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p-artsypants · 5 years ago

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Longest Night (17) Analyzing

Marinette had thought Highschool had been hard. Right now, in this moment, she'd give anything to go back to those petty arguments and gossip fueled drama. But she couldn't. Instead, she and Adrien were trapped here, being punished, humiliated, tortured, for being heroes, all broadcasted for the world to see. At least she and her kitty were in this together. For now. Whump!Fic

Ao3 | FF.net

This chapter is much like the last, rehash of chapter 15, in perspective of Alya and the others.

—

Believe it or not, there were a handful of people in Paris that actually hated Ladybug and Chat Noir. Salo and Hawkmoth were the obvious ones, of course. And then there was Lila Rossi, who had been spurned by Ladybug time and time again. But she tended to keep her distaste a secret.

But there was one other in the City of Lovers whose life was continually complicated by Ladybug and Chat Noir.

Minster of the Interior, Arthur Vanderguard.

As Minister of Interior, one of his most important jobs of late was to protect the city in the event of an akuma attack.

Something that he was wholly unprepared for every time.

It was getting increasingly frustrating to do his job when his men, the police, decided to listen to a little girl before listening to him. Everyone listened to Ladybug first. And then when her plans failed, he had to pick up the slack. He had to hold off hoards of zombies or knights or whatever the akuma of the week was, while she was given the floor to do her little superhero routine and stop the big bad. Of course, she always fixed everything afterwards, which was the only reason he hadn’t resigned completely.

But if anyone, the mayor, his chief of police, anyone at all, decided to listen to his plans, he would be able to stop Hawkmoth with ease.

But no.

It was always, “Ladybug and Chat Noir know what to do!” “They’ll stop them for sure!”

Arthur couldn’t believe the people of this city could be dense enough to trust children with the safety of a highly populated and historic city. It floored him really.

And of course, when things went catastrophic and people got hurt, who did the media, the mayor, and the people of Paris blame?

I’ll give you a hint: It wasn’t Ladybug.

No, the amount of times he had to speak at a press conference and apologize for a gruesome mistake that one of his men made because they listened to Ladybug was astounding. And then he had to thank the little insect, for fixing her mistake with her magical Ladybugs. And then the cycle would continue on and on in a dizzying spiral.

The day Salo appeared on the TV and announced that she had captured Ladybug and Chat Noir, he was elated. But only on the inside, of course. Ladybug and Chat Noir were out of the way!

But now, he was fairly certain that he would be responsible for rescuing them.

Why this punishment? What had he done in his life to deserve this?

Then Salo had taken the Miraculous, and Arthur was met face to face with the children that kept stepping on his toes. Children, for sure.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng was 17, Adrien Agreste 18.

If he wasn’t so pissed, he might have been impressed.

But as it was, his boss, the Mayor, his men, and Paris itself was completely enraptured by a baker’s daughter and a model.

As he watched the stream, he couldn’t help but feel bad for them. This was torture, and they didn’t deserve this at all. Because Ladybug did fix everything in the end. So even when his job had him stressed, things still worked out okay.

But as of right now, he was off the clock, and it wasn’t his problem.

Until his phone rang.

An unknown number.

“Hello?”

“Is this the Minister of Interior?”

“Who is this? How did you get this number?”

“This is Chloe Bourgeois. The mayor’s daughter. Daddy gave me your number.”

Arthur groaned and slapped a hand to his face. Not this. “What do you need, M. Bourgeois?”

“I demand to know how you plan to save my Adrikin’s and Marinette Dupain-Cheng!”

He rolled his eyes. It hadn’t even been ten minutes since they were revealed to everyone! Surely it wouldn’t be a problem, right? “I assure you, I will do everything in my power to save your friends.”

“See that you do.” And she, blessedly, hung up.

Great. Another thing he was getting blamed for.

Well, maybe if he saved them, people might finally start listening to him again. If he was really lucky, he might get a raise. Who knows? Maybe he could swing this in his favor.

He’d meet with the mayor in the morning.

—

Chloe went back to the Agreste estate with Alya and Nino after school.

They gathered in Adrien’s room, and Nino hooked the computer up to the TV, so they could watch the stream.

Marinette and Adrien still hung from their wrists, as they had for hours now.

“Let’s go over our facts.” Stated Alya, looking at her notebook.

“We know the ‘who.’” She took out a piece of paper, which was a photocopy of the folder Detective Bertony had. “The Detective gave me this to give to Rena Rouge and Carapace. This is the most pertinent information he has, but I can get copies of the rest of the file. Bianca Furtoli, age 46. Lover of Edward Savauge, the drug dealer that Ladybug and Chat Noir captured two days ago. That’s also the ‘why.’ Apparently, this is revenge for sending him to jail.”

“We also know a vague ‘how’. Ladybug and Chat Noir were fighting a very large akuma when they were thrown into a building and disorientated. From there, Salo administered ��GHB’ a drug commonly used to knock people out for assault.”

“Now we’re just left with the ‘where.’” Said Nino.

Alya smiled slightly, “But I have a pretty good guess. Marinette and Adrien were last seen in Paris at 12:15, according to my post on the blog. Give or take a few minutes. Salo had them at least by the 6 o’clock news. That gives them a little over 5 hours to get them to the location that they are in now.”

A map of France and its surrounding countries laid on the coffee table, with a circle drawn around it. “In a five hour period, you can get to most of these destinations. Most of France, and the outer edge of England, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. Now, with the word ‘Notausgang’ that Marinette stated she saw on the wall, that boils it down to a primarily German speaking country. ‘Notausgang’ means emergency exit, which would be written in French too if it was in a area that spoke several languages like Alsace-Lorraine. So we are looking at, of course Germany, and maybe Luxembourg, depending on the area. But if we are looking at Germany, we are somewhere between the border, Cologne, Frankfurt, and Stuttgart.”

Chloe and Nino both frowned at the map. “That’s still a lot of ground to cover.”

“True.”

“But,” added Nino, “we also need to point out this little location in Montparnasse.” He drew a little dot on the map.

“Yeah, but Rena Rouge and Carapace already checked there. That’s where they are broadcasting from, and where their servers are.”

“Sure, but I think we shouldn’t forget about it.”

“Fair.”

Chloe looked at the map, as she had been silent this entire time. “Is that everything?”

Alya crunched her face up as she flipped through her notes. “Well, I think they’re in a cellar or basement, given the cement walls. Maybe an old building.”

Chloe tapped her chin. “Well, I’ll just tell my daddy that we’re going to Germany, and we’ll borrow the private jet and get over there!”

“It’s not that simple, Chloe.” Alya said calmly, “We can’t just up and leave for Germany. Especially if we go with you, and then Rena Rouge and Carapace are seen with Queen Bee! Salo figured out how to catch Marinette and Adrien like that.” She snapped her fingers. “If we’re not careful, she could take our families too. I have little sisters—“ She cut herself off before she became too distressed. “And, if Salo finds out we’re on to her, what’s stopping them from moving somewhere else?”

“What do you expect us to do?”

Alya frowned. “We need more time, and more clues.”

“We don’t have more time! How long do we have before they’re killed?”

“118 days.” Alya stated, blank faced.

Chloe blinked. “What?”

Alya got her notes out again. “Sorry, I missed this part. ‘Salo’ is a name of a torture porn from the 70s. Its surname is ’120 days of Sodom’. Salo is leaving us a clue for a time limit.”

“Are you sure?”

“That’s what the detective believes.”

“And you trust him?”

Alya shrugged. “I really don’t know who to trust anymore.”

Chloe stood and walked to the window, holding herself. Pollen floated up next to her, nuzzling her cheek. “I’m not used to things being bigger than me.” Chloe confessed. “The world, no matter how big it was, felt small. I could go anywhere, do anything…If daddy couldn’t fix something, he had people for that. So…not being able to lift my finger and have it fix is…it’s really messing with me. Sorry.”

Alya and Nino shared a look. “Chloe,” Alya said, trying to be comforting. “We didn’t recruit you so that you could fix it with a snap…although I wish you could.”

Chloe gave a watery chuckle.

“We gave you the Miraculous because you want to help, and you’re capable of it. We might need that private jet. I don’t know. But just you being here, ready to help, says volumes about you.”

Chloe gave a shaky nod and then came back to sit at the couch, feeling like she could breathe better. “Gotta make Dupain-Cheng proud, right?”

—

It was around 6pm when something started to happen on the stream.

“Well well well, how are we doing now? 12 hours is a long time to leave you hanging around. I’m so sorry, I meant to come back sooner, but I had errands to run.”

Alya turned the volume up, and got her notebook ready. The main hope was that since Salo was so cocky, she’d let something else slip.

“I heard your little speech, Ladybug. Very moving. I’m sure mommy and daddy loved to hear all about how you lied to them over and over for years. And the Ladyblogger! Oh, she must be absolutely crushed. Her best friend, her hero, lying selfishly. Dangling that one bit of knowledge that she always wanted just out of reach. What a friend!”

“Bitch.” Alya muttered.

“But I’d like to correct one thing, however. You told Paris to be kind and all that junk, to make sure it stays safe until you could come back. Sorry, Ladyliar, you’re not leaving. Gabriel Agreste blew the only chance of Adrien getting out, and you…you have no chance. I have you right where I want you…So much spirit in you still. That’s fine, we’ll cure you of that soon enough.”

The group watched as Marinette and Adrien were re-chained behind their backs, and forced to stand on galvanized buckets. Salo brought a black sack over, and went to put in on Adrien’s face.

“No…no, no please don’t! Please!”

“Oh, what’s wrong kitty cat? Afraid of the dark? Or are we…claw-strophobic?”

“Oh dude…” Nino breathed. “He is. He is claustrophobic!”

Chloe buried her face in her hands. “I can’t watch!”

Thankfully, they were spared, as someone spoke off screen. “Incoming call ma’am.”

“Oh, a call, hmm?”

“The facial recognition program found a match.”

“Oh goody. We mustn’t keep him waiting then!”

One of the camera’s switched from showing the room, to showing the caller.

Hawkmoth, looking as stone cold as ever.

Alya bit her thumb.

“My my, took you long enough. I would have thought Hawkmoth would have the Ladyblog as the home screen on his computer.”

“Did you summon me to antagonize me?”

“Summon you? What, like you’re some sort of demon? Some kind of god?”

He remained emotionless.

“Your face says I’m wasting your time, but your eyes say you’re jealous.”

“Get on with it.”

She chuckled, “And impatient too. No wonder you always lost.”

Salo walked off camera, and when she returned, she held both of the miraculous in her hand. “Here, the Ladybug earrings and the Black Cat ring. Bonafide jewels of magic. Now, what will you give me for them?”

Hawkmoth narrowed his eyes.

“I knew she was going to try this.” Said Alya, pressing her fingers to her temple. “I should have taken down the blog when I had the chance.”

Salo went on. “I have no idea what you want with these. I can’t see the appeal of a grown man running around playing superhero. Perhaps you want the Black Cat to use for heists? But I couldn’t fathom a use for the Ladybug earrings. Unless you want them to be a circus performer.”

Hawkmoth remained emotionless and silent.

“You know, in bartering, there has to actually be, you know…bartering.”

“What about the children?” He asked. “If I want the gems, and those two along with them. What’s the price?”

Alya’s heart dropped into her shoes. What on earth did Hawkmoth want with them?!

Salo barked out a laugh. “You-you want—oh that’s rich! What? You want to torture them yourself?” She shook her head. “No can do, Hawkman. I have business with them. But that was a good joke.” She wiped a pretend tear from her eyes. “Look, these are useless to me. I have all the power anyone could ever want. I’m being reasonable by offering these to you first, since you so desperately want them. But if you don’t want them, then I’ll just put them for auction up online. You can try to get them there, before some other yahoo outbids you. So, do you want them, or not?”

Hawkmoth’s lip twitched in a scowl. “Oh, I want them. But I’m not making any deals with you. I abhor torture.”

She scoffed. “Oh yeah, and what would you have done with these two if you had gotten their miraculous on your own?”

“I would have sent them home. I have nothing against them personally. It is their job to fight the akuma. And once relieved of that duty, they are free to go. In the same way, they have a duty to Paris to stop criminals. But now they’re only teenagers. What you’re doing goes beyond revenge, it’s insanity.”

The notebook slipped out of Alya’s hands. This was…unbelievable.

“Oh, so now the terrorist is trying to lecture me? You’re playing all high and mighty, now that you’re not the villain anymore. But I guarantee you, if it was you verses them, and the Miraculous were in sight, you would do anything, including killing them, to get them. Don’t talk to me about insanity.”

