#Milestone in EV Market

[ciolookleaders]

ZEEKR’s Ambitious IPO Marks a Milestone in EV Market Competition

ZEEKR’s Rise in the EV Market

ZEEKR, a youthful player in the electric vehicle (EV) arena, is poised to make a significant mark with its upcoming initial public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) this week. Established just three years ago as a subsidiary of the Chinese automotive giant Geely Holding, ZEEKR swiftly emerged as a contender in the realm of premium zero-emissions mobility, positioning itself to rival established names like NIO and Tesla.

A Diverse Portfolio and Financial Backing

Despite its brief existence, the company has wasted no time in diversifying its product portfolio. Among its offerings are the flagship 001 shooting brake, the versatile 009 multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), the sleek 007 sedan, and the upcoming electric van, MIX. In February, ZEEKR garnered considerable attention by securing $750 million in Series A funding, setting its valuation at a lofty $13 billion upon completion of the investment.

IPO Details and Market Comparisons

Now, company is taking its next significant step by launching an IPO on the NYSE. The company aims to offer 175,000,000 ordinary shares (or 17,500,000 American Depository Shares) at a price range of $18 to $21 per ADS, potentially raising up to $367 million. This move reflects a strategic decision by ZEEKR to tap into the US market, where several of its competitors, such as NIO, XPeng Motors, and Li Auto, are already traded.

However, ZEEKR’s targeted valuation of $5.13 billion for the IPO is notably lower than earlier projections. Last fall, the company anticipated a valuation of around $18 billion for its US IPO, highlighting the evolving dynamics of the Chinese EV sector in the American market. Nevertheless, ZEEKR remains optimistic about its prospects, with plans to trade under the ticker symbol “ZK” and ring the opening bell in New York City on May 10, marking a significant milestone in its journey towards global recognition in the EV space.

Also Read: Mastering the Product Development Process: A Comprehensive Guide to Bringing Ideas to Market

[soobrat]

fuck up my life; hjs

milestone celebration masterlist

˗ˏˋ🎧´ˎ˗ pairing; han jisung x afab!reader (+ lee know)

˗ˏˋ🎧´ˎ˗ words; 12.3k

˗ˏˋ🎧´ˎ˗ genre; smut, angst!!!

˗ˏˋ🎧´ˎ˗ warnings; very toxic relationship, two deplorable dirty cheaters, public sex, mutual masturbation, choking, very rough sex, bondage, ball gag, unprotected sex, slut shaming, large cock, dubcon(? just to be safe), slapping, squirting, spanking, biting, casual sex, you're going to hate mc and Jisung they're horrible people and just when you think it can't get worse hooooo boy

↻ ◁ || ▷ : If you can't set aside your morals for a story centered around two cheaters, I don't blame you, but this fic ain't for you lol. This is the first part of the second story! I'm so late to 1.5k that we're close to 2k, so I can't wait to start writing that one. Right now I'll just focus on the other two parts of this :*)

act i ➻ yeah right

Your blue eyeshadow was too flashy. Your cut crease and eyeliner too sharp and intense. Your overlined nude lipstick was downright gaudy. Feeling pleased, you stand from your vanity and inspect your outfit in the full-body mirror to your left. 

The thin silk fabric cinched in slightly at your waist, accentuating your breasts and hips. You’re basically telling men to look at them. Oh, and that slit. You turn to get a better look at it, tsking when you catch a glimpse of the swell of your ass. With how high the slit runs up and how short the dress is to begin with, you might as well just go out in your underwear. You looked like a cheap, tacky whore.

It was perfect.

With one last look in the mirror, you adjust the collar of your dress. With there being no sleeves on your dress or anything covering your shoulders, the thick piece of fabric was the only thing keeping you from flashing the entire club. Long strips of silk cascade down your back after you tie it securely around your neck. 

You flounce past your drunken boyfriend on the couch, the loud click and clack of your D’orsay heels taunting him to take a look. He scrambles to sit up and doesn’t bother turning off the TV. He’s annoyed but not that bothered by you leaving the house in this state.

“What, are you going out to find someone to fuck?” He slurs. You spare him by not even glancing once. You’re sure he doesn’t want to be seen when he’s being a belligerent fool. “Huh? Is that what you’re doing? You look like a prostitute!” He yells more frantically when he realizes he’s not deterring you. You snicker before finally looking back at the poor man. His shirt is more stain than polyester and his blue-striped boxers sit crooked on his hips. His hair is a mess and he can barely keep his eyes open.

“‘Twas the goal, my love.” You smile with a wink before leaving him to drink himself to sleep.

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

You hadn’t been to The Eve in years, since before you were cleansed. You enter and become engulfed by the pulsing music and dancing bodies. Looking around you can’t help but smile. This is where you belong. Across the room is a man who doesn’t share this sentiment. He feels out of place. He glances around nervously at the shameless PDA and lousy dancing. He should be at home with his loving girlfriend. 

Jiwoo is breathtaking. Her expressive eyes and radiant smile keep his lungs in constant lockdown. It’s true that she and Jisung are extremely different. She’s an early bird while he’s a night owl. Her active lifestyle makes Jisung seem sedentary. Also, she doesn’t want to have sex much at all. And when they do have sex, it’s vanilla missionary. At the beginning of their relationship, Jisung was convinced her lifestyle just needed some getting used to. Three years later and he's only gotten less strong-willed. He’s suffocating.

He needs to breathe.

Jisung has been off the market for quite a while now. After moving in with Jiwoo, his priorities shifted. He’s not a kid anymore. It’s time for him to get serious and settle down. So, no, Jisung hasn’t been to a club in a minute. It was all stressing him out, but he was dressed up and he was already here. He should at least get a drink.

One drink becomes two and two become four. Jiwoo would be pissed. He already feels guilty about keeping how he’s feeling a secret, and now he’s drunk and alone. He can already hear her lecturing him. He laughs to himself, forehead thudding on the surface of the bar. 

Everyone around him looks so carefree as they dance and shove their tongues down each other’s throats. How do they do it? Maybe he should get up and try. The dancing part, of course. Maybe he was drunk. Pushing through the sea of bodies was a blur. He was just determined to get somewhere in the middle. The more he’s completely surrounded, the more immersed he feels in the atmosphere. He gets it now, he sways his body to the music.

The people surrounding him brush against him, sometimes even knocking into him. It only helps him levitate higher. With an extended exhale he floats until he’s hovering in the atmosphere. A body brushes against his front, pulling him back down to Earth. His eyes travel down to an ass against his crotch. Electricity crawls up his legs, prickling at his skin. He doesn’t realize his hands are resting on your waist until the fabric of your short dress rides up.

“At least tell me your name before you take my clothes off.” Your voice is sweet, seductive, it makes his head swim. He yanks his hands away and tries to back up only to bump into someone behind him. His body is propelled back into you, and your behind is back against his groin. He groans, hands gripping your upper arms to keep you at a distance. “What’s wrong babe?” His hands slip from your soft skin as you flip around to face him.

The face put to the seductive voice was a near perfect match. There was a look of intrigue behind your alluring gaze as you examined Jisung. He couldn’t help feeling a hint of danger as you looked him over. The way you hold yourself indicates explicitly how confident you are. As your eyes travel back to his face he nearly flinches from the sharpness of your eyes. Did you think he was pathetic? 

Jisung clears his throat and squares his shoulders. Your smirk and snort make him shrivel up again. You lean in with an earnest look on your face.

“You seem like a sweet guy.” You smile before sauntering elsewhere. Jisung looks down, alarmed by his hand reaching out for you. He physically pulls it back with his other hand. His encounter with you sobers him up immediately and he rushes out of the club. What he should be doing is being there for his girlfriend and being upfront with how he feels.

On the way home he chews on his lip, regarding the bulge in his pants nervously. He takes a shower before even thinking of crawling into bed with Jiwoo. He sighs deeply as he joins her under the covers. It’s warm and comforting, despite how his thoughts prod at him. He should wait until the morning instead of waking her. He extends his arm to hold Jiwoo but hesitates. His mouth falls open slightly as he stares at the back of her head.

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

“Jisung. Jisung!” His girlfriend’s annoyed voice jolts him awake. She throws a hand through her messy hair that just falls back around her face. He squints as the sun intrudes his eyesight, it was definitely way too early to be awake. He looks up and smiles groggily.

“Good morning.”

“Don’t good morning me, you made a mess!” She gestures agitatedly at the bed. Jisung pauses before ripping the covers away. The moist feeling against his hip and upper thigh becomes more apparent when he sees his soiled boxers and sheets. He looks up at Jiwoo as she makes a frustrated noise. She pulls the fabric of her nightgown, looking nauseated by the semen coating it. The throb Jisung feels in his groin is downright reprehensible. Whenever they have sex, Jiwoo makes him pull out and cum into his hand. The sight of his semen on her makes him aware that not only did he cum in his sleep, but he’s hard again. 

“Don’t just sit there, clean it up!” Jisung scrambles up from the bed, wrapping the comforter around him when he hears the increasing urgency in her voice. Jiwoo was repulsed by bodily fluids. Saliva, semen, sweat, all of it. She gagged once when he accidentally came in her mouth. The incident made both of them swear off blowjobs. Jisung was completely willing after the look on her face. He felt horrible. Yet here he is, getting turned on while she’s freaking out.

“I’m so, so sorry.” He laments as he rips the sheets off the bed. He watches with remorse as she rushes to the bathroom. His uncomfortable hard-on made him wonder what got him all worked up in the first place. He’s had many dreams where Jiwoo was a nymphomaniac and did unspeakable things to him. Even then, he only woke up with a boner, he never came in his sleep.

Dread fills his body as flashes of his dream enter his mind. That residual heat lingered the entire time he was awake, only now is he realizing where it came from. Images of you with your breasts exposed while bouncing on his cock fill his brain. 

“Such a sweet boy.” You moan lewdly.

Jisung shakes the dream away and clenches his eyes shut. It was because he was drunk. That was all. He loves Jiwoo.

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

You brace yourself as your hand wraps firmly around the doorknob. With a sharp inhale you push the door open and are immediately greeted with your boyfriend still on the couch. He had cleaned up, it was the afternoon after all, and he fixes you with a disappointed scowl. He takes the time to realize that you’re wearing another man’s shirt again.

“What the fuck-”

He rushes over to you and you raise your arms into the air expectantly. He grits his teeth before pulling the souvenir sweatshirt over your torso and head. This time he doesn’t toss it in the garbage, he angrily throws it to the ground. 

“I thought that would piss you off.” You grin, eyes tracking him as he fumes.

“Aren’t you tired?” He asks exasperatedly. A grimace flickers through your smile but you force it back. “Aren’t you?” You quip back, angling your face closer to his. Your heartbeat accelerates when he doesn’t move away.

“You want me to fuck you? Is that why you’re doing all of this?”

You bite your lip, not shying away from his aggression. “So why don’t you fucking ask like a normal person?” He shoves you backward and you hit the door. A moan is pulled from you involuntarily. He growls, unbuckling his belt before shoving his pants down. His hands are rough as he grips you, spinning you around and pushing you into the door. Anticipation rips through you until you’re close to trembling. He makes quick work of hiking your dress up and moving the shamefully thin fabric to the side. 

“This what you want?” He wraps his arm around your chest before shoving his cock inside you. You moan out, still not answering him. He squeezes your jaw hard with his other hand. “Fucking answer me!” His voice is piercing right next to your ear and you jump, pussy clenching around him. You whimper but your resolve stays intact. He grunts as he continues to fuck you in a position that curves your back uncomfortably. 

“You’re not answering because you know you’re a whore.” His voice wavers under the power of his thrusts. “Did you let him cum inside you?”

“You think I’m disgusting don’t you?” You moan. He doesn’t answer, giving you the same treatment you gave him. He instead wraps his hand around your throat and squeezes until your eyes roll back. He doesn’t speak anymore. The living room fills with grunts, heavy breathing, and the sound of his skin impacting yours. 

He shoots his load inside you with jerky thrusts, tightening his hand around your throat until your hearing and sight get cloudy. He lets you breathe before shoving you away. You gasp in air a little too quickly, losing balance from the shove and falling into a coughing fit. Your knees burn from scraping the floor after the impact. As dread starts to spread, you count in your head; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6-

“Stand up.” His voice sounds uncaring but his hands are gentle as he lifts you off the ground. A genuine smile almost creeps through as you clear your throat. “Go to the bathroom and clean yourself up.” You can hear his bite start to wane. 

He took longer than last time but he still did it. He always comes around. 

Despite what he said, he ends up being the one kneeling between your legs while you sit on the toilet. You wince as he wipes between your folds. The cloth is damp and cold. He doesn’t speak the entire time. His jaw is tight and his thick, dark brows are drawn together. “I could do this myself.” You stare down at him before sighing.

“Minho.”

He doesn’t answer.

“Do you remember that shirt I wore in high school?” Minho’s hand hovers in the air as he hesitates. You puff air through your nose as you smirk. “Because I’ll never forget how you scolded me. You were so nerdy with your glasses.” You giggle.

Minho continues wiping away at your mound. “You came stomping up to me and said “those words are inappropriate for school!” and told me to put on the proper uniform.”

Still nothing. Is he doing it because he knows what his silence does to you or because he genuinely doesn’t want to speak to you? The former is better, you can grapple with spite. But you can see his face softening. He’s reflecting on your fond memories, but he still says nothing.

“You never stopped. You’re still that nerd in the glasses trying to get me to behave and probably always will be.”

Minho finally looks at you. He scowls at you and you brace for him to blow up. But he just drops the rag with a gross splat before leaving the bathroom. You shoot up from the toilet.

“Yeah, I knew you wouldn’t like the sound of that.” You chase after him. “You want to give up don’t you?-” He slams the bathroom door in your face and you listen as his heavy shoes thud away.

Your nostrils burn with each inhale. The air is dry, you said that to him when you bought this apartment together. He didn’t listen to you.

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

Jisung was dozing off at work. It was his fault for jizzing in his sheets. He guesses Jiwoo could’ve just cleaned herself up and waited for Jisung to wake up to wash the sheets and scrub the mattress. But she didn’t and there’s no point in thinking about what if’s.

Still, he was probably gonna be here for a while. Probably gonna have to work overtime. He already planned to put his right hand to good use in the bathroom, making sure to stay quiet. Jiwoo would surely ask why he didn’t ask to have sex. She doesn’t know he watches porn or the type he watches. She’d probably faint, thinking the man she’d been with for three years was some debauched pervert.

