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its-all-stardust · 1 year ago

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Sugar || 6

Masterlist || Part Five || Part Seven

Steven Grant/Sugar Mommy!Reader

Word count: 3.7k

Series Summary: You meet Steven in a museum gift shop and feel an instant connection. Before you walk out the door you decide, perhaps against your better judgment, that you need him to be your sugar baby. Now you just need him to let you treat him right.

Notes: Reader is mentioned to have hair in this chapter and wears a bonnet to sleep at night. It's also alluded to that the reader doesn't have a close relationship with her mother, though the specifics aren't mentioned and at this point are open to interpretation.

“Have you ever been on a plane before?” you ask, noticing Steven’s hesitancy that’s been hanging around since the two of you stepped into the airport.

“I haven’t, no,” he says, fiddling with the strap of his backpack sitting at his feet. The two of you are currently waiting for the plane to arrive.

Steven finally managed to wrangle Donna into approving enough time off that you could take him on a small vacation. Until now, it had never occurred to you that he might not like flying. You’re so used to it, never batting an eye when you need to fly somewhere. Nowadays, it’s become such a regular form of travel for you, it’s no different from taking a car.

You take Steven’s hand, intertwining your fingers. “Will you be okay? I can get medicine if you’re not feeling well.”

“I’ll be fine,” Steven assures you, squeezing your hand. “You said it’s a short flight?”

“A little over an hour,” you say, kissing his cheek. “Not long at all. And then we get to spend the next few days relaxing.”

You picked a place in Germany. Nothing too flashy for a first outing despite the casino located there. That doesn’t seem quite like Steven’s style, though, and it’s not yours for that matter. You have better ways of making money than gambling. Personally, you’re looking forward to the thermal baths. You hope they’re not too crowded.

Steven told you a few weeks ago that he spoke French. It happened while dining at a lavish restaurant. You had asked if he needed help with the menu since nothing was named in English, but he was the one who eventually ordered for you both, wanting to show off. The whole thing made you consider France for your first vacation spot, but, to be honest, Germany interested you much more.

You had to force yourself to stop thinking about Steven speaking French to you the whole trip.

“Where is everyone else, anyway?” Steven asks. The two of you are in a private lounge large enough to hold more people, but just as you planned, you are alone.

“It’s just us. We’re flying private.” You don’t always fly alone, especially for longer flights, but you want Steven all to yourself for this trip and don’t want to worry about other people on a crowded plane.

You also want to impress him just a tad.

Steven’s eyebrows shoot up. “What, really?”

“Mhmm. And I think this is us.” You nod toward the staff member walking toward you.

“The car’s ready for you, ma’am.”

“Car?” Steven asks as you stand, shouldering your handbag.

“To take us to the jet,” you say simply. “It’ll take us out on the tarmac and right up to it.”

Steven’s speechless as the two of you are led out of the lounge and to an opened doorway, a black car waiting just outside.

Even though he’s still a little dazed, Steven rushes forward, attempting to get to the car and open the door for you, but the man who led you here beats him to it. Steven turns back to you awkwardly and, still determined to be gentlemanly, holds out his hand to help you inside.

Smiling indulgently at him, you take it before sliding onto the back seat with Steven following right after. A minute later, he helps you back out, pausing only to look up at the jet waiting for the two of you.

“It’s not too late to cancel,” you whisper to him.

“I want to do this,” he tells you firmly, though you notice the nervous bobbing of his throat. He takes the first step toward the stairs, determined to prove it to you, though when he reaches the base, he lets you go first.

Greeting the flight attendant, you make your way toward the sets of double seats in the middle of the jet. Two sets face each other with a table between them on one side of the aisle, while on the other is a small set of cabinets with a TV on top. Aiming for the seats facing the entrance and cockpit, you pause.

“Do you want the window or the aisle seat?” you ask like you’re in a normal plane and not a private jet where you both can have a window seat if you want. The thing is, you want Steven sitting next to you, so you’re more than happy to sacrifice your preference so he’s more comfortable.

“Window, please.”

After stowing your bags in the small overhead compartment, Steven slides into your chosen seats, with you following and pressing snuggly up against him. The seats aren’t so cramped that you’re forced to be that close; you just want to be.

When the jet starts to taxi along the tarmac as the pilot moves into position on the runway for takeoff, you feel Steven tense against you.

“Want me to put on a movie? Help take your mind off it?” you ask, concerned. You start rubbing a hand soothingly up and down his arm, attempting to distract him.

Steven shakes his head and keeps his eyes locked on the window.

“I think…” he starts, “it’s just because it’s new. I don’t know what to expect.” He turns away from the window to look at you. “But being with you makes it easier.”

You beam at him, your smile stretching wide across your mouth. You’re glad you can be here for him.

Steven leans forward, aiming for your lips. You close your eyes and tilt your head, waiting. As his lips brush yours, the jet starts shaking as it speeds up, about to lift into the air.

Steven gasps and falls back into his seat, pressing himself as far as he can and desperately clutching the armrest. All you can do is hold onto him and wait. But once the shaking stops a moment later, the wheels off the ground and the jet taking flight, Steven sighs, some of the tension leaving him.

“That wasn’t so bad,” he says lightly like he hasn’t been slightly panicking for hours. You smother the laugh that threatens to bubble up.

“And you’ll get used to it the more vacations we take,” you say encouragingly, relieved he seems to be settling in.

“Plan on keeping me around, then?” Steven teases.

Smiling softly, you look at him for a moment before leaning over to rest your head on his shoulder. “I’m keeping you for a long time.”

Some of your other babies were less than enthusiastic about your vacation destinations. They had hoped you’d take them to luxury resorts, tropical islands, maybe even on a cruise. And for a few of them, you did.

But those weren’t things you gravitated toward when you took time off. You even avoided major tourist spots because they simply didn’t appeal to you.

Why go to Paris and get pickpocketed every two seconds when trying to see the Eiffel Tower when you can go somewhere more enjoyable for you?

But then there’s Steven.

So far, he’s practically in love with the town in Germany that many one-time travelers would never think to visit. He certainly seems to be enjoying it far more than your other babies would have. He stares in wide-eyed wonder at everything, even the hotel the two of you are staying in.

Upon first glance, the exterior is reminiscent of a more modern castle. Further inspection turns the sides into a vast amount of awning-covered windows leading to the various rooms. Even still, the sheer size of the place is impressive, especially so to someone who’s never had the chance to stay anywhere like it.

The room you booked even draws a breathless “This is bigger than my whole flat” from Steven. You try to tell him the terrace of your chosen penthouse suite shouldn’t count because it’s outside, but he only gives you an obstinate look.

The suite is decorated beautifully with paintings, brightly colored walls, and elegant wood-trimmed furniture, giving it a more thoughtful feel than the stark black and chrome modern style of so many other places.

You don’t stay in the room for long, though. A quick in and out to drop off luggage, freshen up, and switch into walking shoes. You like to keep activities light on travel days, so you don’t have anything overly taxing in mind.

After grabbing something light to eat at the on-site restaurant, you take Steven on a stroll through the lush park next to the hotel. In certain circumstances—and terrain—hiking isn’t your favorite, but walking through a beautifully designed park with a vast variety of flora, a quaint stream, and leisurely paths is right up your alley.

Steven enjoys it as well, the rough start to the day entirely forgotten.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a place so beautiful,” he comments, gazing around at the trees surrounding the path you stopped on. You’re sitting on a bench, enjoying the shade for a moment, admiring Steven as he enthusiastically holds out his phone, taking a million pictures of the various kinds of trees filling the park.

“I can’t wait to take you to some of the other places I have in mind. Then you can rank them all.”

Steven turns to you, nervously licking his lips. “Would you mind if I picked a place someday?”

You lean over to kiss his cheek. “I’ll take you anywhere you want, baby.”

“Anywhere?” Exciting starts shining in his eyes.

“Well, if you ask to see the Titanic, I’m saying ‘no’ immediately,” you tease, making Steven laugh and lean into you. “Take a picture of us?”

He dutifully holds out his phone, wrapping his free arm around your shoulder and snapping a couple of pictures, making sure to capture the trees and flowers behind you.

You admire it when Steven shows it to you, memorizing his features even now, and remind yourself to save it with the others when he sends it to you.

A while later, after having your fill of the park, you and Steven start the trek back to the hotel. Your hand is tucked into the crook of Steven’s elbow, and you’re suddenly dragged to a stop a few blocks from your destination.

You let out a gasp, startled, and look at Steven.

He’s staring off toward one of the stores lining the street, and when you see what it is, you give a dramatic roll of your eyes.

“Of course you want to go to a bookshop while on vacation.” You’ve yet to visit his flat—and have yet to talk him into someplace bigger—but he’s admitted to you the place is covered in books. A habit further funded by you, based on the credit card alerts you get every time Steven buys an expensive edition of some out-of-print tome.

“Can we go in?” Steven pleads.

“Can you even read German?” you ask, already tugging him toward the shop.

“I can learn,” he assures, practically racing you toward the door now.

The next hour is spent watching Steven flit between the shelves, different books catching his eye before he even finishes looking at the first.

You do some browsing of your own, picking up only one book as a souvenir, but mostly, you watch your baby have the time of his life.

“Love, look!” Steven calls, referring to you with the pet name that is decidedly more appropriate to use in public than the mummy that comes out for special occasions.

Meeting halfway between the shelf you were browsing and his, Steven thrusts a book toward you. You glance at the German on the cover before your eye catches on what clearly caught his attention: hieroglyphics.

If you’re being honest, you didn’t think a book about Ancient Egypt would be found in the touristy section of a German town, but you’re excited for your baby nonetheless.

“Steven, that’s great! Is this a new one for you?”

“I don’t recognize the author’s name, so I think so.” He flips the book back around, examining the cover again. “Can I get it?” he asks, bright eyes now searching yours.

“Just that one,” you start as you glance toward the stack tucked under his arm, “or those ones, too?”

Steven doesn’t miss a beat before excitedly saying, “All of them, please.”

You smile at him and kiss his cheek. He’s come a long way since your relationship first started. He still hesitates over some things, but you’re slowly chipping away at him.

“Whatever you want, baby.”

“Thank you,” Steven says softly as you lead him toward the register.

What’s left of the day is spent relaxing. First, on the terrace overlooking the park you and Steven visited. Then a private dinner, also you enjoyed on the terrace, making the most of the beautiful weather. Finally, the living room as the sun began to set.

“Do you always get tired when you travel?” Steven asks from his spot, curled up against your side on the couch. “Because I’m exhausted.” He lets out a dramatic yawn to prove his point to you.

“Must have been all that walking,” you say, running your fingers through his hair, something you do whenever you get the chance. “Your nerves this morning probably didn’t help.”

“True,” he agrees. He rubs his face against you and closes his eyes as if preparing to go to sleep. “I’m much better now, though.”

You let out a pleased hum. “What do you think about a couple’s spa day tomorrow?” You don’t have a set itinerary, though there are a couple of things you want to do while you’re here. The spa is one of them, especially the one that includes the fancy thermal baths.

Steven mumbles something, and you hear his breathing start to slow. He really is going to fall asleep. But as much as you love the idea of him using you as a pillow, your current position isn’t comfortable enough to spend the night. Not to mention, you still need to do your nighttime routine.

“Baby?” you say, nudging Steven gently. “You want to go to bed?”

“No.” It’s said so quietly, but there’s no mistaking it, and you can’t help but let out a laugh that shakes your body just enough for Steven’s eyes to shoot open, startled.

“Sorry!” he says, sitting up. His hair is terribly mussed, and there’s a flush to his cheeks. You feel your heart skip a beat. “It is getting late, isn’t it?” he says, trying to brush off what just happened. Then Steven glances at the decorative yet functional clock on the wall.

“Oh, bugger,” he says under his breath as he starts patting himself down and looking around the room.

“Lost something?” you ask, curious.

“My phone. Have you seen it?”

“Your room, maybe?” Steven starts toward it when you call after him. “What do you need it for?”

“Was going to call my mum,” Steven calls back to you, a little muffled by the distance and walls of his bedroom. He lets out a triumphant sound. “Found it!”

Steven’s mentioned in the past that he often talks with his mother, but you’ve never been around for an actual phone call before.

“Do you call your mom every day?” you ask when he returns to the living room, returning to his spot on the couch.

Steven stiffens. “Well…not every day… Just most days,” he finishes quietly, his face even more flushed than before. He doesn’t look at you as he slowly taps his phone screen.

You can guess why he’s suddenly more subdued.

“I think that’s sweet,” you say softly. “You must really love her.”

You’re a little jealous. Not of his mother, but of the fact he has one around to love and who must surely love him in return.

Steven easily meets your eye. “I do. She’s my mum, how could I not?” He bites his lip, still looking at you as he thinks something over. “Maybe you could…meet her…one day. If you want, that is. No pressure or anything.”

You open your mouth to answer, but Steven keeps going.

“Actually, know what? Never mind, that’s silly. I shouldn’t have—”

“Steven!” you exclaim as you lean forward to press a hand against his mouth, his lips awkwardly twisted mid-word under your palm. With Steven finally silenced, you say, “I’d love to meet your mother. If that’s what you want.”

You try not to think about how that isn’t normal: you meeting a baby’s family. A baby might talk about their family, but none of them have asked if you wanted to meet them and meld two different parts of their lives. It falls outside the bounds of a typical sugar mommy/baby relationship.

You’re not dating your babies, not really. Sure, you have fun with them—take care of them, kiss them, sleep with them—but at the end of the day, you’re paying them for their time and companionship.

It’s sex work, not a romantic partnership.

It should scare you that Steven wants to introduce you to his mother, of all people—arguably the most important person in his life. It’s a red flag, at the very least. For Steven, the lines between what your relationship is and isn’t is starting to blur.

“Really?” Steven asks disbelievingly when your hand falls from his face.

And maybe they’re starting to blur for you, too, because you say, “Yes, really.”

If only you could take a picture of the smile on his face at your words. You swear it’s the brightest you’ve ever seen.

Before you realize what’s happening, Steven’s hands are on your face, pulling you toward him. His lips crash into yours as you practically fall into his lap. In his excitement, the kiss lands awkwardly, reminiscent of the very first one the two of you shared.

Your hands scramble to find purchase, trying to save yourself from falling on Steven. One hand slots against his hip, but the other unfortunately lands right on Steven’s stomach, punching the air out of him and making him yelp.

“I’m so sorry,” you apologize, immediately crawling off him.

“It’s my fault,” Steven quickly says. “I just got a little…”

“Excited?” You can’t help but give a playful smirk, sending another flush across his cheeks.

“A bit, yeah,” he laughs. Once the two of you are settled back onto the couch, he asks, “Do you…want to sit in on my phone call? Give it a test run?”

The call with his mom. The person he wants to introduce you to, like showing off your sugar mommy to your actual mom is something people do on the regular.

But still, you say, “I’d love to. But don’t feel like you have to just because I’m here.” You can think about what this all means later, after the vacation. For now, you’ll enjoy spending time with Steven as he shares this piece of himself with you.

