#repair my online reputation

[aflame4goinghome]

Bad Reputation

s.f.k. x reader

chapter one

Series Summary: As a local jazz pianist in Nashville, you never fear being in the spotlight. Living in the same city, you’ve become very familiar with Sam Kiszka, a young musician who’s managed to gain a bad reputation in the city and throughout the country within his band’s fanbase. You’ve always just ignored Sam’s promiscuous and impulsive ways, but when you’re approached by the band to help repair his image, you’re given an offer you can’t refuse.

Word Count: 6k

Chapter Warnings: swearing, drinking, mentions of sex, mentions of smoking (tobacco & marijuana), flirting, arguing, sexual tension… you get it ;) (no smut… yet)

A/N: Hi guys! I’m so excited to share this series with you all. The idea came to me and I think it really ended up so good, I can’t wait for you to read it. Let me know in the comments or in my messages if you want to be added to the taglist for this series! See you soon :)

Listen to the playlist here :)

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The club was dark and crowded as you entered through the front door and made your way backstage to begin setting up. Your shoulders brushed past other people in the crowd, making it difficult for you to get to the back. On your way there, you paused for a moment, deciding to stop at the bar first for a much-needed drink.

“Hey, Sebastian!” you said, leaning over the bar as you greeted the bartender. You’ve been playing here for so many years, these guys were some of the closest friends you’ll ever have.

“Y/N, hey! Need a pick-me-up?” he said, turning his attention to you fully for a moment as the bar was bustling with other customers. Better make this quick.

“Can I just get a double rum and coke? Only a little bit of ice in it,” you asked, smiling politely as he nodded and began making your drink.

You take a second to look around the club as you wait, feeling a bit nervous as you take in how many people are actually there. You’ve played big crowds before, sure, but tonight felt extra intimidating for some reason.

You had sensed for a few months now that your big break might be coming soon, at least that’s what you’d hoped. You’ve grown to be quite popular in the greater Nashville area, but your reach hasn’t gone much further than that. You hope to branch off and move to New York one day, to play there professionally full-time.

For now, though, you make your living by playing gigs weekly, posting your music online, and taking a few brand deals here and there. It’s working well, and you make enough money to get by, but you’re not entirely fulfilled.

“Double rum and coke for the lovely lady,” Sebastian said, sliding your drink across the bar toward you with a smile. You return his smile and take it in your hand, tipping it toward him as a thank you.

“Thanks, Seb. I’ll be back later, you know I’m gonna need it,” you muttered, taking a long swig of your drink before squeezing your way through the rest of the crowd and finally making it to the backstage door.

Pushing the door open, you turned the corner toward your usual dressing room and started to set yourself up. You take your coat off, place it on the small couch with your tote bag, and then turn to the mirror to touch up your makeup before you take the stage in 15 minutes. You hear the door crack open, so you turn your head to look and see who it is.

“There you are, Lucy!” you exclaimed, moving to the door to greet her with a hug. “Where the hell have you been? I didn’t see you at the bar before.”

“Sorry, babe, Seb had me refilling the kegs downstairs for him… lazy bastard,” she scoffed, moving past you to plop down on the couch. “That’s a man’s job! That shit is so heavy!” You chuckle at her, finishing off your drink and then turning back to the mirror to finish applying your lipstick.

“He’s building up your strength, Luce! What happened to equal rights?” you laughed, making eye contact with her in the mirror as she rolled her eyes at you.

“Whatever, Y/N. I don’t see you lifting any heavy things,” she mutters, crossing her arms and throwing her head back.

Lucy was probably your best friend in the whole city. You met her in high school, being in the same jazz band class together, and immediately clicked. She works at Seb’s jazz club part-time as a bartender and server, which is how you started playing there. You play plenty of gigs at other places too, but this place became your regular haunt, thanks to Lucy’s help. She asked Sebastian to give you a chance to audition 4 years ago, and you’ve been playing there ever since.

The two of you live together in a little apartment in Midtown, only a couple blocks away from the club. After graduating high school, Lucy decided to go to Belmont for journalism while you ended up just starting to work on your music full-time. You made ends meet and helped pay rent while Lucy went to school, and she’s worked to make it up to you ever since.

She’s in her last semester of graduate school now at Vanderbilt, getting a business degree with hopes of founding a newspaper of her own one day. At 24, she seems like she’s finally getting her life together, but for you, it feels like you’re only just getting started. You try not to compare yourself to her or anyone else, which was something your mother always nagged you about. You knew she was right, but you can’t help it.

Despite all of that, you’re sure that you’ll break into the industry soon. Seb had planned to hook you up with his buddy who works in one of the recording studios downtown to get you in and record your own stuff. He’s just waiting on your word to tell him that the album is ready, but you haven’t been able to finish it for the life of you. You’re not sure if it’s fear or perfectionism, but it just doesn’t feel finished to you yet. For now, you’re filling your time with gig after gig, hoping to find inspiration.

“Stop sulking in here and get back to work, I have to be out there in 5,” you say, turning around to give her a stern look. She scoffs at you and then stands up, walking out the door.

“Break a leg!” she shouts as she rounds the corner, leaving you alone once more.

You have to admit that you’re feeling nervous. You compiled a few originals to test out tonight with the crowd, hoping to get some excited reactions to some stuff that you planned to include in your record. You had a few classics in the setlist too, including your favorite arrangements of Misty and Lullaby of Birdland, to make sure that the crowd doesn’t get too lost. But you hope that you’re new stuff will keep them captivated.

You take a deep breath, brushing your hands down your dress a few times to straighten it out and taking one last look in the mirror before exiting the dressing room and heading toward the stage. You hear Seb announce your name as you turn the corner and stride onto the stage, flashing a quick smile at the crowd before sitting down at the piano.

The crowd hushed as your fingers plinked out the first few notes, and then you started your first piece. Your hands glided across the keys with ease as you closed your eyes, getting lost in the music. Your first original piece went off without a hitch, the crowd cheering loudly at your extensive solo. They were enraptured by the covers you chose and your confidence was truly shining brightly off of you.

The set ended as quickly as it began and the club erupts in applause as you played the last note and stood up to take a bow. You look out into the crowd and see your friends back at the bar, flashing them a wide smile. Your eyes pan across the rest of the room, seeing all of the people cheering for you. This was what you were made for, you were sure of it. This is what you’re meant to do.

As your eyes stop at the back corner of the room, your expression quickly drops when you see the group at the large booth. It was a group of men from a band that you were very familiar with, bumping elbows at all the music venues in Nashville. It wasn’t the band specifically that you had a problem with, but just one specific man who always gave you trouble. Sam Kiszka.

“Fuck,” you mutter under your breath, flashing one more smile at the crowd before rushing backstage to your dressing room. You were so not in the mood for his antics tonight, not after putting on such a good show. The rest of his brothers, you could deal with, but not him. You refuse to let him tear down the confidence in yourself that you only just built up.

You grabbed your things in your dressing room and then hurried back out to the bar, needing to get a refill on your drink before even attempting to socialize with anybody.

“Seb– another, please. Pour it heavy,” you lament, resting your elbows on the bar and putting your head in your hands. You hear him chuckle as he starts your drink and you let out a low groan.

“I take it you saw them, then?” Lucy said, leaning against the bar next to you. You nodded as your head still sat in your hands, not bothering to look up at her. “Y/N, they’re really not that bad, I don’t understand what your problem is.” Your head shot up and you glared at her frustratedly.

“Not that bad? Sam takes every opportunity he can to belittle my music and talent every time I see him,” you scoffed, taking your drink from Seb and taking a long sip. “And when he’s not berating me, he’s trying to get in my pants.” Lucy rolls her eyes, stepping behind the bar to grab some drinks and put them on her tray.

“As if I’d ever stoop that low. That man’s been in bed with every single woman in Nashville. Probably even taken women, too!” you ranted, crossing your arms and taking another sip.

“Just ignore him, babe. I know the rest of them would like to see you,” Lucy said, lifting the tray to rest on her shoulder. “These are their drinks. Just come with me.”

She walks away with the tray toward the other side of the club to find their table. You linger for a moment and then let out an annoyed groan, throwing back another sip before reluctantly following behind her.

You followed Lucy with your head down, trying not to look too eager or willing to go with her. As you approached the table, Josh was the first one to catch a glimpse of you, a toothy smile growing across his face.

“There she is, the woman of the hour,” Josh remarks, opening his arms wide to pull you in for a hug. You accept, squeezing him tightly before pulling away. You smiled shyly as the others greeted you as well, except Sam, of course. He was distracted, seemingly complimenting the top Lucy had on. Barf.

She’d already been there, done that, which isn’t exactly surprising. Your best friend always had an affinity for one-night stands, never really wanting to settle down or get too serious. You never cared at all, until she told you one morning that she went home with Sam after a show one night. She promised that she didn’t plan to do it again, claiming she used him just as much as he used her, and you left it at that.

She kept her word, never going home with him again, but that didn’t stop him from flirting with her every time he came in here. You rolled your eyes as you watched him glance down at her cleavage subtly, but not subtle enough for you not to notice. He finally notices you standing there, turning toward you with a smirk. Here we go.

“Y/N… that was quite the set,” Sam said, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall next to their booth. Josh and Jake excuse themselves to go outside for a smoke, and Danny takes a seat back in the booth, scrolling on his phone. Alone, great.

“Thanks, I think,” you say sarcastically, taking a sip of your drink as you look up at him suspiciously. You didn’t trust that look on his face one bit, and you were determined to find out what he was up to.

