#premium lodgings

[vacation-resort-solutions]

Luxurious Vacation Retreat: The Lofts at Green Valley | GetawayVRS

Escape to sophistication and comfort at The Lofts at Green Valley by GetawayVRS. Discover a haven of modern elegance in a prime vacation destination.

[gallimaufryish]

[1236wolfcreek]

1236 Wolf Creek Luxury Vacation Homes

Website : https://1236wolfcreek.com

Address : 1236 Wolf Creek Ct, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

Phone : +1 854-800-1236

Discover the ultimate Big Bear Lake vacation experience in our ultra-modern 6-bedroom, 5-bathroom rental, nestled close to the ski resort and golf course. Indulge in the luxurious amenities, including a 5-person hot tub for post-adventure relaxation, comprehensive climate control for year-round comfort, and premium marble finishes in the kitchen and bathrooms. Revel in the grandeur of the 18-foot vaulted ceilings and sophisticated designer interiors, while enjoying the state-of-the-art 12-person Dolby THX theater for immersive movie nights. Unleash your competitive spirit in our fully-equipped game room, complete with a pool table and arcade games for all ages. Our expansive outdoor living spaces offer breathtaking views of the stunning landscape, while the gourmet chef's kitchen and luxurious master suite ensure a truly memorable stay. Embrace the eco-friendly design elements of our property, blending sustainability with style and comfort, for the perfect Big Bear Lake getaway.

[drdemonprince]

ENM/Poly circles explicitly discourage real talk around jealousy, and practical considerations around nonmonog in ways that routinely exclude and excise POC and disabled people.

ENM/Poly expects everyone involved to act as though “love” is the reason for every relationship choice. Cliche #1: love isn’t finite. Which… sure. Maybe love isn’t finite, but attention and time sure are— and those are at a premium.

Cliche #2: Love is all you need/love is what makes a family. I am familiar with criticism of this from a family abolition, anticapitalist standpoint, but I have seen this be uncritically repeated by ENM/Poly people. It’s not true that love is what makes a relationship work or not work. It’s also about dumb shit, like geographical proximity and practicality. Good luck being ENM if you can’t regularly host because you have roommates or live at home. Good luck being the gold standard of ENM (out to everyone, including family and maybe even the workplace!) if you are any kind of marginalized. Love is simply not enough. There’s real world shit to consider.

Most ENM/Poly people are white gen x’ers and older millenials for a reason. It’s a framework that works awesome if you have abundant spare space, disposable income to blow, and free time. Plus most ENM/Poly people are heavily in therapy, and just have a fuckton of time to deal with their various baggages… or at least like to posture as though they are doing those things.

Non monog can be liberatory— disabled polycules caring for one another. QPRs! Multiparent households! But ENM/Poly is very lodged in a liberal, hyper-independent Super Good Boundaries Thank You Very Much world of its own, and so most of the “resources” like More Than 2 or Polysecure have hella flaws in that respect.

COME OFF ANON SO I CAN FOLLOW YOU! Because you just said a whole word.

I find "ethical nonmonogamy" and polyamory circles to be viscerally unpleasant and alienating to be in as a crazy, chaotic antipsych person who does not always make choices for carefully therapized, restrained reasons -- and who doesn't believe that most other people do either, no matter how much they claim to.

I don't fuck multiple people to serve some higher purpose; I do it because I'm horny, impulsive, and have a variety of niche fetishes that are really difficult to satisfy.

I didn't choose to be openly nonmonogamous because I nurtured my soul and found that it was abundant with love that I just had to give -- all my relationships already were nonmonogamous at one point or another, either because I cheated or the other person did or both, and I eventually decided to move with my feelings rather than against them, and to stop denying all that is inside me -- all of the hunger and darkness as well as the light.

And I can't say that my nonmonogamy is inherently "ethical" either -- just like my monogamy sure wasn't! I'm a human being, and a crazy one at that, I get jealous, I have emotional blowups, I lash out and fuck other people to make myself feel better or to affirm that I am desired, I make big demands of the people I date, I fail to show up for people consistently, I get hurt, and I hurt others, and I will continually have more to learn. I will also continually have wild animal emotions and triggers, and I won't always deal with them in the way my partner(s) might want me to. I try to avoid hurting other people needlessly, of course, but sometimes your own needs are incompatible with another person's, and hurt is inevitable.

When there is only so much time and attention available in our lives, it's true that somebody's often going to come up short. And ultimately the person that I choose above all others is me. And so, no, I can't say I'm always doing nonmonogamy in some caring yet dispassionate way, or that love is the solution to all problems -- I am driven by passion and need, and sometimes being alive in those ways means getting hurt, or hurting in turn.

I would echo essentially all that you've said. We need time and resources and spaces to enjoy privacy with other people, and if you're not some rich work-from-homer, that shit's all in short supply. I hate the sheen of calm positivity that "ENM" and polyamory folks tend to place on everything -- as if no choices they make are fueled ever by bitterness, dislike, resentment, or hell, fucking white hot irrational DESIRE. With how fair and measured so many of them make their polyamory sound, I don't even see what's fun about any of it.

Sometimes you want to upend your whole life because you're so down bad for a person. Sometimes you hate the shit out of your partner's partners and you say and do little manipulative shitty things to convey those feelings, or to try and blow the relationship up. Sometimes the hours just don't add up and somebody gets shafted. Sometimes you make a promise and then you can't follow through, or just don't WANT to anymore because you have changed.

These are real human realities whether we like it or not, and I find it terribly unrealistic AND unsexy to refuse to acknowledge all the darkness and frustration that comes out in any relationship. I think a lot of the ENM/poly crowd that is white and middle class and heavily therapized is so averse to naming anything edgy or prickly in themselves that they make their spaces actively hostile to anybody who openly expresses negative feelings. That means Black & brown people get tone-policed a ton, "mad" people like me get no-true-scotsmanned out of "ethical" nonmonogamy for ever doing anything messily, and all the romance and sexiness of relationships gets sanded down into a Canva-graphic beige blandness of weekly polycule meetings and processing sessions.

