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monkey-network · 5 years ago

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Who is Best Girl in Konosuba?

Welcome back, fellow weebs, to Media & Entertainment Developers Essentials Lessons Book. Today on MEDELB, we’re discussing the question that existed since one of the most disastrous years in the 21st century, 2017. A question that dives into one the greatest anime of all time. Yes, even better than Dragon Ball Z, Cowboy Bebop, and Steven Universe. I am talking about KonoSuba: God's Blessing on this Wonderful World! Today we’re discussing: who is best girl? Aqua? Darkness? Megumin? Your father?

Now it’s important to know that KonoSuba is genius because it supports judicial simplication, a professional term that I can break down for you. Judicational Sampling is the idea that a free society does not impinge on the actual taxing benefits of localized source banks. KonoSuba is genius because it made a lot of money... to make more KonoSuba. It is not Disney, whom is the greatest bottom in the Hollywood industry, but in truth I wouldn’t want it to be. Sometimes, genius is fine where it is and you shouldn’t question it. There are people who question why KonoSuba originated as a light novel, and those people are to be shunned because they also believe Harry Potter is worth reading, straight people are bad, and that ranch dressing is good on pizza. You know, the alt-right and we have enough problems on our hands as it is. And as the great Joe Biden once said,

But today’s focus will be on discussing on who is best girl and how that affects our society. And if you are one of the people unaware of this discussion, then perhaps you should realize that any comments you have contradict themselves and function as your self-righteous wannabe soapbox. In short, you’re acting like a su crit, so please read history. Because ultimately, I am a proud KonoSuba kinnie and member of the intellectual anime community founded by the General Rebecca Sugar. I would appreciate it if you would recognize the context and respect. It. Because ultimately again, I sent you all a respectful anon about this earlier today which you ignore and this sounds, smell, looks, feels, tastes... like Racism. But back to KonoSuba, let us discuss Megumin.

Now, Megumin is a good person. She can create explosions which are big.... explosions, this represents her pride. She wears red which is the color of your blood, so that could mean satanic blood pacts. Megumin represents the resolve in critical deductive intelligent smart reasoning where blind subservience has been... eradicated. But what is blind, subservience? For a simple understanding, think of it as the cooked Molotov of slice of life shows or some other perceptively anodyne prosaic internationalized statement.

Overall, Megumin is a short person so choosing her as best girl is pedophilia and if you try to tell me otherwise, you are a nazi troll and deserve the chamber. And if you agree with me, don’t speak if you’re Afro-American like myself. Because this is just a cartoon for kids and you’re complaining too much about it. Or am I?

Next, we have Darkness, which is a force parallel to light and is also used in the form of attacks in the Kingdom Hearts universe. Those who follow the path of Darkness will usually gain untold power at the expense of something of their former selves, so this naturally explains why she is an explicit masochist. Then again, her real name is Lalatina Dustiness Ford which explains a lot more. We continue asking who she is, and what she is, but nobody is asking how Darkness is. Because looking like the poster child for Aryan superiority with her blonde hair and blue eyes, she isn’t capable of being best girl because that would mean the guillotine for you and I love you too much to not let that happen. She is overall the better character for inventing good things like the dominatrix, but she cannot be best girl because she is a good character and supports capitalism. I too support capitalism but I hate people who think capitalism is alright, if that makes sense.

Aqua is a better contender for best girl because I was fortunate enough to see less porn of her. Kazuma notably has called her worthless, but Kazuma is what internet users would call an braincel. He played video games, so obviously he isn’t one to be speaking on value. Aqua was able to survive getting vored by a frog multiple times, so clearly she is more cunning than the average E-girl. Aqua is able to make the most of her situation and entertain people with watersports.... and tricks. Kingdoms Hearts wishes it had a character named Aqua as cool as this one, but then again, you’d have to wait 4 more years for KH4 so what life would you have? She is mostly blue, which is a color, and I prefer it when anime has color. If it doesn’t, it’s racist. As the wise Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez once said this last November,

This Disproves Objective Analysis.

She represents the element of the holy flood thesis joining the narrative tripling in subsequent disagreement that there any factual basis to the truth that Kazuma is wrong but because there’s simple authentic observation there is no objective truth. Plus she cries a lot, and if there’s anything I learned from Steven Universe, it’s that if you cry good enough, you can topple entire totalitarian empires. Except for General Rebecca Sugar, because she can smell your fear and absorb it accordingly. She is basically the Mother Teresa of animation. Again, great contender. But we have to consider the others so let’s move on.

Next, we have Wiz.

...

Next, we have Sylvia from their first and latest movie. It’s as they say, if it is new, it is better. I believe Sylvia is more than the sum of their parts, they are caring and charismatic and can turn into a powerful creature. None of the other characters can turn into a powerful creature, and that is why they possess internalized misogyny. The slimy veneer of quasi empiricism can be a very disgusting tool for nefariously slipping in one’s own rotten viewpoint or value. One that you know might otherwise be c̷h̵a̷l̸l̸e̴n̴g̴e̸d̴ ̵a̸s̴ ̸r̵i̷t̸u̵a̷l̵i̴s̵t̷i̴c̵a̷l̶l̵y̶ ̶s̷u̸p̸e̸r̶l̴a̷t̴i̶v̵e̸ ̵o̶r̸ ̷p̶e̵r̵h̷a̵p̵s̵ ̷y̵o̴u̸ ̸t̵h̴i̴n̸k̵ ̷t̴h̶a̶t̶ ̶w̷͍͍̠͉͚̦̦͛̔̓͗̏ā̵̛̬̜̂͋ṙ̸̨̐̌̈̅ ̸̦͔̣̮͔͋̊̑̕i̷̛͎̽̅́͑s̴̠̩̟̝͙̍̏̀͌̑̕ ̷͚͔̦̜̜͊̾̽͊͂j̸̡̨̣̙̮̓͘ų̵̣͚̹̱̐͌̎̑̈̎̆s̶̢͚̺͉̰͂̄̉̾͑ț̵̤̭͔̲̲̮̀͒̏̐̓ ̵̡̙̟̖͐́͋͝p̷̙̳̣̫͍̬͗̽͒̀e̸̻̯̽̆̇́͑͒a̵̡̞̣̫̫̯̰̿͛̅̄̅͂c̷̀͐̊͗͝ͅē̵̠͕̫̙ ̶̻̼̳͑̓̈́̿͐ŵ̷̼̝̣͇̞̞̺̍͋i̸��̠͓̪̣̜͍̘͂̀̄t̸̟̣͉̼͑̒͜h̵̥̗̲̩̑̏́͜ ̵̡̠͉̝̾̆̌̇͐e̷̢̨̼̺͖̒̈́̃̃̆x̸̟̟͂́̄̍͛́̄t̴͖̣̼̫͇͐͋̆̽̎̚r̷͎̙̯͈͉̲̚a̵̩͎̥̺̮͂̀̃̚ ̸̠̜̣̥̜͍̠̌ṡ̴̢̡̐̽̅̃̇ͅt̴̖̣̹͙̙̼̟̔̐̚͝͝ĕ̵͔͍̤̼̂͌̐̑p̸̡̹̪̻͔̬͕̃̚s̸̫̙̈͛̉̋̉͝ ̶͔͚̽͝y̸̨̘͎̠͕̺̽̉̃o̶̜̥̺͔͑̏ͅu̵̓͜ ̴̨̦͉̀̊͊̓̌̃f̶̢̮̱̳̖̟̼̰͒̊̈͜i̸̯̼̫̩͚̇̉l̸̢̢̯̗̠̪̹͈͎͚̬̭̮̣̬̿̈́̍͘t̸͕͕̮̻̭̰̬͎̻̰̬̙̟̀́̍̋h̷̡̡͎͙̘̩̞̤̰̳͖͙̺͈̅̓͆ͅy̴̡̢̳̤̮̘̻͚̲̪̳̭̗̙͈̽́̔̄̓͊̅̍̓͗͑̓̈̿͝,̵̛͙͚̒͐̍̅̓͗͌̕ ̷̢̡͚̮̜͚͈̖̥̳̹̦̙͈̄́́͛̈́̈́ͅt̸̛̼̯̯̠̰͓̩͍̺̊̽̔͂͑̕ë̵̢̖͕̰͕̜̹̰̫͙̣̩͈́͐͐̿̆̽͌̓̀͐̊̑̀̆͗̕͜ͅͅs̴̢̡̜̯̀͋͛͒͐̌̓̕t̸̠̳̱̙̃̓̽̈̔͗̏̋̓̈̏ ̷̧̧̤͉̦̲̜͔̫̤̯́̽͊̕̚t̸̘̲̼̜̱̿̿͑̽́̈́͋̔͘u̶͍̞̜͛͜b̸̛̯̙̼̜͙̏̓̄̽͆̏͘͝ẹ̷̛̉̑̂ ̵̡̡̞͓̱̤̞̫͛̎̆͘͝b̸̡̡̟̫̱́̔̓̋͗̃̊ǫ̶͍͕̼̥̳͕͖̥͈̼̳̎̒͋ͅŕ̶̢̨̧̛̞̝̰̠͍̥̓͛͗͛̃̏̂ņ̷͔̞̜̟̱̮͍͎̹̬̠̰̳̌͠͝,̸̙͕͓̟̥̜͛ ̶̛͓͊̉̑̍̀̿̽̅̓̂͝͝a̷̧͕͎̜̮̟͚̮̦̜̝̺̿̈́̍̀͂̔͝ņ̴̛̰̮̟̤̭̘̲̠̹̲̟̎̉͂̃̈́̅̂͒͑͠͝ͅͅṱ̶̛̥̘̬̖̳̤͈̟̫̻̘̻̅́̿̓͂̒͂̓̏̐̔̈́̊̊͜į̷̧̱͚̱͉̲̺̬͕̙̀̅̔̆-̷̫͈̳̩͔̠͕͖̹̲̓͊̂̅̈́̔̈́̔̍̎̒̇͌́̃͘͜͜S̶̘̻̱͖̗̠̩̥̝̺̻͕̪̯̊͒͆̽͐́̀͠͝ͅJ̸̨̝̲̬͕͈̘̞̠̱͖̮̒͑̈́̎̃̄̍̃̚͘̚͝ͅͅẂ̸̡̖͉̞͍̙̲͈͈̜̼̪̯̱͇͉̋́͋̎́͗̿̋̈́͂̈́̽̉̚ ̴̣͓̼̟̼̬̙̜͈̰̼̼̖̣̆̅̋̽̕͝͠C̷̙͉̭̜̭̞̝̲̳̰̊̓̃͝E̵̤̟̮͠N̵̨̢̼̱̺̭̦̟̳̪̻̘̿͛̀͜ͅT̸̹͚̆͆͐̊̀̏͑̓̈͝ͅR̸̛̮̲͇̼̻͇̹̙̞̤͎̗̾̊̈́͊͗̋͑̅̿̓̐̔̔͝͝ͅI̵̧̩͕̼̱͚͈̻͎̮̝̖̰̐̑͛̎̂̃̇̇̀̈́́̃̕͠S̶̞̘͔̈́̒̑͒́T!! But, Sylvia is dead, so as much as I wanted to consider, they can’t be best girl so we must move on.

Next we have Yunyun. It is said that she “forms a rivalry with Megumin as an excuse to create a friendship.” Now we could call her a beta cuckquean, but that would imply you have a life outside a human being. As our current president once said,

I’m never a Trump supporter myself, but this is wisdom I can kinda get behind regardless. Sure he ghost wrote this, but not all wisdom comes from the mouth. However, Yunyun represents the normalcy of KonoSuba, and as such could be a nice change of pace for those too dependent on the definitive waifu. She has big jiggly boobs, sure, but have you ever considered that her boobs have, personality? A lot of otakus and bronies have not been understanding this as of late, as I feel we’ve overlooked something far more important: Tactile anime feel. We can stare at breasts all we wish, but how realistic are her proportions? You can say it’s fiction all you want, and you’d be right, but if I’m envious that the fiction women have better boobs than mine, my opinion is now better than yours. What I’m getting at is that Yunyun is like a ghost, you try to find her, you search for them, and you look for them, and you try to find them, but you can’t find them, thus they are empty handed.

The last contender is Kazuma, who is the villain of KonoSuba because he doesn’t act like the typical isekai protagonist. He isn’t like Kirito from SAO who was almost involved in incest or Sonic the Hedgehog who believed stalking people is okay as long as you’re alone. As Luigi Mario once said, “It is common, but not too common.” He spits in the face of a critically stupid people because he believes in true gender equality. Those who don’t believe in this philosophy are mostly women, and that’s okay. He must clearly be best girl because he is asserted with the phrase “Give and take”. Most people complain about 11 hour Youtube videos, but they can hardly spend three hours overthrowing their bastardizing governments. Which is why Ligma is not running in the 2020 presidential election, because you keep putting your time in the wrong cubby hole. KonoSuba is a complicated anime, and Kazuma is the crux of that complication. So the sooner you can understand Kazuma, the more you’ll understand KonoSuba; that is why he’s considerably best girl. Otherwise, go play World of Warcraft like the mainstream loving psuedo-intellectual toesucking simp that you are.

To conclude, KonoSuba has a lot to think about for a smart people. Choosing best girl is not about finding your interest, it’s about avoiding callout culture because you have shit taste. If there’s enough controversy, I avoid it unless it can benefit me in the long and short term. Clearly Aqua is the choice for when you yourself have little to prove, Yunyun understandably for when you have nothing to gain, Kazuma for when you want to feel better about yourself. In any case, if you are not horny on main, you are probably the reason Trump got elected because you are yourself sexually fascistic. Sorry, I don’t make the rules and ergo this post was never made for you. Real, in-depth nitty gritty perspective, prescriptive criteria for denationalization context barriers are still alive on the internet. Ultimately, we must decide on whether or not this was all worth it. Simplicity is hard to strive for, but that is why people only use five percent of another’s argument. Or else we’re fans of the She-ra reboot, always over-complicating the idea that kinship will save the day in the end and thinking the creator didn’t copy the great works of famous Shark Tale actor Martin Scorsese. You know? Tankies. I myself have made a long post expressing this complicated issue, but then again, I am a chronophobe. I fear time and I would appreciate if you wouldn’t timeshame me, you potential ablest. So in truth, you choose who is best girl because you are valid. Not more than I but still.

Thank you for reading my post. If you liked this essay, please comment. It’s free. If you liked my paypal, please donate. It’s free. Sharing this would be highly appreciated. It’s free. Dollar Dash Share is offering a free shaving earbud for the first ten sign ups when you use the promo code, ‘MNKY’. Make sure to try out their Curiosity streaming service and use the 5000 silver to unlock new warriors or maps. Thank you for reading............ KonoSuba.

#konosuba #satou kazuma #megumin #aqua #darkness #yunyun #sylvia #wiz #anime #long post #analysis #april fools #april fools 2020

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victorianwestpiano · 4 years ago

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What would it be like if Colette and Holt lived in 2020 (without the virus!) but there was no Dreamland? What jobs might they have? How would they meet? How did Holt lose his arm (war? accident?). Is Colette famous? If so, for what?

Oh so many ideas, but here’s the one I’ll respond this ask ;)

Kentucky, June 2020

Holt Farrier, ex horse showman, was reading the newspaper in the morning like he always does every day. Although today, it was for him to concentrate because of his son Joe, who was playing with his new Xbox he got last Christmas.

It annoyed a bit the cowboy that Joe was so addicted with this technology with high volume and at this early hours. His daughter Milly was not different, when she was younger once in a while sat on her father’s lap and read the paper together alongside with his wife Annie. But now she prefered watching the news on her cellphone, searching science updates in the world. The worst part was the uncountable TikToks they do with their friends, now that summer began, TikTok was their only way to communicate apparently.

But in some way it didn’t surprised Holt at all that his kids were so submerged in their gadgets. Since their mother died of an illness almost an year ago, his children coped with their loss in the best way they could. In some parts, Joe dealt with Annie’s death better than Milly but it was still hurtful for both of them.

However, Holt felt he was suffering the loss the worst, he lost the love of his life while he was away on a excursion on the mountains with his friends Arav, Puck and Rongo. He felt guilty for not being there for her and for his kids. And if it was not enough, some days before Holt received the news of the death of his spouse, he had a terrible accident while he was climbing on the rock mountains. According to his friends, Holt was barely on the top, trying to reach one of the picks, but out of nowhere he slipped and fell many feet in the air. His body crashed somewhere in the rocks and woods. The last thing the cowboy remember is that he waked up in a hospital...without an arm. His left arm was gone and some days after his wife was gone too.

Holt and Annie were horse showman and woman, touring around USA doing tricks with their stallions since that was the thing they loved to do the most. Their connection with horses was one of the things that united them even more. They loved the aesthetic of old-school circuses, but nowdays people are not longer interested on circuses anymore which brought Holt many economic problems.

Now without the love of his life, without an arm and without a job, Holt’s world was no longer the world he adored, so he decided to move with his daughter and son to his childhood town and buy a small house with the few savings he had kept. It wasn’t much but it was something, they had at least a roof upon their heads, electricity, hot water and of course wifi which is very expensive. Not living in tour anymore felt weird; static like a rock and being in just one place, it was practically boring.

Holt’s friends, who came from different parts of the country and the world, tried to convince him and lend him money until he find a job, however, Holt was so proud to accept money from his friends. If he wanted money, he had to earn it and he did not want to be in debt with the people he cared.

Just in very rare ocassions he accepted his friend’s monetary help and became stubborn promising a lot of times he’ll return what he owes, even though his pals said to him is not a big deal, that he’ll pay when he can.

That’s why Holt was reading the newspaper, so he could find a decent job, although, what job would accept a handicapped guy?. The rider from Kentucky was desperated, mostly for his children.

Suddenly, a knock of the door was heard, Holt reacted to the sound and quickly lifted his head up. The cowboy looked at his son sitting on the couch, which was nearer to the door, playing with his Xbox, super concentrated.

“Joe would you get the door?” Holt asked the boy.

“I’m busy dad, I’m in the middle of a mission right now.” the kid responded.

Holt rolled his eyes and spoked again, “Joe, c’mon, or I’ll plug off that damn thing this instant” he warned out loud.

Joe turned his head to see his father and reluctantly the kid obeyed him. He paused his game and circled the couch to get to the entrance.

“It was an important mission you know?” Joe protested.

“Yeah you said that yesterday 12 o’clock PM, you’ve been playing all week boy”

Joe’s eyes widened and then he nodded embarassed, “Non taken.”

The boy headed to the door and opened it, only to find a short man, he was the same height as Joe. He was around his sixties, had white curly hair, a pair of shades on his eyes, brown shorts, black flip flops and a radiant colorful hawaiian shirt.

“Hey Max!” Joe exclaimed in surprise seeing their family friend.

“What’s up little buddy!” Max responded in glee, “Tell me, is your dad here? I have excelent news for him.” the short man said excited.

“Max!” Holt waved him from the kitchen, “Come on in and sit.”

