#Smart Harvest Market

[vipinmishra]

Smart Harvest Market Analysis: IoT Implementation Driving Growth Trajectory

Increasing urbanization and increasing implementation of internet of things (IoT) integration in farming practices is expected to drive the Global Smart Harvest Market growth in the forecast period, 2024-2028.

According to TechSci Research report, “Smart Harvest Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2028”, the Global Smart Harvest Market stood at USD 14.78 Billion in 2022 and is anticipated to grow with a CAGR of 8.55% in the forecast period, 2024-2028. The global Smart Harvest Market is primarily driven by several key factors. There is the increasing adoption of automation and control devices due to labor shortages and the need for efficient farming operations. The growing preference for healthy and fresh food products by consumers is pushing the demand for smart harvesting techniques that ensure the nutritional quality of harvests.

Additionally, technological advancements in the field of agriculture, such as Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and machine learning, have led to the development of innovative harvesting solutions. Moreover, government initiatives to modernize the agriculture sector and promote the use of sustainable farming practices have further propelled the growth of the market. The increasing need for food security due to the rising global population is a significant driver for the adoption of smart harvest technologies.

The scope of the Global Smart Harvest Market extends across various sectors in agriculture, integrating advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and robotics. These cutting-edge technologies are revolutionizing the way crops are harvested and processed, bringing forth a new era of efficiency and productivity in the agricultural industry. With AI-powered systems, farmers can optimize harvesting schedules based on crop maturity, weather conditions, and market demand, ensuring that the right crops are harvested at the right time. This not only maximizes yield but also minimizes waste, contributing to sustainable farming practices. Furthermore, IoT sensors enable real-time monitoring of crop health, detecting diseases or nutrient deficiencies early on. By identifying and addressing these issues promptly, farmers can prevent crop damage and improve overall yield and quality.

Robotic automation plays a vital role in streamlining the sorting, packing, and transportation processes. With robotic systems, tasks that were once labor-intensive and time-consuming are now performed with precision and efficiency. This not only reduces the need for manual labor but also increases operational speed and accuracy, ultimately reducing costs and ensuring the timely delivery of produce to market.

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The market for smart harvesting technologies encompasses various regions worldwide, including both developed countries like the United States and developing regions like Asia-Pacific. In the United States, the adoption of smart harvesting technologies has gained traction due to labor shortages in the agriculture industry and the increasing demand for high-quality produce. By leveraging advanced technologies, farmers in the United States can overcome labor limitations and meet the rising demand while maintaining product quality and freshness.

In Asia-Pacific, where small-scale farming is prevalent, smart harvesting solutions offer an opportunity to improve productivity and ensure food security. These technologies provide small-scale farmers with access to advanced tools and techniques that can enhance their efficiency and yield. By harnessing the power of AI, IoT, and robotics, farmers in the Asia-Pacific region can achieve higher crop yields, optimize resource utilization, and contribute to sustainable farming practices. The global smart harvest market is driven by various factors, including labor shortages, rising demand for quality produce, and the need for sustainable farming practices.

As the global population continues to grow, the demand for food is expected to increase significantly. Smart harvesting technologies provide a promising pathway to meet this demand while minimizing environmental impact and promoting sustainable agriculture. By optimizing resource utilization, reducing waste, and embracing innovative technologies, farmers can play a crucial role in preserving the planet for future generations.

The Global Smart Harvest Market is segmented into component, site of operation, crop type, regional distribution, and company.

Based on site of operation, the On-Field segment is currently leading the Global Smart Harvest Market primarily due to the increasing adoption of automated harvesting robots and systems. These technologically advanced tools offer significant advantages including improved efficiency, reduced labor costs, and the capability to work under diverse environmental conditions. Moreover, they are designed to perform tasks such as picking, pruning, and weeding, which are typically labor-intensive and time-consuming. By integrating smart harvest technologies on the field, farmers can maximize yield and enhance productivity, thereby propelling the growth of this market segment.

These automated harvesting robots and systems are equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and artificial intelligence algorithms that enable them to identify ripe produce with precision and delicately harvest them without causing any damage. The robots can navigate through the fields autonomously, avoiding obstacles and adjusting their movements according to the changing terrain conditions. This not only saves valuable time for farmers but also reduces the risk of crop loss due to mishandling during the harvesting process.

The On-Field segment's leadership in the Global Smart Harvest Market is driven by the adoption of automated harvesting robots and systems that provide improved efficiency, reduced labor costs, and the capability to work under diverse environmental conditions. By integrating smart harvest technologies, farmers can maximize yield, enhance productivity, and promote sustainable farming practices, thereby propelling the growth of this market segment.

Based on region, Europe has witnessed a remarkable surge in the adoption of smart harvesting technology, driven by a multitude of factors. One of the primary catalysts behind this trend is the region's unwavering commitment to sustainable farming practices, which has propelled farmers to explore innovative solutions to maximize productivity while minimizing environmental impact. Moreover, Europe's strong inclination towards technology adoption in agriculture has further fueled the uptake of smart harvesting techniques.

European farmers, increasingly cognizant of the advantages bestowed by smart technologies, have embraced these cutting-edge tools to optimize their operations. By leveraging smart harvesting technology, farmers have witnessed a host of benefits, including substantial improvements in crop yield, effective reduction of waste, and judicious utilization of resources. These advancements not only elevate the overall efficiency of farming practices but also contribute to the long-term viability and sustainability of the agriculture sector in Europe.

Furthermore, the robust support from European Union policies has played a pivotal role in fostering the integration of innovative farming techniques. Recognizing the significance of food security, climate change mitigation, and the preservation of the European agriculture sector's competitiveness, the European Union has championed policies that encourage the adoption of smart technologies in farming. This proactive approach not only ensures a more secure and sustainable food supply but also positions European farmers at the forefront of agricultural innovation, empowering them to tackle the challenges posed by an evolving global landscape.

Major companies operating in Global Smart Harvest Market are:

Robert Bosch GmbH

Deere & Company

Smart Harvest Ltd.

Dogtooth Technologies Limited

Harvest Automation, Inc.

Root AI, Inc.

Iron Ox, Inc.

FFRobotics Ltd.

Vision Robotics Corp.

Harvest CROO, LLC

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“The future of the Global Smart Harvest Market is set to be bright and robust, largely propelled by technological advancements and the increasing demand for precision agriculture. With the continual growth of the global population, the call for efficient farming technologies is forecasted to escalate, fostering the expansion of the Smart Harvest Market. Technological innovations, including AI-driven harvesting robots, crop sensors, and state-of-the-art climate prediction models are set to be key influencers, boosting productivity and minimizing waste.

The overall market perspective remains optimistic, unlocking abundant opportunities for sector players. With the integration of technology and farming, the Smart Harvest Market is poised to redefine the agriculture industry, promising a future of sustainability and efficiency.,” said Mr. Karan Chechi, Research Director with TechSci Research, a research-based management consulting firm.

“Smart Harvest Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2018-2028 Segmented By Component (Hardware {Automation & Control Systems, Sensors, Imaging Systems, Harvesting Robots} and Software) By Site of Operation (On-Field, Greenhouse, Indoor) By Crop Type (Fruits and Vegetables), By Region and Competition”, has evaluated the future growth potential of Global Smart Harvest Market and provides statistics & information on market size, structure and future market growth. The report intends to provide cutting-edge market intelligence and help decision makers take sound investment decisions. Besides, the report also identifies and analyzes the emerging trends along with essential drivers, challenges, and opportunities in Global Smart Harvest Market.

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[ashimbisresearch]

Smart Harvest Market Future Trends and Analysis to Look Out | BIS Research

The Global Agriculture Industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation, driven by advancements in technology and the need for sustainable and efficient farming practices. One such innovation making waves is the emergence of the Smart Harvest Industry.

The Rise of Smart Harvesting

Smart Harvesting refers to the use of automation, robotics, and intelligent systems to streamline and optimize the harvesting process. These technologies enable farmers to overcome labor shortages, increase operational efficiency, and improve overall productivity. By combining the power of data, sensors, and robotics, Smart Harvesting is revolutionizing the way crops are harvested, leading to significant advancements in the agricultural landscape.

According to BIS Research, the Global Smart Harvest Market, which was estimated to be worth $4.17 billion in 2022, will grow to $7.74 billion by 2028, with a strong compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5% from 2023 to 2028.

Key Industry Market Drivers

Growing Need for Enhanced Crop Yield: Factors such as population growth, shrinking agricultural lands, and increased food demand are driving the necessity to improve crop yield through innovative farming techniques.

Demand from Urban Population: Urbanization, especially in developing countries, and higher income levels are increasing the demand for agricultural products, further emphasizing the need for efficient farming methods.

Limited Natural Resources: Depletion of resources like fresh water and arable land, coupled with labor shortages, pushes growers and farming companies to adopt smart agriculture solutions to maximize profitability.

Focus on Harvesting Efficiency: Harvesting is a critical aspect of farming operations, with losses occurring due to improper practices. Efficiency in harvesting grain, fruit, and vegetables is essential for overall farm productivity.

Automation in Harvesting: Combine harvesters have been automated for years, but there's growing interest in autonomous technology for fruit and vegetable picking. This technology aims to identify ripe fruit, reject damaged ones, and handle harvested produce delicately.

Rising Fresh Fruit Production: Global fresh fruit production is on the rise, reaching around 900 million tons annually. However, a significant portion of food loss occurs during harvest due to factors like labor shortages and inefficient harvesting practices.

Need for Automated Harvesters: The increasing production of fresh fruits highlights the demand for automated or smart harvesters. Around 30% of global food loss happens during agricultural production, emphasizing the urgency to address inefficiencies in harvest operations.

