#even though some of us are objectively the best employees here

[megatron]

what happened to me and my coworkers at this job feels illegal but probably isnt 👍

[yzzart]

hii love!! i'm new to your work but i've fallen deeply in love with your writing and your way of writing Tom 😭😭 i absolutely love the actress!au stories so i thought about one myself: where tom and reader are already in a established, public relationship; and they attend a gala or some kind of event together, and maybe one of them had to host or talk in front of the guests and they keep mentioning and talking about each other. and the fans are going crazy after that interaction 💘 thank youuu

"A peculiar moment."

pairing: tom blyth x actress!reader.

summary: at an event and being the host, Tom interviews the first person of the night, you.

word count: 1.452!

“You look so beautiful, Y/n!”

A mix of voices asking, clamoring for photos, autographs or at least a four-second attention exclaimed in your ears and of course, echoed throughout the environment. — Also, accompanied by several flashes, one stronger than the other, from cameras; it bothered you a little, but nothing too profound.

After all, besides being used to it, this had already become a routine for you.

Walking, carefully and holding a small part of your dress so you don't trip in your steps, to a large one that separated the fans from a part of the carpet, you are greeted by more screams, compliments and smiles. — Along with several photos of you, posters for "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" and other films that featured you, and some notebooks looking for her autograph. — Doing your best, you tried, completely, to pay attention to everyone.

There came a time when you needed to draw on a fan's arm, because she warned you that she was going to get a tattoo; a completely surprising request for you. — There were a lot of people, so paying attention to all of them was a very difficult job, but you did your best to welcome and talk to them. — Also, thanking everyone for the support and so much love.

After a specific period of time, which was a little long, preparations for future brief interviews had already begun, along with the photo sessions; the cameras were already recording and capturing everything that passed in front of their lenses. — A good number of the interviewers were already organized, talking and interviewing some people and some were talking to the event employees.

The environment was magnificently exquisite and dazzling; flowers of different colors, but most of them reddish in pigmentation, possibly intended to match the red carpet and the charming decorations that were present. — Everything was impeccable. — And the lights, lighting matching the color palettes.

Continuing to walk along the carpet, and being careful with your steps in your dress, you greet the photographers, quickly answering questions about your well-being and requesting attention for their respective cameras. — While posing, smiling, in a gratifying way, you looked for a certain person who was scheduled to be present at the event.

Perhaps, it could be considered a little rude as your eyes were roaming, freely and lightly, across the large hallway as the flashes captured your every movement. — Well, just maybe. — But your chest was anxious, more than usual, during your silent and barely disguised search.

"Here, Y/n!" — An unknown voice passed through your ears, removing your thoughts from your attention and consideration, and the owner of the request waved holding his camera; trying to attract your focus and succeeding. — "That!" — His small smile of gratitude became visible.

Even though he directed a smile accompanied by a pose for the camera, fulfilling the photographer's request, your eyes remained on his objective, but in a discreet and not so flashy way. — In each flash, you moved your eyes to the side and observed person by person. — Until, instantly, your eye sockets collided with the image of a familiar person. — He turned around quickly, and finally his eyes met yours.

Holding a microphone, which had a marking saying "host", and standing next to the camera that was in front of him, Tom watched your photo session with a proud smile. — The recording, which was live, did not focus on his entire smile, just a part of it. — He wasn't just watching, he was admiring, contemplating you; he always did it and could never get tired of it.

Tom received an exclusive invitation, considered splendid by you, to host the event; a large and responsible role and mission, too. — It was a great emotion, at the same time you received it, your boyfriend immediately told you; and, of course, you were the first to know about it. — Therefore, one of his fundamentalist roles included interviewing the guests.

Blyth was nervous, that was obvious, but also confident; perhaps, due to the fact that you would be the first person he would interview that night.

Your genuine, radiant smile went through the photos and stood out among them, making them all magnificent, and already being planned to be posted. — And the photographers were more than satisfied. — Before leaving and heading towards the interview point, you moved your head towards some cameras and said goodbye to them.

The small point, which resembled a small stage, where the host's interviews began was not far from where you were; Just a few steps and you could walk without any problems or worries about your dress. — Something you were grateful for, mentally.

It was only when you were going up, on one of the steps of the small stage, that you needed a little help. — Your boyfriend offered his hand towards you, which you quickly accepted, and carefully directed you onto the platform. — And yet another camera focused on you, now, broadcasting everything live.

"Look who we have here." — Remembering the microphone in his hands, Tom brought it to her mouth, at an appropriate distance. — "Good night, y/n!" — He tilted his head, with an inviting smile paying attention to the sparkle in his eyes while directing the microphone towards you.

"Good night, Tom!" — You answered. — "How are you, darling?" —Imitating your gesture, your head is tilted, delicately awaiting his answer.

"Better now and you?" — Tom raised his eyebrows, uttering a answer that was perhaps bold but sincere; and there was no trace of concern, even in front of the cameras.

"I can say the same." — Your eyes roamed to a small point that cried out for your attention, the necklace he wore; the one where your initial was carved. — It was the third time Tom had worn it in public; an action that enchanted you. — "I can actually say the same."

"On a night as beautiful as this, did you come with someone?" — He decided to play, relax with you, acting as if your relationship wasn't public; you laughed, understanding what it was about.

"Oh, unfortunately not!" — Your ears heard a brief laugh from the people working behind the cameras. — "However, i met a guy, by pure coincidence, who has your name and looked like you, but i lost track of him." — Anyone would be impressed by how quickly you created that story, Tom thought it was funny. — "He's an incredible man, in fact, a special man to me."

"From your words, i can see that." — Your boyfriend didn't seem embarrassed at all, he was appreciating your words, even though they were short and also coming from a small joke; Tom had forgotten where he was, in fact. — "I know him?" — You turned your eyes upward, pretending to be thoughtful.

"I don't think so, but it should." — A corner of your lower lips were nibbled by your teeth. — "I feel like he's definitely a charming man in my life." — You shook your head, confirming your words, losing the meaning of the little joke. — "The only downside is that i lost track of him."

"I'm sure you'll find him soon, my dear." — Blyth assured with a beautiful smile on her beautiful face, which was probably accompanied by a reddish tone on her cheeks. — "You're perfect, my love." — In just a few seconds, the joke was put aside; Tom couldn't resist, much less you. — "Always is."

"Just like you, dear." — You approached of the oldest, subtly placing your hand on his arm and placing a kiss on his cheek; it was a little slow, but not so slow as to complain, and Tom would never dare make a complaint. — "See you soon?" — You referred to the end of the interviews.

"Of course, love." — He replied holding your hand; noticing the only ring on your finger, the one he gifted you. — "It looks like someone is going to be reunited with a certain companion." — Tom commented, looking briefly at the camera with one eyebrow raised and helping you get down from the small platform.

Tom admired and followed your steps with his eyes, contemplating your sweet smile when greeting people; If he had the chance, he would spend his entire time watching you. — And even forgetting that it was being recorded and broadcast to thousands of people.

Now, it seemed that there was a mark, so soft and delicate, of a kiss with lipstick present on his cheek, it was not very visible, only if it came very close to his face. — The camera managed to capture and notice the small mark, bringing it into focus.

And your fans brought immense focus to the point of commenting about it on twitter, causing an insane moment for them.

[starseungs]

of fishes and chocolate muffins. ksm.

kim seungmin x gn!reader — working the morning shift at a cafe on weekdays isn't really the best, entertainment wise. still, eavesdropping on your customers wasn't something you did on a daily basis. it just so happened that two of your regulars had something in store for you today.

GENRE/S — fluff, humor, a pinch of angst, cafe/coffee shop au, writer!seungmin (barely mentioned) • 1.2k words

WARNING/S — profanity for humor, seungmin is pretty down in the dumps for most of this, part 2 of this fic but a different y/n, mentions of unrequited love

( ✒️ ) happy birthday to @seungiepaws !! here's your request for a part 2 of universe lovie, i know i said i'll do a drabble as a gift but it ended up a little longer so you're getting a whole fic mwah <3 i hope you like it

2024 ⓒ starseungs on tumblr. do not steal, repost, or edit.

The small bell perched on top of the cafe’s entrance door chimed softly at the arrival of a new customer. Your well-rehearsed greetings immediately followed, words racing out of your lips before you could even think twice. It really didn’t matter whether you meant them or not. As long as the guest felt welcomed, then that meant you were already doing your job well.

You doubt any of them ever even acknowledged your efforts, anyway. That was just how the world worked on a normal Monday morning—everyone running on autopilot until the seemingly brainless hoard of zombies got their lethal dose of caffeine or sugar and started acting like proper functioning members of society for the rest of the day. Then, the cycle repeats.

As an “all-rounder” cafe employee (as you liked to call yourself), this was just another day in the bigger scale of the year. Not too important, nor was it a particularly boring day. That simply wasn’t possible if you were working at a cafe, or really, just working in general.

“You’re always here, dude.” An exasperated voice groans from the window booth next to the serving counter. You recognized his face right away as one of your regulars who looked like a hamster. “At this point, you need to pay this place rent.”

The man he was talking to rolled his eyes with a scoff, even though his fingers never stopped typing on his laptop’s keyboard. “I’m a paying customer. Objectively, I’m already giving them money to stay here.”

You couldn’t help but silently snort at the guy’s comeback. He wasn’t entirely wrong, after all. This cafe’s prices already took into account the amenities they could use here. So technically speaking, as long as customers bought something from the cafe’s menu, they could stay for as long as they want until the establishment closes. That’s not usually the case, though. Most people still had places to be and other things to do other than have a staycation on some random cafe seat.

Note that you said “most” instead of “all”. Of course, there were always bound to be those who, for the lack of a better description—overstayed their welcome. 

And one of them is that chestnut-haired male who was currently getting berated by his friend.

“Seungmin, seriously!” The other guy, who you finally remembered being named Jisung from his previous orders, exclaimed in concern. “You can’t just stay here all day, every day. I know you’re trying to get over your roommate, but at least make use of your rent?” Jisung almost pleads.

You really didn’t mean to eavesdrop on their conversation, as the topic seemed awfully private, but what exactly could you do from the close proximity of the counter and their booth? It’s not like you were judging the two of them. There was no harm intended, and you were sure you’d still go about your day as usual with or without this newly obtained knowledge from strangers.

Seungmin sighed. “I don’t think you want me to be cooped up in my room writing either, so what do you really want to achieve?” His hands finally parted ways from his keyboard for the first time in about an hour. “Jisung, you know being alone in the apartment is only going to remind me of how my roommate is out there with their boyfriend being all happy and enjoying life while I’m over here writing sappy fictional love stories because I don’t have one of my own.”

“Oh, but you do.” Jisung huffs. “It’s just the unrequited kind.”

“Haha, very funny.”

“Just saying,” he comments. “I’m gonna let you sulk all you want as part of your healing process, but you really shouldn’t be sacrificing yourself just for the thought of them. You deserve better, Min.”

If you could only agree out loud, then you already would’ve. Unfortunately, that meant revealing the fact that you’ve been secretly listening in to the personal conversations of your customers, and you weren’t completely sure if that was even legal for you to do so. Still, what are they going to do? Charge you for having ears?

“I don’t know,” Seungmin mutters. “I’ll manage it eventually.” And to this, Jisung only frowns.