In this world of self-optimization, even fucking and loving other people has to be cast as therapuetic -- our desires must justify themselves by somehow making us better, more capable, more controlled people, But fuck that. Sometimes sex or love is worth exploding your whole life over. The ENM/poly crowd says their way of loving makes them more even-keeled but it seems like a kind of death to me.

[aspiringtrashpanda]

Beel and mc first date short fic ✨

Our sweet boy Beel deserves all the love <3 Let's gooooo!

Characters: Beel x MC Sharing food as a love language, pure fluff. Did first kiss too, I hope that's okay! No warnings apply

This was a joke, right?  

You were seeing things. You had to be seeing things. 

There was in no way in all the three realms that Beelzebub, Avatar of Gluttony and Ruler of the Underworld, had just placed half of his gigadeath burger on your plate.  

Half. 0.5. ½.  

You weren’t sure his stomach could handle such deprivation! He was a growing demon! He needed his nutrients! 

“What?” Beel paused his chewing, burger grease dripping down his fingers and onto the checkered parchment paper on the tray before him. “You’re not hungry?” 

Eyes flitting from the burger - the frankly delicious burger oozing premium molten mozzarella, the cheese mingling with the juice pooling from the sizzling meat patty - to his concerned gaze, you wiped the drool from the corner of your lip and shook your head. “It’s not that. It’s just… Don’t you want your whole burger?” 

It was cute, the way he cocked his head to the side. His fiery hair fell into his eyes for a moment, his slow blink drawing your attention to his dark eyelashes. Your heart stuttered in your chest when he lifted his shoulder in a lopsided shrug. “I want you to try it. It’s really good.”

“Are you sure?” Your devil nuggets called your name from their carton next to your soda. They were tasty, sure, but that burger looked like something else.

“Yeah,” He nodded, a smile tugging at his lips. “Did you think we were only coming here tonight?”

The taste flooding your tongue - savory and salty with a crunch from the fixings cradled between two soft buns - was so overwhelming, you didn’t register his words. You were too busy relishing in the richness of the burger as it traveled down your throat and to your stomach, warming you from the inside out. It didn’t even bother you that the patty was probably made from some weird Devildom animal that you would usually find unappetizing. The burger was too good to care.

Realization struck you like lightning from above. “Wait, what?”

It was not lost on you how Beel’s indigo gaze traced the tip of your tongue as you licked at the residual taste on your lips. Something unreadable lanced through his irises. Suddenly, it was awfully hard to meet his eyes, your heart firmly lodging itself in your throat. 

Lazily nibbling on his last acidic hell fry, he suggested, “Want to have a campfire?”

“A campfire?” You echoed, ducking your head when you became self-conscious of your dumb expression.

His mind made up, he toweled off his greasy fingers and stood, the stool screeching against the wooden floors of Hell’s Kitchen. “Yeah,” Determination as sharp as his jaw set his brow into a deep furrow. “Come with me.”

Keeping up with Beelzebub on the hunt for food was easier than you had expected. Looming over most demons, his long legs gave him the ability to cover impressive distance with each step. However, you found it wasn’t difficult to wander the streets of the Devildom at his side. Maybe it was the way he moved slowly, with intention, as if he was trying to commit every second of this night to his memory. Maybe it was his big heart, always so considerate of those he cared about. 

Maybe he was looking out for you, just as you always looked out for him. There was a reason you kept snacks on your person at all times, after all. 

It had come as a surprise when Beel had requested your attendance for an impromptu dinner at Hell’s Kitchen. You had been drowning in homework, the sharp knock on your bedroom door startling you from your third attempt to actually absorb the words on the page in front of you. 

“Hey, dinner tonight?” He had asked, so casually as if it was any other day.

“Sure,” You had smiled.

“Cool,” He had beamed that dazzling Beelzebub grin that stretched wide across his face. The one where you could count all of his sharp teeth. The one that creased his eyes into crescent moons and made your stomach twist into a pretzel. “It’s a date.”

You were pretty sure it had taken you at least five minutes to process the bomb he had dropped on you upon his exit. Another fifteen to find a suitable outfit - casual and comfortable, but also nice, you know? And you couldn’t possibly discount the solid forty minutes spent worrying over whether he was joking or being serious. 

When he had met you in the entrance hall clad in his best jeans and a flattering, nice sweater, you felt the relief inflate your chest like a helium balloon. 

And really, you still felt like you were walking on air. Even as you stood in the snacks aisle of a Devildom bodega, shying away from the unflattering glare of overhead fluorescent lights as Beel rifled through foil packaging with an intensity that you long learned accompanied his hunger. 

He fought you tooth and nail at the register, amusement dancing upon his lips. “Why should you pay?”

“Because you bought dinner,” you pouted, crossing your arms over your chest as if it would possibly make you more intimidating in the eyes of the 6’4” demon. 

“Hmmm,” he mulled over your argument for a millisecond, just to lean down and blow a raspberry in your face. He smirked, “Nope.”

It caught you off guard, your face burning as bright as a screaming tomato. Brattiness was usually Belphie’s expertise. 

Mischief melting into soft affection in his indigo gaze, fixed to you as the bodega clerk processed his payment, he ventured, “What if… you cover our next date?”

You liked the way the tips of his ears flushed, the way he rubbed the back of his neck and shot you a sheepish, albeit genuine, smile. 

“I think that would be fair.” A tickle spread across your cheeks, scrunching your nose and burning your skin. 

