#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]

PPC for Lawyers: A Guide to Maximizing Your Online Advertising

What is PPC?

PPC means Pay-Per-Click, an ad model where you, the advertiser, get charged a small fee every time your ad gets clicked. It’s used frequently in search engine advertising — where ads would appear at the very top of a page of search results — and helps make your law firm visible to people actively seeking legal services.

Why is PPC Effective for Lawyers?

Law is very competitive, and many potential clients use search engines to find legal representation. In such cases, PPC gives your firm the chance to be at the top of relevant search results, raising the chances of capturing leads right when they need your services.

Benefits of PPC for Lawyers

1. Fast Returns: While SEO takes time, PPC can instantly drive traffic to your site after setting up your campaign.

2. Target Audience: With PPC, you can target specific keywords so that your ads reach people searching for relevant legal terms.

3. Budgetary Control: You can set a daily or monthly budget, making PPC scalable and adjustable according to your law firm’s needs.

4. Trackable Performance: PPC platforms have data on how the ads are performing so you can tweak them to perform even better.

Setting Up a PPC Campaign for Your Law Firm

1. Set Your Objectives: Identify the purpose of your PPC campaign: Do you want more leads, consultations, or visibility for your brand? The clear goals will help to guide the strategy of the campaigns.

2. Choose the Right Keywords: Keyword selection is very critical in PPC. Start with specific terms like “personal injury lawyer in [Your City]” to target those searching for lawyers within a particular practice area and location.

3. Set a Budget: Bid on keywords with a budget set for campaigns. Some legal terms are highly competitive, and setting a daily or monthly cap will prevent overspending.

4. Write Compelling Ad Copy: Your ad copy should be compelling and mention what makes your firm unique. And, of course, use very clear calls-to-action (CTAs) to encourage users to click on your ad.

5. Optimize Your Landing Pages: When people click on your ad, they should be taken to a relevant landing page. Make sure the page is tailored to the ad with information that best matches the searcher’s intent.

FAQs to accompany the article on PPC for lawyers:

1. FAQ What’s the optimal budget for any law firm PPC campaign?

Of course, the budget depends on your goals and the competition level of your keywords. Some firms can run a few hundred dollars per month, while others invest thousands. You can find an optimum budget by testing and adjusting according to campaign performance.

2. How do I choose keywords for my PPC campaign?

Start with very specific keywords reflecting your practice areas and location, such as “personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles.” That type of targeted keyword is what brings in users searching specifically for your type of services and converts better.

3. How long does it take to see results from PPC advertising?

PPC can drive traffic instantly to your site when a campaign goes live. However, to get the most out of it, it is better to monitor and adjust the campaigns for a few weeks, targeting optimally for maximum results.

4. Is PPC better than SEO for law firms?

PPC helps bring visibility immediately, while SEO is a more long-term strategy. They do, however, both work well when used in conjunction. PPC helps drive immediate leads, while SEO builds organic visibility over time.

5. How can I track the performance of my PPC campaign?

Most of the PPC platforms do provide tracking tools to measure metrics such as click-through rate (CTR), cost-per-click (CPC), and conversion rates. Linking your campaign to Google Analytics will provide more in-depth insights into how users are interacting

Conclusion

PPC can be a great way to help law firms increase their online presence and reach a wider audience. Just be sure to define your goals, target the right keywords, and optimize your ads and landing pages to get the most out of your PPC investment.

[amintpf]

Eid Mobarak🥰

[realrakib111]

I will provide a Facebook ads campaign.

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[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

[purplecritter]

theories/thoughts/analysis about touchstarved after playing the demo a few times

Under the cut because it got long (I exceeded the post character limit...) Also spoilers btw. PS: All the links are to posts on the official social media accounts or their kickstarter, with the exception of the animated trailer screenshots that I got from here.

(Happy one month since demo dropped!)

Mhin

I'm starting with them because I play favorites.

Mhin's silhouette [1, 2] in the animated trailer [screenshot] highlights the crying eye (guilt? pain? blood? Their pupils almost seem to glow red, I wonder if it's connected) and the beak (in a way that reminds me of the skull of a bird rather than a live one).

The red choice connected to them is about asking if they're a scientist: their precision is almost surgical, though when asked if they've studied anatomy or medicine their reply is “Not quite” so it must be something similar enough.

