#bac community players

[thesquirrelqueer]

WAKE UP BABES BAC BMC POSTED PRODUCTION PICTURES

more photos over on their tiktok!

[baccp]

Michael's been reunited with his bathroom! 🚽

[woah-uhuh-uhuh-uhuh]

(ALMOST) EVERYTHING I NOTICED FROM BAC BMC

NOTE: spot check me!

It was the Two Rivers script, but I still haven't read the whole Two Rivers script so if I mention something I noticed that’s actually just… in the script… lmk!

Also: if you also saw the BAC production (or if you are the BAC people???) and I missed something, let me know!!! Literally anything at all I will put it here I’d love to approach comprehensiveness!!

ALSO: Spoilers! If you plan on going to Jake’s Halloween Party maybe wait? Or don’t!!

CHARACTERS

Madeline

Putting Madeline here because the first thing I noticed in the whole show is she’s ACTUALLY A FRANCOPHILE and it’s so funny ldksjfjsfksdlf. She wears a beret, and people put on a stereotypical French accent whenever they quote her djslkfjsfkfds And during the play backstage someone (I think Chloe?) runs up to her, smacks her beret off and yells “You’re not French!”

Jeremy

OH oh oh oh oh. Bac Jeremy my beloved…. I swear like 30% of Christine’s autism was generously donated to Jeremy for this production jlkdsfjdls

He has this habit where he’ll put his hands in his cardigan pockets and push his them around in front of him or on his body to feel the tension of the jacket stretching. Patrick said this quirk was based on a neurodivergent kid he knows. I don’t have photo evidence and IDK how to describe it perfectly but i did draw it here (x). It wasn't exactly like that though OTL

He does it whenever he’s nervous (so almost CONSTANTLY) up until BMC P.1 when the SQUIP tells him to take his hands out of his pockets. During that song you can see him trying to put his hands back safe in his pockets but afterwards he never does it again, even after The Play. He also doesn’t do it when he’s with Michael, even at the beginning, so I take it to mean it goes away when he’s comfortable. 

I think he flinches and cowers a lot (compared to other Jeremys, that is). Whenever Rich surprises him, Jeremy jumps and protectively throws his arms over his face. I think he reacts similarly to other people a few times - I don’t remember when exactly though… There’s also several times where he’ll stand totally petrified out of fear, like when Rich is writing “boyf” or when Chloe’s coming onto him. By all of this I basically mean it’s really obvious he’s been physically abused (presumably by Rich).

Just in general, his freakouts are very physical, he’ll kinda do these stiff arm movements or cover his face in his elbow etc. Off the top of my head this happens during Upgrade and also at the end of The Play when Christine’s singing to him.

All this to say he has a very very visible physicality to his awkwardness and I love it. I don’t just mean that on a character acting level, I also mean like if you’re sitting behind him in class your attention will actively be caught by his awkwardness. 

He also has a deeper register which he uses mostly in a joke context? He used it in normal conversation a few times too, I think more towards the end.

I noticed him standing just a little pigeon-toed near the beginning. I don’t know if this carried through the whole thing though.

Clothes: his cardigan is blackish with a blue outline, and he wears it over a green shirt with a question mark (I perceived it as a Gravity Falls shirt but might be wrong). The eminem shirt is black and I dont remember what he wears it with…. At the party he has a cyborg shirt and a visor, and after the party he has a white shirt with a flannel and khakis (or maybe light corduroys). In VIMH he has another fandom shirt on but I don’t remember what it was sorry it was 11pm ljfsdlkfjdslkfs

Its so obvious I’m a Jeremy stan this entry is the largest one sorry 🧍

Mr. Heere

He seemed less depressed and more just out of touch in this one? During Two Player Game, he seems decently chipper, if annoyed, though of course he’s still unable to dress himself and unwilling to put genuine effort in with his son. 

When he says “Good talk” he gives Jeremy a friendly shoulder punch. Right before Pants Song, as usual, he says “I could ground you!” Jeremy says “I don’t think you could,” and gives his dad the same shoulder punch while saying “Good talk.” AAAAAAH.

Michael

He seemed less frenetic and anxious than the Troy!Michael I’m used to (sorry that’s my only reference for Michael lol). 

He was generally loud and exuberant. A very excitable but down-to-earth Michael. 

MITB was amazing. I was nervous because it’s obviously (obviously) the best song so there’s a lot of pressure but no it was done perfectly. Sad as fuck. Perhaps moreso because this Michael was especially normal until now. (Also because pre-MITB Jeremy was extra mean in this production)

For some reason, I found it easier to picture this Michael being a childhood & school friend? Maybe just because this production seriously pulled my psyche straight back to highschool in a way the others haven’t been able to lol. 

I maybe got the sense that he’s really trying to act like he doesn’t care as much about Jeremy as he does. 

BTW I’m obsessed with the fact that his idea of a creeper costume is a mask and a shirt that just says creeps on it. I know that’s kinda textual at this point but taken together with the mask its lkesdjfsdjflksdf

Christine

Amazing ballet (?) choreography going on during her intro. I think that might be standard Christine choreo but still! Stunning.

I could actually picture her as an averagely popular girl in this one? Not sure why. Maybe more nervous in her relationships but more confident in other contexts, but I could be pulling that out of my ass. 

I could also be thinking this because she has cool hair (space buns!) and likes Taylor Swift in this one. 

Some of her songs had these really melancholy notes where I didn’t expect them - particularly in GTIKBI Reprise (/pos! I was like oh shit!!! every time)

Rich

He has painted nails! They’re black. 

He had fruity energy the whole time but it got progressively more intense. No I can’t elaborate actually I don’t know why I perceived it like this but I did sldjkfsf

After he comes out it gets more explicit; he starts wearing a pink headband in VIMH (he also gains glasses I think? Unless they’re still Michael’s) and during bows he flashed a paper fan that had the gay flag inside. 

IMO, it was implied that the house fire was a suicide attempt. I say this for purely textual reasons -  because he doesn’t mention trying getting the SQUIP out of his head, and because Jeremy’s SQUIP later implies it was a suicide attempt. But his behavior around the fire - looking dazed while rhythmically flicking a lighter - could also indicate squipzophrenia. (Maybe it’s the same amount of implied as usual - To be fair, I’ve never really understood why Rich set a fire in the first place…)

Brooke

Very wholesome and I love her. IDK Broadway Brooke is very campy, and BAC Brooke is more like a normal sweet girl but maybe that’s just me 

Compared to Broadway, way more respectful of Jeremy’s space. She doesn’t really try to physically seduce him in upgrade instead they just have a cute lil conversation. Also when she tells Jeremy she got cheated on, she doesn’t initiate contact by petting his hair (like in Broadway) - instead the roles are reversed and they hold hands comfortingly, and Jeremy is the one to escalate that by rubbing her hand in a slightly forward way. 

Her French was awful!!! sdjkfldjsfkdsf It was the whole time but Tres Magnifique = "Trays Mag-nuh-Fike" is the one that really killed me

Chloe

Not to be backhanded… but she was really good at being a bitch??? Especially the scene where she’s giving Christine advice

Maybe closetedly wlw based on the delivery of “I like gay people” and the events of The Play??

The Chloe Jenna friendship intrigues me so much… what’s going on there…

Jenna 

Sadder than Broadway Jenna… 

When Chloe mentions her in play rehearsal she jumps up from across the room and says “I’m here!!” to no reaction.

Later in Smartphone Hour -  J: “....because you are my closest friend-” C: “No I’m not” J: “Yeah I know….” Jenna sounds kinda genuinely bummed lol. Either she wasn’t expecting that or she’s *very* aware of it and it’s making her sad. My impression was more the latter.

During VIMH she’s wearing a sweater that’s colored like the lesbian flag??? (EDIT: the actor, Diana, said this was intentional and her Jenna is a lesbian!)

Idk idk actor so good she made me care so much more about Jenna dsfljdf

Jake

Maybe a touch more upfront about the fact that he feels a lot of pressure in his life

He was dumb <3

Mrs. Reyes

She’s a woman in this one!

She has a hippie thing going on i think?? Like a boho mom (affectionate)

Pronounces Reyes with a (several second long) rolled R at the beginning

Doesn’t do the stiff announcer-like angle that the broadway guy does. Her comedy is more crazy cat ladyish

The hot pocket breaks were preceded by an actual alarm sound I think???? bonkers fkljd

Ensemble

BIG ENSEMBLE WAS SO FUN…. They had so many funny bits going on in the background it was soooo good and another reason I wish I could watch it over and over because I couldn’t be paying attention to everything at once OTL

Scene by scene

Organized by song, but scene notes are in there too!

More Than Survive

"Madeline was all like-" *bad french accent* "ohohoho, I'll only sleep with you if you beat me at ze pool~"

“Oh my god he is like totally getting off on that” ← right before this Jeremy starts pointing at them awkwardly from a distance, I think in an attempt to get to his locker?? 

“I like gay people” - the way Chloe says this is kinda like “idk what the big deal is because *i* think gay people are soooo neat” which got a lot of audience laugh. I think she was talking to Jenna but I don’t remember 

“I don’t wanna be a baller” (or whenever the class scene is) - Jeremy’s sitting in the back of class and everyone turns to throw paper balls at him. I was like oh my god he’s being genuinely bullied so hard in this one…. Then again maybe that’s just how he feels?

There’s this awesome chair choreo at the end where everyone’s laying down chairs in front of Jeremy for him to walk on and taking them away from the back to put back in the front as he makes his way downstage.

Scene: Michael's "You don't have to do this!" kind of came across as a shout of protest. (But of course still tempered with, "of course i'll make fun of you forever if you don't)

Play Rehearsal

"This is where you meet for the swim team" --- Instead of looking confused, Jeremy immediately acts like ok byeee - he might be eager to back out of the conversation and/or immediately accepts her answer as literal and wants to leave asap out of embarrassment.

“I also have a touch of ADD” - she trails off and stands there kind of in a daze for a moment, before remembering that she’s in the middle of a song. 

“And can I mention that was really one of my best roles, DID YOU SEE THAT?!" She shouts this very proudly. And after her 'do you find that?' bit she doesn’t give Jeremy time to even try to respond, so it’s a little less rude lol. 

Jeremy was very anxious, and somewhat in a bad way? As in the exchange was a bit off-putting to him.

Scene: “thank god the popular kids are here” - there are SO MANY kids entering. I’m not sure what to make of it! Popular as in everyone’s popular compared to Jeremy and Christine? Or is this a whole clique? Or is Reyes just talking about the popular kids and the other guys also just show up? 

Mrs. Reyes: ~"Our funds will be diverted. To the frisbee golf team. What even is frisbee golf?" Across the room, Jake holds up a frisbee and silently points at it, trying to get Reyes' attention. She doesn't notice.