“Oh, that wasn’t a compliment,” he said smugly. “If you’re gonna arrange music, at least write a song where the chord progressions actually make sense together.” He raises his beer bottle to his lips and tips his head back to take a sip. You scoff at him, trying to take a deep breath before you blow this entire thing out of proportion.

“Samuel, you wouldn’t know a good arrangement even if it hit you in your smug face,” you bit out, still doing your best to hold yourself back. You swing back the rest of your drink, letting the cold ice hit your lips before slamming it down on the table next to you. “It was a B flat and E flat blues. Who crowned you the king of jazz composition?”

His smirk grew wider across his face as his back left the wall and he began to tower over you. You sucked in a deep breath, wondering if you should've just kept your mouth shut, but frankly you didn’t care. His long hair frames his face as he looks down on you, his eyes dark and cold.

“I did,” he answered, his face growing uncomfortably close to yours. “You’re sexy when you’re angry.” His tongue skims his bottom lip as his eyes bore into yours. No. No. He is not gonna win this round.

“Is that why you enjoy bothering me so much?” you asked, keeping your eyes locked on his, insistent on not backing down. His lips turn upward into a smug smile as he leans back away from you, placing his back on the wall once more.

“Maybe. Or maybe I just think it’s fun,” he answers, smirking down at you.

“You’re such a fucking freak,” you scoff, crossing your arms. You notice a change in his eyes at your words, and you start to wonder if you took it too far.

“You’ve got no idea, sweetheart,” Sam says, stepping forward again to stand over you.

“Gross,” you mutter under your breath, looking up at him, trying to keep a straight face.

“Now, I don’t think you mean that,” Sam whispered, leaning down further to speak into your ear. “I think you like it, actually.”

“You wish,” you state, still maintaining eye contact. His mouth twitches and turns up into a smirk as one of his arms snakes around your waist.

“All that blushing you’re doing says otherwise, doll. Even in this dark club, you can’t hide it,” he whispers against the shell of your ear. Fuck.

“That’s what I thought,” he smirked. You watch silently as Sam puts his beer bottle down on the table and then reaches into the front pocket of his shirt, pulling out a lighter and a blunt. “C’mon Daniel, let’s go outside.”

Sam shoots you a wink before nodding his head in Danny’s direction and the two of them walk toward the front entrance. They pass the twins on their way out, who both turn to look at you with puzzled expressions as they sit down at the booth. You sit down next to Josh as you try to adjust the annoyed look that is so clearly plastered across your face.

“What the hell was that all about?” Jake asked, raising his eyebrow at you and taking a sip from his glass of whiskey sitting on the table. You crossed your arms and rolled your eyes, not even having an answer to give.

“The usual, of course. Can’t seem to leave me alone,” you muttered. The two of them let out a breathy laugh as Josh reaches over to put his arm around you.

“Don’t worry your pretty little head about him, darling,” he offers, smoothing his fingers along your shoulder. “It’s all just show.”

“For it just being show, it sure does feel pretty insulting,” you say, fiddling with your fingers atop the table.

“You’ll adjust eventually,” Jake says. “We like havin’ you around, so don’t run off just yet.” A smile grows across your face at Jake’s subtle attempt at an olive branch.

“I’ll tough it out, I promise,” you answer. You suppose you can adjust to Sam’s antics to spend time with them. You could use all the friends in the industry as you could get.

“How long have you been playing piano?” Josh asks, taking a sip of his tequila soda.

“Oh, I started lessons when I was 6,” you answered with a smile.

“That’s sick, I started pretty young too,” Jake replies, resting his arms on the table. Bonding with successful musicians has been your dream and the fact that you’re getting along so well made you really happy.

“Yeah, so I’ve heard! Believe it or not, I am actually a bit of a fan of your band. Casually, of course,” you smile, trying to be chill about it. It wasn’t entirely a lie, you are just a casual fan, but you’ve definitely watched an interview or two as well, leading to you knowing more about them than you intended to.

“Oh, yeah? Which one of us is your favorite, huh?” Josh asks smugly, raising an eyebrow at you hopefully. God, the amount of testosterone in this room could be cut with a knife.

“Hmmm… Danny,” you jest, elbowing Josh softly. The three of you break out into laughter before you check your phone to see the time. 12:32 am. Yikes, it’s late.

“Well, I gotta head out, unfortunately,” you say, standing up from the booth. Before you had the chance to walk off, Josh stopped you.

“Hey, uh, we’re gonna be in the studio on Monday for a few hours to work on some new music… would you wanna stop by?” Josh asked, looking up at you hopefully. “It could be a cool way for you to get exposed to how the recording process works.”

“Oh, wow, that would be incredible!” you smiled. “That’s such a kind offer, thank you so much! I’ll definitely be there.”

“Perfect! I’ll text you the details,” he says with a smile, and you wave goodbye to them both and walk over to the bar to find Lucy.

“Ready to head out?” you ask, leaning over the bar toward her.

“Sure, let’s go!” she answers, turning around to grab her jacket and bag.

“God, I have so much to fill you in on…” you say as you walk out the door toward your apartment. You told her all about your brief run-in with Sam, and then Josh’s invitation to the studio as you walk down the street. She quite literally squeals when she hears the news.

“OH MY GOD, Y/N this could be it! This could be your big break!” she exclaimed as you turned the corner to the path to your building. “If you get in with their producers, this could really get you started! You have to make a good impression.”

“Don’t you think I know that? I’m freaking out! I really can’t screw this up,” you said as you turn the key in the door.

“You could never screw it up, babe. They’re gonna love you, I promise,” Lucy reassured you, hugging you tightly before branching off to her own bedroom.

All you had to do was get through the weekend, and then the day of your dreams will be all yours. Fuck, you don’t have anything prepared! As you shut the door to your bedroom, you rushed to sit down at your keyboard, turning it on. You pulled out your phone and opened the voice memos app, pressing start and then setting it down. You have to get a good demo down if you want to impress the producers at the studio and book a session there.

You spent all of Saturday and Sunday recording a few of your originals on your phone, taking dozens of takes to make sure each of them was perfect. This is it, it’s your moment.

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Your alarm goes off at 8 am, giving you two hours until you’re meant to meet Greta Van Fleet at the studio. Josh texted you yesterday with the time and address, emphasizing that you shouldn’t overthink it. He knew that you’d be freaking out, and he was right.

You’re hoping that a cool shower will wake you up and help you shake the nerves off. You get up out of bed, rub your eyes, and then grab your towel and walk out of your bedroom to the bathroom.

As the cold water hits your back, you start to think over the day that you have ahead of you. If everything goes the way you planned, then you might leave today with a record deal, or plans to meet up to make a deal. You appreciated Josh’s help so greatly, you really weren’t expecting it. He’s always been so kind to you, more so than the rest, but you figured that it was just the way he was. Now, it feels like he really has your back.

All you had to do was make it through today without any incidents with Sam. You hope that the other guys have already briefed him and told him to be on his best behavior, but you doubt that he’ll abide by that. You can hold your own, though, and you doubt that he’d pull something too obscene while working.

After drying off and getting ready to go, you find that you still have about 20 minutes until you need to leave. To pass the time, you sat down in your bed and opened up Instagram to scroll mindlessly for a little while until you had to drive downtown.

As you scroll down, your eye is caught by a post by The Nashville Fiddle, which is a local magazine. The Fiddle posts mostly about drama and celebrities, and you usually ignore everything they post, since you try not to give gossip the time of day. But this time, your eyes were stuck on their post, with a video of Sam Kiszka, belligerent and wasted outside of a club downtown Saturday night.

In the video, you can see Sam flirting with a girl outside of the club when a big, burly man comes up to him angrily. Clearly, this girl was taken, and her boyfriend was not happy. You can see Sam hollering back at him, getting in his face as he slurs his words before the man takes a large swing at him. Then, you see Danny show up behind him and pull him back, dragging him down the street, far away from the scene.

How could he be so stupid? Flirting with girls with boyfriends is bad enough, but it’s even worse to get into an argument and get caught on camera. He should know that he’s a public figure and that people can spread this kind of stuff around. What was he thinking?

You check the time and see that it’s about time to go, so you grab your tote, pick up your keys, and then head out the door. As you drive downtown, you take a few deep breaths. It’s not a big deal, you tell yourself. Everything will be fine.

Soon enough, you pull into a parking spot in front of the studio and put your car in park. 9:59 am. Just on time. You get out of the car, throw your keys into your bag, and then head toward the front door. After opening the door, you walked in and told the person at the front desk that you were meeting the band, and they directed you to the right studio.

As you enter the studio, you walk in to only find Danny sitting there. He looks up from his drum set and waves, standing up to greet you.

“Hey, Danny… where are the others?” you asked, hugging him and then taking a seat on a chair nearby. Danny lets out a long laugh, trying to compose himself before answering.

“Oh, they are never here on time. This is considered early,” he answers, smiling widely as he goes to sit back down at his set. “I wouldn’t expect any of them for at least another thirty minutes, if not longer.” You laugh along with him, tucking your hair behind your ear.

“Ah, Josh should have told me! Now I feel embarrassed for being so early,” you say, looking down at your phone for the time. 10:11 am.

“Nah, he just can’t admit that he’s always chronically late. He’s in denial,” Danny jokes. “Do you want anything while we wait? There’s coffee and tea over there.”

“Yeah, that’d be nice actually,” you answered, standing up to walk over to the coffee cart. “I’ll be honest, I’m not much of a morning person.” Daniel laughs, standing up to walk over with you.

“I’m not sure I’ve ever met a jazz player that was,” he says with a smile. “I think it’s just part of your DNA.” You laugh, nodding your head in agreement.

“You might be right. It’s not our fault, we play at night!” you say, pouring yourself a cup of coffee.