Though, the heat from your flush had nothing on the warmth of the flames lapping at the inky Devildom sky. The embers shot like fireflies reaching for the stars, the campfire crackling within the confines of the pit, lined by rocks that would dwarf even Beelzebub’s palm. It had come as a surprise when Beel had led you off the beaten path, guiding you to a clearing in a forest not too far from the House of Lamentation. However, the secret fire pit made a lot more sense when he explained that it was typically reserved for stargazing with Belphie. 

“Are those… rice krispie squares?” You asked, the pop of an adhesive seam wafting vanilla your way.

“They’re crackling mallow bars,” Beel corrected, though there was no judgment in his tone. He had this way of introducing you to Devildom cuisine in a manner that felt familiar, like he understood that there were a lot of similarities between the dishes you knew. “They’re made up of marshmallows and these crispy marrow bits that are caramelized and -”

“Do they taste sweet?” You suppressed a grimace at the unappetizing description.

He chucked, the sound oozing reassurance, “Yes.”

“Okay, cool.” As he retrieved two long sticks, splitting into sharp prongs at the tip, nostalgia hit you like a truck. You hummed, “I used to eat something like this all the time when I was little.”

He raised a brow. “You’re still little.”

“Very funny.”

He laughed. Peeling the wrapper from two treats, he secured both on the ends of the sticks. “Have you ever roasted them over a campfire?” 

“I never considered that. They would melt pretty fast, wouldn’t they?”

“You would think so,” He passed you a stick, eyes warm with encouragement and something akin to childlike awe, “But they actually hold up for a while.”

For a moment, it was quiet. Just you and Beel and the chirps of the hell crickets in the undergrowth. It was hard to pay attention to the way the sweet bars darkened, a char climbing up the chunks of… marrow, or whatever… when you could feel Beel’s eyes on you. 

When you met his gaze, he was ready, already pulling the snack from his stick. “Here, try this.”

The marshmallow near compromised, the dessert fell apart in his large hands. Beel’s fingers tangled in sticky sweetness, you gasped in delight as strings of sugar stretched towards you with his gesture. “Oh, it’s so gooey!” 

His smile was so big, so warm, and you had the sudden thought that if you were in Icarus’s shoes, you too would fly too close to the sun. He went to feed you the treat, laughing, “Open wide!”

The explosion of flavor on your tongue - hot and sweet with that smoky campfire accent - had you squirming in delight, a thrilled hum vibrating in your throat. You were grateful that Beel thought to remove your stick from the fire. You were far too occupied with your new favorite snack to notice it about to ignite. 

Beel’s laughter died, his brow furrowing as conflict eclipsed the joy in his gaze. You looked to him, confused. “What?”

Had he always been that close? Had he been watching you with such longing this entire time?

“You’ve got a bit of marshmallow…” His adam’s apple bobbed as he gulped, eyes zeroing in on your lips. “Can I?”

You nodded. Your mouth was so dry, your pulse in your ears. With his nose nudging yours, you could taste the sweetness of the marshmallow treat on his breath, feel the way you were drawn closer like sticky sugar insistent on holding you together. 

His lips brushed yours - soft and chaste. It was funny how a kiss so gentle could hold so much weight. Featherlight, a tender brush, and yet you felt as though the prints of his lips were engraved on yours forevermore. 

“Mmm, tastes extra good,” he breathed, cupping your face in his hands. His thumbs smoothed over your skin, his eyes reading your soul as you leaned in to kiss him again. A peck to his lips, to his nose, to the apples of his cheeks.  

“What are you thinking about?” You murmured, reveling in his proximity, his radiant warmth. 

“Trying all my favorite foods off your lips,” He smiled, the twitch of his lips slotting against yours with such ease. “Think we could try that?”

“Sure,” You laughed, “It’s a date.”

*・゜・*:.。.*.。.:*・☆・゜・*:.。.*.。.:*・☆・゜

this is low-key a love letter to burgers. My requests are open! Find more info HERE. Banner by @4laurus. Check out her work - and also her Beel.

[jadeazora]

It's a new month in Masters, so we have Tierno added as a Damage Challenge reward pair and Shauna in the Lodge. And oof, that Subway event battle. I brought in Lunala and Giratina but they barely were scraping Cofagrigus, even with a Ghost Zone up. Fortunately, Red and Ash were able to clear it no problem tho. Getting mission rewards looks like it's not really worth doing since it just rewards LvUp items and the event Title, and I don't really care too much about that so much as I do gems.

The first TCG Pocket event begins today! Meowth cosmetics are in the shop, Meowth and Chansey promos are available thru Wonder picks, and you can complete missions to earn Shop tickets!

And the monthly rollover for Cafe Remix, the Premium monthly goal Pokemon is Galarian Ponyta!

[the-avaricious-meddler]

Name: Alana _____ Monikers:  -The Gambling Former Noble/The Gambling Revolutionary (depending on what circles you're in) -Mr Cards Age: 27 (Main 4 storyline), 34 (Violet Storyline) Species: Transition phase between Human and Curator Gender/Pronouns: Girlthing (She/it) Ambition: Heart's Desire (Power Ending) Profession: Correspondent Lodgings: Suite at The Royal Bethlehem Closest To: Revolutionaries Other Affiliations: The Liberation of Night (Allies), The Masters of The Bazaar (Target), The Cardsharp Monkey (Ally), Mr Pages (Enemy), Virginia (Enemy), The Bishop of St Fiacre's (Rival, One-sided), The Manager of The Royal Bethlehem (Complicated), Rubbery Men, Tomb-Colonists, The Court of The Wakeful Eye, The Dilmun Club (tentatively), The Youthful Naturalist, Polythreme Most Valued Primary Stat(s): Persuasive, Shadowy Most Valued Advanced Stat(s): Artisan of The Red Science, Kataleptic Toxicology Ship: Il-Altun-class Yacht  Estivals Experienced: Horticulture Hell, The Sixth Coil

Exceptional/Premium stories canon to this character: Caveat Emptor

Personality: Well-meaning but selfish, artistically inclined, loyal to allies but not always honest about who those allies are. Has strong revolutionary leanings, and aids The Liberation of Night- though unless you are already enmeshed in revolutionary circles, you wouldn't know it. Nasty gambling habit.

