#running away mid transaction

[dio-the-thot-exterminator]

parents will literally let their kids do whatever they want to the EXPENSIVE things we sell in our store and then have the nerve to giggle n smile acting like its cute... you just handed me something drenched in random baby juices and now I have to handle the rest of your things AND the items of everyone behind you. Disgusting.

[fatallucidity]

I’ve been wanting to rant about this scene for a whiiiile chat. So here goes. This is from chapter 85. I’m a Loki simp so I just gotta.

I cannot get over the adorable art style change here!! He just looks so cute and playful. Yes, he’s always playful and laid back, but with Hilde, he just seems more…. Genuine. Like this is him actually trying to be friendly and make her smile. He often smiles maliciously when being snide or passive aggressive with Odin, especially when poking fun at him. Here, his smile just looks so much different. He looks pretty different from the start of the series, but it’s a very pleasant change. He still got those hips plus those amazing arms.

Hilde looks so pretty in that panel. Like my girl is just so gorgeous. I also love how Loki seems to want to actually help her. Gotta love his goofy poses.

The height difference is silly-

Also Loki trying convince her some more.

I CANNOT WITH THIS HILDE FRAME. She looks so beautiful. Whatever artist is drawing these oh so slayful lips on Beel and Hilde, I thank you.

Loki looks more sly here like he’s planning on doing more than just saving her. He just looks so smug, he thinks he’s convincing her. I just love when he floats around. He looks so cute and hot at the same time. THOSE HIIIIIIIPS THAT BACK CUUUURVE.

I’m still not quite sure how to interpret his little jig here lmao. Like Loki baby what’re you doing there??? It’s interesting how he claims to be better at convincing Odin than most, then asks her for a special favor.

I’m not surprised she interpreted this as being a transaction. He did certainly insinuate something, but given his reaction, he wasn’t trying to get her to hand over her body. His reaction is kind of adorable. He looks so flustered like “what did you just say-“ Possible Loki respecting women? Not confirmed really, given the whole doll thi-

Hilde my beloved. Straight up doesn’t care if she dies, since she knows that’s how Ragnarok works. Loki just looks so frustrated.

Here we get a glimpse of how petty Loki really is. He knew Siegfried is a sensitive spot for Hilde, he knew saying that would piss her off, that’s why he did it. In the exact moment she refused, he panicked and just reacted with pettiness to try and convince her to go along with his plan to save her. This shows us he really isn’t that mature. While he’s extremely intelligent and cunning, very sharp witted and analytical, he’s just immature in the long run. Loki deep down is petty and cunning in ways that gets people to do what he wants. Lemme remind y’all of season two of the anime when he’s fighting Buddha, Kondou, Sasaki, and Okita.

“Things don’t just go our way. We make it happen.”

This scene also perplexes me. He’s seems excited to learn about this, but probably because he’s planning something malicious. He knows Siegfried is her lover, and he’s filing that away for evil plans to get at her, maybe even to try and kill Siegfried. If he takes out her lover, he might think she feels all alone and will be more inclined to go to him for help. The art here is just amazing too. That panel of him looking stunned mid smile is mwahhh.

Once again. Her LIIIPS. MWAHS. she looks amazing as ever. Her cold response is expected. She sees Loki as the enemy given he’s a god who’s against saving humanity. My goodness his reaction is so sad. Like he’s just stunned at how unfeeling she is towards him. Once again Loki, immaturity won’t do shit.

Anyways, there’s my rant. I’ve used up the mobile image limit lmaoooo. I might talk about this more, but this just got me thinking, especially with the sad panel of Loki from the new chapter. Hope yall enjoyed, thanks for coming to me Ted talk

[arsenalgbt]

Part 2/2: sorry this is so long.

Kieran thought about standing him up, he’d not meant to say yes to Leo. KT didn’t want to get distracted from trying to get his degree, he needed it to make his dad proud. His dad who’d given up so much to raise him and get him there. Hector told Kieran that he doesn’t have to date the guy, but that he defiantly needed an orgasm or three to centre himself again. Kieran went on the date and him and Leo kept talking and talking until they got kicked out of the restaurant. They walked back to Leo’s place in comfortable silence and Leo kissed Kieran goodnight before going inside. Kieran liked that Leo was taking things slow, Leo couldn’t figure out what he was doing. He wanted to fuck Kieran, not share some virginal kiss with him. This continued for weeks, Leo kissing Kieran goodnight and then leaving and when Kieran asked if they were a proper couple, Leo said they were. Leo hadn’t told anyone about Kieran, but he supposed he should now that he apparently had a boyfriend. Kieran had told Hector nearly every single detail, Kieran didn’t know how to do relationships and defiantly didn’t know how to do them with rich lads like Leo who decided to invite KT to a party to meet Ben and Dec. Neither of them expected KT to be introduced as Leo’s boyfriend and Dec made some comment about how KT should enjoy him while he can which led to KT learning that Leo’s parents would likely already have someone set up for him to marry. Kieran leaves, annoyed at Leo for leading him on, annoyed at himself for thinking he belonged with these lads who view marriage as a business transaction, annoyed at himself for thinking Leo would stay. KT’s own mother didn’t want to stay with him, why would Leo whose clearly better then him?

Leo hears what Dec said and runs after KT, they end up having a conversation that feels more like an argument than either are willing to admit,  and Leo learns that KT is terrified of being left so he promises not to leave him. KT tells him not to make promises he can’t keep, and Leo kisses him in response. Leo doesn’t know what he’s doing, his parents would not approve but Leo wants KT, he wants to be with KT and he wants to see what life is like when he’s allowed make choices for himself. Leo promises not to leave and KT promises to do the same (even when he gets upset and scared, he has to talk to Leo and not run from parties because Dec’s an idiot). That’s the first night they have sex and for the next three years, KT and Leo are love’s young dream. Leo has met Kieran’s dad and his friends from back home (a majority of whom Ben does sleep with)  and Kieran is basically living with the three of them (and being tutored by both Leo and Dec because uni is hard but he’s almost there!) but he’s not told his parents yet. Leo is scared of what will happen if he's forced to choose between his parents and KT. Leo doesn’t know what life is like without his parents but he certainly doesn’t want to live a life without Kieran. Leo is two and a half months pregnant when they all return for their final semester of college in mid-January (Kieran had looked really good on Halloween) and he knows Kieran is freaking out about it. They’d taken the test together in Kieran’s dad’s house on Christmas Eve together, they tried to do all the big moments together. Kieran is terrified that Leo will leave, that his parents will make him come home and Kieran will never see the love of his life or their baby again. Kieran thinks he’ll fuck up their kid. Leo plans on staying and when Kieran finally breaks down in Leo’s arms, Leo suggests they elope. Kieran stops crying straight away   because there is no way he heard that right. Leo says they might as well make their promise to stay legally binding and that he loves Kieran enough to view the marriage as more than something that has to be done. Leo knows it’ll make Kieran happy and knows his parents will get on board with KT and the baby if there’s a ring already on his finger (Leo’s parents value tradition  but he knows he can convince them to let go eventually if they see he’s happy). That weekend they pack Dec, Ben and Hector into a car without telling them what’s happening or why they’re in suits and they go get married. When Ben jokingly asks if the reason for the elopement is because Leo’s knocked up, Kieran and Leo don’t deny or confirm and simply say it was one of many reasons.

The first few months of marriage are hard. They’re living with Dec and Ben and Kieran is working and studying and feeling awful for not paying rent now that he’s actually living there. Leo says he doesn’t have to pay and they argue when Leo asks why KT never tried to pay when he was basically there all the time. Leo is a high maintenance pregnant person because he’s stressed out about college and having a baby and telling his parents and he fights with Kieran about all of this. They can’t agree on where they’ll live after they finish (London? Scotland? Belgium?) Kieran says they need a flat that he can pay for half of because he’s not going to be a trophy husband, Leo thinks this is ridiculous. Leo accuses KT of sleeping with Hector when he thinks the pair are hiding something (Kieran was trying to plan a baby moon and had asked Hector for help), the surprise is soured by Leo’s accusation and the fight that follows. Leo eventually tells his parents about the baby and his husband and they react by saying they are disappointed with him, Leo lashes out at Kieran as a result. They make it hard for each other to stay but they stay. They love each other and they promised they’d stay. Things eventually start getting easier. Birthing classes ease Leo’s stress, Kieran finds ways to contribute to the house that make things better (how Leo never knew Kieran was good at fixing things before marrying him is still a mystery). They graduate with no idea of what’s next and Leo is just so thankful he didn’t go into labour at the ceremony. He almost passes out when his parents come up to him, he’d invited them to the ceremony but didn’t think they’d show up. They ask to meet Kieran and Leo just nods wordlessly and brings them to where his husband and father in law are taking photos with each other. Kieran says it’s nice to meet them in person which confuses Leo until his mother mentions Kieran had called and essentially gave them shit for abandoning their son just because he chose to be happy and loved. Kieran wasn’t going to let Leo be abandoned like he had.

Leo’s father tells Leo he wants him to take over the London branch as soon as he’s back from maternity leave. Leo says he needs  to talk to his husband about it first to which KT responds by almost passing out because is Leo insane? Obviously he should take the job! They leave their parents and go for a walk around campus in the same comfortable silence they experienced on their first date until they are away from the crowds. Leo asks Kieran what he should do and Kieran tells him he should stay, that London is their home and that he wants it to remain that way for awhile. Kieran wants to find a job, wants to find a flat that he can pay half for, wants to raise his baby in London among the family they’ve created with Ben and Dec. He wants their in-laws to be in different countries and for Hector to fly in and out of their child’s life when he visits London from Spain with way too many gifts. Leo wants the life Kieran is proposing and they make it happen. Kieran declines the offer to work for Leo’s parents (and Dec’s parents when Dec makes them offer) because he wants to make it on his own merit, wants to succeed beside his husband not because of him. They’ll figure everything out and eventually they do  through the ups and the downs. They find a flat, Kieran gets a job, they figure out parenthood with their first child and they disagree and fight and make up and laugh and help one another. They stay. They always stay.