“Sam’s the same way, y’know. Stays up ‘til ungodly hours of the night, and then doesn’t roll out of bed until after noon,” he notes, laughing to himself. You laugh awkwardly as you add cream to your cup, cringing at the possibility of having anything in common with Sam Kiszka.

Almost as if he read your mind, Sam walked through the door, sunglasses blocking the dark bags under his eyes. He’s clearly hungover, rubbing his temples as he waltzes over to the cart and grabs the pot of coffee, pouring it into his own cup.

“Rough weekend, Samuel?” you asked teasingly, having already read about his escapades from this weekend. You can see his eyes roll behind the tint of the sunglasses as he takes a sip of his black coffee.

“Don’t start with me today, sweetheart,” he mumbled, pouring more coffee into his cup to make up for what he already drank, and then walking over to the corner to sit down on the sofa. He puts his feet up on the cushions as he takes a sip and then lays his head back against the armrest.

“See what I mean?” Danny asks, laughing as he walks over to his set and starts playing on his own, seemingly practicing. The idea sends a shiver down your spine. Could you and Sam be more similar than you thought? No, no way, you thought to yourself.

Not long after, Josh and Jake walk through the door and things can finally start moving. Josh walks over to make a cup of tea and then takes a seat on a stool, taking a slow sip. You walk over to him, hoping that his usual cheery disposition would calm your nerves.

“Good morning, lovely,” Josh smiled, patting your shoulder softly. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m good, I’m good,” you answered nonchalantly with a shy smile.

“Good. We’re still waiting for our manager, Jodie, to arrive, so just hang tight,” he says, taking another sip of his tea.

“Hey, you know what? How about you play us something?” he asks excitedly, his eyes lighting up. “Could be a good way to wake us up, huh?”

Your eyes shoot open, looking around the room at the rest of the guys. Danny is nodding excitedly and Jake walks over to his guitar stand, picking up his Gibson SG and slinging it over his head. Sam isn’t paying attention, his sunglasses have come off and his eyes are shut as he reclines on the couch.

“Well, okay… I guess it couldn’t hurt,” you answered, walking over to Sam’s keyboard next to the drumset. You turn it on and adjust the settings, giving it a funkier sound before taking a deep breath and starting to play.

You decide to play Higher Ground, by Stevie Wonder, falling into the groove of the intro of the song as your fingers move across the keys. Danny’s face lights up as he listens closely to what you’re playing, then starts playing along. Jake follows suit, adding his guitar into the mix, and playing along with you. Of course, everyone knows Stevie Wonder, but being able to play with a band was just so cool to you.

People keep on learnin’

Soldiers keep on warnin’

World keep on turnin’

‘Cause it won’t be too long

Josh sings along, his voice fitting perfectly in the range of the song. The four of you are really grooving now, and it is so fun for you. It’s been years since you’ve played with others, and you loved it.

You watch as Sam lifts his head from the couch, opening his tired eyes to look over at you all. For a moment there, you almost think that he might be smiling, but you shake it off. You’re surprised to see him rise from the couch and walk over, grabbing his Rickenbacker off the stand and putting the strap over his head. Oh, he’s gonna play along…

Sam starts plucking his bass, along with the rest of the song. You knew that they’d all played in jazz bands before, and this song was a staple, but it surprised you how easy it was to join together and play. It was almost like you belonged there.

As you start a short piano solo, their manager walks through the door and sits down on the couch. She seems to nod at you to keep going, so you finish your solo and then end the song. You’re suddenly caught by surprise as Josh starts applauding, smiling widely as he walks over to you. He stands behind you, putting his hands firmly on your shoulders, squeezing them.

“You’re an incredible talent, Y/N, truly,” Josh remarked, smiling from ear to ear as he left your side and went to sit back down. You smile shyly and get up from the bench behind the piano to go sit down on the couch with Jodie. The rest of the guys start talking cacophonously as you start your conversation privately with her.

“It’s true, you’re really good,” she says honestly, reaching out to shake yours. “I’m Jodie, it’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.”

“Oh, you have? Thank you so much, it’s great to meet you. I assume it was Josh who told you about me, he’s the one who invited me today,” you answer, smiling shyly at the compliment.

“I first heard about you from Sam actually… he had a lot to say about your talent on the keys,” she says, catching you completely by surprise. Sam? Is she being serious right now?

“Did he now?... Interesting,” you replied, your tone feigning confidence. “Well, I’m honored to be here today. I’ve been meaning to finally get into a studio here in Nashville.”

“Yes, I heard from Josh that you plan on recording an album of original songs,” Jodie remarks. “I’m happy to have you here! Hopefully, we can get you to work a bit! Not to mention, it’s quite nice to have a bit more of a gender balance.” You laugh together for a moment before she gets up to greet the guys, going over the agenda for the session.

They go through a few new songs, trying to get it all down perfectly. You just sit and watch, absolutely mesmerized by watching the professionals work. You even escaped to the booth for a while to see the mechanics of the equipment, talking to some of the sound techs that work there. It was a really rewarding learning experience for you.

“Okay, that’s a wrap, guys! Good work today, we’ll be back here at the same time on Friday,” Jodie says. “Sam, can you hang back for a sec?” She walks back over to sit next to you on the couch, nodding her head to motion for Sam to join you. Once she’s certain that everyone else has left the studio, she starts talking.

“So, I’ve had an idea. Just hear me out,” she started, somewhat apprehensively. “Y/N, I was thinking about how highly the guys speak about you, and how much untapped talent you have.” Okay… this is getting weird.

“And Sam, I’ve been thinking about ways to improve your public image and get you out of your rut,” she finished, trailing off as she saw Sam’s annoyed expression.

“Okay, first of all, I am not in a rut,” he said, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms as he leaned back on the couch.

“That’s not the point,” she snapped back. “My point is that I think I might have thought of a way to solve all of our problems.” You raise your eyebrow at her, still not really understanding what she’s getting at.

“What could possibly solve both of our problems?” you ask suspiciously.

“Like I said, just hear me out…” she says, but Sam interrupts her.

“Jodie, just spit it out already,” he groaned, growing frustrated.

“I think you guys should pretend to date!” she finally spat out, looking nervously at your reactions. Your jaw dropped as she finished her sentence, unsure that you even heard her right. Sam, however, already shot up out of his seat and stood angrily above you both.

“No, fuck no, absolutely not. This is ridiculous,” he starts ranting, but she cuts him off.

“Just listen to me, Sam. You’d improve your reputation by having a charismatic and talented girlfriend, the fans would love her! And Y/N, you’d gain followers and fans for your music career, and our label can get you started in our studio. Boom, both problems are fixed.”

“No! How could I even pretend to be interested in him? It’s impossible,” you complained.

“Woah, okay, try not to sound too disgusted,” Sam said, crossing his arms with a scoff.

“Don’t act like you didn’t react the exact same way, you asshole,” you scoff, staring daggers into him.

“Whatever, it’s not the same thing,” he spits back.

“Whatever, this isn’t productive,” you admit, crossing your arms in your seat.

“Exactly. It won’t even be that bad. Besides, you’re both benefiting here! It’s perfect,” Jodie says proudly.

“Well, I don’t know about perfect, but I guess it does kind of make sense…” you muttered, looking up at Sam nervously. He raised an eyebrow at you, walking toward you.

“You want to be my fake girlfriend, Y/N?” he teased. You roll your eyes and stand up to be more level with him, hating him towering over you.

“Shut up, Sam,” you replied, a hint of pink tinting your cheeks as your eyes locked on his.

“So? You guys are in?” Jodie asked hopefully. You and Sam exchange a look, then look back at her and nod.

“Yeah. Yeah, we’re in,” Sam answered, looking over at you with a smirk before walking toward the door. “Now, are we done here? I’ve got places to be.” You roll your eyes and reach down to grab your bag.

“We’re done here, go,” you mutter, slinging your bag over your arm. Sam walks out the door as quickly as he had came in, and you follow soon after him.

As you drive back home from the studio, you think about all of the day’s events. You almost can’t even believe that you agreed to be Sam’s girlfriend, fake or not. But you have to admit that it’s going to be great for your career, this is exactly the big break you need. You feel confident that her choice to ask you was based on your talent, so the unconventional means of gaining popularity didn’t bother you.

It kind of excited you to be included with such a famous rock band like theirs– going on tour, going to the studio, seeing the magic happen. Having to spend time with Sam was just the price you had to pay to jumpstart your music career and get into the music industry. You’re not sure what type of a commitment this arrangement is going to entail for you, but you’re honestly kind of looking forward to it. You have to admit that “Rockstar’s Girlfriend” kind of has a ring to it.

•┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈••✦ ♡ ✦••┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈•

chapter two

Thank you so much for reading! Please leave a comment or send me a message if you want to be added to the taglist for this story, or if you want to be tagged in all of my stories! See you soon :)

Taglist:

@highladyofasgard @gvfpal @childinthegardenn @myleftsock @peaceloveunitygvf @gretasfallingsky @gretavanfan @itsafullmoon @jordie-gvf

[2hiit]

hello again, dashboard.

my name is jenga, and you might recognize me from @2hiit, @mikucaptor, @spellbookbindings, @oberonnie, @goodnatured, @uzufoxy, and @autochaton. if you do, you may have also noticed my various absences from the tumblrsphere in the last year or so. although i've been trying to stay as uninvolved from this as i can, i've reached my breaking point. this is in part due to the newest of the false allegations sunnie has lobbied against me, and in part due to the health of my wife, who was supposed to be wearing a heart monitor this month to track some irregular beating, but whose results have most definitely been skewed due to the repeated stress sunnie has been putting our family through this past week. 

this post will include every shred of evidence i have against sunnie (@sunniehub), with the hope that once i've said everything i can, i never have to address this again. i deserve peace. my family deserves peace. i have been forced to accept we will not get any if i continue to just wait for this to blow over.

sunnie runs the following blogs: 

sunniehub / carcins  / softdweller / 8ad / goresports / paiinball / w2f / stuckyfanfiction / w33dgod69 / diqqiebitch / hissassin / dowwn / eredan / hotdoxxed / apedshit / acabemy / mistaklen 

xe has been relentlessly block evading and stalking my various blogs, as well as attempting to tarnish my online reputation beyond repair with false accusations in an effort to drive me off of this site. i have been dealing with sunnie and xer inexcusable behavior ever since i blocked xem on january 2nd, 2023 for the sake of my mental health. i made a response post once before addressing these false allegations against me, but i now realize that will no longer be sufficient, as sunnie seems to be content with making up new and worse accusations when the previous ones fail to stick.

content warnings for this document include: mentions of r/pe, mentions of CSA, stalking, harassment, emotional abuse, gaslighting, guilt tripping, suicidal thoughts, and mentions of transphobia. there are also descriptions of physical stalking, as well as graphic descriptions of violence, but these things are warned for before they occur, and are skippable if need be.

over the course of THIS DOCUMENT, i’ll be showing you chat logs, screenshots, and data supporting the claims i’ve made about sunnie, as well as offering you some context as to how this situation came to be. this is quite an extensive log and i'm aware it may be hard to follow, and some of you may want to skip to the parts that are most striking to you. i have taken the liberty to include an outline in the sidebar for the ease of moving around the document at your own pace, and i’ll be using formatting to make it as neurodivergent friendly as i possibly can. please bear with me.

i truly believe sunnie is a danger to this community, most especially those xe interacts with on a regular basis, just like i once did.

[as a disclaimer: while i have censored sunnie's previous name, i will not be altering any outdated pronouns as they appear in our chat logs. this is to maintain the integrity of the logs and readability. i no longer use xer former pronouns or name, and there are plenty of people who can vouch for this fact.]

i will be temporarily disabling anonymous asks, because i will not be addressing this matter publicly any longer. when i do eventually re-able them, any asks pertaining to this post, or the events this post addresses, will be promptly deleted. replies, reblogs, and DMs are fine, but otherwise, i am considering this matter closed until further notice.

furthermore, i do not want to see any commentary, speculation, or prodding for details whatsoever regarding the individuals in this document whose identities i have censored. this is a stalking accusation. they are censored for their protection.

they are not the focus of this document, sunnie is.

[unpluggedfinancial]

How Bitcoin Transformed My Life: A Journey of Financial Awakening

Welcome to my blog! I'm passionate about financial freedom and the transformative power of Bitcoin. Today, I want to share my personal journey with Bitcoin and how it has dramatically changed my life. My goal is to help you understand the potential of Bitcoin and inspire you to explore its benefits for yourself.

Early Financial Life

Before discovering Bitcoin, my financial life was a constant struggle. I lived paycheck to paycheck, barely managing to cover my expenses. Emergencies, like unexpected car repairs or medical bills, threw my finances into disarray. I felt trapped in a cycle of debt and financial stress, unable to break free.

Discovering Bitcoin

My journey with Bitcoin began when I stumbled upon an article about it online. Intrigued by the concept of a decentralized digital currency, I started to delve deeper into what Bitcoin was all about. The more I learned, the more fascinated I became. Bitcoin's potential to revolutionize the financial system and provide a hedge against inflation captivated me.

Learning About Money

One of the most profound impacts of my Bitcoin journey was the education it forced upon me regarding money. Before Bitcoin, I had a superficial understanding of how money worked. As I researched Bitcoin, I learned about the history of money, the mechanics of inflation, and the flaws in our current financial system. This newfound knowledge empowered me to make more informed financial decisions.

The Transformation

Bitcoin not only educated me about money but also transformed my financial habits and mindset. I began to prioritize saving and investing in Bitcoin instead of spending frivolously. Over time, I built a safety net that allowed me to handle emergencies without financial panic. My financial situation improved significantly, and I felt a sense of control and security that I had never experienced before.

Spreading the Knowledge

Inspired by my own transformation, I decided to create content to help others understand Bitcoin and achieve financial freedom. Through my YouTube channel and blog, I aim to demystify Bitcoin and provide practical advice on how to incorporate it into one's financial strategy. My goal is to empower you to take control of your finances and realize the potential of Bitcoin.

Practical Advice

Here are some practical steps for those looking to start their Bitcoin journey:

Educate Yourself: Take the time to learn about Bitcoin and the principles behind it. There are plenty of resources available online, including articles, videos, and podcasts.

Start Small: You don't need to invest a large amount of money to get started. Begin with small, manageable investments and gradually increase your exposure as you become more comfortable.

Secure Your Investments: Make sure to store your Bitcoin securely using reputable wallets and follow best practices to protect your assets.

Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest developments in the Bitcoin and cryptocurrency space to make informed decisions.

Conclusion

My journey with Bitcoin has been nothing short of transformative. It has empowered me to take control of my finances and dramatically improved my financial well-being. I encourage you to explore Bitcoin and educate yourself about money. The potential for financial freedom is within your reach, and I hope my story inspires you to take that first step.

Call to Action

I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences! Please share them in the comments below. If you found this post helpful, subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow my blog for more content on financial freedom and Bitcoin. Let's embark on this journey together and unlock the potential of Bitcoin.

Take Action Towards Financial Independence

If this article has sparked your interest in the transformative potential of Bitcoin, there's so much more to explore! Dive deeper into the world of financial independence and revolutionize your understanding of money by following my blog and subscribing to my YouTube channel.

🌐 Blog: Unplugged Financial Blog Stay updated with insightful articles, detailed analyses, and practical advice on navigating the evolving financial landscape. Learn about the history of money, the flaws in our current financial systems, and how Bitcoin can offer a path to a more secure and independent financial future.

📺 YouTube Channel: Unplugged Financial Subscribe to our YouTube channel for engaging video content that breaks down complex financial topics into easy-to-understand segments. From in-depth discussions on monetary policies to the latest trends in cryptocurrency, our videos will equip you with the knowledge you need to make informed financial decisions.

👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with our latest content. Whether you're a seasoned investor, a curious newcomer, or someone concerned about the future of your financial health, our community is here to support you on your journey to financial independence.

[burgersnacksformax]

Gk charas' google history headcanons

Shiraishi

He definitely has gambling websites open, and you know he knows what he's doing when you find "gambling.com/this-is-not-a-scam-website-xoxo/".

Which is then followed by dozens of searches along the lines of "scammed by gambling website", "how to get money back after scam", "how to report gambling website".

Also various paid corn sites, good for him

He uses Quora and Yahoo Answers as a reputable source of information.

So many goddamn 9GAG pages.

Vasily

Tons of links on social media of art by his favourite artists.

And Twitch, he probably watches vtubers while he draws.

There are also lots of vids in his history of first person shooters.

Random wikipedia articles of highly specific phenomena that piqued his interest.

And drawing references. His search history even seems suspicious out of context with the poses he searches.

Saichi

Travel and tourism vlogs, followed by google maps searches.

Also, recipe blogs and videos.

He has compilation vids all over his watch history, whether its compilations of "Funny Fails 🤣🤣😂 LOL LMAO #TRENDING" or just a compliation of moments from a show or a game, even if he doesnt play the game or watch the show.

Random trivia google searches, mainly because he mightve seen something he didn't know and ended up googling it.

And then he falls down a rabbit hole of random trivia, ending up excitedly telling Asirpa all about it.

Asirpa

Definitely watches animal fail videos.

Probably gets addicted to Wordle.

Does Not Use Keywords When Googling to point it's a miracle that google can even interpret what she's saying. Who tf searches like "I put my shirt in the dryer and now it shrunk and now I want to know if I can reverse it".

Watches educational youtube channels about literally anything. She'll fall dowm that rabbit hole.

Secretly loves those online flash games but would never admit to it.

Ogata

It's fucking wiped clean, almost nothing is there.

He mostly just does typical ogata stuff like searching up really specific facts that could get the average person arrested for knowing.

And also cat videos :)

Oh and he most certainly does not use google, he opts for browsers that keep you super secure.

He probably has reddit just to spread misinformation honestly.

Koito

Tons of beauty guru channels definitely.

He also has a channel of his own which is also in his search history a lot.

Search history completely unorganized. Youll see pictures and vids he finds funny, links to online shopping sites, wikipedia articles on military icons and tactics, etc.

He also loves reading travel blogs and watching vlogs.

Is really fucking good at Wordle, Asirpa hates him for always being able to get it right.

Tsukishima

also has koitos yt channel in his search history.

Lots of miscellaneous journals and artciles open for him to read.

He has perused a lot through online libraries too.

Does crossword puzzles online.

Reads the fucking. News. Every day.

Tanigaki

Ngl probably wouldnt google many things, and if anything his search history would be few and far in between.

But when he does search its things its so normal ?? Like "XXL clothing store near me" and "How to repair a broken air conditioning unit".

Gym websites and workout routine stuff. He maintains his build and I gotta respect that.

Also has facebook to check in on how his family and friends are doing.

And also baking and cooking videos.

[oldguardleatherdog]

I posted the following to Facebook today:

(Long post)

Sadly, this account has become both a callout blog and a bulletin board where others can post nasty things about me.

I have to maintain this account in order to monitor these activities for legal reasons, and it's unfortunate that you, my longtime friends and loved ones, have had to see this garbage in your feeds and notifications.