Hawkmoth grit his teeth in anger, a fire of hatred burning in his eyes. “I will be taking those Miraculous on my own.”

“I’d love to see you try. Tell you what, I won’t put these up for auction until I’ve disposed of these two maggots. Go ahead, akumatize any random, innocent civilian you want and send them to me. But unlike them,” she thrust a thumb over her shoulder, “I won’t hesitate to kill your little minions.”

Hawkmoth ‘hmph’ed and the call ended.

The room was silent for a moment, as everyone digested what just happened.

“What…the…ever-loving—“ Started Nino.

“That is…not what I expected him to do.”

Salo laughed. “What a moron! No wonder he loses all the battles. No strategy, no thinking, just ‘I’m gonna get them’. It’s pretty sad actually. You weren’t even good heroes, just better than the villains you faced.”

Chloe was staring ahead, blankly, and then turned to look at Alya. “What…what did Hawkmoth want with the Miraculous?”

“We don’t know.” Alya answered, just as listlessly. “I never understood why he wanted those two, specifically…Marinette might have a guess.”

The group was startled as Adrien darted forward, head butting Salo in the face, before running towards the door.

A gunshot ran out over the speakers, and Chloe shrieked.

“Next time I won’t miss.”

The gun was trained right between Marinette’s eyes, who stared her down fearlessly.

“It’s your decision kitty cat. The door is right there. You can run, or you can save your little girlfriend.”

Adrien hesitated for just a second, and Alya thought that was the end.

But, blessedly, he walked back to his place.

“What do you say?”

“…sorry, ma’am.”

She punched him solidly in the gut, knocking the wind out of him, and sending him to the floor.

He rolled onto his side, desperately gasping for breath.

“What do we say?”

He gasped over and over, trying to breathe. “I’m—I’m sorry, ma’am.”

She kicked him in the side, making him cry out.

“What do we say!?”

“I’m sorry! I won’t do it again!” He all but screamed.

Pasolini grabbed his arms and hauled him to his feet.

“Then stand on the bucket.”

Salo slipped the hood on, making sure it covered him completely, before she stepped away.

“I can’t breathe,” he choked.

“What was that, kitty cat?”

“I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe!” His shoulders hunched as he flailed his head. “Please, I can’t breathe! Get it off!”

Salo ignored him, and slipped a hood onto Marinette.

“I can’t breathe!” He wailed. “Help!”

“Adrien!” Marinette cried. “Take a slow, deep breath.”

“I-I can’t! I-I-!”

“Sshh…” She hushed him. “Just inhale….and exhale…”

Marinette continued to comfort him, as Salo and her men got out ladders, and began to tie rope to the ceiling. At the end were nooses.

“You said we had time!” Chloe shouted at Alya.

“I thought we did!” She shouted right back.

“What’s happening, my lady?”

“I…I don’t know. Just keep breathing…”

“I’m—I’m scared.”

“Me too, kitty. Just keep breathing.”

Then the nooses were around their necks, and those watching began to sob.

“Do you know what this is?”

Adrien shuttered.

Marinette answered. “It’s…a rope…Oh god…” She started to cry.

“This is a very easy game to play.” Said Salo. “All you have to do, is stay very still. As long as you don’t fall, you won’t lose! Now won’t this be so much fun?”

Adrien made a noise that sounded halfway between a sob and heave.

“Oh come now! You’ve been standing for 12 hours already, what’s one more?”

It was agony. This woman sure knew her stuff. Salo walked off screen, as Marinette and Adrien stood, waiting for their demise.

All of Paris listened to the heartbroken sobs of their heroes. Terrified out of their minds.

As Adrien cried out, Marinette spoke to comfort him, but Salo smacked her in punishment.

She began to wobble.

“Oh Mari, no…please don’t fall.” Alya whispered. “Girl please…”

The bucket toppled, the rope tightened, and Marinette let out a choked gasp.

“No!!” The three leapt from the couch and screamed.

“My lady!” Adrien shouted.

Marinette was standing on her tippy toes, her neck extended as far as it would go. And she was desperately gasping for air.

“Marinette! Marinette please say something!”

Alya’s pulse pounded in her ears. How long could she stay like that? How long could she survive?

Finally, the rope was cut and she collapsed on the floor.

“My lady…my lady…” Adrien kept calling for her. Begging her to answer.

She was freed of her hood, as she continued to lay on the ground.

“Adrien…” she whispered. “Hang…hang in there…”

“My lady!” His voice was wet with relief, and he outright sobbed.

The hour ended, and his noose and hood were pulled off as well. He was weeping, tears soaking his face, as his lips pulled into a grimace.

They watched as they were both led from the room, Marinette having to be dragged.

“I’m going to kill her.” Alya stated, not for the first time. “I’m going to put her in a noose for an hour and see how she likes it!”

“Al, calm down.”

Alya shot to her feet. “No! I won’t calm down! Maybe I’ll attract another akuma! I’ll take it this time! Let me be Lady Wifi again! Akumatize me!”

But there was no akuma to be found, and Alya collapsed back onto the couch, crying into her palms. “I’m a superhero, damnit…why am I so useless?”

“How do you think everyone else in this city feels?” He asked. “Yeah, we have Miraculous. Yeah, we know them personally. But what about all the other people who love them? Who were saved by them?”

Alya shook her head. “But we’re the ones who have a chance! We can save them!”

“Alya…we’re just kids.”

Her hands flopped down to her legs, as she stared at the floor in silence. “So…we give up?”

“No, of course not.” He petted her hair. “I just think you’re being too hard on yourself. We can’t help them if we’re too busy having a pity party.”

The stream was still going, even though there was no one in the room.

“Last time, Salo had a message of when the next stream was.”

“Then we’ll just wait for it.”

About a half hour passed until the stream changed. The camera views were different, and the footage was only in black and white. Marinette and Adrien were sitting on the floor, eating something.

“They get food!” Chloe cried with relief.

“It doesn’t look like much.” Nino added.

Alya just watched with wet eyes.

Marinette was speaking.“Oh…I just…I was thinking, earlier, when we were chained up and waiting…I was looking at you, as you slept. And…I felt like I was looking at a stranger. You’re my best friend, and I care so so much about you, but…You’re not Adrien anymore, and you aren’t Chat. You’re just…different.”

“Oh…yeah, I see what you mean. I…I kinda feel the same. I’m so used to seeing Ladybug so fearless and sassy, and then Marinette shy and adorable…seeing Marinette being rebellious and…humiliated like this is…foreign.”

“Were you disappointed?” She whispered.

“What?”

“Were you disappointed? You said, a few days ago, that you were in love with Ladybug. Were you disappointed when you found out I was her?”

“No…Well…I was disappointed in myself. I promised that I would know you immediately, out of the mask. And so allowed myself to fall head over heels in love with you. In fact, there was a handful of people I would have been disappointed with if you had turned out to be them. But you were with them in person, so I didn’t worry.”

“Oh, like who?”

“My father for example.”

That managed to give smiles to those at home. “Your father, Gabriel Agreste, as Ladybug!? How the hell did you think that as an option!?”

“You don’t know! The miraculous could drastically alter someone’s appearance! If my father wanted to look like a 15 year old girl…then that’s on him, I guess.”

She giggled some more. “Boy, I hope Salo doesn’t have cameras in here right now.”

“In case she does…sorry father, that was a joke.”

This was a private moment. A conversation between two partners. Two friends.

No one had the right to listen in.

And yet Salo broadcasted it to everyone.

It was kind of uplifting, hearing Ladybug and Chat Noir admit, in some capacity, that they loved each other. Although, they didn’t outright say it.

“I looked for you.” He said softly. “I looked everywhere for you. But…you had been there, all this time. And I never noticed. I’m so sorry.”

“You don’t have anything to apologize for.”

“What about you?” He asked. “You have, or had, a crush on me. But you always rejected Chat Noir.”

“I’m so happy that you’re my kitty.” She croaked, emotional. “I always thought that you were so kind and forgiving…it makes sense that you’re him.”

“I’m glad.” He hummed. “Back before all this, before the photo thing…I thought you hated me.”

“What?”

“Yeah! I mean, you were always so…uncomfortable around me. I thought maybe you were still holding a grudge a little from the whole gum incident.”

“What! I would never!”

“I know that now.” He snickered. “I just...I’m sheltered. I still haven’t picked up on all social cues.”

“Oh, I think you’re doing pretty okay.”

“Yeah?”

“Most of the time.”

He hummed. “Then I guess you’ll just have to stay with me to help me with the few I miss.”

There was a pause, and Adrien made a confused face. “What?”

“What what?”

“Didn’t you just say my name?”

“No...?”

“You so did! Just now!” Adrien turned in his cell towards her.

“I said ‘most of the time’ and that’s it!”

“I could have sworn—What?”

“I didn’t say anything!”

“Well someone did! I just heard my name! I keep hearing someone calling for me!”

Marinette was sat up a little bit, “You…you didn’t just say my name, did you?”

“No…and I didn’t hear it either…Ugh this is freaking me out! Is it a ghost?”

Marinette scoffed. “More than likely, it’s a tiny speaker that Salo hid in your cell. Mine too.”

Almost instantly, Marinette’s body went slack and she slumped against the wall.

Adrien called out for her, but likewise, he collapsed.

“What’s happening to them?” Asked Chloe.

“I have no idea. They were fine just a minute ago.”

Marinette’s mouth opened, and she called out for him. “Cccccchhhhhhaaaaatttttt…” Her voice was slow and drawn out, some drool tripping off her lip.

Adrien started flailing, like he was losing his balance. Then he pulled at the door of his cell. It opened without any resistance and he wandered out.

The camera changed angles to show the room they were in. The three could see the cages they were being kept in, that looked like old duct work. The rest of the room was mostly empty. Some junk scattered around, and a plank of wood over the doorway.

Adrien stumbled out, swaying back and forth, looking like a drunkard. He turned towards Marinette’s cage and started walking, with a heavy lean backwards, like he was fighting gravity.

“What is wrong with him?” Chloe demanded. “He looks drunk.”

Nino opened his mouth a few times, then said, “Dehydration?”

Alya shook her head. “Not like this. It has to be drugs. Of some kind. Maybe in the food.”

“I’m not dreaming am I?” Adrien asked aloud.

He turned around in a circle, then tried to swing his bum arm around. “I’m not dreaming, am I?” He asked again. “Didn’t I just say that?”

He wobbled and finally reached Marinette’s cage. Opening the door, he leaned against the opening.

“You’re not Marinette.” He said.

The camera showed Marinette looking up at him. He was definitely looking at her, but he was seeing someone else. And so was she.

“I’m not?” She asked right back.

“Have we met before?”

“Have we met before?” Parroted Marinette.

“Yes of course!” Said Adrien, then muttered something incomprehensible.

Marinette stood slowly, her world swaying.

“You’re my mommy!” Adrien giggled, his hands over his mouth.

“They’re hallucinating.” Alya breathed.

“That’s sick.” Nino spat.

Then Adrien screamed. Screamed bloody murder, blowing out the microphones. He scrambled, his movement frantic, but graceless, as he whirled around in space.

Marinette was scrambling after him, rage on her face, and thus began the slowest chase anyone had ever seen. Multiple times, they both fell on the floor, rolling around like they were drowning.

Adrien gathered his footing and ran at full speed at the wall, colliding with it, over and over and over again, like if he hit it hard enough, he would break through.

Nino winced with each impact.

“Oh, did that hurt?” She asked, as Adrien slid to lay on the floor.

“I’m not dreaming am I?”

“You already said that.”

“I’m losing my mind.”

“Quite possibly.”

They reached out for each other, taking hold of the other’s wrist. They both pulled, Adrien raising off the floor, only to fall back down again. They were both screaming incomprehensible garbage at each other.

Adrien just started rolling around on the floor, squawking and squealing, making ungodly noises of pain and fear.

They couldn’t begin to imagine what he was seeing.

Marinette wasn’t much better. She wasn’t on the ground, but she was still screaming. Alya heard her call out for Chat once or twice. She staggered a few steps, her foot colliding with something metal on the ground. She stooped and picked it up.

A crowbar.

“Put it down, Mari.” Alya begged. “Drop it!”

With a shriek, she started to hack at Adrien with the crowbar, hitting him in the chest as he continued to scream.

Blood came out of his mouth with each hit.

Finally, Marinette stopped, just at the apex of her swing.

“My lady?” He asked softly.

The crowbar clattered to the ground loudly.

