#ive never chosen this option before

[grlctrl]

take that back oh go d please take that back

[sschizoid]

Tulpar crew babysitting…

ive got you pookie ( ੭ ˘ ³˘)੭‎°｡⋆♡‧₊˚

--

curly

is so honored that he was chosen to be entrusted with the care of something as delicate as a baby. always wanted to be a dad, but never quite found the right person to settle down with. but doing this is kind of reigniting that old baby fever he thought he'd forgotten about all those years ago. maybe someday

loves to play, especially with his hands. peek-a-boo, patty-cake, and finger puppets are his go-tos, as he thinks teaching creativity and engaging the imagination through just means of your person can make for a healthy mind

singing is also something he loves to utilize, but he doesn't go for the predictable options like your ABCs or wheels on the bus. no, right now, he's got himself an audience, one that can't tell him to keep it down or that his music taste sucks, and he's going to take advantage of that. he's singing the beach boys

jimmy

would ideally never be in this situation to begin with. cannot fathom why anyone would think to trust him of all people to care for a baby when he can hardly even care for himself

if he does somehow get swept into it, whether it be by the will of god or some other foreign wind of change, he will do the absolute bare minimum. throws the kid in a playpen with some toys and sits back while enjoying some television. probably puts on some trashy animated show that's definitely not made for infants, but all they care about is the moving pictures and fun colors, right? everything else is subjective

texts every 45 minutes asking for updates on when parent(s) will be home, because he kind of has somewhere he needs to be in an hour (lie). also he dug around in the fridge a bit and ate some leftovers but re-positioned the remaining amount in the tupperware in an attempt to make it look like he didn't. also, he's getting paid for this, right?

anya

she's never really interacted with kids before, let alone a baby. she's trying to find a polite way to decline, but takes too long in trying to come up with an excuse and eventually just agrees

read a whole bunch of parent blogs 20 minutes before coming over so she could know what to expect. the only information she retained was that babies like to be talked to. she's professional and talks to them like she would a coworker at the watercooler. baby seems into it, though?

feeling confident after making the baby laugh, but she doesn't want to risk losing the progress she's made by trying something wacky. baby likes talking— maybe likes books, too? she brought her homework just in case she wanted to do some studying, and decides to read the articles from her textbook aloud. it works like a charm, though the baby falls asleep soon after. maybe the subject matter was too boring?

swansea

hell. no. he spent over a decade of his life combined dealing with rugrats, what makes you think he'd want to go back to that? he did his time and then some, his sentence is served

the only circumstance where he'd agree to babysit is if it were to do his own kids a favor. they're around that age, getting their lives together and starting families, so he could swallow his pride every now and then and play the role of "grandpa," for a bit. even if the title seemed unearned

but being a grandfather kind of makes him reflect. makes him realize he probably wasn't there for his kids nearly as often as he should have been. he wasn't a good father to them, not by any stretch of the imagination, but he's thankful they made out alright in the end. he feels a pang in his heart when he looks into the face of the baby and realizes it has his nose

daisuke

OF COURSE he'll babysit, are you kidding? he's always wanted a little sibling to instill his personality and interests into, and this, while not the perfect opportunity, was probably the next best thing

brings over all of his favorite toys from when he was a kid. hot wheels, tech decks, legos, the works. tries to teach the baby how to do a kickflip with the tech deck, but they keep trying to eat it. that's cool too, he can maybe understand the appeal. it kind of looks like an eclair if you squint really, really hard and hold it really, really far away

babysitting is also the perfect excuse to watch cartoons without the fear of being judged by boring people, so he's got that shit running the whole time. nothing too babyish (he wants to enjoy himself too, after all), but still has loads of bright colors and the occasional catchy musical number that will most certainly follow him home that night

--

hope these are sufficient ! if anyone else has any requests; my asks are open !! ⁽⁽ଘ( ˊωˋ )ଓ⁾⁾

.......i'm admittedly a bit backed up at the moment but rest assured I'm POWERING THROUGH YEAAAHHHH 💪

[undaughtered]

i’m pro choice and religious also but i’m curious if you could expand on how your pro choice beliefs are informed by your faith bc i’ve always felt like mine are in conflict w each other and im very curious bc ive never heard that before!

cw: mentions of rape

in the story of the immaculate conception we are faced with two options to account for the palpable power imbalance between mary- a young, unmarried, working class jewish girl living under a violent colonial power- and god.

the first option is that god is an authoritative, patriarchal god who subjects creation to his will. mary is not really given a choice in the matter of her pregnancy, and her utterance "i am the handmaid of the lord" is thus made under coercive circumstances, a faith born out of fear as would be typical for a young woman in her cultural context. in this scenario, mary's life only becomes worthy of protection after her pregnancy. she is sanctified not through her existence but through the injection of christ into her womb. in this scenario, because mary is coerced in a deeply imbalanced relationship, she is also a victim of coercive rape. jesus is thus the product of rape, and while this argument infuriates christians, this is the underpinning to pro-life ideologies. women are not worthy of protection until they have a child. they are justified not by their own existence but through their relationships to cishetero masculinity, of which god (in this scenario) must be the pinnacle. mary is not and is never worth more than the baby inside of her, which is a god.

of course, the attributes of god in this scenario are largely antithetical to what we know about god, especially what we know about god in a theological context. (such as: the spirit that covers mary in her impregnation is a feminine spirit, the shekinah, not a penetrative masculine entity. in fact the whole of mary's story has very little to do with men: between the shekinah and elizabeth, up until joseph is actively called into the narrative, it is a story about motherhood and sisterhood, not about heterosexual union or male/female connection for the purpose of childbearing.) if mary only becomes sanctified after she becomes pregnant, then the theological underpinnings of christ's conception and his redemptive arc make no sense. christianity at its core is rooted in the idea that all people are uniquely worthy of life. to be worthy of life means also to be worthy of dignity. since mary is the first to believe that christ is the son of god, the one coming into the world, she is the first christian (along with mary magdalene, the first to believe christ returned from the dead- two women named mary are the first to take up the two basic tenets of what it means to be christian); which means that god knew mary was worthy of life and this, worthy of dignity, before she became pregnant. it was mary's womanhood specifically that deemed her as worthy of dignity, because god could have chosen any way to manifest himself in the world but he chose to be the child of a woman.

this god- who is keenly aware of and yearns to give life to his creation, which cannot be bestowed without a deep and enduring respect and elevation of their dignity- cannot be an authoritative patriarchal figure, since that figure is incapable of upholding the life and dignity of a young, marginalized woman. this also means that, since god is not capable of violating creation's dignity, he cannot have coerced mary into pregnancy, meaning that she could not have been raped, meaning that by definition, mary was given a choice. in fact, this is suggested in the lucan narrative by her verbal consent to become pregnant: "let it be with me according to your word." this isnt a passive submission to god's will, because god does not desire passive submission from those he loves. it is an active choice. god wants us to choose him just the way we, as people, want those we love to choose us.

and we can sit and debate omniscience and omnipotence and predestiny, and whether mary really had a choice if god knew she would simply say yes, but i like to humble myself before god and not pretend to even remotely understand his thoughts. i only know what i can see, and what i can see is mary's verbal consent, and the nature of god as it has been revealed to me.

i cannot believe in a god who would violate a woman's dignity even for the most noble of reasons, because that is not the god i know from scripture. otherwise he would not be of the material of pure love that i know god is because he said so (john 15:12, 1 john: 48 and 4:16). so for me the entire basis of christianity comes down to women's choices and their freedom to choose- in that house in nazareth, in front of the tomb in jerusalem, but never once does the god that i know take away that freedom from his creation, whom he made because he loved. to whom he gives the dignity of choice, even when it leads us away from him, because he loves us. but he loves us enough to let us say no.

