#both logo-wise and content wise

[simplydnp]

they really said 'happily phoreverafter' and fucked off... good for them

[saintobio]

⊹★⋆ two wheels and a hot guy.

pairings. gojo satoru, fem!reader tags. 1k wc, biker boy x biker girl au, non-sorcerer au, crack, fluff, dirty jokes (?), satoru rides an s1k, biker!sukuna mentions, same au as my other fic. sparked by a random idea bcos why haven't we thought abt biker!gojo honestly? he would be so funny on tiktok if he was a biker boy lmao

You’ve all heard about Biker!Sukuna. That famous biker boy on biketok who has tattoos and rides a blacked out Yamaha R1. 

But have you heard about Biker!Gojou? 

Well… For starters, Satoru Gojou wasn’t a seasoned biker. 

In fact, he was more of a poser than anything, but you’d never catch him admitting that. His prized BMW S1000RR, the crown jewel of superbikes, was more about image than skill. The sleek, aggressive lines of the machine, combined with the prestige of the BMW logo, were all he needed to keep up appearances on TikTok. And he learned that appearances were everything, especially when Sukuna, with his obnoxious face tattoos and natural charisma, hogged the limelight (especially from all the girls!) with every post, even with a girlfriend already in tow. The sheer audacity of that scum was enough to drive Satoru up the wall. Fine, he had to admit. He was jealous of Sukuna’s popularity and the fact that he snatched a cute booktok girlfriend as his backpack. 

Suguru, his best friend and fellow biker, didn’t let him forget it either. As they stood by their bikes outside Barnes & Noble to spot booktok girls, Suguru glanced at Satoru’s liter bike and smirked. 

“Pretentious motherfucker,” he muttered, slinging a leg over his Yamaha MT-10, the less flashy but undeniably badass naked bike. Unlike Gojou, Suguru didn’t care about clout. The MT-10 was all about raw power and agility, the kind of bike a real rider appreciated. “You only got that thing because it’s a BMW. You gonna actually ride it for real one of these days?”

“Shut up.” Satoru rolled his eyes, adjusting his white Alpinestars riding gloves while holding his phone up to go live on TikTok. Starting with a 1000cc as a beginner bike wasn’t a very wise choice, but still... “People love the S1K, you know that.”

And let me tell you about Satoru’s favorite time of the day (or night). It was whenever he would go live, and the comments would pour in as soon as his stream started. That was when he could lavish in his social media presence the most.

user19463: Bro, when are you gonna show us some actual riding content?

anon875biker: All that thirst trapping. Bet you don’t even take that thing out of the garage. 

harleysRbetter: U punks R ruining the riding community! 

Gojou grinned at the screen, winking at both his followers and haters. “Alright, boomers, calm down. I’ll post some riding content soon. Don’t cry too much before then, yeah?”

r1.skn: Sir, can you do wheelies? 

Suguru found that comment hilarious, recognizing the username and knowing exactly who it belonged to—Sukuna. But Satoru’s competitive nature kicked in instantly while he continued to scroll through the comments. “Yeah, I can do wheelies. Ignore Sukuna, guys. Focus on me!”

msbikerluvr: Still looking for a backpack, Gojou? Lmao.

“About the backpack… you know, I’m just waiting for the right one. Applications are still open—” He was about to launch into another witty retort when a sound cut through the chatter of his stream—it was a deep, throaty rev that sent a shiver of excitement down his spine. Satoru’s head immediately whipped to the direction of the sound, just in time to see a flash of race blue zipping down the street.

There you were, riding a Yamaha R7, your black Dainese jacket hugging your curves as you leaned into the wind. The way you handled the bike, so smooth and confident, it was as if the motorcycle was an extension of you. 

“Damn, she’s hot.” Without a second thought, Satoru ended the live stream abruptly, “Gotta go, guys. Someone just stole my heart,” and pocketed his phone.

“Did you seriously just—” Suguru started, but Satoru was already mounting his S1000RR.

“Catch you later, Suguru!” he called, gunning the engine without even looking at his best friend. Soon enough, the 1000cc bike roared to life when he shifted into first gear, and he sped off in pursuit of the blue R7.

He caught sight of you at the next red light, the signal holding you in place just long enough for him to catch up. Thank God there was no sign of a biker boyfriend around when he pulled up alongside you, visor down, adrenaline still kicking him alive. He tried to get your attention by revving his S1K, and you turned your head slightly, barely acknowledging him as you pulled your visor up and revealed the prettiest eyes Gojou had ever seen. 

Satoru flipped up his visor too, then flashed his most charming grin. “Hey there,” he said, trying to keep his voice smooth and casual. Like it was a normal encounter. “You’re fast. I like that.”

You may have rolled your eyes, but he could tell you were smirking underneath the balaclava as you talked through the Cardo intercom linked to your AGV K1s. “And you’re obnoxious. I don’t like that.”

Oooh, she’s spicy. He laughed at the silly thought in his head, unbothered by your dismissal. “Come on, don’t be like that. I’m just trying to get to know the girl who stole my heart in the middle of a live stream.”

“Your heart, huh?” you teased, revving her engine just slightly. “Sounds like you’re more interested in what’s under my jacket.”

“Now that’s a baseless accusation,” he retorted, leaning in slightly. “I don’t do anything on the first night, you know. I usually wait until the second, after a nice dinner. I’m a gentleman like that.”

His remark made you snort, shaking your head at his boldness. “You’re a ridiculous guy.”

“But I’m also serious,” he added, his voice sincere despite the playful glint in his eyes. “Let me take you out, just dinner. No strings, no funny business—unless you’re into that kind of thing. I don’t mind that, either.”

Your laughter sounded like a sweet melody to his ears. “You’ve got guts, mister. I’ll give you that.” Has anyone told you how hot you looked while leaning into your bike? Damn. Satoru was distracted, checking you out for a moment until you spoke again, “Fine. One dinner. But don’t think you’re getting into my pants just because you ride a fancy bike.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he promised, grinning from ear to ear.

The light turned green, and without another word, you revved your engine and took off with Satoru right on your tail. The chase was on, but this time, it wasn’t just about the thrill of the ride. 

For Satoru Gojou, it was about something far more exhilarating—winning the attention of the most intriguing biker girl he’d ever met. 

And perhaps, the biker boyfriend and backpack girlfriend content he’d been hoping to post on Tiktok may slightly change into a different direction than he expected. 

[stellar-constellations]

An Alliance (Part 9)

        

        Fem! Spy! (Y/N) x Yuri Briar

        Parts: One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, current part, ten (to be continued when Spy x Family has more Yuri content!)

        (Y/N) is given her own backstory that is important for the story!

        The setting for this story is based off West and East Germany's (because Spy x Family is heavily based off Germany in the 1940-1950) laws (or at least replicated to the best of my abilities since it's unknown what time period Spy x Family is exactly in, we'll go with 1950 for the sake of this story). 

        Historically-accurate women misogyny and mistreatment! Only small comments and historically-accurate laws (replicated to the best of my ability). 

        The story, plot, and settings might not match up to the Spy x Family manga as it's not completed and the manga is still being crafted.

        This series contains spoilers for the manga and anime!

        A couple weeks passed by and Yuri decided he wanted to visit Yor. Yuri's wound had healed up a little so I allowed it (by allowed, I mean I tried to restrain him and gave up since he was too strong and determined to see Yor).

        During those months I gathered some intel from the National Unity Party that I didn't know about until talking with Twilight about little details of his current mission (or doing a little bit of hacking into Eden Academy's files). I learned that WISE's top suspect is Donovan Desmond has two children I wasn't aware of, Damien and Demetrius Desmond, along with a wife, Melinda Desmond. A little trip to City Hall and snooping through some files and database there, I found out what they look like along with their private information such as their birthday and where they work.

        I wrote down everything I saw (even stuff I figured didn't matter) and placed it into a big white envelope with a false train logo imprinted on it, handing it to Franky when I saw him at the train station on the way back. How I did this without Yuri knowing? I got him drunk and made sure he was sleeping when I left. 

        But Vixen—the West Spy—doesn't matter right now. (Y/N)—Yuri Briar's wife and secret SSS agent—does.

        Yuri happily skipped to the Forger's apartment, barging in quite rudely as I trailed behind him, used to this routine by now.

        "Yay, my sweet sister! I came by for an early morning visit!" Yuri shouted.

        "I'm not satisfied with our life together!" Yor shouted at Twilight.

        Yuri's face morphed to horror (as did mine and Twilight's).

        Twilight and Yor are having relationship problems?! I thought to myself. This is really bad! Twilight's goal is to maintain a family to get closer to Donovan Desmond. If this is ruined, WISE will have to start all over again, and who knows how long it'd be until Donovan does something drastic that breaks this very thin ice Westalis and Ostania is on! We'll have another physical war!

        "LOID FORGER, YOU BASTARD! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY SISTER?!" Yuri screamed, pointing an accusatory finger at Twilight. 

        "Let's not get hasty! We haven't heard both sides of the story!" I smiled nervously, grabbing his shoulder.

        "Yuri? Didn't you get hit by a truck and hurt your shoulder not a little while ago? You should be resting!" Yor spoke, concerned.

        "That healed up right when I talked to you on the phone! More importantly..." Yuri spoke dully, then his tone changed as he got serious. "I warned you, Loid Forger, that if you ever made my sister cry, I would have you exe– er... I would be extremely upset." 

        "Yuri, no! It isn't like that!" Yor claimed.

        It's not?

        "So then what is it like, Yor?" Yuri questioned.

        "Um..." Yor stumbled, thinking.

        "Tell me so I can properly chastise this ne-er-do-well!" Yuri spoke, then looked as if an idea struck him. "If I can keep her angry at him, she'll finally dump him like I've wanted all along." Yuri muttered.

        "Um... you're thinking out loud." Me and Twilight spoke.

        "All right, Yor. Let's get you out of this marriage. We'll go file the divorce papers right now!" Yuri exclaimed.

        "Wait a second, Yuri! I'm sure this can be justified! Let's not get into something so big like that!" I spoke, worried for the future of Ostania and Westalis.

        "We're not getting divorced!" Yor claimed.

        "Yor, have you been holding on to this grievance all along...?" Twilight questioned, a million thoughts going through his calm blue eyes.

        "No, just since yesterday." Yor smiled ditzyily, causing Twilight to go wide-eyed.

        "WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY SISTER YESTERDAY?!" Yuri shouting, pointing his finger at Twilight again.

        "He didn't do anything!" Yor exclaimed.

        THEN WHAT ARE YOU MAD AT HIM FOR?! I thought to myself, yet held my inner peace as I watched the scene play out.

        "Apologize. I don't know what you did, but you're going to apologize to my sister." Yuri spoke, his tone intimidating me despite me not being at the end of his words.

        "I am so deeply sorry, Yor. I never–" Twilight started, but was cut off by Yor.

        "Loid, no! An apology from you is the last thing I want!" Yor claimed, causing Twilight to have a mortified expression on his face as I saw the Ostanian military clean their guns, ready for their command to infiltrate and kill.

        "HOW DARE YOU ATTEMPT TO APOLOGIZE YOUR WAY OUT OF THIS, YOU FLIPPANT LOUSE!" Yuri screamed, still pointing his finger at Twilight.

        "I understand, Yor. You want me to show contriction through my actions. And I will! I swear to you, I won't ever make you suffer this way again!" Twilight spoke.

        "TH-THAT'S EXACTLY THE PROBLEM!" Yor shouted.

        "HUH?!" Twilight and I exclaimed.

        I can hear the marching of Ostania's army. I can smell ashes from fire and gunpowder. 

        "Yuri, please, could you just stay out of this? This is a martial issue between me and my husband!" Yor scolded, directing her anger towards Yuri.

        "M-martial?!" Yuri exclaimed, a shocked and dejected expression on his face.

        Yuri depressingly made his way to the couch and flopped down, deflating like a ballon as he laid on the couch.

        Yor said this is a martial issue between her and Twilight, so I shouldn't get in the way too, I thought as I sat down next to the sulking Yuri. 

        The phone starting to ring and Yor quickly ran to go answer it.

        "Oh. I'll get it." Yor spoke. "Hello, this is Mrs. Forger." She answered, then redirected her attention to Twilight. "Loid, it's for you. It's from the hospital." 

        "Yes, hello?" Twilight spoke, answering the phone.

        Hospital? Oh, right! Twilight's cover job is a physiatrist for this mission!

        "I'm sorry. I've been called in for an emergency." Twilight stated, hanging up the phone.        

        "Oh dear, that sounds serious." Yor spoke, before it was like a switch was flipped in her as she started to shout. "EVEN ON YOUR DAYS OFF, YOU ABANDON YOUR FAMILY FOR WORK! HOW COULD YOU?! HOW COULD I EVER BE SATISFIED WITH THE WAY YOU ALWAYS PUT YOUR PATIENT'S FIRST?!" 

        "I'm sorry, Yor. We'll talk about this when I get back." Twilight stated calmly, sparing me a glance before walking out. "I really am sorry!" he exclaimed before walking out and shutting the door.

        Yor had a prideful smirk on her face as she looked at me and Yuri (Yuri seemed like he had a skeptical look on his face as he looked at the door Twilight just left).

        "Yor, I really don't mean to pry into your martial problems, but I really believe you need to think about this." I sighed.

        "Huh? But having gripes is a normal thing for marriages, right?" Yor questioned.

        "Of course, but you should understand his side too. You're claiming he spends too much time at work, correct?" I questioned, making sure I got the facts straight.

        "Yes, that is a normal gripe wives have against their husbands, right?" Yor spoke, genuinely seeming like she needed a gripe to appear normal.

        What's she need a gripe to appear normal for anyways? I thought to myself.

        "I hate to give unsolicited advice, but Loid works to provide for your family. I understand that you grieve the lack of time he spends with you and your daughter, but he's a physiatrist. He helps aid people's mental health to prevent something drastic happening. Life and death doesn't wait, that's just apart of this job. However, I do understand you. I believe it's a good idea to have a family outing soon, that way you're able to spend time with Loid and Anya!" I suggested. "That's just my idea though." 

        "I suppose, I could bring it up with Loid..." Yor mumbled.

        "I think it'd be fun for everyone! And don't worry, it's perfectly normal for couples to fight; I mean, me and Yuri fight quite regularly." I reassured. 