I need approximately 48 hours to respond in an orderly manner..................... trust I will be back when I'm more coherent ASHHDFASDFHJJHAHBHVBDFGVKHGDHGJ

[finderedacted]

i have no idea what the convention is for posting fanfiction on this website is, but i've decided to share something i'm working on (something i can't get out of my head) here before it ends up on AO3. i'd love to hear what people think.

WIP - proofread but may have some consistency errors for now

working title: Usually (part 1 of ?)

rating: Mature content includes: descriptions of violence, references to trauma and abuse, references to sex, mentions of blood (typical of BG3), BG3 spoilers word-count (this part): 2,451 words summary: this is what happens when Astarion and Caorann break from their routines of fucking and feeding sometimes and start having feelings - it's difficult.

context notes: i'm writing this to explore the dynamic of Astarion and my character from my first full-release BG3 playthourgh. Caorann /kɯːrəN/ ("koo-run") is a goody two-shoes half-elf druid who finds themselves having to become shrewder and meaner to survive and deal with the tadpole and the Absolute while balancing that with their moral compass. i specifically built them to look a bit more mature, thank you to the maturity slider in BG3 character creation. imagine a green-haired light-skinned non-binary person who looks like they're in their mid-late thirties, with a messy ponytail and kind but weary eyes, and you have what you need.

below the cut are the first two parts of whatever this is becoming.

---

Usually, when Astarion is done with his night-time feed on Caorann, he doesn’t linger. He is an imperfect gentleman – he stays to clean the wounds on Caorann’s neck, and to make sure they’re not suffering too much from the now-routine blood loss. But he usually leaves quickly afterwards, creeping into the night to seek a more filling quarry.

There’s usually a set routine. Caorann lets Astarion know he can feed on them tonight, and then he comes to them quietly in the night after everyone else in the camp is fast asleep. Caorann lies down and makes themselves comfortable, Astarion bites their neck and drinks just enough, and the transaction is complete with little fuss.

Usually.

Tonight should be no different. After the bite and the ceremonial clean-up, Caorann is doing their customary final checks on the neck wound, assuming Astarion has already disappeared into the darkness for his meal; they’re sleepy and off-guard so it’s perhaps a moment longer than they’d like before they realise they’re being watched.

Caorann stiffens, then turns to look upwards to find Astarion still nearby, lingering a few metres away and watching Caorann with narrowed eyes.

Astarion flinches when Caorann blinks at him, then blusters, “Ah, sorry, I should--”

He turns away, then turns back, then huffs when he sees Caorann still tensed and staring at him. He spits, “What are you looking at, druid?”

Caorann blinks again. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I started it,” they reply, at which Astarion huffs again. “Did you want something? You don’t normally stick around this long.”

Astarion puts a hand on his hips, the pose of a petulant child who refuses to believe they’ve been caught.

Caorann sighs. “What, Astarion?”

Astarion frowns; it’s like he’s fighting himself, muscles coiled not in preparation for a kill but as if he’s trying to stop himself from lashing out. Suddenly, Caorann’s tadpole throbs; they can feel the edges of Astarion’s consciousness as he struggles with something that feels like a question that he hates. Astarion knows Caorann’s there, too; he tries to hide from them, and in that moment Caorann hates the tadpole for how easy it makes it to overstep and overstay – hates the control the tadpole has and the control it offers. Caorann balks and backs away from the tadpole’s prying instincts, but not without a struggle. “Gods, sorry. It’s still so hard to stop it before it starts.”

Astarion grimaces, but then waves a nonchalant hand. “Don’t mention it. Look, why don’t I--” “I mean, you don’t normally stick around after you feed, and it seems like there’s something on your mind. Are you okay?”

Astarion huffs again but this time his muscles relax too. “Ugh-- you damned-- fine.” He pauses, then crosses his arms.

Caorann stands up and takes a step towards him. “So,” they say gently. “What is it?” Astarion screws his face up and then after so much hesitation it suddenly tumbles out, a sharp hiss that would definitely be a shout if he weren’t worried about waking up the rest of camp, and he’s jabbing a finger at Caorann as he stage-whispers, “I just don’t get you! At all!”

Caorann is startled at the jabbing finger but also bemused. They give a lopsided smile – Astarion looks so offended by that but he’ll cope, Caorann is sure. “What do you mean?”

“I-- just-- why in the Hells are you so kind to everyone? All the time?!” Astarion’s arms are all theatrics and big, exasperated gestures as he continues, “You agreed to help those tieflings, you tried to rescue some silly dog, you insisted on helping that brat who was caught up with the harpies, and sure I get all that, you’re a goody two-shoes druid and your whole job is being nice to innocents or whatever the Oak Daddy taught you, but--” – he pauses to breathe after the first act of this tirade, then puts both his hands on his hips and glares at you for act two – “but why would you be so kind to me? Do you have no sense of self-preservation? Do you not realise how stupid this is? Why would it be good to help someone as--”

Astarion chokes abruptly and draws back – Caorann doesn’t need the tadpole to know that Astarion’s suddenly scared of going too far, of whatever is under his mask suddenly rearing its ugliness into view and right in front of some silly grass-munching druid he barely knows. There’s something he doesn’t want to say, but maybe he does want to say it, maybe he needs to say it, but not yet, not to this generous shithead, and Caorann couldn’t possibly judge if Astarion should say it now but certainly wants Astarion to be comfortable, at the very least, so Caorann holds out their hand to try and create a sense of calm as Astarion’s eyes widen like a cornered animal’s. “Look,” they say, quietly. “It’s okay.”

Astarion scoffs. “Is it? Is it? I’m a vampire spawn. I’m a monster. I drink your blood most nights and you--” – he jabs his finger right into Caorann’s chest this time, his voice rising – “you let me. You let me! What the Hells is wrong with you?”

The question ripples in the night air while Astarion breathes raggedly, reeling slightly from his explosive speech. Then his expression shifts to something more guarded, more like the mask he wants Caorann to see, though not before Caorann catches a flicker of fear in his eyes.

Caorann lets the question dissipate, lets the night reconfigure into stillness, and lets Astarion’s breath get less ragged. They try to reply carefully, gently. They know a bit about Astarion’s wounds and a bit about the damage wrought upon him by his old master, but they also know not to push. Yet they’re also feeling hazy from the blood loss and tired from yet another long day, so the words aren’t as tidy or slow as they’d want them to be.

“Astarion. I don’t know if I understand where this has come from, but, look, I believe in giving help where I can and sharing the beauty and kindness of nature in my actions. Maybe you don’t expect a druid to stand by a vampire spawn, and yes, there are druids who won’t. But they follow the letter of the law and I… I just can’t anymore, not when I could turn into something outwith our laws any second now.” Caorann pauses, scared of their own babbling. Astarion’s lips are pursed, his eyes strained with skepticism, but so far there is no witty retort, no snarling rebuke, so Caorann swallows and continues.

“And I – well I believe we shouldn’t turn our backs on people when something has happened which isn’t their fault, like what happened to me, right?” Caorann sways slightly, then tries to slow down their speech. “I didn’t ask for the tadpole. Neither did you. And you happen to be a vampire spawn and you need blood. And I can make the choice to help you feed, so that you can be strong and no one else gets hurt. It’s maybe not the ideal we talk about as druids when it comes to nature and balance, but--”

Astarion cuts in, “So it’s pragmatic, sure, fine. But look, you still--” – he stops, and the mask wavers again. His eyes darken and he turns away. “You are trusting someone who is already a monster. Someone who could kill you like it’s nothing, and you’ve let me into your camp and you let me near your neck.”

“Yes, that’s right. Because I believe in having your back,” Caorann replies.

“Well,” Astarion snaps back, “What if you have someone’s back and then they turn around and stab you right in the intestines anyway?”

Caorann sways again, too woozy to feel as threatened as they should be. “Why? Is that your plan?”

“No, I--”

“Astarion, I do like you, you know. It’s not just pragmatism.”

The muscles in Astarion’s shoulders tense. The pause is long but loaded, heavy, and Caorann could swear they feel the gears in Astarion’s mind shift into place.

He turns back to look at Caorann over his shoulder with a pained expression that snaps in a flash into a grin. “Oh, oh. Is this because--”, Astarion’s back straightens as his whisper shifts into his customary bedroom drawl, “– because of that night we spent together? When I wasn’t just busy with your neck?”

Caorann’s brows furrow. “I mean, yeah, that was a very welcome way to let off steam, but it’s not the only reason I--”

Astarion turns fully back to face Caorann. His smirk is full and his eyes are glittering. “I see. Well you know what, this whole conversation was just so unnecessary, wasn’t it? Really I was making a fuss for no reason.”

“Wait—”

“Darling, you need your beauty sleep, and I need my second helping, so why don’t I get going and we can forget about all this?”

“Astarion--!”

“Goodnight, dear little druid. And thanks once again for the meal.”

Then he’s gone, cloaked in the darkness as if he had never even been there.

Caorann sways once again, then crumples onto their bedroll. They exhale slowly, then inhale twice as slowly, letting still earthy air fill their lungs. This is fucking stupid, they think.

They struggle to meditate that night.

---

They don’t talk about it. Well, Astarion doesn’t talk about it, acts like he doesn’t even remember it; why would it even be relevant when they’re busy driving daggers into duergar skulls and meeting a friendly fucking mind-flayer in the middle of the Underdark?

He knows Caorann wants to talk about it; Caorann’s got those kind eyes that say “let’s talk” in a soft voice without even a whisper on the wind. Astarion hates it. He wants Caorann to fuck off.

This ridiculous gaggle of freaks he’s travelling with make him want to talk about everything and he hates it so much. His first time in the sun in 200 years and still he sometimes wants to crawl back into the darkest corner of his old palace-prison so no one ever looks at him again. Even Lae’zel is trying to check on him nowadays and sometimes he just wants to run away.

Don’t look at me, he mouths at the ceiling of his tent that night. Don’t touch me, he snarls silently. Keep your distance, darling, he spits in his mind. He lies on his bedroll, scowling at nothing.

