#great lakes borrower services

[hhoneylemon]

𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘰 𝘣𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘴

warnings: bad writing perhaps

How Does He Act With A Crush?

he’s so cute when he has a crush. he finds excuses to hang out with you, he’s nicer to you than he is to anyone. he does his best to charm you with his ‘bad boy’ persona and then drops it to just be that soft funny guy. he’ll let you borrow his books and he’ll read any you recommend, he lets you borrow his cds, sneaks you free stuff from luke’s, probably steals something of yours to remember you by when he’s sitting alone.

Love Languages

i think jess is an acts of services and gift giving kind of guy. he’ll annotate books for you, give you books, drive you around, carry things for you. he’ll let you drag him places as long as it makes you happy too. he keeps your best interests in his heart. he struggles with voicing his feelings. he’s physically affectionate, but it’s mostly hand holding and kissing.

Gifts

he definitely listens to you when you talk. he learns what your favorite candy is to randomly give to you when you’re hanging out. he gives you books based off your taste and he expects you to tell him what it was about and if you liked it or not. he buys you cds and records of your favorite artists and does his best to find collectors items too. has bought you little antique trinkets that are genuinely adorable.

Dates

like i said, he takes mental notes on what you talk about, he’s a great listener. if you mention having seen a new restaurant open he’ll take you there for dinner. he enjoys taking you out for ice cream (there’s ice cream at the diner, but no cones), taking you book shopping, record shopping, seeing a bad movie to make fun of it (at home or in theatre), going to concerts or small gigs. he loves just walking around with you and talking too. keeps a hand in your back pocket or an arm around your waist. if you ask him to a town event he’ll complain about it and say no for a while but if you keep asking he’ll probably say yes, or he’ll come up with an alternative date.

Kisses

when you first start dating he genuinely cannot stop kissing you. stops you mid conversation to kiss you and then goes back in his same position to listen to you continue talking. kisses your cheek when he really wants to kiss you but you’re ranting. kisses you to shut you up. of you want him to shut up, it's effective on him as well. kiss him and you can get you whatever you want. he’d give you the world if you asked, anyways.

Random

he does magic tricks for you!! sometimes your brain hurts from reading so much or you’re studying and you want a break so he busts out his cards and just does some tricks for you. sometimes he’ll take you to the lake and you two sit on the bridge and sit in silence, holding hands and looking at the water while thinking about whatever. whenever he’s upset, this is his favorite thing to do with you. he honestly doesn’t peg me as the jealous type. unless you outright hang out with an ex or a guy who clearly has a crush on you, he won’t care. he trusts you. he’ll ho to parties with you, but he makes sure both of you steer clear from drinking. while yes, he would normally drink at a party, you’re here and he doesn’t want to worry you and he certainly doesn’t want you drinking. he would stop smoking for you if you asking him to!! sometimes you to sit in the park/town square and he’ll be reading on the grass while you’re sitting on a bench and his head is between your knees so you can play with his hair. it calms him down, and also it’s fun to mess up his hair without his knowing. he offers his jacket to you when it’s cold and then you get to watch him start shivering before he wraps an arm around your waist to keep you close to him for a bit of warmth. he takes care if you before himself!! if you say you need help he’s immediately coming to your rescue. stuck on a homework question? he’ll figure it out, don’t worry. your car won’t run? he’ll figure it out, don’t worry. your sink won’t stop dripping? he’s no plumber, but it shouldn’t be too hard. pet names are weird to him, but a small ‘babe’ or ‘baby’ will leave his lips inbetween kisses or when he’s about to softly correct you on something. whenever you talk he’s looking at you with the softest eyes, a small smile on his lips. he seriously doesn’t understand what he did to interest you in him. sometimes he’s mean bc he’s mean to everyone and it’s his defense mechanism against the world. blows you off when he’s upset but the longer you’re together the better he gets at communicating he’s upset and letting you try to improve his mood. please hug him and let him hold you and kiss your hair it’ll do wonders for him. he’s half hopeless romantic half asshole. he’s such a loser boyfriend. the beginning of the relationship is puppylove and then it leads to real love and he doesn’t know how to handle it. it’s amazing but scary.

he loves you, he just doesn’t know how to tell you because he’s never been loved back before.

[armoredisopod]

Arknights Summer Carnival 2024 Event PVs

New Operators

Papyrus, 5* Welfare Chain Medic

Sure enough, you can only see more things when you leave the office...

Sand Reckoner, 5* Summoner Supporter

Treasures always lead to conflict.

Narantuya, 6* Loopshooter Sniper

Thanks for the ride, if I, Narantuya Kapteyn, died on my way to heaven, it would be a great shame for Sargon...

Never heard of me? It's fine, one day my name will be known across the lands.

Pepe, 6* Limited Earthshaker Guard

Greetings, Doctor, i come on behalf of the distinguished Pasha to discuss the cooperative project you plan to hold in the Pasha's territory

My name is Juna Pekape-Sakt Hatshepst, but my friends... friends can call me Pepe.

Operator Outfits Update

Total of 8 new outfits, 3 new additions for the new Misaligned Sightseer brand, 3 new additions for the Epoque brand, 1 new addition for the Coral Coast brand and 1 new addition for the 0011/Yun brand

Misaligned Sightseer

倾听 (Hearken) - Weedy

沉思之庭 (Courtyard of Contemplation) - Hoederer

流辉 (Radiant Flow) - Nightingale (21 OP)

Epoque

To Rest in Night Breezes - Poncirus

Vib-rant - Bryophyta

A Picnic Before a Long Trip - Eyjafjalla the Hvít Aska (24 OP)

Ah Professor, the lambs are already having a picnic over there, would you like to join me?

Coral Coast

Summer Flowers FA083 - Caper (Event Reward)

0011/Yun

Among the Clouds - Ptilopsis

Bryophyta's outfit will be up for sale during So Long, Adele Retrospect

Caper's outfit is a reward from RA2 Tales Within the Sand

Announced a rerun for La Pluma, Elysium, Surtr and Minimalist's Coral Coast outfits, up for sale at the same time as the new Misaligned Sightseer and Epoque outfits

Operator Modules Update

Sand Reckoner being part of the Summoner Supporter branch immediately gets his module

SUM-X module base effect makes the first deployment of Sand Reckoner's summoned unit not count towards the Unit Limit

Wandering Medic branch gets 1 module type

Nightingale gets her second module

RIN-Y module base effect allows Nightingale to heal up to 4 targets at a time

Kal'tsit and Phantom get Integrated Strategies specialized modules

These modules can only be used in Integrated Strategies but have no unlock mission requirements, lower material costs and take only 1 module data block per level

Kal'tsit's IS module allows her to heal 2 targets at once, Mon3tr does not count towards the Unit Limit and has increased Max HP, ATK and received healing

Phantom's IS module makes it so whenever Phantom and his clone attacks it reduces both his and his clone's redeployment time by 1s (up to a limit), the clone does not count towards the Unit Limit and deploying the clone reactivates Phantom's skill

Events and Stories

Inudi Harek, Horakhet, a Sargon side story event

So Long, Adele Retrospect, scheduled after Inudi Harek, Horakhet

Operator Archives update for Eyjafjalla the Hvít Aska, Mudrock, Sand Reckoner, Puzzle, Cement and Czerny

Record Restore update for Ideal City: Carnival in the Endless Summer

Misc Stuff

New QoL changes

Added a number of advanced tutorial stages to teach players about certain mechanics

Module Trust requirements will be changed; Lv1 Module can be unlocked at 0% Trust, Module can be upgraded to Lv2 after reaching 50% Trust and then to Lv3 after reaching 100% Trust

Players can change the skills and modules of operators they borrow from the Support function (like in IS/SSS)

Mudrock, Whisperain and Jackie added to recruitment

SSS New Season #6, Wilderness Zone Security Service - The Royal Victorian Academy of Science & Baiyunjian Pharmacy

Annihilation #27 - Icebound Valley, annihilation mission with The Rides to Lake Silberneherze enemies and mechanics

Livestream Stuff

Showcased Pepe, a 6* Earthshaker Guard that wants to cycle her skills fast and has some neat gimmicks in her kit

First Talent makes it so that she gains 1 SP for every enemy she defeats during skill duration after the skill ends (up to a limit)

Second Talent gives an ATK buff to all Guards when she is deployed

Skill 1 makes her next attack deal increased damage and can hold charges, if she falls under abnormal status like Stun/Freeze/etc while holding a skill charge she will immediately cleanse herself when an enemy walks into her range and perform an attack

Skill 2 expands her attack range, increases her ATK and ASPD and makes her attack enemies within range randomly, subsequent skill activations grants her more ASPD (up to a limit)

Skill 3 increases her ATK and attack interval, enemies hit by her attacks will get Stunned and her main target will get Stunned for even longer, after every few attacks her ATK and Splash radius will increase (up to a limit)

Showcased Narantuya, a 6* Loopshooter Sniper that specializes in being in the frontlines to maximize her damage output

First Talent allows her to Steal ATK & DEF from enemies she attacks (up to a limit, resets when retreated)

Second Talent grants her Physical & Arts Dodge and decreases enemy Physical and Arts Hit Rate within the 8 surrounding tiles

Skill 1 is stance change skill that reduces her attack range in exchange for making her disk jump to nearby enemies (up to a limit) before returning

Skill 2 makes her attacks deal a certain amount of Physical damage and inflict Slow, the disk will pierce her main target and increase in size before returning, hitting every enemy on the way back

Skill 3 allows her to throw multiple disks at once and when she retrieves her disks she deals Physical damage to a number of enemies in the 8 surrounding tiles

