#Bubble Gum Market Size

[newsmarketreports]

UK Confectionery Market Analysis: Trends, Growth Drivers, and Future Projections

The UK confectionery market is one of the largest and most diverse in Europe, driven by consumer demand for sweet indulgence and innovation in product offerings. With a wide array of products, including chocolate, sugar confectionery, and gum, the market has seen consistent growth despite economic uncertainties. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the key trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the UK's confectionery sector.

For more insights on the UK confectionary market forecast, download a free report sample 

Market Overview

The UK confectionery market is broadly categorized into three main segments: chocolate confectionery, sugar confectionery, and gum. Chocolate dominates the market, accounting for over 50% of total sales, followed by sugar-based confectionery and gum. The sector benefits from a strong culture of gifting and indulgence, which drives steady demand.

Key Market Segments

Chocolate Confectionery: This segment includes bars, boxed assortments, and seasonal products such as Easter eggs and advent calendars.

Sugar Confectionery: Includes boiled sweets, jellies, caramels, and pastilles. It also encompasses healthier variants like sugar-free or low-sugar candies.

Gum: Comprises chewing gum and bubble gum, with a focus on functional benefits such as oral care.

Current Trends in the UK Confectionery Market

1. Growth in Premium and Artisanal Products

Consumer preferences in the UK are shifting towards premium and artisanal confectionery products, driven by increasing demand for high-quality ingredients and unique flavors. Ethical sourcing and sustainability have also become key factors influencing purchasing decisions, with consumers willing to pay more for ethically sourced chocolate and eco-friendly packaging.

Premium Chocolate: Brands offering organic, single-origin, or bean-to-bar chocolate are gaining popularity among consumers who are seeking superior taste experiences and environmentally friendly options.

2. Health and Wellness Influence

The rise of health-conscious consumers has led to a growing demand for healthier confectionery options. Manufacturers are responding by developing products with reduced sugar content, organic ingredients, and natural sweeteners.

Sugar Reduction: The introduction of government regulations, such as the UK’s sugar tax, has encouraged companies to reformulate their products to lower sugar levels without compromising taste.

Functional Ingredients: Brands are incorporating functional ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, and probiotics into confectionery products to cater to the health-conscious market.

3. Seasonal and Gifting Trends

Seasonal confectionery plays a significant role in driving sales in the UK market, especially during holidays such as Christmas, Easter, and Valentine's Day. Gifting is also a strong trend, with confectionery products frequently purchased as presents or for special occasions.

Seasonal Products: Limited-edition flavors and holiday-themed packaging are strategies used by manufacturers to boost sales during festive periods.

Personalization: Offering customizable confectionery products has become a popular way to enhance the gifting experience.

4. Innovation in Flavors and Formats

Innovation continues to be a key growth driver in the UK confectionery market. Brands are introducing new flavors, textures, and formats to attract consumers and differentiate their products from competitors.

Exotic Flavors: Ingredients such as matcha, chili, sea salt, and exotic fruits are being introduced to offer unique taste experiences.

Novel Formats: Innovations in formats, such as bite-sized pieces, snack bars, and shareable packs, are making confectionery more accessible for on-the-go consumption.

Challenges in the UK Confectionery Market

1. Rising Raw Material Costs

The cost of raw materials, particularly cocoa and sugar, has been volatile in recent years. This poses a challenge for manufacturers, who must balance price increases with maintaining profit margins without passing significant costs on to consumers.

Cocoa Price Fluctuations: Cocoa prices are influenced by factors such as climate change and geopolitical instability in cocoa-producing regions, creating uncertainty for manufacturers.

Supply Chain Disruptions: Disruptions in global supply chains, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, have led to increased production costs and delayed deliveries of key ingredients.

2. Regulatory Pressures on Sugar

The UK government has implemented stringent regulations on sugar content in food products, including confectionery, in an effort to combat obesity and promote public health. This has forced manufacturers to reformulate their products to meet regulatory requirements while maintaining consumer appeal.

Impact of the Sugar Tax: The sugar tax has led to reformulations across the confectionery sector, with companies reducing sugar levels and introducing alternatives like natural sweeteners.

Product Reformulation Challenges: Reformulating products without compromising on taste, texture, or quality presents significant technical challenges for manufacturers.

3. Competition from Healthier Snacks

As consumer preferences shift toward healthier snacking options, the confectionery sector faces growing competition from alternatives such as protein bars, fruit snacks, and yogurt-coated products. Brands must innovate to retain market share amidst changing consumer behaviors.

Alternative Snacking: Brands focusing on plant-based, gluten-free, and sugar-free options are attracting health-conscious consumers who might otherwise avoid traditional confectionery.

Product Diversification: Confectionery brands are expanding their portfolios to include products that meet the demands of health-conscious consumers, such as high-protein or reduced-calorie treats.

Opportunities for Growth

1. Expansion into Healthier Confectionery

The growing health and wellness trend presents significant opportunities for confectionery brands to develop healthier alternatives that cater to the rising demand for low-sugar, organic, and natural products.

Plant-Based Confectionery: The rising popularity of veganism is driving demand for plant-based confectionery, which is seen as a healthier and more sustainable option.

Sugar-Free Products: Offering sugar-free or reduced-sugar variants of traditional confectionery products is a key growth opportunity for brands aiming to cater to health-conscious consumers.

2. E-commerce and Digital Channels

The digital transformation of the retail landscape has created opportunities for confectionery brands to expand their reach through online platforms. The rise of e-commerce has made it easier for consumers to access a wide range of confectionery products, including niche and artisanal brands.

Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Sales: Confectionery brands are increasingly adopting DTC sales models, allowing them to reach consumers directly through their own e-commerce platforms.

Subscription Boxes: The popularity of subscription services offers an opportunity for confectionery brands to provide curated selections of products delivered directly to consumers on a regular basis.

3. Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing

Sustainability and ethical sourcing are becoming critical factors in consumer purchasing decisions. Brands that prioritize fair trade practices, eco-friendly packaging, and sustainable ingredient sourcing can capitalize on the growing demand for responsible consumption.

Fair Trade and Organic Labels: Products with fair trade and organic certifications are gaining traction as consumers become more conscious of the environmental and social impact of their purchases.

Sustainable Packaging: The shift towards sustainable packaging, such as biodegradable or recyclable materials, is an opportunity for brands to align with consumer preferences and reduce their environmental footprint.

Future Outlook

The UK confectionery market is expected to continue its steady growth, driven by innovation, premiumization, and the expansion of healthier product offerings. Several factors will shape the future of the market:

1. Continued Innovation in Healthier Products

As health-consciousness grows, brands that invest in developing healthier confectionery options will have a competitive edge. The development of products that combine indulgence with health benefits, such as high-protein or low-sugar treats, will be a key growth driver.

2. Digital and Omnichannel Strategies

The integration of digital and omnichannel strategies will be crucial for confectionery brands seeking to engage with tech-savvy consumers. E-commerce, mobile apps, and personalized online shopping experiences will continue to influence purchasing behavior.

3. Ethical and Sustainable Consumerism

The future of the confectionery market will also be shaped by the growing demand for ethical and sustainable products. Brands that commit to environmentally responsible practices, from sourcing to packaging, will stand out in an increasingly competitive market.

Conclusion

The UK confectionery market is evolving rapidly, driven by changing consumer preferences, regulatory pressures, and innovations in product development. Brands that embrace premiumization, health-conscious offerings, and sustainable practices will be well-positioned to thrive in this dynamic sector. As the market continues to grow, opportunities in e-commerce and healthier confectionery segments offer promising avenues for future expansion.

[packagingboxprinting]

The Emotional Connection Between Display Boxes And Consumers

Display Boxes are the hottest trend in Display Packaging. These boxes are specially manufactured for Individual products. They are so appealing to consumers. Your brand image can be conveyed to potential buyers. Custom Display Boxes help you promote your products, brands, and services. Different kinds of display packaging boxes are available with their ideal benefits. These packaging boxes provide unlimited exterior designing options. Due to its durability, designers can add different textures to these boxes. Custom display boxes offer superior protection for sensitive and delicate items. They also enhance the customer's shopping experience. It creates an emotional connection between goods and customers. 

Enhance Your Brand with Eco-Friendly Kraft Display Boxes

Kraft display boxes usually hold mints, sweets, chocolates, bubble gums, cigarettes, and other small products. They are a perfect packaging solution for retailers, stores, and malls. You can appealingly showcase your products. High-quality material is used for these kraft display boxes. You can customize these Boxes according to your specifications. These boxes are suitable for reusing and recycling. Recycling is a prominent feature of custom display boxes. This material is appropriate for making new display boxes. It is an excellent way to save money in the long run. If kraft display boxes are sustainable and eco-friendly, your brand will be popular.

Handy & Cost-Effective Counter Display Boxes For Brand Promotion

Counter display Boxes help you enhance the value of your Brand and product. You can get these boxes with eye-catching customization. These boxes offer extravagant printing to make your brand and product stand out. Counter Display Boxes are perfect for making your products remarkable. Cardboard and paperboard materials are usually used to make these boxes. Custom display boxes with shapes, sizes, and styles can be used. They are displayed on counters and shelves designed to suit your environment. Counter display boxes in different styles and colors can increase your sales and brand image.  Moreover, other dimensions, styles, designs, and elegant shapes are available for display packaging boxes.

Improve Brand Visibility with Customizable Product Display Boxes

Display boxes are customized boxes printed with high-quality printing techniques. They can be ordered or customized in enticing designs and shapes. Custom Display Boxes are a great advertising solution for your product packaging. 100% Environmental material is used to manufacture these boxes. Product display boxes are easily accessible and ensure buyers can conveniently and quickly find the required item. The use of these boxes is not unique for every brand. Various material options are available for product display boxes such as Kraft, Cardboard, rigid, etc. Display boxes are versatile and offer many options compared to regular custom packaging. You can get important details about your products. They also increase your product look. 

Valuable Benefits & Effective Packaging Solutions

Display Boxes are versatile boxes with a powerful edge.  They provide affordable packaging solutions. Kraft display boxes are customizable boxes and suitable for recycling. They are an excellent packaging solution for retailers and stores. They help you to showcase your products appealingly. High-quality material is used for these custom-made boxes. You can increase your business look with the help of these versatile product display boxes. They are not only accessible but also cheap. These boxes offer different benefits regarding sales and Brand promotion. Custom packaging is helpful for marketing purposes. It also provides effective solutions for all types of businesses. Display boxes are a great source of product information.

Highlight Your Product Features with Custom Display Boxes

Display packaging boxes are appealing to the customers. They are easy to assemble, durable, and manufactured quickly. Display boxes are eco-friendly and simple to transport. Custom Display Boxes highlight the important features of your products. These custom boxes permit the items to be shielded and packaged during transport. They reduce carriage costs and storage for many businesses. Counter display boxes are convenient and enhance Brand awareness. It is a cost-effective way to reach your larger audiences. You can display your products in style with customized kraft display boxes. Small-sized items can be showcased at retail shops. These boxes are budget-friendly; you can select visual designs to make these products visible.

