#mobile marketing ch

[bunnytalksf1]

Oliver Bearman has a seat in Formula One for 2025

Officially! I had in my notebook that the Silverstone weekend would be good to announce it at, and I was right (even though this is very low hanging fruit at this point, lol).

So let's talk driver market!

I'm now of the opinion that several drivers will lose their seat at the end of 2024. So, who's safe?

Lando Norris / Oscar Piastri - McLaren (Multi / exp. 2026)

Charles Leclerc / Lewis Hamilton - Ferrari (Multi / Heavily rumoured to be exp. 2026, but officially multi)

Fernando Alonso / Lance Stroll - Aston Martin (Multi / Nepotism)

Pierre Gasly - Alpine (Multi)

Yuki Tsunoda - RB (exp. 2025)

Max Verstappen / Sergio Perez - Red Bull (exp. 2028 / 2026)

Nico Hulkenberg - Sauber (Multi)

George Russell - Mercedes (exp. 2026)

Oliver Bearman - Haas (Multi, probably exp. 2026)

Alex Albon - Williams (Multi, probably exp. 2026 or 27)

Most teams will not want rookies or new drivers in 2026 for the new regs, where feedback is key, so they're trying to finalise contracts now for then, hence why so many drivers are locked down in multi-year contracts / until post 26.

This new signing means that every team has at least one of their spots filled. All three of the top teams has both of its seats filled, leaving very little mobility for the midfield drivers. Most of these contracts are multi year, and undisclosed.

The reason I have Perez in bold is because I think that there is a huge possibility of them breaking contract in 2025 if his performance continues to be lacklustre, or if RBR loses the constructors. Tsunoda could go to the main team, or Ricciardo if CH is insane.

Who's most at risk?

Ricciardo

Marko keeps making comments about how RB is a junior team, and the team certainly doesn't want to lose Lawson, who has shown considerable promise and provided insight on the sim. His contract expires in September unless Red Bull offer him a full-time seat in F1, and Audi have shown interest. I wouldn't put it past Williams to put a punt on him, either. It's within Red Bull's best interest to promote Lawson, and Tsunoda is alrady re-signed. There's very little interest in Ricciardo outside the RBR family, and he's still under a long term contract at RBR, preventing him from shopping elsewhere.

Sargeant

His performances just haven't been good enough, and Alex Albon as a benchmark is good, but he's no Max Verstappen. He's had a rough time of it with the chassis drama etc etc but the bottom line is that he's just not been good enough for F1. He has a hand to play at Haas, but with the team in talks with both Zhou and Ocon, I think it's unlikely he finds his feet in the sport. Williams definitely do not want to re-sign him unless he performs miracles the rest of the season.

Bottas

He's aging, and has been hindered by the car for the last little while. He's just not been on the radar. He could land at Audi, or Mercedes, but he's not the first choice for either of those teams - Mercedes want Antonelli, and Audi are reportedly talking to Ocon and Lawson, who both have age on their side.

Magnussen

Not been performing when compared to Hulkenberg, and with the stunts he's been pulling i.e penalties, I wouldn't expect him to land elsewhere. He's another driver that's pretty old now, and not the most marketable either.

So, what about the rookies?

Next year, we are going to have three (or more, depending on what red bull does) rookies on the grid.

Bearman - confirmed - Haas

A well deserved seat, especially after his performance in the Ferrari at Jeddah.

Antonelli - Mercedes or Williams - unconfirmed, but extremely likely

Not sure if the right choice would be to bring him up, considering his performance in F2 hasn't been great and there's a lot of talk about how he's being rushed that isn't unwarranted. Toto doesn't want to lose him, and Williams would get a discount on engine parts.

Lawson - RB, Williams or Audi - unconfirmed, but likely

Another seat that has been long since deserved. He should have been in the RB seat this season. Audi have shown an interest. Will be a late mover, since his contract doesn't release him to other teams until September, but I expect him to be big in the market if he is released, and if Mercedes sign Antonelli.

Aron - ?? - Unlikely

Paul Aron was a Mercedes junior until midway through last year. He's currently affiliated with no F1 team, and is leading the F2 championship right now as a rookie. There's been noise about him getting a seat, but even if he wins F2, its unlikely he'll go anywhere for 2025. He's still one to watch, though, and will likely be snapped up if he wins as a rookie.

Hadjar - RB - unlikely

The ideal scenario for Hadjar would be both Perez and Ricciardo losing their seats, and for Tsunoda to go to the main team, freeing a space for him to drive alongside Lawson. Or, if RB loses Lawson, he's the next redbull driver in line. He's driving car 11 in FP1 this weekend, and sits second in the F2 standings with two race wins.

Other drivers at risk, but less so, include:

Zhou

I think he'll likely end up in Haas, and he is a driver with a huge hand to play in age and sponsorship, where he is comparable to Perez. His performances aren't horrific either. That being said, depending on where Sainz, Lawson and Bottas go, he might end up out of a seat.

Sainz

Never thought I'd be writing his name, but here we are. We've gone from Red Bull and Mercedes taking an interest in the early season to this. His management team should be fird. IN all seriousness, this is a weird one. He could definitely end up seatless if he doesnt kerb his ego, as from rumours, the reason he lost out on RBR and Merc seats was that he wanted longer contracts, i.e. in line with George Russell, and a 2+1 for RBR (both teams offered a 1 year deal). Then there's been a long line of teams interested and NONE of them seem to satisfy him. Most likely destination now is probably Alpine, but even Alpine seem to be losing interest. He needs to sign a contract now.

Ocon

I think he'll land on his feet, and end up in Audi, Haas, Williams, or even Mercedes if Toto doesn't sign Antonelli, as a stopgap driver. He's a solid driver and has a lot to offer. Could end up seatless if a very specific set of things happens, but he has options.

Anyways. Enjoy the race weekend! :3

[darthmatthewtwihard]

"My boys, don’t believe what they tell you in school. Government is never the solution, but it is almost always the problem. I’m a capitalist. And I believe in effort and progress and the ingenuity of our species. The continuing evolution and advancement of our kind based on fair competition. Fact of the matter is, Gold does not want man to continue to evolve. Since the conquering, they have routinely stifled advancement to maintain their heaven. They’ve wrapped themselves in myth. Filled their grand oceans with monsters to hunt. Cultivated private Mirkwoods and Olympuses of their very own. They have suits of armor to make them flying gods. And they preserve that ridiculous fairy tale by keeping mankind frozen in time. Curbing invention, curiosity, social mobility. Change threatens that. Look where we are. In space. Above a planet we shaped. Yet we live in a Society modeled after the musings of Bronze Age pedophiles. Tossing around mythology like that bullshit wasn’t made up around a campfire by an Attican farmer depressed that his life was nasty, brutish, and short. The Golds claim to the Obsidians that they are gods. They are not. Gods create. If the Golds are anything, they are vampire kings. Parasites drinking from our jugular. I want a Society free of this fascist pyramid. I want to unchain the free market of wealth and ideas. Why should men toil in the mines when we can build robots to toil for us? Why should we ever have stopped in this Solar System? We deserve more than what we’ve been given. But first, Gold must fall and the Sovereign and the Jackal must die. And I believe you are the sign I’ve been waiting for, Mr. Andromedus."

- Regulus ag Sun, Morning Star, ch.21: Quicksilver, p.163

[jazlynriddle-legacy]

Welcome to your life - Pt 3:

It's My Own Design Ch 17:

Summary:

Ominis fought to control his expression, to keep his hands from trembling. Five years. Five years since he'd seen his parents, and this. This was the reason they'd given him the honour of their time? This was the reason they'd sought him out at Hogwarts?

The bitterness welling up within him was thick enough to gag on.

New year, new allies, new responsibilities, new avenues of revenue, and new aspects of their own Ancient Magic to explore. As the Keeper and their partners enter their last year at Hogwarts, it remains to be seen if the new school year will bring with it new problems or adversaries, but they are confident in the strength of their relationship with Sebastian and Ominis. The three of them would endure, no matter what befell them.

And if they were wrong?

What a joke, they would suffer no alternative.

Warnings: This chapter contains smut! It's er, finger lickin' good. Just, not fingers.

Warnings: Sebastian x MC x Ominis! Drug Addiction! Spoilers! Slow-burn corruption! Dark content! Fucked up 1800s orphanages! MC has no love for Anne or Solomon! Dubious happy ending (it's happy for MC, Seb and Ominis at least).

You can also read on AO3! (chapter specific warnings below)

Notes:

Warnings: Implied era-appropriate religious abuse. Blowjob!

Okay, now that I think about it retrospectively, they're horny teens, it should have been obvious that smut was going to happen after the angst, but I definitely didn't plan this lol. Oh well, who's gonna complain about more smut anyway xP

And of course, 10,400 words. Damn, that's a really round number. Well, I guess it's fine since I managed to write this chapter pretty fast. I'm better with this in-head type of writing, I suck at descriptive writing so it always takes me forever and a ton of energy.

When I was a kid in school the standard advice given by teachers to the class was always to write descriptive English composition essays and NEVER touch argumentative.

And I was always the one kid who got the opposite advice; please choose argumentative, your description of the world around you sucks balls, surely you have more to say about the trip to the market than “the light was searing my retinas and the long walk made my legs ache but I bought the items successfully”. How was the air feeling? Don't remember. What were you smelling? A lot of things. Who did you see? Human beings I guess?

Though in fairness, now that I know I'm autistic, it's probably because I was constantly experiencing sensory overload and couldn't register my environment without being hit with pain, or the extreme tunnel vision and goal oriented brain xP

Edit: And for my Tumblr-only readers, I deeply apologise, but we have finally caught up to where I am currently writing! So, you'll have to wait for the next chapters like the rest of my readers on AO3, but in the meantime, I'll also be uploading my old artwork and one of my older fics to a separate blog here on Tumblr as well. So, there'll still be some content appearing, just not really HL. Though I do have two other HL short fics in the works that will probably start going up sometime soon on both AO3 and Tumblr.

Anyway, for this fic series, my Tumblr upload time is every second Sat 3pm PST, which is this coming weekend.

The chapters do go up three hours earlier on AO3, at noon PST, just because mistakes and better ways to phrase sentences always pop up after I hit the upload button and it's far easier to edit chapters on AO3 on mobile. Tumblr lags because my chapters are too long lol

Now, although I try my best to keep to that schedule, I often have to skip an upload and I will usually announce that ahead of time on the chapter that I'm uploading. As I likely will for chapter 19 because my next week is literally full, like 9 days filled to the brim. I am so fucked. So, that would mean 4 weeks between uploads if that happens.

Also the end notes for this chapter are really long... but the next chapter's is even longer. OTL

“Darlng.” Ominis murmured around his toothbrush, as the sound of brushing beside him slowed and gradually ground to a halt.

When he got no response, he reached across to prod the Keeper in the side with his wand and they jumped, telling him that they had indeed gotten distracted in the middle of brushing their teeth.

“Mm? O’ righ.” Came the muffled reply and the sound of their brushing resumed.

Honestly, not encouraging. The Keeper had been wearing the armlet since tea and they'd been markedly absent-minded since then.

Trailing off mid-sentence, drifting off while Ominis was talking and missing his words. Which was rather frustrating, truth be told, he'd gotten used to how attentive they always were with him, but at least they hadn't slipped up and accidentally taken some of the Pain energy.

According to them, at least.

“Hey, have either of you seen the newspaper? I wanted to finish the word search before bed.” Sebastian asked, poking his head into the bathroom.

Almost reflexively, Ominis felt the answer, that he hadn't seen it, surface in his mind. However, instead of saying it, he simply spat in the sink and began to rinse his mouth, because he was not speaking to Sebastian and hadn't since their fight in the afternoon.

Does anything even need to change? His boyfriend's words echoed in his head, and Ominis took a deep breath as he dried his hands and face.

How could Sebastian even say that? This whole Pain energy thing was supposed to be a means to an end, when they did what they needed to, the Keeper would stop taking such a dangerous thing. Going through withdrawal alone had been awful for them, surely that was enough indication of its dangers?

With all the experiments, and the ever-increasing amount of Pain energy the Keeper had to take to stay withdrawal, every day where nothing went wrong was a miracle. They just needed to keep winning the coin toss, survive taking it till Dìon castle had been brought to life and Anne was cured, and until then, they shouldn't rock the boat.

Was that not the plan? Why was Sebastian talking like the Keeper was going to be taking that poison even after they'd achieved those goals? When had he decided that the Keeper taking Pain energy forever was worth the risk? To what? Be powerful enough to kill dragons? How long did those two intend for all this to go on?

Ominis wasn't sure he could handle being under that stress for the rest of their lives together.

Even if Sebastian was right and the Keeper was immune to becoming a monster because of their Ancient Magic, as the only Ancient Mage, they could not possibly prove such a thing until they hit a problem. And that problem could easily be death.

Not to mention, if something unexpected happened and they needed to hide or lie low, and couldn't get more Pain energy, they'd be at risk of dying.

What would they do if that happened!? Ominis’ jaw tightened, no, he knew what they'd do, Sebastian would ask Ominis to cast the bloody Cruciatus curse on him, again, just to give the Keeper his Pain. Nausea churned in his stomach, sick and sour with guilt and shame.

The sound of his partners talking hummed in the background as Ominis followed them to bed, climbing onto the right side and lying down on his back tiredly, their words like senseless noise in his ears. How could they be so cavalier? As though neither were worried about the dangers and terrifying quantity of unknowns in this entire venture.

“Love...” Ominis felt a gentle touch against his face and the Keeper's voice, warm in his ear. “Thinking when tired doesn't get anyone anywhere. Try to get some sleep. You'll feel better in the morning, and we can talk more, alright?”

The endless optimism of his partners really was unbearable. Wordlessly, Ominis turned onto his side. He highly doubted that some sleep would magically fix this.

The Keeper sighed as they gazed at his curled up back, before taking a glance over at Sebastian on the other side of them as he laid down, refusing to so much as look in Ominis’ direction. They had no idea how to fix this.

They sort of agreed with Sebastian on the actual issue at hand, there hadn't been evidence so far that taking Pain energy was any worse on the body than coffee, which was also addictive but not harmful unless some idiot overdosed.

Though their confidence was more because the Keeper felt both that the short-term benefits were worth a potential cost and knew that they could weather any ailment in their lovers’ names, rather than the speculative optimism that Sebastian bore.

It was a problem that Sebastian had, being too optimistic, to the point of wishful thinking. What with how convinced he had been that the relic was the answer when there was no discernible link between Inferi and Anne's curse. It's not resolve if you delude yourself into believing that nothing would go wrong and thus never prepare for things to go wrong.

The similarity between him and the Keeper themselves, was that they simply preferred to suffer the consequences of trying their best, over letting fear halt their steps and to go to bed wishing that they had done more. To be resigned and consigned to whatever fate had in store for them, like Ominis often was.

However, they also understood that Ominis simply wasn't as resolved to accept the consequences of his or their actions. That he could not bear the thought of either of his partners coming to any harm, regardless of how worthy the cause, and that came too from a place of love. If a bit short sighted.

That Ominis was, as ever, mired in doubt. A fear that he didn't truly know his partners. A fear that burned Sebastian, the straightforward boy, hurt that someone he loved so deeply would doubt said love, after everything he'd done to prove it. For while Sebastian had few scruples, he carried a naivety that, ironically, the Keeper thought might have come from Ominis.

After all, what greater proof that a good person could use the Unforgivables, than Ominis himself? What greater evidence that exceptions existed, when an heir of Slytherin was the least purist person he knew? A blind boy, yet sensitive enough to see what few others could. If the Keeper had grown up beside a walking miracle, they might have believed in miracles too.

They knew that Sebastian would readily throw his very life away for Ominis and themselves. Though getting Ominis to see that as the selfless love it was in Sebastian's mind, rather than as the selfishness it instead was in Ominis’, was a feat that the Keeper had no clue how to accomplish.

