#nikolaos grant

[criminallyyoursvn]

what would arguing with Nik and Wes be like? what are some habits or tendencies do they display during a serious and heated argument with MC? would they sleep in bed with things unresolved or are they the type to follow and bother MC until they make up? what are some things or topics that would get them all heated and riled up in the first place? and how would they apologise to MC or try to get MC to apologise to them? sorry for bombarding you with these all of these questions😖

......any of them into make up sex?👀

Arguing with Nik is tough since he’s quite passionate. He might say he will move on and let things go but he usually can’t. He’s the type to say anything and do anything to amend fences. He is apologetic but he can be quite extreme. Assuming of course he’s in the wrong. If he’s in the right he will usually bank on that fact and expect an apology and won’t really move forward until an apology has been given.

When it comes to Nik he only gets annoyed when someone denies their own wants and needs for the sake of others. He also doesn’t like when feelings are dismissed or treated as small things.

Wes is the type that if an argument crops up he’ll either snip it in the bud immediately seeming a little robotic and uncaring, but he’s just efficient. He doesn’t want to let outstanding problems stand. If you hurt him he will be sure to tell you. However, he’s quick to cut a conversation if he sees it’s going nowhere and won’t argue or give chase. He will give the silent treatment until you both are willing to have an adult conversation.

Wes doesn’t like lying or playing any sort of games. He doesn’t like his time wasted.

Regarding make up sex, honestly Nik loves that passionate messy shit. Wes would assuming you guys came to an actual conclusion in a conversation beforehand.

Feel free to expand on the question in anyway, I think it’s very interesting and tried to answer in a vague manner since part 2 has a lot of disagreements and clashing of people and emotions which I really enjoy 🙈

[texbook-swan]

benediction

18+, minors and blank blogs dni

pairing: Nikolaos Grant x gender neutral, afab reader

tags: sub/dom dynamic, sub! Nik, dom/afab/gender neutral! reader, begging, darcyphilia, feet kissing (reader receiving), degradation, feet, mention of previous m! premature ejaculation

word count: roughly 400

author's note: every day the desire to have this man at my feet grows. hope u enjoy lomi <33

“Please…just one taste I promise I won’t do it again I-”

“No.”

A long whine whistles through the air, the culprit pressing his forehead to the top of your foot, lips slick with atonement. The sheer sweat coating his forehead is clings to your skin, but your expression doesn’t change.

Bad behavior deserves no such reward.

“Please- you can keep my cock locked in a cage for the next week if you want, I just want to- need to taste you so bad please I’ll make sure it feels good,” Nik babbles, near inconsolable as his tears drip onto your skin.

Only giving a hum in response, you raise Nik’s chin towards you with the tip of your foot.

“Is that so?”

You rest your face against your hand, eyes boring into his own that gleam like gems with his tears. He licks his lips, mouth parting to respond before you cut him off.

“Because unless my memory fails me, the whole reason why you’re in this mess is because you came without my permission.”

He whimpers with a violent shake of his head, but you press on, turning his head to the side. You admit it’s a pretty sight- his pale, unblemished neck shines under the sheen of his sweat, the sharp lines of his body defined. His singular brown eye wide and pleading. “And given your track record, what makes you think you won’t cum once you have your mouth on me, hm?”

“I won’t- I won’t please let me have just one taste-”

“Just one?”

You laugh, sharp and mocking.

“You say that as if you wouldn’t start humping the floor like a dog the second your lips touch my skin.”

Lowering your foot from his chin, you draw it back to your body, toe lightly tracing the floor. He practically collapses as your touch leaves him, back arching beautifully.

“Maybe that should be the only way you’re allowed to cum from now on, hm?”

Your ankles cross neatly.

“Fucking yourself against the floor, while you lap at my pussy…Poor thing, you’re practically salivating.”

With a click of your tongue, he immediately rushes to sit back on his knees, hands folded at his lap.

He can follow your orders that much, at least.

Sighing in mock pity, you spread your thighs, satisfaction curling up your spine as you watch his tongue practically loll out of his mouth.

��Consider this your final chance to prove yourself.”

“Now beg properly.”

a/n: my head is in my hands as i write this.

[catherinetheprincessofwales]

The Greek Royal Family have been granted Greek citizenship, 50 years after the end of the monarchy. Family members signed a declaration on Thursday (19 Dec 2024) acknowledging the republican government and adopting a new surname, “Ντε Γκρες” or “De Grèce” – French for “of Greece”. 10 members of the family were granted citizenship on Friday (20 Dec 2024) including the five children of the late Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie – Princess Alexia, Crown Prince Pavlos, Prince Nikolaos, Princess Theodora and Prince Philippos – as well as Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal children; Princess Maria-Olympia, Prince Constantine-Alexios, Prince Achileas-Andreas, Prince Odysseas-Kimon and Prince Aristides-Stavros. Queen Anne-Marie, a sister of Margrethe, Queen of Denmark did not apply for citizenship. In recent years the family have frequently visited Greece, having been exiled and banned from the country (up to the 1990s) in order to suppress their support and issues regarding surname and restitution of property. Since their exile The Greek Royal Family have mainly lived in the United Kingdom. While their titles are not officially recognised by the Greek government, as descendants of the male line of Christian IX of Denmark they are entitled to use Prince/Princess of Denmark titles which is recognised by the Danish monarchy and among other European royal families.

[whimsimarion]

So, I finished the "Athenian Mysteries" by Gary Corby and here's my share of its pros and cos:

PROS:

You learn about lesser known facts from the ancient world (specifically from 460s BCE - 450s BCE)

Nikolaos and Diotima are surprisingly likable protagonists and I enjoyed their relationship.

There are plenty of funny moments.

Nikolaos has a younger brother named Socrates who's the same famous philosopher.

Pericles is an enjoyable asshat, though a bit one-dimensional.

I liked what they did with Themistocles in Book 2.

I loved Nikolaos and Markos' rivalry in Book 3.

I loved Barzanes.

CONS:

The way historical facts are presented is as subtle as the way a tourist guide would present them.

The modern language and euphemisms the characters would use would end up granting after a while.

The writing style was mediocre.

Socrates didn't appear nor played as an important role as I originally expected when I picked the books.

[bearterritory]

Cal Beats Stanford in Big Splash

#2 Golden Bears Finally at Full Strength in Win

BERKELEY – With all their players back in the lineup for the first time since late September, the national champion California men's water polo team defeated 4th-ranked Stanford 12-8 on Saturday in a comfortable wire-to-wire victory.

Four-time All-American Nikolaos Papanikolaou made his 2023 home debut on the Big Splash Senior Day, dominating on both ends and tying for game high honors with three goals on three shots to go with four steals and four drawn exclusions. Roberto Valera also finished with three goals, adding two assists and a pair of field blocks.

Fresh off winning the gold medal with Team USA at the Pan American Games, goalkeeper Adrian Weinberg returned from a five-game absence and looked sharp from the outset. Weinberg had four saves and a steal in less than four minutes of play, while Max Casabella, Valera and Albert Ponferrada all connected on their first shot attempts to get the Golden Bears (19-4, 3-3) out to an early 3-1 advantage.

After making his sixth save in the final minutes of the opening period, Weinberg got it out to Papanikolaou on the counter. The two-time reigning national player of the year calmly lofted it in off the inside of the far post, putting Cal ahead 4-2 and giving him his first goal at Spieker Aquatics Complex since he scored seven in last year's national championship game.

The Bears continued to keep the pressure high from there. Nik Mirkovic jumped a passing lane for one of his two steals on the Cardinal's (14-7, 2-4) first possession of the second quarter, leading to a second straight counterattack goal, this time by senior co-captain Garrett Dunn. 

Stanford fought back to cut the lead to one goal, but Papanikolaou secured his brace with a signature strike, whipping in a ferocious, no-look backhand to make it 6-4 heading into halftime. Weinberg finished his outstanding opening half with 10 saves, two steals and an assist.

