#Advance Booking Report

[bolllywoodhungama]

Tiger 3 Advance Booking Update: Salman Khan's film buys over 4 lakh tickets for Diwali Day; a Rs. 40 crore opening appears feasible.

Tiger 3, starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, had a significant increase in advance bookings on Thursday. According to our tracking, Tiger 3 has sold over 4 lakh tickets on the first day alone, with two days until its premiere. The action-packed thriller has already earned Rs. 11.50 crores on its first day of release.

With ticket sales of 8,00,000 across the country, the film is on track to earn more than Rs. 20 crores from its advance booking alone. In terms of national multiplex chains, Tiger 3 sold almost 1.50 lakh tickets on its opening day, and over 2 lakh tickets if Monday sales are included. The advancing trend is strong, and Tiger 3 is on track to achieve the unthinkable, with an opening of up to Rs. 40 crore likely on Laxmi Pooja Day. It would be a record that would be remembered for years to come, surpassing the previous largest Laxmi Pooja Day of all time, Krrish 3, which brought in almost Rs. 20 crores. The best days for Tiger 3 will be Monday and Tuesday, since the film has the potential to have an all-time opening weekend, but it all relies on how well it does in theaters. Overall, everything is in place for Salmania to do well at the box office around the world.

[lixenn]

Just looked up the train connection I would need to take to get to my friend's party.

And it got so fucking expensive 😭😭

RIP my wallet

[justwinginglife]

hello hello Hannah! Hope you’re having a great timezone!

So I read your fic for Jinshi since I finally started watching Apothecary Diaries the show has a tight grip on me now and I was wondering if maybe you could do something for Jinshi again if you feel up for it?

Can be whatever you want, full fic, head canons (although my one request would be to ask if it could be smut?) even that if you don’t feel like it then fluff is perfect too.

Thank you if you do and no worries if you don’t want to!

Helloooooo! I'm so happy you've discovered Apothecary Diaries! I apologize in advance, I know this was supposed to be smut, but I had too many good laughs writing this and it ended up lowkey being comedic material lmao. I love Jinshi. Anyway, thanks for the request, and welcome to the Apothecary Diaries fandom!

NSFW Warning

The Missing Piece

He had a dick.

He had a dick, he had a dick, he had a dick. Oh fuck, Jinshi had a dick. He wasn’t supposed to have a dick. But he had one. He had one and it was very big and it was very hard and it was pushing up against your butt at this very moment. You’d tripped and he’d caught you -at the cost of his secret- and now you were both planted firmly on the ground, one with a raging boner and one with a soaked cunt. And, GOD, was it embarrassing. You’d never once questioned that he was a eunuch, even with all of his flirting and flouncing around, but now you were very much aware that he was not, in fact, a eunuch AT ALL. 

You quickly pulled yourself off of him, cheeks flushed and underwear stained. You hurriedly excused yourself, spitting out a quick thanks for him breaking your fall, and then booked it the fuck out of there. You could hear him laughing behind you, but you paid no mind. You were too busy overthinking every encounter you’d ever had with him. All the times you’d poked fun at his lack of a member. All the times you’d whispered innuendos into his ear, teasing him with what you knew he couldn’t have. And now you’d been one cloth away from reaching home base with him after one stupid fall. And your stupid body had the stupid nerve to be soaked. 

If you could’ve avoided him for the rest of your life, you would’ve. Alas, a week was the best you could do, and even that was pushing it. In the rear palace, Jinshi was in control of anything and everything, and it was near impossible for anyone, least of all you (he liked to keep you close in particular) to take a step without him knowing about it. You could only plant so many obstacles to keep him busy, but you knew eventually he’d find you. Besides the fact that you were his closest confidant and most useful informant, reporting on all happenings within the palace as one of its court ladies (ranking high enough to have access, but low enough to be virtually invisible), you were also just his favorite form of entertainment and he’d damn near lose his mind if he didn’t have your company to cure his boredom. So it was only a matter of time until he caught up to you; the only real question was, when he finally caught you, did you ignore the massive elephant in the room or did you poke it with a stick? 

“You know I pay you to report to me, right? And I’ve not had a report for almost a week now. Wonder why that is.” A voice chimed out from behind you and you could almost hear his smirk. He was having too much fun with this situation. 

Your brow twitched. So the bastard was going to be smug about this? Fine. If he was relishing in the discomfort this was causing you, you might as well even the score. You plastered on a faux smile and turned to face him, giving him an obligatory curtsy. “Jinshi, to what do I owe the grand pleasure of your presence?”

He chuckled, amused at your fake show of manners. “Drop the formalities. It’s just us. You can speak freely.”

“You have a dick.” There. Now you were both uncomfortable. 

He choked on his own spit. He did say you could speak freely but you never failed to surprise him with just how freely you spoke. “...I suppose I can’t convince you it was nothing more than just my tunic bunching up?”

You snorted. “Jinshi, does your tunic have a tip? And does that tunic’s tip pulse?”

He let out a short laugh. “It appears I’m caught. Alright, I concede. I have a dick.”

You blinked. You hadn’t expected him to outright admit it. You’d expected to dance in circles with him, make him sweat a little, before finally wringing the confession from his throat. 

He could tell you were struggling with his sudden admission. It made him grin. “And before you ask, yes, I’ve had it since birth. I didn’t just glue it on.”

“Well, duh!” You spit out. What, now he had jokes?? Didn’t he know this was the stupidest thing to be joking about?? God, he drove you crazy. 

He seemed to be enjoying your reactions. He took a step closer to you. “Wanna touch it? Confirm its existence?” He teased.

If he wasn’t the most high ranking official here, you would’ve slapped him. You gave him a pinched smile. “Sure. I’ll touch it with my shoe, just let me wind up real quick-”

His eyes widened. “Wait, wait, wait! That’s not what I meant.”

Your brow twitched again. “Oh, I know what you meant.” PERVERT. You didn’t say it but he knew you were thinking it. 

He exhaled. “Okay, I think we got off on the wrong foot here. I’m just messing with you. How about we both just go back to the way things were before you found out? Yeah?” 

You wanted nothing more than to do that. Buuuut…. You couldn’t. How were you supposed to go back to falling asleep at his desk when you were too lazy to go back to your room, after a daily report turned into a lengthy strategy session? How were you supposed to go back to ripping the blankets off of him after he’d overslept and tugging at his clothes to try and change him yourself? How were you supposed to not overthink every time that he touched you, wondering if maybe he wanted to touch you longer, to touch you lower? 

You bit your lip. Did you even mind when he touched you? It’d never been an issue before. He was always fidgeting, always needing to play with your pinky under the table at a meeting, or needing to tug at your bracelet while he poured over paperwork, or needing to nudge your foot with his, and you never minded before, but would you mind now? Would you mind if he wanted to touch you differently, if he wanted to touch you urgently? Your cheeks began to grow warm. How had you never seen how you’d felt about him until he suddenly had a dick? Were you that shallow? God, you hoped not. Of course, you’d always thought he was attractive objectively (though you’d never tell him or he’d gloat for ages), and his company was at times pleasant to enjoy (and you’d never tell him this either or he’d never leave you alone), but maybe you’d never seen him as a love interest before because he wasn’t someone you could settle down and start a family with. But now, what if he was?

And it didn’t help that he wasn’t taking this seriously. He was teasing, he was taunting, he was downright torturous. It seriously made you want to slap him.

But right now, he was looking at you like you held the world in your hands. Like his world might collapse if you didn’t agree to going back to what you were before. Like he might lose something precious to him if you didn’t. And you didn’t want to overestimate your own worth to him; after all, you might just be a useful pair of eyes to him at the end of the day, but the way he was looking at you now made you feel like something to him, even if it was barely something. Did you want to be something to him?

He broke the silence. “You’re not going to ignore me for another week, are you? Please don’t, I can’t take it.”

God, he couldn’t just say stuff like this. It made you want to kiss him and stay by his side forever. “I won’t.” You said finally.

He exhaled. Then he grinned. “Good, cuz I need my favorite plaything.”

Oh, this asshole. “You know what? I’ll touch it.”

His smile dropped from his face. “Wh-what?”

You smirked, stepping dangerously close. “You asked me earlier if I wanted to touch it, right? Sure. Let me cop a feel.”

He swallowed and backed up a few steps. “I was j-joking. I wasn’t serious…”

“Oh come on. Pretty face like yours. I’m sure you must’ve done it tons of times before; it’s not like this is anything new to you. And you must be pretty pent up, working in the rear palace. I’m sure you need to let off some steam, right?” You purred, trapping him against the wall with your next few steps. 

His eyes widened when his back hit the wall.

