#how affiliate earns someone money

[nayaesworld]

Mafioso

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Warnings: Murder, manipulation, drugs and violence

Terry Richmond X OC!Marina

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The collective clink of champagne glasses filled the large venue as self-made millionaire and philanthropist Terry Richmond concluded his speech at the second annual charity event for Black women and children. Thunderous claps and cheers bounced off the walls as he exited the stage and came down to thank each and every single person that had come out to support and donate to the amazing cause. He was elated and proud of the turnout; truly grateful.

At 43 Terry felt at the height of his career. The comings and goings of life reflected well on his face and he carried all those trials and triumphs with him on his sleeve next to his heart. His story was a story of the people.

The night was a huge success. A large volume of high profile people had pledged and donated to this cause right along with him. Close family and friends came out in support and he circled around the room checking in on them and taking breaks to hit a shimmy or two on the dance floor.

He had also allowed some of his favorite black journalists and reporters to give interviews, but he was most interested in one in particular that had been very vocal and fierce about the safety of black children in spaces that society deemed not fit for them. How many times had a black child been harmed or put in a traumatic situation due to racism? Far too many times to count and they deserved a space to perfect their crafts without fear or judgement.

Marina Evans was a woman of poise, integrity, and culture, and at 25 she was at the top of her game. Not many could deny her journalistic credentials. She was the first person he wanted to give an interview to tonight and he sought her out quickly through the sea of people. The bold black gown had been a wondrous choice against her bronzed skin. Honey blond braids highlighting the warm undertones of her skin and dark expressive eyes styled with a natural set of wispy lashes. She was a show stopper. A true beauty.

She had just ended an interview with Weston Troy, a filthy rich middle aged man that owned a few hospitals in the area. Her eyes drifted over to him and she began to set up for his interview. A warm welcoming smile graced her face and he made sure to return it. Cameras and microphone ready, Terry adjusted his black suit and freed his mind.

“Tonight I am here speaking with local philanthropist and founder of ‘Hearts of Grace’ a charity founded to give aid and relief to underprivileged families…and without further ado I’d like to welcome Mr. Terry Richmond. How are you feeling about the turnout tonight… did you project the earnings for year two to surpass year one by so much?”

“ I’m feeling amazing tonight, the turnout was more than I could have ever imagined. When I initially started this charity I had no idea that anyone would ever give money to the cause at such a high volume, it's too often that things within the affiliation of the black community are not taken seriously or into consideration… I would like to change that, and with all the resources at my hand I'd be foolish not to invest it into people who look like me and sound like me.”

“I love that, what you did here tonight was jaw dropping. The kind of things I want to see more of, what does it mean for you to give back and support black families,businesses, and neighborhoods?” He pondered a bit before answering and pulled his lip from his teeth.

“It means that I have an opportunity to cater to and serve these underprivileged families, I too come from very humble beginnings. I grew up in a single parent household, it was just me and my mother so sharing this wealth with many people is top priority.”

“Terry, that is just amazing, I’m excited for more people to hear your story… for you it's been a long time coming, but for many of us this is our first time seeing someone who we relate to so much do as many great things as you have…and that brings me to my next question. How does being a role model to the younger generation speak to you?” Her questions were definitely living up to her reputation, she asked the real shit and he paused to gather his words, this was a passionate subject for him so finding the right words was essential.

“Being a role model for the younger generation entails a particular type of character and finesse… I want them to know that yes hard work and dedication can afford you the luxuries of life, but I also want them to understand that mental health is just as important um..if not more important than any career field or industry they choose.”

“I also saw that you named your charity after your mother Grace, how does it feel tonight to share this with her… I’m sure she is so proud of you.”

“My mother means the world to me…for any time I was ever in trouble or needed her she picked up the phone, she lifted me up, and she molded me into the man I am today. I don’t care how old I get or how many things I achieve, I'll always be her baby.”

“It was such a pleasure to interview you tonight, I thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to allow me to talk and pick your brain.” Marina had interviewed many men and women of different backgrounds and profiles, but none had ever struck her as truly genuine people quite as he did. He truly meant those words.

“Oh no anytime..you’ve had the best questions I thank you for that. And when I’m ready for another interview I know how to find you, thank you for coming out tonight Ms.Evans I truly appreciate it.” Terry left it plainly at that. He didn’t wanna seem weird by telling the young girl that he was an avid viewer of her podcast and hadn’t missed any episodes thus far.

The night carried on and people filled their bellies to the brim with liquor and a catered banquet of savory mouth watering food. Terry was on his second plate of food and had been cackling loudly in his mothers ear, all tipsy and giggly from the constant glasses of champagne.

“Boy you are just tickled to death ain’t you, what’s so funny son?” He rested his head onto her shoulder and squeezed her into a warm hug.

“I’m just happy ma..that’s it. Tonight turned out amazing and I get to honor you right along with it..I hope you’re proud.”

“Son is proud even the word for what I feel? You make me ecstatic, I hoped and prayed for so many long nights for you to have something…anything to call your own, and look at you now.” Grace pressed a kiss to her son's forehead before standing from her seat.

“Walk your mama to her car, I’m going to turn in for the night.”

Terry walked his mother to her car and watched her disappear into the distance before he walked back into the building. Standing with his hands in the pockets of his smooth slacks, he surveyed the area with calm eyes. He was looking for someone. Ahh there she is. Honey blond braids swaying gently behind her as she rocked in her chair to the music. Headed in her direction he grabbed a freshly poured glass of champagne from the table and handled the delicate glass in his hands carefully.

Cognac eyes met his as he finally made it into her line of vision. “Champagne? I wasn’t aware you were still here Ms.Evans.” Her pretty manicured hand accepted the drink from him and she sipped a little before answering him.

“Yeah I guess I’m a bit of a recluse…I prefer to fade into the background at events like these. Sometimes it’s better to just watch.” Terry hummed in his throat before taking a seat in front of her crossing his left leg over his right.

“And on that point we do agree…for causes such as these I can show up no questions asked, otherwise I’m home nose deep in a good podcast.” His deep rumbling laugh coaxed a cute chuckle from her mouth.

She sipped a little more of the sweet champagne before she answered him. ”Oh wow me too , so you have a favorite one you listen too?”

“Yes…yours. It’s the only one I can sit through and enjoy without a missed episode. You’re great at what you do Ms.Evans…very captivating topics.” Terry watched a hand press to her chest in shock as her mouth fell in shock.

“You watch lil ole’ me, wow Terry I really appreciate that. And I try to make things interesting as well as informative… I'm happy it reaches you well.”

“There’s nothing little about the work you do, remember that.” Maria shyly tilted her head to the side, peeking up into his face from under her lashes.

”Thank you so much Terry, you have the kindest eyes by the way…sorry if that was weird.” He dropped his head and let his eyes lock onto hers and watched her skin heat up under his gaze.

“No no, not weird at all. I receive that..thank you beautiful.”

Terry enjoyed picking her head for the reminder of their time together. By 9pm the event had wrapped and everyone filed out of the large double doors to head home. Terrys large hand graced the small of her back not wanting to lose her in the crowd of people, he hated that their time was cut short because he had really enjoyed chatting with the smart woman.

“Did you drive here?” He looked down at her once they’d made it outside, the middle of people around them creating the perfect bubble for tj to talk.

“Mhmh I did.. I’m right over there, the black Acura.” Her dainty finger pointed at the sleek Acura suv that was coincidentally parallel parked behind his Manhattan Green BMW X6.

“ I’ll walk you..we’re parked right by each other.” Her heels clicked against the dark asphalt and she let a yawn escape her pretty lips.

“Tired Ms.Evans? Sorry to keep you so late, I’m sure you have other obligations.”

“Mhm it’s all the food and champagne getting to me, and no please don’t apologize I had such a nice time tonight… thank you again for extending an invitation to me.” The two stopped in front of her suv and it had Terry wishing he could turn back time.

“And miss an opportunity to talk to the gorgeous and seriously intelligent Marina Evans… not a chance. Thank you for your support, and drive safe.” He helped her step into her vehicle before he closed her door and watched her leave before pulling out his phone to make a call.

“Yeah she just left..keep close to the plan and do exactly what I told y’all to do. I find out you niggas did anything other than what I asked…yall are finished.” He hung up the phone and hopped into his car heading to his house. He knew what he was doing was fucked up, but rarely did Terry ever not get what he wanted. Only this time he wanted Marina Evans and he was willing to stage whatever freak incident he could think of to appear as the white shining knight in her story.

The contemporary home was a perfect mix of neutral earth times and dark greys. Features within the home had donned it with eco friendly and smart house features putting it at a price point of a whopping 1.2 million dollars. A price point Terry would pay and then some for a house that was exclusive to him. The story he told the public about his upbringing was slightly altered and fabricated. The money was only halfway clean, but his appearance needed to be crystal. No past offenses or charges, no run-ins with the police, and no witnesses.

He put people in the dirt for a living and that was just the true facts. The true underground king with an empire spanning throughout the states.A dr. Jekyll and Hyde if you will. The boogeyman. An assassin with the precision to kil. Right now his cousins were ransacking the cute little craftsman style house that belonged to Marina Evans. A sick way of pushing her into his arms he knew but having her would make it all worth the risk.

A new obsession had squirmed its way into Terrys head one night during a masturbation session. The video practically screamed out at him and he had nutted enough that night to fill the Mississippi River; twice,his eyes were glued to the computer screen as he watched the younger woman be pumped full of grown mature dick. The idea had crossed his mind plenty of times, something young and hot to trick on and fuck whenever he wanted to. It seemed maybe he’d be getting his wish sooner or later.

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Paranoia and fear gripped Marina in the coming days after the charity ball. When she had made it home and into her driveway that night she knew something was off. The linen curtains that lined her French doors to her kitchen blew in the night winds, signaling the doors had been smashed. Eyes wide with fear and shock she held her hand over her mouth in disbelief. She frantically dialed 911 to report a burglary. Her house was a mess, picture frames broken and everything rummaged through. The following nights she spent in the guest room at her moms house, too afraid to sleep in her own house.

She had called into the local newspaper that she worked for letting them know of her unfortunate situation. Work would have to be put on the back burner for a few days right along with her podcast episode. She was still practically new to this neighborhood having only just closed on her home two months prior. It was a quiet safe neighborhood, and all her neighbors had kindly welcomed her into it. But now she wasn’t so sure about it being safe. What if she had been home When this happened, would she have lived to tell the tale?

She felt hopeless and the police had no leads yet. What was life without a curveball? She was currently wrapped up in her mothers guest room

sick with the flu. Coughs and sniffles were the soundtrack of life right now and the pungent smell of Lysol was in the air. She had no appetite and a slight migraine sat at her temples, and yet her phone began to ring excessively loud into her ear.

|“Hello?” She was sure she sounded as stuffy as she looked.

|”Marina..hey sweetheart it’s Terry. I called as soon as I heard the bad news, I’m so sorry.” His deep voice sounded apologetic over the phone and she had almost forgotten the exchanging of numbers almost a week ago at the charity event.

[-My uncle works at the police department..he mentioned your name and burglary in the same sentence and I just had to call and check in on you. I hope I’m not overstepping.

[-No not at all I appreciate you calling me..um yeah it hasn't been the best week for me so far it’d be better if I could find out who did this to my house…and now I’m sick with the flu.She heard shuffling and muffled talking on his end and she sat up further on the headboard of the bed.

[-Let me send you something Marina, a little get well soon basket…if that’s okay with you I can have my assistant drop it to you. Marina pondered a bit, and honestly what was the harm in accepting it?

[-I don’t know Terry, I couldn’t ask you to do that. One day you'll have to let me repay you back for your kindness.

[-I insist, and pay me back in good health.. and let me take you out some time when you’re feeling better. Some time had lapsed and he had seriously caught her off guard with the question.

[-Marina? You don’t have to give me an answer right now… my ego can handle it, trust me.

[-Sometime when I’m better definitely, I’m completely in the dumps right now..but I could definitely use that basket if it’s still on the table.

[-It is..I’ll get my assistant to contact you and get everything delivered to you. Get well Marina I’ll talk to you soon.

The call ended and she finally felt some strength in her to get up and tend to herself. Her braids had been in her bonnet for the last 48 hours and her face looked drained of all her color. She definitely wasn’t in any shape to look Terry’s handsome ass in his face. Her moms house was quiet, and she knew her mother wouldn’t be home from the hospital until 7 that evening so trying to get better was definitely the plan for the next few hours.

As he said, Terry had his assistant message her about her location to send the basket. It arrived well packaged with an aroma that was clearing her nasal passage. Two dozen crimson red roses and a large woven basket was on the front porch waiting for her in less than an hour. She hurriedly sat it on her mothers dining table and pulled the contents from the basket. Each item she was excited to use. Multiple face masks to bring back the color to her face, an expensive looking full body massager, a cozy pajama set, and a container of chicken noodle soup that was still piping hot from the deli uptown.

“How freaking sweet, now these are gifts worth having for sure.”

She sent a picture over to Terry letting him know that everything was revived with the highest appreciation. He hearted her message but didn’t send back a written reply.

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“Didn’t I tell you to stay out my fucking city?!” Terry let his bloodied fist fly into the man’s face for a third time, he winced and shook his hand quickly before his phone vibrated in his pocket. A picture from Marina showing him the basket had made it to her and would be used gratefully. But she'd have to wait. Terry was in his mode. The kill a nigga and ask questions later mode, he had two run ins prior to this one with the same pesky ass excuse for a human being.

“Pass me my shit, I’m ending this. Motherfuckers need to know that I don’t speak twice.” The heavy gun was laid in his hand and he screwed on the silencer. The man in front of him cried and begged for his life, but time was out for him.

“Mario Brown…I’m sentencing you to death for not obeying the nigga that owns you.” A quick pull of the trigger put a silver bullet right through his head. His crew needed no words as they immediately rolled the body into a tarp to be burned.

