#Steam Energy Management Market

[electronalytics]

Steam Energy Management Market

[techninja]

Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Solutions in the Steam Trap Market

Introduction

The global steam trap market is a dynamic and crucial segment of the industrial landscape, characterized by the continuous development and deployment of advanced steam management technologies. Steam traps are essential for the efficient operation of steam systems, preventing steam loss and ensuring optimal performance. This article delves deeply into the current state, growth drivers, and future prospects of the steam trap market, offering a detailed analysis for industry stakeholders.

Market Overview

Definition and Functionality of Steam Traps

Steam traps are automatic valves used in steam systems to discharge condensate, air, and other non-condensable gases while retaining live steam. They are critical for maintaining the efficiency of steam distribution systems in various industries, including oil and gas, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverages. The primary types of steam traps include mechanical, thermostatic, and thermodynamic steam traps, each with unique operational mechanisms suited for specific applications.

Market Size and Growth Trends

The global steam trap market has witnessed substantial growth over the past decade, driven by the increasing demand for energy-efficient solutions and the modernization of industrial infrastructure. According to recent market research, the steam trap market was valued at approximately USD 3.2 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5% from 2024 to 2030.

Key Market Drivers

Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings

One of the primary drivers of the steam trap market is the growing emphasis on energy efficiency and cost reduction. Steam traps play a vital role in minimizing steam loss, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency of steam systems. This leads to significant cost savings for industries by reducing fuel consumption and lowering operational costs.

Stringent Regulatory Standards

Governments and regulatory bodies worldwide are imposing stringent regulations on industrial emissions and energy consumption. Compliance with these regulations necessitates the adoption of efficient steam management solutions, including the installation of high-performance steam traps. This regulatory push is a significant driver for the market.

Technological Advancements

Advancements in steam trap technology, such as the development of smart steam traps with real-time monitoring and diagnostic capabilities, are propelling market growth. These innovations enable predictive maintenance, reduce downtime, and enhance the overall reliability of steam systems.

Industrial Expansion

The expansion of industries such as oil and gas, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverages is fueling the demand for steam traps. The need for efficient steam management in these sectors is critical for maintaining production efficiency and product quality.

Market Segmentation

By Type

Mechanical Steam Traps

Mechanical steam traps operate based on the difference in density between steam and condensate. They include float traps and inverted bucket traps. Mechanical steam traps are widely used due to their reliability and efficiency in various industrial applications.

Thermostatic Steam Traps

Thermostatic steam traps function based on temperature differences. They include bimetallic and balanced pressure thermostatic traps. These traps are favored for their ability to handle varying steam pressures and temperatures.

Thermodynamic Steam Traps

Thermodynamic steam traps operate on the principle of thermodynamics, utilizing the difference in kinetic energy between steam and condensate. They are compact, durable, and suitable for high-pressure applications.

By End-User Industry

Oil and Gas

The oil and gas industry is a significant consumer of steam traps due to the extensive use of steam in refining processes and petrochemical production. The need for reliable steam management solutions is critical for operational efficiency and safety.

Chemicals

In the chemical industry, steam is used for heating, sterilization, and processing. Steam traps are essential for ensuring the efficient use of steam and maintaining process integrity.

Pharmaceuticals

The pharmaceutical industry requires precise steam control for sterilization and production processes. High-performance steam traps are crucial for maintaining the stringent quality standards required in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Food and Beverages

In the food and beverages industry, steam is used for cooking, cleaning, and sterilization. The use of steam traps ensures the efficient and safe use of steam, enhancing product quality and safety.

Regional Analysis

North America

North America holds a significant share of the global steam trap market, driven by the presence of major industrial players and stringent regulatory standards. The region's focus on energy efficiency and sustainability is contributing to market growth.

Europe

Europe is another major market for steam traps, with strong demand from the chemical, pharmaceutical, and food and beverages industries. The region's emphasis on reducing carbon emissions and enhancing energy efficiency is driving the adoption of advanced steam management solutions.

Asia-Pacific

The Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the highest growth rate in the steam trap market. Rapid industrialization, urbanization, and infrastructure development are key factors contributing to the increasing demand for steam traps. Countries like China, India, and Japan are at the forefront of this growth trend.

Rest of the World

Regions such as Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa are also experiencing growth in the steam trap market. Industrial expansion and the adoption of energy-efficient technologies are driving market demand in these regions.

Competitive Landscape

The global steam trap market is highly competitive, with numerous players vying for market share. Key market participants include Spirax Sarco, Armstrong International, TLV International Inc., CIRCOR International, Inc., and Velan Inc. These companies are focusing on innovation, strategic partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions to strengthen their market position.

Innovation and Product Development

Leading companies are investing in research and development to introduce innovative steam trap solutions. The development of smart steam traps with IoT capabilities is a notable trend, enabling real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance.

Strategic Partnerships

Collaborations and partnerships with industrial players, distributors, and technology providers are common strategies adopted by market leaders to expand their product offerings and reach new markets.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers and acquisitions are strategic moves employed by companies to enhance their market presence and technological capabilities. These activities help companies to diversify their product portfolios and tap into new customer segments.

Future Outlook

The global steam trap market is poised for sustained growth in the coming years, driven by technological advancements, regulatory pressures, and industrial expansion. The increasing adoption of smart steam traps and the emphasis on energy efficiency will be key factors shaping the future of the market.

Emerging Trends

Smart Steam Traps: The integration of IoT technology in steam traps for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance.

Energy Efficiency: Continuous focus on reducing energy consumption and operational costs.

Sustainability: Adoption of eco-friendly steam trap solutions to comply with environmental regulations.

Challenges

High Initial Costs: The high cost of advanced steam trap solutions can be a barrier to adoption for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Maintenance and Reliability: Ensuring the long-term reliability and performance of steam traps is a critical challenge for manufacturers.

Conclusion

The global steam trap market is an essential component of industrial operations, contributing to energy efficiency, cost savings, and regulatory compliance. With continuous technological advancements and increasing demand from various industries, the market is set to experience robust growth. Industry stakeholders must focus on innovation, strategic partnerships, and sustainable practices to leverage the market's potential fully.

[janitorhutcherson]

Marked Only for Me (Olderbf!Mike Schmidt NSFW)

hii!! okay, i have never written smut before, so i am begging you all to plz be patient with me! this is very long, so my apologies.this is a part of my olderbf!mike series, so hope u guys likeee. also, for this let's make the assumption mike went to college and all of that before his security jobs. he just had burn out and was there, hence why he's working for a major company with what would be little experience. anyways, lmk what u think!

summary: mike comes home and needs to blow off some steam

warnings: nudity, sex, name calling, hair pulling, choking, marking, possessiveness, an implied free use situation, fluff at the end!!

word count: 2,925

nsfw after the cut!!

You were sitting at the kitchen table doing homework in the home you shared with your boyfriend, Mike. You're 20, a couple of years into college, drudging through math problems that make your head feel like it's sitting inside a frying pan. You had to admit this wasn't your ideal way to relax after a 10-hour shift at the bookstore you helped run. Things had been hectic with Black Friday, your store doing a special sale where everything was 50% off, and bookworms were coming out of random corners to fill their already overflowing shelves for cheap. Of course, being younger, you were the one who had to do the grunt work, carrying piles of books to and from inventory, dealing with the more demanding customers as your older coworkers would tell you that they "just couldn't handle kids these days" and that it'd certainly be better for the younger one to do it. Luckily, though, Abby was at a friend's house, meaning you didn't have distractions. You were as focused as could be with a cup of coffee beside you, the sunlight that was once beaming through the cracks of the blinds now completely gone. You were focused, your brain functioning as much as it would with the problems. Things were quiet.

...That is until Mike stormed in. He was frustrated, angry, an invisible red-hot aura beaming off him. His hair was messier than it typically was. The softness in his eyes was instead replaced with a cold look. His eyebrows were furrowed together on his forehead, his jaw sharp and defined as he gritted his teeth. Although this wasn't common, it wasn't necessarily rare either. Mike worked for a publishing company as a marketing manager. He'd gotten the job after a few months of hard work to make up for the slack on his resume after working at the mall and the pizzeria. He moved up the ladder quickly, his company admiring his friendly attitude and his somewhat shy but personable behavior. He loved his job much more than his past ones. He felt happier, got more time off, was less stressed, and was definitely safer. Even with that being said, sometimes shit just pissed him off.

Today's big issue was a meeting with his marketing team, which also involved the big guy over his head. He felt like he was criticized, demeaned, dragged through the mud, and all in front of the team he was supposed to be respected by, listened to. On a typical day, this might not have pissed him off so much. He might've mentally plotted the demise of his boss, but he wouldn't have caused the outburst he did at work, and today had been particularly awful. He'd been late, burned his breakfast, knicked himself while shaving, and even gotten into what he considered to be a little fight with you the night before. Even though you'd both settled the argument, made up, and kissed before bed, he had been thinking about it all day. He'd then spilled coffee on his brand new tie, leaving a stain, and then... that happened. Mike snapped. He yelled at his boss, showing his ass in front of everyone, causing a meeting in his boss's office to end with an inevitable write-up. 

Now, he was home, trudging in all his bad energy, disrupting your study time. You couldn't even be frustrated with him, his demeanor proving he'd obviously had a bad day. You went to stand up to greet him with a hug, a kiss or two, but before you could, Mike stormed over to you, grabbing your arm harshly. You gasped, slightly thrown off by his sudden actions. He pulled you closer to him, his eyes locked on yours and his breath heavy against your neck.

"What the fuck, Mike?" you said, your eyebrows furrowed as you stared into his cold brown-green orbs.

"Listen to me," he grunted, his voice low and gravely. "I have had a very, very bad day, and I need you to be a good girl for me, okay? I don't want no shit, no back talk, you'll listen to what I say.. do you understand?" 

His hand still gripped your arm, his fingernails digging into your skin. You could feel yourself starting to drip, your panties feeling damp against your skin as your body buzzed with excitement. All you could do was nod your head, your eyes locked on his as they clouded over with lust. Mike snapped his fingers in your face, looking at you from underneath his eyebrows. 

"Use your words," he demanded. 

"Yes sir, I understand," you stuttered out, your cheeks flushing red. Mike's face was now pleased, his entire demeanor softening a little. His hand stayed wrapped around your arm as he tugged you into the living room, pushing you roughly onto the couch. You huffed from the impact, your eyes widening as Mike dropped to his knees before you. He slid your sweatpants off, prying your knees open to reveal your see-through pink panties soaked beyond belief. His eyes were hungry, his mouth open, almost drooling as he looked directly into your eyes. 

"All for me, babydoll?" he teased, his hand sliding in between your legs as he drew small circles around your clothed clit. You nodded your head as a whimper escaped your lips, the aching in between your legs only growing worse.

