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alwaysbethewest · 9 months

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Kingsman 2 fic: Stay Close to Me

Happy @pedrostories Secret Santa day, y'all 💃 I was thrilled when I received my assignment and saw that I'd be writing for my sweet friend @iamskyereads 😁 Skye, I hope you have a merry Christmas and I hope this little story helps make it bright. (Okay a quick note: generally speaking I don't believe in apologizing for your writing, but I do feel like a small apology is merited here. Halfway through writing this fic I started to panic because I felt like I wasn't really meeting the brief of your prompt 😬 I started wondering if I should start over from scratch but I was already too far into it. I accidentally wrote you... a case fic???? With a smidgen of romance sprinkled in. I'm sorry! Despite my stress over that realization I did have a lot of fun writing this and I hope you will enjoy it anyway!)

Title: Stay Close to Me Pairing: Agent Whiskey (Jack Daniels)/f!Reader Rating: Teen Word Count: 5.3k Content/warnings: Fake/undercover marriage! Statesman casefic! A little romance, kissing, coarse language, very mild peril and hurt/comfort, and a splash of alcohol. Reader is a junior agent and has some muscle but otherwise no physical/age descriptions. As with any good Kingsman fic, my first step was to disregard half of canon, so this is either pre-movie or an AU. Unbetaed but thanks as ever to @fleetwoodmactshirt and @mourningbirds1 for their hand-holding ❤️ Please let me know if you spot any typos/mistakes.

The Statesman offices are housed in a sleek highrise in Midtown, a 40-minute commute from your tiny apartment. To anyone who asks, you work in the marketing department, and you’ve learned enough by now to drone on about synergistic strategies for diversifying market shares to bore anyone listening, but to those in the know, behind passcode-guarded doors, you’re Agent Violette, junior analyst for the private intelligence agency hidden behind the national whiskey brand.

For a secret spy job, your work is actually fairly routine. Most of your time is spent doing research and compiling intel for agents working out in the field. Occasionally your boss sends you into the field yourself—little baby excursions to get your feet wet—and you won’t pretend you haven’t enjoyed the thrill. But your desk job is comfortable, and satisfying, and you’ve got no complaints.

It’s Wednesday, and the only sign something out of the ordinary may be taking place is the note you find on your desk when you clock in. It takes only a little of your codebreaking expertise to interpret:

9:15 AM—mtg w/ Agt. C rm 806

Room 806 is a teleconference room furnished with a small table and a handful of chairs. One seat is occupied when you get there.

Agent Whiskey raises an eyebrow at you from under his cowboy hat. The accessory is so out of place in the urban streets of New York City that when you’d first met him you’d wondered if it was an affectation—a marketing ploy to signal the authenticity of the Kentucky bourbon your company sells on the side. But while you haven’t worked closely with him, you’d quickly learned it seems he’s just… like that.

He slides a folder towards you and you accept it as you take a seat and don your glasses.

“Any idea what this is about?” he asks.

You shake your head. Just as you open your mouth to speak, the comms switch on and Agent Champagne appears across the table before you, via the technological wonder that is your projection spectacles. More high-tech and more secure than Zoom, they’re one of the many things that sets Statesman apart from lesser spy agencies.

Out of the corner of your eye, you see Whiskey straighten up slightly in his chair.

“Jack!” Agent Champagne greets him. “How was Munich?”

“All good, sir,” he drawls. “You’ll have the full report this afternoon.”

“Very good,” the older man rumbles. He turns his attention to you. “And Agent, uh—” His eyes shift down to the notes on his desk. “Agent Violette. Good to have you on board.”

You’ve worked at Statesman for three years, but you’re still too low on the org chart to have landed on the director’s radar before this. He says your code name like vie-oh-let instead of the French pronunciation you prefer, but there’s an affability to him that makes it go over easier.

“Thank you, sir.”

“So, California,” he says, diving into the brief. Whiskey opens his file folder and you follow suit. The top page features a short itinerary and a character profile that you quickly learn is a new undercover alias. Violet Davenport. You like the name. She sounds high society. Glancing over to Whiskey’s file, you spot his alias and your brows raise involuntarily.

Johnny Davenport.

Hm.

“Vineyard owner out there is concerned about a potential theft. He’s received some threats and needs a couple of bodies on the ground to sniff out the trouble,” Agent Champagne states.

“Theft of what, exactly?” Agent Whiskey asks.

“Wine. Money. The usual. He’s got his personal wine collection stored on the premises. You know the business—some of those bottles are worth a pretty penny. Mr. Peterson—that’s the client—says he has a list of suspects for you to look at.” Champ waves a hand, looking vaguely unimpressed. “Obviously you’ll have to use your own judgment on whether any of his theories check out.”

“Sir, I don’t understand why I’m being sent on such a simple assignment,” Whiskey says. “No disrespect,” he adds belatedly, glancing at you. You give him your politest go-along-to-get-along smile.

Champ looks like he’s torn between amusement or annoyance at Agent Whiskey’s attitude.

“Same reason for anything, Jack. Politics. This client has close connections in the state government over there. If we can solve this simple problem for him, it may just lead to more prestigious cases. Ones you’ll feel are worthy of your valuable time.”

Jack should look chastened, but he doesn’t. He does stop arguing, though.

“I need a senior agent on the case. And Violet’s supervisor assures me she’s got the research and fieldwork skills to step up on this one. Your cover is a married couple on an anniversary trip, so I’m basically sending you on a paid vacation, here. There’s more information in the files you’ve got.”

Whiskey flips through the pages half-heartedly and gives a curt nod.

“Well!” Agent Champagne slaps his hands on the table decisively. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. Mazel tov!” With that he ends the transmission.

And that’s how you find yourself at the airport Friday morning with a diamond ring on your left hand and a disgruntled cowboy by your side.

The flight lands in San Francisco without incident, and Jack shifts into doting husband mode as you head to pick up the rental car the agency has reserved. He reaches for your suitcase to load it into the trunk.

“Let me get that for you, sweetheart.”

You give him a saccharine-sweet smile. “I’ve got it, hon.”

You lift the heavy bag with ease and watch his mouth purse for a second before he smiles back.

“I guess my baby’s stronger than she looks.”

The bored-looking attendant sees you off and Jack has you punch in the GPS destination while he eases into the busy freeway traffic. He’s a confident, slightly impatient driver, but you see him relax once you’re over the bridge and sailing smoothly north on Interstate 80.

“So what’s our game plan?” he asks as highway signs for Napa begin to appear, and you reach for your notebook and flip it open.

There’s only one bed.

You probably should have done the math on this as soon as Agent Champagne declared you a married couple, but in the whirlwind of arranging to leave town and the anxiety of stepping into your biggest field operation to date, it hadn’t occurred to you to worry about the precise nature of your accommodations.

Jack sets his bags down and flops onto the bed, letting the soles of his cowboy boots dangle off the end. It’s an exaggerated display of exhaustion, but you’re tired too after a seven-hour flight and another two hours in the car. His lanky body takes up the whole length of the bed and you try not to let your eyes linger as you contemplate the sleeping arrangements.

He picks up on your hesitation.

“This is where I’m supposed to do the gentlemanly thing and let you have the bed all to yourself, huh? Sorry, sister, not gonna happen.” His tone softens. “But I promise I don’t bite. There’s no reason we can’t share.”

The only couch in the room is a small, overstuffed loveseat that you can tell at a glance neither of you would enjoy reclining on for long. So you do the mature thing and agree to sleep with him.

Not like that.

