#Search Assistance to Understand the Market
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
Text
Nicole Brown- Real Estate Broker Assoc Re/Max Golden Empire
I have been in the real estate services business in the Bakersfield real estate markets for 19 successful years and will be here for many more. This longevity and confidence comes from my real estate services to a great many buyers and sellers, and their recommendations to others that result in repeat and referral business that keeps me productive and successful. Before Real Estate I was a lender, so I have lots of knowledge in this field.
As a full service Bakersfield Real Estate Professional, I work with buyers, sellers and investors in real estate transactions spanning all of the price ranges and property types. I'm REO & Short Sale certified. My goal is to gain a friend for life, and not just a client for short term.
Business Hours: Monday: 7:00am - 9:00pm Tuesday: 7:00am - 9:00pm Wednesday: 7:00am - 9:00pm Thursday: 7:00am - 9:00pm Friday: 7:00am - 9:00pm Saturday: 7:00am - 9:00pm Sunday: 7:00am - 9:00pm
Address: 3955 Coffee Rd, Bakersfield, CA 93312
Phone Number: (661) 363-3547
Website: http://nicolebrownhomes.com/
GBP Listing: https://www.google.com/maps?cid=10844963450566871291
Payment Methods: Cash, Check, Credit Cards, Debit Cards
Services: Home Search Assistance, Automated Search Reports, Financing Assistance, Price Negotiations, Inspections & Repair Negotiations, Contract to Closing, CMA, Comparative Market Analysis, Search Assistance to Understand the Market, A Marketing Plan that Works, Thorough and Objective Home Evaluation, Market Updates
Serving Areas: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1fV3rUe5SnBzWywoSDIZ3wl_yNB3xYqs&usp=sharing
YouTube Geotagged Video: https://youtu.be/wAwtYtWwSms
Slideshow Images (Google Photos): https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNj9WgaOMcUs04360qDAj1qibx_hxY-MZO0oVXC3N5JFm9PPInfCTjcoEf8_VlxBA/photo/AF1QipNtVVxzARhJ9J7kx9MYfmJ2LluSy-vnWpl01Svu?key=QUtkRjZPMm5oR29Ra3BNMzVtVHEtZDNReWxBRWRB
Keywords: Best Real Estate Agent Near Me, Best Realtor Near Me, Homes For Sale In Bakersfield, New Home Listings Near Me, Real Estate Agent, Real Estate Agent Bakersfield, Real Estate Agent Near Me, Real Estate Bakersfield, Realtor In Bakersfield, Realtor Near Me
1 note · View note
amazonmarketingagency · 7 months ago
Text
Lab 916: Your Partner in Crafting Winning Amazon Strategies
Introduction: Lab 916's Expertise in Amazon Strategy
In the ever-evolving world of e-commerce, Lab 916 stands as a beacon of expertise, providing businesses with tailored Amazon strategies to succeed in the competitive marketplace. With a deep understanding of Amazon's algorithms, trends, and best practices, Lab 916 helps businesses navigate the complexities of selling on the platform and achieve their goals.
Strategic Planning with Lab 916
Lab 916 takes a strategic approach to Amazon strategy development, focusing on optimizing product listings, implementing competitive pricing strategies, leveraging advertising tactics, and fostering customer engagement. By customizing strategies to align with each client's unique objectives and market dynamics, Lab 916 ensures that businesses can maximize their potential on Amazon.
Optimizing Product Listings for Maximum Visibility
A crucial aspect of Lab 916's Amazon strategy is optimizing product listings to enhance visibility and drive conversions. Through meticulous keyword research, compelling product descriptions, and high-quality imagery, Lab 916 ensures that each product listing is optimized to rank higher in Amazon search results. By improving the visibility and appeal of product listings, businesses can attract more customers and increase sales.
Implementing Competitive Pricing Strategies
Lab 916 assists businesses in developing competitive yet profitable pricing strategies tailored to their market segment. By analyzing competitor pricing data, market trends, and consumer behavior, Lab 916 helps businesses set prices that maximize sales while maintaining healthy profit margins. Additionally, Lab 916 provides guidance on leveraging dynamic pricing tools and promotional strategies to stay competitive on Amazon.
Leveraging Advertising Tactics for Enhanced Visibility
Advertising is a key component of Lab 916's Amazon strategy, aimed at increasing product visibility and driving targeted traffic to product listings. Lab 916 utilizes Amazon's advertising platform to create and optimize sponsored product ads, sponsored brand ads, and sponsored display ads. By strategically targeting keywords and audience segments, Lab 916 helps businesses maximize their advertising ROI and generate sales on Amazon.
Fostering Customer Engagement and Loyalty
Lab 916 emphasizes the importance of fostering strong customer relationships to drive long-term success on Amazon. Through proactive customer service, timely responses to inquiries and feedback, and strategies to encourage positive reviews, Lab 916 helps businesses build trust and loyalty with their customers. By delivering exceptional shopping experiences and maintaining positive seller ratings, businesses can enhance their reputation and drive repeat purchases on the platform.
Conclusion: Achieving Success with Lab 916's Guidance
In conclusion, Lab 916 serves as a valuable partner for businesses seeking to excel on Amazon. With Lab 916's expertise and strategic guidance, businesses can optimize their Amazon strategies and achieve success in the competitive e-commerce landscape. By leveraging Lab 916's insights and best practices, businesses can unlock their full potential on one of the world's largest online platforms.
Introduction: Lab 916's Expertise in Amazon Strategy
In the ever-evolving world of e-commerce, Lab 916 stands as a beacon of expertise, providing businesses with tailored Amazon strategies to succeed in the competitive marketplace. With a deep understanding of Amazon's algorithms, trends, and best practices, Lab 916 helps businesses navigate the complexities of selling on the platform and achieve their goals.
Strategic Planning with Lab 916
Lab 916 takes a strategic approach to Amazon strategy development, focusing on optimizing product listings, implementing competitive pricing strategies, leveraging advertising tactics, and fostering customer engagement. By customizing strategies to align with each client's unique objectives and market dynamics, Lab 916 ensures that businesses can maximize their potential on Amazon.
Optimizing Product Listings for Maximum Visibility
A crucial aspect of Lab 916's Amazon strategy is optimizing product listings to enhance visibility and drive conversions. Through meticulous keyword research, compelling product descriptions, and high-quality imagery, Lab 916 ensures that each product listing is optimized to rank higher in Amazon search results. By improving the visibility and appeal of product listings, businesses can attract more customers and increase sales.
Implementing Competitive Pricing Strategies
Lab 916 assists businesses in developing competitive yet profitable pricing strategies tailored to their market segment. By analyzing competitor pricing data, market trends, and consumer behavior, Lab 916 helps businesses set prices that maximize sales while maintaining healthy profit margins. Additionally, Lab 916 provides guidance on leveraging dynamic pricing tools and promotional strategies to stay competitive on Amazon.
Leveraging Advertising Tactics for Enhanced Visibility
Advertising is a key component of Lab 916's Amazon strategy, aimed at increasing product visibility and driving targeted traffic to product listings. Lab 916 utilizes Amazon's advertising platform to create and optimize sponsored product ads, sponsored brand ads, and sponsored display ads. By strategically targeting keywords and audience segments, Lab 916 helps businesses maximize their advertising ROI and generate sales on Amazon.
Fostering Customer Engagement and Loyalty
Lab 916 emphasizes the importance of fostering strong customer relationships to drive long-term success on Amazon. Through proactive customer service, timely responses to inquiries and feedback, and strategies to encourage positive reviews, Lab 916 helps businesses build trust and loyalty with their customers. By delivering exceptional shopping experiences and maintaining positive seller ratings, businesses can enhance their reputation and drive repeat purchases on the platform.
Conclusion: Achieving Success with Lab 916's Guidance
In conclusion, Lab 916 serves as a valuable partner for businesses seeking to excel on Amazon. With Lab 916's expertise and strategic guidance, businesses can optimize their Amazon strategies and achieve success in the competitive e-commerce landscape. By leveraging Lab 916's insights and best practices, businesses can unlock their full potential on one of the world's largest online platforms.
#Introduction: Lab 916's Expertise in Amazon Strategy#In the ever-evolving world of e-commerce#Lab 916 stands as a beacon of expertise#providing businesses with tailored Amazon strategies to succeed in the competitive marketplace. With a deep understanding of Amazon's algor#trends#and best practices#Lab 916 helps businesses navigate the complexities of selling on the platform and achieve their goals.#Strategic Planning with Lab 916#Lab 916 takes a strategic approach to Amazon strategy development#focusing on optimizing product listings#implementing competitive pricing strategies#leveraging advertising tactics#and fostering customer engagement. By customizing strategies to align with each client's unique objectives and market dynamics#Lab 916 ensures that businesses can maximize their potential on Amazon.#Optimizing Product Listings for Maximum Visibility#A crucial aspect of Lab 916's Amazon strategy is optimizing product listings to enhance visibility and drive conversions. Through meticulou#compelling product descriptions#and high-quality imagery#Lab 916 ensures that each product listing is optimized to rank higher in Amazon search results. By improving the visibility and appeal of p#businesses can attract more customers and increase sales.#Implementing Competitive Pricing Strategies#Lab 916 assists businesses in developing competitive yet profitable pricing strategies tailored to their market segment. By analyzing compe#market trends#and consumer behavior#Lab 916 helps businesses set prices that maximize sales while maintaining healthy profit margins. Additionally#Lab 916 provides guidance on leveraging dynamic pricing tools and promotional strategies to stay competitive on Amazon.#Leveraging Advertising Tactics for Enhanced Visibility#Advertising is a key component of Lab 916's Amazon strategy#aimed at increasing product visibility and driving targeted traffic to product listings. Lab 916 utilizes Amazon's advertising platform to#sponsored brand ads
1 note · View note
cherrychilli · 6 months ago
Text
18+ Perv! Steve Harrington x Perv! reader, F reader, friends to lovers, scent kink, reader being a bit of a creep but Steve's into it because duh, masturbation (f) sexual acts in public, mentions of and allusions to oral sex (f)
WC: 5K
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
A/N: I was going to split this into two parts but fuck it. Two for one special. Still feeling rusty when it comes to writing so go easy on me, yeah? Also, this one's kind of gross at times. Just a little bit. Nothing extreme but just letting you know incase you're someone who gets squeamish easily. Enjoy!
Tumblr media
The hair? sure. Everyone liked his hair.
People usually fell into two camps when it came to Steve Harrington's signature do; either they envied it or they hoped to be one of the lucky ones who got to run their fingers through it.
You used to daydream about the latter when you only knew him from afar but now that he no longer ran with a particular kind of crowd, now that he's just Steve and no longer the King, you managed to get close enough to find out that he smelled nice too.
Really nice.
So, figuring out that he used women's shampoo shouldn't have been the revelation that it was because it made so much sense, his tresses never scented with a wintry pine or spicy cedarwood like most scent profiles marketed to men.
You had your friends to thank for your stumbling upon that discovery, the group of them arriving at your home to bully you out of your PJ's and into a pair of jeans and shoes, uprooting you from your room on a Saturday afternoon for an outing to the fancy part of the mall.
While they searched for new make-up, you wandered a section of the store by yourself, uncapping the pretty bottles in the hair care aisle whenever the sales assistants' attention wandered elsewhere, squeezing each one carefully to sample the array of scents. You did this idly and with no real plans to purchase anything, just something to pass the time while your friends crowded another display a few aisles away, chattering blissfully and swatching lipsticks.
Picking up a fifth shampoo from the lineup of bottles, you brought the uncapped rim up to your face, lightly skimming your cupids bow with it as you gently inhaled. While fun, you'd spent most of your time at the mall feeling a little bored, a small part of you still desiring to go back home where you could lounge and laze in peace. That was until you began to recognize the scent of the newest shampoo you had clutched in your hand, the familiarity of it triggering a whirlpool of memories.
In seconds, your mind plunged back to the night of Jack Sullivan's graduation party. The first time Steve Harrington had spoken to you – really spoken to you since he’d parted ways with Carol and Tommy, seeming much more approachable than he had in the past.
The two of you had ended up sharing the patio swing outside where the air wasn't as thick with smoke and the smell of spilled booze. Making conversation, he offered you a beer he'd originally intended to give Robin before she'd slipped away into one of the guest bathrooms with your best friend Sally. You both knew why, sharing a look of understanding but never mentioning the obvious out loud out of loyalty to your friends.
Then there was the only day it rained in July, remembering the way your fingers brushed against his as you handed him your umbrella. You'd discovered him taking refuge under the awning of the diner you worked at that morning, face twisted all worrisome as he looked up from his wristwatch to the downpour in front of him, forced into walking to work that day due to his car still being in the shop. The only light that shone that day was the gleaming smile he gave you when he thanked you for your kindness.
And then there was the time when you had your head down while scanning a tape at Family Video, bumping face first into Steve's chest when you rounded the corner, his name tag catching on your bottom lip. It was the tiniest sliver of a cut, barely noticeable or painful but oh, how he fussed over you like you were made of porcelain. He’d gone so far as to sit you down on his chair behind the counter as if you might collapse from blood loss at any moment, whizzing into the break room and back with a fist full of napkins to dab the miniscule wound that had already stopped bleeding.
All of those memories and more linked by one scent. This scent.
With your pupils dilating like a cat prepared to pounce, you flipped the bottle over to read the contents.
White frangipani blossoms, toasted coconut, bergamot waters, sea salt breeze and sunkissed musk.
Steve Harrington in a bottle. And the quickest 16 dollars you've ever spent.
And with that purchase came the self-imposed reminder to exercise caution. Upon leaving the mall with your friends, your mood much chipper than when you'd arrived, you made sure to hardly ever use the shampoo when you bathed, afraid that if Steve smelled it on you later, somehow, he'd be able to put the pieces together and know why you'd bought it, even as wildly unlikely as that seemed.
So instead, you huffed the bottle in private on most days, only using it when you knew you'd be spending the day at home. On those eagerly awaited days you luxuriated in the scent as you applied the shampoo in your shower, mind and fingers wandering, working your peaked nipples and your firm clit up to the thought of Steve joining you in your shower and fucking you dumb – tits pressed up against the cold, wet tiles, ass bouncing on his hips as he stretched you open and used you well.
