#Leanne M. Pace

[aurumacadicus]

My friends 🙄I only set the last poll for one day when I meant one week. Well, to err is human, and we can say I'm very, very human I guess. I'll keep the other one up as a monument to my shame but this one is the real one.

--

Here it is: Our poll for our January book! It is our first themed month, and we'll be debuting the year with Author Debuts! Some of the choices are very new and we'll need time to source them for when we start, January 8th!

Book summaries are under the cut! Each new title is in bold for clarity. If you’d like to join the book club, now or for the next book, feel free to send me an ask and I’ll give you the link to our Discord!

Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons-Pierce Manor by Shawn M. Warner

Orphaned, she goes to live with incredibly wealthy relatives she never knew she had. Struggling to fit into her new world, she can’t let go of her grief. When the police tell her the investigation into her parents’ murder has hit a brick wall, she knows the only way she will ever know peace is to solve the mystery herself. With new family and friends, which includes a ghost with multiple personality issues, Leigh risks everything to find her answers.

Join Leigh on her adventure through the brutal world of organized crime and betrayal.

A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavri

Saffron Everleigh is in a race against time to free her wrongly accused professor before he goes behind bars forever. Perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn and Anna Lee Huber, Kate Khavari’s debut historical mystery is a fast-paced, fearless adventure.

London, 1923. Newly minted research assistant Saffron Everleigh attends a dinner party for the University College of London. While she expects to engage in conversations about the university’s large expedition to the Amazon, she doesn’t expect Mrs. Henry, one of the professors’ wives, to drop to the floor, poisoned by an unknown toxin.

Dr. Maxwell, Saffron’s mentor, is the main suspect, having had an explosive argument with Dr. Henry a few days prior. As evidence mounts against Dr. Maxwell and the expedition’s departure draws nearer, Saffron realizes if she wants her mentor’s name cleared, she’ll have to do it herself.

Joined by enigmatic Alexander Ashton, a fellow researcher, Saffron uses her knowledge of botany as she explores steamy greenhouses, dark gardens, and deadly poisons. Will she be able to uncover the truth or will her investigation land her on the murderer’s list?

The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler

Humankind discovers intelligent life in an octopus species with its own language and culture, and sets off a high-stakes global competition to dominate the future.

Rumors begin to spread of a species of hyperintelligent, dangerous octopus that may have developed its own language and culture. Marine biologist Dr. Ha Nguyen, who has spent her life researching cephalopod intelligence, will do anything for the chance to study them.

The transnational tech corporation DIANIMA has sealed the remote Con Dao Archipelago, where the octopuses were discovered, off from the world. Dr. Nguyen joins DIANIMA’s team on the islands: a battle-scarred security agent and the world’s first android.

The octopuses hold the key to unprecedented breakthroughs in extrahuman intelligence. The stakes are high: there are vast fortunes to be made by whoever can take advantage of the octopuses’ advancements, and as Dr. Nguyen struggles to communicate with the newly discovered species, forces larger than DIANIMA close in to seize the octopuses for themselves.

But no one has yet asked the octopuses what they think. And what they might do about it.

A near-future thriller about the nature of consciousness, Ray Nayler’s The Mountain in the Sea is a dazzling literary debut and a mind-blowing dive into the treasure and wreckage of humankind’s legacy.

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin

For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it’s her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu.

When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom’s greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning’s only chance to save her sister’s life.

But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

After her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Mathews wants nothing to do with her family memories or childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at UNC-Chapel Hill seems like the perfect escape—Until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus.

A flying demon feeding on human energies.

A secret society of so called “Legendborn” students that hunt the creatures down.

And a mysterious teenage mage who calls himself a “Merlin” who attempts—and fails—to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw.

The mage’s failure unlocks Bree’s own unique magic a buried memory with a hidden connection: the night er mother ded, another Merlin was at the hospital. Now that Bree knows there’s more to her mother’s death than what’s on the police report, she’ll do whatever it takes to find out the truth, even if that means infiltrating the Legendborn as one of their initiates.

She recruits Nick, a self-exiled Legendborn with is own grudge against the group, and their reluctant partnership pulls them deeper into the society’s secrets—and closer to each other. But when the Legendborn reveal themselves as the descendants of King Arthur’s knights and explain that a magical war is coming, Bree has to decide how far she’ll go for the truth and whether she should use her magic to take the society down—or join the fight.

A Prayer for Vengeance by Leanne Schwartz

An orphan out to find the truth within a warped religion turns his poetry into prayer—a prayer that awakens a cursed girl hungry for revenge.

Centuries after a miracle vanquished Tresttato’s monsters and turned the soldiers fighting them to stone, Milo lovingly tends to the statues of those who protected the city. Raised with devout templars and scholars, autistic temple ward Milo wants nothing more than to be accepted into their ranks. When his prayers admiring her heroic sacrifice accidentally free Gia from stone, she wakes with a fury to kil the man Milo owes his life to, Primo Sanct Ennio.

Gia claims that the immortal holy leader Milo lives to serve is the same man who betrayed her and transformed her into a statue—and what Milo always believed was a miracle was actually a curse that Gia will stop at nothing to break. Even if she has to kill his followers to do it. Even if she must kill the boy who woke her.

Queerly Beloved by Susie Dumond

A people-pleasing baker tries to find her place as a bridesmaid-for-hire. Will she finally find her happily ever after—and her own voice?

Amy, a semicloseted queer baker and bartender in mid-2010s Oklahoma, has spent a lifetime putting other people’s needs before her own. Until, that is, she’s fired from her job at a Christian bakery and turns her one-off gig subbing in for a bridesmaid into a full-time business—thanks to her baking talents, crafting skills, and years of watching rom-coms and Say Yes to the Dress. Between her new gig and meeting Charley, the attractive engineer who’s just moved to Tulsa, suddenly Amy’s found something—and someone—she actually wants. Her tight-knit group of chosen family is thrilled that Amy is becoming her authentic self. But when her deep desire to please kicks into overdrive, Amy’s precarious balancing act strains her relationships to the breaking point, and she must decide what it looks like to be true to herself—and if she has the courage to try.

[televinita]

Goodreads Choice Awards but the nominees are just the books I've personally shelved

I have a lot of thoughts about the options as they exist (mostly not that bad, except when it comes to the total elimination of children's literature, about which I am furious), but per usual I can't really articulate them in a coherent way SO I sorted my shelves by publication date, ignored the GCA requirement of a minimum 3.5 average rating, and am doing this instead.

[update: oops this did not turn out coherent either. but it got typed!]

Important Reminder: These are not all books I consider equal contenders for "best." I simply wanted to highlight every possible option I actually knew about and have read or am interested in reading.

YA

After the Sirens - Sharon Farrell

Begin Again - Emma Lord (forgot to add this one before)

The Brothers Hawthorne - Jennifer Lynn Barnes (actual nominee and I'm gonna vote for it even though it seems like it may be more of a filler book. The Davenports is the only other official nom to intrigue me, and its lower average rating + hideous cartoon cover isn't enough to flip me unread so sorry, we're going Basic Popularity Contest Pick)

Cleaning Up - Leanne Lieberman

Five Survive - Holly Jackson (definitely not a winner)

Gather - Kenneth M. Cadow (edit: National Book Award finalist?? like with the adult fiction??)

Good as Gold -- Candace Buford (definite contender for fave so far)

Holly Horror - Michelle Jabès Corpora

The Island - Natasha Preston (lol. lmao even. but ridiculous fun)

The Lake House - Sarah Beth Durst

A Long Stretch of Bad Days - Mindy McGinnis

The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway - Ashley Schumacher (here on author loyalty only)

Three Rivers - Sarah Stusek (THAT'S RIGHT. HER.)

Summer Rental - Rektok Ross (why am I this aware of brand-new ya horror??) (because I love horror and it's usually better paced and spookier and less shock-gory than the adult brand? fair)

YA FANTASY / SCI FI

Dream to Me - Megan Paasch (I think it would go here, anyway. but maybe it's just regular YA)

The Eternal Ones - Namina Forna (I gotta remember this series exists)

FANTASY

Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries -- winner winner pick!! (no like officially)

Starling House - Alix E. Harrow (though this is a close second, and honestly, if they weren't both actual nominees I'd think The Unmaking of June Farrow has some potential intrigue)

ROMANCE

Hazel Fine Sings Along - Katie Wicks (no comment on its Wattpad origin. I didn't notice until just now. have not read it.)

Famous For A Living - Melissa Ferguson (popular enough for Once Upon a Book Club! but not for for an official nom, despite my hopes, in this fiercely competitive category. boooo)

Out On a Limb - Hannah Bonam-Young (damn I actually saw this one making rounds on BookTube, thought it might be here)

Something Wild & Wonderful - Anita Kelly (can't believe there's actually a queer romance I want to see show up and it doesn't)

(Bonus: legit nominees I am considering for validity include Happy Place; Yours Truly - I really need to figure out if Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez are in my wheelhouse or not - and Hello Stranger, though as much as I like Katherine Center this one does not call to me)

FICTION

This Bird Has Flown - Susanna Hoffs (might also have been under romance if picked for the actual GCA? feels more mainstream than that but idk. anyway HATERS 2 THE LEFT.)

