#also just the biggest and most elaborate wedding ring for a black

[themightynyunyi]

there's a stackable ring ad I always get on instagram and it reminded me of them so I drew it

[asimpfor2dcharacter]

Note: In this chapter there will mention two of my oc ( original character) their physical appearance will be present in the future chapters.

When you see this sign -- it means a flashback started/ended

Previous chapter Masterlist

Chapter 2: Cafè and tea

In the morning the rain was strumming against the window of her room and  she was preparing herself to go into the living room. She decided to wear a light pigiama suited for the weather and thought that it was unnecessary to wear the golden ring she usually uses because no one was going to see it anyway beside her parents. It has already been several days since she came back to Japan and she mostly spent her time with her parents: cooking with her mother, training with her father and beating him in a game of chess. Mundane actions that people usually do with their parents but she can't, due to the fact that she lives far from them.

She decided to join his father in the kitchen who was busy cooking breakfast.

Aizawa noticed the presence of his daughter when she entered the room, 

"Goodmorning Y/n, your mom already left this early in the morning to work".

"Morning Dad, are those pancakes?," she asked, setting the table.

"Yes your favourite, you can already eat the one on the table while it's still hot ," he said, pointing at the table where there were several pancakes on a plate.

"Thanks Dad," she glanced outside the window and there was still a drizzling rain, " the weather forecasts show that around lunch time there will be sun for the rest of the day, so me and Yuga  planned to meet each other in a cafè nearby,".

"That sounds great," he flipped the last pancakes on the pan and he put it on his plate and then he took a chair beside her daughter.

"Well dad thank you for the breakfast,".

While cutting his food, he asked her, "Y/n in a few days I have the final appointment at the tailor shop for my wedding suit. I wanted to ask you if you can come with me?,".

"Are you asking  me that because you genuinely want me to be there or you  just don't want to be alone with uncle Mic?," she said while spreading the Nutella on her pancake.

"A mix of both, so are you coming?,".

"Of course I will, it's not everyday to see you in such a formal outfit," he rolled his eyes at her daughter's comment, making her tease her father more, knowing his preference over more comfortable clothes rather than elaborate one's.

"But Dad, one week before I came here in Japan you told me that Nezu offered you the position of UA principal, have you already made a decision?,".

Once he heard the question, he wiped his mouth with a napkin and slowly he put the fork on the table. "Honestly no". 

"Why?".

"I thought about it and Y/n I know it's a great honour to be the UA principal but," crossing his arm he continued, " I'm getting older and I don't if I can continue to be a hero for more years let alone be the UA principal," he said touching his left leg. She knew what exactly he meant with those words. "Beside," he added, " working as a principal, sure does take off your free time and I prefer spending my free time with your mom rather than working on paperworks,".

"You really love mom," she said.

"Well yeah, that's why I'm marrying her," he admitted with a smile on his face.

"That's it I'm going to tell mom when she comes back home,".

"Please don't, she will tease me about it for the whole week,". 

Both of them almost finished  eating their food when her father asked, "Y/n I know you told us you took this vacation for health reasons but it might also be because of those articles about you?". 

She immediately stopped eating, her eyes were avoiding his father's gaze, almost ashamed to meet them,"So you saw it".

"Yes I saw them, I read those negative reviews about your latest book so does your mom but don't get down on yourself. I know how negative opinions of others can bring you down but don't forget that you will always have me and your mom support you for everything. Me and your mom just want you to communicate with us when something is wrong," and now it was his turn to avoid her gaze, not wanting her to see his eyes tearing up, "we just don't want to repeat what happened to you six years ago,".

She listened attentively at his words, she knows how both of her parents suffered for the events of that day and she promised to herself that it will never happen again, "I know dad I'm working on it and I promise you, you will never see me again in that situation".

"Your mom and I just what the best for you," he said, patting gently on your head.

"I know dad I know," she admitted, giving her father a reassuring smile.

"Oh wait, you said your meeting Aoyama right," he pulled out from his pocket his wallet and gave her 13,000 yen  (99 in euro, 117 in dollars), "here take it,".

"Dad, I'm twenty-six years old, I can pay for my stuff,".

"Just take it ok," He replied while sipping a cup of coffee pretending not to hear the protest coming from his daughter.

 

After the deep conversation she had with Aizawa this morning, she was now preparing to meet Aoyama. Once  choosing her outfit, she decided to wear the golden ring on the fourth finger of her left hand to complete the look. Fortunately the weather forecast was right and it was a sunny day outside and her best friend informed her that they will meet in a cafe. He told her how excited he was to try their famous cheesecake and the way he described the pastry makes her want to try.

It took only twenty minutes by walking from her house to arrive at the cafè shop Aoyama told her. From the outside the wall of the shop  was black and it was ornated with several climbing plants, there was also a big wooden door as the entrance and inside the place it was rather a cozy atmosphere.

 She was searching for her best friend who was in disguise to avoid fans attention towards him and he told her to be able to recognise him, he was wearing a green merchandise t-shirt of Deku with a pair of dark sunglasses and a dark blue bucket hat. After searching for a couple of minutes she finally saw her friend in the most isolated part of the shop and near him there was a TV attached to the wall. He was sitting in a chair using his phone but she noticed something different from her best friend. 

"I can't believe he really did that," she thought.

"Yuga I thought you were joking when you said to me you were going to dye your hair," admiringing his new hair color now similar to the shade of blonde of Lucius Malfoy.

After some years of not seeing her in person, he immediately gave her a warm hug, "Y/n!!! It's so nice to see you again". 

"Yuga, you don't know how much I missed you," she said, returning back the hug, "it's been two years since  we saw each other and the last time was when you visited me in New York".

"And what were you saying about my hair, for your information," flipping his hair with a hand in a too dramatic way, " these are amazing," he said, not caring too much about him blowing up his disguise.

"Whatever you say Lucius Malfoy. So how is my favourite hero?," she asked once they took their seats.

He confesses to her the struggle of being the number fifteen hero, how the paparazzi each day that pass are becoming more determined to invade his private life and his agency already gave five restriction orders to five paparazzi only this  last three months. He can't imagine how difficult it is for higher ranking heroes to maintain  their privacy, he admitted, but on a positive note he and his team are working hard to climb higher in the hero rankings this year and they are also trying to sign better sponsorships with other companies' brands.

"So yeah, this is basically what I've been doing in the last months," he picked the menu card, " and you, my favourite writer, keep me updated on what is happening in your life," he asked, flipping the menu card.

"Well first I'm sorry for what happened to you with the paparazzi, at least your agencies manage the whole situation well but don't worry I don't have any doubts that you will achieve the top ten hero podium. So you wanted to know my personal life or my work life?,".

"All of it," He admitted with a devilish smile painted on his face.

"You jerk, so where do I start," taking a deep breath, "let's talk first about work, even though I told my parents it was my own decision to be on holiday, actually, it is more like my agency imposed me to take this vacation, because of the critiques. Although my recent book was a success to the public, the critiques were, well, quite harsh. 

I have been working in this industry for a long time to develop a thick skin towards harsh criticisms but my agency didn't take it well, they told me, I should take time off from working before publishing a new book. They don't want to see again what they read about me in those articles written by literary critics, phrases like 'The book is so predictable, 'Has Adrianne lost her spark of writing?', 'The book is not on the same level as the other that she wrote', 'I will not even read to meet pets'.

He put down the menu card in his hands, "Y/n, I'm sorry for what happened to you but don't let those critics let you down. I know your worth as an writer and looks like also my colleagues know it, the way they were down knowing you took half year off from writing, you should have seen their reaction when they red what those literary critics wrote about you they were furious to them and every time they talk about your stories and theories about it, their face are engulfed of joy" he said taking both of your hands in his and slightly squeeze it. "Y/n if you can only see the happiness of my co-workers imagines the joy you bring to others millions of people that read your stories around the globe," he expressed with a smile on his face, after all the years that you know him that smile always brings you comfort. "Y/n remember you are the one who brought that medium company to become one of the biggest and most important company in New York with your amazing works, you are their big fish. Even if those literary critics didn't like your books, what can your company do against you? Fire you? Please they are nothing without you," he added.

Trying to not laugh at his last statement, she dried the tears forming in her eyes for the words of support from her friend, she said, "Ohhh Yuga chan, you really know how to make a woman cry".

He winked at her, "What can I say, it's the charm of being a hero".

"Ok let's stop with these tear-jerking moments and let's order." Playfully slapping his arm and picking up the menu card to choose what to order. "I honestly don't know what to pick besides their cheesecake, there are so many to choose from".

"Well I also recommend you to check their drinks,".

Flipping through the pages of the menu card, she decided what to choose, " I know what to order and you?," He nodded indicating to her, he was also ready to order.

A waitress came towards them after she called her, "Hi, are you ready to take an order?".

