#but this may become a very mutually beneficial arrangement

[theparadoxblade]

well. i have an fwb now

[fayes-fics]

A Beneficial Arrangement

Pairing: Anthony Bridgerton x fem!reader

Summary: A marriage pact with a Viscount. What could possibly go wrong?

Warnings: 18+ smut, minors DNI, oral sex (m to f), loss of virginity, vaginal sex. Bickering, developing relationship.

Word Count: 6.1 k

Authors Note: Unbetaed. Anon request fill from HERE (Anthony and a headstrong independent reader make an unconventional marriage pact). Sorry it's taken so long to write this, but I hope you enjoy! <3

It’s a dreary, rather ordinary Tuesday in spring when your life takes a turn.

“The Viscount is in want of a wife.” 

That statement is all you hear as you walk past the drawing room where your mother is taking tea with her good friend, the dowager Viscountess Bridgerton.

“My eldest needs a husband,” your mother responds, offering you as if merely chattel; bile rises indignantly as she does so. “But I fear she is far too outspoken to be a suitable Viscountess.” 

You sigh in relief, ear pressed to the closed door now.

“Oh, believe me, nothing would be a better match for my darling Anthony than someone who will challenge him, stand up to him,” Violet peals a knowing laugh. “We should arrange a meeting.”

——

3 days later.

He assesses you with a cool eye as your gaze drifts briefly over to both of your mothers, watching expectantly from a nearby table in the tea shop.

“You should know I will only be taking a wife to fulfil my societal duty,” he sniffs airly. “However, I do not expect you to produce an heir. The title may pass to my younger brothers; they are more inclined to form romantic attachments than I. Their offspring can inherit this title; it feels like a curse anyhow,” he adds quieter, his tone mildly embittered.

“Well, on your attitude to marriage, I can wholeheartedly agree,” you state, stirring your tea primly. “I do not wish to be shackled. I wish to remain free. I shall marry, as there is no other path available to me, but I do not plan nor do I ever want to be someone's wife.” You utter the word with disdain as if it is toxic. 

His admittedly very handsome face transforms into one of surprise, a faint dot of colour on his cheeks as he peers at you as if assessing you in a new light.

“What?” You frown at him, his silent stare becoming too heavy to bear as his interest and engagement intensify.

“You are the first woman I have ever met who shares my outlook,” he confesses, seemingly caught off-guard. “It is so utterly refreshing… and, frankly, novel.” He pauses to pass his fingers slowly over his lips in a way that makes your stomach swoop, even if you refuse to acknowledge such even to yourself. “I do believe we should meet again to discuss this further,” he concludes.

And thus, you find yourself with the suit of one Viscount Anthony Bridgerton, both of your mothers overjoyed at the prospect.

——

9 days later.

“If I must marry, you are the most tolerable woman I have met, I must concede,” he states nonchalantly as you meet to promenade. 

It’s quite an opening line for only your third meeting, even for someone as renownedly blunt as the Viscount.

“And a good afternoon to you too, Viscount Bridgerton,” you drawl pointedly with a raised eyebrow, subtly hinting how his greeting may have been lacking.

He chuckles, a flash of what looks like admiration in his dark eyes.

“As such,” he continues, “I would not be averse to a martial arrangement with you. An agreement, a pact if you will, based on our mutual understanding of what we both want from such an endeavour.”

The speed and pragmatism of his apparent proposal do not surprise you in the least. In fact, you are actually grateful for the lack of ceremony around it. If you must marry, you prefer it be swift.

“Did you mean what you said last week? In the tearoom?” You quiz as you begin to walk shoulder to shoulder through Hyde Park, the early summer air heavy with the scent of roses.

“Every word,” he replies solemnly.

“Then, I suppose this is a beneficial arrangement for me too,” you shrug as if agreeing about the weather, not the very course of your future. But there is something about this man that feels inevitable, fateful, but not in a way you dread. Also, his face is so very pleasing. If you must indeed marry, at least the view across the dinner table will be nice.

“Then it is decided,” he nods decisively, a brusque smile passing over his lips. “I so greatly appreciate your candidness with regard to this matter. It makes the whole business so much easier to deal with.”

He offers a hand to shake, and you take it, bemused, shaking on the deal, pretending this mere touch doesn't make every butterfly in your stomach roar to life.

“I shall make the arrangements swiftly,” he states, again with a short smile and nod.

You are married within three weeks.

——

6 weeks later.

‘‘What on earth is this?” he practically spits as he rounds the corner of Bridgerton House onto the back lawn.

“What does it look like?” you sass, tearing the netted visor from your face.

“It looks an awful lot like my wife is fencing,” his reply dripping with conceited judgement.

“Well, I’m glad to know you do not need glasses, husband,” you respond dryly, nodding to accept the excuses of the butler you were sparring with, who suddenly seems very keen to scurry away now the Viscount has arrived.

“Perkins, do not think this has gone unnoticed,” Anthony calls pointedly after the retreating man.

“Leave him alone!” you bark, taking your husband aback with your ferocity, him turning to you and almost gaping in surprise. “Perkins must do my bidding as lady of the house, and I told him to fence with me,” you elucidate, keen that the innocent party not suffer any consequences for your decision. 

“Women do not fence,” he sniffs, changing the subject somewhat.

“This one does,” you riposte, spearing your epee tip into the grass to remove the suede gloves.

“It is unbecoming of a Viscountess,” he adds almost haughtily.

“Good thing such matters hold no truck with me,” you shrug, knowing you are likely provoking him. 

To hell with what is appropriate for a titled lady. The title, and all of its stifling rules and expectations, is the very last reason you married the man standing before you. No, the reason is far, far more simultaneously complex and simple than that. He excites you—in ways you don't even want to admit to yourself.

It’s not something you would divulge to anyone, but arguing with your new husband has become your new favourite pastime. On the rare occasions you see him, that is. Since your wedding day, you have mostly been ships passing at the dinner table; otherwise, your lives have been very separate. At night, his rooms are at the other end of the long hallway from yours, and his days are apparently filled with business obligations. While the utter freedom to fill your days as you wish has been a blessing, it’s also been perhaps a touch lonely.

When you do see Anthony, you invariably end up clashing about something. And, well, it’s often the highlight of your week. A thrill zipping down your spine as you do so. The only person you have met who can keep up with your verbal sparring. It makes you excited, breathless, dizzy, a fizz low in your belly that feels entirely beguiling. Today is no different; you feel that same sensation as he stares at you, arms crossed, exasperated.

“Well, if you insist upon this rebellious pastime,’ he sighs after a few beats, snatching your epee, “the least you can do is improve your grip,” he grouses, rolling his eyes.

You startle as he crowds into your back, a warm hand wrapping around yours as he passes you the blade and demonstrates a different way to wield it that you concede feels better. The spike of victory in your bloodstream from winning the argument morphs into something entirely different as he stands behind you, his breath tickling your ear and the tendrils of your hair as he provides instruction. 

You try to take the details on board, but your thoughts scatter with his overwhelming proximity. How have you never noticed the stirring amber notes of his cologne before? Or how very broad his chest is compared to his slim hips? Perhaps because this is the closest you have ever been, his body heat seeping into your spine, your heart fluttering hard against your ribs. You can’t decide if this effect your husband can have on you is the best or the worst thing. Somehow, it feels like both.

——

1 month later.

You are both relieved to avoid most of the season on the pretence of being on honeymoon, but inevitably, the time comes when you must debut as a married couple. Speculation about you growing ever since Lady Whistledown breathlessly reported your nuptials, a nearly unknown minor Ton member rapidly snaring the most eligible of perenially eligible bachelors.

So when you enter your first ball as Viscountess Bridgerton, all eyes are upon you. You feel mildly uncomfortable bedecked in jewels and a heavy silk dress, but know refinement is of importance at events such as these. You just cannot wait to get home and get out of them. This will never be your preferred milieu, a sentiment you apparently share with your husband—underneath his calm, unruffled exterior, you sense his dampened disquiet.

“Smile politely, nod in acknowledgement, but don't engage for any longer than necessary,” he counsels under his breath as an inevitable hush falls over the room when your arrival is announced. You are grateful for his steadfast support, his arm looped reassuringly through yours as you follow his advice, knowing he has navigated these waters much more than you have needed to. “The best thing to do is seem frightfully ordinary,” he explains quietly as you complete a circuit of the room. “They are ravenous for gossip; if none is to be had, their preoccupation will swiftly wane.”

Indeed, the initial excitement about your appearance soon dies down as other, perhaps more flamboyant, guests arrive. People approach expressing surprise about your union, but once he economically explains you just knew you were right for each other, they often quickly move on, seeming almost disappointed at the lack of apparent scandal.

As the evening progresses, you school your tongue at some of the barbs you overhear, more out of a wish to be left alone rather than any adherence to social rules. Most of the things that appear to preoccupy the Ton you have little patience for. As Anthony spends some time with business acquaintances, you eventually find yourself in the company of the female members of his family, whom you are quickly becoming very fond of with every passing day in their company. Particularly his benevolent mother and headstrong sister, Eloise. In fact, the latter is the primary witness to the flare of your true nature, fatigue overriding your ability to remain silent.

Cressida Cowper is being particularly venomous about a mutual acquaintance. Eloise is quick with her witty tongue in reply, and you cannot stop yourself from piling on your scorn as well.

“Perhaps if the braiding of your hair were less painful, it would allow you greater empathy,” you retort before you can stop yourself.

Eloise’s responding guffaw sprays lemonade all over Cressida, whose shocked mien is the last thing you see before she turns heel to attend to her ruined dress in private.

“That was sensational!” Eloise wheezes in awe as she blots the remnants of her beverage from her chin.

You sigh.

“It was unwise,” you correct, knowing you have probably just made an enemy of one of the worst gossips of the Ton.

“It was wholly accurate and justified,” a cool, authoritative voice cuts in, and you look up to find your husband before you, a rapt glint in his eye that makes your lungs feel tight. It appears he may have also been witness to the moment.

Eloise’s eyes briefly ping-pong between the two of you, and then she loops an arm into the crook of Anthony’s as you continue to gaze at each other, cataloguing something new about each other that you mutually admire.

“I like her,” Eloise nods at you. “Excellent choice of wife, brother,” she grins.

It breaks the spell between you but seems to further ingratiate you with at least one member of his family. And that makes you feel light as air in a way you don't fully understand.

——

2 months later.

Funnily enough, it’s another random Tuesday when your life takes a complete turn. Yet again, you find yourself in another heated debate with your husband of barely twelve weeks. This time while sojourning at your country estate, Aubrey Hall.

“Must you?” Anthony gripes, standing up from his desk and rounding towards where you stand.

“Must I what? Speak my mind?” you bite back, hands on your hips.

“Be so damn argumentative,” he expounds, hands also on hips, chest heaving a little, “urghh, you are so aggravating!”

“Same!” You shoot back. “I have never met a man quite as disagreeable as you,” you add, not realising as you argue that you have taken steps closer and are now huffing irritated breaths close to each other's faces.

“Why did you agree to marry me then?” he snarls, his gaze suddenly fixated on your bottom lip, unbeknownst to you, it’s glistening and swollen from biting in irritation at his demeanour.

“Right now, I have no earthly idea,” you volley in return, but your pounding heart gives away the real reason. No one makes you feel quite as alive as Anthony, even when he is driving you up the wall, like right now. “Why did you agree to marry me, seeing as I am so very ‘aggravating’?” you spit, parroting the word back at him.