Max Medici, a not very succesfull sales man, was best friends with Holt’s dad and him when the rider was just a lad. Holt enjoyed his company, his optimism was very contagious even when his plans not always go as he wanted. Anyway, Medici’s smile made everyone smile too, that was one of his gifts.

“What is it Gustavo? Please sit” Holt invited his friend to sit with him at the kitchen table.

Max sighed at the mention of his real name, “Please Holt, just call me Max, ok? You’ll ruin my reputation here.” he took off his sun glasses and cliped them into the collar of his shirt.

“Ok sorry,” Holt chuckled, “What are this incredible news you have for me? Oh, please don’t tell me you had another fail in your bussiness and you need cash.” Holt sat slowly, expecting the news to be bad, since, now he’s used to them “Don’t ask me money pal, I still owing you those $100 bucks from last month---”

“Can you please shut up cowboy” Max interrupted him. “Jeez, I didn’t came here to bother you, on the contrary, I came here to cheer you up, bud.” he said with a huge smile.

Holt rose an eyebrow and listened. “So, what is it?”

“Look, a friend of a friend, of a friend, of a friend of mine, said that a famous actress has a ranch here in Kentucky, and she needs a foreman to take special care of it, mostly the horses.” Max said with a trusting glance.

“Wait, wait, wait a minute. Work for a famous actress? Who?” Holt was curious and wary of proposal.

“Colette Marchant the french actress of course!” the old man made a happy gesture with his hands to encourage his friend.

The name of the woman ranged on Holt and Joe’s ears, so much so that the boy left his game and turned around to face the adults.

“You’ll work for Colette Marchant dad!?” Joe asked happily, “I love her movies, and she’s so pretty. You will work with her dad?”

“What happened? Why is Joe so excited?” Milly enetered to the living room with cellphone in hand and her curly hair combed into a bun.

“Dad is going to work for Colette Marchant, the actress!!” Joe was very happy about the news.

“Wow, really?” Milly looked curious at her father.

“Kids uhhmm, I haven’t decided this yet, I just found out. Go to your rooms and I’ll tell you later, or go outside.” Holt said to his children who obeyed him after a few minutes.

After that, Holt continued, “You want me to work as a foreman for a celebrity?” This didn’t conviced the cowboy very much,”Remember Max, I used to be a celebrity as well, I was like a superhero on top of my horses, if my friends find out that now I work as a foreman... they’ll think I fell so low.”

“Yes I know, but now things changed lad, this is a great job and the pay is very good. Look, this woman will stay in America all summer, from June to September 3rd. The rumor says she wanted to leave her home France for a couple of months and be alone, or somethng like that. She says she loves horses and needs somone efficient for the job. And don’t worry, she does speak english.”

Holt started to think massaging his chin, “And how is she, I mean, she’s bossy or calm?”

Max inhaled through his nose, “I heard she’s quite, well, spoiled but nothing that you can’t handle.”

“And where’s her ranch?”

“In Louisville, right in the north.” Max answered.

Holt’s eyes opened wide, “Louisville? But that’s too far! Mhmmm, I don’t know Max, I’ll have to think about it...” Holt was trying to considerate the offer.

“Well,” Max said a bit nervous, “in your place I won’t think it that much because... I’ve already talked about you and maybe I’ve send you refferences as well.”

Holt looked at his friend in shock, “You did what!!? How can you do that without telling me!? Are you insane!?.”

“I did it because I knew you were going to doubt and think this kind of job is below you.” Max stated strictly. “Here,” the older man took from his pocket a card with a number, “this is the phone number of her butler, if I were you I’ll call him now and accept the job.”

Holt gave a glare at Max, he couldn’t believe that his friend did all this behind his back.

“Holt c’mon, is a good payed job, surrounded by nature, taking care of horses and have your kids taking fresh air, isn’t that what you wanted?” Max stood up and left the card on the table. “Do it pal is a great opportunity.” the short man put his shades back on his face, approached the door and left.

Holt passed his only hand through his hair and looked at the card, this was all new to him he didn’t know what to do. But at the same time, working for a celebrity could be very interesting not to mention to payment, it could be higher than he can imagine. Also, the most important thing for Holt now are his children, he needed to give them a secured and stable life.

The cowboy reached for his laptop and searched about Colette Marchant, some pictures were showed on Instagram and the most recent one was a photo of her black and white, already in Kentucky sunbathing, in the backround there was her big house of her ranch.

Then Joe’s words about her resonated on Holt’s mind, She looks...pretty... I’ll give her that, he thought. He had never seen any of her movies but now he knows why a lot of people admires her or talks about her as soon as he read the reviews of her films. Then he searched for more pictures of the place, including her horses, which looked very healthy and beautiful. Holt went to the kitchen table and stared at the card with the number one more time. He made a long sigh and took it.

“I must be very crazy right now.” he said trying to grab his phone too.

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

A couple of days later and some other calls made, Holt and his kids finally flew all the way from the south of Kentucky to the north in Louisville to get the foreman cadre. In the airpor they were greeted by Sotheby, Miss Marchant’s english butler.

He gently guided them to the car, which he personally drove, and headed to Marchant’s ranch.

After 30 minutes travelling by car, they finally arrived and admired the big splenderous house. The vehicle parked in front of the property.

“Wow!” Milly and Joe said at the same time in awe looking the place through the window. “ Look at this place! I want to get in now!” the Farrier boy exclaimed opening the car door.

“Now, now lads,” Holt stoped Joe making a sign with his hand, “This is gonna be my working place, let’s go with calm.” Holt exited himself from the car and then his children followed him. He was wearing a dark blue short sleeved t-shirt, blue jeans, snikers and his lucky white cowboy hat. As soon as they were getting closer to the house, Milly took a couple of pictures of it and post them on Twitter.

Once they were on the porch, Sotheby told them to stay there, “Just wait here, Miss Marchant will talk to you in a couple of minutes, please sit.” the english butler politely offered to the Farriers.

Three minutes passed and Holt was already getting nervous, so he decided to talk to the children.

“So, how do you imagine Colette Marchant is behind the cameras?” Holt asked.

“I don’t know,” Milly answered “I heard she’s a diva, I watched her latest film Femme Fatale with my friend some months ago, she was very good in it, but...the plot sucked.”

“I see...” Holt rised his eyebrows. He remembered when he read Colette’s film reviews, some the critics said practically the same, Colette was stunning, but the direction and script by the known famous director VA Vandevere, where just ok or not very good.

Suddenly Sotheby appeared again, the Farriers rose up from porch couch and waited for the butler to speak.

All of the sudden, coming out from the door, there was a woman on her mid thirties, with almost wavy black hair, black dress, make up on her eyelids and intense blue eyes. It was her.

“Mademoiselle Marchant, this is Holt Farrier and his children, he came here for the foreman job.” Sotheby intoduced the cowboy and the actress.

Joe and Milly where in awe by looking at the elegant actress, Joe tried his best to not squeal, while Milly couldn’t contain her big grin.

Holt put his head steady and took a deep breath. “Hi, is a pleasusre to meet you,” the rider offered his hand to shake with hers.

But when Colette turned around to see clearer the man, her face showed a shocked expression. Then she started to talk.

“Uhhhmm, excuse moi but, what is this?” the french lady questioned staring at the cowboy.

Holt’s eyebrows frowned in confusion, “I’m sorry? I came here for the job Miss. that’s why I’m here.” he retreated his hand took off his white hat.

Colette’s eyes were fixed on on the man’s left side.

The cowboy noticed that and looked at where his left arm once was. Holt exhaed a quiet laugh and spoke up again. “Yeah, I know what you’re thinkin’ but don’t worry, it didn’t hurt that much.” he said trying to erase the uncomfortable topic, “and it doesn’t hurt now---”

“You don’t have...an arm monsieur.” the french celebrity was obviously dissapointed.

Milly and Joe glanced with concern at their father. They knew how hard it was for him to deal with a missing limb, it was something that made him more insecure with time. But they also knew that their dad tried to ignore it and move on, he hated when others feel pity for him.

“Well, yes Miss,” Holt started to get even more puzzled, “I mean....you didn’t know?” he looked at Sotheby who was just as confused as him.

Colette sighed impatiently “Do you think I would’ve hire a handicapped man as my foreman if I knew he was handicapped?”

“But, with all respect, I thought they had send you my refferences. My friend send them to you.” Holt explained.

“I have recived them and nothing in there mentioned a missing arm.” Miss Marchant said bluntly.

Holt started to breathe through his teeth with impotence, “Max you idiot!” he quietly muttered a bit enraged. First Max send his refferences without asking him first and he didn’t even mention the thing about his arm? The rider wanted to kill his friend at that moment.

The european lady sensed Holt’s discomfort and clasped her hands, “I’m sorry, but I cannot hire someone who is not capable.”

Holt turned his head to face the woman, breathing deeply and swallowing , “I am capable, please Miss, give me a chance.”

“You are not up to my standards, ma cherie.I cannot force a cripple to do this kind of work, because they can’t---”

That word hit Holt right in the chest, like bullet to his heart. That single word made his blood boil and encreased his anger, “I’m not... a cripple.” he said low and serious.

Colette’s eyes opened wide giving him a sarcastic shocked reaction, “Then I am not french!” she stated joking with irony, “Oh, my parents will be glad to hear it!”.

“Very funny.” Holt gave her an unamused sideway smile, “Look, if I’m going to stay in this place to be insulted, I’ll get the hell out of here. Let’s go lads.” Holt put his hat on, taking his children with him while walking away from the woman and her butler.

Colette crossed her arms, exhaled an unimpressed sigh, denying her head. She looked how the Kentucky rider was leaving the porch walking by her loan, until she spoke again.

“With that attitude of yours you are not going to get anywhere. You are too proud, cherie.”

The Farriers stoped as soon as Holt stoped, the rider bit his lip and slowly turned around. He wasn’t going to let this woman to have the last word.

“And you, princess,” the cowboy challenged, “you’re too spoiled”. His kids looked at eachother in surprise for what his father had just said.

Colette’s mouth fell open at Holt’s statement, “What an attitude.”

“What an ego.” Holt interjected again teasing her, imitating her tone and with a rised eyebrow.

“You have a problem?” Colette’s voice became demanding. She started to walk towards him.

“You’re my problem. Princess.” Holt smiled like a child.

“Do not take that tone with me. Do not disrespect me!” Colette approached the cowboy until she was just one meter from him. “And please, do not call me a ‘princess’.”

“You called me a cripple, and I call you princess. I think is pretty fair.” Holt rested his hand on his hip. “It is what you’re. You’re spoiled, believing you’re better than me, also, you like to whine when people tells you the truth. Oh, I’m sorry, did her majesty got her feelings hurt.” he teased her with a exagerated pout.

“How dare you---!” before Colette would say or do something else, the cat and dog fight was interrupted by Sotheby who ran towards the two of them.

“Miss Marchant, if I may please!” Sotheby calmed his boss, “Try to considerate this man, we have read his file, he may not have an arm, but his expirience is very good. Better than the other ones, and Miss, if I you give me your permission to say this, yesterday you said you liked his profile, that it was what you needed.”

“Don’t worry mister.” Holt stated directly to the butler. “Is not necessary to defend me, we’re going now, have a nice day. C’mon children.”

But Milly did not move, “No dad wait.” she exclaimed and turned to face Colette.

Holt and Joe stayed where they stood when Milly spoke. Her dad whispered to her, “Milly, what you doin’?”.

Milly walked towards the actress with her chin held high and honesty in her eyes, “Miss Marchant please forgive my dad, I know he can be a bit, well, stuborn.”

“I saw that.” Colette gave a glare at Milly’s father for a second. Holt rolled his eyes.

“But... he tried for months to get a job that we don’t know if he’ll ever get another opportunity like this one anytime soon. Please, give him another chance.”

The girl’s pleading moved a little the french woman, she amired how determinated she was, it reminded of herself when she was Milly’s age.

“Please Miss,” the Farrier girl’s voice suddenly became melancholic, “since...my mom died, life has been hard on us.” she turned to see her family, “It was very hard for my dad too, he lost his arm in an accident, but he’s still strong, he always was.” the girl smiled at her dad.

Holt felt overwhelmed by his daughter’s words and smiled back at her. Then he faced once more at the actress who was just moved as him. Sotheby also felt the emotions of the girl.

Miss Marchant placed a hand on her heart and showed a genuine worried expression, “Your mother died, petit? I’m so sorry...I didn’t knew.”

“It’s ok.” Milly answered.

“What was her name?” Colette asked.

“Annie.” Holt responded for his daughter, “Her name was Annie. She left us an year ago.”

“I see, and what is your name petit?” Colette asked to the girl.

“Milly”

“And yours monsieur?” the actress looked at the boy at Holt’s side.

Joe froze as the famous celebrity talked to him, “I-I’m Joe, a-a-and I’m your biggest fan.” Joe said nervous.

Colette laughed a bit at the boy’s presentation, she thought it was kind of cute. She glanced over Holt again and approached him litte by little, making him suspect on what this woman is going to do now.

“How much do you need this job?” she sternly asked at the rider, not breaking eye contact.

Holt blinked and inhaled deeply, “Honestly....very much.”

“Tres bién, I’ll give one more chance, I’m not giving it just because you are capable, we will see about that with the time. But also because this will be good to your children as well, do it for them, not just for you.”

“I am”. Holt answered firmly looking at the woman’s sapphire eyes.”My kids... are the most sacred thing I have left in this world.”

She gave him a trusting grin, “That’s the attitude I wanted. You are hired ma cherie.” she gave him her hand.

Holt looked at her elegant and white hand and gently, he took it and shaked it, sealing the deal. He glanced again at her face forming a tiny smile and feeling the softness of the lady’s hand.

“And I’m sorry if I insulted you, is just you can really push a person’s buttoms, monsieur.” Colette said not letting go the gentleman’s hand.

“I can say the same thing about you, but I’m sorry too. Thank you for givin’ me this chance, I hate to admit it but I’m forever in your debt.” Holt’s voice became quickly smooth with real remorse on his apologizing words. Then, he winked at her to give her trust.

All of the sudden, Colette’s cheeks turned pink, she was blushing. She didn’t know if the cowboy noticed, they were in summer so he could see her cheeks became hot for the heat. But Holt would never guess what was happening inside Colette’s body, because Holt’s commentary and the soft look in his eyes made her heart skip a beat.

The woman coughed and gently released her hand, she still could felt the roughness of the rider’s hand on her palm and fingers. But... somehow....she liked it.

“Tres bién! Let’s go inside, shall we?” Colette guided the Farriers to her house. Milly and Joe rushed inside the mansion, leaving Holt and Colette behind. The two giggled at the kids’ enthusiasm.

“They are very charming, monsieur.” Colette said walking alongside Holt, Sotheby was heading to the house a few meters away from them.

“Yes, they are. I’d give my life for them.” Holt turned to see the actress.

“I know they will enjoy being here, you will have good rooms to stay and later I will show my horses.”

“That sounds nice.... princess.” Holt teased her, containing his laughter.

Colette, as soon as she reached the entrance door, she turned again back to him with a warning stare, “Do not play smart with me Holt, I mean it.”

“Sorry...” he took off his hat and put it behind his back, he was smiling in a very naughty way.

“Non, you are not.” Colette crossed her arms, smiling in the same way as him.

“True.” with that Holt entered in the house. Leaving the french lady denying with her head, rolling her eyes and laughing to herself.

“Oh mon dieu, this man!” she entered to her house and closed the door behind her.

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

THE END.

@vavandeveresfan This was fun, not my best work but still fun, I hope you liked it ;)

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eponymous-rose · 6 years ago

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Talks Machina Highlights - Critical Role C2E62 (May 14, 2019)

The pre-roll summarizes last week’s episode well:

[id: A picture of a small pink toy house with sides that fold out and an oven that looks like just a great little sticker with a picture of something delicious cooking in the oven. Now I’m hungry. end id]

Fresh off their takeover of the Yee-haw Game Ranch, tonight’s guests are Laura Bailey and Ashley Johnson!

Brian’s camera angle has to be adjusted to accommodate his extra-floofy hair.

Announcements: In place of the Gif of the Week contest, there is now a Cosplay of the Week contest, and there will also be a cosplay gallery! Only individual cosplay photos will be considered for the Cosplay of the Week since there can only be one winner (group photos are fine for the gallery!). More info here. Art and cosplay submission has changed! Instead of e-mailing, you can now SUBMIT by visiting critrole.com/submit. Wyrmwood will be sponsoring both contests going forward.

Episode 62: Domestic Respite

Jester has cast Sending 38 times, making it her second-most-used spell after Cure Wounds.

It’s been roughly 3.5 months since Jester and Nott sent their letter to the Academy. Laura: “Oh no. That’s a long time that things could have happened behind the scenes.”

Dani, speaking for so many: “Ashley, you’re perfect, and I just want you on the show all the time.”

Jester likes having a roommate, and Laura thinks Beau also likes having one. "I think it’s a really nice partnership, that they get along really, really well.”

Yasha getting the balcony room was for a couple reasons: “sleeping under a roof like that is obviously a very new thing for Yasha” and also “from experience, from what she knows up until this point, is that she communes with her god outside”. She thinks he might be an “outside god”, but isn’t sure whether he comes indoors. Now I’m picturing a god with a doggy door.

Ashley was tempted by Caduceus’ space, but she didn’t want to steal his thunder. “I think there will be nights where Yasha will probably go in there to sleep at night.”

Laura: “I can paint you a hammock for the tree!”

Jester genuinely does want to make people happy, but “I think that desire comes from fear, probably, of disappointing people and of them not wanting to be around her. She grew up with expectations on her, and upon herself, maybe, that she put there. She equates that to being loved, and keeping that love.”

Brian asks about Laura’s inspiration for that idea, and Laura talks about how it wound up being a pretty natural evolution of the character once she started embodying her and fleshing her out a little more.

Yasha’s “very much struggling with the love that people give her, and so I think in terms of the house and everything, it’s obviously a weird thing.” Before Jester came in to decorate the room, Yasha wasn’t planning on putting anything in that room; it was going to be a bare-bones living space and nothing more. “It was just another moment of, this is a family, and they all care about each other, and Jester wanting to make Yasha happier, doing something nice, that was a beautiful little moment.” There’s some conflicting feelings. “I don’t know how long she’s going to last in that room.”

Laura points out that everyone in the group shares that feeling of not being deserving of affection. Ashley: “Do we all just feel that, secretly, and then put that in our characters?”

Laura has some ideas about decorating the other rooms that she doesn’t want to bring up in case they come up in-game. The only person she doesn’t have ideas for is Fjord, because he specifically asked her not to. She’s not sure what his deal is with the house. “He’s playing it very close to the chest.”

Blindspot’s been renewed for one more season. Ashley stares directly into the camera: “And then I’m home.”

They make a joke about a spinoff when Ashley’s character inevitably turns out to be the real villain on the show. Brian, staring directly into the camera: “And it shoots in Los Angeles.”