Lying down with a tired sigh, they really hoped that this would be resolved soon, being sandwiched between the two stubborn boys in the middle of a tiff really was the worst place to be. If it were anyone else, the Keeper would have hit them both on the head and left the boys to sort it out themselves a long time ago.

All this really wasn't helping them resist taking a whiff of Pain energy either. The warm fog had been following them around as they finished preparing the third cell in anticipation of their next subject, and they'd taken the opportunity to explain the collars and their theory about the two ways one could consume Pain energy to Ominis, while he did a routine check on Macnair and Selwyn.

Though it had taken a lot of effort to do so when they kept getting distracted, by the enticing warmth of the armlet, especially with how cold the boys were being. Closing their eyes, they let the exhaustion of the day, of resisting their addiction, carry them into sleep. Hopefully they wouldn't accidentally take some while unconscious...

As the Keeper's breathing evened out beside him, Sebastian fought the urge to turn around and snuggle up to them, his eyes burning, ashamed that he couldn’t quite bring himself to apologise for losing his head earlier. He did understand that Ominis was just scared, but he was scared too goddammit.

Did being afraid give Ominis leave to hurt him this way every time he got scared? Did Ominis think it was fine to hurt Sebastian or the Keeper emotionally whenever he got anxious? The possibility was terrifying, and he didn't want to believe it could be true.

Yet, even when Sebastian had done everything he could think of to assuage Ominis’ fears, nothing had worked. If Ominis wasn't willing to meet them in the middle, couldn't even talk about things rationally, how were they supposed to get anywhere?

They didn't have ten years for Ominis to slowly overcome his fear of the Pain energy, the Keeper needed it now, to survive the trials and dangers that lay ahead. If they couldn't hide it from Ominis, and they couldn't tell him about it, what the fuck were they supposed to do!? This was a matter of life and death, why couldn't Ominis just-

Sebastian couldn't help but remember that day in the Scriptorium, when Ominis had literally refused to take an action that would save their lives. It'd been almost THREE YEARS since then, and Ominis still hadn't made a single step of headway in this area. It almost felt like Ominis didn't see anything wrong with this to begin with.

Sebastian was trying to be understanding, but he just couldn't get how Ominis could be so paralysed by fear, that he would choose death.

Just let us protect you! Sebastian wanted to grab Ominis by the shoulders and scream. We all want the same thing, to protect our shared happiness, why are we fighting like this? Why was Ominis treating him like he didn't care about his lovers? Sebastian wouldn't be trying if he didn't care. Hell, it'd be easier if he didn't care!

After all this time, it hurt that Ominis still didn't trust him.

Sniffing and scrubbing at the moisture in his eyes with his hands, Sebastian squeezed his eyes shut and tried to shove the feelings aside with his Occlumency meditation.

The Occlumency that Ominis had taught him.

Ugh, fuck it. Sebastian gave in and turned around to cling to the Keeper, pressing his face into their shoulder and taking a deep breath of their comforting scent.

Almost immediately, he felt the stress ease and his body relax. The Keeper was right here, warm and safe, and on the other side, bathed in the moon's cool glow, was Ominis, and even if he was still upset, it was assuring to know that he was here and safe too. Yeah, definitely worth it, a relieved smile formed on Sebastian's face and his tears finally ceased.

He always woke up wrapped around one of his partners anyway, he could just pretend it happened in his sleep.

On the other side of the Keeper, this whole time, Ominis’ eyes were wide open, and he lay there frozen with shock, was Sebastian crying?

He listened carefully, yeah, no doubt about it, but... why? For all his emotional tendencies, Sebastian had only ever cried during or after nightmares and that one time he had a breakdown in the Feldcroft cottage.

Was it what Ominis said? It was hard to believe that Sebastian would care enough about his words to cry, when he didn't care enough about Ominis’ feelings to stop his reckless behaviour.

Ominis had spoken truthfully, but pointing out how selfish and reckless Sebastian and the Keeper were being... perhaps he should have done that more carefully. Did Sebastian not even realise what he was doing?

The continued sniffles ate away at Ominis, he'd done that, he'd made Sebastian cry... and the guilt only worsened when he realised that it didn't just feel awful, it also felt good. To hear the effect he had on Sebastian, to feel the power he had over the proud and stubborn boy's heart, to feel some sort of control.

Bile rose in the back of Ominis’ throat, no no no no- he shook the thought away, recoiling from it in horror. That was the darkness speaking, the evil his parents were steeped in, that they'd implanted in him. He couldn’t let the poison in his veins taint the people he loved. Controlling other people with force and hurting them, that was not acceptable.

No matter how selfish they were being, no matter how much he wanted that to change, no matter how stressed Ominis was, he knew that Sebastian and the Keeper were not evil. Neither of them, no matter how frustrated he was with them, deserved to be hurt, the way Ominis had been by his family.

Nobody deserved that, period. Least of all the two people he loved so dearly that he was beset with such fear to begin with.

What am I doing? Ominis asked himself ruefully. I'm not even succeeding in stopping them, I'm just hurting them. But if I don't try to stop them, I might as well sign their death warrants. But what else could I possibly do? Leave? Threaten to break up?

That would probably hurt everybody involved, himself being the only one he would be sure to devastate, but if it got them to stop, at least it wouldn't be only hurt dealt with no progress made. Ominis bit back his own sob as he felt the bed bounce ever so slightly, listening to the now familiar sound of Sebastian turning on the bed, before his sobs and sniffles turned into snores.

I can't, Ominis wailed in his heart, mourning his own cowardice and selfishness, I can't give this up. The very thought of not having the Keeper or Sebastian as his, was nauseating. It was the catacombs all over again, how could he stand by and let this happen again?

A good friend, a good lover, would love Sebastian and the Keeper enough to sacrifice his bond with them, if it would save their lives. What a horrible person he was, Ominis lamented, then and now, he was still too selfish to do the right thing, to be a good person. He'd told the Keeper in the tomb that he might be willing to sacrifice his friendship with Sebastian, but he hadn't been.

What right had he, to be enraged at their selfishness, when Ominis himself was so hopelessly self-serving too?

We're all sinners here. It was so difficult to fight the temptation to throw all conscience to the wind. To give in to the urge to just force the Keeper and Sebastian to do what he wanted, whatever that entailed, and Ominis was tired, so tired of resisting his vile instincts.

He wanted to wake the Keeper, beg them to do it again, help him stop thinking, stop feeling, manipulate his mind into silence once more, but a part of him knew that this was too much for them to suppress. Their words had worked when they first started dating, when he had been more concerned about what they were doing with Pain energy, than what it was doing to them.

When he'd still seen them as impossibly invincible, an unbelievable creature that had powers beyond imagination, had power over both him and Sebastian. When he hadn't yet come close to losing them or seen how human and vulnerable they really were. How they too, could be wrong.

Loving them, accepting them, flaws, failures and all, had cost him the ability to uncritically leave everything up to them, to surrender reality into their hands. The irony that the more he loved them, the more terrifying the thought of losing them and the harder to trust them when they tried to soothe that fear with assurances that they couldn't guarantee. Promises they couldn't keep.

He wanted- no, needed them, the Keeper and Sebastian. Wanted to hold them both close, protected, safe.

Compelled by his need and unable to resist, Ominis turned as well and wrapped himself around the Keeper, stretching his hand across their chest to find Sebastian's and entwine their fingers together. His heart aching in his chest when he felt traces of wetness on his boyfriend's fingertips.

I'm sorry, Seb... I just don't know what to do... Ominis thought mournfully to himself as he closed his eyes.

“I've decided to open the Repository. Its power cannot lie dormant for centuries more.”

Thank you, Fig... I wouldn’t have this without you.

“After everything you've seen? What about Isidora's fate?”

Isidora's fate? A fool chasing a hopeless dream, she and I are not the same.

“Isidora wasted her ability trying to save people from themselves. I will not let others dictate what I do with this- my power.”

I have been robbed of so much. A family, a home, my dignity, my agency, Lodgok, the first friend who understood what it was like to be crushed under heel.

I will not surrender anything to anyone else ever again. Please, understand.

“You cannot possibly mean that. You, of all wizardkind, are wholly aware of the misery and pain that that could cause!”

Fig... I'm sorry, but I can't give this up. Can't you feel it? That power, I need it, I need power. I’ve finally found something worth protecting. Worth my life. Worth every life. I can't lose them. I won't let anyone take what is mine ever again.

Not even you.

“I answer to no one. Avada-"

The Keeper gasped, their eyes flying open, heart pounding a mile a minute, feeling somehow restrained, and for a moment, they tensed in fear. Before noticing the faint snores by their ear and they remembered that they were in Dìon, sleeping in their new bedroom with Sebastian and Ominis... who had been fighting.

They cast their gaze over themselves and smiled, and yet, both boys were not only cuddled up to them, but also holding hands loosely across their chest. The soft rays of dawn lay gentle on the two, their faces peaceful and the Keeper was rather relieved to see that their partners, at least, were getting a restful sleep.

They released a slow breath, it'd been a long time since they'd dreamt of Fig, let alone a nightmare of killing him. The Keeper honestly wasn't sure why they'd had such a dream, was it what Ominis had implied the evening before? That Sebastian, and by extension themselves, were monstrous for wanting to continue using that energy. An energy created by human pain.

But would they have? If Fig had survived, if he'd decided that he needed to stop them, would the Keeper have fought him? Killed him?

They'd like to think they wouldn't have, that they would have found another way, but they weren't sure that was true. Perhaps the reason they weren't as offended by Ominis’ framing, unlike Sebastian, was because they felt it was warranted. They were no saint, they'd stolen, killed, sinned, anything to survive, to win.

Demonspawn. Sinful whore. Devil.

God, if he existed, had only hellfire for the Keeper's kind, and they'd come to terms with that a long time ago. Spat their defiance on Matron's precious cross, they hadn't been able to walk for a week after that, but they'd do it again. Forgiveness? How was it their fault that they had to suck dick to stay alive? Grace? Her God could keep his fucking grace, neither she nor He had protected them a whit.

Finding out that they weren't even human, that they were what those pathetic powerless muggles called heathen pagans, one of the witches and wizards they'd burnt at the stake, none of it had been a surprise. Of course they weren't a mere muggle, of course they hadn't fit in. They were never one of them to begin with.

Coming from a place that called all their kind demonic, made Ominis’ desperate wish to be accepted by society rather pointless in the Keeper's eyes. If in a separate group of humans, their very existence was evil, then what meaning did the term ‘evil’ even have? It was arbitrary and meaningless, a popularity contest that they refused to take part in.

They gazed at Ominis’ beautiful countenance, his cheek pressed sweetly against their arm, all curled up like a cat. Still, they couldn't find it in themselves to force him to face this, it was something he would have to come to terms with on his own, they could only protect him till then.

With a tired sigh, the Keeper considered closing their eyes and going back to sleep, when they realised that something was missing.

Frowning, they cursed under their breath, the armlet peeking out from between Ominis’ arms... wasn't glowing. Fuuuuuuck.

Ominis was going to be pissed. The Keeper sighed, well, that explained the dream at least, and the reason they felt a bit warmer than usual. Trying to get a good look at the armlet, they attempted to slip their arm out of Ominis’ grasp, but unfortunately, he didn't seem very happy about that.

“Mnm, warm...” Ominis grumbled, gripping their arm tighter and rubbing his cheek against their shoulder.

The Keeper smiled softly, cute. Well, at least until he frowned and mumbled. “Why are you so warm?”

Aaand so it begins, the Keeper sighed again, not a moment more peace to enjoy. “Well, love, it seems... that, while I was unconscious, I unintentionally took today's dose-”

Ominis shot upright immediately, though he seemed to have forgotten, or not noticed, that his hand was still attached to Sebastian's and the brunet was promptly awoken, as he was yanked halfway across the Keeper by his arm.

“Wha de-” Sebastian mumbled, blinking blankly at thin air with an adorably confused expression as his hand was dropped.

Patting the messy bush of hair on his head, the Keeper gave him a soft smile too and a kiss on the forehead. “Morning, Seb.”

He blinked at them with doe-eyes for several moments, his brain visibly struggling to catch up, before he yawned and dropped his head onto their chest with a barely audible. “...mor...in...”

Ugh, why is he so cute- the Keeper couldn't resist slipping a finger under his chin to lift it and leaned down to capture his chapped lips in a proper kiss, which he returned with a dazed moan.

“Can the two of you be serious for once?” Ominis sighed irritably as he raised his wand. “I can't cast diagnosa if you're in close contact.”

“Gimmieasec-” The Keeper gave him a mumble, pressing their lips to Sebastian's one last time before withdrawing, leaving him looking as confused as he did when he first woke up, and they nudged him upright with a bemused smile. “There, just sit still and look pretty.”

“Pfft... eashy.” Sebastian gave them a dopey grin, before yawning and stretching. “Whaz goin’ on anyway...”

“Ominis is upset that I accidentally took some Pain energy while asleep.” The Keeper answered, lying back down as Ominis cast Diagnosa on them.

“Oh.” Sebastian blinked, freezing in the middle of scratching his head. “Well, that blows.”

“I'm not upset.” Ominis snapped, and both Sebastian and the Keeper stared at him sceptically. “I'm worried.”

“Well, don't be, they kiss just fine.” Sebastian waved a hand at them with a grin. “Feel free to try for yourself.”

“Sebastian.” Ominis bit out through gritted teeth.

Not wanting to test his patience, the Keeper quickly sat up and slipped their fingers around his hand, clenched tightly around his wand. “And I'm sure you found that I'm quite alright, yes?”

“Well-” Ominis paused, pursing his lips together. “That's- that's the problem, I can't tell!”

The Keeper blinked and frowned as he shook their hand off, standing from the bed and pacing across the carpet in a fit of agitation. “Healers don't just magically know what it looks like when something is going wrong! All I see are elevated adrenaline levels, increased blood flow, heart palpitations, heightened activity in parts of your brain-”

He stopped and ran his hands through his hair, voice strained and eyes almost crazed. “And I don't know what any of it means for you!”

The pain and fear in his voice seemed to have blown the sleepy fog from Sebastian's brain and he tumbled from the bed, stumbling towards Ominis, before hesitating as though uncertain if an embrace would be well received. Which was probably reasonable, especially after Ominis rejected the Keeper's comfort.

“I'm sure we'll figure it out.” Sebastian tried, approaching Ominis like he was a wild animal. “That stuff is so powerful, if it were doing something bad, it'd be obvious even to us, and- and to them, who's experiencing it, right?”

“Merlin's balls, Sebastian.” Ominis groaned, so hard that it came out more like a sob. “They've already told us that it feels good to take! We can't trust their experience of it, do you think cancer patients realise they're dying till they're halfway there!? Do alcoholics know they're destroying their liver? And by the time it's obvious, it'll probably be irreversible!”

“Well, I've been taking it for two years already, surely that's long enough to be certain of its effects.” The Keeper reasoned, joining Sebastian in trying to soothe Ominis, who looked worryingly close to a breakdown. While he seemed to be more coherent after a good night's sleep, he was clearly no less distressed than the night before.

“We don't know how it works!” Ominis exclaimed. “Any negative effects could be something that culminates with consumption, compounding and building over prolonged use! Even if you're fine now, this constant energy use could have long-term effects!”

And there he goes again with the most extreme what-ifs, the Keeper gave him a helpless smile. “Well, that's not right now, and so that's something I'm willing to risk. To protect and preserve us , and to cure Anne. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

“How can you say that!?” Ominis shook his head.

“Because I'll do whatever it takes to protect our happiness.” The Keeper answered honestly.

At their words, Ominis bristled, his fear and stress turning to anger. How did they not understand what they were doing? Saying that they were hurting him for him. How cruel, was he supposed to feel grateful for this fear and pain?

