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star-spangledstud · 5 years ago

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Better Than Me (1/2)

Part two here!

Description: Based off of Doja Cat’s song Better Than Me. Steve seems to see every woman except for you.

Pairing: Steve Rogers x (Female) Reader

Word count: 2000-ish.

Warnings: Angst? Brief mentions of sex.

Your heart thumped so fast you could feel it beating in your throat. There was a lump in the back of it that made it hard to swallow, accompanied by the feeling of a dry mouth that didn’t help your case. You bit your lip harshly in an attempt to keep the tears at bay, but they still pricked in the corners of your eyes, which flew to the ceiling and focused on nothing in particular.

You were standing behind the door of your room, chest heaving and hands shaking. In fact, you didn’t even notice it, but your entire body was trembling. You were angry, so angry that it made you want to cry and at least three people had to have heard your door slam so loud it nearly came off its hinges. You knew nobody would dare to disturb you, not like this, not unless they had a death wish.

He’d brought a stranger to Tony’s party. Again. You almost expected it, but still, you’d gotten dolled up, dressed in the nicest dress Wanda was able to find for you on her shopping trip three weeks prior. Light blue satin with spaghetti straps that ended just above your knees. It was pretty, it was fucking amazing, so amazing it could only have cost her at least $1000, but she gave it to you as a present and had practically forced you to put it on. It wasn’t your style, way out of your comfort zone, but you’d hoped he would see it and change his mind about you.

A tear finally slipped down your cheeks, instantly ruining the eyeliner and mascara that had taken you nearly an hour to apply. The sheer pink sparkly lipgloss you’d used to plump your lips in an effort to make yourself irresistible had already faded from drinking too much champagne, yet you could taste the vanilla on your tongue when you once again bit into your bottom lip. Your highlighted cheekbones and nose still shone, but the light in your eyes had dimmed the second you saw them together, laughing and joking and worst of all, dancing.

He’d always told you he hated dancing. That he was no good at it, that he had two left feet that were just waiting for him to make a fool of himself on the dancefloor. Yet still, she managed to pull him along while you sat by the bar, gripping the elongated glass of bubbly so hard it nearly shattered in your fist. From where you sat, it didn’t look like he hated dancing at all. In fact, it looked like he was having the time of his life. He never danced with you.

As you plopped down on your bed, your mind immediately began to race. What did she have that you didn’t? What made her more special than you? What was it about her that he liked so much? You could name at least a thousand things that you could use to compare yourself to her, even though you didn’t even know her. Did he even know her?

Foundation, concealer, and bronzer stained your pillowcase as you cried into it, but you didn’t bother taking it off with a makeup wipe until the day after. You snorted when you realized you woke up still wearing that blue fucking dress, the dress that would make any man bend over backward for you. Any man except the one you wanted so badly.

You’d been friends with him ever since you first got recruited. He enjoyed the fact that you could show him the world, that you listened to him when he felt down and that you were always there when he needed you. You were enamored with him from the first hello, thought he felt the same way. Apparently, the only thing you were really good for was your extensive knowledge of 21st-century pop-culture and your listening ear. He should’ve expected you to fall for him with how nice and sweet and handsome and- Stop it.

He found out you liked him through Sam, who found out through Natasha. Of course, she was the first person to know. Nothing could slip by the seasoned assassin, not even your dying love for Steve fucking Rogers and naturally, Sam couldn’t keep his blabbering mouth shut. You loved the guy, but he had no filter sometimes. It could’ve been a good thing though because you’d been too afraid to tell Steve yourself. Could have, because things didn’t work out how you expected, not even after he kissed you one night on the roof of the compound. Why the fuck did he kiss you if he didn’t mean it?

Steve told you he didn’t want to date a coworker, that it would never work with how busy the two of you were and instead of trying to convince him otherwise, you agreed with him. Of course, after he’d left the room, you cried so hard you thought your eyes would pop out of your sockets and you hadn’t been the same ever since. You’d lost confidence in yourself, lost trust in your abilities to be what a man would want in a woman. Lost trust in your own womanhood and femininity.

Before, all of you would hang out together in the common room at night, watching movies, chatting about your day and playing video games on the PlayStation console. You’d have breakfast and dinner together as a family, share your dreams and plans for the day with one another, wish each other luck on missions. You were always the light in the room, or so they said. You’d make pancakes or fried eggs with bacon for the whole team, beat Bucky in Call of Duty and you’d pick movies that made even Natasha cry tears of sadness. They loved having you around, every single one of them had a connection with you.

But you just couldn’t bear to spend more than ten minutes in the same room as him anymore. The tension that only you seemed to feel hung heavy over your shoulders while he laughed trying to figure out Assassin’s Creed with Sam. You couldn’t stand it when he talked to you, tried to get you to laugh with him as if nothing ever happened. He thought you were okay with it, that you felt the same way about dating as he did. He had no idea it was eating you up from the inside because you refused to let him. You didn’t want anyone to think you were weak, even though that’s exactly how you felt.

Wanda did notice how down you were, which is why she bought you the dress. It was her idea to get over him, make him fall for you so hard he couldn’t get around his feelings even if he tried. It was stupid, looking back because Steve didn’t just fall for women because of their appearance, but it was the only thing you still hadn’t tried. Had he even looked at you once? You couldn’t remember, because you were tired and drunk and too busy wallowing in self-pity, but you hadn’t once felt his eyes on you and it hurt like hell.

Get over him was the idea, but your efforts had resulted in the opposite. The way he looked in that green velvet tuxedo, that black-tie tight around his neck and his hair perfectly coiffed, it had made you want to rip his clothes off then and there. You wanted to have the upper hand in the situation, but you were still at this man’s mercy.

“Get up,” Wanda said while pulling open your curtains with her powers, “Operation Spangles isn’t over yet.”

“Get lost,” you muttered, dragging the covers over your face further, “it’s no use. I’ll never get over that perfect dipshit.”

She ripped the sheets away in a swift motion, long hair pulled into a messy bun on top of her head and her face free of make-up. Wanda cringed when she saw you, eyes red and bags under them.

“Don’t say that,” she sat down on the edge of your bed, “You need to realize those girls aren’t any better than you and that he is in denial. It’s his loss, sweetheart, and he’s anything but perfect.”

“Is he though?” You snorted, “He’s brought back like, five girls in three months. Clearly, he can get whoever he wants.”

“Just because he can get them, doesn’t mean he wants them. Anyway, you can’t let this get you down. C’mon, get dressed.”

So you allowed her to drag you out of bed. Allowed her to take you shopping, buy you new clothes with too much cleavage and ruffles made from silk and velvet. Dresses that almost showed your ass in colors you’d never pick if it weren’t for her. You chose heels instead of sneakers, a perfume that smelled like freshly picked flowers and more of that pink, sparkly lipgloss, all with the idea that dressing up was fun. You looked like you belonged on an Instagram profile with 500k followers, not out on the streets of dirty, dusty New York City.

But you tried, put effort into your appearance as a distraction. You tried to become social again, tried to strike up friendships with people outside of the Avengers because you desperately craved normalcy. Eventually, you got good at picking out outfits and styling your hair. It became a new pastime, a new hobby to keep your mind away from the guy that was constantly near you, no matter how hard you tried to avoid him.

You began to enjoy applying make-up in the early hours of the morning with a cup of coffee and some YouTube videos to keep you company. It became a part of your morning routine. Sam always complimented you on how you matched your eyeshadow to your lipstick. Bruce said he respected you for wearing heels all day - even though you still wore sneakers when your feet got too tired. Even Tony complimented you, saying he thought you looked happy and healthy. You weren’t exactly sure if happy was the right word, but to you, it was a start. The distraction was a start.

Even Natasha told you how beautiful you were so often you eventually began to believe it. She took you to bars and taught to seduce men that didn’t mean shit to you just like she had to do during her years of training. She brought you to sweaty nightclubs with VIP tables and guest lists that contained celebrities where drinks were at least $35 apiece and where you couldn’t even talk over the sound of the music. You still thought of him, wondering what it would be like to dance with him instead of some greasy stranger rubbing his dick against your ass, but you didn’t allow yourself to ponder. He didn’t want to dance with you, so you didn’t want to dance with him, either. That ship had sailed.

You brought them back to the compound sometimes. If the alcohol flowed too freely and the grinding had riled you up, you’d whisper in their ears and they’d follow you like lost puppies. Fuck, they would follow you to Europe if you asked them to because you were irresistible and fuck Steve for not seeing it before. Most times you’d order them an Uber and kick them out before the sun had a chance to rise over the skyline, but sometimes you’d allow them to stay for breakfast followed by round two. It didn’t mean anything, it was just a hobby.

It took you months to get to that point. Months of spending money on clothes and bottles, months of taking people to lunch and getting treated in return. Months of socially distancing yourself from Steve Rogers, who eventually began to notice the shift in your personality. He missed your presence more than he realized in the beginning. You reminded him of Houdini with the way that you changed your look every day. You didn’t think he noticed when you used a new eyeshadow palette, but he did. You didn’t think he appreciated the way your body looked in bodycon dresses and tailored blazers, but he sure did.

Steve realized something, too.

They were definitely not better than you.

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im-totally-not-an-alien · 5 years ago

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Final Fantasy prompts # 31

1. Sephiroth uses Cloud as a therapist.

Sephiroth going on about his life while Cloud is tied to a chair and gagged is just hilarious to me.

2. AVALANCHE, Sephiroth and the Turks are all turned back into 10 year olds and booted, (by Aerith probably) to the Pokémon world and have to survive as Pokémon trainers. The problem? They were all separated and no one has any way to contact eachother.

(Inspired by Viincentsvalentines pokemon/ff7 post. I adore Cloud having a overprotective and murderous Shinx as a starter pokemon. I also love AC Cloud with a Luxray)

(I have a set of rules I use for the pokemon AUs if you're interested)

3. Cloud is ace/aro and is just working on Fenrir, blissfully oblivious to everyone fighting over him just inside the bar.

Those who aren't fighting are fueling the fire and making the situation worse.

In short, Reno starts a shipping war with an actual war.

There is no mercy.

Featuring: people trying to flirt with Cloud only to be full-body tacked away mid conversion, Cloud shrugging everything off, Rufus being a manipulate weasel, and Cloud choosing to "Date" his motorcycle just to get people off his back. No one is respecting Clouds boundaries or sexual orientation.

4. Cloud gets thrown back in time but loses his memory. He has no idea who he is or how he got to this snowfield, luckily this energetic, spikey haired man befriends him and is dead set on showing him off to Angeal.

Genesis had to do a double take, the blond wasn't just well armed. He was practically prepared for war. A massive overly intricate sword was the mans back, his gaze was unwavering, even when faced with the three most powerful men in the world. The redhead barely had to glance at him to tell that all the materia on him was at max level, even the supports.

"Well, my dear friend," he began, turning to Angeal, "it seems your puppy has brought home a wolf."

5. Sephiroth appears to Cloud in his apartment, intending to torment him again. Cloud doesn't seem to acknowledge him, no matter what he says or does. He even grabbed his puppet by the throat and pinned him against the wall.

Nothing. Cloud just closed his eyes and began counting backwards from thirty. The former general released him and Cloud went back to making his sandwich.

The silverette was thoroughly miffed at this point and stalked Cloud throughout his apartment as he sat down the plate of food down on his table next to a glass of water. The blond then darted into the bathroom for a moment and came back with a small orange pill bottle.

Intrigued, Sephiroth watched the blond down two pills before picking up the bottle.

He looked back at his blond, quietly assessing him as he ate his sandwich.

"So. You've been hallucinating."

6. Cloud bursts into a packed SOLDIER rec room disguised as a SOLDIER 2nd and yells, "Who knew about the cat?!" Then sprints across the room and breaks through the window, leading down to the streets below.

The room erupts into chaos.

Later Yuffie pays him 2000 gil

7. Sephiroth not understanding the symptoms of a crush while Genesis tries to teach him how to flirt.

Genesis is not having a good time.

8. Cloud and Sephiroth are trapped in a small enclosed space. So there they lay, pinned by debris, pressed against eachother, and making awkward conversation cause Cloud will be damned if he let's Sephiroth go on about the whole "Sailing the cosmos" thing again.

9. Vincent and Cloud secretly sing duets together when no one is around. Poor Barret winds up listening to them sing (and dance to) "Instruments of cyanide" (DA games version) and is thoroughly shook.

On the plus side, he now knows why Valentine always carries around those small Bluetooth speakers

10. Time traveling animal version of Cloud who reverts back into a human while being petted by Sephiroth.

"....I can explain."

11. Doll AU where Jenova creates an AC Cloud doll for Sephiroth, a CC Zack doll for Angeal, and a FF7 Aerith doll for Genesis. All of the dolls are life-sized and perfect copies of the originals. The three generals didn't know what to do with them at first. Sephiroth shoved his in a closet, Angeal sat his on the couch and poked fun at the real Zack, and Genesis layed his lovely maiden in a glass coffin filled with lillies, using her as a center piece in his home decor.

It starts with Sephiroth occasionally brushing his dolls blond hair, eventually coming to brush it every night. He became obsessed with caring for the doll, until one night, while he was laying in bed pretending to be asleep in an attempt to do the real thing, his doll came to brush his hair. He remained still while the doll lovingly groomed him. Even after the doll left, Sephiroth did not sleep.

The Zack doll...was another thing entirely. Angeals things would go missing on a regular basis. His laptop, his keys, his keycard. He couldn't tell you how many times he'd been locked out of his own apartment. The weirdest time, was just ofter he had comforted Zack, telling him that he cares about him more than any doll, no matter how lifelike it is.

Angeal had night terrors for a week strait and every pair of pants he owned disappeared on the day of a military presentation he was required to attend.

Genesis's doll has full on disappeared from her case, sometimes for days at a time. The redhead is always furious, convinced someone is stealing her. He sets up cameras, but they catch nothing. One moment the doll is there, then she's gone. He always felt like he was being laughed at when this happened, on the other hand, the flowers in the case mysteriously never wilted and new materia would appear around his house sporadically. Which was weird because he was always meticulously organized regarding his materia.

Aka Eldrich Doll au horror story slowburn.

12. Sephiroth realized his puppet was growing stronger at the same rate he was growing weaker

(Not related to no. 11 unless you want it to be)

13. Sephiroth shoving a ring onto Clouds finger and proudly declaring them married.

Cloud thinks he's gone completely off his rocker.

14. Sephiroth devolving into base animal instincts to court Cloud.

Example: giving him shiney rocks and materia, blankets, and basic food and hygene products, killing people the blond hates, complimenting him on both his looks and skills, and of course, preening himself to look the absolue best for his precious.

The best part is that it actually works

15. Vincent and Cloud cuddling in Vincents coffin. Cozy.

#sephiroth #puppet cloud #cloud strife #genesis rhapsodos #angeal hewley #zack fair #aerith gainsborough #ff7 story prompts #ff7 prompts #ff7 #final fantasy 7 story prompts #final fantasy 7 #vincent valentine #Eldrich #Doll Zack hates when Angeal leaves #he also gets jealous of human Zack #number 14: one of these things is not like the others

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new-fanfic-writer · 5 years ago

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The One I Gave My Heart To

Donatello x female reader

Disclaimer: I don’t own TMNT yet.

Y/N made her way down to the lair, eager to spend some time with her boyfriend. Between her hectic work schedule and the boys’ increased patrols, they hadn’t had much time to be together in the past few weeks; she was anxious to make things right. Y/N entered the lair and heard noise coming from the dojo. ‘They must be training’, she thought. She made a detour to the kitchen and set down the two pizza boxes she’d brought with her. She went to her boyfriend’s room, planning to just hang out there until they were done. But when she opened the door, she discovered that it was already occupied.

Y/N stood in the doorway, frozen on the spot, not fully comprehending the scene in front of her. There was her boyfriend, in bed with April O’Neil. Judging by the way the two clung to each other, the grunts and groans coming from him, whimpers and moans from her, it was obvious what was going on. The bag Y/N was holding fell to the floor, only then did the pair finally notice her presence. They both gasped and Donatello quickly untangled himself from April. “Princess…, I, I can explain…” Y/N was beyond done, she picked up her bag and left the room before she could commit murder. “Y/N wait! It’s not what you think!”, he shouted to her, quickly putting on his pants and zipping them up before hurrying after her. It seemed as if his voice was coming from somewhere far away, echoing around almost painfully in her head.

Y/N turned to face her now ex-boyfriend, arms crossed, her (e/c) eyes cold and calculating.

“I guess you’re going to ‘explain’ how I didn’t see you and April in bed together. And then you’re going to ‘explain’ how I didn’t hear her repeatedly moan your name as you fucked her. Do you think I’m blind AND deaf? Is that it Donatello?”, she asked bitingly, struggling to keep the tears that were building and trembling upon her lashes from falling down her cheeks.

She wanted to cry, she NEEDED to cry. But she wouldn’t, not here, and not in front of him, because he didn’t deserve her heart, and he didn’t deserve any sort of ‘second chance’.

Donatello struggled to say something, anything to defend himself or refute the charges she had leveled against him. “You weren’t around, April was. I wanted some company. What was I supposed to do?”, he asked, irritation lacing his voice as he tried to justify his actions.

Y/N stared at him in disbelief, he was actually trying to blame this on her. “ 'What was I supposed to do?’ Oh I don’t know, maybe STAY FAITHFUL!! And by the way, your plate is full as well. I understand that. Did I hold it against you when you weren’t able to spend time with me, when you cancelled dates and movie nights? Did I cheat on you?! NO!! But apparently, it was too much for you to show me the same courtesy!!” Y/N quickly wiped away the traitorous tear that made its way down her cheek. How could he do something like this? How could he be so cold and heartless, having no regard for her feelings? He knew about her trust issues and insecurities. He knew how hard it was for her to give love another chance, yet he managed to break down her walls and convince her to let him in. And this is what happens.

Now, as Y/N thought about it, she should have seen the warning signs: the lingering glances, the hugs that seemed to last a little too long for her taste, etc. But she didn’t want to make false accusations or appear too clingy, so she pushed it aside. Funny how it takes so long to build up trust and only minutes to destroy it.

Donatello looked away in shame. There was nothing he could say to explain himself. He had hurt her in the worst way possible.

Y/N shook her head. “I can’t believe this, I’m getting out of here. Oh, and in case I wasn’t clear, we’re over, DONE. And you can have this back, I don’t want it anymore.” She took off the purple bracelet he’d given to her on the day he asked her to be his girl and threw it at him. “In fact, I think you should give it to APRIL,” the name feeling like acid on her tongue. “She’s probably waiting for you, and it’s pretty clear that she is the one you really want. Maybe she will fall for your bullshit, because I’m sure as hell not going to anymore.” Turning her back to him, Y/N started to walk away.

Donatello’s heart began to race watching Y/N leave. He quickly took hold of her wrist to stop her. “Y/N wait, I’m sorry. Please don’t go. Let’s talk about this. I–”

Before he could finish the sentence, she swiftly turned around and slapped him hard across his left cheek, the sound of flesh against flesh echoing in the lair. His brothers began to emerge from the dojo, having heard the commotion and wondering what was going on. Shaking out her hand, she glared at him. “Don’t you DARE put your hands on me. You lost any and all rights to that when you laid down with HER,” Y/N hissed, glaring at the now fully-clothed brunette who dared to show her face, holding onto Donatello’s arm. “There is nothing to talk about. You are only sorry because you got caught. But you get to explain to your brothers why I will never come back here again. Goodbye asshole…” She turned and tried to leave again but stopped short hearing Mikey’s voice.

“Y/N wait, what’s going on? Why won’t you come back??“

“Ask your brother,” she answered quietly, not turning around. “I’m sorry Mikey, I just… I can’t b-be here any longer.” She quickly exited the lair so that they wouldn’t get to see the twin trains of heartbreak that tumbled their way down her cheeks.

All eyes now turned to Donatello and April, who shifted uncomfortably. Raphael’s golden eyes narrowed, the expression on his face a clear indicator that he was heated. “What the fuck did you do?”, he growled. Having caught the end of the confrontation, and seeing Donatello and April looking a little too cozy with each other, he had a pretty good idea of what transpired, but needed confirmation before he dished out a well-deserved ass-kicking to his idiot younger brother.

Leonardo wasn’t much better. “Donatello, why was Y/N so upset? And the truth would be nice.”

April opened her mouth to say something, but whatever she had to say was lost when Leonardo fixed his intimidating stare on her. "YOU need to leave, NOW.” His tone left no room for argument. April quickly gathered her jacket and left in a hurry.

Once she was gone, Leo turned his attention back to his second youngest brother. “Care to explain yourself?” He snapped.

Donatello couldn’t answer, turning away from his older brothers’ accusatory glares and bending down to pick up the bracelet his now ex-girlfriend had purposefully left behind. His hand came up to try and soothe his now sore cheek from where she slapped him. His eyes began to water as realization set in - he had lost the only woman who truly loved him, and there was nothing he could do to get her back.

