#Consistent Traffic Tactics

[ronaldtateblog]

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[matt-murdockk]

Nine-Nine!

an extremely self indulgent brooklyn 99 and criminal minds crossover

pairing: spencer reid x reader (with a tiny bit of almost jake peralta x reader for funsies)

words: 3.0k

warnings: none, this is fluff and comedy <3

summary: Spencer Reid’s grip on sanity? Loose. (Y/n)’s patience? Tested. Jake Peralta? Accidentally in the middle of a romcom finale with no snacks. There’s banter, jealousy, a tasered vending machine, and one (1) emergency love confession.

a/n: crossover episode my beloved; this was extremely fun to write lolllllll, hope you like it <3

Spencer was already three tangents deep into the geographic profile, talking fast, hands moving like the words were trying to escape faster than his brain could handle. (Y/n) had learned years ago to just let him go. He’d loop back around eventually. Usually.

“The spacing of the disposal sites suggests he’s sticking to a routine. All within a tight radius— three miles or so. That kind of pattern almost always means it’s familiar territory. Could be work, could be home base. Most likely night shifts, given the dump times— between 2:10 and 3:30 a.m. Which means fewer witnesses, less traffic—”

“Or he just likes moonlight and solitude,” (Y/n) said absently, scribbling something in her notebook. “Creepy guys tend to romanticize the weirdest stuff.”

Spencer didn’t look up. “That’s… statistically consistent with other narcissistic or compulsive offenders, actually.”

She glanced over at him. “You know you could just say ‘you’re right.’ It won’t kill you.”

He did look at her then, quick, with the faintest smirk pulling at his mouth. “I’m not sure I’ve tested that hypothesis thoroughly enough to risk it.”

She snorted. “Tragic. I thought you loved me.”

Spencer didn’t miss a beat. “I do. But not enough to sacrifice academic integrity.”

“Wow.” She pressed a hand to her chest. “Wounded. Devastated. Utterly betrayed.”

“Noted,” he murmured, turning back to his screen with an annoyingly smug look.

Derek leaned forward from his seat across the aisle. “Are y’all gonna do this the whole flight?”

JJ didn’t even look up from her file. “They’re gonna do this the whole case.”

“I’m sitting right here,” (Y/n) called over.

“And yet, you keep doing this,” Emily muttered, sipping her coffee. “Every case. Without fail.”

Spencer turned his tablet toward (Y/n), pretending not to hear them. “There are five possible buildings inside the comfort zone. Abandoned commercial spaces, all accessible. No cameras.”

She leaned closer, squinting at the screen. “That one. Tucked behind the construction site. No visibility from the road.”

He nodded. “I had that ranked third.”

“I outrank your list.”

“You outrank logic?”

“I outrank you, Reid.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Bold claim for someone who once tripped over their own shoelaces during a takedown.”

“You’re never letting that go, are you.”

“Absolutely not.”

(Y/n) sighed, grabbing her coffee and slumping back in her seat. “You’re lucky I find your chaos charming.”

Spencer, without looking up, murmured, “You’re lucky I find you charming.”

And just like that, she paused.

It wasn’t even the words— it was the way he said it. Like it was obvious. Like it wasn’t meant to land the way it did.

Her fingers stilled on the coffee cup. Just for a second. Then she shook her head, eyes narrowing. “You trying to throw me off before we hit the ground? Because that’s a dirty tactic, Reid.”

He smiled, faint. “If I wanted to throw you off, I’d bring up that time you accidentally used your taser on the vending machine.”

“That was one time.”

“I still have the video.”

Derek threw up his hands. “Okay, I need noise-canceling headphones or a fire alarm. One or the other.”

“Let them have their foreplay,” Rossi grumbled from behind his paper. “Just as long as it doesn’t slow down the case.”

(Y/n) rolled her eyes, but she didn’t stop smiling. Not even a little.

And Spencer? He didn’t say anything else.

But his knee brushed against hers under the table.

And he didn’t move it.

——————————————————————————————————

The precinct was pure, barely-contained chaos. Phones ringing, printers jamming, someone yelling “I said decaf!” from the breakroom. (Y/n) stepped in behind the team, her eyes scanning the flurry with the kind of calm that only came from years of being thrown headfirst into crime scenes that smelled like old pizza and adrenaline.