Y/n spoke for both of them, " Yeah, we both chose the cheesecake and for the drinks a black tea and a bottle of water".

"I'm sorry to say this but there is only one cheesecake left," the waitress informed them both.

"It's ok Y/n you can take it-"

"You are more excited than me to try their cheesecake, so I will pick the tiramisù instead of the cheesecake," she said to the waitresses.

Once the waitress was gone Aoyama told her best friend, " I still can't believe it, our friendship basically started thanks to cheese".

She laughed at what he said because it was basically the truth, she remembered the day she met him.

--

Her mother gave birth to her in Musutafu, Japan, but at the age of five her mother decided to move to London. When the young girl asked the reason why they needed to reside in another country, her mother's eyebrow frowned at the question but there was an evident sadness in her eyes and a wounded look  she tried to hide under a smile. Her mom lowered herself to approach the same height of her child and with her hand she gently patted the hair of her daughter and with hesitation she answered "It's for the best".

So the single mother and her daughter lived their life in tranquillity, trying to fit in a new community and culture with her mother working as a nurse in a big hospital in London and her going to school and living most of her childhood in England.

Y/n didn't make a lot of friends considering her timid nature until one day she discovered a blog that contains: information, fun facts and new discovery about cheeses. A lot of kids around her age didn't like the smell of it and they always say it because the smell of it reminds them of sticky feet. So when she met on this blog a person around her same age that also has the same passion as her they immediately became friends and this boy's name was Yuga Aoyama. 

The young girl and her online friend almost spent their time together, talking about what they wanna be in the future. 

"Y/n chan when I grow up I want to be a hero just like All Might," the young boy announced, showing to her the All Might plushie.

"I don't really know what I want to be when I grow up, maybe just like my mama?. I just want one day to meet you in person Yuga,". 

Unbeknownst to the ten years old girl, her wish will become reality when her mother informs her that they will go back to live again in Musutafu ,Japan. Her mom receives an offer to work as an assistant for Recovery Girl and to her mother's surprise her daughter was more than happy to go back to Japan because this means that she will have the opportunity to meet her online friend in person. 

After five years living in England they are finally back in Japan. Her mother was euphoric for the fact that both of them are finally back in their home country and after a few weeks of fixing their apartment Y/n didn't lose time to meet her online friend in person and they decided to meet near the UA school.

After meeting in person the two became closer to each other and their friendship solidified over the years until they both went to the UA high school with Aoyama achieving his dream to go to the hero course and her simply frequenting the general department. 

The first year of UA recently started and Aoyama and her were walking in the hallway of the school to go to the cafeteria during lunch break, their peaceful conversation was interrupted when they heard loud noises coming from their back.

There was a boy with blond hair and a black lightning symbol on his hair that just passed them running from something or rather from someone, "You see that boy his name is Kaminari, one of my classmates but I don't know why he's running this fast".

She was going to tell her best friend something until she heard another loud sound of explosion coming from  behind her. When she turned around to see what was the cause of the tumult the girl notice another blond boy running towards them with a furios remark on his face, the boy was clearly using his quirk in the school hallway, even if he wasn't allowed to, a blast of explosion appearing on his hands to be able to run faster and Y/n seeing all of this was already ready to ignore it until she heard.

"SHINE!".

After hearing those words coming from the blond boy, Y/n was astonished by what she realised and she didn't even register that she basically screamed to the boy, "What it's you".

Bakugo was searching for Kaminari trying to teach him a lesson for a stupid prank that him and Mineta played on him. After giving a lesson to Mineta it was Kaminari turns now, he was running to find him until he lost sight of him, the only evidence where to find him was hearing his scream of terror trying to escape from Bakugo. The angry blond male immediately knew where the noise was coming from and it was from the hallway near the cafeteria and of course Bakugo didn't lose time and he instantly used his quirk to run faster towards the hallway where the scream of Kaminari was coming from.

Out of frustration he let out a curse but he didn't know that screaming that word  can change his life forever.

In the hallway he saw his classmate Aoyama and a girl near him, he was going to ignore them until the unknown girl screamed at him.

Bakugo was continuously running but eventually lose his balance and control of his quirk when the girl in front of him screamed at him, his pupil become more dilated and suddenly his breath grow shorter until he was a few steps from the unknown  girl and at that moment he completely lose track of his footstep making him fell on the ground with the girl under him.

Y/n didn't understand what just happened, her body was lying on the ground and she felt a weight of another person on top of her, when she opened her eyes she was greeted with a pair of carmine eyes observing  her movement attentively. 

" Fuck it's you then ," Bakugo said.

--

"Y/n ," he called her, "you were zoning out," he added.

"I'm sorry I was thinking of something," she created an excuse, mentally scolding herself to stop reminiscing about the past with rose tinted glasses.

He was going to say something until both of their attention was now focused on the tv near them.

There was a lady in her thirties announcing that one month from now there will be an annual hero gala and the woman was presenting which heroes will be present that night. The lady was showing pictures of various superheroes which some of them were familiar to Y/n from Aoyama and old UA students but what caught her attention was the remark that the woman said when she presented the pictures of Bakugo and her girlfriend.

Look at those two our national sweet couple, we all can't wait to see them and in a few months by now there will be their six years anniversary together .

Y/n and Yuga looked at each other's eyes and they cringed at that nickname that the host gave them.

"National sweet couple? Seriously?," she asked, trying to hold her laugh.

A hand in front of his mouth to suppress his laugh, he said, "Believe me there are worse nicknames that I heard about those two. But you know what is more interesting," he suddenly lowered his voice and asked her to come near him, "there are some rumours in the hero circle that say that Bakugo cheated multiple times on Yua".

At his last statement, she looked with sadness at the golden ring present on her fourth finger and thought  Well this isn't like the first time that happen.

" but you know,  what is the most interesting part of the 'cheating rumors' about Bakugo is that none of it comes out from the public's eyes," he added.

"Well this is strange considering this is the type of news paparazzi and the media will fight to know ".

Suddenly the conversation she was having with her friends was interrupted when a waitress served them their food.

"Y/n  let's stop talking about Bakugo love life, tell me about yours-".

"Not existent," she cut him short.

"Oh c'mon Y/n there will be someone who can make your heart beat again- ".

His complaints were interrupted with the ring of her phone.

"Who is it?," he asked.

She checked her phone and told him, " It's Aki".

"Speaking of the devil. You mean that Aki, the son of the president of the company you work for? The golden bachelor of your company and every female tried to seduce but failed eventually?," he said, drinking his tea.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your fantasies but he's only a good friend of mine, probably he only called just to talk about work knowing him," she admitted, answering the call.

"Hi Aki, ohh you're coming to Japan, when?,".

She heard her friend whispering to her, "Interesting," she rolled her eyes at her friend's comment.

"Ok bye Aki,".

"So what did you talk about,".

She told Aoyama what they talked about and it was mainly about work. Aki is the vice president of the company and in a few days he will come to Japan to take over an important project that was to build a new branch company located in Tokyo.

"And he also asked me if he can take me out to dinner when he will be here,".

"Well well well this sounds like a date to me. Do you ever think that he might have feelings for you?," he asked.

She defended herself, "We knew each other for a few years now, if he ever had feelings for me I should have noticed it by now".

" Y/n , I mean you didn't even notice when Bakugo had-".

She knew exactly where he was coming from and she didn't like it. She touched the ring in her finger with her other hand and with a firm voice  she said to him, " Aoyama, stop, I might have not noticed in the past  but now I will definitely know if someone has it".

Aoyama noticed her discomfort around that particular subject and he immediately tried to ask for forgiveness, "I'm sorry. I should've thought better before bringing it out that subject".

"It's ok Yuga. I shouldn't be angry with you about things that happened years ago," she comforted him, returning to her calm nature.

"No no no I'm on the wrong side this time and I want you to forgive me by going shopping and let me pay for your stuff," he informed her.

"Wait no you shouldn't do it-".

"I insist Y/n and I don't accept no for an answer," he announced, winking at her.

"I mean if you insist….". 

[sweeethinny]

Devil in Disguise

Potterverse Gift Exchange and I wrote this married!Hinny for @merrymagicalmenagerie i hope you like it! Clearly inspired by Elvis Presley's music! 

She walked like an angel. Wearing that white satin dress that made her ass look amazing, her back naked, her hair stuck in that elaborate hairstyle, the back of her neck also naked so that everyone could have an insane desire to kiss her skin, and those two red hair wisely falling in front of the face, shaping it as the most beautiful work of art in the museum. Her feet in silver high heels, so delicate, seemed to be part of her genetics, strutting around the room.

She spoke like an angel. Her voice was low and melodious, her lips painted not as dark as usual, her cheeks naturally flushed, and that little smile in the corner that made even a priest feel like sinning.