“That's bullshite! My happiness necessitates both of you! You can only say that because you're not the one who'd be left behind!” Ominis burst out, fists tight and hot tears forming in his eyes against his will. Like aunt Noctua, it was so bloody worth it to die down in the Scriptorium, chasing the betterment of our family, at the risk of leaving me all alone in that house.

“The two of you can throw your lives away because you don't have to be the one left here alone!” Selfish, they were both so selfish, Ominis thought bitterly. Sebastian had been fine risking his life to save Anne, if he died, at least he wouldn't have to live through Anne's death, but he would leave me to mourn both of them.

“That's not-” Sebastian's voice cracked, and he took a shaky breath. “That's not the reason! We do what we have to because we don't want to leave you alone! How can you think that we- that I'd care so little about them, about you!?”

Ah, I'm doing it again. The sound of Sebastian crying, a few hours ago, echoed in Ominis’ mind. I'm hurting him again. Why is this coming out so wrong every time?

“...I'm sorry...” Ominis whispered. “I just don't know if I can keep doing this.”

“This?” The Keeper echoed warily.

“This! Us! All of it! I'm so scared that something will go wrong! Maybe we should just-” Ominis covered his mouth with a sob, his throat closing up around his words.

“A- are you saying you want- want to break-” Sebastian asked faintly, sounding like he couldn’t comprehend how this was even on the table.

“I don't know!” Ominis shouted, brushing tears from his eyes. “I can't help, but I can't not help. I don't want to know what you're doing, but I want to know so I can stop you, but I can't even do that! If I do nothing, I'm complicit in your demise, if I do something, I'm responsible if I fail. There's no winning anywhere in this!”

“I'm powerless.” Ominis murmured, a hysterical laugh bubbling up from within his chest. “Powerless then, powerless now. Nothing I do changes anything, I just want that feeling to stop. It would be better if I'd never been bor-”

His words were knocked right out of his mind, and his ears rang with the sharp bite of a slap. The impact reverberated through his skull, so all-encompassing and shocking that he barely felt the sting spreading across his cheek.

Then there were hands gripping his shoulders tightly and the Keeper's voice, more broken than he'd ever heard before, hissed in his ear in a harsh whisper. “Never go there. Nobody takes something that belongs to me, not even you. Without you, I'd easily make Gnarlak and Ranrok look like saints.”

The Keeper's words were heavy with dark promise and Ominis’ breathing was shallow, mind still rattled and uncomprehending as they cupped his burning cheek, the gentleness of their touch contrasting the force with which they'd slapped him.

“And you're wrong.” The Keeper continued, and he felt a strange sense of relief, of surrender at their words, he wanted to be wrong, yes, please- “You are not powerless in this relationship, you just can't see the power you have over us, because you can't compare it to how we would be without you here.”

There was a smile in their voice as the Keeper pressed their forehead against his. “I've told you before, we need someone sane in this relationship. Do you really think I could have overcome my addiction without your control and guidance? You know how greedy I am when there's something I want.”

A pair of warm arms embraced him from behind, wrapping firmly around Ominis’ waist, shaky breaths in his ear and wetness on his nape, Sebastian's chest firm against his back. “And I wouldn’t have been able to stay sane when Anne got cursed, if you weren't reminding me to eat and forcing me to sleep. If you weren't curled up next to me while I read forbidden tomes in the Undercroft. I'd have lost my mind.”

Their words sank slowly into his mind, as his breathing calmed, and Ominis couldn't help but release a soft huff. “I thought you were doing homework.”

“Well, sometimes.” Sebastian gave him a trembling laugh and without thinking, Ominis followed it with his own.

“If I cared more about my own feelings, I wouldn’t have stayed with you while the Keeper was off with Poppy last year.” Sebastian murmured after a moment's thought. “I'm not good at it, but I do try to think about how my actions affect you.”

“Even though I hurt you?” Ominis whispered, reaching up to touch Sebastian's cheek where it rested on his shoulder, damp with drying tears. “Even though I can't slow either of you down without hurting you every time. Even though I can't just be a good boyfriend and remind you to be careful and wait patiently for you to come home?”

“How dare you call our boyfriend anything less than perfect.” The Keeper prodded him in the chest. “And I don't know what you've been smoking, but what you're describing isn't easy. Not by a long shot. I wouldn’t be able to sit by and do nothing.”

“Sebastian did, he was worried too but he didn't try to stop you from taking more jobs, or try to... hurt you into stopping.” Ominis protested weakly.

“Excuse me.” Sebastian huffed. “Did you miss the second half of that? I didn't stop them, but I went with them, because doing nothing but waiting is agony. That's why I went with them to the pub, that's why I'm going with them on their next job. It's why I made the dagger for them and why I tried so hard to find a cure for Anne.”

“Doing nothing is torture for me.” Sebastian pressed a kiss to Ominis’ neck. “I'm sorry I didn't realise it was becoming torture for you too.”

“It... it didn't use to be.” Ominis admitted, a bitter chuckle emerging as he traced the shape of Sebastian's hands on his waist. “I used to feel better if I gave someone else responsibility. It doesn't work anymore. I don't know why, but I haven't been able to do that for a while, I can't escape this fear. I don't know how to handle it.”

“I'm sorry that we've made you feel alone in worrying, but you don't have to carry that alone.” The Keeper murmured, a sweet kiss of their lips against his. “We can help you find a way to manage it, together.”

Ominis felt his breath catch, tears welling in his eyes. “I- I don't, after every time I hurt you both in my fear, how can you forgive me? I don't deserv-”

“If you think anyone else could be in your position, could do any better in your position, you couldn't be more mistaken.” Sebastian interrupted. “It's enough that you know you've hurt us and don't want to, are trying not to, because we can help with that.”

“Sebastian...” Ominis turned in his arms, tracing his fingers across Sebastian's brow and cheeks to see his expression, chest tightening at the unmistakably gentle crinkle around his eyes.

“We shouldn't dwell on things we can't change, instead we can look to the future and consider ways to prevent bad things from happening again.” Sebastian pressed a kiss to his palm, and Ominis’ eyes widened at his words, the same words he'd spoken to Sebastian himself a little over a year ago, after his breakdown in Feldcroft.

“I've hurt you so many times over the years too, and you've always forgiven me and stayed by my side... and I loved you for that.” Sebastian's voice was a quiet whisper now. “Loved you since third-year.”

A small smile lifted Ominis’ lips. “And I've loved you since the end of our first-year.”

“That long?” Sebastian sounded surprised and Ominis nodded shyly.

“Well, I can't beat either of those.” The Keeper sighed, dropping their chin onto Ominis’ shoulder, now that it was free. “Between the two of you, I'm starting to feel left out.”

The familiar words got a laugh out of Sebastian, and Ominis could hear the wry smile in his voice. “A lot has changed since the first time I said that, hasn't it?”

“Really?” Ominis huffed dryly. “I feel like I'm still getting led around by you two.”

“I disagree.” The Keeper chuckled. “Have you forgotten how you kept me from killing the woman living just outside our territory?”

Ominis blinked, that's right, he'd felt it then, the hope that he had the ability to change the minds of Sebastian and the Keeper. To change their course of direction, that's why he'd tried to do it again, but it hadn't worked.

“Didn't manage to change your minds this time.” Ominis murmured bitterly, moving reluctantly when the Keeper tugged him towards the bed to sit down on its edge.

“Ominis, that's the problem, back then, we agreed on the goal and then discussed ways of getting there that satisfied all of us.” They pointed out. “This time, you jumped straight to changing our minds.”

“What else could I change, besides your minds?” Ominis asked, feeling a tad defensive at the implication that there was any option besides that. If he could think of one, he'd have suggested it by now.

“Well, we can discuss the facts of the situation and try to find something that we can change. You don't have to think of a solution alone.” Sebastian pointed out as he took a seat beside Ominis, while the Keeper remained standing.

“I want to keep taking the energy, but we have possible unknown negative effects to account for that would make it dangerous.” The Keeper hummed. “I feel like all we need to do is make the unknowns known.”

“But it's a fact that I can't know what a warning sign looks like, the point where I can tell that something is wrong would already be too late.” Ominis sighed, before pausing. Wait, too late? Would not then all he need do, be to see the effects accelerated, to see what ‘too late’ looked like?

But... that meant involving himself in the Keeper's human experiments. Worse still, finding his answers would require that they actively try to turn a subject into a monster or kill them by Pain energy overdose. Could he really do such an inhumane thing? Then again...

His mind returned to the scans he'd done on Macnair last evening. The boy's body was wasting away, frail and weak, his amygdala had completely ceased to function, and his endocrine system seemed to be damaged so severely that Ominis felt that he had no hope of recovery. Did Macnair even deserve it? He couldn’t imagine being in that condition, what suffering was the boy experiencing?

At the same time, Pain energy felt good to take, with his will empty, it would be safe to give him that energy without him trying to break out using its power, rather than injecting it painfully with the collar. Would that not be a mercy instead? To let the mindless boy experience one last taste of pleasure, ending his suffering with bliss.

“Macnair is not doing so well, what do you two plan to do with him?” Ominis asked tentatively.

Having been watching him deeply immersed in thought, the Keeper quickly caught on, quite surprised that Ominis would consider experimentation to overcome this obstacle. No, he wouldn't be able to do that, not consciously at least, they knew his mind well enough to know that. What was his angle?

Bringing up Macnair’s health... perhaps he was trying to frame his participation as charity, after all, the subjects were scum that were already in perpetual suffering, maybe he wanted to contextualise being a grim reaper as mercy. They did wonder how he would justify the pain of collar injection, but they could always help him out there.

Well, those were quite some mental gymnastics he was hoping to do, but hey, any effort from him to cooperate was welcome.

“He doesn't provide any energy thanks to his ripped aura, so I was considering attempting to stitch it up. Which would require pumping him with energy, like finding a leak in a cup by filling it.” The Keeper answered. “I don't have much other use for him, but I would keep him alive, just in case I have need of him.”

The Keeper smiled as they laid forth the bait for Ominis to take, and was satisfied when he frowned, saying. “I think it's quite cruel to keep him in a suspended state of suffering...”

The Keeper silently raised a finger to quieten Sebastian when his expression became indignant, mouthing a simple ‘wait’.

“...it would be kinder to end his suffering. I know you want to have more than one subject at a time, but you'll be acquiring a new one, yes?” Ominis asked, as though he were bargaining with the cruel cruel Keeper to entertain his benevolent petition on poor little Macnair’s behalf.

The Keeper gave him a fond smile, he was so cute, still clinging to those paper-thin illusions that only they could provide. “Yes, and I suppose since I'll be getting another shortly, Macnair’s death won't be too much of a loss, but I'd rather make use of him, even on his way out.”

They would give him what he needed.

Ominis smiled. “I was thinking that I could monitor his condition as you feed him energy, preferably C-Pain in the same manner you consume it. That way, I can compare its effects on a regular wizard to its effects on you as an Ancient Mage.”

As Ominis explained his suggestion, understanding began to dawn on Sebastian's face and his expression became slightly conflicted.

“Same manner, hm.” The Keeper frowned. “That runs the risk of making him too powerful for even myself to defeat. I would also need to find out what distinguishes a painful injection of Pain energy from regular consumption.”

“It has to be the same manner you do it. Otherwise, we can't be certain that our findings would apply to you.” Ominis insisted. “Without mind and willpower, surely he wouldn't be as much of a threat as Ranrok was, and you defeated him without the aid of Pain energy.”

He had a point, the Keeper folded their arms thoughtfully, though it was amusing to hear Ominis defending their strength when it was convenient for him, and Sebastian was staring incredulously at him for likely the same reason. Still, to what ends was he pushing so hard for this?

...it would be kinder.

He'd said ‘kinder’, not more merciful, perhaps that was it? Did Ominis think it would absolve him of being Macnair’s executioner if the boy got to die in power rather than in pain? That dying in pain was ‘cruel’? Well, the Keeper didn't see any particular difference, after everything they'd done to him, murder was murder regardless, but if it made Ominis feel better, boy did they not fucking care.

“Fair enough, I'll see if I can figure out what the difference between collar injection and consumption are, and if I can feed him C-Pain energy.” The Keeper nodded and both boys sagged in relief.

“Thank Merlin, we finally have a plan.” Sebastian groaned, flopping backwards on the bed. “I'm bloody exhausted.”

“I- well-” Ominis cleared his throat and tucked a strand of hair behind his ear sheepishly. “I suppose, I'm sorry... for- well, making this more difficult than it maybe had to be.”

“Nah.” Sebastian shook his head, reaching out to take Ominis by the arm and tug him down, while the Keeper reclined on the bed beside them.

Catching himself on his arms, Ominis blinked in surprise, hovering over Sebastian as the brunet grinned and lifted his head just enough to give Ominis a peck on the lips.

“It's good that you got it all out. I mean, I could do without getting hurt.” Sebastian chuckled when Ominis gave him an annoyed look. “But it happened how it needed to happen, we can always do better next time. I could've handled it better too. I just- you drive me crazy.”

“Do I?” Ominis murmured with a small smile, folding his arms on Sebastian's chest and resting his head on them with a peaceful expression.

“Obviously.” Sebastian rolled his eyes and propped his head up on an arm, brushing his fingers through Ominis’ messy blond strands.

There was a soft, and undeniably loving crinkle around the corners of Sebastian's eyes, as he gazed at Ominis, idly caressing his cheek for several minutes, fingers brushing across the little uneven patches of peach fuzz that were growing.

As he did, Ominis basked in the gentle soothing touches, until they stopped, and Sebastian released something between a huff and a sigh. Tipping his head curiously to the side, Ominis asked. “Sebastian?”

“Nnnngg, how long are you just going to stare at us like that!?” Sebastian suddenly burst out, his cheeks quite red, and the Keeper gave him a low chuckle.

“I'm just enjoying the view, don't mind me.” The Keeper assured with a broad and amused grin, continuing to observe the sweet scene as they lay casually on their side, head propped up on an elbow.

“Right. Ominis is the one who's blind, not me. Merlin knows what's going on in there.” Sebastian eyed them suspiciously, and at their silent, unflinching grin, gave an aggravated huff. “Fine, might as well give you something to look at then.”

Sebastian propped himself up on his elbows and pressed his lips against Ominis’, who chuckled softly as Sebastian rolled them over, so he could pin Ominis to the sheets.

“Sebas-” Ominis’ exasperated sigh was quickly smothered by Sebastian, the brunet straddling his thighs, eagerly slipping his tongue between Ominis’ lips to swallow his words.

Coaxing a quiet groan from Ominis as he ran his fingers down the blond's neck, and the Keeper would readily admit that this was indeed a much better show, and one they would most certainly never tire of watching. The brief flashes of heated muscle entwined within the spaces between their lips, the way Sebastian shuddered when Ominis’ hands travelled down to his hips, gripping firmly as he ground their waists together.

Exquisite.

Cheeks aflame, Sebastian's mouth left Ominis’ to gasp as the blond's hardening length rubbed against his, releasing a low moan at the sensation and pressing his lips to Ominis’ throat as he rocked back eagerly. Only for Ominis to make a soft sound of discomfort and crane his face away.

“Merlin's bea- your beard, Sebastian, is getting too much for this!” Ominis complained, shoving Sebastian's head a distance away with a hand. “Are you trying to sandpaper my jawline into shape?”

“Please don't, I think it's perfectly shaped as it is.” The Keeper snickered.

“Oh, come on, Ominis, it's just a bit of fuzz.” Sebastian grumbled, his words muffled around the palm pressed against his cheek.

“You call this a bit of fuzz!?” Ominis exclaimed, running his nails along the bristles on Sebastian's jaw and producing an amusingly loud scratchy sound. “I've no doubt you look like a vagabond right now.”

“The kind of handsome, roguish vagabond that will steal your heart and make off with your virginity?” Sebastian grinned and the Keeper burst into laughter at the unamused glare Ominis levelled at him.