But now that you'd discovered this new kind of hunger you had to make sure to keep it well fed and when the shampoo didn't feel like enough anymore, you set out to purchase his cologne.
The scent was one you had memorized from all of your trips to the video store, hanging around the counter while Steve talked to you about which movie you ought to rent next. You could smell it on his neck whenever he leaned in close on his elbows, face inches away from yours, wishing he'd close the distance and meet your lips with his.
Another trip to the mall had you scouring the men's section like a wolf tracking the scent of injured prey, sampling bottle after bottle of cologne until you found it.
Aromatic sage, dark tonka bean and rich sandalwood. Priced at a cool $39.50 which you gladly forked over because to you, it was all money well spent.
The cologne became part of your nightly routine after that, dabbing drops of the heady scent on your body when you went to bed, the smell making your arousal climb before lulling you to sleep an orgasm later, evoking dreams of Steve throughout the night that made you wake up to your panties all damp and sticking to your core by morning.
You were content that way, the shampoo and the cologne enough to satiate your fixation on the way Steve smelled all while managing to maintain your friendship with him without things becoming weird.
What ended up shattering that peace however was running into him a few weeks later coming out of the Y, just done with a game of basketball as he spotted you passing by and happily waved you down.
He smiled at you just as brightly as he had all those months ago in July, this time dressed in his gym clothes; a pair of green shorts that showed off the thickness of his toned, hairy thighs and a grey t-shirt, the sleeves filled out well by his tanned biceps and its collar darkened by sweat.
Up close, you could smell the exertion on him and that was what became your undoing.
It took every iota of self-control not to rush him to the ground and pin him beneath you, feeling more and more like a caged animal the longer the conversation went on and you were forced to compose yourself.
It was the kind of scent you wanted to sink into, more so than the cologne or the shampoo because this was Steve completely unadulterated – that earthy musk, that rugged, almost spicy all-natural scent that you wouldn't be able to find on any shelf.
Barely managing to hold it together until parting ways with him, you knew you wouldn't be able to rest without it, mind already working to devise a plan.
~
"Risve- what?"
You chuckled as the word died on Steve's tongue, knowing he'd trip up on the pronunciation. Reaching for a pen and a scrap of paper sitting on the counter, you wrote the word down for him. "Risvegli. It's Italian", you explain, handing it to him as you do your best to repress the shiver that runs through you when his slender fingers graze yours, trying hard to quieten your mind after all the ways you’ve imagined those very fingers touching you in your most sensitive places.
"It's kind of an obscure flick but I like that sort of stuff. D'you think you could have a look and see if you've got a copy in the back?", you try not to bat your lashes too much when you ask, not wanting to overplay the sweetness to the point that it comes off as insincere or worse, suspicious.
Steve looks down to study the paper, cheeks dusted a pretty pink, you can’t help but notice. The ends of his hair are still damp from his shower at the Y, just as you expected now that you knew which days he spent there before clocking in for work.
"For you? Definitely", he looked back up and smiled at you in that way that made your heart somersault. "Be right back". He leaves you alone at the counter and you make sure to wait for him to disappear out of sight into the back, stamping down a flash of guilt for having sent him off to search for a movie that didn't exist to buy you time.
You'd planned it all last night, stepping away from the counter before heading towards the employee break room, able to sneak in without fear of running into Robin because you knew she'd be spending the day with Sally on her day off from working at the diner.
Steve’s duffle bag is in plain view as you shut the door to the little room behind you quietly, resting on a chair that'd been pulled out from the table where you imagined he probably shared his lunch breaks with Robin.
Striding up to it, you find the zipper and tentatively, you pull it open to reveal the contents. What you're looking for is balled up at the very top, picking up the sweat damp t-shirt with clammy, trembling fingers. You're really crossing a line this time and you know it, your teeth close to piercing the soft skin of your bottom lip as you bite down on it but you can't deny that there's just something so exhilarating about the whole thing too. The lying, the sneaking around, the risk – it's all a little too much and your mind grows foggy with it, dulling your once sharp intuition and giving way to a moment of weakness that has you abandoning caution now that you're alone.
Waiting to do indulge your urges until you're safe at home feels impossible now that you've got your hands on it, eagerly pressing your nose into the damp t-shirt, eyes nearly rolling back as you filled your lungs with the smell of him. It must have been the pheromones, it had to be, awakening that primal kind of desire in you that had you parting your lips and pressing the tip of your tongue to one of the sweat stains, sucking on the sour, salty musk that had soaked into the cotton.
What you're doing is so dirty, damn near repulsive and knowing that just fuels you even more as you begin to salivate. You're too wrapped up in the earthy scent of him, too lost in the taste to notice when the door handle jiggles behind you, too drunk on the sick thought of what Steve’s used boxers must smell like if you were to pull those out of his duffle next when all of a sudden, it's too late.
The door to the break room swings open and in walks Steve, the world screeching to a sickening standstill when his eyes fall on you.
Your own eyes bulging, you watch in mute horror as he takes in the sight before him, the scrap of paper you'd handed him earlier slipping from between his thumb and forefinger, fluttering to the floor like the wings of a dying butterfly.
It's impossible to know what he's thinking. Is it disgust? if so, he hid it well. Bewilderment? You weren't sure. Ice crackles over your bones as the two of you stare for a few seconds longer, Steve's expression still unreadable.
The whole thing's all the more uncomfortable because of the way he continues to watch you like you’re something to be studied, looking contemplative as you trembled in place, wishing for the ground to break open beneath your feet and swallow you away into a never-ending crevasse.
But as the seconds tick by and the ground stays perfectly intact you're left to seek your own respite.
Despite what feels like the blood retreating from your veins, your body shifts into auto pilot as you wordlessly place the rumpled t-shirt back in Steve's duffel and do the only thing you can do in a fucked up situation like this – walk away. Even as he tries to call after you, you ignore his shouts, continuing on a path towards and out the exit, mortified.
You don't go back to Family Video after that. In fact, you avoid that entire street for a whole week.
The days following being caught out by Steve were some of the worst you've had to endure. Shame made a home in your body, making you ache with a belly full of thorns and your thoughts growing increasingly heavy and abrasive as they flood your throbbing head.
For those seven days you carried around the dread of knowing that Steve had discovered that secret side of you, the feeling worsening at the thought of him telling others what he had seen and rendering you some kind of town pariah – even though a tiny, hopeful whisper inside your raucous head told you that he probably hadn't said anything, at least not yet since Sally hadn't even seemed to have gotten word of the incident from Robin.
But that's all it was. A tiny, fleeting whisper that did nothing to calm you.
At home, you buried yourself in your blankets, letting your anxieties exhaust you to sleep and at work you moved as if you were fighting your way through thick slurry – slow and dragging your body from table to table, unsmiling as you took patrons' meal orders and served them their food.
You continued like that all throughout your shift, waiting for the moment you could peel your polyester uniform off in favour of your own clothes and drive yourself home. With only 30 minutes left before closing, your shoulders which had been pulled tight all day with tension began to sag, a momentary wash of relief coursing through you. That was until you smelled it – smelled him.
Whipping around, your stomach plummets when your eyes fall on Steve walking through the door – and to make things worse, he’s carrying that duffle on his shoulder.
He's yet to have spotted you, taking a seat at one of the empty booths though you notice the way his eyes are scanning the diner, searching.
It's obvious that you’re the one he’s looking for as worry courses down your spine like a lightning strike. Was he going to confront you? right here? in front of all these people? Normally you wouldn’t peg Steve as someone who’d do something so cruel but after what he’d caught you doing, a little public humiliation doesn’t seem all that undeserved, you had to admit.
So, carefully you retreat into the breakroom without drawing his attention, pulling a perplexed Sally along with you once you'd caught hold of her by her elbow.
Once safely inside, you all but blubber in her face, begging her to wait on Steve's table, even promising her all your tips for the next week in exchange.
Seeing the distress contorting your face must have made her feel sorry for you because she pulls you in for a quick, tight hug, running her hand up and down your back in an attempt to calm you. You'd only given her little snippets of what had happened at the video store, making sure to alter a few details for the sake of concealing how far you’d actually gone that day. To her, the gist of it was that you'd embarrassed yourself horribly and that was all she really needed to know, springing into action as the compassionate best friend to the rescue.
"I've got it, okay? just breathe", she'd repeated soothingly into your hair, giving you a quick squeeze and her best reassuring smile before you reluctantly unwind your hands from around her, allowing her to step out of the break room ahead of you.
Outside again, thirty minutes drag on like hours while you purposely stick to the part of the diner that's furthest away from Steve's table. You don't dare look at him but you do sneak a glance when Sally walks by with his order, a single black coffee and nothing else which he sips leisurely while you tremble.
If his plan was to confront you then what the hell was he waiting for? There was nothing stopping him from walking up to you while sweat collects between your shoulder blades as you clear the tables of customers who’ve settled their bill and since left. Nothing to prevent him from stepping up to the counter while you nervously rubbed the surface of it free of crumbs and stains to demand an explanation for your bizarre behavior last week. Nothing to stop him from simply walking up to you at any moment and ask to know what the fuck your deal was.
But he doesn’t do any of that. Instead, he finishes his coffee and casually waves down Sally for the bill while smiling politely. Somehow that causes you even more unease.
In that moment you lose sight of Steve when you’re called over to serve the only other table of customers left, a family of five keen to fit in one last round of milkshakes before they call an end to their meal.
You see to their order despite your shaking limbs, returning with a tray crowded with the cold, sweet drinks, setting each one down carefully in front of the smiling children and their parents before you head back behind the counter with your tray clutched close to your chest. The whole thing must have taken you ten minutes and when you sneak one more look in Steve’s direction you find his booth empty this time.
Eyes frantically searching the diner, you manage to catch a final glimpse of him walking out the front door, bell chiming above him as he departs, leaving the diner and you with even more questions than you had when he'd first arrived.  
Had Steve changed his mind? Had he just wanted to make you sweat for the hell of it? Taken pleasure in watching you try to keep it together in his presence while you traipsed around the diner all too carefully like a petrified newborn deer?
Why had he shown up at all today if he wasn’t going to...do anything?
You get your answer fifteen minutes later when wearily, you trudge into the staff room at the end of your shift, pulling open your locker and all but fainting at the sight of what’s been placed inside beside your belongings.
Neatly folded inside is Steve's grey t-shirt, the same one you'd tried unsuccessfully to "borrow" last week The scent of him is instantly recognizable as you inhale shakily, fingers reaching out to touch the slightly damp cotton to confirm to yourself that you weren’t in fact hallucinating the whole thing.
When your pulse starts to settle and the static crackling in your ears starts to cease you notice a little scrap of folded paper placed inside too. Picking it up and pulling it open, it's with a deep, dreamy sigh that your chest blooms with sunny warmth as you read the note, a smile gracing your lips for the first time in a week.
Tumblr media
Three months later...
The only good thing about working the graveyard shift at the diner was that Steve always insisted on coming in an hour before you clocked out so he could drive you home.
Occupying one of the booths inside the sleepy diner, he'd keep himself busy with his phone while you worked, perking up whenever you came by to freshen up his coffee or sneak him a piece of pie he hadn't ordered with all his favorite fixings.
It was during those moments that he liked to have a little fun with you, quickly surveying the room to make sure no customers or staff were looking over in your direction before he'd slip his fingers under your skirt and pinch your ass. Sometimes you'd see it coming and other times he'd catch you off guard, cruel delight curling his lips into a smirk whenever you had to stifle your surprised squeals.
And that's as far as he usually took, patiently waiting until he could get you in his car for more but today felt different.
With no new customers coming in in the last two hours, Sally had taken to the break room to work in a nap while the kitchen staff had stepped out back to smoke and deal cards to pass the time. That left just you working the front with Steve as the diner's only patron.
Having no one else around meant you could flirt freely with him now, making sure to look over your shoulder every now and then just incase to make sure you didn't get caught.
You spent that time alone together with his boot gently tapping against your shoe under the table, reaching out and fiddling with his fingers because you always liked to be touching him while you happily teased each other as the minutes passed by.
Somewhere in the middle of your playful banter you noticed Steve's cup was now empty, picking yourself up from the booth to bring over more coffee. As you leaned over the edge of the table to pour, you anticipated the glide of his fingers on your thigh, inching up your skirt to situate them between your legs.
"You're going to get me fired one of these days", you chide him, still holding on to the pot of coffee once you'd finished refilling his cup.
"Good – then I can have you all to myself", he teased back, index finger drawing patterns on your inner thigh, just a few inches below the lacy trim of your panties.
"Steve", you attempt to scold but there's barely any heat there for him to take it seriously, fingers daring to trail higher.
Meeting his heavy gaze, you watch him search your eyes for a moment, the soft smirk that had been tugging at the corner of his lips slowly fading away as something more serious clouds his expression when he leans forward to whisper to you.
"No one's around, baby. Please? Can I?"
It takes you a second before you know exactly what he's asking for without needing him to specify, heat rising up from the depths of your chest and gathering in your cheeks.
He's got that look in his eyes too and you know that this is what it must have looked like the day he caught you with your face buried in his sweaty t-shirt. That feverish glint of potent want making his iris' gleam.
"Steve, it's too risky", you try to reason quietly despite the way your thighs are already parting for him, allowing him to skim the pads of his fingers over the seat of your panties, teasing your waiting folds through the thin later of fabric.
"Never stopped you before", he's quick to reply with wink, making you grow warmer at the reminder.
He's got you beat there.
"I promise I'll be quick", he pleads again softly and it's almost comical how quickly you buckle under the weight of his needy gaze.
"Shit, okay", you concede as you step closer to the edge of the booth and he pulls himself closer too, hand moving higher to cup your ass under your skirt.
You sigh contently when Steve leans forward and presses his nose against the front of your uniform, right over the juncture between your legs. You're careful to keep your grip tight on the handle of the coffee pot you're still carrying when he takes in a deep breath, inhaling your scent right through your clothes.
Steve liked to joke that you brought out this side of him, the one that made the both of you realize how alike you really were.
It started with the way he liked to linger between your legs after he'd finished eating you out. Your ruined panties spilled out of his back pocket, never to be returned to you as he took his time pressing sweet kisses against your swollen folds and spent clit with his sticky lips, clearly pleased with himself as you fought to catch your breath from the orgasm that'd rippled through you.