        "Yuri? You have gripes with (Y/N)?" Yor questioned, surprised.

        "Huh, yeah. Whatever you say, sis." Yuri spoke, his eyes not moving from the door.

        "Yes! Like this one right now." I smiled. "Yuri! You need to stop adding fuel to the fire! Yor was right! When a couple is arguing with each other, keep out of it! You could've actually did some serious damage to their relationship by bringing up divorce! We didn't even know what started the fight!" I shouted, grabbing Yuri by his shirt and forcing him to look me in the eyes and away from the door.

        "O-okay..." Yuri mumbled. "But something's fishy!" he spoke, redirecting his gaze to the door.

        "What?!" Yor exclaimed, seemingly worried.

        "The way he ran off in such a hurry just now... He's cheating on you, Yor." Yuri accused.

        "WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST TELL YOU ABOUT ADDING FUEL TO THE FIRE?!" I screamed, resisting the urge to uppercut him.         

        "What?!" Yor gasped.

        "Let's go follow him." Yuri spoke.

        "W-we can't do that!" Yor tried to reason.

        "I agree! We can't do that, Yuri! Have you no shame?!" I exclaimed.

        He's acting like he's following one of the people suspected of espionage at our job (or my SSS gig)!      

        "You aren't worried at all, Yor? About your so-called husband cheating?" Yuri questioned, turning to look at Yor.        

         "Well... maybe just a little..." Yor muttered.

        I was about to interject, say some wistful words about "how relationships should have trust" before remembering when I bickered with Yuri about if he'd fall in love with someone else and cheat before we agreed to get officially married.

        I felt like I was about to throw up, I don't want to be a hypocrite! But I also don't want there to be another physical war between Ostania and Westalis! But if Yuri finds out that Twilight is a spy and he gets caught, then Twilight's mission to keep peace between Ostania and Westalis will be screwed!

        "You need to be careful that he doesn't notice you, Yor." Yuri instructed. "Stay close, but not too close. You need room in case the target suddenly stops. You can't stop yourself, or you'll get spotted."

        "You sure know a lot about this, Yuri." Yor commented.

        "Uh... they just said that on some cartoon I watched with chihuahua girl the other day..." Yuri claimed.

        Dummy, we weren't even here! You were healing up from your wound, remember? I thought to myself.          

         I heard some noise from an alley and peaked over, seeing our lieutenant!

        What does he want? I thought to myself as Yuri noticed.

        "I-I-I-I-I'm sorry, Yor! I just remembered I had some paperwork that I forgot to file yesterday!" Yuri exclaimed. "Stay with Yor." Yuri whispered into my ear.

        "Huh?" Yor gasped.

        "I have to run back to the ministry! You go expose Loi-Loi's infidelity by yourself, okay?!" Yuri spoke. "I'm really sorry!" he shouted as he ran from us.

        "Hey, wait a minute! Yuri!" Yor shouted.

        Shouting? Thanks for giving us away... I thought to myself, then redirected my thoughts to the serious matters. Two emergency summons today? There's something going on between WISE and the SSS today. I can't go to the SSS since Yuri ordered me not to, but I should be able to go to WISE? I'll follow Twilight.

        Me and Yor kept following him as he walked into the hospital, allowing Yor to see for herself that she's actually going to "work." 

        "See, Yor? You have nothing to worry about. When has Loid ever given you a reason to doubt him?" I smiled. 

        "You're right. This was childish..." Yor sighed. "We can go home and make some tea." Yor suggested, smiling at me.

        "I would love to, but I'm on the lookout for an anniversary present for Yuri." I smiled sheepishly. "This is the only time that he's not with me, so I need to hurry before I have to get to work myself later!"

        "Ah, I understand! Do you need any help?" Yor questioned.

        "No thanks, I want to give him something straight from my heart." I spoke. "Have a good day, Yor! Tell Anya I said hi!" I spoke, jogging off to the streets away from the hospital.

        I ducked into an alleyway and waited for Yor to leave the hospital, making sure her back was turned from me before running back to the hospital. I ran into the lobby and walked through the halls, finding a nurse. 

        "Excuse me, I have an appointment for Dr. Forger, but I got lost and I don't know where his office his." I smiled.

        "Ah, no problem! This hospital is pretty big. I'll guide you, follow me." The nurse spoke.

        I followed the nurse to an office as she knocked on the door.

        "Come in." I heard Twilight's voice as we opened the door.

        "(Y-) Mrs. Briar?" Twilight spoke, looking at me as a white-haired woman stood next to him.

        I recognized her as Nightfall. She's very pretty, but she's very scary to me, so I stay clear from her. 

        "Mrs. Briar has an appointment with you, Dr." The nurse stated.

        "Thank you. Come on in, Mrs. Briar." Twilight spoke. 

        I nodded, walking in and closing the door behind him.

        Bugged? I morsed through my blinks.

        Safe space. Twilight morsed with his own eyes.

        "You're Nightfall, correct?" I spoke in a soft voice just in case the walls were thin as I held out a hand.

        "You know her?" Nightfall questioned, eyeing my hand like it was gum on her shoe.

        "Yes, this is Vixen. She's infiltrated the SSS and is up to date with information from them. I heard from the Handler you're back on the force." Twilight informed. "What brings you here?"

        "The SSS." I spoke. "An emergency summon happened today with the SSS. I was informed from my husband to not attend, so I'm here." 

        "You came here without orders from the Handler?" Twilight questioned, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

        "I need information from WISE and the SSS so I can determine accurate and inaccurate information to feed the Handler." I explained.

        "You're married to an SSS agent?" Nightfall spoke, a glare on her face.

        "Just for this mission." I smiled.

        "There's no time to send the Handler a message. We'd bring you, but your husband will identify you immediately." Twilight spoke.

        "There must be something I can do. I'm still apart of WISE, after all." I huffed.

        "Fine. Let's make haste, the SSS may already be on the scene." Twilight sighed. "Nightfall, the details." 

        Nightfall gave me a glare before reluctantly speaking up.        

        "We have an extreme level 3 situation. WISE HQ in Ostania has been trying to ferret out a mole. Yesterday, they finally uncovered the culprit. However, by the time they were identified, the mole had gone underground. And right around the same time, numerous top secret documents were taken from agency files. Among them was a coded map indicating areas of operational activity by WISE agents in Ostania. And some of the information contained within that document pertains of Operation STRIX. If that were to fall into Eastern hands and be decoded... our lives would be in danger." Nightfall explained in a mouthful.

        I'm unaware of the SSS receiving new files, so it hasn't been delivered yet. I thought to myself. I haven't seen anyone at the SSS that is a spy at WISE, could it be a new recruit? I'm aware of the new woman that came aboard, she's a total rookie, but the Director really wanted her onboard. But I doubt she's the mole, it's just a gut feeling. I don't know of any new rookies other than her, so it must be someone whose been at the SSS for longer than me, but if that's the case. I might not be able to help... unless.

        "Hey, I got an idea. I'm heading to the library, take this. It's a tracker so I know where you guys are, I'll meet up with you both later." I spoke, handing Twilight a small chip that he attached to his collar without second thought. 

        "You better hurry with whatever you have to do. Nightfall, you and I will make our way to the scene." Twilight spoke.

        "Be careful!" I exclaimed, quickly opening and shutting the door as I ran down the hall.

        I followed the way the nurse guided me to the office and made it out of the hospital, running into town and to the HQ of SSS. I checked the clock and knew it was time. I clocked in and ran to find a guy who owes me a favor (by that, I mean making someone do my work).

        "Hey, Donnie! I need a favor, buddy." I spoke, patting his shoulder.

        "Oh, what's up?" he smiled.

        "Today's your anniversary, right?" I questioned.

        "Huh? Today's my anni- OH! TODAY'S MY ANNIVERSARY! NO WONDER CARMEN WAS ANGRY AT ME THIS MORNING- but that never seems to be new..." He spoke, going through many stages of shock. 

        "Listen, today's my anniversary with Yuri! I can pick you up an anniversary present too for Carmen if you put my name in your document with yours." I spoke, referring to the document he was writing as he listened to a bugged room on one of our potential suspects. "This is the only time I can go out and get the present, but I need to be at work too! Please?" I spoke.

        I need to make sure that the SSS don't know I'm working with WISE in this part of the mission. If I mess with the information they gain, the SSS will kill me! I thought to myself. 

        "Yeah. I got you. Barely doing any work anyways with this! Thanks, (Y/N)!" he beamed. 

        "No worries, man! I'll see ya soon!" I spoke, rushing out of the room.

        I carefully checked the room with our schedule, making sure that there wasn't anybody there, before I ran out of the room. I ran to a nearby shop I knew that WISE was in control of, where you make anonymous purchases for wigs, outfits, and contacts to change your appearance for missions (or, their public front, for costume parties or parades). 

        I purchased a (different hair color) wig and a different shade of (eye color) for my contacts (making sure they were appropriate for my eyesight since I decided I wouldn't wear my glasses [if you wear glasses]). I grabbed a pink t-shirt, a white ribbon, black shorts, and a pair of brown boots. I made the purchase and ran into an alley, changing clothes and hiding my old outfit behind a dumpster in the dark alley. I threw a cereal box from the dumpster onto the ground near the alley entrance so I'd find my clothes as I raced out and to the library near city hall.

        I made inside and snagged a computer, taking a seat and quickly logging into the public computer with the library's username and password written on a yellow sticky-note on the desk. I wrote a fake name on the computer's public name log, then disabled the browser from any third-party trying to watch my internet activity. 

        I hacked into the SSS database, the screen going black with green letters.

        Woah, cliche hacking. I thought to myself, before quickly pushing away that thought. 

        It took longer than I'd like to admit it, but I finally found the information the Director receives from his little mole (perhaps my hacking skills are getting rusty). Sometimes there were emails but as I long as I thought really hard enough, I would crack the words they made up and proceed with the next file. This scum has been actively giving information on WISE for at least two years now, in fact, he was originally from Ostanian Intelligence before he got in WISE solely for Ostania's purpose! Worst of all, there's no name! All of his emails and files are signed off with W.W. Who had the initials W.W. that I'm aware of?        

        Nobody, that I can think of that the top of my head, that is. But the good thing about our day and age is that the library has public files for use, so marriage certificates and criminal records are available to me. 

        I need to get to the backroom and get those files so nobody knows I retrieved them, but I need those librarians to get away from that back door.

        I noticed a group of kids nearby and walked over to them, fishing in my pocket for some money. 

        "Wanna make some money?" I questioned, changing the pitch of my voice to a high but monotone tone, that way if there's any cameras or microphones here being watched by the SSS, they wouldn't recognize me. 

        The three kids nodded excitedly.

        "I need you guys to distract that librarian, but don't tell them that! Tell them you're looking for a book that's about a zebra becoming a tooth fairy and convince them to go look for it with you, okay?" I instructed.

        "Okay!" they all agreed, rushing towards the librarian's desk and distracting the librarian as I watched from behind a bookshelf.

        The librarian seemed a little stingy to leave, but they eventually agreed after some pestering from the kids. While they were distracted with that, I ran into the backroom and looked through metal cabinet files. I made it to a large drawer with the letter W written on a piece of tape. I scanned through the folders and papers rather impatiently since I'm on a timer. 

        I found the files of civilians and searched through, looking at the faces in case they'd be familiar. It's going to be a man since me and Chloe, our new recruit, are the only females in the SSS and we're both new. The only think I'm running off on is they're a man and their initials are W.W. I found a file that made me pause, observing the face more closely.

        He had a long face with white skin and blue, droopy eyes. His hair was blond and he has thick eyebrows with a fair and tall build. I checked the name, making sure that initials matched up (they did). I checked his birthdate and figured it was reasonable since he's a double-agent. The file said he works at the Ostanian Foreign Ministry (a cover-up in case WISE agents come snooping around here, like me). I swear I've seen those eyes before, whether at WISE HQ or Ostanian Intelligence. 

        I know I have a bad memory, but I really think I just found my guy! I thought to myself, smiling.

        I know that WISE had identified the mole, but looking at these files tells me how much Ostania really knows about WISE, and I know if that coded map from Westalian Intelligence gets out, it'll definitely end up in the National Unity Party somehow, then we're all screwed!

        I placed the file back where I found it, now having information on the target myself.

        Now I can hunt this mole down myself, I thought to myself, smiling at the irony itself.

        I looked around to make sure the librarian wasn't around as I exited the backroom, getting away from the librarian's desk and waiting for the librarian to give up on their search of the zebra tooth fairy book. It didn't take too long before the librarian complained about this being a waste of time, and going back to their desk.

        "Here. Thanks for your help, and ya didn't see me." I spoke with my undercover voice, handing the kids their well-earned money and running out of the library.

        I checked the watch on my hand, turning a tiny button twice, and seeing the clock's face get swapped to a black screen with a bunch of white lines, and green and red dot. The white lines are the streets of Ostania being displayed from the satellites, the red dot is my location, and the green dot is where Twilight is. 

        I won't be able to run that far on foot, and the train would take too long (not to mention I'd have to hop multiple trains too).

        My only option is to steal a car. Well, it's for the greater good. I'll return it! I convinced myself, before finding a motorcycle on the street left unattended.

        Or... we'll be dramatic! I smiled, running up and hopping on it. 

        I grabbed the wires and retraced the steps I remember one of my WISE trainers telling me a while ago. I burnt my hand a couple times and lost the feeling in them, but I finally got it working as I heard the beautiful cat purr of the engine. 

        I checked my watch once more, looking at the location of Twilight once more and memorizing it as I fixed the white ribbon in my wig, making sure my wig was secured very tightly to my head by tying the ribbon on. I turned the gas and rode away. Judging by how far it looks on my digital map, they must be either in or nearby Shellbury, in Northwest Ostania. It'll probably take a good thirty minutes to get there—that is if I abide by traffic laws, but again, I'm on a timer and the small "peace treaty" Westalis and Ostania is in danger, so we're going fast enough that it'll make lightning look slow.

        I got there in ten minutes, internally glad of saving time as I parked the motorcycle on the side of the road, checking my watch to see Twilight wasn't too far. I made it to a fountain in some park, seeing one of SSS' captains meeting with Winston. 

