#Vendor Management Strategies

[myndsolution1]

The Ultimate Guide to Vendor Management Strategies

The core of each organisation's procurement process is its vendors. Nonetheless, a lot of businesses sometimes undervalue the significance of building strong bonds with their vendors. Due to this, they sometimes deteriorate the relationship with their vendors and do not receive materials or goods from them. That is why these companies are getting interested in vendor management systems.

[simplifyworkforce]

Talent Strategy: How to Future-Proof It for Success Beyond 2025

This blog from HireHQ explores how to future-proof your talent strategy by aligning hiring with evolving business needs, embracing AI tools, and promoting diversity to stay competitive in a changing workforce landscape.

Here is the link- Talent Strategy: How to Future-Proof It for Success Beyond 2025 - HireHQ

[smebusinessguid]

Mastering Vendor Relationships for Business Growth

In the realm of procurement, maintaining a steady and cost-effective supply of quality materials is paramount. To achieve this, businesses must cultivate a robust and dependable network of vendors. Relying on a single supplier, particularly for critical materials or services, is risky. Any disruption at the supplier's end could jeopardize business continuity. Therefore, companies typically engage multiple vendors, dividing orders strategically among them to mitigate risks.

A diverse supplier base not only reduces dependency but also enhances negotiation power, ensuring competitive pricing and favorable terms. However, building and maintaining such a network requires continuous effort. The purchasing department must not only nurture existing vendor relationships but also proactively seek new suppliers. This vigilance helps companies adapt to market changes and technological advancements.

If you are looking for a partner who helps you to manage your business growth then, Sanjay Shah is a well-known management consultant in India 

Exploring industry events, exhibitions, and conferences is essential for staying informed about the latest trends in the supply industry. These events often showcase new machinery, technologies, alternative raw materials, and innovative processes. They provide an excellent opportunity to discover new suppliers who can offer competitive advantages or unique products.

In addition to physical events, the internet has become a valuable tool for sourcing new vendors. Online directories, industry portals, and marketplace websites are convenient resources for identifying potential suppliers. These platforms allow businesses to search for vendors based on specific criteria, such as location, product type, or service quality.

Industry directories, magazines, and publications also serve as useful resources. They often feature advertisements or articles about emerging suppliers or innovative products. Subscribing to these publications helps businesses stay informed about potential new partners in the supply chain.

Once a reliable set of vendors is established, it is crucial to continually evaluate their performance. Regular assessments should consider various factors, including efficiency, product quality, pricing, credit terms, and overall ease of doing business. This evaluation process helps ensure that the company is working with the best possible suppliers and can identify areas for improvement.

Maintaining strong communication with vendors is another key aspect of effective vendor management. Regular interaction fosters healthy relationships, ensuring that both parties are aligned in their goals and expectations. This on-going dialogue can also help resolve issues promptly, preventing minor problems from escalating into major disruptions.

In conclusion, effective vendor management and the development of new supplier relationships are critical to a company's success. By diversifying the supplier base, staying informed about industry trends, and maintaining open communication, businesses can safeguard against supply chain disruptions and secure a competitive edge in the market. The purchase department plays a vital role in this process, continuously striving to balance cost, quality, and reliability in its vendor relationships.

[chefjbonilla]

Embracing the Challenge: Launching a Small Business with Global Aspirations

Today, after much contemplation, I’ve decided to take action on an idea that’s been on my mind for a while. Starting this project feels more daunting than opening a restaurant because there are countless tiny components that must come together to form a cohesive company. From establishing an LLC to opening a business bank account, setting up a website, sourcing vendors, and creating engaging…

[udhyogbazaar]

Simplify Your Supply Chain: The Leading B2B Marketplace for Consumer Goods

Introduction

In the fast-paced world of business, efficiency is key. When it comes to sourcing consumer goods, the supply chain can often be complex and time-consuming. However, with the advent of advanced technology and innovative solutions, simplifying your supply chain is more achievable than ever before. In this blog, we’ll explore how a Vendor Management System and Business Partner Network can revolutionize your supply chain, making it more efficient, streamlined, and ultimately, more profitable.

Streamlining Your Supply Chain with a Vendor Management System

A Vendor Management System (VMS) is a powerful tool that can significantly enhance your supply chain management. By centralizing vendor-related processes, a VMS provides a comprehensive solution for managing vendor relationships, sourcing, procurement, and more. Here’s how it can benefit your business:

1. Efficient Vendor Onboarding:

With a VMS, the process of onboarding vendors becomes streamlined and efficient. All vendor-related information, such as contracts, certifications, and compliance documents, can be stored in one centralized location, making it easy to access and manage.

2. Simplified Procurement Process:

A VMS simplifies the procurement process by providing a user-friendly interface where businesses can search for vendors, compare prices, and place orders. This streamlined approach reduces the time and effort required to source consumer goods, allowing businesses to focus on other critical tasks.

3. Enhanced Vendor Performance:

By providing valuable insights and analytics, a VMS enables businesses to monitor vendor performance effectively. This helps identify areas for improvement and ensures that vendors are meeting their contractual obligations, ultimately leading to improved supply chain efficiency.

4. Cost Savings:

By optimizing the procurement process and improving vendor performance, a VMS can result in significant cost savings for businesses. With better control over spending and increased transparency, businesses can negotiate better deals with vendors and minimize unnecessary expenses.

Building Stronger Relationships with a Business Partner Network

In addition to a Vendor Management System, a Business Partner Network (BPN) is another essential component for simplifying your supply chain. A BPN connects businesses with their suppliers, distributors, and other partners, creating a collaborative ecosystem that fosters growth and innovation. Here’s how a BPN can benefit your business:

1. Improved Collaboration:

A BPN facilitates communication and collaboration between business partners, allowing for better coordination and alignment throughout the supply chain. By sharing information in real-time, businesses can respond quickly to changes and ensure that everyone is working towards a common goal.

2. Increased Visibility:

With a BPN, businesses gain greater visibility into their supply chain, allowing them to track the movement of goods from the supplier to the end consumer. This increased visibility helps identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies, allowing businesses to take corrective action and improve overall performance.

3. Scalability:

A BPN is highly scalable, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes. Whether you're a small startup or a large enterprise, a BPN can adapt to your needs and grow with your business. This scalability ensures that your supply chain remains efficient and effective, even as your business expands.

4. Innovation:

By fostering collaboration and sharing of ideas, a BPN encourages innovation within the supply chain. Businesses can leverage the collective knowledge and expertise of their partners to develop new products, improve processes, and stay ahead of the competition.

Conclusion

In today's competitive business landscape, simplifying your supply chain is essential for success. By leveraging a Vendor Management System and a Business Partner Network, businesses can streamline their operations, improve efficiency, and drive growth. With the right tools and technologies in place, you can simplify your supply chain and position your business for long-term success in the consumer goods marketplace.

[chloedecker0]

Maximizing Retail Profits: Harnessing B2B Price Optimization Software

In the ever-evolving world of retail and e-commerce, businesses are constantly seeking ways to gain a competitive edge. Among the many strategies employed, B2B Price Optimization and Management Software stands out as a game-changer. Price optimisation and management (PO&M) software solutions enable businesses to oversee and optimize the prices of their goods and services. These services also provide a growing range of sales intelligence advice, such as best-next-action suggestions and customer churn warnings. In the industry, vendors either focus on back-office price management and product management roles, or they focus on providing real-time sales intelligence to sales representatives and B2B digital commerce websites, or both. Quadrant Knowledge Solutions, a leading global advisory and consulting firm, has recognized the significance of this technology in their report, “B2B Price Optimization and Management Applications, 2023”. Quadrant Knowledge Solutions focuses on helping clients in achieving business transformation goals with Strategic Business, and Growth Advisory Services. 

Download the sample report of Market Share: B2B Price Optimization and Management Software

Understanding the Retail and E-commerce Landscape 

The retail and e-commerce industry is a highly dynamic and competitive space. Companies within this domain face the continuous challenge of pricing their products right to maximize profitability while staying attractive to their customers. In this context, pricing becomes a critical element of their strategy. Let's delve into some of these challenges: 

Rapidly Changing Market Dynamics: Retail and e-commerce markets are highly volatile, with ever-shifting consumer preferences and market trends. Adapting to these changes in real-time is essential to stay competitive. Without the right tools, businesses risk making pricing decisions that are out of sync with market realities. 

Intense Competition: In retail and e-commerce, competition is fierce. With numerous players offering similar products or services, pricing becomes a key differentiator. Setting prices too high can drive customers away, while pricing too low can erode profit margins. 

Complex Supply Chain and Cost Structures: The retail and e-commerce sector often deals with complex supply chain operations and cost structures. Understanding the true costs associated with a product or service is essential for setting optimal prices. Traditional methods of cost calculation can be time-consuming and error-prone. 

Customer Behaviour and Expectations: Today's consumers are more informed and price-sensitive than ever before. Their buying behaviour can change rapidly in response to various factors, including promotions, discounts, and market trends. Retailers must be agile in responding to these changes. 

Competitor Pricing Strategies: Keeping a constant eye on competitor pricing is crucial. Businesses need to respond promptly to pricing moves made by competitors to remain competitive. Manual tracking and analysis of competitor pricing are arduous and inefficient processes. 

Download the sample report of Market Forecast: B2B Price Optimization and Management Software

B2B Price Optimization and Management Software: A Necessity 

B2B Price Optimization and Management Software is the solution to these challenges. This technology leverages advanced algorithms, data analytics, and real-time market insights to help businesses make data-driven pricing decisions. It empowers retail and e-commerce companies to optimize their prices efficiently while taking into account factors like demand fluctuations, competitor pricing, and customer behaviour.

Talk To Analyst: https://quadrant-solutions.com/talk-to-analyst

[ourjobagency]

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, the cloud has emerged as a transformative technology that empowers businesses with flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. Migrating to the cloud is no longer an option but a necessity to stay competitive. 