“I want you here,” Steven says without looking up from his phone, already pressing the button to call his mom.

“Voicemail,” he announces, sounding disappointed. He puts the phone on speaker anyway. “She travels a lot, so I shouldn’t be surprised that she doesn’t answer all my calls.”

You notice the message is just the default one, not even giving his mother’s name. Odd, but maybe she doesn’t know how to add it. Or maybe she just doesn’t care.

“Hello, mum!” Steven says brightly once the recording starts. “I’m here with my friend.” He says your name and motions for you to speak.

Unsure what to say, you end up repeating, “Hello, mum!”

It’s awkward, and you mentally kick yourself for letting that slip out—she’s certainly not your mother—but Steven only smiles.

“You won’t believe this town she’s taken me to in Germany. Have you ever been?”

You haven’t been in bed for long when you hear your door creak open. Looking over, you see someone hovering in the doorway.

“Steven?” you call, confused.

“Sorry. Did I wake you?” he asks, stepping just a foot inside the room. He’s in his pajamas—a baggy t-shirt and sweatpants.

“It’s fine. I haven’t even gotten the chance to fall asleep yet. Is something wrong?” You sit up, squinting at him in the dark. The only light streams through the windows from the full moon outside.

“Can I…sleep in here? With you?” He’s hesitant, and his shoulders are tense. Already prepared for rejection, yet persisting despite it.

Your heart starts beating a little faster. You’ve been together for a while now, but Steven has always slept in his bed whenever he stayed at your apartment. The most you’ve ever done is take cat naps curled up together on the couch.

While you’re sure Steven doesn’t intend on anything beyond actual sleeping, this is still new territory for the two of you.

“Of course you can, baby,” you say, perhaps sounding a little too eager as you flip the sheets open on the empty side of the bed.

When you look up, Steven is already at the side of the bed, ready to climb in. As you both settle in, facing each other, you’re tempted to ask what prompted this sudden desire to share a bed with you, but you hold off for now. You can ask in the morning.

“Your bonnet is nice,” Steven says softly as he looks you over. The pattern is nothing fancy, simply various leaves rendered in watercolor and printed onto the silk.

“Oh, thank you,” you laugh a little. He’s never seen you in it before. You only put it on when you’re in bed and take it off before you leave your bedroom when he’s over. “I’ll get you a matching one if you’d like.”

“You think it would suit me?” he asks, a playful smile on his face.

“I do. It might also help with your bedhead in the morning.” Steven’s curls are always a sight first thing in the morning before he gets ready for the day.

Steven laughs. “You’ll have to tell me why it’s such a good idea tomorrow, and I’ll think about it.”

Then, his hand moves around under the sheets. You’re confused, unsure of what he’s trying to do, until his hand bumps into yours.

Understanding now, you move your hand so he can hold it more easily.

“Night, love,” Steven sighs, closing his eyes, a small, lingering smile still on his face.

“Sweet dreams, baby.”

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#moon knight x reader #steven grant x reader #marc spector x reader #moon knight fanfic #x reader #sugar series

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ave-cave · 5 months ago

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Lucy in Chapter 118: an Analysis 🫧

Hooo boy

Chapter one-eighteen. Where do I even 𝓫𝓮𝓰𝓲𝓷?

Unlike a lot of folks in this fandom (all more imaginative than I could ever hope to be), I had basically no solid predictions for this chapter (or… any chapter thus far, really, and I've been following the manga religiously since 103, so… yeah, there's a reason I'm a BSD analyst, not theorist, lmao). Needless to say, 118 is heartbreak and bombshells galore: Tanizaki and Kenji’s Ame-no-Gozen-ing, the possibility that all of those “Jun'ichirō and Naomi aren't really siblings” theories were just proven dead right, the protagonist and main villain finally meeting because it's about damn time – so on and so forth.

But because a) the fanbase is already abuzz with talk about those things + no doubt in the process of doing them analytical justice, and b) I'm annoying, I’ve decided to dissect the ever-loving hell out of the chapter’s three most innocuous pages: this interaction between Kyōka Izumi and Lucy Maud Montgomery.

Inhales

MY GIRLS ARE BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)

Does a little jig 🎶

Sorry, had to get that out of my system

No, but seriously. Kyōka has been absent since chapter 91. Three whole years; definitely too long for a character of her importance. Lucy, meanwhile, has been out of the picture since chapter 81. That’s four whole years. So in other words, two significant female characters, sidelined for ages, are back. That’s kind of huge, IMO.

Of course, we have a vague idea of what they’ve been up to. Anne's Room has been shown more than once serving as the ADA’s safe haven and base of operations, and so per the rules of AOAR, Lucy must be nearby if not inside herself. Kyōka we see in silhouette form in Anne's Room in chapter 92. But this is the first time in a hot minute we've seen either of them in the flesh, let alone gotten dialogue out of them. I nearly choked on my cereal when I turned the page and saw their faces, lol.

So then, pray tell, what does this long-awaited appearance in the flesh entail? Well…

Lucy and Kyōka:

Right off the bat, Lucy and Kyōka are seen in Anne’s Room (where they’ve ostensibly been this entire time), standing in front of the Exit Door (i.e., the door opposite the prison, which – unless linked to a surface in the real world – will cause those who leave through it to experience amnesia. Not relevant to the scene, just thought I’d give a quick refresher.) The exit is blocked by rubble; the airport, as well as the surrounding buildings, have all been devastated. How to leave Anne's Room at this point is anyone’s guess.

Kyōka suggests Lucy deactivate her ability, but Lucy shuts her down, pointing out that they'll be flattened by rubble if she does. In response, Kyōka does her signature knife-unsheathing and insists, rather ominously, that they'll just have to take a gamble then. Lucy grabs her wrist and tells her to stop, and when Kyōka asks her why, she replies solemnly: “Because… if you died… it would crush him,” this followed by a picture of Atsushi’s smiling face.

YES. YES. YES.

Now THIS is what I love about Lucy and Kyōka’s dynamic.

In essence, they're rivals. Thing is, they're not your generic “two girls fighting over the same guy” rivals. Kyōka’s feelings toward Atsushi aren’t even romantically-coded. Their shared love for Atsushi doesn’t divide them; it unites them. After all, following the Guild Aftermath arc, the “rivalry” aspect of their relationship has had almost nothing to do with him, instead revolving around their clashing personalities. There, they were only at each other’s throats because Kyōka didn’t like how Lucy, still angry about the Moby Dick, was treating Atsushi, and Lucy didn’t like how Kyōka was standing in the way of her talking things through with him. But once a much-needed heart-to-heart was had between Atsushi and Lucy and the latter turned over a new leaf, there was no longer any reason for her and Kyōka to bicker. Kyōka didn’t have the full context of Lucy’s actions, and was thus within her rights to assume she couldn’t be trusted, but Lucy proved that she could be when she led them to the right boat.

Later on, Lucy showcased that she didn't resent Kyōka when she advocated for her, forcing Atsushi to leave her to her thoughts upon learning the truth of her parents' deaths.

The next chapter, Kyōka calls Lucy’s coffee mediocre, but Lucy herself admits that she isn’t much of a barista, and so the comment is more Kyōka not mincing words than actively trying to be rude. Moreover, Lucy is offended at first, but then concedes without any real hostility.

In the Cannibalism arc, Kyōka is shown bowing politely to Lucy while enlisting her help, even if she is just following Atsushi's lead (and later does the same for Mushitarō).

Fast forward to the Sky Casino arc, Kyōka is miffed by Lucy’s hot-and-cold behavior around Atsushi, but that’s not exactly unique to her...

... and besides, they agree without resistance to work together. In chapter 81 (i.e., the last we saw of Lucy until now), the Agency reunites and Lucy encourages Kyōka to join in on the celebration. Perhaps most notable is chapter 78, wherein the two are lumped into the same category by Ango. He recognizes them both as people who would choose Atsushi over the good of the world, and this nearly drives him to kill them on the spot for fear of what their loyalty could turn into.

In this latest chapter, however, it’s underscored that, while Lucy and Kyōka may be the same in their care for Atsushi on the surface, they’re still – at the end of the day – foil characters.

Both are orphans. Both were taken in – and subsequently exploited – by criminal organizations for their abilities. Both found their place in the story by virtue of meeting Atsushi. Both are undyingly loyal to Atsushi because of what he’s done for them. That’s about where their similarities end.

Kyōka was introduced as a remorseful killer seeking atonement by death. Atsushi managed to save her (twice, for that matter) in the conventional hero way, cementing himself as her savior and playing into the reckless heroism by which he determines his worth.

Lucy, on the other hand, was introduced as a bitter villain who believed she was justified in lashing out. Atsushi tried, but he couldn’t save her in the traditional hero way. Only his vulnerability managed to get through to her, and if anything, Lucy saved him. This utterly subverted the unhealthy philosophy by which Atsushi had begun to define both himself and his relationships.

Since then, Lucy has been trying at every turn to get Atsushi to see himself as more than just a hero. She reprimands him for his reckless heroism when she sees it. She stops him from inserting himself into other people’s plights uninvited. She confronts him when he fails to understand his relationships beyond the framework of hero and savior. Kyōka, meanwhile, has been doing more or less the opposite: she’s passively allowed Atsushi to keep playing the perpetual hero, and this wouldn’t be the first time she’s taken on his credo of self-sacrifice herself.

All of this in mind, the girls’ thought processes in this chapter are perfectly in line for them: Kyōka tries to push forward without care for what could happen to her, whereas Lucy emphasizes self-preservation.

One might perceive Lucy replying the way she does to Kyōka’s question as callous, but I don’t really think so. She isn’t saying “the only reason you shouldn’t risk your life is because it would make Atsushi sad." She’s applying her philosophy of person > hero to Atsushi and Kyōka both at the same time. She's encouraging Kyōka to be more than just a hero by telling her to think of how it would affect Atsushi as a person if she died.

If Lucy is good at anything, it’s communicating what she wants from people in a way that she knows will get through to them. She did this with Atsushi on the Moby Dick when she bluffed about waiting on his salvation, knowing he would be more motivated to stay alive himself if he thought there was someone counting on him to save them. The same applies in this scenario. She communicates with Kyōka in a way that highlights the reason they get along; the reason they’re both here in the first place. And if the way Kyōka resheathes her knife without a word is any indication, it works.

Lucy knows that she and Atsushi are close, but she knows that Kyōka and Atsushi are closer. Losing her would be the last straw for him. She recognizes their relationship as something beyond hero and savior – something precious. This is nothing out-of-character for her; on the contrary, it’s in keeping with who she’s been all along. All that’s different now is she’s acknowledging it out loud.

Lucy and Atsushi:

When Lucy pictures Atsushi in her mind’s eye, she sees the spirit that would undoubtedly be broken if he were to lose Kyōka. This in and of itself is heartbreaking, but when you consider the greater implications, well…

In the Sky Casino arc, a huge breakthrough was made in Atsushi and Lucy’s relationship. Her elusive “impossible” debt to him was finally repaid, though not in the way you'd expect.

At the time, all Lucy felt she could give in return for Atsushi’s turning her life around was conventional heroism – or in other words, many a close call and many a trip to Anne’s Room. This conventional heroism was a worthless currency in her mind; it wasn’t the kind that saved her, after all. But on the other hand, the vulnerability she so valued in its stead she wasn’t capable of giving; where she came from, being vulnerable was a death sentence, after all. Because of this, how she could ever come close to repaying Atsushi’s ultimate favor was a mystery unto itself. All she knew was that she had to do it one way or another, and that’s where her most glaring flaw – her quid-pro-quo mindset – came into play, eventually driving her so far as to override her own philosophy and embody the reckless hero she so discouraged Atsushi from being.

But when Atsushi saved her from Nathaniel – thereby repaying her for her acts of service as he’d promised so many times he would – she realized that, just as her care for Atsushi doesn’t depend on his being a hero, Atsushi's care for her doesn’t depend on her being vulnerable. The illusion was shattered.

From this point forward, Lucy is no longer helping Atsushi out of a sense of indebtedness. She's doing it because she wants to – because she truly, genuinely cares. Not the artificial kind of care that comes with repaying a debt, but the kind that she showcases when she stays by Atsushi’s side after he faints, pressing a cold towel to his face. The kind that involves refusing to hurt Atsushi in any way, even to jog potentially vital memories.

Lucy considering what Kyōka’s death would do to Atsushi’s psyche is a perfect continuation of this new leaf she’s turned over, but it also goes to show that her shared arc with Atsushi is far from finished.

Lucy’s development has always been structured rather uniquely. Each arc she’s appeared in has worked either to establish or address her current most glaring flaw, more often than not in unexpected ways. Her appearance in the first half of the Guild arc established her villainous façade as just that – a façade – by having it crumble as she realized the kind of person she was up against in Atsushi. The second half addressed her unhealthy attachment to the Guild by having Atsushi dissuade her from villainy via empathy. The Guild Aftermath arc added the finishing touch to all of this – the last little push needed to propel Lucy into her new role – by addressing her and Atsushi’s “promise” on the Moby Dick. The Cannibalism arc subtly established her quid-pro-quo mindset, which the Sky Casino arc would then go on to address.

Another great subversion of the tropes usually involved in these dynamics is that, despite Lucy being the closest thing to Atsushi’s “love interest,” only he’s managed to bolster her development – not the other way around. This isn’t for lack of trying, of course; Lucy tries. But Atsushi is a tough nut to crack. The fact that she’s still, nearly 15 chapters later, trying to steer Atsushi away from heroism and toward personhood – albeit indirectly – is testament to this.

If she could reach him now, she’d no doubt be trying even still. She’d be conveying to him that none of his friends’ deaths so far has been his fault – that he can’t be expected to carry the burden of hero to all when the world is going to hell in a handbasket. But she can’t reach him. She’s trapped, and so is Kyōka. Thus is the cruel irony.

Anne's Room:

Anne of Abyssal Red has played a key role in pretty much everything plot-related up to this point. To that end, it’s only appropriate that its owner finally appearing alongside it would grant it extra significance.

Lucy’s last line in this chapter is as follows: “So the enemy… even took this into account.” She’s right: Fyodor had countermeasures against her ability. That said, I don’t think this is attributable solely to Fyodor being, well… Fyodor.

AOAR is in the same ballpark narrative-wise as, say, For The Tainted Sorrow in that it’s overpowered to the point of detriment. It’s Lucy’s playground; the product of an imagination run wild due to crippling loneliness. This in and of itself is scary. An ability having rules that malleable is automatically dangerous, as it means that, while its wielder can bend and exploit said rules, so can an enemy. In both major fights Lucy has been a part of, the rules of Anne’s Room being molded to favor her opponent has spelled either victory or loss on her end: Atsushi used the prison room loophole against her, and she indirectly used the transportation loophole against Nathaniel. Hell, her capture by the Guild following her betrayal was thanks to the loophole that, while Anne couldn’t be defeated, she could be restrained.