^ also my pick for debut

The Lost Manuscript - Mollie Rushmeyer (dunno which category this would officially go in either. probably romance? maybe mystery? but it's got a lot more plot than the average romance)

HISTORICAL FICTION

The Echo of Old Books - Barbara Davis (holy crap this one's actually in the nominations?! Instant vote. Almost disappointing because there are some other candidates I would have felt fine voting for to block the worse ones, but this is the only one on my acute TBR. If I don't give at least 4 stars I will be shocked)

MYSTERY/THRILLER

Forgotten Trail - Claire Kells

The Hike - Lucy Clarke

The Only One Left - Riley Sager

Homecoming - Kate Morton (crisis alert! the latter two are both official nominees and I am equally interested in both/both have equally good track records with me) (probs. gonna vote Kate on the principle of female solidarity. even though this is really stretching the definition of "mystery")

HORROR

A Haunting on the Hill - Elizabeth Hand

(How To Sell a Haunted House is a hard maybe but also the only one I think I'd even consider trying from the official noms)

MEMOIR

Paris: The Memoir - Paris Hilton

The Woman in Me - Britney Spears

Grimoire Girl - Hilarie Burton Morgan

Tell Me Everything - Minka Kelly

If You Would Have Told Me - John Stamos

Goodbye to Clocks Ticking - Joseph Monninger (forgot I just stumbled upon this one recently! it's on my library list but not my GR account)

and one more except GCA put it in a different category hang on

Three of these - not Burton's, alas - are actually nominees. Britney is gonna win but not without a fight from me. Do I go with Paris, whose memoir impressed me even though I still don't care much for her as a person, or Minka, whose memoir I haven't read but whose reviews sound excellent and whom I like more?

HUMOR

Being Henry - Henry Winkler (there is absolutely no reason for this not to be nominated in memoir btw. I hope it wins Humor because nothing else appeals in that category and I have multiple vendettas (SAMANTHA IRBY), but it would be as misplaced a win as the Office Ladies book was last year. fully deserving of an award! actually the best of the given nominees! but also like an adult beating a bunch of children in a footrace.)

MIDDLE GRADE

(no longer a GCA category but it fudgin' should be)

Just Gus - McCall Hoyle

Falling Out of Time - Margaret Peterson Haddix (actually glad I don't have to choose between these two because like. dogs - but also boy MC - or author loyalty ft. sequel to my childhood fave??)

Rosie Frost and the Falcon Queen - Geri Halliwell The Spice Girl (no. 😔) (and yet it is still on my shelf)

I have no strong opinions for any categories I skipped.

[pennydreadfulrpg]

Cacería salvaje.

Leanne y Edith.

Link al tema de rol.

[sirthisisa-wendys]

The Enforcers (Part 8.5): Geto Suguru x Fem!Reader

wc: 1.4k

tw: NSFW

masterlist

The sounds, the smells, the items in the market are enough to drive you crazy with excitement. Suguru watches you brighten at the sound of live musical instruments like pianos, guitars, and handheld drums echo around the open-air space, and you dart around the stalls, looking at the fruits with fascination - papaya? - and even purchasing a mango. Finally, you settle on a bunch of wild orchids, the newspaper they're wrapped in crinkling as you walk beside Suguru, who has funded your entire excursion.

"Can we go back for the cinnamon sugar pecans?" you wonder giddily, almost forgetting everything that came before your little exploration.

"Sure," Suguru offers, smiling brightly at you. His mission has fully succeeded, and for a moment, he sees you as he dreamt you many moons ago: by his side, beaming, enjoying the things he could offer you. "We'll come back in a few days."

And when you settle back in his room, you place the flowers in a mason jar barely big enough to keep the flowers from falling over. When you turn around, you see Suguru stripping out of his shirt, and for a moment, you watch the ripple of his muscles as he undoes his hair from its bun, letting it fall loose around his shoulders.

"I smell like meat," Suguru mumbles, turning around and catching your gaze. When he sees you staring, his lips part slowly.

The second between you two coming together passes so fast - it's as if it never happened. One minute you were standing at the edge of the counter in the kitchen, minding your own business (sort of), and the next... you're in his arms with your lips planted firmly against his.

"Is it okay to touch you like this?" he wonders between kisses, but you only moan in response, tangling your fingers in his loose hair. When Suguru pulls away though, cradling your face in his hands, you close your eyes, exhaling deeply. "Is it okay to touch you like this right now, y/n?"

"Just... forget about everything before this," you plead, but Suguru shakes his head.

"I can't. I really can't," he breathes, stroking your cheek with his thumb. "You're so precious to me, and I can't..." His black eyes search your face as he trails off, running his fingers across your bottom lip. "I can't lose you." You press your lips against the pad of his thumb and wrap your arms around his neck.

"No more lies," you whisper. "No more secrets." Suguru nods slowly, dipping his head as you raise up on your toes.

"No more."

The kiss is deep, sensual, and almost hedonistic as you tangle yourself in his embrace once more, adding, "Then, you won't ever lose me."

Your head swims as Suguru spreads you across his bed - naked and spread eagle, hands drifting around your hips, down your back, and past your ankles. They scrape against the fresh bandage on your wrist, taking care to be gentle with their grips and touches. His lips run from your forehead to your shins and then back up again, worshipping the shape of your body with a level of care you'd never think a former Leviathan and leader of an ostracized society would be capable of.

"I need you," Suguru murmurs in your ear, sending shivers down your spine and making your toes curl. He hasn't even touched you in a sexual way, and yet... every single cell in your body is on fire. Your nerves light up again when he finally does, dipping a finger into you before adding another. "Always so wet," he hisses, smearing your slick on your thigh as he pulls his fingers out.

"Please, Su," you beg, and Suguru sits up on his elbows, eyes firmly planted on your face. You can't speak as your chest heaves up and down, but the feeling of something gnawing at your insides makes you sit up with him, pulling him on top of you once your hands capture his perfect face. "Just make me yours."

"You're playing a dangerous game, y/n," the black-haired man warns, turning you over on your stomach. "But I'll do whatever you want me to do." Suguru slides a hand between your legs, finding your slit again and then pressing his cockhead right there, sliding into you without parting your legs at all. You arch off the bed a little, but Suguru grabs your chest, running his hand over to the opposite shoulder and resting his face on the other shoulder, sighing as he pumps into you with deliberate slowness. He only picks up the pace when you grip his hand, moaning loudly.

You have to admit, the bed never stood a chance.

The poor headboard smacks against the wall, but you can't hear it as Suguru fucks your hips into the mattress, hammering away at your cunt while you shake fiercely in his grip.

"Such a beautiful woman," he breathes into your ear. "So smart and kind... so pure." You grunt softly, beginning to feel overwhelmed by the sensations while your eyes roll into the back of your head.

"S-Su, I can't--"

"Don't worry, love," Suguru mutters, lips pressed against your temple. "I'm right here, y/n. I'm not letting you go."

"Oh god..." you moan, cunt contracting around Suguru's cock repeatedly. "Suguru, I'm--" He keeps pumping into you despite feeling your orgasm, grunting and panting. Your high is extended by his refusal to stop, and you really don't want him to. So you're in suspension for what feels like forever, fully drunk on your orgasm and Suguru's bruising strokes.

"Shit..." he moans, and you feel his cock twitch fiercely, warm cum shooting inside of you. When Suguru tilts your head back, you can barely see anything except his black eyes looking into yours, and the rest is blurry. A kiss is pressed to your cheek, and you relax in Suguru's arms, sighing.

When he pulls out, you curl up against his side, tracing the Leviathan tattoo on his side carefully.

"Ever considered just..." you begin, and Suguru places his arm under his head, looking up at the ceiling. You don't need to finish the sentence for him to know what you mean.

"A few times," he whispers back, and you look up at his face, which is grim. "Thought about it a lot more recently."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." You both lapse into silence, and Suguru rubs his hand up and down your back. "Thought about just walking away and taking you with me. Start fresh somewhere new. Have kids, maybe..."

"Is that what you want?" you ask, raising onto your elbow. "Is that your new dream?" Suguru turns his head to look at you, but before he can answer, his computer pings thrice. He jolts up from the bed and walks over to his desk, where you watch him look at something, his face slowly turning pale. As you open your mouth to ask what's wrong, Suguru switches on the TV facing the bed, turning it to the only news channel.

"...live from the Civil Service Bureau headquarters, where a deluge of files has just recently come through about various projects aimed at recruitment and retaining of the forces here, as well as underground dealings of the Grand Council that could lead to federal charges for many of those involved." You jolt up, watching the scene in front of the CSB, thousands of protestors holding signs and chanting slogans for the release of the rest of the files.

"At this time, the CSB has declined to comment, but we expect to hear from either side by the end of the week. Thomas?"

