#Benefits of Remote Development Teams

[acquaintsofttech]

Mastering Remote Software Development: Top Strategies for 2025

Introduction

In 2025, businesses that outperform their competitors do one thing exceptionally well, they hire dedicated remote developers to unlock speed, scalability, and technical precision. As global talent becomes more accessible and digital infrastructure matures, remote-first development has evolved from a temporary fix into a permanent competitive advantage.

This shift is a change in how modern product engineering works. Agile companies now tap into specialized global talent pools, reduce overhead, and scale faster by building remote developer teams aligned with long-term goals.

The Rise of Remote Software Development in 2025

According to a report, 82% of tech companies reported higher productivity with remote teams compared to in-house models. Remote setups allow teams to skip commutes, work with fewer distractions, and align around async processes that prioritize output over time spent.

The rise of remote-first development has globalized tech hiring, giving companies access to elite skill sets they previously couldn’t afford or find locally. Whether you need DevOps engineers in Poland, full-stack developers in India, or AI specialists in Brazil, distributed development models enable these partnerships to be fast, efficient, and cost-effective.

Key Challenges in Remote Software Development

While many companies move fast to hire dedicated developers, they often overlook the operational challenges that come with managing a remote development model. The benefits are immense, but so are the risks if you don’t implement the right processes early on!

Communication Gaps Across Time Zones

One of the biggest roadblocks to remote software development success is the time zone divide. Without a clear overlap window or asynchronous communication standards, updates can lag. Smart organizations use strategies for managing remote developers, like “follow-the-sun��� models or rotating standups, to maintain continuous velocity.

Code Quality Maintenance in Distributed Environments

Teams that hire dedicated remote developers without a unified development workflow often face issues like merge conflicts and inconsistent coding standards. Adopting CI/CD pipelines, mandatory code reviews, and shared repositories helps enforce quality across the board.

Building Team Culture Remotely

The benefits of remote development teams come at a cost. While they offer flexibility and access to a global talent pool, it’s also important to factor in the actual cost to hire remote developers. Beyond financial considerations, new hires can sometimes feel isolated from the team. To overcome this, successful firms invest in virtual rituals, build shared knowledge systems, and implement mentor pairing programs—ensuring remote developers stay engaged and connected.

Security and IP Protection Issues

When you hire remote developers, data protection becomes critical. From using secure VPNs and password managers to ensuring non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and encrypted codebases, every access point must be locked down. Companies that neglect IP protocols face unnecessary legal and reputational risks, especially when working with freelancers or unvetted partners.

Top Strategies for Remote Development Success

To hire dedicated developers and scale a distributed team effectively in 2025, startups need more than great code. They need scalable systems, smart collaboration processes, and cultural glue that holds remote developers accountable and motivated. It’s also worth understanding the difference between hiring remote developers vs an in-house team to choose the best strategy for sustainable growth.

From selecting the right partner to enforcing secure dev environments, these strategies bring remote software development success within your grasp:

Hire Dedicated Remote Developers with Proven Experience

Startups often rush to hire remote developers for your tech startup based solely on resumes or portfolios. But paper qualifications rarely prove readiness for distributed workflows.

Key tips to get this right:

Use trusted hiring platforms or hire dedicated remote developers through companies that provide pre-vetted, project-ready candidates.

Verify past remote experience. Developers used to local sprints may not adapt well to async communication or autonomous execution.

Ask for live coding tests, real-world GitHub contributions, and DevOps readiness to judge their ability across delivery pipelines.

Example:

Acquaint Softtech provides clients with Laravel and MERN developers who have passed multi-round technical screenings, timezone overlap evaluations, and culture fit interviews, giving startups access to a hire dedicated remote team with zero onboarding delay.

Build a Strong Remote Development Culture

A strong culture creates invisible alignment. It bridges the physical gaps and prevents silence from turning into stagnation.

What must founders do?

Make your roadmap accessible and regularly updated via Notion or Confluence.

Promote radical transparency using async updates on Slack and dashboards that track real progress.

Encourage peer learning with weekly code reviews, brown bag sessions, and pair programming rituals.

Best Practice:

Use emojis, GIFs, or virtual coffee chats to inject human connection. These small acts go a long way in reinforcing a remote team development best practices culture.

Implement Agile Methodologies for Distributed Teams

Remote doesn’t mean unstructured. Without the discipline of Agile, remote teams drift, misalign, and miss deadlines.

Best ways to apply Agile remotely:

Use tools like Jira or ClickUp for sprint planning and ticket-level tracking.

Schedule weekly demos and stakeholder reviews to drive accountability and showcase progress.

Add sprint retrospectives, even asynchronously, to address roadblocks and keep communication flowing.

Why does it work?

Distributed Agile promotes faster iterations, reduces the risk of over-engineering, and gives hire dedicated developers a clear structure and cadence.

Prioritize Secure Development and IP Protection

In remote models, your source code, product logic, and even user data might be accessed from hundreds of miles away. Without proper controls, this opens doors to risk.

Foundational practices for secure dev environments:

Sign NDAs and IP Transfer Agreements before the first commit.

Ensure developers use VPNs, 2FA-enabled Git access, and encrypted storage for any shared credentials.

For SaaS, implement Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and regularly rotate credentials using tools like HashiCorp Vault or AWS Secrets Manager.

What smart CTOs do?

They enforce access monitoring and integrate security audits as part of CI/CD pipelines. This ensures their scalable backend architecture remains protected even across continents.

Use the Right Tools for Communication, Collaboration, and Monitoring

Even top-tier developers fail without strong toolchains. The right tools transform intention into execution.

Must-have stack for remote success:

Communication: Slack for real-time messages, Loom for async updates, Google Meet for demos.

Collaboration: Jira or Trello for task boards, GitHub for codebase management, Notion for documentation.

Monitoring: Jenkins and GitLab for CI/CD, Sentry for live error reporting, and Grafana for performance visualization.

Why do tools matter?

Tools allow teams to focus on system performance optimization instead of chasing updates or tickets. This plays a critical role when you hire dedicated developers and want them to integrate fast.

Invest in Documentation and Knowledge Sharing

Too many startups skip documentation in the early days. That mistake costs dearly when the scale hits!

How to avoid that trap?

Maintain API documentation, architecture diagrams, and deployment workflows in Notion or GitBook.

Schedule monthly tech talks or “show and tells” for cross-learning for hire dedicated remote team.

Encourage devs to document edge cases, failed experiments, and system scaling notes in tickets or internal wikis.

Why does this work?

Shared knowledge reduces developer dependency, increases autonomy, and makes your application architecture for growth more resilient.

Best Practices for Scaling Remote Development Teams

You must build remote software development success on repeatable systems, documented processes, and strategic investments that support fast-paced execution.

Here’s how growth-focused startups in 2025 are scaling their remote development teams the smart way!

Start Small, Scale with Intent

Don’t begin with a bloated structure. Start with a core product team, usually a backend developer, a frontend expert, and a DevOps lead. Once early product milestones are hit, expand based on clear deliverables and velocity metrics.

Why does it work?

Creates tight feedback loops early

Ensures remote team development best practices are established before scale

Makes it easier to optimize processes and identify blockers

Standardize Onboarding and Documentation

Every new developer must hit the ground running. Without documented workflows, ramp-up time grows and productivity stalls. Build centralized onboarding documentation, covering codebase setup, repo access, CI/CD usage, task management tools, and coding standards.

Recommended documentation tools:

Notion or Confluence for onboarding wikis

Loom for walkthrough videos

Google Drive or GitBook for SOPs

Embrace DevOps and Early Automation

Automation lays the foundation for performance and scalability. Introduce DevOps practices from day one, not as an afterthought. It directly contributes to system performance optimization and keeps product velocity consistent.

Automation best practices:

CI/CD pipelines via Jenkins or GitHub Actions

Linting and unit tests in pull request pipelines

Environment consistency through Docker and Kubernetes

Deployment monitoring via Prometheus and Grafana

Build a Culture of Async Accountability

As your team grows, async workflows become critical. Introduce strategies for managing remote developers that promote ownership and time-independent progress!

Tactical actions:

Record all sprint reviews for async viewing

Encourage video-based updates for clarity

Use tools like Status Hero for daily async standups

Prioritize Growth-Ready Architecture Early

You must design your backend to scale before your users scale. Structure your app with application architecture for growth from the beginning.

What this includes:

Modular architecture with microservices or domain-driven modules

Cloud-native deployment with horizontal scaling built in

Logging and error-tracking tools to spot bottlenecks before they hit production

How Startups and SaaS Companies Can Benefit Most?

Startups and SaaS founders operate in an environment where agility, speed, and cost-efficiency directly influence survival. For these companies, remote development is a strategic edge that fuels smarter growth.

Lower Burn Rate, Higher Runway

Launching a tech product with an in-house team in the US or UK can exhaust early-stage funding quickly. Remote development models allow startups to reduce development costs by 40–60%. This financial efficiency empowers longer experimentation, better user feedback, and sustainable growth without needing to compromise on quality.

Faster MVP Development and Iteration

Speed is currency in early-stage product launches. Distributed teams, when structured right, can ship MVPs in half the time. With the right practices in place, startups can build, launch, gather user feedback, and iterate fast. This agility is critical in competitive SaaS markets where early mover advantage and feedback loops are gold.

Dynamic Scaling Based on Demand

Founders don’t need to predict how big the team should be upfront. Remote-first models support flexible scaling aligned to funding rounds, traction milestones, or user surges. This elasticity helps startups adapt to rapid changes without compromising on performance or delivery.

Bottomline

To hire dedicated remote developers successfully, companies must focus on structure, security, and cultural alignment. It is about building a resilient delivery engine that runs smoothly across time zones. This means choosing developers who understand your domain, implementing secure systems, and using battle-tested remote development best practices.

With proper sprint planning, strong communication tools, and DevOps automation, remote teams can outperform even traditional in-house setups. The future belongs to companies that can scale quickly, adapt instantly, and deliver reliably.

By embracing this model, businesses unlock growth-ready architecture, streamline product velocity, and drive outcomes that investors and users care about. From MVPs to enterprise-grade platforms, the remote model proves its worth at every stage!

Original Source: https://medium.com/@mukesh.ram/mastering-remote-software-development-top-strategies-for-2025-c3c4f73e3b2e

[marketing-insider-group]

The Key Advantages of Outsourcing Web Development Services - Marketing Insider Group

Outsourcing web development helps businesses scale faster, reduce costs, and access global talent—without sacrificing quality or control. Here's how it works.

[deorwineinfotech]

IT Staff Augmentation: How to Hire Remote Developers

In the fast-evolving landscape of tech, companies are always on the lookout for faster ways to grow their teams with flexible options that do not entail lengthy commitments. Widely known as a solution for organizations in need of tech talent to help fill project deadlines, meet the needs that skills gaps present, or bring on specialized expertise IT staff augmentation is particularly relatable. In this model, companies can hire highly experienced remote developers to work like an extension of their in-house team. So, how exactly does IT staff augmentation work and what are the steps to hire remote developers effectively?

What is IT Staff Augmentation?

IT staff augmentation is an outsourcing model that allows businesses to hire professionals from outside their work offices for a specific duration. It is time and cost-efficient than any traditional hiring model helping organizations in making their hands with the best talent minus all that overhead required for a full-time employee. Companies can easily scale up or down based on their project's demands by hiring remote developers for specific project requirements.

Deorwine Infotech as a leading provider of Staff Augmentation services has provided a thorough guide on how to hire remote developers for your company needs.

Benefits of Hiring Remote Developers Through Staff Augmentation

Access to a Global Talent Pool: With remote hiring, businesses can access a wider pool of skilled developers or better yet talent that may be hard to find locally.

Reduced Hiring and Onboarding Time: Staff augmentation allows companies to skip lengthy hiring processes, enabling them to onboard developers swiftly and start projects sooner.

Cost Savings: Remote developers also save businesses money on costs like office rent, paying full-time salaries to employees along benefits.

Increased Flexibility This kind of model is excellent since it allows for flexibility when scaling your team to match the current requirement — which makes a lot of sense in companies with varying project demands.

Enhanced Productivity: Remote developers can also help ensure that progress is maintained 24/7 especially if they live in other time zones because this allows the project to be developed faster.

Steps to Hire Remote Developers for IT Staff Augmentation

Define Project Requirements and Skills Needed

Start by identifying the skills and experience necessary for the project. List out specific technical requirements (such as JavaScript, Python, or mobile app development), as well as soft skills that align with your company culture.

2. Choose a Reliable Staff Augmentation Partner Partnering with a reputed IT outsourcing staff augmentation agency or partner can expedite your hiring process. Work with partners who have a broad network of pre-vetted, remote developers to get you access to the right talent in its own way.

Evaluate Developer Experience and Compatibility

Interview developers to evaluate their technical competencies, previous project experience, and fit for company culture Perform coding assessment or actual test to understand the proficiency in those technologies It is fundamental to the compatibility with your internal team for a good robust collaboration.

Define Clear Communication Channels

Communication is very important for remote work, have clear channels using tools like Slack, Zoom, or Trello Daily touchpoints and a progress tracker help ensure all team members are consistently grounded in their objectives, tasks, and status.