After scene: Jake’s “pressure to be the best at everything” is said very genuinely, not for laughs at his arrogance which is how I usually read it

Squip Song

Rich actor KILLED it just gotta put that out there

“So it’s like….” Jeremy takes an extended moment to walk to the edge of the stall and look behind to make sure nobody’s there - “...drugs?”

In the end of the song, Rich rubs his dirty hands all over Jeremy's arm.

The Squip Enters

Scene: Payless: “Wolverine” was great djklsfjdsf I’ve never thought about him before. (It was also the actor’s birthday!) When they enter he’s playing the knife-finger game. He threatens Jeremy with the knife at some point (either “400 dollars” or “all sales are final!” I think?). I can’t really describe the character acting but he was very entertainingly unhinged. He's called “Scary Stockboy” in the script & playbill and I thought that was a misnomer until the scene happened lmao. No that was accurate. 

Scene: when they enter the food court there’s like a photo of a mall food court on the back wall but not from the perspective of the scene at all it was like a background that abstractly tells you where you are?? As someone who loves kitsch I enjoyed this, it happens with a few other scenes too 

There’s a couple making out obnoxiously at the mall that someone (I think it was Michael?) had to step over to get to the table. I think they had some great thematically relevant background acting in this scene but I cannot remember it exactly I am so sorry OTL

Michael is buying Ecto-Cooler! It tastes like ghosts.

Jeremy “mourns in his chili fries” by laying his head down on the table. Jake and Christine sit at the table together without noticing him. Then Jeremy pops up and they have the usual exchange (“I didn’t see you!” “Yeah, you’re kind of hard to notice”). I thought that was a really neat staging!! And it makes more sense why he even tries to talk to her in this scene lol

Mild discomfort - The first half Jeremy just stands next to the table and kinda screams in pain. Then the second half he falls to the ground and is thrashing, again mostly just in pain. (Pretty sure that’s how every production goes but I think the intensity of the spasming is pretty variable so I’m describing it here)

When the SQUIP first appears, he offers to appear as Kermit the Frog, Barack Obama, and Gilbert Gottfried, and does a little impression for each one:

The imitations the Squip does are as follows: Kermit the Frog “hi ho Kermit the frog here, we’re gonna fix your life Yayyyyy”, Obama “My fellow Squip, if sync up we can change this loser” and Gilbert Gottfried “So Grandma and the dog are on the table…” - Courtesy of director Chris Guell because I couldn't remember them OTL (thank you!!!)

Also in the middle of this Jeremy says "That's a terrible Obama impression..."

Be more Chill p.1

Brooke and Chloe are shopping on the upstage side of the clothes rack; when Jeremy picks out the girls shirt, Brooke appears through the gap in the clothes and surprises him.

After the song, one of the ensemble steals the clothes rack and the mall cop chases him off stage in a very cartoonishly stiff sprint.

Do you wanna ride?

After the first rejection, Brooke goes to Chloe, who points out the satchel she has belted around her waist. As she starts to sing again she slowly unbuckles it and holds it behind her back. 

Jeremy is very into it by the end and the girls have him dancing along with the music. I think you can see that in one of the promo videos too :P

Be More Chill p.2

Scene: When Jeremy’s going to bed after the mall, instead of sleepily singing, he uses a silly deep voice to say something like “yeah be more chill i’m gonna be more chill i’m gonna be so chill that ice is relatively warm”

After Rich talks to Jeremy (“hey, tallass, where’s my money?” and then they sync up) he spots a girl across the stage and yells “Hey, where’s my money?” then chases her down the hall. 

Guy that I’d Kinda be Into

Scene: during the rehearsal - JR: "Bring me patient zero!" Then Chloe, sitting on the ground, looks through her script for like 45 seconds until finding her line: "Cough!"

At “I’ve been activating your pheromones” - Jeremy starts and looks at his armpits, then as the song continues he slowly pulls his arms up to rest behind his head, it was very comedic djflkdsf. He also uses one hand to waft from his armpit before returning to that position. Guy...

I think this is also the scene he uses a script to hide his boner??

They were so cute at the end!!! Just sitting next to each other in rehearsal and kinda leaning in towards each other. Very real very high school. 

Upgrade

Scene: While Jeremy and SQUIP argue about Eminem, Brooke is (silently) describing the accident. She mimes hitting a hockey puck, then being impaled in the guts repeatedly.

Instead of literal bleachers (at least visually), Brooke and Jeremy go sit on the top of the stairs that lead off of the stage and into the audience. They kinda playfully walk around the railings and stuff, and at the point in the Broadway version where they start aggressively making out, instead they just sit next to each other and talk and it’s very cute :) 

Jeremy’s freaking the fuck out in the middle and it’s so obviously sensory overload auauuauuauaugh. He was like contorting to cover his head in his arms. Guy…

Halloween

Brooke’s costume is a sexy dalmatian! She has an eyespot and a black and white skirt + other spotty white clothes. Jeremy’s cyborg costume only extends to the shirt & a visor. I think it matched with the squip’s visor?

THE PROJECTOR…. On the background was the funniest background it could possibly be it was like a graphic of a cartoon skeleton holding a wooden sign that said “Jake’s Halloween Party”. IDK if that’s a poster he got printed or if it’s an extremely camp way of abstractly giving us the setting or what but I WAS LOSING IT SLKDJFKDSJFSD 

I WISH I had a picture of it, but in lieu of that I recreated it for you and I swear it was like 95% exactly like this. just projected on the wall behind the stage.

Do you wanna hang?

Right before this scene, there’s a huge group choreo where people dance with partners, and in the last move one partner spins the other one down, who lands on the floor looking up at them. Jeremy ends up on the floor and Chloe walks up and stands over him while inviting him to come with her. 

TW - This scene is always sexual assault, but the tone felt especially dark this time – maybe it was just seeing it live, though. 

Jeremy’s standing frozen still as the song starts and kind of visibly recoiling as Chloe walks around him. She walks behind him and shoves her hands into his coat pockets, which makes him flinch. Extra upsetting because like I said before I think his coat pockets are kind of a place of safety for him :(((

Pretty sure the SQUIP's Japanese was different from the Broadway. Wasn't sure quite what he said, but it I think it *didnt* include these from the Broadway one: お腹が空いた (I'm hungry) and お疲れ様 ('pleasure doing business with you,' i think?)

Michael in the Bathroom

Scene: Jeremy seems very shaken after DYWH and sits on the bathtub sadly; when Michael reveals himself Jeremy flips out.

Michael talks about “his clever disguise” and makes monster growls (meant as creeper hisses?) - I think with the tone that he’s trying to get Jeremy to respond to the joke, or point out the reference or something. When that fails, he starts getting serious. 

“Get out of my way, loser” is delivered very confidently. 

After Michael says he’s on his period, Jenna opens the door a crack to hand him a tampon dsjfkldsjflkdsjf. He throws it in the bathtub later at “I’m a creeper in a bathroom….”

Also of course, he’s in a creeper mask lol

Song: WONDERFULLY done. Honestly don’t have much to say it was just great. I get desensitized to that song after hearing it so much, but seeing it live definitely brought a spark to it.

“And I look in the mirror and the present is clearer…” section is like the *key* part of this song to me and Connor Introna did it really well. His voice started breaking at mirror, and of course he did the little sob and everything it was just chefs kiss

Guy that I’d Kinda be Into Reprise

When Jeremy asks why Rich didn’t give him a warning and Rich starts saying “warning” over and over, he says it at a steady rhythm until he gets off stage. Then Jeremy tries to rouse a drunken partier to say “So that was weird…” and Rich’s “Warning” randomly interrupts Jeremy like 3 times to comedic effect before he can get the words out

"Popular people are messed up" - less in response to Rich & more in response to the guy Rich is talking to passing out drunk (iirc)

This is just a 2R things but it hit me so just pointing out she just says “I’m not Juliet” in this one (rather than we’re not romeo and juliet) and auuauguughghg poor Christine :(

Weird noises: it’s kinda like a dinosaur impression in this one? They both go like RAAHH and make claw hands in the air. Then Jeremy stands up and pretends to be driving a car (I think???? lol) and Christine copies him

Christine starts standing up while Jeremy’s still asking her out. As soon as he finishes the question she immediately rejects him. That is to say, she saw where this was going and already knew her answer.

After the scene, Rich walks back across the room, flicking a lighter on and off in a daze. 

ALSO: Ensemble were very entertaining in the whole party! During this scene there were 3 of them playing spin the bottle downstage left and it had like a whole arc to it sdnjkfdfdsf Also guys passed out on the floor and on the couch 

Smartphone Hour

Starts w/ Jenna sitting on the edge of the stage, dangling her legs over the pit. 

Brooke is sadly eating Rich’s loaf of bread. (After she forgives Chloe she passes it to some other actor offstage which I probably wasn’t supposed to see but it was funny lol. communal machete bread)

THE PROJECTOR….. Everyone was holding phones and in the background was footage from their front-facing cameras (prerecorded, but it synced pretty well with the live actors). Then you could see the GUI of them typing some of the lyrics (“rich fled to bombay!!”) into imessage and twitter

AND THEN you see footage of the house burning down on an insta reel…. An unremarkable suburban house where you can see flames consuming the roof. This same footage plays on a few people’s reels, then there’s also footage of firemen coming and putting the fire out and its SO REALISTIC i was losing it 

Around “Changed my profile pic to you” it shows a bunch of (presumably) instagram photos of Rich like in his house and at school or wherever and i wont lie it made me feel for him a lot more. They were like actual full staged photos :( like thats a real guy in there… 

Pitiful children

Scene: When Jenna asks if the SQUIP is a drug, she does the same extended thing of checking to see that nobody’s watching that Jeremy did in The Squip Song

The Pants Song

Scene: see my notes on Mr. Heere aaaaaauguh

Michael’s sitting on his front steps while smoking weed from a tiny green bong. You can tell it’s his front steps because there’s a mailbox next to him labeled MELL BOX in big letters dslkfjdskfjs

Michael’s wearing pants - I think that’s just textually accurate but reporting it anyway

When Mr. Heere comes over (“do you love him?”), he puts one leg on the top step and Michael is eye-level with his crotch. Michael has trouble tearing his eyes away. This happens a few times. In my opinion, it made him come off as a lot more high than he usually does lol

If I remember correctly, they get very intense and like shoulder-grabby at one point. Could’ve been a different scene though I dont remember OTL OTL

The Play

Michael comes out of the audience!!! It was cool it was meta lol

PINKBERRY CANON SDLKFJDKLFJKFJLSF. Brooke and Chloe have the Two Rivers dialogue (He didn’t sleep with you? He didn’t sleep with me!) then after Sisters forever! they do these actions to the rhythm of three staccato beats: “Jinx!” *high five(?)* *KISS ON THE LIPS* and instantly pull away. They're extremely normal about it and are just standing there afterwards without moving or acknowledging it. 

