#White Tea Market Outlook

[darknight3904]

All Too Well

Joel Miller x Fem!Reader

Summary: As Valentine's Day approaches you and Joel grow closer with the help of one motor-mouthed teen who is unable to keep a secret.

Warnings: Language. Vague reference to SA.

Word Count: 2.5k

Previous Part / Series Masterlist / Main Masterlist

February 2024

As it turns out, friendship with Joel isn't so bad. You do your patrol shifts together, brushing Turnip and Pepper out in the stables afterward. Some days, Ellie will be there, waiting at the stables for you and Joel.

Ellie and Joel's relationship makes your heart squeeze. The days with her in the stable almost feel like you're looking into a window that leads to the past. The curly brown hair and warm laughter of Sarah consume your mind as Ellie tells another bad joke.

You had mentioned Sarah one day, casually while Ellie had her focus pinned on Shimmer. Joel had clammed up, refusing to even meet your eyes at the mention of his daughter.

"I wanted to say that I'm sorry, about Sarah."

Cold air shot up your nose as Joel's eyes fixed on Turnip's mane.

"Tommy told me, years ago...I'm so sorry, Joel."

You watch how his hands squeeze the brush until his knuckles are white. A stuttered breath escapes his lips and he shakes his head.

"Don't want to talk about it."

You open your mouth to speak again, but Joel shoots you a glare that sends a shiver down your spine and you drop the topic entirely.

It'd been weeks since then. Valentine's Day was approaching and parts of Jackson were bursting with old decor that had been scavenged.

"So what's the point of this holiday, exactly?" Ellie asked you as she sat on top of your kitchen counter.

The fourteen-year-old seemed to be obsessed with being around you even when Joel wasn't. Twenty minutes ago, she'd shown up at your front door claiming that she was bored and Joel was napping.

"Uh, I guess to show appreciation for people you care about." You say, trying to think back to the Valentine's celebrations you'd witnessed years ago.

"Well, I appreciate you." Ellie says, "Does that mean I gotta bake you something?"

"No, it's more like...romantic stuff." You say, "It's really marketed to couples. Us single gals are out of luck."

You pour a mug of tea for yourself. You'd give Ellie some but last time she had spat it out and deemed it to be "warm piss."

"Well, you could always ask Joel, y'know." She says casually.

You nearly choke to death on your tea at the idea.

"Joel? Joel's got the romantic composition of well...a constipated elephant." You cough

Ellie laughs in agreement, "I just thought....you might have to make the first move with him. He spends a lot of time looking out the window, just staring at your house. Like it's gonna blow away with you in it one day."

You think about how Joel and Ellie live directly across the street from you. Was Joel seriously peeking through his curtains hoping to see you on days neither of you were on patrol?

"And how do you know so much about romance? You read tons of cheesy novels in your spare time?" You huff

"No! He just seems into you!" Ellie groans, "And I've only read a few romance books..."

The next day at the stables, Ellie asks Joel what his outlook on Valentine's Day is. Ever the gentle soul, Joel voices his opinion.

"Just a day for big-shot companies to make even more money."

Ellie glances over at you with big eyes, "You said it was about romance and appreciation of others."

"It is." You defend your opinion while looking at Joel and his stupid greying beard. Why was he like this?

Joel scoffs and looks over at the two of you, "Appreciation of someone else's wallet you mean."

"So negative, Joel." You huff, "I've never experienced a real Valentine's Day, sorry if my unrealistic views bothered you."

Joel watches as you finish brushing Pepper before stomping off in the direction of your house.

"Looks like you're in trouble," Ellie says from his left.

"Just saying my thoughts. Not my fault she's mad." Joel dismisses

"Well considering I told her you're into her, I bet that Valentine's wallet comment wasn't what she wanted to hear..."

Joel spins around to look at the brown-haired girl who has turned to baby talk Turnip and say that Joel smells worse than the stables themselves.

"You did what?"

Joel hasn't felt this embarrassed in years. Where did Ellie even get the nerve to just spill his secrets all over town?

Joel wasn't even sure how he felt about you and now he had a child trying to set him up with you. Ellie didn't know a damn thing about the past and here she was running her mouth. Honestly if Joel didn't care about her so much, he'd hang her upside down from Jackon's flag pole and leave her there for a few hours. Damn kids, always getting into shit they weren't supposed to.

"And Ellie told her? About your window watching?"

"It's not funny."

Joel's eyes snapped up to his younger brother, whose eyes were swimming with amusement.

"It is." Tommy shakes his head

"Not if she thinks I'm some...freak." Joel sighs as he looks down at Tommy who has made himself at home on Joel's couch.

"This is the same girl who used to cry when she got drunk and then openly tell you about how hot she thought that Wolverine guy was? Trust me, Joel she doesn't think you're a freak." Tommy dismisses Joel's fears.

Joel sighs, Tommy doesn't get it. You'd been unreachable in Joel's opinion. Sure, the small talk and patrol shifts were nice but it wasn't real. Anyone with half a brain could tell you were holding out on Joel.

"She was here in Jackson when you showed up, right?" Joel asked

"Yeah. I didn't even know she was here until Maria dragged her over to see me one day."

Joel nods, "She ever tell you how she got here? I mean it's a long way from Texas to Wyoming."

Rigid silence settles around the brothers as Tommy looks at Joel, the amusement from earlier gone.

"I don't know all of it...but I can tell you what I do."

There are few comforts left at the end of the world. Of course, you should never discount the fuzzy feeling of a new book and clean sheets can bring a person. Freshly showered, your hair pulled up by a towel, you've just settled in for the night when a loud knock at your door rings out through your empty home.

The knocks continue as you groan and plod down the steps. It had to nearly be 9:30, who could be bothering you at this hour? If you opened that door and Ellie was there, you were going to march her back across the street and tell Joel to put a leash on his kid. You liked her, but there was only so many puns you could take.

You swing the door open and your voice sounds more like a hiss as you speak, "What?"

To your surprise, it's not Ellie but Joel who stands there. The soft glow of your porch light makes him look a bit younger. His jacket is zipped up to his chin and his hands are stuffed in his pockets.

"Can I come in? We need to talk and I'm freezing my ass off out here."

You sigh loudly, "I was getting ready to go to bed."

"Won't take long, I promise." Joel's sincere tone says

Begrudgingly you step out of the way and let him in. He stomps his boots out on the welcome mat before entering, at least you won't have to clean up little water puddles when he leaves.

"What's up? If Ellie's asking about baking cookies again, tell her I still need to get more sugar and butter."

"It's not about cookies." Joel says, "Can we sit down?"

You take his appearance in, in better lightening, you can see how disheveled he looks. His hair is out of place like he's been running his fingers through it. His face is solemn, serious, and missing the soft edge it normally has whenever he goes on patrol with you.

"Fine." You sigh, pulling the towel from your hair.

You settle in the armchair that sits across the couch he's made himself welcome on. Your wet hair drips cold drops down your back and you squirm a bit, regretting your choice to let it down.

"You went back to my house?" Joel starts off, "After outbreak day?"

You look at him in shock, how could he possibly...Tommy. That fool couldn't keep a secret for shit.

"I did..." You say slowly, unsure of how much he knew

"Why?" Joel asks

"I dunno...I guess I thought you might come back. Plus, I didn't know where else to go. I uh, stayed in your basement for a couple of months. Thanks for finishing it, by the way, made my stay way easier."

Joel looks at you, his face unreadable, "Tommy said you ended up back in Pittsburgh, in the QZ til it fell in 2017."

"Yeah, I got back home to see if my parents had made it. After I saw my home had been burned down, I ended up in the QZ."

Joel nods, "I'm sorry for all the questions, I'm just...trying to figure out how the hell you ended up here."

You dismiss him with a wave of your hand, "I wish I knew, I'd credit it all to good luck though..."

"Tommy won't tell me how you got out west, said he didn't know." Joel prods

Your blood runs cold, it's true, Tommy doesn't know. You'd told the younger Miller brother that you'd traveled with a group before Maria found you. Technically you hadn't lied.

"I um...um..."

You hadn't told anyone about your time with Adam, the Walrus, or any of the men in that group. You tried not to think about it, blocking it out as if it had just been one bad dream.

Joel surprises you, leaning forward and taking your shaking hands in his. His skin is just as warm as you remember, a bit rougher than the last time you'd felt it twenty years ago.

"There were...these men. They found me somewhere in Illinois I think."

Your throat feels dryer than the fucking Sahara Desert right now. You want to push him away, throw him outside into the snow, and slam the door in his face. Yet you can't even bear to pull your hands from his, you focus on the way his thumb rubs circles on your palm.

"They took me further out west with them...used to make me..."

You squeeze your eyes shut, unable to look at him right now. Your tongue fumbles in your mouth, unable to tell him what happened to you. Warm tears fall past your eyelids and Joel's deep voice is soothing you,

"It's alright, sweetheart. Don't gotta say anymore."

You open your eyes again to look at him. Sadness lines his features as he looks at you. You sniffle, trying to keep your nose from running,

"I escaped one night after tricking one of them into loosening my restraints. A couple of weeks later Maria found me out by the dam starving and hallucinating. She brought me in and then helped make sure I didn't die."

Joel nods and squeezes your hands in his, "I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault." You whisper, a shaky breath leaving your lips

"I should've gone back for you. Took you with me to Boston. None of it would've happened." He says sternly

"It's too late to wish about what could've happened, Joel." You remind him

"I know that...I just, I wish things had happened differently." He sighs, "Never would've broken up with you if I'd known what you were gonna go through."

"No one knew the world was going to end." You point out

"You needa quit makin' excuses for me." Joel shoots you a glare that you can tell he doesn't mean, "Yell at me a bit, woman."

You rest your forehead against Joel's, not intending to do any of that.

"I don't yell at people I'm friends with. We can save the fight for another day."

The front door slams open and a gust of freezing cold air whirls in. Ellie stands in the doorframe, a thick purple coat sits on her body as she rushes in.

"Joel? What the fuck? You lock me out of the house and then go off to make out with your crush?"

You jump away from Joel, mourning the way your hands feel cold without him around them.

"Ellie, what are you doing here?" Joel sighs like just her presence exhausts him.

"I went to that movie night that Maria runs, remember?" Ellie says, closing the door and tossing her coat onto the hooks by the door, "We watched one of the Star Wars movies. I think Maria said it was episode 4, I don't really know what that means though."

"What'd you think?" You ask, hoping she doesn't mention you and Joel's earlier position. You're eager for Joel's attention to be off of you.

"It was fine. I liked that little droid Luke has."

"You mean R2D2?" You ask

"Yeah, his scream is funny."

"Always liked Obi-Wan." Joel muses, thinking of the movie.

"Which one is that again?" Ellie asks

"He's the old guy, Luke calls him Ben at the beginning, Joel probably likes him cuz' they're both old." You explain

"Hey." Joel nudges his foot to yours, apparently not liking your insult.

You listen to Ellie give you and Joel her full review of Star Wars. Joel smirks at you when Ellie mentions something about the possibility of Luke and Leia dating. Oh how shocked she's going to be.

"Let's get going, kiddo." Joel's voice is soft as he interrupts her when he sees your eyes droop shut.

Ellie huffs a sigh of frustration but goes to slip back into her coat. Joel reaches out and gently pats your knee, he wants to let you know he's letting himself out.

Unresponsive and clearly tuckered out, you're dead to the world as Joel says your name. He sighs and turns to Ellie, tossing her the keys.

"Get ready for bed. Brush your teeth." He says to the girl

"Yeah, yeah." She shrugs him off before walking off, shutting the door behind her

Joel sighs and pushes his arms underneath you. He can't let you sleep in this armchair, you'll wake up with an ache in your back.

He carefully goes up the steps, you in his arms bridal style as your head rests on his chest. A soft wheeze escapes your nose and Joel feels his mouth turn up into a small smile.

A warmth bubbles up in his chest as he lays you down in your bed. He pulls the soft covers up your body and picks up the book you'd left on the other side of the bed.

Joel runs a hand through your still-damp hair, taking in the hint of greys that weave through it. It's as soft as he remembers and smells like oranges.

He lets his heart take over as he leans down, ignoring the slight pinch in his back as he presses a gentle kiss to your forehead. He pulls away and looks at your sleeping form again. The soft light of the lamp on your nightstand gives you a youthful glow.

His hand slips down your face and he runs a thumb across your cheek. The feel of a faded scar there has a frown etching across his features and in the moment Joel decides to make a promise, a promise to himself as well as you. Here in the warm glow of this lamp and the secrecy of your bedroom, he promises he'll never let anything hurt you again.

Next Chapter

Shorter chapter but...

I PASSED ALL MY FINALS!!!

Somehow survived another semester. I'll be updating more frequently now :)

Comment to be added to the tag list. This tag list is not chapter by chapter, I carry the tags over to each part.

Tags:

@lunaticgurly  @orcasoul  @snowlycanroc  @freythecrazyfae

@person-005 @greenwitchfromthewoods

@elli3williams @iinaths

[bobc47]

Analysis of the Right Wing

Underneath anger is always fear and sadness. Right wing supporters are almost universally angry. Asking them will only get you the stock answers they’ve been fed by right wing leaders, the usual scapegoats. So let’s explore what they may really be angry about. 

It isn’t enough to say change. Change is usually tough on everyone but to morph into anger it has to metastasize into a perceived threat. For those at the lower end of our job market they see the jobs they know changing. Some into more highly skilled ones, some into jobs requiring different kinds of skills altogether. The prospect of having to start over in a new field is not only emotionally daunting from a retraining standpoint it may also be expensive. So their real and potential losses of income opportunities are the underlying fear. They should be angry that there isn’t assistance for retraining. 

Without this type of change we’d still have livery stables instead of auto mechanics. They should be angry at the wealthy and the corporations who get away with paying a smaller percentage of their income in taxes than they do, who make enormous sums of money by outsourcing jobs overseas, turning employees into “independent contractors” etc. They should support unions in order to have some power to demand better treatment including training from their employers. But the right wing mythos of jobs taken away by immigrants and of unions as corrupt organizations responsible for “make work jobs” that bankrupt companies is firmly embedded in conservative thinking, along with the persistent (racist) idea that affirmative action means unqualified people getting ahead. 

