#miro does suits

[themirokai]

Hello I am here to yell about Suits some more. Season 1 Episode 6, specifically.

First:

Harvey??? Are we jealous of the pretty paralegal, Harvey??

And then…

He definitely means that literally. He has absolutely spent time picturing Mike in a dress and heels.

And he likes the mental image.

Oh, Mike, we know sweetie. Don’t worry: Harvey knows too.

And then:

Mike is pretty desperate to get into Harvey’s home. “To help Gabby.” Whatever you need to tell yourself. 😏

Mike likes what he sees, obviously.

Harvey is a paragon of self control with a drunk Mike hanging in his doorway…

But he still says he’s going to give Mike a key!!!! 🤯

It’s cool. It’s totally cool. They’re bros. Mentor & mentee. Friends. Yep. Very normal. Very very normal.

[themirokai]

Reblogging again because I’m so not over this scene.

“Who did this to you?” is a trope it’s a fucking romance trope!

And then they follow it up with Harvey (a boxer!!) threatening to kick the ass of whoever did it???

Not “Did you file a police report?” which I think would be the response of most of my former prosecutor friends.

“Who did this to you because I’m going to physically beat them.”

Pardon me I am deceased.

Please send fic recs that include this exchange to my moldering corpse.

GIF request meme: favorite mike/harvey scene from suits for @tattooedsiren

[starscelly]

i love when other stars acknowledge that roope has the best style on the team. bc you could all get the barbie treatment like miro if you just asked im sure. he would happily play dress up with an entire nhl roster . he might not look happy but he would be.

[s-che]

this week in rpg office hours news we finished playing through the slow knife and damn that is a certified banger of a map-and-questions game, and one of the best (few is probably too harsh) games downstream of a quiet year i've played. the shift from a drawn map to a corkboard emulator does a really good job at evoking a different theme in a way that's making me think more about the function of the quiet year map in the first place, and applying the suit-by-suit change in card prompts to really match the narrative phases of an established genre was beautiful. as with all good games, its making me think harder about the games that went into inspiring it.

anyway, yeah. slow knife rocks and you should go play it. enjoy one low-res screenshot of our entire miro board and a couple of details i really enjoyed

[abhibaj]

The Essential Guide to ABM Tech Stacks for Marketing Excellence

Account-Based Marketing (ABM) has emerged as a cornerstone strategy for B2B organizations aiming to engage high-value accounts. But to unlock its full potential, you need the right tools in your arsenal. Enter the ABM Tech Stack—a collection of technologies that enable efficient and personalized account-based marketing campaigns. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to build the ultimate ABM tech stack, delve into essential Account-Based Marketing Tools, and answer key questions about ABM Strategies for driving marketing success.

What Is an ABM Tech Stack, and Why Does It Matter?

An ABM Tech Stack is a tailored suite of software and tools designed to support the execution of account-based marketing initiatives. It includes everything from customer relationship management (CRM) platforms to marketing automation tools, analytics software, and more.

Get full insights@ https://itechseries.com/blog/building-the-ultimate-abm-tech-stack-for-marketing-success/

Why does it matter? The right tech stack allows marketers to:

Personalize campaigns at scale.

Gain deeper insights into target accounts.

Streamline collaboration between sales and marketing.

Optimize campaign performance and ROI.

Without a well-structured ABM tech stack, businesses risk wasting resources on disconnected tools and fragmented processes.

What Are the Essential Components of an ABM Tech Stack?

To build a successful ABM tech stack, focus on the following key components:

1. Account Identification and Targeting Tools

These tools help you identify high-value accounts based on firmographic, technographic, and intent data. Examples include:

ZoomInfo for comprehensive contact and company data.

6sense for predictive analytics and buyer intent insights.

2. Personalization Platforms

Personalization is at the heart of ABM. Tools like Demandbase and Uberflip enable marketers to deliver tailored content and messaging to target accounts, enhancing engagement.

3. Marketing Automation Software

Platforms like Marketo or HubSpot automate email campaigns, social media outreach, and lead nurturing efforts, ensuring efficiency and consistency.

4. CRM and Sales Enablement Tools

Integration between marketing and sales teams is crucial for ABM success. CRMs like Salesforce and sales enablement tools like Outreach foster collaboration and keep teams aligned.

