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vindelllas · 9 months ago

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a brief exploration of the amatyakarakas 🍸

🍸note: any information regarding amatyakaraka placements should be treated lightly, as a good portion of these celebrities do not have verified birth information. i calculated all of the following celebrities with unverified birth times assuming they were born at noon their time!

🍸the amatyakaraka does not share the immense physical focus of the atmakaraka, but serves as the knight (amatyakaraka) to the king (atmakaraka), as it controls much of the labor/work of the chess of life. it is a karaka designed to aid you in picking a field or hobby that can allow you to fully express the passions of your graha. It is the helpful hand that guides you to who you truly are, in this post i focus on the overarching lessons of this placement.

brihaspati amatyakaraka

🌾 aesthetic: the liberation of the femme fatale

🌾 key components: shares similar characteristics to the femme fatale archetype of brihaspati atmakarakas, but inwardly is garnished with the liberated qualities of brihaspati. this is a placement of timing, expansion, and immense growth in the lens of one's work ethic. this is ultimately why these natives are known for their adventurous (and sometime controversial yet successful) business ventures, e.g. kendall jenner's "818" brand and lana del rey's controversies throughout her musical journey, which are centered around intrinsic learning via the external public eye.

shani amatyakaraka

🪐 aesthetic: the theater of love

🪐 key components: it shares the sensual hollywood starlet aesthetic of shani atmakarakas but this karaka's lesson lies in what they pour themselves into. they excel at possessing the drive and willpower to succeed in their respective fields, but are not without controversy in their private lives. this is emphasized by megan thee stallion's wrongful sh*oting, selena gomez's ex, nicki minaj's infamous husband, julia fox's former partner kanye west, etc.. their incessant focus on their future and work, often leaves much instability in their personal lives outside of their everyday routines.

surya amatyakaraka

🌞 aesthetic: the intersection of promiscuity and materialism

🌞 key components: this placement is similar to the materialism noted in surya atmakaraka natives, but is further heightened by this karaka's penchant for promiscuity. this placement's immensely influential nature and general desire to lead/test others can manifest as a form of sex*al temptation of those around them. from professions of acting to involvement in adult industries to modeling, there is a great need to shine their rays onto those around them. the dichotomy agni (the sun) being of purification and knowledge and soma (the moon) being water and nourishment come into play here. the sun wishes to purify and empower those around them through lessons of spiritual teachings. the general focus of the mouth in the photos of surya amatyakarakas is reflective of the mouth being the vessel of soma/the consumer of water. to achieve the purification of agni, you must first be watered spiritually.

kuja amatyakaraka

☄️ aesthetic: the mysticism confidence

☄️ key components: drawing upon the lessons of kuja atmakarakas, a certain confidence is emphasized within this placement. this confidence lies in taking immense risks and undergoing challenging situations for the betterment of your career, talents, and desires. this is evidenced by amber heard's career-challenging court case and jennifer lawrence's recounts and statements about w*instein. this placement is not without its controversy, but it is a placement of willingness to endure immense controversy for personal gain often without the lesson-emphasis of brihaspati amatyakarakas which results in much healing being needed later on.

buddha amatyakaraka

🌑 aesthetic: the ubiquity of feminism

🌑 key components: learning from the misunderstood lalita, this placement emphasizes a certain call to seeking maturation of the self through a higher power and intellectualism. this placement is symbolic of the overt dichotomy of girlhood-womanhood, these natives personify this experience through their accounts of the male gaze, longings for more expansion within themselves, and consuming all the external rays of others for the purpose of bettering and finding themselves (as buddha does to surya).

shukra amatyakaraka

🍓 aesthetic: the languish of luxury

🍓 key components: this placement indicates a certain affinity yet boredom of the luxurious properties of shukra. it causes many celebrities who grow into financial success to possess a coupled, sometimes delayed, distaste of the spotlight/fame. think of selena quintanilla who grew popular with ease compared to her latina musician counterparts but continued to maintain a relatability to the public (similar to cardi b who is still considered "surprisingly relatable" despite being immensely wealthy compared to the general public).

chandra amatyakaraka

🌙 aesthetic: the insatiable pitfalls of revolution

🌙 key components: these women often serve as role models to individuals through their presence in the media, but often serve as a lesson to the pitfalls that come with being "revolutionary". recall alexis ren who revolutionized mid-2010's social media and fashion yet struggled privately with her eating d*sorder. additionally, kaley cuoco was popularized for her role in "the big bang theory" yet too struggled with her eating habits. this is why some vedic astrologers theorize chandra to be associated with eating d*sorders, as yes soma seeks to nourish, but this nourishment (coupled with the drive/talent/profession denoted in the amatyakaraka) results in a potential for restricting soma (nourishment) to feel in control of one's surroundings--that is one's profession or environment.

🍸all of these placements were found using astrotheme/.com and/or astro-charts/.com. it is important to note that some chandra (moon) placements may be off by up to 6 degrees and lagnas (ascendants/rising signs) as well, due to the fact that many websites do not have 100% accurate birth times for the given celebrities.

🍸i am additionally offering readings again for a limited amount of time! if you are interested in a reading, please privately message me. thank you all for all of your patience! please expect the color analysis post soon since it won the poll <3

xoxo,

angel 💋

#vedicastrology #astrology #karakas #planets #saturn #moon #mercury #sun #jupiter #venus #mars

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accountsend · 1 year ago

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Maximizing Conversion Rates: Turning Leads into Loyal Clients

Article by Jonathan Bomser | CEO | AccountSend.com

In the realm of B2B sales, the journey from leads to loyal clients is a captivating narrative that blends strategy, empathy, and innovation. Within this guide, we uncover seven indispensable strategies that hold the key to skyrocketing your conversion rates. Join us as we traverse the path from lead generation to nurturing steadfast client relationships, all while delving into the invaluable insights gleaned from AccountSend.

DOWNLOAD THE CONVERSION RATES INFOGRAPHIC HERE

Peering into the Soul of Your Leads

At the heart of conversion success lies a profound understanding of your leads. It's a journey that transcends data, inviting you to explore the depths of their business aspirations, challenges, and dreams. Guiding you through this exploration is the meticulously crafted B2B contact database. This treasure trove of insights empowers you to paint a vivid portrait of your leads, allowing you to craft personalized sales strategies that resonate deeply with their unique needs.

Crafting Connections Through Personalization

Your leads aren't just entries in a sales log; they are stories yearning to be heard. Personalization is your brush, your tool to craft connections that linger. By immersing yourself in their narratives, addressing their pain points, and acknowledging their aspirations, you pave the way for genuine connections. These personalized interactions transcend transactional exchanges, laying the foundation for enduring relationships built on trust and mutual understanding.

Navigating the Terrain with Account-Based Marketing

In the sea of possibilities, precision becomes your guiding light. Enter account-based marketing (ABM), your compass in this vast expanse. ABM directs your focus towards the accounts with the greatest potential. It's the art of resource allocation, shortening sales cycles, and elevating conversion rates. With ABM, your efforts become laser-focused, nurturing connections that promise lasting value.