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A/N: @moonlightflower21 @thenorthernshadow I wrote a thing. What do you think??

#donatello x reader #donnie x reader #tmnt donatello x reader #tmnt donnie x reader #tmnt bayverse #tmnt angst

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ammi-ka-shehzada · 5 years ago

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“1995. I was 16. He was 17. We saw each other for the first time in front of Copper Kettle in Liberty Market Lahore. He was a friend of my cousin’s and they met briefly while I waited next to the car. He thought I looked like a snob and I thought he seemed too chummy. So “hmph” teenage moment!

We met off and on with the cousin but never got along. Snob vs too chummy didn’t stand a chance!

1997. I was 18. He was 19.

I was in my BA 3rd year. He still hadn’t completed his A levels...moment of silence there.

I took his number from the same cousin and called him one night in June to talk about something pestering me. Something I knew only he could help with. Incidentally he was alone at home and free.

So, as fate would have it, the snob girl and the chummy boy ended up chatting the entire night. Something which is quite a heroic achievement in the times of one landline a house. That too in the TV lounge and Amma Abba’s surveillance at its peak.

Bharpoor taaliaan!

The next few days we ( separately in our own lives) couldn’t help but think of how well we got along in that one chat. It was actually as comfortable as chuddy buddies.

So. A few days later I, the cheeti ( as my sister called me later) called him again! From the same landline ( it was an orange phone I still remember that. I still remember his phone number also) and from the same TV lounge. Guess what? Yes! Another all night chat. But drop scene yeh huwa ke meri walida mohtarima aa gayeen subha 5 bajay. She didn’t exactly figure out what was happening but of course antennas were up. And Mr Rana ki to sitti gum ho gayee (which he told me later). He said he walked outside on the road at 5 am for hours panicking that I may be in trouble.

Later in the day he walked to a PCO to call and check if all is well. The phone kept ringing and shutting until I picked it up. And a voice said “Sarah?” I said “ uhh no” He said “just wanted to check are you ok?” I said “Yes”.

Relief for him.

Giddy smile for me,

And that was it.

Two telephone conversations later we were both 100% certain that we wanted to get married.

Why?

Because it was just so easy to talk to each other. We are the absolute opposites when it comes to personalities, like & dislikes, habits and general approach to things. But, we were both so sure. The kind of bond we had was special, and we couldn’t let go of it. 23 years later, this one fact still holds true.

Acha jee. Ayen na zara practical zindagi main. Jag jayen thora. 19 sala Hero A levels kar raha hai. Theek hai na? Interest kis cheez main hai? Theatre main. Operation theatre nahin. Drama wala theatre. Theek ho Gaya? Heroine BA kar rahee hai. 3 sisters and an EXTREMELY strict and conservative household. Fauji abba. Elder sister engaged. Matlab ke next in line to get married and Amma Abba completely clear on the fact that 1 acha rishta and baat done and beti ko tata bye bye. Parhayee etc sab 2nd priority.

Kher. Nazreen waqt ka pahiyya chalta raha. BA ho gaya. Lekin hero A levels main fail ho gaya. Bijlian gir gayeen armaanon par. His result came out the day my best friend was getting married. Crying my eyes out was easy because it got camouflaged behind my missing her. Everyone thought she was so lucky to have me as her best friend My Masters degree began and he enrolled in a local foundation course for an external degree.

My elder sister got married matlab tamaam topon ka rukh kahani ki heroine ki taraf. Rishtay atay rahay lekin waapis bhee bhee rahay, Shukar Alhamdullillah! Never did rejection feel so good!

1999.

He told his mother kyunke bairooni maddad ki zaroorat par chukki thee. Aik rishta serious ho gaya tha. Army Captain. I wonder where he is now...ok. Focus. His mother was super supportive. I collected the himmat to confide in my mother. Jhaar pari lekin qayamat nahin ayee. Baree hee maharat se donon walidas to milwaya. Makhan lagaya. Kiya nahin Kiya. They both said ok we will help you. Plan yeh tha ke my Ami will defer potential rishtas and his mother will bring the rishta as soon as he nears graduation and can talk to Abu with some grace.

Took a promise from us that we strictly follow boundaries.

No exclusive meetings.

No one should be able to see us together.

No compromise on this.

And we remained true to our word.

Now when I think of it I feel SO good about us. I kept studying. He tried studying and kept doing theatre. Started debate coaching with the initial pay of Rs. 5000.

2000.

My Masters done. Itni parhi likhi qabil heroine. Hero ka final year. Finally!!! Rishta aa gaya and came the million dollar question “yeh larka Akhir karta kiya hai?!” Start of a new era of daily discussions and many at times fights of Abu saying this is insane and Ami supporting me ( how sweet).

2001.

Finally a graduate. Hero found a job of 13000 Rs. Wasn’t great but I was ready to marry an unemployed man to Yeh to lottery thee. I started working. With almost the same pay...and Somehow, after two years of convincing and case pleading we got engaged on the 1st of January 2002. By far that day is, even now, the happiest day of my life. If anyone asks me that question, the first image that pops in my head is that night. It was surreal...honestly it was just meant to be. There was nothing going in our favour but somehow it happened.

Understanding yeh huwee the shadi araaam Se ho gee. Obviously hero was 23 years old!!! But dekhain, dulhan 22 kee thee na...and that’s OLD in a conservative, Punjabi family. To naya katta khul gaya na. My parents wanted it over and done with ASAP and his parents were reluctant. I can understand both sides but qeema kis ka bun raha tha? Aik saal main tension peak par pohanch gayee aur wohee huwa jo filmi stories main hota hai. Hero ko laga unn ke Amma Abba ki “insult” ho rahee hai and unhon ne mangni tor dee... jee haan!!! 🥁🥁🥁

Lekin heroine ki dhittayee par to medal banta hai. ( My sister suggested that I should talk to Abu. Matlab ke khud kush Hamla). Aadhi raat ko ja kar Abba ko jagaya aur bhaaan bhaaan kar ke dukhi kahani sunayee. Felix felicious feeling thee seriously. He heard me. And somehow promised to take care of everything. And he did. Date set ho gayee. Aglay saal ki! 365 days later. That one year was torturous. Because both set of parents were extremely upset with each other and both of us were constantly playing peace makers with one goal. Countdown to 365 days...it was exhausting!

But main ne bhoolne nahin diya hero ko ke mangni main ne jori. Jee Haan. Pehli call bhee main ne hee kee thee. I’m sure he mutters under his breath “why did you?”. Acha jee six months before the big day, Mr Rana decided to quit his job and pursue acting. Chalo jee. Naya sayapa. To huwa Kiya? Everyone discouraged him. Except me. But he wanted to satisfy his parents and went to UAE for a job hunt. Nope. No luck. Came back and announced that whatever it takes I am going to pursue my first love. Theatre and acting. And there was no turning back. Nautankee it was!Amma Abba told me clearly ke soch lo. There is no certainty or future for theatre or acting in Pakistan. All my life I’ve been answering the wretched question “So what does he ACTUALLY do?” Lekin kahan jee. Nothing hits home when you’re in “lurvvve”. He assured me that he will make me the happiest girl on earth. I believed him.

2003.

To kar li shaadi.

We were the happiest people alive. I honestly have seen VERY few couples as happy on their wedding day as we were. We were actually on cloud 9. Ready to take on anything that life brings. Anything.

Early marriage days were an absolute dream come true. We felt that all hardships are behind us and we have conquered everything in life. If we can do this, whatever life brings will be easy! Life with him for me actually meant a fairy tale. I was the stupid, naive, day dreaming princess and he was my Prince Charming, equally young and naive. He was supposed to whisk me away from a life of curfews, restrictions and boundaries to a house where I could paint the town red! From the house that didn’t allow me to laugh loudly and clap without a reason to a house where dancing to random songs was daily routine. Without any occasion or reason.

The fact that we paid for a 2 day stay at PC Bhurban with our salamis was a matter of pride for us. We still talk about how we sat down on day 3 and counted if we can stay another night, which we couldn’t and came back.

Happily.

The first few months were like a daze. With no luxuries but plain joy. We had so much fun. Just being together. Nothing mattered. Driving to work in the morning chatting chirpily, watching TV with dinner, going for groceries. Finding joy in the smallest of moments. Will our car ( a 3rd hand Alto) start or not in the morning was a daily bet of ours. The fact that our entire pay ( both) was spent completely on basic necessities was a matter of pride for us. Watching late night movies with a pizza was an absolute luxury!

I was willing to face anything with him. For him. When our car’s windshield smashed during a toofan we didn’t have extra cash. Omair won 10000 Rs at a theatre festival the very next week and we got it repaired. Drove around for days with no windshield and we still laugh about it 🙂

But things started going downhill a few months later. My super comfortable relationship with my mother in law turned bitterly toxic, for reasons incomprehensible to me ( at least then).

My 29 year old elder sister suffered a brain hemorrhage in UK and was in the hospital for months. In and out of surgeries before coming around but her movement was affected for life.

My parents and younger sister went on rotation to be with her while I stayed back because I was “someone else’s wife” now so he was supposed to take decisions for me. Finances became a big issue so I took tuitions to save money and go visit her.

Omair found a better job and kept doing some TV work on the side but it was a struggle with nothing to fall back on. My heart would be with my sister but I would act jolly because “ghar ka mahaul kharab hota hai”. He decided to study and applied to LUMS for an MBA and started preparing for GMAT, which meant greater financial stress one me. But I stood by him. He didn’t get in ( a behteri in hind sight). The constant stress affected my gynea system... I actually didn’t feel like having a child because I was just so unhappy...and the uncertainty of life, my sister’s health, my parent’s stress and his career had started getting to me. But it had been three “LONG” years, and that gullible version of me caved in to pressure and we started treatment. What followed was two years of scans and injections and tablets and all the side effects that come with it.

2007. Eventually, an IUI worked and Rayaan came along. In bitter reality Rayaan was my clean chit in the eyes of the society that I am “complete”. I did not feel any gushing love for him. Omair on the other hand was over the moon! He has not loved anyone like he’s loved Rayaan. He is born to be a father. And that was a blessing, because Rayaan got the love he deserved from Baba while Amma was busy fighting her battles. The toxic relationship with my mother in law turned unbearable, I almost had a nervous breakdown and we moved out. It was ugly.

Omair didn’t have a job at this time. We had an infant and no worldly possessions at all except my jewellery and bedroom furniture. Fun fact: I had no jahez. Omair’s family made is 100% clear that there will be no jahez. Full marks to them there.

In these 4 years the ONLY thing that kept me sane was Omair, his humour, and our friendship. In these years we became even closer friends than before. He would listen to me silently if ever I felt like venting my heart out. Mostly I tried to keep it in because I didn’t want to upset him. Just silent hand holding was so comforting when he didn’t have any words of tassalli for me. He didn’t share his stress because HE didn’t want to stress me out.(This is when I realized strongly how the man is the worst hit in a conflict between his wife and mother. Made a mental note of never ever letting my son go through this. I hope I remember this by the time that time comes)). We cared for each other as friends before anything else and kept going...We have always been more of friends than anything else.

Something that caused huge problems later because married people need to be husband and wife, behave like a couple, argue like a couple and demand stuff like a couple. But we thought as long as we can communicate openly, make each other laugh, never dream of hurting the other and never go to bed angry, all is well.

This man has made me laugh at the toughest of times and has always ALWAYS been kind. That alone is something I cannot thank Allah enough for.

2008.

This marked the year for us actually starting from scratch. I sold some of my jewellery to buy furniture (Something I confided in Omair much later and he still hates this fact) crockery and appliances. We used up all of our savings. We set up a two room portion far away from the city which we called home for two years. I remember someone bringing flowers which I put in a balti because there was no vase. Meals were on the floor. We used to leave home at 645 daily to drop Rayaan to day care ( eternally grateful to The Early Years ) and get to our jobs. I was teaching at several places and so was he. We were shuttling between jobs all day. Only to return in the evening exhausted, showered ( if we had the energy), have omelette toast and crash. All this was just making ends meet, pay rent, bills, Rayaan’s fee, basic grocery and NO savings. Eating out was out of the question. But we were SO very happy.

It was unbelievable.

Even now when we look back the two years at “26 M” were the warmest, coziest, happiest ever. I actually found out what people mean when they say money isn’t everything. I learnt to love my baby boy who was an absolute Godsend. He took his first steps on that terrace. We got heat strokes from the hot weather but still managed to smile. The first sofa set we bought was second hand, for Rs 4000, which Omair refused to give away till 3 years ago.

The beds in the 2nd room were given by a dear friend for free. We shared the bills. Since we couldn’t eat out much I experimented with a lot of cooking (Dalda ka dastarkhwan was my saheli in those days).

Sharing financial and household responsibilities was never ever a problem between us. It was always “our” money, our responsibilities. We were both fighting our separate battles of the move ( we really never wanted to move away from his parents and this was very painful for both of us differently) but we never fought over it. Everything was always so civil and so comfortable.

2010.

We moved to a better place. Things settled a bit vis a vis work. Him and mine both. Slowly the ice started melting with my in laws ( things now are 100% ok. Yeah. That also happens. A lot of the credit goes to my parents in law here. But that’s a separate post) Slowly and steadily we made a home.

Right now, I’m sitting in our TV lounge of the home we’ve been in since 2010. And when I look around, every single thing that I can see has been bought by us personally.

Alhamdullillah.

Allah has been so unbelievably kind. If I say that we have actually built a home from scratch together, it’ll be 100% true. From a teaspoon to the TV to the car. Everything. But we still remember the first 5000 he earned and the third hand Red Alto whose floor collapsed while we were driving it. Flintstones!!!!

2011. I had my miscarriage.

2012.

This was the year we lost our twins in the 33rd week.

What followed was a complete fallout between us.

Oddly enough...We were heartbroken, more for each other than our own selves. I struggled desperately to deal with everything that follows after losing a child. But I failed miserably because of my combination of “I have to be strong”, “ I should always be grateful”, and “ everything happens for a reason” and “I need to be there for him”, and “Look how much pain my sister has gone through, this is nothing”.. But my body wasn’t agreeing with my mind and I fell critically ill.

Hospitalized for weeks while doctors struggled to figure out the problem. Eventually managed to come out of it Alhamdullillah but it took its toll on our relationship.

We drifted apart although he looked after me with such care that it makes my heart melt every time I think about it. But we both knew that it wasn’t the same.

For reasons we both knew and understood but didn’t have the courage to talk about. Since we were such close friends, we both understood the other’s thinking process and we let each other be. It was like parallel lives. We came home to each other, never stopped loving each other but we started living our own lives. Professionally we both grew but as “us” we stopped moving.

Now, when I see couples making this mistake I make it a point to tell them. Ask them to talk it out. Understanding each other’s struggles and giving each other too much space at the cost of your own happiness can cause irreversible damage.

This lack of communication is something I regret in hindsight. Something that went on for years and something that caused our marriage to almost end at one point...We didn’t even talk about what we were going through with anyone either.

No One.

Because our go to person was us...to kiya kartay?

But, yet again, guess what came to our rescue? Dosti. We just couldn’t give up on the dosti. No matter how much time we spent with other people, we just couldn’t help but miss what we have.

And what we have is extraordinary.

We feel at home with each other.

And that is irreplaceable.

You know the person who can look at you and understand what you are about to say? That’s us.

Home is where your heart is, and our hearts belong to each other. Three C sections and he stayed with me at the hospital. You want your mother around at that time and I wanted him. He’s changed countless pampers, done night duties with the kids, cooked breakfast for me, cleaned, dusted, changed linen, gotten furniture poshish done, taken me shopping infinite times, waited patiently while I got my threading done only so we can take a drive together, bought sanitary napkins, taken me for Falooda at midnight, you name it. He made me open my first personal bank account and asked me to put all my salary in it instead of the joint account, he’s never asked me how much I earn, never told me I’m fat ( and I’ve been fat!!!). Always disregarded comments about how “young” he looks compared to me. Something I have let bother me for years before growing up and not giving a rat’s ass eventually.

We’ve never ever argued in front of the kids. He’s always given me the lead in parenting, trusting every single decision I take as a mother, and never made me feel bad for the bad ones (there are quite a few).

He’s never stopped talking to me although I tend to give him the “silent treatment” quite a few times. He’s supported me most in my work. Helped me through the tightest spots professionally. I have grown as a person with him. I have learnt from him what it means to truly forgive someone, to be non judgmental, to drop one’s agenda and focus on the bigger picture. People say it about their fathers, and as much as I love my Abu with all my heart, my husband gave me wings to fly and the courage to follow my dreams.

He’s actually one of a kind.

Completely secure.

Non judgmental.

Hospitable and generous to the core.

Genuinely happy for everyone’s success and happiness.

Humble.

A truly happy person who wakes up every morning to live life to its fullest!

A truly loving father.

A genuinely caring son.

An absolutely accommodating husband.

A wholeheartedly loving brother.

A friend in need.

I’ve spent years being scared of Nazar and bad luck by telling people how blessed I feel, every moment of my life, but not right now. I feel if many people will jinx this, enough people will be happy for us and make the bad nazar nuetral 🙂 I think the world deserves to know this side of the coin as well.

There ARE men who are plain GOOD men. And I have been infinitely lucky to have one of them. I may become overwhelmed with fear in a few days though. I’m unpredictable in this department 🧿

My love story is rather simple.

I simply decided to marry my best friend. My best friend decided to marry his. And we really wouldn’t have it any other way. He calls me his “best mistake”. I still can’t decide if that’s a compliment or not I consider him “my lucky break” in life.

We haven’t had a marriage which revolves around expensive presents, holiday destinations or lavish surprise birthday parties but we have a marriage which has survived the test of time. It is based on years of honesty, trust, hard work and respect. We have both invested in it. Yes I have invested a lifetime in this relationship as well. I have compromised and given in countless times. Cried myself to sleep and wept in the shower. There have been numerous ugly downs in these 23 years...but the beautiful ups have been more than numerous. The laughters are actually infinite.

Alhamdullillah.

The most important thing is that we haven’t kept any scores. Who needs to keep a score when we both get to win in the end?”

-shared by Ms. Maira Omair Rana

Copied from facebook page: Humans of Kinnaird.

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notstars-doors · 6 years ago

Text

Take Me Back To The Start

Ch. 2: Little Wonders

Dick and Wally's first date.

Both of them.

____

When Wally arrives, frazzled and windswept and fifteen minutes late, Dick can’t help but smile fondly. It’s been almost a decade, but he can always count on Wally West to be consistently inconstant. Dick had come a few minutes early, just to see if Wally’s habits had changed in the time they’d been apart – he hadn’t been counting on it. That’s why at twelve minutes late, Dick had gone up to the register to order their coffee – which he now holds out to Wally when he finally finds Dick leaning against the back wall of the café.

Wally takes the still steaming paper cup, a crestfallen look on his face as he takes Dick’s now empty hand in his own. “Dick! I’m so sorry, I-”

“Why?” He cocks an eyebrow. “You’re right on time.”

“What?” Wally glances at his watch. “You said 2:30, right?”

“Yup. Which is why I expected you at 2:45.”

“You- What?”

“We were best friends for thirteen years, you think I never planned around ‘Wally Time’? You really haven’t changed that much.”

Wally’s adorably confused, brows furrowed together in an expression caught somewhere between wanting to be offended and loving that Dick still thinks about things like that.

Dick doesn’t give him the chance to decide how to feel, instead leaning forward to press a soft kiss to his lips. Having almost definitely run here at the speed of sound, Wally’s face is flushed, his lips a little chapped and responsive as ever as he melts into the kiss. Dick smiles, breaking the kiss just as Wally starts to move in, stepping around him and using their entwined hands to pull him out of the café.

“C’mon, we’ve got a whole afternoon, let’s not waste it.”

“Okay…” Wally lets himself be dragged along, shaking his head clear from the kiss. “Wait- what the hell is ‘Wally Time’ ?”

It’s been almost a week since the two of them had their spontaneous reunion. They decided the morning after that if this was going to work, they’d have to figure out how to spend time together outside of, well, literally every other part of their lives. Away from jobs, “second-jobs”, kids, friends. Just the two of them, learning each other all over again. It was miraculous that they’d managed to find a day both of them were free so soon, but Dick counts his lucky stars that they did.

He’d missed Wally.

He’d spent eight years without him, but the second this particular red-head was back in his life, he’d started taking up more space in Dick’s mind than he’d like to admit.

Dick couldn’t stop thinking about that night. Or the next morning. Or all the things they did that night and that morning. At work, on the rooftops – all the freaking time, Wally’s dumb, wonderful smile is imprinted on the back of Dick’s eyelids every time he closes his eyes.

