#3rd hour today interview

[jbaileyfansite]

Jonathan Bailey and Matt Bomer being presented on The Today Show (August 16, 2024) [x]

[therightrighthand]

And Pt.2 of the Fallout-Delv-erse lore! Because honestly, I couldn't pick between soft lovable herbo, and murder hobo, so we're getting both.

D.31-A, rouge Courser jerk of the Commonwealth.

Follow on from Dee & Rolls

~

Lore:

[???] "Audio recording, date [REDACTED] between Doctor Langstrum, Senior Institute Bio Division, and myself [REDACTED] regarding project D.31-A"

[D] "Again, I am going on record to state that there was plenty of oversights on project D.31-A and-"

[???] "Please Doctor, let keep to the questions. How about we start with what D.31-A is, and it's history."

[D] "Hmmph ... Fine. -sigh-, well we may as well start at the beguining with the Synth Program. After the sucessful test run of our 3rd generation Synth in the Capital Wasteland passing undercover as human in 'Rivet City', full production of next gerneration syths were approved for masss production."

"And whilst the topic of Synths seemed focused on under-cover intigration, security was also a keen concern. Our second genration synths, though tough, were far from subtle, and a militerised third generation synth seemed nessasery. The goal was to create something with a bit more bite, a single agent, rather than dozens of gen-1's and 2's littering the commonwealth."

"D3.1-A was the answer to this, our first official prototype of the Courser's we know today."

[???] "Why was D.31's biodata used for the Courser program? And can you explain in detail why they were so well equipped for a prototype?"

[D] "Well, obviously, D.31's DNA proved to create a natural resistance to radiation, so it only made sense to base D.31-A on their genetic makeup and memories, as we had done with Gen-3 synths so far."

"As for their ... 'equipment', you must understand that in the early days of testing, D.31-A wasn't built like our truly synthetic Coursers. They were designed to combine the most physically powerful elements of our Gen-2s with the outer fleshy coating of a Gen-3. Machine, wrapped in flesh."

"At the time, we believed Courser's would be going toe-to-toe against Death Claws and super mutants, so we ... built them to durable, strong and-"

[???] "Exessivly costly?"

[D] "Effective. We built them to be effective. However, as time went by, we realised that less was more, and discreet agents worked more effectively than super-powered assassins."

[???] "Can you tell me what led to losing D.31-A in the field?"

[D] "... again, I want to stress the oversight wasn't just on myself or my team at the tim- ok ok, fine."

"After successfully activating D.31-A and testing them rigorously for months, we felt it was time for a field test in the Commonwealth. So we fitted her with an old raider outfit, had her infiltrate an encampment, and simply let her get to work."

"Needless to say, she was effective—almost ferocious, in fact, if you could call it that."

"But, unfortunately, during the fight, a nuclear device was launched, which knocked out our communication with the Synth handlers observing the experiment. After several hours, we deployed security teams and mercenaries to scout the location and report back. There was no sign of D.31-A ... or her handlers, whom we believed to have been killed by D.31-A"

[???] "What led you to believe it was D.31-A?"

[D] "The entire team had been torn apart and stapled to a concrete bunker with steal poles through their chests and their power systems removed. The working theory is that the blast may have ... damaged ... D.31-A's hardware and left them to go-"

[???] "On a five-year-long murderous rampage of Institute assets, including research centres, 23 mercenaries, 12 staff members on the field, and 18 Courses?"

[D] "... Look, it's been months since we've heard from her, and this speculation that she is helping the railroad is preposterous. It's more than likely that her power core has started to falter, and any information on the institute has been damaged in the process."

[???] "Which brings us to the point of this interview: to uncover the lack of oversight that led to a hostile agent that we cannot stop with information on our most sensitive security protocols. What makes you so sure that information has been destroyed?"

[D] "Because I built her [REDACTED] and if she still had access to our location, our relay, and our defences, we would have been dead a long time ago..."

[INTERVIEW END]

-- Find my Discord and other sites: linktr.ee/The_red_right_hand Do not use, repost or claim (rp) my art/character  Art © The-Red-Right-Hand

[midnightjewel]

First Job

All of your friends have jobs and their own money to buy whatever they want. Not to sound like a gold digger or anything but you’d just typically use your boyfriend’s money if you wanted something. But with the holidays coming up you were in a sudden realization that you needed to make money.

Kirishima x Fem! Reader

Eijirou Kirishima is the type of man to spoil you rotten while expecting nothing in return. He loves the way your face lights up when he buys you something you’ve been asking for. Or when you get all excited when he surprises you with something that he picked up for you while he was out.

It was your 3rd year at UA and you were actually the only one in class 3-A who has never had a job. Sure, you’ve been on work study’s and internships before but you had never had a paying regular job like a normal teenager.

As you sat in your room playing whatever video game you wanted you shivered as you looked out your window at the falling snow. Sure, the dorms had heat but you couldn’t imagine how cold it is outside.

Your boyfriend was at work this afternoon and so was the rest of the Bakusquad. That’s when your thoughts began to run wild. Was it weird that you were basically an adult with no paying job experience? Was it weird that your boyfriend always paid for you when the squad went out?

It’s not that you wouldn’t go get a job but you just had the gut feeling that you wouldn’t be good at any job that wasn’t hero work. Unfortunately you couldn’t get paid for that just yet.

As the holidays were approaching you knew you had to get money one way or another. You wanted to be able to spoil your boyfriend with gifts and the only way to earn that money was to get a job.

And so here you stood outside of a coffee shop in a professional yet warm outfit to beat the cold. You’ve been here so many times and watched the baristas as they made drinks. It honestly looked quite fun. This was a job that you were sure could be done.

After you had went in asking for a job application they nearly hired you on the spot due to the rush of the holiday season they could really use an extra set of hands. You still needed to be interviewed of course but you were sure you were getting the job from how eager they sounded to hire you.

———————————

After your interview the next day, they had basically told you straight up that you were hired and to come in tomorrow at 5pm to start training. You were ecstatic that you were finally going to be able to make your own money.

You hadn’t told Kirishima yet because you wanted to surprise him by telling him that you took initiative and got your own job. You knew he would be so proud of you!

———————————

By the next afternoon you found yourself being trained for your first job. The girl training you was named Miko and she was the absolute sweetest person you had ever met. It was just you and her on this shift

After about an hour or two of being trained to work the drive through and make simple coffees and teas you started to become quite familiar with what to do.

“Oh here’s a drive through customer” the raven haired woman spoke “Do you think you can try this on your own while I go restock the back? We just got a shipment about 5 minutes ago” she stated

“Oh yeah it seems easy” you reassured her with a big and eager smile as you adjusted your apron “Okay you’ve got this!” She gives you a thumbs up while heading to the back

“Hi what can I get for you today?” You speak as kindly as possible you turn your microphone on “Medium cold brew with some sugar and cream” the woman spoke demandingly. You were a bit confused and unsure admittedly “I’m sorry, how much sugar and cream do you want?” you ask as you begin to input the order “I said some” she sounds a bit irritated and you just didn’t know what to think of it.

“Oh alright then, your total is $4.25 you can pull forward” you do your absolute best to try and sound calm and sweet as this is your first day.

While you get the ticket printed you get to work on the coffee. You put the appropriate amount of cold brew and ice then just proceed to add about 4 creams and sugars since you weren’t sure what exactly to do with the information you were provided with.

As you put the lid on the coffee you set it on the counter and make your way to the window. “Hi $4.25 is your total” you smile as she just hands you her card without even bothering to look up from her phone

You swipe the card and give it back before handing her the coffee. Just as you’re about to ask her if she would like a straw or napkins she takes a sip and nearly spits it out all over her car.

