#food & beverages vending machine

[vendekin11]

Unlocking Efficiency: How Smart Vending is Rewriting B2B Commerce

Welcome to the exciting world of unattended retail, where your favorite stores are managed unattended and where B2B commerce gets to a whole new level. No cashiers, no queues, simply you with a smart vending machine and lots of simplicity.

From the evolution of a simple vending machine to a complex vending machine, smart vending is set to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance revenue in B2B markets.

So let us see how this process called smart vending is facilitating B2B businesses by eliminating the hassles and making B2B business redefined.

The Evolution of Vending Machines to Smart VendingDo you all remember those days when you would insert coins through the vending machine that would eventually deliver you a chocolate bar? Well, those machines got a makeover. Smart vending is the second stage of vending machines: they are crazy networked and smart vending machines, or dare I say are the emo version of the vending machines.

The Impact of Smart Vending on B2B TransactionsSmart vending isn’t just limited to vending out snacks and drinks anymore- it's for the most part altering the focus of the emails on business transactions as well. Modify your mind to speedy, simple and comfortable B2B deals which none would disrelish.

Cost Savings and Revenue GenerationGuess what's music to a business's ears? Cost savings and revenue generation. Smart vending isn't just about convenience; it's about boosting the bottom line and making those accountants do a happy dance.

IoT Integration in Smart VendingIoT is like the fairy godmother of smart vending – making things run smoother, connecting machines to the internet, and basically making vending machines a whole lot smarter.

Ensuring Security of Transactions and InventoryWith convenience comes the responsibility to ensure the security of transactions and inventory. Unpack the security considerations inherent in smart vending for B2B transactions, ranging from preventing fraud to protecting valuable inventory from theft or tampering.

Personalization and Customization in Smart VendingGone are the days of one-size-fits-all solutions. Smart vending is poised to revolutionize B2B transactions by offering personalized and customized experiences tailored to individual business needs. The future of unattended retail is all about meeting customers where they are and catering to their unique preferences.

Expansion of Smart Vending into New Industries and MarketsThe smart vending revolution shows no signs of slowing down. Brace yourself for the expansion of smart vending into new industries and markets, promising innovation, efficiency, and convenience in sectors beyond imagination. Stay ahead of the curve as smart vending reshapes the landscape of unattended retail.

Conclusion:

In summary, it is evident that Smart vending has the potential to completely change the B2B commerce paradigm as it is simply too convenient, too efficient and provides too many advantages for any business to ignore. New technologies will further enhance development in unattended retail, and one of the statements that can be made is the fact that smart vending is changing the course of B2B commerce.

Embrace the change, and ride the wave of transformation with smart vending leading the charge. Smart vending is here to stay, reshaping the way B2B transactions are conducted and setting the stage for a future where convenience, efficiency, and innovation reign supreme. Learn More:

[generalfoodmarket]

Revolutionizing Retail: A Deep Dive into the Vending Machine Market

The Vending Machine Market has emerged as a transformative force within the retail industry, reshaping how consumers access a wide array of products. From traditional snacks and beverages to cutting-edge electronics and health-conscious offerings, vending machines have become ubiquitous, providing a seamless and convenient shopping experience. This exploration delves into the market's size, revenue, top players, current trends, and the impressive trajectory of growth that characterizes this dynamic industry.

Market Size and Growth:-

Vending Machine Market size boasts a juicy valuation of US$21.57 billion in 2024, projected to reach a mouth-watering US$27.77 billion by 2029. The revenue generated by the Vending Machines Market reflects its widespread acceptance and continuous evolution. As consumers increasingly prioritize convenience, the market experiences robust growth. The ability of vending machines to operate 24/7, coupled with technological advancements, contributes to sustained revenue streams.

Vending Machine Market Top Players:-

Canteen Vending Services (Compass Group): Canteen Vending Services, a part of the Compass Group, is a major player in the market, offering a comprehensive range of vending solutions. With a focus on providing customized services to various industries, Canteen remains at the forefront of innovation.

Vendrite (Aramark): Vendrite, a subsidiary of Aramark, is recognized for its diverse vending solutions. From traditional snacks to healthier food options, Vendrite leverages technology to enhance user experience and optimize inventory management.

Crane Merchandising Systems: Crane Merchandising Systems is a global leader in vending machine manufacturing. Known for its innovative technologies, including cashless payment systems and telemetry solutions, Crane continues to shape the industry landscape.

Fuji Electric Co. Ltd.: Fuji Electric is a prominent player in the vending machine market, offering a range of products, including beverage vending machines and point-of-sale systems. The company's commitment to sustainability and technological advancements positions it as a key contributor to market dynamics.

Vending Machine Market Trends:-

Technology Integration: The integration of cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, is a prevailing trend. Smart vending machines with touchscreens, personalized recommendations, and real-time inventory tracking enhance user engagement and operational efficiency.

Cashless Transactions: The shift towards cashless transactions has become more pronounced in the vending machine industry. Machines equipped with card readers, mobile payment options, and contactless payment methods cater to the growing preference for convenient and secure payment modes.

Diversification of Product Offerings: The market has witnessed a significant diversification of product offerings beyond traditional snacks and beverages. Vending machines now dispense fresh food, electronics, beauty and wellness products, reflecting a broader range of consumer needs.

Sustainability Initiatives: Sustainability is a key trend influencing the market, with initiatives focusing on eco-friendly practices. Vending machine operators are increasingly adopting energy-efficient machines, recyclable packaging, and waste reduction strategies to align with consumer expectations for environmentally conscious choices.

Growth Prospects and Future Outlook:-

The Vending Machine Industry shows no signs of slowing down, with several factors contributing to its promising future. Continued technological advancements, the integration of artificial intelligence, and the exploration of new product categories are expected to drive growth. The market's ability to adapt to changing consumer preferences, along with a focus on sustainability, positions it as a resilient and innovative force in the retail landscape.

Challenges and Opportunities:-

Challenges facing the Vending Machine Market include competition from traditional retail outlets, maintenance costs, and the need to ensure product freshness. Opportunities lie in embracing technological advancements to enhance user experience, exploring new product categories to meet evolving consumer needs, and strategically placing machines in high-traffic areas.