        I sat down on a bench, eavesdropping into their conversation for any leverage.

        "How about you hand over those files, Wheeler. WISE seems to have gotten wind of the meet, so I don't want to drag this out." The captain spoke.

        Yes, yes. WISE agents like me, I internally thought, yet shut myself up so I can focus. 

        "Before I do... I want to verify that you're really with the State Security Service." Winston responded.

        The briefcase he's holding must be the files, I could shoot him with the gun on my waist under my shirt, but that's extremely risky. 

        "What, you think I'm really Twilight, Master of Disguise? Ha ha. Good one." The captain laughed. "Can you prove to me that you're the real Wheeler?" 

        "My green tie and yellow gemstone tiepin already have." Winston informed. 

        "Mm... hey, it's yellow." The captain spoke, looking at one of his men.

        "Got it." The lackey spoke, walking away to make a call.

        What is going on? Is that a code the SSS made I'm unaware of? Well, with my low-rank position it is possible. I'll have to find information on their secret codes later.

        "As for... Our fake Wheeler here... Is that you, Twilight?" the captain spoke.

        Twilight? I thought to myself, checking my watch. He is! No wonder why Twilight's location showed up here! I can't believe I forgot about that!

        "That really is an incredible impersonation of Wheeler. You're every bit as good as they say you are." The captain spoke, reaching into his jacket's pocket and pulling out a gun. "So, what's next now? You gonna peel off that disguise for me?" 

        I reached for my own gun, ready for combat in case Twilight needs some help as I watched Twilight wiggle his foot. Suddenly, the big water fountain next to them blew up. Someone fired at Twilight as he ran, clicking a button on his briefcase that turned the bottom of the briefcase into a gun!

        Woah! I didn't know HQ had those! A whole shoot-out took place and I decided this wasn't the place for me. If I get shot and Yuri notices, he'll know I didn't follow his instructions, and that I was possibly working with WISE!

        I ran away and ducked behind some bushes surrounded by a fence, hiding in them as I checked Twilight's location on my watch.

        He's running straight for me? 

        I peeked my head out slightly, seeing a figure running to my spot. I ducked back into the bushes so I wouldn't get caught, hearing more footsteps running towards me.

        "Yuri!" a pair of guys shouted.

        Yuri?! Yuri's here?! Crap! 

        I felt my heartbeat raise out of fear for myself and Yuri's sake. This place really seems to be dangerous, he shouldn't be here! Twilight and I are here!

        "You still with us, man?!" one shouted.

        "Yeah, where did he go?!" the other shouted.

        "Ngh..." Yuri groaned.

        Is he injured? How?! Who ran into him and hurt him?!

        "The East gate..." Yuri mumbled.

        Huh, that's weird. He sounds like Yuri, but not at the same time? Is this... Twilight? I checked my watch to see his location, it proving my correct.

        "East! Got it!" they shouted as they ran away to find Twilight (who was right in front of them). 

        I very carefully peeked my head out and saw "Yuri" standing up, adjusting his jacket.

        "Oi!" I exclaimed, standing up from the bushes 

        I don't have to be careful, I'm in a disguise! I remembered.

        "Yuri" turned around quickly, looking at me with a surprised expression.

        "Um... hey...?" he paused.

        "No worries, Twilight. It's me, Vixen." I smiled as his composure relaxed.

        "Thank God, it's you. That's a decent disguise—amateurish, but it works well enough."

        "Sure as hell worked on the Master of Disguise." I smirked pridefully. "Now, what's next?" 

        "Let's make our getaway." Twilight spoke, looking around before his eyes landed on a sewer gate.

        "Ah, shit..." I mumbled, knowing what we'd have to do.

        Gross...

        "Let's go." Twilight ordered.

        "Yes, boss!" I joked, trying to make light out of this situation as we walked through some mud.

        I lifted the heavy cover and jumped in, Twilight following after as he closed the lid.

        "Stay quiet, light on your feet, and look out for all exits and entrances." Twilight muttered.

     ��  "I'm a spy too, remember?" I huffed quietly.

        Even after all these years, he still has the audacity to treat me like I don't know anything. 

        We started running and heard some footsteps up ahead around the corner. Twilight efficiently kicked up a metal pipe for me as he ran. I caught it and gripped it tightly as he pulled out his gun, getting ready to fight.

        I felt a warm sense of admiration that he gave me the metal pipe since he's aware I don't like using guns, not after what I've used them for in the war. 

        We past the corner as Twilight shot, but instead we saw, Yuri, the real Yuri!

        Twilight's shot missed him, hitting his hat instead, as Twilight paused, making me pause too. Twilight's gun was aimed directly at Yuri's face, I was going to shout and tell him no, but he held his hand, behind me and only for me to see.

        He's telling me to stand down and stay behind him—like always...

        "Gah!" they both exclaimed.

        Yuri hasn't spotted me... he's too focused on Twilight that he hasn't seen me! This is good!

        Two gunshots rang simultaneously, one hitting the gun out of Yuri's hand and into the sewer water and the other piercing Twilight's shoulder. 

        "Guh!" Twilight voiced his pain as Yuri kicked Twilight's gun out of his hand then stepping back to make room as the gun hit the sewer wall before going into the sewer water too.

        Twilight clutched his shoulder tightly, a serious and frustrated expression on his face as they both stood still, looking at each other. They both look similar to each other, it's really scary. The only difference is that Loid is 6'1" and Yuri is 5'10". I wondered briefly on how good Yuri is at hand-to-hand combat, before seeing it myself.

        "Give up..." Yuri started, raising his fists. "And come quietly!" 

        He punched at Twilight, but Twilight dodged it and kicked him in the gut, giving Yuri a punch to his face as he fell down. While Yuri was distracted, I threw Twilight a white cloth from my pocket for emergencies just as this.

        I have to make sure I'm prepared in case me or someone else gets shot or is bleeding intensely. I've learned from my past mistakes.

        Yuri stood up, his fists raised once more, having a mark on his face as Twilight wrapped the cloth around his bleeding wound. 

        "Stop resisting and surrender. We've got the sewer surrounded." Yuri claimed.

        There's no way! They didn't figure it out this quickly that we were down here, did they?

        "If you don't want to die here, run back to the surface. Now." Twilight commanded, mimicking Yuri's voice pretty well.

        I understand why Twilight sounds different from Yuri. Twilight speaks in a calm and collected tone, always serious. Yuri, he speaks with his tone, he's very open about his feelings. 

        "DON'T TALK TO ME IN MY OWN VOICE!" Yuri screamed, rushing at Twilight. 

        Twilight quickly undid his belt and whipped Yuri in the jaw, hard, with it as he drew blood and possibly even broke his jaw! Yuri fell hard onto the ground as Twilight looked down at him.

        "You may not be eating any decent meals for a while, but you'll live." Twilight spoke.

        He's showing Yuri mercy. Could it be for operation STRIX? So Yor wouldn't be devastated and the family falls apart? Could it be he's aware of my feelings for Yuri and doesn't wish to kill him out of respect (or pity) towards me? Or, could it be he's genuinely grown attached to his "in-law"?

        That should be enough, I thought, worried for Yuri's safety and health. I'll make him some southern stew tonight, he really likes that since it came from his childhood. 

        Twilight turned around, giving me a nod as he started to walk away. I almost turned to follow, but I heard the sound of metal and raised my metal pipe. I turned the corner to face Yuri, our metal pipes clashing together. I pulled his leg from under him with my own leg, then used my metal pipe to shove him backwards, kicking the metal pipe that fell out of his hands into the sewer water.

        "You're wrong, Twilight! It's you who won't be eating any decent meals... in your prison cell!" Yuri spoke, spitting out blood.

         Wow, even though I'm right in front of his face and entered the fight, he's still caring about Twilight.

        "And who the hell are you?!" Yuri shouted.

        I ignored his comment, afraid if I talked he's recognize my voice as I stared him down.

        I really, really, don't want to fight him.

        Twilight noticed my hesitancy and was about to speak up, but Yuri charged at me. I hit him upside the head with my metal pipe with some heavy force, hoping to at least knock him out or disorient him so we can run and avoid further harm to him.         

        Yuri staggered to his side but quickly punched and hit my jaw.

        Man, he packs a punch! I thought, hearing a clack! 

        I grabbed him by his jacket and pinned him against the sewer wall as he grabbed my wig and pulled it. The wig fell as he looked at me, confused as my natural hair came down.

         "Wh-" I used his confusion to my advantage, grabbed his own hair and quickly turned him around so he was facing the sewer wall, slamming his head three times in the concrete wall before pulling back.

        Twilight quickly threw himself into the mix and karate-chopped Yuri's throat, coming up behind Yuri and elbowing him into the ground, (even giving a good kick to in-between Yuri's legs).

        I wanted to scold Twilight for being too harsh and mean (like I wasn't slamming his head against concrete a few seconds ago), but I understood Yuri's looking to kill (or at least capture) us both and watched on. 

        Yuri stood his ground and Twilight punched his face as I knelt to the ground and slammed my metal pipe into the back of his knee with full force. I ran back to Twilight's side as Yuri fell down, but he just got back up!

        Jesus Christ! Yuri Briar is seriously a force to be dealt with, how is he standing?!

        "Don't hold back this time." Twilight spat out harshly, his eyes kept on Yuri.

        "YOU BASTARD! I AIN'T!" Yuri shouted, holding his fist up and rushing towards Twilight as I took a deep breath and hid behind Twilight, clutching my metal pipe tightly and raised it.

        He said not to hold back. Sorry, love. I thought to myself. Consider this payback for my jaw.

        Yuri got closer and Twilight quickly side-stepped, leaving me vulnerable. Yuri didn't even stagger as he changed his target to me, but his eyes widened. 

        He ran too fast, so he can't stop now. His only option is to move forward and attack, even hesitate his attack now and he's screwed (which, he really can't stop now anyways).

        "He was talking to me." I huffed, making my pitch and tone high and monochrome as I did earlier in the library. 

        I swung my metal pipe down hard onto his head, the force even hurting my own arms as he fell cold onto the ground. 

        We watched closely as Yuri was on the ground, making sure he'd stay there. To my surprise, Yuri stood up, causing me and Twilight to let out a scream of shock. I swung my metal pipe upwards, hitting his jaw as he fell back to the ground. Me and Twilight watched on to make sure he was fully down as I held my metal pipe up high.

        Twilight huffed heavily as breathed in, finally glad it's over and that he's still alive.

        "Yor... I'm so... sorry..." he mumbled before passing out (for real this time).

        "Ready?" Twilight huffed out.

        I nodded, staring at Yuri before leaning down and checking his pulse.

        "He's fine." Twilight confirmed. 

        "I just have to make sure..." I mumbled, checking Yuri's pockets. 

        I found a walkie-talkie and looked at Twilight. 

        "Do his voice. Tell him to come find him; that he's injured." I ordered, shoving the walkie-talkie in his hand.

        "Are you serious right now?!" he hissed. "We gotta get outta here!" 

        "He's hurt!" I huffed. 

        "Fine..." Twilight groaned, grabbing the walkie-talkie. "Yuri Briar. Injured. Help, over." He spoke, talking in his tone.

        "Thank you." I smiled.

        "Let's move." Twilight spoke, grabbing my hand.

        Twilight started to run while clutching his shoulder as I followed, running ahead of him in case of any danger. I have to be able to protect him since he's injured. We ran a while until we heard different footsteps, causing Twilight to grab my arm and stop the both of us. The footsteps stopped as Twilight carefully led us to a corner. He peeked out of the corner as I watched his expression to see if it changes, indicating he saw something. I turned to look at my right just in case anybody was there, looking just in time to see a tall man holding up a brick and aiming it right at my head.

        "Oi!" I shouted, alerting Twilight of the man's prescence as I quickly ducked, bringing my metal pipe up and wacking his jaw. 

        The brick was crushed in the man's hand as it collided with the concrete wall.

        He was going to hit me with that! That would've killed me!

        Twilight grabbed my pink shirt's collar as he jumped backwards, forcing me away from the man. 

        "Winston Wheeler!" I shouted.

       "You're him!" Twilight exclaimed, quickly tapping a finger on my lower back as he let go of my collar.

        Don't, he's telling me. 

      �� "You're Winston Wheeler, right? Relax! I'm with the SSS! I was pursuing a wise agent down in the sewers! I don't know what you're doing here, but I sure am glad to see you! Captain Gascoigne and the others are waiting for you back that way! Let's join up with them!" Twilight spoke, grabbing a SSS badge out of his pocket. 

        I, too, grabbed a badge out of my own SSS pocket out of my pocket. 

        "How about you show me your I.D. to be sure." Winston spoke, outstretching his hand.

        "Okay." Twilight obliged, giving him his badge as I did the same with mine.

        "I don't match up with my badge at the moment, I'm in disguise." I explained.

        "What about the guy you were pursuing?" Winston questioned.

        "Securing you is our priority." Twilight spoke as I nodded.

        "WISE is here and infiltrated, we can worry about the agent later." I added as I crossed my arms.

        "Lieutenant Yuri Briar and Lieutenant (Y/N) Briar. You're married?" Winston spoke as Twilight crept behind him.

        Twilight came behind him and suddenly Winston turned his back, kicking Twilight in his stomach.

        "Or is that just the face you're wearing?" Winston commented.

        I immediately raised and slammed my metal pipe on his knee, causing him to huff and hop back a few steps. 

        "Nice try. Before you silenced them, your footsteps were those of someone being chased. You should know better than to lie like that." Winston spoke, the leg I hit raised from the ground as I yanked Twilight by his collar and pulled him up from the ground.

        "I don't understand you, woman. I've seen that hair before, facial structure too, and your badge just proves it. You're apart of the SSS too; are you aware of this?" Winston spat, his last question directed towards Twilight.

        "Course I am, you really didn't think you were the only double-agent, huh?" I smirked, my metal pipe raised. 

        "Huh. So you're both WISE. Those are really good disguises. Could you actually be him? Could you be Twilight?" Winston questioned. "We did an OP together once, remember? But I never got to see your face. So... let's take a look at that illustrious face of yours. Couldn't hurt to have one more gift for the SSS..." 

        "You gotta get through me first, pal." I spat out.