And as things progressed, he wasn't secretive about wanting to fuck you so hard and often that the smell of you would linger in the air long after you were done. Or how he liked to nestle his nose in the curls on your mound once he'd finished laving at your pussy – the moreish combination of sweat, saliva and your natural musk making his twitching cock stiffen all over again as he rut into the mattress for a second time, painting his sticky boxers with another generous load.
Other times he'd get on his knees for you, pulling you close by your hips so he could place his face against your clothed cunt and mumble dreamy praises about how good your pussy smelled. And you always loved it when he got like that, even now as your free hand strokes lazily through his caramel hair, letting him do this to you in the middle of your place of work, your coworkers unaware but not far away enough that they couldn't walk in at any moment and find the two of you like this.
"Stevie", you whined softly as you tried to get his attention, a reluctant reminder that the two of you should probably stop before it's too late.
"Jus' a little more, please? need it to tide me over before I can get you alone". His eyes are all glazed over when he looks up at you, tentatively slipping his other hand up the front of your thigh to hitch up the hem of your skirt ever so slightly, his gaze all pleading as he waits for your permission.
With the way he's managed to work you up, your panties more that a little tacky from his attention and your belly tightening with warmth, how could you possibly refuse when you needed this just as badly as he did?
"Fuck. Yes, okay – just be careful", you urge gently because 'be quick' doesn't seem likely anymore.
A look of pure bliss breaks out on his reddening face. "Christ. Thank you, baby", Steve groans appreciatively, pushing your skirt up to expose your panties before burying his face against your clothed mound. He can feel the outline of your cunt perfectly when he's this close – so soft and plump, his mounting greed has him battling the urge to pull the soaked cotton down to your knees and start sucking the tangy slick from your pretty, swollen pussy lips before pressing deeper to lick at your tight hole and all it has to offer.
Restraining himself, he lets out a muffled moan against your core that has your clit swelling and throbbing, your eyes slipping shut while you give yourself to him. It's almost soothing the way he savors you so shamelessly, head partially ducked underneath your rucked up skirt, fingers gently squeezing your ass with his blunt nails making light indents in your skin.
You let him breathe you in for a while longer until you begin to feel a little floaty and more than a little needy from it all, expecting Steve to pull away soon because how much longer could you get away with doing this in public? Stopping him isn't what you want, not really but you knew better than to push your luck by now.
But instead of him reluctantly withdrawing away from you, what you feel next is the wet drag of his tongue along your messy panties, warm, firm and sudden.
Although definitely not unwelcome, under the circumstances, the feeling of it startles you and you can't help but cry out with a yelp, arm jerking backwards as a splash of coffee makes its way onto the checkered diner floor.
Hearts hammering, the both of you rip apart from each other then, Steve with his wide eyes and ruffled hair as he plasters himself to his seat while you very nearly lose what's left of your balance when your shoes skid over the wet mess of spilled coffee. You manage to catch yourself though when you grab the edge of his table with your free hand, finally placing the damn coffee pot down to hurriedly pull your skirt back into place.
Silence overtakes the room as the both of you peer wordlessly in the direction of the kitchen and breakroom, waiting to see if you'd accidentally drawn the attention of any nearby diner staff.
Seconds turn into a minute and when no one comes through either of the doors you allow yourself to sigh out in relief, turning back to Steve.
"Shit. I'm sorry I couldn't help it – had to taste you, honey. You just – fuck, you just smell so fucking good. I needed a little more", he tries to explain when your eyes connect, his cheeks sheened with a thin layer of perspiration and flushed a deep pink.
You were foolish to think you could let him do all of that and endure waiting until the end of your shift to take things further in his car. Leaving him with his lips parted and his jaw slack, you stride away to the diner's entrance to quickly flip the 'open' sign over to read 'closed', rushing back to tug Steve up and out of his seat urgently, grinning when you catch sight of the stiff bulge straining in his jeans.
"Supply closet. Now. Need you to put that mouth of yours to good use."
2K notes · View notes
bubblegum-glitch · 3 months ago
Text
Tumblr media
The Catalyst: Life working in retail and the moment I finally said "fuck it, I'm doing porn."
I've been working in Customer Service off and on since early 2005, only ever being unemployed for short periods of time between job searches. I've worked in various retail establishments, with shipping companies, call centres, door-to-door sales, and even in kitchens & cafes. The only industry I have ever refused to work in has been fast food, and I'm sure those of you who have worked a drive through or two in your lives can understand my reasoning. I began in my first year of high school working at a Dollar Store that was next to an extremely seedy strip club (it eventually burned down and it was discovered that the owner had done it to try and cash in on the insurance). From customers verbally and physically abusing me, to an elderly man jerking his cock in front of me, my first romp in retail was merely a taste of what was to come for the next 20 years.
Some jobs were certainly better than others. I worked at a bookstore and a Halloween shop, both of which would have been fine if not for the politics of the company bleeding into the staff and making us all miserable. Bad management teams, abusive coworkers, bullying and drama akin to that which we experience in High School - it becomes exhausting after awhile. For minimum wage, which doesn't even come close to a living wage, it's just not worth the headaches. I rarely lasted longer than two years with any of my employers. When you're handed a penny raise after working your ass off for an entire year you tend to lose faith in the company that you've been breaking your back (and sanity) for. I promise, there was no lack of trying on my part to escape the clutches of the customer service industry. I have my BA in English, I have a certificate in photography, and I have some training in IT Web design (which proved to be far too much for my little brain to handle) and Audio Engineering. Unfortunately the job market for all of these industries in my part of the world is pretty much non existent. I'm pretty sure a BA in English is worth less than toilet paper even after the great pandemic shortage of 2020. Unfortunately, to make money in this world you gotta do what you gotta do. So to pay off my crippling debt and be able to afford an occasional package of ramen noodles so I don't starve to death, I have to continue working these soul crushing, mindless jobs.
It was in 2016 when I started working in donation rooms at thrift stores and, I will be completely honest with you - I fucking love it. Granted, it has it's downsides. I've sorted through more than a couple bags with mould, human feces, needles, and used sex toys, but the satisfaction of the treasure hunt it's absolutely worth the nasty shit that you sometimes encounter. But once again, the politics of the industry got in the way of finding my work enjoyable and rewarding. Nasty upper management was the downfall of all three thrift locations I've worked at. The first store the CEO shut us down without warning (I also later learned he was a sexual predator and was being sued by some of his employees for harassment, so that was gross). The second location had a violent customer base (we were robbed repeatedly), a bully assistant manager who would scream in your face when HE made a mistake, and a regional manager who loved to throw her staff under the bus.
So that leads us to my third romp in thrift, my absolute favourite job I've ever had, and the devastation brought upon me when everything came crumbling down.
My husband and I came into a little bit of money in 2021 and I decided to take a break from the world of customer service bullshit and return to school (This was my IT and Audio Engineering training). That summer I got a student job at a thrift store where 100% of the proceeds go into helping rescue animals. It was entirely volunteer based other than the management team and the summer students (who were there on a government grant). I had such an enjoyable experience working there as the volunteer coordinator than I returned the following summer, and they were so impressed with me they ended up hiring me on permanently part time to help with their rapidly growing business. At this point, due to some mental health struggles, I am not currently able to work full time hours, and they were more than happy to work around my disability...
Until the new regional manager was hired.
The store closed for renovations and I was brought in to help rebuild and re-brand the store.
Sure. No problem. It's more hours than I'm available for, but I don't mind just for a couple of weeks. It's also more physical work than my body is really equipped for but, just this once, I'll suffer through with a smile on my face.
Then I'm handed a key and I'm told "You're a staff supervisor now". Oh... okay? No one talked to me or asked me if I wanted the promotion, it's more hours than I can handle, and I don't really want the responsibilities that come with a supervisor position because of my disability, but since my old position has been dissolved I guess I'll have to suck it up. At least it comes with a raise, right?
Nope. Still minimum wage. Which is currently sitting about $15 under a livable wage. Also, we won't be training you and just expect you to know how to do the assistant manager's job.
Okay... Gotta do what you gotta do I guess.
You also have to work more shifts than you're available for.
Oh... yeah, okay. That could start to prove difficult as I'm dealing with a depressive episode right now but... sure?
Then suddenly I'm responsible for everything that goes wrong. A volunteer makes a mistake? Blame Billie - even on days she isn't working. The cash or pricing machines break? Billie. Shoes, purses, dresses, and coats priced to low? Blame Billie and make sure she's the only person who prices these things from now on. Need 30 things done at once right this second, tell Billie and don't let her delegate the tasks to anyone else. If she does, yell at her! Have Billie open and close the store for the next two weekends, but don't train her how to do it and expect her not to make any mistakes. Customer has an issue? That's right, it's also somehow Billie's fault! Even when she's at home sleeping!
Blame, blame, blame, blame, blame, blame, blame.
Yeah. This was the breaking point for me.
In July of 2023 I had started up an OnlyFans account to bring in a couple extra dollars. I'll discuss why this was a challenging decision for me in a future post, but originally I was just planning to post some tasteful nudes to earn myself a little spending money. By May of 2024, as all this bullshit had begun happening at work, that mindset had officially gone from a couple tasteful nudes to "Fuck it, I'm quitting retail and making porn." By August I had amassed enough of a following to put in my notice.
I am finished with retail as of October 15th, 2024 and turning to creating adult content full time.
Honestly, this is a terrifying leap of faith as I know content creation can be a fickle beast. Some months will be more lucrative than others, while an inability to keep people invested could have everything all come crashing down on top of me.
But I'm done with working for people who take advantage of me and pay me pennies. I know my value and I'm worth more than what I'm being given. I'm not a number who is easily replaceable, I am a strong capable woman who is in charge of her own destiny.
So fuck you workforce,
I quit!
Now. If you'll excuse me, I'm off to live life how it's meant to be lived,
Enjoyed!
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
20 notes · View notes
izicodes · 1 year ago
Text
LinkedIn Career Explorer
Tumblr media
Hiya everyone, I came across something interesting while browsing LinkedIn that I wanted to share, especially for those in the job market, particularly in the tech industry. If you're not familiar with it, this could be valuable information for your job search~!
LinkedIn Career Explorer is a tool provided by LinkedIn that helps individuals find new job opportunities based on their existing skills and also assists in identifying the skills needed for career transitions!
Tumblr media Tumblr media
Basically you add your city and the job title you’re applying for and it gives you:
Skills Needed: Career Explorer may suggest the skills and qualifications required for the job you’re interested in.
Related Job Titles: It offers suggestions for related job titles, which can broaden your job search and open up more opportunities. E.g. You enter “Web Developer” and it would suggest Web Development Specialist, Web Application Developer etc. From there it even shows you what skills you need to build on to transition from the original job you entered to the one they suggested. Also, it shows a “skills overlap” to highlight that oh the original job does have a lot of similarities in skills!
Job Market Insights: It provides data on the demand for specific job roles in your city. This can help you understand which industries are thriving and where your skills might be in demand. Tells you if it’s popular from someone to transition from job A to job B, a rating out of 10!
Networking Opportunities: LinkedIn often suggests connections and groups related to your career interests, helping you expand your professional network too!
Tumblr media
They use their own data so it's independent to what's outside of LinkedIn, so keep that in mind in terms of what they say about popularity and skills need but, in the end, I think it's really useful!
Link to LinkedIn Career Explorer : LINK
Tumblr media
⤷ ○ ♡ my shop ○ my twt ○ my youtube ○ pinned post ○ blog's navigation ♡ ○
95 notes · View notes
rjzimmerman · 2 months ago
Text
Excerpt from this story from First Street:
Zillow® is introducing climate risk data, provided by First Street, the standard for climate risk financial modeling, on for-sale property listings across the U.S. Home shoppers will gain insights into five key risks—flood, wildfire, wind, heat and air quality—directly from listing pages, complete with risk scores, interactive maps and insurance requirements. 
With more than 80% of buyers now considering climate risks when purchasing a home, this feature provides a clearer understanding of potential hazards, helping buyers to better assess long-term affordability and plan for the future. In assisting buyers to navigate the growing risk of climate change, Zillow is the only platform to feature tailored insurance recommendations alongside detailed historical insights, showing if or when a property has experienced past climate events, such as flooding or wildfires. 
“Climate risks are now a critical factor in home-buying decisions,” said Skylar Olsen, chief economist at Zillow. “Healthy markets are ones where buyers and sellers have access to all relevant data for their decisions. As concerns about flooding, extreme temperatures and wildfires grow — and what that might mean for future insurance costs — this tool also helps agents inform their clients in discussing climate risk, insurance and long-term affordability.”
Climate risk information will be available on the Zillow app for iOS® and on the Zillow website by the end of the year, with Android™ availability expected early next year.
11 notes · View notes
starsofjewels · 5 months ago
Text
HPQD: Pets
· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·
This has been in my drafts for a hot minute, and I feel like it's time to have the second installment of the HPQD series before I start writing smut pieces 🤭. Enjoy xx
· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·
Content: Language (Fenrir)
Barty Crouch (Sr)- Cat:
Contrary to popular belief, Barty will melt if you adopt an animal together. He grew up with dogs, as any good pureblood heir should, and a variety of kitchen cats and their numerous kittens. The moment you bring up wanting a pet he’ll scoff, and tell you he wants something that will be useful, and not simply another waste of food; an owl, perhaps, something bred to work. Of course, that’s not to say he won’t come with you to the pet shop, and the animal rescues, so that you don’t “make a foolish decision”. That is until the two of you come across a little kitten on one of your many trips to professional breeders. A perfect, grey little thing with darker stripes on her, the domestic tiger Barty would tell the breeder, who didn’t find it particularly funny. You have to take this cat home, you insist you do, and Barty agrees, more than happy to bring home his fluffy, weak little grey tiger. He spends countless amounts of money on this cat before it even sets foot in your house: the best, softest cat beds, the most expensive food and drink bowls, and luxury pet food that you are certain costs more than your trips to the market. It makes him happy, though, and you cannot deny him the pleasure of cradling the kitten in a towel and setting her down in your living room to explore your home, treating the thing as he would his own, human, child. You name the creature Lily (as in the tiger lily flower). Barty thinks he’s being quite clever, you say nothing. Lily, in true cat fashion, is not particularly stable in her showing of affection. She prefers you, but that may be because Barty’s office is quite cold, and he never lights the fireplace. Still, upon occasion Lily makes her rounds around the house, and you hear Barty talking to her as though she both understands and cares what he is saying. The cat, as it turns out, is a terrifyingly good mouser, and has even managed to snatch up a rat on occasion; you will never tell Barty how funny it is when he shrieks, finding a mouse running wild in his office, shrieking out for dear life.