Value as a Prelude to the Sale

Value doesn't wait for a deal to be struck; it's a prelude that sets the stage. Share insights, offer guidance, and provide resources aligned with your lead's goals. This pre-sale value isn't just a gesture; it's a declaration of intent. By offering a taste of the value that awaits, you create a fertile ground for a productive sales journey.

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Symphony of Follow-Up Strategy

A 'no' today is a 'not yet' in disguise. Enter the art of follow-up, your symphony of persistence. A well-designed follow-up strategy transforms initial rejection into eventual acceptance. A systematic approach ensures consistent touchpoints with your leads, maintaining your presence in their minds and eventually shifting hesitation into enthusiastic embrace.

Cultivating a Pristine Contact Canvas

In the digital era, a clean contact database is your foundation for success. Regular updates, purging outdated information, and ensuring accuracy are the pillars of a quality database. A pristine contact list enhances your outreach, elevating conversion rates by guaranteeing that your efforts hit the bullseye every time.

The Science of Measurement and Refinement

No journey towards excellence is complete without measuring the terrain. Continuously gauge your conversion rates and dissect the contributing factors. This analytical exploration becomes your guide to refining your lead generation and sales strategies. Let data illuminate your path, leading to informed decisions and perpetual enhancement.

Harmonizing Conversion Mastery

Elevating conversion rates is a symphony of strategic understanding, personalization, and value delivery. These seven strategies are the notes that compose this symphony, the keys to transforming leads into devoted clients. As you integrate these strategies into your sales narrative, witness the metamorphosis of your business into a realm where loyal clients fuel perpetual growth.

#B2B Contact Database #Lead Generation #B2B Sales #Business Owners Database #Verified B2B Emails #CEO Email Addresses #Sales Lea #businessgrowth #leadgeneration #accountsend #b2b #b2bleadgeneration #b2bsales #entrepreneurship #businesstips #sales #Youtube

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gilgaladswife · 6 months ago

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Unfortunate Encounter... or Not?

Tangerine x F!Reader

Warning: smut 18+

It’s an easy task. Retrieve the case then leave the train. No casualties, no witnesses. You’re good at what you do. A professional thief and spy. The person who has hired you is anonymous, but he is paying a great amount of money. That’s all what matters.

You check your outfit one last time, making sure your students clothes are good. It’s a perfect kit, no one notice the students. Once you’re ready, you leave for the train station in Tokyo. You arrive fifteen minutes in advance, so you observe the people around you.

A pair of men with an unconscious young adult catches your attention. Especially the one with the slick brown hair and a moustache. He is wearing a trench coat that hide a very expensive blue suit. He is very handsome. If you weren’t on a mission, you would try your luck.

The train arrives. You tear your gaze away and climb aboard. Once you’ve showed your ticket you go find your seat. A chuckle escapes you as you realize you are in the quiet wagon. Like you’re going to make fuss. You think about how you will find and retrieve the case. It’s a long train and there is a lot of passengers. At least the case as a train sticker on the handle. It will be easier to see.

You look up to see if there’s anyone in the luggage room, the first place you will search. You almost gasp as you see the men of earlier seated two row in front of you. They have taken off their coat. The brown hair man looks devilishly handsome in his blue suit.

You don’t realize you are openly staring until you catch him looking back at you with a smirk. You blush and adjust your sweater before looking away. Focus. You need to focus on your mission.

Once the train leaves, you get up. The man is now busy talking with the black man at his side. Good. No distractions. You walk to the luggage room and start looking for the briefcase.

About five minutes in, you find it. With great luck. You take it out, checking to see if anyone is coming and no. Perfect. You open your schoolbag, large enough to fit a briefcase or books and school stuff. Closing the bag and putting it back on your shoulders, you go back to your seat. Now you just have to leave at the next station. You look at your phone to pass the time.

A clear of throat takes your attention away from your phone. You are shocked to see the handsome stranger sitting in the seat in front of yours.

-Can I help you? you ask raising an eyebrow.

-I saw ya staring earlier. Thought ya wanted something and since ya are a beautiful lady who seems smart, I am intrigued. So, did you want something? says the man with a strong and really hot British accent.

You think fast. He cannot know about the briefcase inside your bag. Something tells you that he is a dangerous man even if he is hot. You say the only thing that comes to mind and that it’s not entirely false.

-To be honest I find you really attractive and want you to fuck me. Hard.

The man looks at you speechless for a moment, not expecting that blunt answer. Soon his expression switch to something more lustful and you realize this distraction might be good for you after all.

-Is that so? the man chuckles desire in this voice.

-Yes, I really want it… and something tells me you also want it. you replies noticing the way he is squirming in the seat.

-I would be a fool to say no to a beauty like you. C’mon let’s go somewhere quieter.

You get up, verifying your bag is safe before following him, wetness pooling into your panties at the idea of what’s going to happen. The British man leads you to the bathroom and you look the door behind you.

In no times he kisses you passionately, backing you up against the wall. You moan against his mouth and your hand flew to his hair. You make out for a bit before pulling away for air.

-Name’s Tangerine. Figured ya want to know what to scream as I fuck you good. he says starting to unzip your sweater.

A bell ring inside your head. You know that name.

-Like the fruit? you say breathless acting like you don’t know him.

The name is known by you. Everyone in your field of work know who the Twins are. You hadn’t meet them before and now you can put a face on a name. And if you’re honest, they really don’t look like twins.

-Yes… like the fruit. Now why don’t you undress for me like a good girl and put your perfect mouth to good use.

You don’t think you have ever undress this fast and get down on your knees. Tangerine check his watch then unbutton his waistcoat. Then he opens his button up to reveal what you guessed was under, smooth skin over rigid muscles. You are now drenched, your hand going up to caress his abs as you start to be impatient.

Tangerine chuckles at your eagerness. Your eyes are locked with him as you reach for his trousers. Slowly you unzip them and pull them down in the same as his underwear. Your eyes widen at the size of his cock that spring close to your face. Tangerine smirk at your reaction then puts a hand in your hair to encourage you.

-C’mon love you wanted this. We don’t have much time.

-My name’s Y/N by the way. So you know what to moan when I make you see stars. you says smirking before putting your mouth to work.

His cock was overwhelming, but you were determined to give him something he would always remember you for, real pleasure. You suck his head, using one hand to pump what wouldn’t fit and the other switching between holding his thighs for balance and caressing his balls.

You make eye contact with him a few times, when you remove his cock with a pop, licking it like a popsicle. His jaw would clench each time, the grip on your hair tightening as he groans in pleasure. Your cunt clench around nothing as you hear him. He makes so much beautiful noises.

-You’re so good at this baby. Fuckin’ hell come here. says Tangerine pulling you up and searing you in a messy kiss.

You moan as he hoist you up, you wrap your legs around his waist, his cock making contact with your bare pussy. You both hiss at the feeling. Tangerine looks you in the eye as he slides a hand down to play with your clit, making sure you’re ready for him. He groans as he feels how wet you are.