Conclusion:-

In conclusion, the Vending Machine Market stands as a testament to the power of convenience in shaping consumer behavior. From offering a quick snack on the go to providing access to essential electronics, vending machines have become integral to modern retail. As the market continues to evolve, driven by technological innovations and a commitment to sustainability, it reinforces its role as a dynamic force, reshaping the retail landscape and delivering unparalleled convenience to consumers worldwide.

[vendbox]

Food and Beverage Vending Machine for Sale in India - VendBox

Find glass front snacks or food and beverage or cold drink vending machine for sale in India. Contact VendBox which provides the best Vending Machine in India.

[nebulous-library]

how they fall in love - tokrev boys

aka the april 14th "i made it through valentine's day AND white day without any romantic attention" special. happy singles day to all who celebrate. hcs for a selections of my personal tokyo revengers blorbos, including: Mikey, Draken, Baji, Chifuyu, Kazutora, Hakkai, Taiju, Koko, and Inupi.

Mikey falls in love with uncertainty. He’s used to feeling so much all the time at once that he isn’t sure he could pinpoint love in the middle of all of it. But until he knew you, it didn’t matter. As you get closer to him, he becomes more acutely aware that he definitely has positive, pleasant feelings toward you. He may even get himself in trouble by picking fights with others who steal your attention from him. It probably takes Draken, Takemichi, or Emma to be like, “So, about this crush you have….” and he’d be like, “...the what.” Be patient with him, he’ll come around, and when he realizes both his own and your feelings, he’ll be the sweetest boyfriend. Please do not accept anything he cooks for you though. No chance in hell that he can cook.

Draken falls slowly. He starts by noticing how cute you are when you do mundane tasks, or the little things that make your eyes sparkle, and he finds himself wanting to know more. He’s very observant when it comes to details, and might surprise you here and there by bringing you your favorite drink or a treat of some sort, but his love language is definitely quality time. Whatever your hobbies are, he’ll definitely start feeling a stronger attachment to you if you do that thing in his vicinity while he’s working on fixing up a bike or something. It’ll take him some time to come to the conclusion that it’s love, but in the meantime he’ll settle for the warm swell in his chest that he feels when you’re around. 

Baji falls quietly, behind the scenes. If he doesn’t know you like him back, he’ll operate under the assumption that you don’t and just be content with just being by your side and will express his feelings via little gestures that show he cares and listens to you. This can range anywhere from noticing you’re warm and turning on the AC, or torching a vending machine that ate your change. Depends on his mood. Another way he’ll show his affection is by sharing things with you; food, beverages, etc., yes, but also hair ties. And he won’t even ask for them back. If you keep the hair tie he gave you and wear it on your wrist? He’s as good as gone. Please confess to him soon, this boy is down worse than he lets on.

Chifuyu falls in love like an idiot. He doesn’t fall for just anyone, but when he does, he’s immediately head over heels. In a borderline insufferable way, too. We’ve seen how clingy he was with Baji. He is gonna make himself your personal guard dog, whether you want it or not. He’s gonna go out of his way to bring you tokens of his adoration like a courting magpie. I’m so serious, this is the boy who will bring you a really fucking shiny rock he saw that made him think of you. If you try to talk to him normally, though, you’d better be prepared for him to get all flustered and formal about it. But once you get him out of his own head about it, he’s loyal and dedicated and affectionate. 

Kazutora falls in love like he isn’t sure what love really is. Sweet boy has been through so much, especially growing up in a family situation like his. He doesn’t know what love looks like, and he worries that if he were to be in love, he wouldn’t do it right. He’s one you’ll really have to take initiative with imo. But if you show him your love, he’ll slowly but surely follow suit. Show him that love can be gentle and playful and fun. Show him that it can be tender or sweet or passionate. Show him the love he’s never gotten, and he’ll learn to show you his love in return. 

Hakkai falls hard and fast, but you wouldn’t know it. He knows he likes you the moment he sees you, but if you so much as make eye contact with him, he freezes and is immediately beet red. It will take at least three people shoving him directly at you and coaching him through what to say to actually ask you out. 

Taiju falls in love stubbornly. When love isn’t what he thought it would feel like, when it ends up making him feel all mushy in his core, he rebukes it. He denies it. He tries anything in his power to keep this weakness from entering his body. He’s never known what it is to be soft and doesn’t understand why you make him feel this way. He might be cute and a little tsuntsun about it, but you’ve already cracked his shell and he can’t deny it forever.

Koko falls hesitantly. He’s nervous when it comes to vulnerability, but devoted nonetheless. Think toned down and bottled up version of Chifuyu. On the surface, he seems like he has mad game, but we all know he’s a weenie at his core, and he knows it too. He’ll seem calm and collected around you, he may even be a little flirty, but just know he’s dying inside. I suggest putting him out of his misery and confessing first, but c’mon, we all know it’d be so much cuter if he accidentally blurted it out and then was all surprised when you tell him you feel the same way. But he’s most definitely gonna keep it bottled up until he bursts.

Inupi falls in love quietly, similarly to Baji. He trusts quickly, and when he knows, he knows. He’s not going out of his way to make some big, dramatic confession, though. But he will absolutely be glued to your side. Just existing near you. He won’t be the chattiest person, but you’ll find that he’ll always have something meaningful to say. You’ll probably get more out of him if you can get him alone, honestly. Let him take you for a ride on his bike to someplace you can just enjoy each other’s company and he’ll bare his soul to you. 

[dokries]

love at first bite

pairing: kim mingyu x gender neutral reader

genre: fluff, college au, strangers/classmates to lovers

word count: 1.4k (including bonus)

warnings: mentions of food, just very embarrassing for reader.

author note: this is a repost, so if you’ve seen it before, you probably have. i hope you enjoy :D

masterlist

you should’ve taken up your classmate’s offer. 

you were packing up after your shared history class earlier when chan had suggested that you get lunch with him before eventually going your separate ways to study. 

he had sat two seats away from you when the semester had started, and when he asked you for notes after a particularly confusing class, it took only two more until he had shifted to sit next to you, becoming your Thinkers and Thugs: Ancient Greeks and Romans buddy (yes, that was the actual name of the class; it turned out that you both had thought it would be a fun class when selecting it, but in reality it was just discussing what old man in history was worse).

you felt a little guilty rejecting him when his face fell, but you had a date with yourself already planned: you would stop by the cafe to get your favourite drink—and a cake slice on-the-house, thanks to your best friend’s new job there (thank you joshua!)—before heading to the library to study your butt off for your approaching midterms.