Terry shrugged off his suit using it to wipe the blood from his face and neck. He had a warehouse stacked to the brim with cocaine that needed to make it to El Paso, Texas. Terry wasn’t a cliche in the world of drugs, he chose the mafia life willingly; it didn’t choose him. It was all he knew and it was all he’s ever done outside of his coverups, that consisted of real estate and stocks. All three things he needed to know the ins and outs of to keep up the facade. He was no good person and he was no angel. He maneuvered through this life cunning and forcefully, and yet he did so with grace.

Drugs had afforded him the type of access he wanted in life. A payroll full of law enforcement, cars and houses, and the baddest bitches on the continent. But he was getting older and more irritable with it all, and that was bad for business. A man that stayed irritated was a man bad for business, he had stacked and put so much money away his grandchildren’s grandchildren would be rich. And yet having all he had he still longed for a woman to call his, someone to marry and give his last name and kids too. Marina Evans was what he wanted-no needed, and he would pull out any stop to have her.

His clothes would be a pile of ash by the time he finished using the warehouse shower, black and purple bruises littering his back and side from a recent brawl with a new business partner who would ultimately be his way out. He didn’t believe the old heads that told him he only had one way out of this kinda life, he refused to put that shit on himself. Death was not the only way out, past men just didn’t have his sharp mindset and it showed because they all rested eternally in cemeteries.

His matte black Range Rover practically drove itself home. He was worn out and needed food and sleep. Public speakings to keep the wool over the public’s eye and the night time escapades that always ended in a dead body or two lying around, were getting the best of him. For the next month he planned to pull back from the public slowly but surely, only popping out to speak when absolutely necessary. The only person he cared to be around was her. What a fucking joke. Terry knew better about this situation and still refused to do better, he wanted what he wanted. Marina… Just the sound of her name rolling off his tongue enticed him and his dick had jumped multiple times in his pants when she complimented him at the ball.

A pretty lil thing with a good head on her shoulders and outside of wanting to put her through his mattress he was actually genuinely intrigued by her. And when he finally laid down it was her pictures and voice that invaded his privacy so badly he stalked all her socials. Her vibrant colorful pictures on her Instagram page pulled a smile from him, such an interesting girl.

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The next morning came to Terry in peace. No nightmares and no tossing and turning, he felt well rested above all else and the pain he felt from his bruised body had subsided and drowned out without painkillers. His morning routine came effortlessly and he ended it all with a 30 minute meditation to thoroughly decompress his body to prepare for his day.

He scarfed down a savory bagel sandwich and washed it down with his herbal tea. His agenda for the day was light as planned, he was to be kept updated on the whereabouts of his drugs every hour on the hour and not a second late. A large sum of money was headed his way if shit went smoothly.

His fingers itched to message Marina; so he did. He wanted another try at seeing her. To his surprise she had responded quickly and said she was feeling well enough to meet at her house. She spoke of wanting to replace the broken glass on her French doors so he dressed casually and responded letting her know he’d see her shortly.

His Ford Raptor rounded the block into a cute quaint neighborhood. Children rode their bikes and sprayed each other with water hoses as their parents watched, and the background noise of barking dogs made it all full circle. He spotted Marina’s suv quickly and pulled in alongside it in her driveway. Getting out he noticed her still sitting inside and tapped on her window lightly.

“Hi Terry… I know I look weird still sitting in here. I’m just scared to go alone.” She gave him a bashful smile and opened her driver side door. Black biker shorts showing off her thick thighs and plush lower half, had him shaking his head. A Tupac graphic tee shirt and white sneakers completed her looks and her neat braids rested atop her head in a tight bun.

“Come on I’ll go with you, nobody will mess with you while I’m here I promise.” She obliged and walked side by side with him to the side of her house where the doors were. Terry measured where the glass was supposed to be and got the measurements for replacements and let the tape measure shoot back into itself before turning to Marina.

“I have a guy that does this kind of work. I'll get in contact with him for you. No cost to you, but for now I’d say invest in security cameras…they’ll bring you a good peace of mind.”

“Will do, that’s not even out of the question anymore… thank you for extending this kind of generosity to me.”

A smirk graced his face as he stared down at her, hands itching to touch her. “Let’s get lunch and you can thank me all you want afterwards.” He helped her up into his truck with a hand on her waist, green eyes going wide at her ass in his face, and on his way around the truck he was silently praying to god.

She was definitely chatty when she got comfortable, but he didn’t mind listening. They filled their bellies with Korean bbq and sushi and Terry was still ordering appetizers.

“Please no more, are you trying to stuff me?” In more ways than one he thought to himself, he just loved watching her eat. When she tried something new amongst the appetizers she hit a little happy dance if she liked it. They had ate their fill in food with plenty to bring home, Terry paid the bill and carried their Togo bags and she kept up beside him sipping quietly on her lychee tea. His phone buzzed in the console a few times and he ignored it knowing it was about his shipment, he would get to it when she was no longer around.

“Do you need to get that… am I intruding or something? You can let me know, I’m sure you’re practically booked and busy. Please don’t let me hold you up.”

“They can wait, you’re more important right now.” She turned slightly in her seat and her cognac eyes held his for what felt like hours. And she leaned closer into his space, holding that eye contact.

“You have the most beautiful eyes… they just seem never ending.” His stare intensified and he watched her smile dreamily at him, whatever effect he thought he had on her had been confirmed.

“You keep complimenting me like that and I’ll start to think you got a little crush on me Ms.Evans.”

“Would that be so bad…me liking you?” He shook his head and tucked a braid back into her bun fingers slowly grazing her neck. How bold of her,

“Only if I didn’t like you back.” He smirked and rubbed his fingers against her open palm watching her fingers twitch slightly. “You’re an amazing woman Marina… I’ve been interested in you for a while, but things just didn’t make sense then.” He thought back to a few months ago when he had initially intended on meeting her but he was busy trying to wipe a whole bloodline out at the time and that was time consuming.

Her eyes danced around his face as she listened to him intently, and his right hand rose to her chin to focus them, letting her lean into him to initiate a kiss. But she put her hands up pulled back slowly.

“But Terry what if-“

“Shh.. put your hands down and let it happen, let me in.”

His hands found her face and he pressed his lips to hers in a rush. Her tongue tasted sweet from her drink and the strawberry flavored lip gloss had him sucking her lips into his mouth like a savage. She gripped his shirt and he pulled her into him with a hand on her waist hand rubbing along her back soothingly, chest to chest heads turning left to right to increase the experience. He pulled away from her reluctantly and brought a hand to his lips to kiss.

“Give me a chance to court you and prove myself…if you don’t like what I offer you, then that’ll be it and I won’t bother you again, but if you do..I have so much to show you.”

“A deal is a deal Mr.Richmond..let the games begin.”

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A/N: The girls called for Mafia!Terry??? HERE HE GO😗. Like and reblog if you enjoyed this🫶🏾

@venusincleo @grlsbstshot @yassbishimvintage @avoidthings @pocketsizedpanther @writingsbytee @melodichaeuxx-lacritquexx @simplyzeeka @zillasvilla @blowmymbackout @kimuzostar @playgurlxoxo @kumkaniudaku @megamindsecretlair @theereina @keyaho @brattyfics @hotgrlcece @henneseyhoe @starcrossedxwriter @nahimjustfeelingit-writes @uzumaki-rebellion @blackmoonchilee @invisiblegiurl @blackerthings @19jammmy @ovohanna24 @talkswithdesi @notc0rtez @becauseimswagman1 @prettyisasprettydoes1306 @mysteryuz

#terry richmond #aaron pierre #terry richmond x blackoc #rebrl ridge

[winterchimez]

Addiction | Lee Sangyeon

SUMMARY: you were tasked to assassinate the infamous Twilight. but what happens when it turns out that after all this time, your target was just right next to you, and it just so happened that your boyfriend is the man you have been hunting for as long as you can remember.

PAIRING: spy!Sangyeon x assassin f!reader (feat. police!Haknyeon)

GENRE: spy x family au, fluff, angst, crime, some crack & humour, slight thriller

WARNINGS: nc-17, violence, blood, fighting scenes, mentions of weaponry (guns, kunais, etc.), kissing, betrayal, a rather heartbreaking ending, Haknyeon is there for the chaos

WORD COUNT: 10k

A/N: happiest birthday to the loml ❤️ i've always wanted to write a spy fic for him and i finally got the chance to do it for his birthday 🥹 i've tweaked some bits from the manga but there will be scenes/scenarios that might seem familiar to those who are a fan of the series!! yes, Sangyeon is Loid while reader is Yor 🤭

“Code name: Lunala, reporting in for duty.” 

As soon as you heard that you were approved to enter from the other side of the room, you turned the doorknob slowly and opened up to see that your chief, The Shopkeeper, was already expecting your arrival. 

Walking towards the chief, you noticed tons of folders scattered around messily on the table, indicating that the chief hasn’t been in the best mood, or rather, has been pretty frustrated with a particular case, or rather, someone. 

Once you have reached close enough to keep a fair distance, you clasped your hands and placed them behind your back before speaking up to question why you were summoned in the first place. 

“You have a mission for me, sir?” 

“Indeed, I have. And it is rather a tough one. Hence I needed higher-level assassins like you to handle the job.” The Shopkeeper responded as he furrowed his eyebrows. 

As he got up, he directed your direction towards the whiteboard situated right beside him, Upon closer look, you could see that The Shopkeeper himself had been hunting the individual in question for weeks now, judging from all of the available information and the red strings that connected a picture or a clue from one end to the other. 

Most of the time, the Garden Assassin Syndicate, better known as the Garden, are often tasked with assassinating individuals who threaten Ostania. You were part of the group for the past three years, more or less. Joining the association wasn’t by your own choice, though—you were eventually scouted by the Shopkeeper himself after witnessing how you have managed to wipe out an entire army from your previous job. 

Back then, you weren’t part of any organisation whatsoever—you simply killed for the sake of living, earning some pocket money to provide for yourself and your little brother, Haknyeon. You often listened to the news and bought the daily newspaper as well, for there were individuals out there who posted their requests to kill anonymously. If you were to take the job and succeed, you would be paid at a specified location later on in the day without ever meeting who your employer was. 

It was a risk, but you simply had no choice because you were born and gifted with such skills, and you had nowhere to go but to turn to assassination as a profession. As long as it was enough to keep you and your brother alive, it was all that mattered to you. 

When you were accepted into the Gardens three years prior, it was a vast improvement for you and your little brother. Not only would you be paid loads, but you would also get a safe rooftop above your head each day. But it came with a cost—you had to have two different identities, and no one was to ever find out about your affiliation with the organisation itself. 

Including your brother, Haknyeon.

You took up the job because you had no other choices, and continuing with what you have done in the past was getting too dangerous for you to handle alone—it also risked the chances that your brother would eventually find out about your little “side job”. 

After years of training and experience, you have risen to the ranks of being one of the higher-level assassins, often tasked to handle more gory and challenging jobs. So that was why you were summoned here today by the Shopkeeper himself. 

However, you had to blink twice when you looked at the board just to ensure you weren’t seeing things wrong. 

“With all due respect, sir, this is the man you would want me to assassinate?”

“Indeed. We have kept him on our radar for long enough, and I think it is about time that we make the move to put a stop to his schemes.” 

“But sir… that’s Twilight, Westalis’s well-known spy. Why would we have to assassinate such an individual when they do not have contact with us at all?” You were starting to ponder this whole scenario. Indeed, the chief might have made a mistake. Targeting the spies? That would call for a war between them and the assassins. 

“I know what you might be thinking, Lunala. But I believe once you start tracking him down, you will understand why. And a fair warning, we do not have much time, and I need you to close up on him as soon as you can, and I expect you to report back to me immediately before I give you your next mission.” 

With the chief’s stern and firm demeanour, you knew that there was little to no chance of persuading him or changing his mind. Hence, you reluctantly accepted the offer, reassuring him that you would find more clues along the way as well. 

Walking out from the door, there was only one question that pondered in your mind.

What exactly is there about you, Twilight?

Sangyeon’s POV 

“My my, if it isn’t my number one loyal customer!!” Freddie shouted out loud as he witnessed how Sangyeon slowly made his way towards his store. 

“You flatter me too much, Freddie. How are the sales today by far?” 

“Not much, like the usual. But now that you’re here, I expect a big order from you, no?” 

Sangyeon chuckled. “You know me well. I will be getting two kilograms worth of roasted peanuts. They’re for the kids in the orphanage right across the streets.” 

As Freddie started bagging Sangyeon’s order, he couldn’t help but smile at his answer. He knew that Sangyeon came every week to do the same deed, but he wasn’t sure why he would risk it all and do it on his own rather than letting the multiple organisations available that dealt with cases like this take over such trivial matters. 

Every single time Freddie tried to ask Sangyeon about it, he always got the same reply, more or less. 

“The only reason I became a spy was to bring a much better life for the kids in both Westalis and Ostania. I wish to create a world where no more children would shed tears.” 

Freddie could only sigh and smile back at him. Sangyeon was such a kind-hearted soul, and yet he was always out there risking his life in all of his missions.

He has indeed built a reputation for himself, for Twilight is now well-known across the country to be the best spy there is out there. Because of that, the director could always rely on him and often gave him missions that could end up in a life-or-death situation. But Sangyeon never once complained and always took off the offers available. It was just the way he was. 

Just when Freddie thought Sangyeon would leave after getting the two kilogram worth of roasted peanuts, Sangyeon took a few pennies from his back pocket and passed it to Freddie as a tip. However, Freddie’s eyes widened as he looked at the coins themselves.

It was Cipher F. 

Without much hesitation, he immediately invited Sangyeon into his store, looking around to see that nobody had caught up with what they were up to before closing the door. 

As they walked deeper into the store, both of them hopped into a wooden wardrobe located at the very end of the room before pulling a hidden lever in one of the walls as they travelled down to the basement. 

Here was where Sangyeon and Freddie would often discuss detective work hidden away from the busy streets of Ostania. It also served as Sangyeon’s little base for when he needed to trade some weapons or even elicit Freddie’s help for some profiling assistance. 

Freddie immediately went to turn on his computer as he quickly sat down and started typing away, seemingly trying his best to decipher the person that has been trailing Sangyeon for a while now. In the meantime, the spy himself was browsing through the walls filled with new weaponry that could prove to be helpful in his new missions to come as he picked out a few guns and began examining them as well as loading them. 