"Thanks, Pierre. We turn next to the revelations made evident by Kenjaku, a source notorious for leaking classified documents to sway investigations of and recruitment to the Civil Service Bureau--"

Suguru growls, running his hands through his hair and pacing naked in front of the TV.

"We're in big trouble," you breathe, but Suguru shakes his head.

"No, they're in big trouble. But this wasn't part of the plan," the man moans, rubbing his face. "The CSB isn't going to let this fade into the dust."

"I'm surprised they let anything fade into dust," you huff. "So, what do we do?"

"We have to wait," Suguru groans. "The CSB has the upper hand right now. And whoever let those files get into the public's hands just dealt us a blow."

"What if the Grand Council did it?" you ask, leaning forward.

"Either way it happened, the lives at stake have just shot up to figures I can't control." His computer pings again, and this time you hop up, checking his email.

Seven words are in the email with no sender and no subject.

"What does it say?" Suguru asks, coming up behind you.

"It says... they're going to get rid of us."

_____________________________________________________________

TAGLIST: @missbonekitty @wack0-genius @thankuary @jsqeeut @r-i-m-f-009 @sunfloweroranges @leanne-tamashi @girlruby23 @rein-icu @brownskinnedgirll @chanelmalandro @savantsoulfinder @jibe-gajima @chilledlucifer @amnxsia @kontentious @fuyuko26 @everybodylovescayrayray @flare-on @sammytamaki @meena-in-a-nutshell @falling-through-pages @naoyasdarling @vabybizzle

[oberlincollegelibraries]

Weekend Edition: Indigenous People’s Day, Part 2

We are continuing our celebration of Indigenous People’s Day today by highlighting recent works of fiction, poetry, and a memoir by Indigenous authors. To discover more must-reads, visit the First Nations Development Institute’s #NativeReads page. Almost all of the books on their 10 Featured Books for 2020 are held at OCL (and we’re ordering the one we’re missing!). Just search OBIS by title to find the ones you’d like to read. 

New Poets of Native Nations edited by Heid E. Edrich

A landmark anthology celebrating twenty-one Native poets first published in the twenty-first century New Poets of Native Nations gathers poets of diverse ages, styles, languages, and tribal affiliations to present the extraordinary range and power of new Native poetry. Heid E. Erdrich has selected twenty-one poets whose first books were published after the year 2000 to highlight the exciting works coming up after Joy Harjo and Sherman Alexie. Collected here are poems of great breadth--long narratives, political outcries, experimental works, and traditional lyrics--and the result is an essential anthology of some of the best poets writing now. Poets included are Tacey M. Atsitty, Trevino L. Brings Plenty, Julian Talamantez Brolaski, Laura Da', Natalie Diaz, Jennifer Elise Foerster, Eric Gansworth, Gordon Henry, Jr., Sy Hoahwah, LeAnne Howe, Layli Long Soldier, Janet McAdams, Brandy Nalani McDougall, Margaret Noodin, dg okpik, Craig Santos Perez, Tommy Pico, Cedar Sigo, M. L. Smoker, Gwen Westerman, and Karenne Wood.

There There by Tommy Orange

Twelve Native Americans came to the Big Oakland Powwow for different reasons. Jacquie Red Feather is newly sober and trying to make it back to the family she left behind in shame. Dene Oxedrene is pulling his life together after his uncle's death and has come to work the powwow and to honor his uncle's memory. Edwin Frank has come to find his true father. Bobby Big Medicine has come to drum the Grand Entry. Opal Viola Victoria Bear Shield has come to watch her nephew Orvil Red Feather; Orvil has taught himself Indian dance through YouTube videos, and he has come to the powwow to dance in public for the very first time. Tony Loneman is a young Native American boy whose future seems destined to be as bleak as his past, and he has come to the Powwow with darker intentions--intentions that will destroy the lives of everyone in his path. Tommy Orange delivers a wondrous and shattering portrait of an America few of us have ever seen. A multi-generational, relentlessly paced story about violence and recovery, hope and loss, identity and power, dislocation and communion, and the beauty and despair woven into the history of a nation and its people.

Future  Home of the Living God: a Novel by Louise Erdrich

The world as we know it is ending. Evolution has reversed itself, affecting every living creature on earth. Science cannot stop the world from running backwards, as woman after woman gives birth to infants that appear to be primitive species of humans. Twenty-six-year-old Cedar Hawk Songmaker, adopted daughter of a pair of big-hearted, open-minded Minneapolis liberals, is as disturbed and uncertain as the rest of America around her. But for Cedar, this change is profound and deeply personal. She is four months pregnant. Though she wants to tell the adoptive parents who raised her from infancy, Cedar first feels compelled to find her birth mother, Mary Potts, an Ojibwe living on the reservation, to understand both her and her baby's origins. As Cedar goes back to her own biological beginnings, society around her begins to disintegrate, fueled by a swelling panic about the end of humanity. There are rumors of martial law, of Congress confining pregnant women. Of a registry, and rewards for those who turn these wanted women in. Flickering through the chaos are signs of increasing repression: a shaken Cedar witnesses a family wrenched apart when police violently drag a mother from her husband and child in a parking lot. The streets of her neighborhood have been renamed with Bible verses. A stranger answers the phone when she calls her adoptive parents, who have vanished without a trace. It will take all Cedar has to avoid the prying eyes of potential informants and keep her baby safe.  

Heart Berries: a Memoir by Terese Marie Mailhot

"Heart Berries is a powerful, poetic memoir of a woman's coming of age on the Seabird Island Indian Reservation in the Pacific Northwest. Having survived a profoundly dysfunctional upbringing only to find herself hospitalized and facing a dual diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder and bipolar II disorder; Terese Marie Mailhot is given a notebook and begins to write her way out of trauma. The triumphant result is Heart Berries, a memorial for Mailhot's mother, a social worker and activist who had a thing for prisoners; a story of reconciliation with her father-an abusive drunk and a brilliant artist-who was murdered under mysterious circumstances; and an elegy on how difficult it is to love someone while dragging the long shadows of shame. Mailhot trusts the reader to understand that memory isn't exact, but melded to imagination, pain, and what we can bring ourselves to accept. Her unique and at times unsettling voice graphically illustrates her mental state. As she writes, she discovers her own true voice, seizes control of her story, and, in so doing, reestablishes her connection to her family, to her people, and to her place in the world."-- Provided by publisher

[shackledsculs-remade]

maljefe said:five times kissed

Kazuma wasn’t the type to really be interested in many people. After all, he had no real reason to be, the only thing people could truly offer him was information, on places he didn’t have eyes on. Though this was a bit different in that the twins introduced Loni to him. So, he felt that they were at the very least a bit more reliable as far as friends went. 

“Good evening, Miss Validan. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

For the most part it was a harmless gesture, a kiss to the back of the hand. Something he picked up from his time during the noble courts. At the very least, the foreign ones. Though he rose an eyebrow at the way she seemingly recoiled from him. That was when he noticed her scent. A werewolf? He hadn’t seen one of those in...In centuries. Their first kiss was more of a formality.

The next time they kissed, it was a rather unique situation. Mostly them posing to be a couple, of course...The story of how they got there had been interesting. The twins were more than a bit too busy with Cerberus in order to be called upon for the event. So in turn, he went to Loni who had been in Japan more recently to see what the twins had been up to. 

He dressed in a suit, not uncommon, but tonight felt a bit special, even if it was a fake date, it was nice to dress up as the man he put himself out to be. Though he couldn’t help but to notice how good Loni looked in a dress, and gave a mental whistle as he walked over to her, eyes scanning her body.

“Ah, you look positively radiant, Miss Validan. Let us get our work done. I’m not much for black tie events.”

They had rode to the event in relative silence, just trading occasional words and mostly concern about the twins. Well, she was concerned about the twins, Kazuma had written it off, they could handle themselves, after all, they weren’t alone in their endeavor of dismantling Cerberus. They got to the event without trouble, though Loni had went off on her own, while he went his own way. For a couple, they might not have seemed very strong. Though as the lights went low, and the floor cleared up, Kazuma found her and took one of her hands in his own, giving a smile.

“May I have this dance, my dear?” 

He placed a gentle kiss on the back of her hand, but to his surprise, she took his hand, and returned a tiny smile.

“Why not? Show me a good time, won’t you?”

The third and fourth times they kissed, well...It had been a rather unique situation they got themselves into, or rather, finding the woman tied up on his desk with a note from the twins that they either start sorting their shit out, or find new people to communicate through, because they hated being the middle men for the awkward pair. They had their reasons, Ryoto knew that, but Rio was more upset because they had a chance to be together, but were hesitating. Seeing that freedom squandered had caused Rio to storm out of Kazuma’s office in tears once or twice, seeing as she had confessed to envying the ability for them to be together without worrying about someone trying to kill them. 

He cut Loni loose, and the two of them at the very least talked...Maybe over a few drinks. Well, she could drink, Kazuma couldn’t, lest he get sick. Instead, he settled on the blood he stored in his fridge, while his companion got the finer sake he owned. One thing led to another, and to his surprise, she had initiated the kiss. 

