#how does amazon flex work

[vira785]

7 Key Features of a Successful Amazon Flex Clone

The success of Amazon Flex, a gig economy-based delivery service, has inspired numerous companies to develop similar platforms, often referred to as Amazon Flex clones. These delivery solutions connect businesses with drivers who can deliver orders on demand, creating a flexible and efficient delivery ecosystem. For any Amazon Flex clone to achieve success in a competitive market, certain core features are essential. This article will cover the seven key features necessary for an Amazon Flex clone app to provide a seamless experience for drivers, businesses, and customers alike.

Intuitive Driver Onboarding and Registration

Simple Registration Process

A successful Amazon Flex clone should offer a straightforward, user-friendly registration process for new drivers. This includes allowing drivers to sign up with minimal information initially and then providing an option to complete their profiles later. Ensuring the registration flow is intuitive helps reduce drop-offs and allows drivers to get started quickly.

Driver Verification and Background Checks

A comprehensive verification process is essential to ensure driver safety and reliability. This can include background checks, license verification, and vehicle inspection, ensuring that only qualified and trustworthy drivers are approved to deliver. While this process may lengthen onboarding slightly, it will ultimately build a safer and more reliable service.

Real-Time Job Assignments and Scheduling

On-Demand and Scheduled Delivery Options

Allowing both on-demand and scheduled delivery options makes the app versatile. Drivers can choose jobs based on immediate availability or pre-schedule shifts that align with their convenience. This flexibility enhances the driver experience and allows businesses to adapt to varying levels of demand.

Efficient Dispatching and Job Allocation

A robust dispatch system is essential for effectively matching drivers with delivery assignments. The system should account for variables such as driver proximity, vehicle type, and delivery requirements to ensure efficient allocation. Real-time dispatching enables quick job assignments, reduces wait times, and improves overall delivery speed.

Integrated GPS and Navigation Tools

Accurate Route Optimization

Efficient route optimization is key to saving time and fuel costs and enhancing profitability for drivers. Advanced algorithms should calculate the fastest route, considering traffic, distance, and multiple delivery stops. A built-in GPS system with reliable real-time traffic data can significantly improve delivery accuracy and reduce delays.

Turn-By-Turn Navigation Assistance

Having turn-by-turn navigation integrated into the app minimizes the need for drivers to switch between apps while delivering. This feature should support spoken directions, provide timely alerts for upcoming turns, and dynamically adjust routes in response to traffic conditions, ensuring a safer and more convenient experience for drivers.

Secure In-App Payment and Earnings Management

Flexible Payment Options for Customers

For any Amazon Flex clone app to be successful, it must include secure and flexible payment options for customers. This can include credit and debit cards, digital wallets, and even buy-now-pay-later options. Providing a seamless and secure checkout experience will encourage repeat business and customer satisfaction.

Real-Time Earnings Tracking for Drivers

Drivers should be able to view their earnings from completed jobs in real-time, along with details about tips, bonuses, and incentives. An in-app earnings dashboard can display these metrics, allowing drivers to track their performance and see potential earnings for upcoming shifts. A quick payment option, such as weekly payouts or even daily cash-outs, can further enhance the driver experience.

Effective Communication and Support System

In-App Chat and Customer Support

Communication between drivers, customers, and businesses is essential to ensure smooth operations and minimize misunderstandings. An in-app chat system can facilitate real-time communication, allowing drivers to clarify delivery instructions, address issues, or notify customers of delays. This feature helps improve customer satisfaction and driver reliability.

Dedicated Driver Support

Providing a dedicated support line for drivers can be beneficial in addressing any issues they encounter on the road. Whether drivers have questions about a delivery or face unexpected challenges, offering swift assistance builds trust and ensures continuity. An in-app help center or FAQs section can also provide quick solutions to common issues.

Comprehensive Order Tracking and Status Updates

Real-Time Tracking for Customers

Customers today expect to know the status of their deliveries at all times. A successful Amazon Flex clone should offer real-time tracking, allowing customers to monitor their order’s journey from pickup to delivery. This can include push notifications and live location sharing to keep customers informed about estimated arrival times and any potential delays.

Status Updates for Drivers

Drivers also need access to accurate order information to complete deliveries smoothly. Status updates on the pickup location, any special delivery instructions, and real-time adjustments to the delivery route enable drivers to provide a smooth and reliable service. Notifications about high-priority orders or last-minute adjustments improve flexibility and efficiency.

Comprehensive Review and Rating System

Customer Feedback for Driver Improvement

A review and rating system is essential for maintaining quality standards and promoting accountability among drivers. After a delivery is completed, customers should be able to rate their experience and provide feedback. This feedback can help drivers improve their service and give app administrators insights into areas that require improvement.

Driver Feedback Loop

In addition to customer feedback, allowing drivers to rate their experience with customers or merchants provides a two-way accountability system. For instance, if a driver faces an issue at a pickup location, they can flag it for app administrators to address. This mutual feedback loop promotes a healthy and respectful working environment, boosting both driver and customer satisfaction.

Conclusion

Developing an Amazon Flex clone requires features like seamless driver onboarding, real-time dispatching, GPS navigation, and secure payment options. Partnering with an on-demand app development company ensures these elements are integrated effectively, creating a reliable, user-friendly delivery app that meets market standards and user expectations.

[springsylph]

// hello, neighbor

modern day arthur morgan x female reader. mdni. voyeurism (oops), masturbation (m & f). reader is in college. brought to you by: my phone! again!

“with the blinds open?”

“...with the blinds open.”

a two-way confessional on the campus plaza turns into a harsh spotlight the second the admission leaves your lips, though you suspect that the heat would have driven you down this road at some point.

the next page you turn in your textbook is a little harsher than necessary, and you take the slight tearing noise as a sign to shut it. you could hardly focus enough to digest it, anyway. you turn to your friend, their work long since abandoned next to the half-empty bottle of soda gone flat.

"i mean," and you pause, trying to build your next sentences with the utmost care. "it doesn't seem like he's got malicious intent. he's...he's a nice guy, you know?"

"did you come to that conclusion before or after you caught him jacking off with the blinds open?"

before, without a doubt. you're not sure you can bring yourself to dislike someone who'd helped muscle your furniture up four flights of narrow stairs.

running into arthur morgan on the street that day had been the closest you've come to justice in a while. he hadn’t made an offer to help—just pulled the cardboard boxes right from your arms and told you to point him in the direction of your apartment door, and you’d said yes, because the shame of knowing he’d seen you struggle for the last hour had been too much to bear.

after the first trip up, your reprieve turned to torture. not because of the tremor in your thighs, or the burn in your lungs, but something far more sinister: the trail of hair dipping into the waistband of his jeans. the rivulets of sweat dotting the back of his neck. the flex of his back each time his grip shifts to accommodate the weight of the boxes.

his cheeks, flushed with a pretty scarlet, had deteriorated any semblance of self-preservation you could ever buy off of amazon (pepper spray was getting rather expensive), and the lopsided smile he’d given you—a meek little thing—nearly sent the glass of lemonade you’d poured for him sliding to the floor.

it was embarrassing. and more importantly, pathetic. but the only feeling with the balls to surmount your shame is that eager throb of unadulterated lust.

it’d only grown worse once you’d started pestering him with questions. turns out, he lived in the apartment right across the street from yours.

“s’only temporary, though. just till an acquaintance of mine gets back from overseas.”

temporary. that was fine. though, you do feel a little uncomfortable at the thought of fucking him in someone else’s apartment. not that you were planning on it. but…his “acquaintance” would have to have some heavy pockets though, right? so you find out one relatively non-invasive question later that arthur actually worked as a security guard—because of course he does.

you think it might have to do with the way his fingers drum against the cold countertop as he speaks. the sag of his t-shirt collar doesn’t help much either. but some harebrained part of you convinces your synapses to fire just enough to ask for his number.

to help with…appliances.

it only hits you after he leaves that working in security didn’t mean shit when it came down to appliance repairs, but you thank your lucky stars arthur was nice enough to hand over his number anyways.

from there it’s straightforward.

or, it should have been.

flirting doesn’t exactly fall under your area of expertise, but you do know how to observe. not stalk—that would be weird.

observe and observe only. just until you can work up the nerve to talk to him again.

arthur couldn’t seem to close the blinds, which made it a little easier. he was a creature of habit: he’d leave in the early morning, returning just after the sun sends the last of its rays to cascade down the walls of the building. he always seemed to return more weary than the day before, which did at least put your envy of the condominium complex to rest.

but you weren’t quite sure just what you were getting into until around two weeks after your move in.

your apartment is submerged in darkness when you finally manage to jiggle the key into the lock. the only source of light comes from the warm glow of arthur’s apartment, the sun to the moon of your window, spilling out over your desk and onto the floor.

changing out of your clothes is a quick and efficient affair, as per usual; an oversized shirt and underwear are all you can manage with the faulty air conditioning. you’re about to shut your blinds when you catch familiar skin.

your pulse is tapping out a strange rhythm in your throat.

no. he couldn’t be, could he? but that definitely was—

you clap a hand over your mouth with a shiver. creep just close enough to the edge of your window to avoid being spotted without losing your vantage point.

arthur is splayed across the couch, one leg draped over the side while the other remains bent on the cushions. you can see how you’d nearly missed it—he looks strangely relaxed.

but you’ve committed that flush in his cheekbones to memory. the rapid rise and fall of his chest. his eyes are pinched shut, and you trace down the length of his body to where his hand works in languid strokes over his cock.

oh god.

this was wrong on so many levels. but you can’t help the way your thighs rub together, or the pulsating heat of your cunt.

you slide your hand away from your mouth, snaking it lower and lower till you’re pushing aside the gusset of your panties, paying no attention to the angle of your wrist. your fingers find you already wet, clit throbbing with assured interest.

a moan snakes its way out of you as you follow the pace of arthur’s hand. he’s still pumping lazily on the couch, but his hips have begun to undulate in slow circles, punctuated by the occasional jerk.

fuck, this was getting bad. but you follow his lead, stopping when he stops, exhaling when he exhales, and there comes a point when mirroring him is no longer a conscious effort. a lock of hair falls over his sweaty forehead and you nearly cry; you’d have been able to brush it aside in a heartbeat. it only reminds you of how long it’s been since you’ve been touched by someone else like this.

you reach a fever pitch when the two of you begin to increase the pace, and you have to brace a hand against your desk for support. your eyes haven’t left arthur once. wouldn’t leave even after you catch that scrunch of his crooked nose, the tightening of his fist. but your eyes flutter when his head tips back, and his mouth falls open (so wide you can almost hear him in your ears), and shit, you think you’ll be right there with him—

—until fingers snap in front of your face.

you open your eyes. turn your head.

"hey, you good? you're drooling."

[ixhika-jsx]

## What’s a Cyber Forensic Investigator?

Master post - part 1 • part 2

You must have heard bout forensics yk investigating bout dead people who might have been killed and all

You must have seen shows on those topics too.Cyber forensic investigator is just of same kind but investigating through all types of modern gadgets.

