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[archiesprintpack]

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[makeitmingi]

When Flowers Bloom In The Dark [Chapter 2]

Genre: Romance, Mafia!AU, Violence, Angst, Slow burn

Pairing: Hongjoong x Reader (y/n)

Characters: Florist!Reader, Mafioso!Hongjoong, Mafioso!Seonghwa, Mafioso!Yunho, Mafioso!Yeosang, Mafioso!San, Mafioso!Mingi, Mafioso!Wooyoung, Mafioso!Jongho

Summary: When you appeared and wept at his mother's funeral, Hongjoong found himself wanting to find out more about you. A regular girl, who owns a flower shop in his territory and has a relationship with the mother that he hasn't spoken to in years, why hasn't he ever noticed you before?

[Warning(s): 18+ for violence, use of weapons, smoking, alcohol consumption, slight gore, gang affiliation, tattoos and character deaths. Minors DNI. This is a work of fiction and does not represent the Ateez members in real life.]

Word count: 3.2K

With an iced tea in hand, you unlocked the glass doors of your shop and entered. You turned on the lights, placing your tea on the counter and your bag in your locker. Since you were the only worker here, there was no one else to use the lockers but you.

"Roses, tulips, carnations..." You grabbed your notepad to check the incoming deliveries today. The first thing you did was check on your plants and water them.

"You're growing well." You smiled softly, seeing the plant that you sprout, moving the pot away from the direct sunlight.

"(y/n)?" You heard the familiar voice of your supplier at the back door and went over.

"Good morning, Mr Lee. Do you have any surprises for me?" You giggled. You had a good relationship with all your suppliers, they always helped you bring in quality products.

"Well, besides your usual orders, I have some hydrangeas if you would like." He climbed into his truck.

"Here." He pushed the bucket to show you.

"Oh, they're absolutely beautiful. I'll take them." You smiled. He nodded and helped you bring everything in, he usually knew where everything went.

"Sunflowers aren't selling too well." You shook your head in disappointment, seeing your sunflowers there.

"Sunflowers aren't trendy anymore. Have you seen what's on the internet? My daughter told me that girls are content with just bouquets of baby's breaths now. How times have truly changed, right?" He chuckled with a click of his tongue. You nodded and moved the roses into the refrigerated area.

"It's a minimalist thing, no? Bigger isn't better anymore. No one comes in for traditional bouquets anymore." You sighed, going to the cash register to get the money.

"Tell me about it... And this should be everything." Mr Lee said, glancing over the flowers that he brought in.

"Thank you, this is the payment." You handed the money to him. He nodded and placed it in his pouch.

"Also, Mr Lee. I remember you mentioning that Mrs Lee keep getting her hands burnt when she's working at her restaurant. I made her an aloe balm. This should help soothe the burns." You held the tin out.

"Oh, you're too kind, (y/n). Thank you so much for making this." He patted your shoulder.

"Have a nice day. See you next week." You walked him out.

"See you." The both of you bowed to each other and he jumped into his van before driving off. You returned to your counter and began your work for the day.

"Let's see..." You checked the online orders that you had and printed it out for reference.

Moving to your work bench, you began to prepare the flower preparations for each other. You trimmed the stems, removed the excess leaves and cut thorns away before wrapping them up with either cellophane or tissue paper.

"Hello? Are you open?" The bell above the door jingled. A girl walked into store, carrying a pot with her. You cleaned your hands and walked out to the front.

"Yes, we're open. How can I help you?" You smiled.

"My fern seems to be wilting and I can't seem to revive it. Can you help?" She asked.

"Let's see what's the issue." You escorted in. She placed the pot on your work table and you inspected it. The girl patiently waited, watching you as you checked it.

"From what I see, the soil isn't draining water properly. It's retaining too much water and suffocating the roots of the plant." You said.

"What? Can that happen?" She blinked.

"Yes, so that suffocation prevents the roots from absorbing the vitamins and minerals. You should mix a well drainage soil of this ratio and move your fern in." You wrote the ingredients down.

"And I can find this at the plant store?" She asked, reading through what you wrote down.

"You should be able to find the components. But if you don't mind waiting, I can mix some for you to take home." You offered. Hearing that, she let out a sigh of relief and nodded her head excitedly. You went to your storage area to grab the different soil components that you need.

"Peat moss, sand and potting soil." You mixed the components into a bag, adding some fertiliser as well since the fern currently lacked essential nutrients.

"For two weeks, put two drops of this plant reviver into the soil even if you are not watering it." You handed her a small vial.

"Thank you. Actually, do you mind repotting it into the new soil for me? I'll pay you." She requested.

"Alright." You took the fern out and got rid of the old soil. You poured the new soil in, creating a well to put the fern in. After that, you loosely covered the roots with the soil.

"Done." You smiled, removing your gloves.

"Thank you. This is actually my mum's plant and I'm helping her take care of it. I know nothing about plants." She said in embarrassment.

"No worries, the plant should be fine from here. If there are anymore issues, you can come back." You chuckled and rang up her bill. She nodded and paid.

"Thanks again." She bowed and walked out of the shop. After that, you went back to preparing your orders. There were some pick ups today so you wanted to make sure that everything was in order for a smoother pick up.

"Hi, I'm here for a pick up?" A guy walked into the store.

"Sure, can I see your order number?" You asked. He showed you the confirmation email and went to retrieve his order. It was a flower box instead of a bouquet.

"Just make sure everything is okay for you before paying." You said, rounding the counter to the cashier.

"Do you mind changing the ribbons to pink too? She really likes pink." He requested.

"Of course." You grabbed the ribbon. With pink flowers, you wanted to add contrast with a different coloured bow but since he wants it to be pink, there was no issue with changing it.

"That's better. Thanks." He handed you his card.

"I wrote the congratulatory message as you stated in request email but if you'd like to write your own message. This is a spare card, on the house." You handed him the blank card.

"Thank you, I don't know what else to write but if I come up with something I'll add it." He rubbed the back of his neck with a sheepish smile. You hummed and rang up his bill, writing the invoice and handing him a copy, along with his credit card. With a grateful bow of his head, he left the shop.

Before you knew it, the clock hit 1pm, with customers coming in to buy, place advance orders or collect orders they've placed.

'Closed for lunch.'

You sat behind the counter with a tired sigh, taking out your lunch box. Your meals usually consisted of sandwiches or leftovers from dinner the night before.

Which was why Mrs Kim would usually come with food for you, always disapproving of how your eating habits.

RING!

"Sorry, we're closed at the moment." You said from behind the counter, not looking at the door. But you didn't hear the second ring of the door opening again so you stood up.

"Oh!" Your eyes widened in surprised as Hongjoong stood there, looking around the shop.

"Hongjoong sshi..." You blinked, maybe you were dreaming. Maybe your guilt was too much that the male was appearing in your dreams.

"Good afternoon, (y/n) sshi. Is this a bad time? Should I come back at another time?" He asked with a slight tilt of his head, fingers resting on the buttons of his blazer. You shook your head, reaching to get a tissue to wipe your mouth.

"It's fine. What can I help you with?" You came out from behind the counter to properly greet him. He patiently waited as you pulled a chair for him to sit.

"Please, would you like something to drink?" You offered.

"No, I'm fine. Actually, (y/n) sshi, I came to apologise for my reaction during my mother's funeral." He stood back up.

"What? There's nothing for you to apologise for, Hongjoong sshi. I should be the one apologising, I overstepped and said too much. It wasn't appropriate of me." You bowed deeply.

"You didn't overstep at all. Your intentions were good, I reacted poorly." He bowed back.

"No, you're grieving, it's normal." You smiled softly.

"Thank you for understanding." Hongjoong held his hand out but remembered that it was bandaged and cursed under his breath, hiding it and putting his other hand out for you to shake. If you were phased by his injury, you didn't show it. You smiled and slipped your hand into his to shake.

"I should go and let you carry on with your meal." He said once you both let go.

"No, it's fine. You can stay if you'd like." You smiled softly. He let out a small hum and continued to look around your shop, observing all the plants around.

"So, this is where my mother hung out?" He asked, picking up a stalk of rose from your work bench and twirling it.

"Sometimes... She would come for lunch or tea. We would just chat over food." You replied awkwardly.

How much were you supposed to say about Mrs Kim to her own son? You didn't want to sound like you were boasting about your time with her either, that wouldn't do any good.

"I see." He said, placing the flower back down.

"Hongjoong sshi..." You rubbed your arm, unsure of how to continue this conversation.

"Sorry for making you uncomfortable. Just... The truth is, you know a lot about my mother that I don't. You've spent time with her while I didn't so I can't help but feel curious. My relationship with her wasn't as good as she made it out of be." He informed.

"Oh. Hongjoong sshi, it's not my place to judge you or your relationship with Mrs Kim. Whatever relationship I had with her is vastly different from your own." You said.

"You're very kind, (y/n) sshi." He complimented. Your cheeks heated up in embarrassment.

"I should go." He stood up.

"Wait before you go. Your bandage, do you want me to help you replace it?" You pointed. Hongjoong looked down and saw the blood beginning to seep through.

"It's fine, I shouldn't take up more of your time." He shook his head.

"Not at all. I can help if you'd like." You offered. With a soft sigh, Hongjoong sat back down.

"I'll go get my medical kit. Be right back." You told him and went to the back room to get what you needed. You also took a salve that you usually used for wound care.

"I'm not a doctor but I am first aid certified and I study medical plants in botany so you don't have to worry." You smiled and took a pair of cutters to cut away the bandages that Yeosang had wrapped around Hongjoong's hand. Hongjoong quietly observed you, not saying anything else while you focussed.

"I made this salve for wounds. It should help with soothing the wounds and healing." You explained, cleaning the blood.

"Do you always make your own medicine?" He asked.

"No, I just make simple stuff. I'm still learning." You giggled, tucking your hair behind your ear before applying a thin layer of the salve over the cuts and wounds.

"Does it hurt?" You looked up at him. He shook his head and you sighed in relief.

"You can bring that home with you to apply when you change bandages. I have some more." You explained.

"You do a better job than my brother." Hongjoong said after observing how you properly wrapped a new bandage around his hand and secured it in place.

"You should remove the bandage after 3 days to let the wounds breathe and dry." You said.

The entire time, you never once asked Hongjoong about how he got injured or acted differently. You treated it like any other scrapped knee and healed him. Usually, people would be scared or ask him how he got injured like that.