“The kind of vagabond that is homeless and in dire need of a razor.” Ominis retorted.

“Well, I've been busy the last two mornings, and I wasn't exactly in the mood to shave last night, now was I.” Sebastian grumbled, and Ominis’ eyes immediately darkened.

The Keeper quickly interjected, before the atmosphere could sour. “Why don't you go brush and shave then? That way, you'll be able to give Ominis a blowjob if he sees fit to grant you the honour.”

Sebastian immediately brightened and he grabbed Ominis by the shoulders. “Alright, I'll clean up and then I'm finally gonna get to see what they're always raving about.”

“Wha- wait- I didn't agre-” Ominis stammered, his face completely red as Sebastian nearly flew off the bed and into the adjoining bathroom, before turning towards the Keeper with an incredulous expression. “You rave about my- my-”

The Keeper gave him an unrepentant grin. “You do have a lovely pecker, darling. Rather outstanding really, few are quite as fortunate in that regard.”

“Salazar save me.” Ominis muttered, covering his face and climbing out of the bed to follow after Sebastian. “Sebastian, I never agreed to anything!”

“Wai ‘ot?” Sebastian mumbled around his toothbrush.

“It would give him some incentive to take care of himself. Pups need something to strive for when in training.” The Keeper chuckled as they slipped around Ominis and into the bathroom to get their own toothbrush.

“Exac'ly!” Sebastian spat in the sink before pausing. “Hang on train-”

“My dick is not a carrot!” Ominis exclaimed.

“Of course not, it's closer to a lollipop.” The Keeper grinned, very much amused by this line of discussion.

Idly collecting their toothbrush, they began cleaning their teeth at the porcelain sink that stood on the left of the entrance to the large alcove bathtub, while on the right of it, stood Sebastian at the second sink, slathering his face with cream.

Ominis groaned and ran a hand over his face.

“Look, it's annoying!” Sebastian exclaimed as he quickly slid the razor over his jaw. “I have to waste ten minutes every morning or I'll start looking like my uncle. Surely, I deserve a reward when I actually do it.”

“Well, you're not the only one that has to shave. See there, I need a shave too.” Ominis gestured at the patches of fuzz on his chin and upper lip.

“Those tiny things?” Rolling his eyes, Sebastian strode over and took Ominis’ chin, rubbing some of the leftover cream into his skin with a thumb. “Alright, hold still.”

Ominis obediently stilled, and allowed Sebastian to deftly whisk off the few bristles that were present, the brunet complaining the whole way. “Come on, these are so fine and easy to shave... and you can go a whole week without shaving before they show up! See? Done.”

Sebastian wiped the remaining cream off with a towel and beamed proudly at his handiwork, before returning to the mirror and his own shaving. “Why are you so reluctant anyway? Don't you always complain about me talking too much?”

Ominis’ cheeks flushed, the sheer thought of Sebastian's mouth around him making it difficult to think through the swarm of feelings that that idea conjured. “It's just- it's hard to imagine I suppose.”

Finishing up with their morning routine, the Keeper stepped aside for Ominis to use that sink. “Don't you feel bad for Sebastian? He even helps you shave, such a good boy deserves a reward.”

Ominis sighed as he washed his face, and the Keeper handed him his toothbrush. “Fine, I suppose if you nutters want it so much.”

“Yes!” Sebastian hissed with excitement as he washed the cream and hair from his face.

Several minutes later, a rather adorably embarrassed Ominis was seated on the edge of the bed, looking like he was on the verge of passing out. While Sebastian knelt on a pillow, that the Keeper had passed him, between Ominis’ knees, lowering his sleeping pants to reveal his partially erect member.

Despite his earlier bravado, Sebastian seemed equally embarrassed as he ran his fingers lightly along the fine blond hairs that Ominis’ length was nestled in. Eyeing it with an almost resolute gaze for several moments, Sebastian leaned forward and gave his tip a firm lick, making Ominis jolt with surprise and release a soft moan, covering his face shyly a moment later.

The Keeper sighed, what was with this blushing maiden atmosphere? Somehow even after everything they'd done together, the two boys could still get all flustered like virgins. Was it because the Keeper wasn't involving themselves and just watching? Or because they weren't leading?

Now that they thought about it, every time the three of them had been together, it had been mostly propelled by the Keeper. Perhaps their partners had simply been emboldened by their unabashed attitude towards sex. With that in mind, it might be better for them to let the two boys explore at their own pace for once.

As the Keeper pondered this, Sebastian licked his lips nervously, quite encouraged by how quickly Ominis had hardened fully, before placing them tentatively against Ominis’ crown, and allowed it to slip past his lips.

At the warmth and sensation, Ominis released another shaky moan, Salazar save him, he really wasn't going to last very long. Just the idea that Sebastian, his proud Sebastian, was on his knees and taking his cock, was enough to make his head swim. His hands twitched, gripping tightly at the blanket he was sitting on, as he felt himself touch the back of Sebastian's throat.

He still remembered how good it'd felt, to thrust into the Keeper's throat, it had been almost scary, how quickly he'd lost control, but their confidence and skill had made it easy to get swept up in the heat, to forget his inhibitions. Sebastian wasn't nearly as confident or experienced as them and Ominis wasn't sure how far he could go. He didn't want to hurt Sebastian.

With a pinch of frustration, Sebastian lifted his head to take a breath, before trying again, pushing Ominis deeper into his mouth, but was once again unable to swallow enough to reach the base. He pressed on anyway, but quickly found himself gagging on it and had to lift his head again to cough. Goddammit, why was this so much more difficult than when he'd serviced the Keeper with his mouth?

“A- are you alright? Don't overdo it, Sebastian.” Ominis asked, trying desperately to hide how good it had felt when Sebastian's hot and wet throat closed around him uncontrollably, how much he wanted to shove the brunet's head back down to feel it again.

He'd never had the Keeper choke on him before, how could something so bad feel so good? The way Sebastian’s throat had rippled around him, pulsing and tightening, and Merlin- the sound. The sound of Sebastian choking, he could hear the wetness of his saliva clinging to his throat, feel it rolling down his cock to touch the sensitive skin of his balls.

“It's-” Sebastian cleared his throat, tears beading in his eyes. “It's fine, I'm alright.”

Without another word, he took Ominis into his mouth again, trying once more to take him further into his throat. The Keeper had done it, surely he could too. So, he struggled to hold his instinct to gag and pressed his head down harder, when Ominis’ hips bucked, and he promptly choked again.

“Sorry! I'm sorry!” Ominis immediately exclaimed, lifting Sebastian's head himself, and baulking at the tears he could feel against his thumbs.

However, as Ominis’ hands moved automatically to clean the fluids from Sebastian's face, he couldn’t stop himself from shuddering at the expression the brunet was wearing. Sebastian looked absolutely wrecked, eyebrows slanted upwards, his mouth hanging open, lips stretched wide from his cock. As guilty as he felt, Ominis knew he'd never forget the image his hands had shown him.

“‘S fine.” Sebastian mumbled, coughing and swallowing, a little dazed by how hot that had felt, his prim and pompous Ominis ramming his cock into his mouth like that.

Sebastian was starting to see why the Keeper liked blowing Ominis. Though, the choking he could probably do without, at least for now, while he still didn't know what the fuck he was doing.

With that, he turned slightly to ask the Keeper, who had been suspiciously silent the entire time. “How do you do it?”

“Do what, love?” The Keeper asked absently in return, a tad occupied committing everything they'd just witnessed to memory, especially Sebastian's fucked out expression. So, Ominis actually liked choking, good to know.

“Well, take Ominis... all the way.” Sebastian replied with an adorable squirm of the hips, likely rubbing himself against the tent in his sleeping pants.

The Keeper chuckled fondly, ever the overachiever of course. They paused to think, well, they did have the bed, it'd certainly be far more comfortable to start with, and it wasn't like Sebastian had to worry about how vulnerable the position was, unlike they had, and it'd give Ominis more control.

“You want to straighten out your throat. Here.” The Keeper stood and helped Sebastian to his feet. “It'll be easier if you lie down on your back, with your head hanging off the edge.”

Sebastian obediently followed their instructions as the Keeper also took Ominis’ hand and guided him to stand, wrapping their arms around his waist and pressing against his back as they whispered into his ear. “And you can stand here and fuck his throat.”

“Isn't this a little dangerous? He can't move away.” Ominis asked worriedly, though his expression and the way his length twitched made it obvious how much he liked the idea.

“It's alright, I can just tap your leg if I need to breathe.” Sebastian patted Ominis’ thigh, his half-lidded eyes heated as he regarded Ominis’ erection, hanging just inches from his lips, and his tongue darted out to lap at it.

Ominis gasped at the sensation and offered no further protest as the Keeper held his length in position and used their own hips to nudge Ominis’ forward, watching in delight as his hardness slid smoothly into Sebastian's throat.

“Oh-” Ominis moaned as he buried himself in, all the way to the base. The Keeper took his twitching hands, and placed them on the bulge in Sebastian's throat, before letting go as he began, of his own accord, to trace the shape of his own erection stretching Sebastian's skin.

“Doing alright down there?” The Keeper asked, and Sebastian flashed them a thumbs up, making an affirmative sound around the obstruction in his throat and getting another moan from Ominis as a result.

Chuckling, the Keeper murmured into Ominis’ ear, lapping teasingly at the shell. “There, you can let go, love. Stop thinking and do what feels good.”

With a keening sound in his throat, Ominis tentatively moved his hips, drawing back slightly, before pushing in again, shuddering as his sensitive tip rubbed against the back of Sebastian's tongue. The hollow squelch of his cock sealing the inside of Sebastian’s throat, creating a vacuum, a space where only he could pass through, the thought of pouring his seed inside Sebastian making his mind melt.

Ominis couldn’t help but rock harder into him, panting from the heat that was building in his body, the Keeper's warm chest against his back, their hands slipping under his shirt to rub and tug at his sensitive nipples. It feels so good-

He felt a few taps against his thigh, as Sebastian's throat closed around him again, and for a moment, it failed to register in Ominis’ mind, but as the Keeper tugged his hips backwards with a firm grip, he recalled its meaning. The air felt cold on his dick, after being inside Sebastian's warmth, but he was grateful that the Keeper had helped him stop.

“T- thank-” Ominis muttered as he turned his head to the side, and the Keeper captured his lips with their own, while Sebastian coughed and gasped for breath.

Releasing Ominis’ lips, the Keeper murmured gently. “Try to keep a consistent rhythm and pull out every four thrusts to let him breathe.”

Swallowing thickly, Ominis nodded, while Sebastian gave a weak laugh, and asked. “You were counting?”

“I was.” The Keeper chuckled, taking Ominis’ length and guiding him back into Sebastian's mouth, purring into Ominis ear. “Aren't you two lucky to have me.”

Moaning softly, Ominis nodded automatically, as they gripped his hips and guided him in at a languid pace, his fingers wrapping around their wrist and spasming as he fucked Sebastian's throat at their coaxing. It was a struggle to keep counting through the haze of pleasure and it helped to have their guidance, especially when it became more difficult to stop every time Sebastian choked.

Though, he was actually rather glad for the need to keep track of his thrusts, it was probably the only reason that he hadn't come yet. The feeling of Sebastian's hot and tight throat around him was amazing, the knowledge that he couldn’t do anything but lie there and take his cock, insane.

This was the same Sebastian who never stepped back from a fight, letting Ominis use his body for his pleasure, groaning around his cock, the taut skin of his throat stretching under his palm with every thrust.

“He's touching himself.” The Keeper's voice murmured into his ear and Ominis released a confused sound, having a hard time processing their words with his lust clouded mind, and they chuckled. “Sebastian, he's touching himself as you fuck his throat, he's so hard just from this.”

The moment he understood, Ominis released a loud moan, reaching his peak immediately, and his erection throbbed in Sebastian's mouth as his seed spurted down his throat. Unable to stop himself from burying his length as deep as he could go and holding himself there for a shuddering moment. Feeling ecstasy flood his body as Sebastian choked on his cum, before remembering that he was stopping Sebastian from breathing and quickly pulled out.

“Sor- sorry, I should- should have warned you-” Ominis gasped, leaning against the Keeper as his knees went weak.

“No, no. I take full responsibility for that.” The Keeper chuckled from behind him, flicking their wand and casting a quick Anapneo charm to clear Sebastian's throat quickly.

After panting for a few seconds, Sebastian gave them a small pout from where his head still hung upside down, his voice rough and thick. “Aw, I wanted to swallow that.”

Ominis released a sound that was somewhere between a squeak of surprise and a moan, while the Keeper laughed and reached down to pat Sebastian on the cheek. “There's always next time.”

He nuzzled at their hand with a hum. “How do you just keep going without needing to stop to breathe?”

“It's possible to breathe while giving a blowjob, it takes some... practice to get the right timing. But not everyone can, so don't feel bad if you don't manage it.” Straightening and placing a kiss on Ominis’ flushed cheek, the Keeper flashed Sebastian a wide smirk. “Now, my turn.”

Seeing it from his spot on the bed, Sebastian swallowed, and his erection twitched in his grip.

“How long will he have us play the villain so he can be the saint?”

“However long he needs it.”

“Does it not hurt?”

“A tad, but I take comfort in knowing that it's an illusion and that he needs it. Are you willing to deny him an illusion so vital to his mental wellness? We all know what it is, even him, somewhere deep down. And now that you understand that he believes it for his own sanity, not because he really sees us as despicable, does it not hurt less?”

“I suppose so...”

“Chin up, my love. I'm sure it won't be forever, he just needs time, and this will keep him with us and happy till that day comes.”

“...you're right, it just- it does still hurt, and it'll take time to get used to remembering that it's an illusion for him. That he doesn't actually think we're cruel. But you're right, it's worth it. He's worth it.”

“Good, I'm glad you agree. Now go get the bottle to feed Shai.”

“Ugh, Ominis is worth getting hurt for, but I'm not sure this one is...”

Notes:

Ominis: I'm a bad person? *cries* The Keeper: I'm a bad person? You're right bitch. Sebastian: I'm not bad, you're bad, fuck you.

I hope no one gets offended by the Christian abuse stuff, I mean, it's historically accurate and I think the Keeper's response is a rather common response to aggressive religious abuse. Particularly considering the circumstances.

In a way, the Keeper's mentality is a progressive/globalised perspective, in one country's culture, A might be “good” but in another culture it's “bad”, once we realise and understand that neither are right nor wrong, just different ways of living and doing things, we actually become more accepting and kinder towards ourselves and each other. Plus, if you call someone bad even when they try their best, why would they keep trying?

FYI, the amygdala is the part of the brain that processes emotion and the endocrine system is responsible for releasing hormones like dopamine, that manage our emotions as well.

Here's a thing about decision making. Our human brains are super defensive and (like with anxiety) tend to overcompensate to keep us from making mistakes, and often, its arguments are not even rooted in reality to begin with.

Studies have shown that when trying to decide if we should take an action or not, our brains simulate the worst case possible and we get hit with the pain of that worst case scenario immediately. Like, on the spot. Whereas when simulating the potential good result, we don't experience the joy/satisfaction/achievement from it.

And on top of that, the pain of failure is multiplied by 2 (or more) during simulation while positive results are halved in emotional value. This means that we're not making our decisions objectively, they're vibes based rather than looking at the reality of the situation.

To make things worse, when stressed or fatigued, our amygdala gets even more sensitive and we can become even more ridiculously pessimistic and afraid to take any action.

That's why when someone is going off on a panic attack, you need to calm them down first before trying to reason with them. (Preferably not with a slap.) People need to feel good in order to think rationally, which sucks when the decision that needs to be made is the thing causing stress xP

In this chapter, Ominis basically chooses whether he wants to be like his parents or not. Victims of abuse, especially children, tend to either become like their abusers or swing the opposite way.

