#mhairi's good boy bad girl

[auspicioustidings]

pet play perhaps •3•?

Non-con ahead! (also all asks on this are now tagged 'Mhairi's good boy bad girl' so you can find them if interested :)

When your boyfriend had went missing a few months back you had not let it go. The police weren't listening to you, thinking that he had just left you, but he wasn't the kind of guy to do that. He was estranged from his family so they had been fuck all help, but you were like a dog with a bone and spoke to anyone that would listen. You put up missing person posters all over the neighbourhood. You were at the precinct at least three times a week badgering them.

You should have known to trust your instincts that something was wrong. You should have taken some extra precautions. But you didn't and it was laughably easy for someone to knock you out with a whack from behind and have you tied up in a moving vehicle by the time you woke up. You tried to speak but found a gag in your mouth. Not cloth, hard rubber.

"Your bitch is wake."

"Aww c'mon LT, dinnae be so grumpy with her. Ye naw think she's sort of cute?"

Your eyes slowly adjusted to the car and you tried to raise you head but a hand pushed it back down onto a lap.

"Settle girl, almost home" said the man whose lap you were in.

You blinked up at him, older man, muttonchops, smiling at you indulgently.

"Might seem cute now, but she'll be a nightmare once she goes into heat. Still think we'd be better getting her fixed."

That was the man who had called you a bitch. He was driving but you saw the edge of a hard plastic mask on his face. The man in the passenger seat had a mohawk and an easy smile as he grinned back at you.

"Come off it Ghost, the puppies would be cute."

That was from the man whose lap your legs were on and he was rubbing circles into your calves. He seemed completely at ease with the current situation and was entirely too handsome to have to resort to kidnapping girls.

"Aye LT, got ourselves a breeding pair now!"

You tried to shout, move, anything. The gag was uncomfortable and too big and you started to cough, your body then panicking when it didn't feel it was getting enough oxygen.

"There girl, let me get that off you. No biting or we'll have to try the muzzle" said muttonchops as you gasped in breathes when the gag was removed. "Your boyfriend has a bigger mouth than you, surprised you didn't recognise the taste of him on it. Got him to coat it earlier, thought you'd get comfort out of something familiar."

You looked from the man to the ball gag he now held in horror. The rubber ball was big, dripping with your saliva and possibly your boyfriends and covered in bite marks. You tried to get up again and the man grabbed your hair and tugged hard, holding your face back down.

"Unruly little bitch isn't she? Listen here girl, you'll behave and you'll learn to be good. Our boy has the best of everything because he's earned it, and he's nice enough that he'll share his toys so you'll not turn your nose up at them" the man driving barked at you.

You were so scared and so surrounded that you could do very little but lay in silence and cry. The Scottish one cooed at you even when the driver scolded him for spoiling you. The place they took you was the middle of nowhere with the only person in the big house being your boyfriend. Only he was broken. Didn't answer to his name, barely spoke 'person' anymore.

He was so excited to see the four men and they clearly adored their pet. The driver, Ghost you had learned, held onto his collar when he tried to lunge for you and told him to behave. After a moment he sat nice, knees on the floor fully spread to give a clear view of his cock hardening and straining against a cage and the peak of a tail coming from his ass.

"Fine" Ghost sighed, "no mounting boy, you'll let me give her a proper bath first before you get your prick in her."

He let him go and the man you loved bounded towards you to sniff and lick at you with excited yips while you cried and cried and tried to get him to talk to you. Soap laughed.

"Still dinnae want her then Ghost?" he teased.

Ghost flipped the man off and whistled, your boyfriend returning to his feet immediately and looking up at him in complete and utter adoration.

"Fine, we can keep her. My boy deserves the best though, so her training begins after her bath. And no fucking puppies."

[hotgirlscoups]

here are my 2021 books for everyone who asked <33 mwah

read: 153 (including re-reads that aren't listed) 2021 goal: 100 5 stars: crooked kingdom (leigh bardugo) the wrath and the dawn (renee ahdieh) little fires everywhere (celeste ng) to kill a mockingbird (harper lee) the great gatsby (f. scott fitzgerald) finding audrey (sophie kinsella) 4 stars: the seven husbands of evelyn hugo (taylor jenkins reid) these violent delights (chloe gong) six of crows (leigh bardugo) perfect on paper (sophie gonzales) to love and to loathe (martha waters) house of hollow (krystal sutherland) the heartless divine (varsha ravi) sorcery of thorns (margaret rogerson) i would leave me if i could: a collection of poetry (halsey) they never learn (layne fargo) people we meet on vacation (emily henry) circe (madeline miller) the unhoneymooners (christina lauren) the rose and the dagger (renee ahdieh) if we were villains (m.l. rio) the vanishing half (brit bennett) jacinda ardern: a new kind of leader (madeleine chapman) one last stop (casey mcquiston) serpent & dove (shelby mahurin) gone girl (gillian flynn) verity (colleen hoover) the invisible life of addie larue (v.e. schwab) sharp objects (gillian flynn) the hate u give (angie thomas) the poppy war (r.f. kuang) the night diary (veera hiranandani) one for my enemy (olivie blake) see what you made me do: power, control and domestic violence (jess hill) passing (nella larsen) the dragon republic (r.f. kuang) layli and majnun (nizami ganjavi) pretty little wife (darby kane) hostage (clare mackintosh) forensics (val mcdermid) what my mother and i don't talk about (michele filgate) no exit (taylor adams) the family romanov: murder, rebellion, and the fall of imperial russia (candace fleming) fleabag: the scriptures (phoebe waller-bridge) our violent ends (chloe gong) conversations with friends (sally rooney) normal people (sally rooney) the shortest history of china (linda jaivin) lovely war (julie berry) 3 stars: paris is always a good idea (jenn mckinlay) a spark of light (jodi picoult) more than maybe (erin hahn) twice shy (sarah hogle) kingdom of the wicked (kerri maniscalco) the hating game (sally thorne) love lettering (kate clayborn) the shadows between us (tricia levenseller) stalking jack the ripper (kerri maniscalco) you deserve each other (sarah hogle) a promised land (barack obama) to kill a kingdom (alexandra christo) just last night (mhairi mcfarlane) shadow and bone (leigh bardugo) the jasmine throne (tasha suri) they both die at the end (adam silvera) the alchemist (paulo coelho) beach read (emily henry) if i did it: confessions of the killer (o.j. simpson) the school for good and evil (soman chainani) ariel (sylvia plath) mr salary (sally rooney) the bridge kingdom (danielle l. jensen) the song of achilles (madeline miller) love and other words (christina lauren) better than the movies (lynn painter) feminist consequences: theory for the new century (elisabeth bronfen) one of us is lying (karen m. mcmanus) red, white and royal blue (casey mcquiston) good girl, bad girl (michael robotham) the list (patricia forde) serpent & dove (shelby mahurin) the raven boys (maggie stiefvater) american predator: the hunt for the most meticulous serial killer of the 21st century (maureen callahan) beautiful world, where are you (sally rooney) the love hypothesis (ali hazelwood) i killed zoe spanos (kit frick) behind closed doors (b.a. paris) evidence of the affair (taylor jenkins reid) the bullet and the ballot box (aditya adhikari) the ramayana (r.k. narayan) sisters of the snake (sasha nanua) matilda (mary shelley) one of us is next (karen m. mcmanus) the traitor queen (danielle l. jensen) the butterfly garden (dot hutchinson) feminist consequences (elisabeth bronfen) not a happy family (shari lapena) white tears/brown scars: how white feminism betrays women of color (ruby hamad) becoming (michelle obama) 2 stars: a deal with the elf king (elise kova) a touch of darkness (scarlett st. clair) great expectations (charles dickens) siege and storm (leigh bardugo) hard sell (lauren layne) the dating plan (sara desai) dance of thieves (mary e.

pearson) crazy rich asians (kevin kwan) devdas (sarat chandra chattopadhyay) ace of shades (amanda foody) a cuban girl's guide to tea and tomorrow (laura taylor namey) the layover (lacie waldon) kulti (mariana zapata) the original folk and fairy tales of the brothers grimm (jacob grimm) you've reached sam (dustin thao) hello (from here) (chandler baker) i am malala (malala yousafzai) 1 star: the trouble with hating you (sajni patel) fifty shades of grey (e.l. james) fifty shades darker (e.l. james) shatter me (tahereh mafi) bound by hatred (cora reilly) call me by your name (andre aciman) book extras: a romajuliette christmas special (chloe gong): ⭐⭐⭐⭐ the mirror and the maze (renee ahdieh): ⭐⭐⭐ the moth and the flame (renee ahdieh): ⭐⭐⭐ the crown and the arrow (renee ahdieh): ⭐⭐⭐ the drowning faith (r.f. kuang): ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[emerald-amidst-gold]

Sorry I know it's a lil late, but if you're still taking oc asks (these ones I mean), maybe 13, 19, 24, 38/39/40, 43, 45, 47, 64, and/or 74/75/76? again, for any OC you'd like

It’s never too late to ask me about my OCs! I could talk about them until the cows come home! X3 Not to mention, this is great since I’m currently working on my next chapter and I needed a little break! So, thank you! ❤️❤️

***

13. How many siblings does your OC and what is his/her relationship with them?

So, the only OCs that have a sibling are Fane and Mhairi. Fane is Mhairi’s brother and Mhairi is Fane’s sister. Fun fact: orginally these two were supposed to be twins when I made them because they looked very similar (Fane had platinum blonde hair like Mhairi and their overall faces had like features). Now, they’re three years apart (Fane is 24 and Mhairi is 21). 