When Vere complains about their first encounter with Mhin, he mentions that their dagger (visible in their in-game art) is an antique. Perhaps they inherited it, maybe from a mentor? It’s a curious choice of weapon for a hunter: stilettos (it’s described as such in the demo) aren’t ineffective in battle (especially if wielded by a physically strong fighter, which they absolutely are), but they are favored by assassins because they’re easy to conceal, they strike precisely and deeply but without letting much blood leak from the needle-thin wound.

As far as design goes, the clasps on their hood looks like a mix between the quaternary celtic knot and the triquetra / trinity knot. Symbolically, the latter is associated to the Triple Goddess (more on this in Leander’s section) or three elements, while the former represents the four elements or the four seasons or the four cardinal directions, and is often used as a symbol of protection.

Their fatal flaw is that they “resist change at all costs”. I'm led to believe that they became a Monster instead of being born one. I think it either happened not that long ago or they lost control over it recently, and that's what spurred them on their search for a cure. Them being described as “outcast” also makes me think that they could have been exiled from wherever they came from, perhaps because the people found out that “a monster hides within their frame”.

When questioning them about Ais, they say “I'm not going to risk my life in the hopes that any of them is different” which shows that they’re distancing themself from their situation (i.e., being/becoming a Monster).

Their hate towards Monsters could be either a projection of the hate they feel towards themself (if they were aware that there was a Monster inside of them before they lost control and hurt someone, for example) or just because one took over them and by extension they hate every Monster because of it. If the “lost control and hurt someone” thing is true I'll also add that they might be working as a Hunter as a way to try and atone. It could also be a way to expel the more violent instincts (I’m assuming they have some) into something productive.

The “they're afraid of being hurt. Or worse” on their relationship chart with Kuras feels to me like they're afraid of hurting him, also because when you ask them how they get along with him during the demo, they say “Few people are willing to help others; fewer when there's any risk involved” and I'm choosing to interpret that they think of themself as the risk. I know I'm really pushing it on this aspect but the “If you stay too close to me, you'll get hurt”+“Find someone safer to ask for help” only fuels me more. Their monstrous form also looks less defined and more liquid compared to the others, maybe because it's not as developed so it doesn't look as solid?

Vere is also said to be often provoking Mhin in order to make them lose control: he's confident in himself enough to think that he'd have the upper hand in a fight with Monster!Mhin, probably because they're a skilled hunter but they don't have that much experience over their monstrous side. Mhin dislikes Vere because he’s “the embodiment of everything [they] hate about Monsters”: while Mhin holds back from their nature and seeks a cure, Vere wants to give in to his instincts without restraints.

In the demo, they get defensive when questioned about the Senobium, but when they say “Whatever you're looking for, the cost may be higher than what you're willing to pay” I think they're speaking from experience.

It's interesting that it's implied that they slept with Leander once. Judging by the comment about the Wet Wick being the “perfect combination for making mistakes”, they're not enthusiastic about it. I’m guessing that they don't like that Leander has seen them with their guard down? Or they

Unless I missed something, it's unknown where in Eridia they're staying. I'll say it's probably in a different direction from the Wet Wick since they make a point of saying that they're only going there to protect Kuras (instead of, for example, “I live nearby anyways so I'll take the same road”).

The flowers in their pin design look similar to cornus kousa, or some other type of dogwood, symbolizing hope, resilience, renewal (I also found: rebirth, new life, strength, regret). After a long and grueling winter, Eridia greets the first dogwood blossoms with relief. These flowers are known to cling tenaciously to life even in the worst conditions, from barren wastelands to ruins perpetually shrouded in Fogfall… Really poetic meaning! I imagine Mhin as the dogwood flower, persisting even after the Tragic Backstory that made them lonely (“barren wastelands”) and their Monster Form (“shrouded in fogfall”)

Leander

Leander's silhouette [1, 2] in the animated trailer [screenshot] highlights only his eyes (they share the color of his magic -> maybe it's how he uses magic that contributes to him being “monstrous”?).

Nothing to note about his red choice except that it is unlocked by generally following his lead (taking the flower when he offers it, touching him without hesitation).

Speaking of his magic, an Alchemist MC notes that it extraordinarily powerful, enough that he doesn't need incantations or spell circles to cast it. Kuras mentioned that Leander prefers the company of those similar to him and that the Bloodhounds are mostly people who've endured the hardships of Lowtown, so I can't help but wonder if Leander was always a natural at magic, or if he did receive training but was later cast out, or maybe he left by choice?

