#ads expert

[iteyaminbd]

Digital Marketing Certificate by Hubspot Academy

[mohiur883]

What is google Ads adword ppc Champaign ?

Google Advertisements This is an online advertising platform developed by Google, where advertisers can bid to display brief adverts , service offerings, product registries, or vids to web stoners. Google Advertisements operates on a pay- per- click( PPC) model, which means advertisers only pay when a user clicks on their advertisement.

AdWords Google AdWords was the former name for the advertising platform that is now known as Google Advertisements. In 2018, Google rebranded AdWords to Google Advertisements to further represent the full range of advertising options available on the platform.

PPC( Pay- Per- Click) PPC is an online advertising model in which advertisers pay a figure each time one of their announcements is clicked. Google Advertisements operates on a PPC base, allowing advertisers to bid on keywords applicable to their business, and their announcements appear in the quest results or on websites when stoners search for or visit content related to those keywords.

campaign In the terrain of Google Advertisements, a campaign is a set of advertisement groups( announcements, keywords, and flings) that partake a budget, position targeting, and other settings. Advertisers organize their advertising sweats into campaigns to structure and manage their announcements effectively. Each campaign can have specific pretensions, analogous as promoting a product or service, adding website business, or generating leads.

So, a" Google Advertisements AdWords PPC campaign" would relate to an advertising action created on the Google Advertisements platform, using the pay- per- click model, and organized into specific campaigns with defined objects and settings. Advertisers use this to promote their products or services and reach their target cult online.

[mohiur9]

[akaschandrab]

I'm a Google ADs Expert 

[usamarketerss]

Legal Marketing Agency: Your Partner in Success

What is a Legal Marketing Agency?

A legal marketing agency specializes in helping law firms and attorneys promote their services effectively. By leveraging digital tools and strategies, these agencies focus on boosting a law firm’s visibility, attracting clients, and ensuring sustained growth.

Why Your Law Firm Needs Marketing

Today’s legal landscape is highly competitive. Clients often search online for attorneys before making a decision. If your law firm doesn’t stand out, you risk losing potential clients to competitors. A marketing agency ensures you stay ahead.

Benefits of Hiring a Legal Marketing Agency

Increased Visibility: Be found where your clients are searching—online.

Time Efficiency: Focus on practicing law while experts handle your marketing.

Customized Strategies: Every law firm is unique, and so should its marketing plan.

Key Services Offered by Legal Marketing Agencies

1. Website Design and Optimization

A professional, user-friendly website can make or break your first impression. Legal marketing agencies create websites that resonate with your audience.

2. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO ensures your law firm ranks high on search engines like Google. By targeting specific keywords such as “divorce attorney in [Your City],” agencies attract more traffic to your site.

3. Pay-Per-Click Advertising (PPC)

Quick results? PPC campaigns place your firm at the top of search results immediately.

4. Content Marketing

Educational blogs, videos, and case studies establish your authority in your field while building trust with potential clients.

5. Social Media Management

Engage with your audience on platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram to build relationships and share success stories.

Choosing the Right Legal Marketing Agency

Look for experience in the legal niche.

Ask about their past successes and client results.

Ensure they offer a transparent approach with measurable results.

FAQs

1. What makes legal marketing different from regular marketing?Legal marketing requires compliance with ethical guidelines while promoting specialized services.

2. Can small law firms benefit from hiring a marketing agency?Absolutely! Tailored strategies ensure even small firms can compete effectively.

3. How much does a legal marketing agency cost?Costs vary based on services, but many agencies offer customizable packages.

4. How long does it take to see results?Some results, like PPC, are immediate, while others, such as SEO, take a few months.

5. What if my firm already has a website?Agencies can optimize and enhance your existing site for better performance.

Conclusion

A legal marketing agency acts as your strategic partner, guiding your firm toward consistent growth. By investing in professional marketing services, you can focus on winning cases while leaving the advertising to the experts.

[amintpf]

Eid Mobarak🥰

[realrakib111]

I will provide a Facebook ads campaign.