however, your seemingly perfect plans were interrupted by a sign on the door of the pledis university cafe, saying that it was closed temporarily due to construction—joshua had complained about how the sink had been broken by one of his coworkers the other day, so it made sense. it was alright though; your plans could still be salvaged, and you grabbed a can of coffee from the vending machine in the lobby of the library instead. after finishing half of the beverage in one go (what? talking about roman thugs takes a lot out of a person), you had made your way to your favourite spot, at the very end of the row of cozy study tables. 

your productivity lasts for a solid 2 hours, planning out what to go over before your exams and when—you are not going to be unprepared for them like last semester, when midterms had been more hellish than usual, as you hadn’t planned anything out. taking a quick look at the clock on your laptop tells you that it’s 4:30 pm already, the time you had decided earlier to head home…but you were so close to finishing a section for your history class that you decide to keep on typing. 

around 15 minutes later, you hear your stomach growl quietly. you had been so caught up in studying that you had completely forgotten to eat something—your body was surviving only on the tasteless can of coffee from earlier, and the small breakfast you had eaten this morning. 

remembering that you had a bottle of water from the long walk joshua had forced you on by the beach yesterday—“it’ll be fun!” he had said. spoiler alert: it was not, as your favourite jacket had gotten dirty with all the sand, and how you both had become sweaty messes by the end with hair all over the place, thanks to the ocean breeze.

you take it out and chug the remaining water down, praying that it’ll stop your stomach from being noisy in the still library; you’re almost done with the last section you needed to cover for another class, and then you could be free to grab some food before heading back to the pledis uni dorms. 

somehow, the powers above decide that the lack of cake slices provided by joshua wasn’t enough suffering, and your stomach growls loudly. your hands quickly make their way to press down on your abdomen (like it would even make a difference) and thankfully, there aren't many people around to see the flush creep up your face. it takes a few deep breaths in and out for you to feel comfortable enough to go back to your work. 

you manage to type out five words.

just five words before your stomach growls again louder and by this point, you’re probably as red as the fire trucks stationed at the fire hall you pass by to get to the dorms. unable to stop yourself, you slump down against the library work table, your head finding its way onto your laptop—which you closed beforehand. 

you have no more water, and you had finished that stupid can of coffee ages ago. your thoughts circle back to the cafe. if only it had been open…you wouldn’t have been in this situation. you let out a soft sigh at the missed opportunity of cake. 

the sound of plastic crinkling against the solid wood of your desk pokes through your hunger induced daze of cake, and you look to the side, eyes straining to see a single granola bar right above your left ear. what the—did the powers above decide to help you for once? 

a quick look behind the snack told you no; it was just the guy sitting at the table beside you. 

wait. there was a guy sitting beside you this entire time? holy sh— you frantically think, face immediately flushing again.

your neighbour doesn’t seem to notice you staring, his eyes now focused on the review booklet he was going over. huh, it looks strangely similar to the one you were poring over yesterday while studying for your Introduction to Linguistics class.

he seems vaguely familiar, but you can’t quite pinpoint why. 

he suddenly turns his attention on you, his warm eyes focusing on yours and the corners of his lips turning up before he softly calls your name. “you should take a bite before your stomach growls again, it was pretty loud.” 

you sit up, straightening your posture before tilting your head. “do i know you?” 

he laughs quietly, and you find yourself lost in the way his giggles carry over to your ears quietly like music. he picks the granola bar and places it lightly in your hand, gesturing for you to open it first. 

as you slowly peel apart the plastic covering and take a small bite, he grins. “i’m mingyu! i uh, i’m in your intro to linguistics class actually. you probably recognize me from there.” 

his words make perfect sense once you process them, and you finally remember that he’s the tall guy who sits behind you in class.

“i borrowed a pencil from you once actually,” his soft smile turns into a sheepish grin and he slumps like a scolded puppy, preparing for the worst. “i never gave it back because…i uh…i broke your pencil by accident.” 

you blink, put down the empty granola bar wrapper and burst into laughter. this guy before you, who’s definitely much stronger judging by the muscles barely hidden by his red sweatshirt, was scared of you? now that was something to laugh about.

“don’t worry about it,” you say, still giggling. “you can pay me back by…” your eyes light up. “by paying for a meal right now!” 

his eyes widen before he smiles again, and you can practically see his puppy ears perk up. “really? we can go to the pho place across the street then! it’s been a while since i went, anyway.”

you nod before grinning at his excitement, and he jumps up and starts walking towards the entrance of the library. 

confused, you call out to him. “mingyu, you silly goose! you forgot your stuff!” 

“oh right…i forgot i needed that.”

bonus!

(a/n: hater #1 is seungkwan, hater #2 is jeonghan, bononie is vernon)

mingyu ❙

oh my god i feel so bad for them 😭

their stomach keeps grumbling…did they not eat…

bononie ❙

yikes 

ur down bad

mingyu ❙

WHAT DID I EVEN DO? 

all i said was that i feel bad…

bononie ❙

exactly lmao

hater #1 ❙

mingyu you loser just talk to them

they’re literally right beside you.

mingyu ❙

THEY LOOK EMBARRASSED ENOUGH

I'M NOT GONNA DISTURB THEM

hater #2 ❙

literally just talk to them i’m with seungkwan on this

bononie ❙

mingyu if u dont talk to them now u never will

do u want to end up single forever or smth

hater #1 ❙

me and jeonghan would win the bet then… 

nvm mingyu don’t do anything!

mingyu ❙

YOU BET ON ME BEING SINGLE?

do you have no trust in my amazingness

hater #1 ❙

shut up mingyu

hater #2 ❙

shut up mingyu 

mingyu ❙

geez i can’t catch a break can i

bononie ❙

anyway…

u said they were hungry right 

literally just give them a granola bar i know u have tons of those in ur bag

mingyu ❙

oh wait that’s actually a good idea

i’m doing that 

wish me luck guys!

hater #1 ❙

no 

i need money from chan

don’t even try to approach them.

omg i’d get two birds with one stone!

[onyxbird]

The Bridgeport Cat Café

New Leverage AU, based on this video of someone from a cat café account introducing their cats and describing what types of crime they (allegedly) engage in:

Hardison bought them a cat café instead of a brewpub.

Parker thinks it's a great idea. As soon as Hardison shared the idea with her, she started planning out the incredibly elaborate system of climbing structures, catwalks, tunnels, and hidey-holes at both cat and human scale. Hardison wasn't able to implement all of her ideas, especially not before the rest of the team arrived, but he managed a lot, including purchasing the rest of the building the original café occupied and expanding into that space.

