#Dead Phone Data Recovery

[digimobphonerepairs]

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[ask-post-ii17au-box]

bow PLEASE tell us the tail story

Sure I can like do that!

Soooo after I died I didn’t immediately get to purgatory mansion, the details are like pretty blurry and all I remember is just a bunch of various green flashes and error notifications :p.

I know that seems like really random to bring up but trust me, it’s integral to what I figured out.

Anyways after that I woke up in the mansion, there’s no records of it existing before I died soooo I think Mephone automatically subconsciously made it as a error handler to correct whatever I broke with how he revives people or something :p

After that I was utterly bored out of my mind because my phone was outta battery and I hadn’t found the charger yet soooo I got to experimenting with my new ghost powers.

I had like a few years alone sooooo I figured out exactly the loophole I had got through:

Basically with how I died with mephone specifically broken it left me unable to be recovered by conventional means, the Meeple systems automatically bugged out with no idea of what exactly to do with me so it made the mansion.

But considering that’s a stipulation like I figured out that if you die at any point while Mephone 4’s recovery app is offline you’re considered “permanently dead” by the system, glitch out and like end up at the mansion!

Now this has a few properties that could have helped save everyone if that ball thingy hadn’t been shut off before I got a chance to do it.

All we had to exactly do was get all the contestants to die before whatever was like deleting the contestants got to them with Mephone 4 turned off and the recovery app inactive.

They’d have been all sent to the mansion immune from being deleted.

From there I figured out we could like transfer their data into robot bodies aka another loophole with how their creation worked exactly essentially like rendering them immune from the effects of being deleted or whatever.

Unfortunately everything like got unplugged before I could get to Mephone soooooo it’s too late now :p.

I have no idea if they’re fully deleted or not since I’m not a genius I just had enough time to figure stuff out of boredom.

So yea sorry I don’t like have the magical method of bringing everyone back.

Anyways as for me still being in Apple I think since the ball thingy got unplugged while I was in her it like confused the systems enough that it just rendered her “a important system file that’s unable to be deleted” and moved on.

And to tie up that loose end her mind survived too not just her body sooo you can like technically add her to the survivor list I guess.

I can’t give her back control or leave her body for some reason though so she’s unable to talk and like do anything else apart from think, watch me do stuff and mentally talk to me.

Since I can hear her I can relay what she says soooo you guys like can also ask apple stuff!

[spoorthizoringa]

Why the Reverse Logistics Process is Reshaping the Supply Chain

When you click “Return” on an e-commerce order, it might feel like a small action. But for businesses, that single return triggers a series of complex operations that ripple through the entire supply chain. This behind-the-scenes flow—where products move from the customer back to the seller or manufacturer—is known as the reverse logistics process.

While forward logistics (producing, packaging, and shipping goods to customers) has been optimized over decades, reverse logistics is just now getting the spotlight it deserves. With rising return rates, increasing sustainability concerns, and customer demands for flexibility, companies can no longer afford to ignore what happens after delivery.

Understanding the Reverse Flow

Simply put, reverse logistics is the movement of goods in the opposite direction of traditional supply chains. It includes:

Product returns

Warranty recovery

Recycling of materials

Disposal of hazardous or obsolete goods

Refurbishment and resale

The reverse logistics process isn’t just about collecting what customers send back—it's about making smart, cost-effective, and environmentally conscious decisions about what to do with those goods next.

Why It Matters More Than Ever

The global supply chain has evolved. Customers expect fast deliveries—and equally fast, no-hassle returns. At the same time, businesses are under pressure to reduce waste and embrace circular practices.

Here’s why reverse logistics is now a game-changer:

Key Benefits of a Strong Reverse Logistics Strategy

1. 🌟 Better Customer Experience

A smooth return process builds trust and brand loyalty. When returns are easy, customers are more likely to buy again—even if they returned something the first time.

2. 💸 Cost Savings

Returned goods, when managed well, can be resold, refurbished, or reused. This reduces losses and cuts down on costs related to waste disposal or restocking inefficiencies.

3. 🌍 Environmental Responsibility

Companies that actively recycle or repurpose returned items help reduce landfill waste and conserve resources, making reverse logistics a vital part of any sustainability strategy.

4. 📦 Inventory Optimization

Returns don’t have to be dead stock. With real-time tracking and smart sorting, businesses can reintroduce products into inventory without major disruptions.

5. ⚖️ Regulatory Compliance

In industries like electronics or pharmaceuticals, proper return and disposal processes are mandatory. Reverse logistics ensures safe handling and legal compliance.

Common Challenges Businesses Face

Reverse logistics isn’t always easy. Here are a few roadblocks companies often deal with:

Lack of visibility: It’s harder to track returns than outbound shipments.

High operational costs: Without proper systems, reverse logistics can become expensive and unmanageable.

Fraud and abuse: Return fraud (like sending back used or incorrect items) adds risk.

Limited infrastructure: Many companies are still set up to handle only the forward flow of products.

These challenges can be solved with technology, data-driven strategies, and training. But it requires commitment—just like optimizing any other part of the business.

Real-World Examples of Reverse Logistics in Action

🛍️ Zara

Zara has built a closed-loop supply chain where returned clothes are sorted, reused, or recycled, helping reduce textile waste and align with eco-friendly values.

📱 Apple

Apple collects used devices through trade-in and recycling programs. Returned phones are refurbished and resold or taken apart for components.

🚚 Amazon

Amazon uses dedicated return centers and algorithms to determine whether a returned product should be restocked, resold, donated, or recycled.

These companies show that the reverse logistics process isn’t just about returns—it’s about creating long-term value from products that re-enter the supply chain.

Conclusion: Rethink the End of the Line

Reverse logistics was once considered a cost center—an afterthought. But in today’s consumer-driven and sustainability-focused world, it’s a strategic asset.

By designing better return policies, investing in smart technology, and viewing returned goods as opportunities instead of liabilities, companies can turn reverse logistics into a competitive advantage.

So the next time a customer hits “return,” don’t just think of it as a loss. Think of it as a second chance to deliver value.

🔍 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the reverse logistics process? It’s the set of steps businesses take to manage products that move from customers back to the company—for return, reuse, recycling, or disposal.

2. Why is reverse logistics important today? It supports sustainability, cuts costs, and improves customer satisfaction in a world where returns are more common than ever.

3. What types of businesses need reverse logistics? Retail, e-commerce, manufacturing, electronics, fashion, and healthcare industries all rely heavily on reverse logistics.

4. How can it reduce costs? By recovering value from returned goods—through resale, refurbishment, or reuse—businesses reduce waste and associated costs.

5. Can reverse logistics improve sustainability? Yes. It helps reduce landfill waste and promotes a circular economy by recycling and reusing products or materials.

6. What are the main challenges in reverse logistics? Tracking returns, handling them efficiently, preventing fraud, and managing costs are some key challenges.

7. Are there software tools for managing this process? Yes. Many ERP and logistics platforms now offer return management modules to streamline reverse operations.

8. How is reverse logistics different from traditional logistics? Traditional (forward) logistics focuses on delivering products. Reverse logistics focuses on receiving them back and managing their lifecycle post-sale.

9. Is reverse logistics only about product returns? No. It also includes repair, refurbishment, recycling, product recalls, and proper disposal of expired or damaged goods.

10. How does reverse logistics impact customer loyalty? A well-managed return experience builds trust and makes customers more likely to buy again, even if the first product didn’t work out.

[free-for-all-fics]

So… while working on IWTV prompts, the s3 teaser made me feral. So with the help of my bestie, @une-lueur-dans-la-nuit we wrote this prompt that ended up being so much fun for us that it became almost like a miniseries! There will be 2 parts after this! Special thanks to her for providing the French! Pls tag me if you’re inspired by any of this and I’d love to read it! 🎸❤️🩸

“No, that's how billionaire vampires do it. How does your average Jo Mo vampire keep people like you in line? Unspoken threats?”

“The threat is always there. He could kill us both now. But he doesn't. They are peaceful beings.”

“They drain and disappear us.”

“They have a biological imperative that is in conflict with human morality. But what is that morality other than rules agreed upon?”

“Thank you, Rashid. A romantic answer to your question. The average vampire has minimal contact with humanity. When exposed, they feed or run or kill themselves. And I'd say we're multi-millionaires. Not quite a billion.”

“How do you hide from the Cloud?”

“Your cell phones make you slaves to your fetishes and data retrieval is primarily about profits, so I suspect no one at Amazon is trying to sell us blenders.”

“You kill, nightly.”

“And sometimes you've watched that kill on the local news. You've never been easier to distract. You're at the height of willful ignorance. We exploit it. This is, was… Lestat's prophetic vision.”

“Lestat de Lioncourt?”

“Yes.”

“I really gotta meet this guy […] To hear Louis tell it... Lestat becoming a vampire was a horror show.”

“That may be. But he made a remarkable recovery shortly thereafter. How else could you explain his hand feeding the audience? How words came out like canaries, summer fruit in the dead of winter. They were all in love with him. He had that effect on everyone. He...”

“Was a natural?”

“Entirely unnatural. Using the Dark Gift for what? His vanity? It was heresy.”

~

Part 1: Orientation

It’s modern day. Ever since you and your older brother, Lestat, became famous rockstars while performing as The Vampire Lestat, formerly Satan’s Night Out, you’ve both been very active on socials. You’ve been around since the 18th century and it’s amazing what modern technology is capable of! You used to have to wait weeks or months for a reply to a letter or telegram, or sit or stand still for hours to have your portraits painted, but now messaging is instant and you can share photos and thoughts with people all over the world. You and Lestat are almost internet addicts with how often you post and interact online. If you’re not performing, rehearsing, writing music, or doing interviews, press junkets, or promo shoots, you’re tapping away on your phones or laptops, always posting. You’ve quickly risen in the ranks of social media influencers and have been trending for months. Together you and Lestat maintain a popular vlog on both Instagram and YouTube where you frequently post all kinds of videos ranging from Get Ready With Me, Ask Me Anything, or just daily life vlogs.

You’re currently on tour, but are in need of some new hires since your and Lestat’s last personal assistants unexpectedly…quit…or were…terminated. They weren’t up to the bar of meeting your and Lestat’s expectations and standards. Since Lestat has far less patience than you and can’t be bothered, he’s left it up to you to interview and screen potential candidates for the Personal Assistant position. Usually he’d have a say and you’d have to come to a mutual agreement before hiring anyone new, but he’s sat through this process multiple times and trusts you to single-handedly make this decision by now. That, and he just wants to dump the work, problems, and responsibilities he doesn’t want to deal with onto somebody else as quickly as possible. So the sooner you find someone, the better.

“Next!”

“Good evening, Miss Lioncourt. My name is Juliette—”

“Well, yes. We’ll get to all that. Sit down. Don’t just stand there, lurking in the doorway and making the place look untidy. What are you doing here?”

“Well, I think I could do a good job as your and your brother’s assistant.”

You read her mind. “You don’t listen to The Vampire Lestat?”

“Uh, no.”

“And before today, you had never heard of me nor my brother.”

“No.”

“And you have no style or sense of fashion.”

“Well, um, I think that depends on what you’re—”

“No, no. That wasn’t a question. A shame you were late.”

“I'm not late, though? I’m fifteen minutes early.”

“What do you mean fifteen minutes early? Did no one ever tell you fifteen minutes early is the new late? Have you had any experience before in this kind of position?”

“I already sent in my CV. All my information should be there.”