As to their relationship, it is 100% wholesome and devotion incarnate. Everything Fane does and has done is for Mhairi, and he takes the role of both a father and a brother for her. It’s one of the few times Fane is actually soft with another person. Mhairi is his whole world until Inquisition, and it makes everything later one even harder for him. *side eyes* Mhairi is in the same boat as Fane because she is highly obsessed with showing him that she can handler herself and that he doesn’t have to keep running himself into the ground to keep her safe and happy. She constantly bakes him his favorite treats, gifts him with raw materials for his weapon crafting, crafts him articles of clothing and trinkets to elicit a single smile to his face. Mhairi just wants him to be happy above all else since she can tell something changed him, but she doesn’t know what. As such, she does become a tad jealous when Fane and Solas’s relationship comes to light, but only because she’s just as protective with him as Fane is with her.

19. What does your OC think of children- either in general or about having them?

I wrote a fic about this actually! It was told from Solas’s POV, but it gave glimpse into how Fane responds to children. Fane adores children and he secretly craves a small family--just one child because he wants to give the love his mother had given him. Gentle, calm, and patient. He just thinks he doesn’t have it in him for that, especially because of what he is. (hint: watch for fics that have the appearance of the baby dragon that Solas and Fane adopt. It’ll be important waaaaay later. *winks*)

Estoria is along the same lines as Fane. She loves, loves, loves children. When she was traveling as a mercenary, the band would occasionally visit smaller cities where there were alienages and Estoria would spend her free time there. She would sing songs to the children, teach them how to do menial, but important tasks like washing clothes or planting crops, and would tell them stories of her time on the road. Deep down inside, she would adore a little girl of her own because she wants desperately to be a mother. 

24. Who are the people your OC dislikes/hates?

So, surprise! Fane doesn’t actually ‘hate’ or ‘dislike’ anyone (other than his father lol). But if we’re talking in terms of the inner circle, again, he doesn’t hate anyone, he just feels indifferent towards them. The only one that he shows any kind of passionate distaste for is Cassandra, but most of that is from a lack of communication on both their parts in the beginning (Fane is not in a good mental state during Haven’s arc due to being framed divinity and the slow realization of what he is making him lash out violently). 

Mhairi though...eheheh. She doesn’t like Solas. At all. For a very long time. They butt heads constantly because of elven history, religion, and magical theory, but also because of Mhairi’s main insecurity of being abandoned. She’s worried Solas will take Fane from her and that frightens her beyond belief. *side eyes AGAIN*

 38. How does your OC react to and handle stress?

Reacting to stress, Fane either becomes incredibly overwhelmed and irate, or he shuts down completely. He turns into a shell that simply walks through the halls with a dead stare, or he becomes the warped version of what he is--breaking, smashing, and snapping anything in his path. When that happens, in either form, Fane hides away in the more desolate parts of Skyhold where no one can find him (other than Solas or Cole). He’s like a cat, actually. He can see everyone else, but they can’t see him. He’ll do that until he calms down enough to where he isn’t overcome wit the urge to snarl or crack open a noble’s skull.

39. How does your OC handle anger?

Badly. Well, Fane does anyways. Pffft. Mhairi tends to cry when she’s angry, so also badly. Estoria...ohhhh, boy. Watch the thorns because they are laced with poison. All my OCs handle anger badly. That probably says something about me, huh? *curls up in the corner* 

40. How does your OC handle grief?

Due to his abuse, Fane rarely cries--he was commanded not to for five years and the fear of doing it lingers. However, when he does cry it’s because of something utterly heart breaking. In fact, every time the group goes to fight a dragon, Fane scurries off at the end of the battle to literally crumble into a heap of snot and tears because it physically hurts him. It’ll be revealed more in my fic as to why, but just know it’s a..bad time. Again, Fane’s go to is to be alone with his emotions until they settle down. It’s a bad habit of his and one that takes a lot of support from Solas, Cyfrin and his sister to work out.

Mhairi is very open with her emotions (her and Fane anathema to each other). So, when their mother passed and their father disappeared, she was inconsolable for months and the feeling of abandonment lingers with her still. Usually, Mhairi just goes to Fane or Cyfrin if she’s feeling lonely or grief stricken and just...cry until she passes out.

43. What kind of sense of humor does your OC have?

Fane’s humor is morbid. Cyfrin and he get locked in discussions of dark, dark humor. Such as:

“If you don’t stop commenting about how my eyes will make a ‘lovely’ ballad, I will crack your skull and make a vase. I could use some bright macabre decoration in that dismal aravel, anyways.”

“Do I at least get to be painted in pretty floral patterns and intricate designs of trees? Maybe roses?”

“I’ll make the roses blue. Just for you.”

“Ah-ha! Now we’re talking! A man after my own fluttering, flying heart!”

“I’ll make your heart fly in a minute..”

“A confession?! I knew it would be a joyous day!”

“Just shut up, Cy.”

I’m serious. This is them and I have no shame. *laughs nervously* It’s all empty, though. Cyfrin helps Fane relax a little and never judges him for his darker aspects. If anything, it helps mitigate a potential outburst because Fane can look as it as a joke rather than something that genuinely hurts him. Unless he’s in a really foul mood, then Cyfrin adopts his more caring side to calm Fane down. (I have a lot of thoughts with these two. Just wait. Juuuust wait.)

45. What are some things that annoy your OC?

What doesn’t annoy Fane? 🤣🤣 But specifically, Fane can’t stand when someone is willingly ignorant nor can he stand when they’re filled with disgusting forms of pride.

Estoria is highly annoyed by racial labels. She was taken in by a human, and as such, she got to mingle with a lot of different races throughout her time as mercenary. She got to see those races as people and when organizations like the Chantry and what have you only see race and see it as a bad thing sometimes, she goes off the handle. Estoria doesn’t shy away from being an elf, but she doesn’t believe that’s all she is nor does she believe anyone else is just their physical race.

47. How easily does your OC forgive?

Fane is slow to forgive, even if that person is highly dear to him. However, it does depend on what happened in the first place and there’s a big, big plot point later on in my story that shows a heavily development in this characteristic. 

Estoria is an easy forgiver. She’s very openminded and realizes everyone has their struggles, but if it’s something truly deplorable with no other reason besides causing harm or death or gaining influence then that changes quickly.

64. What are some habits your OC has picked up?

Fane has picked up on a lot of habits due to how long he’s lived and what his nature entails. He has a habit of squeezing his arms if he’s agitated, crossing them in an attempt to steady himself, and growling. Fane growls constantly, even if he’s not irritated. It’s an involuntary reaction from being a dragon. 

He also has a habit of tracing patterns in wood with his eyes--pointing out shapes and faces. He also has a habit of..twisting the truth. *side eyes once AGAIN*

74. What is your OC’s favorite color?

Fane -- Blue (Don’t look at me like that.)

Estoria -- Grey (reminds her of her father’s eyes)

Mhairi -- White (she likes the symbolism of purity)

75. What is your OC’s favorite scent?

Fane -- Gladiolus

Estoria -- Rain

Mhairi -- Vanilla

76. What is your OC’s favorite animal?

Fane -- Wolf (DON’T. There’s more to it, I swear!)

Estoria -- Cats (she used to play with them in alley ways)

Mhairi -- Halla (she adores being around them since her mother would take her to them when she was little)

****

Thank you for the ask, lovely person! Have a splendid day! ❤️❤️

[readwithkay]

2020 Reads (With Links to Reviews)

Goal: 70 [Achieved!] 

Queen of Nothing (3) by Holly Black (★★★★★) 

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (★★★★) 

The Hazel Wood (1) by Melissa Albert (★★★★★) 

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer (★★★★★)

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado (★★★)  

A Blue So Dark by Holly Schindler (★★★) 

Flawed (1) by Cecelia Ahern (★★★★★) 

Jemima Small Versus the Universe by Tamsin Winter (★★★★) 

The New Normal by Ashley Little (★) 

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (★★★★★) 

Cinder (1) by Marissa Meyer (★★★★★) 

Heartstopper (1) by Alice Oseman (★★★★★) 

Heartstopper (2) by Alice Oseman (★★★★★) 

Heartstopper (3) by Alice Oseman (★★★★★) 

The Dream Thieves (2) by Maggie Steifvater (★★★★★) 

Blue Lily, Lily Blue (3) by Maggie Steifvater (★★★★★) 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (★★★★★) 

Renegades by Marissa Meyer (★★★★★) 

The Raven King (4) by Maggie Stiefvater (★★★★★) 

Coraline by Neil Gaiman (★★★) 

Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman (★★★) 

Red Sister by Mark Lawrence (★) 

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (★★★★★) 

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (★★★) 

The Wicked King (reread) by Holly Black (★★★★★) 

The Diviners by Libba Bray (★★★★★) 

The Queen of Nothing [reread] by Holly Black (★★★★★) 

Lair of Dreams / Libba Bray (★★★★★) 

Scarlet / Marissa Meyer (★★★★★) 

Before the Devil Breaks You / Libba Bray (★★★★★) 

Cress / Marissa Meyer (★★★★★) 

Winter / Marissa Meyer (★★★★★) 

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder / Holly Jackson (★★★★★) 

Good Girl, Bad Blood / Holly Jackson (★★★★) 