Catching hackers and all but cooler

### The Money Talk: How Much Do They Make?

- **Cash Money**: Expect to rake in about $60k to $120k a year. If you are very much experienced and skilled then you can expect about 150k+ a year.(obv different countries and companies may have different wages)

### Companies That Want You

- **Tech Titans**: Google, Amazon, Facebook—they all have requirement for such heroes

- **Gov Jobs**: FBI, CIA—basically every spy agency wants you.

- **Cybersecurity Firms**: CrowdStrike, McAfee—so every gateway you go you gonna have opportunities everywhere.

### What Other Forensic Investigators Are There?

- **Forensic Pathologists**: Real-life detectives who figure out how someone died. Less tech, more science.

- **DNA Analysts**: The ones matching DNA samples

- **Forensic Accountants**: Following the money to catch fraudsters and scammers

- **Toxicologists**: Poison experts, figuring out if someone’s been covertly poisoned. (Yeaa yk snow white story)

### What’s the Work Environment Like?

- **The Lab**: Imagine a room filled with more screens than your gaming setup. Gadgets galore, maybe even a Red Bull or two

- **On the Move**: Sometimes you’re out in the field, collecting evidence. Think of it like collecting rare items in a game.

- **Remote Vibes**: You could be solving cybercrimes from your bed in your PJs .

### How Long Does It Take to Become One?

- **Time Investment**: About 4 years for a bachelor’s, and then 1-2 more years for a master’s if you’re going all-in. So, 5-6 years total. But hey, good things take time, right?

### What Do You Study?

- **Cybersecurity/Computer Science**: Your main jams. Think of them as the ultimate cheat codes for this career.

- **Digital Forensics**: Specialized courses where you learn to be a digital ninja.

- **Law and Ethics**: Learning how to catch the bad guys without breaking the law yourself. (You yourself don't want to be troubled obviously)

### Subjects You Need to Get Into It

- **Math**: Yep, but not the boring kind—more like coding and algorithms.

- **Computer Science**: Your go-to for everything techy.

- **Optional Nerd Points**: Chemistry/Physics if you’re into hardware forensics or just want to flex those brain muscles.

### Work Hours: What to Expect?

- **9 to 5-ish**: Standard hours if you’re working for a company, but expect some late nights or weekend shifts when big cases pop up.

- **On-Call Madness**: Sometimes you’re on-call like a digital firefighter. Cyber-attack at 3 AM? Time to suit up (or log in) and handle it.

- **Flexible/Remote**: If you’re lucky, you can work from home. Just remember, no solving crimes in your underwear during Zoom meetings!

### Interview with a Cyber Forensic Investigator

**Interviewer**: What’s a day in the life of a cyber forensic investigator?

**Cyber Sleuth**: Imagine rolling out of bed, grabbing your coffee, and diving into cases. I’m talking analyzing hard drives, sifting through emails, or tracking down cyberattack origins. Some days it’s all data, other days I’m working with law enforcement or testifying in court. Never a dull moment!

**Interviewer**: What’s the coolest case you’ve worked on?

**Cyber Sleuth**: Helping bust a phishing ring that was scamming millions. Tracked their digital footprints, caught the culprits, and recovered their loot. Felt like a total legend.

**Interviewer**: Ever seen some dark stuff, like murders?

*Cyber Sleuth**: Yeah, I’ve stumbled across some pretty grim stuff. It’s not all memes and malware—sometimes it’s serious business. But catching those bad guys makes it all worth it.

**Interviewer**: Have you ever been on the dark web?

**Cyber Sleuth**: Oh, for sure. It’s like the sketchy underbelly of the internet. Lots of shady deals. I go there when I need to, but it’s not a fun hangout spot.

**Interviewer**: How dark can a case get?

**Cyber Sleuth**: It can get really intense. I’ve worked on cases involving human trafficking and other serious crimes. It’s tough, but making a difference makes it worth it.

**Interviewer**: Any advice for someone who wants to get into this field?

**Cyber Sleuth**: Stay curious and keep learning. Tech evolves fast, so you’ve gotta keep up. And don’t be afraid to dig deep—sometimes the answers are buried in tons of data, but finding them is like hitting gold.

So if you’re into tech and have subjects like mathematics , chemistry and physics then you are all set to start your journey.i have seen ppl running for a common a job and all and they are not even specified about what they want. So just research and find out what you want.

[hologramcowboy]

🤣🤣🤣 I have never laughed so hard in my life, whoever wrote this is a mindless "journalist".

Danneel is no longer recognizable as Rachel Gatina and people bafely recognize Jensen's wife when he is out with her. Also, mentioning work she did decades ago is not the flex they think it is. There is a reason actors keep their resume update and always remove old roles. Danneel has aged out of the highschool bracket aaaages ago and no longer matches that type. She already looked 40 compared to the rest of her cast mates even back then. "Iconic role"? 🤣 No one remembers stripper girl, which, let's face it was her main role in just about every movie or series. Rachel does not have a fanbase because she was not a beloved character and her acting was horrible. There are just a few Jensen obsessed stans who push Rachel still because they worship Jensen. She is not known on her own, she is known for sleeping with Jensen.

What "paved the way" for her appearances in Harold & Kumar were her scantilly clad photoshoots and easy behavior. They needed a woman that was believable as weed smoking, slutty counterpart. Again, same role she plays over and over again and that she has aged out of so, if you are branding smart, stop mentioning her trashy past.

When her roles dried up( there's only so many times you can play "stripper girl" and "the other woman" when you have zero talent and presence), Jensen proceeded to ensure she was cast by nepotism in SPN. Where her role was clearly written to try to rebrand her image. Epic fail, Sister Jo was the lamest, most useless, senseless character on SPN and her acting was not even remotely credible and all she was playing was a ditzy goldigger who preyed on people just like in real life.

She did not form anything with her huband. He was offered Chaos Productions and negotiated her into the deal (nepotism again). After epic failing with their TW they betrayed the studio who had given them that production company and moved on with Amazon. Danneel proved she has no production knowledge whatsoever and did not deserve her title even remotely. She also wasted seed money on book rights for projects that were rejected by the previous studio

She did not executive produce anything, she had a VANITY title, just like her husband. Meaning her name was used to promote the project and her title was just a publicity stunt. No one, I repeat, no one in the industry will ever take her seriously as a producer and Jensen lost major credibility by putting a woman with Danneel's image (see above paragraphs about her roles) at the "forefront" of his project.

Danneel never was nor ever will be at the helm to develop television and future projects. That is not how Amazon works and,aside from this, Danneel has zero skill and talent.

She is trying really hard to rebrand her image by selling herself as a successful well known producer now. 🤣🤣🤣 What success? The movie rights of projects that were all rejected? the Winchesters which as an embarassing flop that ruined the SPN legacy? Her stripper roles who required no acting skill whatsoever? Her shady modeling gigs? What are we even talking about? That bio wants to make her seem like a woman she will never, ever be. You are trying to sell her as a "leader" when she can barely spell on her social media 🤣 As a producer when the only thing she "produces"( Jensen's words not mine I could never speak so creeepily about a woman) is children. We all know why too. 🤣 There are so many actual rolemodels, actually authentic women to support and yet stick is being put on an "actress" who made her way thanks to the casting couch and then continued to make her way thanks to who she is sleeping with. Danneel Ackles is merely a gold digger, that is her main career. Outside of that she just puts on smokes and mirrors and only people who don't do their research fall for such antics. Whoever wrote that bio was clearly trying to shift her image through full on lies. This might anger Amazon who might pull the plug on their collaboration.

[dearest-painter]

OMG THANK YOU SOOO MUCH AND HERE ARE MY HEADCANONS IF THEY WERE IN OUR PRESENT TIME:3

GYARU!READER

They would definitely do and film grwm routines but some of them being “grwm to go fight someone”

And also “GRWM about talking about stuff I hate”

Used to work at Sephora cause they argued and fought one of the customers

Now miserably works at Waffle House and hates how the stuff gets under their acrylic nails

Has had a fight with someone over the cloths they were gonna buy and yandere romantic Gary ended up being their getaway driver or him helping gyaru!reader while acting like he hates them

Only uses emoticons when insulting someone

Has Ratio many people on twitter

Goes live while doing their hair and user12638627 joining in, definitely not yandere romantic Gary(or Gary would use his account while typing in Hate, but has a whole collection of gyaru!readers vids saved on tiktok secretly)

A lot of pics of them and their clothing check are on Pinterest and the gyarus Pinterest users loves them

Cries like Trisha paytas

SCENE!READER

Is very popular on MySpace

Does tutorials on how to do kandi like different types of bracelets, purses, keychains, ect

Also does grwm on tiktok but on YouTube it’s kinda long(example:https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-MToB72v6_0&list=LL&index=1&t=61s&pp=gAQBiAQB)

Did a tiktok of them and Jimmy and Pete, all together, dancing to nightcore version of be my bad boy or everytime we touch(which got like 1 million likes)

Ether ignores a hate comment or just reply’s to them with ”:3” or any emoticon

But yandere platonic Gary goes after those who types hate comments and stuff like “wrist reveal” and makes a lot of accounts terrorizing them and manages to find their bloodline on Facebook until they blocked him

Is followed by yandere platonic Gary, Jimmy, pete, the nerds, and Johnny on tiktok

Yandere platonic gary films a vid of him and his sibling(scene!reader) while it read “when you and your sibling has a different clothing style”

Does outfit checks

LOLITA!READER

Yandere platonic Jimmy does vids of him helping his younger sibling(Lolita!reader) with their hair

Their mom bought lolita!reader that lolita dress from Amazon and yandere platonic Jimmy had to explain to his mom the reason why it was wrong and that other people like Lolita!reader avoids that mistake and he ended up buying a different dress from bodyline, lace market, Taobao or any Lolita website cause their mom didn’t understand

Plays on roblox and the game being the most played by them would be royale high and them having a lot of expensive clothing sets on the game and playing with Jimmy along with Pete and surprisingly gary would play with them(but Gary would only play to ether troll or with the others because of boredom)

Roblox username is unicorngirl something

Ratios everybody who hates on their older sibling vids

Has told a kid(who they were arguing with)on roblox that they should shut up cause they are probably like 5 and should give their mom the phone back and that it’s bedtime

Has almost gotten lost by a crowd of people when them and Jimmy tried to go to their class cause a Tardy sweep was happening(and Jimmy had to hold on to their hand)

Argues with grown ass adults(only when they are being disrespectful to them or Jimmy)

Has an amazing reading level and is very smart for their age(Gary or the jocks definitely didn’t commented an 🤓 under a post of Lolita!reader and the schools post being about their intelligence while being young from the schools page)

Jimmys and Lolita!readers mom flexes about how Lolita!reader is the only gen alpha that knows how to read and spell and isn’t disrespectful (Lolita!reader birthdate is ether 2012, 2013 or 2014)

Thinks kids who goes to Sephora are dumb

Offoptic: right now I can imagine gyaru!reader doing their work on Waffle House while miserably trying to get the stuff out under from the acrylics and saying some storylines while getting ready, scene!reader giving yandere platonic gary, Jimmy, pete,the nerds some of the kandi they made, and the trio(Yandere platonic Jimmy, gary, and pete) playing fashion famous with Lolita!reader, and Gary being pissed that someone is copying him, and on shark attack, Lolita!reader and jimmy trying to kill the shark while one of them were yelling to drive faster to Gary and Gary being pissed and blaming it on Pete(at the end, the shark ends up catching them and killing yandere platonic jimmy and Gary while pete and Lolita!reader manages to get away by jumping off the moment the shark was about to eat them but they end up dying at the end when the shark finds them)

Omfg I love this so much but I do love the idea that Gyaru!reader warms up to it because of their coworkers but also the fact, they get free drama that finally doesn’t involve them

[jarita123]

The Essex Serpent

I finally managed to rewatch the show. The first time I watched it, was a week by week and I think this one was made to be bingewatched.