His parents were very black/white simplistic in their logic, “if you don't obey us and be a muggle torturing evil person, it means you don't love/respect us”. So by default he's like that too, “if I ask you to stop because you're upsetting me and you don't, it means you don't care about me”. Rather than considering that there might be other options if discussed or that people could have reasons they can't stop that don't mean you matter less, but that those other reasons matter more.

He understands, deep down, that his parents hadn't manage to force him to become like them, all they ended up doing was hurt him. The problem is that Ominis genuinely doesn't know what to do if someone doesn't do what he wants, all his examples were either his parents’ “hurt them till they do it”, or Solomon and Anne's “cut ties”. He doesn't have good examples of the correct option “compromise and discussion”. So this chapter, was him understanding that there was always a third option there.

I wonder if anyone caught that the Keeper's last line in the dream “I answer to no one.” Mirrors Ranrok's line “Goblinkind shall answer to no one.” The classic fear of becoming the monster you beat xD

So, if a dick is too big, breathing through the nose in the brief flash of pull-out-for-next-thrust, won't be possible, but if anatomy allows for it, the dick wielder needs to is keep a stable rhythm and the blower can breathe in-between. Or just pause to let the blower breathe, yo. This work will not be responsible for death by dick.

Also, wow that blowjob scene was hard to keep gender neutral for the Keeper, but I'm pretty proud of it xD

Making it ambiguous if Sebastian found the Keeper easier to blow because they aren't as long/thick as Ominis or because licking pussy is easier than not choking on dick. Leaving it up to readers if the Keeper's “my turn” refers to them taking a go at Sebastian's throat themselves or if they're afab and take Sebastian's place to let Sebastian have a go at their throat or even sit on his face.

Whatever answer you chose, it's the right answer. That's what progressive means xD Just kidding, sort of xP

P.S. Isn't Sebastian shaving Ominis so cute?

Also the outward appearance versus internal sexual dynamic here is so funny; Ominis: looks like an angel - has the filthiest mind Sebastian: cheeky bastard - wears a romantic rosy filter over his eyes Keeper: stoic - non-stop maniacal "mine mine mine" chant

Many thanks once again, to my Patreon, cheeky_idler, for naming Shai as a Paid member with voting & suggestion power! ;)

[8bitsupervillain]

Higurashi When They Cry Hou Ch. 8 Matsuribayashi pt. 59

I seem to recall reading somewhere that there’s a sequel of sorts to this series that they released for iOS and Android. I assume it’s just a straight purchase, and not somehow a gacha riddled free to play game. I wonder how that would work? Anyway, it got me thinking about why don’t the various VN makers make their series available on mobile devices? Seems sort of like an untapped market, plus it would be great for me personally, so that way I can read a bit of one of these when I go to bed. Because despite it being a capital idea I’m not taking my laptop to bed with me.

This was meant to be in part 58, but had to be cut because I don't know how to count.

It’s kind of odd they only react to Rika, and not Hanyuu’s teasing. At the time when I first read this I had come up with a rather nonsensical conspiracy theory about the whys and wherefores about what this could mean. I’m fairly confident I was just overthinking it.

Just introduce him as your man, easypeasy.

Satoko seems kind of easygoing about all of this I must say. It’s particularly odd given her alleged distrust of any and all adults. I suppose she’s just extremely trusting about everything Rika has said about what’s going on with her life recently.

A lesson so important Rika’s had to learn it twice across these last two chapters.

I always enjoy the trope of an unflappable character getting hopelessly embarrassed and overreacting to things. It’s just one that never fails to amuse me.

Of course it’s also funny seeing Rika just bully poor sweet dog girl. It's funny how every character seems to get a chance to play the straight man and also the butt of the joke at one point of another.

[plasticfangtastic]

Can we Be Lonely Together? Ch. 2

A Homelander x Stalker!Reader fanfic

This is a gender neutral fanfic but deep down its just a Homelander X Joe Goldberg fic do with that as you wish. This is a slow burn fic btw

PLZ FORGIVE ME I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PUT A READ MORE OPTION ON MOBILE SO SORRY IF THIS LOOKS LENGHTY.

Summary: We were two mices pretending to be cats, weren't we?

We Didn't expect to find ourselves int his situation, But John... Homelander... You were perfect... none of this was a lie, these feelings are genuine! So I don't know why you're using such words... stalker... pyschotic bitch? Insane... Liar!? to describe me, after all I've done for you-- Us!? all I done to help you!?

You were wrong.

I just yearned to get closer so what if I did my homework? After all you played along. I knew you knew... you were so loud

R18: TW murder mention, CSEM mention.

Chapter two

Financial Advice for Crooks.

I had my vices.

Life hadn’t been easy, I had limited options and limited paths for the longest time so when I finally had a taste of anything but misery I sank my teeth in its throat, I settled my nest in a corpse of my past– I found my calling. Got my groove on, and began to move up in my way to hell. I made my money, and I made connections, and eventually I got used to this lifestyle.

I thought you would’ve been impressed by how good I was at my job… 

So I came to New York for business. It wasn’t cheap, but unlike the usual dreamers… they didn’t come to this city with a terabyte of crap to blackmail their landlord to lower their rent seventy-five-percent below street average. So I treated myself to the finer things, expensive things… short lived things… so all the meals and wine money could offer, material things didn’t last, but I wanted to feel good… the sort of good where sex doesn’t compare, beside I could never be loved or love… until I met you.

So I devoured with gusto all the Michelin stars, critics recommendations in the Times, highest rated Yelp! review joint, hidden gems, and anything that failed to include the price on the menu... I lived for once. 

For I was starved… until now.

So there I was in some bloody fucking warehouse tied up, my left arm dislocated and a five inch nail adhering my palm to this facebook marketplace find of a chair.

Let’s not even discuss the state of my face.

“You think you can rob me!? I gave you my trust! I welcome you into my family! I let you babysit my fucking kids! And this is how you repay me!? Stealing from me!?” His voice was louder than any thought around me.

I could hardly see or hear anything, my eyes swollen and my ears throbbing, hot, stiff, my shoulders burnt, my hand itching, and screaming.

“I’ll… I’ll pay…”

“Doesn’t change anything, kiddo. If I let you live then word gets out in the streets that you can disrespect me, and sail smoothly!”

“I’ll pay you double the interest! Come on Roman! I fucked up!” I can barely think, my mouth is dry and wet– I can get you something good!” My throat rips itself apart trying to speak to this suited hooligan.

“Like I care… get this bitch out my face.” he said to some goon behind me.

“Vought! I can get you Vought!”

It's always on your mind. You become a petulant child when it comes to Vought– your biggest competitor.

“Excuse you?”

“Edgar is on his way out. The market is going to be in a panic, no?” I spit drool and my teeth– word is that Homelander will take the helm… you think that homeschooled twat can manage to run one of the biggest companies in the world? I’ll get you the trading secrets… I’ll get.. you anything…”

“How do you know Edgar is out? What are you saying?”

“My FBSA contact… they didn’t pay up, so I gave them a visit… and that Neuman chick was so fucking loud. Something about a big press release in a couple days, they’re gonna arrest Edgar. The Homelander wants him out.”

“Why do you have a contact in the FBSA?”

“I wanted to pay you… needed some Supe to blackmail…”

“You’re lying.”

“Keep me alive until you see the bitch on the news. Help me get a job at Vought. I’ll get you something worth more than One-Hundred-K.” I plead, my voice a tire running out of air– please… Roman… please I beg you… believe me one more time! even I wouldn’t lie about this.”

It might’ve been the fantasy that gave him the capacity to hand mercies for he kept me alive in that warehouse for two days, for your new girlfriend was on the TV hitting Edgar like an avalanche.

Cut to, three weeks later, there I’m in business attire sitting across an exhausted HR rep who can’t believe his boss is making him do this, behind the almost perfect smile, and the mundane questions he had already hired me, my resume was perfect and seeing the urgency pulling at his leash even if my resume hadn’t been finely crafted, your company would’ve given me the job. The department was stressed while being examined closely by the shareholders, the whole company was frantic.

I got the call by the end of the week.

By Monday there I was walking into that massive hundred plus storey behemoth of a tower, worse than any fugly billionaire row structure. I saw why people were impressed by this butt-plug of a building, just sucking on the land around it, hogging all the air space with its glass ‘Seven’ and its name illuminating the airspace, big enough to have its own gravitational pull and New Yorkers were the moons running laps around it.

Before I knew it I was dragged around by security to receive my special keycard with my fake name and all, then met the highest qualified person in this department, some sweet anxious thing called Anika, you know her– if not the smell of adrenaline she gives off when you’re around.

It seems people here were allergic to sunlight– any light actually! This couldn’t be good for anyone's eyes.

She handed me a desk, and well everything after that must be quite boring for you, so let me TDLR…

There was a reason why I chose this department. I could’ve aimed to be an assistant, worked in any other department, even been the fucking janitor and I would had been able to fulfil my task, but I knew that Vought had all the resources and cutting edge technology to get the fuck away from Roman Ban and Banvision Global. In here I’d forge a new name, destroy all trace of my existence, what little there was of my digital fingerprint, and above all… I could make money.

It wasn’t difficult. 

So I started with Kevin… sorry I meant… The Deep (ugh) his mind was easy to navigate, behind the mountain of cetacean erotica, self-loathing, bisexual worries, genuine environmental worries, his abs and octopussy fantasies– it didn’t take me long to find out his social security number, his bank account passwords and numbers, social media passwords, both private and public– did you know he had an account in the Jeremy Renner app? Anyhoo… I had all I needed written in sparkly ink, and swirly cursive. 

I simply had to sell some tabloid his web search history, or transfer small amounts at a time to an offshore account, small enough to go unnoticed disguised as his usual transactions, he had several trials and memberships he had yet to cancel-- I pitied Deep to a degree we both had been bad with money. I just didn’t spend most of my money donating to cults and environmental causes. 

As the days went by I collected passwords and keys from all suits worth a damn, and did my job to cancel those memberships diverting them to me, and taking small amounts, collecting and crafting packages to blackmail them, sending personalized emails demanding ransom, etcetera.

But I had a guy ready to kill me to prove a point, so I kept working.

The more I saw my plan coming together, the more brazen I became. I thought I’d be there for a month at most… so there I was staying till late. My mind still assaulted by the discovery of the depth of the Deep’s depravity, and his annoying wife, this wasn’t my first introductory lesson into bestiality… that had been in the fifth grade at a Wendy’s parking lot when my powers were at their worst– and he wasn’t the only person on this floor that indulged in filth, not even the worse kind, the worse was that lady in IT storing a hard-drive with the sort of shit, that will have the FBI shutting down Vought for a couple days to investigate why there’s kids stored in the company servers– which… I did… tell Roman about.

“Excuse me?”

I had forgotten till now.

“Yeah… Joanne in IT… you should… keep Ryan away from that floor, just saying ‘cuz she ain’t ugly and he’s vulnerable.”

I’ve never seen you so pale, almost as pale as the corpse next to the couch.

“Anyways I was saying…”

I love how family oriented you are. The way your heart was racing just now, the way your jaw twitched for a second, it was sweet how much you cared.

“There’s also that guy in security who’s been stealing shit to roofie girls.”

Your pretty blonde locks felt to the side of your forehead, as you cocked your head confusedly.

I sat in that screen lit room, waiting for the building to get as quiet as it possibly could. There were always people in this place, sleepyheads and night shifts. This place had become less phallic and more a living organism, every hallway and room serving a function to keep it erect non-stop.

Curiosity won over me and I love obscene indulgences, I have an appetite for things that do me no good. So I knew a place I had to see So there I’m in the elevator knowing the floor is mostly empty, and knowing I had the floor all for myself, knowing where every soul was placed and the password to erased the security footage (plus I had already blackmail the right security guard) I headed upstairs to a special place.

The ninety-nine floor.

Walking across the golden marble, crossing the wooden frames and the gallery of greatest hits with no artistic value intrinsic to them– I saw the statues guarding the Seven’s boardroom, and found an unlocked sliding door. The silvery "Seven" table, with all its sharp edges, the famous chairs every supe in the world wanted to sit down on– not me. 

I wasn’t pretty enough for the pageant circuit, my parents were… disappointed… to say the least… found me creepy, repulsive even! saying I kept them hostage in their own home, unable to keep anything hidden. I tried to control my powers until they could forgive me, anyone…could forgive me, so I never imagined myself in this room, much less in spandex.

So I sat on your chair, at the helm turning to see the best view of the big city.

Your statues and your painting staring down on me, you were unbearable, just a pretty blond in tights, with a padded suit even for your dick as if you needed protection from upcoming kicks to the balls. Everybody feared you, and if they didn’t they wanted to be you, you seemed so far up your ass– and all your staff simply indulged you, afraid that even an atomic bomb couldn’t stop your tantrums. Too afraid to tell you… even if your name was on the door, you weren’t running shit. All the actual work was done by your former assistant it seemed, just delivered dumbed down to your level by the time it reached this table for you to play pretend, and feel like a big boy. 

I was surprised you could even read, but then again you could shoot lasers out of your eyes and if rumor was true your piss was acid– so Jesus knows I wasn’t going to question it.

Your chair was comfy, and I bet all those numbnuts wished they could sit on it.

The view was worth it, I could see why people liked this stupid city– did my job and ate quickly but I wanted more… so thankfully I had a good book on my kindle and a juicy chapter to unfold.

Looking at the clock I cleaned myself and began heading out, my mind finally shutting down, it was the only way I could sleep, Soon I would’ve been awake trying to hold my head together… I know you were at my house so I know you saw the valium next to my bed, and the mix-and-match bags of sleeping pills.

I should’ve looked at the clock better, I should’ve hung in there, freely disrupting my routine willingly. It was nice to hear nothing, just the sound of my wispy breath and my loafers squeaking, in this silence I failed to notice you.

I failed to notice you had entered this place at all. Did you find it hard to sleep? Did you step outside your enclosure looking for enrichment? I wasn’t thinking that when I stepped into the elevator with my eyes glued to my phone, you weren’t on my radar. 

My heart nearly burst out of my chest at the sight of red gloves holding the door.

My bladder nearly emptying itself.

When your frame came into my general vicinity. I swallowed hard. Still had some cheese caught behind my teeth.

Nervously I looked up, catching the back of the American flag and your shoulder pads. Golden eagles caging me, frosted tips right before my eyes, and your hand pressing on the elevator going up.

My hand still hovering near the control panel aching to press down, your collar creeked as you turned to look at my insignificant presence.

“What floor?”

How polite, your voice so quiet, guess you hadn’t noticed me either.

“Ground… thank you.”

Your perfume was virtually non-existent, you were warmth, sunflowers and cotton. I had cats to kill it seems for I looked up catching your disturbed reflection in the chrome. Your eyes somewhere else, something about that picture made me too curious.

I turned it back on: feeling the burst, holding a wince behind my teeth. I found myself leaning against the wall, your ear picking up as I held my head lightly.

You found me annoying, dramatic, loud. I held back my breath as I fixed myself in the corner, just out of fear.

“You should be ashamed of yourself!” 

I’m dead. I thought

“Do you have any idea how embarrassing you are!”

I…I…I am sorr– I began to mumble.

You weren’t saying anything, but it was you speaking. Screaming at yourself. 

That voice so rough and you became so meek, I took a quarter step forward-- in this small box I could do more than just listen, in the chrome your face moved, it spoke and walked in his few feets of space looking down on you, taunting you, remind you of today’s failures listing them as if he was your mother in the middle of math homework.

You could cry.

You wanted to cry.

You were a wave, a wave pulling me further into the sea and I had no idea how to swim any longer. How? How could you see yourself like this? Why do you let him act like this? 

When had you turned to see me? Had my leaning been too noticeable, could you smell the provolone in my tongue? My lips shakily pursed upwards.

It seemed the voice faded away.