Astarion has continued to feed on Caorann since his outburst. Caorann has continued to be accommodating – once, maybe every three or four days, without question, without complaint.

When is the punishment coming?

When will they run--

“No,” Astarion hisses. Then he jumps out of his skin, a soft question at the entrance of his tent completely blindsiding him. Gods, how embarrassing.

“Astarion?” Caorann’s gentle whisper comes again. “Are you in there?”

Astarion closes his eyes. “Go away.”

“Sorry,” whispers Caorann.

Oh fuck off.

“Ugh, fine. Come in,” Astarion mutters, opening his eyes to watch.

Caorann tenderly pulls back the tent fabric and steps inside. You would never know they sometimes stomp around in the shape of a bear. Astarion marvels, for a moment, at how carefully and sweetly Caorann can move, then cuts the thought off like he’s taking steel to a goblin’s neck. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop it.

Caorann squints at Astarion, then casts their eyes on a patch of ground next to him. “Do you mind if I sit down?”

“Do what you want,” he mutters, looking away.

Caorann hums, then lowers to sit cross-legged half a metre from him. “Do you want to deal with whatever is wrong? Everyone is asking me and we all want to help. Even Lae’zel.”

Astarion’s eyes burn and now he turns fully onto his side to face anywhere but this stupid kind druid. “What does it matter, Caorann?”

“Ugh, Astarion, fine. Do you want me to be angry with you?”

The burning in Astarion’s eyes rises something akin to what Karlach’s chest must be like, and is that-- are his eyes-- wet?

Shit.

“If you don’t want to talk then at least let me say what I want to say,” Caorann continues. “If you would rather I didn’t, tell me to fuck off. I’ll go.” Astarion stays silent. He can’t say anything. He can barely breathe.

“Astarion?”

He chokes. “Talk, then,” he manages.

He feels Caorann exhale behind him. “Are you being off because of the other night? When you yelled at me? You’ve barely spoken since. People do like your little comments and it seems like something’s not right with you. You barely even had anything to say about the myconids, and that place was just begging for your commentary.”

Astarion has nothing to say right now, either; or, really, he can’t, because he’s focusing all his energy on crying as silently and as motionlessly as possible.

“Astarion?”

Astarion tries to surreptitiously wipe his face. But Caorann isn’t stupid.

“If you need to cry about something, you don’t have to hide it, you know,” they say, and Astarion can hear their kind smile as they do, and then he--

Well, he’s not really sure what noise it is that escapes his throat, but it’s choked and strangled, and then he’s bawling and shaking and his mind is screaming no, no, no, not this, you can’t--

Caorann’s hand is on his shoulder, inviting him to turn over and face them with the most delicate little pull. Astarion makes another of those pathetic choking noises he apparently can’t control now, then turns around.

Caorann’s eyes are reflecting the moonlight that shines through a gap in the tent, glittering kind stars breaking up the darkness. Their expression is soft, though their eyes are strained with clear concern and showing off those lovely crow’s feet around--

Astarion wants to scream.

Instead he sobs.

Caorann doesn’t say a word. They just keep their hand gently resting on Astarion’s shoulder as sobs thunder through his body.

It might have been two minutes or another two hundred years before his crying slows, his shaking abates, and he can finally say something.

“Get out.”

Caorann stares right into Astarion’s eyes, a sympathetic smile on their lips. Astarion could lean forward and kiss--

“I said. Get. Out,” he growls, confidence slowly returning and taking back over his wretched, sob-wrecked muscles.

Caorann’s eyes crease with sadness. They close them, nod, then get up and leave without another word.

Astarion kicks himself immediately afterwards. Then, with barely a thought, he takes a sleep potion and sinks into nothing until first light. [tbc]

[monstersinthecosmos]

September 14, 1973

It’s mid-afternoon and he can barely keep his eyes open. He lowers the window, stops for bitter gas station coffee, musters the energy to sing along to the radio but his eyes are still so heavy.

Those things aren’t enough. He knows that. Running on fumes at this point but some part of him, tiny left over ember inside that used to be a person, reminds him that he needs to sleep. 

And a giddy, frenzied thing inside him says it will be okay. He can find Lestat and persuade him. Please don’t rush. Please don’t wreck the car nodding off. Take an extra day to drive, you will have all the time in the world.

He found a Buddy Holly 8-track under the seat. Reminds him too much of home but nice to change up the music. He and his mom used to dance around to Not Fade Away after school when he was little and he tries not to think about it as he drums his fingers along on the steering wheel.

Too much, though. He switches to FM and lights a cigarette. Approaching Abilene and he wonders if they have any stations. And it’s fuzzy country music but he prefers it to the silence, or the ghosts. Anything to make the last twenty minutes easier as he watches for the exit.

It’s odd, how clear he actually feels as he pulls off the highway. Over-exhausted, but for the first time in days he feels a little bit rational. A little calmer. Maybe too tired to freak out or something. He rubs his eyes as he cruises towards the city, ready to just pick the first motel he sees. It makes sense from here, thinking about it now. He can picture himself checking in, and pictures the long shower he wants to take, and pictures falling asleep while the sun is still up. Maybe he can stay asleep until it rises, too. 

Surely he must have gotten this much sleep recently; his life in San Francisco was full of lazy mornings. Up all night doing interviews, with no obligation in the morning. Rising whenever he felt like it, dropping tapes off at the station. Wandering around. He knows, little ember inside of him knows, that maybe two weeks ago he had mornings like that, but he can’t remember.

Well. He picks a spot. Too tired to be anxious about talking to the front desk. He thinks he makes it through the transaction like a person. Makes it into the room in one piece.

It’s not horrible. Hideous curtains and slippery gold duvet but it’s clean. He puts the tapes in the top drawer. Double locks the door. 

And shower first. Scalding hot, and he isn’t sure how long he just stands there under the spray. Back stiff from all the driving. He presses his face to the tile wall and breathes the steam. He wonders if anyone has noticed he’s missing yet.

Soft pants after. He remembered to bring pajama pants. No shirt. He shaves over the bathroom sink and feels more alert. He starts picking at the scabs again, wincing at how hard it is, how he has to dig his nails into the flaky edge, but seeing himself in the mirror gives him the strength to stop. 

Fine, fine. Be a person.

He gulps water from the tap.

Turns the TV on with the volume low, just so it’s not so quiet in here. 

Smokes a cigarette, reclined on top of of the ugly bed, staring at the TV screen but not really following it.

It’s depraved, the way his mind spins and spins. Depraved, like the way he keeps trying to dig into the scabs, like how he’s driving across the country, like how he knows he’s a changed thing. Depraved like how, for a moment, he considers jerking off before he goes to sleep, knowing he’ll be remembering Louis’s cold hands on his body.

But he rises off the bed, without planning to. Grabs his keys. Goes out to his car in his bare feet, ignoring how hot the asphalt is.

Can’t sleep like this, not without getting some of the transcription done. His eyes are sore but he promises he’ll just do one tape. Just one tape, just to get some of it done, and then he’ll sleep. He will.

So he lugs the typewriter case inside, and a ream of paper. Sets it up on the little table by the window. Grabs the set of copies, and the ashtray, and the whiskey from the bottom of his bag. 

He’s listened to the tapes a couple times now. Keeps pacing his motel rooms to them, or lying awake in the dark, pretending that Louis’s voice will lull him to sleep, instead of flooding his insides with adrenaline. It’s easier now, typing the words, taking it slow, like he’s finally really hearing them.

Play. Pause. Rewind. Play. Pause. Play. Pause. And tap tap tap on the keys. And the quiet rhythm of the TV in the background.

Play. Pause. Snap of his lighter, hit of nicotine. Little rasp of the screw top and a slosh of whiskey. 

He breathes. He listens. Feels normal again.

“What I mean is,” Louis says from the tape, and his voice drags across Daniel’s body like a cello bow. “The moment I saw him, saw his extraordinary aura and knew him to be no creature I’d ever known, I was reduced to nothing.”

Pause.

His nails tap on the edge of the table. Heart skips a beat.

Rewind.

I was reduced to nothing.

Rewind. Play.

Tap tap tap.

He stares at the words on the paper and wants to cry. 

[previous day] | [next day]

[talesfromtheasterism]

Fear in the Realm of Fire

Entrance to Bloodstar is just the challenging feat as one would imagine. I readily admit that my first smuggling run there was mostly chance, having slipped in during a small commotion at the blast walls caused by some particularly audacious scavengers. I've since learned to shadow a certain type of crowd to the borders, ones who will occupy the soldiers without provoking them into a full sweep. If no such groups are available, I simply conduct business in the Outer Wastes until an opportunity arises.

Step inside Praedis with clandestine intent, and the mindset of occupation falls into place. A city built above itself, with metal roads held between skyscraper pincers, and verdant boulevards with three stacked layers under false sunlight. All of it joined as though one great scaffold, with a thousand corners to hide in and six directions to reach them by. The solution: no inch out of sight from the Republic's military. Ramped accessways for civilian traffic, and cargo lift priority for the APCs. Gently followed wherever you walk by the curious eye of a gun nest's IMG barrel. Hardfire walls that shutter entire districts, and flash orders to lie on the ground in searing neon letters. Once, a nervous driver noticed the projectors fizzle and made to outrun them. A moment slower, and they too would've been cut in half along with their car.

You hear countless tales up and down there. Patriotic boasts, rebellious rallies, disillusioned longing for the lifestyle of the stateless wanderers. The latest atrocities of the Old Order and the Sulphurous. Occasionally, a forbidden love story between the warring factions. Very rarely, an eccentric theory on the fate of the Forgemasters. And then, there's a story you never hear. The one you can feel in everyone's mind when the topic drifts too close to state experiments, or the astonishing leap in inferno technology. People's words lurch mid-sentence, like an arm pulled away from a flame. Instinctive fear. To the Ashen, technology is almost religion, and this queer faith has its demon, its antagonist. My curiosity was too powerful. I made a transaction. For knowledge.

