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otonymous · 5 years ago

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A Moment In Time (MLQC Victor - NSFW)

Description: Things get wet and wild with Victor Warnings: NSFW/18+: Explicit/graphic language — reader discretion is advised. Spoilers for the “Rooftop Date” with Victor, very mild spoilers for main plot Word Count: 3011 words (~15 mins of angst/fluff/smut) AO3: read here

Author’s Notes: I got a couple of requests for something spicy with Victor, and @leoamber66 specifically requested a story inspired by the karma card depicted above, so I decided to amalgamate that scene along with one of the production scenarios and his “Rooftop Date.” The lines marked with an asterisk were taken directly from the date. Hope you all enjoy it and happy reading!

Tagging: @leoamber66 @kitsune-mana

All characters & Mr Love: Queen’s Choice owned by Elex

“I miss you…”*

God, I must be drunk, you think to yourself, trying to suppress the sick lurch of your stomach. No doubt you’ve had too much to drink if you’re hearing Victor’s voice in your head, an echo of the phone call he made to you at an ungodly hour that very morning.

Despite your brain fog, you vaguely recall him mentioning something about France before the line went dead, shortly after you informed him he had dialled the wrong number. The memory of the affection in his fatigued voice brought a rush of heat to your cheeks, but you chalked it up solely to the alcohol in your veins.

Carefully stepping around the pool on the roof of the building and moving beyond eyeshot of patrons in the adjacent restaurant, you lean against the ledge, looking out over the twinkling lights of a city too bright to sleep, the breeze blowing off the river below caressing your face.

And somewhere in those neon pinks, yellows and greens, you see Victor’s face: the firm set of his masculine jaw, strong brows furrowed in displeasure...his eyes, cool and assessing, as he tut-tutted at your inability to hold your alcohol.

“Yup. That’s exactly the type of face he’d make,” you say, the night wind spiriting your words away as soon as they leave your lips.

You hoped you didn’t make a complete ass of yourself in front of all those telecommunications CEOs Victor invited you to dine with. But in all honesty, everything after your second shot of Moutai was a blur. That was the one thing you could never get used to in this industry: the hard drinking culture that came part and parcel with sealing business deals.

And as you sat there watching these ruddy-faced men throw back the alcohol like it was water, the respect you already had in spades for your father deepened. How many nights did he spend entertaining those so-called VIPs, his liver and gut paying the price in securing funding for the company? The thought that you could never thank him again for all the sacrifices he made for your family stung like smoke in your eyes.

And what of Victor, who made up some excuse or another to intercept most of the shots that came your way?

You shake your head, chasing the thought away. Victor is a big boy. He can handle himself. He’d just scoff at your concern if he ever learned about it.

So with your mood sunk low by the dull ache of longing for your father and the prospect of a horrible morning hangover, you excused yourself and left Victor behind with the group of middle-aged men, expressly ignoring the look he shot you as you exited the private room of the Michelin-starred restaurant.

You preferred the food at Souvenir anyways.

“How long are you planning to stand there like an idiot? Everyone has already left and you’ve blown a perfect opportunity to forge business connections.”

The sudden appearance of Victor’s voice — this time, outside your head — makes you jump, his sharp tone grating against the headache already forming at your temples. And while you were grateful for his help, tonight was not one of those times when you could stomach his delivery. To your dismay, he was only getting started.

“You really don’t care about the future of your comp-“

“I’m sorry, Victor. You’re completely right. I shouldn’t have excused myself like that. Could you please, just…leave me in peace tonight?”

Sighing, you turn to face him, seeing Victor for what seemed like the very first time tonight: backlit by wavering aquamarine waters, the ethereal glow softened his features, and even you had to admit he was incredibly handsome when his face wasn’t pulled into a frown.

Tall and broad, his white dress shirt lay crisp against a beautifully toned chest, and the entirety of the man exuded an aura of power, wealth, and the determination to have the world in the palm of his capable hand.

Despite all this, the only thing you could focus on was the tenderness that suffused his gaze as his eyes met your own.

“I miss you…”*

In the ensuing silence, Victor’s voice, travelling thousands of miles to whisper in your ear with a single phone call, came back to haunt you at the worst possible time.

Don’t look at me like that.

Throat growing uncomfortably tight, you tug on the satin collar of your red dress — the motion recalling the time Victor had hurriedly readjusted his tie after Chik left his office. But not before the up-and-coming actress had given you a cold once-over.

For all that she was unpleasant however, she was also gorgeous. And standing next to Victor, they looked like they belonged together.

Please don’t look at me like that, not when I’m not the one in your heart.

Perhaps it was the alcohol. Or the fatigue of working endless days and nights, trying to keep your father’s legacy afloat. Whatever it was, the memory irritated you, and you wanted nothing more than to be as far away as possible from Victor and his unsettling gaze.

“I’ll have the progress report ready for you on Thursday. Thanks again for dinner.”

Bidding Victor goodnight, you brace yourself against your wobbly knees, stepping around him in stilettos you weren’t used to walking in as you made for the restaurant’s entrance.

But then he reaches for your wrist, holding you in place - the grip comfortable despite being firm.

“You got a call this morning, didn’t you?”*

His voice is low and gentle, so contrary to the imperious way by which he usually addressed you. And as the heat of his touch penetrated the delicate skin of your wrist, you guessed that he must be inebriated, conveniently ignoring the signs that indicated otherwise.

“What did you hear?”* The LFG CEO pressed on, the strength of his grip not abating.