Showcased the event mechanic, tiles that reduce ally ASPD/increases enemy movement speed, these tiles can be cleared by attacking them rapidly (uses hit based HP), the tiles will disappear when all connected tiles have taken sufficient hits so players can choose to either deal with small chunks or intentionally connect the tiles with a deployable device to clear out a massive field at once

Announced an expansion for RA2 Tales Within the Sand with a number of new additions

You can capture certain enemies using special devices after weakening them enough, you can bring them to the base and keep them there and even deploy them in battle and have them fight alongside your operators

Added a "peaceful" difficulty setting where enemy raids will be disabled

New gamemode "Vector Breakthrough", looks to be an improved version of Interlocking Competition, you gain buffs depending on the operators you used in the side nodes

Announced the first expansion for IS5 adding a new starting squad and the fourth ending

The starter banner will be changed, it will now have Thorns, Exusiai, SilverAsh, Mountain, Blaze and Saria

New player login rewards have been changed, players can get a headhunting ticket, 10x kernel headhunting, instant 5* E2 voucher, instant 5* Max level training device, T3 material tickets and a starter banner 6* selector ticket (old players will also get these login rewards)

Revealed more info about the Dungeon Meshi collab, confirmed that Chilchuck will be a playable unit and the event mechanic will be gathering ingredients by defeating enemies and cooking them in a pot

[thediverismylove]

tier ranking every book i read in 2022

god tier: the world cannot give, vladimir, somebody's daughter, the lost daughter, transcendent kingdom, win me something, the namesake, hamnet, fun home, sea of tranquility, woman eating, book lovers, the margot affair, easy beauty, either/or, sirens and muses, how to write an autobiographical novel, the sentence, ghosts, goodbye vitamin, the long answer, house of hunger, these precious days, everything i know about love

great tier: comfort me with apples, the awakening, their eyes were watching god, yerba buena, the school for good mothers, sorrow and bliss, red at the bone, weather girl, the maid, lost and found, the vixen, you never get it back, milk blood heat, the book of cold cases, our wives under the sea, reckless girls, seeing ghosts, siren queen, whereabouts, never let me go, let's not do that again, stiff, the return, mother in the dark, the right to sex, the borrower, want, enter the aardvark, the marriage portrait, why be happy when you could be normal, a children's bible, less is lost, i'm glad my mom died, happy and you know it, greywaren, agatha of little neon, flight, delilah green doesn't care, post-traumatic, our missing hearts, the book of goose, boy parts

good tier: people like her, the other black girl, five tuesdays in winter, in my dreams i hold a knife, dial a for aunties, the heidi chronicles, a novel obsession, problems, the woman warrior, the painted drum, last resort, things we lost in the fire, mother/land, cleanness, a mind spread out on the ground, the upstairs house, the carrying, the need, a room with a view, finlay donovan knocks em dead, dress code, true biz, one italian summer, when the reckoning comes, never saw me coming, the third hotel, kim jiyoung born 1982, all you can ever know, the hacienda, woman of light, the english teacher, this thing between us, the house on mango street, the days of abandonment, they're going to love you, the seas

ok tier: something new under the sun, disability visibility, real queer america, caleb's crossing, bread givers, they never learn, drive your plow over the bones of the dead, intimacies, little rabbit, all girls, flying solo, you think it i'll say it, animal, cult classic, white girls, fake like me, writing down the bones, the performance, the house across the lake, grand union, acts of desperation

bad tier: the view was exhausting, hope leslie, black water sister, mona, bringing down the duke, adele, acts of service, the life of the mind, catch the rabbit, first love, three rooms, all this could be different

shit tier: the love hypothesis, dead collections

[thepastisalreadywritten]

Toronto in the 1900s was a different city from the one we know today.

The center of business had moved west of the historical Town of York site and the skyline was undeveloped.

The tallest structures were the Temple Building at 10 stories and the Trader’s Bank Building at 15 stories.

A new downtown to the west of Yonge and King Streets was built. The City of Toronto moved into a new City Hall, built at the head of Bay Street at Queen Street.

Much of this new downtown was destroyed in the Great Toronto Fire of 1904, but it was quickly rebuilt, with new taller buildings.

South of downtown, the railways dominated most of the lands. A new viaduct was built to carry the main lines and eliminate the many at-level crossings.

A single Union Station was built to replace the several railway stations of the rail lines. It sat empty for a while over disagreements between the government and the rail companies.

In the late nineteenth century, Toronto welcomed the rise of Victorian architecture, as well as many of its revival styles.

This style of architecture was thought to be more modern, unique and creative than its successor, characterized by steep gabled roofs, round angles, towers, turrets and dormers, shapely bay windows, stained glass, centric carved woodwork, and bright colored paneling.

This style lent itself well to narrower lots, and thus, Victorian-style housing was most abundant in the city’s traditionally middle-class neighborhoods where individual properties were smaller, most notably Cabbagetown, Trinity-Bellwoods, Parkdale, and The Annex.

These neighborhoods held some of the largest collections of Victorian houses in North America.

Specifically, houses constructed in the Annex developed an individual iteration of the Victorian style, called the “Annex Style House.”

This style contained a variety of diverse and eclectic elements borrowed from many different styles.

Most distinctively, these houses were built of a mix of brick and sandstone, turrets, domes, and decorative ornamentation.

The city received new European immigrant groups beginning in the late 19th century into the early 20th century, particularly Germans, French, Italians, and Jews.

They were soon followed by Russians, Poles, and other Eastern European nations, in addition to the Chinese entering from the West.

As the Irish before them, many of these migrants lived in overcrowded shanty-type slums, such as “the Ward,” which was centered on Bay Street, now the heart of the country’s Financial District.

As new migrants began to prosper, they moved to better housing in other areas, in what is now understood to be succession waves of settlement.

Despite its fast-paced growth by the 1920s, Toronto’s population and economic importance in Canada remained second to the much longer-established Montreal, Quebec.

The Great Depression of the 1930s reversed the employment trend, with approximately one-fourth of the Toronto population unemployed and caused severe financial problems for suburban Toronto.

Capital debt payments could not be met and expenditure on public services—sewage and piped water supply in places remote from the lake, for example—had to be postponed.

However, World War II’s demands for war supplies and soldiers soon changed the employment picture.

Following the war, and into the 1960s, times were prosperous throughout North America.

Toronto’s economy diversified and boomed, greatly altering the cultural and spatial pattern of the city.

Other factors after the war included the baby boom, demand for single-family dwellings, and the proliferation of the automobile.

Suburban sprawl was assisted by the increase in road networks and freeways, thereby consuming some of the best agricultural land in the region.

By 1953, a reorganization of local government had been created, along with the Corporation of Metropolitan Toronto, in an attempt to control development in the surrounding regions.

Suburban growth continued. In 1966, new City of Toronto boundaries were drawn, amalgamating 13 communities, with the Metropolitan government still in place.

By the 1976 census, Toronto passed Montreal to become the largest city in Canada, and the gap between these two cities continued to grow.

(Photo credit: City of Toronto Archives / BlogTO / Wikimedia Commons / Britannica / Flickr).

Updated on: February 6, 2023

[4biscuitsminus1]

Falling in love with the girl on the Great Lakes Borrower Service homepage

[nateconnolly]

Okay, we've spent enough time roasting that thing for its length. Now let's talk about the fucking height.

Look at the distance between the tires and fenders on these trucks.

The big one is "lifted." That's why the gap between its tire and fender is so much wider.

Now, plenty of blue collar workers get their trucks lifted, and for some very good reasons. A lifted truck is actually safer to drive if you live on a bumpy dirt road or you don't live on a road at all. It's also helpful if you drive to those areas to provide your services, or if you need to drive to a lake to fish or a forest to hunt for food. Getting a lifted truck also saves money in the long run if you do that stuff--the car will take less of a beating when it goes off road.

But I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that big truck doesn't go to rural areas very often. Look how clean it is. Most blue collar workers keep their trucks clean, but not that clean. Not one scratch. Not one speck of dirt. Absolutely fucking nothing. Unless it's owned by a farmer who literally just left a car wash, that thing is owned by a rich asshole who got it lifted for two reasons: to make the truck bigger, and to look poor.

This is the car equivalent of paying a hundred thousand dollars to spend a week at a "cabin" with its own wine cellar, TV room, and Jacuzzi. This is buying a $500 pair of designer jeans that come with meticulously pre-ripped knees so you can look like a working class punk. Whoever owns the big truck wants to borrow the imagery and perceived masculinity of working class America without having to actually get his hands or his truck dirty. This guy wants a car that says "I'm tough, I have to go off road, I have to work with my hands," that he drives to his investment firm. He tanked his own fuel efficiency to look like someone who has to scrimp and save money. He paid extra to have somebody lift his truck, so that he can simultaneously feel like a masculine rural American and (literally!) look down on those people at the same time. He doesn't even realize it, but he's doing the worst possible version of camp. It would be a great parody if he knew he was doing a parody.

Saw this Trucks Discourse on facebook and I'm not part of that world but yeah that one on the left is delightful and I really had no idea just how wasteful and pointless the other kind is until this comparison

[boathouse-cfg]

Navigating Commercial Loans: Tips from the Insiders on DSCR Loans in Michigan

When it comes to navigating the complex waters of commercial loans, having a seasoned captain at the helm can make all the difference. Today, we're diving into the world of DSCR loans in Michigan, with some insider tips that will not only guide you through the process but also ensure you’re sailing smoothly towards your business goals. So, let’s set sail and demystify DSCR loans!

What is a DSCR Loan?

First things first, let’s unpack what DSCR stands for—Debt Service Coverage Ratio. This type of loan is a favorite among commercial real estate investors because it focuses on the cash flow generated by the property rather than the personal income of the borrower. In essence, it answers the question: Can the income from the property comfortably cover the loan payments?