“What the hell is this?!” She looks completely disgusted with you “I’m sorry ma’am what’s wrong with it?” You prepare to take it back and fix it when she chucks the full cup through the window, spilling the sticky coffee all over you

“Hey!” You frown, about to tell her off before she speeds off leaving you soaked with coffee and a mess to clean up.

“Is everything alri-“ Miko stops dead in her tracks when she sees the sight before her. You looked so upset that you could cry “I guess I made it bad” you shrug it off as you grab a wet rag to start cleaning up the mess

“Oh uhm..” the girl didn’t know what to say in the situation “Here why don’t you go home for the evening, your shift ends in 15 minutes anyway. I’ll explain what happened to management” she gives you clean rags to attempt to wipe yourself off.

“Are you sure?” You questioned and she nods “Don’t worry about the mess, I can clean it. Just go wash up I’m so sorry this happened” she looks extremely apologetic and you nod “No worries” you do your best to smile as you walk out of the coffee shop

You didn’t want to put on your expensive and clean coat and ruin it so you just opted to freeze for the 5 minute walk back to the dorms.

———————————

When you arrived back to the dorms you wanted to rush to the shower. You just needed a good cry if you were being honest, you were so angry with the situation. But of course you had to walk through the common room.

And of course, your friends and boyfriend were sitting right on the couch watching tv. “Babe! I was wondering where you were! I texted but I think your phone may have died” he stands up to come greet you.

He immediately noticed your outfit and the stains all over it and yourself. “What happened?” He gently put a hand on your shoulder

“I uhm..” you hung your head replaying the humiliating events of your first day at your first ever job. Before you knew it, the Bakusquad was around you asking what happened to you.

“I got a job so I could buy you guys gifts for the holidays but I guess I’m not too good at making coffees… someone threw their drink at me and drove off” you shrug not making eye contact with any of them.

“Oh my gosh (Name)! Come on let’s go get you cleaned up” Mina took you to the elevator.

———————————

“ ‘m sorry about the trouble” you tell your pink best friend as she applied a deep conditioning hair mask to get the coffee out of your hair

“Don’t be!” She exclaims “I’m sorry this happened” Mina tells you as she washes her hands off “Yeah I guess I’m not good at anything” your eyes fill with tears

“What are you talking about you’re so talented!” She looks at you with wide eyes “No I mean like… you guys have jobs and you’re all actually good at them!”

“Well… nobody’s perfect their jobs, except Bakugo supposedly” she rolls her eyes”But on my first day I accidentally gave 50% off a total instead of 15%… the difference is actually crazy and I didn’t even realize until after they left!” She exclaims

“Wow that’s pretty bad” you giggle “But I don’t know, the lady was so mad at me. She said some cream and sugar so I just put four” you shrug “I didn’t know what some meant and when I asked her to clarify she got really upset”

“Jeez what a bitch” she scoffs “Looks like the hair mask it ready to be rinsed” she tells you “I’ll go get some pajamas for you while you take a shower you can use any of my products” she blows you a kiss before closing the bathroom door

———————————

When you had dried off and got some clean clothes on you checked your phone and there was a message from Mina telling you to come downstairs. You shrug and make your way out of Mina’s room and down the hallway to the elevator.

You entered the elevator and pressed the button for the first floor. As it slowly made its way down to the common area you rubbed your eyes and yawned, working was not for the weak and this day had just stressed you out mentally.

The elevator comes to a stop letting you out on the first floor and Denki is the one to greet you. “Hey come sit at the table!” He motions for you to come along to sit with the rest of the squad.

“What’s up?” You question the three teens sitting at the dining table. “We convinced Bakugo to make you something to eat” Sero grins and you look over your shoulder to see the ash blonde firing up the stove to cook his famous curry.

“Oh you don’t have to cook for me Bakugo” you tell him as you turn around in your chair. “Okay then” he turns the stove off and with ease Mina responds by throwing a half used paper towel roll at his head “No! You’re going to make her something to eat!” She scolds the crimson eyed teen as he scoffs and turns the stove back on, mumbling something about how he ‘was going to fucking do it anyways’

“Thank you guys for doing this” you rest your head on the palm of your hands “Having a job is hard… I guess I’m just not good in the food industry” you shrug

“Neither am I!” Denki blurts out “My first job was at McDonalds and I got fired in a week because I got caught eating the extra fries!” He tells the group and you all laugh.

“Where’s Kiri?” You question as you remind them of his absence. You had noticed it immediately that your boyfriend wasn’t at the table when you walked over but you thought that he was just in the bathroom or something.

“Oh he should be here soon” Mina checks her phone to see if there had been an update from him but there was nothing.

Just then, your boyfriend walks through the door with a basket. “Hey sorry I tried to be quick!” He huffs, seemingly out of breath. “Hi honey” you smile and he sets the basket on the table “Here, I know you had a bad time at work so I thought this would make you feel better”

The basket was filled with various items such as a cd by your favorite artist, your favorite snacks and drinks, a new body wash, some face masks, and other skin care products. “Woah babe!” Your eyes widen as you look at the basket and then up at his grin. “I love you” he kisses your cheek following the three of your friends ‘awwwwws’

[asgoodeasgold]

Wonderful NBC Today interview of Matthew Goode promoting Freud's Last Session back in December. Just a few goode bits, watch the full interview for sound and more goodeness on YouTube (link ⬇️).

The first 2 gifs are not on the YouTube version but from a recording with the preview. Matthew was slightly confused which camera to look at, because, as he said, it's easier when you are playing a part, and the rest of the time he wants to be in his house with the kids. Aw, he is impossibly adorable!!

I love how he recorded Anthony Hopkins's part of the script in a "cod Viennese accent' and rehearsed in the bath 🤣

And also, mussing his mad hair (which we know now he was growing for Abigail, such a dark horse).

That hair mussing one more time

Some pics

📷 My edits from NBC Today (3rd Hour) 8 Dec

Link to interview:

[pleasereadmeok]

My Friday Mood

I've been smiling all day so these glorious smiles from Matthew Goode sum up my mood.

MG on Today/NBC's 3rd hour interview in 2023. Great interview as always. Love his impression of Anthony Hopkins.

📷 Today/NBC my edits - thanks to Melissa Ann for original screenshots

The interview is a gem -

[roseeycreates-blog]

Hi, I just read your Farmer Lin AU and all I can is *chef's kiss*. I just want to ask, how would Toph find out or realize that Lin is her daughter? Would Toph go bazooka on Kanto? (that would be epic)

Anyway, hope you have a great day po :)

Hello, anon~

AHHH OMG, a fellow Filo fan 😊🥹😭 You made me extra happy! Thanks for liking the Farmer AU~ If you’re interested, we can chat more about it. Only if you want to, of course. Feel free to send me asks here anytime.. ANYWAY...