A recurrent symbol in Leander's design is the triangle, as a detail mostly (on his coat, boots, dangling from his belt), but there's also one that looks like the alchemical symbol for earth (🜃) attached to the brooch on his chest; another symbol for earth is, you guessed it, the serpent, whose other meaning is duplicitous nature as well as renewal and rebirth. This connects to the ouroboros (present in his earring as well as in the background of the sticker and charm kickstarter rewards), symbolizing the cycle of death and rebirth and with relevance in alchemy as the “all in one”. The same theme is also present in the symbol of the triple moon (on his belt) symbolizing the stages of birth life and death and more in general three aspects united in one; the white lilies symbolizing renewal, regrowth, rebirth. The green feels fitting too, since it's often used to symbolize health and abundance.

Alongside the little triangle shape, attached to his belt there are a key (which is not the room key he gave MC), the head of which reminds me of two snakes knotted together; there's also a... I have no clue what that glowing red globe-spike is actually. It's the only other red item (along with the gem on the earring sword hilt) on Leander, but in some of the concept art it was green instead, so I think it's at least somewhat connected to his magic or the source of it. The shape of it combined with the red glow reminds me of Eridia’s towers’ architecture but that’s probably a stretch. I also feel like the symbol on the central part of the triple moon belt buckle is relevant: it immediately reminded me of a spell circle, and after doing some digging in sacred geometry, I’ve found that its 6 petal-like shapes (lilies also have 6 petals...) look similar to the hexafoil, “germ of life”, or the central part of the “seed of life”, which is connected to the divine creation of the world in 7 days/phases; a series of interconnected hexafoils make the “flower of life”, the meaning of which is creation (both in general and of the universe itself), and that everything’s interconnected to everything else... I couldn’t help but think of the “As above, so below” tagline in the Bloodhounds' poster; the sentence has so many interpretations in alchemy/esotericism but the gist of it is, “things in the higher realms of existence are just like in the lower/earthly plane” and “what happens in a large scale also happens in a small scale” and “common material things can make pure spiritual things”.

Overall, I'm thinking that all the green-glowing details on his outfit might be arcane foci, to help him cast magic without using incantations. As of right now, I’m willing to bet that Leander's connected to the Allmother (the traveler in the cart prayed to her) and/or the Abbess (the leader of the Senobium, I think): many of the aforementioned symbols also have ties to femininity and/or feminine qualities.

Other big things in his design are the eyebags and scar that goes from the cheek to the arm. I don’t have much to say on those, probably the scar is going to be connected to some important backstory event and the eyebags are a clue to suggest that there’s something troubling behind the bright and positive persona that he presents as.

If we want to take the name literally (I do), we could assume that Leander and his Bloodhounds are not simply a group of mercenaries, but mercenaries with a cause. Hounds are a breed specifically intended to track something specific (or someone specific) by scent. Given the animosity shown by them at the mere mention of the Senobium, it could have something to do with that, but perhaps it's also something more personal to Leander.

Let's get to the biggest red flag of the green-themed man: “Fatal flaw: [REDACTED]” and “Not all Monsters are inhuman”. There's also the fact that Vere doesn't trust his behaviour (I'll get to it in his section but I would generally trust Vere's words to be truthful). It’s also worth noting that in the first scene he makes an appearance in, he’s presented almost as a performer, a subtle-not-so-subtle hint that he can work his audience really skillfully. Overall, he seems too good to be true, and to quote Leander himself in the demo, “Things that seem too good to be true are often just that.” I don't think he's malevolent per se, but I also believe he's a very good liar (or at least, good at keeping his cards close to his pillowy bosom chest) and he can be a lot more ruthless than he lets on.

I already said it in Mhin's section but it's implied that the two of them slept together once, and I can't help but wonder if Leander also tried the whole "let me touch you so I can see what curses you but also you can tie me down if you want wink wink" tactic with them.

I get the feeling that he also slept with Ais? “He sure likes it when others take control”+“He's not so bad once you get to know him”. The bartender didn't joke about the room being used often huh (i’m saying this lighthearted and teasingly, nothing against it lol).

He's obviously staying at the Wet Wick with the rest of the Bloodhounds, and it happens often enough that the bartender/owner is familiar with their habits. I wonder if he also as a house of his own or not.