Cal pulled away in the third quarter with goals by Ryder Hagan, Jake Howerton and Jake Stone. Papanikolaou and Valera later sealed the win with back-to-back daggers in the fourth period to cap a 4-1 Bear run. Valera added one more in the final minutes, shooting from way outside into an empty net.

With the win, the Bears head into the postseason with the second-best record in the MPSF D-I West standings. They will host next week's MPSF Championships as the No. 3 seed, opening the three-day tournament against No. 6 Penn St. Behrend on Friday, Nov. 17 at 1 p.m.

No. 2 California 12, No. 4  Stanford 8 Cal 4 2 3 3 – 12 Stan 2 2 1 3 – 8 Cal Goals: Roberto Valera 3, Nikolaos Papanikolaou 3, Albert Ponferrada, Garrett Dunn, Jake Howerton, Max Casabella, Jake Stone, Ryder Hagan Stan Goals: Riley Pittman 3, Ethan Parrish 3, Grant Watson, Tanner Pulice Cal Saves: Adrian Weinberg 13 Stan Saves: Liam Harrison 12

[cryptofansty]

Digifinex Labs: JPMorgan Analyzes DeFi and NFT Revival Signs Remain Tentative

JPMorgan has cautiously assessed the recent resurgence in decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), characterizing the observed signs of recovery as only tentative. The report, led by analyst Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou, acknowledges the positive shift in DeFi/NFT activity but urges caution, emphasizing that it’s premature to draw definitive conclusions.

The report recognizes the optimism surrounding the medium-term trajectory for DeFi/NFT activity but attributes some aspects of the recovery to natural occurrences. Increased crypto trading activity, facilitated in part by decentralized exchanges, is identified as a contributing factor. Additionally, the analysts highlight the role of liquid staking, particularly led by Lido, in supporting DeFi’s improvement since early 2023 — predating the recent hype surrounding the potential approval of a spot bitcoin ETF.

In summary, JPMorgan acknowledges positive signs in the DeFi and NFT space but advocates for a tempered outlook. The report emphasizes the need for continued observation to assess the strength and longevity of the current revival.

Get your $550

Registering DigiFinex now grants you a newcomer’s package worth $550: Click to register

[douglasstoby]

Digifinex Labs: Ongoing Bitcoin Rally Drives Surge in Wikipedia Page Views, Highest Since June 2022

The Wikipedia page dedicated to Bitcoin witnessed a substantial spike in viewership last week, reaching its highest level since mid-2022.

Stevens stated, “Bitcoin’s recent price rally and the prospect of a spot ETF approval have piqued people’s interest in the asset. This heightened interest is evident in various ways, including a noticeable increase in the number of visitors to Bitcoin’s Wikipedia page.”

On October 23, the price of Bitcoin surpassed $35,000 for the first time since May 2022. The world’s largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization has experienced a 13% surge in the past week and nearly a 29% increase over the past month.

JPMorgan analysts, led by Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou, expressed in a report last week that the timing of spot Bitcoin ETF approvals remains uncertain but is expected to occur within the next few months, most likely before January 10, 2024. This marks the earliest deadline among various deadlines set by the SEC for spot Bitcoin ETF applications, including those from Ark Invest and 21Shares.

Get your $550

Registering DigiFinex now grants you a newcomer’s package worth $550: Click to register

[ailtrahq]

JP Morgan analysts, led by Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou, suggest that Grayscale’s court victory over the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sets the stage for a flurry of Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds (ETFs). In a recent note, JP Morgan analysts proposed that the SEC might need to reconsider its approval of a futures-based Bitcoin ETF to prevent the conversion of Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) into a spot ETF. However, the analysts deem this scenario unlikely, as it would be highly disruptive and potentially embarrassing for the SEC. “[The delays applied to Bitcoin ETF decisions] likely points to approval of multiple spot bitcoin ETF applications at once rather than granting a first-mover advantage to any single applicant.” JP Morgan note The analysts also noted that even if Bitcoin spot ETFs were approved, they might not lead to substantial price increases for Bitcoin or the overall crypto market. They highlighted that similar spot Bitcoin ETFs have been available in Canada and Europe for some time but haven’t garnered substantial investor attention. Grayscale, the manager of the world’s largest bitcoin fund, has been engaged in a legal battle with the SEC over its request to convert its investment vehicle into an ETF. The SEC initially rejected Grayscale’s proposal, citing concerns about investor protection against fraudulent and manipulative practices. In response to the SEC’s denial, Grayscale criticized the agency’s stance as “illogical” and “discriminatory.” Several affiliations, including The Blockchain Society, The Chamber of Digital Commerce, the Chamber of Progress, and Coin Center, filed an amicus curiae to support Grayscale and criticize the SEC’s decision. However, Grayscale recently secured a significant victory in its legal battle against the SEC. A panel of three federal judges in Washington overturned the SEC’s decision, allowing Grayscale to proceed with the initiation of a Bitcoin spot ETF. This decision had a positive impact on the crypto market, pumping BTC and crypto prices. The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled in favor of Grayscale, deeming the SEC’s prior rejection of the company’s Bitcoin spot ETF proposal as “arbitrary and capricious.” The court recognized that Grayscale had presented substantial evidence to support the similarity of their offering to existing Bitcoin futures ETFs, which had already gained SEC approval. Importantly, the court underscored the parallels, such as the surveillance-sharing agreements both products have with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME). Source

[criminallyyoursvn]

Naw but imagine that if Nik DID see MC like half naked, half on the bathroom window about to jump out, and MC in their panic pretty much jumped tf out of the window, would he have chased after them?

Cuz if he did then his neighborhood's gonna have 2 half naked people chasing each other around. Like imagine little Timmy cheating sleep to stay up late and he sees 2 nutjobs chasing eachother around with their dongs and jongs and whatever out 😭

LMFAO cursed thought. I imagine it’s pretty late and they are scaling rooftops so idk how many people would see, they are both pretty good at evading eyes of the press and civilians normally. But hey it could happen.

[texbook-swan]

just a taste

18+, minors and blank blogs dni

pairing: Nikolaos Grant (Chronos) x gender neutral reader

tags: smut, gn! afab Reader (no pronouns/gendered terms used to refer to reader), unprotected sex, oral (f! receiving), PiV, hair pulling (m! receiving), dirty talk, Oracle is shorter than Chronos, Oracle and Chronos are switches but Oracle is primarily domming in this. <3

word count: 4k~

author's note: I needed to write hate sex with him so bad actually. His desperation and submissiveness bewitch me.

Spending the night patrolling some old bastard’s mansion wasn’t exactly how you wanted to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Still, it wasn’t like you had much other choice. Loathe as you are to cater to the whims of politicians, they paid well when it came to personal security. Being a hero didn’t pay as much as people would expect, and your mom’s physical therapy bills needed to be paid.

That, and your morning had started with a vision of Chronos. The details around him were fuzzy as always, but you saw enough to know any plans you had for the night were thrown out the window.

You were single anyways.

Not for a lack of trying on your mother’s part. As you pass by a set of elaborate tapestries, you reminisce on how she’d go out of her way to point out potential suitors to you in public, even going so far as to set you up on a date with one of the volunteers who worked at the physical therapy center she went to.

Ash was nice and all, but you never managed to go on a second date, your plans always interrupted by a call for Oracle. After a third round of botched plans, the thought of dating left a bitter taste in your mouth. Even going out with your coworker Nik seemed pointless, despite your massive crush on the man.

You- Oracle, didn’t have time for a proper relationship. Villainy had ramped up in recent years, and adding more to your plate was a surefire recipe for disaster. Sleep became a luxury, the omnipresent Eye of Oracle becoming your bedside companion most nights.

It’d reached the point that even politicians had grown anxious, throwing money at various security agencies and heroes desperate enough for cash in order to have a semblance of safety.

