#sure short term this seems great as a business strategy

[2baddiesfanfics]

Better Late Than Never

Pairing: Beidou x Ningguang

Tags: Office Sex, Desk Sex, Vaginal Fingering, Oral Sex, Nipple Play, Dildos, Vibrators, Dom Beidou (Genshin Impact), Dirty Talk

Summary:

Beidou is late for a very important meeting, and it’s not the first time. Ningguang is less than pleased, but the captain has a new kind of “treasure” to assuage her anger.

Read on Ao3

Beidou bounded up the steps of Yuyan Temple toward an inquisitive-looking Bu’yun. He’d seen her exasperated like this only once or twice before and had a hunch as to what had her this worked up.

“Excuse…me…do you sell…the moon here?” Beidou said as fast as she could between ragged breaths. She was trying desperately to speed past the formalities of passwords - there simply wasn’t enough time.

“Ah, I see we’re running late for the meeting today, Captain Beidou,” he chuckled dryly.

She threw her bag onto the floating platform and clamored on. Can’t this thing move any quicker!? Beidou thought as she felt it rise to the Jade Chamber. If it weren’t for stopping to help that old man get up the steps to Feiyun Slope I would have been on time, damn it! Ning’s gotta understand…right?

As soon as her boots hit the stone pavement, she sprinted through the entrance doors and down the stairs towards the Tianquan’s office. She halted for a moment to collect herself, steady her breathing, and dust herself off before rounding the corner into the room.

She was met with the wide-eyed stares of Yelan, Yanfei, a few merchants, and an empty chair that was painfully obviously hers. Lady Ningguang sat at the head desk in front of them all.

Beidou nodded at everyone as they silently watched her approach. Throwing her bag next to Ningguang’s desk, she slid into the empty chair beside Yelan.

“You’re late,” Yelan hissed quietly. Beidou spared her a glance, but nothing more. You don’t think I know that, ya brown-nosing bit-

“Captain Beidou. How nice of you to finally decide to join us,” Ningguang sarcastically muttered as she narrowed her eyes. “I’m impressed you’re only a half hour late this time.”

Beidou swallowed heavily. “My sincerest apologies, Lady Tianquan. Something quite urgent came up on my way here,” she politely responded.

Clearing her throat, Ningguang continued conversing with each person in the room. She went over the merchants’ reports concerning what they had or hadn’t sold that month and how business was currently pacing compared to the previous year.

Moving on to Yanfei, they discussed the terms and conditions of a recently acquired contract and planned next steps after taking note of edits and signature requirements. Ningguang always kept things short with Yelan, as the nature of her work was highly confidential and they could only talk so much in the presence of current company.

Finally, Ningguang’s piercing scarlet eyes met Beidou’s own. Judging by the subtleties in her facial expressions Beidou had come to know intimately, she had no doubt she was in for it. Great. There’s no way this is going to end well, legitimate excuses be damned.

“Captain Beidou. I regret to inform you your goods and services have been lacking as of late.” Beidou immediately snapped to attention. If there was one thing she knew about Ningguang, it was that she liked to passively aggressively communicate in ways only the two of them would catch on to. This was her way of getting her riled up. She might as well have just come out and said, “You’ve been less than satisfactory in bed.”

“Excuse me, Lady Tianquan. I think you’re sorely mistaken. My goods and services are perfectly fine,” she snarled back. “Funny…you didn’t seem to have an issue with them at our last strategy meeting.”

What the hell are you talking about? I make sure your needs are met and then some. Or at least that’s what it sounds like when you’re screaming my name at the top of your lungs.

“Odd. According to my calculations, you haven’t met your usual quota this month.” Beidou blinked back, dumbfounded. She knew Ningguang was signaling she was upset at the fact she hadn’t been back from sea to visit her for about a month.

Beidou jolted up and slammed her hands on the desk. The other attendees could have sworn they felt an electric charge in the air. “Of course I haven’t provided any services this month! I’ve been working my ass off in Inazuma bolstering import relations for us. That takes time. Gathering material and building trust with the merchants there doesn’t happen overnight, my lady. The order was only just lifted to allow outsiders in. It’s been insanely chaotic with the ports finally open again. What else would you have me do?”

This isn’t just for Liyue, Ning. I’m always thinking of you, and what I’ve brought back from this recent trip is proof if you’d just wait a fucking second before biting my head off!!

The other attendees were deathly silent as the two hotly debated over Beidou’s lack of “delivery.” The tension in the room grew, but while those in the room might have believed it to be rage, Beidou and Ningguang perceived it for what it truly was: sexual tension. It was taking every ounce of self-control she could muster for Beidou to not launch herself across the room and stick her tongue down Ningguang’s throat in front of some of the most powerful people in Liyue.

“I do not wish to hear your excuses, Captain Beidou. It seems we have much to discuss, and I, unlike you, value people’s time.” Beidou sank back down in her seat trying to contain her emotions. “Thank you for your time today. Everyone except Captain Beidou is dismissed. I’d hate to have her bore you all with talk of logistics and sea shanties,” Ningguang mocked.

No one needed to be told twice. As they took their leave, Ningguang’s assistants quickly removed the additional desk and chairs that had been set up for the meeting and shut the door behind them.

Once the coast was clear, Beidou rushed over to Ningguang, her lips smashing against hers as she backed her into the remaining desk.

“Fuck, Ning, I’m sorry, ok? I missed you too. I didn’t mean for it to take so damn long, honest. Please don’t be mad at me,” Beidou pouted as she rested her forehead on Ningguang’s.

The Tianquan caressed her cheek before pulling her in for a firm hug. Their lips crashed together once more with desperation and need as Beidou ran her hands up and down Ningguang’s sides.

Before they could get too carried away, Beidou pulled back and picked up her bag to reveal the souvenir she had acquired while on duty. “I wasn’t kidding when I said I’d provide goods and services,” she joked as she wiggled her eyebrows. “I grabbed something for us to try.” She opened the bag and pulled out a double-ended dildo with vibration capabilities.

“Beidou!” Ningguang swatted her shoulder. “You did not! What if one of my security guards had decided to check your bag?” Her shock didn’t stop her from inspecting the new toy.

“What? Don’t like it? I thought we could try a new ‘good’ and see if it enhances my ‘services’,” Beidou cheekily responded.

Ningguang looked at her coyly but was clearly eager. “You know what? Let’s give it a try.”

Pleased with her answer, Beidou grabbed Ningguang by the waist and hoisted her up onto the desk with an enthusiastic growl. As their tongues dueled, Beidou sent the neatly stacked scrolls, books, scale, and teapot clattering to the floor with a swipe of her arm.

Beidou’s tongue traveled down Ningguang’s neck as she leaned into her further to unhook the clasp holding her dress snug to her body. Ningguang pushed her back and helped her do the same. Now skin against skin, the two reveled in the feeling. As Beidou sought her lover’s lips once more, Ningguang placed her finger to her mouth and said, “Before we get to the main event, why don’t we have a little fun, hmm?”

Beidou smirked. A little fun? I’ll give you a little fun. Having known her for years, she didn’t even have to ask what she meant by this. Although Ningguang was a powerful woman who enjoyed being in control of a situation, when it came to sex all she wanted was for someone else to take the reins and prove she didn’t always have to be the strongest one in a room.

Beidou wrapped a firm arm around her waist and yanked her back off the desk. As soon as her feet touched the floor, she let out a yelp of surprise as Beidou spun her around ferociously so her back was flush against her chest. Ningguang gripped the edge of the desk for support knowing what was to come.

“Don’t think I didn’t know what you were insinuating earlier. You love sitting behind that desk and the thrill of knowing others will follow your orders without question, but I know what you really want,” Beidou snarled as she kicked Ningguang’s legs open wider, exposing her to the chill of the room. Beidou smirked as she felt her squirm underneath her.

“You want someone to challenge you. Just like a chess match, a game of wits is no fun against a weaker opponent,” she leaned forward and sunk her teeth into the base of where her neck met her shoulder.

“Gah! Beidou…please…”

“Look at you. What would the people who were at that meeting think if they saw you like this? Hmm? Maybe next time I should run the meeting instead while I make you service me under your desk, huh?”

Ningguang let out a moan so loud Beidou actually worried one of her assistants might come in to check on them.

“OH! You dirty little whore…you would get off on that,” she said as she twisted her hair around her fist. Ningguang could feel Beidou moving her other hand where she needed it most.

“Beidou…I swear to the archons if you don’t fuck me right now…”

Beidou yanked backward, eliciting a groan from the Tianquan. “Is that any way to talk to your captain? I’ll fuck you when I want, however hard I want.” Ningguang was already so wet that her middle finger glided into her entrance from behind with ease. As she added another finger, Ningguang tried to thrust back onto her.

“Ah! What did I just say? I’m in control here, babe. Stay still or I’ll stop.” Ningguang let out an exasperated sigh as she gripped the desk harder. “That’s a good girl. Now, let’s see how good you take these fingers for me.”

She resumed her movement, thrusting at a slow yet steady pace. “Now, if you come before I say you can, then you can forget about us using that toy together. I’ll fuck myself with it and make you watch.” Her fingers plunged deeper, faster.

“Beidou…I’m begging yo-ughhhhh fuckkkkk,” Ningguang’s pleading was interrupted by the sudden feeling of Beidou’s thumb sliding into her ass.

“I never get tired of hearing you beg for it. You’re lucky I’m merciful and not making you work harder for it. Fine. You can come.” As if on cue, Beidou felt Ningguang contract around her fingers and leaned forward to make sure she’d catch her if her knees gave out.

Ningguang took a moment to steady her breathing before pulling Beidou into a deep kiss. Pushing away from the table, she led her captain to the large chair that sat behind her desk. Between passionate kisses, Ningguang firmly placed both of her hands on Beidou’s bare chest and pushed her forcefully backward into the seat.

“Woah!” Beidou yelled at the unexpected move.

“What’s that vulgar saying I’ve heard come out of that disgusting pirate mouth of yours? Ah, yes. ‘Payback’s a bitch.’ Since you took your sweet time getting here today, I’m going to make you work for it a bit,” Ningguang hummed as she placed her foot on the arm of the chair.

“I told you...I…um…I…” Beidou couldn’t find the words she was searching for as she sat wide-eyed, face-to-face with Ningguang’s drenched entrance.

“Now, why don’t you be a good subordinate and clean me up with that quick-witted tongue of yours?” Her words lit a fire in her. Beidou leisurely kissed up her leg, nipping and sucking on the fleshy part of her inner thigh. As she lapped up the residual left from her handiwork, Ningguang moaned, sensitive from finishing once already.

Before she got too far, Ningguang grabbed Beidou by the back of her hair, pulling her away from her and against the chair. Moving in closer, she tasted her own sweet nectar on her lover’s lips. Her mouth made its way across her body and down to Beidou’s lap.

“You did say you wanted me to service you under this table earlier, did you not?” Ningguang coyly asked.

“It-it was a joke,” Beidou awkwardly chuckled.

Ningguang lowered herself to her knees, slowly opened Beidou’s legs, and pulled her closer to the chair’s edge. Holding onto Beidou’s thighs, Ningguang plunged forward, sliding her tongue across her folds.

“UGH! Ning!” Beidou shouted as her head sunk into the back of the chair.

Ningguang continued before sliding her tongue into her. Throwing her hands above her head, Beidou held onto the top of the chair as her hips began to buck with Ningguang’s movements. She continued her thrusts until Beidou shuttered around her, the delicacy that was her captain coating her tongue.

Rising to her feet, Beidou lifted Ningguang with her and latched onto her neck. She started with gentle kisses and transitioned to leaving faint marks across her pale skin in spots she knew would be covered by her usual attire. Hoisting Ningguang back onto the table, Beidou grabbed the new toy and settled between her legs.

She inserted one side into herself and shuttered as her body adjusted to the new sensation. Searching her lover’s face for any sign she wanted to stop, she asked, “Are you ready for this?” Ningguang didn’t need words. She leaned up and kissed her, giving her the answer she needed. Beidou eased the tip into her entrance, sliding deeper as the Tianquan’s body allowed.

“Ohhhhhh Beidouuuuu,” Ningguang moaned, her eyes rolling back in her head.

With a few test thrusts and approving moans from the woman underneath her, she slowly found her pace. Taking both of Ningguang’s hands in one of her own, she pinned them to the table above her head. Beidou leaned in, Ningguang’s moans muffled by her mouth taking hers. With her free hand, Beidou massaged one breast and flicked her tongue on the nipple of the other. Her thrusts came faster, more erratic. Having found their rhythm, Beidou switched on the vibration function.

“Ah!! Beidou!” Ningguang screamed in surprise at the new sensation.

“Sorry…should have…warned you,” Beidou responded between thrusts.

She turned her attention back to Ningguang’s breasts, sucking and pinching her nipples. With the feeling of the strong vibration and Beidou’s thrusting, it didn’t take long before Ningguang felt her build-up approaching quickly.

“Bei…close,” Ningguang gasped.

Beidou’s hips slammed into her, her moans adding to the sensation on Ningguang’s nipple still in her mouth. Ningguang’s back arched off the table, pressing the length of the toy further inside her.

“Come with me, Ning,” Beidou breathlessly moaned as she moved her hand to massage her clit.

Ningguang grabbed Beidou’s face, bringing it even with her own, and slid her tongue into her mouth. Trying to silence their pleasured moans as best as they could, the two cried out in unison as they reached their climax together.