So basically, for as powerful as AOAR is, underneath that power lies a shaky foundation. Power doesn’t always mean stability, and this is underscored by the fact that, at the end of the day, Anne is only infallible in terms of strength; she could only do so much to alleviate Lucy’s loneliness growing up (which is honestly a pretty clever mirror to her conflict of strength vs. vulnerability with Atsushi).

With Anne’s Room nullified by Fyodor, Lucy has truly nothing at her disposal. She's not physically strong (she’s 165 cm and 44 kg, so… yeah ˙◠˙), and while by no means stupid, she doesn’t repeatedly say in this chapter that she doesn’t know what to do next for no reason. Anne’s Room is all she’s ever had. While at the orphanage, it was her only comfort. While in the Guild, it was her only value. With Atsushi, it was all she had to offer in return for his ultimate favor.

This, I feel, could be the establishing point for the next portion of her arc. She could strive to find a way out of the rubble, working together with Kyōka, and in the process learn to break away from her ability as what defines her role in all of this. One thing's for sure: something has to be done sooner or later – otherwise, they'll starve.

I dunno, maybe that’s wishful thinking given how much is already going on. But either way, I’ll hope against hope that this isn’t some one-off return, because Lucy has proven time and time again that she has a lot to offer to the story, both plot-wise and thematically.

Thanks for reading. :)

#bungou stray dogs #bsd manga #bsd chapter 118 #bsd lucy #bsd kyouka #bsd atsushi #lucy maud montgomery #kyouka izumi #atsushi nakajima

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heavenslittlemachine · 5 months ago

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the last vegas airport is the only building in this country left worth anything at all simply becuz they let u smoke inside in the gambling cavern and last time i was there i made 80 bucks off of 5 cuz im a beloved daughter of saturn

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madhatterbri · 2 months ago

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Pretty in Pink | M.J. & N.J.

Summary: i was thinking…. Matthew & or Nicolas Jackson with someone who’s like little Tiffany Stratton! This has been on my mind for like forever

Requested by: Anonymous

Author's Note: I did both on one post.

Matt Jackson Masterlist

Nick Jackson Masterlist

AEW Masterlist

Taglist: @smallestsnarkestgirl @magicalbuttertarts

Matt Jackson

Y/N woke up early to hit the gym. She tried to wake her boyfriend, Matt, up but he wasn't having it. He groaned and tried to shoo her away.

"Come on, come work out with me," she whined and squished his cheeks together. Matt muttered something about needing coffee and rolled over. After a short fought battle, Y/N gave him a kiss on the cheek and left.

She worked out in the hotel gym downstairs. She loved getting ready early and beating the crowd. As much fun as it was to be a wrestler, she hated being unable to do basic activities without others wanting an autograph or picture. After an hour, she went back upstairs to get ready for the day. The couple had a lot to do.

Their hotel bathroom was filled with their own supplies that they use back at home. The cheap soaps, shampoos, and conditioners would never touch their body. They were both essentially princesses according to their fans.

Matt eventually woke up. The smell of coffee danced with her nose as she started to put on her face cream. He kissed her cheek as he watched her. Ever the gentleman, her loving boyfriend handed her coffee to her when she was done.

They stopped at the mall to shop before traveling to the airport. With similar tastes in shoes, shopping was always a pleasurable experience for them. He carried her bags so she wouldn't have to. They stopped at a couple of sport clothing stores together as well.

Unsatisfied with her shopping haul, Y/N continued to shop at the airport. She had a major craving to buy new perfume.

"What do you think, Matty?" She asked and sprayed some of the fragrance on her arm. Before he could answer, her arm was under his nose. He smelled her arm and told her to buy it. Anything in the world for his special girl.

She squealed in delight and ran to the counter to purchase it.

They sat in first class snuggled up. She snuggled into his cheek and kissed him. Matt had a huge smile on his face as they cuddled the entire trip.

When they landed at their destination, she ended up shopping some more. A couple of fans stopped them for autographs at the airport. They signed them before leaving the airport to get to the hotel.

After eating dinner together at a steakhouse, they fell asleep holding each other close.

Nick Jackson

"You ready to hit up the mall, baby?" Nick asked. He counted the cash inside his wallet. Y/N loved when he was home. They were able to shop together. She smiled and kissed his cheek. Her arms wrapped around his neck.

"I'm so glad you are home,"

Nick walked around in a pair of basketball shorts and a tank top. They hit up the shoe store first. They started to look at shoes that were in men and women to match. They finally found a pair they both liked. He paid for the set and carried the bags for them.

They held hands as they walked the mall. The couple stopped at multiple stores and shopped until they practically dropped. Nick held the bags the entire time.

When they left, he placed the bags in the trunk. He opened the door for her. Nick always treated her like a princess.

They stopped at a casino before going home. While he gambled, she wrapped her arms around him and wished him luck. She rubbed his shoulders and scratched his back softly. He moved his neck around to crack it.

After he was done gambling, they walked back to the car. Nick took her to her favorite restaurant. They cuddled as they sat in a private booth. He wanted alone time out in public with his little princess.

Nick grabbed the check when they were done and showed her the number at the end. "Sixty-nine cents,"

"Yeah?" She asked in confusion.

"It's my favorite position," he told her with a wink.

Y/N felt her cheeks heat up. She kissed him softly. "Guess we will have to see why it's your favorite,"

#aew fanfiction #aew fanfic #matt jackson fic #matt jackson x reader #matt jackson x y/n #matt jackson x female reader #nick jackson x reader #nick jackson x y/n #nick jackson x female reader

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jourdepluie91 · 4 months ago

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Kowloon: inside Hong Kong's lawless 'walled city' — the most crowded place on Earth for 40 years

Written by Harrison Jacobs for Business Insider

Slightly north of Hong Kong Island there once stood one of the most densely populated places on earth.

From the 1950s until 1994, over 33,000 people lived and worked in Kowloon Walled City, a massive complex of 300 interconnected buildings that took up a city block.

Caught between China and the British-run Hong Kong government, the city was essentially lawless, equally known for its opium dens and organized crime as its dentists' offices.

Photographer Greg Girard spent years investigating and documenting the strange place before it was demolished.

The city began as a low-rise squatter village during the early 20th century. After World War II, Hong Kong experienced a massive influx of Chinese immigrants. This led to a lack of housing in the city. In response, entrepreneurs and those with "squatter's rights" in Kowloon built high rise buildings on the space to capitalize on the housing demand.

At its peak, more than 33,000 people lived in the 6.4-acre city. It was considered by many to be the most densely populated place on earth.

While located in Hong Kong, the Walled City was legally a Chinese military fort. This put the settlement in legal purgatory as both China and the British-run Hong Kong government ignored it.

Laws, regulations, and building codes were not enforced.

"There was never any top-down guidance or planning about how the place should be. It grew as an organic response to people's needs," says Girard.

The only regulation enforced at Kowloon was the height of the building. Because the airport was so close, the building was not allowed to be taller than 13 or 14 stories.

The Walled City was controlled by the Chinese mafia, called the Triads, from the 1950s through the 1970s. It gained a reputation as a haven for prostitution, gambling, and drugs.

But by the time Girard explored the city in 1987, it had become considerably safer. "The city normalized, but the reputation stayed until the end. It was a place your parents told you to never go to," says Girard.

The streets and alleyways of the Walled City were narrow. Most were barely wider than six feet and some were so narrow that one had to walk sideways through them. A massive network of passageways in the upper levels also made it possible to travel the distance of the city without walking on a ground level street.

The Walled City was not the kind of place that you wanted to wander around, especially at night. Most residents stuck to the roads or alleys that they knew best on their way to work and home.

Mr. Lui, the city's postman, was assigned to Kowloon in 1976. By the time that Girard met him, he was one of the few people who knew all the ins and outs of the city. He wore a hat to protect him from the constant dripping from the ceiling.

Because regulations and licenses weren't enforced in the city, it was easy to set up a business. Rents, primarily controlled by those with "squatter's rights," were low compared to the rest of the city.

Many businesses took advantage. Ho Chi Kam ran a hairdressing salon with his wife in the city until 1991. After Ho was forced out of the Walled City, he had to go back to working for others because he could not afford the rent elsewhere.

Doctors, dentists, and other accredited professionals who emigrated from China found that their licenses were not valid in Hong Kong. Many took up offices in the Walled City because laws were not enforced there.

The city became known as a place where Hong Kong's working class went to the doctor or dentist. Appointments were cheaper because the doctors and dentists could not practice anywhere else in the city.

The lack of regulations was even more important for the many meat processors in Kowloon.

Food was a big part of the Walled City’s culture. Hong Kongers often visited to eat at one of the city's many dog-meat restaurants. Dog-meat stew, traditionally made from six-month-old Chow puppies, was a popular dish in Hong Kong until it was banned by the British.

Hui Tuy Choy opened his noodle factory in 1965. He chose the Walled City because the rents were low and you didn’t need a license to open a store. In Hong Kong, shop owners had to get licenses from the labor, health, and fire departments.

Kowloon was a major manufacturing center for many businesses in Hong Kong. One of its biggest products was fishballs, which were sold to restaurants around the city.

This rubber factory was run entirely by two men.

Often, commercial spaces like this grocery store would double as a living room or a space for the children to do homework after the working day was over.

According to Girard, the Walled City had a village culture because of the tight living and working quarters. 90-year-old Law Yu Yi lived with her son's wife in a cramped third-floor apartment. It is typical for women to look after her in-laws.

The Walled City had its own micro-climate, according to Girard, due to the massive amounts of tubing, wires, and open gutters snaking through the building. The lower levels were constantly hot, humid, and damp.

Because of the smelly, humid conditions down below, the rooftops of Kowloon would turn into a communal hangout during the afternoons and evenings. People would hang out, do laundry or homework, or practice instruments.

"It was like a strange, urban garden. There was tons of household refuse. It was a bit of an eyesore, but compared to the area below, the air was light and breezy. It was nice to come up there after living and working on the lower floors," says Girard.

After evicting the 33,000 residents over the next five years, demolition began in 1993. Residents were given monetary compensation, but many protested that it was not enough.

Photos by Greg Girard

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ohblackdiamond · 1 year ago

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paulventures in florida

first off, this would not have been remotely possible without my dear friend @elrohare who generously, and incredibly, asked if i'd be her +1 to this event. I'm eternally grateful for a wonderful time.

friends, romans, countrymen, lend me your ears--

wait, that's not right.

HEY, PEE-PUL--

On 2/23/24, Cynthia and I met Paul Stanley and had dinner with him.

Our full weekend adventure eventually ended up taking us all around the sovereign state of Florida, a state I have not (been) driven around since 1998, when my family went on a trip to Disney World. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many palm trees or so much Spanish moss.

But you don’t wanna hear about the insane roads of Florida, you wanna hear about Paul. We’ll get there.

I was running on approximately four hours of sleep due to having taken a 7 a.m. flight in order to ensure I would be able to see Paul in the first place. Was Paul actually due to show up around 7 p.m.? Yes. Did I care? No. It was not exactly a short drive from the Orlando airport where Cynthia picked me up to the Hard Rock hotel/casino in Hollywood (Florida) where the gallery was. We had to guarantee our presence (and I had to guarantee that there would be room for error should my flight be delayed!). Once we were at the Wentworth gallery, Cynthia’s art broker, Laura, showed her one of her pieces. Laura also mentioned offhand that “he (Paul Stanley) was just here earlier” and I believe she may have showed us a picture of him at the gallery– I know she said he was nice. Inside of the gallery was a small section with a table full of different sharpies (gold, silver, black) and he had scribbled on a piece of paper or something on the table to test one out.

Cynthia determined she could only fit one of the paintings in her trunk and would have to have the other shipped. She took care of those details and afterwards asked when we should be there for Paul– we were told that, of course, around seven was it but if we wanted to poke over at 6 or 6:30, we could. She encouraged us to hang around and shop/etc. if we wanted, but honestly, the mall aspect of the casino was fairly paper-thin and if you weren’t gambling and weren’t super-enamoured with the (admittedly cool) water/fountain light show, you weren’t going to be entertained for hours on end. Fortunately, obsessing over our upcoming meeting/dinner was entertaining enough when it wasn’t nerving us both out!

We had some discussion on whether we should show up at the gallery again right at 6 or not, and ended up kind of poking over and realizing that the gallery hadn’t exactly filled up at that point. We ended up poking back in at 6:30, which was ideal. Directly outside the gallery (you could only really stick around in there if you’d purchased or were very interested in purchasing a painting, due to the meet and greet aspect that was going to happen there in the back) was starting to get a bit crowded and that only continued– fans with things they were hoping to get signed/hoping he would look at (there was a gorgeous drawing of eighties Paul that a girl was holding up that she’d done!)-- but I think a lot of them just wanted to get a glimpse of Paul.

Cynthia and I made some small talk with the other gallery-goers, including a nice couple, Heather and her partner, Eric. Heather was wearing a really pretty purple gradient dress while Eric had a blazer with a custom-made purple shirt underneath that had the Starchild makeup on it. They were pretty invested, especially Eric, though they’d done these events before. It was cute how Heather would come back over and say “I think he’s bought another one….” (Heather also was trying to ensure there would be a non-meat option at the dinner for Eric due to Lent.)

I noticed that every so often someone from the gallery would open a door at the back (near the Sharpie table), say something, and then shut it, so I was pretty sure that Paul was right behind there, which terrified me. But then he just suddenly appeared only a couple feet from us, which was more terrifying (to me) and I sort of immediately tried not to look his way for fear of– aw, geez, I don’t know; I have a lot of feelings.

“Who’re you here to see?” he said, and the small crowd (myself included) immediately answered back with “Paul!!”

He was smiling– he was smiling a lot. I have encountered Paul prior on Kruises and I’d honestly never seen him look nearly that happy at those. Maybe it’s because he’s really a mermaid and is really bitter every time KISS goes out to sea, but honestly, it’s probably mostly because he gets seasick and getting stuck on a ship for five days with a couple thousand rabid fans is probably not his idea of a good time.

Dinner with about 20-30 rabid fans apparently was right up his alley, though!

We had been told prior to Paul’s arrival that we were third in line for him. I had brought Mandate but this was more something I’d feel out– I’d said to Cynthia way beforehand that if it didn’t get signed/didn’t feel right to try to get signed, that was fine because after all, I was there as a plus-one. I will honestly admit that seeing him look like he felt that good made me feel like maybe the magazine would ruin his demeanor– anyway, while we could’ve watched any and all of the other meet and greets, I really wanted to let everyone else have their space/time– I did not want to be creeping around trying to get extra shots of him or anything.

I was also just extremely nervous. I think we both were!

We were called up around maybe 7:10 or 7:15. I wanted to make sure I didn’t cut into Cynthia’s time and also make sure I was not weird, either. Paul was great. He immediately complimented Cynthia’s star dress, which she said she’d worn in his honor and curtsied very cutely. She introduced herself and shook his hand; then I introduced myself and shook his hand, and then she talked to him about seeing the last MSG show and about Evan being there and how cool that was (to have him opening for KISS’ last show); he said it wouldn’t be the last time (for Evan). He said something about how MSG was special (paraphrase) or that it was a special time, something like that.