A coffee date is simple. It’s normal. They need something normal to start this relationship again, because nothing about them has ever been normal or thought out or planned. They’d thrown themselves into a relationship years ago, and as good as those years were, they lead different lives now. More complicated, adult lives. A part of Dick wishes that things were still as easy as they used to be, but then he realizes that their lives have never been easy. Being together had just made things bearable.

Bludhaven might be a crime ridden hovel of a city, but damn if snow doesn’t make the neon lights and dirty sidewalks just a little bit easier to ignore. The city still winds twinkle lights around every stubborn tree, hanging tacky silver stars from broken lampposts. Somehow, that small effort makes Dick love Bludhaven even more. The resilience of the citizens to find beauty and hope in the smallest things makes Dick proud to be their hero.

From the look of on Wally’s face as they walk past a barred-up window display of an ancient Santa robot, he’s clearly not as charmed by the place as Dick is.

~~~

The earbud in his left ear blasted an upbeat pop song that he knew from somewhere, but Dick couldn’t place it. It was Wally’s turn to pick a song, Dick’s expensive headphones plugged into his iPhone and volume all the way up. The song was bouncy and bass-heavy and very early-2000’s, and he’d be able to figure it out if he wasn’t burning up from head to toe. If Wally’s hand wasn’t brushing against his every five seconds. If Wally’s laugh wasn’t sending shivers down his spine and his stomach into his throat. If Wally’s eyes weren’t burning a hole in the side of his head every time he refused to meet them.

If Dick and Wally weren’t on their very first date, and if they had any idea what they were doing.

“Dude, you’ll get it by the chorus.”

Dick rolled his eyes. “You said that about the last song too.”

Wally waved a dismissive hand. “It’s not my fault you’re lame! Use that freaky Bat-memory, dig deep! I know you know this song, they played it at like, every middle school dance in America.”

“You forget that I went to a private school that played live jazz and had a mandatory waltz at school dances.”

“I’m still not convinced that Gotham Academy isn’t Hogwarts in disguise.”

They both laughed at that, their breath visible from the chill in the air.

It was cold, but not freezing, the snow drifting around them like it didn’t want to touch the ground. Gotham in December was always pretty mild, the heavy weather always hitting in January after the holiday madness. Every store window on Mainstreet was glowing with twinkle lights and shiny baubles, potted evergreens and fir trees lining the sidewalk. Giant golden stars hung over their heads from old cast iron lamp posts, and every building had massive holiday advertisements projected onto worn brick walls. This area of the city was always beautiful this time of year. Dick found most of his city beautiful in it’s own way, but he knew Wally would appreciate this Gotham at it’s best - sparkling and otherworldly and extra in every way.

Wally’s fingers brushed against his knuckles again, causing Dick’s heart to skip a beat - again - and he took a deep breath to will away the impending blush. At least it was cold enough that he could explain away red cheeks and ears, despite how bundled up he was. So much of him wanted to bury his face in Wally’s neck and soak up all his ridiculous body heat, but just the thought had his heart pounding and his breath catching again. Which was so stupid - he’d always hugged Wally for warmth, the guy was a walking space heater and Dick had never once questioned the thought of clinging to him like a koala when he got cold.

But that was before he’d realized that he had it bad for his best friend, and it had changed everything.

Even now, on an actual date and knowing that his feelings were returned, Dick couldn’t move. He wanted to reach out and touch, to feel Wally’s glowing warmth on his skin. He wanted that contact with every fiber of his being, but something inside him kept his arms tucked tightly at his sides.

Which was why the ever-graceful Dick Grayson almost tripped over his own feet when Wally took his hand and laced their fingers together.

~~~

“Why Bludhaven?”

Dick turns, catching Wally’s curious eye. He’s been staring around at the boarded up windows and triple-locked doors as they walk down a slushy sidewalk, features of the city that Dick is used to by now. Wally may have once spent a lot of time in Gotham, but Gotham is a far cry from Bludhaven even in it’s darkest times.

“What do you mean?” He asks, even if he knows.

“Why did you decide to live… here?” Wally’s voice drops ever so slightly as they pass a disgruntled looking woman, probably not wanting to offend any citizens that weren’t Dick.

Not that Dick is that offended. He gets it.

“I’m not really sure.” He answers honestly. “I came here once to help Bruce solve a couple cases, and after that it just seemed like the most natural place for me to be. I guess?”

“It just doesn’t feel like you.”

Dick ponders that for a second, then raises an eyebrow. “It doesn’t… feel like me?”

“Yeah.”

“Wanna expand on that a little?”

Wally’s friendly smile and barking laugh is out of place on Bludhaven streets. “I don’t know how to! It’s just… dark. And gloomy.”

“I grew up in Gotham .”

“Yeah, but, here feels... hopeless.”

Dick is quiet for a moment. “Maybe that’s why I need to be there, then.” He can’t help but notice the small smile tugging at Wally’s lips. “What?”

“And you say I haven’t changed.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Wally shrugs, the smile still there, but now a little sad. “You always have to put so much pressure on yourself, y’know that?”

“I… what?”

“You still put the world on your shoulders, one messed up person or place at a time.”

Wally’s looking at him now, and Dick’s finding it hard to respond when Wally’s looking at him like that . Like he knows him inside out, like he knows every crack and fault in his armour, but smiles despite it all. The look is fond, and familiar, and has his stomach twisting in an oddly pleasant way.

“Like you don’t do the same with your own city - oh sorry, cities , now.” Dick replies, his mouth a little dry so his humor follows suit.

“I have superspeed and a population of citizens who actually put effort into healthy, functioning lives. My jobs a lot easier than yours.”

Dick’s not sure if he should laugh or be offended on behalf of his city. A chuckle slips out despite himself. “Hey man, they’re doing their best.”

Wally tilts his head to the side, considering that with a raised eyebrow. “Fair enough.”

~~~

His chapped lips parted in surprise, looking down at their joined hands for a moment before finally meeting Wally’s gaze. Freckled cheeks were flushed red, the tip of his tongue licking his lower lip as he looks at Dick in anticipation.

“Is this okay?” Wally asked softly. “I’ve been wanting to do it all night.”

Dick let out a breathy laugh, wondering how on Earth they even managed to get to this point with how apprehensive they both were. He squeezed Wally’s hand, securing their hold on each other and resting his own free hand on Wally’s forearm. “Of course it’s okay.”

Wally’s smile was blinding, all hesitance gone. His eyes were shining, dark and green and wonderful, and so deep that Dick must have been falling into them, because he was moving closer to Wally now than he had all night.

His fingers toyed at the edge of Wally’s jacket, the fabric light and cold through his gloves. Wally had never needed a thick jacket, and it was something Dick envied every winter as he wrapped layer after layer around himself. Now, though, he counted it as a blessing as Wally’s body heat radiated through the fabric and warmed his hand.

The weird invisible barrier that been between them all night was gone now, that simple moment breaking the tension and letting Dick shove down that thing in his chest that kept him from reaching out.

He had unspoken permission now, the look on Wally’s face telling him everything he needed to know.

He’d almost caught up to Wally’s height at this point. The competitive spirit in him wanted to breach those last two inches just to hold it over him someday, but in this particular moment he was okay with being a little shorter. It wasn’t much, but it was just enough that when he moved even closer, Wally had to duck his head to follow him.

Which gave Dick the perfect opportunity to shove his cold nose directly into the crook of Wally’s neck.

~~~

“So, how’re Jai and Irey?”

The bridge they’re on is long and quiet, the stillness of not-quite rush hour only broken by the occasional car rumbling by. They’d both tossed their coffee cups a while back, now opting to hold hands as they come to a halt in the middle of the bridge.

The proud smile on Wally’s lips answers the question before he even opens his mouth. “They’re good. Finally growing at a normal pace now.”

“How old-?”

“Fourteen.”

Dick frowns. “Shit, didn’t you only have them… what, four years ago?”

Wally sighs, leaning on the railing of the bridge and watching the water flow beneath them. “Yeah. The Speedforce is great in some ways, in others… regardless, they’re finally living a normal life. Well, as normal as a kid hero and a former kid hero can live, anyway.”

“Oh right…” Dick had heard about that fiasco from Roy. What they’d gone through, and what Irey had done to save her brother. “How’s Jai dealing with that?”

“As well as a teenager with a superhero sister and divorced parents can deal with it.”

Dick lets out a slow breath, puffing his cheeks out. “That… can’t be easy on your end.”

Wally shrugs. “No, but nothing about our life has been easy. You get used to it. I’m just glad I get to see them grow.”

It’s a simple thing for Dick to lay his hand over Wally’s, squeezing gently. His fingers are warm even when pressed against the cold metal railing. Dick will never cease to be amazed at how warm Wally has always been.

“I’m glad too.”

Wally turns to him, a soft smile toying at his lips. He squeezes back, hearing everything that Dick means behind those words. “How’s Mar’i? I can’t believe I haven’t met her. Is she with Kori today?”

“Yeah.” Dick nods, a proud smile on his lips that he’s sure mirrors Wally’s. “She’s… a little firecracker.”

Wally snorts and rolls his eyes. “Of course.”

“It’s true!” Dick can’t help chuckling at his own bad joke. “She’s spectacular.”

“That’s what every dad thinks about his kids.”

“No no, just you wait til you meet her. You’ll see.”

Wally throws his head back with laughter, and Dick can’t help appreciating how his shaggy ginger bangs fall away from his face. There’s something warm and comfortable in his chest, despite the chill of the air around them, and the longer he looks at Wally the stronger that feeling grows.

“I’m sure she is, babe! I’m not disagreeing with you, I’m just saying.”

Dick blinks, the corner of his mouth twitching upwards. “Did you just call me ‘babe’?”

Wally pauses, his lips pursed in surprise, then shrugs. “I… Yeah, I guess. Kinda slipped out. Is that weird? To already be saying that… again?”

Weird isn’t how Dick would describe it. Unexpected? Sure. Dizzying? Yeah, that works. But weird? Not quite. It’s almost like he’s used to it. It took him to a second to even register that Wally had said it, the word feels that familiar.

“No, I don’t think so.” Dick looks down at their hands, still linked together, resting on the cold metal railing. “I mean, our relationship isn’t exactly… normal , by any means, is it? So, what’s weird for us?”

“That’s… a very good question.”

Dick leans into Wally’s side, smiling when Wally’s head knocks against his own in automatic response. They stare down at the water for a while, both a little lost in thought as they ponder their situation. Dick had never really thought about being… here. Sure, over the years, he thought about Wally. He thought about their history and how he was doing and if he should - could - send him a message or something. He’d get a pang in his chest every time he was reminded of an old inside joke, or when he passed one of their old haunts in Gotham.

But now they were together again - both literally and emotionally. Every time he even looked at Wally, a ghost of that nostalgia rushed through him. As if this isn’t actually happening. As if Wally isn’t here, and he’s just lost in a memory as he stares at something painfully familiar.

But this is happening. This is real . And Dick really isn’t sure how to navigate this strange place they’ve found themselves in.

“Okay.” Dick finally breaks the silence, his voice soft and almost getting lost under the sound of running water beneath them. “How about this…”

Wally turns to face him. “I’m listening.”

“We take this as it comes.” Dick starts, gesturing between them. “We used to date, so it’s natural that we fall back into some habits. We don’t question them.”

“Even though you just did-”

“Shut up, I’m planning here.”

Wally grins, raising his free hand in surrender and gesturing for Dick to continue.

Dick huffs, flicking Wally’ in the shoulder before starting again. “Anything… new, we talk about. Anything old that shouldn’t come back, we talk about. Our lives are different now, this isn’t going to be the same as it was before.”

“It kind of feels the same though, doesn’t it?”

Wally catches his eye again, his voice deep and quiet in it’s hesitance. Dick’s heart stutters at the sound, his mind flashing back to the first time Wally had ever asked him something like that. His tongue flicks out to wet his bottom lip, most of the freckles faded from his cheeks, which aren’t as rosy as they had been. But the anticipation in his gaze is exactly the same, and Dick feels like he’s falling.

“Better.”

The smile on Wally’s lips could outshine the sun, and Dick can’t help but lean in to catch them with his own. The kiss is soft, and sweet, and perfect in that moment.