“Chat? Is that you?” She asked.

“I…I don’t know.” He answered honestly. “I feel like…I’m not me.”

“Me neither.”

Marinette staggered backwards, and started screaming again. And Adrien started to roll around. It was starting over again.

—

Many hours passed. The sun had set, and the streetlights had gone on. Chloe wandered over to Adrien’s bed and collapsed. She laid there crying for several hours before she finally fell asleep. Nino watched for much longer, but his head lolled, and he fell asleep on the couch.

Alya was the only one still awake, watching as Adrien and Marinette continued their drug induced haze. Her eyes burned, her tears all dried up.

Trixx floated up to her face. “You should go to sleep, pretty girl.”

“Can’t.” Alya shook her head. “I have to…have to watch for clues.”

“If there hasn’t been any so far, I don’t think there will be any.”

Alya rubbed her eyes, blinking back the emotion that threatened to take her. She glanced at her phone. “School starts in two hours.”

“You aren’t going to school,” her kwami scolded gently. “You need to sleep or your going to start hallucinating too.”

“I…don’t think I can sleep. Even if I wanted to.”

Trip swooped over and turned off the TV. “Then do something else for a little while. If you watch this any longer, you’re not going to be any help to them.”

Alya sighed. “Fine. I’ll do something else.”

Adrien’s computer was just over there. Maybe he wouldn’t have a password on it. She sat down, and shook the mouse, the screen coming to life. His wallpaper was him with his mother, which was almost too painful to look at.

She clicked on Chrome, pulling up the internet. His most recent page was the Ladyblog, and he was logged in.

As Chat Noir.

Alya chuckled to herself. “If anyone had gotten on this computer at any time, they would have figured you out.”

Allowing him some privacy, she logged him out, and logged in as herself.

Salo’s post to Hawkmoth was gone. Whether she took it down or Max did, Alya didn’t know. And she didn’t really care.

She opened a new post, knowing she should probably do this before things got out of hand, and people starting asking questions. They probably were, but she hadn’t checked her notifications since they went missing.

Hi Ladybloggers, Alya here.

I’m sure you’ve seen the news. If you haven’t, it is with a heavy heart that I announce that Ladybug and Chat Noir have been captured by a woman going by the name Salo. She has them held hostage somewhere undisclosed. She’s been streaming on this site (WARNING: What she is doing to them is graphic and not for the faint of heart. Those under the age of 18 probably shouldn’t look.) They have had their Miraculous stolen and their identities exposed.

Ladybug is my best friend, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, who I have talked about several times on the blog.

Chat Noir is also a good friend of mine, Adrien Agreste, head model for Gabriel Agreste. He’s in my class.

I’m sure many articles and news sites will try to get the scoop on what kind of people they are. I’m in contact with their parents right now, and I’d just like to say, if a story is not endorsed by my blog, it most likely is not factual, and not authorized by either family. (This does not include any interviews that Adrien did prior to being captured.)

When I am ready, I will share some clips of Marinette that we took together. I want everyone to know how amazing, wonderful, thoughtful, helpful and kind they both are in their other lives. They took the superhero duty above and beyond the mask and always tried to help others and do the right thing.

Soon, I will also be making a detailed transcript of what happens in the stream, for those of you who are unwilling to watch it. Anyone willing to help with this endeavor, please message me.

First thing first though. Marinette, Ladybug, had said something earlier today that I want to share and hammer home.

“If you’re watching this, you…you’re probably feeling a little hopeless. I don’t blame you. I feel…pretty hopeless too. I mean, I’m stuck. I’m not sure how I’m going to get out of this. But Ladybug always saves the day, right?

My name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng. I’m 17 years old, and my favorite color is pink. I’m the daughter of the best bakers in Paris, though I might be a little bias. Before I became Ladybug, I was a normal girl, with a normal life. What made me extraordinary, was my willingness to help others, and my kindness. So Paris, I have a favor to ask:

“Be helpful and kind. Go out of your way do something nice for someone once a day. If you can do this for me, then I know Paris will be safe until we return.”

This is Ladybug’s favor to us, and it’s the least we can do.

More info to come.

Alya out.

#miraculous ladybug #ml #longest night #fanfiction #ladybug #chat noir #marinette dupain cheng #adrien agreste #chloe bourgeois #alya cesaire #nino lahiffe #adrinette

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kemetic-dreams · 5 years ago

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Ibrahima & Abdoulaye Barry Written by Deborah BachAudio by Sara Lerner

How a new alphabet is helping an ancient people write its own future

When they were 10 and 14, brothers Abdoulaye and Ibrahima Barry set out to invent an alphabet for their native language, Fulfulde, which had been spoken by millions of people for centuries but never had its own writing system. While their friends were out playing in the neighborhood, Ibrahima, the older brother, and Abdoulaye would shut themselves in their room in the family’s house in Nzérékoré, Guinea, close their eyes and draw shapes on paper.

When one of them called stop they’d open their eyes, choose the shapes they liked and decide what sound of the language they matched best. Before long, they’d created a writing system that eventually became known as ADLaM.

The brothers couldn’t have known the challenges that lay ahead. They couldn’t have imagined the decades-long journey to bring their writing system into widespread use, one that would eventually lead them to Microsoft. They wouldn’t have dreamed that the script they invented would change lives and open the door to literacy for millions of people around the world.

They didn’t know any of that back in 1989. They were just two kids with a naïve sense of purpose.

“We just wanted people to be able to write correctly in their own language, but we didn’t know what that meant. We didn’t know how much work it would be,” said Abdoulaye Barry, now 39 and living in Portland, Oregon.

“If we knew everything we would have to go through, I don’t think we would have done it.”

ADLaM is an acronym that translates to 'the alphabet that will prevent a people from being lost.'

A new writing system takes shape

The Fulbhe, or Fulani, people were originally nomadic pastoralists who dispersed across West Africa, settling in countries stretching from Sudan to Senegal and along the coast of the Red Sea. More than 40 million people speak Fulfulde — some estimates put the number at between 50 and 60 million — in around 20 African countries. But the Fulbhe people never developed a script for their language, instead using Arabic and sometimes Latin characters to write in their native tongue, also known as Fulani, Pular and Fula. Many sounds in Fulfulde can’t be represented by either alphabet, so Fulfulde speakers improvised as they wrote, with varying results that often led to muddled communications.

The Barry brothers’ father, Isshaga Barry, who knew Arabic, would decipher letters for friends and family who brought them to the house. When he was busy or tired, young Abdoulaye and Ibrahima would help out.

“They were very hard to read, those letters,” Abdoulaye recalled. “People would use the most approximate Arabic sound to represent a sound that doesn’t exist in Arabic. You had to be somebody who knows how to read Arabic letters well and also knows the Fulfulde language to be able to decipher those letters.”

Abdoulaye asked his father why their people didn’t have their own writing system. Isshaga replied that the only alphabet they had was Arabic, and Abdoulaye promised to create one for Fulfulde.

“At a basic level, that’s how the whole idea of ADLaM started,” Abdoulaye said. “We saw that there was a need for something and we thought maybe we could fix it.”

The brothers developed an alphabet with 28 letters and 10 numerals written right to left, later adding six more letters for other African languages and borrowed words. They first taught it to their younger sister, then began teaching people at local markets, asking each student to teach at least three more people. They transcribed books and produced their own handwritten books and pamphlets in ADLaM, focusing on practical topics such as infant care and water filtration.

While attending university in Conakry, Guinea’s capital city, the brothers started a group called Winden Jangen — Fulfulde for “writing and reading” — and continued developing ADLaM. Abdoulaye left Guinea in 2003, moving to Portland with his wife and studying finance. Ibrahima stayed behind, completing a civil engineering degree, and continued working on ADLaM. He wrote more books and started a newspaper, translating news stories from the radio and television from French to Fulfulde. Isshaga, a shopkeeper, photocopied the newspapers and Ibrahima handed them out to Fulbhe people, who were so grateful they sometimes wept.

But not everyone was pleased by the brothers’ work. Some objected to their efforts to spread ADLaM, saying Fulbhe people should learn French, English or Arabic instead. In 2002, military officers raided a Winden Jangen meeting, arrested Ibrahima and imprisoned him for three months. He was not charged with anything or ever told why he was arrested, Abdoulaye said. Undeterred, Ibrahima moved to Portland in 2007 and continued writing books while studying civil engineering and mathematics.

ADLaM, meanwhile, was spreading beyond Guinea. A palm oil dealer, a woman the brothers’ mother knew, was teaching ADLaM to people in Senegal, Gambia and Sierra Leone. A man from Senegal told Ibrahima that after learning ADLaM, he felt so strongly about the need to share what he’d learned that he left his auto repair business behind and went to Nigeria and Ghana to teach others.

“He said, ‘This is changing people’s lives,’” said Ibrahima, now 43. “We realized this is something people want.”

ADLaM comes online

The brothers also understood that to fully tap ADLaM’s potential, they needed to get it onto computers. They made inquiries about getting ADLaM encoded in Unicode, the global computing industry standard for text, but got no response. After working and saving for close to a year, the brothers had enough money to hire a Seattle company to create a keyboard and font for ADLaM. Since their script wasn’t supported by Unicode, they layered it on top of the Arabic alphabet. But without the encoding, any text they typed just came through as random groupings of Arabic letters unless the recipients had the font installed on their computers.

Following that setback, Ibrahima made a fateful decision. Wanting to refine the letters the Seattle font designer developed, which he wasn’t happy with, he enrolled in a calligraphy class at Portland Community College. The instructor, Rebecca Wild, asked students at the start of each course why they were taking her class. Some needed an art credit; others wanted to decorate cakes or become tattoo artists. The explanation from the quiet African man with the French accent stunned Wild.

“It was mind-blowing when I heard the story of why he was doing this,” said Wild, who lives in Port Townsend, Washington. “It’s so remarkable. I think they deserve a Nobel Peace Prize for what they’re doing. What a difference they’ve made on this planet, and they’re these two humble brothers.”

Wild was struck by Ibrahima’s focus and assiduousness in class. “He was always a star student,” she said. “He had this skill set and unending patience. He worked and worked and worked in class on the assignments, but at the same time, he was taking all this stuff he was learning in class back to ADLaM.”

Wild helped Ibrahima get a scholarship to a calligraphy conference at Reed College in Portland, where he met Randall Hasson, a calligraphy artist and painter. Hasson was seated at a table one afternoon, giving a lettering demonstration with another instructor, and Ibrahima came over. A book about African alphabets rested on the table. Ibrahima picked it up, commented that the scripts in the book weren’t the only African alphabets and offhandedly mentioned that he and his brother had invented an alphabet.

Hasson, who has extensively researched ancient alphabets, assumed Ibrahima meant that he and his brother had somehow modified an alphabet.

��I said, ‘You mean you adapted an alphabet?’” Hasson recalled. “I had to ask him three times to be sure he had actually invented one.”

After hearing Ibrahima’s story, Hasson suggested teaming up for a talk on ADLaM at a calligraphy conference in Colorado the following year. The audience sat rapt as Hasson told Ibrahima’s story, giving him a standing ovation as he walked to the stage. During a break earlier in the day, Ibrahima asked Hasson to come and meet a few people. They were four Fulbhe men who had driven almost 1,800 miles from New York just to hear Ibrahima’s talk, hoping it would finally help get ADLaM the connections they sought.

Hasson was so moved after speaking with them that he walked away, sat down in an empty stairwell and cried.

“At that moment,” he said, “I began to understand how important this talk was to these people.”

Ibrahima made connections at the conference that got him introduced to Michael Everson, one of the editors of the Unicode Standard. It was the break the brothers needed. With help from Everson, Ibrahima and Abdoulaye put together a proposal for ADLaM to be added to Unicode.

Andrew Glass is a senior program manager at Microsoft who works on font and keyboard technology and provides expertise to the Unicode Technical Committee. The ADLaM proposal and the Barry brothers’ pending visit to the Unicode Consortium generated much interest and excitement among Glass and other committee members, most of whom have linguistics backgrounds. Glass’s graduate studies focused on writing systems that are around 2,000 years old, and like other linguists he uses a methodological, technical approach to analyze and understand writing systems.

But here were two brothers with no training in linguistics, who developed an alphabet through a natural, organic approach — and when they were children, no less. New writing systems aren’t created very often, and the chance to actually talk with the inventors of one was rare.

“You come across things in these old writing systems and you wonder why it’s the way it is, and there’s nobody to ask,” Glass said. “This was a unique opportunity to say, ‘Why is it like this? Did they think about doing things differently? Why are the letters ordered this way?’ and things like that.”