Bill Peterson, the agency’s client, is one of those people who claim to be easygoing while in reality they exude nonstop nervous energy.

“I know exactly who it is,” he tells you in a hushed voice. You and Jack are in his office, under the guise of a private tour of the winery. Peterson has been going over what you already know from the file: that he has a high-value collection of wine held on the estate, as well as a hard drive storing what he’ll only describe as “sensitive” material; that he’s received several vague threats recently; and that with the hustle and bustle of harvest season upon them, he’s concerned his regular security won’t be sufficient to stop the would-be thieves.

“Oh?” you say. “Well, that will be very helpful, Mr. Peterson.”

“Okay,” he amends. “Maybe not exactly, but I can give you a list. Of suspects.”

“We’ve seen the list,” Jack tells him. “But what is it that makes you suspect these folks in particular?”

“They’re mostly other winery owners,” Peterson says. “Everyone on that list was present at a party I attended a few months ago where I—let slip some details about my collection. It was only after that the letters started.”

You and Jack exchange a glance. You’re both wondering if “let slip” isn’t code for “bragged loudly.”

“Is there a reason you haven’t gone to the police?” you ask. His eyes narrow.

“I value discretion,” he says tightly. “Anyway—I’m not sure they’d consider the threats actionable.”

“Can we see them?” Jack asks.

“Of course.” He retrieves a small stack from his desk drawer. You and Whiskey put your heads together to pore over them.

They’re all written by one person, in slanted, blocky handwriting.

YOU WILL PAY.

YOU WILL LOSE EVERYTHING.

YOUR EMPIRE WILL CRUMBLE.

WE WILL CRUSH YOU.

“Is there another one?” you check. “There are five envelopes but only four notes.”

Peterson hesitates, then shrugs and shakes his head. He’s lying, but you don’t push it.

“There is one other thing,” he says. “I keep seeing this blue truck—but it’s like he doesn’t want to be spotted. I see it slow down like he’s scoping out the place, but then he speeds off as soon as he sees I’ve noticed. I tried to get the license plate but it was covered in mud.” He scoffs. “We haven’t had any rain in months.”

Jack has him describe the vehicle and where he’s seen it, while you take notes.

“Alright, Mr. Peterson. We’ll be in touch if we have any other questions.”

“Thank you. Oh—here.” He hands you a pair of vouchers for a free wine tasting. “They come with the tour. One thing you should know about Napa—you’ll only really blend in if you’ve got a glass of wine in your hand.”

Jack’s code name is Whiskey for a reason. He’s a spirits man through and through and he doesn’t give the tasting room a second look, ushering you out to get back to your room to regroup. Admittedly, it’s only 10 AM, but you would have enjoyed a few sips of merlot. You’re craning your neck a little to look at the wine list posted by the door—just out of curiosity—when he startles you by taking your hand in his. You look at him. He’s staring ahead, holding your hand like it’s nothing as you walk side by side. Finally, your brain catches up and your nine credits of college acting classes kick in and you plaster a loving smile onto your face, leaning closer.

In the privacy of your little rented cottage, you pull out your notes again to review.

“Peterson is lying about something,” you start. Jack nods distractedly.

“Yeah—listen, before we get into that, I need to ask you. You jumped when I held your hand back there,” he observes.

You feel your face heat with embarrassment. He’s calling you out on your inexperience, the rookie agent who can’t even play-act for a simple assignment. You can do it, you know. Being undercover in the field is just still new to you. He could help you instead of being critical.

“Sorry—”

“It’s my opinion,” he says, with a slight frown, “that a man who doesn’t treat his wife a certain way is no man at all.”

You’re lost, suddenly. “Sorry?”

“What I’m askin’ is, do I have your permission to touch you like you’re my wife when other people are around?”

Oh.

Something about the way he’s worded it makes your stomach do a little flip.

“Oh. Yes. Touch me like…?” You swallow. “Like how, exactly?”

He gives you a steady look.

“Intimately.”

That’s fine. You’re fine with that.

“Right. That’s—” you nod, maybe a little too emphatically. “That’s okay.”

You look down, fingering the pages of your notebook again, trying to refocus on the more analytical side of the job, when another thought occurs to you.

“Are you going to kiss me?” you blurt.

“Shit, Violet, that’s part and parcel of it.”

“It’s Violette,” you tell him with a frown.

“Sorry.”

“Do you even know my real name?”

“Of course I do,” he says. You don’t push it but you also don’t know whether to believe him. He’s shown little interest in working with you this entire week.

Jack takes a step towards you.

“I’m going to kiss you now,” he says. “So you don’t jump like a rabbit when I do it in public.”

You take a breath. Suck your bottom lip between your teeth involuntarily.

“Okay,” you tell him.

Your eyes fall shut as he leans in. You feel his fingers steadying your chin, tilting your face to meet his, and then his lips touching your mouth, light, tentative—teasing, your mind prompts, and the thought makes you feel flushed again. When you don’t shy away he presses closer and you’re not sure which of you is to blame when your lips part and his tongue brushes yours.

You were expecting it, so you don’t jump, but you feel a little trembly when he pulls away. He doesn’t step back right away—instead, his lips hover over your skin, mustache coarse against your soft cheek, as he tucks his mouth by your ear and quietly, intimately, says your name.

“So you think Peterson is lying,” he says, picking up the thread from before.

“Um,” you say, forcing your brain to switch back to work mode. Your whole body feels warm. “Yes. Don’t you think he seemed shady?”

Jack shrugs. “Call me jaded, I think most people are shady. But I agree with you. He lied about the missing letter. I fuckin’ hate when clients do that. What do you think about the blue truck he saw?”

“I think that could be something.”

You open your laptop and with a few keystrokes you’ve used a Statesman backdoor into the DMV system, where you enter the make, model, and color of the vehicle Peterson had described. There are no matching hits within Napa County, so you expand the search. It’s an unpopular color, so there are only a few dozen matches in the state. None of the owners’ names are on the list of suspects you’ve been given.

“He said he hasn’t seen it around town, only driving by his property. And we don’t know who owns it. So how do we find the car?” you wonder.

Jack is silent for a minute. You watch as a slow smile spreads across his face.

“I have an idea.”

This case originated at Statesman’s Kentucky headquarters, so Agent Ginger Ale is your tech liaison. It’s clear from their dynamic that she and Agent Whiskey have worked together before. Having her voice in your ear is a source of comfort as you carry out Jack’s great idea—which you’re not 100% sure you’re on board with.

“Don’t you need some kind of license to operate this?” you ask tentatively.

“Technically, on paper, he has one,” Ginger offers. “Well, Johnny Davenport does, anyway. As of twenty minutes ago.”

“It’s a balloon and a basket, how complicated could it be,” Jack grouses. This doesn’t exactly raise your confidence.

“Just don’t crash this one, Jack,” she pleads.

“This one?!”

He shakes his head. “You have one helicopter fail on you and they never let you live it down. Don’t listen to Ginger.”

To his credit, Jack pilots the hot air balloon much more smoothly than you’d expected, and after some time you feel yourself relaxing and enjoying the view. It’s early October and the landscape is a mix of green and brown from the last of the summer heat. Tidy rows of grape vines are bordered by houses and larger wineries, copses of trees, and fields dotted with grazing cows. Tiny workers move methodically among the vines, busy harvesting fruit to be pressed and fermented. Through it all, highways and winding roads run alongside the properties, and this is where you refocus your attention.

Ginger has programmed your binoculars to register any vehicles matching the description of the blue truck you’re seeking. You train the lenses on the backroads and driveways, looking for private hiding places it could be stashed.

