#Revival of company after liquidation

[jadeee]

Golden Frame

After your date at the art museum, Nanami shows you how much you mean to him.

Word count: 2.6k

Dividers by @cafekitsune

Author's Note: We can call this a self-insert...

Music played softly in the background as Nanami drove towards your date destination. You looked beautiful, as always. He was enjoying your company, as always ... but something felt different. His eyes were still on the road but every now and then they glanced over to your bare legs in the passenger seat. It was the first time you wore a skirt. A soft crease formed between his brows while he crafted theories in his mind. When you were looking out the window, he glanced at your lips... no lipstick. He faced forward with knitted brows but the crease softened at the sound of your voice.

"Do you have a favorite art piece?"

"... actually, I'm not sure ..." he answered half shocked, "I haven't been to an art museum in a while so I look forward to going."

"Really?! This is one of my favorite places."

"That makes it all the more special." 

He wanted to reach over and take your hand in his but he recalled how nervous you were the last time you two were together. Alone and on his couch. More importantly, how you seemed to shrink into yourself when his hands reached for your hips and how you kept repeating "I'm sorry, I can't,". He prided himself on being patient, when it mattered, and you mattered to him; so, he simply smiled at you instead.

 Your eyes scanned the room and took in the large golden frames, various sculptures, and prints on the wall. Nanami happily followed you to the first thing that caught your eye. The two of you spent the next few minutes walking near each other, only to lean over then whisper about the artwork you were studying.

"How do you think they do it?"

"With patience and practice." he silently repeated the words to himself.

"I have an idea,"

The golden haired man faced you. Oddly enough, he looked like one of the men in the paintings in that moment. Strong and stern with a hidden softness that only the artist could capture.

"Why don't we split up and meet back here in thirty minutes? We can show each other our favorite piece."

"Okay," he nodded then watched you start to walk off. 

You walked along a glass pane which held a large painting toward the center. He followed your every step on the opposite side and a smile blossomed on his face whenever you glanced back at him. When you reached the end and saw he wasn't there, your smile shrunk. However, our love drunken fool was standing in the center of the painting, watching the scene unfold. When he thought about it, he felt light like a Monet painting. As his eyes scanned the artwork on the walls, he couldn't help but see your face.

You were standing in front of a sculpture when he approached you from behind.

"Has it been thirty minutes already?"

"No," he slid his hands in his pockets "I just couldn't resist."

The soft laugh that came from you filled his heart. He read the title card of the sculpture, Psyche Revived By Cupid's Kiss.

"Are you familiar with their story?"

"I am. You kind of remind me of him."

The corner of his lip turned up, "How?"

"You hide yourself sometimes ... at least until you trust others."

He looked forward and tried not to smirk at your well thought analysis.

As you two stood side by side once again, you felt his fingertips brush against your hand. Without hesitation, you took them in yours.

Your heart beat faster as you crossed the threshold. He helped you out of your jacket then set aside your purse while you took off your shoes. The wheels turned and creaked in your mind as he offered you a drink. You responded with your choice of poison before making your way to the couch - where it always started and ended. Kento's shoulders dropped slightly when his eyes landed on you sitting on the couch. He studied your frame as he handed you your glass. Grateful for the liquid courage, you quietly thanked him and hoped it would ease your anxieties.

Too nervous to stay still, you rose to your feet and studied what little art Nanami did have on the wall. 

"Do these mean anything?"

He stayed in his seat "No, not really. It's just for decoration."

"Hm ... If you did have art with meaning though, what would you have?" you faced him with a playful smirk.

He sipped his drink to hide the effect you were having on him. "Well," he stood then walked toward you "Psyche revived by Cupid's kiss."

"Oh, you're just saying that because we saw it earlier."

"No, I'm saying that because it means something to me."

When you felt his hands hold your face, you backed into the table behind you.

"What's that?" you held his gaze.

He pressed his lips against yours in a soft and tender kiss in response. His body felt warm as your hands finally held him for the first time that night. Within minutes, you ended up where you always do on nights like this: the couch, his couch, with him hovering over you and your fingers starting to comb through his hair when you say,

"I cant, I'm sorry." you cover your face.

His hands pressed into the couch cushion. 

"What's wrong?" his hands gently pull yours away from your face, "You can talk to me."

Your eyes dart to the wall then back up at him "I'm just a bit ... embarrassed. I try to control myself around you but I can't."

A soft smile showed on his face "You don't have to."

"I know but ... I don't want to get my hopes up and it doesn't last." your eyes flicked up at him "Us, I mean. Not the sex." You chuckled nervously from the simple misunderstanding and covered your face again.

He smiled to himself as he pulled your hands down again.

"Hi."

You grinned, "Hi."

He cupped your cheek in his hand, "Why are you so nervous all of a sudden?"

Your heart skipped a beat when he continued to caress your skin as you tried to find the words.

"Because I don't know who I am around you. It's like I become this whole other person..."

His hazel eyes noticed the softness and slight fear in your eyes paired with the small sound of your voice. The softness coupled with the ounce of fear and the hope that he'd understand. When he placed a gentle kiss on your lips and felt you grip the sides of his shirt, he suppressed a moan.

"You're my girlfriend," and possibly my wife, he thought to himself "and there's nowhere else I'd rather be than by your side."

Your lips faltered when you tried to respond but he saw the tears form in your eyes and only saw fit to wipe them away.

"I'm your what?"

"You're my girlfriend," and Mrs. Kento - in - waiting, he planted a kiss on your forehead.

His thumb brushed the corner of your mouth which was stuck in a shocked grin, "What?"

"Nothing... it's... we haven't had that talk yet and I didn't know..." you ended the sentence with a chuckle.

"I should've made it more obvious," Nanami gave you another gentle kiss then got up from the couch. He grabbed your glasses and headed toward the kitchen "We can talk if that's what you wa--"

It took everything he had to not drop the glass cups when you tugged on his shirt and pulled him toward you in a kiss. The two of you held onto each other as he walked backwards to the nearest counter top and set the glasses down. You let out a loud laugh when he picked you up unexpectedly and carried you to his room.

His kisses started out sweet and innocent but with each second he spent holding you, gripping your skin, you felt his hunger. It'd been a while so you couldn't blame him. Plus you were wearing that skirt. Not to mention, the way you purposely left those top buttons undone on your blouse. He was hovering over you again, leaving a trail of kisses down your neck when he confessed "I lied earlier when I was talking about my favorite art piece. It wasn't that painting I pointed out. It's you."

Despite the compliment and the sincerity behind it, he saw the slight doubt in your eyes.

"You're gorgeous and no picture can ever fully capture that."

You smirked and laughed.

"You don't believe me?"

"I didn't say that," you sat up slightly and he moved to give you some space.

"What is it then?"

You tilted your head as you mulled it over then nodded "Okay, maybe I don't believe it." 

Although you tried to play it off, Nanami still had that aura of stern softness on his face.

"Would it help if I show you?"

A smirk showed then and you felt something you'd only felt on lonely nights; yet this time you weren't alone or lonely. Your nod gave Nanami the permission he needed and so desperately craved. Despite his seemingly insatiable appetite for you, he moved with a slow, passionate deliberateness. His tongue pushed into your mouth as his hands wrapped around your torso, with his legs straddling you so you didn't have anywhere to go. He wanted you all to himself. He wanted to cherish you. He wanted to treat you like art, a masterpiece. Careful, slow and steady, meticulous.

His mouth worked down your neck and made a short visit to your chest. Your breath picked up as his kisses continued downward, slowly peeling away the layers that were between you two. His eyes looked up at you when he slipped off your skirt. A small smirk rested on his face when he saw your brows go up and mouth part slightly in anticipation.

The soft kisses on your inner thigh elicited a moan from you. The sound alone was enough for him then but he wouldn't stop. Not because he wasn't satisfied but because he wasn't done worshipping you yet. Your noises filled the room as he licked, nipped, and sucked on you. When your hands gripped at his hair, he moaned and you felt the hum move throughout your body. He pushed his tongue deeper to get more of your taste.

"Na- Ken-," your thighs started to close in on him but he didn't budge. When you started to push him away, he felt conflicted. He decided to pull back slightly, "Do you want me to stop?"

"I-" you moaned at your ongoing orgasm and he gently rubbed at your bud.

"Fuck, Nanami." you whined softly as you pressed your head deeper into the pillows.