Microsoft worked with designers to develop a font for Windows and Office called Ebrima that supports ADLaM and several other African writing systems.

It was during the Unicode process that ADLaM got its new name. The brothers originally called their alphabet Bindi Pular, meaning “Pular script,” but had always wanted a more meaningful name. Some people in Guinea who’d been teaching the script suggested ADLaM, an acronym using the first four letters of the script for a phrase that translates to “the alphabet that will prevent a people from being lost.” The Unicode Technical Committee approved ADLaM in 2014 and the alphabet was included in Unicode 9.0, released in June 2016. The brothers were elated.

“It was very exciting for us,” Abdoulaye said. “Once we got encoded, we thought, ‘This is it.’”

But they soon realized there were other, possibly even more challenging hurdles ahead. For ADLaM to be usable on computers, it had to be supported on desktop and mobile operating systems, and with fonts and keyboards. To make it broadly accessible, it also needed to be integrated on social networking sites.

The brothers’ script found a champion in Glass, who had developed Windows keyboards for several languages and worked on supporting various writing systems in Microsoft technology. Glass told others at Microsoft about ADLaM and helped connect the Barry brothers to the right people at the company. He developed keyboard layouts for ADLaM, initially as a project during Microsoft’s annual companywide employee hackathon.

Judy Safran-Aasen, a program manager for Microsoft’s Windows design group, also saw the importance of incorporating ADLaM into Microsoft products. Safran-Aasen wrote a business plan for adding ADLaM to Windows and pushed the work forward with various Microsoft teams.

“It was a shoestring collaboration of a few people who were really interested in seeing this happen,” she said. “It’s a powerful human interest story, and if you tell the story you can get people onboard.

“This is going to have an impact on literacy throughout that community and enable people to be part of the Windows ecosystem, where before that just wasn’t available to them,” Safran-Aasen said. “I’m really excited that we can make this happen.”

ADLaM creators Ibrahima and Abdoulaye Barry in Portland, Oregon.

Microsoft worked with two type designers in Maine, Mark Jamra and Neil Patel, to develop an ADLaM component for Windows and Office within Microsoft’s existing Ebrima font, which also supports other African writing systems. ADLaM support is included in the Windows 10 May 2019 update, allowing users to type and see ADLaM in Windows, including in Word and other Office apps.

Microsoft’s support for ADLaM, Abdoulaye said, “is going to be a huge jump for us.”

ADLaM is also supported by the Kigelia typeface system developed by Jamra and Patel, which includes eight African scripts and is being added to Office later this year. The designers wanted to create a type system for a region of the world lacking in typeface development, where they say existing fonts tend to be oversimplified and poorly researched. They consulted extensively with Ibrahima and Abdoulaye to refine ADLaM’s forms, painstakingly working to execute on the brothers’ vision within the boundaries of font technology.

“This was their life’s work that they started when they were kids,” Patel said. “To get it right is a big deal.”

And to many Africans, Jamra said, a script is more than just an alphabet. ”These writing systems are cultural icons,” he said. “It’s not like the Latin script. They really are symbols of ethnic identity for many of these communities.”

They’re also a means of preserving and advancing a culture. Without a writing system it’s difficult for people to record their history, to share perspective and knowledge across generations, even to engage in the basic communications that facilitate commerce and daily activities. There is greater interest in recent years in establishing writing systems for languages that didn’t have them, Glass said, to help ensure those languages remain relevant and don’t disappear. He pointed to the Osage script, created by an elder in 2006 to preserve and revitalize the language, as an example.

“There is a big push among language communities to develop writing systems,” Glass said. “And when they get them, they are such a powerful tool to put identity around that community, and also empower that community to learn and become educated.

“I think ADLaM has tremendous potential to change circumstances and improve people’s lives. That’s one of the things that’s really exciting about this.”

Keeping a culture alive

Ibrahima and Abdoulaye don’t know how many people around the world have learned ADLaM. It could be hundreds of thousands, maybe more. As many as 24 countries have been represented at ADLaM’s annual conference in Guinea, and there are ADLaM learning centers in Africa, Europe and the U.S. On a recent trip to Brussels, Ibrahima discovered that four learning centers had opened there and others have started in the Netherlands.

“I was really surprised. I couldn’t imagine that ADLaM has reached so many people outside of Africa,” he said.

Abdoulaye “Bobody” Barry (no relation to ADLaM’s creator) lives in Harlem, New York and is part of Winden Jangen, now a nonprofit organization based in New York City. He learned ADLaM a decade ago and has taught it to hundreds of people, first at mosques and then through messaging applications using an Android app. The script has enabled Fulbhe people, many of whom never learned to read and write in English or French, to connect around the world and has fostered a sense of sense of cultural pride, Barry said.

“This is part of our blood. It came from our culture,” he said. “This is not from the French people or the Arabic people. This is ours. This is our culture. That’s why people get so excited.”

Suwadu Jallow emigrated to the U.S. from Gambia in 2012 and took an ADLaM class the Barry brothers taught at Portland Community College. ADLaM is easy for Fulfulde speakers to learn, she said, and will help sustain the language, particularly among the African diaspora.

“Now I can teach this language to someone and have the sense of my tribe being here for years and years to come without the language dying off,” said Jallow, who lives in Seattle. “Having this writing system, you can teach kids how to speak (Fulfulde) just like you teach them to speak English. It will help preserve the language and let people be creative and innovative.”

Jallow is pursuing a master’s in accounting at the University of Washington and hopes to develop an inventory-tracking system in ADLaM after she graduates. She got the idea after helping out in her mother’s baby clothing shop in Gambia as a child and seeing that her mother, who understood little English and Arabic, could not properly record and track expenses. ADLaM, she said, can empower people like her mother who are fluent in Fulfulde and just need a way to write it.

“It’s going to increase literacy,” she said. “I believe knowledge is power, and if you’re able to read and write, that’s a very powerful tool to have. You can do a lot of things that you weren’t able to do.”

The Fulbhe people in Guinea historically produced a considerable volume of books and manuscripts, Abdoulaye Barry said, using Arabic to write in their language. Most households traditionally had a handwritten personal book detailing the family’s ancestry and the history of the Fulbhe people. But the books weren’t shared outside the home, and Fulbhe people largely stopped writing during French colonization, when the government mandated teaching in French and the use of Arabic was limited primarily to learning the Koran.

“Everything else was basically discounted and no longer had the value that it had before the French came,” Abdoulaye said.

Having ADLaM on phones and computers creates infinite possibilities — Fulbhe people around the world will be able to text each other, surf the internet, produce written materials in their own language. But even before ADLaM’s entry into the digital world, Fulfulde speakers in numerous countries have been using the script to write books. Ibrahima mentions a man in Guinea who never went to school and has written more than 30 books in ADLaM, and a high school girl, also in Guinea, who wrote a book about geography and another about how to succeed on exams. The president of Winden Jangen, Abdoulaye Barry (also no relation to Ibrahima’s brother), said many older Fulbhe people who weren’t formally educated are now writing about Fulbhe history and traditions.

“Now, everybody can read that and understand the culture,” he said. “The only way to keep a culture alive is if you read and write in your own language.”

‘The kids are the future’

Though ADLaM has spread over several continents, Ibrahima and Abdoulaye aren’t slowing down their work. Both spend much of their spare time promoting the script, traveling to conferences and continuing to write. Ibrahima, who sleeps a maximum of four hours a night, recently finished the first book of ADLaM grammar and hopes to build a learning academy in Guinea.

On a chilly recent day in Abdoulaye’s home in Portland, the brothers offer tea and patiently answer questions about ADLaM. They are unfailingly gracious, gamely agreeing to drive to a scenic spot on the Willamette River for photos after a long day of talking. They’re also quick to deflect praise for what they have accomplished. Ibrahima, who sometimes wakes up to hundreds of email and text messages from grateful ADLaM learners, said simply that he’s “very happy” with how the script has progressed. For his brother, the response to ADLaM can be overwhelming.

Having this writing system, you can teach kids how to speak Fulani just like you teach them to speak English. It will help preserve the language and let people be creative and innovative.

“It’s very emotional sometimes,” Abdoulaye said. “I feel like people are grateful beyond what we deserve.”

The brothers want ADLaM to be a tool for combating illiteracy, one as lasting and important to their people as the world’s most well-known alphabets are to cultures that use them. They have a particular goal of ADLaM being used to educate African women, who they said are more impacted by illiteracy than men and are typically the parent who teaches children to read.

“If we educate women we can help a lot of people in the community, because they are the foundation of our community,” Abdoulaye said. “I think ADLaM is the best way to educate people because they don’t need to learn a whole new language that’s only used at school. If we switched to this, it would make education a lot easier.”

That hasn’t happened yet, but ADLaM has fostered a grassroots learning movement fueled largely through social media. There are several ADLaM pages on Facebook, and groups with hundreds of members are learning together on messaging apps. Abdoulaye said he and Ibrahima used to hear mostly about adults learning ADLaM, but increasingly it’s now children. Those children will grow up with ADLaM, using the script Abdoulaye and Ibrahima invented all those years ago in their bedroom.

“That makes us believe ADLaM is going to live,” Abdoulaye said. “It’s now settled into the community because it’s in the kids, and the kids are the future.”

Originally published on 7/29/2019 / Photos by Brian Smale / © Microsoft

#fulani #african writing #african writing systems #abdoulaye #adlam #kemetic dreams

30 notes · View notes

sserpente · 6 years ago

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A/N: Request from @captainsteverogerslover. Loved this one!

Words: 1643 Warnings: none… fine, fluff

“Jonathan Pine. I booked a double room last night.”

“Oh yes, the lucky fellow!” The receptionist replied with a heavy Austrian accent. “The last double room we still had available this season. If you could just sign this form, sir, and let me take a copy of your passport, then I can give you your keys straight away.”

The secret spy nodded sternly, clearly not in the mood to return the receptionist’s excitement. You crossed your arms behind him, still shivering from the cold outside. Compared to England, Austria was freezing in winter, especially up here in the mountains—well, at the very least, you would get to see some snow. London was usually rather sulky in December, with heavy rain if anything.

“Does it really have to be a double bedroom?” You hissed when the receptionist turned around to photocopy Jonathan’s fake passport.

“Two separate rooms are too suspicious. No one is going to pay attention to a courting young couple taking a vacation in the mountains over Christmas.”

If only you were a courting young couple though. Instead, both Jonathan and you had been sent here by Angela Burr to spy on a drug dealing Greek who was hiding here with his three wives over the holidays. Being all alone during the festive season yourself, you had both agreed to take on the mission. There was only one catch—you were hopelessly in love with him. Tricky, really, considering your profession but unfortunately, your heart wouldn’t listen when you told it to stop developing feelings for Jonathan.

“All done, sir. Here are your keys, one for you, one for your lovely company. Your room is on the fourth floor with a marvellous view over the Alps, if I may point that out. Breakfast is served from six to ten during the week and from seven to eleven on the weekend. If there is anything you need, feel free to call room service and we’ll gladly assist you. Enjoy your stay!”

“Thank you…” Jonathan mumbled. He gave the receptionist a fake smile and headed over to the elevator, expecting you to follow him. He always was this distant when he was working, hardly showing any kind of emotion. Naturally, it was essential for a good spy not to let your feelings, whatever they may be, get the better of you, still, you wished he’d warm up a little. You doubted your lovesick heart could deal with his coldness on Christmas.

You suppressed a sigh when Jonathan mutely unlocked the hotel room and stepped inside, taking a look around. Your jaw dropped. This… this wasn’t just a hotel room. This was a luxurious suite.

There was a giant double bed with silken bed sheets dominating the room, the huge windows offering, like the receptionist had promised, a breath-taking view over Austria’s Alps. There was a small table with fresh flowers and a metal bucket filled with ice containing a bottle of champagne and two glasses as well as a bowl full of fresh fruit.

The open bathroom door presented a hot tub with enough space for two, there was a chimney with a cosy crackling fire opposite the bed and on top of that, the room was mostly illuminated by candles. This… was romantic.

You swallowed thickly. This was dangerous.

“This is lovely.” Jonathan said unimpressed—quite obviously, he was used to luxurious hotels.

“Lovely? This is amazing. I think… I think I am going to try that whirlpool,” you replied smugly. “We might as well enjoy ourselves if we’re gonna be here over the holidays.”

The English spy chuckled.

“Do that. I have to call Angela.”