The renovated café quickly becomes known for the fact that it is both the physically largest cat café any of the patrons have encountered and that sections of it essentially double as an indoor play structure for both kids and adults.

Hardison, as someone with allergies himself and knowing Leverage would want to bring clients here, poured a lot of thought into the cat-free and "allergy-friendly" side of the café, where patrons can enjoy all of the café's food and beverage offerings, watch the cats, and even climb a limited portion of their signature human-sized "cat tree" while remaining separated from the cats by enormous windows. The two areas are served by separate ventilation and both have thorough air filtration. The cat-free side quickly becomes popular with the remote-work crowd who like to bring their laptops and watch the cats without any actually climbing on them and their work materials. (There are also customer-free portions of the building the cats can retreat to and optionally view the customers through glass.)

Eliot and Sophie, of course, say the idea is absolutely insane. Sophie's mostly ticked off about the unilateral move to Portland and them taking on the extra burden of a (weird, niche) business (although she makes little secret of being charmed by many of the cats themselves), but Eliot is particularly incensed about the difficulties of trying to run a café that's full of animals. "Running a good café isn't child's play, you know. You planning make food on site with cat fur everywhere? You think the Health Department's gonna stand for that? Sure, you can probably get away with some kind of automatic coffee machine and prepackaged food, but that ain't a café, that's an animal shelter with a damn vending machine."

His complaints trail off as Hardison steers him into the (newly renovated) kitchen, through the airlock-style double doors from a hallway not open to the cats, each with an automatic air curtain to keep cat fur as well as cats from slipping through. The other side of the kitchen has pass-throughs and doors directly to the cat-free side of the café. The gleaming new espresso machines are already in place, along with other basic kitchen equipment, although Hardison comments that he's still researching the best ovens and layout for baking all of their pastries on-site (the printouts and notes on his research are already bundled up and ready to be "spilled" on top of the materials for their next job, in front of Eliot).

The kitchen also features several plexiglass tunnels so that cats can watch the action in the kitchen without contaminating the space. Eliot will never admit, even under torture, to making squinty eyes and kissy noises at the cats that come to hang out with him while he cooks with no other humans around to see, especially when prepping pastry in the wee hours of the morning before anyone but the cats is awake.

Finally, Nate regrets having turned Hardison loose with free rein to pick the Portland HQ. When he suggested a restaurant or something as a front, he assumed he knew the limits of what that could entail--in hindsight, he's glad they didn't end up operating out of a Medieval Times* knock-off. He's performatively grouchy about the cats, yet never seems to chase away the ones that mysteriously end up on his lap during job planning. There's one particular "shoulder cat" that seems to love nothing more than riding around on Nate's shoulders during a briefing, occasionally punctuating particularly passionate sections with supportive meows.

Another quirk the café becomes semi-known for is the prominent lost-and-found counter where patrons can try to reclaim items that have vanished from their pockets, as the cats at this establishment seem to be oddly prone to pickpocketing...

*Consciously or not, Nate is on some level aware of how much Hardison and Parker would enjoy watching Eliot "joust."

[paperback-rascal]

This illustration is tied to an idea I came up with @kalm5, after I binge watched videos about various vending machines.

The explanation of the premise is under the cut/read more!

Enjoy!

What if clones have only a set amount of meals per rotation? no snacks, no nothing - just the basic, the most effective meals evenly spread out throughout the day. It’s the only food they have. The only unlimited food item available to them without restriction is water... just plain water.

However, there are vending machines scattered throughout every Kamino training facility that can be used by clones for additional snacks (or even more “luxurious” items such as salt/sugar/spices, better grade chocolate, authentic caff/tea, weak beer/alcohol, etc.). The vending machines also have limits of items a clone can get per rotation to limit potential abuse of the system.

The availability of such items is depended on the status quo and performance score each clone has and develops over the years (the score is stored at the forearm chip, so to use a vending machine clones have to swipe their wrists against it’s panel) - the bigger the score the broader assortment of items are available.

Cadets get their points based on their exam scores, battle simulation statistics, etc.

The score clones got in their youth are later transferred as a base score at the beginning of their military career.

The success rate, performance on the field, getting medals, etc. is later added to it - raising it. It also can be lowered due to misdemeanors, refusal to carry on orders, breaking rules, etc.

Despite all CT-[numbers] clones having the same baseline of items available, there are variations or perks for each occupation: medics get different additional assortment of items than sappers, who have different perks than gunners, pilots and so on.

Maintenance staff has the same limitations as cadets. So 99 has the same level-access to goods as kids/teens, thus he can get like... Star Wars equivalent of stale salted crackers, granola bars and juice.

A major points boost is a promotion to higher military rank - especially to commanding position or high preference variants like ARCs or spec-ops (it unlocks more options)

The biggest availability, however, have CC-[numbers] clones.

Some of the perks are just simply locked behind a status quo. So even an perfect behavior and 100% success rate wouldn’t give a “plain” CT-number access to for example... alcoholic beverages - it’s only for CC-[numbers]. CC-[numbers] also can be locked out of certain perks if their score gets low enough.

The best example would be captain Rex who despite being a commanding officer can’t get the same items as his college, commander Cody. Due to Rex being a CT-number. So it’s always a bit awkward when he tags along with other commanding officers but he can get an energy drink or black coffee at best.

---

Funnily enough, of all software at Kamino, nothing is so well guarded as vending machines - it’s unhackable while the vending machines are borderline indestructible. It’s the most frequently updated/modified equipment due to clones always finding loopholes to cheat the system.

The origin of the vending machines was that Kaminoans tried to use the idea of conditioned response to encourage clones to train harder and be more obedient in the field - they hoped it would rewire clones brains, linking high performance with luxurious goods.

However what the long necks didn’t accounted for is that clones are well... humans and turned vending machines to social interaction that has an internal structure known only to clones. one of such interaction is that many clones with high performance score would often get items to those with lowered ones - especially at 501st where thinking outside the box is preferable military tactic by their general, thus many clones from 501st would end up with low performance score at Kamino framework despite being the most decorated of soldiers.

The same goes with Clone Force 99 who have 100% success rate, but also accumulated many misdemeanors and complaints.

