#Juggernaut Index

[tacticalvalor]

«────── « HEADCANON » ──────»

tagged by: @vendettavalor tagging: uhhhh you! steal this from me and feel free to tag me in it <3

MUSE: Artyom Chechyotikov; The Juggernaut

DEFENSIVENESS.

arms crossed on chest / crossing legs / fist-like gestures / pointing index finger / karate chops / stiffening of shoulders / tense posture / curling of lip / baring of teeth

REFLECTIVE.

hand to face gestures / head tilted / stroking chin / peering over glasses / taking glasses off — cleaning / putting earpiece of glasses in mouth / pipe smoker gestures / putting hand to the bridge of nose / pursed lips / knitted brows

SUSPICION.

arms crossed / sideways glance / touching or rubbing nose / rubbing eyes / hands resting on weapon / brows rising / lips pressing into a thin line / strict unwavering eye contact / wrinkling of nose

OPENNESS + COOPERATION.

open hands / upper body in sprinters position / sitting on the edge of a chair / hand-to-face gestures / unbuttoned coat / tilted head / slacked shoulders / droopy posture / feet pointed outward / palms flat and facing outward

CONFIDENCE.

hands behind back / hands on lapels of coat / steeped hands / baring teeth in a grin / rolling shoulders / tipping head back but maintaining eye contact / chest puffed up / shoulders back / arms folded just above navel

INSECURITY + ANXIETY.

chewing pen or pencil / rubbing thumb over opposite thumb / biting fingernails / hands in pockets / elbow bent / closed gestures / clearing throat / “ whew ” sound / picking or pinching flesh / fidgeting in chair / hand covering mouth whilst speaking / poor eye contact / tugging pants or clothes / jingling money in pockets / tugging at ear / perspiring hands / playing with hair / swaying / playing with pointer / marker / smacking lips / sighing / rocking on balls of feet / flexing fingers sporadically

FRUSTRATION.

short breaths / “ tsk ” sounds / tightly clenched hands / fist-like gestures / pointing index finger / running hand through hair / rubbing back of neck / snarling / revealing teeth / grimacing / sharp-eyed glowers with notable tension in brows / shoulders back, head up - defensive posturing / clenching of jaw / grinding of teeth / nostrils flaring / heavy exhales

[soul-dwelling]

Do you think Noah not beinng his own charachter but just an artificial construct from a set of seven was a mistake?

Maybe?

I've talked a bit about this before (https://soul-dwelling.tumblr.com/post/677024193259405312). I'll try to add a bit more to that...

But first, I want to go in another direction:

What if it is a waste because Ohkubo didn't do enough with it?

Noah is just a cipher, a tool, a literal magic tool, an extension of the Index and the Book of Eibon. That is a topic rife for discussion about what it means to be human.

I know that topic has been done enough about artificial humans, homunculi, etc (Blade Runner, Fullmetal Alchemist 2003). But what would be Ohkubo's spin on it? I mean, Crona was reduced to a thing by Medusa; why not explore that question with Noah? (Maybe that'd be repetitive--more on that at the end of this post.)

Or, maybe we dodged a bullet by not doing more with Noah, seeing as Ohkubo could end up raising the question--then doing what he did with Juggernaut and Honda at the end of Fire Force where they just go "whatever." He would gesture to it, then say, "Eh, whatever." Maybe that could work on an existentialist or absurdist level (think Samuel Beckett). But I don't give Ohkubo enough credit there.

As for potential other mistakes that may be wasted potential:

We didn't get to see what the other Noah's were like.

Seeing as Noah's design was copied from Grimoire in the Monotone Princess video game, that actually lends more importance to exploring the "what does it mean to be human" question. (I've seen enough headcanon / fanfic works toying in-universe where Grimoire exists in the manga canon and was the model for the Noahs...so what would happen when a Noah realizes he is just a copy of the original?)

All of that being said, Noah being an extension of the will of the Book does make him unlike other antagonists in this series. Just about none of those other antagonists lacked agency completely. Even Crona had their own will. Even lackeys like Mosquito and Giriko were acting out of their own devotion to Arachne, not just automatically following out of mind control or being mere tools. Asura was a force of nature. Justin...yeah, may be the closest to Noah in terms of being reduced to a tool, although he was a pastiche on religious extremism, whereas Noah pretty much stops at the level of just being a plot device, an automaton, something here to enact the Book's will...

...And he still can't even do that right, so he just ends the series as wasted potential, someone who was swallowed and vomited back up by Asura, maybe because there wasn't enough time and page space and chapters to give him and Gopher a better conclusion, or maybe someday there will be a sequel (...that may still not actually get back to Noah, if the audience and the creator aren't that interested in him).

(I should count my blessings they didn't go "Starscream from Transformers Animated" and give us genderbent Noah so that Ohkubo could go horny-on-main with Noah, shouldn't I?)

[rthidden]

AI Dreams Sold: The Small Biz Antidote

AI isn’t just in the hands of Big Tech—small businesses can wield this power too.

Think of it as getting the cheat codes to the success game without handing over your soul.

Why it matters

Small business owners are like Jedi Knights picking up AI lightsabers.

Still wondering what that means for you?

Automation can ramp up efficiency, cut down costs, and elevate your business to stratospheric heights.

It's all about doing more with less and staying ahead of the competition leaping onto the AI bandwagon.

The big picture

So, let's chat about the good, the bad, and the geeky.

Sam Altman and Dennis Hassabis had cosmic visions for AI—like curing cancer and saving puppies—before the tech titans did a strong Jedi mind trick on them.

They cozied up with giants like Microsoft and Google, transforming their humanitarian dreams into reality, but at a cost: Big Tech dominance.

Even the Google boss himself, Sundar Pichai, claimed AI will change the world more than fire or electricity.

Now that's saying something when your closest rival starts dabbling in lightning bolts and kindling!

By the numbers

$197.48 billion: The whopping value of the global AI market in 2023, skyrocketing at an impressive 37.3% CAGR. (Source: Grand View Research, 2023)

35%: The portion of companies modernizing themselves with AI this year, up from a mere 25% in 2022. (IBM Global AI Adoption Index, 2023)

$200 billion+: Combined AI research expenditures by the Big 5: Google, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and Apple. (Statista, 2024)

The plot twist

Amidst all this glitzy tech talk, small businesses have the potential to steal the spotlight back.

AI isn't exclusive to the tech behemoths.

With user-friendly tools and platforms cropping up like daisies in spring, there's no need to be a nerd to get started.

Platforms for every Tom, Dick, and Harriet are demystifying AI so everyone can thrive.

The bottom line

AI is fast changing the game for all businesses, not just the shiny ones.

Jump aboard this juggernaut and streamline processes, optimize decision-making, and bask in the nerdy glory of newfound efficiencies.

Because, dear reader, it's time small businesses traded up from the back seat to co-pilot this ride into the future. 🚀

[servicesloblog]

Maximizing Growth Unleashing the Potential of SEO and Facebook Ads for Your Business

In today's digital era, businesses are continually exploring avenues to propel growth and broaden their audience reach. Amidst the multitude of marketing strategies available, two standout tools emerge: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Facebook Ads. When employed adeptly, these techniques can significantly augment visibility, attract a larger customer base, and propel revenue. Let's delve into the ways in which harnessing SEO and Facebook Ads can drive your business forward.

Understanding SEO

SEO entails optimizing your website to secure higher rankings in search engine results pages (SERPs) for pertinent keywords and phrases. A well-executed SEO strategy augments organic traffic and enhances online visibility. However, mastering SEO necessitates a blend of technical prowess, content curation, and strategic foresight.

Keyword Research: The Bedrock of SEO

At the core of any successful SEO endeavor lies meticulous keyword research. Identifying the keywords and phrases your target audience is searching for enables tailored content creation to meet their requirements effectively. Tools such as Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, and Ahrefs aid in unearthing valuable keywords boasting high search volume and low competition.

On-Page Optimization: Augmenting Website Relevance

On-page optimization involves refining various elements within your website to bolster its relevance to search engines. This encompasses optimizing title tags, meta descriptions, headings, and URL structures. Furthermore, crafting high-quality, informative content that aligns with user intent is imperative for securing favorable rankings in search results.

Technical SEO: Ensuring Seamless Website Functionality

Technical SEO revolves around refining the technical facets of your website to enhance its crawlability, indexing, and overall performance. This encompasses optimizing site speed, rectifying broken links, implementing schema markup, and ensuring mobile-friendliness. Addressing technical glitches not only enhances user experience but also signals to search engines that your site is reliable and authoritative.

Off-Page Optimization: Cultivating Authority and Trust

Off-page optimization entails activities conducted external to your website to bolster its authority and credibility. This encompasses earning backlinks from reputable websites, engaging in social media marketing, and fostering positive online reviews. Backlinks serve as a vote of confidence from other sites, signaling to search engines that your content is valuable and deserving of higher rankings.

Leveraging Facebook Ads

With over 2.8 billion monthly active users, Facebook remains a juggernaut in the realm of social media advertising. Facebook Ads afford businesses highly targeted advertising options, enabling them to reach specific demographics, interests, and behaviors. Here's how you can harness Facebook Ads to propel your business growth:

Precise Audience Targeting: Reaching the Right Cohorts

A primary advantage of Facebook Ads lies in its robust targeting capabilities. Businesses can curate custom audiences based on factors like age, gender, location, interests, and online behaviors. By zeroing in on demographics most inclined to engage with your products or services, you can maximize ad campaign efficacy and minimize superfluous ad expenditure.

Compelling Ad Creatives: Engaging and Persuasive Content

In the competitive milieu of social media, captivating ad creatives are indispensable for capturing audience attention and eliciting action. Be it a visually striking image, serviceslo an engaging video, or compelling copy, your ads need to resonate with your target audience and prompt them to undertake the desired action, whether it's making a purchase, subscribing to a newsletter, or visiting your website.

A/B Testing and Optimization: Enhancing Campaign Performance

Continuous testing and optimization are pivotal for maximizing the performance of your Facebook ad campaigns. By experimenting with diverse ad formats, targeting options, and messaging variants, you can discern which elements resonate most with your audience and refine your approach accordingly. Regularly monitoring key metrics like click-through rate (CTR), conversion rate, and return on ad spend (ROAS) facilitates gauging campaign effectiveness and making data-driven decisions.

Retargeting: Re-Engaging Prospective Customers

Retargeting enables you to re-engage users who have previously interacted with your website or exhibited interest in your products or services. By disseminating targeted ads to these individuals across the Facebook platform, you can nurture leads, catalyze repeat purchases, and augment overall conversion rates. serviceslo Employing dynamic product ads (DPAs) enables you to showcase pertinent products to users based on their browsing history or prior interactions, further amplifying retargeting endeavors.

Integration for Optimal Outcomes

While SEO and Facebook Ads are formidable standalone strategies, integrating them can magnify their impact and yield even greater results for your business. Here's how you can seamlessly integrate SEO and Facebook Ads to optimize your marketing endeavors:

Keyword-Informed Ad Targeting

Leverage insights gleaned from your SEO keyword research to inform your Facebook Ads targeting strategy. serviceslo By comprehending the search terms your audience employs, you can devise more pertinent ad campaigns that resonate with their requisites and interests.

Content Amplification

Promote your high-performing SEO content via Facebook Ads to augment its visibility and reach a wider audience. Whether it's a blog post, an infographic, or a video, serviceslo amplifying your content through paid promotion can engender increased traffic, engagement, and conversions.