Ningguang’s legs shook as her body arched into Beidou’s, and the larger woman collapsed on top of her utterly spent. The two women smiled at each other, the tension of the day now completely melted away until…

*click*

The captain and the Tianquan froze in horrified silence.

“Beidou! Did you forget to lock the fucking door!?” Ningguang whispered harshly.

“Son of a bitch! I was too caught up in the moment!” Beidou hissed back.

Yanfei’s gentle voice chimed through the room as she swiftly entered. “Lady Ningguang, I’m so sorry! I completely forgot I had a question on section three, article two…OH MY ARCHONS! I’M SO SORRY! I’LL COME BACK LATER! SORRY! SORRY! SORRY!”

[yakuzabrainrotlive]

Couldn't play Y4 today because I was studying and taking care of irl stuff, so I'll just write my Akiyama first impressions post now, as promised! I've played up to the first cutscene with "Lily".

This was supposed to be, like, a surface-level thing where I kinda guess stuff and do some basic observations, but according to Microsoft Word I got... around 1200+ words deep. So yeah. Good for you guys who like to read my rablings that I didn't take my meds today! But also... this IS my unmedicated self's ramblings, written at 10-11pm so... (attempt to) read at your own peril!

For those of you who want the short version, TL;DR is provided (and highly recommended) at the bottom!

So, Akiyama! What a guy.

-He's low-energy and has trouble taking care of himself, his work and his surroundings (laid-back or depressed? maybe it's a little bit of both - as a treat. Maybe executive dysfunction?). This is clear in how messy his office is, how Hana reminds him to eat and brought him lunch (implying he regularly forgets to, or just doesn't eat), and how it seems to be a common occurence that she has to encourage him to do his work. And yet, despite the chill vibes and slow pace he keeps, he manages to also be chaotic in the way that he's unpredictable to those around him, in terms of his business strategy, and in how he makes quick decisions on the spot – ones that don’t make sense to people around him, based on what they (think) they know about him.

-In front of most people, Akiyama pretends to be all laid-back and just this… guy who just does his own thing because he’s quirky and doesn’t care, but he's not fooling me at all; he cares, and he cares a lot. About many people. He's literally looking after the homeless in town - so much so that they feel safe enough to let him into their space to have a chat and drink with them, and ask him for things.

^This is probably no small feat, considering how the homeless are treated in Kamurocho (there's literally groups who hunt them for shits and giggles) and how uncertain things are for them in general in that area. They seemed genuinely happy to see Akiyama.

-Now, an argument could be made that he's doing it for his own benefit: having the homeless population on your side can be an advantage (for example: the Florist used them for discreet info gathering), but... I don't see it. I think it’s because he’s been there and he feels a great amount of empathy for them. Now. Why do I think he wants to have a mask of indifference in the first place? Well, to put it simply - shit’s dangerous. He has enemies in the money lending industry, which probably includes numerous Yakuza groups too. Can’t be caught caring, y’know. Both for his sake, and theirs.

-And so. We get to the neon yellow elephant in the room that has to be addressed; the way he handles his loans. I think Akiyama only takes on clients who he sees as either A: having the potential to make it big - the ones he can later maybe benefit from, or who he simply sees as benefitting from his loans the most, or B: - heavily speculating here - good? (decent?) people who are down on their luck. Ones who, he thinks, deserve a second chance, people who don't have anyone else to ask for help. If he was in the business for money and other benefits alone, he’d be charging interest out the ass like all the others, but he doesn’t. He merely tests people to make sure they don’t grab the money and leave the country, or waste it and never pay him back. He wants to see these people succeed – at least the ones he thinks will use the money to get back on their feet or to become successful, that is. People who could be more, who could FLOURISH, had they some extra help from outside. The tests including stuff like volunteering and caring for the elderly further point to a possible more altruistic side to his business.

He can't just go giving money out - he'd go out of business very fast. So he lends, with no interest. Just a test of trustworthiness, and terms that he finds will give him some benefit back, as well. He is running a business here, so him wanting to get something back from the customers instead of them paying interest is fair. Terms will also motivate the lendees keep themselves on the right track AND probably ward off the worst of the bunch, the ones looking for the easiest, quickest money they can get.

-People genuinely think Akiyama is weird - crazy, even - because of how he runs his business, and he seems totally fine with that. Which further makes me believe he’s purposefully built up this a mask of an uncaring and sort of ...unhinged man. He could explain himself and openly state the goals he has for the clients to dispel this negative, 'crazy person' image people have of him. But... that’d just be suicide; he’d openly admit to competitors/enemies that he has people he cares about and that he wants to see his lendees succeed. That’d be like ASKING for extortion and for terrible things to happen to the people who have visited his business in the past or who will do so in the future.

-He's good at keeping his cards close to his chest, too: in one cutscene people wonder why lendees don't ever lend from him twice. And what's the answer to the question that we hear? Something to the effect of "I don't know. They probably wanna avoid interacting with that nutjob ever again". People have NO idea why he does things the way he does. They know he lends money to people he sees as having potential to succeed in the future, but they don't even consider the possibility that some lendees he's simply helping get back on their feet.

-As for his goals? No clue! Besides keeping the business running, I don’t feel like I have enough information on him to parse any long-term goals out of this guy. Maybe keeping Kamurocho as chill as it can be? To prevent unnecessary bloodshed? He did go out out of his way to settle the dispute between the… the uhh… *has to google the name* the Kanemura peeps and Ueno to prevent escalation of the situation? But then again, Arai seems to have been a long-time friend, so maybe it was just to make things easier for him? As of now, he doesn’t feel particularly ambitious.

As for speculation on his background? Since my facial memory (even for fictional characters) is total garbage, I’m not 100 % sure, but I think maybe he was in the photograph that was in his drawer? He seemed quite well-off in that one. So how does he end up homeless? I feel like he either joined the yakuza and the family he joined disbanded, leaving him with nothing. OR he suffered a career- or family-related setback that landed him on the streets? Him being ex-yakuza would make sense since he seems to be quite informed on all the relevant lore and relations between families. But he also DOES work quite close to the... darker side of things with his business being what it is. But... he also fights very well. We’ll see! Maybe they explained it aready? If they did, am sorry! I was playing the game too late into the night so I was kinda eepy towards the end. Gonna re-watch the cutscenes from late chapter 1 and early chapter 2 when I keep playing.

Now, any relation to characters from previous games I wanna speculate on? I don’t see any real reason to think he knows Kiryu; he only referred to him with his DoD moniker and didn’t seem too interested or thoughtful about it. It was just him referring to a famous person. Majima? Don’t see it either. Anyone else? I don’t really have any reason to think he knows anyone from the past games as of now.

TL;DR:

According to my, at-times very faulty, sensors that are prone to overcooking:

Akiyama is a kind person trying to give others the second chance they deserve (as he himself got), while also trying to disguise himself as a chronic IDGAFer at the same time because he has enemies. He's a kind man living in a world that tears people like him apart.

Mans is probably depressed or at least suffers from executive dysfunction or like... low blood iron levels, based on how low-energy he is and how little he seems to look after himself and his office, and how he seems to have a tendency to… go at his own pace at work. Hana keeps (or at least tries to keep) him functional - or that’s what it seems like, at least.

He probably offers loans based on if he thinks lendees will get back on their feet, or if the loan will make them flourish business-wise.

Ended up homeless, maybe because he was ex-yakuza or because of a setback in a civilian career or family life.

Can’t say how he ties to characters from previous games, or if he even does at all. Besides Nishiki unknowingly acting as form of divine monetary intervention, that is.

[prateekshawebdesign]

Master Web Design- 11 Simple Steps to Creating a Stunning Website

Mastering the art of web design can seem like a daunting task, but with the right guidance, anyone can create a visually stunning and highly functional website. Whether you're a budding designer or just someone who wants to create an online presence, our comprehensive guide, "Master Web Design: 11 Simple Steps to Creating a Stunning Website," is here to help.

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In this web design tutorial, we break down complex concepts into manageable steps, ensuring that even beginners can follow along. The 11 simple steps to creating a stunning website cover everything from choosing the right color palette to optimizing your site for mobile devices. Whether you're aiming for a professional website design or something more personal, our website creation guide offers insights and best practices for achieving your goals.

By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have all the tools you need to master web design and create a site that not only looks great but also performs exceptionally well. Get ready to dive into the world of stunning website design and discover how easy and rewarding web design can be with the right techniques and strategies.# Master Web Design: 11 Simple Steps to Creating a Stunning Website

Creating a stunning website involves more than just picking a good-looking template and throwing some content on it. If you want to master web design, you'll need a clear path from start to finish. With the right strategies and techniques, you can build a site that not only looks incredible but also offers a seamless user experience.

In this comprehensive guide, I'll walk you through 11 simple steps to creating a stunning website. Whether you're a newbie or have some experience, these web design tips will help you achieve a professional, effective, and easy-to-navigate website.

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Establishing clear, measurable goals is crucial. Whether you're aiming to increase brand awareness, generate leads, or sell products, your website's design should align with these objectives. Make sure to focus on both short-term and long-term goals. This will make it easier to track your progress and make necessary adjustments.

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Involving all stakeholders from the get-go ensures everyone is on the same page. This includes understanding user needs, business objectives, and having measurable goals to evaluate success. A collaborative approach will help you create a website that meets everyone's expectations.

https://via.placeholder.com/800x400

2. Scope of the Web Development Process

The next step is to define the scope of your web development process. This step helps you outline what's expected from the project, ensuring that nothing is overlooked.

Detailed Planning

Scope covers everything from design elements, UI components, content requirements, to platform compatibility. By setting clear expectations, you can avoid potential conflicts or issues during development. This step is particularly crucial for complex websites, as it helps in resource allocation, timeline management, and budgeting.

Avoiding Mistakes

A well-defined scope prevents expensive mistakes due to unclear expectations or bad planning. It ensures all parties understand what is required, setting the project up for success.

3. Research

Research is a vital part of the web design guide. It involves gathering information about your target audience, analyzing competitors, and studying current market trends.

User Surveys and Stakeholder Interviews

User surveys and stakeholder interviews provide valuable insights into user behavior and preferences. This data helps in developing a strategic plan for your website.

Competitor Analysis

By analyzing competitors, you can identify features and designs that work well and incorporate them into your website. Market trend analysis keeps you updated on industry developments, allowing you to create a unique and outstanding site.

4. Branding & Visuals

Branding and visuals play a crucial role in creating a cohesive and recognizable image for your website.

Visual Identity

Work with businesses to develop an identity that aligns with their goals. This includes designing logos, choosing color palettes, selecting typography, and incorporating imagery.

Read More

[buffalopestcontrol8]

The Benefits of Hiring a Professional Buffalo Exterminator

Whether you're a homeowner or a company owner in Buffalo, New York, dealing with pest infestations may be a difficult and even stressful process. While doing your own pest control may seem like a cheaper option, there are several good reasons to hire a Buffalo Exterminator. This article will examine the many advantages of working with knowledgeable pest Control Company in Buffalo, NY, such as those who specialize in pest management.

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[digitalmota]

What Will Marketing for Weed Stores Look Like in 2023?

Going into the new year, the marijuana business in California appears poised to continue booming. With more and more dispensaries popping up every day, you can expect marketing for weed stores to become increasingly competitive. If you own or operate your own dispensary or cannabis business, you are going to want to do whatever you can to stay ahead of the competition. The marijuana industry is certainly in the throes of a “wild west” era, and with so much money to be made, it is no wonder that many new entrepreneurs are taking their shot at launching a successful enterprise. So, how can you stay ahead of the latest trends? Read on to learn more about what you can expect in terms of marketing in the cannabis industry going into 2023. Marketing for Weed Stores: Live Streaming and Short-Form Video Content The cannabis business remains something of a niche industry (even as revenues continue to climb). In that sense, how to successfully market a weed business is still being figured out by digital marketing professionals. One trend that is worth keeping an eye on, though, is the rapid rise of live streaming and short-form video. The video has shown time and again to be a reliable source of lead generation and conversion, and the simple truth is that people are consuming video content on Facebook and Instagram at a high rate. Live streaming also represents a new and intriguing frontier, as platforms like Twitch boast huge audiences. It is definitely worth considering creating streaming and short-form video content about your latest products or industry developments. Putting Customers First is Still Important Ten years ago, the thought of there being a weed store on every corner was basically unimaginable. Now, however, as laws have loosened significantly, it seems like everyone is getting in the cannabis game. With the competition getting serious, you need to do whatever you can to keep repeat customers coming through your doors. Though it sounds somewhat simplistic, it is still crucial to put customer service on a pedestal. This not only means providing affordable prices for great products but creating a user-friendly web experience as well. By making sure that your website is optimized for mobile devices, and your social channels are producing thoughtful, engaging content, you can put your customers at ease. You should definitely expect a larger digital footprint for cannabis marketing in 2023. Digital Mota Can Help Your Brand Soar to New Heights Running a business is a lot of work, and taking on the role of chief marketer can spread you a bit thin. Why not work with the cannabis marketing professionals at Digital Mota instead? We have affordable digital marketing packages for all budgets, and we can assist with an SEO strategy, web page design, and social media marketing. To schedule an initial consultation to learn more about our services, call us today, or send us an email.

[shreetripada]

How to Improve Your Marketing Style with Bulk SMS Service

It takes a lot of skill to engage with clients. Should you and your business, for instance, connect on social media, send emails or SMS messages, or use traditional mail to communicate?