What is it about the human mind that gives it such capacity for violence? An indecipherable network of feelings and impulses, so they spun the tale. The animal instinct to destroy dangers and opponents, suppressed and funnelled by a tangled web of personhood. What if, through diligent study, you could remove the person from its path? What if that mental shutter to hatred could be replaced with a synthetic, ever-open gateway? Conjoin the power of mortal rage with the surgical precision of a computer… where would the equilibrium fall, between the incensed and the unfeeling? I paid to know. And I almost regret it.

They called it Project Amalgam. They told me it was out there, in any of a thousand corners in six directions. And they told me a machine can hate.

I quickly took my leave.

⁂

[savvysetup]

Why Cloud-Based Accounting is the Future for Small and Mid-Sized Firms

In these days's fast-paced business world, small and mid-sized firms are continuously looking for innovative answers to streamline operations and improve performance. Cloud-based total accounting has emerged as a sport-changing tool for companies aiming to stay competitive. Particularly in dynamic markets like Dubai, wherein innovation drives an increase, adopting cloud-based accounting gives great benefits. Whether you are exploring Accounting Firms in Dubai or considering a business setup in Dubai, know the blessings of cloud generation, which can transform your method to economic control. What is Cloud-based Accounting? Cloud-primarily based accounting refers to the use of online software programs to manipulate financial transactions and statistics. In contrast to traditional accounting methods that depend upon computer-based totally structures, cloud accounting permits users to access their statistics every time, everywhere, through an internet connection. This flexibility has made it an appealing choice for small and mid-sized companies. As extra corporations undertake the cloud era, accounting firms in Dubai are increasingly integrating these solutions to cater to fashionable customers. Benefits of Cloud-based Accounting for Small and Mid-Sized Companies • Value-Effectiveness Cloud-based total accounting reduces the need for highly-priced hardware, IT infrastructure, and preservation prices. Small and mid-sized corporations frequently perform on tight budgets, and cloud answers do away with many overhead expenses. This price efficiency makes it specifically useful for organizations throughout the early degrees of a commercial business setup in Dubai, where cost control is vital. • Real-Time Access To Financial Information One of the most important benefits of cloud accounting is actual-time entry into monetary statistics. Whether you're within the workplace or operating remotely, you may display transactions, tune charges, and examine cash to go with the flow. This degree of accessibility is particularly beneficial for companies in Dubai's speedy-moving markets, where choices often want to be made at the cross. • Superior Collaboration Cloud systems enable seamless collaboration between commercial enterprise proprietors and accountants. A couple of customers can get entry to and update monetary statistics concurrently, ensuring transparency and decreasing errors. This feature is highly treasured when running with accounting corporations in Dubai, as it permits smooth coordination irrespective of bodily place. • Data Safety Statistics protection is a top precedence for any commercial enterprise. Cloud providers provide superior security measures, including encryption, multi-element authentication, and regular backups. For agencies that present processes for business setup in Dubai, the usage of cloud-based systems guarantees compliance with nearby rules while safeguarding touchy monetary information. • Scalability As organizations grow, their accounting desires emerge as more complex. Cloud-primarily based systems are especially scalable, making them an excellent preference for small corporations making plans for enlargement. Whether your cognizance is on nearby operations or tapping into worldwide markets, cloud accounting can adapt to your evolving desires. The Destiny Of Accounting In Dubai Dubai's business surroundings are understood for its adaptability and forward-wondering strategies. As greater corporations undertake virtual transformation, accounting corporations in Dubai are playing an important position in guiding organizations in the direction of cloud-primarily based solutions. For small and mid-sized corporations, embracing cloud accounting isn't just a trend but a necessity to stay aggressive in an international marketplace.

If you are within the technique of an enterprise setup in Dubai, integrating cloud-based total accounting from the beginning can streamline operations and provide long-term benefits. By adopting cutting-edge equipment, agencies can focus on growth while ensuring economic accuracy and compliance. Cloud-primarily based accounting represents the destiny of small and mid-sized corporations, offering a value-powerful, cosy, and scalable answer. In dynamic markets like Dubai, this technology has come to be crucial for companies seeking to stay beforehand. Whether you're running with accounting corporations in Dubai or handling your very own monetary information, cloud accounting offers the ability and performance needed to succeed. For corporations navigating an enterprise setup in Dubai, this modern approach can simplify procedures and set the foundation for the sustainable boom. The shift to cloud-based total accounting isn't always just a technological improvement; it's a strategic move that guarantees long-term achievement.

[pbdropshipping]

Who is the Founder of Dropshipping? Introduction to the Origins of the E-commerce Model

What is Dropshipping?

So, you’ve probably heard the term "dropshipping" being thrown around a lot lately, but what exactly does it mean? In simple terms, dropshipping is a retail business model where you, the seller, don’t keep products in stock. Instead, when someone places an order on your store, you pass the order along to a supplier who ships the product directly to the customer. This way, you don’t have to worry about managing inventory or handling shipping—it's all taken care of by someone else.

How Did Dropshipping Start?

The Old School Retail Struggles Before the internet changed everything, traditional retailers had to buy products in bulk, store them in a warehouse, and wait for customers to come along and make purchases. If they sold out, that’s great! But if they didn’t, they were stuck with unsold inventory, which could be a big financial headache. Plus, having to manage all that stock was super expensive.

The Internet and E-Commerce Revolution Fast forward to the 1990s—suddenly, everyone’s got internet access, and e-commerce platforms like Amazon and eBay pop up. These platforms gave retailers a way to sell online, but they still had to deal with inventory. It was only a matter of time before someone realized there was a better way: instead of buying products in bulk, why not partner with suppliers to ship orders directly to customers? Enter dropshipping.

Global Supply Chains Take Off As global trade picked up, logistics companies started offering warehousing and shipping services that made dropshipping even easier. With platforms like AliExpress and Amazon’s FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon), businesses could sell products from anywhere in the world and have them shipped directly to customers. And with PayPal and other payment platforms making online transactions smoother, the whole system became more seamless.

Shopify and the Rise of Easy Online Stores By the mid-2000s, Shopify made it super easy for anyone to start an online store, no coding or tech skills required. Dropshipping became more accessible than ever—entrepreneurs could choose products from suppliers, list them on their store, and start selling right away, all without worrying about inventory or shipping.

The Boom of Dropshipping (and Its Challenges) From 2015 onwards, dropshipping exploded in popularity, especially with younger entrepreneurs who were drawn to the idea of starting their own online businesses without the heavy upfront costs. Social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok also became a hotbed for dropshipping tips and success stories.

But with the boom came some challenges: competition grew fierce, and issues like slow shipping and customer trust started to pop up. Many customers were skeptical of dropshipping businesses, thinking the products might be low-quality or take forever to arrive.

Why Dropshipping is Still a Good Idea

Even with all the competition, dropshipping still offers plenty of perks, especially for new entrepreneurs:

Low Startup Costs: You don’t need a ton of money to start. There’s no need to buy inventory or rent a warehouse—just set up your store and start selling.

Flexibility: You can easily add new products to your store without worrying about how to store or manage them.

Global Reach: You can work with suppliers from all over the world and offer a wide range of products.

Low Risk: Since you only order products after customers pay for them, you’re not stuck with unsold stock.

Automation: A lot of the work, like order fulfillment and shipping, can be automated by partnering with suppliers, saving you time and effort.

Conclusion

Dropshipping has come a long way since its early days. Today, it’s one of the most popular ways to run an online business, especially for those who don’t want to deal with the headaches of inventory or logistics. If you’re looking to start an e-commerce business, it’s definitely worth considering—but just remember, while it’s easy to get started, you’ll still need to nail your marketing and customer service to really succeed.

[elite1mcommerce]

Cutting-Edge eCommerce: How Ready-Made Mobile Apps Can Help You Scale Quickly

With the increasing popularity of mobile commerce, having a mobile app for your eCommerce business is now essential rather than optional. Shoppers now anticipate doing their shopping while on the go, and companies who don't offer a smooth mobile experience run the risk of falling behind. Developing a unique mobile app from scratch can be expensive and time-consuming, especially for small and mid-sized enterprises. This is where ready-made apps for sale eCommerce are useful. These pre-made, editable apps are a quick and affordable alternative that can help you start your mobile store more quickly and with fewer resources. This post will discuss the advantages of pre-made eCommerce apps and why they're the best option for your company.

Mobile Commerce on the Rise

There is no denying the rise of mobile commerce, or m-commerce. Experts predict that by 2025, mobile commerce will account for over 72% of all eCommerce sales, as more people shop on their smartphones. This move to mobile devices is a long-term change in the way that customers interact with brands, not just a fad. It is now essential for businesses to have a mobile-optimized eCommerce platform in order to remain competitive. But developing a mobile application especially for your store can be a difficult and expensive undertaking. Custom app creation requires a dedicated team of engineers, designers, and testers, entailing significant time and financial commitments. Thankfully, there is an easier and more accessible solution to satisfy the increasing demand for mobile purchasing experiences: ready-made eCommerce apps.

What Are Ready-Made eCommerce Mobile Apps?

Online retailers can use ready-made eCommerce mobile apps that have already undergone development. These programs include everything you need to establish an eCommerce business, including shopping carts, payment gateways, customer accounts, and product catalogs. The main benefit of using pre-made applications is that they enable companies to start their mobile store in a fraction of the time and expense needed for custom-built apps. Because of their high degree of customization, you may brand the app, incorporate your products, and add features without having to start from zero. Whether you're just starting out or have a well-established online store, ready-built applications are an excellent choice due to their ability to grow with your company.

Why Choose Ready-Made eCommerce Apps?

