had once held the sweet wine from the Arbor, and their cups were all almost empty again.

One of them, Martyn, let his partially blurred gaze wander around the rooms until they landed on a couple who were simply talking. No inappropriate touching of any kind, no heated or sweet kisses, nothing. When was the last time either of them had such a connection?

His gaze wandered to Aegon, the prince he was friends with, and he noticed how he was simply staring into his cup. His loud laughter from earlier had died down. He deserved some good female company. But under one condition.

The redhead leaned forward and tugged on the black sleeve of his tunic. He might be a prince, but whenever he went out with them into the streets of King's Landing, he wore the clothes of the common people to blend in better with the crowd and of course to avoid being recognized. Silver hair quickly gives away any Targaryen.

"What?" grumbled Aegon, looking over the rim of his cup, which had now been emptied for the sixth time. He was drunk, but not enough to forget his inner loneliness. All the feelings that were building up inside him. He hated it to death.

"Let's make a bet," suggested the heir to House Reyne, whereupon the other two men at the table tapped the wood in agreement. The evening had just become boring.

"What kind of bet are you talking about?" asked the silver-haired man, leaning back comfortably in his seat. Bets could be fun, meanwhile. He had more than enough gold and he was open to anything that didn't remind him of the duties that weighed on his shoulders and were slowly but surely crushing him under their weight.

"One of the fun nature," Martyn replied with an almost triumphant grin on his lips, as if he had already won the bet without even revealing what he had in mind.

"I am all ears," the prince replied, and indeed he was interested in whatever the man had in his mind and what he would offer him. After all, every good bet came with a price.

"You always tell us that there is no woman you cannot charm, no lady who cannot resist your advances..."

Aegon nodded, actually feeling a little pride growing inside him. It was true that whenever he set his eyes on a pretty lady, he usually got her, but he had half of that to his incredible talent for dexterity, his gold, and his cock.

"But I was wondering how a lovely maiden would react to you if you weren't allowed to lay a hand on her?" Martyn finally finished with a grin.

The prince leaned back in his seat, licking his lips. Whatever bet his friend had thought of, it didn't seem to be as fun as he had hoped. Well, for him at least.

"You want me to seduce a woman, but without touching her?"

"Exactly! You are not allowed to touch, kiss or fuck her. Show us how talented you really are, your highness," the redhead explained, while Leon elbowed him in the side, laughing, satisfied with the idea his friend had thought up while they were drinking.

"You would have a week and could choose the girl freely. On the last day we will meet here again and you will introduce us to your new sweetheart. Let's see, maybe you will keep the sweet dove this time too!"

He rolled his eyes and sighed once, but even though he was pretending to find this bet annoying, he found the premise exciting. He had never tried it before and he wanted to know if he could do it. But what if he couldn't? He hated rejection, even if this woman would be nothing more than a bet for him. Nothing more, nothing less.

"Fine, but next week it's your turn," grumbled the prince before he got up from their table, snatching his cup in his hand.

Aegon walked through the tavern with a sharp eye, looking for a pretty lady who he was willing to not leave behind after one night. He would have to make an effort with her.

His violet eyes briefly fell on a waitress, but she was missing that certain something. He was looking for a spark, a glitter, something that would attract him like a moth to a flame. For a moment he wasn't sure if he would find it, but then his eyes fell on... you.

You were alone in a small alcove in a dark corner of the tavern and looked down at the table where a piece of paper lay with writing on it, but he couldn't quite make out what it was written about. You seemed to be one of the well-read types, but at the same time you had a face that reminded him of a statue. Beautiful and elegant.

With a flame of determination shining in his eyes, he approached you, rocking slightly on his feet.

He hadn't even spoken to you yet, but his choice had already been made. You were the right one.

He plopped down on the seat opposite you without announcing himself or asking, a smug grin on his lips. You looked up at him with wide, surprised eyes and in that moment he was already sure that he wouldn't need the whole week. If he was lucky, you would be his by the end of the night.

"Can I help you?" you asked him in such a gentle voice that it felt like a warm blanket was being draped around his shoulders.

You were perfect.

"Tell me, what is such a pretty dove like you doing alone in a place like this on a night like today?" asked the silver-haired prince without answering your question. He was now a man on a mission.

You blinked, your eyelashes repeatedly touching the soft skin of your cheeks, which were slightly flushed. He wasn't sure if they had already taken on a pink tone before or if he was the cause. He liked the latter thought more.

"I am enjoying myself," you answered him after a brief moment of awkward silence. In the darkness of the tavern and the fact that he had pulled a hood over his face, you could hardly see what was underneath. But his eyes... either the flickering candle on the table deceived your vision or he had purple eyes.

Either this man was a dragon seed or an actual member of House Targaryen.

With a small chuckle, he leaned forward and snatched the piece of paper you had been reading up to that point: "That doesn't look like much amusement to me."

Aegon ran his eyes over the curved writing, but he didn't understand much of it. It seemed to be about money.

"Are you a whore?" he asked you, whereupon your eyes widened and you immediately snatched the page from his hands.

How dare he? Even your shoulders were covered and he called you a whore? Outrageous.

"What are you thinking? My father is a merchant. He can't read. I help him keep track of things," you explained to him as you tucked the page into the pocket of your coat, which was lying on the wooden bench next to you. It was warm enough inside that you could sit there in your long-sleeved dress.

"Huh..." He leaned back, running his thumb over the edge of his empty mug. Your helpfulness might come in handy at some point. "Does he not have a son?"

A sigh escaped you and you folded your arms over your chest as you eyed him critically. "If I had a brother, he would help him, right?"

He raised his hands in defeat to show you that he understood. Maybe you weren't as naive as he had thought at the beginning. But he actually liked that fact better. You had bite.

"Are you married?" he asked then, unable to contain his curiosity.

In response, you simply stretched out your delicate hands and laid them flat on the table in front of him. Not a single ring adorned your slender fingers. You were still unmarried. Perfect.

"And I assume you're not promised either, otherwise you would never be sitting here alone reading some junk," said the king's firstborn son with a triumphant glow in his eyes.

With every second that passed, however, you were losing patience with this man whose name you didn't even know. A part of you was curious and wanted to know more about him, but the far more rational part of you simply urged you to stand and walk away.

“Why do you care, my Lord?” you asked him with a long sigh.

“What makes you think I’m a Lord?”

You smiled at him and in that moment he could feel two things: firstly, how his heart contracted unpleasantly and secondly, how something stirred in his breeches. You were not only beautiful, but your clever and bold manner also attracted him, excited him.

“You try to hide it, but it’s there. I can see it in your eyes. Common eyes don’t lose their shine so quickly,” you answered thoughtfully and he immediately recognized something he could start with.

He cleared his throat: “No, you’re right. I am a Lord. A prince, even, if you want to know for sure. And one who offers you his company.”

A small giggle escaped your rosy lips and he watched you as you rose from the table and looked at him with a playful twinkle in your eyes.

“Perhaps another time, Your Highness,” you said and gave him a deep bow before walking past the table out of the tavern, your hips gently swinging left and right.

From the side he heard Martyn, Leon and Eddard laughing loudly as he leaned back in his seat and stroked his crotch, which pressed uncomfortably against the dark fabric of his trousers.

He wanted you. He had to have you.

That night he fucked a girl in one of the many brothels on the Street of Silk who vaguely reminded him of you. She had the same hair that his soft, smooth skin and he was sure your cunt must be just as tight.

The next evening, he hoped to find you in the tavern again, but you weren't there. Why would you? You didn't seem to be a drunkard, nor were you a whore.

He walked over to the bar and leaned against the wooden counter, wondering whether to order Arbor Red or a Dornish wine. But suddenly an idea struck him.

He waved the bartender over to him. "The woman who was sitting at the table in the corner yesterday. Do you know her?"

The older man raised one of his eyebrows. There was something in his eyes. Something that let him know that he actually knew you. Wonderful.

"I know her father. Kind girl. A rare beauty. What do you want from her?" the man asked him, raising an eyebrow.

"That's none of your business. Do you know where she might be? It's of great urgency."

The older man laughed softly before shaking his head. "Take a look at the market. Maybe you'll find her there."

The young prince nodded, turned around and hurried out of the tavern. He had six days left to seduce you and after those six days he would show you exactly what it meant to enjoy his company.

Even at this late hour the market square was full and all kinds of figures were rushing around. Loud music was playing, laughter echoed through the darkness and in some alleys lovers or lustful people had retreated to show each other passion. This was where Aegon felt at home. All these people were free and could do whatever they wanted. It was pure freedom.

And then he saw you. You were standing next to a few other women and seemed to be gossiping happily. The dress you were wearing revealed your shoulders and collarbone and he longed to see what was still hidden under the fabric.

One of your friends elbowed you in the side and when you looked to the side you saw him again. The prince. Prince Aegon, as you found out. You had given his description to a lady from the Street of Silk and she had been able to answer immediately.

"Is that him?" one of your friends, Eryn, asked you with a mischievous grin. She was already married and often and happily told you about her and her husband's bed stories. She just wanted you to be happy.

"Who?" you asked instead, looking at the goods on the stand you were standing at. Treasures and carvings from Essos.

"Your secret admirer!" she whispered excitedly, while you just rolled your eyes.

"He is not my secret admirer. He is the prince. And the one who, if I may say, is known for having slept with every whore in King's Landing," you replied instead.

"Shhhh, he's coming!"

The other women moved away a little as Aegon approached you with a grin on his face. He already seemed confident of victory, but you wouldn't give in so easily. Not to someone like him. After all, you now knew exactly who he was.

"Good evening, dove," he greeted you confidently.

"Your Grace," you answered instead playfully and perhaps with a small hint of annoyance in your otherwise melodic voice.

"You were not at our table."

You immediately raised your eyebrows and your expression changed to amusement. "Our table?"

Aegon nodded his head in confirmation: "Yes, in the tavern. In the corner."

You had to hold back from rolling your eyes. You knew very well which table he meant, but you hadn't known that it was your table. This was new and you didn't know how to feel about it.

"Why are you here, Prince Aegon?" you asked him, explicitly mentioning his name so that he would know that you knew exactly who he was. That and so much more.

A small, almost flattering smile played around the corners of his mouth at your question. He seemed to like the fact that you had apparently asked about him. The thought alone made him feel warm and tingly.

"I wanted to see you," he replied with a shrug, letting his eyes roam over your features.

"You wanted... to see me?" you asked inside as you walked a few steps further, letting your hand run over some fabrics. They had probably been imported from Lys by traders. If you were richer, you would only wear such beautiful fabrics. So you couldn't understand why he, a prince, was walking around voluntarily as if he were a commoner from Flea Bottom.

"Yes," he answered you without hesitation, "I offered you my company and you said you would accept it on another day. Today is a beautiful evening, don't you think?"

A small sigh escaped you again and you couldn't help but let a small smile play around the corners of your mouth. He was amusing, you had to give him that. Amusing and persistent.

"And what do you intend to do, Your Highness? I would certainly be the ugly duckling at a ball," you said, putting your hands on your hips.

You wouldn't be. He quickly bit his tongue to stop these words from escaping. Even in your current, rather simple and partly time-worn dress, you would be a lot more beautiful than most of the ladies at court. And you were free. A luxury he always longed to have. Slowly he began to understand that he not only desired you, but also the life you led.

You symbolized his hopes and dreams.

"I don't know. We could go for a drink? Maybe our table is still free?" he suggested with a mischievous smile on his lips.

A few meters away from you, you heard your friends giggling, and when you looked over at them, you saw them nodding happily at you. This fact alone made you want to reject him even more. It wouldn't be wrong to make him wait a little, would it?

"Forgive me, my prince, but I just remembered that my father still needs my help," you said quickly. A lie.

"Now?" Aegon asked, his eyebrows drawn together in confusion.

"Now," you clarified and walked straight past him, your shoulders brushing slightly. You were about to disappear behind another market stall when you suddenly felt him grab your wrist to stop you. His fingers were warm and his skin surprisingly soft. You wondered if he had ever held a sword in his life.

"Wait... Please," he said quietly and the look in his amethyst colored eyes, so pleading and almost vulnerable, made you want to listen to him instead of tearing yourself away from him.