History:

Born on the surface in 1868 to a declining noble family.  Despite this, they still had a sizable estate, though they were frequently forced to use 'less than desirable' means of moneymaking to preserve their wealth. Her father was a factory-owner, and wanted her older brother to inherit it, whilst she was to be wed to a more successful family to boost the wealth of her own. She frequently witnessed the poor treatment her family's servants- and the factory's workers- were put through, causing her to become jaded to her way of life.

When she was 16, she turned to gambling, and through this she met a group that would permanently alter the course of her life- a small band of Liberationists that still lived on the surface. She joined them in secret, knowing there would be consequences should her family learn of her association. And eventually they did, and there were. At 18, she was discovered and fully disowned, ousted with little more than the clothes on her back.

She would remain on the surface for 7 years more, before deciding she could do more for her cause if she moved out of the Stars' sight. And so at age 25, she descended to The Neath, taking up residence in a cheap rookery somewhere between Veilgarden and Spite. It was around this time she learned about The Marvellous, and began to hatch a plan: she would find a way into this game, win at whatever cost, and use this victory to gain Power. Status. Enough to get into ranks high enough to consort with the Masters of The Bazaar. And from there, she would subvert, sabotage. Use that power to tear them apart from the inside.

Two years of searching. That was how long it took for her to get a potential in to the Marvellous. And how long it took for her to learn she'd have to wait five more if she wanted to play by the game's usual rules. But she wasn't interested in waiting that long. So she set about 'gently encouraging' the current set of players to begin the game early.

(Major spoilers for Ambition: Heart's Desire below)

A peculiar monkey, Intelligent beyond what it should be though not keen on communication, became her companion in this endeavor.

And her attempts, though tiresome and annoying, and requiring her to convince an imprisoned former Prince of hell to pretend to pretend to be freed and make an even further enemy out of the deviless Virginia, were ultimately successful. She convinced almost every player.

And then a larger obstacle presented itself: a Master of The Bazaar was a player. One Mr Pages, whom she already disliked, at that. She unfortunately needed to get its attention. But how?

It was then an individual she would come over time to despise showed up at her door. They introduced themself with no name, only a moniker: The Avaricious Meddler. A moniker she had heard before, not long after she'd descended to the Neath. One many disparate individuals had taken up over the decades with seemingly no connection.

They offered her a deal: They would help her with her goals, if she just did them a little favor later down the line. Not trusting them, but not having many other options, she agreed. 

They told her the location of a long-inactive cell of revolutionaries, and what to tell them to get them into action. What to do to target The Bazaar itself. 

Of course, before any part of this plan could be carried out, none other than Pages itself showed up. And it asked her to join the Marvellous. ...How convenient.

She agreed, of course. One doesn't turn down that kind of convenience when it quite literally comes knocking at one's door.

Being the one to disrupt the players' lives by starting the game up five years early, it fell upon her shoulders to put in the footwork to actually get things going. She would find a venue that fit with everyone's requirements, and convince whomever owned it to let them play there.

Of course, that location ended up being Arbor, one of the most irritating places to travel to. She was not unconvinced she was in some way being punished for her insistence.

(To be continued...)

[startrekfangirl2233-writes]

CONGRATS STAR!

I’m here for Jake and “What are you doing up?” “My personal heater went away.” 🫠🫠

Cassie! Thanks for your congratulations! Here is your cute and fluffy Jake blurb for “What are you doing up?”, “My personal heater went away.” I hope you like it! 🥰😁

I Wouldn't Want This Without You

In hindsight, you should've known that you could take the Texan out of Texas, but he'd never really like the snow. Jake was so fond of you that when you'd suggested spending two weeks skiing in Colorado over Christmas and New Year's, he'd agreed almost immediately. He'd gone all out. He'd booked an apartment with a fireplace and views of the slopes, purchased ski gear and premium passes for the slopes, and done everything. And his excitement was catching. You'd been starry-eyed, dreaming of the trip for the entire month before you were due to leave.

The two of you had driven up to your AirBnB in the middle of a snowstorm the night before. Seeing the fat flakes drift lazily down from the sky, glistening in the late afternoon light, was intoxicating. While Jake had checked you in, you'd hopped out of the passenger seat, your head upturned, letting the flakes dust across your cheeks and catch in your hair and eyelashes. Jake had twirled you about in the snow, a childlike gleam in his eyes at the sight. Of course, the cold had set in later that night, and you’d walked out of the bathroom in a t-shirt and sweats to find the fireplace roaring and Jake wearing flannel-lined pants, thick socks, a long-sleeve t-shirt, and a sweater over it. He’d complained that he was cold until he fell asleep.

On your first day on the mountain, you’d been up with the birds, excitement flowing through your veins at the thought of the crisp, clean powder that had been falling from the sky all night. Jake, on the other hand, had reached for you, grumbled under his breath while still asleep, and rucked all the blankets around his body until all you could see was the top of his head. It made you giggle, looking at him as you got ready to hit the ski lifts.

Jake finally left the bed 45 minutes later when the scent of coffee yanked him out of his dreams. That was pretty much what the rest of the day had been like. You'd had a blast coursing down the slopes, rejoicing in the perfect snow and conditions. Jake spent most of the day falling on his ass. You should probably correct yourself in your earlier statements. Jake had thought of everything on your trip except ski lessons for himself.