Oh, Merlin! Darling, darling, come quick- There’s a mouse in the office! No, no I am not afraid of it, thank you, but I have work to do- And they carry all sorts of diseases. Can’t you teach Lily to leave them outside?
Fenrir Greyback- Tortoise:
The problem with Fenrir and certain animals is- well- wolves are natural predators. Cats? He will bark at it, make no mistake. Rabbits? Hamsters? Birds? You have about a day to bond with your precious pet, before it becomes nothing more than memories, feathers and fur. You suggest a dog, a new addition to his pack, he stares at you, half-offended: 
I’m a wolf! That’s essentially slavery, I can’t own a dog!
And so, you are left with limited options, and very little hope that you will ever find the pet of your dreams, much less something fluffy and cuddly. Fenrir attempts to fulfil your demands- Letting you snuggle him in his werewolf-y form. But he’s not always a wolf, and there’s a certain level of unnerving sentience when he looks at you, and licks you in some animal form of a kiss. By chance, one day at the office, you somehow end up in a conversation about one of your coworkers’ new tortoise, bought as a birthday present for her son. Just as you begin to question who would give a seven-year-old a rock with legs, you realise that a tortoise might just be the perfect animal for Fenrir, it comes with its own helmet, designed to keep it safe from predators. Your search for a tortoise ends in the local reptile shop, when you discover one no larger than your hand available for rehoming; a rescue tortoise, if you will. The operation to install a terrarium in your shed requires the assistance of a few of Fenrir’s Death Eater acquaintances, who teach you how to arrange the enchanted self-heating stones, and how you should properly assist the tortoise when it hibernates.
It takes Fenrir three full weeks of working in the shed to realise that his new companion lives there, and he freaks, like a child discovering a spider. He relaxes, eventually, in mild discontent that the reptile is taking over his space. He names him Lazy Fuck, but you call him Timmy. You can’t tell your new reptile-enthusiast friends the poor thing has such a name, after all.
God, does it do anything? All it does is sit around and eat that lettuce, lazy fucker- I have a name for him, Lazy Fuck! It suits him, doesn’t it? Well… you can call him Timmy, I’m calling him Lazy Fuck. 
Rufus Scrimgeour- Hunting Hounds:
Rufus is a little more serious when it comes to animals. He is a rather busy man, and his duties as Minister are much more important than taking care of a pet. After all, it wouldn’t be fair to leave the poor thing alone all day, and who knows how many nights, whilst you attend galas and dinners, and all of the perks that come with being the Minister’s little companion. You beg him for a dog, looking into doggy daycares close to the Ministry. A dog would need to be cared for whilst you are away, after all.He asks why you can’t just have a cat, or something small, and you give some vague response. 
Rufus caves solely on envy. 
He takes a weekend in the north, hunting, where one of his friends is accompanied by a small group of beagles. Because of those dogs Rufus does not win the competition they hold every hunt, and decides he must have his own pack of, much better, hounds. He gets himself a group of English pointers, which come in different, distinguishing colours, so he can tell them apart. More than likely, they all have classical names, from mythology, which he assures you are very well thought out- Think Marcus and Minerva, for the Roman gods of war and victory respectively. The house comes with ample space for the pointers to run about in the mornings and evenings, and upon disturbingly close inspection he eventually settles for a “luxury” dog care facility, the same one copious other ministers use for their own pedigree dogs. Rufus is rather happy with these dogs, but he quickly realises that it was you who begged for an animal, and he is not one to deny you. He comes home one day with a little, long haired dachshund, dressed up with a bandana in your favourite colour, and those tiny shoes rich people tend to buy for their dogs, named Frank Furter, of course. He will give in to the sausage puns, as long as they remain reasonably discreet, and you never tell people the dachshund has a surname. Frank stays with you in the house when Rufus goes out for his trips, running up to you with the prey his powerful siblings bring as though he helped.
I know you were upset the pointers are for my hunting, so I brought you a present. Look, don’t you love his little legs? He’s cute, isn’t he? Just like you, my love- here, I’ll put him down for you, why don’t you get to know each other?
Lord Voldemort- Guinea Pigs:
The Dark Lord’s household is cursed by snakes. He speaks to them in the darkness, large and small, and they come to him, as requested. They never hiss or bite in any way untoward, but you still find them everywhere. And it is not fair. He can call for serpents at any time, and yet you still have no pet to call your own. Nagini is long gone, returned to the ancient jungles, and mother to a clutch of snakes almost as large as she. He has his own history with animals, and not a pleasant one. As sure as you are that Lord Voldemort has matured from his days as the orphan, pre-magical Tom Riddle, something leaves you unsure. There is something odd about his behaviour, as he coos at the grass snakes who appear in the garden, and sneak into the warmth of your kitchen over the winter. Enough is enough, you deserve a pet too. 
Your home has ample outbuildings you can use to your heart’s content. He has no reason for them but simple storage, and merely batting your eyelashes and asking for one for your personal use will get you exactly what you’d like.
And you would like pets.
The Dark Lord puts his head to the table and groans when you ask him for animals. Eventually, he hands you pamphlets and brochures for all of the best Guinea pig breeders in the country. You may find it strange, but he has his reasons: Hamsters are irritating and die in odd ways, cats and dogs require too much attention, and he will not let you disgrace the name of serpents by trying to put one around your neck and wearing it as a statement piece to freak out Lucius Malfoy.
You get two female Guinea pigs- One black and white, the other brown and white, with fluffy hair you could brush if you so wanted to. They are named Lolli and Pop, and you will never explain why your new animal friends have such odd names; you just think it’s funny, but you pretend there is some deep-seated meaning as to why. 
The Death Eaters find it hilarious that the Dark Lord owns a pair of Guinea pigs, and even more hilarious when you begin fashioning tiny robes for your pets, complete with a selection of hats. He doesn’t particularly mind, not now that his followers have made it a point to give him Guinea pig-related items as opposed to candles and jewels. He has saved a small fortune on food and toys for your pets, after all.
Ugh- Another luxury grooming set from the Rookwoods. Is this amusing because of your little rats, or because I am hairless? Both? I thought as much. Put this with the others, and be thankful the money you are saving me on products for those infernal beasts is greater than a little childhood teasing. They said thank you? They cannot talk, dear.
Igor Karkaroff- Class Fish:
Igor despises all animals. He will accept no debate or argument on this. He hates them. There is no heartwarming moment when you bring him a stray dog and he falls in love with it, or an orphaned owlet you raise together- No animals. Full stop. You have very little options, as he will find a pet in your home in a matter of hours, and have you send it back from whence it came. But, you realise, he has no power over your classroom or your office. He may be High Master, but your rooms are yours to decorate as you see fit, and you want an animal. It doesn’t take very long to decide on either a reptile or something aquatic- Small rodents are noisy, and not much fun to play with during the day, anything too big is off limits completely. You think of a bunny rabbit, but it would be cruel to keep the poor thing in a tiny cage, when it should be out roaming the grass. It comes down to the popular vote of your upper classes, who all decide you should have an aquarium. Fish are more relaxing to look at, apparently. Working in a school with students whose pocket money amounts to more than your entire yearly salary comes in quite handy for acquiring an aquarium, an impulsive purchase from a boy’s mother, brought to you from years in their cellar, and very quickly you begin to amass a collection of items for said fish: live plants, gravel and even the fish itself. One of your juniors brings you a beautiful, red and pink betta fish in a little bag, and you are more than happy to take him in. Igor knows you’re up to something, now that you’ve barred him from entering your classroom, and have sworn all of your students to complete secrecy. He won’t ask, he assumes you’re having a moment, and are doing something odd- His current bet is painting your classroom orange.  
Although you are a little sad that your betta fish cannot live with any fishy friends, you understand that the creature will probably turn violent, and you cannot handle the possibility of explaining a fish massacre to a collection of twelve-year-olds.
The name of your new pet is put up to vote, again, and they decide, in shockingly agreeable fashion, that  it will be called Igor Sharkaroff, one of your personal favourite name options, and the one you voted for. 
Igor, unable to handle the mystery any longer, forces himself into your classroom, only to be met with his namesake fish. He rolls his eyes, tuts to you in words you know are swears and leaves, never to speak of the fish again. 
Until he finds out you've named it after him. 
Yes, I know I told you the classroom was yours to decorate, but I did not mean this! Ugh- No, the name is not funny, it’s a disgrace... Alright, it is a little bit funny, but I am not burying that thing when it dies. What do you mean, fish funeral?
14 notes · View notes
qqueenofhades · 10 months ago
Note
I graduated a year ago and had a job for the 2 months and they laid me off without reason or anything because i was still in the 3 month trial period. Anyway I noticed that they didn’t let the engineers and architects reach the year, you know avoid seniority and stuff. And that was in April, it’s gonna be a year and I still haven’t got another job, I’ve done some freelance jobs here and there, but the last one was for December. I know January it’s kind of a dead month but I’m dying with it, honestly I don’t think I’ll reach the minimum payment of my credit and my car needs gas(at least it’s payed off) and I’m honestly so goddamned depressed. Somewhere I read that a lot of vacancies come out in January but I haven’t seen that many and the ones I’ve seen and sent haven’t even contacted me
Im sorry to bring all this glum to you, but I’ve seen some other recent graduate anons come at you, and you’re so understanding and aware of this economy and job market 🥹
Alas, as ever, I wish that I could make it better and tell you exactly what to do to fix it, but I cannot. However as always, I am absolutely offering you a cup of your preferred beverage, a baked goodie, and a chance to sit at my Internet Grandmother Kitchen and get some things off your chest, so yes. It does suck a lot out there and while it sounds cliché, you gotta do your best, keep trying, and see what comes along.
Hopefully you have other resources or support systems, but if you are in the US and need assistance in basic stuff like paying bills and getting gas, please think about looking into the federally funded 211 service:
Not enough people know about this, and it's way better than hoping that people on the Internet can help you out with bills every time you hit a crunch (although if you do have generous friends, I myself have been saved by them a time or two -- absolutely no shame or judgment here!) But they literally exist to help people find funds and resources for situations like this, and even if you're not in the US, I advise looking for similar government initiatives or programs. They might or might not exist (alas, I am American so I only know our version) but there should be at least something like this. Try searching "211 service equivalent for [country]" or similar keywords?
And of course, if you are reading this and ARE in the US: look into 211! Please don't drive yourself crazy with fear or stress! There are definitely stopgap services and funds that exist for just this sort of thing! Please do use them. I am sending hugs.
24 notes · View notes
rideboomindia · 7 months ago
Text
Tumblr media
RideBoom ensures that its drivers earn more compared to other ride-share platforms through various strategies and policies. While specific details about RideBoom's driver earnings compared to other platforms are not available in the search results, we can gather some insights about how RideBoom may prioritize driver earnings.
Fair Commission Structure: RideBoom may have a commission structure that allows drivers to retain a higher percentage of their earnings. By taking a lower commission from drivers, RideBoom can ensure that drivers earn more for each ride they complete. Incentives and Bonuses: RideBoom may offer additional incentives and bonuses to drivers based on their performance. These incentives can include surge pricing during peak hours, referral bonuses for bringing in new drivers or riders, and performance-based bonuses for completing a certain number of rides within a specific time frame. Lower Operating Costs: RideBoom may have lower operating costs compared to other ride-share platforms. By minimizing expenses such as marketing, administrative overhead, and executive salaries, RideBoom can allocate more earnings to its drivers. Driver Support and Benefits: RideBoom may provide comprehensive support and benefits to its drivers. This can include assistance with vehicle maintenance and repairs, access to affordable insurance options, and driver training programs to enhance their skills and earnings potential. Transparent Policies: RideBoom may have transparent policies regarding driver earnings, ensuring that drivers have a clear understanding of how their earnings are calculated and paid. This transparency can help build trust and confidence among drivers, attracting them to the platform. It's important to note that the specific details of RideBoom's driver earnings compared to other platforms are not available in the search results. The information provided here is based on general industry practices and assumptions about RideBoom's approach to driver earnings.
10 notes · View notes
ravensliterature · 2 years ago
Text
Jealousy and Birthdays
Tumblr media
A/N: I am finishing these requests if it is the last thing I do!
pairing: Madara Uchiha x Reader
warnings: Fluff
w/c: 656
Prompt: You and Hashirama search for a gift for Madara. He sees you both and gets a little jealous. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The sun shone brightly over the bustling streets of Konoha as Y/N walked through the streets from theirs and Madara’s home. Madara Uchiha, the powerful shinobi and leader of the Uchiha clan, was known for his stoic demeanor and fierce loyalty. Y/N admired his strength and determination, but also knew that beneath his tough exterior, he had a softer side.
It was a special day for Madara. His birthday was approaching, and Y/N wanted to surprise him with a thoughtful gift. They had enlisted the help of Hashirama, Madara's longtime friend and rival, to assist in finding the perfect present. Y/N knew that Hashirama's presence would make the task easier, as he had known Madara for many years and understood his tastes well.
As Madara prepared for an important meeting, Y/N and Hashirama headed to the local market. The stalls were filled with a variety of items, from rare weapons to exquisite jewelry. Y/N scanned the displays, hoping to find something that would resonate with Madara.
Unbeknownst to them, Madara's meeting had finished earlier than expected. On his way back, he caught a glimpse of Y/N and Hashirama walking together through the market. A pang of jealousy surged through his heart, causing his steps to falter. He couldn't help but wonder what they were doing together.
Curiosity got the better of him, and he followed them discreetly, keeping a safe distance. He watched as Y/N and Hashirama examined various trinkets, occasionally sharing a laugh or engaging in animated conversation. Each shared moment stoked the fire of jealousy within Madara.