You almost wanted to stop, you weren’t even sure where you’d found the nerve, but it was like he’d lit a fire within you and it was too late to back out now. “Jinshi…” You murmured, before trailing a hand up his thigh. 

“Wait! I’m a vir-” Your hand trailed up his length and brushed across his tip. In an instant, the front of his tunic was soaked. He slid down the wall, gasping for breath as he collapsed on the ground. “gin…” He finished through panted breaths, head arching back to rest on the wall as he rode out his orgasm. It wasn’t like he’d never touched himself before, but you touching him was something completely different. 

You pulled away suddenly. “You’re a what??”

He laughed, half exhausted and half ashamed. “Caught me. I’m a virgin.”

Oh shit. You dropped to your knees in front of him, and bowed low to the ground. “I’m so sorry! I was only teasing, I didn’t know you were a virgin. And I sure as hell didn’t think you’d…you know…” 

“Come on my clothes?” He offered weakly. 

Your cheeks filled with crimson. “Yeah. So did I… I mean was that your first… did I take your…?” You swallowed, completely unable to finish your sentence.

He laughed again and you were glad he could laugh because you certainly couldn’t. “I hardly think brushing across it counted as my first time. At least, I’m not counting it. So you didn’t take anything. And it’s not like I haven’t touched myself before, you know.”

You scrunched up your nose. “Ew- okay, I did not need to know that.”

He grinned and leaned in close to your ear. “In fact… I’ve done it a couple times to you.”

Your breath hitched. 

A low chuckle rumbled in his throat. “Don’t think you’re the only one who can play the teasing game. I bet you wanna know what it’s like when I’m touching myself to you, yeah?”

Before you could protest (you weren’t sure how you’d protest anyway; it was suddenly very hot in here and your throat was suddenly very dry), he had his cock in his hand, precum drizzling over his fingers, mixing with his previous messy release. If you hadn’t just seen him come a minute ago, you would’ve thought he’d never gotten off a day in his life, with how painfully swollen it looked, veins engorged along his rigid length. 

Your previous assessment of him from the few seconds you’d spent in his lap turned out to be completely correct. He was huge. And you were drooling. Without even realizing it, you’d reached a finger out to dance over his tip. He hissed and bit down on his lip to keep from coming again.

“You’re such a tease,” He groaned. 

Before you could pull away, he seized your wrist and pulled you into his lap. You landed exactly where he wanted and exactly where you hoped you wouldn’t. But there was no denying how good it felt. Especially when he began to thrust his hips upwards to meet you with delicious friction. 

You let out an involuntary moan.

He inhaled sharply. “God, the sounds you make…” His hands found your hips, holding you tightly in place, like he thought you might try to make another escape before he could get off again. You wouldn’t, not this time. Not now that you knew how good he felt.

You matched his rhythm, grinding against his erection in a similar fashion. 

His eyes widened when he realized you were giving in to him. “Fuck…” He pulled you in for a kiss. It was sloppy at first, desperate. Too much tongue and then too much teeth, like he didn’t know how much time he had before you wanted to stop. When you wrapped your arms around his neck, sighing against his lips, and settling yourself closer to him, he finally relaxed, realizing you wanted this just as bad as he did. 

His lips trailed a bruising path down your neck, painting his desire for you in pinks and purples across your skin. 

“Jinshi…” You murmured, arching your head back in pleasure. 

“I don’t think…” He pressed another hungry kiss to your collarbone, “My name has ever sounded so good…”

When his hands began to undress you as his kisses made their way lower and lower on your body, you finally stopped him. “Wait, wait.”

His brows furrowed. “What is it? Change your mind?” 

You shook your head quickly. “It’s just… do you really want your first time to be with me?”

His gaze softened when he realized what your concern was. “And why wouldn’t I want it with you?”

“Don’t people usually save their first time for someone special?”

“They do. So I guess I’m in the clear.”

“I-what?”

“You are someone special-” His lips found the curves of your breast and you shivered, “-to me, you’re special. You’ve always been special.”

“Jinshi…” You whispered in awe. You’d hoped to be something to him, but you never would’ve dared to dream you’d be this. 

“If you want to stop, we can stop. But tell me now, or I won’t be able to hold myself back.” 

Your hands tangled in his hair, tugging his head away from your chest. When he looked up at you in surprise, you pressed a deep kiss to his lips. “Do I look like I want to stop?” You gasped out.

He chuckled. “Whatever you say, princess.”

He laid you back on the floor, resting you on top of your discarded dress. For a moment, he just stared at you, taking in your beautiful, naked form beneath him.

“Don’t tell me you’re all talk.” You teased. 

He scoffed, but his eyes were sparkling with amusement. “Can’t I just look at a gorgeous woman for a moment?”

“Not if she’s naked and cold. Better warm me up quick, Jinshi, or I’ll find someone else to take my first time.”

His eyes widened. “Wait you… you’re a virgin?”

Your cheeks darkened. “Well, I’m about to not be a virgin in two seconds, so hurry it up please.”

You thought he’d laugh at you but all he could do was smile like a kid on Christmas. He smiled like you held the world in your hands and his heart right beside it. It made you want to kiss him. So you did. You pulled him towards you and buried him in your lips. And he lost himself in you, tongue finding yours eagerly, like he wouldn’t stop until he couldn’t tell your taste apart from his. You were so love drunk and sky high, you almost didn’t realize he was lining up to your entrance. 

But your lungs nearly collapsed when you felt him spear through your eager entrance.

You groaned, loudly. 

He stopped abruptly. “Did that hurt?” He started to pull back out.

“Don’t you dare.” You hissed, wrapping your legs around him tightly and yanking him back to you. 

He gasped as he sunk deeper into you, your cunt swallowing every hardened inch of him greedily. “Princess…” He whined and it nearly killed you.

His head rested on your chest as though he didn’t have the strength to both hold himself up and thrust into you at the same time. His thrusts were carefully measured, like he wasn’t sure how much you could handle. Like he wasn’t sure how much he could handle. 

“Jinshi, look at me.”

He lifted his head slightly, innocent eyes meeting yours. You’d never seen his eyes so pure before. So in love. It was like looking into your own eyes. Because you were sure you were looking at him the exact same way. 

“I can take it.”

He looked away.

“Jinshi. I’m serious, I can take it. I need you.”

His head whipped back up to you, eyes darkening as he took in your words. “You need it, huh? I suppose if you need it…” He spread your legs wider, and before you had a chance to breathe, he snapped his hips forward, driving himself balls deep inside you. You yelped and it only encouraged his speed. One of his hands braced itself on your hip, while his other hand reached up to intertwine with yours, pinning it to the ground. For how roughly he was fucking you, you found the gesture strangely romantic.

Sweat and arousal drizzled down your trembling legs as he continued his assault, and he took it as a sign of your satisfaction.

You could tell he was getting close, because he started murmuring the sweetest nothings to you as he pistoned in and out of your dripping cunt. 

“I… fuck… I love… I love you…fuck…” He panted as his pace quickened. 

“I love…you too…”

His eyes widened as though he hadn’t expected you to reciprocate. Suddenly he yanked his cock out of you and keeled over to the side, hips bucking wildly at the air as hot ropes of milky cum shot out of him in wild spurts, staining the ground. 

As he rode out his orgasm, you suddenly felt the urge to cover your mouth with your hand. He raised a curious brow at you. Then he heard your muffled laughter and his cheeks flushed red. 

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I don’t mean to laugh. It’s just… it’s awfully romantic that my love confession made you come.” You teased.

He pouted slightly but then a devilish look crossed his face. “I wouldn’t be so cruel to the person who holds your release in his hands. You still haven’t got off yet, right? I could just hover you on the edge of an orgasm all night.” To prove his point, he spit on two fingers and drove them deep inside you.

You inhaled sharply. “Jinshi!”

He smirked and curled his fingers, hitting your g-spot in a teasing manner before quickly withdrawing, opting to play with your clit instead. 

“Fuck!” You groaned, exasperated at the absence of his fingers.

He grinned deviously.

“I said all night, didn’t I?”

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

"I'm calling in sick tomorrow."

"Well, I hear your boss is exceedingly handsome and even kinder too, so I'm sure he can make an exception for his favorite employee."

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

Taglist: @pixelcafe-network @ouiouimochi @inkytypewriter @minasfwoopyponytail @ectopodl3 (just tagging you cuz we were talking about this fic)

[marketresearchreportss]

Advanced Payment Cards Industry: Decoding The Secret World Of Secure Transactions

Global advanced payment cards sector database is a collection of market sizing information & forecasts, regulatory data, reimbursement structure, competitive benchmarking analyses, macro-environmental analyses, and regulatory & technological framework studies. Within the purview of the database, all such information is systematically analyzed and provided in the form of presentations and detailed outlook reports on individual areas of research.