Spoilers will follow for the show AND the book. Also, please forgive errors, English is not my first language but I just wanted to share some of my thoughts and it is easier to write it in English :)

I read the book before it was announced that they are making it into the show and before Tom was even cast. I just like reading, basically everything and when Victorian era is involved, with mystery elements, I am all in. I did not read it in English but in my language so I may have missed some nuances but I think the translation was spot on.

I don´t think it was Tom´s best work, in the sense that the show did not make waves but was not bad at all. But it seems to be the case with many Apple+ shows. They invest money, give the directors and writers freedom, don´t care much about ratings and produce a lots of quality content but somehow, they still shake a bit behind Netflix, D+ or Amazon as far as the audience appreciation goes (with noteble exceptions like Ted Lasso, I guess)

And I think the way they streamlined the story for the miniseries worked, tbh. The book is OK but it had a lot going on, with an uneven ending and with most characters unlikeable to the point that I felt was not too realistic. It also dealt with too many romantic angles (how many love triangles can one story get, especially with a few characters like these?), had too much going on without solving it and the ending was open ended.

However, one may argue that the book is basically - or from how I understand it - just a window into a life of a few people. You go into their lives, follow them for a while, and then just leave them and go on. As if you were a part of some group or was in a job for two years and then left, went on with your life, without knowing how they are doing.

I have to also appreciate how they turned letters into scenes. A big chunk of the book happens in letters and it must have been tough to adapt it.

Let me start with characters. Cora is obviously the main character but I have to say, they made a remarkable progress with her on the show. The book made her look immature, never growing up, hurting people around her. it was briefly explained that she married young and never had a chance to grow up emotionally but the thing was, she never learnt. She is the same person and still thinks she has it the worst in life. On the show, Cora knows this, she changes and settles her relationships with others, apologizes to Martha, knows she hurt Luke and gets to be with Will in the end. The story with her son, however, is well done in the book and on the show, despite this being mostly described through her inner thoughts in the book.

Will is not that well flexed in the book and however you can read about his emotions and confusion that he can love *two* women at the same time, the show works a bit better here. I am glad they left the scene where he gets angry with the sculpture of the serpent in the church, or his despair after he cheats on his wife. Him sitting at his wife´s dying is strong and sad. But there is just too much going on the show and Will is not that well fleshed out as he should be, I tink. But Tom does a remarkable job and his way to find anything in any character he plays, is just a proof that he *gets* it. Plus, let´s be honest here, camera loves him (again) because he just looks fantastic. I love how Tom works with women directors a lot and they can use his presence :) i am also glad they made Will a bit more likeable on the show as well. I disliked the angle in the book, where he sent his kids to town to friends to take care of them, while he could be with his sick wife. I mean, it would be understandable for first few days but in the book, it seemed like a permanent thing and made Will look not only as a cheating husband but also a bad father.

His chemistry with Clare Danes is there, it is slowly building and the dance scene is kind of a peak of that. But Tom can have a chemistry with a plank of wood. And Clare does a great job here as well. She must work real hard to make Cora likeable and get her through all the emotions that were described in the book so we can understand why she behaves the way she does. To add some scenes with her dead, abusive husband definitely helped.

I am glad they got rid of the bit out of nowhere romance between Martha and Nev (that is the one love triangle part I mentioned above) and they let her only working for Spencer, not marry Nev with Spencer left hanging...the way they hint Cora and Martha relationship on the show is also interesting and works better than in the book. Also, as someone who despises communism (as post communistic country, we know well what it does to the country), I am glad they tuned her down a bit into just a socialist with some sensible demands.

As opposite to book, I would probably drop the story of Naomi entirely. It is not properly explained why she did what she did til the very end and the best part in the book is her friendship with Jo, which is not really discovered here and her actions are briefly explained only in a "blink and miss it" moment. What I was sorry they dropped for the show, was Jo herself. She was described as a mini version of Will, with the same calming and strong presence as her father and it was not properly done. Except maybe the scene at the funeral where she was singing (a beautiful scene, btw.)

I know I am in the minority with this, but I disliked Luke actively in the book and on the show. i feel like Frank Dillane was honestly a bit creepy and maybe he nailed it because Luke was, kind of, exactly that. Stalkerish, a bit patronistic over Cora, because as much as he respected her, she was "still only a woman", misguided and emotional in his eyes and needed a protection from him (which she did not need or want). I did like how his friendship with Spencer was done in the book and on the show.

Both, Spencer and Stella, were the unsung heroes, btw. Both pure souls, maybe too pure for this world (and theirs). What I find interesting about Stella is, that in both cases (book and show), it is hinted she knows about Will and Cora and on the show, seems to be supportive because she knows she is dying and Will and her kids will need someone. It is a nice sentiment but not sure a realistic one. Especially when he has these feelings for another woman now, when she is alive and here.

The main difference is the ending. In the book, it is hinted that Stella recovered, Will had no intention to go to seek Cora, however he remained in contact with her via letters. On the show, Stella dies, and they give Will an "acceptable" time for mourning before he is reunited with Cora. I am not sure which ending works better but I think the show worked better for all characters, notebly Cora, Will, Martha and Luke, who all found purposes in their lives.

Of course, the production design of the show was beautiful. It helped the atmosphere, it looked fantastic, sounded fantastic and as someone who loves long, wide shots, I had no problem with it even slowing down a pace a bit.

I do recommend the book AND the show, both for different reasons. i don´t believe The Essex Serpent is the best book ever and as I said, the show is not the best thing Tom did but it is definitely in his better work and I will happily come back to it. It just went a bit unnoticed because it is still a stream and Apple+ was just starting its streak of good and successful shows. He definitely does not need to be ashamed he did it, on the contrary and as it is his most recent work (Loki excluded), it is a joy to see him more recent. Now when covid and strikes are over, let´s hope he will do more. I am already excited for The Life of Chuck (as Stephen King´s fan, I knew the story...it is kind of an odd choice, he does have more interesting stories but I get what Tom or Mike Flanagan mean by "there is warmth to it" or that it is "celebrating life")

One last remark from my side - Tom seems to love doing book or play adaptations (probably because he can get a "source material" for the character and can dive into it), I just recently read two books where I think he would be perfect and it somehow follows the pattern he likes in his characters.

One of them is a book by Darcy Coates (who I love and read everything she does). Her haunted houses books are amazing, some better, some worse, but thrilling and atmospheric. And however her main characters are in 80% women, with men being a bit of a "type", when she has a man as a main character, they are very interesting.

"The Haunting of Rookward House" is one I would love to see and I can perfectly picture Tom doing it. Guy, the main character, is an example of a man who was unlucky in his life, just went through some tough times and now he gets to be stuck in this haunted house. Also, spoiler...there is some (however scary) dancing involved :)

The second one is "The People next door" by Tony Parsons. The main characters are Lana and Roman Wades, each chapter is written from a perspective of either Lana or Roman, and however the ending is a bit far-fetched (it can be always amended for a movie), Roman is an interesting character who has an unusual trauma behind him (unusual for a man, you get the hint...) and it is interesting to see the life he lives in denial for the most part of the book because of it.

But I am sure Tom does not need any suggestions from me :) These are more of my "fancasting" for books I like. Also, to get adaptations right is hard so, if it never gets made into a movie, maybe it is better. As a big reader, I prefer for a lots of stuff to stay in the books because it does not work every time (Ender´s Game, I am looking at you)

If you managed to read this far, thank you and forgive my grammar.

[govindhtech]

Intel Neural Compressor Joins ONNX in Open Source for AI

Intel Neural Compressor

In addition to popular model compression techniques like quantization, distillation, pruning (sparsity), and neural architecture search on popular frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, ONNX Runtime, and MXNet, Intel Neural Compressor also aims to provide Intel extensions like Intel Extension for the PyTorch and Intel Extension for TensorFlow. Specifically, the tool offers the following main functions, common examples, and open collaborations:

Limited testing is done for AMD, ARM, and NVidia GPUs via ONNX Runtime; substantial testing is done for a wide range of Intel hardware, including Intel Xeon Scalable Processors, Intel Xeon CPU Max Series, Intel Data Centre GPU Flex Series, and Intel Data Centre GPU Max Series.

Utilising zero-code optimisation solutions, validate well-known LLMs like LLama2, Falcon, GPT-J, Bloom, and OPT as well as over 10,000 wide models like ResNet50, BERT-Large, and Stable Diffusion from well-known model hubs like Hugging Face, Torch Vision, and ONNX Model Zoo. Automatic accuracy-driven quantization techniques and neural coding.

Work together with open AI ecosystems like Hugging Face, PyTorch, ONNX, ONNX Runtime, and Lightning AI; cloud marketplaces like Google Cloud Platform, Amazon Web Services, and Azure; software platforms like Alibaba Cloud, Tencent TACO, and Microsoft Olive.

AI models

AI-enhanced apps will be the standard in the era of the AI PC, and developers are gradually substituting AI models for conventional code fragments. This rapidly developing trend is opening up new and fascinating user experiences, improving productivity, giving creators new tools, and facilitating fluid and organic collaboration experiences.

With the combination of CPU, GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), and NPU (Neural Processing Unit), AI PCs are offering the fundamental computing blocks to enable various AI experiences in order to meet the computing need for these models. But in order to give users the best possible experience with AI PCs and all of these computational engines, developers must condense these AI models, which is a difficult task. With the aim of addressing this issue, Intel is pleased to declare that it has embraced the open-source community and released the Neural Compressor tool under the ONNX project.

ONNX

An open ecosystem called Open Neural Network Exchange (ONNX) gives AI developers the freedom to select the appropriate tools as their projects advance. An open source format for AI models both deep learning and conventional ML is offered by ONNX. It provides definitions for standard data types, built-in operators, and an extendable computation graph model. At the moment, Intel concentrates on the skills required for inferencing, or scoring.

Widely supported, ONNX is present in a variety of hardware, tools, and frameworks. Facilitating communication between disparate frameworks and optimising the process from experimentation to manufacturing contribute to the AI community’s increased rate of invention. Intel extends an invitation to the community to work with us to advance ONNX.

How does a Neural Compressor Work?