Challenges with Labor Availability: Farmers often face challenges with skilled labor availability, leading to abandoned crops or incomplete harvests. Automated harvesters offer a solution to mitigate these challenges and improve overall farm productivity.

Precision Agriculture and Data-Driven Insights: The integration of Smart Harvesting with precision agriculture practices provides farmers with real-time data and insights. Sensors and imaging technologies collect and analyze data on crop maturity, yield estimation, and quality parameters.

Sustainability and Food Waste Reduction: Precise and selective harvesting techniques ensure that only mature and high-quality crops are harvested, minimizing waste and increasing the efficiency of the food supply chain. This contributes to sustainable agricultural practices and reduces environmental impact.

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Benefits of Smart Harvesting in the Industry

Increased Efficiency and Productivity:

Smart Harvesting technologies enable faster and more efficient harvesting processes. Automated systems can work around the clock, reducing harvesting time and increasing productivity. This efficiency allows farmers to maximize their yields and optimize resource utilization.

Labor Optimization and Cost Reduction:

By automating labor-intensive tasks, Smart Harvesting reduces the dependency on manual labor. Farmers can allocate their workforce to other essential farm activities, addressing labor shortages and lowering labor costs in the long run.

Improved Crop Quality and Traceability:

Smart Harvesting ensures precise and selective harvesting, resulting in higher crop quality and uniformity. By integrating traceability systems, farmers can track the origin and journey of each harvested crop, enhancing food safety, and meeting consumer demands for transparency.

Enhanced Safety and Ergonomics:

Robotic systems used in Smart Harvesting are designed to operate in hazardous or physically demanding environments. This reduces the risk of injuries to farm workers and improves their working conditions, making agriculture a safer and more attractive profession.

Future Outlook and Collaboration

The Smart Harvest Industry is poised for significant growth in the coming years. As the technology continues to advance, collaborations between technology developers, farmers, and research institutions are essential to drive innovation, refine existing solutions, and address the unique challenges faced by different crops and regions. Government support and favorable policies that encourage the adoption of Smart Harvesting technologies will further accelerate market growth and ensure a sustainable agricultural future.

Conclusion

As the global population continues to grow, the demand for sustainable and efficient agricultural practices becomes paramount. Smart Harvesting, with its automation capabilities and data-driven insights, holds the key to meeting these challenges while ensuring a more productive, safer, and sustainable future for the agriculture sector.

By embracing Smart Harvesting technologies, farmers can optimize their operations, reduce waste, and contribute to a more resilient and food-secure world. The Smart Harvest Market is not just transforming the agriculture industry; it is empowering farmers to reimagine the way we grow, harvest, and feed the world.

[farmerstrend]

The Role of Market Linkages In Kenya’s Agricultural Exports

Discover how Kenya’s agriculture industry is transforming through export diversification, climate-smart farming, and strategic partnerships, driving growth and boosting farmers’ livelihoods. Explore the rise of high-value agricultural exports like avocados and berries from Kenya, and learn how technology and infrastructure improvements are reshaping the sector. Learn about the challenges and…

[euthymiya]

lumidouce season — ft. wriothesley

for @ficsforgaza kinktober — wriothesley + sex pollen

synopsis: it was supposed to just be a picnic. if there’s still some form of divine power that’s presiding over fontaine, it must really have it out for wriothesley. it was not just a picnic

before you read: 3.5k word count ; female reader ; 18+ mature content ; sex pollen so therefore dubcon ; established relationships ; very slight humiliation kink ; reader is a tease and wriothesley is just miserable tbh ; i made up lore about lumidouce bells built off in-game lore ; reader sits on his lap ; hand jobs ; cum eating ; no prep ; clothed + unprotected vaginal sex ; very slightly public sex (in his office but it’s private) ; creampie ; implied multiple rounds ; not proof read

comments: whoever requested this was rly doing their big one for wrio nation. honestly was so kind and smart of them to do wrio and sex pollen. honestly they’re kind of a mastermind. honestly their brain is kind of big. (it was me. i requested this for wrio nation. but i wasn’t banking on being the one writing it in the end so i can’t promise i did my big one with the writing. also since i sponsored this myself i give myself permission to exceed the word count limit LOL)

Sigewinne’s book (that he borrowed without asking) says the following:

Lumidouce Bell: A serene and tranquil violet flower. It has a light, soft, and lasting scent and is often used for making luxurious perfumes.

Wriothesley reads the words over and over. Luckily, he’s just about smart enough to start piecing together what’s happening without having to consult the head nurse. That would be another nightmare of its own that he’s unwilling to suffer through.

None of this would have happened if he didn’t go up to the surface. Wriothesley hardly ever goes up to the surface. He thinks after today, he might never go up to the surface. If there’s still some form of divine power that’s presiding over Fontaine, it must really have it out for him. This afternoon was supposed to be his attempt at being a sincere, thoughtful, romantic boyfriend. It was supposed to just be a picnic.

Unfortunately, it was not just a picnic.

He decides that starting now, romance is dead, chivalry is six feet under in a coffin, and sunlight and vitamin D can be damned in hell—he’s staying underwater where rusted metal and dingy lighting is the most that can bother him.

You’ll just have to get used to the musky odor of leaking pipes. He’s sure you’ll understand.

“You know, you seem kind of flushed,” you frown, “are you coming down with something?”

The way your hand flattens against his cheek is just cruel. (Innocent and well natured, of course. But by default, based on his rather dire circumstance right now, it’s cruelly poor in timing to have your touch press against his embarrassingly heated skin).

“No,” he croaks, gently swatting your hand away. You frown, eyeing him disbelievingly as he clears his throat. “Th-think I was just allergic to some of those flowers, that’s all.”

Allergic is certainly one way of putting it.

There’s rumors that during a certain season, lumidouce bells make for a rather…alluring perfume scent. Wriothesley has always chalked it up to just that: a rumor. He’s always thought those borderline raunchy advertisements about attracting people to you just by scent alone was a marketing tactic meant to scam people out of their hard earned mora through sex appeal.

Now, he’s starting to think maybe the rumors had some truth to them. Maybe lumidouce bells do have a peak season for harvesting. Maybe they do make for an alluring scent. Maybe they’re the reason for his uncomfortably tight pants and concerningly heated skin.

“Wriothesley, I don’t think it’s just allergies,” you press softly. He’s a bit stubborn when it comes to admitting he’s sick—he can tell from the look on your face, you’ve chalked it up to that. “Maybe we should have Sigewinne take a look at—”

“No!” He practically shouts. You recoil, blinking at him (and perhaps, his audacity) as you register his volume. Maybe there is still some form of divinity looking over him that doesn’t seem to hate him completely because you seem more concerned at his rather panicked tone than the fact that he’s raised his voice at you. He clears his throat and tries again. “I…uh, I don’t need Sigewinne for this. I’m sure she’s busy, anyway. Best not waste her time.”

He flashes you an unconvincingly tight smile.

You raise a brow, unimpressed. “You’re sweating uncontrollably.”

“It’s the middle of summer and we’re surrounded by faulty mechanics in this fortress, can you blame a guy for sweating through his clothes a bit?”

You stare at him and blink. “You’ve been weirdly fidgety, too.”

“You’re just so beautiful, I can’t help it. You know what they say—every day feels like the first time with the right person.”

This time, the smile he flashes you is a tad bit flirtier that you almost believe it. Almost.

With an exasperated sigh, you pull his chair away from his desk—much to his dismay—and move to grab him by the arm, “c’mon, Wriothesley. Sigewinne isn’t going to drop dead if we add one more patient to her….oh.”

Yeah, oh, he thinks bitterly. Your eyes have seemed to be caught on his very clear, and very obvious problem. The painfully erect bulge in his pants (that are tight enough to not do him any favors) is clear as daylight.

He really fucking hates the over world right now that if he never seems daylight again, he thinks he won’t be too sad.

And to add insult to injury, he’s leaking pre cum just enough that there’s a slightly visible dark patch over his crotch, the fabric damp and sticky enough that he wants to peel them off of his body.

You stare…and stare…and stare for a couple of agonizing moments before murmuring, “honey, if you were pent up, you could’ve just said so.”

He closes his eyes and fights the urge to pinch his nose in distress. “That…that’s not it.”

“I don’t know,” you say, staring pointedly at his little problem. “You seem pretty frustrated to me. It’s not like I’d complain about taking care of it.”

The words come out a little cheeky at the end. Despite it all, there’s at least a sliver of amusement he can enjoy from this as he cracks a strained chuckle.

“I’m well aware of that,” he mumbles hoarsely. “But…it’s not…this isn’t so simple. Not this time.”

You scrunch your brows in confusion before tilting your head in confusion. He really doesn’t want to have to explain this tragic, unlucky misfortune he’s forced to endure right now, but something gives him the hint that you’re not going to drop this until he either tells you himself, or has Sigewinne come to a conclusion and share her findings.

The latter seems like pure torture compared to the former option, so he resigns himself to his fate.

“Okay…” you trail off, “what is it? You can tell me, you know.” The second part comes out softer. Gentle enough that when coupled with the slow circles your hand rubs into his bicep, he relaxes just a little.

“The flowers,” he grunts. He sounds like he’s pained just from saying it. “They…you know?”

“…I’m not following,” you shake your head. “You’re allergic?”

“No,” he runs a hand through his hair and sighs, closing his eyes as he begs the Gods for a way out. Unsurprisingly, the Gods do not answer. “You know how we were laughing about those perfume ads? That always hint that lumidouce bells in summer smell extra tempting?”