-All of this just from sucking my dick? You dirty little whore.

-Please Tan…you beg so turn on that you will take everything he’ll give you.

-Please what love? Use your words. Otherwise how am I supposed to give ya what ya want? tease Tangerine.

-Please I need you inside me…

He inserts two fingers inside your pussy, slowing pumping them. He watches in delight your head throw back in pleasure, moans pouring out of your mouth.

-So good… don’t stop… you breathe in ecstasy.

-Come for me darling. Let go for me. says Tangerine with a slide of his thumb on your clit.

You climax moaning his name loudly, not caring if someone heard you. Tangerine withdraw his fingers, watching you in the eyes as he licks them clean. Arousal goes through you. This is the hottest thing you have ever seen.

-I think you are more than ready for me now Y/N.

Tangerine grips his cock with one hand, the other keeping you up, align himself then slowly pushes inside your dripping cunt. The both of you moan in unison as he pushes himself to the hilt. He presses his head into your neck, kissing it as he gives you time to adjust to his size. Which you are thankful because he is big. Once you are okay you pull his hair to kiss him.

-You can move now.

And he did just that. Starting slow, then gaining in speed and strength the more you moan his name. The feeling of his cock against your velvet walls is heavenly, you have never felt like this before.

Tangerine fucks you hard and fast, like you’ve asked. Your breasts are bouncing with the sheer force of his thrusts. He is captivated by the view and you feel your second orgasm approaching. So does he.

-You gonna come for me again Y/N? he says going faster and looking at you.

-Yes…yes…yes! Fuck Tangerine! You scream his name as white, blinding pleasure crashes over you.

You clench his cock like a vice, your release triggers his. He spills his seed into you, moaning your name. The most beautiful sound you have ever heard.

-That… that was incredible. The best sex of my life.. you say breathless and sweaty.

-I agree with you. That was amazing. replies Tangerine pulling out with a hiss.

He takes a paper towel to clean the mess between your legs, a gesture you appreciate. As you are putting your clothes back on, reality came back to you. You have a mission to complete and now that you know that the twins are somehow involved, you need to act fast. And that’s what you do.

When Tangerine finishes dressing and look up in the mirror to fix his tie, you hit him hard behind the head. He falls to the floor knocked out.

-Sorry Tan.. mission’s first. You shouldn’t have been here. you say before leaving the bathroom, leaving the assassins unconscious on the floor.

Tag: @tangerineboss @pretty-little-mind33

First time writing for Tangerine 🍊 hope you guys liked it xx

#aaron taylor johnson #aaron taylor johnson x reader #bullet train #tangerine x reader #tangerine

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sendcrux · 4 months ago

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Boost Your Campaigns with This Leading Email Marketing Platform in USA

Email marketing is a powerful tool for engaging with your audience, driving conversions, and building relationships. However, to truly maximize the impact of your email campaigns, selecting the right email marketing platform is essential. In this post, we’ll explore how platforms like Sendrux can enhance your email marketing efforts, especially when it comes to cold email automation.

Why Choose the Right Email Marketing Platform?

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export-importservices · 14 days ago

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Connecting Trusted Importers and Exporters Worldwide

At Terra Sourcing, we are dedicated to connecting importers with high-quality, verified exporters. Our platform ensures reliable partnerships that pave the way for successful trade and growth. With a focus on trust and transparency, we help businesses forge strong and dependable connections in the global market. For More Detail Contact us - +91 9704226664 Now.

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sexymemecoin · 7 months ago

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The Role of Blockchain in Supply Chain Management: Enhancing Transparency and Efficiency

Blockchain technology, best known for powering cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, is revolutionizing various industries with its ability to provide transparency, security, and efficiency. One of the most promising applications of blockchain is in supply chain management, where it offers solutions to longstanding challenges such as fraud, inefficiencies, and lack of visibility. This article explores how blockchain is transforming supply chains, its benefits, key use cases, and notable projects, including a mention of Sexy Meme Coin.

Understanding Blockchain Technology

Blockchain is a decentralized ledger technology that records transactions across a network of computers. Each transaction is added to a block, which is then linked to the previous block, forming a chain. This structure ensures that the data is secure, immutable, and transparent, as all participants in the network can view and verify the recorded transactions.

Key Benefits of Blockchain in Supply Chain Management

Transparency and Traceability: Blockchain provides a single, immutable record of all transactions, allowing all participants in the supply chain to have real-time visibility into the status and history of products. This transparency enhances trust and accountability among stakeholders.

Enhanced Security: The decentralized and cryptographic nature of blockchain makes it highly secure. Each transaction is encrypted and linked to the previous one, making it nearly impossible to alter or tamper with the data. This reduces the risk of fraud and counterfeiting in the supply chain.

Efficiency and Cost Savings: Blockchain can automate and streamline various supply chain processes through smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code. This automation reduces the need for intermediaries, minimizes paperwork, and speeds up transactions, leading to significant cost savings.

Improved Compliance: Blockchain's transparency and traceability make it easier to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Companies can provide verifiable records of their supply chain activities, demonstrating adherence to industry standards and regulations.

Key Use Cases of Blockchain in Supply Chain Management

Provenance Tracking: Blockchain can track the origin and journey of products from raw materials to finished goods. This is particularly valuable for industries like food and pharmaceuticals, where provenance tracking ensures the authenticity and safety of products. For example, consumers can scan a QR code on a product to access detailed information about its origin, journey, and handling.

Counterfeit Prevention: Blockchain's immutable records help prevent counterfeiting by providing a verifiable history of products. Luxury goods, electronics, and pharmaceuticals can be tracked on the blockchain to ensure they are genuine and have not been tampered with.

Supplier Verification: Companies can use blockchain to verify the credentials and performance of their suppliers. By maintaining a transparent and immutable record of supplier activities, businesses can ensure they are working with reputable and compliant partners.

Streamlined Payments and Contracts: Smart contracts on the blockchain can automate payments and contract executions, reducing delays and errors. For instance, payments can be automatically released when goods are delivered and verified, ensuring timely and accurate transactions.

Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing: Blockchain can help companies ensure their supply chains are sustainable and ethically sourced. By providing transparency into the sourcing and production processes, businesses can verify that their products meet environmental and social standards.

Notable Blockchain Supply Chain Projects

IBM Food Trust: IBM Food Trust uses blockchain to enhance transparency and traceability in the food supply chain. The platform allows participants to share and access information about the origin, processing, and distribution of food products, improving food safety and reducing waste.

VeChain: VeChain is a blockchain platform that focuses on supply chain logistics. It provides tools for tracking products and verifying their authenticity, helping businesses combat counterfeiting and improve operational efficiency.

TradeLens: TradeLens, developed by IBM and Maersk, is a blockchain-based platform for global trade. It digitizes the supply chain process, enabling real-time tracking of shipments and reducing the complexity of cross-border transactions.

Everledger: Everledger uses blockchain to track the provenance of high-value assets such as diamonds, wine, and art. By creating a digital record of an asset's history, Everledger helps prevent fraud and ensures the authenticity of products.