She acted like an angel. Being completely polite, holding the glass of wine elegantly, keeping her back always straight, even laughing at someone's embarrassing jokes... But Harry knew something they didn't know.

Harry knew she was the devil in disguise.

He knew this for several reasons, but the way she looked at him over her shoulder just to blink before returning to pay attention to the conversation that was being held, or how she made a point of touching him whenever they passed each other,  and even how her hand hovered purposefully on his thigh when they sat down to dinner.

She continued to speak normally to the wife of a guy that Harry didn't even remember the name of, but her hand played slowly up towards his groin, sometimes Ginny stopped and removed her hand, using it to adjust the loose lock of hair, or just putting it on the table, but it was not long before she returned to her place of before.

‘’Would you like to dance?’’ Harry asked, when dinner was over and their wedding music started to echo through the hall.

Her brown eyes were darkened by the evil he knew so well, and the long black-painted lashes cast a shadow over her irises, making them even more cloudy. He thought he would never be able to go crazy just looking at her, but Ginny was proving him otherwise.

‘‘Sure, I would love to.’’ She answered him, so sweetly that Harry thought that honey might drip out of her mouth.

She knew better than anyone how to look like an angel.

They held hands and she waved to the lady in front of her, who commented on how beautiful it was to see two young people in love. Harry, who just wanted to get out of there and touch his wife decently, said nothing, walking towards the middle of the room and holding Ginny's waist firmly, leaving no room for her to escape.

‘‘You look a little upset.’’ She smiled, leaving her right hand on his shoulder, her white painted nails poking him sweetly.

''You wish, don't you?'' They moved slowly, with each step, Harry tightened his hand a little more on her waist, bringing her closer and making her feel exactly where he was getting disturbed. ‘’It’s a beautiful dress.’’ He let his hand slip behind her back, perfectly on top of where the stitching started and hid her ass, his thumb touching the bare skin of her spine.

''Thanks. Made to measure.’’ Ginny also moved her hand, taking it to the back of her husband’s neck and scratching that sensitive spot that made him almost purr.

‘’The neckline on the back does something for you.’’ Harry raised his hand just to feel the bare skin, then returned to the covered curvature where her spine ended.

''I know. You didn't hide your fondness for that detail.’’ He shrugged, turning and pulling her away from a man who was looking too far behind her. ''Jealous?'' She said.

‘’No, just dancing.’’ Ginny laughed softly and bit her bottom lip, chin slightly lifted, as if she wanted him to kiss her. ‘’It’s a beautiful song.’’

‘‘As I recall, we already danced on another occasion when I was wearing white.’’

‘’And if all goes well, we’ll end the night the same as the first time we dance.’’ He blinked, smirking and bringing his face closer to hers. Just a little. But if Ginny wanted a kiss, she would have to grab him.

‘’Are you going to take me to the Maldives Islands again? Wow, it's my lucky day.’’ She raised her red eyebrow. In that way that made her seem a little more daring and less angelic, but still, a goddess.

‘’I thought about just finishing in the bedroom. But I can arrange a trip for us.’’ Harry lowered his hand slightly to her back, almost grabbing her ass, but still maintaining class.

‘’I’d love it. Maybe this time, you’ll let me swim naked.’’ She shrugged, and there it was, that devil that Harry knew so well.

That same evil angel who convinced everyone in the auror office that she urgently needed to talk to Harry, which was an important family issue, and made Robards let her in, only so that when she arrived in his office - with Harry very worried that it really was something important - Ginny would take off her overcoat and show off one of the sexiest pieces he remembered seeing her wear.

That other side of her, which only he had the great pleasure of knowing.

''Let's see how the night goes.'' Harry said at last, feeling her chest against his, her brown eyes burning even more. ‘’I like to surprise you.’’ He smiled genuinely, followed by Ginny, who turned her cheeks a rosier shade.

‘’I like it too when you surprise me.’’ They rolled over again, and this time, she raised her eyebrow at a blonde who was staring too much at Harry. ‘’Tomorrow, some will say that my biggest prize as the Chosen One’s wife is that he fills me with diamonds.’’ Ginny touched her own neck, where the necklace rested, also displaying their wedding ring, where there was a carved diamond.

‘’That was the worst story of all years.’’ Harry held back the urge to roll his eyes at the memory. ‘’As if the biggest prize wasn’t that you’re married to me.’’ He laughed, receiving a light pat on the back.

‘’That's what you think.’’ Ginny lifted her chin again, keeping them very close, noses almost touching. ‘’You are the lucky one that I accepted the request.’’

‘’I never doubted that.’’ Harry shrugged, being totally sincere. ‘’I am a completely unhappy man without you.’’

‘’Even when I trick you into sin?’’ She had that look again. One that everyone would see as something pure and naive, angelic, but that Harry knew how to see beyond. He knew she was nothing more than the Devil in disguise.

And he has never been happier to sin.

‘’Especially at those times.’’ He said.

She finally came over, giving him a chaste and quick kiss, but making sure to make him even more tense and hungry for her. The nails lightly scratched the foot of his hair, making Harry purr and press it even closer to her, groaning low in her mouth.

‘’Do you think you can get us out of here and take us as far as possible without anyone following us?’’ Ginny asked, looking quite affected too, eyes closed and pressing their foreheads together.

‘’Am I an auror or not?’’ Harry bit her lip lightly, listening to the music end and people starting to dissipate and talk louder. ‘’Give me five minutes and say goodbye to people.’’

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

‘’Where are you taking me?’’ Ginny asked, hands clasped in Harry’s who was pulling them into the Apparition area just outside the hall. There were few people around, and those who were, looked drunk or in too much of a hurry to notice the Potters running away like two teenagers.

‘’Didn’t I say I love to surprise you?’’ Harry put her down beside him, thinking of any place far before he Apparated into the middle of a forest, close to where the last Quidditch Cup had been.

‘’Hm.. Harry, I know you want and surprise but…’’ He laughed, denying and shaking their hands again, ignoring when Ginny tried to walk away, curious about the chosen place.

‘’Shut up, we haven’t got there yet.’’ He thought again, this time, visualizing the country house they had been building since Albus ’birth. Harry remembered the well-kept garden, the flowers in front of the house, the big front windows, the white stone exterior that Ginny liked and chose, and the sign that James and Teddy stuck in the grass in front of the path to enter the house, which said in children's writing '’Potter's Residence'' even though there were no neighbors within a radius of almost 5 kilometers.

Soon, they landed there, holding hands in front of the entrance door, the dark stone floor a little dirty from the fallen leaves, the cat that occasionally appeared there was lying on the windowsill of the room and was startled by the noise they made, before going back to sleep.

‘’I like surprises.’’ Ginny looked at the house almost ready. There were still some finishes like lamps, and all the decoration inside, but it was already a beautiful house. A beautiful, secluded home. ‘’But I thought we were going to swim.’’ She put her hands on his shoulders, smiling in the moonlight, before leaning over and kissing him. Just an inviting peck.

‘’And we’re going.’’ Harry finally grabbed her ass as he wanted from the beginning of the party, pressing her against him and listening to her sigh. ‘’We have a waterfall just for us.’’

‘’Oh, yea, I didn’t remember it .’’ Ginny gave him another kiss before turning and pulling him with her towards the waterfall that was a few meters away from the house. ‘’And why didn’t we go straight there?’’ She looked over her shoulder, the way she did at the party, still driving him crazy.

‘’I thought it would be best to apparate here first.’’ He shrugged, not quite able to think when Ginny was leaning over to take off her shoes.

‘’Hold this.’’ She handed him her bag, and the heels. ‘’It’s going to be awful walking on the grass with them.’’ Her face lost more and more of that angelic glow, becoming too treacherous for their safety. ‘‘Idiot.’’ Ginny laughed, much more Ginny than that perfect mask she wore at social events, running as fast as possible from Harry, letting go of her hair and making flying like a cape behind her.

He put her belongings in his extender pocket inside his jacket, and started running too, laughing at her loud laughter that echoed through the quiet yard, the moonlight making her look like one of those Goddesses they saw represented in the museum.

‘’You stole it!’’ He complained, really trying to reach her, but Ginny had an exercise routine that Harry couldn’t handle even if he had to do it in two days instead of an hour and a half.

‘’I’m smart.’’ She screamed, disappearing into the trees. ’’You are getting old!’’

‘’You’ll see the old man, Potter!’’ Harry replied, quickening his pace even further, getting closer to her, who was now laughing out loud.

She was so much more beautiful like that, free, being herself, without all the fancy gadgets that would make her envy even in a Queen. Running barefoot in the damp grass, her hair becoming increasingly tousled and bulky from the wind, looking much more alive than before.

Of course she was beautiful in every way. Harry loved her in every way. But something about Ginny being that evil little creature, tempting him, biting her lip with eyes burning with excitement; it made him feel like it was the first time he was seeing a woman in front of him.