“You sent your CV through? You know, I don’t really remember you. Let me have a look. You look very different from your CV. Mmm. Well, your skills and experience are…adequate, I would say. But first thing you should know is that this job is not for the faint of heart. Lestat is incredibly fussy with his PAs. More so than I am. During our time on tour, we have had over sixty PAs come through our doors and, for one reason or another, Lestat or I just…didn’t get on with them. And no one really has ever been as good as… Well, you don’t need to know their name as it’s irrelevant, but Lestat had a favorite Personal Assistant a long, long time ago, and he hasn’t quite gotten over their leaving. Ah, Lestat est si nostalgique (Ah, Lestat is so nostalgic). They were his very most favorite assistant, so you have some mighty big shoes to fill. I hope you know that. Mhm. Well, it doesn’t really matter how well you do your job or how efficient you are. If Lestat or I don’t like you, you’re out. If you disappoint Lestat or I, you’re out. And if me telling you this makes you think I’m high maintenance or a piece of work, you won’t be able to survive in this position.”

Juliette has a feeling your use of the word ‘survive’ in this context isn’t just a figure of speech. She swallows down her nerves.

“I am the patron saint of mercy and patience compared to my brother, so if you have any doubts about your abilities, there’s the door. Otherwise…bonne chance.” (Good luck.)

“I’ll try my best-”

“Now, our concert tonight isn’t for another two hours or so, so we have a little bit of time to go over everything. Apart from us, you’d be working closely with Christine as well, so let me get this straight with you off the bat. You and Christine would have totally different jobs. She’s our lawyer and is in charge of Lestat and I’s schedule, our appointments, and our finances. She gets to go with us to Paris for Fashion Week in the fall, she gets to go to all the shows, meet all the designers, go to all the parties, it’s divine. Christine is also a vampire like us, so don’t think you can do what she can do because, trust me, you can’t. You, as a human, on the other hand, well…you get ‘coffee’ and run errands. ‘Coffee’ is code for blood, in case you hadn’t figured that out. Now, also remember you must pick up our band mates’ and guests’ coffee orders as well. Our guests could be designers, clients, musicians, models, photographers…. Anybody from the fashion, musical, or vampire world, and you are expected to learn everyone’s ‘coffee’ order. Remember, for vampires, ‘coffee’ is blood, and for humans like our band mates, it’s, well…regular coffee. Starbucks, Caribou, Dunkin’ Donuts, wherever you prefer. Now, this does change from time to time, I will admit. For instance, Zakk Wylde used to take his coffee black but now he’s um, not even drinking caffeine anymore, so you’ll just have to keep up-to-date with all our guests and their companions or assistants will tell you what they prefer that given day. We have an internal system of all the orders of the ‘coffees’ and the beverages that everybody drinks so you’re expected to learn that. Now, our internal system has everything, everything that you could possibly ever want to know. ‘Coffee’ orders, all our social media accounts, all our files, all of our system data, so I’ll get you set up on that now.”

You type away at the computer, pulling up the appropriate screen.

“So can I just take your full name? This’ll become part of your username. Okay. And what password would you like? You can change this, obviously. And your date of birth.”

When Juliette tells you her DOB, you do a double take. “Mon Dieu (my god), you look older. Okay. And your social media handles. Your Instagram first. Facebook? And Twitter? Any other social media accounts? Okay. Let’s see.” You click the ‘save new user’ and ‘apply new changes’ buttons. “All right, done. Can I take your number and then this will get pinged over to your phone? Okay. Should be through now.”

Juliette’s phone pings with a new email.

“Got it? Perfect. So those are your login details.”

“Thank you, I might have some qu—”

“Now, Lestat’s and I’s ‘coffee’ orders are incredibly important. We expect our ‘coffee’ to be on our desks precisely when we wake up in the evening. If the ‘coffee’ is late or if it doesn’t arrive for any reason, Lestat and I - especially Lestat - get very upset. One assistant actually missed our ‘coffee’ order because of some, I don’t know, bus crash downtown or something like that, some lame excuse, and…well, we drank him instead. Drained him dry. We don’t often share since most humans faint from just one of us feeding on them. Sharing a human and drinking as much as needed to feel full and satiated before the heart stops would mean certain death for them. With cell phones and social media, it’s getting harder and harder these days to make a human disappear. But it’s not impossible. Now, don’t look so scared! You won’t have to do this every night. Sometimes Lestat and I prefer to hunt for ourselves like in the old days for nostalgia’s sake. You’ll be notified in advance if we decide to hunt ourselves. But if not, it’s up to you to keep us fed, and Lestat and I tend to be very picky eaters. A fresh young girl, that is his favorite food. But the triumphant kill for a sadist like Lestat is always a young man. Young men appeal to him in particular. They represent the greatest loss to Lestat, because they stood on the threshold of the maximum possibility of life. For me, I don’t mind a young woman while she’s on her monthly cycle. It reminds me of who I used to be and what I once had. But I prefer…what do you call them in English? Ah, yes. DILFs or MILFs. Men or women who seem to be doing well in life. They have more ‘taste’, like aged wine. Lestat likes to take away young men from all their possibilities, while I like to take what I’ll never have as well: A menstrual cycle, a pregnancy, Getting old, settling down…”

“Did you and Lestat…feed on pregnant women and children?” Juliette asks hesitantly, as if afraid the question might be offensive to you.

“We used to. Not anymore though. We’d feed on infants too if blood was scarce and we were especially desperate. They were so small, there wasn’t much blood in their bodies to drink before their tiny hearts stopped. It may seem especially heinous, but in the 18th century when we became vampires, medicine wasn’t what it is now and the mortality rates in women and children were already very high even before the Revolution. People would notice if too many men died or disappeared as they held the most power and societal influence, but nobody would bat an eye if it was a woman or a child. They’d write it off as another stillborn or another unfortunate victim who succumbed to a tragic and fatal accident or whatever disease was most prevalent at the time. We were beggars and couldn’t afford to be choosers in those days. But now, like I said, we are much more particular. We don’t feed on animal blood and we don’t like cold blood from blood bags. Even if it’s been heated up in the microwave and poured in a glass, it’s not the same as when it’s warm and flowing directly from a still-beating heart. We’ll only feed on blood bags or animal blood if we absolutely have to - for example, if we’re seriously wounded from sun exposure or major loss of blood. If we cannot consume high-quality blood, we might as well drink blood from Florida. That being said, I am sure there is still decent blood to drink in Florida. But I would bring a test kit anyway. But if you value your job and your life, you’ll find us each a human volunteer to feed from, preferably ones that match our specifications.”

“And where—”

“Yes, our ‘vampire victim’ preferences and sleep and feeding schedule will be noted on the internal system so pay very close attention to it. Use Tinder or other dating apps to find matches, if you must. We don’t care what you have to do to make it happen, you’ll get us our goddamn blood. And then, once we’re done, we’ll have a car waiting for our human volunteers so they can be taken home to sleep it off. The vampire’s kiss can be like an opiate, but their blood sugar tends to drop and they get very woozy afterwards. We’ve been doing really well so far. Our kill percentage has been decreasing lately with only one or two upward spikes here and there. We’d like to keep that going.”

“That’s quite a reli—”

“You are also expected to update our social media. Every. Single. Day. The social media schedule is on the internal system and you must adhere to it. Like biblical. Lestat and I are in charge of and personally manage our personal social media accounts, so you won’t have to worry about those, but you will be in charge of managing our business accounts, including our official page for our band. And we get very upset when our assistants don’t post to social media or they forget to post to social media or it’s not right. And you cannot just upload anything just willy-nilly. Lestat and I approve every social media post, so if it hasn’t been approved by either Lestat or I, then don’t upload it. Now, when we go to Paris in the fall for Fashion Week, you’re expected to double the amount of social media posts that you will already post as a minimum.”

“But the time difference…”

“What do you mean about time differences? Well, you’re not expected to sleep whilst Fashion Week is on. Qui dort pendant la Fashion Week, franchement? (Who sleeps during Fashion Week, seriously?) You’ll have to figure it out. Our photographers will be sending you the pictures that they take from all the shows and all the couture and all of that and you’re expected, once Lestat or I have approved them, to be uploading and retweeting and regraming around the clock. You’re also expected to filter out any derogatory comments or any sort of foul language that is on the social media pages. Yes, it’s pretty intense. What, you don’t think you’ll be able to do it? You’re also expected to take pictures that represent us on a daily basis and put those up on the Cloud for Lestat and I’s approval before posting.”

“Will I be provided a camera for this?”

“Yes, you’ll be given a camera that’s state of the art, top of the range that you’ll be expected to use. As I’m sure you know, Lestat and I also have our own fashion magazine - Veins & Vanity. Yup. It’s a bestseller. Even more popular than Daniel Molloy’s trashy novel about us.”

“Who’s Daniel Molloy?”

“What do you mean? You don’t know who Daniel Molloy is? Have you been living under a rock? Pas très maline, celle-là. (Not very smart, this one.) I don’t have time to explain it right now, but— As the new personal assistant, you’ll eventually be in charge of dropping off the book each night to our apartment. But Lestat and I are very private and we don’t like strangers in our house, so until we both decide you’re not a total psycho, Christine gets the lovely task of waiting around for the book. Let me show you an example.” You flip through a thick, spiral-bound book. “This is the book for this month. As you can see, it’s a mock-up of the newest edition of our magazine. This is usually assembled at 10 or 10:30 in the evening and you must wait around for it until then. A car will take you straight to our house and you let yourself in and you do not talk to anyone. Do not look at anyone. This is of the utmost importance. You must be invisible. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“So you open the door and you walk across the way, you hang our dry cleaning in our closets across from the staircase and you leave the book on the table with flowers. Do NOT go upstairs for any reason. That is the coffin room where Lestat and I sleep and it’s strictly prohibited to humans. We do not like our sleep to be disturbed. We are very light sleepers so if you try, we will hear your footsteps squeaking on the hardwood floors before you even make it halfway up the stairs. And when we’re tired, we’re not so kind. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Good. You will quietly leave in the same car you arrive in. Then, in the morning, it will come back to you and be left on a desk - usually it’s Christine’s desk - and Lestat and I will leave notes, which are in blue and red sticky notes here. You will then drop it off at the Art Department where they can systematically go through Lestat’s and I’s notes and make changes. So, that is the book.”

You pause as realization dawns on you that Juliette has just been sitting there, listening to you but not typing or writing anything that you’ve said down.

“…Have you not been taking notes?” You rub your temples. “Oh my god, have I just been talking to myself this entire time?” You hold your hand up, stopping Juliette from attempting to explain herself. “No, don’t. I don’t care how good your memory is. Just…just…” You clench and unclench your fists in frustration, your nails digging into your palms.

Your cell phone rings.

“Look, let me take this phone call, you make notes, and…” You pick up the phone. “Y/N Lioncourt. Yes, hello, Christine. No. No, the Molloy interview is next week. …What time? Yes. I will let everybody know. Yes. Yes. Yes, take care, Christine. Salut, salut, salut.”

You hang up the phone.

“Okay. Something major has just happened. The Molloy interview, which was meant to be next week, has been moved to tonight at 2:30 after the concert. So people are panicking and my cell phone is going to be ringing off the hook. Les humains sont toujours si stressés.” (Humans are always so stressed out.)

You go into your recent calls and redial Christine’s number with a tap of your finger.

“Yes, Christine, me again. What time is the editor coming in? So we’ve got a little bit of time before the documentary crew arrives. Yes. Yes. Have you let Sophie know? Yes. And…yes. What about our jackets though? Lestat expressed he wanted to wear the chartreuse with the ostrich feathers… Oh, they’ve been dropped. Okay. That’s fine, I’ll make a note of that. Okay.”

You hang up but it isn’t even two minutes before your phone rings again.

“Y/N Lioncourt. Yes. I know, I know. Yes. Tonight 2:30. Yes. Yes. Can you remember to bring those belts as well? All right. Thank you.”

You hang up and focus your attention back on Juliette.

“Like I say, people are panicking. Now, you’re expected to note down everything that Lestat or I do and don’t like. Now, Lestat, if he likes it, he’ll nod his head once. If he nods twice, he really, really likes it. And if he shakes his head, he doesn’t like it, and if he purses his lips…disaster. I think there was only two records of a smile. And that was for Louis Vuitton way back in 1858 and Yves Saint Laurent in 1966. So you’ve got everything now? Well, there’s no time to explain anymore, this Molloy interview business is really…”

Your phone buzzes repeatedly, something that only happens if given an emergency call or alert.