Why DSCR Loans in Michigan?

Michigan, with its vibrant cities and robust investment opportunities, is a prime spot for utilizing DSCR loans. Whether you’re looking to acquire a new property, refinance an old one, or even expand your real estate portfolio, DSCR loans offer a flexible pathway tailored to meet the needs of property investors in the Great Lakes State.

Insider Tips for Navigating DSCR Loans

Navigating DSCR loans can be as intricate as navigating the Great Lakes themselves. Here are some insider tips to help you chart a course through the process:

1. Understand the Local Market

The key to a successful DSCR loan is the property’s ability to generate income. This is where understanding the local market comes into play. Dive into research or partner with local experts to get a grasp on rental demand and property values in Michigan. The better you understand the market, the better you can predict your property's income potential.

2. Prepare Your Documentation

While DSCR loans may not focus primarily on your personal income, you’ll still need to prepare thorough documentation related to the property. This includes current occupancy rates, rental agreements, maintenance costs, and historical income data. Having these details at your fingertips will streamline the application process.

3. Evaluate Your DSCR Ratio

The DSCR ratio is a simple calculation: Net Operating Income (NOI) divided by your total debt servicing (principal and interest payments for the loan). For a loan to be appealing to lenders in Michigan, you typically want a DSCR ratio of over 1.25. The higher the ratio, the more income your property generates relative to its debt, which not only appeals to lenders but also provides you with a cushion for unexpected expenses.

4. Consider Future Changes

Real estate isn’t just about the here and now; it’s also about the what-ifs. When considering DSCR loans, think about potential changes in the Michigan market, like economic shifts or property market trends. Planning for the future can ensure that your investment remains profitable and your loan remains manageable.

5. Seek Expert Guidance

When in doubt, turn to the experts. Partner with a financial advisor who specializes in commercial real estate and DSCR loans in Michigan. Their insights can be invaluable, helping you to avoid common pitfalls and capitalize on opportunities you might otherwise miss.

Setting Sail with Confidence

Navigating DSCR loans in Michigan doesn't have to be daunting. With the right preparation, understanding, and expert advice, you can secure a loan that not only meets your current needs but also supports your long-term investment strategy. Remember, in the world of commercial real estate, a well-navigated loan can be the wind in your sails, propelling your investment forward to new horizons.

[jsmortgageservices]

Mortgage Services North Lakes

Mortgage servicing companies collect homeowners’ monthly payments and distribute them to investors, tax authorities, and insurers. They also maintain records of the properties and escrow accounts, and provide foreclosure prevention services. You can find out if a service company processes your mortgage by looking at the return address on your statements or payment coupons.

Loans

Mortgage services North Lakes providers have extensive expertise in loan processing. They can help lenders reduce their costs and close more loans with minimal error. They can also handle various tasks such as collecting and organizing documents from borrowers. They can also process faxes and verify the authenticity of documents. This makes it easier for a lender to keep track of the loan’s status.

A mortgage broker is invested in their clients and is more knowledgeable about the housing and financial markets. They can offer advice on the best value for loans, repayment schedules, and more. They can also guide you through the entire process from beginning to end.

Whether it is for the first time buyer or for those looking to invest in property, a mortgage broker can help you make the right decision. They can provide information on the different types of home loans and their benefits. This way, you can find the one that is right for you.

Refinancing

Throughout the life of a mortgage, borrowers pay monthly payments that are designed to pay both interest and principal. Each month, a portion of each payment goes to paying interest, and the rest pays down the amount borrowed to purchase the home. Some lenders hire companies to handle all the payments, known as mortgage servicers. These companies are responsible for collecting and processing all the borrowers’ monthly payments and for forwarding them directly to property tax departments. They are also often responsible for property preservation, ensuring that lawns are mowed and houses are cared for even when homeowners are in foreclosure.

JS Mortgage Services offers refinancing of existing loans to help people save money by reducing the overall interest charges on their loan or consolidating multiple debts into one. They can even show you how to pay off your mortgage years sooner. They are available to meet with borrowers by appointment Monday to Friday.

Franchise Branching

Franchise branching is a great way to tap into the mortgage industry with a turnkey business system and the backing of an established company. Franchises offer a number of benefits, including support from an established brand name and the ability to monitor quality. In addition, unlike branches, franchises do not share profits with another party. This varies from entity to entity. In addition, branch employees are directly maintained by the entity, while franchisees must maintain the quality of the business.

[tolulopekode]

Celebrate Diversity: How to Buy 'Tila Lake' Novel by Tolulope Kode in China and Explore the Rich Tapestry of African Literature

Introduction

If you're an avid reader or simply looking for your next great literary adventure, you're in for a treat! Tolulope Kode, a renowned author, has captivated readers with his engaging storytelling and thought-provoking narratives. Among his impressive repertoire, "Tila Lake" is a literary masterpiece with international acclaim. In this article, we'll explore how readers in China can purchase Tolulope Kode's novel, "Tila Lake," and delve into the author's background and significance.

Who is Tolulope Kode?

Before we delve into the details of purchasing "Tila Lake" in China, we must understand the author behind this remarkable novel. Tolulope Kode is a talented Nigerian author known for his ability to craft engaging narratives that explore complex themes with great depth and sensitivity. His writing style combines vivid storytelling with insightful commentary, making his novels a must-read for literature enthusiasts worldwide.

Tolulope Kode's novels have received critical acclaim and have been recognized for their cultural significance and thought-provoking content. As an author with a deep understanding of human emotions and societal dynamics, Kode's work has resonated with readers of various backgrounds.

The Significance of "Tila Lake"

"Tila Lake" is a novel that has left an indelible mark on the literary landscape. Set against the backdrop of a fictional African village, the story delves into the lives of its inhabitants and their struggles, dreams, and aspirations. Kode's ability to weave intricate narratives while addressing universal themes of love, resilience, and community has garnered widespread praise from literary critics and readers alike.

This novel is a powerful reminder of the importance of storytelling in preserving cultural heritage and sharing unique perspectives. It is through books like "Tila Lake" that readers can gain valuable insights into different cultures and experiences.

Purchasing "Tila Lake" in China

If you're in China and eager to get your hands on a copy of "Tila Lake" by Tolulope Kode, here are some steps to guide you:

Online Retailers: You can explore online book retailers offering international shipping services. Websites like Amazon, Book Depository, or specialized bookstores might have copies of "Tila Lake" available. Be sure to check for both print and e-book options.

Local Bookstores: Visit your local bookstores and inquire about the availability of "Tila Lake." While it may not be readily available on the shelves, the bookstore staff can often assist you in ordering a copy.

Libraries: Check with local libraries or university libraries in your area. They might have copies of the book available for borrowing, which can be an excellent option if you want to read the novel without purchasing it.

Online Libraries and E-Books: Explore digital libraries and e-book platforms where you can access "Tila Lake" in electronic format. This can be a convenient option for readers who prefer digital reading.

Remember to ensure the seller's legitimacy and verify the book's edition and condition before purchasing.

In Conclusion

"Tila Lake" by Tolulope Kode is a literary gem that transcends geographical boundaries. Its universal themes and captivating storytelling make it a must-read for book enthusiasts in China and beyond. Following the steps mentioned above, you can embark on a literary journey that promises to leave a lasting impact. Dive into the world of "Tila Lake" and experience the magic of Tolulope Kode's storytelling. Happy reading!

[greatlakesstudentloans]

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque mattis nulla orci, quis laoreet felis auctor eget. Vivamus vitae mattis lacus, sit amet blandit erat. Mauris non tristique ligula, id placerat mi. Nunc viverra magna at luctus rutrum.

For more info: https://greatlakesstudentloans.co/how-to-find-the-right-repayment-plan/

[daviddavis0128]

Navy federal debt forgiveness

Another desired feature of Navy federal debt forgiveness is cosigner release possibility. We will talk more about cosigners in the following sections. Hence, it makes sense to first explain what it is.

More Info: https://studentloansresolved.com/2021/02/18/navy-federal-student-loans-review/

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Taxes are for the little people

If you wanna do crimes, make them incredibly complicated and technical. Like the hustlers that came into the bookstore I worked at and spun these long-ass stories about why they needed money for a Greyhound ticket home.

Those guys shoulda studied the private equity sector.

Private equity's playbook is to borrow giant sums by putting up other peoples' companies as collateral (yes, really). Then they use that money to buy the company they mortgaged, and pay themselves a huge dividend.

Then they sell off the company's assets and pay themselves even more money. That leaves the company in a state of precarity - assets they once owned, like their buildings, they now rent. If the rent goes up, they have to find the money to cover it.

All of this forms a pretense for mass layoffs, defaulting on pension obligations, lowering product quality, stiffing suppliers and borrowing more money. If the company doesn't go bust, the PE looters can flip it to *another* PE company, that does it again.

Whenever you see something really terrible happening to a business that once offered useful products and services and paid decent wages, it's a safe bet that PE is behind it. Toys R Us, Sears, your local hospital - and that memestock favorite, AMC.

https://pluralistic.net/2020/04/12/mammon-worshippers/#silver-lake-partners

Private equity goons make their money in two ways: the first is by pocketing 20% of  these special dividends and other extractive policies that hollow out business.

This is money at PE managers get paid for spending their investors' money. It's a wage, in other words.

But thanks to the "carried interest" loophole (a hangover from 16th-century sea captains that has nothing to do with "interest" on loans), they get to treat these wages as "capital gains" and pay far less tax on them.

