#Temperature logistics are serious business
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I know we usually work on the assumption that Kravitz enjoys Taako's warmth, but have we considered that cold is his baseline comfortable temperature? Krav was just minding his own business and now he's in a relationship with a hot (and ridiculously warm) bloke who uses duvets and blankets and jumpers and cloaks.
Why does he need all those layers when he's already boiling?
Why in Summer when it's already uncomfortably warm outside does he insist on clinging to Kravitz?
Why in winter, when it's finally a temperature that his ridiculously warm boyfriend might actually be beneficial in, does he suddenly stop being a human limpet?
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Mayday
Mayday x Reader Oneshot
Angst/Fluff/Comfort
I already put it in the tags, but just in case: SPOILER ALERT FOR TBB SEASON2!!!!
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AC: After a misunderstanding with someone requesting this on anon. I decided to write this one now and don't put it in my to-do list first. As a little "apology" because I was pretty rude. Wish I could tag you, but unfortunately you contacted me on anon. Hope you still get to read this 😊
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Actually, you don't work for the Empire. You are an independent contractor, a small business mainly for cargo and logistics. When an Imperial officer contacts you, you are reluctant to take on the job. However, you don't want to upset the Empire either. None of your handful of workers is eager to deliver the cargo for the Empire, especially not to Barton-4, the ice-cold lump of a planet. So you take over the delivery yourself.
Food, gasoline, energy packs for flashlights and a new generator for environmental sensors are to be delivered.
Even the approach to the imperial station is complicated and dangerous. Fierce crosswinds push your cargo shuttle from all sides and make it difficult to land the ship safely. But you make it anyway.
With a sigh, you see the clone troopers coming across the landing platform, who should be unloading the goods. You put on your thermal jacket, zip it up to the top and pull the hood of the jacket over your head, then you open the ramp and see the soldiers already coming towards you.
Their equipment doesn't look exactly winterized, some of the men are provisionally wrapped in cloth and skins in addition to their armor. The sight makes you frown. One of them addresses you.
"Of course, the Empire is sending civilian transport out here".
You blink, then say dryly, "I guess the Empire knows they don't have pilots good enough to land in these weather conditions."
You hear a rough laugh from under the clone's helmet, shortly after the soldier removes his helmet and you see an unfamiliar image. You clearly have a clone soldier in front of you, but one with long hair and a full beard, something you haven't seen before.
He holds out his hand to you.
"I'm Commander Mayday, this is Hexx and Veetch."
You shake his hand, the others too, and introduce yourself.
"Hi, nice to meet you guys"
Maydays laughs again, and you can see a cheeky glint in his eyes.
"We'll probably get to know each other a little better, whether you like it or not, the weather has been closing in, changes like this happen practically every minute around here. You're not going to get the shuttle out of here anytime soon."
You look down the ramp, over which an icy wind blows into the interior of the shuttle.
Outside everything is white, it is snowing, a blizzard, you can barely see two meters.
"Fantastic," you say with a dry smile, and begin to help the men unload.
You have your own little area. But at night, the weather still hasn't cleared, and the cold is even more relentless than during the day. A bit unsure, you make your way out of your little cabin and into the main area, where you find the commander. He is sitting at a heat battery, his helmet lying next to him on a dura steel table.
When he hears your footsteps, he looks up. You are still wrapped in your thermal jacket, in this outpost nothing works at all, not even the heating system, which is actually essential for survival.
A barely noticeable, gentle smile twitches at the corners of his mouth as your eyes meet.
"It's not so easy to fall asleep in this cold, especially when you're not used to it. In fact, it's probably better that way, here in this cold they tend to mistake fatigue for hypothermia. Lost some good men that way".
You raise your eyebrows in surprise as well as shock and sit with him, close to the heat battery, across from Mayday.
"Wait, that's that serious medical condition in which a person's body temperature falls below the usual level as a result of being in severe cold for a long time? Right?" you ask, frowning.
Mayday nods.
"Mmm, that's right. The body shuts down, you get very tired, but in reality you die instead of falling asleep."
"That's terrible! Why don't you get proper care here? They should have given me more heat batteries and a technician to get your heating system back up to speed. Not even your equipment is intact."
Mayday sighs softly and shrugs his broad shoulders, his arms folded in front of his chest, a thick wool blanket draped around his shoulder.
"Clone soldiers are expendable, we always have been, but since the Republic was replaced by the Empire, it's worse than ever"
Your teeth start to chatter even as you try to suppress it, your whole body keeps shivering as it tries to fight the cold that creeps under your skin despite the thermal jacket.
Mayday raises his brows and looks at you.
"You're not used to the cold, hmm?"
"Not even close," you admit, "I've spent most of my life on Tatooine."
Mayday laughed softly, "It's an extreme contrast to Barton-4."
He taps the bench he's sitting on next to him and holds out his blanket invitingly.
"If we huddle together, we can keep each other warm. I'm happy to share my blanket with you"
For a second you consider if the clone has any ulterior motives, but even if he does, it is so cold you don't care, and he is probably just as cold, probably even too cold for ulterior motives.
You walk around the table and sit right next to him, close to the heat battery, and let him put the blanket around your shoulders so that the two of you are finally underneath it. You sit so close to each other that no hand's width fits between you. Your pulse is a little faster and you really feel warmer. However, you are not sure if it is the blanket, the heat battery, or the situation.
Slowly, you turn your head to look at him.
"Are you okay?" he asks quietly, and you can feel the bass in his voice as you sit so close to each other.
"Yeah, it's getting better"
He smirks.
"Told you so"
You talk for a while. Mayday tells you about his experiences in the war and how he and his men have fared since he was stationed on Barton-4. You sympathize and feel your anger at the Empire flare anew. At a certain point, you are leaning against him, and he has an arm around you.
It happened automatically and yet your heart is beating fast. You talk until the sun comes up.
As you both look out the window and see that the weather has cleared up considerably, you feel no real relief. You have enjoyed Mayday's company very much, and the fact that this togetherness must inevitably end pleases neither of you.
Mayday takes you out to your shuttle on the landing platform. As you say goodbye, you begin to feel a certain longing, which is reflecting in his eyes. On impulse, you kiss his wind-chilled cheek.
He blinks in surprise, but he finally smiles at you.
"We probably won't see each other again too soon," he says a bit wistfully, with a sad smile.
You smile and say, "Maybe we will."
As you take off in your shuttle, he watches you for a long time until the shuttle is completely out of his sight, and finally turns back to the outpost with a sigh.
One week later
"Commander! An unannounced shuttle is on approach!"
Mayday jumps up, puts on his helmet and asks, "Identification?"
"It's the cargo shuttle that was here a few days ago, the civilian freighter".
Mayday feels his pulse quicken.
"Really?"
"Yes, sir."
Mayday makes his way out onto the landing platform, alone this time. He doesn't want to greet you in the presence of the others, wants a moment to himself. He's as excited as a young Cadet and doesn't really know how to categorize that feeling. All he knows is that he is looking forward to seeing you again.
As the ramp to your shuttle opens, he pulls off his helmet and tucks it under his arm. You smile back at him as you walk down the ramp.
"Actually, I can't allow you to land here, not without explicit Imperial permission," he says with a wry smile.
"And yet you don't seem to want to chase me away," you return, amused.
Mayday admits, "I was looking forward to seeing you again."
You smile, feeling your face grow warm despite the cold wind.
"I take it the Empire still hasn't provided for you properly?"
He shakes his head.
"We are expendable, still".
You cross your arms in front of your chest and say, "Not for me".
Behind you comes an astromech and a cargo droid.
"I brought you something"
Mayday frowns.
"This is not an official delivery by the Empire".
You shake your head, confirming his statement.
"No, a little something from me and my workers. We chipped in and got you a few things. The cargo droid is to help you with transportation and the astromech is an all-rounder, he can fix your heating system. I also brought half a dozen heat batteries, a few more rations, including caf and tea."
Mayday strides up the ramp so that you are finally facing each other halfway up.
"Thank you."
A simple word, but coupled with the soft expression on his face and the warmth in his voice, this word speaks more than a thousand words.
You kiss his cheek again, like last time when you parted.
"You deserve it, more than that, actually. But I hope this helps you for a while"
Suddenly his hands are on your cheeks and his face comes closer. His lips touch yours. It's not urgent, not challenging, it's tender, slow, and intimate as he kisses you.
Your heart almost flips over in your chest.
As his lips very slowly, languidly break away from yours, you ask softly, "Would you like me to stay maybe a night or two?"
Mayday smiles and replies," Please do."
Ko-Fi (If you feel like giving me some coffee)
#spoiler#tbb spoiler#tbb s2 spoiler#bad batch spoiler#clone#clones#clone x reader#mayday x reader#clone fluff#clone comfort#star wars#bad batch season 2#clonelove#tbb#imperial clones#mayday#clone commander mayday#fluff#cc mayday
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How Can MEP- BIM Service Benefit HVAC Contractors?
HVAC construction projects are both expensive and convoluted. Workers for hire are continually under the gun to complete projects on time and inside spending plan. Mistakes in the establishment of air conditioning parts like lines, fittings, pipes, diffusers, and control boards are much of the time brought about by conflicts in the MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) models or drawings. Actually, MEP coordination and air conditioning remains inseparable for developing any optimal building. Envision a building with no air ventilation. Could making due in such a building be conceivable? No, air conditioning's basic role is to assist keep up with great indoor air quality with legitimate ventilation and warm solace. Central air is fundamentally alluded to as warming, ventilation and cooling. However significant as MEPF administrations seem to be, commentating HVAC is similarly significant. It is crucial for wellbeing and prosperity as it helps the guideline of temperature and moistness, forestalling the development of wall shape and microbes. Furthermore, all around planned and kept up with air conditioning frameworks additionally help to lessen the energy cost and increment the life expectancy of the framework.
While blunders and cost overwhelms are normal in customary work processes, current MEP BIM administrations have fundamentally diminished them. The quickly advancing and serious AEC market further strains project workers to further develop execution and efficiency. With assistance of MEP BIM administrations, it results in diminished revamp and with right expense assessment of the undertaking. In actuality, MEP coordination enormously diminished cost overwhelms which is a fundamental piece of the construction project.
With the presentation of the building data demonstrating cycle and programming like Revit, workers for hire currently have impressively better task lucidity which brings about improved results of the venture. It permits them to have a more point by point and facilitated (conflict free) 3D construction model even before it is made. Prior to getting into the subtleties of involving MEP BIM administrations as an instrument for HVAC workers for hire
Key Benefits of Using MEP-BIM services in HVAC systems
Accuracy with Less Rework
3D MEP BIM administrations explain spatial designs and HVAC part situating. This restricts the extent of vulnerability while understanding plans or managing nearby worries. Having advanced models available can cut RFIs by 49%, take out improve, and quicker the task. HVAC designs built up with BIM strategies and advancements during the pre-construction stage result in itemized HVAC establishment determinations with the best conceivable mix-up evasion.
Improved Team Coordination
HVAC frameworks are utilized in different projects, including private, business, medical services, office, and modern designs. In this manner they should work together with groups in engineering, primary, electrical, and fire frameworks, among different disciplines. MEP coordination empowers HVAC workers for hire to work together with groups, building proprietors, HVAC and energy specialists, subcontractors, and different partners to give mandates, oversee assets, request materials, etc. Conflicts can be settled with a solitary source CDE ( BIM Coordination instruments).
Material take-offs and Site Logistics
HVAC material take-off precision, least request amount, stock control, and site operations permit projects to be finished on time and inside a chose spending plan. HVAC BIM models are refreshed exactly and continuously to mirror any progressions in material departures or evaluation. HVAC workers for hire get exact quotes to oversee project financial plans appropriately. HVAC project workers can smooth out site coordinated factors of created parts and different items by incorporating time and cost-related data in the BIM model. This guides in legitimate assembling, administration item get together, establishment, etc. In view of booked undertakings and related dates, workers for hire can design material buys and shop manufacture in light of 4D HVAC BIM models.
Clash Detection
Conflict recognition is utilized to find questions between disciplines once free models created by AEC experts are connected into a combined BIM model. These conflicts are then taken care of using building data displaying administrations. The organized BIM model is the subsequent conflict free model. Workers for hire benefit fundamentally from the organized BIM displaying administrations as it gives a consistent establishment method by keeping away from the opportunity of conflicts between MEP parts nearby. This recoveries workers for hire huge time and exertion, which might be utilized for more basic on location tasks requiring their consideration.
Improved Project Visualization
Workers for hire might follow the design of MEP-BIM frameworks plumbing, fire security, electrical wiring, etc progressively, permitting them to give exact expectations the initial time. Thorough, exact, and practical 3D representation of frameworks and parts further develops lucidity for steering and associations while not impeding different installations or the design's underlying uprightness.
Conclusion
MEP BIM administrations is a comprehension of a methodology that involves making a data rich 3D model that examines the construction's mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing parts. MEP BIM coordination administrations is generally perceived as the most extensive and requesting technique for organizing and keeping away from conflicts. In this manner HVAC workers for hire are quickly seeing the worth of MEP BIM administrations for assessing fitting establishment, keeping away from revamp, further developing group participation, and expanding site security. As per one review, 61% of US mechanical project workers get a model from a BIM specialist co-op prior to starting work. Furthermore, 40% of workers for hire who use MME BIM Models acknowledge less mistakes, modify, and cost investment funds while completing projects inside the predetermined time required to circle back. To have solid and exact MEP BIM coordination administrations.