Next are the folks who may not see their jobs as under as much threat, but who see the solutions (free retraining, stronger unions, more taxes on the wealthy) as part of a “socialist/communist conspiracy”. These people only know those words as synonyms for dictatorship and limitations of freedom. Their most common complaint about the “socialist” programs we currently have is that they are riddled with fraud. Of course the fact that those programs have no where near the individual fraud that businesses perpetrate and encourage doesn’t get through. A big reason may be that taking advantage of every opportunity to game the system is what these folks are all about. In other words, that’s what THEY would do. Programs to ensure women and minority owned businesses are given a chance to bid on projects is met  by white males putting their businesses in their wife’s name to take advantage of the program. This is also epitomized by the Tea Party who doesn’t want to pay any taxes for any program they can’t get back more than they contributed. In the private sector this is called insurance fraud. Constantly looking for the most reward for the least effort is their mantra and why they always fear that any sort of welfare will encourage idleness. Once again, assuming others will do what they would do with their outlook on the world.

Then of course there are the Christian Nationalists. It’s obvious that they are Christians in name only. They are the perfect example of what Rev Billy Graham said about the mixing of religion and politics being bad for both. The main proponents are obviously interested in money and power but the rest of the folks who follow along want simplistic answers to complex moral questions. It’s the simpleton’s guide to a moral life - just follow these absolute, unwavering rules and you’re good. It shouldn’t be hard to see why these same people who want simplistic answers to complex problems don’t want to be confronted with others not following their rules. The very freedom of others to do so is a confrontation to their view that there is only one way to be good. But it can get worse.

Many years ago I had the distinct displeasure of having to supervise a woman who was hired as some sort of employee PR person to build morale and spirit. This had absolutely nothing to do with my department. The executive who hired her didn’t want to supervise her, his subordinate didn’t want to and so at the bottom of the management ladder it fell to me. It quickly became clear why. Although in her 50’s her outlook on the world was like an adolescent, complete with the black and white , all or nothing  thinking common to that group, (No, she was not mentally challenged in any of the usual ways we would use that term.)  If she is still alive I’ll bet she’s a Christian Nationalist. She actually believed that the reason there had ever been a famine in the US was because we had “In God We Trust” printed on the money! This is the level of absolute blind faith we are up against. No doubt if there ever was a famine it would be the fault of people who did not toe her religious line.

All of these groups may share in the racist opposition to “wokeness” as they like to call it. Sure it’s their fear of losing their unacknowledged and undeserved privilege but even more than that is a resistance to understanding all of the ways white people have kept POC in subordinate roles. Recognizing that would require action to dismantle systemic racism. And that will require a lot of change, the one thing all of these different segments don’t want to see. 

They claim woke liberals are a cancel culture, but they never talk about the cultures whites have tried to erase and suppress. The only culture I know of that we liberals are trying to cancel is the glorification of traitors who fought against the US to preserve slavery; or the whitewashed view of history that exaggerates the contributions of white people while ignoring or downplaying the contributions of POC. 

It doesn’t excuse their support of the status quo, but their opposition to change is so ingrained that it applies to the most trivial of nonissues; e.g. bathrooms and sports (men’s & women’s). [Just to be perfectly clear, bathrooms don’t offer a free view of anyone’s privates, weight and strength classes for sports eliminates any real basis for separate gender sports.]

This is where solutions are to be offered. Before anything else can happen, especially the effective “deprogramming” of the cult, we must restore journalism to a state of honesty.

An updated version of the Fairness Doctrine needs to be adopted. 

No commercials or ads during the news, news is provided as a public service. 

To separate real news from the opinion no commentary during or immediately before or after the news. 

Stations are of course still free to cover or not some stories, but if they cover a story fact checking and good journalistic standards must be followed. 

Reporting on the speculations of others is not news.

Commentary and opinion must be clearly identified as such, and not called “news” or presented immediately before or after the actual news.

Closely related to this is the removal of the “issue ad” exceptional to FEC rules. This giant loop hole allows unlimited and unreported money to be spent on a candidate by simply omitting the words “Vote for”.  Ultimately public financing of campaigns will have to come in to avoid the use of money to overwhelm the issues and policies of the candidates. 

While there are other changes that I believe should come about, these would at least remedy the mass of misinformation that fuels both conspiracy nuts and fear based politics. 

[tbrc34]

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[tamanna31]

Bubble Tea 2023 Industry – Challenges, Drivers, Outlook, Segmentation - Analysis to 2030

Bubble Tea Industry Overview

The global bubble tea market size was valued at USD 2.75 billion in 2022 and is expected to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9% from 2023 to 2030.

Increasing the intake of tea and coffee as nootropic drinks among working individuals and students is a major factor in the market growth. Moreover, the low-calorie contents and zero fat of such beverages are propelling thedemand further. The growing popularity of varioustypes of hot beverages is also likely to drive the demand for bubble tea. In addition, health experts suggest that balanced consumption of such beverages improves concentration and brain function. Bubble tea is gaining popularity owing to its different tastes and availability of various flavors, such as fruits, coffee, chocolate, and simple classic.

Gather more insights about the market drivers, restrains and growth of the Bubble Tea Market

The bubble tea beverages are prepared along with ice, flavored syrups, and sugar. Growing preference for tea, coffee, and other flavored beverages more than carbonated drinks is expected to boost product demand during the forecast period. The market experienced slow growth on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused continuous lockdowns in major cities across the globe. There was a shortage in raw material supply. The production of jelly-like pearls made of tapioca was stopped during the pandemic, which had a negative impacton the market growth. However, the popularity of bubble tea has increased over the decades and the industry is expected to expand rapidly post-pandemic.

However, the raw ingredients used for preparing bubble tea are made with sugars, which can be dangerous if consumed in excessive amounts. This is the major factor limiting market growth. In addition, the amount of sugar consumed along with bubble tea can pose varioushealth risks. The consumption of high levels of sugar can lead to serious health complications like obesity, heart disease, cognitive decline, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), and also some forms of cancer. These factors are restraining the market growth. The rising popularity of bubble tea trends among the young generation is creating new opportunities for the key players to offer variations of the beverage. Key players can offer different flavors of boba tea, which can help them capture a higher market share as colorful bubbles and flavored beverages are widely popular.

Browse through Grand View Research's Consumer F&B Industry Research Reports.

• The global frozen bakery market size was estimated at USD 67.27 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2024 to 2030.

• The global organic rice protein market size was valued at USD 69.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.9% from 2024 to 2030.

Global Bubble Tea Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segment from 2017 to 2030. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global bubble tea market report on the basis of type, flavor, and region:

Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

Black Tea

Green Tea

Oolong Tea

White Tea

Flavor Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

Fruit

Taro

Strawberry

Classic

Coffee

Other

Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

North America

US

Canada

Mexico

Europe

UK

Germany

France

Italy

Spain

Asia Pacific

China

India

Japan

Australia

Taiwan

Central & South America

Brazil

Middle East & Africa

South Africa

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Major companies are focusing on expanding their global presence. In addition, key players are launching new varieties of flavors and tea options to gain a competitive advantage. For instance,

In June 2019, Malaysia-based ‘Secret Recipe’, a famous restaurant chain, launched new bubble tea flavors including boba signature fruit tea, boba brown sugar milk tea, and boba kopi-C

In April 2022, BUBLUV, Inc., a New York-based start-up, announced the release of its much-awaited BUBLUV Bubble Tea, the first Ready-To-Drink (RTD) healthier boba substitute with less than 50 calories per bottle and no added sugar or chemical components.

Some of the prominent players in the global bubble tea market include:

Bobabox Ltd.

Bubble Tea House Company

Fokus, Inc.

Gong Cha

ChaTime

Lollicup USA, Inc.

Bubble Tea Supply, Inc.

T Bun International

Ten Ren’s Tea Time

Troika JC

Order a free sample PDF of the Bubble Tea Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.

[windyjohn01]

Global Bubble Tea Kit Market Report – Size & Forecasts (2024)

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the Global Bubble Tea Kit Market, focusing on various segments such as By Type: Black Tea, Green Tea, Oolong Tea, White Tea, By Flavor: Fruit, Original, Chocolate, Coffee, Others By Enduse: Households, Commercial By Distribution Channel: Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Online Retail, Health Food Stores, Pharmacies, Specialty Stores. The market is anticipated to grow from USD 2,677.5 million in 2023 to USD 5,133.3 million by 2033, reflecting a CAGR of 7.5%. Key factors driving this growth include the increasing popularity of bubble tea, innovations in product offerings, and the expansion of online and offline distribution channels. The market’s leading region, Asia Pacific, benefits from established consumer preferences and an extensive distribution network. This detailed analysis covers all essential market dynamics to provide a clear understanding of current trends and future opportunities.

The bubble tea kit market encompasses products designed for making bubble tea at home, including tea bases, flavorings, and tapioca pearls. These kits allow consumers to recreate the popular bubble tea experience without visiting specialty stores. The market has grown substantially due to the increasing popularity of bubble tea, known for its unique texture and flavors. With a diverse range of product offerings and convenient distribution options, bubble tea kits cater to a broad consumer base seeking quality and convenience in beverage preparation.

Asia Pacific held the largest market share in 2023, driven by high consumption rates and a strong cultural preference for bubble tea.

Key Market Drivers

Increasing Popularity of Bubble Tea: Growing consumer interest in bubble tea has significantly contributed to the market’s expansion. The unique taste and texture of bubble tea appeal to a wide audience.

Rising Trend of DIY Kits: The shift towards home preparation of beverages has driven demand for bubble tea kits, offering consumers convenience and customization.

Product Diversification: The introduction of various tea types, flavors, and additional ingredients has attracted a diverse consumer base.

Expanding Distribution Channels: The proliferation of online retail platforms and the expansion of supermarkets and hypermarkets have made bubble tea kits more accessible to consumers worldwide.

Get more information on “ Global Bubble Tea Kit Market Report” by requesting FREE Sample Copy at https://www.eternalmarkets.com/report/bubble-tea-kit-market-2024-global-dynamics-trends-forecast/#tab-request-sample

Restraining Factors

High Cost of Premium Kits: The premium pricing of certain bubble tea kits may limit their accessibility to price sensitive consumers, impacting overall market growth.

Health Concerns: Rising health consciousness among consumers may pose a challenge, as some bubble tea kits contain high sugar content and artificial additives.

Market Saturation: The increasing number of competitors and the saturation of the market with similar products may lead to price wars and reduced profit margins.

Supply Chain Disruptions: Issues such as supply chain disruptions and fluctuations in raw material prices can impact the production and availability of bubble tea kits.

Future Outlook

Innovation in Product Offerings: Continued innovation in bubble tea flavors and ingredients will drive market growth. Companies are expected to introduce new flavors and healthier options to meet evolving consumer preferences.

Growth in Online Retail: The expansion of ecommerce platforms will enhance the availability and convenience of purchasing bubble tea kits, contributing to market growth.

Expansion into New Markets: As bubble tea gains popularity in regions outside its traditional markets, there will be increased opportunities for market expansion and new consumer segments.

Sustainability Trends: Growing awareness of environmental issues may lead to the development of eco friendly packaging and sustainable sourcing of ingredients, influencing market dynamics.

Key Players

Leading companies in the Global Bubble Tea Kit Market include:

Biju Bubble Tea Bar

Boba Guys

Boba Tea

Chatime Group

Chun Shui Tang

Coco Fresh Tea & Juice

Comebuy

Ding Tea

Gong Cha

Happy Lemon

Heytea

Holdings Corporation

K.O.I. The Co., LTD.

Other Market Leaders In The Business

Inquire Before Buying at https://www.eternalmarkets.com/report/bubble-tea-kit-market-2024-global-dynamics-trends-forecast/#tab-inquire-before-buying

Recent Developments

2024: Boba Guys Launched a new line of bubble tea kits featuring innovative flavors and eco friendly packaging.

2023: Coco Fresh Tea & Juice Expanded its product range by introducing ready to use bubble tea kits in major supermarkets and online retail platforms.

2023: Chatime Group Partnered with Amazonto to enhance the availability of its bubble tea kits through improved online distribution channels.

2022: Gong Cha Introduced a new series of low sugar bubble tea kits, catering to the growing health conscious consumer segment.

Market Segmentation

By Type: Black Tea, Green Tea, Oolong Tea, White Tea

By Flavor: Fruit, Original, Chocolate, Coffee, Others

By Enduse: Households, Commercial

By Distribution Channel: Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Online Retail, Health Food Stores, Pharmacies, Specialty Stores

By Geography:

  AsiaPacific: China, Japan, India, Rest of APAC (RoAPAC)

  North America: U.S., Canada

  Europe: Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Rest of Europe (RoE)

  South America: Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America

  Middle East & Africa: GCC, Israel, South Africa, Rest of MEA

Regional Insights

AsiaPacific: Dominates the market due to high consumption rates and a strong cultural preference for bubble tea. The region benefits from extensive distribution networks and established consumer bases.

North America: Shows significant growth potential driven by increasing awareness and adoption of bubble tea. The expanding presence of specialty stores and online platforms supports market expansion.

Europe: Experiencing gradual growth with rising consumer interest in diverse beverage options. The market is expected to expand as bubble tea becomes more popular across European countries.

Final Insights

The global bubble tea kit market is experiencing robust growth, driven by increasing consumer demand for convenient and customizable beverage options. The market is set to expand significantly over the forecast period, with innovations in product offerings and distribution channels playing a crucial role. Despite challenges such as high costs and competition from ready-to-drink products, the market’s future looks promising with a strong emphasis on sustainability and health-conscious products. The Asia-Pacific region leads the market, but significant opportunities exist in North America and Europe due to rising popularity and consumer awareness.

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Celebrity Perfume Brands: A Ranking of the Most Popular Scents

Now celebrity perfume brands have become the order of the day in the fragrance industry. Ranging from floral to musk, these intriguing scents afford a way of feeling closer to some of your favorite celebrities. But with an ever increasing number of celebrities launching their own perfume line, finding the right one seems almost impossible.

This blog is all about celebrities and their fragrances and some of the best and latest celebrity perfume collections are Monique Lhuillier, Derek Lam 10 Crosby, Rachel Zoe, Rebecca Minkoff, and Monotheme Venezia. We will take a look at their current top fragrances, dissect their personalities, and find out all that you want to know about celebrity fragrances.

Decoding the DNA of Celebrity Perfumes

Celebrity perfume brands are usually an extension of the celebrity’s personality and the style that they embrace. These scents simply allow a brief look at the persona of the celebrity; whether it is the glamorous image of a fashion designer or the rebellious outlook of a musician. Here's a closer look at some of the most popular celebrity perfume brands:

Monique Lhuillier: Sophisticated Romance

Fragrance Notes: A combination of floral citrus as well as fruity notes such as Sicilian Bergamot, Star Jasmine, and Cashmere Woods.

Best For: Celebrations, dinner dates, and candle light dinners.

