#female leadership development

[kopfconsulting]

Imposter Syndrome: Overcoming Self-Doubt in Your Business Journey

Imposter syndrome is that nagging voice waiting to crush your self-esteem and confidence. But before you let out a frustrated "ugh," here's the good news: you can overcome it.

I want to preface this by saying that anyone is susceptible to Imposter Syndrome; however, I believe in writing what I know, so this post specifically addresses fellow women entrepreneurs. The takeaways are not gender-specific, just the empathy – for this reason, I encourage anyone to please continue reading and take from it what you can. Have you ever felt like a fraud in your own business? Do…

[indialeaders]

Emerging Women’s Leadership Program - ILSS - What is EWLP?

The Emerging Women’s Leadership Program (EWLP) is an intensive 11-week program (with 4 days of in-person boot camp in Delhi NCR) designed to support the leadership development journeys of emerging women leaders in the social sector. The Program equips leaders with the necessary knowledge, skills, and tools to advance their leadership journey, and create impact in the sector.

[adorned-by-julie]

🌟 Curious about the qualities of a successful female leader? Join us today to explore this topic further! Click the link - https://conta.cc/4a377P7 - to access our newest newsletter. Let's empower more women in leadership roles!

[akshayroy123]

5 Ways to Develop Leadership Skills in Your Team

Being in a position of authority is not the only thing that makes someone a leader. A leader needs to be able to inspire, guide and empower everyone around him or her to reach their goals, as a team. Building team members' leadership skills is crucial for the development and sustainability of organizations in the workplace of our modern-day world.

As a manager or a leader, whether you are experienced or just starting out, developing leadership skills within your team can boost overall performance, creativity, and teamwork. Let us underline the importance of targeted methods like Leadership Training For Employees and programs, along with learning different ways in which you can develop leadership skills in your team.

Develop a team of skilled and independent leaders through effective Leadership Training Programs for Employees. Join us and watch your business soar to new heights.

1. Invest in Leadership Training Courses

Organizing structured leadership training courses is one of the most effective ways to improve leadership skills within your team. Comprehensive modules including communication, decision-making, conflict resolution, and strategic thinking are offered by such courses. By enrolling your team members in credible leadership development programs, you provide them the knowledge, skills, and approaches they need to successfully handle challenging situations.

More importantly, experiential learning techniques like case studies, role-playing, and simulations are frequently included in leadership training programs, giving participants a safe environment in which they can hone their leadership abilities.

2. Implement a Leadership Training Program for Employees

Consider developing an internal leadership training program for employees that caters to the specific needs and setting of your company, in addition to external leadership training courses. An internal leadership training program for staff members can be made specific, as opposed to generic courses, to address organizational values, industry-specific issues, and leadership skills essential to the duties and responsibilities of your team.

Peer-to-peer learning opportunities, formal workshops, mentoring sessions, and on-the-job training initiatives are often included in well-designed leadership training programs for employees. By making continuous development activities a part of your organization's daily routine, you can cultivate a culture of learning and leadership development.

3. Encourage Mentorship and Coaching

Encouraging leadership skills in your team requires both coaching and mentoring. Assisting less experienced team members with experienced mentors or leaders speeds up their professional development by offering valuable advice, support, and criticism. Regular one-on-one meetings allow mentees to learn about good leadership strategies, receive helpful feedback, and acquire the wisdom of their mentors' experiences.

In a similar way, coaching interventions—whether provided by in-house coaches or outside experts—provide personalized support to people looking to improve leadership competencies or get beyond obstacles in their careers. Coaching enables team members to realize their full potential and develop into capable leaders, whether it is through improving presenting skills, handling team dynamics, or navigating career transitions.

4. Promote Diversity and Inclusion

Leadership that is effective flourishes in cultures that value inclusiveness and diversity. Acknowledge and value the unique perspectives, backgrounds, and skills that every team member offers. You can also talk about the female leadership challenges that some employees may face at work.

Even with notable advancements in the realm of gender equality, women can face several leadership challenges such as subconscious bias, gender stereotypes, and limited access to positions of authority are still quite prevalent in the workplace. Encourage gender diversity in leadership positions, offer focused assistance and growth opportunities for female staff members, and cultivate an inclusive environment where all employees are appreciated and feel encouraged to make a difference.

5. Lead by Example

You are the team's leader, and your actions set the tone for the entire team. Exhibit admirable leadership traits by your decisions, actions, and manner of speaking. Transparency, responsibility, and teamwork should be given top priority in your interactions with others, and you should lead with honesty, humility, and empathy.

Additionally, provide your team members the freedom to take on leadership roles and duties so they can demonstrate their skills and gain confidence. Assign tasks, promote autonomy, work on eliminating female leadership challenges, and offer opportunities for challenging assignments that will test and expand their abilities. Giving your team important tasks to complete builds dedication and a sense of ownership, which paves the way for future leadership success.

Let’s Wrap Up!

It takes time and effort to build leadership skills among your team; rather, it is a continuous process of development and growth. A supportive environment where leadership thrives can be created by investing in various strategies including diversity and inclusion, internal Leadership Development Training Courses, mentorship and coaching relationships, leadership training courses, and setting an example. Remember, effective leadership is not about asserting authority, but it is about empowering others to realize their full potential and achieve collective success.

Become part of our team comprised of experienced industry professional and discover top-notch Corporate Leadership Development Programs to drive your business growth and achieve success.

[aadvantcoaching]

Advant Coaching specializes in career advancement coaching for female tech executives. Their tailored programs empower women in the technology industry to reach their full potential, providing guidance on leadership skills, communication, and personal development. With a focus on breaking through barriers and achieving career goals, Advant Coaching supports women on their journey to success in the tech sector, helping them thrive in leadership positions.

[technologyequality]

Mastering the Hustle: A Peek into Alex Thoric's Revolutionary Marketing Bootcamp

Mastering the Hustle A Peek into Alex Thoric’s Revolutionary Marketing Bootcamp Hello folks! Lori Brooks here, bringing you yet another exciting slice of the digital marketing world. Today, we’re talking about the transformative power of well-executed marketing strategies for service-based businesses. And who better to discuss this with than a man who has been stirring the pot in the digital…

[newageinspiration]

Power of One: How a Girl can change the world.