"What did I tell you?" he said, his words sharp as he smacked the inside of your thigh.

"Yes sir," you corrected, your words wavering after the impact from his hand. Mike nodded, satisfied with your answer, as he slowly slid your panties down your thighs, wasting no time. You gasped once again as the cold air hit your wet cunt. Mike exhaled sharply, taking a moment to admire you in front of him. His eyes trailed up to your pathetic look, your already-glazed-over eyes, down to your barely clothed chest, only a sports bra covering your breasts he loved so much, then down to in between your legs, where you were so wet, and all just for him. His lips trailed up to your tummy, sucking on the skin in different areas, from above your abdomen all the way up to right below where your sports bra stayed, purple marks forming.

He then dove in without hesitation, his large hands gripping your sides as he leaned in, moving one hand to take his index and middle finger to spread your pussy lips. His mouth instantly attached to your clit. You yelped as you bucked your hips forward, his lips meeting the sensitive area. Mike pinched your thigh, a sign to quiet down until he said to do otherwise, two of his fingers reaching out to be shoved into your mouth.

“Suck,” he demanded, his fingers going as far back down your throat as they could. You did what you were told, sucking on his fingers and drawing your own circles with your tongue. His tongue drew tiny and slow circles against the set of nerves, your hands reaching down to tangle in his hair from desperation. God, he loved eating you out. The way you yelped, quivered, shook underneath him, your hands tangled in his hair to keep yourself from going over the edge. He fucking loved it, you were the perfect cure to his anger, calming, something he could take it out on in a productive way that made everyone feel good. Your whines were suppressed as you bit your lip, your teeth digging into the softer skin. Mike pulled away for a moment, his eyes locking with yours once again as he admired your face, your now swollen lips.

“You know what, baby? Be as loud as you want for me now, princess,” he mumbled, going back to attacking your wet cunt. Slurping sounds filled the living room mixed with your moans and whimpers as his tongue slid up and down your slit, his lips wrapping around your clit to suck as hard as possible when his tongue wasn’t fucking inside of you. He moaned against you, the vibrations sending shivers down your spine. His cock was rock hard inside of his work pants, his own face flustered as he rocked back and forth against himself. His tongue continued to lap at your clit as he slid two of his large fingers in and out of you, your walls clenching around them. You could feel yourself drawing close and Mike could tell. Your thighs attempted to clench around his head, but before they could his calloused hands pried them open, holding them apart. Just as your eyes began to clamp shut, your thighs shaking as the knot in your stomach started to untie, Mike pulled away. You gasped as he slipped his fingers out, furrowing your eyebrows as you stared at him with an angry glare. He chuckled as he stood up, raising his eyebrows up and down as he leaned down, his hand lifting your chin up.

“Poor baby, was all ready to finish for me, hm? You were gonna be ‘Mikey’s little slut,’ weren’t you? That’s what you tell me you are, right? My little slut?” he teased, no remorse behind his eyes. You huffed, punching his arm before crossing your arm, too out of it to say anything from the knot that remained in your stomach but too angry to take initiative.

“Awh, don’t be mad, princess,” he snickered, shaking his head as he leaned further down to press a gentle kiss to your lips. “You really think I’m done with you?”

With that being said, Mike pushing you back on the couch. His right hand held you down as his lift struggled to unbutton his pants. He pulled his pants down, letting them fall around his ankles as he yanked his boxers off, his cock springing out. He stepped out of them, letting you go for a moment to unbutton his shirt before tossing it off as well. Mike then looked over to you, leaning forward, ripping your thin sports bra off of your chest, your breasts now exposed to him. He licked his lips, excitement overflowing his body. He crawled on top of you, attempting to make the two of you fit on the couch. His mouth attacked your nipples, biting and gnawing at your skin. His mouth moved up to your neck, sucking and prodding and biting until purple marks were left all around, ones you were all too aware would be impossible to hide later on. He moved down to your chest once again, marks all across your collarbone, your tits. Mike’s hands gripped onto your neck as he sat up, looking into your glossed over eyes. He pressed his lips to your ear, a soft kiss against your earlobe.

“’M about to fuck you so hard you see stars,” he said, his voice causing prickles to cover your skin. Then, without hesitation Mike slammed into you, his pace staggered. Your moans were as loud as could be, the sound of skin hitting against each other and the echoes of both of your voices filling the living room. His thrusts were sloppy as he felt himself starting to get close to the edge, his hands pushing your hips down and into the couch. Your entire body sunk into the cushions as he used everything in him, his cock abusing your poor cunt. You swore you saw stars until you felt his hand gently smack against your cheek, your eyes averting back to his gaze.

“You’re gonna look at me when I fuck you, princess,” he growled, his hand sliding up to your hair as he tugged. You grew close, clenching around his length, your thighs starting to shake. Your core was threatening to come undone.

“Fuck, Mikey, baby, I’m gonna fucking cum,” you whimpered out, closing your eyes as your head leaned back against the side of the couch.

“Cum for me, baby,” Mike stated. You did as he demanded, finishing around his cock as your liquids gushed against him. His thrusts grew sloppier before he pulled out, pressing a kiss to your lips.

“You’re such a good girl, you know that baby? You did so good for me, listening to what I said, letting me use your pretty cunt,” he stated, his thumb caressing your cheek. He then resituated, pulling you off the couch, pushing you onto the ground. You were now in the same position he was in earlier, completely fucked out. Your lips were dull from exhaustion, your cheeks red and your hair knotted in certain areas. Mike’s cock was directly in front of you, his hand guiding for you to suck on him. Your lips wrapped around his tip, the tip of your tongue licking his slit. You worked your mouth down his length, licking the sides. Mike’s moans became frantic, desperate as your mouth worked its magic. His hand tangled in your hair as he pushed your head up and down, thrusting up into your mouth.

“That’s it, baby, feels so good,” he grunted. With no warning, Mike pulled out, spilling his load all over your face. He twitched, his moans loud and low, your tongue stuck out to catch his cum. His body laid against the couch, feeling heavy as his head leaned against the back of his couch. A tired grin was on his lips as you also smiled up at him, licking yourself clean. Mike looked down at you, a chuckle releasing his lips. It was obvious all of the tension and anger was gone, as his once cold eyes were once again the soft loving brown they used to be. He looked at you with adoration, always amused by how gorgeous you were even after rigorous activity and getting your face painted.

“Let’s get you cleaned up,” he said, picking you up bridal style as he leaned down to kiss you, not caring about his own load that was now on his face. He sat you down on the bathroom counter, grabbing a washcloth out of the cabinet, running it under warm water. He started to wipe away all of the liquids covering your face, pressing kisses to your skin here and there, looking your body up and down as he admired all of the marks he left.

“You always know how to make me feel good and how to take care of me after,” you croaked out, your voice laced with exhaustion as you smiled. Mike smiled back at you, his hand tenderly touching your cheek before pushing your hair behind your ear.

“I love you, of course I want to make sure ‘m taking care of you,” he said softly. His lips once again pressed against yours. “Thank you for letting me… you know.. blow off some steam,” he said, wiggling his brows.

“Of course, honey. I was worried, though. Is everything okay? Do you want to talk about it?” you asked, leaning forward as you slid off of the counter, grabbing a new washcloth and beginning to wipe his face with it as well. Mike sighed, shaking his head as he looked at her with sad eyes.

“I just- I got into it pretty badly with my boss at work and got criticized, I felt like a wounded animal, like I had to fight. I’m so used to having to fight that I don’t know how to shut up and listen,” he mumbled. “It was so bad, Y/N, and I got written up after that awful day I had this morning… I just.. I don’t know. I do know I feel better now, and would feel even better if we cuddled for a bit and then went out for food?” he suggested, spilling his thoughts to you. You giggled, nodding your head as you reached up to press a kiss to him. You dragged him into your shared bedroom, the two of you cuddling up together under the blankets. You turned to your side, your eyes locked with his.

“I love you, Mike, so much. And I’m so, so unbelievably proud of you. Thank you, for always making me feel good too, for taking care of me, for being such a good brother to Abby, just… thank you,” you said softly. Mike looked back at you lovingly, his appreciation for you apparent.

“I love you, princess, you don’t even know how much,” he mumbled. His eyes were heavy. He leaned over and set an alarm for an hour from now, the two of you planning on a night of dinner out and grocery shopping. He curled his arm around you lazily, your body limp and exhausted against his as you yawned.

“Oh, and baby?” he asked. You hummed, lifting your head to meet his eyes. “Wear a crop top when we go out, I want everyone to see you all marked up.” You giggled as you laid your head down, drifting off to sleep.

When you two went out, you did just that, wearing a cropped scoop neck shirt with a low-rise flowy skirt. He showed off any marks you’d left, too, your possessive boyfriend holding you close anytime someone’s eyes linger too long. Mike was strange, possessive, and sometimes a little of what most would say was unsettling, but to you, he was the love of your life, the man who made you feel good, the one who fucked you until you couldn’t think. You loved him, and you always would, blessing you with a lifelong supply of angry sex and aftercare cuddles.

[theorphicangel]

dilemmas and pancakes | sukuna x reader

“Look who’s finally awake.”

You haven’t even taken one step out of your bedroom before you hear a low voice fill the room.

Hands rubbing at your eyes, you can just make out a tall figure by the kitchen counter. You can just about make out Sukuna’s glorious back tattoos and muscles which flex sharply with each movement that he makes.

You make no reply, standing in your doorway with the hem of Sukuna’s t-shirt tickling at your knees. You attempt to rub away the last remnants of sleep in your eyes.

Checking your phone before you got up, it was only just 9am but knowing Sukuna all too well, he’s probably been awake since before the sun had even risen.

Without another spoken word, you shuffle over to the dining table, picking up a scent that you can’t quite identify lingering in the air. Bananas…maybe?

Glancing over before taking a seat, you manage by squinting to see a plate stacked with pancakes near his elbow.

Ah.

Banana pancakes. Your favorite.

You say nothing more as you sit, letting the early morning silence crash over you like a gentle wave. It refreshes you actually, bathing in the sunlight as it streams in from the windows. The warm energy hugs you close like a long-missed friend and your excitement for the season of summer begins bubbles within the pit of your stomach.

“What are you smiling at?”

Distracted by thoughts and the early blue sky outside of the window, you failed to notice your boyfriend approaching your table. A plate stacked high with pancakes in one hand and in the other a cup of steaming hot coffee. Gently, he sets the cup down in front of you before the pancakes. The mug displays your name, a well-loved gift from last christmas.

You hadn’t noticed the cheesy grin which swept over your lips as you gazed out of the window. Currently, you had been fantasizing about the future plans for the summer, sunny and well-rested days at the beach, vacations, barbeques, summer markets and—

“Nothing.” you reply, your voice coming out croaky and scratchy from sleep.