“Did you get lost?” You looked directly at my badge.

“Heard they had mints in this floor’s bathroom.” where’s my fucking oscar!? 

Homelander mouth half open, too tired to react just shaking awkwardly but your half closed eyes watched me curiously.

And finally I saw your face.

Your eyes were so tired, everything about you looked exhausted, your posture kept straight by your suit pulling you up, but when your lip indulged in the joke. 

Magic.

My heart sang a song made in your honor, my cheeks so flushed it made me itchy. 

The elevator stopped but you didn’t leave when the doors opened, your finger pressed lightly on the right command.

“Who are you?”

“A corporate spy sent to steal trading secrets for your competitors”

You bombarded me with a singular warning “Don’t lie.” I lived in a world where nobody could lie to me, it got boring, it got insulting, hateful, cruel, so I wasn’t going to lie to you, not when I knew you wanted to decompress… with my spine.

You laughed.

It was so cute– you moved in slowmo.

You took a step back, listening to my unfazed heartbeat, I told you the truth but you heard a joke, maybe you needed a laugh for that voice was back to pestering you.

“I’m new. I was curious about the Seven’s gallery… sorry.”

“Don’t do it again.” You said with a jovial tone so threatening it reverted to being sweet– got it?”

Not a single picture, drawing, GIF, fancam, etcetera. Did ya justice, I could see it now… why everybody fawned over you, but I saw something else.

Behind those blue eyes.

Was the loneliest man in the world.

Your mind I wanted to peek more. I wanted to speak and decipher that voice in your head, I wanted to see why you hated those people under you, I wanted to understand what made you so upset that no matter how much you tried threatening me, it wouldn’t… it wasn’t making you feel any better.

“I’m sincerely sorry.” I said barely whispering but you heard it crystal clear– hope you have a goodnight Mister Gillman.”

The doors began to close as your eyes widened and your lips shaped an ‘O’.

I could’ve sworn your cheeks turned pale and pink.

Mine were candy apples, for once… I regretted saying Good night.

[seocompany1010]

The Best SEO Rank Tracking Tools for 2025

In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, keeping track of where your website stands in search engine results is more important than ever. Rank tracking tools are vital for businesses that want to monitor SEO performance, understand keyword movement, and outsmart competitors. For a search engine optimisation company Singapore, staying updated with the best tools is not just helpful—it’s essential.

With algorithms changing regularly and search trends shifting fast, 2025 demands smarter, faster, and more accurate tracking solutions. Below are the top SEO rank tracking tools you should be using to ensure your site doesn’t just survive the SERPs—it dominates them.

1. SEMrush

SEMrush is more than just a keyword tracker—it's a comprehensive digital marketing suite. Its position tracking tool is highly detailed and ideal for businesses managing multiple campaigns.

Why it stands out:

Tracks desktop and mobile rankings

Daily updates and visibility trends

Easy-to-read visual graphs

Competitive comparison with rivals

It also integrates well with Google Analytics and Search Console, making it a solid choice for agencies and businesses alike.

2. Ahrefs

Ahrefs is well-known for its backlink analysis, but its rank tracking tool is equally powerful. The dashboard is simple, yet packed with data.

Features include:

Country-specific tracking

SERP feature insights (like featured snippets or site links)

Average position tracking over time

Competitor ranking comparisons

For businesses with a strong focus on long-term SEO strategies, Ahrefs provides a bird’s-eye view of keyword performance.

3. SERPWatcher by Mangools

Mangools has made a name for itself by offering user-friendly tools without compromising on features. SERPWatcher is great for beginners and pros alike.

Highlights:

Interactive rank change tracking

Daily updates

Performance Index to evaluate traffic potential

Location and device-based results

Its clean interface makes it ideal for marketers who want powerful insights without the learning curve.

4. Google Search Console

While not a traditional rank tracking tool, Google Search Console is free and directly from the source—Google itself. It allows you to see how your website performs in actual search results.

Why it’s still relevant in 2025:

Accurate impressions and click data

Insights into average positions for keywords

Mobile usability reporting

Page indexing stats

For a search engine optimisation company Singapore, using GSC alongside paid tools offers a complete SEO picture.

5. AccuRanker

AccuRanker is known for its speed and accuracy. It’s perfect for agencies that manage large numbers of clients and need frequent updates.

Top features:

Instant updates on keyword position

Google SERP and competitor analysis

Tagging and segmentation options

Integration with Data Studio and Google Analytics

It’s designed for scale, making it a favorite among professionals who prioritize speed and depth.

6. Moz Pro

Moz Pro’s rank tracker provides insight into how your site ranks for target keywords and compares it against competitors. It’s an ideal tool for tracking overall SEO health.

Why it’s valuable:

Local and national keyword tracking

Historical rank tracking

Keyword opportunity scores

Page-level performance metrics

Moz also provides actionable recommendations to help improve rankings, which is great for businesses looking to fine-tune their content strategy.

7. SE Ranking

This tool has gained popularity for its accuracy, affordability, and deep feature set. It caters to freelancers, SMBs, and agencies alike.

Benefits include:

Daily ranking updates

On-page SEO audits

Keyword grouping and tagging

Competitor monitoring

It also provides a mobile-friendly dashboard, which is great for marketers on the go.

What to Look for in a Rank Tracking Tool

Not all tracking tools are created equal. When selecting one for your needs, consider the following:

Update frequency: Daily updates are ideal

Device tracking: Check rankings on both desktop and mobile

Location-based tracking: Essential for local SEO campaigns

Integration: Ability to connect with other SEO tools

Competitor tracking: Helps benchmark performance

A reliable tracking tool gives you insights that drive decision-making and ensure that your SEO strategy stays on course.

Conclusion

SEO in 2025 demands agility, precision, and real-time insights. Rank tracking tools are your window into how well your strategy is performing. From giants like SEMrush and Ahrefs to streamlined solutions like SERPWatcher and SE Ranking, there’s a tool for every business size and goal.

For a search engine optimisation company Singapore, investing in the right tracking tools means delivering better results to clients and staying ahead of the ever-competitive digital curve. By using accurate, up-to-date insights, businesses can refine their strategies, boost visibility, and turn search rankings into real growth.

[massivestudentwerewolf]

The Rise of China's Used Car Industry: A Comprehensive Analysis

Introduction

The China used car market has emerged as one of the most dynamic sectors in the global automotive industry. With increasing urbanization, evolving consumer preferences, and government support, the pre-owned vehicle market in China is experiencing unprecedented growth. This article provides an in-depth look at the factors driving this expansion, the key players shaping the industry, and the future prospects of the China used car market.

1. The Evolution of China's Used Car Market

A. From Niche to Mainstream

A decade ago, the China used car market was largely informal, dominated by small dealerships and private sellers. Today, it has transformed into a structured industry, with major online platforms, certified dealerships, and financing options making it more accessible to consumers.

B. Government Policies Boosting Growth

Recent regulatory changes, such as the relaxation of二手车 (used car) restrictions and tax incentives, have significantly boosted transactions. Additionally, the Chinese government’s push for greener vehicles has increased the supply of used electric and hybrid cars in the market.

C. Shift in Consumer Mindset

Traditionally, Chinese buyers preferred new cars due to cultural perceptions around status and reliability. However, younger generations are now more open to purchasing pre-owned vehicles, driven by affordability and sustainability concerns.

2. Key Players in the China Used Car Market

A. Online Marketplaces Leading the Way

Platforms like Guazi, Renrenche, and Uxin have revolutionized the China used car industry by offering transparent pricing, vehicle inspections, and financing solutions. These platforms account for a significant share of used car transactions in the country.

B. Traditional Dealerships Adapting to Change

While online platforms dominate, brick-and-mortar dealerships are also evolving by introducing certified pre-owned (CPO) programs and digital sales tools to stay competitive.

C. Automakers Entering the Used Car Space

Major car manufacturers, including Geely, BYD, and Tesla, are launching their own used car divisions to capitalize on the growing demand for pre-owned vehicles in China.

3. Opportunities for Buyers and Sellers

A. Affordable Mobility Solutions

With prices significantly lower than new cars, the China used car market provides an excellent opportunity for first-time buyers and budget-conscious consumers.

B. Export Potential

China is increasingly exporting used cars to developing markets in Africa, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia, creating new business opportunities for dealers.

C. Growth of EV Used Cars

As China leads the world in electric vehicle (EV) adoption, the second-hand EV market is expected to grow rapidly, offering eco-friendly options at lower prices.

4. Challenges and Barriers to Growth

A. Trust and Transparency Issues

Despite improvements, concerns about odometer fraud, accident history, and inconsistent pricing still deter some buyers from entering the China used car market.

B. Fragmented Market Structure

Unlike mature markets such as the U.S. and Japan, China’s used car industry remains highly fragmented, with varying standards across regions.

C. Competition from New Car Sales

Aggressive discounts and financing offers from new car manufacturers can sometimes make buying a new vehicle more appealing than a used one.

5. The Future of China's Used Car Industry

A. Digital Transformation

AI-powered inspections, blockchain for vehicle history, and virtual showrooms will further enhance transparency and trust in the China used car market.

B. Expansion of Financing and Leasing

More banks and fintech companies are expected to enter the space, offering flexible payment options to attract a broader customer base.

C. Sustainability Driving Demand

As environmental awareness grows, the demand for used hybrids and EVs will rise, positioning China as a leader in sustainable used car sales.

Conclusion

The China used car market is at a pivotal stage, with immense growth potential driven by digital innovation, policy support, and changing consumer behavior. While challenges remain, the industry is well-positioned to become one of the largest and most sophisticated used car markets in the world.

For investors, dealers, and buyers, understanding these trends will be crucial to navigating the evolving landscape of the China used car industry.

[flutteragency]

Is a Pharmacy App Like Walgreens on Your Mind? Discover the Features & Cost!

There has been a paradigm shift in the pharmacy industry with the impact of digital innovations and changing expectations of consumers, and a host of things have transformed. Most people want the convenience of ordering medicines, refilling prescriptions, and consulting with practitioners virtually. This has led to a huge demand for pharmacy apps with plenty of features that ease accessing healthcare services.

Walgreens’ pharmacy application is one such app that has established truly high standards for seamless prescription management, medication reminders, and expanded telehealth features. Partnering with a development firm will allow you to develop an app like Walgreens with a user-friendly, secure, and scalable app that employs the latest technology and strict regulatory compliance.

By 2028, the global pharmacy market is expected to reach $206 billion. The global stats state that 60% of consumers prefer mobile applications for managing their prescriptions. Walgreens, CVS, and other top players generate millions in revenue through their applications.

Flutter Agency offers pharmacy app development to empower businesses to create robust and intuitive applications that meet the needs of modern healthcare. Whether you are a startup or own a pharmacy chain, we ensure custom solutions that help you build a successful digital healthcare platform.

Why Develop a Pharmacy App Like Walgreens?

When you connect with our mobile application development agency for pharmacy apps like Walgreens development, they do look into the key features of the application to include in your app. Some of the key points our experts try to adapt are:

1. Convenience Drives Customer Loyalty

Most users prefer ordering medications, refilling prescriptions, and consulting doctors from the application, and Walgreens allows users to enjoy this from the comforts of their homes. Such applications eliminate long wait times and provide seamless access to healthcare services.

2. Enhancement in Business

The industry is evolving with applications that are packed that allow pharmacies, healthcare providers, and start-ups a one-stop solution to enter the markets. Our mobile app developers bring the most advanced technologies like AI-based suggestions, reminders of taking medications, and live tracking of orders and improve the user experience in so many other ways.

3. Sales and Customer Integration

To keep your growth on an uptick, we know that customer engagement with many sales strategies will make your business profitable. Enable customized push notifications for consumers that will keep them updated about the discounts, refill reminders, etc., to keep them engaged. Integration of a loyalty program is also something that will help you gain repeat trips from customers. Since the world is going cashless, it’s good to have online payment options and home delivery options to facilitate an easy buying process.

Here’s why your pharmacy store should go for digital transformation to take great strides ahead. To ensure your application contributes to your profits while incorporating certain interesting features.

Must-Have Features for a Walgreens-Like Pharmacy App

Flutter Agency is creating pharmacy apps with basic features to improve user experience, security, and access to health services. Some of the main functionalities that we integrate into the pharmacy app include:

1. User Profile and Authentication

As your e-pharmacy will be dealing with your private and likely sensitive details, a secured login should be offered either by email, number or through biometrics: fingerprint or Face ID. We ensure profile management with elements like storing medical history, prescriptions, and payment details.

2. Prescription Management

With the ease of uploading your paper prescriptions and integrations, we ensure that the application you are taking to the market allows sharing e-prescriptions over the encrypted channel. With auto-refill reminders, we make sure your audience never misses their medications and continues leading a healthy life.

3. Medication Search & Purchase

You can easily upload a user-friendly catalog that includes smart filters and drug information on the application without much hustle. We allow AI-powered recommendations that are based on user history, previous preferences, and medical history.

4. Online Consultation (Telehealth Integration)

Our mobile app development team allows patients to virtually visit doctors for consultations, revise prescriptions, and get approvals. We allow secure video calls and in-app chat for clear communication and better understanding.

5. Order Tracking & Notifications

With real-time order tracking of orders, users can check when they can get their medicines delivered. With instant push notifications for order confirmation, dispatch, and arrival updates. This helps you build a solution that keeps your users engaged with the application.

6. Loyalty and Rewards Programs

We understand how amazing exclusive discounts, cashback, and reward points may seem to your audience. With our technology-backed solutions, you can offer personalized offers on purchase history and user preferences.

Advanced Features to Elevate Your Pharmacy App

To ensure the solution we develop stands out in the competitive pharmacy app market, we integrate advanced features that can enhance user experience and drive business growth. Some of the best features that one would like to add are:

1. AI-Driven Drug Recommendations

Your users may not want to consult a health practitioner for a cold or cough. The solution can provide personalized medication suggestions based on the user’s medical history and preferences. With AI-driven alerts for drug reactions, reminders, and alternative options, we create a solution that is designed for modern-day users.

2. Chatbots for 24/7 Customer Support

With constant AI-powered assistance for prescription inquiries, order tracking, and FAQs, we make sure your customers don’t have to wait for hours before they get the right assistance. With generative AI chatbots, your app responds in a way that is best suited to meet user demands.

3. Integration with wearable devices.

We do know the use of wearable technology in the healthcare sector. We make sure that users can sync their smartwatches and fitness trackers to receive heart rate, blood pressure, and medication compliance reports.

4. Voice Search & Smart Assistants

With hands-free navigation, we perform medication searches and prescription refills using voice commands. It is quite good for the users who find it hard to operate the app. You can ask our developers to make your solutions compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri for full accessibility.

5. Data Analytics Insights

Managing and monitoring health is a necessity. The user can check their reports and other test results with a click. If you are a business owner, you can get real-time reports on sales, user behavior, and inventory. Thus, you can reduce human intervention in your work to ensure your customers never face any problems.

Cost of Developing a Pharmacy App Like Walgreens

The cost of developing any pharmacy app will depend on factors like design, features, security, integrations, etc. Here is how the mainstream breakdown of key cost drivers may look:

1. UI/UX Design

For any application to work well enough and bring good results, first and foremost, it has to have a simple interface that will allow user engagement and ease of interaction. A pharmacy application must have custom design elements and a user-friendly layout to reflect its purpose and services. The expert design work and intricacies in navigation may add to the development cost.

2. Core Features

If you need a pharmacy application with basic features like prescription management, user dashboard, order tracking, etc, the cost of development is quite low. If you want to integrate advanced features like AI-backed recommendations, telehealth integrations, and smart search facilities may add to the development expense of the pharmacy app.

At Flutter Agency, we help you decide the best features that meet your business purpose and vision to ensure the development happens within the financial constraints.