The demand only rose when a congressman was found slaughtered in his own home, his bloated body swaying on a suspended meat hook.

Some speculated that a hero had gone rogue, fed up with the lack of protections heroes were given by the government. Others thought this was a new villain’s tacky debut, inspired by comic books and corporate franchising. Regardless of why, it had given other villains a source of hope, something to aspire to.

The killer’s notoriety only rose as time went on, police’s “investigation efforts” into who might have committed the gruesome crime coming up empty.

(Given their hiring standards, you’re not surprised. Pigs are pigs, regardless of how loud they squeal.)

Now, lawmakers were sent panicking left and right, attempting to bribe heroes like you into becoming their personal bodyguard. Your name alone was enough to send most common criminals packing, never mind your presence.

You’d scoffed when the first offer came in.

Oracle was a hero of the people. Betraying that- leaving your city vulnerable to criminals while you played guard dog- would go against everything your mother, and now you, fought for.

But when push comes to shove, you caved. Your mother’s medical bills needed to be paid off, and you could feel yourself breaking under the weight of your day job and Oracle. Your mother had insisted upon getting a job herself, but you couldn’t bear the thought of her taking on work in her fragile state.

So when Legislator Keck quoted a figure that would be enough to clear your mother’s medical debt, you agreed. The man had become a recent target of death threats and cryptic e-mails, but none had been deemed worthy of attention.

That is, until one of your sources told you that he had upset Chronos.

If your vision from this morning was anything to go by, tonight might be your best bet to catch Chronos once and for all.

You complete a quick sweep of one of the tea rooms before turning to the main hall, an array of musical-themed decor lining the walls. A golden theatre mask leers at you as you pass, and you shudder under its empty glare before a noise in the main office draws your attention.

An accompanying rustle confirms your suspicions, and you begin creeping towards the source. Silence settles over the house shortly afterwards, and the weight of it causes your breath to hitch- it’s as if the house itself was anticipating your next move.

When you reach the heavy wooden doors, you remind yourself of what’s at stake. The lives that would be saved if you bring in Chronos tonight.

With a quiet exhale, you roll your shoulders back and force open the door. It gives in far more easily than you expected, and you wince at the echoing impact of them hitting the wall.

However, your needless self-consciousness disappears instantly in place of shock. For all your mother had done to strengthen your mental fortitude, nothing prepared you for the sight of Chronos smugly draped atop Legislator Keck’s desk, chin propped up on his fist.

“Oracle, I didn’t expect to see you tonight,” he purrs.

Yeah right. The city council would rather demolish the educational program in every district ten times over before it was willing to pay the wages of two heroes.

“Who else shows up to kick your ass on the regular?”

Keep him busy with talk, you remind yourself. As cunning as he may be, the man would gladly spend hours detailing the ingenuity of his plots.

Which gives you time to figure out how to apprehend him.

He moves to stand in one fluid motion, arm outstretched in a dramatic gesture.

“It’s Valentine’s Day. As flattered as I am that you’re spending the night with me, surely you have suitors lining up at your doorstep?”

As if. You’re a hero, and a professional one at that.

 Though now that you think of it, you wouldn’t be surprised if Chronos has fucked someone in his suit. He seems like the type to need a regular ego boost.

“You think I’d stoop low enough to date my own fans? Have some faith in me.”

Now what does he want with this room? Chronos isn’t stupid enough to not know the building plans of wherever he’s breaking in to, so what could he-

“Oh I have plenty~”

He continues on, fingers trailing down the collar of his suit.

“You’re telling me you don’t have anyone chasing after you out of that suit?”

Last you checked, the only person who’s ever bothered to make a pass at you in recent years has a wife and goes by the nickname of “Dick.” Frankly, you don’t think he’s ever said your name once in all your years of being coworkers.

Chronos leans back against the desk, head cocked to the side. Is he…presenting himself to you? You blanch at the absurdity of it all before noticing the folder peeking from behind him.

Really? That’s it? What could be so important about these papers?

“My personal life? You’ve gotten far too comfortable with me it seems.”

Comfortable enough that the metallic rumble of his taunting makes you feel something else other than disgust, but you’re not gonna unpack that right now.

“You can’t fault me for wanting to gauge the competition. Can’t be having someone else sweep you off your feet.”

Snapping his fingers, he looks at you in mock realization.

“Say, how about joining me on a date? As much as I love these little meetings of ours, I’d rather we meet under more…pleasurable circumstances tonight.”

Yeah, you would too. You’d get a real bit of pleasure seeing him behind bars. He’d probably be able to make prison orange work. Blue and orange are complimentary colors, right?

“A last minute date? Wow, you really know how to make someone feel wanted,” you scoff, crossing your arms over your chest.

His mask tips down in the same direction a moment later.

Fucking pervert, of course he’s staring at your chest. You can’t recall a single encounter with him where he hasn’t blatantly flirted with you, ogled you, or both.

Wait.

Physical attacks have been fruitless in the past, so that’s out of the question. And you’d have already quit your day job if you had the money for fancy gadgets.

So maybe…

 He chuckles, approaching you with his open arms, the documents left behind on the desk. Does he ever not take an opportunity to show off his arrogance? You wouldn’t be surprised if he was a theatre kid.

“I’d give you all the finery and flattery in the world you want, Oracle, but you don’t exactly make it easy.”

This is a terrible idea.

“I like a man who works for it.”

And with that, any chance of you salvaging your dignity has gone out the window.

Well. It’s not like anyone has to find out. Keck’s too old-fashioned to have more than a few cameras set up around his gate, so you wouldn’t have to worry about your sex tape with Chronos leaking for God and everyone to see.

He tilts his head.

“Is that so?”

You fantasize about seeing his mugshot plastered over every inch of the city.

Sauntering towards you, he takes in your form without an ounce of shame. Not that he’s ever acted with a semblance of shame in the first place, but the way he’s looking at you now makes you acutely aware of how close you are.

And how broad his shoulders are, but that’s neither here nor there.

Despite your last shreds of self-respect screaming at you that this is a decidedly un-heroic plan, you take the time to observe him as well, making sure to linger on his pectorals. He likes them enough to show them off every time he sees you, so you might as well validate him a little bit.

The belts on his jacket hang loose at his side, and you feel the sudden urge to tug on them.

“You seem rather tense, Oracle.”

“I wouldn’t be if my paycheck wasn’t riding on bringing your sorry ass in tonight,” you deadpan, glaring at the eyes of his mask.

“Half your paycheck? Those lousy dogs really don’t pay you well, hm?”

He inclines his head. You can almost taste his palpable disdain, despite it not targeted at you.

“You know, I’d be happy to provide for you, if given the chance.”

“That so? Bold words from a man whose sole mission in life is to make me chase after him day in and day out.”

He seems to preen at that. Jeez, least try to sound ashamed of yourself.

“Perhaps I can prove it to you.”

You can imagine the cocky grin behind his mask as you roll your eyes, leaning back to settle against the wall.

“Fine then.”

He balks at that, head rearing back faintly in shock.

“You’re…sure?”

“Don’t tell me you’re all talk, Chronos.”

That seems to do it, as he moves to kneel before you without a word, and oh- he looks good on his knees. You’d imagined him helpless before you before, shackles encircling his wrists as he’s taken away for good, but this.

Oh you could get used to this.

Desire curls hot in your gut as he slides his hands over your thighs, bringing them to settle over his shoulders. Your back lies steadily against the wall and you let out a small sigh at the sensation, head tipping back as Chronos settles himself more solidly between your legs.

You reach out, fingers tangling firmly in his hair to steady yourself as he rubs his face against the side of your thigh like an affectionate cat. Fine strands of hair slip through your fingers with ease, and you let him bask in your touch for a moment before moving his head back to your cunt, expecting him a witty retort or taunt.

Instead, he moans.

Noted.

