#it's simply that it would be convenient to be able to more readily share them with more people lol

[burinazar]

i keep thinking 'i want to jailbreak the san-ken into original characters, it's so neat when other people do that with their favorites, when will i manage to do that?' and then immediately realizing 'no ebil you don't actually WANT to do that at ALL even a little bit. the sentiment you are feeling is just It Would Be Convenient if I Could Do That.'

[stoicbreviary]

The Life of Cato the Younger 1

Over the years, a good number of Stoics have come to consider Cato the Younger (95-46 BC) as a sort of martyr or patron saint for the philosophy. I am always wary of any hero worship, which too readily praises the strengths while conveniently overlooking the weaknesses, but however you cut it, the life of Cato provides a wonderful opportunity to reflect on what it means to strive for virtue as the highest human good. 

The man could certainly be stubborn, and he sometimes let his passions get the better of him. I take note of this because I also struggle with those flaws, even as my own life is not nearly so grand in scale. I find that I learn best from those who have already faced the same sort of trials. 

I have now read through Plutarch's Life of Cato the Younger numerous times, and each occasion leads me down a different path, often leaving me with more questions than answers. I take a keen interest in Plutarch's writings, as all the entries in the Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans are focused on examining the development of character, and yet I don't have to worry about him trying to whitewash the Stoics, since he was often quite critical of their views. Like any good thinker, he praises what is good while also finding a lesson in what is bad. 

I am not fluent enough in the subtleties of Roman history to share my own notes on Cato's conflict with Julius Caesar and his eventual role in the civil war, so I tend to encourage people to read Plutarch's account free from any of my annoying commentary. All of Plutarch's Lives have left me a bit wiser than I was before, though the story of Cato is the one I return to most often and eagerly. 

The translation used here is by Bernadotte Perrin, from the Loeb Classical Library (1919), which is in the public domain. 

—4/2001 

* * * * * 

Cato's family got its first luster and fame from his great-grandfather Cato (a man whose virtue gained him the greatest reputation and influence among the Romans, as has been written in his Life), but the death of both parents left him an orphan, together with his brother Caepio and his sister Porcia. Cato had also a half-sister, Servilia, the daughter of his mother.​ All these children were brought up in the home of Livius Drusus, their uncle on the mother's side, who at that time was a leader in the conduct of public affairs; for he was a most power­ful speaker, in general a man of the greatest discretion, and yielded to no Roman in dignity of purpose. 

We are told that from his very childhood Cato displayed, in speech, countenance, and in his childish sports, a nature that was inflexible, imperturbable, and altogether steadfast. He set out to accomplish his purposes with a vigor beyond his years, and while he was harsh and repellent to those who would flatter him, he was still more master­ful towards those who tried to frighten him. It was altogether difficult to make him laugh, although once in a while he relaxed his features so far as to smile; and he was not quickly nor easily moved to anger, though once angered he was inexorable. When, accordingly, he came to study, he was sluggish of comprehension and slow, but what he comprehended he held fast in his memory. And this is generally the way of nature: those who are well endowed are more apt to recall things to mind, but those retain things in their memory who acquire them with toil and trouble;​ for everything they learn becomes branded, as it were, upon their minds. 

It would appear, too, that Cato's reluctance to be persuaded made his learning anything more laborious. For, to learn is simply to allow something to be done to you, and to be quickly persuaded is natural for those who are less able to offer resistance. Therefore young men are more easily persuaded than old men, and sick folk, than those who are well, and, in a word, where the power to raise objections is weakest, the act of submission is easiest. 

However, we are told that Cato was obedient to his tutor, and did everything that was enjoined upon him, although in each case he demanded the reason and wanted to know the why and wherefore. And, indeed, his tutor was a man of culture, and more ready to reason with a pupil than to thrash him. His name was Sarpedon. 

[marshmallowprotection]

imagine confronting/teasing ge about the stuff he just so happens to conveniently know (plus stuff that Ray or even Suit knew, too) that you don't recall telling any of them, like your birthday, where you always go to get the same kind of drink, your. your clothing size😶 etc

cos it wouldn't have been difficult to put two and two together fairly early on but it makes sense to not bring it up until later haha

"This one, right?"

"Yeah. That's my favorite, how'd you know?"

"I have my ways, my love. Besides, you always order this drink in the springtime. I'm not surprised. This is a very refreshing flavor."

It was always little things. Without asking, Saeran seemed to know what you would ask for whenever you wanted to grab a meal from a restaurant or see if you could nab your favorite snack from the store.

He would beat you to the punch and smile, saying that he simply had a feeling that you would've wanted that. You know that's not really how he's able to know it. Deep down, you know that all of the things he knew about you were because Ray and the other Saeran learned everything. 

They had been able to see your social media and other information over the months that they spent watching you. You had already forgiven them for what they did all that time ago... and since Saeran himself was created from their feelings and experiences, it only made sense that he knew what they knew.

Still, Saeran had never admitted it. You could read between the lines readily and easily. You didn't need to talk about it at the moment when everything was going on. You simply glossed over it and decided to leave it be.

But, ever since you and Saeran had been able to settle into freedom? You may well have noticed more and more how much he knew about you. It was sweet that you didn't have to remind him what you liked or didn't like. He was prepared. He was always worried about doing the wrong thing. But, he couldn't. He'd done his best for you from the start. You were always happy that he went so far to do things right. 

However, Saeran uses his knowledge of your likes and dislikes to ensure that he's always doing what he can. Those long days when you're trapped at the tall building of C&R working together to try and find traces of his brother? Well. He's the one that's told Jaehee your sizes so that you have access to some clothes that fit right away. He made sure to grab all of your favorite sweets that first day, too. He was so overwhelmed by the freedom he had in buying and being outside that maybe he went overboard. But that's just how he is.

You’d be stunned and giddy at the same time. You love him, so, so very much, and knowing that he is thinking of you when you probably went out shopping and did the same for him. You likely went and got him some ice cream that you could share. He’s adamant that he can’t eat the twin pops without his brother, but the rest of it is fair game. You know his favorite ice cream because Ray had told you once and you assumed it was still the same thing. It was. 

Imagine that glint in his eyes when you ask him, “Saeran, you know, don’t you know all these things because you hacked into my heart?” 

His face would turn red almost instantly. He’s not often embarrassed but he does have a little bit of shame about knowing all these things. He’s apologized before about all of this and he’s glad you’ve forgiven him but he doesn’t expect you to go and tease him about it. “I... Well, you told me it was okay to come into your heart, my love. Is this... not okay?” 

Pinch his cheeks and coo, “Yes, Saeran. It’s okay. I’m not upset about it. But, you still don’t know everything about me. A few things here or there is fine. I’m excited to share more of myself with you. I just hope you bought me more of my favorite. Jumin’s paying the tab, after all. I’m okay with indulging as long as it’s with you.” 

“There’s... more?” 

“Oh, Saeran. There’s always more to learn when you love someone. But this time, you get to learn by asking me, instead.” 

“Hahaha... of course.” 

Saeran will have to confirm with you when you joke with him, however, just because he wants to be sure that you’re okay with this and that you’re not actually upset with him. He’s going to do his best to redeem himself going forward and it’s important to him to know that he’s doing the right thing going ahead. 

[furiousgoldfish]

Personal post about trauma under the cut, extremely upsetting content, do not read if you had narcissistic parents and don't wanna get triggered, I am very sad and mad and it's hard to talk about this. TW child labor, child torture, brainwashing, death threats, narcissistic abuse.

*

I was a hardworking child, I was happy and excited to work, I wanted to be a part of everything that's being done. I noticed work warranted for people to get respect, food, praise, acceptance, and I wanted to work hard so I too would be a part of that. My family lived in a rural area, they kept animals, grew fields of crops, were always in some sort of construction work, so me always being eager to work was pretty much ideal for them, or you'd think that it was. You'd think that.

I was working eagerly and I realized, that unlike for adults, I don't get respect, praise, acceptance, or sometimes even food. It was for some reason denied to me only. And I was still happy to work because I chased that feeling of personal accomplishment, even if there was no rewards. And again, you'd think this is perfectly convenient and ideal to parents who wanted free labour and to give no recognition or praise in return. You'd think that.

But it wasn't enough for them. Father got this idea to take me out to work with him alone, away from home. I remember the place we went to, only as a place I need burned down to the ground before I could breathe again. It was a demolition-construction of a house, and I don't remember how many time I've been there. All I know is, after first few times, I no longer wanted to go. I begged not to go.

I am guessing my father could not bear the looks of me working happily, or even working silently. Me doing everything I was told was not fun enough for him– so he would give me false instructions. As an easy setup for punishment. I did exactly what I was told, and would get screamed at and beaten up. Then forced to keep working in tears, shaking, terrified, injured, while being further berated. And that was only the start.

Even as a child, I was diligent and responsible about doing work, and I know I was getting things done just fine, because, I was doing the sibling's share of chores too. If siblings were called to work, they would simply mess up on purpose so I would be told to repeat it after them, correctly. Sometimes siblings would have me do it and take the credit, which I didn't mind because working made me feel better about myself. It made me feel useful. My mind was already dissociated from my body to the point where I no longer felt exhaustion, pain, strain, or any physical effect work was having on me. I would get berated and shamed if I showed signs of being tired or strained. So my body disregarded it all.

And yeah, that wasn't enough either. I was still sometimes feeling okay. If I was allowed to work alone, and let my mind wonder, if nobody commented on it I knew it was okay.

So this is where they decided to take a step further and disallow me to feel okay at any point. I was humiliated while working to the point of tears. I'd be ridiculed in front of guests. I could no longer enjoy my own thoughts, but constant criticism, insults, accusations and humiliation was raining down on me at every step. And when I was done, with tremendous effort it took to endure this, I would be told 'It would have been better if you had done nothing.' So my insane effort to endure abuse to get things done, was rendered worthless in a second.

Father kept taking me away to work alone with him, and forced me to listen to his monologues, which I hated, because he was boring, wrong and self-obsessed, but I wasn't allowed to say that, or argue. My silent compliance was never enough. He had to hit me. He had to find something to berate me over. He kept inventing reasons. I would clean his entire garage and he'd move a steel closet I couldn't possibly move and berate me for not cleaning under it.

I had a log thrown into my head, causing a head injury, and I had to keep working. I fell and fractured my shoulder so badly I could barely walk; I was brought to a forest to drag logs around, too heavy for me to lift. I was sometimes orchestrated to get injured; father would start a trailer I was standing on the edge of, and forced me to fall by quickly moving forward just enough. I was still expected to work after that. He hit me with a blunt edge of an axe and berated me for standing there. I was told to 'not expect a lift to the hospital'. I was brought to work while starved, grieving, suicidal. I was lied to about where I was going and what would I be doing, and for how long. I was never allowed to stop working.

And the game of giving me wrong instructions and punishing me for doing it 'wrong' never stopped. I caught on and begged for correct instructions. I would ask to explain, how to do it, to show me, anything. 'HOW OLD are you not to know this? I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO TELL YOU! YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS BY NOW!' And by his rage, I could tell that if I don't do it any way I knew how, I'd be punished instantly. I had no choice but to try – and of course fail, and feel horribly ashamed for 'deserving to get beat up'. Eventually my brain started shortcircuiting at the simplest tasks, I would mess up because I was in terror. I couldn't think.

At this point, I no longer wished to work for people who would inflict violence on me. And that is when I was quckly informed that if I didn't work, I would be killed. Not in those words. It was 'You have to work if you want to live!' followed by 'We can kick you out and you will starve on the street. Nobody will take you in. There is no place for you. Nobody wants someone like you. You don't deserve to eat if you don't work.' My choices were taken away. If I still refused, the result would be to beat me and force me to work injured, shaking and crying.

All this, for what? I would have been HAPPY to work. I would have been chasing my little daydreams and singing the pokemon tune, and if I was ever praised, I'd be the happiest kid on the block. I was a kid who liked to work. I wanted minimal fairness, minimal acknowledgment. To be a part of the family. Only that.

It just wouldn't do for the narcssistic father. Watching a child be broken, terrified and shaking, crying, ashamed, guilty, working past exhaustion, in injuries, was just too tempting for him to pass up. Even free labor wasn't worth to him as much as the pleasure of child torture. He needed that like it was a drug. What kind of a sick high did he experience, breaking a defenseless kid? What kind of pleasure did it entail, getting someone rid of their natural happiness to work? Was it fun, tearing me into pieces, over and over again? Does he remember it as a delicious, satisfying pleasure? Does he daydream about it? He knew it was wrong; he forced me to stop crying and hide the tears before we went home. 'Don't say anything to your mother.' I was told before being stuffed back in his car.

And now... I can't work. I can't even move sometimes. It was torn away from me. My ability to work was ripped away from my child body when I had no way to defend it or to grab it back and protect what is mine. I can't work anymore. It's terrifying. It terrifies me to not work. Because I was made aware working is the only thing keeping me alive, and capitalism confirms this, so I remain to forever fight with myself about how even if everyone says otherwise, I still deserve to live. Heartbroken, abandoned, with my basic human abilities stripped from me. It doesn't make me deserving to die.

I am so angry and sad. If I had my natural ability to work back, I'd be fine. I would be able to live safely. I wouldn't spiral into feeling like an unworthy member of society. I learned to survive very insecurely like this, but I hate every second of it. To know that instead of this insane uncertainty, anxiety, guilt for being bedridden, guilt for existing and not moving, I could have just found a job, have normal income? I can't bear it. I can't bear knowing this was wrenched away from me, because it was pleasurable to do so, because tearing me into pieces was a fun hobby for people who didn't care if what they were doing to me killed me. And I couldn't have done anything to stop it. And I'm like this now. Unable to take any more torture, unable to endure any more of being triggered, wondering if I would die from lack of resources, or would my body fail permanently in attempts to process all the exhaustion and pain I was dissociated from for my entire childhood.

How was this worth it. How it could have been worth it to anyone, destroying someone's ability to work, only because it's pleasurable. I felt the plan was to work me until I no longer could do it, then kill me. It's what they did to animals. And I was told I was more worthless than an animal. I was called lazy and a monstrous name I can't even translate, that implied I was burdening everyone with my existence.

It was even a bigger punch to my face to realize, after I escaped, that he was profiting from everything I did. That it would have taken money – way more than was ever spent on my survival, to get all that labor done. He was profitting while telling me I was worthless and don't deserve to eat or sleep in his house. He is now renting the place I was broken to help build. I was torn apart and he is still benefiting from it. And I have nothing. Not even a functional body to work with anymore.

I know I'm not the only person who was constantly left alone with narcissists as a child and had this, or worse, done to them. They don't care which pieces of children are left over by the time they're done getting their high. We're only a thing to consume, not living beings, not people, not someone whose life matters. Our pain is food to them. My father readily became a predator who snached his own kid away for torture sessions, and felt proud and fulfilled to turn his own child into a creature who cannot work anymore to survive.

Don't leave children alone with narcissists. I am trying so hard to get better, but facing reality, is this a thing a person gets better from? It's not a bodily harm of once or twice, this was happening for the most majority of my lifetime. It makes sense I cannot move. It makes sense I'm terrified to be triggered into this. It makes sense I can barely bear the reality of it. A person tortured hundreds of times wont just get up and walk away. I can't either. I have to lie here and hope that one day it will get better.

If you read thru all this, and you relate to the parts of this story, know that I am so sorry for what you were put thru. It's devastating and horrenous. If this is how you grew up, it would have been better not to have a family. We all should have been protected from this.

[alittlewhump]

Unbidden - Act 2, chapter 2

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Content warnings: non-sexual noncon touch mention, just a tiny taste of drugging (fade to black)

Once Jerhyn had bemusedly agreed to Morgan's request for a more private meeting, just the two men and two watchful guards, things went much more smoothly. He'd been able to properly explain the situation with the dark wanderer, and the sultan had divulged a story passed down through the royal family concerning the imprisonment of a great evil within a tomb deep in the desert. The story had unfortunately been rather shy on specifics, but that proved to be a convenient segue into an inquiry about the city archives. They were housed on the other side of the city, staffed by a small team of dedicated archivists. Jerhyn assured him that they would be happy to welcome his inquiries. Lut Gholein was proud of its history.

After that was settled, it had been simple enough to convince Jerhyn that his time would be better spent searching for the source of the demonic activity rather than just reacting to it. He'd promised to share whatever he learned with the mercenaries and the local clergy, which had apparently been something of a surprise. Jerhyn had reassured him quickly that yes, of course the priests of Akarat would be keen to know more, he simply hadn't expected an outsider to consider that angle. Luckily, he seemed content to drop the issue there. There were few enough places that welcomed the Order of Rathma with open arms, and Morgan did not wish to test the hospitality of this one if he could avoid it.

He also made it clear that he was not affiliated with Blaise in any meaningful capacity, and that her considerable skills were her own to direct. After all she had done for him, it was the least he could offer in return. The mention of her got a chuckle out of the palace guards. Apparently she had arisen quite early and demanded an audience with the commander, who did not appreciate being roused. He apparently hadn't expected her to accept his cranky, blustering challenge to a test of her fighting skills, and had expected even less to be soundly beaten. So she had already earned her rank and a great deal of respect. Morgan noted that news seemed to travel quite fast in this city. At any rate, he was glad to hear she was doing well for herself.

All in all, the meeting had been a great success. Pleased with the progress so far, Morgan set out to explore the city. It was one of the largest he'd ever visited. Its centre was dominated by a sprawling marketplace spilling over with all manner of vendors. The sounds and smells were a little much to handle all at once. He would be able to manage brief excursions, but it would definitely be draining. Luckily, the archives were located away from the market. It would probably be possible to avoid the marketplace by taking the smaller side streets, once he got a better picture of the city's layout.

As promised, the archivists were polite and accommodating. After a brief tour, one of them even introduced herself as a local historian. She sat with Morgan for about an hour, patiently answering his questions as best she could. Her specialization was in more recent history, but she was at least able to fill in some of the details. The tomb from the royal family's story was that of Tal Rasha, a powerful mage who had died imprisoning a great evil. The identity of the evil sealed away was apparently the subject of some academic debate, as was the actual location of the tomb. On one hand, that meant there was plenty of reference material. On the other hand, it also meant that there were likely to be a lot of false leads. That was fine by Morgan, though; he enjoyed puzzles, and if he could approach the research from that angle, so much the better.

He settled himself in with a small collection of texts to start with. The archivists took turns checking on him about once an hour, then less often as it became clear he wasn't going anywhere. At one point the historian brought him a cup of wonderful-smelling spiced tea, which he thanked her for and promptly forgot about until after it was stone cold. It had gotten strong and bitter, but it sufficed to get him through another few hours of reading. All the parties seemed to agree that the tomb had been surrounded by a multitude of identical fakes, though estimations ranged in the exact number of those, and guesses as to what distinguished the true tomb varied wildly. It made for fascinating reading, and nobody bothered him except to helpfully point out the storeroom where the oil for the lamps was stored.

It occurred to Morgan about fifteen minutes later that the bit about the lamps had probably been a cue. He approached the archivist ready to apologize for overstaying his welcome. She reassured him that although they generally closed overnight, that restriction would be waived due to him being on royal business. That was welcome news, though he didn't recall mentioning the sultan's request. However, now that he had stood and moved around a bit, it was becoming clear that it was time to seek out a meal.

After confirming which materials he was permitted to borrow - enough to get him through the night, anyway - he left with a heavy pack and directions to a tavern that sounded promising for both food and local knowledge. Although it was his least favoured method of gathering information, it was inescapable fact that people often knew little tidbits that weren't considered important enough to record. Sometimes those scraps of information could prove vital, so he would seek them out as best he could.

Since artificial lighting was readily available and he'd been granted unfettered access to the archives, it was easy for Morgan to slip into a more nocturnal schedule. He spent the hottest part of the days sleeping or meditating in his room at the palace, slowly but surely expanding his magical reserves and refreshing his training in emotional control. That left the mornings and evenings to canvass the locals for information, and the long cool nights to pore over materials in the archives.

None of the merchants or inn staff were able to provide any useful leads, but he had received a plethora of advice on how best to avoid and treat sunburn, including several referrals to a local alchemist. It was something of a relief that his complexion seemed to be regarded as more of a curiosity than a deformity here. The alchemist in question was called Lysander, and he operated his stall by the edge of the marketplace. He was a pleasant, professional man who did not question Morgan when he requested one of each different analgesic preparation in his arsenal. Not one of them had any effect on the pain in his injured arm. That was disappointing; it would have been preferable to chalk up the earlier failures to some sort of error in the preparation on his part, but Lysander was highly regarded and very unlikely to be selling faulty product.

A couple of days in, Morgan was pleased to encounter Cain on his way to the archives. The scholar seemed genuinely interested in his research, and soon began joining him. It was unexpectedly nice to have the quiet company, a companionable silence settling comfortably between them. It was also its own kind of luxury to stay within the city, to be able to go about his business with just the clothes on his back and perhaps a coin purse instead of having to bring everything with him.

The room where he left his things was... well, it was a unique but overall tolerable situation. As promised, none of the other members of the harem guild gave him so much as a second glance, which was a relief. Jemali continued to be aggressively flirtatious, but at least he generally honoured his agreement about physical contact. He was naturally expressive with his hands, so Morgan resigned himself to the occasional touch on the arm or shoulder when he got too close to the other man.

Attempts to explain the prickling discomfort of being touched didn't seem to stick. He supposed the courtesan had little enough reason to care. Most often he retreated to Morgan's room to rest, snatching a brief nap in between whatever else he was doing. Sometimes he would talk about his work. Morgan wasn't especially fond of those times, but thankfully Jemali seemed to want an outlet more than a conversation partner.

The priests of Akarat had given Morgan a warm enough reception, though he'd been careful to avoid mention of his own profession beyond working for the sultan. They made it clear that unless his work produced substantive results, they were not at all interested in learning about his research. That was agreeable for all parties, he felt.

Occasionally, Morgan would venture out into the desert surrounding the city. He quickly learned to spot the signs of the various aggressive insects that seemed to thrive in the desert environment, from the particular patterns the enormous beetles left in the sand to the nearly invisible hives that housed swarms of blood-hungry flies. There were other creatures as well, but the insects were the most dangerous; they didn't take any notice of any golems he raised, interested only in living flesh and blood. At least the misshapen things that might once have been related to vultures, and the occasional undead, could be distracted by his constructs.

He'd managed to locate a few tombs, all in various states of disrepair. Unsurprising, really, given their distance from the city and the aggressive fauna surrounding them. Similar to what he'd seen with Andariel, the dead inside were risen and restless. Fortunately, the supplies he needed to lay them back to rest were easy enough to come by. Lysander raised his eyebrows at Morgan's requests for specific oils but produced them without further comment. There was generally little else of interest in the tombs, but it felt pleasantly useful to be able to carry out these small acts of service to punctuate the long stretches of information gathering.