With the help of Intel Neural Compressor, Neural Compressor seeks to offer widely used model compression approaches. Designed to optimise neural network models described in the Open Neural Network Exchange (ONNX) standard, it is a straightforward yet intelligent tool. ONNX models, the industry-leading open standard for AI model representation, enable smooth interchange across many platforms and frameworks. Now, Intel elevates ONNX to a new level with the Neural Compressor.

Neural Compressor

With a focus on ONNX model quantization, Neural Compressor seeks to offer well-liked model compression approaches including SmoothQuant and weight-only quantization via ONNX Runtime, which it inherits from Intel Neural Compressor. Specifically, the tool offers the following main functions, common examples, and open collaborations:

Support a large variety of Intel hardware, including AIPC and Intel Xeon Scalable Processors.

Utilising automatic accuracy-driven quantization techniques, validate well-known LLMs like LLama2 and wide models like BERT-base and ResNet50 from well-known model hubs like Hugging Face and ONNX Model Zoo.

Work together with open AI ecosystems Hugging Face, ONNX, and ONNX Runtime, as well as software platforms like Microsoft Olive.

Why Is It Important?

Efficiency grows increasingly important as AI begins to seep into people’s daily lives. Making the most of your hardware resources is essential whether you’re developing computer vision apps, natural language processors, or recommendation engines. How does the Neural Compressor accomplish this?

Minimising Model Footprint

Smaller models translate into quicker deployment, lower memory usage, and faster inference times. These qualities are essential for maintaining performance when executing your AI-powered application on the AI PC. Smaller models result in lower latency, greater throughput, and less data transfer all of which save money in server and cloud environments.

Quicker Inference

The Neural Compressor quantizes parameters, eliminates superfluous connections, and optimises model weights. With AI acceleration features like those built into Intel Core Ultra CPUs (Intel DLBoost), GPUs (Intel XMX), and NPUs (Intel AI Boost), this leads to lightning-fast inference.

AI PC Developer Benefits

Quicker Prototyping

Model compression and quantization are challenging! Through developer-friendly APIs, Neural Compressor enables developers to swiftly iterate on model architectures and effortlessly use cutting-edge quantization approaches such as 4-bit weight-only quantization and SmoothQuant.

Better User Experience

Your AI-driven apps will react quickly and please consumers with smooth interactions.

Simple deployment using models that comply with ONNX, providing native Windows API support for deployment on CPU, GPU, and NPU right out of the box.

What Comes Next?

Intel Neural Compressor Github

Intel looks forward to working with the developer community as part of the ONNX initiative and enhancing synergies in the ONNX ecosystem.

Read more on Govindhtech.com

[buzzybrains-software]

Cloud Computing in India: A Closer Look at the Tech Revolution

In the current business scenario, India’s tech scene is on the rise. Cloud computing has taken the industry by storm. Right from the startups to the big firms, at every business scape, the talks about the cloud shift are buzzing. Let’s delve deeper into the subject for a better understanding of the manner in which cloud computing functions and how it is beneficial. It will help us understand in a better way why cloud computing companies in India, along with AWS development and DevOps, are making waves.

Cloud computing at a glance

Imagine that you're a business owner, and you can access all your data and apps from anywhere without those bulky servers. That is the ease cloud computing brings in. It's like having a magic wand that lets you scale your business, manage costs, and stay flexible.

The Real Benefits of Shifting to the Cloud

Cutting Costs: Who isn’t into saving money? With cloud computing, you're only paying for what you use.

Scaling Made Easy: Whether your business is hitting a growth spurt or just has fluctuating needs, the cloud flexes with you.

Work from Anywhere: Got internet? Then you've got your office with you, thanks to cloud computing.

AWS: The heart of India’s cloud journey

Let's now discuss AWS, or Amazon Web Services. It resembles the superstar of Indian cloud services. Businesses are drawn to AWS because it is dependable, adaptable, and, quite honestly, has an answer for almost any problem.

Why the Cloud is Important

An Assortment of Services AWS can be compared as an unlimited menu of cloud services. They most likely have it if you want it.

Adaptability is Essential: Quickly scale your resources up or down. That is how AWS does things.

Not a Scary Bill: You only pay for what you use with AWS; there are no hidden fees.

DevOps- Heroes in India’s tech scene

DevOps is not just another jargon term, but more like bringing together the worlds of software development and IT operations. Indian companies are relying on DevOps because it makes deploying software smoother and faster. It is a sure shot formula for efficiency.

What makes DevOps so Cool?

Quicker Rollouts: Do you need to update your application? DevOps distributes it more quickly.

Team Harmony: It improves collaboration by tearing down barriers between departments.

Superior Quality: You're constantly presenting your product in the best possible light when you conduct continuous testing.

Conclusion

In the midst of all this, there’s BuzzyBrains. Rather than joining the bandwagon, they are leading the charge in AWS and DevOps. They’re the go-to for businesses looking to navigate the complexities of cloud computing.

Why choose BuzzyBrains?

Masters of AWS and DevOps: They’ve got a deep understanding and hands-on experience. BuzzyBrains is one of the renowned DevOps companies in India.

Bespoke Solutions: They get that every business is unique and offer tailored services.

All About the Client: Their focus? Delivering value and top-notch service.

So, as India surfs the cloud computing wave, remember names like BuzzyBrains. They’re not just offering services; they’re shaping how businesses evolve in the digital age. Curious about them? Take a peek at BuzzyBrains.

To sum it up, cloud computing in India isn’t just a fleeting trend. It's a revolution, changing the way businesses think and operate, leading us into a future that's more connected, efficient, and full of possibilities.

[amzonlinearbitrage]

Amazon Mavericks: The Art Of Selling Pricey Products Like A Pro!

Yo, Amazon Sellers! If you wanna hit the jackpot on Amazon and score big with those high-priced products, you've come to the right spot. We're about to drop some wicked knowledge bombs on online arbitrage, so get ready to hustle and stack up those greenbacks. Let's dive in and make that cash flow! 

1. Why Expensive Products Rule the Amazon Game 

Yo, listen up! So, there is a method to the madness when it comes to selling expensive products on Amazon and conquering the game - "Why expensive products rule the Amazon Game!" Let me make it simple and easy, with no technical gibberish!  

Credibility is Key: See, folks tend to trust expensive products more. If something's pricier, they believe it's gotta be top-notch quality, legit, and worth the extra bucks. So, as a seller, you wanna focus on higher-priced items 'cause they automatically build trust with potential buyers.  

More Moolah, More Marketing: Selling expensive products means more profit per sale. And that means you can invest more in marketing and advertising. You can flex your marketing muscles, reach more customers, and create a buzz about your products. The more people know about it, the more they wanna buy it!  

Less Competition, More Control: Not every seller is gonna deal with expensive items. So, you face less competition in that league. And that's a big win 'cause you can own the spotlight, set your prices, and control the game without getting drowned in a sea of rivals.  

Attract Big Spenders: Hey, big spenders! Some Amazon shoppers are ready to drop serious cash for quality stuff. By offering pricey products, you attract those high rollers, who don't mind splurging on top-tier goods. More cha-ching for you, my friend! 

Premium Brand Image: Selling expensive products can level up your brand's image. People see you as a high-end player in the game, which boosts your brand reputation. It's like you're in the VIP section, and everyone wants to be a part of the exclusive club!  

Better Margins, Happy Sellers: Look, selling expensive stuff means you'll have better profit margins. And trust me, as a seller, that's the sweet spot you wanna be in. Higher margins mean you're happier 'cause you're making more money with every sale.  

So, there you have it, Amazon Sellers in the US! Selling pricey products ain't just about jacking up the prices randomly. It's a smart move to build trust, stand out from the crowd, and make that cash flow like a boss! Get in the game, hustle hard, and let those expensive products rule the Amazon playground! You got this! 

2. Unleash the Power of Online Arbitrage 

Picture this: Online arbitrage is like being a smart shopper on steroids! It's all about finding awesome deals and hidden gems on the internet, and then reselling them on Amazon for a sweet profit.  

Here's how it works:  

Step 1: Hunt for Deals - Scour the web for awesome discounts, clearance sales, and special offers on high-demand products. Look for items that you know people will love and are willing to pay a premium for.  

Step 2: List on Amazon - Once you find those hidden treasures, create listings for them on Amazon's marketplace. Showcase the products with attractive photos and catchy descriptions to grab customers' attention.  

Step 3: Price for Profit - Now comes the fun part! Set your selling price a bit higher than what you paid for the product during your bargain hunt. Remember, people are willing to pay more for convenience, and you're offering them that by making the product easily available on Amazon.  

Step 4: Cash in - As customers start to discover your listings and realize what a great deal they're getting, they'll be more inclined to hit that "Add to Cart" button, and ka-ching! You make a tidy profit on each sale. 

But why does this work like magic?  

Well, think about it. People LOVE a good deal, and they trust Amazon to deliver quality products. When they find something they want on Amazon at a fair price, they're likely to click "Buy Now" without hesitation. That's where you come in, as a savvy seller, bringing them the products they desire at a price they're happy to pay.  

So, get out there and work your magic! Find those unbeatable deals, list them on Amazon, and let the customers flock to your virtual store, thrilled to snatch up your amazing offers. Unleash the power of online arbitrage, and watch your profits soar like a skyrocket!  

Happy selling, Amazon Sellers! Let the deals begin! 🚀 

3. Sniff Out the Deals Like a Bloodhound 

Alright, listen up! You know how a bloodhound has an incredible sense of smell, right? Well, we're gonna teach you how to be just like that savvy dog when it comes to finding awesome deals on Amazon!  

"Sniffing out the deals like a bloodhound" means being really good at hunting down the best bargains and discounts on expensive products. So, imagine you're like a detective, but instead of chasing criminals, you're chasing killer deals!  

Now, why should Amazon sellers in the US care about this? Well, picture this: when you can offer amazing deals on your expensive products, customers won't be able to resist. They'll be all over those sweet bargains like bees to honey! And you know what that means? More sales for you, baby!  

Here's how you can become a deal-sniffing pro:  

Research: Dig deep, just like a bloodhound following a scent trail. Use tools and techniques to scout for the best deals on Amazon. Look for products that are in high demand but are currently offered at lower prices.  

Price Comparison: Compare prices like a champ! Customers love a good deal, so make sure your prices stand out from the competition. But also, remember to keep a healthy profit margin for yourself.  

Timing is Key: Just like a bloodhound waits for the right moment to pounce, keep an eye on seasonal trends, special events, and holidays. These are prime times to offer your products with tempting discounts!  

Lightning Deals: Amazon has this cool feature called "Lightning Deals," where products are offered at huge discounts for a limited time. Get in on the action and attract customers with those irresistible deals!  

Reviews Matter: Bloodhounds follow the trail, and customers follow reviews. Positive reviews can make or break a sale. So, ensure your products have excellent reviews to gain the trust and confidence of potential buyers.  

So there you have it, partner! Being a deal-sniffing bloodhound will set you apart from the pack on Amazon. You'll attract those customers and sell those expensive products like hotcakes! Now go out there and make some sweet deals happen! Yeehaw! 🤠 

4. Beat Your Rivals with Killer Research 

Hey there, fellow Amazon sellers! If you wanna crush your competition and make big bucks on Amazon, listen up! I'm about to drop some knowledge on how to "Beat Your Rivals with Killer Research" and get customers to buy your pricey products like hotcakes!  