“Just a few simple sentences. I won’t blab to anyone…”*

Victor’s lips fall open, neither confirming nor denying as uncertainty danced across his face. So sure in the way he carried himself professionally, his vacillation now enraged you for reasons you could not comprehend. And before you could stop yourself, the words spill from a tongue loosened by alcohol.

“Why don’t you go visit her if you miss her so much?”*

Swallowing the lump in your throat, you continue, masochistically twisting the blade embedded so deeply in your heart you liked to pretend it didn’t exist.

“As long as the two of you are in love, nothing can get in the way of that. She…I think she must be a beautiful and gentle person…”*

Blinking, you push back the sting behind your eyelids, ignoring it like you ignored the despondency you felt every time rumours of Victor’s supposed significant other splashed across headlines of media outlets everywhere.

“You talk too much.”*

Gone is Victor's hushed tone, replaced by the simmer of an indignant anger that threatened to boil over. Reflexively, you step backwards as Victor closes in on you. And as the ground disappears beneath your feet, the last thing you see before falling into the pool is the panic in his eyes.

The chlorine burned as it travelled up your nose, adding to the fear that gripped you when you realized that, even in stilettos, you couldn’t touch the bottom of the pool. Desperately trying to surface, you cursed your inability to swim as you fought against the wet drag of your clothes, your frenzied movements carrying you farther and farther away from the edge of the pool.

All of a sudden, the waters around you violently displace as strong arms wrap around your waist, guiding you to safety.

And with that first breath of air filling your lungs, you are struck by such intense nostalgia you cannot help but look around, surprised to find yourself in a rooftop pool instead of a sunshower in the middle of a busy street, the car that would’ve careened into you already speeding off into the distance.

The only thing that hasn’t changed is the sensation of being held tightly in the arms of a man who always arrived in the nick of time: Victor.

He moves you onto the ledge of the pool, and it isn’t until your coughing subsides that you realize everything seems strangely still. The flashing lights that cascade along the length of a nearby tower like falling dominoes had frozen in place. Turning towards the restaurant, you see diners through the floor-to-ceiling windows, utensils raised in mid-air en route to open mouths like some comical tableau. Finally, you look down to see Victor still half-submerged in the pool, head resting on your thighs while his heaving chest gradually slowed.

The glint of his vintage Patek Philippe wristwatch catches your eye.

“You…you stopped time?”

He raises his head, fixing you with an incredulous stare.

“That’s the first thing you think to say after I just saved your life again?”

Snappy retort not forthcoming, you focus instead on the way he combed a large hand through wet strands of jet black hair, unable to tear away from the sight of a water droplet running down the bridge of his nose to rest at the cupid’s bow of his lips.

And suddenly, you burned hot despite the damp clothing laying cool against your skin.

“Or perhaps you’re fine with everyone seeing you the way you are now?”

Of course. Victor was right, as always. Your up-do had completely disintegrated and wet satin clung to your body, outlining every curve in a way that left little to the imagination. And although his tone had been sharp, you were touched to find him attentive to such a detail.

“Wait here and don’t move,” he says, starting to swim towards the pool ladder. But before you can even process your actions, you’ve already grasped his arm, feeling the impressive flex of his bicep under your grip.

“Why did you get angry?”

You did not know where this bravado had come from, for your impromptu dip in the water had an immediately sobering effect. But the surprise that flashed across his face was strangely satisfying, goading you on.

“Did I touch a nerve earlier?”

Victor drops his gaze, seeming to contemplate the question. And although time had stopped, you grew more and more impatient as you awaited his response.

“You tried to encourage me when you thought I was courting another woman.”*

Accusatory. Hostile even. His voice was every bit what you had come to expect from Victor. But the hurt in his eyes was a surprise that filled you with regret, sinking to the pit of your stomach like a stone.

But perhaps it was a diamond in the rough — a glimmer of hope hiding behind the meaning of his words. And if it was, did you have the courage to reach out and touch it?

As intuitive as Victor’s business acumen was, perhaps he had already seen through you, for his lips were on yours before you could even react, water spilling onto the ledge as he hoisted himself onto your body, arms encircling you for the second time that night.

The alcohol on his breath. The scratch of his five-o’clock shadow. The softness of lips that were as endearing as rare when curled up into a secret smile. Victor’s kiss was so intoxicating you desperately searched for signs you weren’t slumped over your desk at work, dreaming in fitful sleep.

But the insistent press of his body against yours told you this was real. And the way you melted in his embrace brought with it the realization that even if you were dreaming, you did not wish to wake.

His tongue drawing slow circles about your own, your world slowly tilted under Victor’s control until all that filled your vision were the striking features of his face amidst the backdrop of an ebony sky. By then, you were already caught between wet ground and the subtle grind of his pelvis against your core.

Slightly breathless, Victor pulls back to study you with naked intensity before bringing your palm to rest against his solid chest. And as his large hand covers yours, the racing heart beneath it beats electric through the fabric of his now-transparent shirt.

“When will you finally get it?”*

The plea in his voice sounds so foreign for having come from his lips, and when his question is met with silence, he continues,

“Dim-witted as you are, let me spell it out for you.”

Free hand reaching for the knot of his tie, Victor removes it with a single yank.

“So there’s no room for misunderstanding.”

Thumb and forefinger deftly undo the top button of his shirt before sliding to the next in line.

“I would never go near another woman…”*

Smooth skin pulled taut over muscle and sinew, more and more of his bared torso gradually comes into view.

“…when all I want is you.”*

Hands finally dropping to his sides, Victor pauses, exposed and patiently awaiting your response. And although you weren’t sure if your pulse throbbed in time to his heartbeat or your own, nothing felt more certain than the compulsion that made you fist your hand around his loosened collar, pulling him down to quench the desire raging through your body.