"Sweets, I'm going to have a bruise the size of Texas on my ass when we get to the apartment." He'd groused on more than one occasion before he sidled up to you and murmured, "You're going to kiss it better, right?"

And you’d brushed the snow out of his parka each time, kissed his cold-bitten pink lips, and told him to try again. As the day progressed, you’d seen how the cold had sapped his good mood and how he struggled to stay cheerful for you. He’d nearly fallen asleep into his food when you ate dinner at the lodge. When Jake had face flopped onto the bed exhausted, you’d undressed him and tucked the blankets around his shoulders before curling into his arms. You’d fallen asleep soon after him, your body and mind just as exhausted after the relentless onslaught of the weak winter sun and biting cold.

Everything is dark when you wake up. The bedroom is illuminated only by the glowing embers of the fire and the blue glow from the snow piled up on the mountain town. The alarm clock glowing on the coffee table tells you it is just past 3AM. You’re still exhausted, but your mind won’t let you sleep, no matter how you curl into Jake’s arms. Fifteen minutes of tossing and turning later, you carefully slip out of his arms, padding silently out to sit on the sofa in front of the colossal windows in the living room. It’s started snowing again since the two of you had turned in for the night, and you’re content to sit and just observe the snow as it falls.

As you do, your mind turns to Jake. Things hadn’t always been smooth between you.  In fact, he’d hated your guts when you were first introduced to each other. You were a friend of Natasha’s, Phoenix, as her squadron knew her, and she’d wanted you to meet the people she trusted her life with every day. You thought you’d been nice when you met him, introducing yourself and striking up a conversation with him like you would have anyone else. Phoenix had told you he flirted with everyone under the sun, so that’s what you’d expected. But what you got instead was a stand-offish rude man who’d greeted you perfunctorily and then walked away. Your rampant lack of self-esteem had taken it to mean that you were too ugly to flirt with. The more you saw Jake, the more you hated yourself. Everything had reached a fever pitch the day you’d been stood up at the Hard Deck on a blind date. You’d walked up to the pool table, handed Tasha your bag, and locked yourself in the bathroom.

Jake had been the person to get you out of there a couple of hours later. He’d wheedled and charmed until you giggled on the other side of the door and hugged you tight when you finally stepped out. The rest, as they say, was history. Of course, he’d gotten the shovel talk of all shovel talks from Natasha, but you adored him. It’s been nearly a year since that fateful night, and you couldn’t imagine your life as it was before Jake. You love Jake. You love him with all your heart. So how are you going to tell him? You’re not a nun. Far from it. Your sex life with Jake has been mind-blowing. Every time you’re intimate with him, your orgasms take your breath away. And you know he loves you too. So why can’t you tell him?

You’re startled out of your thoughts when an arm wraps around your shoulder.

“Jake, what are you doing up?” You nuzzle into his chest as he drapes the blankets he’s carried from the bed around you.

“My personal heater went away, sweets.” He presses a kiss against your temple before tugging you into his lap. “The real question is, what are you doing up?”

“I just woke up, and my mind wouldn’t quiet down enough to let me get back to sleep.” You shrug, playing with one of the tassels on the blanket’s edge as you stare out over the snowy vista.

“What’s on your mind, darlin’?” His arms are so warm as you cuddle closer to him. “Please tell me, beautiful, especially if I did something wrong. I can’t fix it if I don’t know what I did. C’mon, sweetheart.”

Your resulting sigh is shuddery as you play with his fingers. “It’s not anything you did, Jake. Not intentionally, anyhow.” You turn in his arms and straddle his lap. His hands rest on your waist as you cup his face in your hands. 

“So, what is it, gorgeous?” You can see something way too close to resignation on his face as you peer into his eyes in the half-light. “If you want to break up with me 'cause I can’t ski to save my life, can it wait until we’re home?”

“I’m not breaking up with you, Jake.” You swallow, trying to collect the words. “I love you. So, so much. But what’s happened, I don’t know if we’re, if you’re ready for.”

You can’t see his face when you say the next words, so you snap your eyes closed before finally spitting the words out. “I’m pregnant. 10 weeks. I found out a week ago. And I know I should’ve told you sooner. But you’re away so much, and while you love being an uncle, that’s different than being a dad. I didn’t want this to be the reason why we fell apart. M’so”

You’re cut off by the sweetest kiss Jake has ever pressed against your lips. His tongue slides soothingly across your bottom lip, pressing into the seam of your mouth until you’re kissing him with all the passion he’s kissing you. You’re breathing raggedly when he pulls away, and you open your eyes. This is a look on Jake’s face you’ve never seen before. 

“I love you, gorgeous. You make me the happiest man in the world every day I wake up by your side. And now you’re giving me a family? I never thought I’d have that happy home to return to before you. I’m going to take care of you and this baby. I promise.” 

You kiss him wrapping your arms around his neck before fishing your phone out of the pile of blankets around you both.

“Want to see the pregnancy test and come to my 12-week scan when we get back home?” 

“Yeah, sweets.” His voice sounds so fond as the two of you go through the pictures.

“Merry Christmas, Jake.” He presses a kiss against your jaw before setting his palm against your lower stomach. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart. I love you both. We’ll figure out all of the rest of this together.”

Want to request something for my 100 Follower Celebration? The guidelines are here! Please leave me a request in my inbox with your ask!

- XOXO Star

[otomefiend]

Victor

Story Event: Black Wedding (part 2)

Epilogue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3 Bitter

Chapter 3 Premium

I love how gothicy dramatic this story gets, and serious Victor is just so good.

Several seasons have passed since our pretended wedding.

Today, I married my beloved Victor, this time for real.