Retargeting Based on Search Intent

Harness Facebook's retargeting capabilities to reach users evincing specific search intent on your website. serviceslo For instance, if a user searches for a particular product or service on your site but refrains from making a purchase, you can retarget them with pertinent ads on Facebook to incentivize completing the transaction.

Cross-Channel Insights

Monitor cross-channel performance metrics to glean insights into how SEO and Facebook Ads influence each other's efficacy. By scrutinizing data such as keyword rankings, organic traffic, ad impressions, and conversions, serviceslo you can optimize your overarching marketing strategy for maximal impact.

Conclusion

In the fiercely competitive digital arena, businesses must leverage every available resource to fuel growth and maintain a competitive edge. SEO and Facebook Ads offer potent means to bolster visibility, entice customers, and spur revenue. serviceslo By comprehending the nuances of each strategy and integrating them adeptly, businesses can unlock fresh avenues for expansion and triumph in the online sphere. Embrace the potential of SEO and Facebook Ads, and witness your business ascend to unprecedented heights.

[ezyforextrading]

Stock exchanges play a pivotal role in the global economy, serving as the marketplace for buying and selling shares, bonds, and securities. These exchanges not only reflect the health of national economies but also serve as indicators of global economic strength. Traditionally housed in physical buildings, many exchanges have transitioned to electronic trading platforms, yet their significance remains paramount. In this article, we delve into the world's largest stock exchanges by market capitalization, shedding light on their histories, operations, and market dominance. New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), founded in 1792, stands as the world's largest stock exchange, boasting a staggering market capitalization of $25.56 trillion as of December 2023. A cornerstone of global finance, the NYSE has witnessed centuries of economic evolution and remains an emblem of Wall Street's enduring influence. Its iconic bell, signaling the opening and closing of trading sessions, resonates through media channels worldwide, symbolizing the pulse of the financial markets. NASDAQ Operating from New York's iconic Times Square, NASDAQ emerged in 1971 as the first electronic stock exchange. With a market capitalization of $10.93 trillion in March 2018, NASDAQ holds a prominent position, particularly in the technology sector, listing giants like Apple, Microsoft, and Facebook. Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) The Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE), dating back to 1878, ranks among Asia's leading exchanges, now under the umbrella of the Japan Exchange Group (JPX). With a market capitalization of $6.15 trillion as of December 2023, the TSE serves as a vital hub for Japan's corporate giants and emerging enterprises alike. The Nikkei 225 index, reflecting the performance of top Japanese companies, holds prominence as a barometer of the nation's economic vitality. Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) The Shanghai Stock Exchange, inaugurated in 1990, represents China's ambitious foray into global finance, with 2,853 listed companies as of December 2023. While restricted A-shares cater primarily to domestic investors, H-shares listed on the Hong Kong Exchange offer global investors access to China's economic prowess. As China asserts its influence on the world stage, the SSE emerges as a pivotal player in shaping global investment trends. Hong Kong Stock Exchange (SEHK) The Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with a market capitalization of $3.97 trillion as of December 2023, stands as a pivotal gateway for global investors seeking exposure to China's vibrant economy. Boasting over 2,500 listed companies, the HKEX serves as a conduit for international capital flows, facilitating investments across diverse sectors. Its strategic location and regulatory framework position it as a linchpin in the global financial ecosystem. London Stock Exchange (LSE) The London Stock Exchange (LSE), established in 1801, once reigned as a financial juggernaut but has witnessed a gradual decline in size. Despite challenges such as Brexit and shifting market dynamics, the LSE Group commands a market cap of $3.42 trillion as of September 2023. While the number of listed companies has dwindled over time, the LSE remains a cornerstone of European finance, navigating the complexities of global trade and investment. Euronext Stock Exchange As a pan-European exchange, Euronext operates across multiple countries, including the Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, and France. With a market capitalization of $4.36 trillion, Euronext stands as the seventh-largest stock exchange globally, offering listings such as AXA and Renault. Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE) Founded in 1990, the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE) has rapidly expanded to become China's third-largest exchange. With a market capitalization of $3.49 trillion, the SZSE facilitates trading in Chinese yuan and hosts specialized boards for manufacturing and technology startups. Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) Established in

1852, the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) serves as Canada's premier stock exchange, with a market capitalization of $2.29 trillion in March 2018. Notable listings include the Royal Bank of Canada and Suncor Energy Inc., making the TSX a vital player in North American finance. Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FWB) Dating back to 1585, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FWB) holds a significant place in financial history. With a market capitalization of $2.22 trillion, the FWB ranks as the tenth-largest stock exchange globally, featuring listings such as Adidas, BMW, and E.ON. Conclusion In conclusion, the world's largest stock exchanges serve as vital hubs of economic activity, facilitating the trading of securities and shaping global financial landscapes. From the historic NYSE to the innovative NASDAQ and the dynamic exchanges of Asia and Europe, these institutions play pivotal roles in driving economic growth and prosperity worldwide. Q&A Section How do stock exchanges impact the global economy? Stock exchanges serve as barometers of economic health, reflecting investor sentiment and economic trends. They provide platforms for capital formation, enabling companies to raise funds for expansion and innovation. What factors contribute to a stock exchange's market capitalization? Market capitalization is influenced by various factors, including the number and size of listed companies, trading volume, economic stability, regulatory environment, and investor confidence. How can investors gain exposure to stock exchanges? Investors can gain exposure to stock exchanges through various avenues, including investing directly in listed companies, trading exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or trading derivatives such as futures and options based on stock indices. https://ezyforextrading.com/learn-trading/stock-exchanges-list/?feed_id=3971&_unique_id=65c379da77f49&EzyForexTrading

[olderthannetfic]

The post about the creation/migration to AO3 and early user IDs made me decide to finally checkout fandom IDs, because the first user IDs were more about site development when I tend to think of them as BNFs and early adopters. Can you tell me why /works?fandom_id=27 is the only working one in the 1-30 range and what some other low ID fandoms are? Also, trivia curiosity, in the early days, were any smaller fandoms added sooner because of developers being interested in them, not because of size?

--

I had totally forgotten that fandom ID was a thing.

I assume that a bunch of test fandoms got created and then deleted as the coders were building the initial archive.

It's also likely that some of the low numbers were not in whatever standard form we developed later. There weren't any wrangling guidelines at this point. If fic authors saw a later common tag and switched the tag on their actual fic, the old (low ID #) one may have ended up deleted.

Did the coders seed popular fandom tags?

It sounds like you're assuming that must have happened, but pre-making tags isn't really an AO3 thing most of the time. (There's little point both because we were experimenting with giving people freedom and seeing what they did and because AO3 is designed to only show fandoms that have content. A tag with 0 works won't appear in the index.)

I'm sure they made a few tags just to test, but most of the early fandom tags were very likely made by people uploading fic. So if a tester was into a small fandom, there would be a tag for that, same as if they were into a big fandom.

I remember that pretty early on (but after that kind of very initial development), we were asked to import old works just so there would be something in the archive to use for testing. I imported my first fic, which was cranky responsefic inspired by someone's wrong and stupid take on Saitou from Rurouni Kenshin.

Poking around, my guess is that the low-numbered fandoms are actually just the fandoms of actual works the developers/first testers were importing.

31 = Dead Poets Society

37 = Boondock Saints

These are absolutely not juggernauts of the day. They are, however, the sorts of smaller fandoms the early adopters are often fond of. (I'm guessing Dead Poets Society is watersword's fault. She's #12, so I'm thinking she was coding or testing at the time.)

46 = LOTRiPS

56 = Gravitation

65 = Avatar

70 = SGA

83 = Narnia

86 = David Cook RPF

90 = American Idol RPF

91 = HP

Oh, here's a case in point: 91 isn't the ID of the main common HP tag in use today. It's the ID of the tag that's literally just 'HP'. That's how the tag IDs work: they're for that exact tag, not whatever it is synned to.

114 = Grey's Anatomy

121 = American Idol

129 = Farscape

162 = SGA (a different tag for it)

164 = The Dead Zone

169 = My Chemical Romance

(LOL. That tracks.)

183 = HP again

187 = Smallville

196 = CSI

203 = Torchwood

206 = House

250 = Firefly

259 = POTC

266 = Hellsing

272 = House again

273 = The Sentinel

287 = Final Fantasy XII

288 = Song of the Lioness

298 = Copenhagen

We apparently don't get to RK until ID# 2737. I guess I was lazy about uploading.

Here's a Wayback Machine copy from Oct 6, 2008. It says:

95 users to date

182 fandoms to date

1145 works to date

[sunder-the-gold]

Usui Nagi – Dive

"Shall I proceed, then?"

Nagi’s Semblance allows her to project her own consciousness into the mind of someone else while close enough to physically touch them. Her own body remains vulnerable in the physical world, as she and her target enter a shared trance. If her target dodges the visible image of Nagi’s projected self leaping at them, they can avoid her Semblance and attack Nagi before her consciousness returns to her body.

The dangers do not end there. Successfully Diving into someone else’s mind exposes Nagi to all of their unfiltered thoughts and feelings, which taxes her sense of self even as her Aura depletes to fuel the Dive. Furthermore, her target becomes and remains fully aware of her intruding presence, and may lash out with their mind and Aura to assault hers. Nagi cannot Dive into a sleeping target without waking them up.

What’s more, Nagi’s targets always have something of a homefield advantage. Nagi must consciously and deliberately share any of her own thoughts to communicate to her target, but her natural and reflexive mental filters remain in place. Her target simply doesn’t experience the same immersive onslaught from her that she automatically suffers from them.

Fortunately for Nagi, while she remains physically weak and unskilled as a Huntress, with only the most basic weapons for self-defense, these limitations matter not at all in a psychic clash of wills. On the illusory plane of the mind, Nagi strides like a juggernaut. Even those who can match her Aura and mental tenacity find themselves at a skill disadvantage because of her greater experience with this form of combat.

"Pardon the intrusion!"

When exercising her full power, Nagi can take other willing allies with her into a Dive. This drains her Aura much faster, but allows her to rely on superior numbers to overwhelm her target quickly before her strength fails.

As an advanced technique, Nagi can project just enough of herself into someone else’s mind to merely imprint one thought without giving any sign she did anything. While far from outright mind-control, and while she can’t control how her target chooses to react to these sudden thoughts or ideas, this technique does let Nagi steer someone’s attention and thoughts in a direction of her choosing.

"What an awful affliction..."

Her combat school quickly recognized Nagi as a natural-born Nightmare Hunter and encouraged her to pursue such a career. Under the tutelage of a senior Huntsman, Nagi learned how to hunt Grimm that possess humans, as well as how to assist the law-enforcers of the Great Kingdoms to interrogate suspected and convicted criminals to learn their secrets.

Diving into people infected by Nightmare Grimm works differently from normal. The Grimm’s influence keeps the victim asleep despite Nagi’s intrusion, which prevents them from directly attacking or assisting her. Meanwhile, the organized narrative structure of the dreamscape prevents Nagi from reading her target’s mind freely but also means she doesn’t have to endure a constant barrage of foreign feelings and thoughts.

"Onward I dive!"

=================================

onward to my Semblance super-index

[concussed-to-pieces]

Her Dove, His Falcon, Their Shield Part One

Fandom: Game Of Thrones

Pairing: Eventual Oberyn/Reader/Ellaria

Rating: Holy shit M.

AN: Disclaimer for Game Of Thrones writing here! This installment contains a reader that is a ruff tuff cheeto puff, a damn juggernaut. STRONK. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to culturalrebel and hulia for recommending me compilation videos, as well as to @zeldasayer for inspiring me to write a hella buff reader. This is peak indulgence, pauldronsexual hours bois. I wax poetic about Ellaria, it’s a great time. I'll see you all with part two on Monday. Enjoy!