===

STAR WARS: The Clone Wars/The Bad Batch © George Lucas/ Dave Filoni/ LucasFilm/ Disney

[kuroppiii]

   streetcorner ᵕ̈         akaashi keiji x gn reader ( pt. three ) ˎˊ˗

⋮⋮ ˒ ₍ᐢ..ᐢ₎ 𖥻 ⿻ : maybe sometimes you    ⋮⋮  have to take " different " into your ⋮⋮  own hands . that way it ' ll feel much ⋮⋮  better , no ?

📋 content      ♡ # 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘵 🐄      ♡ # 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 🥛      ♡ # 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 - 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘱       ♡ # 3𝘬 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴     ♡ # 𝙘𝙬 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 +     𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 , 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧

🧺 extensions   prev  ⋮⋮  series masterlist  ⋮⋮  next ( coming soon ! )

🧸 directory  ‹ ✩  like what you read ? check out more of my blog !  •ᴗ•

💬 kuroppiii ─  " y/n lowkey tweaking but can you really blame them ? "

you were wrong. “different” wound up being quite bad.

two weeks. two weeks.

you haven’t seen keiji— no, akaashi at the drink machine for two weeks.

14 days. 10 work day mornings. two weekends.

that first weekend went by, and you did your chores and errands with what you hate to admit was a little bit of "pep" in your step. because getting through your usual lineup of weekend responsibilities felt like they were leading up to something, knowing they counted down to a first-of-the-week workday—or more specifically a workday morning—spent with your new friend.

but then monday morning came, and you found that although the canned beverage you always get out of the street corner vending machine was warm, by your side at that machine was filled with nothing but the cold winter air.

‘he must’ve partied really hard this past weekend with those work friends. i’ll give him a bit if he’s running late,’ you so innocently thought.

10 minutes passed, and he still hadn’t shown up. not wanting to start off your week showing up late again, you decided to leave the street corner and head to work. you’ll probably see him the next day, anyway. one day without your little morning chat wasn’t going to be the end of the world...

،   そ   ✧   の後    🌱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 ...

tuesday.

you stuck around for 15 minutes. no sign of him or his tan coat or his glasses or those shiny professional-looking shoes.

'god, i hope he's not sick. it's all those cold lattes in this freezing weather. i warned him about that!"

،   そ   ✧   の後    🌱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 ...

wednesday.

the train passed. nothing.

ting! ting! ting!

nothing but the sound of you nervously pulling on the tab of your drink greeted you this morning. your drink was long gone by then, and so was your hope you'd see him again.

you tossed the can in the trash bin, pulled your scarf higher onto your face, and hid away from the waking city with your hands snug in your coat pockets–embarrassed you had gotten your hopes up so high.

،   そ   ✧   の後    🌱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 ...

that thursday–yet another day where you faced a solitary morning–your frustration at the whole situation festered and bubbled over in the form of working overtime at the restaurant.

because walking home alone from a shift was one thing, but knowing the next morning you'd be met with the same solitude–when you had just had a taste of what it was like not dealing with loneliness picking away at you every day–made the whole journey back to your apartment that much worse than it ever was before.

you were on your hands and knees, scrubbing away at the hardwood floors until you saw your dejected reflection. you wiped the tables down until they were spotless. you made sure the kitchen was in pristine condition for the old man and woman to enjoy cooking in it the next day.

tick, tick, tick

the aged and rusted clock on the wall by the cash register mocked you as you continued brewing over your situation.

you definitely came off as a creep! bringing him food unwarranted? but he had bought you your drink in return? oh, and had given you that drink with the casual drop of his first name. as if you two were really friends!

but why? maybe he was just messing with you. maybe he sensed how much of a loner you kind of really are. maybe he would seriously opt to take the longer way to work just so he didn't have to deal with you in the mornings anymore.

was he even telling you the truth about his work? was "akaashi keiji" even his real name?

what drove you crazy the most was how easy it was for him to infiltrate your days for that short week, preventing them from droning on by simply showing up at a street corner on your way to work.

'how pathetic', you thought about yourself.

it wasn't until he came along that the reality of your sacred routine became apparent to you. you had been convincing yourself for weeks that it was fine but no, you guessed it was true–you felt alone in this city.

he effortlessly cracked the foundations of the motions you went through each day to stay sane, and what? then he just gets to disappear out of nowhere?

leaving you with nothing but... well, yourself. alone. again.

“different” wound up being quite bad, and painful, and lonely

but so did going back to "normal", apparently.

you sat at the counter of the restaurant, the clock in your hands still ticking away, but now you had cleaned it all up. it looked as good as new.

at least you had the old couple's reaction as something to look forward to the next morning.

،   そ   ✧   の後    🌱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 ...

on friday you sat behind the register as you watched the customers come and go. in the small restaurant booths they sat across from each other–some couples here, some suit-and-tie-clad groups of office workers there, maybe the occasional group of friends still in their school uniforms.

you observed as they smiled at one another and laughed together. it was like each booth was its own bubble for the people to escape mundane reality with for even just one meal.

then they would come up to you, your time watching through a window over as your existence at the resister marked a snap back to reality for them. you–standing all by yourself amidst the rest of the lives that continued on in this city, as you took their money and counted out their change before they would leave and never give your existence a though ever again.

when that got to be enough for you, you even tried watching whatever sappy drama channel the old couple liked to keep playing on the old boxy television as it sat on a small shelf high up in the corner of the room. but that didn't really help either, the people on screen were also happily interacting with loved ones and friends.

the workday continued on like that until closing time, when the old couple decided to stick around for a bit, even as you attempted busying yourself with overtime tasks to avoid walking home.

they put on the restaurant's old karaoke machine, and you happily watched as they sang and danced together with the minimal movements that their age allowed them to enjoy on a friday night.

at one point, the old woman even urged you to stop spraying and wiping down the restaurant windows, and you sang and danced to a few songs along with them, too.

the walk home that night wasn't actually too bad–the scenes of you and the owners' little party replaying in your head as you walked down the street, softly smiling to yourself as you didn't even realize you had passed the drink machine on the street corner.