There are various strategies, each with benefits and drawbacks. Yet one approach consistently seems to work the best, whether it be for little businesses, established organizations, or anything in between when it comes to bulk SMS marketing using the SMS short code.

Why Bulk SMS Service?

Sending your customers a large number of SMS messages is easy and affordable. Bulk SMS marketing provides you the best chance of getting your message read because the majority of people carry their phones with them throughout the day. The messages and special offers may easily captivate consumers, even if they only see the message to turn off the buzzer and blinking incoming message indication. Text messages are also the ideal option for boosting customer engagement because they are renowned for consistently delivering time-sensitive notifications.

Optimize your Marketing Style with Bulk SMS Services

Here are some pointers for using a bulk SMS service to improve your marketing approach. –

Create a contact list

List all of your former, present, and devoted clients. Sign-up campaigns are a great way to start a conversation with potential customers and discover their preferences. Consider every piece of knowledge you have about your clients. Identify the objectives you have for each of these categories. While keeping an eye on the performance indicators for your campaign, keep making adjustments to your contact list. Remove unused phone numbers often. Be sure to adhere to all guidelines when building your contact list.

Build value for your customers

Your SMS campaigns will be far more effective if they provide value to your customers. Consumers will quickly unsubscribe from your mailing list if they get an SMS message that is unrelated to them. Avoid wasting your customers' time. Sending customers who aren't interested in competitions, freebies, or discounts texts with call-to-action words via your bulk SMS service is meaningless. Instead, think about how you can give the customer more control by making your advertising less invasive.

Create customized messages

You should do all in your power to make your messages as individualised as possible if you want to successfully capture your audience's attention. A word that refers to a customer by name, for instance, is much more enticing than one that uses the terms "client" or "consumer."

Until recently, communicating with friends, family, and coworkers required sending messages. This attitude may be maintained by using the client's name and personalizing your letter as much as you can, giving the impression that it originated from a friend or acquaintance. Next, thoroughly divide up your customer base depending on their demographics and past purchasing patterns. Finally, in order to maximize conversion, develop customized, focused messaging for each group.

Stick to the point

SMS messages are limited to 160 characters in length. You must be as succinct, incisive, and straightforward as you can while conveying your ideas effectively due to the character constraint. When remaining on topic, avoid being excessively directive.

For a quick conversion, you must make your message quickly. Avoid using too many capital letters, emoticons, and abbreviations. It must be easy to read and understand the message. It's perfect for maintaining a casual, conversational tone throughout your message.

Calculate the timing

If you convey your message at the correct time, it will have a greater impact. It is not considered spam when a client receives a communication at the right time. It's not a good idea to send a message too early or too late in the day.

Moreover, pay attention to how often you send messages. You run the risk of alienating your customers and having them unsubscribe from your email list if you send too many notifications. On the other side, if you send messages seldom, the client may forget about your company and the reason they first opted to receive alerts.

Use CTA statements

With a specific goal in mind, send an SMS. When your customer receives your message, think about the action you want them to do. Uncertainty and confusion can result from open-ended remarks. CTAs incentivize customers to act by instilling a feeling of urgency in them. If deals, discounts, and promotional codes are only valid for a limited time, customers are more likely to take action.

With mobile technology, bulk SMS marketing allows you to communicate with a large number of clients. With the help of Shreetripada's bulk SMS marketing services, your company may reach out to thousands of potential clients globally with unique offers and reduced prices. Also, you may construct the message you want to send to your clients and deliver it in a way you know they will notice! So get in touch with one of the top service providers right now if you want to enhance your marketing strategy with the bulk SMS service!

Why Choose us?

Shree Tripada is India's one of the most trusted Bulk SMS Service Provider for national and international Bulk SMS requisites.

[loansearch]

7 Ways to Reimagine Your Financial Future

Are you looking to reclaim control of your finances and create a better future for yourself? If so, then you’re in the right place! In this article, we are going to show you how to take charge of your financial future and start creating a secure, prosperous life for yourself. We will discuss how to set achievable financial goals and develop a plan that works for you. We'll also examine different strategies that can help you stay motivated and on track.

Step 1: Set Financial Goals

Are you looking to reimagine your financial future? It's an important process because it can have a profound impact on the way you manage and save money. Setting goals is the first step in this journey. You should start by determining what kind of financial goals are important for you to achieve. Ask yourself whether these goals are short-term, mid-term, or long-term in nature. Do they include saving up for a downpayment on a house, maxing out your retirement contributions, or building an emergency fund? Once you've identified and prioritized these goals, create a timeline with accompanying milestones and action steps to help keep yourself accountable. Through determining what you hope to accomplish financially, you will be providing structure and direction towards achieving your ambitions.

Step 2: Create a Budget

Creating a budget is an essential step to achieving financial freedom. It allows you to assess your current financial status and make adjustments in order to reach your long-term goals. Taking the time to create a budget may seem daunting, but it can be done in just a few simple steps.

First, it’s important to identify all of your income sources. Make sure that you account for every paycheck, bonus, side job or any other source of income coming into your household. Once you have identified all incoming funds, it’s time to list out all of your expenses. This should include fixed costs like rent and utilities as well as discretionary spending such as groceries and entertainment. Subtracting total expenses from total income will give you an estimate of how much money is left over each month for savings or investments.

Step 3: Make Smart Investments

Investing is an important step in rethinking your financial future. But it can be difficult to determine where to put your money, and how much of a risk you should take. To ensure success, it’s essential to make smart investments to achieve the goals set out in Step 1: Set Financial Goals.

The best way to approach investing is by diversifying portfolios, so that losses in one area are offset by gains elsewhere. Before making any decisions, consult with a trusted financial adviser who can provide expert guidance on the most suitable options for you and your situation. They’ll be able to evaluate different stocks, mutual funds and other investments based on their potential returns and levels of risk associated with them. Additionally, they’ll be able to explain taxation implications as well as how various investment vehicles fit into estate plans or retirement strategies.

Step 4: Find Additional Income Streams

In Step 4 of the journey to reimagine your financial future, it’s time to focus on finding additional income streams. There are a variety of creative ways to generate extra money that can help you boost savings and pay down debt. Here are some strategies to consider:

One option is to start freelancing or consulting in an area related to your current career. This could include providing virtual services such as graphic design, web design, copywriting or tutoring. You may also want to look into becoming an independent contractor for a variety of businesses or teaching classes online in subjects you know about. Additionally, there are opportunities for renting out property like parking spaces, storage units and more through online marketplaces.

Ultimately, finding additional income streams can be a great way to build up savings and increase financial security.

Step 5: Automate Savings & Payments

As you work your way through the steps to reimagine your financial future, Step 5 is all about automating savings and payments. Automation can help improve your financial wellness by taking a lot of the burden off of you. By automating savings and payments, you’re able to create a budget ahead of time that puts money aside for bills and other needs while also helping you save each month. It also eliminates some of the stress associated with worrying if bills have been paid on time or if enough has been saved for upcoming expenses.

Using automatic transfers between accounts can be a great tool to ensure that funds are available when needed without having to worry about moving them manually each month. Additionally, it helps prevent impulse purchases as the money is already allocated and not just sitting in an accessible account where it may be spent frivolously before bills are covered.

Step 6: Prioritize Debt Repayment

Prioritizing debt repayment is the sixth step of a 7-step process to reimagine your financial future. It can be difficult to think about how to best manage and plan for your debts, especially when it feels like the amount you owe will never go away. However, prioritizing debt repayment is a key step in creating a secure financial future for yourself.

Debt repayment should be approached methodically: start by listing all of your outstanding debt from smallest to largest, regardless of interest rates or types of accounts. Once you have listed them out, focus on paying off the smallest balance first while still making minimum payments on the other accounts. This will help you gain momentum and create more motivation as each account gets paid off and builds upon itself until all debts have been repaid in full.

Step 7: Refine Your Plan as Needed

The seventh and final step in reimagining your financial future is to refine your plan as needed. Making adjustments to your plan is essential for achieving long-term success, as it allows you to stay organized and focused on the goals you’ve set for yourself. It also helps ensure that unexpected changes or circumstances don’t throw you off course. To refine your plan, it’s important to review it periodically, making necessary tweaks and updates based on changing financial conditions or any new insight you may have gained since last revisiting the plan.

It can be helpful to create an actionable list of tasks related to each goal in order to track progress over time. This will help keep you motivated as well as accountable for following through with the steps required in order for your financial future dreams to become a reality.

Take Control of Your Finances

In conclusion,it is possible to reimagine your financial future. Taking on a new perspective, evaluating financial goals and creating achievable budgeting plans are essential steps towards achieving financial security. It is important to remain mindful of our spending habits and strive for financial freedom. With the right attitude and dedication, anyone can take control of their finances and secure a better future. Now is the time to begin this journey and create a plan that will set you up for success!

[miguelsims]

Could Your Business Pass the 'Octogenarian Australian Brownish Port' Test?

I'm somewhat over the fourteen day blemish on my movements and I lament to report that I have 'broken' my co-plotter... (obviously, not in a not so great kind of way, 'it simply appears he can't stay aware of the easygoing errand of tasting several containers of wine every day and has needed to have a 'little rest'...in this case for the last 36 hours...)

I had gullibly expected that as an expert sommelier, he would be capable of modestly examining a couple of wines ordinary yet, tragically, he's not ended up being very basically as 'powerful' as I naturally suspected...

Furthermore, Timespure power is surely something local people seem to have in container loads (maybe upgraded by having standard altercations with the 'eight legged organization' that appear to be in overflow around here)...

Just yesterday I was at a neighborhood winery shop, (scrutinizing the pleasures on offer) when an unmistakably octogenarian couple meandered in...They were clearly regulars as the man behind the counter enquired "The usual?...10 liters?" and disregarded a compartment (like a petroleum can a lot bigger) of Australian Brownish Port...

What's more, it unfolds this was not really for use at a party, or for loading a drinking opening for local people, however was as a matter of fact for 'a little while of individual utilization!' and the main explanation it was provided in the 'petroleum can' type compartment was so it very well may be filled wooden barrels at home and finished off up a piece with Liquor...

Subsequent to seeing this it left me thinking...the term 'powerful' to one individual might mean something else entirely to another. My co-schemer (as of now working off his over-extravagances) thought I was strong, so what might he think about the 'brownish port Aussie octogenarians'...?!

For example, in the event that you sent off another mission and it took off, you could end up two times as occupied, multiple times, multiple times, multiple times. Might you at some point adapt? Might you at any point satisfy every one of your orders inside the concurred conveyance timescale? Might you at some point keep things in stock? Might you at some point offer help to these customers...? Or on the other hand, could you be compromising something en route and putting your deals (and potentially your standing) in jeopardy...?

In short would it have similar effect on your business as 10 liters of Brownish Port would have on my constitution... more used to two or three glasses of wine a day...?

All things considered, additional deals are precisely exact thing a business needs to flourish and develop, yet I've addressed individuals who are unfortunate of 'too much' deals coming in without a moment's delay... what's more, being badly ready and hurried...

Yet, there is a strategy for getting around this, by working in the assumption for development in to each component of your business anyway little, or new (or presently non-existent!) your business is right now.

For example, might you at any point fulfill some of your day to day email requests by having a FAQ page on your site, or via robotizing components of your business with the goal that every conveyance (whether carefully or truly) isn't so dependent on your own intervention...? Might you at some point focus on higher benefit lower volume drives? Might you out source parts of what you at any point do?

Assuming you use programming or 'devices' to help you right now, are there some 'unseen' angles that are accessible to you that you're not presently using?

Not exclusively will changes like this make your business undeniably more productive on an everyday premise, except guarantees your business is undeniably more 'vigorous' at whatever point you're confronted with changes, permitting you to just move forward a stuff quickly to fulfill need.

[saybees]

Y'know, something that I think isn't talked about enough is landlords discriminating against people for their age. Unfortunately they ARE allowed to do this because there are apartment buildings that are like seniors only 55+ type things, BUT a lot of landlords won't rent to young people simply because they're young. When my ex and I moved to the west coast we had a VERY hard time finding new places to live all the time. People wouldn't rent to us because we were barely 20. We had steady jobs that made enough to cover at least rent every month, but we had never rented before so we had no references and we were overlooked for SO many places. I couldn't even tell you how many places we applied for.

Like generally landlords are shit. They aren't allowed to discriminate against people for a lot of things, but there are also a lot of things they CAN discriminate against people for and they will do all of the things. Why? Because they can??? Is it a power thing?

And the thing that doesn't make sense to me is that a lot of landlords would rather leave a place empty rather than rent to the young couple with a dog that work at a grocery store. If they leave the place empty they are paying for the utilities and the taxes with no income from that property, but if they throw in tenants that are just less than their unicorn rainbow sparkle ideal they are instead making revenue. From a business standpoint it makes absolutely zero sense for a landlord to choose to leave their property empty instead of renting it out to someone less "desirable" to them.

Oh

I just got it. It clicked. They're doing it on purpose to drive prices up. Demand is higher and supply is lower so the price spikes. Dirty bastards.

Eat the rich.

[soyouthinkucanwrite]

The money thing (part 1/2) - Daniel Ricciardo

It's always the little things, isn't it? The smallest stupidest things make almost no difference and then make all the difference in the world. They make everything special, but they also have the power to tear everything appart.

You and Daniel fight about money for the thousand time and he's had enough of it.