So, picture this: You got a fancy, high-ticket product you wanna sell on Amazon, but there are others out there selling similar stuff. No worries, we got a game plan to win!  

Step one: Do some killer research! That means digging deep, doing your homework, and finding out everything you can about your rivals. Check out their prices, their reviews, and see what customers love or hate about their stuff.  

Step two: Find the gaps! Once you've done your research, look for areas where your rivals are slacking. Maybe their products have some flaws or their customer service ain't top-notch. That's where you swoop in and be the hero!  

Step three: Stand out like a boss! Now, it's time to shine brighter than ever like a diamond! Don't let your product blend in with the crowd. Improve the things your rivals are missing and make your listing pop with killer photos and descriptions that scream, "Buy me, I'm the best!"  

Step four: Price it like a boss! Yeah, it's expensive, but that's the key to success! Show customers that your product is worth every penny by emphasizing its top-notch quality and unique features.  

Step five: Build your tribe! Get those customers singing your praises. Offer excellent customer service, engage with your buyers, and ask for reviews. Positive word of mouth is like gold on Amazon!  

So, there you have it, amigos! "Beat Your Rivals with Killer Research" means doing your homework, filling in the gaps, and making your pricey product stand out like a boss. Crush that competition, and the customers will be knocking down your virtual doors to buy from you! Good luck, and happy selling! 🤘🤑 

5. Jazz Up Your Product Listings  

When we say "Jazz Up," we mean making your product listings look super awesome and eye-catching. You want them to stand out like a rock star in a sea of products on Amazon.  

Here's the deal: Selling expensive stuff can be tough, but with the right moves, you can make customers go crazy over your products, like fans at a concert.  

First things first, let's spruce up those product images. Get some high-quality, professional photos that make your product look like a superstar. Show it from different angles and use some cool filters or effects to make it pop!  

Next, you gotta nail that product description. Don't just stick to the basic stuff – tell a story! Imagine you're chatting with a buddy, and you're sharing the awesomeness of your product over a couple of beers. Make it fun, engaging, and super relatable!  

Oh, and let's not forget about those keywords! Use phrases that folks are searching for when they want something like your product. You want to be the top hit when someone looks for what you're offering, like being the headliner on a playlist.  

Now, about those customer reviews – they're like applause after a fantastic performance. Encourage happy customers to leave their thoughts, and if someone's not satisfied, reach out and make it right. Remember, a satisfied customer can be your biggest fan!  

Lastly, sweeten the deal with some promotions and discounts – everybody loves a good deal! It's like offering free merch to your audience. People will rush to buy your product, just like fans scrambling for concert tickets.  

So, Amazon Sellers, when you jazz up your product listings, you're turning your ordinary listing into a rocking showstopper. Customers will be drawn in like a moth to a flame, and those expensive products of yours will be flying off the virtual shelves!  

Now go out there and make your products shine like the brightest stars in the Amazon galaxy! You got this! 🌟🚀 

6. Rack Up Those Rave Reviews 

Racking Up those reviews is like hitting the jackpot when it comes to selling pricey stuff on Amazon and convincing customers to buy 'em! It's all about getting those awesome, crazy good reviews from happy customers who love your product.  

We're talking about getting those 5-star shoutouts, glowing praise, and high-fives from folks who've already bought your pricey product and are head over heels for it. When people see tons of positive reviews, they feel more confident and pumped up to give your product a shot.  

Think of it like this: it's like having a bunch of friends cheering you on at a big game or a wild party. The more cheers you get, the more people want to join the fun. And in this case, the fun is your expensive product!  

Those rave reviews tell potential buyers, "Hey, this product is the real deal! It's worth every penny!" It's more likely that folks will treat themselves by clicking "Buy Now" if they feel they are getting something great.  

So, if you're an Amazon seller in the US, make it a priority to get those rave reviews. How? Make sure your product is top-notch, do right by your customers, and encourage them to share their excitement by leaving a positive review. The more love you get, the more customers will be drawn to your product like a moth to a flame. That's how you skyrocket your sales and have your pricey product flying off the virtual shelves! 

7. Flex Those Amazon Ads  

It means you need to show off your products like a boss! Amazon Ads are like virtual billboards or ads that you can put up on Amazon's website to grab people's attention. Just like a rapper flexing their bling or a sports star showing off their skills, you need to showcase your products in a way that makes them stand out from the crowd.  

Here's how you can do it:  

Pimp Your Product Page: Make your product page look super cool and attractive. Use high-quality pictures, write catchy product descriptions, and get those positive customer reviews flowing. People are more likely to buy if your page looks legit and trustworthy.  

Get Featured: Like getting your song on the top charts, you want your products to be featured on Amazon's search results and product pages. You can achieve this by running Amazon Ads, which will put your products in front of more potential customers.  

Target the Right Audience: It's like knowing your fans and what they love. Use Amazon Ads to target specific groups of customers who are most likely to be interested in your products. This way, you'll reach the right people with your ads and increase the chances of making sales.  

Set the Budget: Just like managing your cash flow, you gotta set a budget for your Amazon Ads. Decide how much you're willing to spend on advertising and monitor the results. You can always adjust your spending based on how well your ads are performing.  

Keep Hustlin': In the world of Amazon, things change fast, just like in the music industry. Keep monitoring your ads' performance and make improvements where needed. Don't be afraid to experiment and try new things to see what works best for your products.  

Remember, "Flexing Those Amazon Ads" is all about showing off your products to the right people in the slickest way possible. So, get out there and make your products shine like a star! Happy selling! 🚀🤑 

8. Create a Brand That Wows  

Creating a brand that wows means you gotta make a super awesome and unforgettable image for your products. You know, like when you see a famous celebrity or a cool superhero, you can't help but notice them and want to know more! 

To attract Amazon sellers and customers, you need to make your brand stand out from the crowd, like being the coolest kid at a party. This means having a catchy name, a striking logo, and some killer packaging that gets people excited just by looking at it. 

Imagine your brand as a rock star – it needs to be unique and have its own style that people will remember. When you have a brand that wows, people will think, "Wow, this is something special!"  

By doing this, you're creating a reputation for your products, like having the reputation of being the best skateboarder in town. When people trust your brand, they're more likely to buy your expensive stuff because they know it's worth the money.  

So, get creative, be different, and show off your brand like a flashy sports car on the street. That's how you can attract Amazon sellers and customers in the US and get them to buy your fantastic products! Good luck! 🤘😎🚀  

Now go out there and slay the Amazon beast like a true boss! May the sales be with you! 🚀💸 

Conclusion 

And there you have it, folks! Selling pricey stuff on Amazon ain't a walk in the park, but with the right moves, you can turn those expensive goodies into a goldmine. Get your hustle on, use online arbitrage like a champ, and remember to create a brand that's hella cool. So, what are you waiting for? It's time to unleash your inner Amazon beast and stack up those Benjamins!  

For more epic tips, tricks, and hacks to rock the e-commerce game, head over to the amz blog. Keep hustlin' and keep slayin'! Peace out! ✌️🔥  You can also read about amazon online arbitrage.

[newmaniawe]

How Much Does Alexa Cost | Every Cost Explained

The growing popularity of smart home devices has brought about the rise of virtual assistants, and their prices. If you're considering bringing Alexa into your home, it's essential to understand the subscription charges and costs associated with this technology. The pricing of Alexa devices varies depending on the model and any ongoing promotions or discounts. Generally, the Echo Dot is the most affordable option, followed by the Echo, Echo Plus, Echo Show, and Echo Studio.

Is there a Monthly Fee for Amazon Alexa?

Contrary to common belief, there is no monthly fee charged for using Amazon Alexa. Once you have purchased an Alexa-enabled device, all you need is a stable Wi-Fi connection to make it function seamlessly. This ensures that you can access the plethora of features and capabilities offered by Alexa without any additional charges. From setting reminders and answering questions to controlling smart home devices, Alexa provides a wide range of services without imposing any recurring expenses. Advantages of Amazon Prime with Alexa: Although a monthly fee for Alexa itself does not exist, having an Amazon Prime account brings along several benefits when using Alexa. While some streaming services require a monthly subscription, Amazon Music offers a completely free tier through Alexa. The free tier of Amazon Music with Alexa provides several advantages, including an ad-free experience, offline mode, and unlimited skips.

Free Amazon Alexa Features

1. Task Management and Timers Managing your tasks efficiently is a key aspect of productivity. With Alexa, you can effortlessly handle your to-do lists, set timers, and stay on top of your schedule.  2. Music Alarms and Playlists Alexa allows you to set music alarms that play your preferred songs, artists, or genres, ensuring a delightful start to your mornings.  3. Reminder Management Alexa can help you stay organized. Set up reminders for specific days, times, and frequencies, ensuring you never miss an important event or task. 4. Calendar Integration Alexa can add events to your calendar, provide you with a quick overview of your schedule, and even remind you of significant occasions 5. Entertainment and Music Identification Ask Alexa to play specific songs or inquire about the title and artist of the currently playing track. 6. Smart Home Automation Make your home smarter and more convenient with Alexa's smart home automation skills.  7. Communication and Drop-In Stay connected with your loved ones using Alexa's communication features. There are some other Alexa features that are free and handy such as: Alexa Do Not Disturb mode Alexa Fart feature

Does Alexa Work Without Amazon Prime?

Understanding Alexa's Subscription Model: To address the primary concern, using Alexa does not require a subscription cost. Echo devices, which house the Alexa voice assistant, can be used free of charge. However, being an Amazon Prime member offers several additional benefits that enhance the Alexa experience. As an Amazon Prime member, which costs $99 per year, you gain access to an array of exclusive features and services when using Alexa. One notable benefit is free music streaming. With your Prime membership, you can seamlessly enjoy a vast library of songs.

How Much Do Alexa Devices Cost?

Image Echo Speaker Key Features Price (Approx.)