Then— like he was summoned by the gods of caffeine and chaos— a voice cut through the noise.

“FBI? Oh thank god. Tell me you’re the FBI. If one more lieutenant hands me a case file on raccoon-related vandalism, I’m going to start speaking in riddles.”

The guy had two coffees in one hand, a folder under his arm, and the kind of face that said yes, I’m sleep-deprived, but I’ve made it part of my personality now.

“Detective Jake Peralta,” he added, stepping forward and immediately handing one of the coffees off to a passing officer. “You must be the reinforcements. Welcome to our deeply unfortunate circus.”

(Y/n) stepped forward with a polite smile. “Agent (Y/l/n), BAU.”

Jake looked at her and forgot what vowels were.

“Oh. Cool. Yeah. Wow.” He blinked. “Hi. Sorry. That was… a very professional reaction to a federal agent. I’m super normal.”

(Y/n) raised an eyebrow, amused. “Totally. You look extremely normal.”

Jake pointed at her like he was confirming her existence for himself. “And funny. She’s funny, too. Great. Just awesome.”

Spencer, two steps behind her, tilted his head the tiniest bit. Not enough to be obvious. Just enough that Emily, walking next to him, noticed immediately.

“So,” Jake said, already spinning on his heel and motioning them toward the evidence board, “we’ve got three victims, matching M.O., a dump site triangle, and a ton of questions. I’d love to walk you through it. Bonus: I also know where the best snacks are hidden in this precinct. Critical intel.”

“Let me guess,” (Y/n) said, falling into step beside him, “you keep gummy bears in a murder folder?”

Jake gave her a wide-eyed, deeply serious nod. “Listen, I can’t solve murder with low blood sugar. That’s just biology. Forensics and fruit snacks— two pillars of modern justice.”

She actually laughed, bumping her shoulder lightly into his. “That’s what you’re going with? Fruit snacks and felony charges?”

“Look,” he said, glancing at her with a grin, “some people have badges, some have instincts— I have a snack drawer and a vibe.”

(Y/n) shot him a look. “And a lot of confidence, apparently.”

“It’s the only thing holding me together.”

Spencer, still watching from behind, clenched his jaw and stared very intently at the murder board— as if sheer willpower would make Jake Peralta spontaneously combust.

Derek leaned over slightly. “You good?”

“I’m fine,” Spencer said. Way too quickly.

“Uh-huh.”

(Y/n) looked over her shoulder, smiling. “Spencer, you coming?”

Spencer blinked. “Right behind you.”

Emily raised an eyebrow as he passed, giving him that look— the one that meant I know, and I’m about to say it out loud.

He walked faster.

Behind them, Emily whispered to JJ, “We have now entered full-blown Jealous Spencer territory.”

JJ winced sympathetically. “He doesn’t stand a chance.”

——————————————————————————————————

The dump site was taped off, abandoned and eerie in the late afternoon light. A narrow alley backed by cracked concrete walls, discarded furniture, and silence— except for the occasional buzz of Spencer’s pen clicking in his pocket. Repeatedly.

Jake and (Y/n) were walking ahead of the rest of the group, ducking under the tape, their steps crunching through gravel.

“Okay,” Jake said, scanning the alley. “I know it’s not exactly a five-star view, but I promise this is the cleanest murder site we’ve had all week. That’s a weird sentence.”

(Y/n) laughed. “It’s fine. We spend half our lives in parking lots and basements. Honestly, this is kind of charming.”

Jake pointed at a tipped-over dumpster. “Ah, yes. Classic small-town ambiance.”

She crouched near a drainpipe, tilting her head. “He’s dumping at night. No cameras. But the dumpster’s too obvious— too accessible. He’s not just hiding the bodies, he’s watching them.”

Jake blinked. “Okay. That’s… both creepy and very insightful. You do this a lot?”

She looked up at him, playful. “Solve murders? Yeah. Flirt at them? Not usually.”

He smirked, a little lopsided. “Hey, I haven’t even started flirting yet. That was just me being charming.”

“Oh, just charming?” she teased.

Jake leaned against the wall, watching her. “Let me know when you’re ready for the full Peralta experience. It includes sarcasm, emotional baggage, and an impressive knowledge of Die Hard trivia.”

(Y/n) stood, brushing off her knees. “That’s a lot to take in on a first crime scene.”