His stare blisters as he draws himself to full height right before you.

“We made a pact,” he huffs, “this is duty, nothing more.” 

But the way he breathes and holds himself speaks to something else. A war in his body and mind. The maelstrom in his eyes belying his words… and then it hits you. So singular it knocks the wind from your lungs. This is desire. He wants you. In all the ways a man can want a woman. 

And damn it all to hell if you don’t feel precisely the same.

“For me as well,” your tart, mendacious reply is bitter on your tongue.

The tension in the air is taut like a cord, ready to snap. You both toe to toe, noses almost touching, laboured breaths as you stare each other down like some game to see who will capitulate first. 

“I do believe we are at an impasse… wife,” the last word dripping with disdain, but he is leaning closer than he ever has, his lips fractional inches from yours.

“It would appear so…,” you concur, “…husband,” you roll the last word slowly, lingering on the end of the first syllable as if it is both a treat and a bitter pill on your tongue.

“I have been raised a gentleman,” he hisses, “but there are times that you test my resolve.”

“I do nothing of the sort!” you decry, knowing you are lying even to yourself now. Somedays lately, you live to simply push his buttons, just to see what he will do. “And resolve of what? To not be a good husband? Because I can tell you, forthright, you are doing a wonderful job of being a terrible husband,” you goad, knowing you are poking the proverbial beast now.

“I give you a wonderful home to run as you please, I give you the freedom to pursue whatever pastimes you wish, I let you speak your mind. As Viscountess, the world is yours. What else could you possibly want in a husband? I do not ask you to do things, wifely things, that I could,” he warns, his voice buzzing low. “I could demand you submit to my will; it is my right,” he growls.

A flame behind your ribs catches fire, even as your eyes flash indignant.

“You do not wish for that sort of wife; you told me as much yourself.” It’s a heated whisper, much breathier than you mean it to be.

“A man can change his mind,” he gravels, “same as a woman can change hers if she wishes.”

“What made you change your mind?” 

He fixes you with a hypnotic, weighted stare.

“You.”

The way that one word drips from his lips tilts your whole existence. It’s so loaded you don’t know what to say. Unmoored, your system awash with chemicals, your mind flooding with images of sketches you have seen of men and women together. Of what the marital act can entail. It’s something you believed would not ever be a part of your marriage, your life, even, but now…. 

Now your handsome husband is staring at you, ragged breaths, face wild, telling you he has changed his mind. Maybe he wants that sort of marriage, that sort of union. Something gallops hard in your chest as he steps away, as if wrongly intuiting you are about to turn down his suit, and something bubbles up from deep inside you.

“Do not dare,” you growl.

His mouth falls open in shock.

“Do not tease me so and leave me wanting,” you continue with a boldness and timbre you barely recognise as your own. “‘Tis crueller to build false hope than to take what you want,” you sniff and stare him down, so wholly decisive in your intentions and desires. If this is the nudge he needs, you’ll give it.

“You want me to exercise my conjugal rights?” he falters, appearing utterly stunned.

You don’t answer; just do one thing, your heart pounding loudly in your ears. You close the last few inches and press your lips to his. 

They are soft and plush against yours, making your insides warm and glowing. Then, Anthony makes a noise in the back of his throat, and suddenly, he is kissing you back. So ferociously, you squeak into his mouth as he opens your lips and slides his tongue over yours, his strong arms pulling you into an embrace so you are enveloped by his warm body.

Good lord.

You feel like you are drowning in him as he grabs your jaw, directing the kiss, turning it into something wholly other. Your lips move endlessly together as you both greedily take from the other for what seems like ages. When you pull apart, you are both heaving breaths and staring at each other, almost confused.

“Don’t you dare do that again,” you snarl, wanting to rip every item of clothing from your body and his.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he responds airily.

And then you crash into each other again. Drinking desperately from each other's mouths, powerless to resist whatever flame draws you together. 

He walks you backwards as your tongues tangle, and you startle slightly as your bottom hits his imposing desk. Hands loop around your thighs, and he hoists you into the surface, never breaking the intoxicating kiss.

He tries to step between your legs, but your column dress is too tight to allow it. You attempt to wiggle the hem upwards as you kiss, then, with a frustrated grunt, he bats your hands away and, using a strength that shocks you, rips the silk material asunder from the hem to your hip.

“I loved this dress!” you decry over his lips, unwilling to admit you’d destroy every single dress you own if he just kept kissing you like this.

“I’ll buy you another,” he dismisses, pushing your thighs wide with his hands. “I’ll buy you as many as you want.” 

“You had better,” you challenge, scarcely able to believe you even have the wherewithal to debate with him, especially as this is the first time a man has ever touched your bare leg.

He pulls back from the kiss to stare intently into your eyes as his fingertips trace from your kneecap up the sensitive skin of your inner thighs. You don’t mean to, but you tremble, having never been touched this way before. You gasp as his palm cups the apex of your thighs, his hand feeling so warm through the thin silk protecting your modesty, his fingers swirling circles over your patch of hair as the heel of his palm presses against your slit.

“I can feel your heat,” he hisses.

You can barely process what is happening, your body rioting as he touches and teases you, staring you down. Instinctively, you reach for the tiny buttons at your hip, but your hands fall away as he flicks his middle finger downwards and catches a nub that makes your body buck.

“Anthony,” it falls from your lips unbidden with a halting breath. It may well be the first time you have uttered his first name in his presence.

He groans at the sound. “Please, always say my name like that,” he pleads through gritted teeth.

So you repeat it, the same intonation, even as that finger drags slowly up and down over the swollen pearl between your legs, undone by how good it feels.

“Are you chaste?” he inquires; it’s not judgemental in tone, just pure curiosity, his ministrations lighter.

“Yes,” you admit quietly, “but I do know of the marital act”, you add, wanting him to know you are not entirely innocent.

“Hmm,” he hums, looking at once thoughtful and blistering, his finger moving more insistently again, “I am glad to hear it. Then you shall not be entirely shocked by what is about to happen?”

“So… we are to undertake it? The act?” you stutter, his finger making you feel so good you have to bite your lip.

But he doesn’t answer your question directly. 

“Wife, how attached are you to these undergarments?” his tone almost idle, cocking his head to the side as his gaze lingers over them.

You shrug practically. “I have many exactly the same.”

Then, you gasp loudly as the sound of silk tearing fills the room. You are quaking as the warm air of his study swirls around your exposed, damp slit. He shocks you by dropping to his knees before you. Pushing your thighs wide on his desk and looking up at you with burningly intense eyes, he presses his face to your flesh, inhaling deeply, his nose buried in your pubic hair before his tongue peeks out and nudges the swollen nub he was teasing through the silk. 

Your mouth drops open, and something inhuman escapes your lungs. Then he does it again, this time enclosing the whole area between his lips and sucking hard on your flesh, tongue curling and ploughing into your folds. The heat, the suction, the muscular swipe of his tongue feels so good your mind blanks out, a tremor in your splayed thighs that he holds forcibly open with warm hands. He keeps doing so for a few moments as your fingernails curl hard into the edge of his desk, scarcely able to do anything but writhe and gently moan. IIdly you think upon all of your curious research, never once had you heard of or read about a man doing as he is now, placing his head between his wife’s thighs and sniffing, drinking from her body.

“You are plenty ready for me, wife,” he huffs, his warm breath tickling your responsive folds, little ripples of pleasure deep inside scattering your thoughts. “Are you averse to me taking you right here?” he waves a hand nonchalantly at his large, imposing carved wooden desk.

“I… I rather thought su-such things could only ha-happen in a bed,” you confess stiltedly, a quiver in your voice.

He smirks up from between your thighs, turning his head to kiss the fragile skin there. “Oh, no, wife. We can fuck anywhere we please…” he pauses and looks sincere, “however, should you prefer a bed…”

“Here is fine,” you rush out, so very keen to have your husband make a woman of you. As if leaving this room may break the spell you are under. Location be damned. You just want to know him. He smirks again, placing a final quick kiss on your flesh, looking very pleased at your response.

“I wholeheartedly concur,” he rumbles as he hoists himself back up to stand, stepping inwards to rock his clothed pelvis against your pulsing nub. There is something hot and swollen in his trousers now, and you realise this must be his member. 

“Show it to me,” you enthuse, nodding at the insistent bulge.

“So very impatient all of a sudden, wife,” he scolds with a bemused chuckle, grabbing your wrist and guiding your hand over the bump. It feels so hot and steely even through the fabric. “Unbutton me,” he orders casually, pointing to the fastening at his hip. 

Exuberantly, you undo them quickly, keen to see if his member matches the sketches you have viewed. As the front of his trousers falls away, he quickly pushes down his white underwear. There, nestled in a thatch of dark hair at the base, is your husband's cock. Your eyes widen at the sight. It seems more considerable than the drawings you have seen, and you are temporarily taken aback by how red and almost angry it looks at the tip.

“Go ahead, touch it,” Anthony encourages, and with a slight tremble in your fingers, you reach forward and make contact with him.

“Oh!” you exclaim without thought, “it’s so soft, your skin, and so hot!” 

He chuckles warmly at your assessment. “Indeed,” he huffs as you wrap your hand instinctively around it, feeling its weight and mass in your palm.

“This will not fit inside me, surely?” you blurt out.

“It will, I promise,” his tone mellow, tinged with understanding even as his breath staccatos when you start to move your hand, the instinct to rub inexplicable, but seemingly precisely what he wants. “Yes, perfect,” he rasps, eyes closing and tongue peaking out to lick his lips.

The odd mix of total honesty and soft appreciation between you as you acquaint yourselves with each other's bodies seems very apt, as if this is the only way such a development would ever transpire. And you realise, as you cradle his most intimate parts, that you trust this man with your very being. Despite your bickering, there is a thread of mutual respect under it that makes you feel safe, seen, and known in a way that no other person has.

“Take me now, husband,” you rattle through your teeth, watching a bead of something sticky form at the tip of his cock as you squeeze him in hypnotic, repetitive motions. The sight makes something in your body turn to fiery liquid, wanting him and that substance inside yourself in a way that doesn't make logical sense. 

He growls at your words, grabbing your hand away from his cock and bringing it to his mouth, kissing the back of your knuckles as your eyes lock, a chaste, almost romantic interlude.

But then his hands grab your hips and haul you almost roughly to the very edge of the desk, your torn dress framing your splayed thighs, his trousers around his ankles as he takes his cock in hand and rubs the tip over your folds of flesh in a way that makes you moan under your breath.

“Are you certain?” he checks, even as he pants anticipatorily.

“God, yes,” you confirm, craving him in a way you have never felt about anything before. An urgent hook tugging deep inside your loins, calling to him like a siren song.

“Watch,” he murmurs darkly, his other hand rounding the back of your neck so your gaze is tilted down to where his cock nudges your opening.

So you do, as does he. Stare down to where your body meet, hissing loudly as his tip slips inside your soaked channel. Your eyes want to roll back at the sheer overwhelming sensation of it, but equally, it's such an enthralling sight that you can’t look away.

He moans loudly, lewdly, decadently as he pushes further into your heat, pausing to readjust your legs wider and tilt your pelvis more open.

“This next part may hurt, darling,” he whispers quietly, the first time he has ever used such an affectionate term for you, making your heart race. 