By collaborating with an expert IT staff augmentation and tech expert like Deorwine Infotech, you may prevent overpaying.

Onboard the Developers Efficiently

Make sure any new developers have the resources, project details, and tools they need to hit running. Provide a clear onboarding that gets them up to speed with how your team works and what you expect.

Monitor Performance and Project Milestones

Set measurable milestones and provide continuous feedback to ensure project success. Staff augmentation partners often offer ongoing support, allowing you to adjust the team as necessary based on performance and project needs.

7. Building a Team CultureIf your developers are remote, it is still important to foster a strong team culture. Celebrate their small wins, share feedback, and create channels for open communication. You could also have virtual game nights or coffee chats to build community. This leads to better productivity, as a happy team is an efficient team.

Conclusion

IT staff augmentation services allow businesses to respond dynamically when a project requires them by overnight recruiting skilled remote developers. As long as a company chooses the right agency to partner with and is fairly open about what they need in their projects, remote hiring can have significant value while maintaining productivity levels.

For more info visit us: https://deorwine.com/blog/it-staff-augmentation-hire-remote-developer/

Contact Us: Website: https://deorwine.com

        Email id: info@deorwine.com

        Skype: deorwineinfotech

For Any Query Call Us: +91-9950686795 OR +91-9116115717

[tinkcantwrite]

bad idea ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

summary - you have a moment of weakness and call bucky in the middle of the night. just for some company, of course. nothing else.

warnings - !! 18+ mdni - you are responsible for your media consumption !!, smut with like no plot, fingering, teasing, p in v, little bit of angst if you squint and tilt your head

note - baby's 1st fic of any sort :D also, this was inspired by "bad idea" by girl in red

You knew you shouldn't have called him.

You both agreed that last time really was the last time.

But as you sat on the couch in the living room of your apartment and Bucky appeared on the screen along with his team, looking oh-so-dreamy in his New Avengers suit, you hand drifted to your phone. Somehow, it had developed a mind of its own, scrolling through your contacts until his name popped up, immediately opening the text thread and shooting him a quick ‘text me when you get a minute’.

The two of you had met at one of what seemed like a hundred briefings since Valentina’s forming of the New Avengers. You had been assigned to sit in on the meetings and conferences, taking notes and acting as a sort of secretary slash journalist. Bucky had greeted you with a flash of a smile and from that moment, you knew you were fucked. Literally and metaphorically.

Soon after, Bucky and you had spent the night together, up into the early hours of the morning. Then you spent another night together. And then an afternoon. And then a few days. And so on and so forth until you had become tangled in the hot mess that was whatever this was. A situationship? Co-workers with benefits? Just a hookup? You weren’t exactly sure to be honest. Not that it really mattered.

But then the weekly hookups had gotten riskier. Less careful and more spur of the moment. One particular evening, you were working late, camped out in the common area of the New Avengers lounge. Typing away at your laptop in an effort to get a few emails scheduled before you clocked out for the day, Bucky had slipped in silently, sliding in beside you, shutting your laptop gently and resting a hand on your thigh, trailing it upwards.

One thing led to another and you had straddled his lap, mid-makeout when from the kitchen in walked Yelena, bowl of mac and cheese in hand. It had clattered to the floor and she had gasped, hand covering her mouth, eyebrows raised. You had scrambled out of his lap faster than you’ve ever moved in your life.

Yelena had blinked at Bucky and then back to you. “You…and her? Damn, Barnes. She’s waaaay out of your league.”

She had shook her head, chuckling softly, as Bucky groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. You had snatched your laptop up and darting out of the tower, muttering about how you were never showing face again.

After that whole…ordeal, you had told Bucky that it had to stop. That it had gone too far and the two of you had gotten too bold for your own good. In that moment, common sense had slapped you in the face, and you realized just how messy it was – fucking your co-worker who was also kind of, sort of your boss in a way. And of course, being the frustratingly good-natured guy that Bucky was, he had accepted that with no if, ands, or buts. Very 1940’s gentleman of him.

You had put distance between yourself in the team now, working remotely, only coming in when absolutely needed or specifically requested. During meetings you kept to yourself, taking your notes, asking your questions, and vanishing afterwards before anybody could catch you to chat. You hadn’t seen Bucky in weeks, only communicating with him via Val if even at all. Every time you had gone into the tower, he avoided you like the plague (which, honestly, was fine by you), so you hadn’t seen how he’d grown his hair out. Or how the light stubble on his chin had become thicker. Or had much more muscle he had gained.

But now, seeing him on the screen in front of you, his picture plastered on the screen while a news reporter went on and on about how the team was becoming more public, you couldn’t help but pull your lower lip in between your teeth. Bucky looked good. Like, really fucking good.

You glanced back up at the TV, watching as the broadcaster pivoted to another story. Your hand, who, by the way, was a real traitorous bitch, now held your phone in front of you, eyes darting down. A grin spread across your face as three little bubbles popped up in the text thread before ‘you okay, doll?’

Your throat suddenly dry, you swallowed hard, swiping up and clicking the Call button, raising your phone to your ear. It rang once. Then twice. Then three times. You flopped back on the couch with a soft groan, about to hang up when it clicked over.

“Hey, doll. Everything okay?” Your chest warmed, tight and tingly as you heard the concern in his voice.

You cleared your throat. “Yeah I’m fine. I’m good. I just…,” you rolled your eyes at yourself before finally biting the bullet, “I saw you. On TV. Just now. You look good, Buck.”

There was silence for a moment. “Yeah? And you decided to call me in the middle of the night to tell me that?” Bucky laughed softly and you swore you could hear his stupid, cocky smirk on the other end

“No. No, I called to tell you to come over.” You exhaled nervously, eyes squeezed shut, half out of embarrassment, half praying he’d say yes.

“Give me twenty minutes.” The line hung up with a click and you blinked at the black screen of your phone.

18 minutes later, not that you were counting or anything, a knock came from the entryway of your apartment. You slid around the corner of the hallway from your room, having hurriedly made something of an attempt to fix the mess that was your hair.

Again, this was not a good idea. The voice in the back of your head was screaming at you to walk away, ignore the knocking, leave him alone. This was a very, very, bad idea. One that was only going to end up in more hurt and more awkwardness and more tension.

But fuck that.

Smoothing your shirt you opened the door, blushing at the man in front of you. Why hadn’t you changed shirts? Internally you groaned, regretting the two sizes too big Looney Toons shirt you wore.

You blushed at the man in front of you, face prickling with warmth. 

His hair. His hair was different. Different and good and so good you just wanted to run your hands through it and tug it while he — You cut yourself off mentaly, audibly exhaling through your nose, sharp and breathy. 

You were absolutely, completely, totally, fucked.

“Did I come all the way over here just for you to ogle me or are you gonna let me in?” Bucky grinned, leaning in over you. Shit. He knew it. He knew how you were looking at him. Why you were looking at him like the way you were.

You blushed harder, opening the door further. “Shut up.” You glanced away as he stepped in, rolling your eyes.

As he stepped into your apartment you shook your head. “This was a bad idea,” you muttered as you rubbed a hand over your arm, stepping around him and into the kitchen. Bucky followed behind you, watching as you stood on your tiptoes, grabbing a glass from the cabinets above the kitchen counter. His eyes narrowed, catching on the way your shirt raised with your shoulders, revealing the smallest sliver of skin. Bucky blinked. You two hadn’t fucked in weeks and he was still just as enthralled as he was before. He grunted, stepping towards you.

“Really? Because I think it's a good one.”

You paused, slipping the glass back onto the shelf and turning around, your back now digging into the edge of the counter. Bucky was now inches away, his broad shoulders tense as his hands rested beside you, caging you in. He exhaled, breath warm as it ghosted over your lips.

He raised a metal hand, brushing a loose strand of hair away from your face. “Do you know how much I’ve missed this?” He grunted, trailing off, examining the way your cheeks bloomed into a rosy shade of pink. The almost imperceptible way your breath stuttered. The way you blinked up at him, mouth slightly agape.

Bucky smirked, shifting his hand to cup your chin as he angled it up and leaned in, his lips brushing yours. You moved up into him, slotting your mouth against his. The contact seemed to drive him over an edge he had been teetering on.

He lifted you up like you were a feather, hands cupping the backs of your thighs. His fingers, cold and warm shocking together in contrast, dug into your flesh as he wrapped your legs around his waist. You whined softly, twining your fingers through his hair as he crossed the kitchen and into the hallway.

Your back met the wall with a soft thud, a gasp of air escaping through your lips. Bucky grunted, setting you down and pushing you further into the wall behind you, hands cupping your face as he kissed you, hard.

You gasped into his mouth. He took advantage of that, tongue darting in, drawing you in even closer into the kiss and into him. Breathing you in as if he was a man drowning. His teeth and tongue clashed against yours, sending a flush reverberating throughout your limbs.

Your hands fumbled with his belt and he pulled back, laughing gruffly, moving to unbuckle his belt. He flicked the clasp open and jerked the smooth leather out of the loops on his jeans in one fluid motion. Somewhere out in the hallway it skittered along the floor with a clatter. You leaned back against the wall, chewing on the tip of your fingertip as he shrugged his jeans and boxers off, kicking them out of the way.

Bucky ran his tongue over his teeth, grinning before gripping the hem of your shirt with his vibranium fingers and jerking down. You scoffed lightly as the fabric split. He shrugged it off of your shoulders, fingers brushing your skin, leaving a blazing trail in their wake. You shuddered.

“I liked that shirt.” You pouted, glancing back up at him as it disappeared behind him, his eyes never leaving you.

He ran a finger over your shoulder and down your bra strap, grazing over the thin lace trim. One metal finger hooked the strap, tugging it teasingly, and releasing it with a quiet snap. 

“I’ll get you another.” He dipped his head in, latching on to your neck, trailing up towards the nook between your ear and neck. Teeth met skin, nipping playfully before turning more sensual. Bucky worked your skin with his lips, pulling away slightly, smirking at the purple spot that has already begun to stain your neck.

He nudged his head gently into the side of yours, lips hovering near your ear. “It's probably a good thing you’re always ‘out of office.’ Can’t think straight half the damn time with you there,” he uttered, low and deep, stirring something in your belly.

You exhaled shakily, your hands drifting to the hem of his shirt. Bucky leaned back, allowing for you to lift the shirt up and over his head. You knew he had gotten more muscular, more beefy, but not like this. 

He chuckled lowly, apparently amused by your staring. Your fingers ghosted down his chest and over his stomach as he kissed along your collarbone, tugging your flimsy pajama shorts down, popping the waistband of your matching panties. His hand slipping lower, a finger pressing against the damp fabric between your legs. Bucky grinned into your collarbone.

“That wet already, huh?” Tugging the hem of your pants again, he slid them off your waist and down your legs. He patted the backs of your thighs, wordlessly telling you to step out of them. Bucky ducked his head down, dragging his nose along your sternum until he reached your chest, nudging the silky fabric of your bra to the side and taking your nipple into his mouth. His tongue worked the sensitive flesh, teeth grazing it gently. He groaned around your breast, low and rough, as if the sound were stuck in the middle of his throat. You breathed out, heading lolling onto his shoulder in a haze.

Bucky smiled at you. Not a smirk, not a grin, but a smile, shaking his head. “You are so pretty it fucking hurts.” He met your eyes, your lips meeting his own in a slow, deep kiss. You ran your hands over his broad shoulders, fingertips sliding over vibranium. Bucky encircled you with his arms, softly unclasping your bra and letting it fall to the floor between the two of you.

He tapped the backs of your legs again, motioning for you to jump, which you did eagerly, wrapping your thighs around his waist. He let out a guttural groan at the movement, head rolling back. Using the wall to hoist you up, he braced a hand against the wall, the other dipping between your legs, finding the sensitive bundle of nerves.

Cold metal met hot skin and you arched, back lifting off the wall with a soft groan. You gasped, mouth floundering as his fingers worked your clit, slow and steady. “I need more,” you whined breathily as he sped up before slowing down once more. Agonizingly slow to teasingly fast. Up and down. Left and right.

“Yeah? How much more do you need, doll? Tell me what you want.” His hand stilled, pausing and making you circle your hips in desperation. Bucky kissed along your shoulder, breath snaking down your spine, sending a shiver down it. Every now and then, he twitched his finger, relishing in the way your face scrunched up and how little whimpers escaped every time he flicked his digit against your clit.

“All of it. I need all of it. All of you. Please,” you gasped out, voice failing you as you stuttered helplessly, like putty in his broad hands.

All Bucky did was grunt in response. His hand drifted away from your core, leaving you trembling and unsatisfied. You were about to fully fold, on the verge of begging him to keep going before you paused with a soft moan at the feeling of cock grazing against the slick of your folds.

He ducked his head into your neck with a groan. “Fuck, Y/N.” You squirmed underneath him, legs tightening around his hips, fingers tugging at the ends of his hair. His chest was flush against yours, warm pressing against warm. Whether it was the dizzying cloud of heat swirling in your head or the rapid thudding of Bucky’s heart against yours you weren’t sure, but you felt him before he was even inside you. 