"Thanks." He looked at his newly bandaged hand.

"You're very welcome. If you see signs of infection or get a fever, go to a doctor." You advised. He nodded and took the small pot of salve, putting it into his pocket.

Will he use it? Probably not. But he saw how dedicated you were and for some reason, didn't want to disappoint you by not taking it.

"Bye, Hongjoong sshi. I'll see you around?" You blinked at your own words, uncertainty in your voice.

"Have a nice day, (y/n) sshi." He didn't address it, merely bowing his head and leaving your shop. You let out a long exhale, feeling like you've been holding your breath the entire time.

"Ah!" You suddenly remembered the silk handkerchief that you had washed and in your bag.

"Too distracted." You scratched your head and went to the counter to eat a few more bites of your lunch before you had to reopen.

You were not too bothered that you hadn't returned the handkerchief to Hongjoong. Even if you did feel guilty, you had an inkling that you would be seeing Hongjoong again soon. What ate at you more was how foreign Hongjoong spoke about his mother, like she was a stranger that he didn't know.

"Hongjoong, where are you?"

"I went out to run an errand, Seonghwa. Don't worry, I didn't drive. I got the driver." Hongjoong sighed, sinking into the backseat of the Rolls Royce he was in.

"I'm not worried about that. I just wanted to make sure you didn't do something dumb like blow up a building."

"Geez that happened ONCE, let it go... And I'm going to work, I have to go to my club." Hongjoong said, looking at his bandaged hand.

"You don't have to go back to work right away, Hongjoong. The boys and I can take over while you take a few days. You've needed to take a break for a while."

"I'm the leader of Ateez, Seonghwa. I don't need all of you to take over my work." Hongjoong replied.

"But..."

"Yes, my mother died. But sitting around isn't going to bring her back to life. I still have roles to fulfill, I'm not going to let anyone strike us just because I'm down. There are people counting on us, relying on us." He continued.

"Alright. Stay safe then, Hongjoong. I'll see you at the docks meeting at 5pm?"

"Yeah, thanks Seonghwa. I'll see you later." Hongjoong hummed and hung up. The car stopped before Hongjoong's club and the manager came out, opening the door for him.

"Good afternoon, Mr Kim." The manager bowed. The club wasn't open yet so Hongjoong could get some administrative work done.

"Get me a drink and come up to the office." Hongjoong said, walking into the club.

"Yes, sir." He bowed. Upon his entrance, all the workers stopped and bowed down to greet their boss This was the main club Hongjoong worked out of so they were used to seeing him around.

"Give me 10 minutes. No one is to enter." Hongjoong told the guard who stood by his office door.

"Yes, sir." The guard bowed.

Hongjoong entered his office and sat down in his chair. There were some things he needed to do and catch up on privately, without any interruptions. As the leader of Ateez, he had to keep track of the other Ateez members and their work, on top of his own. But the boys always did their work so it wasn't hard on him.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

"S-Sir?" Hongjoong heard the timid voice of the club manager outside his door, making him look up from his phone where he was sending messages to Yunho.

"Has it been 10 minutes?" Hongjoong asked back, tucking his phone into his blazer pocket.

"Yes, sir." The male on the other side replied.

"Come in." Hongjoong said. The door opened and the male came in with his iPad and Hongjoong's whiskey in hand. Hongjoong nodded over to the chair and the manager bowed, taking a seat opposite him.

"Update me." Hongjoong took a sip of his drink. The manager began to update Hongjoong on the business.

"We have been thinking of letting our bartending apprentice go. He had been drinking on the job and getting drunk." He informed.

"Who?" Hongjoong leaned forward.

"This is his profile. The next page has some employee complaints and customer complaints that were logged." The manager informed, pulling up the ex employee's profile and handing it over to Hongjoong to look it over.

"I won't read this, let him go. I won't let anyone be caught lacking in my business. One complaint is as good as ten. Make him compensate for what alcohol he took." Hongjoong instructed.

"Of course, sir." The manager nodded, taking back the iPad and going through the other updates.

"Continue to manage necessary manpower and suppliers to the club. Revenue is still good." Hongjoong told him.

"I will. Thank you for giving me this responsibility, sir." The manager bowed from his seat.

"This is the list of VIPs coming. As usual, make sure they are well taken care of." Hongjoong slid over the list of VIP names and the dates that they would be coming.

"Of course." The manager folded the paper and put it in his pocket.

"You can go." With that, Hongjoong waved him off and he left. Hongjoong may seem cold and merciless but he treats his employees right, at least those that do their job well. He is a perfectionist and always wants the best, there shouldn't be anything that's lacking when it came to his business.

"Send Wooyoung and San for that private poker game. That's wheret they'll meet our informant." Hongjoong said to those that were in the group call.

"Oooh, I can get a new suit done." Wooyoung's focus and excitement was obviously on other things.

"What about the governor meeting that's coming up, hyung? Are you going with Seonghwa hyung?" Jongho asked.

"Seonghwa should go with Yunho. They know how to work the charm. Plus the governor's wife seems to favour Yunho." Hongjoong thought out loud, making the other laugh.

"No one can resist that face." Seonghwa chuckled.

"Yunho's ears just turned bright red." Yeosang informed and the others could hear Yunho's yell of protest in the background.

"Wait, what time is Seonghwa hyung and Hongjoong hyung settling the issue at the docks? I want to tag along, I could use some action. It'll be fun." Mingi asked.

"Oh! Me too! If Mingi's going, I want to go!" San agreed. Hongjoong could hear Seonghwa wanting to interject but it was ignored. Hongjoong and Seonghwa could never fight the younger ones, they were simply outnumbered.

"You guys always make a mess when you get involved... This time, call your own clean up crew." Seonghwa hissed.

"You gave in way too easily, Seonghwa ah." Hongjoong laughed and leaned back into his seat.

"I already have enough to think about. I have to pick my battles. Plus, if they can handle it for us, I won't risk getting blood on my new coat." Seonghwa said.

~

Series masterlist

[theocddiaries]

[At the Mean Bean, Maddie storms in with a bag of fruit and slams it onto the counter.] Maddie: Stone, I know we're on a truce until your boyfriend loses it, so I'll say this with all due respect: your fruit is crap. Stone: I know, Maddie, I'm sorry. They changed my supplier, and I have a feeling that instead of coming from a greenhouse, this comes straight from the landfill… Maddie: Well, you should do something! Shadow [walks in with a tray of untouched fruit]: Mr. Stone, if you insist on selling this to customers, then you serve them yourself. I’m too ashamed to hand this out. Maddie: See? You can't afford this, you're getting back on your feet. Stone: I know! I know! Don't worry, I've already taken this seriously. I sent the supplier an email explaining the situation and ended it coldly. Maddie and Shadow [exchange a look and then glare at him] Stone: Yeah, you heard me. I wrote "Best regards." No more "Best regards, have a great day" or "Friendly regards." No, no. When I'm mad, I'm mad for real. That guy is not giving me rotten fruit again. Robotnik [walks in with a box of rotten fruit]: Stone, the fruit. [drops it on the counter]: Listen, you can call me picky all you want, but in my opinion, there's no thing that can eat this. Shadow [wrinkles his nose]: Except for that worm crawling out of the apple. Maddie: Damn it! Just because we're having more animals than humans in this town now doesn’t mean the average diet should include bugs now! Stone: You’re right. Ivo, toss this. The supplier is really gonna hear from me now. Shadow: Thank goodness. Stone: I’m going to write a letter and press the pen down hard while I write so he knows how mad I am. [nods and walks off to find paper and pen, chin held high] Maddie: Alright, that’s enough. Eggman, give me the phone. Robotnik: Get it yourself, you lazy ass. Shadow [grabs the phone from the counter and hands it to Maddie] Maddie: Thanks, Shadow. [searches for the supplier’s contact and calls]: Hello. Are you the owner of the fruit shop that supplies the Mean Bean? Yeah? Well, then the only good morning is the one you have because we surely aren't thanks to you and the garbage you sell. Uh-huh. Yeah. Of course, I’ll say it to your face! Whenever you want! Tomorrow? See you tomorrow, then! Bye! [hangs up and turns to Shadow]: Make me a chamomile tea, please. [goes to sit down] Robotnik [grabs Shadow’s arm]: Make it a whole jug. Tom [walks in cheerfully]: Hey, guys! What’s new? Shadow: Your wife is going to fight our fruit supplier. Tom: I said new. [sighs]: Gotta fence off the town square again…

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Never Let You Go

Inspired by this post; in the same universe as this and this and this

Warnings: non/dubcon, power imbalance, and other dark elements. My username actually says you never asked for any of this.

My warnings are not exhaustive but be aware this is a dark fic and may include potentially triggering topics. Please use your common sense when consuming content. I am not responsible for your decisions.

Character: Sam Wilson

Summary: you run into an old face as you try to build a new life.

As usual, I would appreciate any and all feedback. I’m happy to once more go on this adventure with all of you! Thank you in advance for your comments and for reblogging ❤️

“Richard, hi,” you approach the table on the cafe patio. “I hope you haven’t been waiting long.” 

“Oh, don’t fret, I’m always impeccably early,” he stands to greet you and offers his hand, “so good to finally meet in person.” 

“Yes, finally,” you smile. “I really appreciate you coming all the way down here.” 

“I’m of a mind to try new things,” he says. “Especially local places. They put a touch more care into their food.” 

“Have you ordered? They have a great curried egg salad.” You suggest as you claim the seat across from him. He sits as well. 

“Just a coffee,” he says. 

“Sounds great,” you reply. “Could use one as well but if you’d rather just get to business--” 

“Go on, I can wait,” he assures as he checks his watch. “Our meeting is still ten minutes away, technically.” 

“I’ll be quick,” you get up with the promise. 

You head for the door and dip through to join the queue. You’ve been looking forward to the snickerdoodle latte all day and yet Richard spoiled that by being even earlier than you. It’s a good sign at least. It means you’ll probably get the commission. 

You wait your turn patiently. You sway back and forth. You greedily ogle the desserts in the case, your restraint at battle with your sweet tooth. Your eyes are drawn to the paper taped to the glass. ‘Under New Management. Fun changes coming soon!’ 

You come here a couple times a week and you had no idea. You suppose you didn’t ask. You’re always in autopilot; you get in, get your coffee, and go. 