Turns out he didn’t have to work overtime. He takes the extra hours at his disposal to take a walk through the city. He told himself he was just walking around aimlessly, but his feet were walking a specific route. Taking him to a place he should be swearing off. He can see the neon sign in the corner of his eyes, bright green and screaming at him. Walk past, you should be home by now.

He hesitantly peeks at the sign. If he were to walk in right now, would you be there again? Jisung curses under his breath, shaking the thought from his head. He shouldn’t be thinking such a thing right now. 

She was strange anyway, he thought. Calling him a sweet guy from such a brief exchange. What did she know?

Jisung eventually gives up on his walk, ignoring his brain screaming at him to take a peek inside. When he walks through the door Jiwoo is sitting on the couch, frantically nipping at her nails. She shoots up when she sees him.

“There you are.” She breathes, as if she’d been holding it. She bounds toward him and wraps her arms around his waist, resting her head against his chest before he can even hang his coat up. “I was worried you’d be working overtime tonight.” She chuckles, failing to disguise how nervous she seems. With his features wound tight, he flicks his sleeve away to look at his watch. It’s 9 pm, she should be in her pajamas already and reading a book in bed.

“You waited for me?” He asks, puzzled. Though, he was more fretful than anything. 

“Yeah, I wanted to apologize.” She slowly pulls away, guilt weighing down her cute mousey features. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that.” Her eyes flit up at him before she shuts them with a sigh. “Or woken you up.”

Jisung blinks, realizing she probably saw his dark circles. His fretting got stronger the more she spoke and suddenly he found himself in total panic mode. "Y-you don’t have to worry about that! I’m the asshole. I knew very well you don’t like body fluids.”

“You were asleep, Jisung. How could you have known?” She implores. She was right, it’s not like he forced himself to cum. But that part was only a cover for what he was truly guilty about. If anyone should be apologizing, it should be him. Right as he takes a breath, Jiwoo is sighing and stepping away.

“I’m gonna go get ready for bed now. Oh, and–” Jiwoo spins back around and gives Jisung an emphatic look. “You’re not an asshole, Jisung. You’re sweet. The sweetest guy I’ve met.”

After Jiwoo is closed within the bathroom Jisung feels multiple emotions tugging at his stomach. He should tell her. About everything. How he still isn’t used to their different preferences. His browser history. Going to the club. The dream.

He rushes after Jiwoo, pushing the bathroom door open to see her naked body. She squeaks and covers herself up. “J-Jisung? What…”

When he feels himself start to get hard he immediately shuts the door. He could just relieve himself and try again later. But where? She was in the bathroom. She’d be pissed if he came anywhere else. 

He kneels on his bed with uncertainty before collapsing on his face. He definitely shouldn’t do it here, but he still starts jutting into the mattress. The comforter is wiped clean of her scent so his fantasizing was dulled. But he still humps with fervor, finding something inside him egging him on. He clenches the comforter and lets out a squeezed grunt once the shower comes on. 

Jisung has been a no-good boyfriend. Apparently her friends keep banking on her to be the first to get hitched in her friend group. If only they knew what he was thinking about right now. They’d beg her to break up with him, plead her to stop shopping for rings. Maybe one of them would even speak up about the sneaking suspicions they’ve been harboring this entire time.

“I knew he would do something like that. He looks like the type to have wandering eyes.”

He whimpers, hiking a knee higher to really press his groin against the mattress. “He definitely checks out other women, he probably does it shamelessly too.”

It would be Haseul, he can feel it in the way she looks at him. She knows, she can sense that he’s no good. Jisung unbuttons his jeans to let the tip of his cock peek out from under his underwear. It feels so hot and soft against his stomach that he’s able to ignore his concerns about making Jiwoo upset. He even spits into his hand, a thick glob like he fantasizes about, before smoothing it over his cock head. 

He moves to his knees, gripping his shaft with two hands and fucking into them. With puffs of airy moans, he lets his eyes flutter shut and fantasizes about spraying his cum all over the bed. Oh, Jiwoo would get so upset. She’d call him disgusting and probably kick him out. She’d break up with him because of how bad he is.

He’s so close he can feel the heat swirling in his groin but then the shower shuts off and he hurriedly stuffs himself back in his pants. As he zips and buttons himself back up he can feel that euphoria slipping away, leaving him cold and unsatisfied.

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

You linger outside your door a little longer today. You can hear the tv blaring behind it. Maybe if you come in later than usual you can conjure up some more of his passion. He’s been colder. You’re pushing it.

It was unlike you to be so antsy but the possibility of you getting to him made you open the door. Minho glances up at you, only to look back at the tv like it was nothing.

For the first time in years you felt wary about the shirt you borrowed from your escapades. You stand in the living room, waiting for anything. He could even break up with you and it’d be better than this. Feeling suffocated, you leave to your room. You barely got any sleep at your one night stand’s house. You couldn’t stop thinking about how you’ve entered a new phase. The one where they realize you’re not worth it. That you’re easy with no thrill.

You strip your clothes off and lift your covers, slipping beneath them. You angrily wipe away the tear that slips free as you lay your head on your pillow. This is what you wanted. You were asking for him to stop pretending to care about you. He’s finally done it.

When you wake up it’s dark out. Minho is nowhere to be found. Not in the bedroom, the bathroom, the kitchen, or the spot he’s carved out for himself on the couch. 

You wish you could track him down and force him to face you. What would you do then? You’ve tried pissing him off and pushing him until he has no choice but to blow up at you. What if he doesn’t do that anymore.

Your eyes scan the faces of each mid-height male dancing under the dim lights. They’re desperate to find those pouty lips. That annoyed stare that didn’t change the fact that he resembled a rabbit.

Him being here is past wishful thinking. Him being here means he’s decided to meet you at your level. It took a lot of letting him down to get him to even fuck you the way he does now. The day he becomes a degenerate to understand you is decades ahead, if you two make it that far.

You see a pair of glasses that feel familiar. Thinking of the Minho from when you started dating used to be sweet. But seeing those thick rimmed, square glasses make you sick right now. You clench your fists. Being in this atmosphere this long without a drink feels strange, but it doesn’t stop you from making your way over to the guy with the glasses. You shove at his shoulder, forcing his attention on you. 

Jisung stares at you like a deer in the headlights. He wonders if you somehow know about the naughty dreams he had about you, or that he’s happy to see you for the worst reasons. His thoughts won’t shut up. They indulge in the nasty fantasies while simultaneously telling him he’s a monster because of them. 

Jisung wipes his sweaty palms off on his t-shirt, only then do you recognize him. It’s hard to forget someone who wears a t-shirt to a club. The same person you saw nudging their way onto the dance floor seemingly in a trance. You’re still unclear why someone like him stumbled in here, or why he’s back.

“I-I’m sorry, you probably mistook me for someone else.” Jisung distances himself discreetly with a nervous smile.

“I didn’t.” You flash him the same smile you’re sure scared him off last time. You expected him to chase after you, but when you looked back, he was rushing out of the club. You should stay away from people like him. He’s practically trembling. Your eyes drag slowly up and down his frame. “You’re a sweet boy, you shouldn’t get involved with someone like me.” You say as if he told you he was interested. You’re being insanely presumptuous, but you have your reasons.

“I would never. I have… I have a girlfriend.” Jisung announces proudly. At that moment, the both of you come to an understanding. He got a boner when you guys danced together and now he’s unabashedly staring at your cleavage.

And Jisung? He’s aware of how obvious he’s being. The lust is as pleasing as it is painful. He’s drunk on it, eating up the black, strapless bustier hoisting up your tits and miniskirt tempting him to imagine your panties. His current behavior isn’t very sweet of him, you both think.

And it’s exciting all the same.

The lights bathe both of you in shifting hues as you swirl your hips against his groin. Your hand reaches to rest on the back of his neck, pulling him closer until his breath ghosts on your neck. Time is stuck in slow motion as you both relish in the teasing. It’s exhilarating, sending shockwaves through both your veins. 

Jisung’s breath labors more and more the further he gets into his fantasy. He’s already decided that your panties are red and lacy. The straps are thin and sit high on your hips. You have on a matching strapless bra and the cups cut so low that your nipples accidentally pop out when he yanks your top down. His burlish hands grope harshly at them while he bites your neck.

Your filthy moan makes his eyes snap open. His lips are actually on your neck and his hands have moved up from your hips to your breasts. Thankfully he didn’t expose you to the rest of the club, but that’s the least of his concerns. This is it. He can’t go back now. His erection is pressed firmly against you, riding up your skirt, and his hands are squeezing your tits. Jiwoo would be absolutely devastated. Fuck, fuck, fuck, desperation pleads and claws at him. Crippling shame and guilt wrack throughout his body.

This time a filthy noise leaves his mouth as his hips jerk against you. His cock is throbbing and his head is swirling with need. The fantasy has escalated. You’re gagged and bound, writhing underneath him. He grabs a handful of your pussy. He’s ripped from his fantasy once again once he feels lace on his fingers. Your face turns against his, your mouth grazing his cheek as you buck uncontrollably in his grip. Jisung grunts and presses you hard against him. Hot seed spurts up from his tip, soiling his underwear.

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

Jisung rushes home and slams the door behind him. He rests against it, steadying himself. His heart feels like it’ll give out. He can’t stop replaying what happened. It makes his knees weak and triggers a deep ache in his pants. It feels so fucking good to think about. It feels so incredibly bad to think about. Jisung collapses to his knees with an anguished sob. 

“I’m so sorry.” He sputters out.

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

Your routine was interrupted. You return later that same night to see Minho asleep on the couch. You wonder if he’d feel relieved if he saw you returning home early. 

He shouldn’t.

You’re still thinking about him. You don’t know his name and you’ve never seen anything but an imprint of his dick, but he’s running through your mind. You want fuck him bad. Bad enough that you’re touching yourself in bed. You let out a whine when the memory gets to the part where he runs away. He ran away from you again.

Now you know it’s because of guilt rather than being intimidated. There’s a chance you'll never see him again. It makes you more upset than you care to admit. You know what it feels like when you like someone. You avoid them like the plague and feel like throwing up at the thought of them. They make you imagine a bright future way too early. This is not that, but it’s not like your other one night stands either.

Thinking of him makes you think about the state of you and Minho. You sprawl out in your empty bed after climaxing. The cool parts of the sheets sizzle against your hot skin. You stare blankly out the window, hoping sleep will take pity on you and save you from your thoughts.

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

You sit at the edge of your bed for what feels like hours. Today you wish you could get to The Eve early. You’re disgusted with yourself. You want to plan your outfit and pick out something extra special. What the fuck is wrong with you. The door opening almost breaks you free from being locked in place. 

“Were you here all night?” 

You look up at Minho, who’s taken aback by the fear in your eyes.

“Are you okay? Did something happen?” His concern is strong enough to show on his face, but not to come further into the room. You bite your lip and focus back on nothing. 

“Why are you worried about me?” You ask in disappointment. It’s easy to understand why someone on the outside would think it was disappointment in him. It wasn't. 

He leaves after that. Either he asked himself that question and came to his senses, or–

You sigh, shakily standing from the bed. It doesn’t matter.

Later that night, Minho is gone again. Not there to see you dressed up with more intent than usual.

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

“What have you been up to lately?”

The question was like a metal pipe crashing into Jisung’s skull. He whips his head around to gape at her. The fear in his eyes catches Jiwoo off guard but she laughs it off.

“I’ve been washing more of your favorite t-shirts lately. I thought you only saved those for special occasions?” She wiggles her eyebrows at him. She’s being cheeky, but the bile climbing up Jisung’s throat doesn’t care about that. He should tell her now before it gets worse. She’s such a wonderful woman that she’d probably forgive him. She’s so perfect, she doesn’t deserve to be treated like this.

Jisung’s cock twitches.

“I’m just trying to do more things that make me happy.” The words fly out of him, not a stutter, wobble, or voice crack in sight.

“D’aw,” Jiwoo pouts, touched as she sets down the dish she was drying to come sit next to him. She wraps her arm around his shoulder and pulls him in before placing a chaste kiss on his lips.

“I’m really happy to hear that!” Her smile slowly fades as worry takes over. “You know, I was worried that you seemed really down lately. I was thinking of canceling on the girls next month…”

“No!” A strange authoritative tone crops up. Jisung gives Jiwoo a firm look. “You’ve been excited about this trip for so long! You should absolutely go. The only reason I may have been down lately is because I’ve been feeling a little suffocated. I decided to try new things around town and it’s been helping.” Jisung turns his body toward her, grabbing both her hands. “Don’t you worry about me, okay?” One could say ‘trying new things around town’ wasn’t a complete lie, but it still worries him that he’s lying to his future wife so easily.  

“Okay… but if you need me to cancel-” Jiwoo attempts to rush out, but Jisung hits her with an even firmer look. 

“Go.” He says simply. With that, Jiwoo is back to beaming. She throws her arms around him and gives him a tight squeeze. Over her shoulder, Jisung’s smile fades.

Later that night, Jisung plants his dirty lips on a sleeping Jiwoo’s cheek before leaving.

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

Jisung is anxious as he searches through the club. He doesn’t see you anywhere at the edges of the club. The last place to look is in the middle. Jisung pushes his way through, feeling his body buzz the further in he gets.

In the middle he spots a woman with a low waisted, flowy skirt and bandeau top. When you twirl around, the skirt’s front is revealed to be asymmetrical, almost tattered in appearance with its two high slits. You move closer to him, the hunger in your eyes matching his. You breathe hotly and grab his face. All the pent up passion built up overnight culminates in a sloppy kiss. A kiss that you can barely call a kiss with your tongues laving at each other’s mouths and chins.

Another boundary has been broken. Jisung grunts, grabbing you by the throat and yanking you away from him. The shock in your eyes would give him pause before the kiss. Right now, Jisung’s lust has taken over. You might slap him or tell him off now, and he’ll respect your wishes. But you don’t do anything, other than flashing pleading eyes at him. His nostrils flare as his breathing gets heavier. He leans in and draws your bottom lip back with his teeth. After he releases it he’s leaning by your ear. 

“Open your fucking mouth.” He growls. 

Your mouth lolls open, your eyes begging even more. Jisung spits into your mouth, some of the saliva landing on your chin. You close your mouth, putting on a show of cleaning up your mess with your tongue. Jisung balls the back of your skirt within his fist and pulls you closer. Your tongues are exploring each other’s mouths as Jisung reaches under the front of your skirt. He gasps against your lips when his fingers dip straight into your wet heat. You chuckle before licking a stripe up his cheek. The skirt you’re wearing isn’t short, but the slits in the front are high enough that one bold dance move could show the entire club your cunt. 