The global Advanced Payment Cards Market size for advanced payment cards was estimated at USD 20.50 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to increase at a CAGR of 20.4% from 2023 to 2030.

Virtual Cards Market Report Highlights

The virtual cards market was estimated at USD 13.31 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 20.9% from 2023 to 2030. The market is projected to reach USD 60.06 billion by 2030. The growth can be attributed to the rising adoption of virtual cards by businesses for B2B payments. Furthermore, the rising investments by venture capital firms in virtual card providers is another major factor driving the market’s growth. For instance, in October 2021, Extend Enterprises, Inc., a digital card platform provider, announced that through a Series B funding round, it raised USD 40 million. The round was led by March Capital, along with participation from investors, including Fintech Collective, B Capital, Reciprocal Ventures, Point72 Ventures, Pacific Western Bank, and Wells Fargo. The company aimed to utilize these funds to offer virtual cards to assist banks in competing with other FinTechs.

The virtual cards market is segmented based on card type, product type, and application. Based on card type, it is divided into debit card and credit card. The credit card segment held the highest share in 2022 and is anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR of 21.6% over the forecast period. The growth of the credit card segment can be attributed to the increasing use of virtual credit cards by businesses and consumers for processing secure and contactless virtual payments. These cards generate random 16-digit numbers with expiry dates and CVV codes for each transaction. Payments made through virtual credit cards are routed back to the existing credit card using a current line of credit. Some of these virtual credit cards allow users to earn points on each purchase made, which users can use for benefits such as travel and employee incentives.

Dual Interface Payment Card Market Report Highlights

The global dual interface payment card market size is expected to reach USD 23.66 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 16.2% from 2022 to 2030, according to a new study conducted by Grand View Research, Inc. In 2022, the global dual interface payment card market was valued at USD 7.10 billion and is anticipated to witness a CAGR of 16.7% over the forecast period. The market is anticipated to grow due to the factors such as the rising adoption of contactless payments by consumers. For instance, according to the Mastercard Contactless Consumer Polling, nearly 51% of Americans use contactless payment, including tap-to-go credit cards and mobile wallets. Furthermore, the high acceptance of dual interface payment cards across various platforms owing to their ability to process payments in both contactless and contact modes also bodes well for the growth of the market.

The dual interface payment card market is segmented based on type and end-use. Based on type, it is divided into plastic and metal. The plastic segment held the maximum share in 2022 and is anticipated to grow significantly over the forecast period. Plastic cards enable issuing banks to offer their customers unique designs and create a brand identity through these designs. These cards come with customized prints, fonts, shines, and engraved letters, enabling banks to make their brand name and logo more prominent. Furthermore, dual interface payment cards are usually made of plastic owing to the cost-effectiveness and durability of the material, thereby anticipated to drive the segment’s growth over the forecast period.

North America dominated the global dual interface payment card market in 2022 and accounted for the maximum overall revenue share. The region's dominance is attributed to the rapid adoption of technology in the region. Consumers in the region have proven to be quick at adopting and implementing new technologies in their daily lives. Dual interface payment cards use technologies such as Near Field Communication (NFC) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to make contactless payments within a few seconds. However, the Asia Pacific region is expected to register the highest CAGR over the forecast period. Several merchants across Asia Pacific have started accepting contactless payments based on the latest technologies, including NFC technology and QR code technology. The continued digitalization of banks and other financial institutions is also paving the way for the growth of the Asia Pacific dual interface payment card market.

Order your copy of Free Sample of “Advanced Payment Cards Industry Data Book - Virtual Cards, Dual Interface Payment Card and Biometric Payment Cards Market Size, Share, Trends Analysis, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030” Data Book, published by Grand View Research

Biometric Payment Cards Market Report Highlights

The global biometric payment cards market size was valued at USD 0.09 billion in 2022. It is projected to grow at a CAGR of 68.3% over the forecast period from 2023 to 2030. The growth can be attributed to the growing demand for biometric security. The rising fraud instances and cyberattacks have led to high consumer demand for biometric verification. For instance, in July 2021, according to a study by Fingerprint Cards, around 62% of consumers could switch banks to get a biometric card. Furthermore, the biometric payment card offers customers a quick and convenient payment authentication process without remembering the passcodes for processing transactions, which is anticipated to fuel the market's growth.

The global biometric payment cards market is segmented based on type and end-use. Based on type, it is divided into credit cards and debit cards. In 2022, the debit cards type segment dominated the market since numerous identity technology companies across the globe are partnering with fintech companies to enhance security for contactless payments made through debit cards. For instance, in December 2020, IDEMIA, a global identity company, and Rocker, a Swedish fintech company, announced their partnership to enhance the security of contactless payments by offering IDEMIA's F.CODE biometric payment card. The debit card utilizes biometric technology, which stores all the biometric credentials on the chip of the card.

North America dominated the biometric payment cards market in 2022. North America houses several key players in the market, including IDEX Biometrics ASA; Mastercard; and Visa Inc. Additionally, the region is known for being an early adopter of the technology. The Asia Pacific region is anticipated to emerge as the fastest-growing region over the forecast period. With the rising urban population and increasing purchasing power, the Asia Pacific region is expected to be one of the fastest-growing markets over the forecast period. The growth can be attributed to the initiatives pursued by various governments in the region to promote digitization and encourage the adoption of contactless payment technologies.

Competitive Landscape

Key players operating in the Advanced Payment Cards Industry are –

• American Express Company • JPMorgan Chase & Co. • Mastercard • Marqeta, Inc • Skrill USA, Inc. • Stripe, Inc. • Adyen • Wise Payments Limited • Valid Solucoes S.A. • Giesecke+Devrient GmbH • Eastcompeace Technology Co., Ltd • Wuhan Tianyu Information Industry Co., Ltd • BTRS Holdings, Inc. • WEX, Inc • Thales Group • IDEMIA • Zwipe • CPI Card Group Inc • Paragon Group Limited • bio-idz • IDEX Biometrics ASA • BNP Paribas • Goldpac Fintech • Infineon Technologies AG • NXP Semiconductors • Visa Inc • Watchdata Co., Ltd

[irisintheafterglow]

do you ever think about university!satoru who keeps checking out new books every week as an excuse to talk to the cute front desk employee?

he makes a bet one day with suguru that he can get a date with you faster than suguru can get a date with the rec center attendant. quantity over quality interactions would win him the bet, so he makes it his mission to simply see you as much as possible. but he can't hold up the line, right? so instead of leaning over the desk and chatting you up with a charming smile, he checks out new books every week just to see you and show his face, snagging little pieces of information about you as time goes on. he searches up corny jokes and puns to make you smile while you're scanning his school id, and he lives for the times he makes you laugh even in the brief interactions he has to plan out in his head (to not waste any time, obviously).

you start to ask him about himself, like if he also worked, if he was taking any difficult classes, and finally his major...to which his response is bioengineering. your eyes widen and you blink a few times, like he'd said something incorrect.

is something wrong?

not at all, you chuckle. i just thought your major would be undeclared considering the variety of stuff you check out.

variety? his eyebrows furrow and you turn the laptop monitor so that he can read what he'd been checking out for the past few weeks. he gapes dumbly at the screen, completely unaware that he'd left such an incriminatingly stupid paper trail. the truth was, he'd just been grabbing a book off a random shelf and checking it out, not bothering to see what it was. so, he could imagine your surprise when he checks out in succession:

a summary of the most important technological advancements during the qing dynasty,

a comprehensive guide to teaching physics (in german, of all things),

a periodical compilation of women's fashion from 1983,

and a bilingual translation of the communist manifesto.

i have...interesting taste? you burst out laughing harder than he'd ever made you laugh before and cover your face with your hands. what's so funny?

nothing, nothing, you insist. it's just, if you wanted my number, you could've just asked, you know?

would you have given it to me?

maybe, if you came in with a good book report the next week. you shrug innocently before handing him his newest loan: the financial workings of central american countries. before he can respond, you wave over the next student and he's shelved until next week.

when he approaches you again, he's holding his item with less bravado than previous weeks. your smile is teasing and he barely says a word, only placing the item gently on the front desk. he sheepishly slides over the book and you notice the post-it with his phone number on it before you notice the title.

"flirting for dummies."

[tokoyamisstuff]

omg I definetly need more about the Invincible variants if you may!!

Second Chance At Love Pt. 2

After -> this <- silly lil' adorable idea by @rainydaygotham (but I made Reader a civilian instead).

Variant! Invincible x gn! Reader

Warnings: stockholm-syndrome, mentions of death, angst, (fabricated) tragic backstory, canon divergence, not proofread

A/N: whew, I never imagined you people would enjoy it this much. thanks for all the feedback, it really means the world to me! 💌🐞

"Our satellites found the missing variant, Sir."