Head dipping forward, the tip of his mask brushes against your clit, cold metal contrasting against the warmth of your skin in a way that makes a gasp sing from your lips.

Your fingers tighten, hips rocking against the mask once before you force yourself to still.

“Taking your sweet time?”

“You deserve that, at the least.”

He sounds dazed, voice quieter than you’ve ever heard it. The emotion behind the words hits you like a shock of water. Huh, didn’t take him as the soft sort. Last you checked, this man’s version of courtship involved killing anyone who touched a hair on your head.

Still, it’s perhaps the most honest thing he’s said to you, and…it’s unfairly attractive.

It takes you a moment before you notice him beginning to withdraw from where he’s nestled against you, hands splayed against your skin as if afraid to hold you.

“If-”

You don’t allow him to complete his sentence, tugging on a few strands of blonde hair with a click of the tongue.

“If I deserve it, shouldn’t you do your best to show your devotion to me fully?”

Hips shifted back, you lift up his chin.

“I want this, ok?”  

“And if I have to wait another second to have your mouth on me I’m throwing you into the police precinct and taking care of myself tonight.”

You don’t need to say anything after that.

A ripping noise tears through the air and you hiss, cold air greedily settling against your skin. You clench at the change in temperature, and you swear he jerks his hips against the air.

“I’ll send you the funds tomorrow morning?”

A twitch of irritation runs through you at him knowing the account that gets your bills paid, but you nod nonetheless.

“Surprised that’s even a question.”

He laughs a bit at that, tone low and amused before it raises into a moan as your fingers tighten their grasp on his scalp. Bastard.

He collects himself soon after, head tilted up at you in mischief.

“As much as I’d love for you to watch, I’ll have to ask that you keep your eyes off of me for a moment. Can’t go ruining my mystique and all.”

You turn your head to the side, busying yourself with reading the spines off one of the bookshelves as he removes his mask. You’re only able to read a few of the books- The Art of War, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes- before the sensation of his warm breath brushes against you.

He presses a few kisses to the insides of your thighs, nipping at the skin with a marked possessiveness. His hands slide up to grasp your ass, holding you steadily against him.

You’ve never even considered touching him outside of combat before now, but all of his former taunts- promises you had presumed to be empty, echo in your mind as he brushes his tongue against your slick folds.

He moves against you with reverence, nose brushing against the side of your clit with each movement. His tongue moves against you hot and firm, responding accordingly to every noise, every involuntary movement that escapes your waning self-control.  

The voracity of his desire threatens to consume you whole.

You find yourself biting your lip in an attempt to stifle your moans, and he notices quickly, detaching himself from you.

“Chronos-”

“Don’t hold back, now. I’ve waited far too long to hear you sing for me,” he shoots back, a demand that is far too breathless.

For a moment, you think he’s going to stop, tease you as he always does. But for once, he seems to be at a loss for words. If anything, your desperate reaction serves to spur him on even further, and he doubles back to eat you out with a renewed sense of tenacity.

The noises that come from the two of you are nothing short of obscene, and you can’t help but relish in the vulgarity of it all, chasing pleasure with every grind of your hips.

With only a sharp moan of his name as a warning, you feel your orgasm crash over you, head knocking back against the wall with a muted thud, the pain of it dulled by the pleasure singing in your veins as you rock your hips into Chronos’ waiting mouth.

He takes it all in stride- in delight, even, as he moans against you, tongue lapping at every drop of slick you’re willing to give.

“You taste even better than I dreamed,” he murmurs.

He lavishes your clit in soft kisses and kitten-licks as the last pleasurable aftershocks of your orgasm settle against your skin, thumbs rubbing soothing circles into your plush ass.

When you finally pull away, your fingers smooth down the stray strands of blonde you had disheveled. He doesn’t seem to mind the state of disarray you’ve left him in- in fact, he seems to relish in the absentminded affection, head tipping back the slightest bit. He’d put on his mask again at some point, and you try to rid yourself of the small part of yourself that wishes he hadn’t.

The mask tilts back up towards you, and against all reason, you think it looks smug.

“Still unsatisfied?”

It takes you a moment for you to realize your thighs are still firmly clamped around the sides of his head. You respond faster than you can think.

“Your mouth isn’t the only good thing about you, is it?”

“Of course not.” You can feel a smirk curl your lips as his chest puffs out. Cute.

“Hm. Pity you’ve got nothing to show for it, then.” Feigning disinterest, you face the bookshelf from earlier. “Now if you don’t mind-”

You don’t get to finish before you’re thrown into imbalance.

Chronos lifts you without a second thought, carrying you over to Legislator Keck’s desk in quick strides. He’s considerate enough to set you down gently on the desk before throwing your legs over his shoulders, but from how his chest is heaving, you think that’s the last mercy you’re going to be spared.

With a click, he slides his belt loose, hands quickly working to undo his pants. You catch sight of a wet stain over his boxers before his cock rests in his hands, the tip shiny with his essence.

“Huh, guess VigilanteKisser wasn’t too far off,” you muse, mentally calculating the length of it before he pauses, and you think you’ve turned him off before he sinks into you without a word.

He lets out a shaky moan as his body bows before you, trembling as he adjusts to the sensation of you clenching around him in full.

“Fuck.”

You let him savor it for a moment, the stretch of him inside of you melting into pleasure.

It’s not long before you start grinding your hips back against his.

He’s quick to catch on, thrusting into you with an eagerness that nearly knocks you over the desk were it not for his hands holding your hips in place.

Attentive as ever, he adapts quickly to your reactions until you’re left gasping his name, hands reaching out to grasp onto his forearms in an attempt to ground yourself. He seems to relish in your touch- your desire for closeness as he loses himself in the sensation of you.

“You sound so good whining my name like that,” he gasps, his mask digging into your shoulder as he doubles over in pleasure. You can feel his hips begin to stutter, and reach up to jerk his head back, a broken moan rumbling through his mask.

“Finishing so soon, Chronos? Surely you’re not planning to leave me unsatisfied.”

His grip on your waist tightens at that- just for a moment.

“I would never.”

Theres a second where he caresses your hips before he reaches behind you, lifting a chair over to him with ease. You both hiss as he pulls himself out of you, a string of slick connecting the two of you before it breaks and lands against your sensitive cunt.

He situates himself in the chair with little fanfare, mind solely focused on nestling himself  between your thighs.

The sight of it reminds you of the cliche where a villain pets a cat before delivering a dramatic monologue and you suppress a chuckle, hand reaching out to stroke the crown of his head.

When settled, he spreads your thighs before looking up at you. You pause, before remembering the masks on your face. Right.

You tip your head upwards, closing your eyes for good measure before the familiar warmth of his mouth settles around you once more. His tongue, having already familiarized itself with your preferences, spares no expense in indulging in your pleasure. He laps at you like a starved man, throaty moans muffled.

“You really weren’t bluffing, huh,” you chuckle. He lets out a whine in response, and you feel your thighs stretch as he shoves his face even closer to your heat.

“So eager- fuck, are you getting off on this?”

He arches his back, the chair rolls back with his movement, and you’re able to see the curve of his ass practically begging for your attention. The office chair shifts as he moves, and you realize he’s desperately thrusting into nothing as he tastes you.

“How many times have you thought of this, hm? Having your mouth on me like this, your poor cock fucking against the air. Doesn’t feel as good as my pussy, I bet,” You coo sympathetically, stroking the fine strands of blonde hair brushing your thighs.

You hear him whine before he lets out a long, drawn out moan, and you realize with a thrill of delight that he’d cum hands free.

And despite the shudder wracking through his body, he continues to eat you out, fingers digging into your thighs. The chair bucks violently from his movements, and you faintly wonder if it’ll break.

“Please- wanna make you cum,” he gasps around your clit, kissing the tender bundle of nerves with reverence to punctuate the sentiment. You moan in satisfaction, desire curling hot in your gut as he continues to worship your pussy with hardly a breath to spare.