Honestly, it was going surprisingly well. Jonathan and you kept your eyes on the drug dealer day and night, went skiing together when you found the time and even spent some cosy nights with hot cocoa and champagne by the fire.

And now that Christmas was drawing nearer, it almost seemed like Jonathan was in fact starting to behave a little warmer around you. The thought of it made your heart jump. You longed to tell him about your feelings, especially when you ended up sleeping in the same bed every night. Last morning, so you remembered, you had woken up cuddled up against him and he… he didn’t seem to mind it.

Two days ago, the staff had set up a tiny but incredibly beautiful Christmas tree in your suite, neatly decorated with countless baubles, a holiday light and even edible ornaments. They had explained to you that it was custom in Austria to set up the tree and decorate it only shortly before Christmas Eve so now, the entire hotel room smelled wonderfully like pine needles—no pun intended.

The impressive balcony outside had one other advantage—it gave you a perfect view over the terrace on the ground floor, which the drug dealer regularly visited to make use of the heated whirlpools.

You had just stepped out of the shower and gotten dressed again when you spotted Jonathan on the balcony, leaning against the wooden rail with crossed arms and looking down in a focused manner.

“Is he doing anything?” You called out.

“Yes. Currently, he is feeding one of his wives hot cherries.”

Your face distorted.

“Nothing I would like to witness myself, thank you. Are you sure he is up to something here? I mean… what if he is just taking some time off? Especially drug dealers should be happy to spend all that money they make with their illegal businesses.”

Jonathan shrugged.

“These people never really take ‘some time off’. They—shit.”

He acted quicker than your brain could process it. Frantically, the English spy suddenly grabbed your waist and pulled you close, his thin and, as you had expected, soft lips coming crushing down on yours. Jonathan kissed you so ferociously you gasped for air, your eyes falling shut only when you realised what was happening.

You could feel his hand cupping your neck and holding you in place for him, his tongue darting out to ask for entrance as it slid over your mouth to taste you.

Moaning against him, you let him deepen the kiss, your own hands travelling to his chest and clutching at his shirt.

Heaven… you were in heaven! But why… why on Earth was he suddenly kissing you? Had he found out about your undying love for him? Had you been too conspicuous, had he…

Finally, Jonathan pulled away, letting you catch your breath. He glanced down at the drug dealer whose attention was now back on his wife, or… one of his wives.

“I’m sorry.” He breathed out. “He noticed us. We had to look like a harmless couple enjoying the view together.” Oh.

“Yeah, no, that’s fine, don’t worry about it.” You choked out, swallowing thickly to stop your voice from shaking. Your lips were swollen when you licked over them absentmindedly, giving Jonathan an insecure smile before returning inside—it was getting too cold anyway. Perhaps you should take another shower and try not to cry.

Only you did not expect him to follow you.

“Are you alright?”

“Huh?” Blinking, you looked up, ripped from your thoughts violently.

“Are you alright?” He repeated.

“Oh yeah, sure, I’m okay, of course.”

Jonathan said nothing. He kept staring at you with those stinging blue eyes that seemed to look right into your soul.

“You knew what you were getting yourself into when you agreed to come with me, right?”

“What? Of course I did.”

“Yet you seem rather repelled by the fact we have to act like we’re in love. Pretending to be someone else, it’s part of this job.”

Pain rippled through your chest. Sadly, you lowered your gaze, avoiding his eyes.

“What if I’m not pretending then?” You whispered.

Jonathan frowned, remaining silent until you continued.

“Maybe it was a bad idea to join you. I thought I could cope with it but clearly, I was wrong. This hotel room, the champagne, the hot cocoa by the fire and now that kiss… don’t you get it, Jonathan? I love you. I have been in love with you for… for weeks. I only didn’t tell you because I knew you would reject me because I am your colleague and feelings like this have no space in a profession like this, you have to be focused and strong and mustn’t have any weaknesses, not be vulnerable, you—“

You didn’t get to finish your sentence, for it was the second time he caught you off guard with another mind-blowing kiss. Moaning into his mouth, you let it consume you, unable to rationally comprehend what was happening now. This time, so you realised, he was even more passionate. This time… he meant it.

“Why must women be so complicated?” He mumbled when he released you, his long fingers lightly stroking your reddened cheek.

“Hey…”

“You’re right,” he went on unfazed. “We shouldn’t be doing this. If they find out… you will be in constant danger. But that doesn’t mean we can’t act on our feelings. Actually…” He smirked smugly. “I had no idea you were in love with me. You’re sending awfully mixed signals, darling.”

Your lips parted, indignant and playful at the very same time. Jesus Christ… he did have feelings for you.

“I wasn’t sending mixed signals!”

“You did. Is that why you were so nervous this entire time?”

Nodding, you bit your lower lip. Jonathan sighed.

“I tell you what. I’m gonna call Angela and tell her what we have found out and then, the two of us are going to spend a lovely Christmas together. Good thing I’ve already bought your present.”

Your eyes lit up.

“You got me a present? What is it?”

The English spy smiled mischievously and winked.

“You’ll have to wait until Christmas morning, darling.”

A/N: Guys, if you liked this story, I would appreciate so much if you could support me on KoFi! YOU can help me publish my first novel! It’s easy, it’s anonymous, you can do it from all over the world and it’s just 3€! Your help counts too, I’d appreciate it so much if you helped me fulfil my dream! ♥ ko-fi.com/sserpente

#jonathan pine #jonathan pine imagine #jonathan pine x you #jonathan pine x reader #the night manager #the night manager imagine #bbc #tom hiddleston #thomas quince #jack linden #andrew birch

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seat-safety-switch · 5 years ago

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Who can come home from work, hang up their jacket, tuck the old briefcase away with their galoshes, feed the dog, sit down at their kitchen table and say they worked hard all day long? All of us have at least a little bit of slack time in their day. If you don’t, scientists have said, your brain actually tries to melt itself by repeatedly focusing on difficult concepts until you pass out. That’s why you’re here, reading this, instead of trying to cure cancer or go to Mars or some other bullshit like that.

I’m no different - although most of you will argue I barely read what I’m writing at all. Every free moment of my life, I find my hands involuntarily moving to hit the refresh button on my local automobile classifieds. This time, I tell myself every time I yank the slot machine handle of Craigslist, this time I will find a really good deal. And I will beat the other buyers to it, and I will keep it forever, finally having found a car that can satisfy my wandering eye and voracious appetite for finding out the interior quirks of various twenty-to-forty-year-old commuter cars.

It’s pretty intense. In fact, I hit Craigslist so many times that I found myself getting burned out. I needed to pick up some kind of slack on top of the slack, so that I could temporarily suspend my search for shitty cars in order to have some fun once in awhile. That’s why I picked up a part-time retail job.

Whenever I get bored of endlessly refreshing a bookmarked search for “Honda Wagovan,” I just look up and see if there are any customers. Usually there aren’t, unless you count the two fentanyl dealers - once each in the men’s and women’s bathrooms - who are locked in bitter competition to see who can “own” the territory of a half-abandoned Office Depot in an industrial park named after the company that invented cancer. We would do something about them, but our HR is much lazier than I am, and those two scumbags in the toilet work much harder than me for what comes out to be a slightly lower hourly rate.

It’s true what they say - good things come to those who wait. Just last week, my manager got fired for trying to make his own gonzo porno magazine using the store-demo photocopier and I got a promotion. This was a much more stressful job, however, so I found myself goofing off more frequently than ever, working two shifts at the Walmart down the road.

#honda #honda wagovan #precarious employment

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seoboosterr · 2 years ago

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Renting a Flat in Abu Dhabi? Here's a Checklist!

Although there are many real estate outlets working but still moving to a new city or a new flat can be daunting. Most people will agree that renting a flat can become a severe headache if not managed properly. While the Internet has made property searching easier, we cannot deny that it has created scope for the scam. Many people book their rental properties by looking at attractive pictures online and wasting money on the wrong property. Other common problems that renters may face include paying higher rent, encountering owners who set their terms and conditions, or are adamantly increasing the rent per their needs. To avoid all such problems, you must select a flat for rent in Abu Dhabi wisely. Here is some information about essential things you must not avoid while renting an apartment.

Inspecting The Property Properly

In this internet age, many tenants skip this process due to a lack of time. Many people are tempted by the attractive property pictures and lock the deal impatiently. But this can lead to some undesirable mistakes. Therefore, you should inspect the property before renting a 1 bedroom for rent in Abu Dhabi. You can book an appointment for a flat inspection by calling the owner or agent.

It would help if you accompanied a friend or family member when visiting for the flat inspection. Make sure you do not select the Studio for rent in Abu Dhabi only on the whim of its interior outlook; instead, give enough attention to the details, such as safety, air ventilation, and water supply. Even if you liked the property, do not appreciate it in front of the owner as he/she might demand you a higher rent.

Be Clear About The Rent And Increment

Before renting a flat, you must research the rental costs in the area. Gathering this information would take hardly a few minutes and can help you to find the cheapest flat for rent in Abu Dhabi. Also, determine how the rent in the area varies as per the age of the property, quality of construction, interior design, and many other factors. While discussing the rent with your owner, do not hesitate to bargain over the cost. You can ask for a flat for rent in Abu Dhabi monthly basis. Ideally, the rent of the flat should not exceed the standard costs.

Reading The Lease Agreement Carefully

Many people sign the lease agreement without even reading it carefully. This is one of the biggest mistakes they can make. Like any other legal document, it is necessary to check the terms and conditions properly. Apart from rent and property details of your 2 bedrooms for rent in Abu Dhabi, the rental document should include details about the extra amenities, such as parking and power back-up. If you feel uncomfortable with any clause mentioned in the property papers, then you should discuss the same with the owner. After signing the rental document, you must keep its photocopy.

Clicking The Pictures Of Flat

There may be many faults in the property that would need to be repaired. If you do not want to bear the cost of repairing anything which you have not damaged, then click the pictures of all the furniture and appliances before moving into a furnished flat for rent in Abu Dhabi. Also, make sure that this process is carried out in front of the landlord. You can also share the photos with the landlord so that he/she remains aware of all and any issues beforehand.

Getting Help From A Certified Company

Renting a flat in a big city can be a tedious task. You can buy a flat for rent in Abu Dhabi direct from owner. But, if you are not able to do it yourself, then do not hesitate to take help. But again, do not fall prey to fraud property dealers and agents. Rather,look for a certified real estate company or agent. You should check the online reviews of the company or agent before hiring.

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nichetales-archived · 7 years ago

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KuroTsuki Fic Recs

For @tettsuroo This is my top 20 fics I love for KuroTsuki Admittedly much of this list is explicitly rated.

Links with small descriptions under the cut~

Let It Linger by realmSpinner (Rated T) This fic has just started and I absolutely adore it so far. Lots of pining, nostalgia, and emotional conflict.

The Lion's Den by ShadowShell (Rated E) That good ol’ sugar daddy au~ Has a compelling story with great characterization, fluff, sexy scenes, and angst. One of my favorites. I recommend all of the fics in this series

this isn't about you by fealle (Rated E) This one is both KuroTsuki and BokuTsukki Beautifully written, kind of depressing at times. I love it.

The worst kind of customers by ShadowShell (Rated M) One of my favorite fics. A college au with lotsa sweet fluff, angst, and some mature content. And breakfast food.

half doomed and semi-sweet by Sandgoddess (Rated E) Tsukishima is Kuroo’s landlord. It’s a great blend of sad n’ sweet imo Definitely has some good chuckles in there too

People like us by Blackbloodedredreaper (Rated E) A one night stand gets horribly complicated. One of my absolute favorites. Lots of adult themes.

World's Most Expensive by Blackbloodedredreaper (Rated E) A Yakuza AU! One of my favorite authors. Tsukishima somewhat unceremoniously joins the Yakuza.

He always starts something by Codango (Rated M) Tsukki is recruited by a Uni and spends a weekend roomed with Kuroo. Hilarious, awkward, sexy and sweet. All the good stuff.

Dance Like Only I'm Watching by ShadowShell (Rated E) That sweet sweet Dance AU Follows canon events really well, except it’s dance instead of volleyball

Two Week Fold by surveycorpsjean (Rated E) One of the most well known fics, but still always worth mentioning. Tsukki is a blackjack dealer and Kuroo is a dashing businessman~

The Beautiful People by Blackbloodedredreaper (Rated E) A Model AU and probably one of my all time favorites. Also has a touch of Tsukki/Daishou.

Our Underlying Desires by Blackbloodedredreaper (Rated M) On Hiatus atm but one of my favorite fics It’s multiship with absolutely fascinating storylines and beautifully written.