Echo Flex Compact, suitable for kitchen or bathroom $24.99-$34.99

Echo Dot Stylish design, improved voice recognition, alarm clock option $49.99-$54.99

Echo Show (Spot) Screen-equipped, originally for bedroom use, with subpar audio quality $129.99-$149.99

Echo Show (8) Eight-inch screen, privacy feature, suitable as a home hub $129.99-$139.99

Echo Show (2nd Gen) Zigbee compatibility, versatile smart display $74.99-$84.99

Echo and Echo Plus With impressive sound quality, Echo Plus has built-in Zigbee functionality $28.99-$38.99

Echo Studio Immersive 360-degree sound, line-in, and line-out connections  $529.99-$629.99 Enjoy Reading Too: How To Make Alexa Mad Alexa Spotify Commands Alexa Blue Light Spinning Does Alexa work with Google Chromecast About Author Read the full article

[themovieblogonline]

FROM Season 2 Reaction

So, I recently caught the first 5 episodes of FROM season 2. From is the show that's been making waves in the television world. And let me tell you, the writing on FROM is on another level! If you're not familiar with this show: STOP. Stop everything you're doing in life and CATCH UP NOW!  Season 1 is streaming for free on the MGM website and it's also available on Amazon Prime. This show is for horror and mystery fans alike and let me tell you that this show does not disappoint. https://youtu.be/LsxhjSnVw78 I've only watched the first 5 episodes of season 2 so my full review will come later. THE GOOD This show's writing team is putting others to shame! FROM does an amazing job with character writing and dialogue. Each person has an emotional arc that I'm invested in. Season 2 continues this trend with our amazing cast really pushing the envelope and making a name for these actors. Boyd, Donna, Ellis, Tabitha, and more are great characters that have earned a spot in pop culture with some of the best ensemble casts. Not only are our protagonists great but so are the threats! FROM season 2 picks up with new threats that do a great job of keeping us on the edge of our seats. But let's talk about the acting for a moment. I'm telling you, Harold Perrneau is on another level! He's holding the show together with his impeccable performance, especially after that cliffhanger at the end of season 1 that left us all gasping for air. And Harold is flexing his range! OMG! I thought he did masterful work in Episode 8 of Season 1 and he adds to his resume in Season 2. I honestly did not think he could top his performance with his wife Abby but Harold, as Boyd, is able to make a scene interesting all by himself, and it's just amazing to watch. But wait, there's more! Donna is back and she's killing it with some of the best lines and moments in the show. When you put Harold and Donna together, you get magic. Their characters are evolving in the best way possible, and it's such a joy to watch them grow and change. Donna has so much growth after the massacre of the colony house that causes the death of 14 people. This new Donna finds a way for herself in the abyss and does a fantastic job of reinventing herself. Not only that but she integrates herself into the story in new and fantastic ways.   This entire cast grows in their performances with Jade, Victor, Jim, Tabatha, Kenny, Ellis, Fatima, and more are amazing to watch. This cast is one you may not see coming but you fall in love with them. I had this same feeling with the cast of LOST. I had this same feeling with the cast of Game of Thrones. This cast has something special that makes the show mesmerizing and addictive. Did I mention the writing? And let's not forget the bus. I don't want to give too much away, but let's just say that the arrival of the bus at the end of season 1 was just the tip of the spear. The bus is interesting, it's mysterious, and the show just keeps us guessing. I can't say enough how much this show  THE BAD Now, onto the not-so-great part. The show is adding more and more questions with very few answers, and it's getting frustrating. Don't get me wrong, I love a good mystery as much as the next person, but when there are so many loose ends from season 1 that haven't been tied up, it's easy to get lost in the chaos. Overall Overall, From is a show that horror and mystery fans alike will appreciate. With excellent writing, compelling characters, and a well-crafted plot, it's no wonder that the show is making waves in the television world. Keep binge-watching, and keep an eye out for my episode breakdowns and a full review once I've watched all the episodes of season 2! Read the full article

[izaanagi]

# 𝐖𝐖𝐇𝐌𝐃 (𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐇𝐚𝐢𝐤𝐲𝐮𝐮 𝐌𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐨)…

… 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮.

# warnings: MDNI! Slightly nsfw content ahead.

+ Bench presses three times your roundabout weight at the gym, records it (flexing afterwards with a smile on his face, as his shorts hang dangerously low on his hips and you swear you can see both his V lines and the beginning of his happy trail) and proudly shows it to you heavily hinting at how he can take the brunt of you riding his cock like an Amazon, while making sure to support you with his physical prowess and the strength, he certainly does not hide, of his shredded body so that your thighs do not burn, but instead slowly rock back and forth letting your walls clench around his thick length while he does all the work for you.

BOKUTO, Atsumu, Hinata, IWAIZUMI, Matsukawa, Kyoutani, Meian, Terushima, FUTAKUCHI.

+ Bullshits that he knows how to deal with aphrodisiac ingredients, and that he is a pro in the kitchen, so he tries very hard to cook you a five course meal with recipes he found on the internet and that were even half decently made, but when it comes at the dessert, he says “I’d rather have you, as a dessert,” wanton and his eyes half lidded, because he might be a gentleman, as shown by the candle still burning in the middle of the table and the careful but elegant mise-En-place but he very much wants to lap and lick your pussy more than the passion fruit ice cream sitting in his freezer, looking into your eyes when you provide the only cream he actually likes.

OIKAWA, Akiteru, SUNA, Kuroo, Sugawara, Daishō, TSUKISHIMA, Sakusa, Semi, KEISHIN.

+ Tried to write verses of poetry for you and how he feels everytime that he sees you - which did not turn out very well, but he kept a rhyme and probably embarrassed himself reading them more than you did listening to them. However, as he makes a habit out of it, leaving you post-its or just simple scribbles of his ‘writing’, you find out that he also writes some other spicy ones (surprising better articulated) where he is sure you can’t see them and from which you get the idea that maybe he is very much into letting you give him head while he fingers you until you come on him and his leaking cock stuffs your throat, choking your moans.

Tendō, Osamu, Daichi, Akaashi, KITA, Ushijima, Kageyama, ARAN, Konoha, Hoshiumi.

every reblog and interaction is greatly appreciated!

© renaissansse, 2022.

[siempre-bucky]

Holy Orange Bottles

each night I pray to you...

Druig x Fem!Reader

Summary: Druig could see her fading quickly. A bug bite. A fucking bug bite was taking away the one person he cared the most about. In an act of desperation, he takes her to an unlikely source.

WC:1.7k

Angst with happy ending ofc but add a little bit of drama

Warning: reader on the brink of death

A/N: Thank you Anon for requesting! I've been loving all the Taylor requests bc she's my favorite! I hope you like this!

It was just a bug bite. It was just supposed to be just a bug bite.

It happened on an ordinary hike, Y/N was taking photographs for a magazine she worked for in the States. Druig watched her cautiously from a few paces back, making sure no harm came to her while she worked. "I think I got all I need," she tells him over the roar of the waterfall in front of her. She moved aside a few strands of damp hair and made her way off the unsteady rocks.

Druig was always there to catch her, stretching out his flexed hand to help get her on solid ground. Y/N slightly jumps at the sudden notice of his presence. But soon relaxes with her hand in his.

As they started walking back towards the commune, a harsh sting on her shoulder sends pain up and down her back. She yelps and swats at her back to get the bug away from her. Druig turns around with concern on his face "Are you ok, my love?" he asks. After giving him a nod, Y/N winces and stops walking.

"Does it look bad?" She asks as she turns around, she saw no bug in her view. There was a small red bump on the center of her left shoulder blade, the fabric of her tank top almost touching it. It wasn't bad, probably just a mosquito. "Fucker snuck up on me," she complains, walking ahead of Druig.

Her lead slowly started to dwindle as they got closer to the commune, Druig was quickly catching up to her. He watched how her shoulders rose and fell quicker than normal. She loves this hike, he thought as he watched her take a pause, her hands resting on her hips "I think I need a small break," she panted, taking a seat on a large moss-covered stone. She had never taken a break on this hike before.

He told himself he wasn't concerned. Bug bites happened all the time in the Amazon. There was a remedy some of the older women had developed over the years. He sat behind her that night in bed, her back hunched over as Druig dipped his finger in the stone bowl full of green jelly.

It was cold to the touch, goosebumps appearing on her skin. The cool jelly soothed the stinging small round bump "Do you feel any better, my love?" he asks her gently, rubbing around the bite. She nods at him and releases a soft hum.

"Much better, I'm sure it'll go away by tomorrow."

It didn't. She felt woozy that morning, he could see it as she walked. Holding onto the railings like her life depended on it "I'm fine, Druig," she chuckled as he swooped in to catch her from falling on the dirt ground. His blue eyes caught a glimpse of the big bite. Scathing red and double in size he noted. "I'm going to lay down for a while, I'll come back out for dinner." She kissed him on the cheek and placed a loving hand on his shoulder before retreating back to their shared bed. Druig could see the delusion right in front of him.

The next morning the Eternal tried to remain optimistic, he laughed along with the people while he ate with them. His eyes glance up at Y/N who was finally coming out of their home, it was 1PM and she was hardly awake. The first thing he noticed was her skin, the once bright and soft skin was dull and lost all its color. A nervous punch to his stomach made him hitch his breath. Then she collapsed.

All that led him here, kneeling in front of a once locked chest in the corner of his closet. He dug through translucent orange medicine bottles, his eyes briefly registering the medicine names underneath the dim overhead light. Hands desperately clutching onto all the ones he thought needed for her. He collected them over some time, hoping he would never have to use them. He pressed them to his forehead, saying a silent prayer to anyone who would hear his thoughts. He had...just had to make sure she would survive this. He didn't know why her body was responding to the bite like this. There were so many questions he had but couldn't find the answer.

On a plate was the small cocktail of pills, he walked into their room with his eyes worriedly gazed upon her. Her skin was clammy and cold, her dull eyes looking back at him. "Thank you," she manages. A small, weak smile forms on her lips as her shaky hands take the plate. He climbs into bed next to her, draping his arm around her shoulders, watching to make sure she took them all. "What did I take?" she laughed.

"Antibiotics, you'll feel better tomorrow," he told her, his hand coming up to smooth out her unbrushed hair. Y/N leans against him, not telling him about the dull pain she felt in her shoulder. The soft touches from his fingers lulled her to sleep, finally able to rest.

Druig couldn't sleep that night, his body couldn't stop tossing and turning. Frustrated groans fill the air, his body finally turning to look at your peaceful frame. He drapes his arm around your body, pulling himself closer to his lovers side. His mind came up with the question: what am I going to do if she's not here? It was a question he thought once or twice about in their couple years together, but old age was always the conclusion, not some weird illness. His forehead found its way to the center of her back. She'd be fine in the morning. She had to be.

Once the sunlight poured into his room, his sleepy eyes fluttered open. He didn't move that entire night, his back still pressed against hers. He lifts his head off the pillow. Blurred vision finally starting to go back to normal "Good morning, Y/N," he yawns, "are you feeling better?" there was no response from her side of the bed.

He turns her over, pressing her shoulder into the mattress. Y/N's skin was starting to grey, lines that resembled those from a deep sleep started to appear on her cheeks "Y/N?" he questions, gently shaking her. Her eyes didn't open.

No. No. No! Druig cursed under his breath and hurriedly climbed on top of her. His hands grip her shoulders as he shakes her unconscious frame. Tears started to pour from his eyes, the tip of his nose turning red "Y/N! Y/N!" he screams at her, his veins appearing on his temples. He leans forward and presses his ear to the center of her chest. He focused hard not to confuse his rapid heartbeat for hers as he searched. But he heard it. Y/N was still with him. "It's going to be ok," he sobs into her chest, tears soaking the shirt that really belonged to him. "I'm going to get you back, you're not going to leave me like this!"

It took a lot of his power, but those golden eyes got him to his final destination. A small farmhouse in secluded South Dakota "Ajak!" He cries, the body of his love dangling in his arms. "Ajak!" He cries once more, his raspy voice was an octave higher and cracking like a schoolboy.