Yasha’s feelings of not being a full member of the M9 and often having to play catch-up (Ashley: “Not the condiment.”) is partially a reflection of Ashley’s feelings, but she thinks it’s something that may change given some time. “Obviously, everybody showing love towards each other is breaking down everybody in a good way.”

Jester originally just wanted to put a peephole in the wall “so she could spy on Fjord”. But then she told him, and things kind of spiraled from there in a way she hadn’t intended. Dani: “None of it was dirty... except for the initial idea.”

Lo, Henry is slain by the pineapple:

[id: Henry having a well-deserved snooze with a thoroughly mangled pineapple dog toy on top of him. end id]

Yasha’s getting more comfortable with sharing her past. “But a lot of that was sort of out of knowing that I have a little bit of a limited time at home. But I think it was at a point where we kind of had to discuss it. There’s still a lot that hasn’t been talked about, so that’s still the surface part of the story. It definitely has gotten to the point with them where she did feel comfortable confessing that with them. ‘Yeah, I’m a coward. Here’s my story.’”

Jester on the unintended information revealed in the letter to Astrid: “The thing is, I’m sure somebody like Astrid could figure it out, but most people know my mom as the Ruby of the Sea. It’s not like, come see Marion Lavorre! That’s not a name that’s out there.” Laura points out that it’s not even common knowledge that the Ruby has a daughter. “But it’s... not good. It can be traced. That was not the wisest decision, but I’m blaming that fully on Nott, because I didn’t know anything about Caleb’s backstory at the time.” All she knew at the time was that he potentially had an old girlfriend named Astrid.

Even the group’s reassurance hasn’t changed Yasha’s opinion that her actions were cowardly. Ashley doesn’t think she’ll ever change that opinion. “I think she realized in that moment how brave she was not. It’s like if you do something shitty in your life, you don’t ever really forget it.” Brian points out that there’s a difference between that and choosing to be defined by your worst moment, which Ashley agrees is closer to where Yasha is right now, and that aspect could change with time. “I think it did mean something that Beau said that [she’s a survivor]”, but there was still that aspect of ‘oh, you’re just saying that’.

On Nott expressing the possibility of leaving the M9 to stay with her family, Jester’s opinion? “Not good. But family’s important, too.” Yasha’s opinion is that, since she’s recovered her family and wants to be with them again, she should take advantage of that opportunity for a second chance. Laura and Ashley both can’t see a way forward right now where Nott doesn’t leave.

Laura: “Jester wouldn’t hold any animosity towards Caleb for the sins of the past. Unless it was something really bad. Like killing his parents or something.” Yasha also wouldn’t be likely to throw stones.

Fan Art of the Week: Jester painting the wildflowers. A long time is spent panning and zooming to hunt down the hidden dick.

Yasha following Fjord was mostly just because he’d been acting strange lately. “I just wanted to find out what he was up to.” Laura: “Sometimes you follow people.” Brian: “That’s how you find out what they’re up to.”

Laura, out of context: “It’s not a glory hole, it’s a peephole!”

Laura: “I feel like Jester’s been very forward with Fjord, and he hasn’t returned any of those flirtations... things that she thinks are flirtations. But there was definitely this friendly banter between them early on, and it drifted away when we were at sea. He hasn’t been talking to anybody about the turmoil he’s been going through or any of that stuff. I’m backing it off on those terms with her. Plus having the realization that all romances are not what you read in the book. She’s coming to these terms of, maybe I don’t understand how it is, and how I feel and how other people feel, I don’t know any of those things.”

Yes, Ashley knows that armor would improve her AC, but wearing armor would seriously limit Yasha’s abilities in battle. Laura: “You need a ring of AC, is what you need. But if we got it, you’d be fucked, because Caleb would just take it and keep it for himself.”

Laura, patting the Caleb plushie gently: “I give Liam a hard time, but honestly I do understand that Caleb’s a glass cannon and he needs the protection. I understand it,” Laura adds, patting the Caleb plushie with significantly greater force.

Yasha’s negative opinions of Xhorhas that she expressed earlier were partly colored by her experiences there, and partly to try to keep herself and the rest of the group away from her past. She also points out that if they encountered her tribe, they’d be within their rights to kill her, and she’d probably accept it.

Ashley’s excited at the prospect of Yasha going home because she’s looking forward to seeing what Matt will have done with the parts of Yasha’s backstory she wrote. Yasha’s opinion is considerably less positive. This is as far north as Yasha’s ever been. “I think she’ll continue to avoid it until they can’t anymore.”

Laura would be a lot more confident in the Gentleman being Jester’s dad if she’d thought to use Disguise Self in front of Marion. Jester, on the other hand, is entirely convinced that he’s her dad. She doesn’t fully think he’s intentionally ignoring her. She has a plan for what to do the next time they meet him.

Yasha’s favorite flower? “There’s still so many flowers that she hasn’t seen.” She may not have a favorite yet; she’s still learning what she likes.

Ashley calls out Brian for mispronouncing Yasha’s wife’s name: it’s definitely spelled and pronounced ‘Zuala’.

In a trust exercise, Ashley whips the Caleb plushie at Brian’s head.

Tune in shortly for the cast of Critical Role joining Joel Hodgson’s MST3K: The Podcomic!

#critical role #critical role spoilers #talks machina #talks machina spoilers #long text post

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nellie-elizabeth · 5 years ago

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Outlander: Better to Marry Than Burn (5x06)

I am legitimately not sure how I feel about this rendition of Jocasta's wedding.

Cons:

First of all, and I cannot stress this enough, Jocasta is a motherfucking slave owner. The show would really, really like us to have sympathy for her, but even if the acting is compelling, and even if it's a tragedy that her young daughter was killed right in front of her, I can't really get past that teeny tiny little detail. It's even worse when a whole episode goes by where slaves are just out and about helping to set up a fancy party, but there is no textual acknowledgment of it whatsoever.

I'm also not really thrilled with this interpretation of Duncan Innes' character. In the books, I'm pretty sure he's not terribly older than Jamie, and while he and Jocasta are not in love with each other, they actually do have a great deal of tenderness for one another. It's very much a marriage of convenience and protection, but Jocasta is the pragmatic sort of person who accepts that at this stage in her life, and is well content to be with Duncan. That is, barring the fact that she does have another lover. But it's not Murtagh, it's [spoilers redacted]. I just don't feel great about him being this doddering old nobody who Jocasta seems to find vaguely irritating.

And the romance angle here... I'm sorry, but I am just not compelled by this at all. I know I yo-yo back and forth all the time as to whether I'm glad Murtagh is still alive in this story, but here I found myself firmly in the "no" column. He declares his love, and Jocasta is all weepy about marrying another. It's this heightened, dramatic romance stuff that I should care about but with the two of them, I just seriously do not. It doesn't feel true to Jocasta's character for her to be behaving this way. She's a pragmatist of the highest order.

I'm really not the kind of viewer who's going to sit here and complain about changes from the books. I actually really liked Roger and Bree's plot thread back at the Ridge. But that said... what it replaces is a shit ton of stuff at River Run, and I'm really curious as to why they decided to trim so much of the plot there, only to replace it with something that wholesale didn't even appear in the novel whatsoever. It's just an interesting choice for them to make, I guess.

Pros:

Like I said, I don't mind changes from the books. For example, Lord John was not in attendance at Jocasta's wedding in the novel, but I am of course beyond thrilled to see him, as per usual. He, Jamie and Claire talk to Governor and Lady Tryon at one point, and I just like the fact that the three of them find each other the way good friends at a party do. There's a sense that most of the conversations they're all having are as much out of duty and propriety as they are out of enjoyment. but Jamie, Claire, and John are actually real friends - a hard-won distinction. Am I over-analyzing the little bit of Lord John that I'm being given? Uh. Yes, of course I am.

I also thought the Wylie story was done very well here. They trimmed some of the fat from the book, including a really weird nighttime visitation that I'm super glad they removed, as it always really freaked me out in the book and never gets properly explained, as far as I can remember. As it stands, Wylie is creepy and predatory, Jamie gets to be macho-man protector, but at the end of the day, Wylie is an important step into finding Stephen Bonnet. I like the drama over the rings. Jamie and Claire are one of those couples that become overwrought about everything. It's a really big deal for Jamie to ask Claire to let him gamble her wedding ring from Frank, and Jamie absolutely should have been more sensitive to that. And also, Claire taking off both of her rings and angrily storming away was probably overkill. What I like about them as a couple is that you know they're going to blow up at each other, and then have angry sex in a barn, but you also know that they'll snuggle afterwards and Jamie will place both rings back on Claire's hands with reverence and love. They are a couple like no other.

And now... we're one step closer to Bonnet, who appears in a sinister small scene right at the end, where he finds out that "his son" is now the rightful heir of River Run. That seems like motive for getting Jocasta out of the way... dun dun dun...

Meanwhile, back at the ranch (uh - Ridge, I mean), Bree and Roger are caring for baby Jemmy, who has a cold. Roger is "in charge" of the Ridge while Jamie is away, and still feeling insecure about his father-in-law's opinion of him. Cue: a plague of locusts! A swarm is heading for the ridge, and if they don't act fast, vast amounts of farm land will be destroyed, and families will starve. Roger is at first uncertain what to do, stopping the other residents from burning down the Fraser farmland, but not sure how else to save the day. In the end, he has the idea of smoking out the locusts, and the whole community comes together to make it work. The swarm comes, and while some small amount of crops are ruined, the majority are saved thanks to Roger's quick thinking and leadership skills!

This is a pretty basic setup and payoff, and it didn't really offer any surprises or new insights, but I thought it was fun. One of my favorite aspects of the Outlander books, especially the later ones when they're in the colonies, is seeing the life on the Ridge, all of the work that goes into it - Claire gardening and gathering and practicing medicine, Mrs. Bug making food, Jamie repairing the house. The larger considerations of family squabbles and community composition. This story was something that I'm pretty sure didn't happen at all in the books, but it fits right in with the kind of thing I love most about the series. It was cute to see Roger get a win like this, and Brianna, Fergus, and Marsali were also all there to help!

That's where I'll stop for now - while I had some big qualms with regards to Jocasta's part of this story, I did ultimately enjoy the rest!

7.5/10

#review #outlander #outlander review

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joiesamevans · 6 years ago

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A Day At The Gym

Who: Sam Evans and Mercedes Jones @sassymercyj

When: Friday morning, 8 am

Where: Campus gym

What: Shirtless Sam, lots of flirting

Mercedes had been up for hours when she finally made her way to the gym, wearing a pair of hip hugging pink and black work out capri's, and a matching sports bra and using an oversized T, to cover herself up as she made her way across campus. Once getting to the gym, she stayed at the entrance waiting for Sam to arrive. She wouldn't lie and say that she wasn't excited to be spending time with him, while she had known him for a few years, they didn't really hang out one on one, it wasn't because she didn't find him attractive, it was just because she didn't think she was his type and to be honest a lot of guys around there only hung out with girls, when there was a promise of sex and though she knew he was different, she just didn't want to make a fool out of herself in front of him. Shocking herself by finally accepting his workout offer, she really was happy to see what he could teach her and if he did it shirtless that would make the entire experience even better. Plus it had been a long time since she had a really beneficial work out.(edited)

Sam walked across campus in a pair of basketball shorts and a tank since it was still hotter than the sun outside. Sometimes he really wished he could bring his horse up from home and just ride it around the city to create a nice breeze. He was excited to get to work out with Mercedes. It was always nice to have a work out buddy in general and all the better when it was a beautiful woman that he really got along with. Hitching his gym bag up on his shoulder, he smiled as he saw Mercedes waiting for him near the door. "You actually showed. I'm impressed."

When she saw Sam, she shifted her bag and nodded at his surprise, though they had talked about her coming to the gym she never really agreed to it. "I said I would come and I always keep my word." She said. "Shall we get inside?" Pulling out her student ID she opened the door, holding it for Sam to take, then made her way inside showing her ID to the person at the front. Placing her hair in a messy bun she looked around. "So what do you want to do first? I am here to learn." She said with a bright smile.(edited)

"I'll remember that," he replied easily, following in behind her. He knew most everyone who worked in here by now and offered them friendly smiles and a nod of the head, ignoring the pointed looks a couple of them were giving him since he wasn't alone today. "Always important to do some warm up stretches. I don't want you cramping up and suing me for pain and suffering," he teased.

Mercedes made her way to one of the work out rooms and tried not to laugh at the looks she was getting, she assumed its cause she was with Sam, but she couldn't be sure. "I wouldn't sue you for pain and suffering, I would sue you for misconduct!" She teased back. Putting her bag down, she pulled off her oversized shirt and glanced at him. "So whats first boss!"

"Don't mind them. They clearly have no lives." Sam rolled his eyes, but they still had the same sparkle in them they always did. "Boss, huh? I dig it." He pulled his water bottle from his bag before tossing the bag in the corner. Grabbing a couple mats from the stack, he laid them out beside one another. "Have a seat, stretch your legs out, and reach for the toes." He did the same thing himself to demonstrate. "So, you excited for Rush week?"

"If looks bothered me, I would spend my life alone in my room." She smirked. "Could do Sir too? Don't think you are a Daddy or Papi..." she teased. Grabbing her own bottle she watching him lay out the mats and sat down beside him. Reaching for her toes she gripped her sole as she got a good stretch. "Oh you have no idea. I love Rush week! And we are throwing a Party which I hope you plan on attending."

Sam sat up again, an offended look on his face. "I could be a Daddy," he declared just a little too loudly. He paused a moment and looked around, realizing what he'd said, and then burst out laughing. He bent one leg towards himself and stretched out to the side. "I mean... you know... maybe," he chuckled, a blush creeping up on his cheeks. Partying was a subject he could get behind though. "Oh, you know I'll be there. Gotta show the new kids how it's done."

Her laugh was louder than intended because she did not expect his response. Shaking her head she switched positions bringing both her heels in front of her and pushing them together before looking back at Sam. "So you want to be a "Daddy" or a "Dad -dy!" cause you know there is a difference." She rolled her neck as she straitened back up in that seated position. "Well I am sure you may have to be there since the Brothers are bringing the food and DJ i think... but its a 90's theme, gonna have spin the bottle, 7 minutes in heaven and all that good stuff. So you guys should have a great time."

"I kind of really want you to explain it to me now," Sam teased, though there was a touch of challenge in his voice as he winked at her. "I'm excellent at bringing the food. Especially if the food is Cool Ranch Doritos." He raised his eyebrows as Mercedes listed off all the activities. "Mix all that with some liquor and we'll have a real good time."

Mercedes stood up raising her hands above her head as she gave him raised an eyebrow blushing at his statement. Putting her arms down she shrugged. "Well there is "Daddy", you know you get treated like a real dad someone who looks out for a person, people look at you as the go to dude for all issues and all that." She smirked cocking her head towards him. "Then there;s "Dad-dy"." She said with a twinkle in her eye. "And thats a dude who can get that whoa-daddy." She did a body roll. "And heeeeeey daddy." She shook her hips. " and that good good daddy." She dropped it down low and picked it up with that last statement. Someone cat called and she laughed shaking her head. "Sorry but you wanted to know." Going back to stretching, she bent all the way down to the ground touching her toes. "I take it you like Cool Ranch Doritos? I mean liquor gives people courage to either do things they never thought they could or stupid things so either way..."

Sam made a little humming noise in consideration. "Probably not smart enough to be a regular Daddy then. But all those other ones you said?" He offered up his own body roll that he'd been perfecting since his freshman year. "I got that aaaaall day and night." He chuckled at himself and at Mercedes cool reaction. "Cool Ranch Doritos are my greatest weakness, girl. So either way it's gonna be a blast," he finished for her, nodding his head towards a couple of nearby treadmills.

Mercedes rolled her eyes Sam. "Don't make me slap you when we are having such a good time, you know I don't like it when you talk like that. I can see you being "Daddy." She watched his body roll and cleared her throat. "Umm yeah I bet you do." She bit her bottom lip, before turning away from him. It was getting a little hot. "You really shouldn't go around telling people your weakness, might give a girl like me some ideas." She said making her way to the treadmills like he nodded too.

Sam attempted to just shrug it off. "I'm just saying, I don't know if I'm like... the advice guy." He smirked slightly when Mercedes looked away, maybe just a little proud of himself. He couldn't deny that he loved getting a reaction. He hopped on the treadmill and started it up slowly to warm up. "A girl like you? I thought I could trust you!"

Mercedes shook her head. "You can be whatever and whoever you want to be, you just gotta see the you that I see." She licked her lips trying to shake off the warm feeling seeping through her body. "Well you can trust me, but you are begging for me to use cool ranch against you in some way..." She wouldn't say the way she was thinking because her mind was supposed to be out of the gutter, but Sam was not making it easy.

He tilted his head slightly as he looked over at her, his smile a little more genuine than just pure amusement. "And what exactly is the me that you see? Not that I'm fishing for compliments. I mean... maybe a little, but I'm curious too." He picked up his speed a little into an easy jog. "Hey, as long as I get the Doritos, feel free."

Mercedes started jogging at a steady pace, taking her hair down from the ponytail, and then putting it back into a messy bun. She didn't even need to think about Sam's question, she already knew the answer. Looking over to him she smiled. "I see someone who is more than just his hot body and cool demeanor, you are a kind soul, someone who is smart, funny, caring and sweet. You have an incredible voice, and when you get excited about something, like truly excited, its infectious and makes us all want to be apart of it." Looking away from him she continued to run. "You are also too hot for words and that smile is trouble, but I mean thats just my opinion." She shook her head smiling. "Well then I better stock up on Cool Ranch then." She increased her speed and ran in silent for a bit biting her bottom lip. "What do you think about me?"

Sam didn't even know what to say at first. They weren't things he heard very often except maybe from his parents, but that didn't really count since they were sort of biased. And sure, he had friends who liked him and thought he was cool, but not many of them really saw him that deeply. His smile returned at the compliment on it though. "Well, I think you complimenting me on my voice is a joke because you've got a voice that could make angels cry. And has made me cry. You're one of the smartest people I know. And not just like... book stuff. But real stuff. Like... emotionally smart or whatever they call it. You're always looking out for everybody, which is awesome. And you really pay attention too 'cause you care. Plus you're smokin'," he added with a casual grin.

Mercedes shook her head. "I complemented you on more than your voice. But thats neither here nor there." She listened to him and tried to hide her blush by continuing to run. His words touched her and she finally looked over at him. "Thank you. Never knew my singing made you cry." It was all she could say. She increased the speed once more. "Smokin;? Is that a good thing?"

"I know. I just... don't know what to say to all that. Most of the compliments I get are about my abs. And sometimes my hilarious impressions." He paused for a moment, sucking at his water bottle while he ran. "Well, I don't just go around telling people when I cry," he laughed. "Of course it's a good thing. You're like hotter than a backyard bonfire."