I am a professional Facebook ads expert. Hire me for grow your YouTube channel. Because I know how to grow a business from zero to one thousand dollars monthly.

so Visit my Facebook ads campaign services:

[sboochi]

How do you draw Merida’s hair?! It’s so pretty, especially considering how crazy her hair is in 3D lol. I wanna draw Rotbtd fanart too 😫 (thank you for all your art btw, it’s so refreshing when it’s on my feed!)

Difficult question, every time I draw her I use a slightly different method!

Sometimes it's just a bunch of squiggly lines to convey the curls, sometimes I divide the entire thing in smaller sections, then those sections are divided again, sometimes I use brush strokes to give the illusion of detail

I do keep a few things in mind every time tho, which are

the two curls on her forehead (big long one on the viewer's right that in certain angles covers her eye, smaller on the left) (yeah bottom left pic I got it wrong)

the lenght (VERY long even in curled state)

the general shape (look at movie reference for this one)

adding extra little curls around it so it doesn’t look too "neat and tidy", go crazy with them

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Do you use AI generators to compile or scrape this information?

no

[nyoomerr]

is duckduckgo's main search any good? i've been using startpage for a while but since it's just filtered google it's started to get the same ai listicles clogging up search results

eh, five years ago i probably would have preferred google's results, but at this point we're stuck with grading search engines based on "what's the least shitty" instead of "what is actually decent."

i don't see the AI garbage that google pushes on me, the higher standard for privacy is appreciated, and supposedly if you don't have an adblocker then you'll see less ads, too.

also, this is a purely personal anecdote, but it seems like duckduckgo prefers to serve smaller websites and avoids some social media as first page results. i.e. whenever i search related to programming, google will often give me reddit pages in the first page while duckduckgo will prefer to give me some random devblog i haven't heard of. this could be either a good thing or a bad thing depending on your preferences, i suppose, but it's pretty easily solvable by specifying a domain when searching if you have something specific in mind.

i do specifically go to google for any sort of image search, though.

[knbposting]

Hey, I have an angsty headcanon that I would like your reaction to, I keep thinking about something bad happening to Momoi, like say she's aggressed badly, how do you think Aomine would react in this case? and how would Kagami and the GOM help him? I think he would go feral and try to find the person who did this and inflict pain upon them but at the same time he would feel so guilty because if he had walked her home that time and not be lazy, she would be safe and in a way it's his fault she's in this situation even if Momoi tries to reassure him it's not the case, he doesn't believe her. And the others would be at loss as of what to do because they've never seen him express such open rage.

OMGGG i love you for asking this i feel like an imagines blog :'))) i wrote a whole lot before i realised that the miragen boys are all together when this happens, so i'm sorry for changing the scene a bit!

setting the scene:

ok. let's say that momoi is walking alone from somewhere, maybe a festival, and she's lost aomine to his fleeting interest. he's supposed to be with her, but isn't, and she's annoyed about it. she's texting, so she doesn't realise that she's on this street alone, save for a few guys. as soon as they can, they pounce. one goes for her dropped purse, another for the phone in her hand, and the last for her. momoi manages to slip out of the jacket one has grabbed, and and makes a run for it. she's now lost her keys and her phone, but she's not far from home. she runs to aomine's house and not her own, because her parents work late and she's often home alone. aomine, however, lives here with his huge cop dad, so if anyone is going to get broken into, she thinks it'd be best if it was their house (sorry naomi/aomine's mum).

aomine, lounging on the sofa with a banana milk, is understandably horrified that his best friend got attacked. she's shaking, she's upset. his mum is there to look after her. aomine would absolutely go back out to try to find the assholes who attacked her. woe unto anyone carrying a familiar pink phone! let's say aomine finds her bag. it's empty of all contents, and everything not immediately interesting is strewn out on the pavement. he'll collect all her things and keep looking for the bad guys. he's seething, and requires the kind of justice to be carried out that the cops simply don't do. he finds her jacket, but nothing else. unfortunately, some guy was carrying a phone that looked just like her's, and he stood in front of him threateningly, with a "oi, where'd you get that?" only to realise that it's not hers. momoi's stuff is gone.