“Doesn’t seem like it was nothing.” Sukuna notes, “Don’t expect this shit every morning.” Your boyfriend quips, assuming you were smiling about the pancakes. You’re met again with the view of his back as he fetched plates for the both of you and honey for the pancakes.

He’s quick to return, not wanting to keep you waiting for too long and sits directly opposite from you.

Another comfortable silence settles between the two of you as you dig into the breakfast. The scent of the pancakes and the smell of fresh coffee beans lulls your excitement to a calm. If anything, you loved mornings like these. Ones where you did not have to maintain a conversation or overwhelm yourself with thoughts about future tasks of the day.

The two of you sat in your usual silences, diving into your well-prepared breakfast. And not that he would actually ever admit it to you but Sukuna felt the exact same. He loved nothing more but your presence near him, as if your sole energy was enough to heal him. And as much as he complains, he actually enjoys domestic tasks such as making breakfast for you.

“Thank you ‘kuna.” you murmur after taking a sip of your coffee.

He says nothing more but a hum as a response.

Despite his words of not ‘expecting this shit every morning’, his brain rattles around to figure out a breakfast to make for you tomorrow. Avocado toast? No, maybe scrambled eggs on toast or he could spoil you again with waffles?

Sukuna shakes his head, picking up his cup of coffee and taking a sip.

That’ll be a dilemma for him to figure out tomorrow at least.

join my summer event!

[lulublack90]

Prompt 4 - Marriage of Convenience

@wolfstarmicrofic May 4, word count 972

Sirius spotted him while out shopping for new shoes. They’d lost touch after school. He and James had gone to prestigious universities, but Remus’s parents hadn’t been able to afford them, so Remus had gone straight into working for his father.

Remus was slumped in a closed shop doorway. He had about three threadbare jumpers on and a grubby duvet tucked around his legs. He had an old fast-food cup sat in front of him and passers-by tossed coins into it. 

Sirius approached. He had to once he realised who he was. 

“Remus?” He asked. Remus slowly opened his eyes, as though it took a lot of energy. Once the recognition sunk in, his eyes began darting about, looking for an escape. He grabbed his things in his arms and lurched to his feet. “Hey, hey, calm down.” Sirius tried to calm him. He reached out to steady him as he swayed on his feet. “I have a flat down the road. Come and have a cuppa.” He wrapped his arm around his old friend and began to lead him away from the gloomy doorway. 

He put a steaming mug of tea in front of him and the tin of biscuits. He went hunting in his fridge and cupboards and made him a thick ham sandwich with a wedge of cheese and a whole bag of Doritos. “Eat as much as you want.” Sirius told him. It was only when he’d put his arm around his friend that he’d realised how skinny he was. Remus dug in as if he hadn’t eaten in days. Which could very well be true given the state he was in. When they’d been boys Remus would easily have been able to finish the entirety of food before him. But this emaciated man could barely get the sandwich down. He dunked a couple of biscuits in his tea and that was it. “Come on Remus. I know you can eat more than that.” He goaded slightly, worry marring his face. Remus shook his head. 

“If I eat more I’ll be sick.” His voice was barely a crackle from lack of use. It broke Sirius’s heart. 

“What happened to you?” He needed to know. He couldn’t understand why Remus hadn’t come to one of them. 

“My father caught me with one of his employees in a compromising position, and he threw me out with nothing but what I managed to get on before he shoved me out of the door.”

“What, he chucked you out because you were shagging Brenda from accounting?” Sirius scoffed. Lyall had always been a hard bastard. 

“Jeremy from marketing, actually.” Remus winced as he took a sip of his tea and added more sugar. 

“Well, I refuse to let you spend one more night on that street. You’re taking my guest room and that’s that.” Sirius folded his arms and dared his friend to argue with him. Remus didn’t have the energy anyway. 

The next morning, Sirius arranged a meeting with his solicitor. Remus was still sleeping, so he left him a note. 

“I’m sorry Mr Black, but unless you are related to him or married you cannot, gift him the amount you want to.” Arthur had stuttered at him. All he wanted to do was set Remus up, so he wouldn’t have to worry. Sirius could afford it. What was a house, a car, a new wardrobe and all the bills paid for if he got to help a friend? 

“Thank you, Arthur.” He shook his hand and left. Stupid laws. But there was a way if only he could get Remus to agree.

Remus was picking at a slice of toast when he got back. He sat down opposite him and put on his serious face. “Remus, I need to ask you something, and you aren’t going to like it.” Remus’s head tilted and his brow furrowed. “I want to help you. Like properly. I want to get you a house and a car and whatever else you need. But my solicitor says I can’t just gift you that amount without you being related to me or,” He paused for a second. “Married to me.” He let the words sink in. Remus’s eyes widened in shock. 

“You—you want to marry me?!” He stuttered, dropping his toast onto his plate. 

“Don’t worry, we can still see other people.” Sirius winked at him. 

“Shut up. No. I mean why? Why would you want to do all that for me?” Sirius took pity as Remus’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. He reached across the table and took his friend's hand in his. 

“Because my family kicked me out and disinherited me when they caught me in a compromising position with Bernard from IT.” Remus’s eyes grew wider. 

“Oh,” He said. Sirius moved around the table and got down on one knee. 

“Remus Lupin, will you marry me, so I can gift you all the things I want to and know you’re safe. I don’t want anything in return and if you want a divorce down the line, I’ll sign the papers. But please know I want this because you're one of my best friends, and you mean the world to me.” He grinned a crooked smile at his friend, which turned into a full beaming smile when Remus nodded his head. 

“Okay, yes. If you’re sure.” He swallowed and added shyly. “Do I have to move into a house straight away or can I stay here for a bit?”

“You can do whatever you want, Remus, stay as long as you want and when you’re ready we can talk about what you want to do. But just know you’ll have a very nice allowance as my husband.” He added cheekily. 

They started the paper work that afternoon and were married within a month. 

[youngveinsworld]

the young veins interview at the beat kitchen in chicago, 10 april 2010

Ryan, Andy and Nick M of the Young Veins interviewed by Natalie Kuchik for the Estrella Online blog, 10 April 2010:

Can you please state your name and what you do in the band? Ryan: My name is Ryan Ross and I am the James Dean of the group. Andy: I am Andy Soukal and I play the thumping bass. Slapping the bass. Nick: My name is Nick Murray and I play the drums.

The first tour as The Young Veins, how has it been going and what’s the crowd reaction been like? Ryan: Seems like it is getting better and better. Nick: The tour seems to be picking up steam. Ryan: More and more people are coming I feel like than the first shows, so that’s really nice. Andy: We have such a diverse line-up. We have a hip-hop band, a crazy Freddie Mercury style band and then a throw back band and the crowd has been really receptive to all of it.

How did you guys get on this tour with Foxy Shazam? Ryan: We are managed by the same people. It was kind of tough to get on a tour when you don’t have any music out or any records, so I think they did us a favor. Or maybe we are doing them a favor.

What is it like going back to more smaller intimate venues? Ryan: It is more interesting every night, you never know what you are going to walk into. Some of these stages are, I question the craftsmanship in a lot of these clubs because I can’t figure out what they were thinking but it makes it a lot of fun. Being so close to the crowd again, I forgot how that was and it makes the show have more energy I think.

Do these venue sizes make you guys more hands on? Do you go out and sign merch afterwords? Ryan: Yeah, pretty much every night. If you need to come see me, I am petty much around. It has been really nice to actually be able to talk to the kids it has been awhile since that has been possible. Nick: Especially, since we don’t have any music out or released we are building a really close relationship with what fan-base we do have is really important. Being as close as possible, building friendships and meeting people around the country is good.

What kind of comments are you guys getting from fans? Andy: It ranges all over the place. Ryan: Yeah, where do we begin. Well, I guess about the music it has been cool to have kids say, “I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this or not”, “I’ve only heard two songs but I’m really excited about the album now.” Then sometimes they ask if they can marry me. Nick: The best feeling in the world is to have people that did not come for our band and like our band and tell us that after the show. Especially, since no one has any pretense of what to expect. If they did like it, that is a really good feeling, it is the best feeling in the world. Ryan: It really feels like we are up there trying to win people over, it is challenging.

When this tour ends, what are your plans after? Ryan: More touring, we are going to do Bonnaroo. Then we are trying to route a tour around that so we will be touring in June and then the album comes out June 8th.

The first single is “Change” why did you go with that one? Nick: Seemed logical. Ryan: Yeah, I don’t know. I feel like that album is all over the place and so many songs sound different. I can’t say it represents the album best but it is one of the more upbeat heavier songs. I think live it is a lot of fun to do. Andy: We also did a lot of market research.

Did you really? Because people do that. Ryan: We polled people at the movies.

On your upcoming album Take a Vacation! all the songs are three minutes or less, was that planned or did it just happen? Ryan: No, I don’t know. I guess something switched in Jon and my songwriting and I guess we just trimmed the fat and cut out parts we didn’t need. It is going to kind of make it hard to do a headlining tour. A lot of our favorite records are really short. I mean, there are so many early Elvis songs that are under two minutes long it is really crazy. It wasn’t a conscious thing it is just the style of music we write is shorter, I don’t know for what reason.

The album comes out June 8th, are you planning on streaming it online for free before it comes out, or any other promotions? Ryan: We are sort of putting together some sort of marketing plan but that is not really my strong point, so the label is always coming up with stuff like that. We are doing something pretty cool where if you buy the vinyl you’ll get the CD for free. We are doing these really neat pre-order packages where we are doing these view master things from when you were a kid. We are doing a box set thing where you get one of those with pictures of the band and we did a couple of photo shoots for them. Stuff that is fun for us to do.

Did your label come up with those ideas or was it your guys? Ryan: That was ours. Nick: We really liked the idea of having a view master. Ryan: We were talking about it months ago. Nick: We just didn’t think it was a possibility. Ryan: The label has been really great about letting us do these crazy things already.

What about the vacation photo contest, was that your idea? Ryan: That was their idea, which I really liked because I have been meeting the kids every night and they are really excited about it. There is really nothing we have to do, it is just a great way to have people come for free.

When you (Ryan) were in Panic! at the Disco you wrote a lot of the songs, would you ever do one of those songs live again? Ryan: I don’t know, I sang a couple of the songs so I guess those would be the only ones I would do. I haven’t really thought about it to be honest with you. Andy: It is a different style so it kind of clashes a little bit. I am not super familiar with everything but if there are a couple of songs similar to our style sure it would be considered but otherwise, it would just clash with what we are doing.