The ceremony was typical of us, extravagant and fun --.

~~~

When we returned to our lodgings by the church, the two of us were finally alone.

Victor: "Woahh, this was a truly splendid celebration, don't you think Kate?"

Sitting comfortably in his armchair, with a glass of wine in his hand, Victor happily chatted about various things.

How everyone was smiling during the ceremony, how delighted members of the Crown seemed to be, and so on.

Time passed peacefully, carrying with it pleasant memories of our wedding.

(I really like seeing Victor's smile)

(And talking to him like this)

(...However)

My frustration got the better of me and made me blurt out.

Kate: ".......hey, Victor."

Victor: "Yes?"

Kate: "Why won't you... touch me tonight?"

Even our distance added to the feeling of irritation, with him sitting on the chair and me on the bed.

Victor: "Oh? Is it safe to assume you're trying to seduce me?"

Kate: "You're wro..."

I swallowed the words I was about to say.

(No, he's not wrong)

I pledged my love in front of everyone and sealed that promise with a kiss.....

All the while, I couldn't help but desperately want Victor to touch me more intimately.

I wanted to tell him I loved him with every inch of my body.

To disguise my nervousness, I tightly gripped the hem of my dress.

Kate: "That's.... right."

Victor: "......."

Kate: "Please say something, Victor."

Victor: "......."

He gently placed the wine glass on the side table.

Victor: "I was thinking of getting drunk and falling asleep."

(No way...)

Kate: "Why..?"

His jewel-like eyes focused on me.

Victor: "I felt that if I held you in my arms tonight, I'd end up breaking you."

Kate: "....huh?"

Victor: "You're exceptionally beautiful in your jet-black wedding dress. Even now, at this very moment."

Victor: "Kate, if there's anyone able to keep calm seeing you like this, I'd love to meet them."

Kate: "....Victor."

My heart trembled with joy at the unexpected words.

(What a relief. He feels the same way as I do)

(I'm so happy......)

Victor: "Unfortunately, I have a high tolerance for alcohol."

Victor: "Besides, I realized it would be a shame to get drunk in front of you in your wedding gown."

Victor: "Because I want to keep looking at you, Kate."

Showered with sweet words, my head started spinning; the earlier anxiety forgotten.

My body began to heat up under his gaze.

As if he could see right through me, Victor asked.

Victor: "...what do you want to do?"

(Don't ask me that)

It felt like all options had already been taken away.

I couldn't help craving his gaze and his heat.

(He must know how I feel)

It wasn't until we became lovers that I learned more about Victor than what could be seen on the surface.

Kate: "...do as you wish."

Victor: "When did you start giving such disappointing answers, Kate?"

He rose from the chair and stood in front of me.

Victor: "I asked you what you wanted."

Victor: "Now, say it. With these lips."

A shiver ran down my spine at the hint of ferocity in his gaze.

In an instant, my world became nothing but Victor.

(Ah, come on)

I threw away my shame and pleaded with him.

Kate: "...touch me, Victor."

His fingertips caressed my cheek.

Victor: "I'm touching you. Are you satisfied?"

Kate: "No, kiss me. And then..."

Victor: "And then?"

Kate: "...Victor."

He smiled when I squeezed his hand resting on my cheek.

Victor: "You're truly lovely. So lovely in fact, that I won't let you out of my arms tonight."

Victor: "Come, my jet-black bride."

His fingers reached out to me, stealing my heart from my body.

Being loved by him felt like being swallowed by darkness,

Taken into a deep, dark and endless world.

(But)

I couldn't live without him anymore.

~~~

Even after we got together, Victor and I kept on being the Queen's aide and the fairytale writer,

who fought evil with evil on English soil.

This expansive view of England was a place where we could rest our minds for a while.

Victor: "......."

Kate: "What are you thinking, Victor?"

Victor: "Hmm? Ah..."

Victor: "I wonder if the day will come when evil in England is destroyed."

That day would never come.

Yes, we knew it all too well.

Still, I wanted to believe we were at least allowed to hope.

Kate: "If that day comes and evil is destroyed, we too must disappear."

Victor: "...?"

Kate: "We are neither good people nor heroes of justice. It's the lesser evil."

Victor: "Ahahaha, that's right."

Victor: "At that time, why don't we just smile gallantly and vanish?"

Victor: "Kate."

Kate: "Yes?"

Victor: " Will you accompany me when this happens?"

Kate: "...of course, Victor."

He clasped my hand, intertwining our fingers, connecting our fates.

Victor: "But it's too early for that."

Victor: "There's still time for us to taste more evil. Isn't there?"

Once again, I was mesmerised by his jewel-like eyes; I was their prisoner.

But, I had no regrets.

I couldn't exist without him anymore.

Victor: "No matter where we go, Kate."

Victor: "Even death cannot separate us."

dun dun dun...

[charlesandmartine]

Sunday 6th Oct 2024

Perhaps the most noticeable and improbable thing about HK is that it is pinned up against a hillside of immense proportions. Noticeable because it is so steep, improbable because somehow they attach buildings of such monstrous proportions to it. These are tall buildings; Liam's apartment includes a rooftop on floor 28 and his is a shorter building than many. Land is so expensive that it has to be managed and be efficiently utilised. To this end, outdated buildings are demolished and the city echos to the sound of pile drivers fixing foundations and clearing space for new ones. Foundations go deep through many meters of sand before they hit bedrock. A thoughtful aid to the weary wayfarer, city planners have installed escalators that will convey you effortlessly up the steep roads whilst also being sheltered from the effects of the sun although during the course of the day they will change direction; down for the morning, up afternoon for workers going to and fro to work. Space is at an absolute premium so cost of property is astronomical. Most people rent the smallest of space for a huge price; the most expensive real estate in the world. The streets as well being narrow and steep, charmingly retain the vestages of colonial rule, Peel St, Staunton St, Elgin St, Wellington St. Shelley St. We looked round market halls selling everything including frogs. Saw ladies working a Singer sewing machine in a roadside cabinet the size of an office cupboard. In a city built on commerce, there's a place for everyone.