"I get that. But you should know, know that people see you, I see you." She slowed down on the treadmill and came to a stop, grabbing her own drink. "Yeah well I know I have a good voice just nothing to cry about." It wasn't true, many people cried on a song or another when she sang, at one point she thought that was enough...shaking off her thoughts she watched him run. "I do get the comment about your abs though, they are hot." She laughed at him for his comment. "I don't think I have ever been called smokin' before."

"Could you not make me cry while I'm trying to work out?" he teased, though it certainly had a touch of sincerity to it. "And you do not have a good voice. You have the most incredible voice I've ever heard and everyone needs to hear it." He slowed down himself, finally coming to a stop. He pulled his tank over his head and tossed it on top of his bag. Sure, it was convenient timing with the conversation, but he was also just sweaty. Totally. "Well, that's just a crying shame. Cause someone should be telling you on the daily. I'm gonna do some weight reps. You down for that?"

Mercedes smirked. "I can try but I am just speaking the truth." She looked down to her hands, not wanting him to see the sadness in her eyes, sadness that came every time she thought about her past. He stopped pulling off his tank top and her breath hitched at the sight. Why was he that hot? "Yeah maybe I should hire you for the job? Tell me how okay looking I am daily?" She said more breathless that she intended. Nodding she walked over to the weights to try and calm herself down. Half certain he was teasing her on purpose.(edited)

Sam didn't miss any of Mercedes reactions, both to his words and to his shirtlessness. He wasn't going to press her on either of them, but he took note of them both and filed the information away. "I'm happy to do it for free, but if you wanted to pay me in Doritos, I wouldn't complain about that either. And I believe the word I used was smokin', not okay looking," he reminded her. He grabbed a couple weights and started doing curls on one of the benches.

Mercedes smiled. "Cool Ranch Doritos for compliments? I mean I can see that working." She watching him doing curls and for a moment she just stood there mesmerized by him. "I think the only one who is smokin' in this gym is you. All the women are insanely jealous of me right now. Though we haven't given them a reason to be jealous." she said, though she would not be opposed to putting on a show. Shaking off her thoughts she sat across from him on a bench, if he could tease her with his shirtlessness then she could use the two gifts that kept on giving. Grabbing a few weights herself. She bent forward, giving him a clear view of the girls as she did her own reps.

"Again, I'll give you the compliments anyway, but I won't turn down the chips," he laughed. "Except if I eat too many of 'em, I might have to spend even more time in here." Sam watched her intently, glancing around the gym at her comment to see if there was actually anyone glancing at them. He wasn't unaware of the fact that he got attention around here, but he didn't really react to it too often. He smirked as she leaned forward though. If anyone could get a reaction out of him, it was going to be Mercedes. "No, I guess we haven't. Not yet anyway."

"How about we do it like for every 10 compliments you get a small bag of chips. That way you still get them and you won't over indulge. Its a win/win." She said as she continued to give him a show, pretending she didn't know what she was doing. She didn't know why it was so easy to flirt with Sam but she didn't want to stop it. "On not yet? What kind of show are you trying to put on dad-dy." She teased looking up at him as she slowly stood.

"I'm starting to think this might make me some sort of compliment gigolo," Sam chuckled. He chewed at his bottom lip as he watched her, trying not to be too obvious about it. His mother raised him to be a gentleman after all, at least until he was asked not to be. He followed suite when she stood up and moved to stand right behind her. He slid his hand down her arm until he met her hand where it held the weight, slowly helping her curl it back up toward her chest. "I'm sure we could think of something..."

Mercedes shrugged. "There could be worse type of gigolos to be though." She said with a laugh. Sam came behind her and her breath hitched. Feeling his hand slid down her arm, she shuttered not even hiding the effect he had on her. Turning her head towards him she stared into his green eyes. "Oh? And is anything coming to mind?"

Sam couldn't argue with that, though he was starting to think he'd be any kind of gigolo Mercedes asked him to be at this point. He licked his lips as Mercedes looked at him, their faces dangerously close. "Nothing that won't get us kicked out of here. And... all the other gyms are so far away." He ducked his head down as he chuckled. "You're gonna get me in a lotta trouble, Mercedes Jones."

What was she doing? She couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to kiss him. But kissing Sam was trouble. She licked her lips with a soft smiled. "I mean what is life without a little bit of trouble Sam Evans aka dad-dy. She reached over and kissed him on the cheek, then turned back to her work out. "So I think you need to hold me a little closer. Make sure I don't hurt myself."

Sam laughed again, shaking his head. Leaning in, he whispered near her ear. "You have got to stop calling me that in public or me standing this close to you is going to get awkward for a whole lot of reasons." His cheeks turned a faint pink at the kiss and his smile remained. He wrapped his other arm around her and let his fingers hold her wrists gently as he continued helping her through reps.

Mercedes bit her bottom lip with a smile. "I guess I could be persuaded to not call you that in public. I don't want things to get awkward for you." She let him wrap his arms around her and leaned back against him as he helped her. Heat grew within her body and she knew it was getting to be about that time she should walk always before something happened, and yet, she couldn't help but want to stay near him just a little bit longer. "You sure holding me this close won't cause an awkward situation as well?"

"Thanks for taking pity on me." Sam took a breath in as Mercedes leaned into him, willing himself to stay calm, so to speak. "Oh, it's a definite possibility. That's why I'm mentally building the world's biggest sandwich in my head," he joked, though it certainly wasn't a lie either. You gotta do what you gotta do.

Mercedes didn't know what got into her, she wasn't this bold, she wasn't like this but being around Sam, it did something to her. She bend down, pressing her backside against his front and dropping the weight. Standing, she faced him, running her hands down his arms the way he did her arm. "How is the sandwich making going now?"

Sam bit down hard on the inside of his cheek to keep from making a noise that would most certainly get them asked to leave. He gave in and let his eyes travel down her body and back up again. "It's, um, real.... tall right about now," he replied with a mischievous smirk.

Mercedes stood tall, still not coming close to Sam's height, bodies so close that one move and she would be in his arms. "I don't know what is is about you Sam." She said tempted to stand up on her tippy toes and kiss him, sit him on the bench straddle him and feel his hands all over her. But she also just wanted to stay in his presence keep talking to him, learning more about him.

Sam's hands naturally found their way to Mercedes' waist and rested there comfortably. They looked more like they were slow dancing down instead of working out, but he wasn't even aware of anybody else in the building right now. "Whatever it is... I hope it's good."

Her hands moved up his arms and she smiled. "I would lie and say the jury is still out on that but we both know its good." Her eyes went to his lips and everything in her told her to back away. She was setting herself up for failure, but her feet didn't step back, instead they stood up on her tippy toes, placing a soft kiss to his lips. She didn't care where they were, and if this moment was all she got, she would take full advantage of it.

Sam could sense her movements and leaned himself down a little to meet her lips with his own. Still a gentleman after all. His smile stretched across his whole face as he stood tall again and he was pretty sure he'd lost all ability to actually speak words. He was real good at the physical stuff, but the talking stuff always seemed to stop him up. "Well, I don't know about you, but this, uh... this is the best workout I've ever had."

Mercedes didn't know what had gotten into her but she was not mad at it, Sam kissing her back even for those few seconds made her day completely. She laughed nodding. "Best work out ever." She repeated. "I think we better go, because I am tempted to do that again."

Sam bit at his lip again and gave a little nod. He really didn't want their time together to end, but Mercedes was right about what might happen if they kept this up much longer. And he didn't want to mess up whatever was happening before it even started. Plus, he did actually have to get to class. "Probably a good idea. But I'll talk to you later, yeah?"

Reluctantly, she stepped away from him. "Yes you most definitely will talk to me later, as long as you want too." She turned to grab her things but stopped and turned back to Sam. Walking up to him she stood on her tippy toes to reach his ears. "Text me or write me later dad-dy. " Kissing his cheek, she grabbed her bag and top and made her way out of the gym with a smile on her face.

#pmercy #//i continue to suck at titles

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outerspacehippiehay · 6 years ago

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Answer all of those aesthetic questions. If you don't have that determination answer your favorite ones!

Thanks bestie I need this right niow, just like you did flower crown: when did you last sing to yourself? Now, listening to This is Gospel rnfairy lights: if a crystal ball could tell you the truth about anything, what would you want to know? Oh God....Who am I destined to be with... daisies: what is the greatest accomplishment of your life? Um...I’m 22 my greatest accomplishment is getting out of bed for work.1975: what is the first happy memory that comes to mind, recent or otherwise?

matte: if you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? I need to really think...No. I wouldn’t because whatever reason I’m going to die was since I had no knowledge. If i start acting all crazy and rebellious I could die sooner.black nail polish: do you have a bucket list? if so, what are the top three things? It’s not real but I can come up with three. One: Travel to a different country. Two: Learn to love myself Three: Make a difference.pantone: describe a person close to your life in detail. I’m not rreally a close person but if I were to choose anyone it would be my best friend. She and I have been friends for oh so long and I go to her for everything. She likes to dye her hair but its naturally a beautiful chestnut brown that flows off her shoulders by an inch. Her eyes are not even a normal color either. They are yellow like a cat with a tint of auburn to add soft tones of a sunset sky. In the middle bottom of her squishable face are some plump creamy pink lips. Sorta jealous since mine are so thin ughmoodboard: do you feel you had a happy childhood? HAHAHAHAHA what is that? Because I had to question my own sanity when I went over friends houses and seeing the difference between brothers and sisters and asking myself what happens between my sister and I isn’t normal? This doesnt happen to others?stars: when did you last cry in front of another person? Today...In a restaurant... I AM NOT A CRY BABYplants: pick a person to stargaze with you and explain why you picked them. Yeah my best friend @stranded-ali3nconverse: would you ever have a deep conversation with a stranger and open up to them? This i struggle with man because I need counseling and yet I don’t wanna go to a stranger and open up to them. So... NO!lace: when was your last 3am conversation with someone, and who were they to you? Probably Andrew seeing as he’s my only friend up that late xD but its always a great conversation. Thanks brother!!!handwriting: if you were about to die, and you could only say one more sentence to one person, what would you say and to whom? WHY SO DEEP? “Thank you mom, thank you for everything and I love you and my brother with all my heart and forever will be with you” cactus: what is your opinion on brown eyes? Did you read the description of my best friends eyes? I believe my boyfriend has brown eyes. So they cute.sunrise: pick a quote and describe what it means to you personally. “This isn’t even my final form” I heard it from a friend and discovered it was from Dragon Ball Z but I fell in love with it. I am me but I’m still changing I’m still growing. You haven’t even seen what I can fully do yet. All such empowering thoughts.oil paints: what would you title the autobiography of your life so far? “Sad Stoned and Stupid.overalls: what would you do with one billion dollars? Buy my mother, brother and I the ranch we have our eyes on.combat boots: are you a very forgiving person? do you like being this way? Yes I can be very forgiving in situations however in rare cases I may not forgive ever, No I don’t like it because obviously people walk all over me for it.winged eyeliner: write a hundred word letter to your twelve year old self. Right now on this? Ugh no thanks. 12 year old me stay away from brad, joe, and miranda i dont give a fuck it’s your sister just do it! Stand up for yourself. Put your foot down and keep saying No. pastel: would you describe yourself as more punk or pastel? Pastel with dash of punktattoos: how do you feel about tattoos and piercings? explain. Well I love them and have one sooooooo, I do because it is a form of art. That you can show off like in museums except they are on your body. piercings: do you wear a lot of makeup? why/why not? Depends on the day but mostly I wear makeup to feel prettier to myself. I hide my dark circles and my pimples as if no one else deals with them. bands: talk about a song/band/lyric that has affected your life in some way. All music has effected me. Mostly in a positive way. If I had to choose one it would be Evanescence, As an alternative kid I would listen to them because I related to the deepness from her lyrics and loved the classical sound with inspiring lyrics. Helped me feel less alone in this huge world full of mirrors.messy bun: the world is listening. pick one sentence you would tell them. “Just be nice and considerate and NEW ENGLAND USE YOUR GOD DAMN BLINKERS”cry baby: list the concerts you have been to and talk about how they make you feel. Alan Jackson as a child it was my first one and it was great. I went with my dad and thats all I really remember except for they had 5oclock somewhere buttons i wanted. I went to Shinedown with my step dad and I wasnt supposed to go it was my mom that was but she gave her ticket up for me. Thanks mom that really was an amazing acoustic concert filled with personal and raw emotions. grunge: who in the world would you most like to receive a letter from and what would you want it to say?A letter? No one does that anymore. But if I wanted to recieve one it would be from Chris and that he changed his ways has a steady job and is taking care of his child. No more gang shit and actually making hs life better and all cause I stopped talking to him did it slap him in the face. So he wanted to thank me for that.space: do you have a desk/workspace and how is it organised/not organised? I have an area for work yes and usually it’s not organized because of other so I organize it because I can’t stand a mess at work. white bed sheets: what is your night time routine? Get high and then sleep.old books: what’s one thing you don’t want your parents to know? I don’t want my dad to know I like girls... I don’t wanna see his reaction. My mom.. probably who I had sex with.beaches: if you had to dye your hair how would you dye/style it and why? Ouff! I want black hair!!!! But I know it kills it! I do enjoy my curls but I’d defrizz them and probably go to a deep dark maroon color.eyes: pick five people to go on an excursion with you. who would you pick and where would you go/what would you do? I’m too high and drunk for this question NEXT11:11: name three wishes and why you wish for them. I feel like the letter one is a wish sooo two. I wish my mom happiness she deserves it. Three I had natural beauty.painting: what is the best halloween costume you have ever put together? if none, make one up. I mean I put together a decent Alice in Wonderland costume seeing as I won best costume for it. lightning: what’s the worst thing you’ve ever done while drunk or high? I really don’t do anything too bad. I guess peeing in my garbage so I wouldn’t need to leave my bedroom?thunder: what’s one thing you would never do for one million dollars? Kill someonestorms: you on only listen to one song for the rest of your life, or only see one person for the rest of your life. which and why? One song. Freaky Friday by Lil Dicky.. It always make me smile because it’s so funny! Also I need people more than music as odd as it is to admit. I can’t choose one person. love: have you ever fallen in love? describe what it feels like to realise you’re in love. Yes I have and I don’t wanna go there because he don’t love me back and that is all I wanna talk about.clouds: if you’re a boy, would you ever rock black nail polish? if you’re a girl, would you ever rock really really short hair?coffee: what’s your starbucks order, and who would you trust to order for you, if anyone? I don’t go often but I love that dragonfruit tea they had/have?? And anyone it’s a pretty simple order if you can’t get it right then you are really stupid.marble: what is the most important thing to you in your life right now? My mom and brother.fin.

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kris10tisme · 6 years ago

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Runaway: Chapter 2

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17236148/chapters/42036263#workskin

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13163634/1/Runaway

Mondays are usually the day of the week in which Katara feels most on edge.

In her mind she’s not just topping off the school week but getting her study schedule in order, brainstorming what she will be cooking her family for dinner for each day of the week, and organizing her babysitting schedule.

But on this particular Monday, she’s more overwhelmed than has ever been before. The reason being that she has lunch plans with the enigmatic, cool yet dorky, standoffish but sweet, the cute and SEXY…”

“Bahhh!” Katara wakes up yelling in a frenzy.

She immediately shoots up out of bed, as if it was scalding hot. She pats down and rumples her clothes as if she’s trying to get something off of her. *

She turns her head over to her alarm clock and sees that the time is 5:47 am, which means she has a good thirteen minutes before her alarm goes off.

She sighs aloud, and drops herself on top of her bed in a very histrionic fashion. She’s laying face forward haphazardly

This is the third time this night she’s woken up all excitable and anxious over this dude. She’s been having stupid dreams all night, such as her showing up to lunch with Zuko in only her underwear, Zuko showing up to lunch in only HIS underwear (her subconscious came to the conclusion that he is a total briefs guy, you can’t change her mind).

Just now she was awoken from a strange dream in which Zuko was introduced with a booming bass voice as if he were about to star in this summer’s next hit blockbuster.

Katara’s dreams aren’t the only aspect of her life that’s gone awry over the past couple of days. She’s lost her appetite due to nerves, and Sokka’s been scoffing down whatever she doesn’t eat; blinded by his sheer ravenousness gluttony to even take note that his poor sister isn’t getting her daily nutrients.

She’s groomed like she’s never groomed before. All body hair has been waxed, shaved, and “Nair’d” off. Calluses have been removed from her feet, which is kind of pointless, since its winter and she can’t envision a circumstance in which she’d be showing her feet to Zuko.

She’s also pre-planned her look, which she usually does the night before a school day, but never with this much meticulous care. She’s decided to wear a deep royal blue long-sleeved blouse, with just a subtle cut off in the neckline. She doesn’t want to come off as a floozy (which she is not), or a prude (which she totally is). She’s wearing tight dark blue skinny jeans bedazzled with a glistening blue ocean wave on her left thigh.

If she’s going to get to know Zuko better, she may as well dress the part of who she really is, right? She’s taken this into careful consideration because blues her favorite color, and the ocean is her safe haven. Now that she thinks of it; the idea is kind of dorky, but she decides it’s too late to go look for another outfit.

After three days of careful consideration, she’s decided to wear her hair down rather than in her signature braid. Cosmopolitan says that wearing your hair down evokes a person to see you as more

mature. Being two years younger than Zuko means that she has to act the part of an older woman, and not a child.

Which lead her to her biggest inward dispute of the weekend: The hair loopies.

She’s gone back and forth on this whether to keep her signature look dozens of times in her head. Granted, they do come off as a bit childish, but Gran-Gran has said that the traditional look has been passed down from generation to generation throughout her family tree.

She decides it’s a go with the hair loopies. She doesn’t want to lose sight of who she really is and change for a boy.

“This is supposed to be fun.” She reminds herself while taking a deep breath. She takes one more look in the mirror, decides she looks passable, and makes her way out of her room to go bang on Sokka’s door, because she’s almost certain he’s slept through his alarm.

The school cafeteria has to be Katara’s least favorite area in the entire school. It is humongous, and provides nourishment, sure; but that doesn’t stop it from being a cesspool of teenage toxicity and stereotypes.

With random pointless physical altercations taking place on the daily, tongues being used for non-eating purposes, and the constant sight of spilt milk at every step with pizza crusts swimming in the puddles, Katara usually takes a hard pass on eating in the cafeteria.

The cafeteria makes Sokka look refined by comparison.

To avoid being a victim of her teenage circumstances, she tries to spend her lunch periods volunteering to stock books in the school library; while munching on an apple and nutri-grain bar.

When she’s not in the cafeteria, she usually eats lunch with her friend Suki, and her alleged future sorority sisters. They call themselves the Kyoshi sisters, and they’ve all been taking gymnastics lessons since they were all in diapers. It’s a generational sort of thing.

They brazenly explained to Katara how their periods are all in sync, and they’ve made a maternity pact together, giving Katara all the info she needed to know that this is not her scene.

Suki’s a good friend and all, but Katara can never be a Kyoshi sister. It’s just not in her blood.