When Y/N and Hashirama finally concluded their search and headed home, Madara raced ahead, his mind consumed with questions and anger. As Y/N opened the door to their house, they were met with Madara's intense gaze.
"What were you doing with Hashirama at the market?" Madara demanded, his voice laced with suspicion.
Taken aback by Madara's sudden accusatory tone, Y/N tried to remain calm. "I was actually looking for a birthday gift for you," they replied softly.
Madara's expression softened slightly, his jealousy momentarily overshadowed by curiosity. "For me?" he asked, his voice tinged with surprise.
Y/N nodded and retrieved a small box from their bag. "I wanted to find something special, something that reflects your strength and wisdom. Hashirama was helping me because he knows you well."
Madara's eyes widened as they handed him the box. He slowly opened it, revealing a beautifully crafted pendant in the shape of a Sharingan, the Uchiha clan's unique eye ability. The pendant gleamed with a deep red hue, capturing the essence of Madara's power.
For a moment, Madara was speechless. The depth of Y/N's thoughtfulness and their effort to find a gift that held such meaning overwhelmed him. He looked up at Y/N, his eyes filled with gratitude.
"I... I didn't mean to jump to conclusions," Madara stammered, feeling a pang of regret for doubting Y/N. "I should have trusted you."
Y/N smiled, a hint of mischief dancing in their eyes. "Apology accepted, but your delivery could use some work," they teased, their laughter echoing in the room.
Madara's cheeks flushed, a rare sight for someone so composed. He couldn't help but join in Y/N's laughter, realizing the absurdity of his earlier jealousy. In that moment, he felt a deep appreciation for the love and understanding they shared.
As the sun began to set, Madara and Y/N sat together, basking in the warmth of their reconciliation. The pendant now hung around Madara's neck, a constant reminder of Y/N's love and the strength of their bond.
In the end, jealousy had been replaced by laughter, and a simple birthday gift had become a symbol of forgiveness and growth. And in the heart of Konoha, Madara and Y/N's love story continued to unfold, unyielding to any obstacle that came their way.
92 notes · View notes
ficjoelispunk · 1 year ago
Text
Ch 06 - Two rabbits. One shot.
Continuation, you can find it here
Tumblr media
<< Previous Chapter | Next Chapter >>
Author's Note: like always, I'm sorry for any grammatical errors, don't give up on me, translating is not easy, but I did my best. Correct me as much as you can. Thanks.
You finally had a decent night's sleep. It was even ridiculous the way your body succumbed after the treatment Javier gave you.
Understanding the Javier Peña effect. He was definitely someone remarkable. The body drawn, muscular, the shoulders outlined, biceps and chest. Large and firm hands. The hair. The face. The smell. The kiss. The sex. You would have sexual memories for a long time, which gave you goosebumps and excited you only with the memory, the tone of voice speaking in your ear, the feeling of Javier's cock filling you like no one had ever filled, the sounds he made as he sank into you.
Jesus. The effect he caused was immoral. You understood your victims. The supplications and the search for an extra moment with him.
Now you didn't know how to proceed. How should you act? Pretend that nothing happened, like before? Let it be something that you deal with only between the four walls of the file room? Was it casual? Starting from Javier Peña's history, it was possible that he would never look at you again.
Unfortunately you work with him in the same sector, in the same room, and he needs you. What made you think about how desperate he should be.
But on the other hand, you also remembered the things he told you while you were overwhelmed by desire and horniness. Including the fact that he wanted you from the first day he saw you, according to his words. But that doesn't mean it's romantically, it could just be another achievement. Which you made it difficult for him for 3 long years.
You needed to go to the pharmacy before starting your day, buy a morning-after pill.
You didn't know how to get around in Medellin, but you knew the basics. Market, pharmacy, and the restaurants you liked. It was the essential.
So you parked a few meters before the usual pharmacy you used to go to. You got out of the car, walked to cross the street, when a black car threw itself in front of you out of nowhere.
You stopped, taking a few steps back, watching without understanding. Two armed men got out of the vehicle coming towards you, you began to have a bad feeling and tried to run but they reached you and held you.
"No, no," you said, "let me go, let me go, get way from me" you started screaming.
But you were in Medellin, and of course no one stopped to help you.
The two men lift you off the ground with ease. You were struggling in the air.
"Cálmate” one of them said.
While they put a bag over his head.
"Tranquilo, tranquilo" another repeated.
You were taken by fear when you were already sitting in the back seat of the vehicle in the middle of these two men.
Your Spanish was terrible, and they spoke Castelhano too, so you didn't understand almost anything.
You were desperate. Why were they taking you? Did they want information? You were just the assistant, it didn't make any sense... Tears flowed over his muffled face under the bag.
You were lost, taken by the feeling that from that point on, surviving was your only choice.
***
Tumblr media
It was almost 9 a.m. and Javier hadn't seen you yet. What was bizarre, since at 6:30 a.m. you were already hammering your fingers into the typewriters.
Strangely, he was anxious to meet you. And to know how you would behave after last night. But without seeing you there, the nerves of his face began to pull.
Javier is sure that you have never been late for anything in your life.
"Are you at least listening to what I'm talking about?" Murphy questioned Javier realizing that he was out of focus.
"Yes," Javier replied without looking at him.
"What's going on?" Murphy asks his colleague, sitting at his desk in front of Javier.
He doesn't answer at first. Still staring at your table.
Murphy follows Javier's gaze, and understands.
"Maybe she went to some meeting, or went to Bogotá at the last minute. Why are you worried about the person who gives you the most headache?"
Peña looks at his partner. And he gets up walking to your table.
Murphy is going after it.
Incredibly organized. Completely different from his. He gropes some papers on the table, looking for something that even he doesn't know what it is, opens one of the drawers next door, finds your agenda. It's until today's date.
"Are you crazy?" Murphy is next to him now, "Moving her things, without authorization, this should be at least confidential. If she finds out she will make your life hell for a week"
Peña squeezes her lips in a thin line frowning her eyebrow. Still analyzing your schedule notes. He passes one of his hands over his whiskers.
He knows something isn't right. You were with him last night. You wouldn't have time to go to Bogotá. There wouldn't even be a flight. So soon. There was nothing written down in your agenda that indicated the reason for the disappearance.
Where were you?
Javier left your calendar in the drawer, and reached for his phone, calling the Embassy.
"Agent Peña, I need some information"
"What are you doing?" Murphy whispered in shock.
Peña ignored him.
"I need to know if the Ambassador's assistant has any activity scheduled for today at the embassy"
Murphy threw his hands on his face. Shaking his head.
"Okay. Thank you." He put the phone on the hook.
The eyes are now terrified.
"Something happened," Javier murmured, but to himself than to his partner, he ran down to his table, and took the jacket.
Murphy reaches his partner halfway, holding his arm.
"Where are you going? You went crazy, the girl must be somewhere"
Peña looks firmly at where Murphy's hands have found his arm and pulls for himself.
"I'll be back soon" Peña left.
He went to your dorm, and you weren't there. He was confused, he didn't know if you hadn't come back since the early hours of yesterday, or if you were extremely organized. Because your bed was made, and the objects on your bedside table were impeccably distributed at equal distances.
Javier chose the second option. You were extremely methodical.
He went to the parking lot, your car was not there.
Javier walked to the guardhouse, and asked the guard.
"Did you see a Chevrolet 78 coming out of the base?"
"Yes, she left at 7 a.m. and hasn't come back since then"
Peña put his hands on his waist. Fuck. Where had you gone? Why hadn't you come back yet?
"Did she say where she was going?"
"No, sir."
Fuck!
Javier knew. He felt you weren't safe. Just imagining the things that the sicarians or cartels are capable of doing, his hands closed in a fist so strong that he tasted the meat.
He went straight to Colonel Garrillo's office. He explained the situation.
"If you checked her schedule, she may have taken the morning off," Carrillo suggested.
Peña shook his head.
"No, she never takes time off"
Carrillo laughs, shaking his head.
Javier stiffens.
"Peña, Peña, Peña... you never change, is she an informant?"
Javier uncrosses his leg, and leans in the direction of the Colonel, he would not let his fame slip on you because of him. He wouldn't let them doubt your nature and character.
"She's a good woman. She has been living for this job since she got here. She wouldn't leave without coming back in time for work. I know her. I have a bad feeling."
Carrillo raises his eyebrows.
"Let's wait until after lunch, if she doesn't come back, we'll send searches around the city, okay?"
Javier flaps his fingers on the table at the same moment he nods to the colonel, getting up and leaving the room.
Javier runs his fingers under his jaw. While you're sitting smoking a cigarette on your desk.
Wait.
That's what he needed to do. But every time he looked at your table without you, his stomach tied a knot. Waiting was wasting time.
The phone rang, and he didn't even wait to finish the first call.
"Peña" he introduced himself.
"Agent Peña, this is Don Berna"
Peña's breathing stopped. Don Berna was an accomplice of Judy Moncado, one of the small gangs that were part of the Medellin Cartel.
"I have a proposal that may interest you"
"What a surprise" Peña would not leave the opportunity to be petulant.
Don Berna gave an address of a cafeteria for them to meet.
Peña wasn't late.
The cafeteria was simple, there were few people inside. The background music playing, typical Colombian.
Javier saw Don Berna, he had never seen him in person, only by photos, but it was not difficult to identify.
"¿Que passa, Peña? Waiting for someone else?"
"¿No y tu?" Javier was standing next to the table, with his hands on his waist.
"No. It's not necessary, I have friends everywhere" Don Berna stirred the sugar in his cup of coffee.
Javier tried not to sketch the irony on his face. This was a boring conversation just to intrinsically indicate that he might not be with someone there, but that if something happened to him there, they would know that it had been Javier and this would have consequences.
"Pero, siéntate, sit down so you can taste the best coffee in Medellin." Don Berna raises a tone of voice "Ana Luz, make a coffee for my friend."
Javier sits down.
"Do you have anything but coffee to offer me?" Arms crossed in front of the body.
"Look Agent, I'm not just any informant, and I'm not looking for any reward. No."
"So why are we here?" Javier shrugs his shoulders.
Don Berna leans over the table.
"Agent, you and I are like the snake and the cat. If the snake has the opportunity, it will kill the cat. If the cat has a chance, the snake is mary. But sometimes they both see a very big mouse." He hummed the last word. "And sometimes they both want to eat"
Javier was losing his posture. He began to understand where Don Berna was trying to go. He knew this metaphor was about you. He understood that you were with Don Berna, with his henchmen.
"Where is she?"
"Tranquilo"
Javier uncrossed his legs and leaned over the table approaching Don Berna.
"Where. Is. She?"
Don Berna laughed, pleased to know that you meant something to Javier, after all. That would make things easier. And he leaned against the chair.
"She's fine, don't worry"
Javier wanted to punch this mother's narco son in the face, until he said where you were, but he needed to control himself because your life could be at risk.
"What do you want?" Javier asked.
"I need your help, and your help will be beneficial to me and to you too" he paused torturing the Agent "If you help me, I will return your girl, and you will still be able to make a great apprehension."
"What do you need?"
"I need you to invade a laboratory. I'll give you the location, and you just need to invade it."
Peña frowned. He would never question if it would bring you back to him safe and sound. But he needed to explain it to the others.
"How will this help you?"
"The laboratory was mine, but Pablo took it, and if you seize it, he would have been at a loss."
That's all he needed. He didn't even think much. He just did everything he could as soon as possible.
Peña returned to the base at the Academy as fast as he can. And he started suggesting the operation.
"It's here." He pointed to the image taken from the satellite "let's make an inventory later, so we know what was seized"
"How do you know that?" Murphy asked.
"Through an informant" the hoarse tone of voice.
"Let's go," Carrillo encouraged.
And they left. It would be easy for him to come in and rescue you. That's what he had in mind. And when he rescued you, he would explain later if it were the case the connection between the apprehension and you being precisely in this captivity.
Anyway, the men were positioned, about to invade the house, where the laboratory worked.
It was easy to surrender the team that worked there. The only problem was that you weren't there.
Damn. Fuck!
Javier entered all the rooms of the house, in the attic, in the basement, looked outside, everywhere, and you were not there.
He wanted to run out of there, and stay planted in that cafe until he met Don Berna, and made him say where you were.
But he needed to stay there and finish the operation. Javier ran his hands through his hair, sighing with his eyes closed.
"Your informant is a gold mine," Murphy said, while bringing the cigarette.
"Yes, he's good," Peña smiled, observing the apprehensions.
"You don't look happy," Murphy said.
"I am. I am" Javier patted his partner on the back, rose a cigarette, and walked away.
***
Murphy and Peña returned to the base, in an unpleasant atmosphere.
Murphy had gone out for a "walk" with Colonel Carrillo, and one of Pablo Escobar's sicaries, who was arrested in the invasion of the laboratory and we probably already knew where this had gone. Carrillo had a little disturbing methods.
Javier tried to distract himself from the fact that you were not under his eyes, but being held hostage by drug traffickers in God knows where. Praying silently that you were safe. Because he would kill anyone who had touched you.
He was failing you. He knew that just as it had happened to Helena, it could happen to anyone he got involved with. But he did not imagine that the cartel would extrapolate the limit in this way, kidnapping an American government agent.
***
That day passed. You didn't come back. Javier thought that eventually after Don Berna knew that the attack on the laboratory had been successful he would free you. But that didn't happen.
So Javier added the useful to the pleasant. He reported his kidnapping to the embassy.
Carrillo set up a rescue operation for you. Javier told about the possibility of you being with some cartel, in exchange for information.
Carrillo increased the attacks on all of Pablo's bases, killing every sicario who appeared in front. But days went by and they couldn't find you.
Javier didn't sleep. He listened to all the calls from the wiretaps. He answered all the phone calls. He didn't stop working and looking for any clues that led to you.
He couldn't imagine how you were. There was a whole mobilization even in Bogotá so that the searches were more intense. But there was no sign of you.
"We're going to find her," Murphy said when he realized that Javier was lost in thoughts.
Javier just nodded.
It wasn't fair to you. You didn't deserve it. Why didn't they kidnap him? Or anyone else he had been involved with? But you? His heart squeezed with the idea of where you could be. If you was eating. If with your sharp tongue they would respect you and not hit you. If they could stand it, they wouldn't kill you. If you were still alive. If they hadn't done worse, because depending on what might be happening, maybe death would be better.