Fuck planning. They’ll figure it out as they go along.

~~~

“Shit! You’re freezing, dude.” Wally, flinching in response to Dick’s cold skin on his, sounded mildly disappointed, but he curled his arms around Dick’s shoulders regardless.

“Not all of us burn with the heat of a thousand suns twenty-four-seven.” Dick replied, his breath wetting the crook of Wally’s neck beneath his mouth. He wound his arms around Wally’s slim waist and settled comfortably into the chest of his best friend.

“Fair enough.”

Wally buried his face into Dick’s hair, nuzzling his temple a little, and the sensation has Dick gripping a little tighter at the back of Wally’s jacket. They were standing in the middle of a mostly empty street, holding onto each other like they never wanted to let go, under the pretense of sharing a little body heat. It was dumb, and weird, and very, very them. And Dick felt like maybe this whole thing didn’t have to be such a big thing after all.

“Wally?”

“Yeah?”

Dick pulled away just enough to look at him, swallowing the lump in his throat. Wally was looking at him, green eyes curious and warm just like the rest of him, and Dick felt no need to hesitate when he spoke.

“Kiss me?”

Wally’s small gasp lasted about a millisecond before he was swooping in, Dick leaning into his touch as their lips finally met.

For as quick as Wally was to move, they didn’t crash into each other. It was gentle, and Wally held him like a china doll he was afraid to shatter, so Dick was the one to pull them closer and cling a little tighter. Wally’s hands came to rest on either side of his neck, the heat of his palms sending shivers down Dick’s spine.

It was soft, and sweet, and perfect.

Dick didn’t know where this relationship was going. He didn’t know if they were meant to be, or if they could make this work. He sure as hell didn’t know if they would be like this forever.

All he knew in that moment was that Wally was warm, and here, and all his.

Fuck it. They’d figure it out as they went along.

#birdflash #dickwally #dick grayson #wally west #dc #young justice #titans #teen titans #comics #nightwing #the flash #batman and robin #kid flash #take me back to the start #ch. 2 #writing #my writing #ao3 #my work

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phaltu · 7 years ago

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I .. have a mighty thirst ... for the continuation.. of pseudo fake relationship AU. What happens when the dust settles? Also I just want to say thank you for writing it 🙂

(fake relationship blog)

theres SO many instances where the dust has to settle, enough that it starts piling up in the corners of their shitty little apartment thats just close enough to the university to make the rent worth it. This post got away from me so I’m going to stick most of my early 2000s style rom-com-dramedy under a read more so that i don’t clutter your dash too much

The first time wouldn’t be after any of the photos or the kiss because that, that they convinced themselves they would be pretending.

The first one would be after the first video they shoot, because Keith knows he let his excitement show a little too much, knows him and Shiro could have faked it just as well, but decided to shove down his pants and asked Shiro if he trusted him. Keith’s nervous after, and Shiro gives him space for the rest of the day, mostly so that they can regroup themselves, but they end up on the couch watching a movie at the end of the night with shitty TV dinners, kind of laughing off the awkwardness of the day.

The second time would be after their second video, where Shiro blows Keith and Keith can’t help but hunch over from where he’s propped up on their chosen location, on top of the small Ikea desk in his room, and start to babble about what he wants Shiro to do to him and what he wants to do to Shiro. He paws at Shiro, and barely remembers their one rule of not saying each other’s name, but he manages to hold on. He thinks it’s going to be awkward after, because everything he told Shiro when Shiro had his mouth around him was completely rooted in his strongest fantasies, but then Shiro tells Keith that he’s never been propositioned to get fucked so eloquently before, and then gently ribs Keith about a) eating more fruit and b) remembering to pay their internet bill tomorrow

the third time is their third video, because Keith thinks Shiro’s picked up on how flimsy his excuse is. And Keith can’t control himself; Shiro’s name spills out of his mouth repeatedly as he feels him push in, feels him thick and heavy inside Keith and it’s what Keith’s wanted since he laid eyes on Shiro, so he doesn’t stop himself from begging for more, just incase this is their last time, in case this is the last straw, in case Keith can’t handle anymore knowing how it feels to have Shiro take him like that. Keith savours how Shiro lifts him up onto the bed afterwards and presses gentle kisses to his forehead and his neck and his chest, running his hands over Keith and calming him down, bringing him down from his high, and Keith tries not to burn with the knowledge that this is fake fake fake. Shiro murmurs into his neck that this brought in a lot of money, and it’s food for thought, a lot of thought that makes Keith kind of spiral so

Keith tries going on a date to distract himself, picking someone who’s the diametric opposite of Shiro, physically. The date is nice, sweet, and kind, but all Keith can think about is how they’ve pledged to their followers that if they meet their next lofty goal by the weekend, Keith’s going to ride Shiro on their battered old couch. They went even more outrageous with this goal, another one that they thought they couldn’t meet. Keith thinks about how they’re only a few more dollars away from the goal, thinks about how he’s already etched out time on his schedule to get wrecked by Shiro.

He tells Shiro about the date when he gets home, leaving out the fact that the real reason he sent them off with only a small goodnight peck on the cheek is that he’s so tunnel-visioned on the fact that he gets to bed Shiro, only as a farce. Shiro reassures Keith, though his voice is a little flat, tired from work apparently. He also lets Keith know they met their goal, and Keith can’t quite meet Shiro’s eyes, because then Shiro’s going to somehow know that Keith won’t be able to stop thinking about it till Sunday morning rolls around.

And their fans get a video of Keith straddled across Shiro’s lap, scratching nails down Shiro’s chest, barely able to move as Shiro holds him down hard and fucks up into him with a type of ferocity that reads as blindingly possessive on screen. It’s one of their most liked pieces to date, and it might have to do something with the “Whose are you?” and the “I’m yours, yours, yours, oh god-” that the audio picked up and Shiro’s decided to leave in during post-production. Keith’s on his last thread of convincing himself it’s just acting, it’s ridiculous, and Shiro tells himself that Keith’s looking for dates so it’s. Just acting.

And even though they set their next goal like it’s nothing, like this is something they’re used to by now, the dust doesn’t quite settle after that one.

(continuation)

#sheith #anonymous #answer #this is getting so away from me...#someone pls come collect me #@ whomsoever left top keith prompt....thank u sm....ur next.....#couples blog

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themelaninmamifiles · 7 years ago

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Planning for Baby: The Nursery

Earlier last month I started a “planning for baby” series which focused on things like feeding (via formula) and diaper stockpiling. Today, let’s talk the nursery. With the exception of the first few months, your little one is probably going to be spending a lot of time in the nursery. And although it’s not a requirement for you to create this space for them, for many of us it’s a lot of fun to create a cozy yet functional room for baby. Not only will baby be catching some much needed z’s in their nursery, but it can also be a great playroom, a space for nursing/feeding when they’re exclusively on the breast or bottle and will also double as their room for changing diapers and so forth. And as baby gets older, this will eventually become their official bedroom. If you don’t have the space for baby to fully have their own room, there’s no reason you can’t still carve out a little space for them in your bedroom, home office (assuming you don’t use it as a full time office) or even living room or family room depending on how your home is configured.

When it comes time to plan your nursery, it can literally be an overwhelming experience. Instagram and Pinterest may have you feeling like you have to literally do the most to prove your worthiness to be a new parent. But this just isn’t true. If you want to go overboard, by all means do so. At the same time, whether your budget doesn’t allow for it, or your aesthetic is more minimalistic, you can still create an awesome space for baby. Read on for some tips (based on my own experiences) to create the perfect space for your little one.

1. Pick a Theme and/or Color Palette

This is going to be crucial in terms of decor and color selection. For my husband and I, we’re both minimalists. We don’t like a lot of traditional overly carved furniture. And to top it off, I don’t like the “traditional” pink for girls/blue for boys. I knew from the minute I found out I was pregnant that I wasn’t going to adhere to that old school style of thinking. In a previous post, I mentioned how I opted to go with a unicorn & clouds theme plus picked a color palette of light gray, lilac/lavender, and seafoam green. Now, part of the reason I went this way is because we opted to convert my home office into Baby G’s room. And when it was my office, I had an awesome chevron gray theme going - including my chevron gray couch above which I chose to keep in the baby’s room. So, the couch became an anchor piece in terms of color & decor, and much of what I selected in terms of other furnishings and accents were done to compliment that chevron gray.

Note that my couch is currently housing some extra items that we haven’t quite decided where to put or that Baby G might not need for a few months yet.

2. Decide on Furniture

Although it’s nice to have a complete nursery furniture set, it’s not particularly necessary. And you may also not have the space to accommodate a full furniture set. In our case, it was most definitely a space issue - especially since we were keeping the couch in there. Even though Baby G had her own room, I didn’t want it to feel cluttered with furniture so maximizing space was a priority. Now, you will need a place for baby to sleep, somewhere to change them, and somewhere to house clothes, etc. In our case, the room comes with a closet, so we could put clothes (and our diaper surplus) in the closet. For us, we opted for an all in one convertible crib + changer from Graco that can go from crib to toddler bed to a full size bed (I’m a big fan of buying things that have longevity).

It came with built in storage, a set of three drawers in the changing table (where I house whatever current size of diapers + wipes/lotions/etc + any medicines) and a low drawer under the crib where I keep her receiving blankets, crib sheets, SwaddleMe wraps and zip up blanket sacks. And because I love minimalism, our crib features sleek lines and continues with the gray theme. However, we did also buy a few cubby storage systems and bins from Target to house things like books, Baby G’s short sleeve onesies, toys and other functional items.

Just keep in mind that you should absolutely NOT put the crib by a window. If your place is like ours, there are no child guards on the window. And even if you do, babies can get caught up in curtains and blinds. Just don’t do it. Also, don’t get freaked out, there’s a lot of extra stuff in the crib right now which won’t be there once Baby G arrives and I have yet to safety proof the room.

3. Decide Whether You Want to Paint or Not

I picked a color palette using paint chips, and for that reason alone I’m convinced everyone thought I wanted to paint the walls. I did not want to paint the walls. It’s a lot of work, and especially if you’re renting (which we currently are), it’s a massive pain in the ass to convert a room back to the original white/off white color. However, if you do want to paint, make sure you give yourself enough time to allow the room to properly air out. Paint stinks, and baby is going to have enough hurdles in their early days without also trying to endure paint fumes.

Now if you don’t want to paint (like me), there are fab alternatives. As someone who’s used to apartment life but hates bare walls, I am a huge fan of wall decals and wall art. Wall decals are usually made of vinyl and are as easy to remove as they are to apply. Likewise, I love wall art and use the 3M Command strips (make sure you get the ones designated to hold weight) because they’re as easy to come down as they were to put up. So, I have the “Taylor” + unicorn over the crib and the two posters on opposite short walls near the window. I still have one more wall to decorate (not shown) where I’ll put up seafoam cloud shaped decals.

4. DIY Decor

If you have the energy and are up for it, there’s a lot of cute DIY style decor options you can incorporate. I haven’t done it to date, but I know plenty of people who own Cricket productivity machines who create cute closet divider, card stock backed mobiles and other cute knickknacks to give their baby’s nursery some personality. Just make sure you give yourself enough time to complete any DIY projects as you can easily underestimate how fatigued you can get with your pregnancy.

5. Don’t Forget Functional Storage

We’ve been blessed in that our family and friends went crazy and bought us a ton of diapers and clothes. So, for the most part, I’ve bought the occasional outfit because I want to and haven’t had to even think about buying a diaper or baby wipe because people really showed up and showed out at our baby shower. Since we ended up getting a lot of clothes, my father in law installed a second clothes rack in the closet. So, I was able to place the first year’s clothes on the top rack and the toddler clothes on the 2nd rack. Likewise, I’ve put the older sizes of diapers on the top shelf - along with a few items that I just don’t have homes for right now - and NB, Sz 1 & Sz 2 diapers on the floor for easy access (along with baby wipes).

6. Remember the Baby Monitor & Carbon Monoxide Detector!

There are tons of modern options out on the market today, but whether you go old school or hi-tech wearables - this is an essential. I’m type A, and as someone who survived 2 deadly asthma attacks under the age of 5, I know how essential getting oxygen is! No matter how much I read up on the actual low statistical risk of SIDS or similar sleep concerns, I’m not comfortable with just a simple video monitor. So for me, I wanted something ultra high tech, that genuinely monitors breathing. Thankfully, I was gifted a Cocoon Cam from the brand, via my sister’s awesome connects. But originally I had the Owlet on my registry. And we do still also have a standard video monitor that a friend bought for us off our registry.

7. Acquiring Your Core Nursery Items

Hands down, the best way to acquire these items is through a baby registry. It might sound mercenary but babies are expensive and no one will begrudge you for being pragmatic about it. But also be realistic about prices and how you distribute price points in your registry. Just like with a wedding registry, the sweet spot is to keep the majority of your items under $100 and ideally between the $25 - 75 price point. Obviously things like cribs, changing tables, bouncers, swings, bassinets, gliding chairs or any other kind of furniture or electronic baby focused gadget will typically be very close to or more than $100. Be a realist, those are things that close family will most likely offer to buy you (or very good friends). I’ll do a registry post at a later date...but yeah...a registry will be your bestie for literally and figuratively outfitting baby.

Don’t forget gently used items. Often times it can be a family heirloom. We have a few frocks in Baby G’s closet that her tias & daddy wore when they were babies - including a fab christening gown. I know a lot of people put their noses up at second hand. But whether your budget requires it or someone just nicely offers it to you, don’t be so quick to turn it down. Now, the caveat to this is, if you’re receiving 2nd hand toys or furniture you absolutely must cross reference the item against the official Recall List on the Consumer Product Safety Commission website. Also, the majority of children’s product sites keep an active list of items they’ve recalled from their own portfolio. So, always double check before deciding to make it your own. Things can get recalled at any time. Specifically, you should NOT use a 2nd hand car seat. And if a crib is older than the early 2000s there’s a really good chance you can’t use it as drop side cribs are basically universally banned as being unsafe.

So, those are just some quick tips to get you started with building out your own nursery. Mine is still about 90% done as there are a few straggler items I need to re-home from the home office phase and decor that still needs to be situated. As I mentioned earlier, I’ll most definitely follow up with a registry specific post to help get people on the right track (as registries are very overwhelming)!

#pregnancy #baby nursery #nursery decor #nursery inspo #parenting #parenthood #planning for baby #baby room #nursery #nursery ideas #NurseryDecor #tales of a mommy 2 be #waiting4babyg

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jarienn972 · 7 years ago

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The Right Place - Chapter Three

This chapter isn’t quite as long as the last one, but there’s still quite a bit happening. This installment features the first of several flashbacks which will shift POV to different perspectives, each providing new insight to the mystery.

From the beginning on Tumblr: Prologue/Chap One Chap Two

Also on AO3 and FF.net

Tuesday afternoon, Portland Harbor

The drive to the harbor took almost exactly fifteen minutes despite hitting nearly every traffic light red on their way. Deputy McCallen pulled the early 2000s era faded beige or maybe pale gold unmarked Ford Taurus into the parking lot of a dated but well maintained convenience store that had at one time also been a gas station. Still bearing the weathered awning that once covered the pumps, Scott's Mart had long ago stopped selling any fuel other than propane to focus on the store and its fledgling coffee shop. Only a few blocks away from the revitalized Old Port area where many of the former warehouses had been converted to nightclubs and restaurants, this side of the harbor near the ferry terminal had clung to its maritime roots, frequented more by commuters and commercial fishermen than tourists or trendy locals.

McCallen already knew bits and pieces of the area's history both from having grown up here in Portland as well as from information Sgt. Haviland had shared with him earlier that morning. This shop's current owner was Jean Scott, the blonde haired fifty-something woman from the security video who was the third generation of the Scotts to operate the store, but first to be forced to make drastic changes to how her business was run so she could adapt to the new harbor front development. Her business survived mostly from her regular customers – dock workers, fishermen and the daily commuters arriving and departing from the busy ferries serving the outer islands. Her enviable location only a block from the terminal was predominately what had kept her business afloat.

During the drive over, McCallen had attempted to keep his questions related to the investigation, not wanting to offend Emma with unprofessional inquiries that would make him appear inexperienced, but he found that a few nagging queries just wouldn't remain silent – one of which made its way to his lips as he turned off the engine of the Taurus.

"Okay, I have to know something," he began, shifting to face his passenger. "What's the significance of the jewelry?"

"The jewelry? What jewelry?" Emma wondered, confused at the sudden seemingly irrelevant question.

"Your husband's jewelry – those ornate rings, the skull and crossbones necklace – like something right out of a pirate movie. Does he have some sort of pirate fetish or something?" His inquiry caught her so unprepared that she nearly choked while trying to suppress a giggle.

"Well, that's another really long story…," she chuckled. "I wouldn't even know where to begin. Suffice it to say he really loves the sea."

"So – no fingerprints in the system, no driver's license, a potentially disturbing fascination with pirates… I've got a feeling there are a whole lot of 'long stories' involved here…"

"You have absolutely no idea," Emma laughed as she pushed open the passenger side door and climbed out of the car while McCallen shook his head in mock frustration.

"Think maybe you'll fill me in on some of those long stories as this case goes on?" he asked as he exited the car. "Like what possessed you into making the decision to come over here with me rather than staying with your husband at the hospital?"

"That's an easy one to answer. I know for a fact that Killian would rather have me out here trying to track down the people who hurt him instead of sitting uselessly by his bedside feeling sorry for him. He'd never allow that. As for the rest, you probably wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" he mumbled as they strolled toward the shop's front door which bore a very large "CLOSED" sign even though they could clearly see the proprietor inside as she attempted to replace a broken shelf on a display case. McCallen rapped loudly on the glass which garnered an angry shout from inside:

"We're closed! Just like the sign says."

"Ms. Scott? I'm Deputy McCallen with the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department. We spoke briefly earlier and I'm here to ask you a few more questions if you don't mind, remember?"

"I've already talked to Portland PD about the robbery," the woman shouted back. "I don't know what else I could possibly tell you that I didn't already tell them."

"Ms. Scott," the deputy persisted. "I'm not here to ask you questions about the robbery per se. I'm investigating a different case – what might be an attempted homicide."

"Attempted homicide?" the woman's tone softened becoming more quizzical as she placed the shelf bracket onto the tile floor, then stood up and walked over to the door. "What attempted homicide and what the hell does it have to do with me?" she asked the deputy through the door, not yet convinced to open it for the young man and his blonde companion with the messy ponytail and a no-nonsense scowl etched onto her face.

"The man the robbers took hostage two days ago – he turned up half dead on Little Diamond Island later that day…" McCallen informed her.

"Wait – the guy in the leather jacket?" Jean Scott asked, clearly surprised as she immediately unlocked the door and pushed it open. "The good looking British guy who was here in my shop was the unidentified person they were talking about on the news last night?"

"We're pretty sure he was," the deputy replied as the shopkeeper stepped aside, now eagerly inviting both of her guests inside. "We're hoping you can help us figure out how he got out there."

"Yeah, sure…," Jean said, her demeanor completely changed now as she closed the door behind them and relocked it. "I don't know how much I can help you, but I'll tell you this much, the guy probably saved my life. Guess I owe him a few minutes of my time to try and answer your questions."

"We really appreciate it, Ms. Scott," Emma spoke up. "My name is Emma Jones, Sheriff of the town of Storybrooke," she decided to use the professional title to introduce herself to establish her relevance in the investigation. "The man in the leather jacket who was here on Sunday was my husband, Killian, who also serves as Deputy Sheriff in our department."

"Killian, huh? He never mentioned what his name was, but he kept positioning himself between the robbers and me. He wouldn't ever let them get too close," Jean stated. "Him being a deputy makes sense now. He just stayed calm and kept talking to them – kind of like he'd done it before, you know?"

"What can you tell us about that morning leading up to the robbery and hostage situation?" McCallen asked as he withdrew his notepad and pen.

"I really already went over this with the cops," the shopkeeper groaned, turning her back to them as she took a step toward her coffee shop counter in the rear of the store. "Do you really want the full replay?"

"It would be a huge help to us," Emma pleaded as Jean continued over to the counter then reached across it to press a button on her industrial sized coffee maker, positioning a large chrome carafe onto the base before plopping herself onto one of three barstools.

"Well, then, coffee's brewing…," Jean sighed. "You two aren't in a hurry, are you?"

Two days earlier

Sunday had started out as a typical weekend morning – the usuals dropping by for a cup and a chat before heading out to wherever they spent their day whether that might be work or play. It had been, for the most part, a lovely day – bright and sunny although still a tad chilly for April, but it had been exceptionally windy. She'd glanced out the front windows on a few occasions to spy her hand-lettered sign swaying on its post and watched the steel awning above the long absent gas and go area occasionally heave with a strong gust. She made a mental note to have the boys next door check it out once the wind died down, thankful that at least these weren't gale force winds or she likely would have lost a section by now.

Mid-morning was always the lull of the day - especially on the weekends. Ferry traffic slowed and customers were infrequent although usually things picked up as it got closer to lunch time when a few regular patrons would drop in for a sandwich from her cooler or just another steaming hot cup of joe to thaw their insides. Some days, it seemed as though the handful of repeat customers she had was all that was keeping her going, but Jean Scott wasn't ready to throw in the towel just yet. This was more than just a business to her – it was her family's pride and joy. The shop had stood here on the harbor, a block from the Portland ferry terminal, for nearly fifty years and Jean was now the third generation of her family to run it, following in her father and grandfather's footsteps. So much had changed down here on the waterfront in all of those years, but she wasn't ready to part with the shop just yet, never mind the constant badgering she got from developers who wanted her to sell to them. It just wasn't time for that yet.

A little after 10:30am, she'd started cleaning out one of her two largest coffee carafes in preparation for the lunch rush when she'd heard the little electronic buzzer sound that informed her a customer had entered the shop, a feature she'd recently installed for times like these when her head was buried under the counter. Alerted that she was no longer alone in the shop, she perked her head up to see if it was one of her usuals, but instead of a regular customer, she laid eyes on a man she'd never seen before. There wasn't a single thing about this man's appearance that would have led her to believe he was from this area looking as out of place on this harbor as anyone could imagine. He stood not quite six feet tall wearing a black leather motorcycle style jacket adorned with silver zippers and buckles over a neatly pressed indigo blue Oxford shirt and what appeared to be a black leather vest.

But it wasn't just his clothing that drew her attention, it was the total image he presented. He wore his chestnut brown hair short and sported several days growth of neatly trimmed stubble along his jawline and upper lip that lent to his roguish charm. She wasn't really certain how to describe his demeanor but it essentially came down to a mix of biker tough meets Harvard scholar – his air of confidence oddly captivating as he stood next to the checkout counter.

"Morning!" she called out, scurrying from behind the coffee shop counter to greet her new customer. "Welcome to Scott's Mart. What can I do for you this morning?"

"I was told by a neighboring establishment that I could get a decent warm beverage here while I await the next ferry over to Peaks Island," the man replied in a strongly accented voice she suspected was British. She could see that his face and ears were flush from the cold and wind, but he didn't seem the type to complain about a chill in the air.