“getting…out of hand… This isn’t good. Y/N Lioncourt. You’re joking. How long? Yes. I’ll let everyone know. Merde!”

Your fingers rapidly type a quick message to send out in a group text before you dial a number.

“This is not good. This is not good. Mia, it’s me. Lestat is coming in twenty minutes! Yes, I know he’s early! Can you let Sophie and the team know? Well, I can’t do it because I’m babysitting this new PA. Please, Mia. I’ll let you have my Prada bag. Thank you, Mia. Yes, salut.”

You hang up again and nearly jump out of your skin when you glance over and see Juliette still sitting in front of your desk.

“Oh my god, I totally forgot you were still here! That’s crazy. Yeah, sorry, babes. My peripheral vision is kind of selective. Like if my eyes get the vibe something is boring they just won’t tell my brain about it, you know what I mean? Yeah, that’s why I failed my driver’s test eight times. At a four way stop if the other drivers seem ugly, they’re basically invisible to me. All right. Lestat is coming in early, and he’s going to be here in twenty minutes, which means we need to get you ready because I can’t possibly let you in to see Lestat looking like that. Did you even look at yourself before you got dressed this morning? I don’t understand why you look like you rolled out of bed or something. Like you just said, ‘oh my god, I’m late, let me just go to work.’ Look, you can always be two minutes late in life. Nobody’s gonna tell you nothing if you’re two minutes late. You could put on a nicer top. It doesn’t take five years to find a nicer top and get out of your pajamas. I don’t know. Maybe it’s something like your culture. I’ve seen a lot of people on the streets just walking around in pajamas, going into the store to get something. So maybe it’s a cultural thing. Maybe the less attractive you look, the better your chance to find a mate or something? I don’t understand this dynamic, but I’m learning. Don’t worry, don’t worry. Calm, calm, calm. Les humains, vraiment tous pareils. (Humans, really all the same.) I’ll fix this. Right. What size are you?”

“Six.”

“Well, that will have to change if you want to continue working here. Four is the new six, you know. All right. I’ll see what I have available but… I can’t promise anything. What size shoe are you?” You get up from your desk and pace around before going into another room.

Juliette can hear you mumbling to yourself, “Everything is just everywhere! Danielle, have you got those, um, Prada pumps?” before you come back shortly with a pair of heels in your hand and a dress draped over your arm. “All right. This is all I could find in your size unfortunately. So I got you some nice heels here. They’re beige. They’re last season, but beggars can’t be choosers, right? Heels are a must. I don’t want to catch you in loafers or, god forbid, sneakers. So heels must be worn at all times.”

You lift a backpack and hold it up precariously by pinching your thumb and index finger together on the top loop, as if you don’t want to touch it at all. You look at Juliette. “What is this? Is this your bag? Oof. It’s hideous. Elle n’a donc vraiment aucun goût! (So she really doesn’t have any good taste!) Don’t let Lestat see you with that. Absolutely hideous. And I got you this Gucci dress. And…well, that’s all I could find for you.” You hand her the heels and dress. “Now, look, go and get changed.”

“Here?”

“Well, yes, here! We don’t have time for you to go wandering around the building.”

“But the walls are glass! Anyone could walk by and see me in my underwear!”

“Well, it doesn’t matter! We’ve had so many naked women and men in this office, more than an adult film sometimes. Now, come on, get on with it, I don't have time for this!”

Your phone rings again.

“Y/N Lioncourt. Yes, he’s coming in twenty minutes. Well, probably less than that now. Yes. You’ll need to send somebody out for ‘coffee’. Well, yes. This new PA is just a nightmare. You can get Jack to go? Yes, that’ll be great.”

You hang up again. You turn back to look at Juliette, now dressed in what you gave her.

“Are you done? Let me have a look. Well, that doesn’t go like that and let me just pull that down for you there. Seriously, do you even know how to dress yourself? That will do. It’s a little bit tight but…what about shoes? Good? All right. Let me have a look at your hair. Oh. We don’t have time for this. We really, really don’t. It looks like you’ve just stepped off the subway.”

“Well, yeah…”

“Why on earth did you take the subway? You can get a cab. Elle doit être tellement pauvre pour prendre le métro. (She has to be so poor if she is taking the subway.) Don’t worry. Let me just look at you. So, yeah, first priority is gonna be how you smell because I’m going to have to experience that the entire time I’m working on you and currently these are inhumane working conditions.”

“Do I really smell that bad?”

“Yeah, you smell like a gymnasium. Don’t worry, babes, we’ll take care of that. We’re gonna douse you in Cloud, everyone loves it. Yeah, it’s a universal favorite. It will make you smell like you’ve been in a bubble bath your entire life up until this very moment. I got enough Cloud to make a crowd scatter.” You spritz the perfume all around Juliette.

“Ouch!” She blinks and rubs at her eyes.

“I got it in your eyes? Close them. Oh my god, so much better already. Next up is your hair. Oh my gosh, I love your hair! Um, is it okay if I touch it?”

“Sure?”

“Cool, thanks. It’s so pretty. It’s so soft. It’s gorgeous. I like this color for you. It’s very nice, very good.”

“Thank—”

“But…uh…” You rub her hair between your pointer finger, middle finger, and thumb. “Oh, it’s very dry. Oh my god, it’s very dry! It’s not healthy at all! Can I tell you that? It’s not at all healthy. Do you use any product on it? Do you use anything to help it? Like some kind of oils or cream? Something?”

“Not really?”

“So like…what kind of products do you use on your hair usually?”

“Pantene.”

“Pantene? Babe, you might as well be using Nair. What the hell? It’s very straight. You must use a straightener like every day. Yeah. And yet it’s so frizzy somehow. I hate frizzy hair and yours is kind of hay-like. C’est comme de la paille. (It’s like straw.) Like a frail piece of straw that’ll break from a gust of wind. It’s not good. How many times do you try to straighten your hair? Okay, I’m just asking because the more I touch it the worse it gets. Look at it, it’s so thin. It’s so thin. I feel like if I touch it too much, it’s going to snap. It’s going to snap.” You curl a strand that falls out around your pointer fingers and pull. “It makes a sound too! It sounds like plastic. Look at that! It’s plastic.” You let it fall away and shake off your fingers. “It’s quite disgusting in my opinion. No offense.”

“But you just said—”

“I know what I said. I thought I liked it, but it doesn’t look very good up close. It’s like one of those abstract paintings. From afar, it makes sense and I can see the picture, but when I come close to it, it’s like…why don’t I understand where the paint strokes are going? I don’t understand this. What is happening here? Like from afar, it looks very nice, you look very good, very put together. But then when I come close, your hair looks like trash. And when I touch the texture of your hair, it feels like it will break. Lestat and I have curly hair too, so no hate towards curly hair, but this is…interesting. I don’t know…”

“Do you use anything on your hair to get it so curly?”

“No, ours is natural. Yeah. In our family a lot of us had blonde and/or curly hair and we didn’t dye it or perm it or use heat on it. Yeah, if you watch him closely, you’ll notice Lestat’s hair is like bleachy blond. It’s so light that sometimes it appears white under fluorescent lights. He takes after our mother, Gabrielle. Lestat and I’s hair is all natural and we don’t have to use anything on it. It just dries curly. That’s why it’s so healthy. Oui, nous avons de la chance. (Yes, we are so lucky.) That’s why Lestat’s grew past his shoulders and mine grew nearly to my butt by the time we were changed. We cut it and it just grows back the same way. Yeah. That’s why we have a lot of it. Lestat and I actually did each other’s hair today. Yeah, he did my hair for me so it’s like perfect today and I just don’t want anyone to touch it. But yours is like…very thin. So thin. And the amount of frizz and hair damage you have is ridiculous, even though you definitely don’t dye it or style it or anything whatsoever. So how you managed to get it looking this bad…honestly, an enigma. It’s really disturbing actually. Have you ever thought about dying it? Yeah, ‘cause the closer I look at the color of your hair, it’s very…off. Yeah, the… What do you call this color? Strawberry blonde?”

“Yes, it’s—”

“The strawberry blonde moment is just not doing it for you. I don’t like it. Again I use the analogy of the painting because, from afar, it looks good, but, up close, it looks like ramen noodles. I don’t know how to explain it. Do you know what I mean? Non, elle ne doit pas comprendre. (No, she can’t understand.) Like ramen noodles in the box and you put it in the hot water. And it’s yellow and hard. That’s what…yeah. I don’t know. I just think of you as more of a soft caramel color. Especially a little bit lighter at the ends I think would look really good later down the road. Well, for now, I think you have to just cut it all off. Just go short and start over. I feel like a lot of split ends are here. Yeah, you have a lot of split ends, oh my god. You’re full of them. Just take it all off and stop using heat on it. Just stop it all. Don’t do anything anymore to it. Just don’t touch it. Don’t touch it anymore. Do you ever go to a hairdresser to cut your hair?”

“Of c-”

“You know what? I’m gonna hook you up with my stylist, Celeste. Yeah, she’s amazing with hair. She does mine and Lestat’s and she’s just amazing. I think you’re gonna love it. I think just a little bit of layering because you’re very much all one length here. Yeah, that was like so…2005. Yeah, you gotta change it up a little. Put some layers in and I think it’s gonna look really good. Some nice face framing layers and, like I said, a nice caramel color. Like a chocolate at the top and, as it goes down, it gets lighter and lighter. We’ll go to Celeste and you don’t talk to her. Let me talk and I’ll tell her what to do because this is, in my opinion, unacceptable. I don’t understand why you wanna keep it this way. Elle est donc aveugle. (So she is blind.) Do you like it like that? Do you like it looking frizzy and breaking? Because if you like it like that, you just keep it, you know I don’t care. It’s really none of my business what you wanna do with your hair. It’s just not a good impression in my opinion.”

“No, no, I ca—”

“No offense, but it looks like you really don’t take care of yourself at all. It just gives a wrong impression like you don’t care about yourself and when you have that impression like, ‘I don’t care about myself’ and you go out like, ‘I don’t care about myself, so why should I care about other people.’ Do you understand? So I think this is something that you need to work on. Because I don’t like when people just look like they don’t really care about anything. Because it’s like, then why are you even here? Why are you here if you don’t care about anything at all? Do you know what I mean? If you don’t care, just go live on a mountain or something. Don’t come and live in society because there’s certain standards that we want and have to uphold. And this is not it. This is not it. You use your hair as a safety net but it’s not gonna save you from a bullet or a train, so it’s not really a safety net. So for today, I have the lovely challenge of making your chemically damaged hair look passable for Lestat. Yikes! I really don’t even know where to begin. Just kidding! Yes, I do! We’re gonna start with detangling spray. A nice spritz of this is gonna make all of those millions and billions of little tangles so much easier to manage. Close your eyes this time, okay? Perfect. I love this detangling spray so much. The tangles are working out like butter. Brush, brush, brush it all out. Brush, brush, brush it all out. The next step is gonna be this hair oil. Thick and full, Biotin and Collagen weightless oil mix. It’s got vitamin B7, Biotin, Collagen, hydrolyzed protein. All kinds of goods that your pathetic little strands have never seen in their lives. This is gonna make your hair look so silky and healthy instead of thirsty and tragic. Gonna work that through. As far as the style - Oh, god. What if we just like, grab a stand from either side and clip them together in the back? That can be pretty foolproof. I think I’ve got a clip over here. Yeah, this’ll be cute on you. Let me grab a strand from the right side of your face. Little bigger than that. Grab a strand from the left side of your face and then meet them together in the back, grab that clip and clip those together. Oh my gosh, so much better already, but still a ways to go. On progresse, on progresse. (We make progress, we make progress.) Then there’s your makeup. It’s not doing you any favors. Like really bland. Wait - are you even wearing any makeup?”