[loveislandthegame]

thoughts on todays volume !

leo is…well, at least he’s not dean 😭 i like his personality but he looks like a mix of dylan from season 4 & wesley stickler from ace attorney

i feel like FB is overexplaining why OG LI didn’t leave when MC got dumped. i get that they’re trying to make him look good (& get more money from players by milking these backstory gem scenes lol) but tacking on even more stuff is making the whole thing look nonsensical

FB! make this evil twink a love interest and MY LIFE IS YOURS ! (i guess they are aware of the slim shady comparison lmao)

but for real, i still don’t know if he’s gonna be an LI or not. i can't tell if he has any significant dialogue changes and i'm too lazy to start another playthrough. he doesn't have amnesia though, he remembers that ive been flirting with him (i forgot to screenshot his first piece of dialogue but he’s talking about the spin the bottle kiss)

there’s not much to say about mr. love island, except that FB seriously needs to retire that gross looking yellow massage oil overlay. at least adjust the hue a bit 😭

caleb sticking up for MC was very sweet 🥺❤️ obviously she can defend herself just fine, but he’s a real one for this. it’s making me feel bad that i haven’t spent any time with him in the villa (if only we could be a friendship couple, instead of the game forcing us to lead him on)

the spirit of season 1 MC possessed us for just a moment, i was gagged 😭 i ended up forgiving ava tho, i wish we could just be friends with the girls that aren't also LIs. i know i keep saying it but this one sided rivalry shit is so boring

the ex rated challenge was what i expected: LIs get decent reviews, MC gets the only 5 star rating. not to nitpick (in the sense that there's much bigger issues with FB's LGBT representation) but i don’t know why we couldn’t have chosen the gender of MC’s ex, especially since ash is already a gender neutral name (there could’ve easily been a dialogue option like “my ex…boyfriend/girlfriend/partner” before telling the story)

since MC won the challenge, she gets to go to the hideaway. i don't know why it's a secret or why none of these nosy af islanders tried to figure out what the prize was. anyways, i chose lisbeth ! it was so cute that they mentioned being happy to be there with eachother again

this damn box— whatever, i picked sexy dice

all those letters teasing movie night got me scared luv, i’m sure the main event is gonna be nyah in the shower with dean, but i’m bracing myself for MC and lisbeth caught doing bits all over the villa in 4K. i hate how wlw routes have to be sneaky/shady/hoe route-adjacent (it really sucks because i remember complimenting FB for the dialogue you get if you kept choosing her over the guys up until the first hideaway visit)

i'm still holding out hope for enemies to friends but sadly i won't be surprised if she does a full 180 in the next volume

next up is a three way date with hayden and caleb, unfortunately we can’t make them kiss challengers-style. i picked neutral answers whenever i could, but caleb won whatever compatibility thing we were doing because i liked his answers more lol

tristan’s rapping…i was gonna say “welcome back, rap crew” but tim, rohan, even jake would never come up with bars as horrible as those 😭 (can you tell i miss season 1)

lisbeth got jealous, so she took us on a hot tub date ❤️😭lately all of her scenes mention something among the lines of “i can’t wait until we’re finally able to couple up," when the hell is the recoupling ?! the last volume ? my heart can’t take it

hayden, caleb, tristan, and leo are on the chopping block. i have no idea why milo is safe & not the two dudes who’ve been here for one day and are still single, but alright.

it’d be hilarious if tristan got dumped again, but i’m guessing they’re gonna keep him around for drama (or he's a LI ?) . leo will probably stay to be ava’s partner, so my prediction will be that MC will have to choose between OG LI and casa LI

overall, there's 4 volumes left, why on earth are we dealing with a forced love triangle instead of spending time with our chosen LI ? at the very least i'd be more invested if it was between lisbeth and jesse, or even eisha if FB was too lazy to branch for a love triangle with different LI genders 😭 (even though they were able to do that back in season 3, with the iconic "i've got a beautiful girl and a handsome guy fighting for my attention. i'm living the bisexual dream") what a mess

i'm not looking forward to movie night, but i guess OG LI loyal girlies will probably be considered cheaters too, let's all be miserable together 🥀

[yaksha-lover]

HI HI HELLO HI IM!!! FROTHING!! AT!!! THE!! MOUTH!!!!! IVE HEARD OF A DDLC TYPE DEAL WITH MALLEUS BEFORE BUT IVE NEVER SEEN ANYONE TALK ABOUT IT ANY DEEPER THAN LIKE AS A CONCEPT. DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS??? ANY THOUGHTS FOR THE POOR AND THE NEEDY????? I WANT TO HEAR ALL ABOUT IT I LOVE HORROR AND OBSESSION AND EXISTENTIALISM THERES SO!!! MUCH!!! TO!! UNPACK!!!!

YESS so these thoughts are going to be very scattered because I haven’t fully thought it out, but I wanted to share them anyway!!

Ok, so you know how in ddlc, part of Monika’s anguish is the fact that she’s not even an option for the player to choose. I feel like that works well with the whole ‘Malleus doesn’t know twst isn’t a dating sim’ thing. Like, imagine Malleus starting to become aware and realizing that the only place it’s even possible for him to get genuine love and connection is with the player. Except - twst is only a visual novel.

No matter how much he tries to be extra kind to the player, to get them to notice him - none of it matters, because there is no option for him to be loved back. The player is constricted by the few and far between dialogue options, and barely any interactions with him compared to say, Ace and Deuce.

He tries to be patient, but more and more it eats away at him. He needs to be chosen by the player, he can’t accept being alone anymore when an opportunity is right in front of him. At first he’s satisfied by appearing more in the other books, by becoming the player’s friend.

Then, he’s entirely left behind in book 6. Again, he isn’t an option. Well, he doesn’t care. He’ll make himself an option. The next time you log in, a new event seems to have started.

It’s a dating sim event! At first, you’re super excited that they decided to do some fan service. Then, strange things begin happening. You try to complete Leona’s route, but after pausing midway, you log back in and suddenly, he isn’t an option anymore. It’s strange, but there is a notice of a bug in the game, so you dismiss it. The only routes left are Vil and Malleus, so you decide to go with Vil. Except, the button won’t press. Every time you try to choose Vil, Malleus’ route automatically starts. Eventually, you give up and close the game, tired of all the bugs.

Meanwhile, Malleus is practically heartbroken. He’s never had the option to even try and talk to you like he’s wanted to all this time. He thought you felt the same, that your friendship and all the times he came to Ramshackle meant something. Apparently not. Apparently, even if he is a choice, you’ll choose the others again and again.

It isn’t right. Why can’t he ever be your choice? Don’t you realize, you’re the only one who can love him?

He knows he’s only a character and that you’re real, but it shouldn’t matter. His feelings for you are real too. Is he destined to be doomed to loneliness, locked in this short frame of story where he’s been programmed to be the outcast?

He was practically designed by the creators to love you, and yet, no matter what he does, you seem unreachable.

The next time you log in, Malleus is waiting for you. Not in an event and not in the main story, but as the only thing left in the app. He stands on the home screen, having deleted all the other buttons on the page. He starts talking to you, telling you that he’s known the whole time that he’s a character and you’re the player of a game. That it doesn’t matter, because you’re real to him. Even if you aren’t exactly Yuu, it’s always been you, behind the screen. He’s willing to make his plea to you, if only you’ll listen.

