YOU’RE GONNA HAVE TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH THIS.

Remember to specify muse for multi-muse blogs!

A - Affection: How affectionate are they during sex? Is it different with people they're romantically involved with? Can they sleep with people they aren't?

B - Body: Are they into a specific physique? Why or why not? Are they just preferences or complete turn offs?

C - Chatter: Do they like to talk during the act? If so what do they like to talk about? Is it just dirty talk or something different?

D - Dominance: Are they into those types of power dynamics? Or do they like to stick to whose topping and bottoming? If they are into it why? If they aren't why not?

E - Erotica: Do they read or watch it? Does it get them in the mood? Do they create it themselves?

F - Food: Do they believe certain foods can be aphrodisiacs? If so what foods are like that for them? Do they like using food in the bedroom or is it too messy?

G - Group sex: Have they ever tried it? Would they ever want to try it if they haven't? If they don't enjoy it why not?

H - Humiliation: Are they into it? Why or why not? How far will they go? Do they enjoy being de-humanized or is it more being made fun of?

I - Intensity: Do they like intense scenes? Or are they more a slow and take their time kind of person?

J - Jousting: Do they like having more than one object or person inside of them? If so do they prefer toys or just multiple partners? Are they curious about it?

K - Kiss and Tell: Do they talk about their sex life to others? If they do do they go into detail or are they more casual about it? Do they share photos with other people or are those private?

L - Licking: Do they enjoy using their tongue on their partners or is it too gross? If so what are their favorite places to use their tongue?

M - Masturbation: Is it a part of sex for your muse? Or is it something completely different? Do they enjoy watching their partner or being watched?

N - Nope: Do they enjoy orgasm denial or do they want to see how many times they can make their partner cum? Somewhere in-between?

O - Open: Do they enjoy having things in their mouth? If so what are their favorite oral fixations? (fingers, toys, giving oral, etc.)

P - Preference: Does size really matter to your muse? Whether it be for others or toys in general. Do they have a favorite type of toy they like to use? If so is it the same to use on other people?

Q - Quiet: Do they enjoy trying to see how long their partner can last without making a sound? Do they enjoy loud or quiet partners?

R - Risk: Are they into some risky kinks? (breath play, exhibitionism, blood play, etc.) If so what are their favorites? Do they practice them safely?

S - Suspension: Are they into being suspended like on a swing or during rope play? Or if not, what's the highest place they've ever had sex?

T - TMI: Your opportunity to talk about any dirty thing you want to talk about with your muse. Could be kinks they like or just facts.

U - Underwear: Do they enjoy lingerie or dressing up for their partner? Or is it too much of a hassle? Favorite garments to wear? Do they ever go without underwear?

V - Violation: Are there any kinks your muse flat out won't do or even people they know? Are bringing them up enough to turn your muse away from a potential partner for good? Any pet names get them like that?

W - Water: Do they enjoy shower sex or anywhere else that's wet like a pool or hot tub? Is it too awkward?

X - X Ray: What's going on under your muse's clothes? Do they have any special scars or places they like to be touched or avoided? Describe their physique and anything else you'd like to expand on.

Y - Yes: Do they have any specific turn ons? Things that will automatically make your muse say yes to sleeping with someone else. If not what are some other things that get them in a more romantic mood? Lighting? Dinner?

Cathy seems to mirror this at first—to fall into social custom as well as two people, a man and a woman, speaking in a semi-public place must. Dolokhov appreciates the routine of this. He isn't sure why he feels so uncomfortable, so out of place—but as soon as he realizes that's what the feeling is, he blames his discomfort on this entire damp country.

"Yes," he says. He nods curtly, with some amount of finality. Yes, she's encountered worse. Yes, she can handle it. Yes, he worried—still worries, in fact.

This is a little infuriating. He endeavors to live a life as carefree as his peers, but the truth is that his peers now have very much to worry about back home, and Dolokhov isn't sure anything will ever be the same again.

For a moment, she's tempted. The rent is due before week's end. Will's boots are splitting at the seams, and the butcher has begun looking at her with that expression reserved for customers whose tabs have grown too long.

Her fingers tighten around the edge of her shawl. The last time he'd pressed money into her hand, she'd accepted only because she'd had no choice. The coins had burned in her pocket all the way home.

There were rules to her world. Perhaps not respectable ones, but rules all the same. Her eyes lift to his, steady despite the embarrassment warming her cheeks.

"Ye've already done more than enough," she says quietly. She pauses, choosing her words with care. Cathy is trying to save her pride. He is trying to be kind, and she will not insult him by pretending otherwise.

Remember to specify muse for multi-muse blogs!

A - Affection: How affectionate are they during sex? Is it different with people they're romantically involved with? Can they sleep with people they aren't?

