#Assignment Services Victoria

[delphi-shield]

BEST IN THE BIZ — !!

— Lycaon x Reader x Rina

— ~3.6k

— mating press (briefly), overstimulation, dacryphilia, edging, dollification (if you squint), knotting, creampie, stone top Rina, service top Lycaon, fem!reader, reader is called 'mistress', pwp

ardently avoids eye contact. i was possessed idk. this started out as just porn and then i wrote plot but it got out of hand so i snipped most of the plot and this is what's left. i hope it's coherent idk. manifesting a lycaon pull by posting this tbh. dividers from @/adornedwithlight.

You knew you were fucked the moment you caught yourself typing ‘thiren dildo knot’ into your phone at four in the morning.

Your crime illuminates the dark of your room, search results reflected in your glassy eyes. The depravity is lost on you. You're so horny you can't sleep, much less feel guilty about drilling your (regular, average, lacking in girth and curve and length, not dripping for you the way he would) dildo into yourself, staring at sex toys and imagining him instead.

It only hits you after you cum. Right next to the usual disdain, the nagging realization that you have to clean yourself up, guilt nestles in. It does two neat little circles and sinks like a stone in your stomach. You find yourself with your phone in your hand, sketchy website leering at you. A countdown scrolling across the top advises you that your cart will be held for another four minutes and 12 seconds. Buy now, or your custom order (wolf thiren mold, large, medium firmness, cumtube included, custom colors) will be released for another horny idiot to pick up.

You delete the dildo from the cart, wonder briefly if you should ditch the email attached to the account, and pay for the eight pack of lube you'd added. Guilty, but not that guilty.

It's not supposed to be like this. You're not supposed to want his knot this badly. Lycaon had said so himself the first time you'd asked for it. It isn't a small thing – wipe that smirk off your face. It isn't something to be taken lightly, that's all he meant.

The entire situation had gotten out of hand; you'd hired Victoria Housekeeping a handful of times to assist with the clean up of your recently acquired property. It was a small place, and you had been in no rush to get the job done. They had divided the project over the span of a few weeks, assigning only Lycaon and Rina for the task.

Each visit had grown less and less professional. By the end of the project, you were scrambling to find something else for them to do, unwilling to let them walk out of your life just because the contract demanded so.

All three of you knew it wasn't professional to keep taking your calls. In fact, their conduct in your home violated several clauses within their contract – but by the time you had messaged Lycaon to ask if he could help you tote a new bed frame up the stairs, he had already stopped insisting on a contract. A friendship had grown, an ease that started between you and Rina and gradually thawed Lycaon's affections.

It wasn't uncommon to arrive at your home and find Rina already waiting. He'd been suspicious, had seen the starry look in your eyes, your swollen lips and the boneless, fumbling way you moved. He couldn't pinpoint when you and Rina had started becoming physical, but he could smell the stench of sex in the air the moment the door opened. He knew what he'd find if he let himself sink to his knees before you, sniffing and licking at your cunt like he wanted.

For months, though, he refused to act. He suppressed his baser urges, whittling them into compliments instead.

Your hair looks beautiful. Rina did it? Why isn't he surprised. And that dress? Yes, also Rina's choice. Of course.

It's not jealousy. It's something else that shares the same form, feels the same way. Lycaon agonizes over how to fit himself into your life, how to be needed, oblivious to the fact that you wanted him as things were.

Rina had been forced to meddle, casually stringing the both of you along until the conversation had occurred ‘naturally’. Even with your shared feelings out in the open, Lycaon remained restrained. His touches were subdued, moments together stolen and short.

The first time he’d fucked you had been a ‘matter of impropriety, ill-befitting an attendant’, as Lycaon had so stuffily put it.

In short, he’d gotten cold feet after he'd made you cum on his fingers, after Rina had gently nudged him aside to lap up the mess left on your thighs.

“We aren't here on business,” Rina reminded him, challenge in her tone all but calling him a pussy.

She twisted you up in her arms quickly, her hands pressed to the backs of your knees to spread you wide. You leaned back against her, almost entirely unaware of the moral crisis Lycaon put himself through. You're barely there after you cum, take time to get back into your own head - but the way you move so eagerly for Rina makes his cock jerk in his pants.

Rina’s hand had slid down the back of your thigh, her nipples hard for the way you tried to keep your leg where she had held you. Her fingers teased your dripping slit. She dragged them through your folds, prodding at your hole, showing Lycaon how eagerly you sucked them in. She made a show of spreading them, showing off the way you clung to her fingers, the way you dripped for them.

His resolve was iron-clad, but you'd melted through with your little whimpers, desperate voice whining "please, Lycaon.”

He was still a man, at the end of the day. You were bound up for him, snared like prey. He had wanted to treat you gently, to be slow and reverent - but he had pounded into your cunt instead, deep and slow. Any faster and he knows he would have popped his knot into you, had you locked together with your legs thrown over his shoulders, body bent nearly in half.

He'd pulled out, breathlessly asking where you wanted him to cum, stroking himself hard and fast, a hand wrapped tight around his knot. Rina had shuffled you up quickly, stretching your arms above your head, wrists gathered by one of her hands. She beckoned to your tits, the same wave he had seen her use countless times to invite clients to their tea.

Lycaon found the time to treat you gently later. He took his time, gentle and reverent as he wanted - still no knot.

You'd taken the rejection to heart, decided that if he said no once, then that was all there was to it. It was his dick and he could do what he wanted with it. You were too afraid of being pushy, or objectifying – or any number of things that might make him uncomfortable. Fantasies were fine.

Fantasies, and maybe a custom dildo. You were still thinking about it, the page still bookmarked on your phone. Next paycheck, you would tell yourself.

It came out the way all of your fantasies do – by Rina pulling it from you. Three fingers deep, pumping into you steadily, so torturously consistent, so committed to the slow build of your pleasure until the truth came gushing out.

She had this game she loved to play – making you narrate your fantasies. No detail spared or she'll stop stroking your needy little clit – and you would hate that, wouldn't you?

This time it had all come to light – how badly you wanted Lycaon's knot, how you were saving up just for a taste of a fake one.

Rina giggles in the aftermath. She dresses you quickly in your sleepwear, gesturing for you to raise your arms so she can roll your shirt down.

"Of course, you know that can be arranged,” Rina says, as casually as if you'd asked her for a cup of tea.

You feel like you've been shocked. Your arms are still sticking straight up in the air when you protest.

“No– it's just a stupid fantasy.”

Rina guides your arms back down, lets you rest and pose yourself without her guidance. She slips her hand into yours.

“I don't think it's stupid at all, Mistress.”

“Don't call me that,” you whine, swatting the air where she had been a moment ago. “It makes me feel gross.”

“Sir Lycaon likes it,” Rina teases.

Your face warms. You mumble a retort, lame and forgotten.

“I'll speak with him,” she assures you.

“No, don't. Don't tell him.”

“Leave everything to me.”

The subject of your objectification knocks on your door at 10 AM the next week. A standing appointment for coffee, Lycaon would call it – otherwise known as your weekly coffee date. Rina wiggles her fingers in greeting, drifting inside casually, the scent of vanilla trailing after her.

For a moment, you wonder if she had mentioned anything at all to Lycaon. He appears overwhelmingly normal about all of this. Clarity strikes you, lightning to your nerves when Rina doubles back to press her hand to the small of your back.

“You aren't just going to stand there, are you?” She asks.

Both of you jolt. You shuffle to the side, nearly tripping over your own feet to get out of the way. Lycaon shuts the door behind him. You speak over each other, both stammering apologies and excuses.

“Rina mentioned –”

“Was the trip here –”

You stall out, trying to give room for the other to speak.

“Sorry, I–”

“My apologies, I didn't mean to –”

Rina finally has mercy on the two of you, taking hold of the conversation before you can fizzle out a third time. She makes things clear upfront: your desire has been communicated to Lycaon. He has agreed. Don't look so serious, you two – this is a good thing.

The rest falls into place naturally. Or, as naturally as it can with Rina pulling the strings.

“We have the entire afternoon,” she informs you, turning to head to your bedroom. You're expected to follow, and you do - of course you do. Lycaon trails behind you, fingers ghosting against your wrist.

“You make it sound so formal,” you drone, plopping unceremoniously onto the edge of your bed.

“Oh, it's not formal,” Rina tuts. She drifts behind you, hands working at the tension in your shoulder. She leans forward, breasts pressing against your back, her cheek against yours, eyes locked on Lycaon. “It's just us.”

Time quickly became a suggestion. Minutes bled together, strung loosely between each touch, held secret in the clutch of Lycaon's pocket watch - the same watch that lays discarded in a heap with the rest of his clothes.

Your chest is pressed to the mattress, head cradled in Rina’s lap. Her hands rove across your hair, fixing it again and again as Lycaon drives into you. His arm is wrapped tightly around your waist, keeping your hips up and pinned flush wish his. His breath is hot at the back of your neck, teeth aching to nip at your nape, to mark your delicate skin. He drags his broad tongue across the places he wants to bite.

You've lost count of the ways they've bent you, the positions Rina had asked of you.

First, it was missionary, your own choice - but the angle had been all wrong, too difficult to squeeze his knot in that way. Rina had taken over from there, posing you as she thought best. By the time she had stopped mid-mating press, you realized this wasn't about trying to find the best position to take Lycaon’s knot. Rina had been playing her own game.

Rina's hand lights on Lycaon's shoulder, a barely-there brush of her fingers. He growls as if she's stuck her hand in his dinner bowl, the noise rumbling from his chest and through your back. He buries his cock in deeper, resisting the idea of stopping again, and his tapered tip wedges against a spot so deep inside you that you spasm in his arms. You cum so hard you swear you blackout for a few moments, your body a throb of pleasure, hips squirming, pussy trying to suck him in all the way.

You feel it - the first slip of his knot, the first stretch. The burn sears into pleasure. Your breath catches in your throat, a strangled moan escaping, pressed into Rina’s thigh.

“Please, please, please,” you sob.

Rina pushes harder against Lycaon’s shoulder. His lip curls, but he pulls back. His cock drags all the way out of you, leaves you empty, clenching around nothing. Your hands fist the fabric of Rina's skirt.

She doesn’t give you more than a moment to recover. Your pussy is still clenching when Rina's hands ghost across your ribcage. Sparks shower across your skin, nipples peaking painfully. She urges you with insistent, well-placed touches, tutting softly at the way you whimper. Her hands smooth sweat-slick hair from your face, fixing the strands reverently. She tucks two fingers under your chin and you raise your sight to her. It takes a moment for your hazy eyes to focus.

A touch on the side of your leg. You swing obediently into her lap. Rina's cold fingers pressing gently against the side of your neck, coaxing you against her chest. Your cheek cushions on her breast

Her fingers smooth sweat slick hair from your face, touch chilled and just on the side of clammy.

“Another, Mistress?” Rina asks sweetly, petting your hair. She pointedly ignores Lycaon's huff.

You peer up at her, tears brimming your eyes, catching the light and sparkling so prettily. You don't have the words. Could you even cum again? You want to plead, to whine – it had been right there. You had been so close to what you'd wanted.

“Oh, you poor thing,” she coos. The backs of her fingers press to your heated cheeks. “Cry if you must. It's all right.”

Rina's smile grows as your tears spill. She makes no move to wipe them from your cheeks. This is how she likes you, how she finds you most beautiful - worn down, fucked out, a mess in her arms for her to clean up and toy with.

Lycaon can't stand to see you cry, though. The bed creaks as he sits up, fishing a handkerchief from his discarded waistcoat. He dabs at your cheeks, tucking a knuckle under your chin to hold you in place.