I know your sound is so different, when did you feel the shift from Panic! at the Disco to The Young Veins sound? Ryan: The stuff that I was writing, like half this album (Take a Vacation!) with Jon would have been for the Panic! record anyway. It wasn’t a shift really except for when we quit, I guess it allowed us to do even more than we wanted. Maybe half this stuff we actually already knew [that] there would be no chance it would be for Panic! so we went wild with it. It wasn’t a conscious shift ever in our songwriting, it just kept evolving.

When you parted ways did you know your former band members would keep using the Panic! At the Disco name? Ryan: No, I didn’t think that they would keep the name. It was a little bit shocking when I heard about them doing these tours and stuff without us. I figured doing your own thing meant doing your own thing.

What is a song you never get sick of hearing? Andy: “Wounded” by The Cookies. No one is going to know what that is so you don’t have to write that down, but I am going to throw that out there. Ryan: Reason why? Andy: Reason why, well it’s an old song and it’s just really unique and clever. The vocal melody are just so challenging, and that stuff in today’s music is not accessible at all. You don’t find stuff like that. Ryan: You got one Nick? Nick: I just thought of one, umm… Ryan: The one that I keep listening to recently is the song “The Windmills of Your Mind”, the Dusty Springfield version. I think we might cover that song in the future but it is constantly on repeat for me. Nick: It is kind of an obvious one but “Waterloo Sunset” is still one of my favorite songs of all time which is by The Kinks. I’ve never gotten sick of listening to that song. Ryan: Yeah, that’s one of mine. Nick: I have probably heard it fifteen thousand times and it’s never gotten old. Andy: Also “No Scrubs” by TLC, that one never gets old. We sing that one in the van a lot.

Think you would ever cover that song? Andy: I hope.

You are going to need some filler songs when you headline. Andy: Yeah (laughs).

What is something you have always wanted to do but have not done yet? Nick: Shoot a feature film. Ryan: Shoot a feature film star. Andy: I would like to be in Nick’s feature film.

Seriously, are you into movies? Andy: Especially Die Hard. Nick: Yeah, I definitely want to make one though within the next year or so. Ryan: I don’t know, I am sorry I don’t have a good answer for this one. Nick: I don’t even want that to be the answer though, I want something crazier. Ryan: I know I am not really funny today, I am a little bit upset at myself actually.

You guys are young, there has to be something! Ryan: I have done it all (everyone laughs). I want to learn how to ride a motorcycle.

Do you own one yet? Ryan: No, but wouldn’t that be funny?

Well, some people buy frivolous stuff they don’t use. Ryan: Yeah, I have thought about it. Me and Jon were going to buy motorcycles when I still lived in Vegas and we were going to drive up into the mountains until we realized what a bad idea that was. I still would like to because I used to live near the PCH in California, so I always thought it would be fun to drive a motorcycle up and down the coast.

If you could see any band or artist perform any song live, what would it be and why? Andy: These questions are so hard. Ryan: They’re so good though. Andy: Bon Jovi. I agree! No, I’m just joking. Ryan: Can you travel back in time and see the group when they were young?

Yeah, any line up, any song. Ryan: I might want to see The Kinks do “You Really Got Me” like in 1965 or something. Nick: “I Was A Teenage Werewolf” by The Cramps.

Any particular reason why? Nick: Yeah, I’m a really big Cramps fan and Lux died last year, so I never got to see them. Andy: Can I just say, every song that Gentle Giant has ever done.

Just an entire concert, any reason why? Andy: That is such a bad answer. They are just really wacky and they are just this weird band from the 70s that never made it anywhere but was really cool. Ryan: I can’t understand why.

You (Ryan Ross) received a backlash when you left Panic! At the Disco, did you expect that? Ryan: No, but I guess…

Did you have to learn to roll with it? Ryan: Yeah, I mean it was already bad enough without that having to happen to. I guess, when people don’t understand the reasons why it’s easy to get mad at the person you don’t know for something you think they did. It’s weird how some of the fans took it personally. I wish they would understand, this is our life and we have to do what is best for us.

You have to play the music that you want to play. Nick: People grow up. Ryan: It seems to be passing a little bit. Some people are coming around and saying, maybe it wasn’t the smartest train of thought I was on a couple of months ago. I don’t know, I mean obviously if I was a young kid, a teenager and my favorite band broke up I would be a little bit upset too.

Estrella: Do you guys have any final comments? Andy: No, that was my two cents. Ryan: Do you want to comment on it? (laughs) Andy: No, that about covers it. Ryan: Cool, thanks.

[lostfracturess]

hi nici question what do s&c gojo and geto do to unwind after a long day and why is it me

HKJDSHKSDJHKDS imjust joking no but srs im curious what their after work routines consist of huehuehueheueueueheue :0 like do they go to the gym in the mornings or after work? who's more likely to order takeout when they don't feel like cooking? shower routines after spending all day in surgery? GOD BLESS YOU

ahahahah, of course you're the one they come home to for some unwinding time after a long, stressful day girl !! <3

nothing better than to imagine, satoru and suguru both stumbling through the door, completely drained but still looking fine as hell even sweaty and disheveled from work to blow off some steam ahhhhh.

anyway, i think this got out of hand a bit. so somethings about their "after work" routine after the cut lol:

satoru gojo

satoru comes home late, does drugs, and just spaces out for a while. when his energy returns he goes for a run, even if it's almost midnight. then shower before he starts prepping for class, grading assignments, or getting ready for surgery.

he usually just orders takeout because, let's be real, he doesn't have time to cook. if he's got some free time, though, you bet he's gaming hard. he got some crazy high scores that would blow your mind. the next day, he sleeps in late and grabs a coffee on the way to work.

when he's home earlier and not as stressed, satoru hits up some tokyo's international markets for some special ingredients and whips up a mean meal, but then would pair it with the most disgusting and cheap canned beer.

rest of the evening, he'd just read the latest neurology journals because he's just that dedicated to staying on top of his game.

when satoru is really stressed out tho, he goes off the rails in a different way. he'll meet up with his choso at his junkyard and just get completely wasted while they take turn smashing up old cars with sledgehammers and shit. (like in chapter 10, i guess?)

suguru geto

talk about disciplined. he hits the gym before work every day. after his workout and a shower, he's one of the first ones on campus, prepping for his classes or surgeries. can't start the day without a coffee from the cafeteria, though.

weirdly enough, despite being so early, he still manages to be at least 15 minutes late to class every time.

suguru and satoru are like an old married couple. Grabbing lunch together on campus is just routine for them. They don't even bother texting or anything. one of them just shows up at their usual table and waits for the other. and if one of them is running late (usually satoru, let's be real), the other has already ordered for both of them by the time the straggler gets there.

suguru heads home earlier than satoru most nights since he was on campus first in the mornings. they've both got cleaning services come through regularly. ain't nobody got time for chores when you're working like they do, but suguru has someone do his grocery shopping too since he hates that shit. he can cook and often does, but he also orders in when he's feeling lazy.

when he got free time, suguru also loves to read. his shelves are stacked with everything from philosophy and history to classic lit and poetry. but he's also a major sports nut and watches all the games he can.

they both don't really have a big social circle outside of each other, mostly bc they're always buried in work. but they make sure to get out together when they can, whether it's catching a movie or just pounding back some beers at a sports bar while yelling at whatever game is on the TV.

it's never like one of them formally invites the other out tho. it's more like one will shoot the other a text saying "hitting up the sports bar for the game tonight" and that's their way of saying "you coming or what?" without actually asking hahah. but that's just how their friendship works after all these years.

and sometimes when they're out at those bars, satoru manages to hook up and bring a girl home with him after. can't blame the man, he's got needs, yk?

suguru acts all disgusted though, especially that one time satoru straight up fucked some random woman right there in the dirty sports bar. suguru denies he's ever done anything like that himself.

yeah, right.

anyway, satoru's wild nights calmed down once he started seeing his girl yn. weirdly enough, suguru also stopped around the same time?? hmm, who knows.

[y3ager]

SHE OURS.

— hamon training has left joseph and caesar oh so high strung… you’ll be a good little helper and give them a hand while lisa lisa and suzie q are gone, won’t you?

joseph j. x black!fem!reader x caesar z.

tags: canonverse, smut, mmf threesome, oral sex (m receiving), double penetration, spitroasting. creampie. minors dni.

“CAESAR! JOSEPH! JUST a few more minutes and i’ll have lunch ready for you guys.” dusting flour off your apron, you smiled sheepishly. “had to run down to the market, we were out of butter! us! out of butter! crazy, huh?” you turned to the stovetop and carefully fished the gently coiled nests of freshly made pasta noodles from the pot of boiling water. “i decided to try my hand at that squid ink pasta you keep raving about, jojo, i really hope it’s to your liking.”

“…, you spoil me!” joseph grinned brightly. as exhausted as he acted while walking through the threshold to the kitchen, he suddenly had the energy to rush up to you and wrap his arms around you tight, pulling you flush against the front of his body. bending his head down, his smile turned impish as he got close to your ear. “keep it up, and i might have to make you my wife.”

“get off the lady, joseph. she’s cooking, and you reek like a pigsty,” caesar scrutinized as your face burned hot. you hoped you could conceal it with the heat wafting off from the stovetop. “hey, …, do you know where master and suzie q are?”

“they told me they had business to attend to in the city. good news is they’ll be gone for a while, so you two have time to eat and rest for a bit.” you squirmed in joseph’s grip. “jojo,” you whine. “i can’t make your plate if you don’t let go. it’s like you’re gonna crush me.”

joseph’s arms loosened, but it wasn’t the only thing that changed about him. at this newfound knowledge his eyes darkened, unbeknownst to you, of course. he glanced over at caesar. for once, mild annoyance didn’t immediately cross his face. his pretty features were instead being decorated with a small smirk. he knew what joseph was thinking just like joseph knew what he was thinking. gone, and for a while, huh?

“you know, you really do take good care of us, …, and i fear we don’t appreciate it enough.” finally, joseph released you from the cage that was his arms, backing up to give you enough space to plate the food. his interest in that, however, was quickly waning. he wanted something else. “i know we’re a handful. caesar more than i.” the italian scoffed.

“you two do plenty. i mean, what can you do? you’re always so busy. i’m just happy i can show i care by doing the most i can to help you.” now free, you had the space to plate the steaming food on perfectly white porcelain plates. next, you scrutinized the two bottles of wine you brought up from the cellar, suddenly unsure of which one you wanted to pair with this late lunch. joseph’s and caesar’s staring certainly didn’t help your indecisiveness. “but now you’re making me nervous staring at my back! it feels like you’re gonna glare holes through me.