5. Analytics and Reporting Platforms

Measure the success of your ABM campaigns with robust analytics tools such as Google Analytics or Tableau, providing insights into campaign performance and areas for improvement.

Explore the latest marketing and tech insights@ https://itechseries.com/gtm-library/

How Do You Choose the Right Account-Based Marketing Tools?

Define Your Objectives: Before selecting tools, outline your ABM goals. Are you focusing on lead generation, pipeline acceleration, or customer retention? Your objectives will guide your tool selection.

Evaluate Scalability: Ensure that the tools in your ABM tech stack can grow with your business. Scalable solutions save you the hassle of switching platforms as your needs expand.

Prioritize Integration: An ABM tech stack is only as good as its ability to integrate seamlessly. Choose tools that work well together and with your existing systems, like your CRM.

Focus on User Experience: Your team’s ability to effectively use the tools matters. Prioritize user-friendly interfaces and platforms with strong customer support.

Key Tools for Account-Based Marketing

CRM (Customer Relationship Management) Systems

CRMs are essential for managing account details, targeting communications, and personalizing the customer journey. Tools like HubSpot CRM, Salesforce, and Pipedrive help businesses track leads, gather insights, and map decision-makers to accounts.

Account Mapping Tools

Mapping tools like Revegy, Crossbeam, Recotap, and Miro allow for strategic communication planning and visualization of decision-makers within target accounts. By accurately mapping key contacts and relationships, businesses can effectively personalize outreach and tailor engagement strategies for each account.

Data Enrichment Tools

Platforms such as D&B Hoovers, ZoomInfo, and DiscoverOrg provide critical data on target accounts and decision-makers, enriching customer profiles with technology stack details and industry insights.

Predictive Analytics Tools

Predictive analytics tools like SAS, RapidMiner, and Marketo analyze historical data to identify high-potential accounts. These tools provide lead scoring and insights, helping prioritize accounts showing buying signals, and enabling marketers to tailor content and campaigns more effectively.

Sales Enablement Technology

Tools such as Mindtickle, Vidyard, and Highspot support sales teams in engaging target accounts. These B2B marketing tools facilitate personalized marketing campaigns via chat, email, video, and phone, ensuring timely and relevant interactions with key decision-makers.

Marketing Automation Platforms

Platforms like Zoho Marketing Automation, Brevo, TIBCO Platform, and Klaviyo automate outreach and content delivery, ensuring seamless engagement with key accounts. These tools streamline campaign execution, B2B lead generation strategies, and performance analytics, enhancing the alignment of sales and marketing strategies for ABM success.

Get your business boost, visit now@ https://itechseries.com/contact-us/

Conclusion

Building the ultimate ABM tech stack requires careful planning, thoughtful tool selection, and a clear alignment with your ABM strategy. By investing in the right Account-Based Marketing Tools, you can enhance personalization, drive collaboration, and achieve measurable results. As ABM continues to evolve, having a robust tech stack will be crucial for maintaining a competitive edge. Start building yours today and take your ABM Strategies to the next level.

[themirokai]

I mean Mike says that the thing about Buenos Aires is a joke but I’m pretty sure it’s more like a fantasy. 😏

02 x 01 - She Knows

~Favorite Suits moments (55/X)~

[sohojware]

Top 10 Tools for Remote Team Collaboration in 2024 - Sohojware

The landscape of work has undeniably shifted. Gone are the days when in-person collaboration was the only way to achieve success. Today, a significant portion of the global workforce thrives in remote environments. This rise in remote work has necessitated the development of robust remote team collaboration tools to bridge geographical divides and foster a sense of teamwork.

But with a plethora of options available, choosing the right remote team collaboration tools can be overwhelming. To simplify your search, Sohojware, a leading provider of cloud-based business solutions, has compiled a comprehensive list of the top 10 tools for remote team collaboration in 2024.

Top 10 Tools for Remote Team Collaboration in 2024

These tools streamline remote team collaboration by providing a centralized platform for task management, communication, and file sharing. Popular options include Trello, Asana, and Monday.com.

Communication is the cornerstone of successful remote team collaboration. Tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Google Chat facilitate real-time messaging, video conferencing, and file sharing, keeping your team connected and informed.

Secure cloud storage solutions like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive ensure everyone on your team has access to the latest versions of project files, fostering seamless remote team collaboration.