Distinctive Features For Your Products

Cardboard Displays are specially used to display different items. They are excellent for sensitive products. Durable custom display boxes secure your products from any damage. Eco-friendly material is used for these boxes.  Durable and versatile kraft display boxes show the superb quality of retail items. Customizing the containers' shape, size, material, color, and design is easy. You can differentiate your Brand and build eye-catching and memorable displays. You can add captivating colors to adorable custom packaging boxes. It highlights your product characteristics in an enchanting way.

Ideal Custom Packaging Solutions for Your Brand at Verdance Packaging

Verdance Packaging offers a remarkable platform for highlighting and showcasing product features. We provide exceptional, ideal, cost-effective custom display boxes solutions to promote your Brand. We offer incredible customized features. We manufacture custom packaging and printing boxes using eco-friendly, high-quality materials. Get unlimited customization, error-free, and quality services with free shipping.

[sinister-bob]

Fleer Chewing Gum Company, in Philadelphia, had been searching for years to produce a formula that allowed bubbles to be blown that did not stick. In 1928, while Walter Diemer was testing new gum recipes, he noticed that his product was less sticky than regular chewing gum, and after testing it he found that he could create bubbles easily. After a year of attempts, he made the first successful batch of bubble gum. But the next morning when trying to recreate his successful concoction, he failed to reproduce the same results. After four months of trying to mimic his first success, he finally made a 300-pound batch of what would become Dubble Bubble. The only food coloring available at the factory was pink, so Diemer had no choice but to use it, and the color would go on to become the standard for gum for the world over. Using a salt water taffy wrapping machine, Diemer decided to individually wrap 100 pieces and brought the stock to a local candy store. The gum was priced at one penny apiece and sold out in one day. Before long, the Fleer Chewing Gum Company began making bubble gum using Diemer's recipe, and the gum was marketed as “Dubble Bubble” gum. Diemer's bubble gum was the first-ever commercially sold bubble gum, and its sales surpassed 1.5 million dollars in the first year. To help sell the new bubble gum, Diemer himself taught salespeople how to blow bubbles so that they in turn could teach potential customers.

The original gum featured a color comic strip, known as the Fleer Funnies, which was included with the gum. The featured characters, ‘Dub and Bub’, were introduced in 1930 but were replaced by the iconic Pud and his pals in 1950. Originally, Pud was much more rotund than the slimmed down version seen in the 1960s. The early comics were especially large and colorful. The comic also included Fleer Fortunes and Dubble Bubble Facts. The comics were sequentially numbered which made collecting them easy. They are not dated though, so it is difficult to know the exact year of release. By the late 1950s and early 1960s, Fleer Funnies shrank to the small size most people remember. More than 1,002 comics have been released over the years. During World War II, Dubble Bubble was distributed to the military. Sugar and latex became scarce due to the war and bubble gum manufacturing was halted in 1942. In 1951, Fleer resumed manufacturing of Dubble Bubble and the popularity of its gum grew steadily. Over time, Fleer extended its reach by adding new flavors and new formats like ball gum and expanded distribution of its products overseas. In 1957, Fleer introduced the first gum 6-pack with Dubble Bubble. In 1998, Dubble Bubble was purchased by Concord Confections and in 1999 they introduced Dubble Bubble as a gumball. In 2003, Tootsie Roll Industries acquired Concord. Since Concord's acquisition, Dubble Bubble has since used a different recipe and also discontinued the comic strips and fortunes on the wrappers, but continued to use Pud as its mascot.

[artgenius]

The City of Silence

I cannot recall any reason why would he spot me in a crowd where I was slowly moving. It is Thursday, market day. A river of people loudly bubbling, unstoppably rinsing the market stands.

As soon as he noticed me, he rushed in urgently, didn’t want me to get away, I guess, and stopped right in front of me, so I halted unintentionally.

The man first lifted, and then slowly, for a hundredth of a second — faster than a sun when setting — lowered his eyebrows. While watching me so, I thought it was very appropriate to offer him my curious gaze. He smiled. But there was nothing to be added, since I am always smiling.

Neither he asked me anything, nor did I answer him. A moment, long as eternity. Surprisingly, my thoughts streamed smoothly into this unexpected confluence of our encounter. It seemed like we were perfectly understanding each other. Like fish do. Flexing bodies.

I got it, the conversation will not be easy. Troublesome are those who start their sentences with “I.”

“I,” repeated it several times a bit louder, “don’t have trousers!” Carefully, I looked at him from head to toe, but not too noticeably, because of the crowd. From the top to the waist, a pretty decent old guy. From the waist to the bottom, a very bold combination even for evening outings.

Lacquered shoes, size 9.1 (US 10), and navy blue socks. An absence of trousers, duly reported. Therefore, an old man, without trousers, wearing white pants and a gray jacket, and me.

In the middle of the marketplace, face to face. I felt tightness in my throat. Choked up, unskilfully, I tried to swallow the saliva in my mouth, and with tears in my eyes, I realized that I just swallowed my chewing gum.

“The tribes of Arad and the graves of ancestors, my son, have occupied my mind!”

“You crazy, old man!” It almost left my lips.

“With your archaic speech, as if you were a character in a reader.” It crossed my mind, simply, to rebuke him lightly in my thoughts. However, looking at me even more seriously, he instantly provoked a spark of shame within me. Satisfied that it remained hidden, I allowed him to continue.

“Can you hear the sound of silence?”

Obediently, I tried to hear something and the old man continued.

“In 1887 there was a railway here, and the train rolled late into the night. From the inside, a famous poet, curiously looking into the darkness through the wagon window, to see what kind of city is this.

Whether just to cut time or ease boredom from a long trip, I do not know. The Empire ordered a curfew at that exact time. Nevertheless, from time to time, disobedient residents were sneaking around with lanterns through the darkness, wandering from tavern to tavern. Just like stunned, enamoured fireflies in the night, roaming to and fro, aimlessly from appearances alone.

Perhaps because of a chilly night, mist, or from a draft in the wagon. Who the hell knows!”

The scene seemed spooky. As if he had appeared at the graveyard and watched the procession that revered him while honouring ancestral customs. And then what?

An inspiration gave way to a poetic impulse. The wine had spoken from his innermost, his words got into agreement to exult us in a poem. I knew, up until yesterday, which book and title. He called this place a city of silence, thinking of the quiet in a graveyard. However, gentlemen, it is not a romance, it isn’t. It’s a graveyard!

You drink as if in a graveyard! I am heading over there. My one foot is already in the grave.

Where is the romance in this? Here, I’ve forgotten my trousers.

The people do not know that. Would I come to the marketplace without trousers?

This way, when to the grave, who cares.

[tannerbabes19]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Mr. Bubble Kids Bath Time Fun Bubble Bath/Fizzer Bath Potion Tub Soap Stickers.

[candyville]

The History of Big League Chew in Canada

Big League Chew is a popular chewing gum known for its shredded bubble gum form, which resembles chewing tobacco. It has gained a significant following among baseball players and fans alike. In this article, we will delve into the intriguing history of Big League Chew in Canada, exploring its origins, cultural impact, and enduring popularity among Canadians.

1. Introduction

Big League Chew was first introduced in the United States in 1980 by Rob Nelson and Jim Bouton. Inspired by their experiences in professional baseball, they created a fun and unique alternative to traditional chewing tobacco. The shredded bubble gum revolutionized the chewing gum industry and quickly gained popularity among baseball players of all ages.

2. The Birth of Big League Chew

Rob Nelson, a former professional baseball pitcher, noticed his teammates chewing tobacco during games. Concerned about the health risks and wanting to find a safer alternative, he began experimenting with different ideas. Eventually, he came up with the concept of shredded bubble gum, which mimicked the appearance of chewing tobacco.

3. Arrival in Canada

Big League Chew made its way to Canada shortly after its launch in the United States. Baseball fans and players in Canada embraced the unique gum, finding joy in its resemblance to chewing tobacco without the associated health risks. The gum's arrival in Canada sparked a new trend among baseball enthusiasts and became a staple in dugouts and little league games.

4. Marketing Success

Big League Chew's success can be attributed to its clever marketing strategy. The brand capitalized on its association with baseball, using images of professional players and stadium scenes in its advertisements. This marketing approach resonated with Canadian baseball fans, further fueling the gum's popularity and making it a must-have accessory for anyone passionate about the sport.

5. Flavors and Varieties

Over the years, Big League Chew expanded its flavor offerings to cater to diverse tastes. In Canada, popular flavors include original, grape, watermelon, and sour apple. The availability of different flavors enhanced the gum's appeal, ensuring that there was a flavor for everyone to enjoy while cheering on their favorite teams.

6. Expansion and Growing Popularity

As the years went by, Big League Chew expanded its presence across Canada. The gum became a staple not only in baseball circles but also among chewing gum enthusiasts of all kinds. Its distinct packaging and unique shredded form set it apart from other chewing gum brands, ensuring its continued popularity and growth.

7. Big League Chew Today

Today, Big League Chew continues to be a beloved chewing gum brand in Canada. It has become an iconic part of Canadian baseball culture and is often associated with cherished memories of the sport. The gum's availability in stores, stadiums, and online platforms ensures that fans can always get their hands on this nostalgic treat.

Conclusion

Big League Chew has left an indelible mark on Canadian baseball culture. Its shredded bubble gum form, reminiscent of chewing tobacco, provided a safer alternative while capturing the essence of the sport. From its humble beginnings to its widespread popularity, Big League Chew has become an integral part of the Canadian baseball experience.

Candy Ville

Candy Ville is a Canadian candy company that has been selling Big League Chew since the 1980s. Candy Ville is proud to offer a wide variety of Big League Chew flavors, including classic flavors like strawberry and grape, as well as newer flavors like sour apple and watermelon. Candy Ville also offers Big League Chew in a variety of sizes, from single pouches to family-sized packs.

If you are looking for a delicious and nostalgic treat, then Big League Chew from Candy Ville is the perfect choice for you. Order your Big League Chew today and enjoy the taste of summer!