“go, shoo-shoo!” you turned and attempted to usher the two men out of the expansive kitchen and towards the dining room of the manor, first nudging the brunet, who kindly entertained your admittedly weak shoving by pretending to exit, and then the blond when he was close enough. you managed to get them closer and closer to the threshold, but only because they let you. “i can bring the plates to you, i can’t expect you to eat standing up! rest while you have a chance. show your appreciation by doing this.”

caesar stopped himself by placing his hand on the the doorframe. “i know you must’ve spent so much time cooking for us and believe me when i say we appreciate it, but i think we want something else.”

"for once i agree with ol' caes! do you mind doing something else for us big fools? we promise it'll be worth your while..."

a cute furrow forms in your brow as you stare up at the two men. "oh, uh, sure!" you exclaim, a bit unsure. the two working in tandem sets off enough alarms in your head, but you know they would sooner die than lead you astray. "what is it that you need...?"

“open your mouth for me, baby.” your face burns as you look up at joseph, his deviously charming crooked smile twinkling back at you. obediently, though, you open your mouth, sticking out your cute little tongue for the joestar. “good girl,” he coos. he languidly strokes his cock with one hand, coaxing it from semi-hard to full on throbbing. with the other, he presses down on your tongue with his thumb. “suck— there ya go, just like that. a little pro, huh? now can you do that with this?” after staring into your glazed over eyes for a few moments, he retracts his hand. a thin line of drool connects his thumb to your tongue. “use your words.”

“y-yes, jo— oh, g-god!” caesar’s hand has moved to your throat, lightly clenching as he eases his heavy cock into your dripping cunt. “c-c— ohh, fuck! please!”

“i’ve been fantasizing about this ever since i first witnessed how your skin glittered under the venitian sun, cara mia.” that caesar, ever the casanova even while he was balls deep inside of you, hips easing back and forth slowly. for now. “how beautiful you look under me, taking me so well. always such a good girl for me. for us.”

a shaky moan passes by your lips before you're reminded of the other man in the vast bed. joseph taps the tip of his dick onto your plump bottom lip, gently reminding you of your other task. eagerly, you open your drooling mouth and with gentility you didn't know the joestar possessed, he pushes himself past your mouth. your lips press firmly around him, your moans a pleasurable vibration on his cock.

you're completely at their mercy now, but there's no place you'd rather be. caesar has hiked up your legs and thrown them around his hips to get the leverage he needs to really fuck into you. joseph might have been soft before, but now there's purpose behind his thrusts deep into your throat. their hands are everywhere, groping your breasts and brown, pebbled nipples, your swollen clit, it's nearly too much to bare.

"oh, please. oh, fuck. fuck me, please." what a chatty little thing you are! pumping joseph's spit soaked dick with your soft hand, you beg and plead the italian to keep going, don't stop. "i'm gonna cum, please," you sob.

"of course, tesoro. cum for me." leaning over slightly, caesar drills into you until you unravel and writhe on the sweaty sheets. your orgasm washing over you, the blond pulls out only to paint your brown cunt white. the sight is enough to send joseph over the edge. with a loud, low groan he cums as well, spilling white over your lips and part of you cheek. you lick it away eagerly. everyone’s panting, bodies numb and slick with a thin layer of sweat.

joseph, unsurprisingly, breaks the silence first. “you have another one in there for us, don’t you, pretty girl? you’ll love this, too.” he’s maneuvering the two of you, his back against the headboard before he pulls you up to place you in his lap, your back against his chest.

“jojo,” caesar starts.

“oh, don’t act high and mighty now! like you haven’t fantasized about this too.”

“about.. what..?” dickdrunk as you are you can’t say you appreciate them talking like you’re not even there.

joseph’s hand easily envelopes your face, gently squeezing your cheeks until you lips form a gentle pout. “us fucking you at the same exact time.” his other hand slides down your body until it meets you cunt, making you shiver. “now, you would love that, wouldn’t you?” two of his fingers sink deep inside, walls still so wet and warm.

“yes, ohh, y-yes.. please.. please…” you open your legs wider so the joestar can have even more access, missing how caesar swallows thickly.

“look at her,” joseph coos before looking up at caesar, grinning mischievously. “we can’t keep the poor lady waiting.”

caesar tries to maintain his gentleman image but the needy, wanton, downright slutty look in your hazed over eyes has all the blood in his body rushing straight from his brain to his dick. the wetness dripping down from your folds proves to be just the lubricant joseph needs, his thick tip pressing into your back hole and making you shudder in pleasure. “jojo,” you whine.

“that’s a good girl,” he praises, one hand easing up to fondle your tit, fingers pressing and pinching your nipple.

“caes,” you call out, still getting stretched by joseph but wanting more. seemingly at you beck and call, he sidles forward, lining himself up with your awaiting hole. "fuck m- oh, fuck." you feel impossibly full as the italian slides his dick deep inside you. the two work together in tandem, with one of them sliding out of you as the other pushes inside, keeping you stuffed. once again, you're nearly overwhelmed as you're sandwiched between the two men, their moans low and heavy in your ears. "feels s' fuckin good.." your back arches up, chest pressing into caesar's as your cunt flutters and clenches. "s-so.. much.." they speed up, making you bit your lip and clench your fists had, body trembling.

"give it to us, love. let it out." joseph pumps his hips harder, his own orgasm coming closer and closer. the mild shakiness in caesar's thrusts signaling his own.

it's too much now, them pressing so deep into you finally pushes you over the edge with a loud cry, their own cum quickly spilling from your spent holes.

everyone falls away, caesar next to the of you on his chest, joseph with his back against the headboard with a loud sigh, and you on top. hearts are racing, chests heaving in greedy gulps of thick air. wits about you after a couple minutes, you realize you want to continue helping them out.

a/n: blah blah no anal w/o proper lube blah blah i never claimed to be an accurate sex narrator

never written for jjba b4 but pt 2 had the writing juices flowing last year! yes, this is from last year… 🫠

[multifandomimagines]

Snow Globe - A Tyler Galpin Imagine

Characters: Tyler Galpin x Reader

Word Count: 2297

Summary: Christmas has arrived in Jericho, and Tyler accompanies the Reader to the market.

Warnings: Slight angst - topics surrounding absent parents

Written by: Josie

A/N: Not us posting our first imagine in a whole year?! Go have a read of our last post for context but we’re so excited to be back, and what better time to do that than Christmas! We’ll make an updated post on making requests soon, but for now, I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: GIF isn’t ours - credit to who it belongs to

Things were different in Jericho this weekend… but this time, it’s not in a bad way.

The main square of the town was alight with red and gold and green, and stalls selling all sorts of wintery goods lined the streets for what looked like miles. Christmas music played through the speakers and the town was alive with energy and spirit. Frankly, it was a beautiful change to the often gloomy atmosphere in this town, with the tension between the normies and the outcasts constantly looming. The holidays just make everything… different. There’s no “us” and “them”, just a sense of community and happiness. And Y/N was not planning on missing out on this.

Tyler Galpin had done everything he possibly could to get the day off today - he even managed to talk his way out of working a hot chocolate stall. In his defence, he’d already managed to get his shift covered at the Weathervane, he wasn’t going to accept a job doing more or less the same thing. However, that didn’t stop him popping over to get himself a cup of steaming hot cocoa.

“Tyler,” one of the guys behind the stall greeted him with a grin - a regular from the Weathervane. He must be volunteering, Tyler pondered. “Not working the cafe today?”

“Well, I didn’t wanna miss this,” the boy responded, quickly skimming the drinks menu despite already knowing exactly what he was going to order. “Could I get one hot chocolate please?”

The man nodded, and got to work. Tyler threw his hands in his coat pockets, something he always does when he isn’t quite sure what to do with himself, and looked around at the crowd. He was always very observant, someone who’d much prefer to watch from a distance rather than be in the centre of the action. As he scanned all the people enjoying the festivities, his eyes landed on the one girl he really wished to see today. She was alone, looking intently at a stall of little Christmassy trinkets.

“Excuse me, could you make that two?” Tyler said quickly, before the man could finish his drink as to not inconvenience him too much. God, he knows what that’s like… nothing worse than a customer changing their order when he’s already halfway through making it. If looks could kill… well, the espresso machine would be dead, as if he stared at the customers that way, he’d probably get fired.

“Here you go,” the man said as he passed Tyler down the two cups. The boy thanked him, paid, and set off toward his destination.

Y/N didn’t notice Tyler walk up to her, as she was far too fixated on the stall in front of her. There were lots of small ornaments that would be just right for a gift, and she wanted to find the perfect one.

“Hi, Y/N,” Tyler spoke, snapping the girl out of her trance. He smiled at her, that smile that always made her heart jump. “I bought you a hot chocolate.”

The warmth that spread through her body as soon as her hands gripped the cup was so incredibly satisfying that she sighed, content. “Thank you Tyler… are you sure these weren’t both for you? You saw me and decided you probably should give one to someone else?” she teased.

“I guess you got me,” Tyler smiled. “So… you looking for anything specific here?”

“I want to get something extra for my mum,” Y/N spoke, clearly back in her own mind, thinking hard about what the right thing to buy might be. “She deserves just a little something more. Something special… sentimental. I just can’t decide what.”

Tyler scanned the selection of possible gifts with a critical eye. He had never really had to buy a present for his mother… it had been far too long since he’d spent a Christmas with her, or a birthday. If he was totally honest, he didn’t have a clue what you were supposed to buy for a mother. How could he? He didn’t even know what to buy for his father, the parent that is around. He doesn’t do emotional, sentimental gifts, let alone gifts at all really. Every birthday, Tyler would get ten dollars and a pat on the back, and for Christmas? He’d get a stocking half full of socks, or something else that just proves his dad doesn’t know a single thing about him, his interests, his passions.

Y/N was lucky enough to have loving parents, both of them. Some people in Tyler’s position would be jealous - and in all honesty, he was jealous of a lot of others - but Y/N was different. She really deserved to have the family she did, so he wasn’t jealous, he was happy.

“Get this,” he spoke, pointing to one of the many items on the table.

“What?” Y/N responded, not expecting Tyler to make any suggestions.

“This one, here,” Tyler said, reaching over to the table and picking up a small item that Y/N couldn’t quite see. He placed it in her palm, the slight touch of his fingertips to her hand sending a warmth through her not dissimilar to the way the hot cocoa did, just with added excitement. As he slid his hand away, Y/N saw a little snow globe with space for a photo behind the flurry. Tyler had a subtle but not unnoticeable twinkle behind his eye as he watched the girl he adored shake the glass globe with a smile.

“Tyler, this is absolutely perfect,” She beamed, warming his heart so much that he couldn’t feel the cold anymore. Placing her hand on his arm, she looked him dead in the eye, speaking a thousand words, yet only two made their way out. “Thank you.”

The barista shrugged, feeling bashful as his rosy cheeks hid the blush that was definitely creeping up on his face. “It’s nothing.”