3. Security Compliance

To ensure the security and privacy of the data stored in your pharmacy application, we implement advanced secure data encryption, multi-factor authentication, and fraud prevention that adds to the time and cost of development.

4. Third-Party Integrations

Depending on your business needs, we’d have to integrate a few third-party APIs like payment gateway, e-prescription system, wearable device, etc. The licensing of these APIs can add to the extended cost of pharmacy app development.

5. App Platform

Native app development may offer uninterrupted and flawless performance but would cost more. With hybrid or cross-platform app development, you can save some buck, but it won’t be as seamless as the native apps.

The developers partnered with us can create scalable and budget-friendly pharmacy applications without taking a chance on quality, security, or compliance. We offer custom solutions that reflect your business objective and vision!

Monetization Strategies: How to Maximize ROI

If you want to enter the market with a pharmacy app like Walgreens, you need to understand it is about convenience and revenue amalgamated. To ensure you get the best out of your investment in your application, we share here some of the monetization strategies you may choose from:

1. Subscription-Based Models

You can let users have premium memberships with extended benefits like priority delivery, virtual doctor consultations, discounts, etc. You can always encourage your audience to subscribe with free trials and loyalty perks.

2. In-App Advertisements

Partner with top pharmaceutical brands to display targeted ads for medications, supplements, and healthcare products. This would help you earn some extra revenue and take these brands to your users.

3. E-commerce Revenue

With the app, you make a good profit selling medications, wellness products, supplements, and other health products. Include in your application some package deals, flash sales, and personalized recommendations to keep the app user engaged.

4. Affiliate Programs & Partnerships

Partnering with clinics, labs, and insurance providers to share their services can get you a good profit for referral commission. You can share links to lab test bookings, insurance plans, or further specialists with your users through the app, ensuring them you care.

Regulatory Compliance & Security Considerations

When working on an app like Walgreens, there are a few things that can’t be ignored. Data security and regulatory compliance hold the foundation of such applications as what you deal with is personal health information and other personal details. Some of the common compliances to stick to are:

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the U.S. is designed to protect patient data.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) ensures data privacy for European users.

PCI-DSS-compliant payment gateways ensure safe online transactions.

Use AI-powered fraud detection to prevent suspicious activities.

If you want to target a global market, you need to adhere to these compliances. Along with this, you’d need secure server services, the right encryption, and role-based access control to ensure user data is managed in a safe environment.

At Flutter Agency, we have experience and expertise in building pharmacy applications, and we understand the significance of implementing regulatory compliance and data security in pharmacy applications. We create solutions that abide by HIPAA, GDPR, and PCI-DSS standards to ensure data integrity, encrypted transactions, and user privacy.

Also Read: How to Make a Meditation Application Like Calm

Let’s Build Your Pharmacy App Today!

Convenience, accessibility, and digital healthcare solutions are among the leading reasons for the boom in demand for pharmacy apps like Walgreens. Companies with a focus on developing high-end, feature-rich pharmacy apps can find a flourishing market, with all the resurrection of client satisfaction and cash flows swelling up.

We exceed the standards in custom pharmacy app development by doing everything to satisfy HIPAA, GDPR, and various other regulations while integrating state-of-the-art tech for amplified functionalities. Be it a startup nurture or something like a 200-year-old pharmacy chain, our tailor-made solutions will always keep you ahead in this digital health revolution.

Is your pharmacy app concept ready for shake-up? Contact us today via a free consultation, and let’s get started with your next-gen pharmacy app!

[codingnectar]

SEO for Developers: Technical Tips to Boost Your Website’s Ranking

As a developer, you might think SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a marketer’s job. But the truth is, technical SEO is the backbone of every high-ranking website—and it’s your expertise that ensures search engines can crawl, index, and understand your site. At Coding Nectar (codingnectar.com), we’ve helped countless developers bridge the gap between code and visibility. Here’s how to optimize your website’s technical foundation for better rankings.

1. Start with a Lightning-Fast Website

Page speed isn’t just a ranking factor—it’s a user experience game-changer. Google prioritizes fast-loading sites, and studies show that 53% of users abandon pages that take longer than 3 seconds to load.

What to do:

Compress Images: Use modern formats like WebP and tools like Squoosh or ImageOptim.

Minify Code: Remove unnecessary characters from HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Leverage Caching: Implement browser and server-side caching (e.g., Redis, Varnish).

At Coding Nectar, we use automated build tools like Webpack to bundle and optimize assets during deployment. For example, lazy-loading images with <img loading="lazy"> can cut load times by 20-30%.

2. Master Mobile-First Indexing

Google now uses mobile-first indexing, meaning it primarily crawls the mobile version of your site. If your site isn’t responsive, you’re invisible to most search traffic.

What to do:

Test Responsiveness: Use Chrome DevTools or Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test.

Avoid CSS/JS Blockers: Ensure critical resources load first.

Use Fluid Layouts: Replace fixed pixels with rem, em, or % units.

Pro Tip: At codingnectar.com, we design all client projects with mobile-first frameworks like Tailwind CSS to ensure seamless responsiveness.

3. Fix Crawlability Issues

Search engines rely on crawlers to index your site. If they hit roadblocks, your content won’t rank.

What to check:

robots.txt: Ensure you’re not accidentally blocking critical pages.

XML Sitemap: Generate and submit a sitemap via Google Search Console.

HTTP Status Codes: Fix 404s (broken links) and 301-redirect old URLs.

Example: A client at Coding Nectar saw a 40% traffic boost after we fixed crawl errors caused by misconfigured rel=canonical tags.

4. Structure Data with Schema Markup

Schema markup helps search engines understand your content, increasing chances of earning rich snippets (e.g., star ratings, FAQs).

What to add:

JSON-LD: Embed structured data for articles, products, or events.

Breadcrumbs: Improve navigation and SEO with BreadcrumbList schema.

Tool Recommendation: Use Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool to validate your markup.

5. Optimize for Core Web Vitals

Google’s Core Web Vitals measure user experience through metrics like:

LCP (Largest Contentful Paint): Load time for the main content.

FID (First Input Delay): Time until the site becomes interactive.

CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift): Visual stability during loading.

What to do:

Prioritize above-the-fold content.

Defer non-critical JavaScript.

Use font-display: swap to prevent layout shifts from fonts.

Case Study: After optimizing Core Web Vitals for a SaaS platform, Coding Nectar reduced their CLS score by 75%, boosting organic traffic by 28% in 3 months.

6. Secure Your Site with HTTPS

HTTPS is a non-negotiable ranking signal. It encrypts data and builds user trust.

Steps:

Buy an SSL certificate (many hosts offer free Let’s Encrypt integration).

Force HTTPS by redirecting HTTP traffic via .htaccess or NGINX configs.

Update internal links to use https://.

7. Audit Regularly with SEO Tools

SEO isn’t a one-time task. Use tools like:

Google Search Console: Track performance and errors.

Ahrefs/Screaming Frog: Analyze backlinks and technical issues.

Lighthouse: Audit performance, accessibility, and SEO.

Pro Tip: Coding Nectar offers custom SEO audits (codingnectar.com/seo-audit) to identify hidden issues like duplicate meta tags or slow API calls.

Final Thoughts

Technical SEO isn’t about chasing algorithms—it’s about building websites that are fast, accessible, and easy for search engines to love. By focusing on speed, mobile optimization, structured data, and regular audits, you’ll create a foundation that drives organic growth.

At Coding Nectar (codingnectar.com), we blend cutting-edge development with SEO best practices to help businesses rank higher and convert better. Ready to optimize your site? Let’s turn your code into a traffic magnet.

[tanusharmasblog]

Samsung Galaxy M35 5G – A Smooth Display & Supercharged Perf

Introduction

Smartphones are evolving rapidly, and if you're searching for a powerful, durable, and feature-packed device, the M35 5G Samsung is a solid contender. With a supercharged processor, a smooth 120Hz AMOLED display, and an impressive battery life, this device is designed to cater to students, professionals, and gamers alike. Let’s dive into what makes this device stand out.

Immersive Display for a Smooth Experience

One of the most exciting features of this device is its  . The high refresh rate ensures a fluid scrolling experience, making it perfect for gaming, browsing, and watching videos. The vibrant colors and deep contrasts add to the smooth display gaming phone experience, making every interaction seamless and visually appealing.

Powerful Processor for Lag-Free Performance

Performance is a key factor when choosing a smartphone, and the Samsung M35 5G processor doesn’t disappoint. With optimized power efficiency and high-speed processing capabilities, this device is built to handle multitasking effortlessly. Whether you’re playing intensive games, streaming content, or managing multiple apps, the Samsung Galaxy M35 5G review highlights how smooth and responsive the user experience

Battery That Lasts All Day

No one likes to be tied to a charger, and with a massive 6000mAh battery, this device ensures long hours of uninterrupted usage. If you need a long battery life phone, this smartphone is built to last through work, entertainment, and social media without frequent recharging. Whether you're a student attending online classes or a traveler relying on navigation and entertainment, this battery ensures reliability throughout the day.

Vapour Cooling for Superior Gaming Performance

Gaming enthusiasts will love the Vapour Cooling Chamber, which prevents overheating during extended gameplay. The Samsung Galaxy M35 5G review emphasizes that this feature allows users to enjoy high-performance gaming without experiencing performance drops due to excessive heat buildup.

Durability with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+

Accidental drops and scratches are common concerns for smartphone users, but the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ provides enhanced durability. This makes the M35 5G Samsung a robust choice for those who need a phone that can withstand daily wear and tear.

Samsung M35 5G Price & Launch Date in India

For those interested in the Samsung M35 5G price, early estimates suggest that it will be competitively priced, making it a great option for those looking for a high-performance yet affordable smartphone. The Samsung M35 5G launch date in India is eagerly awaited, with expectations that it will be available soon, offering users the latest in mobile technology.

Samsung M35 5G Specifications – What to Expect?

Display: 6.6-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED screen for vibrant visuals

Processor: High-performance Samsung M35 5G processor for smooth multitasking

Battery: 6000mAh capacity for all-day usage

Cooling: Vapour Cooling Chamber for efficient heat management

Durability: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ for enhanced protection

 

Why Choose This Device?

If you're looking for the best 5G smartphone 2024, this device offers a perfect balance of power, display quality, battery life, and durability. Whether you need a phone for gaming, work, or entertainment, the Samsung M35 5G review showcases why this device is a great choice visit us

Final Thoughts

With its powerful processor, long battery life, and immersive display, this smartphone stands out in the crowded 5G market. The Samsung M35 5G specifications make it a compelling choice for students, gamers, and professionals. Keep an eye out for the official Samsung M35 5G launch date in India and grab yours at the best price.

🔗 Check out the latest deals and experience next-level performance today!

[deltasaas]

Investing Software: Your Path to Wealth Creation

In a world where wealth-building is both art and science, investing software has become the ultimate tool for navigating markets and growing your money. These digital platforms empower everyone from casual savers to seasoned traders to research, trade, and manage investments with precision and ease. Whether you’re eyeing stocks, crypto, or real estate, investing software is your co-pilot on the journey to financial growth. What makes it a must-have, and how can it elevate your investing game? Let’s dive in.

What is Investing Software?

Investing software is a collection of digital tools designed to simplify and enhance the process of investing. It’s your virtual financial advisor offering everything from stock trading and portfolio tracking to market analysis and automated strategies. Think of it as a dashboard that puts the power of Wall Street, crypto exchanges, or real estate data at your fingertips.

Today, these platforms leverage artificial intelligence (AI), real-time data, and mobile access to serve beginners dipping their toes in, pros chasing alpha, and anyone in between aiming to build wealth.

Why Investing Software Matters

Markets move fast, and opportunities vanish faster. Relying on gut instinct or outdated methods can leave you behind—or worse, in the red. Investing software changes the game by:

Democratizing Access: Trade like a pro without a broker’s fees.

Sharpening Decisions: Analyze data to spot winners and avoid losers.

Saving Time: Automate trades or track portfolios in seconds.

Reducing Risk: Diversify and monitor with real-time alerts.

X posts often buzz about tools like Robinhood for its simplicity, proving its appeal to a new wave of investors.

Key Features of Investing Software

Top investing software packs a versatile toolkit:

Trading: Buy and sell stocks, ETFs, crypto, or options instantly.

Portfolio Tracking: Monitor gains, losses, and asset allocation.

Market Research: Access charts, news, and analyst ratings.

Automation: Set rules for buying or selling based on triggers.

Tax Tools: Calculate capital gains for seamless filings.

AI Insights: Predict trends or suggest moves with machine learning.

These features turn investing from a guessing game into a calculated play.

Top Benefits for Users

Investing software delivers real advantages:

Empowerment: Control your investments without middlemen.

Efficiency: Slash research time by 70%, per user stories.

Growth: Compound returns with smarter, faster moves.

Flexibility: Invest anytime, anywhere with mobile apps.

A beginner using Wealthfront might grow savings passively, while a trader on TradingView nails timing with advanced charts.

Popular Investing Software

The market is rich with standout options:

Robinhood: Fee-free trading for stocks and crypto newbies.

TradingView: Charting powerhouse for technical traders.

Wealthfront: Robo-advisor for hands-off portfolio building.

E*TRADE: Full-featured platform with research and options.

M1 Finance: Hybrid tool blending trading and automation.

How to Choose the Right Investing Software

Finding your fit takes a strategy:

Goals: Passive growth (Wealthfront) or active trading (E*TRADE)?

Experience: Beginners might pick Robinhood; pros opt for TradingView.

Assets: Stocks (M1) or crypto-heavy (Coinbase)?

Features: Need charts (TradingView) or automation (M1)?

Cost: Free trades (Robinhood) vs. premium tiers (E*TRADE at $6.95/trade).

The Future of Investing Software

The horizon for investing software is thrilling. AI will refine predictions—think spotting market dips or tailoring portfolios to your risk appetite. Mobile-first designs will dominate, with wearables potentially showing stock ticks on your wrist. Blockchain could enable tokenized assets like real estate fractions, while social investing features might let you mimic top traders. The trend is toward smarter, more inclusive wealth tools.

Challenges to Watch For

There are pitfalls. Complexity—like TradingView’s charts—can overwhelm novices. Fees vary; some platforms nickel-and-dime with hidden costs. Over-automation might miss human intuition, so stay engaged. Markets are volatile—software helps, but losses are still possible. Security is crucial—choose encrypted tools to protect your funds.

Real-World Impact

Newbies: A saver uses Robinhood to buy their first stock commission-free.

Traders: A pro on E*TRADE rides a market wave with options.

Planners: A couple with Wealthfront builds retirement savings effortlessly.

Conclusion

Investing in software is your ladder to financial heights. It’s not just about trading—it’s about taking charge, growing wealth, and navigating markets with confidence. Whether you’re starting with $100 or managing millions, the right tool can pave your way. Explore the options, pick your ally, and start building your future today.

Frequently asked questions

What is investing software?

It’s a set of digital tools for researching, trading, and managing investments like stocks, crypto, or ETFs.

Who uses investing software?

Beginners, active traders, long-term investors, and anyone aiming to grow their money.

How does it improve investing?

It speeds research, automates trades, and tracks performance with data and insights.

Is it secure?

Most trusted platforms encrypt data and offer two-factor authentication—check each provider’s safeguards.

What’s the difference between robo-advisors and trading software?

Robo-advisors (Wealthfront) automate investing; trading software (Robinhood) gives you manual control.

How much does investing software cost?

Ranges from free (Robinhood) to $5-$20/month (TradingView, Wealthfront), plus trade fees on some.

Can it integrate with other tools?

Many sync with bank accounts, tax software, or market feeds—verify compatibility.

How long until I see benefits?

Basic tracking is instant; wealth growth depends on strategy, time, and market conditions.