‘‘I got you.’’ He whispered, grabbing her around the waist and burying his head in her neck, kissing her skin before picking her up like he did with the kids. ‘’You little devil creature.’’ She laughed, trying to escape into his arms but failing miserably.

‘’You don’t even think about it, Mr Potter!’’ She screamed as Harry moved closer to the waterfall, the noise echoing through the dark, silent forest.

‘’Call me Mr Potter again and I can think about it.’’ He raised an eyebrow at her, much happier than in the last 3 hours that they stayed at that event.

Her brown eyes burned and that little smile that Harry knew so well shone on her freckled and handsome face. ‘’Never.’’ She spoke defiantly.

‘’You asked for it.’’ He took the last step and felt the icy stones surrounding the waterfall, the cold making his body shiver. They had already swam there, it was Teddy's favorite place, and James had been trying to learn to swim whenever they went there. Albus didn't like to get in the water very much without Harry being holding him.

So Harry knew where to step and where he had cleaned and removed the stones so the kids wouldn't get hurt, so he just threw himself into the water with Ginny in his arms, the cold water making them cling to each other as they dived.

‘’Prat!’’ She said, splashing water on him as soon as the two emerged, her makeup smudged and her hair looking even more messy now wet.

‘‘Beautiful breasts.’’ Harry pointed at her nipples in view. ‘’No bra today?’’ He bit his lip, amused that she, even though they already had 2 children, blushed slightly.

‘’You don’t even know what I’m not wearing’’ She lay on her back in the water, swimming away from Harry with her face being lit by the full moon and the starry sky.

‘’I thought you wanted to swim naked.’’ He took off his wet clothes, throwing them on the grass and then diving to go over to where Ginny was, almost getting close to the waterfall that splashed water everywhere.

''That was before you threw me in the water.'' She stood in front of him, cold hands touching him in the face, the same eyes he had seen since he was 11 years old, now looks even more beautiful, even with all that makeup running under them.

‘’I love you.’’ Harry said, resting his hands on her waist, wishing that dress was out of her body.

‘’It won’t make me swim naked. You missed the chance to see that, Potter, you will have to convince me even if you want to kiss me.’’ Ginny looked at him defiantly, trying to get away from his grip but failing every time.

‘’It’s good that I know what to do then.’’ And then, more natural than any other movement, Harry dove, ready to get on his knees for that devil disguised as an angel.

[jojoreadwhat]

nothing else will do, all I want is you this christmas. | j.m. x fem!reader

a/n; hi. so you probably seen the post where I explained I deleted my last piece for Joe. I was not happy with it and I had another idea just floating in my head. this I think is my fav yet, so I hope you enjoy! I also re-tagged everyone from the last post, hope that’s cool! you’re the best!

prompt; joe can’t make it home for Christmas.

words; 1.7k

mentions; lucy boynton, ben hardy, gwilym lee & rami malek. (this is set around borhap’s production)

this tale includes lots of fluff which may lead to a lot laughs and a bunch of sweet kisses.

inspiration;

You were heartbroken by the news of Joe not being able to come home for Christmas. This was going to be your first, elaborate holiday spent apart across the pond.

“I’m sorry, y/n.” Joe repeated for the fourth time in the last 30 minutes through the blue screen of your laptop during a somber video chat.

Joe has been working on a major project, Bohemian Rhapsody, in London while you were back home in New York. This was Joe’s biggest part yet and it was supposed to stop, momentarily, for a lengthy week of rest for the cast. Unfortunately they have a deadline to catch up to and can’t halt the production.

Smiling soft and shaking your head. “It’s not your fault. We’ll celebrate it once you get back!” Trying to change the mood of things, Joe smirked briefly before his eyes trailed off the screen.

You felt so bad, in the way that technology advanced in today’s world, you were wishing you could reach through the screen and hug him, hug all of his sadness away and kiss the straightness of his lips till it giggled against your lips, curling up. Telling him it was going to be okay. Nothing made you more upset then seeing your boyfriend, blaming himself for something that was out of his hands.

“Joey?” Watching his eyes look up at the sound of your voice. Breaking the silence, “Hm.” meeting the lens like he was looking into yours with all of his attention. “Please don’t beat yourself up for it, it’s okay.”

It wasn’t, not for him anyways.

Joe and you have been together for a little over a year. You met through mutual friends at a party and hit it off instantly. He wasn’t expecting you to come in his life. Joe had his fair share of relationships and flings to keep him steady, he was ready to settle the bat down after a shit game on the field of love. But he met you right before he benched himself. You’ve become his best friend, his confidant, his lover and all good things between or beyond since. He was lucky to have stumbled upon your path, grateful even. It was time like these that made him question if he deserved you.

In the many years of his acting career, this current film was the most challenging he’s ever experienced. The longest he’s ever been away from home too. It was worse taking up jobs like this knowing he had someone to come home. He doesn’t know how you’ve stayed this long. He swore the first time that he spent away from you, would be the last he’d ever see you. He would’ve understood you leaving too. You stayed though, he never understood that by a long shot but you did and he wanted nothing more than to be back home with you.

Falling into another silence, you spoke up again. “What’s going on in that mind of yours?”

“How you do it.” He remarked, gingerly. His chin resting on hands, peering back at you. You raised your brow in confusion, wondering where this was going. “Do what?” Your naivety getting the best of you.

He smirked at your dumbfounded expression, you really had no idea what you meant to him.

“Stay.” He said, feeling your lips turn up into a smirk you couldn’t put a stop to even if you wanted to.

Sometimes you really thought you weren’t good enough in the ways that Joe was good to you. You couldn’t begin on how much he meant to you. How important and how amazing he was to you. You had your share of boyfriends using your heart as a welcome mat. When Joe came into your life it was like nobody could ever show you greater if anything wrong were to happen to your relationship. He was your beacon of light, the most kind, most affection, fun and generous soul you ever had the honor of having in your life. To call yours, for hopefully forever if he’d have you. You couldn’t walk away from him.

You smiled, brightly at the fluffy red hair with a funny, but adorable perm right now and his hazel eyes gazing back at you. “Because,” you began. “I love you.” watching his cheeks grow a deep shade of pink as he wasn’t used to hearing that.

Soon after, Joe and you bid your goodbyes before closing down your laptop. You sighed to yourself, dimly. Your eyes following the glistening, warm Christmas lights scattered against walls in the living room up until you focused on tree. Covered in odd ornaments, admiring it. You wished you could bring Christmas to him.

That’s when it hit you, what if you could? Joe couldn’t fly out but nothing was stopping you from flying out to him! You were overjoyed by the idea, checking your calendar and immediately texting the best person you know would be down to help.

Lucy Goosy: Are you up??? I just had the best idea!!

+

Lucy was over the moon by your idea of coming to London to bring Christmas cheer to Joe. She was also so excited to have another female around on set for the next week to be honest.

You two had met earlier on in the year before Bohemian Rhapsody began to be filmed. It was a little get together between the cast and crew, you two hit it off well and absolutely adored each other. She would help you out sometimes on keeping a good eye on Joe and his well being. She was always rooted for Joe and you, she knew first hand how much you meant to him.

When you landed on english soil on Christmas Eve. Lucy had her driver pick you up at the airport. You sat in the back of the black SUV, your nerves shot and all over the place, anxious and excited all in one over what today was going to be like. You hadn’t seen him, physically, in months and you couldn’t wait much longer, it was driving you mad not seeing that goofy smile and those hazel eyes for so long.

You texted Lucy when you had arrived outside of the place where her and the boys were filming.

She had everything figured out, even jobs for the boys. Lucy was going to do everything in her willpower to make sure this goes perfect as planned.

Still waiting for the go to exit the SUV, Lucy opened the door.

“Y/N!” Lucy shouted, excited as you shared the same enthusiasm, leaping into her arms. “It’s so great to see you!”

Gwilym was standing behind her, I shot him a smile before I pulled away and gave him a hug too.

Lucy placed my hands into hers, “Okay, so Rami and Ben have Joe out and about for lunch.” Smiling big, “We have an hour!”

We came up with the idea of decorating Joe’s trailer. “Okay! Let’s get rolling!”

+

Gwil, Lucy and you all hurried with bags full of twinkle lights and frilly decor to Joe’s trailer. Gwilym being the tall chap that he is, helped with hanging garlands and lights from the walls and draping from the ceiling. Lucy and you fluffed out a tree she had found from somewhere, cluttering it with lights and ornaments.

You were hooking a few ornaments, cute little Yankees ones too. “Lu, these are so cute!” Holding up one to her, she flashed a smile. “I heard wedding bells when I seen them!” Winking at you, “I believe I saw him looking at rings on his phone!” And your cheeks grew rosy as you placed the ornament onto the tree.