The whole endeavor feels like a long shot, and you’re just on the verge of suggesting you give up and head back to base when the binocs let out a high-pitched beep of recognition, zooming in on your target.

“Holy shit,” you whisper. “I can’t believe this worked.”

“I told you it would,” Jack says, looking smug. “What is that place?”

Ginger has looked up the coordinates before you have a chance to do it yourself.

“It’s a winery… Double Loop Vineyards. Do you guys know that name?”

You recognize it immediately. The owner is one of the names on Bill Peterson’s list of suspects.

You and Jack exchange a look.

“Guess we’re goin’ wine tasting at Double Loop,” he says, and he turns to start your descent.

The tasting room at Double Loop Vineyards is a large, tastefully decorated space that looks like it was converted from an old barn. It’s all dark wood and ceiling beams, and a bar runs along the back and right side walls. When you and Jack step inside, you’re greeted by a tall young woman with a pixie haircut and striking cheekbones. She’s wearing a name tag that reads Eva.

You settle in front of her at the bar and she pulls out a pair of glasses and pours a splash of white into each to get you started. You take a sip and peruse the small menu on the bartop.

“She’ll have the red flight,” Jack says, “And I’ll just have a glass. Can you recommend me something… full-bodied?”

As he says it he palms your hip suggestively, pulling you to him a little closer. You laugh, mortified but amused despite yourself, and he shoots you a wink.

Eva takes it in stride. “I can offer you a cabernet sauvignon that’s got legs for days.”

“That’ll do me just fine, thank you.”

You’re the only visitors in the tasting room for the moment so you have her undivided attention. She’s skilled at making small talk to keep you charmed and at ease; eventually she asks something more personal.

“So I’m planning to propose to my girlfriend soon,” she tells you. “And I’m trying to figure out how to do it. I’m like crowdsourcing ideas. You two are such a cute couple—can I ask how you got engaged?”

You and Jack exchange a glance and you give him a sweet smile. “You tell it, honey.”

“Well,” he says, keeping his eyes on you for a long moment before he finally looks away to face Eva, “I knew I wanted to marry her, and I had this whole plan in mind. I wanted something special for my Violet so I was going to take her on a trip—my buddy has this little cabin on the most beautiful lake you’ve ever seen—and make her favorite dinner, and sit down with a glass of something nice. And then I was going to present her with this beautiful piece of hand-carved wood that spelled out, Will. You. Marry. Me.”

He pauses to take a sip of his cab while Eva says, “Aww,” and looks at you like, what a sweet partner you have.

“Now the thing is,” he continues, warming up to the story, “as Violet can tell you herself, I have never carved a single thing in my life. And somehow, like a dumbass, I was convinced I could make this plaque and do it perfectly. But it looked just awful. And it was taking me so long trying to get it right I could tell she was starting to wonder if I was stringing her along.”

You shake your head in protest and he laughs. “You were! You’d look at me like, why has this fool not married me yet.”

Eva laughs, too. “So what happened?”

Jack lets out an aggrieved sigh. “What happened was, I caught the flu. Just the most dog-sick, pathetic man, all sweaty with fever and miserable to boot. And Violet never hesitated, she bundled me up and cooked me soup and tolerated my whining and she’d read me to sleep when my eyes couldn’t even focus on the TV. And somewhere in the middle of all that, I thought, I need to hold on to this woman forever, and I asked her right then and there.”

His voice cracks a little on the last sentence and you’re shocked to realize your own eyes are damp with tears. You’re not sure which part, or how much, but something in that story sounded true and it’s left you with a strange sense of heartache. You lift his hand to your mouth and press a kiss across his knuckles, watching his face soften.

“Okay,” Eva says. “So I guess I’ll add ‘get the flu’ to my list of ideas.”

“I don’t recommend it,” Jack tells her, “but I don’t not recommend it.”

As you finish your flight and Eva rings up a couple of bottles you’ve chosen to purchase—you’re not sure if these classify as company expenses, but you enjoyed them enough you’ll pay out of pocket if you must—she asks where else in the wine country you’ve been to so far.

“We spent some time at the winery right next to the place we’re staying—actually, we got to meet the owner there, what was his name, baby?”

You keep your tone casual, but you watch her face as you reply. “Bill Peterson, I think it was?”

Eva’s expression falters, just for a moment, before she recovers and plasters on a polite smile. “They’ve got a great pinot noir over there.”

“Not as good as these,” you tell her, just to see her smile turn genuine.

A tour group walks in just then so you take your leave and step outside into the late afternoon sunshine. When Jack takes your hand this time you let him, and you don’t mind it.

The blue truck is parked out back. You walk along the side of the building, just a pair of happy tourists slightly buzzed on red wine out to take in the view, until you get close enough to make note of the license plate. Back in your own car, you run a search on it and identify the owner: a young man named Lucas Trent. The address on the registration is in Paso Robles, a town 250 miles south of here, but you do some digging and find he’s a vineyard worker at Double Loop.

“So what’s the connection to Peterson?” Jack wonders.

“Look at this.” You point at the screen and he squints. “He’s only been at Double Loop for six months. Before that—”

“He worked for Peterson,” Jack finishes. “So he’s mad about getting fired and wants to get back at his old boss.”

“Maybe,” you say, frowning. “We don’t really know yet. But it’s a theory.”

“It’s a good theory,” he insists.

The two of you sit in silence for a few moments, mulling it over.

“Tell me this, rookie,” he says. “You ever been on a stakeout?”

On your first ever stakeout that evening, you quickly learn a few things:

Stakeouts are cold. Stakeouts are boring. And rental cars are not designed to accommodate them.

You shift uncomfortably for the fifth time in twenty minutes.

“How do we even know he’ll show up tonight?” you ask. In the quiet of the night you keep your voice hushed.

“Call it intuition,” Jack says. You can tell he hates sitting still this long, too, but he’s clearly built up a tolerance for it over the years, because he’s not wriggling around nearly as much as you.

“Can I ask you something?”

He grunts an assent.

“That story about how you proposed—how did you come up with that?”

He pauses.

“I just—made it up,” he says.

“I thought it seemed…” you start. He gives you a sidelong glance. “Never mind. You’re a good improviser.”

After a minute, he says, “I was engaged once. A long time ago.”

“Oh.” You bite your cheek, holding back your questions.

“She died,” he adds. Your heart drops.

“I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Of course,” you say, helplessly.

Never in your life have you been more grateful to see a criminal approaching than when you see the familiar shape of Lucas Trent’s blue truck appear down the road.

“Ha,” Jack says, looking a little less glum. “What’d I tell you. Intuition never fails me.”

You take deep, silent breaths, trying to control your fast-beating heart as you creep behind Jack to follow Lucas inside the building. He’s got a key to Peterson’s winery; he must have stolen it before he left the job, you think. He heads down the hall, past Peterson’s office, and disappears behind a door.

Jack motions for you to wait a moment, listening intently outside the door. You hear nothing but the quiet thump of Lucas’s footsteps, growing fainter until there’s only silence, and finally Jack eases open the door. You’re faced with a short flight of stairs heading down into a cellar. The two of you tiptoe down the stairs.

You nearly bump into Jack at the bottom when he stops dead in his tracks, still hidden in the shadows. Peering around him, you see that Lucas isn’t alone in the room. Bill Peterson is here, too, standing next to a small wooden desk.

“What the fuck do you want?” Bill demands. Lucas stares at him sullenly. “You came here to steal from me, didn’t you? You didn’t think I’d be down here.”