[radawaycunt]

Bloodhound

Also on AO3

Pairing: Cooper Howard/The Ghoul x Fem!Reader

Summary: Before meeting the ghoul, you worked as a courier. After striking a mutually beneficial deal with him, you become a bounty hunter, but it’s clear that your dynamic is much more complicated than that.

WC: 2.5k words

Warnings: MINORS DNI THIS FIC IS 18+, pet play (implied), porn with little plot, dom/sub dynamics, mentions of violence, both praise and degradation, light dehumanization, the ghoul calls you ‘mutt’, unprotected p in v (DO NOT), radiated creampie (dw they use radaway after the fic is over lmao), oral (m receiving), aaaand thats all i can think of but lmk if i missed anything!

A/N: Shoutout to @finniestoncrane who posted an amazing fic w/ the same kink that made me feel brave enough to post this dirty lil fic i could not get out of my head these past weeks :D

——————

A loud, high pitched whistle made you pause mid-sentence. You recognized it as a sign that time was almost up, and you better get some answers before he lost his patience altogether.

You sighed, closing your eyes for a moment before looking back at the small shop’s vendor. 

“You said you heard he was going north?” You asked.

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Yes, heard him mention something about one of those mini-marts. You know the kind. There’s two on the way to Shady Sands that might be worth checking.”

You swallowed hard, but hid your discomfort. “And he was gone yesterday morning? Alone?”

“Yeah, as far as I know he arrived alone, too.”

“You weren’t curious enough to ask?”

“Not the kind to ask raiders more questions than I need to.”

You stared at him for a moment, trying to gauge if he was telling the truth or not. He had no reason to be helping raiders, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t have other reasons to lie. 

He cleared his throat and looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. He’d been eyeing the clunky, collar-like tracking device around your neck, unsure of what it meant or who exactly was tracking you. Clearly, he didn’t intend to find out.

“Alright, I’ve told you enough. You better get out of here before anyone else starts asking questions.”

You nodded once, knowing better than to push your luck. You took three caps out of a hidden pouch on your belt and tossed them at him. 

“Thanks,” you said, turning on your heel and making your way back out of the narrow alleyway.

The ghoul was leaning against the wall just out of view, the brim of his hat pulled low. You caught the edge of his grin as you approached, and he pushed off the wall to fall into step next to you.

“Well?” He asked, keeping his voice low and casual.

You relayed the information you’d acquired about the target — a bounty he’d picked up a few days earlier, at another settlement. A raider had wreaked havoc there and killed two in the process, so the families were looking for some justice.

Easy enough to take care of, the ghoul had figured, and all for a decent price. So he’d immediately put you on his trail, as he always did. Much easier for smoothies to be asking questions and actually get some answers — Not everyone tolerated his kind.

You had a few opinions on what to do next, but you kept them to yourself, knowing he wouldn’t want them unless he’d specifically asked. He hummed, the gears in his mind already turning. 

You peered at him sideways, wondering what his strategy would be. He didn’t often let you in on them unless it was necessary, but based on what you’d experienced so far, you at least trusted his cleverness.

“Good girl, that’s real useful,” he said finally, seemingly satisfied with what he was coming up with.

He flicked your chin up with his knuckle in what could almost be called affection, but not quite. You carefully hid the secret pleasure you felt at his praise, averting your gaze. Somehow, even at his meanest, he always managed to make it sound so good — at least in the same way a bruise felt good.

Formerly, in your life as a courier, you’d been severely underestimated many times. Traveling alone, especially, had its disadvantages, but it wasn’t brute strength that had so far kept you alive. You were cunning too, in your own way. 

Always keenly observant of your surroundings, picking up clues that most would miss. You were generally pretty reserved anyway, preferring to stay quiet and listen. It was easy for you to blend in with your surroundings, seemingly harmless, and people often let their guard down around you. Big mistake on their part.

The ghoul had taken notice of you, though. It had been months ago, at some repurposed saloon further up north, where there was a lot of foot traffic. It was really easy to get jobs there, or exchange information, so you often passed through. As it happened, so did he, and he’d kept an eye out after you initially caught his attention.

Once he’d learned just how useful you’d actually be to him, well… he just couldn’t pass up an opportunity like that. He had a certain way with words, exuding charm, knowing very well how to get what he wanted. Despite most people’s apprehension of ghouls, you didn’t really mind them as long as they weren’t feral and trying to bite your face off. 

Clearly, he wasn’t that type. So, you’d made an agreement of sorts with him, splitting the profits sixty-forty for every bounty fulfilled. Easy money, you figured, and some company to boot. More safety in numbers, after all, especially with someone as skilled as him. 

But from the get go, he always made it abundantly clear that he was the one calling the shots. There had been no room for argument on that, though strangely enough, you had felt a certain sense of freedom by submitting to it.

The tracking device he’d clasped around your neck soon after was just a little extra precaution, he had said. You had relatively free rein, but still he didn’t let you stray too far. And if you did, then his lasso would work as a makeshift leash to drag you back. 

Later on, when you’d developed a system of communication without words – especially for greater distances – you realized it’d felt more like training, in a way. Bending you to his will, sometimes with more charm, others with what he called discipline. And soon enough, after nights of growing closeness and a simmering tension, rewards also came into play. 

In the end, it all worked out, and before you knew it, the two of you were running like a well oiled machine. The hunter and his bloodhound. 

You started the trek north, taking advantage of the daylight. You kept your eyes peeled for any distinct tracks or other clues. When you saw an old, rundown shack in the near distance, you glanced back at him and then trotted off as soon as he nodded. 

Once you’d cleared it, you returned to where he was and continued on your way. Three more times, you checked abandoned buildings, but there was nothing of note in any of them. 

The first mini-mart you arrived at turned out to be more useful. The ghoul helped you interrogate a couple of raiders you’d found holing up there. They weren’t very forthcoming at first, but you left the jostling to him, given that it was his specialty. 

Soon enough, he managed to knock a couple of answers out of them, and then you were on your way again. You settled in an abandoned, half-collapsed house for the evening, a fire burning before the sun even finished setting. 

He sat on the other side of it, silently sharpening his machete, lost in thought. You looked off into the middle distance, unbothered by the quiet. It was a welcome reprieve after a long day, when all you wanted to do was unwind.

But that wasn’t to say it was always easy, even if you were on the brink of exhaustion. Sometimes you just needed a little extra help to get you there.

The ghoul noticed the tense set of your shoulders and your restless shifting. He heard the soft sighs you weren’t even aware you were letting out, short and almost impatient. But what could you possibly be waiting for?

His eyes lingered pensively on the tracking device, like a mark of his ownership, before trailing lower, towards your chest. He licked his lips, a few ideas coming to mind. 

“Say… how would you like a little treat for doin’ such a good job today?” He drawled, a roguish grin on his face as one of his hands came to rest heavily on his belt buckle.

Your attention was drawn there, but you quickly looked back up at his face. Instead of giving in to the impulse to nod eagerly, you bit your lip and decided to test the waters just a little bit.

“A treat, hmm?” you said, slightly tilting your head to one side, a sly smile tugging at your lips.

He nodded, adjusting his position lazily, hips bucking. “Oh yes, I’m feelin’ quite generous today, and you’ve earned it.”

This time you couldn’t hide the effect his words had on you, and he chuckled. Truth be told, you’d had this in mind all day, a craving that would not go away until you had him. It was why you’d gone the extra mile, knowing it wouldn’t escape his notice. He’d gotten real good at reading your moods, after all.

“Come sit pretty for me over here, why don’t’cha?” He said and tapped his foot on the ground, spurs jingling softly. 

You made your way over to him and knelt at his feet. He bent forward, looming over you, and grasped your chin with a gloved hand. 

“Well, ain’t you just the most obedient little thing? I’ve got you well trained, don’t I?” he said, his eyes roaming over your face. “Go on now, get your treat.”

He let go of your face and leaned back, adjusting his hips to bring them closer to you. Your fingers shook only slightly as you deftly undid his belt, then bent your head to undo the zipper with your teeth. There was a low sound of approval in his throat as you tugged his pants down, along with his underwear.

Your mouth watered at the sight of his hardening cock, the head of it lazily resting against his lower abdomen. You were about to curl your fingers around the shaft, but he shook his head.

“No hands,” he said, clicking his tongue. “You don’t need to use your hands anymore.”

You nodded, sticking out your tongue as your head dipped once more. You licked a long, languid stripe up the length of it, making it twitch in response. He sighed a rough good girl as his legs widened to adjust his position, a gloved hand resting on your head. 

Your lips wrapped around the tip, teasing it with little flicks of your tongue. He grunted, his hips jutting upwards. Your mouth was warm and wet and inviting as his cock slid inside it with ease. His head tipped back in ecstasy for a moment before he looked back down to watch you take it deeper into your throat. 

“Fuckin’ hell,” he said, his voice thick with lust. “I must’ve been real lucky to find such a good lil cocksucker like you.”

You moaned around him, shifting your knees as you felt yourself growing wetter. Your head bobbed up and down at an almost hypnotic pace, hands straining at your sides to keep yourself from using them.

When you reached the base, his cock fully sheathed in your throat, he kept your head down for a moment. You fought the urge to gag, breathing slowly through your nose. 

Then he let you come up for air, the lower half of your face a slobbery mess as you panted. Your eyes were glazed over with desire as you looked up at him, and his cock twitched. 

“Such a pretty mutt, aren’t’cha? I bet you’re all soaked and ready for me,” he rasped, holding your gaze as your tongue lavished his balls with some attention. 

He sucked in a breath through his teeth, feeling himself start to near the edge. But he didn’t want to get there quite yet, and he didn’t want it to be in your mouth this time.

Still, he allowed himself a moment longer, his hand pushing your head to press your face against his cock, hips rocking slightly. Your tongue was still out, trying to catch whatever skin it could, and he let out a deep groan.

“Alright, don’t get too excited now. Turn around and let me take a look.”

You did as told, hastily pulling your pants and underwear down to your knees and presenting yourself for him. You watched him tug his gloves off over your shoulder, appraising you with hungry eyes, and then he knelt behind you.