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The Challenges Faced By Construction Companies In Locations Like Punjab And Rajasthan
Construction has played an important role in India’s development, contributing to the country’s infrastructure growth and economic prosperity. Construction operations done by the best Civil contractor in India have reshaped cities, enhanced connections, and supplied necessary amenities for the rising population over the years. Construction of roads, highways, bridges, and flyovers linking towns and regions has aided in trade, tourism, and economic expansion. Major initiatives like the Golden Quadrilateral and Bharatmala have considerably improved the country’s road networks, allowing for a smooth movement of people and products.
Rapid urbanization has resulted in the development of housing complexes, commercial buildings, shopping malls, and urban infrastructure such as water supply systems, sewage networks, and public transit amenities. These advancements have altered cities, providing better living and working situations for city dwellers. All of the major constructions were done by the Best construction company in India and there as not all the companies can handle the pressure and the challenges that come with construction in cities like Punjab and Rajasthan. Let us look at them briefly.
The Issues That Construction Companies Face In Punjab And Rajasthan
When compared to other locations, construction in Punjab and Rajasthan has its own distinct set of difficulties that might make the process more difficult. The complexity of construction projects varies in Punjab, which is in the northwest of India, and Rajasthan, which is renowned for its extensive desert landscapes. These difficulties include a variety of factors, such as the state of the environment, the availability of resources, geographic considerations, cultural and historical sensitivity, as well as administrative and logistical difficulties. Therefore, hiring the Best construction company in Punjab or Rajasthan is extremely important for efficient project satisfaction. Here are some key causes of these challenges:
Weather Conditions
Rajasthan has sweltering summers with extreme temperatures whereas Punjab has hard winters with freezing temperatures. The performance of materials and equipment as well as construction timetables and labour productivity may be impacted by these extreme weather events. It is important to take into account the impact of climate when planning projects in these regions, especially in cases where materials and equipment are used outdoors.
Water Shortage
Rajasthan is a desert state with few water supplies, which makes water shortage a major problem for construction businesses. It becomes extremely important to have a sufficient water supply for construction-related tasks including mixing concrete, controlling dust, and worker hydration. That is why whenever there is a requirement for a construction company, one must ensure that the company they are hiring is the Best construction company in Rajasthan.
Logistics and supply chain management
Punjab and Rajasthan have large geographic areas, poor transportation infrastructure, and a restricted supply of building supplies in outlying areas, making it difficult to manage logistics and supply chains there. Construction businesses may experience delays and higher expenses as a result of these causes.
All of these are some serious issues but the best construction company in Punjab and Rajasthan like ours, creates plans and employs the right procedures to overcome obstacles by identifying and resolving these sources of them. The challenges may be reduced, and successful project execution can be achieved, with the aid of efficient resource management, effective planning, engagement with local stakeholders, and the use of technology.
Why Is It Important To Hire The Best Construction Company In India?
When you are willing to construct at locations like Punjab or Rajasthan, looking at the challenges faced by a Civil contractor in India at these locations, it will be very tough for a normal company to cope with all of them. Hiring a normal company that is not the best construction company in Punjab or Rajasthan, might result in a bad overall project submission or a delay in the completion date.
We at VRC Construction, are the best construction company in India and we have a track record of successfully completing a variety of construction projects, from the development of infrastructure to residential and commercial structures. Our expertise enables us to overcome complicated obstacles, guarantee high-quality building, and complete projects on schedule and within budget.
As the Best construction company in India, we possess excellent project management capabilities. We know how to effectively organise, plan, and carry out construction projects, assuring the efficient coordination of diverse operations, deadline adherence, and resource allocation. We have access to a wealth of resources, including cutting-edge technology, suppliers, and subcontractors as well as sophisticated construction machinery. This makes it possible for us to use the most recent building tools, methods, and materials. We prioritise client demands, communicate openly, and provide regular project updates.
We make every effort to understand our clients’ needs, propose solutions, and address any concerns or modifications that may emerge during the construction process. Our customer-centric approach guarantees a great experience and client satisfaction. Therefore, if you choose us as your Civil contractor in India, primarily at locations like Rajasthan and Punjab, you won’t regret it and will become one of our many happy clients.
Conclusion
In conclusion, building enterprises in places like Punjab and Rajasthan face particular challenges due to issues such as severe weather, a lack of water, and logistical difficulties. These difficulties can adversely affect deadlines, resource management, and the overall performance of a project. Choosing the best construction company in Rajasthan is essential if you want to successfully address these issues. Reliable companies will have the knowledge, experience, and resources necessary to successfully handle the challenges of building in Punjab and Rajasthan.
To guarantee effective execution and high-quality construction, we utilise creative ideas, strong project management skills, and an understanding of the regional context. Clients can enjoy peace of mind by hiring the best construction company in India, such as VRC Construction, knowing that our projects will be handled properly, on schedule, and with better outcomes. It is critical to invest in the best Civil contractor in India for successful project outcomes, long-term value and overall satisfaction.
Source Link: — https://vrcgroup.in/the-challenges-faced-by-construction-companies-in-locations-like-punjab-and-rajasthan/
#best construction company in Rajasthan#Civil contractor in India#best construction company in India#best construction company in Punjab
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How to Overcome Shipping Challenges With A Cargo Monitoring Device
One of the most challenging aspects of running any business is shipping. Shipping presents a number of complicationsfor small and large businesses, from navigating potential shipping carriers, to understanding what shipping containers to use. More and more shippers are using multi-sensor cargo monitoring devices to keep track of various aspects of shipments throughout their entire cross-border logistics movement. This is due to rising customer expectations for shipment visibility, such as temperature, humidity, location, or shock.
However, there are still some challenges that need to be met by cargo monitoring services. Through the installation of cargo monitoring devices like the IRXL-MaxSonar-CS from Maxbotix, these organizations can tackle issues such as:
Avoiding Damage and Mishandling of Your Cargo
If you notice damages to your cargo or goods during transport, you need to figure out why that is happening, and/or if your cargo or shipments are mishandled while in transit. Particularly, it would be best to find out precisely when the mismanagement occurs, where along the process it happens, and what or who is responsible. There is little you can do to prevent that damage and improper handling if you do not have all of that information. Using cutting-edge, real-time cargo monitoring services including a Maxbotix IRXL-MaxSonar-CS cargo monitoring device, can help you monitor the status of the material in a freight trailer, better equipping you to overcome this challenge by understanding if your load status changed outside of expected locations.
Real-Time Monitoring and Identification of Freight Delays
Minor problems in a delivery network can quickly escalate into more serious ones if they are not addressed appropriately. A major challenge for logistics and supply chain managers is to recognize such problems as they arise. In these situations, an IRXL-MaxSonar-CS Cargo Monitoring Device is an excellent tool to add to your overall supply and logistics monitoring framework.
Avoid Improper Utilization of Cargo
IoT cargo monitoring devices can help assess vehicle performance, guarantee proper space utilization, and aid operators in avoiding expensive roadside breakdowns. Fleet managers can plan and reroute as necessary with preventative maintenance to prevent operational interruptions.
The Bottom Line
Ideal for supply chain management applications, MaxBotix's new IRXL-MaxSonar-CS is excellent for cargo monitoring. This cargo sensor will communicate if the trailer is full by measuring the cargo load, allowing managers to dispatch the right assets, and even save fuel! What's more? It will also let you know the loaded status of the trailer. Amazing isn't it
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National Parties Shandy Pavlova
The ingredients for a New Zealand Pavlova are pretty simple-
For Meringue Shell:
4 large egg whites, at room temperature
1 cup castor sugar (also known as caster sugar, or berry sugar)
1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla
For the Whipped Cream
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup icing sugar (also known as confectioners' sugar)
For the Fruit Garnish:
2 cups whole berries or sliced fresh fruit of choice (strawberries, kiwi fruit, passion fruit, bananas)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, optional
Fresh mint sprigs, optional
Cost Statistics
Stats NZ data shows it costs $11.07 to acquire all the ingredients for a pavlova for 2017. In 2007, it was $7.88.
The cost of cream was the biggest contributor to the increase - 300ml was $1.50 in 2007 but $2.62 for 2017.
Kiwifruit also increased 55 per cent in price, from 44c for 200g in 2007 to 68c.
Geo Politics; 30 January 2020
WHO declares the epidemic a global health emergency.
National Parties “Three big actors in society; separated by buzz words.”
Community Organization (pain, hurt, frustration)
The point of view of a story determines who is telling it and the narrator's relationship to the characters in the story. In first person point of view the narrator is a character in the story telling it from their perspective. In third person point of view the narrator is not part of the story and the characters never acknowledge the narrator's presence. Less common than first and third is second person point of view. In second person point of view the reader is part of the story. The narrator describes the reader's actions, thoughts, and background using "you." When a team exhibits both ownership and accountability, a high-trust environment is created, and you’ll see the makings of a high-performance team-
Make ownership and accountability a lived value.
Draw a box and let the employee own what goes on inside it.
There’s no such thing as half delegating.
Explain why their box even exists in the first place.
Become an active listener and let them make their box better.
Nationals BUZZ WORDS
Take a step back
Look at what’s going on in the economy
Strong, enlarge it,
Bigger and Better
Ultimately solve these long term challenges
Right now, one thing we have to do
Tackle inflation
Conservative effort
They way you do that
Business (Move with great speed and scale)
Because many buzzwords use metaphors or made-up expressions, many people find them difficult to understand at first. However, by practicing using buzzwords in your vocabulary at work, you can quickly learn their correct context and meaning. Here are the definitions of 30 common business buzzwords that you might hear in the workplace:
Return on investment
Synergy
Customer journey
Deep dive
Impact
Ballpark
Core competency
Visibility
Startup
Sustainability
Pain point
Quick win
Hyperlocal
Next generation
Holistic
Logistics
Alignment
Freemium
Quota
Touchpoint
Retargeting
Content is king
Big data
Incentivize
Move the needle
Unpack
Ping
Drill down
Ecosystem
Bandwidth
Nationals BUZZ WORDS
We have got a pretty simple four point plan
Think about, think about, think about
Remove bottle necks
The difference….. we would power them up…..
No, no, no, that’s not true
A real short term problem
Get serious about it
Tackle that head on
Half of it is….. (Beyond our control).
Factors that are happening
Small, medium, larger….. Be even better
At the moment….. cut down….remove bottle neck… back to people
That’s not true…that’s not true…..that’s not true…the bottom line
More….able to grow…thats ultimately what we have to do…build a more…that’s how we deliver
In the long term, but not the long term…. You got to get those setting right…if you’re not removing bottle necks …productive…..grow…..drive….that’s how it all works
Got to get those setting right….tackling…..
Long term answer here…Why is it…we aren’t invested enough
Government (central and local set up the frame works to enable all three actors work together on problems)
Consumers are increasingly mindful of corporate social responsibility (CSR) when making purchase and consumption decisions, but evidence of the impact of CSR initiatives on actual purchase decisions is lacking. This article introduces a novel brand accountability–based framework of consumer response to CSR initiatives, which categorizes CSR efforts as “corrective,” “compensating,” or “cultivating goodwill.” Leveraging a database of CSR press releases by leading consumer packaged goods brands. The findings suggest that CSR initiatives that genuinely aim to reduce a brand's negative externalities (“corrective” and “compensating”) lift sales, whereas CSR actions focused on philanthropy (“cultivating goodwill”) can hurt sales.
The marketing function takes different forms in different companies at different product life-cycle stages—all of which can deeply affect the relationship between Sales and Marketing.
The strains between Sales and Marketing fall into two main categories: economic and cultural.
It’s not difficult for companies to assess the quality of the working relationship between Sales and Marketing. (This article includes a diagnostic tool for doing so.)
Companies can take practical steps to move the two functions into a more productive relationship, once they’ve established where the groups are starting from.
Nationals BUZZ WORDS
The five drivers of prosperity….and that’s our job….create more wealth….get more
We’ve got to look at right now…long run…..benefits
In the context of the economics
Make sure it’s appropriate
Priorities will be very very clear…confusing and conflating…spending outcomes
Something in the middle delivery, execution….. Implementation
That is gone under this …cannot get anything done right
It does not matter which topic you pick… you can’t get it done
That’s not the way… really on point
Did a good job…utter shambles….in terms of…you know…..slow job….bottom line….extremely well….we would say, that’s the point…you really got to make sure.
Get back into the long term drivers….that will make fundamentally…..investing in….that’s not just failure…..crisis….use…..connections….delivery …..delivers…..I would just put it to you…..amazing team reaching…..do a much better job….reaching….build…..better…….Recipes……Recipes
Billy T James, New Zealand Pavlova Steps to Making
Take a step back
Look at what’s going on
Enlarge it
One thing we have to do
They way you do that
We have got a pretty simple four point plan
Remove bottle necks
Tackle that head on
Half of it
Small, medium, larger
Got to get those setting right
The five drivers of prosperity
Delivery, execution….. Implementation
Did a good job
Recipes……Recipes
Now that you have found the recipe book and opened the ingredients bottle, follow instructions.
Cognitive Bias #1: The Mere Exposure Effect
Cognitive Bias #2: Loss Aversion
Cognitive Bias #3: The Compromise Effect
Anchoring effect
Ambiguity effect
Bandwagon effect
Confirmation bias
Halo effect
IKEA effect
Sunk-cost Fallacy
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Investigation
Anon asked: “ Can you do a one-shot of the task force showing up at HQ to see a playpen with a baby playing in it and they just assume that L kidnapped a baby and start demanding answers and L tells them it's his baby and his wife is busy working another case so he gets to watch the baby”
Of course~ I adore Dad!L♥ Anyway, sorry if you find mistakes, English is not my first language.
warnings: none
requested: yes
C/A = child alias
W/A = wife alias
H/T = hair texture
H/C = hair colour
Tokyo in august could be so damn hot and humid and Misa realised it very soon. Since she was announced as starring in director Nishinaka's newest movie, her agenda was full of appointments and the high temperatures weren't helping her in focusing on her work. Hopefully it would be over soon meaning she could go at L's HQ to see Light.
