#branded by fire

[bookfirstlinetourney]

Round 1

Change can kill. Devastate. Destroy. But it can also save.

-Branded by Fire, Nalini Singh

The unicorn lived in a lilac wood, and she lived all alone.

-The Last Unicorn, Peter S. Beagle

The first I knew about the civil war was when my sister Aurien poisoned me.

-The King’s Name, Jo Walton

[mashithamel]

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A post shared by Michelle Taiki Art (@michelletaikiart)

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A post shared by Michelle Taiki Art (@michelletaikiart)

Branded by Fire:

Finally getting to Riley/Mercy!

These two are so hot together. I think I enjoyed this one way more on the reread. I don’t remember why it didn’t click the first time. Maybe because they kind of beat each other up to start? Dunno. Maybe knowing how good they are together down the road helps?

* “Whatever his faults (and they were many and legend), Riley knew how to take care of the innocent.” Empasis mine

* “Is it the fact that I’m a wolf, or the fact that I made you whimper?” 🥵

* “I don’t know any woman more in command of herself than you.” She shot him a narrow-eyed glance. “And that gets your panties in a twist, doesn’t it?” “Yeah.” 🥵🥵

* I’m sorry, Bowen wore a bracelet with both his and Lily’s names on it to an op, and then let it fall off without retrieving it? I am unimpressed, sir! Sloppy. It wasn’t even left as a calling card—that would have actually been smart. But you know it wasn’t because he would have never risked Lily like that.

* The poor Psy getting compulsed to suicide is terrible, but the orderly too?? Bastard, whoever is controlling them.

* “She wasn’t a bone to be fought over. He had no right to act territorial—she hadn’t given him that right.” She’s so right, and changeling men are just too much sometimes.

* Ok, him driving to her house to sit on her porch, and her inviting him just to comfort him. That is just so sweet.

* I forgot Bowen already had allowed an implant in him. Huh. Maybe that’s why he was all sloppy. Too many experiments with his brainstem.

* “Test not only passed, but aced. Because this was a game. Hurting your partner wasn’t the aim. “Riley?” “Yeah.” He didn’t break his hold, even as he pressed closer, his erection insistent against her lower back. The tiny hairs on her body shivered in reaction. “I think you’re sexy.”” Yeah, they are hot together!

* Aww, Riley really likes kids. I’m glad he winds up with a whole litter of his own.

* “Why didn’t you call her yourself?” Not even a pause. “Because it’s you I want to talk to.”

* “Because,” she said, “you won’t be there.” Everyone went quiet. Then Hawke swore. “Damn it, Sascha. I haven’t touched her. She’s a kid.” My response: thank goodness she’s barely not a minor, but wait, aren’t I supposed to ship them hard in just a couple of books? But also: a slow burn is just sooooo juicy!

* The shower scene? Vaughn, you could really take some notes on this.

* “I don’t particularly want a man full-time in my life.” His hand fell away. “I guess that’s going to make this mating hell for both of us.” I do like how Riley’s just like, huh, guess that’ll suck.

* I like how one of Mercy’s immediate concerns about mating is what would happen to any kids. It doesn’t really come up for other couples much (Garnet and Kenji aside), but it’s such an important question to address. Especially for Riley.

* I love Kaleb being more upset about the Alliance trying to destroy the house than the assassination attempt. That’s Sahara’s house!

* I wish we spent more time with the birds. They would be really interesting to read more about.

* Mercy deciding to accept the mating bond specifically because she wanted to protect Riley and give him something important was so beautiful. True love ❤️

* I do like how they wind up so equal. It’s not one who’s going to do all the protecting, they’re gonna protect each other.

* And his cabin that he built five years ago, but has never stayed in, built for the mate he hoped to one day meet? Ugh, pure romance.

* “You make my heart beat, Mercy.” 😍

This is a fantastic romance. Strong female, strong male, figuring out how to bend enough to make it work, and realizing they would give everything for each other. Yep, I love them!

Number of showers: a lot!

Riley: 6

Mercy: 8

Rating: four out of five sexy cold showers

[pterribledinosaurdrawings]

Toothpaste companies must really hate people who are allergic to mint toothpaste, which a lot of people are! Apparently it's NOT supposed to burn like minty hellfire? (I'm fine with mint candy, it's only mint toothpaste that hurts)

I've been using Tom's fennel for years, but am now trying to find one with fluoride in it, and finding a toothpaste that is no mint and yes fluoride should not be such a huge and infuriating quest. still got some more grocery stores to search, but not even the children's toothpaste in the nearest one had any that were suitable.

Edit: Hey you don't need to keep copying out the tags, I wrote all the Minty Hellfire lyrics here. And then someone recorded them here.

Also, I think it might technically be a sensitivity rather than an allergy, but whatever it is, toothpaste is not supposed to hurt! If it's burning then that's bad and you should try to find a new one if possible!

[demaparbat-hp]

There is no such thing as personal space between them.

[poobirdy]

xin mo did not become the demonic op sword of all three realms for this!!! for @kawouwu who asked for binggeyuan sillies! thank you for your donation to svsss' gotcha 4 gaza!

[taitavva]

body swap

[nightwonder7]

What's making him smile like that all the time?

[t0bey]

Realization i had a while back

[sheikfangirl]

Alternate Totk headcanon: Puppet Zelda won and and broke Link. He got entirely consumed by hatred and despair and is beyond saving now. No hope, no heart, unredeemable. Link is Puppet Zelda's corrupted knight. He is Dark Link.

[zhezhezha]

I was planning to make a video with it, but I'm not sure I'll ever finish so look at these silly sprites

[shebsart]

[franklyshane]

isn't it a miracle?

[shopwitchvamp]

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[kowaixt]

florian posting

[dailydccomics]

Justice League Dark movie poster cover by Joe Quinones

[chawawanya]

New survivor looks pretty cool ngl..