The second orgasm thrums through you, rippling through your body with a certain steadiness.  Rocking your hips loosely, you keep your hand on the back of Chronos’ head, pressing him firm against you. He doesn’t seem to mind, though, tongue lapping at you all the while.

When the sweat on your skin begins to cool, you finally release him, moving to gently scratch at his scalp.

He buries his face against your thigh, and you let out a disbelieving chuckle at how comfortable he seems. A rush of affection rises in you.

Eventually, he reluctantly pulls away, keeping his face down while reaching out to put on his mask once more.

“You…are incredible,” he laughs, hands smoothing down your thighs, “I’m-”

The sudden chirping of your wristwatch interrupts him, a notification appearing soon after.

Chronos inclines his head in response. Waiting.

“Keck’s been found dead. Detective said it’s best if you leave the mansion ASAP, we’ll update you if there’s any leads.”

You sigh. Good thing he paid you upfront.

Before you’re able to open your mouth, a heap of fabric flutters over your lap, the noise of fabric snapping through air coming from behind you.

You turn to see Chronos hanging halfway through the window, offering you a dramatic bow before disappearing from your view.

“Goodnight, Oracle! We should do this again sometime,” he calls.

Well, at least he left his jacket.

~~~~~

The next morning, you flip on the TV, the familiar cadence of the head anchor bouncing through the speakers.

“Morning News: Documents that implicate Legislator Brian Keck in fraud and embezzlement have been brought to the surface. The story is still developing, but sources cite that Keck had been dipping into the budget reserved for heroes and damage repair.”

A moment later, you get a notification from your wristwatch. 

Apparently, the city’s decided to reimburse you a pretty penny. While you’re sure they have to for legal reasons, the amount is rather generous by their standards. 

Another notification appears- this time from an unknown number. 

“<3”

a/n: i feel insane after writing this abhusidf. i hate this man . reblogs and comments are greatly appreciated <3

[belorage]

I was tagged by @faithchel @honeysides @preachercuster and @shellibisshe​ to take this quiz for my unsuspecting children. Thank you, babes! 🤍

Tagging: @blissfulalchemist @heroofpenamstan @shallow-gravy @strafethesesinners @jackiesarch @amistrio @astarkey @themysteriouslou @aceghosts @vasiktomis @depyotee @daughter-of-melpomene @teamhawkeye @foofygoldfish @cobb-vanthss @chyrstis and anyone else who would like to play! 

WESLEY BROOKS // doll’s eyes

This is the poison of unchecked vices. You slip into hallucinations. You are wracked with convulsions. The delirium threatens to overwhelm you. What are you running from? You look in every direction, wild-eyed at every turn, seeking some reprieve from what torments you. Each vice brings new consequences, and the price of escape seems too great, and yet you cannot seem to face things head on. If you aren't running from yourself, I hope you find a true way to freedom soon. And if you are running from yourself, perhaps you would do well to realize your pain is not something you can simply escape by avoidance. You deserve healing just as much as the ones you love. Someday, soon I hope, you will know this and feel it and reach inward to grant yourself all the kindnesses you offer others. That is the only true way to peace for ones like us. Oh, and if the pain of it seems too great? I hope that you realize you don't have to do it alone.

RAFAEL ESTRADA // hemlock

This is the poison of intense fear. Your body trembles, your flesh burns. Your limbs won't respond to you. You convulse. You can't seem to control the fear. It seems that it has always lived within you. You hesitate, you agonize, and that breeds regret. Sometimes it threatens to overwhelm you, and that frightens you more than anything. But panic is survival mode in overdrive, and something within you knows you must live. Creation seems to be the only balm for you. Perhaps you survive so stubbornly because you have stories that must be told, songs that must be sung. Soothe your stage fright. The path from surviving to thriving is having a good garden to grow in. And you can't do that completely alone.

LEON VALERO // lily of the valley

This is the poison of giving too much. You feel yourself emptying out, dizzying, discoloring — until you fear you will fade entirely and wither away. You have always had to give. You never had a choice before. They pluck your flowers for their beauty, they trample your leaves carelessly, they pull out your roots by the fistful and berate you for daring to grow. And now that you have a grove to spread out in, your rhizomes tangle and curl in on themselves. When cruelty is all you've ever known, thriving seems impossible. But the answer is not to make yourself small and offer every lovely thing you are to the world in the hopes it will have mercy on you. The answer is to let yourself dare to thrive for thriving's sake, to grow in the wild ways you wish to — and to do that for yourself for once.

NIKOLAOS DIAMANTIS ROSSI // belladonna

This is the poison of falling in love. You taste it and your heart beats fast. Your eyes dilate, you fall into deep delirium. You may be a bit dramatic and impulsive, and it gets you into trouble sometimes, but you just can't help yourself. It's in your blood. You love because it is the truest beauty you've found in this harsh world. Even when it's hurt you before, when it's poisoned you, you still find a way. They may call you naive for still believing in it, or vain for making yourself and your surroundings so meticulously lovely. But to love like this is brave and noble, and I hope you find the beauty you seek. Chances are, it's within and all around you already, if you know where to look.

[bearterritory]

#1 Bears Notch Convincing Big Splash Win

Cal Scores 18 Against #4 Stanford

PALO ALTO, CA – The No. 1 Cal men's water polo team unleashed the full impact of its attack, blitzing No. 4 Stanford after an even first quarter and avenging its only loss of the season with an 18-12 victory in the annual Big Splash at Avery Aquatic Center. The win gave the Golden Bears a final regular season record of 19-1 and a perfect MPSF mark of 3-0 for the second straight year.  After taking down #2 UCLA twice in November, Cal is the No. 1 seed for the NCAA Championships which will be hosted at Berkeley this year. Earlier in the season, the Bears barely lost to Stanford 12-11 in the semifinals of the MPSF Invitational in September, but it was apparent by late in the second quarter that the rematch was going to be different. After the Cardinal scored a goal to close within 5-4 at the 4:42 mark of the second quarter, Cal reeled off a breathtaking 6-0 run, silencing the Stanford crowd and building an 11-4 advantage after the first possession of the third quarter. The Bears maintained a seven-goal lead until midway through the third period and held at least a five-goal lead the rest of the way. Junior Nikolaos Papanikolaou and sophomore Max Casabella put the finishing touches on their MPSF Player of the Year candidacies, with Papanikolaou registering four goals, three earned exclusions and two steals. Casabella had three goals, three assists, two steals and a field block. Senior Jack Deely dazzled as well with three goals and five assists and sophomore Robert Valera had two goals and two assists. No. 1 Cal 18, No. 4 Stanford 12 Cal 3 7 6 2 - 18 Stan 2 2 7 1 - 12 Cal Goals: Nikolaos Papanikolaou 4, Max Casabella 3, Jack Deely 3, Roberto Valera 2, Jake Howerton 2, Nik Mirkovic 2, Albert Ponferrada, Garrett Dunn. Stanford Goals: Jackson Painter 3, Riley Pittman 3, Grant Watson 2, Walker Seymour 2, Beck Jurasius, Soren Jensen. Cal Saves: Adrian Weinberg 6. Stanford Saves: Nolan Krutonog 6.

[greekroyalfamilyelvaoikogenia]

The position and role of the Royal Families of the Balkan States in their states Today

Part 4 Monte Negro

Crown Prince Nicholas of Montenegro born 7 July 1944 is the Head of the House of Petrović-Njegoš, which reigned over Montenegro from 1696 to 1766 and again from 1782 to 1918