We then caught the rattling tram to Kennedy Town which is at the furthest extent of the underground system. The old tram unit, running off overhead wires clattered its way through streets and streets of anonymous identical tower blocks, the sort you would wonder if you would ever find again, especially after an SB or two. Breakfast was interesting. Pretty much every meal is structured the same way; what do you want with your rice? Chicken, pork or in my case goose. It was fatty, tender, tasty, greasy and absolutely fantastic.

Underground back into town , Wan Chai and up to top floor in Poppinjays for a refreshing tonic and then take the Peak Tram to Peak Hill, the highest hill on Hong Kong island at 552 meters. The funicular railway system which is 130 years old but recently renovated climbs swiftly up the hill of gradients between 4 and 25.7 degrees! The views from the top are completely stunning, looking down on the tops of buildings which from below seem to dissappear to the skies but from here look like spikes in the road. But then raise your gaze to the horizon, across the sea, across Kowloon Island and beyond passing the mountain range and there's the mainland of the People's Republic of China! It is remarkable that when creation looks about as good as it gets, mankind can add a finishing touch with the built environment to make it look just perfect.

A short stroll through shaded lanes and we reached the Governor's Summer Lodge. Now a park open to the public and an extremely lovely relaxing place to end an afternoon with tremendous views across the city.

ps. It's has been very warm today and the humidity seemed higher.

pss. Calamari tonight!

[vacation-resort-solutions]

The Lofts at Green Valley - Your Ultimate Getaway Retreat Discover the epitome of luxury and relaxation at The Lofts at Green Valley. Nestled in a picturesque location, these meticulously designed lofts offer a perfect blend of comfort and sophistication. Unwind in style and immerse yourself in the tranquility of Green Valley's stunning surroundings. Your dream getaway starts here.

[poapoatours]

Explore the Ultimate Tanzania Luxury Safari Experience with PoaPoa Tours

Tanzania is a land of diverse landscapes, from vast savannas and towering mountains to lush forests and pristine beaches. For travelers seeking an unforgettable, high-end experience, a Tanzania luxury safari offers the perfect blend of adventure and comfort. PoaPoa Tours is your gateway to exploring this East African gem in style, offering personalized itineraries and luxury accommodations that will leave you in awe.

Why Choose a Tanzania Luxury Safari?

A luxury safari in Tanzania is more than just game drives—it’s a full immersion into the heart of nature, combined with exclusive services. Whether you’re looking to witness the Great Wildebeest Migration in Serengeti, explore the stunning Ngorongoro Crater, or relax in a 5-star lodge after a thrilling day, PoaPoa Tours ensures every aspect of your journey is meticulously planned for your comfort.

Here are a few reasons why a Tanzania luxury safari should be on your bucket list:

Exclusive Lodging: Stay in world-class lodges or tented camps that offer high-end amenities, fine dining, and breathtaking views of Tanzania's wildlife right from your room.

Personalized Safari Experiences: With private guides, you can create your own itinerary, whether you want to focus on bird watching, photography, or witnessing the “Big Five.”

Unforgettable Wildlife Encounters: Watch elephants, lions, leopards, and giraffes in their natural habitat, all while enjoying premium service and accommodations.

Highlights of PoaPoa Tours’ Tanzania Luxury Safari

At PoaPoa Tours, we craft bespoke Tanzania safari experiences tailored to your preferences. Below are some of the key highlights that make our luxury safaris stand out:

Serengeti National Park: Known for the Great Wildebeest Migration, Serengeti is a must-visit for anyone seeking the ultimate safari experience. Enjoy the luxury of private game drives and exclusive lodges within the park.

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Custom Luxury Packages: Whether you’re planning a family getaway, honeymoon, or solo adventure, PoaPoa Tours offers custom luxury safari packages that fit your desires and schedule.

Focus on Sustainability and Community

At PoaPoa Tours, we believe that luxury and sustainability go hand in hand. Our eco-friendly camps and lodges ensure minimal environmental impact while providing a high standard of comfort. Additionally, we support local communities through various initiatives, ensuring that your trip not only leaves a positive impact on you but also on Tanzania's people and wildlife.

Suggested Itineraries for a Tanzania Luxury Safari

10-Day Luxury Safari & Zanzibar Escape: Explore Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and the pristine beaches of Zanzibar. This package combines wildlife with relaxation.

7-Day Luxury Serengeti & Ngorongoro Experience: Perfect for those who want a deeper immersion in Tanzania's most famous wildlife destinations.

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Why Book with PoaPoa Tours?

With decades of experience in providing top-tier safari experiences, PoaPoa Tours is your trusted partner for a luxury safari in Tanzania. Our expert guides, luxury accommodations, and commitment to sustainability make us the ideal choice for discerning travelers.

Book your Tanzania luxury safari with PoaPoa Tours today and embark on a journey you’ll never forget!

[crystalelemental]

Unit Teambuilding - Arc Steven

Three years ago, DeNA released what I feel comfortable calling the worst sync pair ever. Given the rarity and rates, Anni Steven had absolutely no business being as terrible as he was. We can buff SS Blue, but not Anni Steven I guess.

Anyway, Steven's life in this game started out rough. Metagross wasn't bad, but it became real bad, with even the grid expansion being mid. Summer Steven is incredibly awkward as a Striker, carried only by how rare Ice was for so long. Anni Steven followed suit, being bad but carried by Flying being rare. But after the horror of Anni 21, Steven's life turned tremendously. SS Steven was phenomenal, still being a standout Psychic type in a very saturated type. SC Steven is so good as a technical support that he's still used for things like Damage Challenge with surprising regularity. Even Lodge Steven was surprisingly competent. And now, at the end of this ever growing list of successes...stands Arc Steven. Who is...just absurd.