Jisung nearly whimpers, steeling himself before plunging two fingers in immediately. You moan loudly, the loud music drowning it out. Jisung keeps you pressed close enough that only someone paying close attention could see you getting your hole fingered. Your head lulls, resting against his chest as you shut your thighs around his hand. Jisung lets go of your skirt to tug at your hair. He yanks your head back. 

“Open them back up. Now.” He spits next to your ear.

You bitch and whine, but you still do it. An intense heat overwhelms his cock. He should fuck you right now. He should tear your skirt off and use the tattered fabric to bind your wrists together while he fucks you right in the middle of all these people. The club goers bump into both of you at all sides. One stumbles backward, propelling you forward and plunging Jisung deeper. Jisung licks his tongue into your open mouth. 

Your tongues tangle together while a droplet of your juices trails down Jisung’s forearm. 

“I’m gonna cum! Choke me!” You plead pathetically. Jisung doesn’t hesitate to oblige, squeezing until your eyes roll back. Jisung finds himself mimicking your pained expression as your cunt spasms around his fingers. He grinds pitifully into nothing, reverting back to his fantasy. Your bandeau is made into a makeshift gag as he fucks you so hard your tits spasm in different directions. Your entire body jiggles from the force. 

The feeling of your hand cupped around his bulge lights up his synapses. He groans, it’s guttural as sperm shoots into his underwear for the second night in a row.

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

Jisung watches Jiwoo carefully, who just thanked him for doing laundry more often. Things are better than before, the two of them are more affectionate. She even has sex with him a little more. He doesn’t cum, which she was initially concerned about. He reminded her that this was ideal in their situation, and she felt better instantly.

Jisung realized long ago that missionary did nothing for him. He started to fantasize about you during it, but decided that was somehow crossing the line. Not the countless times now you’ve made him cum in his pants. Not the fact that you and Jisung have your hands down each other’s pants every night now. Not the fact that he now knows a list of what turns you on and has it memorized.

Jiwoo leaves tomorrow.

That fact replays in his mind as he watches Jiwoo maneuver around the kitchen. She catches him staring and smiles. He smiles back. 

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

You chuck the bag over the high rim of the dumpster. You feel lighter, and it’s not just because you’re no longer lugging a heavy trash bag of large t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies. 

When you walk back in the house Minho is familiarly pushing you back against the door. His eyes are wild, and you can’t recall a time he’s looked this crazed.

“What do you think you’re doing?” He grits before grinding his jaw. He’s fuming. That in itself scares you a bit, but it’s also that he’s been getting more and more antsy for the past month. 

“I-I don’t…”

“Bullshit.” He spits, making you flinch. He releases his tight grip on your shoulders, sharp eyes still trained on you. “You’re fucking disgusting.” His voice cracks a little. 

You’re not scared he’ll do something to you. Well, not anything abusive anyway. You’re scared because he knows you’re up to no good. You don’t know if he’s narrowed it down exactly, but you know he’s onto you. 

Seeing Jisung is the highlight of your day. Your body ignites in goosebumps as soon as you see him. Something about him, the horrible thing he’s doing, makes you feel even better about yourself than all the years Minho dedicated to fixing you. 

“Fuck you.” He spits before retreating into the bedroom. He’s been spending so much time in there that you took his place on the couch. You sleep there in your day clothes, crying yourself to sleep. 

When you see Jisung that night, you’re more exhausted than usual. He pulls your hair like he usually does, smashing his lips against yours. You don’t love it as much as you usually do. You just want to climb into bed with Minho and hold him. A part of you knows he even wants you to. But you can’t. You don’t deserve it. So you cry as you kiss someone else’s boyfriend.

He laps up the tears and you’re slowly soothed. You’re not sure to what extent, but you’ve come to understand that Jisung is a monster. He frequently brings up how wrong it is that he’s treating his girlfriend like this. His cock throbs when he talks about how he knows she’s planning to propose. He cums after imagining her face if she saw the two of you. 

“So, do you want to come over tomorrow?” He asks with a twinkle in his eye. You were both stood outside of the club. The same day he described in detail his fantasy of his girlfriend forgetting something and coming back only to see her boyfriend balls deep in you, he revealed that she actually is going away. And now he’s making another part of that fantasy a reality. You take a long drag of your cigarette, mascara smudged all around your eyes. You blow, realizing you’re not the least bit repulsed. You feel good.

“Yeah.”

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

You linger outside of the bedroom door, hand repeatedly reaching for the knob but deciding against it. Your eyes flutter shut, remembering how warm his embrace used to be. 

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

When Jisung opens the door, something feels off. Maybe it’s the lack of loud music and dancing bodies bumping into the both of you, but the hunger isn’t there yet. 

You shuffle inside, annoyed when he whistles and rocks on his feet. 

“D’you want something to drink?” He says, not meeting your eyes. 

“No. Is that the bedroom?”

“Yeah…” He hesitates before he answers and swallows hard after. “Yeah, let’s uh… let’s head inside.” Jisung offers to hang your purse up on the hook by the door, right next to a wooden bat. You do it yourself.

The bedroom is pleasantly designed, it’s clean and organized, and there’s a picture of Jisung and his girlfriend on the nightstand. A part of you was scared he was lying about it, this cements it. He hurries over to lay it down after seeing you stare at it. 

“So um, I have a few things in mind, but we could of course do whatever you want to do.”

So far this is a complete let down. You’ve confirmed that he’s an actual monster, but now you’re not so sure about his dominance. Was it just a fluke while you were at the club? You didn’t come here to be asked how you want be fucked. You sigh, considering going home and crying yourself to sleep again. While looking at the floor you see two feet plant themselves in front of you. 

When you look up at Jisung, you don’t intend for your eyes to be as glassy and pitiful as they are. It’s Jisung’s turn to sigh. 

“You’re just hopeless, aren’t you?” Jisung runs his knuckles down your cheek. The gesture confuses you, but then you notice his eyes. Before you can get excited, his hand is wrapped around your throat. Your eyes flutter shut. “Gonna make me do all the work? Hm? Can’t even fucking talk?”

You’re too busy relishing in the wave of relief crashing over you to realize you’re being disobedient. A slap across your face brings you back to reality. 

“Fucking. Speak.” He demands lowly. 

“N-no, I won’t make you do all the work–”

“Then get your ass on the bed. Hike it in the air.” 

You rush over, kneeling on the bed and pulling your dress off. Jisung comes over and yanks it the rest of the way, impatiently. He grabs your head and shoves it into the mattress before grabbing the rope from the nightstand. He told Jiwoo he wanted to learn sailor knots when she found it. He wasn’t completely lying, which is why he was able to demonstrate some for her.

Even a simple one was enough to convince her, that same knot is enough to restrain you and fulfill one of his biggest fantasies. Jisung unbuckles his belt not only to relieve some of the building pressure, but also to bend it in half. He raises the belt before swinging it down. The leather laps painfully against your ass. Your body jolts and you gasp. The sting doesn’t go away before the next lash. Another and another, Jisung is completely relentless. He stops only to haphazardly free his bottom half. 

You feel the bed dip again behind you, whimpering like a puppy. Then you feel his hard cock against your ass. You chant pleas under your breath, cunt clenching desperately to feel him inside.

“Don’t know how to shut up, huh? That’s okay,” Jisung leans over, grabbing the ball gag from on top of his nightstand. One of the many things he picked up this morning in preparation. He fastens it securely around your head, pulling the ball further into your mouth until you can’t coherently beg anymore. 

“If I were you I would stop that begging. It’ll only take longer for me to fuck you, okay?” Jisung’s voice was laced with sympathy undercut by a sinister undertone. You nod against the bed, trying to quiet your whimpering. 

You yelp as the belt lashes against you again. 

“What the fuck did I say?” He warns in a growl. You panic, silencing yourself immediately.

Swing after swing after swing after swing. Jisung punishes your ass until it’s red hot and tears have thoroughly soaked your cheeks. You gargle softly against the gag. 

“Good girl. Good fucking girl.”

You pant excitedly as he grabs your hips and pulls you closer. 

“If I do this for you, give you what you want, you have to keep it up. No noises while I fuck you open.”

You nod frantically, trembling from the sheer anticipation. His tip prods against your entrance. You knew he’d be the biggest you ever had from the times you jerked him off, but feeling him attempt to push into your hole made your eyes blow wide. You panic again, worried you’re not going to stay quiet. 

Then he shoves his way in. Luckily the force makes you choke on your scream. Your legs shake, fists balling tight. You’re pleased when you hear Jisung’s euphoric moan. He stays submerged inside you, but he’s moaning uncontrollably. 

“F-fuck, I can see your asshole fluttering, baby girl.” Jisung sounds like he might cry. He slaps your ass, this time with his own hand, testing your silence. With that, he starts moving. The pace is already brutal. His rhythmic, chesty moans show just how much this is getting to him. Does his girlfriend fuck him at all? Whatever. She doesn’t deserve this anyway. This is all for you. 

Your feet jerk up from the bed with each punishing thrust. It’s like he can’t help himself, he has to go balls deep every time. Each thrust with your cunt stroking him pulls a different string of moans. You’ve never heard him so vocal, and it’s never been so hard to shut up. He’s milking your pussy so good it’s making you cry. Silent sobs squeeze from your body as his body drapes over yours. He grabs your throat, making it even worse. Your sobs become audible, but he doesn’t even care. You’re both too far gone to care about how loud you’re both being.

His bottom lip drags from your shoulder up to the apex of your neck. He’s croaking out moans right next to your ear and you know he’s gone. You tug at your restraints, wishing you could touch and claw him right now. 

His seed is hot as it spurts into you. The sensation sends your body down, flat to the bed. His hips follow, continuing to buck into you as your orgasm rockets through you. You essence squelches around him until it forces him out, continuing to spray and soil the both of you.

The two of you lie there with loud, hoarse pants for what feels like hours. You expect to turn and see the sun rising. It doesn’t matter because it’s sunny inside your body. The minute Jisung unties you, you’re reaching to hold him close. Your hands travel down his back and over his shoulders like you’d been craving. Somehow the come down is still so euphoric. You both buzz long after you’ve cum.

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

It was two years ago that Minho put a code on his phone. He doesn’t use it for anything but checking emails and making calls, so he didn’t worry about most of the traditional phone activities. You never understood why putting a code on his phone was included in that, and you warned him multiple times that he would get his phone stolen. You knew that a code wouldn’t keep someone from getting in if they really wanted to, but you weren’t saying it to help him out. Besides, he’d just shrug anyway. 

So you went through his phone. 

You guys had a fight, back when they used to be coherent, and then he put a lock on his phone. All that to say, you couldn’t have prepared for Minho’s spotty appearances lately if you wanted to. You were serious about tracking him. The unknown was sure to kill you. Death was the only thing that could come from pain like this. You didn’t actually do it this time, did you?

Was he at someone’s house? Someone who’s been begging him to ditch you and enter a healthier relationship? Who could it be? He doesn’t go to church, his family either lives far away or are constantly going on trips, his friends have essentially rage quit their friendship… who else does that leave?

You wish that meant there was no other way he could’ve connected with someone, but it’s not true. He’s handsome and a great guy. There’s no way no one has approached him in all these years.

Your vision has long blurred, the show on the television becoming blobs of color. You haven’t showered since you’ve been with Jisung. You feel gross but have no desire to move. Whenever you hurt him, it’s intentional. Sometimes you even spend the night alone at a hotel and buy a shirt from the men’s section the next morning, pulling it onto your frame right before you get to the door. Right now, it’s completely subconscious. You’re going to Jisung’s in an hour and it’s the only thing that makes you feel like anything other than death. The warm feeling you get at the idea of being with Jisung doesn’t come from wanting a reaction out of Minho. That brings a dark, gnarling fear out of the depths of your soul.

You don’t like Jisung. You love Minho. That much is apparent when you see Jisung. He doesn’t give you butterflies. You just feel comfort in the way he can still fuck you with traces of his girlfriend everywhere.

Jisung freezes mid-greeting to look at your old clothes. You’re definitely different from your encounters at the club. He noticed you go from dominant and intimidating to submissive very gradually. It hit its peak when you had your arms crossed in his bedroom yesterday, refusing to initiate anything. He chuckles at you which earns him a scowl. He tugs you inside and kicks the door closed, leading you all the way to the shower. He’s back to taking complete control, pulling your dirty clothes off one by one. 

He steps behind you once his clothes are off, smoothing his hands over your now moistened skin. The hot water aids in raising the temperature between the two of you. Jisung finally feels you relax against him. He moves his hand down between your legs. He parts your thighs, letting the water trickle over your mound. His cock gets hard fast when he’s with you. You feel his shaft rest rigidly in between your cheeks as he lathers soap all over your body.

To your disappointment, he doesn’t fuck you in the shower. He simply rubs your body everywhere but where you need him. He steps out the minute all the suds have been rinsed off your skin. He tepidly dries himself off, tossing the towel over his shoulder. You watch him clean his glasses before putting them back on, only for them to fog right back up. He looks over at you questioningly. 

For a moment, with his eyes obscured, you can transplant the image of a younger Minho onto him. Your mind starts to wander to an alternate reality where Minho knew you were a lost cause right off the bat. How different would your dynamic be? Would there be one at all?

“You should’ve been on the bed by now. Hurry up and dry off.” Jisung’s voice and expression ooze with disappointment that makes your core hum. You dumbly turn off the water while keeping your eyes trained on his naked figure. This is your first time seeing him completely bare. You almost saw it yesterday, as he took a shower right after you chickened out of staying any longer.

When you climb onto the bed you hike your ass in the air again. His hand thundering down on your ass makes you jolt. “Not today.” He grunts as he lies down on his back. He rests his hands behind his head. 

“You were a fucking brat yesterday. Immediately putting me to work and then not staying quiet. Did you think I missed that at the end?” Jisung raises his eyebrows, scolding you both with his words and his eyes. You wish you could put the Jisung you first met and this one side by side. He is totally relaxed while easily maintaining control.

“Straddle me, and hold your arms together behind your back. You’re putting in work today.”

You bit your lip to stifle the whine threatening to get you punished. This is a pillow princess’ worst nightmare. Your eyes unwittingly move to his cock which is so hard gravity is failing to lay it flat on his stomach. Your fleeting thought to disobey just to get more effort and attention from him disappears. 

So you clasp both your wrists and slip onto his cock. You didn’t realize how wet you were until his head slid past your entrance. His cock feels so hot and so does his skin when your calves graze his thighs. It’s electrifying yet inviting. You get the urge to lean against his chest but he’d probably pull out, and that would annoy you enough to make you cry. 