Why We Love It: This fragrance will make any lady associated with a celebrity feel and look more stylish and classy thus should be part of every woman’s celebrity perfume collection.

Must-Try: Love in Bloom by Monique Lhuillier - This is a lovely scent that contains notes of rose, peony, and sparkling citrus – I would recommend this for a fresh and floral scent.

2. Derek Lam 10 Crosby: Edgy Urban Luxe

Fragrance Notes: The order comes with a smell of freshly washed laundry with a hint of vetiver, musk, and white tea.

Best For: For daily wear and informal occasions during the day.

Why We Love It: The scent is all around, can be used on different occasions, and is therefore a necessity in the perfume collection of any celebrity.

Must-Try: Blackout by Derek Lam 10 Crosby – This is a powerful and somewhat provocative scent, Blackout ties together dark flowers, leather, and something sweet.

3. Rachel Zoe: Effortless Glamour

Fragrance Notes: Intended to be rather intense, with a hint of black pepper, vanilla, and amber.

Best For: Business and formal occasions, weddings, evening wear, and special occasions.

Why We Love It: This perfume is all about strength and confidence and that is why the best women’s celebrity perfume search would not be complete without it.

Must-Try:  Living Room Candle by Rachel Zoe - Customers love this sophisticated candle which gives out a scent of amber, sandalwood, and slight spice, perfect for a home that wants to create a warm ambiance.

4. Rebecca Minkoff: Playful Confidence

Fragrance Notes: It has a floral and woody note with jasmine, coriander seed, and tonka notes.

Best For: Well, we know that our bags are best suited for everyday wear and casual chic occasions.

Why We Love It: It has a floral and woody note which provides a moderate fragrance that can be worn daily.

Must-Try: Sugar by Rebecca Minkoff – This is a very cheerful scent with notes of sugared fruits, vanilla, and musk making it a good choice for those who want to add some youthful spark to themselves.

5. Monotheme Venezia: Pure Italian Essence

Fragrance Notes: Luxurious and sensual with accords of vanilla, amber, and patchouli.

Best For: The evening wear and formal occasions are the best suits for these dresses.

Why We Love It: The above celebrity perfume brands are more luxurious and rich in fragrance than most of the other perfumes in the market.

Must-Try: Fior di Latte by Monotheme Venezia - A beautiful fragrance that will make you feel like you are drinking fresh milk; it is so simple, but very sensual at the same time.

Beyond the Bottle: The Power of Celebrity Fragrance

Thus, celebrity perfume brands are not only a pleasant smell for the body but also embody much more. They allow getting closer to the spirit of your idols and share the reflection of your personality. The appropriate celebrity scent could easily become an indispensable item that, apart from making you feel more confident, will always be remembered.

So next time you are planning to buy a new perfume, do not shy away from celebrity perfumes as they can be good. Perhaps it does not take much effort to spend some time and try out several fragrances that might be precisely the one for you – the fragrance that will embody your character and leave behind a trail of irresistible charm.

Beyond Celebrity Perfumes: Exploring the World of Fragrance

Though celebrity perfume brands are quite appealing and make the first step towards the world of fragrances easier, there is so much more out there! Here are a few suggestions for expanding your fragrance horizons:

Discover niche fragrance houses: Specialty fragrance producers tend to concentrate on the quality of the substances and the differentiation from other scents.

Explore different fragrance families. There is also a system of classification in the world of fragrance where it is divided into families such as floral, oriental, and citrus among others. This list will assist you in recognizing what scents are likely to appeal to you and familiarizing yourself with the categories.

Learn about fragrance notes. The components of a scent include the top note, middle note, and base note, and having an understanding of the different layers of a fragrance allows you to interpret the relationality of a scent.

If one takes the time to look around and think about it, he or she would be able to take a thrilling tour into the realm of perfumes and find scents that would suit him or her and leave a mark.

The Final Note: Finding Your Perfect Celebrity Scent

When there are so many interesting and pretty celebrity perfume brands, the world of fragrances seems vast and endless. However, it enables a person to go on a search and find out which celebrity fragrance best suits you depending on your preferred style and notes. It is okay to mix and match the various collections, feel free to play dress and ambiance up perhaps flaunting the boho-chic inspiration of Rachel Zoe while lighting up Living Room Candle for that homey feel at night, or the youthful spirited collection of Rebecca Minkoff with Sugar for that kick-start in the morning.

FAQs

Q: Are celebrity perfumes worth it?

A: It depends! Some celebrity fragrances are created with high-quality ingredients and offer unique scents. However, others may prioritize affordability over quality. Do your research and read reviews before purchasing.

Q: Is there a celebrity perfume for me?

A: Absolutely! With a wide range of styles from romantic florals to edgy musks, there's a celebrity perfume brand out there to suit almost any taste.

Q: Are celebrity perfumes worth the investment?

A: Many celebrity perfumes are crafted with high-quality ingredients and offer unique, memorable scents that are worth the investment.

Q: Can I find celebrity perfumes for men?

A: Yes, several celebrity perfume brands offer fragrances that are suitable for men, such as Derek Lam 10 Crosby.

Q: How should I store my celebrity perfumes?

A: To ensure the longevity of your perfumes, store them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

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Overview of the Ready-to-Drink Beverages Market analysis

The Ready-to-Drink (RTD) beverages market encompasses a wide variety of pre-packaged drinks that are ready for immediate consumption. These beverages have gained immense popularity due to their convenience, variety, and alignment with modern lifestyles. From iced teas and coffees to energy drinks, smoothies, and alcoholic mixers, RTD beverages cater to diverse consumer preferences and needs.

Historical Background and Evolution

The concept of RTD beverages dates back several decades, evolving from simple bottled drinks to sophisticated products with enhanced flavors, nutritional benefits, and innovative packaging. The evolution has been driven by advancements in food technology, changing consumer habits, and a growing focus on health and wellness. Initially, the market was dominated by carbonated soft drinks, but it has since expanded to include a broad range of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages.

Importance and Relevance in Today's Market

In today's fast-paced world, RTD beverages play a crucial role in providing quick and easy hydration and nutrition solutions. They cater to busy individuals seeking convenience without compromising on quality or taste. The market's relevance is further underscored by the ongoing trends towards health consciousness, sustainable living, and digital convenience, making RTD beverages a staple in the modern consumer's lifestyle.

Objectives and Scope of the Article

This article aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the RTD beverages market, exploring its various segments, market dynamics, key trends, regional influences, competitive landscape, and future outlook. It will also delve into consumer insights, manufacturing processes, regulatory impacts, and provide real-world case studies to offer a comprehensive understanding of this dynamic market.

Market Segmentation

Types of RTD Beverages

Alcoholic RTD Beverages

Alcoholic RTD beverages, including premixed cocktails, hard seltzers, and flavored malt beverages, have seen significant growth in recent years. These products appeal to ready-to-drink beverages market consumers seeking the convenience of a ready-made drink with consistent taste and quality. Popular brands like White Claw and Truly have revolutionized the market, attracting a broad demographic, particularly younger adults and millennials.

Non-Alcoholic RTD Beverages

Non-alcoholic RTD beverages encompass a vast array of products such as iced teas, flavored waters, energy drinks, sports drinks, and ready-made coffees. These beverages are designed to provide quick refreshment, energy boosts, and hydration solutions. Health-oriented options, such as kombuchas and probiotic drinks, have gained popularity among health-conscious consumers.

Packaging Formats

Bottles

Bottles are a common packaging format for RTD beverages, offering durability and portability. They are widely used for a variety of drinks, including juices, teas, and dairy-based beverages. Glass and plastic bottles each offer unique benefits, with glass being perceived as premium and plastic as lightweight and convenient.

Cans

Cans are another popular packaging choice, particularly for carbonated and alcoholic RTD beverages. They are lightweight, easily recyclable, and provide excellent protection against light and oxygen, preserving the drink's quality and taste. The increasing preference for canned beverages is also driven by their portability and ease of use.

Cartons

Cartons are favored for their eco-friendliness and are commonly used for non-carbonated beverages like juices and plant-based milks. They are lightweight and often come with resealable options, enhancing convenience for on-the-go consumers. Cartons are also perceived as a more sustainable packaging solution, aligning with the growing consumer demand for environmentally friendly products.

Pouches

Pouches offer a flexible and lightweight packaging option, ideal for single-serve RTD beverages. They are particularly popular in the children's drinks segment and for sports drinks. Pouches provide convenience and reduce material usage, contributing to sustainability efforts.

Distribution Channels

Supermarkets and Hypermarkets

Supermarkets and hypermarkets are major distribution channels for RTD beverages, offering a wide variety of products under one roof. These large retail stores provide high visibility and accessibility, making them a preferred choice for both consumers and manufacturers.

Buy the Full Report for Additional Insights on the Ready-to-Drink (RTD) Market Forecast

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Bubble Tea Market Outlook for Forecast Period (2023 to 2030)

Global Bubble Tea Market size was reasonably estimated to be approximately USD 2573.66 Million in 2023 and is poised to generate revenue over USD 5182.9 Million by the end of 2030, projecting a CAGR of around 10.50% from 2023 to 2030.

The bubble tea market has experienced exponential growth globally, emerging as a popular beverage choice among consumers of all ages. Originating from Taiwan, bubble tea, also known as boba tea or pearl milk tea, is a refreshing concoction typically made from tea, milk, flavorings, and tapioca pearls or other toppings. This market has expanded beyond its Asian roots, with numerous tea shops and franchises proliferating worldwide. The appeal of bubble tea lies in its customizable flavors, diverse toppings, and the experiential aspect of consuming the beverage, making it a trendy and Instagram-worthy drink. The market is characterized by innovation, with vendors constantly introducing new flavors, ingredients, and variations to cater to evolving consumer preferences.

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Leading players involved in the Bubble Tea Market include:

"Bobabox Ltd. (UK), Bubble Tea House Company (US), Fokus, Inc. (US), Gong Cha (Taiwan), Chatime Group  (Taiwan), Coco Fresh Tea & Juice (Taiwan), Cuppotee (US), ChaTime (Taiwan), Lollicup USA, Inc. (US), Bubble Tea Supply, Inc. (US), Sumo's (M) SdnBhd (Malaysia), T Bun International (US), Quickly  (Taiwan), Xing Fu Tang (Taiwan), Tiger Sugar (Taiwan), Yummy Town (Cayman) Holding Corporation (Happy Lemon) (Hong Kong), Ten Ren's Tea Time (Taiwan), K.O.I. The Co, LTD. (Taiwan), Troika JC (US), Boba Box Limited (UK), and Other Major Players." 

The latest research on the Bubble Tea market provides a comprehensive overview of the market for the years 2023 to 2030. It gives a comprehensive picture of the global Bubble Tea industry, considering all significant industry trends, market dynamics, competitive landscape, and market analysis tools such as Porter's five forces analysis, Industry Value chain analysis, and PESTEL analysis of the Bubble Tea market. Moreover, the report includes significant chapters such as Patent Analysis, Regulatory Framework, Technology Roadmap, BCG Matrix, Heat Map Analysis, Price Trend Analysis, and Investment Analysis which help to understand the market direction and movement in the current and upcoming years. The report is designed to help readers find information and make decisions that will help them grow their businesses. The study is written with a specific goal in mind: to give business insights and consultancy to help customers make smart business decisions and achieve long-term success in their particular market areas.

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Segmentation of Bubble Tea Market:

By Type

Black Tea

Green Tea

Oolong Tea

White Tea

By Component

Flavour

Creamer

Sweetener

Liquid

Tapioca Pearls

Others

By Flavour

Fruit

Taro

Strawberry

Classic                                                                               

Coffee                                                                        

By Toppings

Tapioca Pearls

Fruit Jellies

Popping Boba

Grass Jelly

By Distribution Channel

Bubble Tea Shops

Cafés

Bubble Tea Chains

Online Delivery Platforms

An in-depth study of the Bubble Tea industry for the years 2023–2030 is provided in the latest research. North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, the Middle East, and Africa are only some of the regions included in the report's segmented and regional analyses. The research also includes key insights including market trends and potential opportunities based on these major insights. All these quantitative data, such as market size and revenue forecasts, and qualitative data, such as customers' values, needs, and buying inclinations, are integral parts of any thorough market analysis.

Market Segment by Regions: -

North America (US, Canada, Mexico)

Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Rest of Eastern Europe)

Western Europe (Germany, UK, France, Netherlands, Italy, Russia, Spain, Rest of Western Europe)

Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, The Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Rest of APAC)

Middle East & Africa (Turkey, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Israel, South Africa)

South America (Brazil, Argentina, Rest of SA)

Reasons to Purchase this Market Report:

Market forecast analysis through recent trends and SWOT analysis

Bubble Tea Market Dynamics Scenarios with Market Growth Opportunities over the Next Year

Market segmentation analysis, including qualitative and quantitative studies that include economic and non-economic impacts

Bubble Tea Market Regional and country-level analysis that integrates demand and supply forces that impact the growth of the market.

Competitive environment related to the Bubble Tea market share for key players, along with new projects and strategies that players have adopted over the past five years

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Functional Mushroom Market Trends, Size, Share, Business Innovations, Growth Outlook, Solution, Services and Future Prospects by 2032

In 2022, it is expected that the functional mushroom market would be worth US$9.3 billion. The market will grow at a 9.1% CAGR throughout the projection period, reaching US$ 22.3 Bn by 2032. According to recently published Future Market Insights research, in 2022, the market for functional mushrooms is expected to increase globally by 8.8% year over year (Y-o-Y).

Around 15 species of functional mushrooms are known for having medicinal and healing properties. Reishi, named as lingzhi in China, has been used in Chinese medicine for longevity for over 2,000 years, while Chaga is considered as the richest antioxidant mushroom that provides anti-inflammatory benefits while strengthening immune system. Further, Cordyceps, a parasitic and rare mushroom, is used for vitality, energy, and endurance worldwide.

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Adaptogenic mushrooms are gradually emerging as an effective superfood. They increase energy levels, restore youthful glow of skin, keep hormone levels in check, and reduce brain fog.

Healing mushrooms, like Cordyceps, Tremella, Reishi, Oyster, Shiitake, and Enoki are being used in the health and wellness products as powdered supplements, which is expected to create opportunities for growth in the market.

In addition to this, increasing applications of functional mushrooms in non-alcoholic beverages and holistic pet care products will continue driving sales in the market over the assessment period.

“Rising awareness regarding the benefits of organic functional mushrooms, along with increasing interest and expenditure on nutrition and health supplements across the globe will dirve sales in the market in the forthcoming years,” says an FMI analyst.