Now, you were just as frustrated as Jisung was. Seungmin is an attractive guy—you were one hundred percent certain that he could get anyone head-over-heels for him if he wanted. And yet, here he was, a monotone mess over unrequited love? Whoever that roommate is, they had severely failed to see the vision since if that was you, best believe you weren’t letting him go just like that. 

Seungmin had honestly caught your eye ever since the moment he started going to this cafe. To put things into perspective, you were practically all smiles for the rest of the day every time he came to order something in the mornings before his daily schedule. When he started staying for whole days, it was only a matter of time before you ended up shooting your shot, even if you barely knew anything about him. Heck, the most you even knew about him was that he liked the chocolate muffins the most here!

A plate of chocolate muffin was heavily plopped down on the two men’s table, startling them due to the sudden act. They exchanged confused glances before Jisung cleared his throat to speak. “Uh—we didn’t order that.”

“It’s on the house.” You pursed your lips.

“What?” Seungmin asks, dumbfounded. You knew he was going to ask for a reason until he saw the look on your face while staring at him. His expression quickly shifted to one of mortification. “Were—were you eavesdropping on us?”

You clicked your tongue. How were you finding his reaction to that so cute? “Look, I didn’t mean to,” you explain. “See that counter? Just how far do you think my station is to your booth for me not to hear a single thing?” Seungmin only grumbles—probably to hide his embarrassment.

“Alright, sure. Whatever,” he says. “I still don’t need that muffin.”

Your eye twitched involuntarily. All of a sudden, you were already leaning on their table with narrowed eyes pointed at the laptop-facing man. “Okay, listen here, you soggy rained-on puppy.” You could have sworn you heard Jisung choke. “This is gonna sound really shitty of me, but there are plenty more fish in the sea. The same goes for your experiences in life. Trust me, you’re not even close to losing those opportunities yet. Unless you’re trying to live like a saint, that is. So grow some balls after your little pity party.”

“That was,” Seungmin exhales shakily. “Vaguely threatening. But somehow I’m not as offended as I thought I would be, so—uh, thanks?” He taps lightly on the plastic cup of his drink, looking away awkwardly.

You lifted yourself off the table and crossed your arms. “My name is Y/N. I work here every morning on the weekdays.” 

“Right,” he hums, still not glancing your way and instead facing the baked good you dropped by their tabletop. “So, is this muffin really free?”

All you let yourself give him was a nonchalant shrug. “Yeah. Just call me whenever or something. Congratulations on hooking a new fish,” you said without shame before walking away back to your station.

If you only looked back for a moment, you would’ve seen Jisung gasping for air from laughter with an incredibly red faced Seungmin blanking out as he held a serious staring contest with his muffin.

You could only hope that cheered him up a bit.

MASTERTAG ━ STATUS: OPEN — ASK OR COMMENT 🫶

@fairyki @hysgf @euncsace @comet-falls @starlostseungmin @ameliesaysshoo @hyunverse @wnbnny @xocandyy @minluvly @moon0fthenight @estellaluna @hanjsquokka @starlostastronaut @minsueng @l3visbby @myjisung

[chaifootsteps]

Just because I'm tired of seeing it and for anyone who needs a 'tap the sign', here's my best list of what both Stolas and Blitzo apparently both did wrong here. I'm adding some points here that are the fandom's framing more than mine so I'm going to pick those apart below

Blitzo:

stole from Stolas as a child because his father asked him to

called Stolas' interests boring (because he'd been sold to be his playmate)

stole Stolas' book

slept with Stolas to get the book (then never did so freely again)

asked Stolas on a date to Ozzie's to spy on M&M

ignored him while on the date at first

didn't believe Stolas had pure intentions when he invited him in after Ozzie's

didn't tell Stolas that Striker tried to kill him (s1e5)

didn't come rescue Stolas in person in Western Energy

didn't visit him in the hospital

didn't believe Stolas sincerely loved him during his confession

tried to go back to a sexual relationship despite Stolas' discomfort

treats Stolas like a prince who looks down on him and refused to see otherwise

yelled and snapped at him during their talk in full moon

yelled and snapped at him during their talk in apology tour

Stolas:

locked Blitzo in his room at his party and assumed he was here to 'ravish him' (s1e1)

Blitzo tells him to knock it off with the dirty talk (s2e1). Stolas doesn't stop (s1e1).

let Blitzo use the book with no strings attached before calling to change up the terms

changed the terms when Blitzo was in danger and couldn't give informed consent

proposed a deal that was inherently coercive even without Blitzo being in danger since he has to have sex with Stolas to keep his business running (s1e1). This is rape IRL and since Verosika said very clearly that 'we're in Hell' isn't an excuse...

called up Blitzo to be a bodyguard that he didn't actually need in Loo Loo Land. He knows Blitzo needs money so leverages that to get Blitzo to spend time with him

Blitzo tells him to stop flirting with him and he's only here to work as a bodyguard, as agreed, and protests Stolas flirting with him multiple times. Stolas doesn't stop. (s1e2)

Shows no respect or gratitude to Blitzo's colleagues for saving his life. Doesn't even call them by name (s1e2)

Puts a cigarette out on Blitzo's horn (s1e5)

Yanks his face multiple times (s1e5, s1e7) and calls him 'little' or 'itty bitty' on different occasions

Demeans Blitzo by calling him 'sexy little one' in front of a whole crowd and persistently refuses to call Blitzo by his proper name, including spoiling Blitzo's moment by doing so as he ties Striker for winner of the tournament (s1e5). His behavior is bad enough Blitzo is happy to skip out on the full moon ceremony itself due to how thirsty he's being

Outright calls him a little plaything (s1e6)

Asks for sexual favors as a thanks for saving his life (s1e6) - he doesn't specify this but he says 'very much so' to the idea instead of showing any offense that Blitzo thinks Stolas wants him to pay for his life with sex

Tries to ditch the table when called out in Ozzie's, hides his face in a menu (s1e7)

It doesn't occur to him the full moon deal is wrong until Ozzie's and that's seemingly partly as a response to Blitzo not wanting to date him

Seemingly still doesn't understand that they are not in an actual relationship despite what Blitzo said as Ozzie's and him outright saying asking Stolas to the club was a mistake (s1e7)

His song in The Circus frames himself as the victim of Blitzo - what's between them is a 'comfortable lie' and he says 'I'm the fool who believes when you look in my eyes' (s2e1)

Despite knowing unequivocally that Blitzo hates being treated like a sex object, Stolas responds to Blitzo's anxiety about performing by sexualizing him some more (s2e2)

Gets mad at Blitzo to the point of his employees hiding behind him even though it's his fault his daughter ran off (s2e2)

Still doesn't acknowledge any of Blitzo's colleagues by name even though everyone is helping him find Via (s2e2)

Calls Blitzo up to get him out of a situation he should have been able to handle himself, does nothing to communicate where he is and is weirdly blase instead of urgent on the phone (s2e4)

Admits that the deal was wrong but in a general 'transactional relationships bad' sense, no acknowledgement of the gravity of having coerced Blitzo into sex despite recognizing at the start of the episode that he is a monster if Blitzo was only with him as a prisoner of the deal (s2e8)

Makes Blitzo panic by taking back the book forever and doesn't even notice or care that Blitzo is begging him in tears and saying he'll do anything (s2e8)

Immediately shuts down the conversation and walks off instead of giving Blitzo a minute to process (s2e8)

Rewrites reality, has the gall to be shocked Blitzo thinks it's all about sex when he made it that way (s2e8)

Rewrites reality, acts like he had no idea Blitzo didn't think highly of him despite being told so before (s1e8, s2e8)

Uses magic to throw Blitzo out of his house (s2e8)

Makes no attempt to talk things out, just gives Blitzo the cold shoulder instead of asking for space, clearly thinks he is in the right just because Blitzo yelled at him, has done no reflection on anything Blitzo said (s2e9)

Rewrites reality, keeps insisting he's never looked down on Blitzo despite the fact that even the most insensitive person in the world should realize being called a 'plaything' is not a compliment (s2e9) and it takes a truly special sort of ignorance to squeeze his own imp butler like a stress ball and not think he has any superiority over imps (s2e2)

Blames Blitzo for not saving him in person even though Blitzo sent his employees to help and he knew full well Blitzo was taking his daughter to the doctor (s2e4, s2e9)

Focuses solely on Blitzo not telling him Striker tried to kill him and doesn't acknowledge that Blitzo saved his life in Harvest Moon (s1e5, s2e9)

Calls Striker Blitzo's 'friend'? If he really believes this it just seems to be the old classism/racism rearing its head again, if he doesn't then it's obviously just more petty o'clock on his part, especially since IMP has kept having to fight Striker, sometimes on Stolas' behalf

Rewrites reality, appears to think of himself as one of Blitzo's exes since he doesn't think his getting an invite to Verosika's party was weird, all around behaves like a jilted ex. Seemingly if it feels true then it must be true (s2e9)

Goes to the party despite calling it petty and despite the risk of Blitzo finding him at the party, since he somehow knew Blitzo was actually doing the whole apology tour thing across Hell (s2e9)

Calls Blitzo a motherfucker even when he admits in song that the arrangement was just an arrangement to him (s2e9)

Despite Blitzo telling him all the way back in Ozzie's and again in Full Moon, Stolas still can't bring himself to do enough self-reflection on how he acted to realize that calling someone a plaything and ignoring their boundaries and protests constantly is a reason for them to feel treated like an object. The song directly states that there's something he could learn from the arrangement falling apart even though he's had ample time to try and learn it and is punishing Blitzo for behaving in a way he doesn't understand because he's refused to see the problem (s2e9)

Expects an apology just as he did that morning, still thinks he's basically entirely in the right, doesn't accept it because Blitzo isn't meeting his needs well enough (s2e9)

Gets annoyed Blitzo might judge him for being at an anti-Blitzo party even though he himself said it was petty and is still calling it 'something stupid' (s2e9)

Despite knowing a big problem between them is Blitzo not believing he really cares, doesn't take the opportunity once he hears about Blitzo's insecurities to say what he likes about him and instead talks solely about wanting someone to love him (s2e9)

Despite seemingly wanting Blitzo to open up and talk to him, ditches the whole conversation the minute someone shows him the affection he wants (s2e9)

Makes out with that person - arguably he's given up entirely trying to make Blitzo understand he loves him and anyone will do, because otherwise this is just a spiteful thing to do (s2e9)

I didn't even intent to make the Stolas entry so long, there was just a lot of it because when a character keeps rewriting reality to favor themselves it would be accepting the show's framing to just let them do it. And the show's framing is wrong.

Anyway, that's the list. I'd like the 'Blitzo did just as much wrong!' party to look at his entries and note how many of them were just reactions to what Stolas did to him, how many of them are informed by his social class/being forced into bad positions due to poverty, how many of them are entirely understandable for someone in his position and how many of them require some pretty screwed up logic to count as doing something wrong (i.e. the fandom has a bad habit of implying Blitzo was duty bound to deal with Stolas' obsessions and delusions for the entire show because they had a one night stand, one time).

Notice how many of Stolas' entries are just plain abusive behaviors involving demeaning others or rewriting reality to favor himself.