"Yes? What is it?" you asked, the words coming out a little harsher than you actually intended.

"Where will I find you tomorrow? Please?"

Your shoulders relaxed and you gave him a gentle smile, which hopefully had a calming effect on him. You didn't want to scare him away. Somehow you liked him and these conversations, even though you knew who he was and where he was supposed to be right now.

"The southern side of the Kingswood. We will go for a walk together," you answered him before you freed your wrist from his grip and turned around and disappeared into the crowd of people.

Aegon Targaryen, the second of his name, looked after you with a longing look and he swore to himself that at the end of the seven days he would not only have won the bet, but also gained your genuine affection.

The summer sun shone warmly on your face as you sat on a fallen tree trunk at the edge of the forest, waiting for the prince who wouldn't leave you alone. You wore a slightly looser dress, which gave you plenty of freedom of movement, and a cloak over it. You also had a bag slung over your shoulder with some food you could eat. A few apples, grapes and bread with some cheese. It would have to be enough.

He appeared as the morning sun turned to midday sun and you began to wonder if he had gotten lost. He hadn't. Aegon had stolen a horse from the royal stables and ridden the distance to the forest and the place you had told him. It was more comfortable for him than walking and maybe you would allow him to take you home later.

You looked up in surprise when you heard the sound of galloping hooves approaching the edge of the forest. A brown horse came to a stop not far from you and its rider jumped from the saddle with a wide grin on his face.

Aegon wore a blue tunic, black trousers and a black cloak that he left open. His boots came just below his knees and his silver hair was ruffled by the wind.

He looked good. Quite good.

"My lady!" he called happily as he landed on the sandy ground of the forest path and joined you.

"I remind you, my prince, I am not a lady. I am simply a woman you find pleasing," you reminded him with a smile as you stood up from the tree trunk and walked over to him.

"Guilty. How are you today?" he asked you and this time it was not just to be polite. He actually cared about your well-being.

"Quite well. And you?"

"I have never been better," he said with a grin before he gently took you by the elbow and led you into the forest.

All around you you could hear the chirping of birds, the rustling of leaves, cracking branches and in the distance the sound of a stream. The atmosphere was beautiful and calming at the same time and surprisingly peaceful with him by your side. You hadn't expected that. You were pleasantly surprised.

"What do you have in here?" he asked himself and touched the brown bag that was hanging around your shoulder. His curiosity was contagious and you began to enjoy his company.

"Something to eat. In case we get hungry," you explained with a smile on your lips. In the hustle and bustle of the city everything was always so tense and loud, but here in the wilderness around the city she could enjoy the peace and quiet.

"You are too kind," he said and reached into the bag, where he pulled out a ripe apple and immediately bit into it, the juice of the fruit running down the corners of his mouth.

A small smile formed on your lips and you couldn't help but shake your head in amusement. The prince was incorrigible and you enjoyed it very much. A small part of you hoped that he enjoyed your presence too.

"You like apples, I assume?" you asked him as you looked over at him and saw that he was munching on a piece of apple with relish.

Aegon grinned and looked over at you, and you could see a small blush on his pale face: "I like anything sweet."

He seemed particularly proud of that comment. You, however, rolled your eyes exaggeratedly and jabbed your arm into his side, causing him to gasp loudly and drop the rest of his apple to the ground.

"Hey! Unfair!" he shouted angrily, causing you to let out a hearty laugh.

The two of you continued walking for a while until you reached a river. The water was clear and, compared to the warm air that surrounded you, it seemed cool and soothing. The prince rummaged through your bag while you gently stroked the water with one hand.

What you didn't know, however, was that Aegon's violet eyes followed your gentle movement the entire time. A lump formed in his throat as he understood that the sight of your delicate hands made his body warmer and his imagination imagined how a touch of yours would feel on his body. But he couldn't do it. He had a bet to lose and you would probably never let him touch you. Not yet.

But of course you would notice sooner or later.

"You're staring," you simply commented, making the future king flinch slightly and immediately clear his throat.

A small part of him wanted to deny it and tell you instead that he was looking at the river, but at the same time he still had a mission and a personal desire to have you.

"How could I not? Your beauty is breathtaking," Aegon answered you after a moment and even though it sounded like mere seduction, it was much more than that. It was the truth. You were beautiful.

You blinked in surprise and for a moment you didn't know what to say to him. It was a compliment, yes, but was it serious? You couldn't have known.

"Thank you, my prince. I'm honored," you said quietly, wiping your hands on the skirt of your dress.

"I'm serious, you know. My reputation precedes me, but I actually think you're beautiful, my lady. A silver swan in a pond full of ducks."

Your cheeks flushed and you looked back at the water, hoping he wouldn't see. Apparently he still had the talent to be charming and it actually worked. He managed to make you blush.

"Stop," you whispered under your breath, more to yourself and your own body than to him, who was sitting not far away from you.

A quiet chuckle escaped the king's eldest son and he shook his head gently, the silver strands of his hair falling over his face, as they often did. He didn't comb it too often. If he did, it was before big feasts or when his mother demanded it with a slap on his cheek.

"Never, darling. Making you blush is all I want," he said, grinning.

A sigh escaped you and you stood up from your place by the river and offered him your hand. "We should slowly return, Your Highness. My father still needs me and I think that the Red Keep is missing a certain person."

Aegon looked at you with wide eyes for a moment before he took your hand and slowly stood up too. The feeling of holding your delicate hand in his almost drove him mad and he had to hold himself back from pulling you against him and kissing you like there was no tomorrow.

You were driving him crazy.

"Fine, we'll go back. Or- I have a horse? I could take you home?" he offered, handing you your bag, which was only half full anymore.

You smiled and slung the brown leather bag back over your shoulder. "You just want to know where exactly in the city I live."

Still holding your hand in his, he led you to the exit of the forest, where his horse was still waiting for him, eating some of the grass that grew on the ground.

"Perhaps," he replied as he took the reins and watched you climb into the saddle without help and look down at him with a playful gleam in your eyes.

He swung himself onto the saddle of the brown horse behind you without further ado and wrapped his arms around your waist, humming softly as he felt the warmth of your body against his own. He would have to concentrate not to get hard now. However, his body had always been full of pleasure and reacted to the smallest of movements. And you... you were something very special.

You leaned your back against his chest and allowed yourself to relax as you rode back to King's Landing together.

Nature passed by you and the gates of the capital of the Seven Kingdoms came ever closer. It seemed as if the sky was instinctively darkening and as if everything was immediately becoming more dreary and desolate. The small folk in the market and on the dirty streets looked up in confusion or jumped aside as a horse suddenly galloped past them, carrying a Targaryen and a woman.

"Right up here, my prince," you said, pointing to the wooden front door of a small and nondescript house. The only thing that set it apart from the others were the plants on the windowsills. A work of yours to make the sight less desolate.

Aegon brought the horse to a stop and you slid gracefully from the saddle, but before you rushed straight into the house to see how your father was doing, you looked back at him one more time.

The way he sat on the horse and looked down at you as if you were a star in the evening sky, you realized that he must be serious about you. If he looked at every whore like that, then every one of them must think that she was loved by a prince.

"Good day... Aegon," you said before finally turning around and disappearing into the pleasant interior of your house.

And Aegon? He sighed and rode to the tavern where you first met, where he got drunk to the point of unconsciousness.

The next morning, you were woken up by the sound of someone knocking on the door of your room. Sleepy, with disheveled hair and wearing only your nightgown, you opened the door and your father stood in front of you. He was already dressed as if he was ready to go to his market stall, but it was much too early for that. The sun had not even come out over Visenya's hill yet.

"Father?" you asked sleepily, wiping the sleep from your eyes.

"There is someone here for you," he said, nodding towards the front door.

Confused and still not fully conscious because you had been sleeping so peacefully, you went to the front door and opened it. Your eyes widened when Aegon stood in front of you, but this time not in dirty clothes so as not to attract attention, but in a beautiful green doublet and a gold chain that fell around his neck. His silver hair was brushed and he had a bag at his side.

"Aegon? It's still early," you said, smiling gently at him.

"I brought you something," he said bluntly, handing you the bag.

Confused, you took it and looked inside, and what you saw made you look at him with wide eyes. In the brown bag was a beautifully embroidered green dress with some gold details on the sleeves, neckline and waist. It was more beautiful than anything you had seen at the market before, and the fabric was one of the velvety Lys fabrics you loved so much.

"My prince, I... I don't know what to say," you told him, resisting the urge to jump into his arms and press a kiss to his cheek.

"You can thank me by getting ready and coming with me now," he replied, looking at you with an amused twinkle in his purple eyes, which seemed darker than they actually were in the dim morning light.

"What are you planning?" you asked him, suddenly wide awake.

"You are a Lady today and you are accompanying me back to the Red Keep. I would like to show you around."

You nodded your head and hurried back inside, where you cleaned yourself as quickly as you could, got dressed, and tied your hair into a braid. You then hurried back to him and the moment you opened the door, Aegon knew he would never be able to look at his sister-wife again knowing that a woman like you existed.

He wanted you. If he didn't know better, he would actually say that you could have been a lady of the House of Tyrell. You were a sight of true beauty and grace.

"May I?" he asked with a mischievous smile on his lips before bowing slightly and holding out a hand to you.

"Why so polite, Your Grace?" you asked him with a grin as you took his hand in yours and allowed him to lead you back to his horse.

Still smiling, he placed his hands on your hips and lifted you effortlessly onto the horse's saddle before climbing behind you. "Believe it or not, I have manners."

"Oh, really?"

He shook his head and kicked the brown horse in the sides with his heel so that the horse would immediately ride off. Like the day before, you rode through the streets together, but this time you didn't stop in the dirty streets of the Small Folk, but in the courtyard of the Red Keep.

Knights, lords and ladies looked up in surprise when the usually drunk and lustful prince returned accompanied by a fine lady. None of them knew you, but at the same time none of them suspected who you really were. Your disguise was perfect.

He showed you the stables, the training yard where his younger brother Aemond was training with a Dornish-looking man, the throne room and then he led you to the kitchens, where with your help he stole a few pieces of lemon cake, which you ate together in the shade of a tree with red leaves.

You had never seen Aegon laugh so freely and carefree when a leaf fell and got tangled in your hair or you noticed that you had been crumbling on your lap the whole time.

The sun shone on your faces and it felt peaceful.

At one point he moved closer to you and reached out his hand to tuck a loose strand of hair behind your ear. You instinctively leaned into his touch and in that moment you too realized that he was no longer annoying you, that you wanted to be close to him and that he had the most beautiful eyes you had ever seen.

You were in love. And with a prince from the House of Targaryen of all people.

"If you could go anywhere, anywhere you like, where would you go?" Aegon asked you while his head rested on your lap and he looked up at you with curious eyes.

Your fingers gently stroked his locks while you held a flower to your nose with your other hand. It smelled sweet and, for some reason, healthier than the plants you collected to decorate your house.

"I don't know. I actually like the Keep. It seems peaceful here," you answer him with a quiet sigh.

"If only you knew," the prince replied and closed his eyes, enjoying your touch on his hair. The court was certainly not peaceful. It was dangerous, full of intrigue and deadly. You shouldn't be in such a place. Only with him. He would be able to protect you. Somehow.

"And you? Where would you go?" you asked him after a moment of silence.

"Essos. It's far from here and very different," he answered you without hesitation. He seemed to have thought about it many times.

"And what would you be there if not the Prince of Westeros?" you asked him with a hint of curiosity in your otherwise gentle tone.

Aegon shrugged. He wasn't quite sure. He often dreamed of running away and being free, but he never thought about what he would actually do if he managed to do it.

"I don't know exactly. I would just be free,” he finally answered you and you could tell from the look on his face that he was telling the truth. Besides, he had no reason to lie to you anymore.

“You could work in a tavern and serve people wine?” you suggested.

A grin formed on his lips: “But only if I can pour myself a cup too.”

You couldn’t help but giggle and gently tucked a strand of hair behind his ear. You liked him a lot when he was like that. Not arrogant, stuck up or about to seduce you. You liked him when he was himself.

“I don’t think that would be a problem,” you replied after a moment.