“My, oh my…” he said as some of your arousal dripped onto the ground. “Just as I thought… Let’s see if she’s ready for me.”

You felt the head of his cock prodding at your entrance, slowly pushing inside. Eagerly, you pushed your hips back to take more of him, but he stopped you by grabbing your hips.

“Easy, easy,” he chuckled. “You want me to fuck you that bad, huh?”

You nodded, whimpering a little as he thrusted shallowly, stretching you further to accommodate him.  

“Please,” you breathed, your voice broken by desperation, and he pushed your head to the ground.

“It’s cute when you whine like a bitch in heat,” he cooed, fingers digging into the flesh of your hips. “Now stay there and take it like the good girl I know y’are.”

Once he was able to fully slide in and out of you with little pushback, his thrusts gradually got faster. You moaned with each rough snap of his hips, deliriously chanting fuck, fuck, fuck under your breath.

He felt impossibly deep at that angle, practically driving you into the ground. One of his hands cracked down on your ass, making you flinch from surprise, your cunt squeezing him hard.

He growled at that, fucking you harder while tugging your hips backwards to meet his thrusts. He was repeatedly hitting a sensitive spot that had your vision going white, eclipsing everything else.

“God damn, this pussy’s so good to me,” he groaned, smacking your ass once more. “You enjoyin’ your treat? Huh?”

“Yes,” you gasped, legs kicking slightly at the intensity, eyes rolling to the back of your head. “I-I’m gonna… Can I cum? Please?”

He was pleased that you’d still thought to ask, but he was too keen on pleasing you at that moment to deny you. “Go on, I’ve got you. Come all over my cock.”

The orgasm rocked throughout your body, every one of your muscles taut as you unraveled. His name spilling from your lips as a whimper, something to cling onto. The way your cunt greedily, and oh so sweetly, squeezed his cock then had him right behind you. 

A rough, feral sound escaped him as his hips snapped against you one last time, spilling hotly inside of you. Your walls continued to flutter in the aftermath, milking out his own pleasure. 

After, he pulled out to get a look at the mess he’d made of you. Hummed with self satisfaction as he saw his spend trickling out of you, like another mark of his ownership.

Your head swam as if you were drunk, but still you smiled at him over your shoulder beatifically. Mischief danced in your eyes, but he’d already known it had been your plan to end up there all along.

“Always so eager to please.” He returned the grin slyly. “Maybe I ought to give you treats more often, if you keep it up.”

Perhaps it hadn’t been his intention, but you took those words as a challenge all the same. 

--------

[rottenpumpkin13]

The fabulous firsts and co visit a local farmers market

Sephiroth: He's living his best life, faced with naturally grown produce for the first time and turns into a fascinated child. He spends a good thirty minutes mesmerized by bell peppers with the intensity usually reserved for military strategies, methodically collecting one of every color. "These pigments are completely natural?" he asks, breathless. The vendor nods. Sephiroth buys one of every color. Then two. Then a crate.

He halts at a flower stand, transfixed by a sunflower that moves, tracks his movement and makes him feel safe. Later he spots an old lady hauling groceries with one of those plaid-wheeled trolleys, he stares for a long moment, then buys the exact same one. He happily drags it behind him, off to procure a pumpkin to make soup.

Angeal: He's transformed into everyone's favorite market grandson. He bounces from stall to stall, earnestly discussing crop rotation with elderly vendors, helping them rearrange their displays, and somehow ending up with everyone's family recipes. He's accumulated enough produce to feed a small army, lecturing anyone within earshot about supporting local businesses and the honor in homegrown vegetables. "Mrs. Chen, your tomatoes are absolutely spectacular this year! Oh, and is that organic fertilizer you're using?" *proceeds to have a 20-minute conversation about soil pH levels*

Cloud: Wanders off immediately. Reappears twenty minutes later swaddled in a comically chunky, deep-purple wool scarf that covers half his face and most of his dignity. It's 87 degrees. He explained that he fixated on a stall where an old woman from the western continent was selling handmade wool items. He purchased the thick purple scarf in a moment of hometown nostalgia, and now he's a walking sauna for the rest of the day.

Genesis: Absolutely thriving. Stalks through the market delivering scathing critiques of vegetable quality. He discusses heirloom tomato strains effortlessly, critiques carrot curvature, and nearly starts a duel with a vendor over the proper pH balance for rhubarb. "This basil is young," he declares, sniffing a bunch with disdain. "It's green, yes, but not mature. Much like half the poets of this age." He throws open a crate of plums from a shady vendor like a cop. "These are not from Mideel. I'd stake my entire SOLDIER pension on it." A small crowd gathers as he dramatically lectures a man selling zucchini. "Have you ever pollinated by hand? No? Then don't talk to me about flavor profiles." He buys a single apple, bites into it, closes his eyes, and sighs like he's just tasted the memory of his first heartbreak.

Kunsel: Moonlights as the market's own intelligence network. Somehow knows everyone's life story and is seen trading gossip like currency. By the end of the day, he acquires three new conspiracy theories and five secret recipes. "Did you know the lady at stall 3 used to be a Shinra secretary? She's got dirt on Palmer you wouldn't believe... Oh, and that guy selling honey? Ex-Avalanche, but the cool kind." He moves through the market acquiring skewers and eavesdropping on local gossip at every booth. "Got us half-off jerky," he announces proudly to Angeal. "Also there's a guy over there selling materia out of a sock."

Zack: At some point, Zack vanishes for seven minutes. When he returns, he's carrying a watermelon the size of a second-grader. He's managed to find the biggest watermelon in the slums and is parading it around like he's just discovered a new species of materia. "Guys, GUYS! This is like, at least fifty regular watermelons in one! Think of all the juice! Think of the SEEDS we could plant!"

Angeal, watching his student swing around this massive fruit like it's a soccer ball, keeps trying to intervene with increasingly desperate warnings. "Zack, that's not— no, don't flip it! Stop trying to— it's not a sword, you can't practice your forms with— ZACK FAIR PUT THAT WATERMELON DOWN THIS INSTANT!"

But it's too late. In what can only be described as slow-motion horror, Zack attempts his signature squats while holding the watermelon. The inevitable happens: the fruit slips from his grip, hits the ground with a spectacular SPLAT, and creates what local vendors would later describe as "The Great Watermelon Massacre of Sector 5."

Pink juice floods the marketplace like a sugary tsunami. Zack stands in the middle of the carnage, surrounded by watermelon chunks, looking like he just witnessed the death of his firstborn. He drops to his knees dramatically in the puddle, raises his fists to the sector plate above, and lets out a dramatic "WHYYYYYY????"

[mostlysignssomeportents]

The paradox of choice screens

I'm coming to BURNING MAN! On TUESDAY (Aug 27) at 1PM, I'm giving a talk called "DISENSHITTIFY OR DIE!" at PALENQUE NORTE (7&E). On WEDNESDAY (Aug 28) at NOON, I'm doing a "Talking Caterpillar" Q&A at LIMINAL LABS (830&C).

It's official: the DOJ has won its case, and Google is a convicted monopolist. Over the next six months, we're gonna move into the "remedy" phase, where we figure out what the court is going to order Google to do to address its illegal monopoly power:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/08/07/revealed-preferences/#extinguish-v-improve

That's just the beginning, of course. Even if the court orders some big, muscular remedies, we can expect Google to appeal (they've already said they would) and that could drag out the case for years. But that can be a feature, not a bug: a years-long appeal will see Google on its very best behavior, with massive, attendant culture changes inside the company. A Google that's fighting for its life in the appeals court isn't going to be the kind of company that promotes a guy whose strategy for increasing revenue is to make Google Search deliberately worse, so that you will have to do more searches (and see more ads) to get the info you're seeking:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/24/naming-names/#prabhakar-raghavan

It's hard to overstate how much good stuff can emerge from a company that's mired itself in antitrust hell with extended appeals. In 1982, IBM wriggled off the antitrust hook after a 12-year fight that completely transformed the company's approach to business. After more than a decade of being micromanaged by lawyers who wanted to be sure that the company didn't screw up its appeal and anger antitrust enforcers, IBM's executives were totally transformed. When the company made its first PC, it decided to use commodity components (meaning anyone could build a similar PC by buying the same parts), and to buy its OS from an outside vendor called Micros-Soft (meaning competing PCs could use the same OS), and it turned a blind eye to the company that cloned the PC ROM, enabling companies like Dell, Compaq and Gateway to enter the market with "PC clones" that cost less and did more than the official IBM PC:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/08/ibm-pc-compatible-how-adversarial-interoperability-saved-pcs-monopolization

The big question, of course, is whether the court will order Google to break up, say, by selling off Android, its ad-tech stack, and Chrome. That's a question I'll address on another day. For today, I want to think about how to de-monopolize browsers, the key portal to the internet. The world has two extremely dominant browsers, Safari and Chrome, and each of them are owned by an operating system vendor that pre-installs their own browser on their devices and pre-selects them as the default.

Defaults matter. That's a huge part of Judge Mehta's finding in the Google case, where the court saw evidence from Google's own internal research suggesting that people rarely change defaults, meaning that whatever the gadget does out of the box it will likely do forever. This puts a lie to Google's longstanding defense of its monopoly power: "choice is just a click away." Sure, it's just a click away – a click, you're pretty sure no one is ever going to make.

This means that any remedy to Google's browser dominance is going to involve a lot of wrangling about defaults. That's not a new wrangle, either. For many years, regulators and tech companies have tinkered with "choice screens" that were nominally designed to encourage users to try out different browsers and brake the inertia of the big two browsers that came bundled with OSes.