"And what?" Cecil unintentionally stared daggers towards Donald, probably due to the stress and the fact that both of them had given their everything those past 32 hours. "Spit it out, damn it!"

Even through the reflection of his glasses Donald's mannerism were an open book for the head of the GDA, and right now he acted like he always did when he was unsure how to deliver troublesome information to his boss.

But this time it wasn't particulary bad news that made him hesistant, but the sheer absurdity of the situation.

"He-he is...with an old friend of our Mark, and...currently not attacking anyone."

The elder man rubbed his temples, lack of sleep being a steady companion in this profession but damn his advancing age sure made it harder to function properly.

"I want him on screen immediately!" he commanded harshly, voice not even slightly hinting the extent of his exhaustion.

This one apparently is more clever than the original Mark if he was able to slip past their organization's surveilance, Cecil concluded as the spitting image of his involuntary ally popped up on the monitor.

The young Viltrumite perfectly blended in with the crowd, sitting in a tiny suburban cafè far away from all the chaos. On the opposite end of the coffee table were you - not an unknown face to the GDA solely because of your affiliation with the world's strongest hero.

Cecil worked his jaw in irritation at the unfitting piece to this mess of a puzzle he was expected to solve. No way one of them came here merely to catch up with an old acquaintace...

...and yet for now, there were more urgent matters that he was needed to tend to first.

"Keep an eye on them and report shall he do anything out of the ordinary." As if this right now wasn't enough. "As long as he's preoccupied we have one less monster to worry about...for now."

Meanwhile you were sitting in front of your still untouched drink, watching your reflection on the liquid surface.

There was a radio running in the background, almost constantly updating you about how the other variants were still wreaking havoc everywhere, laying waste to the world as you knew it while you were trapped here acting as if it's a normal fucking tuesday.

You really shouldnt't be playing all domestic with a man that's just as much of a villain as his alternate selves currently on the run, and yet you keep reminding yourself that the only reason you're still alive is the uncertain benevolence of that very same person.

Trying to convince him to see the error of his ways or maybe even switch sides was out of the question - this Mark, just as the other sociopaths you saw in the news, has totally lost it a long time ago. You should be glad that he currently entertains himself with this little obsession of his, but that's no guarantee he couldn't snap and reduce you to a bloodied pulp any time.

And still, even though you have no other choice, it felt so terribly wrong to have a date - that felt more like a hostage situation - during an international emergency of apocalyptic scale.

Starting to feel sick as reality of your predicament dawned on you once again, you shoved the cup to aside, bracing yourself to interact with your kidnapper that hasn't initiated anything by himself until now.

Invincible on the other hand had destroyed Levi's orb long before finding you, never having disclosed his true intentions of joining this war. Also, with all the damage he's done the other 19 versions of himself would be sufficient, surely their 'boss' wouldn't care if one went astray from the plan. Not that he ever trusted Angstrom to not stab him in the back at some point, so who cares.

Back in the day you always had some spare clothes for this world's Mark in your room, in case he needed them - which was frankly quite often as they tend to get either torn or bloody from spontaneous fights. Maybe it was the sentimental value that made you keep them long after your friendship had ended, but right now they came in handy.

The other Mark nervously picks and tugs on the fabric, not used to wear civilian clothing after what felt like an eternity. It made him feel incredibly vulnerable to present himself this way. For years his costume had served as a barrier between himself and humanity, a symbol that the person he once was had long since ceased to exist so his Viltrumite side could rise.

Still, those familiar clothes, especially since given to him by you of all people, offered a strange comfort all the same.

At least he looked remotely normal like this, but god this man can be awkward at times. Some things really never change, even across different dimensions. Right now he was a perfect picture of misery, looking at you expectantly like a lost puppy that had just been kicked. Almost adorable, if you shun out the circumstances.

An uninvolved stranger would never believe that this is the villain who reduced entire cities to ashes just a few hours ago.

"So" you finally dare speaking up, casually leaning back in your seat as you take a sip of your already ice cold drink."I take it you're not a Seance Dog fan anymore?"

Noticing the bright logo on his shirt, Invincible actually managed to crack a smile - that trademark lopsided smirk of his that seemed more like a snarl now that you saw it after all this time. "Oh, you'd be shocked: The author is actually one of the few people I deliberately kept alive."

He's right, you are shocked not only with the answer, but the delivery as well. Suddenly you regret having pried in the first place. "Just a joke" he adds as soon as he sees the slightest shift of your expression, clutching the edge of the tabletop in frustration until it left a dent of his handprint.

You don't want to laugh. This isn't even remotely funny, and his reaction was awfully concerning as well. And yet you force yourself to snort, nails digging into your palm in an attempt to keep up the facade. "Glad to know you're as much of a weirdo as the original one."

It amazed yourself how calm and collected you could act, despite being as terrified of him as in the very beginning. Maybe you got used to the feeling already, or you had discovered a hidden talent of working well under pressure. May apply for a job at the GDA if you're ever alive and free again.

For the remaining duration of this afternoon, the two of you exchanged trivial stories about the past with your respective counterparts, many of whom were shared experiences. And as much as you tried to deny it, deep down you were aware you enjoyed this conversation more than you should.

There were only mild differences between your two dimensions as it seemed - at least when it came to your friendship, that was.

Invincible was pretty secretive about anything else really, but judging from the bits he threw in between you deduced he got his abilities way earlier than your Mark, which caused his father to never lose track of his original goal.

Occasionally Mark would state contradictionary opinions and you were sure most of it was just him mindlessly repeating the indoctrination his father had hammered into his head through inhumane methods.

You can only imagine what it meant for a gentle, sensitive soul like Mark to be subjected to a Viltrumite upbringing.

The sun was already starting to set when you were scooped up once again, however this time around you weren't afraid of the height in the slightest. You felt his chin resting atop of your head as he carried you through the sky, holding you firmly but carefully like you were a precious porcellain doll - and compared to his strenght you might as well be.

Yet all you could think of was the beauty of the twilight sky, and how oddly content you felt at that very moment.

Your date had promised to bring you to a secret location with a breathtaking view, and he really did not disappoint. It was in the midst of nature, absent of any human intervention. Just the two of you, surrounded by the sounds of the earth and the sight of the most horrible day in history of mankind slowly coming to an end.

Invincible spread his jacket out for you to sit on, and you secretly appreciated the gesture. A murderer, but also a gentleman, you mentally noted. Ironic. He slumped down on the damp grass an appropriate distance away from you, subconsciously starting to rip out some leaves.

You lean your head against his shoulder and he freezes in his tracks at the unexpected display of affection - or at least he hopes it's the absence of fear. For a long while you remain like this, admiring the view and each other's closeness, until you disturb the comfortable silence.

"How did you..." You hesitated for a moment, but then you met his eyes, so completely and utterly filled with genuine affection that caused something to blossom beneath your ribcage which you didn't want to acknowledge.

Even though you were still wary of him, it was hard to stay objective in the proximity of a literal carbon copy of the love of your life in nearly every single way.

"...how did you become like this?"

There was a long pause between your question and his answer.

"I got my powers shortly before my 13th birthday..." In hindsight, after having met the other variants who got them even earlier, it could've been worse. At least he was granted a few good years. "...and from then on, everything suddenly changed. My mom had an 'accident', so my dad was left to raise me on his own. It was-"

Mark's voice cracked, eyes glossed with unshed tears he was long since taught to repress as they were a sign of weakness. "The only times I felt truly happy was when I sneaked out to see you...I think for a long time those visits were what kept me sane. But nothing went past him..."

He balled a fist in the fabric over his sternum, and there was so much agony in his tone that it made your own heart clench painfully. "Dad- no, he's not a father. Never was. Anyways, Nolan tolerated it for a while, thinking I'd outgrow this sentiment and understand humans are beneath us. But when I turned 18..."

A tidal wave of shame and guilt washed over him, making him unable to bear looking at you as he continued his story. "He made me watch...I should've done something, I should've defended you, but...I was so scared of him. I just stood there when he snapped your neck."

The disclosure of the other's fate ultimately caused the panic attack that was seething inside of you ever since your first encounter with this variant to finally unravel. You frantically tug on your collar as you began to hyperventillate, feeling as if it was actually your neck that was being assaulted.

"Don't worry, I took care of it..." Invincible still had his face buried in his hands, and there was an eerie coldness in the following statement. "It took me a while, but I got stronger just to avenge you...ripped his sorry excuse of a heart right out of his fucking chest."

That's hardly a solace for either of you, isn't it.

Mark looks down at his palms as vivid images of his past crimes creep up on his mind, accompanied by a neurotic laughter that could only be described as absolutely broken...