He was learning much about Lut Gholein - the infrastructure of desert waypoints was particularly interesting, like portals but in fixed locations - but next to nothing about the tomb of Tal Rasha, even with Cain's help. The evidence leaned toward Baal, Lord of Destruction, being the evil that was contained within it. Unfortunately, most references to its location had either been removed or redacted. It made sense for the tomb to be hidden, to prevent grave robbers from targeting it and unwittingly unleashing Baal onto the world. That was a sensible precaution which also happened to make his current objective much more difficult. It wasn't as though he could actually track the dark wanderer through the desert; the wanderer was much too far ahead for that thanks to Morgan's long convalescence. Any traces would have long since been erased. He had to find the tomb some other way.

From time to time Blaise stopped in, usually staying for just a minute or two to share the latest news from the mercenaries. Perhaps she'd been asked to keep communications open. It was a little unusual that it was never any of the other mercenaries, but Morgan wasn't about to complain. Known allies were always preferable to strangers.

Morgan was on his way to the archives one night, later than usual. He hadn't realized how late it had gotten while he'd been reading until the oil lamp had guttered out. Rather than refill it in the dark and risk waking Jemali, who had fallen fast asleep on the bed after airing some complaints about a particularly demanding client, he decided to take his research elsewhere.

He liked the city at night. Everything was softer, the smells of the marketplace just lingering memories, the last of the vendors packed up for the day, the chatter and bustle stilled. If he sat still for long enough, one of the innumerable stray cats would find the courage to rub hopefully against his ankles. He'd made the mistake of feeding one of them once, and they'd not forgotten. They were charming little opportunists. None of them were around this evening, though. Perhaps they'd found someone with a steadier supply of food for them, he thought as he turned down a narrow street. It was nice to imagine they were being cared for.

"Hey," a voice called out softly from somewhere above. "Pale one." Morgan looked up to see a man raising a hand in greeting from a second storey window. The voice was vaguely familiar. "You ever find what you were looking for?" Ah, it was one of the many people he'd tried asking for information. Nothing in particular made this one stand out from the rest, as far as he could tell. People often blurred together, and he was too far away to see the man's face clearly.

"Good evening. I'm making some progress."

"Well, good luck with that. Akarat guide you."

"And you."

The man retreated inside and Morgan resumed walking. He followed the street to its intersection, gazing up at the skyline to orient himself with the looming silhouettes of the palace and the city gates. The streets were mazelike at times, and he still hadn't determined the fastest route across the city from the palace to the archives. Maybe if he tried taking the left fork this time...

The sharp sting of an insect bite interrupted his musing. He swatted at his neck, annoyed. The damned things were usually less active after dusk, but there was no real escape. For half a second, he was confused by the unfamiliar feeling under his fingers. Why would an insect be made of metal, he thought fuzzily as the world tilted around him. He was unconscious before he hit the ground.

[thecandywrites]

Blood For Gold Chapter 15

Oooh, Audra's deepest darkest secret becomes known and puts her that much closer to danger of entrapment while the Voyambi's have to admit the ugly truth of their current view of their own heritage vs their station in English society.

@punkhorse96 GURL. Buckle up Buttercup because we are almost getting to the peak of this roller coaster. Because the Komoba battle will be the peak, the court case- the fall and then it's the throws and twists and lurches to follow.

Also Stregabor from the Witcher? Who else could play the most devious of mages? Who else I ask you? Who?

Blood For Gold

Chapter 15

“Oh there you are Axal, I need you for just a moment.” Yalin insisted as she saw him leave his rooms, having waited outside of them for the last half hour for him to emerge since she had gotten up extra early to catch Axal at the earliest moment possible.

“Is everything alright?” He asked as she grabbed ahold of his hand and drug him down the hallway.

“Yes, yes, of course, it’s fine, I just need a private word with you.” She did her best to reassure him but Axal could sense her panic before she pulled him into a spare room and dismissed the servants in the hall so their ears could not eavesdrop.

“Do you have any affection for Ramsey? I need you to be completely honest and transparent.” Yalin pressed.

“I do.” Axal slowly nodded as he frowned deeply in confusion at her, not knowing where she was going to go with such a line of questioning.

“Then I need your help to find him a wife as soon as possible.” Yalin insisted.

“Uh, I don’t..quite..” Axal frowned deeper.

“Axal, I will be perfectly frank and honest with you, Gregori has long had his eye on your sister Audra for Ramsey ever since Ramsey said that she was the only one for him at her wedding to Count Edward Morrigan of all places.” Yalin began. “And it is clear that Audra has no interest in him and I have already given Audra my word to protect her from a marriage of convenience but little love and I fully intend to keep my word, but before Gregori has a chance to pressure her into a match she will find no joy or happiness in, I need to find another for Ramsey. Do you know of anyone, anywhere, in any court who could both be a lady of good wealth, breeding and most of all availability?” Yalin pressed him as Axal simply blinked in surprise at her as realization seemed to dawn on him.

“I must be clear, I have no issue with you having affection or attachment or romantic entanglements with Ramsey. And Audra seems happy for your happiness. And I know she must love you. And I know she would rather much leave Ramsey’s heart to your care than her own. But Gregori has his mind made up and I need someone who will satisfy Gregori’s need for an heir from Ramsey, so that leaves your sister free to pursue a union with another who can give her the love and care she deserves without the expectation of an heir because such endeavors would endanger her life, but...you see what bind we are in.” Yalin expressed.

“Yes, I’m aware. That’s why I have already reached out to Lady Octavia Lafronze, she’s only 27, she can still bear a child or a few even, she has a companion who can pose as my own wife if we need to keep a ruse going for the public. She will be here only the day before the Komoba battle. She’s on her way already. Audra knows of my attachment to Ramsey and until Octavia can get here, she has agreed to “play along” until then and even Ramsey has agreed to switch his “interest” when she does arrive. And Lady Octavia will fill our need. We just need to be patient.” Axal revealed.

“Oh thank the heavens.” Yalin breathed in relief as she leaned against a nearby table and clutched her middle.

“Ok, so here is the other thing. Audra’s case against the Morrigans, I don’t know if it would be best to go forward. I fear it may be more troublesome than it’s worth and whatever justice that Audra has already gotten, I fear that is all she may ever receive.” Yalin hinted.

“Audra prizes her peace. She may not want to revisit the past and rehash and open up old wounds. I will feel her out on this.” Axal reassured her.

“Thank you.” Yalin nodded as she blew out another breath of relief before Yalin gave him a reassuring squeeze to his hand before she hastily made it out of the room and quickly went down to breakfast before an attendant came and handed Axal a note, instructions to him written by his grandmother as Axal nodded and quickly asked for directions to where he had just been instructed to meet with the rest of his family before he went back into his room to get redressed in the approrpriate attire.

By the time Yalin got down to breakfast, hardly anyone was there.

“Where is everyone?” Yalin asked as it seemed that only the Voyambi’s and the Raymonds were at breakfast before Jane came into breakfast and sat down next to Charlotte.

“Jane dear, do you know where Audra and her family are this morning?” Yalin inquired.

“Yes, Audra’s grandmother got her up quite early this morning and they asked for breakfast to be brought to the gardens, they are all preparing for the kamoba battle. Apparently they all plan on participating.” Jane answered.

“Ah, that...that does explain it.” Yalin realized as she sat down as she noticed all the Voyambi youngsters seem to eagerly inhale their food before excusing themselves from the table, Ramsey and Charlotte included, leaving just Jane with the Duke and Duchess Voyambi and Gregori and Yalin.

“Do you not wish to see the training yourself?” Duchess Voyambi asked her curiously once Jane was invited to sit closer to them towards the head of the table.

“No, for the last two years I have watched Audra continue her training in private, although my parents forbade her from actually wielding any weapons, she was able to practice with sticks in the gardens and practice the drills in her room after waking up and before going to bed. Mouras take physical fitness to an extreme, even the women are trained like soldiers.” Jane explained.

“Like the orcish shield maidens of old.” Duchess Voyambi noted to her husband with a grin which he soon mirrored.

"And warchieftesses too." Duke Voyambi grinned.

“It is quite the spectacle. I remember watching my Dearest train for hours before the battle, even the exercises are quite intense.” Gregori noted with a sweet adoring smile to his wife that she did her best to return but Gregori could see something in her eyes and that her smile did not reach them as he gave her a curious look before she quickly looked away and blushed just a little under his scrutiny.

“Well it’s been ages since I even tried the exercises, I think it would do me good just to try to see how much I still remember.” Yalin said as she excused herself from the table after eating only a few bites, to get redressed into the more appropriate attire as Gregori got up and followed his wife before Jane excused herself from the table as well, leaving the Duke and Duchess Voyambi to sit in bewilderment.

“What is troubling you Dearest?” Gregori asked as he helped loosen the ties of her corset and untie her dress from her body.

“You are.” Yalin confessed.

“How do I trouble you?” Gregori asked before Yalin turned around and faced him.

“Audra drank a gallon of mourkatili. A gallon of it Gregori. With such a dosage, it is a miracle she is even alive. She is tainted and poisoned beyond repair. She can not bear Ramsey heirs and Ramsey needs a legitimate heir and woman of good breeding and nobility to give it to him. Likewise, Audra deserves a mate who can be loyal and faithful to her and I know her well enough that she will not put up with disloyalty in her marriage mate. She deserves faithfulness and devotion in all things. She has suffered more than enough as it is and before the ball at Havenfield, she came to me at the Gold Finch and asked me to guide her to a match who would treat her with kindness, respect, reverence, loyalty, devotion and faithfulness.” Yalin insisted.

“Do you think Ramsey incapable of giving such things to her?” Gregori posed.

“Yes, because he is already giving those things to her brother, which Audra is actually happy about. It would make her miserable to know that Ramsey would have to choose between Axal and herself and she would much rather have Axal be with Ramsey privately. But publicly, she can not be expected to act the perfect wife in public but in secret to know that she would share her husband with her brother of all people. And separating Axal from Ramsey would hurt all three of them. You and Ramsey both need to give up on the idea of Audra being Ramsey’s future wife and we need to consider other possibilities and I gave Audra my word that I would guard her against a marriage such as that and I have every intention of keeping my word. She is not the same woman who her master makes her out to be. She has suffered and changed too much at the hands of the Morrigans and she can not produce heirs. She is of no use to us, she is a dear girl but she is a lost cause.” Yalin maintained, choosing her words carefully.

“Oh I disagree, I think this palace is the perfect place for her and she’s plenty useful still, I think she’s finding her stride here and just because she can’t have heirs, doesn’t mean she can’t mother Ramsey’s illegitimate heirs to adopt them and make them legitimate and Axal is free to stay and keep Ramsey company as long as Audra plays her part publicly. She can have whatever affairs she wishes to have, because such seed taking root is obviously null and void.” Gregori readily shook his head no in friendly disagreement.

“How?! How in the world, is she still of use to us?” Yalin demanded.

“Dear, did you not get enough sleep last night? You aren’t thinking this through or not seeing this clearly then. We can use her treatment from the Morrigan’s hand to win over all of their fortune to her in court. You read the letter from the Mage, we have more than enough proof to string them up in the town square. She’s still an heiress of a great fortune and breeding.” Gregori insisted.

“But what of Jane? Of young Count Edward the third Morrigan? Jane is only a teenager and the young count is still a child. What would become of them?” Yalin asked.

“Audra has a good heart, she has affection for Jane, she will make sure Jane is taken care of and of course Jane, by Audra’s insistence is innocent. Besides Audra’s brother seems to like her enough. I’m sure he could always play the hero and take her and her little brat of a brother with him back to Dorierra to live happily ever after and save her from her monstrous parents and the Morrigans can be made an example of. Think of all the gossip papers you will sell telling everyone all about it.” Gregori incited.

“But what if Audra does not want that? Doesn’t want to be in our family? We can not force her to marry Ramsey just because you want her wealth and the court may not do as you say, we can’t afford to buy off every judge and juror to win it in Audra’s favor and the Morrigans have enough wealth to appeal it to the highest of courts where such measures are forbidden.” Yalin pressed anxiously.

“Oh once she sees all the benefits of being in the second most powerful family in England, no woman can resist. A life of lavish luxury with only having to smile and wave and play the tiniest of parts to enjoy it. The komoba battle will reawaken every moura instinct she has, she will see reason and see that our family is the only family she needs or should want to be a part of.” Gregori insisted as he kissed his wife’s knuckles sweetly before he called for her attendants to help her get dressed as she stood there in only her shift, her clothes long since fallen off to the floor.

“I’ll see you down in the gardens Dearest. Don’t worry about a thing, I have it all under control.” Gregori reassured his wife sweetly as Yalin just stared in thinly veiled horror at his back. She knew her husband well, he was not going to be easily swayed and she feared of what other measures he had already taken in the endeavour.

Gregori left and immediately went down to see you in particular as Demsey and his own brothers had gotten changed into appropriate fencing attire so that they could participate as well since Demsey and his siblings, his brothers especially had done nothing but gawk at you and the other mouras in small, very form fitting white work out clothes and bits of white leather armour in places in the outfit.

Demsey had thought he had walked into a fevered dream, watching you wield a sword and a small shield like a true shield maiden and every orc instinct had been screaming at him that at last, he had found a true warchieftess and he needed to show off to you his own fighting ability, as limited as it was compared to the other fighting styles you were clearly displaying. Being in high society, he was used to fencing and shooting, but that was the extent of it. Some of the common orcs still held brawling battles with the weapons of wars of old, like battle axes and broadswords and the like in the clan halls, but such things were seen as unseemly to the orcs in higher society and seen as barbaric and Demsey and his family as well as the other orcs in high society had made efforts to distance themselves from the “common” orcs in such things in order to be accepted by the rest of the gentry.

But now- seeing the style of which mouras fought- the style similarities were clear and perfectly natural. However the manner of the komoba fighting was much more aggressive and meant for a battlefield, meant to actually slay and kill your opponent, with the match only ending when it was clear that the opponent would be one pass from a weapon away from decapitating or dismembering the opponent with blows that would kill the other in quick succession. It was both beautiful in it’s violence, devastating in efficiency but yet had a dramatic flair that was impossible to resist being drawn in to see how each match would play out, where fencing played out on a thin strip of space, this was set in an octagon shape. The spaces lined out with paint in the grass itself.

One had to have a keen eye and lightning fast reflexes to strike and counter strike and the weapons, although these were made of wood or very dull metals, they were dipped in paint to show all the blows and strikes and “kills” that shown up on the white leather armour of the participants with barrels of water and cloths to wipe away the paint after each match with buckets and buckets of paint for the weapons to be painted in- in every color of the rainbow and then some.

Your paint color of choice was a brilliant turquoise and Demsey had watched with eager anticipation how when sparring with your grandmother- whose color was a brilliant copper orange- how your grandmother who was clearly the master and teacher of the group, all others taking instruction from her.

At first she had simply gone over the drills with you, all of you sitting in grid pattern, doing the exercises and drills with your grandmother staying close to you, using surprising gentleness in her critique, offering just as much praise as she did censure about your form of the various stretching poses and fighting poses as she was the first to spar with you, seeing how much you had remembered and how much your body remembered and how much you had lost over the last two years of neglecting the practice.

At one point she had blindfolded you and had short staff and a longer one in each hand and walked around you and occasionally would gently tap at your body to signify attacks, some of them light, some of them more forceful, to see how you reacted, evaded and counterattacked, leaning on your other senses besides sight to do so and Demsey had never seen anything more captivating and it made him ache and yearn to be a part of it, thus, the fencing attire, he and his brothers now sported.

Not even boxing fighters in a ring had so much contact with their opponents as this style of fighting did. Sometimes the key was to keep the enemy at a distance, other times it was to get as close as physically possible to deliver the devastating blow, sometimes it even involved grappling and pinning the other to the ground first. It struck Demsey to see the methods and philosophy behind each move and style of fighting and how it seemed to encompass everything and style and way of thinking and how there was clearly an array and a scale to it. Some of the styles were very simple, others- much more complicated but when blended made something awe inspiring.

Gregori had watched the match with your grandmother until she noticed that Gregori seemed to be waiting to speak with you and ended the session for the moment so that you could speak with him in private.

“Yes?” You asked Gregori as he pulled you aside and took your arm into the crook of his elbow after you had wiped off all the copper paint from your body so that none would get on Gregori or his clothes.

“How are you liking things here at the palace?” Gregori asked.

“It’s a palace, everything is exquisite.” You answered pleasantly, already on guard as you could tell Gregori was about to try his best to sell his son to you as a husband.

“Has everything been to your liking so far?” Gregori asked.

“Yes,” you nodded as you smiled politely.

“Could I speak candidly with you?” He asked politely.

“Please do, I thoroughly enjoy honest and candid conversation.” You encouraged him.

“I understand that from partaking in mourkatili, even with as high of a dose as you have been forced to partake in, that your reproductive abilities are hindered.” He began.

“That...is true.” You nodded, even though in truth you had tried to take pains to use eastern medicine to recapture it. But you could not be sure of your results.

“I want you to know that if you and Ramsey were to ever enter into a romantic attachment that you should know that we would never, ever, expect you to mother heirs. Your life is worth more than any hiers you would risk your life trying to bear.” Gregori assured you.

“...ok.” You blinked in surprise as you frowned in confusion, which was utterly adorable.

“You see Ramsey has had several lovers and already has many illegitimate heirs and if you were to ever marry, you could always save those illegitimate heirs and make them legitimate by adopting them. It would bring them out of poverty and give them the lives they rightly deserve but yet, Yalin and I, our hands are tied so to speak to do any better for them than we already have.” Gregori explained.

“And I understand that your brother and Ramsey have already become attached and it would only be right that he should remain by your side, to live out his days to make sure that you never again suffer and both of you could live perfectly comfortably and happily here with us.” Gregori offered.

“But such a life...it would not be honest,” you began to softly and gently counter.

“But it would be fair. So far the investigation with the Morrigans have found solid evidence and proof of their attempts to murder you. The courts will surely award all that they have to you for recompense. We have the power to make that happen. We can elevate you to that of Dauphine in English society and as a Dowager among the stables. We can get you justice and revenge for what you’ve suffered. We had a mage help with the investigation. He found your scene catcher spell, with the password, we can have all we need on Agnes and Richard.” Gregori revealed as you blinked in surprise as fear seemed to bloom in your chest. If they had already broken the password, you could be finished.

“But Jane and I corrupted some of the feed. The moment of Edward’s death, he was in the act of…” Your voice broke as even now tears came to your eyes at the horror and violence of the moment came flooding back to your mind. “He was in the act...of raping me and he had….he had a heart attack and died. It was so horrific. I had Jane help me strike it from the record. So just by that alone, it’s corrupted and it’s been tampered with. It won’t hold up in court.” You confessed lowly as your big gold eyes welled with tears.

“Just that admittance alone is enough to justify why that isn’t in the record, the judge will allow it and allow the rest of it to stand on its own and it will be taken as gospel and if there is anything else that you would like to keep from it to preserve your own integrity and dignity. That will be allowed as well. You are a lady after all. Not everyone needs to see every little thing, this investigation is to expose the Morrigans, not you.” Gregori reassured you.

“But what about Jane and little Eddie?” You asked.

“It is clear that you wish to protect them, that is truly amiable despite their parent’s treatment of you. I believe your brother Ocearian can save Jane from the shame of what her parents have done. She is, as you say, innocent. Ocearian I’m sure will happily take Jane home to Dorierra and with her- little Edward.”

“What if I want Jane to have her fair share of her family’s wealth? I don’t want to leave her or her brother with nothing and no choice but to flee to Dorierra. What if they wish to stay here in England. Could I at least leave Broadcove to Jane and Edward?” You asked.

“If that is your wish. Of course, it will be all available to you do as you wish with it.” Gregori agreed.

“Do you need my answer now, or can I think it over?” You asked him.

“Think on it as long as you need to, no rash decisions need to be made today.” Gregori reassured you gently which you greatly appreciated.

“Then do you have a piece of paper?” You asked him before he produced a small notebook and a small pencil.

“This is the password to most of it, it should give everyone all they need for the court case.” You said.

“Excellent, I shall get my best men on this, you will get justice and your just rewards for your pain and suffering, I swear and promise you.” Gregori grinned victoriously as he kissed your temple the same way his own daughter before he left again and you returned to the others.

“What was that about?” Axal asked you.

“Gregori asked for one of the keys to my ace. I gave a small one to him.” You hinted as you dabbed at your eyes as you steeled yourself for what was to come, both in the battle and in the court case afterwards.

“So you’re going through with the court case? What about your precious peace?” Axal asked.

“I’ve had a year of it. After this court case, I’ll have a lifetime of it.” You said as you got your wooden weapons redipped in your preferred paint.

“But what was his price for it?” Axal asked.

“That IF Ramsey and I were to ever get married, that I would consider adopting his illegitimate heirs and share Ramsey with you, whereas you would get to live with me and “protect” me from further abuse here. I didn’t give an answer one way or another and all I told him was that I would carefully consider it.” You reassured him before you got into sparring positions with Axal.

“And when Octavia comes, I’m sure she’ll happily comply with those terms as well.” You offered as you blocked his attack and counter attacked with ease. “Just make sure Ramsey knows to put on a good show of being captivated by her and wanting her and only her when she does come so I can get off clean.” You insisted as you dipped and dodged his attack and struck a gut blow with your shorter “dagger” on his middle.

“I will.” Axal reassured you.

“And what will you do with your hundreds of thousands of pounds?” Axal asked.

“Share them with Jane so that she is taken care of as well, hell I’ll even give Octavia a share of it, if it means I don’t have to marry Ramsey and you for that matter so that you can care for Octavia’s lover as your own wife.” You readily offered.

“Because I’m sure Yalin and Gregori only wish to see Ramsey happy, and once they see that I can not make him so and that you and Octavia can in all respects, then that can settle the matter.” You insisted.

“But what about Duke Demsey, won’t he need an heir?” Axal questioned as he used his shoulder to knock you away and off balance before you regained it.

“He does, that is what gives me pause. I do not think his affection for me may outweigh his own obligations and duty to his family. But we are still only friends. He may not wish for anything more from me. There may be another he has his eye on anyway, I will just have to wait and see. For all I know, I’m offending him even now. Proper English ladies do not participate in hunting or fencing or anything like that. It’s unladylike. So the fact that I know swordsmanship may be turning him off of me as we speak, look, even his own sisters sit by the side and only watch and do not participate themselves.” You mused as Axal and yourself finished your own sparring to rest and take a breath of air as you sat in the shade of a nearby tree and watched the others spar as you sat side by side.

“He’s an orc, his orcish heritage means shieldmaidens and warchieftesses are coveted. If anything I think you’re turning him onto you now more than any other. You were too focused on sparring with Grandma to notice how he was practically drooling and because of that, he was the first to insist that he dress in fencing attire to properly take part in all of this. He’s a decent swordsman, but that is all he is. He has no other skills, at least any that I can see.” Axal mused as he watched Demsey and Sierge fence each other in the very English style.