As Freddie finally managed to narrow down to a few names and asked the agent himself to have a look, he couldn’t help but tease his old friend a little while scrolling through the browser page.

“Damn, Twilight, have you gotten rusty to have someone trailing you like this in broad daylight?”

“Oh sweetheart, I never fail, nor do I let my enemies come close to me within a five-metre radius. Which certainly means whoever this person may be is far more dangerous than all of the usual criminals that I deal with.” He wasn’t ready to admit that he had been tailed with, and his blood was starting to boil now to think that whoever this was would think they would get their hands on the infamous Twilight himself. 

After a few more scrolls down the page, Sangyeon immediately laid his hands upon Freddie’s that were situated on the mouse, as he asked him to zoom in to have a closer look at the profile of this person. 

Upon closer inspection, Freddie was certainly not buying it, thinking that this individual would stand no chance against Sangyeon himself. 

“Twilight, are you sure that you have gotten the right person? As far as my eyes do not deceive me, that is a woman alright.” 

“Not just any woman, Freddie. She’s the infamous Lunala from Gardens.” 

Sangyeon knew exactly who you were. He has had a good amount of encounters with the assassins from your association throughout his whole life as an undercover agent for the Westalian Intelligence (WISE). Unfortunately, the spies from WISE are not usually on good terms with the assassins from Garden, and things typically turn out sour at the end of each mission. Sangyeon himself has had a few ones that turned out pretty ugly at the end.

He has never encountered you in person before, but he has undoubtedly heard about your deeds and your reputation, as you have certainly made a name for yourself among the spies and assassins. This has piqued his interest. No assassins have ever dared laid their hands upon the Twilight himself, for they would be losing their heads first if they did. 

So what exactly is your mission? Why, of all people, would you target the best spy in Westalis? 

Sangyeon was pumped up to figure out your motive, and he was determined that he was going to get you first before you could even try anything funny.

He quickly geared up and took the necessary equipment before he gave Freddie a quick wave goodbye. 

“It has been a while since I’ve been this pumped and excited for a mission.”

Y/N’s POV

“YOU DID WHAT????” You screamed at your younger sibling, unable to fully absorb the information dumped on you.

“I did the right thing, noona! It’s about time you settle down and get married.” Your younger brother Haknyeon crossed his arms as he sat on your couch. 

Apparently, Haknyeon was getting very concerned about your love life—especially when you were already 27 years of age and had never once dated or had an actual boyfriend. At this point, he was extremely worried that he would have to accept the fact that he would not be having nieces and nephews to spend time and play with.

If you were, to be honest with yourself, you were also desperate in trying to find a partner for yourself. You have been hearing tons of whispers and receiving loads of side eyes at work, for you were one of the last ones who has not been giving out marriage invitations or even an engagement announcement while all of your co-workers have done so. You have always heard that maybe nothing was charming about you—hence why no guys would want to dedicate and spend the rest of their lives with you. 

But you certainly did not expect your brother to intercept and find you a date for tomorrow night. 

“Be at the Four Seasons Hotel tomorrow at 8:30 pm sharp, I have booked a table for you both and he would be anticipating your arrival.” 

“You are insane.” You were the one crossing your arms now, scoffing that your brother did such a thing before you turned your heel and decided to retire back to the comforts of your room.

That got Haknyeon jumping up from the couch and running in front of your door, stretching out his arms to prevent you from stepping into the room before giving him an actual answer.

“Come on, noona. I promise you that it will be worth it. Look, he is a psychologist. Moreover, I’ve even done a background check back in the station before I got off work, and I can assure you that he is clean in my books! It wouldn’t hurt to just try it out for the night and see if the man of your dreams is finally right in front of you.” 

Haknyeon then kneels to the ground, giving you that signature pouty lips as he clasped his hands together. “Pretty please?” 

After staring at him for five seconds, you immediately slumped your shoulders and gave out a huge sigh, nodding your head, which made him jump up to give you a tight embrace. 

“If he turns out to be a whole different person from what you have described, I swear I will kick you out of my apartment and you will be banned from entering my house.” 

“Deal.”

God, this was such a bad idea.

That was the only thought that filled your mind as you rubbed your sweaty palms together as you sat in your seat, waiting for your date to arrive. 

Being all anxious about the dinner, you arrived half an hour early, apologising to the staff members that they had to accommodate you way earlier than the expected time.

But you have told yourself that you would rather be the one waiting instead, so here you were—sipping your water every minute to calm your fast-beating heart down while constantly checking the time on your phone. 

As the clock struck at 8:30 p.m., a deep husky voice resonated above you. 

“You must be Y/N, right?”

You quickly lifted your head to find a tall brunette male wearing a black suit with his hair parted to the side. He seemed pretty tall, about 176cm in height, and he was holding a little bag before he extended out his other free hand to give you a handshake.

Panicking, you quickly stood up to return the handshake, which made him smile at you. As you both sat down, he immediately took out the item that was in the bag that he was holding—a red wine.

“I hope that you are fond of drinking red wine. At least, that was what your brother has informed me of.” 

Oh, you were so going to kill Haknyeon after this.

There was a problem. You have never told Haknyeon about your alcohol tolerance and how you were certainly not going to survive drinking a few glasses of red wine. But as a courtesy, you have no choice but to accept the offer and to act as if nothing was wrong about it. 

As the man poured both of you a glass and the food came, you were both enjoying the ambience and the company for he was a pretty chatty man himself. He knew how to break the ice and not make things uncomfortable for you both. It was the way he was always so engaged in every conversation or topic that either you or he has come up with, and he never judged any of the answers you have provided. 

What was more intriguing was his gaze upon you. There was something about it that just drew you in, which made you felt comfortable and wanting to share more with him.

And how attractive he looked.

As you both chatted more, you eventually found out that he was indeed a psychologist, and he worked at the local hospital in town. He was well-trained in his job, for he would often be sent back to Westalis, his hometown, to treat the patients there. In other words, he is going back and forth between both countries, trying his best to help as many patients as possible. 

You, on the other hand, introduced that you were working as a clerk in the Berlint City Hall, and how you mentioned that you were just an ordinary person. But apparently, your date did not agree with this information as he gently laid one of his hands upon yours, reassuring you that you were doing more than enough to serve the city.

Oh, how you were starting to fall in love with him. 

It wasn’t long before you realised that you had yet to get his name this whole time that you were chatting about other topics. When you finally asked, it was a name where you knew that it would undoubtedly fit a fine gentleman like him.

“Oh, my deepest apologies where was my manners?” He gently wiped his mouth clean with the given napkin before putting that signature smile back onto his face. 

“You can call me Jayden.”

You were now trying your best to balance yourself as you were tipsy and actually on the verge of being blackout drunk. Jayden was extremely worried for your well-being, so he was still beside you as you started walking down the streets. As much as you tried your best to tell him that you were okay and would call it a day, he was not buying it and started to grip your hands and placed them over his shoulders while his other hand laid gently on your waist.

“There’s no way I am letting you go home alone like that. Please, let me at least take you to your doorstep.” He replied firmly, clearly not giving you any room to fight back anymore. 

It seemed as if you were left with no choice but to allow him to give you a helping hand as you both strolled towards the direction back to the comforts of your home.

It was then you both heard a gunshot. 

Both of your eyes widened and your ears perked up from that loud sound as you both turned towards the direction of where the source of the sound came from.

Squinting your eyes, you eventually make out a few figures running into the dark alleyway down the road, carrying a gun as they begin shooting again.

That had sobered you up before you freed yourself from Jayden’s grip and took off running towards that direction, ignoring Jayden’s calls for your name. 

Getting drunk and having a low alcohol tolerance was your weakness, but that does not mean that Lunala’s skills would diminish in any sort of way. You were now putting on your assassin persona, scanning the place to find traces of where the individuals may have gone. That was when you noticed a few scratch marks on the walls, and you quickly followed the direction towards the sound of the gunshots.

It took you a few turns before you finally found yourself in a corner, witnessing the group of thugs who were aiming their guns at a poor individual holding a bag that probably contained something that they were after. Your footsteps did not go unnoticed, for the thugs immediately turned back to aim their guns at you. Luckily for you, and not so luckily for them, you were now sober enough, ready to land a punch and kick to knock those thugs out. 

In one swift movement, you ran towards one of the individuals, knocking the gun out of their grip before throwing a punch right into their face—causing the individual to fly across to the other side. The other thugs began to panic as they were surprised that a woman like you possessed such strength. Their hands began to tremble before one of them decided to put on a brave face and lunged towards you. 

It turns out it was a horrible move to make because he would eventually be knocked out cold and tumble down the alleyway thanks to your brute strength. Not wanting to waste more time, you quickly took out each individual at a time, successfully knocking out all of the weaponry they possessed in their hands. 

Dusting off your hands, you slowly walked towards the individual before that familiar voice made your eyes widen, and you turned your back to face the source of where it was coming from.

“Woah, Y/N. What exactly happened here?”

Damn it. It was Jayden. 

There was no way you would tell him that you were an assassin, so possessing combat skills was part of your forte. You were struggling to think of something before you heard some shifting noises coming from behind you. 

“Umm… I-It’s not what you think it is—”

“Y/N! Duck!”

Within a swift motion, Jayden quickly made his way towards you before throwing a punch at the individual holding the bag in their possession towards the ground. You were confused as to why Jayden did precisely that before he slowly bent down to face the individual himself. He quickly took the bag out of their grip before looking back at the individual grunting on the ground. 

“Well, it must have been very bold of you to steal these jewellery pieces from the local art museum. Unfortunately, luck was not on your side for tonight.” 

“Why you…”

“Oh, if I were you, I would save up the energy, darling. You were clearly in no way better than the thugs who were chasing you down the streets.”

“W-what? How did you know—”

“Oh, I do know, alright.” Then Jayden’s voice went down an octave lower, and the look in his eyes would be enough to send shivers down one’s spine. Unfortunately for the individual, he now finally recognised who exactly he was dealing with. 

“Y-you… you’re… Twi—” The individual was knocked out cold by Jayden once again, only this time, he would not be waking up anytime soon. Jayden gave himself a huge sigh of relief before he stood back up, turning back to you with that signature smile of his. 

“Well, that was something. I am sorry if I terrified you in any way. I hope you’re alright, Y/N?” Jayden questioned as he examined you to see if you were left with no scars. But that wasn’t what concerned you the most. That brute strength he had shown back then was not something an ordinary individual could pull off. Sure, maybe someone who possessed martial skills could do it anytime—but something just felt off. 

You needed to know. If he genuinely does possess something else rather than just being an ordinary psychologist. 

“J-Jayden… how did you know—”

“Oh, you meant that individual back there? Well, working with patients across the country has gotten me a fair amount of networks that I could rely on to keep up with the latest news. That also meant individuals like him who escaped from the facility and did the dirty work on the streets.” 

Hmm… okay. That does seem plausible. 

“And to be fair, he was about to inject you with some sort of liquid with the syringe he possessed in his hands right into your neck, so I had no choice but to knock him out cold.” 

Syringe? Liquid? How exactly did this happen?

You quickly turned to look back and examined the scene, and sure enough, your eyes landed upon the shattered syringe with the liquid now oozing out onto the floor. 

How could you not have noticed this before? 

It seemed as if your date had somewhat of a keen sense and could detect certain things that you couldn’t, which was odd since you usually never miss out on a single detail. 

Maybe it was the influence of alcohol. You reasoned to yourself, not wanting to ponder upon this topic for too long since your head is starting to hurt now as if it were the after-effects of the alcohol. 

Jayden noticed how you were placing one hand on the side of your head as you closed your eyes to deal with the pain that was starting to get more prominent than before. 

He calmly took off his suit and draped it across your shoulders, now holding you close to him once again. 

“Let’s go home now, hmm?” 

It has been a week since that fateful incident. 

You were typing away on the computer at work, but almost every five minutes, you would get distracted as your mind constantly wondered who exactly your date was. 

There was just something about him that just stood out. You couldn’t pinpoint what it was, for you struggled to find the exact words to describe it yourself. 

You searched for as much information about him as possible from the city hall’s database. Still, all that you could come up with was just as he had described himself: an ordinary psychologist who travelled back and forth between Westalis and Ostania to treat as many patients as possible. 

At the same time, you tried asking your brother Haknyeon about Jayden himself, but the answers were the same as you had predicted. You undoubtedly did not tell him about the suspicions you have had about the man himself—there was no way Haknyeon would find out about your side job as an assassin anytime soon. 

You sighed as you leaned back into your chair, closing your eyes to eliminate the frustrations. That was until the telephone from the table rang, and you quickly picked it up, expecting it to be from your higher-ups from the office. 

“Code name: Lunala. Report for duty.”

Your mission for the night was to assassinate the chairman of the Lee Corporation, as it was a task given by the state government. 

It was an A-rank mission, meaning you would do the dirty work for the state government. Sure, they have gotten their people to handle assignments like this, but they care about their reputation too much to get their hands dirty. 

Since the Gardens took on side jobs for the government and they were the ones who authorise you people to keep the organisation up and running, you assassins have learnt the hard way to keep one of your eyes closed and continue with the job as quickly as possible. 

Making your way towards the hotel, you got through the security team quickly with your forged pass. As you finally reached the top floor where the chairman would be hiding, you slowly approached the two bodyguards who were guarding the doors and tried your best to woo them before finally drawing out both of your kunais as you slit their throats. As they dropped to the ground one after another, you gently knocked on the door, earning a response from the other side. 

As the door opened, you wasted no time but to dash towards the first person that was within your sight, taking him out in an instant. All of the other men quickly armed themselves and charged towards you, but your quick reflexes beat them to it as you aimed for all of their vital spots. 

Now that all the bodyguards were out of the way, you slowly walked towards the chairman, who was panicking as he got up from his chair and quickly grabbed one of the pistols from the ground, aiming it towards you. 

“S-stop… please don’t kill me… I’ll give you whatever you want!!”