So when the library’s closed, and she has to awkwardly grin and bear the tight-as-a-knot sisterhood, she can’t help but feel a twinge of loneliness; despite the fact that she is surrounded by hundreds of students.

Katara has always associated her very tame social life with being wise beyond her years. She does practically run a single parent household with Sokka as her child, due to her dad being gone, and her mom being… yeah.

Gran-Gran has helped a ton around the house, of course, but Gran-Gran’s help doesn’t quite fill the empty void Katara’s always try to fill for herself and her brother.

She thinks this lunch may be a nice escape from all of that difficult family stuff. She wants to keep her expectations low, but just can’t.

Yes, she has a crush.

Yes, this is the most excited she’s ever been about anything in a while.

Yes, she heard Zuko’s heart monitor in the hospital beep off the charts, giving her an inkling that he feels the same way.

No, she hasn’t considered the fact that it may have been something other than his feelings for her that set the alarm in motion.

She’s ready to finally indulge in the ignorant teenage bliss that having a romantic partner will magically solve your problems, and shield you from reality.

With one confident step, she bursts into the school cafeteria with her chin raised, her smile proud, and her heart somersaulting all over her body. She ignores the handsy teenagers licking each other up as if they are trying to catch the last droplets of an ice cream cone, and she effortlessly skips over the spilt milk and pizza concoction; it suddenly doesn’t seem as gross.

She makes her way over to the emergency exit, because the table they both agreed to meet at lays right in front of it.

The table’s blocked by a pillar. Zuko is behind it.

There’s no stopping her now.

She practically skips over to their meeting area and…

He’s not there.

She blinks. Okay, she may have rushed here a bit earlier due to anticipation. Plus, loyalty and honor seem very important to Zuko, he’s not the type to just stand someone up.

She moves to sit down, and collects herself, unpacking the food she specifically brought to share. Food that she has made sure do not contain and are not affiliated with peanuts in any way; bringing two bags of Cool Ranch Doritos, some apple-cinnamon Nutri-Grain bars, and apples to share. For herself she brought a Tuna sandwich. What can she say? She loves fish, it’s in her blood.

After getting everything settled on the table she finds that she doesn’t know what to do with herself.

She folds her hands together and sets them on the table.

After a full on 12 seconds of waiting (yes she counted), she takes a swift look behind her to see if she can spot Zuko making his way toward the table, and lo’ and behold there he is standing 5 inches behind her.

“Eeep!” She yelps.

He frowns. Obviously confused as to why she made that sound.

“Damn-it” she thinks. Why can’t she ever play it cool when trying to woo the opposite sex?

He’s the first one to speak.

“Hey… what’s… up?” He utters the common phrase like he’s never said it aloud before, like he had just spoken the words of a foreign language for the first time.

“...Hey.” She says tepidly, inwardly cringing about greeting Zuko with another out-of-left-field outburst.

Real smooth, Katara, she thinks.

“Sorry about…, the outburst. You just... startled me.”

He looks at her, taking her in. She wonders what he’s thinking. He looks serious, is he upset?

“Well, at least you didn’t tackle me this time.” He deadpans.

Katara blinks up at him, not quite knowing how she should receive him. Should she apologize or laugh?

He’s looking at her expectantly; like he’s expecting a certain type of reaction from her.

“You’re…joking?”

“Uh…yeah.” He says sounding more so like he’s asking and not answering.

He shoots her a tight-lipped closemouthed smile, that somehow melts away the awkwardness.

“Tehehehehehe” she giggles out sounding like a five-year-old girl frolicking through a field of grass.

And just like that, the awkwardness returns.

After letting that sound come out of her mouth, she swiftly uses both hands to cover her mouth. She wonders why she can’t she ever keep her composure in front of this guy?

She moves her mouth to explain well... that when she notices he’s chuckling softly to himself.

It’s a very quiet laugh. It could be interpreted more as a small coughing fit. You can tell he’s holding back, like he’s not used to openly expressing joy.

If she wasn’t so exposed to his shy/awkward tendencies than she would think the laugh was kinda hot. She decides it can be both hot and cute.

“Haha, very funny. Can you just sit down already?”

“As you wish.” He says while giving her a mock curtsy as if she were royalty, which she finds ironic.

“Dork.” She mutters under her breath.

He starts to settle in, taking out a thermos and a water bottle.

He looks at his thermos and just glares at it, not making any move to open and eat whatever’s in there.

“Everything ok?”

“Yeah it’s just… Uncle has insisted on making me lunch these past few days.”

He stops himself and takes a big gulp. Like he’s forcing himself to not vomit on spit at the mere thought of what he’s about to say.

“And it’s just… horrible! All he knows how to do is boil flavored water. He made me soup with beets in it, and honestly it tastes like he just boiled one of his dirty socks in water!” He says getting off his chest

Katara can’t help it; but she’s gawking at him. He never ceases to amaze her. He’s always come off as so refined and proper, to see him throwing a small tissy fit over food has got to be the cutest thing she’s ever seen.

She bites back a smile.

“Want a bite?” She breaks up half of her tuna sandwich offers a piece of it out to him.

“Its fine Katara, I don’t want to take half of your lunch.”

“Then at least have some of these, I brought them for both of us.”

She extends her bag of cool ranch Doritos out to him.

He takes in the sight of the bag of chips like it’s some sort of foreign oddity he’s never came across before in his life.

It seems like papa dearest never allowed Zuko to eat snacks that were savory either, Katara thinks bitterly on his behalf.

He takes a chip. She beckons him to take more, and he begrudgingly complies. He looks pouty, but Katara can tell that he’s secretly enjoying it.

“I mean, cooking’s not very difficult. It’s basically heating stuff up, adding ingredients, and patience. “Katara said.

“And I know all about patience.” Zuko replies.

She gives him a sad smile.

“I could, ya know, teach you how to cook sometime you know.” Katara says clearly abashed judging by her face donned with a red complexion.

He sighs, obviously feeling like he’s being a nuisance to her.

“Don’t worry about me Katara, I’ll just learn how to make sandwiches. Can’t be too hard right? Just meat and bread.”

“It’s really not a big deal at all Zuko. I cook all the time! Besides, it’d be nice to have some company while cooking from time to time. I mean, the only company I get is Sokka popping his annoying head through the door asking if I’m almost done, or if he can take a bite of the unfinished completely raw meat that I’m working on!” She huffs out.

He stares at her, looking like he doesn’t know if he should laugh or offer words of comfort because of the random outburst.

“Sorry, just gotta vent sometimes. You know… siblings.”

His mood suddenly turns solemn.

“Yeah… siblings.”

He seems to have become detached from the original conversation from out of nowhere. Katara starts to wonder what she had said wrong.

“I mean, even if you don’t want to cook, maybe we could hang out sometime after school.” She spits out her words so quickly that what she said is almost indistinguishable.

“What was that?” says Zuko, either finding her words indistinguishable or having his mind be somewhere else.

It took a lot for Katara to get that out. She doesn’t know if she has the courage to say it again, when his attention is fully on her.

“Just give me your hand.” She grabs a pen from the side of her bag while simultaneously grabbing his left wrist. Seeming to stun him out of his reverie.

She’s only able to write down two numbers on his hand when a familiar noise rings in Katara’s ears…the schools fire alarm.

The bell rings, and naturally, the school cafeteria erupts in chaos. Katara and Zuko split apart, the bell stunning them out of their awkward yet heated stupor.

They start to pack their stuff up in an awkward silence. Katara refuses to look him in the eye because quite frankly, she knows she messed up again. She grabbed his wrist out of nowhere which is incredibly impolite, and weird, and he probably thinks she’s a freak.

Her behavior is starting to anger her, she is usually so composed in front of other people, respecting peoples space and yada yada.

Not with Zuko, whenever he shows up the good sense is knocked right out of her head.

She tries to get a good look at him from the corner of her eyes, she notices he’s avoiding eye contact too.

They make their way through the emergency exit doors, they’re the first to do so since they were seated right next to it.

It’s when they reach the outside when Katara realizes she made one colossal mistake, she forgot to take her coat with her from her homeroom.

Crap.

The frigid frostiness hits her hard. It’s been a cold winter that’s for sure.

She’s more than accustomed to cold weather. The heat and electricity has gone off in her home before and her families had to resort to sleeping next to the fireplace. She’s grown up in cold-weather all her life.

She stifles a shiver; it doesn’t go unnoticed, however, because a huge lump has just been placed on her shoulders… literally.

Zuko’s coat.

His coat is red and black. She thinks every outfit in his wardrobe must either be red, gold, or black. It’s the heaviest jacket she’s ever wore. She’s not quite sure if boys’ jackets are just naturally more heavy, or if Zuko weighted down his coat for fitness purposes. Maybe both.

She doesn’t immediately decline the offer, because it feels well… good? It smells freshly laundered, with a sharp hint of spice. Clean and manly. The dream.

After thinking about whether or not to accept the offer for a few seconds Katara looks at Zuko to tell him that its fine, but he dismisses her with a polite hand raise and a soft smile.

Well; he does have an extra sweatshirt on, Katara rationalizes.

They walk to where the students are supposed to line up on the football field quietly, which troubles her.

No one really wants to talk outside in the cold. They’re too annoyed by being cold to talk. It can’t possibly be because I said something to upset him, or he’s pissed that I grabbed his hand without consent. No it couldn’t be that, I full on tackled him three days ago and he wasn’t that pissed. Wahhh.

The swarm of students moving about outside is hectic. There are a lot of teachers outside trying to mediate the situation. Katara’s starting to think that maybe this isn’t just your average fire drill.

They line up near the fence of the football field where the more tranquil students are lined up.

Katara notices that there are students outside for recess/gym on the field, still participating in outdoor sports in this frigid cold. She looks out at the pissed off red blotchy faces of the students, and spots a face that looks downright jovial, a familiar face. Her brothers.

She moves closer to the fence to get a better sight of him, her motherly instinct wanting to check to see he is warm and bundled up. His face is read and blotchy, same as the others, but you could never tell he’s effected by the cold from the way he’s carrying on.

He’s sucking up to the football team, patting their backs and leaning over in a hunch to show that he is laughing hysterically. Meanwhile the 6 foot jocks are standing around him, stone-faced. He’s telling jokes that aren’t going over as well as he thinks they are with all the swagger and confidence a person could possess.

Katara cannot help but outwardly face-palm at the sight of her brother in this sad state. She knows he’s trying to get an in with the guys so he can learn how to smooth-talk the ladies better, but this is just embarrassing.

Welp, she hopes he doesn’t get beat up. From the looks of what’s going on, it seems like a strong possibility.

She moves away from the fence to move back to the line when someone bumps into her hard. She gets the wind knocked out of her and goes flying.

Whoever bumped into her had to have been running because the momentum pushed her at least five feet forward into something… someone solid, warm, and protective.

Whoever caught her wraps their arm around the small of her back protectively, she doesn’t register who it is until she hears the voice speak loud and hoarse.

“Hey!” The voice calls out.

She removes her head from her chest, and looks up at him, Zuko. She’s surprised. Surprised at their close contact. Between the getting the wind knocked out of her and being at such a close proximity with Zuko; she is finding it difficult to draw at least one breath.

“Yeah, man?” Another voice responds sounding smugly familiar.

“You ran into her really hard, I think you should apologize.” Zuko says in a very calm tone. Katara’s impressed, she’s never heard him this composed.

She hears whoever he’s talking to make a sharp turn judging by the skidding sound of their boots.

He approaches them.

“Sorry, lil lady. Was just playing a little game of my tag with my good friend Smellerbee here.”

She knows the voice.

“Jet?”

“…Katara?”

Awkward…

Zuko, still holding on to the small of Katara’s back protectively, almost possessively, looks back and forth between the two, obviously as shocked as they are.

Jet’s facial expression is initially shocked, but when he takes Katara in he wears a weirdly smug expression on his face.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“Not long enough.” She responds sharply.

“Ouch, are you still mad about that?”

“About that!? You mean when you manipulated me into trusting you, and basically using me as a foil to ruin a bunch of good people’s lives? Yeah, not quite over that yet, maybe ask me if I am in another lifetime!” She says crossing her arms over her chest approaching him; unafraid.

“Oh come on Katara, it wasn’t like that and you know it. One bad egg spoils the whole bunch anyways.”

“I see you haven’t changed.” She sneers.

He’s a quiet for a moment, then responds. “Well I see you have.” He says while eyeing her up head to toe.

Zuko immediately steps in between them after his lewd comment, glaring. Unabashedly, unafraid, and downright furious.

“Learn to talk to a lady properly. Now I’m going to have to tell you to apologize again.” He says with fire burning in his eyes.

Jet doesn’t cower in fear, but instead rises to the challenge. He squares up, face to face with Zuko. He’s also not one to be put into a corner.

“I think the lady can speak for herself, thank you very much. Who do you think you are anyway? Speaking on behalf of everyone? I guess it’s just… like father like son, wanting to constantly control every bit of everyone’s life. Isn’t that right little rich boy?”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Zuko sneers.

“Oh, I don’t? I’d recognize that scar 50 yards away. Zuko.” He says his name with disgust. “Heard you’re not living in your families’ mansion anymore, what happened? Did daddy kick you out? Is that why you’re hanging out with dear ol Katara here? Trying to be another one of her broken boy toys she’s trying to fix?”

If Zuko hadn’t done it, Katara was just a millisecond away.

He shoves Jet to the floor with a hard push. The impact is hard; he lands on his back square onto a sheet of hard ice.

There’s a collective “oooo” noise sounding out from the crowd surrounding them. Looks like they got an audience.

“Zuko! You didn’t have to push him so hard! What’re you doing?”

Zuko looks at Katara, mouth agape. Obviously displeased for her lack of gratitude.

“I was defending your honor!”

“Defending my honor? I think I can handle myself. I don’t need some… boy playing the noble knight in shining armor character for me. I’m plenty tough myself!”

Zuko doesn’t say anything. He glares down at Katara obviously angered, but at the same time looking pained.

Damn him, Katara thinks. Looking at me like a soft puppy. He just acted completely violent and rash because he and Jet were having some sort of pissing contest about me? What am I, an object!? Sure Jets a jerk but that doesn’t give Zuko the right.

Katara then remembers Jets existence. She spins around to check up on him, because foe or not, she doesn’t want anyone to get hurt under any circumstances ever. In a flash, before she could do anything, Jet is up and charging hard at Zuko.

Jet tries to spear Zuko down to the floor, but Zuko seeing the move coming grabs him in a headlock and takes a knee which prevents them both from tumbling over. Jet starts to aim sharp punches to Zuko’s ribs, trying to get out the precarious situation he’s in right now, while Zuko’s adjusting his headlock.

“STOP!” Katara runs forward to break up the fight, not really caring if she gets hit in the line of fire, when yet again another figure approaches the scene before her.

“Alright gentlemen, lets break it up. Let’s play nice.”

And Katara didn’t think this awful situation could get any worse.

Sokka pulls Jet away from Zuko, and Zuko impressively refrains from going back after Jet. Jets still writhing in Sokka’s hold, but Sokka impressively has a vice like grip around Jet’s waist.

“Would you hold on man? Geez, want us all to get in trouble much?” Sokka says while trying to keep Jet in place.

Jet stops moving, obviously recognizing the voice. Sokka slowly let’s go, thinking he has mediated the situation, but then Jet turns around.

“Hey Sokka, long time no see. I was just putting a snobby rich kid in his place, now if you don’t mind me…” Jet moves to turn around to continue what he was doing when he’s speared to the ground by Sokka.

The crowd roars with confusion.

Sokka is pummeling Jet, but his hits don’t look like they’re hurting him very much. The strikes are very sloppy, like he hasn’t put any thought into his mode of offense.

“YOU JERK, YOU MANIPULATED EVERYONE. YOU STOLE MY SISTERS PURITY!”

The crowd gasps in astonishment.

Katara gasps with horror.

“NO HE DIDN’T SOKKA WOULD YOU QUIT SAYING THAT, LET GO OF HIM!”

Now it’s Katara’s time to get in the physical mix, grabbing Sokka by the waist and mimicking the vice-like grip he kept on Jet.

Sokka, obviously surprised to see Katara has entered the mix, looks at her with a cheeky smile.

“Hey… sis, sorry about the gross exaggeration of words. Was just trying to protect your honor, ya know how it is.”

It takes Katara all of her willpower to not smack him across the face.

“Katara can take care of defending her own honor.” Zuko says sounding informative yet bitter.

Katara looks at him, glaring. He’s glaring right back. What the hell did she do? It was his and Jet’s stupid bravado that got them into this mess in the first place.

Sokka even looks up at Zuko, not quite knowing what to make of his words.

“Yeah I agree man, but you know girls. Mood swings. You don’t know what they’ll do.” He twirls his index finger in a circle right next to his head. Insinuating that all women are crazy.

Katara is about to bonk him on the head when a loud whistle roars loud, making everyone move to cover their ears.

“What’s going on here?” Coach Chong growls out.

Katara and Sokka are situated on the floor, and Zuko stands above them. The three of them move their heads to where Jet last stood, or should they say “laid,” and he is nowhere to be seen.

They move their heads to look back at the coach and he looks pissed. Katara notices the crowd has dissipated obviously not wanting to feel the wrath of coach Chong. Not that she can blame them, but she thinks they can face some sort of accountability for witnessing the most humiliating moment of her life!

He’s looking at them expectantly, waiting for them to say something. Sokka, thankfully chimes in to make the save.

“Just slipped on this long sheet of ice here, and accidentally took the lil sis down with me!”

The coach looks at Katara, looking to see if she can verify the story.

“Oh yes Sokka! You’re just oh so clumsy! Haha!” She says with no hint of amusement in her voice.

“Oh come on, that was such bad acting!” Sokka “whispers” loud enough for the coach to hear.

The coach just rolls his eyes, obviously not seeing an imminent threat to school safety in this situation.

“Whatever kids, it’s been a helluva day here, just try to stop stirring up some extra trouble. We don’t got no time for…”

He stops speaking he notices Zuko is in his line of vision. The coach seems surprised, then regains his stoicism.

“You’re gonna have to come with me boy, your sister and girlfriends friend isn’t doing so well.”

Coach turns around to leave expecting Zuko to follow.

Zuko gives one last look at Katara, it’s not a smile, but it’s not a frown either, and quite frankly she doesn’t feel like discerning the look right now. She also noticed that he didn’t correct coach when he made that girlfriend comment.

She watches him walk off in the distance. She’s extremely sad and disappointed with how today went. She was looking forward to this all weekend, and even when considering her lowest expectations for today she never anticipated this.

“Hey guys, did you hear what happened?”

“Suki!” Sokka squeals out in delight.

Katara sighs. Finally, a welcomed surprise, she thinks to herself.

“Hey Suki, no we don’t know exactly what happened, did you hear anything?”

“Apparently that really peppy girl, Ty Lee, I think her name is, got her eyebrows burned off in Chemistry lab. Not much word on what actual injuries she sustained, but its rumored that her best friend Azula did it, and she did it on purpose.