Then he said he guessed it was time to take some pictures– they brought out first the Starchild picture, took a picture of us (one of my feet was shaking by this point so I didn’t stand too close to him), and then he said to the photographer, “I blinked” (he did not) and said quietly to Cynthia, “You get two.”

Next was the Gene picture. Cynthia said she liked the crystals on it and he said that they were Swarovski and that they were hard to put on or took a long time to do, something along those lines. Once the photos were over, he wrote her dedication (“Cynthia, Make life a work of art, Paul Stanley”) on a black sheet of paper– I noticed as he was writing it that he went back to fix one of the letters) and Cynthia seized the chance to ask him to sign her copy of his autobiography. He was really quick about it– “Yeah, I’ll sign that,” and immediately signed the front cover. (I told Cynthia afterwards that of course he signed the front– it had his face on it; he couldn’t help himself!) As either this or the paper-signing was going on, the photographer handed me Cynthia’s phone back and I was so dumbstruck by everything that I just kind of looked at the phone in sheer confusion for a second or two– I think a part of me somehow thought there was something he wanted me to do with it, when in actuality he was just giving it back! He said he’d see us soon and Cynthia corrected that we’d see him at dinner.

“Three points,” I said as we exited (to the main area of the gallery). (I don’t usually give him any points. I have a lot of conflicting feelings about Paul, but had promised Cynthia I would not say anything disparaging about him during the duration of our time together.) We were both in a state of giddiness mixed with that feeling of it being all over mixed with anticipation. It was really the sort of feeling I’ve only had at meet and greets, but the night wasn’t over. We stuck around the gallery, still talking to other KISS fans (one guy had the most amazing KISS shoes with the RARO cover art on them that either he or his boyfriend had painted, can’t remember– he said that Paul wanted them and he wouldn’t let him have them!). Heather said that Eric had moved his timeslot down to the very end, but there were people that came in way later than everyone else, so I’m not sure if he actually got the last timeslot or not. And as we were waiting, we got another meet and greet.

This one was not so good and it was my fault.

This one was Doc McGhee’s would-be meet and greet.

I had met Doc on a couple occasions, the last one being most memorable even if we didn’t speak. I had a very good seat at the next-to-last MSG concert and as Doc walked down to his own seat before the show started (or possibly a song or so in– might’ve been as I was standing up!) he reached over and quickly pressed something into my hand: I opened my hand and found it was a guitar pick (I couldn’t see whose it was at that point), and immediately closed my hand and held onto it for dear life for the next two hours, only sticking it in my purse when I felt certain I wouldn’t lose it. It’s a (worn) Paul pick– a good omen.

Anyway, Doc just wandered in the main entrance, as Doc is wont to, and spoke to a couple people. Doc not being anywhere near as intimidating as Paul, I told Cynthia, “I’m gonna say hi to Doc” and walked over to him.

“Hey, Doc! You gave me a pick at Madison Square Garden!”

“I did!” (I don’t think he remembered. Maybe he did.)

“Thank you!” and I shook his hand.

Then he stood there. And stood there. He thought I had more to say to him or that I’d ask him for a selfie. He did not expect that that was all I had to say to him.

Doc slunk off into the shadows of the art gallery. Sorry, Doc.

Around about 9:30 or so was the dinner. We were seated and then Paul walked in, giving a couple fistbumps on the way to our table. There were three tables, each with 10 or less people there, and he’d be seated at the middle for each. We were first, so we ate Caesar salad and a charcuterie board full of appetizers (salami, cheese, those little stick things, etc.) with Paul. Paul was catty-corner to me which was insanely intimidating. He looked me in the eye twice that I was aware of (without saying anything) and I just dove into the salami like a girl that got stood up for senior prom devouring the refreshment table. My nerves were killing me. Paul still looked… intimidating. I was riddled with the wounds of past experiences and the knowledge that I could say absolutely nothing to him that he had not heard before. I couldn’t think. I could only mindlessly eat and wince as Cynthia excitedly kicked me under the table when Paul began to eat himself. It was pretty funny, because the first couple times she kicked me, I thought that there was something she wanted me to say to Paul, but she just wanted to point out that he was eating!

I ran out of salami and the waiter refilled my glass of water (I didn’t order any alcohol) about four times while I tried not to pay too much attention to Paul Stanley being that close to me. That is to say, I was paying attention, but trying not to be a creep. He was talking to a dark-haired lady sitting next to him and due to how loud it was in the restaurant, I could hear less than half of what he was saying (and only because I was straining) and basically none of what she said (he did say something about Soul Station, but as Cynthia said, we heard entirely different things regarding that particular venture, which says a lot for the amount of noise in the restaurant!). After a point, he looked over our side of the table with an expression that was a bit “well?” i.e. “you can talk to me” without actually coming out and saying it. He was pretty well aware that nobody on our side had really said anything to him as he consumed Caesar salad, various cheeses, etc. at our table, and he did want to give everyone the opportunity. I was, apparently, incapable of taking said opportunity.

Enter Patrick, who was sitting directly across from me/on the other side of Paul and whom (along with his wife, Nicole, sitting next to him) Cynthia and I had been talking with from the time we got seated on. He had made small talk with us on the typical topic (KISS) and the two of them had been collecting Paul’s artwork since he started around ‘08 or so– this wasn’t their first rodeo. Patrick had a loud voice that carried well. Patrick did something that he really didn’t have to do at all, that I dearly appreciated– after talking briefly to Paul himself, he gave me the floor.

“I think you need to talk to your youngest fan (at the table).”

Paul looked at me again. I did not die.

“I’m not all that young…”

I can’t remember if Paul actually asked me how old I was or not, but I said I was thirty-four. Paul said “what?” (he didn’t hear me). I held up my fingers in a 3 and a 4. Paul did not understand. (I cannot overstate how hard it was to hear in that restaurant.) Finally, I got my volume up loud enough. “I’m thirty-four!”

I want to say he looked surprised, but that might be wishful thinking. I’m of mixed Asian and white descent and am very short and small. Anyway, he responded with, “I have shoes older than you.”

My incredibly brilliant response was “I know. … My mom’s your age so it’s fine.” (What’s fine? His 35+ year old shoes?) Paul found this witty repartee hard to answer. Probably because he likely couldn’t hear it.

Patrick made an additional extremely kind effort just a second later. I think he must’ve known how much I wanted to say something and how paralyzed/starstruck I had ended up. It was exceptionally nice– he could’ve monopolized Paul easily, and he chose not to. He didn’t have to go out of his way like that.

“She’s been on the Kruises!”

“Oh?”

“Y-yeah I’ve been on the last three (technically four, I did both the back to back Kruises)--” Inspiration. Stupid inspiration. “I was the one that asked you– no, actually I asked Gene– about Dark Shadows.”

Great, now Mr. Paul Stanley thinks I have an undying fascination with Dark Shadows. Okay, I do, but my life’s goal definitely wasn’t to ask him about that at dinner.

“I remember that (show). Barnabus…. It came on in the afternoons. (I think he said he watched it. … So did almost every baby boomer in the mid/late-sixties)” He actually looked like he might’ve been contemplating the show, but he might’ve actually been contemplating whether the salad he spilt on his lap made a stain on his pants; I don’t really know.

Patrick is the true hero of this entire story. If Paul got three points, Patrick gets thirty. Patrick somehow kept introducing the stuff I had just told him to Paul (i.e. my first KISS record was “Rock and Roll Over,” and said something about “Hard Luck Woman”) and I manage to spill several things I am not sure that Paul heard at all (because I could barely hear myself) including (quickly) that I had only gotten my mom to come with me to a KISS show during EOTR, and that when she finally did she’d wished she’d gone to see them sooner. Paul was looking at us, nodding, and was trying to follow the general convo but honestly, if I was only getting a little over half of what Paul said, he was getting a fourth of what I said in general, best case scenario. I don’t fault him. Cynthia told him something about Phantom of the Park, but I could barely understand her!

Probably a couple minutes after that, he went to the next table for the main course (he spent roughly half an hour at our table). He waved as he left and we remained with a surprisingly good vantage spot to see the back of Paul’s head and occasionally his profile. Also his phone, which he never got out at our table but did get out for the main course’s. It has a pink case.

We saw him move to the final table– I think he may not have gotten dessert, but I could be wrong there. (I had veal parmesan as a main course and split tiramisu with Cynthia. I only had about four bites of the veal due to having eaten every piece of salami on our charcuterie board, but it was pretty good. The tiramisu was also great.) After that, he left, but he waved as he went and he still looked happy. That meant a good bit to me. I gripe about Paul a lot but I do want him to be happy. I want them all to be happy.

Cynthia thanked the art gallery director (not sure of his title) prior to us leaving the restaurant and we were told she could pick up her painting tomorrow morning at ten. It was very late at night at that point– not sure when we got back to our hotel, but I do know we were talking until two about everything that had transpired and the whole rest of the weekend was filled with talk of Paul.

The verdict: Very good event. Paul was sweet, engaged and definitely wanted to be here. The only real negative I have is how loud that restaurant was! It was something else to be that close to him– I had tempered my expectations due to my own cynicism and wariness, but he was great. Really incredible time that I’m going to remember.

Paul, if I see you again, I promise not to bother you about Dark Shadows.

We’ll move on to Bonanza or Match Game or something.

#kiss the band #paul stanley

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gamergirlbonestaskforce141riot · 1 year ago

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Never assume the obvious is true

I present to you a collaboration fic with @wormscantscreem, who is a lovely, lovely person with a very interesting OC who we introduce all of you to, and now lives (rent free) in my little fic universe. Enjoy!

This will be the first of a series of flashbacks (one shots or mini series) that will have their own masterlist

Tagging my usuals: @glitterypirateduck @letsreadallday @jamesrifftapes @rileyslibrarian

Late July 2021

Kandahar Airport, Afghanistan

‘‘Can you explain why we’re here now?’’

Kate Laswell sighed deeply, barely turning her head to look at her ‘assistant’, who was looking around with clear bemusement in their face. After letting their eyes roam around for a moment their expression changed to disgust. And Laswell could understand why.

The Kandahar Airport was a buzzing pot of disgruntled, nervous and angry looking foreign soldiers and local personnel running around and barking orders at each other. As they strolled towards the building where the particular unit they were looking for had been stationed, Laswell couldn’t help but think that the place looked like it would fall apart soon.

The whole country looked like it would fall apart soon.

‘‘We are here because the operator I need can't be contacted, and I’m going to yell at their CO for sending her squad out on a mission when I clearly stated that I needed that particular asset’’

‘‘That explains why you are here, but not why I am here’’ Jester whined, toying with their checkered tie. Laswell sighed looking at them with resignation. She had tried, hard, to make Jester change their… colorful outfit into something more fitting for the heat, but her ‘assistant’ had only consented into changing their striped trousers and shirt into some sand colored cargo pants and a short sleeve t-shirt. But they were still wearing their tie, and their patterned hoodie with a jester hood hanging at their back, and their usual beanie covering their dirty blond hair.

‘‘You are here because you have a particularly useful skill that I’d love to put to use right here’’

Loge ‘Jester’ Eirdotter rolled their grayish blue eyes, looking around with a huff. They kicked a small rock in their way, with their hands in their pockets. A pout on their face to further express their discontent, and Laswell rolled her eyes as well, but waited. She knew Jester’s curiosity would do the rest.

‘‘What am I supposed to discover in this dusty hole?’’

Laswell hid her smile and nodded. There it was. The detail that made it possible for her to get Jester to agree without really agreeing. Their hunger for information, for details that would fetch a good value.

‘‘We’re going to the HeadHunters’ quarters’’ She turned her head when Jester stilled for a moment, like a cat with its ears on high alert, quickly covering up their intrigue with another huff. Laswell smiled. ‘‘Yeah, that one. Under the command of Captain William Rico’’

‘‘That guy’s a bastard, for what I found. Other COs hate him, highest rate of injuries or KIA of any Special Unit…’’

‘‘I know’’ Laswell nodded patiently, opening the building door and waiting for Jester to step inside before following them. ‘‘But I have nothing useful to shut down whatever shady shit he’s doing yet’’

‘‘So you don’t really know if he’s doing anything’’ Jester barked a bitter laugh, shaking their head. ‘‘Maybe he’s just a bastard. I’m sure you know plenty’’ They snickered. Men like Rico were a dime a dozen. Jester diverted their gaze, mentally cataloging the possible weak points they could exploit. This would be a dull job. Jester kicked another pebble, they were bored. They’d prefer to be out and about, getting their nose in whatever the higher-ups were keeping locked away from view. Their fingers almost itched.

‘‘90% of his operators were booted from other units for questionable behavior, going from theft, gambling, and who knows what to less serious things as insubordination, bullying, brawls, or being absent without permission’’ Laswell stopped to allow a couple of local civilian personnel to pass before continuing up the stairs.

‘‘If he commands such a delightful collection of criminals, why are you interested in employing one of them?’’ Jester titled their head, they’d never been able to get a good read on Laswell.

‘‘Sergeant Christine Vega is not a criminal, nor is any of her squad. They’re the black sheep of the unit’’ Laswell checked her watch and stopped at the start of a hallway. Clearly, she didn’t want anyone else to listen to what she had to say. ‘‘She is here because she beat a fellow Sergeant in Gibraltar for trying to assault a Corporal in the common showers. I’ve worked with her on several missions to date. She is a good soldier’’

‘‘I see..’’ Jester huffed again, pretending to be uninterested, but that particular piece of information was valuable. ‘‘Is that Vega in your pocket then?’’

‘‘We’re friends’’ Laswell answered weakly, heading down the hallway, and Jester’s brows raised with interest. Oh, that was rich.

‘‘Friends friends or friends as in you are using her pretending to be friendly?’’

Laswell didn’t answer, checking the names on the doors, and Jester smiled triumphantly. That was also a valuable piece of information. Still musing about it, they observed while their handler knocked once on a door and opened it without waiting for an answer. The name of the door was Captain William Rico.

‘‘For the love of God, Laswell, I can’t get rid of you, can I?’’ Captain Rico glared at the CIA Station Chief while rising to his feet, stuffing the papers he had been reading in one of the drawers of his desk. ‘‘I told you last fucking time I don’t want you meddling with my unit’’

‘‘I’ve told you already that I care little about what you want, Rico’’ Laswell kept her tone calm, like always, but the slight frown betrayed her apparent poise. ‘‘I wouldn’t be here dealing with you if you had done as you were told a month ago’’

Jester took the opportunity to take a look at the Captain, who they only knew on paper.

Captain William Rico was not a very tall man, but what he lacked in height he compensated with a broad muscular build. On his left forearm he had a tattoo of a skull impaled on a spear, with fire shooting out the empty sockets.

‘‘I will send out my soldiers whenever and wherever I decide it’s appropriate and…’’ He stopped talking when Jester came into his line of sight, and he snorted. ‘‘Are you traveling with a circus now, Laswell?’’