aomine's reaction:

i don't think aomine's guilt would set in immediately. he's contemplative by nature, and surprisingly sensitive given how mean he is. but he'd first be dealing with what he could do NOW to help his friend, and after that initial adrenaline buzz is over, he'll return to try to comfort her. let's make it clear that his mother is going to tell him the fuck off for going out after those guys, he shouldn't do it, he's one guy and they were three, etc. now let's say mama is on the phone to the police or whatever, starting the process. aomine is sitting right next to momoi, arm around her shoulders, silent as the grave.

now, he realises that this wouldn't have happened (yes it could have) if he was there (aomine, yes it could have.) (sorry i cant help it i need to reassure him MYSELF SJDHSJHD). the guilt builds quickly, weighing him down. it's not like those times where guys hit on her and he isn't around to be a stand-in boyfriend. he hates when she does that, it's fucking annoying and weird and she shouldn't tell people they're dating if they aren't. she should just say no and that's that (he's so stupid btw). the fact is, though, he was supposed to be there with her today specifically, and he wasn't because he didn't feel like going. he's not down today, he didn't have anything else, he just didn't want to go somewhere she did. he is resolute in his decision being founded in unfortunate, but concrete grounds, though. he wasn't to know that they'd attack her tonight! he isn't literally complicit. but he walks her places after that. he walks her home, even though she's just across the street.

i do not believe that aomine would voice how guilty he feels initially. he'll be more guarded around her, and suddenly he's telling guys who bug her to fuck off or he'll make them. which he doesn't usually like to do because it's a pain and they're shooting their shot, it's not like they're usually bad guys. (aomine.... seriously....) momoi can tell he's changed, though, and might call him out on his over-protectiveness when they're by themselves. then he might allude to the fact that he doesn't want something bad happening to her again when he isn't there, but i still think he'd struggle to verbalise that he believes he was in the wrong. he wishes he had done more. that's probably not ever going to be said aloud, but she gets it.

the reactions are below the cut!

kagami is more concerned with momoi. he thinks any fallout of her getting hurt that aomine is experiencing, is really minor. it's like when alex gets accosted by bad guys. it doesn't do any good to focus on what he could have done better, when the most important person is momoi (or alex) and how she feels. if he got the impression, based off of vibes alone, that aomine does feel guilty, he will offer a very blank "you weren't there, that's the whole story. no point crying about it, just stick to your plans next time." and aomine responds fairly well to the point-blank approach, but he'll get huffy and tell kagami to mind his own business.

midorima thinks aomine should have been there, and is quietly outraged that he had bailed on her to allow her to walk by herself. midorima has a younger sister whom he worries about when she's out, he doesn't understand not making sure that momoi gets home safe. he wasn't even doing anything. i can imagine momoi confiding in midorima that she thinks aomine feels guilty. he will tell her "you needn't waste time worrying about what aomine thinks. i admit that i wish i had informed you of your lucky item that day, i regret that i didn't. but my guilt is not your burden, just as his isn't." and to aomine he will say "the truth of the matter is that it is your fault that she faced that situation alone, but it is not your fault that it happened. i'm not going to stand here and nurse your hurt feelings. you know what you must do." (can you be less cryptic please? he means to suggest that aomine should simply walk her home more.) aomine will be pissed off by this lecturing.

kise is pissed off that aomine didn't stick to his plans, but does realise that it's not actually aomine's fault. like midorima and kagami, he is pretty unsympathetic to aomine's trouble. he might go so far as to say something like "it wouldn't have happened if you were there like you promised. momoi looks out for you more than anyone else. the least you could do is return the favour sometimes." aomine fights kise, tells him to fuck off, and doesn't talk to him for a few weeks. that's how aomine feels himself, and he doesn't like that kise thought the same.

kuroko is able to see the big picture pretty clearly. he sees momoi's fear and upset over the event and sympathises, as he does for aomine's reaction. like kagami, kuroko would remind aomine that he should be thinking about himself in this, less. though kuroko believes that he and momoi should talk. he says: "it happened. sulking about it won't change anything. i know you feel guilty because you weren't there to help. i think you should tell momoi how you feel. a talk would benefit both of you."

murasakibara is disappointed that it happened, and that aomine wasn't there to help when he said he would be, but he would be first to say "it's not like it's your fault. you need to lighten up." he doesn't think aomine should feel guilty, especially not when he knows that momoi wouldn't want that. he prefers not to get involved in aomine's emotional disposition, or in momoi's personal life though.