He closed his eyes shaking his head.
Carrillo was committed to finding you. But he was also committed to taking the opportunity to embezzle Pablo Escobar.
Messina was called to Bogotá for a conversation with Crosby.
"Do the agents have anything to do with it?" Crosby asked.
"Not that I know of" Messina was impassive.
"If Peña and Murphy are right, they are the only ones the asshole trusts," Crosby talked about the colonel.
"I find it difficult for Colonel Carrillo to forget about her. She is pleasant and competent in all areas, and has helped operations a lot, has played a key role"
"It's exactly what he wants, to keep everyone under his wings, with the guarantee that they are friends and partners, so no one will question the means he has been using, but guess what? People are already starting to question how a department can't find a girl from the United States government who has been missing for 7 days"
Messina was silent.
"If Carrillo wants to walk the streets killing every sicario he finds, God bless him. But our agent needs to be back at the base, and I don't want the attacks to be linked to our agents. They can no longer be together in the operations"
***
Edward, the person in charge of Centra Spike, summoned Javier, Murphy and Carrillo to pass on new information.
"Everything was standing still for those days. But there was a phone call three times on the same night, all in the same neighborhood," he finished explaining.
"They don't control themselves," Murphy smiled.
Javier was turned off. He couldn't deal with this situation anymore. There was no concentration with absolutely nothing in the department. Murphy tried to pass on details of the investigations, but he simply dissociated and could not finalize a line of reasoning.
"Are you dating or something?" Murphy questioned.
"I'm not the type to date..."
"You are on the verge of a nervous breakdown without her here under your supervision," Murphy laughed a little.
"Maybe because if we take longer she may be dead..."
"Do you like her"
Javier didn't answer. He needed to find you. Nothing else crossed his mind. Then he dealt with the feelings. If Pablo and you showed up in front of him today, he would choose you a million times.
With their kidnapping, they were forbidden to leave the base. But Javier received a phone call from Gabriela, a woman he met before you had sex that day in the file room. And sometimes later too.
Gabriela called him to go to her house, which she was missing.
"No puedo bebita, estoy trabajando"
But she insisted. And Javier gave in. It wouldn't be a bad idea to get a little distracted.
"Messina also caught your attention for leaving the base?" Murphy questioned.
"Yes"
Javier would pick up his jacket and an envelope on the table in a hurry.
"Where are you going?"
"Get out. From the base"
Murphy rolled his eyes shaking his head.
It was good that Javier gave in to Gabriela's invitation, although he went with other intentions. Gabriela had contact with a girl who would give information about where Pablo would be, and at what time.
The information was right, Centra Spike's eavesdropping pointed to Pablo's conversation over the phone.
Javier just thought about how difficult everything was without you there, and how your work was different. Things that took them hours, you would take minutes. And how he would like you to be there, to participate in this moment. Never before has there been such a hot track that led to Escobar.
In conjunction with this, Peña's extension rang.
It was Don Berna, with the promise that he would give the address if you were.
Things happened very quickly.
Javier ran to Edward passing the address mentioned by Don Berna, so that he would send the plane to fly over and check some clue.
A few hours later, in the midst of the organizations and eavesdropping for Pablo's operation, Edward called Peña to listen to the recording.
"She's fine, live, just... this son of a bitch hasn't been eating for a few days, but she's fine"
"It's her" Javier's chest squeezed.
Javier hit Edward on the back and ran towards Colonel Carrillo's room. They called a meeting.
In the room were Javier, Carrillo, Messina, Murphy and Trujillo.
Javier reviewed Escobar's two recordings and the call that indicated your captivity.
"The points are close we can kill two rabbits in one shot" Javier was anxious.
"We have to leave now," Carrillo said.
"Yes" Javier has already been heading to the door.
"You two are going to stay here," Messina said calmly to Javier and Murphy.
"Are you kidding me?" Javier exclaimed.
"If Crosby finds out, we can be sent home," she explained.
"Crosby doesn't need to know shit," Murphy said indignantly.
Messina got up to talk.
"This is an order"
Javier and Murphy were shocked and paralyzed.
Carrillo looked at them.
"We will be in touch by radio. I'll bring her home." he told Javier.
And he left.
"Jesus!" Javier exclaimed like a sigh. Walking from side to side, running your hands through your hair.
This was the most forceful clue Javier and Steve had from Pablo Escobar. But you Javier thought millions of times, between you and Pablo, he wasn't paying much attention to Pablo. And the mistake started there. He didn't think straight. He didn't analyze it. Javier wanted to act as fast as he could. He just wanted you to come back, alive.
***
What comforted Javier about the operation was that who would be there was Carrillo. Since he couldn't go. That's all.
"We're out in 20 minutes"
Javier listened to Carrillo on the radio. Sitting with his body on the table, so focused on the radio that he didn't notice Murphy walking back and forth behind him. Edward tuning in to the eavesdropping, or the presence of Messina in front of him.
The train left towards the first target. You.
The vehicles made a worm path through the streets of Medellin.
"We are getting closer to the target"
Javier listened. Closing his eyes, with the device stuck to his face.
May she be alive. Please.
Javier wouldn't forgive himself if he couldn't save you.
Carrillo parked, and positioned the men with a view to shooters over other nearby houses and roofs. And also some men who would accompany him for theirs.
"We are in front of the address"
Carrillo wouldn't need to give this information. But he thought of Peña.
They broke down the door, and the shooting started.
You were in a room upstairs, blindfolded, hands and feet tied. Too weak to be able to get up and sit down.
You heard voices, shots and feet running. Something inside you said that this was its end. There were many possibilities. Another cartel invades the place. The sicarios fights with each other. Someone came to pick you up, but honestly, after seven days, you no longer counted on this possibility.
The first three days were acceptable. Nobody hit you. They brought acceptable food, and removed you to go to the bathroom. But on the fourth day some men tried to take advantage of you, drunk and drugged. At that time you were loose without presenting any kind of threat, just blindfolded.
But when the men approached you with dirty intentions, you fought. As if your life depended on it. Because it depended. With nails and teeth. Literally. You ripped a piece of a man's ear. And he scratched his face so deep if another that you were sure he would never be able to look in the mirror without remembering the reason for the scar.
"No" one of them held the arm of the one who pointed the gun at you "No podemos matarla"
Not being able to kill you, it brought you consequences. They couldn't kill you, but they could punish you in other ways. Hitting you. Punches. Kicks. They tied you up. And they wouldn't let you go to the bathroom or eat. You were without a bath, stinky, and peeing for days on yourself. The plate of food always came with a surprise, spit, or insects.
And at that point, you would already rather die than continue in this inhuman situation.
When the door to the room you were in was broken into. You heard steps approaching you, slow.
Colonel Carrillo saw the situation you were in. A girl like you should never have been subjected to this.
"Jesus," he exclaimed.
The radio on, all the time. Peña on the other side, was breathing with difficulty. The chest squeezing.
"Don't touch me," you said, crawling slowly to stay in a corner of the room. But for some reason, the person didn't respect it.
Javier listening to his voice on the radio, managed to relax, he let out the air through his mouth, and supported his head with his hands, still holding the radio close to his forehead.
So you screamed.
"Get out! Don't touch me"
"Shhhh"
"Let go of me, you son of a bitch" you struggled like a fish out of the water using your last energies and strength. "Please"
"It's me, Carrillo, it's okay, I came to get you out of here"
He took off his blindfold, your eyes taking a long time to adapt.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt? Can you walk?"
You had no reaction. You was afraid it would be a hallucination.
Carrillo put his arms under your back to lift you up.
"She's here," he shouted.
Trujillo entered the room. Frowning. Disturbed by your situation.
"How is she?"
You heard Peña's voice on the radio, from Trujillo.
"Alive"
He answered.
Trujillo's answer did not reassure Javier. He knew. He has seen many captivity. And he was afraid of your situation.
Carrillo realized that you couldn't move, and took you in his lap.
You murmured. With body aches.
"It's okay, I got you, it's going to be fast" Passing the other hand behind your knees.
Javi heard his murmurs. Still with my eyes closed imagining the whole scene as if he were there with you.
It was the most tense and agonizing situation that Messina and Murphy had recorded Javier living. They had never seen Agent Peña that way. Murphy was beginning to measure the seriousness of his friend's case. And he thought if it was Connie in place. His stomach turned. He felt guilty for not having helped his partner more attentively, when his cat was killed, Javier went to the last breath with it.
Murphy walked to Javier and squeezed his partner's shoulder in a reassuring gesture.
"Give her a uniform to wear," Carrilho said.
"Yes sir" Trujillo, fixed a shirt on you.
Your clothes are too torn and dirty.
You don't remember if you were able to sleep in this place. And probably not. When Carrillo put you sitting in the car seat, passing your belt through you, your body seemed to have been taken from under a truck that weighed on you.
"You're safe now, let's take you home, did you hear me?"
You nodded.
Finally managing to breathe.
"Let's get someone else now, rest"
Carrillo ran his hand through his hair. He closed the door. And he got into the front seat next to the driver.
"Target 1 recovered"
Peña opened his eyes. Throwing his head back.
Messina furrowed her forehead at him.
"Sorry," she murmured, now knowing how he should and wanted to be there.
"Let's go to San Juan"
You heard Trujillo's voice on the radio.
"Understood. Be careful, guys"
Now it was Murphy who spoke.
"How is the situation?"
"Everything is quiet. Murphy, tonight you pay for the drink"
It was Tujillo's voice.
You hear Carrillo laughing in the front seat. Too tired to be with your eyes open.
"Don't forget the cigars of the sicarios for me and Peña"
Murphy seemed happy.
"Claro, bonita”
Trujillo was interrupted by the deafening noise of a bomb, which exploded in the car in front of his.
You clung to the seat, watching the vehicle go into the air, and the light yellow of the fire exploding in combustion with air.
"It's on fire!"
Javier and Murphy listened on the radio.
Carillo looked back at you, who had your eyes smashed.
A truck positioned itself at the entrance of the street preventing your passage.
"In reverse," he shouted.
But another truck stopped behind you. You were surrounded.
"It's an ambush"
Trujillo shouted on the radio.
And the shots started.
"Carrillo answers. Carrillo! Trujillo! Do you hear?"
You heard Javier's voice on the radio.
The noise of the automatics would make you more deaf than the bomb. This was the biggest shooting you’ve ever seen.
Javier and Murphy listened to the shooting.
"Damn! Talk to me!"
Murphy turned to Messina
"We need reinforcements"
Javier was leaning over the radio with his eyes closed.
"Carrillo?" He called.
The shots hitting the glasses next to you, breaking them on you. The driver's blood splashed on you after the shot hit the head.
You took your hands to your ears, and bent down in the back seat.
There was another explosion of the car's engine behind you.
You heard Carrillo open the vehicle door. You crawled in the back seat, to reach the pistol in the holster of the agent who was killed in the driver's seat.
You held the pistol, with trembling hands, lowered, so shrunk that you would reduce its size twice.
You listened to the shots, and you wanted to scream because you knew that Carrillo outside the car, there was only one end, he would be killed.
There was one last shot, and then you heard the sound of the body falling to the ground.
Peña had his hand squeezing his eyes.
"Fuck!"
He left the radio room. Walking aimlessly through the base. You had died. That's what he thought. Died.
His eyes were blurred. He was desperate. If they had gone, they could have rescued you and returned to the base while Carrillo went after Pablo.
But on the other hand, Javier began to feel guilty, for the ambush he put all of you. It was his contact. It was his information. And now you were dead. Carrillo was dead.
It was his fault.
You heard a truck move. But I didn't have the courage to get up. You couldn't move. Your body trembled all at the same time it was locked. You didn't know what to do.
The noise of footsteps over the cracked windows, approaching the car where you were. You were hyper conscious listening to everything around you. The fire is cracking. The noise of the metal creaking. And now the steps. Your head moved fast, while you looked for the direction of the origin of the sound.
The silhouette of three men invaded the shadows that the fire made burning in front of you, you could know that they were behind you, at the door where you were leaning. You closed your eyes.
"Mire me" you heard.
And you automatically opened his eyes, obeying through the adrenaline and fear that ran through his veins. But you didn't see anything. It wasn't with you.
"Que me mire!" The voice was familiar. "Le pediste a un niño que me diera esto"
Your heart stopped. Would it be possible?
You tried to move as little as possible, to look through the glass of the door window, above you.
You knew who it was. It was him. It was Pablo Escobar. There in front of you. You stopped breathing.
Your eyes roused when you understood what was going to happen.
Pablo triggered the gun. And he aimed at Carrillo's head.
You put a hand in your mouth, so that you would continue to make the greatest absolute silence possible.
"Te estoy devolviendo" Pablo said. And he shot.
The sound made you jump in fright in the car. You closed your eyes.
"Y esto es para mi primo Gustavo."
And you heard 9 more shots in a row.
There was a silence.
Sound of sirens in the background.
You were lowered, shrunk, with your hand in your mouth, your eyes closed, holding the useless pistol.
You don't know how long you stayed there. You heard little by little closer and closer, the noise of cars approaching. Sirens. People talking and running. But you couldn't move.
Peña ran from car to car, until he got to the last one, seeing dead Carrillo lying on the ground. He walked more slowly. Digesting the image. He knew you were close, you were in the car with Carrillo. And then he saw your head, behind the driver's seat.
He turned around quickly, and hesitated to open the door. Your back fell backwards. He held you.
"Hey hey hey" your body in Javier's arms, he felt your sob, and your whole body tremble, "It's me, I'm here, look at me"
You sank your head into his chest, the smell of the family colony. Only your arms loosened enough from your body to sink your fingers into the flesh of his shoulders.
"I need to see you cariño, look at me" he knelt on the floor. "HELP!" He screamed.
Murphy spotted you both, and ran to call a rescuer.
You used to cry. And you didn't even realize you were crying. It was impossible to control, you couldn't stop. You couldn't open your eyes. You wanted to hide forever. Your knees stuck to your chest.
Javier's hands passed through the side of your cheek.
"Honey, please, I need you to open your eyes," he murmured with his lips leaning against your head.