        I don't need to hold back at all. I can just kill him and have it over with; his life holds no more worth, not after he traded mankind for some extra pocket change. At least with me, I'm doing this to keep peace, not destroy it.

        "If I were you, I'd run. A weak woman like you is no match for me." Winston spoke, clutching his knuckles.

        So what he's taller and stronger than me? I'll whoop his ass! I thought to myself, grinding my teeth. 

        I clutched my metal pipe tightly, then threw it at him. He caught it with no thought.

        "That was stup-" I reached into my shirt and grabbed my gun around my waist, firing straight at his head.

        He dodged it effortlessly, then ran towards me with my metal pipe. I ducked and shot his kneecap, using the floor and rocketing my elbow into his stomach. His grip loosened on the pipe as I grabbed it and slammed the pipe down on his back, knocking him to the ground.

        He grabbed my leg and pulled it under, making me fall onto the ground and hit my head on the concrete floor.

        Shit, I thought as my head rang and felt a painful sensation, followed by something wet in my hair. That better be sewer water and not blood... I thought as he quickly got on top of me and balled up his fists.

        He hit me straight in my face, hearing a crack in my nose as I reached for my gun and aimed at his face. He dodged to his right as I pulled the trigger, his weight shifting, giving me the opening to roll my body right and make him fall. I stood up and stomped on his hand, kicking the metal pipe away from his hands as I took a few steps back. 

        Twilight grabbed the pipe as we both stood next to each other, I huffed as we kept our gaze on him.

        "His fists... are made of pure steel." I panted, blood flooding out of my nose, but I didn't dare care to raise my hand and cover it, I need both hands for this fight. 

        I kept my gun trained on his head, pulling the trigger. He ducked and rushed towards us, running to Twilight and throwing a punch. Twilight blocked it with his uninjured shoulder, but Winston was too quick and used his injured leg to hit Twilight on the side of his head, knocking him out. 

        I took the opportunity to fire while his back was facing me, but it was as if he knew this as he ducked low, quickly grabbing the metal pipe and blocking the bullet, creating a dent in the pipe before he struck it at me. I stepped back to avoid his swing, but he quickly grabbed my gun and fired it at the wall six times, wasting all of my rounds. 

        "Heckler and Koch P7. Eight rounds in a magazine. Not much for a shootout, but luckily you're not in one." Winston spoke, throwing the empty gun to his side. "You won't ever be in one after I'm finished with you." He threatened, raising his fists.

        "I don't think that was necessary." I huffed, lowering my stance and widening my footing so I could prepare just about an action I need that's necessary in the moment. 

        "Just evening th-" I quickly righthooked him while he was too busy yapping, then kicked him, hard, in his nether regions. 

        "Ammo cost money, bastard." I huffed. "To pay for the money you've wasted, I'll take your life." I brought my elbow into his back, aiming for his spinal cord and hitting it. 

        It should paralyze him for a few seconds. I thought, rushing to grab the metal pipe out of his large hands. 

        I would run, but I'm not going to leave Twilight here; he'll kill him. I thought, angry at this situation. I need to buy time, WISE must be aware that Twilight hasn't returned, WISE has trackers on everyone, so they'll find him.

        I turned around to see Winston already on his feet, in fact, behind me! He tried to elbow the back of my neck but I dodged, backflipping onto his back and wrapping my thighs around his neck tightly. He tried to pry me off him, but I refused. I've always been stronger in my legs, now that I'm here, he's a fly that's right in my trap now.

        I wrapped my arms around my thighs too so I can direct more pressure to him. He's a strong and tall man, who knows how long he can hold his breath. I need him to pass out, then I'll kill him right here and now. 

        He coughed, scratching my legs but to no avail. He backed up to the sewer wall, slamming his back and the back of my head into the concrete wall. He backed into it multiple times before I felt my vision stagger, a terrible headache forming as I felt my grip loosen. He noticed and grabbed my shirt's collar, throwing me down to where Twilight was knocked out. 

        I can't do this. He's so strong... I thought to myself. If only I had the endurance Yuri has, maybe then I can take him on.

        I huffed, sitting up, only for him to place his black boot onto my cheek and roughly hit my head back onto the floor. 

        "Such a shame, I've always been a fan of cold-hearted woman." Winston spoke. "I told you, should've ran when you had the chance." He spoke, applying more pressure under his foot. 

        He's going to crush my skull... I thought, my head pounding terribly.

        "While you die, I might as well see what Twilight's face really is." Winston spoke, reaching down next to me where Twilight was and grabbing his face mask. 

        "I hope... you fall onto that metal pipe... and tear your ass open." I huffed, the left side of my face smushed onto the ground as my right cheek was under his foot. 

        My vision was fading a black and white, a color I remembered from the war in Westalis when I was younger and lost my vision, or when I'd faint many times during my training in the army and in WISE. If only I was taller, stronger, worked out more or even took some extra missions, maybe then I could've fended him off. Maybe then I could've kept peace between Ostania and Westalis.

        I hate this feeling, I was always left behind. Even as a kid, my growth was stunted after I turned ten, promptly after joining the military. The work they put me through had negative effects on my body, my eyes, my ears, my memory, and my health. I couldn't grow like the other kids after that, but I guess I truly lost my childhood innocence when I forced my way into the Westalis Army like that. How childish I was.

        I heard footsteps and trailed my eyes to where I heard them, seeing a woman with black hair. 

        Is she apart of the SSS? I thought, then recognized her pretty eyes. Nightfall! I've never been more glad to see her! I felt a smile crawl onto my face. Twilight should be in good hands now, so I don't have to fight anymore. 

        I allowed my guard to go down as I closed my eyes, taking a quick power nap.

        .

        .

        The ringing in my ears was loud, along with the pain I heard screaming in my body. I heard muffled talking, recognizing Twilight's voice, but it was younger.

        "You're going to have to do more than that to take me down." Twilight spoke.

        "Shut up! I'm going to kick your ass!" I screamed, forcing myself out of the mud I was in and charging at him

        Twilight quickly sidestepped and righthooked me, throwing me right back into the ground.

        "I hate you..." I huffed.

        "I've heard." Twilight smirked. 

        "This isn't fair. You're stronger and taller and older than me! I need like, a gun or something!" I exclaimed. 

        "Do you think the enemy cares about that? If you're armed or not?" Twilight questioned. "The only thing they care about is if your head is still attached." 

        I looked down, adverting eye-contact as I felt tears welt up in my eyes. 

        "Hey, you're still a kid. You'll grow up to be strong." Twilight spoke, sitting down next to me in the ground as he ruffled my hair.

        "But you're a teenager and you're strong!" I shouted. 

        "I worked hard for it. You just need to train a little more, even during your free time." Twilight spoke, slightly scolding me in that last part. 

        "So much work..." I sighed. 

        "You wanna be big and strong, right? Surpass me?" Twilight questioned.

        "Yeah." I confirmed.

        "Then get up and let's do this again." Twilight ordered, standing up from the ground. 

        I stood up and looked at the sun, looking for how long it'll be until dark, but I just saw my vision fading instead.

        .

        .

        I opened my eyes to find myself on someone's shoulders. I looked to my left and found a roughed-up Winston. I turned around and saw I was being carried by one of the SSS captains!

        Aw, crap, the SSS found me here! I thought to myself.        

        "She's awake!" the captain spoke, in a voice I did not recognize as his.

        "Are you okay, (Y/N)?" I heard Twilight's voice and smiled in relief, seeing him not to far in front of us, carrying Nightfall on his uninjured shoulder.

        "Are you good?" I questioned. 

        "Always deflecting." He mumbled. "I'm okay."

        "I'm fine too. I just... really need a nap. And medical attention." I sighed, the headache I have almost felt like my head was splitting open.

        "Don't worry, we're almost out of here." Twilight spoke.

        I hopped off the imposter Captain's shoulder and followed them as we made our way out of the sewers, ending up in a van. 

        "We sure are lucky they stopped short of a full-scale mobilization with checkpoints and such. They refused to get the police involved from the start. Gotta be some reason they couldn't move overtly on this." Our driver spoke.

        "If our luck holds, we might actually make it all the way back to Berlint." The guy that was imposing as one of the SSS captains spoke (now out of his disguise).

        "At any rate, by catching Wheeler, we've succeeded in protecting the West's Intelligence assets in the East." Twilight spoke. 

        "Yeah, but we heard from Blue team that our mole in the SSS's comms team got taken out." The fake SSS captain said.

        "Even after catching Wheeler, we still can't get a clean win. It's hardly worth the effort." The driver spoke.

        "I tell you, I've had enough for today." The fake SSS captain said. "Hey, Twi-guy, you're getting a drink with me when we're back." 

        "HUH?!" Twilight exclaimed. "That's out of the question! I came here under the pretext of a work emergency! If I don't get home soon, it's going to look awfully suspicious."

        "Tch! Always the family man when you wanna get outta something." Fake captain said.

        "Being a family man is literally my mission." Twilight counterclaimed. "And especially today out of all days..." 

        "Oh? Are you and the wife fighting?" fake captain spoke.

        "Don't worry, Twilight. I feel you, man." I groaned, really hoping that Yuri wasn't at home right now.

        I still need to get an anniversary present for Donnie's wife, and for Yuri too. I owe him after all me and Twilight did to him today... I thought, sighing as my work wasn't done just yet. 

        "I don't know if I'd call it a fight, exactly..." Twilight sighed. "Let's just say I'm having trouble reading her feelings."                

        "So that even happens to the lofty Twilight, huh?" Fake captain spoke. 

        "It sounds like Operation STRIX is still in danger. I'll accompany Twilight home to investigate the source of friction." Nightfall spoke.

        "What's wrong with you? Get to a hospital already!" Twilight scolded, then looked at me. "You too!" 

        "Yeah, I probably got brain damage or something." I huffed, touching my head as I still felt it ache. 

        "Yeah, he's right. Only way to help a martial squabble is to stay the hell out of it." Fake captain spoke.

        We finally got to Berlint and I finally remembered the motorcycle I left back at Shellbury. 

        Ah, damn it. Well, the police will find it sooner or later. I'll just walk around. I thought to myself. 

        I looked at the stores open at this time, not finding many, but I did find a makeup store. 

        I remember from Yor that there was this new makeup kit every girl was after, but it's so expensive, so I should just buy that (I have the money with the two jobs I'm holding).

        Right! I still have to send in a report of today's events to WISE, along with the information the SSS has received, I thought, letting out a groan as I walk into the makeup store and quickly bought the makeup kit. 

        I headed to a flower shop and got some red carnations for Carmen too, thinking about what I'll get Yuri. A first-aid kit seems like a good investment at the moment for him (and me).

        I decided to grab some flowers for Yuri too. I heard guys never receive flowers, and I could believe that with the era we live in. I did a quick trip to the store and got a big stuffed bear for him too, that way he knows it was from the heart. 

        I also made a quick trip to the doctors, having them patch up my nose and the back of my head (apparently I got hit so much the back of my head broke open, so I'll have to return to remove these staples). I also washed the blood off my face and hands there, finding the alley I left my clothes in thanks to my little cereal box. I changed clothes and got rid of my eye contacts, wearing my glasses (if you have them) once more. I made it back to the SSS headquarters seeing a very worried Donnie.

        "You're so late! I thought that you had to leave for an hour or two, not the whole day!" Donnie exclaimed.

        "The line for this damn product, I swear!" I huffed, lying to Donnie as I gave him the makeup kit and one of the bouquets. "It was expensive as hell so consider that an apology for how long it took. The demand is high for it."

        "Thanks! This means a lot! I clocked out for you too." Donnie smiled. "You need me to walk you home? It's very late." 

        "No thanks. Yuri's a jealous man." I laughed. 

        "You're right. Be safe! If you feel anyone's following you, just call me!" Donnie spoke.

        "You're a good man. Later!" I spoke, waving as I walked away with my bouquet and my teddy bear. 

        I finally made it back to my apartment, just about ready to burst into tears since I was so happy to be home. 

        Home? Can I call it that after all that's happened? I basically just committed domestic abuse today at work without Yuri even knowing of this! 

        I climbed up the apartment stairs and made it to mine and Yuri's apartment, knocking on the door since Yuri has the only key (it's a work in progress for Yuri to get me a key). Yuri opened the door with an angry expression before it faded once seeing me.

        "Hey, what happened to your nose and face?" Yuri questioned. "And why are you so late?"

        "I worked with Donnie today on listening to bugged rooms, then did this extremely long interrogation and the bastard landed a few punches!" I huffed, gritting my teeth.

        "Are you okay? You should really lay down." Yuri spoke. "And what's with the bear and flowers?"

        "For you." I mumbled, adverting my eyes. "Donnie told me about how today was his anniversary with his wife, and it made me realize we never had a honeymoon or anything, for our real or fake relationship... so... I wanted to give you something so...you know...I care..." I muttered. 

        Yuri smiled, walking towards me as he took my gifts and set it down. I looked up at him, confused on what he was doing. 

        "I don't need you to spend money on me for me to know you care. Just you being by my side is enough for me." Yuri spoke, raising his arm and patting my head. 

        I smiled, ignoring the tears welling up in my eyes as I gave him a hug, completely forgetting about his wounds.

        "Ow! Ow!" he exclaimed.

        "Oh! Sorry!" I spoke, about to let go before he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in further. 

        "No! The pain is worth it!" he spoke through tears as I laughed. "What are you crying for anyways?" he smiled.

        "Listen, been a long time since I've had genuine love directed towards me." I huffed. 

        "I'll make it my life-long mission to make sure you're always loved!" Yuri declared confidently. 

        "By the way, I won't be cooking tonight. Today's been so long with how that damn brat broke my nose and fractured my jaw." I huffed.

        "So your jaw is injured too?" Yuri sighed. "I picked up some store soup for me since it'll be a while for me to see solid foods; you can have some."

        "What happened?" I questioned.

        "It's a long story..." Yuri huffed, resting his head on top of mine.

        Earlier, he said that just me being by his side was enough, but, I'm not truly by his side in this case... am I?

        Yuri Briar, I'm terribly sorry, but I don't think I could ever be the perfect Mrs. Briar for you. I'm Vixen, the West Spy after all. I've never failed a mission yet and I doubt I'd fail this one too just because of some measly feelings I harbor.

        Parts: One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, current part, ten (to be continued when Spy x Family has more Yuri content!)