The look in his eyes softened and he carefully reached for your hand and brought it to his lips, where he left a small kiss on the back of your hand before resting his cheek against your palm. Your heart leapt in your chest and you knew you could no longer lie to yourself.

With every moment that passed, with every gesture he made for you, you fell a little more in love with the prince.

And he fell in love with you too.

Day five started out normally for you. You walked through the market square with your friends, wearing one of your old dresses, because out here you were nothing more than a merchant's daughter. You were not the lady he wanted to make you into, even though you enjoyed it. Very much.

You hadn't decided on a place where you would meet today, if you met again, but you were also aware that he knew exactly where you lived, and there was still your table in the back corner of the tavern. That was your place.

You were just turning a street corner with your friend when you suddenly felt a tingling sensation in the back of your neck. It felt like there was something - or someone - here that seemed familiar.

"Hey, are you coming?" Seryne asked you, smiling gently at you, but you just shook your head.

"I have something to do," you lied, because you wanted to find out why you suddenly felt so strange. What was that feeling?

"Fine, but I'll see you later, yes?" And with that, the woman turned around and disappeared into the crowd and you stood alone in the middle of Flea Bottom. A place where no woman should stay alone for long.

You followed your intuition and walked down a street. To the left and right sat young men and young women, dirty and barely dressed. Some of them were scratching their heads or their arms, which was an obvious sign that the name of this place lived up to. Most of them were sick and you could be thankful that you did not have to suffer such a fate.

And then suddenly you saw it - a dark cloak with a light pattern at the bottom. The person had pulled a hood over his head, but the way he walked seemed familiar to you.

But what could the prince want here now? And especially in such a place?

Out of curiosity you followed him and you were shocked when you suddenly saw more and more naked women, lustfully pressing themselves against men and whispering filthy promises in their ears. Some paid, others simply dragged the women with them.

You were in the Street of Silk. And Aegon was here too.

At your father's request you had always avoided this place as if it were the Seven Hells themselves, but now you could not help it. You had to know if this familiar figure was really your prince and, above all, what he was doing here.

The streets became more crowded the further you walked, but you could not stop, nor could you just turn around and forget about this. You would bring it up next time anyway. Or maybe not.

You quickened your pace as best you could and could see out of the corner of your eye how the person disappeared behind a wooden door - a brothel.

You couldn't blame him. You knew his nature and even if he tried to be gentler with you, he was a man and men have desires. However, your curiosity didn't go away. You wanted to know more. You wanted to know what kind of girls he surrounded himself with and what exactly he would do.

You just had to know.

With a lump in your throat and sweaty palms, you knocked on the wooden door of the brothel until a slightly older woman with brown hair and a sleazy smile opened it for you.

"How can I help you, my lady?" the woman asked you as she leaned her side against the door frame. You felt small and weak under her gaze.

"I- I would like to spend some time in your establishment," you answered her as confidently as possible in this situation.

A small laugh escaped the woman, who was obviously the madam of this house, and she took a step to the side so that you could enter.

"Of course. Have fun, little flower."

You cleared your throat and quickly walked past her into the interior of the brothel and immediately it seemed to you as if you had entered another world.

Music echoed through the oppressively warm air and a wave of smells suddenly overcame you. Fragrant oils, alcohol, sweat and sex. You also heard noises from every corner that made you blush immediately. Moaning, whimpering and sometimes a scream when someone reached their climax.

You shouldn't be here.

But you couldn't help but wonder if Aegon was behind one of the silk privacy curtains and one of the girls was between his legs at this very moment, satisfying him in a way you hadn't dared to think about until now. Or maybe the whore was sitting on his lap? Or maybe she was lying on the bed and he was right behind her and-

A drunk man stumbled past you and you quickly took a few steps further into the room, the feeling of being overwhelmed growing inside you. At the same time, you felt your insides getting warmer and warmer. All the noises and the bare skin had an effect on you.

You walked quickly until you suddenly heard something that made you freeze.

Your name.

A voice moaned your name and whimpered softly. It could be none other than the prince you had fallen in love with over the last few days, and now he was moaning your name in the middle of a brothel.

You knew you should turn around and leave immediately, but your curiosity got the better of you. Your curiosity and the surging feeling of lust inside you.

"Oh gods... fuck yes, don't stop," you heard Aegon's voice say in a tone that made you instinctively bite your lower lip. His voice was rough and deep and his breathing was coming in quick gasps.

Slowly and carefully you approached the curtain and you could already make out a vague silhouette.

He moaned your name again, this time a little louder, and you could no longer hold back.

With a jerk you pulled the silk fabric aside and looked at a scene you had already dreamed of, but you had always been in the whore's place.

Aegon was lying on his back on the bed. His silver hair was disheveled, small beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, his eyes were half closed and he was breathing heavily through his mouth. He was still wearing all his clothes, but his breeches were open and between his legs knelt a young woman who bore an astonishingly great resemblance to you. She moved her head up and down, her cheeks hollowing out so she could take him deeper.

Every now and then you caught a glimpse of his cock, and the sight alone made your knees go weak. It was long and thick, and you wanted to close your lips around his shaft and do the same as this woman.

"Oh yes... just like that," he moaned under his breath, reaching for the woman's long hair to keep her in place.

You gripped the fabric of the curtain tighter, and the rustling finally gave you away.

Aegon looked up, and the moment his purple eyes found yours, he began to move his hips back and forth demandingly, never looking away from you.

The woman protested, but the prince did not let go. His moans grew louder, and his pale cheeks grew redder.

"How beautiful you are. Seven hells, I need you. I need to be inside you,” he moaned, which made you whimper in return. You pressed your thighs together and tried to relieve yourself somehow.

And then suddenly with a deep grunt he unloaded himself into the whore’s mouth, while his whole body trembled and she swallowed his seed.

The prince let her go, whereupon the whore winked at him, stood up and left the small alcove, deliberately bumping into your shoulder.

You, on the other hand, were still standing motionless next to the curtain that you were still holding. It burned between your thighs and you couldn't help but stare at his now flaccid member. You wanted to take him in your mouth too.

"Dove... I can explain," he began hesitantly, still breathing quickly and in gasps as he put his cock back in his pants, but left them open for now.

"You don't have to," you replied quickly, your voice coming out weaker than usual, "You have desire. That's normal."

A grin spread across his face, but strangely enough he made no move to get up and pull you towards him. You knew now that he found you physically attractive and that he wanted you, but he didn't take you, even though you too felt a burning desire to be turned onto your back by him at that moment.

"And you? What do you feel?" he asked you and you could swear that there was something vulnerable in his eyes.

"I don't know," you answered him, even though you knew exactly how you felt about him. You loved him and you wanted him. But not like that.

"Really?" Aegon questioned, leaning up on his elbows.

"I want you, Aegon. But not like that. Not in a place like this."

The prince sat up abruptly and looked at you with big, hopeful eyes. "Please... darling, I want you too. I need you. I love-"

Your eyes grew wide and his cheeks turned even redder than before. For a moment, it felt like the world had stopped and you were the only two people left in all of King's Landing.

"I love you," he finally said and you could feel your heart leap in your chest. It was like in your dreams.

He loved you. And you could see in his eyes that he was telling the truth. But what would you say to him now?

"I... I shouldn't have come here," you said instead before turning around and hurrying out of the brothel as fast as you could.

You could hear him calling your name, but you ran out of the establishment and up the street to your house. Part of you hoped he would follow you, but the rational part of you also knew that it wouldn't change this moment. You still wouldn't open the door.

That evening, you lay in your bed wearing only your nightgown. You had pulled the white fabric over your hips and you moved your slender fingers in circular movements over your sensitive pearl, while the fingers of your other hand moved in and out of your tight hole.

You thought of him and how he had moaned when the girl had closed her mouth around him.

His name was on your lips as you came and you knew you could no longer run away.

You didn't see him the next day and you had never felt so alone before.

The seventh day had come and Aegon was sitting at your table in the tavern and getting drunk. He had already had four cups, but he wasn't drunk yet. Not yet.

Aegon hoped that you would come. He had confessed his love to you and you had run away, but he couldn't blame you. Not after what you had seen. You had a heart of gold and now he had ruined you.

The sun had long since set when you entered the tavern. You didn't know he was there, but you had a hunch. And indeed, your prince was sitting in the furthest corner, alone and staring at the table. It reminded you of your first meeting, only now the roles were reversed.

Slowly and with quiet steps on the wooden floor, you approached him and sank into the seat opposite him. He looked up at you in surprise.

"Good evening," you said with a gentle smile on your lips.

Without waiting a second, he grabbed your hand and pressed a quick kiss to the back of your hand, while a sigh of relief escaped him.

"You're here," he whispered, as if he could hardly believe it.

"I had a hunch," you answered him gently and brushed a loose strand of hair from his forehead. He was so beautiful and in that moment you realized it again.

“About yesterday…” he began hesitantly. “I wasn’t thinking properly. I said things I shouldn’t have said. I should have-”

“Aegon,” you said and he finally stopped speaking. “I love you too.”

Before he could say anything about your confession, a loud laugh suddenly came from the side and Aegon froze when he saw Martyn and Leon standing not far from their table. They already seemed extremely drunk and were staggering from one foot to the other.

"That bastard actually did it!" Martyn slurred and pointed a finger at the prince, which made you look back and forth between the three men in confusion.

Leon pulled a sack of gold dragons from his belt and threw it on the table. It landed right between you.

"Well played. You won the bet," Leon said with a grin.

"And? Are you keeping this beauty this time?" Martyn then asked and you slowly understood what was happening here.

Aegon looked at you and the expression on his face was pure desperation and panic. He had something to do with it and a lump slowly formed in your throat.

"What kind of bet are these men talking about, Aegon?" you asked him uncertainly.

"I- I-" the Targaryen stuttered without being able to say a clear word.

Before he could explain himself, the drunken redhead intervened again: "We gave him a week to seduce a woman and by all appearances he succeeded."

Your eyes filled with tears and you could feel your heart breaking into hundreds of shards of glass that could never be put back together.

"Nothing of this, absolutely nothing, was real," you realized, your tone bitter and angry.

Aegon immediately shook his head and grabbed your hand again to prove you wrong.

"In the beginning, yes, but no more. I love you. Truly," he answered you honestly, but you just shook your head and pulled your delicate hand away from his again. You loved this man, but the pain blinded you.

"Do you hear that? He loves her!" Leon laughed and patted his friend on the shoulder.

"You are such a damn fool," you cursed and stood up abruptly from your seat to run away from him a second time, but Aegon would not allow it a second time. He left the sack of gold on the table and ran after you.

On the dark street outside the tavern, he grabbed your arm and pulled you against his chest.

"Listen to me, please," he immediately begged as you struggled against his grip. Your hands hit against his chest and a tear rolled down your cheek.

"No! Let me go!"

He ignored your words. "Listen to me. I love you. In the beginning you were just a bet, that's true, but now you are so much more than that. I need you in my life. You are the sun that brightens my days."

You looked at him with wide eyes as another tear rolled down your face. You believed him, but the truth still hurt you.

"I want you," he whispered and slowly leaned down until you could feel his warm breath on your face.

"Would you like me to prove it to you?"

"Aegon..."

He grinned and let his lips wander over your wet cheeks as he kissed your tears away slowly and tenderly. The gesture made your knees weak and your eyes closed for a brief moment.

"The bet said that I couldn't touch you, kiss you, or fuck you. Tonight I shall do all of those things."

The moment the words left his lips, he leaned down and kissed you with a passion he had never seen in himself.

That night he took you, made you his, and proved to you that you were much more to him than a mere bet. You were everything to him.

And he was everything to you.

And his friends were right about at least one thing. This time he was going to keep you.

⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅∙∘☽༓☾∘∙•⋅⋅⋅•⋅⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅

[boreal-sea]

Who is Tim Walz?

Kamala Harris has apparently picked Tim Walz as her running mate. He seems good, based on his record. He's also responsible for the widely spreading "Republicans are weird" meme I've seen quite a lot of.

He has a good record. Just like I did for Kamala Harris in a post that has become quite popular, I will do a simple review of things I like from Tim Walz' political history. Again, as with Harris, this is just from his Wikipedia page. Let's go!