Warnings: super angst, but with a happy ending :)

Guys, this turned out WAY BIGGER than I expected, so I'm just gonna do a part 2, okay? Okay, thanks for understanding!

Song that inspired me: A list by HVOB

You and Daniel had been dating for a couple months now, having met through a common friend and hitting off almost instantly. You lived in Amsterdam and he, well he lived all over the world really, but his "time off" (meaning not racing) was spent between Monaco and London (for work), and Amsterdam now too, of course.

The changes were small and subtle at the beginning, like your weekends being spent traveling to meet him wherever in the world he was and consequently spending almost all your savings on plane tickets. You never complained to him (you planned on spending the money traveling anyway, so you didn't see the point), but didn't accept when he offered to buy your tickets, either. There's been some awkwardness around the subject but it usually died on its own.

*beginning of flashback*

"You’d have gotten here in time if you'd gotten the early flight like I told you" you remembered him saying that time you got in the paddock after the qualifying session had begun and couldn’t kiss him good luck.

"Baby, I told you. It was crazy expensive! Absurd even!"

"(y/n) for god's sake! What are we saving money for? I told you, you have my credit card number, I've offered to get you one, this is ridiculous, I can't believe I literally earn millions and my girlfriend wasn't there with me because the ticket was too expensive! I'll fucking fly you private if I have to!" he was almost yelling in his driver's room. You could only stare from the corner.

He took a deep breath running his hands through his hair. "Sorry. It's just... it was crap out there. I needed you" you grimaced at his words.

"Sorry. I really am..." you tried to approach him. "I'm here now?" you touched his arm. "It can't have been that bad, you're still on the top 10 and we both know what you can do from the 8th car..." you smiled at him.

*end of flashback*

He started to spend much more of his time off with you at your place, so you decided to get a place by yourself (having a roommate was great for company and splitting the rent, but having a roommate there while you guys just wanted some much-needed privacy was not working). Then there were more traveling to meet him, furniture for the new place, clothing for all the events (GPs or not), uber rides here and there... all of that without mentioning that you weren't being able to get the freelance jobs you used to get to make some extra money, so yeah, to say things were tight was an understatement. You tried to do all your shopping alone, so he wouldn't offer and you wouldn't refuse or be awkward about it, but Daniel seem to be glued to you whenever you were in the same city (not that you’re complaining).

He started to spend much more of his time off with you at your place, so you decided to get a place by yourself (having a roommate was great for company and splitting the rent, but having a roommate there while you guys just wanted some much-needed privacy was not working). Then there were more traveling to meet him, furniture for the new place, clothing for all the events (GPs or not), uber rides here and there... all of that without mentioning that you weren't being able to get the freelance jobs you used to get to make some extra money, so yeah, to say things were tight was an understatement. You tried to do all your shopping alone, so he wouldn't offer and you wouldn't refuse or be awkward about it, but Daniel seem to be glued to you whenever you were in the same city (not that you’re complaining).

The thing is, you always had trouble dealing with money. Sure, you liked to pay for your own stuff so as to not owe anything to anyone (especially boys), but it was so much deeper than that. Ever since a kid, you hated asking for money from your parents, and sometimes even the thought of buying stuff that was a bit more expensive made you sick. You couldn't explain why, you just felt guilty having so much and knowing that most people have never even seen that amount. It's not that you didn't want to spend it and save for the sake of it, you just didn't handle the idea of money very well. Needless to say, dating a millionnaire was bound to cause trouble in the relationship for you.

You were currently at his place in Monaco. It was the summer break and you had decided to spend some days just chilling at home, just the two of you - which you were glad since going out means hair, makeup, clothes, accessories, shoes... and, let's be honest, the kind of places he usually took you is not the kind of places you just throw something together last minute (the Instagram models and other driver's girlfriends looking you up and down were enough to make you think about spending money you did not have to hire a stylist or something like that). The whole situation was really stressing you out and you knew you would have to be honest with him eventually, instead of only dodging the subject and refusing most of his offers to pay. You tried to. You kind of tried. You suggested staying at home, in bed, most of the time, and he gladly agreed, but that strategy wasn't gonna work forever. You had to be honest with him. But at the same time, you knew what he was going to say and do, and the thought of him spending money on you, even if just by handling the restaurant bill, wasn't something you were much more comfortable with. Besides, it was only a matter of time before the "gold-digger" term starts to fly around in the small world that was the F1's.

You were laying on his couch, the Olympics playing on the TV but you were too busy overthinking the money thing to pay attention. Daniel was laying with his head on your lap, absently caressing your thigh and watching the TV. His phone went off and he moved to pick it up.

"Hello?" you watched as he answered the phone. "Hey mate, how's it going? Uh nothing, we're just chilling at home. Getting some rest... Yeah, I'm getting rested, you dirty-minded son of a bitch" you rolled your eyes while he laughed out loud on the line with someone. "Yeah, I know... the 19th is it? No, it's fine. Yeah, yeah. I'll be there. Alright, mate. Thanks for calling. Have a good one! Bye!" he hanged up and leaned in to peck you on the lips.

"Good news?" you asked him.

"Not really. Just wanted to kiss you" he shrugged, smiling. You smiled back and hugged him, pulling him in for another kiss. He was always so caring with you, always finding an excuse to kiss or touch you. You knew some people didn't like it, but you loved it. Physical touch was definitely one of your love languages.

"What's happening on the 19th then?" you asked him once you guys set apart from the kiss.

"Gotta be in London. Gonna run some testings and other boring race stuff..."

"Hum..." you hummed in understanding.

"You know what would make it less boring though?" he asked and you just looked at him, you already knew what he was going to ask you and it wasn't that you didn't want to spend every minute of the day with him, but you simply couldn't afford any more traveling, especially not in such short notice. "If you came with me. Huh? What do you say? A week in the Queen's land? Then we can fly together to Spa and after the race, I can go with you to Amsterdam. The next one it's the Dutch GP anyway, I'll just get there sooner" he laughed. It was crushing you, the man of your dreams was literally beaming at making plans with you, talking about spending the next few weeks glued together and you couldn't say yes.

"Dan, I have to work" you smiled sadly.

"Can't you work from distance? Or, I don't know, I mean... I know it's tiring, but you could come to London and fly home a bit early, then just meet me in Belgium?" great, his solution includes even more flying. And the thing is, you really didn't mind the flying. You always slept during the whole thing anyway, so you never got tired and the jetlag was minimal. You could work from distance, sure. Your boss wouldn't mind, as long as you got there eventually to check in on everything. But the whole logistics were just too expensive. There was no way you could afford it.

"I... sorry, I don't think I can" you said sadly and watched as his face dropped.

"That's fine, baby. I get it. I'm asking too much, all this traveling... don't worry about it" he tried to mask his emotions but you knew better. He knew you could in fact work from distance, so he was probably thinking the reason you couldn't do it was because you didn't want to.

He got up from the couch and walked into the kitchen. Meanwhile, you couldn't help but bury your face in your palms. This was so frustrating!

"You wanna go for a run or something? Maybe get something to eat?" he called from the kitchen, already moving on from the subject. You knew this whole thing was only gonna keep build up till he got tired of your excuses or you blowing up, probably the former, but you just keep going.

"Yeah, sure" you answered, getting up from the couch.

You and Daniel were both very active so going for a run, hiking, riding bikes, or whatever in the middle of the day was really routine for you. The Monaco summer weather was as beautiful as always and the sun was shining bright. You enjoyed the rest of your afternoon racing each other, kissing in the harbor, and just taking in the views, spending quality time together. Money wasn't even a thing in your bubble for a while.

"I'm getting hungry" he said on the way back home.

"Me too, and I'm super hot. I could go for a juice or something right now" you were all sweaty from the running, but you didn't care, he was too.

"You're always hot baby, I don't think juice gonna help with that" he grinned at you and you just rolled your eyes at him.

You passed by one of his favorite spots for food, nearby his place and he suggested getting some take-out, to which you agreed.

"Green juice, and a chicken wrap?" you tried to decide while the both of you waited in line.

"I'll never understand how you drink that"

"I've seen you drink that too, it's actually very refreshing"

"Because I'm forced to, I'm a high-performance athlete baby. But I'm on a break, so I'll have a coke, thank you very much" you laughed at him. He was holding your hand and tried to kiss you, wrapping his arm around you, you didn't dodge his kiss, you would never, but still laughed at the fact he wanted to kiss the sweaty mess you were right now.

"I'm gross, only you" you laughed.

"That's my baby, with no makeup she a ten" he rapped shrugging and grinning.

"Alright Lil Wayne, I know that one, don't even finish the verse" you laughed at him, making him laugh out loud, getting everyone's in the restaurant's attention.

"It's true, though"

"Sure..." You just shook your head smiling. Then you heard someone call his name.

"Hey! Daniel!" you both turned around to see Charles and Charlotte sitting in a corner, him waving at you two. You had met Charles a couple of times before but never spoke too much to him. They seemed to be leaving anyway, so they walked towards you guys, instead of towards the door.

"Hey mate, how's it going?" Daniel greeted him with a handshake. "Hey, Charlotte! You know (y/n) yet?"

"Hi! I don't think so, hi! How are you?" she greeted you smiling.

"Hi! Nice to meet you. Hi, Charles!" you said.

"Hey, (y/n). You're keeping him in line during the break? Char won't let me cheat my diet either" he laughed.

"Oh, that ship has sailed long ago! Daniel will just roll into the paddock if it's up to him" you laughed back.

"Hey! I think I've earned the right to some extra calories, we've been working out extra hard lately" Daniel said waving his eyebrows suggestively, making Charlotte giggle, Charles rolls his eyes and you go even redder than you were from the actual workout, while he just laughed out loud.

"I don't even want to know" Charles said. "Always great running into you mate" he was getting ready to say goodbye.

"Are we seeing you guys tomorrow?" Charlotte asked you.

"Tomorrow?" you asked her.

"Stefano's birthday" she said like it was obvious. Stefano Domenicali was the President and CEO of Formula 1, but you didn't know that yet - still, her tone made it seems like it was someone Daniel knew, so you just looked at him. He just rubbed his neck, looking a little embarrassed. "Oh, wait. Please tell me I didn't just said something I shouldn't" she looked at Charles.

"No, no. He invited me. Us, actually" Daniel reassured her. "I don't think we're going though, forgot to mention to you" he said looking at you.

"Uh mate, I wouldn't skip that if I were you. He didn't even invite all the drivers I heard" Charles said. "Maybe just stop by to say hello?"

"Stop by... a yacht... at the sea?" Charlotte said grinning at him. Daniel looked at you.

"You feel like going? It should be fun" he asked you.

"Sounds fancy... I mean, I don't mind if you go" you said.

"Common... I’m not going alone" he nudged you.

"I don't even have anything to wear, Dan" you told him.

"Oh! We can go shopping together!" Charlotte said and you had almost forgotten they were still there.

"Perfect!" Daniel answered for you. You could only imagine the types of stores she shopped.

"Tomorrow morning, then? Daniel can text your address to Charles for me? I'll pick you up!" she was being really nice about it.

"I thought you wanted to go today?" Charles said.

"That's when I thought I would have to go shopping with you, so I could use the extra time since you're the worst shopping partner ever!" she laughed at him.

"Burn!" Daniel laughed.

"His fashion taste is not the most reliable, let's face it" she laughed and kissed his cheek. "It's a date then (y/n)?" she looked expectantly at you. You didn't want to let her down, it was so hard to make friends with the girlfriends of other drivers, they were usually so... not nice. You could always just help her and find something to wear in your own stuff later.

"Yeah, sure! See you tomorrow, at 10?" you said simply.

"Perfect!" she beamed.

>>> end of part 1 <<<

[douchebagbrainwaves]

YOUR EMPLOYEES AND INVESTORS WILL CONSTANTLY BE ASKING ARE WE THERE YET

I think I've figured out what's going on. After the first 10 or so we learned to treat deals as background processes that we should ignore till they terminated.1 Don't Get Your Hopes Up. Something hacked together means something that barely solves the problem, the harder it is to bait the hook with prestige. And that is almost certainly mistaken. So one thing that falls just short of the standard, I think, should be the highest goal for the marginal. Big companies think the function of office space is to express rank. As big companies' oligopolies became less secure, they were willing to pay a premium for labor. You can see it in old photos. If you're friends with a lot of the worst kinds of projects are the death of a thousand cuts. And what's especially dangerous is that many happen at your computer.

And the microcomputer business ended up being Apple vs Microsoft. In 1450 it was filled with the kind of turbulent and ambitious people you find now in America. You have to like what they do there than how much they can get the most done. That's not what makes startups worth the trouble. Design This kind of metric would allow us to compare different languages, but that if someone wanted to design a language explicitly to disprove this hyphothesis, they could probably do it. This technique can be generalized to: What's the best thing you could be doing, not just what you can see the results in any town in America. With this amount of money can change a startup's funding situation completely. There I found a copy of The Atlantic. Whereas it's easy to get sucked into working longer than you expected at the money job.2 That's ok. I think you have to do all three. But more importantly, you'll get into the habit of doing things well.