View Report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/functional-mushroom-market

Key Takeaways from Market Study

Based on nature, the organic functional mushroom segment will account for a dominant share in the market.

In terms of applications, demand in the pet care industry is anticipated to remain high.

By form, sales of powdered functional mushroom will continue gaining momentum through 2032.

The U.S. will dominate the North America functional mushroom market owing to high demand from the food and beverage sector.

China will account for a lion’s share in the East Asia functional mushroom market on the back of surging applications on sports nutrition.

The U.K. will emerge as a lucrative pocket in the Europe functional mushroom market amid rising preference for organic food supplements.

Competitive Landscape

Key functional mushroom brands are looking for new strategic partnerships to diversify applications in food and beverage industry. Players are also focusing on developing nutritional and high-quality food solutions while being innovative with formulations to attract more customers. For instance:

In 2020, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, announced to invest in Clevr Blends, an LA-based brand which sells powdered coffee spiked with adaptogens, functional mushrooms, and probiotics.

In November 2021, Odyssey Wellness LLC launched its RTD (ready-to-drink) line of functional and organic mushroom elixirs with the brew line including 4 delicious and unique flavor combinations, such as French Roast Oat Latte with Cordyceps, Lions Mane and Cocoa, Cold Brew Oat Latte with Cordyceps and Lions Mane, Berry White Tea with Chaga, Reishi, Turkey Tail, Maitake, Elderberry, and Shitake, and Chai Rooibos with Turkey Tail, Reishi, and Ashwagandha.

Explore More Valuable Insights

Future Market Insights, in its new report, offers an impartial analysis of the global functional mushroom market, presenting historical data (2017-2021) and estimation statistics for the forecast period of 2022-2032.

Functional Mushroom Market By Category

By Nature:

Organic

Conventional

By Product Species:

Reishi

Shiitake

Lion’s Mane

Chaga

Maitake

Cordyceps

Tremella

Turkey Tail

Enokitake

Oyster Mushrooms

Others

By Form:

Liquid Sprays and Drinks

Powders

Capsules or Supplements

Others

By Application:

Food & Beverages

Nutraceuticals & Dietary Supplements

Pharmaceutical

Sports Nutrition and Functional Items

Cosmetics & Personal Care

Pet Care Industry

Others

By Region:

North America

Latin America

Europe

East Asia

South Asia

Oceania

Middle East & Africa

About Future Market Insights, Inc. Future Market Insights, Inc. (ESOMAR certified, Stevie Award - recipient market research organization and a member of Greater New York Chamber of Commerce) provides in-depth insights into governing factors elevating the demand in the market. It discloses opportunities that will favor the market growth in various segments on the basis of Source, Application, Sales Channel and End Use over the next 10-years.

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White Tea Market Outlook

[vs-redemption]

From Cindy: This bad boy got away from me and ended up being 3,674 words. I’m really happy with it though and I hope you think so too. It was written for a writing collaboration on Discord ( @konoblog-simps )

Gray - Soulmate AU (Levi Ackerman x GN!Reader)

Read a similar soulmate AU for Levi here

You hated winter.

You supposed people found something magical about the view of fluffy white flakes catching the light as they drifted down from the sky and created a thick white blanket across the ground and trees. However, the fairy tale description was only true when observed from the other side of a window where the protection of four walls and a fireplace could block out the harsh reality.

“Don’t forget the shopping on your way back.” Your grandmother’s raspy voice cuts through the morning silence as you go through the tedious process of bundling up against the frigid weather you knew you’d be facing as soon as you stepped outside. The elderly woman was sitting in her favorite spot on the sofa, lap covered by one of the many blankets she’d made over the years. You grandfather shuffled into the room as if on cue with two piping hot mugs of tea. He hands one to his wife before settling happily into the place next to her.

“I never do.” Your words come out harsher than you’d intended, but your grandparents pay you no mind. They were either used to your attitude or too wrapped up in their own happily ever after. You finish off your ridiculously bulky outfit by shoving a knit cap over your head and then heading out into the cold.

You hated your job

You knew you should be grateful that you had the luxury of owning an apothecary. It was the type of establishment that would never want for business. There was also a certain pride in being able to provide people with medicines to relieve them of their aches and pains, allergies, and illnesses. The difficulty was in being surrounded by the memories of your parents and the perfect life they’d lived, as well as the constant reminder that you’d been robbed of the chance to experience that type of fantasy.

Trudging through the deep wet snow had made you a few minutes late, and there were already a few customers waiting outside the tiny shop you’d inherited by the time you arrived. You apologize politely as you unlock the door and let them inside, shedding the layers of your winter clothes as quickly as you can so that you can get to work. It was always a little busier in the winter months, but finding the right remedy for each person was something you’d gotten good at over time. Most customers came and went without much trouble, but assisting the regulars who’d known you since childhood was always a bit awkward. You did your best not to notice the pity and judgement on their faces as you prepared their orders with the same forced pleasantness as you did for everyone else.

You hated shopping

Having a job that earned enough wages to properly provide for yourself and your family was a blessing most people in your city could not enjoy. Your parents had always made sure to remind you of that fact whenever they came home with baskets full of fresh fruits and vegetables, cheese, bread, and sometimes even meat. As an adult, you still appreciated the fact that you did not have to know hunger, but it was always such a hassle to deal with the crowded market after getting off work.

When your parents had been alive, they had loved going out to run these types of errands together. It had always surprised you how they would choose to spend more time together even after living and working with each other every single day. They never seemed to get tired of each other, and you could remember vividly the way they’d smiled at each other with pure happiness and love in their gaze. It was hard to forget when you saw the same blissful look on every couple you happened to encounter as you went about your day. It made you feel so incredibly alone sometimes, but you did your best to bury those emotions deep down out of fear that they would consume you completely.

“How much is the bread today?” You ask the baker once you make it to the counter through the throngs of people. He tells you the price and begins to wrap up your order when you agree to it.

“You’re lucky,” he tells you conversationally. “This is the last loaf of the day.”

“Tch!” A frustrated sound comes from behind you and you turn around instinctively to make sure nothing was wrong. Standing next to you was a grouchy looking man with silky black hair, styled in an undercut. The long, soft looking strands on the top of his head came down to frame his face, drawing attention to the most important feature; his eyes. You notice right away they are both the identical shade of gray, which told you a lot about him already.

“Were you waiting in line?” You ask curiously even though meeting his sharp gaze directly was a bit intimidating. He regards you critically for a moment before sighing and looking away, probably forming his own judgments based on the incorrect story told by your own eyes.

“It’s fine,” his tone of voice is flat and a little dismissive. “I should’ve gotten here earlier.” He turns to walk away but something makes you call out to stop him.

“Wait,” you give him the friendliest smile you can muster before looking to the baker. “Please, wrap this up for him instead. I insist.” The baker shrugs, not really bothered by the change as long as he got his payment. The scowl on the man’s face gave way to surprise, and you thought the softer look suited him much better. You could see that he was preparing to reject your kindness, so you mutter a quick goodbye before turning away and blending in with the crowd.

You hated your eyes

In the world you lived in, everything revolved around a person’s eyes. They were more than just a mere window into the soul, they were also a glimpse into the future. As a child, you could recall the excitement of your friends as they studied the mismatched colors of each other’s irises, speculating wildly about which shade truly belonged to them and which was borrowed from a stranger that they were destined to meet sometime in the future. Their enthusiasm had been contagious in the beginning, and you’d enjoyed listening to people discuss their predictions about the background, appearance, and personality of their future partner.

“Did you get everything on the list?” Your grandfather asks as he takes the basket of food from you once you finally return home. The walk back from the market had been miserable. Your feet were cold and wet from sloshing through the snow, but the rest of you was warm and sweaty from the exertion of hauling the purchases all the way back while wearing so many thick layers.

“They were out of bread,” You inform him while shrugging out of your coat. A look of displeasure passed over his face but vanished just as quickly when your grandmother called to him from the kitchen. You were relieved that she was volunteering to make dinner this time, because the exhaustion from your day was starting to catch up with you.

You head into the bathroom, ready to warm up with a hot shower and put on a fresh pair of clothes while the meal was prepared. As you wait for the water from the tap to heat up, you catch a glimpse of your reflection in the mirror. Usually you avoided looking at your face for too long, but every now and then you decided to stare back at yourself for a moment. You frown as you meet the gaze of the two identical eyes that you’d be born with. They looked mockingly back at you from the glass, their dull gray hue like a running joke that you’d never found remotely funny.

Washing away the grime of the day helped clear your head of negative thoughts, and soon your mind drifted back to the man you’d helped at the market. The memory of his eyes reminded you that you had made the right decision. He was the one who had someone important waiting for him back at home, possibly even children that needed to be fed and taken care of. You and your grandparents would be just fine as you always had, even if there was a spark of jealousy in you that the man got to have the type of wholesome future that you could never enjoy.

You hated soulmates

The idea of having the comfort of knowing there was someone out there born specifically to fill your life with joy, support, and love was an overwhelming one. It was hard for you to really imagine what it must be like for people to be filled with that nervous anticipation every time they got the opportunity to meet someone new. You’d had secondhand experiences as you watched friends and acquaintances around you find their destinies in one another, but while those meetings spelled out the beginning of something wonderful for them, it only served to make you feel the bleakness of your situation more profoundly.

It was extremely rare for someone to be born without a soulmate, and although your parents tried to have a positive outlook, you had still felt the stigma associated with your condition every single day of your life. It had been impossible to escape the stares and gasps of astonishment from both adults and children alike during you school-age years. Most of them had never seen a child your age with two of the same colored eyes, so it was inevitable that you’d garnered quite a bit of unwanted attention. The people you met were merely curious at first, but as you got older the intrigue turned to pity.

As hard as it was to deal with the people around you who knew the truth, meeting strangers was almost worse. Those who still walked around with duel colored eyes held little interest in someone who had seemingly already found their partner, and everyone else was too preoccupied with their own established lives to pay attention to you at all. In the world you lived in, everything revolved around a person’s eyes. Unfortunately, your eyes had landed you into one of the loneliest roles imaginable.

You hated your luck

It should not have surprised you as much as it did when the man from the market walked into your apothecary a few days later, but considering the fact he’d been popping up in your thoughts sporadically ever since the first meeting, it certainly caught you off guard to see his face again. By the way his familiar gray eyes widened upon seeing you standing behind counter, you guessed he hadn’t been expecting to see you again either.

“Hello again,” you smile awkwardly to try and clear the air. You weren’t sure if it would be weird to mention the bread incident or not.

“Hello,” the man nods, his facial features relaxing into a neutral expression. You were glad he didn’t seem to be as agitated as he’d been in the market. “I’m looking for something that might help my mother. She’s recently fallen ill and nothing I do seems to be helping.”

“What are her symptoms?” The question falls naturally from your lips. As the man describes his mother’s condition, you find yourself taking in his appearance in more detail. His black hair looked as soft as you remembered, but now you were noticing other things like the shape of his nose and sharp angle of his jawline. The clothes he wore were on the nicer side, and it made you wonder what he did for a living. His stature was a bit on the shorter side, and although his build was lean, you got the impression that he was healthy and strong.

“Well, it seems like she may have caught a flu,” you explain once the man finishes speaking. You turn to grab a few items from the shelf behind you and place them on the counter. “These should work to control the symptoms and reduce her fever until her body is able to fight off the infection.”

“Thank you,” he sounds genuine as he pulls out some money to pay for the medicine. You accept the payment, taking note of his long, elegant hands and fingers.

“Not at all,” you assure him with an easy smile. “I hope your mother recovers quickly.”

The man nods in gratitude while scooping up the goods he’d purchased in his hands. He seemed to hesitate for a moment before looking back up to catch your gray eyes with his own.

“My name’s Levi, by the way.” The confidence in his voice did not match the anxious set of his features. “We didn’t get to have a proper introduction the other day.”

“O-oh,” there was no way to conceal the shock you felt in that moment. It was out of the ordinary for anyone to give you their name, especially a man who had obviously had his encounter with fate already. You manage to stutter out your own name, wondering if you were having some sort of intensely realistic dream as you watch the man’s lips twitch into the smallest, briefest of smiles.

“A pleasure to meet you,” he repeats your name to himself thoughtfully. “Have a nice day.” With all his business with you completed, he nods his head and exits your shop, leaving you to try and tame the wild racing of your thoughts and heart.

You hated false hope

It was embarrassing how often you had to remind yourself over the next few days that a person simply introducing themselves to you should not be taken as anything more than polite kindness. You had seemingly lost all control of your mind and feelings though, since scarcely a moment went by now without thoughts of Levi sending butterflies fluttering around in your stomach. It didn’t seem fair that you knew so little about him, but you understood that you’d have to be content with the memory of his ghost of a smile and the echo of the way your name had sounded as it escaped his lips. Part of you hoped you’d never see the man again so that you could get over your delusions as quickly and easily as possible, but another part of you longed to bump into him again.

“What are you doing in here?” Your grandmother walked into the bathroom to find you leaning over the sink, eyes wide open and focused so intensely on your reflection in the mirror that you hadn’t even heard her approach.

“Huh?” you whirl around to face her, finally blinking once you realized how tired your eyes were from the thorough examination you’d just given them. “What did it feel like after you met Grandpa?”

Your stomach sank immediately at the pitying look that grew on the old woman’s face. She reaches out to rub your arm sympathetically with a sad smile. “I’m so sorry sweetie,” is all she tells you before changing the subject completely. “Excuse me now, I need to use the restroom.”

“Right, sorry.” You offer a dry laugh as you move out of her way, reality rushing back like a harsh slap to the face. You’d known all along that you’d never really have a soulmate, but it was hard not to have grasped on to the small shred of a possibility. It hadn’t slipped your attention that Levi also had gray eyes, but plenty of people had the same or similar shade. Besides, the likeliness of soulmates having the same exact eye color was even rarer than someone being born without a soulmate at all. You vowed to keep these cold hard truths at the forefront of your mind from now on, and resigned yourself completely to the fate you’d been dealt.

You loved Levi

It had been a whole week since you’d given up the last loaf of bread that had sent your life into a strange whirlwind of new, unexplored emotions. The days between then and the present had been interesting indeed, but now you were determined to go back to life as normal. The weather wasn’t so terrible today, but you still bundled up to prepare yourself for the cold morning walk to the Apothecary. You arrived at the shop with plenty of time to remove the layers of winter clothes and do a quick inventory of items you’d soon need to restock.