[vapehk1]

Breeze Pro Disposable Vape Review

We have witnessed a fast development in the past three years regarding disposable vapes in the United States. It is also becoming more and more popular to use such vapes for CBD consumption. More information on how to use a weed pen can be found at https://askgrowers.com/blog/how-to-use-a-weed-pen. Some famous brands we already reviewed, such as Puffbar, Hyde, and Airbar. Today We are going to review one of the most popular ones which name is Breeze pro disposable vape. Please keep reading for more information. Disposable Vape Specifications E-juice capacity: 6ml Puffs: 2000 puffs Nictine strength: 50mg Battery capacity: 1000mAh Breeze Pro Flavors There are 25 flavors to choose from for Breeze pro disposable vape, they are Anejo, Banana Mint, Blueberry Banana, Blueberry Mint, Blueberry Watermelon, Blue Raspberry, Bubble Gum Freeze, Cherry Cola, Cherry Lemon, Grape Soda, Gum Mint, Lemon Mint, Lush Ice, Mint, Orange Mango Watermelon, Pina, Colada, Pom Berry Mint, Pumpkin Spice, Raspberry Lemon, Strawberry Peach Mint, Strawberry Cream StrawKiwi, StrawMelon, Tropical Summer, Vanilla Tobacco. Buy Breeze Pro disposable vape with the best price from thevaporshoppe. Build Quality & Design Breeze pro disposable vape comes with a transparent crystal retail package, therefore you can see the product itself from the package outside, the crystal package shell is covered with an envelope which writes the information including the product name, flavor name, and warning content. Opened the retail package, the breeze pro has a similar size and appearance like Voopoo Vinci pod. However breeze pro body part is mostly colored black, and there are two stickers on both sides the BREEZE logo and the flavor name were placed. Stickers colors differ from the flavor, the flavors I got are Vanilla Tobacco and Blue Raspberry. The breeze pro is designed with a flat mouthpiece which is my favorite style, it fits your lips very well. In addition, the proportion for the mouthpiece and the main body is great so that the breeze pro looks very sleek and solid. The body shell seems to be used with some kind of high-quality plastic material which is smooth to hold, but i am not sure if the mouthpiece is made of food-grade PCTG material. Performance About the performance, as we listed the specifications above, breeze pro is a built-in 1000mAh battery and is prefilled with 6ml E-juice capacity, it does not support recharging and adjustable airflow. During my testing days, I am pretty satisfied with the flavor taste and the leakage-proof ability. The throat hit from both two flavors is super strong and smooth, which really solved my nicotine demand from smoking a cigarette, even if i am a heavy smoker. When vaping with the flavor Blue Raspberry, it smells great indeed, just feeling like eating the fruit blue raspberry all the time. What amazes me is that I have not experienced any burnt taste or leakage after the battery died. Battery Life Breeze pro disposable pod is built in 1000mAh battery capacity, to verify its battery capacity, I dissembled the product and found the word 1000mAh printed on the battery. This is great because not all vape brands on the market are using true battery capacity. I guess the reason I have not experienced any burnt taste is that the battery died before the E-juice ran out. How Many Hits Does a Breeze Pro Have When it comes to how many hits a breeze pro has, it differs from vaping habits. If you vape for about 2 seconds for each hit, it will consume the E-juice quickly, and in total should last about 1500 hits. If you vape over 3 seconds for each puff, then I guess it will last about 1800 to 2000 hits. How to Recharge My Breeze Pro Disposable Vape As we mentioned before, it comes with a 1000mAh battery capacity. However, it does not carry any recharging port, no Micro USB port or USB-C port. But we can still use another way to recharge it, if you are interested in recharging your breeze pro, please check the blog How to recharge disposable pod. Pros and Cons Pros -Comfortable mouthpiece -Stylish and solid design -Satisfy flavors and throat hit Cons -Looks plastic Summary Breeze Pro is one of the most popular disposable vapes in the United States. Prefilled with 6ml E-juice capacity, a built-in 1000mAh battery, it can last about 1800 puffs. With more than 25 excellent flavors, you will not experience any burnt taste and E-juice leaking from beginning to end. If you think this review is helpful, please share it with those vaper friends. Read the full article

[teeresearch]

Frozen Food Market - Forecast 2023 - 2028

Frozen Food Market Overview

The Frozen Food Market size is estimated to reach $383.3 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period 2023-2028. The surging impulse buys of frozen foods are set to drive the Frozen Food Market. The soaring evolution from the sale of frozen fruits & vegetables to frozen vegetable mixes, frozen desserts and bakery products is set to propel the growth of the Frozen Food Industry during the forecast period. Frozen food products may include frozen fruits & vegetables, frozen dairy products like frozen yogurt, frozen meat & seafood and more. Only good quality raw materials can create good quick-frozen vegetables. As per Impulse Buying Statistics on Brandongaille.com, up to 20% of the average household’s grocery bill is derived from items that were bought on impulse only. Frozen foods may feature on the list of impulse buys. The frozen dessert industry has evolved to include Keto ice cream by Mammoth Creameries as well as sentimental and Gen Z-friendly Bubble Gum Ice Cream by Walmart. This represents the Frozen Food Industry Outlook.

Frozen Food Market Report Coverage

The “Frozen Food Market Report - Forecast (2023-2028)” by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments in the Frozen Food Market.

By Product Type: Frozen Fruits & Vegetables, Frozen Meat & Seafood, Frozen Cooked Ready Meals, Frozen Desserts, Frozen Snacks and Others.

By Distribution Channel: Supermarkets And Hypermarkets, Convenience Stores, Online Channels and Others.

By Geography: North America (the US, Canada and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, Russia and the Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia & New Zealand and the Rest of Asia-Pacific), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and the Rest of South America) and the Rest of the World (the Middle East and Africa).

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Key Takeaways

Geographically, Europe (Frozen Food market share) accounted for the highest revenue share in 2022 and it is poised to dominate the market over the period 2023-2028 owing to skyrocketing intake of frozen meat & seafood in the European region.

The growth of the Frozen Food Market is being driven by a soaring intake of frozen ready meals involving good quality raw materials. However, issues in the cooling chain may result in health complications which is one of the major factors hampering the growth of the Frozen Food Market.

The Frozen Food Market Detailed Analysis of the Strengths, Weaknesses and Opportunities of the prominent players operating in the market would be provided in the Frozen Food Market report.

Frozen Food Market Segment Analysis – by Product Type

The Frozen Food Market based on product type can be further segmented into Frozen Fruits & Vegetables, Frozen Meat & Seafood, Frozen Cooked Ready Meals, Frozen Desserts, Frozen Snacks and Others. The Frozen Cooked Ready Meals Segment held the largest share of the Frozen Food market in 2022. This growth is due to a surging intake of frozen cooked ready meals amidst the growing working class across the world. The soaring novel product launches are further propelling the growth of the Frozen Cooked Ready Meals segment. Furthermore, the Frozen Fruits & Vegetable segment is estimated to grow at the fastest CAGR of 6.3% during the forecast period 2023-2028 due to the increasing inclination of consumers towards frozen fruits & vegetables attributed to the non-requirement of washing, peeling and chopping amidst the increasing predominance of lifestyle ailments.

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Frozen Food Market Segment Analysis - by Distribution Channel 

The Frozen Food Market based on distribution channels can be further segmented into Supermarkets and Hypermarkets, Convenience Stores, Online Channels and Others. The Supermarkets and Hypermarkets Segment held the largest share of the Frozen Food market in 2022. This growth is owing to the surging count of these stores across different regions, marketing distinct frozen products like frozen meat & seafood, frozen dairy products and more. The effortless access to frozen products under one roof is further propelling the growth of this segment. Furthermore, the Online Channels segment is estimated to grow at the fastest CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period 2023-2028 owing to the skyrocketing application of eCommerce-based websites for the purchase of frozen products like frozen meat & seafood, frozen dairy products, frozen fruits & vegetables and frozen desserts online at just click of a button.

Frozen Food Market Segment Analysis - by Geography

Europe dominated the Frozen Food market with a 37% share of the overall market in 2022. The growth of this region is driven by enhanced living standards in the European region. The soaring demand for frozen food products made from good quality raw materials is further propelling the growth of the Frozen Food Industry, thereby contributing to the Frozen Food Industry Outlook, in the European region. Furthermore, the Asia-Pacific region is estimated to be the region with the fastest CAGR over the forecast period 2023-2028. This growth is fueled by factors like the increasing demand for frozen dairy products in the Asia-Pacific region. The rising accessibility of dairy-free, vegan, sugar-free, gluten-free and plant-based products is further fueling the progress of the Frozen Food Market in the Asia-Pacific region.

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Frozen Food Market Drivers

Surging Innovations in Frozen Fruits & Vegetables:

Frozen fruits are stored at about 20°C for application whenever needed. Innovation around health indicated an idea of “low” or “free” like “low fat” and “fat free” products. There are products enhanced with fiber, probiotics, vitamins and minerals. There are products presumed to “naturally” offer advantages. This is accomplished by the application of specific constituents like “superfruits” like acai, goji, guarana and more; “supervegetables” like kale, cabbage kale, garlic and more and “supergrains” like chia, sesame, buckwheat and more. The surging innovations in frozen fruits & vegetables are therefore fueling the growth of the Frozen Food Market during the forecast period 2023-2028.

Novel Product Launches Pertaining to Packaging Materials for Frozen Food Products:

In June 2022, Walki introduced novel recyclable packaging materials for frozen food products. The novel materials are anticipated to fit the requirements of the frozen food industry, with a target to make the packaging 100% recyclable in the paper stream. Walki’s novel series involves Walki EVO Seal and Walki Opti Seal which are recyclable paper-based packaging aimed for pillow pouches for frozen food. As per the company, both materials are appropriate for all types of frozen food, involving vegetables, seafood and bakery products. The novel product launches pertaining to packaging materials for frozen food products are propelling the growth of the Frozen Food Industry, thereby contributing to the Frozen Food Industry Outlook during the forecast period 2023-2028.

Buy Now

Frozen Food Market Challenge

Taste of Frozen Food Not as Great as Fresh Food:

As per Seafood Consumption Statistics on Brandongaille, 75% of the seafood that is consumed in the U.S. is either fresh or frozen. Frozen food may not taste as great as fresh food. There are restricted assortments of frozen dishes. Texture may be changed when freezing food. The food in the freezer may be out of one’s mind for numerous years. If the food is deposited in the freezer for too long, it may no longer be edible or at least, it may no longer taste that good. Certain frozen dishes include preservatives. Certain foods may lose valued nutrients and vitamins. These issues are thus hampering the growth of the Frozen Food Market.

Key Market Players 

Novel product launches, partnerships, acquisitions, expansions and investments are key strategies adopted by players in the Frozen Food Market. The top 10 companies in the Frozen Food market are:

Unilever

Nestlé S.A.

General Mills, Inc.

Nomad Foods Limited

Tyson Foods, Inc.

Conagra Brands, Inc.

Wawona Frozen Foods

Kellogg Company

The Kraft Heinz Company

Lantmännen Unibake (Lantmännen Group)

Recent Developments

In October 2022, Nestlé declared plans to gain Seattle’s Best brand from Starbucks. It was to be included in the coffee portfolio involving Nescafé, Nespresso and Blue Bottle. Starbucks purchased Seattle’s Best in 2003.

In May 2022, Unilever declared that it has marked an agreement to gain a majority stake in Nutrafol. Nutrafol is the principal provider of hair wellness products. Unilever currently holds a minority stake (13.2%) in Nutrafol by way of Unilever Ventures.

In January 2021, Unilever declared 25 novel innovations across six of its packaged ice cream and frozen novelty brands. These involved Breyers®, Good Humor®, Klondike®, Magnum ice cream®, Popsicle® and Talenti® Gelato & Sorbetto. These novel creations are currently available at principal retailers countrywide in the U.S., as per a press release. 

For more Food and Beverage Market reports, please click here

[whatbigotspost]

I’ll just talk to myself about it, I’m good and experienced at this, teehee.

Just thinking more about how I have such a love/hate relationship with Barbie the doll, the symbol, the movie. Do I feel like I’m dying in a late stage capitalist hellscape of bubble gum pink cross promotional marketing. Like literally suffocating? Sure.

Do I hate the havoc Barbie wreaked on the body image of me, my friends, my generation, and my mom’s before me? Also true.

Have I written entire papers and educational curriculum for girls and endless blog posts related to deconstructing the white supremacist, able bodied, ageist, classist, fatphobic, transphobic beauty ideal of which Barbie is commonly, specifically called out for having played a central cultural role?