For important meetings, presentations, and brainstorming sessions, video conferencing tools like Zoom, Google Meet, and Skype elevate remote team collaboration by adding a face-to-face element to virtual interactions.

Gone are the days of endless email threads with document attachments. Tools like Google Docs, Microsoft Office 365, and Zoho Docs allow for real-time document editing and collaboration, boosting remote team collaboration on written content.

Keeping track of time spent on projects and tasks is crucial for remote teams. Tools like Toggl Track, Harvest, and Clockify provide insights into individual and team productivity, enhancing remote team collaboration through efficient time management.

Mind mapping tools like Miro, MindMeister, and Coggle facilitate remote team collaboration during brainstorming sessions. These tools allow for visual organization of ideas, promoting creativity and innovation within your remote team.

For individual task management and to-do lists, apps like Todoist, TickTick, and Evernote empower remote team collaboration by keeping everyone organized and on top of their individual workloads.

For software development teams, code collaboration tools like Github, GitLab, and Bitbucket are essential. These tools facilitate remote team collaboration by streamlining version control, code reviews, and bug tracking.

For design and creative teams, tools like Figma, InVision, and Canva enhance remote team collaboration by providing a platform for real-time design collaboration, prototyping, and feedback sharing.

Choosing the Right Tools for Your Remote Team

The ideal remote team collaboration tools will depend on your team’s specific needs and workflows. Consider factors like team size, project nature, communication preferences, and budget when making your selections. Sohojware, a leading provider of cloud-based business solutions, can help you assess your team’s needs and recommend the perfect remote team collaboration tools to boost your productivity and success.

FAQs about Sohojware

1. What is Sohojware?

Sohojware is a leading provider of cloud-based business solutions designed to empower businesses of all sizes. They offer a wide range of tools and services to streamline operations, improve communication, and boost productivity.

2. Does Sohojware offer any tools for remote team collaboration?

While Sohojware doesn’t offer its own remote team collaboration tools, they can assist you in selecting and implementing the perfect suite of tools to meet your team’s specific needs. Sohojware’s team of experts can help you navigate the various options available and ensure seamless integration with your existing workflows.

3. How can Sohojware benefit my remote team?

Sohojware offers a comprehensive cloud-based business solution that can enhance remote team collaboration in several ways. Their solutions can help you:

Improve communication and information sharing

Streamline workflows and processes to reduce confusion and delays.

Enhance productivity and efficiency by providing access to essential tools and resources.

Foster a strong sense of teamwork and collaboration despite geographical distances.

Ensure data security and compliance with robust cloud-based solutions.

4. Can Sohojware help with team onboarding and training?

Yes, Sohojware can provide tools and resources to facilitate team onboarding and training, even for remote teams. Their solutions can help you:

Create and manage onboarding checklists and tasks.

Share essential documents and resources with new team members.

Conduct virtual training sessions and webinars.

Track progress and provide feedback on onboarding activities.

5. How can I get started with Sohojware’s remote team collaboration solutions?

To get started with Sohojware’s remote team collaboration solutions, simply contact their team to discuss your specific needs. They can provide a personalized assessment and recommend the best tools and services to help your team thrive in a remote work environment.

Conclusion

In today’s increasingly remote work landscape, having the right remote team collaboration tools is essential for success. By leveraging the tools and resources provided by Sohojware, you can foster a productive, collaborative, and efficient remote team that can achieve great things.

[inky-scribes]

*Mirobelle looks like she's gonna blow a fuse as she dips into the mirror and comes out with a bowl. Nova takes a nearby cloth and kneels by the puddle.*

Sorry Na-... Roxanne. Man that name does NOT suit you....... aaaanyways we'll getcha cleaned up! Literally.

*He starts scooping, soaking, and wringing Nathan into the bowl. Poor Miro just watches, distraught.*

he looks towards miro apologetically.

[lacytheespeon]

I've made a sort of voidrunner-sona, and her name is Miro! She's kind of inspired by jaguars- in fact, she does have jaguar rosettes, they're just covered by her suit.

GO PLAY SOLAR ASH

#solarashoc #sona #persona #oc #originalcharacter #originalcharacters #characgerdesign #art #digitalart #procreate #procreateart #alien #purple #yellow #jaguar #pink #blue

June 9, 2022

[themirokai]

Wait, is there a layer under the skeleton where we can put legal ethics? Like in the Mariana Trench or something?