Tamed by caelestisxyz (Rated E) Tsukishima tames an infamous fuckboy who owns a hot nightclub. Part of the Industry Series, which I definitely recommend

Hidden Gem by realmSpinner (Rated E) Honestly the best multichapter stripper au I have ever read. It’s dynamic, relatable, exciting, and quite the emotional rollercoaster at times.

Say You Like Me by madamemalfoy21 (Rated E) A heartfelt Omegaverse fic that is a great blend of communication issues, Tsukishima’s insecurities, and some excellently written explicit content. O!Tsukki and A!Kuroo

Start Me Up by realmSpinner (Rated E) A street racing au! It’s fun, exciting, and sexy~ Tsukishima wears a tight jumpsuit what else do you need?

to the beat of my heart by kittebasu (chanyeol) (Rated E) Idols and band members in a fake relationship AU Definitely worth the read even if idol culture isn’t your thing (like me)

Fever Pitch by SterlingAg (Rated E) Host!Kuroo and Businessman!Tsukishima Super realistic, well written, heart wrenching, and sweet at the same time.

Love in a Hopeless Place by caelestisxyz (Rated E) I highly recommend all of the Black Lotus series! Compelling, and well written Escort!AU where Tsukki is an escort and Kuroo is an athlete who makes horrible mistakes.

A Lesson in French by Sandgoddess (Rated E) A college au where Tsukki works in a photocopy shoppe It is funny with great characterization and a great plot

There are quite a few who are either in progress and haven’t updated in awhile or are smutty one shots you can view in my Bookmark List that are also excellent reads but didn’t want to include in this list because of the aforementioned reasons.

#KuroTsuki #KuroTsukki #Kuroo Tetsurou #Tsukishima Kei #Fic Recs #fanfiction #text

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usatacticalgeartacticalgear · 5 years ago

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Travel Tips And Tricks For A Great Vacation

It is nice to break out of the mundane hum of every day life. Traveling is a perfect opportunity to meet new people and widen your perspective of the world. Wisely chosen travel plans can lend to an experience that will benefit you for a lifetime. On the flip side, making the wrong decisions or not planning correctly can ruin your fun. Here are a few tips to help you make the most out of your next bout with traveling.

When traveling abroad, you should make sure to carry a photocopy of your passport and other important documents in a separate location from the originals. Having a copy of your passport will greatly speed up the process for getting it replaced at the local U.S. consulate or embassy. You may also want to leave a copy with a friend at home.

Savvy air travelers know not to let delays get to them personally. In modern air travel delays are virtually inevitable. Every frequent flyer will encounter flights that run late, get overbooked, or even get canceled. Passengers can do nothing about these things. What they can do is remember that the airline personnel taking care of them are doing there best to get them to their destinations.

If you are staying at a lower-cost or no-name hotel when traveling, never put your bag on the bed. Be sure to check the sheet and spreads for bugs. If you must take your clothing out of your luggage, hang it in the closet instead of putting in the dresser or onto the furniture. Bedbugs are a major problem in North American hotels.

If you're going to be traveling soon, don't go through a travel agent. You'll find your trip costing twice as much. Rather, shop around online through different bargain dealers like expedia.com or travelocity.com. This will help you save some money that can be better spent when you arrive at your destination, perhaps on souvenirs, or for that nice guy online that gave you this tip.

Sometimes by choosing multiple means of travel one can get the best of everything. For example by taking a plane somewhere and renting a car when you arrive, one can get the benefits of a quick flight as well as the benefits of having a car to go wherever wanted while traveling.

When going on vacation, make sure to purchase travel insurance. Taking this step can cover you in the event that you need to go to the hospital or have a medical evaluation while away from home. This is especially important, if you are thinking of participating in adventure activities or sports.

Rental cars come in all colors and all models. The problem is that they all look basically the same! Make sure you note your car's precise location before you leave it in a parking lot to go into a large discount store or anywhere else where it could be lost in the sea of other cars.

When renting a car, be aware of the charges the rental companies set. There are generally four basic rates, each of them will specify if the miles are additional, given in the price or unlimited. Rates will vary depending on the the size and style of vehicle you choose. Ask about promotional rates, especially over weekends, but be sure to request these in advance.

When traveling overseas, do not be afraid to use your cell phone if you need to make a brief call home. You may be charged a high fee, but you can avoid the stress of trying to figure out how to use phone cards. If you need to make several calls, consider using a phone service that operates over the internet.

Reading online user reviews can be a great way to find out about your vacation destination. There are various sites available, with multiple reviews from both travel professionals and every day people. Reading a few reviews can help you find the best hotels, most popular restaurants, and great out of the way places to consider visiting during your travels.

If you're visiting a museum or other tourist attraction, make sure to ask about any special discount rates for which you might be eligible. Many attractions have discounts for seniors, children, and students. Getting a discount rate will help you save money and travel on a budget while still enjoying the local sites.

If you are looking for a place to eat while traveling, ask your cab driver. They know of all the good local food joints that won't cost you an arm and a leg to eat at. You can also just look to see which restaurants have cabs parked in front of them. That is a strong indication that the establishment has good food at a low price.

If you are on a special diet, call your hotel or other accommodation and tell them so. These days, many businesses aim to keep their customers happy. If you let them know in advance that you require certain foods, chances are they will make sure they have the food available for you when you arrive.

When traveling to a country where you do not speak the language and you have diabetes, it is important to learn a few key phrases to in the language of the country or countries where you will be traveling. Learn the phrases "I need sugar," "I have diabetes," and "I need a doctor."

Choose a hotel that has public transportation readily available and where the security is good. Check your room when you check in to make sure that all of the windows lock as well as the doors. Ask hotel security to accompany you to the parking lot if you do not feel comfortable in the area.

When you decide to travel your expectation will be enjoyment. If you keep in mind the tips and advice in this article then you will have a chance at making the most out of your next trip. What matters is that you get as close as you can to what you were anticipating and feel totally fulfilled after you return.

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excelbusinesssystems · 1 year ago

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How To Ensure Top-Notch Copy Machine Service in Virginia and Hoy Lakes, MN?

Every office needs to use some of the essential equipment that keeps the company functioning perfectly. The core business operations are varied, but paperwork is something that cannot be made redundant even in this age where technology rules. It is thus natural to come across big and small offices that utilize printers, copiers, and scanners. All the equipment may be used simultaneously with a multi-functional device, too. Taking good care of the office equipment is essential to ensure their life and avoid frequent replacements. It is also necessary to be in touch with the dealer that excels in providing copy machine service in Virginia and Hoy Lakes, MN. The service may include regular maintenance, timely repairs, and even replacement of the machine as and when needed. The service provider is sure to advise the best ways of maintaining the machine, thereby keeping it fully functional for a long time. The end-user at the office who uses the office copier extensively has to take on the following responsibilities that will enable the employee to remain productive:

· Being Informed- Sure, even the best quality machines undergo wear & tear. Office equipment is no exception, either. Going through the instruction manual that came with the machine is essential. This enables the employee to learn the essential tips about proper maintenance of the copier. One can also obtain the correct information about operating the machine and avoid problems such as paper jams and interrupted functioning.

· Glass Cleaning- It is vital to clean the glass on the photocopier meticulously at least once a day. Failing to do it will result in a build-up of dust and grime on the surface that will get transferred to the copies. This is a precaution that saves time and money. One may also invest in a quality glass cleaning product to avoid smearing the copies with black lines and corrupted prints

· Removal of Dust Inside- Simply cleaning the glass is not enough. The internal components of the office copier are likely to have an accumulation of dust, too. It is advisable to wipe out the dust from the inside with the help of a soft cloth or brush. This will dislodge the debris thus ensuring that there are no paper jams in the future.

· Ink Cartridge Head- Checking the head periodically is a good idea. While cleaning the dust from the head with a damp cloth is recommended, one may also check the art for signs of wear& tear. Getting in touch with the service provider can help the copier function efficiently once again.

Opting for maintenance service from the same company that had sold the equipment is unnecessary. Instead, opting for a company with an excellent track record for providing copy machine service in Virginia and Hoy Lakes, MN, makes sense. Such companies will offer all types of services, including installation of office equipment, repairing them as needed, and regular maintenance.

#copy machine service in Virginia and Hoy Lakes #MN

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buzzmemes · 5 years ago

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I hate this

I hate this : Memes

your passport photo and copy of passport At my school, the homework was to color the picture. So very true... In my school it’s so bad, the teacher projects it on the whiteboard ah, nightmares Soo true XD They say that because you cropped it out. And that is a fact They use plotters I get it! Lol that’s good shit Im sory Toad The homework that steals your time and your lunch money 99% of sane teachers shows u the color image on smart board No teachers want to show u crappy print Just understand it. Color printer is expensive. You’re telling me that teachers give out free black children? Bet, already got three in the basement itsa me, Noir-io Facts tho It'sa me, a-Copyo! We all make mistakes in the heat of passion, Jimbo. Come back in ten years And they pop in a “do you see the ... in the picture” question Why mario on the right looks like he's about to wake me up at 3 am saying with deep demonic voice It's time for me to turn you into my spaghetti Is this the new "We have ____ at home" ? Since im in school this is to relatable The math graphs were the worst though 30 years of saving princesses, 30 years of smashing brown mushrooms. And for what? Cake? Mario!? Why does this remind me of the fearsome Llapp Goch Master. There's a good chance this is unique! I checked 103,921,185 image posts and didn't find a close match Whenever I got bad copies I'd always split the best copies around the room so every student was at least near a good copy and keep a bad one for myself... Remember when you were the chosen one to go out of class and get em papers wonderful If Mario was in Papers, Please AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA printer companies: see you little shits? this is why your printer needs colored cartridges! My name is paublo Yes Is that pablo It's supposed to be not centered Based on a true story Itsa me, Marijuanio! he looks so sad:( NVM took a secound look he looks like he bout to ask me if i wanna buy WEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDD Kinda looks like Hitler though Noah get the Death Star. My kindergarten teacher wife has to print shit at home for this reason. Effectively costs $300/year in paper/ink and another $100 to replace whatever broken down color ink printer we have in a given year. I want her to transition to laser, but haven't been able to convince her. More like the board of Education, principal and superintendents wanting another raise so the kids get B&W copies. At our large school we have 1 color copier, the rest are black and white. More often than not, kids are not getting color copies. Budget. Why is this too true Don't you be knocking LaserJet. Those things were a tank whose toner lasted a long time. DeskJet is what you are looking for. Made with HP LaserJet 100 color MFP Same Mario on the right side looks like sleep paralysis demon, ngl. Mario and Noireio. Top 10 hollywood stars ruined by drug addiction. It looks like if he ran into me he'd try to stuff me into an animatronic suit where I belong Mario looks like he's going to go on a mugging spree Too true Me looking at my paper: HERE WE GOOOO One more gram common u can do it is fentanyl the new drug to go? i only appy the fentanyl patches on them cancer patients at work, so they don't suffer 24/7. a couple of months ago there was a problem at our elderly home, bc some crazies tried to dig them used patches out of our trash..have fun with patches which are covered in shit and piss You should have done 64 or 69 Bro youd die before you even got through half a gram of fentanyl wtf do you even know what fentanyl is lmao A true epic gamer moment God I wish I had some pure fent Issa me, Black tar heroin Mario! Come with me and meet my gang of druga dealers! I really Was expecting a rickroll lmao And this is probably what he's listening to on his alone time https://youtu.be/ijBrulQXE2U It me mrio I jst snrted one mre grm and I jst deid DO IT FOR THE GRAM Go ahead and do another gram just one more gram Legendary The homework that steals your time and your lunch money............... Luigi says: do the coke to get the smoke Betta tell your moms your dads your ministers... WOOOMP WOOOMP WOOOMP!!!! Justa what me the Doctor Mario prescribed Mama mia I a need a more of that a shit YAHOOOOOO!!!! And remember kids - when you do drugs, you go to hell before you die! It’s a me druggooo Mario! I have snorted 68 grams of pure fentanyl and I am going to die. Itsame itsame I’m literally studying for an exam right now and my professor put that on his own notes... like bro nobody gives a shit about your stats notes I had a professor just say “don’t waste your money on the book. Just google book name pdf and it should be the first link.” Then he did in in class go show us And then you have the ones that sell their own 40 page notes in 2 sections for €20 each at the college book store. Or the ones that make class notes and give them out in the first class. Even better are the ones that accidentally send a pdf of their own book that they make no money on due to a shitty publisher to one or two people in the class. my favorite kinds of professors A full commitment is what I'm thinking of A lot of emulators come with a warning like "Use a bios file from your own console. Do not download one for free from the Internet!" I saw something on TIL a while back, during the prohibition era of the United States, some companies sold grape concentrate. They had a warning on them that said something to the effect of "after adding the concentrate to water, do not let it sit for two weeks as it will ferment into wine." As if...they wanted you to do it! That's a pretty calculated statement for them to make. *mobile errors I had calculus profs who would tell us 'I legally cannot advise you to steal copywrited material so under no circumstances should you go to this website and torrent the textbook for free instead of buying it from the overpriced book store and wasting your money' I always love those blank pages that just have in like size i font "Do not write here" for no fucking reason. Then the teacher tells you that they didn't see it I like when it’s in huge, WHITE print in the middle of the fucking page so half the assignment is cut off I like when it says on the side of the paper COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL DO NOT PHOTOCOPY OR DISTRIBUTE BY ANY MEANS Or the "here's a form that was made in Excel, if you could fill it out so that we can input the information back in Excel that would be great." "yeah..." "But the image gets worse!" Work in Japan. Teachers give me a copied paper. "just copy it. They have the file on their damn computer. Which is where we are sitting. -20 points. I can’t even read the damn question At my school, we get lectured for printing a class set rather than just a master. They say it’s about toner being cheaper and the copier cartridges are much much bigger. There are also a lot of places where teachers don't have access to a shared laser printer like that and don't have any option but to make photocopies, so stuff like the OP can be unavoidable sometimes. Genuinely not a problem in my school - we have a fleet of MFDs for bulk printing. We have an admin assistant in charge of the reprographics room who can interrupt jobs if needed as well. It's just an old mindset that they can't get out of. Yeah but then you have to be the asshole that released a print job with 200+ pages while others are waiting to use the copier since this is the only one you can print to. What is full sending? huzzah, a man of quality Have you tried full sending it? From an IT perspective, usually it's not that they want you to know what triggered the problem, they want you to provide concise information on what exactly you were doing up until the issue occurred. Though I do understand that IT technicians are notoriously unsociable lol I'm sure thats a great suggestion but that's the thing is that IT acts like its up to the enduser to already know whats causing the issues and what needs to be done to fix it. Also this doesn't solve his/her issue of getting staples on the copies. Have your IT reinstall your driver and you can select the options that your printer has. likely you are on a global driver, or it wasn't installed correctly! Or if I want staples. We can only select staples on our copier itself. It would be easier if the print queue thing was reliable. But I can't keep running back to my room if it didn't send it, so I make extra copies from my first one. Or if I need front/back from different originals I work in IT support for a school - teachers, for some fucking reason beyond my understanding, seem to print one copy of something, then photocopy it for their classes. Telling them that just printing it for everyone keeps the quality better doesn't sink in. It costs the same, comes out of the same device, and it's less work, but I'm the insane one. Th s rin er se ms o æ run ing lo n ink To the knee And my axe! And my sword! Take mine too! Fuck off take a useless arrow Actually it seems this printer is low on incas. Damn u incas "I'm so sorry kids, our ancient printer is not working properly again" Read the full article