“No…”

“No?” You gasp. “Nothing at all? Oh, wow! Okay.” You interlace your fingers together in contemplation. “You’re actually pretty cute - in like a weird kind of way - like an armadillo! But yeah, cute. Okay. This has me rethinking everything. I thought we were starting from an entirely different place. If this is the blank slate we’re working with, there’s actually hope! We can get you to like a solid…6.5. I’m serious! But it’s gonna take hard work to get there. Blood, sweat, and tears, babe. But it’ll be worth it. I’m gonna pull out all my best tricks. Have you ever taken care of your skin? It looks just…dull…but I think I can bring it to life because, even though it is dull, it also has this perfection to it that not many have. This is good. This is good.”

You pat Juliette’s skin with cleansing pads.

“I’m going to use products from Lestat’s and I’s makeup brand. It’s called Bloodlust. I’m just trying to cover up some of the imperfections so that when I style you next time, I can have a better idea of what the final product is going to be. First we’re gonna moisturize you up nice and good because your skin texture is like asphalt. Let me grab a beauty blender. Hydrating your skin, giving it that gorgeous, gorgeous glow it desperately needs. Making sure that the foundation is gonna have a nice surface to stick to. Wow, your skin is seriously drinking this up, it’s so dry. Have you like, ever moisturized before in your life? You’re like a freak of nature. No offense. Les humains peuvent être des créatures si étranges de nos jours. (Humans can be such strange creatures nowadays.) ‘Kay. Now we’re gonna plop on the foundation with that same beauty blender. Just layering on more and more and more and more and more until we cannot see even a single pore of your actual skin anymore because it’s giving very much Nosferatu. And now, thanks to me, it’s giving very much Malibu! Let’s pick the perfect blush shade for you. Let me get a closer look at your skin, actually. Okay, so even with the foundation on, I can still tell that you’re working with a pretty warm undertone here. So we want something pretty and peachy rather than like a pastel pink. Got it! I know just the one! Blending that over your cheeks. Oh yeah, it’s bringing some life into your face in a big way. C’est pas encore ça, mais c’est déjà mieux!” (We’re not done yet, but it’s already better!)

You open your eyeshadow palette. “For your eyes we’re gonna do something kind of light because your eyes are actually one of your nicest features.”

“Thank you?”

“Yeah, so we want to highlight them, not hide them. Let’s take this nice bronze and just do like a nice subtle wash through the outer corner into the crease. Do you even know what eyeshadow is? Ridiculous. Just add a bit of depth and sparkle and let’s pick up a highlight color and dip that in your inner corners. And then a touch more sparkle in the middle. Now we’re getting somewhere. Next is the mascara. Just a little tip from me to you: Mascara is the most important step of makeup. I swear even if you don’t have time to do anything else, mascara is the one thing you cannot skip. Like if I was human and saw a bear lunging towards me, I’d take the time between then and my mauling to apply a fresh coat. If that gives you any idea of the importance. Never, ever, ever let me catch you outside of your house without mascara.”

“I don’t really—”

“Like even if you go to the gym, I want you to wear that because you can’t just like, be associated with me or my brother if you’re gonna look like you just rolled out of the trash, you know what I mean? The most important thing to remember about this job is that you must look impeccable at all times. Your hair, your makeup…flawless all the time. Lestat and I get very upset if we see people looking drab or unkempt or unmade up. So you must look good at all times. Just blink when I say. Wow, cute. Can you look up for me? Oh and, next time, we have to do something about your eyebrows ‘cause they’re just all over the place. Yeah they’re just a little bit too bushy for my tastes personally but if you like looking like an orangutan, that’s fine. It’s up to you. Oh yeah, I could totally bring you to my esthetician. Or I could just do them for you like I’m such a pro. When I was human, I did Lestat’s, I did my mother’s. I do it for my human band mates and friends. J’espère qu’elle ne croit pas que nous allons devenir amies.” (I hope she doesn’t believe we’ll become friends.)

You check your phone.

“Well. We’re out of time, so this is as good as it’s going to get. It’s showtime. Stay after the concert and I’ll introduce you to Lestat before the Molloy interview. Don’t worry, I won’t let him bite or kill you on your first day.”

Unseen, Juliette watches the entire show from the sidelines. Your set exceeds the usual 45 minutes or hour most concerts are, on account of you and Lestat deciding to play at least three encores. After the concert, Juliette is waiting for you in the hallway that connects the main stage with the backstage area. Finally you exit, your bass slung over your back and Lestat beside you, your human bandmates somewhere else, probably the bar. Your hair and makeup are still flawless since, as vampires, you don’t sweat. Having slipped out of the Prada heels for comfort’s sake, she had been casually leaning against the wall for the duration of the show since nobody would notice her in the dark. But she straightens up from her slouched position immediately, quickly slipping back into the heels and smoothing out her hair and the dress you loaned her before either you or Lestat can notice as you meet her offstage. Phew. That was close.

“Mr. Lioncourt,” Juliette says, using every muscle in her body to speak up with conviction and not shake or twitch from anxiety in his presence. Although you promised you’d protect her today, that protection may expire eventually. She knows that you and Lestat hate weakness, and she cannot show it in his or your presence if she hopes to keep this job.

“Yes? Can I help you?” With his arm slung around your shoulders lazily, he furrows his brow. Arching it questioningly, he barely makes eye contact with her and instead focuses his attention on you, as if waiting for an explanation as to why this human has been allowed backstage, is standing in front of him and you, and is addressing him.

“Well… I’m Juliette, your new assistant. Ms. Lioncourt hired me earlier this evening,” Juliette explains.

“You’re the new PA? You’ve got to be joking.” While keeping an eye on Juliette, he turns his head halfway to whisper in your ear, “Ma soeur, avons-nous eu si peu de candidats qu’il a fallu que tu choisisses celle-là?” (Sister, did we get so few of candidates that you had to pick this one?)

“I’m sorry if I’m not what you were expecting but… Mr. Lioncourt, I need to tell you that I absolutely love your yellow jacket. The bird feathers are a nice touch. Very stylish. Very you.”

“Are you colorblind? It’s not yellow, it’s chartreuse. And they’re not just bird feathers, they’re ostrich feathers.”

“Are they real?”

“Do you know anything about fashion?”

“I wouldn’t—” Juliette catches your warning glance. “Yes, of course I do.”

“Then you know that, of course, they’re real. I only wear clothes made out of genuine leather and fur because I’m all about being genuine in my music and my personal life and I want what I feel on the inside to reflect on the outside. Many animals had to die, but that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make if it’s for the noble cause of making me look this good.”

“Do you wear clothing made from endangered species too?”

“Sometimes. My sister and I both still have articles that were made from now extinct species too. But we were around long before those species ever became endangered or extinct. The failure of your kind to preserve and protect your environment is not our fault nor our problem. Enough chit chat. Onto the main issue: Let me have a look at you. Turn.”

Juliette turns in a circle very quickly.

“No. Slower.”

Juliette turns in a circle again, this time much slower than before.

Lestat scoffs in annoyance at her inability to follow clear directions. “Just stay still.” He leaves your side to walk in a circle around Juliette, looking her up and down with his hand on his chin, his fingers moving over his mouth occasionally. He doesn’t look away from her as he switches to French, once again talking about her as if she isn’t there. He clicks his tongue, as if tsk, tsk, tsking. “Vraiment, ma soeur? C’est tout ce que tu as trouvé? Elle ne sera jamais à la hauteur. Son visage passe encore, mais il va falloir qu’elle apprenne à s’habiller et se coiffer dignement.” (Really, sister? Is it all you have been able to find? She’ll never be good enough. Her face is okayish, but she will have to learn how to dress and do her hair with dignity.)

He switches back to English. “Well. Juliette, is it? I hope you know you are very lucky to get this position. Anyone would kill to be standing where you’re standing right now. We had over one hundred applicants for this position and, trust me, it was not easy whittling them down, I must say. If it were up to me, you wouldn’t be here. I always hire the same boy or girl…stylish, slender, of course…worships us and the band. But so often, they’ve turned out to be…I don’t know…disappointing and, um…stupid. So you, who probably has an impressive resume and made a big speech about your so-called work ethic… my sister must think you’ll be different. And since I left her in charge of hiring the new PA this time around, I guess I’ll just have to live with her decision.” Lestat then looks at you and waves you both off. "Vas-y, ma soeur. Prends le risque. Embauche la grosse intello.” (Go ahead, Sister. Take a chance. Hire the smart, fat girl.)

On the other side of the large and thick industrial double doors, you and Lestat, thanks to your super hearing, can hear Daniel and the documentary crew talking, clearly growing impatient.

“The car’s been on the lot for hours, man.”

“Hey, look, if you want, I can have somebody knock on the window.”

“I, uh…I think they…”

“What? What? You think what?”

“I think they’re entertaining somebody right now,” someone says, pointing out that he saw you and Lestat earlier, and Lestat had bite marks and hickeys on his chest while you had a new girl next to you.

“Do we have insurance for homicide?”

“You know what, we had three deaths on the Banger Sisters, don't worry about it.”

You and Lestat push open the doors and make your entrance.

“That's them. Jesus Christ, look at them,” Daniel says in awe.

You gesture with your arm for Juliette to not follow you and to instead wait on the sidelines with the rest of the human crew while you and Lestat walk to the matching black leather chairs waiting for you.

“Okay, let's go. Mr. and Ms. Lioncourt, hi. Mark Johnson. I'm the executive producer. We’ve talked on the phone a couple of times.”

“We're really excited about the...documentary...” Daniel trails off awkwardly.

You and Lestat leave Mark hanging, not making any attempt to shake his hand. You can smell that he didn’t properly wash his hands and instead just used hand sanitizer. Disgusting. Is basic hygiene really a lost art among humans? You stare at him blankly, as if bored already from listening to him speak.

“Je ne me souviens pas de lui, est-ce que tu te souviens de lui, ma soeur?” (I don't remember him. Do you remember him, Sister?)

“No. Usually I have a memory like a steel trap but we talk to so many people every day, and, clearly, this human didn’t leave much of an impression or impact. Comme la plupart d’entre eux malheureusement.” (Like the majority of them, unfortunately.)

“…Okay.” Mark awkwardly puts his arm back down.

“Hey, man. Thanks for the tickets last night. Great show,” Daniel praises. His deadpan voice leaves you unsure if he’s being sincere or sarcastic.

“You have 45 minutes and they’re gone.”

“Who the fuck are you?”

“This is Christine Claire, Mr. And Ms. Lioncourt's lawyer.”

“Hair and makeup now.”

“Hi, I'm Tami—”

“Hi, I’m Sarah—”

You and Lestat both look up and pull your heads back so their makeup brushes and hands don’t touch your faces or hair. Lestat’s hair is already giving Michael Hutchence, while yours is giving Patricia Morrison. And your makeup, like your outfits, is already on point. You don’t need assistance when you’ve already achieved perfection, thank you very much.

“Do we look like we need you?”

Both makeup artists pause for a second and then retreat.

“They’re completely booked. No. Don’t even talk to me about it again for the next two months. They’re both booked.”

Lestat looks to his right. His shoulders slump as he deeply exhales and irritably taps his fingers on the armrest of the chair. He smacks his lips. “…There's a goblet on the table.”

“You don't like the goblet? Can we get rid of the goblet, please?” Daniel asks the crew.

“C'est tellement kitsch," (It’s so tacky) you say so only Lestat will understand.

"C'est de mauvais goût,” (It’s bad taste) Lestat concours.

A crew member takes the goblet away. Now that that cheap Party City Halloween decoration is gone, you can get on with it.

“Thank you. We need to wire you both for sound, I hope you don't mind.”

You and Lestat shrug.

“So the camera we're gonna be using is called an Interrotron. I'll be sitting here. You'll see my face in the camera like, uh, like we're talking to each other, and you don't have to just stare into an empty camera lens,” Daniel explains.