Toph met Lin three times 1st encounter: In the streets of Ba Sing Se, Lin, who was about 5 years old, was out with her babysitter. She accidentally bumped into the esteemed Chief of Police of Republic City. Toph, a little annoyed, reached out to the child but felt an unexplainable connection when she touched her. Before Toph could react, the babysitter apologized and quickly hurried off with Lin. 2nd encounter: At a recognition event in Republic City for the top contributors/businesses in the city, Lin, the youngest recipient, was getting an award. Toph noticed Lin during a journalist's interview and felt drawn to her. She wanted to approach Lin, but Suyin interrupted her. 3rd encounter: At Air Temple Island, Toph had just finished her mandatory healing/tea time with Katara when Tenzin arrived with Lin. Tenzin wanted his parents to meet his girlfriend. This gave Toph a chance to be close to Lin again. That familiar feeling returned when she touched her and heard her heartbeat. She couldn't shake the feeling that Lin was her daughter. Lin was a little confused by Toph's behavior but didn't react as the blind Chief let go of her. As Aang led Tenzin to another room, Katara asked, "What was that all about?" Toph simply said, "She's my daughter." Katara tried to reason with Toph, "Toph, why do you think that?" Toph shook her head, "I can't explain it. It's just that "feeling."" Katara sighed, understanding Toph's instincts, and said, "Go home and get some rest." Toph hesitated, then asked, "Can you gather some info about the young farmer for me?" Katara looked at her friend and, after a moment, nodded. "I will." The meeting went well overall, except for the sense of interrogation Lin felt from Katara's personal questions. Tenzin apologized for his mom's behavior, but Lin shrugged it off, understanding that Katara was being protective. She reasoned that Katara was just being a mom, considering Tenzin is one of the Avatar's children and the only airbender among them. Meanwhile, Aang noticed something was off and asked Katara what was going on. Katara then confessed everything to him, explaining Toph's suspicions and her request to gather information about Lin. When Katara told Toph everything she knew about Lin, Toph became more convinced that Lin was her daughter. She only needed proof, so she sent someone to investigate Lin's house. The other farmers and workers, including Lin, noticed the suspicious person hanging around for a few days. Two of them decided to stay overnight to keep watch. One night, Kanto called Lin and heard voices in the background. He angrily questioned her, but Lin explained the situation. He hung up and, hours later, arrived at the farm. The next day, Kanto sensed the suspicious person nearby and almost caught him with his knives, but the intruder escaped using metal cables. He had a bad feeling about it. The day he had feared for decades finally arrived—Toph standing right in front of him. Lin was taken aback by the sudden visit from the Chief of Police. Just as she was about to speak, Toph launched an attack on her father. Kanto swiftly dodged Toph's strikes and countered with throwing knives he had at the ready. Toph then distracted him, saying, "Aren't you going to use your fire today?" It caught him off guard, and Toph seized the opportunity, hurling a massive boulder of rock at him. Lin was bewildered by the chaos unfolding, but when she saw her father about to be crushed, she rushed to his side. Before she knew it, a wall of earth had risen up in front of them.

So that's how the reunion played out! I hope you enjoyed it. It was also when Lin discovered she's an earthbender, just like the blind Chief of Police.

[mystories2012]

His Smile and Andi´s win

This was for Stephan´s birthday but it ended up as Andi winning the four hill and also them getting together :) So it is a little bit older. Hope you like it☺️

The sun was shining bright through the trees. The snow made the light even brighter. But nothing was as bright as the smile on the person in front of the brunette. While the hair, which always looked like he had just fallen out of bed, fell down on his face, he watched the smaller one and couldn´t help but smile at that side. His best friend always had a bright smile when he was happy. The brunette thought for a second. Sometimes he had the feeling the smile was only for him to be seen. He shook his head. What was he thinking? His best friend always smiled brightly when he was happy. Still. Something was magical when he smiled at him. Only at him. Like in this moment when the other looked over and smiled happily at him. His eyes shone.

He just smiled back when somebody said: „Andreas would you like to give an Interview for today's competition? “. A woman wearing a jacket looked at him and waved him over. When he got closer, he saw that she worked for the ZDF. „Of course, “, he answered and gave her a little smile and a nodded. She smiled back and the cameraman said: „We are life in 3,2,1 and go “. She looked into the camera: „Welcome Winter fans. We are in Innsbruck in Austria at the Ski jumping hill where the 3rd station of the Fourhillstournament took place. For our Interview, we are visited by nobody else than the leader of the field and winner of today's competition Andreas Wellinger from Germany. Andreas how do you feel being the leader in the field at the moment? “. He thought for a second and said with a smile: „I am feeling good. Everything feels very light at the moment for me, so that is something I am really looking into “. She nodded and asked: „The jumps today looked very impressive. How did it feel to jump this far? “. „They felt awesome. I do have to work on my landing again a little. It felt like the same problem I had in Garmisch in the Quali, so this is something I have to work on but know I can manage “. „How is this atmosphere other than in Oberstdorf and Garmisch? Do you get what is happening around you when you jump? “. „The atmosphere is brilliant. A few more Austrian flags than German ones but that's totally fine. When I jump, I don't really concentrate on the fans, because I concentrate on jumping well but when you sit there it is amazing how loud they are. Something I am really happy about “. „One last question. Do you feel any pressure because Ryoyo Kobayashi is so close to you? “. He again thought of a good answer and said: „Not really. I don't put myself under pressure. I want to jump well that's all. You don't do that if you are under pressure “. „Thank you for your time, Andreas. And congratulations on your win today “. „Thank you “.

He walked away to the car. When he arrived, he was welcomed by his best friend. „Hey, Andi how did the interview go? “. „Hey Stephan. It was great. Just a few questions about today and my leadership at the moment “. He smiled and Stephan smiled back. They hopped in the car and talked a little bit about the jumps today. They had to drive a longer road because a tree fell on the road and was taken care of. So instead of 30 minutes, they drove 1 hour. Stephan and he sat in the back. He talked about something he liked and started to realize, that Stephan started to yawn and get tired. He always got when they sat in the car. „You can sleep if you like I don't mind. It was a long day and I can tell you the story another time “. „Nono it´s fine. I am fine. Tell me the story. I want to hear it “. He gave him a smile and yawned again. „If you say so. But I won't repeat it. So, you better listen “. He started talking again. A few moments later Stephan's eyes were closed and his head laid against his shoulder. Andi smiled and put an arm around his best friend. Half an hour later they finally arrived at the hotel. Just as Stephan had known this he woke up from his little nap. „Are we here? “He asked sleepily. A big yawn crossed his soft face. Andi just nodded and got out of the car. Stephan following. They went inside after getting their stuff and went to their shared room. Andi just flopped down on his bed. Not caring to put out his stuff. Stephan was the same. Since they had a queen-sized bed, he fell down next to him. To Andi's surprise, his best friend snuggled into him and a few seconds later he could hear a steady breath. A stray of hair fell down onto Stephans's forehead. Andi couldn't resist brushing it away. His hands were shaking. Stephan didn´t wake up. Andi smiled again and put his arm around the waist of his best friend. Andi put the covers over them. He positioned himself right before he started to fall asleep.

When he woke up the next day, his face was warm from the sun shining in. He smiled for a second. He just wanted to give Stephan a good morning hug but he didn’t find anything. Or anyone. His eyes shot open. He looked dazzled to his right side. The bed was empty. For a second, he thought it was a dream. His looked around the room but it was empty. For a moment he was disappointed. Or did he really dream it? He wasn’t quite sure anymore. Just when he wanted to yawn a face showed up in front of his. Dazzled he looked into deep teddy bear brown eyes. The person in the front smiled bright. This smile he could recognize anywhere. It belonged to nobody other then Stephan Leyhe. His roommate and best friend stood smiling in front of him. His face inches away from Andys. Their nose nearly touched. Stephan still smiling said: “Good morning. Are you searching for something or should I say someone”. Andi needed to gulp and he couldn’t look away from Stephans beautiful eyes. Where there always this brown with that little brilliant spark? His eyes went down to Stephans lips. The pinkish lips looked so soft and he wondered how they would taste. Just when he wanted to look up, something he never thought would happen happened. Stephan leaned in and kissed Andi on the lips. Andi shocked looked with big blue eyes at his best friend. Before he could do anything, it was over and Stephan pulled away with a smile and said: “Get up. We need to be ready for training in 15 minutes”. When he left for the bathroom, he winked at Andi. The brunette just sat there staring after him. His brain not functioning or getting any air. Dazzled he got up and went into the bathroom after Stephan. When they where finish somebody knocked on the door. Stephan opened and a tall man stood Infront of them. “Are you guys ready we are waiting”. “Sorry Karl we are coming in a few seconds. Just getting our stuff”. Karl nodded at Stephan and walked away. When his best friend walked past him with his stuff he smiled. He got closer and gave him kiss on the cheek. Then he was gone. Andreas was too stunned to speak or to react. Dazzled again he went after him and together they went down to the rest of the Team.