Your turn comes and you step up to order your latte. The snickerdoodle is discontinued. Oh. You get the vanilla bean instead. No use being picky, much more important things to tend to. 

As you pay, a familiar tone catches your ear. It can’t be. The timbre flows through the open door to the back. You take your coffee and go. 

It’s all in your head. You’re not paranoid, just a little... cautious? It’s been months. You’re in a new neighbourhood, you cut all your former clients, well, the ones he didn’t chase away, and you have a new favourite coffee shop. Things are looking up. 

You take your order and return to the table. Richard looks up, smiling over his cup. 

“The coffee is great. I understand they have a new supplier,” he says. “I was chatting with the new owner, he said it’s hand-roasted.” 

“Oh, wow,” you smile. “I didn’t even know it was sold,” you push your shoulders up and set your cup on the table. “Did you want to see my mock-ups?” 

“I certainly would,” he says. 

You bring your bag into your lap and slide out your tablet. You flip back the case and scroll through your folders. You open his file and turn the screen towards him. 

“You can look through,” you say. “I used the pictures you sent me and I applied the changes digitally. I even have an invoice with an inventory of paints, flooring, fixtures. The furniture is separate for ease. And if there’s anything you want to switch out or change or keep, we can do that as well.” 

“Ah,” he takes the tablet. He drags his thumb across. You watch him as he focuses on the screen. “A talented editor too.” 

You turn your head. You don’t want to pressure him. It’s normal for clients to have feedback. You had your initial consultation online and you got his general ideas but it’s different when you can see it. 

“Did you have any alternates? I think this dove grey is immaculate but I’m curious. If we could do around the fireplace in a different colour perhaps?” 

“Oh, I could do something else. I did have another idea for that but it was entirely different. Rustic. The brick was red clay and the walls hardwood.” 

“Interesting, you have that?” He wonders. 

“Sure, it’s in my drafts.” you reach across.  

You take it back and shuffle through to your drafts. You return it to him and he clucks. “I’m afraid I’ve made a terrible mistake,” he remarks. You wince. “I’ve now brought myself to stalemate. I’m not sure which on I prefer.” 

“Oh,” you chuckle in relief, “well, it’s easier when you see swatches and materials. That could be the deciding factor.” 

“Probably best,” he agrees. 

He gives you back the tablet and you return it to the other file. You offer it again and he continues to browse. He hums and lowers it again. 

“I know one thing for sure. You’re hired,” he grins. “When can we begin?” 

“As soon as you like,” you try to repress your excitement. Admittedly it’s been difficult since your break-up. Relocating destroyed much of your existing client-base. 

“Wonderful,” he says. “Not to rush out but it is such a nice day and I think we are agreed. If you don’t mind, could you forward those images? I could offer more specific notes?” 

“Sounds good,” you take the tablet. “Thank you so much.” 

“Not at all,” he stands and grabs his cup, draining what’s left in the porcelain before setting it back down. “Have a wonderful day.” 

“You too,” you smile. 

He leaves and you watch after him. You’re ecstatic. You don’t have to dig any further into your savings. 

You sit back and grab your cup. You haven’t even tried the latte. It's not bad. Not the sort of vanilla that’s too sweet. 

“Is it good?” The voice startles you. Not only because it’s unexpected, but because it’s familiar. The same one you were sure you didn’t hear inside. There’s no way... “I changed the recipe. Upgraded the machines...” 

You look up and put the cup down. You gape at Sam as he steps closer and puts his fingertips on the wooden tabletop. “Lot of changes, huh, honey?” 

You gulp. “What?” 

“It’s a cute place but the management was a disaster. Tanking. But I made an investment--” 

“Sam,” you croak, “how...” 

“You blocked my number, yeah, I know.” He smirks. 

You blink. You know better than to argue. Disengage. You put your tablet in your bag and stand, abandoning the latte you’d looked forward to all day. 

He as quick as ever. He catches your wrist over the chair. You tug and look around, “Sam,” you hiss. 

“Shh,” he hushes you. “You know what happens when you make a scene.” 

He calmly sits and draws you closer. You try to resist but he’s too strong. You peer around. No one else seems to notice the tense encounter. If you cry out now, it will be just like that night you broke up with him. For the fourth time. 

He forces you down, onto his lap. Now that might catch a few glances. You shift and lean away from him, your hip pressing into the table. 

“Let me go,” you plead. 

“So, you moved on quick.” 

You wince. It’s been almost a year. 

“New place, new coffee, new... man,” he grits the last word. 

“He was a client.” 

“Oh, I know how you are with your clients,” he sneers. “All bubbly. You were never like that with me, baby.” 

“I tried. Sam, you know it’s over.” 

“I never agreed to that,” he snarls. 

“Sam,” you warn in a flat tone. “Let go or I will scream.” 

“You changed a lot,” he ignores the threat. “Your mom didn’t though. She’s still in the brownstone.” 

“Sam,” you repeat. 

“I really did miss hearing you say my name.” 

Your eyes wet with helplessness. How did it come to this? How did that charming, funny man you met all those years ago turn into this? You mourn what you thought he was more than the relationship. 

“You should finish your coffee,” he leans forward, crushing you against the table as he grabs your cup. “Go on.” 

You stiffen as he lifts the cup to your lips. You sip as you feel him watching. He snickers and pulls it away. He presses against you again to put it down. 

He tuts as he sits back, “ah, you got something...” he wipes your lip with his thumb and purrs. 

“Why are you doing this?” You whimper. 

“Because you’re mine,” he growls and runs his hand up your back, gripping the back of your neck, “you better not forget that again.” 

[elsweetheart]

Random…but I have this stupid scenario with Dealer Ellie having reader count all her money…lots and lots of money. reader in her undies looking all cute and confident heheheh or something idk why it’s so specific but I’m thinking about it after listening to “the morning” by the weeknd

oh my …… god …… i’m obsessed with this

countin’ up

🎀 reader being hot, ellie bein a sexy dealer, mentions of drugs and money

you’re a little high yourself, just a smidge from taking a few tokes off ellie’s joint on the walk home — enough for you to feel warm and hazy and confident in ellie’s dorm. the two of you had been to a party that night, and it was a great business night for ellie, coming home with her black backpack practically empty of weed— instead filled with hundreds of notes. not only were people clumsy, overpaying her or accidentally handing over more money than they meant to — but people round those sides were huge tippers, just thrilled to have a big bad dealer show up at daddies pool house. she’d been victorious, and you couldn’t help but grin watching it all unfold.

you’d pulled off the tight dress as soon as you’d made it back to her dorm, warm from the humid summer air outside and wanting to just be comfortable. ellie wolf whistled, distracted by her phone ringing— one of her usual clients calling in to make orders for him and his friends. you tipped the contents of the bag out on the bed, the strong stench of cannabis falling out with all the paper bills. “damn.” you breathed out with a grin, taking a handful of the money and letting it slide out your palm falling into your lap where you’d sat on the bed. the money smelled like weed when you sniffed it and you giggled, envisioning yourself sheepishly handing it over to a shop clerk, their brow lifting at the smell. oops.

you got comfortable, laying down on your elbow on your side and pushing some money to the side, starting to count them up. you’d always count up for ellie, as she told you that she repeatedly would fuck it up. your stomach warmed at the thought of being helpful to her, glancing up to see her writing down her clients order in her notebook sat at her desk. “uh—huh. nah, we don’t sell that one anymore. instead i can offer you…” she opens her drawer, fumbling around with her stock. you smiled, turning back to counting the money setting them in neat piles.

she got off the phone, standing up with a stretch as you continued counting before turning to look at you, eyes scanning over your position and your lack of clothes. “now isn’t this a sight for sore eyes.” she smirked, stepping towards the bed and placing her hand on your thigh, settling herself to sit down on it. you giggled, eyes focused on neatening one of the makeshift piles you’d made. “how many dealers do you know that can say they have a hot girl in her underwear counting money on their bed. that’s like… pimp level shit, man.” she grinned, taking in the scene before her.

“i don’t know any other dealers. only have eyes for one.” you shrugged, finishing up counting. “510 dollars.” you told her, still in disbelief at the sheer quantity from one nights sales. you thought it was risky for ellie to show up with her backpack stuffed to the brim with weed, heavy and pungent — but clearly she knew this would be a jackpot.

“damn.” ellie’s eyebrows jumped before she began sorting the piles herself. “this is the suppliers cut.” she spoke mainly to herself, separating two piles away from the rest. “this is your cut.” she pushed a few piles towards you casually, making you laugh.

“my cut? i don’t work for you, els it’s your money.” you pushed yourself to sit up slightly and didn’t miss the way her eyes dropped to your tits in your lacy bra at the movement.

“nah, come on. you’re my girl. you get the money.” she shrugged you off casually, making you swell and dampen slightly in your underwear.

“really?” you fluttered your lashes up at her and she nodded, starting to pick up her money to transfer it to her desk.

“all yours, babe.”

[johnslittlespoon]

There we go!

Now- John would either be flabbergasted or impressed. I cant really decide. Lmao

bikeriders clip for context | LOL okay when i saw this teaser yesterday, i was thinking about whether leaving!bikeriders au gale would have pulled stuff like that when he was younger, and a scenario immediately popped into my head; here's a little drabble :-)

we've established that when john and gale first starting seeing each other, john's pretty shy regardless of his impulsivity and not–at–all–discreet thirsting over gale. he's probably very respectful of gale's privacy, not prying a lot despite his curiosity when gale dodges certain questions, scared of being 'too much.'

but a few months in (maybe less knowing him), once john starts to figure out what buttons he can push and which ones he shouldn't, and once gale proves to him (many times) that he's not going to blow up at him or leave him when he messes up or they have arguments? it's game on in terms of making himself at home when he's at gale's place, and clinging to gale like a sloth, and being stubborn and nosy and less guarded, etc.

so one day he's at gale's house, and gale unexpectedly ends up busy with something; maybe he has to get on a lengthy phone call with some parts supplier for the shop, or a guy from the club shows up to chat. either way, john's left to entertain himself, and he's come straight to gale's from college so his laptop's dead in his bag and his phone's plugged in at the table charging. he decides to do a little snooping out of pure boredom.

nothing too out of line, and he's not looking for anything in particular, just trying to pass time, but he stumbles across a stack of newspapers in a drawer of gale's bookshelf that are dated back to like a decade and a half earlier, and of course this catches his attention, because people usually don't hold onto newspapers unless there's something interesting in them, right?

he sits himself down cross legged on the floor next to the drawer and pulls out the first paper and begins flipping through, scanning for anything interesting, and then he sees it:

'gale cleven of casper, wyoming was arrested and charged with 18 traffic violations, but not before reportedly running through 7 stoplights, hitting speeds over 85mph in two 20mph school zones, and causing damage to 4 municipal vehicles as a result of the pursuit.'

john reads it over three times with wide eyes, trying to imagine his gale being so reckless. he thinks about the gale that says "safety first" or "helmet on" every time john gets on the back of his motorbike, and the gale that can hardly handle letting john drive his bike around an empty parking lot under his watchful, nervous gaze, and he laughs to himself in disbelief, feeling like he's just stumbled upon a gold mine of information.

but gale walks into the living room, fondly asking "what's got you giggling in here?" before his eyes land on john and his box of papers. john feels guilty for about half a second before he's swept back up in his shock and excitement, waving the newspaper around and exclaiming "eighteen traffic violations? a 2500 dollar bond??" with unbridled glee, cackling at the defeated expression on gale's face.