You and Lestat allow yourselves to be mic’d, but when the humans invade your personal space to put the microphones on your clothes, your vampire hearing can detect the fluid, or lack thereof, coursing through their bodies. You don’t have a problem with the person assisting you, but Lestat recoils in disgust, crinkling his nose. “Your sound man is dehydrated.”

“We’ll, uh, okay, we'll get him some water. Get him some water please.”

“Je ne te savais pas si attentionné avec les humains, Lestat. Cela me rendrait presque jalouse.” (I didn’t know you were so considerate of humans, Lestat. It almost makes me jealous.)

“Tu sais bien qu’ils ne m’intéressent pas, ma soeur.” (You know very well that I don’t care about them, sister.)

“All right, let's fucking go, people.”

“43 minutes.“

“Shut her the fuck up,” Daniel grumbles.

“We’re rolling! Quiet on set!”

“Take one, take one. And…action! Okay, we're gonna start. Listen, could you state your names for the camera?”

You and Lestat look up from the two copies of Daniel’s book you were leafing through.

“Justin Bieber.”

“Kylie Jenner.”

You and Lestat close your copies of Daniel’s book and place them on your laps, tapping your fingers against the hardcover, subtly nodding your heads.

“I see you have my book there, what do you think of...” Daniel starts retching. “I'm sorry. Excuse me… Give me a second here.”

“Daniel, are you okay?”

With your pointer fingers arched up, you and Lestat listen to Daniel’s retching as if it’s music to your ears. That should be answer enough for him to know what you and Lestat think of his book. The retching and the voices of the crew become background noise.

“I am the Vampire Lestat.”

“I am the Vampire Y/N.”

“Why are we retching?”

“We’re immortal.”

“I'm not doing it. It’s them,” Christine whispers.

“More or less.”

More retching.

“The light of the sun.”

“Can somebody get a glass of water?”

“The sustained heat of an intense fire. These things might destroy us. But then again, they might not.”

~

Take two.

Your eyes flicker back and forth between the camera and Daniel in front of you and J. Feldman, the first cameraman standing off to the side with the crew. The rest of the human crew either don’t see what you see, or they do and they’re just pretending to be oblivious. To be fair, you didn’t notice it during the first take either. But now that you’ve seen it, you can't unsee it. Not wanting to make a scene, you try to ignore him, but you’re obviously distracted. Lestat is the first to pick up on it, and he discreetly looks in the direction where your eyes are flickering to, but he doesn’t see what you see. If he did, there’d be a bloodbath to mop up. You make eye contact with Daniel and try to focus on finishing answering his question. “But...let's just say we, uh...we-we did a lot of writing. This is just, um...really just, uh… It's so special to be in Santa Carla, California - The Murder Capital of the World - again! The lights, the music, the energy, the people - It’s easily been my favorite venue spot so far on any tour. It surpassed our concert in Death Valley for me, which, before now, I thought was an impossible feat. Hmm.” Fuck it, you think to yourself. Your team and Daniel will just have to be okay with doing yet another reshoot.

“Ma soeur, est-ce que tout va bien?” (Sister, is everything all right?)

“Uh, I'm sorry, Feldman, what the fuck is that?” You ask bluntly, your tone laced with a bite to it as you stand up from your seat and lock eyes with the first cameraman. Everyone around him steps to the side, creating space between themselves and him in case shit is about to hit the fan or something is about to go down.

“What?” He furrows his brows in confusion when he looks at you, like a deer caught in headlights. Too scared that you’ll pounce on him like a wolf and latch your fangs into his jugular if he fully looks away from you for even half a second, he frantically glances from the corners of his eyes at either side of him, and sees from his peripheral vision that everyone has put a great deal of distance between himself and you. They are looking at the two of you with fear and apprehension in their eyes.

“What do you mean ‘what?’ That shitstain of a tattoo on your forearm. What the fuck do you have written there? ‘Armand told the truth’?”

Hearing those words, Lestat jumps up from his seat before the cameraman can blink. Lestat agreed to this documentary because he took issue with his portrayal in the book and wanted to set the record straight. Not because he wanted to invalidate everything Louis said but because when he read Interview with the Vampire, he was like, ‘ARMAND SAID I DID WHAT???’ and was angrily ripping out pages from his copy. He was annoyed with Armand's version of him and not Louis's (though you’re sure he doesn't agree with everything Louis said either.) Now this poor cameraman has two angry vampires standing on either side of him. You in front of him, and Lestat behind him. Just as enraged as you, Lestat is seething, his pupils just as dilated as yours. You haven’t seen him this angry since an incident during your tour in Death Valley.

~

You and Lestat pulled up to the auditorium in your shiny Porsche, dressed to the nines and exuding an air of money and status, ready to perform, but the security guy wouldn’t let you through at the gate. And Lestat was getting furious. The guy was like, ‘sir, miss, I can’t find your names on the list,’ and Lestat was steaming red because his ego was bruised. He’s a legend. Everyone knows his name. Anywhere Lestat goes, people flock to him, asking for selfies and autographs. He should be on the goddamn list. And even if he isn’t, he should be allowed through anyway because he’s Lestat fucking de Lioncourt. He’s a vampire aristocrat and rockstar, nowhere is inaccessible to him. He was really mad and was like, ‘why do you need my name?!’ so finally the guy was like, ‘sir, how do you spell your name?’ And Lestat went, ‘F-a-m-o-u-s!’ and then just hit the gas, breaking the barricade. It turned out the security guard couldn’t find your names on the list due to a spelling error, and Lestat’s name was listed as ‘Lesander Lionsourd’ (Lionsourd meaning deaflion).

~

His anger now is that times a billion. He is ready to tear out J. Feldman’s throat or rip his arms off. You make eye contact with Lestat and subtly shake your head at him. If you were anybody else, he’d ignore you and just go ahead and decapitate the man. He lived by the motto of ‘don’t ask for permission, ask forgiveness later.’ But for you, and only for you, he’ll be patient. Not just because you’re his sister and he loves you, but because he understands that you signaling for him to wait doesn’t mean you’ll show mercy. You don’t want this man dead. Yet. You want answers first.

“Are you fucking kidding me? Do you think that because we were born French on our father’s side and Italian on our mother’s that we can’t read English? Who tattooed that on you?” You ask.

“Uh, Joel Emerson, I think.”

“You think? Where does he tattoo?”

“O-over at Inkspire in L.A.”

“Christine, get that tattoo shop on the phone. And if Joel’s not working today, find his personal cell phone and call that.”

Christine quickly Googles the shop and dials their phone number. She hands her phone to you while it’s ringing. You hold it to your ear while glaring daggers at the soon-to-be former first cameraman.

“Hello, is Joel working today? I’d like to talk to him. I don’t care that he’s with a client right now. Tell him to put his machine down and come to the phone. It’s urgent. This is Y/N Lioncourt. Yeah, I thought so. Thank you. Joel, why? You fucking asshole. How could you agree to tattoo that on someone? I don’t care. I don’t care about ‘consenting adult clients’ and ‘it’s their money and their body, so they can get whatever they want’. I’m going to police people’s bodies if they’re going to do stupid shit like this! Because this is offensive and unacceptable to Lestat and I! You have no fucking idea who Armand is or what he’s done. You and every other human on the planet don’t even know half of it. You weren’t there because you weren’t even fucking born, so you can’t know! You can’t even begin to comprehend what the 18th and subsequent centuries were like. He’s a fucking cult leader, for fuck’s sake. Did you know that? Have you tattooed anything else relating to Armand on anybody else? No? What about the other artists in your shop? No? Are you sure? You better not be lying to me because if I look on your and your coworkers’ Instagrams and see another tattoo showing love or support of Armand, whether it’s his face, his name, or any more of that ‘Armand was right, Armand told the truth’ bullshit, I will get our lawyers involved and they will eviscerate you in court and take your shop and your tattoo license from you. I will not hesitate to do the same with other tattoo artists and tattoo shops. And don’t think deleting posts will save your ass. The internet is forever and my lawyer will use the Wayback Machine or find some other way to dig up those photos even if you delete them. Understand? Good. You won’t be hearing from me, Lestat, or our legal team so long as there won’t be any further issues. Have a good rest of your day. Bye.” You give Christine her phone back and she’s already typing away, working on keeping tabs on Inkspire and any other tattoo shop in the state for damage control.

“Uh...”

“And you! You amateur fuck. You’re fired.”

“What?”

“You heard me. There’s obviously a conflict of interest here, so you can pack up your shit and go. I want you to leave.”

“The building?”

“No, not just the building. I want you to leave the state.”

“I can’t just move to a different state! My friends, my family, and my entire life is here!”

“That’s not my problem. You should’ve thought of that before permanently scarring your body with a steaming pile of shit. I hope, for your sake, you either get it lasered off or covered up with a better tattoo. Then maybe, just maybe, you can move back. I am being lenient by letting you off with a warning and letting you walk away with your life. If either I or Lestat see you again and that still isn’t gone or covered, then we won’t be. I’m going to chop your fucking arm off with Lestat’s tiny pocket axe. I’m the more merciful of the Lioncourts, so it’ll feel like a massage compared to what Lestat will do to you. Go. Now.”

He runs away crying with his tail between his legs, urine running down his pant legs. You and Lestat scrunch up your nose at the foul odor. Disgusting. He’s lucky he didn’t get any of it on your Chanel boots or Lestat’s Christian Louboutin’s. Although you can afford it, it’d be a shame to ruin such expensive and stylish designer outfits with blood, guts and sinew. While there are frantic calls for a cleanup and reset, you and Lestat storm off to your dressing room, uncaring that you’re leaving Daniel behind, unsure on what to do or if there’ll even be an interview tonight. You pace back and forth in there, trying to get your breathing back under control. Once your eyes return to normal, you text Juliette that she doesn’t need to worry about picking up dinner. You and Lestat will get it yourselves. You could use the air and will be back in an hour. Lestat and you send Christine a similar text, telling her you’ll still do the Molloy interview, but you’re going out to feed and won’t be back for an hour. You both need to cool off and blow off some steam by going on a hunt. You both need a fucking meal before going back in there to attempt the interview again. Now would be a good time for Daniel and the crew to break for lunch. In the meantime, she should find another cameraman to replace Feldman. You and Lestat change into more “casual” clothes that you don’t care about getting messy. “Casual” for you meaning “old” designer clothes from last season.

[artdcnaldson]

Just did an accidental factory reset on my phone and lost irreplaceable data….very important and some very precious personal things.. some computer guy told me that my phone model is most likely encrypted and I won’t be able to retrieve anything. Feel like I’m in a daze , I’ve lost stuff before but not like this, not the stuff that I had on my phone this time around, usually I can just move on but it was so bad this time. Literally 5+ years of stuff, thousands of pictures, videos, memos, data, nothing backed up, gone. It was stuff for my recovery, journals, screenshots of meaningful old conversations that I no longer have access to, It was future plans, it was art, stories, work, uni, archives, pictures of dead pets, long lost childhood photos, I’d gather things together into a folder of things to look at when I was depressed and it helped. My entire life was on that phone, I was very reliant on it and everything is gone. It’s like coming home to find your village has burnt to the ground

gonna kms.. 😭🔫

Gone go maniacally laugh and rock back and forth in the corner like crazy SpongeBob because if I don’t laugh I’m gonna eat someone 🫡😂🤪

God I’m so sorry!!! It might be expensive but maybe there’s a served that can break the encryption so you can get your content back? I know they do that for police cases and stuff so surely there’s someone who you can pay to help? It might be expensive, but it sounds like it would be worth it :(

[fixtopsmobiles]

What to Do When Your Samsung Phone Won’t Start

Nothing can be more frustrating than a Samsung phone that won’t turn on—especially when you’re relying on it for work, communication, or entertainment. Whether it’s a black screen, unresponsive buttons, or no charging indication, this guide walks you through practical steps to bring your Samsung device back to life. Powered by Fixtops AI, you can troubleshoot confidently—smarter, not harder.