And so you bounce, letting him see the front of you fully nude in all its glory. How your tits bounce and hips swing. He grabs your hips but not to guide you, to dig his fingers into flesh. 

This, you figure, is one of his favorite positions. You figure because it’s the first time he’s cum twice for you. That, and it’s the only position he repeated. For the next two weeks, he has bounced you on his cock while standing up with your legs tightly secured around him, had you flat on your back with your legs in the air on his dining room table, had you halfway off the couch while straddling him again, and so on. He always shows you a picture or a video once you get to the area of his choice. His calm dominance melts away just for a moment as he excitedly presents it to you. Him baring his deep passion to fuck you strangely doesn’t push you away. You find yourself squeezing your thighs, wide eyes matching his as he shows you the position.

The two of you have gone from barely speaking outside of sex to making out as soon as he opens the door. You both giggle like schoolkids in anticipation. You both joke through a blur of lips and teeth.

But that excitement and glee fades as soon as you’re back in your dreary apartment. The escalation of childlike joy when you’re at Jisung’s directly translates to escalated sorrow when you’re back at yours. 

You only catch glimpses of the back of Minho these days, either retreating to the bedroom or out of the apartment. You have the urge to sleep over Jisung’s for the rest of the time Jiwoo is gone. That somehow feels like crossing a line that’s comically insignificant at this point. You know Jisung would understand what you mean. That night you took a shower at his place, he washed your clothes for you.

“You could stay until they’re done.” Jisung suggests after some tense silence.

“No, I should go.” You shoot it down immediately. The option has always been unspoken but ever present. To stay a little longer, watch a movie, drink some water, maybe actually cuddle. Not like what you did the first night, where you ran out of there as soon as you realized you were caressing someone else.

“In what clothes?” Jisung chuckles. You glare at him again. You hate when he does that. Well, you did, until you realized you’re both horrible enough to have fun while being unfaithful. 

“Can’t I just borrow some of hers? I’ll wash those and-”

“No.”

Just then, the Jisung from the first time you met him was back. He wouldn’t meet your eyes, but you could see the raging conflict behind them. So you left with some of his clothes instead.

You told him you were in a relationship, but not much else about it. Since then there was a mutual understanding of each other. It made your tension trickle away wrapped in his arms. You were able to at least disassociate so the depth of the pain became less apparent.

Then Jiwoo would call.

Jisung was sickeningly sweet over the phone. You laughed to yourself while listening to his overexaggerated joy when speaking with her. The humor rotted away when catching glimpses of her voice. She's elated to speak with her boyfriend. She can't sleep without him. There's no way they're not getting married soon.

In the corner of his bedroom the space grows vast, Jisung suddenly on the other side of a treacherous fissure.

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

You enter the apartment as soon as Minho leaves his room. He stares at you, clearly shocked. He probably expected to be gone before you came home, so you wouldn’t see him dressed up with his hair styled and your favorite cologne on. It’s been a long two weeks, so the stinging in your eyes turns into tears fast. He pushes past you and leaves the apartment, leaving you to collapse to the ground. The pain is immediate because the denial has shriveled up. You’re being forced to accept that it’s happening. Anger swiftly takes hold as you’re reminded of one hard to swallow truth. 

You stand up and grab the lamp beside the entrance. You shove it to the ground, the delicate glass covering shattering before the bulb does the same. You send the potted plant into the tv, throw a stack of plates onto the floor. Once your energy is spent, the fact is still there.

You have no right to be upset.

You throw a tantrum and break things because you made your own bed, but you have no right to do that either.

You deserve this.

You deserve him bringing a new girl home and fucking her loudly in the bed you used to share. You deserve him coming home every day and telling you what a worthless piece of shit you are. You deserve him introducing you to the girlfriend he’s been hiding from you and shoving his tongue down her throat right in front of you.

You deserve him giving up on you and admitting you were never fixable to begin with.

Your stomach caves from the sheer force of your sobs. Your body contorts, tangling within your bed sheets and kicking the cover off. You force yourself to imagine all these things he deserves to do to you even though it feels like it’s setting you on fire. You cry and cry until your body feels hollow and you stare numbly at the wall.

The sun rises.

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

Your ears pick up each sound but it’s muffled. The sound of the door opening. The sound of his boots crunching against glass. The sound of him crying. The sound of him leaving. 

The sun sets. It’s time to see Jisung. 

Your body wobbles as you sit up. Your body feels like a ton of bricks. You rush to the bathroom, finally emptying your bladder. You’re going to his house with the same clothes from the day prior again.

He opens the door, chuckling just like the last time you did this. “No work today?”

You’re not in a laughing mood, though. You thought things would be like they had been. You’d be depressed while you were home and cheerful at Jisung’s place. But no, the tears break free and stream down your face. Jisung pulls you into the house, asks if you’re okay. He shouldn’t. People like you don’t deserve sympathy. You grit your teeth, grabbing his jaw and pulling him forward. He stiffly places his hands on your waist, hesitantly accepting the kiss.

You cup his cock, making him moan and grant your tongue entrance to his mouth. You push him toward the couch until he flops down onto it, looking at you in bewilderment. 

“Can you tell me what’s wrong?” He asks just before you devour him again. You guide his hands to your breasts, whimpering when he pinches your nipples. 

“Fuck me.” You plead, voice weak and eyes glassy. Your eyes don’t plead him like they usually do. You’re deeply hurt, your lip trembling and shattering his heart. 

“Babe c’mon, let’s stop–” Jisung reaches up to caress your face, laughing awkwardly.

“Don’t call me that.” Your tone is venomous as you swat his hands away. Jisung is taken aback. Not because of your tone, but because he hadn’t realized he called you that.

Exasperated, you huff and reach for his dick. Once it’s free, you’re awkwardly shimmying off Jisung’s basketball shorts. Jisung is finding it difficult to find the words he’s looking for. It’s too late anyway, you’re sinking down onto his cock. Sex with you is like a defibrillator. It jolts life back into him, no matter how much the guilt is getting to him. It lets him set aside his worries for now to just focus on how wet and tight you are around him. The constant access to you is dizzying. Just when he’s coming down from his high, you’re back with another dose.

Without Jisung’s strict rules or constant orders you’re able to think. It’s horrible.

“Fucking choke me– ngh! Yell at me!” You grit out.

With this Jisung is back to reality with you. He stammers, your eyes and your words conflict each other.  He considers it, playing along while his heart’s not in it. The sex is going to be subpar today clearly, so it doesn’t matter what he does next.

“Jiwoo called me earlier today.”

You’re chugging along, hoping this transitions to him hissing demands at you. 

“Well, she calls me every day. I used to think it was because she was worried about me. I thought that was the same reason she hugged me so long before she left,” Jisung’s voice is conversational despite the strain your cunt squeezing him is giving it. His eyes are fussing with a conflict again. You stop, in exasperated shock that he’s opening up about this right now.

“She even gave me this look before she went out the door. So I kept telling her every time she called that I was okay and that she should have fun. That she didn’t have to call me every day. But today…” Jisung feels his heart clench as he recalls her words.

“Things are going really great recently, aren’t they?” She laughed, it sounded so sweet. Jisung could hear the commotion of activities more fun than being on the phone in the background. “Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that I think about you so much that it's hard to have fun while I’m here. I miss you so, so much… and I realize now that I don’t like being without you.” She laughed again, but this time Jisung could tell she was crying. “I kinda wanna come home?” 

She was asking him.

“W-what did you say?” You swallow hard, trying to hide the horror in your eyes. Would he really tell her to come home? Is she about to walk through the door and fulfill his fantasy? Your stomach drops as you glance over your shoulder.

“I said no.” Jisung says quietly. You turn back to see his bitter smile. “I stayed on the phone with her for hours to soothe her and convince her to stay.” Jisung huffs, attempting to blink away his tears and failing. His head droops, hiding from you. He hiccups, “She was so happy with me after I did that. She-”

You cradle his face, slowly lifting it to face you. Jisung looks upset at this, shoulders bouncing as he begins to cry harder. You try to wipe away his tears with your thumbs, shaking your head when they quickly get replaced.

“It’s better this way.” You say weakly. 

“What?” The frustration leaks through Jisung’s anguish. He tries to shake away your hands but you grab him more securely and force him to look in your eyes.

“You don’t want her to know how awful you truly are.” 

Seeing the pain intensify in your eyes, Jisung stills. Knowing he understands now, your hands drop from his face. Suddenly, you feel more alone than you have in weeks. You start to get up but Jisung’s hands caress your face now. A tear hangs on your eyelash as you gaze wearily at him. You wish he’d just let you go. At least rotting in your bed, you’d be faced with one facet of pain. Staying here with him is like watching the last bit of color drain from the world.

He's not sure exactly what happens when you walk out that door. What he does know is you come back weaker than before. He sees the dread in your eyes at going back.

“Stay here.”

“No–”

“Stay.”

You stare at him, wondering if he’s just saying this because you’re the only one he can engage in this kink with. Then he kisses you. He inhales deeply as he threads his fingers through your hair. He captures your lips, detaches to breathe and captures them again. The lack of tongue or teeth feels foreign. You can’t remember the last time Minho kissed you like this. It’s only been drunk and sloppy, rough out of anger, or awkward in pursuit of keeping your trash-fire relationship a secret. 

The only thing close to Jisung’s trembling lips against yours was when Minho first found out you fucked someone else. He pleaded with you to tell him it didn’t mean anything, to tell him that you still loved him. His lips then were frantic, refusing to let you slip away with his hands caging you in. If only you did slip away back then. His life would be better now.

But Jisung is steady. The underlying shame and regret don’t dull the passion flowing from his lips. His hands feel like they're caging you. Begging you to just stay.

Another boundary has been crossed. The final one. There was no redemption to be desperately dug up to salvage your souls as you kiss each other like the world might tip off its axis if you stop. The two of you only break apart to moan as you ride him. Your hips grind against his lap, his dick as far in as it can go. You moan into each other’s mouth as Jisung’s climax brings you closer to yours.

And yours comes and goes. Your freshly showered bodies lay as close as you can get in his bed, arms wrapped tightly around each other.

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

You jolt awake multiple times during the night, jolting Jisung awake with you. He just soothes you back to sleep, not asking about your nightmares detailing each scenario you forced yourself to imagine two nights ago.

Jisung leaves early in the morning, whispering to you to lock the door if you leave.

“You can stay, though.”

To your horror, Jisung kisses your cheek. Him falling for you hadn’t crossed your mind. He had always been so sex focused that romance seemed like a distant afterthought. He could have rubbed circles into your back each time you awoke because he was being nice. Your rationalizing is cut short as an even more horrifying thought rears its ugly head.

You wished he had kissed you on the lips.

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

Judging by the mess you left behind, Minho must think you’re on a rage fueled bender right now. He never did check if you were in the room that morning, so maybe he thinks you trashed the apartment, left, and never came back. You know for a fact he’s worried. Very little could stop Minho from worrying about your safety. That’s why even someone like you never played that card to get his attention, and why you’re worried sick. You pace around Jisung’s apartment. Your phone is still at the apartment, shattered from your temper tantrum. He would probably report the incident to the police before he contacted you, but the sight of your phone broken on the floor with you nowhere to be found doesn’t encourage confidence.

The thing is, you can’t go back and face him. Walking in, completely unharmed and freshly showered, with some other man’s clothes on and guilt evident on your face would just cement it for him. All you would do at that point is apologize, and what’s left of his soul would shatter right in front of you. You clamp your hand over your mouth, unable to bear the image of Minho realizing there’s actually someone else. You’re horrible to him, but the only thing he could be sure of is that you only love him. You imagine it’s the only thing keeping him around.

Minho putting together that all these years of pain and suffering and praying you’ll change has culminated in someone else getting the appreciation he deserves could change him forever.

So you lower your hand from the door knob.

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

That night with Jisung was different. You were both so overwrought with guilt that you spent the evening taking turns soothing each other. When you finally had sex, it was more tender than it ever should be. He was hovering over you, looking straight into your eyes and he smoothed his hand over your hair. He peppered soft kisses all over your face. You loved every second of it. You showered together again and cuddled in bed. 

“Minho? Is that his name?” The sound of his name makes you flinch. You move away from Jisung who looks at you in confusion. 

“Don’t say his name!” You shout, stumbling out of bed. He blinks at you as you start to gather your clothes. He follows after you, stammering an apology. 

“Y-you said his name in your sleep yesterday. I’m sorry– I–”

“Just stop!” You’re more panicked than angry, which comes through in your voice. Your voice is loud, so it could be heard through the door. Pounding against the door makes you gasp, you stumble backwards. Jisung catches you, pulling you close.

“Who’s there!” Jisung shouts.

“Open the door!” Minho shrieks, his throat sounds like it’s tearing from the sheer force. Jisung grabs the bat, readying it before swinging the door open. Before he can even threaten him, Minho is pushing past him, eyes frantic as they search for you. When he finds you, you see it. You’re clean, unharmed, wearing nothing but Jisung’s shirt as you hug your body. 

He’s putting the pieces together.

Your mouth feels dry, your tongue feels like it’s swelling. The way Minho’s shoulders slouch makes your chest ache. He shakes his head at you in disbelief. 

“Your purse.” He gestures weakly at the bag sitting on the couch from when you entertained the idea of going home. “The tag is connected to my phone because I knew you’d do this.” Despite being so quiet, his words slash you open. 

“Minho…” Your trembling hands cover your mouth. This is it. This is it.

“Minho I didn’t mean to scare you I swear–”

“You can have the apartment.” The words fight their way from Minho’s mouth, but he’s not able to look at you. 

“Minho?” You try pitifully. Minho just drops his head, lingering for just one more moment before leaving. Jisung is quick to hold you, caress the back of your neck as if to cushion the incoming sobs. But they don’t come. 

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

“For some ungodly reason, he’s going to keep paying your lease.” You gape at the woman. She doesn’t introduce herself, but you know it’s her. The one he wore your favorite cologne for. 

“He told me not to but fuck it– don’t contact him.” She shoves a finger into your face. “Don’t go looking for him, don’t make this any worse than you already have for the past twelve years.” She pauses, waiting for your reaction, seemingly expecting you to explode on her. You nod, finally closing your mouth that had been hung open this entire time. 

“Okay.”

She looks confused before she shakes her head and walks off of Jisung’s porch. 

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

Jisung comes home with Chinese takeout. 