        Want more Yuri content? Yuri has his own masterlist now! Check it out!

        Have any requests? Check my masterlist to see the characters I write for: Masterlist (Please request, I have too much free time and too little fics).

        Hey! I need your help, my star! What do you wanna read for chapter 10? Help me decide on some new character’s personalities! Poll

[greenhorn-art]

Castles in the Sky by Shadaras @shadaras

Fandom: 全职高手 | The King's Avatar

Rating: General Audiences

Category: Gen

Relationships: Chu Yunxiu/Ye Xiu

Words: 36 613

Here are two truths and a lie: Chu Yunxiu is Misty Rain’s captain. Chu Yunxiu is dating Ye Qiu. Chu Yunxiu is happy to have the Shu twins on her team. Of course, a lie can become true if you believe in it enough… (A Chu Yunxiu character study.)

About the book:

FONTS: Alegreya [Google Fonts], Raleway [Google Fonts], Catchy Mager [purchased from MyFonts], Segoe UI Emoji

IMAGES: Clouds from Rawpixel (ID: 9581058); Misty Rain logo from The King's Avatar Wiki (stretched slightly horizontally and traced)

MATERIALS: Domtar Earthchoice multipurpose copy paper, cream, 11"x17" cut in half to form short-grained letter size paper; Recollections' Gilded Ink paper pad; Cialux bookcloth, black; heat transfer foil, gold; 2mm binder board; waxed linen thread, 30/3 size; wheat paste (this time I used 1:4 flour to water ratio, and heated until conditioner-like consistency. An improvement over last attempt.)

PROGRAMS USED: typeset in LibreOffice Writer; title page mocked-up in Procreate then designed in GIMP; imposed with Renegade's Community Imposer.

I spied this fic towards the top of the kudos and kept it in the back of my mind while trawling for more HanYe fics. Thought, well it's gotta be there for a reason so should be good! ooh look aroace queerplatonic relationship 👀👀 Definitely bumping up to top of Read Next!

The amazing thing I've found about The King's Avatar is that the CP possibilities are endless! The characters are both friends and rivals, there's respect and history and it all mixes and clashes creating more possibilities and chemistries than I've ever seen in a fandom before. The fact that AllYe is so popular (and not just in an NSFW way) is testament to it, and also, in part, what drew me to this fic. Asexual representation is scant, aromantic even more so — especially in fandom (in my experience of it at least).

If I were to add a tag to describe Castles in the Sky it would be 'heartwarming'. Shadaras' writing and characterization is wonderful, and I really enjoyed the both the story and the aroace representation. They took a character with relatively little content (in comparison to others in fandom. I have not read the source material) and gave her a voice, dreams, and made me really care about her. I was touched, and after finishing it I jumped to my laptop and set about turning it into a physical book.

So, onto the details.

The thing that stuck out and stayed with me the most about the story was the aroace aspect (Shadaras fed my smol aroace heart so well), so that's what I focused on design-wise.

The title page features a large black ring, referencing the black ring worn usually on the middle finger of the right hand as a symbol of asexuality. The colours of the asexual pride flag are also represented: the text is purple; the clouds colour the page in shades of white and grey; and the ring is black. For the endpapers/cover backing I chose paper that mixes green, purple, and blue: green for the aromantic pride flag; purple for the ace. I also found the green-blue mix of colours to be rather fitting, inspired by the description of Misty Rain's HQ with the "cool blues and greens of Misty Rain's walls" (chapter 5: Transformations). While I personally find CYX's relationship with YX significant, her relationship with her team is just as important.

When choosing which cover each endpaper goes on, I thought about how the story begins with CYX and YX's relationship, and about how after it's established we see her team and it's future at the forefront of her mind. Following that line of thought I put the paper with more purple on the front cover (purple for aroace CYX), and the more green-blue paper on the back (Misty Rain's colours).

The process of foiling the cover took me 3 hours (the length of the movie RRR — good movie actually, would recommend. Which is surprising because I usually find Oscar movies rather boring). The foiling was done with a heat pen. Three hours is not the norm: first, I had the foil backwards and foiled my template instead of the cover; then, my power banks kept dying, so I had to take charging breaks, and I also went over everything again just to make sure that I didn't miss a spot; and of course I was also watching a movie while working, so that ate up some time too.

I had initially planned to bind it as a casebound book, but I didn't have enough time to do it (I was about to go on vacation and wanted to read the book in my downtime). Instead, I did a Coptic binding. The covers were pulled from the press and foiled leaving me 5 hours of sleep to spare.

I went simple on the outer covers to contrast the fun paper on the inside of the covers. I used black Cialux bookcloth instead of my green-blue 'petrol' Iris bookcloth for the contrast, and because it picks up the black from the title page. The text foiled onto the cover is a simple sans serif (Raleway, the same as used inside), and the image is Misty Rain's logo from the donghua. (Image came from The King's Avatar Wiki. It was stretched slightly horizontally because it seemed a bit squished compared to other versions seen on Google, and then traced). Using the colourful paper inside was a practical choice: I couldn't get two covers out of one sheet of paper, but one sheet would do the inner covers with some material leftover.

The sewing and construction of the book was done while camping — I'd packed up what I needed and brought it with me: the signatures (folded and punched); the finished covers; thread; a needle; and an awl. As for the actual sewing, it's supposed to be Coptic but don't look too closely. This was the second time I've tried Coptic stitching and I didn't have any instructions with me. (My first Coptic binding was a thin 2-signature notebook I did a few weeks ago. It was for taking notes at the event I was at, Pennsic War 50).

Book is primarily set in Alegreya. It's currently my favourite body font, and has a matching sans serif family. The fonts used in the title page are Raleway and Catchy Mager. Raleway is also used for titles, headings, etc. Segoe UI Emoji was used for any emojis that cropped up throughout the text (Pretty sure they're the same emojis as seen while reading on my phone and laptop). Catchy Mager was purchased from MyFont. (The first and only font I have ever bought, but I saw it used in a fic's title art and fell in love.)

Lastly, onto The Comedy of Errors, or: When-You-Finally-See-All-the-Typos-and-Mistakes-Once-You're-Done-and-Can-Only-Laugh-While-You-Cry-Inside.

Appendix's footer says 'Epilogue', so I must have missed something with the paragraph style for the Appendix heading.

Forgot about using Segoe UI Emoji font and did not include it in the About the Book.

Missed fixing the archive info for gnomen in the Author's Notes — the copy/paste of metadata into Notebook to remove formatting also removed the commas and spaces between tags.

Because I hadn't planned cover materials/design before printing, there isn't a section for that in the About the Book. Also the reason why the artwork on the cover is not credited in it, as I had not planned to use it.

[bluepoodle7]

#MoshiMonsters#SetOfTwoMoshiMonstersLuvliTheFlyingCherryAnd DiavloNoHangTagPlushies#MonsterPlushies#ComputerGamePlushies#WingedCherryPlush#DevilPlush #Plushies #PlushPals

These are a set of two Moshi Monsters Luvli the Flying Cherry and Diavlo No Hang Tag Plushies.

These are a very cute while interesting set of monster plushies.

I remember seeing ads for these monsters but never really got into Moshi Monsters since young me was more into Neopets.

I know my favorites design wise is Fifi the poodle one, Katsuma, and Zommer the zombie one.

The Moshi Monster's plushies had wear, lint, wear on the eyes, both plushies both still has their clear plastic hang tag danglers on the right wing of the cherry plush and on the right side of the Diavlo plush, and strings loose.

IThe Moshi Monsters Luvli the Flying Cherry and Diavlo No Hang Tag Plushies does have a tush tags but not hang tags.

I didn't have the original packing that came with these plushies.

 The Moshi Monsters Luvli the Flying Cherry plush is 7 inches from the top of the head to the foot and 11 inches from the top of the stem to the foot.

The Diavlo plush is 6 inches from the top of the head to the foot and 8 inches from the top of the head to the tail tip when stretched.

The front of the tush tag on the  Moshi Monster Luvil the Flying Cherry Plush says 6+ Years. Moshi monstersTM. SPIN MASTER LTD. Spin Master logo&©2011Spin Master Ltd. All rights reserved. Distributed under license from Vivid Imaginations Ltd. Moshi MonstersTM&©Mind Candy Ltd. ViViD © 2011 VTG Ltd. SPIN MASTER. 

The back of the tush tag on the Moshi Monster Luvil the Flying Cherry Plush says ALL NEW MATERIALS. Contents: Polyester Fiber. Hand wash and line dry. MADE IN CHINA. LuvliTM. 

The front of the tush tag on the  Moshi Monster Diavlo Plush says 6+ Years. Moshi monstersTM. SPIN MASTER LTD. Spin Master logo&©2011Spin Master Ltd. All rights reserved. Distributed under license from Vivid Imaginations Ltd. Moshi MonstersTM&©Mind Candy Ltd. ViViD © 2010 VTG Ltd. SPIN MASTER. 

The back of the tush tag on the Moshi Monster Diavlo Plush says This article contains. NEW MATERIAL ONLY. Contents: Polyester Fiber. Surface wipe only. MADE IN CHINA. DiavloTM. 

The  Luvli the Flying Cherry and the Diavlo plushies both have their tush tags but not the hang tags.

The Luvli the Flying Cherry plush has stuffing in the body area where the face is, the cherry stem, and the feet.

This Luvli the Flying Cherry plush doesn't have stuffing in the wings and the legs area.

The Diavlo plush has stuffing in the body area where the face is, the arms with the hands, the horns, the tail, and the feet.

This Diavlo plush plush doesn't have stuffing in the top of the head spikes on head, the wings, and the leg area that is connected to the foot that has stuffing in it foot area.

There isn't any beans or pellets in both of these plushies and are soft but also firm in texture without and beans or pellets.

Set of two Moshi Monsters Luvli the flying cherry and Diavlo plushies can wear the Build A Bear toy glasses but can't wear the Hobby Lobby toy glasses due to them being too small for the plushies faces.

The Luvli the flying cherry plush with the Build A Bear toy glasses needs to be put in a certain way so the toy glasses won't fall off the plush's face due to the lack of ears on this plush while the Diavlo plush can easily wear the Build A Bear toy glasses even without ears.

I sold these plushies.

[haggishlyhagging]

Apollo and Poseidon both tried to take Hestia's virginity, her one-in-herself intactness. Rather than succumbing to their desires, however, she swore an oath of eternal chastity. What Hestia resisted by rejecting Apollo and Poseidon is metaphorically significant, corresponding to the intellectual and emotional forces that can pull a woman away from her center.

Hestia represents the Self, an intuitively known spiritual center of a woman's personality that gives meaning to her life. This Hestian centeredness may be invalidated if she "gives in to Apollo." Apollo was God of the Sun, and Apollonian has become equated with logos, the intellectual life, the primacy of logic and reasoning. If Apollo persuades a woman to give up her Hestian virginity, she will subject her inner, intuitively felt experience to the scrutiny of scientific inquiry. What she feels but cannot express in words is thus invalidated; what she knows as an inner wise woman is thus discounted unless it is supported by hard evidence. When “male” scientific skepticism is allowed to penetrate spiritual experience and to demand "proof," the invasion invariably violates a woman's sense of intactness and meaning.

Alternately, if a Hestia woman is "carried away by Poseidon," she is being overwhelmed by the God of the Sea. Poseidon represents the danger of being flooded by oceanic feelings or by contents that well up from the unconscious. When this flood threatens her, she may dream that a huge wave is bearing down on her. In waking life, preoccupation with an emotional situation may keep her from feeling centered. If the turmoil leads to depression, Poseidon's watery influence can temporarily "put out the fire at the center of Hestia's hearth."

When threatened by either Apollo or Poseidon, a Hestia woman needs to seek her one-in-herselfness in solitude. In quiet tranquility, she can once again intuitively find her way back to center.

-Jean Shinoda Bolen, Goddesses in Everywoman

[jeanie-g]

nicojack 12 or 31 🥺🥺🥺

sorry for the delay! but i didn't forget about you 🫶 kinda took liberties w the prompt BUT i had a lot of fun w it. also it kinda evolved past the bullet format lol. hope you like it!!

#12. "You can't tell anyone. Seriously. Even them."

Nico always loved summer camp. It's a place away from his parents (whom he loves, sure, but could be just a bit stifling), where he can make friends with other boys his age, and do manly things like camping and kayaking and peeing outdoors (the counselors always yelled at them for doing that last one, but a dare's a dare).

And this year, Nico's finally 12, which means he's finally graduated from the Mighty Mooseheads to the Daring Devils cabin. He knows it's just a title, that both cabins are pretty much the same size-wise and everything, but it's the principle: he's basically a man now. Hear him roar, or whatever devils do.

What nobody told Nico, though, is that among the four usual suspects of his bunk mates—Jonas, Akira, Timo, and Jesper—there's a new kid—one who's two years younger than the rest of them. Something about the camp overbooking and maxing out the Moosehead cabin, and the Devils one being the only building with an extra bed, but Nico doesn't care about logistics.

Whoever this kid is, he can't just up the ranks without paying his dues. Nico played by the rules; he served his nickel as a Moosehead—it's not fair that this kid gets to waltz in and just skip all that. He's 10, for Pete's sake! He's basically a toddler.

So, Nico doesn't hide his distaste when he walks through the door and spots a short boy with cropped brown hair arranging his stuff all over one of the beds by the windows. Nico smirks, an idea popping into his head.

"Hey," Nico says, and the boy nearly jumps right out of his skin.

He turns around, big, blue eyes bugging out in surprise. "Oh, hi."

"That's my bed," Nico states plainly, and it isn't—they can only claim beds when they get there, but the boy doesn't know that.

"Oh," he sputters, eyes bugging out further. "I'm sorry, I didn't see a name."

The boy starts to gather his things—a small knapsack bulging with contents, his pillow, and a blanket with some sports team logo splayed all over it—and in his haste, drops them all on the floor. He bends over to pick them up, muttering under his breath, and suddenly Nico feels a pang of guilt.

Memories pop up from several years ago, when the Devils at the time used to make fun of Nico and his friends—the time they stole a postcard mailed from his sister in Switzerland and tossed it right into the campfire, and Nico had to hold back his tears.

"Wait," Nico says before he can stop himself. "It's okay. You can have it."