"You sure can get a warm beverage here," Jean smiled. "What's your preference – coffee or tea?"

"Preference would be rum but this hardly looks like a tavern so I'll settle for whatever you've got handy."

"Well then, have a seat. I'll have a fresh pot brewed in no time," she snickered.

"Much appreciated," he responded, flashing a huge smile that would have made her weak in the knees were she twenty years younger. "Don't suppose you would know what time the next ferry is scheduled to depart, would you?" he asked, placing a paper sack that she recognized as coming from the neighboring Mac's Maritime Supply store onto the counter before taking a seat on the furthest of the three barstools – the one closest to her six foot by three foot aquarium – by far her favorite feature of the entire shop. She loved to watch her vibrantly hued tropical fish swimming around the tank as they could always calm her on a stressful day.

"There's a schedule posted on the wall to your right," she informed him, "but most of these ferries have been on the same schedule since I was a kid so I can tell you that the next ferry over to Peaks leaves at 11:25am." She circled around to the rear of the counter and retrieved an alabaster ceramic mug from the shelf. "How do you like your coffee, sir?"

"As strong as you can get it and straight black," the stranger replied with a wide grin and for the first time since he'd walked into her shop, Jean realized he had the bluest eyes she'd ever seen. Damn! Where had this guy come from?

"Haven't seen you around here before…," she started making a little small talk and flirting unmercifully as she filled the mug nearly to the brim with the steaming dark liquid and expertly slid it across the countertop to her customer.

"Thank you," he replied, gracing her with yet another amazing smile. Was this her lucky day or what? "And, no – I'm not from your city. I sailed into the vicinity this morning only to have the bowline on my mainsail snap. They didn't have the proper tensile strength line at the shop I visited out on the island so the gentleman there recommended an establishment here on the mainland."

"Not sure I'd call Mac's Supply shop an 'establishment', but he's got the best inventory in the area," she chuckled.

"Indeed. Found a suitable implement to at least get me back home – although it'll probably take me a fair portion of the afternoon to get it tied off properly again."

"So you're a sailor?" she questioned, enthralled by this fascinating new customer. "You don't look like any sailor I've seen around these parts…"

"Ah… looks can be deceiving, milady," he replied with a devilish smirk. God, this guy oozed charm, she thought… And that accent… She could listen to him talk all day, but she had to keep reminding herself she needed to get back to work before the lunch rush. And besides – a guy this good looking, he had to be taken.

"Well, Sailor, let me know when you need a warm up. I've got to get the rest of my machines cleaned out and ready to brew before the lunch crowd arrives." The man nodded in agreement as he took a tentative sip of his coffee to test its temperature before placing the mug back into the counter and reaching into a pocket to retrieve his cell phone. Jean watched him slowly typing out what must have been a text message as she poked her head out of the alcove that served as the coffee shop's makeshift kitchen. "Might have to duck outside to get that to send," she advised. "Signal tends to be pretty weak in here."

"Thank you," he responded as he stood up, phone in hand. "Appreciate the advice." Leaving his parcel and the coffee mug on the counter while the beverage cooled, the dark haired stranger took a few steps toward the store's entrance intending to make a quick jaunt outside to send his message. He never quite made it past the racks of candy, snacks and chewing gum as he found his exit blocked by two individuals wearing heavy down jackets and ski masks pulled over their faces barreling their way through the door. It wasn't all that unusual for Jean's customers to enter the shop with their faces protected from the elements, especially on such a breezy, cold day with the sea spray being whipped up by the wind, but courtesy dictated taking off said coverings once inside. Something about their body language was off and Jean Scott's sailor-in-black-leather customer instantly sensed something wasn't right.

Because these two weren't customers at all.

Present Day

"Don't get me wrong," Jean Scott continued with her story, "this wasn't my first time around. I've had plenty of experience dealing with shoplifters and robberies over the years, but something about this time was different…"

"In what way?" Emma wondered, finding herself both curious about the crime and amused at Ms. Scott's description and portrayal of Killian.

"Most of the crooks we've dealt with around here have been kids. They burst in, demand money and take off or they sneak in, shove things into their pockets while trying to keep me distracted. Either way, these guys – they weren't in a hurry. They came in, locked the door and demanded our cell phones – all before asking for any money from the register or my safe. It was odd and I think your husband picked up on something strange right away…"

"You're right," Emma agreed, "what you're describing doesn't sound like a run of the mill robbery."

Deputy McCallen had been busy scribbling away in his notepad, absorbing and recording all of the highlights as Ms. Scott relayed them and despite his limited investigative experience, he was also decidedly skeptical about the criminals' intent. Even without knowing that Jean Scott's security camera was a product of the late 1980s, their unusual actions didn't make a lot of sense. Why would they be taking their time? Delaying and hesitating would increase the probability of getting caught – exactly the opposite outcome that most criminals would be looking for. So why did they lock the door and take their time?

"Did they keep your phones so you couldn't reach out for help?" McCallen asked.

"Sort of," Jean replied, motioning toward her aquarium. "They dumped both of our phones in there. I pulled them out before the Portland cops got here, but they were both ruined. They'll probably end up making my fish sick too." It was becoming clear that this shopkeeper was more than a little bit pissed off at the whole situation and it certainly didn't seem like it was just about the money. She was taking this personally.

"I wonder if Killian tried to send me a message to let me know where he was," Emma found herself wondering. "If he'd been able to get that message through, things might have gone a little differently and you might not have been investigating a John Doe for two days. At least now I have the explanation as to why his phone kept registering as Out of Range or Out of Service Area when I tried to ping it."

"I've gotta agree – you getting that message would have helped us both out – both my case and your nerves," McCallen stated with an awkward half smile, immediately regretting his choice of words as he didn't want to get too personal again. "Anyway, Ms. Scott, what did they do after they threw your phones into the fish tank?"

"One of them was waving a gun around, barking orders at the other," Jean recalled. "The second guy went after the register and then the bossy one came toward me demanding the money in the safe. He got a little pushy with me so the guy in leather – your husband – came to my defense. He stepped between that bully and me – told the jerk to keep his hands off me and got himself a hell of a shiner in the process."

"That explains where his black eye came from," Emma sighed, "but we're still missing a huge gap of time between this shop and when he was rescued from the island…"

"Me. Scott," McCallen interrupted, remembering a detail from the security video he'd watched that needed clarification. "On your security camera footage that Portland PD shared with me, you can see one of the robbers removing something from Mr. Jones' jacket pocket. Do you recall what that item was?"

"Oh, that – it was a gold coin," Jean stated, then continued with an explanation of what had led up to the image the deputy was referencing. "We had just heard the ferry horn sound indicating it was arriving at the dock so I warned the crooks that there would soon be more customers arriving who would be really curious about why my door is locked in the middle of the day. They tried to drag me with them but your husband wouldn't let them. He told them about the gold coin in his pocket and even offered them more if they let me go. He told them he had more coins out on his boat and I guess they believed him because they changed their minds and took him with them when they left instead. Figured his coins might be worth more than the hundred bucks or so that I had here in the store I suppose."

"So Mr. Jones might have been leading them out to his own boat when they took him hostage?" McCallen speculated aloud. Emma cringed every time they referred to the Jolly Roger as a "boat" hearing Killian's voice echoing in her ear reminding her that she was a ship, not a boat. "You said he'd been waiting for a ferry?" the deputy's question continued.

"Yeah – heading out to Peaks," Jean stated.

"So it's likely that he left his boat docked out there somewhere?" McCallen theorized.

"He mentioned something about a broken bowline and came in carrying a bag of rope from Mac's down the block. I think it's still around here somewhere…," Jean tried to visually scan the haphazard mess that was her shop right now, surveying the damage done by both the robbers and the police during their investigation. It was pure chaos right now, but she spotted the brown paper bag lying on the floor under the counter. "Oh - over there. That's it on the floor behind the barstools." She pointed to the bag with its top rolled down into a carrying handle.

"A snapped bowline could have taken his mainsail out of commission making it difficult for him to get back home," Emma lamented as McCallen retrieved the bag of rope from the floor. "Well, now we know what brought him to Portland at least. One more piece of the puzzle."

"If he did leave his boat docked out near Peaks somewhere, they likely would have had to pass by Little Diamond on the way out across the bay," the deputy suggested. "They had to have had their own boat because they would have drawn a lot of attention holding a man at gunpoint on the ferry…"

"And they definitely had a gun shoved into his back when they stormed outta here," Jean reminded them of the scene that McCallen had watched at the end of the video. "What happened after they left here? What exactly did they do to him if you don't mind me asking?"

"We still don't know all of the details, but at some point after they left your store, someone stabbed Mr. Jones in the back and likely tossed him into the bay to drown," McCallen replied matter-of-factly. "We've no idea how he got to the beach, but we're pretty certain he wouldn't have survived much longer if a couple of fishermen hadn't come along and spotted him."

"Damn…," the store owner responded with a deep sigh. "Good looking stranger probably saved my life…" she repeated her earlier statement then turned toward Emma with a sincere, empathetic expression. "Please thank your husband for me. I owe him a hell of a lot more than another cup of coffee."

"I'll be happy to deliver that message as soon as he wakes up," Emma replied with a somewhat tepid, half-hearted smile. She didn't want to appear rude, but the reality of the situation had just come flooding back with McCallen's straightforward description of what might have happened to Killian. He was still lying unconscious in a hospital bed – still dependent on machines to breathe for him, but he had voluntarily put himself into a dangerous position to aid a woman he'd just met – and Emma couldn't have been prouder. Yet at the same time, that chivalrous act had left him stranded unknown and alone in that same hospital bed for two full days and she just couldn't shake the overwhelming sadness and trace of rage that she was experiencing. She struggled to maintain her professionalism, hoping Ms. Scott and Deputy McCallen weren't witnessing traces of her internal battle with her emotions. There would be a time for those to surface – when they found the men who'd wounded her husband. "We definitely appreciate all of your help, Me. Scott. Thank you for taking time to talk to us."

"My pleasure," Jean replied. "And I'm sorry about my attitude before. It's been a rough couple of days – obviously not as rough as what your husband's been through, but I'm still trying to put everything back together and get back to work. Anyway, Sheriff, I don't know where you found that man, but you've got one hell of a catch there. Hang on to that one!"

"I plan to," Emma smiled, this time genuinely as she and McCallen each shook hands with the shopkeeper, saying their thanks before making their egress to the parking lot. They'd been here just under an hour – a tad longer than she'd expected and her heart was anxious to get back to Killian's side. They were now armed with some new information though and while a huge chunk of the puzzle remained missing, pieces were falling into place. Killian had baited his captors with a doubloon and undoubtedly did have more of them stashed out on the Jolly Roger, but was he really intending to lead them out to his ship? Had he offered himself as a hostage strictly to protect the woman? Was he simply leading them away from the store before making an escape attempt? Maybe he'd foolishly thought he could take on both of his abductors – certainly not out of character for him to challenge a foe who clearly held the upper hand, or in this case, two of them. She had to believe that he'd let himself be taken as their captive in an attempt to reach a position where he would have a tactical advantage, but his current predicament meant he probably never reached that point. Somewhere along the way, whatever plan his brain had conjured had gone awry – but where? Why? How?

Those questions remained unanswered and only Killian himself would likely be able to answer them.

Author’s note: As I work for a cruise line, I'm familiar with a lot of nautical terms but since our company's fleet of ships don't have sails, I had to do a little research into something that would hinder a ship but be a repair that Killian could complete by himself. I decided on the bowline since it would be used to help keep the sail taut in the wind.

#cs ff #cs fanfic #cs fan fiction #captain swan ff #the right place

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georgecmatthews · 5 years ago

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Tracking China’s recovery and a dire US earnings season

Last week was another momentous one for economies and markets, with particular attention being paid to the economic recovery in China, earnings season for US stocks, and the Federal Reserve’s views on interest rates. Below, my colleagues from the Global Market Strategy Office and I answer some of the most pressing questions we have received from clients in recent days:

Q. Should we be worried about a rebound in infections in China?

A. David Chao (Global Market Strategist, Asia ex-Japan): Over the Easter weekend, China saw over 100 new infections. However, the majority of these were “imported” after people returned from a trip to Russia.1 Although there is a distinct threat of a second wave of infections, we don’t think it will meaningfully disrupt the economic recovery. So far, there hasn’t been a significant increase in local community transmissions — which would be a lot more worrisome. The Chinese government has also maintained strict quarantine procedures at airports and other entry/exit ports. The areas in China that have experienced the most recent wave of infections are around the Russian border and have minimal economic significance.

In short, worries about a rebound in infections are keeping China from fully relaxing social distancing measures, and we don’t expect these concerns to fully abate until other countries significantly flatten the infections curve.

Q. How slow is the economic recovery in China right now?

A. David Chao: As expected, the initial January-February economic data was awful. However, the peak of the epidemic passed during the second week of March, and the government has vigorously focused on getting the country back to work. As of the end of March, around 99% of workers at large companies and around 77% at small- to mid-sized enterprises had returned to work.2 As discussed above, some social distancing measures remain in place due to concerns about a rebound in infections, so we don’t expect a dramatic economic snapback in the near term.

Following is a review of recent data:

China’s manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for March was a surprisingly strong 52, up from a low of 35.7 just a month earlier, implying that workers have been able to get back to work quickly.3 This has been a much more rapid recovery in manufacturing than we saw during the global financial crisis (GFC) — back then, it took the PMI four months to surpass 50 after it hit its nadir of 38.8 in November 2008.3

In terms of trade data, China’s year-over-year exports fell 6.6% in March (which was significantly above the consensus expectation of a 13% fall).4 This was a marked improvement from the year-over-year fall of 17.2% seen in January-February.4 Diving down into the data, exports to the US and European Union (EU) remained weak (as orders were cancelled due to COVID-19) while those to Asia picked up noticeably (particularly in southeast Asia, Korea, and Japan). Although one month does not a trend make, it’s encouraging to see the sequential improvement — and it seems to put to rest some of the concerns that there were going to be significant supply chain shifts out of China due to the trade wars from last year and to COVID-19. I still expect exports and trade to be rocky for the rest of the year as China’s largest trading partners, the US and EU, may continue to experience an escalation of COVID-19 cases, which would sap demand for Chinese goods and hamper global trade.

China’s gross domestic product (GDP) fell 6.8% in the first quarter, which was worse than expected.5 March retail sales plunged 15.8% from a year ago, following a 20.5% year-over-year decline for January and February.5 Fixed asset investment dropped 16.1% year-over-year last month, versus a fall of 24.5% in the previous two months.5 However, industrial production was better than expected, down just 1.1% year-over-year after dropping 13.5% in the January-February period.5 We attribute that to a rapid return to work for state-owned enterprises and large private manufacturers, which was facilitated by top-down state support and relatively strong demand, both domestic and external. State mandates to hit targets for work resumption rates kickstarted factories quickly. The work resumption rate of large industrial firms reached 90% in early March.5

Anecdotally, we also track daily indicators such as coal use, traffic congestion, and property sales. These statistics have shown marked improvement over the course of March and early April.6

We think the big question now is whether China is providing enough fiscal stimulus to buffer the economy from a collapse in global demand. We expect very substantial stimulus, particularly in infrastructure spending.

Q: What is the cost of the shutdown on first-quarter earnings for the S&P 500 Index?

A: Talley Leger (Senior Investment Strategist): Assuming an earnings per share (EPS) baseline of $154 for the companies in the index, I would estimate the potential cost of the shutdown to be $3 of EPS for each week of the shutdown, assuming all of the companies are idle (based on a simple calculation of $154 divided by 52 weeks).7 Therefore, if half of S&P 500 companies were idle, an 8-week shutdown may have cost $12 of EPS. Based on these calculations, we believe a broad market earnings recession began in the first quarter with a 7% decline from year-ago levels, and will likely be followed by much deeper declines in later quarters.

Q. Looking forward, what kind of earnings decrease have stocks priced in?

A. Talley Leger: We judge that the stock market has priced in a 15% year-over-year drop in earnings to roughly $134. That’s bad, but it could get much worse if the 2008-2009 and 2001 economic recessions are any guides.

Q. What does history tell us about the peak-to-trough journey for earnings leading up to and exiting economic recessions? What about price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios in the same timeframe?

A. Talley Leger: Heading into the recession of the early-mid 1990s, earnings suffered a peak-to-trough decline of 24% over a period of 2.5 years.8 Leading up to the “garden variety” early-2000s downturn, earnings dropped 32% from their peak in the ensuing one year and three months.8 Earnings fell 57% from their peak before the deep late-2000s contraction, a trip that took two years and three months.8 Surprisingly, P/E ratios were relatively stable in the first 1.5 years after peak earnings, but valuations diverged significantly thereafter.

Q. From the start to the end of the last three recessions, what would past behavior of earnings and multiples suggest as potential outcomes for the S&P 500?

A. Talley Leger: On average, the last three recessions lasted about 12 months each9 and resulted in a wide range of outcomes for earnings and multiples. Trailing 12-month earnings in those recessions contracted 6% to 52%, and multiples expanded 12% to 30%.10 If you apply those historical ranges to the S&P 500 today, that implies potential outcomes from 1,600 (worst case) to 4,200 (best case) over the next year. The median of 3,200 would be a typical experience, implying stocks may bottom during the recession and recover the bulk of their losses.

Q. What are earnings trends looking like across countries?

A. Talley Leger: European and Canadian stocks have priced in substantial declines in earnings from year-ago levels. This is not the case for China and Japan.

Q. The price of oil has sunk to a historically low level overnight. What is happening?

A. Paul Jackson (Global Head of Asset Allocation Research): The recent drop in supply by OPEC+ does not match the bigger drop in demand that we have seen as a result of lockdowns in so many countries. And it would appear there is now a particular problem of storage in the US, which has depressed spot West Texas Intermediate (WTI). There may also be the same problem elsewhere, but the US is more siloed. Longer-dated contracts are about where I think they should be (in line with the $35-$40 long-term spot average, in today’s prices).11

Clearly, the longer the shutdowns persist, the bigger the surplus becomes. In the short term, some countries can boost demand by filling strategic reserves at low cost. The fact that WTI has had such a dramatic day is catching all the attention, but Brent is more important from a global oil market perspective, and its price has held up better.

Q. What is the probability that we see negative short rates in the US?

A. Kristina Hooper (Chief Global Market Strategist): I believe there is an extremely low chance that rates go negative. The Fed has seen the unintended consequences of negative rates in the eurozone, and Fed Chair Jay Powell has repeatedly made it clear that he prefers other monetary policy tools such as forward guidance policy and large-scale asset purchases. I believe the Fed will try to exhaust all other monetary policy tools before it resorts to something as problematic as negative rates.

Q. How long do you think the Fed will keep rates at zero? How does it begin to unwind its balance sheet?

A: Kristina Hooper: The Fed has made it clear that it plans to keep rates at current levels throughout this crisis. I believe the Fed will err on the side of remaining accommodative until it is confident that the US economy has rebounded and is once again on solid footing. When it comes to unwinding the balance sheet, I believe the Fed won’t wait as long as it did post-GFC. However, I expect it to follow a similar plan to the one it followed when it began unwinding the balance sheet in 2017.

Q. Is the European Union in danger of collapsing because of the current COVID-19 crisis?

A. Kristina Hooper: In a recent Financial Times interview, French President Emmanuel Macron warned of the collapse of the EU as a “political project” unless it supports peripheral economies that have been hit hard by the pandemic, such as Italy. While I am not convinced this will cause the end of the EU, I do believe Macron is correct in suggesting it will lead to more financial stress and the rise of more populism in the EU. In my view, there clearly needs to be a mutualization of debt or peripheral countries may suffer dire consequences. Spreads have already been widening for Italy, Greece, Portugal, and Spain,12 and the situation could get worse from here with inaction.

Q. We learned last week that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has already run out of money. Will we get another phase of fiscal stimulus in the US and will it include money for the PPP?

A. Kristina Hooper: Yes, I expect the US to get a Phase 3.5 stimulus package soon. After some political discord, it appears that negotiations in Congress have become more constructive. This phase should be focused on the PPP — with Senate Republicans asking for an allocation of approximately $250 billion for the program — as well as some allocation for hospital funding. I will reiterate that I believe this is not enough and should be quickly followed by a Phase 4 stimulus plan. However, it should be a positive catalyst for risk assets in the short term.

Looking ahead

There were several positive developments last week, including declining infection rates in some major US cities, a possible treatment that is showing signs of effectiveness, and plans to reopen the US economy. However, many questions still remain. We will get some sense of the impact of the lockdown on some major economies’ data to be released this week, including flash manufacturing PMI for the US, as well as PMI data for Germany and the UK. This will give us a sense of how significant an impact the lockdown is having on economic activity. I expect the results to be abysmal but, as we have seen in those economies hit earlier by the pandemic, a cessation in economic activity is usually a sign that health protocols are being followed, which means a recovery can begin more quickly. We will also want to follow what major economies are doing to support their respective economies during the lockdowns. In particular, I will be following negotiations in the US closely over stimulus Phase 3.5.

1 Source: South China Morning Post, “China tightens controls on Russia border as number of imported coronavirus cases continues to rise,” April 12, 2020

2 Sources: Bloomberg, L.P.; TS Lombard

3 Sources: National Bureau of Statistics (China), Bloomberg Economics

4 Source: General Administration of Customs, People’s Republic of China, as of April 14, 2020

5 Source: National Bureau of Statistics of China, “Preliminary Accounting Results of GDP for the First Quarter of 2020,” as of April 20, 2020[1]

6 Source: Bloomberg Economics

7 Sources: Standard & Poor’s, Invesco

8 Sources: Bloomberg L.P., Invesco

9 Source: National Bureau of Economic Research. Recession dates were Dec. 2007 to June 2009, March 2001 to Nov. 2001, and July 1990 to March 1991.

10 Source: Standard & Poor’s, Invesco

11 Source: Invesco calculations based on data from Global Financial Data and Refinitiv Datastream

12 Source: Bloomberg, L.P. Spreads measure the difference in yield between each country’s 10-year bonds versus Germany’s.

Important information

Blog header image: Miss Rein/ Stocksy

Purchasing Managers Indexes are based on monthly surveys of companies worldwide, and gauge business conditions within the manufacturing and services sectors. Flash figures are early estimates of the monthly data provided in advance of the final figures.

Gross domestic product is a broad indicator of a region’s economic activity, measuring the monetary value of all the finished goods and services produced in that region over a specified period of time.

The S&P 500® Index is an unmanaged index considered representative of the US stock market.

Earnings per share (EPS) refers to a company’s total earnings divided by the number of outstanding shares.

The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio (or multiple) measures a stock’s valuation by dividing its share price by its earnings per share.

OPEC+ includes the 13 members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries as well as 10 additional non-member countries.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent are light, sweet crude oils that both serve as benchmarks for oil pricing.