Despite being in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, Jeremy is dumbstruck and stares at them for a few beats before moving on to the next line. It was amazing. No notes. 

Jeremy is horrified when Christine starts singing to him. She walks robotically over to him and speaks kind of like she’s reading off a script (hehehe). Jeremy is backing up against a wall and freaking out almost like he’s trying to get away from her. No implication at all that he’s tempted. 

When everyone starts screaming in pain, Michael is screaming in triumph. (Or at least he looked very triumphant, I don’t remember if he screamed lol)

Voices in My Head

Rich is in a wheelchair. Also he doesn't have a lisp.

Rich is wearing Michael’s glasses. When he starts asking about Michael, Michael shows up and takes his glasses back. I think Rich steals them back at some point too? 

Michael acts a lil flirty with Rich - approximately "I'm sure you'll find something very special," then in a tiny high voice: “but not with meeeee…!” and he pushes Rich’s wheelchair so he rolls offstage jdsfkldsfkfd

At “Tell her that she excites you sexually” Rich does a little wheelie to (presumably) represent a pelvic thrust (all of these Rich moments were excellent I loved this Rich sm)

Christine’s squip was Taylor Swift this time!

At “I know the last thing I deserve is another shot, but…” He trails off and there’s a pause before “Just say what’s on your mind, Jeremy.” I know they get together obviously, but it felt like it could go either way! Maybe because it was live.

(And then they cccccome on lets go and do bows, in character i think, and it was amazing the end)

I was gonna write a TLDR here but honestly all of it was amazing and if you want the highlights it’s pretty much just the stuff I bolded!

Also end note the actors were all soooo nice and they let me ramble to them about jeremy for several minutes Q____Q it was amazing im so happy about this still I wish I got their signatures sjdlfkjdsfkdsf

I hope everyone gets to watch the show at some point but otherwise I hope this can be useful to someone!!

[fangaminghell]

Ava Alone

Summary: Ava finds herself alone after the fall. She has a lot to think about.

Notes: Several things! 1) POKEMON DESOLATION SPOILERS AHEAD DON'T READ IF YOUR UNFAMILIAR WITH THE GAME!!! 2) This fic takes place within my own version of events of desolation, where things are extended more. The player takes like. A week to climb down that Silver Rise, bc it's a fucking mountain. Of course that's subject to change, but for the sake of this fic, that's the case. 3) I dunno if this would be ooc for Ava or not lol. I'm kinda using my own hcs here and 4) Asra is my protag oc! i think that's everything so I hope you enjoy!

~~~~~

Her landing wasn’t exactly painless, but thankfully, it was painful either. How she survived the fall, she doesn’t know, and honestly, she doesn’t want to know. The first thing she clocked in was that Asra wasn’t there. Asra wasn’t there. A panic starts to settle in her stomach as she forces herself up from the ground, wincing as she does, and her head turns left and right in hopes that she can find her best friend….but nothing. 

Ava frowns, just now realizing exactly where she is. Well….it certainly isn’t the sky. Trees and grass are all she can see...shit did she fall in the middle of some woods? 

“Great,” she mumbles to herself, fully picking herself off the ground and trying to once again, take in her surroundings. She can’t exactly complain about her landing spot - it’s a goddamn forest, her element really - and she could be lying if she said it wasn’t just a bit cozy. She didn;t sense an immediate danger, and the serenity of it all was peaceful. 

“Welp,” she mutters, “ Where do I go from here?”

She starts to walk, wincing a bit as she realizes- for what seems to be the millionth realization today - that her body was more roughed up than she initially thought. But it’s whatever. She can deal with it. So she keeps trudging on…

~~~~~

Addenfall is a nice place, Ava decided. A small community with nice people in a nice area - what more do you want? The minute she showed up in the town, she was immediately taken to the pokemon center to heal up - both her and her pokemon. She insisted that she was fine, but they pretty much forced her to rest, which. Sure. Whatever. Not like Asra is still out there somewhere and she’s not looking for them. It’s not like Asra, for all she knows, could be dead-

Her breath hitches, and she rubs two fingers against the bridge of her nose. Okay. Maybe…maybe rest sounds like a good idea. She needs to get her thoughts in order. She needs to think of a plan.

“ Alright Ava, recount the steps. How did you get here?” 

She closes her eyes, and thinks back to the events leading up to now. They just got a way to get to Cellia….they took the Jinx teleporter and….

Ava’s eyes shot wide open, and a wave of anger crashes into her. Scarlett was there. Scarlett sided with those…fucking lunatics! And for what? A stupid dream? Those people almost killed her! And she had the fucking gall to-

“ You know what? I’m done thinking,”Ava huffs, turning aside in the bed Nurse Joy gave her. She forces her eyes shut, not letting herself even think of that girl she once called her friend. She doesn’t deserve that title. Not anymore.

~~~~~

It’s been a few days. Still no Asra. Once she was given the okay by Nurse Joy, she immediately started searching. With the help of her pokemon, she pretty much looked through the entirety of Addenfall Woods - nothing. The scary thought that Asra might be dead was growing louder by the day and she just desperately wanted to be proven wrong. Or….or maybe Asra joined Team Cresent, too. Ava shakes her head- no that’s ridiculous. Asra isn’t like Scarlett. They at least have a good head on their shoulders. 

She sighs, taking a rest near a tree within the woods. She once again tries not to think of a familiar pinkette. Tries not to think of her face right before Ava fell.  Because it’s not worth it. She made her choice, so it isn’t worth it…….right?

Ava looks down at the back of her hands, resting on her knees. There’s a few more scraps there, from all the looking that she’s done for the past few days. Going from her fingers to her nails, a vibrant shade of green pops out. Oh right. Her nails. The nail polish chipped now, given everything that had happened to her for the past….week? God she doesn’t even know. She frowns at her nails- she doesn’t even like nail polish that much honestly. Why was she wearing it again?

“ Ava, stop squirming, you're going to smudge your nails!” Scarlett huffs, pointing the tiny nail brush at her. Ava rolls her eyes, looking at the hand in Scarlett’s. 

“ I can’t believe you two convinced me to wear this….” she says, looking down at her nails, most of which are now coated in green nail polish. She can hear Asra laugh lightly. 

“ Scarlett wanted us to match, somehow,” they say, and while they are behind her, Ava can feel their small smile on their face, “ Besides, you could have said no. We all know, you could have said no. But you didn’t~” 

Ava groans, resting her head on her non nail polished hand, “ Yeah yeah, you two are sooooo lucky I like the both of you,” she can’t exactly hide her smile, looking at Scarlett who’s smiling back.

“ It’ll be worth it, trust me!” she beams, then focusing back on Ava’s nails, “ Besides, it’s been foreeeeever since we had a makeover together! Even if it’s just nail polish!”

Scarlett finishes a nail, and examines it with her critical eye. After a few seconds, she nods, smiling. 

“ I just think it would be nice to bring something old to our new beginning. Don’t you think?”

“ Venusaur?” Ava jumps slightly at her pokemon’s cry. She looks to her side to see her Venusaur looking at her with worry. She straightens herself up, wiping whatever it was in her eye. 

“A-ah! I must have zoned out huh? Let’s head back to town, hm?” she tries to prevent her voice from shaking, and tries her best to give her partner a reassuring smile. Venusaur Ava’s smile wavers a bit, feeling some more tears threatening to fall. She gets up immediately, turning away from her partner.

“I’m fine! Really! It’s getting late, so we should really get back,” 

She hates that she’s hiding from her Venusaur, she hates that she feels like she has to, but she does anyway. She can hear Venusaur sigh, and starts trudging along with her back to Addenfall Town. She makes a mental note to smother Venusaur with treats as an apology.

~~~~

Was I a good friend to her?

The question plagued her ever since she woke up the next morning. It left an empty feeling in her gut, and for once, she can’t push that thought out of her mind. 

“Of course I was,” she’d try to reason with herself, “ We’ve been friends since high school, why wouldn’t we be?” But it was never enough. The question repeated itself over and over in her mind, a wave a guilt would wash over her as she thinks back to every interaction the two had.

“ I should have paid more attention,” she would chastise herself later that day, “ I should have talked to her, should have been nicer to her- fuck and I was so quick to throw her away! What was I thinking-”

“Saur?” Once again, her Venusaur snaps her out of her thoughts, looking at her with such concern. The shame of hiding before crept up on her once more, and she leaned towards her partner, hugging it as she whispers,