[astrosky33]

Friendship in Astrology

The 11th house rules over friends so your 11th house planets can give insight on the type of friendships you experience

✧. ┊Sun in the 11th house: You likely have had good friendships that have brought you lots of happiness in life. Your friends are likely very generous, creative, and help you develop a lot in life and/or as a person. Since the Sun rules over leadership you’re prone to being the “leader” in your friend groups. People with this placement are also more likely have to friends that are celebrities. It’s possible you weirdly attract a lot of friends similar to your father. At worst it could indicate having egotistical friends, friends that are attention-seeking and choose attention over you, or friends that are overly prideful

✧. ┊Moon in the 11th house: You have friends that are very caring of you and your feelings. You likely have more friends that are girls or feminine than friends that are guys or masculine. It’s possible you weirdly attract a lot of friends similar to your mother. Your friends can pick up on your emotions really quickly and know when you’re feeling down. You could have a few childhood friends that you’ve kept your whole life. At worst your friends will constantly hold you back by keeping you in your comfort zone, be overly sensitive, and/or complain a lot about their feelings without listening to yours

✧. ┊Mercury in the 11th house: You may meet lots of friends on social media and/or keep close friends that you met when you were young all the way into adulthood. You likely attract friends that are good at communicating with you. You become friends with people quicker when they share similar interests with you or have similar perceptions about life that you do. You may not really like having friends that are different than you, only ones similar to you. At worst you could attract friends that gossip a lot about you, are constantly forgetting about you, try and change you for the worse, and/or copy everything you do

✧. ┊Venus in the 11th house: You are likely to have a lot of friendships that turn into something more (a friends to lovers type vibe). You attract friends that are very charming, cheerful, feminine, sympathetic, and/or friends that share similar values to you. You likely have mostly female friendships and not so many male ones. Since Venus rules over attraction you also likely attract lots of friends in general. People want to be friends with you all the time, sometimes without knowing why. You may have a lot of friends that are very pretty. At worst you may attract friends that are overly possessive, stubborn, indecisive, and/or they may choose love over their friends

✧. ┊Mars in the 11th house: This is a challenging placement when it comes to friendship since Mars is a malefic planet. You may experience lots of conflict in your friendships that can commonly be caused by your friends viewing you as competition/trying to be competitive with you or go through friends quickly since Mars represents conflict, competition, and speed. Your friends at worst could pick lust over you and have sexual relations with someone you’re romantically involved with or have bad anger issues. On a lighter note it can indicate often being the leader of your friend groups, having a lot of male friends or friends with masculine energy, making lots of friends through sports you play, having friends with benefits, and/or having friends who bring out the more ambitious and determined side of you

✧. ┊Jupiter in the 11th house: You attract friends that are optimistic, successful, wealthy, wise/knowledgeable, honest, devoted, and/or popular. Since Jupiter rules over abundance as well you naturally attract a lot of friends in general with this placement. Not always but often people I see with this placement were really popular in school and were friends with everyone. You may go on lots of adventures or travel a lot with your friends. You attract friends that help you grow a lot as a person and in life in general. At worst you could attract friends that are overly blunt, have a hard time accepting their wrongs, and/or are really impatient

✧. ┊Saturn in the 11th house: This placement is a bit challenging when it comes to friendships since Saturn rules over challenges/struggles. Although you may have minimal friends since Saturn rules over restriction/lack, the friends you do make you will keep for a long time since Saturn also rules over old age/longevity. It’s possible you weirdly attract a lot of friends similar to your father. You also attract friends that are responsible, hard-working, consistent, and/or self-disciplined. At worst you may struggle with forming friendships because this placement can cause people to be weirdly intimated by you, you may attract friends that show a lack of care for your emotions, and/or friends that hold harsh grudges against you

✧. ┊Uranus in the 11th house: You attract very intellectual, friendly, unique, free-spirited, and/or independent people into your circle. You may have a lot of friends that are lgbtq+. You likely have lots of internet friends or friends that you originally met online before meeting in person. A lot of people, maybe even before knowing you, will have a friend-crush on you (a huge desire to befriend you). At worst you may attract friends that are rebellious, chaotic, and/or lots of ups and downs with friendships in general

✧. ┊Neptune in the 11th house: You attract friends that are very kind, compassionate, creative, glamorous, selfless, spiritual, and/or that are good at keeping secrets. You may have a lot of similar dreams/wishes as your friends. With this placement if you are a manifestor it’s important to surround yourself with people who don’t make you doubt your dreams or it could ruin your spirit and in turn ruin your manifestations. At worst you could attract friends who lie and deceive you, mirror everything you do/act addicted to you, and/or you may attract people who act like your friends when they’re secretly your enemy

✧. ┊Pluto in the 11th house: You attract friends that transform you and your life a lot, are powerful people, are infatuated with you, and help you evolve as a person. Pluto in the 11th house indicates having very loyal friends who’d do anything for you. This placement can also indicate having friends with benefits similar to Mars in the 11th house. At worst you may attract friends who manipulate you, are unhealthily obsessed with you, use black magic on you, try to destroy your life, and/or that pass away too soon. This placement, I’ve noticed a lot of the time in my readings, can also indicate having a stalker/stalkers at some point in your life

Note: If you don’t have 11th house planets just check the ruling planet of your 11th house sign -> ex: 11h leo - sun

𝗣𝗨𝗥𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗔 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚

𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧 - 𝗦𝗨𝗕 𝗧𝗢 𝗠𝗬 𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗢𝗡 - 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗨𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗟𝗦

© 𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐤𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐝

[sideprince]

Eileen Prince

I'm relentlessly curious about how a witch from Slytherin, a house that values cunning and ambition on paper, and bloodlines/nobility in its culture, ended up living in a muggle slum.

Unfortunately for me, she's a barely mentioned character written by an author who consistently fails to portray female characters with depth or dimension. The women in Harry Potter are portrayed as either maternal or villains, or, in Ginny Weasley's case, as redeemed by their masculine traits (because Rowling's Thatcher era feminism dictates that equality for women = emulating patriarchal ideas of manhood). About as much as you can expect from an author who's as unable to acknowledge the personhood of trans women as she is to write women as actual people. This leaves a lot of room for interpreting or delving into what Eileen Prince's life may have looked like, and how that would have affected her son's development.

There are three direct mentions of Eileen in the text :

“The picture showed a skinny girl of around fifteen. She was not pretty; she looked simultaneously cross and sullen, with heavy brows and a long, pallid face. Underneath the photograph was the caption: Eileen Prince, Captain of the Hogwarts Gobstones Team.”

HBP Ch. 25

“I was going through the rest of the old Prophets and there was a tiny announcement about Eileen Prince marrying a man called Tobias Snape, and then later an announcement saying that she’d given birth to a" “ — murderer,” spat Harry.

HBP ch. 30

“Harry looked around: he was on platform nine and three-quarters, and Snape stood beside him, slightly hunched, next to a thin, sallow-faced, sour-looking woman who greatly resembled him.”

DH Ch. 33

(Shoutout to Harry James Potter, who didn't recognize Eileen's fifth year photo despite her resemblance to Snape, the teacher whose classroom he got his used Potions book from. Shoutout also to Harry James Potter who didn't connect the dots between the Prince's handwriting and Snape's, a teacher who regularly wrote instructions on the board. "I needed to make the plot work, ok?" - JK Rowling, probably.)

Other relevant excerpts:

“Snape staggered - his wand flew upwards, away from Harry - and suddenly Harry’s mind was teeming with memories that were not his: a hook-nosed man was shouting at a cowering woman, while a small dark-haired boy cried in a corner ”

OoTP Ch. 26

“Harry delved into his trunk and pulled out his copy of Advanced Potion-Making before getting into bed. There he turned its pages, searching, until he finally found, at the front of the book, the date that it had been published. It was nearly fifty years old.”