[themirokai]

The thing about Harvey betting Mike in Season 1 Episode 11 The Rules of the Game

Is that all three of them (Harvey, Mike, and Louis) are completely on the same page that Mike is Harvey’s to bet

Like, Mike is horrified and betrayed that Harvey is betting him, and even more horrified and betrayed that Harvey is betting him and not really having Louis put anything up

But at no point does Mike suggest that he’s not Harvey’s to wager away as Harvey sees fit.

[ijustthinkevilunoisneat]

Uno can appeal to so many different people. You like the silly, sweet guy? I got a guy for you. You like someone who can put on matches like his match with Mox (like my brother does)? You like someone who can give such heartfelt promos (see: his promo for his match against Miro)? You like someone who can give such intense promos? You like an underdog? You like someone who can a loveable jerk? You like someone who will break the rules to suit him? You like someone who steps up for the little guy (Dark Order/Fuego Del Sol)?

He is so many different things because he can give such a range of different sides to him.

[themirokai]

YES!!!! This is exactly what I wanted!

Because THIS SCENE, which is completely insane, needed touching.

Thank you so much @halfthebrain it’s perfect.

Fandom Trumps Hate 2024

for the lovely @themirokai Thank you to the @fandomtrumpshate team for organising this year's FTH once more!

drawn on Photoshop

[starscelly]

miro and roope both wearing brown suits to opening night... what does it Mean

[contemporaryartists2023]

13 Artists Poised to Break Out Big in 2023

13 Artists Poised to Break Out Big in 2023, According to Naomi Beckwith, Marilyn Minter, and Other Art-World Insiders

When it comes to movements in the art world, there is often a group of bold artists who create the unexpected and influence upcoming styles and trends. This specially-curated collection highlights 13 diverse artists who have been doing just that: creating unique and innovative contemporary art. This past year, they have achieved impressive milestones and proved themselves as artists with high investment potential. These are the artists you should keep an eye on, because they are sure to do big things this year. Discover the talents who will push the boundaries of art in 2023!

Marilyn Minter, artist, on Tala Madani

“She is irreverent, savage, filthy, and very funny. Plus she is a great animator and painter. I love everything she does. I’ve been following her work for years.”

Naomi Beckwith, chief curator at the Guggenheim Museum, on Caroline Kent

“After making several strong gallery and project presentations, and currently gracing MOMA’s “Modern Window,” Caroline Kent is now in pole position for a strong critical contextualization. Harnessing the palette and deep spatial instincts of the Bauhaus, Kent’s 21st-century abstractions are imbued with a sense of embodiment, wordliness, and clue us in to the relationships between power and language.”

“The Nigerian-born, London-based artist Richard Ayodeji Ikhide has been creating a cosmology of archetypes celebrating object- and image-makers and creators in our society: observers, storytellers, alchemists, artists, and inventors. I discovered Richard’s large-scale watercolor works through the non-profit organization V.O. Curations early in the pandemic, and it has been amazing to see him continue to expand his practice. He just completed a suite of extraordinarily beautiful and complex watercolors for a Victoria Miro Gallery online project, and I think he is definitely an artist to watch!”

Gela Mikava, advisor and founder of Eye of The Collector fair, on Sara Berman

Gela Mikava (The Alienation), 2023. Image courtesy of the artist, Georgia,Tbilisi

“A painting which captures the journey of transformation. With the alienated man's search for a supernatural face, the painting highlights the strength and courage required to break away from the mundane and rise up to embrace a better future. As a positive heroes, they are a source of inspiration to others who are struggling to find their place in the world.''

“My pick is Xiyao Wang, a Berlin-based Chinese female artist that was featured in our day sale this season. For me, she is representative of the new generation of abstract painters and you can certainly see parallels of the lyrical quality of Cy Twombly merged with inspiration from global mass culture, electronic music, and all the media that has been of influence to millennials and Gen Z. She primarily works on very large-scale paintings in which there are many gestural elements that evoke landscapes, bodies and movements.”

“The artist I predict will have an excellent 2023 is the talented contemporary Ukrainian artist Nicholas Koshkosh (b. 1995). Koshkosh lives and works in Kiev. In recent years, he has gained international recognition for his colorful, figurative, expressive paintings. Koshkosh has found his own unique expression and aesthetic language that spans a multitude of references to biblical narratives, mythical stories and — currently — interpretations of his first-hand experiences and feelings related to the ongoing war and invasion of his home country Ukraine. Old tales are combined with cultural signs from the Slavic regions, fairy tale references and contemporary pop culture elements. Koshkosh’s works are often shaped by an underlying critical attitude toward ongoing political issues. I foresee a bright future for Koshkosh as an artist who artistically provides and creates a space for reflection and immersion in art.”