He could taste the sake on her lips, and given how she had taken a place on his lap, he knew that the hours of drinking together had ended with her ending a bit tipsy, or at the very least, her inhibitions were a bit more forward. Her lips were also surprisingly soft, and before he knew it, he had one hand on her waist, while the other rested lightly on her cheek. She pulled away, before brushing a bit of hair from her face, giving a little chuckle. 

“What’s th’matter? Cat got yer tongue? Have I got th’mighty Kazuma all flustered?”

Was that a challenge? His lips curled into a smirk, and he pressed another kiss to her lips, taking pleasure in watching her cheeks light up slightly, but soon enough she pressed back, and he held her there, though to say that the two of them were still, might have been a lie. As they got into the kiss, Loni’s hips moved slightly, and in turn, Kazuma matched her pace...At least until he realized that this might lead to regrets in the morning. So, he reluctantly pulled himself away from the woman he had come to...Love? Did he truly love Loni? Sure, he lusted after her at times, and he caught the glances she gave him, but he respected her too much to try and take advantage of this...He hadn’t earned it, not yet. 

“I’m sorry...As happy as I am to kiss you, and have you be this close to me...I haven’t earned it. Not yet. When we take that step with one another, I want it to be mutual, and when I’ve truly earned your respect and love. I love you, Loni. I truly do...So, I’ll wait as long as you need until you’re ready, That’s my promise to you.”

Part of him wishes that he hadn’t said that, because he wanted her, he wanted her so badly that it hurt to watch her return to the other side of his desk, still a bit flustered. That being said, he was more than ready to wait as long as he needed.

The fifth time they kissed...Well, he had been half dead, well...More than half dead, considering he was already dead. Loni had came to rescue him, how ironic, that the man who acted as a vigilante during his fledgling years, was the one being saved now. Sure, Leanne had attempted to break Loni, and he was chained down and unable to break free of his bonds due to the corruption of the dead blood that had been injected into his body. Still, his faith in the woman was resolute. He’d been witness to one of the most brutal fights he’d witnessed in his life. Much like the one he had given to the leader of the men who killed his family...Still, he was floating in and out of consciousness as he felt the chains around his body loosen. She sat him up, lightly shaking him as he fought to keep himself awake.

“Hey, don’t you die on me! Not after all that shit you said about being with me! You don’t get to hurt me like that damn it! Don’t you know how fucking terrified I was when I found that your house had been attacked?”

He couldn’t help but to crack a smile, and instead leaned forward to press a kiss against the wolf’s lips. Blood, her own perhaps? She did get hurt in the fight a few times. He needed more blood, that would force his body into healing, but right now...Feeding seemed a bit too out of his reach, so instead he settled on taking what little he could from the wounds that had healed. They could hash the details out later, but right now...He was just happy to see she survived. That was all he needed.

Five Times Kissed || Selectively Accepting! @maljefe​

[theofficersacademy]

                                 TEAM LEICESTER BORDER

                             Matthew  Ilyana  Claude  Micaiah  Elincia                                                       Celica  Robin (F)  Marianne   Soren                                                        Morgan (M)  Leanne   Constance                                                    Xane   Kiran

ARRIVAL [August 4th - August 8th]

Tag: #UnlockedLeicesterBorder2021

Setting: A labor camp somewhere near or past the border between the Leicester Alliance and the Adrestian Empire

With your preparations at last complete, you set off for your destination ahead of the second Alliance deployment. It’s smooth sailing along the way - the weather is clear and the warmth of the coming spring can be felt across the plains. You won’t start your search in full until you reach Alliance territory, but the pace is leisurely nonetheless as you and your team keep eyes on the route for additional leads.

However, your trip ends at the border. Almost as soon as your party crosses into Leicester, a small army dressed in uniforms you’ve never seen before surround the group. They ignore any attempt at an explanation, and those who try to fight or flee are promptly delivered an electrical shock that sends them to the ground in convulsions. It seems that you have little choice but to allow yourselves to be handcuffed and blindfolded.

You trudge for what feels like hours across land you can’t see until at last you’re unmasked and thrown into the cell of what appears to be a prison.

What you know:

Your party has been split into four holding cells made of three stone walls. The front wall is a line of ordinary metal bars with a swinging door built in. The doors are locked.

First cell contains: Celica, M!Morgan, Ilyana Second cell contains: Marianne, F!Robin, Micaiah, Leanne Third cell (across from first) contains: Python, Constance, Kiran, Soren Fourth cell (across from second) contains: Claude, Elincia, Matthew, Xane

You have no idea if you’re still in Alliance territory, or if the second Leicester deployment got caught as well. 

Your weapons have been taken from you, but small trinkets have remained in your possession, along with all your clothes.

You haven’t seen any guards or other security in the hall where your cells are.

What to do (suggestions):

Try to find a way out or sit back and wait, the choice is yours.

Talk to Mod Ree for additional information about the environment.

[ezatluba]

Why your pet is acting like a weirdo during quarantine, explained by animal behaviorists

The psychology behind your dog or cat’s new eating habits, constant whining, or extra-loud purring.

Michael Waters

 Apr 24, 2020

When Theo Savini, a human resources assistant in Chicago, started working from home last month, he began noticing a pattern: His dog Zelda — a corgi and English bulldog mix — would lie on his lap all day as he cycled through meetings. But the instant he stood up to use the bathroom, Zelda would start whining and scratching at the door as though he’d disappeared for hours.

Since Illinois issued its stay-at-home order on March 21, Zelda also can’t seem to get enough of the outdoors. Even after a 30- to 40-minute walk, she acts as though it never happened. “As soon as we get in, she runs right back to the door as if she wants to go out again,” Savini says.

Savini is spending too much time working? Whine. Her usual meal isn’t satisfying enough? Whine. When they go out for walks, she fights against the leash. And while she used to be frightened of heights — you’d be hard-pressed to find her so much as jumping off Savini’s bed — now, Zelda leaps onto the oversize trampoline in the backyard.

Across the globe, as the quarantine period advised by public health experts to fight the spread of the coronavirus stretches from weeks into nearly two months for some, pet owners are reporting that their furry companions are leaving old habits in the dust. Some pets are growing clingy. Others are pouncing on exercise equipment, gliding across countertops, or hiding in corners and shooting their owners concerned stares.

Shannon Shoaf, a writer in Clearwater, Florida, says her male cat has started running into walls and bouncing off them — something he had never done before. All four of her cats have begun hissing and growling, and even their purring seems louder than usual.

Ramona Misilei, a student in New Zealand, tells Vox that her cat, named Catia, used to spend all of her time in the backyard. Now Catia barely goes out, instead opting to smother with affection the family members she had long chosen to ignore, even Ramona’s 6-month-old cousin. “In the four years since we adopted her, this is the first time she has behaved like this,” Misilei says.

In Italy, where people have remained under lockdown since late February or early March, pets are also reportedly struggling with their new routines. One woman told Politico that she and her husband normally travel often, so the switch to a permanent homebound life has alarmed her dog. “He hasn’t really gotten over it and still spends much of the day on the sofa giving us suspicious looks,” she said. Another pet owner said that her cat tackles her yoga mat whenever she tries to do burpees.

This isn’t the first time that pets have weathered a pandemic lockdown. During the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, pet owners put face masks on their cats and dogs, a physical representation that pets were struggling with the outbreak just as much as people were. “She has made the best of it in good spirit, as we all have,” one pet owner who masked a 5-year-old bulldog told the Seattle Star in 1918.

A century later, we aren’t exactly masking our German shepherds or Scottish folds, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t affected. “Just like people, pets can respond with a wide variability to any change,” says M. Leanne Lilly, a professor of veterinary behavioral medicine at Ohio State University. Some pets, Lilly says, are reveling in the constant attention that comes with their owners being marooned at home. Some don’t seem to have any idea that their owners’ routines have changed — or if they do, they don’t care. But still others are finding the sudden disruption to be a stressful experience.

Their owners being at home 24/7 “does increase the number of opportunities for interactions a pet may not feel comfortable with,” Lilly says. At least for dogs, the sudden spike in foot traffic outside their homes as people walk their pets more frequently is raising their alarms that an intruder is coming: “Everyone being out with their dogs can make dogs feel much less safe in their homes.”

It’s too soon to tell what these reported new behaviors mean, if anything. One possibility is that because people with nonessential jobs are at home more, they’re finally noticing strange patterns of behavior in their pets that always existed, says Zenithson Ng, a professor of animal clinical sciences at the University of Tennessee. But animal cognition research does offer some potential guidance. Although it’s unknown yet the extent to which quarantine is triggering pet anxieties, a potential culprit of these sudden changes is what veterinary scientists call “displacement behaviors.”

Displacement behaviors are the tics that pets adopt to cope with new stressors. “In dogs and cats, these may present as mounting, pacing, vocalizing, scratching, or patterned behaviors like spinning,” says Lilly. “Just like we may play with our hair, pace in a circle, or chew our fingernails.”