“It's alright,” you reassure mutely in return, “I have heard as such.”

The hand around the back of your neck slides gently until he tilts your chin up to meet his tender gaze.

“You are quite the woman,” he says, almost reverential, as he leans in and captures your lips in a sweet, soft kiss. 

The movement propels his cock deeper into your body, and you cry out into his open mouth at a stab of sharp pain inside. 

“That's it done,” he mutters reassuringly into your lips as you whimper gently. 

He stills as you adjust to the girth, the heat, and feeling so very filled.

“More…” falls from your mouth spontaneously, the want rising, hungry for a need to be met, a thirst slaked, unlike anything you have experienced.

The smile that breaks out over his face makes your nipples pebble hard in your stays, and he slides deeper as you cling to him, exhaling unevenly as he keeps sinking further into your pussy, pushing you open. Just when you think you cannot take more, he stops, and you feel his body pressing wholly against yours.

You stare at each other, eyes wild and wide, unable to form words but knowing instinctually how good this feels for both of you. He looks untamed, something urgent rippling in his being. And without breaking the gaze, he pulls his hips back until just the head of his cock is inside you, then ploughs back in, in one determined, decisive stroke.

You don't stop the decadent noise that escapes your lungs, your toes curling into the soles of your feet at how wonderful and all-encompassing that feels. Same as you don't miss the victorious smirk on his face at your reaction.

Then it’s a hungry blur of movement as your hands grab his biceps through his clothing, clinging on for dear life as he proceeds to move just like that first thrust. Over and over. Building in pace and with increasing intensity, him sensing your need for such things.

“Anthony…” his name spills over your lips again, and the impact on him is nothing short of extraordinary.

His hands clamp vicelike to your hips, branding heatedly over your skin through your dress, straining the tendons of your inner thighs as he pushes your legs open impossibly wide, his pelvis crashing into yours in a way you are certain may leave bruises. And what shocks you most is just how much you want it. Want him to leave signs of his presence, want to look in the mirror and see the outline of his digits in the globes of your bottom.

He moans your name, hot and desperate, into your ear, his pace never wavering, a drop of sweat forming on his forehead that you can't look away from when he pulls back to tilt your heads together.

“I want to see,” you stumble out, pantingly, as he takes you harder.

“See what?” he sounds almost winded, his thrusts still spearing his cock into your body.

“See you entering me,” you huff into his cheek.

His responding noise is feral and has every inch of your body alight. He bows his spine outward so your bodies only touch where you are joined, and his hand feels heated and heavy on the back of your neck as you tilt your chin down to take in the sight.

His cock, rigid and huge, ploughing repeatedly into your body, shining with a slick substance you can only assume is from within you, the sight making you shudder, but not with anything approaching disgust. It’s something primal. A need to chase a conclusion, the power of the vivid tableau burned into your retinas.

“Don't stop, please don't stop,” you petition, looking back up to his face, your hands sliding up and down his torso now, raking urgent fingernails over his clothing.

He swears, and his lips are back on yours, searing and demanding. This feels like a frantic wave you are riding together, a trickle of moisture running down your spine as you start to push your hips forward as much as you can, meeting his thrusts halfway.

“You are fucking perfect,” he snarls over your tongue, and you couldn't agree more.

Time seems elastic as he lowers you so your back rests on the piles of no doubt important paperwork, not that he pays it any mind, him hunched over you, pulling your hips out over the edge now, the range of motion it allows him making you gasp. He is taking you without mercy now, breath hot on your throat as he moans your name, his hand squirrelling between your bodies and making your vision dance with dots as he passes a slightly calloused tip over your clit.

“Come for me,” he breathes, the request both hopeful and commanding.

“What does that mean?” your question puffed into his lush hairline.

“Oh my darling, just you wait,” his voice dripping with promise even as your skin feels like it wants to vibrate off your very bones as his fingers and cock take you somewhere you never envision. An ecstasy both outside but rooted deep in your being.

He murmurs encouragingly as you struggle for air, your lungs burning, scarcely remembering to breathe, skating some kind of precipice that feels dangerous and addictive. Then, with a flick of his thumb and a gentle bite of your earlobe, you fall into an abyss. Everything all at once quiet and loud, eyes screwed shut as colours burst behind them, and every fibre of your being seems to snap and break, rearranging in a mind-shattering way. Your pussy convulsing hard around his cock that now seems impossibly large.

Then, with a deep booming cry, you feel him lance deeper than ever, his whole body tensing and jerking. A warmth spreads inside, and you vaguely realise he is reaching completion, spilling his seed inside you. For what seems like ages, your mind and body float somewhere, utterly sated, suddenly understanding why this act can be so all-consuming and there is so much written of it.

When your mind returns to the room, you are panting into each other's necks, both breathlessly stunned at how animalistic your first intimacy was. Somehow, your antagonistic chemistry transmuting into an explosive, consuming passion.

“We are going to bed right now,” his tone wrecked, rough, so damn irresistible you want to bite his flesh, even while you still recover from what transpired. Fires stoked again just by those seven words.

He pulls up his trousers haphazardly, picks you up bridal-style, and sweeps you out of his office and up the grand staircase, ignoring the shocked looks of staff at your torn dress and his roughly pulled clothing. 

“We are not to be disturbed,” he barks at his valet, who blanches and leaves the room as Anthony practically throws you onto his imposing four-poster bed. Then, as you lay there, he strips naked before you, and you want to nuzzle every inch of his toned, magnificent body. 

___

It’s three days before you reemerge from what is now your joint bedroom. From that day on, you are never without your husband for more than two days; such is your magnetic need for each other. And when your belly swells with the first of your many children, he confesses his ardent, undying love for you, you returning the sentiment instantly, having felt the same for what seems like forever. 

A hurried, naive pact between two proud, independent souls becoming something wholly other—a loving, passionate marriage of equals. You still squabble with unerring frequency, but now it ends in lovemaking, the intensity sweeping you both into an ephemeral bliss.

A beneficial arrangement indeed.

Anthony taglist: @makaylan @foreverlonginguniverse @iboopedyournose @colettebronte @aintnuthinbutahounddog @margofiore @writergirl-2001 @heeyyyou @enichole445 @enchantedbytomandhenry @ambitionspassionscoffee @chaoticcalzoneranchsports @crowleysqueenofhell @bridgertontess @queenofmean14 @fiction-is-life @lilacbeesworld @eleanor-bradstreet @divaanya @musicismyoxygen84 @benedictspaintbrush @sorryallonsy @lilithseve @cayt0123 @hottytoddyhistory @elizah99 @fictionalmenloversblog @debheart @malpalgalz @amanda08319 @panhoeofmanyfandoms @delehosies @m-rae23 @kmc1989 @desert-fern @corpseoftrees-queen @jeanfreau @magical-spit @bunnyweasley23 @vane28282 @kisskissshutmydoor

[dramioneasks]

Fics where Draco takes care of Hermione during pregnancy? May or may not be his child…If has Ron bashing better but can be without too

Auribus Teneo Lupum by BlossomPrincess16  - M, 17 chapters - Hermione never thought that she’d end up pregnant and alone, but it seems that she is now stuck in such a predicament. She also never thought that Draco Malfoy(now a Healer and changed man)would offer to marry her and adopt -through magic- her child. This is a mutually beneficial arrangement, so why is she finding herself falling for the handsome blonde? And why is she kissing him!

Troubled Waters By: cleotheo - M, WIP - After the war, Hermione Granger is still coming to terms with losing her best friend, Harry Potter, when she discovers her life is about to change dramatically. When she loses the support of the Weasleys, she finds assistance from a very unexpected family and forges a life for herself that is very different to anything she had ever imagined.

Blurred Stars by Rosey1118 - T, 40 chapters - After a disastrous night with a cheating husband and getting splinched, Hermione finds herself in St. Mungos faced with memories she’d rather forget. As she accepts the reality of her situation, she becomes closer to none other than Draco Malfoy, the healer who’d helped her on night one. But soon enough, Hermione begins to feel off, in more ways than one. Strong Language.

Happily Divorced by writerspassion18 - T, 31 chapters -  A hug here. A kiss on the forehead there. Nothing bad could come out of being on good terms with your ex, right?

A Sponsor & A Gentleman - ravengabrielle - M, WIP - Hermione Granger finds herself in a compromised situation as an impregnated teenager in Hogwarts without the support of her baby’s father. Now, with the school against her, one wizard emerges to assume the role of the baby’s father. Short story, multiple parts written already. Dramione story. Hogwarts. Rated M for possible maturity. (Self-harm scene trigger warning)

-Lisa

[tantalizingtopi]

From the Journal of Enver Gortash

Durge x Gortash

Word count: 644

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters portrayed in this writing, they are property of Baldur’s Gate 3 and Larian Studios

When a one shot becomes a triple take?

Post Durge coming to Gortash and agreeing tentatively to an initial deal, Gortash muses on what he knows about the Chosen as well as his desire to know her more intimately. This occurs post Amusing and Persistence if you’re interested in reading more.

‘The Chosen of Bhaal finally came to me in the quiet hours of the morning today. They continue to prove to be astute, discriminating, and reserved, all qualities I admire but that can prove to be more difficult in an alliance. However, I believe we have come to some form of arrangement, however tepid it is at the moment. I’ve come to believe the spawn could be more than a means to an end, but as an actual ally and equal, a relationship built on trust and respect.

‘I was pleasantly surprised when they brought up our respective gods, and where past plans have failed. I had not thought to bring to words the undertow of musings I myself have also had since hearing of a Bhaalist cult growing in the city. It was bold, but we must tread lightly through this one step at a time, for all is doomed to fail if we turn on one another as previous failures have. She is as sharp as her blades, and we can use that to our advantage to tighten up any possible problems in future endeavors.

‘I have been told that she is of Bhaal alone, born from his blood completely. When she caught me unawares a little over two tendays ago, I was surprised at the creature before me, and this morning she remains just as beguiling. None of my research told me that the spawn was so beddable, only of her form and a very undescriptive one at that. I promptly punished the one responsible for the report on her. To imagine that Bhaal would be capable of making such a beautiful offspring, and by him alone. Unfathomable.

‘I am not above my natural instincts, but I detect she is not so readily inclined. If I wish to pursue this particular avenue, I must be prepared and move forward with the utmost caution, for I suspect she would have no hesitation in dismembering me were I to give her cause. However, one cannot help but think it may be possible given the facts presented.

-‘She appears a little rebellious in the face of her father, for I have learned that she busks in the parks and donates the earnings to the homeless children. Perhaps that is an avenue I can take advantage of?

-‘The barkeep at Elfsong Tavern states that she plays there about once a tenday or so, and is always very friendly to customers and staff. This contradicts typical behavior that is often recorded about bhaalspawn.

-‘Possibly unrelated, but since her appearance in the city, the majority of reports of missing persons and found dead have been those with more unsavory behaviors. It is rather fortunate that my dealings with Zariel ended shortly before she appeared, as she may not be as willing to forge an alliance with me if she were to find out about that bit of nasty business. Still, this is all conjecture.

-‘I am not familiar with the customs surrounding Bhaalists, but it was rather intimate watching her taste my blood and she appeared to genuinely enjoy it.

-‘She took my handkerchief with her when she left this morning. It has my initials on it. This could be interpreted as interest, but also possibly a mistake?

-‘She came in through my window but allowed me to escort her to the door when she left. An attempt at normalizing the interaction or just being polite?