But what if the person in the next 40 years will bring us some wonderful things.3 They all know about the VCs who rejected Google. The writing of essays used to be.4 You may have read on Slashdot how he made his own Segway.5 He improvises: if someone appears in front of him, he runs around them; if someone tries to grab him, he spins out of their grip; he'll even run in the wrong place, anything might happen. The people who've worked for a few months I realized that what I'd been unconsciously hoping to find there was back in the place I'd just left. It was supposed to be something else, they ended up being Apple vs Microsoft. By 2012 that number was 18 years. The first thing you need is to be willing to look like a fool.6 Google they have a fair amount of data to go on. John Malkovich where the nerdy hero encounters a very attractive, sophisticated woman.

Many of the big companies were roll-ups that didn't have clear founders.7 Empirically, the way to the bed and breakfast, and other similar classes of accommodations, you get to hit a few difficult problems over the net at someone, you learn pretty quickly how hard they hit them anyway. Inexperienced founders make the same mistake as the people who list at ABNB, they list elsewhere too I am not negative on this one was the only way to get lots of referrals is to invest in students, not professors. It will actually become a reasonable strategy or a more reasonable strategy to suspect everything new.8 Never say we're passionate or our product is great. Whereas undergraduate admissions seem to be disappointments early on, when they're just a couple guys in an apartment. Programmers at Yahoo wouldn't have asked that.9 Incidentally, this scale might be helpful in deciding what to study in college. VCs think they're playing a zero sum game.

I spend most of my time writing essays lately. Almost everyone's initial plan is broken. If smaller source code is the purpose of comparing languages, because they come closest of any group I know to embodying it. Distracting is, similarly, desirable at the wrong time. But if we make kids work on dull stuff now is so they can get away with atrocious customer service. In fact, here there was a kid playing basketball? Of course, figuring out what you like.

Go out of your way to bring it up e. The industry term here is conversion. Try to keep the sense of wonder you had about programming at age 14. At least if you start a startup, people treat you as if you're unemployed.10 But hacking is like writing. Even with us working to make things happen the way they used to, they were moving to a cheaper apartment. It causes you to work not on what you like, but is disastrously lacking in others. I do in the rest of the world. Their defining quality is probably that they really love to program.

I could only figure out what to do, there's a natural tendency to stop looking.11 Economies of scale ruled the day.12 One is that this is simply the founders' living expenses.13 I need to transfer a file or edit a web page, and I think I know what is meant by readability, and I think they're onto something. Multiply this times several hundred, and I get an uneasy feeling when I look at my bookshelves. You may have read on Slashdot how he made his own Segway.14 Everyday life gives you no practice in this. Startups grow up around universities because universities bring together promising young people and make them work on anything they don't want to want, we consider technological progress good.

Notes

Samuel Johnson said no man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money. Which is precisely my point. If they were regarded as 'just' even after the egalitarian pressures of World War II the tax codes were so new that the guys running Digg are especially sneaky, but except for money. They don't know enough about the new top story.

The image shows us, they tended to make money. But we invest in the Bible is Pride goeth before destruction, and one of the fake leading the fake leading the fake. In No Logo, Naomi Klein says that 15-20% of the aircraft is.

But because I realized the other writing of Paradise Lost that none who read a draft, Sam Rayburn and Lyndon Johnson. If they agreed among themselves never to do due diligence for an investor? The best technique I've found for dealing with the other.

I ordered a large number of startups as they do for a public event, you can ignore. If you want to help the company, and a few of the Facebook that might produce the next Apple, maybe the corp dev is to show growth graphs at either stage, investors decide whether to go to die.

If you walk into a big company CEOs in 2002 was 3.

Or rather, where w is will and d discipline. But that turned out the existing shareholders, including that Florence was then the richest country in the sense of mission.

In Shakespeare's own time, because they can't afford to. The company may not be able to raise their kids in a company in Germany. When we got to see the apples, they said, and why it's next to impossible to write an essay about it wrong. That will in many cases be an open booth.

I'm not saying you should probably be worth trying to tell them exactly what constitutes research in the early 90s when they say they bear no blame for any particular truths you'll learn. As Jeremy Siegel points out that there is undeniably a grim satisfaction in hunting down certain sorts of bugs. Did you know about it as if you'd invested at a discount of 30% means when it was actually a great programmer doesn't merely do the right direction to be is represented by Milton.

But a lot of the next round. It's hard to say exactly what your body is telling you. In Russia they just kill you, they tend to be very unhealthy. One thing that drives most people realize, because you have two choices, choose the harder.

Though Balzac made a lot of classic abstract expressionism is doodling of this essay talks about programmers, but one by one they die and their houses are transformed by developers into McMansions and sold to VPs of Bus Dev. Or rather, where it sometimes causes investors to act. Eric Raymond says the best hackers want to trick admissions officers. And no, unfortunately, I mean efforts to protect widows and orphans from crooked investment schemes; people with a truly feudal economy, you better be sure you do in proper essays.

The top VCs thus have a better education. Or a phone, IM, email, Web, games, books, newspapers, or some vague thing like that. You need to fix. But the question is not much to maintain their percentage.

Kant. Loosely speaking. The real decline seems to them to lose elections. Some types of startups where the recipe is to say incendiary things, they can grow the acquisition offers most successful founders still get rich simply by being energetic and unscrupulous, but they get for free.

World War II to the frightening lies told by older siblings. That's one of the most general truths. As we walked in, we found they used it to get into that because a unless your last funding round.

But this seems an odd idea.

Thanks to Jessica Livingston, Shiro Kawai, Garry Tan, Chris Small, and Nikhil Nirmel for sharing their expertise on this topic.

[konowhore]

aoba johsai headcanons | watching a volleyball game with them

warning(s): spoilers from season 2-3, not proofreaded 

a/n: these are,,, very long HAHA and i’m so sorry that these are like,,,,,, all ending with reader and bf sleeping LMAO...

prompt: you watch a volleyball game with your boyfriend. you didn’t realize that it was a game between the two teams his team lost to.

oikawa

PLEASE HE WAS SO BITTER IN SEASON 3 IT WAS SO FUNNY????

but anyways

he had dragged you to watch the shiratorizawa v. karasuno game bc ‘you’re my gf i need emotional support<3′

you didn’t really know much about volleyball, maybe the basics like positions, but you were still excited to watch

his ass would choose the seat farthest away from the court simply bc he didn’t want to be seen and he would make the snarkiest remarks while watching about how they played and you would just be like: .. yea..... 

he’d realize that you’re a little confused abt what’s going on and then go:

“need me to explain anything princess?”

you lean into him and nod a bit, turning your head to smile up at him

his glasses reflect some light but he shifts them so he can look you in the eyes

cue you blushing bc the looks he gives you ?? <333 it makes ur heart cartwheel

anyways he rubs circles on the back of your hand with his thumb, explaining to you about the big play that just happened

you would just stare at him and take glances at the game because he was just so admirable

he knew so much, he played really well

you knew he worked so hard to try and get nationals, yet his team ended up not making it

out of the blue while you both sit and watch, you stretch up to kiss his cheek

oikawa, who usually isn’t too flustered, has pink-dusted cheeks when he looks at you

“yes princess...?”

“nothing, i just adore you.”

the growing smile on his face makes you giggle and rest your head on his shoulder

the game continues, oikawa continuing to make remarks about each team, observing the game

you get a little bored, hugging his arm and watch the ball go back and forth 

oikawa pays really close attention tho bc he offers to take you home awwwwww

“if you’re tired we can go-”

“no it’s okay!! i like hearing your commentary uwu”

stop he’s so in love with you

like he would stare at you after that and just be all <3

and so you two stay for the whole game (you fell asleep some point,,,,,, woke up once to buy water LMAO)

watching volleyball with oikawa makes you realize how much he has a passion for it and you just admire him. so. much. 

and oikawa would be so grateful that you’re so supportive and he’d tell you a thousand times after the game that he’ll do anything for you bc you tagged along and everything pls <3

matsukawa

you two hang out at your place and land upon the shiratorizawa vs karasuno game

you: aren’t those the teams you guys lost to

issei: yeah and what about it. 

he’d jokingly pout and hide his face in your neck

“you’re mean </3″ he’d whine

you laugh and run your fingers through his hair 

he grins, his hands going to rub your back as you two watch the game on the screen

you recognize some of the players from aoba johsai’s previous games, humming while watching them play

issei is only half paying attention

“well he’s cute,” you note, watching the camera pan through the karasuno members, only for it to stop on the captain

issei would roll his eyes and smack your ass a little LMAO 

“he’s short,” he’d retort, chuckling soon after when you look at him and roll your eyes back at him

“okay and”

BYE HE’D JOKINGLY GET MAD AND GO “go date your new boyfriend then<3″

it’s all fun and games between you two tho and it’s soooo cute !!

he can be a little shit but 

anyways you’re cheering for karasuno, occasionally going ‘look at their captain omg <3′ 

issei would sit up with you still straddling him and he’d just press kisses against your neck, making you giggle and try to push him away

“stopppppppp”

“not until you take your eyes off of him~”

you run your fingers through issei’s hair once more, smiling and leaning down to kiss him 

“don’t worry issei, i’m all yours”

he’d lay back again, letting you lay on top of his chest

the game keeps going, you and mattsun sitting in comfortable silence while watching

your eyes are heavy and you don’t pay any attention to it

but then you wake up hours later, still on top of your bf’s rising chest

(pls i love him god i want to hug him and cuddle with him he’s so fucking cute <3333)

hanamaki

tbh semi was one of your old friends from middle school so he asked you to come to his game,,,

your boyfriend wanted to hang out with you so you asked if he wanted to go

HONESTLY he’d be like ‘since when did you talk to people from shiratorizawa’ but he’d be fine with it

maybe he’s a little bitter but lmao

you two go to look for your friend, and when you see him, you call his name and hug him

“eita!!”

makki:  🧍

semi: hi uwu

you would introduce them to each other all smiley 

there’s tension and for what

semi: okay well i have to go warm up

you: bye eita ^^

makki:,,,

PLEASE????????

you two would sit close to the school section and holy shit is hiro glad that he didn’t wear his team jacket LMAO he would’ve gotten flamed

anyways not you cheering for eita even tho you have no idea what the fuck is going on lmao

hiro is amused and he just thinks you’re so cute tbh 

he’s staring at you watching you yell out semi’s name even tho he wasn’t in the starting lineup help.

he’s such a dumbass tho pls 

HE WOULD PURPOSELY BOO ONCE WHEN SHIRATORIZAWA SCORES THEIR FIRST POINT DAKJNDKJBJKD

not these girls staring at y’all um......

you’d scold him and he’s just :P

anyways you take a break from cheering and you sit, leaning on your boyfriend’s shoulder

“hiro are you doing okay?” you mumble, playing with his hand

“mhm, are you?”

you nod at his question and watch the game continue

“you sure you’re okay?? you seemed kinda tense, maybevenalittlejealous, when i introduced you to eita”

“i’m fine baby don’t worry”

him: me???????????? jealous>?????????????????? no.

YOU WOULD TEASE HIM SOOOO MUCH AND HE KEEPS DENYING IT EVEN THO HE VERY SECRETLY IS

after the game, you drag your boyfriend along with you to tell eita he did a good job

he’d give you a really big and long hug in which hanamaki is just standing there 

you gush about how great eita was, earning a big smile from him

when you leave the gymnasium hand in hand with hanamaki, you cling onto his arm, your smile never leaving your face

“soooo did you like the game?” you ask, looking up at your unusually quiet boyfriend

“mhm”

“did you like meeting eita uwu”

“yeah-”

“were you jealous??”

“no comment.”

cue you teasing him while his cheeks become the same color as his pink hair 

he’d just remove his arm from your grasp and then wrap it around your waist to pull you closer to him

(SORRY I GOT SO CARRIED AWAY .......)

iwaizumi

i know we all know this but iwaizumi hajime best bf idc !!!

he honestly wanted to go see the game bc he just wanted to see how the teams would play against each other

he had asked you if you wanted to tag along so you agreed

in all honestly, he didn’t think you would want to because you don’t usually seem interested in it whenever he talks about it, but in truth, you listen to every word he says abt it pls TT

he loves u so so much and u love that he’s passionate about volleyball HE JUST,, DOESNT REALIZE THAT YOU LISTEN

like he thinks it’ll bother you if he talks about it too much <//3

he’s the one who is genuinely surprised when you point out a strategy karasuno had used

“y/n i didn’t realize you liked volleyball??”

“you talk about it all the time silly”

and you give him a kiss on the nose and he just :0

“hajime cmonnnn you took me to the game you should tell me more about it uwu”

STOP. he literally,,, loves u so much

he holds your hand, his little smile never leaving his face

you lean your head on his shoulder, watching the game on the court

when the tall blond blocks ushijima’s block, you flinch a bit and stand up to look closer, seeing the tall blond yell and his teammates following suit

you cheer along with them, your boyfriend finally standing up to stand next to you

his eyes are on you only, your hair bouncing with you as you jump in excitement, your eyes shimmering with excitement

his smile just grows as you grin , turning to him in excitement

“did you see that hajime?? :D”

STOPP HES SO IN LOVE HE JUST STARES AT YOU .

and u just :D

“hajime..???”