These Witches Don’t Burn / Isabel Sterling (★★★) 

Looking For Alaska / John Green (★) 

The Song of Achilles / Madeline Miller (★★★★★) 

Tithe / Holly Black (★★) 

The BFG / Roald Dahl (★★★★) 

If I Never Met You / Mhairi McFarlene (★★★★★) 

The King of Crows / Libba Bray (★★★.75) 

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone / J.K. Rowling (★★★★) 

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets / J.K. Rowling (★★★★) 

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban / J.K. Rowling (★★★★★) 

Valiant / Holly Black (★★) 

Solitaire / Alice Oseman (★★★★) 

Dear Martin / Nic Stone (★★★.75) 

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire / J.K. Rowling (★★★★★) 

Rain Before Rainbows / Smriti Halls & David Litchfield (★★★★) 

To Kill A Kingdom / Alexandra Christo (★★★★★) 

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix / J.K. Rowling (★★★★★) 

Fortuna Sworn / K.J. Sutton (★★) 

Cinderella Is Dead / Kalynn Bayron (★★★★.5) 

The Little Prince / Antoine de Saint-Exupery (★★★) 

A Burning / Megha Makumdar (★★) 

We Were Liars / E. Lockhart (★★★★.5) 

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince / J.K. Rowling (★★★★) 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows / J.K. Rowling (★★★★) 

Clap When You Land / Elizabeth Acevedo (★★★.5) 

Red, White & Royal Blue / Casey McQuiston (★★★★★) 

Get A Life, Chloe Brown / Talia Hibbert (★★★) 

Felix Ever After / Kacen Callender (★★★★) 

Break Your Own Glass Slippers / Amanda Lovelace (★★★★) 

All the Things We Never Knew / Liara Tamani (★★) 

Date Me, Byrson Keller / Kevin van Whye (★★★★) 

Girl In Pieces / Kathleen Glasglow (★★) 

Beach Read / Emily Henry (★★★★) 

Meet Cute / Helena Hunting (★★★) 

Shame Is An Ocean I Swim Across / Mary Lambert (★★★) 

Husband Material / Emily Belden (★★) 

I Hope You Stay / Courtney Peppernell (★★★) 

Heartless / Marissa Meyer [Reread]

The Friend Zone / Abby Jimenez (★★) 

Star Daughter / Shveta Thakrar (★★)

[vancilocs]

31-47 for ninida, lazlo(was it lazlo, call me out of i wrote it wrong) aand max?

add an s and make it laszlo and you’re golden! (it’s actually laszlowaria but ain’t nobody got time for that)

31. Do they drink? What are they like drunk? What are they like hungover? How do they act when other people are drunk or hungover? Kind or teasing?

Ninida drinks somewhat, not much, rarely to the point of being hammered but tipsy maybe once a week or so. He’s a lot more jovial and affectionate when drunk, likes hugs, will pet your hair if you have it, laughs and is just a general good sport. Complete opposite when hungover, just leave him into his blanket burrito to recover. Will growl if someone comes too close. Kinda exasperated if people are drunk or hungover around him, complains about it, but if it’s a friend he���ll help in whatever way needed.

Laszlo can drink you under the table, he’s a regular in a local bar when not on duty and has a pocket flask for when he is. Never hammered during working hours but a little tipsy maybe, only blackout drunk if knows he has no duties. Even more out of it when drunk, somehow falls off the floor. His stories have no end, rambles in circles until he passes out, stories may or may not be true at all. Quietly looks after drunk and hungover people by making sure they aren’t in immediate danger, otherwise stays out of it.

Max can drink more than you’d think, she’s short but also has a pretty good resistance… might have drank a tad too much at parties when she was younger. Very rarely gets drunk anymore. Louder and more emotional in every way when drunk, laughs one second, cries the next, gets angry immediately. A mother hen when others get drunk, as a bartender she’s pretty good at spotting when people have had too much.

32. What do they dress like? What sorta shops do they buy clothes from? Do they wear the fashion that they like? What do they wear to sleep? Do they wear makeup? What’s their hair like?

Ninida doesn’t care about makeup or fashion, just skincare sometimes and the functionality of the clothes (as long as he can show his arms). Lots of pockets, a bulletproof vest under the hoodie. Gloves are cosmetic. Sleeps with sweatpants or underwear on.

Laszlo is colourblind and mostly wears black, puts comfort and functionality over looks, but with a thotty twist. His hair he keeps just long enough to tie up, otherwise his nose and medusa piercings are the most he’s done for his looks. He mainly wears the catsuit given by his boss, otherwise it’s capri pants and t-shirts that don’t get stuck on his shin and forearm spikes. Sleeps with a t-shirt and underwear.

Max takes clothing very seriously, orders mainly online from specific goth brands that carry her size, has outfits planned. Makeup is a second job to her and barely ever steps out the house without it, also makes sure her hair is in ship-shape. Very looks-oriented.

33. What underwear do they wear? Boxers or briefs? Lacey? Comfy granny panties?

Just… boxers, comfy

Boxers mainly, sometimes backwards, sometimes he forgets

Comfy panties, cute to give confidence but nothing that chafes, she’s on her feet a lot as bartender. Has a bunch of lacy ones for sure.

34. What is their body type? How tall are they? Do they like their body?

He’s typical for a nedian, some 172 cm maybe, slim, a bit less muscular than many others but not too bad of a twink. He’s okay with how he looks, women are the more beefy ones anyways

Around 180 cm, a little over maybe, thicc as a tree trunk. Typical strong arms and thighs for climbing but also some belly fat and love handles to spare. Just an absolute unit and he’s pleased with that

Max is short, some 155 cm and fat. She’s lost a little weight with a diet change to homecooked scheduled meals, but she’s still fat, and she’s completely fine with this and looks bomb as hell

35. What’s their guilty pleasure? What is their totally unguilty pleasure?

He doesn’t really feel guilty about the things he does for fun, doesn’t feel the need to. Though in the end cheating on his wife dipped from “guilty pleasure” to “complete douchebaggery”

He doesn’t have enough braincells to feel guilty, dude was a police officer corrupt as they can be once upon a time. Maybe drinking on the job is a bit of a guilty pleasure but hey, he’s got good tolerance and not enough booze in his flask to get him too messed up.

Buying new makeup and clothes can be a bit of a guilty pleasure, but she neeeeds them. Using them and making herself look glam is something she feels no guilt about though, yes she might look a lil over the top but so what? It’s her style and she likes it

36. What are they good at? What hobbies do they like? Can they sing?

Can design and build guns like the best of ‘em, it’s a hobby and a job, as well as testing the guns out at a firing range. Can’t sing at goddamn all

An excellent marksman and slick as hell, can talk himself out of pretty much any problem. Knows where to find a connection and how to utilize it to end up on top. On his free time he likes to play cards, hang out in a bar, snoop around casually, maybe find someone to share his bed for the night, who knows. Not a singer.

She’s got great style and impeccable makeup skills, somewhat artistic too but those are just some flower doodles. Enjoys making videos and makeup tutorials, cooking, hanging out with friends. Can hold a tune but mainly just hums.

37. Do they like to read? Are they a fast or slow reader? Do they like poetry? Fictional or non fiction?

He can pour over technical manuals, likes comics, longer novels get boring. A pretty fast reader though, has no interest in poetry.

A bit of a slow reader and prefers bigger text for his eyesight, has a hard time concentrating on longer text so he doesn’t really read books. Alternatively he does enjoy poetry and comics since there’s less to read.

Enjoys reading, usually fiction, crime novels and horror, sometimes romance. Enjoys poetry a lot, especially of the gothic kind.

38. What do they admire in others? What talents do they wish they had?

Admires tenacity and skill, never giving up despite struggles is inspiring. Wishes he could demand respect and earn it in a way people like Mhairi do, he feels like a bit of a little fish still (esp. compared to dad)

He can respect honesty, positivity and tenacity, even if it’s someone trying to catch him. Also appreciates patience because he knows he can be a bit of a mess. Being able to focus better would be nice.

Max appreciates honesty and open-mindedness, you can be blunt with your honesty, just don’t be mean, and be open to other views and facts than your own. She’s always looking to improve, if anything specific then just not being so hot-headed herself

39. Do they like letters? Or prefer emails/messaging?

Texts and emails are so much easier.

He won’t remember what he wrote on a letter so messages and emails work best

Loves an old-fashioned wax-sealed love letter as much as any dramatic hoe but obviously texts and emails work the best

40. Do they like energy drinks? Coffee? Sugary food? Or can they naturally stay awake and alert?

Too much soda and energy drinks, a caffeine fiend. Could probably stay up without if the weather is warm but still drinks his Red Bull

Mostly drinks alcohol or just water, he stays up long whiles with no help.

Likes her coffee, but mainly just a cup in the morning and an extravagant Starbucks drink during the day, maybe one in the evening. Might have something sweet during shifts at the bar, just for a little kick.

41. What’s their sexuality? What do they find attractive? Physically and mentally? What do they like/need in a relationship?