Surreal, like a scene from a movie, you watched your reflection off the glass panes of the restaurant’s windows, putting on a show for the unwitting patrons within as Victor bent to run his tongue along the column of your neck. And when you gasp to feel him sucking at the tender flesh, he intertwines his fingers with yours, squeezing as he rejoiced in the thrill of marking you for the world to see.

“Mmm, Victor!”

You barely suppress a moan as he kisses down your bare legs, stopping just as he reaches your ankles. Looking up, he taps his watch and says,

“Scream as loudly as you want, no one can hear you. No one…besides me, that is.”

The subtle flush on his cheeks made him even more alluring as he unbuckled the delicate straps of your heels, gently sliding them off before pressing kisses to the sensitive arch of your feet.

And caught up in the eroticism of the moment, you’re barely cognizant of the path the hem of your dress has travelled until it’s resting around your hips, Victor’s gaze falling on the promise beckoning in the space between your legs. His eyes darken with a primal hunger, bottom lip disappearing behind the bite of even, white teeth.

Exacting. Arrogant. Ruthless. You had thought all these things of Victor when he first announced Loveland Financial Group was pulling funding for your company. Never in a million years did you imagine you’d have the CEO between your legs, cheek rubbing against the lace panties looped around your thigh like a bridal garter as he made you tremble with every flick of his talented tongue against your clit. And when your back arched to feel the sure slide of his long fingers deep into your pussy, the wonder in his gaze makes you think that this was something he, too, never anticipated.

But life has a funny way of bringing people together, and there was no denying how right it felt to have Victor penetrate you to the hilt, dropping tender kisses at the corners of your lips as he rode out the undulating flutters of you clenching tightly around his sizeable cock.

“You feel…so good….”

He whispers in your ear, the warm pants of his exertion incendiary against your skin.

“Would it be okay if I didn’t hold back?”

Eyes dark with desire search you, their corners crinkling as he breaks into a smile as natural as it is breathtaking when you nod. And when you almost think to point out that he really is quite handsome with a grin on his face, Victor takes the words from your mouth when he wraps your legs around his waist, saying,

“Hold on tight.”

You had always guessed that Victor had no shortage of muscle beneath those bespoke suits, but your suspicions were now confirmed with the effortless way he bounced you in mid-air, your arms looped tightly around his neck to anchor yourself against the incredible depths he was reaching within you.

And just when you bordered on the verge of exhilarated breathlessness, Victor’s release finds your own, the warmth he leaves behind slowly trickling down the inside of your thigh as he pulls out.

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“W-what happened to the two of-”

“Goldman, get the car.”

The LFG CEO’s stern command was more than enough to send his assistant scrambling to obey, dropping any further questions as to why the two of you looked like drowned rats.

Drawing the lapel of Victor’s suit jacket closer over your chest, the spicy notes of his cologne recalled the way it smelled on the skin of his neck, and you couldn’t help but steal a glance his way.

But Victor already had his eyes trained in your direction, ignoring the scandalized stares of diners in the vicinity as he reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear, seemingly amused by your attempt to draw back.

“V-Victor! What if rumours start flying about you?” You hiss under your breath, turning away so he couldn’t see you blush.

“So what? It’s not like the rumours are unfounded in this case. You have to stop worrying about what others think. The only opinion that matters is mine.”

You whirl around, incredulous, only to find yourself in his arms again — the world falling silent once more as Victor steals another moment in time, his kiss stretching an instant into an eternity of bliss.

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Thank you so much for reading! Check out more of my work here! 📚

#mlqc #mr love: queen's choice #love and producer #mlqc victor #li zeyan #mlqc fanfic #mlqc fic #mlqc smut #love and producer smut #fanfiction #my writing #elex #all request line

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hela-of-ren · 7 years ago

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Dancing in the Dark: Prima

THE TIME IS HERE MY FRIENDS! My first ever collaboration with the lovely @kyloholic! I am so excited to introduce this story with a CEO!Kylo and a dancer!reader. I’ve always had this idea in my head, but combined with @kyloholic‘s genius, it’s so much more than I could ever have imagined. Just a warning in advance that this story will have drug use and strong themes of smutty goodness. I will always make note of my warnings as this story will have all the romance, but also a lot of dark themes. Without further adieu, please enjoy!

Warnings: None

��Come on girls, I know you can pointe better than that!” You huffed as the surrounding ballerinas voiced their exhaustion in a series of groans and sighs at Mistress Kanata’s critique.

Maz had been the reigning ballet mistress for eight years, always producing skilled ballerinas with a fierce love for dance. While she was a damn good ballet mistress, she was also very well versed in pushing you and your fellow ballerinas beyond your comfort zones.

“Any idea what crawled up Maz’s tutu?” You looked over your shoulder to see Rey smirking at you.

“I’d wager it’s the fact that Aurora was caught using a cocktail of steroids and other supplements to improve her strength,” You gradually flowed into pointe as you spoke, “That and the annual holiday party for First Order Corp is in a few days.” Rey looked at you in confusion as you lowered yourself into first position. “Meaning we’re the entertainment without a prima ballerina.” Maz chose that moment to look over at the two of you.

“Miss Kenobi, Miss Y/L/N, I’d like to see more dancing and less talking if you wouldn’t mind.” For all of her authoritative bravado, she gave you a secret smirk that held humor and warmth. Maz had taken to your life as a mother figure after your own had been arrested for drug possession. You had always been back and forth between taking care of her and staying with other relatives, ballet being your escape since you were a child.