You crack a smile at the memory, giggling as you nod. “Yeah, what a ridiculous scheme,” you snort, “mystérieux et sensuel. These marketing teams really have no shame.”

Your voice mocks the slogan, and he barely chokes back an embarrassed whine.

“Y-yeah, well remember when I smelled one of the flowers as a joke?”

“Yeah,” you shake your head in fond amusement, “you’re shameless too, you know. Is there anything you don’t do for some—”

“I…I don’t think the perfume ads were lying,” he just barely chokes out.

You pause. It’s like he can see the cogs in your brains turning, the rotational force of one gear powering the next until there’s a fully functioning machine that is your mind. And suddenly, as if in slow motion, he watches as the realization sketches itself onto your face.

He hopes the Gods hear his prayers for a sudden death. But he doubts they’re even up there listening to him at this point.

“Oh…” you breathe. “So you’re hard because of the flowers?”

“Sweetheart, please don’t make me answer that,” he rubs his face in exhaustion as he slumps back against his chair and accepts that he’s pretty much just killed his dignity and shattered his ego in one afternoon.

“Okay,” you nod, eyeing him carefully. And then, with a twitch of your lips that seems suspiciously difficult for you to fight back, you add, “I guess you don’t really need to answer that. The evidence is right there.”

Your eyes gesture at his evidently hard cock. Sure, Wriothesley has fucked you plenty of times. And yes, most of those times consist of him being completely exposed to you in the nude. And of course, intimacy in that form means that his body will have a natural response that is rather visible and is something you’ve seen many times over.

But this makes him feel oddly exposed in a way he’s not used to. And he’s still fully clothed for it, too.

“Don’t stare,” he mumbles, words muffled by his hands as he buries his face into them and groans. “Close your eyes.”

“I don’t know if I want to do that,” you hum. Slowly, his chair gets pushed back more, making room for you to climb onto his lap and straddle his hips.

He gaslights himself for his own sake that the sound pulled from his throat as your body presses against his erection never happened. It’s all in his head. None of this is real. He’s seeing this in the form of hallucinations in his dizzy, hazy, sex-induced head that can’t tell what’s real and what’s fake because his reality is tilted on its axis and distorted completely.

(It’s a lie, of course. If anything, his senses are extra heightened and he’s more hyper aware of everything than usual, but believing in his false fantasy is more comforting than facing the truth. He deserves this much for being the Gods’ least favorite, at least.)

“You could’ve just asked me to help, you know,” you murmur, chuckling as you kiss along his jaw. He groans, tilting his head back involuntarily and making room for your lips to explore his neck. “Wouldn’t have had to suffer through those hot flashes if you just used your words.”

“Forgive me,” he mutters sarcastically, “it’s not every day you get aroused against your will by the pollen of some weirdly perverted flower.”

“I don’t know if flowers can be perverted,” you tease, “they don’t have feelings.”

“Well, I do,” he grumbles, “and my feelings are not happy.”

“I can change that,” you grin cheekily.

And with that, comes the sweet, sweet feeling of relief as your hand unbuckles his belt expertly and frees his strained cock. Any other time, and he’d make a smug, teasing comment about how you’re a little too good and too quick at undoing his belt and buttons, but he’s not in any position to do any mockery today. So, instead, he keeps his mouth shut as he inhales sharply at the cold, frigid air that hits his hot, swollen cock.

“Baby, wait—fuck,” he curses as soon as your thumb smears the dribbling pre cum, body tensing under you a you coat his length with his own mess. When your hand wraps tightly around him, giving a slow, teasing stroke, he all but whimpers as his hips involuntarily buck up into your touch. “Oh Gods,” he groans.

“It’s warmer than usual,” you observe as you stare down at his length in your hand. He opens his eyes to throw you a weak glare at that.

“Can you have a little sympathy for my predicament and not make such horrifying observations out loud?”

“Sorry,” you laugh, pecking his lips, “I’ll say them in my head.”

“That doesn’t make me feel better.”

“I know what’ll make you feel better,” you murmur, scattering gentle kisses along his face as your hand tightens around him and strokes at a steadier, quicker pace.

He throws his head back, letting his jaw hang loose as free, throaty moans fill the air of his office with every up and down motion of your hand. Your lips are kind though to find his mouth and drink up his sounds, muffling them and quieting the unnaturally high volume they seem to take today.

“F-fuck,” he pants, “sweetheart, faster. Please.”

“Wow,” you hum at he plea, “these flowers must be good. They have you using your manners in the bedroom.”

“We’re in my office,” he hisses, clenching his jaw as your thumb traces along the thick vein along the side of his cock, “you didn’t even give me the courtesy of making it to the bedroom.”

“You didn’t really seem like you had the energy to stand.”

Well, he thinks, you make an aggravatingly good point. When this is all said and done, he’ll make sure to repay your clearly well-amused comments with some kindness of his own. But for now, his hips frantically buck up to meet your pace as you let him practically fuck your fist.

It’s a bit of an embarrassingly short period of time before his cock is twitching in his hand and his breaths come out in erratic huffs. The telltale signs of his orgasm are ones you know pretty well, so your grip tightens and your pace quickens like electro meeting dendro before he’s gripping your hips tightly to ground himself as an earth shattering force weaves through his whole body.

His muscles stiffen and his jaw slacks as he quivers under you, letting out a muffle whine against your lips as you kiss him through his high to quiet him—the last thing either of you needs is to add to his already blown ego and have someone overhear your business from outside his door.

“Ngh, sh-shit, baby,” his voice cracks, “you’re so good. So, so good, you know that? So fuckin’ good at that—don’t stop.”

“You’re extra nice when you’re needy,” you hum, one hand working his cock through his peak while the other finds the sweaty locks of dark, messy hair to card through.

“You’re extra rude when I’m suffering,” he shoots back.

“I’m sorry,” you say—it’s not very apologetic at all. He scoffs, rolling his eyes as he slowly catches his breath after he finishes spilling his seed into your hand.

“No you’re not,” he narrows his eyes accusingly.

You have the heart to at least attempt to make your wounded look seem real as you pout and protest, “I am! See?”

And, as if to prove to him that you are, indeed, sorry, you bring up your soiled hand to lick a strip of his cum off your finger, making his breath hitch in throat before he groans.

He’s already twitching back to life between his legs at the sight. It’s unnaturally fast, that you and he both know it has to still be lingering effects. The pollen is still rooted in his system, blossoming petals of desire all through his skin with thorns that pinprick at his sanity.

This is going to be a long afternoon, he thinks. You don’t seem even a little upset by it, though.

“I’m gonna need a better apology than that,” he murmurs lowly, leaning in to press a kiss right under your ear and grinning as you shiver slightly at the feeling of his breath against your skin.

You didn’t smell the flower or inhale the pollen. But that doesn’t mean the apex of your thighs aches any less after this whole ordeal—in fact, there’s a rather obvious dampness between your own legs that Wriothesley is cutely aware of. His fingers weave between your thighs to press against your clothed cunt, brushing against your clit through the damp fabric as you gasp.

He chuckles, you glare.

“And I think I have an excellent idea of how you could apologize, too,” he winks.

He feels at least slightly better. Even if not completely free of the after effects of breathing in something so strong, he’s at least cleared his head enough to start teasing you again. You’re too desperate to feel him to really care about winning back the upper hand.

You just want to feel him.

Something tells you he just wants to feel you, too.

Two strong hands lift your hips up just enough to slide your skirt up and slip your panties down, exposing your dripping cunt and holding you up to line up your entrance with the thick tip of his re-hardened cock.

“And what would that be?” You blink through thick, batted lashes, eyes dark and hazed with lust as you stare at his own dilated pupils. He hums, teasing your folds over his tip to coat himself with your essence as you bite your lip and shudder.

“I’m sure you could figure it out,” he says weakly.

For all of his smooth words, Wriothesley is dangerously impatient right now. His palms are sweaty, his jaw is tense, and there’s a scrunch in his brows that signals he doesn’t want to wait for what he wants. What he needs.

So you plant both hands on either of his shoulders and slide yourself down his thick girth, letting him split you open as you take him one slow inch at a time. You both inhale sharply at the same moment—you for the intrusion of his length, and him for the tight, warm pressure your walls surround him with.

He’s heard people say that lumidouce bells represent a wish for reunion. He’s starting to think that every whisper he’s heard about this odd plant is fascinatingly true—this reunion of your bodies is something he doesn’t think he’ll ever not wish for.

It’s hot. The air of his office is stuffy, the clothes you’re both still wearing cling to your sweaty bodies, and warm puffs of air between you both as you breathe suffocate you with a dizzying heat.

You sink down and take the final inches of his thickness, feeling him press so deep into you, you think you can feel him in your lungs with every breath you take. He obstructs your air, winding you completely into a breathless mess as you cling to his shoulders, pressing against his chest and latching your lips to his neck in something to distract yourself with as you adjust to accommodating his size.

“Fuck,” you whimper, “s’too big.”

“Easy, sweetheart,” he chuckles, rubbing the small of your back, “you got it—we always make it work, don’t we?”

You nod, shivering as his hands wander from your back to your ass, giving a light squeeze as he groans at the slight clench of your pussy.

“Ready?” He hums.

“Ready,” you nod, finally used to the stretch. It’s not new, but it’s not exactly something you ever get used to.

“That’s a sweet girl,” he coos. “Always so good to me. Always have you to take care of me, don’t I?”

You nod furiously, rolling your hips as you desperately bounce on his cock, trying to angle him to hit the back of your walls where you need him most. “Yes,” you murmur breathlessly, “yes, you…you always have me.”