The flowers (in-game art, animated trailer, pin design, charm and sticker design) are white lilies, symbolizing devotion, sympathy and faith (I also found: renewal/rebirth/reregrowth and purity. Nothing says “I love you” as clearly as white lilies—ironic, since they’re some of the region’s most poisonous flowers. Some mages believe that these lilies contain a mysterious magic, but attempts to harness this power have only resulted in lethal poisonings. A not-so-veiled warning to be careful of what lies behind Leander’s charming facade... And considering that he seems to like when MC defers to him, I could imagine the (metaphorical... unless?) lethal poisoning in a possible bad end!

Kuras

Kuras' silhouette [1, 2] in the animated trailer [screenshot] highlights the several eyes (truth and secrets being very important themes in his route, he's also described as “observer”) and his tears (his guilt).

No red choice for Kuras, but there is various flavour text depending on choices. First and most notably, the Unnamed MC notes that something about him feels familiar: this could simply be a hint about him being divine in nature, or it might mean something more, I'm still uncertain. Moreover, depending on dialogue, one of his scenes towards the end of the demo plays out slightly differently, and it shows the more playful side of him (which I absolutely didn’t expect, but I enjoyed that).

As far as appearance goes, his human form and his divine form have many similarities: this post does a very good job of showing them, but additionally I'll say that his halo (silhouette, charm and sticker design) reminds me of the shape of his earrings.

There are a few lines that imply that being in Kuras' vicinity feels physically warmer. It could be just a standard “MC likes him so being near makes them feel all warm and fuzzy” but I think it's more to do with his angelic nature having a comforting effect on people. Something that could be connected to that is the theme of fire (“eldritch flames”, also visible in the charm and sticker design), which symbolically is the element that purifies souls and reveals the truth.

His clinic seems very neat, for someone who works with numerous patients for the whole day. Moreover, his clothes stay unnaturally devoid of any sign of dirt. His appearance is also very curated, so I think that part of it is him being thorough about cleaning and part of it might be a consequence of his magic. Additionally, during the 16/04/23 Q&A stream with the devs (timestamp: 49:32), they (jokingly) said that Kuras doesn’t even put his hair up while performing surgeries, which to me also means that he doesn’t need to do it because he’s supernaturally clean and hygienic.

There's no clear mention of him having magic in the first place, but I don't think he could've completely reattached MC's arm so flawlessly any other way.

I wouldn't think much of it if it were any other character but Kuras' birthday being January 1st makes me think that he picked the date on purpose... or randomly, considering it doesn’t seem to be important to him.

During the 16/04/23 Q&A stream with the devs (timestamp: 41:24), it was noted that Kuras’ name was deliberately chosen, I think implying that it probably has a meaning behind it, though I can’t say what as of now (my search only revealed that kurash is a type of wrestling in Central Asia, and that there’s a deity called Kura in a region of Syria).

I think it's a known fact in Eridia that Kuras is not simply human (“Only the most desperate or the foolish would dare lay a hand on me”), so it's interesting that he chose to not disclose that to the MC. Granted, they've interacted for less than a day now and information is the currency. I also wonder if he’s always been a doctor or if he chose to become one at a certain point... I guess it would depend: is he “repentant” for something he did before settling in Eridia, or after?

Ais also thinks that Kuras used to be more outgoing but the reason he doesn’t really open up a lot to people anymore is because he “must’ve been burned”, which is an interesting insight. I lean more towards thinking that he’s been burned after becoming a resident in Eridia.

There's nothing that strikes me as peculiar regarding his relationships with the other characters,with two exceptions. Kuras' self-inflicted exile is centuries old, and combined with the fact that he (occasionally and begrudgingly?) works with the Senobium, it might be plenty of reason for Vere to hate him. I think that Kuras might've witnessed how he came to be captured (or actively took part in it), and that event is what feeds his mistrust towards Vere. Secondly, it’s said that he “looks forward to Ais helping around his clinic”: does Ais use the Seaspring’s healing powers on some patients (“I help him in the clinic sometimes”)? I wonder if the smokey scent when the MC wakes in Kuras’ clinic was because he’d been there recently.

He lives in one of the more populated areas, probably because 1) more easy for patients to reach him and 2) he likes meeting people.