“ I think I’m a bad friend.” Her voice was quiet, broken, and it took all her strength not to cry. Venusaur coos, gently tapping Ava’s back, as if to say “ That’s not true”. Now it’s Ava turn for disbelief. But she holds her Venasuar anyway. It gives her comfort, at least. That’s the best thing she needs right now.

~~~~~

It would have been officially and week since Ava found herself in Addenfall. Still no Asra. Still no Scarlett. She refuses to believe Asra is dead. And she prays that Scarlett isn’t fully gone. She tried traveling through Silver Rise Forest, but it’s fucking cold, cold and cold. Literally one of the worst places for her and her grass types. And she tried getting through that joint, she really did. Didn’t help that it was so big. She had to cut her loses and hope for a miracle.

Addenall is still as nice as it ever was. She tries to help around where she can, but she finds herself going out for walks more than anything. It’s nice. Helps with her stress. But that isn’t always enough now is it? So imagine her surprise when she she walks out of town to see a Black Fox grunt harassing one of the townspeople. And righteous anger rages within her and she finds herself storming towards the damn grunt, ready for him to feel her wrath.

Good, she thinks. She needed an outlet.

[autumnslance]

hello Aeryn! Question! I have seen you post that Dark Autumn is your experience the story character and Aeryn is your personal WoL, when playing Dark how did you start planning out Aeryn? I want to make a personal WoL for myself and I don’t know what I should do? Any suggestions or tips? I love your tumblr! Such an inspiration! ❤️

Thank you for the lovely words! And well, I didn't really plan out anything concerning alts, let alone a WoL, at least not at first.

I think I've spoken about it before, but: I started playing back around Heavensward's release, and Dark Autumn was my first and for a long time only character; FF14 was my side game, as I was still pretty active in WoW. By the time Stormblood came out, though, I was burning out on WoW for various reasons, and started playing FF14 more. I was still level 40-something and in Mor Dhona trying to save the Scions, so I finished ARR, ripped through HW, and caught up to StB 4.0 pretty quickly while that was still new.

But I realized, going back through the cutscenes in the Unending Journey to remind myself of the plot I'd slowly meandered through for over 2 years, that there was a lot I'd forgotten, or missed, and also 2 other starter city experiences. This is also, crucially, long before New Game+ became a thing during the Shadowbringers patch cycle. The only way to re-experience the game was to replay it on an alt.

So I made C'oretta in Ul'dah and a Duskwight in Limsa Lominsa. The Duskwight didn't stick around far past the intro, but I ended up replaying the entire MSQ on C'oretta, remembering things from ARR I'd forgotten, and picking up on things I'd missed in the ARR patches, HW, and StB.

Also, I did not make Dark or C'oretta to be the WoL. I was still thinking of myself as a roleplayer back then, and thanks to my old WoW experiences built RP stories where one does not play "the hero" even though that's FF14's entire setup. I also just couldn't really separate in my mind a "WoL version" versus "RP version" of either character back then. It also just didn't seem to...."fit" either one of them.

But I also eventually realized, especially as I left WoW for good, that I was just too tired and disinterested in getting involved in the dramas of another open RP community. Sticking to fanfiction was looking infinitely better, and I got a little RP from close long time friends now and again (in FF14 and also more traditional tabletop gaming). By this point, I had a better grasp of the world and the lore, the story and the characters, and the various ways the fandom approached WoLs in RP and fanfiction.

I also learned about an unused CGI Midlander woman model, and that got some wheels spinning in my head, about our beloved Meteor Survivor default WoL, and Ardbert and his crew all based on the original legacy and ARR trailer characters, and decided I was going to make an "actual WoL" OC and try experiencing the story (again) that way. I also decided, for myself, as I like "coloring within the lines" for my fanfiction writing (a lot of "missing scenes" or "meanwhiles" etc and not too much lore/canon divergence), that to keep it simple and not go too far off the rails for my own time and sanity, she'd play close to what I call Assumed Default WoL's canon actions, attitude, assumptions, etc that we get throughout the game.

Was also going through some identity figuring out at the time, so my WoL totally wasn't going to be romantically or physically involved with anyone, going to write about an aroace WoL who was just focusing on the MSQ and side story events. WoLNPC shipping obviously wasn't for me after 2 and a half other playthroughs, there were plenty of other people doing all that, it was fine if I didn't.

Plans never survive first contact with the enemy, players at the gaming table, or how your own OC actually reacts to the plots you throw them in and characters you introduce them to.

By the time I created Aeryn, I'd been playing FF14 for 2 or 3 years. I had a rough idea of her background and some important people (though not all their names yet), and then saw where playing through MSQ and the various side stories took her. I already knew the plots, after all, having done it all on Dark, and some again on C'oretta, so was able to focus on Aeryn's characterization and reactions and how that changed over time, as well as adding details to her backstory and supporting cast over time, too.

And it's become a kind of running way for me to do things; Dark is first cuz she's my baby and I can just play as me and my reactions as I puzzle out the story and see what happens. Dark's own RP responses are pretty straightforward and simple, if I decide she's even present for those events. Aeryn playing through a second time lets me see things with the benefit of hindsight and foreknowledge, catch things I missed/forgot (from hints and foreshadowing, to references, etc) and rather than puzzling out the mystery or having my own knee-jerk emotional reactions, I can take a step back and know what's happening and why--or am better able to figure that out now--and see how my character would respond, especially if that's different from me the writer.

(I'm probably still crying, though; there's no escaping that)

It also lets me solidify the lore and remember it better, especially as it starts to get meme-ified and characters flanderized by the community. C'oretta and Iyna ending up replaying again months or years later also helps remember and solidify things. New Game+ helps a lot too, especially if you don't want to alt like I ended up doing thanks to early game's lack of replayability and this game being not very alt friendly.

Some people play their WoLs first (if not only) time through, some people have multiple alts they play, some make no distinction between RP and fanfic WoLs, some folks go with their initial gut reactions to events, and some parse and reconsider the storyline and its elements later. There's no right or wrong way to do it; this is just the path I took, and have decided to stick with due to the time and energy I have for gametime. I end up playing Aeryn more as she's my collector and the one I want to have all content done on for my story reasons, and do just enough on Dark to keep her ready for MSQ requirements (and cuz I love her pretty face and giantess physique). The unexpected WoLNPC ship did help focus and adjust my writing for Aeryn, but it's far from the only thing I write about for her, or the other alts, who settled into "friends and allies summoned by the Azem stone" spot.

So my advice is, as usual, if you decide you want a whole alt to be a WoL, start with a vague plan and some general idea of the backstory, and worry about the details as they come. It can shift and change and solidify as you go, over time. Let the character grow and change in reaction to story, good and bad, and embrace the unexpected reactions and see where they take your writing. Can always leave it in drafts or retcon it later. Use replays to actually look at the story, the parts you like and dislike both and be honest and objective about why and what that means for your story, what ends up important or not to your telling and to your WoL.

Be flexible, do it at your own pace in your own way, and have fun doing it, are the main things.

[retphienix]

forgive ramble, ignore ramble even!, warframe community brain is firing on all cylinders (not to be confused with intelligently firing, just quickly and aggressively firing).

@alteredsilicone I think it is? I know for a fact the argument is included in every thread that mentions the Hema ever, but I don't know if DE has ever stated outright on that.

Honestly. Considering how DE is a company of "5 steps forward 3 back" I wouldn't be surprised even a tiny bit lol

And yeah :( I genuinely think arcanes need reworked in terms of how they are acquired.

To be a tiny bit more fair (but not a ton) to the subject than I've been in my rants, I "understand" the perceived argument around them needing to be difficult to acquire.

I don't even really want them to be EASY to acquire! Just not. What they are right now.

I say too much, tl;dr:

The only people benefiting from arcanes being locked to unfun content are whales who enjoy the collectors market of thousands of plat being tied to each arcane's R5.

DE isn't, to my understanding, making the bulk of their money from arcane plat, they are making it from prime access and micro buys (forma bundles, adapters). People buy prime access for access to the prime stuff, not because they want the plat included to buy arcanes, that money is spent regardless of arcanes.

I don't think part of the game should be bent and broken into an unfun state in order to appease whales, as the harder you push that envelope the less interesting the game becomes to more people, and a game has to maintain a certain "cost efficiency" to exist in a state of whale life support- a level of efficiency that DE hasn't seemed to have designed warframe to survive in, so bending to whales would be a bad idea for warframe specifically.

But also I just fucking hate Eidolon hunts (brain numbing) and think Orphix is poorly balanced both in terms of gameplay AND reward per time investment, and I just think more options would be good for the game's health.

It IS genuinely valuable for DE to maintain a player economy that has valuable assets costing decent plat prices since plat = real money for DE.

BUT.

As far as I've ever heard, which could be heresay so grain of salt, DE's statement on profits has pretty much been:

"We get the bulk of our money from Prime Access and Forma bundles/adapters."

So DE says money isn't in arcanes, so, yeah. Considering most plat is spent on forma, and most money is spent on access, kinda a done deal to me I guess lol.

To put it another way, it can be assumed that Arcanes and Rivens MUST cost a ton so that DE makes money, and I say this is a misconception.

Instead, my assumption would be that Arcanes are expensive because the content is bad and limited, Rivens are expensive because they are a bragging piece, and BOTH are NOT valuable to DE but instead are perceived as valuable to whales who trade them back and forth with each other to very little actual gain.

The same players buying 3k plat rivens and 5 different r5 arcanes were gonna just sit on the plat otherwise, they already bought in, they weren't buying in FOR rivens and arcanes and DE knows that. Riven and Arcane market is a collector market, not a DE market.

As mentioned earlier, I DO think DE sees a minor benefit to maintaining an economy with expensive parts, but it's not as direct as "This cost 3k plat so DE is making money" it's a bit more... community health related, and I would argue it has bloated to a stagnant and UN-healthy degree with the popular collectors markets (rivs and arcs) doing more damage to player longevity than benefiting DE's bottom line via player interest.

-

This is why I've always said I understand why adapters are unfairly "priced" in terms of foundry cost, usually taking multiple forma and what not, because yes this IS player hostile, but it's also directly a life line for the game being continued and in the grand scheme of player hostile decisions, charging 20p for an adapter or 35 for 3 forma isn't highway robbery.

Back to arcanes.

The fact that the only 2 pieces of content that give generic arcanes are 6 year old boring repetitive boss fights that are obnoxiously time-gated or a poorly balanced railjack exclusive excruciatingly SLOW gametype that is unpopular for reasons even beyond the railjack and slow aspects, is a problem.

Like, that's it. That's a problem.

I don't exactly think Arcanes need simplified to the point of like syndicate augments, but I don't think the argument that they must be rare to accommodate a market is being charitable to the whole picture.

I think it has gone too far in terms of strangling this side of the game and is having the opposite effect at this point, and as such I argue that we quite simply just need alternative means of getting the generic arcanes.

My thoughts are kinda in a triple ball park right now.

1. I think at true end game (steel path on farm etc) arcanes should be "moderate to easy" to acquire via perhaps throwing them all in the steel essence store.