The fact that you had met Maz had been a blessing in disguise. She had helped you grow into the dancer you were now along with helping you gain an apartment of your own. You insisted on paying her back for any financial help she provided, but only asked for payment in the form of your ever developing skill as a ballerina.

It had felt like hours since you’d been dancing, but Maz was on edge ever since the prima ballerina tested positive for steroid use. This led to to your company with no prima ballerina and your annual performance at Viktor Snoke’s holiday party.

“Alright, gather round, gather round!” Maz clapped her hands as you and the rest of the company paused in your positions and formed a circle around Maz. “As you know, we have no prima ballerina to lead the dance for the performance coming up. I’ve thought long and hard about Aurora’s replacement and I have made my decision.” The girls whispered and giggled to each other in anticipation at who would be chosen. You smiled along, ready to applaud the lucky ballerina. “Y/N L/N, would you do me the honor?” A round of applause ensued as you stared at Maz in shock.

You? You were the...prima ballerina?

“Y/N! Y/N, go!” Rey whispered in excitement to you as you stepped towards Maz, mouth still open like a fish.

“It would be an honor, more than an honor…” You accepted, still in a state of shock. Maz smiled warmly and shooed everyone back to their dancing, motioning with a nod of her head for you to follow her.

“I’m sure you’re wondering why you were picked if the bulging eyes and gaping mouth is anything to go by?” Maz teased.

“I just- I expected Rey or even Gaia to be picked before me. It’s wonderful, but hard to comprehend if that makes any sense?” You looked to Maz for clarification, anything that would make you understand.

“My dear,” Maz stood in front of you and clasped your shoulders gently, “You are a wonder to behold on stage. You possess a flawless ability to move and flow with the music in ways I haven’t seen in a long time. I’ve always planned to make you prima after Aurora, but think of it as an early promotion.” She winked, your hands came up to clasp hers on your shoulders.

“Thank you, Maz.” You whispered, trying to expel the building tears. She nodded and released your shoulders.

“Plus, who knows? Maybe you’ll find a handsome gentleman to properly court you.” She chuckled as you grew bright red.

_______________________________________

He rubbed his temples as another headache began to form, the shuffling from behind keeping him from completely passing out onto his bed. Suede clad arms wrapped around his neck as red painted lips touched his ear.

“Aren’t you going to walk me out?” A sultry female voice spoke into his ear, he shuddered and removed her arms from his shoulders before standing up.

“I don’t think so. You’re beginning to sound as if this is a relationship when you know very well where we stand.” Kylo Ren adjusted his tie and secured the remaining buttons on his crisp white shirt, ignoring the woman as she pouted.

“If I recall, you’re the one who dragged me into your office just yesterday for a few rounds. Not that I’m complaining after being fired from the ballet company and all.” Kylo rolled his eyes and faced her as he buttoned his pants.

“Listen to me very carefully because I won’t repeat myself. This cannot and will not continue, Aurora; you’re clearly developing feelings when I specifically warned you that this was purely for stress relief.” Her mouth dropped open to retort in what he knew was outrage, but he would not be deterred. “I do not have feelings for you, I will never have feelings for you, and quite honestly...your steroid use is less than desirable.” With that he opened the door and gestured for her to leave silently.

Aurora’s mouth hung open in outrage as she viciously grabbed her coat and stomped past Kylo in a childish rage. Before she passed she attempted to smack him across the face, but his reflexes were not to be outmatched and he caught her wrist in a strong grip.

“Do you really want me to call security? I don’t think it would look good to have another misconduct on your record, wouldn’t you agree?” He rumbled out with a brow raised as she snatched her arm back and stomped down the hallway.

He shook his head and shut the bedroom door without another thought. He looked at the disheveled bed and sighed, taking in one night stands was becoming tiresome in more ways than one. Normally Kylo took these women to his bed with no problem, sating his pleasures and relieving his stress in one go. After the deed was done, he’d send them on their way and get back to his work without a hitch.

Aurora had been hounding him ever since last year’s performance at his company's holiday party, her never ending flirting becoming annoying until he finally caved out of sheer exhaustion. When he had attempted to kick her out the first time, she proposed a deal; a friends with benefits kind of deal.

Except they were not friends and never would be.

The situation had been promising at first, but Ren knew where this would go and he had absolutely no intent of developing any kind of romantic relationship. Especially not with a woman who relied on drugs to enhance her performance. Kylo was a firm believer that skill should come naturally and with hard work, cheating or gaining unfair advantages over others was cowardly.

His cell phone broke him out of his stupor and he inwardly groaned at the thought of having to discuss anything, let alone work. Reluctantly, he picked up the phone.

“Ren here.” He spoke.

“You sound as joyful as ever.” A British voice chuckled from the other end.

“What is it, Phasma? I’m not due to be in for another hour.” He sat down at his in home desk and began to organize his documents.

“Merely wanted to know what you did to piss off that booty call of yours. She just came into the office demanding to be given access to your desk. I assumed she was up to no good and had security take care of her.” She sounded amused as Kylo groaned, trying to keep his temper in check.

“This is exactly why I don’t do relationships.” He grumbled out as he felt another headache coming on. Phasma chuckled at his obvious distaste and discomfort.

“Come now, Ren. Not all females are as delusional as Miss Crysalthis. She’s a...special breed of woman.” Kylo felt himself chuckle at her joke. “You may even be surprised, maybe this party will bring you some luck in the relationship department.” He rolled his eyes.