“In this society, he doesn’t need any other skills besides those, and even though they have that past, clearly they don’t embrace it in the present.” You shrugged as you again nodded over to where Amara, Kiera and little Callie watched on.

“Do you like English society?” Axal asked.

“It has its quirks and moments, rules of etiquette are extensive and date back to the medieval period for most of it and they like to pride themselves for having “polite, civilized and polished society”. But with industrialization, their business practices can be barbaric and ruthless, some men make or lose their fortunes in weeks or months, bask in the sunlight one moment or be shattered on the rocks the next with the tides. There are terms like “old money” and “new money”. The Morrigans have the old noble heritage even though most of their wealth has been amassed fairly recently, just in the last two generations. But the Morrigans are considered “old money” and the Voyambi’s are considered “new money” only because they’ve had their noble title and wealth within the last three generations. Their classed society makes movement restricted and women are property of their fathers then their husbands and I’ve seen women in this society choose peace over their dignity because while they are expected to be at home and run the home, their husbands are expected to bring income yet can splurge most of that income into gambling or whores or misstresses of plenty, even Richard has several whores, his favorite lives in Broadcove and his little bastards are being trained as stable boys and game keepers or gardeners, he keeps her to her appartment of rooms like a parrot to it's cage and his illegitamate daughters are being brought up to be ladies maids in the house in fact my first paid companion was his eldest illegetimate daughter came with me to Mirador as my own maid because I felt sorry for the way Agnes always treated her, in fact most of Richard's bastards followed me to Mirador because I treated them like people. Who had no power over who their father was. It is wholly barbaric in of itself. But because that is the norm, it makes competition to find a gentlemen in both name, status and breeding important, but of character- with how polite society and it’s customs dictate, it’s a gamble and true happiness in marriage is a chance. Not a given,. And what a man may be like in public may not be the same kind of man in private. Yalin and Gregori seem to be the exception, not the rule.” You admitted as Axal blinked in surprise at your revelation.

“Do you think you’d be happy with Demsey though?” Axal pressed.

“I honestly don’t know, we get along and we are friends and we have moments where possibilities threaten to ignite but something keeps it from actually doing so. I tried feeling him out last night to see if he would be open to anything and he...he was withdrawn and wouldn’t...he would not make himself available in spirit, he was...he was closed off to me, even with drink in hand, I could feel it in his energy, he was missing someone. He really had to push himself to stay with me mentally- in the moment. Which makes me think that there might be someone else that has caught his mind and heart, who is not Kate Whitesale, or me. But someone else, someone in the past. Maybe one of his workers, maybe one of his secretaries, maybe his favorite maid at Whydah. But polite society means I can not ask him about any of it or even his sisters who would be offended at me implying anything by asking while being none the wiser and completely unaware of their brother’s private lives and are purposefully kept in the dark about almost all of it." You sighed in defeat as Axal just stared in bittersweet fondness at you.

"And who am I to demand answers to such questions from him? He has made no declaration of intent towards me other than friendship. He has only stated that he wishes to be my friend. That is all he has said. And that is all his actions have said as well, at least so far. And I have no choice but to take him at his word. But the longer Demsey and his brothers participate but his sisters do not, makes me think that the same applies even in their family, even with them being orcs, notorious the world over for their proficiency and fierceness in battle even evenly among the sexes, which again leads to be believe that I offend him in the knowledge that I can fend for myself physically.” You confessed lowly to Axal before Demsey approached.

“You fence well Demsey.” You praised as you noticed he was drenched in sweat already and smelled wholly delicious as the very inappropriate thought of licking some of that sweat off of him popped into your head before you tried to swish it away mentally as you damned your own body for it's natural physical reaction to him.

“Thank you, I didn’t know if you had noticed, I know my skill can hardly compete with your own.” He praised which surprised you.

“Well you could always spar with her. See for yourself.” Axal suggested as you turned and looked at Axal incredulously.

“I would be honored.” Demsey readily agreed.

“Are you sure?” You asked Demsey.

“Yes, I’m sure I could learn several, if not dozens or even hundreds of things from you, if you would be willing to teach me.” Demsey insisted as you blinked in surprise as your jaw fell, leaving your mouth just slightly agape, just a little as your mouth ran dry as your brain once again was eager to supply all of the things you’d like to teach him, like making love to you right for starters, before Axal practically pushed you towards Demsey who offered his hand to you to help you up off the ground before you took his hand and let him help you to your feet.

“You would not feel emasculated or embarrassed if I bested you?” You asked. “I do not wish to embarrass you, especially in front of your family or mine.” You whispered to him as you walked with him back to the group.

“Not at all. You are granddaughter to the Great Saharan Viper, and her most prized pupil, how could I possibly be embarrassed to lose to such a champion?” He flattered you as you blushed and smiled bashfully and had the ground had the slightest bit of unevenness, you probably would have tripped and fallen straight onto your face.

“But my skills are rusty, I have not held a sword in two years. I may have forgotten most of it.” You tried to excuse.

“Audra, you will not hurt my pride, do not disparage yourself. I was watching you, you have retained more skill than I think you give yourself credit for. It’s like riding a horse, once you learn, you never fully forget and the style is most intriguing to say the least, so what color should my weapons be dipped in?” He encouraged you as he stood with you in front of the other buckets of bright color paints.

“Whichever strikes your fancy, and whichever you like best.” You shrugged before he chose a wonderful purple color that was a nice contrast to your own turquoise.

“Are you sure you want to try this? The rules of komoba are wholly different from the fencing you are used to. Because all those rules that fencing prides itself on- get thrown out and no longer apply, the object is to strike down your opponent by any means necessary, using everything you have to your own advantage and what can get you disqualified in fencing get you a win in komoba.” You gently warned him.

“I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life, komoba is...everything a proper fighting sport should be, realistic with real battlefield applications, fencing is pointless on a real battlefield.” Demsey reassured you and once again those butterflies started fluttering in your stomach as your heart fluttered delightfully as your smile turned bashful once again and your cheeks flushed beautifully. It seemed Demsey’s own reserve the night before- had seemed to vanish now as a new boldness seemed to take hold of him and you adored it.

“Then why don’t you use the battle axes that orcs are supposed to be so fond of?” You questioned only to see him falter slightly.

“Um, well, I’ve...never had an opportunity or reason to wield one before. My grandfather’s from the war- they along with his armor hang on the wall, and the late king gifted my grandfather a golden enamelled set but they are strictly decorative.” He revealed.

“So...you have no experience with any other weapons besides the swords of the fencing variety?” You asked him.

“Not even broadswords or longswords or…” You asked him in confusion as Demsey’s shoulders sagged in shame as his head dropped a bit as he had to shake his head no.

“No, the commoner orcs still practice such things in the clan halls and of course soldiers do. But since my family and others who are in the gentry, we do not partake in such things and take pains to distance ourselves from such things for fear of others in the gentry to view us as “barbaric” too.” Demsey confessed lowly.

“But do you think such things are barbaric?” You asked worriedly because if Demsey thought komoba was “barbaric” you were going to force yourself to lose interest in him because you were sick of having to divorce yourself from your own moura heritage, you had done it enough with the Morrigans, never again would you do it, you had sworn yourself an oath.

“No. I think it’s part of our history that we should be proud of. In fact I insisted that Whydah have a proper gymnasium to take up the practices again, granted in private because to do so publicly would damage our reputation.” Demsey tried to explain as his cheeks flushed into a deep pine green.

“But komoba is by far the most elevated form of fighting in the world. And it’s a sport I wish I had much more experience with and I wish I could build a proper komoba battle ground at Whydah so that we could take up the sport there too.” Demsey offered, trying his best to not to sound as hypocritical as he felt.

“Well, I’m biased but I feel the same way, that komoba is the best form of fighting however I can understand the need to protect one’s reputation. The Morrigans forbade me from holding any kind of weapon, often instructing the chefs to serve my dinner to me precut so that I would not wield so much as a dinner knife because they thought my komoba training was unladylike and uncouth and would tarnish the Morrigan name and wished to divorce me from it and any other parts of my moura heritage that didn’t fit the more proper “English” lifestyle.” You explained.

“And such measures are an egregious sin, no one should be so divorced from their own heritage, especially when such a heritage is so rich in tradition and color and splendor.” Demsey tried to praise as you just shook your head because clearly Demsey had done the same to himself and his own heritage.

“So, obviously, you clearly resent their efforts in thus.” Demsey realized from your tone since it had sounded pretty resentful to him which gave him hope that he could seperate himself in your mind and make himself as appealing as possible because he wanted to accept you and your heritage with open arms.

“I do. Which is why I’m surprised you asked to spar with me.” You noted.

“Why?” He asked curiously.

“Because while you are eager to learn the komoba style from me, I see that your sisters sit on the side lines, watching with eager eyes and jealousy to watch Benny and Calla and their siblings as well as myself and my own siblings of both genders take part in the komoba training. And it makes me wonder if you or your parents would be taking the same stance with them learning it as well. Orcs are known to have shield maidens and warcheiftesses do they not? Or does your family also wish to distance itself from that history in order to embrace the more proper “English” ways? Especially in it's womenfolk?” You questioned as Demsy looked at you in shock yet realization as he looked from you to his sisters and back to you again as once again, shame and embarrassment began to eat at him.

“Audra, please, please forgive me, I didn’t even think...or consider...any of that. If you will excuse me for just a moment, I need to rectify this, immediately.” Demsey realized as he put his weapons down in the grass and immediately left and went over to his sisters who were sitting under a canopy to protect them from the morning sun.

“What’s wrong? I thought you looked to be just about to get your wish and get a chance to spar with Audra?” Amara asked curiously.

“I was...until she brought it to my attention of how unfair it is that Sierge, Tzane and I are trying to partake and participate but that you and Kiera and Callie are being excluded and it isn’t right. You all should feel just as welcome and just as included to participate in this as we are.” Demsey insisted to his eldest sister.

“Thank you! Finally!” Kiera exclaimed exasperated before she got up and went over to Benny and asked if Benny had an extra set of komoba clothes as Amara smiled happily and did the same with Calla as Callie bravely went up to you as you readily agreed to let her borrow your own spares as all of you re-entered the castle to get redressed just as the Duke and Duchess Voyambi left the palace to join everyone in the gardens as Yalin also emerged wearing her own day komoba battle clothes from her youth, although she did have to be squeezed and cinched into them because her body had changed a fair bit since her youth.

“So where are you ladies off to?” Yalin asked.

“Oh the Voyambi ladies wish to also try to learn komoba with us, we were going to be lending them our spare day clothes for it.” You readily offered as the Duke and Duchess were surprisingly pleasant with the news.

“Oh of course. With such masters of the sport here, it would be a shame to not take advantage of such an opportunity.” Duke Voyambi reassured his daughters who practically squealed in delight.

“Thank you Papa,” they thanked their father with a kiss to his cheek before you all eagerly went back to your room to change.

“Thank you for saying something to Demsey.” Kiera thanked you as you finished with Callie’s suit and then turned your attention to Amara.

“You’re welcome. Whenever I see injustice and unfairness, if I can equalize it, I like to try.” You answered her.

“Women in English society are restricted enough just in the wearing of our corsets and being “polite” in society, especially on the train to gentlemen who feel entitled to converse with you and invade your space. No need for much more than that is there?” You giggled as you laced up the covers over Amara’s forearms.

“No truer words have ever been spoken. That’s why we never go anywhere without our brothers for that very reason.” Amara confessed.

“So in Dorierra, how young are you when you first learn komoba?” Callie asked.

“Three. As soon as we learn to walk and don’t fall over just trying to walk from one end of the house to the other as young toddlers do.” You answered her.

“Three?! That’s when orcs of old used to learn to fight too!” Callie offered.

“Speaking of, have any of you ever learned any of the old ways?” You asked them as Kiera, Amara and Callie all shook their heads no.

“No, once grandfather got the Duchy, he forbade our father from ever learning any of the old ways. Because the gentry turned their noses up at us and the other orcs, trolls and the like who had gotten into the nobility at the same time were our only society. But at the same time, the common orcs who fought side by side with him in the war, would not socialize with us either, thinking that because we had the duchy, that we were too good for the likes of them. And they wouldn’t even let us go to the clan halls, thinking that we would take them over with just our nobility instead of honoring the old ways of tradition. They would allow father and grandfather into the fencing houses but as soon as they would enter, the other patrons would quickly leave. It wasn’t until Demsey and Sierge were born and were brought to the fencing places that others found that they had no skills whatsoever, and would lose almost every match that they accepted Demsey and Sierge and then Tzane until they got to be proficient. But the moment any of them use their full strength, they get disqualified for “overpowering” their opponents. It pushes them to walk almost impossibly fine lines and it’s only when Demsey championed for the unions that we got welcomed back into the clan halls again, but only for meetings to discuss clan affairs, never for the fighting or anything like that.” Amara explained.

“Oooh, that, that explains it then. I know what that is like. The Morrigans forbade me from even wielding a dinner knife, much less any other kind of weapon. Because they didn’t want any parts of my moura heritage to tarnish their Morrigan name and proper English sensibilities. And I know what it’s like to divorce yoruself from your own heritage to survive. So your family has my sympathy and empathy in this matter.” You offered before you left the room.

“Yeah, that’s probably why I’ll never settle on English soil then.” Benny confessed to you and Calla as you left the room and locked the door behind you.

“Oh poor Sierge, he’ll be so heartbroken to hear that.” You cooed to her sarcastically which got her to snort a laugh.

“When I had said something to Sierge about how it wasn’t fair for him to participate but his sisters were simply watching, he insisted that proper English ladies never should be allowed to participate, and no lady worth her honor in English society would even want to because it should serve as a distinction between the sexes’.” Benny confessed which made you and Calla gasp.

“But yet one word from you and Demsey had the opposite reaction.” Calla realized.

“What I’m curious about is, how you responded to Sierge’s comment.” You put to Benny since the Voyambi sisters had practically jogged down the hallway to get to the courtyard as quickly as possible.

“He couldn’t say much around the mouthful of golden yellow paint I put in his mouth with the short dagger stick before I put him into the ground so hard all the air got knocked out of his lungs, I think he’s probably still throwing up from having swallowed so much paint.” Benny proudly beamed which got you and Calla to bust up laughing.

“Put him in his place, I like it.” You offered with a mischievous smile.

“If he thought that way about proper English ladies, what did he think of us then?” Calla asked Benny.

“Oh he thought we were the exception because we were moura and would continue to be the exception because of it.” Benny answered.

“Double standards at it best I suppose.” Calla sighed tiredly.

“Well then let’s not waste this opportunity to show off how truly amazing mouras can be.” You insisted.

Meanwhile Bellfast, the Mage came to the Palace of Windsor to see Gregori personally, as he watched from a safe distance to see you and the other moura’s leave the palace for the gardens.

“Ah, Bellfast, my good fellow, Lady Audravienne has given me the password to the scene catchers.” Gregori happily said as he showed Bellfast the password.

“Yes, I already have divined it and the second and the third.” Bellfast reported with a meaningful look to Gregori before Gregori quickly led the way to a private office.

“And?” Gregori prompted.

“You need to see this.” Bellfast insisted as Gregori had ushered Ballfast into a private office as Bellfast cast the moment of Edward’s death onto a small mirror in the office as Gregori watched on intently. Frowning in disgust at the scene before a loud crash boomed through the room and Gregori gasped as his eyes went wide as he covered his mouth with his own hand and watched as the scene unfolded before Gregori’s own servants knocked on the door to make sure he was alight and safe which Gregori quickly reassured them and ordered them to leave immediately and to not say a word of the sound to anyone or they would be whipped and then dismissed immediately.

“Who else has seen this?” Gregori demanded of Bellfast.

“Only you, myself, Audravienne- because she lived through it, and Miss Jane Morrigan who came up with the third password to help Audravienne destroy it. It was completely struck from all the records so that even the sound of the crash was gone, the Morrigans were out to dinner and little Edward was asleep, but even the other servants heard it down into the basements. But Jane bribed them to keep quiet about it and old Edward’s doctor simply said he died of a heart attack and the bed was quickly set to be burned and was ash by the time the Morrigans got home. I can recreate the bed if need be.” Bellfast offered.

“No need right now. Do not let on that you know of any of this. I have my own uses for this. For now, only use the first password that Lady Audravienne has provided and compile all you can in a case against the Morrigans for time’s sake and make the second and the third passwords appear invisible and all that they contain inaccessable for now and do not use anything that is protected behind those other two. String everything else together in such a way that the poisoning of Edward is hung on the Count and Countess Morrigan so that they could fully inherit the estate sooner but make it so that it looks like they are framing Audra for it, which they clearly feel she did, and obviously their poisoning of Audra and all abuses to her by them and by the old Edward, I want any judge and jury to find Audra as innocent as the white dove she is and will continue to be and appear so, but also, if Lady Audravienne will not cooperate further, do your best to hang the Wolf Eye on her and obviously the murder.” Gregori instructed.

“That won’t be difficult to do. Also I have recreated all of Lady Audravienne’s mail and all four postmen are currently in prison and their confessions are on the record, as are all the servants who were involved in Lady Audravienne’s poisoning. But all the others who were involved with covering up Edward’s true cause of death are still free and Lady Audravienne's servants at Mirador that followed her from Broadcove are most intriguing." Bellfast said as he handed the latest report to Gregori who took it and read it over, almost giggling in his chuckle as he read it over.

"The Morrigans are of course panicked but claim they have the proof of the Wolf Eye coming from Audra, which other than coercing their own remaining servants to say so, the scene catchers clearly contradict which means we can pin insanity onto them and Dr. Rickets is simply awaiting instruction and of course is eager to say either way in order to keep his liscence to continue to practice his medicine, he claims he did something to the mourkatili to make it less lethal and less damaging to Lady Audravienne's person, claiming to the Morrigans that such measures were to "intensify" it's effect but in all actuallity it was only to protect your interests and claims that he can cure Lady Audravienne so that she can bear heirs without any ill effects and reverse the mourkatili, even at such a dose as was given to her.” Bellfast offered.

“Excellent.” Gregori beamed proudly. “How much is owed to you for such services?” Gregori asked as he went into his own box of funds in the room.

“Oh, for now my bill is with the Morrigans, but I will still happily take my agreed payment from you, however when Lady Audravienne wins her case, I’ll ask for a tip from her in her preference.” Bellfast began to chuckle darkly which Gregori soon mirrored as Gregori handed over a thousand pounds in a stack of bills.

“Yes, she will. I can’t wait to see what she is truly capable of. For now though she is hesitant and weary, let us win her trust and confidence first and only if she becomes uncooperative, then we can use this as leverage, but otherwise she has been a dream to work with and responds best with a gentle guiding hand and kindness, which considering the abuse- is no wonder to anyone. Yes, tender loving care will be all that is needed to pacify her and keep her happy and content. After the komoba battle, every moura instinct in her will be truly awakened and she will come to all of her senses that the Morrigans tried to dull. Oh and if I may request one more favor, just incase Dr. Rickets can not provide what he has offered, find the best mourkatili antidote you can with the added benefit that Lady Audravienne’s womb will be restored to her and her full health that she enjoyed when she left from Dorierra, just in case Dr. Rickets is not to be trusted.” Gregori requested before Bellfast simply took a very fancy glass bottle, wrapped in silk cloth to keep it safe, out of his coat pocket and unwrapped it before he put it on the desk in front of Gregori with a smug grin before handing over the silk itself.

“Only have her drink it after the court case, for now the mourkatili will still show up in her hair under blacklight, since it will purple, if it is still strong within her, it will also show up in her eyes under black light as well.” Bellfast instructed.

“Excellent.” Gregori beamed before he took it and rewrapped it and put it into his own pocket.

“Good work Bellfast, as always, you are the best Mage in all of Europa and I’m so happy that you answered my invitation.” Gregori praised him.

“Thank you for the invitation in the first place. I will happily use these funds to further my own research.” Bellfast grinned as he took his payment and tucked it away into the pocket the antidote had previously been put into before Gregori saw his guest out before he called his servants over.

"Do not let the Dauphine or anyone else know that the Mage Bellfast was here today, this report was sent by a messenger and there was no sound of a crash in the study, was there?" Gregori practically snarled at his servants who nodded yes as their knees had to be locked to keep from knocking together in fear.

"Yes your Grace." They answered obediantly before Gregori smiled victoriously and straightened up and returned to the gardens where your grandmother was now teaching all the Voyambi's, the Duke and Duchess included the basics of Komoba along with Yalin who he took aside and slipped the report into her hands.

"Just delivered just now from the Mage from a messenger." Gregori told his wife as she read it as her eyes got as large as saucers.

"Oh my, this is the scandal of the century." Yalin had to admit.

"And I can't wait to read all about it in the gossip collumns when the matter is brought up in court." Gregori incited with a scheming smile to his wife that she was powerless to resist from mirroring.

"Yes it will." She agreed before she got back into the grid to finish her own refresher course in kamoba.

[seyaryminamoto]

Matching Heartbeats: Sokkla Saturdays 2020

Day 3: Arranged marriage - Touch

On FF.net//On AO3

Dimly lit streets in the dark of the night made for a strange place to meet someone for the first time. Thus, when a young man had appeared suddenly at the carriage stop, the lone young woman waiting there shot him a warning glare immediately: if he dared make a single move out of place, she'd make short work of him immediately.

Yet he appeared to be as anxious as she felt – though she was better at concealing it than he could ever be. He glanced about himself warily before sitting at a fair distance from her, swallowing hard before glancing in her direction. In the cover of darkness, it was hard to make out his finer features, but she had the distinct feeling his skin was darker than hers.

"Hey, uh… this is the carriage stop, right?" he asked, warily. She frowned but nodded slowly. "Oh. Good, then. Uh… do you happen to know how long it takes for a new one to arrive? I mean, just how long do we have to wait here for…?"

"No clue," she said, bluntly. She wasn't interested in holding a conversation… and truthfully, no one had ever heard of common transportation of any sort working on a reliable schedule, to begin with. Odd that this guy seemed to not know that…

"Great," he sighed, but he fell silent then. He made no suspicious moves, said nothing worrisome after that, and so, despite her better judgment, she relaxed a little. Perhaps he truly meant no harm.

Ten minutes of silence later, a slow carriage wheeled into the stop at last. He sighed in relief but then smiled at her, politely.

"Hope you have a nice trip," he said. She raised an eyebrow but nodded in acknowledgement as she stood up…

And just as the carriage's moose lions halted outright, the driver called out:

"Final carriage of the day!"

"E-eh…? Oh, no," she heard the young man say behind her, just as she reached for the carriage's door.

She expected a fight, a forceful demand to be allowed to ride with her… but neither thing arrived. Instead, the young man rose to his feet, casting uncertain glances about himself, as though wondering what other getaway vehicle he might be lucky enough to find at night, if he tried hard enough. She frowned.