This would mean players that invest over a thousand hours in the game can consider the basic arcanes "grindable" without having to go back to aforementioned boring grinds.

This, in my eyes, has the highest potential of backfiring. If arcanes become easily bought out overnight, even if only for high MR players, that could be too much of a shock to the system and could kill a noticable % of players from the playerbase. Not like, 20% or something, but if 5% of players decide that's BS and quit and we don't see a player-dollar amount to match those 5% who were most likely whales that could be a net loss despite being a potential net gain in player number.

Potentially.

I just think players that invested should be allowed to is all. Definitely the most "personal" solution.

2. The game, prior to steel path farm, NEEDS more options to farm arcanes at a similar pace to Eidolons that ISN'T Eidolons- IE, make orphix not slower, and make other orphix style mission types that also match Eidolon speeds.

This would honestly solve the issue for me overnight. I don't mind the RATE of acquisition, I mind the lack of variety in acquisition, I hate fighting Eidolons, I feel my brain turning to mush while doing so.

3. A pseudo passive grind for arcanes would also be ideal in my opinion, as arcanes are incredibly useful in end game but if you don't go out of your way to farm aforementioned farms, you're simply SOL.

Sorties giving a new currency that buys them would trickle feed players at an acceptable rate, as an example.

This would be amazing for improving the value of sorties, giving late game players more arcanes (on average), AND wouldn't shock the system the same way idea #1 would.

But all told, I simply think Arcanes need addressed as they are currently suffocating in old content.

I think a plethora of options exist to improve the situation, but I also recognize that the situation as a whole has been deemed "unimportant" as DE has pretty confidently swept the issue under the rug with their best attempts to improve the situation being adding new arcanes which are not locked behind Eidolons.

I do think that was a boon of a decision, but I also think it's a band-aid that ignores the problem. Molt Augmented is amazing! And fair to acquire! But where's our Arcane Energize grind? Hm?

And while I recognize that even now I don't offer the most respect towards the opposition's arguments, I do recognize them. I get thinking they should be rare. I get thinking they should be expensive. I get thinking making them too easy to get tomorrow would be a nuke to some parts of the player economy (whom I don't care much about)-

I just also think it's obnoxious to just say "It has to be this way" and not look closer at what impacts the current system has on the game, it's players, and whether it's even fun.

[guerilla-marketing]

HR Outsourcing Firms in Dubai: A Comprehensive Guide

The modern business environment demands efficiency, adaptability, and a focus on core operations. For organizations in Dubai, one of the most effective ways to achieve this is through HR outsourcing. HR outsourcing firms in Dubai have become pivotal for businesses seeking to streamline their human resource functions while maintaining compliance with local regulations.

This article explores the concept of HR outsourcing, its benefits, and the key players in Dubai’s dynamic market, providing a comprehensive guide for businesses looking to leverage these services.

What is HR Outsourcing?

HR outsourcing refers to the process of delegating various human resource functions to third-party service providers. These firms take over tasks such as recruitment, payroll management, employee training, compliance, and more, allowing businesses to focus on their core objectives.

In Dubai, HR outsourcing firms cater to diverse industries, ensuring companies can scale their HR needs without the overhead of maintaining an in-house HR team.

Benefits of HR Outsourcing in Dubai

1. Cost Efficiency

Maintaining a full-fledged HR department can be costly, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Outsourcing reduces expenses associated with hiring, training, and retaining HR personnel.

2. Access to Expertise

HR outsourcing firms in Dubai are staffed with professionals who are well-versed in local labor laws and global HR practices. This expertise ensures compliance with the UAE’s labor regulations and eliminates the risk of legal complications.

3. Scalability

As businesses grow, their HR needs evolve. Outsourcing firms offer scalable solutions, allowing companies to adjust their HR services based on current requirements.

4. Time Savings

HR tasks such as payroll processing, compliance reporting, and recruitment can be time-consuming. Delegating these responsibilities to an external provider frees up time for business owners to focus on strategic initiatives.

5. Enhanced Employee Experience

HR outsourcing firms often implement advanced HR technologies, ensuring seamless processes for payroll, benefits management, and employee communication. This results in a better experience for employees.

Key HR Functions Outsourced in Dubai

Recruitment and StaffingHR outsourcing firms specialize in finding the right talent for businesses, from entry-level positions to executive roles. They manage job postings, candidate screening, interviews, and onboarding.

Payroll ManagementAccurate payroll processing is crucial in Dubai, given the strict labor laws. Outsourcing ensures timely salary disbursement, tax calculations, and compliance with local regulations.

Compliance and Legal AdvisoryDubai’s labor laws can be complex. HR firms help businesses navigate these regulations, ensuring contracts, benefits, and policies comply with local standards.

Employee Training and DevelopmentOutsourcing firms often offer training programs to enhance employee skills, contributing to overall organizational growth.

HR Technology ImplementationFrom HR management systems (HRMS) to employee self-service portals, outsourcing firms bring the latest technology to streamline HR operations.

Why Choose HR Outsourcing in Dubai?

Dubai is a hub for businesses from around the globe. Its diverse workforce and dynamic economy make it an attractive destination for companies of all sizes. However, operating in this market requires a deep understanding of labor laws, cultural nuances, and economic trends.

HR outsourcing firms in Dubai provide the local expertise needed to navigate these complexities, ensuring businesses remain compliant while maximizing efficiency.

Top HR Outsourcing Firms in Dubai

1. BAC Middle East

BAC Middle East is one of the oldest and most reputable HR firms in Dubai. They specialize in recruitment, staffing, and HR consultancy for various industries, including finance, healthcare, and technology.

2. TASC Outsourcing

TASC is a leading HR outsourcing company offering end-to-end workforce management solutions. Their services include payroll outsourcing, staffing, and managed services tailored to the UAE market.

3. Proserv Middle East

Proserv provides customized HR solutions, including recruitment, payroll management, and compliance advisory. They cater to SMEs and large enterprises alike.

4. Nathan & Nathan

This HR firm is known for its innovative HR technology solutions and personalized services. They offer everything from visa processing to employee welfare programs.

5. Dulsco

Dulsco is a prominent HR outsourcing firm with decades of experience. Their offerings include manpower supply, training programs, and employee engagement services.

Choosing the Right HR Outsourcing Firm

When selecting an HR outsourcing firm in Dubai, businesses should consider the following factors:

Industry ExperienceEnsure the firm has experience in your industry, as this guarantees a better understanding of your specific HR needs.

Reputation and ReliabilityResearch client reviews and testimonials to gauge the firm’s reliability and track record.

Range of ServicesOpt for a firm that offers comprehensive HR solutions, from recruitment to payroll and compliance.

Technology IntegrationCheck if the firm uses modern HR technologies to streamline processes and improve efficiency.

Cost-EffectivenessWhile cost savings are a key benefit of outsourcing, ensure the services offered justify the fees charged.

Future of HR Outsourcing in Dubai

As Dubai continues to grow as a global business hub, the demand for HR outsourcing services is expected to rise. Emerging trends such as AI-driven recruitment, employee wellness programs, and remote workforce management are shaping the future of HR outsourcing in the region.

Firms that adapt to these trends and offer innovative solutions will remain at the forefront of the industry.

Conclusion

HR outsourcing firms in Dubai play a crucial role in helping businesses manage their workforce effectively. From reducing operational costs to ensuring compliance with local labor laws, these firms provide invaluable support to organizations across industries.

By partnering with the right HR outsourcing firm, businesses in Dubai can focus on their core objectives while leaving the complexities of human resource management to the experts.

If you’re looking to elevate your business operations in Dubai, consider the benefits of HR outsourcing—it might just be the strategic move your organization needs.

[xsmb-mienbac]

Kqxsviet.com - Top community shares lottery playing experiences

Kqxsviet.com is one of the most reputable and prominent platforms in the community of lottery lovers and players. With the goal of bringing value and knowledge to players, KQXS Viet has constantly developed and affirmed its position as a leading lottery experience sharing community.

This article will introduce and promote KQXS Viet , which provides valuable experiences and a vibrant interactive environment for all lottery enthusiasts.

About the website Kqxsviet.com

qxsviet.com is a website that provides the most complete and accurate daily lottery results information for xo so mien Bac and other regions. In particular, this website also integrates features to support players in predicting lottery results and sharing lottery playing experiences with the player community.

With the mission of becoming a platform to help lottery players share and learn experiences to increase the likelihood of winning, KQXS Viet has attracted a lot of hits and is highly appreciated by the player community.

Key Features of KQXS Viet

Here are the highlights that KQXS Viet owns, namely:

Advanced algorithms and predictive tools

One of the important factors when playing the lottery is du doan the results and calculating the lucky numbers. Realizing that, KQXS Viet has developed advanced algorithms and prediction tools to help players make more accurate decisions in choosing numbers.

In addition, these algorithms and tools are continuously updated to ensure accuracy and efficiency for players. This helps KQXS Viet become one of the leading lottery results information providers in Vietnam.

Real-time lottery results and notifications

With the desire to meet the needs of players, KQXS Viet provides real-time lottery results and is constantly updated throughout the day. This helps players to conveniently and quickly update the latest results without having to wait long.

Besides, KQXS Viet also provides notifications via email or SMS to notify the results to users in case they do not have time to access the website.

Personalized and Customized User Experience

Each player has his own style and way of playing. So it is very important to have a personalized experience and customization options. KQXS Viet understands that and has created features that allow users to customize the interface, install notifications and save their favorite numbers. This makes it easy for players to use the website and conveniently track lottery results.

The community shares the experience of playing the lottery

One of the special features of KQXS Viet is the gathering and connection of lottery players. Specifically:

Forum to share lottery playing experience

At KQXS Viet, players can participate in forums with various topics related to the lottery. Here, they can exchange and share experiences, come together to analyze and predict the results. This helps players to access the opinions of the community and make optimal decisions for themselves.

Blog sharing lottery playing experience

The site also provides a blog for the community of players to be able to write and share articles about the lottery experience, provide analysis and comments on the methods of playing. This allows players to follow and learn from quality and diverse articles from other members of the community.

Contests and Events

To promote interaction between members of the community, KQXS Viet often organizes competitions and events related to the lottery. This helps players to show their abilities and compete together in predicting lottery results. In addition, these events also help create a healthy and fun playground for the community of players.

Conclusion

The above is the basic information about KQXS Viet - The community shares the leading lottery experience. With the desire to create a platform to support and connect the lottery player community, this place has been constantly developing and improving to bring the best experience to users. To join the community and learn more about lottery playing experience, please visit KQXS Viet website immediately!