Prince Nicholas succeeded as head of the House of Petrović-Njegoš on the death of his father in 1986 and grew closer to his Montenegrin heritage. In 1989 he received an official invitation to come to Montenegro for the reburial and state funeral of his great grandparents King Nicholas I of Montenegro and Queen Milena and their two daughters, Princess Vera and Princess Xenia.Prince Nicholas accompanied the remains on an Italian battleship and his family received an enthusiastic welcome from Montenegrians

During the breakup of Yugoslavia Prince Nicholas made several statements calling on Montenegrians to not get caught up in the violence

Nikola was an active participant in the campaign for the restoration of Montenegro's independence, preceding the referendum on the separation of the former kingdom from the provisional State Union of Serbia and Montenegro.

Prince Nikola made public pronouncements of his willingness to return to the Montenegrin throne if that were the wish of the people. In July 2010, the government of Montenegro made a formal offer to provide Nikola with a €3,000 monthly stipend (equal to that of the President), granting his family with an annual €300,000 civil list, a formal residence in Cetinje and the return of the Petrović Njegoš historic family home in Njeguši. This offer was rejected because Nikola believed that the proposal did not deal adequately with the issue of property compensation, as more than thirty properties were alleged to have been confiscated from the dynasty after the monarchy was overthrown.

Furthermore, he believed that the bill would prevent the dynasty from participating in political life and restrict the ability of members of the dynasty to speak freely about certain subjects. He also said that the civil list amount that was announced in the press was not actually contained in the proposed version of the bill that he was shown.

Owing to his stance on this bill, Nikola chose not to attend the celebrations of the centenary of the Kingdom of Montenegro that were held on 28 August 2010. Instead, he celebrated in private.

Legislation passed later in 2011 revised the conditions offered to the prince, and was accepted by Prince Nikola on behalf of his family, who said he was now "entirely satisfied". In addition to aspects of the previous offer, Nikola was given use of the first floor of the Podgorica Royal Palace witch is the royal winter residence in Podgorica, Montenegro. The palace was constructed by King Nikola I Petrović-Njegoš in 1889.

Podgorica Royal Palace

The palace is today the seat of the Petrovich Njegosh Foundation which is presided over by Nicholas, Crown Prince of Montenegro.palace and named as a special representative for the government of Montenegro.

The Montenegrin state promised to pay €4.3 million in compensation for lost assets to a family fund, and pay Crown Prince Nikola a monthly salary equal to that of the president.

Today Crown Prince Nikola,actually represents the country in diplomatic functions and even possesses some political authority, but has not been restored to his family’s historical throne.

The Montenegrin flag was introduced on 12 July 2004 by the country's Parliament. It consists of the nation of Montenegro. The banner is red and has a double-headed eagle in the center.

The coat of arms of Montenegro comes from that of King Nikolaos A. The Cyrillic initials NI (ie NI) of King Nicholas I do not exist in the current flag.

Η θέση και ο ρόλος των Βασιλικών Οικογενειών των Βαλκανικών Κρατών στα κράτη τους Σήμερα

Μέρος 4ο Μαυροβούνιο

Ο διάδοχος του Μαυροβουνίου Νικόλαος, γεννημένος στις 7 Ιουλίου 1944, είναι ο αρχηγός του Οίκου Petrović-Njegoš, ο οποίος βασίλεψε στο Μαυροβούνιο από το 1696 έως το 1766 και ξανά από το 1782 έως το 1918

Ο πρίγκιπας Νικόλαος διαδέχθηκε ως επικεφαλής του Οίκου Petrović-Njegoš μετά τον θάνατο του πατέρα του το 1986 και πλησίασε περισσότερο την κληρονομιά του στο Μαυροβούνιο. Το 1989 έλαβε επίσημη πρόσκληση να έρθει στο Μαυροβούνιο για την επαναταφή και την κρατική κηδεία του προπάππου και της γιαγιάς του, του βασιλιά Νικολάου Α' του Μαυροβουνίου και της βασίλισσας Μιλένας και των δύο κορών τους, της πριγκίπισσας Βέρα και της πριγκίπισσας Ξένιας. Ο πρίγκιπας Νικόλαος συνόδευσε τα λείψανα σε ένα ιταλικό θωρηκτό και Η οικογένειά του έτυχε ενθουσιώδους υποδοχής από τους Μαυροβούνιους

Κατά τη διάλυση της Γιουγκοσλαβίας, ο πρίγκιπας Νικόλαος έκανε αρκετές δηλώσεις καλώντας τους Μαυροβούνιους να μην παγιδευτούν στη βία

Ο Νικόλα συμμετείχε ενεργά στην εκστρατεία για την αποκατάσταση της ανεξαρτησίας του Μαυροβουνίου, πριν από το δημοψήφισμα για τον διαχωρισμό του πρώην βασιλείου από την προσωρινή Ένωση Κρατών της Σερβίας και του Μαυροβουνίου.

Ο πρίγκιπας Νικόλα έκανε δημόσιες δηλώσεις για την προθυμία του να επιστρέψει στον θρόνο του Μαυροβουνίου, εάν αυτή ήταν η επιθυμία του λαού. Τον Ιούλιο του 2010, η κυβέρνηση του Μαυροβουνίου έκανε επίσημη προσφορά να παράσχει στον Νικόλα μηνιαίο επίδομα 3.000 ευρώ (ίσο με αυτό του Προέδρου), χορηγώντας στην οικογένειά του ετήσια Βασιλικη Χορηγία 300.000 ευρώ, επίσημη κατοικία στο Τσετίνιε και την επιστροφή του το ιστορικό σπίτι της οικογένειας Petrović Njegoš στο Njeguši. Αυτή η προσφορά απορρίφθηκε επειδή ο Νικόλα πίστευε ότι η πρόταση δεν αντιμετώπιζε επαρκώς το ζήτημα της αποζημίωσης περιουσίας, καθώς περισσότερες από τριάντα ιδιοκτησίες φέρεται να είχαν κατασχεθεί από τη δυναστεία μετά την ανατροπή της μοναρχίας. Επιπλέον, πίστευε ότι το νομοσχέδιο θα εμπόδιζε τη δυναστεία να συμμετέχει στην πολιτική ζωή και θα περιόριζε την ικανότητα των μελών της δυναστείας να μιλούν ελεύθερα για ορισμένα θέματα. Είπε επίσης ότι το ποσό της Βασιλικης Χορηγίας που ανακοινώθηκε στον Τύπο δεν περιλαμβανόταν στην προτεινόμενη έκδοση του νομοσχεδίου που του επιδείχθηκε.

Λόγω της στάσης του σχετικά με αυτό το νομοσχέδιο, ο Νικόλα επέλεξε να μην παραστεί στους εορτασμούς της εκατονταετηρίδας του Βασιλείου του Μαυροβουνίου που πραγματοποιήθηκαν στις 28 Αυγούστου 2010. Αντίθετα, γιόρτασε κατ' ιδίαν.

Η νομοθεσία που ψηφίστηκε αργότερα το 2011 αναθεώρησε τους όρους που προσφέρθηκαν στον πρίγκιπα και έγινε δεκτός από τον πρίγκιπα Νικόλα εκ μέρους της οικογένειάς του, ο οποίος είπε ότι τώρα ήταν "απόλυτα ικανοποιημένος". Εκτός από τις πτυχές της προηγούμενης προσφοράς, ο Nοκολαος χρησιμοποίησε τον πρώτο όροφο του Βασιλικού Παλατιού της Ποντγκόριτσα που είναι η βασιλική χειμερινή κατοικία στην Ποντγκόριτσα του Μαυροβουνίου. Το παλάτι κατασκευάστηκε από τον βασιλιά Nikola I Petrović-Njegoš το 1889.

Βασιλικό Παλάτι της Ποντγκόριτσα

Το παλάτι είναι σήμερα η έδρα του Ιδρύματος Petrovich Njegosh, του οποίου προεδρεύει ο Nικολαος, διάδοχος του Μαυροβουνίου και ονομάζεται ειδικός εκπρόσωπος της κυβέρνησης του Μαυροβουνίου.

Το κράτος του Μαυροβουνίου υποσχέθηκε να καταβάλει 4,3 εκατομμύρια ευρώ ως αποζημίωση για χαμένα περιουσιακά στοιχεία σε ένα οικογενειακό ταμείο και να καταβάλει στον Πρίγκιπα διάδοχο Νικόλα μηνιαίο μισθό ίσο με αυτόν του προέδρου.

Σήμερα ο διάδοχος του θρόνου Νικόλα, στην πραγματικότητα εκπροσωπεί τη χώρα σε διπλωματικές λειτουργίες και μάλιστα κατέχει κάποια πολιτική εξουσία, αλλά δεν έχει αποκατασταθεί στον ιστορικό θρόνο της οικογένειάς του.

Η σημαία του Μαυροβουνίου καθιερώθηκε στις 12 Ιουλίου 2004 από το Κοινοβούλιο της χώρας. Αποτελείται από το εθνόσημο του Μαυροβουνίου. Το πανό είναι κόκκινο και ��χει στο κέντρο του έναν δικέφαλο αετό.

Το εθνόσημο του Μαυροβουνίου προέρχεται από αυτό του Βασιλέα Νικολάου Α΄. Τα κυριλλικά αρχικά НІ (δηλ. NI) του Βασιλέα Νικολάου Α΄ δεν υπάρχουν στη σημερινή σημαία.

[dgcatanisiri]

It is frustrating when you end up walking away from a story and feel like the tale it was trying to tell was at odds with the way that it told that story.

Like, the one that is on my mind right now is Assassin’s Creed Odyssey - where the game is clearly trying to tell this tale of the Eagle Bearer and their family as a Spartan, and how they come to embrace their heritage and family, all the way to the point of that bullshit DLC that forces them to reproduce... But I see a story of a family torn apart by heritage and the willingness of those who would use the bloodline for harm, and this makes me see that not just is the continuing of the Eagle Bearer’s bloodline a mistake, but it even feels hypocritical for them to be continuing the bloodline.

