#Corporate Travel Industry

[industrynewsupdates]

Corporate Travel Procurement Intelligence: Key Insights for Success

The corporate travel category is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 13.99% from 2023 to 2030. APAC holds the largest category share of over 40% and it is expected to be the fastest growing region during the forecast period. The increasing globalization of businesses and the rise of the knowledge-based economy are driving the demand for corporate travel as companies seek to establish and maintain relationships with clients, partners, and suppliers around the world. Furthermore, the emergence of new technology and the digitization of the economy allow firms to function more efficiently and effectively across borders, fueling the expansion of the corporate travel sector. Furthermore, as more people desire to engage in international trade, investment, and commerce, the global middle class and the growing number of high-net-worth individuals are also fueling the demand for corporate travel.

The increasing penetration of the Internet of Things (IoT) has enabled both travelers and travel operators to complete tasks quickly and easily. In addition, Virtual Reality (VR) technology enables better, more efficient, and tailored customer experiences, driving industry growth. Aside from that, the growing trend of Bleisure travel, which combines business and pleasure aspects and provides leisure or recreational activities to reduce stress and improve work effectiveness, has given the sector a boost. Also, another trend driving this category is the increasing desire of consumers to book through online travel agencies which has led to the increasing use of internet travel booking portals. Travel portals and agencies are devising new strategies to advertise their web portals. For example, CWT is incorporating WhatsApp into its traveler support channels, with the service presently available to a limited number of customers participating in a pilot. It plans to complete a comprehensive deployment to all clients by the end of 2023.

The corporate travel category is moderately fragmented and highly competitive with a large number of major as well as regional players. The leading companies in the business travel industry are using a variety of strategies to enhance their category share. Various mergers, acquisitions, and collaborations are taking place in order to expand the firm strategically. For instance:

• In August 2022, by collaborating with FairFly, BCD Group (BCD Travel) is able to provide its Air Price Assurance (APA) solution more effectively and efficiently to all of its clients worldwide. Through this partnership, BCD Travel will be able to power its APA service with help of FairFly's technology and artificial intelligence.

• In July 2022, Corporate Travel Management Limited has acquired 1000 Mile Travel Group Ltd. This acquisition has enabled the company to increase its market in the corporate travel arena through the independent consultant model.

• In July 2022, CWT Global B.V. stated that it would add car rental and train booking functionality to the mobile and web channels on its myCWT platform.

Order your copy of the Corporate Travel Procurement Intelligence Report, 2023 - 2030, published by Grand View Research, to get more details regarding day one, quick wins, portfolio analysis, key negotiation strategies of key suppliers, and low-cost/best-cost sourcing analysis

Staff costs, IT costs, marketing & legal overheads, travel and accommodation tie-ups associated costs, and office rental are some the expenses incurred in providing corporate travel services. Corporate travel service providers usually have tie-ups with hotels, and travel companies for clients and end-use organizations. To build network with these companies service providers incur tie-up cost. Staff and IT costs account for a major part of the overall cost structure. Staff cost include staff salaries, staff training and development cost etc. IT costs consist of platform building cost for clients to access different services, and accommodation and travel options available. Clients can also keep a track on their bookings through these platforms. The overall cost of the service mainly depends on the destination, duration of the stay, and the type of services availed.

China, U.S., France, U.K., Japan and Singapore are the some of the preferred business travel destinations. These countries are among the nations focusing significantly attract business tourists. This is also being fueled by the expanding business and trade prospects with these nations. China currently hosts the largest business show in Asia, and experts predict that it will continue its dominance during the forecasted period as well. When sourcing for corporate travel, it is important to research potential suppliers by comparing prices, services, and reviews. It is also important to ensure that the suppliers are reputable and reliable. Once potential suppliers have been identified, it is necessary to negotiate with them to get the best possible prices and terms. However, it is important to be prepared to walk away from a deal if the terms are not satisfactory. Additionally, it is possible to consider using a travel management company to assist with booking flights, hotels, and negotiating discounts. Finally, it is important to utilize technological solutions to track spending and manage budgets, ensuring a smooth travel program. 

Browse through Grand View Research’s collection of procurement intelligence studies:

• E-commerce Fulfillment Services Procurement Intelligence Report, 2023 - 2030 (Revenue Forecast, Supplier Ranking & Matrix, Emerging Technologies, Pricing Models, Cost Structure, Engagement & Operating Model, Competitive Landscape)

• Debt Collection Services Procurement Intelligence Report, 2023 - 2030 (Revenue Forecast, Supplier Ranking & Matrix, Emerging Technologies, Pricing Models, Cost Structure, Engagement & Operating Model, Competitive Landscape)

Corporate Travel Procurement Intelligence Report Scope

• Corporate Travel Category Growth Rate: CAGR of 13.99% from 2023 to 2030

• Pricing growth Outlook: 2% - 3% (annual)

• Pricing Models: Dynamic pricing model, Bundle pricing model

• Supplier Selection Scope: Cost and pricing, Past engagements, Productivity, Geographical presence

• Supplier selection criteria: Service level, reliability, sustainability, reputation, technical specifications, operational capabilities, regulatory standards and mandates, category innovations, and others

• Report Coverage: Revenue forecast, supplier ranking, supplier matrix, emerging technology, pricing models, cost structure, competitive landscape, growth factors, trends, engagement, and operating model

Key companies profiled

• Airbnb, Inc.

• Corporate Travel Management

• Expedia, Inc.

• American Express

• Flight Centre Travel Group Limited

• BCD Group

• Fareportal

• Booking Holdings, Inc.

• Carlson Wagonlit Travel

• Wexas Limited

Brief about Pipeline by Grand View Research:

A smart and effective supply chain is essential for growth in any organization. Pipeline division at Grand View Research provides detailed insights on every aspect of supply chain, which helps in efficient procurement decisions.

Our services include (not limited to):

• Market Intelligence involving – market size and forecast, growth factors, and driving trends

• Price and Cost Intelligence – pricing models adopted for the category, total cost of ownerships

• Supplier Intelligence – rich insight on supplier landscape, and identifies suppliers who are dominating, emerging, lounging, and specializing

• Sourcing / Procurement Intelligence – best practices followed in the industry, identifying standard KPIs and SLAs, peer analysis, negotiation strategies to be utilized with the suppliers, and best suited countries for sourcing to minimize supply chain disruptions

[youthchronical]

Spirit Airlines extends debt refinancing deadline hours before expiration

A Spirit Airlines aircraft undergoes operations in preparation for departure at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas, on Feb. 12, 2024. Brandon Bell | Getty Images Spirit Airlines on Friday said it reached an agreement with its credit card processor to again extended a debt refinancing timeline to December, hours before it was set to hit its deadline. Spirit said in a…

[hioffsitetravel]

Who is Corporate offsite planner and what They do

Corporate offsite planners are experts or organizations whose exclusive focus is planning and overseeing offsite business activities. From concept to implementation, these planners take care of everything, making sure that every facet of the event fits in with the company's aims and objectives.

They are skilled in a variety of activities, including as seminars, team-building games, fun trips, and tactical meetings. Corporate offsite planners may obtain unusual locations, organize logistics, and create personalized itineraries that improve the entire experience by utilizing their vast network and industry knowledge.

Services provided by corporate offsite planner

The following services are provided by corporate offsite planners:

Venue selection is the process of deciding which places best meet the goals of the event and the demands of the attendees.

Activity planning is the process of creating enjoyable and useful tasks that foster creativity, problem-solving, and team collaboration.

Logistics management is the process of organizing lodging, food, transportation, and technical assistance to guarantee a smooth event.

Organizing talks, seminars, and team-building activities with the goal of maximizing involvement and results is known as facilitation.

Post-Event Evaluation: Evaluating the event's performance and obtaining input to guide future preparations.

In addition to rewarding staff, corporate offsite planners are essential to delivering memorable and impactful events that foster organizational success and growth. They handle the intricate details of event preparation, freeing up businesses to concentrate on their main operations and enjoy the advantages of well-run offsite events.

Visit HI Offsite corporate and incentive travel expert to know more.

[seoparekh]

APAC & MEA Hub Services for Centralized Travel

The value of a centralized travel management system

Centralised travel management system enables an enterprise to control various travel parameters and get better insights on travel pattern through MIS reports. It makes a direct impact on cost savings related to air fares, hotels stays, ground transports and other travel spends. The insights will help an enterprise to take better decisions and make necessary amendments in travel policies for safer and seamless travel.