His fingers moved in a slow circular motion as he inched closer to your face "Do you want me stop?" he asked again softly then put his mouth on your nipple. The feeling of his tongue going over your flesh gave you goosebumps. 

"N-no," you stammered with eyes shut.

"Are you sure?" his fingers moved a bit faster at your bud.

You started to pant and nodded helplessly. He smiled at the scene then kissed your cheek, "I won't go easy on you." His fingers slipped inside of you effortlessly as his mouth attached itself to your bud once more. You cried out and gripped his hair which made him grunt... which made you cum... which only made him push his tongue deeper into you.

You moaned then moved against his mouth. He wouldn't admit it but he was already thinking about wedding bands in his head then. When you came on his fingers, he pulled them out and replaced them with his tongue.

"I can't take it!" you clutched onto his sheets which you perfectly ruined as soon as you two started this little dance. He pulled back for a short moment only to say "Yes, you can," he kissed your bud "you're doing so good."

"Nanami," you whimpered as he continued to make out with your cunt. He wasn't satisfied until you started to climax and even then he wasn't done.

Moments later, he was pounding into you, gripping the headboard in one hand and holding yours in the other. At one point, you both heard a crack but didn't pay it any mind. He was kissing your face and neck until he started to reach his own climax; when he buried his head in the crook of your shoulder and grunted repeatedly. You were already on your umpteenth wave of ecstasy by then. All you could do was clutch onto him and that was enough.

This must be what it's like to feel at peace, Nanami held you in a warm embrace. The last few minutes consisted of you two being like this. Holding each other, drawing imaginary lines on skin, and smiling whenever you looked into the other person's eyes. The only difference was that his smile remained even when his eyes weren't locked on yours. He couldn't look away and he didn't want to, even if it did seem creepy.

You noticed the soft look on his face, "What?"

"I'm just admiring you, that's all."

He didn't expect you to say anything back but he was grateful for your small smile.

"I was going to wait but I think now is a good time."

You watched him with raised brows as he reached for something. He handed you a postcard which had your favorite piece of artwork on the cover. You took it in your hands then flipped it over and read his handwriting on the back:

Truly beautiful but I can think of something better.

When you looked at him, you saw the sparkle in his eyes.

"Thank you."

He held your face in his hands and kissed your forehead.

Normally, he'd be making coffee by now but he decided to indulge himself. Besides, how could he leave you in bed alone? He didn't want you to wake up and think the worst. You could talk a good game but you were the nervous type. He traced the curve of your brow lightly with his fingertip and chuckled when you crinkled your nose.

When you did wake up, he was there, ready to greet you with a soft smile. You were half awake and only heard the word 'breakfast' to which you just nodded. He chuckled to himself when you held onto his hand as he tried to get out of bed. A gentle blush spread across his cheeks as he sat down by your side again.

"Take all the time you need." he rested his lips against your forehead for a brief moment then caressed your cheek, which would become a daily habit. With your eyes still shut, you took his hand in yours and kissed it, tucking it under your chin as if it were for safe keeping. Nanami found himself moving closer to you so you could rest your head in his lap.

After a few minutes, he reluctantly left the room to cook breakfast and so you could get more rest if need be. Soon the smell of whatever he was making woke you from your dreams. You held your hands behind your back as you stepped into the kitchen. When he faced you, he felt the blood rush to his cheeks at the sight of you in his shirt and boxers.

"Do you have to work today?"

He leaned against the counter as he took in the view of his favorite artwork "I can be a few minutes late."

Later, when his colleague asked why he was late, Nanami simply responded "I had some important business to tend to."

Author's Note: Just when I thought I was done writing for Kento, I come up with this. He really does smthn to me 🤧anyway, thanks for reading! As always, reblogs, likes, and comments are appreciated 💓

p.s.: i think the painting he would've picked as his favorite would've been something like a house on a hill. he yearns for tranquility {and domesticity} so a simple painting like that would tug at his heart strings.

[alfredosauce50]

Passengers

[America x reader] 01

Wordcount: 2, 575

Synopsis: After his hibernation pod malfunctions and wakes him up 90 years ahead of schedule, he grapples with the morbid reality that he has to live out the rest of his days on a space ship. He spends a year in complete isolation before losing his mind.

During an episode, Alfred encounters another passenger and falls in love with them. As an engineer, he has everything at his disposal to wake them up. Then he wouldn’t be lonely anymore. But that would mean taking their life--and he does it on a whim.

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: This is a crossover with the film Passengers (2016). I do not own the plot.

The reader is referred to as she/her.

Passengers - 01

Lost in space

The cold infinity of space. A never-ending void of black nothingness. It sounded terrifying when put like that, but it was also a sea you could sail through with the right ship. From Earth to a Homestead II, it would take you 120 years on the Avalon.

The magnificent silver cruiser was a thousand meters long and oscillated through space like a wave. Inside slept 258 crew and 5000 passengers, their bodies resting in hibernation pods. Nothing could disturb them, not even the gentle hail of asteroids.

They smashed against the ship’s front shield in muffled explosions before crumbling away into tiny rocks. And from the inside, not a sound. But the same couldn’t be said for bigger bogeys, with one just so happening to drift in for an imminent collision.

When it hit, the Avalon gave a deep shake. 

The lights in the passenger pod room shut off one by one, but all came on after a brief second. If only that had been the extent of damages done to the Avalon. Several error diagnostics popped up in the command room, showing issues from all over the spacecraft.

All were eventually fixed by the self-repairing system.

All but one. 

A hibernation pod lit up in a warm yellow as others stayed dark. A mist flurried inside, oxygenating the body that lay within. When it cleared up, the person was revealed to be a young man in his late twenties. He had short, sandy blonde hair parted to one side and an athletic body. Aside from his career demands, he must’ve worked out regularly to maintain it. 

Alfred F. Jones, a mechanical engineer from the US.

And to revive him, a particular procedure took place. Three vials of liquid were injected into his shoulder. He was then shocked in the chest, causing his torso to rise and fall in a loud thump. Now that his heart started beating again, he breathed his first breath. 

“Good morning, Alfred.” A female voice greeted him. When he fluttered his eyes open, he saw a hologram of a woman peering down at him. And like all normal people, he responded with the following.

“Wait, what?” He grabbed at his pod, eyes widened.

“It’s perfectly normal to feel confused. You just spent 120 years in suspended animation,” She explained. 

“What?” 

“It’s alright, Alfred. Just breathe,” His pod hovered across the room to a checkpoint, which completed a more thorough examination. As of now, he was only at 2% recovery from his sleep. “Everything is okay.”

“Where am I?” He asked hoarsely.

“You’re a passenger on the starship Avalon, the Homestead Company’s premier interstellar starliner. We’ve nearly completed the voyage from Earth to your new home. The colony world of Homestead II.”

Pictures of a lush planet, a spitting image of Earth at her prime, played before him like a slideshow.

“A new world. A fresh start. Room to grow.”

“Oh, yeah.” He smiled contentedly, eyes closed. Now that she mentioned it, everything came back to him. He left home with a dream, to rebuild society from the ground up. And this time, without messing up.

“The Avalon is on final approach,” The images were now of a bar, pool, and bustling grand concourse. “For the next four months, you’ll enjoy space travel at its most luxurious. Food, fun, and friends.”

“My friends.” He sighed dreamily.  

“That’s right, Alfred.” The woman smiled, lifting her arm to reveal a metal ring. He glanced down to find his, an economy class identifier. “The ID band on your wrist is your key to the wonders of the Avalon.”

He scanned it when prompted, hearing a chime.

“You’re in perfect health, Alfred. Let’s get you to your cabin, where you can get some rest.” She finished.

He made a short journey to his room, but it took way longer than it should’ve. The ship was by no means small, and he was by no means feeling well. By the time he got to the hall, he had a searing headache. As he reached up to it, hissing, he heard over the announcements that he may be experiencing what was the most common health ailment of his time.

Post-hibernation sickness. 

It would take a few days before he’d feel like himself.

“Welcome to your cabin. Your home until we make landfall,” The same voice piped again. The woman appeared as a full-body hologram by the wall, and as she spoke to him, he faced her with a slight hunch. 

The home in question was a small gray room with a single bed, desk, closet, and bathroom. All the basics you’d expect in a studio. It wasn’t much, but he was betting on the rest of the ship to make up for it. 