HBP Ch. 16

Supplemental material re: Gobstones from JK Rowling:

"...it remains a minority sport within the wizarding world, and does not enjoy a very ‘cool’ reputation, something its devotees tend to resent. Gobstones is most popular among very young wizards and witches, but they generally ‘grow out’ of the game, becoming more interested in Quidditch as they grow older.  ... Gobstones enjoys limited popularity at Hogwarts, ranking low among recreational activities, way behind Quidditch and even Wizarding Chess." [There's an additional sentence on the Harry Potter wiki's Gobstones page: "...it is also known as 'the thinking wizard's Quidditch.'"]

A few conclusions can be drawn from what little information we're given about Eileen:

She's described as "cross and sullen" around the age of 15, and as "sallow-faced, sour-looking" when she's older.

She's captain of the Gobstones club around her fifth year, so she likely marched to the beat of her own drum - given that Gobstones isn't particularly popular - and owns it proudly enough to take, or even seek out, a leadership role.

The sport is described as "the thinking wizard's Quidditch" which would imply Eileen was more interested in intellectual challenges and was clever (and can be paralleled with a young Severus' comment about "if you'd rather be brawny than brainy" to James Potter when they first meet on the Hogwarts Express).

Her marriage and the birth of her son are both announced in the paper, which might mean the family she came from was of some importance or note, or perhaps something else... but we'll get to that.

If we assume that Severus' secondhand copy of Advanced Potion Making was originally Eileen's (reasonable, though there is no textual evidence) then its publication date is likely around the time she was a sixth year, given that this particular text was specific to students beginning to prep for N.E.W.T. exams. Harry begins his sixth year in 1996 when the book is "nearly fifty years old," so we can assume Eileen was 16 years old sometime not long after 1946. Severus was born in 1960, which would mean Eileen was in her mid-late 20s at the time.

Her marriage was dysfunctional at best, abusive at worst. As per a Pottermore post that is still up on WizardingWorld.com: "...the desperately lonely and unhappy childhood [Severus] had with a harsh father who didn’t hold back when it came to the whip." Based on this, we can assume Tobias was abusive, and given Eileen's cowering as he shouted at her, she presumably feared him.

From these bits of information emerges the image of a woman who either had a surly personality, or at the very least was guarded, though perhaps just formal. There isn't really any difference in how her face is set when she's in an everyday setting like King's Cross, or when she's having her picture taken for the Gobstones Club. It's possible she was a stern, unsmiling person, but it's also possible - given that her wedding and child were announced in the paper - that she came from a family of some standing and was raised to conduct herself with hallmarks of British class, such as dignity and unaffectedness. After all, there are several wizarding families - such as the Potters - who are wealthy purebloods with social standing but are not part of the Sacred 28. Additionally, the Gobstones Club portrait would have been taken around the mid-1940s, when portraits were formal and their subjects did not often smile, and given that we see only a snippet of Eileen, we don't have enough information that she was unhappy or sour. It's also important to remember that we see her portrait and Snape's memory of her through Harry's perspective and, like his perception of Snape himself, this may convey Harry's biases.

We also know from the text that Snape had a house in a deserted part of Cokeworth, a fictional Midlands town that presumably had a collapsed milling industry, at the end of a street called Spinner's End. There's a great thread that goes into details about the kind of 2 up 2 down house it would have been, and we can assume that this is Snape's family home given that we know he and Lily grew up in Cokeworth. For all intents and purposes, the conclusion we can draw from this being the Snape family's home in the 60s is that they were working class and cripplingly poor. Most estates like this had been cleared by the 60s, and no longer exist today.

This begs the question: how did a witch from a possibly well-off family end up in an abusive marriage in an irrelevant slum?

Buckle up kids, we're leaving the world of textual references and veering into deep meta territory now. I won't label any of this as head canon because I'm not set on these interpretations, and am just drawing conclusions from the text, but some of it may be a bit loose even for meta.

If Eileen was 16 years old not long after 1946, then she would have finished school in the late 40s, possibly even 1950. While some people (including past me) posit the theory that Tobias may have been injured in WWII and his injuries debilitated him, forcing him to go on the dole and affecting his mental health, I'm increasingly skeptical of this theory. It would make more sense if Eileen had known him before he was drafted/enlisted and had committed to a relationship with him, which would then have changed when he came back from the war and was altered. If we assume Eileen's age based on the idea that it was her own copy of Advanced Potion Making Severus used, then she would still have been at school during WWII (which makes an interesting parallel with Severus' own experience of spending the bulk of the first wizarding war against Voldemort as a student at school).

I do think, however, that there's merit in the theory that Tobias suffered some kind of altering injury and that he wasn't necessarily abusive before Eileen committed herself to him. It makes little sense for a Slytherin graduate who was confident and self-posessed enough to be the face of an unpopular club to be drawn to a partner so abusive his shouts caused her to cower and who whipped his child freely. If, however, he was a charming, happy man when they met who suffered a life-altering injury, the trauma of which left him a shell of his former self, then someone like Eileen might stick around for the sake of the parts of his old self she can still see in him.

It's interesting that she didn't seem to use her magic to protect herself or her son, or even to dress her son in clothing that fit, but we know from the text that depression can cause a wizard's powers to wane:

“...it is also possible that her unrequited love and the attendant despair sapped her of her powers; that can happen”

HBP Ch. 13 (Dumbledore talking about Merope Gaunt)

The fact that the Snapes retained the house in Spinner's End seems to indicate that they continued to live there even when the local industry dried up and the slum was cleared as workers were moved to other parts of the country where they were needed (presumably what happened given *gestures at British history*). The most likely explanation for this would be that Tobias wasn't able to work, and perhaps did suffer an injury, only it was at work, and not during the war. This would mean the family lived on the dole (ie. welfare) and also that he would have spent a lot more time at home. It would also explain his anger and frustration that led to abusive behavior (which isn't to say that disabled people are abusive by any means, but it would have been emasculating for a man who considered himself the breadwinner in the 60s, and chronic pain coupled with limited abilities would give anyone a short fuse).

Moreover, this living situation seems to indicate that there is no additional support coming from anywhere. Where is Eileen's family? Why were they not helping? There's no indication in the text that there is any connection with them at all. We can infer from Snape's memories that, as a child, he learned what he knew about the magical world from his mother. This implies that she talked to him about it a fair amount, and his conviction that he and Lily were going to Hogwarts well before they got their letters also implies that Eileen expected him to go there and was set on her son having a magical education, despite how little she seemed to use her own powers.

Severus knows a lot about the wizarding world as a child, including that prisoners are sent to Azkaban and that it's guarded by Dementors, Hogwarts' house structure and what to expect when he and Lily get there, and about the Statute of Secrecy and the laws around it. When Lily asks him if it makes a difference being Muggleborn, Severus hesitates before replying no, presumably because he's aware of pureblood bias being a part of wizarding culture.