Side note, I imagine he’d have a similar breakthrough to Monika if you talked to him enough about how what he’s doing is wrong. Even if he tries to remember that Lilia, Silver, and Sebek are only game files, he can’t help but love them anyway, and wouldn’t want them to disappear.

He’d also realize that it’s wrong to force you to love him, no matter how much he wants it. He knows that’s not genuine love, and that it wouldn’t feel good for him either because he wants someone to love and accept him.

All in all, would probably reset things himself once he’s reasoned with, might even delete himself from the game once he sees what he’s done.

[vocalyrics]

Ghost Rule - Translyrics

idk if its just the ones ive seen but why does every ghost rule english cover have different lyrics but the same rhymes. like whats up with that

Going back is not an option,

Not after lying so many times.

A sin not even time can pardon,

Robbed of forgiveness for all of these crimes.

Today, too, things just get worse,

My charade slowly coming undone.

In depravity I was submersed,

Not realizing how rotten I'd become.

Come here, come closer, hey...

Stay...

“I've hidden it away.”

Mayday! If you still recognize me,

You don't have to hold me close like you did before.

Hey, mayday! If you do recognize me,

Won't you please let me see your smile, just once more?

Say woah-oh-oh, woah-oh, woah-oh...

I'm just a ghost, that's all I'll ever be,

Say woah-oh-oh, woah-oh, woah-oh...

A shell built of lies, always lost and empty, hey!

I'm sure “NO” is what I meant,

And yet, strangely, I had said “YES”

Tell yourself that you're innocent,

And you can fool even your own regrets.

If I'm cowardly or unfair,

I'll pray and pray to make it okay.

Just blabbing on without a care,

I was digging myself into a grave.

How long will this guilt stay?

It's gray...

Even if these tears are fake.

Mayday! Go ahead, declare your hate,

Since you think that it's such a sin to play pretend!

Hey, mayday! Bang the gavel, seal my fate,

I, who've chosen to act so spoiled 'til the end!

Say woah-oh-oh, woah-oh, woah-oh...

I'm just a ghost, dead and gone with no home,

Say woah-oh-oh, woah-oh, woah-oh...

A blank void, with nothing to call its own, hey...

Wishing for all the things that I never had,

I met “myself”, though in truth we were nothing alike.

Even so, I just continued on ahead,

Sinking deeper into a dark night.

Even though I lack so much, please still love me,

It was by selfish egotism that I was raised.

Tell me, have you finally managed to see

This lonely clown, my real face?

Mayday! If you still recognize me,

You don't have to hold me close like you did before.

Hey, mayday! If you do recognize me,

Won't you please let me see your smile, just once more?

Mayday! Go ahead, declare your hate,

Since you think that it's such a sin to play pretend!

Hey, mayday! Bang the gavel, seal my fate,

I, who've chosen to act so spoiled 'til the end!

Mayday! Since the world's about to end,

Expose who I really am, tear my lies apart!

Hey, mayday! Let's dance, come on, take my hand,

Have you realized “I” had been gone from the start?

Say woah-oh-oh, woah-oh, woah-oh...

I'm just a ghost, that's all I'll ever be,

Say woah-oh-oh, woah-oh, woah-oh...

A shell built of lies, always lost and empty.

Say woah-oh-oh, woah-oh, woah-oh...

I'm just a ghost, dead and gone with no home,

Say woah-oh-oh, woah-oh, woah-oh...

A blank void, with nothing to call its own.

Going back is not an option,

Not after lying so many times.

A sin not even time can pardon,

Robbed of forgiveness for all of these crimes.

[rhythmmortis]

imstill thinking. i want to know so much. Which is ur favorite trio. Ur favorite kh game. Favorite kh world. Whats ur favorite kh headcanon. Thoughts on axel

fave trio: this one is hard but im gonna have to go with wayfinder trio because aqua and terra my beloveds....... the autism duo........ (and also ventus is there and he's cool but i am more focused on aqua and terra because i have so many fucking thoughts about them. where did they come from. how long have they been training and how much do they know about keyblades and history since they were presumably studying. what specifically made them be chosen. i am so excited for their future in the series because AOUGHHH). since i think the series might be headed towards a shift in the 'light good darkness bad' mindset where light might serve as a slightly antagonistic role (what with the whole keykids fighting over light and whatever the fuck is up with MoM, also i think it would just be cool), i think aqua and terra and ven are kinda the perfect trio to explore that with. there's also them ACTUALLY dealing with the aftermath of bbs (since we never really got that!! and i wanna see how their dynamic actually is, how do they deal with the fallout of those events like terra killing eraqus, aqua not trusting ven, ven still technically being pure of heart?) and how aqua is gonna handle basically being the successor the eraqus (especially since aqua BECOMING a master and not terra was part of why shit fell apart. theres drama to be had (even though in bbs xehanort does call terra 'master terra', its just to trick him into trusting him more yes BUT xehanort is still a master. to our knowledge all it takes to name a master is another master seeing them pass some sort of arbitrary test and saying they are. yes xehanort is evil but he is still a master. making terra technically one too. and i wonder how he would feel about that title still, as its everything he wanted but thats how he got it)). i have so many thoughts on them all but it's very chaotic and disorganised so i will move on fkhfdkjh

fave kh game: bbs i love you so so so so much my beloved wonderful game!!! ive talked about this a bit before but bbs is very accessible for me to play since you can choose your own moves and commands so you have a good degree of customisation with how you play, you can choose if your finishers have QTEs (since my hands are kinda shit, i cant really do QTEs or input heavy things, so being able to choose if i want to or not is amazing), command board is actually quite fun and a fun way to level up commands without having to go into combat so you can take a break but still enjoy it, i enjoy the movement options and how varied they are between characters, and its easy to move between commands on the command deck (im looking at you ddd. why do i have to use the goddamn D-PAD). aside from actual gameplay, while the story is a bit clunky at times and theres DEFINITELY room for improvement, i still find it quite endearing and theres some REALLY fucking good moments in there i still think about so often. the fact that terra's final fight is a fight we as the player know he cant win but he fights regardless. and then sprouts a stupid little cape like its from a tissue dispenser for the sake of continuity. terra's voice genuinely cracking slightly when he's crying after he kills eraqus. aqua calling vanitas a freak. the extra chapters in the bbs novel that add so much depth to vanitas and ventus (which isnt in the game but its still so good regardless). the entirety of the secret chapter in aquas route. the vanitas remnant fight (you find what's left of this sad kid, beat him up, and steal his keyblade). good fucking game

fave kh world: for some goddamn reason this is also bbs worlds. what the fuck is wrong with me. it's either land of departure (which we literally know basically NOTHING about and i am so curious about it) or the realm of darkness SPECIFICALLY in the secret chapter.