“So sweet,” he groans, burying his face into the crook of your neck. “Spoiling me rotten, sweetheart.”

His hands squeeze at your hips before firmly lifting you up, almost enough to pull you off of him completely before pulling you down, slamming his tip into the spongy, sensitive spot in your walls that was you whining. He angles you just right—doing the work so you don’t have to yourself, even from under you. You can feel him pulsing in you, the dull throb shared between the heat of both of your legs.

Somewhere along the way, your lips meet his in a messy, heated kiss. Your lips glide against each other, tongues meeting in a breathless exchange as your hips move at the same time as his strong grip pulls you against him. He guides you easily, setting a quick, steady pace and positions you to bounce on his cock so he brushes against every sensitive spot along your quivering walls.

One thrust of your hips. Two. Then three. A fourth, and you’re letting out a shrill squeal as his thumb finds your clit between your bodies, rubbing harsh circles until finally, you fall apart on his cock. Tight, fluttering walls that spasm around him, squeezing relentlessly as your orgasm crashes over you.

“Wriothesley,” you moan, chanting his name through muffled whines against his mouth. He groans, breath catching in his throat in a choke before he spills into you a second time—the feel of you coming undone around him triggering his own release.

“Baby, ‘m cumming,” he mumbles into your mouth, “fuck, you feel good.”

Warm, sticky ropes of cum paint your walls like they’re a blank canvas. You can feel them fill you with every twitch of his cock, your hips rolling lazily in a sloppy attempt to help him through his peak while he grips your waist tightly and squeezes, holding onto you to keep himself grounded.

“Come on,” you whisper, “you look so pretty when you feel good, Wrio.”

He shivers at that. Your quivering walls milk him until he’s shuddering under you, breathless pants and low groans filling the air of his office.

Finally, after what feels like forever, he slumps back against his chair and you slump against his chest, catching your breaths as you finish.

“Was that apology enough?” You whisper, out of breath as your sweaty forehead presses against his.

He lets out a low chuckle, collecting a bead of sweat from your temple with his thumb as he murmurs, “not quite. I think I need some more convincing before you’re forgiven,” he whispers.

His voice is husky against your ear. There’s no sign of a softening cock in your cunt, still hard and throbbing as ever.

You huff out a breathless laugh as you respond, “then let me convince you some more.”

Any grammar errors or typos aren’t my business. That’s between my fingers and the keyboard don’t ask me what happened I just work here

[agapi-kalyptei]

crowdstrike: hot take 1

It's too early in the news cycle to say anything truly smart, but to sum things up, what I know so far:

there was no "hack" or cyberattack or data breach*

a private IT security company called CrowdStrike released a faulty update which practically disabled all its desktop (?) Windows workstations (laptops too, but maybe not servers? not sure)

the cause has been found and a fix is on the way

as it stands now, the fix will have to be manually applied (in person) to each affected workstation (this could mean in practice maybe 5, maybe 30 minutes of work for each affected computer - the number is also unknown, but it very well could be tens (or hundreds) of thousands of computers across thousands of large, multinational enterprises.

(The fix can be applied manually if you have a-bit-more-than-basic knowledge of computers)

Things that are currently safe to assume:

this wasn't a fault of any single individual, but of a process (workflow on the side of CrowdStrike) that didn't detect the fault ahead of time

[most likely] it's not that someone was incompetent or stupid - but we don't have the root cause analysis available yet

deploying bugfixes on Fridays is a bad idea

*The obligatory warning part:

Just because this wasn't a cyberattack, doesn't mean there won't be related security breaches of all kinds in all industries. The chaos, panic, uncertainty, and very soon also exhaustion of people dealing with the fallout of the issue will create a perfect storm for actually malicious actors that will try to exploit any possible vulnerability in companies' vulnerable state.

The analysis / speculation part:

globalization bad lol

OK, more seriously: I have not even heard about CrowdStrike until today, and I'm not a security engineer. I'm a developer with mild to moderate (outsider) understanding of vulnerabilities.

OK some background / basics first

It's very common for companies of any size to have more to protect their digital assets than just an antivirus and a firewall. Large companies (Delta Airlines) can afford to pay other large companies to provide security solutions for them (CrowdStrike). These days, to avoid bad software of any kind - malware - you need a complex suite of software that protects you from all sides:

desktop/laptop: antivirus, firewall, secure DNS, avoiding insecure WiFi, browser exploits, system patches, email scanner, phishing on web, phishing via email, physical access, USB thumb drive, motherboard/BIOS/UEFI vulnerabilities or built-in exploits made by the manufacturers of the Chinese government,

person/phone: phishing via SMS, phishing via calls, iOS/Android OS vulnerabilities, mobile app vulnerabilities, mobile apps that masquerade as useful while harvesting your data, vulnerabilities in things like WhatsApp where a glitched JPG pictures sent to you can expose your data, ...

servers: mostly same as above except they servers have to often deal with millions of requests per day, most of them valid, and at least some of the servers need to be connected to the internet 24/7

CDN and cloud services: fundamentally, an average big company today relies on dozens or hundreds of other big internet companies (AWS / Azure / GCP / Apple / Google) which in turn rely on hundreds of other companies to outsource a lot of tasks (like harvesting your data and sending you marketing emails)

infrastructure - routers... modems... your Alexa is spying on you... i'm tired... etc.

Anyway if you drifted to sleep in the previous paragraph I don't blame you. I'm genuinely just scratching the surface. Cybersecurity is insanely important today, and it's insanely complex too.

The reason why the incident blue-screened the machines is that to avoid malware, a lot of the anti-malware has to run in a more "privileged" mode, meaning they exist very close to the "heart" of Windows (or any other OS - the heart is called kernel). However, on this level, a bug can crash the system a lot more easily. And it did.

OK OK the actual hot lukewarm take finally

I didn't expect to get hit by y2k bug in the middle of 2024, but here we are.

As bad as it was, this only affected a small portion of all computers - in the ballpark of ~0.001% or even 0.0001% - but already caused disruptions to flights and hospitals in a big chunk of the world.

maybe-FAQ:

"Oh but this would be avoided if they weren't using the Crowdwhatever software" - true. However, this kind of mistake is not exclusive to them.

"Haha windows sucks, Linux 4eva" - I mean. Yeah? But no. Conceptually there is nothing that would prevent this from happening on Linux, if only there was anyone actually using it (on desktop).

"But really, Windows should have a better protection" - yes? no? This is a very difficult, technical question, because for kernel drivers the whole point is that 1. you trust them, and 2. they need the super-powerful-unrestrained access to work as intended, and 3. you _need_ them to be blazing fast, so babysitting them from the Windows perspective is counterproductive. It's a technical issue with no easy answers on this level.

"But there was some issue with Microsoft stuff too." - yes, but it's unknown if they are related, and at this point I have not seen any solid info about it.

The point is, in a deeply interconnected world, it's sort of a miracle that this isn't happening more often, and on a wider scale. Both bugfixes and new bugs are deployed every minute to some software somewhere in the world, because we're all in a rush to make money and pay rent and meet deadlines.

Increased monoculture in IT is bad for everyone. Whichever OS, whichever brand, whichever security solution provider - the more popular they are, the better visible their mistakes will be.

As much as it would be fun to make jokes like "CrowdStroke", I'm not even particularly mad at the company (at this point - that might change when I hear about their QA process). And no, I'm not even mad at Windows, as explained in the pseudo-FAQ.

The ultimate hot take? If at all possible, don't rely on anything related to computers. Technical problems are caused by technical solutions.

[caelwynn]

Caelwynn's Mod List for Stardew 1.6.9+ - Gameplay/Quality of Life (pg 3)

Last Updated: 11/26/24

Page 1. Page 2. Page 3.

Useable Community Center — allows you to make use of the appliances at the community center after its completion.

Activate Sprinklers — lets you activate sprinklers by right-clicking them.

Adjust Baby Chances — allows you to adjust the percentage chance your spouse(s) will ask for a baby.

Better Quarry Redux — improves the spawn rate of geodes, ore, and gems in the quarry.

Better Winter Star Gifts — reduces the number of 'dud' gifts at the Feast.

Farmers Market — turns the grange displays at the Stardew Valley Fair into a little farmers market.

Happy Home Designer — overhauls the catalogs and integrates Alternative Texture packs.

Heart Event Helper — shows how dialogue options impact friendship.

It's My Farm I'll Pass Out If I Want To — if you pass out on your farm, you no longer get hauled off to Harvey's. Allows you to configure consequences for passing out at home.

Last Day to Plant — puts up a little message on the last day you can plant something and still be able to harvest it.

Marnie's Auto-Petters — allows you to purchase auto-petters from Marnie.

Mobile Phone Continued — adds in a mobile phone that allows you to call NPCs/allow them to call you. Also lets you re-watch previous heart events.

Mobile Arcade Continued — adds the arcade games Prairie King and Junimo Kart to your phone.

Mobile Phone Themes — adds different background and one skin for your phone.

Mobile Television Continued — allows you to watch today's tv from your phone.

Precise Furniture — lets you adjust furniture pixel by pixel.

Reset Terrain Features — useful for if you add in a new map mid-save.

Smart Building — a more sims-style UI for placing fences, floors, furnaces, etc.

Stack Everything Redux — allows you to stack things that aren't normally stackable, such as furniture, tackles, and wallpaper.

The Return of Immersive Scarecrows — allows you to place scarecrows in and amongst your crops without taking up a tile.

The Return of Immersive Sprinklers — same as above, just with sprinklers.

Tree Spread — prevents trees from spreading on your farm.