"I'm sorry," he murmurs against your hair. "It was too much. I should never -”

"No." Your voice wobbles. "No, I just– I want your knot so bad.”

His cock jerks. Pre-cum dribbles from his tip, pools in his fur. Lycaon bites the rumble in his chest into a whine, locked tight behind sharp teeth.

“All right,” he breathes, heart hammering in his chest. “All right. Yes, of course. You'll have it. No more tears, please.”

Rina urges you from her chest. She knows where she's needed, knows not to linger. She presses her hand to Lycaon's shoulder, directing him to lay back against the bed. He's not quite as pliable as you are, never has been - especially not when he's wiping tears from your cheeks, kissing your forehead. His touch lingers when he follows her directive, hand stroking down the back of your arm, across your elbow, along your forearm.

She lets you toddle over to Lycaon on your knees, lets his be the hands that steady you when you swing your leg over him. You're still crying, sweet thing, tears wetting the fur of his stomach.

You wiggle into place awkwardly. His drippy tip glides through you pussy, nudging at your puffy, sensitive clit. You suck a breath through your teeth, lifting off him. The sensation is sharp, teetering on the edge of pain. Your knees pinch in and nudge Lycaon's sides, thighs jiggling. His eye tracks the movement immediately, hand stroking from your ass to your thigh, back and forth.

Rina slots in behind you. She keeps her touch on your hips light, urging you back down. Lycaon’s chest stills, his breath caught as she works you into a simple, back and forth path, dragging his cock along your slit. Once you settle into her rhythm, she reaches below you, gripping the base of Lycaon's cock, holding him steady.

He slides home easily, your pussy still molded to the shape of him. You keen, still sensitive. This new angle has him pressing against spots that dot your vision with stars. You sink deep, trembling and relieved all at once.

You get a few breaths together. Lycaon's head rests atop yours. He swallows audibly. His warm hands flex at your hips, restraint evident, strength held at bay by resolve alone. He's strong, so much stronger than you – he could press you down onto his cock easily, force you to take him to the hilt. The thought makes you clench around him, pussy fluttering.

Lycaon's teeth click next to your ear. His claws prick your skin for the fraction of a second, and then he's keeping his fingers off you, holding you by the palms. His cock throbs, twitches, aching to plug you with his knot.

Before you can grow too comfortable sitting on his cock, milking him dry with the squeeze of your pussy in response to every shallow thrust, every aching press of his knot to your hole, Rina begins her adjustments. At your hips first, the little suggestion of movement in her fingertips. You don't respond immediately, pussy so full you can't think straight. She pinches the fat of your hips, spurring your obedience.

She gets your hips rocking first, guiding you until you settle into the movement on your own. It's gentler than before, but each press of your hips sucks him deeper. This is the one - it has to be.

Rina doesn't let you stay hunched over. Her hands touch to your back, adjusting your posturing until your sitting so pretty on his cock. She adjusts your arms, lets you wind them around Lycaon’s neck instead of curling up behind him to claw at him shoulders.

You're almost there, can feel him slipping in, the stretch making your eyes roll back. Rina makes one final adjustment to your posture. She pries your face from the safety of Lycaon’s shoulders. All your pretty little sounds, your focused expressions, are clear for both of them to see.

“I'm– I'm close–” Lycaon huffs, keeping his face pressed to your shoulder. His body is coiled tight, nearly shaking with the restraint it takes not to thrust into you, to lock your bodies together and flood your pussy with his cum.

You whine, a hand fisting in his fur. Your stomach burns with the idea that after all of this, after being the perfect little toy, you might not get your prize – that he might slip out of you, cum spilling on your stomachs instead of where it belongs.

Lycaon thrusts into you hard just as your hips cycle down. His knot locks in. You gasp, the sensation foreign. You don't have time to savor it. He pounds into you, locked in place by his knot, your walls squeezing him as you cum again.

“Like you're made for me,” he babbles. Lycaon stops himself just before he bites onto your shoulder, his maw held open, sharp teeth threatening to puncture your skin. His moans are loud, pitching into a whine. His cock kicks inside of you, cum flooding your pussy, trapped in place by his knot.

You slump against him, the last few ropes of his cum spurting, his hips still shifting to drive it deeper. Your body is heavy, weighed down with the flood of pleasure still tinging your blood. Gradually, Lycaon's grip on you softens. His jaw closes, tongue flicking out to lap at your shoulder - short, slow strokes, almost apologetic.

Rina sits back and smooths the wrinkles from her dress. She admires the scene before her with a gentle smile, tilting her head to capture it from every angle. You're fully seated on his cock no matter which way she looks at it, escaped cum dribbling to the sheets in rivulets.

“Is it everything you dreamed?” Hands clasped, head tipped to the side - she looks at the pair of you adoringly, as if the sight of you breathless and locked together is the cutest thing she's ever seen.

“Rina,” Lycaon says, muzzle pressed into the crook of your neck. “Some water for our mistress, please.”

There's something hidden in his tone. You're too tired to piece it together, but Rina hones it on it immediately. She strokes along your spine as she stands, bending at the waist to kiss the crown of your head. She drifts out of the room without argument.

The door latches shut. You sag against Lycaon, his arms tightening around your middle. His tongue laps at your shoulder, collecting the salt taste of your sweat. He edges closer to your neck, lapping at it in broad strokes.

"Are you comfortable?" He murmurs against your skin.

"Mmhm," you hum, eyes shut, trusting your weight to his hold. “Feels good.”

Lycaon's tail dusts against the sheets. He presses his nose to the joint of your shoulder and neck, breathing your scent deep. For a moment, he thinks you might fall asleep, your cheek pressed against the soft fur of his chest.

“Let's order takeout,” you mumble.

Lycaon huffs. The closest thing he can muster to a laugh in his exhaustion. His arm tightens around your waist. He shifts you carefully so that you're both lying down, trying his best to ignore the way you squeeze around him, the way his cock gives a tired, painful jerk. He drags a blanket over your bodies.

“Worked up an appetite, did you?”

You nuzzle closer to his chest, letting out a satisfied sigh. “I just don't want Rina to cook for us.”

Ah. There was that, too.

[blaze-aus-steam-lover]

Victorian Railways S class

Builder's photo of S300 Matthew Flinders, 1928

The Victorian Railways S class was a class of pacific type express engines, built in 1928 for Victorian railways (VR). Only 4 where built and none of them survived. They where built when VR was at its most successful period of time. They were the final design of the VR's Chief Mechanical Engineer Alfred E Smith, The design was influenced by Nigel Gresley's GNR A1 class.

The class was assigned the broad gauge leg of the Melbourne to Sydney, run for express passenger services. The class was the most prestigious class of locomotive that VR had until the early 1950s when diesel electric locomotives started to be used. They were the first pacific type locomotive that where ran by VR, as well as the first 3 cylinder locomotive type for VR. Known for their power and speed, in their first 10 years of service the time of the Sydney express service was reduced by 1 hour and 30 minutes.

The improvements to the service, the Sydney limited was replaced with the art deco streamliner the spirit of progress and the S class was fitted with streamlined casings to match the new set of carriages. They were equipped with long range tenders so that the 306.6km (190+1⁄2-mile) journey could be a non-stop run, making the service the fastest in Australia's for next 20 years.

The Spirit of Progress headed by S301 Sir Thomas Mitchell near Kilmore East in 1938

As the class only had 4, they were highly utilised, they annually ran up mileages double that of other classes and by 1954 had a combined total of approximately 9,200,000 km (5,700,000 miles). Their size and heavy axle load made the class unsuitable for regular service on any other lines that the north eastern line and in 1954 within the first 6 months of the B class diesel being on the spirit of progress roster by that April the S class had been all been withdrawn and scrapped.

The scrapping of the class was the catalyst for the rail preservation movement to lobby for the preservation of the remaining VR steam locomotives, which resulted in the establishment of the Australian railway historical society museum in williamstown north in the 1962. The numbers of the class where S300, S301, S302 and S303. S301 was the first scrapped in October 1953 and the S300 in September 1954. their names where S300: Matthew Flinders, S301: Sir Thomas Mitchell, S302: Edward Henty and S303: CJ La Trobe. they were named after prominent figures in early Victorian history.

Two of the four tender frames have been saved for preservation by the Newport Railway Museum and are currently used as workshop vehicles at the Newport Workshops. these are numbered VFGA3 & VFGA4. One tender frame and tank are stored by Steamrail Victoria. The fourth tender frame is owned by the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre, which now has had a tender body placed on it.

One of the S class locomotives' whistles survived and was fitted to the R class locomotive R707, the City of Melbourne, to recreate the sound of the original S class-hauled service. for the 50th Anniversary run of the Spirit of Progress on 14 November 1987, operated by the Australian Railway Historical Society.

[duchesssoflennox]

"Whispers of Love Amidst Mourning: The Intimate Union of Princess Alice and Prince Ludwig"🥀💗🖤

When that ill-fated year of 1861 came and the first misfortune for British royal family was the death of the Duchess of Kent, Queen Victoria’s mother, Prince Albert asked his Daughter Princess Alice to console her poor mother.

Then he himself felt so bad, suffering from stomach pains, and after he fell ill, Alice surrounded him with care and attention. But the prince still hoped to take part in the upcoming family holiday. After all, Alice now had a fiancé.💍🖇💗

The task of finding her future husband was once assigned to Her Older Sister Vicky, who had recently become the wife of the heir to the Prussian throne, actively got down to business.

The first candidate she selected was the Prince of Orange, the future king of Holland. The prospect of becoming a Dutch queen looked very tempting, but Princess Alice didn't like the proposed gentleman with lemon-yellow teeth.🤮🤢 The next contenders were two Hessian princes, Ludwig and Heinrich, who were invited to Windsor under the pretext of visiting the famous Ascot races.😍

The Princess immediately took a liking to the eldest of them, Ludwig, a pleasant and modest young man with a handsome appearance and while some of the spectators carefully watched the horses and riders fighting for the Royal Cup, and others assessed the outfits of the society ladies with no less interest, Alice and Ludwig cast meaningful glances at each other.

Before leaving, the prince asked Alice for a photograph as a souvenir, and she willingly gave it, trying with all her might to express her interest... Albert liked Ludwig too. Queen Victoria hesitated for some time. Still, the Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt was a real backwater even by the standards of patchwork Germany.

But the German prince was so charming, so pleasant. He blushed so sweetly at every mention of Alice that the queen Victoria finally ceased to doubt the future happiness of her daughter.

Soon, together with her husband, Alice went to Coburg, Prince Albert’s homeland, stopping on the way to Darmstadt, where the princess was able to see and communicate with Ludwig again. The following spring, the young people got engaged. The plans were almost dashed by Albert's death on December 14, 1861... But Queen Victoria became unshakable in everything that concerned the wishes of her dear husband, and there was no question of postponing the marriage ceremony.

On July 1, Alice and Ludwig appeared before the altar erected in the banquet hall of Osborne House. There was nothing in the celebration that resembled the wedding of a royal daughter.

Alice remembered how her sister Vicky got married four years ago - a cortege of thirty carriages, seventeen representatives of the ruling houses of Germany, a luxurious ball in the Bikingham courtyard, where she pranced and sparkled, a whole thousand invited guests, a solemn service in St. James's Church, a rich dowry... Yeah, she was deprived of all this, but happiness lies in something completely different.

The bridesmaids struggled to put on a semblance of smiles... Heavy sighs were periodically heard from all sides... The Queen appeared in a black widow's outfit and almost immediately sank into a chair... She couldn't stand...