“Nice try Phasma. Listen, I need to get going so i’ll speak to you later. If Hux starts to whine, give him a bib and some warm milk.” The last thing he heard was her laugh before he hung up the phone.

Relationship, yeah right.

He’d done fine as he was, there was no need to complicate things with a relationship. Or even worse complicate another person’s life with his issues. Were there moments when he came home wishing there was someone he could talk to about his day? To take out to dinner and spoil? To hold and to kiss whenever he wanted? Yes, yes there were those moments.

But good things didn’t happen to him and he would never put himself in a position to get his hopes up.

__________________________________

*Four Days Later*

You peered out from behind the grand red curtain to see the pristinley dressed members of First Order Corp, all schooled expressions with alcohol in hand. The space was vast and decked out in lavish decorations with the finest food and drink you’ve ever seen. Then again, it was no surprise with how rich and powerful Viktor Snoke was. The man never spared any expense when it came to showing off his company and what he was capable of.

You let the curtain go and smoothed out your costume that consisted of an elegant champagne combo with a lightly sequined tutu, your pink pointe shoes ever present. You felt like a beautiful wisp cloaked in magic.

“You ready?” Rey whispered from behind you with an excited look on her face, “You’re gonna be great, Y/N.” She smiled and gave your hand a squeeze, fluttering away to take her place on stage. You took a deep breath and made your way into the throng of ballerinas.

“Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please.” Viktor Snoke stood at the head of the ballroom, his knife clinking against his champagne glass, “You honor me with your attendance and generous patronage year after year. I have many new ideas that I know will only keep us on top and in charge, but enough business talk,” The audience laughed along as he smirked, “Without further adieu, please welcome the beautiful dancers of Naboo & Company.” He motioned to the stage as the lights dimmed.

Kylo stood with Hux and Phasma towards the front of the room, a look of boredom resting on his face. He never cared much for the ballet, plus the fact that he’d met Aurora this way only added to his disdain. As the ballerinas fluttered around the stage, Kylo found his interest waning as he stared into his glass of whiskey.

“Now there’s something worth looking at.” Phasma suddenly spoke up from beside him. He looked to her in confusion only to see her attention enraptured by something on stage, her eyes wide and mouth agape. He turned to look at the stage only to feel his heart skip a beat at the sight.

You stood at the center of the stage holding pointe with your arms raised towards the lights, your costume shimmering as you began to glide and twirl about the stage. The music twinkled and swelled with as you spun about, arms moving as if liquid and your face taking on the expression of pure freedom as you told a story through dance. Feeling all these eyes on you was exhilarating, the atmosphere and feeling of being prima ballerina was everything you’d ever dreamed of.

“I wouldn’t mind getting on a first name basis with her, she’s bloody brilliant.” Phasma continued as Kylo could only stare in wonder. You were without a doubt the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen, as cheesy as that fucking sounded. The flawless way you moved on stage was breathtaking and the look on your face was...beyond words.

“Who is she?” Kylo found himself whispering in wonder. Hux pulled out a program and scrolled through the performers.

“Her name is Y/N L/N, the new prima ballerina. Been with the company for a few years it seems, she’s not half bad.” He took a sip of his champagne as Phasma sent him an incredulous look.

“Not half bad? Please, I’d like to see you move that way.” She retorted as Kylo found himself moving closer to the stage in order to see you better. You began to move in sync with the other ballerinas, but his eyes never left you for a second. The music swelled to a climax as the entire company did their final turns, you going down to one knee with one hand reaching upwards ina final pose. The audience erupted into thunderous applause as you smiled and bowed with the rest of your company.

The girls gently nudged you forward so you could bow separately front and center, the applause growing as you dipped gracefully into a bow. Your eyes scanned the audience before they landed on a man who seemed to be in a trance and...gods, he was handsome. You made eye contact just as the curtain closed before being engulfed by the girls.

“Y/N, you were fantastic!”

“Amazing!”

“There were so many more people there this year!”

“I feel fantastic!”

You laughed and hugged the girls as they gushed. It really had been a wonderful performance, everything had been perfect. Even with all of this, you couldn’t help but think of that dark haired man in the audience who’d been looking at you. His eyes were deep and brown like maple syrup, lips pink and pouty, and….really tall. You couldn’t help but feel a strange pull to this man, there was just something about him…

“Y/N, my dear, come with me! There’s a few people here I’d like to introduce you to.” Maz cut in and took you by the hand. You looked to the girls for help, but they only giggled as Maz pulled you along. People in the crowd smiled your way as you passed, some lifting their glasses to toast you. You could only smile back in thanks as Maz never stopped pulling you along.

It seemed you only began to gain speed from the small woman’s speed, each body passing by in a blur going faster and faster until you slammed into someone. Your hand wrenched from Maz’s and you felt yourself falling from the impact until strong arms caught you around your waist, your own grasping the mystery person’s forearms.

You let out a breath of relief and looked up to thank your savior, all breath leaving you as you realized who it was.

It was him, the man from the crowd and oh god he was even more handsome up close.

“Oh...oh my god, I am so sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going, I didn’t mean-” You began to studder out as he brought you to stand back up.

“No, no please, it’s alright! Are you okay? That couldn’t have been a soft impact…” His voice was deep and warm like distant thunder.

“Yes, I’m fine! You caught me just in time.” You smiled lightly, only slightly realizing that his hands were still on your waist and yours were clutching his forearms. “Uh- uhm, my name is Y/N. Y/N L/N.” You managed to get out before you looked like an idiot.

“I’m Kylo, Kylo Ren.”