[teyoliachronicles]

Refugee Support: Navigating Challenges and Finding Solutions

Refugee relief work isn’t for the faint of heart. Between shifting policies, funding uncertainties, and the ever-growing need, those of us in the nonprofit sector know how tough it can be to keep programs running while making a real impact. As the Executive Director of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), I’ve seen firsthand how these challenges shape the way we serve displaced communities.

A recent article by the Associated Press, "Staff Cuts and Shifting Priorities Hit Refugee Philanthropy" (2025, https://shorturl.at/3L3ZT), highlights just how volatile refugee relief funding has become. Many organizations are facing layoffs and program suspensions due to government funding cuts and shifting donor priorities. This instability puts even more pressure on NPOs like ours to be resourceful, adaptive, and proactive in finding solutions.

The Reality We’re Facing The biggest problem? The demand for refugee support is growing, but funding and policy changes make it harder to keep up. A backlog in asylum cases means people are waiting years for work permits, housing, and essential services. We’re seeing more families struggling with homelessness and food insecurity while they wait for legal status.

For organizations like the IRC, this means we have to constantly pivot—finding new funding sources, strengthening partnerships, and getting creative with how we provide services. The Migration Policy Institute (2021) reports that funding for refugee programs has been inconsistent, making long-term planning nearly impossible (Migration Policy Institute, 2021).

Community-Based Solutions Matter More Than Ever When federal support fluctuates, local communities have to step up. Partnerships with businesses, faith groups, and grassroots organizations can make a huge difference. Workforce training, language classes, and mentorship programs help refugees integrate faster. The National Immigration Forum (2022) points out that these kinds of initiatives are often more effective than top-down solutions (National Immigration Forum, 2022).

"A refugee’s journey doesn’t end when they arrive—it starts all over again." – Anonymous IRC Volunteer

Using Social Media to Mobilize Support One thing we know works? Storytelling. As highlighted in Social Media Marketing (Ch. 12), organizations that use digital platforms effectively can mobilize more support. Social media isn’t just about fundraising—it’s about educating the public, advocating for better policies, and keeping volunteers engaged. At the IRC, we use social media to share powerful refugee stories, highlight community-driven solutions, and push for policy change. Whether it’s through blogs, short videos, or behind-the-scenes glimpses into our work, keeping people informed keeps them engaged. Leap of Reason for Nonprofits emphasizes the importance of tracking social media impact to ensure we’re reaching the right audiences (Leap of Reason, 2024).

Where Do We Go From Here? There’s no magic fix for these challenges, but one thing is clear: advocacy and adaptability are key. We need better legal pathways for refugees, more stable funding sources, and stronger local networks to fill in the gaps when government support falls short. NPOs like the IRC must keep pushing for policy changes while finding new ways to support displaced families in our communities.

How is your organization navigating these challenges? Let’s keep the conversation going—because we’re all in this together.

[digitalmarketingph]

SEO 2025: What's Next in Search?

We all know by now that SEO isn't an overnight thing. Similar to how a seed is planted, it organically takes time to grow into a seedling then into a full-grown tree or plant that will finally yield its fruits. But those fruits are sweet and continuous.

So how can you further yield more fruits or maybe get some of the possible market share online for your business/service?

If you google "seo trends 2025," you'll yield these results; let's discuss them further:

USER EXPERIENCE

This has always been the core of Google's efforts and the reason why it started. Remember how Google began? It wanted to offer a clean and accurate search results interface compared to its cluttered competitor back then (Yahoo!). It's no wonder Google still continues to prioritize this in terms of giving quality scores to user-friendly websites.

You may think your website is already user-friendly and optimized. But have you ever thought how Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Netflix, and many other websites still continue to make tweaks here and there eventually throughout the years? That's because they continue to learn their audience's nature and internalize or study their user interface, find possible pain points or ignored features and improve further. That's how they can remain on top of the game. If world history and humanity is constantly evolving, then so does the Internet landscape. This is also why Data Analytics is important in SEO and Digital Marketing.

So how can your website offer that amazing user experience Google wants? Just think of what the human user wants and eventually everything will follow.

What do human users want? Well, you're a user too at some point so list those down. Go through your website's conversion steps and check what may seem like a pain to the users. Fix those. Always check your website through mobile since majority of users are on mobile than desktop. Check your website's speed. Fix error pages or broken links. Go through other websites and list down your favorite features which you think may be applicable to yours too. List down your least favorite features and optimize your website to avoid having those. Get opinions on your design so you can adjust on possible pain points you have overlooked.

VISUAL SEARCH

10 years ago, I've always been an advocate of this -- optimizing images through proper naming of image files and proper description on alt text. Although users see the Google search results page most of the time, there's also that high chance of users going through Image search results. We even have Video results now. Never take it for granted. SEO in 2024 and even this year 2025, visual search is truly valuable.

VOICE SEARCH

Why is voice search becoming popular? Because hands-free technology is here and it continues to evolve. Smart watches, smart glasses... They are heavily used with voice search. For this type of keyword usage and insertion, you have to speculate and check how users possibily speak to their hands-free devices when doing voice search. Possible samples are:

"Who were the past presidents of America?" VS common typed search keywords like "USA past presidents"

Best to optimize for both depending on the value of your content to the intended users.

If we scroll down to the search results, this is what we'll see:

LOCAL SEO

Good for you if you already began local search optimization before. Aside from using local keywords (e.g. best Italian food LAS PIÑAS, best ravioli MANILA), how can you further implement local SEO?

Set up your Google Business Profile and complete the info needed there;

Ensure NAP consistency (Name, Address, Phone number) on your GBP (or GBPs if you have multiple locations);

Garner local reviews on your GBP;

Post website content relevant to your local area;

Get local backlinks (you may check your competitors' backlink profiles).

AI TOOLS

This has no direct impact on SEO but it can rather assist SEO professionals with their planning and implementations. ChatGPT for example may be used for semantic keywords or faster meta data creation. The use of these tools can speed up SEO work especially for agencies or those with multiple client websites. Some people have negative views about AI tools but they're just that, TOOLS. Similar analogy to how a knife may be used for cooking or for weaponization, it depends solely on the user. Ethical usage is key.

BRAND MARKETING

For 2025, owning your brand means:

truly sticking and owning your tag lines and logos, creating brand-centric content;

separating optimizations for your sub-brands;

topical authority (expertise) in a specific niche to position you as a trusted source within your industry;

active brand reputation so set your Google Alerts to monitor and manage or address online conversations/perception about your brand;

community building and management (which is semantic to number 4);

strategizing and implementing for zero-click search awareness (the rise of "zero-click searches" where users get information directly on the search results page, ensuring the brand presents a strong and informative snippet).

FEATURED SNIPPETS

Here's a good quick guide about featured snippets (https://backlinko.com/hub/seo/featured-snippets). This is an old SEO strategy and it just continues to thrive for 2025.

Schema Markup isn't a Featured Snippet but it can enhance you on SERPs so best to invest time and efforts in Schema. Here's a good video tutorial:

TECHNICAL SEO

"Enabling JavaScript allows us to better protect our services and users from bots and evolving forms of abuse and spam and to provide the most relevant and up-to-date information." -Google spokesperson

Many major web browsers support JavaScript but some potential cons to relying heavily on JavaScript are slower page loading time and difficulty for search bots/spiders/crawlers to understand page content.

Optimize one step at a time; make tweaks; and test, test, test.

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Ginanjar Budhiraharja Ahli Hypno Branding dan Digital Marketing

Di tengah persaingan bisnis yang semakin ketat, membangun merek yang kuat dan berkesan menjadi tantangan utama bagi banyak perusahaan. Ginanjar Budhiraharja, MM, CH, CHt, CI, hadir sebagai pakar Hypno Branding yang mampu membantu bisnis menciptakan citra merek yang tidak hanya dikenal, tetapi juga dicintai. Beliau merupakan bagian dari Digital Creative Consultant, sebuah perusahaan konsultan terkemuka yang berkomitmen membantu bisnis sukses di era digital.

Digital Creative Consultant: Partner Tepat untuk Inovasi Bisnis Anda

Sebagai perusahaan konsultan yang bergerak di bidang kreatif digital, Digital Creative Consultant berdiri di bawah naungan PT Cipta Esa Kreasindo. Dengan tim profesional yang berpengalaman, perusahaan ini menawarkan berbagai solusi inovatif yang dirancang khusus untuk mendukung pertumbuhan bisnis di berbagai sektor.

Layanan Komprehensif untuk Semua Kebutuhan Bisnis

Strategi Bisnis yang Efektif Kami membantu klien dalam pengelolaan pendapatan, pengembangan merek, peluncuran produk, dan analisis ROI untuk memaksimalkan keuntungan.

Teknologi Digital yang Mendukung Pertumbuhan Dari pembuatan website hingga aplikasi berbasis mobile, layanan kami meliputi internet marketing, dukungan IT, dan solusi managed services yang terintegrasi.

Pelatihan Digital Marketing Program pelatihan kami, “Tips Banjir Order dari Internet: Cara Sederhana, Hasil Luar Biasa”, memberikan panduan praktis bagi pelaku usaha untuk memanfaatkan teknologi digital secara optimal.

Hypno Branding: Kunci Keberhasilan Citra Merek Anda

Hypno Branding adalah metode unik yang memanfaatkan teknik hipnosis untuk menciptakan koneksi emosional antara merek dan konsumen. Ginanjar Budhiraharja, sebagai pakar di bidang ini, membantu klien membangun merek yang mampu meninggalkan kesan mendalam di benak pelanggan.

Keunggulan Hypno Branding untuk Bisnis

Citra Merek yang Lebih Kuat Dengan Hypno Branding, merek Anda akan lebih mudah dikenali dan diingat oleh konsumen.

Keterikatan Emosional yang Mendalam Teknik ini membantu menciptakan hubungan emosional antara pelanggan dan merek, meningkatkan loyalitas konsumen.

Meningkatkan Efektivitas Kampanye Pemasaran Pendekatan berbasis psikologi konsumen ini memastikan kampanye pemasaran Anda lebih efektif dan tepat sasaran.

Industri yang Dilayani oleh Digital Creative Consultant

Kami memiliki pengalaman luas dalam menangani klien dari berbagai sektor, seperti:

Perhotelan: Mengoptimalkan tingkat okupansi dengan strategi pemasaran digital yang efektif.

Perbankan: Membantu bank membangun kepercayaan dan menjangkau nasabah baru melalui strategi branding.

UKM: Memberikan solusi digital yang terjangkau dan berdampak besar untuk usaha kecil menengah.

Ekspedisi: Membantu perusahaan logistik meningkatkan visibilitas merek dan menarik lebih banyak pelanggan.

Ritel: Mendorong pertumbuhan penjualan dengan strategi pemasaran omnichannel yang inovatif.

Mengapa Memilih Digital Creative Consultant?

Kami percaya bahwa keberhasilan klien adalah keberhasilan kami. Oleh karena itu, kami selalu berusaha memberikan layanan terbaik dengan fokus pada hasil yang nyata.

Nilai Tambah yang Kami Tawarkan

Tim Profesional Berpengalaman Dengan latar belakang yang kuat di berbagai bidang, tim kami mampu memberikan solusi yang relevan dan inovatif.

Pendekatan Berbasis Data Kami menggunakan analisis data untuk memastikan setiap strategi yang diterapkan memberikan hasil yang maksimal.

Solusi yang Disesuaikan Kami memahami bahwa setiap bisnis memiliki kebutuhan unik, sehingga solusi yang kami tawarkan selalu disesuaikan dengan kebutuhan klien.

Hubungi Kami Sekarang

Apakah Anda siap membawa bisnis Anda ke level berikutnya? Hubungi kami melalui WhatsApp di +62 878-3887-2777 untuk diskusi lebih lanjut tentang bagaimana kami dapat membantu Anda mencapai tujuan bisnis Anda.

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Why Cross-Platform App Development is the Key to Rapid App Deployment

Imagine being able to reach a global audience with a single app while cutting down both development time and costs. Sounds ideal, doesn’t it? This isn’t just a dream for app developers, it’s a reality, thanks to cross-platform development. 

In a world where speed-to-market can define success, businesses are turning to cross-platform frameworks to build apps that work seamlessly across devices and operating systems.

But why is cross-platform app development so crucial for rapid deployment? 

It’s not just about saving time or budget—it’s about staying competitive. From startups launching MVPs to enterprises scaling their digital presence, cross-platform development has emerged as a game-changer.

This blog dives deep into how cross-platform development is reshaping app deployment strategies. We’ll uncover its benefits, explore leading frameworks, and help you decide when it’s the best fit for your project. 

Let’s get started.

Understanding Cross-Platform Development

Cross-platform development is more than just a buzzword, it’s a progressive mobile app development approach that empowers developers to build applications for multiple platforms with a single codebase. 

Instead of developing separate apps for iOS and Android, you write one code that works fine on both. Efficient, streamlined, and incredibly powerful, it’s like hitting two targets with one arrow.

Here’s how it works: Tools in hybrid app development frameworks link the shared code with each platform’s respective APIs, making the app behave exactly as a native app. This means you get all the functionality users expect but with less effort. Plus, updates and fixes are faster to roll out since there’s only one codebase to manage. 

How Cross-Platform Development Accelerates App Deployment

Now, let’s get to the good stuff—why cross-platform development is a speed booster. Here are the key reasons:

1. Single Codebase Efficiency: Developers don’t need to write separate code for iOS and Android. So instead, they create one codebase that works for both. It drastically reduces the time spent on coding and testing out bugs.

2. Faster Iterations and Updates: With a unified codebase, it becomes easy to roll out updates or solve bugs. It makes maintenance faster and more efficient as all platforms are updated with a single change.

3. Reusable Components: Frameworks like Flutter and React Native already come with pre-built UI components that developers can use as they are straight out of the box. It saves time and guarantees design consistency by using these reusable elements.

4. Streamlined Testing: It can be time consuming to test an app for multiple platforms. This is made simpler with cross platform development, as the app can be tested once and the results can be applied across the platforms.

5. Collaborative Development: Since cross-platform frameworks use popular programming languages like JavaScript (React Native) or Dart (Flutter), they’re accessible to a broader pool of developers. Teams can collaborate more effectively, speeding up the process.

Popular Frameworks for Cross-Platform App Development

Not all frameworks are created equal, so let’s take a quick look at some of the most popular ones:

1. Flutter: Developed by Google, Flutter is known for its hot reload feature, which lets developers see changes in real-time. Its performance is almost on par with native apps, making it a top choice.

2. React Native: Backed by Meta (formerly Facebook), React Native is one of the most widely used frameworks. It allows developers to use JavaScript, a familiar language, and has a massive community for support.

3. Xamarin: Owned by Microsoft, Xamarin integrates seamlessly with the .NET ecosystem. It’s a great option for developers who prefer C# as their programming language.

Each of these frameworks has its strengths, so the choice depends on your specific project needs.

When Cross-Platform Development is the Right Choice

Cross-platform development isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Here are the scenarios where it shines:

1. Tight Deadlines: Cross-platform development’s speed allows you to beat the clock when you’re rushing to launch your app.

2. MVPs for Startups: Startups often need to test their ideas quickly without breaking the bank. A cross-platform MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is cost-effective and fast to build.

3. Apps with Broad Audience Reach: If your app targets both iOS and Android users, cross-platform development ensures you reach everyone without doubling the workload.

4. Budget Constraints: For businesses with limited resources, developing a single codebase is more economical than maintaining separate teams for different platforms.

When Not to Use It

If your app requires heavy platform-specific features, such as AR capabilities or advanced hardware integration, native development might be a better choice.

Conclusion

Cross platform development isn’t simply a time and money saver, it's about creating applications which are flexible, future ready, and provide a great user experience for different devices. Cross-platform development allows the businesses to quickly scale up, and therefore experiment with all the risk mitigated, while still maintaining quality. If you are looking for speed, efficiency and innovation, hybrid app development services are for you. 

Are you ready to transform your app idea to reality?