Next to her were her two sons, Edward, Prince of Wales, who tried to remain calm, and Alfred, who could not hold back his tears during the entire ceremony...💔💔💔🖤🖤🖤 "POOR AFFIE"

Alice entered arm in arm with her Paternal Uncle, Ernest of Saxe-Coburg, who acted as father of the bride... The embarrassed groom was afraid to look up. The altar was located under a large painting by F. Winterhalter depicting the royal family.

On the canvas at the feet of the happy parents, Victoria and Albert, their four children romped and played. An irrevocable past... The spiritual chants finally broke the queen’s self-control, and she burst into loud sobs.

Queen Victoria would later say that the day of this strange ceremony, which was more reminiscent of a funeral than a wedding, became one of the saddest in her life. However, neither she nor anyone else present could imagine what a truly ominous omen those gloomy circumstances would turn out to be for the fate of Alice and her offspring.💔

The “celebratory” dinner took place in the presence of only the newlyweds, the Queen and her youngest daughter Beatrice.

Ludwig received the highest English honor, the Order of the Garter.

Alice received as a gift from her mother a Bible, a gold bracelet with diamonds and pearls, and a dowry of 30 thousand pounds, hard-won through the Prime Minister.💎

In the evening she said that, having become Ludwig’s wife, she felt proud and happy.

“It’s like a dagger stabbed into my heart,” Queen Victoria comments on these words in a letter to her eldest daughter Vicky.😑

The newlyweds spent their honeymoon, which lasted only a week, nearby, on the same Isle of Wight, after which they went to Darmstadt, the capital of a small German duchy, where from now on they were to build a family life.

From the very border of Germany they were warmly greeted by local residents, and the meeting arranged in Darmstadt exceeded all expectations - Alice had never seen such enthusiasm and such cordiality addressed to her. Then everyday life began, dramatically changing the picture. Ludwig returned to military service, and his wife began to settle into her new surroundings. She soon noticed that, despite the initial delight, the residents of Darmstadt were very wary of her.

In her new homeland, Alice immediately became a stranger.

Englishwoman! Those around her showed distrust of the princess from such a distant, unusual and incomprehensible country, sometimes they grumbled and distorted her strange name in every possible way.

The tension was aggravated by the fact that persistent demands came from London to create suitable living conditions for the queen’s daughter.

But Ludwig's uncle, Grand Duke Ludwig III, did not have sufficient funds for such expenses.

And his nephew settled with his wife in the old parental home, in the mansion of Prince Charles.

Uncomfortable and overlooking a noisy street, it wasn't at suitable for creating a family “nest,” and Alice was very glad to leave on the eve of her first birth to England under the pretext of participating in the wedding of her older brother, the Prince of Wales.🤍

There, at Windsor Castle, on April 5, 1863, her daughter was born, named Victoria, in honor of her crowned grandmother... The girl was born on Easter Sunday, which added joy and gave hope for the final completion of all the recent sorrows that darkened the beginning of Alice’s independent life.✨️✨️✨️

Now the question of their own home for the young ducal family has become especially acute. Alice had no choice but to sacrifice almost her entire dowry for the construction of a new palace in Darmstadt, the construction of which would take two years. The project was based on the princess’s favorite castle in Osborne, the home of her happy childhood, the home of her bright memories. In the meantime, the addition of the family became the reason for the forced gift from the Grand Duke. Ludwig III gave his nephew Kranichstein one of his hunting houses six kilometers from the city.

Alice will rebuild the modest estate, loudly called a castle, to her own taste, ultimately obtaining a long-awaited corner for a quiet family life. From now on, the young Duke’s family will spend the warm season here. The house was just being settled when the owners had to receive guests of the highest level...🌺

Russian Emperor Alexander II came to Darmstadt with his wife and younger children. This was not surprising - Empress Maria Alexandrovna was a born Hessian princess and often visited her homeland. Ludwig III and Prince Charles were her siblings, whom she was always glad to meet...

This time, the Empress decided to visit her nephew Ludwig to get to know his own family, for which the Royal Family went to Kranichstein, where a real fuss arose in connection with this.

Princess Alice, who always remembered that she was the daughter of the Queen of England, didn't want to lose face and worked with all her might.❤️‍🔥

From the words of her husband, who visited Moscow for the coronation of Alexander II, she knew about the unheard-of luxury that surrounded the Russian Tsar and about the strictest etiquette imphis presence.❤️🇷🇺

There was a lot to worry about, but to the surprise of the hosts, the distinguished guests turned out to be nice and kind people... Instead of stiffness, they showed kindness and ease; instead of Asian barbarism, they showed great intelligence and subtle taste.

And how charming their children are! Smart, well-mannered. especially admired Grand Duke Sergei, in whom even little Victoria felt something good and attractive. She constantly smiled at this boy, asked to see him and did not want to part with him.

It's said that Alice, who was then in the last months of a new pregnancy, let Little Grand Duke Sergei listen to how the heart of the expected child was beating inside her. A touching story💗💗💗 and the Grand Duke in such an unusual way “met” (who would have thought!) with his future wife even before her birth!💗💗💗

[scotianostra]

On September 7th 1815, explorer John McDouall Stuart was born in Dysart, Fife.

Descended from a family steeped in military service, Stuart was born in in a sixteenth-century home which now houses a museum in his honour, as seen in the pic. He was the son of army captain William Stuart and his wife Mary (née McDouall). Orphaned in his early teens, he attended the Scottish Naval and Military Academy, Edinburgh, and graduated as a civil engineer.

At the age of 23 he embarked on the Indus from Dundee, arriving at Holdfast Bay, South Australia, in January 1839. He entered the Government Survey Department and, despite primitive conditions in survey camps, found that nomadic life in the bush appealed to him. A man of small stature, his life became a constant battle against ill health and poverty. Assigned as draughtsman for the 1844-46 expedition of Captain Charles Sturt into the interior, Stuart gained valuable experience and received his leader’s full approbation. Sturt’s failure to reach the centre of the continent inspired Stuart’s later achievements.

Returning to Adelaide in January 1846, Stuart was incapacitated with scurvy for twelve months and moved to Port Lincoln for health reasons, while recovering he worked for fellow Scot and shipmate James Sinclair on his properties and tutored the Sinclair children.

In 1854 William Finke and the Chambers brothers, James and John, engaged him to survey leases and prospect for minerals in the northern Flinders Ranges. Between May 1858 and January 1860 Stuart led three expeditions into the Lake Eyre region, seeking new grazing lands and minerals for his sponsors.

In contrast to Sturt, Stuart travelled quickly with limited supplies. Horses were his only means of conveyance. On his first attempt to cross the continent, he reached the geographical centre of Australia on 22nd April 1860, accompanied by two companions and twelve horses --- a feat later described as ‘the greatest and pluckiest exploration ever accomplished’. He tried again the following year but it was not until 1862 that he finally made it to the northern shore.

In poor health Stuart returned to England in 1864, nearly blind and with a broken constitution. He died on 5th June 1866, a forgotten hero. He was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery, London, with a memorial stone erected by his sister Mary.

As a result of Stuart’s expeditions, the nature of the Red Centre was revealed, South Australia gained control of and settled the Northern Territory, and vast areas of the interior were opened up for European settlement. In 1872 the Adelaide-to-Darwin Overland Telegraph Line was completed along Stuart’s route.

His statue was erected in Victoria Square, Adelaide in 1904 and Central Mount Stuart, the Stuart Highway and Stuart Range are named in his honour. The John McDouall Stuart Society was founded in 1964 by descendants of his companions to perpetuate his name and achievements.

A second statue of Stuart can be found in Alice Spring. The statue has been hounded by controversy since it was gifted to the Alice Springs Town Council in 2010, with some saying the work is culturally insensitive. Protests accuse him of not asking permission to enter the land and of killing Arrernte people."You came to Mount Hay and you killed our mob," a letter from Aboriginal elders said. "You went to Attack Creek and you killed more of our mob. This is murder and we can't forget it." it continued.

The Australian Aboriginal singer Warren H Williams also spoke at a protest rally, mocking the size of the gun and calling for the statue to be removed.

"This fella has destroyed both Arrernte and Warramungu [people]...look at the statue, it's a big gun," he said.

"They put a statue up of him, but never asked anybody, even the white people in this town if they can put it up..."

There are numerous memorials to Stuart around South Australia.

[going-to-ikea-for-the-fries]

Timeline: Victoria Isabelle "Whiskey" Callahan

CW: Death, Grief, Fire/Burning, Burn Injuries, Scars & Injuries, Canon-Typical Violence, Torture Mentioned, Canon Character Death.

2009 - 18

Victoria graduates high school (3.4 GPA) gets accepted into College (University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee).

Joins swim team and tennis in college. Begins situationships.

2010 - 19

Victoria has her first kiss with a girl whose name she doesn’t remember.

Starts dating Lucas Sutton. They date on and off.

2011 - 20

May - Graduates University

Nathan has already enlisted in the Marines and is deployed overseas.

September - Joins Navy as a Seaman (Recruit) in the second half of the year. Progresses to Seaman (Apprentice) within that same year.

Gets placed in USS Sentinel. Picks up troops (Marines and sailors, especially) from Iraq after the Iraq War was declared over.

2012 - 21

Receives Seaman rank.

Remains in the Arabian Sea in the USS Sentinel for many small anti-piracy ops off the coast of Somalia.

October-November - Hurricane Sandy happens and gets shipped back to the States for humanitarian relief.

Meets Philip Graves.

2013 - 22

Returns to Arabian Sea for the first half of the year.

Receives Petty Officer 3rd Class rank after demonstrating bravery in service.

Signs up for Navy SEALS in the second half of the year. Begins Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training.

August - Meets Elaine and they bunk together for 2 years.

2014 - 23

Continues BUD/S training.

2015 - 24

Completes training (16 + 18 months = 2 years and 10 months), becomes a Navy SEAL.

Receives Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class rank.

Begins her Eastern Europe deployment assignments (anti-sex-trafficking ops).

November - Meets Meabh during an OP in the Black Sea.

2016 - 25

Continues series of deployments in Eastern Europe.

Meets Emilio during a joint operation with the Spanish Navy.

2017 - 26 

Receives Légion d'Honneur awarded by the French government for an act of heroism while off duty/on vacation.

Meabh receives the UN Peacekeeper award, Victoria is there to watch it happen.

2018 - 27

January - Loses her father and brother in a joint Marine-SEAL operation that resulted in an explosion and in many burn injuries for her. Spends 3 months on medical leave w/rehab.

Leaves home (to never come back), then spends 6 months in Officer’s Academy.

September - Graduates with Lieutenant Junior Grade rank

Gains the Whiskey callsign. Begins series of short-term deployments in Eastern Europe.

2019 - 28

January-February - Helps Meabh who’s on medical leave

June - Meets Val

Goes through Some Shit (Bad Mission, nearly died).

2020 - 29

Goes through Torture.

May - Meets Ghost & Soap

November - Starts officially working with the 141

2021 - 30

April - Marries Simon Riley

Goes through Torture Again.

June - Receives Lieutenant rank

2022 - 31

Soap & Meabh’s wedding (not invited).

Moves to Scotland with Ghost.

November - Graves betrays the 141 in Las Almas.

2023 - 32

Goes through Some Shit (Bad Mission, had to kill her way out).

August - Gets contacted by her aunt. Goes to see her cousin Rosie in New York.

November - Soap fucking dies, dog.