World Maps Everywhere — allows you to access all of the world maps from the map window instead of just the current area.

CJB Item Spawner — allows you to spawn any item in the game. Useful for cheating for respawning an item that bugged.

Event Music Volume — allows you to set different volume levels for the music between heart events and regular gameplay. Never again miss out on hearing a concert cutscene because you had turned the music down for your own soundtrack.

Log Menu — Allows you to bring up a log of the last 50 lines of dialogue, useful for when you accidentally click through.

Public Access TV — Adds several channels to the television with useful info provided by local NPCs about conditions around the valley that day.

Jump Over — Allows you to jump over things, like fences.

Yet Another (Balanced) Quality Goods Mod — Artisan goods from machines keep the quality of the input item, but profit is reduced (configurable) to balance out the increase in profit. Comes with optional large versions of cheese, goat cheese, and mayonnaise.

Zoom Level — Adds new keybindings to adjust the zoom level past the game limits. Useful for snapping screenshots.

No Clip Mode — Unsure how this wasn't on the list previously. Allows you to walk through anything, including map boundaries. Very useful when you have a ton of mods and have the occasional conflict.

The Masterpost for all of the mods is located here.

[miss-mania]

The Song of Maybe

(By Abbadon, from the Webcomic Kill Six Billion Demons)

Once, Lord Intra came to the Vale of Stalks. It was a broad land with a hardy and beautiful people that wove stems of grass into elaborate mats. There were frequent harvest songs and offerings to the God of Pigs.

Unfortunately, at the time, the people were starving. The land was ruled by Yem Yeddo and his family, who had sucked the life out of it for some time. That was the way of things in those days. Though the soil was quite fertile, Yem Yeddo had surrounded himself with thickset and well-fed men, who lacked in brains but made up for it in muscle and the same kind of canniness found in very smart dogs. These men he used as tax collectors, and he drained the land of every third, fourth, and fifth bale of crop, and sold it for crude coin, feeding the scraps to his thugs.

Lord Intra arrived at the local way house and was served black bread, as was the custom, but skesh was strangely absent, and the bread was thin and mealy. When Intra asked why, he quickly learned of the lands’ plight.

“What of the peregrine lords that tend this place?” He asked.

“They were killed by thirty men, and hung from a tree for seven days,” said the inn proprietor, with a look like a beaten animal.

Intra could not abide this. He called out to Yem Yeddo in the spare and decaying market square, who brought his thirty men.

“Preem Yeddo,” bellowed Intra, “You are a cruel and petty man. How can you scour this land so and not feel for the people that call it their abode?”

Yem Yeddo laughed. “Let them eat the stones, for all I care,” said he.

Intra, who was not one to balk at such matters, picked up a particularly large rock and said, “So it shall be. I shall feed the people with this stone.”

The lord of the vale and his thugs laughed at Intra and his preposterous proclamation. But their mirth was cruel, so they stayed to watch his futile labor.

“I will turn this rock into fire,” said Intra. The men roared with laughter.

“Fool!” they cackled. “The rock shall not become fire, no matter your wish.”

Intra ignored them, turned the rock in his well worn hand, and dug a shallow pit with it, piling the earth carefully at the sides. Then he gathered dry brush and reeds and piled them high in the pit. The sun was hot and bright overhead as he worked, and his traveling clothes were soiled with sweat as he worked. The men bade the villagers of that place gather water for them to drink as they watched Intra’s labors.

From his traveling cloth, Intra produced a sword. The thugs watching him leaned forward at this, but then quickly relaxed. It was a decrepit and battered thing, well used and pitted and chipped.

“I no longer use this to kill men,” said Intra. “But it’s very good for cooking dinner.”

Intra struck the rock against his sword, and a spark flew into the dry brush. Intra fanned it with great care, and soon a roaring fire blazed in the village square.

“Now I will make of this stone Earth and Water both,” said Intra, standing in front of the blaze.

“And air too, I suppose,” jested Yem Yeddo, the richest man in the vale, and all his men laughed.

But Intra did not. He took his proclamation very seriously. At this point, he had been sober for months and had a headache.

Intra took the stone, and his terribly damaged sword, and began to set to work by the side of the fire. Using the edge of the sword, he slowly chipped at the rock, flattening its shape. As the rock was of a reasonably large size, this took quite some time.

Once he was satisfied with his tool, he took off his kafeyen and traveling cape, so he was clad only in his underclothes, then found a good spot in the barren and muddy town square and began to dig.

Even the people in the square who had filtered in to see the Sword Saint and had some hope he might yet prove their savior felt their resolve sag at the sight of his starved body, laboring and sweating as he toiled in the muck and filth. The cruel master of the vale laughed and had a tent set up to shade him as he watched Intra’s struggles. “If you are done with your farce, I will happily geld you and make you my jester, lord Intra,” said he. Intra said nothing, but kept digging, only emerging to feed his fire. As the day dragged on and his fire burned to coals, he had quite a sizable amount of clay, which piece by piece he molded into bricks and let dry by the light of the sun and the heat of the fire.”Behold the earth,” said Intra.

As the sun began to creep lower towards the horizon, his craft quickly became apparent. Exhausted, and muscles quivering, he emerged from his hole and began to stack his bricks into a sturdily made bread oven. Then he asked for a vessel, and went down into his pit, emerging with it filled to the brim with muddy water, as he had dug deep enough to coax it from the dry earth.

“Behold the water,” said Intra, and set it to boil clean over the fire. He began to shovel coals into the oven, to prepare it and set it.

At this sight, more people began to gather at the square. They could sense that something was afoot. Yem Yeddo would have beaten them back into their homes, but he too was transfixed by the strange spectacle that was unfolding.

“Clever,” said Yem Yeddo, with the slightest tinge of anxiety in his voice, as all tyrants are wont to have when confronted with an honest man. “Do you mean to bake bread for the people? That will not work despite your powers of transfiguration, as I have all the grain.” His thugs, like the loyal dogs they were, sensed their master’s discomfort, and gripped the hilts of their weapons.

“I tire of this,” said Yem Yeddo, without realizing the gravity of his own situation. “Break his limbs.”

“Next,” said Intra, “I will turn this rock into air.”

The thirty strong men of Yem Yeddo drew their beating staves and started to approach Intra, slavering and yelping at the thought of snapping his legs like dry twigs and the food they would get as a reward after. Intra was a handsome man who did not have the look of a warrior about him, and the men were very stupid. His eyebrows were thin and delicate, like a woman, and he had lashes like a spider lilly. This made the men laugh uproariously at his effeminate appearance.

Intra, for his part, merely took the rock and raised it high. After all the work he had done with it, it had become quite small, dense, and sharp. Then with a flick of his wrist, he skipped the rock off the air so fast that it cracked like a whip. A sound like thunder rippled across the valley.

Intra was extremely good at skipping rocks, as it had become his famous pastime in his sobriety. He could skip rocks off anything, be it god or man. In this particular case, he skipped the rock off the ribcages of all thirty men in half a second. They blew open like an old basket and the wind whistled merrily through the empty and sputtering spaces where their chests had once been.

‘Behold the air,” said Intra.

Yem Yeddo was astonished, and a great terror overwhelmed him. He was a quick and cowardly man, and fled. The people rejoiced and the granaries were broken open. The bodies of the tyrannical lord’s men were burned without rites and stomped upon. Flour was dragged forth by the sackful, the well Intra dug was quickly filled with fresh water and reinforced with stone, and soon many loaves of bread were emerging, steaming, from his oven. A goat was slaughtered and a great feast was had.

“Thankyou for the hospitality,” said Intra, when the night had grown long. “I will not impose upon you any longer.”

The populace were desperate for him to stay. “Lord Intra,” said they, “Yem Yeddo may yet return, with more men!”

“That is true,” said Intra, “And that I cannot help with you. But remember, men like him have forgotten their mothers. Their feet do not touch the earth, and they grasp at feeble things. They are like a mangy dog fighting over a fetid corpse. They have forgotten that with their brothers, working together, they could bring down a magnificent ox.”

He reached down and picked a goodly sized rock from the floor of the valley.

“This valley is broad and beautiful. It may have one Yem Yeddo, but it contains many more stones.”

[deathmetalunicorn1]

I’m sorry if this request is odd but contrasting duos makes me laugh every time. Beelzebub with a sweet, cottage core looking s/o that’s basically a cinnamon roll. Like the other gods are bamboozled to see her on the arm of Beelzebub who has his dark and gloomy appearance with the dangerous work he does. She’s capable of being terrifying with her power but she’d rather be happy with her husband, even if she seems like a airhead (she’s not dumb at all, she’s very smart, she just gets lost in happy thoughts a lot lol)

-Soft humming was heard as your hips swung back and forth to the tune only you could hear, dicing up some more apples and throwing them into the large pot of cinnamon caramel you had prepared earlier, preparing to make canned apple pie filling (I made this last year and it hands down was so delicious, so many of my coworkers ate it straight from the jar, let me know if you want the recipe J).

-The front door opened, and you turned as Beelzebub physically sagged, inhaling deeply as he took in the scent of your baking and hearing you humming.

-He dragged himself into your kitchen and a smile spread across his lips, seeing a small smudge of flour on your cheek, from when you were prepping the pie crusts ahead of time.

-A warm smile spread across your lips as your eyes closed for a moment, “Welcome home!”

-His arms encircled your waist, hugging you from behind and his head rested on the back of your shoulder, a deep sigh of relief leaving him, “Smells good in here.”

-You giggled softly, adding the last of the apples to the boiling sugar mixture before stirring, “They’ll be done soon, and I’ve got one pie for us in the oven already.”