The older woman with flowing brown hair ran out the front door. Her brown eyes set on Druig and the woman in his arms "Druig?" She questions loudly from her door.

"Please! I need your help!" The desperate cries in his voice made her feel his urgency. Running up to him, she noticed his red, bloodshot eyes. "She got bit by something a couple days ago...she's dying!"

Ajak took the girl from his arms, telling him to follow her into the house that he hadn't stepped foot in for years. He ran ahead and cleared the kitchen table, her dishes falling and breaking on the wood floor. Ajak placed her on the table and got a good look "Deviants?" she whispered under her breath.

"Deviants?" he repeated. "No. It was a bug. We were on a hike. It would have killed us." Druig ran a nervous hand through his hair, leaning over Y/N. Ajak's eyes flickered between them, her brain trying to come up with a solution. "C-can you heal her Ajak?" he was desperate, leg tapping like an impatient child as he stared his former leader down.

"I'll try. Go wait outside," she instructs him. He doesn't want to. He doesn't want to be removed from her side, he would rather die with her than live in a world where their time was cut short. "Go. Druig."

Reluctantly he does. Sitting on the steps on the front porch for God knows how long. Half a cigarette hanging from his lips. It was a nasty habit that Y/N would scold him for. But it relieved a sliver of the stress built inside him. He took the burning cigarette in between his fingers, his other hand wiping his drying eyes.

"I don't think I've ever seen you this worn down," Ajak remarks as she steps outside. Druig quickly rises to his feet, eyes looking at her in desperation. She sticks her hands inside her blue denim jacket, leaning on one of the wood pillars. "She must be some girl," she smiles.

"Is she ok?" he asks weakly, fearing he might cry again. Ajak finally nods in his direction. A wave of relief rushes to his heart, he quickly moved past Ajak and back into the house.

Y/N sat on the table, her legs swinging over the edge. The color and luster to her eyes had returned, the lines on her skin gone. Druig let out a choked sob and ran to her at full speed, crashing into her with a strong hug. Her arms wrap around him, inhaling his cologne and the faint smell of smoke. "She fixed you," he whispers in almost disbelief, letting his fingers touch the smooth skin where the bump once was.

"Druig I don't remember anything," she tells him regretfully, pulling back from the embrace. Whatever it was it really scared the man who she had never seen so fearful and disheveled.

"Y-you got bit a-and you almost died," he stammers, his fingertips tracing along her jawline. She places her warm hands over his, bringing him in for a short kiss.

"I'm here now, my love, I wouldn't leave you so soon," he nodded at her calm reassurance. He was about to embrace her again when Ajak coughed to get their attention.

"I'm afraid something bad might be coming. Do not take her back to the Amazon, Druig. She must go back to the city."

[kikisfuneralservice]

CHOI MINHO BF HEADCANONS

always wanted to know what choi minho is like as a boyfriend? your questions have been answered…

includes NSFW content‼️

*ALL CONTENT IS PURELY FICTIONAL AND NON-ASSOCIATIVE WITH ANY OF SHINEE OR SM ENTERTAINMENT- PURELY FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES!*

FLUFF:

always wakes up before you so he ends up getting you something to eat

it isn't even always a full breakfast either sometimes it’s just a poptart and an apple or a granola bar and some orange juice bc u dont trust him in the kitchen

absolutely smitten boy. just a 24/7 simp

unapologetically holds ur bag/purse for you- sometimes not even when ur stepping into a shop, he’ll just take it from you while you’re walking bc it’s “too heavy”

we all just know he wants it to take the gum from ur bag tho we’re not fooled, minho

unironically likes the little blue dots in the mint gum and it’s disgusting but for some reason it’s his favorite part i just wanted to add that idk

vv protective of you - he’ll ask you who you were talking to regardless of gender and ask if u have any romantic attraction to them bc he is nervous

literally no, minho; calm down

loves holding u in his arms bc he likes how small you look compared to him

likes to compare ur hand sizes n shit cuz he’s whipped

also when u walk with him and ur holding hands he likes to swing them bc he thinks it’s cute HA

wants to learn how to do hair and makeup bc he wants to do it for u just to say that he did it

kills spiders for you! and feels proud doing so

tries to call you nicknames, but it always comes out wrong or awkward, but it’s funny, so it’s ok

lets you do his hair and shit because he “wants to look pretty too”

he thinks everything is a competition so even at the state fucking fair he’s throwing his entire body into the ring around the bottle game to get u a giant fucking giraffe doll that u can get easily on amazon for $10

“u need this i must acquire this for you and win”

also is obsessed with those mallet games where u smack the mallet down and it tells u how strong u are

uses his rigged score to prove how strong he is and the whole rest of the day he has his arm around you and flexing the other bc he’s just that satisfied

buys little things that remind him of you

“minho what is this”- “it’s a skunk salt shaker!! isn't it funny??? the salt comes out of his butt! :D” -“how does this remind you of me i’m scared to ask”

knows all your orders by heart

he’ll get to somewhere and get so caught up in your order that he leaves 15 mins later realizing he never got food for himself

it’s ok he just gets mcdonalds on the way home plus he wants the how to train your dragon toy

im writing way too many wow next section

SMUT:

ok so... likes holding your hand- lemme explain

literally loves missionary i cannot tell u why he just does

wants to hold ur hand and keep them against the bed frame 

just wants to be as close to you as possible

he’s hyper-focused on the intimacy part

has a breeding kink i know it

gets excited whenever he’s with kids so when u mention it to him he instantly pops a boner

loves when u sit on his lap bc he likes rutting your hips against him

just cuz ya know

not a freaky guy just wants to hold u tight and love u slow

very vocal bc he knows u like that

it’s not worth it to him if he cant verbalize anything if u know what i mean

doesn't like keeping quiet :)

loves pleasuring u or whatever

very good at fingering you like it’s scary

could get off just on his fingers oops

doesn’t like toys bc he only wants him to satisfy u and thats it >:(

NEED TO ELABORATE ON THE BREEDING KINK FOR A HOT SEC

simply just gets hard at the thought of getting u pregnant nAUR

so when ur like “let’s have a baby” and give him those eyes

whewy ok

pounces on ya

goes rough bc he’s excited and he thinks if he goes faster that it’ll get u pregnant faster AHHAAHAHAH

has always loved having sex w you but after this it kinda solidifies it and he’s like we gotta do it everyday 👀 so it’ll work 👀 and ur like honey that’s not how it works

as soon as u tell him ur pregnant he gets emotional but once he calms down he just gets really horny again cuz he can’t help it💀 cuz he knows that he did that💀

is an ass kind of guy but doesn’t discriminate on tits

he likes grabbing ur ass,,, like a lot

he knows all the places u like being touched and you know his which makes it fun

also likes to watch u ride him with your hands on his abdomen :/

mostly is on top tho bc he likes having you under him so he can see u better

loves manhandling u tho

like this is a strong word but he loved to fondle you

and,,, and smacking ur ass- literally just grabbing and smacking cuz,,, cuz,,, cuz,,, ur hot and he can’t not let out his sexual frustration on u

like when he gets horny he’s just VERY grabby and touchy like a small child who has never walked into a walmart before and needs to touch literally everything

will kiss you during sex just to hear you moan in his mouth

needs to clear the near vicinity before any of this bc y’all like to be fucking loud

kibum at the door just wanting to pick up the hairbrush he left behind on accident: 🧍

wants you to leave hickeys and scratches on him bc that’s how he knows he did good

plus likes to joke about it when ppl ask him what animal mauled him

reeeaaaallllyyyyy likes mirror sex

ok listen tho

he likes fucking u slow against the counter from behind so you can see too……

he thinks ur so pretty he just wants u to see too

***

that’s it!! this was literally just a shitpost basically, and my taemin drabble will be up later. it was originally supposed to come out today, but some altercations changed that, and i apologize! :( thank you for reading and leave a like or reblog- or follow me on twitter.

[kassandras-one-braincell]

Kassandra x Fem!Reader - The Most Peculiar Wingman

Can be found on AO3 here.

Summary: You recently moved into a new flat and you’re hearing some rather unusual sounds from your next-door neighbour’s abode. You’re worried the mysterious woman next door is involved in something dangerous. Kassandra is worried that you’re the landlord about to bust her for her lease violation.

(Sorry if you don’t like coffee and/or you speak fluent Greek.)

Word count: 2568

.

Damn, you’ve lucked out with your new flat. The area is pleasant, the décor is tasteful – the windowsills could use a bit more greenery, but you’ll get to that – and the letting agent wasn’t a dick. Zero hassle with bills, minimal scuffs on the walls…it’s bizarre how simple your moving process has been.

But nothing can be perfect, can it?

Over the few days you’ve lived in your new home, you noticed some rather disconcerting sounds coming from the apartment next door. Nothing that disrupts your sleep, thankfully, although your post-unpacking nap was interrupted by a very loud thud against the thin wall connecting the two flats. Thumps, crashes and very disgruntled cursing in a language you can’t quite place tend to crop up in quick succession once or twice a day. Today, though, the odd sounds seem to be omnipresent.

The strange symphony is starting to get alarming; you’re beginning to ponder if the seemingly perpetually angry woman next door is involved in violence…or, forbid, organised crime? That would certainly explain the forceful thuds and grumbling. God, what if she manages to rope you into her shenanigans? What if she is armed?

After a loud bang and an exasperated “oh, fuck you” reverberates into your apartment, you decide to investigate.

Anxiously, you pop on some slippers and step into the hall, locking the door behind you (‘I’m not about to get robbed less than a week after moving,’ you think to yourself, ‘Oh, shit, I need to get insurance…’). Stomach churning with speculation, you make the arduous four-metre trek to your neighbour’s door. Biting your lip, you rap your knuckles against the wood.

A chorus of panicked shuffling echoes through the door, causing your throat to tighten. Footsteps sprint from one side of the room to the other, the sound of shattering ceramic shrill against the heavy thudding. “Shit, shit, shit, shit,” the woman hisses, muffled by the walls, followed by some shushing and the rattling of something metal. Who is this woman, what the fuck is she hiding, why am I doing this—

Suddenly, the door swings open, revealing…oh, wow.

Your neighbour is an amazon.

Flawless bronze skin, chocolate hair strewn into an unruly braid, tall and shredded with lean muscle. Her eyes are a gorgeous tawny brown, the split second of alarm disappearing from her gaze, replaced by a sparkle that makes your heart hammer against your chest. Very kissable lips upturn into a charming smile, bringing your attention to a small scar above her upper lip quirking adorably. A deeper scar sits on her nose, and the pang of anxiety returns, but your eyes need only flicker back to hers and it melts away.

“You’re not the landlord,” she says with a rich accent and curious lilt. Your cheeks feel warm.

“Uhm, hi.” You fiddle with your thumbs, mouth suddenly dry. “Sorry, I moved in a few days ago next door. I just heard some loud noises and was wondering if everything was alright?”

Lips curving furthermore, she braces her arms on the doorframe above and, fuck, are they nice arms. Sun-kissed, bulging against her white t-shirt, three gnarly rings cutting into her right bicep that just scream to be touched. Is this her distraction tactic?