The flowers in his pin design look like magnolias, symbolizing longevity, grace, divinity (I also found: eternity, perseverance, purity). The elegant magnolia’s therapeutic properties are vital in such a dangerous world. The Senobium cultivates a small magnolia grove, though few make it past the imposing gates to enjoy the rejuvenating blossoms… Of course the medicinal aspect reflects Kuras well. And there’s the connection to him being employed in some form by the Senobium too, the gates could definitely be a metaphor for how he keeps the true extent of his powers at bay

Ais

Ais' silhouette [1, 2] in the animated trailer [screenshot] highlights his tattoo (Ocudeus' tentacles) and his eyes (the Groupmind's effect).

If MC’s been talking defiantly to him throughout the demo, the red choice connected to Ais also consists of rebelling to him, which he clearly enjoys (he’s said to dislike easy fights, so that’s probably it).

An Unnamed MC will note that Ocudeus’s presence/calling in the Seaspring feels familiar, and that his tattoo feels unnatural and it seems to move when they’re not looking... I’ll say that the tattoo isn’t a regular one, and might be the physical manifestation of the metaphorical mark that the bond with Ocudeus left on Ais. This also explains why in the silhouette of his monstrous form the tentacle tattoo is extended beyond what it normally looks like (it reaches his face, and over half of his chest).

The very prominent eye theme (charm and sticker design, Ocudeus possibly meaning “eye god” if it’s latin) and feeling of being watched (+“Got eyes in the back of my head”), plus the fact that the red-eyed woman knew what MC was seeking as well as their name, makes me believe that Ocudeus' area of influence is very extensive. As a consequence of the Groupmind, it's likely that apart from sharing thoughts (and identity?) those connected also share what they see to Ocudeus/Ais.

The notes left on the pillars are interesting. The topmost and middle one I feel are more useful to the player and serve as casual worldbuilding, but the bottommost one is the most curious imo: decoding the scrawling results in “never wish on a shooting star he's always listening”. Initially I thought that the “he” referred to Ocudeus, but it doesn't feel correct (Ocudeus always watches, it doesn't listen).

During the 16/04/23 Q&A stream with the devs (timestamp: 36:32), Ais was said to be the first character that they created, and the rest of the cast was built around him for cohesiveness. This is interesting to me, as from the demo I thought that “central” role would fit Leander more.

Speaking of Leander, both of them have a like/dislike relationship with each other (Leander because “the assassination attempts are funny, until they’re not” and Ais because he “won’t hesitate to put Leander in his place when the time comes”). Leander seems to be uncomfortable about the effects that the Seaspring has on people, while Ais talks about “a time where Leander's resolve will be tested, same for anyone in this plane or the next”... I wonder how soon that time is going to be 👀. I already noted this in Leander’s section but I think they also slept together at one point or another.

Same topic, different character: Vere. It’s cute that they’re so fond of each other [1, 2], and I’m very curious to know how they met. They probably bonded because of compatible personalities, but I also think that they like each other because they’re both dangerous, and being with someone who is also as dangerous feels... Fitting, safe, maybe?

The fact that he's “not as in control of his powers as he thought” is also interesting to me, since his nonchalance doesn't seem to be because he's lazy but because he's extremely confident. Perhaps he got too sure of himself and lost sight of the risks?

Ais is described as “renegade”, which by definition is someone who betrays a principle/alliance. I have no doubt that this is connected to the reason why he's a “gang leader without the gang members”, and probably to how he came to bond with Ocudeus. Because he's also said to dislike isolation, I lean more towards saying that he didn't willingly let his (former?) members go, my theory is either they left on their own (perhaps they were scared of Ocudeus, or they didn't approve of it) or he accidentally disposed of them (either because he wasn't in control of Ocudeus / the Soulless, or because Ocudeus felt hungry and they were conveniently nearby). Either way, it must have hurt him, since he's not at all willing to talk about it beyond “Gang took a walk”.

I’m very curious about Mhin saying “Monsters like [Ais] don't know or care about what they have”... What does (did?) Ais have? Could it be in reference to him letting his former gang/companions go away in favor of siding with Ocudeus and/or the Seaspring?

He lives at the Seaspring, though I wonder if he sleeps in a pile near those cushions, cuddling the Soulless, or if he has more personal quarters further in. There's a cave entrance visible on the other side of the bloody water, but that feels more for Ocudeus rather than Ais himself.