For that reason, I'm gradually unfriending almost everyone on my list here and on Instagram, and will do what I can to shed my followers (if Meta will allow it).

Many of you have rallied to my defense in recent weeks, and my family and I are grateful for your help and support.

For the past two and a half years, since I was injured by a popular local personality who has more than 10,000 followers across social media and chose to pursue legal action against him for his deliberate act, I have been painted as a hatemonger and a vicious, vindictive liar who is attacking this man for his money, that I have some sort of psychological disorder, and that my actions are equivalent to those of a child molester.

I have been called a false Christian, too elderly to care for myself or to be desirable sexually and socially, and my husband has been accused of sinister activities while oblivious to what his "ward" (me) is doing - and he has been subjected twice to these people using him and taking advantage of his good nature in order to inflict further damage on me.

Our building has been broken into and we have been terrorized in our home. Our personally identifiable information has been spread to untold numbers of people via an open Google Drive share that the person who injured me established shortly after he injured me in May of 2021 and is still open to anyone who has the link.

We have been threatened online and in person with violence and calls for me to be "purged from the online and offline communities" - and not once has anyone in these online groups or in person spoken up in my defense.

I have been systematically banned from LGBTQ+ communities and gathering spaces both online and in the real world. I have been hunted and stalked across multiple social media platforms by the person who injured me and his proxies, who have succeeded in forcing me off those platforms, and have caused me to be fired from my employment by threatening my employer, taking work and future opportunities away from me and taking food off my family's table in the process.

My 37-year reputation in the leather community and work as a founder of pup play has been ruined beyond repair, and thousands of people have been fed a steady diet of misinformation and false narratives about me and my family, while I have been unable to speak in my defense and pour truth on these lies.

All of this has forced me to conclude that my ability to continue participating in my longtime communities in the way I have always done is no longer possible.

This isn't the way that I had hoped to end my life in leather and pup, but we don't always get to choose our exit - just ask Dan Rather.

Due to the circumstances, I am removing my name and record of work from all sources, repositories, and reference works relating to anything I have participated in or been given credit for in these groups from the time I came out in 1986 to the present day.

I am also withdrawing the developmental work and research that I had intended to provide to pup play historians and will deaccess any reference to me in leather or journalism archives or collections, except for my queer and AIDS activist performance art and composition works stored in university LGBTQ+ libraries and museums around the world.

That is all that I wanted to say to you.

-Animal

[greenzaku]

How I remember MH17

17 July marks the anniversary of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) in eastern Ukraine in 2014. All 298 on board, mostly Dutch, Malaysians, and Australians were killed. I had just finished up with a short term job interstate and was looking for further employment at the time, and had the time to follow the reporting of the incident online. In 2014, I would not have guessed that the event would shape my view of discourse and disinformation in eastern Europe for years to come. Ukraine was on the other side of the world and I had no real interest or understanding of the invasion by Russia back then, but people from my country were on that plane, so I paid attention. The blame game started in earnest.

‘Ukraine fired the missile.’

‘Russia fired the missile’

‘It was an accident.’

‘The Ukrainians are looting the crash site.’

‘The Russians are looting the crash site.’

‘Malaysian Airlines was at fault and shouldn’t have been flying over a warzone.’

‘The pilot was at fault.’

‘The investigation is biased towards Russia/Ukraine/Malaysia/Australia/Netherlands...’

‘Russia/Ukraine tampered with evidence...’

It even got ugly in some less reputable ‘news’ sites and far right conspiracy theories spread online, that it was the ‘missing’ MH370 that crashed into the sea months earlier, that the US did it because reasons, islamophobia, men in black, hijackers, crisis actors, aliens... As a queer person, I paid attention to the fact that several AIDS researchers were on board, and stigma surrounding AIDS was and is still very rife, which fed into the more extreme discourse. The world wanted answers.

Round and round it went. It did eventually emerge that Russia, or ‘separatists’ - really Russian proxies - fired the missile, from a Buk launcher that was later filmed being carted back to Russia carrying three missiles instead of its usual four. The billboard was used to geolocate the truck and Buk’s to the border.

Pardon my terrible MSPaint edit.

The still image is grabbed from a video that was posted by Ukraine’s Defense ministry, but forms part of a broader investigation by Bellingcat, an independent collective of open source researchers, that is too detailed to write here but tracked the movements of the Buk and the truck carrying it to and from the launch site. (link: https://www.bellingcat.com/tag/mh17/)

There was nothing wrong with the plane, the pilot, or the flight path. Passenger planes from Air France, Air India and Singapore Airlines were transiting nearby.

Now, it was obvious that MH17 wasn’t an intentional target. The commanders of the brigade that the Buk belonged to initially posted on social media that they had downed a Ukrainian fighter jet, and then rapidly deleted their celebratory comments when photos of the wreckage appeared online. In my mind, all Russia had to do was acknowledge it was a mistake, or a mistake by ‘separatists’, court martial the guy who pulled the trigger, apologise and fork out some form of compensation. Install a plaque at the site, send flowers, and the world would have eventually looked away from the not-really-civil-war in faraway eastern Europe and their brush with a southeast Asian airline.

Why the lies? Acknowledging the mistake would have been magnitudes cheaper and simpler than the overall war effort. Why was continuing to perpetuate a firehose of falsehoods more important than the truth and trying to repair relations? I couldn’t answer those questions then, but now realise that keeping the information space muddied and flooded with crap is now the norm for disinformation coming out of Russia. Its like they can’t help themselves.

Fast forward to today.

The ‘separatist’ commanders are still involved in the invasion of Ukraine, now unmasked as regular Russians. No commercial flights operate over the country for now. Disinformation, so heavily weaponised during the long months of pandemic lockdown and the former president of the US, runs rife. I posted my own little memorials to the tragedy on social media, year after year, and got bot farm and troll reactions downvoting or pushing them into invisibility. I’m not important enough in the big scheme of things to have a flesh and blood russian troll come to debate me, not that I have the time and energy for it. I’m also not the only person who refuses to forget it, even if the loss pales in significance to the atrocities perpetuated on Ukraine from last year. The lies meant that when the 2022 invasion started along with the inevitable discourse, we also remembered which side was more likely to be lying. The Netherlands and Australia are very supportive of Ukraine, Malaysia is officially neutral (mostly due to convoluted reasoning of America = bad imperialists, America supports Ukraine, so supporting Russia good etc) though many individuals still go against the grain to donate or volunteer. I can’t change what others think, but at least I can prevent them from forgetting.

[modyjeep]

Finding the Best Jeep Dealer Near Me for My Next Vehicle

If you’re in the market for a new Jeep near me, one of the first things you’ll want to do is find a reputable Jeep dealer near me that can provide you with options to suit your needs and budget. But the question is, how will you select the best Jeep dealer near me? Here are a few practical tips:

Start by searching online for “Jeep dealer near me” and see what dealerships appear in your area. Pay attention to feedback and review of a specific Jeep dealer near me, and ratings to get a feel for the customer service and overall shopping experience at each dealer. You’ll also want to consider inventory – for example, a particular Jeep dealer near me may have more Jeep models and styles in stock for you to choose from.

When evaluating Jeep dealer near me, location is key. Look for a Jeep showroom near me, close enough that fits your lifestyle, whether you prefer a short drive for service appointments or want the convenience of shopping locally. The right Jeep dealer near you will have a competitive Jeep price near me without sacrificing quality service.

Visiting the Jeep showroom near me can also give you a good idea of what it would be like to shop there. The right Jeep dealer near me will leave you feeling comfortable.

Finding the best Jeep dealer near you takes some research, but it’s worth it. 

If You want knowledgeable sales staff to answer all your questions, competitive Jeep price near me, and an efficient service department for maintenance and repairs: Visit Mody Jeep Hyderabad, today!

[fivedayshakespeare]

1/1/2024-1/5/2024: Much Ado About Nothing

First of all, I think it's weird that Hero instantly forgives Claudio and marries him in spite of the way he treated her. His evidence of her "infidelity" was that he saw her talking to someone? And his response was to make the biggest scene possible right in the middle of the wedding? Come on, kid.

I realize things were different back then, but Beatrice specifically calls out both of those things, so I don't think things were THAT different. Claudio definitely wildly overreacted, but Hero still seems perfectly happy to marry him, as long as everyone in town clearly understands that she's a virgin.

Really, it's not the marriage that seems odd to me. The odd part is a few lines later, when both Hero and Claudio gleefully reveal Beatrice and Benedick's secret sonnets. You two have serious relationship issues you should be working on, but once the marriage happens they immediately retreat into being supporting characters for the actual stars of the play.

I've seen some analysis (now largely discredited, I think) that tries to make Claudio/Hero the stars and Benedick/Beatrice mere comic relief, but that flies in the face of the structure of the play. I think the couple that meets first and gets married last has to be the main objects of the plot, right? Or maybe not, because I guess by that rubric the main characters of A Midsummer Night's Dream would be Theseus and Hippolyta, who I regularly forget are even in the play.

When the Prince goes to Hero with the intention of wooing her for Claudio, he must have done an excellent job. Although I guess from Leonato's point of view, Hero has to marry the guy who spurned her if at all possible, to repair her (and thus Leonato's) reputation.

I watched the Kenneth Branagh and Joss Whedon versions while I was reading the play. They're both very good, I think. In Branagh, Emma Thompson and Michael Keaton are really excellent as Beatrice and Dogberry. In Whedon, I think Clark Gregg's Leonato impressed me the most. He felt the most fluent with Shakespeare. And there's a moment early on when Benedick is going on and on about Beatrice, and he says something to the effect of "Let's talk no more about her." Leonato just looks at the other character on screen until Benedick, of course, continues to talk about Beatrice. It's well acted and establishes that not only is Benedick clearly in love with Beatrice, but everyone knows it.