2024 - 33

May - Becomes an aunt! (Fiadh O'Malley MacTavish)

Extra 🫶:

Rosemary Williams belongs to my beloved @lyralein ;

Meabh O'Malley belong to my beloved @crashtestbunny ;

Emilio Melero belongs to my beloved @cod-z ;

"Valkyrie" belongs to my beloved @superhero-landing ;

Elaine Laswell belongs to my beloved @loveandplanet

[farsight-the-char]

The Harker (my star trek oc ship) crew and other details

First Officer, Commander Ajeet Singh: Born on Earth (Naniamo Canada). Joined Starfleet with a group of his friends, though rose through the ranks faster then the others. Thoughtful, though with a strong sense of conviction once his mind is made up. Was a security officer on the same exploration vessel that Markus Stonewall (now captain of the Harker) was an engineer on, and credits Stonewall with their shared survival during "The Incident". (cis dude he/him)

Security Chief Freyja Zhou: Klingon Trans Lady born on a backwater colony, she joined the Federation where no one would know her old self. She met her wife Victora Zhou at Starfleet Academy, and the two were assigned together across different services, with the Harker being their latest (though they consider the Harker their long term home). Freyja applying her skills as the "Master of Slaying" while Victoria is chief medical officer.

Medical Officer Victoria Zhou: Born NYC Earth, she joined starfleet to escape her birth family and found a new one with Freyja and the Harker. A masterful medic and accomplished scientist, the various supernatural threats that assail their crew are nothing for her talents. (butch lesbian they/she)

Science Officer Zack: A Vulcan Criminal who found peace/redemption on the Harker. Able to fight and study the Weird Threats the Harker find themselves against with similar ease. (nonbinary they/them)

Multi-Role Officer Steve Clever: A nonbinary Ferengi who joined Starfleet early in life, and applies zer talents in Creative ways. Often acts as infiltrator, playing the role of Ferengi merchant to knock on the door of suspected cult facilities and get a first look. (ze/zer nonbinary)

...........

The Harker: Named after the Dracula characters, the Harker is an advanced (though small) Starfleet vessel designed for investigation. Lacking some facilities of similar ships of it's size (No Holodeck, smaller crew), it possesses an array of advanced scanning tech and some Creative Weapons (just in case).

It is part of a Federation initiative to investigate suspected Cults and other "New Religious" and Supernatural instances across the Space.

Markus Stonewall, Captain of the Harker: Formerly Engineer of the lost exploration ship "Erikson", Stonewall is a haunted man. The son of a Starfleet Captain, was bouncing between ships since he was a boy. Was able to rescue a small number of the Erikson's ship before it was lost in the "Incident" (including Ajeet), considers it his mission to rescue others from similar fates. (cis dude he/him)

Has a habit of smithing swords and crafting other weapons when bored or anxious.

[pickalilywrites]

Marco works at Victoria's Secrets, watching the AOT ladies buying items for Valentines day coming up

apparently i had a lot to say about this prompt

god of lingerie

marco bodt. college au. 4415 words. read on ao3.

Marco has a unique ability, one that has earned him the respect of his peers and the disgust of others primarily due to their own misunderstanding of what his strange power entails. It’s not something that Marco shares proudly. In fact, he tries to keep it under wraps as much as possible due to the misconception his job brings, but word has gotten out somehow. He supposes it’s not that surprising. He works at shop in the mall after all, and it’s a popular place for students to unwind  after a week filled with frustrating group projects and three-hour long labs. If people actually took the time to talk to Marco about his job, they’d understand that it’s not all that different from an ordinary customer service position.  

As much as other people like to think otherwise, Marco had stumbled into his part-time job as a Victoria’s Secret salesperson on accident. He was a third-year college student, one that had been freshly kicked off campus to make room for incoming freshmen that needed on-campus housing more than he did. Finding housing close enough to campus was tough enough, but rent was seemingly manageable because he’d be splitting it with the rest of his friends in the short term. The problem was that in the long term Marco wouldn’t have enough income to contribute to the rent and utility bill each month. His friends were fine with covering him for a few months — Armin had his undergraduate research position, Eren and Connie worked on campus in the cafeteria, and Jean made enough money from drawing digital art for strangers online (mostly furry commissions) — but Marco wasn’t comfortable with not contributing to the rent and went out to find any job that would have him. Unfortunately, all on campus student jobs were taken up and Marco decided to search outside of the university for a job. He scoured the nearby mall for any open positions at different stores and applied to all of them. Victoria’s Secret was the first one to respond, and that’s how Marco ended up as an assistant manager at the women’s lingerie store.  

Well, that’s not exactly how Marco became an assistant manager at Victoria’s Secret.  

Marco started as a normal salesperson with sweaty palms and a nervous smile as he greeted customers, hoping that they wouldn’t find his presence in the lingerie store too disgusting and perverted. According to the manager that hired him, Traute, Victoria’s Secret doesn't discriminate against men when hiring employees but men were afraid of the way they’d be perceived if they were employed there and so Victoria’s Secret has few male applicants to choose from. Her words did little to assure Marco he’d be fully welcomed there by customers, but Traute didn’t seem to notice or care about his apprehension and assigned him to work the floor to greet customers and encouraged him to interact with them to increase sales. He only worked there a few weeks before Traute noticed Marco’s special ability and promoted him to assistant manager.  

“I’ve had multiple customers tell me that you were wonderful to work with,” Traute had told Marco when she had called him up to her office one day. It was a conversation that Marco was sure would end with him being fired for some reason or other, so the praise was completely unexpected. “Not only that, but you were able to help them find lingerie they were comfortable with and suited their preferences. Some of them admitted to be nervous about coming here to purchase our products, but you made them feel so at ease that they ended up coming back.”  

“O-oh? I’m so glad to hear that,” Marco stammered. He wasn’t sure what he was doing differently from anyone else. He was simply engaging with the customers the way Traute had instructed him to and recommending things according to what they told him.  

“You’re becoming popular, Marco. Some customers even said they headed over to this location even if it wasn’t the closest Victoria’s Secret to their house because their friends sang you such incredible praise,” Traute said, steepling her fingers and leaning over her desk. She narrowed her eyes at him. “How would you like to become an assistant manager?”  

Marco, of course, said yes. The position came with a raise, meaning he’d be paid more than minimum wage, and he found that the promotion didn’t differ very much from his previous position as a salesperson aside from managing his other coworkers. Unfortunately, his coworkers resented that a newbie hired only a few weeks ago got promoted so quickly and eyed him disdainfully whenever they saw him or at least until they found out how much of a pushover Marco was. Because Marco had a difficult time saying no and was so wonderful with customers, they pushed any customers they didn’t want to work with towards him. Sometimes they would redirect customers to Marco just because they didn’t want to do any work at all that day, and Marco would assist customers with a strained smile because his newfound authority was useless. 

It’s not as glamorous as most people think it is. His classmates seem to be under the impression that Marco gets to interact with models every day, that he gets to view women naked, that he gets to personally clothe them in lingerie, and that he has sex with customers in the dressing rooms. The truth is that Marco does none of these things. He simply greets customers, asks them if he can assist them, and then recommends products based on their needs. It’s not that different from working at any other clothing store except that this particular clothing store specializes in women’s intimates. 

With Valentine’s Day coming up, customers have been pouring into the store every day and, because his coworkers keep redirecting everyone to him for help, Marco has been overwhelmed with helping customers. At this point, his customer service smile is plastered on his face.  

“How can I help you?” Marco asks a woman so statuesque that she might as well have stepped off the runway.  

“I’ve been to three different locations. None of them had what I was looking for,” the woman says. Her blonde hair is cut in a bowl cut that would look ridiculous on anyone else but somehow makes her look even more impressive. She has such large, dark eyes that regard Marco coldly but he smiles even though his knees are shaking. She’s dressed in a silk button down shirt underneath a white pantsuit. Her outfit looks fit for a CEO.  

“Oh, that’s unfortunate,” Marco says, trying not to appear intimidated. “Maybe we’ll have what you’re looking for. Can you provide me with more details?”  

“I’m looking for something powerful, sexy, commanding,” the woman says. Her hands are tucked casually into the pockets of her trousers and she observes Marco carefully.  

“Ah,” Marco says. It’s always difficult when customers give him broad descriptions of what they’d like. It’s a higher element of guessing than he’s comfortable with, but he has to do his best anyway. He wonders if he should press for more information, but sometimes doing so agitates the customer. Instead, he takes in every detail about the woman and infers as much as possible so that he can make a recommendation. “Can I interest you in some of our bodysuits? There are a few that came in recently that I think would suit you.”  

The woman doesn’t look too impressed by his answer, but she shrugs. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to take a look.”  

“Great. Let me lead the way,” Marco says, gesturing for the woman to follow him. As he leads the customer to the new collection of bodysuits, he notices that his other coworkers are nowhere to be seen aside from those stocking shelves or managing the cash registers. He figures they’ve gone to hide in the storeroom to “check the stock.”  

Marco eventually leads the customer to the Valentine’s Day selection. There are bras and panties in red, white, pink, and black all with varying amounts of lace, faux leather, or ribbon. The more traditional sets aren’t what Marco is interested in showing the woman. He turns the woman’s attention towards the more daring lingerie: crotchless teddies with cutouts to expose nipples, backless satin rompers, and lacy corsets.  

“I think this one might suit your tastes,” Marco tells the woman and gestures at a mannequin in a bright red teddy made of lace and fishnet mesh. It’s backless with a halter neck and a cutout to expose a modest amount of cleavage. The panty is held together by more mesh and a thin ribbon of fabric in the back. It’s hardly any coverage at all, but it’s definitely sexy.  

The woman reaches out, pinching the fabric and feeling the fishnet mesh between her fingers. As she does, a smirk appears on her lips. Her dark eyes flit over towards Marco and she almost looks impressed. “The other stores didn’t show me anything nearly as provocative. I’m guessing it has something to do with my appearance,” she says.  

Marco assumes the woman is referring to her somewhat androgynous appearance. The woman is taller than average and thin, her curves small, although Marco doesn’t see why that should limit the lingerie she can wear. He tells the woman as much and his remark makes her smile.  

“I’ll be taking this,” the woman says, picking up a neatly folded teddy of the same design Marco had just shown her. She holds out a hand for Marco to shake. The woman takes a glance at Marco’s nametag.  “My name is Yelena. You’re quite the salesman. You’ll be seeing me more often, Marco.” 

“That’s wonderful to hear. I look forward to seeing you again,” Marco says. He reaches out to give Yelena’s hand a good shake and then watches as she leaves to make her purchase. Once she disappears towards the registers, he lets out a huge sigh and then turns around. When he finds a small huddle of women watching him from behind a shelf of underwear. He wonders how long they’ve been standing there. “Can I help you?”  

One of the women, a small woman with ginger hair, is nudged forward by a brunette with their hair tied up in a messy ponytail. The ginger woman glares back at the bespectacled brunette and hisses, “Hanji!” 

“Oh, come on. I don’t know why you’re being so shy,” the one named Hanji says with a laugh. They step out from behind the shelf, the rest of their companions inching out behind them. Hanji greets Marco with a smile. “Hi, my friends and I were looking for some lingerie and wondering if you could help us. Some of us aren’t quite familiar with the selection you have available here, and we’ve heard this location has an amazing salesman who has the ability to match customers up with the perfect set of lingerie.”  

Marco laughs, rubbing the back of his neck. “Oh, I don’t know if I’m all that amazing. I just do the best that I can, but I’m glad to hear that so many people are happy with my recommendations.” He smiles expectantly at the other women who seem much more nervous than Hanji. “Perhaps if you can tell me what you have in mind, I can help direct you to what you’d feel comfortable with.”  