A few hours later he was tired and just wanted to sleep. It was very hard to always give it all. And today in training the other competitors like Stefan Kraft, Anzé Lanizek and Lovro Kos got more good jumps done than he did. And not to forget Ryoyo Kobayashi. He was just 2 points behind him. He did some impressive jumps today. Andis where good but not good enough to win. His thoughts started to race again.

What if it didn’t work?

What if he couldn’t do it?

What if everybody started to hate him?

What if Stephan started to hate him too?

What did the kiss mean to him?

Does he really like him?

Questions over questions started to spread in his head. It began to hurt and he hold on to his aching pain. He didn’t even realize that somebody spoke to him. His thought wouldn’t let him hear anything besides the voices in his head. Screaming at him. He had closed his eyes so the pain wasn’t as bad. Just when he thought he had lost, somebody touched him light on the arm. Andi looked up and opened his eyes to see Stephan sitting next to him. His worried look said it all. Stephan moved his lips and first the brunette couldn’t here him but the longer he looked the more he got and finally he heard his friend say: “Andi are you okay?”. Andi just shook his head and started to close his eyes again. He could feel the brown eyes on him. “Is it your head?”. He nodded and his best friend said: “You know I know you so please tell me what is bothering you. I am worried about you right know”. Andi didn’t look at him when he said: “I… I just don’t know what to do”. Stephan looked confused at him and asked: “What do you mean? Was it the kiss or…”. “No, it wasn’t. It was the training today. Everybody was so much better than me. What if I fail. What if everybody started to hates me because of my failure? What if you started to hate me too after that”. Stephan was to stunned to speak. He needed to process all that. He blinked a few times and said with a snappish voice: “What are you talking about?”. His voice got softer as he continued: “Andi who cares if they were better than you in training? The important thing is you showing them what you have on the hill. Nothing else matters and the others would never hate you. Nobody could. You’re to kind, too popular and too lovable to be hated. And definitely to good looking”. Stephan looked at him with dead eyes and Andi sighed. He looked down for a few seconds before he said: “What if it doesn’t work out?”. Stephan looked at him and said smiling: “What if it does?”. Andi put his head against his best friend’s shoulder. The other man gave him a little kiss on the head and said: “Lets go to bed. You have an important day in front of you”. A few minutes later they laid snuggled up under the covers next to each other and started to get sleepy before you could hear a steady noise

The next day they started the day early because of training. Andi still just couldn’t get a hang on that hill. Why was that. He couldn’t figure it out and it made him angry. While the others still jumped, he walked to the containers and sat down inside. He put his helm next to him and put his face into his hands. He wanted to cry but nothing came out. Out of nowhere the door opened and nobody than Stephan Leyhe walked in. “Here you are. I looked everywhere for you”. “Sorry. I just needed to get my head straight”. Stephan looked sadly at him and sat down on the left side. “Your thoughts again?”. “Yes. They just wont leave me alone”. “I know. I am worried about you Andi”. Not only Stephans mimic said it but also his eyes. They weren’t sparkling. He looked at him and said with a little smile: “I try to keep them down. I promise”. Stephan just nodded and leaned against him.

A few hours later the competition started. Because of the cancelling of the qualification yesterday they weren’t any battles. So, Andi would start at the second place. After a while Kraft who was number one, Kobayashi third place and himself where the only one left. Kobayashi stood up and Andi followed. A few minutes later he himself sat in the hill and started to make his first jump. When he jumped, he noticed the feeling of failure coming back up. Before he could think anymore, he landed already. He smiled at the camera because in his opinion the jump wasn’t so bad. When he looked on the screen, he saw he flew 138,5 meters and was first. He smiled even brighter. As he walked out, he put on his shoes, checked the monitor again and saw that Kobayashi only was on the 4. Place after the first. After he checked if everything was fine, he went up again for the second jump. There he sat down in a chair in one of the corners. After a while he could feel two eyes on him. He didn’t turn around but he recognized them as Stephan´s. His best friend didn’t jump that long. He landed at 128 meters and was on place 20. One after another left the room. He gave his teammates a fist when they left. Half an hour later he was the only person left. Not even the camera man was there anymore. It was completely quiet. His thought ´s started racing again. The third time in two days. What was if he would fail? Kobayashi jumped impressively 143,5 meters. He needed to at least jump to 145,5 meters. This was near Hill record. What could he do? Suddenly he could his name being said from behind. He spun around to find his best friend standing in the door. “Stephan what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be with the others down at the hill?”. “Yeah, but I could convince the security I forgot something. I just figured you could need some company”. They looked each other in the eye for a second until Andi brock it and pointed at an empty chair next to him. They only had a few minutes because Andi needed to get to the hill. They sat there in silence until somebody came in and said: “It’s your turn”. Andi nodded and got up. Before he went out, he and Stephan looked at each other. Instantly he got lost in the brown eyes. He nearly overheard his friend. “You know I wouldn’t hate you if you would lose today or any day. I could never hate you Andi. Never. I just can´t”. Andi didn’t know what to say and the next three words made his brain stopped working for a second. “I love you Andi”. His heart started to beat really fast. But he just leaned in and kissed Stephan. He could tell that his friend wasn’t prepared for that because he needed a second to kiss back. The kiss had everything. Trust, love and everything that he had in his mind these last days. He let it all out in this kiss. When they departed Andi realised this was the first real one. The other two he hadn’t kissed back. They both had their eyes closed but when they opened them, their faces were still only a few inches away. Forehead against forehead. They looked at each other with so much love it took both their breathes. But they needed to lose contact for now, because Andi needed to get out. Before he went, he gave Stephan another kiss on the lips and said softly: “I love you too”. Stephan smiled and when Andi was gone, he said with the same smile, that was only for his friend: “You will rock this. This is one of your strengths. You are the biggest fighter I know. If somebody can win this it’s you”.

And while he ran down the stairs to catch up with the other and to support his friend, Andi watched as Stefan Kraft jumped down the hill. He didn’t know how far but he saw from the flag that had been a good one. The guy next to him gave him the signal to sit down on the wood pole. He started to breathe faster. His head spinning again but suddenly he heard Stephans voice: “What if it works out”. His smile followed the voice. He closed the eyes for a seconds before opening them. New energy went through his body. Just when Horngacher gave him the signal to start he started to breathe normally again. He gave it a push and started to race down the hill. Then he pushed one more time and started to fly. He instantly felt the lightness of the last jumps he did in Oberstdorf and Garmisch. Then he landed. He didn’t know where but he heard the Fans. So was it a good one. His teammates waiting. First, he hugged Raimund, then Karl, Pius and then Stephan. He looked very proud and something mysterious laid in his eyes. He saw his jump on the screen. He landed exactly at 145,5 meters but because Kobayashi had a few meters ahead it could be his win. The blue bar came up. It was quit in an instant. Everybody hold in their breathes. The bar went up and stopped… At +0,1. Andi had actually won on 0,1 points. He was so in shock he couldn’t believe it. Stephan was the first to jump at him. He catches him and flew him in a circle before hugging the rest of the team. And the fans? They never applauded so loud in their entire life. A lot of jumpers came and congratulate Andi. Still in shock he attended the Ceremony that gifted him the golden eagle. He put it high in the sky. Let out a very loud roar and then started to get emotional. He needed to cry. How long did he, no them waited for this. Twenty-two years after Sven Hannawald they won the eagle again. After everything he went through the last years. The Cruciate ligament rupture in his leg in 2019 where he needed a year to come back. Then the bad jumps, when he was in shape for the Olympics in 2022 and couldn’t go because he got covid. Then finally the first podium in Lake Placid in 2023 after that everything went the right way. And now his dream came true that Stephan and him would be together. And of course, the golden eagle he just won. He smiled bright while he cried and after the ceremony yelled one more time while pictures where taken. The evening on the day of his win, he and Stephan snuggled up under the blanket and after they said goodnight they went to instant sleep. No party had been down. And that was something he had wished because he just wanted an evening with his best friend and a cozy and warm blanket.