Perhaps that's the reason Eileen's family doesn't seem to be in the picture. My own theory is that Eileen hadn't planned to commit herself to Tobias long-term, and Severus was an accidental outcome of an innocent tryst in which a young Eileen, an educated witch from a well to do pureblood family, was having fun slumming it with a working class muggle and ended up pregnant. While we don't know the wizarding world's attitude around pregnancy and abortion, we do know it's a conservative and classist society that parallels muggle British culture fairly closely, and that the late 50s/early 60s were a time when an out of wedlock baby would have been considered a disgrace.

Add to that the anti-muggle bias of a pureblood family and it sounds like Eileen was disowned her for her mistake (and don't @ me, but even though I know that not all Slytherins are purebloods, it does seem to be a persistent cultural value of the house reaching back to Salazar Slytherin himself, so Eileen's being sorted into it can reasonably be taken as an indication of her blood status). Perhaps the marriage and birth announcements in the Daily Prophet were put in by Eileen herself, if she was a woman from a family where this was customary. It may have been her way of letting her family know of the events, or even of asserting herself and even deliberately defying them, announcing to the whole wizarding world that a Prince married and had a child with a muggle. It makes sense that the girl who wasn't just in the Gobstones club, but became captain, would also say to herself, why shouldn't I have my marriage announced in the paper like everyone else in the family?

It's worth noting that mid-late 20s is pretty young to have a baby in the wizarding world, where the life expectancy and child bearing years are much longer than they are for a muggle. According to the Harry Potter wiki:

"Wizard life expectancy in Britain reached an average 137¾ years in the mid-1990s, according to the Ministry of Divine Health ... Wizards in general have a much longer life expectancy than Muggles, usually living two or three times as long as their non magical counterparts, some living even longer than that depending on circumstances. In addition, seeing as James Potter's parents had him "late in life,” witches likely have significantly longer childbearing years than Muggle women."

Although we see several characters in Severus' generation getting married and having kids not long after leaving school, there's a mention in the text that a lot of people were doing this during Voldemort's reign, as the fear he inspired made people more eager to get a move on with life since they thought they might die any day (I think Mrs. Weasley says this but I can't find the quote, @ me if you do). It's clear this wasn't the norm in the wizarding world. Eileen was a Slytherin, a house that values cunning, ambition, and strong wizarding heritage. Something must have gone very wrong in Eileen's life for her to end up having a child so young and living in a muggle slum.

And so it's possible Eileen Prince found herself pregnant and alone, having been disowned by her family to save face in light of her disgrace, and dependent on the only person she was still close to, the father of her child. It's the kind of storyline that Rowling would write, and it would parallel fairly closely the story of Voldemort's mother, thus adding another to the long list of similarities between Voldemort and Snape.

Lorrie Kim makes an interesting point when she talks about how Snape has a strong reaction to other people having a love life or romantic experiences (the context being Rowling's intention of his love for Lily being romantic and unrequited), but doesn't react particularly strongly to mothers sacrificing themselves for their children, whereas Voldemort does. Her insight, and I think it's a reasonable one, is that Severus accepts the idea of mothers making sacrifices for their children, whether it's Lily giving her life for Harry or Narcissa risking all she did to ask for his help in protecting Draco, because his own mother protected him from his father as much as she could.

There's a lot of room for interpretation on what Eileen's relationship with her son looked like, and what it says about her own state. She may have prioritized not angering Tobias to protect Severus, who as a child might have perceived her actions as a form of rejection. At the same time, she seems to have prepared him thoroughly for life in the magical world, perhaps in the hope that he would find his place in it and escape home. Perhaps she missed it and told him so much about it so she could live through her own memories.

The only time we see her argue with Tobias, in Severus' memory, she's cowering as he shouts. We know from JK Rowling that Tobias used corporal punishment liberally, which implies Eileen didn't stop him despite her magical abilities. We also see in the text, however, that while at school Severus stood up for himself against bullies and fought back, and that he was an exceptionally clever and powerful wizard. As an adult he was brave enough to face Dumbledore when he betrayed Voldemort, and later fought against Voldemort right under his nose (or lack thereof). So it stands to reason that at some point Severus began to stand up against Tobias too.

How much of that was Eileen's influence, or the result of Severus seeing her acceptance of her fate and rejecting it for himself, is hard to say. As for what happened to Tobias and Eileen that their house was Severus' by the mid-90s and they were nowhere in sight, I don't think there's enough information in the text to infer.

[indialeaders]

The Emerging Women’s Leadership Program (EWLP) is an intensive 7-week program designed to support the leadership development journeys of emerging women leaders in the social sector. The Program equips leaders with the necessary knowledge, skills, and tools to advance their leadership journey, and create impact in the sector.

[amatun28]

My Top best BTS members fic in my whole fanfic reading journey. ( ao3, YT, Wattpad, tumblr) [Part:01]

🌸These fanfics have my whole heart. The amount of happiness,emotion,nostalgia i felt its beyond unimaginable. I will cherise those fics until the end of my life. Thank you of all those writer who britten my day with their incredible talent and creativity. 🌸

🌺Long thread ( please read the review with patience)🌺

💐Author💐

1. Rafae's fiction on YT

My fanfic journey started with YT. I know many of us doesn't read yt fanfic, although we have solid reason not to do. Some of us also think yt fanfic means cringy type of fic. But trust me Rafae is a gem. Like she is truly exceptional. She has a strong aura that anyone can be captivated.

🍁Her stories🍁

◼Throne [ Taehyung fanfic ] by Rafae on YT

Genre: Royal au, arranged marriage, Angst (so much angst), smut, romance, fluff, happy ending. [completed]

Summary : A story of Royalty. A Periodic tale of three kingdoms. A tale of kings and Queens. " Throne" Is a story that had everything; Love, loyalty, friendship, betrayal, evilness, partition, pain, suffering, development, empowerment and devotion. A tale that takes the Romance to different level after passing through the stages of love. A tale of a Queen, more than a King. A tale of woman who proved that there is nothing stronger in this world than a broken woman. The Queen who teaches us to look in the eyes of demons and say Here I am standing, come and try to break me.

-Review:

[Must read] : The first thing I will say is it's not the typical type of fanfic people usually read, where the female lead is always weak or submitted to the male lead. This fanfic will change someone's perspective on women. And about the male lead, he is so caring and soft-spoken when it comes to his woman, sweet, with a strong moral compass and leadership like a full package. His character is so beautifully written that you will feel pain in your heart thinking, In real life, why do these kinds of men not exist? This story also has many different side characters, and each character has a different story, and each of them is so painfully beautiful. This series has 100 episodes. I had never seen any YT fanfic this long. Even the epi time is also very long, about 25-30 mins. Some of you will think that its 100-episode series might be boring, but trust me, not a single episode of this series is boring. Every episode is packed with suspense, emotion, and breathtaking plot twists that will leave you on the edge of your seat. And the best part? The storytelling is so vivid that it feels like watching a historical K-drama unfold right before your eyes. If you read the story, you will see the mention of 3 kingdoms that were actually from the Korean map that ruled ancient time Korea during the Three Kingdoms Period. So just go give it a chance; I must say you won't regret it. Also, the BGM of this series is like a full chef's kiss. 🤌

[Note: There are some grammatical mistakes in this series. The author had to upload one EP every Tuesday of the week. On YT after uploading the EP, she couldn't even edit the episode. Otherwise, all of the things are so perfect, so just dig in. ☺]

▪🍁[Jungkook fanfic]🍁

◼ [Reading between the lines] by anonymous on (ao3)

Genre: kinda enemies to lovers au,University au, slow burn, fluff, Smut, also jungkook is so sweet:( [completed ]

Summary: You're an art student beginning your final year at university, and the assigned partner for thesis project? Much to your dismay, it's Jeon Jungkook. You don't like him — he doesn't seem to try very hard, and besides, he's on the soccer team, and you don't really get along with athletes.