Common Reasons a Samsung Phone Won’t Turn On Before diving into solutions, it’s important to understand why your Samsung phone may not be turning on:

(a)Battery depletion or faulty charger (b)Software crash or system freeze (c) Hardware failure (power button, motherboard, screen) (d) Water damage or overheating (e) Corrupt firmware or failed update

Step-by-Step: How to Fix a Samsung Phone That Won’t Turn On

Force Restart Your Samsung Device Sometimes your phone is actually on but stuck in a frozen state. ✅ Press and hold Power + Volume Down for at least 10–15 seconds. If successful, you’ll feel a vibration or see the Samsung logo appear.

Charge the Phone Properly A drained battery or faulty charger may be the culprit. ✅ Try a different charging cable and adapter. ✅ Let the phone charge undisturbed for 15–30 minutes. ✅ Look for the charging icon or LED indicator light.

💡 Fixtops Tip: Use Fixtops AI to scan your charging port health before replacing any hardware. Save time and avoid unnecessary repairs.

Check for Physical Damage Inspect the phone for any signs of: (a) Cracks on the screen (b) Water exposure (check the SIM tray for a red indicator) (c) Warped or bloated battery If found, skip to Fixtops expert assistance.

Boot into Safe Mode or Recovery Mode Sometimes, third-party apps or corrupted files can prevent your phone from starting normally.

To Boot into Recovery Mode: (a) Hold Power + Volume Up + Home/Bixby button (if available) until the Samsung logo appears. (b) Use volume keys to navigate to “Wipe Cache Partition” (don't select factory reset yet). (c) Press Power to confirm.

If successful, your phone may reboot normally.

Try Connecting to a PC or Samsung Smart Switch Connect your device to a PC using a USB cable. (a) If recognized, you may be able to back up or recover data. (b) Use Samsung Smart Switch to reinstall firmware or software updates.

Still Not Turning On? Connect with a Fixtops Expert If none of these steps worked, your Samsung device may need professional attention. Don’t guess—let Fixtops AI provide an instant diagnosis based on your phone's symptoms.

🔧 How Fixtops Helps You Fix Smarter, Not Harder ✔️ AI-powered troubleshooting ✔️ Real-time technician matching ✔️ At-home or in-store repair booking ✔️ Genuine parts, fast service ✔️ Transparent pricing—no surprises

🛠️ Click here @ www.fixtops.com to connect with a verified Fixtops technician now and bring your Samsung device back to life—without stress or guesswork.

FAQs Q: How do I know if my Samsung phone battery is dead? A: If the device doesn't vibrate, light up, or show any charging icon after 30 minutes on a known good charger, the battery might be drained or faulty.

Q: Can Fixtops fix water-damaged Samsung phones? A: Yes! Fixtops connects you to certified technicians trained in liquid-damage diagnostics and restoration.

Q: Will I lose my data if my phone won’t turn on? A: Not necessarily. Fixtops technicians can often recover data before performing any repairs or resets.

📌 Final Thoughts

When your Samsung phone won’t turn on, don’t panic. With smart, safe, and proven troubleshooting steps, you may be able to resolve the issue on your own. But if the problem persists, Fixtops is just a click away—with smart diagnostics, skilled technicians, and quick solutions.

#MobileRepairHelp #TechFixSolutions #DeviceRepairTips #PhoneRepairMadeEasy #FastPhoneFix #GetItFixed #SmartRepairSolutions #FixYourPhone #PhoneIssuesSolved #DeviceWontTurnOn #Fixtops

[arcthebreeder]

DMO: Digimon Military Operatives_45.TXT

I was short on food today, so I had to go grocery shopping after my morning classes, and of course something had to get on the way.

While I was walking back with, mind you, MY GROCERIES STILL ON ME, I saw a military mobilization approaching the facility used for the tech team to work, and of course, I had to stick around and see what would happen, after killing some time mindlessly staring at my phone while taking random peeks at the soldier crowd to see how close they were to my location, I finally got the chance to adjust the two digimon I would be using for this operation, Canoweissmon and Stiffilmon.

Once the armed soldiers started entering the facility, I approached one of them, and simulated a "casual encounter" while I was walking, making us bump into each other, thus, sending Canoweissmon and Stiffilmon into the soldier's phone, and began monitoring from there. Stiffilmon reported that the Soldier's partner was badly injured, it was an Etemon that was sleeping due to the bad state his body was in, Canoweissmon insisted on leaving a Recovery Chip for them, so I ultimately had to, but even tho I didn't wanted that digimon to die or something, I didn't thought helping the enemy was a good idea, but anyways, once everyone entered, Canoweissmon and Stiffilmon reported that the soldiers were there after a gathering mission to get more and more digital weapons, which, explains why that Etemon was so hurt, the soldiers came around to connect their phones to a healing station so they could skip the natural healing process of a Digimon which is... Actually a pretty smart thing to do, that's pretty clever from them, but anyways, once the phones were connected, Canoweissmon and Stiffilmon felt something that they described as "a fresh wind" of emotion and relaxation, so I guess they must've been affected by the effects of the healer too, which, was pretty useful honestly, seeing that we wouldn't be received with kindness if we got caught.

Canoweissmon carried Stiffilmon while they took a deeper dive into the healing program, which, led them to an unprotected PC that appears to only run the healing program and Digital Monster Window, or DigiWindow, a program that analyzes digimon. It's a pretty old program and it's not used anymore since us who breed digimon tend to have extended knowledge on the matter or equip our versions of Digimon Capture with built in analyzers, but everyone works at their pace I guess.

Once they got there, my digimon quickly realized that it was a dead end, they tried to kick back, but there was something else on that PC that made Stiffilmon want to investigate at least a little bit more, and she was ultimately right on having that extra bit of curiosity, apparently, upon further examination, DigiWindow doesn't just store the information of the Digimon it analyzes, it also stores the data of the phone that digimon came from, so with that in mind, we got to spy on the soldiers a little bit more, and we found that they're apparently... Pretty happy with their Digimon, I sincerely prepared myself to find gross acts committed by these people or poorly treated digimon but... They're having great times together and I feel like It's not really fair for me to take them away...

I don't really know how to feel about this but, I'll have plenty of time to evaluate that once I publish this. Getting back on track, none of the soldiers that came today had a high enough rank for me to make it a target, so I didn't get any new information, not much aside from the fact that this PC has the same Spiral problem as the other.

Not that much time before I ordered Canoweissmon and Stiffilmon to get back, they were attacked by Spirals, probably generated from the trash data that comes with every device to device transmission, it wasn't a hard fight at all, once again, time consuming, I got my Digimon back and called it a day.

The good side of things is that now I know that if my digimon get injured I can steal the code of their healing program almost at any time.

As of now, the only thing I need to initiate my attack against the military is all my digimon to evolve into their Ultimate forms so I can truly face the (maybe) Ragna Lordmon they may be preparing as a weapon. Tomorrow is my next tournament fight, and I hope that this, along with the fights against the spirals I've recently dealt with, help Canoweissmon and Stiffilmon evolve, Helloogarmon is one step further of them since he can Slide Evolve, but he should also try and reach his full potential, however, I can force them to evolve or something, that would only cause them pain... So I'll have to do it the old fashioned way!

[beardedmrbean]

The technologically savvy older brothers of a slain Texas college student handed over data extracted from social media accounts later used to secure convictions in the case. 

Zuhyr Hamza Kaleem, 22, was shot dead then buried in a premeditated killing by former classmates in 2019, prosecutors said.

Jose Varela, now 24, was sentenced last week to 45 years in prison in the death of 22-year-old Zuhyr Hamza Kaleem. Eric Aguilar, now 25, was sentenced to life in prison on capital murder charges last November. 

Austin Walker, also charged with capital murder in the case, pleaded guilty and is scheduled for a presentencing information hearing on Thursday, Harris County District Attorney's Office Community Outreach Coordinator John Donnelly told Fox News Digital.

A fourth man, Gannon Gotlieb, was charged with tampering after admitting to burying and burning Kaleem's body on his property in Grimes County, per the office; the status of that charge is unclear. 

Varela, Kaleem and Aguilar grew up in the same area near Houston, where Varela and Kaleem were classmates at Cypress Lakes High School near Houston. 

Kaleem agreed to meet at Varela's home in Katy to buy two pounds of marijuana on April 27, 2019, per court documents. After closing the garage door, Varela restrained Kaleem and Aguilar shot him, prosecutors said. 

"This was a premeditated murder that left a family questioning what happened to their loved one for more than a year," Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a statement. "With help from the victim’s family and great police work, we were able to get justice in this horrible case."

CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE FLAUNTS AI IN CREEPY 'FRAUD-FOR-HIRE' COMMERCIAL MEANT FOR DARK WEB

The recovery of Kaleem's body and the group's arrests, nearly a year to date from the murder, were achieved in part due to the investigative work of the victim's older brothers. 

Baffled by the Lone Star College student's disappearance, software engineer Umayr Kaleem, 31, told Fox News Digital that his family did not "have the option to just turn the other way and quit" when their brother and his car disappeared. 

"We're brothers. We've always been hardworking, ambitious – that's how our parents raised us," he said on Tuesday. 

Brothers Umayr and Uzair, a software engineer and mechanical engineer, respectively, learned from a close friend that Kaleem intended to buy marijuana the last day he was seen alive.

After he uncharacteristically failed to return their calls and texts, the brothers accessed his Snapchat account to see with whom he was last in contact. 

Valera, saved in their brother's phone as "Jose Cylakes Bayliss Long Hair" – referring to the high school that both attended – was the last person Kaleem had spoken with before his activity on the messaging app came to a halt. After reading a message that was no longer viewable, per court documents reviewed by Fox News Digital, Valera deleted Kaleem as a contact. 

AUSTIN POLICE ASK ROBBERY VICTIMS TO CALL 311 AMID STAFFING SHORTAGE, CRIME CRISIS

The brothers accessed Kaleem's phone contacts via his laptop, found Valera's phone number and began researching.

"From there, we started asking around, looking on Facebook, Googling him," Uzair, 27, told Fox. "We found a Facebook profile and it was clear that this was the last person Z talked to – we gave that information to police."

It was "pretty evident," Uzair said, that his brother's killers "tried going into Z's phone to wipe it completely," per notifications on the slain college student's MacBook. Although they "knew they were trying to do some weird s--- on their end," their family "wasn't going to let that happen."

The day after Kaleem vanished, his missing vehicle was observed crossing the border into Mexico from Hidalgo, Texas, per court documents. Almost 10 hours later, Varela crossed back into the United States on foot, police said. 

Call records obtained by police showed that Varela had communicated with Walker that day. Snapchat messages between the two pulled by police showed that Varela had asked Walker to bring him clean clothes. 

After his arrest on April 24 last year, Aguilar claimed that the gun went off accidentally after Kaleem pulled it out in an argument during the drug deal – but prosecutors argued that the killing and subsequent robbery had been planned over a period of weeks based on harvested text and call logs. 

Moreover, the brothers told Fox News Digital, Gotlieb testified that, as he buried the man's body, he noticed Kaleem sustained a bullet wound to his hand as though he had raised it in defense.

"These defendants thought they had gotten away with murder and had moved on with their lives, but they had not counted on the victim’s brothers and law enforcement relentlessly pursuing Kaleem’s whereabouts," Assistant District Attorney Tiffany Dupree said in a press release. "This family went an entire year, pining away, praying for their loved one to come home only to find that his remains had been burned because of some marijuana and a couple of hundred bucks."

Uzair and Umayr told Fox News Digital that Valera's sentence – 45 years in prison with parole eligibility in 2033 – "didn't make any sense whatsoever."