The fact that we give preferential tax treatment to capital gains (money derived from gambling), while taxing wages (money derived from doing useful work) at higher rates really tells you everything you need to know about our economic priorities.

https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/29/writers-must-be-paid/#carried-interest

The carried interest loophole lets PE crooks treat their salaries as capital gains, are taxed at a much lower rate than the wages of the workers whose lives they're destroying.

On top of the 20% profit-share that PE bosses get every year, they also pocket a 2% "management fee" for all the "value" they add to the companies they've taken over.

This is *definitely* a wage. The 20% profit-share at least has an element of risk, but that 2% is guaranteed.

But PE bosses have spent more than a decade booking that 2% wage as a capital gain, using a tax-fraud tactic called "fee waivers." The details of how a fee waiver don't matter because it's all bullshit, like the tale of the needful Greyhound ticket.

All that matters is that a legal fiction allows people earning *eight- or nine-figure salaries* to treat *all* of those wages as capital gains and pay lower rates of tax on them than the janitors who clean their toilets or the workers whose jobs they will annihilate.

Now, the IRS knows all about this. Whistleblowers came forward in 2011 to warn them about it. The Treasury even struck a committee to come up with new rules to fix it.

But Obama failed to make those rules stick, and then Trump put a former tax-cheat enabler in charge of redrafting them. The cheater-friendly rules became law on Jan 5, and handed PE bosses hundreds of millions in savings every year.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/12/business/private-equity-taxes.html

The New York Times report on "fee waivers" goes through the rulemaking history, the technical details of the scam, and the gutting of the IRS, which can no longer afford to audit rich people and now makes its quotas by preferentially auditing low earners who can't afford lawyers.

But former securities lawyer Jerri-Lynn Scofield's breakdown of the Times piece on Naked Capitalism really connects the dots:

https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2021/06/private-inequity-nyt-examines-how-the-private-equity-industry-avoids-taxes.html

As Scofield and Yves Smith point out, if Biden wanted to do one thing for tax justice, he could abolish preferential treatment for capital gains. If we want a society of makers and doers instead of owners and gamblers, we shouldn't penalize wages and reward rents.

There's an especial urgency to this right now. As the PE bosses themselves admit, they went on a buying spree during the pandemic (they call it "saving American businesses"). Larger and larger swathes of the productive economy are going into the PE meat-grinder.

Worse still, the PE industry has revived its most destructive tactic, the "club deal," whereby PE firms collaborate to take out whole economic sectors in one go:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/05/14/billionaire-class-solidarity/#club-deals

We're at an historic crossroads for tax justice. On the one hand, you have the blockbuster Propublica report on leaked IRS files that revealed that the net tax rate paid by America's billionaires is close to zero.

https://pluralistic.net/2021/06/08/leona-helmsley-was-a-pioneer/#eat-the-rich

This has left the Bootlicker-Industrial Complex in the bizarre position of arguing that anyone who suggests someone who amasses billions of dollars should pay more than $0 in tax is a radical socialist (so far, the go-to tactic is to make performative noises about privacy).

At the same time, the G7 has agreed to an historical tax deal that will see businesses taxed at least 15% on the revenue they make in each country, irrespective of the accounting fictions they use to claim that the profits are being earned in the middle of the Irish Sea.

That deal is historical, but the fact that it's being hailed as curbing corporate power reveals just how distorted our discourse about corporate taxes has become.

As Thomas Piketty writes, self-employed people pay 20-50% tax in countries that will tax the world's wealthiest companies a mere 15%: "For SMEs as well as for the working and middle classes, it is impossible to create a subsidiary to relocate its profits to a tax haven."

Piketty, like Gabriel Zucman, says that EU nations should charge multinationals a minimum of 25%, and like Zucman, he reminds us that the G7 deal does nothing to help the poorest countries in the Global South.

https://www.lemonde.fr/blog/piketty/2021/06/15/the-g7-legalizes-the-right-to-defraud/

These countries and the EU have something in common: they aren't "monetarily sovereign" (that is, they don't issue their own currencies *and* borrow in the currencies they issue).

Sovereign currency issuers (US, UK, Japan, Canada, Australia, etc) don't need to tax in order to pay for programs - first they spend new money into the economy and then they tax it back out again.

https://pluralistic.net/2020/06/10/compton-cowboys/#the-deficit-myth

These countries can run out of stuff to buy in their currency, but they can't run out of the currency itself. Monetarily sovereign countries don't tax to fund their operations.

Rather, they tax to fight inflation (if you spend money into the economy every year but don't take some of it out again through taxation, more and more money will chase the same goods and services and prices will go up).

And just as importantly, monetary sovereigns tax to reduce the spending power - and hence the political power - of the wealthy. The fact that PE bosses had billions of tax-free dollars at their disposal let them spend millions to distort tax policy to legalize fee waivers.

Taxing the money - and hence the power - of wage earners at higher rates than gamblers creates politics that value gambling above work, because gamblers get to spend the winnings they retain on political influence, including campaigns to rig the casino in their favor.

This discredits the whole system, shatters social cohesion and makes it hard to even imagine that we can build a better world - or avert the climate-wracked dystopia on the horizon.

But for Eurozone countries (whose monetary supply is controlled by technocrats at the ECB) and countries of the Global South (whom the IMF has forced into massive debts owed in US dollars, which they can only get by selling their national products), tax is even more urgent.

The US could fund its infrastructure needs just by creating money at the central bank.

EU and post-colonial lands can only fund programs with taxes, so for them, billionaires don't just distort their priorities and corrupt their system - they also starve their societies.

But that doesn't mean that monetary sovereigns can tolerate billionaires and their policy distortions. The UK is monetarily sovereign, in the G7, and its finance minister is briefing to have the City of London's banks exempted from the new tax deal.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-08/u-k-pushes-for-city-of-london-exemption-from-global-tax-deal

Now, the City of London is one of the world's great financial crime-scenes, and its banks are responsible for an appreciable portion of the planet-destabilizing frauds of the past 100 years.

During the Great Financial Crisis AIG used its London subsidiary to commit crimes its US branch couldn't get away with. The City of London was the epicenter of the LIBOR fraud, the Greensill collapse - it's the Zelig of finance crime, the heart of every fraud.

UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak claims banks are already paying high global tax and can't afford to be part of the G7 tax deal. If that was true, it wouldn't change the fact that these banks are too big to jail and anything that shrinks them is a net benefit.

But it's not true.

As the tax justice campaigner  Richard Murphy points out, the risk to banks like Barclays adds up to 0.8% of global turnover: "The big deal is that the 15% global minimum tax rate is much too low. Suinak has yet again spectacularly missed the point."

https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2021/06/09/how-big-is-the-tax-hit-on-banks-from-the-g7-tax-deal-that-sunak-fears-really-going-to-be/

Image: Joshua Doubek (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IRS_Sign.JPG

CC BY-SA: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

[leafsbabe]

love you - Nolan Patrick and Travis Konecny

You were in the middle of setting up your sleeping bags when Nolan’s laugh made its way into your ear. While he prefered to keep up a stoic front for the media you’ve come to be spoiled by it in private during the last few months. Suddenly Travis’ laugh joined Nolan’s and you couldn’t help but smile more. Curious as to what made them laugh so hard you stuck your head out of the big tent you had brought along to look at your two boys. Nolan was sitting on his butt behind one of the logs surrounding the fireplace. He was curled up, laughing full force, his cheeks tinted a dark red and an expression full of joy.

Travis on the other hand was laying close to the water, his cargo shorts tangled around his legs and his face full off mud, laughing so hard tears left tracks through it. The entire scene was too funny for you to not join in on their laughter. Once the three of you calmed down they explained the situation to you. Nols wanted to start a fire for dinner whereas Teeks thought that going skinny dipping would be a great afternoon activity. Only he slipped still half clothed and fell face first into mud which caused Nolan to laugh so hard he fell over the log on the ground.

Since Travis had to take a dip to clean up anyway you decided that skinny dipping sounded like a nice thing to do, both to cool down from the summer heat and tease your boys a little. Without any hesitation you pulled your dress over your head, grinning to yourself when their looks automatically went to your nearly naked body.

“Last one in the water has to cook dinner tonight!” You laughed as you pulled your underwear down and took of into the lake.

Travis and Nolan where both yelling behind you but instead of listening to their bickering you simple dipped your head under water, drowning out the noise. When you ran out of breath you come up again, wet hair clinging to your body, seeing TK and Nolan watching you closely. Their eyes ran up and down your partially hidden figure.

it was Travis that broke the silence. “Nolan was last.” He said, eyes still fixated on where your breast breaching the surface.

“Okay so Nolan has to cook.” You smiled at them before splashing them directly in the face.

Of course they retaliated and before you knew it you had a full on water fight until two strong arms wrapped around your body and pulled you against a warm hard body. Grinning you spun around, planting a big fat smooch on whichever man had managed to grab you. From the kiss alone you immediately knew it was Nolan. One of his hands went up to your jaw, moving your chin up a bit so he could deepen the kiss while his other arm pulled you tighter against him. You got lost in the feeling of him and the way he slowly moved his thigh between your legs, giving you something to grind against.

A cold swall of watered covered you both, causing you to pull away in a shriek. TK stood a few feet away, a smug little smile on his face. “I thought Patty was supposed to go make dinner?”

Sighing Nolan pulled away from you but not before he gave you one last kiss. On his way out of the lake he splashed the grinning Travis, who only began to smile harder.