«Today could be a hot day but nothing is hotter than my Light~» she said dreamily out loud during the shot.
«What did you say, Misa Misa?» Matsuda, or "Matsui" when he was with her, played as her manager when she wasn’t at the HQ and it seemed he enjoyed it more than his actual job as a detective.
«Nothing Matsu…»
♰ TIME SKIP, AT L'S HQ ♰
«Finally, some fresh air» Misa sighed in relief once inside the building. She was still followed by Matsuda but they soon would split apart since he had to go to the monitoring room with the task force and the blonde girl wanted to relax in one of the many lounges (and maybe reading some magazines).
They were going to walk in two separated directions when they saw Watari at the end of the corridor with a big package.
«Have you noticed it, Matsu?»
«The fact that both Ryuzaki and Watari are acting strange these days? Yeah, it's hard not to notice it» and if someone like Matsuda noticed it, it must be pretty obvious then. It was true: recently, the greatest detective in the world and his supplier of logistics were so out of character. They would talk about toys, coloured pencils and bath tubs. It was quite strange thou.
«I wonder what's inside that box…»
«Let's go ask him, Misa Misa» Matsuda suggested with too much enthusiasm.
«No Matsu! Watari will never tell us…we have to investigate»
And with that, their personal investigation started. Matsuda and Misa discreetly followed Watari around the headquarters with this large package in his hands. They noticed he had a sort of big cross body bag full of something. Could they be L's new purchases? Or was L planning something unaware of the entire task-force?
Watari entered a room and the door closed behind him almost immediately, leaving Matsuda and Misa behind a corner. They were so focused in spying Watari that they didn't notice someone not far from them.
«Matsuda! Misa! What are you doing?» it was Aizawa, the detective with black hair and dark brown eyes, he was depicted as a tall man with a large afro. In that moment he was looking at them with a frown on his tired face.
«Ah! Aizawa-san!» Misa jumped in fear and hid behind Matsuda.
«Matsuda…why are you here and not in the monitoring room? We have a case to solve…you're first a detective» Aizawa scolded him as if he was a disobedient child. The younger man sighed in defeat realising he was right but Misa didn't quite agree.
«Wait Aizawa! We're solving a case actually!» the blonde idol came out from behind Matsuda and stood for herself.
«Really?» the other detective replied sceptically. «About what? Matsuda's lack of interest in the Kira case?» he crossed his arms waiting for a satisfying answer.
Misa was going to reply when she heard a sound coming from the room where Watari was. She peeked from behind the corner and saw the old man walking away from said room without the huge package and the cross body bag.
«Now Matsu!» she exclaimed and rushed before the door would close again. Matsuda followed her immediately while Aizawa stood there confused.
«Wait you two!» he joined them shortly after that.
The three of them ran towards the door and entered abruptly inside. After a whole minute of silence Misa started to complain. «There's nothing here!»
«Can we come back to work now?» Aizawa sighed and turned to leave the room when suddenly they heard a loud thud behind them followed by a baby cry. At first, they exchanged a concerned look then turned around at the same time.
And there it was: a dark purple baby playpen with a child inside. The sound they heard came from a toy that fell outside the "cage" and the baby was crying because they couldn’t reach it with their tiny hands.
«Aww! So cuuuute!» she took the toy and returned it to the baby. «Here sweetie~». Now that she was closer she could take a good look at them: H/T, H/C hair, puffy cheeks and two big black eyes; the baby wore a light blue romper suit with white clouds on it.
The kid took the toy from Misa's hands but his eyes stared at her with curiosity. For some reason, that baby reminded her of Ryuzaki.
«Why there's a baby here?»
«Except for you, Aizawa, nobody has children here…» Matsuda pointed out looking at his colleague.
The three of them were still talking about the baby that they didn't notice someone else entered the room.
«What's happening here?» the voice of Soichiro interrupted Matsuda and Aizawa's conversation. The Police Chief examined carefully the room in search for the source of that confusion and gasped loudly when he saw the child.
«A baby?!»
«What baby, Chief?» Mogi, not far from Soichiro, was the last one to enter the room and he had the same reaction of Yagami-san at the sight of the kid. «Aizawa, is he your son?»
«What-No! My son is a bit older than this one»
Now that the task-force was reunited, they proposed so many theories to justify the presence of that child: was he Watari's grandson? Or was he L's little brother? They even suggested he was related to Misa but she denied it.
In the meantime, the idol had eyes only for the kid. She was observing him playing inside the playpen with many toys: dolls, jigsaws, games of strategy or logic and plushes. He had a lot of paper sheets and coloured pencils scattered around him too.
«Can you talk, sweetie?» she asked him maybe too much hopefully. He was two years old (or maybe less) and it was very likely that he didn't talk at all.
The baby boy looked away from his toys to stare at her; he then pulled the pacifier off his mouth. «Yes» he surprisingly replied with a voice that melted Misa's heart.
«My name is Misa, what's yours?»
The child mumbled something like C/A [child alias] melting even more her heart for the cuteness. Misa started to draw and play with him, she was so in love with that kid. Maybe she was imagining her child with Light in that moment.
«Guys! I got it!» Matsuda uttered out from nowhere making everyone jump in surprise. «Now everything is clear!»
«What is clear?» Mogi asked sceptically him.
«Since Ryuzaki wants to catch Kira at all costs, he wants to use this kid for the investigations. Like he is doing with Misa!»
«Don't say such nonsense, Matsuda. Are you suggesting Ryuzaki…» Soichiro stopped himself mid-sentence maybe not able to imagine someone like L doing what he was thinking.
«That Ryuzaki kidnapped this kid!» Matsuda ended Soichiro's phrases with no hesitation. He seemed quite convinced about his reasoning.
However, his colleagues were not convinced as him. Nonetheless, they admitted L was someone capable of extreme measures in order to achieve a certain result. Maybe Matsuda was not wrong after all.
«I can't conceive the fact that Ryuzaki kidnapped this little boy» Soichiro said thoughtfully while observing the child now in Misa's arms. When he approached the boy, his gaze softened. «Hello little one»
C/A looked at Soichiro and the first thing he did was to touch his moustaches. It was followed by a loud laugh maybe because they tickled his hand. Shortly after that, C/A wanted to grab Soichiro's glasses but he ended up dirtying them.
«There's only a way to find the truth, Chief» Aizawa told him with his usual serious voice tone. «Let's go ask Ryuzaki»
♰ MEANWHILE ♰
The greatest detective L was looking at many screens at the same time, absorbing tons of different information all at once. He was going to lick the chocolate from a donut when he saw something alarming with the corner of his eye: the playpen was empty.
He quickly called Watari to ask him why C/A was not in his temporary room. From the screens he could see his mentor enter the room and check the playpen; Watari calmed L down by telling him that the task-force must have discovered the room and now they were playing with him somewhere in the building.
«What's going on, Ryuzaki?» Light asked him quite worried. He noticed how agitated L was but he couldn’t figure out the reason. Let's not forget they were handcuffed together.
L was going to call everyone in the monitoring room when he heard the main door being thrusted open with force. Then someone span his chair.
«Ryuzaki! We need an explanation!»
«Misa-san, I don’t have time for this-» he looked past her and saw C/A in Soichiro's arms while playing with his moustaches. L rushed towards him picking C/A up. Once in the greatest detective's arms, the baby relaxed immediately and placed the head on the shoulder.
«Is it true that you kidnapped this kid to use him in the investigations?» Matsuda asked swiftly feeling really determined.
L (and Light too) sighed frustrated, not expecting smart thoughts from him. He was going to scold him when C/A started to pull his white shirt mumbling something.
«What is it, C/A?» L asked in his usual monotone voice. However, when near that baby, his voice would become warmer and gentler even though the task-force didn’t notice it.
The baby didn’t reply, it seemed he just wanted L's attention. The two of them were in their own personal bubble and the task-force was staring at them in disbelief: what was happening in front of them?
«It seems you need an explanation, as Misa-san said before» L started to say and according to the many nods he heard, they were eager to know. «I didn’t kidnap this child, of course. He is my son, C/A»
«Whaaaat?!» Misa's reaction summed up perfectly what the task-force was feeling: confusion, bewilderment and doubt. If Soichiro couldn’t imagine someone like L kidnapping a baby, the fact that he had a son was even more incredible for him.
«Why didn’t you tell us before?» Soichiro asked him both curious and upset after a long silence.
«Because it's not relevant for the investigations, Yagami-san» L replied frankly while looking at him with his dull black eyes.
«Does he have a mother?» it was Aizawa's turn to ask, since he was more sensitive about family.
«Of course he has, she's my wife»
«Are you married, Ryuzaki?» Light was in disbelief as everyone else in the room.
«That's what I said, Light-kun»
Misa, being…Misa, started to squeal with her usual high-pitched voice. She wanted to know every detail about his wife, how and when they met, their marriage, the pregnancy and so on. Of course L didn’t tell much details, his usual answer at Misa's questions was «Classified information». What the task-force understood was that L's wife, W/A, was an important agent that had the task to solve the most delicate cases around the world (much like him more or less). Moreover, both Soichiro and Mogi noticed how L would smile more while talking about her or C/A, he seemed truly in love with his family and this small detail revealed a rare and intimate part of L's personality.
«You didn’t tell us why C/A is here, Ryuzaki» Light pointed out while the baby was playing in his lap.
«W/A is solving a case in Europe so I have to take care of him» the detective picked the baby up from Light's lap carefully. He didn’t really like that his son was so close to the first suspect of the Kira case.
«Hey, I wanted to play with C/A…»
«It's dinner time for him, Light-kun» L stood up from his metallic chair and started to walk away from the room, followed closely by Light. «Watch carefully, you can learn something for the future» he teased the young boy.
«Ryuzaki!»
#death note#death note headcanons#death note scenario#death note request#l lawliet#l x reader#l x you#l x y/n#dad L
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Adventures of a closeted exhibitionist | 01 (m)
Pairing: hoseok x reader, f2l (future)
Genre: do i ever write anything other than smut
Words: 3k
Warnings: exhibitionism lol, hoseok is a FREAK freak, oral (f receiving), dirty talk.
Summary: where hoseok explores with his bff. i hope u like it pls validate me.
a/n: this is an idea I pitched to @parkmuse and she n i were going to collab but then she got a cat and DITCHED ME (jeepers is v cute ngl). so instead of a full length one shot, im gunna make this a series. like a small one lol. this is unedited beyond microsoft putting the annoying red lines to tell me im illiterate.
~~
It was roughly 9pm. Despite it being a Friday night, there were a fair few people still drifting about in the 24 hour library. This time of the semester being closer to the exam time you guess this isn’t such an atypical incidence. What was rare though, was you being here. On a Friday night. Where you’re usually getting shit-faced with your friends at Park Jimin’s weekly parties. Not here with your best friend Hoseok – who frequented the place more than you, actually – about to have sex with him. Yup. You heard right.
“Can you walk faster y/n? We’ll lose our spot!” His hurried whisper didn’t do much to mask and the nervous tremble in his voice. It was obvious your best friend wasn’t very adventurous and thus here you were, helping him out.
Slightly regretting your decision. This place was more crowded than you thought. You run forward to catch up with Hoseok’s long legs that kept weaving through the massive bookshelves with ease. Whereas if you were here by yourself – you’d certainly be lost.
“We won’t with the speed you are walking. Slow down, Hoseok.” Grumbling under your breath as you see no sign of him stopping to let you remember the way you guys had come to this part of the quiet library, you just opt to following him around like a lost puppy. Usually it’s the other way around.
Especially when Hoseok had asked you one day to try public sex with him.
“Well well well, never knew my reclusive best friend was such an exhibitionist.” You’d been whistling and hooting while smirking his way, watching him shuffle on his feet awkwardly. He was never too confident in speaking about his sex life and watching him squirm was so much fun to the evil part of your brain. Not that he had much of a sex life to expose. Hosoek was a sweet boy who did relationships. Long term ones. And he hadn’t even been on a date recently.
“W-Well, I’m not. Not yet. I’ve never tried anything like that. And you obviously have.”
You’d just shrugged nonchalantly in response.
“So… I want to try something. With you.” Naturally, your response had been to blink repeatedly, making sure you heard him right.
“No fucking way, Josè.”
“Please, please, please?! I don’t trust anyone other than you to do this with and not be weird about it.”
“What about you get an actual girlfriend Hobi? Hm? Ever thought of that.” He’d rubbed his temple with a pout on his face when you’d mockingly knocked your fingers against it. How did he not see how attractive he was? He could get anyone. Literally anyone.
“I haven’t had luck in that department, you know that.” Him gritting his answer through his teeth is probably one of the most frustrated you’d seen him and it makes you snort.
“Then just find someone willing and fuck her at the party?” The crude words bring a blush to his pretty face. How does he even plan on having sex in public?
“You know I can’t do that.” Shaking his head, he turns back towards you, “Besides… I don’t want it to be just anywhere. I want to d-do this at the library.” Your eyes had bugged out of your head once again at that. How did you not know how kinky your best friend was?
“Oh my god.” You can’t help the giggles that fight their way through your throat, “I cannot believe it Hoseok! You’re such a closeted freak.” Now you were full on cackling.
“Stop. I just wanted to try something.” The pout was back on his face and the little glazed look he had in his eyes had diminished slightly.
“Yeah and public sex from the get go? What will you be ‘trying’ next? Pegging and Anal?”
His brows furrow adorably. “What’s pegging?”
“Oookay. Let’s just get back to the topic at hand.” You didn’t want to give him any more ideas. Yet.
Somehow in the next few hours, you’d agreed to sleep with your best friend. At a library at that.