Time had passed and you had finished up with ten minutes to spare.

Gwilym was adding extra bows to empty areas and Lucy was adding an extra “dazzle” she quoted, with some candles.

We all stood in the main room at the glistening lights “It’s so cute!!” You cried, wrapping your arms around their middles and pulling them to your sides, gleefully. “Seriously couldn’t have done it without you guys,” leaning your head onto Lucy’s shoulder. “I owe you all lunch before I go!”

Gwilym chuckled, “No need! Just get our boy to cheer up, will ya?” You smiled, toothlessly. Nodding, “Absolutely.”

Lucy’s phone dinged, “Alright, they’re on their way back!” They scurried around quickly, grabbing trash and what nots before hugging you, “He’ll be here right after he gets in to change.” Gwilym announced, “hang tight!”

+

You sat on Joe’s sofa with a smile plastered to your face, in awe about the way the place came out. You were overwhelmed wanting to see his face.

Shortly you heard muffled sounds outside, you immediately went into action. Turning out the light switch and standing in place.

Your heart grew faster at how close you heard Joe’s sweet voice getting to the trailer.

“Hold on, I’ve gotta change back into my costume.” He yelled outside the door, hearing the door knob move.

You stayed carefully still, afraid he’d make out your shadow. “I thought I left the lamp on?” Muttering to him once he entered the room, hearing his feet shuffle across the floor as he reached for the light switch.

“Oh my god!” Joe nearly screeched at the sight and then when he seen you, he gasped “Y/N!” Beaming at the sight of his excitement taking over him.

He almost knocked you over with how fast he hurried to you, engulfing you into the warmest hug that you felt in ages. “Oh my god, you’re here!” Feeling his words in your hair, his hands roaming you like he was making sure you were really here.

“When did you get in?” His mouth was running for miles, How did you do all of this?!” He finished, then. Pulling away to go look around him at all the decorations, overwhelmed by everything.

You stood by, adoring him as he admired everything. “I had a little help, thanks to Lucy and the boys.”

He gasped, “they knew you were coming this whole time?!” Giggling as he watching him talk with his hands, one landing to his chest. “Come here,” waving his hand over towards you.

Wrapping your arms around his waist, he brought his hands to your cheeks. Tilting your head up towards his. “What did I do to deserve you?”

You didn’t know how to answer his question, but you knew he needed to be happy in the same way he made you feel.

Moving your hands to his dark red fluffy locks, simply smiling as you brought his lips to yours before pulling away to look at his eyes, the hazel ones you called home and loved with your all.

“Merry Christmas, Joe.”

Taglist - @myfatbottomedgirls @fairestkillerqueenofall @stephydearestxo @merryjolie @deacyblues @imnotvibingveryguccimrstark @bethanyann64 @fallingoutofthe1975 @plentyoffandoms @ask-mr-baldis-class @miss-artemis-wild @candiesandcherries @rocknrollqueenie @stormyparker @pastelhybristophiliac @briarrose26 @justapurrcat @theyreallidiots @standing-onthe-edge @escabell @heykarsyn @xinning19760326 @sheerhotspace @ca0s-artistic0 @augustturtle @strangemaximoff @richardhammondappreciationblog @coincidence-ithinknots-blog @kaleighmc

[msjr0119]

Love, Fate, Destiny

Part 9- Walk away

Riley Brooks is a waitress in a ‘Dive bar” in New York. One Saturday night, her past comes back to haunt her as some unfamiliar punters enter her bar on a bachelor party- one of them being someone who she was once close to.

*CHARACTERS BELONG TO PIXELBERRY*

Tags- @annekebbphotography @burnsoslow @drakesensworld @ladyangel70 @kingliam2019 @bbrandy2002 @butindeed @bascmve01 @drakewalker04 @pedudley @captain-kingliamsqueen @duchessemersynwalker @insideamirage @of-course-i-went-to-hartfeld @kozabaji @texaskitten30 @ibldw-main @kimmiedoo5 @nikkis1983 @dangerouseggseagleartisan @gnatbrain @walker7519 @lodberg @cmestrella @hopefulmoonobject @addictedtodrakefanfic @angi15h @liamxs-world @rafasgirl23415 @notoriouscs @yukinagato2012

******

It had been nine months since the social season was in Lythikos. There had been drama, tears, heartbreak and love.

Six months ago Liam married Olivia in an elaborate royal wedding against his father’s wishes. Everyone was pleased and happy for the new king as he could marry for love. Olivia took on her new roles and responsibilities with perfection- she was a natural which shocked most people. Madeleine had attempted to jeopardise the remaining of the social season in order to win the crown again. However she failed yet again, she was humiliated again, she was hated even more due to her meddling.

It was nine months since Riley abruptly left without informing anyone. Leaving not only made her heartbroken but also Drake. She was a hypocrite. She always blamed Drake for disappearing all those years ago- but then she did exactly the same.

It was the day of the Royal Regetta, Riley and Drake had tried to keep their distance from each other. Not wanting to cause a scandal due to Maxwell nearly giving their secret away in the Lythikos wine cellar. King Constantine had informed the press that he was abdicating the throne and that Liam would become King sooner rather than later.

Maxwell had used the excuse that they didn’t have any funds to hire a crew for House Beaumont’s boat- hiring Drake was a cunning plan to get the two love birds some alone time away from prying eyes. The trio had won the race surprisingly- Olivia wasn’t too thrilled but accepted that she wasn’t the Queen of everything.

After the race the suitors joined Olivia on her over-elaborate, luxurious yacht- there was champagne and wine from different regions of France- as well as canopies that were influenced by the Mediterranean. Madeleine made a beeline for Riley and Hana along with Kiara.

“Lady Riley, I must congratulate you. I notice that yourself and the commoner are quite close.”

“We are just friends Countess.”

“Well make sure it stays that way! Lady Kiara was his first love, I’m sure Duchess Olivia has informed you about that at the derby.”

“Yes, she did. Why would you be reiterating this fact? Why does it matter to me?” Riley discreetly grit her teeth, annoyed at Madeleine enjoying making everyone’s life hell.

“Oh it doesn’t matter to you. I’m just informing you. Did you know that Lady Kiara and Drake caused quite a scandal when they were 15?”

“Maddy please!” Kiara pleaded, whilst Riley and Hana looked bewildered- wondering if they needed to find some popcorn to eat whilst Madeleine stirred irrelevant information- doing her forte, creating drama.

“Why Kiara? You and Drake were once a family. It’s such a shame that you were forced to abort your baby.”

Riley stood frozen, feeling like she was about to hyperventilate. Why wouldn’t Drake inform her about this? He said he wanted to marry her but couldn’t tell her that he would have been a father. Hana gulped hard, before dragging Riley away. That was the last time they all saw Riley Brooks.

*****

Riley packed her bags immediately once arriving back at the palace, deciding to leave her close friends a note each- including Drake. Leaving the only man she had truly ever loved. She had text him asking if the rumours were true regarding his and Kiara’s past - he denied it. Asking everyone else for reassurance - they all confirmed that Madeleine was speaking the truth. Now believing she couldn’t trust Drake- she regretting abandoning her live in New York.

Sneaking out of the palace, she wasn’t sure where she was going. What she was going to do with her life. All she knew was that this short time in Cordonia would need to be erased from her mind.

I tell myself, this time it's different.

No goodbyes, cause eyes can't bear to see it.

I'll never survive on one that's coming.

If I stay, ooh no!

Just walk away! Oh, and don't look back

Cause if my heart breaks, it's gonna hurt so bad

You know I'm strong, but I can't take that

Before It's too late, oh, just walk away!

Riley didn’t want anymore unexpected surprises to occur in the future- causing more heartache, deciding to leave would be devastating for both her and Drake but it was her only option. The fact that he had impregnated Kiara was a shock- but the fact he lied about it made her original undecided decision now clear.

******

Liam all those months ago felt as if he was the tip of the iceberg for Riley’s departure. The last night in Lythikos, she had met him in his grand suite. Unknowingly to him, she agreed to do this with Drake and Maxwell to use Liam as an alibi in case Maddy and Kiara did in fact witness Drake and Riley in the wine cellar. She seemed shaken when she arrived at the suite, he had just assumed it was due to being with him alone. He tested the water and kissed her unexpectedly- resulting in a stinging slap on his cheek. It wasn’t until a few days later that Olivia explained why Riley had quite possibly left Cordonia- Kiara’s abortion.

On many occasions Liam had travelled to New York with his friends to attempt to find Riley and bring her back to Drake. They all tried to ring her, text her, contact her on social media- but there was no response. It was as if Riley Brooks was non-existent. After many failed attempts they could never find her. Finding Daniel and Lola the two refused to tell the friends any information regarding her- much to everyone’s annoyance. Feeling frustrated every time they returned to Cordonia without her, they saw Drake’s face sink- he was heartbroken all over again. During arguments he blamed Liam constantly for bringing her here in the first place- why he couldn’t drag her out of the masquerade ball to save her and save their relationship will always haunt him- and will be one of the biggest regrets of his life.