You swallowed hard, rutting your hips into his. “Please,” you whimpered as you nudged his head with your chin, making him look at you. His steely eyes met yours, pupils dilated and needy. Bucky sloppily kissed your chin and then your mouth and he pushed up into you.

“Shit…,” you groaned, in synchronicity with his own. Your back grated against the wall as Bucky tucked his hips back ever so slightly and then back up. Another grunt tumbled past his parted mouth as he thrusted up, gaining traction and speed. 

He was full and consuming and every bit of what you wanted. What you needed. You swore you could’ve come right then and there just from the sensation of him simply being in you. The way he moved into you was smooth and heavy, as if his body was quite literally made to fit into yours. As if he was honey in the form of a broody, 107-year old man who was forever a pain in your ass. Even if he could make you feel like you were in another plane of existence.

Your hands clawed at his back, seeking some sort of tether as tension began to build up inside you. He growled as your nails found purchase in the toned muscle of his shoulder, leaving little crescent moons to trace over with your fingers in the morning.

Bucky’s movements became harsher and more desperate. You gasped out as he hit the spot inside of you only he ever reached.

“That it, baby?” He asked, gripping your ass, giving him an even deeper angle to thrust into you at.

You nodded fervently, not entirely conscious as to what he was saying. He stilled once more, titling your chin to him. Your walls pulsed around him, contracting around his width. Bucky swore mentally, trying his damnedest to not give in and fuck you senselessly right that very minute.

“Beg for it then. Beg me to fuck you, Y/N.” 

You shook your head against the wall, babbling nonsense about how you needed him. How you needed him to move. Bucky brushed a strand of hair out of your face, plastered to your sweat-dampened temple. He nodded, bucking up into you, hard.

“Good girl. That’s my doll.” You moaned as he drove up into your hips over and over again. The air around you thickened, sweat, sex, and mumbled words of praise swirling in the virtually imperceptible space between his body and yours.

“Shit, shit, shit” you rambled, quivering in his grasp. “Just like that. God, Bucky.” 

You whined, resting your forehead on his shoulder, the smooth coldness of the vibranium sending a white hot flash of tingles down your neck and through your spine.

Bucky grunted. “Gonna fill you up. Every fucking inch of you.”

He moved faster, pounding in and out of you, your back thudding against the wall behind you. Your eyelashes fluttered against your cheeks, body tensing up before slumping with release. You felt it everywhere. In your toes, in your arms, in your legs, in your belly, in your fucking fingertips which twisted up taut in his hair.

“That’s my girl,” he hummed, his movements becoming erratic and sloppy, chasing his own high. He palmed your ass, gripping it with a ferocity and aggression that made you moan. With one final thrust, he shuddered, gasping, digging his hips as far into you as he could.

After a beat of labored breathing and lazy fingers working circles on hips, Bucky lifted his head, pressing a kiss to your forehead. 

“Was it worth it?” He hummed, pressing another kiss to your temple as you groaned, rolling your eyes.

Bucky smiled softly, wrapping his arms around your back, shifting your weight forward and onto him. He stepped away from the wall, holding you tight against him. The gust of cool air that followed made you shiver and you leaned further into him.

Bucky laughed softly, running a hand over the back of your hair and padding down the hallway towards your bedroom. He gripped you to him with one arm, jerking the mismatched blankets of your bed back, sliding into them.

You smiled up at him from where you lay under him, his forearms resting on either side of your head, his hips resting between your legs. Leaning up, you pulled his face down gently, ghosting your lips over his.

He took your bottom lip between his teeth, pulling it back teasingly. “Still think this is a bad idea?”

You shook your head, dissolving into exhaustion-driven laughter as Bucky growled, ducking his head into your neck once more. 

Bad ideas be damned. 

[lightsovermonaco]

Wedding Date, Part 2 (Pato O'Ward)

an: requests and comments always welcome! There will be at least two more parts to this series.

wc: 3800

Summary: Pato is in need of a wedding date, desperately. Despite hating him, and despite him knowing it, he asks you to be his date and you agree.

Okay, maybe Pato isn't all bad. If your favorite childhood Disney movie trilogy taught you anything, it's that everyone has some good in them, no matter how sour they seem. (High school musical, for the record- even Sharpay had her positive moments.)

Inherently bad people don't pay the aquarium entry fee for their fake date, or purchase the add-on ticket that allows you access to the touch tank. Perhaps Pato was revealing the best parts of himself in an attempt to impress you. Normally you're not inclined to let someone throw money around like that but… Pato had invited you. That counted for something.

For now, you give Pato the benefit of the doubt, extending him an olive branch in the form of holding your tongue. He is your employer after all- well, in a sense, at least. You do owe him some debt of gratitude for flying you out here, paying for your room, your dress, all of it. So you allow him to set the pace, occupying yourself by reading the plaques on the walls. 

While you're happy to take your time stopping at all the tanks, Pato gravitates towards the wrap-around shark tank the moment it comes into view. You let him wander, keeping him at the edge of your vision while you check out another nearby exhibit filled with brightly colored fish the size of your palm.  

Pato steps into the tunnel, utterly nonplussed by the thousands of gallons of saltwater pressing against the glass on either side of him. The water casts a cool, blue glow over him as he cranes his neck to see a bull shark swim over his head. His mouth falls open as he turns to track the animal as it glides through the water, gaping like a kid in a candy store. 

“Wooowww, did you see that? Amazing!” Pato’s boyish grin is something out of a story book. His following laugh draws the attention of a young, blonde woman to his left. She blatantly stares at Pato, eating him up like Christmas dinner.

Something curdles in your gut. Objectively, you know it's not Pato's fault that people become ensnared by him the second they're in his orbit. But you can't wrap your head around why people are so infatuated with him in the first place. He's just a guy that drives fast cars for a living. What makes him so special? 

“The shark? Yeah, it's great.” You roll your eyes and turn back to the tank you'd been examining. Tiny fish no larger than a stick of chewing gum dart through a miniature rainbow coral reef. The sign above the tank proudly encourages visitors to ‘find nemo!’, including a photo of a clown fish with only a single white stripe on its body. You're determined to find it, nose bumping the glass as you go up on your tiptoes for a new angle. 

“Bella, come look at this.” Apparently, Pato is equally determined to ensure you do not have a moment of peace. His voice grates on your nerves, though your feet propel you forward against your better judgment. It's a learned reflex and one you now curse yourself for developing. Like one of Pavlov’s dogs, you cannot stop yourself from answering Pato’s call- you blame Emma, head of Arrow McLaren's PR team for that. “How many times do I have to tell you my name isn't Bella?”

Pato looks at you as if to say yes I am aware but does not correct himself. You sigh, arms crossed over your chest. “What did you call me over here for?”

Like you had done seconds before, Pato presses his face to the tank and jabs his finger at something down below. It's hypocritical, but you cannot help noting the childishness of the action.

“Look at that one. The little one at the bottom, isn't it adorable?” Pato glances over his shoulder to confirm you follow his line of sight. You hum politely, not even remotely interested. “That's a nurse shark- they're pretty much harmless. They're known for being friendly, but they're fourth on the list for biting humans. Their teeth are tiny though, so really they don't cause too much harm.” Maybe he isn’t as much of a himbo as you thought. Apparently, Indycar’s golden boy knows a thing or two about aquatics. “I touched one once when I was snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef- I'll never forget that.”

Ah, there it was. The humble brag, which is almost certainly the real reason he'd called you over here. It's like he knows exactly what buttons to press to get a reaction out of you, and as much as you hate it, it's effective. You shouldn't give in- you should let the subtle jab roll off your back like a wave instead of rising to the challenge, but you just can't.

“Great, any other world travels you'd like to rub in my face? What about the hammerhead- did you swim with those when you were free-diving in the Galapagos?”

Something flickers on Pato’s face that you don't recognize. His eyebrows twitch downward and he purses his lips ever so slightly. It is gone in a flash, smoothed over by his usual aloof mask, “that doesn't make any sense. Hammerhead sharks don't live-”

You've had enough. Dealing with his high and mighty ass day in and day out during the season is torture enough. Enduring it now in the off-season is entirely too much to bear. When you agreed to come sightseeing with him, you imagined him as your silent human GPS and your face stuck in your phone whilst you took ten thousand photos. Instead, you're at the aquarium- which you won't complain about- with a man who insists on flaunting his lifetime of luxury experiences over your head- which you will complain about. 

“Look Pato, it was nice of you to bring me here and all, but I don't need a zoology lesson. Listening to you drone on about your beautiful tropical vacation that probably costs more than I make in a year doesn't sound interesting to me, and I don't feel like entertaining your ego. I'm gonna go find anywhere else to be,” you point your thumb over your shoulder, and then pivot to point at the tank in front of you, “and you can stay here with your sharks. Have fun.”

Pato has the audacity to look hurt by your outburst. “Oh. Right. Sorry for bothering you.” A pang of guilt hits your stomach when Pato stuffs his hands in his pockets and sighs. You dig your nails into your palm to resist the urge to apologize when you haven't done anything wrong. “You can just send me a message when you're ready to go. I'll be wandering around, but I promise I won't bother you.” 

Finally, peace.

Without another word, you spin on your heel and search for the signs pointing you to the touch tank, the one thing you are genuinely excited about experiencing. To be honest, a visit to the aquarium was already on your agenda before Pato brought it up. Marine life is something you've enjoyed since you were little, with your fascination dating from the first trip your family took to the ocean. Since then, you've consumed an unfathomable amount of media about all things ocean related, from documentaries to blog posts written by top activists. Oceanography was a career path you briefly explored at one point before deciding the long hours, low pay and tough competition wasn't worth the effort. Ironic that your current job also ticks all three of those boxes, and yet that hadn't deterred you.

The queue for the touch tanks is mainly comprised of families with young children, with a few couples scattered through as well. It feels a bit odd to be in line on your own, but that won't stop you. The bored teenager manning the entry line notes the neon pink band on your wrist and waves you through without a fuss. 

Excitement unfurls in your chest as you take a moment to soak it all in. Two semi-sunken tanks sit on either side of the exhibit, both the size of a small swimming pool. The sides are clear so that the children running about have a clear view of what's inside. The few attendants near the tanks are too busy reminding the little devils to be gentle and not poke the sea life too forcefully to deal with the kids running free.

Seeking a refuge from the chaos, you tuck yourself in a quieter corner away from most people. Your elbows rest on the thick plexiglass as you lean over for a view of the urchins, coral, and sea stars who are, like you, attempting to find some room to breathe. 

“I promise I'm gentler than most of those kids,” you say quietly, like the animals can understand you. Rolling up the sleeves of your chunky knit cream sweater, you dip your hand in the saltwater tank. The cold is a welcome shock to your senses. You gently run your fingers over the bumpy arms of a starfish, which somehow brings to mind the texture of tire marbles on a track. 

The sea creatures creep slowly through the water. You imagine they're on their commutes, either headed home or going to their mundane office jobs on the other side of the tank. There's a certain level of calm beneath the surface despite the occasional shriek from an unruly child. Simply having a hand in the saltwater is enough to regulate your body. Your frustration ebbs away with each passing second until your head is finally cleared of any lingering red fog.   

Circumstances aside, you're glad you're here. Visiting aquariums feels like reconnecting with yourself, a reset of sorts that erases your unease and replaces it with optimism. Did Pato know about your love of water, or did he simply get lucky? 

Guilt wraps around your shoulders like a blanket. You shouldn't have stormed off like you did, you know that. It's not your fault that Pato's unexpected kindness has put you on the back foot. Deep down, part of you knows Pato wasn't trying to brag. 

Despite witnessing his giving personality first hand in the past, having it directed at you is hard to wrap your head around. Whether it be making time to sign as many autographs as possible or purposely building time into his schedule to greet fans ahead of every grand prix on the calendar, Pato always showers his supporters with kindness. 

Now that you think about it, Pato hasn't once treated you as beneath him, despite the power balance in your relationship being skewed heavily in his favor. He's treated you as somewhat of an equal. Which is… an interesting revelation, and one that is best left in a dusty corner of your mind and unpacked another day. 

The sting rays are your next stop, your childhood favorites. Your heart beats a little faster when you approach the water despite knowing the captive creatures are perfectly harmless. Their barbs are kepts closely trimmed, and only the most docile of the animals are allowed into the exhibit. Still, your courage takes a minute or two to build before you stick a tentative hand into the water and brush a light gray ray as it swims past. 

“Beautiful,” you mumble to yourself. The surface of the water ripples when a ray chases your hand as you go to withdraw it. Leaning heavier on the tank now, you submerge your arm to the elbow in an effort to interact with any stingray that seems interested. Perhaps they intuitively know how much you admire them and that's why they seem drawn to you. Whatever the reason, you're perfectly content to stay just as you are, even when pins and needles prick your arm from lack of movement. 

**********

Promises aren't Pato’s forte. He does his best to uphold them, but once he gets bored it's easy to forget said verbal pacts. 

Pato walks through the entire aquarium twice and even stops to sit and watch the otters for fifteen minutes before he gives up. His watch vibrates thirty seconds after he stops pacing, alerting him that his ‘workout’ has ended. Sitting still is another thing he isn't exactly good at, hence his choice of high-octane career. 

If Pato has to make another lap, he might lose his mind- despite almost certainly doubling his step count for the day.  