‘Perplexing. And possibly I am just being naive and wanting to see more than what is. It would only complicate matters, but it could prove mutually beneficial and enhance our trust and respect.

‘We made a plan to meet again in a tenday when our perspective tasks are complete. In the meantime, I will do my best to gather more intelligence about this mysterious Chosen.’

[nepentheisms]

SPOILERS AHEAD for the end of Trimax. I know bookclub still has a few weeks left to get there, but @pepplemint put down some thoughts I really liked (linked below, their post includes the spoilers that I'm reflecting on). I was originally going to just reblog with comments I wanted to add, but then this post wound up way longer than I expected.

Anyways, for op, I think this essay may be of interest to you with its discussion of the final few chapters; especially this bit where the writer quotes the late Thich Nhat Hanh:

Though the Bible values understanding, it prioritizes love above all. Jesus encourages his followers to love thy neighbor, no matter what, whether or not there is understanding. Alternately, in Living Buddha, Living Christ, Thich Nhat Hanh writes that “In Buddhism, understanding (prajña) is essential to love (maitri). Without understanding there cannot be true love, and without love there cannot be true understanding.” Perhaps the finale of Trigun Maximum is a blending of these two philosophies.

For me personally, the use of the Genesis allusions in the resolution of the story and the way that plants and humans switch around in acting as the god figure in relation to one another have stirred up thoughts about how there's more of a push and pull in God's relationship with humanity in the Tanakh or Hebrew Bible (which has the same books as the Protestant Old Testament but they're arranged differently).

My knowledge of Judaism is pretty basic, so I'd love to hear from someone who can provide more perspective, but from what I do know, the Jewish approach to God differs from the Christian approach in that adherents are encouraged to question God (even the very existence of God is up for questioning). In Christianity, God is characterized as an all-powerful perfect being humans have to obey, but this characterization really involves a lot of retconning of the Jewish source material, because in those stories, God is not necessarily omnipotent or omnibenevolent.

In Genesis 3:22-23, God seems to express concern over the possibility of humans rivaling him. From the NRSV translation:

(22) And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”  (23) So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 

But even with the banishment from the Garden of Eden and the whole Tower of Babel episode in which God voices his qualms about humanity becoming too powerful, God also has moments in which he welcomes it when people challenge him. Genesis 32:24-32 is the story of Jacob wrestling with God and insisting "I will not let you go unless you bless me," and he gets his blessing. And it's in these verses that we get an explanation for the meaning of the name Israel - "The one who strives with God" (from the notes of The New Oxford Annotated Bible).

And what is Trigun but a story of striving between creator and creation? There's plenty of contentious striving, full of pain and conflict, but there's also the striving for understanding - a struggle to truly KNOW the other so that together, they may have a chance at building a more mutually beneficial future.

TLDR: I think the relationship of mutual contention between God and mankind as seen in the Hebrew Bible is a better analogy for the humans vs plants conflict than the Christian view of original sin cutting people off from a perfect supreme authority.

[hotgirlmythology]

Kobolds!

As outlined in the previous post, D. imperatrix have a fairly mutually beneficial arrangement with people they allow to remain in their nests. However, to get a better idea of the purpose the Kobolds serve, we must examine these nests.

Broadly, the nests of D. imperatrix (I'm just going to call them Empresses now - the term refers to both male and female ones) fall into two groups, full coverage and infant coverage. A full coverage nest is situated in a place that has enough cover for the adult to remain completely obscured from rain, while infant coverage nests provide only enough protection for juvenile Empresses, forcing the parent to find a separate place to sleep or sleep outside.

Popular nesting spots include mountain crevices, cave systems, dense forests and cliff hollows. All of these are not exactly tidy, nor are they pretty in an elegant and graceful way. Unfortunately, these aspects are exactly what Empresses are attracted to, likely because of their prolonged time spent around elven culture, which emphasises these things as obligatory to any aspiring attractive person. Empresses find it hard to fulfil these requirements on their own, so Kobolds are very helpful. Plus, Kobolds take up very little space in their nests and are able to get their own food. However, the relationships between Empresses and their Kobolds can vary wildly.

The majority of Kobolds seek out Empresses with the express intent of joining their shoal of Kobolds and live under their protection. They may do so because they are being persecuted, they are wanted for a crime or they can no longer sustain a life at their old home. However, a suspiciously large proportion of people go the Empresses in the hope of somehow absorbing or assimilating some of their magical abilities (which are quite considerable). What they fail to take into consideration is that Empresses are very clever, and they tend to get chased off or eaten.

The most common Empress/Kobold dynamic is that of an acquaintance who you somehow know and continually find yourself working with but would never dream of going so far to call them a friend. Each understands the other in a basic fashion, but a Kobold who has had no education in dragon communication is not going to be able to understand an intricate request or complicated information. However, they are very attuned to one another's emotional state, Kobolds having been known to still feel changes in the Empress' emotion even after being apart for several years. This is in large part due to the necessity of being able to detect mood swings - either of the parties could interpret the other wrong, and both have the potential to cause the other serious harm.

Of course, some Empresses view their Kobolds differently. Some of the older ones see them more as pets, especially human ones. On the occasion a juvenile acquires a Kobold, they usually become far more closely bonded mentally than one could achieve with an older dragon, although the protectiveness of parents means that one is only likely to become a Kobold of a juvenile if it has become lost or its parents are dead. These bonds, if the pair stay together long-term, can progress to the Kobold undergoing physical changes rather than the purely mental modification of most others. These can include developing patchy scales, eye colour and shape changes, hair loss, prenatural balance, hearing or sight, and heightened magical sensitivity (sensing the changing power flows without necessarily affecting them - sensing them is a physical ability, while using them is a mental one). Once they have scales, twolegs are wont to refer to the Kobold's Empress as a mere beast in comparison, despite the vast majority having a dynamic more akin to that of siblings and the Kobold having culturally more in common with their Empress than with most twolegs by this point. Other Empresses will only respect the Kobold as much as they respect the paired Empress, but once an understanding is established it can be hard to make one remember the Kobold is still physiologically mostly a twoleg.

The main purpose of Kobolds, then, is to make things look nice. They often become known in their own right for the outlandish designs they select to adorn the nests of their Empresses. It's not unheard of for Kobolds to carve out a little alcove in the nest for them to sleep in and be protected, either. The fact that the designs they make have to be sufficiently resistant to a rampaging dragon yet elegant and graceful all at once means that they are often required to perform impossible feats, but they somehow pull them off. All of this carving and cutting is in aid of a singular goal, and that is to propel their Empress forward in status.

Empresses mating is quite the dramatic affair. In early summer, when the weather begins to heat up in earnest, Empresses all over take to the air and wing to instinctually ingrained leks. And there, clinging desperately to their backs, are as many Kobolds as were able to clamber on and tie themselves amidst the dorsal spikes. It's one of the few times an Empress will allow themselves to be ridden by a twoleg, juvenile-bonded pairs nonwithstanding, and it's considered a great honor to do so by Kobolds, even if they do spend most of it trying not to be violently sick. Once they arrive, they mingle with the other Kobolds that have come along. The light-headedness from fast high flight and violent waves of anticipation coming off their Empress plays absolute havoc with their thinking in the first few hours of lekking, and even a new Kobold tends to become acquainted with a huge amount of others from just one visit. After about a day or two, partners are selected by the Empresses and they depart to initiate courtship. One of the few things that can embarras an Empress is being reminded that the feelings of their Kobolds towards the Kobolds of the other Empress (or even the dragon themselves) can heavily skew their choice in mate.

Courtship rituals involve the comparison of nests. This does not serve any purpose in the actual act of mating, but serves to establish some kind of pecking order throughout Empress society outside of "Who is bigger and can fly further". The nest that is decided to be better by the two is where they will mate, and this is truly where the Kobolds' work is put to the test, given there are now two extremely energetic adult Empresses in a space meant for at most one very chill Empress. The Kobolds, however, are at this point in no state to care, as due to the emotional bond they are also going at it with one another. Technically, this serves a practical purpose, in the organic growth of a Kobold shoal, but mostly it's an excuse to work off steam. Once mating is complete, should the female have had the worse nest, she immediately returns home. If the male did, however, she goes to and remains near his nest in order to lay her eggs there before returning to her own to repair it with her Kobolds.

Empresses will usually only allow their Kobolds to freely inhabit the land near their nests. However, they generally make two exceptions, one for people who are able to, by some means, communicate with the Empress (whether by clever pictograms and movements or by magic), and the other for people they find funny. These are usually younger heroic types who are hopelessly out of their depth. If they remain after shitting themselves at the sight of the Empress, it is a feat in itself, considering most of them are completely untested glory hunters fleeing a bad harvest. Otherwise, interlopers are chased off and/or eaten. On the battlefield, without magic or specialists, it could take a small company of mercenaries to drive the Empress into retreat. And they recover from wounds quickly.

[yllowpages]

BUCKY BARNES : RESIDENT EVIL VERSE.

tag : verse. bucky barnes / resident evil.

considered dead since 1945, former united states army soldier ja.mes bar.nes slowly faded into history, the world unaware of how history was being shaped by his very hands. found by soviet soldiers after a near-fatal accident, barnes was taken as a prisoner of war before carefully being crafted into a powerful weapon : the perfect soldier. for decades, a brainwashed barnes was used by the soviets to carry out their will, all for them and against others. but in 1991 with the fall of the soviet union, a shift came to the existence of the winter soldier.

former kgb general aleksander lukin becomes the sole inheritor of the winter soldier project and program as he begins to grow his very own company : the kronas corporation. using the winter soldier for personal gain in the form of personal vendettas and business "negotiations," kronas and lukin quickly grow into powerful forces. and more changes come in the mid-90s when lukin enters a new deal with the umbrella corporation.

while kronas had a record of buying out and absorbing other companies for lukin's gain (oil and energy, private security, water, real estate, etc.), he saw the potential of a quid pro quo arrangement with umbrella and the reaches they had across their own businesses, especially as pharmaceuticals is one area kronas had not yet expanded to in order to further lukin's reach in the country.

at some point, early in their dealings, lukin revealed the winter soldier to those in umbrella he was in contact with. while initially using him as a threat to gain loyalty, individuals with umbrella were intrigued — but lukin was steadfast in his secrecy surrounding his agent. as part of their agreement, as long as it's seen as mutually beneficial, lukin allows the higher-ups of the umbrella corporation to use the winter soldier for their own gain — on lukin's terms, of course.

one such time came during the aftermath of racoon city's destruction. in the few years between the incident and umbrella's involvement becoming public, the winter soldier emerged once again, this time in search of survivors that the umbrella corporation saw as a threat, at the time ; individuals such as jill valentine and leon s. kennedy (among others) were targeted for elimination.

while lukin agreed, umbrella's wishes were no top priority for him. lukin had already begun the process of dissolving any connection kronas may have to umbrella, even privately, as a precaution, as he would not allow what he'd built to be dragged down by them. ultimately, all assassination attempts failed (for various reasons), to umbrella's detriment, but lukin saw this as no real loss.

in the years following umbrella's dissolution, lukin only mildly involved himself with any of umbrella's competition that took the opportunity to rise now that they were gone. he made it his business to keep his eyes on any other golden opportunities, seeing as the partnership with umbrella amounted to nothing, in his eyes.

years later, bucky barnes has managed to escape from lukin, regaining his memories of his earlier life. after having been granted a conditional pardon by the president, barnes largely lives as a civilian. that is until the government decides to begin calling him off the books to deal with various things they deem threatening ...