“I just want what’s mine,” the young man growls. “You’re the thief, not me.”

Lucas steps further into the room, toward the back wall. The space is filled with racks of carefully preserved wine bottles—Peterson’s precious collection, you register—and a pile of empty wooden barrels, stacked two high.

“Those bottles are insured,” Peterson calls after him. “You’ll get caught if you try to sell them.”

Lucas says nothing, just continues walking until he reaches the wall. At the back of the cellar, he pushes aside a tapestry to reveal a combination safe embedded in the wall. He glances over his shoulder with a smirk, and punches in the code.

“How the fuck do you know that number?” Peterson roars, finally scared. He rushes past the racks of wine, suddenly worthless compared to whatever is on the flash drive Lucas has just retrieved from the safe. When they start to tussle over it, Jack finally steps in.

“Hey!” he yells, striding into the light. The men look over, startled, and then Peterson looks relieved. He lets go of Lucas, seemingly confident that his hired security will take care of the situation, and retreats to stand next to Jack.

“Get that back from him,” he tells him. Jack gives him a long, unimpressed look, and then turns his focus on Lucas, who’s starting to look slightly panicky now that he’s outnumbered.

“Listen, son. This will all go a lot easier if you just put that back where you found it and walk out of here with me.”

“You don’t understand,” Lucas protests. “He’s stealing from everyone. This is the proof.”

Peterson shifts on his feet, looking guilty. “Bullshit,” he says. “You resent me for being the boss, but I’ve worked for every penny I’ve got.”

Lucas lets out a humorless, disbelieving laugh. “Yeah, you work real hard. You must break a sweat making copies of your accounts so you can lie about the numbers. I bet you have blisters on your hands from shortchanging your workers.”

Jack makes a mistake here—he takes his eyes off the suspect to look at Mr. Peterson in a new light, trying to gauge which of them is telling the truth. And in that split second, to your horror, Lucas hurtles forward and shoves the stacked wine barrels, hard, knocking both Jack and Peterson onto the ground.

You make a mistake, too, and he gets on your case about it afterwards. You let Lucas slip past you in your rush to reach Jack’s side. He looks dazed and angry and his legs are trapped under the hundred-pound barrel. Gathering your strength, you lift it off of him and set it upright, then fall to your knees to check him over.

“Jack! Are you alright?” You feel carefully along his legs, then gently at the back of his head, running your fingers over his scalp to check for bumps or bleeding.

“I’m okay,” he mutters. “I didn’t hit my head.” But he winces as you help him up, and he’s moving a little gingerly when he takes a step. “Might’ve tweaked my ankle,” he admits.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Peterson yells. “You let that little shit get away with my property.”

“Let me ask you this, Mr. Peterson,” Jack growls. “Was it true what he said, about the double accounts?”

“I don’t see how that matters,” he insists angrily. “I hired you to do a job, and I expected a lot better.”

“I’ll tell you why it matters,” Jack tells him. “I don’t work for people who lie to me. Consider the contract dissolved. You can get your ‘property’ back on your own.”

“Actually, you got lucky, Mr. Peterson,” you call back over your shoulder as you help Jack walk over to the stairs. “If we had gotten our hands on that drive, we would have been obligated to turn it over to the IRS. Statesman has connections in the government, too, you know.”

And with that, you leave him sputtering and pale, alone with his precious wine.

It’s 3 AM when you get back to the room. Jack’s ankle isn’t broken, just twisted. You’d made him wait in the car while you stopped at a 24-hour convenience store to get ice on the way, so now you get him tucked into bed with his foot elevated and a baggie of ice draped over his ankle. He’s clearly still peeved over how things went down with Peterson, but he also looks amused watching you play nursemaid for him.

“You know, I’ve been hurt a hell of a lot worse than this before,” he tells you. “I can take care of myself.”

You give him an unimpressed look. “Getting badly injured isn’t the brag you think it is,” you counter. “And… you shouldn’t have to take care of it alone. That’s what I’m here for. I know you think I’m just a rookie, but—for this job, we’re partners, right?”

He’s silent for a beat, but then he nods.

Jack is still awake and waiting for you when you return from the bathroom in your pajamas. As you climb into your side of the bed, he says, “I don’t think you’re just a rookie. You did a good job on this case.”

The room is dark but there’s moonlight streaming in through the window, casting a beam of light across his face on the pillow. He’s looking at you. You look back.

“Thank you,” you tell him finally.

“Thanks for the ice,” he returns. He lets out a sigh as his eyes drift shut, and as you follow suit you feel his hand reach out and intertwine with yours.

“G’night, Violet,” he murmurs.

“Goodnight, Johnny.”

He laughs, and you grin in the dark, and you hold on tight.

#pedrostories #pedrostoriesgift23 #jack daniels x reader #agent whiskey x reader #pedro pascal #kingsman fanfiction #my fic #fanfiction

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spacetimewithstuartgary · 27 days

Text

New SpaceTime out Monday

SpaceTime 20240826 Series 27 Episode 103

Starliner crew to return on Dragon

NASA has decided to return the stranded Starliner crew to Earth aboard rival SpaceX’ Dragon capsule because of ongoing concerns about the reliability of their Boeing spacecraft.

Tracking down the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs

A new study claims the asteroid which triggered the extinction of 75 percent of all life on Earth including all the non-avian dinosaurs 66 million years ago originated beyond the orbit of Jupiter during the early development of the solar system.

JUICE completes the first joint Lunar-Earth gravity assist flyby

The European Space Agency’s JUICE -- Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer – spacecraft has successfully completed the first ever joint Lunar-Earth gravity assist fly by flinging itself just as planned towards Venus.

Three more Australian satellites sent into orbit

The latest trio flew up aboard SpaceX’s transporter 11 mission on a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Transporter 11 is carrying 116 payloads, including CubeSats, microsats, and an orbital transfer vehicle carrying eight payloads.

The Science Report

Babies born to fathers of an older age more likely to have health complications at birth.

The bacteria that can produce rigid, heat stable plastics.

Tiny volcanic glass shards found in Tasmania came from a super-eruption in New Zealand.

Skeptics guide to body language

SpaceTime covers the latest news in astronomy & space sciences.

The show is available every Monday, Wednesday and Friday through Apple Podcasts (itunes), Stitcher, Google Podcast, Pocketcasts, SoundCloud, Bitez.com, YouTube, your favourite podcast download provider, and from www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com

SpaceTime is also broadcast through the National Science Foundation on Science Zone Radio and on both i-heart Radio and Tune-In Radio.