Hetero/demisexual, primarily an ass man, but a tight bod in general is a sight to see. Hair is nice to touch. Mentally likes tough women who know what they want and know to demand it, likes brains as much as butts. Needs affection and love and dedication, he’s serious about this shit

Bisexual, doesn’t really have a preference, maybe leans more towards thicc guys and gals, prefers a chubby belly over washboard abs. Mentally just be interesting, keep his attention, share views, not super into uptight nerdy scholar types. Needs attention, love and for the other one to take initiative for him to show love back, for now kinda casual about relationships because he tends to go too serious too quick and end up hurt

Bisexual, likes tough girls and cute boys, chubby people, stronk and soft, sparkly like she is, similar views and attitudes, not interested in super shy and quiet people who don’t like going out or don’t hype her up.

42. What are their goals? What would they sacrifice anything for? What is their secret ambition?

His main goal is to blow up beat Vim in the market, his feelings are hurt and feels like his old man’s time has passed, no familial feelings anymore after the stunt Vim pulled, now it’s just rivalry. Kinda sacrificed a relationship to have the family he wanted, too.

Right now he’s just seeing if this sticks, so far he’s enjoyed captaining the Vandal and maybe even dipping his toesies back into corrupting law enforcement… this time being the one corrupting, not the one corrupted

Her ambitions are to make the makeup channel a full-time job and quit bartending, can eventually do that and make bank from being an influencer while also being a mom.

43. Are they religious? What do they think of religion? What do they think of religious people? What do they think of non religious people?

Not religious really, just tiny remnants of the kind of voodoo-type religion most common in where he’s from. Biggest thing religion-wise are the beads he got from his mom he keeps in his pocket, it’s more sentimental than that he actually believes in higher powers. Has no opinion about believers or non-believers unless they try to tell him how to think in which case he gets pissed

His people are generally atheistic, not religious at all himself, kinda finds it odd. But it’s none of his business, just keep it to yourself thank you. Will listen to stories though.

Not particularly religious, wears some religious stuff as part of her style but doesn’t really follow anything herself. Keep it to yourself.

44. What is their favourite season? Type of weather? Are they good in the cold or the heat? What weather do they complain in the most?

Summer, he thrives in warm and humid. Active and happy during warm months. Hates the cold, gets drowsy, outside gets janky and eventually freezes entirely. Whines about cold.

Used to mild, medium weather, very dry, was baffled about rain and clouds. Appreciates the lack of dust outside his homeland. Summer tends to get hot, winter is too cold, not a fan of snow, likes rain. Likes fall.

Loves the fall, pumpkin spice, Halloween, spooky times. Manages heat well, hates sleet and snow but has good jackets to stay warm. Now if just her boots wouldn’t get so dirty.

45. How do other people see them? Is it similar to how they see themselves?

Depends greatly, he might be a whiny brat to some, a genius to some. He has been knocked down enough pegs to make him a bit humbler than he’d be otherwise, but he’s still an eager little man trying to become something great at any cost

He’s very much not welcome in his homeland, kind of an outsider everywhere else, his people aren’t so often seen. He’s just chilling and he has his talents, he’s a bit of an enigma to others, a horrible criminal to some and a disaster to his crew

Some may think she’s just a fat bitch, those are people she hasn’t allowed to bully her, others think she’s a role model. She’s a great friend and a mom, too.

46. Do they make a good first impression? Does their first impression reflect them accurately? How do they introduce themselves?

He’s a bit awkward but he’s that in general, got more gun skills than people skills, which is pretty noticeable. He’ll shake your hand and say his name and what ship he’s from.

There’s something off, the handshake is firm but he might just forget to actually say his name or what ship he captains/who he works for, in general he seems… capable? If a bit scatterbrained.

Shakes your hand, smiles, introduces herself, she immediately feels like a pleasant person.

47. How do they act in a formal occasion? What do they think of black tie wear? Do they enjoy fancy parties and love to chit chat or loathe the whole event?

Doesn’t feel at all home in fancier events, doesn’t like dressing up formally, even if nedians don’t do black ties. Avoids fancy chitchat and events and maybe just raids the snack bar and bails.

Pretty at home actually, doesn’t particularly like formal wear but he’s used to wearing it, slips out from one conversation and into another without internalizing any of it or adding anything of substance. Gets tipsy and eats a bunch, just wanders around, gets stuck staring at a curtain for half an hour,

Likes dressing up but prefers a bit more casual parties, like dinners, not as formal. Loves to talk and have a drink and compliment ladies on their clothes.

[dragonagecompanionsreact]

Modern high school au, what would the companions for all the games be as students? Advisors for inquisition too plz

DAO

Alistair: He’d be a part of the school’s lacrosse team. He tried football, but he didn’t like it. The football coach desperately wants him back on the team, but Alistair has found his calling in lacrosse. Socially, he’s well-liked, as he can somehow make every situation into a joke, though this does get him in trouble sometimes with teachers. 

Leliana: The quiet student who shines in the music room. She’ll spend most lunches there, strumming away at a guitar or tinkering on a piano. She transferred to the school and never really made an effort to get to know people, but she prefers it this way. Most people forget she’s there sometimes, which definitely is an advantage. When the school bully tries to target her, she reveals that she knows quite a bit of information about them…information that would be awfully embarrassing should someone share it. Leliana is never targeted again. 

Zevran: Zevran seems to float around every social group. From the nerds to the jocks, everyone just knows Zevran. His classmates try to make him go for the year group’s representative (president, prefect etc) but Zevran doesn’t want to. He prefers his ability to just…meld into the crowd. He gets in trouble in Sex Ed, as he is frustrated with the teacher’s immaturity when it comes to women, and ends up just walking up to the board and speaking freely about the female body, talking about proper genital hygiene particularly during periods. The teacher is red in the face by the time Zevran finally listens to his order to wait outside the classroom.

Morrigan: Home-schooled for much of her life, Morrigan struggles with the social aspect of school. She tries to hide this through harsh words and scowls, but somehow, she does manage to attract a few friends. One day, Merrill and Isabela just sit down next to her and despite Morrigan’s insistence that they leave, she eventually gives up and starts a begrudging companionship with them. Through them, she makes a few more acquaintances (she refuses to call them friends). Her favourite class is history, and she loves to find obscure primary sources to use in essays. Worst class is gym- she skips every time. She’s very competitive with her grades, and if someone even seems like they’re going to be competition, Morrigan will start to work on destroying them. 

Oghren: Football is fun, if only because he can basically attack other people. It’s a great way for him to let out his aggression. He did try lacrosse once because Alistair convinced him it was a fun game, but Oghren hated having to hold a stick, and ended up breaking his in frustration before the game was done. His grades are okay, but they’re not his main focus.   

Sten: Captain of the lacrosse team. Never attends any parties. Not very social but is somehow just leadership material. The other members of the Qun who attend the same school look to him for guidance. He is a devoted student and manages to average an A in most subjects. Despite his commitment to languages and philosophy, his favourite is art. 

Wynne: As a student, Wynne asks many, many questions. Usually completely obscure, left-field questions, designed to test out the full extent of one’s knowledge of a subject. Most of the time, she actually knows the answers perfectly well, and she is just trying to test the teacher. If they slip up, Wynne tends to purse her lips, and just give them a thin smile. It’s a special, trademark Wynne style of torture, though she does seem to target the teachers who are particularly arrogant and harsh…

Shale: Is disqualified from the football team. And the basketball team. And every sports team. They love watching in some sort of twisted amusement as the coaches try to explain exactly why they aren’t allowed to play the game. No matter, Shale is content playing no sport- they would crush the other players into tiny pieces. It’s a mercy for them. Shale has little interest in most subjects, but finds a particular fascination with history, to everyone’s surprise. Sometimes Shale will sit with Sten and his qunari posse during breaks, but if they become wearisome, Shale will be perfectly happy to sit on their own. Someone always manages to interrupt though, whether it be a curious Solas, or a talkative Varric. Shale can’t catch a break. 

Loghain: He wanted to keep his head down in school and just get through it unseen by everyone. He really did. He was harshly bullied in his younger years by some of the Orlesian students, and he never really has gotten over it. He just wanted to stay in the background until the frustrating years of school were over. But then Maric just had to interfere, didn’t he? He took a shining to Loghain when they were paired up for a lab project once, and despite Loghain’s attempts, Maric just wouldn’t leave it alone. He dragged him along with him to his lacrosse training, and when there was an open position on the team, coerced Loghain to join in. Begrudgingly, Loghain enjoyed it. A lot. His favourite subjects were art and history- he found something about the past just so fascinating to study. It also helped that he sat next to Maric in both of those classes…

Dog: A certified helper dog. A very good boy.

Awakening: 

Mhairi: Vice captain of the hockey team, though she was captain the previous year, but she didn’t like it that much. She much prefers to advise from the side than do the leading herself. She works hard in school, but sometimes struggles to pick things up if she isn’t 100% invested in the subject. She has a small group of friends, and will sometimes join them at parties as their designated driver, but she’s also very much comfortable with her own company too. 

Anders: Somehow manages to pass every class despite hating school. He’s forced to go to, but he’ll skip his classes. The school has officially designated a particular office worker named Gregoir to track Anders down at the start of each class. Usually Anders will be hiding somewhere on the grounds, and if he manages to be dragged to class, he’ll sit there with a pout on his face and complain about what an injustice this is. He is a good student when he actually applies himself, but he just doesn’t think that a student’s merit should be determined by how well they do in tests, and he thinks the school environment is a toxic place. He will viciously needle a teacher if they make a student feel bad, and is quite well-liked by his peers. Kind of an outrageous flirt, but nobody really knows if he’s ever had a proper significant other. 