Of course. But love and hate are the same sides of 1 coin: a passionate emotion. It’s the whole “the opposite of love’s indifference” thing and I definitely don’t feel indifferently about Barbie.

I’m just the right age to have been raised in a weird quagmire of Barbie popularity meets 90s shallow girl power shit meets the height of the thin ideal during the “heroin chic” era. I had the Barbie that famously told me “math class is tough.” I was one of the little girls devastated to be waaaay bigger than the original “my size” Barbie so I was told I couldn’t get one at all (“you were meant to wear her clothes, why should we waste money on her when you can’t.”) I was 12 when Aqua’s notoriously sexual-flirts-with-kids-doll-content, yet indelibly iconic “Barbie Girl” was playing everywhere. I wasn’t naive, I understood the song’s content but didn’t have the perspective or maturity yet to understand the context. I just knew that right around when that song came out was the first time I was cat called by an adult man as a child because I had grown tits seemingly overnight and I didn’t feel safe or content in my body again for another 20 years thereafter.

AND

I also have an 8 year old Barbie fanatic alive and well inside me. A little girl who loves that plastic fashionista bitch and all her friends. I had about a million Barbies when I was approximately ages 5-11.

The hours I lost playing Barbies with my two neighborhood besties are incalculable.

Or maybe the hours weren’t lost, more like……put toward practicing navigating relationships through plastic model avatars? Figuring out my sense of humor? Learning to tell stories? Just being silly weird little girls having wonderful little girl fun? Whatever the case, it all went down in a boring suburb and the only thing in walking distance worth doing in my tiny worldview back then was hanging out with other Barbie girls. The ones who “knew how to play Barbies right” aka, creating whole worlds and eras and distinct characters and interwoven narratives we could build on for weeks. We had dynasties and lore…the drama, the intrigue, the complex family dynamics and stories we acted out through those dolls.

It’s just why I totally get what Barbieland was, immediately. It’s why some of you know what I mean when I say “play Barbies right” immediately.

It wasn’t changing clothes or brushing her hair although that happened TOO. It was much more us trying to work out what we saw around us in real adults but even more so media adults, emulating the best we could what we thought our lives would be like if we would someday be as glamorous as our Barbies. (Or Rachel on Friends. Or Cher and Ty in Clueless.)

It was us reflecting back what we were hearing, but also it was us being us when some of our roughest and most beautiful edges hadn’t been dulled yet.

Anyway Greta Gerwig made this movie for me. Well, all the me-s. All us ladies with the love/hate Barbie baggage that seems ubiquitous when I’m talking to other Xennials. And Greta says this is so by centering the film between Barbie and America Ferrera’s character (“the mom”) instead of the tween, like it seemed for a moment. Women my age and general background couldn’t be more the center of the target audience for this film if we tried and the layers that are within it are still making my head spin and want to talk about it so fucking much. There’s so much here. Of course many men don’t get it. (The good ones do.)

And it’s also a film you can totally experience at a shallow level if you want to. It’s both, and. Good and bad. Shallow and complex. Fun and dangerous.

Like isn’t corporate propaganda woven in art that moved me this greatly probably the absolute WORST kind? Isn’t it being wildly effective? Did I even have a choice to feel this way about Barbie? Wasn’t Mattel target marketing to me since before I exited the womb? Wasn’t this a creative way to hook me back in when they’re at their most irrelevant in my life? When I had processed and packed Barbie away as “problematic” like any good lil budding feminist of the aughts would have? When I feel guilty buying my nieces the Barbies they want? When I’m like “psh, curvy Barbie is still thin.”

Haven’t they just found a new way to get me? They center my current life values, drive directly into what my Barbie gripes have been, and leverage someone my age’s penchant for nostalgia…BOOM thereby succeeding in making ever more money off of me? (Again using me here as “this general target demographic.” They see the “me” factor here at scale.)

It makes me sick to think how Mattel playing cutsie “in on the joke” mega corp via Will Ferrell, etc. is just another way that there’s a weird dance of cognitive dissonance throughout this whole experience. To which Greta would say, “I KNOW RIGHT?”

Someone talk about the Barbie movie with me moooore. What did you think? I’ve been ruminating on it constantly since I saw it last weekend and I’m seeing it again this weekend so I can absorb and analyze more. My partner is probably growing tired of it occupying so much of my brain 😅

[surajpalange-blog]

Global Bubble Gum Market 2019 – Latest Growth, Development Trends & Forecast Report to 2024

Acquire Market Research has announced a new report titled “Global Bubble Gum Market, Market Research, Market Research Reports, Industry Reports, Regions Reports, Industry Analysis, Business Research” to their offerings.

The worldwide market for Bubble Gum is expected to grow at a CAGR of roughly 4.4% over the next five years, will reach 810 million US$ in 2024, from 650 million US$ in 2019, according to a new study.

Bubble gum is a type of chewing gum, designed to freshen breath and to be inflated out of the mouth as a bubble. Bubble gum have property of blowing bubbles because film-forming characteristics. Bubble Gum includes Sugarless and Sugar-Containing types in this report.

Request Sample Report @ https://www.acquiremarketresearch.com/sample-request/1572

Scope of the Report: In the coming years there is an increasing demand for Bubble Gum in the regions of North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. In the past few years from 2012-2017, the global production and consumption developed stably. The global Bubble Gum market size in terms of production is projected to grow to 240,474 MT by 2022 from 173481 MT in 2017 (estimated), with a CAGR 6.75%. At the same time, Asia-Pacific, EU and North America are remarkable in the global Bubble Gum industry because of their market share and technology status of Bubble Gum. In the future, the production and consumption is estimated to continue developing with a stable growth rate. To meet the large and increasing demand, more and more manufacturers will go into this industry. The price of Bubble Gum differs from company to company, as there is a great difference among the Bubble Gum quality from different companies. Although the market competition of Bubble Gum is fierce globally, there are many enterprises can obtain considerable profit form the manufacturing and marketing of Bubble Gum and that is the reason that we believe there will also be enterprises enter this market. But it is suggested that enterprises those have plans to enter this industry have careful analysis of this market and the advantages or disadvantages of themselves. This report focuses on the Bubble Gum in global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application. Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers Wrigley Cadbury Hershey Concord Confections Perfetti Van Melle Unigum Oakleaf ZED Candy (Dublin) Lotte Orion Fini Sweets Zhejiang Spring Sweets Co

More Info and TOC @ https://www.acquiremarketresearch.com/industry-reports/global-bubble-gum-market-2019-by-manufacturers-/1572/

Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers North America (United States, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia etc.) Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa) Market Segment by Type, covers Sugarless Bubble Gum Sugar-Containing Bubble Gum Market Segment by Applications, can be divided into Offline Sales Online Sales

Table of Contents

1 Market Overview

1.1 Bubble Gum Introduction

1.2 Market Analysis by Type

1.2.1 Sugarless Bubble Gum

1.2.2 Sugar-Containing Bubble Gum

1.3 Market Analysis by Applications

1.3.1 Offline Sales

1.3.2 Online Sales

1.4 Market Analysis by Regions

1.4.1 North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)

1.4.1.1 United States Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)

1.4.1.2 Canada Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)

1.4.1.3 Mexico Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)

1.4.2 Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)

1.4.2.1 Germany Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)

1.4.2.2 France Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)

1.4.2.3 UK Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)

1.4.2.4 Russia Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)

1.4.2.5 Italy Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)

1.4.3 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)

1.4.3.1 China Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)

1.4.3.2 Japan Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)

1.4.3.3 Korea Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)

1.4.3.4 India Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)

1.4.3.5 Southeast Asia Market States and Outlook (2014-2024)

Request for Discount @ https://www.acquiremarketresearch.com/discount-request/1572

About Acquire Market Research:

Acquire Market Research is a shrine of world-class research reports from around the world and we offer you only the best in the Industry when it comes to research. At Acquire, every data need will be catered to and met with a powerful world of choices. "We understand the integral role data plays in the growth of Business empires."

Contact Us: 555 Madison Avenue, 5th Floor, Manhattan, New York, 10022 USA Phone No.: +1 (800) 663-5579 Email ID:sales@acquiremarketresearch.com

[btsydtrash]

Euphoric Endeavours [8]

vampire bts, poly ot7 x uni student yn

(AN: Hi, all! This story is actually already posted on AO3. But! I want to try and grow a little community on Tumblr, too. So, I decided to post it on here. I have almost 50 chapters of this story up over there, so I’ll slowly be adding them onto here too. I hope that you like it!)

also, i don’t have a tag list, but if you follow/put notifications, you’ll get alerted. tysm loves!

find me on twitter        word count: 4.9k

(angst / smut / fluff / gore)

TW: alcohol, implication of sex (barely)

Chapter 8 - ‘Proximity’

Scowling up at the bright lights overhead, you ask, “Why are we in a market at ten thirty?”

Taehyung shoves the trolley in your direction, a touch too hard because Namjoon has to stop it before it hits you, a disapproving glare being sent his way, before he lets you take the reins. “Hush, young Padawan. Our fridge is nearly empty.”

Pushing the trolley ahead, you ask, staring at the bubbly blue-haired artist, “And, what does that have to do with me, exactly?”

“Did you want to eat tonight?” Yoongi asks, with a dry look. “If so, be quiet and push.”

You sniff at his attitude, and say, “Can I sit inside the trolley instead?”

The blond looks you up and down, before he asks, derisively, “Can you fit?”

You hit him in the chest with a low curse, to which he snorts at. “Aish! I haven’t put that much weight on, have I?”

Yoongi hums, but says nothing else, suddenly intrigued by his phone.

Dick.

Intuitively, Namjoon puts his hands on your waist and hoists you into the front of the trolley, letting you get comfortable. You let out a squeak of surprise at how easy it seems for him to manage your weight. He was big, sure, but... You didn’t realise how strong he was. He takes off his scarf and wraps it around your neck. He ducks down a little, eyes glittering under the lights, and he asks, kindly, “Better?”

“Much,” you reply, sound muffled by the soft cashmere of his scarf. It smells like him, masculine and something woodsy. You duck your head, suddenly shy, avoiding the sight of his sparkly dark orbs. “Thank you.”

He winks at you, easily, before rising up to his full height, and you feel your heart pound at the size difference between the two of you. He’s just so... big.

“What’s on the list?” Namjoon asks, turning to look at Yoongi, who has taken to pushing the trolley, while Taehyung bounces across the aisles, scanning the products for the things they need. “What are we missing?”

Yoongi pulls out his phone, pushing one-handedly (and you’ll be damned if you ever say that he makes for a hot image) while he scrolls through his phone, and says, “Beer.”

“Of course,” you laugh, tilting your head back to survey the blond. “A bunch of boys, the first thing you need is beer.”

“Well, the first thing on the list is condoms, but I thought I’d ease us into that,” Yoongi remarks, with a sarcastic roll of his eyes.

You balk at the nonchalant tone of his voice and he grins, small but showing a bit of his gums, and you feel your chest seize up at the sight of it.

Namjoon tuts. “Hyung, that’s not funny. Don’t tease YN like that.”

“I’m not lying, look!” He holds up his phone and just as he said, the first thing on the list in Jin’s fancy handwriting is ‘condoms’. Without your permission, you eyes track the size next to it but you banish the thought from your memory, averting your eyes to the scarf around your neck. Yoongi continues, “Jin’s first addition, condoms. Second, French hand cream that I can't pronounce. He’s weird.”