So he breaks his promise and goes looking for you. Scavenger hunts aren't something Pato actively enjoys, though he is quite apt at them. Being trained to quantify small details means that he can often pick up clues easier than most. He suggested the aquarium because he  had overheard you talking about the ocean once. The wistful love in your eyes had taken his breath away, and he had understood then how much sway the water had over you.

Pato also happens to know that sting rays are one of your top five favorite animals; another fact he had picked up on after seeing the documentary you chose to watch on the plane. After only a few short minutes, Pato finds you by the touch tanks, leaning over the two inch thick plexiglass side and straining to reach a stingray that evades your advances. The sleeve of your sweater drags in the water, but that doesn't stop you. Pato quietly steps up to the tank a few feet away and merely observes. 

“Come on little guy, I just want to say hi,” you murmur, completely oblivious to his presence. A noise of frustration escapes you seemingly without your notice. It's adorable. The urge to squish your cheeks and inform you of that is compelling. Luckily, Pato is good at repressing said urges, particularly when it comes to you.

“Do you need some help hermosa?” Pato’s smile is the equivalent of a white flag of surrender when you glance at him.

“No, I'm fine.” You push up onto your tiptoes to gain a few more inches of leverage. Your tongue sticks out of the corner of your mouth, a telltale sign of your laser focus. Pato's seen that sort of look on you when you're holed up in his driver's room crafting the perfect socials post. “This is the only one that I haven't pet yet. All the others wouldn't leave me alone. I just… want it to… trust me…” 

Never did it cross Pato’s mind that one day he might have something in common with a stingray. No matter how hard Pato tries to be kind and considerate and moreover prove that he's a half decent man, you don't catch on. Like now, as you attempt to coax the stingray from its hiding spot beneath a rocky ledge with a piece of dinner, the ray remains steadfast in its decision to remain concealed where it believes itself to be safe. 

If it would just swim out if it's comfort zone… and if you would step out of yours- perhaps you could be friends. One of you has to take a leap of faith, and considering how you have shown no interest at all in doing so, Pato supposes it's up to him. Heavy lifting is something he does regularly, just in a literal sense, but how hard could it be to do figuratively?

“Here, use this.” Pato grabs the small step stool leaning on the opposite side of the tank and brings it over. He pats the step like it's gold plated and then smiles, “that should give you enough of a boost that you can drop it right in front of him. He might just be new to the touch tank, maybe he's not used to humans yet.” 

“I guess that's a good point.” Though you eye him warily, you accept his help and the extra six inches of leverage is exactly what you needed. Now you can just about reach the ray, and it seems more curious now that your hand rests under the ledge in front of it. 

“Ah! There! That's perfect.” Now that you're within its bubble, the ray happily takes the fish from your hand before immediately retreating to safety. “Perfect, that's perfect! Thanks Pato-” 

You weren't aware of how your arm pressed against Pato's when you gripped the glass for balance, but he was. He hadn't dared to move a muscle. Water from your drenched sleeve drips onto his hand, ice cold and scorching hot at the same time. Time stretches like taffy into what feels like hours but in reality is only a few seconds before you realize your error and break the contact. 

“Sorry. Didn't mean to get you all wet.”

You'd done more than dampen his sleeve; you've tied his stomach in knots. “It's alright. Don't worry about it.”

You absently wipe your wet hand on your sweater. Pato mentally wills you to look at him. His message goes unanswered and your attention is awarded to the view outside the window, “I'm ready to leave now. I didn't mean to keep you here so long. You could've left, you didn't have to wait for me.” 

Pato knows you mean that, too. Whether you admit it or not, he knows you hate feeling like an inconvenience. When the crew invites you out after a race, you're always the first to suggest a restaurant choice that's neutral and well-loved by the majority rather than picking something you like. Pato's heart aches on your behalf, a physical squeeze in his chest that steals his breath. 

Because what you don't realize is that Pato would set the world at your feet if he could. Your rough, impenetrable exterior is a defense mechanism. On the rare occasion that you let yourself enjoy and live in the moment, your brilliance exceeds that of the stars that paint the night sky over his hometown. And upon your request, Pato would pluck each of those stars and fasten you a crown of starlight fit for a queen.

Damn, he was down bad. Elba had warned him that inviting you to Copenhagen may wind up being the death of him. He would rather burn his lucky boots than admit she was right, but Pato fears there may have been some wisdom in her warning. 

“It's alright,” Pato says. “I don't mind. I've had my fill of watching sea otters play for a while though, which is good cause who knows when I'll have time to do something like this again.”

Your laugh is more or less a huff and roll of your eyes, but you know what? Pato will take that. It's an improvement over the icy facade you’ve insisted on wearing, albeit a small one. Progress is progress; shaving a tenth off his lap time is still better than nothing. He may as well build on his lead. 

“So, I was thinking we could grab something to eat on the way to our next stop? Honestly there's a few sights around here I think we should at least walk by, we could just see what sounds good along the way.”

“I guess that's fine.” 

There's another few hundredths shaved off. Another step in the right direction. 

Pato is careful to keep his distance while you walk and is generally happy to let you take the lead. Which is odd for him, because in all other aspects of his life, he has to be in control. But in your presence, his brain recognizes some green flag that tells him ‘hey, you don't have to worry around this girl, she'll sort everything out’ and it's damn refreshing. The never ending string of thoughts in his head goes inexplicably quiet around you. He doesn't worry about what he's wearing because you quite literally could not care less if he was wearing a potato sack- as long as there was no cameras in the immediate vicinity. He doesn't have to paste on a plastic smile when he's in a mood because you don't expect him to be sunny, happy Pato every second of every day. 

Pato can simply exist around you, be a human being with thoughts, feelings, needs. He's starting to think that is the most precious thing. 

“This looks delicious,” you say, pulling him out of his thoughts when you stop on the sidewalk. “How’s gelato sound?” 

Pato raises an eyebrow, “do you know me at all? When have I ever said no to frozen dessert? If they have any sort of chocolate flavor, I’m game.”

“Considering that chocolate is literally one of the two classic flavors, I think you’re safe there.”

“Hopefully it's as good as that place you took me to after Road America- that little vintage place? How many scoops did I have that day?”

Your laugh is a sound that Pato will never tire of. And now, when it bubbles out of you freely, it sends an unfamiliar heat to his cheeks. “I lost count after five. I still have no idea how you weren't sick! I couldn't imagine having that much in one go.” You wag a finger at him as the line moves forward and brings you closer to a sweet treat, “gotta admit, I was impressed.”

“So… Sounds like I have to get six scoops here and break my own record?” 

“Oh no please don't-” 

“Kinda sounded like a challenge from you though-” 

“Pato don't, seriously don't because then you'll be sick!” Your hand lands on Pato's forearm and squeezes to emphasize your plea. 

Pato hums, glances at the man waiting for your order. “You first cariño, pick one.” 

Pato isn’t sure if you’ve picked up on any spanish, but he uses little nicknames with you anyway. Whether you know what the affectionate words mean or not, your cheeks flare each time.

“What can I get for you, miss?” The shop worker, a young man in his mid twenties, smiles sweetly at you. 

“Um… Single scoop of strawberry please. Yes, thank you.” 

Your hand is still on Pato's arm. 

“And I’ll do…” Pato purposely drags out his choice, teasing you a bit to see what you’ll do. He won’t spoil his diet that badly, after all. The hand on his arm tightens ever so slightly, a warning to not over do it. “Two scoops of chocolate.”

“Thank god,” you mumble, smiling at Pato over your dish. “Thought I was gonna have to rat you out to the team when we got back.”

“Oh, you're reporting back to the team? Well then I have to be on my best behavior! Can't have a bad grade on my otherwise perfect record.”

“So far so good O'ward,” you say, pointing your spoon at him. “You're sitting at a passing grade right now, so don't mess it up.”

[trashpandato]

Breakaway

“Lena, this could really be good for the company. Think of the good publicity for L-Corp, sponsoring the biggest women’s cycling race in the world.”

“Sam,” Lena huffs and presses her fingers against the bridge of her nose, “L-Corp isn’t in the business of sponsoring sports events.”

“Yet.”

“We’ve never done anything even remotely similar. Don’t you think it would look a little…desperate? Not to mention suspicious given the timing?”

Sam shifts a little in her seat. “Lena, —”

“Lex’s trial concluded less than six months ago. Any effort to get good press at this point is going to be suspicious. Especially something as blatantly outside of the scope of L-Corp’s usual activities as showing up at some bicycle event. This could actually do more harm than good.”

“You said yourself that you’re trying to move the company in a different direction. You could easily position this as giving back to the community, supporting causes that are, by design, the opposite of what LuthorCorp stood for.”

And Lena can’t really argue with that. She does want to do things differently, from re-naming the company to ending contracts with military suppliers to focussing primarily on research and development projects that would benefit previously underserved communities. But this is a step, or ten, outside of her comfort zone. She doesn’t want to be in the public eye more than she has to be, and she most definitely doesn’t want to be seen as taking advantage of a women’s sports event to bolster her company’s reputation.

“I don’t know.” 

“You don’t have to decide right now. Just, think about it. You’re sponsoring girls in STEM events all the time, and this could be along the same lines of supporting women in areas that are traditionally dominated by men.”

Lena sighs. As always, Sam makes a good point, and as always, she is exceptionally pushy about it.

“Fine. I’ll think about it.”

Later that evening, after Lena has sent off the last few emails dealing with a contract issue with a new subsidiary company in Japan, she clicks out of her email application and pulls up her search engine. If she is supposed to think about sponsoring a cycling event, she wants to know exactly what she would be getting herself into.

Three scotches and a considerable amount of time later, Lena has learned that women’s cycling is woefully underfunded, under promoted and clearly suffers from blatant misogyny of those in charge. She listens to multiple interviews of riders complaining that their races are intentionally shorter than the men’s races because the sport’s regulating body apparently thinks women can’t handle the extra distance. Other than that, the sport seems entertaining enough, and from what Lena can tell, most races are currently dominated by select riders from two or three teams, a fact that speaks to uneven support for equipment and development of new talent across the sport.

While an interview with a sweaty and strikingly good looking blonde cyclist is playing in the background, Lena rubs her eyes and fires off a quick text to Sam.

LL: I’ve thought about it. Go ahead and set up the sponsorship for that race.

—

On race day, Lena regrets every decision she has ever made that has led her to this point. She gets up extra early that day to deal with a number of important issues at L-Corp, but the morning quickly gets away from her. At noon, she is already so behind schedule that she is tempted to text Sam to cancel her appearance at the race. It’s only the knowledge that her friend would never let her hear the end of it that keeps Lena from hiding in her office for the rest of the day. She leaves L-Corp with barely a minute to spare, knowing full well that she is going to have to work late that evening to make up for the time she is going to spend showing her face at the race.

By the time Lena gets there, the medal presentation is just about to start. A race volunteer quickly leads her to the side of the stage, just out of view of the crowds, where Lena spots Sam.

“There you are,” Sam says, handing her a bottle of water to combat the truly ludicrous heat that has built up under the temporary structure surrounding the stage and podium. “I was beginning to worry that you wouldn’t show.”

“I told you I’d be here for this.”

“Yes, but you missed out on seeing the race action.”

“I'm a busy CEO of a multi-billion dollar international company. I don't have time to watch women in lycra pedal around the city for hours."

“Oh, but you did notice the lycra?”

“Sam,” Lena hisses as her attention drifts toward the woman stepping on the podium to accept the congratulations for the win. She grimaces when she sees Maxwell Lord and Morgan Edge hover near the cyclist, Edge shuffling closer and closer to the woman, sporting his usual sleazy smirk. He must say something offensive—not a big surprise, Lena thinks—because the woman accepting her medal suddenly stiffens and grimaces, clearly trying to remain polite and smile for the cameras while her body language conveys that she’d rather be anywhere else but here.

Lena takes a few swift steps toward them.

“Edge. I see you’ve learned nothing from your recent sexual harassment lawsuit. Do you want me to call your probation officer now or later?”

“Lena,” Edge sneers but he steps away from the woman nonetheless. “What a surprise. I didn’t think this event would want to associate themselves with family members of domestic terrorists. Then again, cycling doesn’t exactly have the best reputation for being a clean sport, so I suppose it fits.”

Lena crosses her arms across her chest and raises a challenging eyebrow. “You realize there are mics everywhere, yes? And that you just insulted the sport you’re supposedly here to champion, and everyone could hear it?”

She watches as a couple of official looking men in suits approach and whisper something into Morgan Edge’s ear. With a huff, he turns and retreats behind the stage to the soundtrack of shocked murmurs from the audience gathered in front of the podium.

Lena almost forgets why she is here when she hears an amused voice next to her ear.

“Thanks for that. Not entirely necessary, but I appreciate it.”

Lena’s head snaps toward the voice and all of a sudden she is looking into the bluest eyes she’s ever seen. The woman, Kara Danvers according to the information the race officials had handed her when she arrived for the medal presentation, looks flushed and a little disheveled, but is smiling brightly at Lena.

“Not necessary? He was practically grabbing your butt.”

Kara shrugs. “Not the first time that’s happened during a podium presentation, and won’t be the last. It’s part of the job, unfortunately.”