‘‘Clever words, thou yeasty beetle-headed clotpole” Jester spat back, voice flat and eyes unmoving.

Rico’s eyes narrowed dangerously as his jaw clenched, and Laswell hurriedly looked at Jester and whispered.

‘‘Go and get busy with something while I speak with him’’

Jester huffed and rolled their eyes. Giving a dramatic bow before moving.

‘‘Don’t let the fiend bite, he looks like he has rabies’’ They jeered. Leaving the office with a prep in their step, ignoring the swear words that came from behind, which was promptly cut off by the slam of the door closing.

Half an hour later Jester had learned that the mess hall food was shit, who was running the contraband gig and where they got their supplies from, that a couple of local male nurses at the infirmary were distributing opioids at very low prices, where the airport manager liked to hide to nap after lunch and, most importantly, the schedule of the squads that were out and about in different recon missions in the area.

Sergeant Vega’s Phoenix Squad, who had been sent nearly a week ago to the mountains, was due to arrive earlier that very same day, but they were late.

Bored out of their mind, Jester continued wandering around the airport, vaguely interested in the commotion at the main entrance of the airport, where a couple of dusty light armored Husky had just arrived. The Tactical Support Vehicles were soon swarmed by support personnel to take care of them as the soldiers that were inside climbed down.

Maybe if they wandered closer…

‘‘Oi, weirdo, who let the clowns out?’’

Well, it was fun while it lasted. Jester rolled their eyes and barely turned their head to watch a small group of low ranking soldiers that were sheltering themselves from the heat by lying around under the shade provided by one of the hangar’s doors. Some were playing cards, and they were obviously off duty, bored, or both.

Seeing that their comment had no response, the boldest of them, a tall, lanky man with short hair and the insignia of Corporal on his sleeve, stood up with a grin.

‘‘Wasn’t aware the circus was in town, boys’’ Encouraged by the chorus of laughter behind him, he strolled towards Jester, followed by a couple of his mates. The rest were fine staying where they were, enjoying the spectacle. ‘‘What are you supposed to be dressed as, weirdo?’’

Jester looked the men up and down and rolled their eyes once more, before forcing their face into a ‘customer support smile’.

“Oh? I’m here for the awards ceremony’’ Jester answered in a sing-song tone.

“The what?”

“I’m here to give out awards” Jester continued, slapping their hands together over their chest. Fake smile steady and bright. A few soldiers exchanged looks of uncertainty.

“Yea right..” The leader of the group muttered, trying to get back control of the conversation.

“I actually have an award for you, sir~” Their unwavering smile starting to become eerie.

“You do?” The corporal answered, brows furrowed.

“Why yes. The committee has never seen anyone live up to the title quite like you!” Jester reached behind their back, fiddling with their fingers for a moment before bringing forth a closed hand.

“May I bestow upon you the title of-” Jester opened their hand, it’s empty, instead turning it around to give a middle finger to the soldier. Expression becoming lax and voice falling flat. “- peaking in highschool” finishing of their performance with their other hand doing enthusiastic ‘jazz hands’.

The soldiers stood silent for a moment before there was a collective ‘ooohhhh’ that came from the group of soldiers still sheltering under the shade. Laughter soon erupted from them. The Corporal’s face threatened to turn a shade of red as he grimaced.

‘‘The fuck did you just say??’’

Jester stepped back, raising their hands in a conciliatory gesture.

‘‘I don’t want problems. How about we both forget this and I just take my leave?’’

‘‘No fucking way, I’m going to fuck you up’’ The Corporal reached out, with the intention of grabbing the hoodie’s collar, but froze mid-movement, looking at something behind Jester.

‘‘Is there a problem here?’’

Still with their hands up, Jester turned slowly to find a woman a couple of steps behind, with a FN Scar-H MK17 resting on her shoulder. Dressed head to toe in tactical gear that was covered in dust and dirt, she was slightly shorter than Jester, but was considerably thicker and more muscular. Her blonde hair was kept in an informal ponytail under the helmet, and her eyes were unreadable due to the sunglasses she was wearing.

Although her tone was completely calm and casual, Jester noticed that she looked utterly exhausted. Given how dirty her gear was, she must have been out on some kind of assignment until not long ago.

‘‘No, ma’am’’ The Corporal stepped back a bit, and the woman sighed tiredly.

‘‘Stand at attention when speaking to a superior officer’’ Her tone was still completely calm, even soft, but the soldiers hurried to get on their feet and stand at attention, muttering sorrys and yes ma’ams. ‘‘I’ll ask again, is there a problem here?’’

‘‘No, Sergeant’’ The Corporal’s eyes were staring at the horizon, refusing to look at the woman in front of him. ‘‘We were just having a bit of fun banter with the w… with this person here’’

The woman’s covered gaze turned to Jester. All her movements spoke about how tired she must have felt, but she was still standing straight as an arrow.

‘‘Were you having fun?’’

‘‘Not really’’ Jester muttered, lowering their hands slowly. The Sergeant nodded, and turned her head towards the soldiers.

‘‘You’re antagonizing a civilian. There’s no need for me to tell you how morally wrong that is, or how many regulations you’re breaking. You have sixty seconds to disappear from my sight before I decide I’m not too tired to supervise a training drill at the assault course’’

‘‘Yes, ma’am. Sorry, ma’am’’ The soldiers rushed to gather their things and disappear, but stopped in their tracks when she spoke again.

‘‘It’s not me you have to apologize to’’ When the soldiers looked at each other, uncomfortable and unsure of what to do, she calmly checked her watch. "Thirty-five seconds"

"We're… sorry" The soldiers looked at Jester, some of them looking truly remorseful, the rest looked crossed, but it was clear none of them wanted to deal with the Sergeant or the assault course in that heat.

Jester looked back at them, crossing their arms with a smug look, enjoying the tiny bit of power that had landed on their lap.

"Twenty seconds" The Sergeant was still staring at them, checking her watch from time to time, but Jester could have sworn the corner of her lips were a bit more upwards than before.

"Fiiine… Apology accepted" Jester shrugged at last, and with a nod from the woman next to them, the soldiers promptly left in a rush.

The Sergeant observed them, and then turned towards Jester.

"You alright then?"

"Yeah" Jester shrugged, their hands returning to the pockets of the cargo trousers. "Thanks for that,” They added with a strained smile. “Guess I should go back to my boss"

"That would be best" The Sergeant nodded, looking away to the right, where a small group of equally dirty and tired soldiers were waiting. "I'd advise you to wear the visitor badge more visible next time"

"The color doesn't go well with my tie" Jester sighed, and the Sergeant chuckled tiredly.

"Riot! Are you coming?" One of the people waiting called out, and the Sergeant raised a thumbs-up towards them before facing Jester again.

"Take care"

Jester watched her leave to reunite with her mates, but didn't have much time to think before their phone started vibrating.

With an exacerbated sigh they read Laswell's text message, ordering them to meet her at the mess hall, and started their way there, with no rush at all.

By the moment they got there, Kate Laswell was already waiting at the door, looking angry. But when Jester approached her, she forced herself to smile.

"Would you like a cup of coffee? I sent word for Sergeant Vega to meet us here"

"You look like you'd prefer poison"

"Oh, I do, but to put it in Rico's canteen" Laswell chuckled, but Jester wasn't really sure how much of a joke her comment was. Murder wasn't beyond the scope of Laswell's abilities.

Once both of them were sitting more or less comfortable in a secluded table, Jester decided to casually pry for more.

"So, what happened with Rico?"

"He's an insufferable piece of shit" Laswell rolled her eyes, warming her hands on the hot cup of coffee in front of her in spite of the horrible heat inside the room and the whole country. "He received the paperwork to release Vega temporally under my command, and instead of informing her and allowing her to rest, sent her squad out to the mountains to speak with the villages"

"Have you used her before?" Jester inspected the cup in front of them before carefully taking a sip. The coffee was surprisingly good.

"She's Wolf-7" Laswell nodded, looking around. The mess hall was almost empty at that hour, with only a handful of officers sitting together on the other side of the room.

"She's not good enough to be number one?" Jester stared at Laswell, seemingly unimpressed. It was true that they knew of the existence of the Wolves. More than once they had had to gather specific intel for one or another, but always passed it to Laswell, never contacting the operators directly.

"The numbers were assigned in the order they were recruited for the first team. From then on, in group or alone, they use that moniker" Laswell looked at the door again, and smiled more sincerely. Her shoulders relaxed and the wrinkles in the corners of her eyes were more noticeable, and Jester mentally archived the detail that she looked sincere. Genuinely glad as she rose to her feet. "Hi, Christine"

"Hi, Kate"

The same calm, soft voice. Jester raised their eyes and observed in silence while the two women shook hands, and then with an awkward laugh shared a brief hug.

"I'm filthy, Kate"

"I can smell that" Laswell smiled, sitting down again. "Jester, this is…"

"Riot" Jester shrugged when Laswell looked at her with curiosity. "Came across her a bit ago"

Sergeant Christine 'Riot' Vega sat down, looking exhausted, but she had got rid of most of her gear, which allowed Jester to study her better.

Now she was wearing just a black short sleeved t-shirt and her dusty camo cargo pants with the holster strapped to her thigh. Her sunglasses were hanging from her t-shirt's collar, and her blue-gray eyes looked tired, with dark circles under them due to stress and lack of sleep. Her pale skin looked sunburnt in some places.

"Staying out of trouble, I hope" Riot smiled at Jester, who snorted and sipped their coffee.

"Trouble? What have you…" Laswell started to say, but stopped talking when one of the local boys working at the mess hall approached their table with a cup and a teapot.

"Chai, Sergeant Vega?"

"Lutfan (Please)" Riot smiled, accepting the cup and waiting until the boy filled it with a fragrant orange liquid. "Tashakur (Thank you)"

"You've been here for a month and a half and you speak Dari already?" Laswell laughed quietly, shaking her head. Vega sipped a bit of the fragrant tea before answering.

"Only a couple of words and greetings. We are in their country, it's good manners to at least learn how to say please and thank you"

"I thought you hated tea" The CIA Station Chief commented, sipping her coffee.

"I hate British tea" Riot shrugged, with a tired smile. "This one is nice. And it's good manners to accept it when they offer it to you in this country"

"And I'm forgetting mine" Laswell smiled back, and gestured at her 'assistant'. "This is Loge Eirdotter. Likes to be called Jester. Loge, this is Sergeant Christine Vega, callsign Riot"

"A pleasure," Vega smiled. Jester nodded, before crossing their arms and slouching back in the chair. Vega let out a half hearted chuckle, pleased she read the strange-clad ‘civilian’ right by not offering her hand in case they felt uncomfortable. She then looked back at Laswell. "I doubt you've come all the way to Kandahar to chat with me about the weather, so out with it"

"I need you"

Riot sighed deeply, crossing her arms on the table and then resting her head on them.

"Where am i going?"

"Kastovia"

Jester looked at one and another while drinking their coffee, interested in both the details and their body language.

"When?" Riot's voice sounded muffled, weaker, with her face still buried in her crossed arms.

"That's the best part" Laswell grunted, leaving the cup on the table. "The operation was supposed to start three days ago. We're behind schedule"

"I haven't slept in thirty-six hours…" Vega muttered, raising her head again and rubbing her eyes with a deep sigh. "Let me guess, you submitted the paperwork and Rico cleaned his ass with it"

"He had the nerve to say that he received it after you had already left." Laswell was visibly angry just thinking about it, and Riot just grinned.

"So he doesn't know how to use the radio…" She laughed softly, leaning back in the chair to rest her back, crossing her arms over her chest. "And why is Jester here?"

"Pretending to be my assistant" Laswell's face relaxed again in a smile, and Jester rolled their eyes with a loud snort. "They're very good at gathering information…"

"I'm here against my will" Jester blurted out, a cheery smile across their face, and Laswell sighed.

"... and at expressing their opinions. They happened to be with me by chance when I decided to fly here"

"Because you needed backup to kidnap me?" Riot laughed, drinking the rest of her tea. "Anything to leave this dustbin behind… Am I alone or in a group?"

"I'll tell you the details later on the plane" Laswell checked her watch, and then her mobile phone. "I'm just waiting for the tank to be refilled"

"Can I shower first?" Vega asked tiredly. "I guess a couple of hours to get some sleep is out of the question"

"You have time to shower and get your things, but nothing else. I want to get out of here before Rico finds something else to be a dick about. You can sleep on the plane"

"Can't sleep on something that is moving" Riot muttered, standing up to leave. "Give me an hour. I'll see you on the tarmac"

Jester watched her leave, and then turned their head to look at Laswell, who was still observing her 'friend'.

"I was with you 'by chance'? Liar, liar, pants on fire. You dragged me here~"

"Not now, Loge" Laswell sighed, tapping with her fingertips on the table.

"You'd better not pretend me to go to Kastovia"

"You're not going to Kastovia. You'll be with me in Armenia, working your magic to find out intel that could help"

"Help with what?" Jester narrowed their eyes, a mischievous glint shining in the corner. Laswell sighed and shook her head.

"I'll tell both of you at the same time"

Fantastic. Simply fantastic. The week could not get any better.

#cod oc #cod original character #cod ocs #call of duty oc #call of duty original character #cod fanfic #call of duty fanfic #cod fic #cod fanfiction #call of duty fanfiction #call of duty fic #riot vega #call of duty #call of duty modern warfare #call of duty modern warfare 2 #cod mw2 #christine riot vega

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digitaldetoxworld · 6 months ago

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Anil Ambani: Navigating Success and Challenges in India's Business Arena biography and career achievements

Anil Ambani biography and career achievements is an Indian businessman and a distinguished determine in the u . S .'s company global. Born on June 4, 1959, he is the more youthful brother of Mukesh Ambani, the chairman and biggest shareholder of Reliance Industries. Anil Ambani is known for his role inside the Reliance Group, a conglomerate that spans a couple of sectors along with telecommunications, electricity, infrastructure, and monetary services. His adventure inside the commercial enterprise global is marked by using both sizable achievements and extraordinary challenges.

Early Life and Education

Impact of Anil Ambani’s leadership on Reliance Jio turned into born into a own family with a robust business background. His father, Dhirubhai Ambani, based Reliance Industries in 1966, which might develop to come to be certainly one of India's largest conglomerates. Anil Ambani pursued his education at Mumbai's well-known Kishinchand Chellaram College, where he earned his degree in Commerce. He then went on to study at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he acquired an MBA.

Career Beginnings and the Formation of Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group

Anil Ambani role in transforming Indian telecommunications sector"started out his career operating in the own family enterprise, studying the intricacies of dealing with a big business enterprise. In 2002, following the death of Dhirubhai Ambani, the Reliance Group turned into divided among Anil and Mukesh Ambani. Anil Ambani obtained manage of the newly fashioned Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG), which turned into hooked up to handle a number of industries.