Already, Hanji is wandering around the Valentine’s Day section without Marco. They’re reaching out to feel the fabric, an amused expression on their face as they browse the available selection. One set seems to interest them more than the others and they hold one up for their friends to see. It’s a teddy that’s made entirely of straps that is meant to conceal absolutely nothing at all. It’s a network of straps with only a few features that keep it from being just a mess of pink ribbon: a halter neck held together with a heart enclosure, open cups with an underwire, and a crotchless pantie. The sight of it shocks nearly all of their friends.  

“What about this one, Petra? I’m sure Levi would appreciate it,” Hanji suggest with a grin. They don’t flinch when Petra stomps over red-faced and snatches it out of their hands. 

“Hanji, oh my god,” Petra hisses, crumpling the lingerie set in her hands.  

“You’re not putting it back, though,” Hanji points out.  

“If you’re looking for an enticing set that is a little bit less provocative, may I suggest this one?” Marco says, raising his voice a bit to catch the women’s attention. He gestures towards a similar strappy teddy but without the open cups or crotchless panty. Rather than a bright pink, it’s a fiery red with floral lace decorating the bra cups and thong panty. There’s an intricate crisscross ribbon detailing across the torso and garter belt straps.  

“Oh, that’s actually a bit...,” Petra begins, but her voice trails off. She looks as if she’s restraining herself from reaching out to take it.  

Hanji takes one of the sets and pushes it into Petra’s arms. “You don’t have to be so shy, Petra. We all know you’re not wearing granny panties to seduce Levi,” Hanji says, and Petra’s cheeks burst into flames. 

“It’s different when shopping with friends!” Petra protests, but she keeps both teddies in her arms.  

Hanji turns back to Marco, hands on their hips. “I’m looking for something exciting. I want something that will get blood pumping, you know what I mean?” Hanji says, giving Marco a cheeky wink. “You can probably tell, but I’m not shy at all.”  

“Oh, I have a feeling you aren’t,” Marco says with a laugh. He does have something in mind and ends up leading Hanji and their friends to a mannequin sporting a mesh teddy. It’s black but the fabric is sheer. The fabric is cut intricately and has red hearts pasted on the bra cups to cover the wearer’s nipples. There's one more red heart in the back of the thong panty. “What about this one? It’s rather playful.”  

Hanji’s hands are clasped together and they let out a delighted gasp. “Oh, you’re brilliant. You’re good. No wonder everyone talks about you so much.”  

Marco feels his cheeks flush. “Haha, I’m sure I’m not nearly as popular as people say.”  

“Oh, you’re underestimating yourself,” Hanji laughs. They take a teddy for themself and nudges another one of their companions, this time another small woman but one with glasses and silver blonde hair cut in a short bob. “Rico, your turn!”  

“Ugh, I don’t know if I’m cut out for this,” Rico says. She keeps her arms close to her, wrapped around her torso. Her whole body language is tense and her mouth is set in a frown as she scans the store. “Everything looks so uncomfortable.”  

“It doesn’t have to be!” Marco says. It’s always a pleasure to show new customers that lingerie doesn’t have to be uncomfortable to be sexy. He waves the group of friends over to a small corner where the silk robes, lacy babydolls, and satin slips are kept. He finds those who prefer more coverage tend to gravitate to these styles. It’s probably something that Rico might prefer. 

“Oh,” Rico says, surprised. She takes a babydoll from the shelf and unfolds it, scrutinizing the design. Unlike most of the other lingerie sets in the Valentine’s Day section, this one is a pale purple. The cups are made of a purple lace with a cutout towards the bottom to tastefully reveal the underside of the breasts. It’s lined with a thin mesh. It’s simple with just the right amount of exposure for those that don’t want to reveal everything. “You know, I might be able to find something here.”  

“Ooh, help out Lynne and Nifa, too,” Hanji says, gesturing towards a brunette with a ponytail and a petite redhead with a short, choppy haircut.  

Nifa, the redhead, looks a bit apprehensive but Lynne takes a step forward and tells Marco, “I’d also like something that’s not too showy. It’s not that I’m a prude or anything, but certain cuts of underwear or things with too much ribbon or wiring hurts for me to wear. My skin can be really sensitive.”  

Marco smiles. “No worries. Lingerie doesn’t have to be complicated to be alluring,” he assures Lynne. He leads the women to a section of robes with ruffles and feathers made of silk or mesh. He notes that Lynne takes particular interest in a white satin robe with feathers on the cuffs and hem.  

“Is a robe really enough, though?” Lynne wonders aloud. It’s a question that Marco gets from time to time, and he answer as honestly as he can. 

“Knowing that your partner is comfortable is more than enough,” Marco replies. It’s the case for him, anyway, and he’s sure any person worth sleeping with would think the same. The answer seems to satisfy Lynne who nods and takes a closer look at the robe she was intrigued by.  

“Ah, what would you recommend for me then?” Nifa asks shyly. She twirls a lock of her red hair around her finger, her gaze on the tiled floor. “I don’t actually mind lace. It’s pretty, but I’m worried it’ll be uncomfortable to wear too much of it at once.”  

“Oh, in that case, you can just wear something like this,” Marco says and he takes a garter from a nearby shelf. He holds it out to Nifa — a red garter made of lace and silk ribbons. “It’s not a bodysuit, just a garter that goes over your thigh, so it won’t be as uncomfortable being covered all over with lace. It’s also something that can help you get used to it if you want to try out lacy lingerie later. Even if seems like a small accessory, it can really elevate your bedroom wardrobe.”  

Nifa purses her lips, but she doesn’t look uninterested. She takes the garter from Marco and feels the silky material between her fingers. “I think I might take a closer look at these,” Nifa murmurs. 

Marco turns towards the last member of the group, a tall, blonde woman with a short undercut. “And can I help you with anything?”  

The woman looks momentarily surprised and then laughs. “Oh, no. I already have an idea of what I want. I just came here to help the rest of them,” Nanaba says. She gestures towards another section with slinky, black selections and winks at the rest of her friends. “I’m going to take a look over here and pick something out. Let me know when you guys are ready to check out.”  

Hanji watches in admiration as their friend goes to look at the lingerie. “Ah, Nanaba is the type of person who knows what she wants. I love that about her,” they say admiringly before turning towards Petra with a wicked grin. “Petra, do you want to add anything else to your wardrobe? I’m sure Levi wouldn’t mind if you added a few more things. He gave you his card to pay for all of this anyway.”  

“Hanji!” Petra says exasperatedly. The ginger gives Marco a polite smile. “Thank you for all your help! My friends and I really appreciate it. It’s true that you’re wonderful at what you do. I think we can handle ourselves from here, but we’ll let you know if we need anything else.”  

“That’s great, I’ll leave you to browse for yourselves then. Don’t hesitate to reach out. I’ll be around,” Marco says cheerfully. He bids the group of friends goodbye and then explores the rest of the floor for lost-looking customers that he can help. He doesn’t expect to see such familiar faces peering at him through a rack of teddies.  

“Marco!” Sasha cheers and the rest of her friends sing Marco’s name in a chorus.  

He knows he shouldn’t be embarrassed about working in a lingerie store, and normally he isn’t. It’s just that being seen here by his friends is somehow more embarrassing than having the rest of the student body know that he helps women pick out lace panties to help seduce their partners in the bedroom. 

Cheeks flushed red in embarrassment, Marco asks, “Sasha, Mikasa ... what are all of you doing here?”  

Ymir throws an arm around Historia’s shoulders and smiles cheekily at Marco. “We’re here to buy underwear, of course, and to seek your advice. Word on the streets is that you’re the best in the business when it comes to finding the best panties for people,” Ymir replies. 

Mina tugs on Ymir’s sleeve. She looks almost as embarrassed as Marco feels. “Come on, Ymir. You’re making him sound like a pervert,” Mina says. 

“Oh, he knows I’m just joking, don’t you, Marco?” Ymir laughs, but she cocks an eyebrow at the measuring tape hanging around Marco’s neck. “Although, maybe he is. Do you go measuring women, Marco?” 

Marco wishes the earth would open up and swallow him whole. “It’s part of the uniform,” Marco mumbles, which is absolutely true. He’s never used it and doesn’t plan to. He sometimes gives size recommendations after a glance, but he would never dream of pulling out his measuring tape for any reason.  

“Hey, Marco’s a busy guy. Let’s just get down to business so we don’t bother him too much,” Historia says with a toss of her golden hair. She’s very to-the-point as usual. “Marco, do you have any recommendations for us? Something in the Valentine’s Day collection would be good, but it doesn’t have to be if you think there’s something better for us.”  

“If this is too weird, we can go ask another salesperson,” Mikasa offers, but Marco doesn’t want to turn them away. It might be weird, but they’re his friends after all. 

“It’s not too weird,” Marco says with a shake of his head. He clears his throat and forces a smile on his face. He hopes word doesn’t get out that he’s helping his female friends with buying lingerie. He doesn’t want people to misconstrue everything again and it’d be terrible if it somehow tarnished his friends’ reputations.  

He starts by guiding them to the Valentine’s Day section. Mikasa and Historia seem more drawn to the simpler sets, preferring silk and satin over lace and ribbon, although Historia does appreciate little details like frills and lace embellishments. Sasha is amused by many of the sets that Marco shows them, giggling at the more revealing lingerie, although she attaches herself to a cute pink teddy later. Ymir is the loudest and most crass of the group, often taking bra and pantie sets and holding them against her body and asking loudly for Marco’s opinion. She does it mostly to get a reaction out of him and puts down each one no matter what Marco says and only picks up a black lace bodysuit that Historia said actually looked quite nice on her. Mina, much shyer than the rest of her friends, was a little harder to help. She couldn’t look at many sets without blushing furiously and averting her gaze but Marco finally managed to find a fluffy robe and a garter that she seemed comfortable with.  

The girls thank him before heading to check out. Ymir is even cheeky enough to blow him a kiss that Marco pretends he doesn’t see. He’s relieved that it’s not a more complicated affair, but only Ymir had teased him and although he knows she’ll probably talk about it loudly to everyone that will listen, he knows that she’ll probably punch anyone who speaks badly about him in the face.  

Marco wipes his sweaty palms on the fabric of trousers and then sighs. He wonders if he’ll be able to disappear into the stock room and “check inventory” like many of his coworkers do when they need a break from working the floor. He’s just about to do that when he can feel people staring at him from behind. He whips his head around and sees more familiar faces trying to hide behind a shelf of folded panties and bras.  

Marco sighs and walks over to where his friends are hiding. He folds his arms against his chest but he has his customer service smile plastered on his face. “Can I help you?” he asks through gritted teeth. 

Eren, Jean, Connie, and Armin are huddled together, guilty expressions on their face as they realize they’ve been caught. They argue in whispers, shoving each other as they try to find a way to justify their presence in the women’s lingerie store. Eventually, Eren, Connie, and Armin manage to shove Jean in front of them and the brunet gives Marco a sheepish smile.  

“We were, ah, wondering if you could help us choose lingerie,” Jean says and then realizes his words haven’t come out quite right. Face flushing as he corrects himself, Jean quickly says, “I mean, help us help other people to pick out lingerie.”  

Marco narrows his eyes suspiciously at his friends. “You guys might have the wrong idea about my job. It’s not sexy at all. I don’t get to see naked women in the dressing room. This job isn’t a chick magnet. In fact, most women are repulsed when they hear that I work at Victoria’s Secret. Do you see girls flocking towards me on campus?”  

“That’s not why we want you to teach us how to pick out lingerie for people!” Eren protests indignantly, although Marco isn’t sure he believes Eren. “We’re feminists. We want to help women!”  

“Yeah!” Connie agrees, nodding his head vigorously. “We want to support women physically and spiritually like, ah, what is it that you said Armin?”  

Armin’s cheeks have turned a bright pink. “Like a push-up bra for their souls.”  