NOTICE : i still consider myself only marginally familiar with resident evil and its canon. i am constantly learning. while i haven't personally played any of the games, i have watched playthroughs of the first four and i've tried to do as much reading about the canon/timeline as i can. feel free to correct me if i ever get things wrong—or i'll probably be asking a lot of questions. as i get more familiar with RE, i may make adjustments to this verse, or i may change things simply from plotting with people.

[rosiewitchescottage]

HOUSE ELVES DO NOT LIKE BEING ENSLAVED!

Hermione's mistake, and no one suggests that her heart isn't in the right place, is to simply apply a human perspective, without taking into consideration what the House Elves natural disposition is.

She's trying to trick them into freedom. Yes. one could say the same of Harry with Dobby.

But Dobby, with his huge heart, was being treated abominably Chez Malfoy. Harry gave Dobby freedom, to thank him for saving his life.

The Hogwarts Elves love that they're well cared for, in return for work. If they are to be freed from slavery. Then they should get a say in it. Either that or a way found to break the slavery bond eentirely.

House Elves like to WORK. Listen to Dobby.

"Dobby likes freedom. But he likes work better."

He needs only enough money to buy socks for himself. And too much free time isn't any pleasure to him. He's free to choose his own way in life. And he chooses work.

Yes, the other elves see him as 'weird' for enjoying his freedom.

But are we expected to see this as a good attitude? I think not. It sounds like House Elves were enslaved long ago. Which means that they've had generations to become conditioned to 'accept' their slavery. That's not the same as 'liking' it, as far as I can see.

It's actually very sad. 😥😥😥😥

Dumbledore, imperfect as he may be, does seem to understand the Elves very well. As did Helga Hufflepuff. If I'm right in recalling that she first gave Elves a home at Hogwarts?

Dumbledore knows that Elves like to work, so he provides it for them.. But he also makes sure that they are well treated.

He also comments to Harry, Sirius, or both (I'm not sure which) that human treatment of other beings may well come home to roost.

He sees how Kreatur was treated by the Black family, which apparently is very common for Elves in pureblood families, it's even perpetuated by Black family rebel Sirius.

No way does Dumbledore treat this as anything other than wrong.

Even though we're never told how Elves became enslaved, all this has given me a theory.

I'd love to know whether I'm anywhere close to the mark with it.

House Elves love work. They see humans, who will work when they have to, but don't exactly enjoy it.

So we get a situation, reminiscent of The Brownie or Nisse. An Elf makes his/her home in a human house.

He/she does the housework, and in return the human family keep him/her fed, sheltered and treated like one of the family.

It's a mutually beneficial arrangement. The Elf is free and may leave at any time.

But, people being people. Some human or other resents that Elves can leave at will. Perhaps his/her house is always losing Elves, because they weren't treated well there?

Said human is very powerful and manages to come up with a magical bond that will tie Elves to the service of a human family forever, unless they are presented with clothes.

I have no doubt that gaslighting and other morally repugnant methods were used over time to condition Elves to accept their slavey.

Not because they like to be slaves, but simply because of their natural disposition to enjoy work.

The terrible treatment received by too many Elves appears to be the worst of it.

Freedom would certainly be better, then they could return to working for a family by choice and mutual benefit.

How they are set free and whether it respects their nature of not, that matters.

i am once again thinking about how insane the way that house elves are handled in HP is. like. even with all of JKR’s problematic attitudes you’d think she would have a grip on the whole “slavery = bad” thing. Right? Like. That’s not a lot to ask. That should just be the baseline. But apparently not. 

It would already could be problematic if the story had slavery but portrayed it as a positive thing where all the slave characters are happy. But she didn’t even go with that. Every named house elf character we meet is mistreated. The institution of slavery clearly is not a positive thing for them. AND YET. Despite that the message is that the characters who roll their eyes about abolishing slavery are in the right. The line “they like being enslaved” is spoken not by a villain but by a hero character who at no point revises his views. And we the readers are supposed to agree with him. And we’re supposed to agree that the one (1) character who expresses an interest in abolition is being overdramatic. 

It’s especially weird because in book 2 when Dobby is introduced Harry actually IS horrified by his enslavement. And he helps free him from his enslavers - who are villain coded characters. BUT THEN when house elves come back into the story Harry’s attitudes are suddenly retconned. He’s no longer horrified. He goes along with Ron poo-pooing Hermione’s campaign against house elf enslavement. Yes, Sirius is portrayed as being in the wrong for mistreating Kreacher, but it’s treated as a character flaw  rather than something absolutely unacceptable. Certainly no characters step in and try to free Kreacher or protect him from Sirius. And the story ends with no indication that house elf slavery is going to end. Like JKR really went “whoops. I had my protag be against slavery in the earlier books. better fix that lol”. 

And just. Why??? What would possess someone to write institutionalized slavery into their universe, portray it as an abusive system that harms its victims, but then have the message be “it’s fine actually and abolition is cringe”????????? I mean. Wut? This isn’t even supposed to be a gritty story with morally questionable protagonists. Yes there are some complex characters but it’s more or less good guys vs bad guys. And yet. The good guys get retconned to be pro slavery. And never change their minds.

And it’s treated as a JOKE. It’s such a bizarre concept. What was she thinking?! It was just:

[jkcustomhomesbuilder]

How To Protect Luxury Custom Homes When Renting Them Out?

No one wants other people to experience the premium beauty of living in their luxury home. But in many cases, this is the best decision to take. An empty home can become a claim for squatters and municipality policies that might damage the beauty of your residence. You may also lose out on the sweet rental income of a house that is valued so much. So, how do you ensure your rights are protected as a landlord? Here are the many ways in which you protect your house legally and physically when renting it out!

Renting Luxury Custom Homes — Important Steps To Take

Property Inspection

Does Your Luxury Home’s Integrity Await Verification? If so, get it done as quickly as possible.

Luxury property inspections safeguard owners’ investments. Thorough evaluations uncover hidden damages or needed repairs.

Experts scrutinize structural integrity including electrical systems and plumbing. They also assess appliances and the HVAC, not to mention security systems.

High-resolution documentation verifies property conditions. In the case of any legal disputes you can use this document and create provisions for renter accountability and protect property value.

Regular inspections optimize luxury rental experiences which is the cause of great reassurance to owners and tenants.

Lease Agreement Review

Are property owners protected by lease agreements? Lease reviews safeguard property owners. Attorneys verify protective clauses.

The main areas you need to focus on tenant responsibilities and payment terms. Ideally, you want to set up separate review sessions to clarify liability insurance and maintenance stipulations. You must make sure termination conditions are strict and without any legal loopholes that the tenant can exploit!

Such an agreement not only makes sure that your tenant has to follow compliance rules but also makes sure that when they are living in your house they take care of it properly. Leases protect property value and provide owners peace.

Customization Request Approval

Are you maximizing your luxury rental’s potential? Customization requests enhance luxury rental experiences. They attract high-end renters seeking tailored environments.

This differentiates properties and boosts occupancy. Renters desire personalized spaces reflecting individual tastes. This drives demand for customized interiors and smart home integration.

Customization benefits landlords through premium rental income. It reduces turnover and increases property value. Satisfied renters renew leases and recommend properties. This fosters loyalty and positive reviews.

You can involve your luxury home builder Indian Hill to include smart home integration for enhanced security and convenience. Designer finishes tailor interior design to renters’ tastes. Private amenities offer exclusive entertainment and fitness spaces.

Sustainable features incorporate eco-friendly solutions. Technology integration provides cutting-edge entertainment and connectivity.

Security Deposit Arrangement

Are you aware of security deposit arrangements? Security deposits safeguard rental properties. They ensure lease terms and property condition are upheld.

Landlords use security deposits for financial protection. Deposits cover damages and unpaid rent. They encourage renters to respect properties.

Security deposits vary by location and property type. Landlords document property condition before occupancy. They set deposit amounts and outline refund terms.

Renters provide security deposits before moving in. Landlords hold deposits until lease termination. Deposits are refunded if properties are well-maintained. Security deposit arrangements promote mutually beneficial relationships.

In Closing

From the very beginning as you custom home builder Cincinnati, you need to procure the right documents to explain how this luxury masterpiece is your physical as well as intellectual property! The more documents you have about everything included in the building, the more likely you are to win property disputes. Also make sure to include your real estate agency and lawyers in the process from the very beginning so that your tenant is aware of the people who are representing you at all times.

[eckertlegal091]

How Do Family Lawyers Handle High-Conflict Divorce Situations

High-conflict divorce conditions are stressful and legally complicated, a setup that demands special skills by family lawyers and mediators. There exist disputes on asset division, child custody, and spousal support, and both parties are entrenched in their positions. The balance between the legal strategy and emotional weight is what the family lawyers and mediators need to achieve just results. In his blog, we will talk about how lawyers manage the situation of high-conflict divorce.

Here's how family lawyers manage these complex situations:

1. Understanding the Root Cause of Conflict

A family lawyer or mediator will first identify the core of the issues in dispute. In high-conflict divorces, for example, common core issues reflect deeper emotional wounds or disagreements over finances, children, or lifestyle. If lawyers understand the root causes of these kinds of issues, then they can approach the case from a better position and work toward a resolution that is mutually beneficial to each party.

Therefore, lawyers normally consider the external conditions of previous traumas or mental illnesses to infer whether they are aggravating the dispute and then involve mediators in making quietly calm discussions.

2. Maintaining Open and Clear Communication

Perhaps the primary role that family lawyers and mediators play in such high-conflict divorces is the act of "communication." Most often, a breakdown in communication sparks escalations into further conflict. Such a collision of opinions usually results in drawn-out court battles. Professional lawyers ensure that the former couple's voices are heard and encourage respectful dialogue between the parties.

Mediators now become very important in keeping the concerns in discussions fresh, that is, working on problems rather than letting one fuel the other to add more fuel to the burning fire. They are facilitators as middlemen and women of the law representing both sides and ensuring such causes of concern get aired without fighting.

3. Prioritizing Child Custody and Well-being

Child custody is probably the most competitive subject that occurs in high-conflict divorces. Family attorneys are always prepared to present a case for their client with what can be obtained from the best custody rights and consider what is best for the children. They work with clients toward developing custody arrangements that are stable and secure for the children: shared custody, primary custody, or whatever is mutually agreed on, based on a family's circumstances.

Mediators are particularly useful in such situations because they alert parents to the long-run consequences of their decisions on the children and stimulate compromises that minimize undue family stress.

4. Mediation to Avoid Lengthy Litigation

Usually, litigation imposes high costs on the parties involved and may take much time; thus, when costly and time-consuming litigation is possible, both sides end up in mediation. The high-conflict divorce mediators attempt to facilitate the smooth resolution of the issues between both parties in a neutral environment by making suggestions that may eventuate in a mutually agreeable solution. It saves time and money for those concerned while keeping sensitive family matters away from courtrooms.

In some cases, lawyers may advise mediation where they think prolongation of the litigation process will cause more harm than good when involving families and matters of emotional health.

5. Creating Binding Agreements

In such high-conflict divorce cases, clear and binding agreements are of great importance. Family lawyers work with their clients to draft legal documents on issues such as the property division, child custody, alimony, and other relevant matters that would be implemented. Such agreements should reduce ambiguity and limit further disputes, clearly stipulating terms that parties are expected to follow.