Javier tried to push you away to check your body, but you were still in the same position you were in the car. Sinking your hands even deeper into his shoulder. He put you on his lap while you were sitting on the floor, and shook you slowly.
Then he reached the gun that was in both hands, which you held firmly in your hand.
"Give to me, babe, I'll take care of it now" you released automatically.
"Are you hurt?" He groed your back, looking at his hands looking for blood. He found it when he squeezed your arm and you whined shrinking more, his hands stained with blood.
He raised your sleeve carefully and saw that it was just a scraping bullet wound.
The rescuer approached you with the stretcher.
Javier shook his head.
"She's not going to lie there," Javier said.
"I need her to lie down so I can examine and check the traumas," the man said.
"Do you have a female rescuer?" Javier looked through the cars while still holding the cupcake you formed on his lap.
The rescuer nodded. Shouting a woman's name.
"Babe, I'll take you to take care of you, okay?" He spoke calmly, the tone of voice hoarse and low. Javier got up, and you squeezed his shoulder even more.
The marks of your nails would be stuck in his flesh, but he didn't care, what mattered was that you were alive. He walked with you to the mobile ambulance.
He sat with you on his lap.
Peña studied you.
You were thinner. Deep eyes. The smaller cheeks. Your right eye was black. Your lips were broken in a cut in the left corner.
They assaulted you.
There were marks on your wrists, probably from where you were tied. Your clothes were torn, and your arms were scratched. Signs that you tried to defend yourself.
They tried to abuse you.
He held your wrist, pulling your hands that closed around his fingers. Javier analyzed, your nails were bloody.
Signs that someone was badly injured. Good. He gave a light kiss on your fingers.
Javier ran his fingers over your hair.
The rescuer approached.
"I need you to open your eyes to me"
You heard it. But you spent so much time blindfolded, and now you were so scared, that it seemed right to continue with your eyes closed.
Peña made a caress by running her fingers over her eyebrows. You wouldn't stop shaking.
He spoke in his favorite tone, his lips rubbing the top of his head.
"Look at me, cariño, please, let's take care of you"
You made an effort. Only and exclusively because you really wanted to see Javier. Look at him. For the most beautiful eyes you've ever seen. Little by little you opened your eyes, trying to adapt to the light.
"That’s it" he kept running his fingers through your eyebrows as if he were trying to calm you down "that's it, you're doing well, babe"
The light bothered you, but you saw his face. You swallowed it dry.
Javier nodded to the rescuer.
You had your face glued to his chest, the perfect fit of your head and the contour of his neck, as if it belonged to that place.
The rescuer passed the light over her eyes to check for trauma. But it's all right.
She lifted the blouse from her arm.
And you didn't look away from Javier's face for a minute. He also looked at you, but sometimes he watched and talked to the rescuer.
She pressed the product to sterilize the place where the bullet scraped you. You shrunk. Pulling the air through your mouth, frowning your face in pain.
"It's okay, it will pass, it's fast, I promise" Javier was attentive to you, always trying to comfort you.
After a long time. You felt your muscles unlocking. And an enormous pain, in your body, his breathing comes out trembling. Little by little, you sat down, Javier finally took you off his lap, and laid you down on the stretcher, where the rescuer made a new evaluation of you.
Javier was lowered at the height of your head, on the stretcher, with his hands on your head. The rescuer put an access on you, for serum. You needed to hydrate yourself.
"Did they touch you?" Javier asked with the saddest eyes you had ever seen him carry.
You shook your head in the negative.
He ran his hand through your hair. Looking at the rescuer, while she finished first aid on you.
"Is she okay? How is she?" He asked the girl.
“She's in shock, some injuries, but nothing serious"
Javier was looking for your eyes, which were glazed lost in nothing, with some persistent tears still running down his face.
"You're fine babe, everything is fine, I'm here with you, everything will be fine..." he spoke as he looked at you, and looked for your soul, which was out of the body.
You could hear Javier, you could feel the weight of his warm and big hand in your arms, the affection he made in your hair, you could smell his cologne, and the noise of the creaking of the leather of his jacket with his movements, but I couldn't feel anything inside you, it was a hollow void, and full of fear.
The noises of the thousands of shots fired by the semi-automatics, still echoing in your head making a big buzz in your ear. The feeling of the hot blood of the driver splashing on you. The sound of the bullet piercing his head. Flashbacks that crossed your mind.
At some point your mouth moved. And Javier moved to get closer to you.
"I heard them..." your voice came out like a murmur, while the rescuer moved your arm.
Your eyes are still glazed in nothing.
"Who did you hear?" Javier sat down now, standing over you, dancing his eyes between your eyes, curious, worried "who did you hear cariño?"
He settled down leaning closer to you, perhaps trying to hear you better, since your voice was nothing more than a murmur.
"I heard Pablo approaching Carrilho..." your eyes watered you felt your nose burn, your chest hurting pulling an erratic breath, your voice faltered, "I heard him trigger the gun, and say that it was for Gustavo" your eyes finally found Javier's, your tears flowed down your face. "It was him"
Javier was silent for a while, swallowed it dry. And finally he held your face. Your purple lip, cracked with the wound.
"Shhhh" he passed his thumb wiping the tears that flowed "It's okay"
"I didn't do anything..." your words came out with the air from your mouth, "I could have saved him, I could have shot Pablo and ended that there" you shook your head frantically, as the tears flowed.
"No, babe, it's okay..." Javier caressed your hair, and pulled your face so that your foreheads were united.
"I didn't do anything, I didn't do fucking..." you were crying, unable to control yourself, pulling your breath desperately.
"Hey! You're safe, babe. That's all that matters, it's okay, breathe for me, okay?" Javier spoke low and low, calmly, he inspired you to imitate his movements.
But you just couldn't get the air into your lungs. Everything was tears, blurry, and pain.
"I don't..." came out between desperate sighs.
Javier looked at the rescuer, and she nodded to Javier, who lifted you a little from the stretcher wrapping you in a tight hug. Caressing the back of your neck, your fingers intertwined between your hair.
"Everything is fine now, I'm here, let's get them, I promise." Javier's hoarse and low voice between your hair.
Gradually his warmth comforted you, and left you damped. His smell, calming you down.
The rescuer showed him on his back, a tranquilizer, and he nodded. Moving away from you enough for the rescuer to reach your arm, to apply it to you.
"No..." you shook your head frantically with your eyes wide.
Javier held your face firmly with his hands on your cheeks.
"It will help, babe, I'll take care of you, trust me" he said looking deep into your eyes, wiping your tears.
Looking at him and the rescuer, you blinked a few times, and ended up giving in, you nodded.
The rescuer applied it to you. And in a few minutes, the buzz in your ear slowly dissipated, your eyes getting heavy.
Javier felt your body giving in. He was laying you back on the stretcher gently.
"It's okay, I'm here" Javier's voice was getting distant.
"Stay with me" you held his arm.
"I'm not going anywhere," he murmured.
Feeling his warm hand wrap your cold fingers, your eyes closed and everything was silent.
Peace.
43 notes · View notes
digitalmarketing091 · 22 days ago
Text
10 Essential Digital Marketing Tips to Boost Your Business in 2024
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, businesses of all sizes must stay up-to-date with the latest marketing strategies. The internet has changed the way consumers interact with brands, and as we approach 2024, mastering digital marketing will be more critical than ever. To help you stay competitive and drive meaningful results, here are 10 essential digital marketing tips that will elevate your business in the coming year.
1. Optimise for Voice Search
With the growing popularity of voice-activated devices like Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple’s Siri, voice search has become a key component of how people find information online. In fact, it's expected that over 50% of all searches will be voice-driven. Unlike traditional text-based searches, voice searches tend to be more conversational and long-tail. 
To optimise your website for voice search, start by incorporating natural language into your SEO strategy. This means using question-based keywords that reflect how people speak, such as “Where can I find the best digital marketing tips?” Additionally, focus on featured snippets and providing concise, relevant answers, as these are often used by voice assistants to respond to queries.
Tumblr media
2. Leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Your Campaigns
Artificial Intelligence is transforming the way businesses approach digital marketing. From chatbots to data analytics, AI enables companies to better understand customer behavior, predict trends, and create highly personalized marketing experiences. AI-driven tools can automate tasks like email segmentation, content recommendations, and customer service interactions, allowing businesses to save time while improving engagement.
For example, AI-powered chatbots can enhance customer experiences by providing instant responses to common inquiries, even outside of business hours.  AI can also help businesses optimise their ad campaigns by analysing large amounts of data and suggesting improvements based on performance.
Tumblr media
3. Prioritise Video Marketing
Video content is now an indispensable part of any digital marketing strategy. By 2024, it’s estimated that video will account for 82% of all online traffic. This makes video marketing one of the most effective ways to capture your audience’s attention. Whether it’s through YouTube, Instagram Stories, TikTok, or live streaming, video allows you to engage customers in ways that text or images simply can’t.
To maximise the impact of your video content, focus on creating short, engaging videos that are informative and entertaining. Live video is also becoming more popular, with platforms like Instagram and Facebook offering live streaming capabilities that allow you to interact with your audience in real-time. Demonstrating your products or services, hosting Q&A sessions, or sharing behind-the-scenes content can help build a more personal connection with your audience.
Tumblr media
4. Collaborate with Social Media Influencers
Influencer marketing is no longer just a trend—it’s a powerful tool for businesses to increase brand awareness and drive conversions. By partnering with influencers who have a loyal following, you can leverage their credibility and reach new audiences. In 2024, micro-influencers (influencers with smaller, highly engaged audiences) are expected to play a more significant role, as they often have more authentic interactions with their followers compared to larger influencers.
When selecting influencers to collaborate with, ensure they align with your brand’s values and target demographic. Authenticity is key—today’s consumers can easily spot a partnership that feels forced or inauthentic. Focus on building long-term relationships with influencers rather than one-off promotions for more meaningful engagement.
Tumblr media
5. Enhance User Experience (UX) on Your Website
User experience is central to the success of any digital marketing strategy. A poorly designed website can drive away potential customers and negatively impact your search engine rankings. Google places a strong emphasis on Core Web Vitals, which measure aspects like page load speed, interactivity, and visual stability.
As we move into 2024, it’s essential to ensure that your website is optimised for both speed and mobile friendliness. More than 50% of web traffic now comes from mobile devices, so if your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you could be losing a significant portion of your audience. Focus on providing a seamless, intuitive experience with easy navigation and fast load times to keep visitors engaged.
Tumblr media
 6. Master SEO: Focus on High-Quality Content
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is a long-standing digital marketing technique that continues to evolve. As Google’s algorithms become more sophisticated, the emphasis has shifted from keyword stuffing to creating high-quality, informative content. In 2024, businesses should focus on producing valuable, long-form content that addresses the needs and pain points of their audience.
To improve your SEO, conduct thorough keyword research and create content that provides in-depth answers to commonly asked questions in your industry. Use internal linking to guide visitors to other relevant pages on your website and ensure that your content is updated regularly to remain fresh and relevant.
Tumblr media
7. Invest in Paid Advertising
While organic reach is still valuable, the rise of paid advertising offers a more direct way to target specific audiences. Platforms like Google Ads, Facebook, and Instagram allow businesses to use highly targeted advertising to reach potential customers based on demographics, interests, and online behaviour. 
In 2024, consider experimenting with a mix of search ads, social media ads, and display ads to diversify your strategy. Retargeting campaigns, which focus on users who have already visited your site, are particularly effective at converting potential customers who didn’t purchase their first visit.
Tumblr media
8. Use Email Marketing to Nurture Leads
Email marketing remains one of the most effective ways to nurture leads and maintain customer relationships. In 2024, personalisation will be key to running successful email campaigns. Use behavioural data to send personalised emails based on your audience’s past interactions with your brand. Whether it's a product recommendation, an abandoned cart reminder, or a birthday discount, personalising your emails can significantly improve open and conversion rates.
Additionally, focus on building your email list organically and create   engaging, mobile-friendly templates that grab attention. Incorporate   dynamic content that adapts to the recipient’s preferences to make your emails more relevant and engaging.
Tumblr media
 9. Incorporate User-Generated Content (UGC)  
User-generated content (UGC) is a powerful form of social proof that can influence purchase decisions. Customers are more likely to trust the opinions of their peers than traditional advertising. Encourage your customers to share their experiences with your products or services on social media, and showcase UGC on your website and marketing channels.
UGC can take the form of reviews, testimonials, photos, and videos   from customers. By featuring authentic content from real users, you can build trust with potential customers and foster a sense of community around your brand.
Tumblr media
10. Utilise Data Analytics to Drive Decisions  
Data analytics is the foundation of a successful digital marketing strategy. By tracking the performance of your campaigns, you can make   data-driven decisions that improve your ROI. Tools like Google Analytics, social media insights, and marketing automation platforms can provide valuable information on how your audience interacts with your content, website, and ads.
In 2024, focus on real-time analytics to track user behaviour and adjust your marketing strategies on the fly. Use data to identify trends, test new ideas, and continuously refine your approach to maximise results.
Tumblr media
    Conclusion   
Digital marketing is an ever-changing field, and staying ahead of the trends is essential for business growth. By incorporating these 10 essential digital marketing tips, you’ll be well-prepared to navigate the challenges of 2024 and beyond. From optimising for voice search and embracing AI to mastering video marketing and enhancing your SEO efforts, each of these strategies will help you boost your business and stay ahead of the competition. Start implementing these tips today and watch your business soar to new heights in the digital world!
5 notes · View notes
deepalilohia · 7 months ago
Text
Ethical Influence: Winning Hearts and Minds the Right Way
Tumblr media
Persuasion is all about making others believe in you, ethics mean that it should be with no unfairness or disrespect. Here's how:
Be Honest: You should always tell the truth and be straightforward.
Respect People's Choices: Do not make people agree with you if they are not.
Listen and Understand: Be an active listener and try to understand what other people want and need.
Offer Something Good: Demonstrate how your idea can assist them.
Ethical persuasion means being patient, open-minded, and fair. It is about the search for solutions that are suitable for all.
14 notes · View notes
realtyvibes · 2 months ago
Text
Welcome to Akonini.com: Your Gateway to Exceptional Real Estate
Welcome to Akonini.com, where your journey to finding the perfect property begins. Whether you're looking for your dream home, an investment property, or just exploring the real estate market, Akonini.com is your trusted guide in real estate.