Thanks for the list and your brave service, Anon. I'll definitely be keeping this one handy for tapping purposes, as should everyone.

[sl-vega]

♫ 00; ↠ TEAR DROPS ON MY GUITAR-(prologue)

↳ my heart beats for you-a scaramouche smau

The door of the CRUX swung open, the familiar jingle of the door chime sounded as you entered the building. You were greeted by some familiar faces frantically running around the room.

Some employees were rushing around, frantically trying to salvage what they could from the flood waters that had recently devastated the CRUX. Guitars lay broken and waterlogged on the floor, while sheet music and CDs floated in the murky puddles.

Kokomi and Furina were holding rusty buckets, and they placed them underneath leaky spots from the ceiling. Yoimiya was helping Mona move a busted keyboard outside, and Lumine was holding a box full of old records and CDs.

"Oi!"

You turned around to the source of the voice, it was another one of the employees. She had dark hair and deep blue eyes, she would've been awfully pretty if she wasn't too busy scowling at you.

"Hey Furong..."

"Don't "hey Furong" me!"

She shoved a heavy box in your arms, and another smaller (but still very heavy!) box on top of the one you were already carrying. "And get out of the door frame! Being Beidou's favorite won't earn you any special treatment from me."

"Speaking of which, do you know where-"

Furong stormed off to scold more of her fellow co-workers before you could finish your question.

"-she is..."

Lumine passed by you, her hands also full.

"Don't mind her, she's just jealous."

"Well who wouldn't be?"

Lumine chuckled before gesturing to the back of the store. "We're supposed to move the CD and record boxes to the studio, Beidou wants us to sort through all of them."

You nodded and let Lumine lead the way, your vision was obscured due to the boxes in your arms, so you had to rely on Lumine's directions to make your way into the CRUX's music studios.

"Archons, I don't know how much longer I can hold these things. Why the fuck are these boxes so heavy? They're CDs!"

You complained as you almost slammed yourself into a shelf for the hundredth time.

"Tell me about it." you heard Lumine groan. "I should've forced Aether to come, could've unloaded all this work on him."

"Like he'd actually do all that for you."

"Never said I had to be the one he was working for⁓"

You could hear the smirk in her voice, even though you couldn't see her expression. Your face started heating up, you were suddenly grateful for the boxes hiding your head. Lumine adored poking fun at her brother's crush on you, she'd lessened up with the jokes after your break-up, but alas, there was no escape from her wrath.

"Shut up..." you muttered, your face growing redder by the second.

"What? It's true ya know." she continued, she must've noticed your silence, which she mistook for discomfort rather than embarrassment.

"Okay, I'll stop."

You heard a door creak, which must have been Lumine opening the door to one of the studios in the building. You set down the boxes, feeling relief from the absence of the heavy objects in your arms.

You looked around the room, the studio wasn't a professional recording studio, not by any means. It was a simple room with a few power outlets and speakers, but it was more than enough for you and the rest of C✧LESTIA.

You and Lumine sat down on the floor, taking out some of the contents of the boxes and laid them out in front of you. Lumine sorted the piles by genre, while you sorted them by colour.

"You know, maybe this isn't so bad, there are only a few boxes, so it won't take as much time as I thought-"

Lumine's hopeful thoughts were cut short as Furong and her co-worker Xinyan, along with several other employees dropped ten more boxes in the room (and big ones at that!).

"Thanks you guys, you're the best!" Xinyan gave you a big thumbs up as she exited the studio with the rest of her co-workers.

"-I take that back" Lumine sighed, at the pile of brown cardboard cubes. "I really should've forced Aether to come here..."

The two of you heard the studio door creak open again.

"You girls need help?"

It was Furina! Along with all the other C✧LESTIA members too! The others joined you and Lumine on the floor and helped sort the records and CD's. You and the girls chatted for a bit, brief small-talk about school work and a few rumours that have been going around about your classmates.

You heard Yoimiya groan as she was rummaging through a box for a certain CD. "Lumineee! Why didn't you just ask your brother to come! He would've done all this for us!"

"Believe me, I wish I did." she sighed, and glanced over to you.

"Okay, what's with you guys and using Aether for free labour?" you joked. You had lost count of all the times Lumine had baited the poor boy into doing favours for her under the pretext that "(Y/N) would be so grateful if you did this for her!"

"He's my brother, and he still has a crush on you, who happens to be my best friend, who wouldn't take advantage of that?"

"He doesn't have feelings for me Lumine-"

"Ooo, who doesn't have feelings for (Y/N)?"

You whipped your head around after hearing a familiar voice come from behind you.

"Beidou!"

You stood up and tackled the older woman into a hug, she returned the gesture, ruffling your hair while doing so.

"Hey kid!" she pulled away from the hug to squish your cheeks together, which made your lips pout. "I missed you, ya know."

She looked towards the rest of C✧LESTIA, who were still on the floor, sorting CD's and records. "Thanks for doing this for me you guys., I appreciate it."

Suddenly, you could hear Mona clear her throat from her side of the room. "We're getting paid right?"

"Mona!" Kokomi exclaimed scolding her friend.

"What?"

"Nah it's fine, but I don't think I can afford to pay you guys properly, sorry 'bout that."

Mona sulked, clearly disappointed in the lack of rewards, though her expression quickly changed after Kokomi swatted her shoulder, clearly ashamed by the astrologist's behaviour.

"No Miss Beidou, it's fine really, you've already done so much for us." Furina said, expressing her gratefulness, making up for Mona's lack thereof.

"You letting us practice here is more than enough!" she continued. Furina glanced around the room, just realizing the terrible condition the room was in. "We'll still be able to practice here, right...?" she asked.

Beidou's expression darkened slightly, as she looked up at the ceiling, observing the leaks, and cracks, even without the flood affecting it, the studio was always in terrible shape.

She took a breath, "Sorry girls, but you'll probably need to find a new place to practice, and to perform."

Suddenly, you and your fellow bandmates let out a chorus of "What? Why?"s and several other expressions of disappointment and grief.

"This whole room looks like it's going to collapse any second, the last thing I need is a lawsuit because one of you guys got hurt." she sighed again. "I'm sorry girls."

"But hey! I'm sure Furina can use her actress connections to find you guys a new venue."

"I don't think the Opera Epiclese is looking for amateur rock bands, Beidou." Yoimiya said as she sighed, still sorting through the contents of the boxes.

You, and the others heard a faint voice in the distance calling for Beidou, it was probably Xinyan or Furong asking her for help.

"I'm coming!" she shouted back, before she left the room, she gave you another hug, this one longer and more tender.

"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll figure something out, you always do."

She opened the creaky studio door once more and waved goodbye to you and the rest of C✧LESTIA.

You decided to not tell Beidou how lost you were, and how there was no way you guys could afford to rent another studio, much less find a new place for gigs.

"I'm sure you'll figure something out!"

You hoped that she was right.

additional notes:

-GUYS I DID IT

-I FINALLY WROTE SMTH

-i am SO sorry for not posting any fics recently

-i lost motivation, and i had an exam to study for and lots of stuff has been happening lately

-BUT I'M BACK YOU GUYS

-(partially)

-anyways additional notes on the actual plot:

-it might seem a bit strange that lumine is joking about y/n's ex, but you and aether ended it on good terms so there's no malice in it

-ngl i'm starting to see a pattern where my prologues r super boring, srry abt that you guys

-xinyan being an employee at the crux just fits yk? and furong actually is a member of the crux crew in game, i just chose the first name i saw on the genshin wiki ngl

masterlist

<prev ll next>

Pairing: [BASSIST!] Scaramouche x [GUITARIST!] Reader

Genre: rivals/enemies to lovers, rivals to friends to lovers, fluff, crack (?), comedy, angst (?), slowburn, high school au, band au, modern au, social media au, smau

Synopsis: You're the lead guitarist for your band, C✧LESTIA and Scaramouche is the bassist of 5WIRL. The two of your bands have a friendly rivalry, but you and Scaramouche don't. On top of being academic rivals, you and him have never been on good terms. Always one-upping each other in grades and in music. Even your bandmates have grown tired of your constant bickering with each other. But when your usual practice hub gets flooded, you and the rest of C✧LESTIA are forced to find a new place to rehearse. So when 5WIRL offers to share their studio with you who are you to refuse? Of course, this forces you to spend time with your sworn rival whether you like it or not. But maybe the two of you can overcome your differences and actually be friends?

Or maybe even more?

(OPEN) TAGLIST: @featuredtofu, @levianamor, @danfelions, @thatoneswordgirl, @lolmeowing, @bananasquash, @xiaosantenna, @glxssmemories, @kaitfae, @mujiwuji, @peaceindreams, @freyao7, @rinquinq, @justpeachyteastea, @ladyninggs, @b2ne, @skyoverkill1, @scaradooche, @morallyrainyday, @adres-tia, @justadvena6, @agaygothicmushroom, @huanator, @seaofdata, @kyon-cherri, @aether-darling, @ukinya, @sketcheeee, @ibawa, @shutingstar, @eutopiastar, @kunimix, @wonderful-worlds, @ectomotive, @yourfavoritefreakyhan, @b4tm4nn, @h3xi2g0n3

(names in bold mean i can't tag you)

[kianaisspiraling]

Immortal GIGS Crew Phasmophobia AU

GIGS phasmo AU where they're basically just a group of retired immortals having fun :D

Impulse and Skizz started working for this ghost hunting company, and since they can't die, instead of reading the manual they decided to just fuck around and find out.

In truth, they kinda just showed up and started taking jobs. The company was gonna find these intruders and punish them at first, but when the spectacular results started coming in, the higher-ups hesitantly decided to let it go, since none of their actual employees were brave enough to take the cases Impulse and Skizz did.

Eventually, their results from one investigation were left with a letter requesting payment, since they didn't wanna keep using the cheap starter equipment in the van they "borrowed." So if the company slips an envelope full of cash into their own mailbox every time they receive a report for the mystery workers to take, and sometimes equipment disappears from storage with cash in its place, they simply would look the other way.

Later they drag Grian, Scar, and Gem into their shenanigans and they also fuck around and find out.

To the company, the GIGS Crew is their best team, even if they don't know much about them. They always take their hardest, most fatal jobs, and walk out completely fine.

Little do they know these eldritch entities die repeatedly and they scream like little girls. What is considered an almost certainly fatal job for any regular person, is just a game to the GIGS.

For example, all manuals say to snap pictures of cursed items, and safely return them to HQ to be disposed of in a contained area. GIGS crew though? None of them have the self control to not use those. Every single one of them would pull every tarot card for fun and you know it. Manual says to under no circumstances touch a summoning circle. GIGS does not read the manual.

They even set some rules early on, afterall this is a game to them, and what fun is a game if you can't die? So essentially they declared that if a ghost was to hit you with what would be a killing blow, you have to go into spectral form, in which you detach from your body and hover about like a spectator. Think Dr. Strange. The only thing they're allowed to do in this form is pick stray items up, and if everyone "dies" they have to jump ship and come back again later.

They can be 'revived' by the monkey paw or something too. Thing is, despite the fact that they don't need to, they still say, "I wish for Life," before the 'dead' person returns to their body. If this causes some recently dead guy a block away to suddenly wake up fine, sue them. They're causing miracles over here, be grateful!