“Azula? Isn’t that that dude who was just here’s sister?” Sokka asks

“Zuko? What was he doing here? Suki responds.

“Oh he was just fighting Jet, and naturally I heroically swooped in and saved the day and… yeah. Hey what was he doing here Katara?” Sokka who finally deems it appropriate to ask asks.

Katara doesn’t answer him. She just wants the ground to eat her up, she’s done with today, and just wants it to end already.

“Eh, leave her alone Sokka, Katara can handle herself.” Suki says assuredly, coming to her defense.

“You’re right Suki. You know, sometimes you gotta let girls be and let them fight their own battles!” Sokka remarks like he’s a prophet.

Katara doesn’t think he eyes could roll farther back into her head. Thankfully Suki doesn’t seem to buy whatever crap Sokka’s spewing because she rolls her eyes as well.

“Well, let’s go back inside, I think everything should be calming down now.” She throws a reassuring arm around Katara’s shoulder and they saunter off back to the school.

Its only then when Katara realizes she still has Zuko’s jacket.

Katara doesn’t see Zuko for the rest of the day. And since they never exchanged contact information, she has no idea how she’s going return his coat to him.

She resolves to herself that she’ll return it the next day.

She thinks it’s probably best that they take some space from one another after what just happened today.

*************************************************************************************

The next day comes, and no Zuko. She doesn’t spot him in the halls, at lunch. What’s weird is that his sister and her cronies seemingly haven’t shown up to school either. There’s all kinds of rumors swirling around about how Azula’s a crazy jealous friend, and how Ty Lee’s so dumb she set herself on fire, etc. She has no idea what’s going on. She really wanted to get to know Zuko better, but then yesterday happened and derailed everything. She knows she has music class with him tomorrow, so hopefully she’ll see him then.

Wednesday comes and still no Zuko. She spends the majority of her music class staring at his empty seat, brainstorming what could have possibly gone on. Is he ok? Is his family ok? Is Ty Lee ok? Her worry for him has overridden her anger at him. She knows how messed up his family situation is, and honestly just wants to know if her friend is ok.

*************************************************************************************

Zuko doesn’t come in for the rest of the week, and lo’ and behold they have the next week off for break. Hooray.

Katara’s mind is pained with confusion and worry.

The strong musty and fiery scent has started to wither from his jacket.

#zutara #Zuko #katara #avatar: the last airbender #fanfic

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scribedsouls-blog · 6 years ago

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emunenen · 4 years ago

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Fences make good neighbors, how to decide if you need a hedge or a fence

Perhaps because their primary objective is concealment rather than a complementary to the beauty of the main investment, boundary fences seldom get attention commensurate to their value.

Yet a look at the sayings and quotes across communities and cultures vindicates the place of fences to mankind. A version of ‘good fences make good neighbours’ originally attributed to American poet Robert Frost exists in virtually every culture. From primordial societies steeped in communal existence to elite snobs’ neighbourhoods, man has always craved a fence.

At the heart of this craving lies three main reasons: territory-marking, security and privacy. Even in societies where land is/was communally owned and used, a boundary of sorts marking the beginning and the end to an individual’s crop or the space for, say, shift cultivation for a given season is inevitable. So is the need for barriers to keep wildlife at bay. The same necessity applies to pastures. Even group ranches have boundaries!

Security and privacy reasons are intricately linked. Whether in a big city or a rural set up, fences have grown to be an essential feature for homes and properties.

They are needed to keep the wanted and unwanted in or out. Fences keep off nosy neighbours and wandering eyes. They boost security for the individual and his property from thugs, thieves and vandals.

Boundary fences have another important value: beauty. Because they are the first thing a visitor or a passer-by sees, they are a huge factor in impressions. Well thought-out and designed fences boost property’s aesthetics. It explains why some investors and developers spend big to give fences distinctive shapes and looks.

Broadly, fences can be classified into two main categories: masonry fences and hedges. The former are made of inanimate material such as stones, wood or iron sheets. Hedges are made of vegetation, usually trees, shrubs or flowers. Comparatively, fences and hedges have their pros and cons. For a developer or investor, a careful consideration of which one to go for is important subject to applying limitations.

Fences are ideal in small, stand-alone houses. They also have an advantage of immediacy in situations where a physical barrier is required for security and privacy.

They are good means to restricted access because they are easy to limit and guard entry and exit points. Once erected, fences have few maintenance costs. Their solidness also makes it easy to establish and claim clear ownership.

The flipside is that they have little aesthetic flexibility and visual appeal. In urban set ups where plots are small-sized and the residences many, they inevitably create an ugly and congested concrete jungle. Their setup cost is also relatively high.

Hedges, by contrast, are great for larger spaces. Besides being relatively cheaper to create, they also have solid advantages. Their predominantly green hue boosts the scenic appeal.

Depending on the nature of the plants/vegetation, this beauty can be eye-pleasing especially during flowering seasons. In addition to providing shade, the foliage also acts as a screen for wind, dust and noise. This adds to the quality of the air and water and the general serenity in an area.

Hedges also serve as a magnet for biodiversity. They attract wildlife especially birds and rodents adding to liveliness and naturalness. They can be good interrupters of soil erosion, runoff waters and pollutants such as plastics. Shed leaves and decaying roots and trunks enrich the soil. And the variety for hedges abounds depending on the obtaining climate and individual preferences.

The primary disadvantage of hedges is that they take long to grow. Where privacy is desired, this can be a major drawback. They also require regular maintenance such as pruning, watering and manuring.

In tight spaces such as majority of urban settlements, hedges may also be a source of conflict between neighbours because of their tendency to overgrow and encroach other properties. They may also provide habitation or hideaways to snakes and other undesirable animals and conceal criminals.

Rising attention to climate change and demand for green spaces is boosting the competitive value of hedges. Conscientious developers and investors are increasingly frowning upon fences in favour of hedges especially where security is guaranteed through perimeter walls and other arrangements. In some controlled estates, there is restriction if not outright forbiddance of concrete fences in a bias for the more alluring and less unsightly hedges.

At the Kijani Ridge neighbourhood within Tatu City, Kiambu County, for instance, homeowners commit to install transparent fences enhanced and supplemented by living fences to create green vistas.

Besides enhancing the look and feel of the estate, such fences also dilute the perception of congestion that inevitably results from too many walls in close proximity. And because Tatu City guarantees security, homeowners are discouraged from grilling their windows in a deliberate push for an ‘uncaged city’ surrounded by greenery.

Cytonn has an almost similar policy on its real estate investments. For security reasons, its major projects have a masonry perimeter wall enhanced with electric fence. For stand-alone houses, developers are encouraged to plant live fences or other fences such as chain-link that are deemed light and less clattered.

From the aforesaid, the advantage scales tilt in favour of hedges against masonry fences. For a developer desirous of a live fence, there are however critical considerations before settling on hedges ¬– and the specific type for that matter: The cost of inputs (seeds/seedlings, fertiliser), labour, expertise (soil analyst, landscaper) and watering may pose a significant planting cost. So is routine maintenance especially for fast-growing shrubs and climbers.

There are other considerations such as whether the preferred species can grow in a specific area. Their growing rate especially if a privacy/security screen is desired also matters.

Some species for hedges that otherwise tick many right boxes also have controversial attributes such as alleged toxics that harm the soil and the wider ecosystem. There are also other environment-related concerns such as water-consumption habits, offensive smells and dominant canopies that smother underground vegetation. Biodiversity lovers might wish to plant species that yield pollen and berries that attract insects and birds.

Like masonry fences, hedges are also subject to regulatory policies and restrictions. It is therefore necessary to check out county governments and relevant authorities’ regulations on, say, what can or cannot be planted and the applying licenses and permits needed.

To get that perfect hedge, consulting a professional botanist or landscaper also helps on finer details of spacing and the mix/varying of species.

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morriganeris · 7 years ago

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FAQ

1. “How much is...?” This is, hands down, the most common question I get. I’m sorry and you’re not gonna like this. I can’t tell you. I can’t even give you a ballpark answer. I can let you know that I don’t do a whole lot under four figures.

I know it’s super inconvenient to not know in advance what we’re gonna be looking at and that it would be nice to be able to plan and budget in advance. The best advice I can give you here is to figure out what the most you’re comfortable spending is, save that up, and come in with a few ideas of how you might like to spend our time together. 2. “Do you do [activity?]” Ask me directly. 3. Can I mail you things?

It is an absolute...thing that makes me blush?...when you guys mail me things.

Amazon Wishlist for GFE/Brothel Stuff: http://a.co/glPo03k

Amazon Wishlist for Home/Office Stuff: http://a.co/7TbpTSr

4. What stuff do you prefer to have mailed at you?

Practicality is always cool. Useful home/office things > whatever else...but it’s not like there’s any mail I won’t get excited about. 5. Are you actually an attorney?

Yeah. Sometimes. Not licensed in Nevada. Not practicing in Nevada. Not looking for or accepting clients who find me through the brothel-ing thing. Attorney-ing informs my really-quite-political stance on prostitution.

6. Do you have other social media?

You can sign up for my emailing list here: http://eepurl.com/dfFDWv

Facebook:

Periscope: Not yet a thing

Tumblr: You’re on it

Website: MorriganEris.com (in progress)

Instagram: Not yet a thing

Snapchat: Not yet a thing

YouTube: I will go find this URL later

7. I won’t be in Nevada on [date]. Can you change your schedule?

Probably not? Because of other commitments, schedule changes are difficult to make happen. We don’t take deposits at the brothel I work at, which further complicates any schedule-change considerations -- if you flake on me, I’ve just inconvenienced a fair number of people for no good outcome. If I’ve seen you before and know that you’re comfortable with my rates and boundaries and you’re wanting to book a long-ish party, I might be persuaded to move my flight home by a day or two, but beyond that, probably not.

8. I don’t like your rates. [Other girl] will do [thing] for [price.]

Then see other girl. I will not be offended. I’m not trying to have low rates. My time is expensive. I will try to figure out a party for most budgets, but I’m not about to promise you the world on a shoestring because you want economy prostitution.

9. I’ve never been to the Ranch. What can I expect when I get there?

I’ll fill this one in later. My response is rather lengthy.

10. I can’t come see you because [reason.] Can we just chat?

Probably no. I don’t sext. I will occasionally bounce messages around because I like getting to know maybe-clients, but if you don’t plan to book, please be considerate and compensate me for interacting with you. It’s not that I don’t want to talk to you. It’s just that, you know, this is kinda my job, I only have so many hours in the day, and my inboxes (email and Twitter both) are a little daunting anymore.

11. You shot that porn thing?

Gifs, clips, and whatever will be available as they become available. There will be a Twitter (Eris Enterprises) specifically for politically-oriented sexual media / sexually-oriented political media.

12. What are your favorite types of party?

GFE or “girlfriend experience” is far and away my most popular booking. It feels more natural and less metered/structured -- we aren’t trying to piecemeal together an a la carte party where you have [whatever] for [some minutes] and then [something else] for [other minutes] this way; we can just chill and enjoy our time together.

Bear in mind, please, that what one provider calls GFE is not necessarily the same service as what another provider calls GFE. If you have specific questions about this, definitely check in with me.

Other than GFE, my favorite bookings are virgins, couples / solo women, 2+ girl parties (threesomes / orgies), and nerds. If you are socially awkward, we’re gonna friend-up so hard.

13. Is booking with you safe?

Legally speaking, absolutely.

Medically speaking, as safe as sex with a stranger can be. In compliance with relevant Nevada statutes, I’m tested each time I get to the Ranch and each week I’m there thereafter. They take my blood. They don’t give it back. They also swab my cervix and whatever.

Latex barriers are used for any intimate activities. I’m not cool with getting any of anyone’s fluids. This includes saliva. This means absolutely no uncovered oral (giving or receiving) ever. Please don’t ask. That’s real uncomfortable.

My understanding is that we’re only required to be tested for HIV, chlamydia, gonhorrea, and...ugh, some fourth one that I can’t remember right now. I’m meticulous about sexual health and like to check in at Planned Parenthood pretty regularly for a more extensive battery of testing. Sexual health is important, kids.

After we’ve negotiated our party but before we’ve finalized payment with the office, I will do a visual/manual health inspection of your intimate areas if we’re engaging in any activities that involve any risk of transmitting...anything. I’m very thorough about this and very serious about this. Any unusual bumps (even if you insist they’re just zits, ingrown hairs, or razor burn), lesions, unusual discharge, inflammation, compromised skin integrity, etc. will cause me to refuse the booking, even if you’re offering a whole lotta money. I don’t mess around with health things.

If you have concerns that I’ll decline because of some condition that you know is benign, please see your doctor before you come in. Have a doctor’s note on hand to show me that that’s just a birthmark or scarring from circumcision or whatever. I’ll really appreciate it.

14. What should I know before I arrive?

A. Please drive yourself rather than taking a taxi, limo, or other transportation option.

B. Body hair maintenance/shaving -- I’ll come back to this one later.

15. Do I have to bring cash?

The office accepts all major credit cards. I think the receipts say something like “Valley Inn and Spa.” There is also an ATM. To avoid the ATM fees, it seems more prudent to just run your card with the office, but whatever works for you is cool

Will add more as it crosses my mind.

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pborderlands244blh-blog · 5 years ago

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Borderlands where is ore chasm

Borderlands 2 varkid ranch observatory how to get in?

If you want to go back to this particular project at any time, you will get going without running shoes with the Applications, setup game lines for mods menus alternative. Terramorphous was considered after Borderlands developer Gearbox Software imagine precisely how players gotten pleasure from getting in Crawmerax the Indomitable (simply no connection), the crab earthworms raid boss from your fantastic The Riddle Armory involving Universal Knoxx downloadable add-on Borderlands 2 skill tree. This implies, based on the offer Class Mod, you'll have 9 points for a selected skill with a ceiling of 5. Gearbox color in vast brushstrokes, positive, however they do not depend upon cardboard finish away characters or perhaps route in the powder quest framework. They, as well as a number of class brand new characters, will assist players wipe out Jack, terminate the Warrior, as well as but Pandora.

Help make towards you towards the foundation in the Bloodshed tree, while, along with a person unlock skills of which make it possible for people be in this Lies manner potentially forever. Jack, supposedly supporting them, instantly sabotages the succession along with goes the Vault Hunters pertaining to over in a gotten cold wasteland. Just like the opening game, Borderlands is really a mission-based First-Person Rifle with RPG Factors, enabling the person for you to upgrade their own characters with new skills in addition to abilities, while boosting their road by means of hordes involving noncitizen persons, robots, in addition to nuts bandits. Go back to the settlement winning shooter-looter for a fresh experience in which adjusts the level with the upcoming Borderlands 2. At the same time, the several great campaigns you receive inside BAMF DLC Wrap up most offer a crowd connected with another environments, missions, tools, rifles, foes, bosses, and so considerably more.

It also appears to be a free DLC, therefore this a great extra for Borderlands 2 max level players. Borderlands 2 is just meant to be used in players from the game. In the credit score, various prospects end up being explained on the Pandorans celebrating Handsome Jack's wipe out also taking on assist their particular world on the continuing to be Hyperion drives, Lilith turn out to be the revolutionary manager with the Crimson Raiders, the Vault Hunters being hailed as heroes representing their particular deeds, Lilith, Brick along with Mordecai mourning Roland, along with Mordecai hatching in addition to increasing the latest family pet bird called Talon. Conserves manually migrated from Opportunities to help Linux should have many lowercase characters in the filename. With the launch connected with Borderlands VR upcoming Sony has published a brand new PlayStation VR package using the game, Conquer Saber and also each of the hardware you'll want to act the games.

How to farm Borderlands 2?

Commander Lilith And The Combat Regarding Refuge assurances to look at players returning to the noncitizen entire world of Pandora, house dirt intended for Borderlands in addition to Borderlands 2 (2012) although only 1 associated with numerous planets during Sept 2019's Borderlands 3. Borderlands 2 is definitely an steps role-playing game enjoyed at a first-person point of view with much needed effects. Adjusting skills is quintessentially Borderlands, as well as quintessentially Gearbox. The expansion increases a new new article including things like nearly returning tossed fellow member and newborn characters, other than equally always the important star will be the loot.

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Players will certainly combat across the total involving Pandora to prevent Jack coming from wake up a good ancient noncitizen wicked told solely when. You'll find 4 playable characters with this game, just about all different, good 2 benefit characters which were increased seeing that DLC. Their a fantastic game, got pleasure from this a lot playing it with my personal closes friend with can easily wait for Borderlands, that seems so excellent. Every time I mod my personal skill points for you to approximately they in no way live after that I for you xbox whilst your usb and then load up Borderlands 2 while using modded.

We get to visit a role from the real world move to the bulk involving Maya while your woman places throw away to help foes. Gearbox Software takes care of to boost their particular IP often, present Borderlands 2 skill tree one of them names you could potentially not quite possibly overlook to obtain, as well as aiming extra attributes that could enable players to carry off of some water with regard to hours.

These stat progresses connect with most of a single player's characters. Sanctuary is under duress, the Vault's plan continues to be taken and a toxic gas becomes poisoning Pandora. Choose one among several character lessons to be engaged via a cautiously crafted along with was connected history to every one further in addition to frighten environments throughout the dwelling entire world involving Pandora. A number of primary story-based DLC bags become liberated as an ingredient, with Gearbox later releasing holiday-centric miniquests which emphasis close to wiping out a boss and also attaining a move with skin being a compensate. Class mods in addition have a prospects for increase skill points intended for a selected character's skill tree.

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bestmountaninbikes · 6 years ago

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CLOSER LOOK: SPOT ROLLIK 607

A couple of years prior, Spot Brand bicycles (situated in Golden, CO) discharged their first full-suspension bicycle, a 27.5″ 140mm back movement all-mountain ripper called the Rollik 557. It landed to a ton of extraordinary pomp and fabulous surveys and was quickly prevalent with purchasers searching for something new and unique in relation to a littler, home-developed bicycle organization. Quick forward to this spring and Spot has quite recently discharged a refresh to the Rollik with more travel, a burlier linkage, and progressively present-day geometry.

The Rollik 607, to us, is a definitive all-mountain (or Enduro) rig. With 160mm of front travel upheld by 150mm of Living-Link suspension in the back, this bicycle can do everything, anyplace. Of course, you won't have any desire to take it for a 50mm XC ride… yet you could.

The spot is one of our fundamental demo Mountain Bicycle accomplices, and all things considered we've been sufficiently fortunate to ride the Rollik for the most recent month-riding it on landscape extending from the rough, specialized singletrack of Fruita and Grand Junction to the precarious ascensions and rough downhills on the Front Range of Colorado. We've put the bicycle through the wringer on the trails it was intended to be on, so we're at long last putting our considerations to paper (you comprehend what I mean). In total honesty and as I referenced above-Spot is one of our accomplices here at Chasing Epic. All things considered, we don't get any free bicycles we need to pay for them simply like every other person.