#kylo ren x reader #kylo x reader #kylo ren imagine #kylo ren #star wars au #star wars #dance #ballet #reader insert #empress-ren #CEO!Kylo #dancer!reader #dancing in the dark

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susangkomengreaternyc · 6 years ago

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What We Learned at the 2018 New York Metastatic Breast Cancer Conference

While New York City braved its first nor’easter of the season, our conference presenters and attendees brought the heat at the second annual New York Metastatic Breast Cancer Conference. Here’s what we learned:

DAY 1: Tell Me More! What’s New in MBC

Dr. Patrick Borgen, Chair of the Department of Surgery at Maimonides Medical Center and Chair of Komen NYC’s Medical Advisory Committee, kicked off the conference in a way only he can, combining humor, intellect, and his signature bow tie. He started by highlighting some of the “sparkling advances” in metastatic breast cancer treatment beyond surgery, chemo, and radiation, such as cell cycle checkpoint inhibitors, immune modulators, adaptive cell therapies, synthetic lethalogy strategies, and double targeting of onco-protein targets, but made it clear that these advances are simply not enough. “As physicians, we seek not just to treat, but to heal,” he said, adding that healing requires the often overlooked practice of listening.

WATCH: Welcome to NYMBCC from Dr. Borgen

Susan G. Komen’s Focus on Metastatic Breast Cancer

Linda McNeil Tantawi, Komen NYC CEO, addressed the group. “At the end of the day, we are here to serve all of you,” Linda said, as she discussed Komen’s focus on metastatic breast cancer and the actions Komen is taking enterprise-wide to focus on patients with stage IV breast cancer. These can be reviewed here.

Morning Keynote Speaker Kelli Davis

Terminal Optimism

Kelli’s brutally honest and brave portrayal of her journey from an early stage PINK SURVIVOR to a breakdown which required hospitalization upon learning of her Stage IV diagnosis, to inspirational co-founder of the METSquerade and leader of Metavivor, was heartrending.

“Although we’re not exactly where we want to be from a research funding perspective, I think this is the way to get there - being here, partnering, listening.” -Kelli Davis

WATCH: Kelli Davis delivers a powerful keynote speech on Terminal Optimism

ER+ Breakout Session

Dr. Patrick Borgen was joined by Dr. Joseph Sparano, Associate Chairman for Clinical Research in the Department of Oncology at Montefiore Medical Center, for the ER+ session. One of the key takeaways from this session: metastatic breast cancer can mutate; what we think we’re treating can change. DO NOT ignore the idea of rebiopsying.

“This is about an expert team, not a team of experts.” -Dr. Borgen on the importance of creating multidisciplinary teams that meet on a regular basis to review each patient they see.

WATCH: Morning Breakout Session on ER+ with Dr. Borgen

Morning Panel: Clinical Trials: The Doctor/Patient Partnership

Dr. George Sledge, Chief of the Division of Oncology in the Department of Medicine at Stanford University, moderated this panel, which featured Dr. Sparano, Dr. Francisco Esteva, Director of the Breast Medical Oncology Program at Perlmutter Cancer Center, and Priscilla Brastianos, Director of the Brain Metastasis Program at Massachusetts General Hospital and Komen research grantee. We also heard directly from Dr. Sparano’s and Dr. Esteva’s patients themselves about their experiences with clinical trials.

If you or a loved one needs information or resources about clinical trials, call our clinical trial information helpline at 1-877-465-6636 or email [email protected].

WATCH: Morning Panel on Clinical Trials: The Doctor/Patient Partnership

Eliza S. Adams Memorial Keynote

Eliza Adams was a force of nature - a fierce advocate for herself and her community of stage IV Thrivers. In her memory, Dr. Sledge delivered the inaugural Eliza S. Adams Memorial Keynote, which focused on scientific advancements for the metastatic community and the work that remains to save more lives.

Dr. Sledge discussed new drugs that look at cancer differently and require us to think in different ways:

Precision Oncology or “slicing the pie”: breast cancer is not a single disease, it’s a family of diseases. The idea that a doctor can provide the greatest benefit by diagnosing what’s most common is no longer relevant because we are able to find very rare mutations within cancer. While we don’t have drugs for every mutation at this time, precision oncology is promising because we can now identify them, often resulting in more effective and less invasive treatments.

“In the era of genomics, we now live in zebra land.” -Dr. Sledge

Immunotherapy: the idea that we can activate the body’s immune system against a human cancer. T cells, whose job it is to attack a cancer cell, have on and off switches, but cancer cells are really good at fooling them with Jedi mind tricks.

“These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.” -Dr. Sledge explains how cancer cells trick T cells into ‘turning off’ their defenses.

WATCH: Eliza S. Adams Memorial Keynote from Dr. Sledge

Bone Mets Breakout Session

Bones are the first site of metastasis for more than half of women who develop stage IV breast cancer. As a first step, doctors need to establish whether your bone metastasis puts you at risk for a premature fracture or premature failure. For some patients, they discover they have stage IV breast cancer only after they get a fracture!

“One of the most important things that doctors learning about oncology or patients learning about breast cancer need to understand is that not all stage IV breast cancer is the same.” -Dr. Borgen

WATCH: Afternoon Breakout Session on Bone Metastases with Dr. Borgen

Afternoon Panel: Genetics, Genomics and MBC. Why Should I Care

After the discovery of BRCA1 and BRCA2, doctors thought it was unlikely that germline mutations in those genes would lead to differences in treatment. WRONG! Dr. Esteva said that if you biopsy a tumor to understand its genomic sequencing, it can also give you insight into the genetics of the chromosomes in all the cells in your body, which could uncover a genetic predisposition to the cancer that you may not have previously been aware of.