YOU HAVE TO SNAP YOUR FINGERS IN FRONT OF HIS FACE AND HE JUST SNAPS OUT OF IT AND LOOKS AT YOU

“you’re very beautiful princess, did you know that?”

that alone makes you go pink and you playfully push him by his arm

“baby stopppp”

and you’re both just laughing and watching the game together, spending the whole day with your hands intertwined 

(he.. hajime best boy)

yahaba

you had started watching the game a bit after the first set started and your boyfriend was busy taking a shower

you knew a lot in all honesty, since shigeru happened to be on one of the powerhouse schools in terms of volleyball throughout miyagi

if he was gonna be honest he wasn’t expecting you to sit down and actually watch a game of volleyball intently

so walking into his room seeing you focusing on the karasuno v. shiratorizawa match surprised him a bit

“you watching the game?” he’d ask

“mhm!! it’s really interesting uwu”

he finds it absolutely adorable but then he tries to flirt and flex his muscles like “babe look i just got out of the shower” AND YOU JUSt,, KEEP LOOKING AT THE TV

yahaba: baby *bites lip*

you: babe get dressed and come watch with me

goodbye he just throws a shirt and some shorts on and basically jumps on top of you in which you yelp and go “shiGERU” and his mom is ON HIS ASS !!!!!!!! she literally comes in and she’s like “shigeru stop jumping onto your gf” and you rlly stick your tongue out at him

him: you’re acting like a child

you: you STARTED IT.

and you guys bicker a little and you just go “well you made me miss half the game” and HE GETS SO MAD HELPPPP

“BOOOOO”

him: clinging onto you, asking you to cuddle him

you: watching the game

eventually you give in and hug him, kissing him which makes him go quiet

“are you happy now you baby?” you ask him

“.......maybe.....”

and he just gives you a quick kiss, smiling and also giving you a slight eskimo kiss

the game becomes an afterthought as he brings up the beach volleyball game the third years organized for tomorrow all day, asking if you could help his team out 

(he insists that since you’re the ref, you should help his team consisting of kyoutani, kunimi, hanamaki, and another first and second year win bc kyoutani will just keep spiking outside the lines but you tell him it’s cheating LMAO...)

watari

(btw he’s so underrated i mean he’s not one of my faves but he deserves the world like y’all sleep on him and for what)

he’s super observant and he had been watching recorded games for a while to learn and make sure he plays his best next year pls </3 

he had invited you over to his place to hang out and you really wanted him to take a break from watching all of those recorded games

you emphasized this when you told him you would come over lmao

but alas.........

when he opened the door and you looked at the tv to see what he had put on, you saw the shiratorizawa v. karasuno game

watari: I CAN EXPLAIN.

you: .... sir.. 

PLEASE he’s taking your hand and pulling you to the couch while saying he’ll relax and just watch for fun

you sigh and follow him, letting him pull you down to sit next to him on his couch

you throw your legs over his lap, smiling while looking at him

he would give you quick, soft kisses all over your face and you both just fall into a fit of giggles

stop u literally love watching him gaze at the tv so passionately and observe how they play </3

YOU GIGGLE AT HIM AND HE’S LIKE “what are you laughing about?”

AND YOURE JUST LIKE “you’re so cute uwu”

so y’all are really just out here giggling at each other huh....... 

he??? pulls you into his lap and hugs you tightly

he’s literally so in love with you pls

so you guys just sit there and watch the game while you occasionally ask him questions

he’d be happy to tell you and he’s holding onto you the whole. entire. time.

honestly the game kinda slips away from you because you’re suddenly asleep on his chest, his arms around your waist, a hand gently rubbing your back

and he’s so grateful that he has a girlfriend who cares about him and worries about him :((

he’d turn off the game and then take a little nap with u <3 

kindaichi

tbh you spent so much time with him after the game his team lost bc he kept beating himself up for it which is >:(((((

him: i could’ve-

you: I LOVE YOU SO MUCH DO NOT BRING YOURSELF DOWN COME HERE LET ME KISS YOU

as you should !!

and when he tells you he’s gonna be watching the shiratorizawa vs karasuno match after school at his place, you tell him you’re watching with him too

“i don’t want it to bore you y/n-”

“it won’t bore me yutaro dw uwu”

no bc the way you’re both in love !!!!!

you would do anything for him tbh but you genuinely thought his passion for volleyball was cute :D

he was always striving to do his best and you think he’s absolutely precious

he’d turn on the game and then immediately come over to sit with you 

you lean onto him, clinging onto his arm and smiling

“y/n are you sure you wanna watch with me??”

“mhm!!”

he gives u a very soft kiss on the head and you can’t stop smiling bc you know he gets kinda shy abt showing affection

but he feels very warm and you start feeling very sleepy 

YOU TRY YOUR BEST TO KEEP YOURSELF AWAKE

you think him making comments abt the game or what he finds interesting is really cute but youre just,, tired ya know

he notices and he’s like “you should sleep-”

“noooo yutaro i’ll watch with youuuu”

“y/n cmonn”

you pout and lean turn to lean your forehead against his arm

“i don’t wanna </3″

“it’s okayyy you can sleep if youre tired”

you look at him and he smiles, leaning forward to kiss your forehead

you can’t help but melt and you’re just,, staring at him dreamily

he’s like “..baby..?”

and you just lean forward and kiss him

“you’re the best bf ever <3″

and he chuckles and goes “and you’re the best and cutest gf ever”

he has you lay down on his bed, your hair sprawled about his pillows

he lays with you, the two of you facing the tv and your back to him

he puts an arm around you, smiling

you slowly fall asleep, smiley and snuggling back towards yutaro

he kisses your head again, telling you that he loves you and hopes you sleep well 

he’s so<333

kunimi

he acts like he doesn’t give a rat’s ass about the game but you guys are chilling at his place and you flip to the channel that has the game on 

at first he’s like “you’re interested ?? in this ????”

you: babe,, of course i am,,  my bf is a volleyball player,,,,,?

PLS? he’d be like ‘oh ok’ and rest his chin on top of your head

it’s so chill between the two of you guys he’s literally just playing with your hair, humming a bit

you ask him smth but he asks you to repeat what you asked because he spaced out 

and when you ask again he just stares at you and is like ‘yes’

YOU JUST LAUGH AT HIM AND HE THINKS YOURE SO PRETTY so he just continues to listen to you ramble abt the game

eventually, he finds himself dozing off and you take notice as his chin starts feeling heavy on your head

“baby c’mon let’s take a nap-”

and he’d shake his head and go “we can finish the game-”

but you can tell he’s tired, especially from practice earlier today

so you turn off the game and turn so that you’re straddling his lap and hugging him tight

he wraps his arms around you and hums, kissing you

you smile and lean back to look at him, his eyes droopy from exhaustion

“sleep bby”

“mm only if you do too”

“i will dw <3″

and you just cling onto him, arms around his neck

he hums,  nuzzling your neck and you giggle

eventually, you two start breathing slowly, falling asleep

(tbh you didn’t rlly even care who won you just watched the game bc it was on LMAO)

kyoutani

you guys were hanging out in your room, his head in your lap while you sat up against your pillows

you were both occupied by your phones atm

he put his phone down, looking up at you curiously

you smiled as he reached to intertwine his fingers with yours

he had been at the gym more often, playing volleyball and practicing 

especially after their loss against karasuno :( 

today was one of the days that he decided he would spend his time being with you 

he doesn’t voice it often, but he appreciates how much you support him and care for him

(you picked him up from the gym the other day with some of his favorite deep fried chicken bits with the cute chicken packaging and he didn’t know how else to show you how much he loves and appreciates you other than by cuddling with you all night pls i’m </3)

anyways he’s just staring at you, admiring you, thinking about how much he loves you while you’re watching some tiktok your friend had sent you 

you had asked if he wanted to watch the game with you on your phone but he had been occupied thinking about you 

“what’d you say-?”

“i asked if you wanted to watch the game with me..? if you don’t want to it’s fine-”

“oh sure”

and he’d adjust himself so that he’s sitting with you, shoulder-to-shoulder, leaning his head so that it lays on top of yours

you’d just be all smiley, leaning into him more while playing the live stream of the game

he seemed focused, watching the game intently

you tried to focus on the game, but the only thing you could think about was the way kyoutani was holding your hand, rubbing the top of it with his thumb

eventually, as the game continues, he huffs a little, making you look up and smile at him

“you okay? we can stop watching if you want-”

“it’s fine-”

and then he adjusts himself, scooting away from you to lay his head in your lap

he reaches for your hand and puts it on his head, looking up at you

you oblige, gently rubbing his head and smiling

his eyes are closed, a slight hum coming from him

after a while, you realize kyoutani had fallen asleep, so you turn the game on your phone off

during this, kyoutani grumbles, reaching for your hand

you can’t help but giggle a little, rubbing his head while humming a little

“get some rest baby~” you croon quietly, staring at him lovingly

he opens his eyes a little, giving you a small smile

“you too okay..?”

“mhm-!”

when he closes his eyes, you smile, mumbling a little ‘i love you’ to your boyfriend

[4aloysius-porteu]

i really wish i hated you || tsukishima kei

masterlist | 1 | 2 | chapter 3

pairing: tsukishima kei x f! reader

sypnosis: It was an accident that (Y/N) met a certain tall, blonde male; a memory she isn't fond of remembering, but it is where it all started. And ever since, she magically makes her to his path. The image of the bespectacled man dwelled in her mind more than she thought. Tsukishima pushed away his softer emotions and denied their existence, or at least that's what he told himself. But then, he couldn't believe that this girl he labeled as a clumsy, unlucky creature who smashed his glasses is slowly bringing these strange emotions back to him. She might be irritating and dumb sometimes, but he couldn't get himself to completely hate her. Either that destiny was stupid, or he was blessed or cursed.

genre: fanfiction, fluff

wc: 2.6k

She has met the tall, blonde, and bespectacled male yet again.

"Oh, the midget stalker is here."

"You again?! Seriously, I think it's you who's following me!"

"Hah, what do I get from following an extremely short person like you?" He said, borrowing her words from yesterday.

(Y/N)'s eyebrows creased further in irritation. "Why do you keep mentioning my height?!"

"It was you who started it. Anyways, can you shut up? Do you know that you're in a library?"

She didn't retort back and simply sat on the chair with her arms crossed. It was a fine day then —BOOM— this giant decided to appear out of nowhere. She was trying to forget this person who's associated with some of her embarrassing moments but those just got smashed back to her mind. (Y/N) sighed and pulled a book at the bottom of the stack to start reading, but noticed that the blondie is still standing near the edge of the table, hesitating to sit down while glancing somewhere and back to her.

"What?" (Y/N) frowned.

"Why am I unnecessarily stuck with you on this table?" He sighed, pulling out the chair.

"Because all of the tables here are taken? If you're worried about your glasses being knocked off, don't worry, I won't do anything reckless anymore."

"That's a nice reassurance," He settled down and brought out his studying materials.

Both of them shared the table in the crowded library. Ignoring the people, between them was a silent atmosphere. No one was talking as they both minded their own studies; he was reading quietly and turning pages of a huge book while (Y/N) wrote key points from the printed work and highlighting her notes. Sometimes, the other would leave to return books to their shelves and came back with new stacks. This went on for a few hours until her pen ran out of ink. She scribbled at the back of her notebook in hopes that the ink just got stuck, to no avail. She sighed, resting her head on the notebook. But she really needed to take down notes for her upcoming entrance exam.

"Hey." (Y/N) reluctantly said.

The blonde male looked at her, confirming if he's being called, "What?"

"I'm sorry to interrupt your business but... do you have a spare pen?"

He stared at her with a straight face and placed his chin on the top of his knuckles, implying his refusal to lend one.

(Y/N)'s mentally gritted her teeth. I'm just going to borrow a pen and he's making it hard for me?!

Swallowing her pride, she said, "Look, I need to finish my notes. I'll return it to you right away when I'm done. I promise. Please?"

He scoffed as brought out a pen, "An inkless pen is all it takes for you to become a less lively puppy? You better keep your promise."

A puppy?! "You didn't need to compare me to a puppy but, thanks."

She continued her work but her focus was a bit shaken. This happens whenever she's interrupted or took a break away from writing. Soon, her focus vanished and boredom took over. She tried to read a book to review ideas but her brain won't cooperate. She groaned, her head and arms fell to the table again. The blonde saw but chose to ignore her.

She closed her eyes for a second, however, her gaze fell to the blank paper in front of her face. Her hands are itching to do something other than reviewing and writing, so she put down the pen she borrowed and took a pencil out of her pocket. She placed a pile of books near her notebook so that the male won't notice what she's doing. There, she started to sketch the base of the figure.

She would observe the four-eyed guy who's busy reading some sort of article while taking notes. He has a calm expression on his face rather than an irritated scowl or a mocking grin he usually has. He wears a long blazer and probably a long-sleeved shirt inside. His blonde hair is short yet the edges are a bit curly and his upper eyelashes are prominently long. This was the first time she stared at the jerk's face who she kept bumping into random places that irked the hell out of her, but for some reason, she felt that she had seen this person before the accident in the park, albeit she doesn't know where. (Y/N) came to a conclusion; he was a little good-looking.

The girl looked back to her drawing and shook her head at her own ideas. I can't believe I actually thought that this guy is handsome. How can such a mean creature be blessed with such looks?! Ugh, don't mind, (Y/N). I'm only drawing him because he seems like a great canvas subject, it's not like I haven't done this to other people before...

She went on drawing and drew details to the sketch similar to the boy in front of her. To make the drawing more accurate, she stole small glances at him. She kept things low key because it'll be another embarrassing event if he found out what she's doing. She made the lines smoother in one swift move. The hair and clothes' folds are already well-drawn while she focuses on the detail of his eyes and glasses. She was about to shade when the male finally caught her.