-He nuzzled you, hugging you just a bit tighter, “How’d I get so lucky to get you in my life.” You giggled again, but didn’t answer, as you both knew you were more than happy being together, even if others couldn’t understand how dark and broody Beelzebub got the very definition of a human cinnamon roll.

-One hour later Beelzebub was enjoying his second slice of pie while you were getting the basket of canned pie mix ready to head over to see Persephone and Hades.

-Beelzebub pouted softly, “Do we have to go?” he didn’t like parties or anything with large gatherings, which you understood, while he knew you were a social butterfly, “Just for a bit. Persephone told us that we could come early, before everyone else arrives, so we can sneak out.”

-He sighed deeply, “Thank you~ Persephone!” your giggles were music to his ears before he polished off his pie.

-He took the basket from you and gave you his other arm, not letting you do any heavy lifting since you did all the work making the dessert for Persephone’s autumn party, a celebration for when she returned to Hades for the year, turning it into a massive harvest party where everyone brings yummy treats and parties.

-Hades wasn’t one for parties either, but he always did enjoy celebrating getting his wife back from her mother.

-The massive market of harvested fruits and vegetables as well as baked goods was always a sight for sore eyes and Persephone hugged you close, a bright smile on her lips, “Yes! You always make the best apple pie mix!!”

-Beelzebub and Hades stood off to the side while you wandered the stalls with Persephone, enjoying spiked apple cider, enjoying the moment of quiet before everyone else arrived.

-Later, while you were walking home, Beelzebub carrying your basket you had filled with some veggies, holding onto his arm.

-He smiled down at you, pressing a soft kiss to the top of your head and you beamed up at him, enjoying the soft affection. You didn’t care what anyone else said, Beelzebub was the sweetest man you have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

-The two of you wanted to be together forever.

[solarpunkbusiness]

Meet three startups, from Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo, that are harnessing technology to provide simple, viable solutions to energy and food security in Africa.

1. Meier Energy, Morocco’s standard-bearer for energy efficiency

Founded in 2020 by Fouad El Kohen, Meier Energy offers businesses tailor-made solutions to kick-start their energy transition. In just four years, it has established itself as one of the leading start-ups in Morocco and is already exporting outside the country. “It’s a young company dedicated to the development and marketing of energy efficiency, electricity and smart grid equipment,” says founder El Kohen. “Our ambition is to support the ecological transition in both Morocco and Africa.”

2. BioAni, the Ivorian start-up that wants to bid goodbye to chemical fertilisers

BioAni sells organic fertilisers produced using black soldier fly larvae, products that are much cheaper than chemical fertilisers. All that remains is for them to convince farmers to change their habits.

It all began in a garage in Abidjan’s Cocody district with food waste and a few larvae. The insects transform this bio-waste into a particularly effective organic fertiliser. Founder Arthur de Dinechin wanted to get involved in an environmental project in Africa, his adopted continent. After trying his hand at plastic recycling, his thoughts turned to agriculture.

“Here in Côte d’Ivoire, millions of people make their living from farming. There are very few resources in place to help them make a profit from this activity,” he says.

3. GreenBox, the storage solution changing Congolese farmers’ lives

GreenBox enables farmers in the Democratic Republic of Congo to store their fruit and vegetables for three weeks instead of two days, using new technology that gives farmers access to remote control of solar-powered cold rooms. These refrigerators also make it possible to establish the state of ripeness of a stored product and ensure its traceability. Its five installations, spread across as many villages, enable customers’ harvests to be monitored in real-time.

Founder Divin Kouebatouka says: “Storage is centralised for the whole village. The cold room is managed by a cooperative. We make racks available to farmers so that they can store their produce. We can’t rent to everyone, so it’s first come, first served.”

For CFA200 a day (around $0.10), farmers are provided with a locker that can hold 30kg of food. “Small farmers, our core target, can’t buy a cold room. That’s why we’ve introduced daily, weekly and monthly rates. Everyone can choose the subscription that suits them best, which is nothing compared to the value of the products they entrust to us,” says Kouebatouka. In addition to his team of 12 employees, a group of five women is responsible for the daily maintenance and management of the cold rooms.

[mx-jinxous]

This is chapter one of a fic I’ve been working on. I wanted to post this, but I’m going to wait to post the rest once I’m finished with the fic completely. I’ll be posting it to AO3 when it’s done, but also here. You can subscribe to the story here to follow

_________

The sun was sinking sooner as the summer trailed towards the unforgiving winter. Steve groaned at the auburn leaves that littered his farm, knowing his schedule was tightening. His field was nearly prepared for the cold, with only a few crops left to harvest before the first snowfall. This wasn’t his first year facing the elements, it was his fourth, but it was going to be his first year doing it with a farmhand - his adopted brother.

He’s a fourteen-year-old, that had no one left. His father was out of the picture since he was a baby, and his mother - passed last spring season. She’d been like a mother to him when he’d been kicked out from his parent's home and shared dinners with him. They’d quickly turned from neighbors to his new family, and all was going well until Claudia got sick. When she started getting ill, Steve moved them into his home. He took care of and fed them, unfortunately, the illness progressed and she knew it was a losing battle. She made one final request of Steve, to watch over Dustin and raise him to be the best man. It was the last promise he gave the woman, she passed not a week later.

It was all he could do to return the kindness she provided when he moved out to the outskirts of the kingdom. He had been secluded before, but now all that remained was Steve’s farm and the unkempt land of the Hendersons. In due time, when Dustin is old enough, he’ll inherit the land, until then he lives with Steve. The kid was too smart for his age, which worked for their farm, but it was also a danger. Dustin was a curious boy that came from a secluded area, with no friends other than Steve. When they have gone into the village market to stock up and sell their goods and wares. Steve often let the young teen venture around to play with the other children.

Everything seemed fine, until after the first few visits. Dustin crowded around Steve around their cart, going as far as to duck behind him when a certain group of kids was nearby. He knew something happened, but the boy only snapped when he broached the topic. After that, the older boy decided to let him come to him when he was ready.

So it was safe to say when he turned around and the younger boy wasn’t there, he just rolled his eyes and looked around to see what had caught the curious boy's attention. He wasn’t too concerned until he spotted the familiar mess of curls disappear into the woods on the edge of Steve’s farm.

“Dustin!” He yelled, dropping his hoe, and sprinting after his brother. The woods were never safe, to begin with, with too many going missing or lost to the trees, which only increased during the nightfall.

He slapped branches out of his path as he saw the bushy hair through the leaves. His calls went unanswered and soon, the boy was gone. Still, Steve shoved through the trees and vines, screaming after his brother. The forest was descending into the darkness as the sun crept behind the trees.

He’d heard the rumor of monsters like everyone else, the wolves and witches that haunted these trees. As to prove his fear true, a cackling echoed through every muscle, forcing him to listen. It wasn’t till his heart calmed that he realized that it wasn’t cackling, it was a child’s laugh - scratch that, a group of them. Swallowing his nerves, Steve picked up a branch and followed the laughter. It took a few minutes and a couple of path changes before he came across a clearing in the forest. There, amongst other children, was Dustin, running around. For the first time since Claudia’s passing, he was acting like a kid and had friends to play with.

Steve couldn’t help but smile from the tree line at the young teenagers. He didn’t know what they were playing, but the smiles said enough. The older brother was tempted to let them keep playing, but a howl cut that thought in two immediately. The kids didn’t even notice as their game continued.

He ran into the clearing, spooking the kids. They hustled backward, leading Dustin with them as they stood guard. The younger boy seemed confused by the sudden switch in the others. Taking in the scene he tried to mediate, stepping in between the people.

“Guys, this is Steve! My brother!” He exclaimed.

“I thought you said he was cool? He looks like a normal farmer.” One of the boys grumbled, getting elbowed by a girl. She was glaring at him.

“You kids shouldn’t be out this late. Don’t you know these woods are dangerous? The wolves are out.” Steve said, closing the distance between him and his brother. Kneeling, he placed a hand on Dustin’s shoulder. He was concerned, the younger boy fiddling up with his fingers. “Why did you run off?”

“My friends wanted to play Dungeons and Dragons. They said the forest is safe, that they play here all the time.”

“Not tonight, or any night. The wolves are hunting and they do not see a difference between you or a rabbit. We must get home.” Dustin huffed but nodded. His brother sighed, standing and directing his attention on the group of children. “Is your home nearby? I can walk with you, or you can stay with us until tomorrow morning. Just don’t play here tonight.”

“Trying to persuade children home, with you, a stranger. Tell me why I shouldn’t leave you as dinner for the wildlife?” A gruff voice said from behind Steve, making the older brother jump back, protecting Dustin as he shoved him behind him. Standing there was a man, blonde curls curtaining rage-filled eyes.

Steve Swallowed, shielding the kids as he backed up. He didn’t have anything other than the branch to defend them, but he’d fight like hell to make sure these kids got out safe. His brain was stalled when the red-headed girl stepped up beside Steve.

“Billy! Stop being a jerk! We were just playing and Dustin’s brother came to come get him.” She growled, crossing her arms at the older man. The older man didn’t wipe the rage from his face, but he seemed to relax. The girl huffed before turning to Steve. “I’m Max. This dummy is my big brother, Billy. He’s our babysitter.” There was an annoyed tone in her voice, but a playful smirk was splayed on her face.

“Still, it is quite unsafe out here. Come on Dustin, I have dinner to prepare.” Steve’s eyes stayed on the man but wrapped his arm around the younger shoulders. Leading him back towards the direction they’d entered, having to pass the man. They were about to clear when a rough grip wrapped around Steve’s upper arm.