“Over the next four months, you’ll prepare for your new life on Homestead II, meet fellow passengers, and learn about colonial living. You’ve been assigned to learning group 38 for passengers with engineering and technical trade skills.” She explained. 

That was right. As good as the Avalon looked, he didn’t come here for a holiday. He was relocating for his job. In a world as new as this, opportunities were as plentiful as the strokes of grass in Spring.

“Please scan your ID to confirm luggage delivery.”

His suitcase rolled out onto a shelf, but all he did was scratch his head, deep in thought. He could build his house out of scratch, too. A two-story cabin meshed between some trees sounded pretty sweet.

“Alfred,” She craned her head at him, brows raised. 

Only now did he scan it, finalizing his onboarding. 

“To help you recover from hibernation, be sure to drink plenty of fluids,” She instructed. 

The jetting of liquid was heard, turning his head to the sound. He saw a cup filling itself up with clear, pinkish fluid at a water station. He came over and gulped down the contents, parched out of his mind. 

“Enjoy the rest of your voyage on the Avalon, a Homestead company starship.” The woman beamed.

And enjoy it he did.

The first thing Alfred opted for was a hot shower. And damn, did it feel good. It only seemed like yesterday that he was in his cubicle back at home, but his body relished every warm drop of water. 

With one arm propped up against the wall, he hung his head under the constant spray of it.

“It’s a beautiful morning here on the starship Avalon. Whatever you do, don’t get homesick,” A man spoke over the in-built radio. “Get Homestead. Let’s start things off with one of my favorites back on Earth.”

He jogged to the bathroom mirror, fully dressed with a brown bomber jacket. Nodding at his reflection, he left to go seize the day. But not a moment passed before he stepped back in to get a second look.

“No.” He took off his jacket and threw it over his shoulder for a cool pose. “No, that’s stupid.”

He sighed and wore it like normal.

“Just own it, Alfred. You’ve got a cool jacket.”

He walked out of his room without it, rubbing his hands awkwardly. Now to learning group 38. But when he got inside the theater, it was completely empty. Did he misread the timetable, perhaps?

“Hello passengers. Will you all please take a seat?” Passengers, she said. Alfred glanced around again, but didn’t take long to find a spot on one of the benches. Not that any of them were occupied. 

While the holographic instructor did her rounds, he began to wonder if he was in the right place at all. 

“Welcome, learning group 38. Your introduction to colonial life,” She began. “Earth is a prosperous planet, the cradle of civilization. But for many, it’s also overpopulated, overpriced, and overrated.”

He stuck up a hand. 

“I’m sorry, I think I may be in the wrong…”

“Hold all questions till the end, please.”

“Oh, sorry.”

“The colonies offer an alternative,”

“Where are all the other…” Alfred trailed off and bowed his head as she merely spoke over him. 

“A better way of life. And there’s no colony more beautiful than Homestead II, the jewel of the occupied world,” She gestured to the landscapes behind her, but he couldn’t be taken by them.

“I’m sorry,” He laughed sheepishly, unable to keep it to himself any longer. “Where is everybody?”

“We are all on the starship, Avalon.”

“But I’m the only one here.” He replied, confused.

“There are 5, 000 passengers and 258 crew members.” She answered in a monotone.

“So why am I alone?” He frowned.

“We’re all in this together.” 

Alfred felt his stomach drop. He had a terrible feeling he couldn’t shake off, and to confirm it was just that, a feeling, he needed to see a human representative. He left the theater in a panic and ran down the halls.

“Hello? Is anybody here?” He shouted. “Hello?”

But like every other place he’d gone so far, they were completely empty. Not a soul was onboard with him. Or, at least, it looked that way. Everyone else was tucked away in their pods, fast asleep, but him?

Alfred got inside the elevator and jabbed the button for ‘grand concourse.’ He sat on a bench and started bouncing his leg. In his delirium, he missed a vital instruction until he felt a direct consequence of it.

“Huh?”

Floating. He twisted around mid-air, only now just finding the unbuckled seatbelts under him. This day couldn’t get any worse--until his elevator arrived, slamming him against the ground in a heavy thump. “Agh—!” He got onto his feet and rubbed his nose after it took the brunt of the fall. “Fuck.”

He walked out into a giant gallery, which lit up in a warm glow upon sensing his presence. A fountain even started flowing, another indication he was the first of his kind. Nobody had been here before him. 

“Hello!” A help station greeted. “Welcome to the grand concourse aboard the Avalon. Can I help you?”

“I need to talk to a person,” Alfred ran over, eyes wide and chest heaving. “A real live person, please?”

“What sort of person?” It asked, popping up icons one after the other. A person lifting weights, another holding a suitcase, then one with a clipboard. “Personal trainer? Travel planner? Therapist?”

“I don’t--I don’t know. Someone in charge.”

“The ship’s steward handles passenger affairs. It’s on level three of the grand concourse.” It replied.

He didn’t hesitate to go there, and when he got to the office, all he saw was an empty desk. He tensed up as reality began settling in, but for the sake of his sanity, he would deny it for as long as he could.

“Not good.”

Alfred returned to the grand concourse.

“Hello!” The help station greeted again. 

“Who’s flying this ship?” He jogged over.

“The flight crew, the captain, the pilot, the chief—”

“—Captain. I want to speak to the captain.”

“The captain rarely handles passenger queries—”

“It’s an emergency!” He blurted. “Please.”

He used the elevator again, this time remembering to buckle up. Once he got to the command ring, he ran to a giant spherical door. This was the bridge, where the highest commanding officers congregated. And in other words, his last resort. If anybody was awake, it had to be the people flying this thing, right? 

Alfred attempted to open it with his ID.

“Bridge access requires special authorization.”

He scanned it again, hearing a low ‘ba-bum.’

“Bridge access requires special authorization.”

He stepped forward and peered through a tiny slit, his movements hurried. Maybe if he alerted the crew inside, he’d be able to talk to them. Only he didn’t see anybody inside, just a dark room with glowing panels. So he stepped back, reaching up to his head.

“You gotta be kidding me.” He winced.

Alfred was running out of options. With nobody else to turn to, he went out on a limb and found himself in the observatory. The room darkened and projected a beautiful hologram of a galaxy around him.

“Welcome to the observatory. What can I show you?”

“We’re supposed to land soon?” He tilted his head back to watch the stars and clouds of cosmic dust float about. But instead of wonder, all he could offer was a strained grimace. “I’m the only one awake.”

“I don’t understand. What can I show you?”

He thought for a moment.

“Show me Homestead II.”

“Homestead II is the fourth planet in the Bhakti system.” The galaxy zoomed into one spot, revealing the colony world he’d seen in all the posters. Little did he know, that was the closest he’d ever get to it.

“Right. And where are we?”

“We’re in transit from Earth to Homestead II. We will arrive in approximately ninety years.”

“What?” He uttered.

“We arrive at Homestead II in 90 years, three weeks, and one day.” The narrator elaborated.

“No, wait.” His heart sped up as he came to his worst epiphany yet. “How long ago did we leave Earth?”

“Approximately thirty years ago.”

What he saw, what he heard, they all pointed to one harrowing explanation. Out of the 5258 souls aboard, it happened to him. Hibernation failure, a concept completely unheard of until now. 

“I woke up too soon,” He spoke faintly.

Alfred ran to the computer room. If he didn’t figure something out, he could kiss everything goodbye. His dreams would have to take a backseat. At this point, he didn’t know if he’d even see land ever again.

“How do I send a message to Earth?”

“Interstellar messages are sent by laser array. This is an expensive service,” The help station explained.

He ran past it, glaring over his shoulder.

“Bite me.” 

“Happy to help!”

Taking a seat in front of a large monitor, he scanned his ID band to turn it on. The screen booted up.

“Planet and connection?” 

“Earth. The Homestead Company.” 

“There are 30, 826 contacts listed under Homestead company,” Thousands of names scrolled before him.

“I’m emigrating to Homestead II and I have an emergency,” Alfred explained quickly. 

“I have a customer helpline.”

The camera turned on, showing his face onscreen.

“Sounds about right.”

“Begin message.”