#Memes #memesdaily

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freecopier-blog · 5 years ago

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Factors You Need To Do Before You Buy A Photo Copy Machine

The average photocopier lasts three years for some organizations and if you invested in a quality brand-name product, you might even like eight years of stellar performance. Within my seven years in the industry working as a copier rep, then I frequently met with customers that wanted a new copier as soon as the machine had a hiccup. In an attempt to save money as well as headaches, listed below are my advice about how to buy the xerox versalink b615 review. You Have to Do the following ahead of your first appointment using a copier rep:

New machine

Make sure you actually desire a new machine instead of a simple repair job. Schedule a service call and ask the technician to provide you with a written estimate about what it'd charge to correct the copier. Hopefully, you've established a fantastic rapport with your technician at recent years he has serviced your account. Ask him point blank what he'd perform if he have been you - fix that the machine or purchase a brand fresh one. Technicians are a great resource for unbiased information precisely because they are not salespeople and frequently understand the new product lineup better than the sales induce that are actually selling this product. If you need to have to buy an excellent photo copier for your necessities, you must look at Copier Lease Center blog.

After you have confirmed that you just are in the market for a new system, do your assignments before you call a copier rep to place an initial appointment. You need to be familiar with business lingo. In today's market, a customer doesn't buy a copier - they buy a multifunctional copy process that copies, prints, and scans. You need to decide in the event that you need black and white imaging or shade imaging, as effectively. Carry out an internal assessment to find out your company's requirements in each one of these areas. Do not overlook the potential for adding color imaging to a own new system. Fees have fallen dramatically on color imaging and reports demonstrate that composed communication with two or three shades on the page is much more effective. You might find that you can expect many more capabilities for far less money than you used your last form of copier acquisition.

Make a Proper Choice

Assure yourself that you will get at least three proposals from other vendors before you make a determination regarding your acquisition. I assure that it's really worth your time to meet together with several copier reps because you'll stimulate a price war in between the companies and this really is how you find the ideal value on the money. Besides, as you well know, it is a sensible business practice to always take a peek at the contest.

Discover which companies Offer copiers right in your market

A photo copy machine manufacturer spreads their products by promotion through their own sales team or simply by attempting to sell the product into a dealer and subsequently the dealer markets to the business consumer. In the event you buy Product X out of a dealer and also three years later you want a part to your copier, there is no guarantee that the dealer will likely probably be able to service your account. Doing work specifically with a manufacturer means that you have the full force of trained employees and company sources backing that the product that you get.

#Copy Machine #Photo Copy Machine

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evelynmfoye · 5 years ago

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Usefull Advice For Those Shopping For A Vehicle

Shopping for a new Volkswagen can be fun. Driving around a shiny new Volkswagen is a lot of fun, and purchasing it should be, too. People often associate negative emotions with car purchases, but this isn’t necessary. Use these tips to have a positive shopping experience.

During negotiations, concentrate on the total price instead of the monthly price. The monthly price can be changed to suit your needs, but the overall price will still be very high. Don’t forget to check that before you sign on the dotted line. Instead, focus on getting the price of your car as low as possible and then work with the financing. Then figure out what that works out to on a monthly basis.

Do not let the Volkswagen in Lynchburg VA dealer talk you into buying a Volkswagen in Lynchburg VA that is not within your budget. People are often pressured into a beautiful, but expensive Volkswagen by a good salesman. Remember that the salesperson’s goal is to earn a good commission, so he or she benefits when you are convinced to purchase a pricier vehicle.

When buying a vehicle from a private seller, make sure a mechanic does an inspection first. If the owner objects, chances are this car isn’t for you. They might be hiding expensive problems that greatly reduce the car’s value. Make sure that you understand this before making a purchase.

Don’t pay full price! What the dealers list on the sticker is not what they actually think they will get. If you don’t think you can properly negotiate, bring along someone who can. You need to know what a decent price is going to be before you go so that you have a good idea of what you should pay.

When you wish to purchase a new car, create a budget prior to going out. When car shopping, never go over your maximum budget regardless of what words come out of the dealers mouth. He doesn’t have to pay the bill!

Lynchburg Va

It’s very important to go for a test drive before making a purchase. Even if you’ve test driven something similar, make sure to test drive the car you’re looking at now. You may find something slightly off, or even a hidden defect.

You should always have someone go with you when going Volkswagen in Lynchburg VA shopping. They will help you stay grounded about the offers and also help you find any problems in the Volkswagen in Lynchburg VA. This person can be a friend, relative or spouse.

If you want to get a new car, contact your bank and ask about loans before you start shopping. This is simply for your own peace of mind. You may get a better interest rate through a dealership, but it’s best to know before deciding.

What have your loved ones heard about local dealers or car manufacturers? Are they happy with their purchases? Do they regret their purchase? What information have they heard about different cars that are available? Asking questions of others is a simple, effective way to start choosing your next vehicle.

Never discuss down payments, incentives, or trade-ins until you’ve established an actual price on your desired car. These monetary exchanges should reduce your cost. If you negotiate a deal before you talk about any extras, you will receive a much better deal.

Safety features are essential for any car. It is essential to have anti-lock brakes. Airbags are another must-have, so choose a vehicle with multiple airbags. Safety is key, as you will spend a great deal of time riding in this Volkswagen in Lynchburg VA.

Test drive a car before buying it. No matter if you have determined that your perfect car is already sitting on a dealer’s lot, you still need to test it yourself. There is nothing that can replace the feeling of driving the car. The car may not be what it’s cracked up to be, and this is the only way you can find out.

Do not limit your choices to just a dealership. You can go to smaller lots or buy from private owners and get some really good deals. Check out the classified ads in your area for great deals on local cars.

Be cautious about giving out your social security number. Many dealers will ask for your social security number before negotiations even start. They will use this information to pull a credit report. Many credit report checks can be a red flag to financiers. Iron out a deal before you let anyone run your credit.

Plan on going Volkswagen shopping during the last week of the month. Most dealerships try to get to that specific quota for the number of vehicles they’ve sold. The sales staff may be behind and need your sale to meet their goals.

Make sure you read what you’re signing. You could be getting in some serious trouble if you’re out there blindly signing money away. If you sign, you are locked in. If you do not understand something or want to take your time reading it, ask to take a copy home to read over before you sign it. You might be able to ask them for a photocopy of the contract.

It might not be possible for you to get everything that you want in a Volkswagen. You might not be able to afford what you want at the dealer; shop around! Not getting a heated seat shouldn’t break the deal you’re trying to get, if you don’t need it.

Always do your research when buying a used car. The Internet provides many sources that can inform you of your car’s value. You can utilize NADA or the Kelly Blue Book to figure out a car’s worth. If a dealer is overcharging based on these sources, shop elsewhere.

Bring a friend who can give you sound advice on your decision. They can assist you with preventing mistakes like emotional decisions. Your friend should also accompany you on your test drive and give you their opinions on how the Volkswagen in Lynchburg VA handles.

Be sure to inspect carefully any car you are interested in buying. Be sure to look for any dents or scratches on the outside of the car. Search the interior for carpet stains or upholstery tears. You are stuck with this car once you buy it. This means to look for any and all damage

When purchasing a used car, always do your homework. There are very useful Internet resources to help you determine a car’s worth. You can utilize NADA or the Kelly Blue Book to figure out a car’s worth. If a car is selling at the dealership for much more than the price that these resources suggest, you should go somewhere else.

AS-is warranties should always be avoided. This is a decision that you will regret. Dealers should offer no no less than 30-90 days of warranty coverage. If the transmission or engine blows the day after you drive off the lot, you will be responsible for the repair.

Salespeople simply want to maximize their profit. Some people forget this as they shop. Try not to get pulled into the extra fees that they can charge. Even bargain cars can increase by hundreds or thousands.

Fuel economy is a critical factor when shopping for a new car. A car with better fuel economy may cost a little more in the beginning, but it will save you a ton of money on gas. Keep this in mind before you buy a car if you want to save money for the long term.

As soon as you feel the high pressure sale coming on, you should leave. Even if they want to do something to make you stay, leave anyway. Lie to get your way out of there if you must. Do not, however, stick around. There are many more “fish in the sea,” and you need to be happy with the people you are buying from.

Shopping for a car at the end of the month is ideal. Many salesmen have a quota of sales that they need to make, so they will be eager to work with you! You can get the best deal by shopping during the last week of the month.

An excellent time to go Volkswagen shopping is the last week of the month. Dealers are trying to reach their monthly quotas and you could help them with that. Come in a few days before the month ends so you can negotiate over time if you need to.

You want to look sharp but not rich when buying a car. If you are wearing expensive clothes and driving a luxury car, you’re going to have a hard time convincing the salesperson you need a great deal on a car.

Talk to an insurance agent to get an estimated cost before you purchase the vehicle you want. Although the Volkswagen may be in your price range, the insurance may make it out of your budget. You need to get a Volkswagen that has reasonable insurance rates as well as a fair price for the auto itself.

Learn as much as you can before you go. Look at automobile comparison sites online and check consumer’s magazines to find out which vehicles suit your needs best. You can also use these tools to find out about features packages and options, and how much each one might cost. That way, you can save both your money and your time upon arrival at the dealership.

If you figure out there’s an advertising fee within the car’s price, ask the salesperson to remove it. You shouldn’t have to pay for that! If they choose to continue in this way, walk away. Chances are, you won’t get too far.