These choice screens have a mixed record. Google's 2019 Android setup choice screen for the European Mobile Application Distribution Agreement somehow managed to result in the vast majority of users sticking with Chrome. Microsoft had a similar experience in 2010 with BrowserChoice.eu, its response to the EU's 2000s-era antitrust action:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BrowserChoice.eu

Does this mean that choice screens don't work? Maybe. The idea of choice screens comes to us from the "choice architecture" world of "nudging," a technocratic pseudoscience that grew to prominence by offering the promise that regulators could make big changes without having to do any real regulating:

https://verfassungsblog.de/nudging-after-the-replication-crisis/

Nudge research is mired in the "replication crisis" (where foundational research findings turn out to be nonreplicable, due to bad research methodology, sloppy analysis, etc) and nudge researchers keep getting caught committing academic fraud:

https://www.ft.com/content/846cc7a5-12ee-4a44-830e-11ad00f224f9

When the first nudgers were caught committing fraud, more than a decade ago, they were assumed to be outliers in an otherwise honest and exciting field:

https://www.npr.org/2016/10/01/496093672/power-poses-co-author-i-do-not-believe-the-effects-are-real

Today, it's hard to find much to salvage from the field. To the extent the field is taken seriously today, it's often due to its critics repeating the claims of its boosters, a process Lee Vinsel calls "criti-hype":

https://sts-news.medium.com/youre-doing-it-wrong-notes-on-criticism-and-technology-hype-18b08b4307e5

For example, the term "dark patterns" lumps together really sneaky tactics with blunt acts of fraud. When you click an "opt out of cookies" button and get a screen that says "Success!" but which has a tiny little "confirm" button on it that you have to click to actually opt out, that's not a "dark pattern," it's just a scam:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/03/27/beware-of-the-leopard/#relentless

By ascribing widespread negative effects to subtle psychological manipulation ("dark patterns") rather than obvious and blatant fraud, we inadvertently elevate "nudging" to a real science, rather than a cult led by scammy fake scientists.

All this raises some empirical questions about choice screens: do they work (in the sense of getting people to break away from defaults), and if so, what's the best way to make them work?

This is an area with a pretty good literature, as it turns out, thanks in part due to some natural experiments, like when Russia forced Google to offer choice screens for Android in 2017, but didn't let Google design that screen. The Russian policy produced a significant switch away from Google's own apps to Russian versions, primarily made by Yandex:

https://cepr.org/publications/dp17779

In 2023, Mozilla Research published a detailed study in which 12,000 people from Germany, Spain and Poland set up simulated mobile and desktop devices with different kinds of choice screens, a project spurred on by the EU's Digital Markets Act, which is going to mandate choice screens starting this year:

https://research.mozilla.org/browser-competition/choicescreen/

I'm spending this week reviewing choice screen literature, and I've just read the Mozilla paper, which I found very interesting, albeit limited. The biggest limitation is that the researchers are getting users to simulate setting up a new device and then asking them how satisfied they are with the experience. That's certainly a question worth researching, but a far more important question is "How do users feel about the setup choices they made later, after living with them on the devices they use every day?" Unfortunately, that's a much more expensive and difficult question to answer, and beyond the scope of this paper.

With that limitation in mind, I'm going to break down the paper's findings here and draw some conclusions about what we should be looking for in any kind of choice screen remedy that comes out of the DOJ antitrust victory over Google.

The first thing note is that people report liking choice screens. When users get to choose their browsers, they expect to be happy with that choice; by contrast, users are skeptical that they'll like the default browser the vendor chose for them. Users don't consider choice screens to be burdensome, and adding a choice screen doesn't appreciably increase setup time.

There are some nuances to this. Users like choice screens during device setup but they don't like choice screens that pop up the first time they use a browser. That makes total sense: "choosing a browser" is colorably part of the "setting up your gadget" task. By contrast, the first time you open a browser on a new device, it's probably to get something else done (e.g. look up how to install a piece of software you used on your old device) and being interrupted with a choice screen at that moment is an unwelcome interruption. This is the psychology behind those obnoxious cookie-consent pop-ups that website bombard you with when you first visit them: you've clicked to that website because you need something it has, and being stuck with a privacy opt-out screen at that moment is predictably frustrating (which is why companies do it, and also why the DMA is going to punish companies that do).

The researchers experimented with different kinds of choice screens, varying the number of browsers on offer and the amount of information given on each. Again, users report that they prefer more choices and more information, and indeed, more choice and more info is correlated with choosing indie, non-default browsers, but this effect size is small (<10%), and no matter what kind of choice screen users get, most of them come away from the experience without absorbing any knowledge about indie browsers.

The order in which browsers are presented has a much larger effect than how many browsers or how much detail is present. People say they want lots of choices, but they usually choose one of the first four options. That said, users who get choice screens say it changes which browser they'd choose as a default.

Some of these contradictions appear to stem from users' fuzziness on what "default browser" means. For an OS vendor, "default browser" is the browser that pops up when you click a link in an email or social media. For most users, "default browser" means "the browser pinned to my home screen."

Where does all this leave us? I think it cashes out to this: choice screens will probably make a appreciable, but not massive, difference in browser dominance. They're cheap to implement, have no major downsides, and are easy to monitor. Choice screens might be needed to address Chrome's dominance even if the court orders Google to break off Chrome and stand it up as a separate business (we don't want any browser monopolies, even if they're not owned by a search monopolist!). So yeah, we should probably make a lot of noise to the effect that the court should order a choice screen, as part of a remedy.

That choice screen should be presented during device setup, with the choices presented in random order – with this caveat: Chrome should never appear in the top four choices.

All of that would help address the browser duopoly, even if it doesn't solve it. I would love to see more market-share for Firefox, which is the browser I've used every day for more than a decade, on my laptop and my phone. Of course, Mozilla has a role to play here. The company says it's going to refocus on browser quality, at the expense of the various side-hustles it's tried, which have ranged from uninteresting to catastrophically flawed:

https://www.fastcompany.com/91167564/mozilla-wants-you-to-love-firefox-again

For example, there was the tool to automatically remove your information from scummy data brokers, that they outsourced to a scummy data-broker:

https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/22/24109116/mozilla-ends-onerep-data-removal-partnership

And there's the "Privacy Preserving Attribution" tracking system that helps advertisers target you with surveillance advertising (in a way that's less invasive than existing techniques). Mozilla rolled this into Firefox on an opt out basis, and made opting out absurdly complicated, suggesting that it knew that it was imposing something on its users that they wouldn't freely choose:

https://blog.privacyguides.org/2024/07/14/mozilla-disappoints-us-yet-again-2/

They've been committing these kinds of unforced errors for more than a decade, seeking some kind of balance between monopolistic web companies and its users' desire to have a browser that protects them from invasive and unfair practices:

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/may/14/firefox-closed-source-drm-video-browser-cory-doctorow

These compromises represent the fallacy that Mozilla's future depends on keeping bullying entertainment companies and Big Tech happy, so it can go on serving its users. At the same time, these compromises have alienated Mozilla's core users, the technical people who were its fiercest evangelists. Those core users are the authority on technical questions for the normies in their life, and they know exactly how cursed it is for Moz to be making these awful compromises.

Moz has hemorrhaged users over the past decade, meaning they have even less leverage over the corporations demanding that they make more compromises. This sets up a doom loop: make a bad compromise, lose users, become more vulnerable to demands for even worse compromises. "This capitulation puts us in a great position to make a stand in some hypothetical future where we don't instantly capitulate again" is a pretty unconvincing proposition.

After the past decade's heartbreaks, seeing Moz under new leadership makes me cautiously hopeful. Like I say, I am dependent on Firefox and want an independent, principled browser vendor that sees their role as producing a "user agent" that is faithful to its users' interests above all else:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/05/07/treacherous-computing/#rewilding-the-internet

Of course, Moz depends on Google's payment for default search placement for 90% of its revenue. If Google can't pay for this in the future, the org is going to have to find another source of revenue. Perhaps that will be the EU, or foundations, or users. In any of these cases, the org will find it much easier to raise funds if it is standing up for its users – not compromising on their interests.

Community voting for SXSW is live! If you wanna hear RIDA QADRI and me talk about how GIG WORKERS can DISENSHITTIFY their jobs with INTEROPERABILITY, VOTE FOR THIS ONE!

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/08/12/defaults-matter/#make-up-your-mind-already

Image: ICMA Photos (modified) https://www.flickr.com/photos/icma/3635981474/

CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

[sylaurin]

Iskra eir Baelsar: lore dump

Alright, since people are getting interested in her, lets start with some back story. (apologies as this gets a bit long)

@primamchorus @zylphiacrowley @dragonsongmakhali @kanehon since you all expressed interest.

Iskra was a simple farm girl from a remote area between Dalmasca and the Skatay range. Living a fairly pleasant life learning to live off the land and was a natural hunter, learning some things from the Viera who would travel down from the mountains.

When the Garlean Empire started their second attempt to get to Nagxia and pushing into Dalmasca, a small unit of Garleans that had gotten lost came across the farm Iskra's family lived on. They had no idea who these soldiers were as news of the conflict starting with Dalmasca hadn't reached very far yet, so they provided food and shelter for these lost people until their main host could recover them.

Dalmascan scouts witness the farmers giving shelter to their enemy and marked them as collaborators. While Iskra was out on a hunt, the scouting party attacked and razed the farmstead. Seeing the smoke from the burning fields, Iskra rushed home just in time to see her parents cut down trying to defend their home. Something insider her broke. Rather than be consumed by her emotions they were instead shut off. With cold efficiency, she hunted and slaughtered every Dalmsacan that attacked her home. Only then did she allow herself to grieve.

Drawn by the fires, a Garlean patrol craft lands and investigates finding the young woman sitting on what remained of the stoop of her house with a pile of Dalmascan corpses piled up nearby. While telling them of the events that transpired she learns of the building war with Dalmasca. Iskra asks to join them to enact vengeance on the nation that killed her family.

While serving as a conscript, Iskra quickly found her calling when placed on an intelligence mission. The results of which caught the eye of a visiting legatus, Gaius van Baelsar, who has Iskra transferred to the XIV legion. With even more successful missions under he belt, Gaius devises a strategy not only get Iskra a shot at the Frumentarium Academy but a push to the head of the line. Gaius formally adopts Iskra as his daughter. With fully citizenship and the personal recommendation of a renown legatus, Iskra is accepted and heads to the academy in Garlemald.