General Overview In the interest of not just running down a list of all fourty-seven effects they bake into premium units these days, let's just cut to the functional.  Arc Steven is to physical what NC Blue is to special.  He is so outrageously powerful that he's effectively been the support for virtually every Ultimate Battle.  When I'm working with any physical damage dealing team, Arc Steven has been downright optimal, with particular impact for the Steel typing.  He has effectively turned the life of the Steel roster around entirely, and in the funniest way possible.

But more than that, what is staggering is that I cannot find fault with him.  Like, at all.  The best you can argue is "can't buff team speed" and "isn't great for Sp Atk focused pairs," but like...he still debuffs Sp Def.  He still costs zero gauges and has flinch rate and does Team Endure and team healing on hit or sync and hits rebuff and...basically everything you want.  At most, the fact he wants first sync for mega evolution could be considered a weakness?  Actually, there's one: his support designation is a sub-role.  The new Arc is primary.  Which is a major pain.  I hate that.  Sure, just shit a new role type that makes candy unworkable on us, then demand the Support role cake.  Assholes.

Team 1: Arc Steven, Solgalillie, SS Lear/Poppy I mentioned this in the Solgalillie writeup, but this is The Steel Team now.  There is no real contest on the dominance of Arc Steven for Steel in particular, and the others are just the clearest way to victory.  Lillie has Zone for even greater damage, and you just slot in any major damage dealing pair.  Arc Steven freely runs Head Start for a full first ramp, Lillie's a Sprint pair for another ramp after her sync, Poppy's the tremendous single-target damage to complement Lillie's AoE, or Lear has his nonsense abilities if you just want Steven to have like eighteen lucky skills.

Team 2: Arc Steven, Anni Steven, SC Steven Listen.  You gotta have some fun with it.  And who better to carry Anni Steven than his better Pokemon?

Team 3: Arc Steven, Clay, Nanu Okay, being serious for a moment, let's say you are like brand new to this game, and you didn't get Cynthia.  You need pairs to beat your on-type Champion Stadium stages, and Ground continues to be a nightmare.  You don't have any of the other free Ground pairs that relied on pulling PokeFairs, so you're stuck with Clay or Hapu.  First of all, use Clay.  Second of all, Arc Steven as support is definitely going to be best in situations like this.  His ability to cap offenses, boost defenses and survive basically forever, all permit him to carry Clay to at least a decent point score in CS.  It's not going to be great, but it's going to be substantially better with Steven than anyone else.

Final Thoughts I feel like, when it came to supports I really liked, I would write like ten team comps with interesting things going on.  Oddly, I feel like SC Steven is kinda hard to do the same with.  Not because he doesn't have comps, but because...well, they're all the same.  Maximize a physical damage dealer, debuff defenses, etc.  He works best with DPS pairs given the persistent PMUN, but there's little I can talk about that makes him feel eccentric.  He really is the NC Blue of physical, both are just so overwhelming at doing literally everything that is...it's kinda boring.  Practical, best of the three, but boring just the same.

[theshotsheardacrossworlds]

FFXIV Write: Third-Rate

In which Serafina Lom berates a certain guildmaster for his shoddy work. SFW.

“What kind of third-rate nonsense is this?!” Serafina Lom shouted at Brithael, gesturing to the axe in front of her. “Mate, I’ve been a loyal customer for years and learned smithing here. From you, you twat, and you expect me to believe that this is your best work?! Come on, Brithael. Have you been drinking again?”

Thancred Waters, leaning against the stone wall of Naldiq & Vymelli’s, watched the scene with mild amusement.

Sera doesn’t take kindly to anyone charging her a premium for lesser quality goods and services, especially when it comes to her weapons and armor.

I see Brithael is still…himself.

The hyur held out his hands and smiled nervously. “Lass—”

“That’s Mistress Lom to you, Brithael.” She snarled, her over seven fulm frame tensing.

Oh shit, she’s serious.

This is going to be amazing.

“Aye. Right. Yes. Mistress Lom. Of course, of course. I, erm…you see…” Spit it out, or the Warrior of Light is going to punt you into the harbor. “I can do it. Right this time.” He picked up a sheet of parchment which bore a seal from the Studium. “I wasn’t understandin’ these directions too well.” He shrugged. “Whoever wrote ‘em—”

Serafina groaned. “For fuck’s sake, here.” She grabbed a quill and inkpot, making notes for this useless swine. Why does Sera even go here? She can probably make it herself.

Ah, but…

He smiled softly at his lover explaining to Brithael some of the finer points in the instructions.

Because she loves it and even when Brithael frustrates her, she knows how damn good he can be.

Because she loves this place despite its flaws.

A bit like something…someone else…

After what seemed like an eternity, Serafina finished speaking with Brithael and said goodbye. Thancred offered her is arm as they walked out.

“You’re confident he’ll do better with attempt number two, darling?”

She laughed. “You bet your ass he will. The thing is those instructions were written by a very smart but ultimately dumb person, and they were being read by a very dumb but ultimately smart person. I just needed to translate.”

Thancred blinked. “Why on earth does that simultaneously make sense and make absolutely no sense at the same time?”

“Because that’s how most things are, handsome.” Serafina leaned down to quickly kiss his head. “Dinner at the Bismark? My treat?”

It’s always her treat. She always insists on paying for my meals and any lodging. Honestly can you say no to her? Because I can’t!

“Only so long as the lady allows me the pleasure of treating her later.” Smooth, Waters. You’ve still got it.

To his delight, she blushed. “Always.” Serafina then stopped and leaned to kiss him, cupping his face in her hands. “I love you always.”

This incredible woman loves me.

A fact that still astounds me daily.

Hourly.

“And I love you always, dear.” Thancred murmured, leaning into her touch.

After all, how could I not love her?