“Hi.” He began stiffly, swallowing thickly as he spoke. “I’m Alfred Jones. I’m a passenger on the Avalon. I think something went wrong with my hibernation pod. I woke up too soon. And I mean, way too soon. Nobody else is awake, and… I don’t know how to get back to sleep. And the thing is, there’s 90 years to go. At this rate, I’m… I’m sorry, I’m trying to fix this. I… Maybe I missed something? I could use a hand. That’s all. Thank you.” He pressed the send button.

“Message sent.” 

He paused, blinking. Was that it? 

“Outstanding.” He leaned in, brows raised.

“Message will arrive in nineteen years.”

“Wait, what?”

“Earliest reply, fifty-five years.”

“Fifty-five years,” Alfred repeated, truly and utterly defeated. He hung his head as he slid off the stool, eyes wide and disbelieving. He didn’t even bother tuning in for the hefty sum that he had to pay.

“We apologize for the delay. That will be $6, 012.”

If there was any way to fix this, he would have to do it himself. And he wasn’t the type to give up easily. Everything he’d ever done as an engineer boiled down to this. If he failed, this was his whole life gone.

Next chapter:

[honorhearted]

@socialseasons | continued from (x)

Ben rarely slept well. Late nights and early mornings were the trademark of his existence, and this had only been exacerbated after Samuel’s death. Sometimes, while attempting to read or write by candlelight, he would turn his head and swear he saw a flicker of movement...of a shadowy figure or a warm, devil-may-care grin. 

On this particular night, he hadn’t been expecting company. For propriety’s sake, he was relieved he hadn’t fully dressed down for the evening, so whenever he opened the door, he was only truly missing his overcoat and weskit. Only...well...all thoughts of proper dress were knocked clean from his head once he saw his guest, ghostly-pale within the moonlight and shaking. And then she’d collapsed.

After managing to carry Francesca inside and lie her across his settee, Ben anxiously checked her pupils for signs of concussion and then, upon finding them relatively normal, fetched a quilt and draped it over her unresponsive form. He wasn’t a physician -- not by a long-shot -- but he’d always held a fascination for medical science, and thus, at the very least knew what to look for.

Still, while fetching her some water, he knew it would be wisest to call for a physician. The only problem was, it would seem rather strange and untoward of him to be harboring his employer’s sister, let alone having any young, unwed girl underneath his roof. The thought brought an uncomfortable heat to his cheeks and he swallowed. How could he get Francesca properly cared for, but also protect their reputations?

Swearing under his breath, Ben returned to the sitting room and knelt down at her side, still finding Francesca unmoving. Dipping his fingers into the cup of water, he then flicked several droplets over her face, hoping to revive her with the cool liquid.

Finally, her eyes fluttered a moment, then opened with visible disorientation. All at once, she rocketed up into a sitting position, nearly knocking her already bruised forehead right into his.

"Whoa, whoa, easy now," he soothed. He hadn't intended to speak to her like a spooked horse, but the fear eclipsing her eyes was reminiscent of a trapped animal. Placing his hands onto Francesca’s shoulders, he attempted to get her to recline again. She started apologizing -- something about “not thinking straight” -- and he huffed in agreement. “That’s beside the point,” he agreed. “What happened? You look like you’ve been in a brawl...”

In truth, he’d been itching to go out on horseback and search the grounds ever since her arrival, but didn’t feel it safe enough to let Francesca stay behind unattended. Careful in his movements, he handed the girl the cup of water, then encouraged her to sit up so that she could take a drink. “What happened?” he demanded again, only more sternly this time. “Who do this to you?”

[nwbeerguide]

South Sound breweries SIG and Triceratops expand distribution via River Barrel River Barrel Distributing.

Press Release

River Barrel Distributing continues to grow its list of Pacific Northwest breweries with the addition of Triceratops Brewing Company and Sig Brewing Company. Both are family-run breweries based in Washington. 

Triceratops Brewing was begun by partners Rob and Kelly Horn. Originally from Flemington, NJ, the Horns moved to Olympia, WA and opened their own brewery in August 2014 after years of home brewing. Triceratops’ operations began in the family’s garage and with the last name Horn, the brewery name was an easy choice. Three years later, the Horns opened a tasting room in Tumwater and have had a steady flow of great customers, good friends, and craft beer lovers. 

“We’re very happy to add Triceratops to our list,” says River Barrel Distributing Sales Manager Joe Cohen. “Rob and Kelly brew clean, classic styles that appeal to a wide market of beer drinkers.” 

To date, Triceratops Brewing has earned four medals at the Washington Beer Awards for their Hawthorne Coffee Milk Stout, Pennsyltucky Vienna-style Lager, Revival Coffee and Motors Coffee Milk Stout, and Bohemian Raspberry Golden Ale. 

Three varieties Cohen is looking forward to sharing with the Western Washington area are: 

Collin James Irish Red Ale - Low in alcohol and bitterness, this Irish Red Ale is a well-balanced people pleaser. Lightly hopped with the mild, earthy, and somewhat woody Fuggle variety, this beer entices the nose with a rich, toffee-like aroma. Meanwhile, notes of plum and raisin play with a slightly bready and nutty flavor provided by Irish ale malt and a touch of roasted barley. 

Liquid Swords IPA - We launched our popular rotating IPA series back in 2016, and by drawing on the wide variety of expressive hop varieties available to brewers, haven’t made the same beer since. Hazy or bright, fruity or piney, no two Chambers are alike, and they never last long. 

Pennsyltucky Vienna-Style Lager - This smooth, Vienna-style lager is inspired by the brewing traditions of Central Pennsylvania. Caramunich malt gives this classic style a nice, roasty flavor while the Cluster hops provide a little bite and a touch of earthy bitterness. 

About 30 miles NE of Triceratops’ taproom is Sig Brewing Company. Begun in 2020, the family-owned location in Tacoma’s Historic Brewing District offers beers of nearly every style as well as a full menu of brick oven pizza.  

“We love craft beer and are very proud to be part of its local community,” says John Samuelson, Sig Brewing Founder . We were fortunate enough to hire a talented head brewer in Jeff Stokes and opened our doors in the spring of 2020. Our goal was to differentiate ourselves in as many ways as possible including our beers, food, and taproom.” 

Sig Brewing focuses on experimental varieties including fermented and soured beers as well as hoppy beers and pilsners. Three brands that will be distributed by River Barrel include: 

Experimental Nectar IPA – A hazy/juicy IPA brewed with 2-row, wheat, and pilsner malts in tandem with some flaked oats and brown sugar. Mash hopped with NZ Cascade, whirlpooled with Nectaron, and DDH'd with a blend of Hopsteiner's EXP 17701 and 17704 hops. Fermented with Omega Yeast's Cosmic Punch yeast. 

In Rainbows IPA – An unfiltered American IPA brewed with 2-row, special pale, and spitz malt coupled with a touch of flaked oats. Kettle hopped with Bravo and Citra, and DDH'd with Mosaic and Comet. The perfect IPA for gazing at rainbows. Fermented with Omega Yeast OYL-005 Irish Ale strain. 

Pilscifer: A New American Pilsner - Built on a malt base of pilsner malt with a touch of corn, wheat, oats, and vienna malt thrown in. We then kettle hopped Pilscifer with Adeena and dry hopped it with El Dorado. Crispy with a new world fruit flare and fermented with Fermentis 34/70 Lager yeast. 

“I'm excited to be on board with River Barrel and hope that we can continue to push boundaries and grow our brand through this partnership,” says Stokes. “I am most excited about growing our lager program and our barrel aged portfolio over time, but also happy to have the opportunity to get our core beers into a much wider array of spots!” 

River Barrel Distributing serves the Western Washington counties of King, Pierce, Thurston, Lewis, Snohomish, Kitsap, and Grays Harbor. 

from Northwest Beer Guide - News - The Northwest Beer Guide https://bit.ly/3ZzsW4n

[allthenewsworld]

Europe's first cryopreservation start-up, Tomorrow Bio, is offering the chance to freeze your body in liquid nitrogen with the hope that future technology could bring you back to life.

With a steep price of $220,000 for full-body preservation or $81,000 for just the brain, over 650 people have already signed up.

Since its founding in 2020, the German company has cryopreserved six individuals and five pets, with plans to expand to the U.S. by 2025.

The process starts right after death, with a specialized team cooling the body to -80°C and replacing bodily fluids with cryoprotectants.

The body is then stored at -196°C in a Swiss facility, awaiting a future where science might make revival possible.