“I’m going to set it on the table.” He says breathlessly as he takes off his coat and hangs it on the coat hanger that his girlfriend undoubtedly picked out. She’ll be back in five days. He’ll erase any signs of you and go back to normal. 

“Are you hungry?” He asks.

“What the fuck are we doing?” You say before you can stop yourself. It’s quiet for a moment, and you refuse to turn around and see his face. 

“What?”

“Why would I sit at that table and eat with you?” You stand up, finally turning around once the emotions stirring inside you are potent enough. You interrupt him before he can answer.

“Your loving girlfriend is going to come home soon.”

“That doesn’t change anything. I mean, we can still meet at your place–”

“She’s going to propose to you, Jisung.” He freezes for a moment, but you can tell by his face that he still doesn’t get it. 

“Do you seriously think she’ll never be suspicious? That she won’t wake up one night and realize you’re not there? Then she’ll pretend she’s asleep and hear you walk out. Then she’ll be more aware of the clues. You smell like perfume that’s not hers, there was a small amount of lipstick smudged on your collar, you’re sexually satisfied all of a sudden,”

Jisung swallows, “Then we’ll be careful.”

“Are you seriously willing to risk your relationship?” You ask, a nasty hint of amusement in the way you raise one brow at him. He closes his mouth.

You laugh loudly, the laughter spiraling out of control before you finally catch your breath.

“I fucking knew it.” Your expression sours, settling into a bitter one as you yank your purse off the hook.

“Don’t leave…”

“I don’t give a fuck about you. Don’t waste your time on someone who wouldn’t care if you died. Focus on your fucking fiancée.” You look back slightly before slamming the door behind you. 

Jisung wasn’t sure why he felt a bit panicked. His heartbeat accelerated as he stabilized himself against the counter. The slam of the door echoed in his head over and over until Jiwoo was kneeling in front of him, surrounded by all their friends and family. Everyone swooned, there were tears in Jiwoo’s eyes and all her friends' eyes. 

“Han Jisung, will you marry me?”

Jisung looked around frantically, feeling like the world was spinning. Only then did he realize why he was immediately panicked by you leaving. It was solidified by the fact that he couldn’t get in contact with you. He never did get your address, and you either never got another phone or changed your number.

Jisung’s breaths felt like they couldn’t break free. 

He was suffocating.

“Yes.”

-> end of act i

skz masterlist

milestone celebration masterlist

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from RMI:

1. Batteries Become Everybody’s Best Friend

Battery prices continue to drop and their capacity continues to rise. The cost of electric vehicle (EV) batteries are now about 60 percent what they were just five years ago. And around the world, batteries have become key components in solar-plus-storage microgrids, giving people access to reliable power and saving the day for communities this past hurricane season.

2. Americans Get Cheaper (and Cleaner) Energy

State public utility commissions and rural electric co-operatives around the country are taking steps to deliver better service for their customers that also lowers their rates. At the same time, real momentum is building to prevent vertically integrated utilities from preferencing their coal assets when there are cleaner and cheaper alternatives available.

3. A Sustainable Shipping Future Gets Closer

More than 50 leaders across the marine shipping value chain — from e-fuel producers to vessel and cargo owners, to ports and equipment manufacturers — signed a Call to Action at the UN climate change conference (COP29) to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission fuels. The joint statement calls for faster and bolder action to increase the use of zero and near-zero emissions fuel, investment in zero-emissions vessels, and global development of green hydrogen infrastructure, leaving no country behind.

4. Corporations Fly Cleaner

In April, 20 corporations, including Netflix, JPMorgan Chase, Autodesk, and more, committed to purchase about 50 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), avoiding 500,000 tons of CO2 emissions — equivalent to the emissions of 3,000 fully loaded passenger flights from New York City to London. SAF is made with renewable or waste feedstocks and can be used in today’s aircraft without investments to upgrade existing fleets and infrastructure.

5. More and More Places Go From Coal to Clean

Around the world, coal-fired power plants are closing down as communities switch to clean energy. From Chile to the Philippines to Minnesota coal-to-clean projects are creating new jobs, improving local economic development, and generating clean electricity. In September, Britain became the first G7 nation to stop generating electricity from coal — it’s turning its last coal-fired power plant into a low-carbon energy hub. And in Indonesia, the president vowed to retire all coal plants within 15 years and install 75 gigawatts of renewable energy.

6. Methane Becomes More Visible, and Easier to Mitigate

Methane — a super-potent greenhouse gas — got much easier to track thanks to the launch of new methane tracking satellites over the past year. In March, the Environmental Defense Fund launched MethaneSAT, the first for a non-governmental organization, and the Carbon Mapper Coalition soon followed with the launch of Tanager-1. By scanning the planet many times each day and identifying major methane leaks from orbit, these new satellites will put pressure on big emitters to clean up.

7. EVs Speed By Historic Milestones

This past year was the first time any country had more fully electric cars than gas-powered cars on the roads. It’s no surprise that this happened in Norway where electric cars now make up more than 90 percent of new vehicle sales. And in October, the United States hit a milestone, with over 200,000 electric vehicle charging ports installed nationwide.

8. Consumers Continue to Shift to Energy-Efficient Heat Pumps for Heating and Cooling

Heat pumps have outsold gas furnaces consistently since 2021. And while shipments of heating and cooling equipment fell worldwide in 2023, likely due to broad economic headwinds, heat pumps held on to their market share through. And over the past 12 months, heat pumps outsold conventional furnaces by 27 percent. Shipments are expected to continue increasing as states roll out home efficiency and appliance rebate programs already funded by the Inflation Reduction Act – worth up to $10,000 per household in new incentives for heat pump installations. Link: Tracking the Heat Pump & Water Heater Market in the United States – RMI

9. China Reaches Its Renewable Energy Goal, Six Years Early

China added so much renewable energy capacity this year, that by July it had surpassed its goal of having 1,200 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy installed by 2030. Through September 2024, China installed some 161 GW of new solar capacity and 39 GW of new wind power, according to China’s National Energy Administration (NEA). China is deploying more solar, wind, and EVs than any other country, including the United States, which is — by comparison — projected to deploy a record 50 GW of solar modules by the end of 2024.

10. De-carbonizing Heavy Industry

For steel, cement, chemicals and other heavy industries, low-carbon technologies and climate-friendly solutions are not only increasingly available but growing more affordable. To speed this process, Third Derivative, RMI’s climate tech accelerator, launched the Industrial Innovation Cohorts to accelerate the decarbonization of steel, cement, and chemicals. Also on the rise: clean hydrogen hubs — powered by renewable energy — designed to supply green hydrogen to chemical, steel, and other heavy industries to help them shift to low-carbon production processes.

[readychilledwine]

The First Noel

Summary - Rhysand knew he could never live up to the standards the Winter Court had for Solstice. But it's the thought that counts, right?

Warnings - Pure. Fluff.

You can take a peek at Broken here

Happy almost Christmas, my loves ❤️

The first problem with courting someone from the Winter Court, Rhysand slowly realized as he walked around the market currently being decorated and set up for Solstice, was he would never live up to the standards she must have had for their most sacred day. The second problem? If this was what the High Lord of Winter set up for his fae, higher or lesser, Rhysand could hardly begin to imagine what he did for his beloved children, Kallias and Aelia.

The latter of whom was holding his hand, taking him to her favorite hot chocolate and cider vendor. Azriel and Cassian were not far behind them, both already holding a bag of chocolates and treats they excitedly took in the sights before them. Rhys took a heavy breath as they finally reached the vendor, eyes pleading to his brothers for help. Aelia was to spend Solstice with them in Night, and all Rhysand could think about was how disappointed she was about to be.

Aelia packed her bags with a smile etched into her face. Leaving Winter for SOlstice was a huge milestone in the long courtship she and Rhysand had been going through. The two normally spent Holidays and events in their own courts and with their own families. Aside from Starfall, they had bridged this gap, and she was anxious to see how they decorated, what foods and treats were made, what traditions they held.

She smiled as Azriel appeared behind her, silently taking her bags. “Before we go back to the Night Court, could we possibly get more of that peppermint hot chocolate?” The two of them smiled at each other, eyes sparkling in mischief. Rhysand made a mistake allowing Azriel to be the one to pick her up.

Or was it a calculated choice?

“Is she coming to look at ornaments or be with us, Rhys?” Mor rolled her eyes for the fourth time as Rhysand adjusted every single ornament on their tree again. “If she’s coming to see decorations, maybe you need to step up your game.”

Cassian chuckled in the corner of the room, his eyes trained on perfectly wrapping the gift he had gotten for Azriel while the Shadowsinger was away. “Did you label any of her gifts as being from that bearded guy who breaks into houses?”

Mor immediately sat up, “What?”

Amren sighed as she set her glass down. “There’s several legends in the Winter Court regarding two twin brothers. Both ancient high fae. One was blessed by the Mother, his joy and happiness spread to faelings every solstice eve during the dead of night to leave them with gifts for good behavior. The other brother was cursed by the Dark Mother and Death Gods to punish naughty children. It is unknown what he does to them, but the belief is he rips them from their homes never to be seen again.”

Mor paled slightly, taking a long sip of her wine. “I see.”

“It’s no different,” Rhys paused, brushing a fleck of glitter from his cotton shirt, “Then the Court of Nightmares using your story to force young females into fear and submission.” He stepped away from the tree, bending down slightly to angle one present just right. “And no, Cassian, I did not want to bring up Aelia’s trauma and trust issues with her father by labeling her gifts as being from Santa.”

“Just figured you might with how often you call her a good girl,” Cassian shrugged, giving up on wrapping the gift perfectly and settling for the jumbled mess of ribbons and paper. “I’m paying someone to wrap my shit from now on.”

Mor nodded in agreement, handing Cassian the bottle of wine they had been drinking from. “When will her and Az get here?”

As if on cue, loud laughter could be heard from the balcony. Shadows moved more presents, all immaculately wrapped with bows and ribbons under the tree as Aelia and Azriel entered the room. Mor was instantly up, running to hug her and rushing to speak about the latest Kal and Viv gossip as Aelia took in the room.

Tinsel hung from garland and wreaths, faelights twinkled brightly in a variety of colors, and a tree sat in the corner near a bare fireplace, making her smile wider, knowing she had the stockings to decorate it hidden in one of her bags. “It’s so pretty,” she didn’t see as Rhysand’s shoulders fell in relief, relaxation setting in immediately. “Do you all always do this much?”

None of them answered, looking away immediately as she moved to study the hand blown glass ornaments. They were clearly new, still intact and colors setting in. “Rhys, you didn’t have to do this for me.”

The inner circle all laughed slightly. They had spent the past week cleaning and decorating this specific room and little spot in the House of Wind on Rhysand’s true high lord’s orders. “I wanted it all to be perfect for your first solstice here. Living up to Winter’s standards for this was.. challenging?”

Aelia shook her head, hugging Rhysand tightly and resting her head on his chest. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

When the house had gone silent, Aelia snuck out of her bed, bag of stockings in tow and moved to the cheerful festive room again. She began to place them along the fireplace, smiling as she did.

Azriel's was full of candies and new leather gloves.

Cassian also had a variety of candy and weapon oil Kal had carefully wrapped and boxed the container of.

Amren, the hardest of the bunch, required a delicate hand. She had paid a decent sum of money to have blood chocolates made, explaining to the crafter who they were for. He had promised his best, and if the smell was anything to go off, he delivered. She had also wrapped a few raw gemstones native to Winter in the stocking, knowing the ancient female sat on a stash of exquisite and expensive gems and jewels like a fire drake.

For Mor, she had purchased a bottle of her favorite pear wine, placing it above the stocking. In the stocking itself laid skin care and a new shade of red lipstick she had told Viv she wanted to try.

And for Rhys, her lovely, kind, and handsome partner, she had purchased a stargazing and mapping kit as well as had someone who shares his love and interest of the galaxy draw out the night sky on the date of their first kiss. A few chocolates sat on top of the rolled parchment, hiding its contents.

Aelia stepped away, smiling before jumping as arms wrapped around her waist. “What are you doing, darling?” Rhysand's voice was heavy with sleep, his face burying into her shoulder. “Come lay with me.”

Aelia allowed him to sleepily Pull her away from the room, sighing as he gently kissed her neck and pulled his blankets over her body once they were in his bed. He had worked so hard making his visit perfect for her, knowing it would be hard to be away from Winter and her family. She snuggled into him, anxiously waiting for morning, and fell asleep within an instant.

Aelia woke up to shouting and laughter, feeling the empty side of the bed as a loud “Fuck you!” rang through the air. She moved to the balcony, taking a blanket with her and just watched in silence. Rhys, Cassian, and Azriel were hidden behind forts, snowballs being launched at the slightest sense of movement.

She felt her lips twitch as she leaned on the railing, then laughed as Rhys was hit in the face due to being distracted. “You should pay better attention, brother!” Azriel ducked back down as Cassian tried to hit him. “She's pretty, but is she worth accepting your 100th defeat for?!”

Rhys looked up again, smiling at the sight of Aelia. “Yes. She is.” He held up his hands, walking inside of the house as Cassian and Azriel shouted in victory then began hunting each other's movements.

Cold hands found her waist again, “Happy Solstice, darling.”

“Happy Solstice, Rhys.”

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

PREQUEL JUNKIES, REJOICE!! -- BOUGHT MY TICKET FASTER THAN THE PODRACE AT BOONTA EVE.

PIC INFO: Resolution at 1350x2000 -- Spotlight on"STAR WARS: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace" 25th Anniversary poster design by Matt Ferguson, returning to theaters on May 3, 2024 to commemorate the film's latest milestone.

OVERVIEW: "Every saga has a beginning, including that of poster artist Matt Ferguson and his relationship with "STAR WARS: The Phantom Menace." It started with the original theatrical release in 1999, which followed a huge buildup — it was the first "STAR WARS" film since 1983’s "Return of the Jedi" — and level of anticipation seen by few movies. For 15-year-old Ferguson, living in Sheffield in the UK, the hype was real.

PART 1: “I was actually doing work experience at the time in an office through school, and I remember just being so excited about the new "STAR WARS" movie,” he tells StarWars.com. “I went out and bought this Darth Maul action figure on a lunch break and everybody else was just so excited for it. And then we got to go see it. And I can remember I just loved it.”

PART 2: Fast forward 25 years later, and Ferguson — still based in Sheffield — has been tapped to create the official poster to mark the film’s quarter-centennial milestone. It follows his anniversary art made for "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi," and will be seen in theaters around the world as "The Phantom Menace" returns to cinemas starting May 3.