،   そ   ✧   の後    🌱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 ...

saturday morning you wake up and stare up at your ceiling. you heard the sound of cars and trains pass by, and small city birds sing to yawning street cats just outside your window.

usually by now, you would be done grocery shopping and would be moving onto meal prepping for the week ahead. but your thoughts kept swirling around that stupid soft spoken guy, the one who always pressed the vending machine button for a cold latte in the middle of winter.

akaashi keiji. akaashi keiji.

before you knew it you were tapping away at your phone's keypad.

a-k-a-a-s-h-i...

you looked him up on every social media app you had downloaded on your phone.

k-e-i-j-i...

but damn, all the accounts you came across were either definitely not him or were privated.

you huffed and let your head sink back into your cool pillow. why were you still trying? you had to accept your one week of mornings with him was just some spontaneous and cruel string events the universe just tossed at you for its own amusement, one to come in and change the trajectory of how you felt about your whole life–that's all.

outside, you can hear the screech of a cat and the beating of bird wings, assumably after being scaring off by the cat. softly, you laugh to yourself picturing the scene in your mind.

then your thoughts drift to the stray cat that used to linger around your childhood home. it was grey and had a white belly. you and your friends would coddle it after school, or would give it a brief petting as you would stumble onto the back porch after a night out in-between semesters during university.

this was all before you moved away, that is.

god, you were homesick. but it wasn't like you could simply move back in the blink of an eye. you worked hard to get a place for yourself in the city. you've worked hard as you figured out what you want to do with your life. you just wish figuring it out wouldn't have to be so lonely.

but then, you thought of an idea.

you looked at your bank account to check the costs. it was definitely an expense you'd have to make up for, but that old couple was generous in that they always paid if you went overtime. more late nights meant you'd probably make back the money–and blow off even more steam–fairly quickly.

،   そ   ✧   の後    🌱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 ...

the next day, sunday, you decide to get a cat...

you recalled in your contract that your apartment allows it, so why not?

who needed a good-looking stranger to keep you company on a daily basis, anyway?

you set out on getting it the basics (treats, food bowl, a bed, a litter box, etc.) since you could always get more later depending on what your new feline friend might be like.

during that first half of the day, you drifted from store to store, picking out the perfectly humble items to greet your cat as soon as it arrived in its new home. your eyes always ended up glancing over any display rack of magazines you could find in the stores, maybe subconsciously searching for a certain combination of kanji on the covers' credits���but you never spotted it.

upon finally arriving at the pet store, the worker warmly greeted you at from the front desk and you asked if he could direct you to the cats. now you find yourself standing in front of a tall cat tree, a dozen or so cats of different colors and patterns jumping from one perch to another or adamantly scratching their claws at parts of the tree's fluffy material.

you didn't want an exact copy of the one from home, per say (it undoubtedly would've made you even more homesick), but then your eyes landed on one particular cat. it was a calico, and it was peacefully curled up a little ways away from the chaos of the cat tree. sunlight beamed through the pet shop's big front window and fell straight on the cat, making it and it's white, orange, brown, and black patches almost appear luminescent.

finding yourself crouching down to look at it closer, it sensed your new presence, and lazily opened one of its eyes amidst it's nap. you felt a familiar warmth stir up in your chest at how cute the calico was–a sensation you last had felt a long, long time ago.

"that one's a boy," you hear the worker pipe up behind you, seeing your interest, "he likes to keep to himself, so he's not a troublemaker or anything, either."

"i'd like to give him a home, then," the words fall from your lips as you stare directly into the glowing hazel iris of the calico's eye staring back at you.

once you and your new cat made it back to your apartment, you didn't even really food prep or finish the laundry for the week ahead like you probably should have. instead, you became enamored with just observing your new friend–one you hope wouldn't ditch you like the last one did.

smiling, you watched him as he sauntered around to survey the furnishings of your living space, you spent time with him as you gently ran your hands along his fur.

you thought to yourself as you grew fonder to the cat more and more by the second, 'you'll can keep me company in the mornings for now on.... or and at night when i get home from work... and even the weekends!" (something your last "new friend" would never have been able to do, anyway.)

it took a bit to decide on a name in your head, but finally you cooed at the calico as it hopped next to you on the couch where you were sitting, "it's you and i now, yamato!"

،   そ   ✧   の後    🌱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 ...

the second week without akaashi, you purposefully avoided the drink machine. you figured out a different route (granted, the first time you tried it on monday, you were late to work because you got lost). subsequently, you kind of gave up on coffee for a while (granted, you felt a tad bit more tired on the day-to-day if you had to be honest).

but each morning instead of caffeine, you were met with the lovely presence of yamato sauntering around as you went about the apartment getting ready before heading out to work. thankfully what the pet shop owner said was tried and true: yamato never gave you any problems the first week he spent with you in your apartment.

you had to account for the chores you didn't get to on that weekend, when you were moping around and getting a cat. but again, yamato was there to keep you company as you were sweeping the floor around the couch, or leaning over to hang up laundry on your tiny balcony, or tossing together whatever you had in the fridge to constitute as small dinners for one to greet you on the nights you came back from long days at work.

busy, busy, busy is what you made yourself.

the old couple at the restaurant were a great help in this, as well. the months you've spent with them meant they grew more comfortable having you around, they'd always subtly complain about something breaking or in need of renovation, and of course you would offer to help to stay longer. (you always loved seeing the delight that radiated off of them when you would stay to help, and sometimes you would wonder if they ever had any kids or grandkids of your own. you never bothered to ask though, maybe that was a bit too personal.)

one particular day, however, was especially grueling. the restaurant got much busier than usual because of a festival that was being help nearby. one hungry festival-goer after the other popped into the small establishment–every seat would be taken up, dishes continuously were being served out, and there was barely any wiggle room to do it all because the customers opted to wait inside to dodge the cold weather outdoors.

your employers urged you to go home and rest as soon as it was all over, and though you'd usually find an excuse to work overtime for not just the pay anymore but to spend more time with the old man and woman, tonight you found yourself happily obliging to depart early.

a night spent watching tv with yamato curled in your lap didn't sound too bad, after all.

as you walk through the streets, you feel your eyelids physically giving up on you. your efforts of the past week trying to make your life work out in at least some way was finally catching up to you. but you thought of yamato, and how bad you felt he'd been left alone to his own devices at home on the long days you've been working late.

you owed it to your new furry friend to stay awake for that movie tonight.

caffeine. that should do the trick, you thought. but you didn't want to enter a 7/11. you always hated how the the lights would be too bright, and tonight they would probably give your waning brain a headache, when you just wanted a calm evening to yourself and your cat.

but the only other way of obtaining some form of liquid booster at an hour like this would be some kind of vending machine. there were none on your new route back from and to work, though. it was a fact that's been great in avoiding thinking about the events of two weeks ago, but not when you were actually craving your usual latte right now.

it was what, almost midnight? what harm could there be visiting that old warm-and-cold-option vending machine on the street corner near your apartment building, anyway? at least you wouldn't have to be seeing it in the daylight–a handful of remiss memories attached to a scene like that.

so you make some turns and you're nearing that exact spot. you rub your eyes in exhaustion as you round the corner, but as you look up, you see a figure already standing there, swiping their card at the machine.

the faint lights from the vending machine display illuminate the front of them, and you notice a pair of glasses blocked out by the display's light reflecting off of them. the light forming little shapes on the top of the person's shiny shoes. a tan coat.