I mean, the point I’ve come back to before is that Deimos makes the point at the peak of Mount Taygetos that “even in the land of beasts, a family protects its young,” and yet the narrative wants to put out the idea of Nikolaos being forgiven for failing to do this, and never drawing the obvious comparison here.

Or there’s Mass Effect Andromeda, which seems to want to have this theme or idea of parents and family giving you a foundation forward... But at the same time, is building up this idea of a found family, and, by definition of the mechanics that leave Ryder’s twin in a coma for the first half and off the Tempest for the rest, their blood family has no connection to it, so trying to equally put forward the idea of the importance of both. Only compounded with Gil’s story centering on reproduction, and never once acknowledging that “family” exists beyond having children.

Like... is it that you’re taking the “wrong” message from the story, that the story failed to convey its message to the point of sending the opposite one, or just that there was no real story being told, just a slapdash approach to storytelling that wound up with contradictory ideas having equal time in the sun?

Granted, the obvious and simple solution is simply that it’s the last of them, since we ARE talking about games that have multiple writers in these examples, but...

[mecomptane]

MQ: Barnabas of the Adrestia

Part one of... many. So many. Oh no.

Also, my italics for Greek and/or emphasis no longer exist, so that’s great. 10/10. Might try uploading to dreamwidth first from now on, and then copying/linking in to here.

-

“Kephallonia is… here?”

Barnabas leaned over from the wheel, turning so that his good eye focused on where Kassandra was pointing. “Hm? Aye, that’s Kephallonia--and just to the north, there, that’s Ithaka!”

“I know Ithaka,” Kassandra retorted, toeing the island painted on the deck of the Adrestia idly. “I’ve looked at it almost every day.”

The real Ithaka--and Kephallonia--were well behind them, bare specks on the horizon. She’d spent the first few hours since departing sitting on the stern bench, watching over her shoulder as the land she’d spent the last twenty plus years on slipped away. They weren’t home, not really: not Ithaka where she’d honed her hunting skills, and not even Kephallonia, though all the friends left to her in the world lived there.

But a job was a job, and between the plague slowly spreading over the islands and the sudden hush of contracts that came in the wake of facing off against the only other mercenary on the island in spectacularly violent--and public--fashion, there wasn’t much work or coin coming her way any time soon. Kassandra sighed and scuffed her toe against the painted map again, slowly cataloguing the different lands and waters, so carefully rendered. So many places to see, so many people to meet, armies to fight… and somehow, with all those people and across all those lands, Elpeanor managed to find her. Decided to hire her.

To kill the Wolf of Sparta.

Nikolaos hadn’t been a young man when Kassandra was growing up, a General of Sparta and one of the greatest warriors the city had seen since the death of King Leonidas. He’d gained fame within Sparta for his tactics and skillful maneuvering, and renown through the rest of the Peloponnese for his treatment of enemies and allies alike. Not merciful--he was Spartan, after all--but a certain amount of respect. Other generals might take prisoners as slaves; Nikolaos was more likely to ransom them back to their cities or, if seriously injured, grant them an honourable death.

“It’s so isolated,” Kassandra remarked, still staring at the map. “But I can see the coast of the Peloponnese from my house.” House, shack, hut. It was newly built a hundred years ago and left to ruin sometime after; she’d claimed it and fixed it up, but it wasn’t any sort of luxurious.

Barnabas laughed at her, gesturing to the map as he turned back to the helm. “You can? You must have the sight of the gods, then!”

“Or maybe I just have two working eyes,” she snarked back. Sight of the gods, right.

But Barnabas laughed again; did nothing upset this man? “Or perhaps four eyes; I see you talking with that eagle of yours!”

The eagle in question--proud, defiant, and a mother hen in turns--was perched on the wooden screen that shielded part of the stern bench, alternating between watching the sea and watching Kassandra and Barnabas. Kassandra clicked her tongue to get his attention; Ikaros shrilled at her, fluffed his feathers, and turned back to the sea.

She sighed at him; her oldest friend was an eagle. A stubborn eagle, at that. “The only thing we talk about is him taking off to hunt and me scolding him when he shows up just in time to annoy me.”

Kassandra looked up just in time to see Barnabas shaking his head, his whole body shuddering. “Hey! Are you laughing at me?”

“You talk about your Ikaros like my old friend talks about his wife.”

She snorted. “You live with someone long enough, I suppose it all starts to sound the same.”

One of the skeleton crew below called out for Barnabas and instructions; as the old captain saw to his people and ship, Kassandra lounged back against the bench, tilting her head towards the sun.

They were heading for Megaris, which Barnabas assured her was the current major battleground in the war between Athens and Sparta. Elpeanor had said that Nikolaos would be there, but she trusted the old seaman over some shady mainlander who let his guards get killed as a test to see her skills. Or however he reasoned it; she didn’t want to ask, because that meant interacting with him more. Whether he was hiding out on Kephallonia to avoid Nikolaos and the bounty he’d put on the Wolf’s head was Elpeanor’s way of avoiding some consequence, or if he was on Kephallonia for another reason and wanting Nikolaos killed was incidental, she didn’t know that, either.

Kassandra shifted, pulling out the old broken spear her mater had given her, so long ago. She’d never taken a bounty contract before--the closest was hunting down a handful of local thieves (who were a drachmae a dozen on Kephallonia; the island wasn’t entirely made up of criminals, but it was probably a fifty-fifty split between law abiding citizens and those who just did not care). The contract to kill Nikolaos was more an excuse to get off the island that’d been her home since she was eight, see more of the world, make a name for herself. That didn’t mean she didn’t intend to uphold her end, and to do that… sword, short sword, spear, bow and arrows would all work, but using the broken spear wouldn’t just be effective. It would be poetic justice.

The man who married Leonidas’ daughter, killed by Leonidas’ own broken spear. One of the kings had sent Spartans to recover the spear from Thermopylae at the same time as they recovered Leonidas’ body for a burial with honours, and it had been given to Myrrine after the internment. Or, knowing the woman, she had demanded the last relic of her father to be handed over immediately, and everyone who stood in her way suffered for it.

Kassandra ran a finger down the edge of the spear’s blade, testing the sharpness and checking for rust. None, as normal. As much as she liked to think it was all the maintenance and care she paid to the old weapon, the metal shone in a way that she’d never seen before and no matter what she stabbed or threw the spear into the edge never dulled. Good for a quick kill, then, and that’s what this would have to be: a quick kill. Stealthy, maybe. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that between Nikolaus’ skills and the Spartan army, there was only one way she could really hope to complete the contract: a proper assassination.

“What are you frowning about, o mighty misthios?” Barnabas’ voice broke her from her thoughts.

She startled upwards, coming to her feet and not-so-accidentally treading on the painted islands in the process. “Barnabas! Don’t startle me like that.”

“Eh, I know you wouldn’t hurt this poor old, one-eyed man,” he shrugged off her annoyance. “I need to go below; do you know how to handle a ship?”