The four of you spend the next hour and some change speeding through the aisles, peals of laughter echoing through the supermarket as you all collect the products on their list. You even get to grab some snacks for yourself, on the boy’s dime, of course. They don't even bat an eyelid.

Yoongi lets you hold his phone, the weight of the device different to yours own, and you trace your finger down the ridges of his phone case, thoughtlessly pushing at the back of the case when it pops out of place. “Careful. There’s something important in there.”

You look up at him, curiously. He swipes the phone from you and pushes the back out further, completely dislodging it, to reveal a polaroid hidden in the back of his phone. He holds it out so the both of you could see it.

it was a picture of the seven of them, taken some time ago, by their more youthful expressions and natural dark hair color. They looked like they might have been in middle school. You feel your heart skip a beat at the sight of the picture, a sensation that only intensifies at the warm look in his eyes as he surveys the picture over your shoulder.

He puts the case back together and hands it back to you. He says, meanigfully, “You’re holding my heart in your hands, so be careful, YN.”

You take his words to heart and nod, earnestly, before turning to the rest of the boys and you ask, trying to lighten the feeling in your chest, “What are we having for dinner tonight?”

“I wanted spicy lamb skewers,” Yoongi proposes, with a cute smile. Spending time with you seems to have slowly melted the ice around the aloof composer (he had mentioned briefly that he studied music alongside being a DJ and a rapper in the underground hip-hop scene and something about that image made you want to see him in action, on stage, enchanting the crowd) and now, he seems comfortable jjeering and giggling alongside the rest of you. “And you, YN?”

“I’m good with anything meaty. Spicy sounds good too,” you answer. You get out of the trolley once the four of you had gotten three-quarters through the list, needing the extra space, much to your dismay. You liked being babied by them. “Taehyung!”

The blue-haired artist perks up at the sound of his name. “You called, Cutie?”

You ask, staring up at him, “What are you craving?”

His throat bobs as he swallows, glancing behind you briefly, before his usual gleaming smile overtakes his face and the strangely tense moment passes. “Anything YN wants, I’ll eat happily.”

The four of you decide on what to get, and upon reaching the meat aisle, Namjoon and Taehyung decide to race.

“First one who gets everything needed for dinner wins,” Yoongi explains the rules, handing the two other men empty baskets. “The loser… Pays for everything.”

Taehyung gasps, “How steep!”

Namjoon snorts, blinking down at the blond, “Woah, you know I’m only getting paid minimum wage, right, hyung?”

“You guys live in a luxury apartment,” you state, bewildered. “Why do you even work? Don’t you have rich parents or something?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Taehyung says, cheekily. “Alright, alright. Let’s start.”

Taehyung and Namjoon drop low, as if they were racers gearing up for a world-class competition, and on Yoongi’s command, they shoot off, grabbing the first clumps of healthy red meat they can land their hands on.

They needed to get seasonings and the side dish ingredients, so you weren’t expecting them back for a few minutes.

Quietly, you ask, “Yoongi?”

He’s relaxes against the trolley, the picture of nonchalance, as he replies, softly, “Yes, YN.”

You pick at your sleeves and ask, bashfully, “Why do you guys want to spend time with me?”

He lets out a muted chuckle and asks, tossing you a sideways glance, “Hasn’t Taehyung given you the ‘friends’ speech yet?”

“He has, but…” You trail off, cheeks flushing in embarrassment.

He fills in the gap, knowingly. “But ‘it doesn’t make sense’?”

You nod, diffidently.

He plays with his fingers, turning around and resting his elbows on the edge of the cart’s handle, looking away and out at the rest of the grocery store. You cast a side-long glance at the composer and you latch onto every word falling from his pale pink lips. He says, “You’re fun to be around. As strange as that sounds coming from me. You make Tae happy, and Jin likes your personality. Hoseok thinks you’re interesting. I appreciate your smarts. Even Jungkook thinks you’re adorable. There’s no reason not to hang out with you.”

Fighting the urge to flush at the barrage of compliments, simply not expecting them to come from the blond, you clear your throat before you remark, offhandedly, “The seven of you are some of the most popular faces on campus. You have a surplus of people to hang out with, if that’s what you wanted to do.”

He says, dark eyes catching your own in a penetrating gaze. “And people treat us like celebrities, like we’re untouchable and that just isn’t who we are.”

“So…”

“You treat us like we’re human,” he answers, spotting Taehyung’s bright hair, flopping as he barrels down the aisle, grin boxy and eyes crinkled. “You make us feel human.”

Taehyung and Namjoon drew, deciding to go dutch on the cost of the shopping, and the four of you lug the dozen bags into the trunk and back seats of Taehyung’s car. Once you arrive at the complex, the concierge helps you get all the shopping bags up into their apartment, leaving after Yoongi hands him a healthy tip.

The three of them perk up, as if hearing someone in the distance and Namjoon calls, excitedly, “Jin-hyung!”

The sound of pattering feet echoes through the apartment as the eldest makes his way down from the second floor, dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt (the casual clothes clashing with his natural magnetism sends you reeling), and he claps, enthusiastically, upon seeing you.

“YN! Nice seeing you again! I’m glad Taehyung has finally stopped keeping you to himself and decided to share,” he says, happily. He puts his hands on your shoulders and guides you into the living room. “Go entertain Jimin while we pack away everything.”

“J-Jimin?”

The one of the seven you had yet to meet yet. A mop of pink hair greets you from the floor of the living room, as the boy, no, man, sits cross-legged, playing a game on the console, staring up at the impressive wide-screen TV, seemingly ignorant to everything around him.

“Hyung, please I’m almost beating the level. I’ll go wash up in a second,” he mumbles, slamming his finger down on the game pad in his hands. He’s wearing a grey fleece and some sweats, with bare feet poking out of the end of them.

He looks like the definition of cosy.

Rubbing at your elbow, awkwardly, you ask, curiously, “I- Uh… What game are you playing?”

At the sound of your voice, Jimin snaps his neck to look at you, spotting your decidedly not-male form and he shoots up, only to slip on the foot of his sweats and collapse onto his ass.

“F-Fuck,” he curses, rubbing at his bruised ass. “Ouch…”

“Sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you,” you say, moving to try and help him stand up.

He jerks away, as if he had been burned, and he says, “No- No, it’s fine. I, uh, I wasn’t paying attention. I’ll- Let me… I need to wash my face.”

He disappears into what you assume is a downstairs bathroom before you can even respond, and you hear the water running distantly.

“Hyung, hyung, hyung,” Jungkook sings as he hops down the stairs, dressed all in grey, with black sock on his feet. “Did you get me the snacks I- Oh… Noona? What are you doing here? It’s kind of late.”

You rub the back of your neck, surprisingly awkward at the sight of Jungkook in his home clothes, and explain, “Taehyung- he, uh, picked me up and kind of, well, kidnapped me?”

His eyes widen in surprise before he asks, “Really?”

“No, I’m kidding,” you say, laughing at the concerned mar of his handsome face. “We were supposed to be studying, but instead we ended up going to the supermarket.”

“Aish, hyung shouldn’t have done that, you saw all our embarrassing things,” he says, cheeks pinking.

“Shaving cream and razors is hardly embarrassing,” you tell him, face twisting in enjoyment at seeing his obvious embarrassment. Contrary to his bulky appearance, he’s surprisingly easy to rile up. You feel a little sadistic doing it, but you can’t help but tease him. “But… Seven boys do seem to go through a surprising number of contraceptives.”

“Aish!” He covers his rapidly reddening ears. “They’re not for me!”

“Safety first, Jungkook. You should use them,” you suggest, playfully, enjoying how squirmy he got when you teased him.

It’s then that Jimin joins you both, the collar of his shirt damp with water, smelling of mint and he does seem more fresh-faced, his upper lip and cheeks are slightly reddened with aggravation.

Jungkook looks closer before letting out a snort. “Did you just shave, hyung?”

“Quiet, brat!” Jimin curses, kicking him in the butt, then he drops to the floor to join Jungkook. “Move over, I want to carry on with my game.”

“Can I join?”

“Sure, noona,” Jungkook replies, making space for you on the couch. “Don’t sit on the floor, it can be a little uncomfortable if you aren’t used to it.”

“Kiss ass,” Jimin teases under his breath, nudging Jungkook’s shoulder with his own, before turning to you with a curious expression. “I haven’t gotten to meet you yet, but I’ve heard a lot.”

You hold out your hand and after staring down at it, strangely, Jimin clasps his own around it, to shake it lightly. His palms are surprisingly cool against yours and you give it a cursory squeeze.

“Good things I hope,” you reply, smiling slightly. “YN.”

“Jimin,” he replies, eyes crinkling. His face is wonderful, just like Young-mi said, when he isn’t zoned out and seemingly angry at nothing. His cheeks puff up, his eyes practically disappear into half-moons, and he tilts his head slightly, shrinking in on himself. Your heart pounds at the sight of him, brain snapshotting his visage without your permission

“Alright, alright, enough of that,” Taehyung says as he walks in, swatting at your hands so you’re forced to let him go. “Cutie, come help me make dinner.”

“But we were just about to start playing,” Jungkook whines, making puppy eyes in your direction.

“Enough, maknae,” Taehyung commands with a dismissive wave, before he returns his eyes to you, staring intently. “Don’t you wanna come and help me out?”

You ask, eyeing him distrustfully, “Can you even cook?”

“You wound me,” he says, putting a hand over his heart and he sends you a dramatically pained expression.

Jimin snorts. “Taehyung, I wouldn’t eat your food if you paid me.”

“Ha ha ha,” Taehyung laughs, pointedly, before jabbing Jimin in his back with his elbow. “So funny. Come YN,” he says, reaching for your hand and hoisting you off the couch.

“If YN’s cooking, then I want to help too,” Jungkook grumbles, obstinately, moving to stand.

Jimin huffs and does the same. “Might as well join in, then, shouldn’t I?”

Yoongi, Jin and Namjoon are already dotted around their kitchen, doing different jobs regarding the food. Jin’s eyes practically bug out in his head. The handsome man grouses, “There’s barely enough space for us four and now you’ve brought the other three munchkins? How are we going to do this?”

Yoongi snorts. “If you’re complaining about height, then why don’t the trees of the group kindly exit?”

Jin contemplates that for a moment before he asks, lips quirking, “Then how would you survive without my amazing cooking skills?”

“I’m sure we’d manage, hyung,” Jimin snarks, with a brazen grin. He ducks into the cabinet and says, absently, “YN, why don’t you pass me some veggies from the refrigerator?”

You twist on your heels to approach the silver fridge, missing the look of panic that overtakes Taehyung’s face.

“No!” Namjoon shouts, startling you nearly out of your skin. He clears his throat, before putting his hands on your shoulders, leading you away from the fridge. “How about you use those dexterous fingers and keep chopping up the carrots? I’ll take my hand off otherwise. I’ll give Jiminie the veggies.”

“Suuuure,” you reply, eyes narrowing but you occupy Namjoon’s space and carry on with his job.

You don’t see the sharp smack that the five men deliver to Jimin’s head in chastisement. The absentminded pinkette flushes around his collar, ducking his head in shame.