Lufthansa City Center Travels & Rentals, one of the renowned and prestigious travel management companies of india, has successfully operated Global Travel Services, one of the premium travel services, for more than 14 countries across Asia-Pacific South & Middle East & Africa from its location in Kolkata, India. Their dedicated team of travel experts operating 24X7 across all time zones offers global travel services consistently across international borders.

With a robust experience and expertise, their travel management program has evolved over the years to keep the travellers safe and updated with their unique cutting-edge solutions.

Let us now discuss on how the company operates in global travel services and what do they offer to large and small scale enterprises.

What Lufthansa City Center Travels & Rentals offer in Global Travel services?

Their deliverables are prepared based on clear understanding of the requirements of their clients over decades and suitable solutions they need in their travel programs.

A Dedicated Account Manager

A Team of highly experienced travel consultants

A centralized Profile Management system

Direct Full Service & Low-cost Airlines from Traveller’s POO (Point of Origin) 

Car & Hotel bookings at Contracted Rates

Visa assistance wherever required

Local Invoicing & Local Payments in local currency

Local Payments either via Lodge Card or Invoicing

Monthly Reporting including missed savings

Regular calls with the Corporate, and On-site Visit as necessary

Onboarding and implementation of Travel Services of new countries in APS & MEA region from the HUB in a phased manner

Tech Solutions:

As a part of international travel agency network, they are committed to provide solutions with the support of their latest technology acclaimed worldwide. Their advanced travel tech tools enable contactless booking system from a single interface from where you can easily manage your business travel seamlessly. Moreover they have contactless payment solutions for faster and smoother payments.

Essential Questions on APAC & MEA Hub Services of Lufthansa City Center Travels & Rentals

How does the centralized travel management system work?

Their centralized travel management system works as a Hub service for a multinational corporate having presence in multiple countries. They have a dedicated team of travel experts that operate 24/7 emergency basis across all time zones offering specialized travel services across the globe. Presently they are offering services in many countries across Asia Pacific South and Middle East & Africa region.

How global travel hub services are helpful?

Corporate can reap multifarious benefits from Global Travel Hub Services because a consolidated travel management program offers dedicated travel support and better clarity on travel data. The benefits of Hub Services are cited below.

Dedicated Account Management

Better control on bookings

Point-of-origin fares

Centralized Profile Management System

Local Accounting System

Country wise customized travel reports

Centralized Duty of Care support

What are the latest travel technologies that are used in Lufthansa City Center Travels & Rentals?

At Lufthansa City Center Travels & Rentals, they always trust on advanced technology for superior services. For flight booking, hotel reservations, road transport, international rails and cruises they use Global Distribution System (GDS) and Online Booking Engines (OBE). They rely on latest Cloud Telephonic System for automated call distribution and Profile management tool for clients’ data security.

How is their APAC & MEA Hub services better than others?

APAC & MEA Hub Services are very rare in most of the countries. Among very few of the reputed travel management companies, Lufthansa City Center Travels & Rentals stands as a specialized and experienced travel management company being part of the most acclaimed international travel franchise – Lufthansa City Center. Their services are –

Competitive pricing & transparency

Easy and fast travel policy compliance

Centralized key account management

Local tax compliant invoicing

Online and Offline travel solutions

With a reputed company like Lufthansa City Center Travels & Rentals, it is certain that you get best of the travel services and support due to their immense experience across the globe. They have a huge repository of travel suppliers and an expert team of travel experts who have the capability of servicing international customers since years.

[travelsbackoffice]

Optimizing Business Travel: Effective Strategies for Management and Efficiency

Discover the art of seamless business travel management with our comprehensive guide. From cost-effective booking solutions to streamlined itinerary planning, we offer practical insights to enhance efficiency and productivity on your corporate journeys. Learn how to navigate travel policies, leverage technology for smoother experiences, and prioritize traveler satisfaction. Elevate your travel management game and unlock the full potential of your business ventures.

[vyasmeghna]

Innovating the World of Textiles: A Preview of ITMA 2023 in Milan

The International Textile Machinery Exhibition (ITMA) is a global platform for textile machinery manufacturers and textile industry professionals to showcase their products, share knowledge, and network with their peers. ITMA is held every four years, with the next edition scheduled to take place in Milan, Italy in 2023.

ITMA 2023 promises to be an exciting event for the textile industry, bringing together some of the world's leading textile machinery manufacturers and suppliers to showcase the latest advancements in textile manufacturing technology. The exhibition will feature a wide range of machinery and equipment, including spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing, printing, and finishing machines, as well as software and automation solutions.

The theme of ITMA 2023 is "Innovating the World of Textiles", reflecting the industry's growing focus on innovation and sustainability. The exhibition will showcase the latest innovations in textile manufacturing technology, with a particular emphasis on sustainability and circular economy principles. This includes developments in materials, processes, and technologies that reduce the environmental impact of textile manufacturing, such as waterless dyeing and closed-loop production systems.

ITMA 2023 will also feature a comprehensive conference program, where industry experts will discuss the latest trends and developments in the textile industry. The conference program will cover a wide range of topics, including sustainability, digitalization, and circular economy principles. The conference will provide an opportunity for textile industry professionals to share their knowledge, network with their peers, and learn from experts in the field.

One of the highlights of ITMA 2023 will be the Innovation Lab, a showcase of the latest innovations and technologies in the textile industry. The Innovation Lab will feature cutting-edge products and services from exhibitors, as well as interactive exhibits and demonstrations that highlight the latest advancements in textile manufacturing technology.

ITMA 2023 is expected to attract thousands of visitors from around the world, including textile manufacturers, suppliers, designers, researchers, and academics. The exhibition provides an excellent opportunity for textile industry professionals to learn about the latest advancements in textile manufacturing technology, network with their peers, and explore new business opportunities.

Milan, the host city for ITMA 2023, is a hub of fashion and design, making it the perfect location for this prestigious event. Milan is known for its rich history in textiles, with a strong tradition of textile manufacturing dating back to the Middle Ages. Today, Milan is a center of fashion and design, home to some of the world's leading fashion brands and textile design studios.

In conclusion, ITMA 2023 promises to be an exciting event for the textile industry, bringing together some of the world's leading textile machinery manufacturers and suppliers to showcase the latest advancements in textile manufacturing technology. The exhibition will provide an excellent opportunity for textile industry professionals to learn about the latest trends and developments in the industry, network with their peers, and explore new business opportunities. With a focus on innovation and sustainability, ITMA 2023 is sure to be a key event for anyone involved in the textile industry.

For those interested in attending ITMA 2023 in Milan, book yourself ITMA 2023 Travel Package with Delmos World Pvt. Ltd., one the Best International Tour and Travel Management Company, which offer all-inclusive travel packages. These packages typically include flights, hotel accommodations, and entry to the exhibition. By booking a travel package, attendees can save time and money while also having the convenience of a pre-arranged itinerary. It's always a good idea to shop around and compare prices to find the best deal that fits your budget and travel needs.

[collapsedsquid]

Consider, for example, the following situation. A characteristically modern form of social interaction, familiar from the rail and air travel industries, has become ubiquitous with the development of the call centre. Someone – an airline gate attendant, for example – tells you some bad news; perhaps you’ve been bumped from the flight in favour of someone with more frequent flyer points. You start to complain and point out how much you paid for your ticket, but you’re brought up short by the undeniable fact that the gate attendant can’t do anything about it. You ask to speak to someone who can do something about it, but you’re told that’s not company policy. The unsettling thing about this conversation is that you progressively realise that the human being you are speaking to is only allowed to follow a set of processes and rules that pass on decisions made at a higher level of the corporate hierarchy. It’s often a frustrating experience; you want to get angry, but you can’t really blame the person you’re talking to. Somehow, the airline has constructed a state of affairs where it can speak to you with the anonymous voice of an amorphous corporation, but you have to talk back to it as if it were a person like yourself. Bad people react to this by getting angry at the gate attendant; good people walk away stewing with thwarted rage, and they may give some lacerating feedback online. Meanwhile, the managers who made the decision to prioritise Gold Elite members are able to maximise shareholder value without any distractions from the consequences of their actions. They have constructed an accountability sink to absorb unwanted negative emotion.