Now imagine something happens one day that causes a human mortal that also works for the company in some regard to bare witness to GIGS' unhinged method of investigation. They're playing with cursed objects like toys, purposefully triggering hunts, and—

Unnamed is sitting in the van watching the camera closely when it happens. They've been tasked as a fifth, no wait, sixth member of the legendary GIGS crew for the day, since there's apparently a girl named Gem that subs in for Scar half the time. They're thinking that, sure, this team's been a bit reckless so far, but who are they to judge? These guys are THE professionals, after all. However, this viewpoint quickly gets decimated.

"HahAHA Scar's dead!" Unnamed's head snaps up at Grian's outburst. They, being the normal person they are, respond reasonably, "Wait, agent Scar is dead-?!" A pause followed by a realization, "Why the hell are you laughing-?!"

Grian, who came back into the van for candles since they were going to do an Onryo test before it started hunting, suddenly remembers that humans don't think death is funny. Right. Need to fix that slip up.

"Uhm... out of shock, I think?" Wow, A+ excuse, he mentally berates himself. Think Grian, think! Humans have that thing called grief, right? And isn't the first stage of that denial? Bingo! "I.. I'm sorry, I think I'm just.. in denial?" Grian wants to slap himself. Great idea, horrible execution. Unnamed clearly didn't buy it.

Thankfully, that mess was interrupted, "Hey guys, I found the monkey paw. Should I use it to bring Scar back?" Impulse says over the radio. Skizz and Grian are quick to agree, the latter also using the distraction to rush out of the van and that conversation with the candles.

It takes a moment to click, but Unnamed suddenly realizes, "Wait, are you guys gonna use a cursed item to bring Agent Scar back-?! Look, I know you all are mourning, but that is under all circumstances forbidden!" They take a breath in disbelief, "That could have unforeseen consequences!"

Skizz pipes up, not even trying to be subtle, "Well, duh. The consequences are what makes it fun!" Unnamed is interrupted by Impulse before they can rant about how bad of an idea this is—, "Yeah you say that until you're the one that has to deal with them," he chuckles.

Skizz, in blind yet playful rage, bites the bait, "Fine then! Give me the monkey paw, and I'll wish Scar back to life myself!"

Skizz does this and dies, and they can practically hear him complaining from beyond the grave. Impulse snaps a picture of his corpse as they make fun of the position he's in, his back bent backward. Unnamed is frozen in shock in the van as they listen to Skizz's friends, including a newly revived Scar, laugh at their own friend's demise. Oh god, they're surrounded by psychopaths. These guys take all the hardest jobs, of course they've gone crazy—

Unnamed, after spiraling for an unknown amount of time, looks over to the activity chart to see that there is a hunt going on. This gives them some time to collect their thoughts, only for that little composure to immediately be shattered when as soon as the hunt ends, Grian barks out a laugh, "Oh Scar! He's died AGAIN!", "Oh nooo!" Impulse follows along with a chuckle. Unnamed is on the verge of hyperventilating.

The two remaining GIGS return to the van and ignore Unnamed's impending panic attack. Grian tells Impulse that the hunt started right after the third candle blew out, so he thinks it's an Onryo. "I mean we do already have orbs, but I wasn't getting freezing temps and that ghost just wasn't answering spirit box." Impulse counters.

"Listen, I know I was spirit boxin' it pretty good,"—Unnamed shudders at that. The second-hand cringe they felt listening to Grian's "WHERE ARE YOUUU-?!" was indescribable—"but my gut is really telling me it's an Onryo! Besides, we've had ghosts that just refused to talk before."

"Your gut is usually right," Impulse mutters. "Look, we've got one of two evidence and a successful Onryo test, so I say we gag since Scar and Skizz are dead." Grian says. Impulse still looks unsure, "I just feel like it's too soon. One evidence is hardly enough, and that Onryo test could be a fluke."

They have completely forgotten Unnamed is there at this point, and they don't exactly feel like attracting attention to themself as they wilt like a flower in the corner, pondering their life choices.

Grian relents a bit, "Okay how about this, we ask Scar and Skizz if we should gag or continue investigating, fair?" Impulse nods, "Fair."

Unnamed looks up a little, concerned on how exactly they plan to consult their dead friends. They're beginning to think there's a high likelihood they'll quit tonight, and they're definitely going to need a therapist after all this.

Impulse speaks up over the radio despite them all being in the truck, "Alright guys, come get your clipboards!" Unnamed stares on in something akin to horror as two of the clipboards up on the wall start hovering. Impulse's voice is somehow too loud and too quiet at the same time, "Alright, throw your clipboards on the keyboard if we should continue, and throw them on the floor if we should gag."

Both clipboards are now being repeatedly picked up and tossed on the floor of the van by an invisible force. 'Forces,' they correct themself mentally, as it slowly dawns on them that these ghosts are actually Scar and Skizz, and isn't THAT a mind-twister?

Impulse looks slightly disappointed but smiles good-naturedly anyway, "You guys wanna gag? Alrighty then, check off Onryo and let's go!"

This is the moment that Impulse suddenly remembers Unnamed's existence, looking slightly worried at their lack of input, "You okay?" He turns his head, "Grian don't go yet, Unnamed hasn't given their opinion." Grian grumbles out a 'fine', and Impulse looks back at them, "You wanna gag, or should we contin–" Unnamed interrupts, "Just get me outta here please," they near-whisper.

Impulse looks them over and remembers that humans aren't meant to be that pale and hesitantly asks, "You uh... feeling sick?" He looks over to Grian for help, and Unnamed could swear they heard Grian sassily mumble, "Don't look at me, I dunno how humans work either," but they had to be hearing things, because that just doesn't make sense, surely.

"Impulse, lets just go and pass Unnamed onto someone who actually knows what they're doing," Grian grumbles, clearly frustrated. Impulse still looks concerned (at least he's trying), but concedes since, yeah, they really don't know what they're doing, do they?

As Grian starts the truck, Unnamed notices that Scar and Skizz's bodies are suddenly in the truck. Did– did Grian leave while Impulse looked them over? That had only lasted for a few seconds though, Grian couldn't possibly have dragged them in in that time, could he? It's like they were just teleported in here. Unnamed is really going to need that therapist, and maybe some kind of hallucination medication too...

While staring into space and down at the keyboard in misery, Unnamed distantly hears the sounds of someone cracking their joints and grunting noises to accompany it. They fully snap to attention, however, when they hear the people's voices.

Scar makes a sound of discomfort as he snaps his neck back into place, "Oh void, gonna feel that in the mornin'," he mutters to himself. Skizz on the other hand lets out a whoop at the satisfying crack in his back, before immediately thrusting into bickering with Impulse.

"Dipple-Dop, you killed me!" Skizz exclaims, and Unnamed gets the feeling that they should cover their ears, like a child does when their parents fight. "ME-?! You're the one who used the monkey paw!" Impulse retorts. Skizz, "Well, you shouldn't have given it to me!" Impulse, "But you literally asked me for it!" Skizz, "Well, I wouldn't have if you didn't instigate me!" Impulse, "Oh, come on! You..."

Unnamed tunes them out and focuses on Scar and Grian, all thoughts having left their head out of pure shock, believing this must be some twisted fever dream. It makes sense, they think, they have been tasked with reviewing GIGS' reports for the past month after all.

In truth, the only reason Unnamed is here in the first place is because Skizz didn't read a form before signing it. With their previous check, GIGS received a form that was asking about sending someone to monitor and review their methods and see if they're fit to formally become employees. It was really just an effort to get to know something about these mysterious volunteers, though.

Skizz, however, just skimmed the part gushing about how much the company appreciates their hard work and the benefits of becoming real hires, not actually reading the part about the employee evaluation, assuming they were just going to get the rewards. He signed it and wrote down the GIGS Crew email address he created a minute ago, hence why Unnamed is now here. Yippie.

They tune into Grian and Scar's conversation as they vaguely register Impulse and Skizz's continued, albeit quieter, bickering in the background. Scar is griping about the crick in his neck, "Why do you guys always have to leave a guy in the most uncomfortable positions, huh?" Grian responds blunty with zero hesitation, "Because it's funny," he snorts.

Unnamed tunes them out too as their brain starts to reboot enough to process that they are supposed to be dead. Why are they not dead-?!

Grian notices Unnamed staring in the corner and clears his throat above everyone else's chatter, making a gesture towards them once he has their attention. Unnamed can feel their heart sink straight through the floor, and a metaphorical noose tighten around their neck.

He looks over at Scar and Skizz, "You two really couldn't wait to get back up, could you? Remember, we. have. COMPANY!" Grian punctuates each word in that statement with a clap.

The two sheepishly look over at Unnamed while Impulse looks mildly panicked. Scar and Impulse were cooking up some half-baked excuses, and Skizz is malfunctioning when Grian sighs and relents a bit, "Okay, we're really not being that subtle anyway, are we?"

Scar is spewing a ridiculous explanation in the background, "They uh, shocked us back to life while you weren't looking, yeah!" A whisper from Skizz shuts him up, "I'm no expert, but I don't think that's how that works, buddy." Scar deflates a bit, "But that's all I've got..." Skizz rubs a comforting hand on his back, "I know, dude, at least ya' tried."

Before Unnamed can get enough of a grip on themself and ask what in the hell is happening, the ride ends, simultaneously having taken an eternity and also been way too short.

Grian slips out of the driver seat and ushers them outside quickly, them now standing in front of the company's main building looking lost. "Wait!" Impulse stops Grian from driving off, "You forgot your employee evaluation sheet. It looks oddly blank..." Impulse trails off before snapping out of his stupor, "Sorry! Didn't mean to pry. I'm probably not meant to read that, huh?" He slips the report into Unnamed's hand when they don't take it on their own.

"Oh, and would you mind taking in our report for this job too?" Despite the lack of a response, Impulse slips the report into their hands anyway, "Thanks, pleasure working with you! Sorry for any disturbances we many of caused." Impulse calls out as he steps back into the vehicle, Grian driving away as soon as the door closes, as if driving away will solve all their problems.

Unnamed starts to mindlessly wander inside the building, robotically turning in the report and submitting their evaluation sheet for review, one to the standard job review department and one to HQ. 'It really is a bit blank, huh?' They think passively. They're not really there, still feeling like they're floating in nothingness, but it's the first coherent thought they've had regarding reality in a while, so they'll take anything at this point.

Before they know it, they've found their way into the overnight stay room. Most investigations occur at night, so they have two rooms with sectioned off areas, each area containing a twin bed and a nightstand. It would look uncannily like a hospital if the nightstands were metal instead of wood.

They look up at the clock in the room and distantly note that its 2:17 am. Barely acknowledging that, they ungracefully flop onto the nearest available bed and pass out unceremoniously, not even taking off their shoes. The last thing to cross their mind before drifting off into a dreamless sleep is absolute certainty that this must just be a really strange nightmare induced by lack of proper sleep, and with that, they are at peace.

~

Unnamed hazily blinks their eyes open the next morning to see a silhouette sitting on their bedside, vaguely recognizing them as their friend, Unidentified. They can't focus on that though, only signing in relief now that that disturbing dream was over, writing it off as nerves for the upcoming job with GIGS. They're probably completely normal people, if a bit unorthodox.