"john–"

"–municipal vehicles? what, did you hit cop cars?"

"–i left you alone for twenty minutes–"

"–gale, c'mon, you gotta tell me the story now, you can't just leave me hanging!"

"you're the one who went snooping," gale grumbles, but john can tell he's close to caving, so he puts the newspaper back in the box and pulls himself to his feet, bouncing over to gale and placing his hands on his arms to walk him backwards to the couch.

he knows he's won when gale allows himself to be pushed down onto the couch with a resigned sigh, and john grins like a cat that's got the cream as he settles himself in gale's lap, waiting eagerly.

and gale can't even pretend to be mad.

[hannahssimblr]

Chapter Three

The air is still sweet and warm enough the following week to leave the windows of the print studio open, and in between my cleaning sessions, in particular the area around Gabriel’s desk which looks like an avalanche of cardboard and loose paper has crashed around his feet, I work on my Christmas card designs and occasionally gaze outside over the street below, cracked, patched pavements and sturdy old red brick council houses that belonged, once upon a time, to the lived in by workers from the biscuit factory and the brewery, but now have been purloined by the middle class. 

Simon comes over to check how I’m doing from time to time. He has the type of presence that makes me want to sit up very straight and address him like he’s a teacher at school about to quiz me on my multiplication tables, but Simon’s not really like that. He’s so chilled out he might as well be horizontal, and all he ever really does is say “cool.” or “looking good.”, so eventually, after some days the sharp edges of my terror of criticism fades and I stop freaking out every time I see him get out of his seat. It is art, after all. The most subjective thing in the world. 

“So this is design two? Or three?” He’s saying to me today, pausing at my desk on his way to the printing press. I hold up two fingers.

“Right. I’d love it if we could have six by the end of next week, if you can hack that. Just like, with the suppliers…” He trails off and I nod enthusiastically like I know what he’s talking about. “Of course, I think I have enough ideas to get six designs.”

“Cool, and at some point today could you pop downstairs to the shop and talk to Petra? She was asking if you’d do a favour for her.”

“Yeah, of course.” I resist grilling him about what she wants or rushing downstairs and insisting that she talk to me immediately, because I’m trying very hard not to be a person who seems desperate for anything lately. Even though I frequently am. 

“Thanks.”

He heads over to the press next to Izzy, and moments later Michelle comes into the studio with a coffee and a paper bag in her hand. He grins at her and leans down to kiss her cheek. “This is a nice surprise.” 

“I can’t stay long, Jen and I are heading into town for lunch but I know you’re working through it today so I thought I’d just get you a sandwich.” The idea of Jen standing outside this very shop at this very moment makes my heartbeat quicken.

“You’re a lifesaver.” Simon says to her. “Saves me making the intern get it for me.” He winks at me so that I know he’s only joking, even though he’s actually not, and that’s exactly what would have ended up happening, he just doesn’t want her to know about it, most likely. 

“Can you stay for lunch?”

“No, I have plans with Jen, but I’ll see you later on.” She glances around the room at everyone else. “I suppose I’ll probably see you all later on.”

“At Izzy’s gig!” Gabriel whoops. “Yes you will.” I smile at her and nod, already trying to come up with a plan as to how I will wrangle Shane and Claire into coming with me. It’s out of pure social anxiety, not because I think they’ll enjoy the music. 

When Michelle heads out and the rest of us start making moves for our own lunch break, Izzy asks if I’ll get food with her, since Simon and Gabriel are too busy. She says she knows a nice takeaway spot nearby, and I trust her because she seems like the kind of person who would know the best places to eat and drink in every corner of the city. 

The streets are busy that afternoon, the last gasps of tourist season leaving the foot traffic heavy enough to have to stop and start behind the people who want to take photographs of things like fan windows and the fronts of pubs. Izzy stops me to let a middle aged couple take a picture next to a statue of a teapot. I think about how that was nice of her, to stop walking for them when I’m sure I would have barrelled through and ruined the photo. I don’t think I’m the type of person to do things like that anymore, my patience has worn too thin over the last two years I’ve lived here.  

“Cute.” She comments as they smile and let us pass them by, and then we continue down a street that opens onto the Liffey. It really doesn’t smell very good on warm days, and as I peer down into it I count two shopping trolleys and a child’s bicycle. I wonder what else they’d find if they did an expedition of that river. Considering the possibilities of what could lie there under the silt kind of makes my stomach turn, and draws to mind the time I saw a dead poodle floating in a river on a family expedition to county Cork. Izzy guides me around a corner and up a hill to a cafe, and the sun is in my eyes.

My gaze slips over the people eating outside the restaurant as we approach. There’s a woman with a small baby who is kicking and writhing in her arms, fat little legs creased adorably at the knees. An elderly man on the next table tries to enjoy his newspaper, only he can’t help but glance over his shoulder at the infant when she babbles and shrieks, interrupting his concentration. There’s a girl with her back to me, long, wavy blonde hair that spills all the way down her chair, and a man sitting across from here with dark hair and sunglasses. He’s handsome, well dressed and has an upturned, clever little mouth that sends a jolt of recognition through me. I almost gasp out loud, but then I remember that it couldn’t be him. It never is. This city is full of good looking, dark haired men, and not one of them has ever been the one that I hoped. As if he’s ever going to be here… 

And then he lifts his sunglasses to pinch the bridge of his nose, and those brown eyes could only belong to one person. My breath catches in my throat. I can’t look away from him, and I stand at the door of the cafe frozen still in anticipation of the moment he’ll see me too.

His eyes flicker over the blonde girl’s head for a second and then widen with surprise. He practically shoots out of his seat, the metal legs of the chair shuddering across the concrete behind him, and the look on his face is astounding, like he can’t believe I am real. “Evie.”

“Hi.” I say, and then somehow I am next to him, wanting to launch myself into his arms, but I stop myself. His fingers twitch outwards too, like he’s reaching for me but his hesitation matches my own. He doesn’t know if he’s allowed to touch me anymore. 

“What are you doing here?” I manage. Jude looks the same as he did the last time I saw him, but somehow I’m surprised. I don’t know how I keep forgetting how gorgeous he is, as you’d think that something like that would be permanently imprinted in your memory, and yet it’s like every single time I’ve ever turned my head to speak to him I’ve been whipped across the face by his beauty. 

“I… we…” He’s flustered. He’s never seemed flustered before, and seems bewildered by himself. I watch a blush come over his nose and cheeks. “College doesn’t start for a few weeks.” He manages. “And I needed to help out with something at home, so we decided to make a holiday of it.”

We. I look to my right where his girlfriend is sitting. She is an unmistakable presence, and yet at first I almost missed her. She’s head to toe in black. They both are, as though they plan to attend an extremely fashionable funeral. Her clothes are so contrasting to her hair which is the whitest, blondest blonde I’ve ever seen. She’s slim, languid, long hands and wrists and sharp collarbones, full lips and a button nose, the kind of pretty that makes ordinary girls feel like monsters in comparison. I imagine a photo taken of both of us side by side, and how I’d never look nice next to her, my dull, limp brown hair and unremarkable features would make me vanish into the wallpaper while she would positively glow with beauty. 

I’m caught up in the situation, looking at her and looking at him, and I forget all about poor Izzy waiting for me at the door. She clears her throat gently and tells me she’s going to go inside and order her lunch. I feel a bit embarrassed that this significant moment happened right in front of her without her knowing the context of any of it, but I tell her I’ll follow her soon. 

“This is Astrid, by the way. My girlfriend.” Jude says, as if she needed an introduction, as if I didn’t know that already, and I smile at her. “Evie.” The smile she returns is a bit thin and lukewarm, and she doesn’t take off her sunglasses so I can’t really read her face at all. My skin prickles, and for the first time I start wondering if I’ve made my return appearance at the wrong time. 

“I never expected to just run into you.” Jude says with eyes that leap all over my face.

“Me neither, I…” I feel bad about cutting him out of my life for a guy who almost ruined my life. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“It has. Over a year now.”

I grimace as the most egregious moments from our last conversation float into my mind and I feel as though I have to blink them away. “I hope you’re doing well.” 

“Yeah, I’m doing fine.” He pauses again, like he’s not sure how much I even want to hear. “We’re around for the next week. We’re going to be hitting some of the main spots in Dublin before flying back to Berlin. ”

“Touring around. Like tourists.” I cringe at myself.

“Yeah, it’s Astrid’s first time in Ireland.”

I look down at her and smile and tell her that she’s welcome, because that’s what I feel like I should say, but she doesn’t smile back, takes a berry from the top of her pancake stack and nibbles on it. 

“I think that tomorrow we might do the whole Trinity library tour thing. It’s hard to come up with things to do when you, like, lived here for so long, you know?”

“Yeah I know, I couldn’t think of much either. But it’s not like you ever really do all of the touristy things when you live here, do you? Like the leprechaun museum or whatever.” We pull identical faces of disgust at each other and I find myself laughing. I look at Astrid. “What kinds of things do you like to do?” 

She leaves a reluctant pause. “I’m not sure.” and her voice is gentle, accentless. She doesn’t even seem interested in looking at me, and then doesn’t say anything else when I leave the space for her to elaborate, so Jude finally explains for her, albeit a touch impatiently. “In Berlin we normally go out. Like, bars and clubs and concerts. We have a mutual love for music, so.”