"I think everybody in that courtroom was absolutely shocked," Umayr said. "Even just the prosecutors, there were tears in their eyes. The family is horrified. This person pleaded guilty to premeditated murder. [But] he'll be... on parole less than 20 years from today. He'll be right back on the street."

In light of the "absurdly light" sentence, he said, it's "incredibly hard to be happy." 

"The worst prison in the world is a home full of pain – that's all there is, just pain," Umayr said. "We go to birthdays, we try to celebrate things as a family, but it's always awkward. It's been years but that awkwardness, that pain is still there."

Uzair told Fox that his brother intended to transfer to the University of Houston and study business. The courtroom in both Aguilar and Valera's trials, he said, was "packed" with his brother's friends and family. 

[a-captions-blog]

[Image descriptions: All the images are screenshots of text. Transcripts follow.

1. UnitedHealthcare CEO shot dead in New York by attacker who waited for him, police say. Brian Thompson, 50, was killed on his way into Hilton hotel for investors conference.

2. Text reads: Brian Thompson, 50, was shot outside the Hilton hotel at 1335 Avenue of the Americas just after 6.45am after arriving early for the company’s annual investor conference. A man wearing a mask approached him and fired at him repeatedly, police said.

3. UnitedHealthcare Tried to Deny Coverage to a Chronically Ill Patient. He Fought Back, Exposing the Insurer’s Inner workings.

4. On the 2021 phone call, which was recorded by the company, nurse Victoria Kavanaugh told her colleague that a doctor contracted by United to review the case had concluded that McNaughton’s treatment was “not medically necessary.” Her colleague, Dave Opperman, reacted to the news with a long laugh.

5. UnitedHealth Group is the fourth-largest public company in the US behind Walmart, Amazon and Apple.

5. United had flagged McNaughton’s case as a “high dollar account,” and the company was reviewing whether it needed to keep paying for the expensive cocktail of drugs crafted by a Mayo Clinic specialist that had brought McNaughton’s disease under control after he’d been through years of misery.

6. United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson Salary: $1,000,000 Stock awards: $6,00,585 Option awards: $2,00,126 Non-equity incentive plan compensation: $1,200,000 Other compensation: $21,187 Total: $10,221,989

7. As United reviewed McNaughton’s treatment, he and his family were often in the dark about what was happening or their rights. Meanwhile, United employees misrepresented critical findings and ignored warnings from doctors about the risks of altering McNaughton’s drug plan.

8. UnitedHealthcare is the worst insurance company for paying claims with about one-third of claims denied.

9. 3. Thompson’s wife has said that he had been receiving threats. In a phone call to NBC News, Paulette Thomspon said: “There had been some threats. Basically, I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him.”

Chart: Claim denial rates by insurance company. Kaiser Permanente: 7% Oscar: 12% Ambetter: 14% Industry average: 16% Blue Cross Blue Shield: 17% Cigna: 18% Molina: 19% Aetna: 20% Caresource: 20% Anthem: 23% Medica: 27% UnitedHealthcare: 32% Based on available in-network claim data for plans sold on the marketplace

10. UnitedHealth uses AI model with 90% error rate to deny care, lawsuit alleges

11. UnitedHealthcare, the largest health insurance company in the US, is allegedly using a deeply flawed AI algorithm to override doctors’ judgments and wrongfully deny critical health coverage to elderly patients. This has resulted in patients being kicked out of rehabilitation programs and care facilities far too early, forcing them to drain their life savings to obtain needed care that should be covered under their government-funded Medicare Advantage Plan.

12. Protestors say 11 arrested outside UnitedHealthcare HQ in Minnetonka. Critics have held a series of events highlighting what they describe as a pattern of improper coverage denials by the nation’s largest health insurer.

13. UnitedHealth pushed employees to follow an algorithm to cut off Medicare patients’ rehab care.

14. The nation’s largest health insurance company pressured its medical staff to cut off payments for seriously ill patients in lockstep with a computer algorithm’s calculation, denying rehabilitation care for older and disabled Americans as profits soared, a STAT investigation has found. UnitedHealth Group has repeatedly said its algorithm, which predicts how long patients will need to stay in rehab, is merely a guidepost for recoveries. But inside the company, managers dilevered a different message: that the algorithm was to be followed precisely so payment could be cut off by the date it predicted.

15. UnitedHealth forecasts 2025 profit largerly in line with estimates.

16. For 2025, the company sees revenue to be between $450 billion and $455 billion, compared with estimates of $431.40 billion.

17. The McNaughtons were well aware of the financial situation at United. They looked at publicly available financial results and annual reports. Last year, United reported a profit of $20.1 billion on revenues of $324.2 billion. When discussing the case with Penn State, Light said, she told university administrators that United could pay for a year of her son’s treatment using just minutes’ worth of profit.

18. According to Wallmine, Brian Thompson’s net worth was estimated to be $42.9 million at the time of his death. This figure includes more than 72.800 units of UnitedHealth Group stock, along with over 82,300 stock options he had sold, valued at over $21 million.

19. Bad Blood: Americans Have Little Sympathy for Murdered Health Insurance Exec. \End ID]

UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting (4 December 2024)

Sources: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

[fixphone02]

Fast & Affordable Smartphone Repair in Edmonton

Are you dealing with a cracked screen, a dying battery, or a water-damaged phone? Look no further! At Fix My Phone, we provide fast & affordable smartphone repair in Edmonton, along with expert repair services for tablets, laptops, and computers. Whether you’ve dropped your phone in water or your device simply won’t turn on, our skilled technicians are here to help.

📱 Fast & Affordable Smartphone Repair in Edmonton

In today’s digital world, being without your smartphone even for a day can feel like a nightmare. That’s why Fix My Phone focuses on delivering quick turnaround times without compromising on quality. We repair all major smartphone brands, including iPhone, Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, and more.

Common Smartphone Issues We Fix:

Cracked or shattered screen replacement

Battery replacement for fast-draining or dead batteries

Charging port repairs

Water damage repair and corrosion cleanup

Software issues and data recovery

Our goal is to ensure you walk out with a fully functional phone at a fraction of the cost of buying a new one.

💻 Expert Repairs for Tablets, Laptops & Computers

We don’t just fix phones! At Fix My Phone, we also provide comprehensive repair services for:

Tablets – iPads, Android tablets, and more

Laptops – including MacBooks, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Asus, etc.

Desktop Computers – hardware and software troubleshooting

From screen replacements to virus removal and internal component repair, we handle it all under one roof.

🔧 Screen Repair, Battery Replacement & Water Damage Repair

Our most requested services include:

Screen Repair: Cracked screen? We use high-quality parts to restore your display to like-new condition.

Battery Replacement: If your battery drains too fast or doesn't charge, we’ll replace it quickly and affordably.

Water Damage Repair: Spilled coffee or dropped your phone in water? Our water damage treatment includes cleaning and restoring internal components to prevent permanent damage.

🚀 Why Choose Fix My Phone?

✅ Same-Day Repairs ✅ Certified Technicians ✅ High-Quality Replacement Parts ✅ Affordable Pricing ✅ Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed

We pride ourselves on being one of the most trusted names for smartphone, tablets, laptop & computer repair in Edmonton. Our friendly staff is always ready to assist, and our transparent pricing means no hidden surprises.

📍 Visit Us Today

Located conveniently in Edmonton, Fix My Phone is your go-to destination for fast, reliable, and affordable device repair. Don’t let a broken device disrupt your life—bring it to us and we’ll fix it in no time.

[furtivelyboldfulcrum]

How FoneCare Ensures Safe and Secure Mobile Repair Services

When your phone stops working, you don’t just worry about the screen or battery—you worry about your data, your privacy, and whether you can really trust the people handling your device.

At FoneCare, we get it. We’re not only here to repair your phone but also here to ensure it’s done the right way: safely, securely, and with proper respect for your data.

Repairs You Can Trust

Most also find the prospect of surrendering their phone a little anxiety-inducing, and not without good reason. Personal stuff is in there—photos, passwords, messages—and you don’t want any old stranger rifling through it.

It’s why we support FoneCare as your trusted phone repair service. Our technicians are not just working on devices—they’re working with people. We train every member of our team to adhere to rigorous repair routines, and we ensure that no data is accessed without your consent.

If we need to reset or access something, we’ll verify with you, of course.

Your Data Is Off-Limits

One of the most important things we protect is your privacy. We follow a safe data repair policy, which means no one opens your gallery, social media, or any app unless it's required—and only after you give the okay.

For added peace of mind, we suggest customers back up their phones before repair. But even if the device is dead or locked, we use safe recovery methods that don’t compromise your data.

Original Parts, Honest Service

We don’t believe in shortcuts. Many shops might use cheap parts to lower prices—but that usually causes more problems later. At FoneCare, we use only original or high-quality spare parts, and we’ll always explain exactly what we’re replacing.

This focus on quality is part of what makes us a trusted phone repair shop in Kochi. We take care of your phone as if it were our own.

Fast, But Careful

Some repairs can be done in 30 minutes or less. But we never rush just to be quick. Your phone is too important for that.

We balance speed with safety. We’d rather take a little more time and return a fully working phone than hand it back half-fixed. That’s part of our promise to deliver a secure mobile service every time.

We Come to You, Too

Can’t make it to the shop? No problem. You can have your phone mended from home using our pickup and delivery option. Your device stays in safe hands from the moment it’s picked up to the moment it’s returned.

Final Words

Phones are personal. You want more than just a repair when something goes wrong; you want people who will take good care of your phone and your data.

That’s what FoneCare does. We value your time and want to be your honest source of help, expert repair, and peace of mind. So when you search for a reputable or trusted phone repair shop, you have a place to go.

[techsurgeon17]

Tech Surgeon – Trusted Phone & MacBook Repairs in Pukekohe and Papatoetoe

 Dealing with a cracked phone screen or a sluggish MacBook? Tech Surgeon is your go-to expert for phone repair in Pukekohe and specialist MacBook repair in Papatoetoe and Pukekohe. With fast turnaround times, expert diagnostics, and high-quality parts, we make device repairs simple and stress-free.

Fast & Affordable Phone Repair in Pukekohe

If you're looking for phone repair in Pukekohe, Tech Surgeon delivers top-notch service for all major brands—Apple, Samsung, Huawei, Oppo, and more. Whether it’s a broken screen, dead battery, or faulty charging port, our experienced technicians can fix it efficiently.

Our phone repair services include:

Screen replacement

Battery replacement

Charging port repair

Water damage treatment

Camera, speaker, and button repairs

We know how essential your phone is, and we’re committed to getting it back in your hands as quickly as possible—usually on the same day!

Reliable MacBook Repair in Papatoetoe

Experiencing MacBook issues? From power failures to keyboard problems, Tech Surgeon offers expert MacBook repair in Papatoetoe. Whether you’re a student, business professional, or creative user, we ensure your device performs at its best.

Common MacBook repairs we handle:

Screen replacement

Logic board repairs

Battery and charging issues

macOS/software troubleshooting

Keyboard and trackpad issues

Data recovery and backup solutions

We service all models—from MacBook Air to MacBook Pro—and use genuine or premium-quality parts to ensure lasting results.

MacBook Repair in Pukekohe

Pukekohe locals trust Tech Surgeon for quick and dependable MacBook repair in Pukekohe. You don’t have to send your device away or wait weeks for Apple Store appointments—our expert technicians provide professional care right here in your neighborhood.

With advanced tools, Apple-specific expertise, and competitive pricing, we provide a level of service that keeps our customers coming back.

Why Tech Surgeon?

Locally owned & operated

Highly skilled, experienced technicians

Transparent pricing with no hidden costs

Fast, reliable turnaround

Warranty on most repairs

Whether it’s a simple fix or a complex repair, we handle your device with care and precision.

📍 Visit Tech Surgeon Today Get premium phone repair in Pukekohe, expert MacBook repair in Papatoetoe, and reliable local service you can trust. We're here to help you stay connected and productive.