“Almost every newly diagnosed metastatic breast cancer patient should consider BRCA testing.” -Dr. Borgen

Whether the genetic driver landscape of metastases differs from primary cancers, and whether there are cancer genes specific to metastases, are important considerations impacting treatment decisions.

WATCH: Afternoon Panel on Genetics, Genomics and MBC. Why Should I Care

Dr. Borgen closed the first day of the conference just as he started it - with humor and intellect. Inspired by Dr. Sledge’s Star Wars analogy, he gave a memorable summary of the day: “If you’re [a T cell] in zebra land, playing whack-a-mole, instruct Obi-Wan Kenobi to give the big eater access to the droid.”

WATCH: Dr. Borgen Closes Day 1 of NYMBCC

DAY 2: Living Well with Cancer

Sunday was dedicated to hope, healing, enriching dialogue and hands-on demonstrations for improving quality of life and living peacefully.

WATCH: Morning Keynote on Hope, Healing, And Wholeness

“It’s okay to hope today that tomorrow we will be more hopeful.” -Kelly Grosklags, LICSW, BCD

Morning Panel on Palliative Care: What It Is, Why You Need It and How To Get It

Everyone would like to improve their quality of life, but for patients managing chronic disease, it’s especially important in relieving physical pain and emotional stress. Metastatic breast cancer is often treated as a chronic illness because it can be managed for years, making palliative care a useful technique in reducing discomfort. Dr. Dawn Hershman, Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology with tenure and Director of the Breast Cancer Program of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, shared findings from her study that found acupuncture significantly reduced aromatase inhibitor-related joint pain after 6 weeks. But you don’t need an acupuncturist to reap the benefits of palliative care. Kelly Hogan, MS, RD, CDN, says nutrition can play an integral role in improving how you feel on a daily basis and quality of life overall.

Which Dr. Do I See? The Role of Primary Care Doctors in an Oncology Setting

Dr. Mikhail Varshavski, DO, better known as Doctor Mike, gave a fantastic, informative talk about the importance of cancer patients having a primary care doctor.

He said that “for many people, when they hear the term ‘wholistic care’, they think we’re talking about naturopathic care or one that doesn’t incorporate medicines. In medicine, wholistic treatment is the treatment of a person as a whole, mind, body and social factors.”

WATCH: Doctor Mike Explains why Oncologists Shouldn’t Replace Primary Care Doctors

That’s a wrap on the second annual New York Metastatic Breast Cancer Conference!

Special shout out to the courageous thrivers, compassionate caregivers and fascinating speakers who made this an exceptional weekend!

Thanks to our generous sponsors at Convene, Pfizer Oncology, Odonate Therapeutics, Genentech, Novartis, Lilly Oncology, MERCK, MBCN, Aetna, Celgene and Genomic Health, attendees enjoyed two days of the most current information related to metastatic/stage IV breast cancer for free!

From thrivers to advocates to health care professionals, the NYMBCC Faculty was made up of some of the biggest and brightest minds in the metastatic community - we cannot thank you enough!

Dr. Patrick Borgen

Dr. Priscilla Brastianos

Kelli Davis

Dr. Francisco Esteva

Kelly Grosklags, LICSW, BCD

Dr. Dawn Hershman

Kelly Hogan, MS, RD, CDN

Dr. Hanna Y. Irie

Eileen Moran

Dr. George Sledge

Dr. Joseph Sparano

Dr. Mikhail “Mike” Varshavski

Tari Prinster, Yoga4Cancer

Dr. Martha Eddy, Moving For Life

Kristin Westbrook, Calm City

Looking for more? We’re continuing the MBC conversation on Saturday, November 10th at the Long Island Metastatic Breast Cancer Conference. RSVP here to join us for this FREE one-day event at Hofstra University!

Don’t forget to register for the 2019 NYMBCC on October 5 & 6! We hope to see you there!

#knyc #nymbcc #metastatic #stageiv #mbc #research #metastatic breast cancer

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servaxo · 6 years ago

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Choose wisely: The power colours can have on your brand identity

The bright red website button that tells you where to click. The shirt in a fashionable champagne pink that encourages you to buy. The branded promotional product in a trustworthy blue that tells you the company offering it is dependable.

Though we don’t always give them much thought, colours are everywhere. And everyday designers and brands are using them to tell us where to click, what to buy and who to trust.

Or, as the psychiatrist Carl Jung once stated, “colours are the mother tongue of the subconscious.”

In this Blue Paper, we’ll talk about all the ways colour affects us as well as how to choose the perfect brand and swag colours to tell your story. Read on to learn how to get your brand noticed and remembered.

Why is colour important?

Why is colour so important? Here are three reasons:

Colours draw attention

Colour can help improve memory. People who were shown the same picture in colour and in black and white remembered 5 to 10 percent more details when asked questions about the picture.

Colours appeal to emotions

Multiple studies confirm that purchase decisions are often made based on emotion instead of logic. In fact, there are many ways that colours tie to various feelings (more on that later).

Colour trends keep changing

Matching-colour system Pantone® created the Pantone Color Institute

, which studies and advises many industries on seasonal colour trends. These trends then spread to fashion, paint colours, and TV commercials.

Colour’s importance can be summarized in a single statistic: 93 percent of customers buy a product based on its colour.

When colour talks

Much like listening to music or reading a good book, colour evokes emotion. Colour psychology—the study of the way hues determine human behaviour—offers some insight into the way various colours affect people, particularly when it comes to branding.