He grinned. “So you’re saying there’ll be a second?”

A beat. Just a pause. She didn’t answer right away.

Spencer, across the lot with Derek and Emily, had stopped mid-sentence, his entire expression shifted from mildly focused to openly horrified.

“She’s laughing,” he said flatly.

Emily glanced up from her notes. “Yeah, that tends to happen when people are enjoying themselves.”

“With him.”

“Oh no,” Derek muttered. “We’ve lost him.”

The rest of the team returned to the SUV, but Emily stayed behind, as if she knew this wasn't done yet.

“She’s laughing at his jokes,” Spencer repeated, eyes still locked on the two figures across the alley.

“She laughs at yours,” Emily said.

“That’s different. She knows mine are objectively not funny.”

“Okay, you know what?” Emily snapped her folder shut. “We’re doing this now. Let’s go, Genius.”

Spencer blinked as she grabbed his elbow and dragged him toward the SUV.

“What? No— I’m working.”

“You’re spiraling,” she corrected. “And doing it in a crime scene, which is new.”

Behind them, (Y/n) was still talking to Jake, standing closer now, arms crossed and leaning in like she didn’t even realize she was doing it.

Spencer’s voice dropped. “Emily, I’m fine.”

“You’re jealous,” she said, eyes sharp. “And for a guy who can read microexpressions from thirty feet away, you are shockingly bad at clocking your own.”

“I don’t get jealous,” he said, almost insulted.

She gave him a look.

“…Okay, I am jealous,” he admitted under his breath. “But I don’t know what to do about that.”

Emily leaned against the SUV, watching Spencer like she was trying to figure out whether she needed to slap sense into him or hug him. Maybe both. Probably both.

He was pacing. Not frantically, just… tightly. Hands in his pockets, jaw tense, doing that thing where his eyes tracked the ground like the answers were written there.

“I mean, it’s fine,” he said finally, like he was trying to convince the air. “She’s allowed to laugh at someone else’s jokes. I’m not— entitled to anything.”

Emily stayed quiet.

He glanced back at the alley where (Y/n) was standing with Jake. She was leaning on one foot, comfortable. She looked happy. And it gutted him.

“It’s just— he’s charming,” Spencer muttered. “And funny. And he’s got that whole casual swagger thing going on. I mean, who even has swagger in 2025? Apparently, Jake does. And she’s… she’s smiling.”

“You’re allowed to be upset,” Emily said, her voice soft, even.

Spencer didn’t answer. His hands were twitching in his pockets now.

“I’ve had… crushes,” he said finally, like it was painful to admit even that much. “A few. Not a lot. But some. And usually they’re easy to understand. You think someone’s cute. You like their voice. You want them to notice you.”

He shook his head.

“This isn’t that.”

Emily just watched him.

“I notice everything,” he went on, his voice quieter now. “Not because I’m profiling her. Not because I’m analyzing anything. I just… do. I know when she’s about to make a bad joke because she gets this look— like she’s proud of it already. I know she only pretends to like black coffee when we’re around local PD because she thinks it makes her look tougher.”

A pause. His voice dipped even lower.

“I know the sound of her laugh when it’s real. I know when she’s tired, even if she’s smiling. I know when she’s faking being okay. And I know when she’s actually okay. And I know that right now…” He looked up, eyes fixed on her across the lot, where she and Jake were still talking, still laughing.

“…She’s really okay. With him.”

Emily stepped closer, gentle. “Spence.”

He didn’t look at her.

“I think about her all the time,” he said, like he was just realizing it out loud. “Not in a way I… planned. Just— suddenly I’m at a bookstore and wondering if she’d like the cover of something. Or I hear a song and I can’t tell if I like it until I know if she would. It’s— constant.”

He laughed once, breathy and humorless. “And statistically, I know crushes fade. The brain adjusts. The novelty goes away. But this? This has been over a year. Maybe longer.”

Emily tilted her head. “And?”

Spencer blinked.

“…And I think I’m in love with her.”

A pause. Then—

“Oh,” he breathed. “Shit.”

Emily smiled, just barely. “Took you long enough.”

He ran both hands over his face. “I don’t— what am I supposed to do with that?”

“You tell her,” she said gently.

“What? No, I can’t.”

“You can.”