And here you were, nestled in a corner at one of the desks that were set up between the isles for people who wanted to browse journals and other various literature. Where you both sat was relatively isolated. Only the people who occasionally walked past the isles would be able to see two people sitting at a table – the table shielding your lower halves of the body – and only if they looked. The table was set against one of the isles and that would probably be the only concerning area. That someone on the other side of that shelf would be able to decipher what was going on. Okay maybe this was making you rethink your decision. Just a little.
“So, what do you think?” Hoseok was panting slightly as he looked around you both repeatedly, making sure no one was lingering on the fact that two students had disappeared off to a section that they could do more than study in. But you couldn’t see anything of the sort. Just everyone minding their own business for now. Besides, how loud could you both be anyway? This shouldn’t take too long.
“Pretty good. You must come here a lot to know such a precise spot?” Brows wagging teasingly in his direction, making his cheeks flare up even more.
“I do. But to study usually so this feels a bit… exhilarating.” His face tells you how excited he is but he is definitely nervous as well if the sweating is anything to go by.
You bump your shoulder slightly with his to ease his worries. “Hey, don’t sweat it. Literally.” You can’t help the laugh that he then tries to muffle with his hand. “No really! I’m very good at quickies.”
Your wink makes him blush but he still seems apprehensive. “It’s not that… I’m. Well. I-I can kind of lose control sometimes.”
You continue to deadpan him. Hoseok and losing control? Were you hearing correctly? Your sweet, nerdy, studious, calm and collected, shy best friend losing control? It can’t be that bad, right?
“I’m serious y/n. B-But I’ll try to keep in check.”
“…Okay. Anyway. You ready?” There is a moment of silence and it is quiet. You can hear when Hoseok swallows, the way he drags his gaze all over your coat cladded form and then finally, looks into your eyes. You never noticed how attractive Hoseok was up-close and that was what was making you nervous.
“I-I think so? How are we going to do this? Shit I didn’t think about the logistics through before coming here.” Hoseok had started to nervous ramble so you decided to take matters into your hand by sitting directly on his lap, facing him.
“W-Wha…. Is this how we’re- Wouldn’t that look too suspicious.” You tried not to roll your eyes.
“We’re about to screw in a library surrounded by people. Anything we do will make us look like horny college kids. At least this way if someone catches us people will think we’re only making out or something.”
Hoseok’s pretty mouth falls open in an ‘o’ understanding your reasoning. The law library is more dimly lit compared to others so it was easier to fly under the radar. It was obvious that Hoseok had brought you here to take full advantage of that. If Hoseok tends to lose control as he's said, it shouldn't attract too much attention even if he's a tad too loud. Wait, is it even about his volume?
Leaning down you level your face to his baby browns while he leans back as if you're infectious and not about to have sex, "What do you mean about lose control by the way? You're not going to scream up a storm are you? I swear to god Hoseok if you get us arrested-"
"It's not me you should be worried about," the reply comes without any stutters unlike how he spoke before, making your breath hitch. He's calm and collected, gaze slithering down your body like you were an otherworldly marvel.
This was not how you'd seen your best friend act in all the years you'd known him. Never have you felt this attracted to your usually shy, meek friend who seemed to be the most quaint person in your group of friends. Perhaps that's why you'd never really sexualised him before. Though it did always baffle you how he managed to date the prettiest girls.
"Okay weirdo."
The tremble in your voice is barely masked but you try and regain some of your composure by aggressively adjusting and slipping down your panties to mid thigh. Effectively breaking Hoseok's bravado when he audibly gulps, looking around him. It doesn't take long for you to feel the effects of your activities as Hoseok already feels considerably solid underneath you. A flush of embarrassment evident in your cheeks when he rubs the damp material of your panties between his index finger and thumb.
"You're so wet, y/n." The skin of your naked thighs covered in goosebumps with each carrels of Hoseok's veiny hands. When did they get so callous? The feeling brought another embarrassing amount of wetness down your thighs.
"S-Sorry." You shook your own head at your apology. Why did you say sorry? Guys love that, you knew.
Somehow, it felt different with Hoseok. You were being a lot more conscious about his likes and dislikes instead of your own. Which should've been a red flag. Yet, you continued with the dangerous game you were both playing. The perspiration on Hoseok's forehead gave away how affected he was as well despite the cool temperature inside the library.
"Are you kidding? I've... I've never been this turned on in my whole life."
You don't get a chance to respond, only garbled gasps when his cool fingers slip between your thighs, massaging the slick in the sensitive skin that connected your inner thighs to your pussy.
"H-Hoseok." His thumbs spread the wetness from your nether lips back to the sensitive patch of skin.
"Is this okay?" You're too caught up in the heat of the moment and the thousands of nerve endings that Hoseok's fingers were stimulating.
Your head was lolling around like you were drunk and that was enough indication for him to carry on. It was terrifying how little he had done and you were already lacking the ability to comprehend anything other than his touch. Your hands were dropping beneath you carelessly, trying to find the hard length that was persistently pressing in you. You were turned on beyond belief and you needed to feel Hoseok inside you. Now.
Hoseok had other plans.
"Slow down, y/n." His chuckle is breezy, albeit a little throatier than usual. But it doesn't stop your quest to get your hands inside his pants.
"Hoseok I need you to get inside me." Your plan to be stern backfires.
You had hoped that telling Hoseok you meant business would get him to submit to you like it usually does. However, the heady look in his eyes tells you otherwise. You're proven wrong when instead, Hoseok locks his eyes with yours, as if challenging the autonomy you had in this situation. You're unable to move, just feel as the plunge of his nimble fingers inside you has you gripping his shoulders for a lifeline. Your head was already mushy and all basic comprehension had gone out the door. The sounds accompanying each agonising push and pull extremely erotic, making the blush bloom deeper on your already heated skin.
The onslaught of sensations had made it easy to forget about the world around you. If someone was to catch you right now, you weren't sure if you would let Hoseok stop the delicious friction inside you. The way he looked at his fingers sliding their rhythm inside you, completely entranced by your body, made another gush of wetness flow down his thrusting digits. He had barely fingered you for five minutes and you were already like a full damn ready to burst. Hoseok finally looked up when the scissoring motion of his fingers made you gasp loud enough to startle him.
it was getting increasingly difficult to keep your volume down. Now you knew why Hoseok had redirected the question about being quiet, to you. His other hands wrapped around your hips, just above the dip in your spine to keep you from thrashing off his lap. You were at the point where your body was so close that every thrust of his wrist bordered on pushing you over the edge. Body moving towards the movement and away from it in the same second.
“I don’t think I want that just yet.” His lips shone from the constant contact with his tongue.
Maybe he was giving you a tongue show on purpose. To be even more cruel when you were already suffering (in the best way possible). Hoseok was always mischievous. Not as obvious as your other friends like Taehyung or Jungkook. And you were finding out just how devious he is. Dragging on the assault on your pussy. Stretching the thread until you’re clawing your hands down his back, whispering ‘please’ like a symphony.
“You like this?”
“Y-Yes Hoseok. Please just f-fuck me already.” Your threatening growl only makes him smirk and fasten the pace of the three fingers inside you.
“I really wanna watch you squirt y/n. With all these people just a few feet away. Can you do that for me?”
His whispers near your ear makes you flinch away with each word. Body so sensitive to any form of stimulation that you were scared you were going to cum just from listening to the low timbre of his voice. Hoseok’s eyes were glazed over, the hard insistent bulge was digging in your thighs with even more ferocity. Yet, he denied himself the pleasure you were so readily offering. Why was he torturing the both of you like this, ugh.
Suddenly, he pushes you back against the table behind you, making you grasp the wooden edges in order to brace yourself. However, the action left you exposed, skirt pushed up enough to reveal Hoseok’s hands rhythmically pushing forward and backwards. The open position of your thighs and the air now touching your heated skin making you feel everything just a bit more. His fingers were hitting the spongy spot on the top of your walls just right that you’re whimpering and clenching your hands around the wood, just not the type you wanted to be holding.
“F-Fuck Hoseok if w-we get caught p-people-”
“Will see your cunt swallowing my fingers? I know y/n.” His smile is devilish. He’s reveling in your fear of being found out and you know this is exactly what his fantasy is.
Your breathing is harsh and you’re bordering on being a little too loud. It becomes even more of a problem when you start feeling the zaps of pleasure in your core that are hurtling you towards completion. Hoseok’s angled fingers repeat the motions that elicited the response when he sees you thrashing.
“Right there huh? That feel good?”
You can’t speak. Biting so hard on your lip, trying to not scream blooding murder, that tears are pooling in your eyes, blurring your vision. The strength in your arms leaves as you collapse on the table, head pushing back and one hand going to hold the one almost fisting inside you. You’re so close you can almost taste it. Everything is too much and it’s an impossible feat to stay quiet and inconspicuous.
“God, you’re being so loud. If you’re any louder people will hear you cumming all the way from outside.” And yet he doesn’t sound concerned.
Hoseok’s eyes are feral, watching you hold on to his hand while his wrist is snapping powerfully towards that one spot that has you seeing spots. You’re moaning even louder now and he has to get up from his seat to put his other hand around your mouth to drown out your sounds that are going straight to his dick. God, you were so sexy he was going to cum in his pants from just watching the tears roll down the side of your face.
“Yeah? You’re gunna cum baby? Squirt all over my fingers?”
He wasn’t expecting a response from you with how fucked out you were but your eyes peering into his let him know that you heard him. And that you were going to cum. Hoseok slips his thumb up to your clit, rolling it in tandem with his deep thrusts and within seconds, you’re screaming out your orgasm. Your cunt grabbing his fingers like a vice but Hoseok is still dragging his digits along your walls to prolong the pleasure. His whole hand is thoroughly wet because you indeed, squirted like he asked.
It’s hard to comprehend if what you experienced was a fever dream or you actually blacked out for a few seconds because of how hard you came. You’re still breathing hard and you feel hoseok’s hand ease around your mouth. He’s pressing kisses along your decolletage, fingers till lazily moving inside you until you’re pushing them away.
“That was so hot. Thank you y/n, you’re the best.” You were getting whiplash from how he’d turned back into his sickly sweet self when he was just giving you the best orgasm of your life a few minutes ago.
“Yeah, w-well, I may not be able to walk out of here.” you can’t quite look him in the eyes yet. Not when he’d just fucked your brains out and real fucking was about to come.
“Don’t worry, I think you’ve had enough today so that’s for next time.” He smiles his 1000 watt smile at you before sucking the wetness off his fingers. Your face is so red you might pass out.
Next time?
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Headcannons for Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Kenshin nursing a sick MC back to health pls
I’m sick right now but this one is written with no selfish intentions whatsoever, trust me. Yeah. Totally not self-gratifying.
Nobunaga
Is the type to be WORRIED SICK but doesn’t show it. He wishes he could take the day off, but seeing that his duties are pressing and piling by the second, he decides to continue fulfilling them, but refusing to leave your side for even a second. This means that he’ll move his desk so that he can do his paperwork next to you so he can glance at you to make sure you’re okay.
unfortunately though
He’ll insist on relocating meetings inside his quarters as well, with your head lying on his lap. You have to be asleep for the council to begin. He doesn’t stop stroking your hair even as he’s discussing strategy and logistics with the other warlords (who share his concern about your health), and they’ll talk extra quietly, whispering throughout the whole council just so you won’t wake. Masamune and Mitsuhide are amused at the turn of events—never have they attended a council so interesting, although deep down they’re both worried for you, just like the others.
Will feed you a konpeito or two as reward for taking bitter, bitter medicine.
Nobunaga comforts you through your restless sleep and sporadic outbursts of coughs and/or sneezes, watching intently as you do. He doesn’t shy away despite your protests.
“—I’m kinda gross right now, you know,” you say nasally.
“Foolish of you to assume I care,” he replies as he pulls you closer into a hug. You sigh, giving in to his warmth and sniffles against his haori.
He’s basically watching over you like a hawk while you’re sick, determined to help you get better.
Hideyoshi
You know him, he’s the mother hen, and mother hens panic when their loved one goes down with some sickness. Hideyoshi gets frantic for the first few minutes, checking your temperature, examining your symptoms, repeatedly asking you if you’re okay. He snaps out of the spell after and hurries to call for the servants to help him with supplies.
“I’ll be gone for a bit, hang tight, sweetheart.”
He comes back to you twenty minutes later with a string of servants behind him—that’s an exaggeration, obviously, there are probably three or four of them, each carrying some stuff that he might need to take care of you. He only left because he’s super particular about your health. There are buckets of warm water and washcloths, ground herbs, medicinal tea, the works. He’s ready to take care of you.
Honestly the way he attends to you makes you worry for his health.
Due to his duties, he can’t watch over you 24/7, but will do his best to come back to you as fast as he can. He especially wants to linger when you sleep. He feels like it’s the least that he can do to take care of you.
YOU WILL BE SPOONFED
THERE IS NO DOUBT ^
And when he watches you open your mouth to drink the herbal soup that he’s feeding you there is a sense of primal pride inflating inside of him, but at the same time his heart melts into bits looking at you eating. You look even cuter eating when he’s spoonfeeding you. How is that even freaking possible.
If you ever protest at his coddling:
“You’ve overexerted yourself, so let me take care of you this time. If you don’t want me to worry over you, rest a lot and get well soon, okay?”
Kenshin
Like Hideyoshi, will panic the first few minutes, but it’s considerably less obvious. He’s systematically (and calmly, so it seems) giving out orders to his aides and servants to prepare some meds and call the doctor, but inside he’s freaking out and overthinking kicks in really fast. What if this is a serious illness?
Kenshin’s reputation obviously precedes him, so the doctor arrives almost immediately and in fear, so as to not anger the God of War.