Tag List: @culturalrebel @huliabitch @absurdthirst @helplessly-nonstop

[!TRIGGER WARNING!: This installment contains depictions of canon-typical violence, allusions to canon-typical abuse, depictions of sexual activities with a pregnant party and vague allusions to breeding kink. Stay safe!] 

You were sure your fingers were broken.

The pain flickered sunlight-bright behind your eyes every time you had tried to move your pinky or your index, your entire right hand so gristly you didn't dare to look at it after you had bound it up as best as you could.

You clutched your hand to your chest, forcing yourself to focus. The wharf. You had to reach the docks. That had been your plan this morning, before everything had gone so terribly wrong. 

You crept through the shadows, dashing away your tears with your threadbare shawl. Your weeping would only be a sign of weakness, urging the vultures to circle on your corpse before it was even cold.

The creak of timbers heralded your arrival to the waterfront and a soft sigh of relief left your mouth when you spotted who you were looking for. The sailor that had promised you passage was there, leaned against the wall of the nearby harbormaster's quarters. He glanced up at the sound of your voice when you hailed him, tipping his head.

"Well well, look what the cat dragged in." He chuckled, wandering hands already tugging at your shawl. "Have you brought the payment, my dear?"

You pulled forth a small purse of coins. "I know it is less than what we promised, but I was unable to-" The man clicked his tongue, obviously disappointed. "I-I am certain we can come to an agreement, please." You begged desperately. You were so close to your escape!

"Darling, we had a deal." The sailor chided, sounding like he was scolding a child. "You bring me the payment, and I convince my captain that having a woman on board our vessel isn't bad luck. Now, at the eleventh hour, you decide you want to bargain?" The man crowded you back against the wall, his face inches from yours when he muttered, "I don't barter with whores." The blow caught you unawares, the back of his hand connecting with your cheek. You shut your eyes when he raised his hand again, gritting your teeth in anticipation of stifling your noise. 

Gods, you were so tired of this.

"What are you doing to that girl?" A man's voice demanded, his distinctive Dornish accent thick with either drink or weariness. "Get away from her or I will cut you down where you stand, you cur." 

"She is hurt, lover." That voice was lilting, intrigued, a woman's voice. "Look at her hand, and the way her face is turned. She has been struck."

You abruptly felt the sailor's weight removed from your body, the sudden action making you cringe back against the wall. Large, trembling fingers eased your wounded hand away from where you had it protectively curled into your chest. "What has happened to you, sweetling?" You didn't dare to open your eyes and the man tsked after a moment, relinquishing your hand. 

"Lover, we must get you onboard, your wounds-" 

"A moment, Ellaria. This…" A hand touched your cheek, making you start and open your eyes. Dark, textured leather armor met your gaze, the surface spattered rusty with blood. Your breathing stuttered. You didn't dare to look up at the man who wore the armor, staring at his chest as hard as you could manage.

The hand slid beneath your chin, tugging your eyes reluctantly upwards as your shawl slid off of your head. You gasped when you caught sight of his face. The man appeared battered, the sides of his head badly bruised at the temples and cheeks. There were livid contusions that looked suspiciously like large handprints, as if someone had attempted to crush his skull with their bare hands. His left eye was bloodied, laced with spiderwebbed veins and swollen half-shut. The fingers that touched your face were still shaking, his other hand pressed to a dressing that wrapped around his left elbow.

"Not a girl, I see. A woman." The Dornishman said quietly after enduring a moment of your impolite gawking. "And as such, I cannot make this choice for you."

You swallowed hard. You had heard stories about the people of Dorne, about Sunspear and the supposed depravity that took place there. True, you had been hoping to get aboard a ship and go somewhere, anywhere, as far away as you could manage. And with that sailor denying you passage...

The man's deep brown eyes saddened at your silence. "Would you stay here and endure this mistreatment from men like him, simply because it is familiar?"

You shook your head, fleetingly meeting his gaze and opening your mouth. "I have never been on a ship before, m-my lord." You attempted a belated curtsey. You had no idea who this man was, but it was best to err on the side of caution that he was of a higher social ranking than you. Most people were.

He seemed amused if anything, a pained smile crossing his haggard features. "You will soon grow to love it, little dove."

"If it pleases you, my lord." You demurred in a whisper, your heart pounding in your chest. Were you trading one cruel man for another? They often hid their true intentions until their audience was gone. But the woman at his side...she didn't seem fearful. "I have naught to offer for my passage but this, my lord." The small purse of coins jingled softly as you extended it to the man in front of you. "I am uncertain how much distance it will buy me, but I am not afraid of hard work."

The man waved it off, cupping your hand around the purse. "Do not trouble yourself with such things, my dove. Our time grows short." 

…

You had been warned of the sea illness, but you appeared to be able to ward off the heaves if you stayed above decks. The fresh salt air stung your cheeks, yet you refused to move from your spot by the railing. You made yourself scarce beside a pile of coiled rope, staying out of the way of the sailors bustling about and watching everything with wide eyes. Your injured hand was still cradled to your chest, but you had no attention for it as you hungrily devoured your surroundings.

King's Landing had been an area tinged gray, dour with gilded suffering. The golden sunsets that would pour through the high windows of your barren room paled in comparison to the sunset you were witnessing now. It was as if the horizon itself was ablaze, a cacophony of reds and oranges that turned the ocean brilliant. You had never seen such a sunset in all your years, and you prayed that it was a good omen. 

The sailors sang as they worked, all of them settling into a rhythm in order to keep everything running smoothly. It was fascinating to watch men pulling lines taut and tacking the mighty vessel into the wind, the ship nimble enough to respond to such rapid adjustments.

"There you are, little dove." Ellaria swayed easily with the motion of the craft, one hand resting on the shrouds to keep her balance. You started in surprise, having not noticed her approach. "You enjoy watching the sailors?"

"They are incredible, my lady." You replied honestly, cocking your head to the side. "I know very little about sailing, but surely their skill is unmatched? You must be immensely proud."

Her laughter was a beautiful noise, just as beautiful as she was. "My lover will be pleased to hear such flattery from your lips! He takes great delight in sailing. Now come with me, flattering dove. We must have the healer tend to your hand." 

You shakily climbed upright, gripping the bannister with your good hand as if your life depended on it. The journey back to the elaborate cabin was fraught with peril for you, and you envied Ellaria's gauzy, simplistic garb every time your heavy skirts got caught on the various cleats and belaying pins. 

Ellaria opened the cabin door and ushered you into the darker environment, tutting between her teeth. "Lover, you should not be upright." She scolded.

The wounded man (now heavily bandaged), shot her a lazy smile from his place at a desk, quill resting on a half-used sheet of vellum. "I know, Ellaria. She tried her best to tell me so as well."

An older woman (the healer, judging from her no-nonsense expression) rolled her eyes and dusted off her hands, approaching you rapidly. You flinched back and she slowed, her gaze flicking to Ellaria in question.

"We encountered this sweet dove on the docks. It is her hand, Ael." Ellaria said quietly, taking your arm. "Come, sit. Ael will not harm you."

You were settled onto a soft cushion and the healer slid your hand into her own, her touch light and careful while she unwrapped your bruised fingers. "How?" She asked, her voice just as quiet as Ellaria's.

You squeezed your eyes shut against the memory, biting your lip. "It was an accident, I didn't mean...I upset him."

"Him?" The man asked, leaning forward and then grimacing in pain. "That man on the docks?"

"N-No, my master. I am...well, I suppose I was, a-a helpmate of sorts. Shield-maiden. I...helped him to don and doff his armor, and I," you hesitated, "well, did whatever was asked of me."

Ellaria made a noise in her throat. "So what crime did you commit, to earn such punishment that would render you useless for your primary task?"

"I...I broke two of his fingers." You extended your uninjured hand in a gesture to allay concern. "I did not mean to! It was an a-accident, he had a trial to prepare for today with a fearsome opponent. His mind was elsewhere, and when I went to slide his gauntlet on-"

"What was your master's name, little dove?" The man interrupted you, his expression thoughtful. 

"His name is Ser Gregor Clegane, my lord. An enormous man who has been dubbed The Mountain." 

"You mentioned a fearsome opponent. But with a master such as that, who was this fearsome opponent?" 

"A prince of Dorne, my lord, one of your own! Can you even imagine?" You sighed dreamily, vaguely aware that Ael was giving you an odd look. She probably thought you childish, still swooning over faceless royalty. "I was told that he was an immensely fierce and clever man, though not in such forgiving language." Then, forgetting your place, you muttered, "I hope that he roundly trounced Ser Clegane."

The man burst out laughing, but winced and held his jaw as Ael fixed him a stern glare. You were certain your confusion was quite bare on your face. "Apologies, I do not laugh at your misfortune, little dove. Rather, at the providence of it all." He explained, still chuckling. "You are to thank for his terrible temper and sloppy work at the trial, then?"

"Oh, you witnessed the duel? What happened?" You asked excitedly, rocking on your seat in anticipation. 

"Oberyn, stop teasing." Ellaria murmured, sounding almost like she was chiding him. 

Oberyn. 

Your heart leaped into your throat as the man tossed you a pained smirk, moving to the pile of cushions and blankets on the floor. "Y...You? You are-?" Your voice failed you.

"Prince Oberyn Martell, the Red Viper, a fierce and clever man among many other virtues?" He drawled, looking like the cat that ate the canary as he gingerly reclined on his soft throne. "None other than, sweet dove."

"They are so deliciously genuine, lover." Ellaria crooned to him while you felt your skin flush hot with embarrassment. "They had nothing but lovely things to say about your crew, and now this? Such courtesy."

"Truly?" Oberyn (Prince Oberyn! your mind shrieked in horror) asked, his tone bordering on surprised. "And all of that, without even knowing who you spoke to? Rare courtesy indeed." 

"I...I am so sorry if I've offended you, your highness." You whispered, "I know there is no excuse for my ignorance."

"Nonsense! I owe you a debt, it seems!" Oberyn replied cheerily. You dared to look up, finding him with a hand pressed to the side of his well-bandaged jaw. "Ser Gregor sought to crush my skull after I had run him through. Clearly, it is thanks to you that he could not maintain his grip and I escaped with this colorful bruising."

"So you killed him?" You asked, knowing full-well that the hope in your voice was unbecoming.

"If he is not dead yet, he will be soon." Oberyn seemed outrageously pleased with himself, though his eyes were strangely melancholy. "Justice has been served. I only wish that I could have stayed to witness him breathe his filthy last, but it seemed that the royal family had other plans regarding the outcome of the trial. I thought it better to take my leave before they decided to finish what Ser Gregor began."

You ducked your face into your elbow, trying to quickly hide your tears. Ellaria caught your chin though, her confusion evident. "Why do you weep, little dove?"

"P-Please forgive my loss of composure! I w-weep for myself, my lady." You hiccupped, the words spilling out of you. "I suffered much by the hand of that man. To know that Ser Clegane is in agony or already perished…it feels like a precious gift, yet I should take no joy in the knowledge. To luxuriate in his demise makes me no better than him."

"You are alive and he is not. Luxuriate in that, if you will not give yourself the satisfaction of indulging in vicarious revenge." Oberyn murmured, his tone troubled. "Did he shame you, little dove?" 

You raised your eyes to his and he must have seen the truth there, even though you said softly that you had heard of him doing far worse than what had ever been done to you. "I believe I was one of the luckier ones, your highness."