"Really? Are you sure?" The boy asks. He sounds like he's begging for pennies in front of a rich man, and that makes Nico feel queasy. He doesn't have to like the kid, but he doesn't have to be cruel.

"Yeah. 'Course. Consider it a housewarming gift."

The boy flushes. "Thanks."

Nico picks the bed diagonal from the window, flopping onto it. The springs creak with age, and it fills Nico with nostalgia.

"I'm Nico," he announces, looking up at the ceiling. When he hears no reply, he sits up, leaning on his elbows. "This is the part where you say your name."

"Oh, right." The boy flushes deeper, if that's even possible. Nico distantly wonders how easily he sunburns.

"I'm Jack," he says. "I'm, uh, new. Obviously."

"Obviously," Nico parrots, but he offers a small smile.

Jack's shoulders relax ever so slightly as he smiles back. It's a nice smile, Nico notes. Friendly, and maybe he's not so bad after all.

⋆｡°✩

It's hard not to observe Jack over the first few days of camp. They're bunkmates, after all. Jack's an early riser, which is immediately at odds with the rest of the cabin, who are all night owls to their cores. Still, he's quiet as he moves about, always careful not to wake anyone up, which is smart.

But aside from their first conversation, Jack rarely talks. He's not trying too hard to make any friends, that's for sure, which Nico finds sort of counterproductive. They're at camp—it's the whole point to make friends. He sits alone in the mess hall, keeps to himself before bed or at group activities, and when they have downtime—instead of horsing around by the lake or sneaking into the kitchen to find the counselor's reserve of cookies—he's always reading.

And it's not anything cool like Ripley's Believe it or Not or Goosebumps. They're all these hockey books. Nico swears that's what took up that knapsack—all those books. Hockey's not even a cool sport, like baseball or soccer. One, they do it in the winter (and Nico hates the cold), and two, they do it on skates. There's nothing girlier than skating—well, maybe gymnastics.

But whatever. Jack's not bothering him, so he won't bother Jack, even if he does read girl books.

But there's only so long he can ignore him.

⋆｡°✩

It's a normal afternoon, two weeks into camp. Timo's doing that thing with the orange slice in his mouth that never gets old, when suddenly a voice rises up a few tables away.

"And what do you think you're doing, pipsqueak?"

And Nico'd recognize that voice from anywhere. He's one of the former Devils (now Brave Bears) who went after him and his friends. It's Taylor Hall, who was Nico's idol in his first year at camp. Too bad he's a prick.

Nico turns his head towards his voice, and his eyes grow when he sees Taylor crowding around Jack, who's holding out his meal tray in front of him, looking absolutely terrified.

"I'm—I'm sorry," Jack stutters, and it's then that Nico sees the turned over milk carton and the small stain on Taylor's shirt. They must have collided.

"This was my favorite shirt!" Taylor cries incredulously, obviously playing on Jack's fear and hamming it up for his audience.

And it works, as more and more heads turn towards the scene, and the chatter minimizes around them.

"I—I can get you a new one!" Jack tries, and a few tables laugh. Nico's eyebrows pinch, something unpleasant roiling in his stomach.

"I have a better idea," Taylor says, plucking the bowl of rice pudding off of Jack's tray, that sludge that the mess hall workers always put on their trays even though it tastes like sweaty socks. No one even eats it—everyone usually just puts it on their hands and waves them around to gross out the little kids—and Nico's eyes go wide.

He knows exactly what Taylor's going to do. He did the same thing to Akira years ago when he accidentally closed a door in Taylor's face. He was picking rice from his hair for days afterward.

Nico doesn't quite know where it comes from, but suddenly he's standing and shouting "Hey!" All the heads turn to him now. "Leave him alone!"

Taylor and Jack's heads turn last, and Nico feels their eyes on him like a spotlight.

Taylor's grin widens. "Oh, isn't it little Nico Hischier? Come to save your boyfriend, are you?"

Half the room snickers, and Nico flushes scarlet. He plows on.

"No, actually I wanted to join you."

Jack's face screws up in confusion and hurt, but Nico's got a plan.

Taylor laughs. "Really?"

Nico nods. "Yeah. We're bunkmates, and he's always waking us up for stupid stuff like Colors. It's time he got a little payback."

Jack quirks an eyebrow; they both know that's not true. Nico flashes him a quick look, and realization blooms on his face.

Taylor considers him for a moment, and then smirks. "Huh. Maybe you're less of a fairy than I thought you were." He holds up the bowl of pudding. "Care to do the honors?"

"Nico, what are you doing?!" Jesper whispers beside him, but Nico ignores him.

"I'd love to."

Nico slowly approaches and accepts the bowl of pudding. He holds it above Jack's head, but then he looks at Taylor.

"You know, it never felt like an insult when you called me a fairy or a nitwit, because you're the biggest airhead of all."

And in a flash, he throws the contents of the bowl in Taylor's face, and the mess hall lights up with raucous clamoring and laughter.

Taylor's face heats up like a tomato even under all the muck. Nico hears Jack let out a surprised laugh, and he realizes it's the first time he's ever heard him laugh. Nico turns to him and winks, and Jack smiles, confused but relieved and a little bit impressed.

"HISCHIER, YOU LITTLE—" Taylor roars, and Nico knows it's time to split. He grabs Jack's tray and drops it on a nearby table. Then he takes his hand and rushes him out of the mess hall, the cheering of half the tables acting like an orchestra as they push open the doors and run into the sunlight.

⋆｡°✩

Things change after that. And maybe it's because after the altercation in the mess hall, Nico sees a tiny bit of himself in Jack, or maybe he has a good streak he's not even aware of.

Anyways, Nico starts to go out of his way to talk to him or pair up for sports with him or eat meals with him, and Jack starts to open up in a way Nico didn't allow him before. And as they talk, Nico sees a whole new side to him. He's hilarious, first off, and wicked smart—probably because of all the books he reads. He's also obsessed with hockey, which Nico learns is a lot less girlish than he presumed. He had no idea, for one, that fighting wasn't just allowed, but encouraged! You can't do that in baseball.

Jack is easy to talk to, not like anyone Nico's ever been friends with. And he loves the boys, but they're just not like Jack. He pays attention; he observes, and though he's smart, he can still be pretty stupid—like the time he thought that if it was cloudy outside, you can still get sunburnt. He's also insanely competitive, if their intense games of Uno are anything to go by. The kid can be downright harsh if you cross him the wrong way.

Jack's also kind. He lets Nico go on and on with stories from home—how much he misses Switzerland ever since he moved to the States—smiling as Nico recounts the food and landscape. Jack's a great listener, and he remembers the things Nico tells him—even little things like his favorite color or ice cream flavor (purple and strawberry). He's a morning person, as aforementioned, which means he's basically useless once the clock hits 8pm. His favorite meal is pasta bolognese and his favorite movie is Air Bud, and he has two siblings, just like Nico does, except Jack's the middle child and Nico's the youngest.

The bottom line is, Nico loves being with Jack. Talking to him, listening to his stories, pranking the other boys in the cabin with him. They're very different, certainly—but on some basic level, they're the same. Curious young boys determined to find their place in this big, confusing world that seems to have had it out for them from the get-go.

⋆｡°✩

As the days and weeks go by, they find themselves staying up into the late hours of the night, giggling and being hushed by the other boys when they get too loud. (Nico's now conditioned him to stay up past ten.)

It's one of these nights where Nico realizes something.

"You know, I've never had a best friend before," he confides.

The both of them are eating Nutty Buddies under the covers of Jack's bed, flashlight sitting between them to illuminate their faces. They're alone in the cabin—the other boys out making s'mores with the counselors still—but there's something still nice in pitching a private little cave.

"Really?" Jack asks.

Nico shakes his head. "Nope. I have friends, of course, but I don't think I've ever had a best one."

Jack looks down, suddenly shy. "I don't have many friends back home. I mean, I try to make friends with the boys on my team, but they all pick on me because I'm too small to play hockey."

Something ugly settles in Nico's stomach at that. How many Taylors has Jack had to deal with?

Jack wipes his hand under his nose. "But I love playing. I just hope one day I get to prove them all wrong."

"How?"

Jack smiles, eyes lighting up. "Going 1st overall at the NHL Draft."

Nico frowns. "I...don't know what that means."

He's afraid he's going to hurt Jack's feelings, but then he does something unexpected: he laughs. He holds his stomach as he falls backwards on the bed, pulling the sheet with him.

"Hey!" Nico cries, but just as he's about to yank the sheet back over his head, his eye catches on something tucked under Jack's pillow.

"What's this?" He asks, already reaching for it.

"Huh?" Jack sounds from under the covers. And then, "Wait!"

But Nico's already tugging on the mystery object and dropping it in his lap, and it's—

"A stuffed penguin?" Nico lets out a joyous laugh as Jack untangles himself from the covers. "You still sleep with a stuffed animal? That's so—"

Nico smile drops the second he sees Jack's face. Even in the low light of the cabin, he can see the embarrassment on it, the shame. That ugly feeling in his stomach rears up again, except now it's aimed at himself.

"Cool," he quickly amends, turning the penguin around in his hands. "Penguins are cool."

Jack doesn't buy it, face screwing up in pestilence. "You can quit it, Nico. I know it's a baby thing."

"No it's not!" he cries, even though it very much is. "I have a stuffed dog at home; his name is Barkley."

Jack crosses his arms. "Yeah? And you still sleep with him?"

Nico smacks his lips. "Well, no. My mom actually sold him in a garage sale. But that's not the point!"

"Then what is the point?" Jack huffs.

"Just because you like kid things doesn't mean you're all kid."

"What does that even mean?"

Nico sighs. "It means... I don't care about all that when it's you."

And when Nico says it, he finds it's really true. If it was any other kid, he'd probably be running for the hills to go tattle on him, but there's something about Jack that makes him want to stay right here. Maybe that's what that feeling in the mess hall was. He wants to protect him.

"Really?" Jack asks, expression filled with hope.

"Yeah," Nico says, offering a smile.

A twig breaks outside, disrupting the moment.

"I've gotta hide him before the others come back," Jack says.

"The guys?"

"Yeah. I'll never hear the end of it." He looks at Nico with a spooky kind of seriousness. "You can't tell anyone," He warns. "Seriously. Even them. No—especially them."

Jack visibly shivers at the thought, and yeah, Nico can't argue with him there. He's never been the best at keeping things close to his chest—intentionally or not—but with Jack, he'll try his darnedest.

Nico holds up his pinky. "Your secret's safe with me."

Jack lets out a relieved breath, and twists his pinky around Nico's.

When they pull away, Nico picks the penguin back up and turns it over in his hands. "So, what's his name?"

Jack goes pink. "Sidney Crosby."

"Who's that?"

"He's...my favorite hockey player," he starts out nervously. "He's the captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins." As he continues, though, his excitement ramps up. "Me and my brothers—we met him once actually, after a game. I got a signed stick and everything—the one he used to score his hat trick! It was totally awesome."

Nico understood maybe 40% of any of what that meant, but he nods along like he does. Jack might as well be speaking Greek, but Nico can't hold back his smile at seeing the way Jack lights up like a Christmas tree talking about pucks and goals and stuff.

Jack eventually tires himself out, and he glances down at his digital watch. "We should probably go to sleep soon, huh?"

"Probably."

Nico hands Sidney Crosby over to Jack and climbs out of his bed.

"I'll see you in the morning then?" Jack asks, and Nico nods.

Except when he stands, Nico doesn't move to get back in his bed. He's suddenly so nervous, which is just crazy. Talk about the shoe on the other foot, or whatever.

"Are you okay?" Jack asks, and Nico says it before he can psych himself out.

"Do you wanna be my best friend?"

Surprise flickers across Jack's features for a couple of seconds before settling into a smile—one that reaches his whole face.

"Yeah. Do you wanna be mine?"

"Yeah," Nico replies. "I do."

"It's settled then."

Nico meets his smile, feeling that uncomfortable twinge in his stomach finally settle. He thinks back to when he first met Jack, timid and wide-eyed. He looks at him now, warm and smiley, swaddled in his blankets, penguin in his arms.

His best friend.

And yeah, whatever that backend error was that plopped Jack into the Devils cabin...

Nico's grateful for it.

[39oa]

Talk Hockey To Me

tagged by beloved @txstars T__T <3 thank uuu as always

1. The thing that got you hooked on hockey

it's hard to pinpoint one moment because i honestly genuinely believe that it's the best sport in the world just in terms of pure mechanics and objective viewing enjoyment and live crowd atmosphere so it's easy to get hooked once you actually watch it... i've been on and off with hockey fandom itself and took a few years away from tumblr until recently but i'd say it was a mix of just watching games + discovering fandom spaces on tumblr/reading fic on ao3 + having a decent home team at the time + canadian tax etc.

2. Your first ever fandom friend

ngl i think most of the people i first met in hockey fandom eventually moved onto bts (or k-pop in general) lmfaooo but i met @regularseason when i was in 11th grade making connor mcdavid gifsets and now i am somehow 25 years old. we have seen so much on this vast internet together ❤️ 

3. The jersey you would most like to own

MOOTERUS BROS RISE UP ☝️🐮  absolutely my favorite jersey of all time i genuinely don't think any other design comes close. i also really love the stars rr 2.0 but i finally bit the bullet and bought it so that's out... another top contender would be sabres goathead 🐐 and maybe mighty ducks era pkariya, also i think the sharks rr 2.0 with the spin on the seals logo is sooo cute and i love the og sharks logo designed by terry smith as well... specifically the classic late 90s teal jersey. and my fav regular home jersey of current teams is the kraken :')

i have way too many opinions on jerseys honestly. if i could pick some from my warmup jersey database then i lovelovelove the habs 2023 bhm and pride designs (i have apparel for both of these...), the leafs indigenous celebration design, and the kraken women in hockey design. gorgeous girls!!!!!

4. YOUR player (you only get ONE so choose wisely)

:saluting_face: there is only one guy for me... jr21! (real talk like a big part of why i got into the stars and came back to sports tumblr was because of him despite having 0 geographical ties to texas LOL. admittedly there was some superficiality involved at first in seeing an asian guy achieve top-line star status against the restrictive pains of bones hockey but then i was like oh your game is actually efficient and understated as hell? and it kind of spiraled out from there. my favorite deceptively abnormal "boring" guy!!!)