...until you cup his hands with yours, the gesture conveying emotions you would never be able to put into words.

"Everything felt so pointless after you were gone..." he snivels, not resisting as you couldn't help but tug his head towards your lap. "You have no idea what emptiness you left behind...at some point I started doing unspeakable things just in order to feel something, anything to distract myself from the grief..."

You hum in between choked sobs, weeping for this lost soul as you rake your fingers through his hair, listening to him repeat countless apologies. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry...I should've just flown into the sun...I should've been stronger, better...I didn't want to become cruel...I wanted to be good...for you..."

What were you even doing here? Have you lost your mind?! Snap out of it, this is insane!

"Shh...it's enough. Stop tormenting yourself." No. He deserves far worse. Victim of circumstance or not, this man is beyond saving.

"Accompany me to my homeworld. Let me indulge you the way you deserve. Never leave me again" was what he desperately wanted to say, but instead he gulped harshly around the lump forming in his throat before announcing "I'll take you back home soon...phase one of Angstrom's plan is over, the variants will leave and you're safe again."

"Huh? I thought-"

"Drop the performance" he ordered as he fought to regain his composure. "You can speak freely. I meant what I said, I won't hurt you. Even if you hate me, even if you hurl all kinds of insults and accusations at me...I can take it. I'm just grateful for today. I'll cherish this memory forever."

Yes. This was more than he could possibly ask for. He already destroyed the life of your counterpart in his world, it's not fair of him to do the same to someone so precious twice.

Mark doesn't care what happens to him from now on, because thanks to you he was able to make peace with what happened.

"Come." He jolts up as he wipes his tear-stained cheeks clean, not biding you another look as he fears that otherwise he won't be able to pull through with his good intentions. "It's getting cold, we should-"

"No!"

Out of a whim you tackle hug the Viltrumite, who is caught off guard enough to stagger and fall. You softly punch against his chest and he allows you to let it all out, though he has no idea what you're on about.

"You-you're not like those other variants of Mark...please..." Your bottom lip is trembling as you speak, voice wavering with an emotion you couldn't quite decipher yourself. "Don't leave. If you have nothing to live for in your timeline, then...just stay in this one."

"And then what? Go to the Pentagon and say 'hi, I'm one of the Invincibles that ruined simply everything, but now I'd like to stay here'? They'll never believe that I don't have an ulterior motive!"

"So what? It's not like they can contain or even scratch you. And even if they could, I-I'll make sure to visit you every day!" You giggle like an infatuated teenager as you add that last sentence, and even a maniac like him realizes you must've lost your mind.

God, this is all his fault...

"What are you even talking about?" he almost yells, now on top of you and softly grabbing your shoulders to shake you ever so slightly. "Why are you trying to convince me? That can't seriously be what you want!"

"I-I...don't know." You're staring straight at him now, a stubborn determination in your eyes that almost frightens this unstoppable man. Wrapping your arms around his neck to make your foreheads touch, you whisper "All I'm sure of is that you didn't deserve any of this, and maybe...shit, just give us some time to figure it out, would you?"

Mark's hands were hovering over your body, giving it his best to hold back yet it was a lost battle before it even started. He utters vile curses under his breath before finally crushing you flush against his body, lips brushing against yours as if to ask for permission. You're quick to take the initiative, tossing all reason overboard as you give in to this all-consuming madness some might call hope...

...but just when you were about to pull him in for a long overdue kiss, the man that was straddling your waist mere seconds ago had disappeared in the blink of an eye.

The soundwave reached your ears much later than the actual impact, and much to your shock, when you saw not one but two Invincibles - yours having been knocked into a nearby rock formation - you immediately understood what it meant.

"Mark, wait!" you screamed, but your plea went on deaf ears.

After everything your world's Invincible had to endure those past few days, he wasn't even slightly in an amenable constitution. The only thing he was able to feel at this moment was rage, and he needed to direct it to something or otherwise he'd burst.

Sadly the next best target of his fury was the variant right in front of him - a man who not only attacked his homeplanet, but tried to violate someone he once held dear.

Mark will make him pay for trying to harm you.

"C'mon, stand up. Right now all I want to do is hit something...as hard as I can."

[Next Part]

[dduane]

Status report: In the "Adventures In Staying Housed" department...

Greetings to the Bluesky folks who've dropped by! Just to confirm what's going on:

We're hoping to sign the lease on our rented house early next this week, but we have some rental arrears that we're very much hoping to be able to deal with in the short term. Some extra cash flow in the short term would be a really big help.

With that in mind, may I possibly point you at the following SF and fantasy ebook bundles at our ebook store? All are DRM-free and come with our lifetime replacement guarantee if you lose the files or your reading device, change platforms, or whatever. (With this caveat only: due to Brexit, we can no longer sell into the UK. Our profound apologies.) And once you buy a book from us, you own it. Period.

Our store's full inventory of the revised/edited Young Wizards young adult SF/fantasy novels, and the interstitial works that go with them, is here:

All the current works in the LGBTQ-centered Middle Kingdoms adult fantasy universe are here:

And if you're feeling expansive, our entire store inventory—36 ebooks at present—is here:

Finally: if you're all ebooked up at the moment, but you'd still like to be of assistance... after some public-demand style noodging we've finally installed a Ko-Fi. If you choose to go this route, please consider yourself thanked in advance for your thoughtfulness! We very much appreciate it.

Thanks, everybody! ❤ ...And we very much look forward to enlarging your TBR pile. :)

[djarshaddj]

Leo Day 1 Advance Booking Report

Leo Day 1 Advance Booking Report: Thalapathy Vijay, Sanjay Dutt, Trisha, and Arjun led one of the most anticipated PAN World films of 2023, “Leo,” which is part of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU), gearing up for grand entry in the box office on October 19th, in Tamil. Apart from this, it is expected to release the film in Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi-dubbed languages. After the film��

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Amazon's bestselling "bitter lemon" energy drink was bottled delivery driver piss

Today (Oct 20), I'm in Charleston, WV at Charleston's Taylor Books from 12h-14h.

For a brief time this year, the bestselling "bitter lemon drink" on Amazon was "Release Energy," which consisted of the harvested urine of Amazon delivery drivers, rebottled for sale by Catfish UK prankster Oobah Butler in a stunt for a new Channel 4 doc, "The Great Amazon Heist":

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-great-amazon-heist

Collecting driver piss is surprisingly easy. Amazon, you see, puts its drivers on a quota that makes it impossible for them to drive safely, park conscientiously, or, indeed, fulfill their basic human biological needs. Amazon has long waged war on its employees' kidneys, marking down warehouse workers for "time off task" when they visit the toilets.

As tales of drivers pissing – and shitting! – in their vans multiplied, Amazon took decisive action. The company enacted a strict zero tolerance policy for drivers returning to the depot with bottles of piss in their vans.

That's where Butler comes in: the roads leading to Amazon delivery depots are lined with bottles of piss thrown out of delivery vans by drivers who don't want to lose their jobs, which made harvesting the raw material for "Release Energy" a straightforward matter.

Butler was worried that he wouldn't be able to list his product on Amazon because he didn't have the requisite "food and drinks licensing" certificates, so he listed his drink in Amazon's refillable pump dispenser category. But Amazon's systems detected the mismatch and automatically shifted the product into the drinks section.

Butler enlisted some confederates to place orders for his drink, and it quickly rocketed to the top of Amazon's listings for the category, which led to Amazon's recommendation engine pushing the item on people who weren't in on the gag. When these orders came in, Butler pulled the plug, but not before an Amazon rep telephoned him to pitch him turning packaging, shipping and fulfillment over to Amazon:

https://www.wired.com/story/amazon-let-its-drivers-urine-be-sold-as-an-energy-drink/

The Release Energy prank was just one stunt Butler pulled for his doc; he also went undercover at an Amazon warehouse, during a period when Amazon hired an extra 1,000 workers for its warehouses in Coventry, UK, in a successful bid to dilute pro-union sentiment in his workforce in advance of a key union vote:

https://jacobin.com/2023/10/the-great-amazon-heist-oobah-butler-review

Butler's stint as an Amazon warehouse worker only lasted a couple of days, ending when Amazon recognized him and fired him.

The contrast between Amazon's ability to detect an undercover reporter and its inability to spot bottles of piss being marketed as bitter lemon energy drink says it all, really. Corporations like Amazon hire vast armies of "threat intelligence" creeps who LARP at being CIA superspies, subjecting employees and activists to intense and often illegal surveillance.

But while Amazon's defensive might is laser-focused on the threat of labor organizers and documentarians, the company can't figure out that one of its bestselling products is bottles of its tormented drivers' own urine.