1. Economical Resolution The price range for developing a custom app is several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. Apart from the initial development cost, companies also need to account for continuous upkeep, updates, and troubleshooting. Conversely, ready-made  apps for sale are much less expensive up front and frequently simply require a one-time payment or subscription. Because of this, they are a desirable choice for companies with tighter budgets, particularly startups or small firms. 2. A speedier time to market and a quicker launch

Time is crucial in today's fast-paced digital marketplace. While you can set up and release ready-made apps in a matter of weeks, creating a custom app might take months. These apps' pre-made templates and integrated features let you skip a lot of the laborious development process, freeing you up to concentrate on expanding your company and attracting clients right away. 3. Essential features are pre-integrated. A number of pre-built elements that are necessary for operating a profitable online business are included in ready-made eCommerce apps, such as: Product Catalog Management: Organize your stock, classify items, and change prices, pictures, and descriptions with ease. Integration with well-known payment processors such as PayPal, Stripe, and credit card companies ensures secure and seamless transactions. Shopping Cart and Checkout: By lowering cart abandonment, streamlined checkout procedures with several payment choices increase conversion rates. Customer accounts: Give clients the ability to register, monitor orders, and store preferences for upcoming purchases. Push Notifications: Inform your clients about sales, special offers, or changes to their orders by sending them customized messages. Order Management: Easily track orders, manage shipments, and adjust stock all within the app. Since the app has all of these capabilities built in, you can save time on development and make your mobile store operational and effective right away. 4. Personalization Choices Despite having pre-made layouts, ready-made eCommerce apps also allow for a fantastic deal of personalization. You can alter the layout, branding, and design to align with your company's aesthetic. This implies that you can still benefit from the pre-built features of the app while maintaining your distinct brand identity. As your company expands, you can also use third-party tools and plugins to improve the functionality of your app. 5. The ability to scale The purpose of pre-built eCommerce apps is to grow with your company. You can quickly introduce new features, update existing ones, and add new products as your store grows. These apps give you the freedom to grow without requiring extensive revision or reconstruction, whether you're entering new markets, introducing new product lines, or growing your clientele.

How Ready-Made eCommerce Mobile Apps Benefit Your Business

1. A better experience for customers Compared to mobile websites, a mobile app provides a better, more efficient buying experience. Customers get a more seamless experience with apps since they are typically quicker, more dependable, and simpler to use. Push notifications, simple reordering, and personalized recommendations are just a few features that can improve the user experience and increase the likelihood that users will use your app again in the future. 2. Enhanced interaction with customers. Using mobile apps to stay in touch with your customers is a fantastic strategy. By sending real-time updates, exclusive deals, and promotions straight to your consumers' devices, push notifications help you keep them interested and promote repeat business. Apps' simplicity and ease of use have the potential to increase consumer retention rates. 3. Increased conversion rates for sales. Higher conversion rates might result from mobile apps' better user interfaces and quicker load times. Simplifying checkout procedures and making your product catalog easily accessible increases the likelihood of customers completing their purchases. Users may purchase more easily and with less friction thanks to features like guest checkout and saved payment information. 4. Detailed insights and analytics. The analytics tools often included in ready-made eCommerce apps allow you to monitor consumer behavior, sales trends, and product performance. You may make data-driven judgments, enhance your marketing tactics, and learn a lot about your clientele by examining this data. You may use these analytics to create focused campaigns, optimize product listings, and spot trends.

Choosing the Right Ready-Made eCommerce Mobile App

When selecting a ready-made app for your eCommerce business, it's essential to look for one that offers:

Ensure the app's design ensures a seamless experience on all devices, including smartphones and tablets.

Optimize the app for search engines to boost your store's ranking in both app stores and search engine results.

Security Features: Security is a top priority for online transactions, so make sure the app includes SSL encryption and complies with industry standards for data protection.

Customer Support: Look for apps that offer 24/7 customer support to help resolve any issues quickly.

Customizable Themes: The app should allow you to modify the design to match your brand’s aesthetics.

Conclusion: Embrace the Future of Mobile Commerce with Ready-Made eCommerce Apps

Ready-made eCommerce mobile apps are completely transforming the way companies create and run their mobile storefronts. Because of their low cost, quick deployment, and customizable capabilities, these applications offer a strong option for companies wishing to enter the mobile commerce space without having to invest in the time and money required for bespoke development. Ready-made applications let you quickly build a mobile presence, boost customer engagement, and boost sales—whether you're a new startup or an established brand. Businesses may keep ahead of the competition, take advantage of the growing mobile commerce trend, and provide their clients with a more convenient, customized purchasing experience by adopting ready-made eCommerce mobile apps. Choose a ready-made app instead of letting the difficulties of developing a custom app stop you from growing your company.

[bitchycollectorpolice]

Mastering Efficiency: Your Comprehensive Guide to POS Systems for Theme Parks, Retail, Deli, Spa, and Fuel Stations

Have you ever stepped into a theme park and marveled at how smoothly everything runs? Or perhaps you’ve been at a deli, amazed at how quickly your sandwich is made? The secret sauce behind these seamless experiences often lies in the technology they use—specifically, POS (Point of Sale) systems. In this guide, we'll explore the ins and outs of Theme Parks POS systems, Deli POS systems, Spa POS systems, and Fuel POS systems, while addressing the all-important question: how much does a retail POS system cost? Let’s dive in!

Understanding POS Systems: What Are They?

A POS system serves as the backbone for businesses that engage in sales transactions. It’s not just about processing payments; a POS system helps manage inventory, track sales, and analyse customer data. Picture it as the nerve centre for operations in retail shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

Key Advantages of a POS System

Faster Transactions: Reduce wait times for customers, especially during busy periods.

Inventory Management: Keep track of stock levels in real-time to avoid running out of popular items.

Sales Analytics: Gain insights into customer preferences and purchasing patterns.

Enhanced Customer Experience: A smooth transaction process leads to happier customers.

The Importance of Theme Parks POS Systems

Theme parks are bustling environments, welcoming thousands of visitors daily. So how do they maintain such high levels of efficiency? Enter the Theme Parks POS system.

Why Every Theme Park Needs a POS System

Running a theme park involves managing multiple aspects, from rides to retail and dining. A robust POS system is essential for:

Speeding Up Transactions: Long lines can dampen the excitement. A well-designed POS system can significantly reduce wait times.

Real-Time Inventory Management: Ensure that food stalls and gift shops never run out of popular items.

Flexible Payment Options: Handle everything from cash to mobile payments effortlessly.

Visitor Insights: Analyse data to better understand what attracts customers and adjust accordingly.

Must-Have Features of Theme Parks POS Systems

User-Friendly Interface: The system should be intuitive so staff can be trained quickly.

Multi-Outlet Management: For parks with various retail outlets, seamless integration is key.

Mobile Capabilities: Mobile POS systems allow for payment processing away from traditional checkout counters.

How Much Does a Retail POS System Cost?

As a business owner, understanding the costs associated with a retail POS system is vital. The price can vary widely based on several factors.

Factors Influencing POS System Costs

System Type: Cloud-based systems often have lower upfront costs compared to on-premise systems.

Features Needed: More advanced functionalities, like detailed reporting or integration with other software, typically increase the cost.

Hardware Requirements: Costs for registers, scanners, and other devices can add up quickly.

Subscription Fees: Many POS systems operate on a subscription model, with monthly or annual fees for software updates and support.

Average Costs

Basic POS Systems: Expect to pay around £30 to £50 per month for basic functionalities.

Mid-Range Systems: If you need more robust features, costs can rise to £100 to £200 per month.

High-End Systems: Larger operations may invest £300 or more per month, not including hardware costs.

Deli POS Systems: Ensuring Freshness and Speed

Running a deli is all about providing quick service and fresh food. That’s where a dedicated Deli POS system shines.

Why Deli Owners Should Invest in a POS System

The unique demands of a deli require a system that can manage:

Quick Transactions: Customers want their orders fast, and an efficient POS system helps meet that demand.

Inventory Control: With perishable items, real-time tracking is essential to minimise waste.

Custom Orders: A good deli POS should handle special requests and modifications effortlessly.

Features to Look For

Customisable Menus: Allow customers to create their sandwiches with ease.

Real-Time Inventory Updates: Keep an eye on stock levels to prevent running out of popular items.

Mobile Ordering: Enable customers to order ahead, improving service speed.

Spa POS Systems: Elevating the Client Experience

In the spa industry, creating a tranquil experience is paramount. A Spa POS system can help you manage appointments, sales, and customer preferences, ensuring everything runs smoothly.

Benefits of Using a Spa POS System

In a spa setting, customer satisfaction is key. A POS system can enhance the experience by:

Streamlining Appointment Management: Prevent double bookings and manage client schedules efficiently.

Customer Profiles: Keep track of preferences for personalised service.

Product Sales Integration: Manage retail sales alongside service appointments.

Essential Features

Appointment Scheduling: A calendar integrated into the POS helps manage bookings effortlessly.

Client History Tracking: Store data on client preferences and past services for a tailored experience.

Membership Management: Easily handle recurring payments for memberships or packages.

Fuel POS Systems: Powering Up Efficiency

Fuel stations are unique environments that require a specialized approach. A Fuel POS system is crucial for managing fuel sales and associated retail operations.

Why Fuel Stations Need a POS System

Fuel stations serve numerous customers daily, and efficiency is key. A dedicated POS system provides:

Fast Payment Processing: Quick transactions keep customers moving.

Fuel Management: Monitor inventory levels in real time to avoid shortages.

Integrated Retail Sales: Manage convenience store sales alongside fuel transactions.

Key Features of a Fuel POS System

Real-Time Inventory Monitoring: Know your fuel levels and stock in the convenience store.

Flexible Payment Options: Support various payment methods, including pay-at-the-pump.

Customer Loyalty Programs: Encourage repeat business with rewards for frequent customers.

Future Trends in POS Systems

As technology continues to advance, so do POS systems. Here are some trends to keep an eye on:

Cloud-Based Solutions: More businesses are transitioning to cloud systems for enhanced flexibility and scalability.

Mobile POS Systems: Handheld devices are becoming increasingly popular for quick service.

Artificial Intelligence: AI can help analyse sales trends and predict customer behaviour.

Benefits of Adapting to New Technologies

Improved Customer Experience: The latest technology often leads to quicker and more efficient transactions.

Enhanced Security: New systems come with better security features to protect customer data.