“Unlucky for you; you have no room to determine whether you would live. It is I who is going to end your life tonight.” You replied bluntly before getting yourself into your offence position and started charging towards him.

It was then the walls above came crashing down, and an individual jumped right in front of you, grabbing onto both of your wrists. 

You tried your best to fight back, but clearly, the individual was way stronger than you were, still holding onto your grip firmly, not planning to let you go anytime soon. 

The individual was wearing a hood, so it was nearly impossible to determine what they looked like. The only thing you could make it was their dark brown eyes.

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart. But I shall be taking the chairman with me.” 

You narrowed your eyes, trying to figure out ways to escape from the individual while conversing with them to keep them engaged.

“Who are you? And what makes you think that you’ll be winning against me?”

“I’d like to think I am pretty good at my job.” 

“Prove it then.”

It was then you kicked into the individual’s abdomen, causing them to take a few steps back before you aimed one of your kunai into their direction and threw it, only for it to miss and land towards the ceiling. 

But it was part of your plan, for your aim was to get them to follow the direction of the weapon so that you could launch an attack when their defence was at its lowest. The individual caught on quickly, and he could defend themselves by crossing their arms to shield themselves from your punch before the both of you began a non-stop one-on-one combat with the individual. 

Surprising to you, it seemed as if their stamina was not diminishing at all, even when you both have been brawling against each other for a good ten minutes now. If this keeps up, you know it won’t get you anywhere, and you need to assassinate the chairman to prevent him from escaping.

With one final punch, both of you retreated to each end of the room, quickly getting back into your defence position with both of your kunais in hand. The individual then promptly took out a handgun, aiming it straight towards you. 

“Sweetheart, I do not wish to hurt you.”

“Bold of you to assume that you would actually be able to leave a scratch on me.” You taunted the individual while you were trying your best to catch your breath.

Before you could reason your next move, the individual then aimed the gun towards the ground and shot. To your surprise, the weapon did not contain any bullets, but rather a good amount of smoke was coming out from the gun itself. As you took a tiny whiff of it, you knew that you were in big trouble.

Sleeping gas. 

It was too late for you to run as the smoke quickly engulfed the room. You tried your best to keep yourself awake, but eventually, you collapsed to the ground as your eyes began to close. 

Before you blacked out, you could vaguely make out the individual’s last words before they eventually left the scene. 

“...forgive me, Y/N. This is part of my job too.”

You were awakened by the beeping noises seemingly coming from your side. You tried your best to open your eyes amidst the bright light shining into your face as you tried to make sense of your surroundings. 

You then found yourself lying down on a bed with an IV drip inserted into one of your arms. An oxygen mask was placed over your mouth to help stabilise your breathing. Just as you were about to get up, you heard that familiar voice as they entered the room. 

“You’re awake, Y/N.” 

You turned towards the door to see your date from the other day walking towards you while holding a tray of food that he had prepared. As he placed them down on the table situated beside you, he gently gave you support as you slowly sat up from the bed. 

“I’m so glad you’re okay, Y/N. I was worried sick about you.” He expressed his genuine emotions while trying to remove the oxygen mask away from you. 

So many questions were running through your brain, and you tried your best to eliminate the ones where you could potentially risk yourself exposing your identity. Instead, you went for a general question that you hoped would somehow be acceptable in the current situation you were in.

“How did you find me, Jayden?”

“It just so happened I had a conference at the Lotte World Hotel. We were all told to evacuate when there had been an intruder reported at the top floors. The chairman of Lee Corporation was supposedly one of my clients that I was supposed to meet up with after my conference was over, I went up to the top floor to see dozens of men who were killed in cold blood. And it was also where I found you lying there on the ground.” 

Mentally, you were cursing yourself for messing up the mission and nearly exposing your cover. Out of all people, you just had to encounter your date from the other day—as if what happened that fateful night was not enough to embarrass yourself or expose your identity even further. 

While you were busy furrowing your eyebrows, Jayden took a seat on the side of your bed and gently placed one of his warm hands onto yours, which, to be completely honest, made your heart skip a beat. 

As you looked up to meet his eyes, you could tell he had this genuinely concerned look, as if he was about to cry. 

“Y/N. What exactly is your job?” 

Oh, hell no.

This has been the number one question that you have been trying your best to avoid since the day Haknyeon set you both up on that very first date. What happened the other day would have blown your cover if Jayden had just asked if whatever happened back then was your doing. But given the circumstances now, especially when he found you amidst the dozens of dead bodies in the hotel, even an average person would think that something is not right in that situation.

As you were doing somersaults in your mind, you tried your best to keep calm and respond in the most natural way you possibly could without causing much further suspicion to be thrown at you.  

“W-why would you say that?” You chuckled nervously. 

“I don’t know… Y/N. I’m pretty sure you weren’t just there for fun, and I don’t think an ordinary clerk from Berlint City Hall would have business with the chairman. You could have lost your life if I didn’t find you there and then.”

You lowered your head to look back at the bedsheets, not knowing what to say. Perhaps you could tell him that you work for the State Security Service (SSS)—that would be a reasonable answer to buy some time for now. But there was a problem. Your brother Haknyeon is part of SSS, and there is no knowing if Jayden would do a little background check on you later on—that is, if he doesn’t trust you enough. 

Or worse, you never know if he might have contacts from SSS, given that he is a famous psychologist in the country. He must have his networks to access pieces of information as quickly as possible—

Your train of thought was cut off when you were pulled into an embrace. Jayden rested one of his hands on your head as he began stroking your hair, and he gently rested your head in the crook of his neck. He rubbed his cheek against your soft hair, inhaling your scent before eventually speaking up. 

“Y/N… I may not know much about you yet, but one thing I know for sure is that I do care a lot about you. That date that we’ve had the other day? It wasn’t just some ordinary date. I genuinely do like you and have slowly started to take an interest in you. You have no idea how I have been yearning to see you again, and only to have my heart dropped when I found you unconscious in the hotel.”

Your eyes widened at the sudden confession and embrace, but it seemed he wasn’t done letting out his feelings just yet.

“Y/N. I want to get to know you more, and in order to do that, I want to protect you at all costs. Even from the other day in the dark alleyways, I was so glad that I came in time to save you. So will you accept this offer?” 

Never in a million years would you have thought you would score in a relationship. You have never dated, heck, no man has ever taken an interest in you. Who would’ve thought that a simple blind date set up by your very own brother would land this opportunity for you.

Jayden then slowly pushed you away, only for him to grab both sides of your shoulders, looking desperate into your eyes. 

“Please? Will you give me a chance, Y/N?” 

You were now having an internal battle with yourself. As much as you want to reject him, merely because of the dangers of your actual job and you were supposed to keep your close contacts to a minimum. But your heart says otherwise. 

It would have been a lie to say that you weren’t smitten by him on that very first day that you both met during that date. You were entranced by him, and you thought that he might be a little too good for you, thinking that there was no way you would deserve a man like him. 

But now that he has made the first move and confessed to you, that paints the whole situation differently. 

Say no, Y/N. Do not risk it all—

“Yes, Jayden. Let’s make this work.” 

Immediately, he threw himself over you, causing you both to fall back onto the bed. It was as if he was a puppy wagging its tail; being all happy would’ve been an understatement at this point. He was hugging you tightly and rubbing his cheek against yours, and you decided to return the favour.

“Thank you, Y/N. I’ll be sure to make you the happiest woman alive.”

“Ju Haknyeon, I swear you are so dead this time!!” 

You slammed your apartment door open and screamed at the poor young fellow, who turned their head towards your direction while stuffing his mouth with his favourite chips. The young fellow was confused as to why you were so mad that your face was slowly turning into the colour of a bright red tomato at this point. 

“Now, what have I done wrong this time, noona? I thought we were on good terms now that you have an actual boyfriend—”

“BOYFRIEND. Thanks for clarifying that. Because tell me why my little brother made an effort to announce to the majority of Berlint City Hall that I am engaged and ready for marriage within six months??” 

That was when he remembered what he did, and his mouth formed an ‘o’ shape. 

You were not having it, as you quickly stomped towards him and grabbed his bag of chips away, causing the male to whine and cling to you. 

“B-but noona!! It is clear to everyone that you have been head over heels with Mr Jayden. Indeed, it would be natural to let people know that engagement is possible now.” 

“You have no idea how badly I want to kick you out of my apartment like RIGHT NOW.” 

Just as you were about to drag the male towards the front door, he suddenly screamed out something, which made you drop everything that you were holding right onto the ground.

“By the way, Jayden called a few minutes ago and said he will be waiting for you at the Four Seasons hotel!!” 

You gasped. “Well, why didn’t you tell me this earlier!!” 

You were now rushing into your bedroom, digging out clothes that would fit the theme and ambience of the date as you tried your best to fix your makeup as quickly as possible before dashing out to the front door again. 

You waved a quick goodbye before you slammed the door shut, causing Haknyeon to grin as he pulled up another bag of chips he was hiding behind the couch.

“Noona is down so bad for him at this point and I am loving this.”

It turns out that Jayden booked the same exact hotel and table for the night to commemorate your third month as a couple. 

It was crazy to think how time passed so quickly and the both of you have been having so much fun together. Jayden would always meet you after work right outside the city hall, and the two of you would often go cafe hopping on weekends too. For the first month that you were together, he booked two tickets to the local aquarium—all thanks to your brother Haknyeon who told him that you have an abnormal obsession with penguins. 

For your second month, the man himself got two tickets for you to head to the local zoo because they were hosting an annual Halloween trick-or-treat event where all individuals, from kids to adults, were free to participate. It was then you showed off your childish and bubbly persona—something that Jayden himself truly really loved. It was rare for him to see you in such a manner since usually you were more shy and reserved. But it was good for a change.

So for tonight, he decided that it would be great for you both to just wind down and relax with a candlelight dinner at the very first place you both met, sharing about how each of your days has been for the past week. The both of you haven’t been able to meet up with one another for a while since Jayden was away in Westalis for a conference. So it was good to have him back now.

Or so you thought. 

“Say, Y/N. There’s something important I need to tell you.” He took a sip of his wine before placing it down on the table. 

“What is it?” 

“I think… I might be gone again for a while.” 

“Oh, no it’s fine—”

“No, I meant like… for a long time, that is.” 

Oh. 

As much as you were sad for him to leave again when he just got back, you couldn’t help but understand that it was his job to travel around the country for his career, meeting with clients and treating as many patients as possible. You tried your best not to portray how sad you would be in your emotions and your response, but clearly, Jayden could read your body language easily. 

“I’m sorry, Y/N. I know I’ve just returned and have to leave again. It’s not fair for you at all.” 

“Oh my god, no, please! I mean. You do what you have to do, Jayden. It is work, after all.”

This time, he took both of your hands into his and he gently placed a kiss on top of your palm, now looking back up to you while interlocking your fingers with his.  

“I promise. I will be back sooner or later. I will keep you posted by writing you letters often. I love you, Y/N.”

Trying your very best to hold back your tears, you leaned in to give him a quick peck on the lips before responding to him. 

“I love you too, Jayden. More than anything.” 

It has been close to a month now since you last encountered your boyfriend. It felt like yesterday when you had just dropped your boyfriend off at the Ostania train station, hugging him tight and not wanting to let him go despite the train master calling for the remaining passengers to board the train as soon as possible. 

Eventually, you did let go, but not before Jayden leaned in to take a final whiff of your scent and kissed the top of your forehead, promising he would return in the blink of an eye. 

At the very beginning, the both of you exchanged letters quite often—at least you would get a letter per week from one another. Jayden would often update you about his life in Westalis—talking about how he saved this one blind man who was about to be run over by a herd of horses on the streets, how he almost spilt his director’s coffee because he insisted on carrying five to six cups at once, and how the children from the orphanage home loved his company so much so that they are begging their caregiver to send him at least twice a week to play with them.

You often giggled reading through his letters, it always felt that he was always near and never far away, and you loved the way he could make you smile even through his writings. Every time you got his letter, you would rush back to your apartment, ignoring how Haknyeon called you out to cook him his favourite marinated pork ribs for dinner because you had more important things to do.

You would often write back to him the same day his letter arrived, so by the next morning, you could drop it off at the local post office and eagerly wait for his notes for the following week. 

But unfortunately, the letters stopped coming a week ago. 

It was very odd, to say the least because it all happened so abruptly that there was no reason for him to have stopped doing so. You tried writing a bit back more than usual but to no avail. You even tried your best to contact his office in Ostania, but it seemed that they hadn’t been receiving any updates from their very own psychologist himself. 

Something must have happened to him. As much as you did not want to think about it negatively, you just couldn’t help but fear that something terrible must have happened. But still, you tried to place your faith and trust within him, holding onto the fact that he will indeed return for you.

So you have decided to search for clues about his whereabouts every time you were sent on a mission by the Gardens. You would make full use of your time staking out enemies while finding potential clues about even the tiniest detail that could lead you to Jayden. 

There hasn’t been any luck, but you were determined and not ready to give up any time. 

Jayden, wherever you may be, I will be looking for you. 

The banging sounds of gunfire resonated in the city as the SSS were hunting for a mastermind criminal that had gotten on their radar for the past few months. 

The criminal himself has evaded capture for the longest time, and when the SSS finally located his whereabouts, they couldn’t help but contact the Gardens to ask for their assistance. In response to that, the Shopkeeper sent his best assassins to help hunt down the criminal and to bring him back either alive or dead—naturally, you have been summoned due to your rank and also to guide the rookie assassins as part of their training. 

With your lead, you instructed the SSS to stake out the buildings on the ground, sending in as many soldiers as they possibly could to narrow down the chances of escape for the criminal himself. Meanwhile, the assassins would take on the buildings from the top so that if the criminal escaped from above, you and your team would stop him. 

You were examining the whole crime scene from below, watching how the soldiers from SSS had already begun firing, which indicated that the criminal had revealed himself. With that, you phoned your fellow assassins through your earpiece, signalling them to get into their offence position and watch the scene below carefully to ensure that the criminal does not escape this time. 

As you slowly got deep into your work, you felt as if someone had been standing right behind you for quite a while before you eventually drew out one of your kunais and aimed straight into their face, only to be stopped by their firm grip on your hands. 