In the USA, the FTC is suing Amazon for its monopolistic tactics, arguing that the company has found ways to raise prices and reduce quality by trapping manufacturers and sellers with its logistics operation, taking $0.45-$0.51 out of every dollar they earn and forcing them to raise prices at all retailers:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/25/greedflation/#commissar-bezos

The Release Energy stunt shows where Amazon's priorities are. Not only did Release Energy get listed on Amazon without any quality checks, the company actually nudged it into a category where it was more likely to be consumed by a person. The only notice the company took of Release Energy was in its logistics and manufacturing department – the part of the business that extracts the monopoly rents at issue in the FTC case – which tracked Butler down in order to sell him these services.

The drivers whose piss Butler collected don't work directly for Amazon, they work for a Delivery Service Partner. These DSPs are victims of a pyramid scheme that Amazon set up. DSP operators lease vans and pay to have them skinned in Amazon livery and studded with Amazon sensors. They take out long-term leases on depots, and hire drivers who dress in Amazon uniforms. Their drivers are minutely monitored by Amazon, down to the movements of their eyeballs.

But none of this is "Amazon" – it's all run by an "entrepreneur," whom Amazon can cut loose without notice, leaving them with unfairly terminated employees, outstanding workers' comp claims, a fleet of Amazon-skinned vehicles and unbreakable facilities leases:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/04/17/revenge-of-the-chickenized-reverse-centaurs/

Speaking to Wired, Amazon denied that it forces its drivers to piss in bottles, but Butler clearly catches a DSP dispatcher telling drivers "If you pee in a bottle and leave it [in the vehicle], you will get a point for that" – that is, the part you get punished for isn't the peeing, it's the leaving.

Amazon's defense against the FTC is that it spares no effort to keep its marketplace safe. As Amazon spokesperson James Drummond says, they use "industry-leading tools to prevent genuinely unsafe products being listed." But the only industry-leading tools in evidence are tools to bust unions and screw suppliers.

In her landmark Yale Law Review paper, "Amazon's Antitrust Paradox," FTC Chair Lina Khan makes a brilliant argument that Amazon's alleged benefits to "consumers" are temporary at best, illusory at worst:

https://www.yalelawjournal.org/note/amazons-antitrust-paradox

In Butler's documentary, Khan's hypothesis is thoroughly validated: here's a company extracting hundreds of billions from merchants who raise prices to compensate, and those monopoly rents are "invested" in union-busting and countermeasures against investigative journalists, while the tools to keep you from accidentally getting a bottle of piss in the mail are laughably primitive.

Truly, Amazon is the apex predator of the platform era:

https://pluralistic.net/ApexPredator

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/10/20/release-energy/#the-bitterest-lemon

My next novel is The Lost Cause, a hopeful novel of the climate emergency. Amazon won't sell the audiobook, so I made my own and I'm pre-selling it on Kickstarter!

[my-castles-crumbling]

myth - @wolfstarmicrofic - NSFW - word count: 225

“Hey, Remus?” Lily asked kindly, looking up from her Advanced Care of Magical Creatures book and giving her friend a hesitant smile. “Can I ask you a question about werewolves?”

“Why me?” the Gryffindor joked, earning a laugh from his friends. “Yeah, Lils, what’s up?”

“Our professor is making us present on facts and myths about different creatures, to review for our NEWTs in a few months,” Lily explained. “I picked werewolves, of course. What do you think are some of the biggest myths about them?”

“That they’re scary,” James replied quickly, poking Remus in the face and earning a scowl.

“That they’re mean,” Sirius added on with a smile, pecking Remus on the cheek.

“Ooo! What about the one about how they’re…er…well-endowed?” Peter chimed in, turning a bit pink.

Lily gaped. “That’s…people say that?”

Remus rolled his eyes. “Stupid people. But it’s not true, or appropriate for a school report, so–”

But before Lily could reply, Sirius cut him off. “Wait, what? It’s definitely true!” he argued, eyes wide.

Everyone turned towards him.

“Hm. How would you know, Pads? Measured a lot of werewolf prick lately?” James asked with a shit-eating grin, waggling his eyebrows and dodging Lily’s swatting hand.

But Sirius, thought blushing, stood firm. “Enough to know that’s not a myth,” he mumbled, chuckling.

Remus just hid his face in his hands.

[covenofvenus]

A Historical Deep Dive into the Founders of Black Womanism & Modern Feminism

Six African American Suffragettes Mainstream History Tried to Forget

These amazing Black American women each advanced the principles of modern feminism and Black womanism by insisting on an intersectional approach to activism. They understood that the struggles of race and gender were intertwined, and that the liberation of Black women was essential. Their writings, speeches, and actions have continued to inspire movements addressing systemic inequities, while affirming the voices of marginalized women who have shaped society. Through their amazing work, they have expanded the scope of womanism and intersectional feminism to include racial justice, making it more inclusive and transformative.

Anna Julia Cooper (1858–1964)

Quote: “The cause of freedom is not the cause of a race or a sect, a party or a class—it is the cause of humankind, the very birthright of humanity.”

Contribution: Anna Julia Cooper was an educator, scholar, and advocate for Black women’s empowerment. Her book A Voice from the South by a Black Woman of the South (1892) is one of the earliest articulations of Black feminist thought. She emphasized the intellectual and cultural contributions of Black women and argued that their liberation was essential to societal progress. Cooper believed education was the key to uplifting African Americans and worked tirelessly to improve opportunities for women and girls, including founding organizations for Black women’s higher education. Her work challenged both racism and sexism, laying the intellectual foundation for modern Black womanism.

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper (1825–1911)

Quote: “We are all bound together in one great bundle of humanity, and society cannot trample on the weakest and feeblest of its members without receiving the curse in its own soul.”

Contribution: Frances Ellen Watkins Harper was a poet, author, and orator whose work intertwined abolitionism, suffrage, and temperance advocacy. A prominent member of the American Equal Rights Association, she fought for universal suffrage, arguing that Black women’s voices were crucial in shaping a just society. Her 1866 speech at the National Woman’s Rights Convention emphasized the need for solidarity among marginalized groups, highlighting the racial disparities within the feminist movement. Harper’s writings, including her novel Iola Leroy, offered early depictions of Black womanhood and resilience, paving the way for Black feminist literature and thought.

Ida B. Wells (1862–1931)

Quote: “The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.”

Contribution: Ida B. Wells was a fearless journalist, educator, and anti-lynching activist who co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Her investigative reporting exposed the widespread violence and racism faced by African Americans, particularly lynchings. As a suffragette, Wells insisted on addressing the intersection of race and gender in the fight for women’s voting rights. At the 1913 Women’s Suffrage Parade in Washington, D.C., she famously defied instructions to march in a segregated section and joined the Illinois delegation at the front, demanding recognition for Black women in the feminist movement. Her activism laid the groundwork for modern feminisms inclusion of intersectionality, emphasizing the dual oppressions faced by Black women.

Sojourner Truth (1797–1883)

Quote: “Ain’t I a Woman?”

Contribution: Born into slavery, Sojourner Truth became a powerful voice for abolition, women's rights, and racial justice after gaining her freedom. Her famous 1851 speech, "Ain’t I a Woman?" delivered at a women's rights convention in Akron, Ohio, directly challenged the exclusion of Black women from the feminist narrative. She highlighted the unique struggles of Black women, who faced both racism and sexism, calling out the hypocrisy of a movement that often-centered white women’s experiences. Truth’s legacy lies in her insistence on equality for all, inspiring future generations to confront the intersecting oppressions of race and gender in their advocacy.

Nanny Helen Burroughs (1879–1961)

Quote: “We specialize in the wholly impossible.”

Contribution: Nanny Helen Burroughs was an educator, activist, and founder of the National Training School for Women and Girls in Washington, D.C., which emphasized self-sufficiency and vocational training for African American women. She championed the "Three B's" of her educational philosophy: Bible, bath, and broom, advocating for spiritual, personal, and professional discipline. Burroughs was also a leader in the Women's Convention Auxiliary of the National Baptist Convention, where she pushed for the inclusion of women's voices in church leadership. Her dedication to empowering Black women as agents of social change influenced both the feminist and civil rights movements, promoting a vision of racial and gender equality.

Elizabeth Piper Ensley (1847–1919)

Quote: “The ballot in the hands of a woman means power added to influence.”

Contribution: Elizabeth Piper Ensley was a suffragist and civil rights activist who played a pivotal role in securing women’s suffrage in Colorado in 1893, making it one of the first states to grant women the vote. As a Black woman operating in the predominantly white suffrage movement, Ensley worked to bridge racial and class divides, emphasizing the importance of political power for marginalized groups. She was an active member of the Colorado Non-Partisan Equal Suffrage Association and focused on voter education to ensure that women, especially women of color, could fully participate in the democratic process. Ensley’s legacy highlights the importance of coalition-building in achieving systemic change.