THE BIKE- WHAT’S NEW

For the 2018 emphasis of the Rollik, Spot made some major-and not all that significant updates to the casing and the manufacturer:

• Travel was expanded from 150F/140R on the 557 to 160F/150R on the new 607.

• Head tube edge was loosened out a bit to 66.4 degrees, which is in the sweet spot of what we like in a perky Schwinn Bicycle.

• There is no front derailleur similarity on the new Rollik, which implies Spot could reinforce the edge where it checks to build sidelong solidness and improve accelerating productivity.

• They've improved the fabricate levels on the Rollik to all the more precisely mirror the kind of riding you'll be doing with this bicycle. More on this later.

• The upper connection is presently carbon, which builds parallel solidness considerably more.

• And perhaps the most critical refresh is the new Rollik is presently accessible in their attractive "Hot Tomato" shading.

Alright, how about we begin by saying I haven't reliably ridden a long-travel 27.5″ bicycle in a few years-a years ago, my fundamental two bicycles were the 120mm travel Ibis Ripley and the 150mm long-travel BMC TrailFox 29er. I had discounted 27.5″ bicycles generally, in light of the fact that I favored the riding effectiveness over the energy of the little wheels. We should start this audit with a truly telling articulation: due to the Rollik, I'm back on a 27.5″ bicycle. It's that great.

At first look, the bicycle is quite damn provocative. You can disclose to Spot puts a great deal of affection into the assembling procedure the edge is also fabricated and refined as some other Road Bicycle we've seen very close. The bending lines of the casing and insightful link steering reveals to you that Spot is without a doubt. The Hot Tomato shading is brilliant and eye-getting, and their matte dark (not envisioned here) is extremely sweet as well. We tried (and will convey as demos) the 5-star fabricates, which incorporate an XO1 SRAM Eagle drivetrain and Fox Factory suspension, and it's about comparable to you're going to discover for a ~$5000+ bicycle.

We'll dive into more detail underneath, however, our first take is that the bicycle ascensions and pedals well, yet is extremely fun loving and smooth when you point it downhill. It's not the super-slack Enduro Bicycle that is by all accounts prevalent with a ton of producers nowadays, however, that is not what it's intended to be.

BUILD KIT AND GEOMETRY

As referenced above, we've been trying the 5-star construct pack, which is valued all around intensely at $5499 by a method for Spot's "Inside Line" program, which is their new immediate to-buyer demonstrate. They'll convey the bicycle and have it expertly worked by VeloFix, which is a pleasant touch. Moreover, on the off chance that you ever have any issues or guarantee issues, Spot has just six full-time representatives, so you'll have the capacity to converse with a genuine person immediately.

On their 5-star build kit Here are the important bits:

· BikeYoke Revive Seatpost Dropper, 150mm

· Schwalbe Nobby Nic Addix 2.6″ tires

· SRAM Guide RSC brakes (180/160 rotors)

· Fox Factory DPX2 3-pos rear shock

· Fox Factory 36 160mm fork, 15×110 Boost

· SRAM XO1 drivetrain w/ X1 carbon cranks

· Stan’s Flow MK3 Wheels (29mm internal)

· Race Face Next 35 Carbon handlebar, 800mm

What might we change or update? To start with, the grasps (not recorded previously). For us, it's imperative to have lock-on holds since we move things around and take a shot at our bicycles so every now and again. The ODI Vans grasps are pleasant, however, they don't work for us actually. The Stan's Flow MK3 wheels are a strong decision and suitable for the construct level; they're a part that you MAY need to overhaul down the line in case you're into a more extensive edge, or in the event that you need carbon circles. For us, the sturdiness of the Flows is pleasant to have.

Ultimately, this was the first run through riding a bicycle with the new BikeYoke Revive dropper post. So far it's been incredible, and we haven't needed to manage it other than a snappy hiccup directly off the bat because of client mistake. The switch has a decent activity and the post is smooth and predictable. The real advantage is that the dropper can seep on the trail utilizing their restrictive drain framework (find it, it's entirely cool) – we're trusting that we don't need to manage it at any point in the near future!

CLIMBING AND PEDALING

As I referenced above, I've been shunning 27.5″ bicycles of late on the grounds that I generally felt moderate and drowsy on ascensions and accelerating through rough, uneven level areas. That inclination has been everything except killed by the Rollik; to such an extent, that I plan on consistently riding the Rollik on the majority of our spring treks to Fruita, Moab, and St. George. Subsequent to contemplating it for some time, I trust the freshly discovered accelerating effectiveness is a blend of a couple of things: higher-volume tires, new geometry, and Spot's Living Link suspension plan. I'm sold.

The higher-volume tires are plain as day: with the ongoing coming off "in addition to wheels", tire makers have started to push the limits of tire width, and therefore we're seeing more choices in the 2.5-2.6″ territory. Spot utilizes 2.6″ Nobby Nics on their bicycles; with the 29mm interior Stan's Flow wheels, you get a tire/wheel mix that is damn close in distance across to a 29″ wheel. Also, Spot is known for their more extreme seat tube edges, and the Rollik uses it well: at 75.5 degrees, you're in a progressively forceful accelerating position which enables you to pound up slopes and feel planted when the territory turns specialized.

And now the Living Link suspension configuration it resembles nothing you've seen previously. I'll let the video above clarify the material science of how it functions, however from my layman's point of view the Road Bicycle feels all the more energetic, and you have to a greater degree an accelerating stage than some other bicycle I've ridden. Before, when I realize I have a long move ahead, I've commonly exchanged the back stun into "climb" mode… however, with the Rollik, I can abandon it in "trail" and still feel like I'm taking advantage of the bicycle. Furthermore, trust me, I've taken it on some entirely stout trips here in the Front Range, including one where we climbed right around 3,000 vertical in just shy of five miles. Indeed, you read that right.

DESCENDING

Presently for the vital part, isn't that so? One of the primary advantages of a 27.5″ bicycle is that it's more lively than its bigger wheeled 29″ brethren, and this bicycle is the same. The Rollik 607 realizes how to tear when you point it downhill, and it's one of the better time bicycles I've ridden to date.

I'm somebody that likes to exploit the diverse suspension settings, thus I'll regularly move in "trail" mode (for both the front and back suspension), and afterward change it over to "dive" when I come to know that a particular plunge is coming. When I did this on the Rollik, it resembles the bicycle realized it was gathering time. The suspension promptly smoothed out and ate up all that we tossed at it: from the specialized plunges of rides like Hall Ranch, White Ranch, and Bobcat Ridge.Truly, it felt incredible. My mind quickly thought "fun loving" and "smooth" when I was riding it. The bicycle's geometry takes into consideration it to be snappy taking care of, yet the movement gives it some pad where it really matters.

All in all, how might I contrast it with different bicycles I've ridden as of late? Most positively, I'd state it resembles a somewhat progressively bulky Ibis HD3: it's fun loving like the HD3, yet generally speaking it feels more certainty motivating when the going gets harsh. We've additionally invested a smidgen of energy in the new Ibis HD4: the Rollik doesn't push through chunder and tech like the HD4, yet on the other side it's progressively fun loving and a greatly improved climber/pedaler. Contrast it with the long-travel 29er bicycles I've ridden before? Gee… . all things considered, the Rollik gives me that lively inclination that I've been absent in the course of the most recent few years. A smidgen of move over effectiveness is lost because of the somewhat littler wheels, however, I like the speedy taking care of and smooth riding of the Rollik a lot to return. Truly.

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS

The image above says everything…. riding the Rollik conveys a grin to your face. It makes riding bicycles far more fun than it ought to be. The folks at Spot have nailed it-the Rollik is a bicycle that can do pretty much everything and does it in an incredible looking, high-performing bundle. There's actually very little in the event that anything-I'd change about the Mountain Bike to improve it an entertainer. Alright, perhaps the grasps: please Spot, spec some lock-on for us so we don't need to quickly supplant them the first occasion when we need to move things around in the cockpit.

All things considered, I'll state this-we're super psyched to have Spotted on board as an accomplice. They're an extraordinary privately based, little organization that has extraordinary things in front of them and they make staggering bicycles. Goodness and they're enjoyable to ride with as well. I can certainly prescribe the Rollik for any of our customers hoping to ride something new and energizing in Moab, Fruita, and St. George – and I figure this bicycle will tear in the high piles of Colorado and Utah on our late spring rides also. It will be a mainstream alternative for Chasing Epic riders this year

#BicycleOrbit Bicycle Bike SyspensionBike RigidBike CheapBIkes Affordable_Bicycles Hot_Bicycles Hot_Bikes New_Relaease_Bicycles #Schwinn Bicycle #Mountain Bikes #Road bikes

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ourmrmel · 6 years ago

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Mel Feller a Texas and Utah Real Estate Investor Details the Definitive Guide to Mobile Home park Investing

Mel Feller, MPA, MHR with Offices in Texas and Utah

Mel Feller Seminars, Coaching For Success 360 Inc. /Mel Feller Coaching

See www.melfellersuccessstories.com and www.melfeller.com

Mobile home parks are increasingly becoming a strong real estate investment opportunity. Very few new mobile home parks are being built at this time. In fact, when you do the research you discover that in the U.S. only around 10 parks are currently being built each year. Despite low growth of mobile home parks, there is a huge upside to investing in mobile home parks in today’s economy. Compared to other commercial property investments, they are low maintenance. In reality, investors purchase the entire mobile home park and the residents rent or own their homes. In essence, the investor leases out the land.

Mobile home parks provide affordable housing that is necessary for the number of low-wage earners in the U.S. I just read a report released in May by the Social Security Administration that notes that 38 percent of all wage earners in the U.S. earn less than $20,000 a year. It then goes on to disclose that roughly 8 percent of the U.S. population, or 20 million Americans, presently live in mobile homes. Interestingly enough, when looking at various states, the state of South Carolina has the most with 16 percent of its population living in mobile homes.

Not only are they in demand, they provide fantastic returns. Mobile home parks have the highest cap rate of any real estate niche, roughly 7-12%. On the other hand, only about 20% of mobile home parks in the country are professionally owned and managed, leaving the remainder of the market up for grabs by smaller investors looking to begin their investment portfolio, diversify their portfolio, or even change direction with a new type investment vehicle.

The "IDEAL" Investment

If you have never heard the ideal investment explained, this is how I explain it.

I = Income: Even enough to live on plus profit

D = Depreciation: At least for 27.5 years!

E = Equity Build-Up: Everyday, our residents go to work for a check (so you do not have to) and they in turn give you a check to pay the bills, and amortize the debt. Big debt is not bad or scary as long as you do not have to pay for it.

A = Appreciation: By buying a property with the right things wrong, fixing those things and increasing the cash flow, you can force appreciation instead of waiting around for it to happen!

L = Leverage: By selling your business for what you could get FAST money instead of waiting to get "what it was worth". In other words, you are able to get enough money to move and end up controlling a valuable asset for less than 10% of its value. The fastest method to do this is to turn a Trailer Court into a Mobile Home Community

The universal law of business success is simple: find a need and fill it. That same principle applies as you look for small communities to purchase. The latest statistics say there are approximately 55,000 manufactured home communities nationwide, and 85% of them are under 100 sites! I personally can tell you that there are basically three levels of communities:

Individual Grade >100 Sites Primarily mom and pop type owners and individual investors

Investor Grade 101-199 Sites Primarily well-funded individuals and regional investors

Corporate Grade 200 + Sites Primarily large national companies with multiple property portfolios

Your level of experience and available capital will dictate the level you will or at least should start out with. In other words, If the big bucks are not interested in the smaller properties, isn't that where we should be focusing? I believe that there is a need to fill with specialized knowledge! Whenever, I look at different properties I have found that there were subcategories, no matter the size of the community:

Manufactured Home Communities: Usually newer, city utilities, paved roads, newer homes, large sites, some amenities, good to excellent management

Mobile Home Community / Park: Usually older, not always city utilities, not always paved roads, older homes, smaller sites, no amenities, little to some management

Trailer Courts: Some folks say they are kind of like a grab bag of offerings, hard to define, but you know it when you see it!

Each property has its own unique characteristics, though they all can have the same types of problems. There are abundant opportunities to move a property up the ladder to the next higher level. FILL THAT NEED!

Small local investors own most of the trailer courts and individual grade communities, usually Mom & Pop that have owned it for years and are probably tired of dealing with it. This is most noticeable by large amounts of vacancy, deferred maintenance and an overall "tired look". There is no curb appeal at all, and in fact, it might be downright scary looking! Many of these older owners just might be willing to give a younger investor a chance so that they can take it easy and enjoy their years of hard work. FILL THAT NEED!

It is also a great opportunity to take what you can learn from a good real estate coach to fill vacancies and to fill another local need by providing financing on homes for people that really need it. By updating a community where those older homes are to be found, you can continue to provide those residents affordable housing and us a great return. More important, you are also helping to make the town or city, and certainly the local neighborhood a better place for everyone. Do not ever think your hard work will ever go unnoticed by city officials and residents. Remember that whatever you put out comes back to you tenfold.

In addition to the ideal characteristics noted above, by purchasing a community, you will now have a long-term cash generator. You are also able to control the home sites and could finally start stocking your new "ranch" with some cash-flow houses!

I can promise you that as an investor, the thing that will make the biggest impression on you is the opportunity to force appreciation by buying a "trailer court" with all the right things wrong, and just by cleaning it up, improving the image and raising the cash flow you can turn it into a neat and clean mobile home community.

As with any income property, the primary thing that determines a manufactured home community’s value is its cash flow, or lack thereof. We want to be able to be driving by a potential acquisition and by getting some basic information and doing some quick, easy calculations, determine if you would like to take a closer look.

Without getting too technical just yet, think of an income producing property like a CD for sale down at your friendly bank. For example, let us say we go to the bank and pay $10,000 to "invest" in a CD. The bank is really giving us a deal and will pay us a whopping 5 % if we act fast and lock in the rate for 12 months, so we go ahead and do the deal. Now at the end of the 12 months, the bank pays us $500. How did the bank know what to pay us? They multiplied the amount invested, (10,000) by the interest rate, (5% or .05) and came up with $500.

What if you needed to generate $500 this year and knew the bank would pay 5 %, could you figure out how much you would need to put in the bank to generate the $500? Sure, you could. We just use the inverse of multiplication, division. In this case you would divide the desired income, $500 by the rate of 5% and we'd get $10,000.

If we look at the math involved, we could say the same thing algebraically by remembering our old buddy I R V, Where

I = Income

R = Rate of return

V = Value of the investment

Let's apply an income property to the CD example above. First, we would substitute V for the CD, I for the $500 and R for the 5%. Thus we could say that an income property that produced $500 of I was basically worth $10,000 of V at an R of 5%. Pick some numbers yourself and play around with them. Practice solving for each variable, write it out on a pad of paper as you do it using the formulas above, to help you visualize the relationships between the numbers. Pay attention to what happens to V when you raise R, or lower I. In this example if we needed a 10 % return, the value of the $500 cash flow would drop from $10,000 to $5,000. If we lowered R to 3%, the value of the $500 cash flow raises to $16,667!

Of course there are many things we need to take into consideration besides cash flow when valuing an income property, many of which will help us determine what the R in IRV should be, but for now let's just focus on the basic cash flow equation. Now that we understand IRV, it is time to learn about IRV's friend NOI, which stands for Net Operating Income. This is the "I" we are interesting in determining to plug into IRV. It is the amount of cash flow a property produces before any debt service is paid. As you probably guessed, there is a formula to get to NOI as well:

Gross Income - Vacancy - Expenses = Net Operating Income

Here is an example using a 50-site community:

Sites

Site Rent

Monthly Income

X 12 =

$100

$5,000.00

$60,000

Gross Annual Income

$500.00

$6,000

Less Vacancy @ 10 %

$1,750

$21,000

Less Operating Expenses @ 35 % of Gross Income

$2,750

$33,000

Annual NOI (Net Operating Income)

Let’s take a closer look at each line of this formula.

This is the part that can get tricky when valuing smaller communities. Many times the owner will have added additional revenue sources over the years such as rental mobile homes, mini-storage, laundry, etc. To value the income produced by the community, only use the current (never projected) site rent when determining the gross income. If you must also purchase the other assets, value them separately and add them to the value of the community itself.

Many owners and RE Agents use all income sources when figuring the Gross, which can severely distort the value of the property. Let’s look at a rental mobile home for example. In our area, we can buy a nice used two bedroom 1 bath and get it ready to rent for $8,500 or less. It will rent for $550 per month, giving us a gross of $6,600. For illustration purposes, say that our NOI was $5,000 and that we were looking for a 10% yield from these investments. Using IRV to find out the value suggested by the cash flow, we divide $5,000 by 10% and get $50,000! For an $8,500 mobile home! Can you see how you would be making a BIG mistake if you purchased a community, which included the income from a bunch of rental units? HELLO?

Another area to look out for is such items as late fees, etc. Do not include these in your calculations, those are not constant. You are buying the community for the revenue produced by the sites, so use that income only as your starting point and add in anything else you may have to purchase such as homes, etc. on a case by case basis.

Vacancy

Even if the property is 100% occupied, prudence dictates that we should expect not to receive 100% of the income every year. Depending on the strength of the local market, we should always subtract 3 to 10% of the Gross Possible Annual income to give our numbers a margin of safety. If you are looking at a property that has high vacancy, I suggest adding 3-10% to whatever the actual number is and using that. Say it is 50%, I'd probably use 60% when doing my calculations. This will lower the NOI to give you an accurate picture of what is happening today, and since we are paying for income, if a space is vacant, we are not interested in paying too much for it. This comes into play later as we formulate our offer.

Expenses

This area is very subjective, though it is usually safe when doing your initial rough calculations to figure that a normally operating manufactured home land lease community will have expenses running in the 30-40% range. This can be determined by such things as the types of amenities, landscaping, size and location of community, type of utilities, construction, employees, and many other variables. The only way to accurately tell is to review several years of invoices, bank statements and even tax returns. When in doubt, it is safer to err on the high side.

Net Operating Income

This is what all the fuss is about! Our goal is to purchase the property based on its current NOI. This is where we take a hard look at the income and expenses to see what we can do different than the present owners to raise the NOI. Where is the upside? How can we put something together that will work for both parties?

What is This Thing Called a CAP Rate?

CAP rate stands for Capitalization rate. It is the same as the R in IRV, but said a little bit differently. What is R (return) anyway? It means different things to different investors, but it is a measure of how hard your capital is working for you, and just one of the ways we can use to evaluate alternative investment opportunities. This is where we start to think about risk versus reward.

Normally, we want to be compensated commensurate with the amount of work and effort involved with a project. Is this a property we are going to have to put a lot of time, money and talent into? If so, we should expect a higher rate of return. Maybe it is a trophy property with no problems. Are we willing to accept a lower return in exchange for little or no hassle and low or no risk?