That brought her up short. “Do I know how to… what?”

He waved her forward to the helm. “Come, come, let me teach you quickly. We have another day of sailing before we make it to Megaris, more than enough time for lessons!”

She reached out to grab the old wood, worn smooth by many hands over the years. “What am I--what do you want me to do?”

“Keep her on the same heading, there--no, no, sun just slightly behind and to the right, we want to head east-south-east,” he instructed. “There we go! See? I knew you’d be a natural!”

Kassandra flexed her fingers, checking her grip. “And I just… stand here?”

“Exactly! Any questions?”

“Yes: why are you trusting me with this?”

He laughed and patted her shoulder. Flinched slightly away when his hand contacted the hard lines of metal and buckles that were hidden by the Shroud of Penelope Kassandra had wrapped around her shoulders and head. “Well, obviously you have sailed before! How else would you get from the mainland to Kephallonia?”

She tried not to stiffen or show another reaction, but from the corner of her eye she could see Barnabas looking at her worriedly. “Me? From the mainland?”

“From the Peloponnese, somewhere, probably,” Barnabas confirmed, would-be casually. “You sail as long as I have to as many places as I have, and you can pick out details like that, too. A bit of an accent, and a way of framing your sentences that sounds more like Lakonian or Messenian, maybe Arkadian. But most of the time you sound Kephallonian! If that’s why you’re worried, the accent of your latest home comes through clearly.”

She shook her head at him. “Kephallonia isn’t my home.”

“Even after… however long you’ve lived there?”

“No,” Kassandra confirmed. Even with Marcos and Phoibe and the few other people who were almost friends, almost family. “No, not Kephallonia.”

Barnabas hummed, apparently having forgotten being called away. “Then… wherever you were from before? Is that your home?”

She couldn’t help herself; she snorted. In her mind’s eye she could easily picture the spear, Myrrine, Nikolaos, the masked men, baby Alexios, the mountain. “I might have been born in Sparta, but I was never really Spartan.”

“Spartan?” Barnabas asked, surprise lacing his words. “And you’re looking for the Wolf of Sparta?”

Kassandra nodded; Barnabas had said he took no side in this war, even having been an Athenian captain, once upon a time. Still, Kephallonia supported Athens, and so far most of public opinion--that Kassandra had heard, anyway--swayed in favour of Athens, too. It would make sense for her to be after a Spartan General if she had been from Athens or somewhere that was firmly part of or on the side of the Delian League. She could see why Barnabas would be surprised.

“I am,” she confirmed, her lips curling upwards. Not a smile, not a sneer; she wasn’t sure what she was feeling about this, but it wasn’t anything good. “I’m going to track Nikolaos down, and before I kill him I am going to get some answers.”

“Answers?” Barnabas parroted.

She nodded, shortly. “Answers. When I was eight, the oracle said that my baby brother--who was in perfect health--would bring about the fall of Sparta if he was allowed to live. Mater fought against the order, but we were all brought up Mount Taygetos and---and Alexios was thrown off the mountain cliff.”

Barnabas hadn’t completely retracted his hand before from her shoulder; he rested it again against the shroud, patting gently. “That must have been difficult to witness, Kassandra. I am sorry. ...but what does that have to do with the Wolf?”

“He was there,” she answered after a minute. She had to refocus; Barnabas had actually sounded sincere. When was the last time someone had actually meant what they said to her? “He was there, he let them kill Alexios… and when I fought back, pushed the priest who had thrown Alexios off and killed him…. Nikolaos threw me off Mount Taygetos, too.”

She could feel Barnabas withdrawing, air abruptly sucked through clenched teeth. “And you survived?”

“I did,” she nodded. “That’s the night that Ikaros found me.”

“So you’ve known him for a long, long time,” Barnabas surmised, looking up at the eagle. Ikaros’ attention was focused wholly on them; she’d noticed the minute he’d zeroed in on them, but the predatory gaze had long been comforting. “But you know what happened then. What answers are you looking for?”

Kassandra shrugged, careful to not jostle her hands and change their heading. “Just one answer, I guess,” she conceded. “I want to ask him… I want to know why, when the priests said that Alexios would bring us to ruin, when they told him to kill me in return for the life of one of their own…

“I want to know why he sided with them over his own children.”

[ailtrahq]

The analysts noted that the SEC may have to approve Grayscale’s ETF proposal and potentially other spot-based Bitcoin ETFs in order to maintain regulatory consistency.  JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE: JPM) has predicted that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will be compelled to approve spot Bitcoin (BTC) Exchange-Traded-fund (ETF) applications from various asset managers following Grayscale’s favorable court ruling. Grayscale Investments, a prominent player in the crypto space, had been seeking SEC approval to convert its Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) into an ETF for some time. However, Grayscale’s efforts were met with repeated rejections from the SEC, citing concerns related to market manipulation and investor protection. Grayscale’s persistence in pursuing the ETF conversion led it to challenge the SEC’s decision in a federal court. The court’s ruling which came last month and called for the SEC to review its rejection of GBTC’s ETF conversion, has caught the attention of market observers and industry experts. JPMorgan’s Insightful Analysis on Grayscale vs SEC Aftermath The court’s argument, as JPMorgan’s analysts, led by Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou highlights, centers on the lack of justification for approving futures-based Bitcoin ETFs while denying spot-based ETFs. This discrepancy underscores a regulatory challenge, as both types of ETFs are closely linked to the crypto market. “For the SEC to maintain its position on Grayscale’s proposal to convert the GBTC, it would essentially need to retroactively withdraw its previous approvals of futures-based Bitcoin ETFs. Such a move would carry substantial repercussions for the crypto market and the SEC itself,” the analysts said in a statement. A retroactive withdrawal of previously granted approvals is a rare and disruptive event in the regulatory landscape. It would entail reversing decisions that were made based on specific criteria and market conditions at the time of approval. JPMorgan’s report suggests that the SEC is likely hesitant to take such a drastic step because it would not only be disruptive but also potentially embarrassing for the regulatory body, as it would imply a flawed regulatory approach in the past. The analysts noted that the SEC may have to approve Grayscale’s ETF proposal and potentially other spot-based Bitcoin ETFs in order to maintain regulatory consistency. Analysts Says Court Ruling Not a Game-Changer for Crypto Spot Bitcoin ETFs offer a different investment approach compared to their futures-based counterparts. It allows investors to hold their positions indefinitely, eliminating the need for periodic rollovers that come with futures ETFs. This characteristic has generated optimism in the crypto market, with many believing that the eventual launch of spot-based ETFs could open the floodgates to mainstream investment. In contrast to this optimism, JPMorgan’s report suggests that while spot Bitcoin ETFs have been in existence outside the United States for some time, it has failed to attract considerable investor interest. The report emphasizes that investor appetite for Bitcoin funds, both futures-based and physically backed, has waned since the second quarter of 2021. This period coincided with increased regulatory scrutiny and heightened market volatility, which may have contributed to investor caution. Thank you! You have successfully joined our subscriber list. Source