Academy life is difficult as she finds her self often held to different standards than her pure-blood Garlean counterparts as well as political meddling from those that think she doesn't belong. Despite this she still managed to graduate at the head of her class, however she gets assigned as a data analyst operating from the consulate in Kugane. Politics.

While in Kugane, the consulate found itself with a leek. Iskra managed to track the leak to a food stall vendor in the nearby markets. This vendor was actually a Doman Shinobi attempting to get the Garleans removed from Hingashi. She befriended the man, never letting slip she was on to him and once he let his guard down she slit his throat. The brass, being thoroughly impressed, finally make her a field operative (which I've talked a little about before in [this] post). Finding herself back in Dalmasca as part of a new counter insurgency unit weeding out the more dug in resistance fighters. It's here that she first meets a Turali man named Thiago who is attached to another unit. They only cross paths a couple times but she finds him obnoxious.

Before her tour is complete, she gets pulled from the field by Gaius and is placed on a new long term deep cover assignment to infiltrate Ala Mhigo and prepare it for invasion...

If you managed to get through all this, thank you for reading my cobbled together backstory of Kabniel's mother.

[simplifyworkforce]

The Future of Workforce Management: Contingent Staffing, Vendor Management Solutions, and Direct Hire Strategies

In today’s dynamic job market, businesses need adaptable workforce solutions to stay competitive. Three key strategies—contingent workforce staffing, vendor management solutions, and direct hiring—are transforming how organizations acquire and manage talent. This blog explores each approach and how businesses can leverage them for operational efficiency and long-term success.

Contingent Workforce Staffing: The Power of Flexibility

Contingent workforce staffing refers to hiring temporary, contract, and freelance workers to meet business needs without long-term commitments. This model allows organizations to scale their workforce up or down based on demand, ensuring agility and cost efficiency.

Key Benefits of Contingent Staffing:

Cost Savings – Reduces expenses on benefits, training, and full-time salaries.

Scalability – Quickly adjust workforce size to meet project demands.

Access to Specialized Talent – Bring in niche skills for short-term projects.

Faster Hiring – Minimized hiring time compared to traditional recruitment.

Best Practices for Managing a Contingent Workforce:

Implement Workforce Tracking Tools – Use technology to monitor productivity and contract timelines.

Ensure Compliance – Adhere to labor laws and tax regulations.

Build a Strong Talent Pool – Maintain a database of pre-vetted contingent workers for future roles.

Vendor Management Solutions: Streamlining Workforce Procurement

A Vendor Management Solution (VMS) is a software platform that automates and optimizes interactions with staffing agencies, freelancers, and service providers. It enhances visibility, compliance, and cost control in workforce procurement.

Key Features of a VMS:

Centralized Vendor Database – Organizes all staffing agencies and suppliers.

Automated Invoicing & Payments – Streamlines financial transactions.

Performance Analytics – Tracks vendor efficiency and contract fulfillment.

Compliance Management – Ensures adherence to labor laws and company policies.

Why Businesses Need a VMS:

Reduces manual workload and administrative costs.

Improves transparency in hiring and contract management.

Enhances vendor relationships through structured collaboration.

Provides data-driven insights for better decision-making.

Direct Hire: A Strategic Approach to Permanent Staffing

Unlike contingent staffing, direct hiring focuses on recruiting full-time employees who will become integral parts of an organization’s workforce. This strategy is ideal for roles that require long-term stability, company culture alignment, and skill development.

Advantages of Direct Hiring:

Higher Retention Rates – Employees hired directly tend to stay longer.

Stronger Employer Branding – Attracts top talent through a compelling company reputation.

Cultural Fit – Ensures candidates align with company values and long-term goals.

Reduced Hiring Costs – Minimizes expenses related to high turnover and contract renewals.

Best Practices for Direct Hiring Success:

Leverage AI-Powered Recruitment Tools – Enhance candidate screening and job matching.

Create a Strong Employer Brand – Highlight company culture, values, and growth opportunities.

Optimize the Onboarding Process – Ensure smooth transitions for new hires to boost retention.

Conclusion

Businesses must embrace a multi-faceted approach to talent acquisition, integrating contingent workforce staffing, vendor management solutions, and direct hiring to stay competitive. By leveraging flexible staffing, automated vendor management, and strategic full-time recruitment, organizations can optimize workforce planning, improve efficiency, and secure top talent for sustained growth.

Investing in the right workforce strategies today will ensure long-term business success in an evolving job market.

Useful Blogs:

Top 50 Leadership Interview Questions to Ask Candidates

Top 25 Strategic Interview Questions to Ask Candidates

Top 20 Personality Interview Questions to Ask Your Interviewee

[Guide]: Impact of AI on Vendor Management Technology

[shiorihyugawrites]

Diamond Of The First Water

In the aftermath of war, Paradis finds itself in need of powerful alliances. When Emperor Armand of Valoria offers his military aid in exchange for the hand of his daughter, Princess Solina, in marriage, Captain Levi Ackerman is thrust into an engagement that begins as a political strategy but soon becomes something much deeper.

Princess Solina, sheltered from the world and unaware of the realities of love and war, finds herself drawn to Levi—the man known as Humanity’s Strongest Soldier. As they navigate royal customs, public expectations, and the growing threat of Marley, the bond between them deepens into a genuine connection.

But neither Solina nor Levi are prepared for the challenges of a political marriage, the weight of intimacy, and the secrets that lie beneath the surface. As Solina enters a new life with Levi, her naivety is tested, and Levi faces a battle unlike any he’s fought before—the fight to protect his heart.

Can their love flourish in the midst of war, duty, and danger? Or will the forces conspiring against them tear them apart before they can find peace? (Levi x OC)

Chapter Fifty Five

Three weeks had passed since the emperor’s announcement that he would step down and name Solomon as his successor. Three weeks of constant preparation, frenzied discussions, and a mix of excitement and nerves coursing through everyone in the palace and beyond. Now, the day of Solomon’s coronation had finally arrived, and the entire capital of Valoria was abuzz with a kind of celebratory anticipation that bordered on euphoria.

From the early hours of dawn, the streets had begun to fill with citizens. Some traveled from far-flung corners of the empire, while others were local families who had simply risen earlier than usual to secure the best views along the main thoroughfares. Lush banners of Valoria’s symbolic colors were draped over balconies, lampposts, and archways. The imperial crest gleamed in the sunlight on flags that snapped crisply in the morning breeze. Flowers in bloom and laurel wreaths adorned storefronts and doorways, with vendors offering traditional coronation pastries and sweet confections shaped like roses or tiny crowns.

At the heart of it all stood the imperial palace, its marble walls and gilded towers shimmering in the bright sunlight. Today, that sunlight felt more radiant than ever. The palace courtyards were filled with carefully arranged floral arches, and the private gardens beyond were teeming with exotic blooms that had been specially imported for the occasion. Teams of palace attendants raced around in coordinated fashion, ensuring that every detail was perfect.

Inside one of the grand palace wings, a private suite had been prepared for Solomon’s coronation preparations. Though he had grown up in the palace, living in the Rose House within the gardens, his official suite now was a regal space that felt both alien and strangely familiar. The walls were lined with tapestries illustrating legendary Valorian coronations of the past, and the air was scented with sandalwood incense intended to calm the mind. Sitting before a large mirror, Solomon hardly recognized himself. His usually calm features were creased with both excitement and a faint measure of anxiety. Dressed in the symbolic robe of an heir about to take the throne, he wore a deep crimson cloak trimmed with soft white fur, a gilded filigree clasp at the shoulder glinting with each movement. His hair had been styled more elaborately than he preferred, and he tried not to move too much while a final attendant fussed over the collars and folds of his attire.

“You look like a real emperor,” said Mikasa softly from the doorway, breaking the silence. She had managed to slip away from the hustle in the corridors outside to check on him. Her dark hair was smoothed back in its usual style, but she wore a special Valorian sash that Solina had gifted her, embroidered with small roses. She lingered near the entrance, a quiet figure of unwavering support.

Solomon’s heart fluttered at the sight of her, though he did his best to appear composed. “I’m still not used to it,” he confessed, turning slightly so he could meet her gaze in the mirror’s reflection. “All of this… I grew up knowing that one day it might happen, but it’s so surreal now.”

Mikasa stepped further into the room, each footstep light on the polished floor. She rested a hand on his shoulder. “It’s normal to be nervous, but you’ve got this. Everyone believes in you. And I…”

She trailed off, hesitant to finish her thought. A faint blush colored her cheeks. “And I’m proud of you,” she managed, looking away briefly.

Solomon’s lips curved into a small, genuine smile. “Thank you, Mikasa. That means more to me than you know.” He wished he could say more, but a swirl of emotion and a sense of duty bound his tongue. Instead, he gently squeezed her hand.

A knock came at the door, followed by an attendant’s voice calling out that it was almost time for Solomon to join the emperor for the formal procession. Mikasa nodded at Solomon, stepped away, and quietly left to rejoin the rest of the scouts. Alone again, Solomon took a moment to breathe deeply, then exhaled. This was it: the day everything would change, not just for him, but for the entire empire—and for the alliances bridging Valoria and Paradis.

Across the palace, in another wing, Solina was surrounded by ladies-in-waiting and a few of the palace staff, but she barely noticed them as they helped her into a gown befitting her station. Officially reinstated as a princess of Valoria, she wore a delicate garment woven of shimmering rose-gold fabric, embellished with subtle embroidered roses across the bodice and sleeves. Around her waist was a narrow sash proclaiming her status, and her hair was styled in an elegant arrangement that showed off her curls, pinned just enough to keep them from falling into her face. A small tiara, the sign of her reinstated royal rank, rested gently on her head.

Solina’s stomach churned with anticipation. She was used to grand events, yet this was different. This was her beloved brother’s coronation, and it marked a significant turning point for their entire family. She was also pregnant, which meant a swirl of hormones and emotions that sometimes overwhelmed her. But despite the emotional whirlwind, or maybe because of it, she felt a fierce pride. Solomon had stepped away from the throne once, sacrificing everything for his principles, only to have it returned to him now by the emperor’s own admission of error. It was a remarkable testament to her brother’s character, and Solina couldn’t be happier for him.