Lawyers and mediators are working in unison for the interest of the two parties making their agreements, while still protecting any legal interest.

Conclusion

Family lawyers and mediators play a crucial role in high-conflict divorce cases by facilitating communication, focusing on child welfare, and helping both parties reach fair agreements. Child welfare also takes a front seat in high-conflict divorce, and it is what both parties focus on because that is what sets the stage for both parties to achieve a just outcome. Through mediation expertise, the conflict will be minimized, protracted litigation will be avoided, and the well-being of all parties concerned, especially children will be protected. With such support from Eckert Legal , couples will find ways to dig themselves out of the complexities of high-conflict divorce.

[caneiwestminster]

Trademark Enforcement Strategies from a Westminster, CA Attorney

When I first began practicing as a trademark attorney in Westminster, CA, I quickly realized that registering a trademark is just the first step in protecting a brand. The real challenge lies in enforcing those rights. Over the years, I've developed and refined a series of strategies that help my clients defend their trademarks effectively. Today, I’d like to share some of the insights I've gained from working on the front lines of trademark enforcement.

Understanding the Importance of Trademark Enforcement

When a client approaches me with concerns about potential trademark infringement, I always start by emphasizing the importance of enforcement. A trademark isn’t just a symbol or a logo; it’s the embodiment of a company’s reputation, quality, and identity. Without vigilant enforcement, even the most carefully registered trademark can become diluted, eroding the brand’s value and leaving it vulnerable to further infringements.

In Westminster, CA, where competition is fierce across many industries, maintaining the distinctiveness of a trademark is critical. Failing to enforce trademark rights can lead to a loss of exclusive rights, which is why proactive enforcement strategies are essential.

Monitoring for Infringement

One of the first steps in any enforcement strategy is monitoring for potential infringements. I often advise my clients to invest in a trademark watch service, which can alert them to new filings that are similar to their own trademarks. However, this is just one part of the puzzle.

Regular monitoring of online platforms, social media, and even local marketplaces is crucial. Many times, I’ve had clients discover infringements through a simple Google search or by noticing a competitor using a similar mark in a local advertisement. By staying vigilant, we can catch potential issues early, before they escalate into more significant problems.

Cease and Desist Letters: The First Line of Defense

Once we’ve identified a potential infringement, the next step is usually to send a cease and desist letter. This is often the most cost-effective and quickest way to address the issue. In my experience, many infringers are either unaware of the infringement or are willing to stop their use once they realize the legal consequences.

When drafting a cease and desist letter, I make sure it’s clear, concise, and firm. The letter should outline the rights of the trademark holder, explain how those rights are being violated, and demand that the infringing activity stop immediately. It’s also important to set a deadline for compliance and to specify the actions the infringer must take to avoid further legal action.

In Westminster, CA, where small businesses often operate on tight budgets, this approach can be particularly effective. Many of my clients have successfully resolved disputes at this stage, avoiding the need for costly litigation.

Negotiating Settlements

If a cease and desist letter doesn’t resolve the issue, the next step may involve negotiating a settlement. This can include licensing agreements, coexistence agreements, or other forms of compromise that allow both parties to continue using their marks without infringing on each other’s rights.

Negotiating a settlement requires a delicate balance. On one hand, I’m always advocating fiercely for my client’s rights; on the other, I must remain open to creative solutions that protect my client’s interests while avoiding protracted legal battles.

In one recent case, I represented a local business in Westminster that discovered a larger competitor using a very similar trademark. Rather than jumping straight into litigation, we explored the possibility of a licensing agreement. After several rounds of negotiations, we reached a mutually beneficial arrangement that allowed my client to maintain their trademark rights while generating additional revenue from the licensing deal.

Litigation: When All Else Fails

While I always strive to resolve trademark disputes outside of the courtroom, there are times when litigation becomes necessary. In such cases, having a strong, well-prepared legal strategy is critical.

Litigation is often seen as a last resort because of the time, cost, and uncertainty involved. However, when a trademark is being seriously threatened, going to court may be the only way to enforce the rights effectively.

In Westminster, CA, I’ve handled several high-stakes trademark lawsuits. In these cases, my approach is to build a strong, evidence-backed case that clearly demonstrates the likelihood of confusion, dilution, or other forms of infringement. This includes gathering evidence of consumer confusion, showing the strength of my client’s mark, and highlighting the infringer’s bad faith actions.

Winning a trademark lawsuit not only stops the infringement but also sends a strong message to other potential infringers. It demonstrates that my client is serious about protecting their brand, which can deter future infringements.

Educating Clients on Trademark Maintenance

An often-overlooked aspect of trademark enforcement is educating clients on the importance of ongoing maintenance. A trademark is only as strong as the effort put into maintaining and enforcing it. This includes renewing the trademark registration, continuing to monitor for infringements, and taking swift action when necessary.

I work closely with my clients to ensure they understand the importance of these steps. By keeping them informed and involved, we can develop a long-term enforcement strategy that evolves with their business.

Conclusion: A Commitment to Protecting Brands

As a trademark attorney in Westminster, CA, I’m deeply committed to helping my clients protect their brands. Trademark enforcement is not just about responding to infringements; it’s about building a comprehensive strategy that safeguards the brand’s value over time.

Whether it’s through monitoring, sending cease and desist letters, negotiating settlements, or pursuing litigation, I bring a proactive and strategic approach to every case. My goal is always to enforce my client’s rights while minimizing the impact on their business operations.

In the competitive landscape of Westminster, CA, effective trademark enforcement can make all the difference in maintaining a strong, recognizable, and valuable brand. And I’m proud to be part of that process for each of my clients.

Contact us: CANEI 13950 Milton Ave. Suite 300, Westminster, CA 92683, United States 714-783-2222 https://caneilaw.com/

[seekerreads]

july wrap up!

this was kind of a mid month ngl 😓 but on we go!

𓆩♡𓆪 title: Yona of the Dawn, Volume 2

𓆩♡𓆪 author: Mizuko Kusanagi

𓆩♡𓆪 rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕

𓆩♡𓆪 description: While on the run, Yona and Hak head to Hak’s hometown, where she attempts to heal her broken heart. However, she can’t rest there for long once she discovers that Su-won may soon become king! What will Yona choose to do in the wake of this news?

𓆩♡𓆪 thoughts: the pace is picking up! i've been told it only gets better so i'm ready for the journey!

𓆩♡𓆪 title: Mary Ventura and the Ninth Kingdom

𓆩♡𓆪 author: Sylvia Plath

𓆩♡𓆪 rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌗

𓆩♡𓆪 description: Lips the colour of blood, the sun an unprecedented orange, train wheels that sound like 'guilt, and guilt, and guilt': these are just some of the things Mary Ventura begins to notice on her journey to the ninth kingdom.

'But what is the ninth kingdom?' she asks a kind-seeming lady in her carriage. 'It is the kingdom of the frozen will,' comes the reply. 'There is no going back.'

Sylvia Plath's strange, dark tale of independence over infanticide, written not long after she herself left home, grapples with mortality in motion.

𓆩♡𓆪 thoughts: quite spooky and atmospheric, but not long enough to leave much of a lasting impression.

𓆩♡𓆪 title: The Fake Mate

𓆩♡𓆪 author: Lana Furguson

𓆩♡𓆪 rating: 🌕🌕🌕

𓆩♡𓆪 description: Mackenzie Carter has had some very bad dates lately. Model train experts, mansplainers, guys weirdly obsessed with her tail—she hasn’t had a successful date in months. Only a year out of residency, her grandmother’s obsession with Mackenzie finding the perfect mate to settle down with threatens to drive Mackenzie barking mad. Out of options, it feels like a small thing to tell her grandmother that she’s met someone. That is, until she blurts out the name of the first man she sees and the last man she would ever date: Noah Taylor, the big bad wolf of Denver General.

Noah Taylor, interventional cardiologist and all around grump, has spent his entire life hiding what he is. With outdated stigmas surrounding unmated alphas that have people wondering if they still howl at the moon, Noah has been careful to keep his designation under wraps. It’s worked for years, until an anonymous tip has everything coming to light. Noah is left with two options: come clean to the board and risk his career—or find himself a mate. The chatty, overly friendly ER doctor asking him to be her fake boyfriend on the same day he’s called to meet the board has to be kismet, right? Mackenzie will keep her grandmother off her back, and Nate will get a chance to prove he can continue to work without a real mate—a mutually beneficial business transaction, they both rationalize. But when the fake-mate act turns into a very real friends-with-benefits arrangement, lines start to blur, and they quickly realize love is a whole different kind of animal.

𓆩♡𓆪 thoughts: entertaining, but nothing ground breaking. hetero omegaverse just might not be for me. (full review here)

𓆩♡𓆪 title: Yona of the Dawn, Volume 3

𓆩♡𓆪 author: Mizuho Kusanagi

𓆩♡𓆪 rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕

𓆩♡𓆪 description: Yona and Hak set out on a journey to find a priest who can see the future. After they get severely injured falling from a cliff, a boy named Yun and his guardian Ik-su nurse them back to health—and Ik-su happens to be a priest! When Yona tells him that she wishes to protect the lives of those who are precious to her, what path will Ik-su show her?

𓆩♡𓆪 thoughts: n/a

𓆩♡𓆪 title: Seraphina

𓆩♡𓆪 author: Rachel Hartman

𓆩♡𓆪 rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌗

𓆩♡𓆪 description: Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.

𓆩♡𓆪 thoughts: concept was neat, but overall i just wish this book did more. one big decision by the protag i thought was dumb and it soured the book for me. will not pick up the sequel. (full review here)

𓆩♡𓆪 title: The Broken Forest

𓆩♡𓆪 author: Megan Derr

𓆩♡𓆪 rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕

𓆩♡𓆪 description: When women and children begin to vanish, the people of Edge village summon a Huntress. Though she is long due for a break and exhausted from her previous assignment, Adamina accepts the assignment and heads for Edge. But when she arrives, the simple assignment she anticipated proves instead to be complicated—complicated enough she must consult with a witch. A beautiful, compelling witch that makes Adamina sharply aware of her own lonely life, and temps her to make it less lonely.

Assuming the forest doesn't kill them first.

𓆩♡𓆪 thoughts: very short, very atmospheric, very queer! trans woman mc! would've loved for this to be longer! (full review here)

𓆩♡𓆪 title: Patricia Wants to Cuddle

𓆩♡𓆪 author: Samantha Allen

𓆩♡𓆪 rating: 🌕🌕🌕

𓆩♡𓆪 description: When the final four women in competition for an aloof, somewhat sleazy bachelor’s heart arrive on a mysterious island in the Pacific Northwest, they prepare themselves for another week of extreme sleep deprivation, invasive interviews, and, of course, the salacious drama eager viewers nationwide tune in to devour. Each woman came on The Catch for her own reasons—brand sponsorships, followers, and, yes, even love—and they’ve all got their eyes steadfastly trained on their respective prizes. Enter Patricia, a temperamental and woe¬fully misunderstood local living alone in the dark, verdant woods, and desperate for connection. Through twists as unexpected as they are wildly entertaining, the self-absorbed cast and jaded crew each make her acquaintance atop the island’s tallest and most desolate peak, finding themselves at the center of an action-packed thriller that is far from scripted—and only a few will make the final cut.