See more:

[carollookwood]

Drive User Growth with a Custom Fantasy Sports App in India

The Indian sports industry is witnessing a phenomenal surge, and at the heart of this excitement lies the booming fantasy sports market. With millions of passionate fans, India presents a goldmine of opportunity for businesses looking to capitalize on this digital revolution. Here's where a custom fantasy sports app developer in India comes into play.

By creating an engaging and feature-rich app, you can tap into this fervent audience and build a thriving user base. But in a competitive landscape like India's, simply having a fantasy sports app isn't enough. You need a strategic approach to drive user growth and establish yourself as a leader in the game.

Why Custom Fantasy Sports Apps are the Key to Success

There are numerous fantasy sports app development companies in India offering pre-built solutions. While these might seem like a quicker option, they lack the personalization and unique features that can truly set you apart. A custom fantasy sports app developer in India allows you to:

Cater to Specific Sports: Cricket might be the king, but there's a growing interest in other sports like Football, Kabaddi, and even Hockey. A custom app lets you cater to these niche audiences and offer a tailored experience.

Unique Gameplay Mechanics: Go beyond the standard draft-and-play format. Develop innovative features like dynamic pricing, salary caps, or player roles to keep users engaged and coming back for more.

Seamless User Interface: A user-friendly and intuitive interface is crucial for a positive user experience. A custom developer can create an app that's easy to navigate, visually appealing, and optimized for different devices.

Monetization Strategies: Integrate secure payment gateways, implement in-app purchases for premium features, or explore advertising partnerships. A custom app allows for flexibility in crafting your monetization strategy.

Strategies for Exponential User Growth with Your Custom Fantasy Sports App

Here are some key strategies to consider when working with a fantasy sports app developer in India to maximize user growth:

Pre-Launch Buzz: Generate excitement before launch by building a social media presence, running targeted ad campaigns, and partnering with sports influencers.

Referral Programs: Incentivize existing users to spread the word with attractive referral bonuses. This leverages the power of word-of-mouth marketing.

Gamification: Integrate game mechanics like points, badges, and leaderboards to foster a sense of competition and keep users engaged.

Seamless User Onboarding: Make the registration process smooth and provide clear instructions to ensure a positive first-time user experience.

Community Building: Integrate chat features, discussion forums, or virtual leagues to create a sense of community and encourage interaction amongst users.

Data-Driven Approach: Track user behavior, analyze in-app activity, and gather feedback to understand user preferences and tailor your app accordingly.

Regular Updates and New Features: Keep your users engaged by introducing new features, updating player data, and running exciting contests and tournaments.

Optimizing Your App for the Indian Market

When developing your fantasy sports app in India, consider these additional factors:

Localization: Ensure your app is available in regional languages to cater to a wider audience.

Payment Gateways: Integrate popular Indian payment gateways like UPI, PhonePe, and Paytm to facilitate easy and secure transactions.

Data Security: Prioritize user data security with robust encryption and compliance with Indian data privacy regulations.

The Final Score: Building a Winning Fantasy Sports App

By partnering with a skilled fantasy sports app developer in India and implementing these growth strategies, you can create a compelling app that stands out in the Indian market. Remember, it's all about providing a unique and engaging user experience that keeps fans coming back for more. With the right approach, your custom fantasy sports app can become a major player in the ever-evolving Indian sports entertainment landscape.

[andrejeed51]

Checking out the entire world of Poker On the internet: Suggestions for Beginners

Introduction

Welcome towards the interesting environment of on line poker! Whether or not you might be a whole novice or have some practical experience participating in poker in serious existence, venturing into your Digital realm may be both of those thrilling and overpowering. During this extensive guideline, we will offer you precious tips and insights to help you navigate the entire world of on the net poker similar to a Professional. From being familiar with the basics to producing Superior procedures, We have you covered. So, let's dive in and explore the fascinating universe of on line poker!

The Basics of On the web Poker

Before delving into much more Highly developed procedures, It truly is vital to familiarize oneself with the basic principles of on line poker. Here are some vital phrases and principles you need to know:

1. What's on line poker?

Online poker refers to enjoying the favored card match over the internet. In place of sitting down in a Bodily desk, players engage in virtual game titles applying their personal computers or cell devices.

2. How can on the web poker function?

Online poker platforms function by specialized computer software which allows gamers from world wide to attach and Engage in in opposition to one another. These platforms facilitate many sport formats, together with hard cash game titles, tournaments, and sit-and-go's.

3. Is on the internet poker lawful?

The legality of on-line poker differs from state to region. It can be crucial to familiarize on your own with your neighborhood legal guidelines and laws prior to participating in almost any method of on the internet betting or gambling.

4. How do I start with on the web poker?

To get rolling with on line poker, observe these uncomplicated methods:

Choose a highly regarded on the internet poker platform.

Create an account by furnishing the necessary personalized facts.

Make a deposit applying among the obtainable payment procedures.

Select your desired sport format and begin playing!

Understanding Online Poker Variations

Online poker offers a variety of variants, Each individual with its exceptional guidelines and gameplay mechanics. Here are several common variations it's possible you'll face:

5. Texas Keep'em

Texas Hold'em is one of the most extensively played poker variations, both equally online and offline. During this match, gamers are dealt two non-public cards and have to use a combination of community playing cards to kind the best possible hand.

6. Omaha

Omaha is an additional common variation that shares similarities with Texas Maintain'em. However, in Omaha, gamers obtain 4 personal cards rather than คาสิโนออนไลน์1688 two.

7. Seven-Card Stud

Seven-Card Stud is often a vintage poker variation which was the moment the most popular sort of the game. Within this variation, players are dealt seven playing cards through the entire hand, and they have to make the absolute best 5-card hand.

8. Baccarat

While not a traditional poker variation, Baccarat is a popular On line casino card recreation normally found in on the net gambling platforms. Understanding Bac

[evoldir]

Fwd: Graduate position: UMemphis.EvolutionaryGenomics

Begin forwarded message: > From: evoldir@evol.biology.mcmaster.ca > Subject: Graduate position: UMemphis.EvolutionaryGenomics > Date: 7 October 2023 at 08:50:28 BST > To: rdmpage@gmail.com > > > The Puckett Lab in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University > of Memphis is recruiting a highly motivated student for a PhD position > in Evolutionary Genomics.  Available dissertation topics include: > adaptive introgression, or landscape genetics of deleterious traits. > Projects would use North American populations of American black or brown > bears as the system of inquiry. > > Required Qualifications: Academic interests in evolution, > genetics/genomics, and/or bioinformatics.  Candidates should be organized, > persistent, a team-player, and have strong writing skills. > > Preferred Qualifications: A Master's degree, 2 years work experience, > or a post-bac.  Experience working within Unix/Linux or a programming > language (R, perl, python, etc).  Wet lab skills including DNA extraction, > gel electrophoresis, and next-generation sequencing library preparation. > Students interested in the link between evolutionary genomics and the > conservation and management of species are encouraged to apply. > > Students will receive five years of stipend support via TA-ships > and tuition waivers.  To learn more about the graduate program > and intellectual community within the department, visit: > https://ift.tt/qdWlshD > > Please email Emily Puckett (Emily.Puckett@memphis.edu) with an informal > inquiry or pre-application (CV and a cover letter highlighting relevant > experience and motivation for the position) as a single pdf.  I screen > applications ahead of the formal application to the department to save > students application costs.  Informal reviews welcomed from Oct to Dec > 2022; formal applications are due Feb 1, 2024 for entrance to the program > in Fall 2024. > > Emily E. Puckett, PhD > 333 Ellington Hall- University of Memphis > Memphis, TN 38152 > https://ift.tt/dEOcXW0 > > > "Emily Elizabeth Puckett (puckett3)"

[thesquirrelqueer]

idk who the guy is but I know the girl is madeline so i’m gonna go out on a limb and say the guy is dustin kropp (either way they’re cute)

edit: it’s not dustin

[baccp]

Hello Tumblr friends! For those of you that have been following us since Be More Chill; this is Julia (aka Chloe)! The Brook Arts Center is back this season with the musical Spring Awakening, running April 12th-21st.

For anyone new to this page, welcome! The BAC is a community theatre in Bound Brook, New Jersey. I will be using this page to post fun promos and behind-the-scenes content to engage with fans of the show and hopefully see some of you in April!

I would LOVE to know what content you'd like to see, so please message me with any ideas or questions!

[vq-hair-factory]

Best wholesale virgin hair vendors

Are you in search of the best wholesale virgin hair vendors in 2022? Look no further! In this article, we will introduce you to the top-notch suppliers who provide exceptional quality and a wide range of virgin hair products. Whether you're a salon owner, hairstylist, or entrepreneur in the beauty industry, finding the right vendor is crucial for your business's success. Join us as we explore the leading players in the industry who offer reliable sourcing, outstanding customer service, and the finest virgin hair extensions in the market. Stay ahead of the competition by partnering with these reputable vendors and elevate your business to new heights in 2022.

Learn More:

_____________________

VQ HAIR FACTORY

Add: Dong Bich village, Dong Tho commune, Yen Phong district, Bac Ninh province

Email: info.vqhair@gmail.com

Hotline: +84 962 318 090

Website: https://vqhair.com/

[sheetmusiclibrarypdf]

Tárrega - Làgrima (classical & Guitar TABS) partitura, sheet music

Tárrega - Làgrima (Guitar TABS) partitura, sheet music (partitura) Tàrrega - A short biography Best Sheet Music download from our Library.His works Please, subscribe to our Library. Thank you!

Tárrega - Làgrima (Guitar TABS) partitura, sheet music (partitura)

https://vimeo.com/743754650

Tàrrega - A short biography