[cosmicpuzzle]

Mercury in Houses

Mercury in 1st House

You are an intellectual person and have a lot of questions. You are curious and restless. You may have difficulty slowing down your mind. You are quick witted and mercurial (especially in signs Gemini, Virgo, Aries). You learn a lot from experiences than textbooks. You can be proud intellectually or don't appreciate others viewpoints.

Mercury in 2nd House

Your mind is often focused on financial matters and wealth. You often think about increasing your income. You have a good mind for selling and commerce and may succeed in business. You can micromanage your finances. You may be a good speaker too.

Mercury in 3rd House

You have an active mind, and you are good at writing and communication. You are a quick learner and may be employed in customer care, IT and education sector. You love short travels on cycles, bikes, trains and cars. You can have a lot of contacts.

Mercury in 4th House

You can be bit introverted, and your feelings are strong. You are interested in psychology and the past. You are interested in human behavior. You are nostalgic and remember things from the past. You can change residences often.

Mercury in 5th House

You are interested in love and romance. You are communicative and flirty in love. Your thoughts are on romance and fun often. You can be a creative person and do well with storytelling. You like to read romantic novels and may publish storybooks for children. You can be good at stockmarket.

Mercury in 6th House

You can be nervous and interested in health, diet and hygiene. You are a hard worker and do well in fields related to numbers, accounting and documents. You are good in solving day to day problems practically and efficiently.

Mercury in 7th House

You are attracted to people who are intelligent, witty and communicative and seek these attributes in a partner. Intellectual rapport with others is important to you. You need to feel that you can discuss any aspect of your relationship with your partner. You are suited to public relations work, as you enjoy meeting people and dealing with the public in general.

Mercury in 8th House

You have a deep interest in occult and metaphysics. You can be uncommunicative and reserved. You are good at research and investigation. You may be good at managing other's assets and in corporate finance.

Mercury in 9th House

You are interested in higher knowledge, philosophy and spiritual matters. You are motivated to broaden your horizons. You can travel abroad for education and may be good at learning foreign languages.

Mercury in 10th House

Your mind is focused on professional achievement. You are suited to business, academic work, writing, journalism, politics and the communication industries. You have organizational skills, leadership capabilities and the ability to make executive decisions. You enjoy variety in your profession and may hold down more than one job or seek a career that constantly tests your skills.

Mercury in 11th House

Spending time with your friends is important to you. You belong to common interest groups or societies. A natural networker, you are able to bring people together for a purpose or cause.

Mercury in 12th House

You need to create a space in your life where you can retreat into your own private thoughts. You are quite happy in your own company and tend to prefer to work alone or behind-the-scenes. You may forget things easily.

For Readings DM

[robertreich]

The Silent Revolution in American Economics

I don't think you're expecting what I'm about to say, because I have never seen anything like this in fifty years in politics.

For decades I've been sounding an alarm about how our economy has become increasingly rigged for the rich. I've watched it get worse under both Republicans and Democrats, but what President Biden has done in his first term gives me hope I haven't felt in years. It’s a complete sea change.

Here are three key areas where Biden is fundamentally reshaping our economy to make it better for working people.

#1 Trade and industrial policy

Biden is breaking with decades of reliance on free-trade deals and free-market philosophies. He’s instead focusing on domestic policies designed to revive American manufacturing and fortify our own supply chains.

Take three of his signature pieces of legislation so far — the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS Act, and his infrastructure package. This flood of government investment has brought about a new wave in American manufacturing.

Unlike Trump, who just levied tariffs on Chinese imports and used it as a campaign slogan, Biden is actually investing in America’s manufacturing capacity so we don’t have to rely on China in the first place.

He’s turning the tide against deals made by previous administrations, both Democratic and Republican, that helped Wall Street but ended up costing American jobs and lowering American wages.

#2 Monopoly power

Biden is the first president in living memory to take on big monopolies.

Giant firms have come to dominate almost every industry. Four beef packers now control over 80 percent of the market, domestic air travel is dominated by four airlines, and most Americans have no real choice of internet providers.

In a monopolized economy, corporate profits rise, consumers pay higher prices, and workers’ wages shrink.

But under the Biden, the Federal Trade Commission and the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department have become the most aggressive monopoly fighters in more than a half century. They’re going after Amazon and Google, Ticketmaster and Live Nation, JetBlue and Spirit, and a wide range of other giant corporations.  

#3 Labor

Biden is also the most pro-union president I’ve ever seen.

A big reason for the surge in workers organizing and striking for higher wages is the pro-labor course Biden is charting.

The Reagan years blew in a typhoon of union busting across America. Corporations routinely sunk unions and fired workers who attempted to form them. They offshored production or moved to so-called “right-to-work” states that enacted laws making it hard to form unions.

Even though Democratic presidents promised labor law reforms that would strengthen unions, they didn’t follow through. But under Joe Biden, organized labor has received a vital lifeboat. Unionizing has been protected and encouraged. Biden is even the first sitting president to walk a picket line.

Biden’s National Labor Relations Board is stemming the tide of unfair labor practices, requiring companies to bargain with their employees, speeding the period between union petitions and elections, and making it harder to fire workers for organizing.

Americans have every reason to be outraged at how decades of policies that prioritized corporations over people have thrown our economy off-keel.

But these three waves of change — a worker-centered trade and industrial policy, strong anti-monopoly enforcement, and moves to strengthen labor unions — are navigating towards a more equitable economy.

It’s a sea change that’s long overdue.

[gaargoyle]

My current much-loved possession, an original 1993 copy of Space Marine. I wanted it for its lovely cover, mostly, (also physical media is supreme) even though it's seen better days. The pretty foil lettering has worn away in spots.

Inside is the timeline that was canon in 1993. You can still get this book today digitally, but I do not know if they include a timeline with it still, and if they do, if they kept it as it was for posterity or made updates.

Transcribed below!

A TIMELINE FOR THE WARHAMMER 40,000 UNIVERSE

15th Millennium - Humanity begins to colonise nearby solar systems using conventional sub-light spacecraft. At first, progress is painfully slow. Separated from Terra by up to ten generations in travel time, the new colonies have to survive mainly on local resources.

The Dark Age of Technology

20th Millennium - Discovery of warp drives accelerates the colonisation process and the early independent or corporate colonies become federated to Terra. The first alien races (including the ubiquitous Orks) are encountered. The development of the Navigator gene allows human pilots to make longer and faster 'jumps' through warp space than was previously thought possible. The great Navigator families, initially controlled by industrial and trading cartels, become a power base in their own right.

Humanity continues to explore and colonise the galaxy. Contacts are established with the Eldar and other alien races. A golden age of scientific achievement begins. Perfection of the Standard Template Construct (STC) system now permits an almost explosive expansion to the stars.

The Age of Strife

25th Millennium - Humanity reaches the far edges of the galaxy, completing the push to the stars begun over ten thousand years before. Human civilisation is now widely dispersed and divergent - with countless small colonies as well as many large, overpopulated planets. Localised wars and disputes with various alien races (especially the Orks!) continue, but pose no threat to the overall stability of human-colonised space. Then, two things happen almost simultaneously. First, humans with psychic powers begin to appear on almost every colonised world. Second, civilisation starts to disintegrate under the stress of widespread insanity, demonic possession, and internecine strife between these new 'psykers' and the rest of humanity. Countless fanatical cults and organisations spring up to persecute the psykers as witches, and/or degenerate mutants. At this time, the existence of the creatures of the warp (later known and feared as demons), and the dangers they pose to the human mind with newly awakened psychic powers, is far from understood.

Terrible wars tear human civilisation apart. Localised empires and factions fight amongst themselves as well as against fleets of Orks, Tyrannids [sic], and other aliens whose forces are quick to seize the opportunity to sack human space. Many worlds fall prey to the dominance of Warp Creatures whilst others revert to barbarism. Humans survive only on those worlds where psykers are suppressed or controlled. During this time, Terra is cut off from the rest of humanity by terrible warp storms, which isolate the home world for several thousand years, further accelerating the ruin of humanity.