This illusion is quickly shattered, though, because as soon as Unnamed is conscious enough to listen, their friend speaks, "So, how was it?" Unidentified stares at them with clear excitement, bouncing up and down a bit where they sat.

Unnamed, still pitifully oblivious, tilts their head in confusion, "How was what?" It's Unidentified's turn to be confused, "What do you mean, 'How was what?' The job with GIGS, obviously!" Unidentified exclaims incredulously.

Unnamed's face slowly morphs into one of unbridled horror as they realize that that wasn't a dream.

The next thing they know, they've sat up, fully awake, getting up and brushing themself off. Unidentified quickly switches from excited to worried, "Unnamed, are you okay?"

Unnamed can barely recall how to string together the sounds they call language to reply, "Yeah, I uh... I just need to go report something to HQ." Before Unidentified can respond, Unnamed has rushed out the door, straightening out their attire so that they look at least somewhat presentable in front of the company's head.

They file a request for an immediate meeting with the higher-ups, stressing the importance of it. They add that it has to do with Team GIGS as an afterthought, hoping it'll peak their curiosity.

And so Unnamed sits there, standing in the lobby with pumping adrenaline as they come to terms with a stark truth:

The GIGS crew is not human.

~•~

Bonuses!

POV GIGS Before:

"Look, Grian, I know you don't wanna leave the van, but this time you have to!" Impulse tries to reason, though he knows he's fighting a losing battle.

Grian refuses to relent, gaze boring into Impulse with several Eyes, "But whyyyy?!"

Impulse lets out an exhausted sigh, he's been at this for a while, "You know why, an inspector is going to be hunting with us this time, and they're human! We have to give them van duty or else they could die in the house. Like actually die."

Grian let's out an indignant whine, his wings puffing out in defiance, "And? There's gonna be five of us, can't we both just be in the van or something?"

"Grian, you and I both know that out of everyone here, except for maybe Gem, you get along with humans the least. You don't even try to be friendly!" Impulse counters. He can see Grian's resolve beginning to falter as he continues, "You don't wanna be stuck in the van with a 'strange mortal' the whole time, do you?" He uses air quotes, trying to speak Grian's language, and it's working.

Grian visibly deflates a little bit, crossing his arms and looking away as he bites out a bitter, "no." He's staring with only two eyes now, so that's progress Impulse thinks.

Skizz finally cuts in, not having wanted to get involved when Grian was still yelling, but will now that he's somewhat calm, "Listen buddy, it's not like you've never left the van before! You do it whenever Gemstone joins us, and sometimes when a bunch of us are dead!" Skizz chuckles a bit, "It's nothin' you haven't done before, G-Sharp."

Grian fully deflates this time, tension releasing from his body as looks at his feet and heaves a sigh of his own, "Fiiiine. The stupid human can have the vaaaan." He pouts, but it's the best they're going to get so they take it.

Impulse finally lets out a breath of relief, glad that he's avoided the possible murder of their inspector. Void, he really feels like a single mom sometimes.

~•~

POV GIGS After:

Grian is most definitely driving faster than the speed limit allows, not that he particularly cares. That went horribly, the human saw Scar and Skizz revive themselves for Void's sake!

In truth, they were never really dead. They really just couldn't bend their death-related rules they set for a day, huh? He has the urge to bury his face in the steering wheel as he drives. "This is why I avoid mortals," he grumbles to himself.

~

When they arrive at their designated "ghost hunting lobby," as they call it, they all devolve into various states of stress.

Grian face-plants into sofa and screams into a throw pillow, Eyes forming and popping around his head like lava. Impulse is pacing around the room like a maniac, pointed tail swishing back and forth in distress. Scar sits on the armchair, fiddling with his cane and pushing a hand through his hair, his eyes practically stapled open, gazing into space. Skizz just kind of stands there, his tail also swishing in anxiety as he dreads the inevitable.

Scar finally shatters the silence, "Now, I don't wanna point fingers, but," he points at Skizz, "kinda your fault, Skizz." There it is, there's what Skizz was dreading.

He tries to defend himself anyways, "Alright listen, I know that most of this is my fault for signing that dumb form, but you can't deny that we all messed up at least a little bit."

Impulse stops pacing at that. Grian doesn't move from his misery on the sofa, not reacting at all.

"I- yeah, Skizz is right. We all kind of screwed up. I think our main problem was how casually we acknowledged death. It's surprisingly easy to forget that humans don't view life as a game..." Impulse rubs the back of his neck, guilty.

Skizz still looks apologetic though, "Yeah, just know I'm really sorry about that. Maybe don't put me on mail duty anymore."

Scar stands up, his skin having taken on a blue blue sheen, his edges a little sharper, and small translucent wings behind him. "It's okay man, I probably would have done the same thing," he picks up a Jellie that's winding in between his legs, "plus we both kinda revived while Unnamed was right there, so you can't take all the blame for that."

"Thanks dude, that means a lot." Skizz slings an arm over Scar's shoulder.

Grian finally sits up, "So what happens now?" All heads turn to him, their stares questioning.

Eyes have never bothered Grian, since he has more of them, so he stands up fully and elaborates, "Well, within the next few days, the company is gonna know we're not human. What exactly do we do now?" A contemplating pause followed by a sad voice, "Do we... have to quit ghost hunting?"

The room goes deathly quiet. They... didn't think about that. Even Skizz and Scar look crestfallen. It's Impulse who pipes up, "No, we don't." he says surprisingly self-assured, all eyes now on him.

Impulse continues on, "I mean, Skizz and I just kinda showed up one day and they couldn't get rid of us, them knowing what we are isn't gonna change that. How exactly would they stop us?" The crew looks a little less depressed at that.

"Plus," Impulse looks hesitant for a moment, "Unnamed's reaction to death reminded me of how fragile human life really is, so even if we're only doing this for fun," he looks to each of them, "it makes me feel like we're protecting them, even if just by taking the lethal jobs."

Skizz perks up at the notion, and Scar breaks out into a grin, waltzing over to Impulse and slinging an arm over his shoulder. Jellie wanders off to go paw at Grian, who's sat back down, still squeezing that throw pillow.

Scar has regained his aura of grandeur, as he joins Impulse in cheering them up, "Yeah, I like that! We're helping by dying where they can't!" He looks very excited at the thought.

It's Skizz's turn to join the building huddle, an arm finding it's way on Impulse's other shoulder. "Oh yeah! Good guy Skizzleman, saving mortals from the horrors of death!" He pumps a fist in the air.

Grian gets up, Jellie trailing behind, and reluctantly joins the hug, arms around Scar and Skizz and his wings around all of them. "I don't care what happens to those humans, but whatever," grian mumbles. Impulse just smiles fondly at him, because despite how he pretends not to, Impulse can see just how much Grian truly cares. He doesn't have to understand mortals to care for them.

The soft moment is interrupted by a ding from Skizz's phone. They untangle their arms as Skizz checks what it is.

He perks up excitedly, "Oh, it's our report's review for the job!" He chuckles a bit, "If one good thing came out of signing that form, it's that we now get almost instant results!"

He clicks on the email, eager to see if they guessed right. Spoiler, they did not.

"What-?!" His face contorts to one of disbelief, "A Mare-?! How?" Grian shoots up at Skizz's outburst, clearly upset.

"What-?! Yeah how-?! That thing wasn't turning off any lights!" He squawks indignantly, a few Eyes floating over Skizz's shoulder to read it himself.

Scar looks wholly unaffected, "Eh, I don't really know how we got Onryo in the first place, I was too busy being dead."

Impulse seems to slowly come to a conclusion, "Well, if you think about it, we weren't really turning the lights on to begin with," his voice picks up a bit, "We were putting so many candles out for the Onryo test, that—"

Skizz finishes, "We stopped turning on the breaker 'cause the candlelight was enough!"

None of them have to turn around to see Grian facepalming, the scream of frustration enough for them to paint that picture themselves, "I hate this game!"

Grian isn't done with his rampage, "But wait, doesn't Mare also need spirit box?" He looks to Impulse for confirmation, and continues once he gets a nod, "But I did spirit box so well though! I had great coverage."

Impulse puts up a hand placatingly, "Yeah, I agree, you did spirit box pretty good, but we were on Nightmare, so spirit box probably just probably wasn't one of the two random evidence."

Grian crosses his arms, "Or maybe it's because someone," he casts a glare at Impulse, though he means nothing malicious by it, "just had to prestige, leaving us with shoddy level 1 equipment." He sighs however, "But you're probably right. We didn't really look that hard for Ghost Writing, did we?"

He wanders off to grumble to himself a little longer, and they all laugh at Grian's pity-party. They end up sitting on sofa together for a while, just chatting about things they couldn't talk about while Unnamed was there.

Impulse is telling a story from Hermitcraft earlier that day, but he stops when Gem comes up in it, paling, "Oh Void..."

Impulse's face unravels into one of dread, a realization forming, "Gem's gonna smack us all upside the head for this." Oh. Oh no. They all shudder in unison. They're screwed.

~•~

Thanks for reading my little self-indulgent AU-idea turned into a fic!

This was originally meant to just be an AU idea, but I blinked and I'd written a whole fic, so yeah.

I think I'll edit this a bit and post it on Ao3 too of that interests anyone.

Feel free to use the idea however you want, just tag me, I wanna see what you do :)

[dg-outlaw]

Batfam Retail and Character Agency

So I've been thinking about how some people take issue with certain ships in the Batfam, especially in fanfic or general fanon. For example, JaySteph and how people will cry "ince$t" when these two or other characters are paired up in a ship.

One, I don't think these people know how biology/ancestry works because the only blood related members of the Batfam are Bruce, Damian, and Kate Kane despite them being called the BatFAM. Two, most of Bruce's adopted children were older or barely interacted in a sibling way as far as growing up together. Sure, they might have a sibling-coded relationship and are legally related, but the best example I can think of in how the Batfam works is not the Brady Bunch or Cheaper by the Dozen, but that they all are or have been co-workers at the same minimum wage retail store. Friendships, drama, dating, rivalries, and other such nonsense is sure to happen. It's called forced proximity and shared experience.

I'm thinking of writing up a humorous parallel of who's who in the retail realm when it comes to the Batfam, but including it here would make this post WAY too long

The other annoyance, that I sort of get IF looked at from the POV of DC editorial or writers (if that's their ill-conceived intention), is the idea that a character, more specifically a female character, is just getting "passed around". Instead, my only guess is that whoever is complaining about this is saying that the male character should be given a new, shiny, fresh off the showroom floor love interest and not some high-mileage used model. I use a car reference here because that's exactly how that female is seen when a person says this, whether they acknowledge it or not.

The female character, for example: Stephanie Brown, is no longer a person with her own autonomy and ability to choose or have agency. She's an object to be owned, possessed, or used for the sake of forwarding the male character's arc or to add drama (e.g. fridging or damsel in distress). To imply that Stephanie Brown (or any other character) is being "passed around" from Tim Drake to Jason Todd is to imply that Steph doesn't have nor did she ever have choice in the matter (again, JaySteph isn't even canon, but if it were to become canon, some people would still have a fit). And yes, these are fictional characters, but in writing them (whether officially by DC or in fanfics) they should be treated as real people with real choices and not some object or virginal "bride" for the male protagonist where you'd retcon past relationships.