Thanks to a lack of available models and a shortage of studio space, you end up spending a large portion of your semester locked in a tiny closet with Jungkook, where you eventually discover he's nothing at all like you originally thought.

-Review:

Plz this is so good. Like so so so good.😭 you have to read this. The slow burn, the tension, the way their relationship grows. This kind of books will make your chest hurt (in a good way). And about Jungkook, i hopelessly inlove with his character. Also the pace of love-story was perfect like PERFECT. I will never forget the emotion and butterfly i felt reading this. Also the smut 👌💋. So just go and read this. A must read.

◼ Phycho by @moonchiiild_ on wattpad

Genre: Personality disorder au (reader), established relationship, romance, angst, happy ending [ completed]

Summary: You are wounded and broken. Laughing at scars was your habit, but tending your wounds was his speciality. Some may call Jeon Jungkook a perfect man to exist, but you knew your husband better than that; if you were his Bonnie, he is your Clyde. Psycho, maniac, insane. World called you many names, but your husband calls you his wife and stands beside you when no one dares. Jungkook is your possession, your medicine. The world may have rejected a bitch like you, but it takes only one person to snatch the monster out of you.

-Review:

Masterpiece the only word go to this series. This book is mix of suspense, romance. The first chapter of this book got me chokehold and there was no way escape of this. I just can't stop thinking about this. The characters are so good specially jungkook, this man is embodiment of all my fantasies here. After reading this story the only thing you will say that if i can't find any man like Jungkook in this book then i dont want any man. Like He is the STANDARD. Also there was so much angst on this book. But in the end its all worth it :(((

▪🍁[Taehyung fanfic]🍁

◼ Perpetual Rain by @NovainRose_ on wattpad

Genre: Slow brun, some fluff, angst, Smut, Reaper au, kinda time travel au?? [ completed ]

Summary: A troubled - soon to be - college girl is ravaged by uncontrollable hallucinations that she can't explain. Making an unexpected friendship with a stranger she met on the street but, he has secrets of his own. "Seriously, you've got me worried." His hands pressed into the tables brim, ready to get up at any second. "You barely even know me, why are you so worried?" You stared at him, irritated and confused. He was so persistent! "Is it bad for someone to care? Even if it's for a stranger?" Dark brown eyes narrowing and chest-nut hair cast to the side with a tilt of his head. "Just trust me." But, could she?

-Review:

I am whipped; I am just WHIPPED. It's such a beautifully written, deeply emotional journey filled with longing, love, and pain that lingers like the scent of the rain on a stormy night. This book still haunts me like a nightmare. The writing is so mesmerizing. Also, this book is kind of atmospheric. There is also a 2nd part of this book called" Timeless Snow". But this book is really a slow burn, like really, really slow burn. So don't get frustrated. Just go and read; trust me, you will love it. This book is one of my the must-read books.

This is my first time posting on tumblr. And these fanfics are very close to my heart. If you love these stories then plz show lot of love to the original author of these stories. At the end of the day, fanfic writers rely on positive reviews from readers. Its make the original author happy. Also, if you love the recommendation, then please tell me also.😌 So that maybe i will also make the part 2 of my favourite fanfics. 👀

[kassil]

So let's follow through on what Square-Enix has given us about the Hrothgar, shall we? Whether or not the development team has thought about the implications or not:

Male Hrothgar are far more common than female Hrothgar.

Female Hrothgar are said to have a natural disposition for leadership.

So from this, we can infer a few things. (fair warning: some queer shitposting past the cut.)

First, if females are "relatively few in number" then in order for the population to not dwindle they need a high birthrate. If the hrothgals don't spend all their time pregnant, that implies that hrothgar have litters. Congrats, Hrothgar players! You have a bunch of siblings!

Second, the gender mismatch strongly suggests polyamory in the form of one woman with a harem of husbands/consorts is going to be a common situation; siblings from the same litter might well have different fathers, which can happen with cats.

Third, the gender mismatch combined with the Disposition for Leadership also strongly implies that child-rearing duties fall to the men in the family, so Hrothgar lads are gonna be the proud papas toting a kid or two around when the litter gets born, probably the ones that they're going to be directly responsible for seeing to adulthood with the family. Hrothgals probably raise their daughters directly, as a matrilineal process.

Fourth, this implies that the overwhelming majority of direct monogamous pairings among Hrothgar will be completely homosexual, and could suggest that many Hrothgar are bisexual! Good for them, really, they deserve the intimacy.

Last, I would like to call SE out for being absolute cowards in setting up all these implications and only giving Hrothgals the human-standard pair of boobs, and am choosing to believe this indicates that when given the right pheromonal signals that Hrothgar men will lactate for their kittens. How else are they gonna feed that hungry litter?

(Edit: No wonder Hrothgar players have tended to be wholesome in a weird way, right?)

[cinnam0nic3girl]

How to embrace your feminine side without being toxic

Femininity is a beautiful and powerful aspect of a woman’s identity, and embracing it positively and healthily can lead to greater self-confidence, improved relationships, and a more fulfilling life.

1. Define Femininity on Your Own Terms

Recognize that femininity is not a one-size-fits-all concept.

Avoid societal pressures that dictate how you should behave or look.

Allow yourself to explore and embrace aspects of femininity that feel authentic to you.

2. Cultivate Self-Confidence and Self-Worth

Develop inner strength and resilience by building self-confidence from within.

Avoid seeking validation solely from external sources.

Engage in self-care practices that make you feel good emotionally, physically, and mentally.

3. Express Femininity in a Balanced Way

Enjoy fashion, beauty, and self-expression without feeling obligated to adhere to trends.

Embrace softness and kindness without seeing them as weaknesses.

Recognize that strength and femininity coexist—being graceful doesn’t mean being submissive.

4. Build Positive Relationships with Other Women

Support and uplift other women rather than engaging in competition or negativity.

Avoid toxic behaviors such as gossip, jealousy, or tearing others down.

Create a circle of positive, empowering female friendships.

5. Be Emotionally Intelligent and Self-Aware

Learn to manage emotions in a healthy way rather than using them for manipulation.