PART 3: The poster is a beautiful image, featuring Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and a regal Queen Padmé Amidala, with Darth Maul’s piercing eyes looming over everything. Earth tones drive the painting, from the twin suns to Jedi robes, in a significant change from his earlier "STAR WARS" work. For Ferguson, the idea of what the poster would be came surprisingly easily.

PART IV: “The key thing is to go on the memory of the film. These are anniversary posters, so it's kind of like, what's my personal memory of the film when it was coming out — almost like, before it came out.” And one specific element plays a big part in Ferguson’s memory.

PART V/END: “The color comes into it a lot for me,” he says. “So there's reds and golds, and I remember a lot of the marketing at the time and a lot of the stuff in toy shops, because I always liked action figures and things, was that kind of color. So that was the thing that I keyed on for this one. I wanted that rich, warm color.""

-- STARWARS.COM, "Matt Ferguson on His Stunning Star Wars: The Phantom Menace 25th Anniversary Poster," by Dan Brooks, published February 12, 2024

Source: www.starwars.com/news/matt-ferguson-the-phantom-menace-25th-anniversary.

[stock-trading-2025]

BTC/USD: Bitcoin Surges 5% as Christmas Eve Ignites Crypto Market Momentum

Bitcoin (BTC/USD) experienced a notable rebound on Christmas Eve, reversing a three-day downward trend. The digital asset surged by over 5%, climbing from an intraday low of $93,000 to $99,000. This sharp price appreciation has sparked discussions about a potential Santa rally as the year draws to a close. With just a few trading days remaining, Bitcoin has solidified its position as one of the top-performing assets of the year, boasting an impressive annual gain of 123%.

The Broader Market Sentiment

The surge in Bitcoin prices reflects renewed optimism among investors, particularly as global economic uncertainties continue to push interest toward decentralized finance. Positive sentiment is further fueled by expectations surrounding the crypto industry’s growth under the administration of former President Donald Trump. With a focus on economic innovation, Trump has appointed a team comprising billionaires and tech entrepreneurs tasked with fostering crypto adoption and expanding institutional involvement.

Institutional Adoption and the Rise of Crypto ETFs

Bitcoin and Ethereum Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)

Currently, Bitcoin and Ethereum dominate institutional investment avenues, as evidenced by the approval of 11 Bitcoin ETFs and 9 Ethereum ETFs. These developments have positioned the two largest cryptocurrencies as primary gateways for mainstream and institutional investors looking to gain exposure to digital assets without directly holding them.

Prospective ETF Approvals for Emerging Tokens

Speculation is mounting about the potential approval of ETFs for other prominent tokens. Solana (SOL/USD), XRP (XRP/USD), and Reserve Rights (RSR/USD) are among the contenders for ETF listings in the coming year. Such listings could further legitimize these assets and drive significant inflows, enhancing their market value and liquidity.

Regulatory Outlook and Leadership Changes

The crypto industry is poised for potential regulatory reforms under a new Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) leadership. Paul Atkins, rumored to succeed current SEC Chair Gary Gensler, is widely regarded as a pro-crypto advocate. If appointed, Atkins may introduce deregulation policies that promote innovation while addressing compliance concerns, setting the stage for broader crypto adoption.

Bitcoin’s Performance in 2023: A Year in Review

Key Milestones and Price Trends

Bitcoin’s 123% surge in 2023 underscores its resilience amid volatile market conditions. The cryptocurrency began the year with cautious optimism, trading around $44,000, before climbing to new heights fueled by institutional interest and technological advancements.

Catalysts for Growth

Several factors contributed to Bitcoin’s remarkable performance:

Institutional Interest: The introduction of Bitcoin ETFs increased accessibility for traditional investors.

Macro-Economic Factors: Persistent inflation and concerns over fiat currency depreciation drove investors toward digital assets as a hedge.

Technological Developments: Advances in Bitcoin’s Layer 2 scaling solutions, such as the Lightning Network, improved transaction efficiency.

Regulatory Clarity: Positive regulatory developments provided confidence to market participants.

Short-Term Outlook for Bitcoin

As the year concludes, analysts predict further volatility with a bias toward upward momentum. Traders are monitoring technical resistance levels near $100,000, a psychological barrier that could attract increased buying pressure if breached.

Broader Implications for the Crypto Market

The Role of Altcoins in the Current Rally

While Bitcoin continues to dominate, altcoins are also gaining traction. Solana, XRP, and RSR have displayed robust performance, spurred by rumors of upcoming ETFs and improved network functionalities. Investors are diversifying portfolios to capitalize on the growth potential of these emerging projects.

Institutional Adoption Trends

The influx of institutional capital into crypto assets is set to accelerate, driven by regulatory advancements and the proliferation of ETFs. Financial institutions are exploring blockchain-based solutions, further embedding cryptocurrencies into mainstream financial systems.

Regulatory Framework: A Turning Point

The anticipated appointment of a more crypto-friendly SEC Chair could pave the way for streamlined regulations, enhancing transparency and investor protection without stifling innovation. A favorable regulatory environment could unlock new opportunities for growth and development across the crypto ecosystem.

Predictions for 2024: What Lies Ahead?

Bitcoin’s Price Trajectory

Analysts project that Bitcoin may test higher resistance levels, potentially breaching the $100,000 mark. Factors such as increased institutional adoption, regulatory reforms, and macroeconomic trends will likely influence its price dynamics.

Altcoins on the Rise

Altcoins like Solana and XRP are positioned for substantial gains, driven by technological upgrades and anticipated ETF approvals. Investors should monitor developments in network scalability and interoperability, which could drive demand for these assets.

Evolving Market Infrastructure

The crypto landscape is expected to witness advancements in infrastructure, including decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and cross-chain interoperability. These innovations could attract new participants and boost overall market capitalization.

Regulatory Clarity and Adoption

With regulatory reforms on the horizon, 2024 could mark a turning point for mass adoption. Clearer guidelines may encourage institutional investors to allocate larger portions of their portfolios to cryptocurrencies, enhancing market stability and credibility.

Investment Strategies for Crypto Traders

Risk Management in Volatile Markets

Given the inherent volatility of cryptocurrencies, traders should employ risk management strategies such as stop-loss orders and position sizing to safeguard capital. Diversification across multiple assets can also mitigate risks.

Long-Term Holding vs. Active Trading

Investors should assess their risk tolerance and investment horizon before selecting a strategy. Long-term holders benefit from compounding gains, while active traders capitalize on short-term price fluctuations.

Leveraging Fundamental and Technical Analysis

Combining fundamental analysis, which evaluates project viability, with technical analysis, focusing on price patterns and trends, can provide a comprehensive approach to decision-making.

Conclusion: Capitalizing on Crypto Opportunities

Bitcoin’s 5% Christmas Eve rally highlights the resilience and growth potential of the cryptocurrency market. With institutional adoption on the rise, regulatory reforms in progress, and technological advancements unfolding, 2024 presents significant opportunities for investors.

As market dynamics continue to evolve, staying informed and adaptable will be key to navigating the complexities of the crypto space. Whether focusing on Bitcoin, altcoins, or emerging technologies, prudent strategies can help traders capitalize on this rapidly expanding market.

[investoropia]

FISKER DELIVERS FIRST 22 FISKER OCEAN SUVS, Establishing Presence in Competitive EV Market

Fisker Inc. achieves a major milestone by delivering the highly anticipated Fisker Ocean SUV to customers in the United States. Explore the groundbreaking features, sustainability, and investment potential of Fisker in the rapidly growing electric vehicle sector

Fisker Ocean SUV:

Innovation and Unmatched Features: The Fisker Ocean SUV represents a groundbreaking leap in automotive innovation. Designed to offer a sustainable and luxurious driving experience, it is equipped with cutting-edge features and impressive performance capabilities. Boasting a class-leading range of up to 360 miles, it surpasses other electric SUVs in its category. The SUV's all-wheel drive system and dual-motor setup deliver exceptional power and acceleration, providing a thrilling driving experience that surpasses traditional internal combustion

Read More

Other Topics Read:

10 Small Investment Ideas: Building Wealth

Stocks on Wall Street Show Resilience

South Korea Retains Position in MSCI Emerging Markets Index

Mastering the 5 EMA: A Powerful Indicator for Analyzing Price Trends

#Fisker #ElectricVehicles #Sustainability #Innovation #CustomerSatisfaction #InvestmentOpportunity #FuturePlans #Expansion #EVMarket

[sadisweetomi]

Five facts about electric vehicles in 2024

DETROIT

Electric vehicles had another whirlwind year around the globe, driven by buyers in China, and growth in parts of Europe and the United States, despite headwinds.

In a milestone for China, the world's biggest auto market, EVs hit 50% of new car sales in July. That included pure battery EVs plus plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Chinese companies such as BYD continue to gain traction worldwide with their inexpensive EVs.

Electric vehicles also made headway in Europe and the U.S. Uncertainty around purchase subsidies could complicate matters come 2025, especially under the incoming Trump administration in the U.S. But mainstream consumers remain interested in new models, longer driving ranges, better performance and lower prices.

The transition to electric vehicles is an important part of the shift to clean energy. Road transport accounts for around one-sixth of all global emissions from energy, according to the International Energy Agency. Widespread EV adoption could significantly address climate change.

Here are five facts about EVs this year. Most of the data comes from consultancy Rho Motion.

The global EV market, including pure EVs and plug-in hybrids, grew by 25% year-over-year as of November.

Rho Motion estimates 15.2 million EVs had been sold worldwide ahead of the end of the year, and the International Energy Agency expected electrified vehicle sales to reach one in five cars sold globally. Most were in China.

Mexico sold roughly 5 times as many EVs this year than last, mostly from Chinese powerhouse automaker BYD, according to Rho Motion.

Because China's population is so much larger, its 40% growth year-to-date translates to many more EVs than Mexico's fivefold increase.

Other areas of note are the United Kingdom, which saw a roughly 17% increase year-to-date. That's interesting to compare to France and Germany, which saw sales decline.

In Turkey, the EV market grew by almost 50% year-to-date, driven by Tesla entering the market last year and Togg, a Turkish auto company, ramping up its sales.

In Norway, which for years has been in first place for share of vehicles that are electric, 90% of new cars were EVs.

The best-selling pure electric vehicles were the Tesla Model Y, followed by the Tesla Model 3 — both globally and in the U.S., according to Rho Motion.

The Model Y SUV was released in 2020. Its base version today costs nearly $45,000.

The Model 3 was released in 2017. The least expensive version sells for around $42,000.

Both have been eligible for a $7,500 tax credit in the U.S.

Tesla's market share stood at 17% of all electric cars across the globe through October, according to Rho Motion.

In the U.S., Tesla's market share was 49% through October. That means the company still has the biggest EV market share. But its hold is shrinking as other auto companies combined sell a growing number of electrics. For example, GM, Ford, Honda and more are offering a wider variety of EVs at lower prices and sizes and are chipping away at Tesla's longstanding lead.

Tesla remains the most valuable auto company in the world, with a market value of $1.4 trillion.

[newstfionline]

Thursday, January 2, 2025

World’s 500 Richest People Surpassed $10 Trillion in Wealth This Year (Bloomberg) The world’s 500 richest people got vastly richer in 2024, with Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jensen Huang leading the group of billionaires to a new milestone: A combined $10 trillion net worth. An indomitable rally in US technology stocks played a key role in turbocharging the trio’s wealth, as well as the fortunes of Larry Ellison, Jeff Bezos, Michael Dell and Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. The eight tech titans alone gained more than $600 billion this year, 43% of the $1.5 trillion increase among the 500 richest people tracked by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The total value of the fortunes tracked by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index was $9.8 trillion at Monday’s close, down slightly from a Dec. 11 peak of $10.1 trillion following a post-Christmas selloff. Their wealth is similar in size to last year’s combined gross domestic products of Germany, Japan and Australia, according to data compiled by the World Bank.

Driver rams New Year's revelers in New Orleans, killing 10 (AP) A vehicle raced into a crowd of New Orleans revelers early on New Year's Day, killing 10 people and injuring 35 others in what the FBI is investigating as an act of terrorism. The driver of the vehicle was killed in a firefight with police following the attack around 3:15 a.m. Wednesday along Bourbon Street in the city’s bustling French Quarter, the FBI said. After the vehicle came to a stop, the driver emerged from the truck and open fire on responding officers, New Orleans police said. Officers returned fire, striking and killing the driver. Two officers were shot and are in stable condition.

Dark New Year’s Eve in Puerto Rico (Bloomberg) Nearly all of Puerto Rico was without power Tuesday after its fragile electricity grid collapsed, triggering an island-wide blackout. The power outage started early in the morning and, by midday, about 85% of Puerto Rico’s 1.4 million customers remained without electricity, according to Luma Energy, the private company that operates the system. Officials said it may take 24 to 48 hours to fully resume service.

Ukraine halts transit of Russian gas to Europe after a prewar deal expired (AP) Ukraine on Wednesday halted Russian gas supplies to European customers that pass through the country, almost three years into Moscow’s all-out invasion of its neighbor, after a prewar transit deal expired. Ukraine’s energy minister, Herman Halushchenko, confirmed on Wednesday morning that Kyiv had stopped the gas flows “in the interest of national security.” Russia’s Gazprom said in a statement on Wednesday morning that it had been “deprived of the technical and legal ability to supply gas for transit through Ukraine,” due to Ukraine’s refusal to extend the deal. Even as Russian troops and tanks moved into Ukraine, Russian natural gas kept flowing through the country’s pipeline network—set up when Ukraine and Russia were both part of the Soviet Union—to Europe, under a five-year agreement that ran through the end of last year. Gazprom earned money from the gas and Ukraine collected transit fees. Before the war, Russia supplied nearly 40% of the European Union’s pipeline natural gas.

Dark Doldrums Overshadow Europe’s Energy Markets (NYT) Europe is watching the skies for a gremlin that can roil its energy markets and stoke political tensions between neighboring countries. This weather phenomenon, known as the Dunkelflaute, has become a source of frustration to government ministers and a potential pitfall on their journey to cleaner energy. A German term that translates to “dark doldrums,” Dunkelflaute refers to a spate of calm days when dense clouds descend over northern Europe. This weather pattern may occur two to 10 times a year, usually in the fall and winter, and lasts 24 hours or longer. In the past, these spells of murky quiet would have made little difference to energy markets in Europe. But in recent years, as countries like Germany and Britain have spent billions to tackle climate change by shifting to cleaner sources of energy, the Dunkelflaute has gained notoriety. A generation ago, Europe relied on steady, predictable flows of energy from nuclear and fossil fuel plants. Now, much of the region’s power comes from solar arrays and wind farms, whose output varies with the whims of the weather. During the gloomy stillness of a Dunkelflaute, solar panels produce little power and wind turbines slow to a halt. Without these two mainstays of renewable energy, grid operators need to call on backup power plants like natural-gas-fired generators.