SpaceTime daily news blog: http://spacetimewithstuartgary.tumblr.com/

SpaceTime facebook: www.facebook.com/spacetimewithstuartgary

SpaceTime Instagram @spacetimewithstuartgary

SpaceTime twitter feed @stuartgary

SpaceTime YouTube: @SpaceTimewithStuartGary

SpaceTime -- A brief history

SpaceTime is Australia’s most popular and respected astronomy and space science news program – averaging over two million downloads every year. We’re also number five in the United States. The show reports on the latest stories and discoveries making news in astronomy, space flight, and science. SpaceTime features weekly interviews with leading Australian scientists about their research. The show began life in 1995 as ‘StarStuff’ on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC) NewsRadio network. Award winning investigative reporter Stuart Gary created the program during more than fifteen years as NewsRadio’s evening anchor and Science Editor. Gary’s always loved science. He studied astronomy at university and was invited to undertake a PHD in astrophysics, but instead focused on his career in journalism and radio broadcasting. Gary’s radio career stretches back some 34 years including 26 at the ABC. He worked as an announcer and music DJ in commercial radio, before becoming a journalist and eventually joining ABC News and Current Affairs. He was part of the team that set up ABC NewsRadio and became one of its first on air presenters. When asked to put his science background to use, Gary developed StarStuff which he wrote, produced and hosted, consistently achieving 9 per cent of the national Australian radio audience based on the ABC’s Nielsen ratings survey figures for the five major Australian metro markets: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. The StarStuff podcast was published on line by ABC Science -- achieving over 1.3 million downloads annually. However, after some 20 years, the show finally wrapped up in December 2015 following ABC funding cuts, and a redirection of available finances to increase sports and horse racing coverage. Rather than continue with the ABC, Gary resigned so that he could keep the show going independently. StarStuff was rebranded as “SpaceTime”, with the first episode being broadcast in February 2016. Over the years, SpaceTime has grown, more than doubling its former ABC audience numbers and expanding to include new segments such as the Science Report -- which provides a wrap of general science news, weekly skeptical science features, special reports looking at the latest computer and technology news, and Skywatch – which provides a monthly guide to the night skies. The show is published three times weekly (every Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and available from the United States National Science Foundation on Science Zone Radio, and through both i-heart Radio and Tune-In Radio.

#science #space #astronomy #physics #news #nasa #astrophysics #esa #spacetimewithstuartgary #starstuff #spacetime #jwst #hubble space telescope #james webb space telescope

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ladylooch · 8 months

Note

Would love to see more about Lucie running into Connors ex’s/hookups

Miss girl would be PETTY and POUTY

I assume 🫠🤣

A/N: Timeline wise, this is when Connor is still playing with Lio on the Devils, Lucie is still at NYU, and Stella does not exist in any capacity. (Is this helpful or annoying to have before blurbs, LMK?)

On the bed, Lucie sits cross-legged, typing away on her mid-term paper for her Marketing Research class. Her finger nails click and clack away, creating consistent noise while Connor works on packing for his five day road trip. Lucie pauses, struggling for a word. She glances to where Connor is standing, scratching at his head while looking at his suits.

“You know my vote is blue.”

“I know, but I kinda want to save those for at home. Gets you all excited.” He smirks over his shoulder at her. “But if I wear blue on the road, you’ll sext with me.” She laughs, nodding in agreement.

“So blue seems like a clear winner to me.”

“You’re so right, baby.” He nods, reaching for his navy blue suit, white shirt, and plain white dress sneakers. He tossed them to the other side of the bed from her then goes back to picking out his options for loungewear and off-days. Those are much easier decisions. He looks everything over, then leaves the room to gather his bathroom items into his travel bag. When he comes back, he is rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

“Do you have time for a break? I need to talk to you about something.” He asks as he throws his travel bag with the rest of his pile.

“Ooooo ominous.” Lucie teases.

She tosses her laptop to the side, opening her arms for Connor to slide his body against hers. He wiggles his big shoulders into her lap, sighing at her feet resting on the back of his thighs. His nose nudges into her cleavage over her sweatshirt. Her manicured nails filter through his hair, getting to his scalp and stroking. Connor sighs, closing his eyes briefly, then tilting up to see Lucie’s face.

“MSG hired a new reporter who is traveling with the team beginning tomorrow.” Lucie listens, curiously. “Um, her and I used to have a…. thing.” Lucie’s eyes dart away, thinking, then returning to Connor.

“Like… a sexual thing?”

“Mhm.” He sucks his cheeks in. “Not like a one night thing either, but pretty consistently. She went to BC with me.” Lucie turns rigid under Connor’s body. He squeezes her tighter in response. “I know you aren’t going to like this, but I want to be honest with you about it, especially because she is traveling with us.”

“I don’t love that.” She scoffs.

“I know. I don’t have control over it though, Luc.” He responds. Lucie’s eyebrows squeeze together in annoyance.

“That feels dismissive.”

“That is not my intention.” He sits up, wanting to look at her more head on. She pulls her knees up to her chest, crossing her arms over them and putting her chin on one knee. She’s retreating, her and Connor both know it. “Luc.” He whines. “Please don’t shut me out.” He grabs at her ankle. “I want to talk about this with you. What can I do to make you feel comfortable?”

“Nothing.” She snaps. Connor deflates like a balloon.

“I’m trying to do the right thing here by telling you and talking to you.” She looks away, rubbing her nostrils on her knee in avoidance. She stays like that for awhile. Connor waits. When it’s clear, Lucie won’t be participating anymore, he sighs heavily. “Well, I guess it’s another night of me being punished for having a past.” He goes back to packing, beginning to put things in his suitcase. Lucie continues to stay quiet, watching his calm movements. “You know when we ran into your ex-boyfriend in Switzerland, I didn’t do this to you. And he was your boyfriend. She was a fling to me.”

“That makes it worse!” Lucie suddenly snaps. “All you wanted from her was sex! And now you’re going to be on the road with her all the time with someone that is familiar! What stops you from turning to her when you need to get off.”

“You, Lucie! You!” He throws his hands to the side. “Because I am in love with you! I am faithful to you.” He exclaims, getting louder. “Are you faithful to me when I’m gone? There are people you’ve hooked up with in New York. Do I worry about you running off to them every time I leave? No. Because I trust you. And that’s my problem with all of this. You don’t seem to trust me and that fucking hurts.”

He snatches the cup of water that he had been drinking, then stalking from the room to refill it. Lucie chews her bottom lip aggressively, making it puffy and irritated before Connor returns with a full glass.

“I don’t want you to feel that way. I do trust you.”

“Then start acting like it. I need you to.” He insists, sighing heavily. “It’s really insulting that you act like I'm this horny bastard who runs off at the first opportunity. I’ve never done that to you. I’m not whoever did that to you in your past.”

Marco. It was Marco. They both know it.

This realization makes shameful tears build in Lucie’s eyes. She is embarrassed, ashamed, regretful that she is make her wonderful boyfriend feel so shitty because of her insecurities. She thought so much of that had been eased and worked through. But now it is rearing it’s nasty head again. She hugs her knees tighter, putting her forehead into her legs.

Sock-clad footsteps move towards her. Connor slides an arm through her arms and legs, then wraps the other one around her back to hold her close. He kisses her hair, then buries his nose into her hair. His thumbs rub her body comfortingly.

Marco would have never done this. One of her hands slides to hold his other four fingers.

“I love you.” She sighs tearily.

“I love you too.” He squeezes her tighter. “Let me kiss you.” She tilts her face up and he consumes her mouth with his tongue and lips. Slowly, Lucie falls back to the bed. Connor climbs on top of her, holding her face in his hands as he kisses her hard. He grabs Lucie’s hands putting them up by her head and lacing their fingers together.

“Close. the. fucking. door!” Lio grumbles with an angry noise from the hallway. He slams Connor’s bedroom door. Lucie and Connor laugh.

“He doesn’t get it.” Connor murmurs down to the love of his life.

No, cause Lio’s never felt what his best friends feel right now.

#lio & lucie

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female-malice · 1 year

Text

For two decades, researchers worked to solve a mystery in West Coast streams. Why, when it rained, were large numbers of spawning coho salmon dying? As part of an effort to find out, scientists placed fish in water that contained particles of new and old tires. The salmon died, and the researchers then began testing the hundreds of chemicals that had leached into the water.

A 2020 paper revealed the cause of mortality: a chemical called 6PPD that is added to tires to prevent their cracking and degradation. When 6PPD, which occurs in tire dust, is exposed to ground-level ozone, it’s transformed into multiple other chemicals, including 6PPD-quinone, or 6PPD-q. The compound is acutely toxic to four of 11 tested fish species, including coho salmon.