Your eyes widened as you saw who it was—the hooded individual back from the Lotte World Hotel.

“So, we meet again.” The individual taunted. 

You scoffed; your blood was boiling again. You have already been humiliated once by them, and you certainly were not going to let them take advantage of you any longer. 

“You have interrupted me once, and I will not let you do the same again.” Rage was now pulsing through your veins, and your grip on your kunai hardened. Oh, how you wanted to kill this individual so badly now. 

“Try me, then.” The individual challenged. Before you knew it, they freed you from their grasp and you immediately threw a strong punch towards their abdomen, only for them to escape your quick reflexes before they did the same towards you.

It was then you were reminded of the scene back in the hotel. Knowing that this individual somehow had the skills and reflexes that were on par with yours, you knew that battling them like this would take you nowhere. This time, you would need to use your wits to win against them instead. 

As you were trying your best to come up with something, you were unfortunately disrupted by an ear-splitting scream from your earpiece—it was from one of your subordinates. 

Holy crap—

The individual took this opportunity to see that your defence was weak, and they quickly charged towards you, pushing you straight towards the wall on the rooftop. You grunt at the sudden impact; not going to lie it actually did hurt quite a bit. 

Suddenly, the individual began speaking up again, it seemed as if they were not done taunting you. 

“Look how the tables have turned. I would’ve expected more from the infamous Lunala.” 

“What do you want? I’m sure you’re here to disrupt our mission, aren’t you?”

“It’s a yes and a no. I had my own personal reasons for coming here tonight.” 

You scoffed. “Mixing up personal reasons with work? Now, that’s professionalism done incorrectly—”

“Y/N. Do you not really know who I am?”

Wait a minute. 

That voice. It sounded so familiar yet so distant. It was as if your mind were playing tricks on you, thinking that this person is someone you are acquainted with. But who could it be? You tried your best to narrow it down. It could be one of the criminals from the past that you’ve dealt with. Or maybe a past Garden assassin? You have heard that some have gotten away—

It was then the individual lifted off their hoodie, revealing the one that you would’ve least expected to see in this current situation you were in. 

“J-Jayden??” 

“It’s been a while, Y/N.”

But… but how? So many questions were going through your mind, and you were confused with this whole situation, trying your best to convince yourself that you’re stuck in this terrible dream and you’re actually asleep.

But you knew that it would be impossible. In reality, you were on a mission, and it just so happened that you had encountered your boyfriend, whom you had not seen in so long, in the worst situation possible.

However, it seemed as if you finally made a connection in your mind, and you needed answers right away. If Jayden were the man standing before you now, that would also mean…

“Yes, Y/N. I was the same guy in the Lotte World Hotel the other day.”

No way. “And you actually had the audacity to save me when it was you who wanted to kill me in the first place?” 

Jayden took in a deep sigh. “You see, Y/N. Things have changed, and it certainly did not go according to as planned.”

“Well, I don’t want to hear it at all.”

“Actually, I think you might want to.”

His grip on you loosened slightly before he ducked his head down, trying his best to find the right words to explain the whole situation to you in the most positive way possible. 

“Y/N. Meeting you was… I don’t know. I would want to say it could be a blessing in disguise, or maybe not.” 

Your blood was already boiling and you were on the verge of tears, and quite frankly, you have no idea how much longer you could restrain yourself before you combust. “Cut to the chase, Jayden. Tell me what exactly is your true motive.” 

“I was convinced…that all assassins were always on the opposite side between us. Based on past experiences, I’ve lived with the mindset that people like us just don’t get along with the Gardens. So, it was pointless to even think about wanting to make amendments and change history, all of that biz. At least that was what I thought.” 

He now slowly moves his hands so that they are holding onto your shoulders instead, and he looks straight into your eyes, also trying his best to hold back his tears.

“But you proved me wrong, and I was wrong to target you in the first place. Unfortunately, because of how dangerous my job is, I can’t let things like this get the best out of me, let alone emotions hinder the way in my profession—because that would put the people I care about in grave danger.” 

“Why is that… Jayden. What, or rather. Who exactly are you?” It was your time to pose the question back to him. It took him a few seconds to compose himself before blurting out his true identity. 

“I am the man that you’ve been on the hunt lately, Y/N.” 

No. No, it can’t be. You did not want to accept reality. It would seem as if you would be better off killed—oh, how badly you have stooped so low to discard the Lunala that you’ve worked so hard over the years to build up. 

Love was dangerous. That was why assassins like you always struggled to find a partner—especially when they were from the other side. 

One thing is clear now, the man in front of you is no longer your boyfriend. In fact, he is actually your worst enemy right now, and you were the same to him. 

The only question is: who will make the first move to kill the other person? 

It was then you let your emotions get the best out of you, as you finally let the tears that you have been holding up for so long drip down onto your face. You didn’t care if you felt vulnerable at this moment; you just needed to vent your feelings. 

You sobbed before finally began to ball up your fist and started hitting Jayden on his chest. 

“Why? Why did you just have to come into my life? If all that hadn’t happened, I would’ve just carried out my mission most easily and quickly as possible.” 

“Perhaps, it was also my fault for thinking that I would surely get away and perform my mission well like how I’ve always done in the past. But it just so happened that you were the first one to prove me wrong.” 

Jayden didn’t resist as you continued hitting him in the chest, which he deserved for failing to keep his composure as Twilight. 

Just then, he suddenly moved his hands to cup your face, lifting your teary face to meet his. “We don’t have much time, Y/N. But before we part ways, let me just do this for once.” 

Slowly, he leaned in to close the distance between you too. His lips felt warm against yours, and you didn’t hesitate to return the kiss. Jayden kissed even harder as he moved his hands to your back, pushing in and wanting to taste you more. As a tear dripped onto your face, he gently moved his fingers to wipe them away.

This is wrong. So wrong. But neither of you could resist it. 

When you both finally parted and tried to catch your breath, he rested his forehead onto yours before whispering. 

“We will return to being enemies the next time we see each other again, but just so you know, Lunala will always have a special place in my heart, even if my actions prove otherwise.” 

With one final look into your puffy eyes, he pushed you away and quickly made his way towards the edge of the building; he took one final look at you before saying his potential last words to you.

“Sangyeon. Lee Sangyeon. That’s my real name.” 

Within a flash, he jumped from the building and ran into the darkness, never to be seen again.

You were brought back from reality by your subordinates ringing you through the earpiece, and you tried your best to compose yourself and wipe your streaming tears away before you finally responded. 

“Tell the soldiers from SSS to secure the entire premises. We have another individual to assassinate for the night.”

Sangyeon’s POV 

It wasn’t part of his job to have encountered you tonight. In fact, he was tasked with capturing the criminal and bringing them back to the headquarters in one piece, all while avoiding the SSS at all costs. It just so happened that the Gardens were called forth for the mission, and he knew that you would be there guiding the rookies.  

There was a reason that he had been avoiding you for the past month. It was true that he has got to attend some conferences as part of his psychologist persona. But the main reason he left was because he knew that things were starting to get more dangerous than they already were—he began to develop feelings for you. 

His main reason for even accepting Haknyeon’s call in the first place was because he knew that you were the famous Lunala, and it was as if pure luck that the opposing party were the first to make a move instead of him. It was something that he was thankful for in the first place. 

Things started fine at the beginning, he was going to get close to you, gain your trust, and eventually wait for the right time to confront you about you trailing him for the past weeks. 

His record has always been perfect: no flaws, no mistakes and most definitely, he has only been diverted from his mission so badly once you came into the picture. He realises the growing addiction that he has developed for you and suddenly, you became the most challenging mission that he would ever be assigned to.

He constantly blames himself whenever he thinks about his mission, how much he has let his guard down, or how this is not who Twilight is. But every time he does that, the soft, pure and bubbly image of you pops up in his mind. 

Never would he have thought that he would fall in love, especially when he had gone through a difficult childhood himself, having the lack of love nor attention from his actual parents. There was just something about you that made him change his mind—that the world did not just have to revolve around crime and anger.

So he did what he knew was best for the both of you, him leaving before it would be too late to do so. He was not going to put your life in danger, and it would kill him to find out that you would get hurt all because of him and his actual job. 

And for the first time, since he was known to become the infamous Twilight, he had a failed mission written in his books.

“Is it an addiction, Y/N? Because you were not an easy mission to fulfill.”

A/N: i know i have been writing long oneshots lately shush—

masterlist

taglist: @deoboyznet @kflixnet @k-films @flwoie @zzoguri @kyusqult @tinkerbell460 @cheonsafics @sulkygyu @jaerisdiction @lngwayup

[wanting-better-health-blog]

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[accio-victuuri]

“big name bxg c-fans earn a lot because cpf give their money to them instead of xz and wyb.” 💀

I wanted to address this comment i saw yesterday but I had to organize my thoughts first as best as i could. I also knew GRA events are gonna take up a lot of my time so i had push it back. However, i want to post about it here even if the topic associated to this didn’t blow up that much (thankfully) cause it irritated me. I’m very used to certain fans having a skewed view of bxgs. I understand that no matter what we say, the prejudice is too heavy to even see reason.

So this is more of to explain to bxgs how this statement is completely wrong and why it shouldn’t even be said in the first place.

Let’s start with the context.

On 11/2, when there was supposed to be an entertainment ban, a few hot search tags popped up. The boys’ name or even BXG was not on it but it sort of involved the fandom. The gist is this person is a former big name BXG account back in 2019 who is now a yxh. They earned a lot from that work and was able to buy “ 8 houses”. That was actually what got on HS, the idea that someone who is working as a yxh can be that rich.

I guess people missed the fact that this person earned the money from yxh “work” and not being a BXG account. Some just saw “bxg” so they made a connection and so the comment i posted above was a common statement. The fact that XZ and WYB are top stars too added to the conversation.

First of all, being a big name account that posts about XZ and WYB back in 2019 isn’t that hard. Untamed was at it’s peak that time and so were the active fans. The drama was airing. They had appearances and were practically everywhere. It would not take that much to get the likes, follows and engagement for 2 people that had a lot of content going on. After that, when 2020 rolled in, I understand how some people on the c-side of things will fall off. They probably had new interests and I think the same goes for that account. They were there at the height of it and learned how being a profitable blog works. So I wanna say that this fan was seasonal. To say that they “represent” all big name bxg blogs is totally unfair.

Next i wanna address the concept of profit and “cpfs giving money to big name accounts”.

The easiest way is engagement to a blogger’s post. It may not be me giving the money in my pocket to them literally but they get earnings from engagement & through ads/ affiliate links. This concept is not new to BXGs. It’s the same as any other influencers out there. So the accusation of spending money to big name accounts instead of supporting the boys — in this case is misleading.

You can argue that a regular person, even so/os fall in this trap when they engage with blatant anti accounts. When they comment and share those posts, they give them the engagement.

Now there are two other ways that bxgs give their actual money to these big name accounts.

1. Fansites. Those that share HQ photos and videos of them during events. How they make money aside from engagement is selling photo-books. What’s important to remember tho is there is an unspoken rule among these sites ( not just bxg ones ) that a huge part of the earnings will be spent on charity and buying endorsements by the boys. they post receipts. Not everyone of them is perfect and some have their own issues and closed down but that’s just how it goes.

2. Fan artists. The concept of fan art & merch have long been alive and is honestly one of the best things about fandom. It gives a chance to artists to make something and earn from it. I have to say that this is the more lucrative one cause the really popular ones have their products ( usually the dolls ) sell out so fast and have months of waiting list. The same fan sites, there is a rule for them to use the money for charity.

Here is a post I made before about some of those charities but that’s a very small list compared to the actual initiatives that were done for years.

As for supporting the boys, these accounts buy endorsements, magazines of them in the cover ( in bulk ), organize LED ads for their birthdays or fandom anniversaries, sponsor peripherals for bxg gatherings, host block screenings for movies etc.

Lastly, however someone spends the money they earned is none of anyone’s business. These people on the internet thinking it’s okay to gloat about how they are the “best fan” out there because of how much they spend on a celebrity is so crass. It’s like giving Yibo a gift and leaving all the tags on cause you want him to know exactly how much you spent on him.

I appreciate fans that do spend. I really do. It helps alot with their brand value and career. I personally buy merch and watch content on paid platforms. However it should not be a way to measure someone’s worth as a fan. There is no need to shame people who want to spend their money elsewhere and not XZ or WYB. This kind of toxic mindset is largely prevalent in c-ent fandoms that some international fans are adapting. If there is something that the CCP and I agree on, it’s that this practice shouldn’t be demanded of fans. The idea of “how dare you spend on something you like” ( whether it’s a product from a big name fan or whatever ) exposes whoever is saying it as that kind of brainwashed fan.

So anyway, participate in the fandom in a way that you are comfortable with. We all have different approaches on how we take part in it and there is really no need to keep receipts. ✌🏼

[timemajesty]

So, today on November 5th, 10 years ago I made an OC for the game called Super Mario RPG. Ever since then, I've worked on him and poured so much love, sweat, tears, money and even blood into making this OC into what he is today. Not my typical type of post on here, but it's important for me to share just how much Erbin has grown as a character.

Erbin was originally created for the purposes of coping with a lot of awful things that happen in my childhood, but I never had resources or anything to draw him or get art of him, so until around 7 years ago he didn't even have any artwork to his name. I just always had so much written up pieces about him, all this information, all these little stories, and especially a lot of ship fanfics. I made him to ship with Geno, which I know is very basic nowadays, basically everyone ships an OC with Geno, but I don't care for being basic.

His first design, is awful I won't lie, I didn't know what I was doing as a character designer back then. Most of his much older art is so old, I cannot find any traces of the artists who drew a lot of them for me, so I apologize in advance for that.

Art was originally made by someone known as SweetRaccon on Amino.

Gawd, his old design. Back when he had pink hair, a much larger crown, no nose and no ears. He was also really slim back then, and also his story was a lot more different, and not good. I'll be honest and say, I kinda originally wrote him to be a projection of what my abusive ex was, a horrible person who didn't care about others if it meant getting what he wanted and I admit that I don't think that was healthy for me to do, and I've grown and I know now that projecting is okay but if you want an OC to be very much your own thing you probably shouldn't project too much onto them.