It was around lunchtime when you really started to relax back into your routine. The steady flow of customers had helped to keep your mind occupied, and once things slowed down around midday, you picked up a rag and began to wipe down the counters and windows absentmindedly. The sound of the bell above the door alerted you to someone’s arrival and you quickly tossed down the rag and turned to greet them. Once again, you find yourself startled to be standing in the presence of the man from the market.

“Levi,” you mutter his name before shaking out of your daze. “Excuse me,” you look down and apologize in embarrassment. “Um, can I help you with something? Is your mother feeling better?”

“She’s much better, yes. Thank you.” Levi clears his throat awkwardly and you can’t help but think his posture is stiffer than you remember. You wonder again what he did for a living because he seemed to be a bit overdressed for a simple trip to the apothecary. He looked incredibly handsome in any case, and it was doing nothing to help quiet your wandering imagination.

“I’m glad to hear that,” you weren’t sure what else to say. You walk over to the small faucet behind the counter to wash your hands since you’d just been cleaning. The silence between you both grew more and more uncomfortable until Levi’s face suddenly contorts with frustration. You open your mouth to apologize for whatever you’d done but he cuts you off by coming forward suddenly and placing both hands on the counter.

“Your eyes,” he forces out the words before averting his own gaze. Any hope of keeping yourself grounded in reality seemed to go up in smoke as your heart rate kicked into overdrive.

“Yes?” you say breathlessly and the fact that you weren’t kicking him out for being incredibly inappropriate was enough to spur him on with whatever point he was trying to get to.

“How long?” he swallows thickly and takes a deep breath, “How long since they’ve changed?”

“They’ve always been this way,” it should’ve been harder to admit, but the way Levi was acting was distracting you from the shame you’d normally be feeling. A soft sound, like an intrigued sigh, escapes his lips and he covers his mouth with those beautiful long fingers you’d been trying not to think about. All you can do is stare at him as he comes to terms with the information you’d just revealed. You wondered why he’d even want to know and what he would do now that the truth was out in the open. Finally, after an unbearable stretch of time, Levi lowers his hand back onto the counter, revealing a faint but amused looking smile.

“Well,” his confidence began to return. “They look much better on you than they do on me.”

“What?” Every cell in your body seemed to be buzzing with anticipation. You wanted to believe that this was all leading up to something good, but a nagging fear in the back of your mind warned you against giving in to the false hope that you’d vowed to ignore.

“I was born with these eyes as well,” Levi confesses calmly while gesturing to his face. “Both of them.”

It was your turn to cover your mouth, wondering desperately if it was all right yet to dare to dream that there was meaning behind what was happening after all.

“I have no idea if this is all a coincidence or not,” Levi shrugs as his mouth pulls into a frown. “To be honest, I gave up on the idea of soulmates a long time ago, but I cannot ignore the fact that you’ve consumed my thoughts from the moment I saw you in the market.”

Tears unwittingly begin to blur your vision as all the tension inside you finally reaches a tipping point.

“I…” You aren’t sure whether to laugh or cry. Levi’s hand appears in front of your face, offering a handkerchief. You accept it gratefully and wipe the wetness from your eyes and cheeks. “I didn’t think it was possible, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking of you either.”

Levi folds his arms over his chest as if contemplating the matter seriously, but the pause only lasts a few seconds this time. Before you have time to worry about what he’ll say, he’s offering you his hand.

“Would you like to be my soulmate then?” he asks, a hint of teasing in his voice despite the nervous energy surrounding you both. You don’t hesitate to place your hand into his. You weren’t sure if your matching eyes was a sign that you were meant to be together, but it wouldn’t be fair to either of you to throw away the shot of having the kind of life you’d watched other people enjoy your entire lives. If you were able to bring each other happiness, you could care less if it was what fate had planned.

“Yes,” Your voice shook with the overwhelming emotions coursing through you, “I think I’d like that.”

“As would I,” Levi replies as a real smile takes over his face at last. The hope you see in the depths of his beautiful gray eyes makes you appreciate the matching color of your own for the very first time, and the idea of a happy future finally seems within your grasp.

[before-we-get-started]

Dream Come True

Colin Shea x O/C Corinne MacAdam

Multi-Chapter Story - Complete

Summary: Colin Shea and his band Rock the Cradle are finally making it big - until something unexpected happens. When he meets a girl that makes him reconsider his player ways, he thinks his life may be coming together, until she blows it apart.

Warning: Bad language, smut, suicidal ideations - no one under 18, please

Disclaimer: This is a pure work of fiction and classified as 18+. Please do not read if you are underage. I do not own the character of Colin Shea; the rest are my original characters. By reading beyond this point, you understand the disclaimers as posted.

Chapter Five

On Monday, she woke up with a new outlook. Today she’d start a new job, something much different than working for the events management company. Serving as personal assistant to a family friend, an heiress and philanthropist, eccentric and a spinster, but a very nice woman. Cori’s mother had reminded her that her new boss, Ms. Robbins, was prone to mood swings (and forgetting things), but that she’d treat her fairly and appreciate her hard work.

On a whim on Sunday, she’d decided to color her hair. She bought a kit and gave herself light blonde highlights, lightening the chestnut brown. She looked as if she’d been out in the sun, as if maybe she had a healthy outdoor lifestyle, not like she’d been holed up feeling sorry for herself for months.

She dressed in a chocolate brown business suit with a cream blouse, a bow tied at the neck. She put on her brown pumps and some with the crème filigreed toe accent and grabbed her purse. For good luck, she put on the pearl drop earrings her parents had gotten her for her 16th birthday. She’d prepped her lunch the night before and grabbed the thermal bag from the frig, along with her travel coffee mug. She had plenty of time to make the T to the Back Bay neighborhood where Ms. Robbins lived.

As she’d finished getting ready, “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves had been playing on the radio. She found herself singing it softly as she left the apartment. “I’m walking on sunshine – yeah!” she sang, a little louder than she planned, as the door to 6A opened. Colin emerged in his boxers. He bent down to pick up a newspaper, then stood up and took a good look at her as she walked by.

“Mornin’ 6C,” he said with that gorgeous smile. His eyes ran over her from head to toe and she could almost feel it.

She smiled back, gazing over her shoulder as she walked by. “Mornin’ 6A. Have a good day.” She kept walking down the stairs, her optimism bubbling up. What a great way to start the day – Colin in his boxers. She smiled to herself, descending the stairs, holding on to the wooden rail. She looked up just long enough to see Colin, arms on the railing, leaning over to watch her.

“You have a good day, too,” he said, lingering as she bounced her way down and out of the building.

Ms. Robbins lived in a huge terracotta brick home on Newton Street. The house had been divided up into condos and she occupied the entire first floor. It was just her and Yaz, her Yorkie (Ms. Robbins was a lifelong Red Sox fan). Cori had been to her home twice before – once as a child for a dinner party, and once a few weeks ago for her job interview. She entered the front door and rang the bell at the door on her left, the entry to Ms. Robbins’ home.

“’S open!”

Cori entered and walked into the main living area, adorned with floral wallpaper in greens and blues. Wood three-quarter round trim stained a honey color trimmed the room and honey colored hardwoods peeked out from a solid blue area rug. There was a Steinway piano, a Victorian couch and chair and a coffee table in the room, along with built-in shelves that held items from around the world, secured during Ms. Robbins’ travels.

“It’s Cori,” she said in a singsong voice. Yaz came streaking into the room, yapping ferociously. She bent down and petted the silky hair around the blue bow tied around a small tuft on his head. He returned the gesture with little licks to her hand.

“Good morning!” Ms. Robbins had cornered the market on brocade dresses. Every time Cori had ever seen her, she was in some type of beautiful brocade. Today’s was a kelly green/ecru paisley that was beautiful against her ivory skin and auburn hair. In her mid-60’s, she was medium height and quite fit, a few lines on her porcelain skin but they weren’t too noticeable with her impeccable makeup. She was holding a number of envelopes as she entered the room.

She hugged Cori and extended her arms, getting a look at her. “Cori, you look absolutely gorgeous. I’m so excited we’ll be working together.”

Cori smiled. “I am too Ms. Robbins. I really appreciate this opportunity.”

“I’m going to keep you busy,” she said. “Now let me show you around so we can get to work.” She led Cori through a formal dining room, complete with a giant ornate wood table and chairs, into a kitchen that had obviously been recently remodeled. Tall white cabinets, a beautiful light gray granite and a white subway tile backsplash, with larger square ceramic tiles and a beautiful mosaic tile providing a pop of color behind the large stainless Bertazzoni range. The kitchen was immaculate – Cori wondered if any food had ever actually been prepared in the room.

“You can put your lunch bag here,” she said, pointing to the giant SubZero frig, “and are you a coffee drinker?”

“Yes Ma’am,” Cori said, shaking her travel mug in front of her.

“Wonderful! I have a coffee station here, there are an assortment of flavors. Lots of creamer in the frig. Help yourself,” she said, waving her arm in front of the high-end coffee maker like it was up for bids on The Price is Right.

She showed Cori the powder room and where she could store her coat and any other items she brought with her. “I want you to feel at home. Help yourself to whatever you find in the kitchen. If you can’t find something, just let me know. Mi casa, su casa,” she said with a smile.

Cori felt a surge of excitement, for the hospitality and for the unknown opportunity that lied ahead.

They made their way to the office, just off the living area with beautiful French doors in the same honey wood. The walls were done in a green wallpaper with wide green velvet stripes. The honey floors carried in and there was a large mahogany desk, built-in bookcases behind it and a high-backed leather office chair.

“This is your workspace now,” Ms. Robbins said. “You’ll find a variety of office supplies in the desk and in the cabinet on the wall. If what you need isn’t here, make a list and – well – I’ll send you out to buy it,” she smiled.

Cori laughed. “Yes ma’am,” she said with a laugh.

“And how about if you call me Amelia. ‘Ma’am’ and ‘Ms. Robbins’ make me feel old.”

“Ok Amelia,” she said. “I love that name.”

“And I love yours. My mother’s name was Corinne. I’m named after my father’s mother. Thank goodness, my mother’s mother was Agatha.” They both laughed.

“I thought we’d operate this way – this new laptop is yours. You can use it here and take it home if you ever need to work after hours. In this book (she opened a leather-bound journal), there are sections. The first will be for your schedule. I’ve written what I’d like you to do this week here,” she said, pointing at a page behind the first tab. “The second section will be for lists. I’ve written this week’s date and a list of items I need you to purchase. The third section will be for your hours. Sign in and out each day, and be sure to include any evening or weekend hours, there will eventually be some. I’ll check it on Fridays, send the hours to my accountant and he’ll transfer money to your account on Monday morning, so pay weekly. Does that work?”

“Yes,” said Cori. “That works perfectly.”

“Great. Whenever you need to go out, Gerald will be available with the car. Let’s take today to get you familiar with the house, the neighborhood and the things I’ll expect you to do. We’ll have lunch on Beacon Hill today because it’s so gorgeous out and tomorrow will be your first actual day with work.”

And so the day progressed, Ms. Robbins doing all the things she promised. After getting familiar with more of the house and where things were stored, they sat in the office and discussed her upcoming calendar and events, and the other tasks she’d expect Cori to accomplish. At 11 a.m. they walked out front where Gerald and the car were waiting. They climbed in the back and Ms. Robbins directed the driver to “run the tour route.” They wove through the streets of the neighborhood and those that bordered. She showed Cori her preferred market, florist, office supply store and other shops. Cori made notes as they went. When they’d finished the tour, the driver stopped in front of a bistro in Beacon Hill with a low brick wall that surrounded a courtyard full of outdoor tables under bright red umbrellas.

“Ms. Robbins, so good to see you. Right this way.” The host showed them to a table tucked away in the back corner of the courtyard. Almost as soon as they were seated, a server set glasses of ice water and iced tea in front of them with a little bowl of lemon wedges. The host handed Cori a menu.

“Will you be having your usual today?” the host asked.

“Yes Phillip. But please give Ms. MacAdam a minute to look.”

“Of course.” The host left the table, passing another server who set a two baskets on the table, one with fresh hot breadsticks in a linen cloth bed and the other little pats of cold butter.

Cori inhaled the smell of the fresh bread, closing her eyes.

“A carb girl, a girl after my own heart,” Ms. Robbins said, pulling out two breadsticks and handing one to Cori.

“Maybe just one,” she said, using her knife to cut off a small wedge of butter and smearing it on the breadstick. She took a bite. “Oh my gosh,” she said softly.

“I know, right?” said Ms. Robbins. “Those breadsticks are my spirit animal.” They both laughed.

Cori chose a salmon salad with a lemon vinaigrette and Ms. Robbins got her usual Salad Niçoise and they chatted away, talking about Beacon Hill, their favorite Boston eateries, Cori’s family, and eventually, Cori’s recent past.

“I saw your mother last year at a benefit and she said you had found your dream job with Spalding Events. Was it not what you had hoped?”

Cori suddenly felt panicked. Ms. Robbins obviously didn’t know what had happened to her, or that she’d been unceremoniously dumped by the love of her life when he banged her best friend the night before their wedding. Just the thought of all of it made her a little dizzy. She took a deep breath. Get it together.

“It was wonderful, but I was in an accident-“

Ms. Robbins gasped quietly and reached for her hand. “Oh dear, are you ok?”

“Yes,” said Cori. “I am now. I actually stepped off the curb and got hit by a cab.”

This time the gasp was much more audible. “My word! Cori! That’s horrifying!”

“It was,” she said softly. “I suffered some serious injuries. The folks at Spalding were kind enough to let me keep working from home once I was able. But I had to do a lot of physical therapy, I moved back in with my parents. Honestly, I just needed a fresh start.” She left out the part about Matthew and Amber.

Ms. Robbins kept her hand on Cori’s, patting it softly. “I’m so glad you’re ok. I can’t imagine what your parents must have gone through as well. Your supervisor spoke very highly of you when I called. She said they’d have you back in a minute.”

“That’s really nice of them,” she said.

“Well, don’t worry. I know events are your specialty. We’ll start out slow but eventually, you’ll be planning my events. I love to entertain and especially to raise money for my foundation. You’ll be able to put that experience to work and for lots of good causes.”

Cori felt a rush of giddiness. Her own events. She loved the sound of that. This was exactly what she needed, what she’d hoped for.

“I can’t wait,” she said with a giggle.

“Good! Now, tell me, if I keep you late or ask you to work on weekends, will I be imposing on a relationship with your significant other? I understand that you have a life.”

The smile ran away from her face. “No, no significant other.”

“Well, then we’ll have more than one goal for our events, won’t we?” she said with a smile.