"What is it?" He questioned, closing his book with a low voice and creased eyebrows.

(Y/N) froze on the spot. As much as she doesn't like it, she maintained eye contact with him, thinking of the best alibi that he couldn't argue with. Then, she remembered that she doesn't know his name.

"Uhm... nothing. I was just wondering if you have a name." While talking, her finger subtly moved to grab the nearest object it could get to cover her drawing.

"I have, but why would I mention it to you?" He cooly replied.

"It's alright. I'm not asking you to. Unless you want to be referred to as he/him or the tall, blonde glasses guy all the time?" (Y/N) countered.

He silently turned a page before answering, "Well, it's not like we'll meet every day."

"Oh," was her only reply. Looks like he will stay a nameless guy in her head for a long time. She was about to get back to her business when he spoke.

"Tsukishima Kei."

(Y/N) looked at him in surprise. "I'm not going to repeat it." He added.

She smiled, having clearly heard it right away. "Can you tell me how it is written?"

He looked at her to check for ill intentions but found nothing in her eyes. He hesitantly wrote the characters of his name on a piece of paper.

"I'm (L/N) (Y/N), nice to meet you again, Tsukishima-san." She'd like to initiate a handshake for peacemaking, but she knows how he'd only decline it. She wrote her name for him to see as well.

Tsukishima Kei. She repeated in her mind. What a nice name.

With a notebook covering the upper portion of the paper where she had drawn his portrait, she wrote his name at the bottom. She proceeded to the shading and background features. Backgrounds are one of the things she hates in art because it takes too long to draw one compared to the subject itself. Luckily it's only a sketch so she won't have to suffer. Although she doesn't know if Tsukishima had seen whatever she's doing so she's still cautious. She peered at him for the nth time so she could distract his peripheral vision. Maybe to test the social initiative skills she hasn't used for a long time too.

"Uhh, can I ask something?" She started.

"Hm?" He responded without taking his eyes off the page.

"What school are you from?"

"Amemaru Middle School."

(Y/N) hummed, thinking of another question, "Then, what school are you enrolling to? It must be an upper class one since you had to read those large books and all."

"Not really," Tsukishima closed the book, "I plan to go to Karasuno High School. They may not have a difficult entrance exam, but these readings are for decent grades and some stock knowledge."

"Decent grades, huh... you look like you could achieve more though. I'm pretty sure you'll ace it." She answered, "I was from Kitagawa Dai Ichi. I'm taking an exam in Shiratorizawa soon."

"You're going to that high-class academy? I see, I failed to notice that because you don't look like one. Have fun clashing with other elites there."

"Elites? What are you talking about, you still believe there's such a hierarchy?" (Y/N) chuckled.

"There is though. A gap between them and mere humans in terms of skills and power."

"In the end, they're still humans though. Be it numbers, hard work, or some unique strategy, those 'mere humans' you say will always struggle to step on equal levels with those on the highest rank."

Tsukishima only hummed and stared down at her, "Perhaps I was wrong on assuming you're an elite. You're clearly not."

"Are you underestimating me?" She challenged.

"No, I was just saying. Can I ask something though?"

"What?"

"Why are you suddenly talkative?"

She was caught off guard but tried not to stutter, "Me? Talkative? I'm always like this."

"Really?" He raised his brows, totally not buying it.

"Ugh, fine! I'm tired of studying!" She sighed, "I was scribbling some doodles on my notebook because I'm bored so I thought it wouldn't hurt to talk to Mr. Beanpole in front of me. Forgive me and my awkward social skills."

"Your social skills are not bad. I'm just thankful you aren't using the precious ink of my pen for drawing." He said, stacking the books he used.

She gasped, panicked inside, "You aren't looking at my drawing, are you?"

He got up to return the books,"Don't worry, it's none of my business."

She exhaled in relief, spared from another memory of embarrassment. Her eyes followed his walking figure and watched his movements. She looked at her drawing to compare and used her fingers to define lighting. When Tsukishima got back and placed new reviewers on the table, (Y/N) asked him once more.

"Do you ever get tired of studying?"

"Sometimes I take a break, but I can only do that if I have finished everything."

"What a diligent student you are."

"I hardly see any benefit in being dumb and slacking off all the time."

"Eh, I hardly see any benefit in studying Algebra and Calculus. I have a lot of questions. Do you use derivatives in counting money or salary? Do you use trigonometry in dividing pizzas or corn chips? Why do I need to find the limit of a function if numbers are infinite? Why do I need to get the formula of a certain point in each line or curve I draw on the graphing paper? What is the correct answer for?" (Y/N) complained.

Tsukishima looked at her blankly, doubting her chances of passing the Shiratorizawa's board exam. "I couldn't argue with that, I'd rather read a book composed of words than formulas, but you don't have a choice. Although, if you plan to be an engineer or something, that'll be a different perspective."

"No, thanks, I won't eat math books for breakfast. Other subjects are interesting enough to keep me awake in class, but numbers don't really entertain me."

"Then, what do you do?" He asked, writing on his notes.

"Not much. I just draw, paint, listen to music, and watch anime."

He let out an amused hum, "How about you? What do you do other than to study?" (Y/N) asked.

"I play volleyball, listen to music, and read narrative books."

"Volleyball? So that's what your height is for! I thought it's just for cleaning and reaching high places."

"That's rude."

"If I am, what do you call yourself? Besides, I don't want to make wrong assumptions."

"You just did."

"...right. I'm sorry."

The sense of familiarity took over (Y/N)'s brain, telling her that she definitely had met this Tsukishima guy before. Her face scrunched a little, trying to search her memories and connect the dots. Her eyes found his face again.

"Why do you keep looking at me?" His eyes narrowed, his annoyance towards the girl slowly rising.

"I HAD met you somewhere... before that accident, where did I see you?"

He was about to say something when (Y/N) stopped him, "Shh, I'm thinking."

He crossed his arms and frowned at her. Volleyball, Amemaru MS... She was about to say it but Tsukishima spoke first.

"Were you one of the audience who watched the middle school volleyball inter-high a year ago?"

"I was! Wait, you remember?"

"That was the only place where I could find someone from Kitagawa Dai Ichi." He confirmed.

"Correct. I was a part of the school paper where I was assigned in the sports category. I took a picture of you when my senior was interviewing you! You were the tallest middle blocker in the games! How could I forget that! So that's why whenever you irk me, it was familiar!"

"How am I annoying you? Aren't you the one who kept on talking right now?"

"I've figured out that there's no kind bone in you. And the way you keep on stuffing the spikes from the opposite team. It was never-ending that they didn't have a chance to score properly." She pouted.

"What do you expect from a middle blocker? It was my job to block spikes."

"You could've gone easy on them."

"The game would lose it's sense if that's the case."

"Fine. You're not wrong." Their conversation was cut short after she ceased talking. At least she found out where she first met Tsukishima. She finished the portrait sketch. Grinning, she believed that she captured his features accurately in her drawing. She'd like to hold it near him and compare to make sure though. Satisfied with her work, she went back on turning pages.

"So, you've finally decided to continue to study?" Tsukishima prodded.

She smiled, "I guess. Thank you for talking to me. That was a great stop."

Both of them worked quietly, but now, the irritation they felt towards each other lessened. After some time, a person in the speaker announced that the library will be closing before 6 pm. Tsukishima returned all the books he borrowed and packed his things.

"You're going home?"

"I don't want to come home late. You aren't finished with your notes yet?"

"Yeah, maybe I'll leave five minutes before six."

"Alright. I'll get going now." He swung his bag over his shoulder.

"Hey, wait! Your pen!" (Y/N) abruptly remembered seconds after.

"I don't need it anymore. It was useful, apart from its close on running out of ink."

"But it's yours and you told me to keep my promise!"

"Whatever. Keep it or throw it." He walked out and wore his headphones, having no intention to listen to anyone.

She sighed and checked the ink. More than half of it is gone, but she can use it again if she wishes. (Y/N) placed her fist to her cheek while writing.

Random Tsukishima Kei facts:

In the second prototype chapter (unserialized, one shot, the first idea of the author on how haikyuu will go) Tsukishima was a second-year, which was changed in the serialized version where he's a first-year. His initial height in the prototype chapter is 184cm, a little shorter than his official height (190.1cm). In an extra sketch, Furudate commented, "Tsukki and Tanaka being in the same year would spell chaos!

©4aloysius.porteu.2021. please do not repost, copy, or edit. plagiarism is punishable by law. 

[tlbodine]

Things That Do (And Don’t) Sell Books (in my experience)

I’ve just finished reading this book:

I am both amused and a bit disheartened to have read the whole thing and discovered that I knew pretty much everything in it. Amused, because I guess I’ve picked up a lot of knowledge over the years. Disheartened, because it clearly has not led to me becoming the break-away success I always dreamed of. Ah well. Live and learn. 

I’m all about transparency in this business, so I wanted to talk honestly for a while about book marketing and what I’ve experienced in terms of what does and does not seem to work. I’d love to hear your thoughts, so chime in with your own experiences! 

Branding and Audience 

The first third of Burke’s book is dedicated to this aspect, and it’s an important marketing step that’s easy to overlook. The idea is basically that you can’t market a product unless it has a brand identity. To create your brand, you need to do the following: 

Identify the audience who you are trying to reach with your work, or who would be most receptive to what you’re writing

Identify your dreams and goals so you have a clear picture in mind of what you want to accomplish 

Figure out how to position yourself in such a way that you a.) stand out from the competition but b.) people can still relate to and understand at a glance

Find a way to communicate your brand consistently in terms of the language used, your aesthetic, the way you act online, and so forth. 

When it comes to brand-building as an author, I think I’ve got a bit of a corner nailed down. I at least hope to be perceived as someone level-headed, thoughtful, generally positive/empathetic and humanist, but also critical and looking deeper into the meanings of things -- all of which are traits I personally possess and which are baked in to the work I do. In support of that branding, I curate my activity online as best I can: I post things that are of a certain horror aesthetic that I feel overlaps with my own interests/style; I give writing advice and boost people in the community where I can; I wade into discourse selectively and thoughtfully; I give media reviews and analysis that I think would be interesting to like-minded people. 

The “identify the audience” part is much harder for me. I’m still honestly not sure who my ideal reader is, or where exactly to go to find my audience. At this point I’m kind of scattering crumbs of myself out into the wind and hoping it will attract people who will, in turn, be interested in the work that I do (and both willing and able to support it financially). 

Things I’ve Done With Varying Degrees of Success: 

Aforementioned blogging activities. I have slowly but steadily grown my following her on tumblr and other social media sites as well as my author newsletter on substack, but it’s not clear to what extent that following translates into book sales. My writing advice posts vastly out-perform all of my other content, but I haven’t seen compelling evidence that the people interested in my writing advice are especially interested in my fiction -- it seems to be two separate groups, with maybe a sliver of overlap. 

Content marketing with more short fiction. This seems like it should be the safest, surest way to find more readers, but it’s time-consuming and discouraging because of the discoverability cycle. My horror flash fiction posts don’t get nearly as many notes as my advice posts. My attempts to get into the big anthologies that pop up have so far amounted to little, although I do need to write more. It’s just that coming up with new ideas and writing them all the time is a lot of work, and if it’s not paying off maybe I’m still better off dedicating that work to my novels. 

Sending ARCs to book bloggers/reviewers/booktube etc. I sent out dozens, if not hundreds, of these and got next to no response. I do think part of the problem is that, at the time, I had no Twitter presence, and -- like it or not -- there seems to be a bit of cliqueishness to this aspect of the book world. Now that I’ve spent more time on Twitter ingratiating myself with the horror community, I suspect I’ll have a somewhat easier job securing blurbs and reviews at least from the people in my extended social circle. But I won’t know until I try it again. *I also know I would have greater success with this if I’d been sending paperback ARCs instead of digital. I didn’t, because the cost of buying more author copies + shipping was prohibitive. 

Author Newsletter. I maintain mine in conjunction with my Patreon account. I send a monthly news round-up, making a point of shouting out both industry news and the milestones/achievements of others in the community as well as providing what I hope to be value-added or interesting content (in the form of blog posts my patrons vote on). It does OK. I average a couple of new sign-ups per month this way and tend to hover around a 25% open rate, which isn’t terrible. But it’s not great, either, and I won’t know for sure whether any of those opens will actually yield sales at any point. 

Interpersonal relationships/community building. Hands down the most successful “marketing” thing I’ve ever done is make friends with people. My writing discord group is small but very close-knit and interacting with them is one of the genuine highlights of my day. I didn’t really make it with mercenary intentions of selling books, but it has directly resulted in sales. Similarly, there are a handful of authors from Twitter and Wattpad that I’ve developed genuine friendships with, and we buy each other’s books and support one another. This whole community aspect is extremely rewarding and I’d do it whether or not it sold books, but it’s also not exactly easy to scale. I can only maintain genuine friendships with so many people. 

Posting in reading groups. The books that allow self-promo are so saturated with it that nobody pays any attention. The good groups do not allow self-promo, unless it’s in the form of getting down in the comments and recommending a book on a per-person basis to people looking for a specific thing, and only then if you’re not being spammy. Again, this is time-consuming. You could spend your entire life in these groups, hand-selling books to these people, and maybe picking up a few sales. They do seem like a good place to identify trends, though, so they’re good for market research if not direct selling. 