Think of when dogs shake their fur like they’re trying to dry themselves off, even when they’re totally dry. Overgrooming is also a common displacement behavior, and so is paw lifting or repeated “jumping at objects, grabbing them and shaking.” In birds, displacement behaviors manifest in speaking more or striking crouching postures. Young horses, meanwhile, might gum at an adult horse with their mouths when they’re anxious.

One displacement behavior — yawning — turns up in cats, dogs, reptiles, and birds under duress. Several studies have concluded that humans, too, yawn more often when they’re nervous, although the reason why is a bit opaque. One leading theory is that yawning increases blood circulation, funneling air into the body and cooling the brain ever so slightly.

Displacement behaviors, however, raise the question: Why would animals be stressed at all? Yeah, they’re living in a pandemic — but they don’t know it.

To be sure, plenty of pets are reveling in the onslaught of human attention. “I actually think that most pets benefit from work-at-home orders, because they get to enjoy the extended company of their owners,” says Ng.

That goes for pets of all stripes: While we might stereotype dogs as the primary attention seekers, research from last year concluded that even most cats — paragons of social distancing in normal times — enjoyed human interaction more than all other tested stimuli, including food and toys.

But there are many reasons a separate cross-section of pets might become anxious under this extended quarantine. Disrupted routines are one; the same way quarantine is messing with human psychology, trickling into our dreams, our pets are also reeling from the sudden disruptions to their at-home schedules. Vets are recommending that pet owners try to maintain consistent feeding times to give pets as much structure as possible. Other contributors are different walk schedules and a sudden lack of personal space at home. Even pets that adore attention might need some distance from time to time.

“It’s really important that as owners we try to stick to ‘business as usual’ when it comes to the daily routines our pets are used to, and to ensure that they still have quiet, undisturbed places they can go throughout the day,” says Lauren Finka, a cat behavior researcher at Nottingham Trent University in England. “Their normal routine will be disrupted, which can cause anxiety because their sense of predictability and control may be challenged.”

Pets might also be internalizing some of the anxious signals their owners — concerned about their health, their jobs, their loved ones, their rent payments — are broadcasting. According to a paper published in January from Fabricio Carballo, an animal cognition researcher at the University of El Salvador, dogs experience higher levels of anxiety when their owners are reeling from stress, a process called “emotional contagion.” A 2019 study in the UK found a similar pattern in cats: When you’re stressed out, cats will pick up on it.

PETS MIGHT ALSO BE INTERNALIZING SOME OF THE ANXIOUS SIGNALS THAT THEIR OWNERS — CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR HEALTH, THEIR JOBS, THEIR LOVED ONES, THEIR RENT PAYMENTS — ARE BROADCASTING

What all this means is that we humans might be part of the problem. “It is possible that owners are the ones behaving strangely, and their dogs are trying to adapt,” says Carballo. They “may be bored and ask their pets to perform new tricks, pushing them to behave strangely.”

If the internet is any indication, there’s plenty of evidence to back that theory up. TikTokers are turning their dogs into makeup influencers. Other internet users are remixing famous paintings with their pets as models — maybe none more successfully than the Dog With(out) A Pearl Earringor this gerbil-size art gallery. Very little about this moment can pass for normal.

“With owners working at home, the relationship and dynamic can certainly change. Perhaps there are more walks, more cuddles, and more overall attention,” says Ng.

But Ng’s biggest concerns center on what happens when the lockdown eases. For pets with separation anxiety, the transition out of a routine where their owners are home 24/7 and into one where pets may again be alone for long stretches won’t be easy. “We might recommend making it a smoother transition by gradually increasing the time away from home,” he says. “Also being sure to make more visits home or having a pet sitter come more frequently throughout the day may help.”

Humans are not the only ones attuned to the widespread societal shifts brought by the pandemic. As we look ahead to a gradual return to some aspects of regular life, we shouldn’t forget that our choices may have psychological effects on our pets. For the most anxious pets, another sudden rewrite of their routines could just fuel those bouts of whining at the bathroom door.

[wildlyhardphilosopher-blog]

Dog Training Orlando | Top Online Resource Available Here

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Dog Training Gold Coast Did you find the webcam verification process easy to use? Our Locations Related changes Agriculture Facebook Jump up ^ “The Use of Positive Reinforcement Training Techniques to Enhance the Care, Management, and Welfare of Primates in the laboratory” (PDF). Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science. 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2011. Make a difference in an animals life today! Name (optional) Considering health insurance for your dog, but budget is a concern? Our partners at ConsumersAdvocate.org can help.  07 Sep 2017 9:41:54am View our WINTER edition Enjoy!! Puppy Classes 3 How dogs learn From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Click here to book or find out more about Private Lessons in your home Reward Based Training Pet First Aid Course Refresher – Our fast paced fun course to get you and your dog back on track! The Bark Busters worldwide home dog training support guarantee is unique in the industry. It is designed to help owners resolve their dog’s behaviour and obedience problems and to provide customers with the satisfaction of ongoing support and peace of mind from their Bark Busters trainer. Reward his good behavior. Reward your puppy or dog’s good behavior with positive reinforcement. Use treats, toys, love, or heaps of praise. Let him know when’s he’s getting it right. Likewise, never reward bad behaviour; it’ll only confuse him. Last Name Dogs are prohibited from being on sporting playing surfaces. They may be exercised on leash on the areas immediately surrounding playing fields. Trials Classes do not suit everyone due to busy schedules and family commitments. If you are time poor book private training. One of our qualified trainers will come to you on schedule that suits your needs. Walk calmly on a lead Pond Care Mutts with Manners: Advanced Dog Training Classes 3. What is the name of the program run by Guide Dogs NSW? Price on application from $80 Hutchinson, Lieut-Gen WN (1865). Dog Breaking for the Gun: The Most Expeditious, Certain and Easy Method, With Copious Notes on Shooting Sports, New York: Vintage Dog Books, 2005 ISBN 978-1-84664-035-3 PETstock Puppy School’s program is based on using a reward-based training method which teaches pet parents: CESAR ON TV Mat or towel Fleurieu Education for Dogs & Owners © 2018 Mars. Incorporated and its Affiliates. All Rights Reserved. Urban Older Puppy School At Redgum, we have teamed with Leanne, our fully trained consultant who will spend time with you and your dog or dogs, in your own environment, before developing a detailed plan. She will explain to you the strategies you can put into place to achieve the behavioural training you are seeking. Education & Awareness Ingredients & Nutrition Put a leash and collar on your dog. By Juliana Weiss-Roessler Inclement weather KID 2: It’s to interact with the puppies so that when they go to homes, they’re a lot more familiar with people, it’s a lot easier to handle them. Dairy Advanced clicker skills Learn about current animal welfare issues we’re involved in. ^ Jump up to: a b c Bihm, Elson M.; J. Arthur Gillaspy, Jr. (1 June 2012). “Marian Breland Bailey (1920–2001)”. The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. The Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved 30 November 2012. ………………………………… Dog obedience is crucial for a happy pet/owner relationship. Learning a few basic puppy training tricks will have you well on your way to successfully training your puppy.