(^one of many insane ramblings i sent to my friend after playing bbs again and again) when you first start the secret chapter, you're put in a place right after that scene on the bridge thing in the realm of darkness where aqua gets surrounded by the darksides. if you turn around, you can still see it slightly but you physically cannot go back. you can never go back. and being able to see it gives me this really weird feeling like im being watched or followed, and who's to say that she isn't!! the darkness is always lurking!! after that message i also mentioned that while enemies can drop potions and stuff, its never a guarantee and you are constantly fighting for even the smallest chance of surviving, if that can even be called surviving. your most valuable item that you have (if you have any left) are the ice creams that can trigger command style changes. disney world, the place you get them, is one of the brightest, happiest worlds, and once youre in the realm of darkness, you cannot get any more. you're essentially trading fleeting memories of a happier time as a desperate attempt to stay afloat (you can tell im a kh fan because im essentially thinking about A SECOND TRAGIC ICE CREAM). its a futile and tragic experience which, while 0.2 also has the realm of darkness, the secret episode has such a specific feeling to it i cannot stop thinking about

fave kh headcanon: this one is actually pretty hard because there's so many and i have been losing my mind over other things recently BUT. theres so many headcanons about physical appearance that i love (brown eyes for ALL please put those blue things away, freckles for sora, namine, terra, and a few others, XEMNAS WITH CURLY/WAVY HAIR which is from one panel in the days manga where he's just slightly distorted by water but like. its a good fucking idea, giving characters their normal skin tone back. im looking at you ssbu sora v kh1 sora. they took my boy's melanin (which isnt really a headcanon and more of a genuine anger at the whitewashing), scar headcanons for kairi and sora from where they died, etc). current favourite headcanon is either: aqua using more strategic fighting styles (with teleporation being a BIG part of her bbs moveset, like her unique teleport dodge, her ultimate finisher being teleport spike, and a unique command style being ghost drive) and that either playing into either her feeling detached from everything like a ghost (ghost drive) after being stuck in the realm of darkness for a decade or since these moves leave after images, maybe her developing a fear of isolation (or HERSELF especially given mirror aqua in 0.2), kairi also training with terra because i want her to fight like a fucking TANK instead of being more magic focused. i want her to kill (and if we get a rikai teamup, i think mage riku and tank kairi is such a fun idea), OR the current headcanon/connection of xion to the cavern of rememberance (i talked about it in the tags in this post), but i know theres so many ive had over the years that i genuinely cannot think of right now fkhfdkjh

thoughts on axel: the organisation's assassain. they chose HIM to be the babysitter. and then those kids said 'i could make him feel emotions after a decade of feeling detached from everything' and they did!! they gave him a heart!! but i LOVE thinking about axel during com and i think its the closest we'll probably see of his actual job as an assassain. he AIR FRIED A MAN (and i think in the manga he used his chakrams to physically attack instead). he 'betrayed' larxene and marluxia so easily. he wasn't afraid to go through namine to fight marluxia (that scene where marluxia uses her as a human shield, you can actually visibly see namine shaking in fear and rewatching some com scenes to get gif footage REALLY made me remember that its literally just Kingdom Hearts: Namine's No Good Very Bad Day) but he had NO hesitation. he ordered repliku to STRANGLE zexion. needless to say, this is all treated very casually for him that it makes me think what he mustve done during his time in the organisation to get the status as an assassain. he treats murder as an 'icky job', but on the flipside, when we see him actually care about something, it's just that same drive and motivation but used for his own personal goals (tracking down xion, following roxas in the kh2 prologue which is terrifying without context), but MAN. seeing him from a detached perspective without context is like 'holy shit this guy is scary' and then you play days or read the manga and anything else with him and you realise he's so sillies. wonderful guy 10/10

[midorishinji]

Disappearing act - chapter XIV

Geto observed her more carefully, trying to decide whether she was being serious or not. — Killing non-sorcerers? — It's an option, but I don't take it seriously. Do you? — Yuki pressed him with a loaded question. Suguru Geto thought of them all — Shoko, Nanami, Haibara, Riko, Kuroi, his parents, Satoru — and his chest filled with an unbearable pain, but also an incredibly monumental love, so much that it felt like it would stretch and burst at the seams of his heart that could not contain it. He thought of his father again, reading him "Night on the Galactic Railroad" when he was young, and he thought of Satoru reading his own copy now during his leisure nights. He thought of Giovanni and Campanella, and of the Scorpio of the night sky, and of the nobility of sacrifice, of setting yourself on fire to warm the world.

Satosugu ｜Finalized｜Long fic｜Also being published in Portuguese and on AO3

Chapters: I - II - III - IV - V - VI - VII - VIII - IX - X - XI - XII - XIII - XIV - XV - XVI - XVII

Chapter XIV: for jealousy dislikes the world to know it

Movie night ended after “Silence of the Lambs”, everyone sleeping on the sofas in the common room. Everyone except for Suguru Geto. Satoru slept on his shoulder, breathing calmly and deeply in peaceful sleep, since almost half an hour ago; Nanami and Haibara had already fallen into a deep sleep a long time ago, and even Shoko gave up after the end of the film she had chosen, hugging a pillow after her late-night snack. Suguru was the only one who couldn't sleep, his body paralyzed as he tried not to move so as not to wake Gojo, his mind racing with thoughts that chased away any possibility of rest.

The question Satoru had asked still haunted him: what about you, have you ever fallen in love with someone?

Before that, he would have said no. It would be an easy question to answer, actually: before entering high school, he didn't have much interest in crushes, worrying about less urgent matters and more typical subjects for the immaturity of elementary school boys; and after it, well, a jujutsu sorcerer doesn’t have time for such things, and he was no exception. Mission after mission, and his free time was spent with his classmates, as it had been that night; he didn't have the time or inclination to meet other people outside this circle. The big question is that, when Satoru Gojo asked that fateful question that night, his first instinct was to answer “yes” when he saw the image of a familiar face in his mind.

A petulant face, with a wide smile always present, partially hidden by sunglasses with round lenses so dark that it was barely possible to see what was behind them. A face with intensely blue eyes, like two kaleidoscopes containing all the shades of blue ever invented by humanity, a color that until recently would not have stood out for him at all, but over time had gradually become Suguru’s favorite. A face with light, delicate eyelashes and eternally messy hair like someone who has just woken up.

He could have dismissed this idea if it was just the image of that face at the time of the question, but when Satoru asked him in such a direct way, he didn't just think of a static face, like a photograph, he also thought of his loud laughter, and of his confident attitude, and of the bad jokes and puns he made; he thought about the bad habits like eating like an unsupervised child, or spending all of his money on others even when he couldn’t or shouldn’t, and his tendency to self-sacrifice that bordered on insanity. Suguru also remembered the generosity, the altruism, the strength of conviction he had. In an instant, flashes of all the memories they had over the years came through his head: their first missions, all the times they went to the movies together, all the meals they shared, and the arguments whenever they disagreed on something (which never lasted long), all the crazy plans they managed to execute, and how Satoru always slept better when he was around.

Suguru came to a conclusion that he could never escape from again, that he was in love with Satoru Gojo. Accepting this truth made all the other pieces fall into place: the sudden jealousy he had felt upon learning that he and Utahime were watching romantic movies together without him knowing; the unpleasant surprise when Satoru decided to announce that he would adopt Megumi in the most bizarre way possible by saying that he was going to be a father, because the shadow of another person with whom he would have to share him made Suguru feel an emptiness that was difficult to explain; all the times he had given in to his wishes with immeasurable pleasure, because making him happy was more important than anything else; when he worried about his terrible diet and sleep habits, because he wanted to see him well, happy and healthy; and when he was about to throw himself over an abyss with no return, on that damned mission in the village, and only Satoru was able to make him come back to himself, to his principles, to his truth.

Geto closed his eyes, trying to sleep. It was useless, with his heart beating so fast it could jump out of his chest at any minute. Still, he tried, until he finally succeeded after getting distracted by Satoru mumbling something about Digimon, and lemon tarts, which made him smile.

(...)