Working late at night, catching up on paperwork- Liam felt his eyes feel heavier with every second that went by. The scotch was previously preventing him face planting his desk. A sudden sharp knock at the door, surely woke him up slightly.

“Come in.”

“Sorry to disturb you, your Majesty.” Liam fixed his facial expression for his guard.

“It’s alright Bast. What can I help you with?”

“It’s what I can help you with, Sir. After lots of research, we believe....”

“You believe what? Just tell me Bast!” Liam snapped before shortly apologising for his short temper.

“We may have some links on Lady Riley. She has a new Instagram page - Rileyj1. We remained searching everything to do with Riley, Brooks, New York. Things that would make sense- anything to find her. After more research, we discovered that her mother’s maiden name was Johnson. Assuming that’s why there’s a ‘J’ in her username, she has most likely changed her name to this also.”

“Do you have any links as to where she may be? Does Drake know?” Liam pinched the bridge of his nose, not knowing what to do. Drake had been an alcoholic mess the last nine months- shutting everybody and everything out.

“According to the page, she spends most of her time in New York and Jersey. No we haven’t informed him.. although we are struggling to interpret her latest post. We may have to inform Drake?”

Liam looked bewildered at Bastien, picking up the bottle of scotch he shook it- to see how much remained. He had a feeling he may need some more scotch to recover from the words that Bastien was possibly about to speak. He couldn’t understand why an Instagram post would make all the difference if they inform Drake with information regarding the love of his life. Bastien asked if Liam would like to view the post and comments- Liam nodded, his heart was beating ten to the dozen, not knowing what exactly to expect. Gasping, his baby blues widened, his jaw was agape and could quite possibly stay in that position.

Yankee2018- Aw Riley, she’s absolutely gorgeous! Congrats guys!

Lolahughes- @yankee2018 She’s like a doll...🥰 love ya chick! Need to meet up soon haven’t seen ya in forever! #schoolreunionasap

DanielMitchell- Don’t drop her! I know how you loved to drop glasses and plates in your waitressing days 🤣..Only joking... 😜

Bethanyhughes- We must all meet up soon? 🍾 #proudauntiebeth

Bigapple123- Ri holding a baby? I never thought I’d see the day 😆, you wouldn’t even hold my children. Only joking cuz! Love ya 😘

Liam didn’t want to read anymore comments, Riley looked beautiful and she was smiling. It was a genuine smile. Reading the comments, he because frustrated and angry with Lola and Daniel- it was written in black and white, it was photographic evidence that they had been in touch with Riley this whole time. Liam’s mind was working out the dates- a pregnancy lasts nine months, nine months ago we were in Lythikos... did Drake and Riley? Shit!

“Bastien! Get the royal jet ready. Tomorrow- everyone is taking a trip to the states and we are not leaving until we find her!”

[topicprinter]