I was going to watch the David Tennant/Catherine Tate version, because I'm getting to the plays with multiple adaptations and I'm always fascinated by what changes are made (e.g. how many cuckold jokes get taken out) and the decisions by the actors. But I don't have time tonight, because RuPauls Drag Race is back. Aside: I think there is something interesting about Shakespeare and drag queens. Beatrice, after all, was played by a youth in a wig and a dress, and she definitely knew how to throw shade:

Benedick: God keep your ladyship still in that mind, so some gentleman or other shall scape a predestinate scratched face Beatrice: Scratching could not make it worse, an 'twere such a face as yours were

That is a read if I ever saw one.

Finally, I would like to reiterate my dislike of the current state of things where the only Shakespeare criticism you can easily find online is people summarizing the plots and providing essays for students to steal. I'm having to order books from like 1955, when it appears that people were writing actual criticism. On the plus side, I'm assembling an okay research library.

[rhetoricandlogic]

The King in Yellow - Robert Chambers

Along the shore the cloud waves break, The twin suns sink beneath the lake, The shadows lengthen In Carcosa. Strange is the night where black stars rise, And strange moons circle through the skies But stranger still is Lost Carcosa. Songs that the Hyades shall sing, Where flap the tatters of the King, Must die unheard in Dim Carcosa. Song of my soul, my voice is dead; Die thou, unsung, as tears unshed Shall dry and die in Lost Carcosa. Cassilda's Song in "The King in Yellow," Act I, Scene 2

(I probably shouldn't open a review with lines from a play that has such ill effects on people, but the excerpts from the play were my favorite parts.)

I have done homework for this review, which I now share with you: In about 1887, Gustave Nadaud writes a poem called "Carcassonne" (available online here) about a man dying before he sets eyes on the city of his heart's desire. This inspires Lord Dunsany to write a short story of the same name (included in A Dreamer's Tales), William Faulkner to write a short story of the same name (available in These Thirteen), and, apparently, Ambrose Bierce to write a short story called "An Inhabitant of Carcosa" (available in Can Such Things Be?).

Bierce's story in turn inspires Robert W. Chambers to write a collection of short stories called A King in Yellow (a review of which you are now reading), in which the first four interlocking stories follow the repercussions of a fictional play also called A King in Yellow set in the theoretically still fictional Carcosa. Which in turn inspired H.P. Lovecraft to do something I haven't finished researching yet. Which has apparently spawned a whole cottage industry of books about the king in yellow and Carcosa (just judging by what I'm seeing on Amazon, here). So this is a literary iceberg we're standing on.

The Repairer of Reputations The first story stars a Mr. Hildred Castaigne, convalescing from a concussion, poor man. The story shines in the first part for the sheer 'what on earth am I reading?' reaction it provokes, but half that reaction comes from the fact that the book was written in 1895 and describes a utopia (complete with a nasty little bit of racism) imagined in 1920. The other half comes from Mr. Castaigne, (view spoiler). The Mask The second story stars a character mentioned briefly in the first story, Boris Yvain, and narrator Alec. I think of this one as a retelling (view spoiler). I rather enjoyed this one. In the Court of the Dragon This one stars an unnamed narrator and only names a Monseigneur C____. It is therefore difficult to say the exact links, but I have my suspicions. The Yellow Sign The fourth story stars Jack Scott (from the second story), an organist who may or may not be from the third story, as well as (view spoiler), and references the events of the first story. This is the most horrific story of the quartet. The Demoiselle D'ys Starring Philip and Jean D'ys. No links to other stories, but a pretty tragedy. The Prophets' Paradise A little bit of experimental fiction that didn't really work for me, although the words were strung together nicely enough; it might be better understood as poetry. The Street of the Four Winds The last four stories also form a quartet, but they have nothing to do with Carcosa or the horror genre. This first of the four stars Severn and Sylvia Elven. I kind of this one, because Severn is the kind of man who will feed a hungry cat better than he feeds himself. The Street of the First Shell This one also has a Sylvia, and a Jack Trent? Annoyed. Long war story. Skipped. The Street of Our Lady of the Fields Americans studying in Paris. Romance. Officially bored now. Barely skimmed. Rue Barree Same Americans (different set), still a romance. Skimmed.

Overall, this was really a 2.5 for me (as a 200 page book that took me over a week to read). But I'm glad I read it for the sake of all the allusions I'm sure I've been missing and will now be able to understand. So it's got that going for it. And looking back I really did like the first four stories and a couple of the later ones, for all that the book was a slog. Rounding up.

[paydayquid]

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[helpfulhomehoney]

How to Promote Your Handyman and Housekeeping Business?

Starting a handyman and housekeeping business is an exciting venture. However, to ensure its success, you need to promote your services effectively. In this article, we will explore a variety of strategies that can help you reach a wider audience, increase your customer base, and ultimately grow your business. From online marketing tactics to local networking, we will cover various approaches that will enable you to establish a strong presence in the market. 

What is Handyman and Housekeeping business?

A handyman and housekeeping business is a service-oriented business that gives you a range of home maintenance, repair, and cleaning services to residential and commercial clients.

Handyman Services

Handyman services typically involve various tasks related to home improvement, maintenance, and repairs. Handymen are skilled professionals who can handle a wide array of tasks, such as plumbing repairs, electrical work, carpentry, painting, furniture assembly, appliance installation, and general handyman services. They are often called upon to fix small to medium-sized issues around the house or office.

Housekeeping Services

On the other hand, housekeeping services focus on cleaning and maintaining the cleanliness and orderliness of living or working spaces. Housekeepers or cleaning professionals provide services such as regular house cleaning, deep cleaning, move-in/move-out cleaning, post-construction cleaning, window cleaning, and organizing services. They may also provide you with specialized cleaning services like carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, or exterior cleaning.

Both handyman and housekeeping businesses cater to individuals or businesses that lack the time, skills, or resources to handle these tasks themselves. By offering their expertise & services, these businesses only aim to provide convenience, efficiency, & a well-maintained living or working environment for their clients. Now, we are going to share with you some ways that help you to promote your business.

How you can promote your Handyman business

Here, we will share with you some amazing points that help you to promote your Handyman & Housekeeping business in Maple Falls, Washington. 

Build an Engaging Website: The first step that you should follow to promote your Handyman and Housekeeping business is building your own website. In today's digital age, having a professional website is very important for any business. Create a visually appealing and user-friendly website that showcases your services, includes client testimonials, and provides easy ways to contact you. After building your website optimize your site for search engines to improve its visibility, and ranking, and ensure it is mobile-friendly to accommodate smartphone users. Building a website is a major thing for every size of business if you want to achieve heights. 

Leverage Online Marketing Channels: In today's digital world, every single person uses social media. Everybody has at least one social profile. So, take advantage of online marketing channels to expand your reach. Utilize search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to improve your website's visibility in search engine results. Invest in pay-per-click (PPC) advertising campaigns to target specific keywords and demographics. Utilize social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to connect with potential clients and showcase your work through compelling visual content.

Encourage Customer Reviews and Referrals: Did you know Word-of-mouth is one of the best & most powerful marketing tools for engaging more customers? Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, or local directories. Offer incentives, such as discounts or referral bonuses, to clients who refer new customers to your business. Positive reviews and referrals can significantly boost your reputation and attract more customers.

Develop Local Partnerships: Establishing partnerships with local businesses can be mutually beneficial. To get more benefits, collaborate with local businesses like real estate agents, interior designers, or home improvement stores to cross-promote your services. Leave business cards or flyers in relevant establishments, and consider offering special discounts exclusively for their customers. Attending local networking events and joining community organizations can also help you make valuable connections and gain exposure. This is also one of the best ways to promote your Housekeeping and Handyman business.

Offer Specialized Services and Packages: Differentiate your business by offering specialized services or packages. For instance, consider providing eco-friendly cleaning options, emergency repairs, or seasonal maintenance packages. Highlight these unique offerings on your website & in your marketing materials to attract customers who are looking for specific solutions.

Invest in Vehicle Branding: Transform your work vehicles into moving billboards by applying eye-catching signage or wraps that display your business name, logo, and contact information. This can increase brand visibility and attract attention while you are on the job or driving around town.

Utilize Email Marketing: Implement an email marketing strategy to stay connected with your existing customers and reach out to potential leads. Offer a newsletter subscription on your website and send regular updates, exclusive offers, and helpful content to keep your audience engaged and informed. Personalize your emails and segment your subscriber list based on their interests and preferences. In today's digital world, Email marketing is one of the best ways to promote your business online. 

Here, we shared with you the 6 top ways that helped you to promote your Handyman and Housekeeping business in Maple Falls, Washington. 

Conclusion:

Promoting your handyman and housekeeping business effectively is crucial for its success. By implementing the strategies discussed in this article, including building an engaging website, leveraging online marketing channels, encouraging customer reviews and referrals, developing local partnerships, offering specialized services, and investing in vehicle branding, you can increase your business's visibility, attract more customers, and grow your business. Stay consistent with your promotional efforts, adapt to changing market trends, and continuously assess the effectiveness of your strategies to ensure long-term success.