Things I Have Not Done, But Which I Suspect Would Sell Books 

Paid promotions. The golden ticket for book sales still seems to be landing a BookBub promo. If you’re unfamiliar, this is where you price your book at 99 cents or free and then pay bookbub to include it in their deals newsletter. Bookbub is very popular and moves a lot of copies. Ideally, you want to set it up so that your cheap book is the first in a series, and people snap that up and then come back to read the rest. This requires you to have written a series. Also bookbub is expensive because these are premium ads. We’re talking hundreds of dollars for one ad. There are other book promos that are cheaper but don’t have the same buy-through rate. 

Ads on facebook/amazon. I’m only dimly familiar with the ins and outs of these ads. They can be relatively cheap, but the amount of visibility they have is tied to your budget -- so the more you can spend on a campaign, the better your performance will be. 

Calling bookstores/libraries and asking them to order. I should do this. I have not done this purely because I am a coward. 

I am not certain what more I can do to promote my books without spending money. 

I understand the “spend money to make money” concept, but I also understand the “I have a limited budget and cannot spend it willy nilly on things that still might not actually pay off, especially considering how expensive self-publishing is when you want to do it right.” 

...This post ended up in a much more bitter place than I meant for it to. Sorry. I’ll check in if I remember additional points that could be successful strategies. 

[my-sherlock221b]

Supernatural Rewatch Ramblings: Wendigo

Wendigo

The long line of the MoTW series in Supernatural starts off with the Woman in White which is fairly well- known legend/ myth in most countries.  Then we get this one next which claims origin from the Native American mythology.

Here is a review of the Wendigo episode with thoughts from me and @soulmates-for-real​

I have always wondered why they were not so inclusive or better at being inclusive as a show. Yes, they did have many women and people of colour in important and strong roles, both positive and negative (though they could have done so much better!). But they steered clear from some of the huge mythology lores like that from Native Americans, Hindu, Latin American cultures. This may have been a wise political strategy to avoid conflict and so they stuck to the Judeo- Christian core but still managed a rather radical take on it!

Spoiler alert:

*God was the final villain?! Who would have guessed? And that the angels were dicks, relentlessly, and demons were in fact ex-humans.*

So back to Wendigo.

What a monster the Wendigo is!! In later seasons when we got only angels and demons and some vampires etc the other monsters were monsters in and of themselves. Like they were born that way—needing to eat human pituitary glands or whatever.

But Woman in White and Wendigo, and even Dead in the Water, or the Shapeshifter --the monster was created by circumstances. Betrayal and infidelity leading to murder suicides, extreme starvation leading to cannibalism and eternal hunger.

Far more terrifying than someone who is born a ghoul perhaps.

So here we are in Wendigo, at the forest/camp site with these fake, charming, rather useless camp rangers who carry M&Ms (nice touch and throwback to E.T. !), don’t wear shorts ( which anyway seems like a weird thing to wear when there is grass and stuff—why would you want to expose your legs?!), can’t see bear traps ( Seriously Dean?! ).

Sam is still restless and bristling at Jess’s death, as well as angry at Dad. All those years of separation do not seem to have given him any peace in his relationship with his father. Now to add massive insult to his already injured sense of self—he has lost his girlfriend in exactly the same way as his father lost his wife—making them even more identical.

So he is cranky and unwilling to give in to any of Dean’s suggestions. He denies his own nightmares, refuses good advice and food and is generally misanthropic. While Dean on the other hand seems to be enjoying this like a happy jolly road trip. The monster is almost like a secondary priority now.

What is most important, (and this becomes even more obvious in a re-watch post finale)—what is THE most important thing is that Sammy is riding shotgun, is in front of his eyes and safe.

Miserable and bitchy but safe.

That allows Dean to dial back a bit and bring into focus what has always been, for him, the really important part of their lives—saving people. This is always more important to him that hunting things. So, when he finds out about someone’s brother being lost and the coordinates match what his dad has left, well there is no choice really.

They have to find a way to save him.

If they find Dad there, well, good, but that is suddenly not a priority for him at all. He turned up at Sam’s doorstep, and as we know from the finale, waited there for HOURS since he was unsure of his welcome, then broke in at 3 am or something like an idiot….but anyway…..all that was because Dad had been away on a hunting trip and hadn’t been home in a few days…blah blah blah.

The first contact Dean makes with Sam who left home to go to college is to recruit him to help find Dad—the same guy who told Sam that if he went away to stay away.

And then suddenly now that Sam is with him, finding Dad is like meh. If we find him somewhere by the wayside while you and I hunt monsters Sammy, then yeah sure, great.

If not…well….we have stuff to do you and I…saving people, hunting things. The family business. 

And John Winchester….well, what can I possibly say about him without taking up pages in ranting?! Why did he ditch the first monster? Why was he in SUCH a hurry to leave that he left his journal behind??

My theory of course is that he had to run away from the Woman in White since he had been unfaithful to Mary ( yes yes I know it had been YEARS at that point, but hello, this man made his life a crusade for revenge and sacrificed his kids’ lives also to that darkness, so…yes, being with Adam’s mother was an infidelity and you can’t change my mind on that !).

So naturally John was afraid he would be killed.

But still….he left coordinates for the next hunt in the journal and just ran off?!

The other question is what the hell is happening in motels across USA? Guys like these can just check- in on fake credit cards, leave a room full of satanic and serial killer-y documents, sometimes dead bodies, lots of salt at the door and windows, and just disappear without checking out….

Though the police do seem quite alert and swift in action in the Pilot compared to some of the laidback and clueless ones we see later.

What is most interesting is to see the character of season 1 Dean emerge.

He sass, he boss, he flirt, he lie, he charm, he fight, he save.

In fact, the very first time I saw Supernatural, it seemed that Dean occupied so much of the narrative space that I barely noticed Sam except as a foil to and a brother to Dean.

Now in the re-watch what is fascinating in retrospect is to watch Sam slide into ‘the life’ without a hiccup. He reads the journal, he figures out it’s a wendigo, he gets the civilians to cooperate, he also fights and saves.

And that look he gives Dean in the car?

Well, those who missed the signs in Pilot and didn’t ship Wincest from day one, surely started doing it then!

https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/supernatural-rewatch-s01e02-wendigo/

This is also the first episode that gives a clear parallel to the Sam and Dean relationship through the B plot. When Haley says she MUST go to find her brother –Dean nods in instant understanding while Sam is pissed off at having to ‘babysit.’

We see this in many more episodes in the future, and what is fascinating is to see Sam gain insights into his brother with every such parallel. To recognize what being the big brother has meant to Dean and how much he has done and given and even suffered for that. We will discuss this in more detail in the next episode review! ( Dead in the Water)

The chemistry and ease, almost a fluid sense of flow between the two actors is unmistakable in this episode. Even as Sam is really being a bitch and Dean is being a jerk, there is a definite undercurrent of something holding them together. It may be all about revenge for Jess’s death and finding Dad for Sam, but he will still stick with Dean and want to protect him as fiercely as Dean wants to protect Sam.

.

Sheila O’Malley has given a detailed explanation for the acting styles of Jared and Jensen and what she said about Jared is spot on and brilliant. He does what she calls active listening.

It is amazing how once you realize that you notice it all the time.

The reason why Dean can manage such perfect comedic timing or non- verbal communication is because Sam is always ALWAYS tuned into him. Listening, watching, reacting, observing.

Once again, for those of you interested in the meta and more erudite and informed reviews that this one 😊 do read what Sheila O’Malley has written.

Here are some excerpts which will entice you!

“David Nutter, who directed the pilot, also directed episode 2, and there’s a new DP here, the phenomenally talented Serge Ladouceur, who is still shooting the show. If the DP for the pilot, Aaron Schneider, helped establish the dark mood and horror-movie feel of the series, then Ladouceur just helped deepen and strengthen that continuum. The look of the show has changed, by Season 9. I would say that it has a more glamorous look now, more colorful, while certainly still very dramatic (even melodramatic). Supernatural is (and has been) one of the best looking shows on television.”

“The ranger comes in to talk to them, and they pose as environmental studies majors at the university in Boulder. Sam says they are “working on a paper”, clearly improvising, and you can watch the glorious schtick of Jensen Ackles as he adjusts to the new information of who he is supposed to be pretending to be. God is in the details, people, and it’s the detailed scene work of both Ackles and Padalecki that keeps this show going. David Nutter referred to Jensen Ackles once as a “meticulous actor” in terms of his preparation for every scene, no matter how small, and it pays off. He knows what the fuck he is doing. So does Padalecki. I couldn’t give two shits about the demons. It’s that DYNAMIC that is so entertaining and watch-able.”

 .

And here are some thoughts on the episode from @soulmates-for-real, my partner in crime for the rewatch 😊

Except the fact that Sam is quite secretive about his nightmares but his body language is quite open and his expressions easy to read. On the contrary, I saw Dean posturing a lot with other people, pouting, flirting, making eyes...trying to be all nonchalant. But when it comes to Sam we see a different Dean - the more antsy and angsty Sam gets, the more intensely Dean reacts to him and you can see Dean's concern shining through. Leading to Sam coming to some kind of resolution and giving Dean 'that look' at the end! 

[godkingsanointed]

A short of @border-spam 's Seifa meeting with my Eridium smuggler leader Mass (short for Massacre)

"Ur-machina,a pleasure" that wolfs smile crooned as Seifa entered the restaurants gilded doors. She'd expected a little hustle and bustle during this "discussion" but it seemed the place had been booked just for 2 tonight. She'd done her research,gone over the woman's strategies,scare tactics,knew exactly the deal she wanted here and knew she had back up of her own on call if negotiations got nasty. She was prepared for all that. What she wasn't prepared for,was the woman herself. All 6 foot of her,expensive dark suit pinstriped in gold,half open undershirt offering Sei her arm. She took a second to compose herself and smooth out the front of her backless dark red dress before accepting.

"Seifa,between friends" she winked,matching the mood and accepting the arm. She got a rich husky laugh of approval as they found their table,Mass pulling out the seat for her. "Then you can call me Mashen'ka,or Mass. Whichever you prefer My friend. You've nothing to fear from Massacre tonight." A reassurance and a reminder of her more dangerous side all at the same time,spoken low by her ear as Sei took a seat. She tried not to shivver,to hide it at least. The self satisfied smirk Mass shot her back told her she might not have pulled it off. She grit her teeth slightly,determined to regain the upper hand as the first round of drinks arrived. Mass had other ideas it seemed. "I love that dress by the way,I'm a big fan of red..." she let her eyes linger on Sei for a second,a slight bite of her lower lip to reiterate the point. "And that tattoo! Takes someone of substance to carry ink like that well." 

Sei couldn't stiffle a giggle which she'd later assure everyone else as well as herself was part of the act. "I could say the same" that one didn't work out as well as she hoped on her end. Mass only grinned wider,tilting her head up slightly and positioning her arms in display,willing Seifa to inspect her further. "I have plenty more you can't see here,not just for decoration of course". There was something almost infuriating about the level of confidence Mass exuded,but fuck of it wasnt effective. "Well-" Sei began,her best winning smile as she looked up playfully through her eyelashes,ignoring butterflies in her stomach and draw of her eyes to a tattooed chest and neck "they don't make you a saint for nothing." She felt good about that play,Mass wasn't the only one here with status.

 "Mmm,I'm aware Seifa A'rosk. Built yourself up from a...humble start,that goes a long way with me...and anyone who can climb the ranks within a family of my kin deserves respect. Especially with a mind like that..." she paused to order a second round,and inquire about any food the two might want. "We have my chef in,have to be careful you know? But ah yes- your mind" she took a sip,reveling in the blush creeping it's way into Seifa's cheeks. Couldn't give the clever ones a second to think. "Iv looked over the engine design,pulling directly from your personal digistruct stock is genius. "Course I'm not so mechanically minded as you" the smile changed to something far more genuine at that,which made it all the more effective. Sei felt herself fumble a little as she replied. "Well I mean-collaboration is...it's..my team..." she cursed herself internally,berating herself for such a rookie counter. Strangely that seemed to work best on the woman opposite.

Mass only sat an smiled,listening to her trip over her tongue,even leaning in a little closer while the woman tried to get a handle on what she was going to say. "Oh precious,your just good enough to eat aren't you?" She cooed when Seifa eventually stopped,green eyes laser focused on her now. "You know,I think you might have won me over Seifa...My boys love your guns,get into the right rhythm with them an you got stayin' power for hours you know? Always been my style." that,admittedly,was overkill. At this point Mass was just having fun,and the fact her associate here didn't even know where to look right now? She was just delighting in it. "I'll agree to your full terms. You'll get your first Eridium shipment tomorrow." She leaned back in her chair,letting the statement sink in as she sipped the last of her drink. A negotiation partner she actually had good time with and could talk rings around was worth the extra price. "I...um...great yes-" Sei wasn't exactly sure what to say,she wasn't even sure what just happened. Even if she had a follow up,Mass got a ping on their echo that caused a string of cursing under her breathe. She stood,taking a step towards Sei an taking hold of her hand. "Trust me I hate to cut this short,but could you forgive me if I go attend to some...unfortunate business?" Seifa only nodded and Mass pressed a kiss onto her hand with a wink,calling out to her as she went. "Your stay is on me,so feel free enjoy yourself tonight yeah? And Echo me if you need a drinking partner later on"

Seifa stayed put for a few minutes after she left,composing herself after the absolute whirlwind she was. That was a win...She...thought...oh god...She flagged down a waiter. she needed a fucking DRINK.