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fbq('track', 'ViewContent', content_ids: 'dogtraining.dknol', ); Urban Classes Ground Rules Op Shops Print/export Seasonal Messages 6. Would you recommend our courses to your friends and colleagues? Diagnosing your dog Daily Routines for Your Puppy Connect with Us Make a difference in an animal’s life today! Well trained dogs go more places, more often. Our dogs live in a rich and diverse society, and need to be able to cope with changes easily.  Education Puppy factories We provide owners with a range of quality products, along with expert advice each Sunday morning. ^ Jump up to: a b Millan 2010, p. 87. 07 Sep 2017 9:37:49am Password Vomiting See more 1300 278 3589 Email: info@deltainstitute.edu.au Teachers · 2 February 2018 Greenslopes Pet Café At Cesar’s Way, we strive to be a single pack, and packs have rules, boundaries, and limitations. Here are ours for the comments: Dog training is teaching a response to cues or commands, or the performance of actions not necessarily natural to the dog, and also raising a dog accommodated to his environment by modifying natural digging, barking and eliminating behaviors. Dog training is defined as the purposeful changing of a dog’s behavior.[3] This class is suitable for anyone who has done Basic Dog Manners Level 1 or wishing to undertake or train for the Canine Good Citizen Award. Your Email (required) Dog Training classes Jump up ^ Fukuzawa, M.; D. S. Mills; J. J. Cooper (2005). “The effect of human command phonetic characteristics on auditory cognition in dogs (Canis familiaris)”. Journal of Comparative Psychology. 119 (1): 117–120. doi:10.1037/0735-7036.119.1.117. PMID 15740436. Each trainer on this list below has signed the declaration based on the following definition of Force-Free by the Professional Pet Guild: Search in pages Class Six Guarding Food or Space Inter-Dog aggression Orientation Proud member of AWLA Search House soiling – Elimination and marking problems in dogs Positive Dog Training offers you the opportunity to have your dog certified as a Canine Good Citizen™. Club House and Canteen Down Forgotten account? 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Steve and Vicki Austin Proofing the cues 24 Aug 2017 12:26:33pm Basic health and care Carina State School Shop by Pet 24 Aug 2017 10:14:15am I’ve lost my pet Shampoos PPGA You will pay a $50 deposit when you book and this deposit will be deducted from your first Membership Fee.   Adopting from a breeder PO Box 1093 Without proper training and stimulation your dog can quickly become: Our Brands Events Disaster and Alerts Energy is everything Stands Ready to promenade with your pup? Space is limited to 4 puppies per outing, so Register today! · 15 March 2018 Sunday 6th May What if I’m going away for a month? 25 Sep 2017 3:32:27am Application for Extension – 2017 Feeding your puppy Hays Paddock, Lister St, East Kew, Melbourne, Victoria Interactive 25 Sep 2017 3:32:27am First Name Mouthing or Biting TEAM RSPCA  Steve and Vicki Austin have over 60 years experience in training dogs and handlers in many applications. They are in demand throughout Australia and overseas to provide detection services, training courses, provide innovation for new scent detection projects.  Their training techniques are unique and have earned them a high reputation for teaching both people and dogs. Austins Dog Training Education What Your Body Language Tells Your Dog The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan After hours emergency Down T&Cs Earn Rewards Agriculture Twitter Newsletter 30 Aug 2017 9:57:49am Another added bonus from you guys is the email + phone confirmations I believe that is extremely well done and efficient. OOSH “If I can’t learn the way you teach me, maybe you should teach me the way I learn… Don’t blame me – train me!” Young near Leave it Bark (dog) Fundraise Contact us today to find out how our unique approach can change the way you live with your dog. Basic dog psychology Aims of the Federation or or Beds & Houses Coming back when called Jump up ^ Most 1954, p. 7. Ella : Next, only give your dog the treat when he moves away from that first fist and also looks up at you. I think it’s a great idea that students get to train dogs to look after people.Those dogs were so adorable I wish I could train one.This is a great topic,it was really interesting.! Recent changes In Home Dog Training We currently offer dog training classes at Carina State School on Creek Road, Carindale. We have access to multiple undercover areas, three ovals, media rooms for seminars and a fully fenced basketball court for the FREE Urban Play Groups. No un-vaccinated dogs are on the premises ensuring the safest environment possible. Locations Quote of the Day Fax: (07) 3166 3951 Shop Policies In 2004 a study was published that was based on the observation of a variety of breeds trained for protection work using shock collars, which showed that although electronically trained dogs can excel as guard dogs, their behavior toward humans and work circumstances changed, often indicating heightened uncertainty and reactivity.[63] Voted South East Queensland’s Top Dog Trainer, we have the expertise to help you! Seaforth Naomi Murray Decorations Pet Advice Dog Training Insight Workshop Professional Development for Teachers BSB: 064 179 No-pull harness The no-pull harness is worn on the body of the animal. The no-pull harness differs significantly from the standard harness since it makes it harder for the dog to pull because it distributes energy over the dog’s back and shoulders. Like the head collar, the no-pull harness does not teach the dog not to pull, it only makes it harder for the dog to pull. 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[awesomeblockchain]

Announcing the TechCrunch Session on Blockchain is coming to Zug, Switzerland, to discuss all things Blockchain. This is going to be one of the most important events we've ever held in Europe and one of the most important ever. You're not going to want to miss this.

TechCrunch Sessions: Blockchain 2018 features an impressive lineup of fireside chats and panels with icons of the global blockchain and crypto tech scene.

We're thrilled to bring accomplished founders and chief executives to the stage. Among others, this includes, Ethereum's creator, Vitalik Buterin, ConsenSys founder Joe Lubin, IBM/Hyperledger's Brian Behlendorf, as well as Changpeng Zhao of Binance and Galia Benartzi of Bancor.

Tickets are still available for purchase. We're thrilled to make it to Zug for this show and hope you can make it.

AGENDA

9:00 AM - 9:05 AM

Opening Remarks

9:05 AM - 9:10 AM

Welcome Remarks: Dolfi M\cFCller (Mayor of Zug)

9:10 AM - 9:30 AM

Coming soon!

9:30 AM - 9:50 AM

Fireside Chat with Brian Behlendorf (Hyperledger)

The Executive Director gives an inside look at the technology powering The Hyperledger Project.

9:50 AM - 10:15 AM

In Conversation with Nicolas Brand (Lakestar) and Colin Hanna (Balderton)

Tokenising VC - the Venture Capitalist's perspective on Blockchain.

10:15 AM - 10:40 AM

Coming soon!

10:40 AM - 11:10 AM

BREAK

11:10 AM - 11:50 AM

Fireside Chat with Vitalik Buterin (Ethereum Foundation)

A conversation with Ethereum's creator, Vitalik Buterin.

11:50 AM - 12:15 PM

In Conversation with Galia Benartzi (Bancor) and Jun Hasegawa (OmiseGO)

Benartzi and Hasegawa discuss successful ICOs - are they made or born?

12:15 PM - 12:35 PM

Fireside Chat with Jim Fruchterman (Benetech)

Release the chains! Can Blockchain be a force for social good?

12:35 PM - 1:00 PM

In Conversation with with Patrick Berarducci (The Brooklyn Project), Mona El Isa (Melonport) and Pierre-Edouard Wahl (PwC Switzerland)

The Wild West of regulating crypto.

1:00 PM - 1:15 PM

INNOVATION BREAK

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

LUNCH

2:15 PM - 2:35 PM

Fireside Chat with Roham Gharegozlou (Axiom Zen)

The CEO of CryptoKitties discusses the story behind its smash success.

2:35 PM - 3:00 PM

In Conversation with Hope Liu (Eximchain) and Gert Sylvest (Tradeshift)

The Co-founders of Eximchain and Tradeshift explore the push from blockchain to the supply chain.

3:00 PM - 3:25 PM

In Conversation with Kris Marszalek (Monaco), Joshua Stein (Harbor) and Hanna Zubko (IntellectEU)

Banking on Blockchain: Can established banks keep up with the new world order?

3:25 PM - 3:45 PM

Fireside Chat with Balaji Srinivasan (Coinbase)

The new CTO of Coinbase and Board Partner of a16z discusses keeping pace with new players.

3:45 PM - 4:25 PM

BREAK

4:25 PM - 4:45 PM

Fireside Chat with Joe Lubin (ConsenSys)

The Founder of ConsenSys shares his story and whether his company can become the Alphabet of Blockchain.

4:45 PM - 5:10 PM

In Conversation with Sam Cassat (ConsenSys), Phil Windley (Sovrin Foundation) and Guy Zyskind (Enigma)

Cassat, Windley and Zyskind explore the emergence of self-sovereign identities.

5:10 PM - 5:30 PM

Fireside Chat with Changpeng Zhao (Binance)

Can exchanges...change?

5:30 PM - 5:50 PM

Fireside Chat with Leanne Kemp (Everledger)

On the blockchain once, on the blockchain forever. Kemp discusses the opportunities and challenges in building Everledger.

5:50 PM - 6:00 PM

WRAP

https://ift.tt/2ImNqdf

[bluebabysposts]

Watch "Leann Rimes - Please Remember" on YouTube

Watch “Leann Rimes – Please Remember” on YouTube

“GO(O)DLY PACING!” Dedicated to: M ❤ Friday: March 2, 2018.

When “the flurries” do arise: SLOW DOWN, Friends – DO BE WISE.

Pace Yourself – Pick YOUR pick –

And don’t let others make you sick!

When “the flurries” reach crescendo –

Take a breath – Set The Tempo,

Ride your “bike;” Take a walk,

Smile often – with (a) little talk,

Plus,…

[aurumacadicus]

Here it is: Our poll for our January book! It is our first themed month, and we'll be debuting the year with Author Debuts! Some of the choices are very new and we'll need time to source them for when we start, January 8th!

Book summaries are under the cut! Each new title is in bold for clarity. If you’d like to join the book club, now or for the next book, feel free to send me an ask and I’ll give you the link to our Discord!

Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons-Pierce Manor by Shawn M. Warner

Orphaned, she goes to live with incredibly wealthy relatives she never knew she had. Struggling to fit into her new world, she can’t let go of her grief. When the police tell her the investigation into her parents’ murder has hit a brick wall, she knows the only way she will ever know peace is to solve the mystery herself. With new family and friends, which includes a ghost with multiple personality issues, Leigh risks everything to find her answers.

Join Leigh on her adventure through the brutal world of organized crime and betrayal.

A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavri

Saffron Everleigh is in a race against time to free her wrongly accused professor before he goes behind bars forever. Perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn and Anna Lee Huber, Kate Khavari’s debut historical mystery is a fast-paced, fearless adventure.

London, 1923. Newly minted research assistant Saffron Everleigh attends a dinner party for the University College of London. While she expects to engage in conversations about the university’s large expedition to the Amazon, she doesn’t expect Mrs. Henry, one of the professors’ wives, to drop to the floor, poisoned by an unknown toxin.