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trying to think of like... how would I describe each laptop manufacturer on pure vibes. off the top of my head...

asus: we have more marketing and r&d budget then we can possibly spend on normal things. look, this one is coated in LEDs! this one has the keyboard in the wrong place! this one splits open! half of their premium product launches generate more youtube views than actual sales because by the time you consider buying one they're discontinued. high-end products can be quite good; midrange products are often a couple bucks too expensive because the brand name buys you some clout. spends a lot of cash to get floorspace at best buy. taiwan.

lenovo: a relative newcomer to the western market (they bought IBM's thinkpad division back in the day), used to be the kings of cost cutting on basically every part they could think of. if they've learned what parts are actually worth cutting costs on (and benefitted from the fact that these days 85% of the parts that exist are Actually Decent) there might be something there. primarily does direct online sales. mainland china.

msi: kind of hit on an identity when they made the first thin and light gaming laptop/"jack of all trades, master of none" device that was actually good, and continue to have a strong presence in that market. devices tend to be a bit on the hollow/flexible-feeling side, not necessarily in a bad way, but just in contrast to "ough that's solid but heavy." under-reviewed, imho. taiwan.

gigabyte: hey, we exist too! some cool stuff at the high end; primary drawback in the west is a reputation for spotty support if you don't speak mandarin since they just do less sales volume than the other Asian companies. mainland china

acer: budget, budget, budget. takes up a truly impressive amount of the low to midrange market with usable but unspectacular devices. once in a while they'll put out a premium-priced device and get confused reviews, like, "guys, this is just a budget laptop with a higher price tag???" known for pure gaming laptops with poor battery life, displays, keyboards, and trackpads but very competitive performance, and general use laptops that are very competent for the price tag if you can find the model that hit the right balance on all of the parts. taiwan.

lg: primarily known for the lg gram line of premium, very lightweight general-use laptops, which are pretty good. do they make anything else? korea.

samsung: yeah we make everything; sure, let's make laptops. very low volume kind of like lg, but a marketing behemoth like asus. korea.

framework: finally, a repairability-focused laptop that's actually good. only has one device (13" general-use) and it's a bit overpriced iirc, and you have some "we're a startup" stuff to deal with, but it's rare that you can take a moral stance and actually get a good product out of it. united states.

dell: kind of the flagship american laptop brand. does a bit of everything. competes with asus on the "solidly built, premium-priced, unnecessarily flashy gaming" front via alienware, with acer on the "budget-priced, competent enough gaming" front via inspiron, and with apple on the "best possible jack of all trades" front via xps. notably, has a huge refurbished store (dell outlet) with a ton of selection that's unmatched by any of the others. united states.

hp: guys we're just like dell! please believe us. used to be the other flagship american laptop brand for years and then idk they ran out of money or something and dropped most of their product lines. kind of like american acer now, I guess? united states.

apple: operating system differences aside, has a consistent standard of build quality, minimum part quality, relative reliability, and "having a working trackpad" that makes every windows laptop look like some sort of children's toy. (I am not joking: the 2008 macbook pro has a trackpad that has not been matched by a windows pc in 15 years. it is legitimately puzzling.) 2016-2019 missteps aside, 80% of the things one could list about a laptop have been multiple years ahead of the competition on the mac essentially forever. on the other hand, they're a gazillion dollars, you can't game on them basically at all, you're stuck with macos, etc etc. (the m1 macbook air in particular is so good that none of that even really matters, though. fingers crossed for the 15" m2 air to continue the trend and not be $1800.) united states.

microsoft: "look, we can match apple's build and display quality!" an extreme newcomer, specifically designed to push the windows platform in the fronts where apple traditionally ate their lunch. they absolutely have done that, and are years ahead of almost anyone else on those fronts. too bad they're constantly a year behind schedule with their hardware and only do premium pricing, had some reliability issues, and suffer from a "we glued the whole thing together and if it breaks it's unfixable" problem that they're only very recently engineering their way out of. still, managed to put a seriously compelling product (surface laptop) in the premium general-use device category until the m1 air came out. united states.

razer: "look, we can match apple's build quality in a gaming laptop!" a relative newcomer that made an incredible, unprecedented jump from a gaming mouse company to a moderate-volume premium pc manufacturer somehow. only sells to the ultra-premium gaming market (weird ultrabooks aside), but does a good job of it. united states.

clevo: the white-label manufacturer behind many smaller brands like ibuypower, maingear; often does comically huge desktop replacement style devices. taiwan.

origin/corsair: who knows, but knowing corsair (asus on bad steroids), it will be about 85% too expensive to be more than a curiosity. united states.

huawei, xiaomei: up-and-coming chinese phone manufacturers joining the laptop market a la samsung. hard to find or get service for in the west. notable because they had access to the high-end display panels that before recently only apple and microsoft used, and sold devices with them at much lower prices. mainland china.

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Trusted Roof Replacement Cotractor in Toronto

Are you tired of dealing with leaky roofs, shoddy workmanship, and contractor scams? Look no further! We've got you covered with the most trusted roof replacement contractor in Toronto. With decades of experience and a commitment to quality, our team will ensure that your home is protected from top to bottom. Say goodbye to stress and hello to peace of mind - let us handle all your roofing needs today!

Company overview

When it comes to roofing, no two homes are the same. Depending on the age of your home, the type of roof you have, and the severity of the damage, your roof replacement project will vary. That’s why it’s important to find a trusted roof replacement contractor in Toronto who can provide you with a comprehensive quote and help you choose the best option for your home. With over 25 years of experience in the roofing industry, our team at AM Roofing Solutions has the knowledge and expertise to handle any roof replacement project. We offer a wide range of roofing materials and styles to choose from, so you can be sure to find an option that fits your budget and needs. We also offer a warranty on all our work, so you can rest assured knowing that your new roof is covered. If you’re in need of a roof replacement or repair in Toronto, contact AM Roofing Solutions today for a free consultation. We’ll work with you to find the best solution for your home and ensure that your new roof is installed properly and up to code.

Services

When it comes to finding a trusted roof replacement contractor in Toronto, you want to make sure that you find a company that has a good reputation and is able to provide you with the services that you need. There are a few things that you can do in order to find the right contractor for your needs. The first thing that you want to do is to ask around. Talk to your friends, family, and neighbors and see if they have any recommendations for contractors in the area. You can also check online review sites to see what other people have said about different contractors. This will give you a good idea of who is reputable and who you should avoid. Once you have a few potential contractors in mind, you want to set up consultations with them. This will allow you to get an idea of their prices and what they would be able to do for your home. Make sure that you ask plenty of questions so that you can get all of the information that you need before making your final decision. If you follow these tips, then you should be able to find a trusted roof replacement contractor in Toronto without any problems. Just make sure that you take your time and do your research so that you can find the best possible option for your needs.

Why choose us?

If you are in need of a roof replacement in Toronto, you want to be sure that you hire a trusted and reliable contractor. There are many roofing contractors to choose from in the Greater Toronto Area, so how do you know which one to trust with your roofing project? Here are a few reasons why you should choose us for your roof replacement: 1. We have over 25 years of experience in the roofing industry. 2. We are a fully licensed and insured company. 3. We use only the highest quality materials for our roofing projects. 4. We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our work. 5. We offer free estimates for all potential customers. 6. We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Customer testimonials

Customer testimonials are one of the best ways to find out if a roofing contractor is reputable and trustworthy. At Trusted Roof Replacement Contractor in Toronto, we are proud to have many satisfied customers who have given us rave reviews. Here are just a few of our recent customer testimonials: "I am so glad I chose Trusted Roof Replacement Contractor in Toronto to replace my roof. They did a great job and the price was very reasonable. I would highly recommend them to anyone." "Trusted Roof Replacement Contractor in Toronto did an excellent job on my roof replacement. They were very professional and did a great job clean up afterwards. I would definitely use them again and recommend them to others." "I am very happy with the work done by Trusted Roof Replacement Contractor in Toronto. They replaced my entire roof and it looks fantastic. They were also very reasonably priced. I would definitely recommend them to anyone needing a roof replacement." https://therooftechnician.ca/our-services/roof-replacement/

Contact us

If you are in need of a reliable and trusted roof replacement contractor in Toronto, then please do not hesitate to contact us today. We would be more than happy to provide you with a free consultation and estimate for your roof replacement project. We understand the importance of choosing the right roofing contractor for your home or business, and we are confident that we can provide you with the best possible service. Thank you for considering us as your roofing contractor of choice!

[sacashforcars]

SA Cash For Cars Adelaide: We Are a Used Car Buyer in Adelaide

Used car buying is a challenging task. It requires time, effort, and knowledge to get the best deal. With so many options available in the market, it becomes difficult to choose the right one. Many used car buyers in Adelaide offer cash for cars. But how do you know which one is the best? In this blog post, we will give you some tips on how to choose the best-used car buyer in Adelaide. We will also introduce you to SA Cash For Cars Adelaide, a used car buyer that offers top cash for cars.

What is SA Cash For Cars Adelaide?

Are you looking to get rid of your old car? Do you want to receive cash for cars in Adelaide? If so, then you've come to the right place! At SA Cash For Cars Adelaide, we are used car buyers who pay cash for cars in Adelaide. We offer a quick and easy way to sell your unwanted vehicle, and we'll also give you a fair price for it! So if you're interested in receiving cash for cars in Adelaide, please get in touch with us today, and we'll be more than happy to assist you further!

How Does SA Cash For Cars Adelaide Work?

The process is simple when you are ready to sell your used car in Adelaide. Call us at 08 7071 9222 or complete our online form to start. We will ask you for basic information about your vehicle and provide you with a free quote. If you accept our offer, we will arrange a time to come to your home or office to pick up your car and pay you in cash on the spot.

It's that easy! We take care of all the paperwork, so you don't have to worry about it. And we can usually schedule a pick-up within 24 hours. So if you're looking for a quick and easy way to sell your used car in Adelaide, give us a call today!

What Are the Benefits of Using SA Cash For Cars Adelaide?

There are many benefits of using SA Cash For Cars Adelaide to sell used car Adelaide. We are a used car buyer in Adelaide that offers cash for cars and provides a quick and easy way to sell your vehicle. We also offer free towing and will pay you top dollar for your car.