Once she was dressed, she turned to the ladies-in-waiting with a polite smile. “Thank you,” she murmured. “I’ll manage from here.” They bowed and left her alone in the suite, at which point Levi stepped inside. He had waited patiently outside, wearing his uniform that merged the styles of Paradis and Valoria—sharp lines and subtle embroideries. Over the past three weeks, he had grown more comfortable with the Valorian fineries, though he still felt more at home in his casual scouting attire. Right now, though, he looked regal, dark hair neatly combed, the faint lines of worry smoothed away by relief that at least the empire’s crisis had been averted.

When Levi’s eyes landed on Solina, they softened. “You look…” He paused, searching for words. “Beautiful,” he finally said, a gentle understatement. His hand found her waist, pulling her close enough to rest his forehead against hers. “How are you feeling?”

Solina laughed softly, pressing a hand over her belly. It was not yet very large, but the gentle curve there reminded her constantly of the life growing within. “Nervous, excited, emotional. All of it, I guess.”

Levi understood. He had seen her endure a whirlwind of events—political betrayals, alliances, abdications. Now she was back home, with her title restored and a child on the way. “Come on,” he said quietly, lacing his fingers through hers. “We should head to the grand hall soon. We don’t want to be late for your brother’s big moment.”

She nodded, letting out a slow breath to steel herself. “Yes. Let’s go.”

Meanwhile, in another corridor, the emperor—soon to be the former emperor—was finishing his own preparations. He wore a more subdued robe than usual, symbolic of his transition away from absolute power. Lady Solana stood near him, clad in stately garments marking her as the soon-to-be Empress Dowager. Despite the tensions of the past months, they had found some measure of peace. Armand, the emperor, cast a sidelong glance at his beloved Rose consort, exhaling quietly.

“Are you ready for this?” he asked, his voice tinted with lingering regret. “After today, everything changes.”

Lady Solana gave a curt nod, her emerald eyes betraying both relief and a hint of sadness. “I am. More ready than I expected to be.” She paused, swallowing the rest of the sentence that threatened to escape. She wanted to say that she had once dreamed of this day unfolding differently, with no rifts in their family, with no heartbreak. But the reality was that they had come dangerously close to war and lost precious time with their children. That memory could not be undone, but at least they had ended up on the path of reconciliation.

Not far away, the rest of the imperial family—and the guests from Paradis—were gathering in the Hall of Roses. This grand space, used for the most formal of ceremonies, lived up to its name. Massive stone arches, carved with motifs of roses and vines, soared overhead, while stained glass panels filtered the sunlight into a kaleidoscope of soft blues, pinks, and golds. The floor was polished marble, laid out in a mosaic forming a colossal rose at the center, where Solomon would stand to be crowned. Rows of seats were arranged for nobles, foreign dignitaries, and close relatives, each seat draped with a velvet covering embroidered with the crest of the monarchy.

Eren, Mikasa, Armin, Jean, Connie, Sasha, and Hange filed in together, eyes wide at the splendor. Hange, irrepressibly curious, tilted her head back to study the arches, whispering excitedly about the architectural intricacies. Connie and Sasha gawked at the ornate designs, while Mikasa moved with quiet poise, occasionally glancing toward where Solomon was expected to appear. Eren looked stoic, but his green eyes flickered with subdued awe. He had never imagined he would witness a coronation in a foreign land—especially not one involving people who had become close friends.

Solina, Soleil, Solander, Solenne, James, Gale, Ivoria, Opal, Andrew, Gracelyn, Ruby, and Dimaria were seated in a place of prominence, as they were all children of the soon-to-be-retired emperor. Dimaria, wearing an elegant gown in pastel green, was attempting to calm her nerves. She was relieved to see the entire family come together peacefully, though she still felt a pang of anxiety over her mother’s reaction during the disastrous dinner weeks ago. Next to her sat Elliot, in a formal but understated outfit befitting the man he was—a humble stable master. He had, at least, left his cowboy hat in the corridor after some coaxing from Princess Alice. He looked around with quiet respect, occasionally glancing at Dimaria with a gentle smile. He had officially received Armand’s blessing to propose, after an intense private conversation. Though the emperor had been initially hesitant, he had recognized Elliot’s sincere devotion to his daughter. The union was not yet announced publicly, but it was understood that the two were in a courtship with the emperor’s reluctant yet genuine approval.

Lady Darcy was seated stiffly, forcibly reminded of her diminished position. She wore a stony expression, hands clenched in her lap. Her gaze flicked angrily around the hall, but no one paid her bitterness much heed. Lady Blair and Lady Madeline sat near her, exchanging mild, polite conversation, but it was Lady Solana’s place—soon to be Empress Dowager—that was most prominent among the consorts. She carried herself with quiet dignity, her gaze occasionally drifting toward Darcy with something between pity and weary understanding.

At last, the hall’s massive doors swung open. A hush fell over the crowd, and the rose mosaic on the floor glowed under the shaft of light from the open doors. In stepped the emperor, Armand, accompanied by two heralds. He walked slowly, each footstep echoing like a drumbeat of finality. The crowd bowed their heads out of respect, though many were tense with curiosity—this was not a usual ceremony, after all.

Armand took his place at one edge of the mosaic, turning to face the entrance. Moments later, Solomon appeared, flanked by a pair of attendants. The entire hall seemed to hold its breath. Solomon advanced toward the center of the rose mosaic, his robes trailing behind him in a regal sweep. He kept his chin up, a steadiness in his gaze that betrayed only the faintest hint of nerves. When he reached the center, he bowed deeply to the emperor, who inclined his head in return.

“People of Valoria,” a herald proclaimed, voice carrying throughout the hall, “we gather here to bear witness to the coronation of the new Emperor of Valoria—Solomon, of the Rose House.”

A ripple of excitement spread through the crowd, but they maintained respectful silence as the herald read out the official decree: Armand’s abdication, the formal bequeathing of the empire’s throne to Solomon, and the recognition of the new emperor’s rights and responsibilities. Once the herald finished, Armand stepped forward, carrying an ornate crown that sparkled with embedded precious stones—emeralds, rubies, and opals. The metal was wrought in rose-gold, reflecting the identity of the Rose House. This was the crown that had been passed down for generations, a tangible piece of Valoria’s legacy.

The hush in the hall deepened, so profound that one might hear a heart beating. Solomon bowed his head, and Armand gently placed the crown upon his son’s hair. The weight settled there, both physical and symbolic. The newly crowned emperor lifted his gaze, eyes meeting his father’s. Though the two men had been at odds for months, an unspoken apology and acceptance passed between them.

“Rise, Emperor Solomon,” Armand said, his voice trembling with emotion. The words echoed through the chamber, sealing the moment in history. A wave of applause crashed through the hall. Nobles stood, cheering. The scouts exchanged glances of amazement—none more so than Mikasa, whose dark eyes shone with pride as she softly clapped, trying to remain composed amid the swirling sense of wonder. Eren, too, found himself cheering despite his usual reluctance to show emotion. Connie and Sasha whooped loudly, which earned them some amused smiles from the closer noble families. Jean and Armin offered a more measured applause, but their expressions were bright with sincere happiness. Hange, never one to be subtle, practically bounced on her feet, letting out a small cheer.

Solina felt tears prick at her eyes. She clutched Levi’s arm, leaning her head briefly against his shoulder as she whispered, “He did it.”

Levi placed a gentle hand over hers, nodding. “He did,” he agreed. “Your brother is the emperor now.” He glanced at her, noticing the tears. “You okay?”

She laughed through her tears. “I’m happy. Just… so happy.”

Meanwhile, the newly crowned Solomon stepped forward to address the assembly. The applause faded, replaced by attentive silence. A slight flush colored his cheeks, but his voice was clear and steady as he began to speak.

“People of Valoria,” he said, pausing to let the words echo, “I stand before you today honored and humbled. Many of you know me as the crown prince who abdicated in protest of a war we did not need to wage, but now I accept this throne, not out of desire for power, but out of love for our empire—and for all who call it home. My father, Emperor Armand, has chosen to step down, and in doing so, he has placed his trust in me to lead with wisdom, compassion, and justice. I vow to cherish that trust and to do all I can to protect Valoria’s future.”

He took a breath, scanning the faces around him. “In the coming days, we will see changes. Some of you may have heard rumors of divisions in the royal family, or tension with allied nations. To those concerns, I say: Our bond is stronger than any single conflict. The monarchy exists not to subjugate or conquer, but to serve and unify. Under my reign, I promise to uphold that principle and strive for an era of prosperity and peace.”

The hall erupted into another wave of applause, more fervent than the first. Solomon’s gaze found Lady Solana in the crowd, her eyes bright with tears of pride. Next to her, Solina offered him a tearful smile of encouragement, and he returned a small, grateful nod. Dimaria, standing off to the side near Elliot, beamed at her brother, feeling a swell of hope that this new chapter might heal so many wounds.

The applause eventually died down, and the ceremony concluded with the formalities of signing the coronation documents. Armand, in a symbolic gesture, removed his imperial signet ring and handed it to Solomon. Then, a wave of palace attendants ushered the audience out into the courtyard for the coronation feast. Great tables, laden with platters of steaming food, sweet pastries, fine wines, and exotic fruits, were arranged in the courtyard. Musicians in colorful attire strolled between the tables, playing jovial melodies on lutes, violins, and flutes. Children danced about, giggling, while the nobility exchanged warm congratulations with each other.

Levi, Solina, and the scouts found themselves seated together at a table, though they were immediately joined by many curious noblemen and women wishing to greet the princess and her husband from Paradis. Solina handled the attention gracefully, a soft warmth in her eyes, while Levi offered polite nods and short responses that betrayed his discomfort. Still, for Solina’s sake, he tried to be civil and engage with the admirers.