Would you spend $220,000 for a chance at a second life? 🤔

[boltflight]

The Final Descent of Go First: A Sobering Chapter in Indian Aviation

In a poignant turn of events, Indian low-cost carrier Go First, formerly known as Go Air, finds itself on the precipice of oblivion. After a brief yet impactful existence in the aviation sector, the airline is set to be liquidated, marking a disheartening milestone in India's tumultuous airline history. This article delves into the intricacies surrounding Go First's demise, the contributing factors, and the broader implications for the aviation industry in India and beyond.

The Rise and Fall of Go First

A Brief History

Go First commenced operations in 2005, emerging as a prominent player in India’s burgeoning low-cost airline market. Initially lauded for its affordability and expanding network, the airline offered passengers a budget-friendly alternative for domestic travel. However, despite its promising inception, Go First's journey was riddled with turbulence.

Operational Setbacks

Ceasing Operations: In May 2023, Go First suspended operations, signaling the onset of its inevitable decline. This cessation was primarily due to mounting financial challenges that plagued the airline. For more on how airlines can struggle with technical issues, you can read about why aircraft engines catch fire during startup.

Creditors' Vote: In August 2024, the company’s creditors voted to liquidate the airline, highlighting the stark reality that no viable rescue bids could reverse its fortunes.

The Financial Quagmire

Go First's financial woes can be attributed to several factors:

Accumulated Debts: The airline racked up substantial debts over the years, which ultimately became unmanageable.

Inadequate Rescue Efforts: Despite receiving bids from two potential buyers, these efforts were insufficient to revive the struggling carrier. The complexity of such financial struggles is reminiscent of Boeing's vision for China's aviation future.

The Liquidation Decision

Reasons for Liquidation

The decision to liquidate Go First was driven by:

Impracticality of Further Investment: Creditors cited the impracticality of investing additional funds to sustain ongoing operational costs, leading to the decisive vote for liquidation.

Legal Complications: The bankruptcy process was further complicated by protracted legal disputes between creditors and leasing companies, obstructing any potential recovery for the airline.

The Fate of Assets

With the liquidation underway, Go First’s assets will be sold off to repay its creditors. This process serves as a grim reminder of the fragility of financial stability in the airline industry. Curious about the weight-lifting capacity of helicopters? Learn more here.

The Broader Context: India’s Airline Industry Struggles

Turbulent Times

Go First’s demise is not an isolated incident. The Indian aviation landscape has witnessed a series of setbacks, raising concerns about the sustainability of low-cost carriers in the region.

Jet Airways: Once the largest airline in India, Jet Airways collapsed in 2019, adding to the narrative of failure in the Indian aviation sector.

SpiceJet’s Legal Battles: SpiceJet currently finds itself embroiled in legal disputes over debts with creditors and lessors, further illustrating the instability within the industry.

Impact on Stakeholders

The ripple effects of Go First's liquidation will undoubtedly impact various stakeholders:

Employees: The airline's cessation of operations translates to job losses for many employees, further exacerbating the employment crisis in the aviation sector.

Passengers: The liquidation leaves many passengers stranded, with their travel plans disrupted and refunds uncertain.

For a deeper exploration into aviation topics, check out this aviation news source.

International Perspective: Global Aviation Challenges

The Aviation Landscape

While the demise of Go First is disheartening, it is part of a larger narrative affecting the global aviation industry. Airlines worldwide are grappling with similar challenges, including:

Financial Instability: Many carriers are still recovering from the financial repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely impacted travel demand.

Environmental Concerns: With increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices, airlines are exploring innovative solutions to minimize their carbon footprint. Additionally, the history of iconic aircraft like the Messerschmitt Bf 109 highlights how aviation has evolved over time.

JetBlue's Sustainable Initiative

In a contrasting move, JetBlue has announced its plans to purchase sustainable aviation fuel for use at JFK Airport. This initiative reflects a growing trend among airlines to adopt environmentally-friendly practices, paving the way for a more sustainable future in aviation.

Lessons Learned: Navigating the Turbulence

Key Takeaways from Go First's Demise

The liquidation of Go First provides valuable insights into the dynamics of the aviation industry:

Importance of Financial Prudence: Airlines must prioritize sound financial management to navigate the unpredictable nature of the aviation market.

Strategic Planning: A robust strategic plan that adapts to market fluctuations is crucial for long-term sustainability.

Legal Readiness: Preparedness for legal disputes can mitigate risks associated with bankruptcy and creditor negotiations. For instance, understanding helicopter pricing could help in better financial planning.

The Path Forward

For the aviation industry to recover and thrive, stakeholders must collaborate to address systemic issues and embrace innovative practices that ensure resilience.

FAQs About Go First and the Indian Aviation Industry

What led to the liquidation of Go First?

The liquidation of Go First was primarily due to accumulated debts, the impracticality of further investment, and legal disputes that complicated the bankruptcy process.

How does Go First's demise impact passengers?

Passengers face potential disruptions to their travel plans, including the uncertainty of refunds for canceled flights.

What other airlines in India have faced similar challenges?

Jet Airways collapsed in 2019, and SpiceJet is currently embroiled in legal battles over debts, indicating a trend of instability within the Indian aviation sector.

Are there any positive developments in the aviation industry?

Yes, JetBlue's initiative to purchase sustainable aviation fuel signifies a positive move towards environmentally-friendly practices within the airline industry.

What lessons can be learned from Go First's failure?

The importance of financial prudence, strategic planning, and legal preparedness are crucial lessons derived from the demise of Go First.

Conclusion: A Reflective Epilogue

The liquidation of Go First serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by airlines in a volatile industry. As we bid farewell to yet another carrier, it’s essential to reflect on the lessons learned and the pressing need for innovation and resilience. The future of aviation—both in India and globally—depends on the industry’s ability to adapt to changing circumstances while fostering sustainable practices that resonate with a conscientious public. The tale of Go First may be one of loss, but it also underscores the potential for growth and transformation within a sector that continues to evolve.

[enterprisewired]

End of an Era for Future Retail

Source – legaleraonline.com

Future Retail Ltd, once a pioneer in India’s organized retail sector, faces liquidation as ordered by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on Monday. This decision marks the end of Kishore Biyani-led Future Retail, initiating a process to sell its assets to repay debts.

Liquidation Ordered by NCLT

The NCLT’s decision followed the failure to secure any resolution applicants to revive the insolvent company. A bench led by Justice Kuldip Kumar Kareer stated, “It is evident that the maximum period of the CIRP (corporate resolution insolvency process) has expired and no resolution plan has been approved by the CoC. We are of the considered opinion that this is a fit case for liquidation.” Sanjay Gupta has been appointed as the liquidator for the case.

In November 2023, the resolution professional filed an application with the Mumbai bench of the NCLT, seeking the liquidation of Future Retail, based on a resolution by the Committee of Creditors in October. The Committee of Creditors, led by Bank of India, initiated insolvency proceedings against the company in April 2022 after it failed to repay its lenders. The retail firm owes more than ₹17,000 crore to both financial and operational creditors.

Implications for Creditors and Industry

Legal experts view this as a significant blow to the company’s lenders. Tushar Kumar, an independent counsel at the Supreme Court, highlighted the broader impact: “The liquidation of Future Retail by the NCLT represents a critical enforcement of insolvency laws, underscoring the tribunal’s role in addressing corporate financial distress. This move disrupts the retail industry by terminating the company’s operations, affecting supply chains and employment, while enabling creditors to reclaim assets through a structured liquidation process.”

Alay Razvi, partner at Accord Juris, noted the ripple effects across the retail industry: “This decision will surely disrupt the industry and partnerships. The inability to recover such a large amount will inevitably impact the balance sheets of many creditors involved. This decision may give rise to stricter norms and regulations and, more importantly, reassess their financial strategies.”

Failed Revival Attempts and Final Liquidation

Despite initial interest from 49 players, including Reliance Retail, Jindal Power Ltd., and the Adani group, none submitted final resolution plans. Space Mantra, which was not part of the initial list of bidders, ended up as the sole resolution applicant with a ₹550 crore bid. However, its plan was rejected by lenders, leading to the liquidation request.

Before its financial troubles, Future Retail operated popular chains like Big Bazaar, Foodhall, fbb, Easyday, and Heritage, with 1,308 stores in 397 cities as of March 31, 2021. Financial difficulties began in 2008 due to excessive debt, exacerbated by the pandemic in 2020. The group’s slump sale of assets to Reliance Retail in 2020 was challenged by Amazon, stalling the process. In 2022, Reliance Retail eventually took control of over 800 stores of Future Retail.