Nathaniel: Plays lacrosse with Alistair, much to the disappointment of his father, who hates the game. He tried other sports, but he really enjoyed lacrosse, and Alistair convinced him that he should play what he wants to, not what his father wants him to. He is an average student, but he really excels in English and History. He has a few close friends from the lacrosse team and some from his classes, but gets along perfectly fine with most people. He is convinced to go for class representative by his friends, and to his surprise he is elected. His father was proud of him, until he found out that Tommy had been made captain of the football team and he was brushed aside. His father rarely comes to a lacrosse match, though Delilah and Tommy attend every single one. Nate tries not to let it hurt when his father goes to every football match of Tommy’s. 

Velanna: Leads the debate team, and is the class’ pick for “Most likely to rule the world one day.” She’s an excellent student, and loves history and philosophy. She takes a religion studies class, but drops out immediately upon seeing that apparently ‘religion studies’ actually only means ‘Andrastian’. She reprimands the board of education- this one small student girl staring down a group of majorly white human men- and manages to get the name of the class changed. 

Sigrun: Plays hockey, but isn’t really that invested in the game itself. She just likes the camaraderie of a team working together. She hates maths, but loves science and creative writing. Is very sociable and gets along well with most people. She loves chatting with Merrill and Isabela, as the two just make her giggle a lot. She spends her afternoons in the library, reading whatever she can get her hands on. 

Justice: Doesn’t play a sport, as he doesn’t see the point. This is to the misery of the team coaches, who have on multiple occasions tried to recruit him. He does very well in gym class, and is good long distance track runner. He usually takes home many of the school carnival medals. He loves science and English, and usually excels in them. He doesn’t really bother with making friends, it’s inconsequential to him. 

[timesorceror]

Day 8 (January 14th) - Anders and the Warden

Do you ship Anders with your warden or are they just very good friends? This day is dedicated to the Warden and Anders’ relationship. (Only positive Wardens and Anders friendly Wardens will be included for this.)

For @justhanderspositive‘s challenge: [HERE].

When Rashia was little, Anders was like a legend.

The very idea that even any one of them would attempt to escape the Circle was almost unthinkable, inconceivable. And Anders did this more than once. She would watch him from a far, across the mess hall, during classes with Wynne, in the dormitories at night when Jowan had finally stopped trying to get her attention and let her “read” her book in peace.

She’d stick her face in her books and peer over the edge of the binding, under her lashes, just to watch the fair-haired healer and his friend from afar.

Karl. Poor boy was only sixteen when he stared going grey.

And it seemed that Karl was Anders’ only friend. 

At least his only friend that he talked to. Just about everybody in the Circle was his friend: apprentices, Templars, even a few of the enchanters and (at least so it was rumored) a Senior Enchanter whom no one knew the name of, but they were more the sort of friend you snuck off behind the shelves or locked yourself in the storage rooms with. 

Being the resident escape artist made him a legend, yes, but it also made him a pariah. And that made Rashia’s heart hurt just a little.

And then Karl was transferred. Anders escaped a few more times. 

By the time Rashia had made her fatal error in helping Jowan find his phylactery and been conscripted by Duncan shortly afterwards, Anders had escaped six times. Only, she hadn’t seen him in a long time, which worried her. She could only hope he was merely serving his punishment somewhere in another part of the tower... because the alternative made her heart hurt even more.

Then there was Ostagar. The betrayal. Lothering. The Brecillian Forest.

It had been several months when she returned to the tower to call upon the Warden treaties for the aid of the mages. She didn’t see him then either. But she hadn’t really been looking. 

More months passed. She fell in love with Alistair. She killed Loghain in single combat. Slew the archdemon and rode off into the sunset with her fellow Warden. Sort of. They spent another month or so together after they’d all scattered to the winds. Even Zevran had left her for a time. 

And then she arrived at Vigil’s Keep.

It was raining. Of course it was. Rashia grit her teeth as she tried to see through the downpour. Mhairi was helpful, knowing the area the way she did. She liked Mhairi. She hoped this one survived the joining. 

They were attacked by darkspawn, and Rashia was surprised to note that the foul things had almost gotten the drop on them. How had that happened?

Alistair had taught her how to accurately sense them, and she’d grown even more accurate then he’d been able to be, so she knew that wasn’t the problem. But she didn’t have time to dwell on it, not when something had so obviously gone wrong. Still, it worried her that a Warden Fortress had been overrun by a single band of darkspawn. 

She helped a few soldiers get the medical supplies they needed before heading inside. And if she’d thought the outside was bad, the inside was worse.

By now she’d worked herself into a fury, and she was torching and freezing darkspawn left and right. Sometimes, when she got tired of casting, she drew her greatsword, Starfang, and she used the magic of the elven spirit to help her cleave their heads from their shoulders instead. 

“A-ha! There you are!” Called a familiar voice.

Oghren. 

“What... are you doing here?” Rasha asked, grateful to see him, though not so grateful to smell him. Well. At least he hadn’t changed, like she’d asked.

He chuffed, breathing a cloud of ale breath into her face. She didn’t bother trying to hide her discomfort; Oghren wouldn’t have noticed it to even be offended by it anyway.

“When these darkspawn showed up,” he replied, grinning at her, “I thought, “Just you wait until the new commander gets here and you’ll all be spitting teeth out yer arses!”” Rashia sighed softly and just gave him the universal look for, “Really?”

He didn’t seem to notice, and in fact continued with, “Followed the screaming, and sure enough, here you are. Good on ya!”

Apparently, according to Mhairi, he’d been here since before she’d left the keep to guide Rashia on her way there. He wanted to join the Wardens.

“Well, I’m not going to stop you,” Rashia said. “But we should probably secure the keep first.” Oghren chuckled, and belched. “Well what are we waiting for?”

They went down a series of hallways, killed more darkspawn. Looted the darkspawn. (“I still don’t understand why they bother carrying money,” Rashia muttered, “I mean, like, what are they for? Armor oil?” “Trophies, probably,” Mhairi supplied helpfully. “I know some giants in the Emerald Graves do that.” Oh. Well. That made much more sense.) Went down another hallway. There was a door at the end, and behind it, Rashia could sense magic being cast. Was there another mage warden still alive?

She turned the knob and pushed...

...and on the other side stood a mage wearing the tackiest set of mage robes she’d ever seen. Clearly not a warden, then. But they had their back to her, and they were torching a darkspawn with just their hands, barely keeping it at bay before eventually the damage grew to be too much and the darkspawn fell to the floor in a burning heap.

Rashia cleared her throat.

The mage jolted a little, turning around and wringing their hands. They were singed at the tips. Fire magic sometimes did that if your were too hasty with it. 

“I... ah. I didn’t do it.”

The mage was a man. Tall, blond. Wait...

“Hey! I know you from the Circle!” He grinned, but Rashia was too shocked to do the same. “Now, now, I know what they’ve been saying about me, but... ah, but this? Not my doing.” He jerked a thumb in the direction of a couple bodies in Templar armor. Judging by the injuries, they’d been killed by darkspawn.

“No,” she muttered, “I know darkspawn blade patterns. I believe you.”

He hadn’t seemed to have heard her, as he was still babbling about how Biff had gone down whilst fighting the darkspawn.

They exchanged pleasantries for a while, even introducing himself and blithely sharing his status as a wanted apostate. 

“I know who you are,” Rashia said evenly, meeting his eyes.

“Everyone knew who you were. Anders.”

There was a moment of silence, and then the faint sounds of more fighting and shouting could be heard over the storm. She fixed Anders with that commanding stare that had even worked on Sten and Shale now and again, and he straightened up instinctively.

“We’ve lost a lot of Wardens, and I need another fighter. Come help me, and I just might be able to help you.”

Then he followed her without a word, and the rest was history.

Yet several years later, Rashia sat inside a clinic in the bowls of Darktown. Perched on the edge of a cot, she watched as Anders once again took up the mantle of the Grey. The robes were thinner on him now, at least around the middle, but his muscles had somehow managed to grow more dense, not less, over his time away from the Order.

“So,” he asked her as he fastened the belt and adjusted the gloves. “How do I look?” Beside her, Ser Pounce-a-lot meowed loudly. She chuckled, rubbing the tabby’s head affectionately.

“You’re a little thin,” she said bluntly, “but Ser Pounce seems to agree that... you look good.” She gave him a quick once over as he walked over to sit on the cot across from hers. As soon as he was comfortable, Ser Pounce-a-lot leapt from his current position into Anders’ lap, and curled up there to begin purring up a storm. 

“I still can’t believe he’s here,” Anders murmured, running his fingertips through the tabby’s short fur. “I still can’t believe you’re here. It’s like seeing a legend come to life.”

Rashia chuckled. “That’s funny. I used to think of you like that.”

“What, me?” Anders stared at her, dumbfounded.

“Yes you. When we were in the Circle together. All of those escapes... all the stories you told... I remember stalking you after you’d finished enduring whatever punishments you’d been given, hanging on your every word so that I knew I was hearing it from the source. I knew you probably exaggerated some things, but if I heard them from you and not, say, Jowan, then I was less likely to hear about you “encountering a dragon after you’d run across the frozen Calahad” or something of that nature.”

“Huh. Really? I... I don’t know whether to be flattered, or...”

Rashia snorted, and then briefly descended into giggles. “I would not have called my behavior back then very flattering. But still, I thought of you as a legend nonetheless. Seeing you at the keep after slaying an Archdemon sort of... dismissed any notions I might’ve had about that, though, considering how I found you.”