"You… you look like you're running," she said, suddenly. He froze in place.

"I'm… not. There's nothing to run from," he blurted out, unable to mask his nervousness. Her analytical frown was trained on his scared visage.

"No?" she said. "So… if I, say, decided to be generous and offered to share the ride with you, you wouldn't accept it because you have nothing to run from?"

"Oh? Y-you'd do that?" he asked, and now his nervousness was accompanied by hopefulness. "Gee, that's… that'd be great. Thanks!"

"I didn't say I was offering it yet," she said, with a teasing smirk. The young man froze in place, blinking blankly.

"You… okay, so you're just messing with me?" he asked, grimacing now.

"I'm still weighing whether you're worth traveling with, for however short a time it might be," she said, raising her eyebrows. He grimaced.

"Well, I'm sure I will be a most forgettable traveling buddy, I promise you won't even remember I'm on the same carriage as you," he said, nodding pompously. "So… please? I do have to get away, you weren't wrong about that…"

"Honesty is a good policy. I wouldn't say the best one, but it's good to know at least one thing about you before letting you share my carriage," she smirked.

"Oi, you two! Are you climbing aboard or not?" asked the driver, glancing back at them with unrestrained irritation.

The young woman sighed and glanced at the stranger before gesturing at the vehicle with her head. He grinned brightly at her… and for a fleeting, strange instant, she couldn't help but think no one had ever smiled at her with such innocence before. Whatever doubts lingered on her mind, that was already one new experience… one thing she might have never had, if not for the freedom she was currently fighting for.

She hoped the softening of her eyes wasn't apparent in the darkness of the night, however. She climbed aboard the carriage and the young man followed, closing the door behind himself. They settled on the same side of the carriage, despite still retaining some distance from each other.

"Where to, then?" the carriage driver asked.

"The bay," she said, not expecting that her companion would speak at the same time as she had:

"The port."

They glanced at each other in astonishment by then, and the carriage driver snorted over the strange coincidence before spurring his moose lions to start their regular trotting.

"You're… heading to the port too?" he asked, dubiously. "Or just to the bay area in general? Weird coincidence, huh? For the two of us to head the same way…"

"You really are running from something, aren't you?" she said. He bit his lip before shooting a wary glance at her.

"And that doesn't seem to bother you in the least. Which makes me wonder if you're running from something too," he said. She blinked blankly before nodding in acknowledgement.

"I guess you can think for yourself just fine, huh?" she said. "Though I'd surmise it's easier to run away when you know the land you're running around like the back of your hand… whereas you, I suspect, have no idea where you are or how anything works. Thus… you're not from around here, are you? You're a foreigner?"

"Uh… sure. And you are from around here," he replied, biting his lip. "Which makes me wonder why you want to run away…"

"Like no one has ever tried to escape from home in the history of mankind," she replied, rolling her eyes, and he chuckled.

"Fair enough," he said. "I guess it sounds pretty stupid to run away when you have no idea where you're going… well, no serious idea, anyway. I've been in the Fire Nation before, don't get me wrong, but not in the mainland. I, uh, had a master in one of the outer islands…"

"A master? Of what?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Swordsmanship," he replied. Her eyes widened.

"Wait… Master Piandao?" she asked. "He agreed to train you?"

"Yeah, believe it or not," he said, grinning. "So, you know, give me a sword and I can be your bodyguard, if you need one. Come to think of it, I could use the coin from a job like that…"

"Fun as the idea may be, I don't exactly have a ton of money on me right now so I couldn't quite afford your salary," she said. "I have enough to pay for this ride, and then…"

"Then?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Then I'll have to save up," she said, simply. "Once I move on further."

"So… do you want to take a ship ride, huh? Is that why you're going to the bay?" he said, with a bright grin. He took her silence as a positive answer. "Great. Maybe we can find a ride together too! I have no idea where to go, so I can tag along with you for as long as you'll have me. Once I reach the Earth Kingdom I'll figure out my bearings properly…"

"Ah?" she watched him intently now, as he offered her a tight-lipped grin. "You're off to the Earth Kingdom, then?"

"For now, yeah. It's just a temporary plan… until I can find someplace else to stay safely," he said, shrugging.

"And you know the Earth Kingdom better than the Fire Nation?" she asked. He smiled and shook his head.

"Nah, not really. I've seen even less of it so far, but with how big it is, tracking someone down over there must be real tough," he said. "I'd say I have a good shot at shaking off pursuit by then."

"You're so set on running… did you kill someone, perhaps?" she asked, smirking. He snorted and shook his head.

"No, no, definitely not," he said. She huffed.

"Heh. That's boring. I'd have rather traveled with a murderous swordsman rather than a plain swordsman…"

"Why?" he exclaimed, still amused. "How is that any better?"

"It's more threatening, is all," she smiled. "Well, either way… I'm thinking we could help each other, to a fault. I know my way through the Fire Nation, I know exactly which ships to stow away on, which islands to stop at…"

"Stow away?" he repeated, blinking blankly.

"Didn't you hear I don't have that much money?" she said.

"Well, yeah… heh. Makes sense," he snickered. "Then we're going to be stowaways?"

"If you truly intend to come with me, yes," she smiled. "Then we can travel together in the Earth Kingdom for as long as it's convenient. If the time comes when our arrangement stops working, we go our separate ways. Easy, right?"

"Sure," he said, grinning. "Though… you really must be running away from something weird too, if you'd rather travel with a murderer who can intimidate people successfully."

"Eh… it just comes in handy, is all," she said. He smiled and shrugged.

"Alright. No need to share anything personal if you don't want to," he said. "Though… we could learn each other's names, right? If nothing else? We'll be traveling together for a while, from the sound of it…"

No, they certainly could not share that. She was fine with traveling with a stranger if that was what she had to do… but not quite as fine with revealing something as damning as her very name. For if he was a foreigner in the Fire Nation, just when a certain diplomatic delegation had traveled there from the Southern Water Tribe, then chances were he was part of that diplomatic delegation… and that'd mean he'd know exactly who she was, as soon as she spoke her name aloud.

The only way out was to lie, of course. And while it was clear he was no good at it, she certainly was far more skilled at that particular art than he was.

"I'm Ming Wei," she said, blurting out the name of one of her school classmates from ages ago. She caught the small twitch of his eyebrows, and she stared at him intently: "You?"

"Uh… Yuro," he said, knowing his hesitation would do nothing to afford believability to his claims. Then again, he had been able to tell her name was a lie, too: she had given it too readily, with a hint of defiance that didn't seem all that necessary when merely giving away a name. Just so, it was obvious she could tell that wasn't his name either.

"Yuro?" she repeated. He grinned and nodded. "Huh. Sounds like the name of a Water Tribe person. You're part of their delegation, then?"

"Uh… yeah. I am," he admitted, averting her gaze. Damn it. Yet he had already admitted he barely knew the Earth Kingdom, feigning to be a citizen of the large continent would've been an even more obvious lie than his fake name already was.

"And you're… running?" she asked.

"Well… yeah. Because you see…" he started, biting his lip before deciding it was all or nothing, at this stage. He had to go all out… otherwise his companion might see through him, turn the carriage around and toss him right back at the Fire Nation Palace's doorstep. "I've been the Southern Water Tribe Prince's bodyguard for ages. That's why I learned with Master Piandao, you see? But he is… an arrogant, annoying, lazy brat I can't stand, you know? I don't want to work for him anymore. So, you know, I thought if I ran away right now, no one would really notice or care: he's got all the Fire Nation's guards now, doesn't he? And he'll probably be able to take some of them back home with him if he wants, once his marriage is finalized…"

"Then… you were just waiting for the chance to get away?" she asked. He nodded promptly: something with that story didn't sit right, but just hearing the Prince was an arrogant, annoying and lazy man had been enough to put a stop to her rational thinking. Oh, she already hadn't wanted her whole life to be chosen for her, those words had merely cemented that belief further.

"Yup. I'm tired of living my life doing what everyone expects of me," he said. "It was as good a chance as any to get away. Maybe my only chance ever."

And perhaps she was too emotionally compromised at this point, for she had sensed no dishonesty in those last words. If anything, all she felt now was empathy… which was rare. She didn't often feel empathetic towards anyone. But that strange swordsman's struggles were far too similar to her own… perhaps too much, but she didn't seem to think of that just yet. It was all too easy to understand chasing for freedom they had been deprived from throughout all their lives…

"And you knew about the delegation, then?" he asked, raising his eyebrows. "Was it made common knowledge, or…?"

"Well, in high circles, yes," she said, biting her lip. Ugh, why had she gone and said that for? Now he'd assume she was noble… which she was. But the idea was to throw him off… yet, busy as she had been daydreaming about freedom and about having found a kindred spirit, she hadn't focused enough on lying successfully anymore.

"So, you're… highborn? Or you work for them, too?" he guessed. She nodded.

"Work for them, yes. I… was the princess's maid," she whispered. He gasped.

"Oh? You were? Then… you're running for the same reasons I am?" he asked, his voice dubious.

"Something like that," she said, biting her lip. "I just… took advantage of the chaos. Getting away while everyone was riled up over the foreigners was the best chance I was likely to get."

"I see…"

They glanced at each other warily for a moment, suspicion crossing both their eyes… but again, they said nothing. The dim light filtering through the carriage's curtains wasn't enough for them to see each other better, and even if they could, their physical appearances weren't going to suffice in determining whether the other was lying in the exact same way they were…

If that were the case, though… the thought crossed both their minds, and anxiety surged inside them. Wouldn't it be outrageous that they'd run away together if they were, perhaps, running away from each other?

But no, they weren't truly running away from each other. They wanted to run away from letting their families make their choices for them. They were running away from a life of submission and abiding by tradition, from a life of arranged marriages that were only focused on the political advancement of their respective nations… and not in the least on the happiness they might find with their significant other.

So, whoever he was, or whoever she was, they were stuck on the same boat… the same carriage, at the moment, but soon enough it'd be a boat for real. This wasn't about affronting each other, it was about finding freedom, and if they were to find it together, at least they wouldn't have to face their upcoming hardships alone.

"Well… nice traveling with you, Ming Wei," he said, with a friendly smile. Despite everything, she smiled back and nodded.

"And with you, Yuro," she whispered.

The night covered their escape once they reached their destination: they paid the carriage driver quickly and then dashed away through the streets of the bay. He tagged along behind her, shooting wary glances all around them to make sure no one could see them as she determined which cargo ship was the best one to stow away on for their grand escape. Finally, she narrowed down one that appeared safe… and they climbed aboard at haste, hiding amongst crates below deck while waiting for morning to come, and for the ship to start moving.

As much adrenaline as they had at first, it decreased steadily while they waited: morning found them dozing off together in the ship's cargo deck, her head on his shoulder, and his against hers. Even after she woke up anew, she didn't dare move right away: why was his presence, his warmth, so comforting? Was it because he was the first man, outside her relatives, that she had ever allowed herself to touch so carelessly? Naturally, that only made her extra nervous – and then, curiously, he was just as nervous as her when he woke up too, blushing and apologizing profusely for getting closer to her while unconscious. She wondered, briefly, if he was just as sheltered, just as unexperienced with anything outside his family, as she was.

… And again, the likelihood of him being who she thought he was surged. It really might be him. He really might be running away from the same thing she was…

The cargo ship was slow and made several stops through the day: she had chosen one specialized in food trade, however, so they didn't lack for nourishment while they traveled through the Fire Nation's waters, stealing food occasionally from the crates whenever it was safe to do so. Still, whenever the ship stopped, the sailors would enter the lower deck to collect crates and deposit new ones: one time she had clasped her hand over his mouth to silence him as he was in the middle of reciting his favorite types of noodles when she heard the first footsteps coming closer, another time he had to lunge for her, pinning her down on the wooden floorboards just as she was in plain view, ransacking another crate in search of food, just as the sailors brought in a new haul of items. In every case, they knew they should have been affronted by the casual, careless touching between them… and yet their bodies' reactions were as distant from affront and discomfort as could be.

They fielded off each of the sailors' incursions successfully… until the ship stopped for what seemed to be the sixth time of the day. There weren't as many crates left anymore, so the sailors started to look deeper through the cellar… it was obvious this time that no matter how they held their breath or remained perfectly still, they would certainly get caught.

"Check the crates at the far end, Zan. It's gotta be there," said one of the sailors.

He tensed up beside her: they were near the crates they were hiding at. Oh, if that Zan guy caught them, he might turn them in to the authorities if he recognized either of them, and all their intentions of running away would prove futile…

He glanced at her with uncertainty, and she glanced right back, defiantly: she conveyed silently that he should follow her lead. He wasn't sure what that meant until the man was closer yet, enough that his unkempt, sweaty body odor reached them… and then her hands fisted around her traveling companion's shirt, pulling him in for a surprising, ferocious kiss.

And inexperienced, too. Which was fine, for he was just as inexperienced at it, going by how awkwardly his lips shifted against hers, not knowing what he was doing but following fit with her silent demand, as requested.

It was strange at first, but smoother moments later: she wrapped her arms around his neck, hoping to afford further believability to the story she hoped to feed the sailors once they caught them, and to her surprise, he embraced her waist too… even going so far as leaning down on her, pressing her to the floorboards as he grew to understand what he was supposed to do, gradually.

She had been focusing so much on selling their pretense that she had barely noticed it wasn't quite so much of a pretense anymore: this guy was seriously learning how to kiss by kissing her. And she was letting him. In fact, she was learning a thing or two as well.

Her right hand cupped his face, keeping him in place as she wondered if she ought to go further… and then it was his tongue poking her lips softly, so she of course rose up to the occasion. Oh, that wasn't fair, deepening their kiss had only made it even more pleasant… his tongue toyed with hers, swirling with it, rubbing against every place inside her mouth he might be able to reach. Well, damn, if she had thought this would feel so good, she would've likely started doing this with him from the moment they climbed aboard the same carriage…

"Oi! W-what're you two doing down there?!"

Ah. There it was.

Naturally, they were ejected from the ship, and they were left to watch it sail away as dusk settled over their current location. He was aghast over the fluke of their plan, having hoped that playing the eloping lovers convincingly might elicit sympathy from the sailors, but there was none to be found. She told him, however, that he shouldn't worry: it was a perfect opportunity to further mislead anyone who might be pursuing them, she told him as they walked together over the dock, still holding hands to continue furthering the pretense that they were but a couple of young adults who were so enthralled with each other they couldn't stop doing inappropriate things together… a perfect pretense indeed, for this way no one would suspect the truth behind why they were stowing away on ships in the first place. Yet after that kiss, she wasn't all that sure it was only a pretense anymore…

"So… where did they ditch us?" he asked, casting glances at the beautiful island warily. "This looks pretty, but…"

"It's pretty, yes. Ember Island," she said, simply. He raised his eyebrows.

"Do you know this place? Do you have friends here we can stay with, or do you think there are any other ships we can stow away on…?"

"Maybe we should wait a little longer," she said. "We could use a break… and I know how to sneak into the Royal Family's vacation house. We can spend the night there, and if there happens to be any coin stashed away in there, we can actually pay for our passage to the Earth Kingdom, no need to stow away anymore."

"Isn't that risky too, though? If we travel legally and someone links us to the royal families, they could give us away and send us back…" he mumbled with uncertainty. She smirked.

"Not necessarily. They won't really have reason to suspect it in the first place, right, boyfriend?" she said, tugging at his hand. His cheeks heated up and he smiled weakly at her. "We'll try to find casual clothes in the villa, so we look even less suspicious… and then we'll find a small boat, probably manned by commoners with no likely connections to the Fire Nation Royal Family. That way no one will ever guess who we are."

"Sounds fair," he smiled. "Also… we, uh, should practice our cover story some more. Just saying…"

"Should we?" she smirked.

"I have spent all my life devoted to the way of the warrior," he said, playfully pompous. She snickered at his words. "So, uh, I'm not exactly experienced at this sort of thing…?"

"And I've spent my whole life waiting on a pampered princess," she said, raising her eyebrows. "Hence, I'm not experienced either…"

"See? It's only natural that we'd need more practice. It's just to make sure we're perfectly believable," he assured her. She laughed and shook her head.

"As you wish," she said. Truthfully, she wanted to kiss him again. She had never expected that sensation to be addictive… but it truly was.

She led him to the Royal Family's villa, guiding him towards the back of it just as he suggested he could climb the front gates to prove just how strong and manly he was, in order to impress his new "girlfriend". Once she found the secret backdoor, and they were safely inside the house's premises, she suggested he could do it anyway, if he truly had wanted to impress her.

All such playful banter and teasing continued through the evening, and neither one was sure why or how it was so easy to play with each other in this way. They found more than enough money, stashed away in a vault that she opened suspiciously easily, to afford passage to the Earth Kingdom, and they even used some of it to buy some food in the town, eating it together in one of the most lavish rooms within the villa, a comfortable lounge furnished with crimson cushions and couches, so comfortable he seemed tempted to fall asleep on one of them, right then and there.

"You know… for a maid, you have really smooth and pretty hands," he teased her, watching her as he rested on one of the couches. She was fluffing a cushion, which she tossed at him playfully, prompting him to laugh as he caught it in midair.

"I'll have you know, taking care of my appearance and my skin doesn't make me any less hardworking than some fancy warrior boy who took lessons from the most pretentious sword master in the nation," she said, approaching him and pushing the cushion into his chest. He only laughed at her response, reaching out to clasp her shoulders with his hands.

"The most pretentious, you say?" he smirked. "How so? He was always pretty cool…"

"The swords he crafts are the most expensive in the Fire Nation, period," she replied. "Not to mention he has always been known for being awfully picky about his students, choosing only the worthy… and how does he know who's worthy, huh?"

"He's wise and clever, that's how," he grinned. "And see, him being picky is exactly why his swords are that expensive. He had to to live off something other than teaching, don't you think?"

"And what do you think you'll live off of, then, in the Earth Kingdom?" she asked, leaning over his body, with the cushion still between them. "You'll be a sellsword of some sort? A mercenary?"

"Sounds fun," he smirked. "Want to join in? I could teach you to use a sword of your own, if you want to… heck, we should ransack this place for swords, too. I didn't bring one with me when I ran away, but the sooner I get one…"

"I don't think there's weapons in this place," she smiled. "This is, after all, a vacationing spot."

"How careless of the Fire Nation Royal Family to assume they're not going to need swords in their vacationing spot," he declared, smirking haughtily. She snorted and laughed, pressing her face to the cushion. "What if a door lock gets jammed? If you have a sword you can press it right between the wall and the door, and then you're free! See, we all need a sword once in a while…"

"Why didn't you bring one of yours on your trip, then?" she asked. He bit his lip.

"Uuuuh…" he averted his gaze from hers, and she snorted again.

"You can be quite smart sometimes. But then you also stop being all that smart moments later," she grinned. "Strangely… I like it."

"You do, huh? Means you can make fun of me pretty easily," he smirked. "Say, I am enjoying your weight atop me, lady maid, but, um, I just remembered we agreed on practicing our pretense relationship some more…? You know, so it's more believable tomorrow…"

"More believable, huh?" she said, raising her eyebrows. He grinned giddily. "Is that really what this is about? Aren't you just desperate to kiss a woman, now that you had your first taste of it?"

"Well… yes, that's also true," he admitted, shamelessly. She laughed and shook her head.

"At least you're cute. For a Water Tribe guy," she said, haughtily.

"You're cute too. For a Fire Nation girl," he smirked.

She bit her lip before leaning in… and he leaned too, catching her lips with his own. Something told her he had a whole strategy planned, regarding how to kiss her, how to touch her, how to keep her on her toes and overcome her sensually…

And as reckless as it was, she let him.

For he was charming in his own way, why lie? He had already been a remarkably skilled kisser, one who had taken to discovering how to improve his technique to perfection… the expected behavior of a talented swordsman. Everything that might come next should be, she hoped, just as amazing and fun as the heated kissing was, going by how his hands trailed over her hips, tugging at her sash shyly despite his lips were as savage as they dared be…

If she did it, she'd definitely close the door on the future she had been forced into. Oh, perhaps he was indeed who she had grown to suspect he was, and that would be its own kind of trouble… but if he wasn't, this would change her future for good. No more lying about, waiting to be of use for an uncle who thought little of her, Fire Lord as he was. No more spats with a mother who constantly assured her she only wanted what was best to her, and that traditions were what was best, somehow, even traditions she couldn't seem to explain with any reasonable arguments. No more butting heads with a brother who, for all his faults, was still the assigned heir for their father. No more waiting for the perfect opportunity to prove her worth with a father who could only see her as a child to protect. And no more pitying a cousin, heir to the Fire Lord, who had everything he could ever want, except for the one thing she was currently chasing after: the chance to choose for himself who he wanted to be.

For if she was caught with this guy, whoever he was, she would be disowned, tossed aside… and while the loneliness could be hard to bear with, it wouldn't be quite so bad if she was with him. He wanted to go all the way to the Earth Kingdom, didn't he? Why not go with him, to the very ends of the earth if he wished, if it'd mean he'd kiss her just as delectably and deeply, if it'd mean he'd laugh with her as he had so far, if it meant he'd touch her boldly once she tugged her own sash loose, offering him permission to continue onwards, his hand trailing over her abdomen…

It was madness, of course it was. She barely knew him, she was certain she didn't know his real name, and she had no idea if he was actually a dreadful guy who couldn't even clean up after himself, or do menial chores – because, to be fair, neither could she. But something felt so right as she bared herself before him, and as he did the same before her. Something worked, clicked, even if it might have been merely caused by the unabashed enthusiasm of two young people finding and making love for the first time.

Oh, it was so reckless. It was such a bad idea. And yet they went all the way, kissing and holding each other intimately through the night, thrusting away in a wild celebration of freedom, of having chosen for themselves, of having done what they pleased, all consequences be damned…

Such consequences couldn't be all so easily dismissed, of course, when they were startled by strange noises in the Ember Island villa by morning. She rose first, her lower body sore in a strangely pleasant way, and she cast a wary glance in the direction of the door before clasping her companion's bare shoulder.

"Hey. Hey, I think we're not alone anymore," she said. He groaned and blinked himself awake.

"Hmm… you're so pretty…" he smiled groggily. Her cheeks flushed: well, that was a nice enough compliment to wake to, considering it was the first time he'd seen her in proper daylight so far, but she wasn't sure it was the time for it anyway.

"Thanks. Now… we should get dressed," she said, raising her eyebrows. He hummed before he frowned. "There's people nearby. We need to get going, right now."

"Uh… oh damn," he said, biting his lip and sitting up. His hair had been tied in what she had interpreted as a top-knot before… now she could tell, as he pulled it up hastily, that it was actually a wolf's tail. A classic Water Tribe hairstyle… that she had never thought she'd find all that appealing until she saw it in him. Curses, he was far better-looking than she expected him to be, too.