“I’m sorry baby,” he said, sliding into the spot Nolan had vacated, “I know he got you all hot and then had to leave but I’m here to help,” It was kind of a dick move but both of them were hot as fuck so you didn’t hold a grudge. You let TK pull you close and run his hands over your body. The lake water was cool enough to make your nipples harden on your chest and his gaze immediately drops to them again. Whereas Nolan kept his hands on your waist to help you grind against him Travis lets his roam free. Just a gentle touch all over before He touches your core. His finger feels wonderfully warm against your clit before they wander towards your fold and in your head you’re screaming ‘do it’ only for him to move on with nothing more than a teasing touch.

His hands wandered down your thighs before he grabbed your ass and lifting you up up high for you to wrap your legs around his waist. The water made it easier for TK to hold you up, one arm below your butt and the other one reaching up to run his fingers along the outline of your now exposed breast. More of your upper body was outside of the water now and the slight wind caused goosebumps to form across your skin. You knew exactly why he had lifted you up.

The TK’s mouth on your cheat was overwhelming. He didn’t play around, just sucked one of your nipples into his mouth and engulfed the hard nub with warmth. His tongue toyed with it for a moment before Nolan’s voice rang around the campsite. “Dinner’s ready.”

Travis playfully lightly bit down on your nipple making you squeal in surprise before he moved to put you back down. “Way to ruin the moment, Patso.”

“Don’t pout asshole, you did the same.” Came the reply.

The two of you left the water to join Nolan for dinner. Still feeling very much in the mood you didn’t bother to change back into the clothes you wore before, instead choosing to steal one of the guys hoodies in the tent and your sleep shorts. Wrapping your wet hair in a towel you walked back out to find TK already sitting next to Nolan on the fireplace logs so you decided to plop down on the other side of him.

“What’s for dinner?” You asked. While you all did the shopping for your camping trip together there were still several options and the smell gave nothing away except that it was grilled over the fire.

Nolan handed you a plate already filled up. “Those weird sausages from that store TK likes and veggies. I made you some separately tho since i know you don’t like them.”

Knowing Nolan remembered made you feel warm inside. It was the small things in life.

“Oh and i got that soda from that one store hipster store you like, it’s in the cooler but i can get it for you if you want to.” You knew exactly what store he meant but you also knew that it was across Philly and would have spent ages driving there just for your favorite soda. He would never admit to it out loud but you knew Patty was the biggest softie.

“Thank you Nolan,” You gave him a sweet soft kiss before leaning into his side, “You’re the best.”

On the other side of Nolan Travis stood up abruptly before walking to the cooler and coming back with your fancy hipster soda and two beers for himself and Nols. “See i can be sweet too. Nolan just got his dumb service kink or whatever.” He grumpily gave each of you your bottles.

“Oh Teeks,” you mumbled before pulling him to sit on your other side, essentially sandwiching yourself in between them. “You’re the best too, you don’t need to be jealous. Nolan just likes taking care of us and it’s very sweet of him to do so but that doesn’t make him a better part of this relationship than you and me, okay? We’re all equal.” Putting your plate down you pulled him into a hug once your lap was free again. He snuggled in for a moment before you felt Patty’s ong arms wrap around the two of you. He gave TK a giant smacking kiss on the head before mumbling “love you, asshole” to which Travis mumbled “love you too, bitch” back.

You finished dinner in peace. It was awesome and the seasoning and marinade on everything just pulled the entire meal together. You and TK quickly took care of the dishes since Nolan cooked for you earlier before you went and sat back down on the log and just watched the fire for a bit more. During the last few days you had talked a lot. Sharing childhood memories about going camping with friends or family. Telling each other of a close encounter with wildlife or bragging the size of fishes they had caught. It was sweet to just sit back and share stories and laugh together.

Before long you all decided to go to bed a bit earlier today. While you had stayed up late the days before and watched the stars in the sky, the hike you had undertaken earlier that day tired all three of you out so you made sure the fire would die down soon and then retreated back to your tent.

Your boys went all out when they had planned your trip and thankfully were able to borrow a giant tent from a teammate so all three of you fit in it comfortably. Instead of sleeping bags you just had a nice mat at the bottom and then the big summer blanket from your bed in Philly. Travis was already under it half asleep when you came back from brushing your teeth while Nolan still up putting his stuff back in the bags in the corner. Careful to not disturb Teeks you slid under the blanket and waited for Nolan to lie down as well. His large body laid down next to you and you immediately attached yourself to his side, turning so your back was to Travis. He used this opportunity to spoon up behind you, grinding his crotch against your ass just for good measure. With a sigh you rested your head on Nolan chest and closed your eyes, smiling softly when you felt TK reach over you to hold Patty’s hand while the three of you slept.

You woke to Travis very softly grinding something definitely not so soft against you. Blinking the sleep out of your eyes you waited for a moment before you heard his even breathing, confirming what you already thought. It wasn’t the first time TK grinded on you in his sleep and it would definitely not be the last. It was kinda cute that he couldn’t hold back from finding you so desirable, even in his sleep, but it woke the fire from yesterday in you again and now you wanted more.

Nolan was still asleep as well but he’d be easier to wake up. You trailed your hand over his chest, gently running your nails across his skin. When his breathing changed and you knew he was awake despite his still closed eyes your hand wandered down, gently touching him over his sweats. “Hmmmm, somebody’s in a good mood.” He mumbled, causing you to giggle quietly.

“I’m not the only one.” You whispered back, both meaning Travis who was still busy rutting against your butt and Nolan who was half hard under your hand.

He looked past you to Travis and what he was doing and instantly knew what your plan was. Nolan shimmied his sweats down under his butt to give you better access before bending down and taking your mouth in a soft and filthy kiss. You were still just petting at him, lightly teasing so the fun wouldn’t be over before Teeks could join. By turning more of your body and not just your attention to Nolan you were pushing your butt into Travis and his thrusts anyway so a bit of wiggling and pressing back surely wouldn’t hurt. You mind was racing, occupied by swallowing Nolan’s moans and continuing to tease him, and Travis who was so hot against your back, and the sheer amount of neediness you felt. It was almost like heaven when you felt Travis move behind you. You were so occupied by the situation that you had missed TK waking up until you felt his hand that had rested on the dip of your waist slide down into your sleep shorts and to your core. The feeling of his fingers touching your folds made you gasp, allerting Nols to the now awake Travis. His hand found it’s way to your jar, tilting your head just right so that he could kiss you again while TK’s skilled fingers carefully avoided your clit and instead began to explore your pussy. His hips stopped moving with intent and instead his focus was turned towards you.One of his fingers entered you and you couldn’t help but sigh against Nolan’s mouth. You had been craving the feeling of something inside you for hours so even one of his talented fingers made you feel slightly overwhelmed. You hand on Nolan’s dick stopped but he didn’t see to care, instead running his hands over your arms and body, under the hoodie you stole from them and to your breasts. As Travis gave you a second finger Nolan started playing with them. Pinching your nipples and grabbing your boobs in his big hands. The idea of the two of them just playing with you was one of your favorite fantasies but you needed more.

“Please.” You gasped out, desperate for anything they were willing to give you. Your eyes were closed in an attempt to hold yourself together but you knew that they were silently communicating above your head.

Nols moved your face a bit so you could look at him. “Do you want to suck me off while Teeks fucks you, love?” His tone was so gentle and sweet and you knew that even after everything if you didn’t say yes now they’d both immediately stop. But you needed it.

“Please.” You begged him, desperate for it.

It was quick work getting rid of your shorts and arranging your bodies. At first you whimpered when Travis removed his fingers but seconds later they were replaced by his dick and you couldn’t help but loudly moan. Finally.

It wasn’t the hard fucking you were expecting but rather both men decided to take their time. Travis trust into you languidly, trying to savour every moment and every moment not spent moaning Nolan was telling you how good your lips felt wrapped around his dick and gently petting your hair or playing with your breasts. They took their time playing with you.

“Baby,” Nolan began, causing you to glance up at him, “I’m about to come, okay? You do whatever you want, swallow or let me finish on you, or whatever you want. Fuck, you’re hot!” Feeling challenged you knew exactly what you wanted. You took him even deeper, desperate to make him finish and show him just how sweet and hot you could be for him. He moaned loudly and seconds later you could feel him pulsing on your tongue. You quickly swallowed everything before pulling off, pressing on last little kiss to his tip.

“I love you.” He breathlessly mumbled as he fell back, all his energy completely spent on you.

Behind you Travis took this as his sign that it was your turn now and gently helped you move over until your head was gently resting on Nols thighs while he doubled his efforts. His thrust gained power and he became fast and it was obvious he was chasing his own high but you knew he’d never allow himself to come first, always putting your pleasure before his. Fingers found your clit again and were seeing sparks.

When you came too again Nolan was wearing pants again but Travis was still holding himself above you. Sometimes after sex he liked to stay inside of you for a bit and just feel where you are connected. He was pressing small little kisses all over your shoulder.

“You okay?” Nolan asked from beside you, running his hands through your hair again. You smiled up at him before a yawn interrupted.

“Yeah, but now i’m tired again. What time’s it? Do we have to get up already?” TK grumbled against your skin again and and that moment you really wanted to go back to napping with him.

Nolan checked his phone real quick before turning his attention back on you. “It’s still early love. You can go back to sleep for a bit while i go make breakfast, okay?” His smile was soft and sleepy and once again you were overcome with nothing but sweet pure love for him.

“Okay. Love you.” You smiled before pursing your lips at him in an exaggerated way, silently asking for a kiss.

“Love you too.” Nolan bend down to press one against your mouth before getting up and leave the tent.”

Travis was still laying on top of you but you knew napping would be nicer in a different position.”Told you he has a service kink.” He grumbled as he shifted from you and back to your side.

You let out a little sigh when the movement caused him to slide out of you, already missing the feeling of his warmth stretching you out. “Come on,” You said, rolling to your side so you were spooned to his front like you were last night. “Can you put it in again?” Travis complied wordlessly, entering you again and pulling you closer with his arms around your waist.