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Challenges of Implementing Blockchain in Supply Chains

Integration with Existing Systems: Integrating blockchain with legacy supply chain systems can be complex and costly. Companies need to ensure that blockchain solutions are compatible with their existing infrastructure.

Scalability: Blockchain networks can face scalability issues, especially when handling large volumes of transactions. Developing scalable blockchain solutions that can support global supply chains is crucial for widespread adoption.

Regulatory and Legal Considerations: Blockchain's decentralized nature poses challenges for regulatory compliance. Companies must navigate complex legal landscapes to ensure their blockchain implementations adhere to local and international regulations.

Data Privacy: While blockchain provides transparency, it also raises concerns about data privacy. Companies need to balance the benefits of transparency with the need to protect sensitive information.

The Future of Blockchain in Supply Chain Management

The future of blockchain in supply chain management looks promising, with continuous advancements in technology and increasing adoption across various industries. As blockchain solutions become more scalable and interoperable, their impact on supply chains will grow, enhancing transparency, efficiency, and security.

Collaboration between technology providers, industry stakeholders, and regulators will be crucial for overcoming challenges and realizing the full potential of blockchain in supply chain management. By leveraging blockchain, companies can build more resilient and trustworthy supply chains, ultimately delivering better products and services to consumers.

Conclusion

Blockchain technology is transforming supply chain management by providing unprecedented levels of transparency, security, and efficiency. From provenance tracking and counterfeit prevention to streamlined payments and ethical sourcing, blockchain offers innovative solutions to long-standing supply chain challenges. Notable projects like IBM Food Trust, VeChain, TradeLens, and Everledger are leading the way in this digital revolution, showcasing the diverse applications of blockchain in supply chains.

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toskarin · 4 months ago

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hey rin, a friend of mine enjoys composing music digitally and has a lot of respect for you as someone with more experience with that sort of thing. he has a hard time convincing the people around him to listen to the things he makes, in both the "finding an audience" way and "getting the people around him to give him their opinion on something he's working on way," and he wanted me to ask you if you could speak on your own experiences with those problems and how you've dealt with them. less related, he was also curious about your inspirations for the music that you make. i know this is a lot to cover, so if it would be easier for you to speak with him directly then please let me know

so I'll open by saying that, as far as people who can give good advice on this go, I'm probably not one of those. a lot of what I do only works because of some specific problems with my brain that are oddly adaptive to this sort of thing

that being said, this is a bit of the "tough love" kind of advice for surviving as an artist, so I'll make a second reblog for the second half of the question

this is either advice that will work or a ramble that will lead your friend to making his life unbearable, so look before you leap

The Easy Section, or "You've Gotta Be a Bit of a Tradie"

let's go over the business stuff quickly before I start rambling at length about the boring stuff

learn to love the work itself. "find a job you enjoy and you'll never work a day in your life" is garbage, but creative work really is the one area where you should double down on this. kick back and bump your own album on release day, thinking about how every second of it is something that didn't exist before you put it together. this is what's gonna keep you above water when the wind is dead

get on bandcamp. there is nowhere better for small musicians right now. bandcamp is basically the last remaining website with an effective suggestion algorithm that caters to people who want to actively engage with music and buy it

consider getting on instagram. in the majority of places you're likely to live if you're reading this, the local music scene is on instagram. probably don't use your personal instagram for this

consider getting on soundcloud. you won't make sales through soundcloud, because it's a streaming-focused site (more on that in a moment) with a focus on passive listening, but it's pretty decent for networking, especially with digital music production. soundcloud is linkedin for deadbeats

stay off spotify. streaming generally isn't worth the trouble these days unless you're playing concerts or are otherwise already established. if you aren't uttering the words "you can find me on..." more than once a month, it's probably not worth pursuing a spotify presence to end that sentence with

self-promote. if you have platforms, use them. find the subreddit for your genre and post yourself on the self-promo day. consider posting some bandcamp album codes when you do this, not just so you can get word of mouth, but because someone having an album in their collection means you effectively have a permanent zero-cost advertisement for your music which will only show itself to people who are verifiably looking at something similar. companies pay dizzying sums for ads that couldn't dream of being this targetted. this is a big reason why bandcamp is THE place to be for small musicians

cross-promote and collab. work with your friends. if you don't have musician friends, go make some and then help each other out. "independent" music is a misnomer

blind yourself to the metrics. do not look at engagement metrics. pay them no mind at all. don't look at them unless you're trying to see how effective a specific, deliberate course of action was and already know what you want to find

remember that strangers are unknowable. people do things for arbitrary reasons. if you don't have someone giving you written feedback, don't make any assumptions at all about why they did something. skipped tracks and minimum-price pwyws mean nothing at all

present your stuff in a way that gives it context. why should someone care about your stuff? give them a reason. carve out an hour to really work on a nice album cover, go the extra mile and include track-by-track narrative with your dungeon synth album, or just describe what you're expecting people to buy. I firmly believe that NOMAD/VIRTUE was successful in large part because of its presentation

gimmick. gimmick gimmick gimmick. discount codes are more fun than automatic discounts, free album codes are more fun than free albums, contests are more fun than giveaways, so on so forth. lacking any physical goodies to bundle in, you should still endeavour to give people Something To Do that makes them feel like they're really engaging with your music

zero expectations, zero overhead. do not rely on the whims of complete strangers to justify whether or not you end up in the red. if you ever find yourself saying something like "I can afford to pay for a session musician because I'll just make it back" you can't afford to pay for a session musician. you're probably never getting bailed out if you eat a loss, so try not to put yourself in a situation where you can eat a loss to begin with

someone else's expectations, someone else's overhead. if someone else is paying you to make this music for a soundtrack or something, if (and ONLY if) you have the money in your hand and know you have it, you're no longer gambling. at this point, you can start to look at expenses as investment

now onto the less fun stuff. here's where I ramble for like an hour at you.

if there's one thing I've really had hammered in over my decade-odd as a somewhat commercial artist (in all the disciplines I've worked with, which is most of them), it's that you have to be a bit of a bitch about it sometimes

that nagging fear in the back of your head that you're annoying? it's stopping you from doing what you need to do: annoy people

with that being said, this next section is kind of...