5. A pairing that deserves more fic

i will echo 2124 💚 but i am part of the problem for having 4 partial aus in one doc and not actually writing anything of substance for them... otherwise there are a ton of rarepairs i could argue in favor of but i feel like i'd sound insane. where is the otter/woll boston goaliefic... where is mitch/nrob with robo being vaguely horrified but trying to be supportive of his brother's poor decision making skills. where is my sabresfic and kidsline shenanigans in general......... also if we're going back to the stars then 2141 honestly have so much untapped potential wrt Why Are You Both So Weird Can You Please [Redacted] About It. but you get the gist i'm sure!!!

6. Your favourite on-ice moment

my memory does NOT go that far back. whatever is the most embarrassing thing to have ever happened to some guy i hate is good enough for me

THEN

link someone else's art/fic/etc that you love & think everyone should check out

immediately the first thing that came to mind is that i still think zoe's 2129 primer is one of the most fantastic and comprehensive labors of love this fandom has ever seen... truly one of the major backbones of starsblr. honestly despite hockey fandom not being quite what it used to be on here i think there are sooo so many great creators making stars content and i am immensely grateful to all the gifmakers + artists + writers who constantly feed me no matter what time of year it is!!! i'm kind of shy but you know who you are... TT__TT

AND

link something you made & are proud of & want people to see

\o/ i desperately do not like any of the things i make and i am already grateful to the people who have looked at my measly creations before so thank you!

tagging @regularseason @iamidentical @pupuhintz @slagkovsky @supersoftsports... apologies if you've already been tagged and no pressure as always but pls feel free to if you'd like ❤️

[wewillryesagain]

6,8,12,21 for the artist ask?

Thanks for the ask!

6. Do you have any OCs without stories? Will you ever create one for them?

I don’t have many OCs that don’t have a story but another OC that I don’t have much going on for right now is one of my other Red Dead: Online OCs Effie, and I'm sure I'll eventually figure out a story for her!

8. Do you have any OC family trees?

Yes! I have a few! I can’t post any photos at the moment because they’re all deep in my tablet somewhere but I have a shared one for my Red Dead: Online OCs and a couple other more complex ones, one coming to mind is my Elden Ring OCs family trees and how hard it was trying to figure out where everyone fit alongside filling in the backstory for my other Elden Ring OCs in the process. 

12. Which story took the most research?

I think all the stuff I’ve made for Far Cry 5 both writing and art wise has definitely taken the most research. I’ve been making content since the game came out so I can’t count the amount of times I’d go back into the game to research what logos look like, environments, buildings, clothing. I also would research content using the arcade mode to build out my own environments like when I made an entire 3 part compound a couple years back for my Hellhound cultist OC and my friend’s Hellhound cultist OCs as well and how much I had to go back and forth in game and in arcade to make it as realistic as possible while still making it seem like it was a natural environment that could take place in the game organically. I have a video of it floating around on my macbook somewhere but never got around to posting it here. So lots of research over the years for all my Far Cry OCs and their stories/art and probably a ton more for the future! 

21. When did you start considering yourself a writer/artist?

I think the first time I started considering myself an artist was when I was 13/14 when I started out with paper and pencil, But I’d say now it’s really starting to hit me as an adult what that role really means to me since I’ve been starting my portfolio and growing as an artist. 

[naina10]

Maximizing Your Reach: How to Promote Your Instagram Business Page

Instagram has become one of the most powerful platforms for businesses to reach their target audience, build brand awareness, and drive sales. With over a billion active users, promoting your Instagram business page effectively is key to standing out in a crowded digital space. If you're looking to grow your business on Instagram, here are some essential strategies to boost your visibility and engagement.

1. Optimize Your Profile

Your Instagram business page is your digital storefront, so it’s crucial to make a strong first impression. Ensure that your profile picture is clear and represents your brand, whether it's your logo or a product image. Use a concise and compelling bio that clearly explains what your business does and what value it offers to followers. Don’t forget to add a link to your website or a landing page to direct traffic where it matters most.

2. Consistent, High-Quality Content

Consistency is key when it comes to posting content on Instagram. You should aim to post regularly, but don’t sacrifice quality for quantity. Share a mix of content types, such as photos, videos, carousels, and Instagram Stories, to keep your followers engaged. High-quality visuals that align with your brand's aesthetic and message will help you stand out and encourage people to share your content.

3. Utilize Hashtags Wisely

Hashtags are one of the easiest ways to increase your Instagram discoverability. Use a combination of popular, niche, and branded hashtags to reach different audiences. Research hashtags relevant to your industry, and create a branded hashtag unique to your business. Including the right hashtags can help users who are interested in your products or services find your posts more easily.

4. Engage With Your Audience

Engagement is a two-way street on Instagram. Interacting with your followers not only strengthens your relationship with them but also boosts your visibility on the platform. Respond to comments, like and comment on other posts, and share user-generated content. Encourage your followers to engage with your posts by asking questions or running contests and giveaways.

5. Leverage Instagram Ads

If you have the budget, Instagram ads are a great way to promote your business page to a wider audience. Instagram offers various ad formats, including photo, video, carousel, and story ads, all of which can help you reach a specific target audience based on demographics, interests, and behaviors. Running targeted ads can increase brand awareness, drive traffic to your website, and generate leads.

6. Collaborate with Influencers

Partnering with influencers is an effective way to expand your reach and gain credibility. By collaborating with influencers in your niche, you can tap into their established audience and promote your products or services. Look for influencers whose values align with your brand, and approach them for partnerships that can benefit both parties. Whether it’s through product reviews, sponsored posts, or takeovers, influencer collaborations are an excellent strategy for business growth.

7. Run Instagram Contests and Giveaways

Contests and giveaways are great tools for engaging with your audience and attracting new followers. You can encourage users to follow your account, tag friends, or share your posts in exchange for a chance to win a prize. This not only promotes your business page but also spreads awareness through word-of-mouth and user-generated content.

8. Analyze Your Insights

Instagram provides a variety of analytics tools to track the performance of your posts, stories, and ads. By regularly analyzing your insights, you can identify what’s working and what’s not. Look for patterns in the types of content that perform well, the times your followers are most active, and which demographics are engaging with your posts. This information can help you refine your strategy and create more targeted content.

9. Use Instagram Stories and Reels

Instagram Stories and Reels are some of the most engaging features on the platform. Stories allow you to post content that disappears after 24 hours, creating a sense of urgency and exclusivity. Reels, on the other hand, are short, entertaining videos that can be shared with a wider audience. Both formats are great for showcasing behind-the-scenes content, promotions, tutorials, or product launches.

10. Partner with Other Brands

Cross-promotion with other brands can help you expand your reach and increase visibility for your Instagram business page. Find brands that complement your products or services but are not direct competitors. By co-hosting events, running joint giveaways, or collaborating on content, you can introduce your business to a whole new audience.

Conclusion

Promoting your Instagram business page requires a mix of creativity, strategy, and consistency. By optimizing your profile, creating engaging content, interacting with your audience, and leveraging Instagram’s features, you can build a loyal following and turn your Instagram page into a powerful marketing tool. If you're wondering how to promote your Instagram business page, the key is to stay authentic, engage consistently, and use the right tools to reach your ideal customers.

[bharathfranc]

Franchise Marketing Strategies: Promoting and Growing Your Franchise Business

Marketing plays a crucial role in the success of any business, and franchising is no exception. As a franchisee, it’s essential to implement effective marketing strategies to promote and grow your franchise business. In this blog post, we will explore key franchise marketing strategies that can help you increase brand visibility, attract customers, and drive business growth. Let’s dive in!

Establish a Strong Brand Identity: Developing a strong brand identity is vital for franchise success. Ensure consistency in your branding elements such as logos, colors, and messaging across all marketing channels. Create a unique selling proposition (USP) that sets your franchise apart from competitors and resonates with your target audience. A strong brand identity builds trust, recognition, and customer loyalty.

Localized Marketing: Tailor your marketing efforts to the local market where your franchise operates. Conduct market research to understand the preferences, needs, and demographics of your target audience. Utilize localized advertising, community engagement, and partnerships with local businesses to establish a strong presence. This approach helps you connect with the local community and build a loyal customer base.

Digital Marketing: Embrace the power of digital marketing to reach a wider audience and drive online visibility. Develop a user-friendly website optimized for search engines and mobile devices. Implement search engine optimization (SEO) strategies to improve your website’s ranking in search results. Leverage social media platforms, email marketing, content marketing, and online advertising to engage with customers and generate leads.

Online Reviews and Reputation Management: Online reviews and reputation management are crucial for franchise success. Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on platforms such as Google My Business and industry-specific review sites. Respond promptly and professionally to both positive and negative reviews, showing that you value customer feedback and are committed to providing exceptional service.

Franchisee Collaboration and Best Practices: Tap into the power of collaboration among franchisees within the same brand. Share success stories, marketing ideas, and best practices through franchisee networks or forums. Collaborate on joint marketing campaigns or events to leverage collective resources and increase brand exposure. Learning from other successful franchisees can inspire new marketing strategies and foster growth.

Data Analytics and Measurement: Implement data analytics tools to track and measure the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. Analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) such as website traffic, lead generation, conversion rates, and customer acquisition costs. Use these insights to optimize your marketing strategies, allocate resources effectively, and make data-driven decisions for continuous improvement.

Effective franchise marketing strategies are vital for promoting and growing your franchise business. By establishing a strong brand identity, utilizing localized marketing, embracing digital channels, managing online reviews, fostering franchisee collaboration, and leveraging data analytics, you can attract customers, build brand loyalty, and drive business growth. Remember, consistent marketing efforts and adapting to evolving consumer trends are key to staying competitive in the franchising industry. Implement these strategies wisely and watch your franchise business thrive.

Call us at 9894667327 for offline and Online Marketing Support.

[jackmasonincandco]

Jack Mason Inc & Co -How to make Real Estate Business Successful

Making a real estate business successful involves a combination of strategic planning, market knowledge, customer focus, and continuous improvement. Here are some key steps shared by Jack Mason Inc & Co to consider:

1. Understand the Market

Research Local Markets: Know the trends, property values, and demand in specific areas.

Identify Niche Markets: Focus on a niche, such as luxury homes, commercial properties, or rental management.

Stay Updated: Regularly monitor market changes, economic indicators, and real estate laws.

2. Build a Strong Brand

Create a Professional Image: Invest in a quality logo, website, and marketing materials.

Develop a Unique Selling Proposition (USP): What makes your business different from competitors?

Leverage Social Media: Use platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn to showcase properties and engage with clients.

3. Offer Exceptional Customer Service

Understand Client Needs: Listen carefully to what your clients are looking for and tailor your services accordingly.

Build Relationships: Focus on long-term relationships, not just quick transactions.

Follow Up: After a deal, continue to check in with clients to maintain the relationship.

4. Network and Collaborate

Connect with Other Professionals: Build relationships with mortgage brokers, lawyers, contractors, and other real estate agents.

Attend Industry Events: Participate in real estate conferences, seminars, and local networking events.

Join Real Estate Associations: Being part of professional organizations can provide valuable resources and connections.

5. Invest in Technology

Use Real Estate Software: Tools like CRM systems, virtual tours, and digital signing platforms can streamline your operations.

Optimize Online Presence: Ensure your website is SEO-friendly and mobile-optimized.

Leverage Data Analytics: Use data to make informed decisions on property investments and marketing strategies.

6. Focus on Marketing and Lead Generation

Create Quality Content: Regularly post blogs, videos, and newsletters that provide value to potential clients.

Use Paid Advertising: Consider online ads through Google, Facebook, or real estate platforms to reach targeted audiences.

Referral Programs: Encourage satisfied clients to refer others by offering incentives.

7. Continuously Improve Your Skills

Stay Educated: Regularly take courses on real estate trends, marketing, negotiation, and legal aspects.

Seek Feedback: Ask clients for feedback and use it to improve your services.

Adapt to Changes: Be flexible and ready to adjust your strategies based on market shifts.

8. Manage Finances Wisely

Budgeting and Planning: Create a detailed business plan with financial projections.

Diversify Investments: Don’t rely solely on one type of property or market.

Keep Costs in Check: Regularly review expenses and find ways to reduce costs without sacrificing quality.

9. Legal Compliance and Risk Management

Understand Regulations: Stay informed about local, state, and national real estate laws.

Hire a Lawyer: Work with a legal expert to ensure all transactions and contracts are legally sound.

Insurance: Protect your business with appropriate insurance coverage, including liability and property insurance.

10. Provide Value-Added Services

Offer Consulting Services: Provide clients with additional advice on renovations, market timing, or investment strategies.

Property Management: Consider offering property management services to create a recurring revenue stream.

Staging and Photography: Offer professional staging and photography to help clients sell their properties faster.

11. Monitor and Measure Success

Track KPIs: Monitor key performance indicators like sales volume, client acquisition costs, and customer satisfaction.

Analyze Results: Regularly review what’s working and what’s not, and adjust your strategies accordingly.

Celebrate Milestones: Recognize and celebrate your successes, both big and small.

By following these steps and maintaining a proactive, customer-focused approach, you can build a successful and sustainable real estate business.

Follow Jack Mason Inc & Co for more such updates!

[technifytechnologies]

How to Create QR Codes for Free with Quick Code

In today’s digital age, QR codes are more than just a trendy gimmick; they are a practical tool that bridges the gap between physical and digital content. Whether you’re a business owner, marketer, or just someone who wants to streamline sharing information, creating QR codes can be incredibly beneficial. And the best part? You can create them for free using Quick Code. In this post, we’ll walk you through the simple steps to generate QR codes without spending a dime.

What is Quick Code?

Quick Code is a user-friendly website designed to help you generate QR codes effortlessly. With its intuitive interface, you can create high-quality QR codes in just a few clicks, making it perfect for both beginners and experienced users.

Why Use QR Codes?

Before diving into the how-to, let’s quickly review why QR codes are so useful:

Easy Access: QR codes make accessing websites, contact information, and other digital content quick and easy.

Marketing Tool: They can be used in marketing campaigns to direct users to landing pages, promotions, or social media profiles.

Versatility: From event tickets to product packaging, QR codes can be applied to virtually any medium.