The prince cursed under his breath, rubbing his temples. "I will be overjoyed to be back in Dorne once again. King's Landing is fraught with madness. A wonder that it still fills me with fury! I am half-dead." He muttered. 

"Indeed you are, lover. You ought to be resting." Ellaria chastised him, her tone fondly concerned.

"Yes, my love. I am immensely weary. But council me before I slumber. What shall I do with this unforeseen ally?" The prince asked, waving a hand in your direction. "They spake so sweetly to me, and I could have been the lowest man in all of Dorne. Such honesty deserves reward."

"Not to mention that without their aid, your head would have been crushed." Ellaria pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "And I would not be able to do this."

"You graciously offered me passage, your highness. That is more than enough-" You began to protest, wincing when Ael tightly bound your fingers together once again. 

Oberyn dismissed your reasoning with naught but a slow flick of his wrist, yawning widely. "Ellaria, the weariness has ensnared me. Do with them what you wish, my love." He mumbled, sinking down into the nest of blankets. Ellaria studied you for a time as you sat silently, letting Ael tend to your hand. You didn't dare to meet her eyes, so frightened that she might view you as defiant. 

"I know you must be used to making yourself small, little dove." She finally spoke softly. "Take heart, the people of Dorne are not so cruel as those you have encountered." Ael had finished wrapping your fingers and Ellaria encircled your wrists, the other woman searching your eyes. "Men use such pretty terms to describe the anguish their counterparts inflict upon us. Shamed, as if you were a naughty child." She shook her head unhappily. "I would promise you your heart's desire, for it is because of you that my beloved still breathes. Anything you wish, you need only ask."

You stared at her dumbly, trying in vain to blink back the fresh tears that rose at her practical words. 

Ellaria tutted, her hand rising to smooth over your tangled hair in a maternal fashion while the tears spilled down your cheeks. "You are exhausted, little dove." She soothed, a gossamer sleeve catching your tears and patting your face dry. "Sleep now. I will ask you in the morning."

...

You woke to someone gently brushing your hair, the groan of timber and faint sounds of water all around you. Certain that you were dreaming, you hummed and shifted your weight, snuggling a little closer to the lap your head rested in.

"Dove, are you awake?" Ellaria. You nodded sleepily, trying to remember who that name belonged to. "I had hoped to be done before you woke." She sighed. "Try to stay still for me, sweet. I will be finished in a few moments." 

As you felt her begin to plait your hair, your mind slowly seemed to shake off the warm haze of sleep. The Mountain. Your hand. Prince Oberyn--

Gods, Prince Oberyn! You flinched, wide awake now. Ellaria patted the top of your head, obviously satisfied with her handiwork. "There! Beautiful." She said decisively. "You slept so soundly, my little dove! You needed the rest, I imagine."

"My lady…" Right back to where you had started, you nearly wept all over again. Your life had been devoid of tenderness for so long, cut off from any warmth or care. Now here was a small smattering, a ray of sunlight through the clouds, and you were utterly in a shambles. "I apologize for my turbulent emotions." You breathed. "I am at a loss."

"Hush, little dove." The woman murmured, a finger tucking beneath your chin to tilt your face up. "You are so pensive! I would see you smile. Breakfast, perhaps?"

You hesitated, your stomach knotting uncertainly. "I do not know if I will be able to, my lady. The ship...I am unused to its motion." 

Ellaria smiled at you, a genuine, soft smile that wrapped around your soul like a secret. "We shall eat above decks, my dove. Something light, to baby that green belly of yours."

Gods, was she teasing you? You had no idea what to think as she got to her feet and extended a hand to you. The light played across her golden skin when she helped you rise, even more of her body on display in today's garb. You felt like a drab sparrow beside a brilliant goldfinch, trying vainly to smooth the wrinkles out of your skirts as you followed behind her.

The sky was blue overhead, the sun just slightly above the horizon. It was still early, though normally you would be going to sleep at this hour.

Your shudder had nothing to do with the brisk sea wind.

"Beautiful, is it not?" Ellaria said gladly, tilting her head at you. Her brown eyes fairly danced with good humor, like she was sharing a joke. 

Your heart clenched in your chest and you swallowed roughly. When you agreed with her, you were unsure of whether you spoke of the sky or the woman beside you. 

After a light breakfast, Ellaria left you to your own devices. You continued to watch the sailors with awe, thankful that they all seemed perfectly content to ignore you.

It did not take long for the prince to grow bored in his confinement, his complaints growing louder and louder until he emerged onto the deck. Half-dressed, Ellaria following after him bearing a light golden wrapper, Oberyn stalked to the railing and stared moodily across the water at the other ship that had departed alongside his at King's Landing. 

"Had I not promised Cersei that I would bring that miserable pile of driftwood to her child, I would scuttle the whole affair." He muttered, stroking his facial hair. Ellaria attempted to drape the dressing gown around him, beckoning for you to come assist her. "Even after all the harm she's done, I will not cause undue grief to...ah, my dove!" The sight of you seemed to shake him from his doleful contemplation, and you couldn't help your flush when the prince idly brushed his fingers over your cheek after you had succeeded in helping Ellaria. "Have you decided what you might ask of me, little dove?" Inhaling a bracing gulp of air, you nodded. The prince inclined his head, tucking Ellaria into his side and then raising his eyebrows at you in silent query. 

"I ask...I-I ask two things of you, your highness." You winced when your voice squeaked nervously. "First, I humbly request that you hear me until the end. What I will ask...I know that it is laughable." The prince frowned, but nodded. "I was trained for much of my years in the manner of a soldier, as my mother bore my father no sons. That is how Gregor found me." You steeled yourself. "I would like to continue my tutelage and, once I have become a full-fledged warrior, I would ask to join your soldiers and fight under the flag of Martell."

"Why...Why would you ask for that?" Oberyn queried, his tone one of immense confusion. Ellaria looked bewildered as well.

"After everything that has...happened, to me, everything that has been done to me, I am no longer fit to marry." You explained, doing your best to be ginger with your speech. "Yet, I would serve the man who slew Gregor with my very life. All I can ask for is the chance."

The prince lifted his hand, laying it across the back of your neck and tugging you to lean close. He pressed his forehead to your own, his eyes searching yours. "Not a dove at all." He murmured finally. "A falcon. You will have your wish and one better, my falcon. I will not see you amongst the rank and file of soldiers in my brother's army. You shall train as a knight." His hand clapped your shoulder warmly. "A knight of House Martell. It will be difficult! But I know you would not expect ease after the life you have endured." He glanced at Ellaria. "What say you, my love?"

Ellaria's smile was soft and a bit sad. She cupped your face, touching her forehead to your own as well. "Elia would have loved the spirit of this one."

Elia Martell. You had heard the stories, of course, but the depth of the anguish you saw in Oberyn's gaze took your breath away. 

The prince nodded sorrowfully after a moment, kissing Ellaria's knuckles. "Aye, she would have. But she can rest easy now, my love, and that is all that matters."

…

"Again!" The battlemaster shouted, his hand extended to direct. "First form!"

You had flourished under the watchful eye of the head warriors of House Martell, training alongside several of Oberyn's own daughters. The strength you had built through your prior training with heavy plate and shield made you unexpectedly hardy, especially when clad in the much lighter leather and chain mail that the Dornish warriors wore. 

You were able to wield a pike on foot with relative ease, and Oberyn saw to it personally that you were granted a larger shield. "If you are to be drawing the enemy's attention, I would rather you are shielded…"

You assumed the first stance, your form wavering ever so slightly when Oberyn and Ellaria emerged from a nearby hallway to observe the training. 

The prince was well on the mend from his grisly ordeal with Gregor, only bearing a slight tenderness in his left elbow during poor weather. He was a truly lucky man. Ellaria was in good spirits this afternoon, her smile radiant as she waved to you. You bowed, panting a little from the exertion of your training. The battlemaster dismissed you with a grin, overused to such royal interruptions. 

Oberyn's younger daughters flung themselves at you in their typical fashion the second they were permitted, all of them piling onto you in an effort to take you to the ground. You struggled valiantly against the assault as Oberyn laughed, the man wading into the mass of bodies after a moment to pluck Loreza from your back. "Such violence from my beautiful children! You are your mother's daughters." He teased with a broad smile, rubbing his nose against Loreza's. 

Dorea danced around her mother, tugging at her hands. "May we go to the water gardens, mama?" She asked, pausing to meticulously straighten her petite bracers. Dorea took the training very seriously. 

Ellaria nodded, patting her on the head. "Alright my little snakes, rise from the sand and go play." She urged, "You have all done so well in your training today! I am very proud." Elia rolled her eyes, shaking her head when Obella and Dorea shrieked their delight. She was, of course, too old to let such maternal praise cloud her impressions of how her training had actually gone. 

You wished you didn't light up as bright as the children whenever the prince and his paramour praised them. You knew that it was foolish. 

"We are both impressed with your progress. It has only been five months and yet, you fight as if you were of Dorne yourself." Oberyn observed after his children had departed, his hand resting at the small of Ellaria's back. 

You went hot at the praise, bowing and stammering, "a-all due to your faith in me, your highness!"

"How many times must I insist that you simply call me Oberyn?" He asked, the grin he shot you making your knees weak. "After all, unwittingly or not, we conspired together as equals!"

"Do not tease her so, lover!" Ellaria chided him. "We had something to tell her, remember?"

"Apologies, my love." Oberyn cleared his throat, and his face grew incredibly serious. "My falcon, we come bearing wonderful news. My paramour is pregnant once again." He announced, "A new Sand Snake will be born in but six months time."

You gaped at him, then at Ellaria, who was beaming. "Oh, that is...good?" You half-questioned. True, the people of Dorne had radically different viewpoints from the rest of the world when it came to bastards, carnal acts and indeed, their sexuality in general. You were still adjusting to such broad views.

Ellaria nodded, thankfully not visibly offended by your hesitation. "In Dorne, children are a treasured blessing, not the death knell that so many seem to see them as." She rested her hands on the nearly imperceptible swell of her belly. "Oberyn wished to ask you to become my sworn knight, to defend me from such trials that pregnancy brings." Her eyes were dancing again; she was joking with you. 

You chuckled nervously, dusting the knees of your breeches off. "I fear I would do more harm than good in that department, my lady." Despite her insistence that she was but a bastard, you always referred to her as 'my lady', just as you always referred to Oberyn by archaic honorifics. 

"Are you greatly concerned with the skirmish I am sending you to, my falcon?" Oberyn asked bluntly. 

You shook your head. "Not at all, your highness. I have faith in my skill, as well as the competence of Prince Doran's military."

"I will be there as well, though only advising in my elder brother's stead." Oberyn sighed wistfully. "You must be twice as fierce on the battlefield, my falcon! Fill my place in the ranks."

"I must be at least six times as fierce if I were to try and match you, your highness!" You protested.

"The genuine nature of your flattery never ceases to raise my spirits, my falcon! Dorne will need your strength." The prince grinned sharply, "And your ferocity. I assume we can expect great things from you?" He extended his forearm and you clasped it, feeling the coil of muscle that lurked beneath the sleeve of his brocade robe.

"You may depend on me, Prince Oberyn." You replied firmly.

...

It was to be a simple pincer attack, your small battalion held in reserve to strike at the most opportune moment. Everything always seemed so straightforward when in the map room.

Now, in the muddy chaos of the battlefield, you planted your massive tower shield as a rallying point for the foot soldiers and warded off the attacks that poured around it like river water. Cavalry thundered past you into the fray, lances up and proud Martell trappings flapping in the breeze. You struck down Dorne's foes without mercy, attempting to do the absent Oberyn justice.