"keiji?"

the figure, startled, turns to face you. you still can't really make out their face in the dimness of the street corner alley. they don't say anything for a moment.

you idiot, you think to yourself. part of you wants to book it, because there's no way that could be him–he has no business being here so late.

but the other part of you keeps your feet in place on the pavement. you feel it again, a small ounce of hope, that a friend has returned into your lonely little life.

"y/n?"

that voice. that's definitely him.

clunk!

you hear his drink tumble into the vending machine's slot, and the familiar sound brazenly fills the street. but the two of you don't flinch.

what was he doing back here?

🗒⋆ *. ୨୧⋆｡ taglist (1/30 at time of publishing) : @cloudybillows (just send me an ask if you’re interested! xx)

[lifeblogstory]

Sushi & Seafood Buffet

To celebrate one’s birthday, came to this buffet. The counters have many variety of food🐙. Mostly sushi and seafood. Also some meat, vegetables, and dessert. There are vending machines for drinks and ice creams🍨. Include a table of cakes and cream puffs🍰. Can grab a plate under the counters and pick the food we like🍽. End up filling 4 full plate of food. Have eaten squid🦑, crab🦀, lobster🦞, clams, octopus, shrimp🦐, beef ribs🥩, lamb legs, chicken wings🍗, spring rolls, fried chicken, bok choy🥬, lo mien, crab meat slices, oyster🦪, and crayfish. For sushi🍣, like the salmon, tuna, avocado, and unagi. Lastly, eaten a plate of melon🍈, watermelon🍉, pineapple🍍, cream puffs, and cake slices. There are drinks of beverages, milk tea, bubble tea🧋, fruit tea, and Thai tea. Counters have authentic soup. Can ask for a small hot pot🍲, to cook raw food directly. Very full and overwhelming. Best to control how much we can eat. Fun to have once in a while. From “Umi Hotpot Sushi & Seafood Buffet”

[vendekin11]

Convenience is no longer the name of the game in the development of urban India. Of all the innovative technologies dictating this environment, our intelligent vending machines, as a symbol of priority to consumer-centered technology, makes a difference. These intelligent automated vending machines are not only the products' dispensers but also the best symbols of efficiency, accessibility, and modernity.

[twunderland]

Purple Hearts ~ Part 1

It was a cold October day at Night Raven College. Deuce Spade tucked his indigo blue hair behind his miniscule pale ears, spotting his friend Ace across the College’s cafeteria. Today was the day he would finally tell Ace that terrible secret he had been keeping . . . but would he understand? Would he even be able to forgive Deuce if he were honest with him? Only one way to find out.

Deuce approached his frenemy, “I need to tell you something.” He announced.

Ace looked up from his food and turned his full attention to his bestie.

“I’m . . .” Deuce began, “I can’t . . . I can't do this anymore, Ace!” he blurted out, unable to finish his sentence in one piece. Tears started streaming down his face.

Ace stared at his friend for a moment, confused as he took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. And then said, “What are you talking about?”

“Ace,” Deuce began once more, “I’m an emo!” he shouted. Tears sharted down his face as he looked back into Ace’s deeply autistic eyes.

Ace remained silent for a minute or two, processing what he heard. Then he spoke up, “Are you fricking serious?!” he yelled.

The students around them stopped what they were doing and turned towards the drama unfolding before them.

“Yuh.” Deuce answered. His head hung in shame. He wanted the floor to swallow him whole. Why did he let it get this far? Now everyone knew what he was. Now Ace hated him forever.

There was no point in lying now.

“You’re joking, right?!” Ace yelled again, grabbing Deuce by the arm, pulling him closer and pointing a finger accusingly at him. “If this is some sort of twisted prank, I'll kick your ass so hard you’ll see stars!”

Deuce shook his head, “I’m being serious bro!” he cried. “I’ve always known I was emo . . . I just didn’t have the courage to tell anyone until now.”

Ace took hold of Deuce's shoulders. “Is that why you buy all those monster energy drinks?!” He seethed, gesturing to Deuce's backpack full of the beverages he purchased from the campus vending machines every morning. "Just tell me the truth!"

Deuce lowered his gaze as his hands covered his face, shaking his head up and down violently.

Ace released his grip on Deuce and stepped back. “How could you do this? . . .” Ace asked quietly, sounding hurt. “How could you ruin our friendship like this?”

“I’m sorry.” Deuce cried, “I didn’t ask to be like this-”

“Don’t.” Ace blurted, cutting him off. “Just...don’t. Anything you say will only make this worse.” He looked at Deuce one last time before shaking his head and walking away, students dispersing to make way for him.

Deuce fell to his knees.

[margaritavilleinreallife]

theres a fuckton of vending machines in margaritaville, seeminly anywhere in the more downtown parts you could feasibly fit one. all of them have been rigged to not need any money. most of them are stocked by the shops and such run by the townsfolk, largely bottled/canned beverages and easy to package foods like chips and candies and whatnot. typical vending machine needs.

but there are some for more out there (vending machine-wise atleast) foods, like burgers and pizza and fries, all stuff that can be kept simple topping wise. kept warm by the machines and regularly stocked/emtpied as to not provide anything spoiled/cold, or those more complex which heat up the food before serving it. a lovely thing for those who dislike the social aspects of going to resturants or if youre just really damn hungry and need a hot sandwich NOW.

theres also some that dont seem to be stocked by any of the townsfolk. they seem out of place, maybe a little worse for wear, maybe the lights fading, but will still give you items. mostly snacks again, just a surprise each time. foods from overseas, foods no longer produced but still in date, foods a little too closely resembling your favorites from childhood, exactly how mom used to make.