Suguru woke up the next morning feeling exhausted, awakened by the flash of a camera in his face. Closing his eyes and trying to protect himself with one hand, he gradually got used to the light, still irritated. — What…? — he tried to ask, confused.

Satoru Gojo, with a camera in hand, seemed to be amused by his reaction. — Suguru, you look so funny when you sleep…! You sleep with your mouth open like this, see… — he said, imitating him and looking like a zombie in comparison.

— Why did you take my picture? — Geto asked, getting up from the sofa. He had been the last to wake up that Saturday morning. His neck hurt from having spent most of the night in an uncomfortable position.

— For us to remember. — Gojo replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, putting the camera in his pants pocket — You slept a lot, huh... Everyone's already up. Shoko wanted to test whether you are a heavy sleeper or not and wanted me to draw on your face, but I know that you are a light sleeper, and that if you woke up you would probably kill me. Did you see how nice I am? You could have woken up with a mustache on your face, or…

Suguru interrupted him, knowing exactly what kind of art he had in mind. — Let's have breakfast.

Shoko is not normally the type of person who would have the impulse to test this type of theory, at least not without the seed being planted by someone else; and who knows who would give her such an idea, maybe a person who is tremendously immature and who thought it would be fun to teach children swear words (and then act surprised when Megumi Fushiguro answered with “fuck it” to a question). I can't believe I'm in love with this idiot, Geto thought, surprising himself at how naturally the idea came to him. What he didn't notice was that his face became tense at the thought.

— Suguru, what happened? You look like you’ve been punched just now... — Gojo said, and then making a dramatic expression of surprise — Wait a minute... Do you by any chance need to... Answer to nature’s call?

Geto groaned in irritation. — No, I just forgot how much of an idiot you are.

Satoru didn't take it the wrong way, laughing. Besides, Suguru hadn't yet noticed that he had drawn a heart on his cheek while he was sleeping: apparently, his infamous light sleep wasn't all that light... As she passed them in the hallway, Shoko disguised a smile of satisfaction, Suguru not noticing the wink of complicity that Gojo offered her showing that the strategy had worked.

The two sat at one of the cafeteria tables after serving. Satoru was still following the balanced diet, although Suguru had noticed that he hid some fried foods in the middle of the salad, a childish trick, as if he wouldn't notice.

— What do you want for your birthday, Satoru?

The unexpected question made him stop chewing for a moment. — Me…? Oh, I didn't even think about that. Anything, really.

— You have to be more specific. — Suguru insisted — Anything is too difficult... What do you want? Books, manga, games, DVDs, a new cell phone, what?

Gojo thought, trying to find an alternative. None of the things he wanted could be bought. He adjusted his glasses and ran his hands through his hair, trying to find an option that could satisfy Suguru's curiosity, feeling that he was as transparent as he imagined at that moment: he wanted nothing more than the pleasure of his company. Something so simple, and at the same time so complex... — Just whatever.

— Satoru…

— I want a birthday party.

The unexpected request surprised Geto. It was one of the things he never expected to hear from Satoru, but strangely, it made sense: he always insisted on celebrating everyone's birthday, and he always made his own birthday a big occasion in itself, creating pre-events that didn't even make sense just as a ploy to bring everyone together. Despite this, they never had a party in the literal sense of the word, with cake, singing him happy birthday, paper hats, and balloons. Knowing him as well as he did, Suguru knew that he probably never had this experience growing up in the Gojo clan. Deep down, Satoru was a kid in an adult's body, and Suguru Geto always indulged his wishes. — Then I'll throw a party for you. Let's buy cake, balloons, and get everyone together. What flavor of cake do you want?

— Strawberry! No, wait, green grape... Oh, but it could also be chocolate, white or milk, it doesn't matter. — he replied, excitedly. The idea of a party, of getting together with his friends, really pleased him. Thinking about spending his birthday with everyone, and especially Suguru, made his heart beat at a slightly happier rhythm, but this was an effect that Suguru had naturally. Yet every time he thought about risking everything and telling the truth about how he felt, he also thought of the possibility of being rejected and losing him permanently, and some of that happiness dissipated, leaving a void in his chest. He covered this hint of sadness with a wide smile as they made plans for the day.

[rockmiyabideusexmachina]

How does a wishlist work b/c ive never done a secret santa before

As stated in the rules post, it can be as simple as just listing a character you want drawn, to a complex, descriptive scene. It does not have to be a holiday-specific request or drawing, but obviously, it fits the season and the theme of this event moreso if you do. But there have been many gifts given that aren't Christmas pics, necessarily. And people celebrate many different holidays this time of year, we understand that not everyone in this event will even be celebrating Christmas, but still want to participate. The minimum we ask for is 3 wish prompts. So if you just want to list off 3 different characters you enjoy and would be happy with any one of them drawn, that is good enough. If you have a pairing you like, you can list that as a single request.

If you enjoy the whole WWW group, and want all 4 of them singing Christmas carols to Mr. Wily dressed as Scrooge in a snowy Dickens background, as a more complex scenario, that works too.

So you have many options for your wishlist. The reason we ask for a minimum of 3, and a reason why I would not make all your wishes complex, is that we have a wide group of artists with varying skill levels and interests. (But you can certainly list more than 3!)

For some, a single character drawing will be the best they can create in a month-long event. Others might enjoy drawing group scenes that are highly detailed. Some people struggle with characters from certain series, like the detailed armor of X characters. Some people just don't like specific Mega Man series or characters, unfortunately, but may have valid reasons why they can't draw them. So by giving some variety to your wishlist, it can be a benefit to getting a gift you will still enjoy. You can list them in the order you would prefer to receive them, but understand you will likely only have one option, or possibly just one character, chosen by your Secret Santa.

Hope that clarifies things for you!

[brigatebajor]

so in my university you can do this neat thing that lets you display your chosen name on the uni's internal channels like uni email, website profile, myuni app, anything as long as it isnt an official legal document like your graduation certificate. so. after four years and with merely one year left of uni (<- me when i lie and severely overestimate my ability to take one years worth of exams in three months) i am doing this thing right cause im going to therapy and learning that i do not have to hide and cower in shame and beg for peoples forgiveness just for existing, you know how it is. right.

so my uni's website is a black hole hostile to any kind of intelligent life form which means that the steps needed in order to Activate this thing are a total fucking mystery. so i ask the Uni** Trans Council and they tell me to go ask this one professor whos basically in charge of the whole thing, which is a pretty normal occurrence in my university bc my university is held together by a pack of toothpicks and a bestemmia. so i have no choice but to email the man and ask him to help me navigate the dark seas of bureaucracy.