It strikes you, then, that someone is missing from the bunch, and you ask, “Where’s Hoseok?”

“He should be on his way home from work,” Jin tells you. “He teaches dance at a rec centre in the city. Usually kids, but he’s recently taken on choreography work for a dance group.”

“That’s… impressive,” you reply, surprised. “I didn’t know he had a job.”

“We all do,” Jungkook informs you, face twisting in bewilderment. “Why’s that so surprising?”

“Just that, well, you live in such a nice apartment,” you explain, feeling strangely shy. “I didn’t think you needed to work.”

Namjoon rubs the back of his head, awkwardly. “The building belongs to Jin’s Dad, so we get to live here rent free.”

The eldest shrugs at your look of shock. “But we don’t rely on our parents for anything else. We wanted to live as independently as we can, while we’re able to.”

You don’t understand what he means by that, but the seriousness in his eyes brings you to a halt.

The seven of you work around each other, laughing and giggling as you go, and within half an hour, with team-work, you are getting the food transplanted into the living room area. Jungkook materialises a table and sets it up with enough space to allow the seven of you to sit around comfortably.

Hoseok walks into the apartment just before the boys started eating, and you hear him kick off his shoes loudly, making gleeful noises in the back of his throat.

“Is YN in here?” He asks, as he enters the living room. He perks up at the sight of you, and he grins “I thought I could smell you.”

“Smell me?”

“He’s kidding,” Namjoon says, tossing the dancer a hard look. “Obviously, not a very good joke.”

“I saw your shoes,” he explains, with a playful wink. He gives the boys all fist-bumps and high-fives, before he presses a quick kiss to your cheek, surprising you at the skin-ship. The other boys seem just a shocked, but he doesn’t give an explanation, simply stepping away with flushed cheeks, you guess from the change in temperature and rush upstairs.

Jungkook asks, “Did you have a good day, hyung?”

He nods, taking off the cap and running a hand through his sweat-slick hair. “I’m gonna catch a shower. Don’t wait for me, eat up.”

“I don’t like eating without you, hyung,” Taehyung grumbles, pouting. The dancer laughs, mussing up his hair and passing him by, rushing upstairs to clean up.

When he returns, pink in the cheeks and fresh from the shower, the seven of you are well into the meal, tissues piled from where you have all wiped your fingers and chins of the sweet-spicy noodles and sauce, empty skewers piled on a plate in the corner of the table.

“Nobody saved me any skewers?” He asks, appalled. “I feel betrayed.”

Namjoon pulls a whole pile from behind his body. “Eat these quickly. I had to practically kick Yoongi to keep him from them.”

“This is why you’re my favourite, Joonie,” Hoseok sing-songs, taking the plate and nudging in between you and Jungkook. “Move over Kookie.”

“Careful of YN’s drink,” the youngest chastises, lifting your beer in the air and handing it to you over Hoseok’s damp head. “Drink up, noona.”

You thank him with a smile and go back to sipping your drink, washing down the mouthful of well-seasoned, tasty meat. “I don’t think I ever asked. What are each of your majors? I know Jimin and Hoseok dance, and that Taehyung is an art major. Yoongi majors in music. But the rest of you – I’m not sure.”

Jin grins, but the gesture lacks his usual fervour. “Business admin and finance.” You shudder, and he nods, grimly. “Painfully boring, but I had to do it.”

“Why?”

“My Dad is CEO of Kim Construction Conglomerate,” he explains, with a shrug. “Eventually he wants me to join the company to aid my older brother.”

You lean forward to catch his hooded gaze. “Is that what you want?”

He shrugs into his drink, taking back the beer and wincing, as if the taste was bitter on his tongue. You know from your own sips that the alcohol is on the sweeter side, so you think that the truth is making him grimace. You drop the subject, not wanting to overstep, but you reach over to give his hand a light squeeze in comradery. He seems surprised by the gesture but he gives you a soft smile of acknowledgement.

“Applied linguistics and English literature,” Namjoon explains, lips pulling up in a shy smile.

“A book nerd,” Jimin tacks on, unhelpfully.

“A book connoisseur,” Namjoon corrects, flicking the pinkette in the forehead. “I’m glad to be graduating next year, because all these assignments are suffocating me.”

You nod in understanding before you ask, “Do you have a big collection of books?”

Hoseok scoffs around a mouthful of meat and grouches, “If you saw our room, you would recoil. There’s barely any room to walk around, let alone dance. It sucks.”

Namjoon’s cheeks pink, from the alcohol and from the chastisement. “Sorry, hyung.”

“I’d like to see it,” you say, suddenly. “The collection, not your room. I- I really do love reading.”

“She’s an anthropology major,” Taehyung says, by way of explanation. “She’s probably more of a babbling nerd than you are, hyung.”

Both you and Namjoon toss the blue-haired artist dark looks, but he simply grins, stretching out on the couch languidly, like a cat.

Jungkook glances at you, and says, mutely, “Cinematics and photography. I want to be a director one day.”

“Film-making? That’s so interesting,” you gush, happily. The alcohol is making your head swim and you are loosening up, giggling more freely, letting your eyes linger, wander, observe with a glassy gaze that only comes from intoxication. “What kinds of movies?”

“I just want to make something meaningful,” he mumbles, softly. The tip of his nose has blushed red, the apples of his cheeks are painted the same colour. “If I can make only one person feel something, I’d be able to die happy.”

“Our Jungkook doesn’t take to alcohol well,” Yoongi explains, teasingly ruffling the maknae’s cherry red hair. “He tends to get morbid quickly. Or, intensely self-reflective.”

“Neither do I, apparently,” you mumble, resting your head on Jungkook’s shoulder. “I usually drink a glass of wine once every other week. Before bed, or when we watch a movie. Stuff like that. I’ve never been a fan of beer but this,” you hold up your third can in victory, “tastes spectacular.”

The boys chuckle at your behaviour, and Jin lets out a gentle coo of “Cute.”

“Weren’t we supposed to be doing something tonight?” You ask, pushing your glasses into your hair and rubbing your eyes, brain swimming. “I feel like there was something to do.”

“We wanted to see you,” Yoongi tells you, eyes lingering on the cute way you are blinking, sluggishly. “Isn’t that something worth doing?”

Jungkook rests his head on the seat of the couch, eyes closed, content in letting you use him as a pillow, fingers tapping out a rhythm on his knee that you catch in your periphery.

You point in the dancer’s direction, accusingly. “You saw me yesterday!”

“All of us wanted to see you,” Namjoon corrects, grinning brightly.

“I don’t even know him,” you mumble, gesturing to Jimin, who pouts heavily.

“And you wouldn’t have ever known of me if you didn’t come over,” he complains. “Everyone else has fun stories about you, YN, but me. It’s not fair.”

His cheeks are pink all over, splotches of joy exploding across the expanses of honeyed skin.

You can’t help but lean forward, entranced by his aura, and you whisper, “Why are you all so inhumanly attractive?”

Jimin giggles, putting both hands under his chin and bats his eyelids, playfully. “Why? Falling for me already?”

You shake your head, exaggeratedly, from side to side, and reply, “Nope! Not my type!”

That was a partial lie – you don’t have a type. You liked pretty things, handsome things, unique things. They were all those things combined, so your vagina, at least, was very interested.

He looks scandalised, brow puckering and his mouth twists in irritation. He doesn’t know why hearing that from you twists at his chest so much, but it does. He grumbles, “If I’m not, then who is?”

“I dunno.”

Hoseok leans forward, intrigued. “C’mon, sunshine. Who, out of all of us, would you date, if you had the chance?”

“If I had the chance?” You scoff, draining the can of beer in your hand and Yoongi hands you another without thinking about it, cracking it open and watching it foam with glassy eyes. “You mean if I deigned it worth my time to date you?”

“Yes, yes, yes,” he says, dismissively, a strangely determined gleam in his eye. “Tell us. Which one of us you’d date.”

You close your eyes, and your mouth moves before your brain can properly engage with it. “Yoongi.”

The table explodes in noise.

“What the hell!”

“No way! Hyung? Why?”

“Me? Seriously? Should I be flattered?”

“I’m not your type but he is? That doesn’t even make sense!”

“Are you kidding me? When you have someone that looks this good right in front of you?”

“Wow, YN. Your taste is low. I’m surprised.”

“His personality is closest to my ex-girlfriend,” you tell them with a shrug. “Nonchalant and moody on the surface. Awfully sweet on the inside.”

Namjoon asks, a strange twist to his lips, “You like girls?”

“I like the person,” you explain with a sigh. “Their genitals don’t really matter to me until we get to bumping uglies.”

Taehyung and Hoseok nod as they chorus, “Same.”

Yoongi dips his head. “Me too.”

Jimin makes his head into a flower once more, fluttering his fingers under his chin. “Me three. Or, four, I guess.”

“My exes have been… interesting to say the least,” you say with a humorous laugh. “For example, my last girlfriend, Yoonji. She dumped me, because I wasn’t ‘emotionally available’. What even does that mean?”

“You didn’t pay enough attention to her,” Jungkook grumbles, seemingly rising from the grave, eyes blinking open to stare down at you. “Did you take her for granted?”

You gape at him, throat clenching over nothing. “No… I was always there for her when she needed me. If she wanted me to turn up outside her dorm at three in the morning because she went out and got drunk, regardless of if I had a nine am class the same day, I did. She always would say that I wasn’t doing enough and I- ugh, you know what? Forget about it.”

You toss your drink on the table, pushing it away from you in frustration, the memories welling up in your mind and making your eyes sting. You hadn’t cried since you broke up all those months ago, promising Young-mi that you’d only spend the weekend licking your wounds, crying into your tubs of ice-cream (dairy, you recall the pain you were in for the rest of the week because of it), and when you went to class the following Monday, you were fine.

That’s what you had been telling yourself for the nine months.

That you were fine.

“Noona, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you upset,” Jungkook mumbles from your side. You can feel the awkward tension of the other boys staring at you, the weight of their eyes on you makes you want to curl up.

Unthinkingly, you glare at him, icily, but upon seeing his chastised puppy dog look, you sigh.

He flinches away as if you’d moved to strike him when you reach up and the gesture makes you feel guilty. Softly, you soothe, “It’s okay, Kookie. I know you didn’t mean it.”

You pat his curly hair repeatedly, until the tense line of his shoulders melts away, and he relaxes into you. In a bold move, he wraps his arms around your middle, cuddling you close. Contrary to your anti-skinship rule, feeling his cool arms around you makes you feel overwhelmingly safe, not uncomfortable.

“Wow, Jungkook is being awfully brazen tonight,” Yoongi remarks. “Mere moments ago, YN said she would be my girlfriend and now he’s moving in on her so shamelessly. I ought to beat him.”

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say hyung sounds jealous,” Jimin remarks, playfully.

Yoongi sniffs, draining his beer, glaring at the pinkette over the neck of the bottle. “Jealous? What do I look like being jealous over our youngest bunny?”

Namjoon laughs, the sound loud enough to surprise you, and when you stare at him in surprise, his cheeks pink. “Yoongi-hyung usually isn’t so vocal about his feelings.”

The composer’s cheeks flush even darker at his assertion, and he curls into Namjoon’s shoulder, hiding his face from your line of sight. “Stop teasing Joonie, otherwise I’m going to hide all your Ryan toys.”