Across the courtyard, the new Emperor Solomon was pinned down by well-wishers, each eager to gain his favor or stake a claim in the new era. Lady Solana stood near him, gently fending off the more aggressive courtiers. She carried herself with the poise of the Empress Dowager she now was. When Mikasa approached to offer her congratulations, Solomon’s eyes lit up. The corner of his mouth twitched in a small but genuine smile. Despite the throng of people, he managed to whisper a few words of gratitude to Mikasa, who nodded, her cheeks coloring faintly.

Meanwhile, Dimaria sat with Elliot and Princess Alice at a table that included James, Gracelyn, and Ruby. Dimaria’s face glowed with excitement and relief. She was free of the Lily House’s expectations, free of the constant battles with her mother, and she was here with Elliot, who had already made known his intentions. Elliot looked slightly overwhelmed by the spectacle, but a measure of confidence steadied his posture. He wore the simplest attire possible for a coronation, but even so, he seemed more comfortable in the stables than among courtiers. Still, for Dimaria’s sake, he bore it all with stoic patience. Occasionally, Lady Darcy could be spotted at a distant table, her expression pinched, but nobody paid her much attention. The rest of the family was determined to enjoy the celebrations.

At the center of the courtyard, a small stage had been set up for performances. Minstrels sang heroic ballads that praised the new emperor’s virtues and told tales of Valoria’s storied past. Acrobats tumbled in daring flips, while jugglers tossed bright, flaming torches through the air. Children from the city were invited to watch from the front, squealing in delight whenever an acrobat performed a particularly daring stunt.

Around mid-feast, the emperor—now Emperor Emeritus Armand—took to the stage to offer a formal address. The crowd quieted to listen, uncertain what to expect. Armand’s voice was steadier now than it had been in months, though a sadness lingered in his eyes.

“My people,” he began, “today marks a new chapter for Valoria. My son has taken the throne, and I have every confidence that he will lead you with courage and compassion. Some may question why I gave up my power so willingly, but I can only say that I realized there are things more precious than ambition or wealth. Family—love—these are the foundations of an empire that can endure the tests of time. I have made mistakes.” He paused, swallowing hard as he glanced toward the Rose House, then at Dimaria and Elliot. “Some of them nearly cost me my children. But I stand here humbled, ready to spend my remaining years making amends and serving Valoria in whatever capacity I can.”

Armand’s final words hung in the air like a tremor. The applause began tentatively, uncertain in its tenor—less a rousing cheer and more an acknowledgement of the enormous gravity in his confession. In time, the applause gained warmth, rising into a genuine ovation. 

As he descended the steps, he cast an instinctive glance toward his children. Solina, at Levi’s side, gave him a small, compassionate smile. Solomon, mingling near the center of the courtyard with Mikasa and Hange, politely inclined his head in acknowledgement of his father’s speech. Dimaria and Elliot sat a short distance away with Princess Alice, and though Dimaria’s face remained uncertain, she did offer him a nod, a promise of cautious forgiveness—at least for this day.

Armand reached the base of the stage and paused, resting a hand against one of the ornate columns. His chest felt too tight, emotions scraping at him from the inside. He had done what needed to be done. Now, Solomon was the empire’s future, and Armand’s role was forever changed.

Lady Solana approached quietly, her footfalls muffled by the thick rugs spread across the courtyard. She placed a gentle hand on his arm, and her eyes were bright with empathy.

“You spoke well,” she murmured. “It couldn’t have been easy.”

Armand shook his head, unable to fully meet her gaze. “It wasn’t,” he said, voice low, “but it needed saying. For too long, I refused to see beyond my own ambitions. Look where that nearly led us. And if not for Solomon, for Solina…for all of them, I might have—” He swallowed, unable to complete the sentence.

“We’re past that,” Lady Solana replied gently, though there was still tension beneath her words. This was the man she had cherished, yet also feared for his iron will. Now he was humanized by his remorse, and that delicate balance of pity, warmth, and lingering anger flickered in her eyes. “Focus on the future—help them rebuild what was almost destroyed.”

Armand forced a small smile, one that barely lifted the corners of his mouth. “I intend to, Solana. I promise.”

Meanwhile, across the courtyard, a string quartet had taken the stage, the gentle resonance of violins and cellos stirring the air. The feast continued unabated: nobles sampled fine wines, children devoured sweet confections, and the scouts mingled with curiosity and excitement. For the first time, Valoria felt wholly at peace—free of the shadow of war that had loomed mere months earlier.

At one point, Lady Blair, her cheeks still rosy from earlier tears of emotion, drifted over to congratulate Solina on her pregnancy. She looked vibrant in a gown of lilac silk, offset by pearls at her throat. “Your mother must be over the moon about this child,” she said, taking Solina’s hands and squeezing them lightly.

“She is,” Solina replied. “She’s been doting on me more than ever—insisting I rest, fussing over my meals. It’s so sweet.”

Levi let out a quiet huff. “She’s not exaggerating. I can’t get Solina to spend more than five minutes on her feet without Lady Solana or one of the attendants swooping in.”

Lady Blair laughed, lifting a hand to her heart. “This is her first grandchild; let her fuss. You only have your first child once.”

A flicker of sadness passed through Blair’s eyes—perhaps recalling her own children’s younger years—but she recovered quickly, offering them both a smile. She excused herself as another wave of well-wishers approached, and Levi placed his hand against the small of Solina’s back to guide her to a quieter corner of the courtyard. Together they found an alcove shaded by tall rosebushes, thick with fragrant blossoms in pale pinks and whites.

“You alright?” Levi asked, his eyes searching her face.

Solina nodded, leaning lightly into him. “Just needed a moment. So many people, so many questions. It’s wonderful, but… it can be overwhelming.”

Levi’s lips curved in a rare half-smile. “That’s the word for it, yeah.”

They stood in companionable silence, letting the hum of the festivities wash over them. Solina rested a hand on her belly, her expression contemplative. She glanced at her brother in the distance—Solomon, Emperor Solomon now—surrounded by advisors and friends. Mikasa hovered at the edge of the group, listening intently to some story Hange was telling, while the new emperor tried to stifle a chuckle.

Mikasa caught Solina’s eye and offered a small nod. Solina grinned, warmth threading through her. For all the trials that had beset them, this coronation day had truly united the family and the allies from Paradis. They had a chance now to foster real peace.

At another table, Dimaria was dabbing her eyes with a lace kerchief, overwhelmed by the show of support by her family. She hardly dared to believe how different everything felt now—she had come into the capital expecting hostility and scorn, but instead, she was greeted with acceptance and open arms from her siblings, from her father, from Solina. Elliot reached over, covering her hand with his rough palm.

“You doing okay?” he murmured, leaning in so only she could hear.

She sniffled, nodding. “I never… I never expected this kindness from them all. I feel like I don’t deserve it, after the way I acted in the past.”

“Stop that,” Elliot said gently but firmly, threading his fingers through hers. “You’ve changed, Dimaria. And they see it. You’ve earned their trust.”

Dimaria exhaled, pressing her lips together. “I just hope my mother…” She trailed off, eyes darting across the courtyard to where Lady Darcy sat, stiff-backed and silent, a few of her Lily House confidants murmuring around her. Dimaria swallowed the knot in her throat. “I hope she comes to accept this. Accept me.”

Elliot squeezed her hand. “Whatever happens, you’ve got me. And, from the looks of it, a whole family who has your back.”

She managed a tearful smile, nodding. “Thank you.”

Throughout the courtyard, the mood was celebratory. Servers drifted by with trays of fresh pastries—flaky tarts filled with custard and berries, tiny rose-shaped cookies dusted with sugar, honey-drenched fritters that paired beautifully with the sweet Valorian wine. Sasha could be seen sneaking second—and third—helpings, while Connie ribbed her about her bottomless appetite. Armin, having finished an animated conversation with Lady Madeline about the engineering potential for a new type of transport, joined Jean in sampling the local spirits. Eren wandered near the stage, watchful and somewhat aloof, but occasionally exchanging a few words with any noble who greeted him politely.

One of the comedic highlights came when Hange, unable to resist her scientific curiosity, cornered an older noble who claimed to be a scholar of the arcane aspects of Valorian geography. She peppered him with questions about ice burst stone usage, geological formations under Valoria, and the possibility of harnessing natural springs for energy. The man looked both thrilled and slightly terrified by her intensity, prompting Levi—who saw this from a distance—to quietly remark to Solina that “Hange’s found another victim.”

All the while, Emperor Solomon navigated the shifting tides of conversation. He formally received congratulations from each noble house, from foreign envoys, from high-ranking military officers, and from city leaders. He thanked them graciously, listening to their concerns about trade or security. Somewhere in the shuffle, he found a spare moment with Mikasa again. She inclined her head respectfully, and he took her hand in an unspoken gesture of gratitude. The look they shared was fleeting, yet deeply personal—a silent promise that their newfound closeness needn’t wither now that he was emperor. It was enough to make Mikasa’s heart flutter, and Eren—watching from behind a pillar—bit the inside of his cheek at the pang of complicated envy he felt.

Time slipped by, marked by laughter, clinking glasses, and the constant swirl of brightly colored gowns and cloaks. Eventually, a hush descended once more as Emperor Solomon stepped onto a small dais erected in the courtyard’s center, calling for one final address.

“Friends, family, and allies,” he said, lifting a goblet. His voice carried with a steadiness that belied the day’s enormity. “You honor me with your presence, and I vow to do everything in my power to be worthy of your faith in me. Let this be the dawn of a peaceful era for Valoria—and for our allies in Paradis. May we learn from past mistakes, heal old wounds, and move forward together.”

The courtyard erupted in applause, a tide of optimism flooding the space. Solomon drank from his goblet, and as tradition dictated, he poured a small libation onto the rose mosaic underfoot—a symbolic offering to the land, signifying that he would nurture and protect it.

As the crowd dispersed from that stirring close, the evening’s festivities began to mellow. Lanterns and torches flared to life along the palace walls, casting a golden glow across the courtyard. Groups formed in pockets, discussing everything from trade policies to the day's spectacle, from potential alliances to the flamboyant outfits on display. A gentle harp melody drifted through the air, reminding Solina of how she had been playing for Levi just that morning.