🔗 Google My Business Profile – Tech Surgeon, Pukekohe

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Location: Pukekohe, New Zealand

[ulinktechnologyinc]

What is a Hard Disk Health Test and Why Do You Need It? (The Simple "Why")

Imagine your computer's hard drive as the brain of your digital life. It's where everything is stored: your precious family photos, important work documents, your favorite games, operating system files – literally every piece of data that makes your computer, well, your computer.

Now, imagine that brain suddenly developing a serious illness without any warning. That's essentially what happens when a hard drive fails unexpectedly. All your data, gone. The computer won't even start. It's a digital disaster.

This is where a hard disk health test comes in.

So, What Exactly is a Hard Disk Health Test?

In simple terms, a hard disk health test is like a regular check-up for your computer's storage drive. Just like you might go to the doctor for a physical to ensure everything is working correctly, this test checks the internal well-being of your hard drive.

It uses special built-in technology within your hard drive (called S.M.A.R.T. – Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) and various software tools to:

Listen for "symptoms": It monitors things like how fast the drive spins up, how many errors it encounters when reading or writing data, and even its internal temperature.

Look for "warning signs": It identifies if parts of the drive are starting to wear out, if there are "bad sectors" (areas that can no longer reliably store data), or if there are any other physical issues developing.

Give you a "diagnosis": The test translates all this complex internal data into a simple "Good," "Caution," or "Bad" status, often with more detailed information if needed.

Why Do You Absolutely Need a Hard Disk Health Test? (The Simple "Why")

Now for the crucial part: Why do you need to bother with a hard disk health test? The answer boils down to one incredibly important thing: Preventing Data Loss.

Think of it this way:

Hard Drives Don't Last Forever (They Wear Out): Just like your car's engine or your phone's battery, hard drives have a lifespan. They are mechanical devices with moving parts (in the case of traditional HDDs) or components that degrade over time (in the case of SSDs). They will eventually fail.

They Give Warnings (Usually!): While a sudden, catastrophic failure can happen, most hard drives show signs of trouble long before they completely die. These signs might be subtle – your computer slowing down, files becoming corrupted, or strange noises from inside the case. A hard disk health test is designed to catch these subtle signs early.

Your Data is Irreplaceable (Often): Could you recreate all your family photos from the last five years? What about that important project report, or your financial records? For most of us, the data on our hard drive is priceless and unique. Losing it is a huge headache, if not a disaster.

It Gives You Time to Act: When a hard disk health test gives you a "Caution" warning, it's not saying your drive is dead yet. It's giving you a critical window of opportunity. This is your cue to:

Immediately back up all your important files.

Start looking for a new hard drive.

Avoid using the failing drive too much to reduce the risk of it completely giving up before you save your data.

Saves You Time, Money, and Stress: Imagine the hours (or days) spent trying to recover lost files, or the cost of professional data recovery services (which aren't cheap and aren't always successful). A simple, free hard disk health test performed regularly can save you all that hassle and expense.

The Bottom Line

A hard disk health test is a simple, proactive step that can save you from a world of digital pain. It's about empowering you to know the condition of your computer's most critical component, allowing you to take action before a small problem turns into an irreversible data loss nightmare. Don't wait for your digital "brain" to crash; give it a regular check-up and keep your memories and important work safe.

[fixtopsmobiles]

Top Steps to Fix a Phone That Won’t Power On

When your phone won’t turn on, panic sets in fast. Whether it’s an Android or iPhone, nothing is more frustrating than a black screen and a silent, unresponsive device. But before assuming the worst, it’s worth trying a few device troubleshooting steps that can often solve the problem without professional repair.

This guide by Fixtops will walk you through smart, simple solutions to fix a phone that refuses to power up—and help you determine when it’s time to seek expert support.

Device Troubleshooting Step 1: Check the Power Source Start with the basics: (i)Plug in your phone using a working charger and USB cable. (ii)Let it charge for at least 15–30 minutes, even if there’s no immediate sign of life. (iii)Make sure the charging port is clean and free from dust or lint. (iv)Test with a different power outlet or adapter to rule out charging accessories.

This simple device troubleshooting step can often resolve power issues caused by a dead battery or faulty charger.

Device Troubleshooting Step 2: Perform a Force Restart Sometimes the phone appears to be dead but is actually frozen. A force restart can revive the screen.

For iPhone: (i) Press and release Volume Up (ii)Press and release Volume Down (iii)Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears

For Android: (i) Hold Power + Volume Down buttons together for about 10–20 seconds (ii)Release when you feel a vibration or see a logo (iii)If the screen comes on, great—problem solved! If not, continue with deeper device troubleshooting.

Device Troubleshooting Step 3: Inspect for Physical Damage Check the device carefully: (i) Any signs of water damage, cracks, or recent drops? (ii)Was the device exposed to moisture or heat? (iii) Use a flashlight to examine the charging port and buttons

Physical damage can interfere with boot-up and may require expert evaluation through Fixtops’ certified technicians.

Device Troubleshooting Step 4: Try a Computer Connection Connect your device to a computer to see if it’s recognized: (i) If iTunes (for iPhone) or Android File Transfer (for Android) detects it, your device may still be functioning internally (ii)If recognized, back up your files immediately

Fixtops recommends this step before attempting resets, especially if your data is not backed up.

Device Troubleshooting Step 5: Use Recovery or Safe Mode If your phone turns on but won’t boot correctly:

iPhone Recovery Mode: (I) Connect your iPhone to a computer (ii) Open iTunes or Finder (iii) Perform a force restart until the recovery mode screen appears

Android Safe Mode: (i) Press and hold the Power button (ii)Tap and hold Power off on-screen (iii)Select OK to boot into Safe Mode

These advanced device troubleshooting modes can help you identify whether software or apps are causing the issue.

Still Not Turning On? Let Fixtops Diagnose the Problem When you’ve tried everything and your phone still won’t power up, Fixtops AI offers instant help. Our AI-powered device troubleshooting assistant can:

Diagnose your phone based on symptoms (i) Suggest personalized solutions (ii)Connect you with nearby verified technicians (iiii) Save you time and money by avoiding guesswork

🔧 Click here @ www.fixtops.com to run a quick device diagnostic with Fixtops AI.

Conclusion: Trust Fixtops for Smart Device Troubleshooting Not all power issues require a replacement. With the right steps—and the help of Fixtops—you can often revive your phone quickly and safely. Whether you're dealing with a software glitch or deeper hardware failure, Fixtops simplifies device troubleshooting so you can get back to what matters.

#HowToFix #TechHacks #GadgetHelp #PhoneHelp #TechSolutions #PhoneNotTurningOn #PhoneRepair #FixYourPhone #MobileRepair #DeviceTroubleshooting #TechTips #PhoneFixGuide #DIYPhoneFix #FixItYourself #TechSupport

[amproductreview]

Garmin Forerunner 265 Review: A Runner’s Dream With Brains, Beauty, and Battery to Match

Let’s be real: smartwatches are everywhere these days. But finding one that nails both serious training tools and stylish good looks? That’s a tougher ask. Enter the Garmin Forerunner 265 — a sleek, fitness-focused wearable that might just be the sweet spot for runners and data nerds alike.

I’ve spent weeks running, sweating, and even sleeping with this thing — and honestly? It’s one of Garmin’s most well-rounded smartwatches to date. Here’s why.

🔹 Design & Display: Sleek, Sharp, and Surprisingly Comfortable

First things first: that display. The 1.3″ AMOLED screen is gorgeous. Super bright, colors pop, and it stays readable even under harsh sunlight (which, if you run at noon like me sometimes — bad idea, by the way — is a huge plus).

Better yet, Garmin kept the physical buttons. So even if your hands are sweaty, wet, or in gloves, you’re still in control. Touch + tactile? Best of both worlds.

It’s light on the wrist too, and with color options like Aqua and Whitestone, it doesn’t scream “gym nerd” when you’re out grabbing coffee.

Pro tip: You can toggle the AMOLED between always-on or gesture-activated to save battery without sacrificing style.

⚙️ Built for Runners, Not Just Step Counters

This isn’t your average “count my steps and tell me to breathe” fitness watch. The Forerunner 265 packs some seriously powerful tools that cater to everyone from casual joggers to race-day veterans.

Here’s what stood out to me:

Training Readiness & Morning Report: Wake up, and boom — you know your sleep score, HRV, recovery status, and whether today’s the day to crush it or just stretch.

Daily Adaptive Workouts: Your workouts literally evolve based on your fitness level, race dates, and how hard you’ve been training. It’s like having a coach in your pocket (or, well, on your wrist).

Multi-Band GNSS + SatIQ: Translation? Crazy-accurate GPS, even if you’re running downtown surrounded by buildings or on dense trails. I tested it in both — it was spot-on.

8GB Music Storage: Sync Spotify playlists, leave your phone at home. Easy. Well… setup’s a bit clunky at first, but once it’s in, it works fine.

Advanced Running Metrics: Cadence, stride length, running power, VO₂ Max — it’s all here, without needing extra gear.

Waterproof (5ATM): Swim, rain, sweat — this thing handles it all.

🔋Battery Life: Surprisingly Solid for an AMOLED Screen

This is where Garmin flexes on the competition. Despite the vibrant display, battery life holds strong:

Up to 13 days in standard smartwatch mode

Around 20 hours with GPS active

7–8 days with Always-On Display enabled

Unless you’re ultra-marathoning back-to-back, you’ll get through your week with no stress.

📲 Smart Features: Just Enough, Without the Overload

You won’t be installing TikTok or checking Uber Eats on this thing — and that’s kind of the point. The Forerunner 265 keeps things focused, but still gives you the essentials:

Text and call notifications

Garmin Pay for contactless coffee runs

Safety tools like incident detection and LiveTrack

Deep integration with the Garmin Connect app (which is powerful but, yeah, a little clunky UI-wise)

No third-party app store here, though. So if you need Gmail, Google Maps, or WhatsApp on your wrist… this probably isn’t it.

👍 Pros & 👎 Cons

✅ Pros❌ ConsGorgeous AMOLED display + physical buttonsHigh price tag (~$449 USD)Excellent GPS tracking (even in tricky areas)Music setup can feel slowPersonalized daily workouts + recovery tipsSlightly bulky on small wristsLong battery life (especially for AMOLED)No app store or advanced smartwatch featuresDurable + waterproof designStep counter may overcount in transit

🧑‍💻 What Real Users Are Saying

“GPS is dead accurate. Training readiness is actually helpful — not just a number.” — Reddit user

“Battery holds up even with always-on screen. Music syncing took a minute, but it’s smooth after setup.” — Amazon review

“Feels like Garmin’s stepping into Apple Watch territory — but with way better fitness tools.” — TechRadar

🎯 Who Should Buy the Garmin Forerunner 265?

✅ Great for:

Runners of all levels, especially those in training

Triathletes who want advanced performance metrics

Outdoor athletes needing reliable GPS

Fitness folks who care more about data than distractions

People who want music without their phone

❌ Maybe skip it if:

You want a minimalist or fashion-first smartwatch

You rely on third-party apps (like WhatsApp or Google Calendar)

You have super slim wrists — it’s not massive, but it’s not tiny either

⭐ Final Verdict: Is the Forerunner 265 Worth It?

Yes — if you’re serious about your fitness.

The Garmin Forerunner 265 blends power, precision, and polish into one impressive package. From race-day prep and GPS mapping to morning recovery tips and music playback, it covers nearly everything an active person could want — without going full smartwatch overload.

Sure, it’s a bit pricey. But for what you’re getting? It’s one of the most balanced fitness wearables of 2025.

Overall Rating: 4.6 / 5 ⭐

GPS + Performance: ★★★★★

Battery Life: ★★★★½

Smart Features: ★★★★

Display + Build Quality: ★★★★★

Value for Money: ★★★★½

If you’re ready to train smarter — not just harder — the Garmin Forerunner 265 might be the best running partner you didn’t know you needed.

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