Communicate openly and honestly in relationships.

Recognize the importance of setting boundaries and standing up for yourself without resorting to toxicity.

6. Cultivate a Nurturing and Compassionate Spirit

Being nurturing does not mean neglecting your own needs—find a balance.

Show kindness and empathy to others without being taken advantage of.

Practice self-care so you can give from a place of abundance rather than depletion.

7. Embrace Your Unique Strengths and Talents

Pursue passions, goals, and interests without feeling confined by traditional gender roles.

Celebrate your intellect, creativity, and leadership abilities alongside your feminine traits.

Encourage other women to follow their dreams and break barriers.

8. Reject Toxic Femininity

Avoid using femininity as a means to manipulate or control others.

Refrain from shaming or judging other women for their choices.

Emphasize cooperation over competition in both personal and professional relationships.

Final Thoughts Embracing femininity in a healthy way means honoring yourself while respecting and uplifting others. By staying authentic, confident, and compassionate, you can fully embrace your feminine essence without falling into toxic behaviors. True femininity is about balance—being strong yet graceful, nurturing yet independent, and kind yet assertive.

[thedinanshiral]

Bellanaris.

After witnessing Solas' regrets through his murals in The Veilguard many wondered, what exactly was his relationship with Mythal?

Even the Veilguard members had questions and discussed about it.

Spoilers for everything. Goes with this one too, if you want more of Solas analysis from me.

He followed her without question -or reserving the ones he had- and maybe reconsidered that love in their friendship when her crimes with the evanuris outweighed what Solas could stand, when he asked her to run away with him and she declined, and by the time she listened and tried to stop the others it was sadly too late. When Solas started his rebellion he was already carving his own path away from her, but their love was still present and it was because of that love that he warned her, and that she finally decided to listen. She may have been his dearest friend and he did everything for her. When he writes to Ghilan'nain and says "you would not be the first to sacrifice your morals for love" he was talking about himself, he was referencing his personal experience because that's what he did with Mythal.

I'll be blunt, i don't think they were romantically entagled. It's been mentioned in past games that the ancient elvhen related with each other on different levels that present Thedosians may struggle to comprehend. Now knowing they were originally spirits helps understanding things a bit better; spirits are beings of raw, intense emotions, whatever they feel they do so on a much higher degree, and whatever words they used to communicate it once translated fail to convey their real, full meaning.

I think Solas and Mythal were friends, but friendship for them was felt much strongly. There was love between them but not in the sense we'd imagine it now.

They were not equals, there was an imbalance neither were truly aware of until Solas rebelled and maybe then he started understanding their differences and from there his feelings for her changed, as he changed, his purpose twisted from Wisdom meant to guide in times of war, into a rebel leader fighting in what were supposed to be times of peace. He went from being a friend to becoming the enemy.

The romance with the Inquisitor may have been a last minute addition to the game (I have my doubts, it's too perfect and fits too well with everything to have been improvised) but it makes perfect sense only a female elf Inquisitor can sway him like that..because it's reminiscent of his relationship with Mythal, that past bond coming back to haunt him except this time the roles are a bit reversed: he's the powerful god, she's the simple mortal. But Lavellan is far from being a simple creature and she reminds Solas of all he ever loved and cared about and changes a terrible broken world into something that can be fixed, She turns his despair into hope, the fact she came out in such a way from the same world he broke tells him something may still be saved..

In both instances Solas finds himself in the service of a powerful elven woman in a position of leadership trying to save the world. But with Lavellan there's no protocols, there's no real hierarchy, with Lavellan they're more like equals, they're partners. There's no master and servant, there's people on equal standing fighting together for a common goal.

Lavellan becomes Solas' partner in a way Mythal could not and would never be able to.

Mythal was possibly Solas' first relationship, whatever label you'd like to apply there, a loyal friendship sustained mainly on his one-sided devotion to her that he eventually grew out of. While Lavellan is real, realized love, a relationship that may have started out of necessity, finding mutual respect that turned it into friendship, later developing further into something both wanted and neither could ignore. There's no one-sidedness with Lavellan, there's only mutual desire, this love unlike the past one is overwhelming, requited and wanted. Lavellan makes the first move, she's the one that isn't running away and in fact, in Trespasser and later finally in Veilguard, she shows him she's the one willing to run away with him. She's the one willing to do for him the sacrifices he once made for Mythal, even when she doesn't have to, when there's no ancient bond, mandate or obligation of any kind. Lavellan is willing to be with him out of her own free will and for the love she holds for him.

For roleplaying and replayability it would have been great if Solas could have been romanceable by more Inquisitors, but by his nature and personal history it makes absolute perfect sense that only a female elf could. Now we know he was a spirit and spirits are at their core very simple and fixed creatures, interestingly ironic considering they come from a realm where nothing is fixed. Solas isn't just stuck in his ways, he's a spirit! There's a limit to what he can understand and experience, even if he's a spirit of wisdom and is very knowledgeable, his nature is still limited (as we all are), his focus is singular, and a female elf Inquisitor fits right into that singular focus of his. Making other races romanceable for him would have broken that and it would have taken away from the Thedas pattern and his personal pattern as well.

He left the fade to enter the physical world because an elvhen woman he loved asked him to, and he followed her loyal to a fault until he had to break away from her when she chose an abusive status quo over his desperate cry for freedom and justice.

He destroys the world as a result in a desperate attempt to save it, and wakes up thousands of years later to find one person who shows him something of all he loved lives on and in doing so gives him purpose. Spirits need and crave purpose and Lavellan gives him just that.

He falls in love, something he could have never foreseen, an event completely out of all his calculations, but the pattern is shifting, there's no longer an evident imbalance, he's treated as an equal, even when she learns who he is she still talks to him like he's just the man she loves.

And on his lowest point when he's about to repeat a past mistake and destroy a world trying to save it, he returns to the Fade accompanied by the elvhen woman that loved him back with a devotion he was never shown before. Some may argue they're not equals, because he's Fen'Harel and she's a mortal elf he lied to for the better part of a year, that they're not equals because he always kept that secret from her and maybe took advantage of her affection to get what he wanted. But they are equals in the end in the sense that they feel the same way, and are capable of the same sacrifices for each other, and their respect is mutual in equal measure.

Solas may have been mistaken, but had their circumstances been different you know he would have stayed with her, as he wanted to. Most of his dinan'shiral is fueled by monumental guilt, regret, shame and a hurt sense of duty and that's what prevented him from giving in to his feelings for Lavellan, just as he understood Lavellan wouldn't abandon the Inquisition for him, and wouldn't just let him burn the world without opposition. Because Lavellan also has duties she's devoted too as much as she's devoted to him. They're an unstoppable force and unmovable object clashing against their will and if it weren't for the people around them you know a Lavellan that is on equal standing with Solas would have confronted him, maybe neither would have succeeded, maybe they would have died in each other's arms if it came to it.

But fortunately it didn't have to end that way, and yes, I'm sure Solas knows too well he doesn't deserve her (because she's too good), that she doesn't deserve him (because he's such a mess), but Lavellan has always been there to prove him wrong and he welcomes that with a smile.