You just took a second to enjoy the moment, one beautiful boy preparing coffee for you and another beautiful boy beside you in bed. You never truly understood what you did to deserve being loved by both of them but you wouldn’t change it for anything in this world. “I love you.” You whispered into the tent, behind you Travis was already snoring softly.

[twinkleallnight]

Marshmallow

(Part-12) Hope

Book: The Royal Romance

Pairing: Liam x MC, Drake x Hana

For previous chapters: catch up here

Prompt 1: This fic is my submission for this week’s #WackyDrabbles. The prompt is appears in bold.

Prompt 2: This is a submission for choicesweeklychallenge. The prompt appears in bold.

Word count : 1916

Tags: @ao719 @aloneautumn @bebepac @charlotteg234 @choicesficwriterscreations @choiceskatie @cordonia-gothqueen @cordonianroyalty @sfb123 @drakewalker04 @gardeningourmet @gkittylove99 @glaimtruelovealways @kat-tia801 @hopefulmoonobject @hopelessromanticmonie @iam-the-kind-and-thoughtful @idontknowwhysblog @islandcrow @jovialyouthmusic @jaxsmutsuo @kingliam2019 @lovablegranny @mrswalkers-blog @mom2000aggie @no-one-u-know @ntoraplayschoices @princessleac1 @ritachacha @speedyoperarascalparty @shanzay44 @texaskitten30 @queenrileyrose @sanchita012 @theroyalheirshadowhunter @wackydrabbles @xpandabeardontcarex @yourmajesty09

I get behind the wheels while Max is yelling something from his SUV. My phone buzzes right at the same moment. I roll down the glass to listen to him, and receive the phone call with my other hand.

“Hello!” says the sharp voice over phone.

“Livy?”

“Happy birthday…” her sound is drowned against the shout out from Max, “Happy birthday grumpy guy!” Hana and Riley laugh out loudly.

I give him a glare and roll the glass up and focus back on the call.

“Umm… thank you.”

“I see you are busy with someone.” She says with a sarcastic tone. “Since when did you start partying? Seems you are a changed man.”

“Look who's talking!” I sneer back.

“What do you mean?”

“At least I don't keep secrets.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about. Anyways, I think I should leave you with your commoner friends to enjoy. Bye.”

And just like that she drops the call.

“What the hell!” I shout at my phone.

Why did she call? To wish me or to irritate me? Why does she spoil everything! Damn! I was so happy, for once, but she had to call up and mess it all. I rev up the engine and hit the road with a surge of anger. I drive down to the Applewood manor and decide to call it a day.

-----------

Morning comes with a fresh start. The court and nobles are all busy celebrating the Apple blossom festival with their king and queen while I keep myself occupied by the stables. I check the horses selected for next day’s event -the foxhunt, where a mountain trail is to be covered on horse’s back. I know as soon as they conclude the festival in orchards, the excited nobles will turn to stables to tend to their rides for tomorrow. I want to make myself scarce before that.

I am about to leave when Riley visits the stables with Bertrand. She is the first one to come, as she doesn’t have a horse of her own. Liam follows them.

After exchanging pleasantries, we get to business of choosing her ride.

“I love horse riding but I have no idea how to choose the horse.” Riley says perturbed.

Liam takes the opportunity before Bertrand can reply. “Why don’t you let me do it instead?”

“That will be great!” Riley claps excitedly.

They both start looking at the unclaimed horses, and Bertrand tags along. I observe the couple keenly. They are so relaxed in each other’s company. Liam forgets all his worries around her, and Riley is like a live wire in his presence, full of energy and enthusiasm. I love to see them together. I wish…!

They turn around and Riley jumps up. “Hey Walker, I am not just borrowing, I am buying a horse.!”

“Really?” I look at Bertrand wide eyed.

“I can’t believe you talked me into this.” Bertrand says in an annoyed tone, looking between Liam and Riley.

“ Congratulations!” I try to distract Bertrand.

I help Riley by checking Belle, the horse she selected. While Bertrand starts discussing official things with Liam, Riley is enraptured in narrating the events that she experienced at the festival. “You should have been there. We had such a good time. I was in Olivia’s team.”

I am busy inspecting Belle but I stiffen on mention of Livy’s name. I curse myself for the reaction. I need to get over the differences between us. I promise myself to act better next time.

Riley continues, “ We made an apple pie and you won’t believe our team won. I think our winning streak was Hana’s specially crafted roses on the crust. I tell you, that girl has so much talent!” I can see Riley’s eyes trying to find some reaction from me but I simply nod in agreement.

I pat Belle and give my approval to Riley.. “Here, all good to go!” They wrap up the deal, and we all walk out.

There are other nobles who pay visit. The stable boys help them out. There is nothing major, where my services are required. So, I take a stroll around the lush gardens of the manor. I have my plans to sit near the lake, my favourite hideout since childhood. But when I walk down to the edge of the gardens, my eyes fall on the figure who has seized my special place already.

She is lost in her thoughts, her eyes staring far away into the horizon, where the sky is pink and the golden ball of sun is about to drown itself into the unknown lands. The ebbs in the water are shining with the ochre reflections. Her calm form is adding into the serenity of the landscape. I stand there absorbing the beauty of nature for some time before I walk towards her, as much discreetly as I can.

“Hana!” I call out softly. I don’t want to disturb the tranquillity surrounding her.

She turns to look at me. Our eyes meet and she beams, “Marshmallow!” She stifles a laugh. Her teasing brings a smile on my face.

I rub the back of my neck, beaming at her. She moves making space next to her and pats her hand guiding me to sit beside her. We both sit there quietly, listening to each other’s breath, till she leaves a sigh, and shakes her head, as if disagreeing with her own thoughts.

“What is it Hana?” I ask with concern.

“I don’t know what to do. Since my childhood, I have been trained to be part of the court. Each class, each lesson was meant to place me at a higher pedestal in front of the nobles. This continuous struggle to achieve something, fulfilling their expectations” she purses her lips, “it’s tiring. I want to live a carefree life, where I live for myself. Where it is okay to make mistakes. Where I can build up a small house and fill it up with my desires to make it a home.”

“That’s a beautiful wish. What is it that’s stopping you?”

“My parents want to see me married to some noble.” She lowers her eyelashes avoiding eye contact with me. “I know they anticipate of something I can’t live up to.”

“It’s your life Hana, your parents should not be the ones making decisions for you.”

She gets up, frustrated, and takes few steps towards the waters. “That’s the whole problem.” She says. “The culture from where I come is very different. Its closed environment with families dominated by parents. It’s hard for me to explain that even if they pressurize me to do things, I still love them. I don’t want to hurt them. I want them to understand my choices.”

I walk up to her, and clasp her shoulders to turn her to me. Her usually peaceful eyes seem to be deep into some storm, piercing into mine, searching for the shores. Yet, it doesn’t falter my mind, instead it seems to be encouraging me to make stronger resolutions. “Take baby steps. Break your desires into tiny goals and try achieving one at a time.”

Her mind is still out on a wild chase as she rests her soft little palms on me. Her touch acts like a pacifier for my pacing heart. Her lips quiver to pour out the questions her eyes have stored. “How will I answer them? What will I say if they ask?”

“We will cross the bridge when we reach there.” I reply. I see the storm in her eyes calming down as the soothing honey colour dances in them again. She closes the distance between us. Her head rests on my chest and our arms embrace each other.

My eyes take in the view at the horizon. The pink of the sky has changed to purple. The waters are dark and the twilight sparkles over the lake. The storm that left her eyes suddenly is hitting the waves of my mind. 'We will cross the bridge… I said to her. Why did I promise myself into it? What am I doing? I am letting myself fall into valley of flowers, except that these flowers are going to be roses, roses with thorns. I don’t know how many wounds they will create before the eternal bliss.

“Thank you for being there for me.” Her mellow tone creates another smooth wave, overpowering my self-destructive thoughts. ‘We WILL cross the bridge…' a voice inside me resonates.

We start walking back to the manor. “Ready for tomorrow’s hunt?” I ask her.

“Yes. It’s going to be fun. I can practice my dressage.”

“You have a training in horse-riding?” I stop in my tracks and turn to her, wide eyed.

“Yes. Why are you so shocked?” She says in a casual manner.

“You never cease to amaze me.” I shake my head and start walking again. “It’s definitely going to be fun tomorrow.”

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

We start early morning with the trail. There is a long line of nobles trotting on their horses across the countryside. Liam is up ahead with the king, while I am at the tail end of the group with Max. We are talking about the turn of events since our new york trip just before the social season.

“What made you take that instant decision of sponsoring Riley for the social season?” I ask Max.

“Have you ever seen Liam so happy? Have you observed the way he looks at her?”

“Yeah, I was thinking the same the other day.”

“It was this look, that made me take the decision.” He confirms as our eyes gaze at Riley riding beside Hana at a distance ahead of us.

I have another question in my mind, and ask,“What is wrong with Bertrand though?” I remember his annoyance at the stable a day ago. “He is so serious nowadays.”

“House Beaumont is juggling a bit with some financial matters and since father left, Bertrand has taken it up as his sole responsibility to keep up the name.” Max's expressions brighten up, “Don’t worry. It’s nothing much. Lord Maxwell is here for the rescue.” He strikes a knight pose riding his horse.

We laugh it out. Max makes sure to keep everything cool and under control, always. A quality, I admire.

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

“You are not the one to lose. What’s the secret?”

We have covered mountain trail, and reached the tiny village. Hana did not fail to impress with her horseback skills. But when the king announced the horseback race at the last leg for the suitors, Hana finished second.