The Horus Heresy

30th Millennium - Humanity itself teeters on the brink of the abyss of extinction. Civil war erupts throughout the galaxy as the Emperor of human space is betrayed by his most trusted lieutenant, the Warmaster Horus. Possessed by a demon from the warp, Horus seduces whole chapters of humanity's greatest warriors - the Space Marines - into joining his cause. When the final battle seems lost, the Emperor defeats Horus in single combat, but only at the cost of his own humanity.

His physical life maintained by artificial means, and his psyche by human sacrifice, the Emperor begins the long task of reconquering human space. With the creation by the Emperor of the psychic navigational beacon known as the Astronomican, the foundations are laid for the building of the Imperium, as it to be known in the 41st millennium. Fuelled by the dying spirits of those psykers who would otherwise fall prey to the demons of the warp, and directed by the Emperor's indomitable will, the Astronomican soon becomes an invaluable aid to Navigators throughout the galaxy. Interstellar travel becomes even easier and quicker, while the repression and control of psykers and creatures from the warp releases much of humanity from its hellish bondage.

The Age of the Imperium

41st Millennium - Throughout the portion of the galaxy known as the Imperium, humanity is bound within the organisations and strictures of the Administratum. The Emperor grows ever more detached from the day to day concerns of his mortal subjects, while the Inquisition works ceaselessly to protect humanity from the ever-present dangers posed by renegade psykers and the terrible creatures inhabiting warp space. The armies of the Imperium - the Guard and the almost superhuman Space Marines - maintain a constant vigil against the threat of invading Orks, Tyrannids [sic] and other aliens. But still the number of psykers increases steadily, and other more sinister groups associated with Warp Creature domination continue to gain ground...

[azure-cherie]

Mini post on ways to gain using the lord of your 11th house

Lord in 1st : showing yourself off , modelling, body art , dancing .

Lord in 2nd : singing, banking , share market .

Lord in 3 rd : mass communication, acting,crafts , any kind of skills, artist .

Lord in 4th : interior design, architecture, anything doorstep .

Lord in 5th : pediatrician, teacher of small kids , divination, astrology , poet .

Lord in 6th : doctor, exorcist , 9-5 jobs , engineering .

Lord in 7th : share market , corporate companies, matrimonial service, gains through marriage.

Lord in 8th : Tarot , astrology, forensic, psychology, anything miscellaneous.

Lord in 9th : Teaching , travelling, spirituality, mediation instructor.

Lord in 10th : offices , any sector involving planning , government.

Lord in 11th : social work , computer engineering, manufacturing industries, social media business.

Lord in 12th : psychic , travel agent , spiritualist , religious leader .

Tell me if you want a detailed reading:) I'll make a post later ;)

Masterlist

Paid services

[perfectsunlight]

15 ⸺ GOOD THINGS DON'T LAST

warnings: toxic behavior, language, peer pressure, struggling to come out, cheating

word count: 4.4k

part of the series: LOGICAL

lee junseo came from a world where money did grow on trees. just her name alone stood as an example of generational wealth and luxury. her great grandfather had founded a banking corporation that had skyrocketed to success, cementing the lee family as one of the most influential and wealthy families in the country. junseo had grown up surrounded by opulence, attending the finest schools, and traveling to the most exotic locations. 

she was close friends with jisoo, growing up she saw her almost as a sibling considering how often their families hung out. however, even the kim family knew that the lee’s were far more affluent. the kims were wealthy, but the lees were on a different level entirely, with their influence and wealth extending into various industries as well as other countries.

junseo and jisoo’s friendship was genuine and uncomplicated, built on years of shared experiences and mutual respect. they understood each other's pressures and expectations, often finding solace in their conversations and company. despite the societal expectations that came with their family names, their friendship remained one of the few constants in their lives.

however, they differed in one major way—junseo had no desire to take over the family company. 

jisoo was always pressured into taking her rightful place at the head of the kim’s law firm. from a young age, she had been groomed to follow in her parents' footsteps in a path that was meticulously planned and full of expectations.

junseo, on the other hand, felt no such pressure. her family’s wealth afforded her the freedom to explore her own interests and passions without the weight of expectations. this difference in their upbringing allowed junseo to pursue what she loved, like volleyball, without any guilt or second thoughts.

when junseo and chaeyoung became roommates during their first year, junseo quickly learned about chaeyoung’s long-standing crush on jisoo. it was clear that the blonde adored jisoo, hanging on to her every word and gesture. as the two grew closer, she became a confidante for her roommate. 

junseo’s connection to jisoo became a bridge for chaeyoung, allowing her to be closer to her crush in a way that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. junseo was more than willing to help her friend, hoping that one day jisoo would reciprocate chaeyoung’s feelings.

however, junseo wasn’t entirely aware of lisa’s role in the picture.

“since when did you become interested in basketball?” junseo snickered as she took a few selfies in bed, her phone’s screen casting a soft glow in the dimly lit room. chaeyoung was seated at her desk doing her makeup in front of the small vanity mirror. the pair were attending the first home game of the season.

the blonde glanced up, a small smile tugging at her lips. “since i started talking to lisa.”

junseo’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “lisa? y/n’s girlfriend?”

chaeyoung nodded, her smile faltering slightly. if there was one thing about junseo, it was the fact that she knew everything about everyone. 

“yeah, that lisa.”

the sophomore put her phone down, turning her full attention to her roommate. “wait, what do you mean you’ve been talking to lisa?” she asked slowly, trying to read the blonde’s face for any clues.

chaeyoung sighed, leaning back in her chair. “look, i know it sounds bad, but it’s not like that. lisa and i have just been talking. she’s been really nice to me, and... i don’t know. it’s just nice to have a friend.”

junseo frowned, confusion and concern evident in her eyes. “does y/n know?”

the other girl shook her head. “no, and i don’t think lisa sees it as a big deal. i don’t know, she just gives me a lot of attention. it’s nice to feel wanted, you know?”

the heiress didn’t press further, even if she wanted to. she knew how much the blonde craved attention and validation, especially from someone like lisa. 

instead, she sighed and picked her phone back up, glancing at the time. “are you ready to go?” she asked while grabbing her purse. the blonde nodded, thankful for the end of that conversation.

the gymnasium was packed with students, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement. junseo and chaeyoung found seats near the front, giving them a clear view of the court. the teams were warming up, and junseo’s eyes scanned the players, searching for familiar faces.

“there’s lisa,” chaeyoung motioned with her head towards the most aggressive one on the court. naturally, y/n was next to her. junseo’s gaze remained on the two, watching as lisa quickly gave the shorter girl a kiss on the cheek. 

she shifted her attention away from the couple, while also noting the subtle huff of annoyance that came from her roommate’s mouth at the sight of them.

however, junseo’s eyes stopped in their tracks when she locked eyes with the most alluring face. dark eyes and black hair, swept back into a messy high bun. her dark green uniform clung to her athletic frame, highlighting her toned muscles. the girl was nothing like the other players, seeming to be quite reserved and much quieter.

“who is that?” junseo asked, her voice barely audible as chaeyoung turned to see who she was talking about. 

the blonde followed her gaze and smiled knowingly. “kang seulgi, a junior. she’s not as known, but she’s definitely one of the best players on the team. why?”

junseo couldn’t take her eyes off seulgi. there was something magnetic about her presence, a quiet intensity that drew the other girl in.  

“no reason,” she said, trying to sound nonchalant. “just curious.”