They climbed off the couch, hastily cladding themselves in their traveling clothes. Caught up in their night of passion, she had forgotten her intent to search for casual clothes in the villa's closets, anything they could wear, as long as moths hadn't eaten them away since the family's last visit…

"What do we do?" he said, pulling up his trousers: his bare chest was a delight to gaze upon, too. To think she'd slept with her head perfectly rested on those strong pecs… ugh, whatever came next, whether they were caught or not, she'd find a way to run off with him again. She needed more of him, one night definitely hadn't been enough. "Who do you think is out there…? Does the Royal Family have, uh, hired help that works tending to the house while they're not vacationing? Or…?"

"No, they don't," she answered, coming back to her senses upon hearing his rational words. She had to get dressed fast too, to pull up her hair, and to remember every single hidden passageway within the villa that they might be able to escape through… "I have a plan. It'll be confusing, but you have to follow me."

"No problem. I'll go wherever you take me," he said, winking at her. He ought to stop that, or she'd pin him down and kiss him all over again…

"Well, then…" she said, lowering her voice as she slid her feet into her light shoes…

And then a loud knock on their lounge's door. They both froze in place.

"Are you in there?! Open up, now!"

The voice was familiar, and dread rose inside her gut upon hearing it. Oh, no. Of all people, it was her father who had found her. Curse everything…

"W-what do we do? Are there any ways out of here without going through the door, or…?" her companion asked nervously. She shook her head.

"My plan… we had to go to the corridor to reach the passageway I had in mind. I mean, unless you want us to jump out the window…?" she suggested. He frowned but nodded.

"Cool. It's just a second floor anyway, and if I land right, I won't break a bone. Hopefully. I can catch you down there, once you jump too," he decided, breathing out and stepping towards the window.

But before he could reach it, a clicking sound revealed the locked door had been opened, and the sound of another voice froze him on his tracks, next:

"You'd better not be in there, son, because if I get my hands on you after what you've pulled…!"

Oh, hell. Oh, hell by the thousands. This wasn't good.

The two runaways froze where they were, meeting the glares of the two men who barged into the lounge without missing a beat. A group of soldiers stood in the corridor, and the Fire Nation nobleman who had made his way inside the room ordered them to wait outside: the Water Tribe man beside him, clad in regal clothes, could only be, of course, Chief Hakoda. And the Fire Nation man was none other than the Fire Lord's brother, Prince Ozai.

"Well, well. This is just as bad as we suspected, huh, Ozai?" said the Chief, shaking his head as he glared at the young man by the window, who had lowered his gaze shamefully.

"You… you are in a lot of trouble, young lady," Ozai hissed, pointing at the young woman, who shrank in place. Well, that was a first. She had certainly never made him that angry ever before…

"U-uh, it was my idea!" the young man exclaimed, rushing back to stand before her, gazing pleadingly at the two newcomers. "I bumped into her, in the Palace, and then I asked her to run away with me, and…!"

"And she was stupid enough to go for it?" Ozai growled, still glaring at her. "You disappoint me, child. Is this what I raised you for?"

His words slammed into the young man with the truth he hadn't quite wanted to acknowledge, despite he had known, deep down, that it was the truth indeed.

"Or what I raised you for, Prince Sokka?" Chief Hakoda growled, and this time it was the young woman who shuddered upon hearing those words.

Oh, Prince Sokka. She had sworn herself that she would hate him on sight, and she would've done it for the sake of rebelling, no other reason: she had been against their arranged marriage from the start, appalled by the idea of not being free to make a single important choice in her life… and yet now that she had made that choice, the choice of running away and then giving herself to a stranger, she found she had played into fate's hand with each decision she had made. Curses, but that was embarrassing…

"You two are utterly ridiculous," growled Ozai, shaking his head. "The whole city is a pandemonium, looking for you both! Had Chief Hakoda not offered to search nearby islands, in case you had escaped by sea, you would have caused an even bigger ruckus than you did, Azula! Your uncle is up in arms about this, and you know it!"

"He can be up in arms about whatever he wants. If he wanted an alliance with the Water Tribe that badly, he could've looked for an old maid to marry himself…" she growled, though her words were half-hearted by now. Ozai scoffed.

"You forget your place, Azula," he growled.

"Uh… really, don't blame her, please…" Sokka continued, still trying to spare her of the worst consequences, only for Ozai to turn his wrathful glare on him.

"And you? You decided to seduce your future wife and run away with her, is that what you're trying to convince me of?" Ozai hissed. Sokka gulped and lowered his head. "How much sense does it make?! At the very least you could've found other people to run away with, it's completely absurd that you'd choose to run off with each other!"

"Uh, well, we didn't really know who the other was, so…"

"WHAT?!"

Both fathers shouted at the same time, and Sokka grimaced as he stood between them and Azula. It was bad enough that they hadn't bothered confirming the other's identities, no matter how they suspected them… it was even worse that their fathers would react to it as explosively as they did now.

"Oh, goodness… oh, you know what, Ozai? This… it'll be a funny story to share with everyone else once a few years have come and gone," Hakoda said, patting his shoulder. "Let's just look at it this way, shall we?"

"Only if these two fools go back to the Palace and marry each other as they were meant to. Curses, couldn't you wait one week? One week?" he hissed. "It's not much to ask, or were you truly that keen on getting in each other's pants?"

"N-no! Seriously, we didn't know who the other was!" Sokka said, blushing.

"Speak for yourself. I had the feeling it was you all along," Azula sighed. Sokka huffed, turning to pout at her.

"Well, I had the feeling it was you too, but I couldn't know for sure and neither could you!" he squeaked. "Though, I mean… we were running away from each other and ended up running together? I guess? Though, in a sense, we kind of, somewhat, did choose each other, in the end…?"

Well, that couldn't be denied. None of what she'd done since she had met him, two nights ago, had been forced on either of them. They had chosen it all, jumping headfirst into their adventure, wondering just how far they could go together until their respective families caught with them. And while she didn't look forward to moving to the South Pole, to live her life alongside the Chief's heir and spend her days amongst them as a reminder of the alliance between their people and hers, the knowledge that she had found him appealing, interesting and worth running away with before confirming who he was proved to be enough to make the situation slightly less unpleasant… at least, for now.

If things took a turn for the worse, she could always run away, too. But as she gazed at the young man before her, she had the feeling she'd be running with him, wherever she went next.

And that idea didn't bother her in the least, truthfully.

"I guess so," she said, breathing out slowly. "I certainly could do worse, husband-wise…"

"Heh. I'd definitely do worse, wife-wise, if I picked anyone else," Sokka smirked, and she smiled right back.

"Ew," Ozai said, blinking blankly as he averted his gaze from his daughter and her finally accepted destiny.

"Oh, I know she's your daughter, and you didn't want to give her away to anyone, Ozai…" Hakoda laughed, patting his back. "But hey, looks like they gave up! I thought they never would."

"We're going back to the Palace now. And the two of you are going to spend the night in different rooms until your ceremony is done. That's final," Ozai huffed. "Whatever you do after you're married… is your business."

He still shuddered after saying those words, no doubt unwilling to picture whatever two young adults, who were boldly flirt in front of their fathers, might get up to behind closed doors. He had no delusions regarding what had surely transpired in this very room merely a few hours ago…

"Get ready, then. You have five minutes to pick up whatever you've left lying about," Hakoda said. "And don't even think about doing anything crazy, now! There are soldiers all over this property, so you'd better not even consider running away again."

"Say, how did you find us so fast?" Azula asked him. Hakoda grinned and shrugged.

"Water Tribe longboats: not quite as sturdy as your nation's steel ships, but a thousand times faster, I'd say," he snickered. Ozai shot him a disbelieving glare. "By which I mean… I sent all my available ships out to look for you in every nearby island. Your mothers went to Fire Fountain City, Prince Lu Ten accompanied my advisor Bato to Shu Jing…"

"So, it's basically chance that you two decided to come to Ember Island?" Sokka groaned.

"Something like that," Hakoda grinned. "Truthfully, Ozai had a feeling you might have wound up here. He says this has always been a happy place for your family, after all."

He glanced at Azula as he spoke, offering her another proud grin before turning around, clasping Ozai's shoulder and dragging him out of the room. Despite Hakoda's grip was strong, Ozai's head poked through the doorway one more time.

"You have five minutes! Don't you dare do anything further to despoil my daughter's dignity, Prince Sokka!"

"I wouldn't, I wouldn't!" Sokka squeaked nervously, before Hakoda successfully dragged Ozai away.

Sokka sighed, slumping in place before rising back to his full height, smiling awkwardly at Azula. She bit her lip as she gazed at him: he was tall, well-built, and indeed, ridiculously handsome. He was fun to talk to, and he seemed to enjoy kissing her just as much as she had enjoyed kissing him. It was all far too perfect… and who was she to reject perfection when it fell upon her lap as it had this time?

"Is… is your hometown a good place?" she asked. He raised an eyebrow. "It's only… well, I'm a firebender. I don't really know if I'd deal with the cold well. And I know there's been a lot of conflict between our nations, back from the times of the war…"

"That's all water under the bridge at this point," Sokka grinned, "People down there have taken quite the liking to your dad, you know? Because he helped stop the war. I guess that's why I wasn't completely sure about running away, but… it didn't feel right to marry my dad's best friend's daughter just because they felt like setting us up together to strengthen the ties between our nations. I did want to have a chance to choose for myself… otherwise, it feels like they won the war for nothing, to a fault? They set the Avatar free from the iceberg and beat your grandfather, yet the next generation is still expected to do whatever's convenient for political alliances? Granted, things have gotten better for the common folk… but I don't see why people like you or me should be forced to do anything we don't want to."

"Do you still not want it?" she asked. It was his turn to bite his lip before shaking his head.

"I… may have had a change of mind. Though, you know, I would've liked to woo you properly. You know, taking you out on a date, introducing you to my family, like normal people do…"

"I think the last two days could count as a date," Azula smirked. "And… I just met your dad. So I'd hope that counts, to a fault."

Sokka laughed and shrugged, stepping closer to her and placing his hands on her shoulders. Her smile softened as she gazed into those handsome features… oh, she was lucky. She couldn't believe it, but she was absolutely, truly, lucky.

"Do you want to marry me, then?" he asked, his voice small. "I doubt I'm the greatest guy there is, but… I'll be the best husband I can be. If you'll have me."

"I'm not the greatest girl there is either, I literally took you on a trip as stowaways and we stole quite a bit of food from their crates, too. I've turned us both into criminals, haven't I?" she smiled. Sokka chuckled, pressing his forehead to hers. "But… I'll be the best wife I can be, too. Even if an icy pole isn't fun to live in."

"We can take trips to warmer places whenever the cold becomes too much to take," he suggested. "Though there's a few things we can do to warm you up while we're there, too…"

"Oh? Like what?" she asked, teasingly.

Sokka chuckled and leaned in, kissing her again, and once more it was delightful, as jolts of electricity seemed to flow between them. Well, they had resisted the match at first, but it seemed their parents had made the right choice after all. They had been ready to run off together, to live together, to fight together… and now they could do all those things, without having to run away at all. It was the perfect arrangement. Too perfect, perhaps. But who were they to turn down perfection?

Hakoda had to yank Ozai back once they returned to the lounge to find their children locked in a slightly intimate embrace, once the five minutes were done. Of course, the firebender would see red upon witnessing his favorite child, the daughter he treasured, exchanging saliva quite so enthusiastically with his future son-in-law…

"Come on, we knew this would happen, we did. That's the entire reason we let them run off, damn you, stop acting like an angry rhino-bull," Hakoda said, clasping Ozai's shirt's collar and dragging him away from the lounge. Ozai huffed, shaking his head.

"I told you it was a bad idea. I did! Leaving them unguarded so they'd run off together…?" he growled.

"And paying a carriage driver to pick them up after the last carriage was long gone, too," Hakoda grinned. "It was the perfect strategy."

"Up until the point where you didn't have any means to track them down after they stowed away as they did!" Ozai hissed. Hakoda grimaced.

"Well, that was a minor detail, but you figured out this was where they'd head, so no need to make a fuss about my oversight, right?"

"You haven't changed in the least since the war, Hakoda. Not even a little bit. Always with the outlandish plans and ridiculous ideas…"

"Heeeey! Those plans saved our asses, and Aang's, a thousand times! As did my jokes, I'll add…"

"Your jokes? Perhaps it's you who are a joke, Chief Hakoda, altogether…"

"Well now, I'm the joke? Say, who's the one who can't stop throwing hissy fits about his daughter making out with her future husband, huh?"

Ozai growled, covering his face in his hands as the image returned to his mind. Hakoda beamed brightly upon silencing his friend successfully: he had maintained correspondence with Ozai long after the war had ended, they had met up on occasion since then, too. When Fire Lord Iroh, advised by Avatar Aang, had determined that preserving balance ought to be aided by crafting alliances between nations, he had wondered if perhaps a convenient marriage between his son and Ozai's daughter would do the trick. They were both clever since childhood, talented fighters, prone to witty banter that their respective siblings couldn't keep up with… it was, as far as Hakoda could tell, an ideal match. But how to convince them of it?

The idea of allowing their strong-willed children to escape, while subtly directing them towards each other, had come to mind three nights before the Water Tribe delegation arrived in the Fire Nation Capital. Ozai had been horrified by the idea… and more horrified upon realizing Hakoda had set everything in motion long before he could do anything about it. In the end, they had no choice but to wait and hope that Hakoda's insight would have been accurate, and that their children wouldn't despise each other instead of falling in love, as he had hoped they would.

And by now, while walking away from the room where the two soon-to-be spouses continued to profess their growing affections for each other, Hakoda could only grin proudly: Ozai's bad mood notwithstanding, his plan had been an absolute success.

[atelier-dayz]

⭐ For the Fanfic Writers Director's Cut ask game.

Hmmm this scene at the beginning of chapter 9!

Jango gets up and makes himself a cup of caf. As he waits for the caf to brew, he lets Kenobi ruminate, the jetii staring out the viewport. The light from hyperspace highlights Kenobi’s profile and catches the red tones in his hair, setting the strands aflame.

Obi got him almost waxing poetry. I was laughing so much at Jango here. So. Much.

Jango realizes he’s staring. He curses to himself yet again and fixes his attention back on his caf. He has to get himself together, because getting ideas about Kenobi would be -- kark it all. He takes a drink from his caf, letting the scalding heat on his tongue distract him and help clear his mind. 

Pain is a good distractor I suppose. 😂

He returns to the bench they’d been sharing, sitting down firmly on the opposite end. Kenobi turns away from the viewport, returning his attention to Jango. Jango focuses on what they had been discussing.

“What happens if they do turn him away?” he asks. “He’s a kid.”

“Normally, I would imagine a child in that situation is returned to their parents, but…” Kenobi frowns.

“But his mother is still a slave,” Jango completes the thought with a scowl. “Sending him back would put him at risk.”

I would imagine Freed children being in a precarious situation if their parents are still slaves. An “excuse” for slavers to force them back into work :/

Kenobi nods grimly. “Which makes it doubly important for his mother to be freed.”

“Does your Order even have enough resources to do that?” Jango asks. “You jetiise don’t exactly earn money from what I hear.”

“Likely not.” Kenobi shakes his head. “And even if we do, I swore to myself I would never be involved in the purchase of a sentient being,” he says, the conviction in his voice as clear as any Mandalorian swearing the Resol’nare. 

It causes Jango to pause, staring at Kenobi for long seconds. But he gathers himself before Kenobi might catch attention to it.

More laughing at Jango. What to do when an attractive jetii is mandokarla  😂

“Ni suvari,” Jango says. “How do you plan on freeing her then? Your jetii mind tricks?”

“No, my master tried that to get the hyperdrive. Watto is a Toydarian. They’re resistant to Force manipulation.”

A Toydarian in Mos Espa. For some reason, that tugs at Jango’s memory, but he can’t place it.

I WONDER :)c

“I’ll find some other way. There’s still time before then. The Force will provide,” Kenobi says. “In any case, I do hope the Council will see reason and accept Anakin. He’s too strong in the Force to leave untrained; it would be dangerous for himself and those around him, especially if what my master and I fear is true.”

He could only be referring to one thing, which reminded Jango of what else he’d meant to ask Kenobi about.

“The darjetii?”

Kenobi nods, face grim. “There hasn’t been signs of the Sith in a thousand years,” he says. “The Zabrak could have simply been a Darksider.”

“But you don’t think so.”

“No, he was far too well trained. The duel happened so quickly, I only realized on reflection, but he practiced juyo, the seventh form in lightsaber combat. Only Jedi and Sith would be familiar with it, and teaching the form to Jedi is heavily restricted.”

“So what you’re saying is someone taught him, which means there’s at least another darjetii out there.”

“Yes, we fear that must be the case. With the way he felt in the Force, he might have been an apprentice.”

“Kriff.” If that Zabrak had been the apprentice, he can’t even imagine what the master would be like. 

“Indeed.”

“Were you able to find out if he was after you jetiise or the Queen?” Jango asks.

“We were able to recover the last message on his datapad,” Kenobi says. “It seems like he was en route to Naboo and changed course to Tatooine to pursue the Queen -- but I’m sure it would have been convenient for him to also kill a pair of Jedi. It does suggest some rather unsavory things about the Trade Federation.”

Okay, I had to do some mental gymnastics here because I tried to keep travel times realistic, rather than just convenient to the plot like in the movie. If Maul had left from Coruscant for Tatooine when he had in the movie, he would not have caught up to them in time, so instead, Palp had already sent Maul off to Naboo to make sure things go smoothly, and then contacted him to change course when the Trade Federation alerted him that Padme had escaped. I also imagined that the Sith have fancy, cutting edge technology to help decrease their travel times.

Jango grunts. As if attempting to kill the jetiise during negotiations and invading a planet weren’t bad enough on the long list of offenses by the Trade Federation. 

“If the darjetiise are working with the Trade Federation, what the kriff are they trying to accomplish by attacking Naboo?” Jango wonders aloud. 

“Yes, that’s something my master and I still haven’t figured out. That they would reveal themselves after a thousand years for this is...concerning.”

Jango scoffs. “Nay’nuhun,” he says. 

Again, he knows the stories. The Mandalorians of the past more often than not allied with the darjetiise, but as Jaster had made abundantly sure he had understood, the darjetiise are only ever out for themselves and will damn their enemies, their allies, the whole galaxy, just to get what they want. Whatever they want now means nothing good for anyone. 

I’ve said it before, but for all the times Jango claims he doesn’t know politics, he’s just a bounty hunter, he does know politics. He was the Mand’alor and the adopted son of a Mand’alor. And given what we know about Jaster, about how he implemented those reforms, introduced the Supercommando Code, he seemed like a very well-informed man. You bet, he made sure Jango knew his history, and literature, and politics, and etc. And this would certainly include the Very Bad Things that come with the Sith. 

“Do you think your Order will be able to handle it?” he asks.

Jango hasn’t missed the fact that the Zabrak’s death makes Kenobi the first person to kill a darjetii in a thousand years. That’s impressive, of course. But the darjetiise managed to hide from the jetiise for a thousand years. They might have shown their hand now, but the Zabrak’s master, if they did in fact exist, is still in hiding. That is a hunt he doesn’t envy. 

Kenobi gives him a quizzical look. “The Sith are our sworn enemy. It’s not a matter of trying; we simply must.”

Said it before, but a reference to Yoda’s “Do or do not. There is no try” and to the “Sith Lords are our specialty” line in ROTS. ;D

Jango grunts in acknowledgment. 

“What I am concerned about is how readily the Order will accept that the Sith have returned,” Kenobi continues. “The idea of the Sith having escaped all of our notice for so long will be...unpalatable.”

“Dunar cuyi ba’jurar ra kyr’am,” Jango says. “I’m not an optimistic man, but I hope for the sake of the galaxy, it will be the former.”

“A mistake is a lesson or death.” Seemed like an appropriate proverb for Mandalorians!

Kenobi gives him a look, but doesn’t argue. Instead he remarks dryly, “Your faith is reassuring.”

Jango smirks at him. Kenobi continues to look unimpressed.

I love them.

“Hopefully though, the Zabrak’s body and his possessions will be more than enough for the Council to start an investigation.”

[bridgecheese9]

Sarms Uk

What Are Sarms?

Content

Side Effects Of Sarms.

Blood Sugar Level Degree Varieties.

Iaaf Principles Board Choice: Timeline

Imuscle Sarms Uk Testimonials.

UKAD supplied no aid to Webster, although its very own expert suggested that contamination may have been a concern. Webster was forced to spend his life savings in attempting to uncover the resource of the ostarine, and was approved with the complete 4 year ban for not instantly confessing an ADRV he suggested was not his fault. It would certainly show up that Jimmy has actually been fortunate that USADA was prepared to go above and beyond, and resource its own bathtub in order to sustain his assertion that the supplement concerned included ostarine. Not all anti-doping organisations have taken the exact same technique. British weightlifter Sonny Webster, who competed at the Rio 2016 Olympics, was approved with a four year ban by UK Anti-Doping in December in 2015.

Men are buying potentially risky steroid substitutes online to get the 'ideal body' - The Conversation CA

Men are buying potentially risky steroid substitutes online to get the 'ideal body'.

Posted: Wed, 02 Sep 2020 07:00:00 GMT [source]

What's more, SARMS are consisted of on the World Anti-Doping Agency's Prohibited List as materials that are forbidden at all times, rather than simply in-competition. Nevertheless, this does not always suggest that they are totally risk-free to utilize - as well as doesn't mean that their validity might not be challenged in the future. On on-line forums, customers report strength gains, however they also often consult concerning concerns such as high blood pressure, skin rashes as well as erectile dysfunction. Troubles with eye-sight appear to be especially usual; andarine is reported to provide customers' vision an environment-friendly or yellow tinge. In you can find more information on peptides uk's Australia bpc157 how does it work here. , it is always crucial to keep as much muscular tissue mass as possible during the procedure. The most effective sarms stack combination for cutting would certainly be ostarine (mk-2866), andarine, as well as cardarine (gw ). Rad 140, ligandrol, yk-11, as well as mk-677 are great sarms to pile for bulking, specifically if you're trying to acquire toughness, too.

Negative Effects Of Sarms.

That most preferred stack makes up cadarine, ostarine and also andarine. If you are a newbie or someone who is just getting going with utilizing sarms, then this is mosting likely to be the stack for you. The typical muscular tissue gains for this pile are around 7 to 10 lbs over an 8-week period. Twp 4way represents the supreme done in one sarm stack in a solitary product.

It is extremely advised that drugs like Clomid as well as Tamoxifen are completely understood before taking into consideration. OTC PCT are likewise readily available as well as are much stronger as well as efficient than the older generation used to be. Sadly, the average differs so much with S23 it is hard to give any type of good indicator without a lot of presumptions.