“Exactly,” Connie says with a pump of his fist and Eren nods in agreement. 

Marco isn’t sure that they understand what his job entails. He’s also not sure his friends would be able to manage a part-time job at Victoria’s Secret on top of their current jobs and studies. It would be nice to have more coworkers to rely on. At the very least, his guidance would be able to help his friends pick out lingerie for their partners. 

“Alright,” Marco sighs. He picks up a bra and holds it out for his friends to see. “Let’s start with different types of cups.”  

[checkoutmybookshelf]

We've Had Witches and Pirates, Yes. But What About SPIES?

India Holton as an author has, with three books, become an author who I will read everything she ever writes. The writing style is cheeky and fun and beautiful, and the characters never fail to be engaging and captivating to watch. The first two books also quietly critiques institutions and what it means to be inside and outside of such organizations. This book takes that to a WHOLE other level thanks to the James Bond spoof we're in the midst of. This book also includes neurodivergent leads--Holton has confirmed that both Alice and Daniel are autistic. Overall, the way this book handles romance, sex, and institutions is nuanced and heartbreakingly good. So let's talk The Secret Service of Tea and Treason.

Hey, so...SPOILER WARNING. I'm going to spoil the ever loving hell out of this book. Either read it before continuing or be cool with SPOILERS.

This is a also a CONTENT WARNING for minor mentions of child physical abuse and an organization putting neurodivergent children and adults in arguably abusive situations.

Agents A and B are the top performers of A.U.N.T., and they both secretly imagine their rivals throughout their careers. Those constructs go straight down the drain when Alice (Agent A) and Daniel (Agent B) are assigned to pretend to be married infiltrate the Bassingthwaite historical flying battle manor to thwart an assassination attempt against Queen Victoria.

The megaweapon that the agency was concerned about ends up being a nonstarter/red herring for this universe's version of Q going full-on supervillain (I told you I was going to spoil the end), which actually ends up being VERY funny. You really shouldn't piss off your weapons expert/inventor, because if you do, then when your top two agents apprehend him, you have to give him a medal and a raise. At which point your top agents realize you're a garbage organization and defect, taking a bunch of other agents with them.

This book is EXPLICITLY clear that A.U.N.T. is not a good or even benign organization. It is deeply controlling, toxic, and super unkind to its neurodivergent trainees. Daniel was treated like a bomb that would explode if handled wrong. He is so used to armed men pointing guns at him during situations that his superiors even *think* could get heated that he barely registers them. His life is literally under threat every time his superiors put him in a situation in which he might have an emotional reaction that they feel is inappropriate. Their feelings, mind, not his reality. And there is QUITE the gap between those things.

Alice arguably had it even worse; she was regularly beaten as a child and during her training any time she became overwhelmed, froze, lashed out, or had someone violate her sensory boundaries and she reacted with the full force of her martial training.

So A.U.N.T. is objectively THE WORST at accommodating neurodivergence even as they benefit from Alice and Daniel's skills. That kind of toxic, abusive, and exploitative relationship with an organization is heartbreaking. However, as Alice and Daniel's mission and romance progresses, they gain more perspective on each others' pasts, which allows them to support each other in leaving the organization. Neither could really process or acknowledge how they had personally been treated, but they both know that they cannot stand how the other had been treated. With each other's support, and the support of their friends, Alice and Daniel get to go live happily without bosses who treat them as less than human.

Interpersonally, Alice and Daniel have an absolutely adorable romance. What I found really interesting and really wonderful, though, was how communication and needs were handled. Alice's sensory needs mean that soft touches are a hard no for her. And for most of her adult life, that has meant that after the first try, people have simply stopped trying to engage physically with her. Alice at one point explicitly thinks that people prefer to simply leave her untouched rather than trying to do the work to help her engage in sex in a way that is safe for her. And that is shatteringly common even today; people have weird preconceived notions of what sex "should" be, and if someone does not enjoy or cannot safely engage in those "shoulds," then they "should not" have sex at all. Which is patently ridiculous. Alice and Daniel actually HAVE the conversation about Alice's needs and wants, and they work together to make sure that they both can safely and enjoyably engage in sex.

I read this after watching season 3 of Bridgerton, and after watching Prudence just NOT ENJOY anything about sex or physical intimacy (but being pressured into doing both anyway), I was SO GRATEFUL that there was consent, accommodation, and everyone involved actually enjoying themselves in this book. I would MUCH rather watch two characters actually have the conversations about how to make sex work for them than watch a female character be forced into sex she does not want to have.

I also appreciated that this book acknowledged that people have weirdly specific preconceived notions about sex and who can/should have what kind(s) of it while also going out of its way to say "no, actually, people should have adult discussions about this and figure out the way that works safely, consensually, and enjoyably for them." This feels vanishingly rare in the here and now, and I adore when books do things like this.

Like the first two Dangerous Damsel books, the writing style in this book was PURE DELIGHT. I literally cannot let that go without saying, because with the rise of GenAI and some publishers trying to replace real authors with AI, I feel it's even more important to highlight it when a writer has a unique style, clear voice, and significantly above-average grasp on language. Especially in popular and romance books, because people tend to use those descriptions to describe literary fiction on the regular--but not all of us WANT to read literary fiction. And those of us who enjoy popular genres deserve to have competent writing from real humans!!! India Holton is just a phenomenal writer, and I will never not recommend her on the strength of that.

Beyond that, we also get more pirate and witch shenanagins, and that's never not a blast.

Overall, this trilogy ended strong, and I cannot recommend the Dangerous Damsels enough.

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

[The use of police dogs as a novel technology, one adopted by rank and file police officers with enthusiasm, ostensibly to enhance 'crime-fighting' by tracking bank robbers and escaped prisoners, but one that consistently failed to deliver results due to poor training and poorer handling. A consistent theme of police dogs, whether bloodhounds or narcotics dogs, is their high rate of error and general inability to deliver consistent results.]

"To further ensure the CPR’s profits were not affected by American “desperados,” [General Superintendent, Canadian Pacific Railway Pacific Division, Richard] Marpole recommended that troops of Royal North West Mounted Police be stationed at critical points along the CPR’s main line and at a strategic point in the south Okanagan or Kootenays.

At the expense of the B.C. Provincial Police, his editorial described the Mounties as “a magnificent body of men” that Alberta and Saskatchewan were lucky to have to maintain law and order in those provinces. Marpole also was not averse to incorporating American law enforcement techniques into Canada. “I am strongly in favour of keeping bloodhounds at certain points in this province,” he wrote. He went on to praise the handlers of the dogs that had come up from Spokane as “men of experience as hunters of outlaws.”

....

Despite the spectacular lack of success experienced by the bloodhounds brought in to hunt down the Ducks robbers, [B.C. Police Superintendent F.S.] Hussey was getting pressure from some of his constables in the Kootenays to authorize the use of the hounds in their regular work. On 20 June 1906, Hussey wrote Attorney General Fulton on the topic. He noted that some Provincial Police members kept their own bloodhounds and wished to be able to use them at their discretion without checking with Victoria first. Constable Young in Nelson, who had such a pitiful lack of success with his dogs south of Ducks, owned six, and Constable Darraugh of Midway had one or more. Other officers had solicited him for permission to be able to own and use such animals.

Hussey advised the Attorney General [Fulton] that in his judgment the dogs were almost useless unless they had been highly and competently trained in man hunting and were in the hands of exceedingly skilled handlers. It is under only the most favourable circumstances that these animals could be successful and do useful work.

He noted also that there exists a strong feeling from the general public against such use of bloodhounds excepting perhaps in the most extreme cases. Hussey recommended to Fulton that under no conditions should the use of bloodhounds be authorized except under the direct permission of the Superintendent’s office in Victoria.

He requested instructions from Fulton so that he might advise the constables in the field, and Fulton agreed that they should not be used in B.C. unless under emergency conditions.

...

[B.C. Provincial Police] Chief Constable Campbell had been eagerly anticipating an emergency situation to make use of the services of a local bloodhound and its trainer, Bradford Nanton of Vancouver. Despite Hussey’s reluctance to utilize the animals, the rule was initiated that under special circumstances they might be employed. As soon as Campbell received the call from [Acting Warden] Bourke about the prison breakout, he assigned Constable Spain that evening to escort the hound and handler to the B.C. penitentiary.

When Campbell and Spain, the handler and his hound arrived at the prison, they were met by some prison guards. The guards escorted the party to the brickyard, where the hound was given Miner’s scent from the straw hat he had left behind. Immediately the hound picked up the scent in the brickyard, and after circling the compound a few times, it tracked the scent to the hole under the fence.

Moving into the outer yard, the hound picked up the scent again which led the party to the door in the perimeter wooden wall. Here it was determined by the dog’s actions that Miner had tried the latch on the door before leaning the ladder on the fence and clambering over. The hound sat down and whined at the base of the ladder that was still leaning against the wall. Outside the prison walls, the dog led them alongside the ravine that held Glen Stream and into the brush to the north. As it was too dark to be thrashing about in the thick underbrush and risking destroying the scent, the handler and his hound, Spain and the guards called off the search until daylight.

Daybreak at 5:30 A.M. found the previous night’s bloodhound party joined by two newspaper reporters. The guards included Keeper W.A. Patchell, Instructor Doyle and guards Devine and McLure. ... The handler led the hound to where they halted the search in the dark the previous night, and again presented the animal with Bill Miner’s scent. The trail was picked up once more, and the party was led through the brush about a mile and a half from the penitentiary wall. The dog was able to show the guards and the trackers that Miner had separated from the other convicts at a location close to Thorne Road and the city boundary. Here the dog inexplicably seemed to have a change of heart, and the newspaper reporter described the animal’s antics in a scathing paragraph.

The bloodhound chase was a total failure, the animal seemingly being out of whack, and its owner out of sorts. The animal, a highly bred English hound, seemed to be primed for work, but after a few whiffs of the damp alfalfa, he apparently lost courage, and could not pick up the scent. He ... sulked fearfully Friday morning.

Patchell also described the hound as “sulky,” and after the searchers had wandered through the brush for two hours, he reported that the seemingly moody and sensitive animal refused to work any more. The fruitless search with the dubious aid of the emotionally challenged canine and his handler was abruptly terminated.

Colin Campbell’s expectations that the hound would be able to enhance the search efforts proved groundless, and it was to be some time before the Chief Constable, later to inherit Superintendent Hussey’s mantle, would again cast his eyes towards a dog to aid in the apprehension of criminals."

- Peter Grauer, Interred With Their Bones: Bill Miner in Canada, 1903-1907. Kamloops: Tillicum, 2006. p. 291, 396-397, 440-442.

[unquietspiritao3]

If you’re my assigned author for the LAH Fic Club Exchange S1 (or are just nosy), please read!

Hello, Dear Author!

I’m thrilled we’ve matched and excited to read what you write for me! Most of this is repeated from AO3, just so you have it all in one place, but at the bottom, I’ve added super important information if you want to write humiliation kink, daddy kink, or sexual ageplay for me. Please read it carefully.

Thank you so much for writing!

Optional Details for Each Request

Request 1: Greg/Alex, Soft Dom Greg

(Optional Tags: Domestic Kink, Cuddling & Snuggling, Fluff, Forehead Kisses, Hurt/Comfort, Praise Kink)

IRL!Greg is such a sweet, gentle guy, and I want more representation of that in fic! Give me Greg being soft and caring while still dominating Alex, please. He could also be strict and stern in an overtly loving way.

This sort of dynamic can be combined with any of my general kinks (listed below), but I think it pairs really well with puppy play or daddy kink (with or without sexual ageplay).