Until you caught sight of Elia, torn from her horse by a greatsword-wielding warrior. She hit the mud hard, barely rolling out of the way of the man's full swing. He landed a glancing blow on her shoulder and you heard her cry out.

You jerked your shield up out of the ground, terrified beyond measure that she would not hear your voice. You gathered your legs beneath you to brace for her weight and shouted, "Lady Elia!" Her eyes met yours for a split-second. "Ninth form!" With your shoulder and knee set into the back of your shield, you tilted the metal.

The smaller woman bolted up and onto your slanted shield, then wheeled and sprang off with her arm outstretched to grapple the warrior's neck. The man was floored by the blow, he and Elia tumbling to the ground. You thrust your spear through the offending wrist that still gripped his sword, your razor-sharp weapon piercing the weak point in his armor and pinning his hand to the ground as he screamed. 

"If any man dares to touch a Sand Snake, he shall lose his hand and his life." You seethed, raising and then crushing the edge of your shield down on his throat. Elia stared up at you, hurriedly accepting your hand when you offered it. "Are you badly injured, my lady?" You asked worriedly.

"Just winded." She jibed but winced afterwards, touching the blood blotting her armor at the shoulder. "Damn it, and perhaps my shoulder could use tending."

"Shall I escort you back to the stratagem, my lady?"

"So courteous! A true knight." She teased, laughing. "Of course, deliver me to the hands of my hen of a father, that he might chatter and squawk about how careless I was." She tossed her head haughtily. "Wonderful."

"I meant no disrespect, my lady." Elia had a rebellious streak that may have very well been the entirety of her body. Fiercely capable and cunning beyond measure, this would be a blow to her pride. But you could not very well permit her to venture on wounded and get herself killed in the bargain, so you herded her gently back towards the stratagem tents.

You were both soaked head to toe with the blood and sweat of battle, so Oberyn's gut-wrenching expression of terror upon catching sight of his daughter was to be expected. "Elia!" He cried, striding out of the tent. "Where is the wound? You would not retreat willingly, you are too stubborn."

"Hush, I am well. Your falcon saw to that." Elia retorted, gesturing at your massive shield. "She clove a man's head off with that simply for touching me."

"He did a sight more than touch you, my lady." You replied stiffly, "I merely retaliated."

Oberyn enfolded his daughter in his arms, squeezing her tightly as you stripped your helmet off. "Straight to Ael with you. You have done well." He praised her, "but this shoulder will need to be tended lest you lose feeling in your hand."

After Elia had departed, you dropped to one knee. "Forgive me, your highness. I was not fast enough to keep her from harm."

"Lightning itself is not fast enough to keep that one from being wherever she wants." Oberyn replied dryly, clapping your shoulder and urging you to stand. "You brought her to me, a task which I'm certain she did not make simple. You are…" he trailed off, staring at you. Since you had removed your helmet, you assumed you must have some mud on your face. Why else would he look at you as though he had never seen you before? Perhaps the sun was in his eyes, or maybe your hair was much more hopeless than usual.

You quickly scrubbed at your cheeks, but Oberyn remained silent. "Prince Oberyn?" You queried tentatively.

"You are capable." He managed to finish his thought after several more moments. His voice was strangely faint. "Thank you for returning her hale and whole to me."

"Are you well, your highness?"

"Quite well. Astonishingly so, given the circumstances."

...

You were knighted formally as Ser Shieldove of House Martell on the following new moon. Oberyn winked at you in playful insinuation when you and several other new knights knelt before his brother to be anointed with seven oils, nearly causing you to embarrass yourself by laughing. The younger prince had become markedly more flirtatious towards you after the skirmish, his teasing bold even for his standards. You had dismissed it though, certain that he was merely expressing his gratitude with some flattering attention directed your way.

At the feast that followed, Oberyn and Ellaria flanked you instead of taking up their usual position at the head of the table with Prince Doran. Ellaria in particular was nearly hanging off your arm as the both of them fed you from their own trenchers. His tender touch while he plied you with fruits and the brush of the pads of her fingers against your lips made your throat burn with an odd emotion that you dared not examine. The flavorful dolmas hit your tongue and turned to ash in the wake of Ellaria's beautiful smile and Oberyn's jests.

The prince was regaling anyone who would listen with the thrilling (and greatly exaggerated) tale of you and Elia in the skirmish. "-my daughter, Elia Sand, though wounded, fought valiantly against a warrior seven times her size. Ser Shieldove, thinking quickly as she always does-"

"That is a falsehood, your highness." You protested, making Oberyn and his audience laugh. "I was in a panic. I was so fearful I would not reach her in time."

"What is a skirmish if not an opportunity to embellish?" The prince teased. "As I was saying, Ser Shieldove utilized one of the many tactics she learned in her knightly training…" While Oberyn prattled on, you felt his hand rest idly on your leg. You barely kept from leaping out of your skin when he gripped down a little tighter, his fingers rubbing circles through the gossamer of your gown and the fabric of your hosiery.

"More wine?" Ellaria asked sweetly, refilling your goblet before you even had the chance to nod. 

"Thank you, my lady." You cocked your head to the side. "Are you well? I hope the babe does not grieve you."

Her lovely laughter, combined with the hypnotic press and drag of Oberyn's fingers, made you wish that you could stay where you were forever. "I have done this four times before, my falcon. Or should I say, Ser Shieldove?" She chuckled. "I am prepared for whatever discomfort this little one sees fit to inflict upon me."

You smiled at her, stating sincerely, "I am in awe of you, Lady Ellaria." 

"Of me? Whatever for?" She asked in surprise. 

"Your willingness to bear children. It is...I do not know if I would ever have the strength for such an endeavor." You admitted softly, leaning in a little. "Your joy is pure and rare, unlike anything I have ever witnessed. You are practically aglow. It makes my heart ache and sing all at once, to see you so happy."

Ellaria took your hands in her own, clasping them to her heart. "Ser Shieldove, your flattery has not lost its edge." She murmured, her eyes bright. "Though I know your duties may take you elsewhere, when you have a moment of respite, I...would be more than willing to have one of my midwives explain certain things to you. I understand that fear of the unknown keeps many in the darkness."

Your heart buckled in your chest, hope and terror at war with one another. "I know not whether I...that is, I am uncertain if I am able, Lady Ellaria." You replied in a hushed tone. 

Ellaria nodded, her expression saddened. "I know, sweet dove." After a moment, she rose to her feet. "Oberyn, lover, will you accompany Ser Shieldove and myself to the water gardens?" 

The prince immediately rose and you floundered to do the same, caught off-guard by the sudden request. "Of course, my love." Oberyn's tone was light, but you couldn't shake the notion that he had been waiting for her to say something.

His hand stayed on the small of her back the entire stroll to the gardens, and you found yourself envious of those fingers, envious of her skin. To know such gentle touch, to be able to touch so gently…

During the day the pools were alive with the sound of children of all ages, laughing and splashing about in the refreshing waters. But here and now, the only sounds were the wind stirring the water's surface and the low, inquisitive calls of the bullfrogs. Ellaria settled onto a bench, patting the stone beside her after a moment. You sank down in an unwieldy mass of delicate fabrics, longing for your armor. The dress was beautiful, but it drew so much attention.

"Speak to us, sweet dove." Ellaria implored, taking your hands in her own again. "We would know what troubles you in regards to these delicate matters, without fear of judgement or embarrassment." 

Oberyn cleared his throat, large hands framing Ellaria's shoulders. "The merrymaking of the evening cannot erase the furrow of contemplation from your brow, my falcon." 

You hesitated, staring down at Ellaria's hands wrapped around your own. Her fingers were slender, delicate. "I see the two of you, how tender you are with one another and I wonder if...I wonder whether I might ever find such companionship." You shrugged helplessly. "I am unskilled in these matters. Gregor was...the only one. I do not know if I could ever subject myself to...if I could ever…" You trailed off, biting your lip.

Oberyn muttered an oath under his breath and then quickly apologized, continuing on to say, "Brave, fierce falcon. You were dealt a terrible wound the day that monster stole you away. I had wondered why you did not accept the propositions offered to you by many of the other knights, but I merely assumed it was a difference of our cultures." 

You shook your head shyly. "No, your highness. I find their attentions flattering, yet frightening for this very reason." You were dealt a terrible wound. Oberyn regarding it as such, instead of simply as a normal occurrence for a woman to overcome, was strangely heartening. "Perhaps the wound lingers, festers beneath my skin. Perhaps I shall never be gentle again, and never know myself what such gentleness feels like." You thought aloud, voicing your worst fears. "Perhaps my life will be nothing but roughness and the whirling tumult of battle, my only chance thieved away from me."

"Oh, my sweet dove." Ellaria sounded distraught and you turned your attention to her, surprised when you saw her weeping. Her hands cupped your jaw, tugging you close enough to rest your forehead against her own. "You have such an immense capacity for love, daughter-defender. My heart breaks at the thought of you locking yourself away out of fear." 

"My lady…" Tears welled up in your own eyes and you tried to wipe them away hastily.

Oberyn shifted to the side, his arms wrapped loosely around both you and his paramour. "Do you watch us often, my dove?" He asked quietly. "Does it bring you peace to see how we exist together and with others, as easily as rising in the morning?"

Your throat ached with your tears. "The way that you touch her, your highness-"

"My body was designed solely for the pleasure of my lovers, sweet dove." Oberyn informed you, his deep brown eyes unbearably soft in the dim light of the lanterns. "It is a weapon on the battlefield, but never in the bedroom. Even if I come at my lovers with passion, there is not and should not be fear."

"I am a knight of House Martell, and yet I cringe at something so mundane!" You tried to jest, tried to smile.

"Many a warrior is thrown from a horse once and refuses to ever ride again." Oberyn pointed out, his hand absently stroking over your hair in a calming motion. "If an action has only ever caused you agony, you learn to avoid it." Ellaria tugged at Oberyn's sleeve, whispering in his ear when he bent lower. The prince smiled after a moment, nodding. "Of course. Whatever you like, my love." He agreed.

"Sweet dove, at some point in the future I would like to invite you to witness us in our bed chamber," said Ellaria, the words from her mouth damning and sweet as honey. "We are comfortable with an audience and multiple partners, as you are well aware. We would be more than happy to display the way certain acts ought to be performed." She laughed after a moment. "Truly, if I get much larger I may have no recourse but to ask for assistance when my cravings grow too raw!"

You swallowed, then inhaled raggedly. How long were you planning on languishing in this manner? Ignoring your desires out of fear and anxiety over what had transpired? Though Oberyn had assuaged your feelings of inadequacy, you no longer wanted to be the warrior thrown from your horse. You were a knight of House Martell, in soul and now in title. "I would be honored to witness such a thing, my lady." You croaked out, wincing and clearing your throat awkwardly. 

Oberyn's smile was a fond one, the man placing a kiss on his paramour's forehead. "Never fear, falcon. We shall not push you further than you can go."

…

Some weeks later, the battlemaster woke you out of a sound sleep, his tone one of long suffering. "Prince Oberyn seeks your council, Ser Shieldove. He bade you wear your armor, but bring no weapons."

Your mind whirled. Had something happened? Gods, Ellaria-

You weren't certain if you had ever donned your armor faster. It was scarcely ten minutes before you were striding through the airy halls, your tunic rustling beneath your light armor and mail. No weapons, he had said. What manner of exercise could this possibly be?

The prince flung open the doors of his chambers when you approached, his expression tight yet grateful. "I apologize for rousing you at such a late hour, my falcon." 