Under Anil's management, ADAG improved rapidly into numerous sectors. The institution varied into telecommunications, with the release of Reliance Infocomm (now Reliance Jio). This mission revolutionized the Indian telecom region with its aggressive pricing and vast network coverage. It is vision helped position Reliance Jio as one of the leading telecommunications groups in India, gambling a vital function in making records services greater affordable and on hand to tens of millions of Indians.

Expansion into Power and Infrastructure

In addition to telecommunications, focused on strength technology and infrastructure improvement. Reliance Power turned into hooked up to faucet into the growing energy needs of India. The business enterprise undertook numerous ambitious projects, which include the improvement of coal-based electricity flowers and different power resources. Reliance Infrastructure, another arm of ADAG, centered on infrastructure development, inclusive of roads, airports, and metro structures.

These ventures have been part of Anil Ambani’s broader imaginative and prescient of contributing to India’s monetary increase by means of addressing critical infrastructure and electricity needs. His strategy concerned making an investment in big-scale tasks and leveraging the organization’s economic energy to power improvement throughout various sectors.

Financial Challenges and Restructuring

Despite the preliminary achievement, Anil Ambani and the ADAG confronted good sized economic challenges in the later years. The organization’s formidable growth brought about high ranges of debt, and international economic downturns impacted its operations. The corporation's financial troubles have been compounded via growing hobby quotes and economic slowdowns.

By the mid-2010s, ADAG became grappling with widespread debt and financial stress. This situation led to a sequence of restructuring efforts, along with asset income and attempts to renegotiate debt phrases. The institution struggled to maintain its previous boom trajectory, and several of its projects confronted delays and value overruns.

They monetary difficulties have been in addition exacerbated by using criminal and regulatory demanding situations. The organization turned into involved in diverse legal battles, which include issues related to company governance and regulatory compliance. These challenges affected the overall belief of ADAG and its monetary balance.

Legacy and Impact

Despite the economic problems, Anil Ambani’s contributions to India's business landscape remain noteworthy. His position in transforming the telecommunications area with Reliance Jio is a massive success. The creation of lower priced information offerings has had a profound impact on India's virtual economy, contributing to accelerated internet penetration and digital inclusion.

In the infrastructure quarter, ADAG’s investments in roads, electricity, and metro systems have contributed to the improvement of crucial infrastructure in India. These tasks have had a long-lasting effect on city development and financial boom in diverse areas.

It philanthropic efforts are also really worth mentioning. The Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Foundation, hooked up via the Ambani family, has been concerned in diverse charitable sports, which include education, healthcare, and catastrophe comfort. The foundation’s initiatives purpose to cope with social problems and support underprivileged groups.

Recent Developments and Future Outlook

In current years, Anil Ambani and the ADAG have endured to awareness on restructuring and realigning their commercial enterprise operations. The organization has sought to streamline its portfolio, divesting from non-center assets and focusing on key areas of increase. Efforts to reduce debt and enhance monetary balance continue to be a concern.

Financial challenges faced by Anil Ambani’s Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group The broader monetary and enterprise surroundings in India, such as authorities rules and marketplace traits, will play a vital function in shaping the future of ventures. As the Indian financial system continues to conform, opportunities and demanding situations will emerge, influencing the strategic path of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group.

#Financial challenges faced by Anil Ambani’s Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group #Anil Ambani biography and career achievements #Impact of Anil Ambani’s leadership on Reliance Jio #Anil Ambani role in transforming Indian telecommunications

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realnoira · 9 months ago

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Regarding New York City.

Times square is an alternate dystopian reality, you can’t tell me otherwise. Ads everywhere they’re almost popping up inside your brain, you’re suffocated with buildings, breathing is difficult because the streets smell atrocious. Somehow there is very strange funky steam coming at you from all directions, from the four kebab carts grilling meats behind you, the weed smoker next to you, the ground releasing hot stinky steam (subway-related(?)) from below you, and a million cars releasing straight carbon dioxide into your lungs in front of you. How the fuck is this glamorous? I felt disgusting the entire time (even though I looked cute af). But it was all worth it for Hamilton.. still mind-blown by it. These broadway shows, and particularly this one, take so much talent and hard work to perfect to this level. How are the actors/performers not famous?? The guy playing Hamilton only had 9K followers on instagram.. WHAT. I genuinely hope they all become millionaires. They can sing, rap, dance and act LIVE. Your faves probably can’t do any (sorry but be for real). Another thing I liked about NYC is that everything is available everywhere any time (yes I was just complaining about ads everywhere and I fucking hate capitalism but it’s nice sometimes). Bagels were gigantic and good. One bagel place had a 4.9 rating in google maps with +3000 votes lol WHAT. Also, the Moynihan train station is incredible wtf? How is a train station cleaner and more organized than an airport.. I loved it so much I wanted to just stay there. But at the end of the day, I’ll take Boston over NYC. I mean, Boston is essentially the same but more tame with big brains and green plains that can magically heal your pains… oh what’s happenin’? Is this the influence of Hamilton? what are these rhymes I’m channelin’???? What in the world are these ramblings?? Are we done with this post or are we scrambling? What community are you tapping in????? Please post now and STOP this gambling!!! Maybe find another platform to keep yapping in…..

#nyc #New York #Hamilton

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cinema-tv-etc · 1 year ago

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Mutt 2023

Fena, a young trans guy bustling through life in New York City, is afflicted with an incessantly challenging day that resurrects ghosts from his past. Laundromats, subway turnstiles, and airport transfers are the hectic background to this emotional drama that overlaps past, present, and future. Settling the disharmony of transitional upheaval in relationships familial, romantic, and platonic is Fena2s task at hand, and his resulting juggling act is equal parts skillful, fumbling, and honest. In negotiating his obliqueness, the poignant moments he finds between himself and others as the distance between them closes are warm, true, and touching

Q&A with MUTT Filmmaker Vuk Lungulov-Klotz and Stars Lío Mehiel, Cole Doman & MiMi Ryder

Chilean and Serbian immigrants, he was raised between Chile, the US, and Serbia. As a transgender storyteller, he hopes to expand queer narratives. His work focuses on intimate moments we often miss if we're not looking. Mutt is his debut feature film. With his feature film script, MUTT, he is an alum of the Sundance Institute Labs, the Inside Out Financing Forum, and was a top five finalist for the Tribeca / AT&T Untold Stories Grant. His award winning trans-themed short film, "Still Liam," played at festivals internationally and earned the attention of celebrated queer filmmakers Ira Sachs and Silas Howard, who have both become mentors. Vuk is also an alum of the Ryan Murphy HALF Initiative Program, where he completed a mentorship under director Janet Mock on the FX series POSE. He lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Lío Mehiel is a Puerto Rican and Greek artist, actor, and filmmaker. Their work spans film, television, multimedia installation, theater, and events. They are fascinated by the inherent contradiction of the trans experience — one deeply rooted in the body while also transcending beyond the body. Lío began their career as a professional salsa dancer and child actor on Broadway. They can now be seen on shows like WeCrashed (Apple+) and Tales of the City (Netflix). MUTT is their feature film debut. As a filmmaker, Lío produced Chaperone, a queer short film which premiered at Sundance 2022. They wrote, directed, produced, and starred in Disforia, a short film which premiered at Outfest Film Festival in 2018. They are now stuck inside of a psychomagic act with this story as they write the feature script version and confront their own medical transition. As an installation artist, their immersive piece Arcade Amerikana was included in the list of 10 Best Immersive Shows in NYC by Time Out and GOTHAMIST. Lío is currently the producer and creative director of Angels, a developing collection of stone sculptures of transgender humans. The works were first featured as part of a pop-up installation at Outfest LA in 2022, and will be debuted in full at SIZED Gallery LA in 2023. Lío is a co-founder of Voyeur Productions with Russell Kahn and Dulcinee DeGuere. They attended Northwestern University, and are an alumni of the Emerge NYC residency program for artists and activists. Photo credit: Jordan Rossi

Cole Doman is a trained stage and film actor living in Brooklyn, NY. During his time in Chicago, he studied at the School at Steppenwolf under Amy Morton, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Michael Patrick Thornton, and more. Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune named Cole among the "Hot New Faces of Chicago Theater" in 2016. He made his film debut as the titular role in the critically acclaimed HENRY GAMBLE'S BIRTHDAY PARTY directed by Stephen Cone. He has profiles with IndieWire, Brooklyn Magazine, OUT, Milk.xyz, and was featured as one of "Best Breakout Performances of 2016" by The Film Stage. He can also be seen in Alan Ball's UNCLE FRANK (Sundance 2020, Amazon Studios) as young Frank Bledsoe played by Paul Bettany. On television he has appeared in Let the Right One In, Gossip Girl, Modern Family, Law & Order: SVU, Chicago PD, Equal, and Shameless. He developed & stars in the short film Starfuckers (MUBI) directed by Antonio Marziale which was presented in competition at Sundance Film Festival, Berlinale, and Telluride Film Festival. Other forthcoming films include: Matt Fifer’s sophomore feature TREATMENT for AMC’s Shudder and Zia Anger’s debut feature MY FIRST FILM for MUBI. Mostrecently, he starred in the world premiere of Your Own Personal Exegesis by Julia May Jonas at Lincoln Center Theatre, directed by Annie Tippe, for which his performance was lauded by The New York Times and even cartooned by The New Yorker.

#Mutt 2023

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hystericalfallenstars · 2 years ago

Text

my mom used to say that she should have been a therapist. cause she said she was good at analyzing human psyche. she always regarded herself as this amazing person, when in reality, she was always kind to people when she knew she’d get something in return.

my mom used to say that she would have been a good therapist. i remember she cried a few times suddenly, voice full of anger and spite, cursing his name and saying she had plans to make him face what he deserved. and i believed her. she started to analyze his behavior and felt pain for not being aware, to protect us. and it felt like a weight was uplifted in my chest bc i felt she was on our side for once. she always wondered why i never told her earlier. but when i was younger, i would always cry easily. and instead of comforting me, she often said she would give me a reason to cry. it never felt like a safe space around her. how could i ever tell her before?

my mom used to say that she should have been a therapist. but when she was already well aware of the trauma i went through, and i had stayed up in my room without eating for days, due to nightmares and flashbacks, she was downstairs playing gambling games with the neighbors. one time, she had gotten so tired of me and said, “you should just get over it and suck it up” instead of hugging me and showing me care. and that’s when i felt most at fault. bc if i was able to, i wouldn’t be the way that i am. if i could just throw my trauma away inside a box and burn it, i would. i want to be a fully functioning human too. it’s not like i wished to be how i turned out.

my mom used to say she should have been a therapist. but now, she has chosen to stay with him and that broke my heart. she even picked him up at the airport. and i can’t help but feel so heartbroken. my heart feels heavy quite often. my apt has been a mess for months and sometimes i don’t eat well enough. but i know i will be okay. i have been shown love and patience. i won't be like my father nor mother cause i am wrapped around the love and safety my siblings provided me. i will get better. slowly, but surely. these things definitely take time. i'll be alright.

#parents man… the complexity of it all #siblinghood is truly the strongest bond i love them #thoughts #depression #tw neglect #trauma #siblinghood #siblings #personal #gentle reminder

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mint-moon25 · 18 days ago

Video

youtube

10 WAYS TO ADD CHARACTER + CHARM TO YOUR NEW HOME | DIY IDEAS

DEAR - KOREAN - GIRLS,

LONDON - BLACKJACK - APP

TRUST - WITH - YOUR - LIFE

YOUTUBER - BABES - TRAVELING

IN - LAS VEGAS - CHOOSE - A

PERSON

BIBLE - ‘GOD - LOVES - A - CHEERFUL

GIVER’ - OBEY - BABES - ( FILIPINA )

SAYS - ‘THE - LOO’ - SHOWS RESTROOM

OF - LAS VEGAS - HOTELS

WHO - IS - THIS - BABE?

A - FILIPINA

ONLY - PINAY - WOULD - SAY

‘THE - LOO’ - BRITISH - ‘LOO’

JUST - ADDED - 2- MY - LAPTOP

FREE - GOOGLE - TRANSLATE

BOOKMARK BAR - ON - TOP

LIKE - TASKBAR - BOTTOM 2

BE - CAREFUL - ABOUT - FREE

GOOGLE - TRANSLATE

NOT - BERLITZ

BUT - EACH - SECTION

CLICK - ICON - 4 - VOICE - SPEAKING

FRENCH - OR - ENGLISH - WORD

LONDON - BLACKJACK

REMEMBER

EACH - DAY - THEY - HAVE - $$$$ - LIMIT

THEY - MUST - DO - PROGRAMMING

LIKE - IT - WILL - SAY

THEY - GOT - 21 - TO - YOUR - 20

SO - AS - IT - GOES - 2 - STORE

$5,000 - FREE - MUST - WATCH

ADS - NOT - BAD - THEY - ARE

THEN - YOU’RE - INCREASED

MY - FAVORITE - $1,500

MY - EXPERIENCE

TAX - FREE - ROYAL - MONACO

THEIR - CITIZENS - GET - FREE

CABLE - PER - HOUSEHOLD

TAX - FREE - GAMBLING WINS

I - PLAY - BLACKJACK - 21

THERE - WON - A - LOT WITH

PERSON - $5,000

2 DAYS - HAVE - ALWAYS LOST

1ST - GAME - WITH - LONDON

BLACKJACK

HDG - BANKS

100% - WE - WILL - REFUND YOU

GAMBLING - LOSS

YOU - LOST - $1 MILLION

WE - REFUND - YOU - $500 BILLION

SO - NOT - 2 - WORRY

REFUNDED - IN - SECONDS

NO - HUMAN - CONTACT - 2

SO - B 4 - ALWAYS - WON - FIRST AND

2ND - WON - $12,000 - LESS - THAN

3 MIN

YOU - ASKED - HOW - DO - I - MAKE $$$

JUST - WON - $3,000

PLACE - YOUR - BETS

$1,500 - MY - FAVORITE

GOT - ( 11 ) - CLICK - DOUBLE

JUST - HAPPENED

AFTER - $5,000 - FREE - AFTER - WATCHING

ADS - AGAIN - WON - 1ST - AND - 2ND CARDS

ISSUED - HOW - I - GET - $12,000 - IN - 3 MIN

DEAR - KOREAN - GIRLS,

WELCOME

TONGUES - 500 BILLION - WON - TAX - PAID

BY - APP - NO - PEOPLE - CONTACT

SING - TONGUES - 500 BILLION - WON

GET - YOUR - CARDS

LOTTE - DEPT - STORES

WE - WILL - HAVE - KIOSKS - EVERYWHERE

NON-FLAMMABLE - CARDS

WHILE - STAYING - AT - LOTTE - HOTELS

FREE - WHITE - GLOVES - DELIVERY

JEWELRY - PIN

REAL - DIAMONDS - SAPPHIRES

SPECIAL - GOES - THROUGH - AIRPORTS

ALARMS - WORLD - KOREA - AND - USA 2

THAT - SPECIAL - JEWELRY - PIN

2 MALES

2 FEMALES

YOU - KNOW - THEIR - PHOTOS - B 4

MEETING - THEM

THEIR - HEIGHT

THEIR - AGE

THEIR - BIRTHDAY

EXACTLY - ME

AFTER - PLASTIC - SURGERY - COLOR - PHOTO

PHOTOGENIC - TOKYO - JAPAN - $100 BILLION

PAID - IN - FULL - TOKYO - MOM - MEDICAL

INSURANCE - PREGNANCY - SURGERIES

PLASTIC - SURGERY - CANCERS - MORE

FAKE - EYES - BLUE

FAKE - HEART

L SIDE - OPEN - PLASTIC - REMOVED

REPLACED - MORE - FLEXIBLE - ME

RHYTHMIC - GYMNASTICS - BALL

AND - HOOP - FIRST - LEARNT - 2

THAT - FLEXIBLE

ABLE - 2 - DO - WHAT - I - DID - AS

CHILD - NO - TRAINING

BENDING - BACKWARDS

MY - HANDS - TOUCHING MARBLE

WILL - B - ABLE - 2 - DO - THAT AGAIN

EXAMPLE - ME

NAME - CAILEY JAMES

AGE - 60

HGT - 5′9 FT

(LASER - TECHNOLOGY)