Mystery solved, but not the problem, for the chemical continues to be used by all major tire manufacturers and is found on roads and in waterways around the world. Though no one has studied the impact of 6PPD-q on human health, it’s also been detected in the urine of children, adults, and pregnant women in South China. The pathways and significance of that contamination are, so far, unknown.

Still, there are now calls for regulatory action. Last month, the legal nonprofit Earthjustice, on behalf of the fishing industry, filed a notice of intent to sue tire manufacturers for violating the Endangered Species Act by using 6PPD. And a coalition of Indian tribes recently called on the EPA to ban use of the chemical. “We have witnessed firsthand the devastation to the salmon species we have always relied upon to nourish our people,” the Puyallup Tribal Council said in a statement. “We have watched as the species have declined to the point of almost certain extinction if nothing is done to protect them.”

The painstaking parsing of 6PPD and 6PPD-q was just the beginning of a global campaign to understand the toxic cocktail of organic chemicals, tiny particles, and heavy metals hiding in tires and, to a lesser extent, brakes. While the acute toxicity of 6PPD-q and its source have strong scientific consensus, tire rubber contains more than 400 chemicals and compounds, many of them carcinogenic, and research is only beginning to show how widespread the problems from tire dust may be.

While the rubber rings beneath your car may seem benign — one advertising campaign used to feature babies cradled in tires — they are, experts say, a significant source of air, soil, and water pollution that may affect humans as well as fish, wildlife, and other organisms. That’s a problem because some 2 billion tires globally are sold each year — enough to reach the moon if stacked on their sides — with the market expected to reach 3.4 billion a year by 2030.

(Researchers weigh a salmon that died after four hours in a tank filled with road runoff.)

Tires are made from about 20 percent natural rubber and 24 percent synthetic rubber, which requires five gallons of petroleum per tire. Hundreds of other ingredients, including steel, fillers, and heavy metals — including copper, cadmium, lead, and zinc — make up the rest, many of them added to enhance performance, improve durability, and reduce the possibility of fires.

Both natural and synthetic rubber break down in the environment, but synthetic fragments last a lot longer. Seventy-eight percent of ocean microplastics are synthetic tire rubber, according to a report by the Pew Charitable Trust. These fragments are ingested by marine animals — particles have been found in gills and stomachs — and can cause a range of effects, from neurotoxicity to growth retardation and behavioral abnormalities.

“We found extremely high levels of microplastics in our stormwater,” said Rebecca Sutton, an environmental scientist with the San Francisco Estuary Institute who studied runoff. “Our estimated annual discharge of microplastics into San Francisco Bay from stormwater was 7 trillion particles, and half of that was suspected tire particles.”

Tire wear particles, or TWP as they are sometimes known, are emitted continually as vehicles travel. They range in size from visible pieces of rubber or plastic to microparticles, and they comprise one of the products’ most significant environmental impacts, according to the British firm Emissions Analytics, which has spent three years studying tire emissions. The company found that a car’s four tires collectively emit 1 trillion ultrafine particles — of less than 100 nanometers — per kilometer driven. These particles, a growing number of experts say, pose a unique health risk: They are so small they can pass through lung tissue into the bloodstream and cross the blood-brain barrier or be breathed in and travel directly to the brain, causing a range of problems.

According to a recent report issued by researchers at Imperial College London, “There is emerging evidence that tyre wear particles and other particulate matter may contribute to a range of negative health impacts including heart, lung, developmental, reproductive, and cancer outcomes.”

The report says that tires generate 6 million tons of particles a year, globally, of which 200,000 tons end up in oceans. According to Emissions Analytics, cars in the U.S. emit, on average, 5 pounds of tire particles a year, while cars in Europe, where fewer miles are driven, shed 2.5 pounds per year. Moreover, tire emissions from electric vehicles are 20 percent higher than those from fossil-fuel vehicles. EVs weigh more and have greater torque, which wears out tires faster.

Unlike tailpipe exhaust, which has long been studied and regulated, emissions from tires and brakes — which emit significant amounts of metallic particles in addition to organic chemicals — are far harder to measure and control and have therefore escaped regulation. It’s only in the last several years, with the development of new technologies capable of measuring tire emissions and the alarming discovery of 6PPD-q, that the subject is receiving much needed scrutiny.

Recent studies show that the mass of PM 2.5 and PM 10 emissions — which are, along with ozone and ultrafine particles, the world’s primary air pollutants — from tires and brakes far exceeds the mass of emissions from tailpipes, at least in places that have significantly reduced those emissions.

The problem isn’t just rubber in its synthetic and natural form. Government and academic researchers are investigating the transformations produced by tires’ many other ingredients, which could — like 6PPD — form substances more toxic than their parent chemicals as they break down with exposure to sunlight and rain.

“You’ve got a chemical cocktail in these tires that no one really understands and is kept highly confidential by the tire manufacturers,” said Nick Molden, the CEO of Emissions Analytics. “We struggle to think of another consumer product that is so prevalent in the world, and used by virtually everyone, where there is so little known of what is in them.”

“We have known that tires contribute significantly to environmental pollution, but only recently have we begun to uncover the extent of that,” said Cassandra Johannessen, a researcher at Montreal’s Concordia University who is quantifying levels of tire chemicals in urban watersheds and studying how they transform in the environment. The discovery of 6PPD-q has surprised a lot of researchers, she said, because they have learned that “it’s one of the most toxic substances known, and it seems to be everywhere in the world.”

Regulators are playing catch up. In Europe, a standard to be implemented in 2025, known as Euro 7, will regulate not only tailpipe emissions but also emissions from tires and brakes. The California Environmental Protection Agency has passed a rule requiring tire makers to declare an alternative to 6PPD-q by 2024.

(A worker takes apart a tire at a recycling shop in Mit al-Harun, Egypt.)

Tire companies are conducting their own studies of 6PPD, which they have long considered critical for tire safety, and seeking alternatives. In response to new regulations and the emerging research on tire emissions, 10 of the world’s large tire manufacturers have formed the Tire Industry Project to “develop a holistic approach to better understand and promote action on the mitigation” of tire pollution, according to a statement by the project. The group has committed to search for ways to redesign tires to reduce or eliminate emissions.

One critical area of research is how long tire waste, and its breakdown products, persist in the environment. “A five-micron piece of rubber shears off the tire and settles on the soil and sits there a while,” said Molden. “What, over time, is the release of those chemicals, how quickly do they make their way into the water, and are they diluted? At the system level, how big of a problem is this? It is the single biggest knowledge gap.”

Another area of research centers on the impacts of aromatic hydrocarbons — including benzene and naphthalene — off-gassed by synthetic rubber or emitted when discarded tires are burned in incinerators for energy recovery. Even at low concentrations, these compounds are toxic to humans. They also react with sunlight to form ozone, or ground-level smog, which causes respiratory harm. “We have shown that the amount of off-gassing volatile organic compounds is 100 times greater than that coming out of a modern tailpipe,” said Molden. “This is from the tire just sitting there.”

When tires reach their end of life, they’re either sent to landfills, incinerated, burned in an energy-intensive process called pyrolysis, or shredded and repurposed for use in artificial turf or in playgrounds or for other surfaces. But as concern about tire pollutants grows, so do concerns about these recycled products and the hydrocarbons they may off-gas. There is ongoing debate over whether crumb rubber, made from tire scraps, poses a health threat when used to fill gaps in artificial turf. Based on several peer-reviewed studies, the European Union is instituting stricter limits on the use of this material. Other studies, however, have shown no health impact.