akashi is very direct with how he feels. aomine let her down, he had no reason to, but he did. it wouldn't have been difficult to meet her, or at the very least, to tell her not to expect him. he sees her texting as an important feature in the story: the reason she was distracted on the isolated street. his stance is similar to kuroko's, i think, but he doesn't focus on how aomine's feeling about it, he focuses on the actions. "you failed to help momoi in her hour of need. ordinarily, i would say that it is not your fault, as you cannot be in two places at once. what happened is not a direct consequence to your actions, however you should think carefully about your role as her friend in the future. she takes good care of you, aomine. you should return the favour."

the miragen reacting to daiki in a full anger mode meltdown! i felt bad for accidentally changing your scenario HAHAhsdjhsd let's say for fun that instead of going home, momoi comes to the meet spot for wherever aomine and the others are.

kagami is more focused on momoi to deal with aomine's anger. he knows this feeling well, though, and will go with him to hunt down the bastards who tried to hurt her!!!! the only thing he notices about aomine in this rage is a moment of satisfaction because he knew aomine actually cared about momoi! he's so stupid to fight her all the time.

kuroko is absolutely 3000% already out the door, going to get her stuff back for her, by the time aomine catches up. he's seething, and has murder in mind ! they're both furious, so kuroko won't notice aomine's rage as much. unless he starts kicking up a fuss because they can't find momoi's stuff, which he will, and kuroko will tell him to shut the fuck up and go home if you're going to be noisy, he has SHIT to do. kuroko's fierce loyalty and complete disregard for personal safety are a bad combination.

midorima is more pragmatic. he views the items as long gone, and will sit by momoi taking stock of everything he can think of to help her in the immediate future. he is frustrated by aomine's storming around, and tells him that he's making things worse by fussing. midorima sits quietly with her, and notes down any cards she could have had in her wallet, how she'll need a new phone number, maybe gets the process started for having to apply for a new school ID to replace the one that's lost. he knows what charms she had on her bag, so he'll get her replacements. midorima's support is as strong as the others', but he doesn't show it. he looks like he's sitting awkwardly, letting her cry into his shoulder if needs be.

kise is 100% on team Recovery. he's following aomine, and trying to steer aomine's rage to useful purposes. kise is probably as outraged as he is, so they're a mean duo on the streets of tokyo!!!! bad guys beware!!!

murasakibara is impatient with aomine's rage, and not interested in helping him. he might comfort momoi, i dont really know him that well, but his support will look distant too. he's upset more than outraged that his friend got hurt.

akashi has already called his contacts with the police department to put out an apb!!! im kidding he's sixteen years old. anyway akashi is firm with aomine, willing that he either calms down or does something about it. similarly to midorima, he'll look after momoi and tell aomine to piss off if he's going to storm around. his friends love him, but aomine is noisy when he's angry and they want to focus on momoi.

[usamarketerss]

How Can Personal Injury Attorneys Effectively Market Their Services?

In today’s competitive legal landscape personal injury attorneys must adopt innovative marketing strategies to connect with potential clients. But what approaches work best? This article delves into actionable methods to help personal injury attorneys stand out, build trust, and grow their practice.

Why Should Personal Injury Attorneys Focus on Marketing?

In a crowded legal market, marketing sets your firm apart by showcasing your unique expertise. It’s not just about attracting leads — it builds trust and credibility, reassuring clients they’ve made the right choice.

What Are the Key Digital Strategies for Attorneys?

Is a Professional Website Necessary?

Absolutely! Your website is often the first impression potential clients have. Ensure it is:

Mobile-responsive

Fast and user-friendly

Optimized with clear calls to action

How Important Is SEO for Personal Injury Lawyers?

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) ensures your firm appears at the top of search results. Use terms like “top personal injury lawyer” or “car accident attorney” to attract relevant traffic.

Can Local SEO Make a Difference?

Yes! Claiming your Google My Business profile helps your firm appear in local searches like “personal injury attorney near me.”

Should Attorneys Invest in Content Marketing?

Sharing blogs, FAQs, and videos can position your firm as an authority while engaging potential clients.