How to Create a QR Code for Free Using Quick Code

Creating a QR code with Quick Code is straightforward and doesn’t require any special software. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Visit Quick Code: Open your web browser and navigate to Quick Code’s website.

Choose Your QR Code Type: Quick Code offers several options for what your QR code can contain. Whether you want to link to a website, display a message, or even encode a contact card, select the type that suits your needs.

Enter Your Information: Input the necessary details depending on the QR code type you’ve chosen. For instance, if you’re creating a URL QR code, simply paste your website’s URL into the provided field.

Customize Your QR Code (Optional): If you want your QR code to stand out, Quick Code allows you to customize colors and add logos. Personalizing your QR code can enhance brand recognition and appeal.

Generate and Download: Once you’re satisfied with the setup, click the “Generate” button. Your QR code will appear on the screen, ready for you to download and use.

Tips for Effective QR Codes

Test Before You Print: Always scan the QR code with a mobile device before using it widely to ensure it directs to the correct information.

Keep It Simple: Avoid cluttering your QR code with too much customization. A clean, simple design ensures better scannability.

Position Wisely: Place your QR code in a location where it’s easily visible and accessible to your target audience.

Conclusion

Creating QR codes has never been easier, thanks to tools like Quick Code. With its free and straightforward service, you can quickly generate QR codes that enhance engagement and streamline access to your digital content. So, whether you’re promoting your business, organizing an event, or simply sharing information, give Quick Code a try and see how it can simplify your digital needs.

For more information and to start creating your free QR codes, visit Quick Code today!

[keeplanau]

How Can Town Planning Enhance Tathra’s Coastal Charm?

By combining sustainable development principles with the area's natural attractiveness, town planning may greatly improve Tathra's seaside charm. Preserving picturesque coastal vistas, enhancing beach accessibility for the general public, and creating environmentally conscious infrastructure are important tactics. Developing lively public facilities, such community centers and parks along the seaside, can promote neighborhood interaction and draw tourists. Furthermore, meticulous planning guarantees that commercial and residential buildings complement Tathra's coastal character, reducing their negative effects on the environment and the surrounding landscape. Town planning can facilitate growth and improve the general quality of life in Tathra while preserving its distinct attractiveness by giving priority to these factors.

Tathra: Preserving Coastal Charm

Tathra needs careful town planning to support growth while preserving its distinct seaside charm. Keeping picturesque views intact, improving beach access for the general public, and incorporating environmentally friendly infrastructure are all important planning methods. Town Planning Tathraattempts to strike a balance between environmental preservation and the demands of its expanding population by giving priority to sustainable development and community-focused programs. By taking this strategy, Tathra's natural beauty is preserved and it continues to be a popular destination for both locals and tourists.

https://keeplan.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/LOGO-1.png

Development of Sustainability in Merimbula

Town Planning Merimbula tackles the difficulties of sustainable growth and development management. Important elements are improving public facilities, modernizing infrastructure, and encouraging small companies with well-considered zoning and land use regulations. In order to build a thriving and resilient community, town planning in Merimbula also prioritizes enhancing the transportation system and encouraging green areas. Town planning in Merimbula ensures a high standard of living for its citizens by incorporating these components in line with long-term economic and environmental objectives.

In Pambula, Handling Development and Conservation

In order to balance development with environmental protection in Pambula, town planning is crucial. Strategies that work include creating sustainable housing, preserving natural landscapes, and enhancing regional infrastructure. The goal of Town Planning Pambulais to preserve the town's natural integrity and identity although promoting a flourishing community. A vital part of the planning process is interacting through stakeholders and locals to make sure that any construction fits in through the demands and standards of the neighborhood.

https://keeplan.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/city-buildings-aerial-photography-783682.jpg

Improving Eden's Growth with Planning

Town Planning Eden is centered on utilizing its special location and natural resources to promote sustainable growth. Modernizing infrastructure, encouraging eco-friendly activities, and enhancing public areas are some of the main planning projects. In order to meet the demands of the local population and improve the town's appeal, Eden's town planning attempts to strike a balance between environmental preservation and growth. Eden's town planning can assist the town in embracing chances and overcoming obstacles in the future by incorporating these tactics.

Using Efficient Town Planning to Modernize Cooma

In Cooma, town planning include meeting the demands of an expanding community and updating infrastructure. The development of public amenities, the improvement of transportation networks, and the promotion of regional companies through wise land use regulations are important tactics. In order to build a thriving and resilient municipality, Town Planning Cooma also emphasizes incorporating sustainable techniques and encouraging community involvement. Cooma can handle growth while maintaining its distinctive character and raising the standard of living for its citizens by putting these planning strategies into practice.

[peterfearonhndpart2]

How to create a streetwear brand? 

Many streetwear brands out there have an origin and story behind them, they don't just come out of the blue. These brands usually have a history, a core theme or meaning behind them. For example, Supreme is a skateboarding brand created in America, NYC. They’re known for their box logo T-shirt which holds weight in the streetwear scene as a popular item of clothing. Another example would be, Palace from London – also a skateboarding brand, in competition with Supreme. Carhartt, on the other hand, is known as a workwear brand who make their clothing to suit builders and workmen. However, like most clothing brands, Carhartt pieces have also become a part of the streetwear scene. Same with the brand, Stussy, they started off as a surf brand but gradually made their way into the streetwear scene. The point is, any brand can become part of the streetwear culture if the demand is high enough.

The name is a very crucial part of owning a clothing brand. It’s what people will see and remember you by. It is possible to rebrand your name down the line, however that can be costly, time consuming and reduce brand awareness. So, think wisely when picking a name! Avoid making the name too personal or cliché – generic names will not help your brand stand out. Using AI to generate names is also something I would discourage. The results won’t be unique to you and someone else could end up with the same name. You must also make sure you are looking out for other brands and companies who share the same name as you as you may end up facing issues with buying rights to use the name. If another company and you share the same name, it is possible for you to keep it if both brands are selling completely different goods. You can visit the government website, gov.uk for more information on how to register your name and protect your brand. 

There are many programs out there to help you get started with the fundamentals of designs and creating designs for your brand, whether it is for your website, social media or for the designs on your clothing pieces. The Adobe Creative Cloud is the perfect place to start as it has a variety of programs to choose from. Adobe Illustrator is a program which is used to create vector graphics like logos. You can use this software to create your tech-packs, posters, and illustrations, however you will be limited to vector-based outcomes. You cannot use it for image manipulation which is something Photoshop offers. Photoshop would be a great software to use for your clothing designs and social media posts, but I wouldn't recommend it for logos. AfterEffects and PremierePro are great editing programs you can use to edit promo videos, short films, and animations for your brand. And lastly, LightRoom – this software can be used to edit your photography for things like look books, website content, and social media posts. There’s a lot of free alternatives on the market such as Affinity Designer, Canva and Kittle that you can use to achieve similar results. You also have the option to hire a designer to help create different parts of your brand. A professional and experienced designer can create logos and designs; an identity to help your brand stand out. So, making sure you hire a designer you can trust is important. 

There are many types of print methods and embroidery methods for clothing brands but for a start I'd recommend either vinyl, heat transfer or screen printing. Screen printing, from my knowledge, is more reliable when done correctly. However, the process can be long and challenging.  Vinyl or heat transfer is a bit risky because if it's not done correctly, it can get washed off almost instantly like screen printing, but the quality can feel cheap. 

Sourcing blanks for clothing can be challenging but there are many websites that can provide you with what you need. Blanks are a good to start with as that's where almost all brands start from. All it takes is one item of clothing and one print to get a lot of people to support your brand. Gildan is an iconic blank hoodie used by many brands and Fruit Of The Loom is quite popular for T-Shirts. A reliable website that you can use to start with is AScolor. They offer high gsm for garments meaning the quality and thickness is nice and customers show more love to clothes that are thicker and of good quality. They also have unique types of hoodies – different from the standard silhouette of hoodies. Wordans, is a good choice from my own personal experience. They have a wider range of clothing and things to get more colours. The quality isn't the greatest but it a great option for a start-ups and experiments. Seasonal blanks are another good choice for blanks. Most of their garments look a lot like Yeezy clothing, with the oversized fit. To be honest, their blanks look so good that you don't even need any designs on it. 

Creating clothing releases can be done in a few ways. Starting with clothing drops. A drop can mean numerous things; it can just be a drop of a singular item or a few items. A capsule would be a drop that consists of items that can create an outfit, and a collection is a complete drop that has numerous looks involved. The best thing to do with your brand is to plan your drop capsules and collections properly and according to different seasons. So, when it's winter, plan your summer drops, when it's summer, plan your winter drops – just so you are one step ahead of things. The best things to wear in the summer are shorts, t-shirts, bucket hats and hoodies. Even though hoodies can be warm, they are good in the summer on cooler days. For the winter you can have beanies, coats, jackets, scarves, socks and more. 

Just remember, preparation and timing is crucial! If you leave things too late you will miss out on dropping when the time comes and that can lead to loss in your business.  

Shooting lookbooks for your brand is important. The main purpose of it is to tell a story and capture the mood and setting of your clothing drop through a series of images or video. So, it's essential because it could make people who are looking at your clothing relate to it more; they will see it in a live setting and in action, rather than on a mock up image. 

Your lookbook shoots should be high quality and well thought out. Consider how your shoot can reflect your brand story and other core elements of your brand. Opting for studio shoots can sometimes be limiting so be experimental and test out different settings and locations. If you are shooting in a studio, use backdrops and props to be creative with your set ups. Models can also help elevate your shoots. If you are working on a budget, I'd recommend studio shoot with friends, but if you have the budget, invest in models, and venture out to different locations. Owning a camera would be beneficial but if you can't afford one, you can pay someone to do the photoshoot. You can also use your phone camera for shoots – with the right settings and editing, you can get great results! 

Creating a website is one of the key parts to owning a clothing brand. Your brand needs to be accessible to everyone and websites provide that. They can be accessed on phones, console, computers, tablets and more. You can still sell your products at pop up shops and markets but it's not enough to get your name out there. 

On social media you can create Ads which will lead to your website getting engagement and getting your name out there. Also, if you own a shop and not a website, you might have off days where not many customers will go to your shop, but if you have a website, you will make sales since people who are in the country even out of the country can purchase items. 

It's important to make an engaging website. It should be well designed and easy to navigate. A website overloaded with effects and visuals can drive customers away. The pages take longer to load making it more difficult to understand. Brands like Cortiez, Alwaysdowhatyoushoulddo and Benculture have well designed websites; they are simple and easy to use. Designer Aris Tatalovich has an aesthetically pleasing website but it can be confusing to navigate. The homepage has a bunch of pictures with models wearing the clothes pop up and overlap each other. Someone who isn’t familiar with his website or style of work, would not know what the website is for or how to use it. It’s important to find the right balance – keep it engaging but simple!

Platforms like Wix, Shopify, Readymag are website builders that you can use to help build your online store. But from personal experience, I would recommend Shopify; it’s reliable and has all the tools you need integrated in the platform. There’s also the option to hire someone to create your website from scratch if they know coding. You also need to make sure you have your website domain sorted to link your site to it. Website that ends it .co.uk or .com is better. But brands right now have been using .xyz which I think is quite cool.

Social media is key to getting your brand out there. Finding the right handle is imperative to maintaining consistency across all parts of your digital presence. For example, if your brand name is Everlast, your website is everlastclothing.co.uk, and your Instagram is everlastclothingbranduk, this can create confusion for your audience. Uniformity is vital! Keep your brand consistent across all digital platforms.

[smbmatters]

From Passion to Profit: Turning Your Hobby into a Successful Business

Turning your passion into a profitable business venture is a dream for many. Whether you're an avid crafter, a skilled baker, or a talented artist, there are endless opportunities to monetize your hobbies and create a successful business. In this article, we'll explore the steps and strategies for turning your hobby into a thriving and profitable enterprise.

1. Identifying Your Passion

The first step in turning your hobby into a successful business is identifying your passion. What are you truly passionate about? What activities bring you joy and fulfillment? Take the time to reflect on your interests and identify the hobbies or activities that you are most passionate about. This will serve as the foundation for your business venture.

2. Researching Market Demand

Once you've identified your passion, it's essential to research market demand and identify potential opportunities for monetization. Is there a demand for products or services related to your hobby? Who are your target customers, and what are their needs and preferences? Conduct thorough market research to assess demand and competition in your chosen niche.

3. Validating Your Business Idea

Before diving headfirst into entrepreneurship, it's crucial to validate your business idea and ensure that there is a market for your products or services. Test your business concept by selling products or offering services on a small scale, gathering feedback from customers, and assessing response and demand. This will help validate your business idea and minimize risk.

4. Creating a Business Plan

A well-crafted business plan is essential for guiding your business strategy and securing funding if needed. Outline your business goals, target market, pricing strategy, marketing plan, and financial projections in detail. A comprehensive business plan will serve as a roadmap for success and help you stay focused and organized as you launch and grow your business.

5. Building Your Brand

Building a strong and memorable brand is crucial for differentiating your business and attracting customers. Develop a unique brand identity, including a logo, slogan, and visual elements that reflect your values and personality. Consistently communicate your brand message across all marketing channels to build brand awareness and loyalty.

6. Marketing and Promotion

Effective marketing and promotion are essential for attracting customers and generating sales. Utilize a combination of online and offline marketing strategies, including social media marketing, content marketing, email marketing, and networking events. Engage with your target audience, provide value, and build relationships to drive awareness and loyalty for your brand.

7. Providing Excellent Customer Service

Providing excellent customer service is key to building customer loyalty and generating repeat business. Prioritize customer satisfaction, respond promptly to queries and complaints, and go above and beyond to exceed expectations. Happy customers are more likely to become loyal brand advocates and refer others to your business.

8. Scaling Your Business

As your business grows, it's essential to scale wisely and manage growth effectively. Invest in automation and outsourcing to streamline operations, delegate tasks, and free up time to focus on strategic growth initiatives. Continuously evaluate your business performance and adjust your strategy as needed to adapt to changing market conditions.

Conclusion

Turning your hobby into a successful business is a rewarding and fulfilling journey that requires passion, dedication, and perseverance. By following these steps and strategies, you can transform your passion into profit and create a thriving and successful enterprise that brings joy and fulfillment to both you and your customers.