Francesc d'Assís Tàrrega i Eixea (Vila-real, November 21, 1852 – Barcelona, ​​December 15, 1909) was a Valencian composer and guitarist. He was the first guitar concertist of his time. He was born in a house located in Plaça de Sant Pasqual, very close to the saint's sanctuary. His father, Francesc Tàrrega Tirado, and his mother, Antònia Eixea Broch, worked as interns for the community of the Poor Clares of the convent of Sant Pasqual. Due to the employment of the parents, little Francesc was looked after by an assistant. On one occasion, Francesc ran away from the nanny and fell into a ditch near his house. The bac damaged his eyes forever. His father thought that the boy might lose his sight completely, so they moved to Castelló so that he could attend music lessons and, in the event of his blindness, earn a living by playing an instrument. Curiously enough, it was a blind musician, Eugeni Ruiz, who gave Tàrrega the first musical lessons. And another blind man, Manuel González, also known as 'the Blind Man of the Navy' was the one who introduced him to the world of the guitar. He made his living playing such an instrument, and he knew very well all the tricks to encourage the generosity of the public, secrets that the young Tàrrega taught him. In 1862, the famous concert player Julián Arcas gave a concert in Castelló de la Plana and had the opportunity to hear the young man play. He was so impressed by his ability that he recommended his father to send him to Barcelona to improve his musical studies. In this way, Tàrrega moved to the county town, but soon left the family home where he lived and joined a group of young musicians, who played in taverns and cafés to earn some money, instead of 'attend the conservatory. His father found out and went to Barcelona to take Tàrrega back home. The economic situation forced Tàrrega to contribute to the family income, so that after several concerts in neighboring towns, he obtained a position as a pianist in the Casino de Borriana. During this time, he alternated the work of a pianist with a brave defense of the guitar. A rich businessman, Antonio Canesa, paid for a trip from Tàrrega to Madrid to improve his knowledge at the National Conservatory of Music. When he got there, he was carrying his first quality guitar, made by Antonio Torres, from Seville, and which would become his favorite forever. Plaque in memory of Francesc Tàrrega i Eixea on the occasion of the centenary of his birth, in Carrer de València no. 234, where he resided during his stay in Barcelona He entered the Madrid Conservatory in 1874, where he studied composition with Emilio Arrieta. The student years were difficult. The piano was the fashionable instrument, while the guitar had lost its prestige and had fallen to the bottom of the scale of instruments. Considered inappropriate for concerts, its role was reduced simply to accompanying singers. It was at the same National Music Conservatory where, having seen Tàrrega's great quality with the guitar in a concert, his teacher Arrieta hugged him and said: 'The guitar needs you, and you were born for it '. From that moment, he abandoned his piano career and concentrated exclusively on his favorite instrument. By 1870 he was teaching guitar and giving concerts regularly. A virtuoso of his instrument, he was known as the 'Sarasate of the guitar'. Emili Pujol and Miquel Llobet were his students. During the winter of 1880, Tàrrega replaced his friend and guitarist Luis de Soria in a concert in Novelda, the city where he met his future wife, Maria Rizo. His fame began to grow, and his interpretative feeling captivated audiences. In 1881 he moved to France. After a wonderful concert in Lyon, he arrived in Paris, where he met the most important characters of the time. He performed in several theaters, and was invited to play for the Queen of Spain, Isabel II. He continued his journey to London, from where he returned to Novelda to marry his fiancée, Maria Rizo. The new family moved to Madrid, where the first daughter, María Josefa, was born, who died soon after. Later they settled in Barcelona, ​​and from here they traveled to many places to offer concerts. It is Tàrrega's period of musical maturity. He makes frequent tours: Perpignan, Cádiz, Nice, Mallorca, Paris, Valencia… In Cap i Casal Valencia he met a lady who would influence his career: Conxa Martínez, a rich widow who took him under her artistic protection, and lent him and his family a house in the Sant Gervasi neighborhood from Barcelona. This is where Tàrrega composed most of his most famous masterpieces. On returning from a trip to Granada, he wrote the tremolo Recuerdos de la Alhambra, and while in Algeria he was inspired to compose Danza Mora. There he met the composer Camille Saint-Saëns and later, in Seville, he wrote most of his Studies, such as the one entitled Adelita. To his dear friend and composer Tomás Bretón he dedicated the beautiful composition Capricho árabe. However, Tàrrega was not satisfied with the sound he was getting from his guitar and, at the age of 50, in 1902, he decided to play with his own prestige and began to cut his nails bit by bit until they almost disappeared under the skin of the fingers, which hardened until they obtained the characteristic sweet sound of their school. He continued his great concerts: Bilbao, Genoa, Milan, Florence, Naples and Rome. In Italy, he demonstrated his incomparable mastery, as reflected in the chronicles, and made many friends and admirers. But not even fame could change Tàrrega's personality. A sensitive and affectionate man, he continued to open the doors of his house to all his friends, regardless of social status. Tàrrega was a shy person who preferred concerts in a family atmosphere, with a few attendees, to large theaters. This way of being made him spend most of the money he had earned, to the point that his brother Vicent was the one who helped push the family forward by giving guitar lessons to the students of Tàrrega when he was on tour. But luck was not on Tàrrega's side and in January 1906 a hemiplegia left the left half of his body paralyzed. Recovery was slow and painful. The long illness emptied the family coffers, and his many friends showed that they were by returning the favors Tàrrega had done them in better times. Thus, they organized a series of bi-monthly concerts, the Auditions Tàrrega, in which their friends paid the teacher for their interpretations. Tàrrega recovered and started touring again. In October 1908 he felt homesick and returned to Castellón. From here he moved to Novelda in 1909, and returned to Valencia, Cullera and Alcoi to offer some concerts. In Picanya he composed the last works, Endecha and Oremus, dated December 2 of that year. On December 3rd, he felt unwell and returned to Barcelona, ​​where he stayed at his house on Carrer València until the early morning of December 15th, 1909, the day he died. Buried in the Montjuïc Cemetery in Barcelona, ​​he was moved at the end of the same month to the Castelló de la Plana cemetery, where a mausoleum was erected in 1961. His works In addition to his original works for guitar, he made transcriptions for guitar of pieces by other composers, such as some by Beethoven, Chopin and Mendelssohn. Tàrrega is considered to have created the foundations of 20th century classical guitar technique and the growing interest in the guitar as a recital instrument. Like others of his Spanish contemporaries, his friend Isaac Albéniz, for example, Tàrrega was interested in combining the romantic tendency that prevailed in classical music with Spanish popular elements. The well-known contemporary guitarist Angelo Gilardino has written that Tàrrega's 9 Preludes are '… Tàrrega's deepest musical thought in a concentrated form'. One of the most popular pieces of music in the world, known as Nokia because it is the alarm tone for this brand's mobile phones, is taken from a piece called Gran Vals, originally from Tàrrega. It must be said that versions of his works have been performed by artists such as Mike Oldfield and have appeared in films, such as Entre Copes, from 2005. He dedicated a minuet to his Italian student Maria Rita Brondi. The asteroid (5058) Tarrega is dedicated to his person and work. In 2018, a South Korean TV series called Memories of the Alhambra (Korean: 아함드드드의의 자이; RR: Alhambeura gungeonui chueok, and in English Memories of the Alhambra) came out. The action takes place mainly in Granada, Barcelona and in the second half, Seoul, it is a sci-fi thriller - fantasy about an augmented reality game inspired by stories of the Alhambra palace, with matters of the heart and business intrigue high-flying The title refers to the piece, Memories of the Alhambra, a piece that forms a key part of the series' music, and in which a character often appears playing it on guitar. Read the full article

[disgruntledspacedad]

The Rules of Engagement (3/5)

The Better Love Series

pairing: Javier Peña x fem!reader/ofc (Ears)

summary: (slow-burn, sexual tension, angst, a little bit of h/c in later chapters) He’s a DEA agent. You work for Centra Spike. Peña’s not your boss, exactly, but you’ve been fwb long enough that certain people are starting to think of you as An Item, and that just won’t do. 

words: 3.4k 

warnings: 18+ for alcohol, language, smut, violence, body horror, general trauma. Please, please heed the warnings on this chapter, guys. It gets pretty intense.

a/n: Unbeta’d. I know I said this was going to be three chapters, but I lied. Sorry, my dudes - this one got away from me. Inspo credit goes to @tiffdawg​, as always.

part one | part two | part three | part four | part five

MASTERLIST

Well, fuck. You bite back a massive sigh.

You really, really don’t want to walk through that door.

It’s been a month, and you life has changed profoundly.

For one, you’re not at the office as much anymore - Stechner had made good on his promise to consider you for more flyovers, and boy, has Centra Spike been busy. Some new vigilante group is terrorizing Medellín, and while it’s not Search Bloc’s priority to go after them, they’ve undeniably kept Pablo and his sicarios busy. The radio frequencies are hot right now, and you’ve been doing eight, sometimes ten flights a week. 

You absolutely love it. The hours are less predictable and definitely more shitty, but listening to a radio from the cockpit of a plane is much more fun that listening to a radio in a stuffy basement office, so you consider it a fair trade.

It keeps your brain busy, too.

Your social life has taken a massive kick to the nuts. Ana is back at university, and you miss her more than you thought you would. You’ve reverted to communicating with Emilio with gestures and smiles more than words. It’s nice because he’s nice, but you miss actual conversation, stilted as it was. Ana wasn’t all that bad, either.

And then there’s Javi.

You haven’t spoken to him since That Morning, not even a polite 'how are you?' in the hallway. Granted, you’re not seeing him as often anymore, given your new position and hours, but then again, you haven’t exactly sought him out, either.

The memory claws at you every time you relive it - and you relive it often. That anger, that wounded expression. The slammed door, his retreating footsteps. Each time you’re in that building, the walls seem to close in on you, and you have to stop yourself from looking for him, actively keep your gaze from roaming straight to his desk.

God, as if you could make it more awkward.

You’d had one nasty conversation with Murphy about a week after the incident - you’d told him in no uncertain terms that he could either mind his own business or fuck right off, you didn’t care which. He’d left you be, throwing his hands in the air and muttering something about how “you two deserve each other.”

Asshole.

Still, that aborted conversation haunts you - so many aborted conversations haunt you - and you wonder what would have happened if you’d just taken the bull by the horns and addressed the issue with Javi head on.

I’m sorry you caught me rubbing one off on the morning after you almost died, Peña. I can assure you, it won’t happen again. Your friendship means the world to me.

Yeah, right.

God, though, but you miss him.

You miss him so much it aches, a gaping hole that reaches right down to the core of you, but there’s nothing to be done about it. You’d fucked this one completely and thoroughly - any chance of restoring your friendship had drained away with the shower-water, and the more time you spend fretting over it, the more awkward - and pathetic - it would be to say anything.

So, you’d cut your losses, held your head high, and tried not to waste too much time wishing you’d have just kept your fucking fantasies to yourself.

Now, though, you’ve got no choice.

You’d been on Centra Spike’s early morning flight, just another routine scan over Medellín. The shift wasn’t intended to be more than a training run for you, but as luck would have it, the Medellín cartel’d had a busy night, and you’d been caught in the crossfire.

Your plane had just touched down half an hour ago, and now you’re standing on the front steps of the embassy building, fingering a shoebox cassette player loaded with a freshly taped recording full of juicy intel destined for the desk of DEA Agent Javier Peña - an entire, private conversation featuring none other than Verdugo himself.

You’d know that voice anywhere. You’ve studied it for hours, what few snatches you’d been able to glean from the embassy archives. It’s almost as if Verdugo is smart enough to steer clear of the city, or to just avoid phone conversations all together, the absolute fuckwad.

Until early this morning.

On the plane, you’d intercepted a new signal and tapped in on a whim, intending to practice your Spanish more than anything, but what you’d overheard was a fucking gold mine of information.

Verdugo is in Medellín. The sicarios are getting ready to move Escobar. He didn’t say where - fucking bastard knows not to spill all of the beans in one conversation - but apparently the plan requires a rendezvous in El Centro first. Verdugo is en route, and will be there until the next morning.

You’d worked frantically all night, tracing and retracing the signal, triangulating potential addresses, then back-tracking to account for environmental distortion. Each calculation had led you to the same place - an unassuming little house right smack in the middle of Medellín.

Bingo.

“You take it in, Aarons.” Torres had declined your offer to do the honors. “It’s your intel.”

So here you are, bleary-eyed and running on less than two hours of sleep, cassette player clenched tightly to your chest, summoning up all of your courage just to go speak with your ex... well, ex whatever-the-fuck Peña is.

‘This is your job,’ you remind yourself fiercely. ‘You can do this.’

As pep-talks go, it isn’t very effective.

Fuck it. You toss your head back, wishing you’d had time to at least grab a cup of coffee on the way in, and breeze around the corner.

“Agent Peña.”

He glances up lazily, thoroughly uninterested in whatever you have to say. When he realizes it’s you, he blinks once, dropping his cigarette in the ashtray and sitting up to eyeball you with a wary expression.

"What can I do for you?” he asks cooly.

You remember him saying that once before, but the context was totally different.