Has Stephanie Brown always been treated fairly in comics? No. Has Jason? Also, no. Would pairing these two be some sort of "passing around" or "sloppy seconds" for Jason? If I have to answer that for you or you think 'Yes', then you probably don't see women as people. Canonically, I think Jason has had more love interests so if anything Steph would be the one getting someone else's "sloppy seconds", thirds, fourths, etc.

Again, see the above about retail co-workers. Steph once dated Tim. It was their first job and their first real, young love. It was good, it was bad, they made out in the break room, they broke up in the middle of Customer Service, etc. Former employee, Jason, comes by and picks up random shifts when Bruce is really desperate. Steph and Jason meet and hang-out over a few shifts, even though Bruce doesn't trust either of them and would rather they work somewhere else. Maybe they got stuck working Black Friday and the holidays together and boom, sparks happened. It's maybe weird or awkward for Tim, but Tim fell in love with the snack and soda machine vendor, Bernard, so it's really no big deal.

So if someone can date their co-worker, break-up, and then date another co-worker, it should be none of your damn business (assuming everything is legal, consenting, and above board) if none of those people are you.

Thank you for coming to my TEDTalk.

[melindaaskblog]

SMI received a new assignment without much fanfare. 

Another contact testing, as the researchers call it. It was nothing new: An entity was deemed either too dangerous or otherwise difficult to handle, and the researchers wanted it off their hands. The contact was for testing the waters, see if SMI could take over some of the more hazardous work. It made sense - they were designed to handle things human employees feared.

Melinda. SMI very soon learnt the name of the amorphous inky, from the thin, heavily redacted document that offered minimal information for things to work. It’s sentient. Easily agitated. Prone to lashing out. To the surprise of no one, cannot be allowed near human proximity, for reasons unspecified. SMI chalked them down to the usual complications of being kept at Blacksite.

The near-zero toleration towards light was new. It meant SMI’s screen would have to be shut off for the duration of the contact. It’s strange, having to communicate without a face, but they supposed that make them and Melinda to be on equal footing.

— — — — —

“Just do what you do best. Go in there and make a friend.” Was the dry comment SMI heard from the supervisor, before they were sent into the airlock. A list of questions was already downloaded into their mind. SMI was permitted to go off-script, if only slightly; so long as it doesn’t set the entity off.

The inner containment door slid open with a hiss, and the cold air hit immediately. The temperature of the cell was far too cold for a human, but comfortable for SMI. Their internal fans whirred lazily, the cool air a relief to the overworked systems. They stepped inside, and the door sealed them in.

The cell was shrouded in almost complete darkness. SMI scanned the cell, and soon their sensors locked on the only moving object in a room, a pile of blanket. They called out carefully.

- Hello, Melinda.

(Hi hi! excited to finally interact with Mel, hope this is comprehensible and not too wordy.)

(@voice-o-fallacy)

(NONO ITS BEAUTIFUL AND I LOVE IT)

[Melinda would startle from their nap as soon as they heard the faintest noise of the researcher speaking, it's eye rings popping open as it hesitantly peered out from its blanket pile.]

◇... Am I talking to a computer-? You know what? I'm not one to judge. Anyone can be sentient if they want to be.◇

[Melinda's expression would go from mild surprise back to drowsy quickly. Shuffling a bit before sliding a note across the floor.]

`I'm surprised you even came inside the cell. Most scientists are too scared to even go into the first door of the airlock.`

[The void mass would raise up a bit to appear more present, their eyes tilting to the side like some strange cat.]

`I can't tell if you're some kind of computer-based experiment, or just some guy with the least protective mask in the world. Though it doesn't really matter. I'm assuming you're just here to ask another round of pointless questions I won't answer.`

[The blob would cross two tentacles like arms.]

`It's getting painfully dull, you know? Children's toys only go so far, be sure to tell your researcher buddies that.`

[The void mass would gesture to the various toys scattered across the cell floor. A drum, xylophone, colorful rubber ducks, blocks, even a rattle, which seemingly had the most use of all considering the several dents in it. Actually, no, that was probably just from angry throwing.]

[stiricidewrites]

The Damage You Do: ch 25, pt 10

CW: murder thoughts, silly gory thoughts as well

Previously

~

lwj easily shifted him until he was back on his hands and knees, the man’s hands dragging inappropriately over his body and making him shudder. “Is something wrong?” the man asked because he was such a teasing ass.

“No, Lan-laoshi,” wwx responded, blinking at himself when his voice came out slurred. If he hadn’t already been vibrating with arousal, he probably would have thought the early hour and the child’s pose had gotten to him—had slowly dragged him down towards the sleep he rarely got enough of. It wasn’t sleepiness slurring his voice, however. It was simply that he was so fucking horny. It really was quite mean of his dom to inflict this situation on him. He had been expecting a porn-style yoga scene when all this started, not to be forced into what had simultaneously become the most aggravating and relaxing moment of his life.

How did someone even do that!? What kind of fucking magic was his dom weaving to accomplish such a feat!? Aggravation and relaxation didn’t go together, and yet here he was, being blissfully moved from position to position while his body screamed at him that he needed to get some action, or he was going to explode—

Was that a possibility? That he’d be so wound up by his asshole of a dom that his dick would explode? His balls wouldn't be able to empty and bad, bad things would happen. That would be objectively terrible—he quite liked his junk, thanks. Worst of all, his death via genital explosion probably wouldn't even inconvenience his dom much!

Every big, bad mob dude had lackeys to remove bodies and depose of them properly. Cleaners, they were called. The Lans likely had the best cleaners out of all the local groups because wwx had certainly never heard of them being caught with their marks on any bodies. The Jiang cleaners had been pretty good, but even they’d had people caught every so often because someone had fucked up. A few of the cleaners who worked directly under nhs were probably better than the Lan’s, but the Nie heir only used his best cleaners for specific jobs—usually ones that involved setting someone else up for the murder.

“When you have an employee this good, you have to make sure they get a lot of vacation time,” nhs had once joked as they hung up a call requesting that one of their cleaners go and deal with a mess one of their employees had made. The employee in question hadn’t actually killed anyone, but they’d started the mess that had ended in more than one death. It hadn’t been the first time their actions had caused problems, and nhs had been quite done with their nonsense, ordering their cleaner to make it look as though the employee had been directly responsible for the deaths. It had also been one of the few times wwx had lent his skills to his friend, back when nhs had just started officially working for his family and had very little resources at his disposal. In hindsight, it may have been because of those few times that nhs had been able to figure out that he wasn’t as completely retired as everyone seemed to think he was.

[eric-the-bmo]

Neighborhood Watch S2ep5: Open Wounds

A week after the session and I'm finally uploading the recap with bullet points, here we go:

[Summary: Ken tries to join the group /hj. The Cast fully reuintes at Emmett's. Markus gains an ally, while John tries to be a good friend. Song tries to clean up her place, and Louis goes on a rant.]

• Picking up a bit after where we left off: Ken tells Louis he's had the Sight ability ever since he was born, getting visions from touching objects and people— he says he's a psychic. Louis corrects him: Clairvoyant, actually. Ken's like "hm whatever psychic sounds cooler" • Ken shows Louis some drawings of monsters he's spotted, including one he calls the PantherHawk- it's the Hunter we killed in the Season One finale. Louis tries his best to explain what it was. • Louis elaborates, saying he and a group of others hunted down the kind of monster the PantherHawk was- Ken picks up on the "we" aspect, and asks if there was an official group, and if he can join— Louis said it was more of a neighborhood watch, finally dropping the title of the show after thirteen episodes. • Ken says the grocery store keeps restocking even though no one does that, according to Harold the bagger, and suggests its a ghost. Louis suggests it could be the fae– Jewel the Only Employee laughs over at the register– and tells Ken to see if the employees are doing anything like leaving offerings to the fae. • The cats all surround them in a semi-circle when its time for them to leave- Louis asks Ken if he thinks thats weird, and Ken's all "idk i thought they were trained to do that" (Louis: "keneth do you know how hard it is to train cats") • Some point in this conversation it was revealed Ken's lived in Greenville a few months before he got a house in the raffle- one of the places he stayed at was above the pizza place, after whoever lived there moved out (John and Shelby's old place!!! he lived where they lived!!!)

• Karen opens the door to see Markus, who sees the cop approaching and Really dones't wanna get arrested, because why else would a cop be walking over here? They push past her to run to Bob, and says they know where the monsters are; if they get arrested, Bob will never know where the monsters are. Markus uses a Luck point to successfully do this. • Bob tells Karen (whos being helpd up by their son aka the cop) the reason Markus ran her over was bc they were just excited about a camping trip he promised they would do together— Karen is confused bc they seemed to hate each other, and Markus is all "dude im not a kid, im 27," but the lie works. • (Turns out Markus wasnt going to get arrested anyway, since Bobby Jr was only heading over there to say hello since he was in the area) • Markus starts to head over to Emmett's house to speak to the AI inside. • Theres this whole bit about firefighters heading over and interviewing Song, and Louis being Flustered by them all and giving them giftbaskets. Song gathers a bag of stuff [aka, hidden weapons] that werent ruined from the explosion and plans to give them to Louis later, because where else would she store them? Her house is gone.

John and Clara are walking back to City Hall, where she asks if he'd like to grab dinner together- she's essentially asking him out on a date. John, however, knows Shelby wanted to try making him dinner to celebrate (and has never been asked out before so he's Oblivious), so he mentions this. Clara's "like oh yeah maybe your roommate can join us, if he's chill with it," John mentions his roommate is a girl, and Clara just goes "...oh." And like. Walks away.

Shelby shows up to pick up John and she looks so tired. John's like "hey bestie are you okay"

• Shelby tells John how she's just really focused on completing the Lego set she got earlier- the way she talks about it, like how Focused she is on getting it done, prompts the other players to theorize the Lego set is partially haunted or cursed by the dead son of the neighbor she got it from (I, meanwhile, assumed Shleby was just having an ADHD hyperfocus moment). John goes Protective Friend and convinces her to to go bed, also revealing her full name (Shelby Nicole Waters). There's a Bit about John not knowing if he has a middle name (he doesn't). • John learns Song's house exploded and he's like "it fucking what-" • He makes sure she gets to sleep, and after she does, he watches her for a few moments to make sure she's okay. Unlike the other times he's done this, he doesn't think about killing her this time.