This was also the era of which I started becoming more serious with his character, adding more details into his story and giving him actual information, such as an age, a family, stuff like that.

Original art by my boyfriend.

Ah, his second design. It's still not the best but it was better. Back then I had figured out his height, some characteristics to his design and overall fixed some stuff; such as I gave him a nose and ears, and his hair wasn't completely pink, this was also around the same time that FNF was getting popular and everyone and their mothers kept comparing him to the mom from that game, to this day I will never understand that because I just don't see the similarities at all, other than the skin color.

This was probably the time in my life where I started to develop a lot of my bad writing habits, especially my habit of giving up when I feel like something I write isn't perfect; it's kinda an issue and still is to this day, and you can probably understand why I don't post him often because of that. What I will say though is that back then I had fleshed out his story to be less of just "haha he's my ex but as an OC" to "Oh, he's a very troubled and fascinating character who I changed up to not be an abuser." I'll be honest, I regret ever making him anything like my abuser.

Original art by Facade on Discord ( @toastee-roastee )

The current design, the current era.

This is when I started to develop more of his relationship with Geno, instead of Erbin being nothing but a flirty bastard with Geno; he's now someone who had to earn Geno's trust back after Geno had learned about Erbin's affiliation with the Smithy Gang. Which, let's talk about that, I don't talk about his lore enough. So here it is, the definitive and complete story of Erbin's backstory.

Once upon a time, there was a God and a Shadow Siren. They didn't love one another, the God knew he loved someone else but fate kept them apart and forced him to be with this Shadow Siren. When they decided to have a kid to keep the Gods' legacy in tact, they realized they didn't have the time or resources to care for a child. So this God, Culex, decided to give the child to a tyrant, none other than Smithy; who begrudgingly accepted Culex's request and took in baby Erbin, raising him as if he was one of the Smithy Gang members.

It didn't take long for Erbin to start being an annoyance around the Factory, he had known from a young age about how his father abandoned him which made him grow up as a troublemaker. After 30 years of suffering from abuse, burns and scars from machines, and constantly being yelled at...Erbin had enough, that's when Mario and his group of heroes destroyed Smithy, and that's when Erbin took that opportunity to steal Smithy's crown and escape the Weapons World, claiming an abandoned castle deep into the Forest Maze as his home.

It wasn't long before he met one of those heroes, Geno, who had been ordered to take care of any remaining Smithy Gang soldiers that lurked Mario's World, the rest is history.

More art from my boyfriend.

When I tell you this OC means everything to me, I mean it. He's been with me through it all, ever since the start of an abusive relationship with my ex all the way to today, where my life is a lot better and I have an amazing partner and an awesome friend group. To everyone who's been in this journey of helping me make Erbin the character he is today, thank you. You mean just as much as Erbin means to me, which is a lot. I wouldn't be here without this OC and I definitely wouldn't be who I am today without him, he brought me so many memories and I can't wait to make more with him. I may post more for him today, today is his special day.

Oh and it's election day so like, vote for Erbin lmao.

[lean-mean-demon-genevieve]

Hi! I’m not sure if this has been asked before but is there a reason she moved her bookclub to Charlie’s platform? Also, does she get paid for these talks with the authors? I’ve always wondered that. Thanks!

The answer is ALWAYS money.

My guess is that it’s some sort of a circle-jerk type of deal where she moves her thing to his platform and in turn he does some sort of work for her/Jared like managing their social media.

Remember that Momentus was charging for attending her bookclubs live with the ability to chat and ask questions. Momentus then reportedly gave an undisclosed percent of that fee to charity of choice. Gen probably pockets a portion of the remaining profit, but I don’t know that for sure.

Not that long ago, you could also buy her bookclub picks through the Momentus website, but I don’t see that anymore. Instead, if you click her “link in bio” link on IG, Gen now has her own affiliate link with a site called Bookshop.org. This site has marketed itself as an alternative to Amazon and as an advocate for independent bookstores. Which all sounds great until you do a little bit of research.

Bookshop.org basically acts as a middle man between a wholesale warehouse (named Ingram) and indie bookstores. Bookshop doesn’t even take from the indie bookstore’s inventory. Shops can set up an account, customers order books, they are shipped from an Ingram warehouse, and the site gives the indie seller a 30% cut of the profit…but indie bookstores are concerned because they would make more by cutting out the middle man. Duh!

(Read more here and here)

And when individuals like Gen can become an affiliate and earn 10% on sales, indie bookstores lose out even more.

“Publications that review books can earn much-needed financial support”…nope, that’s not Gen. “Book clubs can earn sustaining funds on each pick”…that doesn’t feel like it fits either. “Instagram influencers can earn revenue”…theeeeere it is!

You see that running total at the top of that website? Gen didn’t contribute to that. Her 10% goes right in her pocket. Remember a couple weeks ago when Gen posted a reel about her favorite local Austin indie bookstores? And how important it is to support them?

She cares about her own bottom line even more.

But I bet she would love for you to believe that this was yet another altruistic, pious choice in the name of small businesses and sustainability. Most fans won’t look this deeply into her connection to this site and company itself. They just see that giant number at the top and their heart eyes for Gen dilate that much farther.

Amazon is an evil organization. I use it too, but it is evil. It just is. Amazon has put a lot of small businesses in the ground with their ability to charge less. I appreciate alternatives, and Bookshop is that, but Bookshop isn’t innocent. Even though they’re up-charging for books, remember how many extra people have to get their cut. This company boomed as it launched in 2020 and much profit has been made. And any time major profits are made…someone is getting exploited.

(It should also be noted that Gen’s link in bio also has her Amazon affiliate link. She doesn’t care which shifty brand is paying her, as long as she’s getting your money.)

I wonder what the people at the distribution warehouse get paid? How do authors make money? How much is the creator of Bookshop worth at this point in comparison?

Hey Gen, can you answer any of that?

Gen, wait!!

…I don’t think she wants to talk.

[colebabey888]

Hiiii 🥰, how do you make money through Pinterest? I downloaded your recent ebook called the M3 and I was interested to know how you eventually started bringing in money after gaining the monthly views ect ect...

hi pretty!

Thank you so much for downloading the M3 I highly appreciate the support, mwah ! xoxo

The M3 is a mini guide to help you learn how to gain an audience specifically on Pinterest although you can implement the same strategies on any social media platform of your choice, I only chose Pinterest as the main topic, because it's where I have more experience.

Now, the Digital Dollar, my previous E Book, is what answers your question. It goes in depth on how you actually start making money once you have an audience. It teaches you all the steps and it gives and shows you different ways of making money. Since I released the Digital Dollar before the M3, I had included some tips on how to grow an audience in the Digital Dollar aswell.

I started out with affiliate marketing. In short, I joined multiple affiliate programs and advertised their products on my platform (aka Pinterest) and everytime someone purchased the product through my link, I earned a small commission... my first affiliate program was Amazon Associates, which is very common to start of with in affiliate marketing, then i joined Digistore24, ShareAsale( i do not recommend these program AT ALL ) and then I joined a small clothing brands affiliate programs.

Now when it comes to affiliate marketing, this is a great place to start off when beginning to make money through social media, you learn and pick up a few useful skills, but it doesn't bring in a lot of money unless you're in probably like a thousand affiliate programs and if you were, it would no longer be considered a side hustle as you would need to devote a lot of time to achieve success in this. So once my Pinterest reached 1M, I began to seek other digital opportunities and widened my brand to other platforms ( Tumblr ) . Instagram and TikTok will be my next platforms to experiment on.

Feel free to check out www.thedigitaldollar/gumroad.com, it will give you the answer you're looking for and more.

if you need anymore help, please don't be shy and message me privately, i would love to help you personally 🩷

xoxo, colebabey8.88

[silverarmed]

hi! i’m sophie (she/they, 24) and sooo excited to finally be here! on the menu today we have a heavily revamped muse of mine, seo miyun or as she prefers to be called, yun. she’s a 28 yo maintenance worker with cyborg physiology, currently not on her second, third, but fourth chance at a better life. further info and links can be found under the cut. to avoid me ending up in jail, feel free to message me first to plot + i'm also available on d*sc*rd! <3

links stats / story / powers / trivia

summary tws: child abandonment, child abuse, drug abuse

her first chance at a better life was given to her shortly after her birth. her single mother dropped her off at the steps of an orphanage, hoping a caring family would adopt her. instead, she was taken in by one of eden’s most radical anti-metahuman politicians. the moment her ability manifested at the age of nine, her adoptive parents locked her away from the outside world, ashamed of the monster that infiltrated their home.

her second chance was given to her at the age of fifteen. her extended family found out that she was a metahuman and told the press. she became somewhat of a political symbol, especially that she was surrendered again. instead of letting someone else adopt her again or going to the aeternal academy at eighteen, she decided to reconnect with her biological mother instead.

her third chance was given to her at the age of twenty-one. after finding out that her unemployed mother had been spending her hard earned money on alcohol and drugs instead of paying the bills, yun moved out and got affiliated with daemon. she was a fighter with a decent winning streak for about four years before she was caught taking kickers and sent to seongdong correctional facility.

her fourth chance is given to her now, at the age of twenty-eight. thanks to her good behavior, she’s out a few years earlier than she should be, keeping a low profile as one of the maintenance workers in the apartment complex.

because of her primary ability (cyborg physiology), her brain is half biological and half technological. this means she's pretty sharp-witted, but also not as in tune with her emotions as other people are. also has a monotone, borderline robotic voice that can be pretty distressing to deal with at first. infamously hates literature and modern art because she just doesn't understand it.

yes, the blog name did not lie, she does have a silver arm — her right one, in fact! it's her only visible technological part for now. (fun fact: her daemon fighter alias used to be silver for this reason... but she hated it, please don't call her that.)

^ shoutout johnny silverhand

likes fixing things for tenants free of charge (she just wants to feel useful and capable) and playing video games in her spare time. uses her minor ability (electricity manipulation) to cheat when someone is mean to her in vc. 🤷‍♀️

veeery basic connection ideas

event #2 related: someone who dragged her along to the trip! she wouldn't go on her own (doesn't want to get her silver arm rusty + it heats up in the sun and it's just ew) but if someone begged her, she'd probably say yes!

yun has never had romantic feelings for anyone (surprise, surprise) so maybe someone who has a little crush on her and makes her question how anyone could even like her. (she’s questioning so anyone around her age is welcome!)

someone who regularly breaks the electronics in their unit and has her on speed dial. (she came to silver line about four months ago.)

a daemon regular or secret admirer who misses seeing her fight. (she started about seven years ago and retired three years ago.)

i was not here for the first event HOWEVER! it is safe to assume she was just down there working on the generator the whole time. maybe someone who brought her a snack or two as a way of saying thanks?

people who hate her and think she’s a bitch because she’s so cold and blunt all the time. little do they know, it’s just the cogs in her brain.

an angsty “two people trying to heal together but they keep treating each other like shit” connection, anyone? (bonus points if they have similar problems/backgrounds.)

[eugenedebs1920]

Balance is a key part of life. From an ecosystem, to one’s health, from a work/life balance, to physically being able to balance. Balance is imperative for good mental health. Can’t just be all hunky dori all the time, pretending everything perfect, but you can’t stay in the dark too long being consumed by gloom and despair.

Balance is how one addresses the financial situations in life, you bring in roughly this much, this costs this much, my spending needs to be in this range. Even balanced substance abuse is how one can do a little something something, but not spend all their money and time on it, and still go to work. It’s ok to have a drink, or a puff here and there, it has to stay in balance with the other aspects of life or it becomes a problem.

Balance can be broke down on a global scale, rain is good, but too much rain is bad. Certain creatures on the lower levels of the food chain are important to feed creatures higher on the food chain, but too many lower level creatures are an infestation.

Balance brings harmony. The ying and the yang of existence. Everything In equipoise brings stability to its surroundings.

The United States basks in a state of asymmetric volatility on nearly every aspect except the split down the middle of political affiliation. There’s no concinnity harmonizing vital elements of society, justice, governance or economics.

The top 10% of earners own 67% of the wealth in this country, and the top 1% earn 31% of the nations wealth. It’s complicated with percentile vs percentile, so let’s break it down to a more conceivable scenario. Let’s say the earners in America is 100 people, and Americans yearly generated income was $100. Off the top $67 goes to ten people, with ninety people still needing their cut of the remaining $33. From the 90%-50% range of earners in our scenario, that’s 40 people, they split between them $30. That leaves us with 50 people who still need compensation for their labor from the 50% mark, to the lowest percentile, to split between them the remaining $3.

To recap. In our 100 person America, with $100 wealth distribution, 1 person gets $31. Nine people split $36, evenly distributed that $4 per person. Then 40 people split $30, which evenly distributed is 75 cents per person. Then 50 people split $3, which evenly distributed is 6 cents per person. There’s nearly 345 million people in the United States so those numbers are obviously massively simplified but you see what I’m getting at.

In our scenario as someone of 50 people receiving $0.06 I’m pissed! Even the next 40 people receiving $0.75 I’m not pumped about it. Take those top 9 earners making $4 each while one guy gets $31! It’s like, what the heck!?

That distribution is the lack of balance, and the very example of disproportion.

Now let’s take a look at incarceration.

The United States has the highest rates of incarceration in the world. While only representing 4% of the world’s population it harbors 25% of the world incarcerated people’s.

Let’s be clear. There are crimes that warrant (no pun intended) severe consequences. There are some crimes that ruin or take lives of the victims upon which they were conducted. Sex crimes, hate crimes, crimes against children, certain assaults, domestic violence, murder, drug related vehicular manslaughter, and some variations of fraud, are life altering or ending and should be judged as such. Yet one in five inmates being incarcerated for drug offenses is absurd.

Let’s be honest. Imprisonment equals profit. In 2023 the cost of incarceration to the American taxpayer was nearly $80 billion. Every state has different costs, and there’s different security levels of prisons, but the U.S. average per inmate is over $39,000 yearly.