After delivering the diagnosis (”A case of common cold, my Lord”), the doctor is more than happy to leave the quarters, but once Kenshin and you are left alone, his shoulders loosen and his head is bent over you. He plants soft kisses on your forehead, though the feel of your abnormal warmth makes him worry even more. He’ll let you have your rest while he watches over you.
If there are things of absolute importance he must attend to, he makes sure to leave you only when you are sleeping, and of course does his best to come back as soon as possible. Should he be summoned for things that are less than trivial, said thing is cancelled without further questions.
WILL BE USING HIS BUNNIES TO CHEER YOU UP
Like, you’d be so bored in your room unable to do anything, right. No doing kimono commissions, no walking around, no nothin unTIL KENSHIN BRINGS IN THE BUNNIES
You get to play with them, feed them, and talk to them. This he’ll do if he absolutely cannot accompany you because of business. He knows that if he’s in the room while all this is happening, he’ll get jealous of his bunnies. I mean, they love you to bits. These bunnies know how good you are yo
“I’ll stay with you the whole night, so go to sleep. You’ll feel better tomorrow, I promise. Good night, love.”
#nobunaga#hideyoshi#kenshin#reader insert#gender neutral#oda nobunaga#uesugi kenshin#toyotomi hideyoshi#hideyoshi x reader#nobunaga x reader#kenshin x reader#sfw#fluff#darling anon#headcanon#ikemen sengoku#ikesen#cybird
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Time to hold China accountable.
As the internet brought the world closer together, international logistics connected the dots between supply and markets to create an intricate network of global business transactions. A new world order of commerce has taken shape whether we like it or not.
The abundance of lower cost-of-labor goods and materials, and the freedom to operate in less regulated countries has driven major manufacturing from the west to offshore operations in Asia and other parts of the world.
China has been the single largest benefactor of this evolution and has done so by implementing aggressive tactics that at first, appear favorable to foreign companies to operate in the country. The caveat to this favorable business environment is the Chinese policy requiring mandatory local ownership, leveraging the company’s proprietary technologies while pushing other countries to open their markets for tax free Chinese goods. The American public has remained blissfully unaware of the potential vulnerabilities of this new world order as they continue to fill their carts with cheap merchandise from their local major box stores, pharmacies and supermarkets.
The outbreak and spread of Corona virus (Covid-19) and its impact on the world’s economies has exposed the weaknesses of this new world order. In trying to control the spread of this disease, America now finds itself facing a shortage of pharmaceutical and medical products that are urgently needed during this current heath crisis.
The United States remains the global leader in drug research and development. However, about 60 percent of factories manufacturing drug ingredients and finished medicines for U.S. patients are located overseas, with China and India accounting for 40 percent. Chinese pharmaceutical companies now supply more than 90 percent of U.S. antibiotics, vitamin C, ibuprofen, hydrocortisone, and other medicines as well as 70 percent of acetaminophen.
For the past two decades, China has well taken advantage of these new opportunities for commerce to become the second largest economy in world. However, with this success, the Chinese government has ignored or refused to engage in human rights, implement or maintain consumer safety policies or environmental stewardship. China has often exported tainted food and pharmaceutical products with little to no accountability.
The China One policy advocated by its President Xi Jinping to bring all of China under a single leader is about world dominance thru consolidation of power and economic dependencies. The Chinese have used their amassed wealth from trade to push an agenda of territorial expansion and geopolitical influence in developing nations. They are leveraging massive loans to many small, developing nations to secure territorial assets and increase their military footprint. These countries, when they can’t afford to repay these loans become captive to Chinese policies.
The current Chinese Authoritarian Government, President Xi Jinping can dictate how they spend their national wealth and implement programs with great speed to achieve their objectives. They are in control of 1.2 billion people’s minds with their message. China is experiencing viral health crisis, but authorities are more focused on managing political damage and controlling the perception of their masses, in order to divert attention away from any potential uprising within the country. Their most recent propaganda informs the Chinese people that the U.S Military developed and spread the virus in China. The Chinese Government is nervous and acutely aware that the recent unrest in Hong Kong will resurface once the pandemic begins to wane.
As of this writing, the Chinese government has refused to allow the CDC into the country and has ignored offers of assistance from the WHO to conduct onsite investigations. In an article published last week in Xinhua, the state-run media agency, was the claim that China could impose pharmaceutical export controls on America at its discretion. This threat highlights the actual control China has on the world’s supply chain and what they may be willing to do. This is the new norm when it comes to China’s economic and military strategies. To suffocate nations with economic and/or geopolitical leverage where their native populations become rebellious to their own governments. China is a master of this craft after many years of well-oiled communist ideology.
To date, there are over 132,000 confirmed cases and over 5000 deaths worldwide from the Covid-19 virus that originated in Wuhan, China. As these numbers continue to grow for the foreseeable future, the world’s governments have not yet come out to address liability for this pandemic. The official name of this specific virus is SARS-CoV-2 and the disease it causes is the Coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19. Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that are common within humans and various different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, dogs and bats.
Trillions of dollars and thousands of lives are now being lost in this new world order and China should be held accountable. This pandemic originated in the local Wuhan street markets where vendors sell raw meat, much of it tainted, from a variety of animals in unsanitary conditions. The practice of selling live animals such as dogs, cats and rats at these markets is prevalent throughout the country. The poor or non-existent sanitary conditions are perfect for incubating many diseases. The world has witnessed several pandemics originating from China, including, the Hong Kong Flu, Russian Flu and more recently the SARs virus. China has done very little to address the health and well-being of their own people with no consideration to the worldwide effects that result from their lack of action.
The Chinese authorities’ focus is on economic growth over consumer safety, comes at a steep cost to the rest of the world. In America and many other countries, businesses must comply with compulsory safety standards and are held accountable for their actions. There is a substantial cost to business to maintain compliance and abide by rules and regulations, knowing what the consequences might be if they fail to do so. China has side-stepped many of these requirements without penalty or serious consequences. The Chinese one-party authoritarian government is notorious for maintaining total control over their industries and people. But why have they neglected basic food safety standards?
The Chinese are masters at copying and counterfeiting manufactured products from the United States in an effort compete with America on the world market. They avoid regulations and compliance over dominance and profits. To this end, they do not accept the responsibility to safeguard the food, medicine or product safety for their own people. This negligence and its resulting effects on the population has now traveled outside of China and the whole world is at risk of economic and social collapse from this outbreak.
The United States and others must now hold accountable the government of China and the people responsible for this crisis. The world’s response to China should be an economic “shot-across-the-bow” to reconsider its current policies. A warning that you can’t reap the benefits economic development at the cost of humanity. To do so, invites economic or criminal retribution to those responsible. Governments that fail to manage their economic development and social responsibilities should be restricted from participating in the world’s markets as responsible countries do. There needs to be serious penalties in place to reign in and force retribution to those countries and individuals that do not comply with established health, safety and environmental practices and regulations
This should also be a clarion call for consumers who have increasingly relied on cheap “Made in China” goods for the past twenty plus years, at the risk of losing our local industries, skills and know-how. We are now relying not only on trinkets from China but many of our life-saving medicines.
The World should react to this pandemic as a crime against humanity. The message sent to China should be that they owe the world compensation for losses incurred from their violations and neglect of basic human rights and principles. In the interim, the depletion of our national reserves and additional expense resulting from the Corona virus will need to be compensated and this compensation should come from a “Corona tax” levied against all Chinese imported products. While this action will certainly meet with some resistance from consumers for increased prices, it will also force the Chinese to reconsider their current actions in ignoring basic principles in the health and welfare of their own and the world’s citizens. The immediate and long-term security for the United States can only be assured by rebuilding the country’s manufacturing infrastructure and reducing our dependence of foreign imports.
About the author: Ron Atapattu is the founder and President of the ShipOCI group of companies that include, Overseas Cargo, Inc, a third party logistics service provider specializing in the handling, storage, importation and export of perishable food products, Star Warehouse, one of the largest dry and temperature controlled warehouse facilities in the Southeastern United States and A Star Suppliers, makers and distributors of the elephantea™ line of organic tea products. Ron has over thirty years of experience in international supply chain logistics and has witnessed first-hand the practices of Chinese industries’ and Government that have led to the imbalance in trade and product safety failures that the world is experiencing today.
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June 18, 2018
We managed to catch up with the quietly enigmatic singer.
Read "How Do You Explain Zayn?"
Zayn, the one-named man who found himself reborn after leaving One Direction, is now on GQ's cover. In his shoot with Sebastian Mader, Zayn channels Tyler Durden and Leo DiCaprio's Romeo. And the wildly enigmatic singer also let down his guard, briefly, in talking to writer Carrie Battan about his relationship with Gigi Hadid, the self indulgence of being a "star," and his crafty use of the paparazzi for his own devices—a story you can read here (full story is below; the link will take you to the GQ website)
How Do You Explain Zayn?
By
Carrie Battan
Photographs by
Sebastian Mader
The 25-year-old British singer is deeply, maddeningly, almost trolling-ly enigmatic. And that cultivated mystery—along with his disdain for the standard rules of superstardom—is probably what puts him on the short list for COOLEST HUMAN ALIVE. On a recent Friday night, though, he dropped his guard and spilled his guts.
There are exactly two places in New York on a Friday night where Zayn Malik can smoke Marlboro Lights as liberally and openly as he pleases, unencumbered by gawkers or the city's increasingly draconian anti-smoking laws. The first is Zayn Malik's SoHo apartment, where he spends the majority of his time, zoning out, reading books, listening to music, and "partaking in the herb," as he says. The second is the Mary A. Whalen, a 172-foot-long restored-tanker-ship-turned-nonprofit-hangout-spot that is docked off the shore of Red Hook, Brooklyn. The ship is closed for business after 6 P.M., but tonight its leader, a hardy blonde ship preservationist named Carolina, has agreed to keep it open late to accommodate us. No crowds, a few plastic chairs, and a gently lilting surface that is basically a giant ashtray.
There is just one problem: The temperature on deck is decreasing rapidly with the setting sun, and Zayn—the 25-year-old former British-boy-band member, current solo pop-ish star, and all-around inscrutable avatar of contemporary celebrity—has arrived with nothing on his person but a lighter, a backpack, and an iPhone. No jacket on his rail-thin five-ten frame—just a pair of charcoal skinny jeans, a distressed Pink Floyd T-shirt, a bright pink beanie that obscures his new flower skull tattoo (or "tah-oo," as Zayn pronounces it). He looks so modernly cool, blending a hip-hop swagger with a punk-rock edge, that he should receive a cut from Urban Outfitters every time someone makes a purchase. He is the only man whose Disney-princess-long eyelashes seem to bolster his machismo rather than diminish it. Nobody this dreamy has ever bothered to check the weather to see if he should grab a jacket before leaving the house. Through chattering teeth, he rejects multiple offers of blankets. "It's all good," he insists, burping faintly after taking a swig of his Peroni. "I'm cool."
Still, Carolina avails us of the ship's warmer galley. "I might have a cigarette first?" Zayn asks, as though he needs permission, gesturing toward the other side of the ship. Over there is his assistant Taryn, a young woman with French-braided pigtails that make her look more like a high school soccer player than someone designated to manage the everyday logistics of a notoriously slippery superstar's life. She is the custodian of his pack, doling out individual cigarettes to Zayn periodically.
But Carolina assures us Zayn will not have to stay outside to smoke his cigarette. She'll let us smoke belowdecks on the condition that Zayn provide her one of his Marlboros and permission to snap a photograph. She promises she won't post it until after the story runs. "Uh…yeah?" Zayn replies, sounding sincerely surprised that he is the one who has to answer a question that was directed at him.
A steely detachment from life's mundane logistical concerns is part of almost every celebrity's existence, but it is the core of Zayn's being. This character trait has ruinous potential, but it also means he gets to live his life exactly how he pleases. And it means that he doesn't have to express a single word or hint of desire in order for the conditions around him to re-arrange to his liking and comfort. There's a hapless Peter Pan quality to it that makes it tough to hold against him.
We settle around the table in the '70s-style kitchen on the boat. It's 15 degrees warmer down here and private. Zayn instantly appears relieved, his shoulders unclenching and his brow de-furrowing. He stops shivering. He is in a womb-like space, drinking beer and smoking cigarettes, and he seems palpably and unexpectedly happy. "Thanks," he says quietly and earnestly in Carolina's direction as she seals off the door behind us. "Couple of times I tried to quit. But I just like smoking cigs. Simple as that."
There is a major conundrum in Zayn's life, which is that he may be constitutionally incapable of being a star. He tells me so almost immediately. "I don't work well in group situations, with loads of people staring at me. And when you say 'star'…everyone wants you to be this kind of character that owns a room or is overly arrogant or confident. I'm not that guy," he says. "So I don't want to be a star." Zayn seems to aspire to the soul of Prince, or some cult '90s skate-punk figure, but is trapped in the trajectory of a Justin Timberlake.
A decade ago, someone like Zayn would not have become the Chosen Member of a band like One Direction. The Chosen Member is the boy-band graduate whose solo career evolves and hurdles into grown-up relevance, ultimately overshadowing the band's legacy. Until recently, you could spot a Chosen Member from a mile away—he was unequivocally the best dancer and the one the most girls wanted to bring home to their parents. But Zayn never fit the mold of a Chosen Member. From the day One Direction formed, on the U.K. show The X Factor in 2010, he was cast as the smoldering background foil to the eager-to-please Harry Styles and Liam Payne. His energy and his dance moves were muted. He presented as the quiet, disillusioned one.