The Rough Section, or "You've Gotta Be a Little Hard-headed"

at the end of the day, you'll often find that you are your only advocate, and that means you kinda have to get your foot slammed in a few doors if that means holding them open. this also unfortunately means that you've gotta convince yourself you're pretty good. you don't have to think you're great, but confidence is a trade skill

the last opinion people see before the first time consciously engaging with your work (which here means "the thing that primes them for how they feel about it") is yours

which brings us to the first uncomfy rule

absolutely no cutting yourself down before anyone else even gets a swing

you can be modest if you want (you don't have to), but you absolutely cannot prime people to see the flaws in your work. if 50% of people are discerning enough to notice a flaw, why make that number 100%? what do you gain from that?

if something isn't as finished as you'd have liked it to be, but you've pushed it out the door anyway (which you will sometimes have to do), you absolutely cannot prime people to consider it unfinished

if the thing is still being worked on, there's nothing wrong with being forthcoming about that, but the fastest way to make someone think of something as "inferior product" when they otherwise would never have reached that conclusion is by telling them it is

and that, of course, leads us into a bit of an inversion of the previous rule

absolutely do not take the majority of your validation from strangers

doing this is bad for a million reasons, but I see the worst of this in visual arts, where artists double down on what gets them the most engagements and lay themselves at the mercy of complete strangers who have no actual investment in them

of course, it's normal to desire validation and approval from people you respect, but if you put yourself in a position where it's possible to enter a negative feedback loop that crystallises into you no longer making art from the default response of neutral apathy from strangers, it's not a matter of when: it's going to happen to you one day

so what's the move here? spend 8 years making music you don't release like you're in a compressed time chamber? probably not. I did it that way, but I didn't get much out of it, so you probably won't either

the actual answer is that you've gotta network. you need an inner circle. you need people with shared interests so that you can gas each other's stuff up

just like everyone else, you need your friends

you need to have friends who care about you, about what you're doing, and you need to care about them and what they're doing

this is because, while self-confidence is important...

the majority of your external validation as an artist should come from your friends and peers, not strangers

it's important to have artist friends, because then you can encourage each other in ways that are personally meaningful, but having your friends behind you, whether or not they're musicians, is so incredibly important

if you're motivated exclusively by success, however you're choosing to measure that, what you're actually doing is forming a nightmarish parasocial relationship with the concept of a crowd. not even a real crowd! a fictional group that materialises when you've created "the conditions for success"

there is no such thing as a truly independent artist. if your understanding of artistic success requires competition against others, you're going to lose that competition and then explode (unfortunately common)

finding your audience as an artist (and mind you, art is a social field) is very much a process of networking, but it feels gross to say it that way, so I'll just leave that at "if you want to be known by others, you need to be willing to know others"

anyway, this doesn't really terminate in a complete sentiment. I was just transcribing a train of though

if I were to boil this down to a shorter, snappier answer that I could read comfortably read out, it'd be...

TL;DR

the process of finding an audience is so much less about actually finding one than it is about learning to create happily whether or not you have an audience. developing an audience is the largely incidental byproduct of long-term creative efforts coupled with self-advocacy and interpersonal networking

if you want to be found by a scene, you have to participate in a scene, and if you want to participate in a scene, you need to be in the scene. so on so forth

as stupid as it might sound when I put it into words, the truth is that you can't build any kind of audience in isolation. someone has to find you somehow, and it's a lot easier to be found if you're actually somewhere that people might look

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stinkyturd · 3 months ago

Text

On the Mend

Comments: Haru x Reader fic request for @aayakashii, comfort fic about bad experiences w/ love. I usually suck at this, keep your expectations low everyone... (BTW, I think I figured out the cute gif aesthetic for this one, I hope you're proud of me, Aaya (〃^∇^)ﾉ )

The sound of the doorbell going off reverberates throughout your room in the cathedral.

You had personally installed it yourself a few weeks prior to make it easier to alert you of guests visiting, considering you generally stayed on the second floor. This was probably the first time you've heard it ring, and you weren't expecting company.

You rolled lethargically out from underneath your blanket and pulled on a cozy cardigan that was hanging on the headboard of your bed. It was already around seven in the evening, so you're far from what you would consider to be presentable at the moment. As you make your way down the steps and towards the front door, you do your best to brush down your disheveled hair. Hopefully the visitor wasn't anyone you'd hate to look crusty in front of. Though, there was really only one person that you had to worry about that with and SURELY it isn't him. He rarely has time to leave Jabberwock, after all.

You make it to the front door and swing it open. An all too familiar eccentric captain in an orange jumpsuit is standing right outside your door.

Some higher entity had to be playing a prank on you right now.

"Heya, (Y/N)! You sure look cozy!"

"Haru… what are you doing here?" You ask, quirking an eyebrow.

"I came to check on you! I know it's late, buuut..." Haru tilts his head, observing you inquisitively. "It's Saturday! You usually come over in the early afternoon."

Your eyes widen. "Saturday...?"

You reach into the pocket of your cardigan and pull out your phone to verify his claim.

And sure enough, he was right.

It had been a few days since you left the cathedral because you had been recovering from a cold. That and you were in dire need of some personal time. No people, no missions, no Darkwick.

Regardless, you most certainly didn't intend to skip out on Haru. You always went out of your way to help him on Saturdays because it was the day that you had the least obligations. The Jabberwock Captain is someone that you consider to be a close friend, so you did your best to alleviate some of his overwhelming workload.

"Haru, I'm so, so, sorry!" You apologize with a bow. "I really didn't even notice it was Saturday. My internal clock is out of whack because I haven't been feeling well."

Haru waves his hands placatingly in the air. "No, no! I sent you a text earlier today, but I don't think you saw it, so I was making sure you're as fit as a fiddle!" The Jabberwock Captain pauses and tents his eyebrows, his lips puckering into a pout. "But you're not feeling well?"

"You sent me a text...?"

That's right, you did turn off your message notifications for the day.

"Mmmhm! Just asking your availability for the day. No worries, though! The farm is in tip-top shape!" Haru assures with a radiant smile.

"I'm glad it turned out okay," You hesitate, carefully deliberating over your next words. "...Are you going to be busy anytime soon?"

The Jabberwock Captain shakes his head. "Nope! The kiddo is in bed and I have a baby monitor set up just in case!"

You avert your gaze, doing your utmost to not seem nervous. "Would you like to come inside?"

"Are you kidding? I've been dying to see your place. Count me in!" Haru readily agrees.

You lead him inside, shutting the door behind the both of you. The Jabberwock Captain walks ahead with his hands on his hips, peering around the open space with curiosity.

"I don't usually stay down here," You clarify preemptively.

Haru lets out a low whistle. "This place is pretty big! How do you get to dusting around here?"

"Dusting?" You chuckle at that. "I don't exactly have a ladder fit for that here."

"That's no good! Especially when you're sick! I can get a ladder real quick if you want. I'll have this whole place spic and span in no time!"

"Nooope. Not gonna happen." Immediately rejecting the idea, you walk up to Haru and take his gloved hand in yours, pulling him towards the staircase. "If I'm relaxing you are too, for once."

"If you say so... don't be surprised if you come home one day to a brand new cathedral," Haru says as he follows you. The way he wraps his fingers securely around yours doesn't go unnoticed.

"I lock my doors before I leave," You counter.

Haru hums ambiguously behind you.

You don't need to turn around to know why. "No lock picking, either."

The captain clicks his tongue. "Darn."

Once the two of you get upstairs, you make your way to your vintage sofa on the right side of the room. A few months ago, you picked up a smart TV when you were out in the mundane world on a mission. Currently, it was set up on a wooden media console right across from the couch. You waste no time plopping down, pulling a nearby throw blanket over you, and reaching for the remote on the end table to find something to watch.