[grimark]

i’m always like “i save so much money by preparing my lunches for work in advance and rarely buying takeaway/fast food/eating out.” and then i’m like “anyway i obviously need to buy a caffeinated beverage from the overpriced hospital vending machine before all my night shifts or else i won’t survive. this is in no way an eventuality i could have predicted based on my roster, or prepared for by bringing coffee from home.”

[iii-days-grace]

i got some cute organ shaped sticky notes AND BONE PENS from shein the other day! i'll write all this down later yayyy

@ims0vain

list of things we know about Nurse Jim so far! [2]

tea drinker [1] but indulges in sweet hot drinks from the vending machine, especially vanilla.

ex-smoker. secret vaping habit.

magically good at getting kids to drink medicine. he just lines them up and it goes down the hatch.

great at decorating cookies, has an open baking habit, always brings something seasonal.

[busy with work though, so there's actually not much in his kitchen except baking stuff. has some specialized pans and ingredients, too)

Bonus: C.O.R.E. and S.I.D. the surgery-imaging-coffee robots, are also at pediatrics to do checkup scans and minor procedures and stuff.

jim would basically have many human children and two adult robots to mind xD

[1]

(i swear this one is relevant, @custer-mp3 and i know from our time at coffee shops that the bikerish guys are often quite endearingly big tea drinkers. but he likes sending kids with coins to get him snacks and beverages)

[2]

a lot of them food based for some reason, i guess i was hungry today?

[crushingcasanova]

1-50.

who is/are your comfort character(s)? I have a bunch, but Shiver from Splatoon 3 is a pretty big one! The other ones are kind of embarrassing so I’ll keep them to myself >_<

lighter or matches? Lighter!

do you leave the window open at night? I do not!

which cryptid being do you believe in? Nessie!

what color are your eyes? Brown

why did you do that? Do what? >_<

hair-ties or scrunchies? Hair ties for convenience but scrunchies are cute!

how many water bottles are in your room right now? None!

which do you prefer, hot coffee or cold coffee? Iced coffee is my favorite, so I guess cold!

would you slaughter the rich? Theoretically I suppose so? 

favorite extracurricular activity? Theater! 

what kind of day is it? It’s sunny and a good day! I have some fun plans so I’m excited! 

when was the last time you ate? Last night! 

do you love the smell of earth after it rains? Yes I do! 

are you a parent? (all answers qualify) I’m the parent of my plushies and nothing else! 

can you drive? Theoretically yes but I don’t have my license yet!

are you farsighted or nearsighted? I have an astigmatism but I’m nearsighted in one eye!

what hair products do you use? I don’t really use much except for normal shampoo and conditioner... sometimes I use a leave in conditioner when I go out! 

imagine we’re at a sleepover, would you paint my nails? I would! They wouldn’t be amazingly done though. 

do you say soda or pop? Soda! 

something you’ve kept since childhood? A certain childhood plushie of mine!

what type of person are you? There are so many ways to answer this... I’m just a very loving but shy person, I guess! 

how do you feel about chilly weather? Good, if I have a sweater on!

if we were together on a rooftop, what would we be doing? Hanging out and doodling together!

perfume/body spray or lotion? Perfume!

a scenario that you’ve replayed multiple times? Going to a musical with someone I love!

about how many hours of sleep did you get? About 9 hours? I think?

do you wear a mask? I mean, not often. 

how do you like your shower water? Hot! 

is there dishes in your room? Nope! I never eat in my room! 

what type of music keeps you grounded? Splatoon Music!

do you have a favorite towel? Nope!

the last adventure you’ve been on? Probably a little walk and meetup I had with my best friend to go see a friend of mine in a show!

is there a song you know every word to by heart? I have like 14... Vending Machine of Love is the first one that comes to mind!

what’s your timezone? EST

how many times have you changed your url? Just once! 

someone in your life, other than a relative, you’ve known for 10+ years? My theater best friend! I’ve known her since I was 5!

a soap bar that smells good? Irish Spring!

do you use lip balm? Every once in a while!

did you have any snacks today? Nope! I haven’t eaten anything yet today! 

how do you take your coffee? Usually iced and with a lot of sugar and chocolate!

an app you frequently use besides this godforsaken site? Discord and Instagram, and youtube! 

what’s your take on spicy foods? I like them!

you get a free pass to kill anyone, who is it? I’d probably pick someone who’s just not a good person... like a dictator of some sort?

can you remember what happened yesterday? Yes!

favorite holiday film? Santa Clause! It’s not very good, but I love watching it ironically. Either that or, for one that I actually like, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation!

what was the last message you sent? “Marigold is listening to my commentary” since Sol is on call as I’m writing these!

when did you first try an alcohol beverage? Never! 

can you skip rocks? Nope!

can i tag you in random stuff? Yes please!

[plumbogs]

I want her to be as evil and morally corrupt as possible, so I have to come up with a plan. The limits of TS2 and being in-character evil will be a challenge, but I do think I will be able to pull it off.

Step one is inviting over an old sorority sister to figure out how to get in on that witchcraft thing. Unfortunately, not only is Tiffany good but she's also not powerful enough to train new witches yet.

so i conveniently summon the evil witch and get Brittany to explain her goals of wealth hoarding and world domination. Mostly wealth hoarding.

boom (i will have to change her hair and outfit back. sorry but the witch look isn't right. go back to being cool)

she sets the witchcraft chamber upstairs and gets a little bit of (evil) studying in. it's just like college all over again.

the evil witch bullies tiffany downstairs, but who cares about that.

She can't just study all day. She has a badass club to run. she harasses gilbert. which he deserves btw. i think i will do something very quirky and funny with them as a later plot arc.

normal day at the club. john has a mental breakdown while alexander sluprs down a delicious carbonated beverage. they both traveled far for this. the distance to bluewater village does nothing to prevent people from venturing out. i think john is still just very upset about the empty nest vacation being cut short. he could have been at the beach but now he's here beside some horrible vending machines at a goth club. he isn't even goth. there are too many men wearing fishnets here. he's alone and scared. his wife is leaving him for another woman.

nobody else really showed up but alex stuck around to chug shitty mixed drinks until 5 in the morning. unlike the real world, that is profitable enough to justify staying open since all the staff was sent home long ago.

sims love soda machines but they act as siren calls for swarming guests that end up disappointed because nobody's going out to convince them to buy anything. I think it'll probably be better to set out free food honestly.