Fast-food restaurant logos offer well-known examples of colour use. The most popular fast food chain uses red and yellow, for example. These colours represent excitement and happiness, respectively—the perfect combination to draw someone in for a snack or meal.

Oberlo offers a simple list of emotions that colours evoke in branding:

Red: Excitement

Orange: Friendliness

Yellow: Optimism

Green: Peace

Blue: Dependability

Purple: Creativity

Grey: Calmness

While these colours and emotions are helpful when you’re creating your brand or logo, sometimes it’s helpful to look beyond the most common meanings of colours.

The culture of colour

While colours often relay specific messages, it’s important to note the language of colours isn’t universal.

For example, in Western cultures, red generally indicates excitement, passion and love. But if you take a look around the globe, you’ll find a different story.

In China, it symbolizes good luck, joy and prosperity.

In India, it indicates purity and spirituality.

Many countries in Africa associate it with death.

And of course, it’s always wise to consider other common cultural meanings for specific colours. While green is a calming colour we associate with nature, it’s also the colour many people associate with money.

Keeping brand colour consistency

The human brain prefers recognizable brands. And colour is a significant factor in that recognition. In fact, it’s so important that “UPS® brown” and “Barbie® pink” are trademarked. Plus, a signature colour has been shown to boost brand recognition by 80 percent.

If you’re designing your first logo or going through a rebrand, choosing the proper brand colour can help send customers down the proper psychological path.

When it comes to telling your brand story, start with the traits you want to emphasize and select a brand colour or colours that represent those traits. This will help you relay the message you want your customers to receive.

Be sure to consider:

Target market: Rather than selecting a colour based on a feeling, decide on the feeling you’re trying to achieve.

Appropriateness: With your target market and the feeling you want to convey in mind, select an appropriate shade. Blue may indicate dependability but choosing a shade that’s too light might imply that you’re selling to young children.

Consistency: While rebranding is sometimes appropriate, putting your brand through frequent changes can be confusing to customers—and make it more difficult for customers to locate you at a glance.

Of course, while tone and consistency are important, you also want to be noticed. If your industry has a lot of yellow in their branding, choosing something different—like a light orange—can help your brand stand out.

Hues that complement your brand

When choosing promotional or other products for your company, it’s just as crucial that swag colour complements—rather than clashes—with your brand colours, especially your logo. After all, we judge products by their colour, according to a University of Winnipeg study. In fact, 60 to 90 percent of a product’s evaluation is based on colour.

Selecting the perfect product to show off your brand involves a variety of factors: getting the proper colour match on your product, choosing a perfect contrast colour, and thinking about the theme of an event you’re planning to attend, just to name a few.

Consider the products you want to carry your colour

Choosing the perfect item to show off your companyfrequently involves starting with brand colours and working from there.

Before you start selecting branded promotional products, it’s important to determine how you want to present your company colours and logo. Do you want your logo to use your brand colours, while your promotional products provide contrast? Or do you want your product to feature your brand colours, while your logo is presented in black or white? Both options have positives and negatives.

“Consistency can be very important to a customer,” said 4imprint Training Specialist Rachel Tease. “They may want their brand universally known not only by the image but by the colours they chose for their logo. However, it also means that the brand will be getting a smaller, less visible presentation.”

Alternately, having the product carry your colour can make for excellent brand visibility, but it can also limit the promotional products you’re able to use if a particular colour isn’t available.

Contrast your logo with your products

Tease offered some advice for finding the perfect contrast between logo and swag colours. “Dark logos can’t go on dark garments, just like light logos can’t go on light garments. You wouldn’t be able to read the logo,” Tease said.

If you’re looking to have your promotional product show off the colours of your brand, Tease suggests that using an all-white or all-black logo to contrast with your colour scheme.

Also, using a colour calculator can help you find the perfect contrasting colour to make your brand stand out.

Try before you buy

Before you commit to buying hundreds of pens, shirts or other promotional products, take a look at a mockup and ask for a sample, if possible. The product may look right on your computer screen, but may not be the right fit in reality.

Frank Barrett can attest to that experience. A few weeks before launching their new Canadian subsidiary of Joe Walsh Tours, a tour group organizer in Ireland, Barrett, President and CEO, decided to purchase matching shirts. The dress shirts and a Jerzees® Spotshield Jersey Knit Shirt helped them emphasize their brand. The primary reason for that shirt choice? The colour.

“We wanted a branding image consistent with Joe Walsh Tours,” Barrett said. “If you look at their website, they use a colour scheme of dark blue, pale blue, orange and white. We thought the light blue was the best choice for our shirts.”

That’s when Barrett learned about the importance of samples. After selecting a shirt that looked perfect on his computer screen, he realized upon seeing the sample that the shirt didn’t look quite right. “The original sample shirt had a different tone,’” he said. “I said, ‘This is close, but it’s clearly not the same.’”

Luckily, he was able to make a trade—and the new shirt was a perfect match.

The outfits accomplished precisely what Barrett had hoped for. “We all had dark blue pants and Joe Walsh shirts and it helped us look really professional,” he said. “And now we’ve got a branding image that’s consistent with the Ireland group. We’re part of something important here.”

Think about your theme

While brand consistency is key, sometimes you’ll want to offer specialized promo products for an event or promotion.

In those instances, Tease suggests that you tweak your brand colours. For example, if your brand colour is a royal blue, but you’re throwing an island-theme event, consider a lighter shade of your brand blue to stay consistent.

Branded promotional products tell your story

Colours aren’t just all around the world—they make the world go ‘round. Selecting the right swag colours to complement your brand helps tell your story. And most important of all, it helps customers remember you.

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