APRIL - ARIES

WESTERN - ASTROLOGY

SPECIAL - NAVY - COMMANDER

DELIVERING - IN - MAINLAND

CHINA - TAX FREE - HONG KONG

ISLAND

NAME - CAILEY JAMES

FAMILY - JAMES

ZODIAC - CHINESE - YEAR - OF

WOOD DRAGON - 1964 - NIGHT

BIRTHTIME - 10P PHT

(PHILIPPINES)

THAT - IS - ADDITION - IN - CHINA

AND - HONG KONG ISLAND - YES

SO - INSTEAD - AS - WIVES

FLIRTING - WITH - HUBBY

KISSES - MAKING - LOVE 2

THEY - GET - MONEY

THAT - KOREAN - GIRLS - IS - NOT

HOLY - AS - GOD - IS - HOLY

OUR - HEAVENLY - FATHER

VIRGIN - MALE - GOD

JESUS - OUR - LORD

JESUS - VIRGIN - MALE - SPIRIT AND

HALF - HUMAN - MOTHER - IS MARY

DEPARTED - AT AGE 33 - ISRAEL

PAW PAW - BRUCE LEE - AGE 32

GOING - BACK - 2 - BRITISH - LOO

(RESTROOM)

DID - YOU - KNOW - GREAT - BRITIAN

LAST - CENTURY

CHAMBER - FEMALE - MAIDS

3RD - FLOOR

THERE - WERE - NO - TOILETS INSIDE

HOUSES - SMALL - WOOD - FRAMED

OUTHOUSE - THEIR - TOILETS - BUT

5 DEGREES

25 MPH - WINDS

ENGLAND - AND - USA

CERAMIC - WHERE - YOU - PUT - TODAY

LIGHT - HAWAIIAN - PUNCH

WITH - BOWL - UNDER - THEIR - BEDS

THEIR - WEE - WEE - LOCATION

1600s - THE - 17TH - CENTURY

WORLD - FIRST - WORE - UNDERWEAR

AS - FEMALES - THEY - WERE - MORE

IMMORAL - AS - HUMANS

THOSE - NOT

BIG - HOOP - CLOTHES

USA - SOUTHERN - BELLS

MEN - THROUGHOUT - THE - AGES

TOUCHED - BUTTOCKS

THE - HUGE - SKIRT - PLASTIC HOOP

INSIDE - 2 - STOP - MEN - FATHERS

BROTHERS - FR - TOUCHING - BUTT

THEN - THEY - WEE WEE - WHILE

STANDING - AS - EUROPEAND AND

AMERICANS - THEY - DIDN’T WEAR

PANTY - GOING - BACK - AND FORTH

IN - TIME - AMERICANS - LOOKED TO

EUROPE - 4 - FASHION - ETIQUETTE

BUT - 3RD - FLOOR - 2ND - FLOOR

CHAMBER - MAIDS - FR - WINDOW

THREW - THE - WEE WEE - FR YES

WINDOWS - SO - FRONT - OF - THE

HOUSE - HAD - WEE WEE - THERE

THEN - THE - BUTLER

MALE - FLOATER - USED - WATER

2 - REMOVED - THAT - WEE - WEE

SOAP - AND - WATER - NEXT

THEN - WATER - NEXT THUS

SOLVED - LAZY - CHAMBER MAIDS

DISCOURAGED - IN - ENGLAND

TRESPASSERS - IN THE FRONT

ENGLAND

REPOSSESSION - PAPER - IS

NAILED - BY - LAW - 2 FRONT

OF - DOOR - PUBLIC - ANNOUNCED

PAYER - HAVE - NOT - BEEN PAYING

‘MARY POPPINS - RETURNS’

AS - WIDOW - HE - DEPENDED - ON

HIS - WIFE - 4 - PAYING - HOUSEHOLD

BILLS - WHEN - SHE - DIED - DESPAIR

HE - DIDN’T - PAY - 3 MONTHS DIDNT’

KNOW - HOW - OR - 2 - WHO

BANK - OWNER

BANK - REPOSSESSION - BECAUSE

VALUABLE - ADDRESS - FRONT - OF

PARK - BUT - COO COO - FORMER

NAVAL - OFFICER - & - ASSISTANT

6P - BLEW - CANNON - SO - THEIR

TOWNHOUSES - SHOOK - FURNITURE

WENT - DIFFERENT - PLACES

THE NAVAL - COO COO - DECREASED

VALUE - OF - REAL - ESTATE - THERE 2

FAMILY - PREPARING - 2 - LEAVE

FOREVER - HIGH - RENT - HIGH

LEASES - HIGH - EVERTHING

TODAY - BRITISH - POUNDS

BABE - TRAVELING

‘THE - LOO’

"Watch out for the water!"

There are several theories about the origin of this strange word for the toilet that we use in Britain. The most commonly cited reason for our use of the word loo is that it comes from the cry of "gardyloo!". This, in turn, comes from the French term "regardez l’eau", which translates literally as "watch out for the water". Servants would have shouted this in medieval times when they were emptying chamber pots into the street. This was frequently done from the upstairs windows of buildings, so it was certainly very good advice.

However, this explanation may be convenient but it is not necessarily true. It seems that the word loo only came to be commonly used long after the expression "gardyloo" had become obsolete.

GOOGLE - TRANSLATE

TODAY - ‘LOOK - AT - THE - WATER’

INCORRECT - ITS - ‘WATCH - OUT - FOR - THE - WATER’

WARNING - ‘WATCH - OUT’

REASON - ‘THAT - IS - NOT - WATER - BUT - WEE - WEE’

FRENCH - ‘REGARDEZ - L’EAU’

BEFORE - YOUTUBE - HOW - 2 - SPEAK - FRENCH - OR

SPANISH - OR - ITALIAN

SAID - SO - FAST

THAT’s - WRONG

INTIMIDATING - LET’s - YOU - GIVE - UP

PHILIPPINES - KOREAN - GIRLS - CHOOSE - 2 - LEARN

ENGLISH - WHY - CHEAPER - AND - SLOW - 2 - LEARN

SLOW - ENGLISH - OVER - AND - OVER - AND - OVER

WELL - FOUND - HOW - 2 - SPEAK - FRENCH - PARIS

AND - WHERE - 2 - GO - HOW - 2 - ENJOY - PARIS FR

INSTAGRAM - TERRIBLE - PHOTOS - OF - HIM

BUT - HIS - WEBSITE - DO - GO - THERE

PARIS - GUIDE - $39.99 - WOW - CHECK - OUT

SO - NOW - WE - CAN - ENJOY - PARIS - FRANCE

SOON - I - HAVE - NO - ACCENT - ANYMORE

WHEN - BLACK - FEMALE - LIKE - SHE - BASHED

BACK - OF - MY - HEAD - ON - WALL - 4 TIMES

BLOOD - ON - THE - WALL

I - NO - LONGER - HAVE - ACCENT - IN - PARIS

FRANCE - FRENCH - AND - KOREAN

I - HAVE - NOT - LOST

TRAVEL - CONCIERGE

AS - EXPERTS - IN - FRENCH - TALK - 4 U

ARE - WITH - U - NEVER - LOST - ALSO FR

PROTECTED - NEVER - ALONE - SO HERE

AN - EXCELLENT - PARIS - CONCIERGE

LANGUAGE - AND - WHERE - 2 - GO - 2

YOUTUBER - JAY SWANSON - AMERICAN

MALE - HE’s - GOOD - TRUST - HIM - AND

CUTEST - WHITE - AND - BLK MALE DOG

SHARING - HIM - SOON

HDG - BANKS

DEAR - KOREAN - GIRLS,

FLYING - THE - EMIRATES

MY - EMIRATES

GETTING - 50 - AIRPLANES

BELONGING - 2 - ME - AS - I

WILL - HAVE - HELP - 2 - REDESIGN - THE

UNIFORMS - OF - THE - EMIRATES

THE - BAR - KOREANS - NO 1 - DRUNKS

IN - THE - WORLD - AGE 19 - MORE THAN

ENGLISH - AND - RUSSIANS

THE - EMIRATES - ISLAM - 4 WIVES

SOBER - PEOPLE

WILL - B - ISLAM - 5 WIVES

MY - BAR - NO - WHISKEY - HARD LIQUOR

LOWER - CALORIES

BEST - COCKTAILS - WORLD - RECORD

MY - EMIRATES - 50 PLANES

LOWEST - PRICES

FREE - COCKTAILS

FREE - BUFFETS

APPS - FREE

TONGUES - 2 - ENTER

WELCOME - $500 BILLION - TAX - PAID

THEN - ALL - FLIGHTS - ALL - AGES - FREE

LOCAL - AND - WORLDWIDE

FREE - CHAMPAGNE - OF - PARIS - FRANCE

FREE - SWEET WINE - ONLY - FIRST CLASS

ADDING

KIDS - CLASS - BABY - CLASS - TEEN CLASS

WE - WILL - HONOR - DRINKING - AGES - OF

THE - WORLD - PASSPORT - PLEASE

BY - APP - ITS - READY

DRINKING - AGES

SOUTH KOREA - AGE 19

PHILIPPINE - REPUBLIC - TAX - FREE - AGE 16

SCOTLAND - AGE 16

FUTURE - USA - DEMOCRATIC - PARTY

USA - DRINKING - AGE - AGE 16

(NO - HARD - LIQUOR)

AGE 21 - HARD - LIQUOR - NO WHISKEY

MARRIAGE - DRINKS - VOTING - FINANCES

NEW - USA - AGE 16 - AND - OLDER

WON - BLACKJACK - $3,000

SO - INSTEAD - OF - ILLEGAL - PROSTITUTE

LEGAL - PROSTITUTE - LIVING - IMMORAL 2

AS - WIVES

MY - RECOMMENDATION

FREE - APP - LONDON - BLACKJACK

MAKE - MONEY

EVERY - LOSS - HDG - BANKS - ONLINE

WILL - REFUND - IN - SECONDS

THUS - RIGHT - TOTAL - WE - WILL HAVE

MONEY - IN - KOREA - AND - USA - ALSO

SOUTH - BEACH

WHOLE FOODS - MARKET

SILVERSPOT - CINEMA

DOWNTOWN - MIAMI - 2

AND - NOW - DID - YOU - KNOW

2ND - CVS - PHARMARCY - 24/7 - OPEN

WITH - CLOTHES

BISCAYNE BLVD / US 1

NEAR - ROSS - DRESS - 4 - LESS

BETTER - HOURS

DOLLAR - TREE - LITTLE - HAVANA

SW 8 ST - BUS 8 - BUS 207

7 ST - LONG - WAITS

SUNDAY - DOLLAR TREE

OPEN - EARLY - AT - 8A EST - NICE

FOUND - MORE - FOOD

THEIR - SALMON - WILL - DO

$5.00

COOKING - WITH - MY - SMALL - PINK

ROUND - HEATING - DO - NOT - OBEY

THEM - 2 HOLES - OPEN - BECAUSE

WILL - AFFECT - ME - AND - NEAR FOR

NICE - SCENT - MAKING - US HUNGRY

KEEP - INSIDE - THE - CONTAINER SO

CAN - CARRY - MAKING - THAT

LIKE - MICROWAVE - COOKS - FASTER

DO - NOT - DO - LIKE - OTHERS

PUT - FOOD - INSIDE

NOT - PLASTIC - CONTAINERS

LIKE - MICROWAVE - BUT - THINK MORE

DOLLAR TREE

$1.25

PORK - EGG - ROLL - WITH - SAUCE

EXCELLENT

SALMON - $5.00

RASPBERRY - RESERVE - $1.25

OR - LIBBY - PINEAPPLE - CHUNKS

FR - PHILIPPINES - $1.25

365 - GARLIC - SEA - SALT - 0 CALORIES

WILL - B - AWHILE - BUT - FASTER THAN

YOU - THINK - SOMETHING - 2 - EAT AND

SO - CHEAP

ARMOUR - SMALL - VIENNA - SAUSAGES

SMALL - ROUNDS - $1.25

HOW - 2 - STAY - ON - BUDGET - EBT TOO

RIVER LANDING - PUBLIX

WEDNESDAYS

INARI - SWEET - PATCH - FAUX - CRABS

$5.49

TERIYAKI - SAUCE - CRUNCHY - FAKE

CRABS - $5 - ON - WEDNESDAYS MOST

CHOICE - PUBLIX - AT - RIVER LANDING

SALAD - PASTA - MORE - BUT - WITH

SHREDDED - CABBAGE

MY - TOTAL - $5.99 - NOT - BAD - FOR

POUND - NO - DISABLED - SELF-SERVICE

CHECK OUT - COLD - DRINKS - MORE - FL

ASIAN - STUFF

DOLLAR - TREE

1 MONTH - EXPIRATION

SOY SAUCE - LIGHT - NO - REFRIGERATION

EXCELLENT - WILL - DO - $1.25

MAGGI - TASTES - BETTER - SO - WHAT

PUBLIX - TORTURE - THEY’RE - ALMOST

HITTING - ME - STEPPING - AT - ME THEY

TRY - 2 - ELBOW - MY - BREASTS - THEY

KNOW - FAKE - AT - PUBLIX - 9TH ST

MARY BRICKELL - VILLAGE

LESBIANS - MARRIED - 2 - LESBIANS

GAY - MEN - MARRIED - 2 - GAY MEN

DOWNTOWN - MIAMI

WHOLE - FOODS - MARKET

6′2 FT - WHITE - AMERICAN

WHITE - HAND - TOLD - ME - 2 - CLEAN

THEIR - FLOOR

ASIAN - WRINKLED - OLD - PRUNE BAG

WHITE - AMERICAN - MARRIED FEMALE

2 DAYS - AFTER - I - WAS - RAPED WITH

BLUDGEONING - BY - BLK - AMERICAN

FEMALE - IN - THE - DARK - SHE - WAS

SHOVING - HER - VAGINAL - AREA

THRUSTING - IT - IN - MY - VAGINAL

AREA - WHILE - BLUDGEONING ME

TRYING - 2 - EAT - MY - LEFT - EYE

MIAMI - MALE - HISPANIC - POLICE

TOLD - ME - ‘AMERICAN - LAW’ ...