How then does one go about determining a CAP rate? It is instructive to understand how our credit markets work, however that is beyond the scope of this article. In many cases, investors look at their options for putting their money to work and, as I said earlier, they will need a way to compare alternatives. The answer boils down to what we have a choice of putting our capital to work in and how hard we expect it to work. By doing some investigation, we can find out what kinds of rates other investors are expecting for different types and grades of properties. By looking to see what one of those trophy properties is selling for, we can start to see the low range of returns where we might be working. In areas of high desirability, such as the sun belts, some of these properties sell in the range of 7-9 % cap rates. This means a property with an NOI of say $100,000 would fetch $1,111,000 at a 9% cap and $1,428,571 at a 7% cap. Remember the inverse relationship between R & V? Higher Rates of return mean lower values.

Keeping in our niche of smaller communities, you probably won't be looking at the trophy properties out there, so how do we determine a Cap rate for the property we are looking at? My rule of thumb is to start out at 10% and see it the property makes sense at that number. This $100,000 NOI is worth $1,000,000 at 10%. We need to "run the numbers," based on what we expect to see and then play around to see what make sense to us. Even though the cash flow may be the same, a property that requires a lot of work should be worth less than one that needs little or nothing. For example, what if you found a community with the same $100,000 NOI as before, but it was 30% vacant, and required new sewer pipes, new roads and new residents? You look at it and decide that you will not work for anything less than 20% return on your investment. At that point, the $100,000 NOI might be worth $500,000 to you.

Mel Feller a Texas /Utah Personal Development, Business, Real Estate, Realtor Trainer, Branding, Business Funding and Finance Coach. In addition, Mel Feller has served in a variety of executive leadership roles for medium and large organizations, including multiple Fortune 500’s. He is a charismatic leader who has facilitated change and growth in all sized organizations, including non-profit and Board development. Mel Feller has successfully led organizations in the areas business development, marketing, real estate and Realtors, sales, team building, operations, and the like.

Mel Feller is committed to serving. In the Texas / Utah community, he chairs several organizations. Mel Feller volunteers his leadership at two churches in a variety of ways, including serving on council, bible study facilitator, and more.

Mel Feller has been a featured speaker for career professional is groups, business leaders and continuing education sessions, and aspiring business startups.

When he is not coaching, you can find Mel Feller reading, listening to podcasts, exercising, fishing, or with his kids and grandkids exploring the greatness God has gifted us all.

Mel Feller states, “An effective coach is someone who tells you what you may not want to hear, helps you navigate around your blind spots, and helps you identify opportunities…so that you can be who you’ve always known you can be” Mel Feller

Mel Feller’s purpose is to add tremendous value to those business owners/entrepreneurs by helping them reach their potential.

Mel Feller is an effective, charismatic and powerful speaker, corporate advisor, and best-selling author. In 1998, Mel founded Coaching for Success 360 to help professionals worldwide design subtle changes in their presentation, attitude and leadership style that increases their personal and professional effectiveness and subsequently their financial status. This also includes both real estate as an agent and/or investor. See www.melfeller.com and www.melfellersuccessstories.com . Now with offices both in Texas and Utah.

As a business, executive, personal development, and real estate coach, I work with a wide range of professionals and offer a highly personalized approach tailored to each individual in concert with the organizational environment. In a supportive atmosphere, I work to build trust and support the professional in the attainment of goals and measurable outcomes.

Mel Feller offers sessions, both in-person and virtual. We will start with an initial assessment to clearly define your short and long-term goals, everything from communication skills to personal acceptance. We will use these goals as a foundation to create a strategy and build the path for attaining these objectives. Change is typically a major component of reaching goals and sustainable change becomes more likely in a coaching partnership.

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stripedigital · 5 years ago

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5 Steps to a Successful Real Estate Marketing Strategy

Real estate marketing strategies are everywhere. But as a real estate professional, you don’t have time to test a real estate marketing strategy to see what works. You need clear steps to generate leads, turn them into paying clients and help people sell and/or buy homes. When you have that you spend more time focused on what you love — real estate.

This 5 step real estate marketing strategy will get you there. Take the first step today to get more clients and make more money doing what you love.

5 Steps to a Successful Real Estate Marketing Strategy

Step 1: Get an SEO Web Design

Your website is the home base for your real estate business. It’s the place that each real estate marketing strategy leads potential clients. Here, people learn about how you help clients with buying and selling. They explore your methods and real estate specialties.

They get advice and learn to trust you — even if they haven’t met you yet. They hear from clients with reviews that you curated from other sites. Let potential clients get to know you. Dispel those myths.

Real estate developer David Zarrett shared (in this clever graphic) how client perceptions can get all mixed up when we’re not clear about who we are as a professional.

A great website design helps you tell the story of who you are and what you do in a way that people connect to you.

How well your website works will make or break the rest of your real estate marketing strategy. Running ads or building a social media following without first focusing on an optimized website is throwing money away.

Making sure you have a site that can effectively do all this is your first step in creating an effective marketing strategy for real estate. Within each of the steps in this article, we’ll explore the major components you need to know.

It’s not just about knowing your real estate marketing strategies. It’s about making a real estate marketing strategy generate more potential and higher quality clients for you. It’s about selling homes faster for more money.

What Is SEO?

SEO stands for “search engine optimization”. SEO is a set of strategies that you apply to become more visible in Google’s search results. It includes two major components:

On-Page SEO – What you do on your website to provide a great experience (Quality Content, Easy to use, Fast, etc.)

Off-Page SEO – What you do off the website to demonstrate that you are an authority in your industry (Networking with other important websites, Social media, etc.)

Retrofitting SEO vs SEO Web Design

The highest ranking SEO websites are built from the “ground up”, optimized through and through.

While you can apply SEO strategies to an existing site, it’s much harder. It takes longer to get results. And some things may not be fixable.

Retrofitting a website for SEO is a lot like building a 3 bed, 2 bath ranch-style brick house. Then after you’ve built it, you decide to convert it to a 3-story Tudor.

You’d be better off tearing it down and starting from scratch, right?

Here are some of the major elements to explore as you develop this step of your real estate marketing strategy.

Competitor Analysis

When building an optimized website, look at what’s already out there. Who are your top competitors online and in your local area? Do they have a real estate marketing strategy?

From this analysis, see what’s working. What do you need to do better to outperform these websites? That’s where your real estate marketing strategy will come in handy.

User Experience (UX)

It all starts with user-friendliness. Build your website with the end user (visitor) in mind. Think about how they will use the site. What elements will they expect your site to have? What will they find useful?

Mobile-friendliness

Over 80% of time spent on social media is done so on mobile devices. Are you leading people from social media to your website? You should be, which is why it must be highly functional on mobile.

That means that everything is easy to see, click and use without mis-clicks.

In addition to just being easy to use on mobile, consider how you can integrate mobile into the home buying and selling experience with:

Mobile apps and tools

Mobile Virtual walkthroughs

Mobile Chat

Mobile-connected thermostats

Mobile-keyless entry (probably for other agents)

Mobile payments

Mobile documents review

Remember, people today use their smartphone as an extension of real-life. Any way you can enhance the real-life real estate experience with your mobile website is worth the investment. These trends aren’t going away.

Intuitive Navigation

An optimized website is very intuitive. Potential clients and existing ones who can’t find what they’re looking for get frustrated and leave. A huge part of SEO is optimizing this navigation experience with streamlined menus, search boxes, and expandable text that guide people through the site.

Made for Speed

47% of people now expect a website to load in fewer than 2 seconds. For every additional second it takes a page to load, 11% of people will leave the site.

Here’s one more huge reason it’s best to build an SEO site from the ground up. It’s much easier to build a fast than it is to speed it up after its created.

Note the impact of a slow site on conversions.

Ongoing SEO

While the highest performing websites are built from scratch for SEO, that doesn’t mean SEO is a one-time thing. As you apply this step in your real estate marketing strategy, recognize that you’ll need to maintain it to keep that increased visibility that your website achieves through SEO.

Google often tweaks its algorithm for how sites are ranked. Each time it does you’ll need to adapt. In addition this, Google begins to ignore websites, even optimized ones, that don’t appear to regularly update the site.

This process of regularly updating the site and adapting to changes is called ongoing SEO.

Creating Content

One way to consistently update your website is by regularly posting blog articles. Blogs are a great way to let a potential client get to know you without feeling like you’re directly trying to sell something. The more casual, friendly and authoritative environment keeps that natural guard that some people have from going up.

Websites that have blogs have 400X the indexed pages in searches. This means that as your website ranking goes up, it will appear in more searches for many more keywords. These are the kinds of real estate marketing strategies you can take to the bank.

Publishing regularly to your blog not only helps your website become more visible when people are looking for something like “Real estate agents in Atlanta”. It gives you something to share on social media that leads people back to your website.

There are many other kinds of content to explore like:

Videos

Webinars

eBooks

Calculators

Interactive content

Consider what kind of content your target clients will enjoy. Work to create more of it.

You see, you need to take into consideration your clients’ time. And with the time they have, as much as possible they would want to get all the information they can get on the property they are interested in. This is where you can make use of virtual tours. It is an effective way to give an accurate preview of the property.

Now that you have your website in place, you’re well on your way to building its authority so that it ranks higher in searches. But you’re a busy real estate professional who likes to stay busy. You don’t have time to wait as your site continues to scale the ranks. This does take time.

That leads you to step 2.

Step 2: Expand Your Social Media Presence

You likely have a Facebook page. But as you’ve undoubtedly found, it takes some work to build your following with actual potential clients. That’s why social media management is so important to your real estate marketing strategy.

Choosing the Best Platforms

First of all, the platform you choose should be one that you understand well. Do you love Facebook and can’t live without it? Then Facebook is probably a great choice for you. Because you use the platform yourself, you better understand how your potential clients use it? What kinds of content do they like to engage with?

Also, consider who you’re targeting. Almost everyone has a Facebook profile. But they may spend more time on YouTube channels they subscribe to, Instagram, or even Snapchat.

Once again, it’s a great idea to take a look at your top competitors. Where are they? What are they doing? Your goal isn’t to mimic them. It’s to gather ideas. Then do it better.

Choose 1-3 platforms. But don’t spread yourself too thin. It’s hard to get a foothold among followers if you’re trying to manage too many profiles.

Filling Out Your Profiles

Fill out your profile completely. Make sure you have a business profile if there is a distinction. Before you begin trying to get more followers, really expand out this profile so that it represents you and your client base.

Building Your Following

When building your social media following, don’t try to appeal to everyone all at once. You wouldn’t turn down a client who doesn’t meet a certain profile. But at the same time, you probably have a type of real estate, person, area, price range, etc. where you’re really passionate and experienced.

Start there. Then work your way out if you find the group is too small or competitive.

Develop a consistent publishing schedule. Stay active on social media. Interact with potential customers. Join groups to network with other professionals. Share content that both entertains and educates your target customer.

Leverage social media ads to expand your reach among potential new clients. The fastest way to build a quality following is with a targeted ad campaign.

Engaging Your Followers

Building your following on a social media platform gives you people who organically see what you post on that platform. If that following is active, these individuals share your content with their friends. In this way, 1,000 followers can turn into 10,000 impressions for your posts fast.

Graphic courtesy of Lighter Side of Real Estate

But if those followers aren’t engaged, 1,000 followers is just 1,000 followers (and not very good ones).

Apply strategies here to get people engaged and keep them engaged like:

Tracking what’s popular and posting more of it

Regularly posting links to blog posts and videos that your target is looking for

Sharing vibrant visuals that people like and share instantly because of the emotional impact

Comment back when people comment to start conversations

Run contests

Post quizzes, surveys and other interactive content

Share pictures of recent happy clients who closed on homes (with their permission)

Share your latest listings

People have millions of accounts they can follow. Why should they be interested in yours?

Give people a reason to keep following and interacting with you. Social media real estate marketing strategies include utilizing many kinds of content that people will love and share.

Generating Leads

Social media is great at reaching people and staying top-of-mind. But in order to turn a “fan” into an actual client, it helps to use a more personal touch. That’s why it’s important to use social media to not only engage. You need a clear path to convert them to a lead.

Every real estate marketing strategy needs this. Otherwise, it’s hard to get an ROI on social media. It’s nearly impossible to show how social media is delivering tangible results.

The typical social media lead generation funnel looks like this.

It starts as a post or ad.

It goes to a landing page on your website

You offer the visitor something in exchange for an email and basic information

You nurture the lead through email marketing

You have a new client

Some clever ways to generate leads through social media include:

Running a fun contest / Email in exchange for a chance to win

Access to a helpful real estate estimator or tool

Offering an eBook that shares proven staging tips every seller should know

Run lead generation ads with videos

It seems so simple. But there are so many ways that you can make this your own to attract your perfect clients.

Step 3: Use Social Media Advertising to Target Potential Clients

You’ve got a great rhythm going on your website and social media profile. You have a publishing schedule. You create a certain number of pieces a week and share them. Now it’s time to start taking this to the next level.

This step involves setting up and running your social media advertising campaigns. But before you do you should understand the trap that many new to social ads often fall into. That’s targeting too broadly. Here’s why that’s not a good idea.

What is the Relevance Score?

Facebook Ads Manager, which also controls Instagram ads, uses a relevance system to determine how much you pay for your ads. If Facebook determines that your ads are not relevant to the people seeing them, the costs go up. Other platforms have similar systems. But Facebook’s is the most transparent.

You can end up paying much more for the same ad simply because you’re not showing the right ad to the right people. That can break your real estate marketing strategies and your budget fast.

How Does Facebook Determine Relevance?

Facebook looks at what percentage of people click the ad. They compare it to your real estate peers’ ads. If you’re outperforming your peers, relevance goes up. If you aren’t, it slips. If your relevance falls low enough – they’ll stop showing your ad.

Ultimately, Facebook wants to deliver a great user experience to people on Facebook. If your ad isn’t getting clicked, Facebook decides you’re not providing a good experience.

How to Keep Your Relevance Score High?

To keep your relevance score high:

Learn about the different ad formats. Build compelling ads in those formats

Target narrowly. Know who you’re targeting. Use Ada Manager to target these people & build your ad around them.

Geo-Locate. As a real estate professional, you may have clients from around the country. But chances are that 90% of your clients are either currently residents of your service area. Or they are visiting the area. You can target people who have either been in your area recently or live there. You can target down to a certain zip code or a whole metropolitan area. But do limit your search.

Test and Adapt. Some ads will be instant winners. Others will be obvious losers. Some fall in between. Test ads of on a small scale. Then up your budget on the ad that gets the best results.

Step 4. Use Search Engine Advertising to Reach Your Target at Precisely the Right Time

Search engine advertising is another way to get more real estate clients quickly. People who search for things in search engines are very high intent. They’re often ready to do something now.

If someone searches for “Open houses this weekend”, you have just what they’re looking for.

When people are searching for “what’s my home worth”, “Best Realtors in Atlanta,” etc. you’ll want to appear in these searches. Because SEO takes some time, search engine advertising is the fast and effective way to get to the top of these searches. Search engine advertising is commonly known as PPC (Pay per click). This describes how you pay for the ads.

Similar to Facebook ads, when a person clicks on your ad, you pay a small fee the ad platform. When someone puts “How to buy a house” into a search query, Google instantly runs an auction. They then show ads for those winners.

And just like Facebook, the more relevant your ad is to the searches it appears in, the less you have to pay to win the auctions. In fact, you could end up paying 400X more is you have 1 score. You could pay 50% less if you have a 10.

Google Ads calls this the Quality Score.

How to Keep Your Quality Score High

To keep that quality score high, apply these best practices.

Do your keyword research. Choose carefully which keyword phrases you want an ad to appear in

Carefully align your ad copy with the keywords you want the ad to appear in. If the ad seems out of place, it won’t be clicked.

Create a unique landing page for each type of ad. A landing page is a page on your website that seamlessly continues the journey that the ad promised. You home page, about page or general information pages are not landing pages. If your ad goes to a search page then it should land on a page that shows the types of homes that the searchers were looking for.

Split test your ads. Start with a small budget. But once quickly expand it when you find out which ad works best.

DO add negative keywords. These are words that you don’t want your ad to appear in response to if they are attached to your targeted keywords. For example, if you’re targeting “Atlanta real estate agent”, you don’t want to appear in a search for “Atlanta real estate agent certification”. That would be a different audience. Watch your campaign closely to see which words are being used with your words changing the query. Exclude them quickly to keep a high Quality Score.

Step 5: Nurture Leads Through Email

In step 5, we’ll take the casual fan of your website or social media. We’ll convert them into paying clients so you get earn that commission. That’s the end result you’re looking for. And it only took 5 steps to get here.

The first important element of this step to discuss is where these leads come from. You could purchase lead lists from a company. This would more or less have you cold emailing people to see if they need your services. That’s really not the way to go.

The best way to build an email list is the polite way — asking for permission. Permission-based email marketing as part of your overall real estate marketing strategy has a 44:1 return on investment. That means, on average, for every $1 you put into email marketing, you’ll get around $44 out of it.

We’ve already discussed how to build this permission-based list under Step 2, so let’s look at how to get this ROI by nurturing through email.

Triggered Emails & Automations

Triggered emails are a form of email automation. They are pre-written emails that go out when a lead does something specific. If you have access to more advanced automation tools, these triggered emails can pull in very lead-specific information.

These are some of the most relevant emails you can send a person. Because of that, they have very high open rates. Definitely, use these kinds of emails to engage and re-engage your leads one step closer to becoming paying clients.

Welcome emails — Welcome them kindly when they first sign up. Lead them to welcome video on your website. Offer them “insider” information or a discount on an ancillary service you might provide on the side to instantly begin nurturing this relationship.

Information request emails — Do a house that meets their criteria, just go on the market? Send them an email with pictures. Send multiple people similar emails. But with automation, you can insert each person’s name automatically so they each seem personalized.

Video reminders — If they started watching a video. But didn’t finish, send an automated email asking if they have any question or would like you to send them other videos.

Re-engagement — Someone inquired about a house, but didn’t return your calls. You can set up automation to see if they’re still interested or they want to explore other options.

There are so many helpful and personalized ways to your email automation and triggered emails. And the truth is that people love these kinds of emails. In fact, 77% of people say they prefer email communication from professionals.

Email Newsletters

Email newsletters are a great way to keep your leads informed about the market. Each month share:

Local happenings ( shopping center openings, new restaurants, festivals, marathons, concerts, etc.)

Tips for buy or selling

New listings in the areas for buyer OR recently sold for potential sellers

Links to your latest blog posts

Links to your YouTube videos

Quizzes/Surveys or other interactive content

These newsletters can be short. But use email segmentation to divide your list up by 1 or more major traits. This allows you to always send the most relevant information to the right person.

Your Personalized Real Estate Marketing Strategy

Each real estate marketing strategy is personalized. It should represent your personal brand well. It helps you reach very likely clients. It all starts with a great SEO web design. Then start building your social media presence. Convert those followers into email leads to where you can nurture them in a personalized way.

Are you unsure which way to go with your real estate marketing strategy? Are you struggling to find the time to consistently engage people on social media and your website? We can handle it all, increasing your leads and clients. Give us a call for a consultation: 404-596-7925

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