Debi Wisch, producer of The Price of Everything and The Art of Making It, on Michaela Yearwood-Dan

“I was at a show at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art over Thanksgiving featuring work by many of today’s most headline grabbing artists and this was the painting that literally stopped me in my tracks because it is so drop-dead gorgeous, luscious, layered, seductive, and fresh. Then one of my most trusted, intrepid, influential art collector friends mentioned Michaela as someone that I need to know. I have been on a deep dive ever since. She is young, smart, talented and has a visual language that’s unique — and the paintings are stunning.”

Barry Schwabsky, art critic, on Andrea Marie Breiling

“It’s inspiring to see a painter push her work forward as quickly as Andrea Marie Breiling has been doing. I didn’t get to Miami to see her show ‘Ribbons’ at Villa Paula, timed to coincide with the Art Basel Miami fair, but from what I can tell, her spray-painted swoops and swirls have taken even more volume, depth, and drama. The spiritual aspiration of an Agnes Pelton meets the blunt physicality of a Willem de Kooning in a synthesis that’s totally of the moment.”

Josh Baer, art advisor and founder of the Baer Faxt, on Hiba Schahbaz

“I have been following Hiba’s work for several years — in full disclosure I do not own any — and her development from works on paper to large oils on canvas is significant. Her use of the female body, particularly through the lens of Pakistani culture and a pivot away from the traditional miniature, is new ground, at to least my eyes. All she needs for her next step in the art world/market is a serious New York-based gallery to help her enter the conversation.”

Allan Schwartzman, art advisor, on Rafa Esparza

“There are three basic ways I think of an artist ‘breaking out:’ in their work, by recognition, or by the attentions of the market. Rafa Esparza, an artist of mature vision and healthy and growing support of museums and private collectors, is likely to become more nationally visible with upcoming exhibitions at New York’s Artist’s Space and the San Francisco Museum of Art. I especially admire his work for its accessibility and truthfulness, for its presence, both commanding and gentle, and for its natural, complex, and essential fusion of the personal and political, and for his propensity to ‘brown the white cube.’ Working in performance, painting, sculpture, and installation, while not beholden to the conventions of any idiom, his work embodies the complexity of identity through the interwoven elements of his identity, while also critiquing conventions of art and society.”

“I have been following Annie’s work for some time, and have long admired its ability to teeter on the edge between substance and fragility, rendering the highly personal into a universal language of loss. But there is something about her relatively recent use of bronze as one of her primary mediums for her ‘Stack’ sculptures that I feel has elevated her practice to a new level. I loved her entire show at Chateau La Coste this summer, but it was the one outdoor work, a monumental bronze ‘Stack,’ that I feel emphatically declares Annie’s place within contemporary art history. Standing at six meters tall in a grassy field, just across the way from an iconic Louise Bourgeois Spider, the two works seem to be in conversation with each other, the bold declarations of artists of different backgrounds and generations united in their meditations on motherhood and mourning.”

Saara Pritchard, partner at Art Intelligence Global, on Sylvia Sleigh

“As a figurative painter who came to prominence in New York in the 1960s and ’70s, Sleigh is massively undervalued and under-appreciated by the broader collecting world while maintaining a cult figure status among art world cognoscenti. It’s time for people to see her incredible work and learn of her important contributions to painting and the feminist art movement.”

Aaron Cezar, director of the Delfina Foundation, on Hera Büyüktaşcıyan

“Hera Büyüktaşcıyan has been steadily rising above career milestones, mostly recently with new commissions for the New Museum’s Triennial and the 2022 Biennale of Sydney. Although her works have been acquired by Tate Modern and Centre Pompidou recently, 2023 will mark her first museum solo of new works in a yet-to-be-announced presentation. Watch this space.”