Greater Scalability: As your business grows, your POS system should grow with it.

My Personal Experience with POS Systems

When I first launched my business, I settled for a basic POS system, thinking it would suffice. Initially, it seemed to do the job, but as I expanded, it quickly became clear that I needed something more robust. After upgrading to a more comprehensive POS system, I noticed immediate improvements in transaction speed and inventory management. It’s a game changer!

Investing in the right POS system not only streamlined my operations but also allowed me to focus more on my customers.

Conclusion

Whether you’re managing a theme park, deli, spa, or fuel station, having the right POS system is crucial for smooth operations and customer satisfaction. With the ability to integrate transactions, inventory management, and customer insights, a solid POS system can help your business thrive.

Still wondering how much does a retail POS system cost?? While prices vary based on features and functionalities, investing in a high-quality system is a step toward enhanced efficiency and growth.

Are you ready to elevate your business with the right POS system? The time to act is now!

[darkness-and-books]

Mummy?

Chapter 2: Chuckaboos

Scooby Doo Victorian au

⚠️: none

word count: 919

Summary: When a well liked and trusted stable boy goes missing in a wealthy neighbourhood, a few well off young ladies and gentlemen (and their dog) see fit to do some… investigation.

Frederick lay on the ground, pale yellow waistcoat discarded and draped over the veranda railing some yards away. Fred leaned up on an elbow, “Hand me that lynch pin, would you?” he called out to Norville as he pulled a kerchief out of his pocket to wipe perspiration from his brow.

Shaggy stood from his seat on the veranda and looked to the table full of various tools and pieces. “Lynch pin?” He muttered himself as he picked up a piece from the table and carried it away to Fred.

Frederick held out a hand as he heard Norville’s footsteps approaching the propped up hansom. What fell into his hand was substantially heavier than he expected. Looking down into his hand Frederick saw quite a different piece than he thought for. He looked up to Norville, one brow raised and a teasing smile had befallen his face, “Shaggy, this is the hub,” Frederick said as he waved the piece around,

Norville reached to take the piece back, “Oh no, I’ll need this too, but would you bring me a small metal peg on a metal loop,” Frederick explained, this time being sure Norville knew what to look for.

“Erm, right then,” Norville said, running back to the veranda to fetch the correct piece, a slight blush rushing to his face.

Scooby sat up on the step, the aforementioned lynch pin hanging from his mouth. “Rhis run?” Scooby asked, the piece nearly falling out of his mouth in the process.

“That looks right,” Norville said, thanking Scooby as he gingerly took the piece from between Scooby’s teeth.

Behind Norville, came the pattering of feet. He turned to hand Frederick the lynch pin, “Here y-” He froze for a moment, hand mid way through the transaction.

Miss Blake smiled at him, “Hello, Shaggy,” she greeted. Velma looked down at the pin in Norville’s hand. And took it away to where she assumed it belonged.

“Ehm, hello, Miss Blake,” Norville said, his hand finally dropping to his side as he realised he was no longer holding anything.

“How are you this morning?” Miss Blake asked as she looked back at Velma’s retreating figure.

Norville scratched the back of his neck, “Fred’s been puttering about with the hansom this morning. I’ve simply tried not to hinder the process,” He said awkwardly.

“Yes, I think that’s something of a regular occurrence for Fred,” Miss Blake commiserated as she walked up to the veranda and sat by Scooby on the steps. She scratched his ear, “I’ve brought you something,” Miss Blake said, reaching into a hidden pocket of her dress skirts with her available hand. She pulled out a treat and held it out for Scooby who promptly took it.

Scooby crunched the treat, spilling crumbs down the stairs and all into Miss Blake’s skirts. “Oh dear, Scooby, please do try to compose yourself,” She warned as she shook out her skirts.

Out by the hansom Velma was talking to Frederick, who was very nearly done working the wheel back onto the carriage. “Did you read the paper this morning?” Velma asked as Frederick finished putting the lynch pin into place.

“No, I don’t recall having read it, though I think Shaggy did. Why do you ask?” Came Frederick’s response as he stood up and dusted himself off.

“Charles 'disappeared’ recently,” Velma said with a certain emphasis on disappeared. 

“I can’t imagine that the Clarke family would ever get rid of him,” Frederick said, trying to remember anything at all distasteful about the man in question.

“Neither can I,” Velma agreed, “I thought we might visit the neighbourhood and… investigate,” She said, almost conspiratorially.

“Alright then, just let me get the carriage off the block and we’ll have a look,” Frederick turned toward the veranda to call for Norville.

“Shaggy, come and help me lift this!” Frederick shouted,  bending down to find a good grip on the underside of the carriage. Norville was with them shortly, catching the carriage’s edge on the other side.

“When we lift the hansom, grab the block, Velma,” Frederick instructed as he prepared to lift the end of the carriage. “Ready,” Fred and Shaggy braced themselves, and Velma was kneeling in front of the block. “Lift!” Frederick exclaimed. In a rush the carriage’s front end was elevated and Velma was pulling the block away.

“Let’s not do that again,” Norville panted as they put down the carriage. Fred and Norville wiped up their hands as they all walked back to the veranda.

“It’s not my intention to have to do it again any time soon,” Frederick stated as he grabbed his waistcoat from the railing.

“If you ladies will wait here a moment, I’ll bring Dolly and Brandy around for the hansom,” He said as he did up the buttons and walked off to the stables.

“He really won’t let anyone else handle those horses will he?” Miss Blake commented as they all watched him trot off into the distance the estate.

“No, I don’t think he would,” Shaggy said, grabbing his overcoat from one of the chairs.

Frederick came back, leading Dolly and Brandy to the carriage, “There you are girls,” He cooed as he began setting them up with the carriage, making sure everything was properly fastened. After double checking everything and patting the horses as praise for cooperating so well, Frederick turned once more to the veranda. “Come along then my dear Chuckaboos!” He called as he hopped into the box seat and took up the reins.

Teehee, I love Fred and Shaggy

[libraryofcirclaria]

The Esterzy

Library of Circlaria

Earlier Blog Posts

Investment, Development, and Structure

Map of Remikra, 1264-1308

Funded by revenue from a deep-trade transaction and costing 11 million qors (Remikran currency), construction on the Esterzy began in April 1272 and was completed in late November.

Upon completion, it stood as the largest aircraft in Circlaria (a record held even today), and was described by many as a "city in the sky." At width, the airship was approximately 400 feet; and at length, it was 1200 feet. In terms of cabin space and volume, it was more than 16 times larger than the Pirafone. Its lift interior was divided into sixteen sub-interiors, with four spanning the area inside the main lift's width for each of four 300-foot long sections within the main vessel. Attached to the bottom of each sub-interior was a two-level passenger cabin, meaning that the bottom four cabins running along the center had window views both on the left and right side of the ship; the left and right cabins (four on each side) had respectively left and right views of the outside; and the top four cabins had views only of the interior of the vessel, through the center of which ran a large corridor, named the Sky Boulevard.

Each cabin followed the same room arrangement and structure as that of the fabled Pirafone, consisting of two levels. On the lower level stood the atrium, the ballroom, the dining room, and the gaming room. On the upper level of each cabin stood the guest rooms, divided into economy, middle, and upper social classes.

The Sky Boulevard was spanned by a cable rail tram that hung from the top cabin and ran the length of the corridor. Looping around the center of the corridor below the rail was a people-mover network featuring a two-level line of slow-moving cabs attached to a moving conveyor belt. The lower level of this was accessible directly from the floor while the upper level was accessible by a raised platform accessed by a set of steps every 50 feet. The lower level rotated clockwise while the upper level rotated counter-clockwise.

Service

Construction and development of the Esterzy was funded by Bucksworth Financial Institution, who owned the vessel. They launched the Esterzy into service in January 1273 with a route to Weston in the Galapolgis Island territories. Its first international route, beginning that February, ran from the Great North, to Tandeiyah, and to Furthing. The following year, it began its routes to Monassa and the Mid-Westerlies. By the mid-1270s, its service routes included all of Remikra, and by the beginning of the 1280s, all of Canticula.

Passenger ticket prices were prohibitively expensive, going as high as 11'000 qors per person. So most passengers aboard were those of the upper social class, including politicians, celebrities, and high-ranking business figures, as well as family members and invited friends.

The Esterzy reached peak service in January 1287 with its first trip to Ancondria, where it rested thousands of miles away from Remikra when the Provan Republic attacked the Early Republic. However, fate struck the vessel on 6 January 1290, when it was shot down over Lake Onad in the nation of Lotemn.

[conrad-browne]

Level Up Your Gameplay with Free Fire Top Up Services

Free Fire is one of the most popular battle royale games on mobile devices today. As a multiplayer shooter game, success in Free Fire requires not just skill but also upgrading your arsenal using in-game currencies and items. This is where Free Fire top up services come in - allowing you to conveniently purchase Free Fire Diamonds and other currencies to enhance your gaming experience.

Why You Should Use a Top Up Service

Purchasing Free Fire Diamonds directly from app stores can be expensive compared to using a dedicated top up service. Services like LootBar offer Diamonds and other packages at discounted rates, allowing you to level up your gameplay without spending as much.

Top up services also offer convenience through instant delivery of currencies and 24/7 customer support. This means you spend less time handling transactions and more time enjoying the game.

Benefits of Free Fire Diamonds

Free Fire Diamonds are the premium in-game currency that can be used to purchase a variety of exclusive items that provide tactical advantages during matches. Here are some key benefits:

Unlock elite and legendary character costumes - These provide special skills and abilities to gain an edge over opponents.

Obtain stylish and intimidating weapon skins - Upgraded weapon skins often come with attributes like increased firing rate or reload speed.

Access elite weapon bundles and characters - Special bundles provide multiple upgraded items at a discounted cost.

Open loot crates - Diamonds allow you to open crates that contain rare items unavailable through regular gameplay.

How to Top Up Free Fire Diamonds

Topping up Diamonds using services like LootBar involves just a few simple steps:

Select your desired Diamond bundle based on the amount you wish to purchase.