This liquidation order represents a significant chapter in the evolving landscape of India’s retail industry, highlighting the challenges and complexities faced by companies in financial distress.

Curious to learn more? Explore our articles on Enterprise Wired

[thereasonsimbroke]

In a significant blow to the physical movie rental market, #Redbox is closing its 24,000 kiosks after its parent company, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (CSSE), filed for bankruptcy.

Redbox, originally a competitor to Blockbuster, peaked in 2013 with an annual revenue of $1.97 billion and 43,000 kiosks across the US and Canada. The Wall Street Journal reported that CSSE has converted its Chapter 11 bankruptcy case to Chapter 7 liquidation due to its lenders' reluctance to continue financing the struggling business.

The liquidation process is a response to allegations of gross mismanagement and financial instability, which left employees without pay or benefits.

Despite efforts to revive Redbox following CSSE's $375 million acquisition in 2022, the company struggled under $970 million in debt, ultimately leading to its demise.

[bhattandjoshiassociates-blog]

Section 31(4) of IBC: Whether the requirement of approval by Competition Commission of India (CCI) prior to the approval of Resolution Plan by the CoC is mandatory or directory under the proviso to Section 31(4) of IBC – NCLAT New Delhi

Introduction to Section 31(4) of IBC The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) is a comprehensive legislation that aims to provide a time-bound and efficient resolution of insolvency and bankruptcy cases in India. The IBC envisages a creditor-driven process, where the Committee of Creditors (CoC) has the ultimate authority to approve or reject a resolution plan submitted by a resolution applicant. However, the IBC also mandates that certain statutory approvals, such as those from the Competition Commission of India (CCI), are required before a resolution plan can be implemented. The CCI is the regulatory body that ensures fair and healthy competition in the market and prevents anti-competitive practices. The CCI has the power to approve or reject any combination (merger, acquisition, amalgamation, etc.) that may have an appreciable adverse effect on competition in India. The question that arises is whether the approval by the CCI is required prior to the approval of the resolution plan by the CoC, or whether it can be obtained after the CoC’s approval but before the implementation of the plan. This question has been addressed by the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) in its landmark judgment in Soneko Marketing Pvt. Ltd. vs. Girish Sriram Juneja & Ors., where it held that the approval by the CCI prior to the approval of the CoC is directory and not mandatory. Objectives of Section 31(4) of IBC and Competition Act The main objective of the IBC is to maximise the value of assets of insolvent entities and promote entrepreneurship, availability of credit and balance the interests of all stakeholders. The IBC provides a time-bound process for resolving insolvency and bankruptcy cases, with a maximum period of 330 days for completing the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP). The IBC also empowers the CoC to decide the fate of the insolvent entity, by approving or rejecting a resolution plan that proposes to revive or liquidate the entity. The main objective of the Competition Act, 2002 is to prevent practices that have an appreciable adverse effect on competition in India and to protect the interests of consumers and ensure freedom of trade. The Competition Act regulates combinations (mergers, acquisitions, amalgamations, etc.) that may cause or are likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India. The Competition Act requires any person or enterprise proposing to enter into a combination to give notice to the CCI in the prescribed form and manner, and obtain its approval before effecting such combination. Interplay between Section 31(4) of IBC and Competition Act The interplay between the IBC and the Competition Act arises when a resolution plan submitted under the IBC involves a combination that requires approval from the CCI under the Competition Act. Section 31(4) of the IBC provides that if a resolution plan contemplates any merger, amalgamation or arrangement with another company, then such resolution plan shall be considered as approved by shareholders if it is approved by CoC. However, a proviso to Section 31(4) states that where such merger, amalgamation or arrangement requires any approval from any authority under any law for time being in force, then such approval shall be obtained before such merger, amalgamation or arrangement becomes effective. The proviso to Section 31(4) implies that if a resolution plan involves a combination that requires approval from CCI under Section 6 of Competition Act, then such approval shall be obtained before such combination becomes effective. However, it does not specify whether such approval shall be obtained before or after the approval of CoC. This ambiguity has led to conflicting interpretations by different authorities and courts. NCLAT’s Judgment over Insolvency In Soneko Marketing Pvt. Ltd. vs. Girish Sriram Juneja & Ors., NCLAT was dealing with an appeal against an order passed by National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Mumbai Bench, which had rejected a resolution plan submitted by Soneko Marketing Pvt. Ltd. (Soneko) on the ground that it did not have prior approval from CCI as required under Section 31(4) proviso of IBC. Soneko had submitted its resolution plan for revival of Corporate Debtor - M/s Shree Metaliks Ltd., which was undergoing CIRP under IBC. Soneko’s resolution plan had been approved by CoC with 100% voting share. However, NCLT rejected Soneko’s resolution plan on two grounds: (i) Soneko did not have prior approval from CCI as required under Section 31(4) proviso of IBC; and (ii) Soneko did not comply with Section 29A of IBC, which disqualifies certain persons from being resolution applicants. Soneko challenged the NCLT’s order before NCLAT on both grounds. NCLAT, after hearing both parties and considering the relevant provisions of IBC and Competition Act, passed a detailed judgment on 15th September 2023, wherein it held as follows: - On the first ground, NCLAT held that the requirement of approval by CCI prior to the approval of CoC is directory and not mandatory under Section 31(4) proviso of IBC. NCLAT observed that the timeline provided in the IBC for completing the CIRP is very stringent and cannot be extended beyond 330 days. On the other hand, the timeline provided in the Competition Act for obtaining approval from CCI is very flexible and can be extended up to 210 days or more. NCLAT noted that if prior approval from CCI is made mandatory before CoC’s approval, then it would lead to adverse effect on the CIRP and defeat the objective of IBC. NCLAT also noted that there is no consequence provided in the IBC for non-compliance of Section 31(4) proviso, which indicates that it is not mandatory. NCLAT further noted that even if prior approval from CCI is not obtained before CoC’s approval, it does not mean that Section 31(4) proviso is not to be complied with. The approval from CCI is still mandatory before the implementation of the resolution plan and the combination becomes effective. NCLAT relied on its previous judgments in ArcelorMittal India Pvt. Ltd. vs. Satish Kumar Gupta & Ors. and Committee of Creditors of Essar Steel India Limited vs. Satish Kumar Gupta & Ors., where it had held that prior approval from CCI is directory and not mandatory. - On the second ground, NCLAT held that Soneko did not violate Section 29A of IBC, which disqualifies certain persons from being resolution applicants. NCLAT observed that Soneko had submitted an affidavit stating that it was not disqualified under Section 29A of IBC and had also submitted a certificate from a chartered accountant confirming its eligibility. NCLAT also observed that Soneko had disclosed all its financial details and shareholding pattern in its resolution plan and had also submitted a declaration stating that it was not related to any other resolution applicant or connected person. NCLAT further observed that there was no evidence to show that Soneko was acting in concert with any other resolution applicant or connected person or had any common interest with them. NCLAT held that Soneko had complied with all the requirements of Section 29A of IBC and was eligible to be a resolution applicant. NCLAT, therefore, allowed Soneko’s appeal and set aside the NCLT’s order rejecting its resolution plan. NCLAT directed NCLT to approve Soneko’s resolution plan subject to obtaining approval from CCI within a period of 30 days. Conclusion The judgment of NCLAT in Soneko Marketing Pvt. Ltd. vs. Girish Sriram Juneja & Ors. is a significant one as it clarifies the interplay between IBC and Competition Act and resolves the ambiguity regarding the requirement of prior approval from CCI under Section 31(4) proviso of IBC. The judgment upholds the objective of IBC to provide a time-bound and efficient resolution of insolvency and bankruptcy cases, while also ensuring compliance with Competition Act to protect fair and healthy competition in the market. The judgment also reaffirms the principle that prior approval from CCI is directory and not mandatory before CoC’s approval, but mandatory before implementation of resolution plan and effectiveness of combination. Read the full article

[jcmarchi]

Giant Batteries Deliver Renewable Energy When It’s Needed - Technology Org

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/giant-batteries-deliver-renewable-energy-when-its-needed-technology-org/

Giant Batteries Deliver Renewable Energy When It’s Needed - Technology Org

Flow battery company revives NASA research after nearly 50 years.