The flowers in his pin design are spider lilies, symbolizing mourning, goodbyes, lost memories (I also found: death, abandonment, new beginnings). Eerily beautiful, red spider lilies bear the sorrow of loss and farewells. Eridians believe these flowers shepherd lost spirits into the afterlife. The city has seen a sudden increase in these unearthly flowers, leaving many puzzled about their meaning… Very fitting with Ocudeus’ domain of losing memories and thus, beginning a new life! I’m not sure if we should be taking the increase in flowers literally, or just metaphorically as there’s many in the Groupmind

Vere

Vere's silhouette [1, 2] in the animated trailer [screenshot] highlights the eyes again (“windows to the soul” and all that), his fangs (him being the most openly aggressive) and the collar and chains (the thing that binds him to the Senobium's will).

I haven’t been able to not get his red choice [edit: “hidden ending”, not a red choice], but from my understanding of what others have said it’s based on how you talk to him and not on your actions. I’d love to say more but since I don’t know exactly influences it, I don’t have much to talk about regarding that🥹

“Not quite human, not quite monster. Seems we’re both--” I wonder if he was about to finish the sentence with ‘cursed’?

 He has unique dialogue for each of MC’s backstories: to an Alchemist he says “The misery born of your mistreatment haunts you. I understand what it’s like to be used and thrown away. I’ll give your life new meaning”; to an Unnamed “You poor thing, misled by those you trusted most. You caused so much suffering unknowingly. I know that pain. I can help you forget it all”; to a Hound “The betrayal, the loss of hope, the sheer desperation that drives you still to search and search to no end. I could give you something new to live for”. Apart from showing that he knows stuff he’s not supposed to, I’m more interested about what he says to Alchemist and Hound: he knows the pain of causing suffering unknowingly, and he knows what it’s like to be used and then discarded. His powers seems to be seeing through people, I’d say almost mind-reading (“You can’t hide anything from me.”), but I think soul reading is a more fitting definition. I feel that all of the comments related to MC's backstory have more to do with what they experienced/felt than just objective facts, plus the way he says “All that suffering has made your soul so irresistibile...”, it makes me think that he's reading MC’S present and past emotions through their soul.

The most apparent part of his design is that he’s half showing, half hiding. His outfit makes the harness very visible, yet he hid the leash from the MC for as long as possible, and he didn't let them close enough to touch it. His pants are fully cover one side and show skin on the other. The sheer fabrics look very cool on their own but I like to think they're also part of the "half show, half hide" thing he has going on. An Alchemist MC will note that the collar seems to be enchanted, while other backstories will simply say that the lock seems easy enough to open.

In the charms and stickers design, there's his chain in the background, and it's broken. Metaphorically and literally, “breaking free from the chains” symbolizes putting an end to what holds someone captive, but also finding freedom to be oneself. Perhaps I'm reading too much into it, but I think a freed Vere would also feel free to not hide so much of himself. On that note, I'm extremely curious about what he draws on his sketchbook. Also in the charm and stickers design, as well as in the Nintendo Switch port art, is the key that he stole from the MC. It's curious that they included it instead of a more personal object like his sketchbook (present in the Switch port art but not in the stickers), but it might just be a fun nod to the demo or maybe he'll develop a habit of stealing the key again in the full game, so I don't think I should read too much into that.

Neither Vere or Kuras of them gives too many juicy details about their mutual hate towards each other during the demo, but from the additional info [1, 2] published on Tumblr, I think it might have to do with the fact that both of them have been confined in Eridia for centuries, and perhaps Kuras even contributed to the capture of Vere, too.

He’s defined as a “charlatan”, which by definition means “someone who decieves through false claims”. It fits with him saying “If I were you, I wouldn’t trust a word I say” and “Information is a luxury [...] If you valued my words you'd have taken them seriously”. This feels like a recurring theme for Vere: Ais also says, “Vere is one of the most honest people you'll meet. Just don't listen to a single thing he says”. Despite the very obvious predatory/mischievous nature of Vere, I think that he is very honest about the things he says: it’s about reading between the lines.

His very evident distaste towards Leander might be connected to this, seeing that Leander seems to be hiding a lot.

Vere clearly likes Ais, but as soon as MC asks more, he warns them about how dangerous he and the Seaspring are. I think both are true: Ais being “a good person” doesn’t exclude the fact that he is dangerous.

It could be a stretch, but I wonder if Vere lives/stays in the building that he was chained to?