But it wasn’t nothing. Y/N knew Tyler didn’t have his mother around. She’d internally kicked herself after mentioning who she was buying her gift for, cursing her mouth for moving faster than her mind. As soon as she saw his pursed lips and furrowed brow, she absolutely hated herself for being so stupid. How could she be so careless? Way to make a good impression, Y/N, bring up his trauma. Nice one.

So when Tyler’s mouth turned up at the corners as his eyes fell on the perfect gift, her heart grew fonder of him even more so, if that was possible. He just kept getting better and better.

“Walk with me?” Y/N asked him, looking up with eyes he couldn’t refuse as she sipped on her drink. God, he wished he could look into those eyes every single day. “I was gonna go see the rest of the market and maybe check out the fair at the end… now I say it out loud it’s kind of sad that I was going to it all alone,” she rambled. The way he was looking at her, eyebrows slightly raised in amusement, was making her nervous. Little did she know that he thought it was oh so adorable. “So… you can come with me, if you want to.”

“Do you want me to?” Tyler challenged. He wasn’t about to be difficult, but he’d be lying if he said he didn’t want to play with her a little. She was being far too cute, he couldn’t resist a little lighthearted teasing, just to see that beautiful smile of hers as a light blush coloured her cheeks.

“Yes, Tyler,” she replied. “I’d like you to come with me.”

***

A few hours had passed, yet it barely felt like a few minutes. The pair had eaten German sausages, added ornaments to the Jericho town Christmas tree and even had a cheeky bit of mulled wine, for good measure. When your dad is the sheriff, you can get away with these things.

Eventually, the fairground at the end of the market trail was in front of them, rides flashing with bright lights. There was definitely a lot to take in, but they both agreed they wanted to try out the ferris wheel first.

The crowd was very busy that evening. There were families with small kids, teens running around with their friends, and just about every kind of person at the fair, which definitely made it easy to lose your companions in the crowd. Using this as a wonderfully convenient excuse, Tyler reached down and embraced Y/N’s hand with his own, lacing their fingers together. Y/N looked up at him with wide eyes.

“Didn’t wanna lose you in the crowd before we got to the ferris wheel… that would kind of suck,” he shrugged, before heading off in the direction of the large ride. The ferris wheel was lit up a beautiful red, the colour of the holidays, casting a ruby glow on the pair’s faces. As they waited in the queue, Tyler looked down at the girl he wanted to call his, her face a brilliant scarlet, and wondered if you could make a wish on a ferris wheel, as he knew exactly what he would wish for. Funnily enough, he didn’t think ferris wheel wishes were particularly common.

After a short while, the ride staff guided Y/N and Tyler to their carriage as it came around, with the latter helping Y/N on. It could be said that he was being a gentleman, but really he just didn’t want to let go of her hand. As they sat with the bar down waiting for the ride to move, Y/N took a deep breath.

“I have a confession to make,” she said, turning to face the boy. He blinked, taken aback by the apparent randomness to this conversation starter, but intrigue always reigns superior.

“Okay… what might that be?”

“I’ve never actually been on a ferris wheel before.” Y/N breathed. That was it? Thank god. Tyler worried that it might be something much worse. Not because he was thinking pessimistically, but because he worries about her. Because he cares.

“You haven’t?” He asked, and Y/N shook her head. “Aw well, it’s nice. You’ll like it. Especially at night. You can see every single light in the town… it’s really quite beautiful, actually.”

The wheel began to turn, sending the two of them round and upward at a slow pace. After a short while, Y/N learnt that Tyler was right… she could see the town like she never had before. The whole Christmas market they’d just walked through was clear as day in front of her, the trails of stalls painted out like a road on a map. As Tyler pointed things out to her from their height, she noticed him ever so slightly place his fingers over hers as they held the bar. She nearly didn’t notice at all, but the spark that shot through her body gave it away.

“And… that there is the Weathervane. You’ve got the town hall right there, obviously, it’s where the massive Christmas tree is. Oh, and you see that light all the way in the distance? That’s Nevermore.”

Y/N looked around wide-eyed at the beauty she could see from the sky, despite there being nothing quite like the beauty that was next to her. Unbeknownst to her, Tyler was thinking exactly the same thing. His fingers were still latched onto hers, but he ached to be closer. He longed to touch more of her, hold all of her.

“This must be the most breathtaking thing you’ve ever seen, surely?” Y/N almost whispered, still taking in the scene in front of her.

Tyler smiled the unique smile of someone that is hopelessly in love, admiring her as she stared out at the twinkling night. “Not quite.”

His tone caught her, and she turned her head to face him, eyes meeting his. She didn’t realise they had reached the top, and were stopped there, and she didn’t think he had even noticed at all. He did, though. There was something in his expression that made Y/N’s heart skip multiple beats, for it was far too intense for the heart to only skip one.

“Y/N,” he began, playing with her fingers. Really it was nerves, but the girl thought it was ever so sweet. “Can I kiss you?”

When you’ve been waiting to hear four simple words for so long, they almost seem faded and distant, like you’ve imagined it and you haven’t actually heard them at all. Y/N had to replay that one short sentence in her head a good few times before she could register that yes, he had actually said that. She was shocked, to say the least, so all she could do was nod.

The buzz of the Christmas market lowered to a quiet fuzz as Tyler cupped her cheek, admiring her for one more second, before he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. He did it softly, delicately, as though he was afraid she might change her mind, and the ecstasy he felt when she kissed him back was something beyond compare. Her lips were like heaven, the sweet taste of the mulled wine still lingering between them. Their kiss was innocent, yet emotional, and just perfect.

Tyler’s thumb caressed her cheek as they pulled away, both on cloud nine. Y/N grinned as she noticed something different - white little particles now decorating his sandy brown curls.

“It’s snowing,” she grinned, and Tyler laughed as he noticed how a couple of snowflakes caught in her eyelashes. That smile on her lips was so enticingly irresistible - even more so than it always had been - that he didn’t feel sorry for interrupting her excitement for the snow by kissing her again.

And again.

And again.

[littlewestern]

sorry this took so long but The Executive can Dysfunction

My main question/comment on the 1974 letters is: Pioneer and Pilot seem to have very little knowledge on how children work. What are engines built knowing? Only their job, or more about how railroads work in general?

Gosh I love when y'all ask questions like this, because it's already in the vein of what I've been thinking about while writing and it gives me a chance to talk about it when I otherwise wouldn't!

You're right in that Pilot and Pioneer don't know much about how children work. They don't know about how much of anything works, actually, but it's only because as of the letters now they are both (relatively) recently retired. Engines aren't built knowing much at all.

They have specific drives and are built knowing what they like and what they derive fulfillment from; Like a basic instinct. I've talked a little bit about what engines like doing instinctively before, but briefly: Service, safety, and satisfaction. They want to work, to do so safely, and to make their people happy. They don't need to be taught to like these things, but they might need to be guided on how to achieve them sometimes. That's where the learning comes in.

My personal rule of thumb for what an engine is built knowing is that if it would be time-consuming and inconvenient to teach them something, they should already know it. They don't need to be taught how to speak or read, and I don't think they need to be taught how their internals work either or the names for their individual parts. Pilot and Pioneer know how the fuel they need is turned into energy to move forward - better than DJ and I do, even - but they don't know how a steam engine works or what a coal tender is for without being told. This is why the steam engines at the IRM find the Zephyrs' interest in the coal mine exhibit amusing. What does a diesel engine need or want to know about coal?

I think engines would also know how railroads work in a basic sense, but not too detailed. For example, an engine wouldn't know where their freight shipment is going after they're done pulling it, you'd have to explain to them that the next part of that freight's journey is being loaded onto a boat or something. Not all engines are curious in that way, but some of them would be. An engine like Pilot might ask about something like that, but it's up to the workers or other engines to decide if they want to explain it.

Engines also aren't built knowing anything about the work culture of their specific railway either. You'd think this would come "preprogrammed" but since the culture is mutable, the engines have to be able to adapt. Too, sometimes an engine is built without having been bought by a railway yet, so they need to be a blank slate in that regard. Burlington engines are expected to be charismatic and a little bit marketing-savvy, but that's something they would have to be told by the management or absorb just by hanging out with older engines who teach them how to uphold the CB&Q ideals. I think a lot of engine knowledge is picked up through a strong oral culture and history in railyards and shed talk. Anything they aren't built knowing would be learned this way. Unfortunately, this method of information gathering does not usually include things like how babies work or what a periodic table is.

Pilot and Pioneer are in the unique position of having to do a job they were not built for and so do not have that baseline instinctual knowledge to accomplish. Luckily, they're both curious and service-minded enough to know the only way to learn more is to ask questions, which is exactly what you're supposed to do at the museum!

[serenanymph]

find the word tag

tagged by @chauceryfairytales over here! my words are comfortable, brim, tangle and sweep. gently tagging @mister-writes, @lyssa-ink, @sidhewrites, @scribbling-stardust and @space-writes for the words drag, bloodshed, moon and strain!

comfortable

It’s loud, far louder than before – there’s the sound of rubble falling too close to be comfortable, things toppling and breaking, as the ground heaves and the world shakes around them. Icarus gives a shout; Rhyme barks out a harsh curse; Crys grabs the edge of the bunk bed to steady himself and bites into his tongue so hard he tastes blood, ears ringing. Lize’s figure is blurred by the haze of grey-brown, and when she raises a hand and shouts, “Come on!”, the three of them run after her without waiting for the tunnels to stabilize.

brim(ming)

“So… we just follow this route?” Icarus asks, his breath steaming. He’s looking over Crys’s shoulder at the map he’s holding, studying the path Rhyme marked down as they walk. “Yep,” Rhyme says. Around them, the market bustles, brimming to the full with noise and activity as the sun bears down on them, bright and cheery. She looks like she’d rather be anywhere but here.

tangle

They slam into the ground. She wheezes, the breath knocked out of her lungs – rolls, over and over, an uncoordinated tangle of limbs, the stone floor beneath her rough and uneven and utterly uncaring. She smacks her head against the rock twice before she manages to jam an elbow into the ground and stop – and there she lies, panting, staring up into the pitch dark, energy reserves completely spent.

sweep

She tracks the sun’s position through the sky, slowing inching onwards overhead, blinding white but barely giving off any warmth. Clouds sweep in, crowding out the blue with white-grey, then vanish just as quickly as they appear. They climb up a steep incline that just as sharply slopes downwards – up ahead, there’s a startled yelp cutting through the winter air as Icarus’s feet go out from under him for the umpteenth time.

taglist (lmk if you want to be +/-): @deer-in-headlights-stare, @allianaavelinjackson, @arctic-oceans, @space-writes, @reneesbooks

[electronalytics]

Steam Energy Management Market Overview Analysis, Trends, Share, Size, Type & Future Forecast to 2032

Overview:

Steam energy management refers to the practice of optimizing and controlling the generation, distribution, and utilization of steam in industrial processes.It aims to improve energy efficiency, reduce operational costs, and minimize environmental impact by effectively managing steam resources.Steam energy management involves various techniques and technologies, including steam trap management, condensate recovery, heat exchanger optimization, and steam system audits.