But in the past five years or so, it has become acceptable—necessary, even—for a young pop star to show some edge. Thanks to the social-media-fueled, ever intensifying quest for authenticity, real or feigned, we no longer expect our most famous musicians to be toothless and virginal robots. Now we demand that they show a certain degree of lustiness, instability, anti-heroism. The Weeknd scored a No. 1 hit with an elaborately coded song about a cocaine binge—and then followed it up with another No. 1 hit, this one explicitly referencing a cocaine binge. Lana Del Rey's entire aesthetic revolves around a kind of narcotized death wish. And Taylor Swift spent her last album desperately trying to persuade us that she really is villainous. Even Disney's babiest-faced of pop princesses, Selena Gomez, is getting mileage out of her demons, playing a Girl, Interrupted–style heroine and rocking a hospital bracelet in a music video. Face tattoos are basically required for entry onto the Billboard Hot 100 these days. Squeaky-clean is no more.
And yet even for the most tortured-seeming of these artists, there is still a fierce expectation that they play the game. Mild drug habits or mental illnesses are perfectly acceptable, so long as someone is willing to write catchy songs about those tendencies and then later gussy them up for arena audiences and gamely field jokes from talk-show hosts. Even Justin Bieber, the poster child for our current era of troubled pop stars, is always just one phone call with his pastor away from being able to quiet his demons and pop-and-lock on demand.
Zayn seems like a perfect avatar for this new generation of bruised pop heartthrobs, but he's the only one of his cohorts who can back it up with a sincerely jaded disposition and an unpredictable way of being. He is the only one who is staunchly unwilling to play the game. You will not find Zayn cheesing with a random group of famous people for someone's Instagram story at Coachella, nor will you find Zayn learning the latest viral dance move with Ellen DeGeneres. When he released his solo debut, Mind of Mine, two years ago, he opted out of touring altogether, surely pissing off a bunch of emotionally and financially invested parties. And although he promises to be more public-facing this time around—he insists he will tour—he's still removed from the album-cycle content churn. He says the creators of Atlanta have reached out to him to appear on the show—a dream opportunity for anyone in the music industry at this moment—but persnickety Zayn is still mulling the potential. "If the part's right, I'd be really into it," he says. Even the "behind-the-scenes" video that accompanied his new single fails to actually take anyone "behind the scenes"—it's just the song playing over some B-roll. "I guess the cameraman didn't get too much footage," Zayn says on the boat. "I might have been running away from him a bit."
When I ask him why he failed to show up at the Met Gala a couple days earlier, he almost chokes on his cigarette smoke as he exhales. He went to the Met Gala once, in 2016, and that experience symbolized everything he detests about being a famous person—and the litany of coercion and artifice that someone in his position experiences.
"I did go, but I didn't go there to be like, 'Yo, take me serious,' " he remembers. "I was taking the piss! I went there as my favorite Mortal Kombat character, Jax."
He continues: "The Met Gala is not necessarily anything that I ever knew about or was about. But my [former] stylist…would say to me, 'This is really good for you to do.' And no matter how strong you are mentally, you can always be swayed to do certain things. Now, it's not something I would go to. I'd rather be sitting at my house, doing something productive, than dressing up in really expensive clothes and being photographed on a red carpet.… To do the self-indulgent Look at me, I'm amazing thing on the red carpet, it's not me."
Here Zayn catches himself, probably realizing this might register as a diss of Gigi Hadid, the 23-year-old supermodel he's been in an on-again, off-again relationship with for two years. The supermodel who very much seemed to enjoy dressing up in really expensive clothes and being photographed on the red carpet days earlier.
"I get it, and I understand that people gain enjoyment from it," he says. I ask if he followed along with the coverage from his couch. "No, no," he says, and pauses. "Gi stole the night, though. The stained glass on her dress. Everyone else just put a cross on."
When I ask Zayn if he has any confidants in the industry, he shakes his head vigorously. "No," he says. "I don't ever want to cross wires with other people too much. I just want to see the world through my eyes."
Zayn grew up with three sisters ("I was outnumbered," he says) and is still surrounded by women, ensuring that there's a high level of exasperated but fond maternal energy swirling at all times. Blood relatives and the Hadids—particularly Gigi's mother, Yolanda, who seems to have taken on a Kris Jenner–ian role in his life—make up much of his inner circle today. ("We get on. She's really fucking cool. She's a Capricorn. She's the same star sign as me.") He recently parted ways with his high-profile manager. His best friend is a younger cousin.
"I'm not [in] the mix," he says. "I'm outside the mix."
This kind of stubborn non-participation, of course, is a reaction to the years Zayn spent being in a mix that was not to his liking. When he was a kid, growing up in the northern working-class city of Bradford, singing was just one part of an aimless but all-consuming creative impulse. He never thought he was much of a singer, until one day the choir leader at his performing-arts school praised his voice and suggested that he try out for Britain's premier vocal-competition show. Zayn's mom had to drag him from his bed at 4 A.M. to attend the audition, where he broke from the typical pop fare with a rendition of Mario's "Let Me Love You."
After his X Factor audition, there was an exchange (never aired) in which head judge Simon Cowell probed baby Zayn. " 'You know, with all these online platforms, why haven't you ever put out anything prior to this?' " Zayn remembers Cowell asking him. Zayn seemed the type, after all: a soft-spoken and artistically gifted teen who liked to sing alone in his bedroom and tinkered with rudimentary song-recording equipment. "I didn't necessarily think my stuff would be seen amongst the millions of people who put their stuff online. So I went with X Factor at that age," he says now. Like any fickle teenager, Zayn "just did it for fun, to see what would happen."
The day that Zayn auditioned, he was among many aspiring solo artists rejected by the judges. But five of the young singers were cobbled together as a boy band in a later segment. Thus was born One Direction and a rabid fandom that British people love to compare to Beatlemania. A craze so fierce and massive that it generated global synchronized flash mobs and fan-fiction authors who've reportedly scored six-figure book deals. In an instant, Zayn was thrust into a star-making boot camp, fast-tracked to an uncontrollable type of notoriety without being given the opportunity to consider alternatives.
It's no secret that Zayn didn't love One Direction's sound or his bandmates. "My vision didn't necessarily always go with what was going on within the band," he says. There was something so earnest, so wholesomely dweeby, about the whole thing. It wasn't cool, and Zayn didn't particularly enjoy being dragged around the world to look like an epic dork during the prime of his youth.
When he split off, in 2015, Zayn finally got to do all the things he hadn't been able to in One Direction: dye his hair, grow his beard, sing about sex. But he was also introduced to a fresh army of puppeteers trying to guide him, and he felt disoriented, adrift. The only way to ground himself was to resist the pull of anyone's expectations and answer only to Zayn. He'd spent five years taking direction and had become allergic to it.
There are plenty of clichéd expressions about how toxic and stifling freedom can be, and Zayn experienced many of them when he went solo. "I didn't really, like, make any friends from the band. I just didn't do it. It's not something that I'm afraid to say. I definitely have issues trusting people," he says. When he was living in Los Angeles, aimless, he fell in with a crowd of industry people: "Producers, musicians, tailors, stylists, managers. Them kind of things," he says. "It got too crazy. I just got too much into the party scene. Just going out all the time. And I was too distracted." So he left L.A. permanently and moved to New York earlier this year as a way to bring himself back down to earth.
Running a bit further, he recently bought a farm in rural Pennsylvania on the advice of Yolanda Hadid, who also has a farm there. The farm? "Cool." The state of Pennsylvania? "Cool." If you haven't picked up on it for yourself yet, Zayn loves the word "cool"; he loves it so much that he uses it more than 43 times over the course of our conversation. And now that Zayn likes to go to his farm and visit the Hadids, he and Gigi even have a horse together, named Cool. He's just getting things going on the farm, but already there are crops of cherries, tomatoes, and cucumbers. He likes to ride his ATVs. Sometimes he and Gigi will go at the same time, and she'll ride a horse, like Cool, while he watches.
Zayn has a habit of speaking in a conditioned state of detachment, responding in friendly but anodyne one-liners. Still, even someone who willfully projects this kind of cool two-dimensionalism can get irked from being flattened all the time by those around him. I catch myself flattening him, even when he's right in front of me. When I bring up the deceased Lil Peep, with whom he shared a manager, I say that it's a shame they never met—they seem like kindred spirits who could have made a great song together, or at least bonded over tattoos.
Zayn begins to laugh. "I'm not just going to be friends [with people] because we've both got tattoos. Loads of people come up to me and they're like, 'Yo, I got tattoos, you got tattoos. Let's be friends.' And I'm like… 'We're not just going to be friends because we've both got tattoos.'
"There's a bit more depth to me than that," he says, admonishing me.
One topic that will draw out this aforementioned depth is, unexpectedly, America. Despite the fact that he is living in a country under a leader that is exceptionally hostile to immigrants, the fantasy of America as a come-one, come-all melting pot is alive and well in Zayn's mind. He says he'd vote for Oprah if she ran for office because he likes her "ideologies about the world" and she's a "badass businesswoman."
"The UK is like, Fuck you, you're successful. That's not a nice attitude to have," he says. "You come to America, you're a bit shocked at first: Are these people being genuine? Are they really interested in me? Do they want to have a conversation? But they do! And that's a really nice thing. And I feel like it's misrepresented across the globe. For the kind of country it is, because everybody supports, no matter what color, what gender, what sexuality, what class—none of that matters here. People genuinely want to know you for who you are. And that's how America should be represented across the world."
Watch Now:Zayn Rocks Summer’s Best Swerves
Maybe you should run for office, I say.
"Maybe. It'd be cool. I feel like it's a beautiful place. [Because of the current political climate,] people are expressing how they really feel about where they come from and their heritage and their backgrounds. They're all mixed. To be American, you are mixed.
"So that's how I feel about it—it's a beautiful place, and it's a beautiful time to be alive."
Another unlikely topic that will break Zayn out of his default conversational mode and get him talking in jolting, paragraphs-long monologues: the paparazzi. The paparazzi who have been trailing him for years and, recently, every time he sets foot near Gigi's NoHo apartment, feeding the endless tabloid speculation about the state of their relationship. The paps used to piss Zayn off, until he realized their utility.
"That's my promo," he says. "I come outside, they take photos." He gets to quietly remind people that he exists—and gets photographed looking like the second coming of Johnny Depp, leaving the apartment of one of the most gorgeous women in the world—without doing a thing. "They stay outside and do all the work!" he says. "You can get pissed off about it and be like, 'Yo, this is a hindrance on my life.' Or you can use it for your own benefit and be like, 'Well, if they're going to take the photos, then let them.' You've gotta earn your dollar, and I've gotta earn mine."
Which is to say that just because Zayn loathes the cornball industry churn doesn't mean he needs to surrender his relevance. Zayn represents an era in which underground cool and mass-market, Calabasian-style popularity have collapsed into one another. He operates on a plane where celebrity is predicated chiefly on relevance and intrigue, and Zayn—with his equally illustrious girlfriend, his brooding glare, and his following of millions—has about as much relevance and intrigue as anybody. He is both a casualty and a beneficiary of this uniquely modern form of celebrity. In running from his stardom, he's only fueling it.
I suppose now is the time to dispense with the rest of the intel I gleaned from Zayn about his relationship with Gigi Hadid, which was a less sensitive subject than I had anticipated. The two met at the end of 2015 at a party—which "pah-y," Zayn will not disclose, but suffice it to say it was a "cool pah-y"—and just days later, Zayn learned she'd broken up with Joe Jonas. He reached out to her and asked her to dinner at the Bowery Hotel. And thus was born a couple that will go down in history as one of the most iconic and Zeitgeisty pairings of all time, a couple whose images I will show my grandchildren to prove that the world was better in my day. All of the gossip about their relationship being an opportunistic setup by their respective management is bullshit, Zayn says: "If a relationship is for your career, you can fucking walk out the door. No way. See you later."
Despite the dramatic announcement of their split a couple of months ago, Zayn and Gigi are very much still close, as evidenced by myriad photos of him leaving her apartment or kissing her on the street. Zayn speaks about Gigi in a purely misty-eyed, worshipful tone that telegraphs he may be atoning for something. "I'm really thankful that I met her," he says. He uses the term "we" in the present tense quite a bit: "We go to the farm." "We have horses." The time he actually rode a horse with Gigi, he says, "I looked like a complete idiot and she looked like a complete professional.… We're still really good friends, and we're still in contact," he says. "No bad blood." He laughs. "…Taylor Swift.
"We're adults. We don't need to put a label on it, make it something for people's expectations." To hear Zayn tell it, Gigi is the hyper-organized, clear-headed, and positive counterweight to his disposition, which can dip into a vacant or negative state. She helped him reset his attitude when he was releasing his first solo album, partying too hard. "I had a very negative outlook on things. That might have been adolescence or testosterone or whatever the fuck was running through my body at the time," he says. "She's helped me to look at things from a positive angle."
As Zayn heads into his new album cycle, Gigi has been a font of support and organizational heft. He says she's especially good with dates, which I mishear as "good with debts."
She's good with debts? You're in debt?
"No, no. Dates. She doesn't handle my finances yet," he says. "We'll get to that eventually."
When Zayn Malik went solo, he dropped his last name. The mononymic "Zayn" took on a potency and directness that enabled him to break free from the chains of boy-band drudgery and lameness. Zayn: It's a single syllable that conjures a vaporous sexuality and a moodiness that blurs the line between contemplative and blank. You can imagine the black-and-white commercial for L'Eau de Zayn.
In the years since he dropped his last name, the word "Zayn" has also become, to insiders, an equally potent verb. To "Zayn" means to be within someone's reach one moment and then completely disappear the next without any explanation. Poof! To be "Zayned" is to witness a French exit so aggressive that it almost has a supernatural quality. I know this because it happened to me.
We emerged from the ship's galley, and as I prepared to launch into more conversation, he asked Carolina where he could find the toilets. She pointed him toward a porta-potty on dry land, and Taryn wordlessly followed behind him, obviously accustomed to this ritual. Before I could get my bearings, he was zipping off into the parking lot adjacent to the tanker, no doubt scurrying home to his fortress of solitude and cigarette smoke in SoHo. I'd been Zayned.