You dropped to a knee in typical salute. "What has transpired, Prince Oberyn?"

"Ellaria believed that tonight would be a good night for you to...witness. That being said, she wished for your assistance." The man said delicately. "My love is--ah, how to say this without being crass. She is swollen with child, and yet she craves a certain position." Oberyn raised his eyes to your own. "She reasoned that your strength would be sufficient to keep her balance while she indulges."

Your mouth went dry. "M-My strength?" You stammered. He nodded, studying you intently. His heavy gaze alone had you smoldering, had you nodding without thinking twice. He gestured you onwards into their private chambers, closing the doors after you.

Ellaria, her form barely concealed by the thin curtains of their bed, called your name so sweetly. Like a sinner to judgement you crept close, eyes averted from her nudity. "My dove, there is no shame here." She crooned, one finger beneath your chin urging your attentions to her body. Her kiss to your forehead was gentle, her heavy breasts pressed against your armor with her closeness. 

"Lady Ellaria." you breathed, wanting more than anything to greedily embrace her in your arms, shield her from the world. No one deserved to even look at her, no one--

Except Oberyn, of course. The prince was leaning easily against one of the banisters, one ankle tucked over the other while he observed his paramour with a blissful expression. Only Oberyn. Your heart ached, full enough to burst with your unspoken affection for the prince and his beloved. 

"The prince said you requested my presence, my lady?"

"I want you to see us, my dove." Ellaria said simply. "I may require your assistance, but until then…" She beckoned Oberyn closer and did not finish her sentence. 

The prince cupped her face and kissed her passionately, his smile curved against her lips. Once he was done, however, he turned to you. The bristle of his mustache met your forehead, grazing the skin teasingly before he kissed it. "A kiss from a prince. Let us hope you do not turn into a frog!" He said with a grin.

Ellaria's fingers kneaded at his light dressing gown, spurring him to peel and discard the garment. "Come, Ser Shieldove. Sit on the side of the bed and watch us." She implored.

"Are you certain, my lady?" You asked, hesitation plain in your voice even as your fingers twined greedily into their rich bedspread. "It is not...distracting that I am here?"

"Far from it." Oberyn grunted, chucking you under the chin. "It is a rare treat, to have my devastating falcon in the same bed as my lovely paramour. I will not involve you beyond function, of course, not without your consent. You are the audience tonight, and Ellaria wishes to show you the tender acts I inflict upon her."

You did not trust your voice to reply. You knew logically that there was no possibility of Oberyn causing her harm. You watched his hands, the shift of the candlelight shadows playing across the olive skin. Oberyn was languid in nearly every aspect of his life aside from training and battle, so it was no great shock that he was slow in his approach as well. 

He trailed a single finger down between Ellaria's bare breasts, over the swell of her stomach. Your hands fisted tight enough to ache in the bedspread when Ellaria crooned to him, the sunset-hued fabric wrinkling in your grasp. You were entranced, enthralled as surely as if you had been under some spell. 

"Lover, please…" Ellaria begged, and oh! Her voice was the sweetest music, a wine heady and luxuriant. How did Oberyn resist her? How did he temper his longing, when all you wanted to do upon hearing her ask once was fall to pieces?

"She knows I will satisfy her." Oberyn said softly, as though he had read your thoughts. He lowered his mouth to her breast and her fingers found his hair, cradling him close. His hand wandered lower and lower, seeking out the wetness that had built between her thighs. 

Your gorget threatened to choke you when you swallowed convulsively at Ellaria's trembling sob of pleasure, the prince shooting you a smirk from his prime seating.

"I think our falcon has taken a shine to your mewling, my love." He informed Ellaria quietly. His hand spread her wide, fingers lewdly displaying her plush entrance slick and pink, delicious--you caught yourself leaning in and quickly jerked upright. 

Ellaria noticed your interest, if her moan was any indicator. One hand left Oberyn's hair and reached out over the blankets to you, fingers extended as far as they could go. She fell just shy inches from your arm, blindly fumbling. 

Oberyn carefully scooped her hand back up, kissing her knuckles. "We do not touch her, my love." He reminded her. "Until you need her help to take me, and even then. Our falcon, our dove, she is a warrior, not a plaything." He glanced over at you, his expression mischievous. "It is enough that she wishes to touch you already, my love." His fingers plunged into her cunt and gods, she was wet enough to hear. 

Your thighs clenched and you felt shameful, like an intruder, but Oberyn hummed as if to draw your averted gaze to where his fingers plundered her slick folds. 

"She is much more sensitive when she is bearing." He sounded a little breathless, his dark eyes nearly black in the dimmed lighting. "I can wring two or three from her with ease, just my fingers. No pain."

"Two or three?" You echoed him in doubt, your voice rasping in your throat when Ellaria's back arched off the bed. She cried out and Oberyn moaned with her, his own enthusiasm evident in the way he claimed her mouth with his. She was beautiful, skin flushed and damp with sweat, and he was so gentle with her.

"I need you now, lover. I cannot wait, please, please-" Ellaria implored against his lips, and the tender way he soothed her hair back from her forehead made your chest ache. "I have missed you beneath me, my sweet Oberyn."

"And I have missed you, my divine Ellaria." Oberyn helped her kneel, then gestured you closer. "If you wrap your arms around her midsection--"

"Is that safe?" You interrupted warily, concern destroying your propriety. Oberyn just chuckled, rolling off of the bed to divest himself of his pants. You fought the urge to bury your face in Ellaria's neck out of embarrassment.

"Sweet dove," Ellaria's hand cupped your burning cheek. "If this is not to your liking…"

"Of course it--I mean, if-if I...what if I do something wrong? What if I hurt you?" You mumbled. "Men act as though we are unreasonably delicate for expecting an ounce of caution, yet we endure so much at their whim."

Ellaria interlaced her fingers with your own, bringing your palms to her defined hips. "I will not break, my gentle dove." She stated, a defiant toss of her head serving to drive her words home. She was the devoted paramour of Prince Oberyn, after all! Already mother to four of his children, soon to be five. 

Oberyn knelt on the bed and you couldn't help the way your eyes devoured him. His hair tousled, mouth still red from hungry kisses, lean body on full display. The member that hung between his legs had your breath hitching with a mixture of vague apprehension and arousal, how-

You tore your eyes away, tucking your nose in the thick waves of Ellaria's hair as your thighs flexed yet again. She smelled of comfort, of citrus and the spiced strongwine from their evening meal. Ellaria sighed, relaxing her weight back into your arms. "You are so warm, sweet dove."

Oberyn's hand stroked your cheek and you were unable to conceal your flinch. "Do not fear me, gentle dove. I would never harm in the bedroom; here, I am no longer the Red Viper." His tone was grave, and you saw sorrow in his eyes when you dared to look up. "I am simply a man hopelessly in love." His hands covered your own, tightening your grip on Ellaria's hips. "Now, help my paramour to rend me as she sees fit."

You did as you were asked, feeling the anticipatory tremor that ran through Ellaria's body. She wanted him. She yearned for him, canting her hips as far as she could to draw him close. But Oberyn was thorough, coaxing her thighs apart inch by inch and laving her hot skin with thousands upon thousands of adoring kisses. She was on the verge of collapse before he even deigned to lay down beneath her, and now you understood your place in their endeavor. 

She sank down onto his cock without hesitation, a breathless whine of delight leaving her lips while her head lolled back against your shoulder. Oberyn's cry in response was low, wanting, the prince's chest heaving as he thrust up into her. "Ellaria, you beautiful fucking woman." He seethed through his teeth, "Help her take me, my falcon, hold her steady while she tears me apart."

"Oberyn!" Ellaria sobbed, clinging to your arms while he urged her hips forward and back to ride his cock.

"If she wishes for another child, she entices me by laying on her stomach and beckoning me near." Oberyn informed you lazily between arching his hips up to meet his paramour. "When she does I am but her willing stud horse, lost to breed. Her hips fit perfectly in my hands and she begs me so sweetly for another babe, another little one to bring to her breast and nourish. My Ellaria, my beautiful, precious Ellaria." 

Oberyn reached up, his eyes so warm and fond as he cradled Ellaria's face in his large palms. You buried your face in Ellaria's hair again, not wanting either of them to notice the tears threatening to spill over. 

Ellaria nuzzled against his fingers, coaxing a ragged groan out of Oberyn. "Lover, you always know what to do to make my body sing for you." She breathed, planting her hands on his chest and circling her hips. Oberyn swore and gritted his teeth, his head falling back against the pillows. "But I would much rather you sing for me instead."

The prince's voice broke wordlessly in his throat, the noise sharp with longing. Your eyes widened and your whole body tensed at the sound, warmth coating the worn trews between your legs. What…? You had never experienced such a rapid reaction, and all it had been was a simple groan! Your grip on Ellaria tightened unconsciously and she moaned your name, her body pushing back against your armored chest as she rose up onto her knees. 

Oberyn fairly growled at her, one hand clutching at her thigh while the other delved between her legs. She cried out and you could feel her body spasm when he found her center, hips undulating hard to grind herself against his palm. "Come for me, my love, drench me." Oberyn encouraged softly. "Tear my seed from my body, milk me with that divine cunt of yours."

His heated words made you feel like your heart would beat out of your chest. Ellaria tilted her face into your neck, her panting, breathy cries whispering over your skin and making you wish more than anything that you were the one causing them-

She went taut in your hold and you watched Oberyn watch her come with the same blissful expression on his face that he had sported earlier. It was as if his own release was an afterthought, the prince humming to echo Ellaria's incoherent whimpering while he shifted his hips restlessly beneath her. "Keep gripping me, my love, keep-" Oberyn bucked up hard, hands covering your own on her hips to keep her still when he buried himself in her again. His shoulders tensed, thighs trembling as he came with a shuddering gasp of her name. 

Gods, you wished it was your name he spoke with such passion!

Ellaria nearly collapsed, your arms around her the only thing keeping her upright. "I have you." You breathed, cradling her back against your chest. "I have you."

The other woman blinked up at you sleepily, one shaking hand raising to stroke over your hair. "Thank you, Ser Shieldove." She whispered. Oberyn clapped her thigh, carefully tilting her hips and closing her legs once he slipped out from beneath her. 

"Steady, I need to fetch a cloth." He instructed you, nearly staggering when he rose from the bed. "Gods, Ellaria, you will make me swoon one of these days." Oberyn continued, half-laughing and shaking his head. He wrapped his light robe back around his body, looping the belt once and then abandoning it.

You hid your face at the sight of him stretching languidly, his lithe and golden form barely covered by the haphazardly-tied dressing gown. "You can look at him, you know." Ellaria sighed in your ear, sending a shiver down your spine. "He loves being observed. He preens." She confided, chuckling softly. 

"What are you telling her, my love?" Oberyn called from the washbasin, shooting her a suspicious glance.

"Nothing, lover." Ellaria winked up at you, relaxing into your arms a bit more. "Nothing at all."

"Now, my falcon. Is it your turn?" Oberyn asked conversationally while he tenderly bathed Ellaria's intimate area. The other woman hadn't stopped squirming, trembling beneath his careful ministrations even as she clung to you. 

Panic seized your body at the idea of being naked, being vulnerable, exposed, and despite the hard work the both of them had done, you found yourself shaking your head violently. 

Oberyn simply laughed, dismissing his own words as a jest and easily soothing your terror. 

...

When you returned to your quarters later that evening, you could not remove your armor fast enough. Clad in only your underthings, you slumped into the chair beside your bed and put your head in your hands. 