How Can Paid Advertising Boost Visibility?

Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, such as Google Ads, can be a highly effective strategy for driving immediate website traffic. By targeting high-intent keywords, businesses can maximize their return on investment and attract users actively searching for their services.

Social media ads on platforms like Facebook and Instagram offer another avenue for success. These platforms excel in precise audience targeting, helping businesses reach the right people based on demographics, interests, and behaviors.

Why Are Client Reviews Crucial for Attorneys?

Reviews play a significant role in influencing potential clients, serving as social proof that can often sway decisions when seeking legal representation. Positive testimonials, in particular, can be a critical factor in establishing trust and credibility.

To encourage more reviews, attorneys should ask clients for feedback following successful case resolutions. Making the process seamless — such as by sharing direct links via email or text — can greatly improve response rates.

FAQs

Q1: How long does SEO take to show results? Typically, SEO efforts show results within 3–6 months.

Q2: How much should I spend on PPC ads? A starting budget of $1,000–$2,000 per month is a good benchmark.

Q3: Which platform is best for social media advertising? Facebook is ideal for its targeting options, while Instagram is great for reaching younger audiences.

Q4: Why is a professional website important? It establishes credibility and ensures potential clients can easily contact you.

Q5: How do I track my marketing success? Use tools like Google Analytics and CRM systems to monitor leads and conversions.

Conclusion

So, how can personal injury attorneys effectively market their services? By combining a strong digital presence, strategic advertising, and client-centric practices, you can stand out in a crowded market. Embrace these proven strategies, and watch your practice grow!

[pistachiachinensis]

Watching the conclave tonight, i noticed so many scenes where the mic was turned up to like 100 where you hear people breathing and swallowing and it was so in my ears (which im sure was intentional)

[writing-on-the-wahl]

Look Alike Part 5

Part 1   Part 2   Part 3   Part 4 

Sooo, are you going to show me what you do here?” 

Civilian stared up at Villain. Was he serious? But as he stood before her, rocking back and forth on his heels as he took in the room for what felt like the first time, that Civilian realized he was serious. 

“I uh…” 

Before she could come up with a response, Villain’s gaze caught on the mound of wet clay she’d abandoned on the pottery wheel, and his shoulders and his hopeful expression dropped as he took a step back. “I’m sorry- I interrupted…”

Suddenly the thought of being alone while she yet again attempted to throw the perfect pot sounded intolerably lonely. “It’s fine!” she blurted. “I was just going to practice for my ceramics class. I can just clean it up and show you around.” 

Villain shook his head. “It’s fine; you have work to do and I …” He hesitated, all of the suave confidence from early disappearing as he tucked his hands into his pockets and took a deep breath. “Maybe I could stay while you worked? See what you do?” 

Oh that was much worse than giving him a tour of the kilns. Civilian’s insides twisted at the thought of having an audience for what would mostly likely be an unsuccessful evening, if the last two weeks were anything to judge by. 

She should definitely say no. She’d never performed well under pressure. It always made her chest tighten and her hands tremble. 

Not the greatest conditions for delicate ceramic work. 

But the beautiful apology bouquet on the table reminded her why he’d come here, and all he’d done trying to make it up to her. Maybe she could just show him around a little and he’d forget about watching her work. 

So Civilian smiled. “That’s ok, I can work on it later. Let me show you around.” She held her breath until Villain smiled back. 

“If you’re sure.” 

Normally she would have started with the pottery wheels, explaining how the clay was shaped into the pots and bowls and all manner of things. But she didn’t want to remind him he was keeping her from work, so she instead led him to the tables and chairs where customers could glaze their chosen items. 

“So did you make any of these?” 

“No!” Civilian snorted as Villain wandered towards the shelves that carried a variety of pre-made ceramics for customers to glaze. “Those are all made in molds. Most of our business comes from people who just want to glaze something that’s already made. Making your own pottery can be difficult.” 

Villain nodded as he stepped up to a shelf containing a variety of ceramic animals and picked up a palm-sized statue of a goat. “That makes sense. The real question is who would pick something like this.” He gestured to the shelf of various bowls and mugs. “Those at least have a function.” 