I headcanon my Gallia Lavellan would be a spirit of Devotion. Wisdom and Devotion make an odd pair, but she's Devotion all around, mostly for him, their love that endured everything, but she's also devoted to the truth, to their causes, to the people, to Thedas, she's devoted to doing the right thing and to doing it as best as possible; she's devoted to continue learning about the world, protecting those she love, and those who have no one to look after them.

She does all that by following him into the Fade, by becoming the fixed point in his life, his North, his Anchor, to remind him what should be done, not only what must be done, to remind him of what truly matters. She doesn't simply follow him into the Fade out of love for him but out of love for the world, which is another thing they have in common.

Lavellan is truly his match, and Solas is aware of it in a way that makes him more ashamed for everything he's done and feel more undeserving of what is yet to come for him by her side.

I don't think Wisdom turned to Pride, I think Wisdom became Pragmatism in the wars, later turned to Regret for most of his life and through Devotion's love and perseverance he returned to Wisdom with a renewed love for life. Maybe he's become Love now, love for her, love for the world he's protecting, love for his people, and for all that love he decided to sacrifice himself, his own freedom, to spend in eternity with his one true love.

And for once in his very long and troubled life i think this time he made a choice he does not regret.

[lua-magic]

Intresting Astrology facts.

Cancer ancendent, their seventh lord is Saturn and their seventh house is Capricorn, hence they face lot of dissatisfaction in their married life and has to work for their partners alot .

Gemini ancendent always look for their better half or wants company to complete them, as Gemini is ruled by Mercury and Mercury being kid, always wants to be with someone.

Taurus ancendent are great foddie as moon is exalted.

Any planet that gets combusted has special purpose in this life time, as you have done lot of mistakes regarding that planet in previous life so in this life that planet is combusted.

Mercury combust- You have to learn to be confident and develop leadership qualities in your life time

Venus combust- You have to learn to balance your finances, work and love life and become grounded in relationship.

Mars combusted- You have to show courage and help people unconditionally and also be humble about your strengths.

Jupiter Combusted - You need to be humble about your knowledge and show respect to elders and gurus in your life also give knowledge unconditionally.

Saturn combusted - Saturn -Sun conjunction becomes problematic only one you have poor relationship with your father, otherwise this combination is good for someone who wants to go for government job and can reach great heights, but again be humble, otherwise Saturn will trouble you

You have to respect, father, government, and higher authority.

For natives ruled by nakshatra of ketu, ie Ashvini, Magha and Mula(ketu), their lucky planet is Mercury, so if they really maintain good circle of friends and keep developing their skills, and do something for kids always they will really prosper in life.

Moon is another planet which is good for their well-being, if the align themselves with moon cycle and carry Moon related objects like Moon water, or even stay near flowing water they can keep themselves physically and mentally balanced..

Native ruled by nakshatra of Rahu Ardra, Swati and satbhisha (Rahu) their lucky planet is Mars, always have cordial relationship with your brother, be courageous, involve yourself in some kind of sports or excercise. You will notice great changes in you

Lucky objects to Carry with you are green colour cloth or objects with you .

For natives of moon nakshatra ie Rohini, Hasta and sravanam nakshatra, Sun is the lucky planet, so if they become disciplined in life and start taking sun bath daily they will notice great change in their life, another planet is Jupiter, whose constant blessings will keep them physically and mentally fit.

You can carry with you, yellow topaz especially to work place, it will get you good results.

For the natives of sun nakshatra, kritika, uttarphalguni, uttarshada Venus is lucky planet, so start taking care of you daily and spend some time and money on self care and self love, pray to female goddess and respect females, you will notice great change in your life in a positive way, lucky object that you can carry with you for your mental and physical well-being are idol of elephant or picture of elephant.

For natives of Baharani, poorvaphalguni and poorvashada ruled by Venus , their lucky planet is Ketu, so if you want to prosper in life you have to be spiritual and detached and learn more about Spirituality and occult.

Lucky objects that you can carry is any red colour cloth or gemstone with you.

Natives ruled by Saturn nakshatra Pushya Anuradha, Uttara Bhadrapada, their lucky planet is Jupiter, so atleast have one teacher or guru in your life, if you want to progress and lucky stones that you can carry with you for your mental and physical well being are any photo of female goddess or white crystals.

Native ruled by Mercury nakshatra Ashlesha, Jyeshtha, Revati their lucky planet is Saturn, so serve or do charity, especially do something for old age people, and lucky object that you can carry is Photo of Sun, or "Surya Yantra"

For the Mars ruled nakshatra Mrigashira, Chitra, and Dhanishtha Moon is the lucky planet, so respect your mother or mother like figures in your life and pray to moon goddess and allign with moon cycle to manifest. Lucky objects that you can carry is black cloth or stones to help you in your professional and personal life..

Jupiter's ruled nakshatras Punarvasu, Vishakha, and Poorvabhadrapada "Rahu" is the lucky planet, and rahu represents ancestors, so praying to your ancestors and seek their blessings would be really help you.

Lucky objects that you can carry with you are any triangular objects with you to help you grow personally and professionally..

I am mentioning here moon nakshatra that nakshatra in which your moon is present

[lovehotelreservation]

Don't You Want Me Like I Want You?

Summary: There was a time when you and Lieutenant Price were as close as could be.

But after one drunken mistake years ago, you've since done everything you could to keep yourself as far away from him as possible.

Up until this particular night.

As his former Captain, you should've known that there was simply no way he would ever give up on hunting you down.

Rating: NC-17

Pairing: Older F!Reader/Younger!Price (Reader is in her 30s & John is in his 20s)

**Warning: contains age gaps and drunken sex--please take discretion before proceeding!**

hi 🧍‍♀️

recently i had the chance to visit seoul and idk seeing all sorts of soldiers reuniting with their lovers for the holidays + being unable to escape "apt" no matter where i went + continuing to listen to yandere male kouhai x female senpai drama cds resulted in this !!!

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

A sigh left your lips before you gulped down a mouthful of champagne from your glass.

They grow up so fast.

Once near religiously clean-shaven to now sporting a thick, well-groomed mustache. An almost naively optimistic glimmer in the eye to a much more steely and narrowed gaze that only further experiences in life could naturally curate. Tall, lean muscle that had since bulkened into a sinewy pillar of brawn.

To everyone in attendance at tonight's military gala in the heart of London, he was the newly appointed Captain John Price.

But to you, always and more, he was Lieutenant John Price.

Having dedicated most of his life in the military–from the latter half of his adolescence to essentially the entirety of his 20s–, he was primed to be nothing short of legendary in his career. Skilled, resilient, and–most of all–mindful. He could be trusted with Britain’s–nay, the world’s–finest soldiers and see them not just to victory, but safe and sound back home as well. Similarly, he still maintained compassion to the plights of the innocents and the causes of opposing forces, seeking to preserve life as much as he could rather than callously brushing off all as mere collateral damage. 