Solar power is abundant – when the Sun is shining. Wind power is steady – when the wind is blowing. And a power grid is extremely convenient – until there’s an outage.

But creating a steady supply of electricity from intermittent power sources is a challenge.

ESS flow batteries enable a steady supply of electricity from intermittent energy sources, such as wind and solar. They store up to 12 hours of energy and discharge it when needed. They can be built in shipping containers, like the one being installed in the picture here, or larger installations can be housed in a building. Image credit: ESS Inc.

NASA was focused on this problem more than 45 years ago, when the agency designed a new type of liquid battery during the energy price shocks of the 1970s.

And while engineers continued over the following decades to develop flow batteries, as they’re called, the technology has drawn even more attention in recent years, with the urgency of climate change powering a larger-scale transition to renewables like solar and wind.

Wilsonville, Oregon-based ESS Inc. built on NASA’s early work as the company developed its own flow batteries using only iron, salt, and water.

Requiring no heavy-metal mining or disposal, the systems are among the safest energy storage solutions available, according to the company. With no corrosive parts, they provide like-new performance after daily use for more than 20 years and necessitate only simple upkeep to go longer. They can easily be scaled up as needed.

NASA’s decades-old work on flow batteries, much of which is public-facing and easy to access, provided the ESS team with creative ways of looking at common problems with the technology, said Craig Evans, the company’s founder and president.

“It always goes back to research,” he said. “If you don’t have to reinvent the wheel, you can certainly get things done faster.”

In developing its flow battery, ESS drew from groundbreaking research and development conducted by the space agency more than 40 years ago. Pictured here, a 200-watt demonstration unit of the flow battery NASA built in the 1970s and 1980s. Image credit: NASA

Flow Battery Tech

It’s probably fair to say that all flow batteries today owe something to the major push the technology got in the 1970s and ’80s, when a NASA team of chemical, electrical, and mechanical engineers developed an iron-chromium flow battery (Spinoff 1985, 2008) at Lewis Research Center – now Glenn Research Center – in Cleveland.

The NASA system, which won agency awards, involved two tanks of liquid electrolyte solutions, one infused with iron chloride and the other with chromium chloride. These electrolytes were pumped through the battery cell, triggering a chemical reaction through a membrane that separated the two solutions inside the battery.

During charge, electrical energy was converted to chemical energy and stored in the electrolyte liquid. To discharge the energy, the process was reversed.

When the ESS team began developing its own flow battery in 2011, the company founders wanted to use iron, the most abundant element on Earth, as NASA had. They found they could pair it with a simple salt solution, which was cheaper to obtain and easier to work with than the chromium mixture NASA had used.

Solar cell panels – illustrative photo. Image credit: Jeroen van de Water via Unsplash, free license

Giant Flow Batteries: A Boon for Companies

ESS flow batteries are designed for grids that are increasingly powered by intermittent wind and solar generation. The company’s systems store up to 12 hours of energy and discharge it when needed. They have been deployed, for example, by San Diego Gas & Electric in a microgrid designed to provide backup power to critical community facilities, fueled by an on-site solar array.

Additional utilities and developers, including Portland General Electric and Enel Green Power, plan to install ESS systems as well.

They also work at stand-alone businesses and factories – for example, Sycamore International, a commercial facility in Pennsylvania – where they help to level out energy captured from rooftop solar panels, for instance. This enables factories to store energy generated by the panels during peak sunshine hours and use it throughout the day.

Such installations can also end up functioning as an alternative to, say, a backup diesel generator that keeps a building operating during power outages or power safety shutoff events, which are increasingly common on the West Coast during wildfire season.

Diesel generators emit harmful pollutants, and they are fire hazards themselves. Another technology, lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly used in electronics, can be scaled up to grid- or microgrid-size installations, but they present fire hazards, are not viable options for storage durations beyond a few hours, and require lithium, which is environmentally problematic.

“The ability to install a technology like ours, which is nonflammable and clean from cradle to grave — that’s a huge boon for companies looking to stay up and running during an outage,” Evans said.

ESS went public in late 2021 and, in 2022, announced that it would be expanding in Europe, with its two battery products: the Energy Warehouse, a turnkey battery system built inside a shipping container, and the Energy Center, a larger, utility-scale “battery-in-a-building.”

The company expects to ship between 40 and 50 systems in 2022 and said it had additional orders beyond that.

Lessons from the Past

To increase the amount of energy that can be stored in a liquid flow battery, one simply needs to add more electrolyte solution – an advantage of this technology. To increase the power, one can stack additional battery cells through which the electrolyte is pumped.

But as the electrolyte travels through the system, it loses energy between each battery cell, an inefficiency called shunt losses. NASA worked to mitigate shunt losses in its flow battery system and published research on the issue in 1982. ESS drew from that work to make its own system more efficient.

“NASA’s research on shunt losses gave us some good ideas and good ways to model things,” Evans said.

Pulling research from the agency’s website and libraries, ESS also referred to NASA guidance on handling hydrogen (which results from a side reaction in the ESS system and then is reincorporated back into the system) as well as research on the membrane that separates the electrolyte mixtures.

Thomas Miller, a research engineer at Glenn who worked on the flow battery project as an undergraduate in the late 1970s, recalled that all of the system hardware was custom built, developed through trial and error.

After the flow battery project, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Miller said some of the knowledge gained went on to inform NASA’s work on regenerative fuel cells and other technologies.

Never intended for space, flow batteries are best suited to exactly the sort of terrestrial applications ESS is pursuing, Miller said.

“NASA is funded by taxpayers, so we’ll do the research and then turn it over to industry to take it from there,” Miller said. “This is a good application of our basic research.”

Source: NASA

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[bennettforster]

Digifinex: Bitwala Reemerges in Partnership with Striga to Revive Crypto Banking Services

The European cryptocurrency banking platform Bitwala, formerly known as Nuri, is making a comeback after halting operations and returning customer funds last year.

As part of this partnership, Striga is providing Bitwala with “Banking and Crypto-as-a-Service,” enabling the crypto banking app to leverage its trading and card-issuing capabilities, according to Bitwala CEO Dennis Daiber.

Bitwala underwent a rebranding in 2021 when it became known as Nuri. However, in August 2022, the company filed for insolvency, citing liquidity issues amidst a significant crypto market downturn triggered by the Terra crash. Ultimately, Bitwala ceased its operations in October 2022, requesting its 500,000 users to withdraw their assets before the year-end deadline.

Dennis Daiber explained the situation, saying, “We wanted to build a bank. We had all the documents, audits, applications, and approvals — the only thing missing was 50 million euros for liquidity coverage ratio and runway.”

Get your $550

Registering DigiFinex now grants you a newcomer’s package worth $550: Click to register

If you want to receive all the rewards, please contact me: Telegram

[ailtrahq]

WOO, a leading Taipei-based crypto exchange, has successfully recouped its shares and tokens bought by Three Arrows Capital (3AC) prior to the latter’s bankruptcy.This move follows a settlement reached with Teneo, the creditors of 3AC’s estate. WOO hopes that this share buyback will help it to regain some stability. WOO Crypto Exchange ‘Clears the Uncertainty’ The settlement involves the repurchase and cancellation of shares and tokens acquired by 3AC during WOO’s Series A raise in 2021. WOO’s collaboration with the liquidators has resulted in the successful acquisition of assets at a discount. Thus, it will finally be able to sever its remaining ties with 3AC and its creditors. Emphasizing the company’s readiness to continue on without ‘further distractions,’ WOO CoFounder Jack Tan said, “We are pleased to clear the uncertainty related to 3AC from the WOO ecosystem.” In the settlement, the company will repurchase and burn 20M tokens, which will proportionally increase the ownership of all other shareholders. WOO X Crypto Exchange Trading Volume Three Month Chart. Source: CoinGecko Latest 3AC Goings-On In the meantime, 3AC, which filed for bankruptcy following major losses after the Terra/Luna ecosystem collapse, has been revived under a new name, 3AC Ventures. The announcement of this new iteration was made by bankruptcy claims exchange OPNX, which is set to handle claims for 3AC. As an ecosystem partner, 3AC Ventures will invest in projects building in the OPNX ecosystem, working towards a decentralized future. Read more: FTX Collapse Explained: How Sam Bankman-Fried’s Empire Fell The resurrection of 3AC has incited mixed responses within the crypto community. Some reactions range from incredulity to curiosity about the reasons behind 3AC’s initial downfall. Former BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes asked, “Why did 3AC die, please enlighten us?” As the dust settles, WOO also hopes that it has set the stage for a more stable future. With the uncertainty related to 3AC’s bankruptcy now cleared, the crypto exchange will focus on growth.