“Oh, that’s so funny, I’m actually going to a gig tonight.” I point at Izzy through the café window. “Izzy is the singer, she’s playing later on, and actually I think Jen is going too.”

“Oh, well, she didn’t say anything to me about it.” A line appears between his brows. 

“Maybe she forgot?” 

“Yeah, maybe.” 

“Well, I’m inviting you. Inviting you both.” I attempt yet another smile at Astrid who is now scrolling on her phone and feel a bit rattled by her, aware of her displeasure at my interruption. I give Jude the breeziest smile in my repertoire. “You better get back to your lunch, or your food will get cold.”

“Yeah, yeah, sure. Okay.” Jude says, still watching me with some disbelief. “Maybe we’ll see you later on?”

“If you’re at the gig, you will.” I give them a rushed goodbye and hurry inside after Izzy, my skin buzzing all over, heart thumping inside my rib cage. 

“I’m sorry if that was awkward.” I mutter to her as I join her in the queue. “That was just my old friend, I haven’t seen him in a while. I think I should have just introduced you.”

“No it’s okay, it wasn’t awkward because you didn’t introduce us, I just felt weird about interrupting an argument like that.”

I blink. “Were they arguing?”

She looks out the window to where they’re sitting, their food uneaten, and it’s suddenly obvious. Their body language is tense and they’ve turned so that their torsos are angled away from each other, Astrid says something to Jude, and he says something back with a furrowed brow and a swipe of his hand. I suppose I didn’t notice it at first but now it’s so obvious, and I feel stupid. “Oh, they were.” 

“Don’t feel bad. You didn’t know. What are you ordering?”

“Oh, um, whatever you’re having. I’ll just have the same.” I drag my eyes away from them. Whatever it is, it’s nothing to do with me. 

Beginning // Prev // Next

[violetswritingg]

Canary Cry

Robin/Nightwing (Dick Grayson) x OFC!

Description: Her violence was silent. Until it wasn't.

"I'm fine."

"Fine is just another word for drowning."

Rating T-M (mentions of blood, child abuse, mental health, cannon situations of violence and the like. Loss of parents, hard of hearing/deaf character, poorly written fight scenes lol)

Want to read the other chapters?

Click here

19

Starlight Prep

October 1, 12:00 PST

"Hey you okay? You've been off all morning." Emily asked, her glasses reflecting the florescent lighting of the cafeteria. Closing her book when she couldn't ignore her friend's predicament any longer, "It's not your concussion is it? Do you need to go to the nurses' office?"

Kate felt guilt instantly crawl up her throat at Emily's worried words and scrunched eyebrows. The blonde reaching out and laying a hand in front of Emily, "I'm okay, my aunt just got called out on some urgent business this morning, she left in a rush. Just worried that's all."

"On, urgent... flower shop business?" Emily raised her eyebrows, a disbelieving tone coloring her voice.

"Um, a shipment was running late, she had to go meet the supplier, check on the flowers. See if they were still good for sale or not." Kate came up with, not sounding sure even to herself.

"And that's what you're worried about?" Emily double checked, "I didn't know you were so invested into your aunt's business."

"I'm not, I mean – I am, just... she really cares about it, and they were like some kind of exotic flower. Super expensive." Kate left it at that, Emily just nodding eyes contemplative for a second before they lit up again.

"Here," Emily pulled out an insulted canister from her lunch bag, "It's Jasmine tea, my favorite, it always helps me calm down, maybe it will help you." Emily pushed it closer to Kate and the blonde got this sinking feeling in her stomach as she hesitantly grabbed the warm thermos.

"Are you sure? It's your favorite, I don't wanna take it if-"

"It's so okay, we're friends. This is what friends do. Drink it, it'll help you feel better, I promise." There was something more in Emily's voice that set Kate on edge, her smile a little too big, eyes a little too squinted. Was she upset?

Kate didn't want to upset her only real friend at Starlight, and so she lifted the thermos and went to drink but before she could she froze.

That's when Kate heard the music.

That's when Kate realized what day it was.

"Shit."

Kate slowly turned around, face blooming a vibrant shade of red as Ben walked in on a rolled out red carpet, a quartet of violins behind him playing long chords as he held up a banner.

Katherine Lance, please give me a chance... HOCO?

Kate wanted to die.

There were audible gasps and murmurs among the crowd as Kate stood slowly, walking up to Ben. "You didn't mention a string quartet." Her voice hissed out the last word while her face grinned widely. Eyes shining with murderous intent.

"I thought it would be more romantic." Ben just shrugged and offered her the sign, "So, you gonna give me a chance, Lance?"

Kate wanted to kill him, and then die. But remembered their agreement and took a moment, and as long as she did this one thing people would keep leaving Emily alone. Ben so far had kept up his end, she had to keep up hers.

"Yeah, let's do it." Kate took the sign and the room went crazy, Ben pulling her in for a hug, spinning her around without her permission. Setting her down as the string players stopped on a sweet note and left.

~~*~~

By her final period, chemistry (barf), Kate was vibrating. No longer toting around the ridiculously large poster paper as it was shoved inside her locker. Her knee bouncing as she watched the clock, not having heard anything from Dinah since this morning and the worry was starting to eat at her.

Was she okay?

The minutes ticked by like hours and Kate was counting the seconds. 

It started out as slight tremors, the rattling of the clock against the wall. 

But those tremors turned to destruction and hell fire in an instant, the earth seeming to tip sideways as a large plant tendril erupted thought the classroom floor tile. Kate, out of instinct, grabbed Emily and pulled her out of the way of the destruction. Both girls coughing on the plaster dust and debris in the air.

"Shit." Kate cursed, watching as if in slow motion the plant started to come down in their direction. Glancing at Emily, Kate's stomach rolled at the terror on her friend's face, sharing in the shock that was present there too. "Move!" Kate pushed Emily, sliding them closer to the door. Screams, metal crashing into metal, and squealing brakes just now entering her hearing. The electric whine from her hearing aides making her wince.

Kate gripped onto Emily's hand with a death grip as she pulled her through the destroyed classroom and pushed her into the hall. Where more students were, all screaming and pushing. Kate saw someone get taken down by the tide, her eyes widening. Pulling Emily to the side of the hall and backing her up against the lockers she screamed over all the noise, "Stay here! Don't move!" And with that Kate was diving into the mass of panicking rich kids.

Seeing the hand flailing around designer shoes and blood, Kate reached down, covering their body with hers. Taking the stiletto's to the calf and kicks to the ribs as she elbowed the people around her and pulled the girl up. Her golden blonde hair messy and filled with debris dust, eyes red and wet, cheeks covered with mascara. Kate held on as she dragged the girl through the crowd, not particularly caring if she was breaking the girl's hand with how hard she was holding onto her. 

Once back over to Emily, who was now sporting some bruising around her face and holding her ribs, Kate pushed past the guilt and latched onto her as well. Dragging both girls behind her through the crowd and into a side hallway that was less crowded. Stumbling when the ground turned again and shocks were sent through the floor. Another plant tentacle erupted in the main hallway behind them.

Kate watched with wide eyes, as bodies flew, she knew she couldn't save them, but that knowledge didn't stop the twisting of her stomach and the feeling of nausea crawling up her throat. The fire alarm started to ring and smoke started to fill the air.

"Come on! We have to keep moving!" Kate crouched, Oxygen was heavier than carbon dioxide, as she pulled both Emily and the blonde girl to one of the emergency exits that Dinah and Oliver had her memorize.

Dinah and Oliver.

They were in Metropolis, meaning it was just her in Star right now, there was no way she could deal with this on her own. Especially not with Emily and the other girl with her. First responders will be too busy to get here, she was stuck. Kate cursed in her head violently as they broke out into daylight. Dodging another plant tentacle that had decided to flop down in the alley way. Barely missing the girls by inches.

Kate's arms across their waists being their saving grace. The things started to move again and Kate pushed the blonde girl into a run in front of her and pulled Emily with them. Getting farther down and into a back alley behind the school. Kate looking at the cross section and then following the storm pipes down and cheering under her breath.

Letting go of both girls she moved to a dumpster, that was thankfully empty. Pushing it with a grunt, exposing two metal doors.

"What is that?" The blonde asked in a squeak.

"Panic room built by the school when it was founded for the dean and admin in case of an active shooter situation. Upgraded six years ago with Waynetech gear and seven layers of tactile bulletproof metal walls. You'll be safe down there." Kate puffed as she pushed off of the dumpster, head on swivel.

"How do you know that?" The blonde asked again, breathing calming down now.

"Does it matter?" Kate groaned as she pulled on the padlock, Lifting up her leg and pulling out a tactile laser blade from her boot, which was against dress code. Cutting through the lock and pushing open the doors. Which opened to metal stairs and dark pathway towards the panic room. The blonde darted down there, Kate looked to Emily, expecting her to do the same.

"Emily? What are you doing? Get down there!" Kate snapped, over her dead body was she going to let Emily stay in harms way.

"I can't do that."

"What the fuck do you mean, 'you can't do that'?" Kate spit, losing her cool, which she knew Dinah would not be happy about but she pushed on. "Emily..." Kate trailed off, straightening up as she finally noticed the dark gleam in her friend's eyes.

"You are such an idiot."

With that Emily launched at Kate. Pushing her, causing the door to slam shut with a loud bang. Kate being knocked back into the side of the dumpster, coughing as the air is knocked out of her lungs. Emily not giving her even a second, nails digging into the scarred skin of Kate's wrist and pulling her into Emily's space. Forcing her around, Kate's back against Emily's chest. Arms coiling around Kate's neck, cutting off her air. Choking her.

"Can't scream when you can't breathe." Emily chuckled with malice, emotions flipping on a dime, "Do you know how difficult that last months have been? Pretending to be Emily? Shy, bullied Emily? It was torture. All so she could get to you, what's so special about you huh?!" Emily shook Kate in her grip, Kate clawing at Emily's covered forearm, wet clicking noises falling from her lips as she tried to breathe, "What makes you so valuable?" Emily grit into her ear, "If you had just drank that stupid tea this wouldn't be happening. But no matter." Emily chuckled with sick mirth, "This is more fun anyway."