Dr. Maxwell, Saffron’s mentor, is the main suspect, having had an explosive argument with Dr. Henry a few days prior. As evidence mounts against Dr. Maxwell and the expedition’s departure draws nearer, Saffron realizes if she wants her mentor’s name cleared, she’ll have to do it herself.

Joined by enigmatic Alexander Ashton, a fellow researcher, Saffron uses her knowledge of botany as she explores steamy greenhouses, dark gardens, and deadly poisons. Will she be able to uncover the truth or will her investigation land her on the murderer’s list?

The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler

Humankind discovers intelligent life in an octopus species with its own language and culture, and sets off a high-stakes global competition to dominate the future.

Rumors begin to spread of a species of hyperintelligent, dangerous octopus that may have developed its own language and culture. Marine biologist Dr. Ha Nguyen, who has spent her life researching cephalopod intelligence, will do anything for the chance to study them.

The transnational tech corporation DIANIMA has sealed the remote Con Dao Archipelago, where the octopuses were discovered, off from the world. Dr. Nguyen joins DIANIMA’s team on the islands: a battle-scarred security agent and the world’s first android.

The octopuses hold the key to unprecedented breakthroughs in extrahuman intelligence. The stakes are high: there are vast fortunes to be made by whoever can take advantage of the octopuses’ advancements, and as Dr. Nguyen struggles to communicate with the newly discovered species, forces larger than DIANIMA close in to seize the octopuses for themselves.

But no one has yet asked the octopuses what they think. And what they might do about it.

A near-future thriller about the nature of consciousness, Ray Nayler’s The Mountain in the Sea is a dazzling literary debut and a mind-blowing dive into the treasure and wreckage of humankind’s legacy.

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin

For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it’s her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu.

When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom’s greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning’s only chance to save her sister’s life.

But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

After her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Mathews wants nothing to do with her family memories or childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at UNC-Chapel Hill seems like the perfect escape—Until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus.

A flying demon feeding on human energies.

A secret society of so called “Legendborn” students that hunt the creatures down.

And a mysterious teenage mage who calls himself a “Merlin” who attempts—and fails—to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw.

The mage’s failure unlocks Bree’s own unique magic a buried memory with a hidden connection: the night er mother ded, another Merlin was at the hospital. Now that Bree knows there’s more to her mother’s death than what’s on the police report, she’ll do whatever it takes to find out the truth, even if that means infiltrating the Legendborn as one of their initiates.

She recruits Nick, a self-exiled Legendborn with is own grudge against the group, and their reluctant partnership pulls them deeper into the society’s secrets—and closer to each other. But when the Legendborn reveal themselves as the descendants of King Arthur’s knights and explain that a magical war is coming, Bree has to decide how far she’ll go for the truth and whether she should use her magic to take the society down—or join the fight.

A Prayer for Vengeance by Leanne Schwartz

An orphan out to find the truth within a warped religion turns his poetry into prayer—a prayer that awakens a cursed girl hungry for revenge.

Centuries after a miracle vanquished Tresttato’s monsters and turned the soldiers fighting them to stone, Milo lovingly tends to the statues of those who protected the city. Raised with devout templars and scholars, autistic temple ward Milo wants nothing more than to be accepted into their ranks. When his prayers admiring her heroic sacrifice accidentally free Gia from stone, she wakes with a fury to kil the man Milo owes his life to, Primo Sanct Ennio.

Gia claims that the immortal holy leader Milo lives to serve is the same man who betrayed her and transformed her into a statue—and what Milo always believed was a miracle was actually a curse that Gia will stop at nothing to break. Even if she has to kill his followers to do it. Even if she must kill the boy who woke her.

Queerly Beloved by Susie Dumond

A people-pleasing baker tries to find her place as a bridesmaid-for-hire. Will she finally find her happily ever after—and her own voice?

Amy, a semicloseted queer baker and bartender in mid-2010s Oklahoma, has spent a lifetime putting other people’s needs before her own. Until, that is, she’s fired from her job at a Christian bakery and turns her one-off gig subbing in for a bridesmaid into a full-time business—thanks to her baking talents, crafting skills, and years of watching rom-coms and Say Yes to the Dress. Between her new gig and meeting Charley, the attractive engineer who’s just moved to Tulsa, suddenly Amy’s found something—and someone—she actually wants. Her tight-knit group of chosen family is thrilled that Amy is becoming her authentic self. But when her deep desire to please kicks into overdrive, Amy’s precarious balancing act strains her relationships to the breaking point, and she must decide what it looks like to be true to herself—and if she has the courage to try.

[pennydreadfulrpg]

Only Friends?

We are only friends, right? 

I don’t know. The only thing I Know is that you are important to me. 

Maybe in another life…

[pennydreadfulrpg]

Tis now the very witching time of night, when churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out contagion to this world.

He aquí a las brujas y brujos de Penny. Un grupo de lo más variopinto pero entretenido.

[sirthisisa-wendys]

The Aristocracy: Part 2 (Geto Suguru x Fem!Reader)

wc: 850

tw: nsfw (but no smut... yet.)

masterlist

"Heirs," your mother begins, pacing in front of you with her head held high. "Heirs are the foundation of any empire. As a Princess - and hopefully, future Queen - you will need to produce at least three."

"I thought two will suffice," you groan, leaning back in your chair and crossing your arms. "An heir and a spare."

"Not enough!" Your mother sings, throwing her hands up and shaking her head. "Not for an empire. Maybe a Duke, but they don't matter in the long run. You need as many children as possible to carry on your legacy. And if that means you must birth seven children, then so be it."

"And what if His Royal Highness is... incapable of rising to the challenge?" you wonder, raising a brow.

"Rising to the--" The look your mother gives you could wither an entire garden, and you shrink back. "There are solutions for that kind of thing. But don't fret; I've heard the Geto family is more than capable of producing a lineage that will last for generations to come." A smirk finds its way across your mother's face, and you grimace, looking away.

There had to be a way out of this.

You just weren't looking hard enough.

____________________________________________________________

You and Hinata are strolling around the hedge maze, discussing anything but the impending engagement and marriage, instead focusing on the state of the flowers and trees as you mill about.

But you're interrupted at a juncture where the maze meets with the path closest to the guest quarters. Prince Suguru strolls up to the two of you silently, smiling brightly with his hands behind his back.

"Your Highness. Lady Hinata."

"I should go..." Hinata mutters, bowing slightly before trotting off quickly. You inhale, feeling the presence of the only person who could soothe you leaving, and then turn to Suguru.

"You chased off my maid. Are you happy now?"

"Very," he laughs, then lifts his arm up graciously. "Mind taking a turn with me in the garden?" You ignore his show of chivalry and walk ahead, scoffing. "Have you thought more about the arrangement I proposed?" he wonders, unphased.

"Not really," you lie, thinking about the heir speech your mother gave you not four hours ago. "Why?"

"I'm sure you know the implications of our marriage and how we should proceed with the production of children to grow the Royal Family."

"I don't," you lie again, hoping he would give you a way out.

"Well," he begins, turning his black eyes toward you momentarily. "It seems I cannot hold myself to not consummating our marriage for more than four months. I will admit, my family will expect us to conceive quickly."

"And...?"

"If we do not produce an heir within that time, our marriage will be up for an annulment."

Annulment! This is the way out! But how could you secure this position without completely closing yourself off to the consummation, which is your wifely duty? But suddenly, a wicked idea forms in your mind as you continue walking, and you smile to yourself.

"You smile as if this is a good thing."

"It's not," you shake your head suddenly, and Suguru presses his lips together. "It's a terrible idea; I was just thinking about having a child. It's every woman's dream to have children."

Suguru seems to not pick up on your lie, and he smiles back. "And it's every man's dream to have a beautiful family. And I think we'll have just that, Your Highness."

_____________________________________________________________

The snow crunches underfoot as you walk towards the dreary-looking shack, shielded by a cloak and in the plainest clothes you could find.

"Where can I find someone who can make a potion for infertility?" you ask Hinata, who frowns.

"Do you mean like a miscarriage?"

"No, like preventing a woman from even getting pregnant." The lady-in-waiting wrings her hands carefully and looks away, cheeks flushing a deep red.

"There is someone, your Highness. But his services cost a lot more than just a couple of coins."

"Money is of no consequence," you gripe. "Where is he?"

And as you stare at the shack, you feel a chill ripple down your spine. This place is definitely where the infamous Potion Master lives.

You approach the door and raise your hand to knock on it, but it creaks open instantly.

"Fuck, you royals take forever to walk up to the door," a man grumbles, grinding at something and facing away from the door. "What do you want?"

"I was told that I could come to you to make someone infertile," you call out, and he looks at you over his broad shoulder, one green eye glowing in the semi-darkness of the shack.

"Yeah? Who's it for?"

"Does it matter as long as you get your money?"

"No," the man turns to you, smiling a toothy grin, the scar on the right side of his face splitting in two. "No, it doesn't really matter. Come on in, princess. I think I can make you something really nice. Well... as long as you say please."