[vintage1981]

Dracula Studio Hammer Films Acquired by Renowned British Theater Mogul John Gore

Iconic British horror label Hammer Films and Studios has been acquired by renowned British theater producer John Gore.

Gore, a 20-time Tony, Emmy and Olivier-winning entertainment producer, is known for his live theater company the John Gore Organization, which owns Broadway.com and Broadway Across America – a leading presenter, distributor and marketer of Broadway theater worldwide. The company was one of the producers of three of 2022’s big Tony winners: “A Strange Loop” (best musical), “The Lehman Trilogy” (best play) and “Company” (best revival). Gore is listed in Variety500 – an index of the 500 most influential business leaders shaping the global media industry.

Gore will lead a new team as chair and CEO.

Founded in 1934, Hammer Films is synonymous with horror, after defining the genre in Britain with classics such as “Dracula” (1958) “The Curse of Frankenstein” (1957) and “The Mummy” (1959), which made stars of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing while spawning numerous sequels successful across the globe. It also produced such classics as “One Million Years B.C.” (1966), starring Raquel Welch, and “She” (1965), starring Ursula Andress. It has a vast library of content including “The Woman in Black” (2012), “Let Me In” (2010), “The Abominable Snowman” (1957) and “The Quatermass Xperiment” (1953).

In 2021, the U.K.’s Network Distributing signed a deal with Hammer Films to form Hammer Studios Ltd. After the death of managing director Tim Beddows in 2022, Network was liquidated.

Under Gore’s management, the plan is to invest significantly in Hammer Films to breathe new life into the studio, blending the nostalgic charm of Hammer with modern cinematic style and innovation, while preserving its heritage and library. A new slate of films and projects will be unveiled imminently.

The first film of the new incarnation of the studio to be released is B Good Picture Company’s “Doctor Jekyll,” starring Eddie Izzard and Scott Chambers and directed by Joe Stephenson. It is due for a theatrical release later this year.

Gore said: “Ever since I was a young boy, I’ve been enchanted by the magic of Hammer Films. Its stories, its characters and its unique place in British heritage and cinema have been a source of inspiration and wonder. Today, as I stand at the helm of this iconic studio, my commitment is twofold: to celebrate and preserve the unmatched legacy of Hammer and to usher in a new era of storytelling that captivates audiences worldwide. With significant investment and a fresh creative vision, we will ensure that the spirit of Hammer not only endures but thrives in the modern age.”

[fullycarpetclean]

Basic Maintenance & Rug Care to Make the Rug Look Like New Again

Rugs warm up floors, inject colour and pattern into a space, and create comfort zones in your space. Stains, snagging, and a flattened pile are all signs that a costly rug fails to see better days! However, there are a lot of things you can do to revive your rugs! So, it's important to know how to make it possible. Keep your rugs looking their best by following these simple tips!

The initial step to cleaning the floor coverings is to recognize the material utilized. It is significant in delaying its life! Various materials require one-of-a-kind region floor covering cleaning strategies and materials. The key to keeping the mat looking astonishing is customary upkeep. You should do the following things in its maintenance process:

Vacuum rugs at least weekly, more often in high-traffic areas

Flip the rug and vacuum the back each time,

As part of your routine, lift or roll large rugs to vacuum underneath them. 

Use appropriate vacuum settings to protect rug piles. 

Rugs made of natural fibre can be vacuumed with an appropriate upholstery attachment.

Basic Area Rug Care

The best way to clean an area rug depends on its size, construction, and material. Treat large area rugs the same way you would carpet. You won't have to worry about cleaning your area rugs for a long time. Follow a few simple care instructions to keep it remaining shiny for longer.

Vacuum the floor coverings to eliminate soil: The most crucial step in cleaning an area rug is to vacuum it regularly, just like you would with carpet. Rugs should be vacuumed at least once a week. It will remove dirt, dust, and other debris. Vacuum the different sides to wipe out coarseness and grime that can separate your floor covering thoughtlessly.

Get rid of spills: If liquid spills onto a rug, quickly soak it up to prevent it from getting into the yarns. Blot the affected area with a damp white cotton cloth. Avoid rubbing as it could damage the rug's surface. Continue doing this until the entire liquid has been absorbed. Before putting the rug back on the floor, allow it to dry completely after clean up the spill. Typically, it takes three to four hours.

Eliminate stains: Depending on the fabric, some rugs are better at repelling stains than others. Mud, coffee, and red wine are among the tough stains. It will be special care. Calling our rug cleaning service in Fulham is the easiest way to keep your rug clean.

Brush out pet hair: By protecting your rug from pets, you can reduce the damage that your pets make. A vacuum will once in a while abandon pet hair. Brush in the direction of the rug's nap with a stiff brush to remove the hair.

Make small area rugs shake: To remove grit and dirt, take the rug outside and vigorously shake it. Give the rug a good shake to remove any loose dirt or grit that clings to the fibres.

Every year, turn the rugs: Sunlight and foot traffic can strain area rugs even more. Turn them a few times per year to level out the wear.

Different rugs require special cleaning care. Keep close attention to the manufacturer's instructions and follow them during the cleaning process. Call professional cleaning companies that are backed by skilled cleaning teams and advanced cleaning equipment. They have the appropriate tools to clean the rug without causing any damage by getting it down into the fibres. Do you wish to improve the cleanliness and appearance of your rugs? Get the rugs professionally cleaned at least once a year. 

[daily-media]

Finance ministers of Japan and South Korea agree to resume currency swap agreement as ties warm

From July 21, Japan plans to reinstate South Korea as a preferred nation with fast-track trade status.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan and South Korea agreed Thursday to revive a currency swap agreement for times of crisis, in the latest sign of warming ties as the countries work to smooth over historical antagonisms.

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki announced the agreement after meeting with his South Korean counterpart, Choo Kyungho. It was the first time the two countries have held annual financial talks in seven years, though Suzuki and Choo also met in South Korea in May.

Suzuki told reporters that the 3-year currency swap agreement would help reinforce trust in the financial stability of the two countries as a fallback in an emergency. But he emphasized that Japan is fully prepared to deal with fluctuations in the Japanese yen, which has weakened sharply against the U.S. dollar in the past year.

The $10 billion swap arrangement expired in 2015 and had not been renewed. Largely symbolic, it allows the South Korean and Japanese central banks to exchange currencies for each country’s reserves of U.S. dollars to provide extra liquidity, or cash supplies, in case of a crisis.

The two major Asian economies, both U.S. allies, have recently mended ties as they contend with challenges posed by China and North Korea, despite tensions over issues left over from Japan’s 35-year occupation of the Korean Peninsula before and during World War II.

From July 21, Japan plans to reinstate South Korea as a preferred nation with fast-track trade status. That will essentially end a four-year trade dispute that began in July 2019 when Japan removed South Korea from its “white list” of countries given fast-track approvals in the trade as ties deteriorated over compensation for Japanese wartime actions.

Japan’s tightening of trade controls against Seoul was in apparent retaliation for South Korean court rulings in 2018 that ordered Japanese companies to compensate Korean workers for abusive treatment and forced labor during World War II.

Japan also tightened export controls on key chemicals used by South Korean companies to make semiconductors and displays, prompting South Korea to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization and remove Japan from its own list of countries with preferred trade status.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met in March in the first formal summit between the two countries since 2015.

Japan colonized the Korean Peninsula between 1910 and 1945, imposing Japanese names and language on Koreans and conscripting many into forced labour or prostitution in military brothels before and during World War II. Japan gave $800 million to South Korea’s then-military-backed government under a 1965 accord to normalize relations which were mainly used on economic development projects driven by major South Korean companies. A semi-government fund set up by Tokyo offered compensation to former “comfort women” when the government apologized in 1995, but many South Koreans believe the Japanese government should take more direct responsibility for the occupation.

The two sides also have a longstanding territorial dispute over a group of islands controlled by South Korea but claimed by Japan.