Rather than joining you, Haru opts to shamelessly look around the room once he kicks off his shoes by the entrance. It didn't bother you-- not now anyway. You're pretty sure you don't have anything embarrassing laying out in the open. As you search through different streaming services, you catch Haru in your peripheral periodically darting around the room.

"What's this? VHS scary movies...?" Haru asks as he stops at the bookshelf by your bed. He begins pulling out some of the tapes to further examine them. "Hey, Ren likes some of these! I've seen them in his room, too!"

With permission, surely...

"Before I got a smart TV in here, all I had was a VHS player," You explain, glancing up at him from the screen. "This place was pretty dated."

"You are the first person I've seen stay here," Haru remarks as he pushes the tapes back in their respective places.

You divert your attention back to the television and continue scrolling through your recommended shows. It's mostly horror movies. Save for a few K-dramas that contributed to your sour mood earlier in the day. Maybe you were being petty and bitter, but romance just isn't speaking to you the way it used to.

"Doujinshi manga...?" Haru reads aloud, humming with curiosity. The nosey captain pries open the book without hesitation. "Let's take a peeksies...!"

Shit, you thought you threw that out forever ago. It was definitely kind of smutty.

You snap your head in his direction, your cheeks burning with embarrasment. "H-Haru! That's enough sifting through my stuff for now, get your butt over here!"

The Jabberwock Captain sways his body to face your direction, a teasing smile plastered on his face. "Can I take the book?"

He so knew what he was doing.

"No. Put it back," You retort sternly.

"Okay, okaaay."

Haru obeys, placing the novel back where he found it before making his way towards you. When he sits down next to you, he's rather close. It gives your heart a little jumpstart, and you desperately try not to think about the fact that your knees are now touching. Sure, the captain could have sat farther away, but it's a small couch.

"What are we watching?" Haru asks as he peers at the screen ahead. "You really like horror movies, dontchya?"

"Do you?" You counter.

"I don't mind them! If I get scared, can I hold onto you?" Haru jokes.

You wish he would hold onto you anyway, but you don't say that.

"Only if I get the same pass." Somehow you manage that without tripping over your words. You just hope you're not blushing.

"Of course! It goes without saying-- a tooth for a tooth." Haru looks back at the screen and something you're highlighting seems to catch his eye. "Oooh, that K-drama there! Towa told me about it, he said it's really good. You watched an episode already?"

You groan, scrolling past it anyway. "Towa told me about it too. The only romance related stuff I'd be willing to watch right now is trash TV. Unhappy couples only."

You probably sound like a bitter goblin, but you're too tired to care.

Haru quirks a skeptic eyebrow. "Unhappy only? You don't like the happy ones?"

"I just need to be injected with a little realism right now. And this isn't it," You reply, dodging the question.

Haru stares at you like he has more to say for several beats. You pretend not to notice and find the trashiest trash TV show possible. This was probably just what you needed. You silently commend your big-brained idea before clicking and starting up the show.

"... So, I heard you missed class the last two days!" The Jabberwock Captain comments with an awkward chuckle. "What happened there?"

You flit your gaze to him as you lean back into the cushion of the couch. "And how do you know that?"

"Ahahaha..." Haru nervously musses his hair and avoids your searching eyes. "Well, your professor phoned me and what not! Yup, yup."

"Strange... I didn't realize Darkwick staff called to report an absence for a grown adult woman. To a captain who's house I'm not even a part of, no less," You remark coolly.

Haru presses his lips into a thin line and you can practically see the sweat dripping from his forehead as he fumbles for an excuse. "Er... well. Gahaha."

You place your elbow on the armrest next to you and support your head against your knuckles, narrowing your eyes at him. "Spill."

"...Okay, so maaaybe when I installed the new 'Find My Kiddo' tracking chips on Ren's phone, they may have accidentally tumbled into your bag last time you were over?" Haru suggests, his tone as guilty as he looks.

You harden your gaze, enunciating his name with bite. "Haru."

Haru picks up a throw pillow from behind himself and hugs it against his chest. "Okay, okay, fine! I installed it on your phone, too." The Jabberwock Captain sucks in a gust of air, near whispering his next words. "...Don't be mad?"

You click your tongue and reach a hand forward, squishing his cheek-- albeit lightly. It elicits a satisfying squeak out of him anyway.

"I'm not mad," You assure him, tapping his chin softly before withdrawing your hand. "But why did you do that?"

Haru chews on his lip, appearing rather meek. "What if you get in to trouble? Or someone kidnaps you? Or what if you get attacked by a vicious dog on the way to campus? Anything could happen...!"

If it were literally anyone else, this would be creepy as hell. But Haru gets a pass. He always does.

You snort, your mood lifting by the second. "A dog? Is that what I should be worried about? You're so silly, sometimes."

Haru's expression relaxes at your response. He smiles, his eyebrows tented. "I hope you know that you can talk to me if you need to! A silly fella like me is still willing to listen."

It's not as if you're not willing to vent to Haru, but this particular topic would be strange for you to breach. On top of recovering from a cold, you had been feeling down and out regarding the lack of success in your love life. The last person that should hear about that stuff is the guy you have the hots for.

You shoot him a wary look before tossing your gaze ahead to the TV. "What makes you think I need to talk?"

Haru shifts his eyes in the direction of your sleeping area. "Well... the filled trash can with crumpled up tissues is one thing."

Your face burns at the insinuation. "I...! I told you I wasn't feeling well! I had the sniffles!"

Okay, that may or may not be the only reason.

Haru pauses, turning to look towards you again. "And I noticed your stereo has a playlist paused called 'Songs to Cry to'. Not to mention your favorite comfort cookies are nestled in your sheets like a baby in a bassinet!"

"Are you trying to embarrass me right now?" You accuse, though you don't even believe it yourself. "And when did you have a chance to notice all that?”

Haru smiles sheepishly. "I notice everything about you! Er, well I try…!”

You feel your heart catch in your throat at the unexpected comment. Why does he have to make things so complicated by being the most reliable and sweet ray of sunshine you ever laid your eyes upon? You should have figured he was snooping more than you thought.

Sighing, you pull the throw blanket on your lap over your shoulders as you pull your knees to your chest. Maybe in an attempt to make yourself feel less exposed physically than you do emotionally right now. "...You really want me to tell you? It's pretty lame."

Haru pivots in his spot to face you and crosses his legs. "Only if you feel comfy doing it!"

You fidget underneath the blanket and train your gaze on the TV ahead. The show is playing, but the volume is currently so low you don't even need to bother adjusting it. "I feel comfortable talking to you, of course. This is just a weird topic I don't think I've brought up around you."

Haru leans his head against the back of the couch and patiently waits for you to continue.

You can't imagine Haru feeling weird about anything really. He was always the type to roll with the punches. Regardless, you ask him a question to gauge his response to the topic.

"Have you dated anyone, Haru?"

The Jabberwock Captain pauses, pressing his lips together as he deliberates a reply.