We were supposed to hang out the following week, and I patiently waited for him to reach out. But I knew that he never would. And much as I'd like to be the exception to the Laws of Zayn's Nature, I get it. Who among us has never fantasized about blowing off pesky professional obligations we deem useless? Zayn—driven by a spirit that is part self-destruction, part self-preservation, part youthful punk contrarianism—actually has the balls to live that fantasy. It's self-absorbed, immature, and unprofessional. I'd be offended if I didn't think it was so fucking cool.
Carrie Battan is a staff writer for 'The New Yorker' and a contributor to 'GQ'.
An abridged version of this story appeared in the July 2018 issue.
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Believable, Merc AU
The What: Yusei contemplates real hard on a slew of factors regarding his current job and what it means to really trust someone. Atem learns the hard way that he should never hang up on a man who knows exactly where he is and is already madder than a hornet at him.
The When: Set a few hours after this little ditty.
The Who: Yusei and Atem.
The Rating: Leaning into a PG here, since Yusei is a bit of a light curser when he gets angry (nothing too serious tho).
Yusei stared up at the darkened ceiling of the room, hands tucked behind his head and sleep long since abandoned to the early hours of the night. The stray thoughts had slunk into his mind like some sort of wisp of smoke that refused to leave the room, leaving him with an acrid taste in his mouth.
His brow furrowed as he traced the faint lines upon the ceiling with blue eyes. Where once there was some form of trust, only tatters remained. The Academy, Atem, Yliaster. Where did one begin and the other cease intersecting with the other? His mind buzzed with thoughts of the three, swarming through his head like angry hornets.
He brought up a hand to press to the bridge of his nose, knowing full well that sleep would be the last thing he'd receive tonight.
Pushing back the covers, he got to his feet, reaching for the shirt on his nightstand and pulling it over messy hair as he headed for the door. No, what he really wanted was actual answers; something he was highly unlikely to find at either this hour or safehouse.
He toed his way into his boots and yanked hard at the laces, his frustration falling upon them as he tugged the knot into existence.
Perhaps a simple walk to calm his mind would be just the thing he needed.
Or something to punch. He was a man of simple pleasures really.
Fingers slipped about the phone in his pocket, already turning it on as he pulled his jacket on with a free hand. Shrugging it on, he retrieved the headphones from another pocket and tucked them into his ears, already out the door before the musical strains began playing.
Down darkened stairs and out into the cold night, where his breath fogged and his skin threatened to bloom a soft pink in the frigid air. Yusei released a short sigh at the change in temperature, raising his eyes to the skyline as he thrust his hands into jacket pockets.
At the very least, he never really undressed before heading to bed, so the rest of him would stay warm for quite some time.
He began at a brisk pace, feeling the cold nip at his cheeks, and allowing his mind to begin the hefty job of sorting and sifting and categorising the thoughts that swam through his head.
The big question at the top of them all was Atem's loyalties. Personally, he knew nothing about his history with the Academy; something he was now kicking himself over. The basic stats of the man, he knew, only due to mission briefings and various meetings. Anything specific, or hell, even anything broad for that matter? He was clutching at a giant blank.
It was something that could be worked upon, especially if their partnership had to undergo a drastic change.
Next on his list was Atem's ties to the Yliaster group. Not much to go on there, as all information on them was somewhat above his level of clearance, and all he really knew about the group themselves were the basics and his own personal interactions with them.
A light frown crossed his expression. It was something that Yuma might be able to help him with, but he'd rather limit the amount of exposure his associates received. If the programmer was caught it would mean the end of everything for him; career, future, and potentially his life. Something as drastic as that over a simple query, yet he knew how the Academy would react; perhaps he could delicately ask Astral.
The group's internal administration itself wasn't as public as the Academy, but at their head – or as far as publicity was concerned – sat their leader, Seto Kaiba. A man whose father had built the company from the ground up, providing all sorts of trade to varying companies. Logistical supplies, medical delivery devices, civilian lifestyle technologies, life-saving pharmaceuticals; it was hard to pin down exactly what the company front did as a whole, yet it was varied enough that it helped spread the image.
Yliaster was a company beneficial to the future of mankind.
At least that's what it said on the box.
Yusei had to admit, it was smart marketing. When the time came to pull the curtain away, humanity would stand firmly with them to the bitter end over having made such radical, positive changes to the world about them. Who in their right mind would deny people such basic necessities?
No, it was a clever smokescreen, but it made his digging all the more difficult.
He gave a faint noise of thought as he glanced up at the world about him, drifting lightly back into reality and feeling like the only person in this dim-lit street. In a way, he really was; walking like an angrily burdened man with little else on his mind but his frustrations, it was no wonder that those stray few people on the pavement avoided him.
With a frown, it brought him back to the last thing on his mind.
The Academy itself.
At the head sat the Council; names and faces he didn't know, nor did the public. In what was probably a similar scheme to Yliaster, the puppeteers really pulling the strings were only known to select individuals within the respective groups, and the Council was something Yusei had never had the good fortune of meeting.
Under them sat the Administrators, and that's where the true branching began. Where some were truly for the public face of the Academy – a worldwide university of the highest prestige, offering only the finest in athletics and scholarly teachings – there were a broader collection of those that watched as much as they participated.
The Administrators whose sole purpose was to monitor and mould and recruit.
Those were the ones most disturbing to Yusei; the ones with the first say in whether or not a person's life would forever be altered. Much like that of poor Yuma, his mind whispered.
Much like his own.
His mind pressed on, not preferring to stray too long upon that particular topic. After the Administrators came the real meat of the Academy; those who reared and trained and dispatched.
The Handlers.
Tasked with the wellbeing of new recruits, they were solely responsible for their upbringing and education. Depending on their chosen field, those inducted into the Academy were mentored by a very specific group of Handlers. Yusei knew he was one of the lucky ones chosen for field work, but there were obviously others in varying fields. Computer sciences, engineering, medical fields, consulting specialists... just a few of departments ticked through his head as he walked.
He knew of Yuma's role in the Academy, and what his specialised fields were. Atem, however, was still a question in his mind. Certainly, he was a field agent, but to what capacity aside from close quarters combat specialist, he had no idea.
He'd only been with the Academy for a short time; short enough that he and Yusei had only performed one mission together, and that was a complete wash.
Blue eyes narrowed. If the mission was such a failure, why hadn't he been recalled from the field to report in more detail? If Atem had truly gone rogue, then why hadn't he heard of cleanup being dispatched? Why hadn't he heard from Yuma, or even Astral?
He resisted the faint growl of frustration that sat on his tongue and closed his eyes, running a hand through his hair.
All of a sudden since that afternoon, in the space of a few short hours, he'd been kept utterly in the dark.
The bigger question came in the analysis of his own questions. Had Atem truly gone rogue? He fled from the scene nearly immediately after Yusei had found out about his connection to Yliaster. Not to mention the way the man had been in hiding ever since. He could appreciate people in their particular line of work being secretive, but this was something else entirely.
No, this was... almost as if the man were scared.
Yusei could understand why, however; both groups they were involved with were likely to silence you if things went awry. Not a comforting thought. Self preservation was one thing, but Yusei doubted even he could manage to avoid the Academy for long.
Still... if Atem was scared for his life, he had a funny way of showing Yusei gratitude for saving it.
Blue eyes hardened as his thoughts spun further and further. That target earlier... just how had he known what Atem's connection to Yliaster was? It was clear that Atem had no idea who the man was, so would the target have been briefed on Atem beforehand? Was Yliaster that open with their members that they freely spoke about former agents? No, surely not...
Yusei reached up with both hands, gently blowing warm breath into cupped fingers.
Surely he would have to have been told. There was no way a mere grunt would know-
The music in his ears faded with the oncoming announcement of a soft chime, and he fished his phone from his pocket, wondering who could be calling him at this hour; he'd already reported in, after all.
No caller ID. Whilst nothing unusual to him, the timing still felt off.
He clicked the accept button and tucked the device back in his pocket, almost thankful for the welcome distraction.
“Stardust,” he spoke curtly, breath streaming behind him in a fog as he walked.
“That's no way to say hello.”
The smooth voice on the line drew his brow to a deep furrow of annoyance and he very nearly hung up on the man out of spite.
“Then don't skip out on the first date next time,” he answered sharply. Atem laughed brightly on the other end, and he could just about see that self-satisfied smirk on his face.
“But that just makes you twice as keen for a second.”
Yusei did sigh then, reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose. Mixing business with pleasure was a surefire way to get himself or the other killed; something he'd already seen far too often in his career. He dropped his hand and tucked it back into his jacket, ignoring the statement.
“Where are you?”
The simple question brought the interested sound from his runaway partner.
“Why do you ask?”
“Because I need to punch you,” Yusei replied, deadpanned.
The snicker drew from the end of the line once more, despite how utterly serious the sharpshooter was. If there was one thing he wanted to do tonight, it was lay a fist somewhere between that smug grin and his forehead.
“You compromised the mission,” he continued. “I have every right to do so, and you know it.”
“Well aren't you a barrel of laughs,” Atem murmured wryly. “Are you sure the mission was a complete failure?” Yusei felt his patience fraying, like picking the thread of a seam. What else would he call it if not a failure?
“Considering my partner went AWOL with both the merchandise and cash, leaving only a dead man and a message to Yliaster, yes.”
He knew the mention of the name would wring a reaction from the other, and the resounding silence was all he needed to hear.
“Besides, there's the other-”
“We succeeded, Stardust,” Atem cut him off coldly.
“Bullshit we did!” Yusei snapped at him, his composure snapping like a pencil.
“Language, please. And let me explain before you fly off the handle.”
The dark haired man drew to a stop, straightening with a short intake of breath as he closed his eyes. No, there was no need to let the man rile him like this. He was more irritated over a mission gone awry than at his new partner, he knew that much. The fact that his new partner happened to be the cause for such a mission going awry was more than enough to get under his skin, however.
“Atem...” Yusei breathed into the night, wringing only the sigh from the man.
“So glad I called on a secured line...” came the murmur in his ear. “Look, Yusei, the reason things went the way they did is the very fact you were there.”
That got his attention.
“I say that because, well...” the man trailed off and Yusei felt the frown cross his brow.
He knew the reason; for as scant as Atem's file was within his clearance level, he knew that the man didn't partner well with others. He knew Pharaoh was a hard agent to work with at the best of times, and he had a habit of playing by his own rules, so any mission with him would always be difficult.
Yusei never really drew the conclusion that his own involvement in his own mission would be the crux of Atem's problems.
“You're blaming me for the fact you walked out?” the sharpshooter hissed.
“No,” the reply came sternly in his ear. “I...”
Dark brows furrowed deeply. He'd never heard the man sound so unsure about anything; that usual confidence and finesse with words all but vanishing. This was something more than a mere clash of personalities, Yusei was sure.
The sigh sounded light in his ears.
“I had to get out of there. Silly, I know,” Atem's soft words did nothing but confirm his earlier suspicions. “It was a brief momentary lapse of judgement, leaving me with little choice but to make amends.”
“Flattered.”
“You should be,” the man continued. “It's not often I have to save face; there is my reputation to uphold, after all.”
There was the mask again. Slipped so simply over his words and lacing tight about the ever-present smirk on his lips. Truth be told, Yusei was glad to hear it return. The truth, as always, was something far easier to tuck away for another day.
Yusei reached up to tap at his marker, letting the wash of overlays colour the world about him until he reached the tracer path he was after. He certainly wasn't the sentimental type, but it was time to find the man.
“Reputation or not, you still made a point to break into our safehouse and bribe my silence with coffee.”
The sharp laughter rang through his ears as something distant in his vision pinged in response, a path towards his target outline on the ground before him. Yusei was mildly surprised; he wasn't at all far away.
“Though you did also tell me... no more Satisfaction.”
There was a lingering silence on the line as Yusei heard the shift of cloth and soft footsteps.
“...and no more Yliaster,” the man finished for him. “Yusei, I meant what I wrote. Believe what you will, but I've long severed my ties with them.”
He wanted sorely to find the truth in those words, yet something in the back of his mind still gnawed at him. If Atem was truly free of their grasp, it would certainly take more than words to prove his loyalty to the Academy. It would also take more than mere words to prove himself to Yusei.
Blue eyes narrowed faintly at his own thoughts and he slowed to a stop.
Trust was always such a disposable commodity in their profession. As easily as they could slip on the mask of disguise, they could throw it out in a heartbeat.
The quiet sigh sat on his tongue and he felt his hands clench at his side. Trust or not, the man was his partner, and they were stuck with one another until all their skeletons were flushed from their closets. It was a brutal compromise and it sat heavily in his mind. The olive branch was his to extend, it seemed.
“I don't... blame you... for running out,” he told him softly.
The tone of that voice caught Atem by surprise and the silence lingered down the line until Yusei did sigh lightly, closing his eyes to shake his head lightly, not liking the way the frustration sat in his chest.
He detested the unfamiliar feeling crawling through his skin, and he tried to force it from his mind as he began walking once more, firmly fixing his eyes upon the little radar blip of Atem's location.
“I would've done the same,” he admitted simply, feeling the bitter taste of acquiesce on his tongue.
There was a brief beat of time before Atem's marker began to move, descending somewhat, and he could hear footsteps through the line. Wherever he'd holed himself up, he was now heading downstairs and on the move once more, something that spiked the adrenaline lightly into Yusei's veins. Was he trying to run again?
“... thank you,” Atem replied. He paused for a moment. “You're still not getting me to apologise twice in the one conversation, by the way.”