Throughout the trail she has been either with Riley or Penelope or Kiara, and now finally I get a chance to talk to her. That is when I ask her.

“You noticed.” She smiles. “I would be sitting with the prince for the dinner had I won.”

“So?”

“So, who would have given our poor little marshmallow a company?” she pouts her lips.

I know I am grinning, ear to ear, with that comment. “Thank you Lady Hana for giving me the honour!”

We sit down for the feast. My friend’s all around me. Riley and Liam making me believe that there will be that one person in your life who will make a difference. Max, bringing the best out of worst and Hana, my new person, making me realise that not all is lost when there is still one thing that keeps us going – hope.

[tanoraqui]

[previous]

They go to Lotus Pier, of course. It’s close, it’s safe, there’s soup and shock blankets ready, and there are plenty here who couldn’t make the trip into the endorheic Undersea proper. Lotus Pier is a town in the mortal world, not the Summerlands, but its inhabitants are mostly fisherfolk and others who make their living on the lakes. They know better than to ask questions of strangers after sundown, especially on a night like All Hallows’ Eve

Wei Wuxian sneaks away as soon as everyone stops fussing over him, which does take some time. He does stop to look, though, out over the lake. He might even sit on the edge of a pier, dangle his feet in the nearly-winter water.

Jiang Cheng finds him, with accusation and resignation. “You’re leaving.”

“Yeah.”

“You’re going back, to fight Blind Michael.”

It almost feels good to hear it said aloud, in a sickening, cathartic way. “Yeah.”

Jiang Cheng’s voice could not be more full of scorn. “Why do you always need to play the hero?”

Because I was a lost and forgotten child, too, once, in much better circumstances, and someone found me. Because he’s a monster, and needs to be stopped. Because if I don’t, I might miss him. 

Because here’s one last story: once upon a time in Faerie, there was a race who could neutralize the magic of others. Who could tears spells to pieces and end a glamour with a touch. Unsurprisingly (though not justly) they were feared and hated, huted and killed. But it’s harder than one may think to completely exterminate a people - people are stubborn like that. Bits and pieces slipped through, cousins and merlins and even the occasional fullblood

Until one day there was a born a changeling child with that particular, rare quirk of changelings where instead of weak with the power in their blood, they are strong, stronger than can be imagined or contained

This boy’s parents were killed - for their blood and powers or simply because they were in someone’s way, or perhaps even by natural accidents and illness; history doesn’t say. He grew up more on the streets than not, at first protected by the instinctive glamours of childhood, and then by his powers as they grew. Until rumors started to flicker around him and he was found by a great faerie lord, taken in and offered home and family in exchange for loyal service. 

This is, of course, the story of Wen Zhuliu, infamous knight of King Wen Ruohan of Golden Sun, who could tear the magic from a faerie’s blood with a single touch of skin to skin. Their pointed ears would stay, their colored hair, their hind’s legs or stony skin or what not. But never again would they spin an illusion, slip through shadows, shift from one form to another or borrow power from blood or a hundred other necessary marvels.

As such this is also the story of how the heir to the Duchy of Lotus Lakes came to be lying unconscious on a mortal hilltop, undergoing experimental surgery from the best Daoine Sidhe bloodworking healer in a century, with the help and bloody donation of the only Docchas Sidhe anyone had seen since his mother stopped her dancing. Wei Wuxian didn’t know what he was doing, Wen Qing hypothetically knew what she was doing, and likely neither of them would be able to recreate it, for several reasons. But a the start, they had one crippled Merrow and one 3/4 Merrow, 1/4 Docchas Side, and at the end, they had one Merrow exhausted and unconscious but restored to full magical health, and one....about 99% Docchas Sidhe, 1% of his father’s blood still clinging to the edges

(that saved him, later, when a Wen archer managed to clip him with elfshot. He still had something left to burn out)

(he didn’t think to mourn it in the heat of battle, and barely did later - it turns out that chronic iron poisoning is a thing, if you spend three months surrounded and pierced by it yet somehow survive, but not a thing that can be survived by any but the mostly bloodymindedly enduring race in Faerie. There was never any turning back.)

“Because someone has to,” Wei Wuxian says, and gets to his feet, tucks them back into shoes. Almost as an aferthought, he adds, “Hey, can I borrow your knife?”

“My knife,” Jiang Cheng says almost blankly.

“Your knife.”

the Duke of Lotus Lakes wears a knife at his hip, as well as a trident on his back and a ring with the power of a whipping electric eel. Unlike the others, it’s neither heirloom nor pride of office, but it is finely wrought silver, hilt and blade alike, and given to him by his father for his tenth birthday.

"Here,” he snarls, draws it and just barely shoves it forward hilt- rather than point-first. “Bring it back or don’t come back yourself.” And he stalks away.

Wei Wuxian learned a great deal from the Night Haunts, and from his own subsequent bloody adventures, and (no offense, Toby) he doesn’t have any mortal drag on his ability to stride into Faerie lands. He doesn’t need to consult any Firstborns to take the Blood Road that is his birthright. 

Blind Michael is as tall as the sky and as seductive as an undertow and as cruel as nothing found in nature, because it takes a mind and will to be truly cruel. Wei Wuxian already sent his candle away (it got Wen Ning home, and that was what mattered), but he did leave his iron-tipped trident behind

It’s not a fair fight. On one side, an immortal, nigh-unkillable warrior, veteran of countless battles, trained by the most bloodthirsty race in Faerie and fueled by the fire of absolute certainty in his rightness. On the other, a bully who’s spent the last several centuries (millennia?) intimidating children. 

...Seriously, it’s over pretty fast. Knife and trident slide in together and pierce the rotten heart; get fucked, Michael. Acacia’s land, now.

I’d love to say “Wei Wuxian goes home”, but, well. That’s a messy question, isn’t it? He can’t stay for longer than a bit of blood-borrowed transformation will allow.

. . .

Epilogue, a few months later:

Nie Huaisang, barging into Jin Guangyao’s office with Wei Wuxian in favor-owing tow, sing-song and utterly guileless because this is a Nie Huaisang who...knows guile, but only as a toy; has never had to wield it as a weapon: San-ge! I have the best birthday present for you!

[managingmymuse]

Plotting

for writer's month

day 24: fake dating

(original fiction | ???)

I read and reread the King's declarations more times than I could count. Soon the words grew blurred from my fingertips, and the paper threatened to peel apart at the folds. Still, I kept pulling it out, picking at it like one picks a scab.

I forced myself to wait a week before sending a reply. Before I made any answer to the message at all. I needed that time to compose myself, to ensure that I could write without a shaking hand or tears dripped onto the page. It was terribly rude, of course, but at the moment, I was quite over politeness. If Timothe had an issue with it, he could consult my father, seeing as everything I'd told Timothe so far had been ignored.

The betrayal hung on the back of my tongue like acid. It made me short with my mother when she came to discuss gowns, and shorter still with Marcel Imons who was still pestering Abigail Lyon. When he approached her near the lake by the girls' dormitory one afternoon, I dispensed with my usual diplomacy and used a burst of magic to fling him in it.

Abigail's roommates laughed themselves sick.

By the end of the week, I'd calmed down enough to write with a clear hand. My missive was short, and to the point.

What possessed you to do this without asking me?

The reply came quickly. Mail between Yarrow and Imena didn't often take long.

My dearest Desdemona,

I must beg your forgiveness. When I returned from Imena, I was in deep pain at the loss of your company. My suffering was so great that my magic diminished as well. When my father discovered this lack, he dispatched his orders immediately, and without consulting me.

I regret that I have not had the opportunity to ask you properly. I promise, upon my next visit, I will make it up to you in full.

Ever yours,

Timothe

I'd frowned at the letter. And then, in a fit of pique, I'd burned it, using my rage to fuel the flames.

It was only later that the mistrust began to settle over me. When we'd been together, Timothe had always seemed self-possessed. Confident. Unlikely to wallow in supposed heartbreak. And when we'd parted, he'd seemed resigned to our future relationship as companions, if not outright friends. But by the time he got to Yarrow, he was disturbed to the point of magic disruption? After a mere day's drive?

Something did not tally. Not at all.

Timothe's triumphant return, presumably with a real proposal and a ring, was scheduled for the next school break, only a week away. Many of our classmates were returning to Yarrow for the solstice, but I would stay here with my family. And Timothee, apparently, would be visiting us.

My mother went into a flurry of preparations. She just about cleaned out every larder in the county searching for chocolate jellies and lemon drops. The staff was given a verbal thrashing every time she saw a button loose or a shoe unpolished. Every room on the main floors was laden with pine boughs until the whole house smelled-- and looked-- like it would belonged in a forest.

While my mother obsessed, I made my own preparations. I borrowed a particular spell from Lady Rathburn's extensive library.

She grasped my arm when I turned to leave her. "Think very carefully before you use this," she said, grey eyes bright. "The truth is not always kind."

I knew that already. Perhaps better than I should. "Don't worry about me," I said. "I shall be the very soul of discretion."

And I was. Rather than send servants for my supplies, I shopped for them myself, trailing along Spill Street like a lady at leisure rather than on a mission. I purchased the ingredients I needed in three separate shops, mixed in with a dozen more items that I never intended to use. Anyone who recovered my shopping list wouldn't know what I was shopping for.

I brewed the potion and let it steep two nights beneath the moon's rays. When it was done, I had a thin vial of a brownish liquid that would make any man, woman, or child, spill their secrets they'd much rather take to the grave.

Arranging a meeting in private was a much more difficult task to manage. My mother wanted to lavish the precious prince with hospitality, and even my father thought it would be impolite not to greet him upon arrival in our city. In the end, I had to do my very best impression of a lovesick girl to get them to consent to allow me to have tea with him in private so that he might propose properly.