They finished lunch, which was delicious, and the driver took them back to Newton Street. The rest of the day was spent getting familiar with the office, files she’d need, Ms. Robbins’ rolodex and books from some of her previous events. There were photos and agendas and a list of all the companies used for each event. She recognized lots of them from working at Spalding.

Five o’clock was here before she knew it and she grabbed her bag and headed for the T. She left her lunch bag for tomorrow. The ride home was easy and she ascended the stairs of her apartment building, headed for the sixth floor. On Saturday night during the party, her neighbors said the elevator is almost always out. She was glad it was working when her father helped her move in.

She reached her floor and stared at 6A. She wondered if Colin was home, and if so, what he was doing. Impulsively, she knocked on his door. After a bit, he answered. He was in a Patriots t-shirt and athletic shorts, barefoot, his hair spikey and messy. He looked like maybe he hadn’t been awake for very long.

“Hey! How was your first day?” he said, smiling.

“Really good,” she said. “Very good. Hey, I was thinking, maybe you could come for dinner one night this week. You can tell me about your neighborhood watch program.”

He smiled. “You’ll be a good recruit and I never turn down a free meal. So yes.”

“Great, how about Wednesday at 7?”

“I’ll be there.”

As Cori walked away, she saw a leggy blonde coming off the last step and turning towards Colin’s door. She peered over her shoulder and saw him embrace her, then they shared a long, deep kiss. She noticed his long eyelashes laying on high cheekbones when he closed his eyes for the kiss. Cori felt her knees go weak. She wished for a second she was a leggy blonde.

“You came,” he said. “Nicole, right?”

“Nina,” the blonde corrected him.

“Yeah, Nina. Come on in.” He held the door open for her, placing his hand on the small of her back as she walked in. He looked over at Cori. “Night 6C.”

“Good night,” she replied. The door clicked behind him. Cori unlocked the door and went in, spending the rest of the evening thinking about that kiss. It wouldn’t be as good as the one she got from her mystery man, but she bet it was close.

Tuesday was a normal day, learning and exploring at work, then on Wednesday, she ran to the market after getting off the train to grab a few items. She was in by 5:30, giving her some time to prep dinner. She loved to cook. She wasn’t a chef by any means but she could hold her own. She’d decided to prepare a margherita pasta with shrimp for tonight, with a salad and strawberry shortcakes for dessert. She took a quick shower, put on a little makeup, pulled her hair up in a messy bun after dressing in jeans and an emerald green cold shoulder shirt and jeans and headed for the kitchen. She chopped tomatoes, onions, garlic and basil, seared the shrimp and boiled the pasta. She tossed the romaine salad with some vinaigrette. She set the table, opened a bottle of white wine and put it in an ice bucket, filled two glasses with ice water and as she was setting them on the table, there was a knock at the door.

She glanced in the mirror next to the door – she looked as good as she could, she supposed. She unlocked the door then opened it.

“Hey,” he said. She gasped softly. He was in a cobalt blue button up shirt, black belt, jeans and boots. There was a thin silver chain around his neck, a small silver medallion resting in the valley between his defined pecs. The edge of a tattoo peeked out where the shirt was unbuttoned. His hair was styled. He handed her a small bouquet of fresh flowers. “For you.”

She smiled, a smile that lit up her whole face, and took the flowers. “They’re beautiful. Come in.” She stepped out of the way and he walked the few steps in, making the step down into her living/dining room.

“Wow, it smells amazing in here,” he said, making a show of sniffing the air. “I can’t remember the last time I ate something that wasn’t in cardboard or Styrofoam.”

“I hope you like shrimp – and pasta,” she said.

“That sounds great,” he replied.

She pulled a vase out of the cabinet, added a little water and put the flowers in, setting them in the middle of the table. “Everything is ready,” she said, extending her arm toward the table. He sat down at one of the place settings and picked up the napkin, unfolding it and placing it in his lap.

“So how was day three?” he asked.

She pulled the pan of pasta from the stove and set in on the table. “Really good,” she said.

“Tell me more.”

“I’m a personal assistant for Amelia Robbins. She’s heir to Robbins Manufacturing. She has a house over in Back Bay.”

“Wow, nice neighborhood,” he said, eyeing the pasta she was putting on his plate.

“Very nice. She lives in a huge building full of condos. Her home is the entire first floor. It’s really pretty,” she said.

“So what kind of assistant stuff are you doing?”

“I run errands, do some shopping, manage her calendar. Eventually I’ll be her event planner. She hosts a number of fundraisers for non-profits throughout the year.”

He twisted the pasta around his fork and took a bite, stopping abruptly. He spoke but the words were unintelligible with a mouthful of food.

“What?” she said laughing.

He chewed and swallowed. “I said Holy Shit, this is amazing!” He loaded another fork full and shoveled it in. “Absolutely delicious.”

She was pleased. The evening would suck if the food was bad.

“I’m glad you like it,” she said, taking her own bite. It did taste pretty good.

They talked a little more about her job and then she asked about the band.

“So, what’s the name of your band?”

“Oh, Rock the Cradle – like, Boston is the Cradle of Liberty, and we definitely rock.”

“If I wanted to hear you, where would I go?”

“Finnegan’s, O’Leary’s, Rap’s, local bars,” he said.

“Mm,” she hummed as she finished a bite of pasta. “I’m envious. I always wanted to be in a band. I took piano and played in orchestra in high school. It must be great to take the stage and play your own music.”

He sighed, smiling broadly. “It is,” he said as he put his hand over his chest. “It’s the most incredible feeling. I’m addicted.”

“I’ll bet! And I’m sure you have a pretty incredible stage presence.”

“Well, I don’t mind bragging but yeah, I can wrap an audience up, no problem.”

Cori was impressed. “Just think, when you get that record deal, you’ll already be great at performing live.”

His face dropped then. He looked down at his plate. “We took a break for a while a few months ago. There were some things I had to work through.”

“I’m sorry,” she said. “Did the break help?” She couldn’t help but wonder – guys in bands were often partiers. Did he have a drinking problem? Drugs? He didn’t seem the type, but you never knew what someone else was going through. She stirred the fork around in her plate. “If you guys are that good, I’m sure you’ll get another chance.”

He looked up at her and smiled sheepishly, like a little boy. “It gave me some time to think, and yeah, exactly. I tell the guys that all the time.” He didn’t sound like he believed it.

She smiled, feeling sad for him. He was obviously incredibly disappointed. That sweet smile was gone and she found herself wanting to give him a hug. “Probably get a better record deal next time anyway.”

He smiled. “Exactly. That’s what I told the guys. Everything happens for a reason.” He pulled the fork across his plate, scraping up the last possible bite.

She smiled, happy he liked it so much. “Dessert?” she said sweetly.

His face suddenly shifted and through hooded blue eyes, he smirked and purred, “I never turn down dessert.”

Cori felt the heat flush her cheeks. “Sorry to disappoint you, just strawberry shortcake.”

He laughed. “Ok, I’ll settle for that.”

He picked up the plates from the table and took them to the sink while she pulled the sponge cake, strawberries and whipped cream from the frig. She pulled two ramekins from the cabinet and with a knife, cut circles of cake to fit in the little cups. Colin stood next to her at the counter, peering over her shoulder.

“That looks so good,” he said, reaching over and sticking his finger in the whipped cream. She pulled the bowl away from him.

“Patience,” she laughed. “Go sit.”

He strode to the couch, dropping himself against the throw pillows.

Cori thought about how comfortable all of this was. Dinner together, easy banter, affectionate looks. Everything she thought she’d have by now, with Matthew.

She stared down at her hands and sighed. Colin was sweet and dangerously sexy, but he was just another Matthew. Having a variety of girls was his trademark. Besides, she wasn’t even in the league with the other girls she’d seen at his place.

She shook her head to clear the thought and grabbed two spoons, carrying their desserts to the couch.

Colin admired the sweet treat as she handed it to him. “You’re one incredible cook,” he said, dipping his spoon in and snagging a little of each layer. He hummed as he enjoyed the first bite. “Man, I could get used to this,” he said, smiling at her.

“Well, stay on my good side and I’ll fatten you up.”

He laughed. “Hey, the body is part of the show. But I’ll take my chances.”

They finished and she took their cups. She was so enjoying his company, she spoke before she could think about it. “So, I was thinking, if you want, maybe we could watch a movie or play a game or something.”

Colin glanced at his watch and made a face, then bounced off the couch up the step to the front door and peered through the peephole. “Shit.”

“Everything ok?”

He stepped down from the door. “Can I take a raincheck? I need to get out of here.”

She hoped the disappointment that washed over her didn’t show. “Of course,” she said.

“Great. You’re the best. Thanks – for the best meal I’ve had in a long time.” He reached for her to pull her into a hug and as he touched her arm, they both felt as if lightning shot through them.

Colin jumped back. “Damn, what the hell?”

She wrapped her arms around herself. “I don’t know. The two of us together are dangerous,” she said with a smile.

He grinned and looked a little sad. “I’ve gotta go. Thanks again.” He unlocked the locks on the door and left, pulling it closed behind him.

She was a little dazed, lightheaded even after the moment. She hadn’t noticed any static electricity anywhere else. That was an enormous charge. She stepped up to the door and peered through the peephole. Her heart dropped. Colin’s back was to her and he was wrapped around another leggy blonde. Her arms were wrapped around his neck and her tongue was down his throat. He turned them around, never breaking the kiss, fumbled with the doorknob and opened the door, pulling her inside. The door closed.

She was right. Not even close to being in his league. She stepped down into the kitchen to clean up.

Monday morning’s alarm rang and she trudged through her normal routine. As she unlocked her door to leave, she heard voices in the hallway.

“I can’t. Look, I would if I could but I’ve got something else going on.”

“Colin, you always do this. I want to go on a date. A real date. You know I only want to be with you.” The voice was female.

She slowly opened the door, embarrassed to intrude on their conversation, but she had to go to work. She slowly stepped out, the conversation continuing.

“I appreciate that,” he purred, running his hands down her bare arms. She had raven hair that was pulled into a ponytail, tight yoga pants and a spandex workout top, her curves on display. “But there’s so much going on with the band, I just don’t have the time right now. You know I like you Brittany –“

“Brianna,” she corrected him.

He smiled that megawatt smile. “Yeah, Brianna.” He fidgeted a little as if trying to come up with what to say next.

Cori suddenly felt brave and started around the bannister. “Hey Colin,” she purred, smiling at him. “Tonight’s still date night, right?” She winked at him and kept walking, saying “See you at 7,” as she made her way down the stairs. She could still hear their conversation.

“You’re dating someone else! You said you weren’t!” Brianna was angry.

“No, she was just kidding,” Colin pleaded. “I’m not dating anyone. But my door is always open for you Brianna,” he said in the sexy low voice.

“As if,” she sniffed. “Goodbye Colin.” Cori could hear her stomping down the stairs above her. She stifled a laugh.

The week was going by quickly. Cori had joined her parents for dinner at one of their favorite spots and had just gotten home for the evening.

“I must’ve pissed you off pretty good, eating and running the other night.” Colin had opened his door and stood in the doorframe as she walked past.

“What do you mean?” she said with a smile.

“I mean telling that girl it was date night,” he said. She looked at him and there was a grin where she thought there might be anger.

“Hey, I was just doing you a favor. She left, didn’t she?”

“She sure did,” he laughed. “I’m sorry about the other night. I just wanted to say I’m sorry. That was a shitty thing to do. You took the time to cook for me, I could’ve at least stayed and helped clean up.”

“Not a big deal,” she said, unlocking the door. She smiled at him, a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. This was all they’d ever have, this banter back and forth, neighbors. She knew how big her crush was every time she saw him with another girl. Why was she attracted to guys she couldn’t have?

“You know,” he said, coming around the bannister towards her, “we could pick it up tonight, maybe watch a movie?”

She hesitated before answering. She had the luxury of the day off tomorrow, a three-day weekend. Ms. Robbins was going out of town and told her to take a break. She had turned the alarm off on her phone the moment she got the news, a Friday to sleep in. She took a deep breath and turned to look at him. “Sure.”

“Great!” he said and when she opened the door, she could feel him behind her he was so close. His woody, musky scent filled her nose. She felt something wash over, something she hadn’t felt for such a long time, a longing. She thought about the girls she’d seen wrapped around him, kissing him.

She’d never wished so badly she was someone else before. Would she ever be comfortable in her own skin, and not so desperate for her sexy neighbor?

As he walked past her into the living room, he ran his hand above her waist and once again, a shock went through them both that nearly knocked them off of their feet. Colin stumbled forward, catching himself on the sofa, Cori bracing against the kitchen counter.

“What the hell is up with your apartment?” he asked, rubbing his hand. “You need to have the super check your power. Something is definitely up.”

She caught her breath. “Maybe that’s my built-in ‘hands off’ alarm,” she said with a smile. “Wouldn’t want to get caught in a trap like those other girls and get all disappointed.” She’d tried saying it as a joke but her voice sounded sad.

“Look, I’m always honest with anyone I’m with. I don’t want anything long term. I like girls, I’m like any other guy. I just don’t have the desire to be with anyone for very long. I tried that once and it didn’t work. I’m not making that mistake again.”

“Must’ve gotten your heart broken pretty badly,” she said, trying to hide the sadness from her own failure.

“Against my better judgment I got involved with someone I thought might be the one. I was wrong. We wanted different things. Brought me right back to plan A,’ he said, bending down to look at DVDs on her shelf. “Besides, when the band takes off and we hit the road, the last thing I want is to leave someone behind and not be able to enjoy myself.”

“Well, I’ll give you that. At least you’re honest. And you’re not playing the field while you’ve got a fiancée on the string.” Her voice trailed off and she looked down, pissed at the tears that were burning at her eyes.

He stood up, a concerned look on his face. “Did that happen to you?” he said softly.

“Yes,” she said, barely audible.

“I’m sorry,” he said, really meaning it. “That sucks.”

“It does. And with my best friend, no less.”

“Ouch.”

She looked at him, willing the tears away that were rimming her eyes. “Pretty much almost ended my life, at least it felt like it. All of this, the apartment, the job, it’s just me trying to get a fresh start. It’s like I don’t know where I belong.”

He gave her that adorable half smile. “You seem like a great girl Cori. I’m sure there’s someone out there for you. And if you need someone to get you back in the saddle, I’m always available for a ride,” he smiled.

Her face broke into a smile. “That’s THE worst pick up line EVER!” she laughed and he laughed too.

“Yeah, that was bad even for me,” he said, running his hand through his spikey hair to the back of his neck, letting it linger there. Every move he made turned her on. This was torture.