Kate's vision started to dim, dark encroaching at the edges the longer her lungs were cut off from the oxygen they were so desperately begging for. Finally finding her feet Kate relied on muscle memory, digging her nails into Emily's shoulders and crouching down. Effectively flipping Emily over her shoulder and stomping down on her throat with more force than was necessary. Coughing as she tried to regain her breath. Chest heaving as she struggled and her vision slowly came back. Emily's hands on her ankle trying to push her off and failing. 

"What the fuck?" Kate spit, eyes blazing, ignoring the sting of betrayal. It could be dealt with later, "Who do you work for?!" Kate pressed harder with her foot before letting up and giving Emily the chance to answer. 

"You're gonna find out." Emily grinned like a crazed lunatic, something silver catching Kate's eye a second too late. The needle in her calf, the plunger being forced down before Kate can react. Immediate wooziness overcame the blonde as a short scream rang out. Kate stumbling back into the dumpster before slumping to the ground. 

Eyes getting heavier and heavier until she couldn't fight anymore, going limp with Emily's smile of lunacy being the last thing she saw before everything went black. 

~~*~~

"Computer. National news." The Bat commanded as the cave announced his entrance. The news broadcast being narrated by Cat Grant, showing video of the wild plants as they tor apart downtown Metropolis.

"Should we head out there?" Robin asked, chomping at the bit. Bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet.

"No. The league will soon have the situation under control. That's not why I'm here." Batman brought up a picture of Sportsmaster on the holo-computer, hovering next to his head, "According to your intel Sport's master supplied Cadmus' Blockbuster formula to Kobra."

"Who combined it with Bane's venom to create Kobra venom." Wally added on, starting a chain.

"Which the brain used to create his animal army." Robin continued.

"And upgrade Wolf." Superboy added in, smiling at the large animal, scratching under his chin.

"The brain also used inhibitor collars like the one at Belle Reve Penitentiary." M'Gann spoke up.

"Is it possible that plant thingy's on Kobra Venom too?" Artemis asked, glancing to the empty spot beside her and silently wondering where Kate was.

"I had Green Lantern run a spot analysis. The vine's cellulose does contain trace amounts of Kobra Venom variant." Batman picked up again, wiping away the photo of Sportsmaster and bringing up the keyboard.

"These cannot be coincidences." Aqualad spoke up for the first time since everyone had assembled. "Unrelated criminals are cooperating with one another worldwide."

"Exactly. It's now clear our enemies have formed some kind of Society of Super-Villains." Batman confirmed, "The attack on Metropolis is only the beginning."

"You got that right," Robin scoffed, typing at his own holo-keyboard, "Plant creatures have sprouted in Gotham City, Paris, Taipei... and Star City..." The team tensed, suddenly realizing the missing small blonde.

"Kate.." Artemis breathed as video of one of the larger plants ripping through a larger building they all recognized. Her school, kids covered in bruises and debris dust streaming out of the front doors and into the arms of too few first responders and more plants, "We have to go get her!"

Static on the multiple screens Robin had pulled up interrupted the worry that had sprouted in the team, Batman whipping around to face the screens.

"Dude!" Wally snapped over Robin's shoulder.

"it's not me!" Robin gnashed out in response. "Someone's cutting into the satellite signal. All satellite signals."

The face of the Joker popped up on all five screens in front of Batman and the team, smiling like the maniac he is. Knocking on the camera lenses before speaking.

"Ladies and gentlemen We interrupt your regularly scheduled mayhem to bring you this important announcement." The Joker's gravely tone sent shocks down the team's spines as he flicked open a switch blade and turned the camera, "from the injustice league." His crazed laugh ringing through the cave.

"We are responsible for the attacks on your cities." Count Vertigo spoke next, claiming responsibility from his position in front of the group of supervillains, "If you wish to save them, a ransom of ten billion American dollars is required. Delivery instructions have been sent to the United Nations. There is no time limit, but the longer your governments wait..." Count Vertigo trailed off. Leaving Joker the floor to grab the camera and point it back at himself.

"The more we get to have our... Jollies!" More sickening laughter filled the cave before static filled the room again.

"Roger that Aquaman, the UN will prepare the ransom as a fallback. But it won't come to that." Batman spoke over comms, a hand pressed to where his ear would be behind the cowl. Robin typing furiously, the video being brought back up on screen in a still image of the new group of supervillains.

"Count Vertigo, The Joker, Poison Ivy, Ultra-Humanite, Atomic Skull, Black Adam, Wotan, and Black Siren. Eight heavy hitters." Robin counted off, a red box surrounding each villain's face as he named them. "Probably behind nearly everything and everyone we've faced."

"There's your secret society." Wally muttered.

"Not so secret anymore." Artemis tagged on.

"Perhaps after India they realized we would deduce the truth and saw no point in hiding any longer." Aqualad added his own line of thought.

"Yeah? That was their mistake. Right now I say we go kick some plant creature butt." Wally jumped on the opportunity for some action. "After we get Kate of course."

"The Justice League will handle the plants, and finding Kate. I have a different job for this team." Batman cut down Wally's expectations. The red head complaining, the others following, only to be silenced by a batglare, "With the plants attacking so many locations simultaneously there must be a central control system. Your mission is to destroy it."

~~*~~

Star City

October 1, 14:30 PST

Black Canary and Green Arrow, drove through the broken, plant infested, streets and swung from buildings from arrows – respectively. Both of their heartbeats in their throats as they finally come to the school their kid was at only hours ago.

The tracker she had consented to offline, not even showing her vital signs. Something that had Canary on the edge of panicking, if she wasn't already.

"Do you really think she would stay put?" BC's teeth worried on her bottom lip, the comms still picking up the mumbled words.

"Just a look and then we'll move on." Green Arrow soothed, landing on the roof of the messed-up building, repelling himself off the side and into the back alley. Black Canary having to leave her motorcycle at the mouth of the side alley that feeds into the back one due to the plant taking up all the space.

"Let's see if she remembered." Green arrow muttered under his breath, turning to face the doors built into the side of the building. Pausing at the obviously burned through padlock and smiling to himself, letting himself get his hopes up. Black Canary joining him, the two sharing a look of relief before opening the doors.

A head of blonde hair covered in dust shot out and into the arms of the man in green. The force spinning them to where her back was facing Black Canary as she curled in on herself. Green Arrow's shoulder's relaxing as his gloved hand came up to the back of her head as she shook. Eyes closing as he breathed.

"It's okay. You're okay, we're here. You did good little bird." Green Arrow sighed, pushing her back to look at her face, freezing.

"What? What's wrong with her?" Dinah bit, grabbing the girl's shoulder gently and turning her, "No..."

Black Canary had to remember that she needed to breathe, even if her heart was breaking.

~~*~~

Bayou Bartholomew

October 1, 18:32 CDT

"Twenty minutes out." M'Gann informed from the helm. The mood in the ship noticeably low as each individual kept glancing at the empty spot amongst the seats.

"Robin, if you could provide a holo-map. I'll search for signs of concentrated sorcerous activity." Zatana lifted his hands as soon as the map came to life in front of him.

"What about Kate? She should be here. Do you have any word on her whereabouts, could you track her Zatanna?" Aqualad finally spoke up about the loud thoughts everyone had been having in the background of the revelations happening.

"We are currently working on locating her." Batman cut in, his attempt to dissuade the teams' worry failing.

"Meaning you don't know where she is, she could be hurt Batman." Robin piped up, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Black Canary and Green Arrow are on it. Unless you think you can do a better job?" Batman questioned, his tone suggesting an eyebrow was raised under that cowl of his. Robin backed down, sharing a glance with Aqualad and Artemis. Seeming to let it go.

"This is ridiculous. We should be out there looking for Kate." Artemis finally burst, having sat on her frustrations the whole flight.

"Agreed." Robin piped up, typing on his wrist computer. "I've been scanning security cameras around the school and I can see her getting herself and two other girls out into the alley on the south-west side of the school but then they disappear."

"Can you pull up that still from the injustice league video?" Artemis didn't even finish her questions before it was up. Robin looking back at her with a questioning gaze.

The woman beside Poison Ivy sticking out to Artemis, looking a little more pleased with herself than the rest. Her light blonde hair, black body suit and black collar making her look like the Black Canary rip off that she was.

"Who wants to guess that Black Siren being a part of this and Kate being missing is a coincidence?" Artemis grits, crossing her arms over her chest, bringing to light everyone's worst nightmares.

"I wish I could say I disagreed with your thought process." Aqualad grimaced, eyes lingering on the woman everyone else's eyes were drilling holes into.

"So, that means she could be where we're going? Right?" M'Gann asked, hopeful to a fault.

"That's exactly what that means." Robin confirmed, his mouth in a thin line as he stared out across the passing scenery, arms crossed tightly over his chest.

~~*~~

[papergram123]

Biodegradable Packaging Solutions in Mumbai: A Sustainable Future In recent years, environmental concerns have driven businesses and consumers to seek eco-friendly alternatives, leading to a growing demand for biodegradable packaging solutions in Mumbai. As one of India’s largest metropolitan cities, Mumbai generates a significant amount of packaging waste. To tackle this issue, businesses are adopting biodegradable packaging to reduce their environmental impact and promote sustainability.

What is Biodegradable Packaging?

Biodegradable packaging refers to materials that can naturally decompose without harming the environment. These packaging solutions are made from organic materials such as cornstarch, sugarcane fiber, paper, bamboo, and compostable bioplastics. Unlike conventional plastic, which takes hundreds of years to degrade, biodegradable packaging breaks down within months, leaving no toxic residue behind.

The Need for Biodegradable Packaging in Mumbai

Mumbai, being a commercial hub, houses numerous industries, including food, retail, and e-commerce, all of which rely heavily on packaging. With growing awareness of plastic pollution and government regulations on single-use plastics, businesses are turning to biodegradable packaging solutions in Mumbai to align with sustainable practices and meet environmental compliance.

Types of Biodegradable Packaging Solutions

Paper-Based Packaging: Paper and cardboard packaging are widely used for food delivery, shopping bags, and product packaging.

Compostable Bags: Made from plant-based materials, these bags decompose quickly without leaving harmful residues.

Bioplastic Containers: Derived from natural sources such as cornstarch, these containers are an excellent alternative to plastic food packaging.

Bagasse Packaging: Made from sugarcane fiber, bagasse is a popular choice for food packaging, as it is sturdy and compostable.