“It’s part of your job to be groped by men like Edge?”

Another shrug. “At least I usually also get kisses from the podium girls, so it evens out?”

Lena frowns. “What?”

But before she can get more information, one of the race officials hands her a bouquet of flowers and motions for her to hand it to today’s race winner, congratulate her and move on. Lena obliges. She steps in front of the podium, shakes Kara’s hand and ignores the way her stomach swoops when Kara thanks her and winks, fucking winks. Who does that? 

Lena briskly walks off the stage on the other side, where Sam is already waiting for her.

“You can never do things at a normal level of intensity, can you?”

“I told you I’ve never done anything like this before, so maybe don’t blame me for not knowing the proper etiquette here,” Lena snaps. “You could have warned me that Edge and his greasy buddy Lord would be here.”

“Relax,” Sam chuckles. “You did great. I thought we’d maybe get some decent headlines about L-Corp sponsoring the race, but now the media is going to have a field day with you taking on Morgan Edge in public and defending the reputation of women’s cycling.”

“I did no such thing. He spewed his vile nonsense all by himself.”

“He did, and you took him down a notch in front of one the sport’s biggest names. Who seemed pretty taken with you, by the way.”

“Right,” Lena scoffs. The heat behind the stage is unbearable and she can feel sweat trickling down her lower back, her shirt sticking to her skin uncomfortably under her suit jacket. “Are we done here? I need to get back to work.”

Sam looks like she’s about to say something, maybe to try and convince Lena to stay, but Lena is already five steps ahead of her, finding the most direct path to where her driver is waiting for her with her car. And maybe she’s walking faster than strictly necessary, desperate to get away from the cacophony of noises, people and media equipment surrounding the area, and maybe she should have paid closer attention to her surroundings because when she’s not even halfway to her car, she suddenly collides with a solid body. The force of it bumps her sideways and Lena half expects to fall, but then two warm hands hold her upright.

“Golly, I’m so sorry,” Lena hears and when she looks up, it’s the woman from the podium again. 

Kara Danvers.

She’s still holding Lena up, and they’re standing close, so close that Lena can see faint salt lines on her skin from where her sweat had dried off after the efforts of the race.

Lena blinks, too stunned to say anything for a moment.

“Are you okay? I totally didn’t see you and I barrelled right into you. I’m really sorry.”

Lena clears her throat. “It’s fine. I should be the one apologizing. I wasn’t paying attention.”

“You definitely looked like you’re in a hurry to get away,” Kara says, her voice teasing and light.

“I mean, I do have to get back to the office.”

“Of course. Time is money, and all that. Well, thank you for taking time out of your busy day for this, Ms Luthor.”

Lena is used to people commenting on her wealth and her business, and not always in friendly terms. She wears her professional demeanor and her last name like a shield; one that attracts a lot of unwanted attention, but a shield nonetheless. She doesn’t quite know why, but something about the woman in front of her makes her want things to be different.

“Please, just call me Lena.”

Lena can see the flash of surprise on the other woman’s face, but it is quickly replaced by another easy smile.

“Okay, Lena. I’m Kara.”

Lena nods. “Well, Kara, I should get going. Congratulations again on your win. Maybe I’ll see you around at some other races.”

“If you’re going to do the podium honors again, that’ll be more motivation for me to ride extra fast.”

Kara says this last bit with a laugh in her voice that makes Lena blush a little.

“Alright. You do that, but I really have to get back to work now. Bye, Kara.”

—

When Sam enters Lena’s office for a budget meeting a few days later, she finds Lena focused intensely on something on her laptop.

“Did you know that these so-called podium girls are almost all university graduates?”

Sam chuckles. “Are you looking for a side-gig?”

“What? No! I just mean, look at this woman, for example.” Lena turns her laptop toward Sam, the screen highlighting one of the blonde women usually tasked with handing over some stuffed animal to the race winner and giving them a kiss on the cheek. “This is Eve Tessmacher. She has two advanced degrees in biomedical science. She could easily work at L-Corp. Hell, she could probably even lead an entire department here, given her qualifications.”

“And?”

“And?! She spends her time following around the race circuit, smiling for the cameras in a dress that’s entirely too short to comfortably walk up the rickety stairs of those podium stages.”

Sam sits down opposite Lena at her desk and sighs.

“I see you put on your judgy pants this morning. What if they made a conscious decision to work at a women’s sports event? What if representing the race organization is important to them? And who knows, maybe traveling around the country and being a part of this is fun?”

“Fun?” Lena pulls up a few videos and turns the laptop back to Sam. “Does this look like fun to you?”

Together they watch a compilation of footage from various podium presentations. The common theme is the presence of handsy middle-aged men who seem to have made it their mission to make any woman involved with the race event uncomfortable, and the “podium girls” seem to be taking the brunt of it. 

Sam winces as she watches one of the women trying to maneuver her body out of the grasp of a particularly persistent man.

“Okay, fine. That looks…unpleasant. But I assume their presence is part of tradition.”

“Mmh. Maybe it’s time to end this particular tradition.”

That gets Sam’s attention.

“And how exactly do you plan to do that? I thought you wanted nothing to do with sports?”

“You did tell me to sponsor this race. And right now, L-Corp is only one of many corporate partners, but we could easily become the headline sponsor for this race series, and then we could encourage some changes. Not to the racing itself, of course. But those ceremonial parts could do with less of the misogynistic bullshit.”

“Does this sudden interest in who gets to kiss the race winner have anything to do with a certain blonde cyclist?”

“What? No. You…why would you even say that?”

“Because I have eyes and I saw how she looked at you when you played the hero and saved her from Morgan Edge.”

“You’re delusional. I don’t, it’s not about that. It’s about making sure these women get highlighted for their actual talents, not just to be eye candy for men with a bottomless Viagra prescription.”

Sam rolls her eyes. “I see what you’re doing. But if you want to explore what it would take for L-Corp to become the main sponsor, leave it with me.”

It takes a few weeks of meetings and contract negotiations, but in the end, Lena gets exactly what she wants. The L-Corp logo is prominently displayed on banners, posters and race leader jerseys. The media has run a few mostly positive stories about Lena’s newfound interest in women’s cycling, complete with a few soundbites from prominent cyclists who seem pleased with seeing some extra funding and attention for their sport.

During a break in the race calendar, Lena asks her assistant to set up a few meetings with the women working for the race organization. With Sam’s words about being too judgy still echoing in her mind, she wants to get a feel for how much of their job is simply about carrying over traditions from the men’s races and how much wiggle room there is for making changes.

In the first three meetings, the women Lena speaks with are polite and careful. Lena doesn’t get much of an answer to her questions, but she does get the distinct impression that the women would welcome a different approach to some of their duties but are too afraid to rock the boat. It’s only when she meets with Eve Tessmacher that she gets a pretty blunt assessment of the current state of affairs.

“So, Miss Tessmacher, what would you say you enjoy most about your role?”

“Oh, you know, we do get to travel around a lot and it’s nice to see different parts of the country. The quirky small towns are the best, usually, even if the accommodations can be challenging there.”

Lena nods. “And if you could change anything about your tasks with the race, what would that be?”

Eve cocks her head to the side a little and hesitates. Lena can sense that all she needs is one more firm nudge.

“I want you to be honest with me, Miss Tessmacher. If there is anything I can do to change your work environment for the better, I will do that. This is important to me. And I promise I won’t tell anyone what you share here.”

Eve blinks a few times but then nods.

“Truthfully, we would all like to see more respect. I mean, you saw what happened when Morgan Edge was at the medal presentation last month. That’s a constant occurrence. I understand that we need to invite local dignitaries when we pretty much hijack their town for a few days. It’s photo op stuff for them, we all get that. But that could be done in a much more respectful way.”

Lena nods and motions for Eve to continue.

“The outfits are a little much. I always feel like a flight attendant from the 1960s. It would be nice to have some leeway there.”

Lena nods again and jots down a few thoughts on a notepad.

“What’s your long-term goal?” she asks. “Career-wise, where do you want to be in five years?”

At that, Eve lets out a small giggle.

“Is this a job interview?”

Lena looks up from her notepad and raises an eyebrow. “Well, I do know that you have the education to work in R&D here at L-Corp, so if you want this to be an interview, I can make that happen.”

There’s a shocked expression on Eve’s face that is enough to make Lena backtrack slightly.

“Or we can set up an interview for you another time. To give you more time to prepare.”

“Really?” Eve asks, her voice pitched higher than before.

“Absolutely. When you leave here, talk to my assistant, Jess, to set something up.”

“Thank you so much, Miss Luthor. I have to admit, this is not what I was expecting when you called me in for a meeting today.”

“I’m trying to change things for the better, Miss Tessmacher. Both here at L-Corp and at the races, though my influence is a bit more limited there. But I do see that the women representing the race organization are generally overqualified for the task and I’d be more than happy to facilitate a move to other opportunities for those who want that.”

Eve nods but lets Lena continue: “I also want to change things for those who want to stay with the race. Make it more comfortable. No more handsy old men. Better pay. A safer work environment. I really appreciate your candor. You’ve given me exactly what I need to get started.”

From there, Lena gets to work. Her legal department helps draft language that makes it clear to anyone who is part of the podium celebrations that any inappropriate behaviour will result in immediate legal action. She re-assigns two of the podium girls to observe and enforce the new rules if necessary. Several others, including Eve Tessmacher, line up interviews for part-time positions at L-Corp that still allow them to participate in race events if they so choose, and she removes most of the existing stipulations around work attire. Finally, Lena highlights that in order to set clear boundaries, no one should be touching or kissing the winning racers beyond a congratulatory handshake.

It takes a few weeks for all the changes to be implemented, but the impact is immediate. The race series makes waves not just in the sports media, but bigger outlets start featuring the changes and run headlines like “L-Corp race series moves away from outdated traditions” and “Is women’s cycling finally stepping out of the shadows of men’s racing?”

Lena thinks the coverage is a little overblown but it’s still nice to see articles about L-Corp that don’t even reference her brother at all.

Over dinner one evening with Sam, she takes a sip of her wine and sighs.

“You know I don’t admit this very often, but you were right.”

“About?” Sam probes with a smirk on her face.

“You know what I’m talking about. The race sponsorship. The media coverage for L-Corp has been great, stocks are up, the board is pleased with it all. Thank you for pushing me to do it.”

“You’re welcome. But also, I really only said you should do a small sponsorship. You turned that into practically taking over the race series in order to impress Kara Danvers.”

“I did no such thing,” Lena huffs.

Sam simply smiles and clinks her glass against Lena’s. “Whatever you need to tell yourself to sleep at night. But you really should ask her out at some point.”

Thankfully, their waiter interrupts the conversation then, and Sam sticks to talking about Ruby and their weekend plans for the rest of their dinner.

—-

It’s a few weeks later when Lena finds herself back on stage next to Kara Danvers, handing her another bouquet of flowers and a medal for sprinting to an impressive win at a race around National City’s harbourfront. It’s a bit of deja vu, but Lena is happy to see that the overall atmosphere on stage is that of respect and professionalism for all involved.

When she hovers near the edge of the stage after the ceremony is over, Kara walks over to her with determined steps.

“I hear that it’s you we have to thank for the much more relaxed vibes at the medal presentations now?”

“All I did was establish compliance with current labour laws. I don’t want L-Corp to get pulled into a lawsuit over one of these groping incidents.”

Kara nods. “Ah. Well, even if you only did it to protect your company, I appreciate it. Thank you!”

“You’re welcome.”

“I do miss getting a kiss on the cheek for winning, though.”

And maybe it’s the glass of champagne Lena had while she was waiting for the medal presentation to start, or maybe it’s the heat or a combination of both, but suddenly she has no control over the words that tumble out of her mouth.

“I can provide the kiss if you’re amenable to that.”

The laugh that bubbles out of Kara’s chest is loud and bright when she says: "You know, if you wanted to be the one to kiss me exclusively, you could have just asked me out on a date. No need to go to all that extra trouble of making changes to the races." 

Lena blushes. “Okay. This is me asking.”

There’s a moment where Kara only blinks, and it’s obvious to Lena that for all her teasing and bravado, she clearly didn’t expect Lena to play along. She’s about to backpedal when Kara stands up a little taller, smiles and holds out her hand.

“Then let’s go. Let me show you how many carbs I need to eat to fuel top performances. And if you’re into it, I might even show you my tan lines later.” And then she winks. Again. 

All Lena can do is laugh and loop her arm through Kara’s. “Alright. Show me.”

[tobiasdrake]

I wonder, is it possible to look at the way Raditz, Nappa, and Vegeta fight (maybe Bardock's team, too, if you think Toriyama had enough involvement in those animated projects) to reconstruct any general principles of Saiyan martial arts training?

I talked a bit about Raditz and Nappa here as well as going into a particular Saiyan technique I find interesting here.

It is interesting to note that both Nappa and Vegeta are proficient in that technique to varying degrees, while Raditz is not. Raditz is completely basic as a fighter, having not even trained out his tail weakness when Nappa and Vegeta have.

Though it's not clear if this implies that the elites as a whole receive better instruction than the low-class Saiyans, or if Nappa's simply reaped the benefits of following Vegeta around more closely than Raditz, and doing whatever he does.