House of Representatives

Opposed increasing troop numbers in Iraq

Co-sponsored a bill to raise Minnesota's minimum wage

Voted for stem cell research

Voted to allow Medicare to negotiate pharmaceutical prices

Voted against the act to Prohibit Federally Funded Abortion Services

Voted to advance the ACA

Has received a 100% rating from many progressive organizations like Planned Parenthood and the ACLU

Was a member of several caucuses, including the LGBT Equality Caucus

Governor of Minnesota

Signed into law police reforms after the murder of George Floyd

Had Minnesota join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, meaning that all of the state's electors will vote for whichever candidate wins the popular vote nation-wide.

Under his governance, Minnesota passed laws for requiring paid leave, banning non-compete agreements, cannabis legalization, abortion rights, universal free school meals,

Political stances

Pro cannabis

Against bailout bills that loan taxpayer money to large banks and auto manufacturers

Was a former teacher for many years, and is very pro-education and supporting public schools. He is against merit pay for teachers (this is a good thing), and supports lowering tuition costs

Used to be pro-gun, but after Parkland he changed his mind, and as Governor he signed a bill mandating universal background checks

Pro-LGBT - has voted for LGBT rights many times, including as Governor, where he signed bills banning conversion therapy and protecting gender-affirming care

Supports veterans rights and support

Supports abortion rights and women's rights

I am going to copy-paste the entire section for his views on the Israel-Hamas war, because I don't want people claiming I am taking anything out of context. Overall, he has views that echo my own in many ways:

Walz condemned Hamas's October 7 attacks in Israel and ordered flags to be lowered to half mast in the following days. After the 2024 Minnesota Democratic presidential primary, in which 19% of voters cast "uncommitted" ballots, Walz took a sympathetic view toward those doing so to protest President Biden's handling of the war in Gaza, calling them "civically engaged". Of the protests against U.S. funding of the war in Gaza, Walz said: "This issue is a humanitarian crisis. They have every right to be heard... These folks are asking for a change in course, they're asking for more pressure to be put on… You can hold competing things: that Israel has the right to defend itself, and the atrocities of October 7 are unacceptable, but Palestinian civilians being caught in this… has got to end." Walz also said he supports a ceasefire in Gaza.[100]

[ameliora-j]

‧₊˚ piercer!ron weasley x reader ‧₊˚

so anyway this has been on my mind since i got my nipples pierced specifically bc of the way i was moaning like a lil bitch in the piercer’s chair 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

content → piercer!ron, needles, nipple play, voyeurism, slight pain kink, praise, nipple piercings, blood mention, lightheadedness, 18+ BLOG MDNI

° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ ° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡

you’re anxious as you walk into the shop, but you know you have to do this. it’s been years upon years since you’ve wanted this specific piercing—ever since you turned eighteen to be exact. you called on one of your breaks at work, asking if the tattoo shop did nipple piercings.

the kind lady connected you with the shop’s piercer—who to your surprise was a man with an english accent. after telling you the price, he asks specifically for cash. when you see the exact cash amount in your wallet, you figure it’s a sign. anytime that you plan in advance for any kind of piercing or tattoo, you lose the confidence of going nearly the day of—so it’s now or never.

when you walk in, a girl with bright pink hair looks around to see if anyone was available for a walk in. most of them were half asleep, and you feel bad for waking them up from their naps—but they don’t seem to mind. you’re surprised that they aren’t busy on a saturday evening, but a brunette man with round glasses stands and stumbled to the desk, ready to ask what tattoo you have in mind.

“um… hi… i called earlier um a-about… about nipple piercings” you stammer shyly, unable to hide the blush growing on your cheeks.

he wasn’t overly muscular or large, his small amount of tummy pudge peeking out as he stretched his arms high above his head, revealing more ink lining his torso.

“oh!” the man nods as he turns around and walks towards the back. “ron! piercing” you hear a soft grumble and a deep sigh—not of annoyance, but from just waking up. a tall redheaded man with broad shoulders appears. he has sleeves of tattoos lining his arms and some small tattoos on his hands. there was a small stud piercing beneath his eye, a few tattoos on his face as well.

you feel as though your breath is knocked out of your chest as he smiles at you, a small whine leaving his lips as he finishes his deep stretch. “sorry, i just woke up” he chuckles.

“oh no, don’t worry… i’m surprised you guys aren’t more busy tonight” you say, and he nods in agreement as he grabs the papers.

“i know, i was thinking the same thing” he chuckles, grabbing a pen. “i just need you to initial and sign this paper and then i need your id” he tells you, handing the paper and pen over to him. you nod softly and do as he says, passing over your id and scanning over the paper, initialing each line.

it isn’t long before you’re done and he comes back up to the front, leading you to his small section of the tattoo shop. “go ahead and sit right there” he nods, pointing to the tattoo chair as he looks over his tool tray and all that he has. you sit down in the chair, making yourself comfortable as you take your bag off and adjust yourself.

you learn quickly that ron isn’t much of a talker, but thankfully neither are you. he already has his tray set up, asking you a few quick questions as he moves everything over towards you. “so… obviously i don’t have a privacy curtain, i’m sorry about that” he blushes a bit as he finishes washing his hands. “If you just… bare with me a bit” he chuckles nervously.

he looks around his small station, noting that it’s basically out in the open. he’s a sweet man, you learn quickly, so you smile at him. “that’s alright” you reassure him. you wiggle a bit in the seat, still slightly anxious. “i’ll be fine” you nod, more so assuring yourself than him this time.

“go ‘head and take off your shirt, and then if you can just pull down your bra for me” he nods, turning around towards his desk and getting a little care package ready for when you go—wanting to give you at least some semblance of privacy while undressing.

when he turns back around, his cheeks tint pink as he looks first at your boobs then up at you. “you can just turn and face this way” he nods as he rolls over in the small circle chair. you do as he says and face him just as he turns to his tool tray. though he doesn’t have a privacy curtain, he uses his large body and broad shoulders to cover your breasts from the other piercers and the large windows—there were no other patrons in the shop besides you, so this made you feel incredibly at ease. “have you had your nipples pierced before?” he asks.

“no, never” you shake your head. he notices the tremor in your voice and gives you a little reassuring smile. he can tell you’re anxious, and he’s doing everything he can to ease your nerves. “i just have one rule for all my tattoo artists, piercers, nurses… anyone that comes near my body with a needle” you ramble a bit as you list the different occupations.

he chuckles a bit as he nods, grabbing an alcohol wipe to clean your nipples. “what is it?” he hums.

“don’t count.” you say seriously. “i don’t want 1, 2, 3 or 3, 2, 1… if you count i’ll tell you to stop and just go home” you tell him. ron laughs a bit harder, his orange curls bobbing as he nods in understanding.

“alright, i can do that” he nods. “i’m just gonna clean them, and then i’ll mark them and show you, and after that i’ll do the piercing” he informs you, and you’re nodding along with each thing he says. once you’ve gotten the nitty-gritty out of the way, you keep your head down, watching his arms and his body as he works. “do you have a preference of which one you want me to do first?” he asks.

“no” you shake your head. “just go for it” you giggle a bit, and he smiles at you. ron takes a gloved hand, starting with your left tit and gently pinching your nipple between his fingers. he flicks it a few times, his brows pinching together in focus as he plays with your nipple in order to get it hard. you don’t even notice ron has the needle in his hand until you feel it piercing through the sensitive skin.

you suck in air through your teeth, squeezing your hands into fists as you try, but fail, to bite back a whine. “breathe… breathe, it’s okay” ron whispers softly, inching a bit closer to you. “you can squeeze my shoulder if you need to… you won’t mess me up” he says softly. his movements are slow and deliberate, taking time to not mess up your piercing as he pushes the needle through to the other side.

a moan of pain tumbles past your lips once more as you squeeze his shoulder and grit your teeth. “owowowow” you whine, trying your hardest not to squirm or cringe away in pain.

“i know, i’m sorry” he murmurs softly. “you’re doing so good, we’re almost there” he whispers. just as he says that, you feel the needle poke through the other side, and you let out a sigh of relief. your relief is short lived as he pushes the jewelry through the new hole he just made in your body and another high pitched moan tumbles past your lips. “there we go…” he says softly, gently rubbing your side. “i just have to screw this in and then i’ll move on to the other side” he tells you as he grabs the ball end of the jewelry.

the second one is nowhere near as painful as the first—going in much easier as well. however, it still has you making those pretty little sounds on that are making ron’s cock harden as he wonders what other sounds he can pull from you. “that’s it” he praises gently, nearly having to physically restrain himself from placing a kiss to your delicate skin. “you did so good” he hums, beginning to clean the spilling blood.

“thank you” you smile at him as he finishes up, letting you know you can redress and beginning to clean his station. as you pull your bra back up and grab for your shirt, the room begins to spin. you squeeze your eyes shut and take a deep breath, a small smile gracing your lips as you become slightly loopy. “um… can i lay down for a minute?” you giggle softly.

“yeah of course!” he smiles as he turns to look at you. “are you lightheaded?” he asks, walking over to his mini fridge. when you only hum and nod in response, he hands you a capri sun and a pack of scooby-doo fruit snacks. “here… sugar will help” he tells you. he sits in his chair as you pop open the capri sun, now done cleaning. “eat the fruit snacks. all that sugar will help.” he tells you softly when he notices you only drinking the juice.

you nod lazily, squinting your eyes open as you make a small rip in the package. “yanno usually i’m paid to see my tits, not the other way around… and you didn’t even compliment them” you sigh, your head still spinning a bit as you smile lazily. you bite back a giggle when you imagine the blush that you definitely know is coating his cheeks.

his only response is a chuckle, and you think that’s the end of it until you’re checking out and paying him—now ready to actually stand straight and be able to drive your car. as you hand him the money, he gives you a care package, a cute sticker, aftercare instructions, ointment and alcohol wipes, a lollipop, and a blank card with his name and number. “text me a picture when you have the gauze off so i can make sure they look alright… maybe then i’ll compliment them” he winks slyly.

suddenly, you’re the one blushing as you walk out to your car.

° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ ° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡

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[rainybubbles]

How do you meet COD men after your break-up with them ?

Price, Ghost, König, Soap, Alejandro, Gaz, Alex

(Sorry in advance for my mistakes, English is not my mother tongue. So sorry if it's badly written or if they're OOC. )

P R I C E :

-In a waiting room at the hospital with him baring his ass and you in your white coat, that's how you meet after your break-up.

-"I can't believe we're both at the hospital," John sighs in pain.

-"Yeah, I thought this was the trendy coffee shop. Turns out, my navigation skills are terrible," you joke.

-He lets out a small laugh.

-"So how did you end up with your ass burnt, John ? Did you try some sexy wax ?"you ask while you begin to examine him.

-"Do you really need to ask why something is burn ?"

-"Soap ?" you guess.

-Price nods.

-"Shit, I think you have some third degree burns on the right side."

-"Soap wanted to make a firework on the base, to light up the mood of everyone on the base. He tried to test the fireworks before, and I was there at the wrong moment."Price explains while you help him walk towards the surgery room.

-"It must have hurt like hell. Lay down here on your stomach, I'll call my colleague. His specialty is the burns, so you'll be in good hands. Normally your ass will only have scars on the right side."

-"Guess I have the other half to seduce people then." he jokes.

-You smile.

-"You know you have a great ass, John. Don't worry about that."

-"I know, love."

-You both stare at each other when he said the nickname. It has been eight months since you broke up. It was on mutual agreement, because you had a promotion on your job that didn't let you time for a relationship.

-You gulp and nod.

-You leave the room and ask the help of your colleague and continued your job.

-You tried to ignore the tension you had with John when you were talking. You tried to ignore the image of him smiling.

-Hours later when you have finished your duty, you were walking out of the hospital when you noticed John.

-"Someone of the team picks you up ?" you ask.

-"Yes, but they're late."

-You hesitate to wait with him, after all you had nothing to do. But your mind reminds you it would be a bad idea.

-"How's your job ?" Price asks.

-"I...Fine. In fact I was transferred to another service two months ago. So it's calmer and I don't have many 24h shifts now. And you ?"

-"Still busy."

-You nod.

-"I quit smoking." Price says suddenly.

-You raised your eyebrows. Cigars were like Price's identity. Like Spiderman has his mask, Price has his cigars and hats.