• We all head to Emmett's— Louis chases Ken away when he tries to join us. When we get down there Markus tells John to quit his job, and Song is GLARING at the monster man, who's absolutely looking down at the floor, he Does Not want to look at her. • Louis goes on this Giant Rant to Emmett about how everything in this town is weird, have you noticed that? Like this town was made to keep all the weird stuff inside it. Literally nothing and no one about this town is normal. • Emmett says he knows this, and says he's spent years studying the town because of it. Wild. [as this is happening, John glances over at Song to make sure she's okay] • When Markus asks Emmett if he found out what the plastic was about, and Song is all "Oh I can explain that actually." She lies and says that some of her uh. Toys, got ruined in the explosion. [• We get very distracted for a moment because of this, both out-of and in-character] • We learn about the plants. Theyre venomous, highly adaptive, invasive, etc. They almost seem like Hunters, aka what John is, but as plants. • Markus tells everyone to meet them at their house since theyve got something to show the rest of the Cast. We split up. • Song and Louis hang out and the crooked's place as Song looks up a place to stay and gives him the weapons. Louis gets a message from Lestat, and heads over. • Going against a meaningful conversation he and Song had literally less than five minutes ago, Louis falls to Lestat's manipulations and lets the vampire feed upon him. • John is the only one to show up. Markus refuses to show him what they were gonna show the cast, bc then theyd have to show it twice and they dont wanna do that. John and Markus have a conversation that starts with him asking why they thought he didn't to be fixed. Markus tells John he's caring, strong- nothing's wrong with him, he just needs to work on self control. They end up becoming friends again, and John helps them feed their bugs. • When he gets home, he sees the partially-built Lego set on the kitchen counter, and feels the Urge to continue building it. He turns away, not wanting to interrupt Shelby's project– a Luck point is spent, and his Monstrous side will be worse when it emerges next.

Notes:

I FUCKED UP I LOCKED MYSELF OUT OF DATING CLARA NOOOO [John my beloved he's going to ask her what he did wrong next week (and then he's going to quit his job. bc really he Also really doesn't like the plant thing)]

JOHNS CANONICALLY THOUGHT ABOUT KILLING SHELBY BEFORE, WE STAY WINNING /hj

Something about how John feels guilty about almost killing Song and how he wants to make it up to her

That conversation where Song explained the plastic? I was like "GIRL REMEMBER YOUR GEAS ABOUT NOT TELLING US, YOU'LL D I E" and then she Lied, killing me instantly

John wanting to be a good friend to Shelby is continuously fucking up his life /JJJJ (I can't wait for him to go all Monstery again it'll be so so fun)

Louis takes a break during his rant to mention how he has No Idea how Markus has even survived this long, and everyone agrees that Markus is literally the most normal person in this group. There's great dramatic irony here, given how Markus is in fact Full of Bugs and made everyone forget about that

I didnt say anything about it in-game but hello? Markus? self-control??? John had avoided killing humans by eating forest animals for three years he was doing such a good job. why do you Think he's so torn up about hurting Song

LOUIS. LOUIS IM GOING TO KILL YOUR EX BOYFRIEND. God that scene was so. ougghughghghgjh. fucking christ

[whattheabcxyz]

2024-08-26

Singapore

Bishan HDB residents use objects to "queue" for free food

CTE tunnel ceiling damaged by tipper truck that exceeded height limit - driver has been arrested

Close to half of Singaporeans & PRs living here say they will never achieve financial freedom

Government closely studying new geothermal technologies & overseas plants

Mind Science Centre gets $3m endowment to boost mental health research & education

Pritam Singh seeks High Court trial over alleged lies to parliament

POFMA issued to blogger Leong Sze Hian over post on housing grants

Jail + fine for mastermind of crypto investment scam where victims lost $1.1m - it was nothing but a ponzi scheme

Health

What to know about the rare but deadly mosquito-borne virus concerning US towns - the only good thing about Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is that humans & some mammals cannot transmit it (even though they may be infected) to mosquitoes that bite them, so the virus cannot continue spreading

Singapore government warns against using skin cream with potent steroid after woman suffers severe skin reactions

People

Authorities arrest Telegram CEO Pavel Durov at Paris airport - authorities allege his platform has been used for money laundering, drug trafficking & other offences

Who was Mike Lynch, the billionaire technopreneur who died in the recent yachting accident?

Education

^ Sign of the times

Society

Australian employees now have the right to ignore work e-mails/calls after hours

Travel

Sweden was just rated best country in the world for quality of life - I suppose if you don't mind the rising crime rate, sure 😒

Psychology

The Fisher Temperament Inventory claims to measure personality in terms of neurotransmitter dominance in the brain - some of the questions are incredibly stupid, so just take this with a pinch of salt

[esgjuly]

An energy audit's advantages for your business

Agile Advisors provide Energy Audit, you must conduct an energy audit to determine how much energy is being used on a facility you own. Having one has several advantages for your business, Lower energy expenses at every location you own and run so you can reinvest the savings in other facets of your company. Lessens reliance on the grid's non-renewable energy sources, lowers your emissions, supports the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives, and finds inefficiencies in your energy use so that you can run your business more profitably. An energy partner is always the most beneficial if looking for substantial benefits to conduct a full audit. However, a simple energy audit is easier than it might appear and can yield some immediate benefits. Here are some ideas for independently evaluating your workspace's energy efficiency.

Being one of Agile Advisors' top Energy Auditor, do you install intelligent meters or give your supplier regular readings from your meter? Start with your electricity bill if that's the case. Do you see any periods of the day, months, or seasons when your energy use is higher than usual? These may serve as helpful starting points. For instance, inspect your cooling system if you see an increase during the summer. When the store lighting came on at six in the morning, one of our customers at Opus Energy, a small retail store in Northamptonshire, noticed a jump. They lowered their usage by changing the auto-on start time to a little later when the lights were needed. Spot-check your workspace all day long. Are employees leaving lights on in closed cabinets and rooms? Does a room with open windows have air conditioning? The dishwasher is only halfway filled; is it still running?

We represent Agile Advisors as Energy Consultant, even though these items might not seem like much, the total amount of money squandered could surprise you. Put up reminder signs and bring this behavior to your personnel's attention to help it improve. Justifying the purchase of a new appliance when an existing one functions as intended might be easier once you factor in the energy savings that more energy-efficient equipment will provide. Upgrades to newer models are recommended, for instance, if your regular kitchen appliances are older than ten years. Make a note of the brand, model number, and date of purchase for each appliance while you conduct your audit. Which ones would be best to replace can be determined with a short internet search or a consultation with an experienced professional. Due to their low cost and short payback periods, lighting retrofits are among the most popular energy efficiency projects.

In our role as Energy Auditor, Examine the lighting fixtures in your structure. Are there any overly bright areas where a lower-wattage bulb might work well? Are the lights and fixtures you're utilizing the most energy-efficient models available? Your energy audit should include filter checks, duct sealing, and an assurance that the appropriate insulation is still in place. Ensure that any equipment related to your heating and cooling system is maintained correctly by consulting your service logs and the manufacturer's recommendations. These minor inefficiencies can add up to additional costs on your energy bill over time. The next step is to bring in a professional once you've finished the basic energy audit and made any necessary adjustments. This is because more modern, energy-efficient equipment does not need to work as hard as older, inefficient systems to perform at the same level.

To help you as Energy Audit, after thoroughly inspecting your whole facility, a qualified auditor will deliver you a report outlining your prospects for savings, the estimated costs of any projects, and the anticipated payback periods. Having this knowledge will put you in a solid position to decide what action to take next for your company. I suggest contacting your local council if you are still determining where to get a qualified auditor. We are your energy partner as well as your supplier. Opus Energy can assist you in creating a more thorough energy audit that can improve your company's sustainability and reduce expenses. A detailed energy audit is a comprehensive analysis of the energy consumption and expenses related to a complete establishment or primary structure.

[site-19--staffblog]

Hi! If you're reading this that means you've stumbled upon the SCP Foundations only Tumblr account! Well at least to my knowledge, incase your behind the veil yes this is made from actual foundation employees with permission from the 05's themselves,,, well not entirely but they said something similar enough

Well, I should probably get this Intro post started, here we go!

First off

Who are we?

Were the SCP foundation! At least to people behind the veil but you probably aren't behind it so for you the foundation is the men in black the Illuminati a secret government agency although we're not here to make your life harder or do weird shit to make a new world order, no we're here to protect you yes you reading this whoever you are whatever you do, you remember fairy tales told to you as a child right? Fantasy with wizards and princesses stuck in high towers? Elf's and fairy's in mystical woodlands? Well there real practically all of it but it isn't given the same child-friendly treatment because most things that are behind the veil want to kill you, so we shield humanity from them by putting them in overly complicated boxes so they (hopefully) never see the light of day again

But why?

Good question! Answer is most could probably kill all of us 3x over next question

Whats the veil?

Merraim-Websters definition

I kid the veil is what we call what separates your normal world from our fucked up fantasy keeping the normal citizen from learning about the soul-sucking demon that if escaped could murder half of China in a day it's what makes sure that modern society can exist without the fear of being annihilated down to your atoms at least in stable countries, it's also what allows us to do our jobs because sometimes for the greater good great evils need to be committed

If it's so important why are you throwing it away?

Another great question! ,,, we don't know at least no one at site-19 we've asked around at other sites but we still got no answers theories are welcome though! But if I'm being honest were all unnerved

List of site-19 staff participating!

Mik- Me! I'm the one passing messages from other groups behind the veil to where they need to go, along with messages sent to site-19 I also act as a diplomant from time to time

Misha- our resident historian for everything from behind the veil to in front of it she's usually helping tracking down the history of every object that comes through here, I don't know how she does it my bets on magic

Basia- one of our botanists, usually helping people with the health of their poor little cactus plants but when he does have a job to do by God does he do it he'd be able to get you an exact care plan for any anomalous plant you can think of horrible with people though I have to question why they signed up for this

Numbers- they handle most of the backend server stuff with Alexandria I don't know much about them I didn't even know they had a name till they signed up I don't interact with them alot if I do it usually means something has gone to shit with internal servers, so no time for chatting

Alexandria- Our very own artificial intelligence! Or officially an A.I.C. but same thing, she's what helps us keep our site Running! Also the sweetest person to talk with if you've got a question with the foundation or our site in general she's the one to ask! Although I've been told she's had quite the rocky history,,,

For the guys behind the veil

Please act normal don't send a cogitohazzard to some poor unsuspecting soul best foot forward and all that

Or I will sic 682 on you

I know you guys are aware of it, I won't hesitate

That's all!

I'll add more when necessary but please send us some asks!

Ooc))

If you think there's a way to improve this please let me know! This is my first time making an entire AU))

[gengrasvw123]

Gengras Volkswagen

The steadfast support you have shown Gengras Volkswagen is greatly appreciated. It is truly appreciated that you could make it here today ct vw dealers Our gratitude will last forever towards Gengras Volkswagen. I would be eternally grateful for your help. We pray that your presence here today holds some meaning for you. 

What distinguishes us from the competition is our dedication to treating every person with the highest respect and dignity. I am profoundly moved by your profound respect and commitment to our work. Because we recognise each person's inherent worth, we treat them with the highest respect. This is crucial because there are many factors that go into making an impression. In doing so, it makes us seem unique and exceptional. We apologise if this caused any inconvenience, even though we took all necessary precautions to avoid it. Gengras Volkswagen will be eternally grateful if you could help. We are quite grateful that you stopped by our site. We intend to seize the opportunity as soon as it presents itself. Your visit is greatly appreciated by our website. I am very grateful for your assistance. I really don't give a hoot. 

When it comes to expertise and customer service, no one can compare to our sales staff. Their extraordinary talent and contagious energy will mesmerise you. Our employees' capacity to provide outstanding service to customers will be impacted by this. They are considered a "authority" in the field due to their extensive knowledge of the subject. Our loyal customers know they can trust us to consistently go above and beyond their expectations. Thanks to their extensive training and extensive experience, our crew is always willing to go the further mile for consumers. They failed miserably in the absence of this mutually advantageous trait. All of our products are available on our website. You may conveniently arrange and pay for a test drive through our website. Instead of mindlessly following the herd, tune into your gut feelings. At any time that is convenient for you, feel free to swing by one of these events. It makes no difference which of these options we provide you with. If multiple options are available to you, choose the one that suits you best. Any of these problems can be easily resolved by you. These get-togethers are open to anybody who is interested. 