Besides California’s requirement to study alternatives to 6PPD, there are a number of efforts worldwide to redesign tires to counter the problems they pose. More than a decade ago, tire makers hoped that dandelions, which produce a form of rubber, and soy oil could provide a steady and sustainable supply of rubber. But tires made from those alternatives didn’t live up to expectations: they still required additives. The Continental Tire Company, based in Hanover, Germany, markets a bicycle tire made of dandelion roots. Tested by Emission Analytics, it emitted 25 percent fewer carcinogenic aromatics than conventionally made bike tires, but the plant-powered tire still contained ingredients of concern.

(Rubber made from dandelions.)

Other companies are searching for ways to address the problem of tire emissions. The Tyre Collective, a clean-tech startup based in the U.K., has developed an electrostatic plate that affixes to each of a car’s tires: The plates remove up to 60 percent of particles emitted by both tires and brakes, storing them in a cartridge attached to the device. The particles can be reused in numerous other applications, including in new tires.

In San Francisco, scientists studying the pollutants in storm runoff found a potential solution: Rain gardens, installed in yards to capture stormwater, were also trapping 96 percent of street litter and 100 percent of black rubbery fragments. In Vancouver, B.C. researchers found that rain gardens could prevent more than 90 percent of 6PPD-q from running off roads and entering salmon-bearing streams.

Tire waste particles, says Molden, of Emissions Analytics, are finally getting the attention they deserve, thanks in part to California’s rule requiring a search for alternatives to 6PPD. The legislation “is groundbreaking,” he says, “because it puts the chemical composition [of tires] on the regulatory agenda.” For the first time, he adds, “Tire manufacturers are being exposed to the same regulatory scrutiny that car manufacturers have been for 50 years.”

#if you use tires or spend any time near a tire... read this #cc

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babycaremarket · 8 months

Text

Spoonful of Success: Unveiling the Belgium Baby Food Market

In the delicate world of raising little ones, every bite counts. This rings especially true for the Belgium Baby Food Market, a dynamic sector catering to the nutritional needs of Belgium's tiniest citizens. Today, we embark on a delicious journey, exploring the market's size, growth, key players, and future outlook. Buckle up, parents and entrepreneurs alike, as we delve into this thriving industry.

A Market Measured in Milliliters, Not Millions:

While not a behemoth compared to other global markets, the Belgium Baby Food Market holds its own, expected to reach a respectable €282 million by 2030, boasting a steady CAGR of 2.8%. This translates to millions of tiny tummies being satisfied by a diverse range of baby food products.

Sharing the Plate: Regional Breakdown and Dominant Players:

Nestlé: A global giant with a strong presence in Belgium, offering popular brands like Gerber and NAN.

Danone: Another major player, boasting brands like Nutricia and Milupa.

FrieslandCampino: A Dutch dairy cooperative with a significant presence in Belgium, known for its Friso brand.

Local players: Several smaller Belgian brands cater to specific needs and preferences, like Hipp and Hero Baby.

Growing Appetite: Factors Fueling the Market’s Feast:

Several factors contribute to the market’s steady growth:

Rising working women: With more mothers in the workforce, demand for convenient baby food solutions increases.

Growing health awareness: Parents prioritize organic and natural ingredients, driving premiumization.

Increased disposable income: Families have more to spend on premium baby products.

E-commerce boom: Online platforms offer wider product selection and convenience.

Spoons in the Road: Challenges to be Tackled:

Despite its promising outlook, the market faces hurdles:

Intense competition: Established players dominate, making it challenging for new entrants.

Price sensitivity: Budget-conscious parents seek affordable options.

Regulatory landscape: Stringent regulations impact product development and marketing.

A Glimpse into the Future: A Smoother Journey Ahead:

Market research experts predict a positive future for the Belgium Baby Food Market:

Focus on convenience: Single-serve formats and ready-to-eat options gain traction.

Personalization: Products tailored to specific dietary needs and allergies will rise.

Sustainability: Eco-friendly packaging and organic ingredients become key selling points.

Tech-driven solutions: Smart baby food monitors and subscription services emerge.

Unlocking Insights: Market Research Reports to Guide Your Bite:

Navigating the dynamic Belgium Baby Food Market requires insightful data. Market research reports by organizations like, Ken Research offer valuable resources. These reports analyze market size, growth, trends, player profiles, and future forecasts, empowering investors, brands, and parents to make informed decisions and navigate the market’s delicious opportunities.

The Final Course: More Than Just Food, It’s Nurturing Growth:

The Belgium Baby Food Market is more than just a commercial space; it’s about nurturing the future generation. Understanding its dynamics, challenges, and future outlook equips stakeholders with the knowledge to contribute to this nourishing journey.

#Belgium Baby Food Market #Baby Foods Market #Baby Foods Industry #Baby Foods Market Size #Baby Foods Market Share #Baby Foods Market Growth #Baby Foods Market Revenue #Baby Foods Market Key Players #Baby Foods Market Research Reports

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florasearlethirdyear · 9 months

Text

D&AD: Loneliness Epidemic and Generation Z

Explore the statistics and studies related to loneliness among Gen Z. Look into the causes, effects, and potential solutions identified in various research papers, articles, and psychological studies.

Source 1: Lyngdoh, T., El-Manstrly, D., & Jeesha, K. (2023). Social isolation and social anxiety as drivers of generation Z's willingness to share personal information on social media. Psychology & Marketing, Vo.40,No.1. 5–26. https://doi.org/10.1002/mar.21744

"Our findings show that when gen z feels socially isolated/anxious, they are more likely to share personal information on social media. The effect of social isolation on sharing of personal information increases when gen z fear that they are missing out on the rewarding experiences others are having, are engaged in repetitive negative thoughts and perceive their firm's privacy policy as transparent and ethical".

"Furthermore, recent research among gen z reveals that almost 56% of this generation experienced more intense social isolation overall due to the Covid‐19 pandemic and are more likely to say they were lonely as compared to previous generations (Cox,2022)".

Source 2: Ang CS, Chan NN, Lee CS. (2018). Shyness, Loneliness Avoidance, and Internet Addiction: What are the Relationships? J Psychol. Vo.152. No.1. pp.25-35. doi: 10.1080/00223980.2017.1399854. Epub 2017 Dec 13. PMID: 29236584.

"Shyness was significantly and positively correlated with loneliness avoidance and Internet addiction. In addition, loneliness avoidance was significantly and positively correlated with Internet addiction. Most importantly, loneliness avoidance may predispose shy youth to become addicted to the Internet'.

Source 3: Gentina, E., Chen, R. (2019). Digital Native's Coping With Loneliness: Facebook or Face-to-Face?. Information and Management. Vol. 56. No.6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2018.12.006.

"almost 80% of digital natives constantly feel lonely"

"loneliness interventions for digital natives should recognize the role of gender. For example, lonely boys engage in passive coping, but girls do not, partly because of their social role expectations".

"l results confirm that the mediation effect (loneliness toactive copingto offline self disclosure) is significant among girls, but not among boys, and the mediation effect (loneliness to passive coping to online self-disclosure) is significant among boys, but not among girls".

"Our study suggests that managers of digital natives should also promote face-toface relationships, especially among lonely employees".

"60% of these digital natives identify face-to-face meetings as their preferred form of communication".