Yusei gave a faint noise of consideration to that, and he was rewarded with a soft chuckle. Blue eyes watched as that marker reached ground level; at least at this distance and location, he could start sprinting if he needed to catch the slippery bastard.
“Oh, and by the way,” the amused voice curled into his ears.
The sharpshooter sighed into the line. “What.”
“Stop tracking me.”
Blue eyes widened as the phone call ended abruptly, killing off the active signal and leaving him staring at a last known location mark blinking rapidly in his vision. Without missing a beat, he exploded forward from his place as feet pounded on the concrete path. Of course the little wretch was monitoring his location from his phone. Twice in one day-!
Muscles began burning as he tore along the sidewalk, not even trying to mask the noise as boots thudded noisily one after the other. If he lost Atem now, it would be over. There'd be no going back from the olive branch he'd extended him, and the next time he saw him, they'd damn well be on opposing sides.
The snarl sat on his lips as he sprinted around the corner, feeling his lungs burn from exertion, and the marker in his vision rapidly counted down to a close. It was only as he rounded the corner, the street opening up to a broad and tidy plaza, that he began to slow.
He glanced around him hurriedly, hoping to see some slim sign of a fleeing person, or someone recovering from being knocked down in a hurry. At least then, he'd know where the agent had run off to.
“Yo,” came the cheery greeting from almost behind him.
Yusei startled, whirling around with fists cocked as Atem reclined on one of the benches nearby. The rogue agent offered him a friendly wave as he stood, that horrible grin plastered on his face.
“Wow, you should see your face,” he told him with a soft laugh.
Still breathing heavily, rage ran through his veins as swiftly as the adrenaline that brought him here, and he stormed over to the man. Without pausing, he swung hard, fist slamming into the agent's jaw and snapping his head back, causing him to stagger back a few paces.
Atem raked a hand along the edge of the bench, steadying himself with a sharp shake of his head as his world suddenly swam. God, did the man just give him a concussion by means of a hello?
“Christ, nice to see you too,” he mouthed, working his jaw to ensure nothing was actually broken.
“You deserved that you son of a bitch,” Yusei told him sharply as he shook his hand out, feeling almost a little better from that.
Pharaoh tenderly rubbed his jaw, knowing it would be ridiculously sore for the next few days. What the hell were Yusei's arms made of? Titanium? He swore one of his teeth were loose...
“Good to see you kept your promise to me,” he told him, still blinking the blurring vision away. He hadn't really expected Yusei to punch him, and the surprise was more of a shock than the actual action of clocking him one in the jaw. “I don't think I'll hang up on you again anytime soon.”
A hand fisted in his dress shirt, dragging him forward and all but lifting him up to Yusei's eye level. Furious anger sat fresh in those sharp blue eyes and he almost laughed at the situation of facing the full anger of Stardust. Was this the last thing people saw if they caught him without his weapons? No wonder the man had such a fierce reputation.
“Don't you dare ever try that again,” Yusei all but spat at him in dangerous snarl.
Atem couldn't help but laugh. “Lighten up, I thought partners were supposed to be able to take a joke.” Despite the active threat on his life, there was no stopping the easy mirth that fell from him; a defence mechanism that usually always got him in trouble, but always put him in very close proximity to targets.
He held up a hand in light surrender. “You seemed content to talk way too much while you were tracking me. I wanted you to cut to the chase, alright?” Atem told him smoothly. Yusei growled under his breath, and some sane portion of his mind could see the logic behind it. It still didn't help the fact his partner was being a complete ass about it.
“If you knew I was already on my way here, why not just tell me to hurry it up?”
“Well, would you have listened? Or would you still think I was attempting to run?”
That brought Yusei up short, and he shoved him back in annoyance, feeling his breathing even out.
“Of course I would think that!” he snapped. “It wouldn't be the first time in your history you'd run out on a partner.”
Atem narrowed his eyes lightly at that, giving a soft huff in response, arms folding across his chest, all humour slipping from him.
“You don't even know why-”
“Then tell me,” Yusei interjected sharply, feeling his composure fraying around the man. He reached up, jabbing a finger to his partner's chest. “Like it or not, we're shackled together until the Academy says otherwise. We support each other on the field. We don't abandon each other. We are a team!”
“Yusei.”
The smooth tone of that voice brought him to a stop and a hand closed over his wrist, cool crimson eyes meeting furious blue.
“I know we are, and like I already told you, I won't apologise twice in the same conversation,” he answered softly. There was a beat of time as he felt the muscles within that arm began to relax a little, and he was glad that Stardust was starting to at least listen to him and come back down.
“I take some time to get used to, and in turn, I'm not used to having a partner yet,” he cut himself off, looking down briefly. “Not... for a long time.” He released Yusei's wrist, bringing his eyes up once more.
“Asking you to trust me is pointless; you won't ever do that.”
The sudden admission was enough to draw the light surprise from Yusei, and he reached up to pluck his long forgotten earbuds from his ears, tucking the tangle of wire back in his pocket.
Trust would always be his downfall so long as he were in this profession; that much he knew about himself. Yet extending it to someone was a two-way street. Atem had yet to give him a reason to put his faith in the man, and to effectively work together, it was something they both needed to work on.
He knew it was a stretch, but he hated the feeling of frustration welling in his stomach because of it all.
“No, I might not...” he breathed in reply. “Regardless, you know I keep my word.”
He held his hand out to the man, knowing there was only a few ways his offer could go.
“So trust or not, in the meantime, you can believe what I say.”
Atem had to blink back at the man at his sudden turnabout. It was... almost jarring to see when he'd all but knocked his lights out some scant minute ago. Still... there was nothing to suggest Stardust had an agenda; the man didn't operate like that. Hell, he was a straight-laced as they came when talking about operations of any kind.
For Atem to be presented with such a deal, he could hardly believe his luck. Yusei would just... blindly offer his faith to him like this? He reached up hesitantly, hand pausing before the other's for a moment as the light frown crossed his brow.
“You remember what it was like to have friends, don’t you?”
The words crossed through his mind like hot oil searing skin and he clasped the hand before him, forcibly pushing the memory to the side. It was something he couldn't afford to dwell upon in this moment.
“Thank you... Yusei...” he breathed softly.
The man in question shook his hand lightly, before drawing back. Seemingly satisfied with how things had progressed between the two of them, he raked a hand through dark hair, feeling his emotions settle a little after their brief confrontation.
“Come on,” he told him, already turning away from the small plaza. Atem was left standing with his thoughts for a moment before falling into step alongside him and following.
He didn't feel the need to question where they were going; for as much unease ran between them, the amicable silence was almost welcoming. Yusei led the way as the two of them walked towards the busier part of the suburb, almost tempted to put his earbuds back in if it weren't for the fact he wanted to keep an eye on the other.
He was still downright angry at the man, and more than irritated at his own response. Yusei knew getting angry wouldn't solve anything, but it seemed as if working together would be like sandpaper on his skin at times. Blue eyes glanced skywards, knowing it would be a long journey between the two of them to rebuild that already tattered trust.
Slowly, steadily, it could be done... but it would take an openness not really seen amongst their kind.
Rounding the corner, they approached a nearby food truck, Yusei intent on ordering something hot and greasy and sorely needed at this hour of the night.
“Two pad thai,” came the voice from next to him.
Atem placed the money on the counter before Yusei had the chance, and at the sideways glance he got from the man, gave a noncommittal shrug. Collecting their food, the two of them walked onwards, hands already warmed by thick noodles within their containers. It wasn't until they'd opened the piping hot tubs, digging into their food as they walked, that Atem spoke up.
“For saving my life earlier,” came the simple explanation.
Yusei gave a light frown. “You already bought me coffee.”
Atem laughed. “No, that was for not shooting me earlier. This is for not punching me twice,” he explained. “Seriously, your arms are ridiculous. How heavy are your weapons?”
Blue eyes glanced back at the man, a faint smile ghosting across his lips. It sure wasn't perfect – it was downright dysfunctional – but working with the man was going to prove entertaining, at the very least.
Maybe Stardust needed to lighten up a little, just like his partner said.
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Ironman Tulsa 2021 Report
Hope this Ironman mask is only for witnessing history!
This is the first complete point-to-point Ironman race that I know of. The swim start, T1, T2, and the finish line are all at different locations.
Logistics
I was a little bit worried about the Transitions, but it turns out to be very well organized. I think it is even better than IMCHOO 2017 and IMCOZ 2019.
On Saturday I chose to drop off the bike at T1 and check in the bike gear bag. T1 is almost the same as any other Ironman Race, but the difference is that we just leave the bike gear bag with the bike. No changing tent. If you need to change, you will have to use those port-a-johns at the end of each row. No worry about finding your T1 bag when you finished swimming.
T2 is almost the same as T1 with bike racks. After checking in, you would leave the run gear bag at the assigned slot. On race day when I finished riding, the bike gear bag was also transported to T1 and sit next to the run gear bag.
Some fellow triathletes in the FB IMTulsa group mentioned the poor road condition on the bike course. So we did a course preview drive after checking in. It's mainly rolling hills, but quite a few long hills that you won't be able to roll up. And the road conditions were terrible in some parts of the first half, such as the big downhill before 10 miles. Gravel and dirt are often seen on the road. We all agreed that it's not safe to push for speed. To make it worse, race day turned into a rainy day, unlike the weather forecast cloudy day. Definitely not the safest bike course for a race.
I stayed at a hotel very close to the finish line. And it was only about 10-min walk from T2/Ironman Village. This turned out to be a big advantage considering the traffic on race day morning, as all participants needed to take the shuttle from T2 to T1 between 4am and 5am. A friend was stuck in traffic for quite a while and came into T1 late. On the other hand, there were fireworks shows after the baseball games next to the hotel on Friday/Saturday evenings. Because of the fireworks, I barely got any sleep Saturday night.
Race Day
On race day we are supposed to take the shuttle bus from T2 to T1, and only from 4am to 5am. So I got up at 2:50am to make the rice balls which is the new fueling plan on the bike. Considering that the race will start around 7 o'clock, I didn't eat breakfast at the hotel, but I brought two extra rice balls to T1. What should I do with all the 3 hours before the race?
Swim
Because of the pandemic, I only swam three times with club OWS since March 2020. So, there is absolutely no expectation for swimming. The bottom line is just survival, and not been cut-off.
The water temperature on the race day was 20℃/68℉, wetsuit legal yet not too cold. The water was clean compared to the muddy flood in the river. It was a rainy day, so no dazzling sunlight into the goggles. The main strategy was to draft, which was executed quite well. After a few minutes of high cadence warming up, I was able to find my rhythm and draft behind a green hatter. Unfortunately, this buddy was not very good at the sighting. After swimming two buoys, we were farther away from the course and a kayaker warned us. After getting back to the course, I drafted behind a pink hatter. She was apparently a very good swimmer. We pass several buoys closely, and I had to be very concentrated to keep up. I guess that was also an advantage of drafting because I had no time to think about how much farther it was. At around the last buoy, I eventually got dropped, but the ramp to T1 was already in sight. Many thanks to the lady with black KT tapes on her left foot. The swim time was 1:27:19, definitely better than what I expected.
By the way, my historical chafing problem around the neck did not happen at all during this race, as I covered the neck with KT tape. I also cut short the wetsuit legs about 5in, which probably reduced 1 minute for taking off the wetsuit. I probably should do the same for the sleeves.
Bike
The first half of the bike course was in general in poor conditions. Pothole, rough surface, gravel, dirt, plus the rain. Quite a lot of safety risk. And the second half of the course would be against a headwind. So, I decided to be conservative and not to push hard for speed. That was definitely a good decision. At about 60-mile, two riders zoom-passed me, and a few seconds later crashed at quite high speed. I was able to steer around and avoided an accident. Hope they did not suffer too bad from the crash.
The new fueling plan of three rice balls worked very effectively. The whole 6 hours ride I did not have any stomach discomfort, and yet it felt great eating a rice ball when I am hungry. Next time, packaging needs to be improved to carry and to eat. The total energy intake includes: 3 rice balls, 6~? Maurten gels, and a half bottle of Maurten fuel (about 350Cal, should have taken the rest in the running water bottle). It was a cool rainy day, so I consumed about 2 liters of drinking water. Did not drink Gatorade at all.
The average heart rate throughout the whole ride was 132, and that was equivalent to those long trainer rides on weekends in the past few months. The legs felt very good when reaching T2.
Run
The run course is in general flat, as the major part is along the Arkansas River park trail. The original plan was to run at my base pace around 8min/mile, and the first half of the run was in general as planned. As to the fueling plan, a Maurten gel at every other aid station and a sip of water (Not enough water, which probably led to a later problem). The total time when reaching 13 miles was about 1h46m.
So far so good, right? Well, as always, something will not follow the plan. I am starting to have serious GI discomfort. The sweet Maurten gels did not show the magical effect, instead, they made the stomach very uncomfortable. I felt dizzy, lightheaded, and could not maintain the base pace. I washed down a couple of electrolyte capsules with water. I had tried Red Bull, Pepsi, bananas at aid stations. Nothing worked. Actually, I could only swallow a few mouthfuls of Pepsi. Had to stop and rest. The original goal of 3:40 gradually out of reach. The last two miles I knew I had to push myself if I still wanted to finish under 12h. Finally crossed the finish line at 11h54m.
IMChoo 2017 11h12m, IMCoz 2019 11h22m, IMTulsa 2021 11h56. Not a good trend.
The funny part of this race: somehow I had to use port-a-johns 4 times during the race, adding the time standing in line, wasted at least 15min doing that business…
My biggest complaint about the race: No pizza after the finish line… So disappointed.😢😢😢😢😢
Overall, IMTulsa is a great venue and a very well-organized race. If the bike course condition can be improved, I would definitely do it again!
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