Though they do have some distinctive arts, such as the previously discussed remote detonation technique. That both Nappa and Vegeta are familiar with it implies a bit of standardization. In fact, Vegeta knows all the top-tier Saiyan arts.

He can even rattle off the science behind Oozaru transformations. He's kind of a nerd. That's an interesting note to keep in mind when thinking about his relationship to Bulma.

(He's also vain about his beauty, fun fact.)

Dude was putting off the Oozaru transformation because it's ugly so he didn't wanna.

By Vegeta's admission, the fake moon technique is one of the most advanced techniques in Saiyan martial arts. And. Uh. Yeah. Yeah, compressing the planet's atmosphere with a continuous ki sphere in order to create a finely tuned reflection of sunlight that produces a certain kind of radiation....

Yeah, that sounds complex as fuck. No wonder only nerds super-elites like Vegeta can do it.

The Oozaru is the primary mechanism by which Saiyans destroy worlds.

With that in mind, it makes sense that the ultimate and most complex Saiyan martial art is the ability to manually induce this transformation. The most devastating thing a Saiyan can ever do in a fistfight is find a way to become the Oozaru despite environmental limitations.

Their battle plan revolves so heavily around this transformation, they've even developed battle armor that stretches to accommodate the vast increase in size. Everything they do as hand-to-hand fighters is a fallback for when the Oozaru is not available.

As he notes above, Vegeta specifically chose a full-moon night to attack Earth on in order to let him and Nappa access their full power - Though Nappa died before the moon came out. And also Piccolo blew up the moon after Nappa and Raditz entered their spaceflight stasis sleep, so that was a non-starter.

Raditz wasn't intending to fight when he came to Earth; He was just here to pick up his brother and things spiraled out of hand from there. So he didn't have the luxury of the full moon or the technical skill to compress atmosphere and compensate.

What this means is that a large portion of Saiyan battle strategy has never really been depicted. The only properly trained Saiyan warrior in Oozaru state we've ever seen was Vegeta here.

And he's fighting a Goku who already burned out his body from a Kaio-ken x4 he couldn't contain, so the competition is next to zero. Goku lands some solid hits on Vegeta because... Well, he's Counter-Fighter Goku. He's the master at breaking down his foe and making the most of whatever he's got.

Motherfucker you've been on death's door for the last five minutes how dare

Goku is obnoxious to have to fight. Truly.

But because the only proper fight we ever with a fully-trained Oozaru is against the like 5% Goku has left in his tank, we never get to see the Oozaru properly tested. Whatever its full capabilities truly are, that remains known only to them and the races they've destroyed.

As for Bardock, Toriyama had little involvement beyond assisting with character design, as is typical of his involvement with the anime specials. Though it's interesting to note that he loved the Bardock special. Toriyama rarely even bothered to watch the anime of his own work, but he had high praise to sing of Bardock.

"I really like the story of Bardock, Goku’s father. It’s quite dramatic, and the kind of story 'I absolutely wouldn’t draw' if it were me. It was like watching a different kind of Dragon Ball in a good way, so I thought it was nice."

Bardock captivated Toriyama for being a take on Dragon Ball he, himself, wouldn't have been able to make. Which. Made it funny. Years later in Dragon Ball Minus. When he tried to make it. And arguably proved himself right. But I digress.

Toriyama liked Bardock so much, he even canonized the special for the manga.

Toriyama fucking loved this special. This rarely happened. The only other time a character created for the anime ended up appearing in the manga, it was to canonize the concept of the Kaios being a set of Four Heavenly Kings rather than the one guy.

Papaya is a fruit and fruits work for Frieza. What are you not telling us, South Kaio? I'm on to you.

And then, decades later, the bestest boy of Dragon Ball Super.

Love him so much.

[gojosatorailme]

I’m desperate for Nagumo from Sakamoto Days so might as well take the initiative and write a fic myself. I’m now taking over this hashtag, this man shall be KNOWN.

Lovesick

A blood tainted battlefield. This is the life you chose the moment you entered the JCC. It wasn’t going to be “sugar spice and everything nice” oh no, it was gonna be hell and you knew it. The longer time passes, the more comrades were bound to fall..bound to die. It was inevitable.

But that doesn’t stop the racing of your anxious heart when you saw them fight.

It doesn’t stop your heart from worrying about him.

Nagumo. 

Sakamoto, Akao, Nagumo, and you. The four of you were tasked to infiltrate an enemy from Thailand, the four actually meaning three.

You were only a first year, you tagged along as an observer. The three were the strongest in the assassin class, you wanted to experience their missions first hand.

Before the mission, you didn’t exactly know much about the three nor did you have a strong opinion on them.

“Taro Sakamoto. Strong.. does he talk??”

“Rion Akao. Totally a hot babe”

“Nagumo…. dunno?”

None of them caught your interest, you just wanted to see them fight and maybe steal a few signature moves for your own benefit.. with your own tweaks of course.

None of them caught your eye, besides him of course. Who the hell is he? I mean, he was attractive sure. He had big eyes, remotely long lashes, long shaggy-ish black hair and.. his tattoo’s. His tattoos were what got you, it was like he was a canvas. Works of art were painted throughout his entire body, it was beautiful. Not to mention his physique, he was so your type.

But he was just so mysterious? There wasn’t much about him that you could pin point, he wasn’t as readable. He’s smart and strong yeah but what goes on in his head you don’t get it? What even is his surname? Meaning to his tattoos? If he wants to fu- he was a mystery.

That’s why he was so captivating. His movements were smooth and quick, you barely saw it as he sliced open an enemies head. Then down another, and another, then eventually there was a pile of bodies that littered the floor accompanied by the reeking stench of blood.

You were supposed to only tag along for one mission, but after meeting Nagumo, you practically begged to tag along again. Then you became a permanent member of the team.

At first, you wanted to see what you can learn from them in order to be stronger. But now, it’s for him. You wanted an excuse to see him. It didn’t take you long to realize that this interests developed into a crush.

You couldn’t help it, the more you hung around him the more entranced you became. You wanted to believe he was using a sort of assassin technique to seduce you, maybe his dark eyes were the culprit? Everytime you gazed into them you couldn’t find yourself looking away.

He’s so silly, he’s pretty cool too. It was strange, you thought he was kinda weird but his laugh never fails to make your face feel warm. The room felt hot when he was there, at one point you wanted to escape.

At one point the feelings made you feel trapped, suffocated maybe. Seeing him made you anxious, you made a fool of yourself. Fumbling over your words and avoiding his gaze, he’s a smart guy so your sure he’s caught on by now. It got so bad you began throwing up in the morning worried you’d see him, what does he think of you?? Your stomach would always feel funny at the thought.

His laugh began to make you feel dizzy.

Why was he so cute?

It didn’t help that he smelled sooo good, a cold blooded assassin that smells GOOD? You don’t hear that everyday.

These feelings stop you from reaching your full potential as an assassin, even limiting you from your original powers.

Even now, as Nagumo is on the ground with a bloodied stomach, you can’t protect him. The others were in another building and it was only you two, being overcome with the tension, you messed up and he was forced to take the blow.

He could’ve easily taken on the enemy on his own, he was strong after all, but he had to save you. Why? You don’t know. You don’t even want to bother deluding yourself with the thought that he’d like you back.

The enemy was eventually killed but what do you do with a bloodied Nagumo? You don’t know either. He’s just laughing.

“It’s okay I’ll be fine in a bit, that guy was a small fry anyway!! He barely stabbed me no worries.”

Oh but you were worried. You were so worried, you felt disgusted about yourself, he was bleeding from the stomach and your getting butterflies from the mere thought of his hand touching your shoulder. Gross.

The butterflies remained as Akao and Sakamoto helped you carry Nagumo back to base where he can get proper treatment.

The butterflies remained when you got back to your dorm at the JCC.

The butterflies remained for a long time.

You cant possibly continue like this could you? your an assassin, a killer. That’s your purpose here, there’s no room for love.

with trembling legs, you walked to the infirmary where Nagumo layed.

His stomach was recovering quickly, the doctor said he’d be able to go on missions by next week.

“Hey y/n! ya here to visit me?”

He waited for your answer as you sat down near his bed side.

“You look pretty serious, something wrong?”

first, an apology.

“I’m sorry, I was weak so you had to save me. I’ll be better, thank you.”

and before he could answer, with a shaky sigh and eyes tightly shut you took in a deep breath.

“I love you.”

It came out as a whisper, barely audible. You were worried he didn’t hear you and you were dreading the thought. You seriously didn’t want to repeat it.

His expression was blank.

It scared you.

The atmosphere was choking you, you wanted to cry.

Noticing his expression, you took the hint and turned to leave. How silly right? You almost git the guy killed and you have the audacity to confess? hah!

“I know.”

You stopped in your tracks. He knows? He knows what?? That your stupid? That someone like him was out of your league? That you were weak and almost killed hi-

hm? whats this?

Your lips feel warm.

Oh. He was kissing you.

he was.. HE WAS WHAT?

you froze still, eyes wide. You were sure you looked like an idiot. Even after he pulled away and a small string of saliva was visible, even after he smiled at you. You couldn’t comprehend what was happening? The situation seemed foreign to you.

It wasn’t until you heard loud cackling that you snapped out of your trance.

“I love you too stup- y/n.”

[paigelts05]

More of the science team [FNAF Renegade AU]

https://www.deviantart.com/paigelts05/art/1217800285

Published: Jul 13, 2025

💊Nathan Douglas / Nightmare💊

Operator of Nightmare and Nightmare Fredbear

It's astonishing how far a mighty CEO can fall, but if to stay ahead in the company that hijacked his own, he needs to join the operation? Well, he'll just rise to the top.

Within the science department of Fazbear Entertainment and Afton Robotics operations, from a public facing perspective, he is second only to the lead scientist, Mary. However, Mary is not truly at the top either, as she reports to the true lead scientist, Adelaide Afton. In his rise to the top, Nathan had to make some ruthless choices. In oder to cope with the stress, his body created an alter called 'Nightmare'.

Nathan is Nightmare Fredbear's Operator, and he is the stressed out father, and disgraced CEO of a company that had been all but absorbed by Faz Ent. Meanwhile, Nightmare is the Operator of the animatronic simply known as 'Nightmare', and he is the ruthless man who feels the ends justify the means as long as he stays in the loop and puts food on the table.

Nightmare isn't cruel, just ruthless. The biggest thing he's really a threat to is Nathan's freezer space due to his habit of policing Nathan's grocery shopping habits, seeing the benefits in buying food to be frozen, prepared and cooked with leftovers to spare to freeze for another day over forking out for instant noodles and ready meals.

Their job involves researching whatever William and Adelaide need them to, operating their designated Nightmare Animatronics for the Digital Conscious Transfer tests, and developing new medications that Fazbear Entertainment can use. Two of Nathan's most notable medication inventions are the pick-me-up candies and put-me-down candies: a pair of medicated candies that were later rebranded into the sundrop and moondrop candies when development begun on the megaplex.

He was one of the few members of the science team who did not quit in the 90's after Bonibelle left. He had nowhere else to go, and with his access to resources being exponentially increased due to his tenure plus being one of the few scientists left at Fazbear Entertainment, he decided that he'd spend time plateauing the employee mortality rate by becoming an underground doctor for the lower level employees, with his quick thinking and skilful hands going on to save many lives.

🔬Chloe Douglas🔬

Chloe is not an operator, but she still has a very important job.

She runs the data from the Digital Conscious Transfer experiments, sorts out reports on the results, handles the MRI machine, handles getting patients hooked up to the test equipment, and is generally the person who keeps the tests running whilst the operators are busy handling their several ton remote control scrapheaps.

Outside of this workload, she's a bonafide expert in chemistry, biology, and physics, which made her aptly suited in aiding Nathan back when JOC Pharmaceuticals was still it's own company, and makes her aptly suited for everything in her new role with Fazbear Entertainment.

She's married to Nathan, but that doesn't influence how she treats him at work - he's just another operator that she needs to keep tabs on.

She was one of the few members of the science team who did not quit in the 90's after Bonibelle left. She also didn't really have anywhere to go, and it's not like the kind of funding she was given access to comes easy elsewhere. She was able to make a lot of the biohazardous creations of Fazbear Entertainment less hazardous, developed antidotes for certain common cases, and slipped in chemical failsafes here and there to prevent the worst case scenarios from occuring.

Whilst Nino, Jack, and Foxwell always had more emotionally charged reason for the methods of creating antidotes and counteracting the effects of faz-goo - an unstable combination of remnant and a second substance that could be anything from silly putty to candy - Chloe's motives for counteracting the effects of faz-goo were simply because she wanted to see what was possible.

When Fazbear Entertainment started working on a VR environment as a new testing landscape, she went in off her own volition in order to sate her curiosity regarding an interesting part of the childhoods of a child of a member od the Fazbear founding troupe: she wanted to try to understand how Davinia Muras was able to connect with other people when she though that people and robots are one and the same. The experiment performed in VR where Chloe took up the mantle of 'Vera' and created a digital child, code named 'B1', would be an unsuccessful one, as she created a digital entity who experienced the cosmic horror of knowing that they were part of a simulation and got their belief that they were a robot from that instead.