[wave2love]

✧ my lovely love 𖥔˙̣

02. 3rd of december (in the snow)

IN WHICH, choi y/n after finally landing a job after many many interviews finds out his new boss is the boy that broke his heart many years ago in highschool. can the two become friends again and maybe more or will it once again end in tragedy with y/n crying on the floor of his room for days left to pick up the pieces of his once again broken heart.

⌗ warningz — happy turns into angst, they’re in love :: wc — 806

⌗ lowercase intended

˚₊꒷ʚ﹕previous — masterlist — next

3rd of december, junior year of highschool

jay planned a date for us today. as i finish getting ready a text pops up on my phone, hey baby, i’m outside. i grab my bag, phone and keys and go to meet jay outside with the biggest smile on my face. “jay!” i run into his arms, he gives me a big hug. “i missed you so much.” he says in the sweetest tone and as he gives me a kiss on my head, it starts snowing. i’ve always loved snow.

we arrive at this nice restaurant and he opens the car door for me and pulls flowers out of nowhere!? “thank you jay” i step out of the car and take his hand. he shuts the car door and leads me into the restaurant. “the reservation should be under the name park jongseong.” “right this way sirs.” the hostess says. jay leads me, holding my hand. i can’t help but smile, i love him so much.

after we eat dinner jay takes me for a walk in the park. i'm shivering, when did it get so cold? “you should’ve dressed warmer, you’re shaking.” it's that look, the look he gives me when i do something he finds cute or endearing. “hey! you’re supposed to give me a sweater in this situation!” he takes off his jacket and puts it on me. it’s so warm. i never want this date to end. snow still falling the sight of him here next to me, holding my hand, it’s my most favorite thing in the whole world. there's this small food truck right outside of the park that has the best hot chocolate in the whole world. "back on another date, aren't you two just darling." the owners are this cute little married old couple. they talk to us everytime we come around to buy food or drinks. "yes ma'am." jay tells her with a smile and i can't help but stare at him. how could a boy as beautiful as him be mine. we get our drinks and go to sit down at what we've deemed our bench.

when we sit down he gives me this look. it's a look i recognize, but one of which i am not familiar. "jay what's wrong..?" i'm scared to ask. he’s been acting weird. please don't say you're leaving me. "i.. need to tell you something." he takes my hands in his and looks at me ever so gently. he sounds... different. something happened i just know it. “what is it? jay, you can tell me anything, i’ll always be here for you my love.” “y/n you know i love you a lot right? i wish i could spend every moment i have with you.” i try to study his face to figure out what he��s trying to do. “yes jay i know you love me silly. i love you too, now tell me whats up.” he looks scared to tell me. he's never scared to tell me anything.

“y/n i’m moving away.” the words hit me like a truck. jay is leaving me. “what?” my voice is barely above a whisper and before i know it i’m crying. “you’re just moving a few hours away right?” i choke out between sobs. it starts snowing again. “i’m moving to the u.s.” my sobs worsen. “why.” “baby i love you so much i don’t want to but my parents...” “i haven’t even met your parents we kept our relationship a secret. not even my friends know that i have a boyfriend. my brothers haven’t even met you yet. what about our plans? what about everything we were going to do?” i can’t stand to look at his face anymore. “we need to break up.” “oh. okay.” i have no more tears left for now.

the drive back is silent. it’s still snowing it gives me this melancholy feeling. “y/n i’m sorry. i didn’t want to go but i have to.” “okay.” i open the door on my own when he drops me off. i don’t want to look at him any longer. “i love you.” he says before i step out. i look back at him. “i love you too.” my voice is soft, almost whisper like, but i know he heard it. i’m greeted by my brothers as soon as i step in the house. i can’t bear it any longer. as soon as they greet me i can no longer hold back my tears. “he left me. jay’s moving away.” all three of them come to give me hugs. yeonjun even offers to beat him up. i’m lucky to have brothers as loving as them.

as i look past my brothers out the window and through my tears i see the snow. i hate the snow.

˚₊꒷ʚ﹕previous — masterlist — next

⌗ karma’s corner ᵎᵎ this was supposed to be out hours ago but i forgot. i hope u guys like this chap 😈 i hope you were at least very sad after reading!

taglist ᵎᵎ comment or send an ask to be added — @junjiie @kpopstanmeg @stvrboy-k @jarosutff

don’t steal my work xoxo — © wave2love

[putschki1969]

2023/04/23 Blog post by Wakana 久しぶりのネットサイン会☆〜見守りニッパーくん〜 

❗This is Fan Club EXCLUSIVE content❗ ❗PERSONAL USE ONLY❗ Do ❗NOT SHARE❗ on other sites ❗Join her FAN CLUB! Check out my detailed TUTORIAL ❗

First Online Sign Event in a While☆〜Nipper-kun is Watching Over Me〜

The other day, I finally started doing my first interviews for the upcoming album😊 After hearing some of the album impressions from the interviewers, I feel an immense joy that people are finally getting to listen to it. I can’t wait to hear from all of you soon!

Hello, this is Wakana (0￣▽￣0)／

May 31st is still a long way to go. Until then, please try to be patient while fantasising about the "Imaginary Album Sono Saki he"!🥺✨

Well, last Sunday, I did an online sign event for the first time in a long while, it was for everyone who pre-ordered my original 3rd album "Sono Saki eh"! It's been such a long time since I've done a session like that. Thankfully, a lot of people were able to participate, I ended up signing autographs and talking for nearly 3 hours＼(^o^)／Overall, this is my third online sign session, so I tried to devise a method based on the experience from the previous events. First of all, I noticed that I will always make mistakes if I write your name while talking so this time, I tried to make sure to finish a certain amount of sheets before taking a break to talk with you. Essentially, I completely separated the writing and chatting time! \\\\٩( 'ω' )و //// This strategy worked very well, and the number of errors decreased dramatically! Also, once we had reached the halfway point we decided to include a brief intermission of about 8 minutes. During that time, I we were playing video snippets of the Christmas concert which is included as bonus content on the A version of my album. We also showed a past MV☺️ I was trying my best to look through everyone's comments, it was so much fun that the the whole event went by in the blink of an eye😍Thank you very much to everyone who participated 🤗💕 If you weren’t able to watch it in real-time, the archived video is still available until the end of today! Please take a look! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoTGVkjFxB4

When I started watching it just now, I couldn't stop laughing it was pretty funny 😂And cute little Nipper-kun was watching over me from beginning to end🐕I didn't even realize he was there until the end🤣🤣 Oi, Nipper-kun! Why didn’t you tell me you were there earlier??! 😊The silent pressure of him watching got quite bad.