“Oh yes, standing literally red handed over some burning darkspawn and dead Templars,” Anders deadpanned.

“I knew you hadn’t killed them, you know. Of course, if you’d been able to shut up for ten seconds you might’ve heard me say that.” She grinned at him. He scowled, but it didn’t stay. “I was never very good at that. I’m still bad at it. Even with Justice in my head.” He paused, adding, “Especially with Justice in my head.”

Rashia just hummed softly.

“Well, if I’m a legend come to life, then you’re a miracle, you know? I’d come home to the keep, first to find you missing, then dead? And then suddenly Stroud shows up with a girl who says she’s my cousin who both tell me that you’re not dead, you’re very much alive and living here in Kirkwall. After reading those reports and seeing the sketches... I had to come see you for myself. To make sure that you were really you.”

Anders was quiet for several moments as he focused on Ser Pounce.

“I was afraid for a long time, of Wardens coming for me. That they’d arrest me and kill me... us.” Little blue cracks of lightning spiderwebbed across his skin, and immediately she took his hands in hers, forcing him to meet her eyes once more as she’d done all those years ago.

“I’m not going to do that to you. In fact, I’m going to do whatever it takes to keep you here, and keep you safe. I’m not going to fail you this time, even if it means giving my life. And I’m going to help you and your cause. Both of you. Anders. Justice. Just... don’t do anything stupid again, and maybe you’ll live long enough to become a proper legend yourself. Alright?”

Anders, stunned speechless, could merely only nod in return.

Rashia, satisfied that she’d gotten through to them both, released their hands and leaned back again, glancing over at the pot they’d left to simmer on the fire in the back.

“Now, let’s see what we can do about putting more meat on those bones, hm?”

She got up, and Anders followed, carrying Ser Pounce-a-lot in his arms.

[tripstations]

3 summer beach reads | tripstations

These hot, humid days of summer makes you want to find yourself a body of water – hopefully surrounded by sand – and settle down with a beach read.

A beach read, in my opinion, is one that is fast and doesn’t require too much in the way of thinking. It should have interesting characters and a plot that hooks you right away, but that allows you to put it down so you can cool down in a river, lake or ocean – whatever water you have handy.

Beautiful location and great plot makes Between the Orange Groves a perfect beach read.

Between the Orange Groves

Author Nadia Marks writes the perfect beach reads, and Between the Orange Groves ($18,99, PGC Books, Pan MacMillian) is no different. Set in the 1920s to 1950s Cyprus and 2008 in London, England, you learn about Lambros and Orhan, who grew up as close as brothers until a betrayal pulls them and their families apart. In 2008, Lambros, now an old man, tells his daughter, Stella, the story of his life including how a scandal broke generation-long friendships. Stella notices instead of happiness, these stories bring sadness to her father.

“’The older I get, the more I regret what happened’…Lambros said with a mournful sigh. ‘And the older I get, the more I regret that we allowed our differences and the turn of events to come between us.’ The old man shifted in his chair and turned around to look at his daughter: ‘Tell me, my girl, tell me, what will become of the world if we all carry on like this?’”

Lambros is Christian and Orphan is Muslim and like their parents before them, their religious differences didn’t matter to any of them until an event that changed the course of each character’s life.

“Is it too late for forgiveness? Or can the next generation embark on a journey of their own to help mend the damage done all those years ago?”

With Marks’ descriptions, it is easy to imagine what Cyprus must have been like in the past and now. One of my favourite descriptions was how the scent of the citrus trees in bloom almost overpowered the room when the windows were open.

While none of the characters hung out in on a beach in Cyprus, if they had I could imagine Marks’ describing Coral Bay beach with its blue-green waters, white sand beach and beautiful cliffs. While Canada can’t claim Caribbean blue, the next best thing may be Tobermory with its own stunning rocks and clear blue-green waters. Great diving, too.

Don’t You Forget About Me has laugh-out-loud moments and great characters.

Don’t Forget About Me

Twelve years ago, Georgina was in love with a boy who wrote “I love your laugh x” in their school notebook. Things happened, and the pair went their separate ways until “Georgina was fired from The Worst Restaurant in Sheffield (c/o Tripadvisor) and found The Worst Boyfriend in the World (c/o Georgina’s best friends) in bed with someone else.”

Georgina goes to work at a new pub only to discover her new boss is the same boy she loved in high school. The only problem, he doesn’t remember her at all.

Don’t Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane ($24.99, HarperCollins Canada) was laugh-out-loud funny in some moments and awful in some parts as well, particularly anything to do with the ex-boyfriend, who is manipulative and controlling and does some pretty awful things in the name of love.

“Lucas says: ‘…Something I’ve learned is people do much worse things to you in the name of love, than they ever do as your enemy.’”

Georgina’s friends are great – fun characters who you want on your side in times of good and bad, and offer their own form of comic relief.

If the characters in this book wanted to go to the beach, they may borrow a car and head to Hornsea Beach, which is about two hours away from Sheffield. A seaside resort, the beach offers sand and shingle beach, which reminds me of spots in the Bay of Fundy National Park, New Brunswick.

Lucy Diamond writes great beach reads.

Something to Tell You

Lucy Diamond is another writer who offers great beach reads. In Something to Tell You ($18.99, PGC Books, Pan MacMillian) we meet the Mortimers, a close-knit family that are always up for a party. During their parents’ golden wedding anniversary party, a woman walks in and changes the family forever.

“As secrets tumble out and loyalties are tested, the Mortimers have to face up to some difficult decisions. With love, betrayal and dramatic revelations in the mix, this is one summer they will never forget.”

There are lots of characters in this book, with the story focusing on the two sisters-in-law and Frankie, who stumbles into an anniversary party looking for answers about her birth. You get to know each character and their related people during the course of the book and with many summer reads, there is a happy ending for all.

Jeanie and Harry are supposed to be heading to Madeira for their second honeymoon when Frankie shows up. Jeanie heads to this island alone. If she wasn’t heartbroken, she might have taken a trip to Porto Moniz, which offers seawater filled lava pools. Canada may have snow, but they also have hot springs, including Banff Upper Hot Springs.

A copy of these books was provided by HarperCollins and Pan MacMillan for an honest review. The opinions are my own.

Lisa Day has a passion for books – owning them, reading them, writing about them and talking about them. She carries at least one, maybe two or three, books with her at all times and when she isn’t reading, she is writing about them. You can also find her on Twitter at @LisaMDayC; Instagram at @LisaMDayReads, Facebook at https://ift.tt/2GpSYAu and GoodReads at http://bit.ly/ldgoodreads

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[auspicioustidings]

Okay, but she needs a tail for training! First step. Her poor boyfriend is so confused! Tail’s are fun! Why crying? She has to take one of *his* tails though. Even his training tail was too big to take without tears. Cheek to the floor arse in the air as ‘Ghost’ takes no mercy in slowly sinking the toy to the hilt. Her boyfriend at her behind, licking at her skin as his dead-brained attempts at comforting her. Johnny and Gaz coo smile Price just huffs. “It’ll be over soon if you relax, pet.”

Yes, she’s the bitch for their dog. They didn’t originally want her. But, can we get to see them grow to adore having her around? They adore *them both* maybe get jealous boyfriend while broken by them, still clearly favors his girlfriend…. Subconsciously, they can’t even blame him for it.

(My *fake* boyfriend looks like Robb Stark, auburn curly hair, blue eyes, scruffy facial hair, Scottish accent. It’s how he met his fate. He met Soap in a bar in Scotland…)

In relation to this post btw. Urgh you are so correct this was what was on my mind when I suggested she doesn't get her own toys, she has to take what their good boy shares with her because it's all TOO FUCKING BIG. And they all just shrug it off and say she can take it, it's what a bitches holes are there for after all.

Ghost is the meanest to her, like he makes no secret that he did not want this bitch. But I imagine he is like one of those dads who says they don't want a pet and then a few months later they dote on the pet. He'd deny it obviously, but something about the way she resists so beautifully when her boyfriend broke so quickly just gets him. He secretly loves that she insists on barking in person talk to him, he loves that he gets to take her out of the house and she will disagree with him and fight with him and have in depth conversations with him (she can't do much about getting away, not now that she's chipped and her boyfriend is only too happy to wear a shock collar so she knows if she runs then he gets punished and she gets hunted). When none of the others are around and they are out of the house, he very much finds himself treating her more like a person than a dog.

And the first time she voluntarily goes into pup mode? She does it because Ghost's good boy is sick and in distress and won't accept any human comfort. She let's herself go fully dumb brained and animal for him. And the fact that she's going against her own wants to help the absolute apple of Ghost's eye? Yeah, he stops threatening to take her to the pound after that (the pound here is I imagine run by either Kortac or the Shadows and is where unruly mutts go to have a real bad time).

[auspicioustidings]

EEE

The pound being a correction facility, their goal to correct the behavior of the pets as quickly as possible. I can imagine their not very interested in doing it themselves most of the time.

Probably machine based punishments, sensory deprivation, bound in place to a machine or vibe or something, leaving the pet there for extended periods of time till the pound gets the results they want ><

Anon, you are a genius! Also FYI things are very bad and no good below the cut.