“If I see you around them, I’ll treat you as a threat.” He growled, matching glares between the man before pulling his arm free.

“Say goodbye to your friends, Dustin.” He pulled the younger boy with him, the brothers fleeing into the forest.

“But - but!” Hushed yelling was coming from the group.

“We will speak of this at home, now come.” With that, the brothers escaped from the forest.

Once they returned to their farm, night had fallen with a chill nipped at their noses. Dustin wrapped himself in a blanket, slamming his bedroom door, keeping the door shut. Steve sighed, shaking his head as he went to his kitchen to prepare dinner. He figured stewing over it will give Dustin time to understand the dangers out in those woods.

But as the following day continued the younger refused to speak to him, sneering in his direction when they crossed paths. Day bled into the night and dinner was finished, the younger boy shut himself in his room. He left Steve to clean up on his own, but he counted it as a positive compared to the night before. Once everything was cleaned, he blew the candles out before heading to his bed. Like most days he was exhausted, yet sleep eluded him. It was silent - so silent.

When the silent treatment became too overbearing, he decided that this had gone on long enough. Throwing off his comforter, Steve made his way to the younger boy's room, knocking on the door. “Dust? Are you awake?” Silence responded. “Come on Dust. Let’s talk about last night.” He stood there, waiting for any signs of alertness, but there was only quiet.

He cracked the door, peeking into the room. It was dark, the only sign of life was the bundle under the comforter. The full moon was the only light coming in through the window. Steve halted, taking a moment to smile at the boy. The bundle was covered in a blanket, Dustin handling the cold the best he could. He worried about the coming winter, knowing he’d have to return to the forest to collect wood. A gust of wind rocked the house, signaling the approaching cold was due sooner rather than later. He was conflicted though.

Dustin would want to go, and most likely try to sneak off alone to see his friends and that dangerous brother. However, if Steve went alone, the younger boy would be even madder than last night.

To him, it was a lose-lose situation, a situation for tomorrow to worry about. He quietly closed the door, only stopping when another gust of wind hit the house, knocking something loose from Dustin’s bed. Pausing, the older brother waited to see if he stirred, instead more stuff fell loosely.

Warily, Steve approached the bed. He shook the bundle, only for hay to sprinkle out from the blanket. Tearing the comforter off the bed, hay rained down. “Mother fucking-!” He rushed out of the house, checking the barn for the teenager, finding it clear of any humans.

A howl echoed through the night, making Steve freeze. He knew where Dustin went and knew each moment that passed was another he was in danger. Grabbing his gardening scythe and the moon as his only guiding light, he rushed into the trees. Following the path from before, Steve snaps branches while listening for Dustin or any of the other children. Another howl had him stopping, waiting for any movement or sounds, anything that was a possible sign of immediate danger. At the silence, he continued on a sprint towards the clearing.

Steve feared that his brother was taken or bewitched, or worse, became dinner for a monster. That thought was shaken from his head immediately. Though his actions were proving otherwise, Dustin was a smart kid, just let loneliness lead him. He broke into the forest clearing to see the children on the other end. Dustin was easy to spot amongst the group, marching over to them with such urgency that the kids picked up on his presence.

“I told you all once about the dangerousness of this forest, yet you still dared to come out here tonight of all nights?” Steve riffed.

They seemed shocked, or annoyed based on one boy's expression, seeing the older brother standing cautiously with his scythe. Eyes scanned over each other before said boy scoffed. “You brought the geezer, Dustin?! We told you this was a secret meeting. Max hid it from Billy!” Another boy elbowed him, huddled behind Max.

“You are not making this better on yourselves. Your parents must be having a hell of a time trying to find you. You should know better than to test the beasts that hunt here.” Steve berated them with his hands planted on his hips, careful of the scythe.

“Steve, it is fine!” Dustin grumbled, cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “They are out here all the time, including evenings, and no wolves or monsters have dared to show their faces!”

The older man scoffed, rolling his eyes as he opened his mouth to argue, however, he was cut off by a howl that ripped through the night. It was closer than it had been on Steve’s venture, the younger wasting no time finding safety behind his brother. He thread his fingers into his sleep shirt, while the rest of the kids huddled behind Max. The children were having a hushed argument, getting shushed by Steve as another howl ripped through the night, impossibly close.

The farmer took a step back, leading the teens back toward his home. It went completely silent around them, his eyes flickering back and forth between the treeline. The wolves had cover to hide behind, and while they were, unfortunately, wide open, the only defense was the scythe gripped at the ready.

Steve had trained in swordsmanship under his parents' behest, but not in years and he never fought against beasts. When the silence carried on, the children began their hushed fighting again. They were making too much noise, they were going to attract the wolves. He made his first mistake when he turned to shush the kids once more, leaving them open.

The wolf pounced, tackling Steve to the ground, the scythe the only thing keeping those teeth from ripping into him. Screams of the kids filtered the air, Dustin standing frozen in place over the fight. It wasn’t a wolf, but a whole other beast. That was the only way to describe the creature, it had fur, teeth, claws, and a snout, but it stood like a man. It was built like a human, but it was stronger than either species.

Without thought, the young boy grabbed a branch from the ground, swinging at the beast. It broke on impact, however, it distracted the creature long enough for Steve to make a move. He brought the scythe down at an angle, the beast noticing and swiping at Steve.

A howl of pain escaped them both, but the beast wasted no time returning to his prey. It snapped his jaw, blood flying around as it struggled at the scythe handle. Dustin attacked with the remainder of the branch, but with each passing moment, the beast got closer to being dinner. He knew it was a losing battle, the hot breath on his face a sign of that, but he needed to fight long enough for the kids to escape. He was screaming at them to run, but the younger boy refused in tears, trying to protect his brother.

Steve refused to hear him out, screaming at him, pleading with him to run, to stay safe like Claudia wanted. But his side hurt. He knew he would face his maker, and he was okay with that. If it means Dustin is safe from this monster, then he was ready to accept death.

As abruptly as the attack had started, it stopped. The beast was gone, replaced by his brother crying on his knees. Words were too muddled to Steve’s ears, pulsing along with his side. The older man turned around to pinpoint the creature, only to see it pinned to the ground by some unseen force. The shy girl that had hidden behind Max was now standing over it, the red-haired girl screaming in anger at the beast.

It didn’t take brains to see what was going on. These were not normal children, but the monsters that haunted the forest, the ones he’s warned Dustin about. With no warning, Steve threw the boy over his shoulder and sprinted. His wound stretched and pulled with each step, trying his best to keep in the cries of pain. Protecting his brother came first and was his only priority. He was in flight mode, using what strength he had to break through the forest edge. His farm was in sight, to his elation he refused to stop or turn around. With a final push, he landed them through the front door, releasing Dustin to bar the door.

They were safe, finally safe, and Steve was tired - so very tired. He slid down the opposing wall, the world spinning and tilting, begging for the calmness of sleep. Dustin was yelling at him, smacking his cheek, panicking like the child he was. He was scared and the older boy knew he’d have to make him calm down, and he would after a nap.

[ashimbisresearch]

The Global Smart Harvest Market, valued at $4.17 billion in 2022, is expected to reach $7.74 billion by 2028, exhibiting a robust CAGR of 10.5% during the forecast period (2023-2028).

[esconpanache]

The Rising Star of the Real Estate Industry - Escon Panache

Are you dreaming of a luxurious, comfortable, and modern home? Welcome to Escon Panache, the latest gem in the real estate market that's quickly becoming the talk of the town. This project is more than just a place to live—it's a lifestyle upgrade that promises elegance, convenience, and community. Let’s dive into what makes Escon Panache the shining star of the real estate industry.

Why Escon Panache is Making Waves

1. Prime Location, Perfect Connectivity: Escon Panache is strategically located to offer the best of both worlds—serenity and connectivity. Situated close to major highways, shopping centers, schools, and healthcare facilities, this prime location ensures you’re never far from what you need. Whether it's a quick commute to work or a leisurely weekend outing, everything is just a short drive away.

2. Stunning Design and Architecture: Step into a 4 BHK Villa at Escon Panache, and you'll be greeted with a sense of sophistication and style. Our architects have crafted each home with spacious layouts, high ceilings, and large windows that flood the interiors with natural light. The modern design elements create a perfect blend of luxury and comfort, making every day feel like a special occasion.

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4. Unmatched Security and Peace of Mind: Your safety is our priority. Escon Panache offers 24/7 security with CCTV surveillance and trained security personnel. The gated community provides a secure environment where you can relax and enjoy peace of mind, knowing your family is protected.

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Escon Panache is redefining luxury living and setting new standards in the real estate industry. With its prime location, stunning design, top-notch amenities, and strong community spirit, it's no wonder that Escon Panache is becoming the star of the real estate market. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be a part of this extraordinary community. Visit Escon Panache today and discover why our villas are the perfect choice for you and your family.

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Ref:-https://esconpanachevilla.blogspot.com/2024/06/the-rising-star-of-real-estate-industry.html

Location: Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

[shadekhrocask]

Tyr,

The audience would like to know... what do you do with the body parts you take from your targets?

Tyr: Ya know, it's smart of ya not ta have put yer name on this one, Tyr: But I wonder how long it'll really keep ya safe.

So! There's a lot of rumours as to what Tyr does with the organs and heads he harvests from his victims. Things like taboo rituals to cannibalism due to the fact if he's enjoying a fight he will begin to drool. He loooooves to leave people in the dark about this and plays it up because he finds it funny.

The real answer is he just sells them on the black market, which is actually how he can afford asking so many favours from Mammon.