Choose your payment method - options include credit/debit cards, e-wallets, cryptocurrency, etc.

Enter your Free Fire account ID.

Complete payment to initiate top up.

The purchased Diamonds will be credited directly to your account.

The entire process usually completes within 5-10 minutes for most top up services. This enables you to get back in the game with upgraded gear in no time.

Ensuring a Safe and Reliable Transaction

When purchasing premium currencies online, safety should be your top priority. Only use reliable platforms like LootBar that guarantee:

100% protected payments via encrypted gateways.

Verified Diamonds with guaranteed delivery.

Secure account top ups without requiring passwords.

24x7 customer service support via Live Chat and Email.

Full refunds in case of failed transactions.

Avoid unknown services that may engage in fraudulent activities like unauthorized account access. This safeguards your money and gaming progress.

Enjoy an Uninterrupted Gaming Experience

Running out of Diamonds mid-game can severely limit your ability to compete with upgraded opponents. Top up services ensure you have a steady supply of premium currency, for an enjoyable and uninterrupted gaming session.

Immediate delivery combined with discounted bundle rates means you spend less time away from the game worrying about diamonds. Stay energized in longer battle royale matches without worrying about upgrades.

"I only do top ups from LootBar now - cheaper rates plus instant delivery is perfect for my gameplay style. I can focus more on tactics rather than stopping to buy diamonds." - Sarah, Free Fire Player

A lag-free payments and delivery process is crucial for an optimized battle royale experience, which services like LootBar provide.

Enhance Your Progress with Bundles

One efficient way to spend your Free Fire Diamonds is by purchasing special bundles that pack multiple upgrades. For example, LootBar offers:

Character bundles with matched costumes and abilities.

Gun skin bundles with customized weapons for different play styles.

Membership and event bundles providing temporary boosts and perks.

Special edition collaboration bundles from popular media franchises.

Bundles maximize value for your Diamonds compared to individual purchases. They also streamline the upgrade process, enabling rapid strengthening of your in-game arsenal.

Wrap Up

Investing in Free Fire top up services opens up the true potential of upgrades and customization for next-level gameplay. LootBar facilitates this through discounted Free Fire Diamonds, protected account top ups, instant delivery, and 24x7 support. Level up with premium bundles, weapon skins, costumes and more without breaking the bank. Top up today to step up your game!

[internationalrealestatenews]

[ad_1] Whereas the common American spends greater than 4 years saving to buy a house, in accordance with Intuit, there are a lot of individuals in different elements of the world—particularly battle zones—for whom saving any amount of cash is a luxurious. In locations like Israel and Ukraine, the place battle has introduced the actual property trade in each nations to a digital standstill, individuals’s homebuying and promoting ambitions have been sidelined by a extra pressing want: survival. Cultural Which means of Homeownership Endures in Israel The actual property group in Israel is in a holding sample, ready to see how the battle with Hamas will impression the nation over the long run, says Assaf Epstein, broker-owner of Nadlan 2000, a luxurious actual property agency in Jerusalem. Epstein says that purchasing a house is commonly an emotional determination, and with their lives upended by battle, his shoppers don’t have the psychological bandwidth to see a house transaction via presently. Individuals are rather more cautious about nonessential purchases, provides Epstein, who is also the chair of the Jerusalem Chamber of Actual Property Brokers. Within the speedy aftermath of the Oct. 7 assault by Hamas, Epstein says, he was busy taking calls from panicked shoppers who had been frightened about their pending transactions. Then, the calls stopped because it turned clear an prolonged, full-scale battle was underway. Patrons and sellers simply froze. “As soon as the calls stopped coming in and purchaser curiosity went away, some brokers had been confronted with the fact of not with the ability to present for his or her households,” Epstein explains, including that some brokers left the enterprise whereas others joined the navy. However Epstein is assured the actual property trade will likely be revived. Homeownership has sturdy cultural significance in Israel, the place many are descendants of the Jewish diaspora. Proudly owning a house creates a way of permanence that many hadn’t recognized previous to residing in Israel. And although the pool of patrons has dramatically lowered for the reason that battle started, there are nonetheless these from the diaspora seeking to make “aliyah,” the immigration of Jews to Israel. “We live in a time of rising antisemitism,” Epstein says. “And, as loopy because it sounds, I get calls from American Jews contemplating transferring to Israel—perhaps as a result of they've a baby who's learning right here, and so they desire a second house. However I'm additionally listening to from some who're afraid that they must depart the USA as a result of improve in antisemitism.” For now, Epstein is doing his greatest to counsel shoppers, nevertheless it’s tough to offer them conclusive steering as a result of he can’t predict how the battle will play out. “It will take time,” Epstein says. “I'm hopeful by mid-2024, the market will enhance. However individuals have to really feel secure once more to ensure that that to occur.” He provides: “The market goes down quite a bit quicker than it comes again up.” Developments Present Hope for Ukrainian Actual Property “There was horrible destruction to property, in addition to civilian casualties,” says Olga Arkhypova, an agent with Associate Actual Property in Odesa, Ukraine. The variety of displaced residents there continues to extend because the battle with Russia rages on, and most of the people are involved about saving money for on a regular basis wants, not to mention buying a house. Arkhypova is counseling shoppers on easy methods to reap the benefits of housing packages enacted by the federal government to help house patrons and householders whose properties have been destroyed. She’s additionally busy working with shoppers who fled Odesa, itemizing the properties they left behind and delivery their private belongings to them. Some elements of the town are seeing a return to normalcy: Rental charges are again to prewar ranges in Odesa’s most fascinating neighborhoods.

However demand in any a part of the town usually is determined by how a lot shelling the realm has acquired. Though Arkhypova has remained secure, she says she hears sirens all through the day. “Till 2022, Odesa was one of many prime three actual property markets in Ukraine and was tied with Kyiv for many housing underneath development,” Arkhypova says. However different cities additional away from the battlefront, similar to Lviv, Rivne, Ternopil and Ivano-Frankivsk, are seeing a rise in homebuyer demand, she provides. Accordingly, house costs in these areas are rising. Arkhypova will get intel from fellow actual property professionals round Ukraine, and the tendencies she’s listening to about in different cities are giving her hope for Odesa. “There will likely be peace and prosperity once more, which signifies that Ukrainian brokers may have loads of work, and the nation’s actual property market will flourish—as will the complete economic system of the nation,” she says. Caring for a Dwelling in Kyiv From the U.S. Arkhypova additionally retains in contact with actual property professionals overseas who left Ukraine, like Olesya Drozdova, who's now an agent with Altamar Actual Property in Dana Level, Calif. Although Drozdova moved together with her husband from Kyiv to America in 1998, she feels a powerful connection to her homeland. Drozdova remembers life as a baby in Kyiv underneath the rule of the Soviet Union. Folks didn’t personal their properties privately, and authorities might take their properties away from them for any purpose. Drozdova says she’s grateful to be within the U.S. however feels pleasure in her Ukrainian heritage. “Seeing what is going on again house may be very tough as a result of I need to do one thing to assist, however I've obligations right here,” she says. “I can’t simply stop my job and return to Ukraine. However I can’t do nothing, both.” Drozdova stays in contact recurrently together with her mates and fellow actual property brokers in Ukraine. She’s listening to about areas of the nation which are taking in 1000's of refugees, complicating native housing dynamics there. Whereas some elements of Ukraine have blocks of empty buildings, others don’t have sufficient housing for the inflow of recent residents. Drozdova is busy ensuring her mom’s house in Kyiv is being cared for. By probability, Drozdova’s mom came around her on the finish of 2021; she was nonetheless in California on Feb. 24, 2022, when Russia’s invasion started. “She was supposed to return in March of 2022, however, after all, that didn’t occur,” Drozdova says. Her mom remains to be residing together with her now. “She is 80 years previous. I gained’t let her return.” They’ve been capable of depend on a household buddy to take care of her mom’s house whereas she is away, however there was a priority about looters. For now, she’s simply blissful her mom is secure. [ad_2]

[self-loathing-angel-of-thursday2]

Beautiful Spouse’s Rewatch Thoughts SPN 08x02 What’s Up, Tiger Mommy?

“That was phrased on purpose I’m sure”

Somehow, we skipped Episode 2 so we’re watching it after SPN 08x03.

“Aren’t these guys worried about blood-borne illnesses at all?” “Something mighty important” “Fkn Chicago” “Why is Box 1 not in the top left?” “And she would never be there for the opening. That’s not a thing. They take your box out, put it on the table, and leave you alone.” “who cut who?” “Is it fkn hair cut day? Jesus Christ” “Back in my day…scratch out day and put purgatory” “You also wouldn’t be watering plants mid-day. Not usually anyway” “I guess I don’t know what time it is, but they are just dumb demons after all” “Yeah, fuck em! And shake your head at them” “Wasn’t that her friend or something? Don’t they know that stabbing the host kills the host? What the fuck?” “Could have exorcised her?” “ehhh” “They all sound like they broke out of an institution. Holy fuck” “Just trying to imagine what Dean is thinking during his smile” “what the fuck” “that was cool as fuck. How did they not think of that sooner? That was so off-the-cuff. Oh yeah just say it backward” “Helluva lot of makeup.” “I don’t know shit about Ferraris. Just a red Ferrari to me” “eh” “little strong with the verbiage there but sure” “Fkn Willy Wonka or what?” “That whole thing was a little weird I guess” “Let me guess - mom’s car isn’t Eurotrash” “Not his gun” “Why even bring it?” “Was that fkn Patrick Stewart? That guy kinda looked like him at first glance” “Hey bitch” “That is his name” “That guy is from LetterKenny” “That’s, at least, 94%.” “Ok, Mr. Texas”

I wish we had more PurGAYtory

“Why is Purgatory gay?” Dean looked for Cas for over a year; Dean prayed to him every night. Cas trying to protect Dean.