The Paycheck Protection Program is a US Small Business Administration loan program to help businesses keep their workforce employed during the COVID-19 crisis.

The opinions referenced above are those of the author as of April 20, 2020. These comments should not be construed as recommendations, but as an illustration of broader themes. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions; there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from expectations.

from Expert Investment Views: Invesco Blog https://www.blog.invesco.us.com/tracking-chinas-recovery-and-a-dire-us-earnings-season/

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jurassicparkpodcast · 6 years ago

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Jurassic June Highlight: Functional LEGO Jurassic World Gyrosphere Track from the Great Northern LEGO Railway

It’s Jurassic June – and that means it’s a chance for all of us Jurassic Park and Jurassic World fans to really come together and highlight some of the coolest things which our community have accomplished over the past year.

Now, any of you who know me well enough will know that I am a massive fan of LEGO – with some truly great LEGO Jurassic builds out there on the internet. I’ve seen people do it all – from intricately detailed Velociraptor Paddocks to full-scale recreations of the Visitors Centre. There really is a ton of creativity in this community.

The other day, however, I stumbled upon something which goes above and beyond – over on the Beyond The Brick YouTube channel. I have been subscribed to these guys for long-time thanks in part to my love for LEGO – so imagine my delight when a fantastic LEGO Jurassic Roller-coaster popped up! Capturing the essence of Jurassic World perfectly, I got in touch with the creators of the channel to get hold of details for James – the gentleman behind this project. Here’s what he had to say about this fantastic project:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey James, thanks for sitting down with me. I’ll kick it off light – how did you get into Jurassic Park?

Hey, you’re welcome – thanks for getting in touch with us. First and foremost, we are a group of friends and LEGO nerds from Portland, OR. We belong to a few recognized LEGO clubs in the area, specifically Great Northern LEGO Railway. We put on displays at community events a few times a year, like comic cons model railroading shows, or community/fundraiser events at museums.

One of our club members has been obsessively collecting LEGO dinosaurs for the past few years. On a whim about two years ago, we started putting a bunch of his dinosaurs out on our town display for a model railroad show. The kids absolutely loved it. Even though we had put all this effort, blood and sweat into creating LEGO renditions of real-life trains, the kids paid most attention to bunch of dinosaurs we just kind of placed around randomly on our layout. The idea grew from there, and ignited the idea of building a whole proper LEGO Jurassic Park.

I notice the great uniforms – do you guys cosplay in your spare time as well? Any involvement with other fan groups, such as the JP Motorpool?

A few of us cosplay as a hobby, but the uniforms idea came about to get attention at public events, and like most of our ideas, just snowballed. For the recent event in Vancouver, BC, we all picked roles we wanted to play – Park Ranger, Security Officers, Emergency Techs – and put together the uniforms accordingly. One of our club members, Davey Olson, came up with the standards for shirt, patch placement, etc.

We found that cosplay is a match made in heaven with LEGO. Not only do kids get to come see cool LEGO displays, but they also get to talk to a real-life Park Ranger. We really wanted to make people to get an immersive experience.

Now we are talking Jurassic LEGO – have you got all the LEGO sets?

I don’t personally, but Bob Day is the club member I’d mentioned before, who obsessively collects the dinosaurs. He has at least one copy of every Jurassic Park / Jurassic World set released, and in some cases, dozens of copies. He’s even gone back and collected at least one of every dinosaur LEGO has ever released, dating back to the early 2000s. I have most of them, but not nearly as many as Bob does.

Which one is your favourite?

I really like the set # 75932, Jurassic Park Velociraptor Chase. It was launched as part of the 25th anniversary of the original films, and you get minifigures of Alan Grant, Ellie Sattler, Lex Murphy, and Tim Murphy.

The build itself is amazing – do you have an estimate on how many bricks are in it?

Thank you! It’s a collaborative build, so quite a few of us had a hand in it. We estimate there’s probably about 150,000 LEGO pieces in.

The build includes many dinosaurs not in the ‘Jurassic’ line – can you explain to Jurassic fans where those come from?

LEGO first began releasing specialty-molded dinosaurs in the early 2000s. This would be excluding brick-built dinosaurs – so we’re talking specialty pieces like heads, torsos, arms, etc. One of the first was an “Adventurers” sub-theme called Dino Island. Most of those dinosaurs were pretty primitive-looking, without a lot of details such as printing or articulation. Later, there was an educational series that contained mix-and-match elements where you could make your own dinosaurs, such as a Brachiosaurus, from a few specialized parts. LEGO made two licensed sets in 2001 as a tie-in to Jurassic Park III, but those were primarily brick-built dinosaurs and honestly, pretty heinous.

There was a short-lived theme in 2005, called “Dino 2010,” and then another theme in 2012 that was simply called “Dino.” The 2012 Dino theme was the predecessor to the modern, “Jurassic” lines you see today. The molds were much more detailed, they had better printing and articulation, and overall, just looked a lot cooler.

Jurassic World sets first appeared in 2015, and then again in 2018, as tie-ins to Jurassic World and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, respectively.

What was the most time-consuming part of the build?

The landscaping! Landscaping with LEGO takes a tremendous amount of parts. LEGO is squared off edges and very “blocky,” so to make convincing landscaping is very time-consuming. You’ve got to put a lot of work into making it look random.

How did you go about recreating the Visitor’s Centre? Did you use lots of reference material?

That was one of my builds I contributed. I pulled a lot of reference materials from image searches online, and collect them all into shared photo albums. There are some visitors centers that people have already built and posted online on Flickr and Instagram, but I didn’t see a whole of actual physical builds – most were just built digitally and rendered. I really wanted to try to get as accurate a representation of the Visitors Center as possible, because it’s such an iconic structure.

After getting my reference materials in order –honestly, I just began free-building. I’d grab bricks I had on-hand, even if they weren’t the right color, and just start framing out how I wanted the center to eventually look. Free-building can be rewarding, but also really frustrating. I probably built and rebuilt the whole thing about 4 times.

I’m pretty satisfied with how it turned out. I really like the open back so you can peer in through the actual center itself. I’d like to do a version 2.0 and put in proper basement, and finish up the rear of the building. Then maybe have it open up in the back, dollhouse-style.

You have a great ACU Building – was this inspired by Jurassic World Evolution at all?

You caught me. Yes – 100% inspired by Jurassic World Evolution. The game has some great reference material for LEGO builds. I actually put that ACU building together in one evening.

Another great source of ideas and inspiration for structures is Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis from the early 2000s. The graphics are already a little blocky, so they translate well to LEGO.

If you could add one more thing to this build, what would you choose to add?

If I had unlimited resources and money – I would love to build an entire surround mountain range, like the mountains of Kualoa Ranch in Hawaii, where parts of the movies were filmed. It would take so many LEGO pieces to make, but it would look amazing.

If you could get one new dinosaur in LEGO format, what would it be and why?

Sauropods! Particularly a Brachiosaurus. LEGO has only released one, in the early 2000s, and it’s got a face only a mother could love. I would like to see an updated, modern Brachiosaurus to complement the other current dinosaur designs.

Where should LEGO Jurassic fans watch for your next build?

We will take LEGO Jurassic Park up to Seattle, WA, for BrickCon October 5-6. BrickCon is a LEGO fan expo / event that’s held every year. We already have quite a few new surprises in the works. You’ll be in for a treat.

James – thank you so much for sitting down to talk to us, and for taking us through just a taste of this fantastic build! There is so much to it – from the automated Gyrosphere track, to the fantastic tour train which echoes both the Ford Explorer and the Jeep Wrangler from the original film here. The team here really have packed this build full of incredibly intricate details – so I really do recommend checking it out. We will link the Beyond the Brick video at the end of this article.

For now, thanks for reading guys – we hope you enjoyed this spotlight. If you want to share your own builds with us, please do – either in the comments below, in our Facebook group or by Tweeting at us.

Take care – and enjoy this Jurassic June!

Written by: Tom Fishenden

#article #lego #lego jurassic #tom fishenden #beyond the brick #lego builders

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lovenerdywinnerbouquetfan-blog · 7 years ago

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I'm going to be starting Driving lessons soon and want to start thinking on what car to get as my first one so I can save up, though I don't know much about cars at all. So I'm looking for some advice on a good, but cheap, car (Either New or Used, if used I would like to know the general life expectancy from new in order to work out how long it will resonantly last) that will last me for at least 4 years and get me through my first Degree, I also would like it to have a fairly low insurance for a beginner driver as I am a college student, currently, and plan on doing my Masters (Starting next year) then my PHD, so I won't have a massive pot of funds. If anyone can help me I will be very grateful as I know nothing about cars, all my vehicle knowledge is of Motorbikes.""

How much would my car insurance cost? ?

Ok, I'm 14 almost 15, and when I'm 15 I will go get my drivers permit, I live in missouri, and Im pretty sure I will be getting my grandmas car. If I got a low end 7 dollars an hour job at 15, would I be able to afford the insurance on my own? my mom doesn't want me on her policy, but I won't be driving her car anyway with my grandmas car that I'll be getting. How is this gonna work, cause I'm clueless. Please help!!!!""

What does a full coverage car insurance policy cover?

If I have a full coverage insurance policy through Allstate, esurance, statefarm, progressive, or geico. I know that it automatically includes liability as well as comprehensive and collision with a deductible. But does it also cover me if I total my car in an at fault accident, does it cover me when driving a rental vehicle, does it pay for rental cars or offer discounts when my car is down or in the shop?""

How likely is it that my car insurance will go up due to this?

Haven't had a claim in over ten years Haven't gotten a ticket in probably 5 years. But, the neighbor kid did $2K worth of damage to my car with his bike in three separate incidents. Basically, half of it will have to be repainted! I'd really, really rather not go to court. His insurance is NOT an option in this case. He doesn't have $2,000 laying around. IF I go the much easier route of getting him to pay at least my deductible, how likely is State Farm to raise my rates with a, after deductible, claim of about $1500 or so? Any relevant advice/comment is appreciated.""

Question about teen car insurance?

So i have a drivers license, im 17 but i dont have insurance i drive my dads 2006 toyota tundra to school everyday. Prom is next week and its about an hour from my house and my dad does not feel comfterable letting my drive up there without insurance, so what im thinking is i can get myself included in his insurance for just that truck so i would just be an extra driver on that truck he has AAA and its $190 a month for me. So i will only need it for a month because i get my own car next month so i will get my own cheaper insurance by then, so the question is can i remove myself from my dads insurance after i pay the first month? I really need it i already have a prom date, im not missing my senior prom.""

Where can i get a car insurance policy which lets me drive any car including hire cars anywhere?

i have a normal car insurance policy in the uk which allows me to drive my own car in europe. i want a policy which allows me to drive other cars anywhere in the world

""Can you take drivers ed after you get your license, and still get an insurance discount after the class?""

I have my driving test coming up, but have not taken the class or an ODOT (Oregon Department of Transportation) approved driving course, and was wondering if i had to take it before i got my license to get better insurance rates.""

""Car insurance, they didn't take payment, was I insured?""

I have a classic car insurance policy with two cars on it, the policy started on one car but I later added a second. I have just taken the second car off the policy but it turns out ...show more""

Car insurance estimate for a 2006 BMW 325i for a 17 year old guy?

My mom is being stubborn about getting a quote because she wants to wait until i'm 18, but i don't. I live in Louisiana if that helps. Thanks a lot.""

What insurance is the cheapest a month?

for a 16 year old that drives a 98 ford explorer 4 door 4wd. 4.0L V 6. it has a lift on it i dunno if that effects it at all. i;ve looked around but all it shows is like 2 grand. and i know it aint 2 grand cause my cousins 17 and she has an 05 mustang gt. by the way i live in tn. dunno if that helps. and i have 230,000 miles. no wrecks or sitations.""

Insurance if your already pregnant?

I found out a week ago that I am pregnant. The trouble is I don't have any insurance. I want to make sure I am in good care and don't really want to go some place that will treat me wrong. Anyone know of any insurance companies willing to pick up a already pregnant person? Please help! any answers would do me good! Elaine

""In North Carolina, do you have to already have insurance to get your license?""

I am going to try to get my license sometime this week but im not on the insurance, yet. I was wondering if you had to already be on it, or if you could take the test and if you pass, then get on the insurance. B/c we already have the papers ready for it but... yeah?""

I am looking for a good insurance company. Do you have any recommendations?

I am a full time student and require more insurance than just what I can get from being a student. Does anyone know of a good insurance company for the state of NC?

Do you know of any good family health insurance plans for cheap?

I currently work in a hopital and pay only $200/month for insurance. I am pregnant with my 2nd child and thinking of cutting my hours at work to where I could no longer carry their insurance plan. We also own a small business, so my husband doesn't carry the insurance. I only have to work 20 hours a week to keep the insurance at my job, and it has awesome benifits, but I would love to be home after the 2nd baby is born. What do you think? Should I keep my insurance at work or any better ideas?""

Why is car insurance so high for young drivers?

I am 18 and currently on my fathers motor trade insurance. This covers me for anything upto 1600cc for social and domestic, you are actually having a laugh 1600cc is a joke! I can drive anything for business purposes. Recently rang the insurance to see if they would insure me on an IVECO DAILY 2.8 turbo diesel, as i was delivering some furniture to my grand parents in malta, about 1000 miles away from the uk, 2000 mile round trip. The answer i got was a blatant no, i didn't even get chance to say .8, anyway i was so pissed off i did the trip. didn't have one accident what so ever, not even a near miss when i drove to malta there and back. explain why they wouldn't insure me i really don't understand. My dads friend who is 53 years old was born not to drive a car, he has an accident atleast once a week because he mentally switches off when he drives. He drove down to germany any rolled his car times on the autobahn and i didn't have a crash or a near miss once in a 3.5 ton van, where is the common sense surely they should coin the people who litterally can't drive?""

How to get low mileage discount from Progressive auto insurance?

I know that many companies will give a huge discount on your automotive insurance premiums if you supply them with proof that you drive far fewer miles than average. I understand that the best way to do this would be to mail a copy of recent vehicle inspections so that they can officially see the low mileage driven over time. However, Progressive does not mention anything, anywhere about low mileage discounts. I have been told you have to ask for this, or else you would never know it is possible. Does anyone have any knowledge, advice, tips, etc regarding this? Furthermore, does anyone know how you would go about this specifically with Progressive?""

Insurance Prices on a Antique 76 Corvette?

I have a '76 Corvette Stingray that I will be getting soon. I'd like to know what your insurance price are for those who have similar cars. In florida a car must be at least 30 years old to be considered an antique. The vette is. Will i get any nifty insurance breaks? if you have a older antique corvette or similar car... what do you pay for insurance?

Car Insurance Honda Civic coupe vs sedan?

So I'm looking into buying a car. I'm 20 and I'm under my dads insurance. I pay 60 for being a secondary drivers for my dads van, but I want to get my own car. Would it be more if I got a black Honda civic coupe rather than a sedan?""

Please HELP! I am pregnant with no insurance?

I just found out today that I am pregnant and I don't have insurance, I own my own business so according to FL state I make too much money to qualify for medicare, which I don't, please help ,do you know any programs with the hospital where I can make payments or any other suggestion. Thank You! please only serious answers this is very important to me!""

Car insurance for teens... cost?!?

im 17 years old and im getting a miata 93. how much will insurance cost be around. by the way i have good grades

""If I get my driver's permit in Michigan, will my parent's insurance go up?""

I'm 15 years old and my mother is hesitant to let me learn to drive, however I finally convinced her. :) She said I can't get my license though because it will drive her insurance way up. She will let me get my permit though if that doesn't have an effect on her insurance cost. I looked online a little bit and some people have said a permit will alter the cost, but other say that only a licence will. So basically, will getting a permit (not licence) drive up insurance? Sorry for the lengthiness ;)""

What is the typical cost of condo insurance in florida?

I'm trying to understand what homeowners insurance woul cost in florida for a 2 bedroom condo. I'm not ready to call an insurance company. I'm looking in Ft.Myers. Just want to know is it thousands of dollars and out of my range or a few hundrend per year. Say for a 75k condo.

How do I go about getting health insurance for my baby?

Me and my husband just got married this year and found out that we were pregnant a few weeks later. We both just got jobs mine does not have insurance and his offers insurance but it will not kick in for three more months and our baby is due in one month. Right now we are both on our parents health insurance my dads includes maternity but will not cover anything for the baby after he is born. We now make too much for Medicaid but are still struggling financially. Should we wait until my husbands insurance kicks in and pay out of pocket for two months or get him on a private plan so when the baby comes we can add the baby to that private plan? Most of the plans that we can afford have like a 10,000 dollar deductible before they cover anything anyway.""

State based car insurance?

Looking for new car insurance that covers only a couple states for a cheaper price. Looking for one that covers in FL

Cheap car insurance!!?

I am paying to much money on my car insurance i really need help to get a really good cheap car insurance!! I live over highstown nj usa if anyone can help tellin me a good insure!!! Thanks for u help!!!

Clara Mississippi Cheap car insurance quotes zip 39324

""I live in MA where car insurance is very high, and my parents will not put me on their insurance.?""

I am now going to college in PA where car insurance is more reasonable, can I buy a car here register it and get car insurance here? And do I need to change my license to a PA one? College will last 9 months out of the year for four years. This would be a big savings if there is some way to do this legally. My parents will not do anything that is slightly shady. All must be legit""

Does car insurance insure the driver or the actual car?

I know that its CAR insurance but I have heard two different things - car insurance covers the car and it covers the driver. I'd just like to know which one it actually covers. Thanks!!

Car insurance?..........?

Who gives the cheapest car insurance?!

Should I drop collision from my auto insurance this renewal?

I have a ten year old Honda Civic, just over 40,000 miles, has a crack in the driver's side rear bumper that I ignore. I have an excellent driving record, no points, am the only driver, am at that age where I'm not young enough or old enough to be considered a threat, but I live in a high rate state and money is more than tight and they just shot my house insurance through the roof, even though I never put in a claim, because, get this, there is a chance that someday we may have a hurricane! Am I being pennywise and pound foolish, or am I paying for something that won't pay off even if I need it? Thank you!""

Is a 2000 Mustang GT expensive to insure?

I'm 16 and looking for a first car. I have my heart set on a certain mustang but the only thing is insurance cost. Its a 2000 GT and im going to be insured with state farm. Im 16 getting my license in 2 weeks so I know thats a big factor. Also I was trying to get some ideas about what it might cost and found this on the state farm website. http://www.statefarm.com/insurance/auto_insurance/veh_rating/ford.asp Not sure if its relevant but if it is than can someone explain what it means?

Auto insurance question in Michigan?

i am making monthly payments on a brand new 2008 colbot that i got in dec 2007. I have shopped around for cheaper full coverage auto insurance, that what i already have. I can't seem to find no car insurance cheaper than what i have. My car insurance is more than my car payment. I have talked to a few insurance companies and we went over different things that could make it cheaper. But, they can't beat the price that i already have. My credit isn't the best, but shouldn't a car payment be more than insurance? Anyone have any ideas where and how i could get a cheaper car insurance policy?""

Getting out of a speeding ticket for insurance purposes?

Is there a way I can get out of a speeding/failure to meet at a stop sign ticket? I really don't care about paying the ticket or court costs at all, but I just can not, really, really, can not pay the extra insurance money. I am paying out of state tuition AND I am in Architecture. Architecture is SUCH an expensive major. The police officer (whose name I can't even read on the ticket because it is just a scribble) gave me a ticket for speeding and failure to stop at a stop sign. I have always been a great driver, I never speed, I always stop at stop signs, I don't drink/text/talk over the phone and drive, I always have my seatbelt on. This one time I absolutely needed to get home at 2am I decide to go a little faster and yup, of course I get a ticket. I don't want to lie, I was doing 36 on a 20 zone at the time, I admit it even though I honestly did not realize I was going at 36 I didn't' do it on purpose. I didn't think hey I'm just gonna go faster because no one is around , I really honestly did not notice I was going at 36. But I am not sure about the stop sign thing. Honestly I was not paying much attention because I drive through this stop sign everyday but I distinctly remember there was a car already at the stop sign coming from the left so I HAD to stop. There was absolutely no one else coming from any of the four sides, so I might have not stopped completely but I did slow down almost to a stop and then kept going. Then like I said I was going at 36 on a 20 zone. This was at 2 a clock in the morning when there was literally not a soul around. The police officer was practically hiding in a dark, empty parking lot and came out of no where. I really don't want to make excuses for myself. I know what I did was wrong and I'll admit it. But this is my first ticket, and I really don't want t have to pay so much more money on my insurance for a slip as small as this one. My boyfriend was with mi in the car if that means anything. I really don't know, I've never had a ticket before. I've been reading up on how to get out of a ticket, and a lot of people say it is good to talk to the officer, and I thought about doing it but the officer's name is not readable at all. He also completely misspelled my name. In Puerto Rico we use both my father's and mother's last names so I have two last names. Let's say my name is X, my father's last name is Y and my mother's is Z. In Puerto Rico it goes like X Y Z and since my license is from Puerto Rico that is how it is written in my license. But the police officer wrote X Z. So my name is wrong in the ticket. I don't know if that counts for anything, someone told me that if they misspell my name or the officer's it means the ticket is dropped. This seems unlikely but hey, like I said I really have no clue. Again, I don't want to make excuses for myself, but I just can't afford extra insurance costs. I just cant...""

How much will Insurance Be ????;?

Ok I'm 22 and I'm looking for a car, It's between a: 2009 BMW X5 2009 BMW 328i 2009 Mercedes C250 2009 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 2008 Audi A4 2008 Toyota Tundra 2007 ...show more""

Do teens need insurance when they are issued their learner's permit?

And if so what is the cheapest, most discounted method to get insurance?""

How much on average is car insurance for young drivers in florida?

i'm a 20 yr old female just trying to budget to figure out how much i need to save for when I get my car. I plan on spending about 2000$ on a used car, but am trying to add in the price of tags, tax, insurance all those up front prices so I figure out how much i need to save up and how many hours i absolutely need to have per week. So, just a rough estimate like $100...$150...something like that. Don't feel like doing price check to price check online with the quotes since I have no clue on the car yet..don't want it to be anything under maybe a '95""

Insurance? Renting a car?

Hi, this is my first time renting a car. I reserved a car from Enterprise to be picked up at the airport this Thursday. It's like $15 a day. I owned a car in the past and, of course, had car insurance. Now, I don't have a car. When I pick up the car at Enterprise, what should I do with the insurance? I don't think you can drive a car without insurance, right? How much does it cost?""

About how much will basic insurance cost for a 30 year old male once the new Insurance system is in place?

right now I can't afford insurance but will be required to buy it anyway starting in 2014, I am curious as to how much it will be. As I understand it, it will be basically figured at three different levels of service and three different rates depending on your age and the coverage you want. so for a 30 year old male who wants basic coverage how much would I expect to pay? just ball park. like $200 to $300 per month? more then that less then that? this question has been deleted over and over again I don't understand why.""

Really high auto insurance rate question?