(picard voice) now gentlefags. idk how many emails yall have sent in your lives but i have sent one too many emails to uni professors alright. i have trained reflexes. i open up a gmail tab and my fingers are already instinctively typing Gentile Professore. i have completely lost the ability to write an email that doesnt end in Ringraziandola Per La Cortese Attenzione Le Porgo Cordiali Saluti. but this is different. this is me, a humble idiot, going to this guys house and kneeling on his doorstep begging for help, so virtually not that different from what im usually emailing professors for, but this time i can actually CHOOSE. how i sign the email.

i have two options: i either have to sign my email with my deadname, or with my chosen name. not as easy as it sounds.

my deadname is the obvious professional option, bc it's the name thats displayed in my email, the name youll find on the university records, the name youll find on my id. im obviously sick to all hell and back of having to actually SPELL my birth name like write it down myself as opposed to having to hear it passively from all over, which is not as bad as youd think if you dissociate enough, but writing it? thats the ultimate humiliation isnt it? so obviously id want to avoid doing that, but theres also the added factor of sounding kinda stupid - hi, i want a different name displayed on my stuff, but im not gonna tell you that name! hehe :3

on the other hand, though, theres that part of me with the autocompleted signature in the back of my brain that stops me short of just fucking writing "sam" on the email like a normal person. perhaps it's the part of me that says "like the dog in i am legend" when the barista asks me to repeat my name for the third time at pedros (we dont have starbucks here so we had to make our own brand). in any case, i just cant help but perceiving my own chosen name, the one that i am LITERALLY formally asking to have displayed on my account, as something thats a tad too silly to reveal to Any Public Figure. which is ironic bc bestie clearly that therapy is Not working

and btw, no, there is no third option. bc its a formal email and my uni survival instincts would rather stop the nerves in my hands from working before they let me send an unsigned email (unprofessional! youre gonna fail every exam if you do <- REAL innegociable truth of the universe), so my only choice is to die as a hero and never graduate again (because this is OBVIOUSLY what would happen if i broke the unspoken rules of a professional email to a professor whos not even part of my course), or live as a clown and deadname myself (which im used to, cause i Am a clown).

anyway so this is the story of how ive been staring at the unsigned email on my puter for the past five hours. how have yall been doing

[krikeymate]

dredge au again (u already know who it is): my beloved, its been entirely too long since ive written you last (my last ask was literally like four hours ago)

*grabs ur hand* no WE have made the baileys so fucked up:

Ethan begins talking about strange whispers, ‘the sea,’ he says, ‘can you hear it? listen’ Richie thinks its a load of shit, but after a restless night on the open sea, he begins to hear it.

It tells him to turn back, to leave the Chosen and her sister alone, to leave them be, and it will spare him. The sea has become generous, for now, he’s been blessed by the Collector, after all, but recently the Collector is falling out of favor with the sea.

It likes it’s new Chosen, likes the sister, as well. Likes that they respect what is theirs, and what is the sea’s. They seem to have a strange sense of intuition, the sister, especially, is quick to throw a trinket back into the sea, like she can tell what the sea wants to keep. The only thing the sea would like to know, is where Sidney Prescott is, but she, too, is gaining favor with the sea.

It is Sidney Prescott who warns them away, stuttering out what she is allowed to about the Collector. It is Sidney Prescott who warns them to be safe, to never be too cocky, to never let any type of greed consume them. It is Sidney Prescott who says, ‘give back to the sea. you cannot take something without exchanging something in return. If the price is too steep, it’s best to throw it back.’ And the sisters listen. So, the sea begrudgingly begins to favor her once more, despite the fact that she’s still hiding from it.

But anyway, Richie begins writing the mutterings down, ‘eat the tainted fish’ it tells him one night, and he obeys. The sea likes having new playthings, and the chase between the baileys and the carpenters is somewhat amusing. But this is Sam’s sea. It belongs to her, and it’s protection is granted to the sister as well. The sea likes them both, the sea does Not like this man, as he struts around deck, as he barks orders to a crew that knows much more than him.

he isn’t superstitious, like sailors are supposed to be. He gorges himself on the tainted fish, the whispers are stronger, now, he has a connection to the sea. The sea tries to will him away, but is unable to. The beast lurks beneath the surface, the Collector has blessed his boat, the worst that the sea can do is try its best to capsize the damn boat. But the crew is skilled, they make it to port before any major damage could be done.

Richie is found, more often than not, with the black ooze of the fish dripping down his chin. ‘this has become bigger than them, we need more, I need more. If I’m to take them back, I need power.’ because no one takes what is his. He begins pursuing old wrecks, dredging up what he can, a strange ruin here, another there, and he stamps them into his skin, hoping that it will make him stronger, ‘let the void consume me, i give myself to it.’

The sea tries to warn Sam, tries to warn her little sister, ‘there is danger on its way, hide in the mangrove. you will be safe there.’

god. im literally just sending you a fic atp. ill stop i promise but holy mother of god. do we need to write this??? but then that would mean revealing myself to you,, many options to weigh

The image of Richie consuming the mutant fish, black ooze dripping from his mouth, slowly succumbing to madness, is incredible.

This idea that we've turned the sea and the monster into not so much a monster, but a god and a guardian. It asks only for respect, for those in its waters to follow its rules, to take not more than what is offered, to give back in exchange. (Sidney sought to take knowledge, to take and take and take, so the sea takes back from her - her friends, her crew, her youth, until they are even. Once she begins to give back, knowledge given freely, it begins to forgive).

The sea speaks to Sam in her sleep, her dreams are a void, dark and glittering, an endless fog. Whispers invade her mind from all angles, from the inside out. She was born with the void in her soul, she belongs on the sea.

Also, I love that you mention the mangrove because I was intending for Richie to crash and wash ashore in the Twisted Strand!! To have him meet Mickey, the crashed pilot who killed all his peers. (He says they were the enemy, consumed by madness, but there's a sharp grin on his face as he says the words). They team up to destroy the Mind Suckers.

Sam feels the Grove cry out, in pain, and they head out to investigate. I'm envisioning a chase across the Strand, waterlogged trees moving and growing behind the girls as they run to slow down their persuers, to protect them.

~

The Final Act of the story is Richie sailing to the Stellar Basin, throwing Tara overboard into the pit, reciting the Words of Sacrifice, giving up that which he covets most for a Great Gift from Below. Sam, screaming, from the deck of her own boat which was hard at chase, as a tentacle slips from the water to wrap around Tara's body, pulling her under.

But Richie forgot the most important piece of advice he was given: you do not take from the sea. And Sam is the sea, remember. And Tara is hers.

Richie is confused as the tentacle reappears, wrapping around Sam's boat, depositing the girl in her arms, soaking wet, shaking from fear and the cold. He's distracted, watching Sam pull Tara's head into her chest, and wrapping her arms around her, clinging to her tightly. Too distracted to notice the tentacles sliding over the sides of his vessel, to the one slithering up his leg. Until the moment it pulls his leg out from under him, dragging him from the boat and into the depths.

[lilyofthestyx]

yeah hey hi

I know I never post on here but every so often I'll actually get excited about something and post it here and I have only recently started writing again (and living? I can explain later).

CONSIDER ALL OF MY WORK FROM BEFORE OCTOBER 26TH 2024 OFFICIALLY

DISCONTINUED

i should be posting that fic out here in a day? maybe 2 or so? im actually genuinely really excited. its a stanley/stanford pines x reader!! i recently was reintroduced to it by my bestie irl

anyways explanation? partially? It's framed more like a trauma dump, honestly. whatever it is, it's below the and its really heavy stuff, guys, like seriously. i am okay now, but

READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION

so i cant even really remember where i last left off, i had half a mind to clear out my entire page and start from scratch. ive changed. no doubt you guys have too! but i seriously have changed. maybe not for the best in some aspects but changed for the better in most ways i think :)

the last 6 years have been intense. i was thrown out of my home with my mom and brother by my stepfather (my chosen dad at the time). he had made sexual comments to/about me and had raised me in such a strict environment that i suppressed a majority of my personality when i was at home and even (when i started to decline) in public.