“Ok,” he said, desperate to change the subject and spinning towards the TV. “I suggest a comedy, nothing too heavy tonight.”

“Agree!” She pulled two bottles of beer from the frig and threw a bag of popcorn into the microwave. When it was done, she joined him and they started the movie. There was no conversation, just laughter. He’d made himself at home on the couch with his feet on the coffee table. She tucked her legs up under her in the chair. She’d made a friend. That was the takeaway. It wasn’t sad, it was happy.

When the movie ended, he cleaned up the beer bottles and popcorn and headed for the door. “This was great, I hope we can do it again.”

“Me too,” she said with a smile.

“Hey, what are you doing Saturday night?”

She wished she had a fabulous night planned, but the truth was it would be her, her jammies, some wine and a good book. “Nothing really,” she said.

“Great! Come down to Rap’s. The band is playing at 8. It’s just down the street.”

“I know it, Rapscallion’s, right?”

“Yeah, it’s going to be a big weekend for us. We’re playing a festival Saturday afternoon and at Rap’s on Saturday night.”

“Wow, that’s awesome. I’m glad you’re back on track.”

“Yeah, it feels good,” he said. “So you’ll be there Saturday?”

She didn’t hesitate. “Yes, I’ll be there.”

He clapped his hands together. “Awesome.” He stepped up to the door, gave her a wave and left.

Cori suddenly felt deflated. The biggest player on the planet just spent the evening with her and didn’t even try to make a move on her. Of course she’d been an idiot and acted uninterested. But she should be uninterested, she’d been down this road before.

Saturday would be fun. She’d get a friend to go with her. Who knows, maybe she’d meet someone more in her league.

[echoes-of-the-clockwork]

Book Three: Pestilence (Ignis x Reader) Chapter Two

(Y/n) carried the sobbing boy all the way to the outlook. She stroked his back as the setting sun casted its final colorful rays across Eos before being vanquished by the moon. After an hour of silence, the boy had stopped crying and lifted his head from the Horseman's shoulder. She tore her eyes from the stars above and smiled at him, seeing his eyes were swollen and where the tears had dried on his cheeks. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better," he smiled back. "I'm Talcott."

"A pleasure, Talcott. My name is (Y/n)."

"Your hair..." He started. "It's white."

Pestilence couldn't help but giggle. "It is, indeed. Strange, isn't it?"

Talcott shook his head. "It's like snow! I mean, I've never seen snow, but I've seen pictures of it." He grabbed a few strands and felt the texture of her hair. "Hey, it's soft, too!"

"My hair's soft? Feel yours!" She giggles, running her fingers through his hair and making him laugh. "I'm quite jealous of how soft yours is!"

"You should let me comb your hair sometime!" Talcott cheers.

"Just tell me when you want to. My hair's always knotty."

Once Talcott and (Y/n) continued chatting, a yawn slipped from the boy's mouth. The Horseman noticed and allowed him to fall asleep in her arms before heading back to the Leville. She went to Iris' room and dropped the boy off. She tucked him under the covers before turning to leave.

"Hey," Iris called out to her before she reached the door. "It's (Y/n), right?"

"Yes. And you're Iris, correct?"

The young Amicitia nodded with a grateful smile. "Thank you for cheering Talcott up. It's nice to see him finally sleeping. He hasn't really gotten any sleep in the last couple of days because of...y'know..."

"I understand."

"You're pretty good with kids. Have any siblings?" She curiously asked.

"Three sisters. Two are manageable while the other has the temper of a behemoth," (Y/n) chuckled.

"Oh, my gosh! Gladdy has a horrible temper, too! I hope he hasn't snapped at you. He can kinda be rough when his temper's through the roof."

"Not yet. I've only been traveling with them for a few hours. They...saved me from a band of highwaymen," the Horseman lied.

"I've heard a few people around town say there's this group of highwaymen known as the 'Saints of the Apocalypse' terrorizing random people. It's horrible! They didn't hurt you, did they?" Iris asked in concern.

Pestilence shook her head. "No, and what an odd name..."

"Yeah," the younger girl agreed. "It is kinda weird. I hope you guys don't have to worry about them, but that's all everyone is talking about now. People are scared to travel because of them."

"Understandable, but I feel they won't be an issue much longer."

Iris sighed. "I hope you're right."

<—————<<<<<

Around six in the morning, (Y/n) found herself lounging in the lobby of the hotel. During the night, she had wandered around Lestallum and eavesdropped on the night owls for any information regarding her targets or the highwaymen. She knew more about the Saints of the Apocalypse than she did of the whereabouts of her prey.

While she was deep in thought, the Horseman didn't notice Ignis walking down the stairs. The advisor sauntered over to her, the sound of his shoes clacking against the tile floor snapping her out of her thoughts. She lifted her (e/c) gaze and smiled softly at him. "Ah, good morning, Ignis. You're up rather early."

"Morning, (Y/n). I've been quite an early riser for years," he stated.

"Early risers are usually the ones that have the most to accomplish. Tell me, what is your role besides being an advisor?"

"Chef to all," he replies. "Though we are in civilization, we shall visit a nearby eatery."

"Ah, so today is your day away from the stove. If that's the case, how does a cup of coffee or tea sound? The sun is rising and a warm beverage sounds lovely right about now."

"I couldn't agree more," Ignis replied with a hint of joy in his tone.

"Great! How does homemade sound?" (Y/n) offers.

"Sounds lovely, (Y/n)."

With that, Pestilence disappeared out of the hotel and left a puzzled Ignis behind. He wasn't sure if he should go after her or remain where he was. Deciding she didn't need a chaperone like a certain heir, he sat down in the lobby and relaxed until she returned. When she did, she had two cups in her hands and handed the one in her left hand to him. "It's a blend I created many years ago for a...friend. He was an avid coffee drinker while I fancied tea. He enjoyed the blend and I hope you'll enjoy it, too."

"Much obliged, (Y/n)." Ignis was picky with his coffee because of his love for ebony taking over his life, but he was willing to try something new, especially since it was homemade and the girl had gone through some trouble to make it for him. He took a sip and was mesmerized with the delicious and slightly bittersweet flavor that spread across his tongue. He had never tasted such coffee before. In his mind, he admitted it tasted better than his usual ebony blend.

(Y/n) smirked when she saw the pleasant look cross over his features. "By your expression, I assume you enjoy the blend?"

"It is quite delectable, I must say," he confesses. "What all is in this blend?"

Pestilence smirked, placing a finger over her lips. "It's a secret."

The sound of heavy footsteps grabbed their attention. Ignis and (Y/n) glanced toward the stairs and spotted Gladio. He eyed the two before casting a smug grin in the advisor's direction. "You hittin' it off with ladies, Iggy? 'Bout damn time."

Ignis cleared his throat, unfazed by the brute's teasing. "Nonsense, Gladio. We are merely keeping each other company."

The shield's smirk only widens. "That's how it all starts." Without another word, he leaves the hotel.

Ignis pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose with a sigh. He looks at the girl sitting across from him with an apologetic expression. "I must apologize for his remark, (Y/n)."

"Don't apologize for the sake of others, Ignis. I'm afraid it seems that comment was directed toward you and not myself," she giggled.

The two chatted for another couple of hours until Prompto was the next to make his way down. The blonde had informed them Noctis was still sleeping and wasn't sure when he'd be up. Deciding today would be a day to relax, Ignis told him to let the prince sleep in for a change.

Once they decided to leave Noctis to sleep, the three decided to hit the streets of Lestallum. They rendezvoused with Gladio at the market and did some necessary shopping. (Y/n) helped by aiding Ignis in picking out the best and freshest ingredients the market had to offer.

During their shopping spree, Prompto stopped Gladio and Ignis while Pestilence continued to scan the market for fresh ingredients. "Uh, have you guys noticed...?"

"All the guys staring at her?" Gladio scoffed, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "Kinda hard not to."

"Uh-oh..." Prompto muttered as he watched one of the men eyeing (Y/n) approach her. "Wonder how this is gonna go down."

"Betcha a hundred gil she'll turn him down before—" The man dashed off after only approaching the Horseman a couple seconds ago, pushing past the shield in the process. "Damn, that was quick. Might be a new record."

Pestilence regrouped with the boys after turning down the stranger in a heartbeat. She noticed they were staring at her in amusement. She blinked owlishly in confusion. "What?"

"What did you tell that guy?" Gladio pointed his thumb over his shoulder, gesturing to the man that darted off.

"I didn't say a word," she confesses, speaking the truth. "I was talking to the stall owner when he tapped my shoulder. When I turned around, he took off."

"It appears his confidence shattered the moment he came face-to-face with you," Ignis said.

"Beauty slew the beast," the brute chuckled.

"Indeed," the strategist grinned.

Procuring what they needed, they dropped off the items at the Regalia before heading back to the hotel. Noctis was up and reclining back in one of the seats in the lobby. He flew to his feet when he saw the boys and girl enter the Leville. "I'm starving. Let's go get something to eat."

Pestilence glanced at the clock and realized it was a little past noon. She hadn't realized how much time she and the others spent in the market.

"'Bout time your ass woke up. We've been up for hours," Gladio stated.

Noctis rolled his eyes and ignored his shield. He stepped around his friends and headed for the door. Prompto, Gladio, and Ignis followed him out of the Leville, but all four of them stopped when they realized the Horseman wasn't following them. "Hey, (Y/n)," the raven-haired boy called out to her. "You coming with us?" She pondered for a few seconds before nodding and following them out of the hotel.

The boys decided to head to Surgate's Beanmine in the middle of Lestallum. They sat down at a table, Noctis and Prompto on one side while (Y/n) sat across in between Gladio and Ignis.

After they ordered, Prompto looked at the girl sitting across from him. "Do you miss eating and sleeping?"

Pestilence crosses her legs and leans forward, cupping her hands around one of her knees. "I still do both, but...yes, I do. It made me feel...human." She realized how her answer dampened their cheerful mood and cleared her throat. "Enough about me. What will your next move be?"

"Uh, well," Noctis started. "Not sure yet."

"What about the other tombs? There's gotta be someone who knows where we could find 'em," Gladio suggested.

"Actually..." (Y/n) smirked. "I know where to find a couple. You'd be surprised the places I've visited during the time I've been here."

"Really?" Noctis sounded shocked. "Where?"

"The top of the Rock of Ravatogh and Costlemark Tower."

"Costlemark?" Ignis questioned, brows furrowed.

"The tomb in the Fallgrove was raided by daemons. They managed to procure the royal arm before retreating to Costlemark."

"Guess we know what's next on our list," Gladio said.

"We depart once we finish here," Ignis exclaimed.

The boys ate their lunch while Pestilence sipped on a cup of warm tea. While listening to them chat as they ate, she delved deep into thought and came up with a decision. She finished her tea just as the others munched down on their last bites of food.

After paying the bill, they headed to the parking lot. Before any of them could enter the Regalia, (Y/n) stopped them by addressing the royal advisor. "May I speak to you in private, Ignis?"

"Of course, (Y/n)."

He followed her down the stairs and to the outlook. She glanced around to make sure no one was around to hear their conversation. She clasped her hands together, tapping her thumbs together. "I know this is sudden, especially since we only met yesterday. But..." She unclamped her hands and fished the orb out of her pocket. "I want to entrust my summoning orb to you. I've a terrible habit of dropping it, but I know you will keep it safe."

She grabbed one of his gloved hands and placed it in his palm. She pressed her hand against his fingers and curled them protectively around the artifact. "I know I'm forcing this upon you, but I trust no one else to be its keeper." She encased his hand between both of hers with a smile. "If you feel it's a burden, you do not have to accept my selfish request."

Ignis stared into Pestilence's (e/c) eyes, seeing the sincerity and the trust she spoke of gleaming in them. He lost himself in her beautiful gaze, but he kept his mind on track. "I'd be honored, (Y/n). Fret not for I will keep it safe."

She smiled brilliantly at him, gradually removing her hands from his. "Thank you, Ignis. You've no idea how much this means to me." With a ghost of a smile, Ignis places the orb in his pocket and heads back to the car with the Horseman walking alongside him.

Back at the Regalia, Prompto snapped a quick picture of the two before deciding to pry. "What's with the secrecy, (Y/n)?"

"Let the lady have her secrets," Gladio remarks. "There's no way we're gonna get a word out of either of them."

"Wait," (Y/n) called out to the boys as she saw Noctis, Prompto, and Gladio climbing into the backseat of the vehicle. "Prompto, you should have the front seat. It would make more sense with my small stature."

"I'm not gonna let you sit between these two!" He protested. "I'll be okay, (Y/n). Just take the front seat."

Pestilence saw no need to argue and nodded. Ignis, being the gentleman he is, opened the door for her. His action earned a smirk from Gladio and a snarky comment. "Iggy's flirting game is strong. Better step it up if we wanna beat him."

The tactician ignored the comment and closed the door once (Y/n) was safely in the car. He walked around the front and hopped into the driver's seat, started the Regalia, and drove out of Lestallum.

Since the boys weren't yet familiar with all of Lucis, the snowy-haired girl gladly provided them directions to Costlemark Tower.

By the time they arrived, it was evening. Ignis parked the car on the shoulder of the road and they trekked the rest of the way on foot. As their destination lies in front of them, Prompto commented on the structure. "Weird building, eh, guys?"

"It's like no architecture I've ever seen," Ignis stated.

"Wouldn't want to meet the weirdo who built this," Gladio scoffed.

"Oh, he's a horrible man!" (Y/n) gasped in feign shock. "Good-looking, but a terrible personality."

"Really?" Noctis asked.

"No," the Horseman giggled. "I've no inkling who built this place."

"The lady's got a sense of humor," the shield chuckled.

They climbed up the stairwell and crossed a short bridge. Reaching the other side, the royal retinue was puzzled when they couldn't find an entrance. "Uh..." Prompto muttered. "Where do we go from here?"

"This way, gentlemen," (Y/n) said as she took the lead. They walked down a smaller set of stairs, reaching a dead end.

"Looks like a dead end to me," Noctis said.

"Quite the opposite." Pestilence placed her hands on the wall and concentrated closely. Her hands radiated with an eerie and chilling darkness, activating the faded blue light in the center of the wall. As the light pulsated, the wall lowered and revealed a passageway.

"There. Now we've a way into the tower." The Horseman turned around and faced the boys with a smile, but it vanished and turned into a look of confusion when she saw the shock written across their faces. "What?"

"W-What did you do?" Prompto asked.

"Used magic," she wiggles her fingers. "Shadow magic, to be more precise."

"Sounds mysterious and...creepy..."

"Save your questions for later," the girl chides. "We've a royal arm to find."