It's not like much time passes, but you find yourself immediately regretting the question. “You don't have to answer that, sorry!"

"Don't be! I just, er... wouldn't call it dating? Hehe." Haru scratches his face with a gloved finger.

"...You mean like hookups?" You deadpan.

Haru nods, a nervous laugh spilling from his lips. "Yeaaah! It was like a bajillion years ago, though!"

You look at him with curiosity. For some reason that doesn't surprise you a whole lot. "How was it? Your experience with that?"

The captain's cheeks tinge pink, but he answers readily. "Hmm... at the time I probably thought it was great. Hormones and adolescence can really pull the wool over your eyes, though!"

"You aren't seeing anyone now?" The question leaves your mouth before you can consider how suggestive it may sound.

"Gahaha, there aren't enough hours in a day for all that! Unless they became a ranger for Jabberwock!" Haru suddenly sits up and smacks a fist against his open palm, like he just remembered something. "Oh, oh! That reminds me! I finally got a Jabberwock uniform for you on the way! It's lavender colored! Cute, right?"

You sigh and mentally kick yourself for how excited you feel from his impulsive word vomit. "I know you didn't mean it like that, but you did NOT time those two pieces of information together well... lavender is cute by the way, thanks."

"Hmm?" Haru stares at you, looking a little lost.

Moving on.

"I think we have had very different experiences in the romance department," You remark. "I suppose that only makes sense."

"Tell me about yours," Haru prods, his lips curling into an encouraging smile.

"...Not great. And if I'm being completely honest, terrible." You laugh bitterly, despite yourself.

Haru tents his eyebrows, concern etched on his features. "Terrible?"

"I'm not very experienced with intimacy," You admit, breaking away from his stare. "I rushed into things quickly before, because I was intimidated by my lack of experience. It backfired in a way..."

"How so?" Haru presses.

"Well... the whole ordeal was not only lackluster, but left me feeling humiliated and almost entirely opposed to the idea of intimacy afterwards," You explain, vaguely.

Haru nods in understanding. "So, it was someone that you weren't comfortable with?"

You nod. "Definitely not. I suppose I thought I would be at the time, but it didn't turn out that way. They weren't the person they made themselves out to be."

"Have you dated anyone else?"

"I've tried. It never feels right, so it doesn't go far."

Haru hums, offering you a sympathetic glance. "So, you wanna find one that does?"

You idly pull at loose strings on the hem of your sleepwear, while you gather your thoughts. "...I just kinda want to have someone special like that. But not just anyone, obviously. I know better now."

"Clicking with people is tough work! I wish that your first experience had been more positive for you." Haru reaches a hand forward and pats your head gently. "One positive that could come from this is that if you have low expectations, you'll know what's right for you when the time comes! Maybe your next experience will be like fireworks– no second guessing.”

You laugh a little. "That's... certainly one way of looking at it. Assuming I ever find that person."

"Someone who accepts YOU fully? I bet it will be a cinch!" Haru counters enthusiastically.

"It doesn't feel that simple," You argue unthinkingly. "I've heard plenty of people around me talk shit about other people's performance in bed. Most people would be quick to say there's nothing sexy about needing to reassure someone a lot."

Haru frowns. "Someone who cares about you won't make you feel bad about that, I promise!"

You know he's right. And you feel a bit bad for being so cynical when he's just trying to be supportive.

You shake your head decidedly. "...Sorry, Haru! I didn't mean to sound so mopey."

A lopsided smile forms on the Jabberwock Captain's face. "Mopey is fine with me! I just hope I can help!”

"You're such a sweetheart, Haru," You comment easily, flashing him a bright smile. "Thanks. This whole curse thing sucked at first, but I'm glad it got me to meet you."

Haru creases his eyebrows and audibly gulps. "M-Me too...! I'm glad I met you too, (Y/N)."

"And you're probably right, anyway. One day, someone might be patient enough to deal with my old hangups,” You shake your head dismissively, eager to clear your thoughts. “Let's watch this show, I don't wanna waste the night away on sad topics." Fixing your gaze ahead, you lift the remote in your hand, and turn the volume on the TV up a couple of notches.

From your right, you pick up a barely discernible voice.

"...I would."

"..."

You must be hearing things, but you think to double check anyway. Turning the volume down again, you redirect your attention to Haru. The captain's elbows are on his knees, and he's cupping his right hand over his mouth as he looks off to the side.

Suspicious.

“Did you say something?” You ask.

“Gahaha… did I?” The captain replies, his voice a little stifled.

Okay, so… Haru's not outright denying it. Your stomach flips.

“...Correct me if I'm wrong.”

You watch his lips part slightly as he sucks in a sharp intake of air.

“You just said ‘I would’?” You clarify.

“Urk…!” Haru sits upright and waves his hands erratically. “Ahahahaha, ignore that– please!”

You blink, at a loss for words. Haru is such a firecracker in personality that anything he ever said or did that could be interpreted as flirtatious just felt normal for him. Did he really mean that? If anyone were to successfully help you through your trepidation with physical affection it would be someone kind-hearted and patient like Haru.

“Crap, I didn't mean to make it weird! A-and about the tracking app! I swear I wasn't doing it to be a creep– please don't get a restraining order…!” Haru clasps his hands together and bows apologetically. “I can totally take it off, no problem!”

A bubbly laugh escapes as you witness his flustered state. “Pffft, a restraining order? What law personnel does Darkwick have to enforce that?”

Haru lowers his hands and looks up at you, his features relaxing. “Ahaha… none really? Now that I think about it.”

“Don't worry, I don't plan on doing that ever,” You assure, smiling brightly for good measure. “But did you really mean what you said?”

Haru nods sheepishly. “I think you're the bee's knees! If anyone deserves patience, it's you. You're nice, smart, helpful, and pretty,” The captain flushes as he vocalizes that last detail more quietly, before brushing past it. “You help out everyone a lot, including me! I barely got a wink of sleep for days, until you started helping around the farm a few months ago. Now I sleep semi-regularly!”

Haru's words of praise make your stomach do backflips, but you end up fixating on his sleeping habits. You shoot him a tired look. “You still need more sleep, Haru. In fact, you should be using this time to rest!”

“No way…!” Haru protests, appearing almost offended by the suggestion. “I hardly have time to sit down with you like this. I'm way too giddy to sleep!”

You push out an exasperated sigh. Debating his unhealthy habits right now wouldn't result in anything fruitful. So, instead you decide to take his confession into consideration as you carefully mull over your next words.

“...I feel the same way about you.”

The captain snaps to attention, his expression bewildered. “Really?!”

You snort, resting your cheek on your knees as you regard him with adoration. “Don't act so surprised. You're one of the most genuine and good-natured people I've ever met. If I were to try and re-experience anything in the romance department, it would be with someone like you.”

Haru gapes, his cheeks visibly heating up again. “...No joke?”

You shake your head. “No joke.”

Haru stills rigidly for the moment.

“S-So… what now?” He asks, maybe with a little too much anticipation.

You purse your lips together, eyeing him carefully. “What are you comfortable with?”