“You have Ryan plushies?”

Namjoon’s reddened cheeks are answer enough and you demand to see at least one.

The laugh that paints your voice is bright, like a splash of vibrant paint, perfect and unique – just like you – and you miss the way the boys’ eyes linger on the curve of your lips, a heap more intrigued than they logically know they should be.

- end -

Masterlist / Chapter (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16)

[shadowofthelamp]

With that last reblog... did I ever post any of my novel for class here? I may get back to it eventually, hence why I’m not posting the whole thing, but... here’s the first short section. (Yes, this was spun off of Tallest AU, but bite me, it turned out really good, my professor said it was one of her favorites since she started the class.)

Dee Briggs’s jaw worked on a wad of probably expired gum as the moon disappeared behind her, and in the backseat, her captive began to stir. Damn, she’d thought she’d have at least another hour before the brat actually woke up. The vein in her index finger shifted around as she tapped the steering wheel, waiting.

Bounties took different amounts of time to fully wake up after sedation. (That is, the ones that she didn’t drug completely stupid in order for them to still be a drooling doll when handed over to whoever wanted them. There weren’t enough units in the galaxy to pay her to deal with a bull-sized Wrakthar even semi-conscious for four days in her junker.) She’d have it down to a much better science if she hadn’t had to deal with every single one being a different species than the last. It was almost like the black market didn’t cater to the whims of a single annoyed human woman. Funny, that.

“Mmmph!” Ah, there it was. Dee typed in the coordinates and set the autopilot with a flip of a switch. It was a piece of garbage, but it’d at least keep her in the right direction with only a mild chance of crashing into the nearest cruiser while she talked to the noy. She’d been rolling with those odds for years now, and they hadn’t failed her yet. 

The captive was about four steps back from the pilot’s seat, laying in the single empty space in the cluttered ship between the fold-out table stained with about six different colors of blood and the shitty little sink that always ran purple water. A chain also wrapped around her feet, bolting them to that empty space so movement was limited. Dee crouched down, flicking out her utility knife in case the prisoner tried anything as the noy’s eyes darted around. In the low light, the colorless sclera hid the dark irises; it looked like there was a black hole where the eyeballs should be. Always weirded Dee out. 

“Hey. Welcome back to the world of the living. Who knows how long you’ll be here, though.”

“Mmph!” The kid’s head darted around, the rope tied around her mouth making her drool all over her fur. Ew. Well, as long as she wasn’t making herself bleed by sawing at it, she could slobber over herself all she wanted. It wasn’t Dee’s fault the gag that usually kept mouths sealed shut didn’t fit her. This was part of the reason she usually didn’t take kids. (That, and she liked to think her ethics hadn’t hit that rock bottom yet, but the pretty little princess and heir apparent was an exception.)

“You’re not getting out.” Dee tried to blow a bubble, but the gum must have been too old, it just kind of stuck to her lips like she was trying to blow a wad of paper. It tasted like it too. She’d mostly been chewing it as a distraction anyway, directing her attention away from how colossally stupid taking this job had been. It was no longer working, so she pulled the wrapper out of her pocket and spat it out, trying to hit the wastebasket. It missed.

The noy’s frantic head-darting had slowed, ears laying low as she glared at Dee. “Mmph ffthhhr!”

“Yeah, your pop’s gonna be real pissed, that’s why we blasted clean past the outer rings as fast as this solid little hunk of junk could take us.” Dee patted the floor. “But he’s not going to realize you’re gone juuuuust long enough for us to get away. I’m not an amateur.” She stood back up, rummaging around in the cabinet next to the fold-out table. “I’m gonna have some more questions for you once we reach Dormaentus, but for now, looks like I’m gonna have to up your dose.”

“Nnnnph!” The noy struggled against her restraints, but they were far too tight and made for something at least three times as strong as her. She wasn’t going anywhere.

Dee produced a syringe from the cabinet, swirling the liquid around inside. It caught the flickering overhead light just right, casting a green shine on the metallic fingers holding it up before she turned around. “You don’t want to hurt yourself, Neb— I’ve been promised a hefty bounty even if you’re damaged goods, so it won’t help.” 

When the black eyes widened, Dee ignored the way her chest skipped a beat as she set the needle to the furry neck and depressed the plunger. “I don’t want to make it any harder than it has to be, kid. It’s your dad I’ve got a problem with- and you coming with me is just business.” 

As her robotic arm tap-tap-tapped against the barrel and the breathing slowed as both eyes slid shut, maybe she could even convince herself to believe it.

[fairygal11]

(Short Story) Guardians of Harmonia: Night at the Enchanted Library

It was an illuminating afternoon at Guardian Academy, an elite school that educated Harmonia’s best and greatest students to become tomorrow’s protectors to ensure the safety and well-being of their realm. At this moment, three guardian apprentices: Kaira Starlight, Minty Peppermint, and Giovanni Linguini were traversing the courtyard as a shortcut to the library. As part of their studies, their required to join an after school club to choose from a wide variety of activities: Monster Hunting, History and Lore, Botany Lovers Club, the list kept going. Suggested by Headmistress, Mikami, that the Library Society Club was the best choice for Kaira and her friends to join. It was a great facility to build teamwork, learn organizational skills and discover the wonder of reading. Kaira found this suggestion to be highly effective, she loved books with all her heart--being in a library full of books reminded her of the library her mother managed back home in Honey Meadows. Her friends, Giovanni and Minty though, they’d see them as material to make forts or have a stacking contest. They’ll change their minds if she showed them how amazing books can be whilst working in the library.

They soon arrived at Magica Library that’s stationed on the west side on academy grounds. The library was ginormous in size that one would mistake it for a manor, if were it not for the unusual orb-shaped architectures that branched out on the sides of the building and suspended in midair. Kaira, parting a few strands of her silver hair that glistened in the sunlight, out of her face to gaze with eyes that were blue as the sky itself at the mystifying library’s exterior. Minty and Giovanni didn’t have the same enthusiasm and sparkle in their eyes like their friend, although Minty saw the orb domes as giant bubble gum balls. The three approached the giant oak double door, Kaira pushed all the way for her and her friends to step inside. When she raised her head to take in the interior, her face lit up like a sparkler, hands placed on her face in excitement at what she was seeing before her eyes. It was as whimsical as its exterior! Levels upon levels that filled to the brim with books, rolling library ladders to glide across the shelves to find what book you sought. In Magica’s case, sometimes the books would come straight to you if your willing to catch the right one during their flight through the library for any student to catch and study upon. Nestled right in the center of the building was a grand Kapok tree that stood in the center, tiny orbs of colorful lights floated throughout it.

Underneath the base of the tree, there was the Librarian’s Desk where Jim, Librarian Apprentice/Library Page, was sitting at his station in the meantime going through the clipped papers on his clipboard at the agenda that awaited him. He’s assigned to showing the newest members the ropes as to how the library operated. He rose his head upon taking in the fresh faces in the library, standing up from his desk and coming out from behind to welcome them. He assumed that they were the candidates that were to become part of the Library Society under Headmistress Solaria’s request. He began to give them a tour of the library, giving a brief history of the facility before explaining and demonstrating different tasks they were to do whilst partaking in the club. Along with maintenance, there was discussion of book genres, authors, what inspired one to get involved into reading. This made Giovanni and Minty groaned at the talk of books and chores, but to Kaira was happier than a kid in a candy store.

Under Jim’s supervision, the gang began their duties by dusting the shelves to ensure the books are in peak condition. Next, came checking in items from the sorting room and placing designated items in their respected bins.Giovanni caught glimpse of a book that told about Swords and Weaponry on one of the stacks. Upon opening its spine when all of a sudden a sword was pointed directly at him a few inches from his neon pink eyes! He closed the book and threw it right back into the pile with the books being ready to sort in. By early evening, they held giant butterfly nets in order to scoop up the flying books and put them to bed. Winged books need their beauty sleep too, but some of them refused to go back on their respected shelves. Though it was a huge library and catching them all wasn’t gonna be easy, Jim picked a book off the shelf on “Aero Magic Dynamics”, opening it up as he placed his palm onto a page to summon forth a flying carpet for each of them; He assumed they took their class about using aerodynamical mystical vehicles like brooms, magic carpets, etc. They each hopped onto a carpet and flew off after the Winged Books, Minty was having a blast racing around the library and scooping up a few in the process. She egged Giovanni on to make their chore a game entitled “Book Hunt” that rose his motivation to turn a boring task into a fun book snatching contest. The two swirled around the archways, flew down a couple of the aisles making sure not to bump into any to cause them to fall over and flew up a spiral staircase toward one of the Observation Orbs. A book of Fairy Tales was ajar when it sprinkled star dust that floated down like snow on a peaceful winter morning, Minty caught one on her tongue and commented that it tasted like Sparkling Pop Rocks.

Once they gathered the Winged Books and shelved back to their respected categories-Kaira and her friends along with Jim took a break from tasks to catch a breather. They were enjoying themselves until their free time was interrupted by the sound of glass shattering and the tiny orbs flashed like police lights and made a ringing noise-Someone has broken into the library!. Immediately, they sprung forth toward the west end to come face to face with the intruder. Standing before them was a snarky-looking man dressed in a midnight robe that made him blend into the shadows without detection. Yet he was careless to let himself be known now when he shattered one of the windows using a brick.

“Well, well, well~Seems to me that I’ve gained myself an audience.” The thief said as he was surprised that there were people working the late shift. It would appear he miscalculated when he formulated his plan to seek out the Guardians Grimoire that was said to be locked away in the academy’s library, but now a monkey wrench was tossed into his plan.

“And we didn’t expect to have some noisy thief disrupt our break time! It’s the only time we can enjoy some goodie treats and we were in the middle of chowing down on the Swirl Berry Muffins I brought along!” The peppermint-haired Minty said as she shook her fist to him, aggravated that this thief had the nerve to disrupt break time.

“Listen pal, I don’t know who you think you are, but you picked the wrong place to rob from. I mean seriously-WHAT kind of thief would want to break into a library?” Giovanni said as he was confounded upon the thief’s objective to what business he had at a “magical library”.

“I’ve come seeking the Guardians’ Grimoire so I may use its power to become the greatest Sorcerer in the whole world!” He boasted as he rose his hands up in the air, letting out a fiendish laugh.

“Seriously? You want a dusty grimoire that’ll grant you the powers of a god? Total cliche, bro.” Giovanni stared blankly at the loon.

“It isn’t a dusty grimoire!”, He stomped his right foot down on the ground like he was trying to kill a bug, “It is a book of infinite wisdom and magic!”

“The Guardians’ Grimoire is one of Harmonia’s most ancient and precious artifacts, kept hidden deep away from public eye and sealed away with

“We won’t allow you to take the Guardians’ Grimoire!” Kaira stepped forth, positioning herself into a fighting stance.

“The Guardians’ Grimoire will never fall into the hands of a Charlatan like you!” Jim proclaimed as he glared angrily at the thief.

“We’ll just see about that, now will we?” The thief rose his hand as a dark ball of energy began to form and unleashed a powerful dark lightning bolt at them!