To honor these pioneers, we must continue to amplify Black women's voices, prioritizing intersectionality, and combat systemic inequalities in race, gender, and class.

Modern black womanism and feminist activism can expand upon these little-known founders of woman's rights by continuously working on an addressing the disparities in education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for marginalized communities. Supporting Black Woman-led organizations, fostering inclusive black femme leadership, and embracing allyship will always be vital.

Additionally, when we continuously elevate their contributions in social media or multi-media art through various platforms, and academic curriculum we ensure their legacies continuously inspire future generations. By integrating their principles into feminism and advocating for collective liberation, women and feminine allies can continue their fight for justice, equity, and feminine empowerment, hand forging a society, by blood, sweat, bones and tears where all women can thrive, free from oppression.

[greenwitchfromthewoods]

"My love for you will truly become my downfall, I just know it." Harry Castillo

Angry Confessions ❤️‍😠

bio : this story is part of the Angry Confessions series (you can still be a part of it)

requested by : @o-sacra-virgo-laudes-tibi thank you!

warnings: a little bit of angst, one perfect guy, some tears, a few bad words, fluff at the end

Life should go according to plan. Step by step, day by day. Harry operated according to a certain system, his huge apartment was tidy, and he always drank the same coffee. It wasn't that he didn't like surprises, but he preferred giving them to others rather than receiving them himself.

And then you appeared and chaos reigned in his life. Suddenly there were clothes lying on the couch, no one had cleared the breakfast plates - you were already late for work, or it turned out that you had received tickets for some play that was on that same day and you didn't see the point in asking Harry if he didn't have to work. And although he was having a great time, the latest reports and conversations with clients were constantly swirling in his head.

He had a soft spot for you. God! You were something untamed, not fitting into any pattern or plan. Harry tried, oh yes. He tried very hard to make you the way he had planned, but you couldn't adjust.

And there you were. Friday night, in front of his office door, with boxes of food in your hands and two cans of cola in your bag. The office was already empty, but you knew the people working at the front desk, so you walked in without too much trouble.

There was no knocking. The door opened and you walked in.

"Hey, handsome! Look what I found." Your cheerful voice echoed through the office. "I've got junk food and cans of cola, and then we'll watch some stupid reality show. Perfect night to..."

You froze mid-step. Right in front of Harry Castillo's desk sat three men, one with hair as white as snow. Everyone, even Harry, was looking at you like you were an alien.

"Good evening." You mumbled, nodding in confusion. "Still working?"

You saw Harry rubbing his forehead, trying to hide his sigh. "Yes. These gentlemen," he pointed to the men in front of him, "are members of the board of directors. We have our monthly meeting regarding..."

"Harry..." the man with snow-white hair raised his hand slightly, "we can finish this on Monday. I don't see a problem. And if you have other plans..."

"I don't have other plans." Harry interrupted him, not caring about the tone of his voice, "Can you leave?" he turned to you, "Go home, this will take us a long time."

You felt a lump in your throat, but you nodded, mumbling a quiet "I'm sorry" and quickly leaving the office. It was embarrassing, even more than embarrassing.

He didn't find you in his apartment, and your phone was silent. It was really late and he was tired, but he called a taxi. Harry wasn't sure what he expected when he stood in front of your apartment door. Guilt mixed with a whole bunch of other feelings. But it wasn't until he saw you, in your home clothes - comfortable and soft, with eyes puffy from crying, that he realized he had behaved badly.

"Sweetheart..." he said quietly. "Can we talk?"

You didn't answer, just moved to let him in. The interior was just like you - a little cluttered, but it was your haven, a place where you could be yourself, express yourself. Harry's gaze swept over the piles of books, a few small plants on the windowsill, decorative pillows on the couch. Even the air here smelled of you.

"I'm sorry about today." Your voice was quiet. You had to prepare what you wanted to say to him in advance. "I shouldn't have... I just thought that..."

"Sometimes you drive me crazy." He cut you off, turning to face you. In that perfectly tailored suit in the middle of your living room, Castillo looked quite scary. “This meeting was very important. You made me look like…”

“Like who?” you groaned. “I keep doing something wrong! What did I do wrong now, Harry?”

He looked at you, a little surprised and a little confused. Your demeanor had changed dramatically in a matter of moments. He cleared his throat.

“It’s not what you think.” He finally spoke. “It was an important meeting and…”

“I thought I was important too…”

There was silence. Harry swallowed, noticing the tears glistening in your eyes. But you didn’t want to stay silent any longer, you let out everything you were holding inside.

“I know I’m not perfect, Harry. I never will be. I don’t fit into your catalog apartment, with its expensive furniture and starched shirts. I know that! But I try, because I care about the man underneath that suit.” Your voice cracked slightly, but you took a deep breath to calm yourself down. “I just wanted you to have a moment to yourself, to know that someone was thinking about you and caring.”

“I was working.”

“I know! I work too! But life isn’t all about work. You can’t live by that fucking schedule all the time!”

“Sometimes you’re insufferable, you know that?” Harry shook his head.

“Does that scare you? That’s life, Harry!”

“My love for you will truly be my downfall, I know it.”

Your eyes widened, your lips parted. “You don’t really mean that…”

Suddenly, a chasm opened between you. The words that had been spoken still hung between you, and you looked at Harry as if you were seeing him for the first time in your life. You were in love with this guy, but at that moment you felt like you weren’t sure if that was enough. Harry suddenly understood what he had said, because he took a step towards you, but you took a small step back.

“I’m sorry I don’t live up to your standards,” you finally said. “I’m sorry I ruined all your plans.”

“Baby…” he groaned, but you didn’t let him speak. 

"You're so perfect, and I can't even act in a way that doesn't embarrass you! Why are you even here, huh? I try so hard, but it's still not enough..."

Suddenly, warm hands grabbed your face, directing your gaze into his warm brown eyes. "You make me feel exposed, vulnerable, and at the same time, I become the most important person to someone. Yes, many things irritate me, but you're the only person I want to do that to. You make me feel alive..."

"Bullshit," you hissed. "Then why are you telling me such things?!"

"Because I'm scared! I'm scared of what I feel, of what you make me feel. I'm scared that if I delve into this any further, you'll suddenly disappear," he sighed. "I'm sorry you felt this way today. I shouldn't have. I could have handled it differently. I know you meant well..."

"I only want the best for you, Harry." you sobbed "I love you and I can't imagine hurting you on purpose."

"I know, I know, baby. I'm sorry." he kissed your lips, tasting the salty tears on them. "I'm sorry if you ever felt like I wasn't enough. You're all I need, even if sometimes I don't realize it. I love you so much..."

Your arms wrapped around his waist as you held on to him with all your might. It was the night when Harry Castillo let all the rules fall, when he accepted the fall and realized he would rise up stronger. With you by his side.

Perfect imperfection.

[thatscarletflycatcher]

The year is 1848. You are Anne Brontë, and you have written a cautionary tale for young women about the dangers of marriage and how you cannot reform a rake, and that the notion that "women's gentle influence" can do anything towards fixing corrupted and vicious men is a perverse lie. To get this point across you insert a conversation between two characters close to the beginning of the novel where you logically argue "You would have us encourage our sons to prove all things by their own experience, while our daughters must not even profit by the experience of others." and then you illustrate your point through how, despite loving her aunt dearly, your main character cannot understand the extent of the danger she's in because her aunt will only allude to it in vagueries. Surely nothing can be clearer and more forcibly expressed, right?

Reviewer at Sharpe's London Magazine:

"we cannot but express our deep regret that a book in many respects eminently calculated to advance the cause of religion and right feeling, the moral of which is unimpeachable and most powerfully wrought out, should be rendered unfit for the perusal of the very class of persons to whom it would be most useful, (namely, imaginative girls likely to risk their happiness on the forlorn hope of marrying and reforming a captivating rake), owing to the profane expressions, inconceivably coarse language, and revolting scenes and descriptions by which its pages are disfigured."

(now you can better understand the tone of the preface to the second edition)

Bonus:

"we consider the evils which render the work unfit for perusal (for we go that length in regard to it,) to arise from a perverted taste and an absence of mental refinement in the writer, together with a total ignorance of the usages of good society... despite reports to the contrary, we will not believe any woman could have written such a work... at the first glance we should say, none but a man could have known so intimately each vile, dark fold of the civilized brute's corrupted nature; none but a man could make so daring an exhibition as this book presents to us. On the other hand, no man, we should imagine, would have written a work in which all the women, even the worst, are so far superior in every quality, moral and intellectual, to all the men; no man would have made his sex appear at once coarse, brutal, and contemptibly weak, at once disgusting and ridiculous. There are, besides, a thousand trifles which indicate a woman's mind, and several more important things which show a woman's peculiar virtues. Still there is a bold coarseness, a reckless freedom of language, and an apparent familiarity with the sayings and doings of the worst style of fast men, in their worst moments, which would induce us to believe it impossible that a woman could have written it. A possible solution of the enigma is, that it may be the production of an authoress assisted by her husband, or some other male friend: if this be not the case, we would rather decide on the whole, that it is a man's writing."