When you are taken nobody talks to you and in your state you don't really care. Graves gives you a thorough physical exam, it's all sterilised and clinical how he slides gloves fingers into you and presses everywhere to see where gets a reaction. He uses a speculum to hold you open and prod about your cervix, he flushes out your system with an enema, his fingers spend ten minutes examining you mouth, feeling all around your soft palat, caressing each tooth and testing your gag reflex thoroughly.

It's a new kind of violation because it's so impersonal. This isn't being a pet, it's the cold examining of some wild animal.

It's always Graves at the end of the week performing his exams. They range from just a thorough cleaning to him piercing a metal tag through your clit that lists his clinical notes on your vagina. Sometimes he gives you injections and you don't know what they are, you only know that at least one made you feel like you were so tight his finger may as well have been a battering ram. But you would take him and his shadow "nurses" over Konig and his kortac "trainers".

Konig is a scary man just by sheer size. He does speak to you, yells at you, barks orders. They are all in Austrian and you don't understand, but then given how he delights in punishing you for it you think that's the idea. He's the one who uses machines.

It's what gets him off really. He loves watching you immobile, folded in half and held in a perspex box with only your head and your holes sticking out. There's a scoreboard on the wall. Each of his people gets an hour with you a week and whoever has wrung the most orgasms from you gets bought a beer. They get creative. Anytime you think you get used to one contraption, they produce another.

Some of them come in and see the board before deciding that they're not going to win that week, so they don't need to make any of this hour pleasurable for you (not that the orgasms feel pleasurable anymore, the overstimulation is painful). Those weeks are the worst because it usually starts a train reaction. When someone comes in and sees your pussy covered in marks from being paddled they forget all about the initial competition and see who can make you scream the loudest instead.

The only reason you have any concept of time is because they theme it sometimes. On Halloween week they all dressed up. Horangi was the worst because he dressed as a baseball fury and spent the hour seeing just how much of that bat you could take.

But between their visits you are left alone. The room is bright, no decoration. There is nothing to distract your mind from the constant vibration on your clit and the machines fucking your pussy or ass or both. Sometimes there are clamps on your nipples, sometimes not. If Konig is in a bad mood you have a machine fucking your throat as well. If he's in a good mood he might take you out for a bit to strap you to his torso so he can go about his day with his cock being warmed inside you. At least then there is some distraction because it's starting to be worse when you're alone than when they are there. That's why the training works, it makes you so needy for any external interaction that you are willing to be whatever slut they want if they'll just spend some time with you.

The man responsible for turning you into an attack dog is called Nikto. He is violent and you never see his face. You did not know there were men that existed as cruel and cold as him. When he gets you, you have to be sent to recovery for a week. If it wasn't so horrific what he does to you then you could almost see the bright side because recovery is with Mace and Roze. You don't see them outside of recovery, but they don't ever hurt you during. The small kindness they give you is so foreign in this place that everytime you just sob for hours while they comfort you. It's all part of the process of course, all part of breaking you down and then getting you attached.

Within a few months they have their perfect dog. Takes whatever you give her because she's so desperate for anything at all. Attacks on command because anything Mace tells her to do must be for her own good. Is kept the perfect specimen through the "medical" team.

They think they have you right where they want you. But there is always a final test. And they did not anticipate how you would react. After all, so many people who work at the pound were animals once themselves, broken and moulded to break and mould the next generation. It was hubris really, to capture good boy. It was arrogance to think they had you so well trained as theirs that you would follow orders to treat him how they treated you. It's what ultimately leads to you busting both of you the hell out of there.

[auspicioustidings]

Haven’t been able to stop thinking about this!

-you’re not the puppy they wanted but they’re good boy deserves a reward but it also takes care of you. The only one on the outside still looking for their boy.

-on one hand the kidnapping and not buying you new toys is punishment enough but on the other your stubbornness had to annoy them.

-BUT ALSO! You’re loyal! You refused to give up on their good boy even though everyone else had and kept telling you too. Surely that’s worth something?

- after you comfort their boy when he’s ill does reader get a small reward, like positive reinforcement to tell them being a puppy is good?

-brat reader chasing her tail because they want it out? 👀

NEITHER HAVE I! (In relation to this btw)

I don't know that everyone was home when you went into puppy mode to comfort good boy. In my mind only Ghost was there, the others had went out to basically buy out an entire fucking pet store to try make their boy feel better. When they get back Ghost gets up from the couch where he has been sat watching you, ruffles your hair with a 'good girl' and then says he's going out to get you something.

The other 3 are flabbergasted but Gaz recovers first and is wildly happy to get to pet you without you snapping at him. You're a little shy around Price because he tends to be strict and even puppy brained you remember the shade of black he turned your ass last time you spoke back to him, but he's ok to wait and just takes up the seat Ghost left, watching from a distance. Soap is out of sorts, you have been bad girl for pretty much the entire time you've been here. You're the most ill behaved pet any of them has ever seen. So for Ghost to have called you good girl? It's sort of melting his brain.

Ghost comes back with two things. A pretty, delicate little collar that's all yours, it'd be too small to fit good boy. And a book. It unsettles everyone a bit to be honest, because that's a reward for a person, not a dog. Price is the most disturbed by it, but he relents when you're so immersed in your little bit of human entertainment that you curl up at his feet to read and don't notice the little positive noises you are making when he runs his fingers through your hair (sounds like purring if you ask him, maybe the problem this whole time was that they got a queen instead of a bitch).

CHASING HER TAIL YOU ARE SO BIG BRAINED THAT'S DELICIOUS. Soap takes a video and sends it to the gc because look at that, he's managed to get you so frustrated and annoyed that you've forgotten about being a person entirely. Like you're not in mitts, you could just use your hands, but he'd been playing with you and edging you for hours and has the remote to control the vibration of that tail so he's driven you fully out of your right mind.

[auspicioustidings]

mhairi i’m so sorry i just can’t stop thinking of good boy and good girl cause like

she finally returns for a “visit” with Ale and Rudy and the boys getting excited to see her and she just can’t interact with any of them without Ale or Rudy around.

Soap tried to corner her to play and she just flinches away and bawls because she thinks he’s gonna punish her

she even flinches away from good boy, asking Ale and Rudy if she really has to let him breed her

Gaz’s heart just breaks because as much as they didn’t want you, he knows they were horrid. it’s just not the same anymore, and they regret taking you to begin with because you’re just not the same person anymore

YOU GET BACK HERE! GOD I LOVE DARK CONCEPTS THAT TURN INTO ANGSTTTTT!

The worst part of it is Ale and Rudy may be "nice" but they're not. Like these are men who used the reward of "letting you be a girl" to get a collar on you. Yes they never punished you the way the likes of Ghost or Price did, but they are way better at emotional manipulation and gaslighting. Given the choice you would not be on their beautiful ranch living some half life where you need to be a kitten when they want you to and wear what they want and eat what they want, but they've made you so dependent on them that you're scared of your own damn shadow when they're not around.

Ale and Rudy were not like the 141, they didn't meet you before you were broken. They've never really met the bright and brilliant person you were, but they've seen glimpses. They've seen enough that they break their own rules sometimes, maybe ease up a little too much on the love bombing because they are curious about the person these glimpses show them.

The thing about it is that all these men care for you in their own way. You don't see that, deep down you know they are monsters. They must be right? There can't be any real feelings there for men like that. You've gotten to a state where you can't even believe good boy likes you, not as much as he likes his masters. God, maybe you're the one that's wrong somehow.

Ale and Rudy try to talk with Gaz because they know they've fucked it up, they see that they've manipulated you into just as bad a space as you were with the 141. You had pockets of joy at the start but now you're so skittish. You don't even want to go on trips anymore, no interest in going to do human things because they've made you too paranoid.

Unfortunately, you overhear them and misunderstand. You think they are going to punish you. You run. On the one hand, Price chipped you right at the start so they can track you. On the other hand, all chips for pets can also be tracked by the pound and they're real curious about this pet that got the 141 all riled up. Guess it's just who gets there first.

[auspicioustidings]

good girl tearing through graves and kortac to get good boy (and herself) hour of the pound my beloved…..

God you write them so well, everything is so good i’m like frothing at the mouth whenever you update‼️

i cant stop thinking about good girl finally making it back to 141 and the Vaqueros with good boy and both groups of men trying so hard to show that they’re happy she’s back too but none of it working because she’s been through too much

none of them can touch her. it hurts too bad. she nearly bit Rudy and Soap’s hands off while they tried to pet her hair while she was eating. she even tears apart a book that Ghost gets her because it has to be a trick.

they’re just trying to get her comfortable and pliant again so they can ship her off wherever in the world next, or find some reason for her to slip up so they can punish her, or get her into their bed and she won’t have it

(deep down, past a certain point of Stockholm syndrome, she just started to want them to like her. she just wanted the softness and the sweetness good boy got. she wanted to be their girl and their pet.

why was she never good enough?)

Oh that last line hits so hard <3

Ok so starting with the escape, there are a couple of big fuck ups that allow you to tear your way out of there.