[behind-the-screen-of-bangtan]

Details in 2019 Festa’s BTS Family portrait

(← Festa 2019 main post)

j-hope has a jar of Bonne Maman Raspberry Preserve.

The red line near Jungkook has “Danger”, “위험” (danger in Korean), and “안전제일” (safety first) written on it.

SUGA’s jacket is the same as V in the WINGS Short Film #3 STIGMA (cr.).

Above RM’s blackboard, you can read:

I’ve waited all my life Looking for something right Than a boy with luv

Which are “Boy With Luv” lyrics.

The blackboard has similar words to what we could see in Persona Comeback trailer:

Who Am I? Who are you?

Dream Love Happiness

Map of the Soul

Persona Shadow Ego

But there are new citations too:

Having a brewing cup for coffee is fine, Facing weather too hot, too much iron. This strong iron is too late in taste, Much of the flavours are inside. The coffee is not tea, not even anything Like the leaves of danger and bread.

The beginning (1) of the poem “Coffee Is Fine” by Naveed Akram.

I am the wind that wavers,  You are the certain land; I am the shadow that passes  Over the sand.

[...]

You are the light eternal—  Like a torch I shall die; You are the surge of deep music,  I but a cry!

The first (2) and last (3) verses of “I Am the Wind” by Zoë Akins

down again. His host filled it for him. “To look at,” said the sergeant-major, fumbling in his pocket, “it's just an ordinary little paw, dried to a mummy.” He took something out of his pocket and proffered it. Mrs. White drew back with a grimace, but her son

An extract (4) from The Monkey’s Paw by W. W. Jacobs.

Several fans also noticed citations on the wall (they’re only visible in the Episode). They’re from Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle:

“We were coming down our road”, the first sentence of the book

“His eyes were closed now as well but the tears were getting out.”

“I loved twirling the dial on the radio.”

“I didn't want [to] go back”

Several books can also be seen around RM:

ФЛОРЕНСКИЙ ПАВЕЛ. ДЕТЯМ МОИМ. ВОСПОМИНАНИЯ ПРОШЛЫХ ДНЕЙ. ГЕНЕАЛОГИЧЕСКОЕ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЕ. ИЗ СОЛОВЕЦКИХ ПИСЕМ. ЗАВЕЩАНИЕ by Pavel Florensky (cr.)

The Dogs of War by Lisa Rogak

She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb (cr.)

40 Model Essays: a portable anthology by Jane E. Aaron and Ellen Kuhl Repetto

California Angel by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg

Hunger Trilogy by Wang Ruowang

Jihad vs McWorld by Benjamin R. Barber

7.5.  Was Frauen krank macht by Ingrid Olbricht

Managing Staff Development programs in Human Service agencies by Diane Brannon, Michael J. Austin, and Peter J. Pecora

A passage to India by E. M. Forster (cr.)

Doubly Dead

A McKettrick Christmas by Linda Mael Miller

Hoot by Carl Hiaasen. There’s a “Read it!” written on the side

The Grim Grotto (cr.) (A Series of Unfortunate Events) by Daniel Handler

Remember Me by Sophie Kinsella (cr.) (author’s website) 14.5  Eating Well for Optimum Health by Andrew Weil M.D.

The Golden Calf by Ilya Ilf and Evgeny Petrov

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

Илья Эренбург 4 by Ilya Ehrenburg (it’s the 4th volume of his collected works)

Medical Adviser

Wildcat Moon by Babs Horton

The Great Train Robbery by Michael Crichton

To see your face again by Eugenia Price

El Niño Perdido by Dave Pelzer

Tell Me How?: Answers to Hundreds of Questions

The Slippery Slope (A Series of Unfortunate Events) by Daniel Handler

The Dark Hills Divide, the first book of the series The Land of Elyon by Patrick Carman

You can see pages from The New York Times (from both the New York edition and the international edition) and from The Wall Street Journal covering the walls of V’s “Singularity” set.

Here are some of the articles from The Wall Street Journal (src What’s News):

From the 12 October 2018 issue:

1- a U.S. News page (p.4)

2- the article “Expo: Firms Given Assurance on Intellectual Property Rights” (p.26)

3- a Markets page (p.33)

4- From the 30/31 December 2018 issue (the titles tend to differ between the paper and digital version):

“Trade and Yuan Cloud Outlook for Chinese Markets”

“‘Aquaman’ Continues Box-Office Reign as ‘Vice’ Sputters”

From the 24 January 2019 issue:

5- a World News page (p.10, right)

6- a Business & Finance page (p.23)

7- a Technology page (p.25)

Online version of some articles from those pages:

“Inside Google’s Team Fighting to Keep Your Data Safe From Hackers”

“Boeing’s Autonomous Taxi Takes Flight”

“Europe’s Political Funk Sets Back Its Economy”

And some articles from The New York Times:

From the 10 January 2018:

8- the article “With Obesity Rising in China, Coke Helps Set Nutrition Policy”, available online here

From the 21 January 2019:

9- the first page of the World section (p.4)

10- the first page of the Sports section (p.12)

11- the first page of the Culture section (p.14)

From the 23 January 2019:

12- the front page (p.1)

13- a culture page (p.19)

[irisonthebus]

My friend got an energy reading from you today and it was spot on! I was hoping you could do one for me? Thanks!

Hi,

Creams, the sky before it rains, frost on leaves, Christmas markets, hot drinks with spiced rum, pubs with brick walls and wooden roofs, cabins hidden away in the mountains, broke down cars with friends, artisanal beer, thick wool lined jackets, scarves, hats, gloves, walking boots, books, teas, pink roses, dolphins, black and white photography, pretty boys with intense stares and cruel mouths.

You have a mature, chill energy. You know yourself and are happy with the person you’ve become. It took you time to understand yourself. You felt you had to act a certain way for so long it’s a relief to just be you. You have a positive outlook on life, you understand that each day is a new beginning, you try not to let the disappointments of yesterday ruin tomorrow. You look forward to what changes life brings you, you’re an adventurer at heart, every day is a new discovery.

You love winter, bundling up and walking in the snow is so comfortable to you. You relate to the cold, you love Christmas. You love beautiful imagery, you fill your life with gorgeous picture you can see regularly to remind you what you’re getting out of bed for. You have a pretty healthy mindset, you have your down days but you know it won’t last.

You adore bad boys with hearts of gold, the Viking warrior who sheds blood fighting for his survival but comes home to be the most gentle man. Intense eyes staring into your soul, cruel mouths that smile only at you, tattoos that only you know the meaning to. I see you riding a horse with a warrior Viking lover to you hand built cabin in the cold Norwegian forests. You dream of a strong, gentle lover coming to sweep you away. You want the big romance, you want to fight for your love, to feel the epic beauty of two people who are meant to be together no matter what.

You adore reading, you share a love of reading with your friends and swap or recommend books all the time. You have great taste especially in adventure novels.

You feel at home in nature, it feeds your soul. You believe in Mother Nature, you want to protect our planet, you want to make sure your grandchildren get to see what you see everyday. You like crystals-whether it not you believe in their abilities doesn’t matter you just like how they look.

You have a really lovely energy, I just see you travelling, staying in tree houses watching the snow fall, exploring dark forests and mystic caves.

I hope this is ok xx

[teeresearch]

Condensed Milk Market - Forecast 2022 - 2027

Condensed Milk Market Overview

The Global Condensed Milk Market size is estimated to reach $9.3 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 3.7% during the forecast period 2022-2027. Condensed milk is a thick, creamy viscous liquid prepared by eliminating nearly all of the water content from milk. Caramel Pudding can be prepared using condensed milk. One can also prepare flan cake with condensed milk, whole milk, eggs and sugar. Condensed milk is basically the processed version of milk jam. Gypsy tart can also be prepared with condensed milk instead of evaporated milk. Tres leches cake is a cake with a thick layer of vanilla sponge and condensed milk filling, covered with white icing. The surging demand for processed dairy products is set to drive the Global Condensed Milk Market. The burgeoning demand for tea, coffee and caramel pudding is set to propel the growth of the Global Condensed Milk Industry during the forecast period 2022-2027. This represents the Global Condensed Milk Industry Outlook.

Condensed Milk Market Report Coverage

The “Condensed Milk Market Report - Forecast (2022-2027)” by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments in the Global Condensed Milk Market.

by Product Type: Dairy and Non-dairy.

by Distribution Channel: Supermarkets and Hypermarkets, Convenience Stores, Specialty Stores, Online Retail and Others.

by Geography: North America (the US, Canada and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, Russia and the Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia & New Zealand and the Rest of Asia-Pacific), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and the Rest of South America) and the Rest of the World (the Middle East and Africa).

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Key Takeaways

Geographically, North America (Global Condensed Milk market share) accounted for the highest revenue share in 2021 and it is poised to dominate the market over the period 2022-2027 owing to the surging demand for concentrated milk products in desserts like caramel pudding in the North American region.

Global Condensed Milk Market growth is being driven by the extensive demand of consumers for condensed milk products with quality like caramel pudding. However, the soaring demand for reduced sugar foods is one of the major factors hampering the growth of the Global Condensed Milk Market.

Global Condensed Milk Market Detailed Analysis on the Strength, Weaknesses and Opportunities of the prominent players operating in the market would be provided in the Global Condensed Milk Market report.

Condensed Milk Market Segment Analysis - by Product Type

The Global Condensed Milk Market based on product type can be further segmented into Dairy and Non-dairy. The Non-dairy Segment held the largest Global Condensed Milk market share in 2021. This growth is fuelled by the surging demand for dairy-free options for all feasible food products attributed to the continuous awareness advanced by way of campaigns and social media. Non-dairy caramel pudding and dairy-free flan cake may be prepared. The emerging lactose-intolerant population purchasing non-dairy products at high-priced rates is further propelling the growth of the Non-dairy segment. Furthermore, the Non-dairy segment is estimated to grow with the fastest CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period 2022-2027 owing to the soaring demand for non-dairy products by “people of a sustainable mindset” together with the expanding import-export of plant-based dairy products.

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Condensed Milk Market Segment Analysis - by Distribution Channel

The Global Condensed Milk Market based on distribution channels can be further segmented into Supermarkets and Hypermarkets, Convenience Stores, Specialty Stores, Online Retail and others. The Online Retail Segment held the largest Global Condensed Milk market share in 2021. This growth is owing to the effortless accessibility of condensed milk, milk jam and gypsy tart of different brands on different online websites. The numerous benefits of online shopping like home delivery and discounted rates are further propelling the growth of this segment. Furthermore, the Supermarkets and Hypermarkets segment is estimated to grow with the fastest CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period 2022-2027. This is due to the surging availability of condensed milk, milk jam and gypsy tart of different brands under one roof where customers can readily view them and purchase them.

Condensed Milk Market Segment Analysis - by Geography

North America (Global Condensed Milk Market) held the largest Global Condensed Milk market share with 39% of the overall market in 2021. The growth of this region is owing to the surging application of condensed milk in confectioneries in the North American region. The soaring intake of milk jam and gypsy tart is further propelling the growth of the Global Condensed Milk Industry, thereby contributing to the cation of the Global Condensed Milk Industry Outlook, in the North American region. Furthermore, the Asia-Pacific region is estimated to be the region with the fastest CAGR over the forecast period 2022-2027. This growth is owing to factors like the surging intake of sweetened condensed milk products in the Asia-Pacific region. The soaring application of condensed milk in bakery and confectionery is further fuelling the progress of the Global Condensed Milk Market in the Asia-Pacific region.

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Condensed Milk Market Drivers

Nutritional Advantages of Condensed Milk:

Apart from preparing delectable desserts like caramel pudding and flan cake, Condensed Milk has some health advantages. Condensed milk nutrition per 100g includes 284mg of calcium, 253mg of Phosphorus and 371mg of potassium. Condensed milk is therefore rich in calcium, phosphorus and potassium. Calcium is necessary for keeping up and enhancing the health of muscles, bones and teeth. As per the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the suggested daily average (RDA) intake of calcium for adults is 1300mg. A serving of 100g of condensed milk products offers almost 20% of the recommended daily average. The nutritional advantages of condensed milk are therefore fuelling the growth of the Global Condensed Milk Market during the forecast period 2022-2027.

Soaring Innovations in Condensed Milk:

Flan cake can be prepared with Condensed Milk. To generate sweetened condensed milk, up to 45% sugar is included in the milk and dissolved. In February 2020, Indomilk introduced the novel condensed milk in milk carton packaging. The firm claimed that the novel innovation is the “first of its kind” across the globe. Indomilk has been discovering novel ways to make its condensed milk more convenient to splash. The novel innovation also makes it effortless for children to utilize condensed milk. These soaring innovations in condensed milk are therefore driving the growth of the Global Condensed Milk Industry, thereby contributing to the Global Condensed Milk Industry Outlook during the forecast period 2022-2027.

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Condensed Milk Market Challenges

High-Calorie Content of Condensed Milk:

Condensed Milk has 321 calories per 100g. It is therefore not the perfect diet alternative for weight loss. Sweetened condensed milk is also abundant in saturated fat which is not good for people with diabetes and cardiac patients. Investigations recommend that a diet that is abundant in saturated fats can result in a boost in LDL cholesterol and insulin levels. A high level of LDL cholesterol raises the probability of cardiovascular issues. It can also raise insulin resistance thereby averting the body from breaking down sugar that results in type 2 diabetes. These issues are thus hampering the growth of the Global Condensed Milk Market.

Condensed Milk Industry Outlook

Product innovation, acquiring regional firms, developing flavored alternatives and surging spending on R&D are key strategies adopted by players in the Global Condensed Milk Market. The top 10 companies in the Global Condensed Milk market are:

Nestle SA

Santini Foods, Inc.

Eagle Family Foods Group LLC

Millac Foods

Hendrix UTD GmbH

LA Omega Foods

KRECHE FOODS

Pacific Gold

Danone S.A.

Hochwald Foods GmbH

Recent Developments

In May 2021, Nestlé introduced Wunda. It is a novel pea-based beverage that is 'epic in everything'. It can be drunk directly, splashed over cereal, applied to hot beverages and much more.

In July 2020, Nestle planned to introduce the world’s earliest vegan condensed oat milk in the U.K. Nestlé is set to discharge a vegan version of its iconic Carnation condensed milk in the U.K. this September. The novel product is prepared with a mix of oat and rice flour.

In June 2020, Lactalis planned to introduce a novel skimmed milk powder (SMP). It has a high heat, heat-stable (HHHS) quality. The novel product is generated at the Lactalis Ingredients plant in Ravensburg, Germany. 

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