[senditcolton]

Somebody Like You

summary: it was the day of your wedding, filled love and celebration. and with your new husband Jamie by your side, nothing could ruin this perfect fairy tale. 

songs: X X X  word count: 2k warnings: traditional wedding (feminine reader)

It was a thought you had multiple times throughout the day. But as you sat back and took in the scene around you, there was no doubt within your mind; you had never been happier than you were in this moment. Sure, your feet had started to ache, your cheeks hurt, you had probably cried at least three times, and you were beyond exhausted but none of that seemed important to you. Because your heart had never been lighter. Throughout the entire day, you had been floating.

You sat back in your chair and let your eyes wander, over the floral arrangements, the lights hanging above the dance floor, your friends and family, the bright and cloudy sky, until your eyes finally landed on your fiancé. No, your husband.

Jamie was over by the bar, talking to Miro and Esa, a wide smile on his face that you were sure hadn’t faltered the entire day. Your eyes danced across his shoulder in his beautiful suit, down his arm, and finally landed on the hand gently clasping a glass of whiskey. The small flash of the metal band resting on his ring finger made your lips quirk up into a soft smile. You look back down at the rings gracing your left hand, the two of them perfectly nestled together. Your other hand comes up to trace over the jewels, your brain replaying the moment they were joined together, the moment that you and Jamie were joined together, a symbol of your commitment to each other.

Mrs. Oleksiak. It still didn’t seem real to you. 

You were so caught up in your memories that you didn’t notice someone sneak behind you until a strong pair of arms were wrapped around you.

“They look good together,” Jamie whispers in your ear, his hand coming to cover yours, your fingers intertwining, his ring now right below yours. You turn your head towards him, the smile still on your lips.

“We look good together,” you reply. His eye light up, the true love behind them reflecting back onto you. He doesn’t say anything else as he presses his lips against your temple and you sigh into him. This day was everything that you could have asked for. But you knew that you would be perfectly happy if you and Jamie decided to take a couple of witnesses and a few bottles of beer to your lake house and get married that way. Just as long as he was by your side. Jamie continued to press kisses into your skin, and you can feel his lips quirk in a smile as he does so. You can’t help it when your lips mirror his and you two pull away giggling.

He presses a quick kiss to your lips before he stands, his hand falling from yours as he lifts his body to his full height. He immediately reaches out for you once again and you gladly place your hand in his as he tugs you from your chair and out onto the wooden dance floor.

Your friends part to let the two of you through, into the middle of the floor, and your heart soars at all their smiling faces. The amount of love you had felt on this day, not only from your husband but everyone around you two, left you feeling dizzy.

You two reach the center and Jamie lifts your arm and guide you in a gentle spin, the fabric of your dress flowing out around you. His hands find your waist and yours dance across the top of his shoulders and you two pull each other close. In an instant, your eyes connect and a grin appears on both of your faces.

“You look beautiful,” Jamie says, his eyes just drinking you in.

“You’ve said that a thousand times today,” you lightly tease, grinning up at him.

“And I’ll say it every single day after this, even if you don’t feel that way. Because you are.”

You feel the heat rise to your cheeks and you lean in, resting your head on his chest. Beneath you ear, you can hear his heartbeat, strong and steady. Much like he was; your rock and your safety. The two of you stay wrapped up in each other, gently swaying to the music. You feel Jamie’s lips press against the crown of your head, his arms pulling you impossibly closer. Part of you wished you could stay like this forever.

Your raise your head from its spot to look up at Jamie once more. His eyes have never left you, the pure adoration within them almost overwhelming you. Your hand sneaks across his shoulder to the nape of his next, your fingertips gently playing with the curls there. A soft tug pulls his lips to yours for what seems like the hundredth time that day. And like every kiss before, it leaves you just as breathless. He leans down and dips you back, his hands keeping a firm hold on your waist as you laugh into the kiss. The slow romantic music fades out, the two of you still pressed together. You finally break apart, Jamie lifting you upright, your laughter still falling as your friends and family clap and whistle around you.

The beginning chords of the next song open, the sound of the lively banjo immediately raising the spirit of everyone around you. As soon as they recognize the song, your guests begin to jump and cheer, clapping along to the rhythm of the drums, their happiness and laughter directly correlating with yours. It’s a whirl of bodies around you and you join them. Before you know it, your bridesmaids have found you and are dancing with you, their excited energy contagious. You pull away from Jamie, letting your friends tug you forward as they bounce with you. You found yourself singing the lyrics at the top of your lungs, the words echoing through the air, as happy as they were true. Turning, you find Jamie’s eyes on you and you blow him a quick kiss. He laughs, pretending to catch it out of the air and placing it on his heart.