🕕Freidrich Andrews🕕

Operator of Nightmare Freddy.

His primary job is operating Nightmare Freddy and keeping both it and the Freddles in tact. Freidrich has four daughters, and each of them got to operate a Freddle, which was a genuine help in his research, as it allowed him to properly monitor the test subjects.

Prior to the introduction of the Nightmare Animatronics to the science department, Freidrich focused on studying fringe fields of science, including remnant, and it was this fringe research that got him hired by William in the first place.

One of his daughters, Cassidy Andrews, was killed by William in 1985. Due to a messed up sense of loyalty, neither Freidrich or his wife quit: they stayed. People go where they aren't supposed to go and get killed because of it: such is life. People get caught in the crossfire of things.

However, the betrayal did still sting. He and his daughters were more cautious, constantly watching their backs, constantly wondering if she was truly just caught up on a whim or if they were being targeted for something more specific.

After the Digital Conscious Transfer experiments concluded, he returned to his original research. He made significant progress into researching remnant, yet one of his newer colleagues irked him: Dr Talbert; the man was also a remnant researcher, and his daughter had recently passed away and he'd used his research into remnant to create a second robotic Renelle who was also his lab assistant. Dr Andrews did not get along with this man.

When Bonibelle raised the opportunity to leave Fazbear Entertainment, Freidrich took the chance and left to work as hematologist.

A few years later when Fazbear Entertainment begun releasing some stories to try and cover their tracks, Freidrich realised that they were mostly covering Dr Talbert's tracks. When he also realised that Fazbear Entertainment was trying to drag the name of his deceased daughter, Cassidy Andrews, through the mud, he was able to sue in order to get them to retract and re-edit those stories to replace mention of the young Miss Andrews to instead be about 'Andrew'.

Dr Andrews deems himself lucky that he never wound up being one of the Talbert's targets.

📚Mrs Andrews📚

Mrs Andrews is a teacher. She has not gone by her forename in years, as she claims that teachers like her have no need for a forename: the less her students knew about her, the less likely it was that they'd uncover her ulterior motives.

Whilst she is employed as a teacher, she is also employed by Fazbear Entertainment. She keeps an eye on the children of employees, and nudges the vulnerable into fields that Faz Ent needs, and pointing them to Fazbear Entertainment's booth at careers fairs. She knows which kids are orphans, and which ones will be orphans soon, and even suggests Fazbear's 'alternative education' to older students who she knows need to support themselves.

She's a real vulture of a woman.

When one of her daughters, Cassidy, was picked off during an MCI, she simply saw it as karma catching up to her. She'd been pushing other people's kids towards the organ grinder: it was only fair that one of her own would be taken too.

She continued her work with Fazbear Entertainment until 1993. She had seen many children mentally break down after losing one or more of their parents to Fazbear Entertainment, and after seeing Coppelia, the daughter of a guard who had recently died, in a completely inconsolable state, she realised that she couldn't do it anymore: the camels back had broken and this straw was too heavy when pilled upon years and years of straws.

She kept her teaching job, but didn't cooperate with Fazbear Entertainment. She stopped suggesting it as a career option, stopped suggesting Fazbear's alternative education, and in 1997, she cut ties with Fazbear Entertainment completely.

She kept on teaching. She was just glad that the other teachers from Fazbear Entertainment didn't care that she had quit Fazbear's. If she didn't cause trouble for them, and they wouldn't cause trouble for her.

[askagamedev]

I often hear gamedev cited as something that is tough to do with a remote team. Do you have any advice for doing remote development in a gamedev context?

Gamedev is tough to do in general, but it's generally more difficult to do in a remote setting because humans are accustomed to being social in a certain way. Online communications is often bottlenecked in ways we aren't immediately cognizant of. After working remotely for a few years, I've adopted certain specific counter-intuitive techniques in order to try to facilitate better understanding on the team. The best advice I can give for remote work is Default to Talking in Public. Instead of using DMs to speak to someone about work privately, post to the appropriate channel and tag the person you want to speak to - even if you end up only speaking to the other person during the conversation.

One of the benefits of working within the same space is that it's much easier to pull someone into your work space to ask questions or have an impromptu meeting. One would think that DMs are an easy analog to this, but it's actually more troublesome than that. Normally, what happens is that the major stakeholders begin the discussion, and then others that are more tangentially involved are pulled in near the end to handle things like creating, prioritizing, and assigning tasks to cover the needed new work. Adding someone to DMs with history is a little better, but it puts the newly added person on the spot with needing to catch up immediately. The real problem with this, however, is following up the impromptu meeting makes it even more difficult for people who weren't involved to catch up. They weren't in the original DM chain, which means the entire discussion needs to be repeated again.

We can improve this by making such discussions/questions public by default and tagging the people involved. This leaves a publicly viewable history and discussion, which latecomers can view to catch up on. This also has the added benefit of allowing other tangential devs to see and possibly chime in with caveats and gotchas the primary discussers might not be aware of. It also makes other team members see that work in this area is being done and those who are interested can also follow along. There's some initial reluctance to doing so, since it feels more like speaking in the public square instead of being private, but many of those "private" discussions in the office are often overheard by other stakeholders anyway, who will insert themselves into the discussion by bringing up things that the initial speakers weren't necessarily aware of. In general, defaulting to asking questions and discussing elements in public channels solves a lot of remote working issues just by making sure anyone who wants to know about something can know about it.

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[brookspayrolleor]

EOR Companies in India: Why Brookspayroll is Your Ideal Partner for Global Hiring

As global hiring continues to evolve, Employer of Record (EOR) services have become a game-changer for companies looking to expand into new markets without the burden of setting up a legal entity. For businesses targeting the fast-growing Indian talent pool, choosing the right EOR company in India is crucial.

Among the leading names in this space, Brookspayroll stands out as one of the most trusted and efficient EOR companies in India, offering comprehensive solutions that are both scalable and compliant.

What is an EOR and Why Do You Need One in India?

An Employer of Record (EOR) is a third-party organization that legally employs workers on your behalf. This means the EOR handles:

Employment contracts and onboarding

Local labor law compliance

Payroll and tax management

Statutory benefits and insurance

Termination and exit procedures

For companies expanding into India, using an EOR enables you to hire top talent without establishing a local entity. It’s faster, cost-effective, and reduces compliance risks.

Brookspayroll: Among the Top EOR Companies in India

Brookspayroll is a leading provider of EOR services in India, known for its accuracy, efficiency, and personalized HR support. Here's why companies worldwide trust Brookspayroll:

✅ 100% Legal Compliance

Brookspayroll ensures your hiring and HR operations fully comply with Indian labor laws, including PF, ESI, gratuity, income tax, and more.

✅ Fast and Flexible Hiring

Hire Indian employees in a matter of days. Brookspayroll provides ready-to-go infrastructure for fast onboarding — no red tape, no delays.

✅ Customized EOR Solutions

From full-time employees to remote workers and contractors, Brookspayroll tailors its EOR services based on your specific needs.

✅ Transparent Pricing

No hidden charges or unexpected fees. Brookspayroll offers clear and competitive pricing for all EOR services.

✅ Local Expertise + Global Standards

Brookspayroll combines deep local labor law expertise with global best practices, making it a perfect fit for international businesses.

Key Benefits of Partnering with Brookspayroll EOR Services in India

Hiring through Brookspayroll gives you:

🌐 Global Expansion Without Entity Setup

🧾 Simplified Payroll and Tax Filing

🛡️ Risk Mitigation and Legal Protection

🧑‍💼 HR and Benefits Administration

📈 Focus on Business, Not Bureaucracy

Whether you're a startup, mid-sized company, or enterprise, Brookspayroll’s EOR services in India streamline your hiring and ensure long-term stability.

Who Should Use EOR Services in India?

Brookspayroll's EOR services are ideal for:

International companies hiring Indian employees remotely

Startups testing the Indian market

Enterprises needing quick team scaling

Organizations without a registered business in India

By taking on the role of the legal employer, Brookspayroll allows you to operate compliantly and flexibly, while maintaining full control over your employees’ day-to-day work.

Industries Served by Brookspayroll

Brookspayroll serves a wide range of industries through its EOR platform:

IT and Software Development

Digital Marketing and Design

Finance and Consulting

E-commerce and Retail

Health and Wellness

Engineering and Manufacturing

Their tailored approach ensures sector-specific compliance and workforce strategies.

Why Brookspayroll is Among the Best EOR Companies in India

As one of the most reliable EOR companies in India, Brookspayroll offers:

✅ Local presence with national reach

✅ Expert team of HR, legal, and compliance professionals

✅ Advanced HR tech tools for seamless employee management

✅ 24/7 customer support

Brookspayroll doesn’t just handle employment — it empowers global businesses to scale efficiently in India.

Start Hiring in India Today with Brookspayroll

If you’re looking for a trusted partner to hire Indian talent quickly and compliantly, Brookspayroll is the go-to EOR company in India. Their end-to-end EOR solutions simplify the process of entering the Indian market while ensuring full compliance and transparency.

🔗 Contact Brookspayroll today to learn how we can support your global hiring goals!

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What Is Engagedly And How Can It Revolutionize Your Performance Management Strategy?

In today’s evolving work culture, annual evaluations and outdated feedback systems no longer meet the needs of dynamic teams. Modern businesses require agile, people-centric tools that promote real-time development, recognition, and alignment. That’s where Engagedly comes in—a forward-thinking performance management and employee engagement platform that helps organizations build a culture of accountability and growth.

This article breaks down everything you need to know about Engagedly: what it is, how it works, and why it’s a game-changer for companies that want to empower their people and drive results.

What Is Engagedly?

Engagedly is a comprehensive software platform designed to enhance employee performance, drive engagement, and support professional development. It replaces traditional review methods with a continuous performance model that prioritizes feedback, goal-setting, and recognition.

Engagedly enables leaders and HR teams to build strong, aligned teams that thrive in fast-paced, hybrid environments.

Why Choose Engagedly for Your Organization?

Organizations use Engagedly because it addresses common performance management challenges while providing a modern user experience.

Top Benefits of Engagedly:

Promotes continuous feedback and recognition

Streamlines goal tracking with OKRs and SMART goals

Simplifies 360-degree feedback and performance reviews

Offers integrated learning and development features

Enhances employee engagement through real-time insights

Engagedly makes it easier for managers and employees to stay aligned, accountable, and motivated.

Who Can Benefit Most from Engagedly?

While Engagedly serves companies of all sizes, it’s especially impactful for:

Medium to large enterprises with growing teams

Remote or hybrid organizations seeking better connection and alignment

HR teams looking to digitize outdated review systems

Managers who want to coach rather than just supervise

Its flexibility and scalability make it suitable for industries ranging from tech and finance to healthcare and education.

Key Features That Make Engagedly Stand Out

Let’s explore the platform’s most powerful tools and how they contribute to performance excellence.

1. Goal Setting and OKRs

Set, align, and track goals across departments with full visibility. Employees know exactly how their work contributes to broader business outcomes.

2. Continuous Feedback

Engagedly replaces one-off reviews with regular, real-time feedback loops that build trust and transparency.

3. 360-Degree Reviews

Gather input from peers, direct reports, and supervisors to create a balanced view of each employee’s performance.

4. Recognition and Social Engagement

Create a culture of appreciation with shout-outs, badges, and rewards that reinforce positive behavior.

5. Learning Management System (LMS)

Offer training programs directly within the platform to support skill development and career progression.

How Engagedly Improves Performance and Engagement

Beyond tracking goals and reviews, Engagedly creates a connected ecosystem where employees feel seen, supported, and valued.

Key Improvements Include:

Boosted employee morale and motivation

Clearer communication of expectations

Stronger manager-employee relationships

Better succession planning and talent development

Increased retention and reduced disengagement

By fostering a two-way performance culture, Engagedly helps organizations unlock the full potential of their people.

Real-World Success with Engagedly

Companies using Engagedly report improved goal alignment, faster performance cycles, and stronger engagement metrics. The platform’s intuitive interface and customizable modules make it easy for teams to adopt and use consistently.

Many organizations highlight how it helps transform performance reviews from a dreaded annual task into an ongoing, meaningful process.

Getting Started with Engagedly

Adopting Engagedly is straightforward:

Book a free demo to explore core features

Define your performance goals with Engagedly consultants

Customize modules to match your company’s culture

Train your managers and employees for smooth onboarding

Track results with built-in analytics and reporting

The platform is cloud-based, secure, and easily integrates with tools like Slack, Teams, and major HRIS systems.

You can also watch this video: Engagedly Review | Employee Performance Management Software

Summary: Why Engagedly Is the Future of Performance Management

Engagedly reimagines performance management for the modern workforce. With features that support real-time feedback, goal alignment, and continuous learning, it helps companies move beyond outdated review cycles and into a culture of empowerment and accountability.

Whether you’re leading a startup or scaling a large enterprise, Engagedly equips your team with the tools to stay engaged, aligned, and ready for the challenges of today’s workplace. It’s not just HR software—it’s a strategic platform to drive excellence.

FAQs:

1. What is Engagedly used for?

Engagedly is a performance management and employee engagement platform that helps organizations streamline goal-setting, feedback, reviews, recognition, and learning. It’s used to boost employee performance, alignment, and workplace culture through continuous improvement.