Kaira created a light shield to deflect the dark lightning bolt from striking at them, but it was a diversion to allow the thief a head start toward the back of the library. The Forbidden Archives is said to be located somewhere around the west end of the building. Earlier, Jim told them that the archives was off limits to students and accessed by the library staff. If the thief found a way to access the room, he’d not only steal the grimoire, but other valuable books he could sell in the black market or worse.....burn them!

“We can’t let him get to the archives and get that book!, Jim shouted to his associates.

“And how are we supposed to find him, Poindexter? He sprinted and serpentined after that little lightning blast he fired at us! He could be halfway there by now with his ninja-like reflexes!” Giovanni protested, raising his hands up in the air in frustration.

While they tried to figure out a course of action as quick as they could, Kaira stared around the shelves around them and from the corner of her eye she spotted a book on “Monsters, Mystics and Marvels”. Wanting to confirm her precision, she took a few steps closer to the book and saw it was a 398 number-They were in the 398s aisle that cataloged Harmonia’s myths, legends and fairy tales! Her face lit up like the light bulb in her head, she quickly swiped the book from the shelf before rushing back to her friends.

“We can use this to get the thief!” She waved the book up in the air for her friends to see like she was waving a bulky flag.

“I don’t think reading at a time like this will solve our dilemma, Kai.” Giovanni scoffed when his hope dimmed and rolled his eyes slowly.

“No, Kaira is right. BOOKS are exactly what we need to help us handle this thief!,” Jim said as he figured out right away what Kaira was up to with that book, “As you three should of known already, the books in this library can be beneficial to your brain, but to your training as guardians. They’d at times would borrow some of our books to use on their travels, but it requires mana to draw out the magical energy to manifest the creatures and materials within their pages.”

“In english, please.” Minty replied for she didn’t seem to grasp Jim’s explanation.

“Sighhh~You visualize, focus and unleash their magical force on your opponents and can benefit in travels like summoning a Gryphon.” He simplified it down so Minty can grasp the concept.

“We saw first hand when we were working today. When Jim summoned the flying carpets to help us capture the Winged Books easier then running around in circles. And Minty, you and Giovanni were having fun during the time.”

“And Gio nearly got his eyes poked out by a sword that poked out of the Weaponry book he was looking at in the sorting room.” Minty said as she pointed her thumb at him.

“It was scary, but kinda cool to be honest-but it nearly poked my eye out.” Giovanni sheepishly admitted, rubbing the back of his head.

“Books aren’t always scary and boring like you might claim them to be, Giovanni. They can be fun, exciting full of interesting information and tales that want to be heard and seen by human eyes. The reason a sword almost harmed you because you found weaponry fascinating-you even tied a dagger to your bat to make it into a “Dagger Bat”.” Kaira said with a heartful smile on her face.

“Soul Slammer.” He corrected her on his weapon’s name.

“Soul Slammer, of course, but the point is that right now the power of these books can help us stop the thief from reaching the archive and protect the library from his carelessness. With the power of these books and our skills combined, we can take this thief down, so who’s with me!?” Kaira proclaimed as she rose her fist in the air.

Minty and Giovanni stared at one another for a moment, but then puffed up their chest and put on their most awesome game faces. They weren’t gonna let some petty thief get the better of them, they’re future Guardians after all and as a guardian-they help the weak and innocent. In this case though, its protecting the library and the paper bound “residents” that reside within its walls. They rose their fists in the air to show they were ready to stand and fight with Kaira to defend the library and keep the grimoire safe from the thief’s hands. For her and her love of reading’s sake, they’d do anything to help Kaira because she was their friend who had a big heart just like her book shelf back in the dorm. Jim showed the group to the nearest aisles and categories that would help them in catching the thief: Geology, Astrology, Mythology, Magical Aerodynamics and of course to Minty’s wonder-Cooking! She grabbed a mess of dessert cook books to have on hand.

Jim summoned the magic carpets and they took off to the top of the book shelves. Scanning the area for any sign of the thief before Giovanni saw him heading passed the Chimera statue near the library’s StarPaws where students mostly got their coffee. The thief neared the statue as he studied the base carefully, trying to figure out where the secret switch was to accessing the archive that was said to lie deep underneath. Yet his concentration was broken when splat! A black forest cake splatted him on the head, frosting dripped down his face before turning around. He gazed up at the four as they floated in mid air on their fabric transports, shaking off the cake with some bits sticking to his hair.

“That’s all you got to stop me? A cake? How pathe-Ah!”, He was cut off when a banana crème pie smacked him right in the face!

“I got a whole dessert buffet on stand by to slow you down with its creaminess!,” Minty held the book of “Harmona’s Best Desserts” in her arms, smirking teasingly at him.

“But it would appear you need a knife for that pie, here let me lend you one-or ten!” Giovanni laughed before opening the weaponry book that shined softly before a wave of swords came flying out!

The thief screeched as he dove right out of the way when the swords clanked against the statue, scattering to the ground. Luckily he slide under of the nearby tables, yet one of the blades ricochet from the statue and stabbed the center of the table- two inches from his nose!

“Hey! Be careful! You almost gave me a nose job!”, The thief shouted back at them.

Suddenly the ground beneath the thief rumbled, the floor board began to spit out seeds which caused him confusion. Yet confusion turned to panic when they sprouted at an alarming rate and intertwined into an oak tree that launched the thief and the table he was under right into the air! The table fell onto the tree top with him crashing down on the surface base, he felt one of his ribs crackle and bruise. He got up slowly, brushing his legs from his fall before having to  balance on the table. He was about to find himself flailing about when his eyes grew to saucer plates when tiny asteroids were flying his way. He moved his body like he was belly dancing or performing a weird ceremonial dance, but he didn’t see the large asteroid crash into him that knocked him off the table and face planted right onto the floor!

The thief groaned at the hits he took as he got up slowly, but to come face to face with a celestial Star Bear that was an inch from his face. It let out a mighty roar that made him scream like a girl and turned heel to go around the statue to find himself caught in a miniature tornado Jim summoned forth, then launched into the air yet again. Giovanni dove straight toward him with his Soul Slammer and struck him right in the kisser, he knocked out a few of his teeth due to the impact of his strike. The thief was sent flying the opposite direction, only to be snatched out of the air by Tangle Vines that wrapped around him like a snake coils its prey. When he tried flicking his fingers to conjure fire to burn the roots, a giant vat of heavy whipped cream fell on him to ensure that if he broke free, the sweet goo would slow him down.

“I gotta admit-Books are really fun, especially if they can take out a thief.” Giovanni  declared to his friends.

“It wasn’t just the books, but it was all of us working together in order to catch the thief.” Kaira said with a smile on her face.

“And Harmona’s Best Desserts did a “wallop cream” him in his place.”, Minty chuckled at her terrible pun.

“That made no sense at all,” Jim said in annoyance to Minty’s horrid pun.

Jim called campus police to escort the thief off the property and taken to jail whilst they clean up the mess they made in order to catch him. It took them until 3am from fixing up the window, returning the books to their shelves and making sure there wasn’t any other intruders that might have snuck in during the chaos. Giovanni and Minty created a book fort for them to sleep in for the night, everyone placed their sleeping bags down on the ground. The tiny orbs provided light for comfort and protection from the dark. It had been an eventful and colorful day, but what made  better was that Kaira was proud that her friends found a newfound love for reading. It taught them how powerful books can be when their knowledge comes in handy when wanting to learn about weaponry, how to make the ideal macaroon or using the magic within its pages to stop a thief.

[vapehk1]

Breeze Pro Disposable Vape Review

We have witnessed a fast development in the past three years regarding disposable vapes in the United States. Some famous brands we already reviewed, such as Puffbar, Hyde, and Airbar. Today We are going to review one of the most popular ones which name is Breeze pro disposable vape. Please keep reading for more information. Disposable Vape Specifications E-juice capacity: 6ml Puffs: 2000 puffs Nictine strength: 50mg Battery capacity: 1000mAh Breeze Pro Flavors There are 25 flavors to choose from for Breeze pro disposable vape, they are Anejo, Banana Mint, Blueberry Banana, Blueberry Mint, Blueberry Watermelon, Blue Raspberry, Bubble Gum Freeze, Cherry Cola, Cherry Lemon, Grape Soda, Gum Mint, Lemon Mint, Lush Ice, Mint, Orange Mango Watermelon, Pina, Colada, Pom Berry Mint, Pumpkin Spice, Raspberry Lemon, Strawberry Peach Mint, Strawberry Cream StrawKiwi, StrawMelon, Tropical Summer, Vanilla Tobacco. Buy Breeze Pro disposable vape with the best price from thevaporshoppe. Build Quality & Design Breeze pro disposable vape comes with a transparent crystal retail package, therefore you can see the product itself from the package outside, the crystal package shell is covered with an envelope which writes the information including the product name, flavor name, and warning content. Opened the retail package, the breeze pro has a similar size and appearance like Voopoo Vinci pod. However breeze pro body part is mostly colored black, and there are two stickers on both sides the BREEZE logo and the flavor name were placed. Stickers colors differ from the flavor, the flavors I got are Vanilla Tobacco and Blue Raspberry. The breeze pro is designed with a flat mouthpiece which is my favorite style, it fits your lips very well. In addition, the proportion for the mouthpiece and the main body is great so that the breeze pro looks very sleek and solid. The body shell seems to be used with some kind of high-quality plastic material which is smooth to hold, but i am not sure if the mouthpiece is made of food-grade PCTG material. Performance About the performance, as we listed the specifications above, breeze pro is a built-in 1000mAh battery and is prefilled with 6ml E-juice capacity, it does not support recharging and adjustable airflow. During my testing days, I am pretty satisfied with the flavor taste and the leakage-proof ability. The throat hit from both two flavors is super strong and smooth, which really solved my nicotine demand from smoking a cigarette, even if i am a heavy smoker. When vaping with the flavor Blue Raspberry, it smells great indeed, just feeling like eating the fruit blue raspberry all the time. What amazes me is that I have not experienced any burnt taste or leakage after the battery died. Battery Life Breeze pro disposable pod is built in 1000mAh battery capacity, to verify its battery capacity, I dissembled the product and found the word 1000mAh printed on the battery. This is great because not all vape brands on the market are using true battery capacity. I guess the reason I have not experienced any burnt taste is that the battery died before the E-juice ran out. How Many Hits Does a Breeze Pro Have When it comes to how many hits a breeze pro has, it differs from vaping habits. If you vape for about 2 seconds for each hit, it will consume the E-juice quickly, and in total should last about 1500 hits. If you vape over 3 seconds for each puff, then I guess it will last about 1800 to 2000 hits. How to Recharge My Breeze Pro Disposable Vape As we mentioned before, it comes with a 1000mAh battery capacity. However, it does not carry any recharging port, no Micro USB port or USB-C port. But we can still use another way to recharge it, if you are interested in recharging your breeze pro, please check the blog How to recharge disposable pod. Pros and Cons Pros -Comfortable mouthpiece -Stylish and solid design -Satisfy flavors and throat hit Cons -Looks plastic Summary Breeze Pro is one of the most popular disposable vapes in the United States. Prefilled with 6ml E-juice capacity, a built-in 1000mAh battery, it can last about 1800 puffs. With more than 25 excellent flavors, you will not experience any burnt taste and E-juice leaking from beginning to end. If you think this review is helpful, please share it with those vaper friends. Read the full article