—

kang seulgi knew she liked girls from the moment she kissed one in 3rd grade. it was a simple, innocent peck on the cheek during a game of truth or dare, but the feeling it left behind was anything but simple. the fluttering sensation in her chest and the warmth she felt were unlike anything she had ever experienced before.

as she grew older, seulgi's understanding of her feelings evolved, but she struggled with the societal expectations and pressures around her. her very modest family was extremely against anything that wasn’t traditional, which naturally included relationships.

she learned early on to compartmentalize her feelings, keeping her romantic inclinations a private part of her life. truth be told, she really didn’t have any romantic feelings. not any real ones anyway.

in high school, her attraction to girls was a well-kept secret. she dated boys casually, mostly to avoid drawing attention or raising questions. her feelings for other girls were something she kept to herself, navigating her teenage years with a mix of curiosity and confusion. the locker room and gymnasium were safe spaces where she could be herself, if only for brief moments.

when seulgi arrived at ygu, she hoped to find a more accepting environment, but she was still cautious. her basketball scholarship had opened doors to a prestigious university, but it also came with its own set of expectations and pressures. the scholarship was a testament to her skill and dedication, but she didn't want anything to jeopardize it.

but junseo was the wrecking ball that crashed her walls down with just a smile and a wave.

their initial connection felt like magic—something out of a storybook. their mutual attraction to each other was immediate and intense, leading them to pursue the relationship with a fervor neither had anticipated. as they began to spend more time together, their bond deepened, and the fairy-tale feeling grew stronger. 

but despite the enchantment of their early days, the reality of their differences soon became apparent. 

seulgi never understood how carefree junseo was, especially coming from someone with such a reputation. their first date consisted of junseo reserving an entire restaurant for the two to enjoy alone time together.

the restaurant was a high-end venue with a stunning view of the city skyline, and junseo had gone to great lengths to ensure it was a perfect, intimate experience.

to seulgi, who was used to quieter, more down-to-earth dates—like grabbing a quick bite after practice or sneaking away to a cozy café—this extravagant gesture felt both overwhelming and alien. while junseo’s romantic flair was undeniable, it clashed with seulgi’s preference for simplicity and genuine moments over grand gestures.

the night started beautifully, with candlelight casting a warm glow over their table and soft music playing in the background. junseo was radiant, dressed in a chic, elegant outfit, and her eyes sparkled with excitement. seulgi, on the other hand, felt slightly out of her element, unable to fully appreciate the opulence surrounding them.

as the evening progressed, seulgi tried to enjoy the fine dining experience and junseo’s company, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of discomfort. the lavish surroundings and junseo’s insistence on creating a perfect night only served to highlight their contrasting worlds. seulgi found herself feeling more like a spectator than an active participant in what was supposed to be a special evening.

after the dinner, junseo seemed disappointed, sensing seulgi’s lack of enthusiasm. “did you not like the restaurant? i thought it would be a nice change from campus food,” she said, her voice tinged with concern.

the basketball athlete felt a bit embarrassed, and for some reason felt like crying. “junseo, look, you’re really sweet and dinner was amazing, but—”

“oh.” junseo interrupted, already anticipating what the other girl was about to say. it broke her heart knowing that the girl she liked so much was about to reject her. seulgi tried to steady her voice, being vocal about how she was feeling wasn’t something she was used to.

“i’m just not ready for this right now. i really like you, but i need to focus on myself and my basketball. i don’t want to lead you on or make you think that i’m in the right place for a relationship.”

junseo’s face fell, and she tried to mask her hurt with a small, forced smile. “i understand. i’m sorry if i rushed things. i just thought we had something special.”

seulgi looked away, her eyes filled with regret, but she refused to let herself go back on her own word.

 “we do have something special. i just can’t give you what you deserve at the moment.”

as they parted ways, junseo’s disappointment was palpable. seulgi watched her leave, feeling a mix of guilt and sadness. despite her own reservations, she couldn’t shake the sense that she was letting go of something meaningful.

a few short weeks later, seulgi was focused on her game, determined to give it her all despite the personal turmoil she was feeling. the gym was packed with fans, and the energy in the arena was electric. her team was playing decently, but seulgi found herself distracted by the sight of junseo in the stands, looking as radiant as ever.

she figured chaeyoung had dragged her to the game in the first place, considering how seulgi knew she was the last person junseo wanted to see at the moment. 

during a break in the game, seulgi glanced over and saw a guy trying to hit on junseo. he was leaning in, talking animatedly, and junseo was laughing politely but seemed uncomfortable. seulgi felt a pang of jealousy and frustration, her earlier decision to reject the heiress now weighing heavily on her heart.

seulgi was smart about everything except her own feelings. she let her mind make any decisions without listening to her heart first. however, as she watched this man have all of junseo’s attention at her own game, she felt her emotions spiral out of control. 

the sight of junseo laughing and engaging with someone else while seulgi stood on the sidelines gnawed at her insides, stirring a mix of jealousy and regret.

“seulgi,” lisa snapped as she slammed the water bottle into the ground roughly. “we’ve had eight turnovers because of you.” she pointed, her frustration evident. “get your head in the game!”

“that’s enough, lisa.” yeri hissed, standing up from her seat and grabbing a nearby cloth to wipe the sweat from her brow. “you’ve missed every open shot so far. you’re lucky somi is tall enough to clean up your misses.”

seulgi barely registered lisa’s reprimand. her eyes were fixed on junseo, who was now entirely focused on the stranger speaking to her. it was as if junseo was completely oblivious to the world around her, and her heart ached at the sight. the carefree, radiant smile on junseo’s face as she laughed with the guy made 

the athlete felt like she was being pulled into an emotional whirlpool.

“kang seulgi, focus!” lisa’s voice cut through her thoughts again as they jogged onto the court, but this time seulgi only gave a distracted nod. the frustration of the game, combined with her deep-seated insecurity, made it almost impossible to concentrate.

every play seulgi made, she looked back at junseo to see if she saw it.

her movements on the court were fueled by the hope of catching the other girl’s eye, each shot and strategic pass accompanied by a quick glance toward the stands. seulgi’s game was driven by a new intensity, one that was both exhilarating and distracting.

the energy of the basketball game seemed to have shifted. where seulgi had once felt isolated and insecure, she now felt a renewed determination to prove herself, both to her teammates and to junseo. she gave it her all, pushing through the fatigue with each aggressive drive to the hoop, each defensive stance, and each play that set up a teammate for a score.

each time she turned her head to scan the crowd, her heart raced, hoping to find the same familiar face among the spectators. the earlier tension had transformed into a singular focus on making every moment count.

from the corner of her eye, seulgi caught numerous glimpses of junseo’s reactions. the heiress was no longer interacting with the stranger from before. instead, she was completely absorbed in the game, her gaze locked on seulgi with an intensity that matched her own. 

in the final minutes of the game, seulgi made a crucial play. 

ygu was down by 1 point. they needed this to count.

she intercepted a pass, dribbled down the court while ignoring lisa’s screams to pass it, and made a perfect shot just as the buzzer sounded. the crowd erupted in cheers and her teammates rushed to hug her, but seulgi’s eyes were solely focused on junseo. 

the sight of junseo standing and clapping with genuine enthusiasm was all seulgi needed to know her efforts were worth it.

coach taeyeon had given a very long and detailed post-game talk, but the moment it was finished, seulgi sprinted towards the parking lot. her heart was racing not from the adrenaline of the game, but from the anticipation of seeing junseo again.

the cool night air hit her as she stepped outside, the dim lights of the parking lot casting long shadows. she scanned the area, her eyes searching for the familiar sight of junseo’s car. it wasn’t long before she spotted it parked under a streetlamp.

seulgi’s pace quickened as she approached the car, her excitement growing with each step. when she reached it, she saw the heiress leaning against the hood, her silhouette bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight. junseo’s eyes met seulgi’s, and a warm smile spread across her face, instantly melting away any lingering tension.

“seulgi,” junseo called out softly, pushing off the car and walking towards her. her eyes held a mix of affection and anticipation, reflecting the same emotions that seulgi felt.

seulgi closed the distance between them, her heart swelling with a mixture of relief and joy. “i’m sorry i took so long. i just needed to see you.”

junseo reached out, taking seulgi’s hands in hers. “it’s okay. i’ve been waiting for you.”

the basketball player scanned the heiress’ face, admiring every detail of it in the darkness of night. she hated how loud her heart was, but she couldn't deny herself any longer. every single beat of it was for junseo.

junseo. junseo. junseo.

everything was for junseo.

without another word, seulgi leaned in closer, her face inches away from the other girl’s. she could smell the scent of junseo’s perfume, a delicate mix of jasmine and cedar. 

junseo’s heart raced at the proximity, the air between them thick with anticipation. she noticed the nervous tremor in seulgi’s lips and saw the uncertainty in her eyes. junseo’s own heart ached with a mix of affection and a fierce desire to guide her through this moment.

seulgi’s cheeks flushed, her nerves momentarily giving way to excitement. “i—i've never been in a real relationship before. i don't know how to do this. i’ve never even kissed anyone.” she admitted embarrassingly, her face flushed with a dark shade of scarlet.

junseo’s eyes softened with understanding. she reached up to gently cup seulgi’s face in her hands. “you want to kiss me, kang seulgi?” she whispered as she gently traced the curve of the athlete’s jaw.

seulgi nodded, her gaze fixed on junseo’s lips. “i want you to be my girlfriend.” junseo smiled reassuringly and leaned in, her lips brushing softly against seulgi’s. “then let me be your first kiss.”