My son, who just turned 18, has a pretty extensive traffic record. Firstly he got a ticket for passing in a no passing, but he went on diversion and was clean for more than a year so is that off his record now? Secondly he has also been in 2 wrecks before, gotten arrested for possession of marijuana, and just today got a speeding ticket for going 63 in a 45(163 dollar ticket). currently the insurance for him is 190 a month which is five times higher than anybody in the family. So what should i expect the insurance to be now, and what are my options because this is a lot of money.""

How much do doctors visits cost without insurance?

I am writing an argumentative essay about the health care system in the United States of America, and I would like to know that the prices, without insurance of: A doctor visit: Any specialists: Eye Doctor: Dentist: Orthodontist: Or any doctor you can think of. Remember: no insurance.""

Where can I find affordable medical insurance as a self employed person?

I am a self employed person so I don't have medical benefits like you would if you work for a company. I am paying well over $600 a month for medical insurance coverage as a business owner. Does anyone know of a program or something that offers cheaper insurance to business owners?

How much is insurance for a 16 year old girl with good grades?

Im 16 years old and wanting to get my licence. I have about a 3.4 GPA. And im not going to take drivers ed. I am going to share a car with my parents as well.They have really good credit. With geico. How much will it cost a month?

Decent car that's cheap to buy and insure?

Hi so I'm looking at buying a car. Right now I only have around 3,000. I would rather just get a cheaper car now but if nots possible I can wait until I have 5,000. Okay so I know I'm not going to be buying a Ferrari for my budget but I'm looking for some ideas of cars that are inexpensive to buy, inexpensive to insure and one I won't get laughed at for driving. The oldest year I would go is a 1999.leave your ideas. Thanks""

Should I still be paying full car insurance ?

Hi, my car was recently in an accident that was the third party's fault but my claim is still ongoing. My car has been written off and is in the third party's salvage yard. As ...show more""

Do I need auto insurance if I don't have a car or plan on driving?

I want to get my license because it is something that I need to get out of the way now. I don't have a car or plan on driving until I can even afford auto insurance but this summer is the only time I have free to get my license. I'm 20 and in college.

Car insurance or is it?

My truck was broke into a couple of hours ago and my pistol was stolen. i called the insurance (farmers) and they said the gun isn't covered by car insurance, it's only covered by homeowners insurance, and no my truck was not at my house. does this sound right to anybody? i don't understand what full coverage means if they don't fully cover everything.""

Cheapest car insurance in uk?

Any affordable health insurance options for a 65 years old thats not eligible for Medicare?

My in laws are 65 years old and just moved to the US (legally!). Because they are not US Citizens yet, and it will take 5 to 6 years for that to happen, they do not qualify for Medicare. So my question is, is there any affordable option to get healthcare coverage for someone who is over 65 yrs old? Because my husband and I are sponsoring them if they cannot pay for a medical (or any other) bill, they will come after us and we all know how expensive cancer or even a simple surgery can be, needless to say that we are not sleeping well at night! Thanks! Sheila (your love life paramedic) www.slumberpartiesbysheila.com""

Heath Insurance like Car insurance?

I am sick of paying High prices for health insurance because of over-weight out of shape people who have all types of health problems! With that said, I believe health insurance should be more like Car insurance. If you are healthy and havnt been in Accidents then your insurance should be lower than people who are healthy, workout, eat right and dont smoke or do drugs. I no longer have health insurance because I cannot afford it. When I did have health insurance I never used it because I am healthy. Should people like me be paying less than others who dont care about their health?""

WHAT LIFE INSURANCE IS BETTER?

Should my husband get whole or term life insurance?

Lookin 4 cheap car insurance!!?

how much does car insurance cost for a new driver (17 years old) in the uk???

Clara Mississippi Cheap car insurance quotes zip 39324

Does car insurance depend on how much miles you drive?

will my car insurance be cheaper if i chose less miles on my insurance quote and how does the insurance company know how much miles i drive

""Got a cell phone ticket driving my friends car, will it raise her insurance rates?""

I was pulled over today by a cop. He gave me a yellow violation slip for using my cell phone. I was just checking traffic at a stop light! Ugh. Anyways, I was driving my friends car. And i'm trying to figure out if, my insurance rates will go up or will hers? Please help!!""

What company has the best motorcycle insurance in Maryland?

What Insurance Company is this?

I saw this commercial that had this college girl and this other guy saying how much its going to cost her breakdown car. She texted him, dude i'm a college student or something like that. Its an insurance company that covers both accidental insurance and car breakdown coverage. What company was this??""

Need new car insurance?

im with nationwide paying 3,400 per 6-months and im looking to pay less than that for 3 vehicles. what insurance companies can i look at for a cheaper rate?""

I was in a car accident that was not my fault. Does my insurance go up?

This guy in front of me backed into my front end at a stop light. We both got out and he tried compromising. I refused and called the cops and took down his plates and the make of the car. Good thing I did because he left right after I called. I think this guy may have been illegal he didnt speak english and was very eager for me to not call the cops. I felt bad but my car is really messed up. Is my insurance going to go up? If so how much?

When should I buy insurance?

I want to buy a used car from a dealer. So can I drive the car home, and then buy insurance? Or I should buy the car and insurance at the same time? First time to buy a car.""

Can i change my insurance payments?

I basically just cancelled my insurance after 12 days of having it because the company messed me about, so im waiting for my 1000 refund. But need to buy new insurance now! But don't have the money, found a quote with Swinton but the question is could i just put that i want to pay monthly and pay the small deposit then call them in a few days and pay the rest off for they year? Or would they not let me etc....Please help :(""

I pay over $950 for car insurance each year. Should I look for another company?

I am a 22 year old female, and I have a squeaky clean record. I own a 2010 Impala. Am I paying too much for car insurance? I pay the most in my household, but I have the best record. I know I am young and people expect those my age to make driving mistakes, but I'd like to know if about $1000 a year is the going rate for insurance. That's a lot of money, and I'd rather use it to save toward a master's degree...""

Why is health-care so expensive?

Just last year in CA Medi-Cal (state medicaid) stop covering for dentistry and optometry for people over 21. The total cost of my dental braces is $4550. I need them so I can fix some teeth that are misaligned. I pay $100 and it seems like its a never ending balance. I been doing this for 2 years now. I have Medi-Cal because of my SSI but that doesnt cover anymore because I am 21. My mother had heart surgery in 2007 and we still haven't payed a bill. My parents don't have any insurance. They used to have Medi-Cal but when Schwarzenegger became the governor in 2003 he made some changes to the policies and they stop having Medi-Cal. She tried applying for SSI but she keeps getting denied. The republicans should stop attacking Obama and work together to pass the health-care reform.

Will a ticket for careless driving increase your auto insurance?

I was pulled over for speeding but fined for careless driving. My parents car is insured but I'm not on the policy. Will the insurance premium be affected? How long does it take for there insurance agency to find out about the points? (We have Allstate if that helps)

How would car insurance companies benefit if the driving age was raised to 18?

And would insurance cost less? please show sources if you can

""HOW MUCH THE INSURANCE ILL BE FOR 2013, 15.000$CAR?IN CALIFORNIA?""

IM TALKING ABOUT DODGE DART 2013 ,HOW MUCH THE INSURANCE ILL BE FOR 2013, 15.000$CAR?IN CALIFORNIA.""

Car Insurance Question?

I'm looking at buying a four door sedan but I don't have car insurance. The reason that I don't have insurance is because I only have my permit. Unfortunately, I no longer live with my parents so I don't think their insurance will cover me. I've been trying to get quotes from various companies for when I do get my license but many of them will not even give me a quote if I don't have my license. Are there any car insurance companies that will offer insurance to me while I still only have my permit? I already found a car that I like before realizing my parents probably won't be able to put me on their insurance so I'm trying to figure this out quickly but thoroughly. I'd really like to get it soon because I hate driving in my parent's minivans since they are huge and I have trouble seeing out the tinted back window. So far the only option I see is to have my parents buy the car for me until I have my license (which I plan to get before December to avoid learning in the snow).""

How much should I be paying for car insurance?

I live in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, although not in the city itself. I'm 25, and I've had my license since I was 18. I've been in one accident, and the other driver was ruled at fault. I've had no traffic tickets. I have a two year college degree and good credit. I drive a 2006 Chevy Cobalt that will be paid off in August. It's currently under my parents' name and on my parents' insurance policy. Once it's paid off, they're supposed to sign it over to me. (I'm reimbursing them for the car and insurance.) My parents might be ripping me off on the insurance costs; my father bought a second truck around the time of my 25th birthday, and there hasn't been any drop in the policy costs. How much can I expect to pay for a policy in my name only with the car in my name only?""

Cheap insurance in northern ireland?

I am a 21 year old driver with 3 years no claims bonus and my insurance is still a fortune!!! is there any dealers out there that is a bit better on it??

AFFORDABLE auto insurance?

I'm 19 and I really need some car insurance. Everywhere I get a quote from requires that I pay an arm, a leg, and my first born son. Is there anywhere that won't do that? I'm currently unemployed, and I need a car to get a job, but I need a job to get insurance (this expensive insurance) for the car that I can't drive (legally) until I have the insurance. Somebody freakin' help me.""

What is the cheapest auto insurance carrier in north carolina?

""Im 33 with no job, whats the best affordable way for me to receive health insurance?""

Im 33 with no job, whats the best affordable way for me to receive health insurance?""

Washington State Car Insurance?

I am 21 years old, and I just bought a vehicle, and transferred the title and everything. HOWEVER I only have a Learners Permit. Is it possible for me to buy insurance for the car, to use it to learn to drive prior to licensing? I don't have a spouse or parent with a car or auto insurance, so that is out of the options.""

How come im being quoted over 5000 for insurance?

im 20 years old and i am looking at buying my first car i have been looking at all sorts of cars from new to old staying well within the 1.0 -1.2ltr engines but i still cant get a quote lower than 5000... why is this, when i know 17 year olds that are getting quotes for 1.2 corsas @ 1500... am i doing something wrong? need to knows; im 20 i have a full UK licence i passed my test in febuary 2012 i have a full time job, not married any help would be great""

When my boyfriend turned 18 he lost his health insurance. where can he get health insurance at?

He doesn't see the importance of it, but I know he needs it. dental and health insurance. He doesn't make a lot of money either.""

Is there a website that has Arizona Auto Insurance Questions that I can study for my test?

Is there a website that has Arizona Auto Insurance Questions that I can study for my test? I have my test next week and need to get some questions to get prepared!

""If i become knighted, will my car insurance costs be lower?""

If i become knighted, will my car insurance costs be lower?""

How much does the insurance of a normal car compare to that of an lgv/ hgv?

I'm thinking of converting a vehicle into a mobile home; of course if I can get more space for a similar price on insurance that would be great. I'm just looking for averages, I'm not a particularly high earner but if I know where i stand I have more of a chance making it realistically. Please don't answer i don't know or something similar that's just irritating. Thanks if u can answer though :)""

Clara Mississippi Cheap car insurance quotes zip 39324

Low Income Health Insurance in Alaska?

I have been asked to find low income health insurance for my parents who live in Alaska. I don't even know where to start. Does anyone know where I might be able to get any information?

What happens if your car is totaled in an accident and the Insurance company wants to pay less than you owe?

The guy that hit my car was at fault and cited by the police. Now his Insurance company wants to total my acr and give me 1300 less than i owe. This seems wrong.

What the best insurance company for me?

so I'm 19 and havn't have my licence very long and I drive a race car... but I want good cheap insurance like allstate or statefarm I'm looking for good coustomer service that makes me feel safe... so whats the word... any coustomer service stories?

What is car insurance for a first time driver?

Okay i am 18 and have never had my license before and am going to be getting it at the end of this month...soon we are going to start getting insurace quotes for my car, we have been talking about what would be the best way to go about getting the cheapest insurance...so would it be best to put the car in my name but then just be added to my parents insurance and have me as the primary driver OR would it make a difference if we put the car in one of my parents name and then had me listed as the secondary driver for the car ? OR maybe you know a better way to go about this please give me all the advice you know about this! thanks""

Insurance question: Will my medical bill be covered?

So, I have a motorcycle and fell on it because of a surprise front tire blow out. I do not have a M1 license or motorcycle insurance. I am fine and when i fell I picked my bike up and had my friend tow me back home. No authorities were involved. I then proceed to go to the ER. I went and told them it was from me falling on a motorcycle. They didn't ask any questions in relation to my motorcycle credentials. My question is; will my insurance pay for my hospital visit? Or will they check and see if I am even qualified to ride a motorcycle. And if they see that I am not licensed will they not pay for my bill?""

Car insurance?

So im thinking of getting a car... but im 16 so i know insurance is gonna be insane, and im in MA so its mandatory. Anyways from what i understand it cost way less to get added to your parents policy. But can i do that if im not driving their car, but my own car i bought (not yet)? I cant buy the car in their name... has to be in mine...""

Isn't the real problem causing a health care crisis in USA that cost of healthcare/insurance is too high?

Health care costs are out of control and so is the cost to insure. Because of the high cost of insurance many employers no longer offer what used to be a very common employee benefit. So now we millions of americans who are uninsured because they cant afford to go out and pay 600, 700,800, 900 dollars a month for private health insurance coverage. The rich and the fortunate ones with group insurance are taken care of. The ones who dont work and are on medicaid are taken care of, but the ones who are above the poverty line and work but are struggling as it is to make ends meet cannot afford the high insurance premiums and are left uninsured. We need to find a way to make health insurance and health care more affordable ..this is how people will get insurance on their own and the government will not have to tax us more to provide more free health care.""

What is ment by term life insurance?

whole life insurance term life insurance

""Female, over 25, 9 years driving experience needs CHEAP CAR INSURANCE?""

Hi, my previous insurance was less than 350.00 for third party, fire and theft (in london). My new car is similar but I am getting quotes for 800+ for third party fire and theft. This is ridiculous. I am in my late twenties and have been driving almost 10 years. I would really appreciate names of small insurance brokers. 10 points.""

Car Insurance Quote so high?

I'm an experienced driver here in Ontario Canada. I'm 26 years old and own a full G level driving license. My record is clean. I'm looking to get my first insurance coverage, with a used Toyota Sienna CE 2005. I would be the sole owner of the vehicle and only driver for the most part. Wont even be driving too often. However, I got two quotes and they are outrageous. about $350 a month for only liability coverage and the other even more. How come a clean record first time insuree ca get such bloated quotes?""

Will making two collision claims (one major/ one minor ) within a 6 month period raise my auto insurance rates

I've never made a claim before this first one, a deer ran in front of my car and caused severe damage. Now five months later someone hit my car in parking lot (I think) nothing major just a 6 black mark that pushed the body in a bit. Will they raise my rates? If so then I would just go a get it fixed and pay for it all out of pocket.""

I'm 21! I'm getting kicked off my parents insurance here in a month? Whats the best place to go find insurance

I would go through my work but i'm leaving by the time i can get on. So i've looked on the net but i haven't found anything that great. I'm also and asmathic so i need medication every month. Any help?? :D

Who offers affordable home owners insurance in south florida?

trying to buy a house in south florida and I need a good and affordable company for my home owners ins.

Any body know the cheapest place to insure a 17 year old driver?

My 17 year old son just passed his driving test and would like to buy a car. This wouldn't be too much of a problem but the insurance quotes we have had are unbelievably high. The cheapest quote has been 4300 with some companies refusing to quote at all. Some of his friends have told him they pay around 2500 because they have a 'box' fitted which monitors their driving. The co-operative was recommended for this but when I got an online quote from them it was 7,500 with the box. Help!!!! Anyone have any ideas?""

CAR INSURANCE. Cheaper car insurance?

There are 3 drivers in our house (Dad, me and my brother) and two cars (usualy 3), is there a cheaper way to insure all of us on all the cars?""

How much was insurance when you got your first car (UK)?

I know that it is extremely high just after you pass and insurance depends on other things like job and where you live, cos I want to get a car but I have been quoted over 1000 and that's with my parents added as well.""

My daughter wants me to put car insurance in my name?

she wants me to put car insurance in my name for her husband he cant do it cause it would cost alot he has alot of speeding tickets and a dui plus he has lost his driver licenses my record is perfect what do you think i didn't even know you can do that im in ohio

Im a 20 year old male and im thinking about getting my first motorcycle. I need suggestions.?

Like i said im a 20 year old student looking into getting a bike. Most of my friends have them and they tell me how much they enjoy riding so i'd like to take up the hobby and ...show more

How much will it cost to insure a motorbike such as cbr600f if im 23 and just passed my test?

And are there ways of cheapening the cost - I really have no clue of how much motorbikes cost to insure. the cbr600f is group 14,which sounds reasonable. Can i lump the insurance with a car thats group 11? i live in the uk.""

How do I know what value to put on my home insurance?

I have a flat in London that I want to insure. The flat is 64 metres squared and is 100 years old. The market value is about 200,000 to 210,000. A similar flat, in my town, in the North is valued at about 100 000 One would assume that the insurable value would be less for than the market value in London. My question is for what value should I insure the flat in London?""

What is a good cheap auto insurance?

i have progressive right now and its almost 300 cause i have a new car..are there ne others that are cheaper but have a good policy??? i live in kentucky

How do I get secondary health insurance?

I'm a full time graduate student currently receiving health insurance through my parents. However, my coverage sucks and I would like to purchase secondary insurance. I looked through all the different plans on einsurance.com (united, humana atena, etc), but when I called they told me that I can't purchase it when I already have insurance. I did some searches for secondary health insurance, but I can't find companies specifically for secondary insurance. It seems that I should be able to purchase any type of insurance I want and that the secondary company should pick up some of what my primary doesn't. Right?""

I have a question about health insurance?

I have a 4 year old daughter,I have joint legal custody,my daughter has health insurance with her mother,is possible to have a secondary health insurance?""

How much would I pay for car insurance?

I am a male, 24 years old (turn 25 in july), student.... what is the cheapest car insurance you think I can get?""

How do you insure a used car from a private party on the way home?

If i buy a used car from a private party a few hundred miles from me how do i legally drive the car back to be registered in my state of PA. I called insurance company and they said they cant give me coverage until it is registered however the person who owns the car from when i buy it from them should have insurance to cover me on the way back. Is this true?

Clara Mississippi Cheap car insurance quotes zip 39324

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/australia-what-normal-procedure-car-accident-without-jonathan-morales/"

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ground5 · 7 years ago

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5 Mistakes Small Businesses Make When Leasing Office Space

It’s quite common for small business and entrepreneurs looking for office space for the first time to go about things in a backwards, and often foolish way. Owners and decision makers often make several key mistakes that can end up costing them significantly down the line and can even cripple their growth rate. Because office rent is the second highest expense that the vast majority of companies incur, doing things the wrong way leading up to signing on the dotted line can be devastating, especially for a young company or start up.

Here are some of the key mistakes that are made: 1. Impulse Decisions Renting space for a business is a huge decision, not only financially but emotionally as well. We spend over one half of our waking lives at our work place, so it’s paramount to pick the most suitable space, building, and location. This is not something that should be decided on over the course of an hour or even a day, so prospective tenants must leave emotion at the door when they tour spaces and avoid being “wooed” by landlord agents’ attempts to close you on the spot. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || ).push({}); 2. Solely Relying On Listings It’s very easy to simply Google “office space in city X” and view several sites, which contain nothing more than available space listings. While listings are a decent teaser and a good way to gauge the market on a high level, the information provided with each listing is not only inadequate, it’s also frequently widely inaccurate. Landlords want nothing more than for a business owner to view a listing, go directly to the property, and give the leasing agent the opportunity do everything they can to convince him/her that they need to sign a lease TODAY in their building, to get locked into a fantastic deal. Related Article: Types of Commercial Leases & its Rent Variation 3. Flying Solo Lease term flexibility and lease complexity can vary depending on the size and type of space, but it’s typically never a good idea to attempt to sign a lease for anything greater than 2000 square feet without using a good tenant broker. There are usually thousands of available space options, tons of lease clauses, and many other variables to consider that there’s no way someone without a commercial real estate background will be able to make the most informed decision possible for their business space needs. Tenant brokers represent YOU (the tenant) and only you. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || ).push({}); The good brokers are market experts who not only do all the heavy lifting, but are also trained in negotiating the most favorable lease terms for their clients. The landlord, not the tenant, pays their fees! With all of the other somewhat hidden costs that are present within a commercial real estate lease, having a tenant broker can typically save the tenant up to 25% of the total value of the lease.

4. Procrastinating It’s typically advisable to begin searching for space no later than 6 months prior to estimated move in date, if possible. It’s important to get a good lay of the land, see different spaces, and gauge where the market is. Like anything else in life, preparation always pays off in the end, and in this case, it can end up saving the business owner/operator thousands of dollars. 5. Going At It Cold Do some research. Business owners need to get a good idea on the fundamentals of leasing commercial space before they start looking around so they can be somewhat dangerous. Prospective tenants need to understand who the players are, what the pitfalls can be, and how the process works before they start honing in on signing a lease. Small business owners make uninformed decisions about leasing space every day, and it can literally crush their company. Renting office, retail, or warehouse space is a big decision for any small business owner or operator. Understanding all of your options and how the process works will make the prospective tenant an informed consumer. More often than not having representation is a good idea too. Prospects need to make sure they take the right first steps in the process so that they won’t get burned later on. Related Article: 9 Benefits of Hiring a Commercial Real Estate Agent Related Article: 6 Tips for Finding the Right Commercial Property for Lease (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || ).push({}); Article Source: http://under30ceo.com/5-mistakes-small-businesses-make-when-leasing-office-space/ Disclaimer: We do not own this article & we shared this article under fair use, considering it a useful information for people to know & moreover we do not intend to generate any kind of income by using this article. Read the full article

#Advertising #Blockchain #BusinessGrowth #BusinessStrategy #Commercialleasing #Ecommerce #economicgrowth #Ground5 #Innovation #Marketing #OfficeSpace #Property #SmallBusiness #Startup #Transportation

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disc-golf · 7 years ago

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This is the Path to Recurring Income in 2018

Remember the ’60s?

Studebakers. Sock hops. Neon-laced diners. The Beatles. Carhops. Vinyl.

Those were the days. Or, at least, I assume they were. I was born in the ’80s, so have no real sense of what ’60s Americana was all about. If “American Graffiti” is any indication, however, life was good—if a little playfully reckless.

But there was something else about mid-1900s America that stands out: An economy driven by icons.

I’m not talking about people; I’m talking about products themselves. The transistor radio; Matchbox cars; Barbie dolls; Jackie Kennedy-inspired pillbox hats and slim-fit dresses.