We love a person who can read a book about how women, even high class women, do not and cannot escape horrifying scenes of abuse and degradation by men in Victorian society, and are, because of their special legal and economic vulnerability, most often the target of it, and go "this couldn't have possibly been written by a woman because ladies cannot have any experience whatsoever of such things."

[marketresearchreportss]

Advanced Wound Dressing Products Industry| Revolutionizing Wound Care | Data Book to 2030

Global advanced wound dressing products industry databook, published by Grand View Research’s is a collection of market sizing information & forecasts, regulatory data, reimbursement structure, competitive benchmarking analyses, macro-environmental analyses, and regulatory & technological framework studies. Within the purview of the database, all such information is systematically analyzed and provided in the form of presentations and detailed outlook reports on individual areas of research.

Access the Global Advanced Wound Dressing Products Industry Data Book from 2023 to 2030, compiled with details by Grand View Research

Foam Dressings Market Insights

The global foam dressings market generated over USD 1.7 Billion revenue in 2022 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of around 4.71% during the forecast period. A few of the key drivers propelling the market growth include an increase in surgical cases, a rapidly aging population, and an increase in the number of diabetes patients. For instance, according to the World Economic Forum, the current population of Japanese people above 65 years of age is 25% of the total population. This number is further expected to rise to 40% by 2060. Older people are more likely to sustain wounds, thus, the market for foam dressing is expected to grow throughout the forecast period.

An increase in the number of obese/overweight people is another fueling factor of the market. For instance, according to an article by Sage Journals & Indian Academy of Neurosciences, 2021, the number of obese people in India is estimated to be 135 million. Similarly, as per the Obesity Evidence Hub, two-thirds of the Australian people, i.e., 35.6% are overweight, whereas, 31.3% are expected to be obese. These situations are anticipated to raise demand for bariatric treatments and other related surgeries, driving the growth of the market over the anticipated time frame.

Hydrocolloid Dressings Market Insights

The global hydrocolloid dressings market generated over USD 1.3 Billion revenue in 2022 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of around 5.01% during the forecast period. Increasing prevalence of chronic and acute wounds, rapidly aging population, rising number of diabetic patients, and surge in research and development activities are among the major factors driving the market growth. The rising prevalence of chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers and pressure ulcers, among the general population is likely to increase the number of patients getting treatment and fuel the adoption of hydrocolloid dressings.

Furthermore, the rising prevalence of acute wounds, such as surgical wounds and burns, is further expected to drive the demand for hydrocolloid wound dressings throughout the projected period. Surgical wounds, for example, are a major problem in general healthcare, according to the Wound Healing Society (WHS). Despite all attempts, Surgical Site Infections (SSI) cause death in 75% of patients globally. As a result, the increased incidence of infections has imposed a significant cost burden on the healthcare business. This is likely to contribute to the launch of advanced products, thus fostering market growth. Clinical uses for several hydrocolloid materials have been proposed in recent years.

Film Dressings Market Insights

The global film dressings market generated over USD 1.5 Billion revenue in 2022 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of around 4.57% during the forecast period. The film dressing market growth can be accredited to the rising prevalence of chronic wounds, globally. People with diabetic foot ulcers are becoming more common, due to the rise in the population of those with chronic illnesses such as diabetes.

For instance, the International Diabetes Federation estimates that 61 million people in Europe between the age of 20 and 79 have diabetes. The incidence rate of diabetic foot ulcers, according to NCBI, ranges from 9.1 million to 26.1 million per year worldwide. Thus, the rise in diabetes and diabetic foot ulcer patients is driving the film dressing market during the forecast period.

Additionally, the number of traumatic events such as burns, gunshot wounds, and car accidents has increased, globally. For instance, as per the WHO estimates there are 11.0 million burn cases, worldwide, resulting in 180,000 fatalities every year. Similar to this, more than 30,000 burn cases are reported daily, worldwide, according to NCBI. Therefore, it is projected that the film dressings market would be driven by the rising number of burn cases, worldwide, during the forecast period.

Order your copy of the Free Sample of Advanced Wound Dressing Products Industry Data Book, published by Grand View Research

Alginate Dressings Market insights

The global alginate dressings market generated over USD 902.9 Million revenue in 2022 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of around 4.13% during the forecast period. The market growth is mainly driven by the rising prevalence of chronic & acute wounds globally. For instance, as per a study by the NCBI, the prevalence rate of chronic wounds in the general population was calculated to be 2.21 per 1,000 populations in 2018. Similarly, as per Lippincot Williams & Wilkins Journals, the total prevalence rate of chronic wounds was estimated to be 16.8 per 1,000 hospital inpatients in Northern China. Thereby, impelling the industry growth. In addition, an increase in the number of traumatic accidents, such as road accidents, burn cases, gunshot wounds, etc., across the globe is expected to further boost industry growth.

For instance, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 38,680 people died in 2020 as a result of motor vehicle crashes. This was a 7.2% increase from 2019. Moreover, as per American Burn Association, every year around 450,000 burn cases, which require medical attention, are reported in the U.S. alone.Furthermore, the industry is expected to propel post-pandemic due to an increase in the volumes of surgeries post-COVID-19. In addition, industry players are entering into various strategic alliances, such as partnerships, mergers, acquisitions, product launches, and geographic expansion. For instance, Medline Industries invested USD 1.5 billion in strengthening its domestic supply chain to meet the growing demand. These initiatives are expected to help the market grow over the forecast period.

Hydrogel Dressings Market Insights

The global hydrogel dressings market generated over USD 883.8 Million revenue in 2022 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of around 4.30% during the forecast period. The market growth can be accredited to the rising prevalence of chronic wounds globally. The properties of hydrogel-based dressings can be adjusted much more easily compared to conventional chronic wound therapy methods. Moreover, owing to their adaptability and versatility, hydrogel dressings can be loaded with cells, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal agents, growth factors, and biomolecules to hasten wound contraction and healing. Furthermore, their ability to create in situ and cytocompatible chemical crosslinking these dressings may be easily applied to irregular or deep wounds. Thereby, owing to the above-mentioned advantages is expected to impel the hydrogel dressing market.

Massive research is being conducted in order to create novel hydrogel products from natural sources such as animal tissues, plant extracts, extracellular matrix, and others. Firms are extensively spending on R&D and are continuously working on achieving positive clinical trial results. For instance, Remedor Biomed Ltd. is conducting clinical studies on a hydrogel containing erythropoietin to treat diabetic foot ulcers. In addition, a variety of peptides are being studied in clinical studies for their wound-healing abilities. Thus, rigorous clinical studies to commercialize novel hydrogel dressing products are expected to drive the growth of the hydrogel dressing market in the near term.

Collagen Dressings Market Insights

The global collagen dressings market generated over USD 691.7 Million revenue in 2022 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of around 3.77% during the forecast period. This can be attributed primarily to the increase in the number of people suffering from various chronic disorders such as venous leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, and pressure ulcers. For instance, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, every year, more than 2.5 million U.S. residents suffer from pressure ulcers. These are associated with serious infections; therefore, the use of collagen dressing is expected to increase over the forecast duration.

Moreover, a rise in the number of people suffering from leg ulcers may further propel the market growth. For instance, as per NCBI, around 1.5 – 3.0 people in 3,000 have an active leg ulcer at any given point. Similarly, according to the National Health Service, venous leg ulcers are estimated to affect about one in 500 residents in the U.K., thereby boosting the market over the forecast period.

Go through the table of content of Advanced Wound Dressing Products Industry Data Book to get a better understanding of the Coverage & Scope of the study.

Advanced Wound Dressing Products Industry Data Book Competitive Landscape

The market is highly fragmented in nature with the presence of several small and large manufacturers. Competitive rivalry and degree of competition in the wound market is expected to intensify over the forecast period due to the presence of many players in the market. Furthermore, leading players are involved in collaborations, product launches, mergers and acquisitions to strengthen their product portfolios.

Key players operating in the advanced wound dressing products industry are –

• Smith & Nephew • Molnlycke Health Care AB • ConvaTec Group PLC • Baxter International • URGO Medical • Coloplast Corp. • Medtronic • 3M • Derma Sciences Inc. (Integra LifeSciences) • Medline Industries