Why Choose Akonini.com?
At Akonini.com, we pride ourselves on offering a comprehensive range of real estate services to meet all your needs. Here's why you should consider us for your next real estate venture:
Extensive Property Listings
Our platform features many properties, from cozy apartments to luxurious estates. Each listing has high-quality images, key features, and all the essential information you need to make an informed decision.
User-Friendly Experience
We’ve designed Akonini.com to be intuitive and easy to navigate. Whether you're searching for a home, browsing through market trends, or seeking expert advice, our user-friendly interface ensures a seamless experience.
Expert Real Estate Insights
Stay informed with our regularly updated blog, featuring articles on market trends, home buying tips, and real estate news. Our experts share valuable insights to help you make the best decisions in your real estate journey.
Personalized Assistance
Our team of real estate professionals is dedicated to providing personalized assistance. From finding the right property to negotiating deals, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Explore Our Latest Blog Posts
1. Top Tips for First-Time Home Buyers
Discover essential tips and strategies for first-time buyers to navigate the market confidently.
2. Understanding Real Estate Market Trends
Get insights into current market trends and how they can impact your real estate decisions.
3. How to Prepare Your Home for Sale
Learn effective strategies to enhance your home’s appeal and maximize its value before listing it for sale.
Start Your Real Estate Journey Today
Ready to find your perfect property or learn more about the real estate market? Visit Akonini.com and explore our comprehensive listings, expert advice, and more. Our team is here to help you every step of the way!
Tumblr media
3 notes · View notes
creatornaziya · 4 months ago
Text
what is the benefits of learning AI in digital marketing course?
learn digital marketing with AI tools NOW GET STARTEDhttps://creatornaziya252.odoo.com/
Learning AI in a digital marketing course offers numerous benefits, helping professionals stay competitive and effective in a rapidly evolving field. Here are some key advantages:
Enhanced Data Analysis:
AI can process and analyze vast amounts of data more quickly and accurately than humans. This capability allows marketers to gain deeper insights into customer behavior, preferences, and trends.
Improved Personalization:
AI-driven tools can create highly personalized marketing campaigns by analyzing individual customer data. This leads to more relevant content, better user experiences, and increased engagement.
Automation of Repetitive Tasks:
AI can automate routine marketing tasks such as email campaigns, social media posts, and ad management. This automation saves time and resources, allowing marketers to focus on strategy and creativity.
Enhanced Customer Experience:
AI technologies like chatbots and virtual assistants provide 24/7 customer support, instant responses, and personalized interactions, improving overall customer satisfaction.
Predictive Analytics:
AI can predict future trends and customer behaviors by analyzing historical data. This helps marketers make data-driven decisions, optimize campaigns, and anticipate market changes.
Start learning now_https://creatornaziya252.odoo.com/
Cost Efficiency:
AI helps in optimizing ad spend by identifying the most effective channels, times, and audiences for marketing campaigns, ensuring better ROI.
Content Creation and Curation:
AI tools can assist in generating content, from writing articles to creating social media posts, and curating relevant content for different audiences, saving time and effort.
Targeted Advertising:
AI can analyze user data to create highly targeted ad campaigns, ensuring that ads reach the most relevant audiences, increasing conversion rates.
SEO Optimization:
AI can help in optimizing websites for search engines by analyzing keywords, monitoring site performance, and providing recommendations for improvement.
Competitor Analysis:
AI tools can track and analyze competitors' activities, helping marketers to stay ahead by understanding their strategies and adjusting their own accordingly.
Real-time Insights and Adaptability:
AI provides real-time analytics and insights, allowing marketers to quickly adapt to changing market conditions and customer behaviors.
Enhanced Decision Making:
By providing comprehensive data and predictive insights, AI aids marketers in making more informed and strategic decisions.
Overall, incorporating AI into digital marketing education equips professionals with the skills and tools needed to leverage cutting-edge technology, leading to more effective and efficient marketing strategies.
4 notes · View notes
godsfavdarling · 9 months ago
Text
chapter 18
Tumblr media
pairing: Spencer Reid x fem!oc
summary: ice skating and new year's eve party!
list of chapters, also available on wattpad and Ao3, my masterlist
warnings: none
words: 2k
As Spencer and Molly enjoyed their time together during Spencer's few days off, they immersed themselves in simple pleasures. Molly took the lead in the kitchen, preparing delicious meals and baked treats, while Spencer eagerly assisted her, taking on tasks like measuring ingredients.
They spent lazy afternoons cozied up on the couch, watching classic Christmas movies and savoring each other's company. With the arrival of snow in Washington D.C., they ventured out on leisurely walks, exploring the winter wonderland around them, including a visit to the Christmas market.
They meandered through the stalls, marveling at the array of ornaments and delectable baked goods on display. Their eyes sparkled with delight as they sampled various treats.
When they reached the ice rink, Molly suggested they try their hand at ice skating. After a bit of gentle persuasion, Spencer, eager to see Molly happy, reluctantly agreed, despite his lack of confidence on the ice.
As Spencer and Molly glided across the ice, their laughter echoing through the crisp winter air, Molly's attention suddenly veered away from the joyous moment. 
Her brow furrowed in concentration, a faint furrow of worry creasing her features as she scanned the bustling rink.
"Molly, hey?" Spencer's voice broke through the ambient noise, tinged with concern as he struggled to maintain his balance on the slippery surface. 
Clinging tightly to Molly's hand, he navigated the crowded rink with cautious steps, his gaze alternating between her and the surrounding commotion.
But despite his efforts, Spencer couldn't shake the sense of unease creeping into his heart. What had captured Molly's attention so abruptly? Was there something amiss, hidden amidst the festive atmosphere of the ice rink?
"Molly?" he called out again, his voice softer this time, laced with a hint of urgency. He longed to understand the source of her distraction.
Meanwhile, Molly's gaze darted anxiously through the crowd of skaters, her heart pounding in her chest as she searched for the familiar sound that had caught her eye. Amidst the swirling crowd, she finally found the source of the voice she heard. A woman with honey blonde hair, with the striking resemblance to herself impossible to ignore.
As Spencer followed her gaze, his breath caught in his throat when he too laid eyes on the woman and the little boy beside her. There was a sense of familiarity in the way the woman moved, in the sparkle of her eyes and the curve of her smile, that sent a ripple of confusion through Spencer's mind.
Molly's eyes remained fixed on the woman, who stood at the edge of the rink, her warm smile directed at the little boy as she cheered him on. "You're doing so well, sweetie," she encouraged, her voice carrying over the sound of scraping blades on ice. 
Molly couldn't tear her gaze away, she was captivated by the scene unfolding before her.
Feeling Spencer's hand tighten around hers, she was jolted out of her reverie. His gentle touch served as a grounding force, a reminder of his presence beside her amidst the whirl of emotions swirling inside her.
"Hey, Molly?" Spencer's voice broke through the haze of her thoughts, his tone hesitant yet hopeful. "Is that...?"
"Yes" Molly's response was blunt, her expression betraying a mix of resignation and determination. She let out a slow breath, steeling herself for what was to come.
"Do you wanna leave?" Spencer's question hung in the air, his concern evident in his tone.
"No," Molly replied firmly, her gaze steady. "She won't ruin my date with my boyfriend. I can be wherever I want to be. Just ignore her. We don't have to worry... She'll ignore me too."
Spencer's brow furrowed with concern, his desire to protect Molly warring with the uncomfortable situation unfolding before them. "Molly, we can go somewhere else, really," he insisted, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
Her lips quivered into a wry smile. "You really don't wanna ice skate with me, do you?" she teased, a hint of playful reproach in her tone.
Spencer chuckled, the tension easing slightly from his shoulders. "It's not that," he protested, his breath coming out in short bursts from the effort of staying upright on the ice.
"Come on, I've seen her in the wild before. We live in the same city, it's inevitable. Let's just skate. I'll help you."
And so, they continued to skate, Molly holding tightly onto Spencer's hand as she attempted to guide him through the graceful motions of ice skating. But despite her best efforts to explain the techniques, Spencer remained stubbornly uncoordinated, his movements awkward and uncertain.
Molly made a concerted effort to focus on everything but the direction of her mother. She kept her gaze fixed on the other skaters gliding gracefully around the rink, the colorful lights twinkling overhead, and the flurry of snowflakes swirling through the air.
With each lap around the rink, Molly's confidence grew, her movements becoming more fluid and assured. She reveled in the exhilarating sensation of gliding across the ice, the cold air stinging her cheeks as she laughed and joked with Spencer.
Despite her efforts to distract herself, however, Molly couldn't shake the lingering awareness of her mother's presence nearby. A part of her longed to confront her. But another part of her, perhaps the wiser part, knew that it wasn't worth it.
Instead, Molly chose to focus on the here and now, on the joy of being with Spencer and the simple pleasure of skating hand in hand with the man she loved.
.................................
As New Year's Eve approached, Molly found herself faced with a choice: join her friends for a night of karaoke or spend the evening with Spencer and his team, opting for a low-key house party. Initially torn between the two options, Molly eventually decided to share the karaoke idea with Spencer, who eagerly embraced the suggestion.
With Spencer's enthusiastic support, the idea quickly gained traction among the team members, and before long, plans were set in motion for a joint celebration at the karaoke bar. It was a chance for everyone to let loose and ring in the new year with laughter and music.
At the bar Spencer found himself chatting with Molly's friends, Sarah and Regina, whom he had met briefly a few times before when picking Molly up from work. 
As they settled at their tables in the bustling karaoke bar, Garcia nudged Molly with a mischievous grin, her eyes twinkling with anticipation. "Hey, Molly, you gonna sing tonight? Or maybe... you should duet with Spencer!" she suggested, his voice laced with playful encouragement.
Molly laughed nervously at Garcia's suggestion, shooting a glance at Spencer, who looked visibly terrified at the idea of singing in front of a crowd. Sensing his discomfort, Molly didn't want to torture him with the thought of a duet, so she decided to deflect Garcia's suggestion.
"Maybe I will, after I'm drunk enough," Molly replied with a playful grin, trying to lighten the mood. "But I'm more of a soloist. Spencer will have to watch, unfortunately."
Spencer let out a relieved sigh. He flashed her a grateful smile, silently thanking her for understanding his hesitation.
As the New Year's Eve party continued, Garcia remained glued to Molly's side, chatting animatedly about anything and everything. It seemed as though Garcia genuinely enjoyed her company, always seeking her out at friend gatherings.
Glancing around the room, Molly's gaze settled on Spencer, who was engaged in conversation with JJ. She couldn't shake the feeling of unease that crept over her as she noticed JJ's seemingly overly touchy behavior towards Spencer. It wasn't the first time Molly had observed such interactions, but she had always dismissed them as harmless banter between best friends.
Molly pushed aside her concerns, reminding herself of the deep bond between Spencer and JJ. 
Feeling a pang of irrational worry, Molly chided herself for letting her imagination run wild.
Spencer was her rock, her confidant, her love. She had no reason to doubt him or his friendship with JJ. With a determined shake of her head, Molly resolved to enjoy the rest of the evening, banishing any lingering doubts from her mind.
As the night progressed and a few drinks later, Molly felt a surge of courage coursing through her veins. With a playful twinkle in her eyes, she dashed up to the stage, announcing to the crowd that it was her turn to shine. With a quick glance at the catalog of songs, she found the one she had in mind.
Standing confidently in the center of the stage, Molly felt a rush of adrenaline as she caught Spencer's eyes fixated on her, his smile lighting up the room. Returning his smile, she took a deep breath, the anticipation mounting as she prepared to unleash her inner songstress.
As the familiar melody of Tears For Fears' "Head Over Heels" filled the air, Molly lost herself in the music, her voice soaring with emotion. With each word she sang, she poured her heart and soul into the performance, her eyes never leaving Spencer's gaze.
"Something happens and I'm head over heels
I never find out till I'm head over heels
Something happens and I'm head over heels
Ah, don't take my heart, don't break my heart
Don't, don't, don't throw it away"
As the applause erupted from the crowd, Molly stepped off the stage, a radiant smile adorning her face.
Molly gracefully stepped off the stage and a rush of adrenaline still coursed through her veins. She made a beeline for Spencer. Without hesitation, she closed the distance between them, her heart pounding with excitement as she reached out to him.
Spencer's eyes sparkled with pride and admiration as he watched Molly approach, his heart swelling with love. Without a second thought, he pulled her close, his lips meeting hers in a tender and passionate kiss.
Time seemed to stand still as they lost themselves in the sweetness of the moment, the world fading away around them. 
But as reality came crashing back in, Spencer suddenly remembered that they weren't alone—that they were surrounded by their friends and colleagues, all of whom were now watching them with amused expressions.
"Well, well, well, looks like someone's ringing in the new year with a bang! Go get it, pretty boy!"
A flush of embarrassment crept over Spencer's cheeks as Derek couldn't resist making a snarky comment, eliciting a chorus of laughter and playful teasing from the rest of the team. 
Mortified by the sudden attention, Spencer quickly pulled away from Molly, his cheeks burning with embarrassment.
Spencer hastily murmured an apology and retreated to his seat, his face flushing with a deep shade of red.
Molly, noticing his discomfort and the teasing from their friends, immediately sensed his need for reassurance. With a tender smile, she settled beside him, wrapping her arm around his shoulders and planting a gentle kiss on his cheek.
With a grateful smile, Spencer leaned into Molly's embrace.
As the clock struck midnight, amidst the cheers and celebrations, Molly leaned in and gently cupped Spencer's face with her hands. With a tender smile, she closed the distance between them and pressed her lips against his, sealing the moment with a sweet and meaningful kiss.
In that embrace, she wished she could convey to Spencer the depth of her feelings, the magnitude of what he meant to her. 
He wasn't just another chapter in her life, he was the beginning of a new story, one filled with love, understanding, and unwavering support.
She longed to tell him how he was the first— not the first kiss, not the first boyfriend, not the first confession of love— but the first to truly make her feel loved, cherished, and valued for who she was. 
He had shown her what it meant to be truly loved, to have someone by her side who accepted her completely and without reservation.
Molly held onto Spencer a little tighter, silently thanking the universe for bringing him into her life.
8 notes · View notes