“relax,” the volleyball player murmured, her voice soothing. “don’t even think about anything.”

junseo’s hands remained steady on seulgi’s face, her touch light but firm, guiding seulgi through each subtle shift. she let seulgi lead the kiss at her own pace, savoring the intimacy of the moment and the growing connection between them.

their relationship was a secret from that night forward. seulgi loved the girl, but at the end of the day, she knew she could never publicly love her. she couldn’t accept her own sexuality, at least not at 100%. 

the party was buzzing with energy as the music thumped in the background and laughter filled the air. junseo was somewhere else with some of the other volleyball players, leaving the basketball girls to their own games.

when a game of truth or dare started, the atmosphere became even more lively. seulgi was anxious about the game, knowing that anything could happen and her secret relationship could be at risk, especially given chaeyoung is a bit too close to lisa.

and lisa, always one for pushing boundaries, grinned as she made her way around the circle.

“alright, seulgi,” lisa said, her eyes glinting with mischief as the bottle stopped on her. “truth or dare?”

seulgi gulped, her heart racing. “dare.”

lisa’s grin widened. “i dare you to text coach irene and tell her she’s pretty.”

a wave of unease washed over seulgi. she knew coach irene well enough to know that her response could range from amused to deeply embarrassed. but more than that, she didn’t want any hint of her personal life exposed.

“what? why?” seulgi protested, trying to hide her anxiety. the star athlete shrugged playfully. “come on, it’s just a game! it’ll be funny.” y/n’s eyes narrowed at her girlfriend briefly, not amused by the antics. 

“lisa this doesn’t seem–”

lisa let out a huff of annoyance before taking a sip of her drink. “it’s just a stupid game. it’s not like seulgi likes girls anyway.” she groaned before quickly kissing the back of her girlfriend’s hand. 

that last part of the thai girl’s remark sent sirens off in her head. was lisa trying to test her? did she know about her and junseo? 

“you don't, right?” lalisa questioned, raising a knowing eyebrow at her teammate. seulgi forced a laugh, trying to mask her anxiety. “no, of course not,” she lied, her voice wavering slightly. “it’s just a game, like you said.”

“exactly, so just do it.” somi said while taking a sip from her red solo cup. yeji sent y/n a knowing look, but y/n only shook her head slightly. they both knew lisa was up to something, even if they didn’t know what it was.

reluctantly, she did as she was told. 

i just wanted to say i think you’re really pretty.

“there,” seulgi cleared her throat and showed the other athlete her proof. lisa snickered, clearly pleased with the outcome of her dare. 

“see? that wasn’t so bad.”

it was a seemingly harmless dare, but seulgi couldn’t shake the feeling that lisa knew something she didn’t. 

—

junseo gently massaged the knots in her girlfriend’s back, earning a few grunts and groans from seulgi. they had spent the evening after their practices just relaxing and recovering together. it was one of the couple's favorite pastimes.

“i think i’m getting better at this,” junseo teased, pressing her thumbs into a particularly tense spot.

seulgi chuckled, a content sigh escaping her lips. “you’re a natural, junseo. i could get used to this.”

junseo’s heart swelled with affection. “good, because i plan on keeping you relaxed and happy for a long time.”

seulgi turned her head slightly, meeting junseo’s gaze with a soft smile. “i’m lucky to have you.”

junseo leaned down, placing a gentle kiss on seulgi’s shoulder. “no, i’m the lucky one.”

their moment was interrupted by the sudden buzz of junseo’s phone on the nightstand. she reached over to silence it, but a message preview on her phone caught her eye. 

it was from an unsaved number, but the content made her blood run cold.

junseo’s hands trembled as she read the message again, hoping it was some kind of misunderstanding. but the words were clear, and the implications even clearer. she felt a knot tighten in her stomach, her mind racing with a thousand questions and fears.

“seulgi,” junseo said, her voice barely above a whisper. her hands curled into fists as she slowly sat back down on her girlfriend’s waist, facing the back of her head. “yeah?” seulgi replied, oblivious to the storm brewing behind her.

the heiress took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “look at me.” seulgi turned around, concern etching her features as she noticed her lover’s expression. “what is it?”

“is there something you want to tell me?” 

the older girl slowly turned, causing her girlfriend to shift in her lap as she faced her fully. junseo’s eyes were cold and void of any emotion. truth be told, it scared her to see the girl she loved like this.

“nothing that you don’t already know.” seulgi said slowly, putting her hands on junseo’s thighs lightly. junseo’s voice was barely above a whisper, but it was sharp and clear. “who sent this?” she held up her phone, the message from the unknown number still on the screen.

ask seulgi about irene. you should know what’s going on.

seulgi glanced at the phone, her heart sinking further. “that’s lisa’s number...”

junseo’s eyes narrowed, her hands trembling. “you’re telling me that you’ve been talking to irene and now lisa somehow is involved? what the hell is going on, seulgi?”

seulgi’s hands tightened on junseo’s thighs, trying to keep her voice steady. “coach irene and i have been talking because she’s my coach. it’s nothing more than that.”

the heiresses' expression softened just a fraction, but her voice remained icy. “then why did lisa send me that? why would she think something is going on? and why does she know something i don’t?”

seulgi’s mind raced, trying to piece everything together. she was confused, and very scared of losing the only girl she cared about. 

“maybe she’s trying to stir things up, cause trouble. you know how lisa can be.”

junseo’s eyes flashed with anger. “this isn’t just some joke, seulgi. this is our relationship. i need to know if i can trust you.”

seulgi’s hands moved to cup her girlfriend’s face gently, her own eyes scanning for warmth in the irises. she loved junseo, there was no one else in her heart but her. that was the truth.  “you can trust me, junseo. i promise. there’s nothing going on between me and irene

junseo took a deep breath, her gaze searching seulgi’s eyes for any sign of deceit. “then give me your phone.”

almost instantly, seulgi’s mind began racing once again. she had remembered something that would change everything. the party. the dare.

lisa.

“wait,” seulgi panicked as she moved to try and grab her phone. “i just need to–” “why are you so freaked out?” junseo shouted, her voice cracking with a mix of frustration and fear. “what are you hiding from me, seulgi?”

seulgi’s heart pounded in her chest. “it’s not what you think. there’s just something i need to explain first.” that text made it look like something horrible, especially since irene’s response was something even worse.

junseo’s eyes narrowed, her hands shaking as she held onto the phone tighter. her girlfriend was so panicked, she had never seen seulgi’s face so pale.

“explain what? that you’ve been flirting with your damn coach behind my back?”

seulgi shook her head vigorously, her voice pleading. “no, it’s not like that. it was a dare. lisa dared me to text irene and tell her she’s pretty. it was stupid, and i didn’t mean anything by it.”

“then why didn’t you tell me that ages ago?” the heiress hissed before unlocking seulgi’s phone in front of her, the action shattering the basketball player’s heart into a million pieces. “junseo, please,” seulgi begged, trying to reach for the phone, but junseo pulled it away, her eyes scanning through the messages.

her heart sank as she saw the texts between seulgi and irene. what started as a silly dare had turned into a series of flirtatious messages, the playful tone becoming more frequent over time. seulgi had been hiding this from her, and it cut deeper than she could have imagined.

“why, seulgi?” junseo’s voice broke, tears welling up in her eyes. “why didn’t you tell me?”

seulgi’s own eyes filled with tears as she saw the pain on her girlfriend’s face. she couldn’t even come up with an excuse. her words died in her throat, and for the first time in forever, she just sat there silently.

and at the time, junseo didn’t know what was worse: her girlfriend’s actions, or the fact that lisa told her seulgi and irene were actually dating just a few short weeks after they broke up.

TAGLIST ⸺ ✭ @silantryoo @rosiehrs @niniwhiskers @cwpiqwon @jisooftme @1luvkarina @scarfac3 @santasbitch @lisas-earlobe @wallfl9wer @aerihiltonn @unforgivenangel @uzumakioden @skydreamed @haerinfangs @la-douleur-ne-finit-jamais @haerinkisser @giginings @lilsvx @milanlaia @pandafuriosa60 @wifey-badalee @slowlyturninggay291 @dreamingst99 @7daysronnie @thefckghost @drawing-into-the-night @xszn

CLOSED!!