She caught Dimaria’s eye across the courtyard and lifted a hand in a small wave. Dimaria, flush with gratitude and emotion, slipped away from Elliot’s side momentarily and approached Solina.

They met near a fountain filled with rose petals, the water trickling softly. For a moment, neither spoke—they simply stared at each other. All the tension and bitterness of their past seemed to linger like a fading echo. Then Dimaria, tears glistening, bowed her head.

“I owe you so much, Solina,” she said, voice trembling. “I—I’m sorry. For everything.”

Solina’s eyes brimmed. Without a word, she drew Dimaria into a gentle hug, pressing her cheek against her half-sister’s. It was a fragile, tender moment brimming with memories of girlhood, of petty rivalries that once felt insurmountable, of illusions shattered, and new bridges built.

Dimaria let out a shaky breath, hugging Solina back, clinging like she feared this forgiveness might vanish. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you for giving me another chance. For letting me… be part of this family again.”

Solina pulled back slightly, looking into Dimaria’s eyes. “We’ve both done things we regret,” she said quietly. “But we’re sisters. That bond matters. I’m so glad you’re here, Dimaria.”

Dimaria swallowed hard, nodding before stepping back. Her gaze flicked to Levi, who stood a few paces away, respectfully giving them space but clearly watchful over his wife. Dimaria smiled faintly. “He loves you so much, doesn’t he?”

Solina glanced at Levi, feeling her heart warm. “Yes,” she said simply, no further explanation needed. With another small smile, Dimaria returned to Elliot, wiping her eyes discreetly.

The night drifted on. One by one, the guests began to trickle out, either heading to private quarters within the palace or departing back to their estates in the city. The final swirl of music and candlelight slowly ebbed into the hush of a starry Valorian sky.

Long after most others had retired, Emperor Solomon found himself walking along the palace’s grand corridors, exchanging a few last words with an advisor. His new responsibilities weighed on him like the world, yet he felt lighter than he had in months, lifted by the knowledge that the empire’s future was no longer entangled in the prospect of a reckless war. He paused at a high window, gazing down at the torchlit gardens. He could see silhouettes walking—likely a couple of lingering guests, or perhaps some of the scouts marveling at Valoria by moonlight.

Eventually, he retreated to his suite. As he opened the door, he found Mikasa waiting by a marble column in the antechamber, having asked a servant for directions.

“Mikasa?” he asked, heart thudding. “Is everything alright?”

She turned, dark eyes meeting his. “Everything’s fine,” she said softly. “I just… wanted to tell you congratulations again. Without the crowd.”

His breath caught. “Thank you.”

They lingered in that quiet room, the massive windows revealing the shimmering lights of the city below. Words hovered between them—words about how proud she was, how grateful he felt. How uncertain, yet hopeful, they both were about what lay ahead for them personally. For now, no further confessions formed, only a shared silence that felt intimate and charged.

Finally, Mikasa inclined her head and bid him goodnight, leaving Solomon standing there with emotions he scarcely knew how to express. But as the door closed behind her, he felt a gentle peace settle in his chest. It was enough, for now.

Meanwhile, across the palace, Solina and Levi made their way back to their quarters, arms loosely around each other’s waists. She leaned her head against his shoulder, exhaustion mingling with contentment. The day had been long and emotionally intense, but a sense of immense pride buoyed her steps.

Levi opened the door, and they stepped inside, the gentle glow of oil lamps illuminating the richly furnished space. Solina sank onto a small settee, rubbing her temples. “I never thought I’d see this day,” she murmured, voice trembling slightly.

Levi knelt in front of her, placing a hand on her knee. “Neither did I.” He paused. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

She gave a tired laugh. “I promise. It’s just been a lot. The pomp, the ceremony, the crowd… the emotions.” Her gaze softened as she stroked her belly absently. “And our baby’s probably confused by all the adrenaline.”

Levi’s expression flickered with tender worry. He leaned in, pressing a brief kiss to her forehead. “You need rest.”

Solina nodded, feeling safe and secure in his presence. “Yes. Rest sounds lovely.” She smiled up at him. “But I’m happy—beyond words. Thank you for standing by me through everything. Through Father’s schemes, the alliance, my abdication, the reinstatement, this pregnancy… all of it.”

His fingers found hers, clasping them firmly. “No need to thank me,” he said quietly. “We’re in this together.”

She pulled him closer, and he brushed his lips gently against hers. The day’s emotional storm receded in that kiss, replaced by the quiet reassurance of a love tested and proven.

A few corridors away, Emperor Emeritus Armand sat alone in a dimly lit study, the glow of a single lamp reflecting off half-finished glasses of wine. A swirl of conflicting thoughts occupied his mind: regret for the damage he’d done, relief at narrowly averting a catastrophic war, and a bittersweet pride in his children—especially Solomon and Solina. He sipped from his glass, then set it aside and leaned back, letting his eyes drift shut. Tomorrow, a new era would dawn in practice, not just in ceremony. And for once, he found himself looking forward to the day without the desperate hunger for power that had once consumed him.

In the calm hush of the palace night, Valoria dreamed of a future shaped by newly crowned Emperor Solomon, shielded by the Rose House’s enduring unity and enriched by the steadfast alliance with Paradis. And in one quiet chamber, Solina drifted into slumber in Levi’s arms, a gentle curve in her belly symbolizing everything they had saved—and everything they now had to look forward to.

~

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[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from EcoWatch:

Microplastics shed from plastic products like clothing and packaging are ending up in the fish we eat, according to researchers from Portland State University (PSU).

The findings of the study highlight a need for strategies and technologies to reduce the microfiber pollution that makes its way into the environment, a press release from PSU said.

“Microplastics (MPs) and other anthropogenic particles (APs) are pervasive environmental contaminants found throughout marine and aquatic environments. We quantified APs in the edible tissue of black rockfish, lingcod, Chinook salmon, Pacific herring, Pacific lamprey, and pink shrimp, comparing AP burdens across trophic levels and between vessel-retrieved and retail-purchased individuals,” the researchers wrote in the study. “Anthropogenic particles were found in 180 of 182 individuals… These findings suggest a need for further research into technologies and strategies to reduce microfiber pollution entering the environment.”

Scientists from the Applied Coastal Ecology Lab at PSU built on earlier research that explored the pervasiveness of microplastics in bivalves such as Pacific razor clams and oysters, the press release said. Led by Elise Granek, an environmental science and management professor, the team focused on commonly eaten crustaceans and finfish.

Their goal was to fill in the gaps regarding microplastic contamination in shellfish and finfish in Oregon, while gaining a better understanding of differences across trophic levels — which arrange the position of fish in the food chain — as well as in pathways to consumers.

The researchers quantified particles from materials modified or produced by humans that they discovered in the edible tissues of half a dozen species that are culturally or economically important in Oregon: Chinook salmon, lingcod, black rockfish, Pacific lamprey, Pacific herring and pink shrimp.

The team then compared concentrations of particles across trophic levels, as well as whether where the microplastics were positioned in the food web had an effect on how much and what was contaminating the edible tissue of the fish. They also looked at whether samples obtained directly from research vessels differed from those of seafood vendors and supermarkets.

The researchers found 1,806 suspected plastic particles in 180 out of 182 individual samples. Fibers were most abundant, followed by films and fragments.

[thedailyjcs]

Thrifted Treasures: LJ's Journey in Sustainable Fashion Entrepreneurship

by Jerraine Sy and Jose Carlos Morata

Leila Jazel Madelar, who goes by the name LJ, is a student at National University Fairview pursuing BS Tourism. LJ is the proud owner of Madie's Wardrobe, where she sells curated thrifted clothes through her Facebook page and ships them out via Shopee Checkout. LJ's commitment to sustainability and supporting local businesses is an appropriate match for our theme, which emphasizes the advantages that thrifted clothing has for the economy and the environment. 

In the vibrant world of ukay-ukay, LJ encountered unpredictable situations as an entrepreneur. This is not new to the business world, especially in the ukay-ukay culture. Although she handpicked these items rather than buying in bulk, sometimes they do not appeal to people's tastes or align with current trends. The importance of adaptability in overcoming obstacles is truly essential, as mismanaging this aspect could result in profit loss. 

She discusses the diverse attitudes of customers and the challenges in ensuring they follow instructions. Despite that, she employs patience and takes the time to educate customers on the checkout process, maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction. True success lies in maximizing profitability. When she receives the profit, it marks the culmination of her efforts as a dedicated businesswoman. 

LJ sets herself apart by focusing on offering affordable sets, steering away from the trend of overpricing items observed in similar shops. This strategy has contributed to the success of Madie's Wardrobe. She handpicks each item from various thrift stores, personally fitting them and curating a collection through meticulous examination. This attention to detail ensures a curated and quality inventory. She observes the thrift clothes market trends and notes the enduring popularity of items like crop tops and pants. She also stays attuned to customer preferences, adapting her inventory to meet the ongoing demands of the market. 

The virtue of patience is the most significant lesson that she teaches. Managing several projects at once is part of being a lone owner, and even with diligent attention to detail, problems can still occur. Maintaining a high standard of customer satisfaction requires flexibility and responsiveness to any issues that might arise. LJ advises aspiring thrift clothes sellers to embrace hard work and be prepared to take risks. She emphasizes the importance of having a backup plan to avoid losses and ensure success. Aspiring thrift store vendors should accept hard labor and be willing to take calculated chances, according to Leila. She strongly expresses that to prevent losses and guarantee success, a backup plan is essential. The importance of preparedness for potential challenges cannot be overstated; it forms the backbone of a resilient business strategy. It's important to have a backup plan within a backup plan, as this provides greater control in uncertain situations. 

To sum up, LJ's experience selling used clothing is proof of her tenacity, enthusiasm, and steadfast dedication to her clients' needs. Madie's Wardrobe is a source of inspiration for aspiring businesses that want to enter the realm of online thrifted clothes sales in addition to providing reasonably priced apparel. 

[iprogrammersolutions]

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