Then There’s the nearly 10% of prisons that are “for profit prisons”, meaning they’re owned by private corporations and not only do they receive subsidies from the federal government but they charge up to $24 a phone call, they have unpaid inmate labor, selling the goods or services for profit, and charge exorbitant amounts for over the counter medications such as Tylenol or antihistamines.

The statistics change yearly and the variation of “crimes” is immense. Statistics show that between 44%-65% of incarcerations are drug related. The numbers for violent offenses are similar, 41%-68%. I realize these are more than 100%, and/or in contrast with each other but there’s county jails, local jails, state jails, state prisons, federal prisons, men prisons, female prisons, a significant amount of people in jail who have yet to be sentenced, migrant camps and so on. So finding solid, it’s THIS percent that makes up THAT percentage is nearly impossible. But hey! The price of admission for the article was fair 😉

Overall roughly half the jailed population is for drug offenders. Roughly. Drug use, and most drugs, were not wholly illegal until the 1970’s with Nixon declaring drugs as “public enemy number one”, thus began the war on drugs.

In 1994, Richard Nixon’s Domestic Policy Chief John Ehrlichman, would tell journalist Dan Baum, that the policy was primarily for Nixon’s reelection, saying Nixon had two major obstacles, “the antiwar left, and black people”. He would go on to say in the interview, “We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities. We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course, we did.”

The population of Black Americans is a little over 12%, and Caucasian is a touch over 60%.

In 2022 the prison population by race was, 32% black, 31% white, 23% hispanic, 10 % multiracial, 2% Native American/Native Alaskan and 1% Asian.

If 12% of the population is Black American, that’s roughly 42 million Black Americans. Of those 42 million black Americans, 13,440,000 are or will be incarcerated. At 32% of the incarcerated population that breaks down to almost 30% of the Black population as a whole, are, or will end up incarcerated. White people are 60% of the population in America at 210 million. Of those 210 million white people 31% of 210 million is 65,100,000 that equates to 6.5% of whites are incarcerated per capita in comparison to 30% of the 12% out of 350 million. I think... I’m a plumber not a statistician, and that math was friggin painful so we’re just going to leave it at that.

So, even if my math is off a bit, it’s plain to see how the disproportionate incarceration percentage of black people being a smaller portion of the overall population, than the larger populations percentage in comparison to the incarceration rate. 😵‍💫 If that makes sense.

The balance between the two races outweighs one another significantly.

Moving on!….

Let’s take a look at political power in this country. We’re going to make this one a little less mathy. 😅

As of November of 2024, there have been 2,004 people who have served in the United States Senate. There’s been over 11,000 members who served in the United States House of Representatives. There’s has been 45 individuals who’ve had the honor of serving as The President of the United States of America.

Of those 2,004 individuals who have served in the Senate, with the addition of two excellent women of color in the 2024 election, by my count, 14 have been of African descent. With the addition of 3 new female members to the Senate, there has been 63 women who have served this nation as a U.S. Senator.

My brains all mushy from the statistical math from the incarceration segment, so we’re going to stay away from percentages but, it’s obvious the disproportionate amount of white men who have served in the Senate versus women and those of color.

Of the more than 11,000 Americans who have served in the United States House of Representatives, only 167 have been African American. With 6 of those being from either D.C. or U.S. territories. Of the more than 11,000 representatives 385 have been women, with the first trans woman elected to the House in 2024 making it 386.

Lastly, and sadly. Of the 45 people who have served as President of the United States of America, 45 of them were men, with one of those men who served two terms being that of African descent. There has been only 2 major party candidates that were women to run for the highest office in the land. And, in a incredibly messed up and cruel twist of fate, both were “defeated” by one of the most grossly incompetent, misogynistic, sexist, racist, conman, cheat, sexual assailant, fraudster, B-list reality tv personality, piece of garbage f*ck, Donald J. Trump.

When things are in balance, everything sits just precisely where it belongs. Beyond a physical realm, beyond what’s known. Harmony and peace coincide as one in a state of euphoria. Like being weightless on a cloud. Not overly ecstatic, but more than content.

Personally I think I’ve seen this most in nature (particularly with a little psychedelic accompaniment) everything existing in its own realm, doing what it’s intended to, unaware of its importance while simultaneous insignificance. Just being, together as one, perfect wistful bliss.

That is certainly not where we find ourselves today. Both as Americans and humanity. We are seemingly in endless conflict. Conflict with each other, conflict with ideology, conflict of nations, religions, practices. We even find we are in conflict with ourselves.

If we could find that balance, one day the endless turmoil would cease to be. Yet. That seems to be in contrast to human nature.

[theambitiouswoman]

Hi Yili, I’ve recently been looking into affiliate marketing and I notice a lot of information about it is being advertised on Tiktok and Instagram where people have you comment or DM a code and to watch a video from this same guy on how to start. I’m a little skeptical because of this and it feels more like an MLM but I don’t know. Did you also start this way or did you find out about affiliate marketing in another way? Thanks!

Hi baby,

So, I did not learn affiliate marketing this way and to add to that- there are LOADS of ways to do affiliate marketing. I have had a ton of friends ask me about the type of posts you are talking about to learn how they work. Basically, you buy a program from someone- the ones I have seen everyone promoting teaches you how about affiliate marketing which basically falls into how to sell and market things/yourself (not sure what else they teach) I have never looked through any of the programs people are selling. But the people promoting them make money by selling those courses to others. I am not sure what the split is but it is a % of whatever the product cost. So they create their landing page, and get an affiliate code from the company that sells the program and so on and so fourth. Think of it as a referral commission.

There are different sales strategies and I don't really know what people are or aren't teaching in regards to that but it all goes back to the same thing, promoting someone's product and earning a specified percentage when people purchase from your link that you got from the website you bought the program from. The link is unique to you when you become an affiliate for them. Some people will do a free entry starter video to collect your email then will upsell you product via email. I think thats the example you mentioned in your question. Like I said, SO MANY WAYS to do it.

It is not an MLM. In an MLM a person earn money both by selling products and by recruiting new members to their team. The more people they recruit, and the more those recruits sell and recruit others, the higher the earnings potential. This creates pyramid structure where income is not just from sales but significantly from the recruitment of new members.

Affiliate marketers earn money by promoting other people’s or company’s products. They earn a commission for each sale or specific action (like a click or form submission) made through their unique affiliate link, which most people are using stan store. There's no recruitment involved.

If you are asking me if this is a good way to make money then yes. ESPECIALLY with tik tok. I have seen people that I know personally make a lot of money doing it. As I am typing this i'm asking myself why I don't make a program myself hahaha

[learnfromkarl]

What’s up, my friends? It’s your boy Karl, and today we’re talking about something that can help you make some serious cash online. That’s right, we’re talking about Google Adsense! And specifically, we’re talking about a Fiverr gig that I found that can help you create a profitable Adsense-approved website for less than $5.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. How is it possible to get a high-quality website with Adsense approval for such a low price? Well, let me tell you, my friends, it is possible, and it’s all thanks to this amazing Fiverr gig.

First of all, let’s talk about what this gig offers. The seller promises to create a profitable website on any niche with a guaranteed Adsense approval. But what sets them apart from other sellers is that they don’t just create your website, write a few articles, and call it a day. They take care of all the mandatory things required for Adsense approval before delivering your order.

That means they’ll fix issues such as low value, privacy policy, site unavailability, rewritten or unoriginal content, site navigation behavior, third-party APIs content, minimum content requirements, affiliate content with little added value, and thin content that doesn't meet Webmaster quality guidelines. They ensure that your site has unique, high-quality content and a good structure that will help you get approved for Adsense.

But what does Adsense approval mean for you? It means you can start earning money by placing ads on your website. Every time someone clicks on an ad, you get a commission. And the best part is that you don’t have to do anything except create the website and place the ads. Google takes care of the rest.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. Creating a website can be complicated, and getting Adsense approval can be even more challenging. But that’s where this Fiverr gig comes in. For less than $5, you can have a professional website that’s ready to make you money.

And the best part? You don’t have to worry about the quality of the work or whether you’ll actually get Adsense approval. The seller has a proven track record of success, with plenty of positive reviews from satisfied customers.

So what are you waiting for? If you want to start making money with Google Adsense, then this Fiverr gig is the way to go. Place your order today, and within a few days, you’ll be on your way to earning some serious cash online. And who knows, maybe one day you’ll be able to quit your day job and live off your website earnings. The possibilities are endless, my friends.

{LINK}

[vibestheoracle]

10 Easiest Ways to Make Money Online in 2024

In today's world, making money online is easier than ever. You can try freelancing, start an e-commerce business, or find passive income. This guide will show you the top 10 ways to earn money online in 2024.

CLICK HER TO SEE THIS AMAZING OFFER

Key Takeaways

Discover the power of online freelancing and how to leverage popular platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.

Learn about the thriving e-commerce industry and the potential of dropshipping and print-on-demand business models.

Explore passive income streams, including affiliate marketing, blogging, and selling digital products.

Understand the benefits of virtual assistant services and online tutoring as lucrative side hustles.

Gain insights into the latest trends and emerging opportunities in the world of online earning.

Online Freelancing: Unleash Your Skills

The digital age has opened up a world of opportunities. Now, you can make money from home. Online freelancing lets you show off your skills to people all over the world.

Leveraging Platforms for Gig Work

Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer are great for freelancers. They let you work in areas like digital marketing, virtual assistant services, and online tutoring. It's easy to start: just make a profile, show your work, and bid on jobs.

These sites are perfect for those who want to earn money online. They offer flexibility and reach a global audience.

Building a Freelance Portfolio

A good portfolio is key to success in freelancing. It should show your best work and skills. It proves you can do great work.

Whether you're a designer, writer, or developer, a great portfolio attracts clients. It helps you find good online freelancing jobs.

"Freelancing has given me the freedom to work on my own terms and build a career that aligns with my passions. The ability to work remotely and set my own schedule has been life-changing."

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E-Commerce: Tap into the Digital Marketplace

The rise of e-commerce has opened up many chances to sell online. You can start with dropshipping or print-on-demand with little money. These ways let you sell many products without storing them, making it easy to start and grow.

Dropshipping: A Low-Risk Approach

Dropshipping means you don't store any products. When someone buys, you buy it from a supplier and they ship it. This way, you can start a business with almost no money, only paying for what's sold.

Print-on-Demand: Customizable and Scalable

Print-on-demand lets you sell custom items without managing inventory. You design things like t-shirts and mugs, and someone else makes and ships them. It's great for creative people to share their ideas worldwide.

Conclusion

The 10 easiest ways to make money online in 2024 offer many chances. You can work online or sell things online. These options fit many skills and interests.

You can use your skills on freelance sites, sell things online, or make money while you sleep. These ways are endless. By trying these methods, you can control your money and be free in the digital world.

Starting is the first step to success. So, why not try these ten must easiest ways to make money online 2024? You can make money without working hard, sell digital stuff, or write and share content. Your future is waiting for you.

[cyberneticatoms]

no way is that ANDROS LUPIN..they’re a 26 year-old SYNTH notoriously known for being SENSITIVE & PASSIVE but there are some people who have seen them being IMAGINATIVE & SUNNY-DISPOSITION. if you ask me, they remind me a lot of the salty taste of your own tears, the cold ice against your fingertips, and grinning through it all, but that could just be because they’re considered the MARTIAL PACIFIST around town. just keep an eye on them  &  see if their true colors shine through..

↳ 𝚀𝚄𝙸𝙲𝙺 𝙵𝙰𝙲𝚃𝚂

NAME:  Andros Shun Lupin NICKNAMES: DATE OF BIRTH: August 4th (26) HEIGHT: 5'10 AFFILIATION: Neutral OCCUPATION: Professional Figure Skater FACECLAIM: André Lamoglia

TW: child abuse, physical violence

↳ 𝙱𝙰𝙲𝙺𝙶𝚁𝙾𝚄𝙽𝙳

❖ Andros' dad was a famous hockey player who wanted sons to carry on his legacy. He specifically went for traits that would make them competitive and ambitious, without any remorse. ❖ Andros isn't really sure what went wrong or how it happened, but other than having some ambition he did not end up at all how his dad planned. Sensitive almost to a fault and someone who'd rather talk things out than resort to his fists. ❖ He did like playing hockey, but it wasn't really the sport he loved, it was getting to spend time with his big brother, Phoenix. At one point the rink has been double booked and his hockey team was forced to share space with a group of figure skaters. ❖ He was almost immediately entranced, wanting to move like they did. He started sneaking around, using what spare allowance he was given to pay for classes. Ironically figure skating made him a better goalie for the team, learning how to easily move his body on the ice. ❖ Eventually Phoenix found out and Andros was terrified over what his brother would do. Though he simply asked which Andros would prefer to focus on, hesitating before admitting he'd rather figure skate. ❖ He was more than a little stupefied later that day when Phoenix and their dad ended up in a fight. Feeling guilty when he found out it was cause their dad had been threatening Andros’ life. He barely managed to stop Phoenix from killing their dad, the two of them leaving that night and living out of motels. ❖ His brother refused to tell him how he was earning money for them both to keep skating and survive. Eventually they were found by Oda Lupin who brought them home to their wife Phoebe. ❖ For the first time Andros felt like he could actually breathe and relax. His excitement only growing when after staying with them, the idea of adoption was brought up. ❖ It was the best and worst day of his life, he became a Lupin officially but lost Phoenix when he ran away. No amount of reassuring or reaching out would get his brother to budge. ❖ The second worst day of his life was when the Mafia broke Phoenix’s legs after refusing to throw a game. He's still not sure if the men would have eventually killed him and Phoenix, but Oda had arrived  ❖ The rest of the night was a blur, with Oda and Phoebe promising things would be alright. Andros believed them, especially when Phoenix moved back in along with being formally adopted.  ❖ Now that his brother has mostly recovered it feels like things are finally settling down. With Andros just trying to enjoy the relative peace they have now.

↳ 𝙼𝙸𝚂𝙲

• Tries to find inspiration anywhere for routines, from ballet performances to watching people dance at the club.