[alexanderwales]

Castle Solutions was the only time travel company in the world. They had a giant corporate headquarters in downtown Chicago, which was the only place in the entire world with a time machine, at least as far as anyone knew. They were worth hundreds of billions, and the only reason they weren't worth more seemed to be that they didn't care all that much about money. The time machines were used for everything: reporting, media, market corrections, the surveillance state, and industry. Castle Solutions was the lynchpin of the modern world.

Daniel had thought the waiting room would be nicer.

He sat in a blue-gray chair that would have been at home in any waiting room anywhere else in Chicago. Slightly tinny music played over speakers from the ceiling. A fake potted plant sat in one corner, failing to look lively. There were no windows, because the waiting room was deep in the heart of the building, close to the machine itself.

Daniel was the only one in the waiting room. He'd come half an hour early, lugging all his gear, and now the only thing left was for the clock to run down. A bored-looking woman had come in to tell him that it might be awhile, that they were running behind schedule — the time travel company, running behind schedule. So there had been more waiting than expected.

A man in a charcoal gray suit with a simple blue backpack came in. He slung the backpack down onto the ground with a sigh and rubbed his face. He had stubble there, but an artful amount of it, like he'd spent some time in the mirror making sure that it was the right amount of scruff to offset his expensive suit.

Daniel looked straight ahead, trying not to look, keeping his face blank, like he was passing by a homeless person who might ask him for money he didn't have.

"Wow, you've got a lot of stuff," said the man. "Is that a sword?"

"It's a katana," said Daniel. He didn't match the eye contact the man was giving him.

"Oh, cool," said the man. "You're going to ... katana times?"

"Edo Japan, yeah," said Daniel.

Daniel was trying his best not to engage, to get this conversation over as quickly as possible. He wasn't making eye contact.

The man picked up his backpack and moved across the waiting room to be closer to Daniel.

"You speak Japanese?" the man asked.

"Hai, watashi wa nihongo o hanashimasu," replied Daniel. He wished that he were more fluent, that the words had come out less rote.

"Cool," said the man. He had apparently also come closer to get a look at all of Daniel's stuff. His eyes moved over the duffel bags. There wasn't much to see, everything had been carefully packed away. "Wow, you sure are prepared, huh?"

"It's a different time and place," said Daniel with a shrug. It represented five years of planning, five years of training, learning, honing himself.

"Personally, I'm going to 1946," said the man, though Daniel hadn't asked. He held out his hand. "Archie Vedder."

Daniel reluctantly took the hand. "Daniel Strom." He had never really gotten the hang of shaking hands. He worried that his hands were too clammy, a worry that proved founded when Archie wiped his hand on that expensive charcoal suit.

"I went with the kit," said Archie, pointing to his backpack. "I've got papers, I've got a computer with a backup, I've got a projector, a media library, a science library, the whole works, plus some forged bonds and a stack of cash. I got a sweet deal on it, they're overstocked now."

Retreating into the past had seen its heyday. Now most of the people who had been most enthusiastic were gone, and there were only the dissenters left. Everyone agreed with using the machine for the mundane stuff, but simply leaving, never to return, rubbed people the wrong way.

"I guess they don't sell kits for Edo," Archie ventured.

"They do," said Daniel. "They're trash."

"Ah," said Archie.

"This is all custom," said Daniel. "Higher quality, field tested, everything I'll need to set myself up there." Only some of it was stock. He had two computers, three smartphones, chargers and plugs, solar panels, replacement batteries, and redundant media libraries and science libraries.

Archie raised an eyebrow. "What does that mean, field tested? Because people don't come back. You're there for good, right?"

What it actually meant was that Daniel had gone out into a field and tested it, made sure that it worked under various conditions, set himself up like he might be explaining all this to a carefully chosen daimyo. There was only so much that camping in the woods and taking dry run vacations could tell him though.

"Some of it is theory," said Daniel. "Research."

"Yeah, see, that's why I went with 1946," said Archie. "It's really well-trod. You know, I was reading an article the other day that maybe the Baby Boom was a little overstated? Like, we're obviously living in the wake of time travelers, but that's the prime time to come back, anywhere from 1946 to 1960. The economy is doing well, tech is advancing, it's familiar enough. The culture is so close you can sell some stuff from a media library, it's brilliant. You're five steps away from becoming a multimillionaire in a time when that meant something."

"Sure," said Daniel.

"Any reason you're doing hard mode?" asked Archie. "I mean, samurai and ninjas are cool, sure, but —"

"It's not about that," said Daniel.

"Alright, sure," shrugged Archie.

Daniel looked over at the waiting room's lone clock. You would think that a waiting room for a time travel company would have better clocks, but it was a cheap utilitarian design, thin plastic and wobbly hands.

"What's it about then?" asked Archie.

"I was going to go with a friend," said Daniel. "We had practiced together, trained together. Then he got cancer."

"Ah, shit," said Archie.

"He lived," said Daniel. "He's fine. But he's on medications now, and will be for the rest of his life, and he can't go anymore."

"Huh," said Archie. "So there's a friend who you're leaving behind?"

"No," said Daniel. "I mean ... this was what we did together. We talked about it a lot. We read history books and practiced crafts and skills. At the start, I didn't really take it that seriously, it was just a hobby, but I got invested, and I guess I kept seeing it as — I don't know."

"I mean for me, it's a way out," said Archie. "Most people feel that way, yeah? My wife filed for divorce, I got fired from my job, so hey, time to start over in 1946, pretend I'm part of the Greatest Generation, ride the waves I know are coming. Exploit it."

Daniel grimaced. The Vietnam War, segregation, the Red Scare? People had a rosy view of that time. He'd never felt particularly aligned with people like Archie who were just looking to make a quick buck.

"Oh come on," said Archie. "You think you're better than me? You're a, you know, what's the word. Colonizer."

Daniel rolled his eyes. "No."

"What, just 'no', it's not, you know, what we did to the Native Americans?" asked Archie. "The whole 'conquer the past' thing?"

"I'm a single person," said Daniel. "I'm bringing back things that will change their culture forever, but I'm not an agent of my country, and even if I were, I think those people who want to be a god king are morons. And sorry, I'm not spending my last minutes in the present on badly rehashing a debate I've had a thousand times already."

"Why not?" asked Archie. "See, I think having arguments right before you go is great. You can leave on a high note. I've spent the last few days saying whatever the hell I wanted to people. It's great. I went to my dad and said 'hey, you were a terrible father, I never liked you, and it's sad that you thought I needed your approval'. And then you know what's hilarious? I get to just walk away and never be seen again. How's that for a power move? How's that for a mic drop?"

"Seems immature," said Daniel.

"Well, see, I'm actually fine being immature," said Archie with a little laugh. "And when this conversation is done, one or both of us is going into the past, never to be seen nor heard from again, and isn't that great? You don't like me, I don't like you, and then we're strangers again."

Daniel had been looking straight ahead, but he turned to Archie after that. "You don't like me?" he asked. "You don't know me."

"I know your type," said Archie. He leaned back. "You spent what, three years cooking up a plan, making this trip back in time your entire personality, and now you think you're better than me, better than everyone, like you've got it all figured out. You talked yourself into throwing away everything you've got going on here. You got dreams of a future in the past. It's quitter talk, is what it is."

"Fuck off," said Daniel. In his normal life he'd have never said it, but he was on the precipice.

"You think going into the past is going to transform you?" asked Archie. "That another world, a second chance, you'll somehow become the man you think you were supposed to be? Well let me tell you, if you were a loser here, you'll be a loser there."

Daniel stood up and drew his sword. He'd practiced the draw a thousand times. The sword gleamed, even under the ugly fluorescent lighting of the waiting room. "Fuck off, or you'll be going back to the 50s missing a hand."

"Bah," said Archie. "Fine." He stood up and took a seat further away, the same one he'd taken when he first came in. He was bouncing his leg and reading something on his phone.

Daniel was putting his sword back in its sheath when the receptionist came into the room.

"Daniel?" she asked, glancing only briefly at the sword. "They're ready for you."

"Finally," Daniel thought but didn't say, because even though he wasn't going to be around anymore, he believed in basic politeness.