𓆩♡𓆪 thoughts: interesting concept, but ultimately didn't do what I wanted it to do ://. (full review here)

𓆩♡𓆪 title: How To Bite Your Neighbor & Win A Wager

𓆩♡𓆪 author: D.N. Brynn

𓆩♡𓆪 rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌖

𓆩♡𓆪 description: Vincent Barnes has suffered four years as a vampire, and they’ve been the most miserable years of his pathetic life. Too poor for black market blood, he feeds from sleeping humans to survive. He tries to never intrude on the same prey twice, but after a single delicious taste of a long-lost childhood neighbor, he can’t help returning for seconds.

Wesley Garcia has been waking up with fang marks. Lucky for him, he needs a vampire—to use as bait. He’s certain Vitalis-Barron Pharmaceutical killed his mother, but to gain access to their covert research labs, he has to bring them a bloodsucker for their experiments. 

Step one, a dramatic offer: Stay, and you can bite me. 

Vincent leaps at the chance to gobble Wesley up.

Wes’s plan is perfect. He’ll befriend the vampire, then trick him into coming to the lab. No fighting, no fuss. But Vincent is more than Wesley has bargained for: sweet and shy, with intoxicating fangs that awaken new desires in Wes. As the two bond, Vincent believes he might have finally found someone worth putting his trust in... and Wes fears neither of them will survive the betrayal he has planned.

𓆩♡𓆪 thoughts: very cute! love supernatural romances and love queer stories, and this overall did what it was meant to do! nothing too groundbreaking but i still had a good time!

𓆩♡𓆪 title: Yona of the Dawn, Volume 4

𓆩♡𓆪 author: Mizuho Kusanagi

𓆩♡𓆪 rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕

𓆩♡𓆪 description: While on a quest to find the Four Legendary Dragon Warriors, Yona and her friends meet Gija, the White Dragon. Gija uses his power to detect the other Dragons, but locating the Blue Dragon proves to be more difficult than expected, and the group runs into a string of disasters!

𓆩♡𓆪 thoughts: more new characters being introduced! i'm quite intrigued with the backstories so far. it'll be interesting to see what the author does with them!

𓆩♡𓆪 title: December Park

𓆩♡𓆪 author: Ronald Malfi

𓆩♡𓆪 rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌖

𓆩♡𓆪 description: In the quiet suburb of Harting Farms, the weekly crime blotter usually consists of graffiti or the occasional bout of mailbox baseball. But in the fall of 1993, children begin vanishing and one is found dead. Newspapers call him the Piper because he has come to take the children away. But there are darker names for him, too . . .

Vowing to stop the Piper's reign of terror, five boys take up the search. Their teenage pledge turns into a journey of self-discovery . . . and a journey into the darkness of their own hometown. On the twilit streets of Harting Farms, everyone is a suspect. And any of the boys might be the Piper's next victim.

𓆩♡𓆪 thoughts: another very atmospheric read! overall enjoyed it but it was a bit too long imo and i didn't like some of the twists. (full review here)

𓆩♡𓆪 title: Schoolbooks & Sorcery: An Anthology of Inclusive YA Fantasy

𓆩♡𓆪 author: multi

𓆩♡𓆪 rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕

𓆩♡𓆪 description: In this enchanting collection of young adult tales, 20 authors explore the overlap of the mundane and the fantastical, with LGBTQ protagonists juggling the pressures of school and the wonder of magic in its many forms. From entrance tests to final exams, casting spells to breaking curses, these teens seek to claim their place in the world. In these pages, you'll find gay and lesbian, bisexual and asexual, trans and nonbinary characters, all experiencing sexy, strange, wicked, wonderful, romantic adventures. They deal with bad roommates and bullies, first loves and new friends, all while crafting and inhabiting their ideal identities. Featuring authors such as Seanan McGuire, Cheryl Rainfield, Cecilia Tan, E.C. Myers, Rajan Khanna, and many more. Step inside and experience Schoolbooks & Sorcery?

𓆩♡𓆪 thoughts: very well-rounded anthology! each of the worlds were unique and dealt with different issues with enough diversity to impress for such a specific sub-genre to be writing from! (full review here)

𓆩♡𓆪 title: Romeo And/Or Juliet, A Chooseable-Path Adventure

𓆩♡𓆪 author: Ryan North

𓆩♡𓆪 rating: 🌕🌕🌕

𓆩♡𓆪 description: In this choose-your-own-path version of Romeo and Juliet, you choose where the story goes every time you read What if Romeo never met Juliet? What if Juliet got really buff instead of moping around the castle all day? What if they teamed up to take over Verona with robot suits? Whatever your adventure, you're guaranteed to find lots of romance, lots of epic fight scenes, and plenty of questionable decision-making by very emotional teens.

All of the endings--there are over a hundred--feature beautiful illustrations by some of the greatest artists working today, including New York Times bestsellers Kate Beaton, Noelle Stevenson, Randall Munroe, and Jon Klassen.

Packed with exciting choices, fun puzzles, secret surprises, terrible puns, and more than a billion possible storylines, Romeo and/or Juliet offers a new experience every time you read it. You can choose to play as Romeo or Juliet (obviously) but you can also play as both of them, or as Juliet's nurse, or, if you're good, you can even unlock a fourth playable character That's right. We figured out how to have unlockable characters in books. Choose well, and you may even get to write the world's most awkward choose-your-own sex scene.

𓆩♡𓆪 thoughts: i mostly just picked this up for fun lol. it was very cute.

𓆩♡𓆪 title: Vampires of Eden: Oliver

𓆩♡𓆪 author: Karla Nikole

𓆩♡𓆪 rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌖

𓆩♡𓆪 description: Welcome to Eden. A vampire aristocracy weighted down by the iron shackles of rigid and sometimes cruel customs. Eden exists as all vampires once were—motivated by power, wealth, influence and sexual desire. 

Oliver James Blakeley is a young purebred vampire raised in Eden. Although, he sincerely wishes that were not the case. He is isolated. Lonely. And his every move is controlled by his manipulative father, who has also saddled him with an arranged marriage. 

Oliver yearns to be free. To live as a liberated vampire in the twenty-first century. He knows that his dream is outlandish given his circumstance. But when he encounters a suave, progressive and much older vampire during the preparation for his wedding, the trajectory of Oliver’s life shifts, and nothing will ever be the same.  

𓆩♡𓆪 thoughts: i didn't like this one as much as nikole's other works, but still a good time! gay vampires are always fun. (full review here)

𓆩♡𓆪 title: Giant Days, Volume 1

𓆩♡𓆪 author: John Allison, Whitney Cogar with Lissa Treiman

𓆩♡𓆪 rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌗

𓆩♡𓆪 description: Susan, Esther, and Daisy started at university three weeks ago and became fast friends. Now, away from home for the first time, all three want to reinvent themselves. But in the face of hand-wringing boys, "personal experimentation," influenza, mystery-mold, nu-chauvinism, and the willful, unwanted intrusion of "academia," they may be lucky just to make it to spring alive. Going off to university is always a time of change and growth, but for Esther, Susan, and Daisy, things are about to get a little weird. 

𓆩♡𓆪 thoughts: INCREDIBLY british.

𓆩♡𓆪 title: Green Rider

𓆩♡𓆪 author: Kristen Britain

𓆩♡𓆪 rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘

𓆩♡𓆪 description: On her long journey home from school after a fight that will surely lead to her expulsion, Karigan G'ladheon ponders her uncertain future. As she trudges through the immense Green Cloak forest, her thoughts are interrupted by the clattering of hooves, as a galloping horse bursts from the woods. 

The rider is slumped over his mount's neck, impaled by two black-shafted arrows. As the young man lies dying on the road, he tells Karigan he is a Green Rider, one of the legendary messengers of the king of Sacoridia. 

Before he dies, he begs Karigan to deliver the "life and death" message he bears to King Zachary. When she reluctantly he agrees, he makes her swear on his sword to complete his mission, whispering with his dying breath, Beware the shadow man.... 

Taking on the golden-winged horse brooch that is the symbol of the Green Riders, Karigan is swept into a world of deadly danger and complex magic, her life forever changed. Compelled by forces she cannot understand, Karigan is accompanied by the silent specter of the fallen messenger and hounded by dark beings bent on seeing that the message, and its reluctant carrier, never reach their destination.

𓆩♡𓆪 thoughts: good start to the series! some things went unexplained or waved away but i suppose that's to be expected from the first book in a series. i will be continuing to book 2! (full review here)

ending stats:

books read: 15

pages read: 4,742

average rating: 3.67

yearly goal: 116/150

(divider credit: @drinkthesky)

[toestalucia]

hi ch131 + after duat island stuff

True King: What say you, venerable child? To further strengthen our alliance, I even offer you my daughter Alliah's hand in marriage.

True King: Have I said something unusual? Marriage is often used as a means of strengthening ties between two houses.

True King: Calm yourself. You may treat it as a marriage of convenience for all I care. Acquiring the venerable child's power is paramount. It will serve you well to remember that. Captain's chest suddenly grows tight after hearing that veiled threat.

funniest convo in the world. vyrn also argues about what he did in zinkenstill and true king being like 'i wasnt very mature back then. anyway sometimes sacrifice is necessary'. this man. when u have the kings eye and u become obsessed with unifying the skies 1) for their happiness 2) the otherworld is Right There

Alliah: Oh, it's you… Choice: Hi, Ally. Alliah: I never agreed to that nickname!

KBJADBJKADBJKADK I LOVVEE THHEEMMMM

Alliah: Hmph. Why do you look as timid as a mouse? Ah, is it on account of the marriage proposal proffered by His Majesty this afternoon? Don't concern yourself with that. I have already accepted that I have no control over a single aspect of my life. Honestly I would be happy to have you as my partner. I can think of worse arrangements. To travel all over various skydoms at your age is quite a feat. I've heard tales of your exploits. Alliah's praise catches Captain by surprise, but it doesn't do much to alleviate the captain's unease.

(another long post about alliah)

True King: Before I hear your decision, I wish to make an addendum that may affect your choice. Venerable child, for what reason have you traveled this far? Choice: To reach the Island of the Astrals. True King: Hm… If that is the case, then I can be of service to you. We shall spare no effort in helping your crew reach the Island of the Astrals. Our cooperation is mutually beneficial for the entire Sky Realm. More important for you, I know the whereabouts of your father. I will tell you everything about his journey and the battles he has overcome to reach his destination.

Captain looks right at the True King and delivers an answer. Choice: I refuse. Katalina: You gave us one night to sleep on it, but it wouldn't have mattered either way. Choice: I'll find the answers for myself.

i lov this & the following running away scene sooooo much. i need the tau'luk - dad - repti lore NOWWWW (reread the repti's mask part too.......). also wish theyd get into true king & loki more but ill be patient. anyway yet again its so funny to me true king says this considering the mess of a past that is him & dad & mom, even more so since he KNOWS we know what happened. srry i cant stop talking about that part 'unifying our houses' u kidnapped aunt already how much more do u want <-person who knows what hell is about to happen

[allthingsdarkanddirty]

Get ready for a steamy teaser and excerpt reveal from Mine to Tease by @emilymyersauthor, coming June 4th!

Preorder TODAY

Add to your TBR

Excerpt

“Tonight wasn’t about me. Besides, there’s plenty of time for that if we continue this.” My eyes widen with a bit of hope. Regardless of any confusion I may have as to my feelings for Damon, I wouldn’t say no to more orgasms.