Five killed and emergency workers targeted as firework chaos mars Germany’s New Year celebrations (CNN) Five people have been killed and dozens of emergency workers were injured as a spate of incidents involving fireworks marred New Year’s Eve celebrations in Germany. Despite calls for a nationwide ban on the private use of fireworks, they continue to be a significant part of New Year’s celebrations in the country, with thousands of the pyrotechnics set off on city streets each year. Among those killed were two people in the eastern state of Saxony, according to local public broadcaster MDR, including a 45-year-old man who was killed after handling what was described as a “firework bomb.” Firefighters and other emergency services personnel were targeted by the fireworks during festivities overnight on Tuesday into Wednesday, authorities said.

Myanmar’s War Has Made It the Global Crime Capital (NYT) The flower fields stretch out from the mountain village along most every road—fluttering patchworks of white and pink and purple. The beauty in this corner of Shan State, in northeastern Myanmar, might seem a respite from the country’s brutal civil war. Instead the blooms are a symptom: It is all opium poppy in these fields, and Myanmar again ranks as the world’s biggest exporter of the raw material to make heroin and other opiates. And that’s just the beginning. Since descending into a full-blown civil conflict nearly four years ago, after the military overthrew the elected government, Myanmar has cemented its status as a hotbed of transnational crime. It is a playground for warlords, arms dealers, human traffickers, poachers, drug syndicates and generals wanted by international courts. Myanmar is now the biggest nexus of organized crime on the planet, according to the Global Organized Crime Index. The criminality flourishing in Myanmar’s fertile soil carries disastrous consequences for its 55 million people. It is also spreading the fruits of transgression across the globe.

The South China Sea could become a major flashpoint in 2025 (Economist) In early 2024 Taiwan looked like the most dangerous flashpoint in Asia. China, which claims the self-governing island as its own, was frustrated by Lai Ching-te’s victory in a presidential election there in January. It had branded him a “dangerous separatist” who could provoke war. Soon after his inauguration in May, Chinese forces staged two days of naval and air drills around the island, putting military commanders on edge in America, bound as it is, by law, to help Taiwan defend itself. In 2025 the focus of concern may shift southward. In the South China Sea, long-running friction over disputed rocks and reefs has escalated into dramatic clashes at sea. They have mostly occurred between Chinese and Philippine coastguard vessels. But with neither side willing to back down, such encounters could quickly escalate into a naval confrontation that might suck in America, a treaty ally of the Philippines. One place to watch is Sabina Shoal. The outcrop in the Spratly Islands lies 150km west of the Philippine province of Palawan, but is also claimed by China, Vietnam and Taiwan. Second Thomas Shoal, also in the Spratlys, is another possible flashpoint. The outcrops involved may seem too small and remote to be worth risking a broader flare-up. Yet each side has cause to stand firm. The Philippines’ president, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, has pledged to do more than just protest against Chinese encroachment in waters claimed by his country. America is also determined to reinforce its treaty with the Philippines and to stop what it calls Chinese “salami-slicing”—small acts of aggression that make territorial gains. China sees the chance to show America’s allies that they cannot rely on it for help.

Optimism and despair in the Middle East (AP) In Damascus, the streets were buzzing with excitement Tuesday as Syrians welcomed in a new year that seemed to many to bring a promise of a brighter future after the unexpected fall of Bashar Assad’s government weeks earlier. While Syrians in the capital looked forward to a new beginning after the ousting of Assad, the mood was more somber along Beirut’s Mediterranean promenade, where residents shared cautious hopes for the new year, reflecting on a country still reeling from war and ongoing crises. War-weary Palestinians in Gaza who lost their homes and loved ones in 2024 saw little hope that 2025 would bring an end to their suffering. “The year 2024 was one of the worst years for all Palestinian people. It was a year of hunger, displacement, suffering and poverty,” said Nour Abu Obaid, a displaced woman from northern Gaza. In Lebanon, a tenuous ceasefire brought a halt to fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group a little over a month ago. The country battered by years of economic collapse, political instability and a series of calamities since 2019, continues to grapple with uncertainty, but the truce has brought at least a temporary return to normal life. On Beirut’s seaside corniche, Mohammad Mohammad from the village of Marwahin in southern Lebanon was strolling with his three children. “I hope peace and love prevail next year, but it feels like more (challenges) await us,” he said.

Freezing in Gaza (Drop Site News) On the morning of Dec 28th, Yahya Al-Batraan, a 40-year-old father of five sons and three daughters, got up in his dilapidated tent in Deir al-Balah’s western parts near the beach to find his 1-month-old baby, Jomaa, had frozen to death. His twin brother was hospitalized for hypothermia at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital and faces a similar fate. Al-Batraan was displaced from Beit Lahia a year ago. His two brothers and many of his relatives were killed before his eyes. His house was razed to the ground after Israeli troops invaded and annihilated the camp. Six people have frozen to death in Gaza during the past week, where the temperatures have reached the low 40s in Fahrenheit—or about 8 degrees Celsius; five were infants less than a month old. Al-Batraan’s newborn baby will not be the last to die from hypothermia as conditions continue to deteriorate in the besieged territory. “My wife and I got up in the morning. We checked the children as always. But my 1-month-old twin didn’t show any vital signs at all. When I touched him, his body was like a bottle of ice. I took him and rushed to the hospital on foot because I didn’t have the money for a taxi or even an animal-drawn cart. Doctors instantly told me that he passed away. I couldn’t hold my senses and burst into tears. Just moments later, my wife rang me to inform me that the other twin wasn’t breathing. … The hardest thing someone can ever endure is to see their children dying in front of them. There are no words to describe this feeling. My message to the world is that we’ve lost our dignity and everything. We need warmth and peace. Someone has to stop this genocide.”

U.S. Strikes Militant Group in Yemen That Has Kept Up Attacks on Ships (NYT) The U.S. military said on Tuesday that it had carried out a series of strikes on the Houthis, the Iranian-backed group in Yemen, as the group suggested it would continue attacking Israel and ships in the Red Sea if there was no cease-fire in Gaza. It was not immediately clear whether the strikes would be a setback for the Houthis, who have remained undeterred even as they have come under attack from the United States and Israel.

[teamcardelight]

New Curvv-rival from Maruti Teased — Debuts at Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025!

 

Maruti Suzuki’s new teased SUV will compete directly with the likes of Tata Curvv EV, Hyundai Creta EV, MG ZS EV, and the Mahindra BE.6e.

Maruti Suzuki has officially unveiled the teaser for its first-ever electric vehicle, the eVitara, marking a significant milestone in the brand’s journey toward sustainable mobility. This electric SUV, first showcased in Milan, Italy, is now poised to make its Indian debut at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, scheduled to be held between January 17th – 22nd.

A New Era in EV Design and Technology

Built on the Heartect-e born electric skateboard architecture, the Maruti Suzuki eVitara introduces a fresh design philosophy. The SUV features sleek, smooth-flowing lines complemented by elegant creases, balancing sportiness with sophistication. The teaser image reveals Y-shaped LED DRLs, a signature Suzuki badge at the center, and a bold yet refined exterior profile.

This electric SUV will be manufactured at Suzuki Motor Corporation’s facility in Gujarat, which will also produce a Toyota counterpart. The eVitara is set to redefine the midsize electric SUV segment, competing with the Tata Curvv, Mahindra BE 6, and the upcoming Hyundai Creta EV, which will also debut at the same expo.

Performance and Battery Options

Maruti Suzuki eVitara will be available in two battery configurations – 49 kWh and 61 kWh, using LFP batteries supplied by BYD’s subsidiary, FinDreams. These advanced blade cells are renowned for their safety and reliability.

49 kWh (2WD model):

Power: 142 bhp

Torque: 189 Nm

Range: Approximately 400 km

61 kWh (2WD model):

Power: 172 bhp

Torque: 189 Nm

Range: Over 500 km

61 kWh (4WD model – AllGRIP-e):

Dual-motor setup

Power: 181 bhp

Torque: 300 Nm

Range: Around 550 km

The 4WD variant includes advanced features like Trail mode and an LSD function, ensuring superior performance on both on-road and off-road terrains.

Comprehensive EV Ecosystem

Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales at Maruti Suzuki India Limited, highlighted the company’s vision: “The e VITARA is a testament of our unwavering commitment to sustainable mobility and technological innovation. With decades of automotive expertise, we have combined advanced electric technology with a customer-first approach to deliver something truly transformative. At Maruti Suzuki, we have always believed that to promote EV adoption, we need to create a holistic ecosystem that simplifies customers’ battery electric vehicle ownership journey..”

He further added, “A critical barrier to the adoption of EVs is the lack of accessible charging. To tackle this issue, we are committed to introduce a reliable and comprehensive EV ecosystem alongside the e VITARA. This will include home charging solutions as well as a nationwide network of fast chargers available at Maruti Suzuki dealerships and service touchpoints. Our goal is to make EVs accessible, convenient, and appealing to a broader set of customers, and this is exactly what we have set out to achieve with the e VITARA”

Global and Domestic Ambitions

While the eVitara is tailored for the Indian market, it will also be introduced globally in regions like the European Union and Japan. In India, the SUV will be retailed through Nexa dealerships, offering exclusive color options and cosmetic variations to differentiate it from its European counterpart.

[thefinewinecompany]

A Beginner’s Guide to Champagne and Sparkling Wines: What’s the Difference?

Ever wondered what makes Champagne so special or how it differs from other sparkling wines? If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the variety of bubbles on the market, don’t worry—you’re not alone. At The Fine Wine Company, we often hear questions from wine lovers trying to navigate the sparkling wine world. So, let’s pop the cork on this topic and break it all down in a way that’s easy to understand (and enjoy).

Understanding Champagne: What Makes It Unique?

Champagne is the sparkling wine that often steals the spotlight, but why is it held in such high regard? The answer lies in its heritage, craftsmanship, and exclusivity.

Where Does Champagne Come From?

Champagne is more than just sparkling wine—it’s a name reserved for wines produced exclusively in the Champagne region of France. This region’s distinct climate and chalky soil create ideal conditions for crafting exceptional sparkling wines. By law, only wines from this area can bear the name Champagne, a distinction protected under the rules of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).

How Is Champagne Made?

The magic of Champagne comes from its meticulous production process, known as the Traditional Method or Méthode Champenoise. After the initial fermentation, a second fermentation happens inside the bottle, creating those delicate bubbles we all love. This process takes time—sometimes years—and involves grapes like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.

What Sets Champagne Apart?

Champagne’s flavor profile is often described as toasty, nutty, and complex, with a fine mousse (that’s fancy talk for bubbles). Its lengthy aging process gives it a depth and elegance unmatched by many other sparkling wines.

What Are Sparkling Wines?

If Champagne is the king, sparkling wines are its lively, approachable cousins. They’re made around the globe and offer a dazzling array of flavors, styles, and price points.

Exploring the Types of Sparkling Wines

Let’s dive into some popular sparkling wine varieties:

Prosecco: This Italian favorite is light, fruity, and perfect for casual sipping.

Cava: Spain’s sparkling gem is crisp and refreshing, often made using the same method as Champagne.

Moscato d’Asti: Sweet and aromatic, this Italian sparkling wine is a crowd-pleaser.

Crémant: Think of this as Champagne’s French cousin, made outside the Champagne region but using similar techniques.

Different Production Methods

Unlike Champagne, many sparkling wines use the Charmat Method, also known as the Tank Method. This quicker, less expensive process ferments the wine in large tanks before bottling, resulting in fresher, fruitier flavors.

Champagne vs. Sparkling Wine: Breaking Down the Differences

Still wondering what separates Champagne from other sparkling wines? Let’s compare them side by side.

Production Regions

Champagne comes from—you guessed it—the Champagne region of France. Sparkling wines, on the other hand, are produced worldwide, from Italy’s Prosecco to California’s sparkling whites.

Production Methods

While Champagne uses the Traditional Method, sparkling wines may use alternative methods like the Charmat. This impacts everything from bubble size to flavor complexity.

Flavor Profiles and Pricing

Champagne often boasts a complex, layered profile, while sparkling wines lean toward light and fruity. Unsurprisingly, Champagne tends to be pricier due to its labor-intensive process and limited production.

When to Choose Champagne vs. Sparkling Wine

Now that you know the basics, when should you reach for Champagne, and when should you grab a sparkling wine?

Special Occasions for Champagne

Champagne is synonymous with celebration. Weddings, New Year’s Eve, milestone birthdays—these are the moments that call for popping a bottle of bubbly. Its sophisticated flavor and aura of luxury make it the ultimate choice for marking life’s big moments.

Everyday Sparkling Wines

For more casual occasions, sparkling wines are your go-to. Hosting a brunch? Prosecco pairs perfectly with mimosas. Planning a movie night? A chilled bottle of Moscato d’Asti can make it extra special.

Tips for Buying Champagne and Sparkling Wines Online

Shopping for bubbles online might seem tricky, but with the right knowledge and a trusted retailer like The Fine Wine Company, it’s a breeze.

Understanding Labels

Labels can be confusing, but they hold the key to your perfect bottle. Terms like “Brut” (dry), “Demi-Sec” (semi-sweet), and “Extra Dry” (not as dry as Brut) can guide your choice based on sweetness levels.

Shopping with The Fine Wine Company

Looking for the best selection of Champagne and sparkling wines? At The Fine Wine Company , we pride ourselves on offering high-quality options for every occasion. From authentic Champagnes to delightful Proseccos, our collection is handpicked to ensure you enjoy only the finest bubbles. Whether you’re searching for fine wine UK or an affordable sparkling wine, we’ve got you covered.

Why Choose a Trusted Wine Company UK?

When buying wine online, trust matters. A reputable wine company UK ensures that your purchase is authentic, properly stored, and delivered with care.

Conclusion

Champagne and sparkling wines each bring their magic to the table. While Champagne dazzles with its elegance and exclusivity, sparkling wines charm with their variety and approachability. Whether you’re celebrating a major milestone or simply adding a little sparkle to your day, there’s a bottle out there for every moment.

So, why wait? Explore the world of bubbles at The Fine Wine Company and find your perfect match. Cheers to making every occasion a sparkling one! 🍾

[blockinsider]

Ethereum’s Dramatic Price Surge: Could $4,000 Be the Next Milestone?