If you want to buy a new car, you should take advantage of the credit available to buy it. You will save a lot by securing the best interest rate available. You are likely going to get charged minimal interest by a bank.

Consider the way you will drive your Volkswagen when you choose the type. For example, if you need a Volkswagen that you’re using to travel on highways, figure out how you can benefit from hybrids. Look at the setting in which you plan to drive your Volkswagen in Lynchburg VA most, then use that as you make your final selection.

Buying a new or used vehicle is important, so you must remain level-headed throughout the process. You may be pushed by the salesperson to by now, when you may not need to. Do not be fooled by this tactic. Most of the time, the “special promotion” will remain there until you’re making your purchase.

People often cringe when they hear about car shopping, but this isn’t necessary, as you’ve seen. Ways do exist to actually make the process fun. Implement this advice to get the Volkswagen you want without having to deal with the stress.

Do not ever purchase a car without driving it. Make sure that you are comfortable when you test drive a car. If your dealership doesn’t currently have the vehicle you are looking to buy in stock, go to another.

A number of people would like to learn more about Volkswagen for sale in Lynchburg VA, but not everyone knows where they should look. This article contains all the information you need to gain a solid footing when it comes to Volkswagen for sale in Lynchburg VA. Use the information you’ve learned, and get busy.

from https://terryvolkswagenshowroom.com/usefull-advice-for-those-shopping-for-a-vehicle/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=usefull-advice-for-those-shopping-for-a-vehicle

from Terry Volkswagen Showroom - Blog https://terryvolkswagenshowroom.weebly.com/blog/usefull-advice-for-those-shopping-for-a-vehicle

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thejase · 5 years ago

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Some Thoughts On 2019

Every year fo the last few ears, I have written a little end of year review. Why? It’s not as if many people will read it. Perhaps it’s to try and make sense of the world for myself. This year however, no matter how hard I try, is the year in which (cue Trumpian all caps) NOTHING MAKES ANY SENSE ANYMORE.

April saw first image of a black hole. Of course you can’t actually see a black hole, because it’s black. How much blacker could it be your may ask? The answer is none, none more black. The catchily named M-87 is 53 million light years away so there’s no danger of it sucking up the Earth into its mysterious void - which given the current state of things is a bit of a disappointment.

Greta Thunberg was one of the big names of 2019 though some people did seem to get exceptionally irate at the idea that a young girl wasn’t spending her time posting selfies on Instagram and instead had taken up the more frivolous pursuit of trying to save the world. Middle aged men got particularly uppity about Greta, perhaps out of jealousy that she’s managed to get a few million people together on a Friday whilst they can’t convince their old schoolmate ‘Digsy’ to go the local Wetherspoons. It came as a surprise to no one that flabby chopped man-baby Jeremy Clarkson took a pop at her. Mind you, he takes a pop at anyone he fears will curb his access to turbo-charged knob wagons and hot pies.

Once again the thing that has dominated to news has been Brexit. I can’t actually remember what life was like pre Brexit now. I have a vague recollection of no one actually giving a toss about membership of the EU. Now it’s a never ending tirade of news and opinions. I can’t think of any other issue which has dominated the media for over three years. It’s like Bryan Adams’ Everything I Do’ in political form.

Brexit seemed to have influenced this year’s Britain’s Got Talent, with a pub singing Chelsea Pensioner crowned winner. It seems the UK is desperate to return to the good old days of rationing and millions of people being killed. Many people like to talk about the ‘Blitz spirit’ and everyone ‘pulling together’ after Brexit - but is there actually anyone out there who could genuinely say “you know the reason I haven’t said a word to my neighbours for the last 10 years? It’s the bloody EU!”

Prince Andrew went on telly to categorically prove that if you’re rich you can get away with anything. Putting forward the worst case for defence since Shaggy’s ‘It Wasn’t Me’ he argued that his major failing in life was being ’too honourable’ - something akin to Fred West saying his downfall was a strong sense of family vales. Following the interview Prince Andrew has stepped down from his work, but I’m not entirely sure what that work was. I had a look on Linkdin but couldn’t see any new job vacancies for ‘International Sex Offender’.

Undeniably the ‘Man of the Year’ was Boris Johnson, and by ‘Man of the Year’ I mean man I would most like to see hung drawn a quartered before a crowd of braying homosexuals, Muslims, single mothers, Liverpudlians, victims of terror attacks, and anyone else he’s ever denigrated, which come to think about it, is pretty much everyone except Winston Churchill and Jeremy Clarkson. Boris has spent years machinating over when was the right time to pounce upon the Tory leadership, and because he’s so fundamentally useless himself he had wait until they had a leader so devoid of personality that when called upon to ‘dance like a human’ revealed that her programming only contained algorithms for ‘dance like a robot’.

Then came the election which had all the qualities of a Ray Cooney farce. Boris Johnson could have been a kind of Robin Askwith character in ‘Confessions of a Randy MP’. Imagine the hilarity of Bonking Boris with his trousers down, hiding in the fridge from Jeremy Corbyn as the holier than thou vicar who’d come around to drop off some jam only to find a pole dancing American au pair about to do a runner with two suitcases full of cash. Michael Gove turns up as the local drug dealer, Mark Francios does a comedy turn as Captain Mainwaring and Jacob Rees Mogg is flown in on wires as The Ghost of Victorian Workhouses.

The result had a grim inevitability and when it came I genuinely felt about as low as I ever felt. It was a feeling that I had no comprehension of the country in which I lived, that values like honesty and kindness were now meaningless. I’ve felt like an outsider all my life, but I used to think I had a vague understanding of what I was outside of. Then I saw that a novelty song about sausage rolls was top of the charts and it all started to make sense.

All of this unrelenting awfulness has made me think about how we got to where we are now. So here I’m going to ‘drop’ my ‘hot take’ for 2019 - it’s all the fault of the internet. It’s astonishing to think that the World Wide Web (actually faster to say than its acronym) was created to share scientific data and now it’s facilitated a growing brief in a flat earth and helped certain diseases, once practically eradicated, return with a vengeance. Pre internet if you wanted share a bonkers theory your best bet was to photocopy a few leaflets and stand on a street corner shouting about it. The chances of being able to share your ideas with the world at large were negligible because to be published or broadcast at least required some degree of scrutiny. Now it a free for all. Now ‘Conspiracy Colin’ from Ipswich has found ‘Paranoid Pam’ from Idaho and suddenly they have a group of like minded thinkers. Facts are meaningless, as is rational thinking, because I guess a very fundamental human instinct is the desire to be part of a group. I blame the lizard people.

So farewell to the 2010s. I can’t say I’m going to miss you.

I’ll leave with this quote from Joesph Conrad:

“We live in the flicker - may it last as long as the old earth keeps rolling! But darkness was here yesterday.”

The darkness is here today. Let’s hope we can turn the lights back on.

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maxwellyjordan · 6 years ago

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Opinion analysis: Justices narrow bankrupts’ power to rescind contracts in bankruptcy

Yesterday’s opinion in Mission Product Holdings Inc. v. Tempnology, LLC resolved a long-standing disagreement in the lower courts about what happens when a debtor exercises its statutory right to reject a contract in bankruptcy. Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code gives the debtor an explicit right to “reject” contracts, and tells us that rejection amounts to a “breach” of the contract, which gives the nonbankrupt counterparty a right to sue the bankrupt for damages. The lower courts have struggled, though, in deciding whether the rejection’s “breach” also rescinds the entire contract. In this case, for example, the contract in question is a trademark license, and the debtor not only wants to terminate its own obligations under the contract; it also wants to retract the licensee’s right to use the debtor’s trademark. Justice Elena Kagan’s opinion for the Supreme Court gives us a clear answer: Rejection breaches but does not rescind the contract in question.

Justice Kagan with opinion in Mission Product Holdings v Tempnology (Art Lien)

For Kagan, “the text” of Section 365 “does much of the work,” primarily because of the provision that states that rejection “constitutes a breach” of the challenged contract. Because “‘breach’ is neither a defined term nor a specialized bankruptcy term,” the Supreme Court’s normal practice suggests that “[i]t means in the [Bankruptcy] Code what it means in contract law outside bankruptcy.” To solve that problem, Kagan offers a “made-up” hypothetical contract, which happens to be drawn directly from the amicus brief filed by the U.S. solicitor general. In Kagan’s made-up contract, “[a] dealer leases a photocopier to a law firm, while agreeing to service it every month; in exchange the firm commits to pay a monthly fee.” Outside of bankruptcy, a decision by the dealer to stop servicing the photocopier would breach the contract and give the law firm the choice either to terminate the contract (and return the copier) or to continue to use the copier (paying the required monthly fee) and sue for damages. As Kagan summarizes: “The choice to terminate the agreement and send back the copier is for the law firm. By contrast, the dealer has no ability, based on its own breach, to terminate the agreement.”

Reasoning from that made-up contract, Kagan explains that the same results should follow in bankruptcy:

If the rejection of the photocopier contract ‘constitutes a breach,’ as the Code says, then the same results should follow…. That … means … that the law firm has an option about how to respond—continue the contract or walk away, while suing for whatever damages go with its choice. And most important, it means that assuming that the law firm wants to keep using the copier, the dealer cannot take it back.

Kagan sees nothing at all different about the trademark license at issue here, for which “the same consequences follow…. The debtor can stop performing its remaining obligations under the agreement. But the debtor cannot rescind the license already conveyed.” For her, that outcome “reflects a general bankruptcy rule: The estate cannot possess anything more than the debtor itself did outside bankruptcy.” Quoting University of Chicago’s Professor Douglas Baird, she emphasizes that “[a] debtor’s property does not shrink by happenstance of bankruptcy, but it does not expand, either.”

Kagan characterizes the contrary argument as “rest[ing] on a negative inference.” The debtor in this case (respondent Tempnology) points to several categories of contracts for which Section 365 provides specific treatment that defines rights that counterparties retain even after a debtor’s rejection. In Tempnology’s view (as recounted by Kagan), “the statute’s ‘general rule’ would ‘swallow the exceptions’ [unless] the ordinary consequence of rejection [is] something different – i.e., the termination, rather than survival, of contractual rights previously granted.”

Kagan offers two responses. First, Tempnology “offers no account of how to read” the provision that tells us that rejection “constitutes breach,” but instead reads that provision “to say essentially its opposite (i.e., that rejection and breach have divergent consequences).” More pointedly, she rejects Tempnology’s attempt to “trea[t] as a neat reticulated scheme … what history reveals to be anything but.” Kagan offers a grand historical view of the various specific provisions in Section 365, under which “each responded to a discrete problem—as often as not, correcting a judicial ruling of just the kind Tempnology urges.” For Kagan, “this mash-up of legislative interventions” suggests that “Congress enacted the [various exceptions], as and when needed, to reinforce or clarify the general rule that contractual rights survive rejection.”

For example, the provision that treads closest to the trademark license at issue here – the enactment of Section 365(n) in response to a lower court decision in Lubrizol Enterprises v. Richmond Metal Finishers – protects patent and copyright licensees from the consequences of a bankrupt’s rejection of their licenses. Tempnology argues that the exclusion of trademark licenses from that provision suggests that they should not survive rejection. For Kagan, though, Section 365(n) is just “part of a pattern—that Congress whacked Tempnology’s view of rejection wherever it raised its head.” Ultimately, she reasons, “Congress’s repudiation of Lubrizol for patent contracts does not show any intent to ratify that decision’s approach for almost all others.”

I expect this will prove to be one of the Supreme Court’s most important bankruptcy decisions of the decade. Unlike the minor and trivial circuit splits that have dominated the court’s bankruptcy docket in recent years, Mission Product Holdings confronts a conceptual question at the heart of business bankruptcy: how we should think of the debtor’s contractual relations. In general, most informed observers will welcome the decision, which enforces the approach that academics have strongly pressed.

That is not to say that all will applaud the Supreme Court’s reasoning. Licensing lawyers, for example, will doubtless wonder about Kagan’s ready treatment of an intellectual-property license as fundamentally a conveyance of property rather than a bare commitment not to sue for infringement. Future courts also should notice the “whack-a-mole” theory of legislation Kagan employs to parse the multifarious amendments to Section 365. And bankruptcy lawyers will mull the reasoning she uses to conclude that the case is not moot – that Mission Product Holdings might have a claim to reopen the plan and recover funds already distributed to creditors. But where would we be if the court left nothing for criticism?

[Disclosure: Goldstein & Russell, P.C., whose attorneys contribute to this blog in various capacities, is among the counsel on an amicus brief in support of the petitioner in this case. The author of this post is not affiliated with the firm.]

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