_____________________________________________________________ TAGLIST: @missbonekitty @wack0-genius @thankuary @jsqeeut @r-i-m-f-009 @sunfloweroranges @leanne-tamashi @girlruby23 @rein-icu @brownskinnedgirll @jibe-gajima @chilledlucifer @amnxsia @kontentious @fiona782 @fuyuko26 @everybodylovescayrayray @flare-on

[sirthisisa-wendys]

The Enforcers: Part 5 (Geto Suguru x Fem!Reader)

wc: 1.7k

tw: NSFW. (It's finally happening.)

masterlist

Suguru stares at the screen in disbelief.

"I don't know what else to say," you breathe, eyes wide. "I think that we should go to the Grand Council or my parents and--"

"It's a hoax," he frowns, shaking his head. "None of this makes any sense. And I've seen fabricated shit like this before."

"But the timestamps!" you retort, pointing at the metadata.

"Those can be fabricated by using an old machine. You can't trust anything these days unless it comes from the Archives."

"But--"

"I think you need to delete these and forget about it. This is someone's sick idea of a joke, y/n." Suguru stands, scowling at the computer one last time before turning away. "I'll figure out who did this. Don't worry. Just delete that shit and don't mention it to anyone." Suguru stalks out of the room and you look at the files, dragging them to the trash before turning your computer off and trying to put it out of your mind.

_____________________________________________________________

You're back at the club with your friends, sitting among new faces and old ones just the same. But the nagging feeling that something isn't right is dragging across the pit of your stomach like a rake. When you glance at Suguru, he's laughing with his other Leviathan friends, but barely touching his only drink.

He must be unnerved by it, too, you think, and rub your forehead before watching Yuji try his best dance moves on Nobara, which fails miserably, of course. Yuki sits to your left, also watching the show with varying degrees of amusement before looking over at you.

"Why the long face, Ms. Successful? Is this too boring for you?" You consider telling her what's really bothering you, turning to her in the dim lighting and pressing your lips together. Her face changes and you know your secret can't be kept for long.

"What would you do if someone played a really bad prank on you?"

"What, did Suguru piss on your curtains?"

"Huh?" You look at her in shock, and she shrugs.

"Alright, maybe that's just a Toji thing. My bad." She sips her drink thoughtfully. "What kind of prank are you talking about?"

"Someone..." You hesitate, but decide to keep going anyways. "Someone put files on my computer to make it seem like my parents were involved with something called Project Kudzu and Project Redroot." Yuki frowns deeply, blinking rapidly.

"Y/n, I've never heard of those things before." You sigh, shaking your head. "Did they have any real proof?"

"Yeah, some audio files, two videos, and a bunch of TS-CO labeled documents that--" A hand lands on your shoulder, and you look up to see Suguru standing above you.

"That pre-game was wild, wasn't it?" Pre-game? "Sorry, Yuki. Y/n here had a whole bottle of red wine and played some weird game before coming. She's been going on about it to me for hours... projects and stuff." Yuki laughs, waving him off.

"It's okay! I was a little confused, too, but I get it. Girl," she turns to you, shaking her head. "You should probably go home and get some rest. If I had known you were drunk already I would've--"

"I'm not drunk," you reply, looking back and forth between Suguru and Yuki. "I swear, I'm not--"

"Let me get you home, party girl," Suguru mumbles, pulling you up from your seated position and gripping your hand tightly as he drags you along with him. "It's been a long day."

"But I'm not--" The look Suguru gives you is deadly, and you shut your lips as he takes you to the car you both came in, opening your door silently. You slide into the seat and he shuts the door with force, climbing into the driver's seat, but not starting the car. He grips the steering wheel and clenches his jaw, finally muttering,

"Didn't I tell you not to say anything to anyone?"

"Suguru, this has been bothering me for days! I don't know what to do!"

"I'm trying to find out who would break into your room and do this to you. Can you let me work?" he asks tersely. "For once in your life, can you let someone look out for you?" His black eyes are blazing in the dim light of the parking lot, and your bottom lip quivers.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay," he exhales, starting the car. "I just... I just need you to let me figure this out. Someone isn't playing nice in our own organization and if it comes at the expense of my partner, I'm not having it. Lay low for me for a while, got it?" Suguru places his hand on your thigh and you nod, feeling your heart pick up an uneven rhythm. Your mouth goes dry at his lingering touch, but before you can think about it any further, he removes his hand and pulls out of the parking lot to take both of you back to the base.

When you get back to your barracks, you pause in the living room, looking over at your Leviathan as he removes his leather jacket and deposits it on the couch, sighing. You slowly approach him from behind and touch his back, which makes him flinch a little.

"I don't know why you continue to put up with my antics," you murmur and he huffs a breath out, shaking his head. "But thank you for saving my ass... and for looking out for me." Suguru turns to you, his lips quirking up a bit.

"Little Ms. Successful is thanking me for my service? Are you drunk?" Your cheeks heat up at the nickname and you roll your eyes, about to turn away from him when he catches your wrist. "Don't do that," he breathes, bringing you in close so your chests are touching. Your breathing hitches and he raises his knuckles, grazing them over your cheek. You close your eyes at the contact, and he slides his fingers down to your chin, tilting it up and humming softly.

"Open your eyes," Geto whispers, and you do so, trying your best not to seem too flustered. He leans down, brushing his lips across yours for permission, and your close your eyes again, letting him kiss you. When his lips separate from yours, he touches your nose with his, and you raise up on your tiptoes to feel his lips on yours again. "Are you sure you want to do that?" he wonders as you pull away. You nod your head, and he laughs softly.

"I do want to keep kissing you, yes," you reply, and he wraps a hand around your waist, lifting you off your feet and wrapping your legs around him.

"Nothing good comes of that," he warns, but you scoff.

"I'd beg to differ."

And that's how you find yourself on his neatly made bed, legs pushed up to your chest as Suguru greedily laps at your cunt like a starving man. "Su..." you moan, and he grunts in response. "That feels so good."

"I bet it does," the Leviathan replies, raising his brow at you salaciously before flicking your clit with his tongue. Your toes curl painfully as he dips a finger into you, then raises it up to your lips, tugging your mouth open so you can taste yourself. You suck on the digit with pleasure, humming when he pulls it back out and finger fucks you while sucking on your clit.

You buck under his grip, but he raises off of you, denying you an orgasm so soon. Geto kisses you deeply, swiping his tongue across yours so you can taste yourself again, then sits up, motioning for you to do the same.

"You want to do this?"

"Yeah." Suguru pulls his long hair up with an elastic and removes his pants, climbing back onto the bed and sitting against the headboard. He pulls you into his lap and raises you up, allowing you to grasp his hard length before sliding onto it carefully.

"Easy, easy..." he hisses, and you slow down, taking him inch by inch. You place your arms around his neck and rock back and forth, closing your eyes when you feel all of him nestled inside of you. Suguru groans, closing his eyes and tilting his head forward onto your shoulder. "Hold on, I'm gonna lay on my back." You allow him to slide forward, and he pushes you down onto his chest with a broad hand before pumping into you methodically.

"Oh, god..." you moan, and Suguru exhales shakily. "Su, you feel amazing."

"Say it a little louder so our neighbors can hear you," he jokes, but you clench around him and his laughter is cut short. "Fuck!" The man beneath you smacks your ass, and you yelp in response. "Keep doing that and this will be over faster than you can spell your own name."

"Then fuck me and quit being a smart ass," you gripe. Suguru shrugs and mutters,

"You asked for it." before slamming his hips into your ruthlessly. You cry out at the sensations his pace brings, and he grips your wrist as you lift off of him, holding your left hand against his chest. "Stay right here, princess. I'm not letting you go for shit." Your mouth seems to maintain its "O" shape the entire time he's fucking you senseless, and you can't say a word, eyes crossing and making you see double of your partner.

"Oh, god," you finally shudder, and Suguru lets go of your hand to lean you back down, mouth latching on one of your breasts.

"Cum for me," Geto challenges you before going back to sucking on your nipples relentlessly. You feel something inside of you break - almost like a busted dam releasing a flood of sensations and emotions that you've held at bay since you arrived here. "Oh, you're doing so good," Suguru grunts, holding you as you tremble fiercely while his hips stutter. "Just let it all go."

And for some reason, tears - actual tears - come out of your eyes as if this sexual release also broke your heart in two.

"Did I hurt you?" Suguru asks, swiping at your tears with a worried expression.

"No," you reassure him, shaking your head fiercely. "Not at all."

"Hmmm..." He rests your head against his chest as his breathing slows, hands stroking your back and hair with care. "You've had a hard couple of days. Just rest, alright? I'll be here when you wake up." So, you fall asleep, trusting your partner who's never betrayed you before.

_____________________________________________________________

TAGLIST: @missbonekitty @wack0-genius @thankuary @jsqeeut@r-i-m-f-009 @sunfloweroranges @leanne-tamashi @girlruby23@rein-icu @brownskinnedgirll @chanelmalandro @savantsoulfinder @jibe-gajima @chilledlucifer @amnxsia @kontentious @fuyuko26 @everybodylovescayrayray @flare-on