Blood Sugar Level Arrays.

As an enlightened assumption, it most likely would run out somebody's system within 12-weeks and also after a detox. Compared to tablet or capsule steroids SARMs are not methylated and consequently, not toxic to the liver. SARMs adverse effects can differ for each and every type of SARM and is commonly dosage reliant, implying the higher the dose the higher the risk of negative effects taking place.

Differences in ligand-specific receptor conformation and also protein-- protein interactions can result in tissue-specific genetics policy, because of possible adjustments in communications with ARE, coregulators or transcription elements. I made use of one more provider for caps previously however this fluid product is by far remarkable IMHO. SARMs are excellent for individuals that would like to preserve muscular tissues whilst on a cut.

Iaaf Values Board Choice: Timeline

Nevertheless, it's the dose of each careful androgen receptor modulator that matters most, together with the details chemicals used to create it. Sarms are similar to steroids, yet they are not one as well as the same. Both work by binding to your androgen receptors, setting off changes in your dna which boost your muscular tissues' capacity to expand. While sarms do possess anabolic properties, these compounds are ruled out anabolic steroids. In fact, the many benefits of sarms are because of that that sarms are not in fact anabolic steroids.

Later on in the short article we will damage down the prospective side effects for each SARM. Body building Forums can likewise be a wonderful place for some great details; nonetheless, they can also be a terrible location for some amusing fiction based off a reputable research study (A.K.A broscience). Numerous thousands of users across the world record results with marginal or no side effects from several different SARMs. However a smaller sized minority of users have actually experienced some negative effects which vary from person to person as everyone is various. Because of this SARMs may be very efficient for muscle losing conditions such as weakening of bones, AIDS and also cancer cells related losing. peptides-uk information BPC157 Switzerland free trial might additionally end up being a reliable oral male contraceptive treatment. Products and supplements available by Killer Nutrition Online Limited are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness or significant disease.

Specifically throughout a caloric deficit, these two sarms can help you keep your muscle mass. Hey there everyone, i feel like i obtained ripped on a sarms three-way stack. I acquired cardarine gw by armed sporting activities nutrition, ostarine by bio nutrition and also s-4 andarine presently on week 5 and do not really feel spunk. Andarine is frequently stacked with lgd-4033, rad-140, sr-9009, yk-11, mk-677 for extra noticable muscle development and also boosted operating. Such stacks permit us to get impressive quantities of lean muscular tissues in a brief period, along with to obtain more muscle mass definiti. With numerous published human trials under its belt, rad-140 is just one of the best-studied sarms. While discussing reducing and bulking, sarms triple stack acquires a stand place that produces anticipated results in an efficient way.

Imuscle Sarms Uk Reviews.

Nevertheless, in the In-Vitro researches YK-11 did bind as well as activate to the AR but was only found to be a partial agonist of the AR. YK-11 did reveal to boost the release of follistatin, which is a crucial protein for muscle mass development as it strongly antagonized myostatin.

The fascination for sarms comes from the theory that they can create results the same to anabolic steroids without the adverse effects. Well, as strange as it appears, a minimum of, part of that holds true. Yet, they show a strong fondness for androgen receptors in bone as well as muscle cells only. This is not the very first time the usa has actually been pushed better to banning sarms. If you're familiar, the sarms manage act made it's method with congress starting as early as 2018. Sarms are similar to steroids in numerous means, so they share a number of the very same adverse effects.

This can or else prove to be quite difficult as it calls for staying clear of squandering muscle. Your PCT can be the difference in between having negative effects and also not. SERMS or Discerning Estrogen Receptor modulators are one of the most widely known unlawful PCT medications due their performance but likewise, sadly, a few of the adverse effects that come with them.

Acquire steroids, peptides and also pct from ausroids welcome to ausroids, your ideal online source for getting anabolic steroids, peptides, and also post-cycle treatment supplements in australia. Sarms are selective androgen receptor modulators which is presently thought about more secure as well as much less hazardous than anabolic steroids. Type sensible, sarms fall into 2 primary classifications, one that is steroidal and the 2nd one is non-steroidals. Steroidal sarms were found about 70 years ago with no usage for human problems except those with dire demands.

What does LGD 4033 do?

LGD-4033 is a novel nonsteroidal, oral SARM that binds to androgen receptor with high affinity (Ki of ∼1 nM) and selectivity. In animal models, LGD-4033 has demonstrated anabolic activity in the muscle, anti-resorptive and anabolic activity in bone, and robust selectivity for muscle versus prostate.

Negative effects of RAD-140 are mostly unidentified due the absence of human tests and was only initial explained in 2010 by Miller et alia, created by Distance Health. It is widely approved that adverse effects are likewise dose reliant. First of all, Cadarine is not a Careful Androgen Receptor Modulator however instead is a Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Delta receptor agonist. It is commonly classified or grouped with SARMs from a sales and also advertising and marketing viewpoint. The receptor plays an important role in human metabolic rate and aids regulated genetics that help manage the transport and also oxidation of fats.

Some sarms such as cardarine and also sr9009 are best for cutting, and other sarms such as ostarine and also s4 are versatile, as well as can be used to either burn fat or develop muscle. The beauty of this stack and sarms as a whole is their convenience in just how they can be used to accommodate various desires and goals. I am a solid proponent with the use of the three-way stack due to the fact that it permits an individual to add quality and clean amounts of lean muscle while still being to able to go down body fat. The greatest done in one sarm pile of mk677, mk2866, cardarine & lgd. This stack is excellent for a person who wishes to obtain lean and much more muscular without the healing issues of utilizing hormonal agents.

Drug testing for SARMs is currently typical technique in sports however was unqualified as late as 2016. Ostarine has a half-life of 24-hour or 23.8 hours to be exact nonetheless no study can be found that definitively shows the discovery time.

Ostarine is classed as an anabolic representative by the World Anti-Doping Company, which reported a low 28 unfavorable logical searchings for across sporting activity in its 2016 Screening Numbers Report.

It assists body builders and other athletes make faster gains from their training, with its cutting and also bulking results.

It is a Discerning Androgen Receptor Modulator created as Enobosarm by pharmaceutical business GTX to deal with conditions involving muscle mass wastefulness or osteoporosis.

It additionally increases your stamina as well as muscular tissue mass, increases bone density as well as assists speed the recovery process after intense strength training.

SARMs, or discerning androgen receptor modulators, are medicines that affect muscle development, typically used in the muscle building area.

Piling develops a synergistic method to raising lean muscle mass whilst decreasing body fat.

Wallhead is a UFC competitor, so is regulated by USADA, despite being based in the UK ... Regrettably, none of this aids Jimmy Wallhead, who was blindsided through use of a supplement that really did not checklist ostarine as an active ingredient on the label. Wallhead has actually been authorized to the UFC, which is not a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code, for concerning 18 months. USADA agreed to run the UFC's anti-doping programme on 1 July 2015, an agreement that was applauded by WADA. Unless you are a chemist or an anti-doping official, the possibilities are that you will not have actually become aware of ostarine. Neither had Jimmy Wallhead, a Ultimate Battling Champion boxer based in Loughborough, UK. Yet he was sanctioned with a 9 month ban after a supplement he had actually utilized was located to consist of the substance. The mechanistic basis of the cells careful actions of SARMs is poorly understood, although a number of systems have been recommended.

4way consists of ostarine, mk-677, ligandrol and cardarine in one item - so you can expect magnificent cause a short timescale, while likewise conserving cash compared to purchasing them individually As well as I VERY SUGGEST THEM, 4 way sarm stack. Discerning androgen receptor modulators are made use of by bodybuilders and powerlifters to maximise fat loss, boost muscular tissue mass, as well as improve body toughness. They are additionally made use of to refurbish injuries, boost muscular tissue as well as bone toughness, and also improve the sense of well-being. Some body builders additionally use SARMs in between anabolic steroid cycles, prohormone cycles, and testosterone cycle for post cycle treatment or as more secure choices to these compounds. Unlike anabolic steroids, which bind to androgen receptors in many tissues throughout the body, private sarms selectively bind androgen receptors in certain cells, but not in others. Discerning androgen receptor modulators-- or sarms for short-- are a relatively brand-new group of medications that have the ability to give every one of the benefits of anabolic steroids without many of the adverse effects.

There is no requirement for healing supplements when using these 2 sarms given that they do not act upon the body the same way hormonal agents would certainly. Despite it being a rather mild sarm, it's in fact truly solid. You will see a great deal of researchers pile andarine with ostarine to produce a synergic impact.

It deserves keeping in mind at a PCT is probably required due to its capacity to lower FSH, LH and Testosterone levels. When S23 was provided to male rats it led to a 100% infertility rate. But the majority of interestingly sperm count went back to normal after ending up S23, as well as rats resumed mating at 100% maternity prices. However, too much S23 created sperm matters to turn around the first result and also supported sperm manufacturing. Because of this we are unable to categorise its impacts and also potential outcomes. YK-11 to start with is not a SARM, take a look at our post on YK-11 for an extra detailed testimonial. YK-11 was regretfully mislabeled as a SARM when as a matter of fact it is a new artificial steroid that has just had actually In-Vitro research studies done on it.

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Exactly How To Attract 999 Of Women 5 Alpha Male Tricks

Hey individuals. Beardy as well as Kay, right here from Mantello agents. And also today we're talking about just how to be a lot more attractive. If you have actually ever before asked yourself exactly how to make a lady crazy for you, these techniques will collaborate with 99.9% of females individuals. It's true. Have you ever before seen a guy with a woman that's method a lot more eye-catching than he is, and also you're left damaging your head, attempting to identify exactly how he landed such a stunning partner.

You tell on your own. Oh, he's probably rich or something, however that's not the fact. The reality is he's possibly discovered just how to bring in females using these techniques. We're about to share with you. If you have actually been striving to increase your level of tourist attraction, yet aren't getting any type of outcomes. You're possibly doing one thing that guys assume make them much more eye-catching, however actually repulses most ladies.

And also at the end of this video, we're mosting likely to share that a person Impressive fail you ought to stay clear of in any way prices. Number five, the pull as well as push. You're questioning exactly how to be a lot more eye-catching as well as obtain your crush to like you. Well, it all begins with what you're stating, as well as I don't imply with your mouth fellows. There are some attempted as well as proven body language methods to make her chase you.

As well as I make sure you have actually listened to the majority of them before stand up straight and tall point your feet in the direction of the girl you have an interest in as well as square your shoulders. These are conventional alpha male body movement strategies that everyone understands. However right here's what you might not know after you have actually revealed that you're solid as well as confident using your body language as well as have actually acquired her passion.

Attempt this masterful alpha method to truly establish the hook it's called the pull as well as press. It's kind of like a trickery except for the last minute fraud, yet it's the excellent type of secret method that the sexiest of hot males make use of to gain control of any kind of flirtatious scenario. Right here's how it works. So you're talking with a woman that you simply met and also you're both nervous as well as there's a lots of stress after a couple of conversational exchanges.

Strike her with a spirited compliment, or if you're really feeling actually certain and endure, a scheming sex-related innuendo, attractive teasing is complicated, but not constantly off restrictions, if you can implement it well, which implies happily in the ideal setting. As well as without coming off as weird, if you're not confident making use of sex-related innuendo, maintain it PG 13 with a lively compliment.

And afterwards. Here's the critical component. Simply go down the mic and also walk away. Now here's the other extremely essential item to executing this flawlessly. You have to casually walk away to a location where she can adhere to, since the main goal is to get her to follow you. And currently you have her chasing you as opposed to vice versa.

So don't walk away to the men's restroom or to your intimidating group of person buddies rather had somewhere neutral, like the bar counter or an alcoholic drink table and also remain approachable. The technique is to leave her. Somewhat puzzled, but with the door wide open so she can conveniently approach you. Number 4 outfit to thrill and spark conversation.

No trick scenario is that she doesn't follow your Lea right away, guys. That's flawlessly okay. Because the alternate outcome is that she's returning to her. Good friend's a little confused and also entertained by your habits. While you maintain on your own close by open readily available and also very friendly. She's going to rate laughing back to her good friends with exhilaration concerning the mystical guy that sort of hit on me.

Then just walked away. O M G I'm so baffled right now. And her close friends are gon na ask, Oh, mg, what person? As well as she's going to claim that individual right over there putting on the that's why this next component is so indisputably vital. The following words out of her mouth should not be. This type of homeless looking man over there and also the hooded sweatshirt.

Instead, you desire her to be able to define you in a more favorable light, and that's why dressing well is a no brainer. As well as if you go to all interested regarding just how to look a lot more appealing by clothing, well, you reached start on the ideal foot as well as you can do that with today's sponsor Thursday boots. You've all heard us state it in the past, yet women always check out it individuals footwear, right?

Kay. Definitely. Beardy we intend to make sure he doesn't half-ass points like his attire. And that's why you require some top quality shoes women observed them. Fortunately, Thursday boots will immediately make you 99.9% a lot more attractive to women. Just how well, not just do Thursday boots look fantastic, but they're extremely comfy.

They have remarkable high quality and they provide a wide range of designs along with multiple color choices. Thursday boots are handcrafted with the finest quality products includes a great year. Well construction and virtually every element is custom made sure Thursday boot sponsored this video, but we would not include them.

If they really did not already know just how wonderful their boots are and how elegant they can make any kind of individual look, Thursday boots. So uses free shipping and returns on handcrafted. Goodyear bonded boots. Meet with costs UNITED STATES leather starting at $149. You need to dress to impress rental properties, click on the web link in the summary box to obtain some Thursday boots.

Number three, be the casual alpha. Possibly you're not just asking on your own, exactly how can I look extra attractive rather? Maybe you're asking yourself, how can I look extra Jak poderwac dziewczyne przez messengera eye-catching than every person else, men, this is just one of the age old methods to obtain women to chase you. And also it will definitely assist you maximize your appearance as well as one of the most effective method that admittedly takes.

Some method to master is the casual. Alpha, the nonchalant alpha man does all points alpha. He's a ruthless Dewar kind of a go getter. He's confident. As well as most importantly, he couldn't offer to ShipWorks about what other people think of it and fellows that's the key. Yes, you have to function faithfully to be your most appealing self, but trying also hard is shateringly apparent as well as comes off as being hopeless as well as clingy.

Being chronically uncaring is so efficient at making women nuts concerning you for a difficult mess of reasons. But the major factor is that everyone wants what they can't have, and everyone is mystically fascinated by that, which they can't manage and fellas, that's why being a bad-ass loose could not care.

Less alpha male is so damn irresistible. Oh, you know, what else is irresistible key, manly expertise, proven to obtain women to stress over you, yet the most detailed old Sanskrit degree wisdom regarding the artist's deductions completely worthless. If you do not recognize the main factors women believe you desire attractive, yet Hey, do not flip out due to the fact that I'm going to share a few of that valuable details with you at the end of the video clip.

So hang tough up until the end to figure out exactly what the majority of guys are doing to transform 99.9% of women away. Second, obtain her done. Of all the extremely practical pointers for males to look eye-catching. This one is probably one of the most possible. When we think of attractive guys, we believe tall, good-looking, physically fit, symmetrical face functions as well as stuff like that.

As well as while it's all real, the art of tourist attraction goes well past those standards. One of things that alpha individuals do that females can not stand up to is that they seem to be really effective day. Get shit done day in day out. And here's why women find this so appealing having the ability to handle a job or an obstacle and persist shows that you understand how to take advantage of your possessions, to achieve an objective, an irrefutable sign of leadership, to squash your ability to remain focused, to obtain her done as a sheriff fireplace.

Trigger you prospective to be not only a successful individual, however a successful partner as well. And that fella's is how you make a woman promptly. Like you. Leading, prioritize your interest. The very best of all the ideas to look a lot more attractive has nothing to do with any individual but on your own. As well as due to that, you remain in complete control of this one.

All cooled Camille wants roadway without passion, male is a plain unrealized force and also possibility without your interest, you're simply an intricate biological meat puppet, but with your passion for something nature and the outdoors, a sport, a price, whatever it is. You immediately end up being bigger than on your own.

And that is something you're squashed will not be able to disregard something. 99.9% of ladies find resistible. It's what makes you one-of-a-kind and establishes you in addition to the remainder? So if you're unsure what your passion is, or if you've simply been disregarding it recently, see to it you get it back on the front burner and also make it a priority today.

Do not bury on your own. Academic studies of destination are numerous and the extent is extremely wide, yet there is one item of common ground that scientists continually find concerning the legislation of attraction. And that is that also in the 21st century of online dating and also social media folks often tend to come to be brought in to those they're around and interact with routinely.

Like classmates colleagues or colleagues one huge and all too typical blunder alpha men often make is to cut themselves off from opportunity while they're out there in the world, kicking ass and also taking names much lesser guys are scooping up the single women simply because they're present in quest of their passion and obtain shit done.

This, they neglect to require time off to put themselves out there, which leads us to our last verdict. The fastest way to drive females away is to be chronically preoccupied with your daily grind and ultimately inaccessible. So bear in mind. Quit working so hard periodically, it is very important to pause and put on your own out there to develop an opportunity for your crush to notice you.

Or if you don't have a crush after that to go find one in the first place, gents, today, we're revealing you 12, purely instinctive, absolutely subconscious indications that a woman likes you by this point. You recognize, it's not always easy to understand if a lady is actually interested. Is she playing games or is it genuine?

What could be chemistry field flirtation for one lady? May only be standard run of the mill kindness for an additional. Which's why today we're showing you 12 subconscious indications of tourist attraction and also the one shateringly obvious indicator that a girl is most definitely not brought in to you. Number 12, she breaks from her besties.

Hey, have you ever before saw exactly how girls constantly start the night out by only dancing with each other? The reason for that is due to the fact that they feel most comfy with their closest friends. Which in many cases is other girls, yet it's a legislation of nature. A girl in her team are hard to divide. Not just are they usually friends, yet they likewise act as kind of bodyguards for each other by keeping away any type of undesirable attention.

So what are we getting at women stick together at the very least semi unconsciously out of a feeling of safety and security. And also what that suggests is that if a lady you're talking with separate herself from her squad to socialize with you alone, you far better think she's interested due to the fact that not just is she leaving the enjoyable crew that she was available in with, she's also revealing her buddies that she recognizes she remains in excellent hands with you.

And also they don't have to worry. Number 11, the following in the huge, large bulk of instances, body movement, isn't only non-verbal, it's additionally mainly non-conscious. As well as most of the moment it informs you every little thing you need to know. So, what should you try to find first? One of the greatest, many fundamental body language giveaways, when it involves tourist attraction is to merely lean or fall in towards the other individual.

Think about it. The women fall in to obtain closer to men. They do not such as possibly not. To make sure that indicates if she's literally leaning in your direction, even if it's from a considerable range. She's probably feeling your ambiance. Number 10, answer seeking. Right here's something to remember the following time you speak with a woman prior to you obtain a possibility to state anything, that girl has actually instantly unconsciously developed a story about you in her mind.

However the only thing exists are unavoidably some components on the story that are missing out on. Now, if she doesn't appreciate the missing out on parts, she'll carry on and will not seem fascinating. Yet if she's interested. The only point entrusted to do is to obtain some of those inquiries responded to. So if you're speaking with a girl as well as she keeps looking for out more regarding you, that's virtually most definitely due to the fact that she's allow her interest lug her away towards view number 9, face exploration, as you recognize, well, over fifty percent of communication is entirely non-verbal as well as ground zero for that quiet and also subconscious communication is what takes place through facial expression.

Just like a woman will certainly constantly find a way to obtain her inquiries answered regarding you. She'll also be exploring your face to discover as high as she can. And the reason is easy. While your words claim one thing, your facial expressions speak on a different degree. And in a lot of cases, a more honest one. So if she appears focused on your eyes and mouth and also your nose as well as cheeks, it's not since she's attempting to make you stress over nose hairs or that area is cutting today.

It's simply her naturally attempting to discover your quirks. You understand, the little things she actually likes about you as well as how you truly feel. Number 8, she's a soft group. Here's a real age, old examination of subconscious destination. Next time you're with a lady, claim something, you know, is in fact sort of stupid, not clearly stupid, but just a little, you recognize, low initiative.

If she giggles immediately, you recognize, she enjoys you, you may've noticed this with other individuals, a woman laughing as well as smiling at a person that actually hasn't stated anything. All that amusing. Well, right here's the thing regarding making a lady laugh. A lot of the moment, what you claim does not even require to be unbelievably amusing or perhaps that original, since 9 times out of 10, below's, what's truly occurring behind the scenes.

When a girl laughs at something you claim it's usually driven by the truth that she's enduring purposely strengthening the tourist attraction. That's currently there. Basically. She currently suches as, you intends to make fun of right stuff you claim to see to it she remains to like you. No, as with everything in life, there are exemptions to the policy, yet if she's simple to get a laugh out of, that's commonly good information.

Number 7, stoke matching. Almost the only point far better than speaking with a woman you like is to talk to a lady that's equally excited to speak to you in the dating video game. That's, what's known as chemistry and all chemistry begins and also upright an entirely subconscious level. So exactly how can you tell if a girl is thrilled to chat?

Well, there are a couple of means. If you message, she texts back rather swiftly. If you see each other in public, she does not wait to find up as well as say hi, and if you approach her, she makes a few adjustments to her position, her hair, or her clothing. Exhilaration takes lots of types, gents. However if you pick up that she's eager to speak or amazed by your attention, that's what you want to see.

Number 6 sensory override touch is among those things that's driven by a pretty primal part of the brain before we ever before also talk. We learn how to communicate with get in touch with first and not just do people require to be touched, they likewise need to touch so much. So actually, That when our restraints are overwritten by something like claim solid destination, we'll touch without also thinking of it.

Now as a whole, our culture has a tendency to be rather touchy about touch and for good reason, due to the fact that also for ladies relatively innocent touching can be high-risk. Generally, girls are on high alert and also totally mindful about how they literally involve with others. All to say that if a woman is touching you, it's because her natural need to get closer is outweighing a rather engaging need to be careful.

Hey people, if you like my knowledge, keep watching because we have actually obtained 5 more signals that a lady unconsciously likes you. As well as at the end of this video clip, we're going to show you one extremely misinterpreted signal. That individuals generally miss out on. All right, allow's start. Number 5. Conceal off for the same reasons why women might hold back on touching a person.

They such as, she may also maintain her faces from handing out her tourist attraction. Generally women camouflage their interest by sort of squashing out their expressions, straight lips, neutral eyebrow line, marginal movement all around, you understand it, when you see it. And also it becomes part of the reason why. Some women get the online reputation of being a little cold.

In some cases it's simply how it is. So what does that mean for you? It implies that if a lady is smiling, raising her eyebrows, making eye get in touch with, and essentially lifting up her facial expressions with the timeless signs of overlooked passions. It's due to the fact that she's determined that you're a hero. She can rely on sufficient to let her safeguard down.