The second online sign ession will be held on May 13th (Sat) at 17:00❗️See you again on the Official Victor YouTube Channel⭐️

And yesterday, the advanced fan club lottery has started for my "Wakana Billboard Live 2023 ~Sono Saki he~"! This time, I will be performing together with Satoshi Takebe on piano, Tetsuro Toyama on guitar, and Yugo Maeda on manipulator! I want you to enjoy this new album in a lovely acoustic manner among the special Billboard Live atmosphere🥰 Please come and see me on July 6th at Billboard Live Yokohama and July 20th at Billboard Live Osaka😆

Well, I shall leave it at that☆See you soon☆( *'▽'*)/

＊＊＊Wakana＊＊＊

[jbaileyfansite]

Jonathan Bailey and Matt Bomer talking Fellow Travelers on The Today Show (August 16, 2024)

[dobbiamo-capire]

✨WELCOME TO THE FERRARI TEA OF THE EVENING✨

All the juicy tea of today is offered by Umberto Zapelloni’s interview that leads to even more speculations (and even more bad than yesterday’s drama) with a little reference to my username at the end too ✨

“The handover between Binotto and Vasseur had some breach without a doubt, even in a quality check some things smell fishy: we saw it with the front wing that had that hole in the straights, we had it with the disastrous single-pilar rear wing in Sahkir, with the dnf of Leclerc due to a wiring problem. Vasseur found himself in an even worst situation that he expected. A situation that had at first gigantic expectations, that lead Benedetto Vigna to expose himself in front of what nowadays seems like a big gaffe. But Vigna is a valid man, if a person like him says that SF-23 would be a car with a speed like nothing before, he should have had someone that reassured him in this direction. And the one that reassured him now needs to hide and look over his shoulders. Vigna had no faults, he just trusted the wrong people”

“If someone played against the perfect realization of SF-23 car? It’s difficult to know, but I wish it wasn’t like that. It would have meant going against themselves too. But it’s possible that there was an internal conflict, caused by different ideas of what the shirt future of the team should have been. It’s very important what Vasseur said Sunday evening, he has a perfect picture of the situation. He understood that everything they said to him and Vigna during the winter was absolutely not true. I think now Fred knows who to trust and who not to.”

And these words lead to this other article (that i’ll link when tumblr decides to be cooperative) where i’ll translate the best bits:

“For four long years, Mattia Binotto, ex Ferrari team principal, said: ‘to be back on top of the world, you need men (as workforce) stability’. Four long years where, anyway, there were only seven victories. You may ask if that sentence was more to preserve his and other trusted job’s positions despite the results, more than an objective reality.”

[…] “From 23th of February to 3rd of March, in Bahrain, that SF-23, child of that management that preached calm and patience, went into pieces under the pressure of a front wing that deformed itself in the straights, of a single-pilar rear wing that first break in million pieced at the end of tests and later it was precarious, wobbly, fluctuating -so, it was unusable - in the first seasonal race, she gave up due to a wiring problem in a control unit changed just few hours prior, with the DNF of a sadder Charles that, just 10 days prior, asked explanations to a calm and smiling David Sanchez, now fired by who wants to get rid of who doesn’t want to contribute to the success of the ultimate goal.

‘Now i have the ideas clear’ said Vasseur to Sky Italy after the end of the first of 23 gps of this season [...] . Someone, before, was famous for his perpetual “dobbiamo capire” (“we need to understand”). Now, at the head of Ferrari, supported by a fierce and feeling of revenge presidency, there’s a man that seems to have understood it all. And now he’s acting accordingly.”

[thgfanfictionlibrary]

Not Rated Fics Masterlist (4)

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 /

Created: September 3rd, 2023

Last Checked:--

Courting Kat-endlessnightlock (tumblr)

Summary: Part two of Kat Stuck in A Tree. Courting begins and they have a lovely chaperon-Haymitch.

Kat Stuck in A Tree-endlessnightlock (tumblr)

Summary: Historical drabble. In which Katniss, the daughter of a sheep farmer, gets stuck in a tree and her next-door neighbor with wavy blonde hair comes to assist her.

Trivia Everlark Part 1-atetheredmind/muttpeeta (Tumblr)

Summary: Katniss and Peeta are bitter rivals and fate (otherwise known as Johanna) doesn't seem to think that's a good thing.   

Trivia Everlark Part 2-atetheredmind/muttpeeta (Tumblr)

Summary: Katniss and Peeta are bitter rivals...or at least they were.  

What the Future Holds-misshoneywell (AO3)

Summary: Peeta Mellark has one final chance to convince Katniss Everdeen that he is worthy of her attentions.

Where Did You Sleep Last Night?-LolaBleu (AO3)

Summary: Blindsided, that’s how Katniss feels when she goes out for her morning coffee and runs into Peeta. It’s been two years since she talked to him, longer since she’s seen him, but there he is, standing in front of her in the sidewalk, smiling like their love story had a happy ending. Sometimes - lots of times - she wishes it did. AU based on the movie Last Night, written for PiP day 6: reconciliation

Who Let You Look So Cute Today?-endlessnightlock (Tumblr)

Summary: Modern Day AU Drabble. In which Peeta has a job interview and a rather annoying roommate.

Worth the Wait-booksrockmyface (Tumblr)

Summary: Written for Everlark Birthday gifts. Mature content. Peeta drove three hours for her birthday to remind her of this stupid deal they’d made the night she had turned twenty-three. “If one or both of us are still virgins by the time we’re 30 we’ll have sex together.” They had both signed the paper at the bottom and giggled about it. Katniss thought the paper had been tossed soon after. She barely remembered that night anyway.

you could live a hundred lifetimes-Abagail_Snow (AO3)

Summary: Compilation of my Modern Day-AU drabbles that I’ve posted on tumblr over the years…

You Watch Him A Lot You Know-everlarking_always (Tumblr)

Summary: “You watch him a lot, you know.” Prim’s words pulled Katniss from the trance she’d been in, eyes fixed on a point across the room. Not a random point, as her sister had remarked, but fixed on a person.

[hotarutranslations]

Tonight, #Mo-Jo, Tomorrow #NamaTake

Evening

Tomorrow, the 24th (Sun) 12:00PM~

"HinaFest 2024" Before Special ~NamaTake Member Great Gathering 2 Hour SP~

Is Airing📺💫

Please definitellyyyyy watch! Since it made me laugh a lot!

To those that are like, its difficult~ I don't have time~ I think I've done my best to make it something you'll want to watch! Since I laughed a ton!

By all means!

Please watch!

Together with Dojima-san, I'm happy they were in the announcement comment😂 lol

🕊️←definitely look

Osaka performance first day!

Thank you very much!

I won't say anything but, With the evening performance,

Round and round 🌀stab☝️ stab ☝️(TL note: I am not sure if this is correct lol)

it was fun, and funny~~~

There are various things to enjoy in a performance🏅

Today in the afternoon, One one side, there was the momentum of lets go lets go--, I could get the reaction I wanted from the big answer, I completely messed up 😎lol

First off for tomorrow as well, It'll be a performance on like it in Osaka!

Lets look forward---!

I actually thought I already wrote a blog!

Again, thank you!

Also, in yesterdays blog,

I had writen "a different path" but,

With a different path, I'm talking about a different path in Morning Musume, Not an entirely different path!

I tlak about it in the Tokyo Sports interview but,

here

I was only thinking of this so😂💫

I was only thinking of writing this earlier!

Tonight is, Morning Musume '24's Morning Jogakuin ~Houkago Meeting~

Is airing

Ishida, Makino Maria, and Sakurai Rio are in attendance

🩵🎫e+ 🩵🎫TicketPia

Also the finale has been decided

May 27th (Mon) Nippon Budoukan .🌏👏🏻

The Ticket FC Advance Reception is undergoing! I'm looking forward to being able to meet!