It worked, I'm ashamed to say. Very ashamed indeed.

Timothe's carriage rolled up one wintery morning. I watched from the window as he strode up the stairs of our home and knocked precisely once before our butler greeted him. I rang for tea while the butler helped Timothe off with his coat and gloves and settled myself in a rather demure position on the sofa a mere moment before the door swung open.

"His Highness Prince Timothe," the butler said.

I nodded and stood to offer a curtsy. Timothe strode into the room in grand spirits, crossing the distance between us in a matter of seconds. "Darling," he said. He seized both of my hands in his, bringing them up between us to press a kiss to each.

The back of my neck prickled with unease. "Pet names now?"

"You're unhappy with me," Timothe said. "I understand."

"Do you?" I glanced at the butler. "You may go."

With a swift nod, he withdrew.

A heavy silence fell about the room. Embers crackled and burned in the fireplace.

I motioned toward the high-backed chair in the center of the room and allowed Timothe to be seated before I resumed my own position. A knock sounded on the rear door to the room, and a maid entered, bearing the tea service I'd summoned just moments before.

"I've had tea prepared," I said, motioning the maid to set it on the table nearest us. "It's just the thing to warm you after such a cold journey."

"My dear, the only thing I need to warm me is your kind regard."

Ugh. I nodded to the maid, indicating that she could leave before reaching forward to pour the tea.

Timothe's gaze was a hot brand on my neck as I carefully added liquid to his cup and dropped in a single sugar cube. "You're angry with me."

"I'm furious," I said. I offered him the cup and saucer, and he took it. "We discussed this the last time you were here. I said I don't wish to marry."

"Yes, and I tried to respect your wishes," he said. "But once I got home, I realized how much I missed you. My magic suffered. I'm ashamed to say I moped."

"You might have written me before you told your father we were to be married."

"Would it have changed your position?" he asked. "Knowing of my heartbreak?"

My lips firmed into a thin line as I poured my own tea. "You ask too much."

"On the contrary. I think I ask just enough."

He took a cautious sip of his tea, and a bolt of triumph flared through me, lighting me from within.

"Think of how happy we'll be," he said. "How powerful. Between the two of us we'll have the political capital and brute strength to rule this bloody empire, my brothers be damned."

I just stared at him. I watched the color drain from his face. I watched dawning horror pull at his lips.

"Why-- why did I say that? Did I--" His gaze dropped to his tea, and his lip curled. "How did you get this recipe?"

"I am a witch," I said. "You seem to forget it."

"On the contrary. It's the only reason I'm interested in you at all."

I expected that, but it still stung. I took a delicate sip of my own tea before I set the cup down.

A range of emotions was flashing across Timothe's face. Rage and confusion and fear. "Sweetroot tea is illegal."

I lifted a shoulder. "Then have me arrested."

His lip curled. "You know I won't do that."

"Because you love me?"

He outright snarled. "You know I don't love you. Or you wouldn't have fed me this this brew."

That one didn't sting nearly as much. Not with the victory of tricking him dancing in my veins. "If you don't love me, why force me to marry you?"

"Why does anyone marry?" he said.

"That's not an answer."

I have to give him credit, he fought it. But the recipe I'd used for the Sweetroot potion had an extra kicker of joja berries mixed with acanthus oil. In precisely the right quantities, it was formulated to make the reluctant more forthcoming.

"You saved my life," he said. "I need you to do it again."

"Are you in some sort of danger?"

"My brothers. They're trying to kill me."

He stood up at that. His hands were curled into fists at his sides, and the cold shadow of fear passed over me.

"How-- that is, I-- how dare you," he said.

I affected nonchalance and drank some more tea. "If beating me into a pulp will make you feel better, then by all means, try it. But I warn you-- I fight back."

He snarled at me. Outright snarled. And for some reason, it filled me with more pleasure than I can even describe.

"Leave if you want," I said. "Storm down the streets in a rage if that would make you feel better. But I think it would be more productive if you would just tell me the truth."

"The truth." He sneered. "Why would I tell you anything?"

"You're trying to force me into a marriage with you," I said. "A marriage that I don't want or even particularly need."

"Honesty is not necessary for a marriage."

"It's a rather good start, though."

He scowled again. From the expressions on his face, I could tell he was fighting the sweetroot once again.

Finally, he dropped into his chair. His fingers clenched and unclenched on the air in front of him. "Fine. You want the truth? I'll give you the truth. My father has designated no heir. All three of us are eligible to assume his throne. My brothers have been trying to kill me for years. Last summer, one of them nearly succeeded."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"You're the one who saved me from his curse."

I sat back in my chair, startled. "That was only a falling branch."

"It was an ill luck spell," Timothe said. "I'm a magnet for danger. Literally wherever I go. I've been thrown from three horses, nearly run over by multiple carriages, and been injured by my sparring partner twice already."

I took a delicate sip of my tea. "I'm surprised you haven't been poisoned."

Timothe leaned forward, an odd glint in his eyes. "You have the distinction of being the first to attempt it, my love."

"Don't call me that."

"I don't see why I shouldn't."

"Because I'm not your love. I'm not your anything."

"But you will be."

The strength of that conviction, under the influence of sweetroot, was horrifying. Nevertheless, I forced myself to set my cup down gently on its saucer. "I'm not marrying you."

"Why?"

"Because I don't wish to marry," I said. "You in particular."

"Charming."

"I figured I might as well trade your honesty for some of my own."

I gave him a demure smile, and Timothe bared his teeth at me in a shark's grin.

"I don't need your agreement to force you into a marriage," he said. "I can have the papers filed with or without your consent."

"That's true enough," I said. "Heaven knows I can't stop you from filing paperwork with the courts."

"So you see that resisting this is idiotic."

"On the contrary," I said. "Resisting this is the only option I have left."

He stood up at at that, rolling his eyes. I half expected him to storm out, but instead he began to pace. He moved up and down the length of the room, cracking his knuckles as he muttered to himself.

I could see the wheels turning in his head. My calmness, such as it was, was getting to him. Good. It was bloody hard to hold onto my cool head.

It was time to push him over the edge. "What's to stop me from just letting you die?"

He turned to me. "What?"

"You heard me," I said. "If your plan is to have a bodyguard in the form of a wife-- well. An unwilling wife is irritating. An unwilling bodyguard is a legitimate problem."

"You would let me die?" he said. "Your own husband?"

I lifted a shoulder. "Quite a few women adore widowhood. It's not what I imagined for myself, naturally, but it's not the worst state one can find one's self in."

I thought he'd scowl at me. Rage and threaten, stomp and storm. But instead, a sort of calm passed over his face. He strode back to his chair, seating himself upright with the kind of courtly bearing that made me want to throw him across the room. "What do you want?"

"For you to leave me alone."

"That's not what I meant," he said. The glint was back in his eyes, and it sent a shiver rolling down my spine. "What do you want to act as my bodyguard?"

"You would hire me as a bodyguard?"

He laughed, and it sounded as if it rippled up from the core of his cold, dark heart. "I can't have a bodyguard. Not in truth. That would be a display of weakness."

"And moping and pretending to lose your magic isn't?"

"Sentimentality is not weakness," he said. "Was our country not founded by warrior-poets?"

"Our country was founded by pompous windbags."

"Those are my ancestors."

"They are, aren't they?"

Timothe's smile was broader this time. There was still an edge to it, but it seemed-- genuine?

"This is going to be fun," he said.

"It's going to be your death sentence."

"You asked me to hire you, which means that your services can be bought," he said. "How much?"

I scowled at him. "I don't need money."

"Everyone needs something."

I kept the scowl firmly in place. "There's nothing I need that would make marrying you worth it."

Timothe chuckled. The sound was deep and resonant, and it sent alarm bells pealing in my head. "Am I really so bad?" he asked.

"Not everything is about you."

He smiled at that before standing again. He paced to the window, looking down into the street. The snow-bright light from outside washed onto his face, making him look like a figure from one of my sister's fairytales.

Not a handsome prince, I thought darkly. Or, well, not just one, anyway.

"I'm willing to compromise," he said. "I'd like to maintain the fiction of an engagement between us for the time being. But in exchange for you ensuring that I don't die an untimely death, I'll break it off long before we ever near the altar."

"That's not much of a compromise," I said. "What's in it for me?"

"Is it not enough to assist your sovereign in his time of need?"

"You're not my sovereign," I said. "And at this rate, you'll never be."

"But you can change that," Timothe said. "Help me reach the throne, and I will grant you anything your heart desires. One royal favor. How about that, my sweet?"

A favor. With a favor from the king I-- well, I could do anything. Possibilities spun in my head. A school in the north. A girls school where they were allowed to study more than dance and flower arranging.

"Never call me that again," I said, "and you have yourself a deal."

He swung around then. The grin on his face was almost impish. "I knew I could get through to you."

"Don't look so happy," I said.

He practically bounced across the room. "Why wouldn't I look happy? I've just secured a wonderful new fiancee."

"Spare me."

Instead of returning to his chair, this time he settled himself on the sofa next to me. It was a flagrant breach of propriety, and I suspected that he did it just to make me uncomfortable.

My suspicions were concerned when he took my hand in his and slowly brought it to his lips. "Come now. When we're in public, you'll have to pretend to be madly in love with me. You might as well start now."

"If this is your attempt at charm, it's failing," I said. I extracted my hand and reached for the bell to summon the butler. "It's been enlightening as always, your majesty."

He only smiled. "It has, hasn't it? It really has."

***

@saltnpepapig You asked to be tagged if there was more. This got out of hand, so let me know if you changed your mind.