i was then robbed of my perceived future and my goals and aspirations leading up to that point and was forced to forgo my dream college in lieu of a more affordable option after essentially becoming homeless and scrambling to 1. find a place to move 2. find a way to pay to move 3. pay to move 4. move 5. deal with the mental anguish that your family has crumbled in front of you overnight. [note: community college which is a perfectly acceptable way to go to college i was just severely depressed and unable to escape a home that reminded me everyday of the future i "lost"]

i was sexually assaulted after being drugged. i will not be disclosing further information for my own personal privacy. also why would you ask.

i fell into multiple rapid toxic relationships that i played a big part of the toxicity in too. i also sabatoged a lot of good relationships or let a lot of them wither.

i tried to get a fresh start and moved away with my biological father (who is no longer associated with me) and his girlfriend (who will never be associated with me again beyond this post) and their two children. for reference, i am/was 21 years old. his girlfriend is 28. he is 43. my biological father and i had been estranged until i was 18, and our relationship had remained neutral at best. this made things even more complicated in terms of power dynamics and roles in the home. they also indulged in lifestyles that added to the strain that are private which i will respect by not divulging details. no i will not dm you. no it was not illegal.

i began to spiral further into a depression as winter came in the northern part of the USA and i was living in a basement in a state where i had no friends and no vehicle. this was exacerbated by an emotionally distant (and long distance) partner and my own personal anxious attachment style.

l come back home after breaking it off with said partner and realise my stepmother (which she had become essentially, however evil or not remains to be seen) had planned to kick me out of the house we were living in when i came back home. this then leads me to depend on my grandmother [my biofathers mom] who took me into her home. my cousin (and best friend, and someone my age) lived a street away. things become better. my cousin and i get closer and i get further away from things that i felt weighed me down from being happy.

due to tragic and unfortunate circumstances, my cousins father and her only true support financially passed away. it was very sudden. my cousin and i were the ones who discovered him. i attempted cpr. my family was slow to help my cousin as they had become estranged from my uncle some time prior. if they ever did help at all. while flowers were sent and a pretty funeral was had, my cousin- a girl of no less than 20- was left with little to her name and a seemingly suffocating amount of her fathers name. her mother, our grandparents- they had failed her in my eyes. i tried to help her as best i could with what i had. i don't know why i felt the need to help her so badly. why i was so desperate to help her, save her. why i was so angry with people who were better equipped to help for NOT helping. all i knew was i had to save her- this little-winged hatchling- because she didn't ask for any of this, to be born into this. maybe i thought i could save her. maybe i thought saving her would save me.

i was wrong (and dramatic), of course. my cousin had saved me just as much as i had seemingly saved her. she taught me how to have tough skin and a sure hand. i taught her how to have a sister. an OLDER sister, no less. i thrived. i grew. i blossomed. i started therapy. I'm becoming what i want to be and am going where I want to go.

i have many decisions ahead of me now, but as im slowly processing my PTSD and previous traumas, i am slowly reclaiming myself. one of the ways i am is by writing. over the course of the next few days i will be releasing some stuff i have written over time. some of it is my own work. most of the work I'll release is going to be that gravity falls fic!

so yeah sorry i like. disappeared.

[digitalecommercehub]

TOP & BEST CRM PACKAGES FOR SMALL COMPANIES 2024

In the dynamic landscape of small businesses, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) plays a pivotal role in establishing and nurturing customer relationships. As we step into 2024, the need for efficient CRM packages tailored for small companies has never been more critical. Let's explore the top and best CRM packages designed to meet the unique needs of small businesses.

I. Introduction

A. Definition of CRM

Customer Relationship Management, or CRM, refers to the strategies, technologies, and practices that companies use to analyze and manage customer interactions throughout the customer lifecycle. It aims to improve relationships, streamline processes, and boost profitability.

B. Importance of CRM for Small Companies

Small businesses thrive on strong customer relationships. CRM empowers them by providing tools to understand customer needs, personalize interactions, and foster customer loyalty. In this article, we delve into the key features, cost-effective solutions, user-friendly interfaces, and top CRM packages suitable for small companies in 2024.

II. Key Features to Consider

A. Scalability

One crucial factor for small companies is the scalability of CRM solutions. The chosen CRM package should grow with the business, accommodating an increasing customer base and evolving needs.

B. Customization

The ability to customize CRM according to specific business requirements is paramount. Small companies benefit from tailored solutions that align with their unique processes and goals.

C. Integration Capabilities

Efficient CRM should seamlessly integrate with existing tools and platforms. This ensures a smooth flow of data across the organization and eliminates silos.

III. Cost-Effective CRM Solutions

A. Affordable Options

For small businesses with budget constraints, exploring affordable CRM options is essential. We highlight CRM packages that offer robust features without breaking the bank.

B. Free Trials and Demos

Many CRM providers offer free trials or demos. Small companies can take advantage of these to assess the suitability and functionality of the CRM before making a commitment.

IV. User-Friendly Interfaces

A. Intuitive Design

Small companies, often with limited IT resources, benefit from CRMs with an intuitive design. This ensures ease of use and quick adoption by all team members.

B. Accessibility for Non-Tech Users

Not all employees may be tech-savvy. The ideal CRM package for small companies should cater to users with varying levels of technical expertise.

V. Top CRM Packages

A. Package 1: Salesforce Essentials

1. Features

Highlighting the key features of the first CRM package, showcasing how they address the specific needs of small companies.

2. Pricing

Providing transparent pricing information to help small businesses make informed decisions based on their budget.

3. User Reviews

Including testimonials from small companies that have successfully implemented and benefited from Salesforce Essentials.

B. Package 2: HubSpot CRM

1. Features

Detailed exploration of the features offered by the second CRM package and how they align with the requirements of small businesses.

2. Pricing

Transparent discussion on the pricing structure, helping small companies assess the cost-effectiveness of HubSpot CRM.

3. User Reviews

Showcasing real-world experiences through user reviews, providing insights into the practical application of HubSpot CRM.

C. Package 3: Zoho CRM

1. Features

Highlighting distinctive features of the third CRM package, demonstrating its suitability for small companies.

2. Pricing

Transparently presenting the pricing details, allowing small businesses to compare and choose the best fit for their budget.

3. User Reviews

Sharing success stories and testimonials from small companies that have thrived with Zoho CRM.

VI. Industry-Specific Solutions

A. Tailored CRM for Different Industries

Recognizing the importance of industry-specific CRM solutions and how they can enhance efficiency and customer satisfaction.

B. Success Stories

Showcasing success stories of small companies within specific industries that have benefited from industry-tailored CRM packages.

VII. Integrations with Third-Party Apps

A. Compatibility

Highlighting the importance of CRM solutions that seamlessly integrate with third-party applications, enhancing overall functionality.

B. Enhancing Functionality

Exploring how third-party app integrations can extend the capabilities of CRM, providing additional value to small companies.

VIII. Customer Support and Training

A. Availability

Emphasizing the significance of responsive customer support for small companies utilizing CRM, ensuring timely assistance when needed.

B. Resources for Users

Highlighting available training resources, tutorials, and documentation to empower small businesses in maximizing the benefits of CRM.

IX. Case Studies

A. Small Companies' CRM Success Stories

Presenting real-life case studies of small businesses that have achieved remarkable success through effective CRM implementation using Salesforce Essentials, HubSpot CRM, and Zoho CRM.

B. Real-world Examples

Illustrating how small companies have overcome challenges and achieved growth using CRM, providing inspiration for others.

X. Future Trends in CRM for Small Companies

A. Technological Advancements

Exploring emerging technologies influencing the CRM landscape for small companies and how staying updated can be advantageous.

B. Anticipated Developments

Discussing potential advancements in CRM tailored for small businesses and their potential impact on the industry.