Number 4, the auto look. All right currently. This one's a classic while repeated as well as extended eye contact is clearly an excellent thing. There's one other, widely known absolutely subconscious free gift that a woman sent to you modify is the laugh and appearance or what we such as to call the vehicle appearance. Right here's exactly how it works.

The next time you're in a group of the woman. See if you can find where she looks, when something amusing takes place, if it's you who she's checking out, that's her naturally choosing you to share that enjoyable moment with this is a body movement sensation. That's quite well-documented by psychologists. People in a group,

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Stone Soup 2020

This reflection was written for the Washington Ethical Society by Lyn Cox, November 22, 2020.

In the story of Stone Soup, we learn we are more powerful and resilient together than we are alone, and that however small we think our gifts are, they are a beautiful and necessary ingredient in the larger whole. Liz James makes a good point that we often miss opportunities because we haven’t noticed the beauty of our own gifts. It is also true that sometimes we hold back out of a feeling of scarcity, or because we’re not sure what else will be asked of us once we open up. We can tell by how many different versions of this folk tale are in existence that the legend of Stone Soup is rich with meaning. Just like a soup with many ingredients, a tale with many tellers has subtle notes and surprising flavors that we can keep discovering year after year. Today, I’d like to talk about appreciation and abundance.

Felix Adler knew that recognizing human worth is part of the project of moral uplift. He said, "May the humanity that is within every human being be held precious. The vice that underlies all vices is that we are held cheap by others, and far worse, that in our innermost soul we think cheaply of ourselves."

Adler exhorts us to appreciate each other and ourselves.

The Washington Ethical Society Community Relations Pact includes a commitment to “express gratitude readily and accept appreciation graciously.” You already know that appreciating one another and the staff is an act that lifts everyone up, and helps us to bring out the best in each other by reinforcing what is joyful, beautiful, and supportive of our shared mission. In a community as large as WES, especially when we’re mainly a virtual community, it can be hard to figure out how to participate, how to be part of the interactions and responses that help shape this poetry in motion. Positive feedback is an extremely effective way to do that. Appreciation increases energy and resilience. You know that. You voted on it.

What might be less obvious is the part about accepting appreciation graciously. When someone offers positive feedback, or even a simple greeting, take a moment and allow yourself to be known. We can’t always see each other face to face, even when we’re on video it’s tricky to figure out eye contact. An email, a chat message, an emoji, these small acts of kindness are worth noticing and celebrating. And when messages go out to the whole community, it may not feel personal, but the appreciation expressed for your dedication, your care, your simply being -- those sentiments are sincere. Thank you for being part of WES. Yes, I mean you.

Even less obvious is appreciating yourself. Please know that you are a precious creature of worth. Even before we get into what different people bring to this community or the world, you don’t have to earn your designation as a human being. I think it is easier to be part of something larger than ourselves when we start with the knowledge that we reach out from a place of inherent worth.

We’ve just been through Transgender Day of Remembrance, and I am reminded all over again that there are beloveds who don’t know that they are valued, who are shown by state-sanctioned violence and discrimination that they don’t matter, and the results are deadly. We have to do better at protecting our most marginalized beloveds, particularly Trans women of color, and we have to do better at building a world where every person knows that they are beautiful, valued, and loved. Here, we do our best to create a community where every person can be their whole selves, with all of who they are in terms of culture, race, gender, family shape, language, and ability.

People do not have to “contribute” to have inherent worth, and it’s still lovely to notice when people do offer gifts to the community. It is not mutually exclusive to appreciate people for simply being and to appreciate the time, talent, creativity, and resources that someone has intentionally made available to benefit others. In some retellings of Stone Soup, people bring things to the table that are unusual, things their neighbors would not have thought to add to soup. Maybe it’s some tart fruit that ends up adding tantalizing acidity to the soup, or something briny like capers that gives a surprise spark of salt, or some chickpeas to add body to the broth. Sometimes, but not often, Stone Soup retellings take place in a community where different families have different food traditions, and the resulting fusion creates a soup that is an entirely new culinary snapshot of that community in that place and time. Each person’s presence makes a difference.

Appreciation of others requires a certain amount of humility, recognizing that none of us can do and be all of the things that our communities need at the same time. We are each of us always learning, there are things we have not experienced and do not know. Humility does not necessarily mean self-deprecation. We can know that we are people of worth, and that the things we are in the process of learning are valuable talents to offer, while still admiring and appreciating others. You being your whole self, making mistakes so that you can keep learning to draw out your best talents, combines with your neighbor being their whole selves and being allowed to learn and grow in their talents, until we have a learning and growing community where works-in-progress are appreciated and encouraged.

Felix Adler spoke about how ethics is a cooperative endeavor, that we need each other in our uniqueness. He said, "People may be said to resemble not the bricks of which a house is built, but the pieces of a picture puzzle, each differing in shape, but matching the rest, and thus bringing out the picture."

Let’s go on appreciating the unique shapes of our neighbors, and the bit of the puzzle that we each bring, remembering that this puzzle is a living thing with constantly shifting pictures and shapes. Let’s find ways to affirm the shapes and pictures and flavors that are present in each fleeting moment.

Another value that Stone Soup reminds us of is abundance. In a scarcity mentality, we anticipate dividing up the resources that are apparently before us, with the expectation that it will not be enough. In an abundance mentality, we imagine what could be, and open our minds to the possibility that there may be resources we have not yet noticed. In an abundance framework, we use our time and our resources creatively, we find new applications for items and knowledge available among us, we remember what we are here to do.

Something I wonder about the village in the Stone Soup story is about their purpose for being a village. Why are their homes gathered together? Is it for convenience? Safety in numbers? Is it because political forces have pushed them together? Have they gathered to share a resource like fresh water or good soil? Are they in that area as stewards, caring for a sacred place? It is possible that part of the reason the villagers have stopped valuing their gifts and channeling them together is because they don’t know what their shared purpose might be.

The Stone Soup experience suggests that, whatever brought them together originally, the villagers might find new purpose as a result of this shift in perspective. Having a “why” can unleash energy, creativity, and unity. As the soup begins to cook, the villagers find a temporary purpose in curiosity. This is enough of a goal to help them to see their individual carrots and solitary noodles with new eyes. It is enough of a purpose to inspire action.

Abundance, coupled with purpose, helps us to overcome feelings of helplessness or despair. The people of the village didn’t seem happy at the beginning, or very active. Maybe hunger had made it more difficult to think, or maybe fear of scarcity was driving them apart. Coming together for a common goal reminds us that, even when we are individually limited, collectively we have power.

As we retell Stone Soup in these socially distant times, it is natural to long for the days when we can again safely gather in person. In a moment, we’ll see a video montage that includes photos of past celebrations. It’s OK to be happy about the memories and also sad that we can’t celebrate the same way today. But let’s also appreciate the gifts we have now, and those we have discovered as we have been forced to come up with new solutions. WES is more accessible than ever to those who live at a distance, or who have trouble with mobility. There are people who have never before been able to be part of a vibrant, humanistic congregation, and who now are just as much a part of the Platform experience as someone who lives in Shepherd Park. Let’s not lose our renewed purpose of inclusivity as we re-imagine a post-COVID future.

Given the challenges of planning a virtual Stone Soup, I wonder if one of the reasons the villagers fell into scarcity is because the world changed around them, and they weren’t sure how to adapt. They would have needed a new source of motivation when they couldn’t keep doing things the way they had always been done. They would have needed a new way to apply the talents they had developed under an old paradigm. They would have needed a way to encourage each other to try new things for this new world, to learn and grow imperfectly, with appreciation and acceptance.

Our experience of the last eight months tells us that none of that is easy. I know many of us are tired. Some of us have had economic and health challenges that need not have affected us as deeply in a society with a stronger safety net. Learning how to navigate a new world, even a temporary world when we don’t know how long it will last, is exhausting.

Yet here you are, seeking ways to practice abundance. You sent pictures of food and stones. You sent recipes, over 30 last I heard, which will be emailed to members in a PDF recipe book later today. Some of our Middle School families offered their talent for the story. Maybe there are days when you can’t focus on creating something, but you can begin with appreciating someone; that makes room for abundance, too. This community, collectively, has resources and skills and curiosity and creativity that can carry you into the future. There is abundance here, ready to be coupled with purpose.

The Washington Ethical Society is a precious and valuable community, comprised of beloved people. You are worthy just as you are. If you have gifts you want to share, skills you want to develop, a heart for caring, WES and the world will be made better by your generosity of spirit. We make room by appreciating each other as well as honoring our own gifts. We make way for the future with abundance and purpose. May it be so.

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sinhly16A Trip Back in Time: How People Talked About do choi tinh duc 20 Years Ago

For those seeking grown-up sex playthings for sale, adult enjoyment store in New York might be a great selection. Several grown-up services in New York and also New Jacket can gain from hot gambling enterprise video game nights.

Lots of adult shops in New Jersey and New York can likewise benefit from bingo evening. We are among the only adult shops in Jersey to supply such a fun night for our clients. It is important for an attractive and also enjoyable evening to be open to everyone.

When picking a grown-up home entertainment store in New York, you need to look for those who offer attractive adult playthings. The same is true when purchasing any type of type of adult toy in a grown-up home entertainment store. You need to pick a reputable service that offers the very best grown-up sex toys for sale.

Several of the most effective locations to discover grown-up sex playthings to buy are online and in the classified ads. Make sure that the company you are thinking about has a wonderful credibility. It is necessary to research study prior to purchasing a grown-up sex toy. If an organization does not have testimonials, it is time to carry on.

When you are considering adult sex playthings to buy, you will want to discover a store that offers a variety of products. If you are considering buying a number of different items, make certain you recognize the dimension of the things. Make sure you do not buy a large plaything just to figure out that it is as well small.

The most effective grown-up sex playthings for sale can be discovered in on-line shops. These stores are convenient for those who have busy way of lives. A fantastic many ladies make use of the Internet to buy intimate products that they need and want.

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Since these on the internet stores are convenient, they are a fantastic source for those who are seeking adult toys. A wonderful option is readily available for those that want a selection of items. Adult shops that market attractive adult toys have a benefit over various other kinds of businesses due to the fact that they can conserve cash and also give their customers numerous options.

There are lots of factors that people select to purchase sexual things and there are a selection of reasons that people acquisition intimate products. While the majority of people purchase items on their own, some purchase these products for their partner.

If you have an interest in providing your partner something special to enjoy, you may choose to acquire sexual products to seasoning points up. The purchase of sensual products is frequently an enjoyable means to flavor things up with your companion.

If you are wed and you intend to flavor points up with your partner then you might want to think of purchasing some grown-up products with each other. When you buy erotic items with each other, you can take pleasure in the business and also share your passions with your partner.

When you are purchasing a selection of products, you will certainly find that you are saving a lot of money. Not just can you conserve a lot of money, but you will certainly likewise be able to enjoy.

You can buy different sex playthings for various objectives. Some people might intend to have something small that you can keep as a sex plaything for yourself while others could desire something more advanced. As soon as you have a suggestion of what you want to purchase for your lover, it is very easy to browse through all the different sex playthings offer for sale as well as pick the things that you need.

It is an impressive fact that sex playthings are made for grownups as well as not kids. This truth alone talks quantities in the value of having sex playthings.

Youngsters are innocent adequate to think that sex is something that they can do with their friends without being as well "significant". The truth is that there is a significant distinction between being with close friends and being along with an additional individual for the remainder of your life.

The distinction between adults and youngsters is so large that the suggestion of making use of sex playthings is more than a little bit absurd. Children would certainly never ever imagine what the pleasures of the art of sex could do to them. Grownups are totally unaware of the satisfaction that are entailed.

There is something so addicting concerning the sensation of enjoyment that a grown-up obtains from the experience. It can make an adult feel like they get on top of the world, yet it can likewise lead an adult to commit some very unsavory activities.

Sex toys are made to help an adult to take pleasure in the enjoyments of a sexual experience in a fashion that is healthier than various other types of pleasure. When utilized correctly, these playthings can aid the grown-up focus on the pleasures of love rather than getting captured up in the act itself.

Sex playthings are becoming extra mainstream everyday. They are becoming a lot more offered, which makes them extra obtainable to everyone.

For this reason they are ending up being a fantastic present idea. If you understand somebody who has actually recently become sexually energetic as well as who is not pleased with the quantity of sex they have actually been having, after that you may wish to take into consideration providing a gift. These presents are typically little items that will include in their pleasure.

Sex playthings are a present that can be gotten by anybody. Whether you have sex toys for yourself or for someone else, you will locate that they are one of the most effective gifts that you can offer.

Sex playthings are great for supplying an individual with all of the enjoyment that they might be missing out on. In a lot of cases they can enhance the experience that you have when you are with your partner or offer you with the pleasure that you might be missing out on while you are alone.

Several adults don't recognize that there is plenty of enjoyment that originates from using sex toys to help them appreciate their bodies. These playthings can assist grownups delight in much better orgasms, much more intense sex, and also longer climaxes, and also far more pleasure.

Sex playthings are used by many individuals to try and transform the manner in which they really feel about their bodies. In many cases an adult could be embarrassed by the size of their penis, the length of their orgasm, the dimension of their g or even the amount of excitement that they receive.

They may believe that there is something wrong with them that they are unable to satisfy their partners. Sex toys can assist you transform all of this.

Sex playthings are just one little do choi tinh duc nam nu plaything that can give an individual a new lease on life. They can provide the type of excitement that they require to rekindle the enthusiasm in their sex lives.

One of the largest concerns that a couple has in the room is that of dullness. Sex playthings can assist to offer a couple the kind of lovemaking that they as soon as had, however in a way that will certainly enable them to reach delight in the intimacy that they once had.

There are several ways that sex playthings can assist to enhance a person's life. These playthings can provide excitement that is simply not possible through making use of another individual. Sex toys are great for bringing some fun back right into a bedroom after long days or weeks of sex that is plain and lifeless.

The good thing regarding these toys is that they are very easy to bring into a room. You can bring them right into the bed room with you and also just take turns using them.

Some adults do not also require sex playthings in order to have a pleasurable sex life. There is no demand to purchase them, because there are a lot of various toys around that can be utilized. As well as enjoyed in their own.

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betku1 The No. 1 Question Everyone Working in soi cầu miền bắc Should Know How to Answer

As stated formerly, there are several options when it involves play online casino for money online. Among the most preferred and most convenient ways to play on the internet casino is by joining a website that gives you with all your pc gaming needs. These sites usually bill a regular monthly cost or an once membership fee, and also most of the times you obtain every little thing you require to play with. However, for those that just wish to begin playing, there are various other options readily available to you too.

Numerous new gamers to this world frequently make the blunder of leaping right into the game and losing every little thing. This takes place because new players are typically very delighted to start playing, yet don't know what to do once they enter. It can be hard for new gamers to decide if they need to go done in or attempt to ride out the action. For these players, there are various websites around where they can play casino for cash.

For beginners, there are lots of sites that provide totally free gambling establishment video games or various other incentives to obtain them started. Some websites will certainly allow you play with actual cash for a pair weeks prior to needing you to pay a one time charge to play.

For the leading level players, there are many web sites that have unique reward games that require you to play a specific amount of coins prior to you can win. The games are normally extremely basic and easy to understand, and they are normally made to make sure that they provide the optimum enjoyment for gamers while they find out exactly how to play the game at a high level.

If you have an interest in playing for genuine money, there are also sites that will require you to pay an once charge to come to be a participant, then you will certainly be able to begin playing with actual money. The games are harder, however it can help to give you a far better idea of what it takes to play online.

There are also some sites where you can have fun with digital cash for an entire week before they offer you the chance to get soi cầu miền nam kubet back a couple of coins if you lose. These websites have more of a risk involved, it can be an excellent way to familiarize yourself with exactly how the site works. The one point to bear in mind regarding these games is that they can be fairly habit forming. and also they are a fantastic means to spend a few hours playing on the internet video games without in fact playing real money.

Websites like these can be a fantastic area to get the essentials down as well as see if this is an actual pastime you would certainly delight in. If you have actually never played previously, you will wish to see to it that you recognize the regulations and how the game is played in order to avoid making blunders as well as wrecking your possibilities of winning.

While this can be risky, it can additionally be a fun method to spend some time away from the computer system and obtain some workout by playing online genuine money. You can additionally find out if there are several other individuals around who share your rate of interests. It can be a fantastic way to network in the cyber world, and also it can be a wonderful way to interact socially too!

Some of these sites will allow you to select from a variety of different tables. This indicates that you can locate the very best table that suits you. Some websites will supply a number of various tables for you to play in. If you like a particular game, this is a great means to try out that game prior to you invest any real cash on it.

The excellent feature of these websites is that they will offer you with details on the different online casino video games. You can learn what video games to bet on, when to bet them, and also just how much of a chance you have of winning at each game, and also how much time it will certainly require to win them.

A lot of websites will certainly allow you to sign up for a make up their online video games for free. The site will usually give you all the games you desire as well as also let you send out in some feedback prior to they start betting actual money.

Many people need to know just how to play gambling establishment roulette as well as have actually been unsuccessful in their mission. The reason

why many people have been unsuccessful is that most individuals who need to know exactly how to play casino live roulette don't comprehend the method which a live roulette wheel functions, so that they won't have the ability to pick out the probabilities they need to be effective.

Casino live roulette is a lottery. You are simply betting the quantity of cash you carry each wager. So, in order to win you have to wager greater than you bet.

As you can visualize there are hundreds of different online casinos where you can play. Each online casino has its own distinct system. The casino live roulette system might differ between the different online casinos. Some gambling enterprises will allow you to spin the live roulette wheel by yourself, while others might desire you to use the aid of a device. If you are using a machine it will certainly have the exact same chances as each device at the casino.

If you wish to discover how to play casino site roulette the initial thing you must do is understand the concept of the live roulette wheel. This is primarily the form of the live roulette wheel. Every gambling establishment roulette wheel is developed differently. Some have a single wheel, while some have 3 or 4 wheels. This is a feature that permits the gambling establishment to establish the chances.

The concept of the roulette wheel is to allow the casino site to figure out the very best chances. So it is important to comprehend the principle behind this video game prior to you start playing. One vital variable is the method the online casino determines the odds. You need to make certain that you do not choose a roulette wheel that is also very easy for you.

An additional crucial thing to recognize concerning the roulette wheel is the method it works when you are spinning it. To recognize this you need to realize that the wheels are not all alike. Each gambling establishment's wheel is different as well as is made in a different way, so when rotating a wheel you will require to know how the wheel is created.

When you recognize exactly how the roulette wheel works, it ought to be easier to locate the kind of wheel that suits your needs. Some people find that a rotating wheel is simpler to learn to spin. Some individuals find that it is harder.

So if you want learning how to play casino site roulette, you will certainly need to discover just how to spin the wheel on a spinning wheel to ensure that you can see the numbers. You will additionally need to learn how to consider the wheel and choose which ones you like the most effective.

After you recognize how to spin the live roulette wheel you can move on to the following part. The following thing you will certainly need to recognize is exactly how the wheel is utilized and also what the chances are of winning. The more you learn about the wheel the less complicated it will certainly be to identify just how to bet on the wheel.

The factor that you require to know just how to spin the wheel is because every casino has a special manner in which they make use of the wheel to give the gamers the odds. Of course you need to use the chances to determine which method to spin the wheel to get the probabilities that you desire. The chances are not the precise same for every single casino.

You will likewise require to recognize what you can win when you play the wheel. A good rule of thumb is to attempt to win in between 10% and also 20% of the bets you put.

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The best method to learn is to get your hands on a publication that instructs you regarding the game. These publications will certainly give you ideas on where to put the bets, when to make them, and also all the regulations that you require to recognize. You'll additionally discover plenty of video clips revealing you the various facets of the video game. The majority of people who are brand-new to playing online casino never have a chance to see these video clips before they start.

Discovering the different facets of gambling enterprise gambling is additionally another means to find out. If you have friends that such as to play or even have a good friend who is good at the video game, you can pick up from them as well as take their techniques with you. There are numerous books on the marketplace that explain the different strategies. An individual that knows the worth of the card values as well as the probabilities of winning might be able to select a great card or wager in particular scenarios. Others may not know concerning these methods, as well as you'll be able to show them what to do.

The best way to discover is by being around the video game while it's going on. You might not have the ability to understand the methods, yet you'll obtain a lot out of the experience. You might have the ability to take a few lessons with an expert at your local casino. Or you might attend among the local gambling establishments that have a finding out center.

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If you want to discover to play an online casino for cash, after that you can obtain some training online or at your neighborhood casino site. If you are simply aiming to discover the essentials of the game, then you can locate publications that have sufficient information to obtain you began. Nonetheless, if you wish to learn the whole video game, you might intend to take into consideration enrolling in an online training course that will certainly permit you to learn every little thing you need to know about playing the game from top to bottom.

No matter where you find out to play an online casino, it is crucial that you do not simply leap in head. because you will certainly have a great deal of fun if you discover at a sluggish pace. Finding out the video game needs to be satisfying, not a chore.

With a little persistence and technique you'll be able to learn and be playing the video games you like quickly. So get the sphere rolling!

If you intend to learn to play online poker, after that you can start by learning the guidelines of the game. After that, as soon as you recognize exactly how the hands work, you can discover just how to pick the most effective bets and you'll prepare to play the video game.

When you've discovered the standard casino site policies, you can relocate onto playing roulette. In this situation you'll intend to discover the probabilities, which is the chance of the player winning.

When you have actually grasped the basics of the game, you can start discovering the various kinds of betting. games. There are many video games and so numerous methods to play the video games, so you must never lack things to find out.

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Once in a Lifetime

Chapter Eleven: La Minaccia

Pairing: Leonardo/Arabella

Word Count:

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           Have we made any progress?

           I haven’t seen the new samples. Do we still have them?

           I gave them to Leonardo.

           Old boy, where are you?

           Leonardo tried not to sigh. He understood bringing some of the others in, that having help was a good thing. More minds, more ideas. But the group chat gave him a headache. They’re in my room, he sent back. Get Sebas to get them but leave the one by the window.

           He saw Arthur immediately start typing, but he knew what question was coming and put away his phone. They didn’t need to know where he was. He’d told Saint-Germain he would give him his time and he was. He was working with the others to find an answer, but he refused to give up what time he had with Arabella. That was theirs, completely and wholly theirs.

           The only reason he had even answered was because she had stepped away for a moment. He wasn’t going to take his attention away from her when she was with him so the others would have to wait.

           A quiet huff left him. He’d only seen her a handful of times since that first dinner, not nearly as much as he wanted. It had occurred to him on one of the long, lonely nights without her how convenient it had been the first time around, what with her in the mansion as they’d fallen in love. And how it wasn’t even remotely an option now. As much as he would love to know she was simply down the hall from him, it wasn’t in the cards at the moment. So they had dates. Spread too far apart for his liking and-

           “Sorry about that.”