“I feel like they’re going to work with Crowley after this” “Just go swipe your knife, man. Stab a bitch” laughter “thats funny” “Saying that within ear shot yeah ok” “Tell Sky Daddy to cram it. We’re going with the boys” “That was such a weird set-up for the episode to have this kind of ending” laughter “what the fuck is happening?” “Has that guy ever shot a gun before? Nobody’s really moving at all. It’s not rocket science” “Alright. We got our payoff I guess” “Still kinda weird” “Toodles” “So she’s soulless now?” No, the transaction wasn’t completed

“They’re not that crappy. Come on now” “eh” “They’re running away on you. No big deal. Gotta see that coming. Should have stood between them and the exit”

[webmeridian]

Magento vs Shopify: Which Platform to Choose for Your Store

The article was initially published in WebMeridian blog.

Today’s eCommerce space is evolving at lightning speed. Remember, there are thousands of eCommerce businesses like yours that ponder upon it.

As a business owner, if you want to survive in the digital age, sooner or later, you’ll need to bring your products online, and you’ll need the right eCommerce platform. In a tech-driven world, a compact and robust eCommerce platform helps you maintain a professional store.

Plus, it makes it easier to showcase your product line, ensure an impeccable shopping experience, and count a significant uptick in sales. Moreover, eCommerce platforms have centralized the efforts of businesses managing their inventory, offering customer support, and processing payments.

Form a Clear Perspective about eCommerce Platforms

When it comes to Magento vs Shopify, you’d be surprised to find out how many businesses still have little to no idea which they should choose. Part of the issue is that many business owners have no clue about their own considerations and want to select an eCommerce solution purely based on generalization.

Shopify and Magento work wonders whether you run mid size or big operations. Here’s the thing, you should first review your business needs and then see whether you’ll be better off with Shopify or Magento. From Magento to Shopify, you’ll need to browse and dive into a comparison of a lot of elements. Magento works as a great open-source eCommerce hub.

Now, we’ll break down how Magento and Shopify are different from one another.

Key Statistics and Figures about Magento Vs Shopify

Shopify and Magento have become hallmark eCommerce platforms. Magento accounts for 1.2%, whereas Shopify holds a 10% market share.

In terms of add-ons and apps, Magento features 3600, while Shopify comes with 4200.

When it comes to live sites, Magento supports 50,000+ across the United States and powers up over 315,000 websites globally. On the other hand, Shopify shores up to 3,450,000 live sites.

In terms of annual transaction volume, there are over $140 billion worth of transactions that are processed on Magento.

Magento powers sites in health, fashion, beauty, electronics, home, sports, apparel, media, etc.

More than 90% of shopping deals would take place online by 2040 and Shopify and Magentoplatforms are at the forefront.

Magento accounts for a 50%-80% revenue boost for various eCommerce businesses.

You can choose from more than 200,000 Magento-based developers throughout the world.

Magento ranks as the 9th-best among content management systems. Even in an evolving eCommerce ecosystem, Shopify usually ranks in the top three.

Shopify vs. Magento: Detailed Comparison

If choosing an eCommerce platform seems like a daunting task, focus on the essential use cases. So, what’s the main difference between Shopify and Magento? Well, if you run small to medium-sized eCommerce operations, then you’ll find Shopify more attractive. But if you don’t mind getting into the technicalities, then Magento is a more suited option.

Selecting the right eCommerce platform depends on your business requirements. When deciding which eCommerce platform is right for you, review essential elements in this Magento vs Shopify comparison guide.

Ease of Use: Magento Vs Shopify

If you choose an eCommerce platform that is difficult to navigate, then you’ll run into unexpected challenges that would inevitably impact your store. In terms of usability, Shopify has an edge over Magento. One of the best things about Shopify is that it doesn’t require end-users to have coding skills.

In fact, using Shopify is a matter of setting up a new online store and selling products right away. On the downside, Shopify has limited customization, which doesn’t offer complete control of a site. If you’re looking for an outclass eCommerce solution with drag-and-drop functions, site builders, and simple customizations, opt for Shopify.

But if you don’t mind getting into the nuts and bolts of installation and maintenance, then Magento is a much better option. The open-source eCommerce hub features a page builder and comes with an expensive price tag. Unlike Shopify, you’ll find Magento store administration way more challenging.

On the bright side, you can integrate Magento’s admin controls with WordPress and centralize/streamline your content management. In short, if you’re an amateur, it would make more sense to choose Shopify. But if you have some coding skills, Magento would make a better choice.

Pricing: Shopify Vs Magento

Magento You’ll find the pricing structure of Magento within your reach. It is equal parts flexible and competitive. There is an option to opt for a Magento plan that meets your eCommerce business needs. And the best part is that it cuts out the need to cover a subscription fee each month. In fact, you can also use the free version of Magento and install it to set up a new store.

But you will need to cover the cost of hosting providers and getting a new domain so that you can publish your site. Magento’s license cost is a different story and comes down to multiple factors. It can be Magento’s version or the license type you want. You can either opt for Magento Commerce or Magento Open Source.

One of the reasons that Magento Open Source stands out is that it is a free system solution. It means there are no licensing charges. But you’ll have to cover the hosting, additional expenses, and site development costs.

Magento Commerce, on the other hand, is a proprietary system, and the starting annual price is around $22,000. Why pay a licensing fee? Well, this is how you get security updates, dedicated technical support, and software access. But the actual cost will come down to varying eCommerce needs, like the number of sites and servers you want to run through Magento.

Shopify Shopify works around a subscription model and features five different pricing tiers. Depending on your eCommerce business needs, you can choose a $9 or a $2,000 tier per month. All Shopify plans feature hosting and domain names and you can choose from a variety of themes and templates at a relatively low price point.

In fact, you’ll find that the majority of Shopify themes are super cost-effective. In comparison, both Magento and Shopify pricing can go high and low. If you want great templates, you won’t have to pay more than $180 on Shopify. However, it’ll cost you around $500 on Magento. Users often find it difficult to calculate each plan’s transaction fee and how it would impact the process.

It is vital to understand that Shopify and Magento have different pricing structures. Affordability comes into play only if you have minimal or basic eCommerce needs. It is entirely up to you how you use open-source eCommerce platforms like Magento. And based on your business requirements, the pricing structure is bound to vary.

Integrated Tools: Magento Vs Shopify

Magento comes with built-in features like an advanced inventory system. This allows store owners to check their total visitor count, render revenue reports, import high-volume databases related to products, and compare different product variants.

Business professionals also have the option to get sales solutions from the Magento marketplace. Once you have access to sales tools, set fixed percentages and discount prices, recover abandoned carts, customize checkouts, and make improvements to enhance customer journeys.

Magento’s sales solutions also support multi-channel selling. You can also leverage the Shopify marketplace so that you can quickly sell a wide range of products. Similarly, you can use the Shopify marketplace to recover lost sales and check out abandoned carts.

Selling digital products, you can use Shopify to sell physical products. What’s more is that Shopify has partnerships with UPS, USPS, and DHL Express. This allows store owners to deliver their products efficiently through courier services. In comparison, Shopify features more robust sales tools than Magneto. On the same platform, you can use Google Analytics for thorough data review.

Themes: Magento and Shopify

Your online store’s theme is a crucial element that increases or decreases user retention. If you want to thrive in the eCommerce space, you’ll need a layout and design elements that can garner more attention from users.

Shopify features a long list of premium and free themes. While Magento features impressive themes, it’s not even close to what Shopify has in store for its users. So, if you want to fully customize a theme, then you’re most likely to love Magento.

Magento offers 11 different themes priced from $30 to $500. You can still use Magento to build your dream online store, use the features that work wonders, and make adjustments until you meet your specific brand image.

But if you simply want to choose from a broad selection of paid themes, then choose Shopify over Magento. Plus, you won’t need any coding skills to make changes to Shopify themes.

Apps and Add-Ons

Wondering how to choose the best ecommerce platform? For many eCommerce business owners, it’s all about supported add-ons and apps and an eCommerce platform. Without Add-ons — you can’t add more functionality to your eCommerce store. Whether you choose Magento or Shopify, both platforms make it possible to tap into extensions and add-ons.

Shopify features more than 1,000 apps. You can find premium as well as free apps on Shopify. These apps usually revolve around social media advertising, shipping, and email marketing.

Marketing Features

Marketing tools or features are a crucial component when deciding which e-Commerce platform is right for you. When you have direct access to great marketing tools, you can make the changes to expand your user base and improve your business’ bottom line.

Shopify comes with great marketing tools that pair together with third-party integration. For instance, you can use tools, like Klaviyo and Seguno to sell your products on Instagram and Facebook. Shopify also supports multilingual websites, which allows you to market your products in multiple languages.

On the flip side, Magento has a dedicated marketplace for marketing tools. So, if you want to roll out email campaigns, you’ll first have to install extensions. You’ll also need to hire a skilled web developer who can integrate marketing tools. If you want simplicity, you’ll likely gravitate more toward Shopify’s integrated marketing tools.

When you compare Magento and Shopify, you have to consider your business needs. Comparing Shopify vs Magento involves a strategic process — it’s about having to figure out “which” one caters to your needs. In the end, when it comes to Magento vs Shopify comparison, focus on the features, pricing, add-ons, built-in tools, and other elements to make your decision. So, the next time you read, “Which is better Magento or Shopify,” make sure not to generalize.

Conclusion

If you’re part of the eCommerce industry or looking for leading eCommerce platforms, you’re going to explore Shopify vs Magento comparison. Magento and Shopify are invaluable and robust eCommerce platforms. If you want to make the “right” choice, find out as much as possible about both platforms and avoid generalizations. At all costs, focus on the elements that meet your prerequisite needs and help you establish and run a successful online store.

Once you review the fundamental differences between Magento and Shopify, you’ll be able to choose the one that can help you meet your eCommerce store needs faster. Since Magento and Shopify have different use cases and parameters, consider how every single element of these eCommerce solutions can help you lay and strengthen the foundation of your online business.

Contact us to get top-tier full-service development, delivery, and support around multifaceted eCommerce solutions. Whether you choose Magento or Shopify, we at WebMeridian can help you maximize your traffic and conversions along with state-of-the-art website development.