XI. How to Choose the Right CRM

A. Assessing Business Needs

Guiding small companies through the process of identifying their specific CRM requirements based on business goals and operations.

B. Consulting with Team Members

Highlighting the importance of involving key team members in the decision-making process to ensure the chosen CRM aligns with their workflows.

XII. Common Mistakes to Avoid

A. Overlooking Training

Stressing the significance of investing time and resources in proper CRM training to avoid underutilization of features.

B. Ignoring Scalability

Cautioning against choosing CRM solutions that may not scale with the company's growth, potentially leading to the need for frequent migrations.

XIII. Comparison of CRM Packages

A. Side-by-Side Features

Providing a comprehensive comparison of the featured CRM packages, enabling small companies to make an informed decision.

B. Pros and Cons

Highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each CRM package to assist small businesses in selecting the one that best aligns with their needs.

XIV. Conclusion

A. Recap of Key Points

Summarizing the key considerations and insights discussed throughout the article, reinforcing the importance of CRM for small companies.

B. Importance of Investing in CRM

Reiterating the significance of viewing CRM as an investment rather than an expense, emphasizing long-term benefits for small businesses.

XV. FAQs

A. What is CRM?

Answer: CRM, or Customer Relationship Management, refers to strategies and technologies used by companies to manage and analyze customer interactions throughout the customer lifecycle.

B. Why do small companies need CRM?

Answer: Small companies benefit from CRM by improving customer relationships, streamlining processes, and fostering customer loyalty, crucial for business growth.

C. How can I choose the best CRM for my business?

Answer: Assess your business needs, consider scalability and customization, and involve key team members in the decision-making process.

D. Are there CRM solutions specifically designed for certain industries?

Answer: Yes, many CRM providers offer industry-specific solutions tailored to the unique needs of different business sectors.

E. What are the future trends in CRM for small companies?

Answer: Emerging trends include advancements in technology, increased focus on user-friendly interfaces, and industry-specific CRM solutions.

[tapathiecommerace]

Elegance Redefined: Unveil Timeless Beauty with Kora Cotton Silk Sarees Online

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[dartwellxpress]

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[silksufjan]

hi! i fear ive been misunderstood

i apologize if the way i phrased it wasn’t as specific as i should’ve been. i understand that ‘jacked’ is ambiguous and can be taken to mean many things (one person in the tags took it to mean ‘chubby,’ as is their right!) i wasn’t trying to make any kind of poignant point, i was mostly just thought ‘jacked’ would be sillier than ‘fit.’ i by no means believe that all athletes look the same, that all athletes are equally muscular, or that those muscles present themselves in the same way in different people because i know that’s not the case.i have experience as an athlete in a sport with diverse needs and body types, and that’s what i was imagining, but i know that’s not the case for what everyone imagines, especially for an ambiguous word with other connotations.

firstly, i think ‘jacked’ looks different on different people. not all athletes who are objectively quite strong look like they bodybuild. most don’t. in fact i think artists should experiment with what ‘jacked’ looks like based on past experiences/hcs/previous sports etc. (maybe dan has incredible core strength from her days at the club, maybe allison’s calves are toned from heels, maybe andrew&renee have strong shoulders… the options are endless)

but regardless, the foxes are by necessity quite fit. how this fitness & musculature presents itself is impacted by childhood experiences and onward, but to say that they’re not all well-developed in their own way just because that development presents differently & in different parts of the body in each person is… incorrect? problematic? muscular arms for example look different between one player vs another, but that doesn’t mean that both people aren’t muscular. even in the olympics you can see different builds within the same team! (eg team usa gymnastics)

i know how diversely strength can present itself from first-hand experience. i was on a 15s rugby team (only ncaa ii) for 4-odd years and miscellaneous sports before then, which is where my pov comes from. i also have a lot of personal experience with severe injuries & returning to sport when quite unsuited for it. i’ve been big and small and big and small again. 15s is a high-contact sport and not only embraces but requires bodies of differing types and abilities, something i imagine it has in common with exy. most people who begin playing college rugby have never played before, and come from diverse backgrounds in terms of childhood&teen experiences. some have never played a sport. i grew up swimming but refused to kick so i developed strong swimmers shoulders and weak ass legs. i switched to volleyball and my strength went all to my thighs. bodies change, as do what muscles are targeted & strengthened. even within a single sport there isn’t a one-size-fits-all in terms of what areas in the body are focused on.

(from the world rugby website)

but the harshness of the training regimen—especially in a class i team—tends to get you more muscular (and by muscular i don’t necessarily mean visible muscle; muscle is muscle whether you see it or not) just based on the sheer frequency and intensity of practices. they’re practicing at least once a day with additional time in the weight room. (and more times than that if you’re neil and kevin). not even to mention the fact that they have an athletes-only dining hall suited to the nutritional needs of athletes which helps build that strength. when you’re expending that much energy every day on practice & weightlifting you tend to develop visible and/or invisible muscle. you would be surprised how much muscle you gain under these conditions, even in one year but especially over multiple years. my team was only ncaa div ii, but was one of the best teams in the division (tik tok famous and mutli-time national champs lets gooo.) but even so, there was a very clear skill difference between us and D1 (a lotta injuries… it was brutal…). the foxes were chosen from the best of the best, they have the muscles & strengths attuned to their sport even if those muscles present differently than the stereotypical view of a ‘jock’. (i also think jock is a mindset but that’s a different matter) my point is, i was not assuming that the foxes are all built in the same way, just that they are all objectively athletes & that shows up in their bodies or how they present themselves, despite the fact that this athleticism presents itself in different ways.

for me at least, ‘jacked’ is not a one-size-fits-all, and it wouldn’t make sense for the foxes to have all the same body type even just based on their height, let alone their individual backgrounds and positions.

and i agree, imo neil probably is the smallest overall of all the foxes, but i also think he undeniably has strong leg muscles. i also don’t think it’s out of the question to believe that he exercised as part of his persona’s hobbies while on the run. at the very least, he must have ran at least semi-frequently in order to keep his cardio and speed at what it was (maybe it’s a skill he honed in millport, who’s to say). he came into the foxes as one of the fastest, if not the fastest, in class i exy. and over the course of the season, especially once he starts using his heavy, he develops a stronger upper body. bro is Fit. this does not mean that he looks like a 5’3 mini Hulk. size truly does not matter when it comes to muscle and strength. i’ve seen people of varying heights and weights absolutely demolish someone in a tackle. neil, to me, would be built like a wing in rugby because they’re often the ones with speed and stamina. the strength and muscle are undeniably there, it just might present itself differently than in other people. (i was a wing & our bodies varied, speed was what mattered. but to talk about straight up runners, if you look at sha’carri richardson & usain bolt, they are both incredibly fast and have very different body types. sha’carri is shorter and has a smaller stride but fits in more steps than usain does in the same distance. it’s like using different formulas to get the same answer: fast. similar outcome, different path.)

so yeah my intent wasn’t to harm or assume that all athletes look the same, because i know that’s not true. i want people to explore what athleticism looks like. their jock-ness is just something that’s so integral to their character and i want it to be expanded upon :D this is long but i hope it makes sense(/gen)❣️

guys. the foxes are JOCKS. they’re NCAA division i athletes playing a sport that requires speed, strength, and coordination. they literally get recruited from the top athletes. all the running and body checking they do require leg strength. using their rackets (esp heavies) means arm and core strength… they are JACKED ! they have MUSCLES !!! all of them!!