📺Hello Pro Dance Gakuen Season 11

April 18th 11:30PM~ A Learning From TSUKUSHI-san Adventure🕺

In season 10 we challenged breakin', its reairing continuously! On the 15th, 17th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, #1~#6 all at once! Check out HP for info!

Sendai Broadcast "Ara Ara Kashiko" Every week (Sat) 10:25AM~ Ishida Ayumi Goes~!

I appear once a month as part of the AraKashi Family

The previous shows, and makings, are on OX VIDEO STORE!

Also on YouTube

Sendai Broadcast Ara Ara Kashiko

📺"HinaFest 2024" Before Special ~NamaTake Member Great Gathering 2 Hour SP~

CS TV Asa Channel March 24th (Sun) 12:00PM~

Thank you for following.. Instagram💙🩵

✍🏻Tokyo Sports note Series I'll tell you more about the 13 in Morning Musume '24

Announcement of Series Graduation in March

🪩Spring Tour Has Been Decided Morning Musume '24 Concert Tour Spring MOTTO MORNING MUSUME

We'll be going around the country from March 16th!

🪩HinaFest March 30th and 31st at Makuhari Messe

🪩JAPAN JAM Morning Musume '24 will be performing on May 3rd!

⚾️《LIVE DAYS！～Exciting Big Exhibition Match～》 June 2nd(Sun), after the Hokkaido Ham Fighters vs. Yokohama DeNa Baystars match, Morning Musume '24 will be having a special mini live!

.👗👠 Aoyama Clothing x Morning Musume '24

📻Morning Musume '24 Morning Jogakuin ~Houkago Meeting~

Airs Every Saturday, On Radio Nihon at 12:00AM~

Past Broadcast Episodes Are Available →Program Details

Yamazaki Mei's Panda-san Daisuki!! ~Expressing Love Towards My Favorite Panda-san♡ ver.~ in Adventure World

Yamazaki Mei's Panda-san Daisuki!! Mei-chan's Holiday. Adventure World with Oda-san and Ishida-san

see you ayumin <3

[pleasereadmeok]

Been gazing at the cover image on Today's upload of their 3rd hour interview with Matthew Goode. That is one glorious smile.

Great interview as always. Love his impression of Anthony Hopkins.

📷 Today/NBC

[nemirutami]

hi i was curious what fic you were refering to in your minato/akechi art :>??

It's a fic i've been writing on and off for a year now but i havent posted it anywhere yet haha.... unless?

In summary: It's about Akechi finding new work at a company called R.E.I (reliable, experienced, innovative) where Minato is the CEO (and widower) with a child Akechi comes to know as Rei (yep Minato named the company after his daughter). The fic focuses on all 3 influencing each other and helping each other cope/grow from their traumas but is also my biggest excuse to write cute scenes where Akechi gets to have an adopted daughter and be the dad he never got to be (he's terrible at it). If you're wondering "why would Minato hire Akechi" then don't worry. He has a very good reason. Minato hired Akechi because Akechi gave him shitty customer service and Minato took one look at him and said "I can adjust his attitude." now Akechi works for Minato bc he's an idiot. Most the fic is also me writing them comedically stupid and sad and very stupid. Oh, and I guess they kiss maybe. But really it's about broken people building a family w/o knowing. I made the fic as a joke and that's why it can't be named anything other than "Is it wrong to hit on my boss?" I've made a ton of art for it (some which I guess i've already posted alluding to the fic). I did make a cover sketch for it tho! There's a bunch of foreshadowing in the items on display (but it's too sketchy to make out I'm sure).

The 100k part of this fic is already up on patreon but I'm writing/editing the other 100K. So like, uh... 200+ pages of text and 29 chapters so far. In theory, the fic is already finished/has an ending, but I just need to fill in the gaps and tie plot points together.

If you're interested, I'll add the prelude/first chapter below the cut lmfao. It pretty much sets up the premise as tightly as possible in under 2K words. It has not been edited at all so take this abhorrently constructed first draft with no shame. You can judge my noodle words all you want but remember if you say a mean thing I will die.

Title: Is it wrong to hit on my boss?

Pair: Minake

Ch 1: That's not how this was supposed to go.

10 AM on the dot, to no one's surprise, he was flawlessly punctual as usual. Today was too important for missteps, and Akechi had carefully calculated each and every word he was going to use to land this job opportunity with one of Japan's biggest corporations in web development and online advertisement. Having worked at a low paying job for the most part (one with a boss that relentlessly attacked him and tried to convince him that he would amount to nothing, no less) didn’t prepare him for the call he received from R.E.I's founder about a new job opportunity. 

Cocky with confidence, he quit his job before the interview. 

After all, if this founder somehow went out of his way to request him, he must have done so with good reason.

With his hair tied back neatly into a ponytail and his shirt tucked beneath a more-than-a-little expensive looking business suit, he walked into the lobby, checked in, and got told to take the elevator up to the 3rd floor. He cocked his head curiously at the attendant before turning his gaze towards the elevator. Next to the elevator was a fire extinguisher for emergencies, and a metal plate outlining over 100 floors for the building. Naturally, there had to be some mistake. Floor 1 was considered the lobby, floor 2 was a storage for supplies and spare parts, and floor 3 was where their call center started. Their web developers were a fair bit higher up in the company, which made his directions only more confusing. What was a web developer supposed to do at a call center? While the thought of not having to fake a smile over the phone was comforting, the very image of having to do customer support 7 hours a day for the rest of his life put the fear of God in him.

"Pardon my rudeness, but there m-" Must be some mistake. The old lady at the counter was one step ahead of him and delivered her message with a sharp tone that left Akechi speechless.

"The founder's office is on the third floor," she interrupted her sentence with a huff, "-treat yourself to the coffee upstairs, you're gonna need it." and punctuated it with a dismissive wave of her hand. If more people hadn't entered the building and tried to take care of their own business, Akechi would have asked her to elaborate. But since he now for sure knew he was going to meet the founder, he decided not to make a scene.

"I… see. Thank you for the offer, but I must decline. I'm sure everything will go smoothly." But if they put him in a call center to provide customer support around the clock he was prepared to personally wire that black coffee maker into a homemade bomb and take down the whole building with him. While that thought crossed his mind, he smiled politely at the woman and took the elevator ride up.

Never in his life had he been so confused by a layout. He was aware of the building's size, but this was beyond ridiculous. The hallways almost looked like a maze, with paintings scribbled from wall to wall. Upon closer inspection, they looked like kids drawings. Either this was part of some PR stunt, or the founder was really into bright neon colors. If Akechi didn't hear the man on the other line himself and came here looking for a job, he'd expect to find a kindergarten at the other side of the many doors down the hall. His confidence was dwindling more and more with each step.

Once he reached the door he assumed would take him into the workplace where the founder was seated, he grasped at the handle only to find it locked. He blinked, and twisted the doorknob again, hoping it would open the door. When it didn't, he pulled a little harder until he heard a click from the other side, and noticed that the plate beneath the handle had the word "push" written in caps. Without thinking, he put far too much swing into his movement, and ended up smacking the poor sap on the other side that kindly unlocked the door for him, and the man's coffee poured right onto his suit and onto the floor in a loud mess.

"Ah, sorry!" He would have stayed and apologized properly if he wasn't at risk of running late. "If you give me a minute, I'll be right back and help you clean up!" and he was gone. He could have stayed and helped but chose to prioritize the meeting. In the end, that guy was out one cup of coffee and still had a stable income, whereas missing out on this interview might cost Akechi not only his career, but his livelihood. If this went south, he could wind up homeless. Unless he begged for his old job back.