I can wring two or three from her with ease, just my fingers. No pain.

Ellaria's wanton cries rang softly in your ears. The way she had sought him out with her body, sought to be cherished, claimed-

You are so warm, sweet dove.

You flushed hot, rubbing frantically at your eyes. Gods, the way the two of them praised each other, praised you...it hurt, it made your body throb. You bit back a sound of pain, your eyes watering. To be loved by someone, to have their love in return...well, that is what all the songs and stories of man were about! 

Yet here you sat on the outskirts of a camp you dared not approach, gazing at the raging bonfire of someone else's affection. 

And you envied, with a ferocity that made your jaw ache from how tight you clenched it.

Envied Oberyn, for being a prince, being free to do as he wished, being able to trace secret patterns over Ellaria's skin as often as he pleased. Envied Ellaria, for being brave, being so effortlessly sensual, being able to bring Oberyn to heights of ecstasy that you could not even dream of.

You felt like a child that had been happily playing pretend, only to have a bucket of cold water thrown on you.

Your fingers dug into your thighs, rubbing over the scarring there. No, you would never know, would you? You would never know the true depth of another's love. You were not destined for such things, and you had been foolish to grasp for them in the first place.

You had been greedy, overeager to voyeur on the prince and his paramour due to your deep admiration of and attraction to the couple. This was hardly behavior befitting a knight of House Martell! You would have to do better in the future, instead of taking advantage of the generosity extended to you in good faith. All Ellaria and Oberyn had wanted to do was help you, and you had turned it into some lewd fantasy. 

You shook your head at your own thoughts, thoroughly disgusted. You would tear down everything good that you ever had, just to delude yourself into believing you could be bedded by a prince of Dorne and his beautiful lady.

Part Two

[mr-styles]

Columbia's Charlie Shawcross talks Harry Styles as big Q4 push beckons for Fine Line

Harry Styles is enjoying one of the year’s most successful albums – and his label plans to keep on pushing the record for at least the rest of the year.

Fine Line was the No.6 best-selling artist album of Q2, moving 63,159 copies in the quarter according to the Official Charts Company. It’s also the No.2 album of the year to date, with 218,993 copies moved so far, ahead of everything except Lewis Capaldi’s Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent (376,138) juggernaut.

It leaves his label, Sony’s Columbia Records, nicely positioned for a Q4 push off the back of its Artist Marketing Campaign award for the Styles campaign at the Music Week Awards 2020. So Columbia’s senior marketing manager Charlie Shawcross talked us through their work with Styles so far – and what’s coming next.

Why do you think the Fine Line campaign was so successful?

“Fine Line is an album full of incredibly memorable songs and Harry is a special artist who can capture people’s imagination. So the campaign has been built around marrying these two things; delivering hit songs at appropriate times of year, with Harry driving conversation through his music videos and promo appearances. It sounds obvious, but it’s hard to do well and a lot of the campaign’s success has been down to getting this right consistently on a global scale. It's been a very collaborative campaign, and Harry and his management team at Full Stop have been incredible to work with. On top of this, there have been a lot of marketing ideas developed around song lyrics and the music videos, and the fans have really got involved with these and taken ownership of them. With the imaginary island of Eroda in particular, it felt like the fans were creating something in conjunction with Harry and the label, which was fun to be a part of and it created its own momentum.”

The album was released right at the end of last year - what special challenges did that present and how did you deal with them?

“With the album out on December 13, we knew it was going to be one of the most competitive chart weeks of the year, in which physical album sales massively over-index in the chart and the streaming market is crowded with Christmas music. So, with the streaming market squeezed, Harry put on a pop-up shop in Camden to drive physical sales and Christmas gifting, manufacturing special album formats which we sold in-store. We also organised a London underplay for the week of release, offering fans the option to bundle albums with tickets. Both initiatives helped to boost our December sales and keep Harry visible at a very busy time of year.”

And what are your plans for Harry in the future?

“We’ve got a few more things up our sleeve for the rest of the year, but you’ll have to wait and see. Giving the fans mysteries to unravel has been an important part of the campaign, so we’re going to keep our cards close to our chest for the time being…”

[stylesnews]

Harry Styles is enjoying one of the year’s most successful albums – and his label plans to keep on pushing the record for at least the rest of the year.

Fine Line was the No.6 best-selling artist album of Q2, moving 63,159 copies in the quarter according to the Official Charts Company. It’s also the No.2 album of the year to date, with 218,993 copies moved so far, ahead of everything except Lewis Capaldi’s Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent (376,138) juggernaut.

It leaves his label, Sony’s Columbia Records, nicely positioned for a Q4 push off the back of its Artist Marketing Campaign award for the Styles campaign at the Music Week Awards 2020.

So Columbia’s senior marketing manager Charlie Shawcross (pictured centre with audience development manager Andrew Bunton and senior audience development manager Corrina Kavanagh) talked us through their work with Styles so far – and what’s coming next…

Why do you think the Fine Line campaign was so successful? “Fine Line is an album full of incredibly memorable songs and Harry is a special artist who can capture people’s imagination. So the campaign has been built around marrying these two things; delivering hit songs at appropriate times of year, with Harry driving conversation through his music videos and promo appearances. It sounds obvious, but it’s hard to do well and a lot of the campaign’s success has been down to getting this right consistently on a global scale. It's been a very collaborative campaign, and Harry and his management team at Full Stop have been incredible to work with. On top of this, there have been a lot of marketing ideas developed around song lyrics and the music videos, and the fans have really got involved with these and taken ownership of them. With the imaginary island of Eroda in particular, it felt like the fans were creating something in conjunction with Harry and the label, which was fun to be a part of and it created its own momentum.”

The album was released right at the end of last year - what special challenges did that present and how did you deal with them? “With the album out on December 13, we knew it was going to be one of the most competitive chart weeks of the year, in which physical album sales massively over-index in the chart and the streaming market is crowded with Christmas music. So, with the streaming market squeezed, Harry put on a pop-up shop in Camden to drive physical sales and Christmas gifting, manufacturing special album formats which we sold in-store. We also organised a London underplay for the week of release, offering fans the option to bundle albums with tickets. Both initiatives helped to boost our December sales and keep Harry visible at a very busy time of year.”

And what are your plans for Harry in the future? “We’ve got a few more things up our sleeve for the rest of the year, but you’ll have to wait and see. Giving the fans mysteries to unravel has been an important part of the campaign, so we’re going to keep our cards close to our chest for the time being…”

[kingstylesdaily]

Columbia's Charlie Shawcross talks Harry Styles as big Q4 push beckons for Fine Line

Harry Styles is enjoying one of the year’s most successful albums – and his label plans to keep on pushing the record for at least the rest of the year.

Fine Line was the No.6 best-selling artist album of Q2, moving 63,159 copies in the quarter according to the Official Charts Company. It’s also the No.2 album of the year to date, with 218,993 copies moved so far, ahead of everything except Lewis Capaldi’s Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent (376,138) juggernaut.

It leaves his label, Sony’s Columbia Records, nicely positioned for a Q4 push off the back of its Artist Marketing Campaign award for the Styles campaign at the Music Week Awards 2020.

So Columbia’s senior marketing manager Charlie Shawcross (pictured centre with audience development manager Andrew Bunton and senior audience development manager Corrina Kavanagh) talked us through their work with Styles so far – and what’s coming next…

Why do you think the Fine Line campaign was so successful? “Fine Line is an album full of incredibly memorable songs and Harry is a special artist who can capture people’s imagination. So the campaign has been built around marrying these two things; delivering hit songs at appropriate times of year, with Harry driving conversation through his music videos and promo appearances. It sounds obvious, but it’s hard to do well and a lot of the campaign’s success has been down to getting this right consistently on a global scale. It's been a very collaborative campaign, and Harry and his management team at Full Stop have been incredible to work with. On top of this, there have been a lot of marketing ideas developed around song lyrics and the music videos, and the fans have really got involved with these and taken ownership of them. With the imaginary island of Eroda in particular, it felt like the fans were creating something in conjunction with Harry and the label, which was fun to be a part of and it created its own momentum.”

The album was released right at the end of last year - what special challenges did that present and how did you deal with them? “With the album out on December 13, we knew it was going to be one of the most competitive chart weeks of the year, in which physical album sales massively over-index in the chart and the streaming market is crowded with Christmas music. So, with the streaming market squeezed, Harry put on a pop-up shop in Camden to drive physical sales and Christmas gifting, manufacturing special album formats which we sold in-store. We also organised a London underplay for the week of release, offering fans the option to bundle albums with tickets. Both initiatives helped to boost our December sales and keep Harry visible at a very busy time of year.”

And what are your plans for Harry in the future? “We’ve got a few more things up our sleeve for the rest of the year, but you’ll have to wait and see. Giving the fans mysteries to unravel has been an important part of the campaign, so we’re going to keep our cards close to our chest for the time being…”

Source: MusicWeek

[acccypbusiness]

How calculate capital gain on property calculator service agency Limassol Cyprus?

How can one become a corporate administrator?

How can a small business become a corporation? Well, there are a few options: be acquired by a major industry player, grow rapidly over several years, and manage a well-oiled machine that finally becomes a juggernaut. Only a strong team of experts at the office, from the innovative sales team to the dependable corporate administrator, can accomplish these feats.

It turns out that the corporate administrator is critical to the success of any company. The job entails guaranteeing the efficiency of the organization, whether that means attending to statutory filing and maintaining records or overseeing the continuing administration of a client portfolio (partnerships, trusts and limited liability companies). Does this pique your interest? Yes, it is. In addition, the pay is competitive with corporate administration services agency. The median income for administrative services in the United States in 2019 was $96,940 (£70,960), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a predicted job growth rate of 6%.

What does a corporate administrator do?

First and foremost, you should conduct thorough study about this potential career path and what exactly a corporate administrator's job includes. This will not only provide you a better understanding of the day-to-day functions of the profession, but it will also help you assess whether it is something you can see yourself doing. As a corporate administrator, you can expect to do the following:

·         Keeping and filing records

·         Client or employee billing

·         Consultation with regulatory agencies

·         Performing regulatory checks to ensure that everything is in order

·         Creating and registering businesses

·         Knowledge of indexation calculator

Know whether you want to do it or not?

Anyone considering a job in corporate administration should first assess whether or not this is something they truly want to pursue. With job hopping becoming the new normal in recent years, many professionals have taken jobs only to leave them after a few months. While it may be a sunk cost, it's important to remember that you've invested a significant amount of time, money, and resources to get a job in this field.

Choose the right subjects

It's critical to choose appropriate studies in high school if you want to become a corporate administrator – or at the very least, work in a related field. Every secondary school is unique, and different jurisdictions provide distinct curriculum.

Attain qualifications

Enrolling in a postsecondary institution, such as a college or university, is the next step. A business administration degree, whether it's an associate's degree or an MBA, should be your goal. You can broaden your views and even progress beyond the role of a corporate administrator if you choose this as your major. This will ensure that you are capable of dealing with many aspects of the industry.

Is it easy to pursue a career in corporate administration with capital gain on property calculator service agency Limassol Cyprus? Finding a job is challenging enough. Anyone interested in business, organization, or general office work will find it to be a very competitive sector. It is, however, a satisfying vocation for anyone who is just starting out in their career or seeking a move. However, while it may appear difficult when you first begin your professional adventure, perseverance will pay off. Are you thinking about a career in business administration? Do you have any questions? Please leave a comment below to let us know what you think!