“Anything!” Haru insists, his expression determined.

“Hmm… let's start small then.” You drop your feet to the ground and grab the pillow from Haru's lap, setting it on your own. Patting the soft object encouragingly, you offer an idea. “Lay down?”

“Me? But you're the one who's sick,” Haru counters.

“I'm fine now! Besides, you worked twice as hard today because I was here. So, I insist!”

Despite his initial protest, Haru wastes no time adjusting his position and plopping his head on the cushion. You turn the volume to the TV up marginally, before tentatively running your fingers through the captain's hair. Haru immediately relaxes into the touch, a sigh escaping his lips.

His hair is soft, like it had just recently been conditioned. You begin to pick up the scent of Haru's shampoo as you continue to play with it. The show displayed on the screen in front of you stars broken couples arguing about baby mama drama, but you're hardly paying attention to it. An impossible feat considering the man you harbored feelings for is at such close proximity.

At some point you massage the pads of your fingertips against Haru's scalp, eliciting a satisfied hum from him. Without warning, the captain flips over to face your waist. He shifts to where he's able to wrap both of his arms around you as he lays across your lap.

“You're a dream. I'm really living the high life right now,” Haru murmurs. He nestles his face closer into the fabric of your shirt as he tightens his hold on you.

The action is so endearing you're nearly at a loss for words. His warm breath ghosting over your waist rouses a hoard of fitful butterflies in the pit of your stomach. Pushing through your nerves, you force an airy laugh. “Are you comfortable like that?”

“Mmmhm. So comfy,” Haru replies, his voice a bit muffled.

The two of you stay like that for some time, all the while you carry on with stroking his hair. You do your best to keep your eyes locked ahead, occasionally stealing glances at the man clinging to you. Eventually, the episode comes to an end and the credits start rolling.

“Haru, do you want to pick something…?” You ask, picking up the remote again.

No response.

You glance down and notice the rise and fall of Haru's rhythmic breathing. He's sound asleep.

Considering how little the captain slept, the fact that he felt comfortable enough to do so is nothing short of heartwarming. The only problem is your legs are getting all tingly from falling asleep. Maybe you should just ask him to stay over considering the time?

You adjust your position ever so slightly to get some relief for your temporarily compressed nerves. Unfortunately, this causes Haru to stir from his slumber in the process.

The arms around your waist relax and the captain props himself up on his elbows, to where he's hovering over your lap and inadvertently caging in your thighs. “Mmn… Did I just fall asleep?”

“You did, but that's okay. Do you want to lie down? I'll move the cookies and Kleenex for you,” You tease with a smirk.

Haru languidly lifts himself to a sitting position and rubs his eyes. “...In your bed?”

“It's getting kind of late to walk home. Only if you're comfortable with it,” You explain, doing your best to quell the anxiety you felt from proposing the idea.

Haru moves his hand from his face and blinks in surprise.

“I'm offering so you can get proper sleep,” You clarify hastily.

“...Can we cuddle?” Haru asks, his tone hopeful.

You let out a short laugh. “Yes, I'd love that.”

A grin splits the captain's face. “Heck, yeah! Now I'm stoked for sleep!”

“I just wanted to say… Thank you for listening to my problems. And for giving me company.”

Haru waves his hand flippantly. “Come now! I should thank you for having me! If you ever need anything, don't be shy to ask!”

You smile teasingly. “I'll hold you to that. Anyway, let me clear off my mattress, it's a mess!” With that, you get to your feet with intention to make your way to your bed, but the sensation of pins and needles in your legs causes you to stumble forward.

“Aaah!” Not missing a beat, Haru shoots upright and catches you in his arms. “Are you okay?!”

The faint scent of musky cologne fills your nostrils as you fall forward against the Jabberwock Captain's chest. Making a point to hardly move so as to not make the sensation any more unbearable, you rigidly lift your head. “Yup, my legs just fell asleep, ahaha.”

Haru snickers. “Darn, I hate when that happens! No worries, I gotchya!”

You don't even get a chance to ask what he means before you're lifted from your spot on the ground and hoisted over his shoulder.

A squeak of protest escapes your lips. “H-Haru…!”

“Trust the process!” Haru begins to walk over towards your bed, holding you in place as he goes. “You'll be down before you can say Jack Robinson, gahaha!”

“Jack Robinson, Jack Robinson, Jack Robins–” Your mantra is abruptly caught off when Haru easily lifts and maneuvers your body back first onto the mattress. You narrow your eyes up at the captain, who's hovering over you with his palms flat against the plush surface beneath you. “Two and a half times,” You point out.

“If I went any faster, you may have gotten motion sickness!” Haru argues, puckering his bottom lip out. “Better than walking on stiff feet though, yeah?”

The captain begins to lift himself up and for some reason you find yourself abruptly catching the collar of his shirt. Haru appears mildly surprised by the action.

“Er, s-sorry!” You hastily apologize, loosening your grip on the fabric.

Haru tents his eyebrows and smiles, his tone amused. “You want me to stay like this?”

“That wouldn't exactly be comfortable,” You counter, fighting back a blush.

The captain hums and leans against the mattress, just between your legs that are hanging over the side. “This is comfy enough, for now!”

Your heart slams erratically in your chest as you lock eyes with Haru at such close proximity. Of course, he would immediately be receptive to any protest you have. But why exactly did you stop him from leaving?

“I… can I kiss you?” You manage, your voice barely above a whisper.

Haru’s cheeks tinge pink at the sudden request. Regardless, he doesn't delay in his efforts to fulfill it. You catch a glimpse of his hand moving in your peripheral before you feel it cup your cheek and tilt your face upwards. Your eyes flutter shut when you register him closing the distance.

The sensation of Haru's warm lips against yours is mind-numbing. To say you have butterflies would feel like a disservice to the unfamiliar emotions flooding over you like a tidal wave. Countless years of resolute aversion directed at the idea of sharing another kiss with someone melted away with the first chaste contact. Haru separates his lips briefly, only to reconnect with yours over and over again in a barrage of subdued and languid kisses.

When Haru eventually pulls away, his features are completely flushed. He props himself over you with his elbows and eyes you warily. “Was that okay…?”

You bring your own hand up to touch your face. Considering how warm you feel right now there's no way he doesn't see the effect he has on you. “I think I must be down bad for you, Haru.”

The response seems to pacify the captain because he smiles at you. “Hah… if that's the case I sure am a lucky guy.”

“I think I'm the lucky one.”

Haru shakes his head emphatically. “You reckon we can keep doing this? Or, er… is it a one time thing?”

The anxiety in his tone is enough to gut you. As if you would have it any other way.

“You're the only one I want,” You assure. “I would love to keep spending time with you.”

Haru regards you with such a doting look that it's a wonder you're not dissolving from the overload of emotions being thrown at you all at once.

“Looks like I'm gonna have to bribe the team so I can open up my schedule!”

#tokyo debunker #fanfic #fan fiction #fanfiction #haru sagara/reader #haru sagara x reader #haru sagara

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