Edible Packaging: Some companies are innovating with packaging that can be consumed along with the product, further reducing waste.

Leading Providers of Biodegradable Packaging in Mumbai

Several companies in Mumbai specialize in biodegradable packaging, offering a wide range of sustainable options for businesses. These suppliers cater to restaurants, supermarkets, e-commerce businesses, and corporate organizations looking to transition to greener packaging.

Benefits of Biodegradable Packaging

Reduces Plastic Waste: Minimizes the accumulation of non-biodegradable waste.

Eco-Friendly: Leaves a smaller carbon footprint and prevents pollution.

Meets Regulations: Complies with government policies banning single-use plastics.

Enhances Brand Image: Attracts eco-conscious customers and improves brand reputation.

Conclusion

The shift towards biodegradable packaging solutions in Mumbai is essential for a cleaner and greener future. As more businesses adopt sustainable packaging alternatives, the city moves one step closer to reducing its environmental footprint and embracing eco-friendly practices. Investing in biodegradable packaging not only benefits the planet but also helps businesses align with evolving consumer preferences and environmental regulations.

Make the switch today and contribute to a sustainable future—choose biodegradable packaging for your business now!

[psatalk]

Flexure Print N Pack to commission new blown film extrusion line in 2024-25

Ahmedabad-based flexible packaging converter Flexure Print N Pack is set to expand its capabilities with significant new investments. The company plans to commission a multilayer blown film extrusion line within the financial year 2024-25, aiming to strengthen its vertical integration. Flexure Print N Pack is also gearing up to install converting machinery for both monolayer and multilayer packaging in the next few months, according to Jainam Shah, managing partner at Flexure Print N Pack.

“We are also exploring collaborations with industry suppliers to add value to our wide-web flexographic printed products through offline processes,” Shah said in an exclusive interview with Packaging South Asia.

Current capabilities and machinery

Flexure at present operates four flexographic printing presses, including one central impression press and three stack-type configured presses. The facility is equipped with an advanced photopolymer plate mounting machine along with anilox sleeves and photopolymer plate cleaning machines to ensure quality and durability. In the lamination department, the company utilizes both solvent-free and solvent-based lamination machines.

The slitting department boasts drum-type and cantilever differential slitting machines. For conversion, Flexure Print N Pack runs a variety of machines, including bottom seal bag-making machines, side seal bag-making machines, slit-seal plus gusset machines, and multiple pouch-making machines.

A milestone year in 2024

Reflecting on 2024, Shah described the year as "busy, challenging, and eventful," marked by significant achievements. Flexure Print N Pack reached a notable milestone by successfully printing 208 LPI print resolution jobs on its flexographic press. The company also conducted trials with hybrid screening, water-based inks, and extended color gamut, which are set to transition into full-scale production in the coming months.

Established in 2001, the Asian Packaging Excellence Awards recognize outstanding achievements, innovation, and contributions to packaging production across the Asia region, celebrating the pinnacle of excellence in the Asian packaging industry.

“These awards underscore our commitment to excellence in packaging production,” Shah said.

Production capacity and solutions

Flexure Print N Pack currently converts between 175 and 200 metric tonnes of material per month. The company’s product portfolio spans a range of exclusive flexographic-printed solutions, including LDPE, CPP, TQPP, BOPP, PET, coated paper, and compostable films as substrates. These materials are supplied in monolayer and multilayer roll forms, as well as in converted pouch formats.

Flexure Print N Pack specializes in manufacturing a variety of packaging solutions, including bakery bags, shopping bags, hygiene application pouches, vacuum pouches, zipper pouches, quad seal pouches, and stand-up pouches, among others.

A vision for the future

With its new investments and a focus on innovation, Flexure Print N Pack is poised to strengthen its position in the flexible packaging industry, Shah said. The addition of the blown film line and enhanced converting capabilities will enable the company to meet evolving market demands and reinforce its reputation for quality and innovation.

[archiesprintpack]

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[ariannawilliamsblog]

The Environmental Benefits of Buying from a Local Bakery Shop

Supporting local bakeries in Quincy IL is more than just a way to enjoy freshly baked goods; it also offers significant environmental benefits. By choosing to buy from a neighborhood bakery instead of large commercial chains or imported products, you’re making a sustainable choice that reduces environmental impact. Here are the key ways local bakery shops contribute to a healthier planet.

1. Reduced Carbon Footprint

One of the most notable environmental advantages of purchasing from a local bakery is the reduction in transportation emissions. Large-scale commercial bakeries often ship their products over long distances, requiring extensive fuel consumption. By contrast, local bakeries source and sell their products within the community, minimizing the carbon footprint associated with transportation.

Additionally, local bakeries often source ingredients from nearby farms and suppliers, further reducing the need for long-haul transportation and supporting regional food systems.

2. Less Packaging Waste

Local bakeries tend to use minimal packaging compared to mass-produced baked goods. While commercial bread and pastries are often wrapped in layers of plastic to prolong shelf life, local bakeries frequently package their products in recyclable or biodegradable materials, such as paper bags or cardboard boxes. Some even encourage customers to bring reusable containers or bags, promoting waste reduction.

This focus on sustainable packaging not only reduces plastic pollution but also aligns with environmentally conscious consumer practices.

3. Sustainable Ingredient Sourcing

Local bakery shops often prioritize high-quality, locally sourced ingredients. By purchasing flour, butter, eggs, and other essentials from nearby farms, they support sustainable agricultural practices and reduce the environmental impact of long-distance shipping. Many local bakeries also opt for organic or fair-trade ingredients, further minimizing the use of harmful chemicals and supporting ethical farming.

This emphasis on sustainable sourcing helps promote biodiversity and protect ecosystems, making each purchase a step toward a greener future.

4. Smaller-Scale Production

Unlike industrial bakeries that produce goods in massive quantities, local bakeries operate on a smaller scale, reducing energy consumption and waste. Large factories often rely on high-energy machinery and mass production processes that contribute to pollution and excessive waste. Local bakeries, however, produce only what is needed, minimizing overproduction and reducing the likelihood of food waste.

Many bakeries also have systems in place to repurpose unsold goods, such as donating them to local charities or composting, ensuring that nothing goes to waste.

5. Supporting the Local Economy and Community

By buying from a local bakery, you’re helping sustain small businesses that often prioritize sustainable practices. Local bakeries are more likely to reinvest their profits into the community, supporting regional suppliers and encouraging environmentally friendly business practices. This creates a cycle of sustainability that benefits both the local economy and the planet.

Conclusion

Choosing to buy from a local bakery is an eco-conscious decision that benefits the environment in multiple ways. From reducing transportation emissions and packaging waste to supporting sustainable farming and minimizing overproduction, local bakeries play an essential role in promoting a greener lifestyle. By supporting these businesses, you’re not only enjoying delicious, freshly baked goods but also contributing to a healthier planet and a more sustainable community. Next time you crave a loaf of bread or a sweet pastry, consider visiting your local bakery—your taste buds and the environment will thank you.

[ashadowofburnedoutstardust]

Answers to your questions as an American.

1) Some states have banned plastic bags, some haven't but they cost money, some states haven't banned plastic bags and dont charge for them, some stores dont charge for plastic bags, some stores charge for paper bags. Overall, it's nuanced and states as well as stores change their rules. Many people I know bring their own reusable bags. I don't buy a lot when I go grocery shopping because I can't afford a lot of food, so I just carry my stuff out most of the time.

2) ambulance rides here can cost thousands of dollars. It depends on health insurance whether ambulance rides are covered or not.

3) we have banking apps. My bank is a local credit union and it has a banking app.

4) I have never heard of a heated towel rack, but when I was a kid my dad would put my socks in the microwave when it was cold outside so when he woke me up for school I'd have warm socks. That is not a universal American experience, I think it was just me.

5) I don't eat eggs, but I think it depends the brand. My mom doesn't put her eggs in the refrigerator, but I think that's kinda gross because most eggs need to be refrigerated here.

6) we do eat straight applesauce. My dad would pack a little cup of applesauce in my lunch when I was a kid. The first time I actually ate applesauce with a bigger meal was this last thanksgiving because my sister's bf made homemade applesauce. It's really good when it's cold. It's refreshing to me. The food bank I use actually gives out cans of apple sauce sometimes.

Aha! We have found the applesauce eaters 🤣

I do the cheap thing and by the apple pie filling apple slices to put into my muffins but I literally cannot think of any time where I have actually seen Apple sauce at the supermarket

We have the fruit cups, the ones with pieces in them they either come in juice or jelly (jello, what you guys called jelly we call jam)

Like I know it exists, but I've lived here most of my life and if you took me to the supermarket I could not find it for you

Fun fact about eggs in Australia, they actually print the dates on the eggs, I can't remember whether the dates they printed were an expiry date or a packaging date but I remember being very surprised seeing blue ink on my eggshell, although I imagine the ink used is food safe anyway

Sometimes it's easy to forget that all of your States have all of these different laws because of how the USA was originally formed much like the USSR was formed, the annexation of neighbouring territories, which has resulted in so many different laws being all in one country

All of our regions all come under one set of laws, you can't escape to a neighboring region to avoid a specific set of rules, although from what I understand there's a particular set that will supercede local state laws that end up being nationwide? Federal I think it's called?

When we put a set of legislation into place it applies to everyone and while stores may be able to set particular things in place there is still a set standard that must be their minimum, hence the nationwide banning of plastic bags and a full-fledged campaign to collect them all to be recycled and removed from circulation

You sound like you grew up in a region that would have loved heated towel racks, most people I knew used them in the incorrect way to dry off a towel rather than heat the towel while your in the shower

I switched to a locally owned bank back during BDSM but I have noticed that there are some places where I go to use my debit card that it won't process the transaction, thanks to our investigative watch dogs the companies responsible for processing this it was found out were being pressured by their suppliers to favour foreign banks over our local ones (*cough* oil companies *cough*) and were fined as a result

Do you guys have "watchdog people"?

We have so many independent commissions that are responsible for being a watchdog over companies to ensure fairness in things.