-"Why ?" you ask.

-"I know you hate the smell."

-"Oh."

-"I think we made a mistake back then, I wanted to text you but..." Jon starts.

-"But you get your ass burnt and me seeing your naked ass before you could do it."

-He laughed.

-"Yes."

-"So you think we should give us another chance ?"

-"I'm sure. I mean we always managed to find time for us with my busy schedule, so why would it be a bother if you have one too ? Plus you said you were transferred so I guess your schedule is back to normal ?"

-"Yes,"you say.

-"Do you want this, sweetheart ?" Price asks looking at you in the eyes

-"I..."

-"You ?"

-"I missed you," you admit.

-"Me too."

-"And shit, I didn't know what to do when I saw you again, but I'm sure I don't want to give up when eight months later you still make me flustered by just a look."

-John smiles.

-"Then we have another chance."

-You nodded.

-"Yes we have."

-I guess Soap burnt some ass, but also help to light the fire of love.

G H O S T :

-The rain was falling.

-Soldiers were wearing their uniforms, and the silence was omnipresent.

-Nobody dared to move, to speak. Only the sobbings of a widow were heard.

-It was Thomas' funeral.

-Thomas was one of Ghost's men, but also someone you knew as a friend.

-So when you arrived at the funeral, you saw Simon.

-It has been two years since you saw him. After your break-up it was as if you had imagined Ghost.

-There were no traces of him, not even in your shared flat, or in your phone.

-You didn't know what to do now he was here in front of you, so you stayed back.

-You ignored the pain of loss and bitter you were feeling about him and the situation.

-But then he was next to you. Like a shadow who didn't dare to approach you, too scared to burn himself with your lighting presence.

-"Simon," you decided to whisper.

-"Y/n," he answered.

-It was awkward. You didn't know what to do. You were with him during four years, but it was like you were strangers again.

-"I...Had Thomas said something before he died ?" you asked.

-You knew Ghost was the one who found Thomas' corpse on the mission.

-"He talked about his wife. And ask to protect the kid."

-"...I see,"you whispered.

-He didn't add anything else, so you sighed.

-"And you ?"

-"me ?" Ghost asked.

-"Simon, he was one of your men. You have known Thomas for three years, even though you didn't have a bond with him like Soap, I know you're feeling guilty now."

-"I'm guilty."

-You wanted to slap him.

-"Guilty of what, Simon ? You can't save everyone. You can't just sacrifice yourself to save the ones you love. It doesn't work like this."

-"It worked for you."

-"Are you really bringing this up ?"you whispered angrily.

-"You're happier now."

-"No I'm not. I just have tried to live again without you. Shit, you left without any warnings, without...without telling me. I had to guess you were breaking up with me."

-He stayed silent.

-"Simon, say something."

-"Why did you keep pursuing me ?"

-"Why did you let me to ?"you asked.

-"...I couldn't lose you."

-"But you did."

-"I know. But I had told you not to choose me."

-"But I did."

-He stayed silent.

-"And I will always choose you." you added.

-Simon raised his eyebrows.

-"...I screwed up." Simon whispered.

-"You did."

-"It's too late, now," Simon said.

-"It's never too late to make up for it, Simon."

-"It's been two years," Simon added.

-"But I'm here."

-"You deserve better," Simon said.

-"My tastes are shitty, what can I say ?"

-He smiled under his mask.

-"I don't ask a new romantic relationship with you, Simon. I just want to be in your life. I don't care if it's platonic, romantic or something else. Just, let me be here for you."

-"Even though we end up strangers again ?"

-"Yes."

-"You're stubborn."

-"I learned that from my ex," you joked.

-He smiled.

-"Okay," he whispered

-"Okay," you answered.

The next day he texted you.

K Ö N I G :

(/!/TW,chemo mentionned, Implied panic attack, it's not said clearly but it's clearly implied.)

-You were visiting your grandma when you saw König in the building.

-It was awkward, you both pretended to not have recognized each other but now you were both in the lift.

-Well stuck in the lift.

-Because a lift is not supposed to tremble and let out a ringing.

-"I...I think we can stop pretending we don't know each other since we're stuck for at least two hours now," you said while you sat on the floor.

-"I didn't know what to do. I'm sorry," König whispered quickly.

-"Me too, and when you didn't say anything, I thought it was better to stay silent too."

-He nodded.

-"So...you're here for your grandma ?" he asked.

-"yes."

-"Does she still have chemo or ?"

-"No she's in remission. You remembered that ?" you asked surprised

-"Yes, you talked a lot about it."

-You stayed quiet. One of the reasons for the break-up was your feeling of being alone in this relationship. König was always gone and at home it seems like he didn't listen to you, or avoided you a lot.

-You only talked once about your grandma and it was two years ago.

-"I see" you said

-The silence was awkward. But then you heard König's breath rushed.

-You noticed how his eyes were widen and how hard he gripped his own clothes.

-You know what was coming, so you held his hands like you were used to.

-"König, focus on me."

-"I'm sorry."

-"Don't apologize, focus on me and my voice. Everything is okay."

-"We're stuck in an lift. It's not okay. Scheisse."

-"yes it is, I mean it's kinda cozy ?" you tried to joke.

-He snorts.

-"Okay it smells like piss and it's small, but we're alive and breathing." you said.

-"I'm sorry," König said.

-"Don't apologize for being anxious, König. Just focus and breathe slowly."

-You inhale with him slowly.

-He calmed down a bit.

-"I'm sorry," he continued.

-"You don't have to apologize, I told you. It's not your fault the lift is-"

-"Not about this, about us." König said anxiously.

-"Us ?"

-"Yes, I...I was so worried you would leave me if I made a mistake that I ended up to avoid you and, and I couldn't stop and..."

-"And I broke up with you."

-"Yes if had communicated better with you, none of us would be hurt. I'm so sorry." König said, crying.

-"Shh, don't cry. Just focus on my voice and breathe," yousay "Can I ask you a question ?" you asked.

-He nodded.

-" Why are you saying this, now ? It's been three months since we broke up."

-"Because it felt like my last chance. I...I don't believe in fate but being stuck in an lift with you feels like a big coincidence."

-You nodded.

-"yes. I'm sorry too, König. I should have talked before making suppositions. I know you have anxiety, and I didn't consider it."

-"you couldn't have guessed."

-"yes, but I could have waited for you to explain."

-König nodded.

-"Do you feel better ?" you asked.

-"yes, but don't let go my hand, please."

-You nod. You know physical touch helped him a lot.

-"I still have one of your mask at home." you said.

-"I'm sorry I could take it back and-"

-"And my dog refused to let it go. I hide it, but it seems like my dog always finds your mask and sleeps with it like it's a plush."

-König's heart melted. Your dog was a puppy when you started dating him, he helped you with it for two years so of course your dog still feels attached to him.

-"it's cute."

-"I wanted to send you a picture of it, but it didn't feel right. Because I used to do that when we were together. So I didn't know if it was appropriate."

-"It is appropriate." König said, quickly, "I mean, send them please, I miss your dog."

-"okay, I will," you smiled.

-One hour later the lift was fixed, when you came back home you send him a photo of your dog

and...

-One year later, König was on the photo too. Guess your dog and a lift were just what you needed to have another chance.

S O A P :

-Half-naked in a chair.

-That's how you met Soap after your break-up.

-Both of you stared at each other, surprised.

-"I-" you tried to start.

-"I-" he also said.

-"Maybe you can...put your shirt back on ?" you tried.

-"Oh shit, aye. 'm sorry yer colleague says to get ready and..."

-"It's not a striptease club, Soap. She was only talking about your references," you chuckled.

-He smiled.

-You sat on the chair in front of him.

-"Do you still want to do it, even though you know it's me ? I can call a colleague if you prefer."

-"I always have trusted yer art skills. I want ye," He said without hesitation.

-It was true. Back then Soap always supported you when you confessed you wanted to become a tattoo artist.

-"I guess you didn't know who I was. Or perhaps you enjoy being shirtless at your ex's workplace ?" you joked.

-He smiled.

-"Naw, I didnae ken. Plus there's nae picture o' your face on yer Insta. I liked yer work, so I just booked an appointment, I didn't know yer artist name was that," Soap says.

-"yeah" you said. "so, you're here for a cover. I bet you and Gaz made a bet, you were drunk and a creepy tattoo artist accepted to tattoo you ?"

-"Youknow me, well." Soap smiled.

-"How ugly it is ?"

-"I have a portrait of Price on my chest, but it looks like Michael Jackson and under there is written"no pen, no gain.""

-You tried to not laugh.

-"Price ?"

-"It was to show my respect."

-"You can respect someone without having their face tattooed." You laugh.

-"I know, I was drunk and...I regret it. Dae ye think you can do something ?"

-"Well now, I need to look at it."

-"Ye said it was not a striptease club."

-"Guess I was wrong."

-He laughed and put off his shirt.

-You looked at the horrible piece on his right pectorals.

-"Shit, his teeth are stuck to his noses and one eye is like twice the size of the other,"you noticed.

-"I know."

-"But you're lucky."

-"Why ?"

-"Your terrible tattoo artist use light inks, it's easier to cover than a black and white piece. The more the piece is darker, the more it's difficult to cover it."

-"Okay, so ye can do it ?"

-"I can erase Price and no pen, no gain. Yes. Do you have any ideas about your cover ?"

-"You." Soap said.

-You blinked.

-"smooth, Mac Tavish, really smooth."

-"So it's a yes ?"

-"It's a no for me being the tattoo."

-"But ?" Soap smirked.

-"But yes for a coffee."

-He smiled.

-"but before let's erase Price from your body, I don't want to wake up at your side and see him staring at me."

-Soap laughs.

A L E J A N D R O :

(TW /!/, there's some reference about something put in some food)

-You met him in the street at 1 A.M.

-Alejandro had drinks with Los Vaqueros at a bar to celebrate a successful mission. He was going back to his car when he noticed someone who limped.

-He approached this person, maybe they were hurt and...

-"Y/N"

-You looked up.

-Shit.

-"I can explain," you said.

-"Explain why you're limping in a Patrick from Sponge bob in heels ?"

-"...yes ?"

-"Why does it sound like a question ?"

-"Because I don't know, I- It was a friend's birthday and they love Sponge Bob and I saw that on Tik tok. It was fun but..."

-"You sprained your ankle with your heels."

-"yes, but I came on foot."

-Alejandro looked at you.

-"I can drive you."

-"Alejandro, you don't need to. I mean it's already enough awkward and-"

-"I don't want you to hurt yourself, plus it's dangerous for everyone to walk on streets at 1 AM, hurt."

-You knew how Alejandro was serious and stubborn.

-"okay." you said, but Alejandro started to kneel down.

-"Wow, what are you doing ?"

-"Taking off your heels, your ankle is swollen it musts hurt like this."

-You let him do it.

-"I feel like Cinderella," you said.

-"Except you're in Patrick's costume and near to some piss in a street."

-You laughed.

-"I guess you were celebrating." you said pointing at the bar behind you.

-"yes, we finished the mission." he said and quickly looked away.

-This mission.

-The one which made you leave him.

-Alejandro was too absent.

-You tried to accept this, he warned you before you dated but after four years, you couldn't bear it anymore.

-"I see."

-He put your shoes in his backpack and looked at you.

-"I will carry you."

-"You don't need it, Alejandro I can walk." you said while you tried but you only hissed at pain.

-"No, you can't."

-"You can't give me a piggyback ride. You have a backpack and..."

-"Bridal style, it's only the time we reach my car."

-You looked at him hesitant and nodded. Then he carried you. This man didn't have muscles for nothing and you knew it but you were still self-conscious.

-Once you reached his car, he drove to your flat. But when you were supposed to enter to your building, you stayed in the car.

-"Alejandro."

-"Y/N."

-"Thanks for tonight, I know for you it's normal, but not a lot of people would have helped their ex like this."

-"Not a lot of people have amazing exes."

-"You're a smooth talker."

-"I am." He smirked.

-"How's Rudy ?" you asked out of nowhere.

-Alejandro was surprised.

-"Fine, but why do you ask ?"

-"I don't want to go back to my flat."

-"Y/N..."