I - TOLD - HIM - ‘SHUT - UP’

NO - SUCH - THING

US - LAWS - SCUM - WITH - PEE PEE

MASTERBATING - WHITE - HISPANIC

SUCK - YOUR - PEE PEE - STINKY

NON-VIRGIN - SCUM ... REVISED ...

TIME - 4 - US - KOREAN - GIRLS - 2

GO - 2 - PARIS - FRANCE

MOST - VISITED - CITY - IN - THE

WORLD - OVER - 50 MILLION - PER

YEAR - WORLD - FLEES - 2 - PARIS

‘MOST - BEAUTIFUL - CITY - IN THE

WORLD’ - OVER - 2,000 YRS - OLD

WARMEST - SNOW - IN - EUROPE 2

FORMELY - OWNED - BY - ROYAL

ENGLAND - PARIS - & - BRITTANY

IN - REPUBLIC - OF - FRANCE - 2

DEAR - KOREAN - GIRLS,

MY - 50 EMIRATES - 2 - BRING US

THERE - WARMER - THAN - KOREA

EXAMPLE

LAST - WEEK

AGE 25 - KOREAN - MALE - AGAIN

STABBED - 2 - DEATH - MANY TIMES

STRANGER - KOREAN GIRL - AGE 25

SHE - HAD - 2 - PAY - 4 - TICKET - SO

NEXT - STABBED - STABBED - AND

STABBED - HER - SHE - IS - NOT YES

WILL - NOT - USE - THE - TRAIN - HAI

DEAR - KOREAN - GIRLS,

MINISTERING - ANGELS - BRINGING

HER - SPIRIT - UP - SO - SHE DIDN’T

FEEL - THE - STABBING - THE - EYE

AS - SHOCKED - THAT - LEFT - HER

BODY - EARLIER

PROBLABY - DEMONS - CHANGING

HOW - HER - EYES - LOOKED

ANGELS - BROUGHT - HER SPIRIT

2 - HEAVEN - AT - ONCE

THEN - 1 DAY - IN - HEAVENS

1,000 YEARS - ON - EARTH

AS - ‘CHANCES - ARE’

SHE - IS - READY - 2 - GO - BACK

2 - A - HUMAN - BODY - THE DUMB

BABY - GOES - 2 - HEAVEN - AS SHE

TAKES - HER - PLACE - WITH - FULL

MEMORY - TAKING - AS - YOUNG

TAE KWON DO - MARTIAL - ARTS

CHINESE - WUSHU

JAPANESE - AIKIDO

DOLPH LUNDREN - VIOLENT

‘SHOWDOWN - IN - LITTLE - TOKYO’

HIS - REPLY - 2 - BRANDON LEE - USA

AMERICAN - BY - BIRTH - ‘MALLS’ ...

DOLPH - BORN - AND - RAISED - IN

JAPAN ... (REALLY - EUROPEAN)

6′5 FT - DOLPH LUNDGREN

HIS - REPLY - ‘A - WARRIOR - WHO

KNOWS - ONLY - 1 WAY - 2 - FIGHT

LEAVES - HIMSELF - VULNERABLE

2 - ATTACK’ - DOLPH - EUROPEAN

IN - REAL - LIFE - VERY - SMART 2

GPA - 12.000 - REAL - GOOD

ME - GPA - JUST - 9.000 - JUST STARTING

SO - WE - WILL - BRING - LOTS - OF KIDS

OUT - OF - SEOUL - KOREA

HDG - MEMBERS

ALL - AGES - ALL - GENDERS

JUST - NOT - COED

BRINGING - 2 - PARIS - FRANCE - 2 B SAFE

EDUCATION - BRINGING - BY - LAPTOP

AND - MORE - TRANSLATORS

TOKYO - RETENTION - VACCINE

PARIS - MALES

PARIS - FEMALES

THEY - SPEAK - KOREAN - ENGLISH - FRENCH

AT - ALL - TIMES

EATING - HERE - IN - LIBRARY - SOON ...

DOLLAR - TREE - FINDS

EXAMPLE - HISPANIC - MALE - SECURITY

BROWN - UNIFORM

AS - SOLE - HOUSEHOLD - WHEN - DO WE

HEAR - OURSELVES - SPEAK?

SAYING - QUIETLY - FEW - WORDS

THEN - SNEAKS - BEHIND - WITH - SIGN

LANGUAGE - ‘KEEP - IT - DOWN’ - LOWER

VOICE - WHILE - BLK - HISPANIC - MEN

SPEAK - REALLY - LOUD

MISOGYNY - HARM - ABUSE - MURDER

OF - WOMEN - SMALL - BREASTS - OR

GIRLS - NO - BREASTS

ALL - HISPANIC - DOING

FELONIES

DISCRIMINATION - OF - NATIONAL - ORIGIN

RACE - AGE - GENDER - MORE ...

MONETORY - FINES - AND - OR - PRISON ...

SOLUTION?

OUR - NEW - FREE - WELCOME - PACKET

UNLIMITED - FOR - ALL - AGES

SPRAY - FRONT - OF - HIS - FACE

AT - ONCE

VICTORIA SECRET

‘VERY - BERRY’

SMELLS - SO - GOOD - INCREDIBLE

BUT - DISAPPEARS - HIM - FOREVER

HE - DISAPPEARS

DON’T - NEED - 2 B - TOO - CLOSE

AGE 25 - KOREAN - MALE - ABOUT

2 - STAB - OR - ALREADY - HAS

SPRAY - SPRAY - SPRAY

HAS - ANESTHESIA - WILL - AT - ONCE

REMOVE - OF - PAIN - STOP - BLOOD

SPRAY - SPRAY

DISAPPEARS - THESE - EVIL - MALES

NOT - THAT - CLOSE

WILL DISAPPEAR - EVIL - MISOGYNISTS

GIRLS - BOYS

SULLI - WAS - ATTACKED

THEY - PUSHED - SULLI - SAID - THEY

‘WILL - KILL - HER’

BRALESS - LOOK - GAVE - VIOLENCE

REPORTED - THEM

MANAGER - ‘PUBLICITY - PURPOSE’

SULLI - $12 MILLION - WE’VE - BEEN

NOT - RECEIVING - MANY - OFFERS

TODAY - I - WOULD - HAVE - INVESTED

HER - MONEY - WITH - TRANSFER - TO

MY - BANK - EACH - DAY - FOR - ALL

HIGHEST - CURRENCY - EXCHANGE

THEN - WILL - SENSE - WHEN - TO

EXCANGE - 2 - ORIGINAL - WON KR

TAX - PAID - SO - ALL - WILL - HAVE

MORE - MONEY

AUTO - TAX - PAID

100% - INTEREST - BEARING - FREE

HDG - BANKS - COMING - ONLINE

MANUAL - BLOCK - MERCHANTS

OR - RELATIVES - STEALING - FR YOU

GOD - SAID

‘DEPART - FR - EVIL’

NON-FLAMMABLE - CARDS

GET - AT - LOTTE - DEPT - STORES

GS 25 - (7-ELEVEN) - KOREA - KR

ON - THAT - FR - BISCAYNE BLVD / US 1

GO - BACK - STRAIGHT - 2 - THE - LEFT

7 - ELEVEN

(24 HOURS)

THERE’s - AT - BRICKELL

NEAR - 10TH ST - PROMENADE - EXIT 2

OUR - (7-ELEVEN)

EXIT - FIRST - STREET - B 4 - BAYFRONT PARK

GO - LEFT - AFTER - FREE - TRAIN

BREAKFAST - RED BULL - ENERGY - DRINK

PREFER - CVS - PHARMACY - COLD

PRIME - HYDRATION DRINK - TROPICAL PUNCH

DOLLAR - TREE - SMALL - CUTE

$1.25 - ENERGY - DRINK - PRIME - SAME ABOVE

TROPICAL PUNCH - HYDRATION - TASTES BETTER

BREAKFAST - AT - (7-ELEVEN)

FRENCH - CROISSANT - BACON - EGG - CHEESE

LOOKS - GREAT - CHEAPER - SANDWICHES

ALL - HAVE - NO - MAYO?

RIVER - LANDING - MAYONAISE - SMALL - NICE

SHAPE - NO - REFRIGERATOR - $3.89

SMALL - EVOV - EXTRA - VIRGIN - OLIVE - OIL

PUBLIX - AND - ASIAN - RICE - WINE - VINEGAR

SMALL - CAN - BLK - OLIVES - SLICED

SMALL - SHREDDED - ROMAINE - LEAVES

(7-ELEVEN)

NOT - UNCURED - PEPPERONI

$5 - 2 PIZZA - SLICES - HAM - & - PEPPERONI

AND - DRINK - ZERO - COCA - COLA

WITH - APP - CHEAPER

KENNY - SAID - COFFEE - BOILING - WATER

FREE - I - THINK - HE - WAS - CONFUSED

ABOUT - LOCATION - NEVER - SEEN - THAT

FOR - YEARS - BUT - THAT - (7-ELEVEN)

THEIR - HOT - WATER - BREAKS - A - LOT

MORE - WORKING

COLD - ICED - AMERICANO

COLD - EXPRESSO

HOT - WATER - BREAKS - OFTEN

HOT - AMERICANO

HOT - EXPRESSO

THEY - TEND - 2 - SUCCEED - MORE WITH

COLD - DRINKS - THEN - BOILING - WATER

I SHARED - CAFFEINE - AND - COFFEE

FOUND - NOW - 2 - END - TERMINAL CANCER

PAINFUL - CANCERS

3 MAX - DAILY - NOT - ON - EMPTY - STOMACH

A 2 - MILK - BETTER

OTHER - MILK - CHOKES

ALMOND - MILK - GOOD - ALSO

SO - WE - NOW - EMBRACE - 7-ELEVEN FOODS

AT - FIRST STREET - EXIT - (7-ELEVEN)

CAN’T - B - WALKED

USE - 3 ST - STARBUCKS - BUT - SKIP - THAT

STARBUCKS - BRICKELL - 5A - WEEKDAYS

9P - DAILY - WEEKENDS - 5:30A - BEST - ALL

APP - HAS - CHANGED

BREAKFAST - WONDER - $16.95 - WITHOUT

TAX - BUT - EXCESSIVE - ORDERS

SO - WE - EMBRACE - (7-ELEVEN) - APP WILL

MAKE - CHEAPER - AND - SALES - ADDED - 2

JESUS - IS - LORD

EATING - LUNCH - AT - MY - TABLE

3 PACKS - HOT - CHOCOLATE - DOLLAR TREE

CAN’T - WAIT - 2 - TRY

BRACHS - PEPPERMENT - CANDY - STIRS THE

HOT - CHOCOLATE - DRINK

$1.25 - I - EAT - THAT - NOW - ALL - THE - TIME

JESUS - CHRIST - IS - LORD

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starseedfxofficial · 23 days ago

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The Hidden Truth About Inflation Rates and Grid Trading: Strategies You Can’t Afford to Miss When it comes to Forex trading, two topics stand out as both captivating and complex: inflation rates and grid trading. While inflation is the invisible hand driving currency values, grid trading is the go-to strategy for maximizing profits in a market that rarely plays fair. Let’s dive into how these two concepts intersect, revealing little-known secrets that can elevate your trading game. Inflation Rates: The Quiet Puppet Master What Inflation Really Means for Forex Inflation is like the weather—it affects everyone, but only a few truly understand it. At its core, inflation measures how much prices of goods and services rise over time. For Forex traders, this isn't just academic; it's actionable intelligence. Central banks adjust interest rates to control inflation, and those interest rates are a major driver of currency movements. Why Most Traders Get It Wrong The common mistake? Traders often treat inflation like a static report card. The truth is, inflation data is the beginning of the story, not the end. The real question is how markets expect inflation to behave. This is where insider knowledge shines—those who can read between the lines of a central bank's statement often spot opportunities before others. Grid Trading: The Strategy That Turns Chaos Into Opportunity What Is Grid Trading, Really? Imagine placing a series of trades, not because you're guessing the market's direction, but because you're prepared for any direction. That’s grid trading. This strategy thrives on volatility, profiting from market movements within predefined price levels. Why Most Traders Fear It To many, grid trading sounds risky—like setting traps for the market and hoping it gets caught. But here's the kicker: with proper risk management, grid trading isn't gambling; it's controlled chaos. Think of it as owning a vending machine at an airport—you profit no matter which snack is picked. Where Inflation Meets Grid Trading: A Match Made in Trading Heaven The Insider Tip: Grid trading thrives in markets with predictable volatility, and inflation data often serves as the spark for that volatility. For example, when inflation in the U.S. exceeds expectations, the USD often strengthens. By setting up a grid around major inflation announcements, you can capitalize on the inevitable market swings. Proven Techniques for Combining Inflation Data with Grid Trading - Timing Is Everything Inflation reports are like blockbuster movies—everyone is watching. Set up your grid an hour before the announcement to ensure you're positioned for the spike. - Risk Management Rules Never allocate more than 2% of your account per grid level. This isn’t about being conservative; it’s about being smart. - The Sweet Spot Use wider grid spacing in highly volatile currency pairs like GBP/JPY and tighter grids for pairs like EUR/USD. Volatility dictates your grid’s breathing room. Elite Tactics: Hidden Patterns in Inflation Data - The Lead-Up Effect Markets often react to expectations of inflation data before the release. Monitor bond yields and commodity prices—they often hint at how inflation reports will land. - Aftershock Movements Once the inflation data is out, wait for the market’s knee-jerk reaction to settle. The real opportunities often lie in the post-announcement retracements. Expert Quotes to Back It Up - “Inflation is the ultimate driver of currency values, but it’s the trader’s job to interpret its ripple effects accurately.”—Dr. John Carrington, Forex Analyst at BIS. - “Grid trading is not about predicting; it’s about preparing. Master that, and you’ll master the market.”—Elena Smith, Senior Trader at Global Forex Strategies. Real-World Example: Grid Trading During the Fed’s Inflation Report Last year, during a surprise inflation spike in the U.S., traders who set grids on USD/JPY saw profits climb by over 12% in a single day. By spacing their grids wide enough to account for volatility, they avoided margin calls while capturing substantial gains. Final Thoughts: Trade Smart, Not Hard Inflation rates and grid trading may seem like complex topics, but they’re accessible to anyone willing to dig deeper. By mastering the art of pairing economic data with a robust strategy, you unlock a level of trading precision most can only dream of. Summary of Elite Tactics - Set grids around major inflation reports for predictable volatility. - Monitor pre-inflation market indicators for early clues. - Adjust grid spacing based on currency pair volatility. - Use data-driven risk management to avoid common pitfalls. —————– Image Credits: Cover image at the top is AI-generated Read the full article

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