“Oh, sorry about that. I hope I wasn’t too much of a disturbance?”

When you finally pry your eyes from her arms, a tiny smirk registers on her handsome face. Bashful, you stammer, “No, it’s fine. But, uh, what caused it, if I may ask?”

The woman cranes her neck to scan the hall. “Can you keep a secret?”

Mob boss? Arms dealer? Axe murderer?

Clearly, your nervous speculations are apparent, because her eyes widen slightly. “Don’t worry, lovely, it’s nothing dangerous. I just have a pet bird.”

Breathing a shaky sigh of relief, you run a hand through your hair. Just a bird. Just a bird. Her face relaxes back into a casual smile. A fresh wave of warmth caresses your cheeks at the name she gave you.

Chuckling, you joke, “Must be one big bird.”

“He’s…an eagle.”

You blink back your shock. “How on earth did you manage to get a pet eagle?”

She laughs, the melody warm and addictive. “Poor fucker followed me all the way from Kefalonia. I didn’t have it in me to say goodbye, even if it violates the lease.” Her tone is affectionate, despite her less-than-endearing name for the bird. Pushing back from the door frame – hands flexing wonderfully while she does so – she gestures for you to step in. “Come and meet him, if you’d like.”

Everything about this woman is so inviting, you can’t help but gravitate into her apartment.

“I don’t think I caught your name?” you ask shyly.

“Kassandra,” she replies, flipping the ‘r’ in her buttery accent. “And what can I call you?”

Anything you fucking want. “(Y/N) is fine,” you manage, debating whether her flat is hot or your face is akin to a beetroot.

“That’s a lovely name. Suits you perfectly,” she winks. She saunters over to a shelf with a blanket hastily thrown over it. You can’t help but observe her firm-looking behind through her jeans. Kassandra tugs away the blanket, revealing a large eagle sitting grumpily in a cage. It remains put when she unlocks the cage, standing almost defiantly.

“Don’t be like that, Ikaros,” she chastises. The eagle – Ikaros – begrudgingly flies out of his confines, perching atop the sofa in the middle of the open-plan room. “He’s gentle, I promise.” You’re doubtful, but he isn’t making any sudden moves.

“He just likes winding you up?”

“Loves it,” she grins. “He’s a little bitter I put him on a diet since he was getting a bit fat. That’s why he’s been throwing some tantrums lately.”

You smile as she scratches the top of his head before heading to the kitchen. “Can I get you anything to drink?” Kassandra asks, giving you another heart-melting beam. “I have coffee, orange juice, I might have some tea somewhere—”

“Coffee would be nice, thank you.” She asks your preference and you state it, taking in the layout of her apartment. The place gave off a very homely, Mediterranean vibe, with warm colours and white furnishings. A few hand-painted ceramic vases were dotted about – maybe she did pottery – alongside some family photographs. Atop the dining table was a woven basket brimming with ripe fruits, as well as a laptop with a pile of messy papers next to it.

“Have a seat, get comfy,” she calls over the whirring of an expensive looking coffee machine. Shyly you take the chair by the unoccupied end of the dining table. Feeling nosy, you scan the documents by her laptop, but the handwriting was all in Greek.

A minute later, Kassandra joins you with a steaming mug in her hand. “Your coffee, madame,” she announces with a pantomimic bow, evoking a laugh.

“Merci,” you thank her. “How would I say that in Greek?”

“Efharistó,” she replies. You test the word hesitantly, wincing on the second syllable, making her laugh. “Not bad,” she chuckles.

“I butchered it.”

“Try it a little softer,” she smiles, lowering her voice, giving it a sensual cadence that made your head spin. Oh, she knows she’s attractive.

“Efharistó,” you border on whisper, gay little brain surging with the overwhelming instinct to do whatever she tells you.

“There we go!” The proud quirk of her lips is all you need to see.

Feeling your cheeks flush, you bring the coffee mug to your lips, hoping the steam from the beverage will help mask your fluster. You blow on the liquid and take a sip, immediately regretting the decision as you scorch your tastebuds, repressing the urge to hiss in favour of looking cool for the hot Grecian.

“Do you, um,” you start, ignoring the numbness of your tongue, “work from home?” You wave your hand at the paperwork by her seat.

“As often as my job lets me.”

“What do you do?”

“I’m a museum curator,” Kassandra beams, evidently proud of her job. “A glorified history nerd who couldn’t be fucked with the extra academia, basically.” You snort against the mug, nearly spluttering coffee over her. Smooth.

“What time in history?” Her eyes sparkle at the question, passion shining through her irises.

“Mostly the classics, ancient Greece and Rome and all that. But I did my thesis on the evolution of weaponry.” You prop your chin up on your hand as she talks, eyes lazily focused on her lips. If not for the conviction in her tone, you would have zoned out and chased some daydream about kissing those lips. Kassandra reclines back in her chair. “Enough about me, though. Tell me about yourself.”

“You sounded really passionate, though. I don’t mind if you keep talking about your job.” God, you sound like a dizzy schoolgirl who’s hot for teacher. You scald yourself with another sip of coffee in reprimanding.

Kassandra’s eyes twinkle. “I don’t usually invite beautiful women into my home to ramble about cool swords.” You blush and set down your coffee.

The two of you talk for quite some time, getting to know each other, peppering in the occasional flirtatious remark. In her company, you somehow simultaneously feel comfortable and skittish. She’s so relaxed and easy-going, but her physique and seductive demeanour fills your stomach with butterflies.

An irritated squawk cut your conversation short.

Kassandra shoots Ikaros a look before turning back to you. “Sorry about him.”

You shake your head. “It’s fine, really. Damn… What was I saying again?” you ask sheepishly.

Squawk.

“Nevermind, I was probably babbling anyway,” you dismiss, sipping on your now cold beverage.

Kassandra chuckles softly. “Don’t be silly, you have the voice of an angel. You could read me the dictionary and I’d still be interested.” She probably said this to every woman she took a liking to, but you can’t bring yourself to care, far too flustered and feeling, for once, special.

Squawk.

Her eye practically twitches in anger as Ikaros flies over to the windowsill, makes unwavering eye-contact with his owner, and shits on the wood.

Kassandra looks like she wants to be euthanised.

“My god,” she mutters as you burst out laughing. She awkwardly rubs the back of her neck and grimaces, mouth parted as if trying to form some kind of apology for her eagle’s behaviour.

“I’m guessing you’re used to being the only one doing the flustering?” you tease, trying to lighten the mood.

Her disgraced expression shifted back to a playful one. “If I say yes, do I sound like a whore?”

Grinning, you shake your head. “A little cocky, perhaps.”

“I’ll take cocky.” She winks and gets up. “Your coffee is probably cold, can I get you a fresh one?”

“Oh, no, thank you. I’m fine.”

“The finest,” she smirks.

“Real smooth,” you roll your eyes, smiling regardless.

Ikaros caws from the windowsill, as if mocking Kassandra’s advances. Once again, her effortless charm dissolves into a look of frustration. She grabs kitchen towels and a bottle of disinfectant from by the sink and walks over to the window, nudging the eagle so he’d move out of the way. “Maláka,” she groans, cleaning up the mess from the surface. “Μη μου το χαλάς αυτό,” she mutters to Ikaros, earning a confused look. Kassandra sighs. “Usually I wait until after the first date before introducing a beautiful lady to this little shit. That way people don’t immediately think I’m just a weird bird lesbian.”

Testing the waters, you remark, “I happen to quite fancy women with an affinity for animals.” You bite your lip and add, “And, well, you’re…very attractive.”

Smugly, Kassandra finishes disinfecting the windowsill and walks to the kitchen with a little more vigour, your compliment proving to be an ego boost.

Once again deprived of attention, Ikaros decides to flap over and join you at the table. Instinctively, you flinch as the large bird flies in your direction, but all he does is stare at you, trying to analyse the stranger in his home.

“Does – does he bite?” you ask, hesitantly standing up.

Kassandra discards the kitchen towel in the bin, washing her hands. “No, he’s very kind to everyone who isn’t me.” She flashes you a wicked grin. “I only bite when asked.”

Stammering, you choke on air, struggling to find a response. Ikaros gives her a disappointed look.

“Shit, too forward?”

You shake your head. “Not at all,” you blush. “I’ve just…never met anyone quite like you before.” Ikaros seemingly gives you a judgemental leer, and you swiftly find yourself adding, “I-in a good way, that is!”

“Oh?” Her brow is upturned, her interest piqued.

“It’s…exciting.” The eagle shuffles towards you and nuzzles your hand, apparently deciding you’re worthy of his affections. The dark feathers atop his head are surprisingly soft to touch. Smiling, you give his head a few pats, inhibitions to the wind when cute little coos vibrate from his throat. “I’m rambling, aren’t I?”

“I think it’s adorable,” Kassandra says softly.

You look up. “Really?”

“Really.” She joins the two of you and plucks a damson from the fruit bowl, feeding it to Ikaros while you pet him. “You’re the loveliest person to have ever set foot in this building, that’s for sure.”

Ikaros cocks his head in agreement. His beady eyes meet yours, damson juice dribbling from his beak. Do it, he’s silently telling you.

Screw it, let’s shoot our shot.

You clear your throat, mustering up some courage. “Are you free next weekend?”

Kassandra beams amorously. “I was about to ask you the same thing,” she grins. “How does dinner sound?”

Fuck yes. “Really good,” you blurt out excitedly.

“There’s this great Persian restaurant a couple streets over. I’ll book us a table?”

You gasp, having seen the building on the drive when you were moving in. “The place with the garden and the pretty lights, right?”

“That’s the one.”

“Sounds amazing.” Red in the face and heart pounding, your eyes dart about the apartment, fearing that you’ll combust if you look at Kassandra any longer. They settle on Ikaros, who gently butts his head against your hand, almost like a fist-bump. “Well, uh, I have a home insurance company to ring up, so I should probably get going,” you stutter.

“I won’t keep you, then,” Kassandra says, a tinge of disappointment in her tone. Ikaros squawks sadly.

“Thank you for the coffee.”

“It was my pleasure. Thank you for staying,” she winks. The eagle coos in agreement. You give him one last pat before walking to the front door.

“Oh, before you leave, there is something you should know…” Kassandra calls, moving over to you. She delicately takes your hand, frying your brain, and leans down to your ear. You feel faint. Lowly, she whispers, “…Our Hermes guy likes to drop-kick our parcels.”

Snorting, you look up at her in disbelief. I mean, what was I expecting? A kiss? Get a grip, woman. Kassandra laughs at your expression. “Use the amazon locker down the road instead.”

“You’re amazing,” you murmur, grinning. “I’ll probably see you before next weekend, but bye, I guess?”

“Chaire,” she bids softly, opening the door for you.

When the door closes behind you, you let out a ragged breath, excitement coursing through your veins.

You are so glad you moved here.

.

( The Greek clause is meant to say "Don't blow this for me" but I used 5 different translators and all 5 came back with slightly different things and I sort of ip-dip-doo'd it and chose one at random...sorry. )