Simply select the "CarFinder" option to see all of the accessible vehicles. When you can't seem to find the ideal car, this service is for you. Just thinking about asking doesn't bother me in the slightest. By following the links we've provided, you can learn more about the topic. As you progress through the game, you'll unlock this function. A friendly salesperson will gladly walk you through each option when you click the "Directions" button. You will have many opportunities to learn about the many doors that will open. For the chance to be of service to you, we shall be eternally thankful. A mere "thank you" wouldn't do justice to the significance of the opportunity. As we prepare to do it, a mix of nerves and anticipation fills the air. Our joy knew no boundaries the moment we thought about this possibility. 

Maybe you run a brick-and-mortar shop in addition to your online marketplace volkswagen dealership near me We have two options that we think could work for you. If something is unclear, please don't hesitate to ask. Since both choices are adequate, buyers should pick the one that best suits their requirements. 

When you need sales, servicing, or repairs for your Volkswagen, go no farther than Genegras Volkswagen. The best aspect is that you don't even have to leave your house to get what you need. This was Gengras Volkswagen's original goal. Our company has created a web-based solution that is straightforward, clear, objective, and devoid of issues. An internet connection is all that is needed to use the technology. With each update, we strive to make the system easier to use. The goal is to finish the task. If you listen to my suggestions, you should have no trouble finding a trustworthy Volkswagen. When we implemented this solution, our main objective was to make Volkswagen's sales process more efficient. No matter what happens, you can count on me to be at your side. In my opinion, it will. This strategy has a chance of working. Since you have already decided to do it. Every second matters, so don't squander any more. Determine the amount of time you will save before making any commitments. 

[teambuildingglobal123]

Measuring the Impact of Team Building: Evaluating the ROI on Your Investment

In today's dynamic business era, corporate team building companies has become more than just a fun day out of the office. It's a strategic investment intended to boost morale, enhance collaboration, and ultimately drive business success. However, how are these initiatives' effects measured? Can you truly quantify the return on investment (ROI) of team building?

Yes, without a doubt, but with some nuances. Even though it can be difficult to pinpoint the precise effect of the best team building companies, there are many useful methods for determining its efficacy and showcasing its worth to your company.

Moving Beyond Anecdotes

Forget the "high fives and happy faces" approach. To truly understand the ROI of a team building company, you need to move beyond anecdotal evidence and delve into data-driven metrics. Here are some crucial points to think about:

Employee engagement: Surveys and pulse checks can reveal changes in employee engagement levels, satisfaction, and sense of belonging following team building activities.

Productivity and performance: Track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to productivity, efficiency, and team-based projects before and after team building initiatives. Look for improvements in communication, collaboration, and problem-solving, which can translate into tangible business results.

Retention and turnover: Best team building companies can foster a stronger sense of team spirit and loyalty, potentially leading to reduced employee turnover and associated costs. Monitor changes in retention rates before and after team building programs.

Customer satisfaction: Improved communication and collaboration within teams can lead to better customer service and satisfaction. Track customer feedback and satisfaction metrics to see if team building activities have a positive impact.

Beyond the Numbers

While metrics are crucial, remember that the impact of corporate team building companies goes beyond quantifiable data. Consider qualitative measures like:

Team dynamics: Observe changes in communication patterns, conflict resolution skills, and the level of trust and support within teams.

Employee feedback: Conduct focus groups or interviews to gather employee feedback on the effectiveness of team building activities. Look for insights into what worked well and what could be improved.

Organizational culture: Assess shifts in the overall company culture, such as increased collaboration, innovation, and a sense of community.

The ROI Equation

Ultimately, the ROI of the best team building companies comes down to a simple equation: Benefits - Costs = Return on Investment. Calculate the financial benefits of improvements in productivity, employee retention, and customer satisfaction. Then, subtract the costs of the team building program itself, including venue rental, facilitators, materials, and lost employee time.

Points To Remember

It takes time and effort to evaluate the effects of team building; it is not a one-time thing. Over time, track metrics and get feedback to create a complete picture of its efficacy.

Adjust your assessment techniques to meet your unique objectives and target results for team building.

Don't just rely on the numbers; qualitative input is just as crucial to comprehending the full effects of team building.

To illustrate the importance of team building activities, share the evaluation's findings with senior management and team members.

You may justify ongoing investment in team-building programs that fortify your organization and propel business success by taking a data-driven, comprehensive approach to evaluating their effects.

Conclusion 

Although determining the exact return on investment (ROI) of corporate team building companies can be akin to chasing rainbows, the benefits of a well-thought-out and assessed program are anything but legendary. You can unleash the full potential of teamwork by viewing measurement as a process rather than an end goal. A strategic approach to team building guarantees that your investment blossoms into a vibrant ecosystem of employee engagement and long-term success. 

Benefits of the best team building companies include boosting productivity and morale and cultivating a culture of trust and collaboration within the organization. Recall that the human connections created through successful team building are the threads in the dynamic business tapestry that genuinely possess the greatest strength.

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How to choose a software development partner

The year 2023 is a new beginning for many businesses. This entails selecting a software development partner for IT businesses. Although it's always tempting, outsourcing your software development team requires attention to every last detail.

How you find and collaborate with a software partner can vary greatly depending on the type of software project you are working on. It's crucial to stick to a set protocol while outsourcing. In this way, you can continue to have control over the quality of the job you get.

This blog talks about how to choose a software partner for your business. But first, let’s understand what a software development partner is. 

What is a software development partner?

From the planning stages to the launch, a development partner offers direction and experience. They'll collaborate with you to help you set timelines, identify users, and understand business processes. In addition to providing you with the necessary software development knowledge, offshore development partners help you finish your project.

In other words, if your software project will be handled by one of the top software development companies in India you can then devote more time to your company.

Why Are Businesses Seeking Software Development Partners?

Companies opt for a software development agency for various reasons. Some of them are:

01) There aren't enough resources available for your organization to hire more employees.

02) The project is temporary, and the business does not want to recruit developers on a permanent, full-time basis.

03) The company's internal team might not have software experts with the technical expertise to finish the project.

04) A software partner can ensure outcomes are delivered on time and under budget.

How to Choose the Right Software Development Partner

If you've determined that working with a development partner is the best course of action for your project, you must be deliberate in your selection process. 

01) Assess Your Project

It's crucial to sit back and assess your project before starting your search for partners. 

Make preparations to think about how outsourcing will affect your project.

Describe in detail your objectives for this particular project, and make an effort to quantify any benchmarks you intend to achieve.

Describe the reasons why you're attempting to hire a development partner to handle all or a portion of your project.

Is it connected to internal development costs? Make sure your budget allows for the hiring of qualified personnel.

Are there some abilities that your staff lacks? Then, be sure to express the abilities you are seeking in a clear manne

02) Define the Project Scope

Define your project's final product in terms of aims and expectations.

Set the precise specifications you need for your project to satisfy you, but keep your expectations in check along the way.

Consider the resources you intend to use so you may have a clear sense of what is feasible.

It could be helpful to create mock-ups and visual designs of your software during this planning stage to get a sense of how your project will look.

Even though it may seem like a lot of work, this can be quite helpful when pitching your project concept to possible partners.

03) Define the Time-Frame of The Project

Here, you'll choose the deadline for your project. Setting a firm deadline for your project can be challenging without prior experience in software development.

Don't be hesitant to enlist the assistance of your software development partner to help you map out this portion of your project if you are having problems describing your project in terms of time-based goals.

You can start to divide your project into pieces after you have an estimate of how much time you have to complete your overall project goals.

Some project managers provide a basic timeline for how long you should expect to need to finish each phase of your software project. Be adaptable because a lot of this can alter once you start working with a software development partner.

04) Define Your Budget

It's time to set up your annual budget now. Choose the percentage of your budget that will go to your software partner.

Calculating your budget will require knowing the value of your product. To do this, some in-depth research will be necessary.

Once more, your software partner can assist with any misunderstanding in this circumstance. Money isn't everything when looking for technical expertise, yet it's important.

Budget for quality above quantity when working with a software development partner to increase your trust in the final output.

05) Plan Staff Resources 

Don't forget to account for how outsourcing will affect your internal workforce while planning your project. Map out how your employees will be impacted by outsourcing sections of your operations.

Think about whether you'll need to work with your contracted team and use internal developers', other managers', or your own time and resources to get the job done.

You can calculate how many hours your various employees will need to work on the project's various components. The objective is to carefully consider how your project will impact the core business activities of your firm.

Business workflow will inevitably be improved by integrating your software partner into your business's processes and structures.

06) Define Your Technical Stack

Determine the technologies and programming languages you'll be using for the software system. List them and think about including a brief description of how they will be used in your project proposal.

As a result, you'll be able to find the best professionals for your project and better express your demands to possible software partners.

07) Consider Different Types of Outsourcing

Now that you've defined the project's scope, it's time to make plans for how you'll hire developers. There are various approaches to doing this. You can hire a software partner using staff augmentation as well as project-based outsourcing.

08) Location of Outsourced Talent

It can be crucial to find a good custom software development company in India. Geographic disparities can significantly change how remote teams function.

Day-to-day business is greatly impacted by elements including language barriers, time zone variances, and cultural differences. There are various types of location-based outsourcing options, such as: 

Onshoring :

Onshoring is the process of hiring distant workers from your own nation. 

Nearshoring :

Nearshoring means outsourcing workers from nearby countries. 

Offshoring :

In offshoring, workers from distant countries like India or China are outsourced at a very low cost.

09) Compare Potential Partners

By now, you should be fairly clear on how outsourcing will fit into the organization of your business. It becomes reasonable to formally begin your hunt for your software partner once you have a clear understanding of this.

There are several ways to look for developers who are available for hire. In your search, cost and reliability will be important considerations.

1. You can find a partner on freelance marketplaces like Fiverr, Upwork, etc.

2. Software development agencies can also be a great option as your development partner.

10) Contact and Evaluate

You must make contact once you have a general idea of the kind of software partner you're looking for. Pay attention to their communication skills and consider this when making decisions.

Interview prospective partners to select the best ones. To identify talent, use innovative techniques like coding competitions.

Alternatively, some partners in software development will let you test out their programmers for a short while.

Therefore, finding the best outsourcing team requires carefully vetting your software partner before engaging them.

11) Hire a Partner

The contracts must now be ready for signing once you have examined your software partners and selected the best fit.

Times like these are exciting. After signing, stay in touch regularly with your outsourcing partner, and utilize your timeline to determine when to begin the project.

For many businesses, hiring a software partner can be a significant move.

You may speed up development while lowering costs by working with a company or developer who is adaptable and inexpensive.

These are the steps to choosing a software development partner for your business. If you are thinking about hiring a software development agency as your partner, Montek Services is the best software development agency in Pune who makes the best software as per your needs and budget.

So what are you waiting for?best software development agency in Pune

Contact Montek Services and get a quote for your business today.