She shrugged. “We stock the animals for the kids. Although the adults choose them just as often. Especially the college students.” 

Villain grimaced as he eyed the goat. “That’s ridiculous.” 

Civilian stepped closer, plucking the goat from his hand and holding it up to eye level. “Awwww but it’s so cute!!” 

A tiny smile cracked through Villain’s critical veneer, and Civilian wanted to cheer. 

“Can you imagine this on my desk?” 

Civilian mentally placed a brightly colored goat like the one that four year old had glazed last week on a desk of dark mahogany, the statue comical against neatly organized files and papers. 

“What do you do for work?” The question was out of her mouth before she realized what she’d said. She clapped a hand over her mouth. “I didn’t—”  

The imaginary desk was replaced with the visceral memory of a blacked out van, a dark room. 

When her mind returned to the pottery shop, the guilt on Villain’s face told her he knew exactly where her thoughts had gone. Before he could apologize, again, she looked around for something to distract him. The solution was so simple, yet not easy at all. 

Steeling herself, Civilian gestured to the row of pottery wheels. “We also offer weekly classes for those who want to try their hand at making their own pottery. I can show you how it works, if you’d like?” 

It seemed like an eternity of waiting, and she wondered if he was still going to try apologizing. 

But then Villain nodded, and soon enough he had pulled a stool up near her wheel and was watching intently as she began to center her clay. 

“So what are you doing now?” 

Civilian began explaining about the process: the throwing, the centering, the shaping. Villain’s arms rested on his knees as he leaned forward, nodding at each step of her explanation. When her pot went careering off center, Civilian flushed, ready to be embarrassed until Villain’s eager expression made her heart settle. She managed an only slightly forced laugh as she scraped the ruined clay off the wheel. “It actually happens more often than you’d think, I’ll have to get fresh clay- this is too wet to use again.” 

Dropping the old clay into the bucket of water beside the wheel, she reached for another piece of clay. “Oh, and before you even start, you have to make sure that you wedge the clay—like kneading—to get the air bubbles out, otherwise the clay can explode in the kiln. I prepped a bunch before setting up at the wheel so I don’t constantly have to get up every time I…” 

Sheesh, Civilian, do you ever stop to breathe? 

The dismissive voice was only an echo in her mind, but it was enough that she cut off the stream of facts she’d been about to share and lifted her hands from the clay and her foot from the pedal. “I’m sorry, I got too excited and—”

Villain scooted his stool closer, close enough to reach out and touch, and the rest of her apology faded into the air between them. His voice was low as he asked, “Is that what that miserable cow would tell you?” 

“What?” 

“Is that what your ex would tell you?” The muscles in his jaw clenched, and he all but spat out his next words. “That you got ‘too excited?’” She would have been afraid, had it not been so clear his anger was not at her, but for her. 

Ex’s actual words had been ‘like an excitable little puppy,’ but she was going to tell Villain that. 

Apparently her face was easy enough to read though, because Villain’s expression turned violent. 

“He’s not a bad guy,” she rushed to say. 

She’d loved him, after all. 

Villain shook his head before he stilled, staring at her with those piercing eyes that seemed to see every disdainful remark Ex had ever thrown at her. “You really believe that.” 

Civilian shifted under Villain’s scrutiny, trying to remember the good days, the reasons she’d let him put a ring on her finger. He hadn’t been a bad egg. But. He just maybe wasn’t a good one either.

Villain leaned closer, extending his hand to her, palm up, an invitation. Despite the clay on her hands, she found herself sliding her fingers into his. Then she wondered why, after what he’d done, the motion felt more natural than it ever had with Ex. 

After the cool clay, his hand felt like holding a warm mug of cocoa. His eyes blazed, and his intensity sparked a fluttering of attraction in her chest. 

“Your passion is not a burden to be borne.” 

The words landed on her heart and slowly sank in, washing away every critical remark, every doubtful judgement. 

Why don’t you choose a more steady career path?

Your doodles are sweet, Civilian, but…

Your father and I won’t waste our money on an education that will only leave you begging on the street.

Let us know when you’ve come to your senses.

Are you sure you don’t want to switch now? Our life together will be much more stable if we have two steady incomes.