In each of these cases, either the product itself or the brand that built it stands in our memory as a commercial icon. And the consumer journey to acquire those icons was simple: See an ad. Buy a product in demand. Take care of it for countless years until it ultimately crapped out.

There was something satisfying in this—not only in owning an iconic product, but in holding on to it for as long as possible.

Even in the case of a product series, like Matchbox cars, each car was unique and you never had to commit to buying more than one at a time. The goal, of course, was to complete a set; it just wasn’t forced upon you.

Fast-forward to the 2000s, and the economy has shifted focus from product icons to subscription services. The quest for businesses is no longer building consumer loyalty through product quality and one-way advertising; it’s getting customers on the hook for recurring payments.

You don’t have to look far for digitized subscription services that take the place of product icons of yesteryear: Spotify for radio and records; Netflix for movies; Blue Apron for groceries; Trunk Club for clothing; 24 Hour Fitness for exercise; and so on.

How did we find ourselves in such a different economy? Simple: convenience. Somewhere along the line, we decided (as a general trend) that we preferred convenience to quality. That’s not to say that subscription products are not high-quality; it’s just that the corporate focus has shifted from quality-first to convenience-first production.

There are three reasons this has been successful.

The first is relatively obvious: Subscription services offer a low entry point. If a business tells us that a subscription service for unlimited X is only $10 a month, our interest is piqued. Why? Cost versus offer; the perceived value is much higher than the money we would be shelling out to get it. And even if we aren’t convinced we need or want that service, we justify diving in because, should we ultimately make no use of it, we’re only out $10. That’s like, two lattes. Shrug.

Second, most subscription services let us cancel any time. That seems like a huge win for us, but the reality is we often don’t cancel. At $10 a month, it’s easy to forget we’re even being charged month after month. And companies are, quite literally, banking on that. Some even take pains to make the cancellation process cumbersome. A recent finance app I signed up for, for example, focused all of its marketing energy on getting me to download their app. But when I finally decided to pull the plug on their service, the app pushed me to a third-party website with layers of forms and questionnaires to fill out—all before I had the option to cancel. I didn’t even know they had a site beyond their app-pushing lander page.

Third, we love convenience. One recent study shows the overwhelming difference a convenient shopping (and delivery) process can make. It turns out that we often make subsequent buying decisions based not on the products themselves but on the speed, convenience, and professionalism of product delivery.

The big (potential) pitfall of this burgeoning subscription-everything economy is self-evident: Diminishing product quality. Rarely now do we seek out an iconic product because of its uniqueness, story, or innovative design. We seek it out because it’s effectively “on demand,” a once-was exception to the rule that has become the expectation of just about every business.

But this is not a rag on subscription services. Quite the opposite. I, myself, take advantage of things like Amazon Prime, hulu, and Netflix. And sure, I grumble for a hot minute when service drops, my package is an hour late, or I can’t find the movie I want to watch. But I get over it. I’m drawn in by other products that are available. And if they’re delivered lickety-split as promised, then all is forgiven.

There is tremendous value for businesses in this new economic climate. But to be successful, you need to keep a few things in mind:

Don’t overpromise. If you have doubts about your ability to deliver a product or service in a set amount of time, then be conservative in your delivery estimates. You can always improve when you have infrastructure built to support faster delivery.

Choose a product or service that is likely to be used on a regular basis. People need to eat. They need clothes to wear. They need to shower. They need to shave. You get the idea. If you pick something that you KNOW people will need to use consistently, all you have to do is convince customers that you’re their go-to for that product. Once you’ve got them, you’d have to do something pretty egregious to lose them.

Solve one problem, not a million. This is especially true for startups, but can be applied to any subscription-based company. The ability to focus on one problem helps you fine-tune your solution. That improves quality, and it also makes it easier for you to target a specific consumer market. Dig deep; iterate quickly; and improve your business centered around one solution before you expand. Otherwise, everything you produce will be mediocre at best. (One of my friends argued with me on this by offering Amazon as an example of a company that offered a lot up front. But it’s important to note that Amazon didn’t start by CREATING the products it sold; it just built a portal for streamlined sales of outside products in an easy-to-use digital space.)

Make the customer experience straightforward on the front AND the backend. It’s easy to get excited about product development and delivery—that’s the part that brings in the money. But honest, quality-first subscription companies consider the entire customer journey. Make it easy and straightforward for customer to cancel their subscriptions if they wish. And sure, offer incentives for them to stay and give them first-class customer service, but don’t shoehorn them into a monthly subscription that’s impossible to cancel. You’ll be called out quickly on social media and shunned in short order.

If you screw up (and you will), apologize publicly and quickly. Use the digital world (esp. social media) to your advantage. Your customers are likely active on social media, so build channels to communicate with them individually and collectively.

Get customer feedback on a rolling basis. If you want to stay on top of customer needs (so you can make sure your products and services are still relevant), reach out to them for insight and feedback regularly. Offer incentives for their engagement—a free month of service or a complimentary product. It’s not that much to give for a lot of get.

Pay attention to competitors. More than in days past, the journey from discovery to first use of a service or product can set you apart from what your competitors are doing—even if your products are similar. Is your competitor shipping their product in 2 days for free? Ship yours overnight (at least for the month or so). Do they offer schwag for first-time subscribers? Offer your own—but make it premium and branded. You get the idea.

Make your offering as customizable as possible—without stretching your business. Not only is “on demand” everything the driving force in our consumer culture, but so is customization. Whatever your solution to a prevailing problem may be, consider the diversity of use cases in the market. One size seldom fits all, so any steps you can take to customize your product will be ultimately beneficial. The question is: How can you customize with minimal investment on your side?

Don’t fight your customers for their business. This one is kind of a no-brainer. The customer is always right, right? Even if it means losing a sale. But the benefit to a recurring subscription model is that it’s less financially painful for you to drop a customer if they have a legitimate product complaint. Consider these two scenarios: one in which a Netflix subscriber, who pays $10 a month, comes to the customer service team with a complaint a year into service and you let them go without a fuss; and the same customer who you argue with to stay on. In both cases you have a year’s worth of revenue in the bank ($120), but in the second case, you remove the possibility of them coming back in the future. With a low bar for re-entry—a modest $10—a solid customer service experience in this scenario might mean them coming back in a few months. A bad one means you lose them forever. In short: It’s never worth the fight.

Innovate, update, iterate. The digital age moves quickly, so if you put yourself out there as a digitally-driven company, be ready to keep your apps, website, and social products and services up-to-date at all times. There’s seldom forgiveness for technology that’s dated or doesn’t work, and NEVER forgiveness for companies that don’t protect consumer data. Make this a priority.

Don’t reinvent the wheel. In 2018, there are plenty of cloud-based, open-source, and reasonably priced software tools to use in your business. Before you consider building your apps, site, or digital presence from scraatch, consider the tools that are already out there that will move your business from startup to success in half the time.

Still not sure if a recurring revenue model is right for your business? Here are a couple of prominent success stories that show this model at work:

Adobe

Three years ago, Adobe provided software for a one-time purchase of $1,800. Imagine the industry’s surprise when it announced Adobe Creative Cloud, a $50 per month subscription that offered access to the software for the paid period. Though the change impacted revenue in the short term, Adobe knew it would pay off in the end. The company took it’s existing software, which was already successful, and repackaged it to offer multiple options that made it more appealing to a larger audience. In 2014, two years after the switch, Adobe’s stock closed at $80 versus $32.92 in 2012 and its market cap sat at $35.5B versus $16B, an increase of 115%. And according to its most recent quarter, Adobe’s Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) was 53% of total revenues compared to about 20% at the end of 2012. (courtesy of AriaSystems.com)

Corporation Service Company

In the past, Corporation Service Company (CSC), charged a one-time annual fee for its services, which would be invoiced once a year at the end of the annual contract. However, with a 50% retention rate and customer base of SMBs with tight budgets, CSC found it tough to collect on payments 12 months later. The old billing system lacked the flexibility to change the way CSC billed its customers, resulting in the company’s desire to implement a recurring revenue strategy. When the IT team said building a new system in house would take 24-36 months, CSC turned to Aria’s cloud-based monetization software. They needed to get out into the market faster. Three months after a contract was negotiated, CSC launched its first product and started billing customers six months out, cutting the old billing cycle in half. CSC, empowered by a system that allowed them to control billing processes, increased their time-to-market and started testing billing three months out, then two months out. Today they’re nixing the free trial completely and billing customers upfront for its services. As a result, CSC is finding an entire year’s worth of accelerated income and an increase in overall customer lifetime value. (courtesy of AriaSystems.com)

Case studies like these are all over the internet, supplemented by the public success stories of behemoths such as Netflix (which trades at almost $300 on Wall Street and pulled in close to $12 billion in 2017) and more modest companies like Blue Apron, still mighty with almost $800 million in yearly revenue.

With the right tools, strategy, and service in place, recurring revenue—especially in our digital age—can be a very successful business model.

Just don’t approach your products like Matchbox cars and Barbie dolls.

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The post This is the Path to Recurring Income in 2018 appeared first on Early To Rise.

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talabib · 7 years ago

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How To Become A Successful Inventor,

The monomaniacal and madcap genius, with wild hair and a personal lab, working feverishly into the night: this is the inventor of popular imagination. In reality, however, most great inventors are more likely to wear sneakers and jeans than a lab coat. Indeed, some of the greatest success stories of the modern world – Twitter, Facebook and Pantone – were all created by fairly “normal” individuals.

So how did they go about it? And could you do the same? Those are the questions that this post seeks to answer. It contains both a historical account of many great inventions and a list of factors that any aspiring inventor would do well to consider.

Every great invention is borne of a problem in need of a solution.

Do you own a wheeled suitcase? If you do, you know how much easier it makes traveling; instead of lugging your luggage through train station and airport, you can simply and swiftly wheel it along. But did you know that these suitcases are a relatively recent invention?

Before the 1970s, everyone had to carry luggage by hand, no matter how heavy it was. It took Bernard D. Sadow, the vice president of a luggage company, to recognize this problem and come up with a solution.

Inspiration struck while Sadow was walking through an airport and struggling with two heavy suitcases. All too familiar with the problem, Sadow hit upon the solution when he saw an airport employee pushing a wheeled platform, atop which rested a heavy machine. “Why shouldn’t luggage have wheels, too?” Sadow thought. Soon, he’d developed and patented a prototype.

His first design sold well, but it wasn’t perfect: The wheels were placed on the long side of the suitcase and if you tugged too hard it would bump your legs, not to mention that turning corners caused it to topple.

Since Sadow only used his product while on vacation, he saw no need to spend time improving it. But an airline pilot named Robert Plath, in need of more than a mere holiday suitcase, decided to tinker with the trundling travel bag.

Eventually, after much work in his own private workshop, Plath developing the suitcase we know today: He put the wheels on the correct side and added a solid handle so the suitcase wouldn’t tip over or roll into your legs.

Plath’s design went on to become the universally loved product that people use whenever they need to travel.

So, why was Robert Plath able to build a better suitcase than Sadow? Well, since Plath had to travel every day, he had a better understanding of the problem, which, in turn, enabled him to hit upon a better solution.

To find a good solution, you need a deep understanding of the problem.

Have you ever spent months or even years with a nagging problem – and then, one random day, hit upon an ingenious solution and exclaimed, “Why didn’t I think of this before?!” Well, don’t feel bad. Complete understanding of a problem usually only comes with repetition.

Adam Smith explained this in 1776: He wrote that one benefit of having factory workers is that they can become inventors through confronting the same task, or problem, on a daily basis.

One such factory worker was a boy in charge of pulling a lever every day. The constant repetition prompted the boy to think inventively: He automated the lever by tying a string around it and connecting it to another part of the machine. Now he could stand back and watch as the machine’s lever pulled itself.

Sure, encountering the same problem over and over again can lead to frustration, but it can also lead to great inventions. For this to happen, however, three components must be present:

First, the frustration has to come from a hidden problem, one that’s difficult to detect.

Second, you should be able to tell how solving this frustrating problem will affect a lot of people in the future, not just you.

Third, you have to accept that it might take ages for the invention to become successful.

Let’s look at the example of Jack Dorsey, the founder of Twitter: In 2000, he came up with an idea for text-based broadcasts that send messages about location and activities to friends. He found it frustrating that this simple and useful idea wasn’t available.

The solution to his problem was difficult to detect because few people at the time had the right kind of phone to send these messages. But sales of smartphones were on the rise, so he was able to predict that his idea could become successful – it just might take a while.

And his patience paid off. Six years after Dorsey identified a problem and developed a solution, the rest of the world caught up and Twitter took off.

Feeling lucky will make you more observant, and can make discoveries easier.

Do you ever have the feeling that you’re blessed with good luck? If that’s the case, you might be great at finding solutions.

Psychology professor Richard Wiseman suggests that people who feel lucky are more observant and better at identifying useful solutions.

In one experiment, Wiseman brought together a group of people, all of whom considered themselves either lucky or unlucky. He gave everyone a newspaper and asked them to count the photographs in it. On the second page of the paper, a message was written: “Stop counting – there are 43 photographs in this newspaper.”

It turned out that the lucky people actually did have a higher likelihood of noticing the message. They found the solution in only a few seconds, while the unlucky ones took around two minutes. The term for these fantastically observant people is Super-Encounterers.

Super-Encounterers make great inventors because they don’t narrowly focus on a problem. Instead, they explore, especially when they are unsure of the answer. This widens their outlook, providing more chances to discover and create.

This behavior also presents itself in an experiment conducted by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. He set up a room, opened it up to art students and told them to pick out and draw objects within it.

Two groups evolved: One group chose objects and started drawing immediately with one concept in mind. One such student simply picked up a book and a hat and drew them.

The other group took their time observing different objects in different ways. These students looked at things through a glass prism and opened books to see the individual pages. As a result, their drawings were based on improvisation, exploration and discovery.

Seven years later, Csikszentmihalyi checked in with the students and found that most of the first group couldn’t support themselves and had stopped painting. But many people from the second group went on to become professional artists or teachers.

Today, discoveries are not based on luck but on data.

Did you know that Viagra was actually invented by accident? In fact, many medical discoveries are stumbled upon on paths that scientists thought would lead to something else. And these days discovering something by accident has never been easier. This is because we live in the digital era.

“Big Data” has become such a common theme that a new class of scientist has emerged: the bioinformatics people.

Instead of waiting for a lucky break, bioinformatics people create their own luck by using computers and checking the results of thousands of past experiments in order to reveal hidden connections.

A McKinsey report from 2013 shows that this form of research actually has value. It’s called data-mining, and they estimate it to be worth around $100 billion per year.

One of the major advantages of making discoveries through data-mining is the time it saves; by letting computers search through the huge piles of data, you save the time and money it would cost for teams of scientists to do it. This way you can analyze thousands of medical trials in a single afternoon!

As you might assume, the amount of medical-industry data is enormous. In fact, it’s already measured in petabytes. And one petabyte equals one million billion bytes!

Today’s data-mining algorithms can check this otherwise unused information in record time, leading to surprising discoveries, like new uses for old medications.

For example, consider imipramine. It was developed as an antidepressant, but research discovered that it could also be used against small-cell lung cancer.

Before data-mining, making this kind of discovery would have taken decades. Today it can happen incredibly quickly, and in the case of imipramine, researchers went from analyzing the data to clinical trials in around two years.

Creating something out of nothing is possible and can even save lives.

Did you know that there’s a color code for the brownies in Ben & Jerry’s ice cream? It’s true, and it was generated using a system that was created out of nothing.

This invention dates back to the 1960s, when Lawrence Herbert was co-owner of a printing company called Pantone.

During this time, Herbert was in charge of ordering inks, and he noticed a problem: every supplier used different color pigments. So, depending on who you ordered from, every color would be different.

Herbert had a brilliant idea: A color-coding system called Pantone that would work like a universal language, something everyone in the printing industry could use. Each color has a corresponding number. For example, Daffodil Yellow = Pantone 123.

He created a sample page and went to work convincing the industry of its potential. Though introducing Pantone wasn’t easy, Herbert never gave up, and it eventually caught on. By the 1970s Pantone was making more than $1 million a year in licensing fees.

Herbert managed to create a valuable invention out of nothing; all he had was an idea and a piece of paper.

And we still find this kind of inventive magic today. Just consider an important discovery about the human gut.

Modern research shows that the microbes in our gut are crucial to our health. But if the levels of these microbes become unbalanced, the consequences can be deadly, resulting in ailments like the stomach infection Clostridium difficile, or “C-diff.”

Here’s where the out-of-nothing invention comes in. Scientists discovered a unique way of curing people with C-diff: with healthy human feces.

Doctors use microbes from the feces of a healthy donor and “transplant” them into the sick person’s gut through infusion. With this method, what would otherwise be a fatal infection can be cured within hours.

This shows us that brilliant new ideas can come from anywhere, and it’s another example of an amazing invention being created from nothing.

Furthermore, you don’t need big funding or a team of scientists to create an amazing invention, all you need is imagination.

Trying to forecast the future will help you to come up with great inventions.

Wayne Gretzky was perhaps the greatest ice-hockey player ever. And there was a secret to his success: he always went where the puck was heading, not where it had been. This is exactly what you need to do when inventing. It’s called forecasting, and it’s no easy task.

To help with this, you can play the Wayne Gretzky Game: Picture the world a few decades from now and try to imagine what technology will exist. Base your thoughts on how you believe human desire and technology will continue to evolve.

To see this game in action we can look at Xerox: In the 1970s, Xerox forecasted the future and figured out what tech-savvy people would want – a personal workstation for the consumer market, with a mouse, a word processor and a graphical user interface.

Forecasting accurately isn’t always so easy. In the mid-1960s, strategist Herman Kahn tried to determine just how good we are at it. He asked the leading minds of the time to give 100 technological predictions for the year 2000.

It turned out that the predictions for communications and computing were about 80 percent accurate. These included accurate forecasting for the Internet, VCRs and cell phones.

The worst predictions had to do with transportation, medicine and architecture. These included misguided predictions about hibernating spaceships and appetite-control pills. But these predictions show that an accurate one can catalyze change.

Take Moore’s Law, for example. It states that computing power doubles every 18 months. Gordon E. Moore himself later said that after he proposed his theory in the 1960s, he noticed that it launched certain behaviors.

People in the technology industry began to realize that if they weren’t moving fast enough they would fall behind Moore’s Law. In this way, the prediction became a self-fulfilling prophecy, and a driving force for new inventions. Coming up with a great new invention isn’t easy, but everybody has the power to do it.

Using your mind as a test lab will help you come up with great inventions.

The mind is a powerful tool and you can use it to conjure up your ideas and inventions. Many of our greatest inventors use their imagination to envision their ideas before they sketch them out.

Someone famous for taking this approach: Nikola Tesla. As a child, he would spend sleepless nights imagining new cities and structures. At the age of 17, he began turning these thoughts into inventions.

Tesla could see his inventions so clearly in his mind’s eye that he didn’t need any models or sketches to allow him to start creating. For him, the visions were so clear that he dreamed of inventing a camera that could capture them from his mind.

Recently, inventor Elon Musk continued this dream by building a system that allows people to design an object by moving their hands through the air.

So how do you make these thoughts a reality? Start by asking questions and getting your mind going.

As a writing teacher, Pagan has watched many students explore their creative minds. One student told him that he had the plot for an entire movie in his head; it was just a matter of putting it on paper.

When the Pagan met with him a week later, the student still wasn’t able to write it all down. He understood the story, he just didn’t know how to get started.

To help, Pagan asked the student all the questions about the story he would ask himself: How does the movie start? Whose point of view is being used? Even, what odors do you imagine there to be?

With every invention you can imagine, there are hundreds of details that can be turned into questions like these. Ask yourself as many questions as you can to help design and realize your idea.

Imagination is the precursor of invention. And as everyone has an imagination, anyone can come up with a great invention.

Everybody can come up with great ideas. You don’t need to be an expert.

Chances are you probably haven’t heard of John Harrison. He was an English carpenter and clockmaker who solved a problem for the British Parliament in 1714 and won £20,000 – the equivalent of about £2 million in today’s money.

Harrison’s story shows us that it’s often people outside of a specific industry that find the best solutions for its problems.

Back in the 1700s, sailors weren’t able to calculate their longitudinal position, and this left them in danger of crashing into rocks or other vessels, and sinking down to the watery depths. For example, in 1707, 2,000 British sailors died when an English fleet crashed in the ocean.

So, in 1714 the British parliament offered a reward to anyone who could find an accurate method for calculating the longitude while aboard a ship. People assumed the solution would come from an astronomer or someone from the Royal Observatory, but it was John Harrison, a simple carpenter and clockmaker, who took home the prize.

He created the marine chronometer, a clock that was accurate to the second and allowed sailors to tell the time back home and compare it to the time where they currently were, giving them a fixed position.

Another example is Adam Rivers: He’s a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Georgia in the marine sciences department who, in 2012, solved a problem for the food industry.

A company was having trouble getting the right food coloration for their health shake. While the problem was proving hard to solve for a food scientist, Rivers quickly connected the dots and solved the problem over a single weekend.

Using his knowledge of marine biology, along with some tools he bought at Walmart, he managed to chemically alter the mix of metals in the water to create a more pleasingly colored beverage.

So it really doesn’t matter what industry you currently work in. To become a successful inventor, all you need to possess is initiative and perseverance.

Everyone has the potential to come up with a great idea. The next amazing invention can come from anyone, anywhere, especially if that person works outside the main field of action. What helps is a deep understanding of the problem and the ability to foresee where society is headed and what people will need.

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