-"I...I don't know if it's because I'm tired, but shit, I want to cry. Because you met me again like this. But also because I thought I could....I could forget you, but I can't because I know we broke up because of an impulsion. I was upset, yes. Yes you ignored me when I was telling you about your absence. But I never tried to think with you of solutions, I only shouted and I felt bad about it," you said tears in your eyes.

-And Alejandro noticed how your body language was unusual.

-"Did you drink, Y/N ?"

-"No, but I think there was something in the food at the birthday's party," you said.

-"okay, then I'm staying with you to be sure you're okay."

-"thanks. And sorry I shouldn't have vent like this."

-"you're not yourself, it's okay, mi cielo." He said while he carried you at your flat's door then opened it.

-"I missed this," you whispered.

-"Miss what ?"

-"you speaking Spanish. Did you know I subscribe to Duolingo after our first date ?" you said.

-"You never told me that."

-"I wanted to impress you."

-"But you have never spoken Spanish to me."

-"Because I never went more further than unit one on duolingo, I'm shitty at this."

-(sorry if you're fluent or good in Spanish ;)

-He laughed.

-"I could have taught you Spanish." Alejandro smiles while he helped you to remove the pink paint on your face.

-"I never think about it."

-"Because you always want to carry everything." Alejandro whispers.

-"I have to."

-"No."

-"But if I don't, who will ? Nobody will carry me." you answered.

-"I will, I wanted to."

-You stayed quiet.

-"I let the trainings of cadets to Rudy one month ago, I also started some cooperation with another squad so I would have more time."

-"But I broke up with you." you realized.

-"It's okay, you didn't know. I...I wanted to surprise you, but I forgot how much I let you carry for me, how much I relied on you without helping you back."

-Tears were rolling on your cheeks. Alejandro wiped them with his thumbs.

-"I'm sorry, corazon," Alejandro said.

-"Me too."

-"We both need to talk next morning, okay ?"

-"okay" you whispered.

-Then he helped you to go to bed. The next morning he was on your sofa.

-And you talked.

-Maybe some things were unfinished between you.

G A Z :

-You met because Soap is a fanboy.

-Let me explain.

-You and Gaz were high school sweethearts. But after his enlistment you both decided it was better to break up, because with you beginning university and him being in the military you wouldn't have had time for each other.

-And you didn't meet again.

-But years later, Soap invited Gaz and Ghost to a concert.

-Soap had been talking for months about this band he loved.

-He even played the music during missions or on the base.

-He played it to wake everyone up, at one point where Price had banned this music of the base.

-So as a result Gaz and Ghost knew the lyrics and could accompany him to the concert.

-Gaz said 'why not ?' he liked the music.

-But when the concert started, he realized you were the bassist for this band.

-His heart beat faster; the nostalgia was here.

-He knew you played bass, hell he couldn't count how many time he let his head on your lap while you played with a smile.

-"You look like you have seen a ghost." Soap said.

-Ghost snorted. (he only came because he liked the music and because the band's logo was a skull.)

-Gaz gave them a look.

-"You're not funny, but yeah I..I know the bassist."

-Oh boy !

-Gaz should never have told that to Soap.

-Johnny had sparkles in his eyes and was jumping for joy. He begged Gaz to talk to the bodyguards, so they could go to the dressing room and get autographs.

-Gaz tried to explain, but he could barely open his mouth before he found himself standing in front of the guard.

-So when they were in front of the dressing room after the concert, Gaz was sweating. How would you react? It had been years since he saw you. Even though it was on good terms, you both had broken up, he didn't know if you want to meet him again.

-The door opened and...

-"Kyle ?" you asked with a smile.

-Gaz fainted.

-Ghost caught him, and you immediately helped them seat Gaz in a chair in the dressing room.

-"Is he okay ?" you asked Soap.

-"I don't know, it's the first time I've seen him like that. I mean we have seen worst than someone smiling ?" Soap said lost.

-"I'm sorry, it's the stress." Gaz said, "I'm happy to meet you again, Y/N."

-"Yeah, the bodyguard told me you wanted to talk. I was so happy. I mean it's been a while," you smiled.

-"yeah." Gaz answered.

-A silence fell.

-Ghost sighed.

-"Are you both going to let the sexual tension in the room continue or can we know how you both know each other ?" Ghost asked

-You cleared up your throat at the comment.

-"You were high school sweethearts. Our relationship lasted like 2 or 3 years ? But we broke up when Kyle enlisted."

-Soap had a big smirk on his face.

-"Really, high school sweetheart ?" Soap asked

-He was going to tease Gaz on the base about this.

-"Yeah, but it's been awhile. Well, we won't bother you anymore. You played great, and we were just here to congratulate you." Gaz said flustered, he hated to be exposed like this.

-"and to ask if you were free, I mean we love your music and want to know more now we know about your past with Gaz" Soap asked.

-You raised your eyebrows and laughed.

-"Sure, I'm free. I guess you have a lot of embarrassing stories about Gaz."

-"I like you already." Soap smiled.

-Gaz never survived the meeting between you and Soap.

-It was one of his top ten embarrassing moments, after calling Price 'dad' in a meeting with Sheperd.

-But at least he had your number now, years later who knows what could happen.

A L E X :

-You met him at a wedding to arrest him.

-"When we were called for a fight at a wedding, I didn't expect you, Alex. What happened ?" you said while you helped him with his bleeding nose.

-"The bride thought her fiancé who's my friend, was cheating on her with me." Alex said while he furrowed his brows

-"And ?"

-"I wasn't. Leo had coffee on his suit, so I brought him a new one and when she walked on us, she saw him half-naked, and I red-faced because I had run from the shop to the wedding."

-You laughed.

-"She had quite a punch," you said while you looked at his broken nose.

-"Yes, she could compete with Price honestly." Alex sighed.

-You didn't say anything else while your colleagues calmed the bride.

-"I guess you're no longer invited to this wedding anymore," you joked.

-"I guess there won't be a wedding anymore either." he added while he laughed.

-"Do you want to see a doctor, or are you okay ?"

-"I'm okay, it's just nosebleed, nothing I haven't dealt with before."

-"Well I should go now that the situation is fixed."

-"Yeah."

-You began to leave, when he called out your name.

-"Yes ?" you answered.

-"It was...nice to see you again."

-"Yeah"

-"I'll text you once I'm home."

-"Okay."

-You left.

-Alex hurried home as quickly as he could to his home as fast as he can.

-Maybe some things were unfinished, like this wedding.

If you want more COD : COD masterlist

And if you want more of my works in other fandoms : my masterlist

[pokemonshelterstories]

Hello! Sorry, I saw in your last answer that you once had to sign an agreement to not talk about a dangerous pokemon you worked with. I'm not going to ask you to break your NDA of course. But what's the point of having a contract to not talk about the pokemon? And what kinds of pokemon need to have NDAs in place, like is there a consistent trait or ability that makes them necessary?

Obviously if this goes against contract don't stress it, but thank you in advance!

there are tons of reasons why an NDA might exist for a pokemon (whether it's an entire species or a specific individual), so i'll share some of the most common!

a really common reason is because the pokemon is part of a research project. for example, when i discuss or share footage from the crater cam project, there are certain things i'm not allowed to bring up pertaining to current research. this applies both to the pokemon we observe and the equipment! my team's research grant comes from silph, and all of us have signed NDAs about the cameras. similarly, scientists doing pokemon studies on things like medications and genetic manipulation typically sign NDAs on their work, which can sometimes include talking about the pokemon themselves. this was very much the case for the scientists who worked on the coding and genetics for porygon and castform!

the pokemon i worked with falls into this kind of category: people who work with certain famous/highly recognizable pokemon individuals are sometimes asked to sign NDAs about them, and this can include rangers or trainers who are contracted out to help with handling them. a lot of the times these are pokemon performers- i've heard that pokestar studios work can be a pain in the butt for this reason- but sometimes rare captive pokemon are kept secret for their own protection. the fuchsia zoo kept its farfetch'd program secret for a long time out of fear of people breaking into the zoo to steal their breeding candidates because farfetch'd sold for incredible prices back then. kind of a subset of this is that, whenever legendary or mythical pokemon (or, in rare instances, pokemon that have a sizable risk of causing serious injury or damage to the wider public) come into private ownership, their owner will often make the choice to keep them hidden from the public. i've seen rehabbers tasked with helping injured legendaries who only discuss their work after the pokemon is released. in these cases, they will often require an NDA before telling people about that pokemon.

one kind of NDA that i don't like when working with pokemon is when a rescue/shelter/sanctuary/zoo requires an NDA to work or volunteer there. while it's not always sketchy, a lot of the times it means that they're trying to deter you from reporting safety concerns or pokemon abuse. i've heard way too many horror stories to ever agree to something like this. NDAs are often there for important reasons, but if something feels sketchy to you, go with your gut feeling!

[tiredmetalenthusiast]

I want you, I love you (SimonxF!reader)

Here’s one for @glitterypirateduck’s challenge for our big boy Simon! I used 7.”Accidental confession” and 25.”Ghost and reader have to dress up for an event”.

Warning: Language.

Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He didn’t want to go. He hated going to Galas or really any event where money and politics were being discussed, the big spenders and supporters of the military with their almost carbon copy wives. He hated having to pretend that he cared about what the old men were talking to him about, asking always how many men he’s killed for “the greater good”. Ignoring their salacious wives’ advances to simply walk off to the bar or track down Johnny.

That was before you though. You, who somehow wormed your way into his head and his heart, long since thought cold and dead.

You’d been with the team for 2 years now, seamlessly integrating yourself into their everyday. Formed a fast friendship with Gaz and Johnny, looked to Price for guidance, and never shied away from talking to Ghost himself like you’d known him for ages.

He approved of your snarky attitude and the way you operated on the field, watching his back (and saving his ass a couple times), being able to hold your own in a fight. He still goes back to the day he watched you take down Price, a man twice your size and weight, he’d never been hotter under the collar.

Now as he gazes blankly into the abyss thinking of you, ignoring the droning of the old man and his idiotically annoying wife, he catches sight of deep, sparkling blue fabric. His eyes trailed the fabric up to strings of black pearls clinging to curvy, plush hips. Up higher to more pearls hanging and clinging to a soft stomach and ample breasts, shoulders bare save for a black fur coat.

A low whistle came from his left, Johnny showing up from the corner of his eye. ”Well, never thought I’d see the day we got to see Bonnie all dressed up.” “Don’t even think about it Mactavish.” Johnny chuckled, “Aye not looking to die tonight L.T. Would nae make a move on your woman.”

”Oh are we giving Simon shit about his crush?” “Fuck off Garrick.” Gaz chuckled and patted Simon’s shoulder, “Aw Simon, give it a rest. You’ve been drooling over the bloody woman for the whole 2 years she’s been with us.” Simon looked down before following your figure again, glaring at any man that even dared to approach you, let alone try to flirt with you. You were popular among the male recruits unfortunately.

”Are ye gonna tell ‘er?” “No. Best not to.” The three men shook their heads and rolled their eyes, “Simon, I’m gonna give it to you straight.” “I expect nothing less.” “Stop being a bloody fucking muppet and go talk to that poor woman before you actually lose her to a worse muppet.” He turned to stare at Price in disbelief.

He sighed and rubbed his temples. “Migraine?” He looked up to find you holding out a glass of bourbon to him as you take a sip of your own and sit. He gladly takes the glass, moving his mask to take a sip. “Always luv. Never stops when you’re around idiots all day.” You laughed and shook your head, “Aw Johnny’s not that bad L.T.” “Not talkin ‘bout Johnny sweetheart.” “Mmm, the recruits giving you a hard time?” “Bloody infants. Every single one of ‘em.”

His heart sang with joy at the sound of your full laugh,  he tried his hardest not to stare but he couldn’t help it. You were so beautiful. “Hahaha tell me about it. They complain so much about literally everything. Gets annoying havin to hear it day in and day out.” He nods in agreement. The silence stretched on for a bit as you both took sips of your drinks. “Care to dance? You’re the only one I haven’t danced with yet.”