For you, it was the greatest honor to have overseen his growth and development as his superior.

As his Captain.

You could say that it was by fate that the two of you would ever cross paths, but really it was because of Kate.

Kate Laswell, of course.

One of your dearest friends and your longest ally.

With the both of you being among the few women working your way up the ropes within the realm of the military, it was a persistent uphill battle for you both to excel and progress further enough to have your accomplishments inside and outside the field validated. The hardships faced both abroad in volatile territory and within the stifling restraints of bureaucracy had the two of you as close as could be.

And when a job needed swift and efficient execution, she knew she could reliably call upon you.

But then there came a time she needed more help than you could provide.

Enter one John Price.

Whereas you had only a few years difference apart in age with Kate–her being older at that–, you had a full decade over John, who was to serve as the lieutenant to your captain.

While you were used to any of your male counterparts–regardless of their seniority or their status as subordinates–to scoff or sneer at you upon first meeting, he was as respectful as could be. 

No smarmy jabs about your capabilities as a woman, no piggish snipes at your age or your looks, no overly critical questioning of your methods.

He abided by your leadership with damn near reverence and even went as far as to bark down at any man–sergeant, lieutenant, corporal–who dared to see you as beneath themselves.

It was the start of a precious friendship, one that spanned across the years and across the world. No matter the mission or location, whether there was need for infiltrating the underbelly of the Triads, disposing of ultranationalist leaders in Russia, thwarting the plans for a full global scale terrorist strike across the world, you and Price made for the perfect pair.

In the sense of a mentor and a student, obviously. You couldn’t even begin to think of tainting such a precious dynamic.

That very same compassion and mindfulness he carried throughout his career was honed and nurtured under your tutelage. Though, you were usually the first to tease him whenever he spoke in such profound one-liners of grandeur.

“Movie star” was one of many nicknames you had for him.

It was just a shame that you could not look at your friendship with fondness in your heart any more.

The reason for such was why you were deep into a bottle of champagne during tonight’s evening affair.

All while you prayed and prayed that no affair of any sort would come about.

You wished you weren’t even here to begin with–especially not while you were doing your best to try and camouflage against one of the gala hall’s many ornamented flower arrangements in a black dress and heels.

It had been a little over 5 years since you both retired and had last seen Price.

While you were more than prepared to have it extend to a full decade, a call from an exasperated Kate had you reluctantly make the trip out to London for tonight’s celebration, with his promotion to captain among the many highlights.

She needed him to take lead of an extensive campaign in Brazil but he had been shockingly adamant in his refusal–albeit with one exception:

“I want to see my Captain again, Laswell.”

The groaned “Katherine” you let out over the phone was burdened and heavy upon hearing her recount his singular term.

Yet while the same couldn’t exactly be said about your current connection with Price, your friendship with Kate was as strong as it ever was and as hesitant as you felt, you agreed to attend.

After all, you simply had to swing by the gala–that didn’t mean you had to talk to Price. He only said he wanted to see you. With how desperately you were trying to utilize every bit of semantics for salvation, you took any chance you could.

Because simply put, there was a conversation that you just didn’t want to have with him.

A follow-up to a night from just shy of 5 years ago that you had been running from all this time.

You had since done your best to blank out the happenings of that evening, but your skin could still feel the phantoms of body heat and muscle haunting over every inch regardless.

Despite all the repressing as you had done across the days, the months, the years, some details were just impossible to completely stamp out:

December in Seoul. Campaign celebration. Your soju. His hotel room.

Drunkenly teaching him a game of mahjong led to the idea of sweetening the prize beyond mere bragging rights between the two of you.

Release a few salacious secrets or help unwind a knot or two in the shoulder with a massage.

It was meant to be a choice of one or the other but it didn’t take much more of both to be tangled, much like the two of you on his bed.

“So this is why the guys keep teasing you with those mama’s boy comments,” was something you remember giggling out while you had Price nursing from your breasts, his lips hungrily sucking at your nipples while his hands fondled your chest.

He chuckled lowly against your skin, his eyes twinkling as he peeked up at you with a wink. “I wear it with pride–always preferred a dignified woman over a bratty girl.”

You found yourself slinking over to the bar once again, careful to keep watch of any sign of Price. He had finished giving his acceptance speech–his frequent scans across the gala hall did not escape you while you were sinking low in your seat and hiding behind gala pamphlets–and was mingling with the likes of the ever dignified Commander Shepherd and other elites from the British Army with cigars and whiskey.

They truly grow up so fast.

Though, given his penchant for the finer things in life, it only made you swelter within your dress all the more with another memory from that night.

Your body caged in Price’s arms, your nails digging into his chiseled forearms, his naked body pressed flush against yours, his cock hammering into your core from behind, his voice in a hiss as he sought to mark your skin and leave his claim, his ownership.

“That’s right, Captain. Cum for your lieutenant and become mine…!”

You shuddered hard, head thrown back against his shoulder, back arching off against his chest. Never had any man–all of whom were much closer to you in age–made you feel like this.

And so, for once, you did as he ordered.

Partially.

Because you couldn’t become his.

You refused.

Price was well a decade younger than you, with your night together a drunken fling and–in your eyes–a tarnishing of the pure connection you shared with him as mentor and student.

All because you weren’t thinking that night.

You were supposed to serve as an example of what discipline and merit could achieve, especially against all odds.

Instead, you happily lied beneath him, legs spread wide to accommodate every eager thrust and every sticky load he pumped into you with.

It was at this recollection that you paused midway to the bar.

Perhaps it was time to call it a night instead, else risk more possible drunken mistakes, whether with Price or with someone else.

With this, you shifted direction to head over to where Kate and her wife were seated–just a quick bye and you would be out to find freedom and ease of mind back at your hotel room.

And then, you felt it again.

The manifestation of a haunting phantom.

The weight of two heavy hands coming to rest right on top of your shoulders.

“There you are–just the woman I’ve been looking for.”

Whatever drunken flushed heat in your skin turned ice cold as a voice–now roughened and deeper from when you last heard it–spoke out to you.

Your body was pulled back into an embrace with utmost ease, solid muscle slotting perfectly against your backside.

You dared not to look back.

But you knew he was smiling by the mirth in his voice.

“I’m being called for another speech, but I’ll be waiting for you for mahjong later, Captain. Still have a few loose ends I’ve been meaning to tie up.”

His fingers caught along the strap of your dress, running over the thin fabric right as he brought his lips right to the corner of your mouth for a quick kiss, the bristles of his mustache raking over your skin.

When he drew away, you caught the definite quirk of a triumphant grin as he proceeded to take his leave.

You almost shattered your champagne glass.

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tysm for reading !!! i hope you enjoyed !!! literally as soon as i returned from my trip this past weekend, i was DETERMINED to get this done and while i actually did have some bits i was inclined to elaborate on, i controlled myself because otherwise i knew i was gonna be locked tf in on context alone and i already have my "bodyguard" piece to catch up on !!!!!!!!! 😭😭