No, the chill of winter would be less humiliating than going back on his hands and knees to the boss that not only demeaned him, but continuously plagiarized his work for his own benefit.

"Hewoo," In the midst of his early mid-twenties crisis, a soft voice spoke to him, but the only people he spotted were already head-deep in work. Another faint cry, this one, a bit more shy.

"Heo…" he turned his head down, and spotted a tiny girl hiding beneath a desk with her fist against her lips and her knees up to her chest. She looked about four years old, short curly hair with a clip-on to keep her bangs out of her eyes. Really, if she hadn't called out to him, he never would have spotted her in those shadows. He stared at her stupidly before turning his head up and asking if anyone brought their daughter to work. The girl shushed him, and got his attention once again.

"M, hidin…" 

"Ah," It was too early for a break, but he supposed someone might have taken some time off to call a responsible adult to come pick up their child from work. Still, he couldn't help but smile and crouch next to her, putting one finger over his lips with a whisper. "It's ok, I won't tell anyone." The little girl smiled so wide she was practically squinting. 

"Who r u…" He cocked his head slightly. Did she know most of the people on this floor? She spoke as if she knew he was a stranger. He shrugged it off. That can't be right. Must have been childish curiosity. 

"I'm Akechi Goro, and you?"

"Ake...ak...e...Aket…" She struggled and fumbled over her words, before she furrowed her brows with confidence and looked upset she couldn't yet pronounce his name.

"Gowo." He couldn't hold back a smile, and the little girl, now forgetting she's supposed to be hiding, shouts at him.

"Don't laff! That's mean!"

"Sorry!" His words said sorry, but his smile told her differently. At least, until his phone began beeping. It was now exactly 10 am.

"Sh-!" Too much in a hurry, he rushed to stand up quickly, and banged the back of his head against the table. He fell to his knees again, pushed down by the tabletop, and grabbed the back of his neck. The little girl, to no fault of her own, laughed at him without a shred of sympathy. Before he could get up on his feet, an arm patted him on the back.

"Hey, you ok?" He couldn't tell with his eyes closed, but the little girl mimicked the man's movements and reached her tiny hand out to pat Akechi's knee as if to comfort him. Before he could respond, he heard the man say "There you are!" followed by a tiny high pitched scream that honest to God was only giving Akechi a headache.

Still better than his old job, despite the abuse and trauma he's had to endure thus far.

When he opened his eyes, he saw the man that he accidentally slammed into squishing the little girl's cheeks, possibly as punishment.

"What did I tell you? You can't win."

"Mmmrmmmrrrr"

"Do you give up?" The child stubbornly stared him in the eye and only repeated her mumbling louder. The man sighed, but with the hint of a smile.

"Alright, go hide again." The joy in that little girl's eyes could part the skies on a cloudy day. She beamed and quickly ran off to hide elsewhere while the man covered his eyes and began counting. As soon as she was gone and he no longer heard the tip tap of feet, he got up and extended his hand towards Akechi.

"You look lost. Do you need any help?" This was humiliating. A kid laughing at him, he could handle, but a future coworker extending him his aid this early in their partnership was shameful. Especially since this was the same guy he left high and dry just moments ago.

"No, no, I'll be alr-" His voice was now much less sympathetic.

"Just take my hand." So much for debate. He didn't appreciate how everyone in this company cut him off mid-sentence, but took the other man's hand to get back up on his feet. As soon as he did, he got looked over rather thoroughly, a little too intensely to his liking.

"Doesn't look like you're bleeding, but if you're feeling dizzy, there's a nurse just two doors down to the left. She can examine you in case you've suffered any severe damage." His concern was flattering but unnecessary and sadly a waste of time.

"Haha, no worries. Actually... I need to get to the founder's office. Do you know where that is?" 

"Yes, but I wouldn't worry about t- Rei, don't climb the bookshelf! Junpei, will you-" 

"Aye, aye, boss! Come here you trouble bunny! How about you hop hop into bed and take a long looong nap? Man, uncle Junpei could use one too. I'll show you how it's done, like a pro!"

"Iori, sleep on the job and you're fired."

"Come on Philei, your dad is scary when he's talking to people that are not you!"

So much happened in the span of just a couple of seconds.

"...Rei?" He felt his blood run cold. "Her name is… Rei?" The man, somewhat confused that he was still standing there with a dumb look on his face, spoke as if this was basic knowledge Akechi should have known before stepping into the building.

"Of course, that's my daughter," he holds out his hand again, this time, expecting Akechi to shake it. "-and I'm the founder, Minato Arisato. And you are?"

Absolutely screwed.

[thesaleswhisperer]

B.S.ers Are SOL in Copywriter Jeff Putnam's World

Professional Sales Tips you'll learn today on The Sales Podcast ...

Listen to Jeff Putnam’s first interview on The Sales Podcast, episode 510, back on June 23, 2021, and see the change he’s made

Deep down, he always wanted to be a writer

He did a project as a kid on Ernest Hemingway and saw a picture of him smoking a cigar and hunting a shark with a machine gun that lit a fire

In December 2018, he got the idea for Rugged Legacy and launched it in early 2019

He didn’t want to work for anyone else

He had to learn copywriting so his business wouldn’t die

Then, he started teaching people how to do it

Wrote two books, and he reads all the time

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Working on a novel and is about 1/3rd complete

Most people suck at writing so they pay him to write

Now 99% of his income comes from writing for others

He focused on Twitter rather than building a “personal brand”

He got so busy with work that he didn’t have the time or interest in building a brand

He no longer promotes himself online

People know who he is

He has a great network now

He has some coaching clients

He wakes up at five am, takes his huskie for a walk, gets some coffee, reads for four hours, then starts his day writing for clients

Vince Flynn/Mitch Rapp series

Jack Reacher series by Lee Child

Loves Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa

Will reference a business book but doesn’t sit and read them

Does not like the appeal of the “digital nomad” lifestyle

He doesn’t want to live out of seven suitcases

He spent nearly five years hustling and grinding and perfecting his writing craft

A customer of his asked him if he’d help with their website, and that became his first paying copywriting client, but he was visible and active online and on Twitter, so they knew him

He Googled typical prices for copywriting and added 20% to that

Then he raised his prices until people balked, and then he dropped his prices 5%

He’ll include three revisions, but the fourth is 50% of the original invoice

He doesn’t design websites, but he writes the copy

He loves writing long-form content like 80-page white papers

He’ll write 16k-20k words every ten days or so

Many people confuse niche and industry

He can research any industry and write about it

A Web 3 startup paid him $60k upfront ($5k/mo) to do all of their content, and he had no experience in that space

The Web 3 client saw an article Jeff wrote on marriage and reached out to him

If clients are jerks, he cuts them loose

He charges 6-7 cents per word

He just does words

He uses AI as a style guide by uploading something like a five-paragraph description the client provides

“Additionally…in a fast-paced world…”

He loves 3-piece suits

Anchoring…

He’ll sometimes wear his suit to write to anchor himself

“Okay”

Zuby

“I’m a serious Catholic”

Adoration and Holy Hours and Mass

He carries his rosary always

He has Catholic cigars, Incensum Cigars

He converted to Catholicism last year

There are only 450 TLM churches in the U.S.

His wife is Hispanic who grew up in New England and is Catholic

He spent 18 months writing a book on Catholic masculinity

He decided to go to Mass May 7, 2023, which was two months after he launched the book

His wife was a lapsed Catholic, but now they go weekly

He’s in RCIA and entering the Catholic Church fully this Easter

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