“And what exactly is this?” Damon shifts his eyes from me to the fireplace across the room as he contemplates my question, and I notice the softness leave him. He stops rubbing my back, and his body beneath mine becomes rigid.

“A mutually beneficial arrangement,” he finally says. I nod and move out of his arms, wrapping the blanket tightly around me. “Arrangement,” I say as I sit next to him on the couch. “How very businesslike, contractual, detached.” This is

the Damon I’ve come to know or loathe, as he so fittingly put it earlier.

He looks at me then. “I’m not the guy you fall in love with, Anastasia. I’m not boyfriend or husband material. It’s why I do things a certain way and that way isn’t always for everyone.”

My brows furrow as Damon’s words land heavy on me. Does he think I love him? His arrogance is enough to quell whatever confusing desire lingers in my blood. “Agreed. I’m not worried about falling in love with you, Damon, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious what you mean by a certain way of doing things.”

Damon shifts on the couch, positioning himself to face me. I tug my blanket tighter across my chest as a glimmer of that oh-so-intoxicating darkness returns to his eyes. 

[hotilhotil]

Israel, a small yet vibrant

Israel, a small yet vibrant country located in the Middle East, has a lot to offer to its visitors. From its rich history and culture to its stunning natural beauty, there is something for everyone. Among the many things that Israel is known for, one aspect that is gaining popularity in recent years is its thriving escort industry. Escort girls in Israel are becoming increasingly popular among tourists and locals alike, offering a unique and memorable experience for those who seek their services. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the world of escort girls in Israel and what makes it so alluring. Firstly, it's important to understand the concept of escort services in Israel. These are not your typical street prostitutes, but highly professional and sophisticated women who offer their companionship for a fee. The demand for such services has been rising in the country, especially in its major cities like Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem. What sets escort girls in Israel apart is their unique blend of beauty, intelligence, and charm. Most of them are well-educated, with a good command of English, making them ideal companions for foreign visitors. They are also well-versed in Israeli history, culture, and current affairs, making them excellent tour guides and conversationalists. Many of these women are also highly trained in the art of seduction, able to cater to the different desires and fantasies of their clients. One of the main reasons for the increase in demand for escort services in Israel is the country's open-mindedness towards sexuality. Unlike some of its neighboring countries, Israel has a more liberal and progressive view on sex, making it a welcoming place for both clients and escort girls. This has led to a safe and regulated industry, with strict measures in place to protect the rights and well-being of both parties involved. Apart from their intellect and charm, escort girls in Israel are also known for their stunning beauty. Israeli women are often described as exotic, with a mix of European, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean features. They take great pride in their appearance and are known for their fashion-forward sense of style. This makes them not only desirable companions but also eye-catching arm candy for events and social gatherings. <a href="https://www.sexanak.com/%d7%a0%d7%a2%d7%a8%d7%95%d7%aa-%d7%9c%d7%99%d7%95%d7%95%d7%99/" target="_blank">נערות ליווי</a> Another significant aspect of the escort industry in Israel is the discreet nature of its services. This allows clients to enjoy the company of these women without any fear of judgment or societal stigma. Confidentiality is key in this industry, and both clients and escorts take it very seriously. In addition to the traditional escort services, there has been a rise in demand for "sugar baby" services in Israel. These involve a mutually beneficial relationship between a wealthy client and a young, attractive woman. These arrangements are not limited to physical intimacy but can also include companionship, mentorship, and financial support. In conclusion, escort girls in Israel offer a unique and fulfilling experience for those who seek their services. Their beauty, intelligence, and open-mindedness make them ideal companions for a wide range of clients. With strict regulations and a liberal attitude towards sexuality, the escort industry in Israel continues to grow and thrive, attracting visitors from all over the world. So, if you're planning a trip to Israel, why not consider adding an escort experience to your itinerary? It may just be the highlight of your trip.

[jadepetals]

so this is part 6 of the fics that i’ve read and have stayed with me for a looong time, hope they make you feel the same way.

Symptoms Of The Culture by @fourdrunksluts / 14612 words

Harry's fraternity has become obsessed with the newest online game, and they'd like to think they're getting pretty good at it. Only, they keep getting killed by The Rogue, an online player who has no connection to the Frat, but seems to have a vendetta against them.

hold onto your stars by vashteneradas / 16258 words

harry's in the army, louis' back home, and ninety days is a lifetime.

24K Magic by @justalittlelouislove / 32654 words

A fic based on 24k Magic by Bruno Mars, in which Harry's a mess and famous, Louis is a mess and not, Liam and Zayn are probably hiding something, and Niall is a horrible flatmate.

On the Edge by @zanniscaramouche / 47040 words

Figure skating is as vital to Louis’ identity as his DNA, so when his skates go missing right before the last Olympics of his career there may be a meltdown only vanilla bath salts can fix. Well, that and the stupidly charming hockey player he met on the plane.

Harry’s too old to be the wonder kid and too young to be taken seriously in the NHL. As an alternate thrown in at the last second, he fights to prove himself on the national team at the largest sporting event known to man. Or he will, once he gets off this flight and can focus on something other than the fussy figure skater and his stunningly blue eyes.

A baggage mix-up skews both of their perfectly laid plans for gold, forcing the two to work together as the clock clicks towards the minute they’re expected to shine on centre ice.

yesterday came suddenly by @falsegoodnight / 48504 words

Harry, the deadliest member of the NYC assassins’ guild, is forced to face a seemingly impossible task in hopes of finally leaving the underground behind for good, but when ghosts from the past come back to haunt him, escaping the darkness becomes that much harder. 

A Certain Satisfaction by @eeveelou and @creamcoffeelou / 51659 words

The porn au where Louis is a university student who needs money and runs across an ad that sounds too good to be true.

Lunar Waltz by @outropeace / 56795 words

Louis has to replace his (missing) twin brother and marry one of the most dangerous alphas of the kingdom.

When Darkness Strikes by he_wants_to_write / 58766 words

Private Investigator Harry Styles is called to help solve a brutal homicide case in a small town by the North of England. There, he stumbles upon Detective Louis Tomlinson, and although their personalities crash and dark mysteries haunt their circumstances, the pair does have one thing in common; the will to catch the responsible behind the murder.

Caught In Your Gravity by @lululawrence / 62699 words

It felt like the blood froze in Harry’s veins even as he got a bit lightheaded. He hadn’t even made it two practices, only one of which he was remotely in charge of, without giving it all away and now he and Liam were both absolutely fucked.

“Shit,” Harry breathed out. “Who all have you told? Does everyone know? I thought I covered it better than that…”

“No, no,” Louis said quickly. "They’ll figure it out soon enough, though, because they’ll get used to you changing things up, but you’re only going to trip over your so called Americanisms for so long before they realize it’s because you don’t actually know fuck all about football.”

Harry sighed. “Yeah. I figured. I just need to bullshit for long enough to allow Liam to get the situation figured out from his end.”

“Right, which brings me to my entire point. I think we can find a mutually beneficial arrangement with all of this.” Louis leaned forward. “You need to learn the ins and outs of the sport incredibly fast. I can help you with that.”

“What do you want in exchange?”

Mead Of Poetry by @lwtisloved /  65112 words

A Regency ABO AU very loosely inspired by the second book of the Bridgerton series.

Little by Little by @absoloutenonsense / 65589 words

Harry Styles is an omega who works at the London Planetarium, has lived in the same flat for ages, and is happy enough on his own. When he gets home from his first (horrible) attempt at dating in years, a new pregnant neighbor knocks on his door after smelling his cooking. He and Louis quickly become close, but their friendship gets complicated when Harry begins questioning who he is and what he likes.

Little Technicolor Things by @scary-crow / 72093 words

Louis is a poor writer and recent university graduate, depressed, anxious, and living in London when he meets Harry, an artist with a secret who likes to paint sunrises and pretty boys from California.

Remember Me Fondly by @bluejeanlouis / 73659 words

Grunge legends Fearless Doe topped the rock charts in the ‘90s, but they spent the decade kicking Smudge off their heels. From lawsuits to jaw-dropping scandals and a surprising joint world tour, the two bands share a complicated history.Twenty-five years later, frontmen Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles are finally ready to sit down and tell the world their two sides of the same story.Truth may vary.

and i'm weeping warm honey and milk (that you stay surrounding me) by @wooltobravetheseasons / 78028 words

Louis is a first-year medical student, still a little tender as he recovers from a personal trauma. Harry works, amongst other things, as a professional cuddler, though he comes with baggage of his own. They don’t mean it to, but the intimacy that blooms between them quietly changes them both.

Emperor's New Clothes by @magicalrocketships / 92072 words

Harry’s a pop star and Louis isn’t, and there’s a non-disclosure agreement where there used to be a relationship.

Tired Tired Sea by MediaWhore /111303 words

As a B&B owner on the most remote of all the British Isles, Louis Tomlinson is used to spending the coldest half of the year in complete isolation, with his dog and the sea as sole companions. Until, one day, a mysterious stranger on a quest to rebuild himself rents a room for the winter.

Lightning Strikes The Heart by @fournipplesau and @justalarryblog / 130198 words

Shrewsbury, 1814

Dearest reader, I present to you your new bulletin of news regarding Shrewsbury citizen's activities. My name is Lady Merriweather and I will be in charge of the updates. I will make sure you are to know all the important details of what is to happen this season. You must know that you do not know who I am and you never shall. But be forewarned; I certainly do know you. I advise you to be on your best behaviour, lest you want the whole town to be privy of your business.

As expected every year, the Lockhart House hosts the season’s opening ball, and its invitation is the motive of the hustle in town, and every family hopes for the invitation. This year is no different, but this year everyone's attention is focused on the new Duke of Montgomery, His Grace Harry Edward Styles, and whether he will attend it.

All the omegas will be in their best manner, behaviour and clothes as it is expected. And here, dear reader is where we will find out which young omega might succeed at securing a match, hoping to not become a spinster.

Place your bets.

Love After the End of the World by @mercurial-madhouse / 162533 words

Society shattered when all electricity suddenly cut off across the globe, plunging the world into darkness. Now, Prometheus Industries is the sole remaining supply of power, a saving grace to those who survived Lights Out. As fugitives in no-man’s land struggling to break into Prometheus HQ, death lurks around every corner for Louis and Zayn. Things get complicated when a routine recon falls apart and Louis collides with Harry and his mates Niall and Liam, survivors with their own agenda. When staying alive is already a constant battle, the deadliest weakness is to be in love. For Harry and Louis, finding each other sits on top of the endless list of What Else Could Go Wrong.

second-hand emotion by @wadey-wilson / 183794 words

Louis is a twenty-three years old, soon-to-be Columbia University graduate with a loving boyfriend, wonderful friends, two kinds of reputations, and a suit so tight it’s nigh inappropriate. Harry is a twenty-three AWOL.

When you lose all that matters, love becomes an impossible achievement. Ergo, it’s only logical to fall for someone who can never die.

Allies in Heaven, Comrades in Hell / 265915 words (this fic was deleted but feel free to message me if you want a copy!)

Catholic school! AU where Louis is finishing sixth form and will definitely be famous someday if Harry has something to say about it, Liam is the racist homophobe that Zayn is dreadfully in love with, and Niall teaches guitar.

part 1    part 2    part 3    part 4    part 5    part 6