”Don’t dance luv.” “Can’t be any worse than Johnny. He tried to dip me and I almost fell.” Simon chuckled at the image of Johnny doing just that, the image making him grin under the mask. “We don’t have to. Just wanted to dance with someone that didn’t wanna stare at my chest or comment on my body.” “Shameless pigs. You deserve a proper dance then.” He watches you excitedly put your drink down and link your arm with him.

It was then he got a whiff of your perfume, light and delicious with a touch of cinnamon and vanilla. Your arm and hands were warm wrapped around his arm and he puffed up when you subconsciously groped his bicep and laid your head on it.

The two of you danced for a few songs, you leading him slowly. As the last song ended he found your face flushed and hair a bit disheveled. Eyes bright and lovely, smile radiant against your glowing skin. “You’re so beautiful luv. I want you.” ‘Fuck’. Your eyes widened as you looked up into his. “W-what?” Simon sighs, he’s done it now.

”I want you, lovie. I want your body, your smiles, your laughter. Want all your love for myself everyday. I love you.” He watched your face, anxiously waiting for your answer. A smile spread across your features and you giggled, “Took you long enough Simon.” “That mean I can kiss you now?” You nodded, smile wide as he lifted his mask slightly, arm sliding around your waist, a hand at the back of your head.

The kiss was passionate, all consuming, and delicious. Ghost never wanted to part from your lips, but the look of love shining in your eyes made him happy he did. “Wanna get out of here?” “Fuck yes. Tired of these pompous assholes.” Somewhere close by Gaz, Price, and Johnny look on, happy for Simon.

[itsa-me-lily]

So I wrote this during my lunch hour in a haze of fruit and inspiration. Thank you @kitsur for reading this over for me to check the ending and in general for hearing me go on my crazed cork board rants some days (most days)

This is a sequel to “That’s My Purse” and I really really encourage you to read part one because it sets all of this up. And maybe read this if the bed comment is confusing. Also thank you @nightunite for the original ask that lead to all this.

Here is the Simon & Thimble playlist

Here is the MPS AU masterlist

Content warning; cheating (kind of. It’s more non monogamy I guess and it’s very debatable if it’s even ethical because I really don’t think Simon would explain his arrangement to a stranger), fatphobia, misogyny, “bro language”

Alright, he could admit it. You weren’t the worst person to be married to. Though you were certainly in the running for most annoying. Always had some smart comment to say, acting like it was an Olympic sport you were aiming for gold in. Sometimes Simon just wanted to eat his beans on toast in god damn peace. Was that too much to ask for?

So yeah you seemed to always run your mouth with him, but sometimes you did say things that made logical sense.

He didn’t care about the whole demi-whatever thing you had explained to him, even if it sparked some sort of recognition in the back of his brain. You didn’t want to have sex with him, so he didn’t want to have sex with you, simple enough. And he could appreciate that you didn’t want the entire base to know he was being cuckholded, however willingly. Though he didn’t really care what people around him thought.

But he’d give what he got. The few times he did find someone that held some interest to him, in some after mission bar, he at least made sure there wasn’t a surface level connection to the base, or you. He’d go back to their place and then act like he had just gotten back from the mission when he went home the next morning. It didn’t seem to bother you and he’d figure you’d appreciate the extra night in the bed and not the pull out.

The first time he tried though, Price nearly put him on his ass. Pulling him to the alley outside the pub and shoving him against a wall, demanding to know if Simon was the kind of man to ignore his vows just to get his dick wet. Trying to explain your agreement with Price went phenomenally awful, and the captain wouldn’t look at him different until all three of you sat down and you confirmed that you were indeed okay with it.

And then of course it had to happen all over again with the other two chuckleheads he worked with. By the time you were having your third sit down with Soap you’d just handed him some informational pamphlet you cooked up. Always had to be cheeky you did. He didn’t think they really understood, but as long as they didn’t look at him like he was a scummy bastard he didn’t care.

So every now and again he’d find someone to follow back to theirs, just to blow off some steam, get rid of the twitch that lived under his skin. The sex was okay. Nothing to write home about. It got the job done.

It was what Simon was planning to do tonight. There was already some bird leaning against the bar, giving him the stare as she nibbled on the end of her drink straw. Plump little thing. But before he could get up to start his advance, voices behind him broke out in the loud drunk way young twenty-something men did when they had too much liquid courage.

“Listen man, pussy is pussy even in the dark”

“Yeah but you got some balls to go after Riley’s wife.”

That stopped him, keeping him glued to his seat. What’s this about you? Judging how Soap’s bottle paused at his lips though, Simon wasn’t the only one to hear it.

“Yeah well she found your balls lacking bro.”

There was mocking laughter from the table behind him. At least Simon wasn’t the only one catching casualties from your mouth. He was going to let it go, maybe just see who they were to keep in mind, when the ring leader decided to seal his fate.

“Yeah yeah. Fat cow’s acting all tough now but she’ll be begging for it sooner or later.”

No Simon didn’t notice how his grip tightened around his beer, tight enough that his fingertips turned white.

“Dude you think?”

No one in the vicinity heard how Simon’s chair scrapped violently against the ground as he stood up.

“There’s no way Riley is fucking that. Even with back shots she’s-”

No one at the other table expected Simon Riley to appear out of thin air, heavy hand coming down with a crushing force onto the man stupid enough to slander your name. Pearson. Of course it was. Jackass who thought he was god’s gift to everyone because Daddy had a bit of money and some girls let him stick it in once.

Yes, you had to have the last word all the fucking time. You had too much shit, and he honestly thought you were a little too obsessed with your guinea pigs.

But you always met him head on. Was so unapologetically yourself, laughing so loudly at terrible jokes even he got startled now and again. You respected who he was, how he was. Like hell he was going to let some personification of a left ballsack talk about you like that.

“She’s my wife”

[hearts4youz]

"Captains Daughter" ● Chapter One ●

A/N Heyy!! welcome to the first chapter of my first fic posted on Tumblr!!! I want to thank you in advance for reading my work, please provide criticism and feedback, I would greatly appreciate it :) I want to keep this authors note short so without further ado (ew) heres chapter one!

Word count 954

You strode into the mess hall like you've done many times before. Only this time, you worked here. When you were younger your father, Captain John Price, would bring you up to the base some days. You remembered ogling at the huge Humvee's and armored tanks in the garages, and the rooms full of state of the art weaponry you would see in the video games you had on the xbox your dad had bought you for Christmas one year. Smiling at the memory, you hopped in line to get a bite to eat before your meeting, which immediately followed the allotted time for breakfast.

Steak and eggs were being served today, based on the relatively low level of complaining from the people around you, you assumed it was one of the better meals served on base. As a kid, you never ate on base when your dad would bring you. When you were really young he would go out to McDonalds to get a happy meal for you. As you got older you packed your own lunch.

After you received your meal, you found an open spot at a half filled table. Nodding at those who were already seated there, you settled in at the other end of the table, savoring what would likely be your last bit of alone time for the rest of the day.

Your first day at a new base felt almost like your first day at a new school, you thought as you wandered the corridors trying to find the meeting room your father had told you to report to. You scanned the endless doorways, looking for one labelled "Meeting room 7." Cursing as you passed another one labeled storage, you thought you would be late. Turning another corner in this Labyrinth that was supposed to become your second home, you finally found it. You twisted the handle and stepped into a room with a long wooden table, a whiteboard streaked with poorly erased marker lines, and five men seated around the table.

You were greeted with a beaming smile from your father as you stepped inside and shut the door behind you.

"Gentlemen, this is my daughter Y/N, she has been recently assigned to our unit and will begin training with us and joining us for missions today," your father beamed, proud that the young woman he raised would be joining his team.

You offered a shy wave and a smile to the rest of the room, you studied each of them as they introduced themselves.

"I'm Sergeant Kyle Garrick, but you can call me Gaz, one sporting a ball cap with the British flag imprinted on the front said. he had a light stubble on his chin and above his lip.

"Everyone calls me soap 'round here," The guy with the mohawk grinned, he appeared to be the goofiest out of the group. Next to him was a tall man, face obscured by a skull mask. He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed.

"Ghost, Lieutenant," His thick Manchester accent stated. The exposed portion of his face was unreadable as he looked at you.

"Alejandro Vargas, Colonel, Mexican Special Forces," The last one to introduce himself said with a smile.

"Well, I'm excited to start working alongside you all, and i'm looking forward to getting to know you all," you responded kindly, receiving nods and murmured agreements in return.

The one who called himself soap beckoned you over and patted the seat next to him as your father started yakking about the day's tasks. He grinned as you sat down next to him.

"Price says your a sergeant," he queried.

"I am, and you?" you responded.

"twins," he laughed.

While Price droned on, you and Soap chatted about anything and everything. You half listened to your dad, not wanting to miss important information and have a huge fuck up your first day on the job.

Eventually, Soap gave you the run down on each member of the unit. You learned that him and Gaz were good friends, Alejandro leads another group called Los Vaqueros, and the real name of the scary ghost guy was Simon Riley.

"He's a man of few words at first, well actually he's always a man of few words," Soap corrected himself. "but he's a good guy when you get to know him, he's an excellent soldier too," he continued.

"I don't think he's very fond of me joining," you said.

"Naw, he'll come around eventually, he's just trying to act all tough" Soap insisted.

you hummed, tuning back into the meeting. Towards the end of it, your father mentioned assigning a training partner for you. Task Force 141 was in much more violent territory, with tougher foes. You would need extra help to catch up to the skill level of the rest of the group

"I'd like Ghost to assist Y/N in training," Price finished.

You could see Ghost's brows furrowing from the eye holes in his mask, You could see Ghosts brows furrow from the eye holes in his mask, they were a shade of light blue, almost grey. Other than that, Ghost had no comment about the order. Price dismissed the meeting.

You waited for everyone to clear out before walking up to your dad, he kissed your forehead and smiled at you "Need something kiddo?" He asked.

"Well I can't find where my bunk is for starters," you said sheepishly.

This new base was huge, in your old one everyone slept in barracks. Here, everyone gets their own room.

"Of course kid," He chuckled as you made your way out of the meeting room.

Today, you would settle in. Tomorrow, the real work begins.

[steadfastconsultant]

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[migitsukkie]

POMEGRANATE NOIR— MICHAEL KAISER x FEM READER (Part 1)

A/N: This time, I’m gonna try and do something more spicy ‘cause the hell not lol. This one’s going to have some other parts so if you want me to continue, please tell me so! I really want to hear some feedbacks. Sorry in advance for the typos and wrong grammars, dear crumpets 𝜗𝜚

tags and tw: Enemies with Benefits, Explicit Language, Established relationship, Smut soon, Enemies to Lovers (probably), English is not my first language, tension, Part one of ?

Summary: You and Kaiser go way back before he even got into Bastard München. A family friend in fact though both of them just didn’t get along well. Even in family gatherings, you two could be heard arguing and fighting over small things. Now that they are grown, matured adults— nothing changes except the fact that they would call each other in midst of a crisis. However, help comes with a price.

Having to be called over by Kaiser is not rare but it’s often when night comes. You— wearing the hoodie of the guy you slept with earlier in the morning with the scent of hotel shampoo reeking all over your body while hiding the bite marks you told that guy from the bar to not leave, enters Kaiser’s penthouse. Seeing that only his towel covers his body, you couldn’t help but roll her eyes before lounging down his sofa

"Stop calling me when I’m in the middle of having sex, asshole."

Kaiser's jaw clenches at the smell lingering around you— unintentionally making him frown and grit his teeth. But he's good at masking his annoyance, so he acts as if it didn't bother him at all. Letting out an irritated sigh, he then walked over your direction while ruffling his damp hair with his gaze going over to your hoodie as he sat down on the armchair nearest to you.

"And I don't want you smelling like some random man when you're with me."

He bluntly said, his eyes boring into yours.

"Oh piss off, Kaiser."

How and Why does Kaiser care? You know that you reek of sex and cheap shampoo, you were clearly aware. But for Kaiser to complain? Do you care? No. Obviously. Ruffling his still damp hair, his eyes were like eagles, seeing the fresh marks on your neck. Oh how he can feel his veins throbbing just from the thought of it. Not that you would complain if you would see scratch marks and hickeys on his back with his other whores.