Key Points

Ethereum’s price surged by 4.26% overnight, hinting at a potential breakout rally.

Institutional demand for Ethereum is growing, with net assets crossing the $12 billion mark.

The price of Ethereum (ETH) experienced a significant 4.26% increase overnight, forming a bullish engulfing candle and completing a morning star pattern.

At present, Ethereum is trading at a price of $3,398, testing the 50-day EMA line as it rebounds from the 100-day EMA.

Ethereum Price Analysis

The hourly chart suggests a possible breakout, indicating a potential entry point for price action traders.

The Ethereum price action on the 1-hour chart shows a resistance trendline formed during the recent correction.

This trendline completes a triangle pattern with the recovery run from the previous night, hinting at a possible triangle breakout rally.

The Ethereum price action also forms an Adam and Eve pattern, with a V-shaped recovery and a rounding bottom reversal.

The neckline of this pattern aligns with the 38.20% Fibonacci level at $3,477.

A bullish breakout from this triangle pattern could conclude the short-term pullback phase and increase the likelihood of a bullish pattern breakout.

According to Fibonacci levels, this breakout rally could potentially reach the $4,000 psychological mark before the end of 2024.

Institutional Support for Ethereum

Despite a negative inflow of $226 million from US spot Bitcoin ETFs, institutional demand for Ethereum has surged.

On December 23, there was a daily net inflow of $130.76 million, pushing total net assets beyond the $12 billion mark.

This represents 2.94% of the Ethereum market cap, with a cumulative total net flow of $2.46 billion.

Leading the bullish trend, BlackRock purchased $89.51 million worth of Ethereum, followed by Fidelity with $46.37 million.

Bitwise acquired a cumulative $963.72k worth of Ethereum, and Grayscale was the only ETF to record an outflow, worth $6.09 million.

Ethereum’s On-chain Insights

As institutional demand for Ethereum increases, Ethereum’s network growth also indicates a bullish path ahead.

A recent tweet by Cryptoquant highlighted several key Ethereum metrics, all giving bullish signals.

According to Egyhashx, a technical on-chain analyst at Cryptoquant, these factors suggest a positive bullish outlook for Ethereum.

Ethereum’s estimated leverage ratio has risen significantly over the past few months, from 0.35 in August to nearly 0.5 in December.

This increase highlights the growth in leverage trading in the derivatives market across all Ethereum exchanges.

The fund holding on Ethereum of all symbols has reached 3.6 million, compared to less than 3 million in late October.

Overall, funding rates remain positive, with the Korean premium index skyrocketing in December.

The premium rose from -2 to 5.1 at its peak in late December, marking the highest Korean premium index for Ethereum since September.

Therefore, the increasing demand for Ethereum in institutions and the growing interest in the Korean markets are expected to stimulate the price of the biggest altcoins.

[chengyouqing]

Zhu Qi from Jinyu International Trade was invited to attend the opening ceremony of China (Chongqing Yubei) Automobile Export Base

On December 23, 2024, the China (Chongqing · Yubei) Automobile Export Base ushered in a grand opening ceremony and awarding ceremony. The event was grandly held in Yubei District, Chongqing City, aiming to celebrate the new milestone of China's automobile industry and promote the automobile products of Chongqing and even western China to the world better.

On the day of the event, guests from the government, enterprises and all walks of life gathered together to witness this historic moment. Zhu Qi, co-founder of Chongqing Jinyu Import and Export Trading Co., Ltd., attended the event as an invited guest and discussed the new opportunities and challenges of automobile exports with other participants.

As the cheerful music sounded, the opening ceremony officially kicked off. Relevant leaders of Chongqing City and Yubei District delivered enthusiastic speeches, expressing their good wishes and expectations for the future development of China (Chongqing · Yubei) Automobile Export Base. The leaders pointed out that the opening of the base will inject new vitality into Chongqing's automobile industry, promote the high-quality development of the local economy, and also open up a new path for Chinese automobile brands to go global.

As an important guest of the event, Zhu Qi, co-founder of Jinyu International Trade, was interviewed by the media at the ceremony. He said that as an important force in China's automobile exports, Jinyu International Trade has been committed to promoting the internationalization of Chinese automobile brands. The opening of the China (Chongqing Yubei) Automobile Export Base provides Jinyu International Trade with a broader development space and opportunities.

Zhu Qi further pointed out that Jinyu International Trade has accumulated rich experience and resources in the field of complete vehicle exports and has successfully promoted high-quality Chongqing automobile products to the global market. In the future, Jinyu International Trade will continue to rely on the platform advantages of the base to strengthen cooperation and exchanges with domestic and foreign automobile companies to jointly promote the international development of China's automobile industry. At the same time, Jinyu International Trade will continue to improve its service quality and product quality to provide global customers with more high-quality and convenient automobile trade services.

At the same time, Jinyu International Trade will continue to strengthen cooperation and exchanges with domestic and foreign automobile companies to jointly promote the internationalization of China's automobile industry. And give full play to its leading position in the field of complete vehicle exports, inject new vitality and power into the automobile industry in Chongqing and even in western China. Continue to promote Chinese automobile brands to the world.

[forblogmostly]

Servotech's New Chapter: Embracing a Green Energy Future

On December 19, 2024, Servotech Power Systems Ltd., a name long associated with innovation in solar products and EV charging solutions, announced a transformative rebranding initiative. The company has officially adopted a new identity as Servotech Renewable Power System Limited. This evolution signifies much more than a name change; it represents a bold leap toward aligning the company’s operations with its vision of “Produce Green to Live Green.”

Servotech’s journey began with its focus on power conditioning products, carving a niche as a trusted manufacturer. Over the past decade, however, the organization steadily transitioned toward the renewable energy domain, developing state-of-the-art solar products and electric vehicle (EV) chargers. This strategic rebranding encapsulates the culmination of this journey, highlighting its dedication to fostering a sustainable energy landscape.

Raman Bhatia, the visionary Founder and Managing Director of Servotech Renewable Power System Ltd., shared his excitement about the company's new identity. He explained, “Our roots are in power conditioning, but our future is in green energy. This rebranding reflects our unwavering commitment to driving the adoption of clean energy solutions. Producing green energy is essential for living green, and we are fully committed to this vision.”

With its refreshed identity, Servotech is set to unlock unparalleled opportunities in the evolving energy sector. The company is poised to make significant contributions to global decarbonization efforts by pioneering innovative technologies that reduce environmental impact. Its “Produce Green to Live Green” philosophy stands as a testament to this commitment, emphasizing the importance of renewable energy in achieving a cleaner, sustainable future.

The company’s rebranding also strengthens its position in the energy market. Servotech aims to empower industries and communities alike by delivering solutions that facilitate the transition to sustainable energy systems. Through its cutting-edge products and comprehensive engineering expertise, the company envisions not just a greener future but also enduring value for its customers and stakeholders.

A Legacy of Innovation and Impact Servotech Renewable Power System Ltd. is an NSE-listed organization renowned for its tech-enabled EV charging solutions and pioneering advancements in solar technology. Over two decades, the company has earned a reputation for excellence in the electronics and renewable energy sectors. Its wide array of AC and DC chargers is compatible with various EVs and serves diverse applications, catering to both commercial and domestic needs.

As the demand for clean energy solutions intensifies, Servotech remains at the forefront of innovation, focusing on the development of India’s EV technology infrastructure. With a robust pan-India presence and a legacy of delivering cutting-edge technologies, the company’s transformation reflects its resolve to lead the green energy movement.

For further updates and inquiries, readers can reach out to Servotech’s corporate communications or investor relations teams or visit their official website, Servotech.in.

The rebranding marks a significant milestone in Servotech’s history. As it embarks on this new chapter as Servotech Renewable Power System Limited, the company reiterates its commitment to sustainability, innovation, and creating a world powered by clean energy.

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] Mr Anil Dua has joined as a partner and Co-founder of the SAR E-Mobility Division, which comprises Lectrix and Mooving businesses. A seasoned leader with a proven track record across diverse industries, Mr Dua brings the group over three decades of unparalleled expertise in strategic leadership, digital transformation, and brand-building.   Mr. Anil Dua, Co-founder, Lectrix EV and Mooving   Most recently, Mr. Dua served as the Group CEO of Dish TV, where he steered the company through transformative milestones, including the merger with Videocon D2H. Before Dish TV, Mr Dua held pivotal roles at OTE Group in Oman, Hero MotoCorp, Unilever, and Gillette. At Hero MotoCorp, he was instrumental in the iconic rebranding from Hero Honda to Hero, doubling volumes and tripling turnover during his tenure. His strategic contributions have earned him numerous awards, including the IAA Marketer of the Year and recognition among India's Top 50 Brand Leaders.    As an IIT Delhi alumnus with an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad, Mr. Dua's stellar academic background complements his professional journey. His leadership philosophy, marked by innovation and collaboration, aligns seamlessly with SAR Group's mission to accelerate India's transition to sustainable mobility.   Commenting on the joining, Mr. Rakesh Malhotra, Founder of SAR Group, said, "Mr. Dua's passion for operational excellence and brand building makes him a transformative force in any organisation. His remarkable ability to lead with clarity and purpose has set new benchmarks in every role he has undertaken. At SAR Group, we are excited to join hands as co-founders and leverage his strategic vision with unparalleled experience to redefine the future of electric mobility and propel us toward our goal of becoming a leader in sustainable transportation. His focus on driving growth, innovation, and operational rigour aligns perfectly with our mission."   Commenting on his new role, Mr Anil Dua said, "I am thrilled to join hands with SAR Group, a group with a remarkable history of creating household brands and delivering customer-focused solutions. Electric mobility is still in its early stages, making this an exciting time to collaborate as the industry evolves. With its comprehensive ecosystem approach—Lectrix EV as the OEM and Mooving as the energy service provider—SAR Group is well-positioned to redefine mobility. I look forward to applying my experience to foster growth and drive innovation in this rapidly transforming industry."   With Mr Dua on board, Lectrix EV and Mooving will strengthen their market positions, expand their product portfolios, and make electric mobility more accessible and sustainable. His visionary leadership will undoubtedly steer both companies toward a future of transformative growth and industry leadership.   About Lectrix EV Lectrix EV is the e-mobility arm of SAR Group and was launched in 2020. The company is driven by a passion to provide reliable and advanced electric two-wheelers to consumers. With an initial investment of Rs 300 crore and supported by a production facility with an annual capacity of 1.5 lakh EVs, Lectrix EV plans to add a wide range of electric two-wheelers to its portfolio. With a keen focus on technology and innovation, the company aims to disrupt the electric scooter segment with technologically advanced products provided at affordable prices.   About Mooving Mooving is a sustainable mobility solutions company specialising in battery as a service (BAAS), battery-swapping infrastructure, and EV leasing services. It offers eco-friendly, cost-effective, and efficient transportation options tailored for individuals and businesses. Through its innovative EV leasing model, Mooving ensures affordability and flexibility while reducing ownership barriers. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and a robust battery-swapping network, Mooving is driving the shift toward cleaner energy and promoting a greener future in urban mobility.

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[ad_1] Mr Anil Dua has joined as a partner and Co-founder of the SAR E-Mobility Division, which comprises Lectrix and Mooving businesses. A seasoned leader with a proven track record across diverse industries, Mr Dua brings the group over three decades of unparalleled expertise in strategic leadership, digital transformation, and brand-building.   Mr. Anil Dua, Co-founder, Lectrix EV and Mooving   Most recently, Mr. Dua served as the Group CEO of Dish TV, where he steered the company through transformative milestones, including the merger with Videocon D2H. Before Dish TV, Mr Dua held pivotal roles at OTE Group in Oman, Hero MotoCorp, Unilever, and Gillette. At Hero MotoCorp, he was instrumental in the iconic rebranding from Hero Honda to Hero, doubling volumes and tripling turnover during his tenure. His strategic contributions have earned him numerous awards, including the IAA Marketer of the Year and recognition among India's Top 50 Brand Leaders.    As an IIT Delhi alumnus with an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad, Mr. Dua's stellar academic background complements his professional journey. His leadership philosophy, marked by innovation and collaboration, aligns seamlessly with SAR Group's mission to accelerate India's transition to sustainable mobility.   Commenting on the joining, Mr. Rakesh Malhotra, Founder of SAR Group, said, "Mr. Dua's passion for operational excellence and brand building makes him a transformative force in any organisation. His remarkable ability to lead with clarity and purpose has set new benchmarks in every role he has undertaken. At SAR Group, we are excited to join hands as co-founders and leverage his strategic vision with unparalleled experience to redefine the future of electric mobility and propel us toward our goal of becoming a leader in sustainable transportation. His focus on driving growth, innovation, and operational rigour aligns perfectly with our mission."   Commenting on his new role, Mr Anil Dua said, "I am thrilled to join hands with SAR Group, a group with a remarkable history of creating household brands and delivering customer-focused solutions. Electric mobility is still in its early stages, making this an exciting time to collaborate as the industry evolves. With its comprehensive ecosystem approach—Lectrix EV as the OEM and Mooving as the energy service provider—SAR Group is well-positioned to redefine mobility. I look forward to applying my experience to foster growth and drive innovation in this rapidly transforming industry."   With Mr Dua on board, Lectrix EV and Mooving will strengthen their market positions, expand their product portfolios, and make electric mobility more accessible and sustainable. His visionary leadership will undoubtedly steer both companies toward a future of transformative growth and industry leadership.   About Lectrix EV Lectrix EV is the e-mobility arm of SAR Group and was launched in 2020. The company is driven by a passion to provide reliable and advanced electric two-wheelers to consumers. With an initial investment of Rs 300 crore and supported by a production facility with an annual capacity of 1.5 lakh EVs, Lectrix EV plans to add a wide range of electric two-wheelers to its portfolio. With a keen focus on technology and innovation, the company aims to disrupt the electric scooter segment with technologically advanced products provided at affordable prices.   About Mooving Mooving is a sustainable mobility solutions company specialising in battery as a service (BAAS), battery-swapping infrastructure, and EV leasing services. It offers eco-friendly, cost-effective, and efficient transportation options tailored for individuals and businesses. Through its innovative EV leasing model, Mooving ensures affordability and flexibility while reducing ownership barriers. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and a robust battery-swapping network, Mooving is driving the shift toward cleaner energy and promoting a greener future in urban mobility.

!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function()n.callMethod? n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments); if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)(window,document,'script', 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); fbq('init', '311356416665414'); fbq('track', 'PageView'); [ad_2] Source link