They are the type of things that the lobbyists that our current governing party have been dealing with try to target and disable in order to privatize things like healthcare, they are ironically also the people that citizens will go to with complaints who also have the power to investigate them and report their findings publicly and have the ability to take their findings to court in order to prosecute them on behalf of the citizenry if they find they have been in violation of something intentionally

[bestshoppingbag]

From Santa’s Sack to Yours: Why Plastic Christmas Gift Bags Are a Must-Have

The holiday season is filled with joy, surprises, and the quest to find the perfect way to present your gifts. Whether you’re wrapping up thoughtful presents for family or packaging small goodies for your neighbors, the right gift packaging can make all the difference. Enter plastic Christmas gift bags, the unsung heroes of holiday preparations. They’re festive, versatile, and oh-so-convenient.

This blog is a deep dive into why plastic Christmas gift bags are a must-have this season and how they can add extra charm to your celebrations. From their sustainability benefits to dazzling designs and practical uses, you’ll discover why they’re the go-to option for packaging holiday cheer.

What Makes Plastic Christmas Gift Bags Shine?

Plastic Christmas gift bags aren't just ordinary packaging—they’re a game-changer. Here’s why they’re worth having in your holiday toolkit this year.

1. Durable and Reliable

When it comes to holding gifts, durability is key. Plastic Christmas gift bags are designed to carry a wide range of items, from delicate trinkets to heavier presents. Unlike paper, plastic is less prone to tearing, ensuring your gifts stay safe even during long holiday travels.

Take the stress out of gift wrapping by switching to plastic bags that can withstand the weight of multiple presents while keeping their cheerful designs intact.

2. Festive Designs for Every Taste

Plastic gift bags come in a vast array of designs, colors, and sizes, making it easy to match the personality of the recipient or the theme of your celebrations. With everything from classic red and green motifs to trendy, modern designs, there’s a bag for every style.

Want to showcase what's inside? Transparent plastic Christmas gift bags allow the gift itself to shine through, adding an element of excitement while maintaining practicality.

3. Perfect for Bulk Packaging

If you’re preparing for a community event, office party, or school gathering, buying Christmas treat bags in bulk is a cost-effective and convenient option. Wholesale plastic Christmas gift bags make it easy to organize, pack, and distribute goodies while keeping the holiday spirit alive.

Further, tote-style bags and goodie bags crafted with glossy, durable materials are ideal for bulk orders. Need something customized? Many suppliers, like Infinite Pack, offer options to personalize your bags with branding or festive messages.

Why Consider Reusable Plastic Christmas Gift Bags?

If you’re looking for a sustainable and budget-friendly option, reusable plastic Christmas gift bags are the answer.

1. Reduce Holiday Waste

The holidays can bring significant amounts of waste thanks to traditional wrapping paper and single-use packaging. Reusable plastic bags offer a greener alternative that you can use year after year. By choosing these, you’ll reduce the environmental impact of your celebrations without sacrificing style or functionality.

2. Cost-Effective for the Long Term

While reusable bags might cost slightly more upfront, their long-term benefits outweigh the expense. Durable and made from strong materials, these bags can be reused for multiple purposes—whether as gift wrap for next year or carriers for daily shopping needs.

3. Customizable and Unique

Reusable plastic Christmas gift bags can easily be personalized to match any holiday style. With a little creativity, you can add decorations, names, or themed designs to make each bag feel extra special.

Why Plastic Bags Are Perfect for Goodies

If you’re in charge of creating holiday treat bags this year, plastic Christmas goodie bags are your new best friend. Available in various sizes, they’re ideal for packing treats, from small candies to baked goods.

Plus, their transparent design makes them great for showcasing what’s inside, tempting your recipient with the festive goodies they’re about to uncover.

Top Picks for Goodie Bags

Small Christmas Goodie Bags: Perfect for tiny treats like chocolates or candy canes.

Large Plastic Christmas Gift Bags: Great for bigger gifts like wine bottles, cookie boxes, or a bundle of small items.

Customized Merry Christmas Bags: Stand out with glossy designs that add an extra layer of sophistication.

Practical Tips for Using Plastic Christmas Gift Bags

Not sure how to make the most of these versatile bags? Here are a few clever tips and tricks to elevate your holiday packaging game.

1. Layer with Tissue Paper

Add a touch of elegance by lining your plastic bags with festive tissue paper. This gives a polished, layered look and adds a sense of mystery to the gift.

2. Label with Personalized Tags

Make your plastic gift bags feel more personal with customized gift tags. Add the recipient's name or a heartfelt message to make the packaging stand out.

3. Secure with Ribbons or Twine

Plastic bags might be low-fuss, but adding a visually appealing bow or festive twine can make all the difference. This quick addition ensures your gift looks professional and holiday-ready.

Where to Find the Best Plastic Christmas Gift Bags

When it comes to high-quality plastic Christmas gift bags, Infinite Pack offers a wide selection. From traditional seasonal motifs to trendy tote bags, you can find the perfect pack for your holiday needs.

Infinite Pack also offers customization options for business branding or personal touches. Whether you need a few stand-out bags or are looking to order in bulk, there’s something for everyone in their collection.

[soniaonia]

Gift Crafting for Beginners: Simple Ideas to Start Your Handmade Journey

Creating handmade gifts is a delightful way to express love, creativity, and care. Whether you’re crafting for a loved one or exploring a new hobby, gift crafting offers a meaningful way to connect with others. In this blog, we’ll explore simple ideas for beginners and provide practical insights into starting your handmade journey.

Getting Started: Essential Tools and Materials Every Beginner Needs

Before you get started with crafting, there is a need to gather the right tools and materials. Here's a checklist for beginners:

Basic Tools: Scissors, glue guns, cutting mats, and crafting knives.

Materials: Coloured paper, fabrics, beads, paints, and threads.

Specialized Supplies: Items like molds for candle making or kits for acrylic crafting can be sourced from Acrylic Crafts suppliers in India or other metal handicraft suppliers.

Organisers: Keep those supplies tidy in boxes or drawers to keep your process easier.

Good quality tools usually mean less hassle and hassle-free crafting with better yields, even if you just started crafting.

Top 5 Easy Handmade Gifts You Can Create in Just a Few Hours

For beginners, here are several gift ideas that can take just a few hours in the making:

Customized Greeting Cards: Decorate with paper, stamps, and markers to make unique cards. Get supplies from Greeting Cards suppliers in India to enhance your work.

Decorative Candles: Using a basic kit, you can create scented or colored candles. Partner with Candle Crafts suppliers for top-quality materials.

Painted Picture Frames: Take plain frames and transform them into personalized gifts using acrylic paints and embellishments.

Fabric Tote Bags: Sew or decorate tote bags with patches, embroidery, or fabric paint.

DIY Photo Albums: Assemble a memory-filled album using ribbons, stickers, and patterned paper.

Each of these gifts is thoughtful, customisable, and easy to make for beginners.

Mastering Simple Craft Techniques: Tips for Beginners

Start Small: Start with manageable projects that build your confidence.

Practice Basic Skills: Learn techniques like cutting, gluing, or stitching before moving to advanced crafts.

Learn Tutorials: There are so many online video and step-by-step guides to master new skills.

Try things: Mix colors and materials. Try things, experiment to come up with a personal style.

Personalized Gifts: A Special Touch through Crafting

Handmade gifts become unique due to the added personal touch. Here is how you do it:

Names and Initials: You can have the name or initials of the recipient with embroidery or stickers.

Favorite Color Scheme: The gift could be a personalization by using the favorite color scheme.

Themed Designs: Tailor the gift to match the recipient’s interests, such as floral patterns or sports motifs.

Where to Find Inspiration: Creative Ideas for Your First Handmade Gift

Finding inspiration is key to crafting memorable gifts. Explore these sources:

Online Platforms: Browse Pinterest and Instagram for trending ideas.

Craft Communities: Join local or online crafting groups for shared inspiration.

Cultural Crafts: Look to traditional designs from Craft suppliers to add a heritage-rich touch.

Emotional Connection: Why Handmade Gifts Matter

Handmade gifts carry emotional value which mass-produced items cannot come close to. They denote thoughtful, creative, and careful work, making these treasures treasured keepsakes by the recipients.

Conclusion

Crafting handmade gifts is beyond a hobby, a source to connect with the near ones, and showcase your creativity for making a contribution toward a more sustainable future. Now you can create beautiful and special, meaningful gifts by acquiring creative tools and ideas through well-established suppliers in India. Start your journey now, and you can also see the fun in doing so for yourself and for others.

FAQs

Q1: How do I find cheaper sources for my craft?

A: Look out for Local shops, Online retailers, Specialist Suppliers such as Greeting Cards suppliers in India and Candle Crafts suppliers, for quality inputs at the right price.

Q2: How can one improve on his or her crafting skills?

A: Practice, practice, follow online tutorials, and subscribe to crafting communities for help and criticism.

Q3: Is handmade a gift more environmentally friendly?

A: Handmade gifts frequently employ recycled or eco-friendly inputs. This impacts the environment less than industrially manufactured products.

Q4: What are some beginner-friendly crafts?

A: Start with greeting cards, candles, or simple sewing projects like tote bags or pillowcases.

Q5: Can I sell my handmade crafts?

A: Absolutely! Many crafters turn their hobbies into businesses by selling their creations online or at local markets.

About the Author

Name: Sonia Profession: Professional Blogger Expertise: Blogs on topics like travel, media, B2B, business, health and fitness, agriculture, and more.

Sonia is a passionate blogger with more than five years of experience in creating engaging and informative content. With a portfolio of over 3,000 blogs, she combines creativity and research to inspire her audience across various niches. Sonia's dedication to quality and storytelling ensures that her work leaves a lasting impact on readers. Whether written by hand or enhanced with AI tools, her blogs are written with care and excellence.

acrylic crafts suppliers in India https://www.globalb2bmart.com/wooden-handi-crafts-suppliers-religious-statue-suppliers metal handicraft suppliers.

[nantong9]

Luxury gift shopping paper bag

Can choose matt or glossy lamination and different surface treatments like UV, silver foil, gold stamping to stress some details and make your bag to be more luxury. and for the string,we will use high-quality ribbon or other material you need

Size: Custom

Material: White paper board

Usage: Packaging

MOQ:1000 pieces

Nantong Sd Printing Co., Ltd was established in 1996. It is a professional OEM Luxury gift shopping paper bag Suppliers and ODM Luxury gift shopping paper bag company in China, Nantong Sd Printing Co., Ltd has a construction area of 12,000 square meters and factory assets of more than 50 million US dollars. It has more than 100 automated equipment in areas such as artwork, plate making, printing, and post-processing.