Request 2: Alex/Everyone, Taskmaster Late Night/“Blue” Edition

(Optional Tags: Crack Treated Seriously, Episode Style, Desiree Burch, Ed Gamble, Fern Brady, Greg Davies, James Acaster, John Robins, Josh Widdicombe, Julian Clary, Mae Martin, Morgana Robinson, Noel Fielding, Rhod Gilbert, Sally Phillips, Sam Campbell, Sophie Duker, Victoria Coren Mitchell)

Alex keeps talking about it, let’s give him some inspiration! I’d love to see kinky tasks completed by some of our favorite contestants. I’ve listed my personal faves in the optional tags.

In accordance with my DNWs, please set this up so it is fully consensual for the participants, the studio audience, and the viewers at home! That could be through making it an actual porn film or setting it in a BDSM AU, maybe? Or maybe it’s not actually on TV at all, just a special invite-only event of some kind, ala the excellent fic ‘pink and pretty’ by 2manyboys.

Also, if Greg is included, I prefer his dynamic with Alex to be more loving, as in later series.

Request 3: Noel/Rhod and/or Noel/Julian, Friends with Benefits

(Optional Tags: Begging, Biting, Lingerie, Orgasm Control, Overstimulation)

I’d love some sub!Noel in/just after his party days, getting by with a little help from his friends. Maybe he’s trying not to use so many drugs and is looking for a natural high to replace it? Maybe it’s just a thing for fun? Maybe it’s during Rhod’s tenure as host of NMTB, or maybe it’s him and Julian being Camden princes together?

General Kinks

Orgasm control, including edging, ‘forced’ orgasms, ruined orgasms, prostate milking, overstimulation, and chastity

Humiliation (please read the follow-up section below!)

Omorashi, especially combined with diapers

Soft dominance, the kind that has a genuine ‘I love you and I’m doing this for your own good’ feel

Old-fashioned domestic-style punishments such as over-the-knee spanking, mouthsoaping, scoldings and lectures

Daddy kink, with or without sexual ageplay (please read the follow-up section below!)

Devotion to your partner, whether expressed through service submission, puppy play, deity/worship kink, just thinking about how much you love them and would do anything for them, etc.

Bratting (consensual, not ‘topping from the bottom’)

Consensual non-consent (Please look this one up if you don’t know what it is, but in a nutshell, it means the submissive says ‘no’ when they don’t actually mean it, because they have a safeword. Also, I prefer the existence of the safeword to be explicitly mentioned in the story.)

Exhibitionism, either in a humiliating way or a showing-off way

DNWs

Non-con/dub-con

Total power exchange

Degradation (please read the follow-up section below!)

Incest (including step-family members, clones raised together, etc.) or incest fantasy (please read the follow-up section below!)

Graphic violence

Bloodplay

Needle play

Breathplay

Scat

Non-sexual ageplay

Bad BDSM etiquette (ie, under-negotiated kink; doing kink in public or on TV without the fully-informed consent of all participants, audience members, and viewers; anything else along these lines)

And in non-kinky lines: children, any sort of death, infidelity, any mention of real-life partners of any characters, AI-generated works

Important Distinctions

Degradation vs. Humiliation

Humiliation is one of my main kinks. Degradation is one of my main triggers. I’ve found that while the difference between these two is clear to me, it’s difficult for people who like both (or dislike both) to distinguish them, so I’m going to do my best to describe what I, personally, enjoy and what I don’t. If you have any uncertainty in this area, please avoid anything that could verge on either.

Verbal

I enjoy words that, even in a non-BDSM setting, would seem playfully teasing (not condescending) or stern-but-caring. “Naughty” is my favorite adjective, and a genuinely kind, gentle attitude from a dominant can often up the emotional intensity of a scolding. 

I do not enjoy words that, in a non-BDSM setting, would seem cruel—like name-calling, put-downs, yelling, or verbal coldness or condescension—even if, in the story, the submissive is meant to be read as enjoying it and the dominant is meant to be read as not really meaning it.

Situational

I enjoy situations where the submissive is temporarily embarrassed—though often to an extreme degree—while still feeling genuinely cared-for by the dominant both in the moment of embarrassment and after. The care between them must be explicitly shown in the story, not left to me to layer on top.

I do not enjoy situations where the submissive is made to feel at all worthless, less-than, judged, unloved, or ashamed of who they are as a person, even if, in the story, they are meant to be read as enjoying or not minding these feelings.

Incest Fantasy vs. Daddy Kink with Sexual Ageplay

Yet another area where I have a kink for one thing and a trigger for a different thing that is just similar enough for people to get them confused! (I’m difficult, I know. Sorry!) Again, I’ll do my best to explain the important distinctions between these from my personal point of view, but if you have doubts, please steer clear of both.

Daddy kink with sexual ageplay is where the dominant is taking on a parental, caregiving role while the submissive takes on a younger headspace during sexual play. (I prefer the headspace to be more on the side of roleplay than regression, though I’m fine with partial regression as long as it is explicit that the submissive is still in possession of their adult faculties enough to be able to fully consent.)

In these sorts of scenes, the submissive calls the dominant ‘daddy’ (even though they might be embarrassed about it because of the way society views adults who use that word for their partner) and the dominant does and says parental things, but the idea of being related is not part of what gets them off sexually. It’s simply a convenient way to explain their roles in the dynamic. The focus of the scene is the caregiving and the freedom of a younger mindset—and, in my favorite ageplay scenes, the humiliation of being lovingly treated as if you’re younger than you know you are, for your own good.

Incest fantasy is where the characters fantasize about and get off on the taboo of having sex with a relative (even if they are not attracted to their actual relatives and would never want to actually have sex with them). Anything that focuses on a fantasized familial relationship in this way is likely to trigger me. It’s therefore best, for me, if you avoid using familial words/phrases except in dialogue, so it’s clear that the character is not really fantasizing about the partner as a family member, but rather just calling them a ‘title’ that corresponds to their role.

[hellothetutorshelp-blog]

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[melbourneleadconveyancing]

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[govanator1]

Top Healthcare Recruiting Services in Canada for 2025

Canada’s healthcare sector faces a critical shortage of skilled professionals, with over 32,000 vacant nursing positions and a projected shortfall of 117,600 nurses by 2030. To address this, specialized healthcare recruiting services play a vital role in connecting medical professionals with hospitals, clinics, and care facilities. Below, we explore the top healthcare recruiting services in Canada, offering tailored solutions for permanent staffing, locum tenens, and international recruitment.

Why Choose Healthcare Recruiting Services?

Healthcare recruiting agencies provide expertise in sourcing, vetting, and placing candidates in roles ranging from physicians to allied health professionals. These agencies leverage extensive networks, industry knowledge, and compliance with licensing and accreditation standards to ensure high-quality placements. They also cater to niche needs, such as rural healthcare staffing and temporary nursing assignments, making them indispensable in today’s competitive job market.

Leading Healthcare Recruiting Agencies in Canada

Hero Care is a top provider, managed by healthcare professionals dedicated to addressing staffing shortages. They focus on placing well-vetted medical personnel, ensuring patient safety and quality care. Their tailored approach makes them a trusted partner for hospitals and clinics nationwide.

The Medfall Group, established in 1989, specializes in executive and physician leadership searches. Operating nationally and internationally, they serve academic hospitals, community health organizations, and private facilities. Their focus on culture, leadership, and efficiency ensures long-term, values-aligned placements.

CanAm Physician Recruiting is renowned for its 25 years of expertise in physician recruitment. They assist with licensure, immigration, and relocation, making it easier for international doctors to integrate into Canada’s healthcare system. Testimonials highlight their professionalism and seamless process, with clients like London Health Sciences Centre praising their support.

Maxwell Management Group excels in recruiting for healthcare and seniors’ living sectors. With 18 years of experience, they offer customized searches for leadership roles, backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Their Clinical Education Academy further supports professional development.

Canada Medical Careers, based in Victoria, focuses on recruiting general practitioners and specialists. Led by John Livingstone, they simplify the immigration process for international doctors, connecting them with rewarding opportunities across Canada.

Specialized Recruitment Services

Agencies also cater to specific needs. Locum Tenens and Travel Nursing recruiters manage temporary assignments, handling travel, accommodations, and credentialing. International Recruitment firms source global talent, navigating complex immigration and licensing processes. Rural and Remote Staffing agencies offer incentives like housing and travel support to attract professionals to underserved areas.

Benefits of Using Recruiting Services

These agencies streamline hiring by offering access to global talent pools, rigorous vetting, and compliance with regulations. They save time, reduce costs, and improve patient outcomes by ensuring the right fit for each role. Whether you’re a healthcare facility or a job seeker, partnering with a top recruiting service can elevate your success in Canada’s dynamic healthcare landscape.

For more information, explore services from trusted providers like Hero Care, The Medfall Group, and CanAm Physician Recruiting to find the perfect staffing solution.

Visit us:  https://govanator.com/best-healthcare-recruiting-services-in-canada

[offshores-world]

Top Healthcare Recruiting Services in Canada for 2025

Canada’s healthcare sector faces a critical shortage of skilled professionals, with over 32,000 vacant nursing positions and a projected shortfall of 117,600 nurses by 2030. To address this, specialized healthcare recruiting services play a vital role in connecting medical professionals with hospitals, clinics, and care facilities. Below, we explore the top healthcare recruiting services in Canada, offering tailored solutions for permanent staffing, locum tenens, and international recruitment.

Why Choose Healthcare Recruiting Services?

Healthcare recruiting agencies provide expertise in sourcing, vetting, and placing candidates in roles ranging from physicians to allied health professionals. These agencies leverage extensive networks, industry knowledge, and compliance with licensing and accreditation standards to ensure high-quality placements. They also cater to niche needs, such as rural healthcare staffing and temporary nursing assignments, making them indispensable in today’s competitive job market.

Leading Healthcare Recruiting Agencies in Canada

Hero Care is a top provider, managed by healthcare professionals dedicated to addressing staffing shortages. They focus on placing well-vetted medical personnel, ensuring patient safety and quality care. Their tailored approach makes them a trusted partner for hospitals and clinics nationwide.

The Medfall Group, established in 1989, specializes in executive and physician leadership searches. Operating nationally and internationally, they serve academic hospitals, community health organizations, and private facilities. Their focus on culture, leadership, and efficiency ensures long-term, values-aligned placements.

CanAm Physician Recruiting is renowned for its 25 years of expertise in physician recruitment. They assist with licensure, immigration, and relocation, making it easier for international doctors to integrate into Canada’s healthcare system. Testimonials highlight their professionalism and seamless process, with clients like London Health Sciences Centre praising their support.

Maxwell Management Group excels in recruiting for healthcare and seniors’ living sectors. With 18 years of experience, they offer customized searches for leadership roles, backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Their Clinical Education Academy further supports professional development.

Canada Medical Careers, based in Victoria, focuses on recruiting general practitioners and specialists. Led by John Livingstone, they simplify the immigration process for international doctors, connecting them with rewarding opportunities across Canada.

Specialized Recruitment Services

Agencies also cater to specific needs. Locum Tenens and Travel Nursing recruiters manage temporary assignments, handling travel, accommodations, and credentialing. International Recruitment firms source global talent, navigating complex immigration and licensing processes. Rural and Remote Staffing agencies offer incentives like housing and travel support to attract professionals to underserved areas.

Benefits of Using Recruiting Services

These agencies streamline hiring by offering access to global talent pools, rigorous vetting, and compliance with regulations. They save time, reduce costs, and improve patient outcomes by ensuring the right fit for each role. Whether you’re a healthcare facility or a job seeker, partnering with a top recruiting service can elevate your success in Canada’s dynamic healthcare landscape.