Fixing yourself on the sofa, you then looked at Kaiser who was eyeing on you. Heck, glare should you say. Scrunching your eyebrows together, you couldn’t help but feel a bit ticked off with how Kaiser is acting

"Stop meddling for fuck’s s—"

He leans down, his elbows resting on his thighs. His eyes slowly roam all over you, his annoyance not once leaving his gaze. A low scoff falls from his mouth when you spoke, before he suddenly reached for your feet and pulled you in, making you sit on his lap.

"Finish that sentence, I dare you."

He warned in a low yet commanding tone. The way your hair clings on your face, the marks that pepper your neck—all the small little details he could not take notice of.

Yelping at his sudden actions, Y/N is now sitting on this bastard’s lap. The audacity. These two really don’t get along well despite sleeping with each other like animals in heat. They had no place to even get jealous, they’re just using each other for pleasure. That’s their agreement. Though Kaiser is the one who always breaks their consensus, sometimes you two are too angry to even notice it.

The smell of his shampoo— pomegranate noir, it’s that usual scent you would take a waft of when you meet Kaiser.

It’s the scent he wants to smell when you go out of his penthouse.

And now that you’re sitting on his lap, Kaiser couldn’t help but scoff with the smell of the cheap ass shampoo you used in the hotel you went to. Hearing his challenge, you couldn’t help but lift your chin up before talking in a hissy manner.

"Stop. Meddling. Assh—Ghk! You…!"

And just like that you snapped his already strained control. His expression twisted in a mix of annoyance, anger, and a hint of possessiveness.

He wrapped an arm around your waist, while his other hand roughly grabbed your jaw, forcing you to look at him and meet his gaze. He gritted his teeth, his hand gripping your chin tightly that it will undeniably leave a mark afterwards.

"Keep talking like that and I'll shut that mouth of yours with mine."

He said in a low, threatening tone.

Oh how you fucked up so bad.

—𝜗𝜚.

[pawborough]

Beta Expectations and Our Development Goals

Hi everyone! This document serves as an outline for starting expectations when beginning Closed Beta. 

Things to remember as we move into Closed Beta are: 

Cursing is allowed! We’ve dialed back our filters quite a bit, but absolutely no innuendo or sexual content. Details are outlined in our TOS.

In this beginning, the application feels closer to the Alpha state than it does the full game. It is in a mid-development limbo, which is why we are stressing that it is the Closed Beta state. Our biggest milestones have been backend technical foundations that have taken significant time. If the game were a cake, we have finished baking the base, which is what we’re starting the testing for. We’ll be making aggressive updates throughout the next few months of the test, which will introduce the “frosting,” and advance general playability. We plan to roll out new mechanics every month. You will find a list below of what these goals are.

Temper your starting expectations, but get excited for how much we’re going to continuously develop and update!

We will not be moving into Open Beta until we feel the game is close to done. Think of Closed Beta as phase 1, and Open Beta as phase 2.

Things will break the moment you try them. This is normal and expected. Always report!

Because of this, things won’t be very fun yet. But as we roll out improvements and new things, users will get to give live feedback on what they want to see and how things feel.

Early Access will be less smooth than full Closed Beta as we detect the kinks of letting more people in en masse. It’s the nature of early launching. Brace yourselves!

In the same vein, several aspects are temporary. Topher takes the place of icons in the queue, and compromises we’ve made for early economic simulation (example: a placeholder merchant to simulate the Processing mechanic) will be barren. NPCs are sketches, UI colors may be temporary, and UI banners are sketches.

Any and all prices of items or features are temporary or subject to change. Things like the price of kit rolling or accessory items will be tooled.

All updates and communications with testers will be posted publicly instead of through email. Eventually, we’ll use the site forums, but not until we can guarantee no more content wipes, and we’ve developed the sticky system on the User Dashboard.

Everything in this test, minus your username, password, account ID, and purchases is temporary. Your account content will be erased at some point in time, and when it is your Kickstarter and Alpha reward codes will be re-activated for use.

If anything is broken about your code, please report! We’ll fix it!

Any premium purchases you make will be restored upon wipes, and exist in this state as a means to support us moreso than to stimulate longterm collecting. By purchasing any currency, you’re helping us develop! But please do not feel pressured!

Bundles will be added come the full Closed Beta.

Pelt submissions are open for user testing, but you’ll have to re-submit upon any wipes.

When you complete registration (entering your DOB and confirming agreement to the TOS), your founder and follower IDs will be reserved, so you can take your time going over the details.

These starting cats will be wiped completely, and when Open Beta begins, follower and founder IDs will be totally up for grabs again upon first-come first-serve login and confirmation.

We’ll be around to grind for the next two weeks. Then, in two weeks, there will be a bit of a lull as our developers take a breather and regroup, and we’ll be back in March. We’re making this plan known so it doesn’t look like an abandonment or nervous silence. We’re simply planning rest and pacing ahead of time!

We’ll be sending out periodic surveys to get honest criticism and check how the economy is feeling.

The first survey is ready and waiting for your input! This survey focuses specifically on the economy, and can be filled out once per day. Please do not feel pressured to do so every day, but we encourage you to respond as many times as possible. Your input is immeasurably valuable for the fine-tuning of our economy, and guaranteeing the long-term enjoyability of the site. Please find the survey here.

With over 700 items on this site, we may have missed necessary data entry for some as we learn the ins and outs of our own program. Always report and we’ll fix it!

Some accessories are in the re-coloring queue, and if so will have their recolors seeded into the economy as we finish them.

It’s a marathon, not a sprint. We’re ready to hit the ground running, but it will be a long journey. We’re excited to embark on it together!

Here is a list of things available from the get-go (hopefully useable, if not they will be!):

Cooking and Crafting

Daily Duties

Flea Market and Merchants 

Breeding

Dress up and general cat customization

Beta retirement (bare bones)

Cat relationships and cross-cat gift giving

Archetype discovery (we are adding new ones as you play!)

Forum posting and custom board creation (image hosting!)

Cat profile CSS boxes

User profile CSS boxes

Storage and stash functionality for item organization

Bank functionality for currency storage

User customization settings (icon selection, pronoun and slogan editing, Borough swapping, username swapping)

Crest application

Beta guild play (basic errands)

Multiplayer guilds

Incense and metamorphic functionality

Pelt submissions (the refined pelt rules are a work in progress, because for this chaotic testing phase we’d like everyone to go nuts and have some fun! The only steadfast rules are no gore, copyrighted materials, religious iconography, or sexual content!)

Friend requests and adding friends

Premium shop (intended for user support, benefits are bare for at least the next week or so while we focus on user bug reports)

Now without further ado… here is what we’ll be working on in the coming months, in order of general priority! Open Beta will not happen until we finish this list.

Replacing frontend assets with final renders.

Updating item cards to reflect dynamic button displays depending on the page in which the card is being viewed.

User report system for all user-ran content.

Wardrobe functionality; full sandbox dress up available to any visitor.

Infrastructure for sharing sandbox creations in comments and forum posts; text language like :catID: to paste an image link of a cat.

User to user DM functionality.

User to user private trading.

Item database and lore encyclopedia.

Processing functionality + dye system. For now, recolors are seeded in a temporary merchant.

Visual faunapedia record for fauna studying (including unlockable lore.)

Adding a slew of archetypes. Dedicated archetype collection page with user featured display.

Sitewide search functionality of all user content.

Aesthetic updates to comments + addition of comments onto cat pages.

Splitting the Undercoat into two patterns: Dilute (dynamically lightened) and Standard.

Adding a white patch selector into the creator and founder designer.

Dashboard refinement + forum news widget and stickies.

Splitting cooking and crafting to bring back Winnipeg and keep the mechanics more organized.

Farming.

Much of it has been started already, and we’ll continue to share our progress. We plan to stay in Closed Beta likely over the summer, but it will be as long as these developments take.

And then we will move into Open Beta! Where we can focus on the following:

User notebook entries (blog posts.)

Forum board updates to better accommodate posting

Sitewide tagging and filtering.

Cross-account breeding.

Dedicated Guild refinement and updates.

Achievement system.

Referral system.

Team features like a team hoard, team notes, and shared scenes.

Refinement of any feature feedback we get :) 

And from there… it’s full launch, baby! 

Again, a marathon, not a sprint. This list may seem long and arduous, but we’ll continue visual content updates (patterns, breeds, etc.) throughout the length of development.

Let’s get crackin’, catfolk!

[girlactionfigure]

One Choice: Fight to Win

Yesterday Israel preempted a potentially disastrous attack by Hezbollah on the center of the country. Thirty minutes before launch time, our aircraft destroyed literally thousands of launchers, rockets, and drones that were aimed at various targets including IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv and sensitive installations in the North.

Despite being an impressive technical and tactical achievement, it does not herald a new, more aggressive Israeli military policy. A column in the Israel Hayom newspaper this morning was titled “Preemptive operation, not preemptive attack,” and that sums it up. The 100 aircraft that were involved were simply a more elaborate and expensive Iron Dome. Admittedly the enemy lost more assets than the rockets and drones it had planned to use; launchers and installations were also destroyed. But the objective of the operation was entirely defensive. Great care was taken to ensure that it would be seen as a “legitimate” response to aggression. Israel waited until just before Hezbollah was expected to fire, and the attack was limited to southern Lebanon. As is always the case when we play pure defense, the enemy has learned lessons and will try again.

It was telling that Israel and the US both indicated that the US knew about it in advance, and that the attack was “fully coordinated” with the US. It’s well known that the US forbids Israel to preemptively attack its enemies, so it was important to present it as limited and “intended to prevent escalation.” But it should be noted that Hezbollah did succeed to launch some 300 weapons at the northern part of Israel, from which tens of thousands of citizens have become refugees. The defensive strike still did not enable them to return home. No purely defensive operation can.

American policy continues to have as its top objective the prevention of escalation. The pressure to reach a cease-fire agreement with Hamas continues at a high level. Although they are often presented as “hostage return” deals, no proposal has been seriously considered that allows more than a minority of the living hostages in the hands of Hamas to return. The Americans have made it clear that they intend for any temporary cease-fire to become permanent, or at least extended; and this implies the continued rule of Hamas and the abandonment of more than half of the hostages.

Israel cannot allow a situation to continue in which large numbers of her citizens from both the northern and southern parts of the country have been driven from their homes and can’t return for fear of rocket attacks and 7 October-style invasions. Essentially, a third of our country has been occupied by our enemies since 7 October. This is the status quo that American-brokered diplomatic “solutions” will perpetuate.

American forces have been sent to the region to prevent escalation by either side while they pursue diplomatic initiatives. But today Israeli deterrence is at its lowest point in years, and any American-brokered compromises with Hamas, Hezbollah, or Iran, will be disastrous to us.

If the Democrats win the US presidency, it’s expected that the pro-Iranian policy begun under Obama will gather steam. The Iranian regime is not sitting idly by, but is galloping toward the finish line in developing its nuclear umbrella. Israel can’t afford to wait and hope for a more friendly administration next January, which may or may not materialize.

Israel lost her way strategically at some point, when her military leadership buckled under American pressure, abandoned Ben Gurion’s philosophy of taking the war to her enemies, and began to fight, as Gadi Taub said, “with a shield but without a sword.” We have paid a huge price for this, and it’s not sustainable. Now we are at the point at which we have no choice but to fight to win.

[freedelusionshere]

Even if Carmy didn’t buy 11K worth of dystopian butter, I will never, for a minute, believe that Cicero had Computer draw up that partnership agreement for The Bear in good faith. Thank God Syd did not sign it!

Cicero likes people to be in debt to him, always. He likes people to come beg him like Richie did in Fishes. His house of cards is about to come crashing down. And he’s not going to be able to rope Syd in.

Cicero allies himself with people like Computer, who tried to fire Marcus. We know Computer is trash just for that alone.

I know @gingergofastboatsmojito is going to have some things to say about Cicero. But I just keep thinking about how Syd signed her apartment lease and has been on differed pay and also probably Carmy and Nat as well and the idea came from Computer.

Like, the way Nat and Carmy talk to Syd about signing that partnership agreement just seems like an afterthought to them? And they just accepted what Computer drew up.

They did not talk about it in advance. It all hit their inboxes at the same time. The price of doing business with Cicero.

We know Nat had Pete read it, but did Carmy?!