FAQs

Que: What is the process of selling my car to SA Cash For Cars Adelaide?

Ans: The process is simple! Just give us a call or fill out our online form to get started. We will then provide you with a free quote based on your vehicle's make, model, and condition. If you accept our offer, we will schedule a time to pick up your car and pay you cash on the spot!

Que: How do I know I can trust SA Cash For Cars Adelaide?

Ans: We are a fully licensed and insured business with over ten years of experience in the industry. We have an excellent reputation and are committed to providing our customers with the best possible service. You can rest assured that you are in good hands when you sell your car to us!

Que: Do I need to inspect my car before selling it to you?

Ans: No, you need not have your car inspected before selling it to us. However, we recommend that you get any necessary repairs or maintenance done beforehand to get the best possible price for your vehicle.

Conclusion

This article has helped you better understand the process of selling your used car for cash in Adelaide. We are committed to providing our customers with the best possible experience and will work hard to get you the most money for your car. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us today.

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Finding the Best Car Service Centers and Mechanics in Jaipur

Jaipur, known for its rich culture and historic charm, is also a growing city with an increasing number of vehicles on the road. Whether you’re a resident or a tourist, finding a reliable car mechanic or service center near your location is essential to keep your vehicle in top condition. This guide will help you explore options for car services in Jaipur, covering everything from car service prices to premium service centers.

1. Car Mechanic Near My Location: Quick and Convenient

Having a car mechanic near your location is a huge advantage, especially for quick fixes or emergency repairs. In Jaipur, there are many car mechanics spread across various neighborhoods, ready to assist with your car’s needs. Whether it's a routine check-up or a sudden breakdown, a nearby mechanic can save you time and hassle.

2. Car Service Price: What to Expect in Jaipur

Understanding car service prices is crucial for budgeting and ensuring you get quality work done on your vehicle. The cost of car services depends on several factors:

Type of Service Needed: Basic services like oil changes or tire rotations are more affordable, while major repairs, such as engine or transmission work, can be costlier.

Car Make and Model: Some cars, especially premium or imported models, may require specialized parts and expertise, which could increase the service cost.

Additional Services: Premium services, like detailing or advanced diagnostics, come at an extra cost.

Many service centers in Jaipur provide transparent pricing for their services, allowing you to plan accordingly.

3. Premium Car Service Near Me: Specialized Care for Luxury Vehicles

For those who drive luxury or high-performance cars, a premium car service is recommended. Jaipur has a few high-end service centers equipped with advanced tools and trained mechanics who understand the specific needs of luxury vehicles. These centers focus on precision, use genuine spare parts, and offer top-notch detailing and repair work to maintain your car's performance and appearance.

4. Car Service Center in Jaipur: Choosing the Right One

Jaipur has a wide range of car service centers, from budget-friendly options to premium workshops. When choosing a service center in Jaipur, consider:

Reputation and Customer Reviews: A service center with positive feedback and a good reputation is often a reliable choice.

Availability of Genuine Parts: Using original parts can make a significant difference in your car's performance.

Certifications and Expertise: Some service centers have certified mechanics with expertise in specific car brands.

Whether you need a quick tune-up or a comprehensive service, finding a trustworthy service center in Jaipur ensures that your car is in good hands.

5. Car Service in Jaipur: Options to Suit Every Need

Car service in Jaipur is available for all types of vehicles, from basic sedans to luxury SUVs. From regular maintenance to complex repairs, Jaipur’s service centers cover a wide range of services, including:

Engine Tuning and Diagnostics

Brake and Clutch Repairs

Suspension and Alignment Checks

Regular servicing keeps your car running smoothly and helps prevent costly repairs in the future.

6. Nearest Car Service Station: Quick and Easy Solutions

Finding the nearest car service station can be as easy as searching online or using GPS-based apps. With many service stations spread across Jaipur, you can quickly locate one close to your location for convenience. This can be particularly helpful for routine maintenance or unexpected car issues that require immediate attention.

7. Car Mechanic in Jaipur: Finding Skilled Professionals

Jaipur has many skilled car mechanics who offer a variety of services. When looking for a car mechanic, consider one with experience, positive reviews, and fair pricing. Skilled mechanics can diagnose issues accurately and offer effective solutions, keeping your car safe and well-maintained.

8. Best Car Service in Jaipur: Quality and Trustworthiness

The best car service centers in Jaipur combine expertise, transparency, and customer satisfaction. Whether you’re seeking regular maintenance, detailing, or in-depth repair work, choosing the best service center ensures a higher standard of care for your car. Jaipur’s top service centers are known for their use of genuine parts, skilled mechanics, and customer-friendly policies.

Conclusion

Maintaining your car is essential to enjoy smooth rides and avoid unexpected breakdowns. Jaipur offers a variety of options for car services, from quick fixes by local mechanics to comprehensive services by premium centers. By choosing the right car service center or mechanic near you, you’ll ensure that your vehicle remains in top shape, ready for the roads of Jaipur.

[jessadaloro]

Week 9-10 of Interviewing Different Businesses

Me and my groupmates, Angel Jean Obsioma, Ian Gariel B. Ramas, and Francen P. Sellote, roam around the city to look for businesses that we can go to and ask the business owner or staff if we can ask a few questions regarding their business, so that we can gain knowledge and in-depth understanding about how business works, and we also asked permission if it is okay to take a picture.

Here is the list of the businesses we interviewed and the key information we gathered for week 9.

1. Sneakers Insole

Sneakers Insole is owned by Mr. Reuel Majaducon Ruelan II, which sells branded sneakers and shirts. It began as an online store in 2021, utilizing social media to reach customers. Mr. Ruel sourced his products from Manila-based suppliers, allowing him to offer a range of popular brands. With a successful online presence, Reuel established a physical store in 2023, located at 8th 2nd Street, Nazareth, Cagayan de Oro City.

The physical store operates Monday to Friday, from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and is supported by a team of three staff members. The business has an area for their stocks at the store for managing inventory and ensuring product availability for both walk-in customers and online orders. With his business a DTI registered, a business permit, and Barangay clearance, Reuel combines both physical and online sales strategies to expand his reach in CDO’s retail market, aiming for consistent customer satisfaction and growth.

2. Bullecer Metal Craft

Bullecer Metal Craft is a business owned by Mr. Rafael M. Bullecer in which it has operated for 13 years, originally located in Corrales, Cagayan de Oro City. However, due to the sale of the original store space by Mr. Rafael’s mother, they recently relocated to 2nd St., Barangay Nazareth, CDO. They provide a wide range of metal crafting services; these include the creation of gates, grills, and various other metal structures, as well as repair and home service options.

They offer customers the flexibility to request custom designs, making their services highly tailored to individual needs. Mr. Rafael sources materials from local hardware stores in CDO and, with the help of three skilled on-call workers, manages every project to completion. Their usual business hours start at 8:00 AM, but they often accommodate customer requests on an urgent basis. This flexibility extends their service availability from Monday through Sunday. The business is DTI registered, have business permit, sanitary permit, and BIR. Despite being a small operation with a single branch, their reputation for quality work and customization has built a loyal customer base.

3. AC Gas LPG

AC Gas LPG, owned by Mr. Roberto Tan Reyes, is a well-established and authorized dealer of LPG gas products in Cagayan de Oro City. Mr. Roberto's business was established around the 1990s. Located along 8th-17th Streets in the Nazareth area, the business serves as a direct supplier for Fiesta Gas and also deals with popular brands like Petron Gasul and Prycegas. In addition to this, they offer a range of products, including stoves and essential stove accessories, which they got from Manila. The company operates 12 branches in total; some of them are in Gusa, Bulua, NHA, Canitoan, Cogon, and Nazareth. They have an overall staff of 60 members across all locations. At the Nazareth branch specifically, the staff includes two cashiers and one laborer, working together to provide efficient service.

In support of their large-scale operations, AC Gas LPG has its own warehouse near the Nazareth branch, but they are in the process of relocating the warehouse to Pagatpat. Ensuring adherence to regulatory standards, the business holds a business permit, a license to operate, a DILG permit, and a sanitary permit, and they also have a fire safety inspection certificate, which collectively reflect their commitment to safety and legal compliance in the LPG industry.

4. Happy Pulp Food Packaging

Happy Pulp Food Packaging, owned by Mr. Reynald Tan, was established in August 2023 and is located on Tomas Saco Street, Nazareth, Cagayan de Oro City. Specializing in food packaging, the store offers a range of products such as food containers, cups, and straws, catering to both individual and business needs. They also provide wholesale options on selected products, which attracts bulk buyers looking for reliable packaging supplies. Their products are sourced from suppliers in Manila. The business operates with a team of seven staff members and is open from Monday to Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. To maintain compliance, Happy Pulp holds a business permit and a certificate of registration.

5. 8Spot Billiard Hall

8Spot Billiard Hall, owned by Ms. Marjorica Joan Bautista, opened its doors on May 28, 2024, and is located on Pabayo Street, Cagayan de Oro City. Their opening hours are from 12:00 noon to 2:00 AM, Monday - Sunday. While primarily a billiard hall, offering four high-quality tables from the Kangaroo and Maxima brands, the business also sells some custom-made perfumes with oils sourced directly from Dubai. They provide a selection of food options sourced from Savemore and online suppliers. Some of their billiards cues are from Wadhus, CDO. They are also facing competition from two nearby establishments, McKenns Billiards and Snooks Billiard Hall. The business holds a business permit and has a dedicated bookkeeper at City Hall who helps manage their finances, ensuring regulatory compliance and financial organization.

- J