He gathered his things and left the waiting room, ready to leave.

~~~~

Archie sat outside Castle Solutions, in their little courtyard, vaping.

It wasn't long before the receptionist, Lydia, came to sit next to him.

"It didn't really seem like you wanted to convince that one," she said.

"Yeah," he said. "Sorry."

She shrugged and pulled out a vape pen of her own. "Sometimes you just want to yell at someone. I get that. But you're risking us getting caught. And if we get caught in the future, we probably get caught in the present."

"Yup," he said. "Won't happen again."

"Give it a few days before you come back," she said. "Three, let's say. He didn't file a complaint, so there's nothing in the system."

"Mmm," said Archie. He made a long, slow drag of the pen. They sat there vaping together for a while. It had often occurred to him that vaping was impossibly lame, but it felt less lame when done with someone else. He watched as the vapor left her mouth in a thin, concentrated stream. "You wanna go out sometime?"

"On a date?" she asked. She gave the tip of her vape pen a casual look. "No, not really."

"Alright," said Archie.

"I don't really know what your deal is," she said. "Why this is important to you. Why you want to talk people back from the brink, or yell at them."

"Mmm," said Archie. "You want to tragic backstory?"

"Meh," Lydia replied. "I'm not going on a date with someone who has a tragic backstory. That's all. Sorry. I've got my own tragic backstory, thanks very much."

"Fair," said Archie. "It was my kid brother, that's the short version. He up and left one day, left us a note that read like ... well, you know." He drew a finger across his neck.

"Where'd he go?" asked Lydia.

"England, 16th century," said Archie. "He thought he was going to take Shakespeare's place." He shook his head. "Only eighteen, you know? Unconscionable that they let kids that young through. He had his whole life ahead of him and he just ... disappeared."

Lydia sighed. "Yeah."

She turned off her vape pen, then mimed stubbing it out on the bench like a cigarette before slipping it into her purse. He felt a surge of attraction for her.

"Alright, I'll go on the date," said Lydia. "But if we're going to be dating, you've gotta stop this."

"Vaping?" asked Archie.

"You know what I mean," said Lydia. "You going in there trying to convince them to back out, that's one thing. It's noble, almost. But if it's going to be fighting, if it's you trying to work through some shit, then I'm not sticking my neck out for you. Doubly so if you want to get together. You process your trauma some other way, or repress it like the rest of us, alright?"

Archie thought about that for a moment. "Alright. Sure."

"I've got to get back to work," said Lydia as she rose from the bench. "You have my number."

Archie nodded, and after she had left, he stayed, looking out at the courtyard.

He wondered how Daniel was doing out there, in that other timeline, but he supposed that he would never know.

[seoparekh]

How to get more from Business Travel Management Services

Efficient travel management companies have been offering business travel management services to the clients with next level travel solutions and fast track services since decades. From a business traveller perspective, it is better to associate with a prestigious international travel agency network because it becomes easy for the traveller to communicate and get business travel management services anywhere in the world. 

Lufthansa City Center Travels & Rentals is one such company that stands apart as a trusted business travel management company of India. With the support of in-house experienced travel experts, business travellers can now relax and remain stress free as they will travel safely and comfortably. 

The company designs comprehensive business travel solutions to all sorts of businesses and make a lot of cost savings through better planning. Their business travel solutions are data driven as they rely on advanced tools and technologies to deliver accurate information to the business travellers. With them, you will enjoy the multifarious benefits.

Benefits of Business Travel Management Services

Tailor-made service Depending on your travel, a travel management company will offer tailor made services for better experience. From flight reservations, hotel booking to ground transportation they will deliver exactly that suits to your business travel.

Duty Of Care These travel programs prioritize safety and comfort of your employees. With updated information system and latest tools, you can make better travel decisions.

Travel Policy Compliance You will get serious assistance in making a travel policy that meets your company guidelines and business objectives. It will offer better clarity on your employees' travel.

Cost Savings With better supplier deals from the company you can make a lot of cost savings at the end of travel and strategize your travel programs better. With variety of options and numerous travel itineraries you will experience cost effective travel.

MIS Reports  To make a better business travel program you need to have proper insights on your past and on-going travel. Our MIS reports offer in-depth analysis over travel spend and scopes to save cost.

Business Travel Solutions

for your travel issues

With an expert travel management company you will find a perfect blend of value-added solutions and tech solutions that will not only cover all your travel issues but will also provide you insights & security with analytics, duty of care, NDC fares, online booking tool, payment solutions, profile management and other essential & updated travel information.

Business Travel Services

all that you need for travel

You will need vital services and support from the moment you decide on your travel. It is necessary that you keep essential information on hand and plan accordingly. And that’s where the company will offer you a bouquet of services for your pre and post trip including travel planning, account management, visa & passport, and MIS reporting. 

Premium Travel Services

All you need for a corporate travel is well timed information, crucial support during trips, emergency alerts, faster implementation and round the clock service. The company will offer worldwide business travel management services to corporate clients and that’s where Lufthansa City Center Travels & Rentals have introduced Asia Pacific (APAC) & Middle East & Africa (MEA) Hub services along with 24 X 7 service and VIP services in order to support their domestic and international corporate clients.

Business Travel MiCE

Lufthansa City Center Travels & Rentals has also made its mark with their global travel agency network with the support of which they can organize a business conference, incentive tour, meeting or an event at your favourite hotels or preferred destinations. Being a leading MiCE expert of India, they have a huge supplier contact base with best of the corporate travel packages and massive scope for money savings.

Some essential questions related to business travel 

What is important when organizing business travel?

While organizing business travel, it is essential to put top priorities on latest travel information, comfortable travel and safety of the business travelers. Lot of factors taken together make a successful business travel management program. These are -

Strong supplier relations

Expertise in corporate account management

Seamless travel planning

Easy travel booking platform

24 X 7 emergency travel service

Accurate documentation process and

In-depth analysis and reports

What are the benefits of business travel management services?

The benefits of business travel management services are multifarious. An expert business travel management company will always facilitate with prompt services and news on destinations and travel. The travel management company can also offer alternate options to your travel route and plan based on requirements. More than that they can offer the followings for better travel experience.

Better fares and special deals

Choice of airlines, hotels and road transport

Cost savings

Round the clock travel support

Guidance on travel plan with travel policy compliance

What are business travel risks?

Business travel risks can be defined as unforeseen circumstances that a business traveler experiences in travel. The travel risks may be categorized in several ways as follows.

Loss of travel documents – One of the common risks is misplacing the travel documents or getting stolen. This can lead to unnecessary delay and lot of stress in your business travel.

Abrupt changes in travel – Your travel plan may change suddenly which can lead to early departure, sustained stay in the destination and/or relocation. This can impact on your travel budget, documentation process and other allied activities.

Disruption in destination – There can be a sudden pandemic outbreak, roadblock or a terrorist attack in the region which may lead to lot of confusion and delay.

Health issues – There is a high chance that your business traveler may fall sick due to climate and weather change, food, accident or any other issues in the destination. It is better to have a contingency plan ready.

Local laws – Business travelers must have a clear knowledge and understanding of the local laws of the destination they are travelling to. There can be hundreds of stuffs that are forbidden in that destination, and you may land into a big trouble while doing them.

The best way to tackle all the above issues is to contact your travel management company who will guide you with all the necessary steps that you need to perform to overcome the situation. That’s the reason it is highly essential to choose a travel management company that has a 24-hour-emergency service.

What is travel management process?

In simple words, corporate travel management is a process of strategizing end-to-end travel plan in a cost-effective manner supported by travel analytics and data.

How does corporate travel management work?

Corporate travel management works in a systematic manner. It combines the activities of travel booking with special rates, travel policy adherence and supporting the business travelers with Duty of Care facilities.

[travelsbackoffice]

Efficient Business Travel Management: Strategies for Success

Unlock the potential of your Business Travel Management with our comprehensive management solutions. From itinerary planning to expense tracking, we streamline every aspect, ensuring cost-efficiency and traveler satisfaction.

[zeitghost]

my new game is out!

HAZARD PAY is a gritty post-industrial sci-fi horror TTRPG inspired by Lethal Company. Travel down to abandoned worlds, collect scrap for a heartless corporation, and escape with your lives (or not.)

Get it now on itch.io!