The flowers in his pin design look like some type of lilies, perhaps wood lily are a type of amaryllis that symbolizes passion, allure, pride ( when researching the wood lilies, I also found: danger, determination). Local legends conflict on the origins of the amaryllis. Whether they sprang from the spilt blood of a scorned lover or were born of an ancient Senobian ritual gone awry, the truth behind these flowers is knowledge long forgotten… or held by a privileged few. Like Kuras, his flower mirrors the connection to the Senobium though it remains vague about how exactly they became involved... In the greek myth, Amaryllis consulted an oracle to win the love of the shepherd Alteo: she walked to his house every day, piercing her heart with a golden arrow, and on the 30th day flowers bloomed from her blood. Alteo became enamoured with the maiden and the flowers that bore her name... I wonder how Touchstarved’s version of the myth is different than ours, and which character Vere is more akin to?

Nothing on Sen or Elyon for now since there's too little info on both, but I'm looking forward to putting them under a microscope too 👀

(bangs pots and pans) please share your theories/thoughts if you read this far? 👉👈

[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]

Effective Digital Marketing Strategies for Law Firms to Attract More Clients

Digital Marketing for Law Firms

Introduction

Why Digital Marketing is Essential to Law Firms

In the modern world, when the majority of clients start their quest for legal services over the Internet, having a proper digital presence is no longer an option; rather, it is a necessity. An appropriately designed digital marketing strategy helps a law firm communicate with more audiences and helps in meeting their expectations by showing their knowledge and abilities.

Top Digital Marketing Strategies of Law Firms

1. Building a Professional Website

First Impressions Count: A website is more often than not the first impression a potential client will get of you. Your website should be professional, easy to use, and responsive on mobile. It should be clear what your services are, your expertise, and how a potential client can contact you.

2. Search Engine Optimization

This will, in return, help raise the ranking of your website through relevant search results. Remember also to target other keywords relevant to legal practice, such as “personal injury lawyer” or “family law attorney,” and to take advantage of local SEO targeting clients in specific regions. Populate this page with content like blog posts or articles that feature these keywords.

3. Content Marketing

This allows law firms to establish thought leadership through the creation and distribution of quality content: blog posts, case studies and frequently asked questions. Such quality content development and dissemination not only showcase expertise but also help to improve your website’s SEO.

4. Pay-Per-Click Advertising

With PPC ads, law firms can reach out to potential clients without wasting time. Targeting specific keywords, the PPC campaigns guarantee immediate visibility for search results for keywords that have been targeted and tend to be an important tool in capturing leads.

5. Social Media Marketing

Social media provides an avenue for law firms to reach out to clients on a personal level. Channels like LinkedIn, Facebook, and even Twitter provide insight and give some legal tips while gaining credibility.

6. Online Reviews and Reputation Management

Positive reviews of clients can significantly impact the credibility of any law firm. Encourage happy clients to leave positive reviews on Google My Business and Avvo with a view to building trust with potential clients.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the most effective way for law firms to reach clients online?

Such a combination of SEO, PPC, and social media marketing will develop an overall approach in which law firms will be able to reach clients.

2. Why is SEO important for law firms?

SEO optimizes the visibility of any website belonging to a law firm, allowing potential clients to find its services with ease.

3. How do law firms manage their online reputation?

Positive customer reviews can be encouraged, and negative feedback should be addressed professionally to improve the reputation of the firm.

4. Do PPC ads work for law firms?

Yes, they might be very effective since they reach out by keyword targeting and land at the top of search results.

Conclusion

It is for this reason that digital marketing becomes a strong tool for law firms to expand their clientele base and build a reputable online presence. With strategies like SEO, content marketing, and PPC, a law firm will be better positioned to engage with the target audience, outrank the competition, and build trust with potential clients.

[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:) 

[banannabethchase]

Is it normal to ask a question at work via email to multiple professionals who have more expertise in the particular area, get a response from one of those individuals, find out you might have sent some of the wrong people your question email, and then spend the rest of the day panicking because if you think you look stupid? Even though one of the people you emailed was in fact the correct person to email, and that person helped you figure out what actually was going on because you didn't know what it was because you were not the specialist in that area, which is why you emailed three people because you knew one of those three would be the specialist that could help you? And one person was the specialist, who came and was able to help you figure out the next steps to work through the situation?

This can't be normal. I feel like normal people don't focus on whether or not they look stupid when they first of all got the answer to their question, and second of all did indeed find one of the people out of their email who could help them answer the question.