For more information, explore services from trusted providers like Hero Care, The Medfall Group, and CanAm Physician Recruiting to find the perfect staffing solution.

Visit us:  https://govanator.com/best-healthcare-recruiting-services-in-canada

[themotormile]

When Is Long Term Car Rental Melbourne Better Than Buying?

Understanding Long Term Car Rental Melbourne

Renting a car long term is a game-changer for many people living in or visiting Melbourne. Whether you're a digital nomad, a student, or a business traveler, long term car rental Melbourne services can give you the flexibility of having a car without the commitment of ownership. But what exactly is long term rental, and when does it make sense?

What Is Long Term Car Rental?

Long term car rental usually refers to renting a car for 30 days or more. Unlike short-term rentals that charge per day, long term rentals offer discounted monthly or weekly rates. These rentals include perks like maintenance, insurance, and sometimes even unlimited mileage. For many, it’s a smarter way to have a car without the long-term financial burden.

Whether you're staying in Melbourne for a few months or managing unpredictable work assignments, long term rental could be your best option.

How Long Term Car Rentals Work in Melbourne

Melbourne has become a hotspot for car rental services tailored to longer stays. The process is simple: choose your car, pick your rental duration (usually from 1 to 12 months), and you’re ready to go. You’ll find major companies and local providers offering cheap long term car rental Melbourne deals with features like online booking, home delivery, and easy vehicle swaps.

Melbourne’s urban sprawl makes car access a real bonus. Trams and trains are great—but they don't reach every part of the city. With a rental car, you gain the freedom to explore regional Victoria, commute stress-free, or just enjoy daily errands with ease.

Key Features of Long Term Car Rental Services

Here's what typically comes with a long term vehicle rental in Melbourne:

Comprehensive insurance included

Regular maintenance checks

24/7 roadside assistance

Option to upgrade or swap vehicles

Flexible cancellation terms

Some companies even throw in bonus mileage or discounted rates if you book for 3+ months. This makes long term rental more practical than people realize, especially when compared to the real costs of owning a vehicle.

Comparing Costs: Renting vs. Buying a Car

A major factor that affects whether you rent or buy a car is the cost. Let’s break it down:

Upfront Costs and Down Payments

Buying a car—new or used—comes with big upfront expenses. You might need a down payment, which can be thousands of dollars. Then there’s registration, stamp duty, and insurance.

With long term vehicle rentals, there’s no need to fork out a lump sum. Most rental companies only require a refundable deposit, and your monthly fee covers nearly everything else.

In this way, long term rentals protect your cash flow. You can invest your savings elsewhere, instead of watching your money sit in a depreciating asset.

Monthly Expenses and Maintenance

Buying a car means paying for insurance, servicing, tires, and repairs. You’re on the hook for all of it. Even if you don’t use your car much, those costs don’t go away.

Renting long term shifts all that responsibility to the rental company. You’ll know your monthly cost in advance—there are no surprises. That makes budgeting easy and stress-free.

Plus, with cheap long term car rental Melbourne deals starting at around $800 a month, it's often more affordable than car finance repayments and ongoing costs.

Depreciation and Resale Value

Cars lose value the minute you drive them off the lot. In fact, a new car can drop in value by up to 20% in the first year. When it’s time to sell, you might get far less than what you paid—especially if the car has seen better days.

With a rental, depreciation isn’t your problem. You simply return the vehicle when your rental ends. No need to worry about resale, car ads, or price negotiations.

Ideal Scenarios for Long Term Car Rental in Melbourne

So, when does renting make more sense than buying? Here are a few situations where long term car rental Melbourne becomes the smarter choice.

Temporary Work Assignments or Relocation

If you’re in Melbourne on a short-term work contract or relocating temporarily, renting a car offers mobility without long-term strings attached. You avoid the stress of buying and selling a vehicle in a tight timeline.

Students and International Visitors

International students and visitors often need a vehicle to get around, but can’t commit to buying one. A cheap long term car rental Melbourne option allows them to explore the city and beyond, without dealing with registration or ownership laws.

Business Travel and Corporate Needs

Companies often choose long term vehicle rentals for visiting staff, consultants, or employees on rotation. It’s easier, faster, and often cheaper than maintaining a full company fleet.

Some rental services even offer corporate accounts with bulk discounts and premium service—ideal for businesses managing multiple vehicle needs.

Flexibility and Convenience of Long Term Car Rental

Freedom to Choose and Swap Vehicles

Your needs might change—what worked last month might not work this month. With the best long term car rental Melbourne companies, you can often upgrade to a larger car, a hybrid, or even switch to an SUV if your lifestyle changes.

No Long-Term Commitments

Buying a car locks you into years of ownership, even if your circumstances shift. Renting gives you an easy way out. Moving cities? Change jobs? No problem. Just return the car—no strings attached.

This flexibility is what makes long term rental especially appealing to freelancers, gig workers, and digital nomads who value mobility over commitment.

Customization and Upgrades

Many companies now offer optional add-ons: child seats, GPS, Wi-Fi, or even branding for business use. You get all the benefits of owning a car, but with none of the hassle. And with no need to worry about resale or trade-in value, you can always drive something new.

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211 of 2025

Was the last book you read for fun, or was it for some type of assignment?

For fun. I'm still reading these horror stories about trains.

Have you accomplished any goals you set for yourself this year so far?

Lol. Better don't ask. I'm failing as hell.

If you could go forward in time and see your life 5 years from now, what would you hope to see?

A happy person still being married to the same person and working in the same workplace.

Are there still movie rental stores where you live or have they all gone out of business?

I don't even know if they still exist, now that we have streaming services.

What was the last thing to annoy you or make you upset?

I don't remember.

Do you think you would be a good match for your celebrity crush/es assuming you have one? Why? If you don’t have one, who was the last person you saw that you found attractive?

The last person I found attractive was probably one of the train conductors lol. As usual.

When looking for something to watch on TV do you tend to pick shows you know you like, or try new shows that look interesting even though you’ve never heard of them before?

It depends if I'm in a mood to try something new, but usually I stick to what I like. I have my TV show wishlist, though.

Have you ever been ditched by someone only to find them out and about with someone else?

Nope. I don't recall any situation like that.

How old were you when you had your wisdom teeth removed?

I've never had them removed. I've never felt them grow, actually. One day I just noticed they were there.

What is the last song you sang out loud?

I don't remember, probably something in the car.

Have you ever dated someone you met online?

Hell no. I don't trust people that much.

Do you wish you were taller or shorter?

A bit taller. 5'11 is not much enough for me.

Where was the last job application you filled out sent to?

The place I've been working for the last 11 years and counting.

Have you ever been fired from a job?

Not really. More blocked from going back abroad for a business trip.

What do people tell you your voice sounds like?

Nasal. Well, they're not wrong XD I also sound like a teenage boy, for real.

What financial class are you?

Upper working class, I guess. The people who do physical labour, but are qualified, have diplomas and do the job they're actually qualified for.

What poster is hanging closest to you?

We don't have posters in our house.

What time did you go to bed last night?

Around midnight.

Do you watch any reality shows?

Only when they happen in TV I set as a background noise, but even then, I don't really watch.

Are you more comfortable with men or women?

Men, I think. We all have something in common, after all.

Do you think you’re fat?

Always and forever. Even if my weight was 1 kg, I would still feel fat lol. Not realistic, though.

Have you ever borrowed money from someone and never repaid them?

No. I don't do such things and I don't like when others do it.

Do you have a pet cat?

How did you know, I have Susie. And Susie is a cat. :P Previously we also had another cat, Victoria, but cancer took her away at the age of 12. I miss her every single day.

What is worse: physical or emotional pain?

Both, it's impossible to choose.

If you had to get up at 6 AM tomorrow morning, would it be painful?

Guess what, I have to get up at 6am tomorrow. I have to go to work.

How is your hair?

Still there. At the moment, still wet from the shower. It has to be re-dyed, too. I can see my natural boring brown colour peeking out.

Are you happy with life at the moment?

I'm just okay-ish. Full of hope, though.

Who was the last person who called you?

Some private number. I don't pick up private numbers.

How long does it take you to fall asleep at night?

It depends. Apparently not that long anymore. If I experience hypnic jerks, I know I'm getting there.

How many people have you had strong feelings for in the year of 2012?

Oh lol damn, this survey is old.

What are you doing for your next birthday?

Probably existing. At least I hope so.

Would you go on a date with someone right now if they asked?

No. Why would a married person be going on dates.

When did you last drop your phone?

I don't remember, but I do it often.

Do you believe that if you want something bad enough, you’ll get it?

Happens to me almost all the time, so yes.

Is it ever too late to apologize?

It is. Particularly when you moved on with life already.

Do you think things will change in the next few months?

Maybe they will, maybe they won't. Hopefully the next few months will bring good news to us.

Do you know any of your neighbors?

I know many of them by name.

List three things near you:

Box of handmade earrings, notebooks, smartphone.

What was the last thing you watched on the TV?

Probably that Polish sitcom again.

What do you hear?

The music from my husband's PS5 game.

Is confidence cute?

It's intimidating.

What is the last beverage you had?

Hot leek soup.

Last movie you watched?

I don't watch movies, I'm sick of all these movie questions already.

Who were you with?

No one.

Who came over last?

What?

Where is your phone?

Right next to me, charging.

Spell your name without vowels:

JR. Nothing impressive.

What are you listening to?

How many similar-sounding questions in the same survey yet?

What is your favourite scent?

Vanilla and cinnamon.

Who has the same phone as you?

Jeanmarie, I think. Unless he changed it to a newer one.

Where was the last place you bought something?

The canteen in the sports club in Kanegem. We got leek soup and hot chocolate.

Everybody lies. Do you agree?

Yup. Even saying you're okay when you're not okay is a lie, isn't it?

Have you ever wanted to be a ballet dancer?

Lol no. Not in a million years.

Does your family keep tons of leftovers in the fridge?

Nope. We throw leftovers away.

Favourite FRIENDS character? That is, if you like it.

None in particular, but I can easily say I like Ross and Phoebe the least.

Skullcandy headphones, yay or nay?

I've never had them, so no opinion.

Are you thinking of getting another piercing? Where?

Nah, what I have is much enough.

Do you love when people remember little things about you?

Who doesn't. It means you pay attention and you care.

Do you ‘bless’ strangers when they sneeze?

No. We don't say "bless you" in my country. We say "gezondheid", which means health. Similar to the Polish way.

How many phones have you gone through?

I wish I could remember lol. I've been having cellphones since I was 16, so already for 17 years.

What was your favorite Disney movie growing up?

None.

Are white walls boring?

Nope. White goes well with almost everything.

Any teacher you’ve ever had that’s made a lasting impression?

Yeah, probably.

Have you always lived in the house you currently reside in?

No. I moved here in 2018, after coming back to my country from abroad. My hometown is not where I currently live, too.

Do you own any band tees?

From the top of my head:

Evanescence x3

Volumes x1

Periphery x1

Vildhjarta x2

HRFTR x1

Gojira x2

Tesseract x2

Textures x1

At The Gates x2

Katatonia x1

Veil Of Maya x1

Meshuggah x1

Monuments x1

Eminem x1

Linkin Park x1

Paradise Lost x1

Do you like to drink wine?

I love semi-sweet white wine. But now I don't drink alcohol at all.

Assuming you’ve gone to a concert before, who performed at your most favorite one?

Nope.

Have you ever stayed up all night while drunk or high?

No. When I was drunk, I was falling asleep lol.

Do you think your future will be a good one?

I hope so. For my family, for my workplace and for myself.