Nikto was never allowed to fuck you because they view him as a feral animal who would have gotten too possessive and dangerous had he been given the opportunity, they did not consider he's been simmering with resentment over it and waiting for his opportunity to tear apart the handlers who cattle prodded him whenever he would try get under your clothes during training (he already is possessive and weird about you and the idea of you running wild out in the world gets his blood racing)

Mace was Ghost's pet before he was ever the pound's and his loyalty will always lie with his original master first - Ghost was a good master and Mace wants that for you

Roze would usually not get involved, but she's found that recently seeing you crying is making her furiously uncomfortable so she wants you out of here

Kate has been biding her time on taking the pound down after she 'adopted' her (future at the time) wife from them, she's never forgiven them for the state they put that woman in - them pissing off the 141 & Los Vaqueros presents her with the perfect time to activate sleeper agent Alex (who you haven't seen, but he has seen you) because she knows that this time they won't stop her

Alex has been trying to help you this whole time and getting increasingly upset about not being able to do more (Halloween week should have been so much worse for you, but so many of Konig's people conveniently had emergencies that week and had to skip their hour)

There are people in that building clearing a path for you in the shadows. You don't come across Horangi because he's currently hiding from Nikto, knowing if he is caught then he's absolutely fucked. Most of the 'nurses' are foaming at the mouth after being poisoned by Roze while Mace and Graves are in a fight to the death inside the clinic. The first time you have ever seen Alex is when he runs into you and good boy in the hall, hands you a knife with a nod and then takes off to deal with the people on your tail.

Good boy talks to you. Like fully, truly talks to you. You don't remember after because it's all a complete blur, but he was a human man fighting tooth and nail to protect the woman he loved during that escape.

Nobody has been able to stop Konig. He blocks the exit and he's so huge and you are so terrified of him from all that he's done to you. He's confident in your submission, backhands your boyfriend when he tries to get between you and tugs the o-ring on your collar to bring you towards him. "Trying to fly away from me spatzi? Come, let us clip your wings."

He truly thinks you will acquiesce, he is smiling indulgently with that ever horrible glint in his eyes that means he is excited about punishing you. You use the knife the man in the hallway gave you and bury it in his belly. You pull it across and rip it back out. You do not stop to give him any last words, you do not yell at him or tell him how you feel about him nor do you let him do the same to you. Because he's not worth your fucking time. You just grab your boyfriend and keep fucking going.

You meet Ale and Ghost near the entrance. They have started fighting their way in while you were fighting your way out and oh boy are they surprised to see you snarling and covered in blood barrelling towards the exit. Your body gives out on you as you fight hard against Ghost, only managing to bury the knife in his shoulder before he has your failing limbs restrained. The last thing you see is your boyfriend's face near yours. He's crying you think.

When you wake up in a new place (it's a lakehouse, beautiful but it does not escape your notice that it's in the middle of the wilderness), you're too unwilling to let anyone near you to notice things. People were on your side. Most of the men in this house are injured (Gaz nearly died, Price is in a sling for months) because in the background they were willing to die fighting to get you out of there. It's how good boy got caught, they were all throwing themselves into danger to get to you. You had people inside the pound who were on your side and you never would have gotten out without them.

But you don't know any of that. So yes, you are stuck thinking that you were never good enough to be their good girl. You had to get yourself out of there after all. They only came because good boy was there, because it couldn't possibly have been for you. You tried so hard to get them to like you and it failed. They had a tracker in you (the pound cut that out the first day), so they must have let the pound pick you up. They don't want you, they're just stuck with you because of good boy.

You are not loveable. You don't have the ability to be good. So you don't try because you can't face being rejected again. Better you be bad and don't let anyone close. Better you actively try at something you know you will succeed at, making everyone want to stay away from you.

[auspicioustidings]

The good girl stuff is just so good, at this point she deserves a happy ending. maybe coming back to the boys after some time with kate?

I am a sucker for a big happy ending, so absolutely in my head that's where this ends.

Kate and Farah are kind but firm when you are dropped off with them. They don't let you wallow in self-pity for too long, they get you out of the house and doing things you used to love. For months they don't entertain you going into petspace because right now you need to find yourself again, not retreat into being a kicked puppy.

Around a year in you are drinking wine with them and realise you sort of miss it, being a pet. It's frustrating because if it had been consensual maybe you could have come around to the idea of doing it sometimes. Once you start talking you don't stop.

You're still heartbroken that your boyfriend hated his life as a human so much that the thing that made him happy was being a pet and you didn't see it. You knew he was sad a lot of the time, but how could you not notice how bad it was?

You miss arguing with Ghost when he'd take you out in public. You miss how fun it was sparring with him, knowing that he was desperate to get you home to punish you for it.

You miss reading at Price's feet while he drank his whiskey and played with your hair for hours.

You miss how riled up Soap would get you, how he would keep annoying you until you started playing back and then it was hours of playing that usually ended with the two of you in a sweaty pile, exhausted and sated.

You miss Gaz. You miss him so much. You think about those worried brown eyes. He saw everything, he took it all on his shoulders so often. He was the caretaker in that home and nobody appreciated him enough for it.

You even miss the ranch. The wine was better there. Watching the Mexican sunset, lazily drinking with Ale and Rudy, there were little pockets of time that felt like a dream between the bad parts.

Farah understands you because she went through this. She tells you there is no shame in wanting to see them again even after what they did. At the end of the day if forgiving them makes you happy, fuck what anyone else has to say about it. If they fuck up again this time there are people who have your back.

You're not sure what to expect. It certainly isn't a sit down with Price where you spend hours going over boundaries. He doesn't pressure you to agree to come see them even though he desperately wants to because he's trying to be better. He needs to be because he needs you back. They all do. Their little family doesn't work as well without you.

There's a lot to work through. You all fuck it up several times. You discover that the other side of pet relationships aren't easy either when you find yourself master to a very angry and violent Nikto because he will listen to nobody else and despite what he did to you, you don't want him to die. He's what you might have become if people hadn't fought to save you from it.

You're never master for good boy. That's not the relationship you ever want with him. Instead when you spend time with him, it's almost always as a pet where you can both be free of all that human emotion and instead just be happy and loving.

And you come to quite like being bad girl. It's not the only thing you are. A lot of the time you are just you, you get to be a person with big thoughts and big feelings. But it's nice to keep them on their toes. It's nice to be a bad girl when you're stressed or horny or angry because they'll work you through it one way or another. And it's nice to stress them out because you remain perfectly untrainable.

Hey, maybe one day you wouldn't mind being their breeding bitch either :)

[auspicioustidings]

THE POUND? THE P O U N D ?!?!?! MHAIRI‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

the thought of all three groups of men hunter good girl down is so….. wait where did my pants go?

in all seriousness though i just know the vaqueros and 141 place a bet on whoever gets her first keeps her permanently and they’ll *try* to be better, but they don’t know there’s an entirely new predator looking for you.

btw do you do anon emojis •3•?

Honestly I don't have a busy inbox generally so haven't needed anon emojis before but I can start popping them on my pinned :')

They absolutely would make the bet even if it's all posturing because deep down they are worried. You are out there not fully in your right mind because of them. They aren't bothered about you going to the police because they have them in their back pocket, but what if someone else picks you up? They can track you sure, but what if by the time they get there something horrible had happened to you? (It's not horrible when they do it of course, it's just good pet ownership).

They fuck about too much as if to prove how much they don't care and it costs them. The GPS for you is suddenly moving fast. You are in a car. Ghost is on his bike so sees it first and his heart drops out through his stomach. Not a car, a van, and one he recognises. One he used to send pets to when they just couldn't behave or he got bored of them before his good boy and bad girl came along and he lost the taste for it.

I suppose the good thing about the pound is that it's going to make the 141 look like the sweetest, gentlest owners on earth. But now he's remembering when they first got you how he told Konig all about this new bitch they picked up and how she was such bad girl. Fuck, Soap couldn't stop riling Graves up talking about how you just refused to break knowing that's his favourite kind of pet. And Gaz called them at one point before sending you to Los Vaqueros, he told them he was thinking of sending you to them.

You are going to a place full of people who have been panting after the thought of you that the 141 put in their fucking heads. Ghost isn't very familiar with the feeling churning in his guts, but then he's never been on the receiving end of dread. It's dread so bad that when he meets up with the others, he takes the collar off of good boy and tells him to get up. "Let's go save your fucking idiot girlfriend then you're breeding her so hard and good that she's too heavy with pups to ever fucking think about leaving us again".

[auspicioustidings]

Oh I love the idea of bad girl running off with Nikto to do weird deranged shit in the woods, like at this point *~fuck~* those other guys. I can just imagine the 141 following her as soon as she’s out of the house (silent alarms on the doors and windows, they learned their lesson the first time around) and immediately getting jumped by Nikto as soon as the cross the tree line. The only reason he and Ghost don’t maul each other is because bad girl intervened, even though there was a hot minute where she considered letting it all play out.

Anyways, the 141 do see still her but it’s only because she now has partial custody of good boy since he started deteriorating once he realized that she wasn’t coming back. They bring him out to the woods twice a week and let him run off to go do god-knows-what with the two feral creatures haunting the local forest for a couple of hours. Honestly best case scenario to me, I love bad girl so much and think she deserves to be happy(?)

SO DO I :') Like I think there are a lot of alternate universes because ultimately this can end a lot of ways, but I do enjoy the one where Nikto and you just get to be absolute creatures and everyone sort of has to deal with it.

None of them really know what the fuck happened to Nikto to make him that way, but they do know it was their influence that turned you into what you are so who are they to try and stop the two of you? Not that they could. In this universe the only way of getting you away from each other ends with both of you dying and taking down as many people with you as you can.

Nikto totally hates good boy btw. You are literally the only creature he cares about and he barely tolerates him but does it because last time he tried to kill the fucker you nearly ripped his throat out. Although given how incredibly turned on that got him he does swipe at the boy every so often just to get your teeth in him.