Civilian blinked, letting Villain’s words heal something inside her, until he abruptly dropped his hand and scooted away. 

All her life, she’d been told her art was nothing more than a pointless detour. Now Villain sat before her, entirely captivated by the process. 

His genuine interest made her eyes suspiciously blurry, but she wet her hands and started the wheel turning. Her hands slipped on the clay as she glanced at Villain out of the corner of her eye, but his gentle smile brought a warm fluttering to her chest that made it easier to continue her explanation as her hands began to center the soft clay.

Civilian was busy explaining the purpose of waiting to trim until a pot was leather dry when she slowed the wheel and finally paid attention to the clay beneath her fingers. 

It was a decent looking pot, at first glance. Instantly her mind went searching for flaws. Was the lip too thin, the curve of the base too wide? 

“It’s incredible.” Villain’s awed voice broke through the deluge of self-doubts. 

“It’s not perfect, but--” 

“Ok, you can stop right there.” 

Villain’s easy smile was gone. “You are about to critique each and every last aspect of what you just made--MADE--with your own hands, and you haven’t even stopped to realize that you. made. that.” 

Civilian didn’t realize she was gaping until Villain’s eyes moved to her lips. She snapped her mouth closed, then cleared her throat as she licked her lips. 

“Yes, well…” Her hands fluttered, wet drops of clay-water splattering her clothes. 

“Just look at it like you’re seeing it through museum glass.” His voice was soft again, coaxing. 

Looking back at the pot, she tried to imagine it like Villain said, an ancient work set on display. The fat base curved upwards into a narrow neck before widening into the lip. And he was right. 

It was incredible. 

“You made that.” 

Civilian let out a little laugh. “I did.” 

“You know,” Villain mused, “the proportions are almost identical to this Chinese vase I stole last year.” 

Her head shot up. He knew pottery? 

Villain grinned, voice heavy with exaggerated arrogance. “It was from the Han Dynasty.” 

A laugh sputtered from her lips. “Riiiiight. You almost had me for a minute there.”

Villain just kept smiling, though now it was a little smug. 

She cocked her head to the side as she stared him down. “No.” 

He shrugged nonchalantly, and she barely resisted the urge to flick clay-water at him. “You did not just make me word vomit pottery 101 at you only to reveal that you are an expert!” 

That blasted grin was still on those wicked lips. “It was quite fascinating to hear your explanations.” 

Villain blinked as the gray water splattered his face, catching on his eyelashes and dripping down his chin.

Civilian froze, waiting for his reaction. Then Villain tipped back his head and laughed. It was deep and full of genuine amusement. 

When he straightened, laughter still creased his eyes. “I’m sorry, Civilian, but I couldn’t resist.” 

Before she could sink into the mortification of explaining basic ceramics to an expert, Villain spoke again. “If it makes you feel any better, I truly knew little of how they were made; I just happen to know what makes a good one.” 

“So you’re an art expert?” 

This time his shrug was more genuine. “I deal mostly with jewels, but I know enough about the various art forms to know what makes them valuable.” 

“Valuable enough to steal?” Civilian ventured. 

He tipped his head in acknowledgement. 

This time, she was the one who leaned forward. “Would you tell me about it?

Shoutout to @im-a-wonderling for both bribing me to write this and staying up late to beta-read. Y’all can thank her that it’s more than 500 words of a hot mess :) 

Taglist: 

@im-a-wonderling @shieldmaiden-of-gondor @watercolorfreckles @distance-does-not-matter @onestopheroxvillain @lolafaiy @chaoticgoodandi @1becky1 @tobeornottobeateacher @himynameisorla @superherosweet @brekker-by-brekkerr @crazytwentythrees @great-day-today @sunflower1000@selectivegeekwithstandards @chibicelloking @trantolette @sapphiques @jinpanman @genesissane @wish1bone1 @amongtheonedaisy @distractedlydistracted @kitsunesakii @glitterythief @jinx1365 @cherrychewingbrat @in-patient-princess @thepenultimateword @sorrow-and-bliss @technikerin23 @deflated-bouncingball 

@world-of-fire-and-flight @imsotiredcanipleasegetabreak 

lmk if you want to be added or taken off:)