Hey - Pat from StarterStory.com here with another interview.Today's interview is with KC Holiday of QALO, a brand that makes silicone rings.I'm super excited about this interview, as it's the biggest one I've done (in terms of revenue and many other metrics). It's also packed with info, tips, and advice for others. Hope you enjoy.Some stats:Product: Silicone rings.Revenue/mo: $2.5MRevenue since inception: $100MEmail list: 1M+700k Facebook followers,193k on instagramStarted: March 2013Location: Santa Ana, CAFounders: 2Employees: 69EDIT: For those asking about verified revenue in the comments, here is their Inc. profileHello! Who are you and what are you working on?Hey there! My name is KC Holiday and I am the co-founder of QALO.We are a family-first company committed to designing and making products that enable families to share adventures and meaningful experiences—best known for being the creators of the functional wedding ring.We’ve created an enormous community of over 2 million people who wear QALO to represent the most important commitment they’ve made in their life. This year we as a company will eclipse over 100M in total revenue since Ted Baker (my co-founder) and I founded the company from a dining room table in 2013.What's your backstory and how did you come up with the idea?We are often asked the story of how we came up with the concept, and I wish I had some elaborate story about almost losing a finger, but my life isn’t dangerous enough for that.The simple answer is, we got married.Ted and I married our wives in 2012, a few months apart from one another. We were both living in Los Angeles pursuing a career in film and television, which really meant we spent a lot of our time working in a restaurant together.Ted and I had met in an acting class and became friends through the class. He managed to rescue me from my waiter job at PF Chang’s and bring me to the restaurant he managed in Beverly Hills. That restaurant is where the idea for QALO was created.In passing one day, we began discussing whether or not we wore wedding rings. I had been taking mine on and off constantly to play golf, workout, etc. and he said that he had just decided to not wear one because it was such a pain.We wanted to represent the commitment that we had made to our wives, but the metal ring just didn’t make sense with our lifestyle, and so we sought to create a solution for ourselves. We agreed to do it together and QALO was born.Neither of us had any background in manufacturing or building eCommerce websites, but that wasn’t going to stop us.We spent the next six months getting rings produced, creating all brand assets, and building a website. More on that below.None of them were anything close to perfect (they were actually pretty terrible), but we were way more concerned with determining whether or not this category was real than whether or not our logo utilized the most impactful font.Describe the process of designing, prototyping, and manufacturing the product.Most people see our product and the first thing they think is how simple it is. Five years ago, I would agree with them. Yes, the concept is simple, and the thought of manufacturing silicone rings seems easy enough, but we have transformed the jewelry industry.We’ve done that through an innovative focus on product evolution and sophistication in manufacturing. We approach manufacturers that have never created what we have conceived. That’s powerful.Initial design and prototypingThe initial design phase was relatively unique for ours because we were evolving a billion dollar industry with a proven design. If you are looking to disrupt a category don’t feel the need to revolutionize the space, assess what has been proven and reliable, and make some tweaks to improve it.For us, the design was created and proven through an actual wedding band, we were just looking to make it functional. That was what we were solving for. I had friends who had started a large silicone consumer good business and so I had some familiarity with its functionality. Once Ted and I spoke about choosing silicone as the material of choice, we went and purchased metal wedding bands with silhouettes we were fond of.Early design and prototyping mistakesThe next step should have been to get a CAD creator to create a rendering, and then go to a 3D printer to determine if we like it prior to shipping it overseas to be sampled, but we did know about that process when we started. I would do as much work as you possibly can on your design and functionality prior to sending it to your manufacturer. The lead times just become more expensive and extensive the less time you put in up front, and manufacturers want to mass produce your product, not run a hundred samples for you.We skipped that process and shipped the metal rings to a silicone manufacturer and asked him basically to create molds with those silhouettes and do his best to match the rings that we sent. It took about 3-6 months to get it to one we were proud of, even with our bar being as low as it was.Once we received that prototype, chose colors (again no science to that other than we felt neutral colors were safer and everybody just buys black) we felt good about it and moved to mass manufacturing of the product. What we did not account for was cheap molds make a cheap product. The quality control was terrible. Always pay a little extra for better quality. Losing one customer is worth way more than the extra you will pay to make sure the product is where you would like it to be.Finding our first manufacturerWhen we first started we went to the first manufacturer that would offer to help us, which was a recommendation from a friend. You’d be surprised the impact of just asking people in your own network can have when getting started.The quality control, however, was terrible. We would have to hand trim every single ring that we received with a pair of eyebrow scissors. I didn’t even know eyebrow scissors existed. I’ve probably hand trimmed about 50,000 QALO.If you bought in the early days I definitely hand-trimmed that ring while watching an episode of Lost.Our manufacturing has really scaled with us. We’re currently on our third manufacturer since the start of the company and our focus currently is on the differentiation of supply chain as we go global. We need to make sure we have created the supply chain to support the goals of the organization. Always make sure your goals aren’t bigger than your manufacturer’s capabilities.Our largest initial investment was in the initial inventory purchase. We emptied both our savings accounts to get that first batch of rings here. A tough decision for a couple of newlyweds, but we were just crazy enough to think it may work.Our design process todayOur design process is a combination of customer feedback, trend tracking, and a bunch of really smart creative people in our product department who know the silicone jewelry industry better than anyone in the world.Our proprietary Q2X material is a direct response to customer feedback. Silicone, which every company except our own, uses to make all of their rings is compromised when it comes in contact with certain liquids/solvents. If you’re someone who works with your hands all day, Q2X is the only ring that will work from you.Being the creators of the category gave us an opportunity to hear that feedback from customers early, and create a functional solution that gave them an opportunity to wear a ring 24/7.Describe the process of launching the online store/business.When we first started we had absolutely no idea how to start an eCommerce business.We ran a google search for a user-friendly platform and found Shopify. The most important thing is getting a functioning site that can give you the opportunity to sell the product. Great marketing will just make a bad product fail faster, so don’t worry so much about the bells and whistles, worry about creating a place to drive traffic to and learn about how consumers respond to your product.Initially, all of our investment dollars went to tooling to create the inventory, and the inventory itself. Ted and I emptied our savings to start it and never took on any funding. We shot our own content (first video which you can see here) and had a buddy wear the product and play sports so we could go take some lifestyle photos after I taught myself photography. I reached out to a friend’s dad who was a photographer for product, and he with a small light kit in his living room, took our product photos.The launchWe launched the site on March 1, 2013, and immediately began searching for proof of concept. We had solved a problem for ourselves, but did anyone else share the same frustration. We pursued viral communities that would have a use case for our product and began sending it out for free to influential people in the communities.Shamelessly, we sent emails and product to anyone we thought could prove the concept, as well as having an impact on a larger group. For us, those communities were military, firefighters, CrossFit athletes, and professional athletes.Working out of my dining room in the early daysThe best story through that process was sending the product to Andy Dalton who I had gone to college with. I reached out as he was a newlywed as well and asked if he’d be interested in wearing the product.He was open to it, and we sent it out. Fortunately, the Cincinnati Bengals were on HBO’s Hard Knocks that year and in an outlier type moment, they did a full segment on Andy wearing QALO in the first episode.Andy Dalton talking about our ringsIt was an epic moment.Get your product on people, you never know when moments like that will happen. When we saw the result in a Google search for ‘rubber wedding ring’ after that episode, we knew we had something real.Sweat equityThe biggest move we made in the early days was giving out sweat equity, which is basically a company or person exchanging services for equity instead of capital investment for equity. It played a huge role in us getting to where we’re at today.This was relevant to our business because we had absolutely no money when we started. We have never raised a dime of capital. Because of that we found people who were specialists and believed in our business. We didn’t have the money to pay them and so instead they were willing to help grow our business and no immediate pay, in exchange for a % of the business. Not everyone is set up to be able to do it because not everyone can work for free.Over time though the company made money, and we were able to pay them for their services as well. That was cool, they were owners and now the company they believed in was able to reward them with being able to pay for services.The sweat equity partners had expertise in:Ambassador relationships (ways to get the word out there)Digital marketingContent/Brand marketingLegalManufacturing knowledgeBusiness understanding of businesses relevant to our productSome early lessons in those days:Do your best to remove yourself emotionally from honest feedback. Take it and better your business with it.Your family doesn’t want to hurt your feelings when you pitch your idea or share your product. Pitch it to strangers too.Be very cautious about who you want to give equity too. Don’t just say yes because it’s a lot of money, pay attention to who the person is giving it to you.On the flip side, don’t obsess over equity. 100% ownership in something worth nothing is worthless.You don’t have to give all the sweat equity at once to partners. They can vest over a period of time based off of performance metrics.Smaller size bloggers and influencers are looking for content. Reach out to them and engage, they’ll be happy to write about you.Affiliate Marketing (Giving influencers kickback on a discount code they share to drive awareness) is way more work than worth. Stop doing it.If you are spending all day shipping, find someone else to do it for you so you can focus on create more shipments.Storing inventory in my living room.Since launch, what has worked to attract and retain customers?Ambassador relationships (ways to get the word out there)Our first big ambassador relationship who we paid was Shane Dorian, the professional big wave surfer.A few facts about that which can help when choosing ambassadors:Don’t pay people to wear/use your product.Make sure they align with your brand, they actually like it, then pay them for their time to create content or put a post up for you.If your product is good, they will use it organically, and consumers today value authenticity. Nothing seems more inauthentic than olympians advertising McDonald’s.Tell people about your winsFor every dollar you spend on an ambassador you should spend three times that amount to tell the world they are wearing it. We have the biggest ambassadors in the world wearing QALO, but our biggest challenge is telling the world that they are.Look for niche influencersFacebook and word of mouth are our two biggest forms of awareness growth. Small time influencers with a committed following can be very powerful. It doesn’t always need to be a superstar.Send your product out to people with no expectationsUnderstand the cost associated with doing it, but the more people that have your product the better.Make your packaging uniqueAthletes receive tons of products and packages. Make yours unique. An example of an on-brand influencer package we sent was when we sent a package to LeBron James when he moved to LA.Being based in LA, our team got together and created a recommendation of great family spots only locals would know about in LA, and gave him gift cards, maps, customized rings etc.LeBron doesn’t need gift cards or a map, but we valued his wife and kids as much as we did him. We focus on family. That is our brand.Digital marketingIn terms of digital marketing, we were launched by Facebook. In 2014, we realized Facebook was an incredible opportunity to pursue the communities that we had resonated with.We were a wedding ring, so the marital status was a huge helper to create efficiency in advertising. We work with an online sales agency named Common Thread Collective, and still do to this day. I would highly recommend them. There is no golden ticket in terms of what advertising channels will be best for your business so you may need to try a few.Understand which ads work and do your best to learn why. It may be a lifestyle image on Instagram, or a product photo on a white background on Facebook.There are people that can do some freelance digital advertising for you, and if you can self-learn some SEO, blog content on your site can be a great opportunity to create free SEO content and there are apps on Shopify that help with SEO.Do not get complacent online as you grow. Anyone can copy your product, set up a website and if they have money they can compete. It’s exactly what happened to our business with our competition, and it’s pay to play.Content/Brand marketingFor content marketing, we focus on telling our brand story through video content and photography focusing on product updates and releases, product education and customer testimonials. Define your brand message, tone, demographic, and create content that will resonate. The same rules apply for content and ambassadors. If you’re going to create video content, understand the distribution channel and how much you can spend. That video is worthless if no one watches it. For us, testimonial videos and short product focused brand videos have been valuable in our distribution channels. Different content should be produced with the end usage in mind. Pre-roll before a hulu ad, may be different than a facebook retargeting ad.Get reviews from customers. As many as possible. It is free content, and amazon has revolutionized the way people value them.Email marketing is a great way to boost revenue and deepen brand relationships. Collect as many emails as possible. Separate from a mailchimp fee and your time, it’s free.What are some of the metrics of the business?In 2018 we were, #151 on the INC500 List with 2,792% GrowthWe did $60,000 in our first year of business and 3.2M in our secondIn 2015, we went from 5 employees to 45 by year endOur email database is over 1,000,000 customersOur social media is a little over 700k on Facebook, 193k on instagramWe currently sit right around 70 employeesWe are in over 3,000 retail locations and our business is currently 60%/40% eCommerce to WholesaleWe will be launching in Target at the end of this year, and currently have distribution in Dick’s Sporting Goods, Lowe’s and REIAs the two founders we have the business split: I oversee Product, Marketing and eCommerce and Ted oversees Sales, Finance, Operations. We work together on the strategy part.We are currently expanding globally in EU and AsiaThere are over 1,000,000 searches for the silicone ring category on Amazon every monthThrough starting the business, have you learned anything particularly helpful or advantageous?I think it would be easier to bullet these out. We’ve seen the good the bad and the ugly.Nothing can replace hard work.People who got “lucky” often worked their ass off to create that luck.Rome wasn’t built in a day.Keep grinding, look at the Starbucks and Apple timelines of success if you think it’s supposed to happen faster.There is a Bill Gates quote that says, “People over overestimate what they can do in a year, and underestimate what they can do in ten.” It is very easy to get discouraged by a company moving slowly but keep at it.You never know when someone may end up on an HBO show talking about your product. Outlier moments happen for everyone. You are so passionate about your company, you want the world to know. It just doesn’t happen overnight. Have a long-term vision, and set short-term goals.If you are hitting those goals, that’s a win. Celebrate the wins. Entrepreneurs are so hard on ourselves, give yourself some grace.Partnerships are a marriage without the sex.Forgive the metaphor. Which means it is a ton of communication, confrontation, and time spent together. They are very hard, but they are not impossible.Understand if you have a partnership, the work that is required to be successful. You will be working on your business as well as your relationship with your business partner. Find someone who compliments what you do, thinks differently and doesn’t want to do what you do.Your business doesn’t need two founders who are doing the same thing.Stay true to why you started the company.For every company that is started, there is a “why” you started, and that will be tested as you grow. Why do you exist? QALO started with the goal of allowing people to represent the commitment they had made to their spouse and family regardless of their occupation, hobbies or passion. We were always about building a community of people who live life a certain way, and at the end of the day prioritize, above all else, who it is they come home to.This has been our north star. We said no to Shark Tank multiple times as a group because we didn’t feel it was the right move for what we were trying to do. We agreed to not do any form of sports or university licensing because we felt it detracted from the meaning behind our product and why people wear it.Your “why” may force you to say no to what seem like great revenue opportunities and it will serve as a great filter, which is why you should never forget it. It will also help you stay true to yourself.Never forget your “why”. Customers will notice when you do.Be generous.Always. Becoming more successful will not make you more generous, that needs to be deeply rooted in you when you have nothing.Keep customer service in-houseWe have always had customer service controlled in-house. We use external services now as we’ve grown, but I think it is vital to feel relatable and give customers the employee to talk to a human who can help them solve that problem.Give your customers the customer service experience you would like to receive if you were the one on the other side of the phone. We call our customer service problem solvers because far too often customer service becomes part of the problem, not the solution.What platform/tools do you use for your business?ShopifyShipstationZaius - CRMMailChimp we used in the earlier days of emailSlackYotpo for reviewsZendesk for Customer ServiceGrowQuickbooks OnlineWhat have been the most influential books, podcasts, or other resources?Books:The Power of HabitScaling Up (Better for once you are a few years in)The Lean StartupSmall GiantsEntreleadershipEgo is the EnemyLet My People Go SurfingPodcasts:Tim FerrissShopify Masters (My Episode)Building a Story Brand with Donald MillerFinding Mastery with Michael GervaisAdvice for other entrepreneurs who want to get started or are just starting out?Go for it. Please go for it. Too few people do. Every phase is equally as rewarding as challenging.There are so many resources out there to learn. Use them, because lazy people don’t change the world. Don’t be discouraged when people copy your idea. They’re going to.Know where your cash is going. Cash is King.People lesser than you have accomplished amazing things. You are more than capable.Leadership is lonely. Find people who are going through the journey with you and have a support group.As you start, hire generalists that can help you get things done, and uses outside resources as specialists. As you grow you will hire more specialists, and need less generalists.Are you looking to hire for certain positions right now?Creative Director - Full TimeCustomization Coordinator - Full Time and Part Time - Work with our in-house customization team to personalize productsSales Administrator - Full Time - Support executives on the sales teamMarketing Coordinator - Full Time - Support QALO Marketing domestically and internationallyOur officeWhere can we go to learn more?Website - www.qalo.comFacebook - facebook.com/QaloQALO Instagram - @qaloMy Instagram - @mrkcholidayMy email is [kc@qalo.com](mailto:kc@qalo.com) - please feel free to reach out I love helping entrepreneurs.Liked this text interview? Check out the full interview with photos.Also, if you want to tell your story (aka be interviewed like this), DM me!