Study conducted in France which is considered an individualistic culture, like the USA. pp.24

Source 4: Cox, D. (2022). The Childhood Loneliness of Generation Z. [online]. Available from: https://www.americansurveycenter.org/the-lonely-childhood-of-generation-z/ [Accessed 10/01/2024]

"A majority (56 percent) of Gen Zers report they felt lonely at least once or twice a month during their childhood. In contrast, only about one in four (24 percent) Baby Boomers say they felt lonely this often as children".

"New findings from the American National Family Life Survey show that Americans raised in single-parent homes are more likely to report having felt lonely growing up than those raised in two-parent households".

" Past research has shown that adolescents with divorced parents are more likely to struggle socially and experience greater feelings of social alienation"

"A recent report shows that only children are also more likely to have been lonely growing up than those with siblings were".

"Research has shown that attending college is associated with higher levels of social connectedness. So is belonging to a religious community. Even regularly spending time at a third place—such as a coffee shop, library, or public park—can help foster social interactions and a sense of belonging".

Source 5 (from brief): Bakhtiari, K. (2023). Gen-Z, The Loneliness Epidemic And The Unifying Power Of Brands. [online]. Available from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kianbakhtiari/2023/07/28/gen-z-the-loneliness-epidemic-and-the-unifying-power-of-brands/?sh=7e8836c46790 [Accessed 10/01/2024]

"73% of Gen-Z report feeling alone sometimes or always. Loneliness can be as damaging to health as smoking 15 cigarettes per day. And people who experience social isolation have a 32% higher risk of early death."

"traditional institutions that promote a sense of belonging are in decline. Church attendance has dropped in the West, and most young people can’t afford to buy a house or raise a family"

"Gen-Z are becoming adults during an era of societal collapse. Endless choice has transformed into a psychological burden".

Japan and the epidemic of hikikomori's, spawning rent-a-family, friend and partner services

"in South Korea, the government is paying young recluses to leave their home".

"The pursuit of convenience is removing social interactions and producing loneliness".

"The disappearance of third places—a social space separate from work and home—has exacerbated the problem".

"many young people now feel priced out of physical experiences".

"There’s a missed opportunity to create culturally relevant moments and platforms to help young people struggling with loneliness".

Source 6: Future Care Capital. (2022). Gen Z are the loneliest generation, research finds. [online]. Available from: https://futurecarecapital.org.uk/latest/gen-z-are-the-loneliest-generation-research-finds/ [Accessed 10/01/2024]

"The data also showed that people living in cities were more likely to feel lonely, with 17% of city-dwellers saying they experienced chronic loneliness. Analysis of 2021 census data shows that the highest proportion of young people live in cities".

"2019 study by YouGov, which found that young people in Britain find it hard to make friends".

Source 7: Yulia Korzhina, Jessica Hemberg, Pia Nyman-Kurkiala & Lisbeth Fagerström. (2022) Causes of involuntary loneliness among adolescents and young adults: an integrative review. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth. Vol.27. No.1. pp. 493-514.

"We saw that earlier negative experiences, mental illness or physical disorders, self-centred society, social norms and social media were all linked to adolescents’ and young adults’ loneliness in the setting investigated".

Source 8: Sheidlower, N. Hoof, M. (2023). [online] Gen Z loneliness is so bad that some young adults are spending thousands trying to make friends through gym memberships and social clubs. Available from: https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-loneliness-spends-money-to-make-friends-2023-9?r=US&IR=T [Accessed 10/01/2024]

"Money can't buy Gen Zers happiness, but they do hope it can buy them friends".

Discusses avenues to which Gen Z have taken to make friends including: joining art classes, book clubs, walking groups, Bumble BFF, gyms, art classes.

Source 9: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf

Source 10: Mikhail, A. (2023). Gen Z is the worst at connecting with their grandparents, but building a better relationship could help fight loneliness. [online]. Available at: https://fortune.com/well/2023/10/07/gen-z-connecting-grandparents-loneliness/ [Accessed 10/01/2024]

"only 18% of Gen Z saying they have a strong relationship with grandparents compared to 32% of millennials and 41% of Gen X"

"As loneliness plagues seniors and young adults alike, fostering familial relationships between generations could help protect against the negative effects of isolation, including depression, heart disease, and dementia".

Got me thinking about the show 'Old People's Home for 4 Year Olds' :

"During the 2017 experiment, we saw Linda, 80, admit that she feels “very down” before joining the show, but her friendship with little Amiya soon lifted her spirits and boosts her energy levels".

"60% of nursing home residents never receive visitors and are living in “social isolation”

Initiatives Tackling Loneliness:

The Eden Project's Big Lunch: "the UK’s biggest annual get-together for neighbours, generating new connections, celebrating community, and helping people to make change where they live".

Hershey's The Heartwarming Project: "Our Heartwarming Project (HWP) is designed to help kids and teens build critical social and emotional skills and celebrate the power of connection for their well-being".

Deutsche Telekom's "How are you?" campaign: chatline made to counteract loneliness

City Girls Who Walk: "City Girls Who Walk is a group that brings together women from all walks of life to bond, exercise, and embrace the beauty of their surroundings". Started up to counteract loneliness.

The Lonely Girls Club: UK-based. "The Lonely Girls Club is both an online and physical community created to bring people together to form friendships, have fun and make life a little less lonely".

Soli (Sisterhood on Demand): " Soli connects you with women in your area (anonymously, if you wish) who get what you’re going through"

National Youth Partnership: "The Tackling Youth Loneliness website has been designed to bring together a set of dedicated resources alongside useful research and information to support organisations and professionals to develop their understanding of youth loneliness".

Bumble BFF: "Dating app company Bumble announced today that it is releasing a separate app called “Bumble for Friends” aimed at finding friends in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the Philippines, the U.K. and the U.S".

Age UK Befriending services: "Age UK and our partner charity The Silver Line offer free telephone friendship services so you can enjoy chatting with someone over the phone". They also offer face-to-face befriending which "often involve a volunteer befriender visiting an older person in their home".

The Loneliness Lab: "was co-founded by Lendlease and Collectively, who share a commitment to making our cities less lonely".

Campaign to End Loneliness: "We work to ensure that: People most at risk of loneliness are reached and supported. Services and activities are more effective at addressing loneliness". Campaign is coming to an end this year :(

Source 11: Wray, S. (2022). The city where no one is lonely. [online]. Available from: https://cities-today.com/the-city-where-no-one-is-lonely/ [Accessed 11/01/2024]

Monkey Park: "a café, community centre and co-working space in Brampton, Chesterfield is one of the case studies featured by The Loneliness Lab network. As a social enterprise, Monkey Park’s goal is to “improve the local community by bringing people together and supporting their efforts to change the local area”.

Resilience Brokers: "developed a text message service which encourages the over-50s at risk of social isolation and digital exclusion in the borough of Hackney to visit the nearby Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The service includes details about activities of interest as well as the local weather and accessible travel information".

The Liverpool 5G Health and Social Care Testbed: "showed how technologies such as a ‘push to talk’ tool that links older people for a chat and a loneliness quiz and bingo app can help to reduce loneliness".

Source 12: JRC Conference and Workshop Report (2022) Interventions to reduce loneliness among youth. European Commision. [online] Available from: https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu › JRC129905 [Accessed 11/01/2024]

Summary of findings:

In response to the brief, understanding these aspects of loneliness within Generation Z can inform the creation of a digital tool or experience on Airbnb that specifically addresses the need for meaningful connections. The tool can incorporate elements that promote face-to-face interactions, intergenerational relationships, and engagement in local communities to counteract loneliness and foster genuine connections.

#unit 1 #specialist practice #dandad

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