A few moments later, you can feel Jamie’s come up from behind you as his arms slip around your waist once again, pulling you back into his chest. You can’t help but sigh as you lean your body back into his as you two gently rock to the music. You look back up at him, eyes bright. He smiles down at you, quietly mouthing the lyrics and you can’t help but smile. You slightly raise your chin, lifting your face closer to his. Understanding your silent request, Jamie leans down to connect your lips to his, pulling into yet another kiss, one that is so deep and passionate that you don’t even register the sound of thunder coming from above you.

The next sensation you feel is water hitting your bare skin. You break away from Jamie, untangling yourself from his arms, walking forward to look up at the sky, as the clouds above you let go. You hear the laughter and shrieks of your guests as they register what is happening. It is a commotion around you as they run for cover, the men shedding their jackets in order to shield themselves and their significant others from the rain.

Jamie’s hand closes around yours and you feel him start to tug you off the dance floor. You stop him, firmly planting your feet onto the wood, your eyes closed and face still upturned to the sky. The droplets fall onto you, breathing in the fresh scent of the rain as the water clings to your skin and hair. But you don’t care. You stay there, letting the sky fall down on you.

You don’t realize Jamie still standing out there, a few steps away from you, taking you in. You looked like something out of a fairy tale, the mist from the rain creating a gentle haze around you. It was in that instant did he realize how much he truly loved you. This was the you he fell in love with, wild and free. You had blown into his life and crashed through every wall, every hesitation he had. Everyone before you always left, good for a few months but never forever. They always told him that there was too much distance, too little time, or not enough love. He had started to accept the idea that his lifestyle might mean he would never settle down. But then you showed up and showed him what love truly was. It was about finding a way to make the distance not matter and finding the joy in the moments that you did have together. It was about choosing to stay when things got tough instead of running away. You were with him through every hardship and he was there for you. It wasn’t always perfect. You weren’t always perfect, but then again, neither was he. But somehow, your jagged pieces and his fit together, a completed puzzle, almost as if the two of you were meant to be together.

He didn’t plan for this to happen; didn’t imagine he’d fall this hard for someone. But there you were, as astonishing and unexpected as the storm the two of you were caught in, your smile warming him like the sunshine. And he realized there was nothing else he wanted to do than stand out in the rain with you.

The water danced down your body, your hair and dress soaked from the downpour. You had always loved the rain, loved how it washed away the darkness and when it stopped, the world seemed brighter, more alive than it had been before. Another laugh escapes you as you let yourself spin on the dance floor; arms outstretched. Your eyes flutter open and they instantly land on Jamie, standing out there in the storm with you, his curls plastered to his head and his suit darkened by the water. The soft smile on his lips makes your knees feel weak and before you can think, you reach your hand out to him. He takes it, drawing you closer to him, his other hand coming to rest on the small of your back.

“I love you,” you blurt out, the rain slightly muffling the words. “I love you so much Jamie. All your scars and all your flaws. Every single part of you. And I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.” The smile never leaves his lip at your spontaneous confession.

“For better or worse,” he states, echoing your vows from earlier that day.

“In joy or in sorrow,” you continue.

“Rain or shine.” You giggle at his words and turn your head to the downpour around you. Facing him again, you let a joyous grin dance across your lips.

“I think we took that part a little too seriously,” you joke and Jamie laughs, his face lifting towards the sky. You are struck by the realization that the man in front of you was everything you could’ve hoped to find. Your hands reach up, fingers intertwining behind his neck and you pull his to your lips again.

“I love you, Mrs. Oleksiak,” Jamie murmurs, forehead pressed to your, the rain never ceasing.

“And I love you, Mr. Oleksiak,” you reply, brushing your lips against his once more. You squeal as he lifts you up, his arm hooking underneath your legs, the other holding your body to his chest. He spins the two of you, your arm reaching out into the torrent and letting the droplets fall through your fingers, your laughter once again overtaking you.

Most people would call this a disaster, a thunderstorm ruining an otherwise perfect day. But as your husband carried you off the dance floor, towards shelter from the rain, you understood that this day went exactly how it was supposed to. Because you were with the man of your dreams, the one who was willing to stand out in a storm for you just to see you happy. And what more could someone ask for?

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