           Leonardo shook his head, smiling as Arabella rejoined him. “Nothing to be sorry for.”

           She took his hand without prompting, something both of them had taken to doing since that first date. No matter what they were doing, if they could hold hands they would. “Do you want to go back in?”

           “Are you going to let me take it?”

           “No!” she laughed.

           “It’s mine.”

           “It really isn’t! Not anymore!”

           “I made it,” he grumbled but it was an act. He knew he could take any of them, even if they looked horrible, but he wanted to. Maybe to clean, maybe to do better.

           Arabella shook her head and pulled on his hand. “Maybe we should go then. I’d like to come back some time and we won’t be able to if you steal the Mona Lisa.”

           He made a show of dragging his heels, but her laughter made him smile and ruined the effect. He didn’t bother pointing out that they hadn’t finished their game because he was enjoying being with her more than having an answer. “Should do another painting,” he mused.

           A curious sound left her, interest lighting up her eyes, and he grinned.

           “Could use a model. Care to pose nude for me?” he teased.

           She blinked once before a sly smile crossed her face. “There are other ways to get my clothes off, Leonardo,” she murmured. “But I’ll pose for you if you really want me to.”

           Had she…just called his bluff? Was it even a bluff? Her gaze was utterly wicked and setting him on fire. “Careful, Bella,” he warned as they stepped outside. “I’ll think you’re being serious if you say that.”

           “Weren’t you serious?”

           Damn him. Giving in, he tugged her to him, hand cupping the back of her head, and kissed her. She purred, leaning into him and returning it readily, until he pulled away. He wanted to nibble on that lower lip as she pushed it out, keep kissing it until she was gasping, but standing in front of the Louvre wasn’t the place for it.

           Arabella stared up at him, desire and frustration lurking in her eyes. She slowly swept her tongue over her lips and murmured, “Is that a no about posing then?”

           He let out a slow breath, holding her close. “It isn’t a no, cara mia, but I’ll need to get ready.”

           She leaned further into him, not looking away. “For the painting?” She paused and smiled wickedly up at him. “Or me naked?”

           The growl left him without thought and her smile widened. Before either of them could say anything more, his phone buzzed between them.

           Arabella glanced down. “Do you need to get that?”

           He needed to get them out of sight even if that wasn’t the smartest idea. “No,” he finally said.

           Her brows went up when it buzzed again.

           “Right now I’m yours, Bella. Ignore it. I am.”

           She studied him before stretching against him and brushing her mouth over his. “Only right now?” she teased.

           For eternity, Bella. “Your family would frown on me stealing you away.”

           Laughing, she leaned away from him. It was probably good that she thought he was joking. “Do you want to go to the gardens?” she asked.

           A walk through might be best to try to calm down. Or he’d find a quiet place to kiss her again. But she was unaware of his thoughts as he didn’t suggest anything else and led him forward.

           He followed her as she started toward the gardens, but he couldn’t shake their earlier conversation. Was she truly serious? Would she let him paint her like that? She’d gotten used to him sketching her, but he’d only done one proper painting of her before. A grave mistake he should remedy as soon as possible.

           He’d teased once of draping her in his colours, but he’d never done it properly. He was going to now. As soon as he had the chance, he was going to.

           As they walked, his desire receded back to the steady burn he normally felt for her and some of the tension left him. Her enjoyment of their surroundings helped, her joy at seeing something new overshadowing almost everything else. He didn’t comment as she pulled out her phone to take pictures, excitedly talking to him about what was around them.

           It was…strange thinking about the fact that this Arabella had lived a life so different from the one he’d known. The one that had come through the door had seen the world, both with her family and on her own. She’d travelled to so many places, told him so many stories of what the modern versions of places he knew were like. From their shared birthplace in Italy to the far corners of Asia to the tip of Africa. Even if she hadn’t been, she’d known at least a little about it and been so happy to talk about it with him in the quiet moments.

           How many times had they been tucked together-snuggled she liked to call it- and whiled away the hours simply talking? Every moment he had with her was a fond memory, but those moments when she would let herself get carried away in her stories were his favourites. The life that had come into her eyes and her voice had lit him up from the inside. The joy she found in things had reignited his curiosity for them. Which was what she was now doing again.

           Leonardo looked at her, listening as she talked about the arc they’d walked through, pointing at sections of the garden that they could see coming up. This Arabella had that same joy, that same fire, but this time it wasn’t because she was sharing her knowledge. No, this was because she was experiencing it for the first time and he was sharing that with her. Or rather, she was sharing it with him, letting him get a small glimpse of how happy she actually was.

           He’d told her that she was the only one he wanted to be happy with and he hadn’t lied. He knew his happiness was tied to hers, but seeing this unbridled joy in her, feeling it warm his skin, made him realise just how much he had missed her. He’d thought he’d been alright, but he was realising how lonely he’d been in the last century without her. Memories were good and he loved every single one that they’d had together. But having her back in his life was showing him how foolish he’d been to think he still wasn’t facing a lonely eternity without her.

           His hand tightened on hers as they passed the first fountain and he barely heard what she said about it.

           “Leonardo?”

           Her soft question pulled him out of his thoughts and he saw her staring up at him. “Scusa, cara mia,” he said, making himself smile and stroking her cheek. “Said my time was yours but I got caught up.”

           “Should you answer those texts?”

           He shook his head, not even thinking about them.

           She reached up, pushing his hair back and running her fingers through it. “Do you want to go to one of the cafes?” she asked. “Maybe sit for a little bit?”

           Leaning down, he let his forehead bump against hers and sighed. He breathed her in, grateful she let him take this moment. There was too much in his head, too many memories of her and them, too many years of being alone. It wasn’t easy to separate past from present when he caught so many echoes of who she’d once been.

           He laughed quietly when she rubbed her nose against his, his heart swelling. Stealing a quick kiss from her, he enjoyed the startled chirp that left her. “Come on, Bella,” he said, leading her forward now. “Let’s look at the gardens before we sit.”

           She was still watching him, but she followed without protest as he started toward one of the thickets of trees beyond the fountain. Her silence weighed on him though. He hadn’t meant to worry her, hadn’t wanted to take away from her enjoyment of their surroundings.

           Was he bound to make her sad again in this lifetime as well?

           He shoved the thought away. He had made her happy far more times than sad in the time they’d had together. And he would do it again.

           They passed a few people on the paths but she still remained quiet. A glance showed that she was watching him, not looking at the scenery, and he sighed. “Scusa, Bella,” he said again. “Didn’t mean to make you worry.”

           “You don’t have to apologise. I care about you, Leonardo, so I’m going to worry if you’re upset.”

           Was he upset? It didn’t seem like the right word to describe what he was feeling.

           Arabella didn’t turn away from him and she reached up to stroke his cheek. “We don’t have to talk about it or we can if you want to,” she continued. “It’s up to you but I want you to know that I will listen.”

           “Cara mia….” How? How was she even more lovely than the last time?

           “Or,” she said, her voice dropping, “if you need a distraction, we could find somewhere to start that painting, mm?”

           He stared at her, knowing she was teasing and giving him a way out of the corner he’d backed himself into with his behaviour. But the thought of finding a studio, of stripping her down, of putting his hands on her to pose her the way he wanted, of-

           Leonardo pulled Arabella off the path, ignoring her giggle. It wasn’t easy to find a place to honestly keep them out of sight with the way the trees had been pruned but they were thicker here, a little more condensed. And he needed them out of sight. She couldn’t know what her words did to him, but he would gladly show her.

           Delight was on her face as he swung her into his grasp, backing her up against a tree. Her hands pressed to his chest, not to push away but resting on him as she waited.

           “You drive me mad,” he whispered. “I can’t keep my thoughts around you.”

           “Is that such a bad thing?” she murmured.

           It was when he was used to being in control. She’d been a fascinating puzzle before and she was again now. She was the same puzzle, but the shapes were different and he was slower at figuring them out from how little time they had together. And that…worried him? Scared him? Confused him to be sure.

           Her head titled to one side, the amusement fading and replaced with understanding. “We’re in this together, Leonardo,” she said softly, rubbing gently against his chest. “I don’t know what I’m doing either. Honestly, you’re like a hurricane that blew into my life and changed everything I ever knew.”

           Storms. Storms he knew. Her storm he had known so well. “I’m not the storm, Bella. You are.”

           She laughed again but it was softer this time. “I’m hardly a storm.”

           He didn’t like that look on her face, like she didn’t think herself fascinating enough to be considered a storm. Leaning in, he kissed the corner of her mouth. “You’ve captivated me from the first,” he murmured, kissing her again. “Pulled me in without warning.”

           “Leonardo,” she sighed, trying to turn into his kiss.

           He avoided her lips, raining soft kisses across her face. “You have me fully caught. A willing victim to your storm.”

           “Not a victim,” she protested, still trying to catch his lips when he got too close to hers.

           “No?”

           “That makes it sound wrong. I can’t explain it but…I don’t like it.”

           Leonardo leaned back, looking into those storm grey eyes. Desire was there, maybe even something more, but it was tinged with a hint of frustration. “Not a victim,” he said quietly. “What would you like me to be?”

           She immediately looked away but he didn’t miss how her skin darkened across her cheeks.

           A slow smile curved his mouth and he leaned in to nuzzle against her warm skin. “What are you thinking, cara mia?” he purred. “I can see you blushing.”

           Grey eyes peeked back at him and his breath caught at the possessive look in them. “I want you to be mine,” she whispered, her voice quiet but firm.

           Forget his breath catching; his heart nearly stopped at those words. He could remember so many times when he would be possessive over her, talking of making her his, and she so rarely got possessive back. Always saying she liked how free he was, how she couldn’t take that away from him. Yet here she was…wanting to lay claim to him. “Bella….”

           She frowned as she faced him. “I guess I do know what I want,” she said softly. “You.”

           Heart stopping? No, no, his heart was pounding to the point he could barely hear her. Instead of answering, he kissed her. He poured everything he was feeling into it, the love, confusion, frustration, loneliness, everything he had to give he gave. Her fingers curled into his shirt, pulling him closer, and she eagerly kissed him back. Hungrily. What he gave her…she gave back.

           Breaking the kiss for only a moment, he fit his mouth against hers again, drowning in how she opened for him. There was no hesitation in her kiss, she was willingly giving him everything she had. Anything he wanted, she was giving. His heart ached at how much he wanted from her, how much he wanted all of her again.

           How was it possible to love someone more desperately than he had before?

           Pressing her further into the tree, he let her have a moment to catch her breath, nuzzling against her cheek and covering the soft skin in kisses. These dates in public were starting to be too much. He wanted to be alone with her, somewhere private where they didn’t have to hide, didn’t have to stop, didn’t have to-

           “Do you hear that?” Arabella said suddenly, looking around.

           He couldn’t hear much over how his heart was pounding. He didn’t want to move away from her, even when she pushed on his chest. Stepping into her, he kept her pinned to the tree and kissed her temple. “Cara mia, look at me,” he breathed.

           She shuddered at the desire in his voice he didn’t bother concealing and turned to him, arms winding around his neck. “Leonardo, I-”

           “Mrow!”

           Leonardo froze at the loud, insistent meow that was swiftly followed by something batting at his pant leg. A glance showed a dark fluffball swatting at his ankle. A cat? “Hey, hey,” he said quickly when it gave up attacking him and decided to try climbing his leg.

           Arabella laughed as he moved to catch the little thing. “Where did she come from?”

           How could he know? Holding onto the cat, his eyes narrowed as it began chewing on his fingers. “The depths of hell?” he suggested as it bit him, tail thrashing.

           She smacked his arm. “Don’t say that. She’s just a baby!”

           Leonardo gave her a sidelong glance. “She’s a menace, cara mia.”

           Rolling her eyes, she reached for the terror. Before he could pull away, Arabella scooped it up and gently dislodged its grip on him. “See?” she said as the kitten immediately calmed down.

           He rubbed his fingers, watching it warily. It was purring as Arabella stroked between its ears, the sound offkey and a little broken. But the soft look on her face wiped away his ire at losing her attention and being bitten. “Looks good on you, Bella,” he said quietly.

           “Hmm?” she asked, looking at him quizzically.

           He had meant her smile, the happiness there on her face so lovely, but he gestured at the kitten.

           “Oh, I can’t keep her.”

           That was where her thoughts went? “We could take her to a shelter or not,” he added quickly when her eyes widened.

           “She’s a black cat. People don’t like adopting black cats. We found her.”

           “Oh, no, cara mia,” Leonardo said quickly, stepping back and holding his hands up. “If one of us is taking the little devil, it’ll be you. It likes you.”

           “She’s just playful. She wouldn’t bite you if she didn’t like you and I can’t.”

           That logic didn’t make sense and he considered taking another step back. “Why not?”

           She blinked. “We weren’t allowed pets before,” she said slowly. As if realising that the rules that had governed her life before weren’t there anymore.

           “I already have a cat, Bella, so-”

           “You do? Then another shouldn’t be a bother!”

           Leonardo stared at her. Changed rules or not, he had the feeling he was going to have to fight hard to get her to take the terror.

[affiliatemark3tin9-blog]

Why Affiliate marketing online Is the greatest Solution to Begin a web based Organization

online business

If you've got educated you enough with the details readily available to us by means of the online market place, then you really should have understood by since your pursuit of a occupation within the company ladder is futile at most effective. Mainly, the theory is usually to get started as an intern, then a daily worker, then transfer as many as a supervisory and/or managerial position and finally approximately the chief degrees in the corporate organization that you are in. Personally, I have practically nothing towards this sort of aspiration as I too once dreamt of these factors myself; nonetheless, the toll it will require to obtain to precisely wherever you should be could no less than take thirty years; twenty if you are exceptionally fantastic at it.

online business

The situation is many of us won't be able to be extraordinary and apart from the fierce competitiveness in engage in, you will even have to experience the insurmountable quantity of forms, racism, favoritism, gender inequalities as well as other adverse issues as a way to basically go up the ladder. The trade-off isn't a really perfect payoff even from an optimistically assessed standpoint. For that reason I might advocate that you just begin your individual business enterprise along with the lowest priced approach to get it done is by constructing an internet online affiliate marketing website or web page.

Defining Affiliate marketing online

Online marketing is surely an uncomplicated income-generating organization method where you're taking the function of the promoter and support the producers and sellers link with all the finish buyers. It ought to be crystal clear that irrespective of whether you are taking a passive or active role in this enterprise, you happen to be in no way the originator or creator of your products/services you advertise. However , you will get a little portion of the income as compensation however. It is really mainly a 3-way relationship in between you, the vendor and also the consumer.

What Affiliate marketing online will not be

In case you get an unsolicited e-mail inviting you to be part of an affiliate community and it is really requesting an upfront payment, then you undoubtedly really need to scrutinize them and locate out no matter whether or not they're scam or legit. Go to the Better Organization Bureau (BBB) and learn about the organization, if you can't discover any, then go to internet online affiliate marketing discussion boards and dialogue boards. They might know a lot about these fraud web-sites as news spreads speedy in social media marketing and message boards. One more detail to search for is that if these people today are selling you unrelated products or something that you simply won't ever manage to use, much like the $350 "Secrets to Online marketing Success" e book or several other catchy titles; while a few are genuine nevertheless they you should not cost you that top.

The truth is it is possible to master primary internet online affiliate marketing from top rated ranking internet sites and blogs. The truth is, they could teach you a lot more beneficial data than all individuals specialised publications and DVDs that other people are selling. Getting an affiliate is free of charge after you indicator up to affiliate marketing plans as well as only issue that should actually set you back cash is web hosting, that's about $70 - $100 a calendar year for your internet affiliate marketing weblog. A handful of other fees could consist of a unique website/blog brand (optional), your electric bill; employ a blog site author (optional simply because you may compose the blogs yourself) and possibly paid advertising and marketing to market your site or weblog (optional).

Forms of Affiliate internet marketing

What's appealing about internet online affiliate marketing is that you can gain commissions in more approaches than most of the people believe. Make it possible for me to explain the 3 different forms of online marketing and the way you may make by them.

one. Unattached Affiliate internet marketing - This type of affiliate marketing will not likely have to have way too considerably operate from you, you don't even must set up an online marketing blog like those for Amazon Affiliate Courses. This really is extra like a PPC marketing and advertising (pay-per-click) where by you just clearly show affiliate adverts on web pages that permit this sort of internet marketing after which you can get yourself a commission for each click by means of that website buyers make on the adverts.

2. Relevant Internet affiliate marketing - This sort of internet marketing is exactly where you will be needed to have some amount of involvement which is where by you make an affiliate internet marketing site or web page and generally clearly show affiliate inbound links on just about all of your website/blog pages. In addition, you make a fee for every time a web user clicks via the affiliate inbound links.

3. Involved Affiliate marketing - This type of advertising and marketing may well demand you to actually use the products/services prior to deciding to create a review about them and you simply need to be able to write a more detailed and truthful evaluations.

It is possible to select from these 3 styles of affiliate marketing online procedures, but most internet affiliate marketing systems takes advantage of the sort 2 affiliate marketing online, which has some degree of involvement and on the net existence from a conclusion.

Placing the Cogs and Wheels With each other

Since you have got an notion of what online marketing is all about and what its popular pitfalls are, you happen to be wanting to commence your journey to fiscal liberty as well as a rich way of life! Online marketing is simply like every other variety of business enterprise and you'll have to plan a strategy months or even many years forward before you decide to begin, so I'll provde the fundamental technique of the best way to come to be an affiliate marketer, signing up for affiliate programs, putting together your affiliate marketing online blog site and every one of the other vital facts about it.

Methods to become an affiliate marketer:

1. Decide what area of interest subject matter you should use on your blog site or web site. It is really improved to put in writing critiques or common information regarding products/services that you're passionate about, since you can generate improved posts for them in comparison to people who you don't like. As an illustration, should you be mad about crochet or kids bicycles, then that is the niche you should pick for your personal website! Affiliate courses use a huge inventory of things on the market and they do include crochets and bicycles for just a reality. In case you are much more of your business-minded personal and you simply feel you'll be able to compose pretty much on something, then by all suggests pick the specialized niche that is most profitable among the great deal.

2. Generate your website and buy an affordable but responsible internet hosting. You don't need a internet designer to build an internet site or possibly a blog site. You may use WordPress, Weebly, Net.com, Blogger, eHost and other people to do that. Utilizing their user-friendly "click & drag" features you may create your blog/website in 5 - 10 minutes!

3. Study standard SEO and use it on your site or site. Search engine optimization or SEO is a very very good promoting system to make it possible for your web site to generally be known throughout the entire net or not less than the majority of it. If your web site is easier to locate in search engines, then it can be much more convenient for persons to visit it, and a lot more visitors indicates more revenue for you.

4. Discover social networking promoting to extend your presence on the web. In reality social media marketing advertising and marketing or SMM is also a part with the grand scheme of SEO and without it, your SEO campaign would not be as successful as you'd expect it for being. There are pretty much billions of folks hanging about the internet on a daily basis and substantially of them are in social websites web sites. It would be a logical choice to acquire visitors there to your web-site and increase your revenue potential.

5. Discover about paid out advertising and consider it deeply on whether you will need to use it or not. Paid out advertisements assistance since they target the right style of folks who are already looking for products and solutions that you simply encourage. Meaning there is a good chance that they will buy. Wouldn't you wish them to buy products as a result of your affiliate links? I'd!

6. Start filling up your site with content. In case you plan to write boring and unimpressive weblogs and content articles, then I'd advise you to definitely no longer continue in your pursuit of creating an affiliate marketing blog site, since I promise you people today won't would like to read your weblogs or visit your site. Produce posts that could impress you first. This will let you know no matter whether or not men and women will wish to read about what you have to say. When you can find an extremely critical person to judge your writing, then that would be better as it will assistance you greatly improve on your writing style. Reader engagement is absolute in affiliate internet marketing. It will determine your income capacity, so do your very best in writing content on your site above all else.

The way you make in affiliate internet marketing:

� The manufacturer/seller signs a partnership deal while using the affiliate network or program and in turn, when you sign up using the affiliate community being an affiliate, the partner affiliate community offers you a small percentage share on every item you helped sold.

� You will have to have to embed or display affiliate one-way links on your website or affiliate marketing site with regard to the products and solutions you might be promoting. The purpose of these back links is always to guide your blog site readers towards the seller's webpage (that is usually within the affiliate network's site) so that they might make purchases from the things they like.

� The percentage commission on each and every sale range from 1% - 10% (some give far more than 10% but rarely) which is how you generate cash flow. For example, an internet person happens by your site about coffee machines and he/she read your site review or informative article. The reader was impressed by your web site and decided to click on over the affiliate link, then make a obtain of one coffee machine worth $350. If the affiliate community allowed 7% of that amount to become your fee, consequently your cash flow for that sale alone will be $24.50.

� You might notice that $24.50 is a little amount of money and not ample to convince you to definitely turn out to be an affiliate; on the other hand, for those who were equipped to bring 10,000 visitors to your weblog from the span of thirty days and about 4,382 individuals bought coffee machines for themselves, then your revenue for that particular month should really be $107,359! If you are ready to bring as a lot visitors to your web site on a regular basis, then you really can bet that your monthly money should really be around these numbers. Now it is possible to appreciate the value that SEO and SMM can do for the affiliate marketing online small business.

How Much can you Make?

The straight answer to this question is... there is NO LIMIT to how substantially you'll be able to earn. The web page called Pickmyshaver.com around October or November 2013 and then 8 months later its regular monthly profits became $8,446! If it had continued as is it would receive over $50,000 a month by now, except that it was purchased in Flippa by an anonymous buyer for $60,100 all-around June 2014. Which is just one web page and I'm pretty sure on your very best day you can manage two - 3 web-sites for internet affiliate marketing.

At this point I will let you use your imagination as to how a great deal you can get paid; or is it how hard you desire to receive. It is really entirely approximately you. I am confident that this article should really aid you will get started in creating your own private affiliate marketing blog and gain not just funds, but your independence from your everyday worries of life. When you start earning over $8,000 a month, then you really can buy more time to spend it while using the men and women that matters to you most - your family. I wish you each of the greatest and do not forget to drop a comment below and tell me how online marketing has changed your life like it has changed mine.

Affiliate Marketing is the most profitable online business to make money online and build a passive income. In Empire Marketing proof you can find tips and secrets to create your business and conquer the financial freedom. We promote only the best affiliate marketing programs. All of those provide; top niche products, high paying and recurring commission plans, and marketing materials to promote their products. Moreover, every program is reliable and secure. Through the blog and other products like books and courses, we will lead you from the start in every stage of your business journey. Indeed, you could find suggestions on how to avoid mistakes and scam in Affiliate Marketing.

Empire marketing proof covers every aspect of affiliate marketing and other specific digital marketing and entrepreneurship niches as email marketing, SEO, paid ads, mindset, etc.. We suggest tools and strategy. We review products, software and programs.