B - Body: Are they into a specific physique? Why or why not? Are they just preferences or complete turn offs?

C - Chatter: Do they like to talk during the act? If so what do they like to talk about? Is it just dirty talk or something different?

D - Dominance: Are they into those types of power dynamics? Or do they like to stick to whose topping and bottoming? If they are into it why? If they aren't why not?

E - Erotica: Do they read or watch it? Does it get them in the mood? Do they create it themselves?

F - Food: Do they believe certain foods can be aphrodisiacs? If so what foods are like that for them? Do they like using food in the bedroom or is it too messy?

G - Group sex: Have they ever tried it? Would they ever want to try it if they haven't? If they don't enjoy it why not?

H - Humiliation: Are they into it? Why or why not? How far will they go? Do they enjoy being de-humanized or is it more being made fun of?

I - Intensity: Do they like intense scenes? Or are they more a slow and take their time kind of person?

J - Jousting: Do they like having more than one object or person inside of them? If so do they prefer toys or just multiple partners? Are they curious about it?

K - Kiss and Tell: Do they talk about their sex life to others? If they do do they go into detail or are they more casual about it? Do they share photos with other people or are those private?

L - Licking: Do they enjoy using their tongue on their partners or is it too gross? If so what are their favorite places to use their tongue?

M - Masturbation: Is it a part of sex for your muse? Or is it something completely different? Do they enjoy watching their partner or being watched?

N - Nope: Do they enjoy orgasm denial or do they want to see how many times they can make their partner cum? Somewhere in-between?

O - Open: Do they enjoy having things in their mouth? If so what are their favorite oral fixations? (fingers, toys, giving oral, etc.)

P - Preference: Does size really matter to your muse? Whether it be for others or toys in general. Do they have a favorite type of toy they like to use? If so is it the same to use on other people?

Q - Quiet: Do they enjoy trying to see how long their partner can last without making a sound? Do they enjoy loud or quiet partners?

R - Risk: Are they into some risky kinks? (breath play, exhibitionism, blood play, etc.) If so what are their favorites? Do they practice them safely?

S - Suspension: Are they into being suspended like on a swing or during rope play? Or if not, what's the highest place they've ever had sex?

T - TMI: Your opportunity to talk about any dirty thing you want to talk about with your muse. Could be kinks they like or just facts.

U - Underwear: Do they enjoy lingerie or dressing up for their partner? Or is it too much of a hassle? Favorite garments to wear? Do they ever go without underwear?

V - Violation: Are there any kinks your muse flat out won't do or even people they know? Are bringing them up enough to turn your muse away from a potential partner for good? Any pet names get them like that?

W - Water: Do they enjoy shower sex or anywhere else that's wet like a pool or hot tub? Is it too awkward?

X - X Ray: What's going on under your muse's clothes? Do they have any special scars or places they like to be touched or avoided? Describe their physique and anything else you'd like to expand on.

Y - Yes: Do they have any specific turn ons? Things that will automatically make your muse say yes to sleeping with someone else. If not what are some other things that get them in a more romantic mood? Lighting? Dinner?

♫ I was far too scared to hit him

But I would hit him in a heartbeat now

That’s the thing with anger

It begs to stick around ♫

"sometimes, i thought my father was a God. i loved him that much."

— Leila Chattis, "Muslim Girlhood"

AOIFE HAS NEVER RIGHTLY BEEN ABLE TO DENY HOW MUCH HER FATHER LOVES HER. Even when she feels ignored or insignificant, overwhelmed by the hopeless status that must be occupied by all middle children across all of Kinloch.

Zachary does not ever forget about her. Not really. And he protects her fiercely. This is why she now, after that conversation with her parents, Aoife takes the time to feel immensely guilty for provoking him without worrying at all about the consequences.

She hates to see her father angry. She rarely ever has. Seeing him distressed is somehow worse.

Now, he seems calmer. Or, at least, sadly resigned. She's exhausted him. Was having his attention over Ailsa and Alasdair truly worth it?

She apologizes. He reassured her. He hugs her close, kisses the top of her head. She can't possibly let go.

A weary breath escapes, "You could never make matters worse by telling me the truth." The words are quiet, firm in the way only certainty can be. "I was never cross with you, Aoife."

One hand moves to her shoulder, drawing her back just enough that he can look at her properly. The exhaustion is still there, etched around his eyes, but the anger has long since burned itself into something heavier.

"You told me something that upset me," he says gently. "That is not the same thing as causing it." His thumb brushes against her arm. "None of this is your fault. Not my temper. Not my worry. Not any of it."

The guilt written across her face twists something inside him. It is a familiar hurt—the realisation that children so often assume responsibility for storms they did not create.