[ntrending]

Scientists are putting the X factor back in X-rays

New Post has been published on https://nexcraft.co/scientists-are-putting-the-x-factor-back-in-x-rays/

Scientists are putting the X factor back in X-rays

It started with an accident, as the most exciting discoveries often do.

In late 1895, German physicist Wilhelm Rӧntgen was testing equipment in his lab under a black cardboard covering. While experimenting on known forms of light, he witnessed a fluorescent light that behaved like nothing anyone had ever seen before. It not only moved through the cardboard—it traveled an additional nine feet.

These new beams, which Rӧntgen named “X-rays,” (“X” being a mathematician’s standard substitution for all things unknown) actually penetrated a plethora of common substances, from cardboard to soft tissue. But these mysterious pulses suddenly stopped when they hit bone or metal.

The discovery inspired both horror and hope. Legend has it that upon seeing an X-ray reproduction of her own hand, all bone and metal wedding ring, Rӧntgen’s wife Anna Bertha said, “I have seen my death!” and never returned to the lab. But the medical industry saw in the X-ray a boundless therapeutic potential.

“The reality is, Rӧntgen and other people realized very quickly there was going to be a medical use for X-rays,” says Arpan Banerjee, a radiologist and the past president of the British Society for the History of Radiology. “It wasn’t going to be a physics paper that was written up and forgotten in the archives.”

While the technology has grown ever-more precise, the fundamental principle of harnessing X-rays to produce images for human analysis has largely stayed the same. But experts say we could be on the precipice of a new medical imaging revolution, one that puts the X factor back in the X-ray.

Today, basic imaging to create Rӧntgen-like visualizations, which let us peer beneath skin without a scalpel, are offered by every doctor, dentist, and orthodontist in the country. But X-rays have taken on countless new forms in the last 120-odd years since Anna Bertha marveled at her own hand. It didn’t take long for technicians to realize, with a little effort, that the X-ray could show more than just hard substances like bone. For example, by filling a patient with the chemical element barium, doctors were able to visualize the soft tissues of the gastrointestinal tract.

By the 1950s, anigography was a common method of evaluating blockages in the cardiovascular system. Similar to a barium swallow test, doctors can inject a patient’s veins with a contrasting agent like iodine dye, hit them with an X-ray, and create spidery images of a patient’s blood vessels. While barium illuminated the gastrointestinal tract, angiograms are useful for analysis and treatment of clots and other disorders.

Perhaps the most important post-Rӧntgen development came in the 1970s, when English scientists developed the first X-ray computed tomography machine, or CT scan. Using sensors to detect the output of X-rays beamed through the patient’s body, the machine creates elaborate images of bones, organs, and soft tissue all at once. Because each substance in the body is penetrated by the beam to a different degree, the machine can successfully distinguish between an arm and a spleen, and carefully recreate an impression of both. “That’s the most modern application of X-ray technology,” Banerjee says.

For all the potential of the X-ray, Anna Bertha’s purported fright was hardly misplaced. Early X-rays were weak, requiring a exposure time of 15 or 20 minutes just to generate an image of a hand, according to Banerjee. As a result, they easily caused burns, which could do harm in more ways than one. Thomas Edison’s X-ray research assistant Clarence Dally was exposed to radiation so frequently that he developed metastatic skin cancer, which killed him by age 39. “I did not want to know anything more about X-rays,” Edison said at the time of Dally’s death.

Since the early 1900s, researchers have looked for ways to curb the resulting radiation. They made progress on many fronts, from protective clothing like the heavy metal bibs you don at the dentist’s office, to the move from conventional X-ray film to digital X-rays, which require less radiation to produce an image. But the biggest advances—called tube current modulation and iterative reconstruction, respectively—have only risen to promise in the last decade or so, says Bibb Allen, the chief medical officer for the American College of Radiology’s Data Science Institute.

Tube current modulation, in the context of a CT scan, means the dose of the radiation is varied according to the part of the body under review. In a full-body scan, more radiation will be sent to the rock-hard skull than the airy lungs, according to Allen, thereby managing overall exposure to the beams. Iterative reconstruction, meanwhile, is the process by which an algorithm in the CT scanner pieces together high-quality images of the body. By reducing noise and clearing up the image, patients can spend less time in the donut-shaped CT machine, being bombarded with X-rays and resulting radiation.

The process of producing a medical radiographic image has been largely unchanged since the X-ray was first discovered. X-rays are generated, and the resulting beams are pointed at a human target; the images created from this process are analyzed by other humans. But what about the X-rays of the future?

Donald Umstadter is a physics professor at the University of Nebraska’s Extreme Light Lab. He’s the head of a research team that built, maintains, and uses the Diocles laser, a man-made contraption that generates a beam of light 10 million times brighter than the sun—and its purpose is to answer some of the biggest questions in the universe. “We’ve already discovered something new, something that had never been seen before in the laboratory,” says Umstadter. And, he adds, it has the potential to change radiographic imaging.

When Umstadter’s team focused the Diocles Laser on an electron beam, they were able to create something revolutionary called multi-photon scattering.“Not only is this a new behavior of light… but it’s also a new way to make X-rays, so essentially it’s a new way to make light,” Umstadter says. This still generates an X-ray, like the ones Rӧntgen made in his lab; it just does it by different means. “It turns out the X-rays we produce actually deposit 100 times lower dose than a conventional X-ray machine and so they’re much safer,” he says.

If the Diocles can one day be built to scale—made to fit in a hospital, or even a dentist’s office—it could improve safety for patients the world over.

Banerjee and Allen, both accomplished radiologists, have focused their sights on the potential for artificial intelligence to interpret X-ray results using machine learning. AI is already performing well at diagnostic tasks, at least in limited settings. In 2017, researchers at Stanford showed that their algorithm could diagnose pneumonia from a chest X-ray “better than radiologists,” according to a press release from the university. Earlier this year, the FDA approved a device that uses artificial intelligence to screen patient’s eyes for diabetic retinopathy. General practitioners might soon be able to diagnose this condition in their patients without sending them to an opthamologist for an expert evaluation.

While it may be a ways off, Allen says, “I am excited about the day where artificial intelligence will see something in an image that we humans cannot see.”

Written By Eleanor Cummins

[orionsgirl7lovegoodravenclaw]

OH MY GOD, OHMYGOD, OMG!!!!! 😍😍😍😍 THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL!!!

there's a stackable ring ad I always get on instagram and it reminded me of them so I drew it