2. Is Engagedly suitable for small businesses?

Yes, while Engagedly is built for scalability, its modular structure and customizable pricing make it accessible for small to mid-sized businesses that want to upgrade from manual HR processes to digital-first performance systems.

3. How does Engagedly support performance reviews?

Engagedly offers a structured yet flexible performance review system. It includes 360-degree feedback, review templates, real-time check-ins, and performance analytics, allowing managers to deliver timely and relevant evaluations that actually drive growth.

4. Can Engagedly be customized to fit our company culture?

Absolutely. Engagedly’s modules, review templates, recognition programs, and branding can all be tailored to match your company’s goals, values, and culture. You can build a platform that reflects how your organization operates.

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Expense Reimbursement Policy Best Practices

Managing expenses is a critical aspect of any business, ensuring that employees are reimbursed promptly and accurately for business-related costs. However, without a clear and effective Expense Reimbursement Policy, businesses can face confusion, delays, and errors. This guide will walk you through the best practices for creating and enforcing an expense reimbursement policy that benefits both your employees and your company.

What is an Expense Reimbursement Policy?

An Expense Reimbursement Policy is a set of guidelines and rules that define how employees should submit requests for reimbursement of business-related expenses. These expenses could include travel, meals, office supplies, and other costs incurred while performing work duties. A well-documented policy ensures clarity, consistency, and fairness, while also protecting the company from fraudulent claims and ensuring compliance with tax laws.

How to Create the Best Expense Reimbursement Policy Creating an Expense Reimbursement Policy that is clear, practical, and tailored to your business can be straightforward when broken down into manageable steps. An effective policy streamlines processes and builds trust with your employees. Here’s how to create one that works for both your company and your team:

1. Identify Eligible Expenses:

Defining what qualifies for reimbursement is crucial to avoid ambiguity and ensure fairness. Common expense categories include:

Business Travel: Airfare, taxis, hotel stays, and mileage for business trips.

Office Supplies: Items such as computers, pens, paper, and other materials necessary for business operations.

Meals During Meetings or Business Trips: Expenses for meals while traveling for business or meeting with clients. You may want to specify if there’s a cap on meal expenses or if alcohol is reimbursable.

Professional Training or Development: Expenses for attending workshops, seminars, or online courses that are directly related to the employee’s role or business development.

Work-Related Bills: Internet or phone bills necessary for the performance of job-related tasks.

Home Office Expenses: In some cases, a portion of an employee’s rent or mortgage, utilities, or office equipment used for remote work may be reimbursable.

Being clear about what can be reimbursed helps avoid misunderstandings and ensures employees don’t waste time submitting claims that won’t be approved. 2. Set Spending Limits:

Establishing reasonable spending limits for each category will help keep costs under control and set expectations for your employees. For example:

Meals: You could set a daily meal allowance, such as $50 per day for meals during travel.

Travel: Set budget limits for hotels, flights, and car rentals to ensure employees understand the company's expectations for spending.

Clear spending limits ensure employees feel confident in submitting reasonable claims and help finance teams maintain control over budgets. 3. Establish Approval Workflows:

A defined approval process is crucial to ensuring claims are handled efficiently and consistently. Consider the following:

Who Reviews Claims: Designate a manager or finance team member to review the claims. Make it clear whether managers must approve expenses before they’re submitted to the finance team for final approval.

Approval Process: Outline the steps the expense claim will go through—this might include an initial review, approval by the direct manager, and final verification by finance. This structure helps avoid bottlenecks and delays.

A clear workflow improves accountability, reduces the chances of approval delays, and enhances the employee experience.

4. Clarify the Submission Process:

Ensure your employees know exactly how to submit their expense claims. A streamlined, simple process makes it easier for employees to follow the policy and get reimbursed on time.

Submission Method: Determine if expenses will be submitted through email, paper forms, or an expense management tool like Effortless. The latter can provide a user-friendly interface to ensure smooth submissions.

Required Documentation: Specify what documents employees need to submit with their claims, such as receipts, invoices, and explanations. Clear guidelines help avoid rejected claims and confusion.

A clear submission process ensures a faster approval timeline and a less frustrating experience for employees

5. Automate the Reimbursement Process:

Automating the reimbursement process is a game-changer for streamlining your policy. By using expense management software like Effortless, you can simplify the entire process, from submission to reimbursement:

Expense Tracking: Automation can track expenses in real time, making it easier for employees to submit and for managers to approve.

Faster Approvals: Automated tools can speed up the approval process by routing claims directly to the appropriate approvers based on preset workflows.

Instant Reimbursements: Once claims are approved, the system can trigger instant reimbursements, ensuring employees are paid back quickly and without delay.

Automation reduces human errors, improves efficiency, and allows both employees and finance teams to focus on more strategic tasks.

6. Specify Reimbursement Methods: Make sure employees understand how and when they will be reimbursed. This clarity ensures that they are not left wondering about their payments.

Reimbursement Methods: Reimbursement could be done through checks, direct deposit, or payroll adjustments. Direct deposit is often the most efficient method, but choose the one that works best for your company.

Reimbursement Timeline: Include a clear timeline for reimbursements—usually, within 14 days of approval. Setting expectations helps employees plan accordingly and builds trust in the process.

Consistent, timely reimbursement enhances employee satisfaction and keeps the process professional.

Example of Expense Reimbursement Policy

Here’s a practical example to give you a better idea of how an Expense Reimbursement Policy can look in your company:

ABC Company – Expense Reimbursement Policy

Purpose: This policy outlines the process for reimbursing employees for business-related expenses incurred while performing job duties.

Eligible Expenses for Reimbursement

To maintain transparency and avoid confusion, ABC Company defines the types of expenses eligible for reimbursement. These include:

Business Travel: Airfare, hotel accommodations, taxis, and mileage for business-related travel.

Meals: Meals with clients or colleagues during business trips or meetings. For instance, an employee may submit a lunch receipt for a business meeting to discuss potential partnerships.

Office Supplies: Work-related purchases such as pens, paper, laptops, and other essential tools.

Client Entertainment: Costs related to meals or events that help strengthen business relationships.

Professional Development: Expenses for job-related courses, certifications, and training programs.

Work-Related Bills: Costs for work-related internet or phone bills, and even a portion of home office expenses in certain cases.

Submission Requirements:

Employees must submit their expense reimbursement reports within 30 days of incurring the expense. Claims should include itemized receipts and a brief explanation of the expense’s purpose. These submissions can be made via the designated expense management tool or platform.

Approval Process:

All expense claims must be approved by the employee’s direct manager first, ensuring that the expenses are legitimate and within company policy. After manager approval, the finance department will review the claims for compliance with both internal policies and local tax regulations. The entire approval process should be completed within 5 business days.

Reimbursement Method:

Once approved, reimbursements will be processed via direct deposit to the employee’s bank account. Employees can expect their reimbursement within 14 business days from final approval. Notifications will be sent to employees once their reimbursements are completed.

Expenses Eligible for Business Reimbursement

Defining eligible expenses in your Expense Reimbursement Policy ensures clarity and consistency across the organization. It also helps avoid confusion and maintains compliance. Here are the most common types of expenses that qualify for reimbursement:

Travel Costs:

This includes airfare, taxi fares, hotel stays, mileage for personal car use on business trips, and parking fees. Ensure these expenses are reasonable and align with company policies. It's important to establish clear guidelines to prevent excessive or unnecessary claims.

Meals:

Meals during business meetings with clients or while traveling for work are eligible for reimbursement. You may set daily meal limits to keep costs within budget. It’s important to specify meal categories, such as lunch or dinner, and any caps on costs to avoid ambiguity.

Office Supplies:

Expenses like pens, paper, computers, and software required for work are reimbursable. For remote employees, home office supplies may also qualify. This helps ensure employees aren’t personally funding essential business tools for their roles.

Client Entertainment:

Costs for meals or events with clients to build business relationships, such as dinners or event tickets, are reimbursable, along with any business-related gifts. Set clear spending limits to maintain control over these types of expenses.

Remote Work Expenses:

Employees working remotely may be reimbursed for home office supplies, internet costs, phone bills, and a portion of utilities used for work. Be sure to clarify which items qualify and how reimbursements are calculated to avoid misunderstandings.

Effective Practices for Enforcing Expense Reimbursement Policy

To ensure that your Expense Reimbursement Policy is followed effectively, consider these best practices:

Set pre-approval requirements for high-cost expenses:

To manage larger or potentially unexpected expenses, implement a pre-approval process. High-value expenses, such as business trips or expensive equipment purchases, should be approved by a manager or finance team member before they are incurred. This ensures that the costs are justified, budgeted for, and aligned with company priorities.

Set up spending limits:

Set clear spending limits for different types of expenses (e.g., meals, travel, office supplies). By establishing reasonable caps, you help employees understand what is acceptable and reduce the likelihood of excessive claims. This also helps maintain control over your company's budget, ensuring reimbursements stay within defined financial boundaries.

Utilize automated expense management tools

Automating your expense management with expense management software like Effortless makes the process smoother for everyone. Employees can easily submit expenses, attach receipts, and categorize costs in real time. The software tracks spending and spots any issues to ensure everything is correct. It also integrates with your accounting system, giving finance teams a clear view of expenses and speeding up reimbursements.

Implement Submission Deadlines:

Set and communicate clear deadlines for submitting expense claims (e.g., within 30 days of incurring the expense). Enforcing these deadlines ensures that reimbursements are processed in a timely manner, helping your finance team stay on top of their workload and minimizing the chances of late submissions or forgotten expenses.

Regular Audits and Monitoring of expenses:

Conduct regular audits to monitor compliance with your policy. Periodically review expense claims to identify any patterns of misuse or non-compliance. Audits can help detect errors, flag unusual spending, and ensure that expenses are being processed according to policy. This ongoing monitoring reinforces the importance of following the policy.

Train Employees:

Training employees on the proper procedures for submitting expenses and understanding the company's reimbursement policy is essential. Clear communication about what’s reimbursable, the required documentation, and the approval process reduces the chance of errors and misunderstandings. Regular refresher training can also help maintain compliance as policies evolve.

Why is an Expense Reimbursement Policy Important for Your Company?

Having a well-designed Expense Reimbursement Policy is essential for your business, ensuring financial transparency, accountability, and fairness across the organization. This policy helps control costs by clearly defining what qualifies for reimbursement and setting spending limits, so you can manage business expenses without exceeding the budget. It also plays a critical role in maintaining tax compliance, ensuring that reimbursements adhere to local tax laws, and helping avoid potential audits or penalties.

A clear and fair expense policy builds trust with your employees. When they know their expenses will be reimbursed fairly and consistently, it boosts morale and strengthens their relationship with the company. It creates a positive, transparent workplace culture where everyone is on the same page.

Moreover, a strong policy helps minimize fraud. By specifying which expenses are reimbursable and establishing a formal approval process, the risk of fraudulent claims is greatly reduced. This makes managing business expenses much simpler and more secure.

In short, a well-implemented Expense Reimbursement Policy not only helps you stay compliant with tax laws but also builds trust with your employees, keeps your finances in check, and minimizes the risk of fraud. It’s a vital tool for any business that wants to operate smoothly and ethically.

Why Choose Effortless for Your Expense Reimbursement Policy?

Managing employee expenses can be time-consuming and prone to errors without a clear system in place. That’s where Effortless comes in. Our autonomous accounting software simplifies and streamlines your expense reimbursement policy, ensuring a smooth experience for both employees and finance teams.

With Effortless, you can automate and manage the entire expense reimbursement process, from tracking to reporting, saving time and reducing mistakes.

Key Benefits of Effortless for Expense Reimbursement:

Automated Expense Tracking: Real-time tracking and categorizing of expenses.

Customizable Policy Settings: Customize reimbursement policies to suit your business needs.

Streamlined Approval Workflow: Simplify approvals and ensure timely reimbursements.

Real-Time Insights: Detailed, up-to-date reports on spending.

Tally Integration: Seamless syncing of reimbursement data with Tally.

Effortless makes managing your expense reimbursement policy easy, efficient, and error-free. Take control of your expenses today with Effortless!

Try our 14-day free trial and see how simple managing expenses can be!

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🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 US Navy SEAL Operations Aboard Hidden Shelters on Submarines

The US Navy's Special Warfare Command, also known as the Navy SEALs, has been operating from hidden shelters on US Navy submarines since the 1980s. These shelters provide a secure and stealthy location for SEAL teams to conduct missions. The idea of using submarines for special operations dates back to the early days of the US Navy's Submarine Force, but it wasn't until the 1980s that the US Navy developed a specific type of shelter designed for SEAL operations.

The shelters are self-contained, with their own air supply, communication systems, and life support systems, and are equipped with specialized equipment such as mini-submarines and remotely operated vehicles. SEAL teams use these shelters to conduct various missions, including reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, and special operations missions.

The use of submarines as a platform for special operations provides several benefits, including stealth, security, and flexibility. Examples of successful missions conducted by SEAL teams from submarine-based shelters include reconnaissance missions in the Persian Gulf, capturing high-value targets in Afghanistan, and raiding enemy compounds in Somalia.