The market for steam energy management is driven by increasing energy prices, stringent environmental regulations, and the need for sustainable and energy-efficient solutions in industries.The adoption of steam energy management solutions can lead to significant energy savings, reduced carbon emissions, and improved overall operational performance for industrial facilities.

Key Points:

Steam system audits: Conducting comprehensive audits to identify inefficiencies, leaks, and areas of improvement in steam systems.

Steam trap management: Regular monitoring and maintenance of steam traps to ensure optimal operation and prevent steam losses.

Condensate recovery: Recovering and reusing condensate from steam systems to reduce the need for fresh water and decrease energy consumption.

Boiler optimization: Implementing advanced control systems and technologies to improve boiler efficiency and reduce fuel consumption.

Heat exchanger optimization: Optimizing heat transfer processes in heat exchangers to enhance overall system efficiency.

Steam pressure and temperature control: Implementing precise control mechanisms to maintain optimal steam pressure and temperature levels.

Integration with IoT and data analytics: Utilizing IoT devices and data analytics tools to monitor and optimize steam energy management processes.

Training and education programs: Providing training programs to educate employees on best practices for steam energy management and system optimization.

Maintenance and service contracts: Offering maintenance and service contracts to ensure ongoing efficiency and performance of steam systems.

Steam leakage detection: Implementing advanced technologies such as acoustic sensors and thermal imaging to detect and fix steam leaks promptly.

Demand:

Increasing energy costs: Rising energy prices create a strong demand for steam energy management solutions that can help reduce operational costs and improve energy efficiency.

Environmental regulations: Stringent environmental regulations and sustainability initiatives drive the demand for steam energy management solutions to minimize carbon emissions and promote sustainable practices.

Characteristics:

Energy efficiency: Steam energy management solutions focus on optimizing energy usage and reducing waste, leading to improved overall energy efficiency.

Cost savings: Effective steam energy management can result in significant cost savings by minimizing energy consumption and reducing maintenance and repair costs.

Environmental sustainability: By optimizing steam systems and reducing energy waste, steam energy management contributes to environmental sustainability by lowering carbon emissions and conserving resources.

Customization: Steam energy management solutions can be tailored to specific industrial processes and requirements, allowing for customized optimization strategies.

Integration with existing systems: Steam energy management solutions can be integrated with existing infrastructure and control systems, minimizing the need for major system overhauls.

Opportunity:

Industrial sector adoption: There is a significant opportunity for increased adoption of steam energy management solutions in various industries such as manufacturing, power generation, chemical, and food processing.

Emerging markets: The growing industrialization and increasing energy consumption in emerging markets present a significant opportunity for steam energy management solution providers to expand their operations and offer their expertise in these regions.

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Market Segmentations:

Global Steam Energy Management Market: By Company • Ackam • Zhejiang Energy • Steam Management, Inc. • Rawson-ICD • TLV Global Steam Energy Management Market: By Type • Control System • Heat Exchange System • Hydrophobic System • Condensing Recovery System • Waste Heat And Pressure Recovery System • Other Global Steam Energy Management Market: By Application • Petroleum Chemical Industry • Pharmaceutical • Industrial Manufacturing Global Steam Energy Management Market: Regional Analysis All the regional segmentation has been studied based on recent and future trends, and the market is forecasted throughout the prediction period. The countries covered in the regional analysis of the Global Steam Energy Management market report are U.S., Canada, and Mexico in North America, Germany, France, U.K., Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, and Rest of Europe in Europe, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Rest of Asia-Pacific (APAC) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC), Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, South Africa, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa (MEA) as a part of Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Argentina, Brazil, and Rest of South America as part of South America.

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[unchained-hound-dog]

Jack and the reader goes Christmas shopping or to a Christmas market 🥹

Hope you enjoy this love! Thank you for requesting!

I wanna go Christmas shopping with Jackman!

Your organisational skills this year had been better than ever before, you'd managed to purchase something for everyone and get it wrapped the week before Christmas. But there was one person you hadn't managed to finish buying for, your niece. She would be turning 6 months old at Christmas and so you found it almost impossible to not want to buy her every baby item in the store.

Jack had finished up work for the holidays, meaning you had his full attention from now until the new year. You'd spent the night wrapped up in bed with a Christmas movie on the TV as you both went over what you'd gotten your friends and families for the big day, discussing how you were going to distribute everything and where you were going to spend Christmas Day.

'I just want to go to that toy store in town and see if they have anything else for Callie' your fingers danced with Jacks as they lay on the duvet beside you.

'Babe, her pile is bigger than anyones' Jack adored your neice, and he was right, you'd gone all out for her first Christmas

'But I haven't bought her any toys, we got books, clothes, no toys. Can't not have toys at Christmas' you bargained, feeling giddy when Jack sighed and nodded his head, muttering a 'fine'.

So here you were, stood in the large toy store 3 days before Christmas along with mums, dads, grandparents, and other aunties and uncles all trying to get those last minute gifts.

'What about this?' Jack held up a robodog

'Jack she's 6 months old' you reminded him, turning back to the sensory toys on the shelf.

'This might be good?' you picked up a musical keyboard she could lay on and would make sounds when she moved.

'That looks good' Jack came up behind you, his arm going around your shoulder as he moved closer to you.

'Yeah I think this would be perfect' you nodded, scanning the shelves once more before making your way to checkout.

-

As you both made your way back to Jack's car, you walked hand-in-hand, both bundled up in coats, scarves and hats as Christmas music played from a live band across the street. Your eyes caught a Christmas market, the street lined each side with little huts and a grotto right at the end.

'Shall we go have a look?' you gestured towards the market and Jack nodded, turning to check the street before you both walked across.

It was quiet, not too many people had ventured over from the main street and so it made looking around much easier. Each hut had different home-made crafts and items to buy. One stall was selling mulled-wine, another selling Christmas food.

You stood looking at the grand Christmas tree near Santa's Grotto whilst Jack got you both hot chocolates, your eyes wandering up the tree to the gorgeous star on top.

'Here you go' Jack handed over the steaming cup and you embraced it in both hands, thanking him softly.

'Think he's really in there?' you turned to look at your boyfriend in confusion

'Santa, do you think he's really in there?' Jack nodded towards the grotto, causing a smile to break out across your face.

'Maybe, I heard he doesn't come out unless you believe though' you slid one arm under Jack's open coat and cosied up against the woolen jumper he was wearing.

'We should do this every year' Jack's voice was muffled as your ear was pressed against the woolen material, but you nodded and took a sip of your drink.

'We should, could bring Callie here next year' you looked around at the small children running around, clear that their parents wanted them to burn some energy.

'Ready to head home?' he asked, leaning back so he could look down at you.

'Yeah, lets go' you smiled, taking his hand in yours and walking back to the car.

[pb-dot]

The Clockwork Boy Ch. 1: The Sky-Eyes Boy

As I mentioned in my 100 followers celebration/acknowledgment post, I'm posting the first proper chapter of The Clockwork Boy. Call it a bit of a longer sneak peek than the snippets I usually post. The chapter is just about where I want it editing-wise, but I can't promise I won't fiddle with it more. Without further ado, full chapter beneath the cut.

Jake didn’t much like hauling, and yet it was an activity he found himself doing frequently. Admittedly, it could be argued that what he did this particular day was more akin to schlepping, as pulling a hand cart loaded to the brim with tin was pushing his strength just about as far as it would go. Regardless of the exact definition of what he was doing, it was tiresome tedious work. It made Jake the kind of tired that had him making stupid mistakes or really quite clever observations. There wasn’t much of an in-between, and today he was going to do both.

The practical-minded clockmaker’s workshop always bought its materials in bulk, ideally already smelted into ingots for ease of use. While employing the economics of scale was undoubtedly preferable, this required access to a market that his humble, if not entirely disreputable workshop did not have. The biggest providers of raw materials tended to be bought out in a hurry, and the contracts for new clients quickly became restrictive to the point of exclusion. Smaller dealers usually were left to do their limited business in peace, although there was a definite limit to how big they could get before accidents started happening, or anonymous tips into shady business practices led to lengthy investigations with no protection against bankruptcy and destitution. So his employer bought materials wherever they could get them for reasonable prices, which usually meant low quanta and mediocre quality at best, and smelting them was expensive and at times dangerous, but it was better than saddling oneself with the usurious revenue garnishing payment plans that the more convenient suppliers used.

Jake had come to gain an understanding of the workings of the city. It wasn’t a place for mercy, but it was reasonable in its own way. There were rules and laws, of a sort, like any place else, but there were also strongly worded suggestions, things one was better off doing. One of the biggest rules was to keep your head down. Both avoiding eye contact in public and not standing out, in general, were strategies that Jake employed all but subconsciously after a few years in the city, and now no longer questioned. There were, of course, disadvantages to looking at the ground while lost in thought, but at least when pulling the handcart, his profile was looming enough to dissuade all but the most thoughtless jaywalkers. There is, however, no shortage of foolishness and recklessness in the world, and on occasion, a fool of as of yet unmatched magnitude will make their presence known in the worst sort of way. One such hitherto undefeated champion of duncery was driving a passing steam pavise. The horseless cart was pulled by a trio of disembodied steam-powered leg pairs, reminiscent of the brutish beasts that had once provided the propulsion to similar contraptions in days past. The steam pavise itself was about to go the way of the horse and fade from the streets as the more energy- and space-efficient Gear Walkers took over. If this changing of the guard brought any pensive humility to its drivers, said humility had not penetrated to the madman driving this particular vehicle. The wheels of the pavise didn’t as much hit the cart as they briefly snagged the handcart’s wheel, sending the whole contraption and its hapless driver into a spin, before careening further down the street with the rhythmic beat of automated hooves.

Jake felt his body sting and ache. He had managed to stop the handcart from spinning out or hitting anyone, but he was pretty sure he had pulled at least a couple of muscles in doing so. It would sting like the dickens, and he was pretty sure he wouldn’t be hammering or lifting anything in the next couple of days. At least he should be able to get the cart back to the workshop, the slight slope would take him the rest of the way all but unaided.

It was only once the brightest flash of adrenaline and other pain-numbing chemicals subsided that Jake found it in himself to be angry at the pavise driver. In days gone, you could talk to the constables about that kind of behavior, but the streets hadn’t seen as much as a badge for decades now. There was always trying to sic The Enforcers on people who mistreated you, but as long as you weren’t rich they were just as likely to rough you up for your trouble. Besides, Jake thought, even if he thought the guy absolutely shouldn’t be driving, he didn’t want him beat up. Lightly chastised? Sure, but that was the extent of it. Jake felt his pulse calm and the fog of anger and pain clearing up. When he found it in himself to look up at the world around him, he realized, with a sudden shock, that he was being watched.