[knking]

ASRIEL  DREEMURR

Asriel is Asgore and Toriel’s son, Undyne and Chara’s sibling. He had a fraternal twin : Aurore Dreemurr

[INDEX]

The full description is below the cut, but be careful, spoilers ahead! Make sure to read the story! :)

Asriel Dreemurr is a goat boss monster, he has the yellow eyes of Justice and just like every boss monster can summon 2 kinds of weapon, a sword for the close combat situations, and a ranged weapon. However, he refuses to use or even summon his other weapon...

After a tragic event, he lost 3 siblings, 2 of them died in “HIS” hands, and Undyne disappeared, leaving only his heartbroken parents as his family. 

Out of sadness, his soul shattered.

He was hidden in a closet, saw everything happening right before his eyes and blamed himself for not being brave enough to do something. Soon after this, he lost appetite, he wasn’t sleeping and had nightmares of this afternoon again and again. His eyes turned white out of despair, he did not want to go on anymore, and after a month, his body turned into dust.

It’s only after hearing his sister Aurore calling for him that he came back. 

He didn’t have a stable form, it’s Ömen, the ancient Juggernaut, that helped him by giving his powers, his advices and support. Thanks to Ömen, Asriel is now capable of maintaining a stable form and is now the new Juggernaut.

He is still a boss monster, but unlike his parents or Undyne, his soul is only attached to his physical form by a really thin connexion. Unlike his mother, he is not dependant on his physical form, allowing him to use his Teemie powers at its full potential and shapeshift into whoever and whatever he wants.

He still has a soul, and he hide its “broken shards” in a box somewhere hidden in the Waterfall. Somewhere only he and his siblings know about.

He now lives in the Ruins, with his sibling Chara and his friend Aurore. He watches on his father to make sure nobody hurts him under the cover of a persona... A friendly flower, Flowey the Flower.

TL;DR : He’s a huge “dead but not so dead” boy that can turn into everything.

[apesoformythoughts]

«The Spanish Data Protection Agency had chosen [on August 9, 2011] to champion the claims of ninety ordinary citizens who…were determined to preserve inherited meaning for a world bent on change at the speed of light. In the name of “the right to be forgotten,” the Spaniards had stepped into the bullring brandishing red capes, resolved to master the fiercest bull of all: Google, the juggernaut of surveillance capitalism. When the agency ordered the internet firm to stop indexing the contested links of these ninety individuals, the bull received one of its first and most significant blows. 

This official confrontation drew upon the same tenacity, determination, and sentiment that sustained…millions of other Spaniards compelled to claw back the future from the self-proclaimed inevitability of indifferent capital. In the assertion of a right to be forgotten, the complexity of human existence, with its thousand million shades of gray, was pitted against surveillance capitalism's economic imperatives that produced the relentless drive to extract and retain information. It was there, in Spain, that the right to the future tense was on the move, insisting that the operations of surveillance capitalism and its digital architecture are not, never were, and never would be inevitable. Instead, the opposition asserted that even Google's capitalism was made by humans to be unmade and remade by democratic processes, not commercial decree. Google's was not to be the last word on the human or the digital future.» 

— Shoshana Zuboff: The Age of Surveillance Capitalism (p. 57-58)

[kasey9395]

KOREAN AWARD SHOWS: EXPECT NOTHING

Ahhh...it’s that time of the year again. And no I don’t mean Christmas.

I’m talking about the ‘waking up at 3 AM and suffering through a 3-hour broadcast (not in our language) to see our boys perform at the end’ season that is Korean Music Award Season.

If you came into this K-Pop world as an ARMY then you have witnessed what I’m about to go into first hand.

I have been fortunate enough to have gotten into the fandom when BTS hadn’t yet blown up into the stratosphere so I know the feeling well of BTS walking away with less than what they deserve and learning to not expect anything where these award shows are concerned.

Let me break down the gist of how these shows work if you didn’t already know.

1.   If an artist is attending it’s guaranteed, no, GUARANTEED, that they are going home with an award, whether they have earned it or not.

2.   Make no mistake, they will literally MAKE UP AN award to give an artist to ensure this.

3.   Fans have a say in just about every single award…even the BIG ones! Yep. You read that right. We have a large input, just about the same percentage as judges do, into who gets a Daesang. So, as far as voting goes, the bigger the fandom, the bigger the votes (which really isn’t fair).

4.   These award show head honchos, for whatever reason, feel the need to satisfy the Big 3 Companies so it is guaranteed that the Daesangs will be split up to make sure artists from the Bermuda Triangle of Doom always get at least one …meaning, no one artist has EVER won all the Daesangs in a single award show, no matter how much they’ve earned it. Go ahead. Check it. Hell, some of these shows even created a 4th Daesang last year to ensure these groups got one but could still point out that BTS got more than them.

So, essentially, this is where it leaves BTS this year:

The Daesangs are ALBUM, SONG and ARTIST of the Year (barring the 4th).

ALBUM:

- MoTS:Persona is the both the Best Selling Album in Gaon History and more importantly, the world in 2019.

SONG: (Sticking with SK Stats)

- Boy With Luv is the longest charting Top 30 song released in 2019 on Melon, the top streaming site in South Korea. Not just by an ‘Idol Group’ but overall.

- It’s digital index is High.

- It is 1 of only 5 songs released this year with a PAK. The other 4 are solo artist Juggernauts!

- It has 21 Music Show wins under its belt, the most by a mile by any song this year and a record for songs released after 2000.

ARTIST:

Ummmmm……yeah. Not even going to dignify this with a rationalisation.

Having reviewed BTS’ qualifications, here is what SHOULD happen:

They should, at EVERY SINGLE Award Show this year, be sweeping ALL Daesangs because, as the above has shown, they DESERVE and have EARNED those Daesangs.

But What WILL Happen?

- They will not get all simply because Twice exists. As the token group of JYP (one point in the Bermuda Triangle), as long as Twice is attending, one of those Daesangs will go to them. Not hating on Twice here but…that’s how these shows work.

Case in point: No song was bigger than Ikon’s Love Scenario last year, yet Twice won Song of the Year at MAMA simply because YG Artists do not attend MAMA so Ikon wasn’t there.

- Artist and Album should, however, be a lock in for the boys because, really, it’s laughable and outrightly egregious to not give them those 2, especially Artist. But, depending on who those Honchos have to satisfy, I can see BTS losing the Album Daesang too.

And don’t expect them to be a shoe-in to walk away with smaller awards like Best Male Group of the Year or anything with Global in it either. I mean, how can you expect a MALE group who wins the DAESANG for ARTIST OF THE YEAR to win best MALE group award too? Why should the Artist who is dominating the MOST, GLOBALLY (and I have included every artist, not just Korean ones) win an award that judges GLOBAL IMPACT? No. Those awards may just be given to other groups who fit no other criteria for a win. Not that those groups aren’t great boy groups or global either. It’s just that, well, you’re in a category where your competition is BTS. Some things in life should be inevitable.

So to sum it up, those who ae going the positive route and are expecting a Daesang sweep this year…please come back down to reality. Yes, BTS will no doubt win Daesangs but they will not win all. It’s South Korea we’re dealing with after all.

Nor will they win every category in which they are nominated, no matter how far in the lead they are with votes (which are only 1 aspect of judging criteria).

When their name is called, we will know they have won. Simple as that.

And if they aren’t attending, well, expect even less wins.

It’s not that BTS isn’t deserving, it’s just that that’s how those Award Shows work.

[enchanters-books]

Hi! I'm writing my first book and I was wondering: is indie publishing expensive?

Hi there!

That’s really great that you’re writing a book.:) In regards to your question, there is not a one size fits all number I can give you. 

I can only draw from my own experience but with indie publishing you get to call all the shots. That can be good and bad. The good news is that you can for the most part spend as much (or as little) as you want on any of the steps involved in publishing your book. That being said, the bad news is that you may not (probably won’t) get the exposure that a book published by one of the juggernaut publishing houses would get. So you should be pretty honest with yourself about WHY you’re writing and WHO you’re writing for if you really are serious about the indie route.

So, don’t want to discourage anyone here but this is what I’ve had to handle when getting one of the Enchanters books out. As each book has come out I’ve adjusted my methods. I’ve also picked up a lot of skills just out of necessity (learning many types of software is one example).

So, here’s what I have to do for 1 book:

Cover Art: This includes designing the logo, typography, photography. I’ve found cover art makes a difference when trying to sell books. There’s a lot of bad cover art. Don’t cheap out if you can help it. If you can’t afford an artist, talk to friends that might be graphic designers for tips if you want to have a go of it yourself. You’ll need to make sure your cover art works for all formats you want to publish your book in.

Pick a service/distributor: Createspace, Blurb, Smashwords, Ingram Spark, Lulu--I mean this list goes on for a while. I personally use Ingram Spark. It’s kind of a steeper learning curve than some of the others but I’m able to control the entire process in a way that works for me and the distribution options are pretty good. It also allows me to get Enchanters in some select physical stores. 

ISBN: Some self publishing services take care of this for you. An ISBN is a unique identifier for your book. You need a separate one for each format of your book (ebook, paperback, hardcover, etc). Again, not always necessary to buy if your service provides it for you.

Editor: The best decision I ever made was to invest in a good editor. You won’t always like the comments you get back from them. That’s by design - they’re supposed to tear your writing apart so it can be refined. Editors don’t always work out either--find one that likes to work on the type of book you are writing. Editors can help you structure your story, find mistakes, clean up bad writing, copyediting, and delete entire scenes that are completely unnecessary. :) 

Formatting: Ingram Spark is pretty picky about how the books need to be formatted. I hired a pro to do it for Book 1 and then learned InDesign and did it myself for Book 2. Remember that ebook and paperback usually require different formatting processes.

Proofreading: I swear no matter how many times my stuff gets looked over there will be some stupid typo that got missed. It happens in tons of books indie or not.

“Back Cover” Summary/Blurb: Get your editor in on this process if possible. First impressions really are important.

Marketing: This is the biggest crapshoot. Honestly the best way I’ve seen marketing work for books is word of mouth. If people talk about your book, more people will read it. Using ARC sites can be useful in getting reviews, which can help you get your book onto booklists, which make more people buy your book. You see how it all sorta connects? 

If you’re a total unknown, be prepared to give away books at first, especially if you’re planning a series. There are lots of book bloggers who love getting free copies of books though. But do your research on what they like to read before asking them to add your book to their mountain of TBRs.

I actually was fortunate enough to get a PR expert when I started. They often have ties in the industry and can find you those book bloggers and reviewers as well as give you advice on what to post on social media (see below).

Website:  My advice is DON’T BOTHER YET unless you can have something of decent quality. Your website should have a button that easily takes your readers to where they can buy the book. It should also have decent optimization for search engines to index (google that if you’re not sure what it means). A newsletter is also a great way to get people engaged in your book especially if you plan to write more. Also, please make it look good on mobile because a lot of people will view it from their phone.

Something I underestimated when I started was not talking about myself enough. Apparently people DO like to hear more about the authors of books they read. :)

Social Media: Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook...that stuff helps but don’t rely on it 100%. Follow other authors. Don’t fall into an attitude where you feel like you need to compete with other indie authors. We’re all in this together. :) You should try to keep at least one social media account active and updated often. 

Okay, wow. That was a lot to type. I can’t think of anything else off the top of my head but I’m happy to try to answer any follow up questions from this. Please keep in mind this was just MY experience and I can’t tell you that it TOTALLY worked or failed. I CAN say that writing Enchanters has been a really wild adventure and I’ve met some amazingly talented people through this process. 

Anywho, hope that helps a bit. :)