You shake it off. “Centra Spike has new intel that you’ll want to see right away.”

He purses his lips, tilting his head to indicate the growing pile of bullshit on his desk. “You can leave it here.”

Oh, so that’s how it is, then?

“I can’t.” You pin him with a stare, and he meets your gaze evenly, raising his eyebrows in silent challenge. You clear your throat and clarify. “I won’t.”

He scoffs as you carefully rest cassette tape on his desk, along with a map of El Centro. “We intercepted a four minute conversation with Verdugo this morning. He’s here.” You point to the safe house on the map, which you’ve already circled in red ink. “Feo and Limón are with him. They’re leaving early tomorrow.”

Peña frowns down at the spot where your finger rests. “And can you corroborate that information?”

Oh, the motherfucker. “I verified his voice personally, Peña,” you say carefully, doing your damndest to keep the annoyance from your tone. It’s well within his right to ask questions, after all. “It’s a direct match for the audio samples we have.” You tap the tape for emphasis. “You’re welcome to listen for yourself.”

He doesn’t make a move for a long time. Something hot and painful burns in your gut as you wait.

God, he knows you, knows you better than anybody else in on this goddamned continent.  He knows that you know your shit, that you want to catch Escobar as desperately as he does. And this evidence that you have spread across his desk, recorded on tape and marked plainly in red ink, is irrefutable, undeniable - it’s a huge break. He knows that, too.

His apathy is palpable, and it’s driving you up the fucking wall.

When he finally glances up at you, it’s with a doubtful little smirk on his face. “Hmm.”

And oh, wow, you’re shocked by just how much that hurts.

All your life, from the moment you were born into a family of brothers, you’ve had to fight tooth and nail to be taken seriously. It was a fact of life as early as you can remember - ‘look after your sister,’ or, ’she’s just a girl,’ or ‘wow, you’re really great at math, for a woman!’ You’d settled on your career as an analyst because you’d wanted it, not because you’d had something to prove, but still, the military is a male-dominated field, and from the start, the odds had been stacked against you.  Landing this CIA gig had been the achievement of a fucking lifetime. Still, the bar is set high in the Colombia, and it’s set that much higher for a woman. You’re well aware of this; you’re reminded every single day.

Point being, you’re used to defending yourself and your abilities; it comes as natural as breathing.  

But until now, you’ve never had to fight this battle with Peña. He’d taken you at face value from the moment he'd laid eyes on you, treating you like just another operative. Sure, he might take a crack at you every now and again, but that's all in good fun, and you’ve never been one to shy away from a laugh.

Christ, you never realized just how much that respect meant to you until suddenly, it’s gone.

“If you have something to say about my skills and qualifications, Agent Peña, then I suggest you say it.” You lean over his desk, speaking quietly, enunciating each syllable with deadly precision. “Otherwise, I think we both know that it’s in the best interest of Search Bloc and the Colombian people that we collaborate quickly, so we can put boots on the ground and land this motherfucker behind bars where he belongs.”

Peña’s eyes narrow, and he cocks his head, studying you. You meet his gaze, biting back a snarl. You won’t back down. You won’t allow him to intimidate you.

When he nods sharply and reaches for his phone, you know you’ve won.

♠

Ten minutes later, you’re situated in a conference room with Peña, Steve Murphy, Martinez, and a couple of the other higher ups of Search Bloc whose names you haven’t memorized. Your maps are spread over the table, your tape displayed for all to see, and every eye is on you.

“Verdugo is here,” you say, leaning over the map to indicate the marked house. “He and his entourage arrived late last night, and they’re planning to leave early tomorrow morning.”

“Plenty of time to get a team together.” Murphy interjects, glancing between you and Peña with open curiosity.

You narrow your gaze at him. Drama-mongering bastard.

Peña’s not moving. He’s standing with his hip cocked toward the desk, frowning down at the map with his fingers curled to his chin like he’s totally oblivious to everything happening around him.

You know he’s not, though. That’s Javi’s thinking face, the one he makes when he wants people to shut the fuck up and forget about him until he can work something out. You’re pretty familiar with that one.

The others are babbling in Spanish, discussing logistics and the likelihood of this being another trap.

It’s not. You know this deep in your bones. You’d heard that conversation in real time, had translated, triangulated it.

This is legit.

You’ve just decided to leave them to it when Javi snaps his eyes open.

“I agree with Aarons,” he announces out of nowhere. You’re startled by the confidence in his tone. Curious, you glance up, but it’s difficult to get a read on him. He’s pinning every person in the room except you with a hard stare. “We need to move out now.”

Several of the others make noises of protest, but Peña shuts them all down, one by one. Finally, his eyes flicker up to meet yours, just for a brief second, but there’s something different in his gaze, something new and heavily guarded.

You think it might be an apology.

“Let’s end this.”

♠

He’s on a plane to Medellín within an hour, wearing that stupid bullet proof vest. For just a split second, you wish that you were going, too. You don’t have enough experience, though - you’re not an agent; you haven’t handled a gun since basic. You’d be useless in a real fight, a liability, even.

Still, you feel some ownership in this operation, today more than ever. You don’t even try to kid yourself about Javi anymore, either. Those fucking feelings haven’t faded in a month, not a bit, not even after the awkward conversation you’d had in his office.

‘But he stood up for you, too, afterward,’ something whispers in the back of your mind. You replay that little glance in the conference room over and over as you watch Search Bloc board the plane.

He’s looking for you this time, standing on the ramp with his eyes shaded like he knows you’ll be waiting. He doesn’t nod and you don’t wave, but you make eye contact for a lingering moment, and again, there’s something in his expression that you don’t recognize.

Then the plane takes off down the runway, and you feel as if your heart is swooping away with it.

♠

You volunteer for the late shift at work, monitoring the radio lines in case something comes up. It’s an unusually quiet night, as if all of Bogotá collectively holds its breath, and you mostly spend it watching the clock, calculating the hours in your head.

One to land in Medellín. Two more to mobilize the men. Another half to get in location.

From there, your speculation gets fuzzy. There’s no way to predict the outcome once Verdugo is engaged. Javi’s told you a million stories, each more unbelievable than the last - car chases and rooftop shootouts, standoffs in the street, a fistfight in a church sanctuary, bodies of children littering dark alleyways… you cut off the recollections. They aren’t doing you any favors.

Verdugo is a dangerous man. Anything could happen.

By seven am, your brain is mush and your eyes are hyper-focused in that bleary way that happens when you’ve gone too long without sleep. Your third cup of coffee has gone cold, and people are starting to trickle in. You wave half-heartedly to Torres as you slip out of your headset, rubbing your fingers over your scalp to ease the tension that comes from wearing heavy earphones all night. A shower sounds nice, you decide, and maybe a quick nap afterward.

Somebody will page you with news.

Getting out of the building does a lot to wake you up. There’s something oppressive about the CNP headquarters that seems to abate when you step into the streets of Bogotá. The city buzzes with life even in the early morning, and air is warm in a way that seems to energize rather than sedate. Optimism is easier to invoke as you walk down the street in broad daylight.

Javi had looked at you, at least. He’d listened. He’ll call in to the office as soon as he can. Your intel was good, and they’ve flushed out the rat, he’d promised you that.

Everything will be okay.

You round the corner of CRA 70 and Circular, waving to Emilio, who is working the register of the pharmacy today.

“Orejas!” He shouts, reaching below the counter to hold aloft another bottle of aguardiente. “¡Mira! Solo para ti!”

You grin back at him, raising your voice to shout a greeting, and then, with absolutely no warning, the store explodes.

A loud boom.

A whoosh of impossible heat.

A massive orange fireball billowing from the windows.

Your body flying, flying through the air.

Bright blue sky, and then darkness.

♠

You find yourself lying flat on your back in the middle of the street. Your ears are ringing. There’s a pat-pattering in the air, soft like falling rain.

You blink hard.

It’s not rain, you realize dizzily.

It’s fucking ash.

The air is dark with it, hot and heavy. It coats your tongue and stings your eyes. It’s hard to catch a breath. Your throat hurts, your chest aches. You cough weakly. The smell is terrible, acrid and bitter like burned metal. You can taste it on your tongue.

Slowly, you tense your muscles. Your chest is still burning, but there’s nothing sharp to suggest a serious injury. Your back is sore, your head fuzzy.

You sit up, wincing a little, relieved to realize that you’ve just had the wind knocked from you. You’ll have some bruises tomorrow, but that’s all.

Sound slowly filters in. The hiss and crackle of flame. A shout in the distance. Further away, a wailing siren.

Reality slams into you all at once.

Emilio!

You stand, wobbling more than you think you should, but you push past it. Reality seems to pitch and roil, as if the ground is hitching its breath beneath you. Rubble coats the street, dust clouds the air.

Oh god.

A gaping, smoking crater is all that’s left of Emilio’s pharmacy. The windows are blown out of the businesses on either side, their outer walls bowing under the pressure. Your apartment on the top floor is demolished, the roof caving in, flames licking at the the collapsed floors.

You gasp one long, shuddering breath, taking it all in, and then you’re running, sort of, picking your way through hunks of concrete and twisted metal.

“Emilio! Emilio!”

Your voice is hoarse, the world hushed. Nothing sounds quite right. Your legs are shaking and you can’t catch your breath. Some of the rubble is hot to the touch, and you feel like you’re moving underwater, slow and awkward and stupid.

You approach what’s left of the store, and the smell hits you first. Like cooked meat - charred, greasy, heavy.

You press your hand to your mouth to stifle a scream.

You found Emilio. He’s pinned beneath part of the collapsed roof. You look away quickly, but not before you catch a glimpse of blackened flesh, of bone, blood, and pink frothy tissue.

Acid rises in your throat, and you stumble to your knees, stomach clenching painfully into your ribs as you vomit onto the street. It goes on and on, over and over for an eternity, tears and snot and bile and ash leaking mingled down your face until there is nothing left in you to expel.

The encroaching wail of a siren draws you to your senses. You glance up, suddenly painfully aware of your situation. The ceiling is arching above you, just to your right, and it’s creaking ominously. The fires are still burning, and your shirt is clinging painfully hot against your back. You stagger to your feet once again, dizzy, almost drunkenly. A small crowd has gathered, pointing and gawking, calling out to you in Spanish that you are far, far too overwhelmed to translate.

Gasping, you raise your hands and side-step away, careful of the debris that litters the street around you.

A firetruck arrives on the scene, squalling to a stop between you and the onlookers, and you leap at the opportunity, ducking down the nearest alleyway before anybody can follow.

♠

You aren’t sure how much time you waste in the alleyways of Bogotá.

Seconds?

Minutes?

The time after the explosion is all a blur, and you run until you literally can’t anymore, until you’re doubled over and wheezing, coughing, hacking, panting.

Some primal survival instinct clicks in your brain then, and suddenly, your mind is clear. You glance around, swiping at your cheeks and brushing the ash from your shirt.

Now what?

You take a shaking breath and think.

Okay, first order of business, you’re absolutely disgusting. You need a shower before you can even think about doing anything productive.

Your bathroom just went up in flames, along with all of your clothes. Your heart clenches as you think of Ana - she’s at university, so that’s out. The embassy has a nice bathroom, but no showers that you’re aware of.

There’s only one place you know to go, and that’s Javi’s apartment.

You glance up at the sky. The sun is still pretty low - it can’t have been more than an hour since you’d left work, and that was around seven am. Javi obviously isn’t home, and you don’t have a key, but if you hurry, there’s still a chance that you could catch Murphy before he leaves his flat.

It’s a long shot, but you decide there’s nothing to lose for trying.