A street stoat was staring at him from the little side path that it and its brethren had carved through the litter that filled the sides of the street. Jake wasn’t sure, but he suspected the animal had frozen in fear from the brief moment where the cart was in danger of spinning out and hitting the little predator. “It’s alright,” Jake said, he had no idea why he was speaking to the stoat, but it felt right like the little thing deserved some attention. “You’re not in danger, go along now, don’t you have finches to hunt?” The stoat kept staring. It wasn’t freezing fear in its eyes, Jake now realized. The stoat was appraising him with some sort of mustelid intelligence.

Jake couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m flattered for the attention Mr. Stoat, but I better get going and so should you, shoo.” Jake waved a hand in the stoat’s direction to shoo it away. The little fur tube finally took the hint and darted down the street. It was probably going to hunt trash finches in some alley, or perhaps it was on its way back to whatever den it had built for itself. “When the fox sleeps the raccoon feasts, huh,” Jake murmured to himself

As he righted the cart and prepared for the last leg of his tedious transport journey, he realized it wasn’t just the stoat that had been watching him.

The boy, for Jake could not think of him as anything else despite being a head taller than him, had the bluest eyes Jake had ever seen. This, he realized with a start, had to be how the sky looked above all the smog during the golden hour. Jake had no idea how he got to this conclusion as he had lived in the city long enough to forget the smogless sky and honestly had no expertise in color or poetry even on a good day.

There was something with the pensive look in the eyes of the strange young man that just drew out the similes. His eyes weren’t blue, they were like a perfect sky; His hair wasn’t blond and tightly cropped, it was like freshly harvested wheat; His cloak was not oversized and ill-fitting, it was like an immaterial fog swathing his delicate form. Perhaps the young man could not be comprehended otherwise, at least not by Jake.

Jake barely had the time to snap out of his sudden and all-encompassing reverie before the moment was over. The sky-eyed, wheat-haired elflike youth disappeared into the nascent bustle of the city as if Jake had dreamed him up whole cloth. Jake had no idea if the boy had moved unnaturally fast, or if his reverie or his exhaustion had merely dulled his senses to the point where it seemed like it. Another strongly worded suggestion for living in the city was letting things go. If something was too unusual to understand without extra effort, or strange in a way that wasn’t explicitly dangerous, you’d be better off just forgetting about it. Little good could come out of sticking your nose where it didn’t belong, and that counted double for things out of the usual.

There were no hidden treasures, no long lost knowledge or forgotten riches just ready for the taking in the city, just disappointments you hadn’t had the option of experiencing yet, losses you hadn’t suffered, dangers that you had unwittingly avoided. It was easier to just not think twice about it, never consider what-ifs, and let bygones be bygones, lest things found a way to get even worse. It wasn’t much of a life, Jake had to admit to himself as he pulled the cart the final bit to the workshop, but it surely had to beat dying.

In the little schooling he had received, Jake had come to learn that an idea in theory and an idea in practice were two wildly different things, and seldom intersected in their entirety. There was, or so his teachers had told him, a push and pull there, where theory informed attempted practice, and experience from practice shaped future theory. It struck Jake as somewhat of a pointless exercise, an admission that you’d never truly know anything resembling the truth, but perhaps that was the point.

As he parked the handcart and signaled for his colleagues to assist him in unloading the materials, however, Jake had to concede he might need to tweak his theory regarding forgetting about the strange young man. It was going about as well as his attempts at attracting the attention of his coworkers, who did a decent job of looking entirely too busy to help. The thought of that strange young man didn’t leave him, but most of him merely haunted the peripheries of Jake’s memory. One part, though, stayed with him, as clear as when he’d first seen it. Put simply, he could not put those eyes out of his mind.

What manner of things they seen, he wondered, to seem so sad, and yet so beautiful? Now that he thought about it, it reminded him of a childhood memory. It had been one of the few excursions he had experienced in his life. The orphanage had hired a rickety old steam pavise to take them to the outskirts, to “the forest” where some natural vegetation still existed. They had played among the trees and by the brooks and river in the forests that still remained on the fringes of the city, it could charitably be called “nature.” It was a lovely memory, but one also tinged with profound sadness, and, Jake was starting to realize, anger.

He hadn’t thought about it at the time, but looking back at it, the trees looked like they were dying. Leaves and even branches curled and twisted with unknown maladies, even the evergreens lost their needles and those needles who remained gained an unnatural orange pallor and a faintly oily smell. The same stink could be felt wherever the water grew stagnant in the rivers, even as a child he had noticed that. Some of his friends had gotten sick after that, he recalled, but most of them survived it.

Jake wasn’t quite sure what to think about what he was thinking, but there really wasn’t anything for it, the thoughts were there whether he liked them or not. He was happy for remembering the fun he had had, running around and being a carefree child for once, he felt sad for his friends that got sick, and he felt angry for the world that had allowed a beautiful place of nature to decay. No, he thought, it was worse than decay, it was rot, putrescence, poisoned with the malice of carelessness or greed rather than conceded to entropy. He assumed it was runoff from the city or one of the factories dumping their waste material, and that some of whatever toxic sludge had resulted made its way to the groundwater. Jake hadn’t been back there since then, but he suspected the trees were entirely gone by now. It could even be that the city had expanded since then, and the entire diseased copse was now brick and cobblestone.

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[jeffhirsch]

Super Boom Spring Break Easter Sale!

Few at Dow 10,000 believed me in May 2010 when I forecasted a 500+% market rise that would put DJIA at 38,820 by the year 2025 in my Almanac Investor Newsletter. My 2011 book Super Boom took a deeper dive into the history and analysis of this groundbreaking forecast and the iconic market cycle and pattern that it’s based on. Now that Dow 38,820 has come true, what’s next? AI is clearly the culturally enabling, paradigm-shifting technology I predicted would drive the next phase of this generational Super Boom. Come find out what I expect to happen next. Get my latest outlook on how and why the AI Super Boom will drive the economy full steam ahead and the market higher and higher.

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MoneyShow Easter Sale

Come down to Miami for spring break and join me in person at MoneyShow’s Investment Masters Symposium – The Big Money Pivot – East. April 10-12, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency Miami. They have a special Easter Sale this weekend! Join us for 3 days filled with market education from the nation’s top experts on stocks, bonds, real estate, precious metals, cryptocurrencies, technology, energy, & more. Use $99 Standard Pass Coupon Code HOP99

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Rally Respite After Big Best Six Months Gains

Monday is the beginning of the last month of the “Best Six Months (BSM)” (November-April) for the Dow and S&P 500 – and what a banner one it’s been so far. From our Seasonal MACD Buy Signal on October 9, 2023, through the close on March 28, 2024, DJIA is up 18.46% and S&P 500 is up 21.19% – more than double the historical average BSM gains. Our Best Six Months Seasonal MACD Sell Signal can trigger anytime on or after the first trading day of April, which is Monday April 1st this year. NASDAQ’s Best 8 Months end in June, which is up 21.47% since our buy signal, not quite double the average but give it time.

The big rewards we have reaped this Best Six Months and year-to-date so far have not left much on the table until later this year. Risks are more elevated now. Sentiment continues to run high. Valuations are extended. Geopolitical tensions have not eased. And persistent inflation pressures have the Fed in no rush to cut rates. As the election campaign rhetoric heats up and the Best Six Months comes to a close be prepared to shift to a more cautious stance when we issue our Best Six Months Seasonal MACD Sell Signal. We do not expect a bear market or major correction. We do not Sell in May and go away. We sell some things, tighten stops and consider defensive positions if warranted.

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[makers-muse]

How can steam classroom innovation prepare students for future careers? 

https://makersmuse.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1725945749679-scaled.jpg

In a world reshaped by rapid technological advancements, the jobs of tomorrow demand skills that go beyond traditional education. STEAM Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics classrooms are paving the way for a new generation of innovators, equipping students with the tools needed to thrive in dynamic and competitive career landscapes. 

Bridging the Skills Gap 

STEAM education goes beyond memorizing facts; it focuses on developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration. These are the very skills that industries ranging from healthcare to technology look for in their workforce. By exposing students to real-world applications of their learning, STEAM classrooms bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical experience. 

Key Benefits of STEAM Education for Careers 

Fostering Creativity and Innovation 

Adding arts to STEM fosters creativity, encouraging students to approach problems with innovative thinking.Fields like product design, digital marketing, and entertainment rely heavily on individuals who can blend technology with creativity. 

Building Problem-Solving Skills 

STEAM classrooms often present students with open-ended challenges, teaching them how to approach complex problems systematically. These skills are essential in industries like engineering, IT, and business. Explore more 

Promoting Technological Proficiency 

Familiarity with tools like coding platforms, 3D printers, and data analysis software ensures students are ready for careers in technology-driven sectors such as robotics, AI, and renewable energy. 

Enhancing Collaboration and Communication 

STEAM projects often require teamwork, preparing students for collaborative work environments. Communication and teamwork are indispensable in fields like healthcare, management, and engineering. 

Career Paths Enabled by STEAM Education 

Technology and Programming 

Students learn coding and technological tools early, opening doors to careers in software development, cybersecurity, and AI. 

Engineering and Design 

Hands-on projects in STEAM classrooms provide a strong foundation for future architects, engineers, and industrial designers. 

Art and Digital Creativity 

Combining technology with art equips students for roles in graphic design, animation, and game development. 

Environmental Sciences 

STEAM classrooms encourage students to tackle issues like sustainability, preparing them for green careers in conservation and renewable energy. 

Real-World Applications 

Robotics Projects: Students learn programming and mechanical design, offering insights into automation and robotics careers. 

Sustainability Projects: Lessons in environmental science coupled with data analysis prepare students for tackling global challenges. 

Digital Art Creation: Integrating coding with visual arts helps students explore opportunities in creative tech industries. 

STEAM for a Future-Ready Workforce 

STEAM classrooms foster adaptability, an essential trait in an ever-changing job market. As automation continues to reshape industries, skills like critical thinking, innovation, and interdisciplinary knowledge will define career success. Moreover, these classrooms help cultivate a growth mindset, where students view challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. 

Empower the innovators of tomorrow with STEAM education! 

STEAM education isn’t just about academic excellence; it’s about preparing students to excel in diverse and evolving career paths. From coding to creativity, the skills nurtured in STEAM classrooms empower students to become tomorrow’s innovators, leaders, and problem-solvers. 

Are you ready to equip your child for the future? Explore resources and tools to bring STEAM innovation to your classroom today!