[megas190]

The Shocking Truth About Affiliate Marketing: What They Don’t Tell You

Affiliate marketing has become one of the most popular ways to make money online, promising a stream of passive income that can grow with little effort. But is it really that simple? If you’re new to affiliate marketing or even a seasoned pro, you may not know the full story. In this article, we’ll uncover the hidden truths of affiliate marketing, show you how it works, and reveal the strategies that successful marketers use to generate substantial income.

Ready to Unlock the Secrets of Affiliate Marketing? Download Our Secret formula and Start Earning Today!

What Is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is an online business model where you earn a commission by promoting other people's products or services. It’s a performance-based strategy: when someone clicks your unique affiliate link and makes a purchase, you get paid. Sounds simple, right? Well, there’s more to it than just placing links on your website or social media.

How Affiliate Marketing Really Works

1.Choosing the Right Niche: Not all niches are created equal. Some are highly competitive, while others may not generate enough interest to be profitable. The key is to find a niche that has a passionate audience and high-ticket products that can offer substantial commissions.

2.Finding High-Ticket Offers: One of the secrets to making serious money in affiliate marketing is promoting high-ticket items—products or services that offer large commissions per sale. These could be premium courses, software, or exclusive memberships. The higher the price, the bigger your commission.

3.Creating Valuable Content: Successful affiliate marketers don’t just slap links on a page. They create high-quality content that provides value to their audience. This could be in the form of blog posts, product reviews, tutorials, or even videos. The goal is to build trust with your audience, so when they see your affiliate link, they’re more likely to click and purchase.

4.Driving Traffic to Your Content: Without traffic, your affiliate links won’t generate any sales. There are several ways to drive traffic to your content: SEO (Search Engine Optimization), social media marketing, email marketing, and paid advertising. Each has its pros and cons, but SEO and social media offer excellent opportunities for free, organic traffic.

5.Converting Clicks into Sales: It’s not enough to get people to click on your affiliate links; you need them to convert into sales. This is where persuasive copywriting and strategic placement of links come into play. Additionally, understanding your audience’s pain points and presenting your affiliate product as the solution can significantly increase conversion rates.

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The Challenges No One Talks About

While affiliate marketing can be lucrative, it’s not without its challenges. Here are some of the things most people won’t tell you:

It Takes Time: Building a successful affiliate marketing business doesn’t happen overnight. It requires consistent effort in creating content, driving traffic, and optimizing your strategies. Patience is key.

High Competition: Popular niches often have fierce competition. Standing out from the crowd requires creativity, niche expertise, and a deep understanding of your audience.

Constant Learning: The digital landscape is always evolving. What worked last year might not work today. Staying updated on the latest trends, tools, and strategies is crucial for long-term success.

Dependence on Third Parties: Your income depends on the companies you promote. Changes in their policies, commission structures, or even the viability of their products can impact your earnings.

Proven Strategies for Affiliate Marketing Success

To succeed in affiliate marketing, you need more than just knowledge; you need a strategy. Here are some tips to help you thrive:

Build an Email List: Your email list is one of your most valuable assets. It allows you to promote products directly to your audience and build a relationship with them over time. Offer a freebie in exchange for their email to start building your list.

Leverage Social Proof: People are more likely to purchase something if they see others doing it. Use testimonials, reviews, and case studies to build credibility and trust with your audience.

Experiment with Different Traffic Sources: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Explore multiple traffic sources—like Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, and SEO—so that your business isn’t reliant on just one.

Focus on Long-Term Relationships: Successful affiliate marketers don’t chase quick sales. They focus on building long-term relationships with their audience and the companies they promote. This creates sustainable income and opens up opportunities for exclusive deals or partnerships.

Monitor and Optimize: Regularly review your analytics to see which content, traffic sources, and offers are performing the best. Use this data to refine your strategy, optimize your content, and increase your conversion rates.

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Conclusion

Affiliate marketing is a powerful way to generate income online, but it’s not as easy as it might seem at first glance. It requires strategic planning, consistent effort, and the ability to adapt to an ever-changing digital landscape. By understanding the full scope of affiliate marketing—beyond the surface-level promises—you can set yourself up for long-term success.

Whether you’re just getting started or looking to take your affiliate marketing to the next level, keep these truths and strategies in mind. With the right approach, you can unlock the full potential of affiliate marketing and turn it into a lucrative online business.

[hunting-songs]

detailed muse info sheet.  please repost, don’t reblog! Tagged By: A little Wildbirdie ! Tagging: @kiigan @bewitchingbaker @skarletchains @gyofukuki @stanislawkowalski @saiakv @kylo-wrecked @muddsludge @zealctry @distortedkilling @lightfaithed ...and YOU!

PLACE IN SOCIETY ✖ FINANCIAL – wealthy / moderate* / poor / in poverty ✖ MEDICAL – fit / moderate / sickly / disabled** / disadvantaged / deceased ✖ CLASS OR CASTE – upper / lower / middle / working / slave / unsure*** ✖ EDUCATION – qualified / unqualified / studying *While Senritsus paycheck literally is a Hunters Mafia-money, there are a few art-organisations and Music-Schools that are on her donation-list. So she falls in the usual hunter-category: She earns a lot of money but rarely uses it for herself, because she is too busy risking her life for her passion. So while she earns proper money, especially money that probably is not legal considering her workenviorment, most of the money is donated to organisations she is pledged to as a Hunter. Senritsu even has a habit of not paying her bills in time, because she usually is in areas where she can not just walk over to a bank-automat and pay bills. Or she is in a group or situation wherein money itself is not useful and she can not buy herself safety out of that situation, so in that manner money does not play a big role in her life. She does however has set up a bank-book for her nieces. **If Senritsu would be dragged back to an actual doctor she would probably asked how it comes that she is still alive, since not even her organs are on the right place/ in the right shape anymore. She avoids hospitals. ***Senritsu grew up specifically as an outsider of "regular society". She grew up between Traveling People who would only stay in one place longer than a month in the winter when traveling was impossible and even than they were never part of a citys or villages community but always outsiders. And her beeing outside of society did not changed when she became a Hunter who are not known to be a regular part of society, so while she stayed in different places to work for museums, she never stayed long enough to be part of that community. Joining the Mafia did not helped her in that. Accordingly she does not know how to define herslf in the regular society of a town /village.

FAMILY ✖ MARITAL STATUS –married, happily / married, unhappily / engaged and devoted to a fault / partnered / single / divorced / widow or widower / separated / it’s complicated * ✖ CHILDREN – has a child/ no children / wants children / adopted children ✖ FAMILY – close with siblings  / not close with siblings / has no siblings / siblings are deceased/ it’s complicated ** ✖ AFFILIATION – orphaned/ adopted / disowned / raised by both parents / other *It is very hard to build up a proper romantic partnership when one is a) working as a Hunter and always changing locations, b) working for the Mafia, c) really bad at keeping up relationships due to always changing locations. Senritsu is aware of that and usually avoids romantic relationships that go deeper than a fling. Her perfct romantic partner would be someone accompanying her on the travels while also following their own passion and line of work. **Senritsu and her siblings all share the fact that they are very independent, music-loving people who can not be still at one place for long. Except one. There is great love between them, but it is never put before their own passions and Senritsu knows they had all build their lifes aorund Music, so when she would not contact them she would show them what this love for music could do to someone. Had done to her specifically. And she does not want that for her siblings.

TRAITS & TENDENCIES ✖ disorganized / organized / in between ✖ close-minded /open-minded /in between ✖ cautious / reckless /in between ✖ patient / impatient / in between ✖ outspoken / reserved / in between ✖ leader/ follower / in between ✖ sympathetic / unemphathetic /in between ✖ optimistic / pessimistic / in between ✖ hardworking / lazy / in between ✖ cultured / uncultured/ in between ✖ loyal / disloyal / in between ✖ faithful / unfaithful / unknown

SEXUALITY & ROMANTIC INCLINATION ✖ SEXUALITY – heterosexual / homosexual / bisexual / asexual (grey-asexual) / pansexual / demisexual ✖ SEX – sex repulsed / sex neutral / sex favorable ✖ ROMANCE – romance repulsed / romance neutral/ romance favorable ✖ SEXUALLY – sexually adventurous / sex experienced / naive / inexperienced / curious / uninterested

ABILITIES ✖ COMBAT SKILLS – excellent / good / moderate / poor / none ✖ LITERACY SKILLS – excellent / good / moderate / poor / none ✖ ARTISTIC SKILLS – excellent / good / moderate / poor / none ✖ TECHNICAL SKILLS – excellent / good / moderate / poor / none

[cherryrockpops]

BOLD the FACTS

RULES: BOLD what applies to your OC I was tagged by @elvenbeard

OC: Nicolas B

ıllıllı Personal ıllıllı

Nicky never had a personal bank account, he couldn't apply for one unless he registered himself as a citizen. Nick is technically classified as an illegal citizen, but having an anonymous ID is beneficial to his work. He had set up a system where he could earn eddies into a cache, and his bills and payments would come from that cashe instead of actually banking that money into his pocket. He never went to school and learned everything about cars, tech, weapons etc. from working under an apprenticeship.

Financial: wealthy / moderate / poor / in poverty Medical: fit / moderate / sickly / disabled / disadvantaged / non-applicable Class or Caste: upper / middle / working / unsure / other Education: qualified / unqualified / studying / other Criminal Record: yes, for major crimes / yes, for minor crimes / no / has committed crimes, but not caught yet / yes, but charges were dismissed

ıllıllı Family ıllıllı

Nicolas was taken in when he was just an infant by the Bakker clan, but was later abandoned and outcast at the age of 13. He never personally knew his parents, aside what the clan had told him, and he was never close with the clan at all due to the mistreatment he received for being a Raffen bastard.

Children: had a child or children / has no children / wants children* Relationship with Family: close with sibling(s) / not close with sibling(s) / has no siblings / sibling(s) is deceased Affiliation: orphaned / abandoned / adopted / disowned** / raised by birth parent(s) / not applicable

ıllıllı Traits & Tendencies ıllıllı

This one was a little trickier for me to settle on, since some depend on the situation. On a professional level, Nicky knows how to play his cards and plans for most worst case scenarios. He has to considering he does his work solo and he has no backup. On a personal level, Nicky is extremely private about his life. It takes a long time for him to open up to someone and most of those times he doesn't stick around for that long. Nicky takes crafting orders on the regular, but he's his own boss for efficiency and quality. The faithful/loyal ended up being the hardest for me to settle on, since on the one hand, Nicky has honor with his work and shows kindness to those who show it to him. However, trusting someone to the point where he can put faith in them to NOT fuck him over is incredibly difficult when one lives behind a mask.

♦ extroverted / introverted / in-between ♦ disorganized / organized / in-between ♦ close-minded / open-minded / in-between ♦ calm / anxious / in-between / highly contextual ♦ disagreeable / agreeable / in-between ♦ cautious / reckless / in-between / highly contextual ♦ patient / impatient / in-between ♦ outspoken / reserved / in-between / highly contextual ♦ leader / follower / in-between ♦ empathetic / vicious bastard / in-between ♦ optimistic / pessimistic / in-between ♦ traditional / modern / in-between ♦ hard-working / lazy / in-between ♦ cultured / uncultured / in-between / unknown ♦ loyal / disloyal / in-between / unknown ♦ faithful / unfaithful / in-between / unknown

[[Skipping Beliefs since for a one-shot answer; Nicky doesn't have faith in any higher power. Closest non-existent being he could believe in is Lady Luck. He enjoys bar stories of Alien abductions and whatnot, but he doesn't sit around wondering about that stuff, even when high.]]

ıllıllı Sexuality & Romance ıllıllı

Finding romance or getting sexual gratification isn't a big thing for Nicky. He's too much of a workaholic to ever settle into a social mingle. That isn't to say he's a virgin though. Sometimes he would accept someone's advances if Nick was either curious or could gain from it, but he doesn't tie sex and love together. Nick didn't grow up with love in his life and has deep rooted trauma which makes it hard for him to make romantic connections.

Sexuality: heterosexual / homosexual / bisexual / asexual / pansexual Sex: sex-repulsed / sex neutral / sex favorable / naive and clueless Romance: romance repulsed / romance neutral / romance favorable / naive and clueless / romance suspicious Sexually: adventurous / experienced / naive / inexperienced / curious Potential Sexual Partners: male / female / agender / other / none / all Potential Romantic Partners: male / female / agender / other / none / all

ıllıllı Abilities ıllıllı

Nick is all about using as little physical effort as possible when it comes to combat. Daemons and quick hacks all the way. If he had to use a weapon, he prefers ones he only needs to shoot once with, like snipers or power revolvers. However, even though he couldn't punch someone well, Nick has excellent acrobatic/parkour skills. Since it was mentioned earlier that he never got an education, writing is a lost skill on Nick. He can type fine, read text, decorate a fancy cake, but hand writing is a foreign concept.

Combat Skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor/ none Literacy Skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none Artistic Skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none Technical Skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none

ıllıllı Habits ıllıllı

Nicky would drink if he's feeling anxious or wants to celebrate, otherwise he's more than fine with a sweet lemonade or ice tea. He tried a cigarette once, but hated the flavor and they way it made his lungs feel, so he never smoked again after that. If he wants a high, he takes edibles over a joint. Nicky is a snacker and has a bad sweet tooth, yet thanks to his overclocked brain, high metabolism and his parkour, he doesn't gain the calories. Gambling comes in many forms, and Nick does pool hustle from time to time if he needs the scratch, but it's mainly for the fun of screwing the other party over and seeing their faces when they lose.

Drinking Alcohol: never / special occasions / rarely / sometimes / frequently / alcoholic / former borderline alcoholic turned sober Smoking: tried it / trying to quit / quit / never / rarely / sometimes / frequently / chain-smoker Recreational Drugs: tried some / never / special occasions / sometimes / frequently / addict Medicinal Drugs: never / no longer needs medication / some medication needed / frequently / to excess Unhealthy Food: never / special occasions / rarely / sometimes / frequently / binge eater Splurge Spending: never / sometimes / frequently / shopaholic Gambling: never / rarely / sometimes / frequently / compulsive gamble