[mrsct7567]

How the bad batch would react to being mistaken as your boyfriend in public

F! Reader insert no warnings at all, unless you don’t like cooties.

Hunter:

Did he just hear what he thinks he heard?

No he did. Some random woman in the marketplace squealed out in delight: “oh you two look so wonderful together!” His eyes went wide, he stammered a bit and cleared his throat awkwardly. His heart raced in his chest and be felt his face go hot. He looked at you for your response, but what he didn’t expect THE LAST THING HE THOUGHT YOU WOULD EVER DO IS GO ALONG WITH IT.

You batted your eyes and gripped his forearm to lean into his side, for added effect you sighed dreamily. “Yes, we are quite happy, aren’t we baby?” you had answered placing the palm of your hand to his chest.

Oh you HAD to be messing with him now. And to make things worse you smiled at him. YOU SMILED THAT DAMN SMILE. The one that had him weak in the knees! The one that made his heart jump at the sight. One thing was for certain, you were absolutely gonna be the death of him.

HOW WERE YOU SO CALM ABOUT THIS YOU WERENT OFFENDED IN ANY WAY??

Hunter’s face grew hot under the strangers gaze, expecting him to agree with you. Of course he liked you, he thought you were beautiful. But to be singled out like this caught him off guard if he messed up you could catch onto his true feelings. If you already didn’t know.

Or worst you would think he hated you if he continued to act disgusted by you giving him fake displays of affection.

Here goes nothing.

“Yes, yes we are honey.” He responded. A dribble of sweat ran down his forehead from all the attention. He looped his arm around your shoulders to pull you closer.

Despite this being an act, it felt right. Just to hold you like this. It was so simple but to him it felt like a crime he’d gladly serve out his sentence for.

As a solider he didn’t have normalcy. He couldn’t have it. But if this was all he could have, he’d take it.

Little did he know about the way your heart leaping out of your throat the moment he agreed with your taunting. Feeling butterflies hearing the way his husky voice called you honey.

Echo:

Echo stood rigid the moment the old woman’s voice rang out.

“Oh what a lovely couple you two make!” She had said as you and him wandered the market for some ship parts for the Marauder.

You had giggled next to him, seeing go so stiff. He blushed and attempted to return to a nonchalant manner to correct to old woman, but you beat him too it.

“Well thank you, it’s the only time we get to have alone so we’re taking advantage of it”

WHAT??

Echo went silent, his head screaming at him to say something. But then as if he couldn’t get any more awkward, to stood on your toes to kiss him on the cheek.

You had kissed him.

IN PUBLIC.

How was he supposed to function now??

“Well, enjoy it while you can. Believe me my husband and I try to make do. But it’s only gonna get harder form here” she gave a smile and a curt nod.

“Thank you ma’am we will” You responded nodding back. She grinned and disappeared into the crowd.

You looked up to Echo’s cute red face. He was shocked to say the least. This battle harden solider was left a mess after one kiss on the cheek.

You smirked and squeezed his bicep gently, “you look tense. You wanna sit down?” You teased.

He snapped out of it for a second to scowl at you. “Let’s just get that part and be done with it” he mumbled. You just laughed and followed him into the crowd.

Tech:

Coming up to the counter, you laid your items for the cashier to check out.

“You and your boyfriend stocking up for the apocalypse then?” He asked as casually as a ‘“how are you?”’

Tech looked a little shocked. “You seem to be mistaken we are not-“

“-We are stocking for the winter” you interjected. “Harvest season” you said with a smile. Tech looked at you with wide eyes. You could only grin in response wrapping your arms around his bicep.

“Ah you’re smart then. It’s always the ones who are under prepared that get bit” he said proudly.

“And I’ve always said that, isn’t that right honey?” You said batting your eyelashes at the blushing solider.

“I- well I…I suppose-?” He stammered.

You couldn’t believe it, Tech. The brains, the master mind, was stammering over his words!

It’s too good to be true!

The cashier bagged your items and handed Tech the straps which he took with a nod after you paid.

“Good luck with the harvest! You got yourself a real smart girl there” he said with a wink.

Tech cleared his throat awkwardly. “Um…thank you” he coughed out.

You giggled.

“What?” He asked.

“I’ve never seen you stumble over your words before” you grinned.

He frowned. “I was unprepared for that encounter and especially your answer”

Wrecker:

“Wrecker! What about these ones?” You called over.

The big man hovered over your shoulder to look at the fruits on display on the stand.

“Uhhh I don’t know, what do you think kid?” Wrecker looked down at Omega who was peering over the ledge.

“Those are the ones Echo said he wanted right?” She asked.

“I think so. Lets get three, just in case he wants more” you said getting your purse to pay for the yellow fruits. Wrecker took two while Omega took out one and laid them on the scale.

The weights were taken and an old Thlothian woman in a large sun hat appeared to check them out. “Just these three then?” She asked.

“Yep, just these” you answered with a smile.

“You folks here on vacation?” She asked.

“More like a business meeting” you replied.

“Ahh I See, have you and your husband visited here before?”

Your head snapped up. You stared at her with wide eyes and she counted and stashed your credits paying no mind to her assumption.

“Husband..?” Omega whispered.

“You think she’s talking about me?” Wrecker whispered to you. You couldn’t help but chuckle at the look on his face.

Poor thing looked stunned to say the least.

Not wanting to go on with the awkward conversation and correct her, you decided to go along with it.

“Um…no actually it’s our first time. But we love it here don’t we?” You looked up at him as you put an arm around Omega’s shoulders as she looked up at you quizzically.

“What-? Uh- oh! Yeah! Yes we do!” Wrecker bellowed a bit too loud. You winced and put a calming hand in his shoulder. A subtle hint to tone it down. The woman shot up her head as she gave you back the right amount of credits into your open palm.

“I’m very happy to hear that, enjoy your Meiloorun!” 

“Thank you!” The three of you chanted as you left her fruit stall.

“Why didn’t you correct her?” Asked Omega.

“Because it would have been awkward correcting her, besides we wasted enough time trying to find these things” you explained.

“Oh” she said seemingly satisfied with your answer.

Wrecker has gone quiet since you had left the market.

“You alright there big guy?” You asked “what? Oh yeah” he responded going pink in the face.

“Oh no, I’m sorry I didn’t embarrass you did I?” You asked your brows knitting together.

“Oh, no. No it’s not that. I was just thinking is all” he said.

Your eyes rounded and you to stopped to give him a quick peck on the cheek.

“For the record I think you’d make a wonderful husband one day” you said.

His face went bright red. “Uh- I- really?” He asked, stunned.

You smiled and nodded.

“100%”

Crosshair:

“Anything else for the happy couple today?” The cashier’s cheery voice was almost laughable.

Crosshairs brow lifted and his frown deepened. You were sure he would go off on the poor girl if you didn’t step in.

“No! Umm…that will be all thank you” you said.

“No problem! Are you guys celebrating anything special today?” Her eyes seemed to sparkle at her question. Like she would just explode if you didn’t answer. She honestly had no judge of character, the poor thing.

“Oh no, nothing special just getting everyone else something for the road” you said with a smile.

“Oh perfect! Have a great rest of your night!” She said and called for the next customer.

As you left, you could feel Crosshair’s eyes burning into you.

You sighed and turned to face his heated gaze.

“What?” You asked.

“You didn’t correct her” he stated simply.

“No I didn’t.” You retorted.

“Why?” He asked.

“Because I knew you would have killed her if you answered” you said with a huff.

“Fair point” he shrugged.

You scoffed and checked the receipt to make sure everything was in place. But mostly to distract yourself from Crosshair’s eyes burning holes in the back of your head.

“Will you stop that?” You asked.

“Stop what?” He responded with a hint of his signature smirk. 

“Stop starting at me” you replied, irritated.

“Who said I was starting at you?”

“God, Cross just drop it!” You exclaimed. Annoyed at how fast he’s able to get under your skin.

“I wasn’t gonna correct her you know” he said.

You stopped in your tracks.

“What?”

“I was gonna go along with it” he said stalking closer to you.

“You…were?” You asked unconvinced.

“I didn’t say anything when you agreed did I?” He said raising a brow.

He was right, he’d just let you lie to her straight up. Unless, it wasn’t entirely a lie…?

“No. I guess not” you said watching him as he came closer.

He smirked, enjoying the way you let him crowd you like this.

“What are you doing Cross?” You asked, suddenly out of breath

“What would you like me to do?” He asked.

You stammered taken aback by his sudden flirting. This wasn’t the first time he’d done something like this, but it definitely wasn’t often.

“I could have proven it to her” he said after a tense beat of silence.

“Proven what?” Your voice was far more breathy than before.

“That you are mine” he said a dashing smirk decorating his handsome face.

“Really?” You asked.

He let his fingers dip under your chin to tilt your head up.

“I would’ve let the whole world know”

You moved your head closer to his. Your eyes flitting from his mouth to his eyes.

“Then prove it to me” you said.

Crosshair huffed and lead your lips to his locking to his mouth leaving you in a daze.

His lips were perfect, everything about the way he moved against you hit that spot most weren’t able to if they tried.

The moment didn’t last long however, when Crosshair’s comm went off. Wreckers booming voice echoing in the empty field space.

“Crosshair where are you?? You were supposed to be back forever ago! I’m starving!” He grumbled.

Crosshair groaned and leaned his head against yours. You giggled and answered Wrecker on your own comm.

“Yes Wrecker, we’re heading back to the ship now”

“You two better not be making out over there! Some of us still want to eat!” Wrecker groaned.

You turned your comm off, looking back at Crosshair. Fighting off a grin looking at the annoyed look on his face.

“This isn’t over” he grumbled.