“Emily, she's quite possibly the closest friend I have. What if it ruins everything?”

Emily didn’t answer for a second. She just looked at him— really looked at him— and said, “Spencer. You're already miserable. At least ruin it with some dignity, damn it.”

He looked back at (Y/n). She was saying goodbye to Jake now, walking back toward the team, tucking her hair behind her ear like she always did when she was distracted. She looked like home.

Spencer exhaled. “Yeah. Okay. I’m completely screwed.”

Emily nodded. “Yeah. You are. Oh, and for the record, I thought I was your closest friend, and honestly, I feel so attacked right now."

"You'll live."

"Hey!" retorted Emily, followed by a smack to his arm.

——————————————————————————————————

The sun had dipped low, casting long shadows across the precinct lot. The case was wrapped, files turned in, media dodged. (Y/n) was leaning against the SUV, arms crossed, sipping from her now-cold coffee like it was still doing something.

Jake jogged up to her, slowing as he approached. Not suave. Just… trying.

“Hey,” he said, offering a lopsided smile. “So, weird question for the end of a triple homicide, but— any chance I could take you to dinner sometime?”

(Y/n) blinked. “Oh.”

She smiled, a little surprised. “Jake, you’re— great. I had fun working with you.”

Jake’s grin faltered just enough to be human. “But…?”

“But��”

“Wait!”

Both of them turned.

Spencer was standing about ten feet away, looking like he had sprinted here but didn’t want to show it. His hair was windswept, his shirt slightly crooked, and his expression somewhere between resolute and deeply alarmed.

(Y/n) blinked. “Spencer?”

Jake glanced between them. “Should I…? I can come back.”

“No, no,” Spencer said quickly, stepping forward. “You’re fine. I mean— not fine, you’re not staying. I mean, yes, you’re staying right now, I just—”

He looked at (Y/n), all the air gone from his lungs.

“I need to say something.”

(Y/n) tilted her head, cautious now. “Okay…”

Spencer glanced at Jake. Then at her. Then back at Jake.

“This is going to be weird with him here,” he muttered.

“I can pretend to be a lamp,” Jake offered, backing up slightly. “I’m excellent at furniture-based camouflage.”

“Jake,” (Y/n) said, half-laughing, “you don’t have to—”

“I really think I do,” he said, hands raised. “There’s a lot of emotion in the air and I don’t want to get hit by it.”

Spencer ignored him. His eyes stayed on her.

“I wasn’t going to say anything,” he said softly. “I told myself it wasn’t the right time. That we had too much to lose. That maybe I was just… projecting.”

He swallowed. “But then I watched someone else get to make you laugh. I watched you lean in, and talk like he already belonged in your world. And I realized— I’ve been pretending that I didn’t already live there.”

(Y/n)’s breath caught.

Spencer took another step closer. “I know the way you look when you’re solving a puzzle you don’t know you’ve solved yet. I know how you take your coffee differently when you’re pretending you’re fine. I know that you hum when you’re reading case files, and that you’ll always find a way to make the worst days seem funny, just to keep us all going.”

He paused, voice low. “I notice everything about you. Not because I’m profiling you. Just… because it’s you.”

Jake mouthed oh my god to himself, backing up another step.

(Y/n) stared at Spencer, wide-eyed. “You— you’ve never said any of this.”

“I didn’t know how,” Spencer admitted. “But I’m in love with you. And it took me way too long to say it. So if you’re going to say no— please do it fast, before I combust.”

Silence.

Then—

“Spencer,” she said softly, stepping toward him. “You’re an idiot.”

His face fell— until she reached out and grabbed the front of his jacket and kissed him.

It was fast. Then slow. Then somewhere in between. Like they’d been waiting for years but were still trying to catch up.

Jake, standing off to the side, made a quiet choking sound.

“I am so intruding,” he muttered. “You know what? I’m gonna go. I’m gonna walk into the woods and never come back. I’ll start a new life. Join a wolf pack. Change my name. Just... yeah.”

They didn’t hear him.

(Y/n) pulled back just slightly, forehead still resting against Spencer’s.

“You’re in love with me?”

He nodded, breathless. “Deeply. Disastrously.”

She let out a laugh— half relief, half disbelief— as her forehead rested against his. “Oh, thank God. It was killing me thinking it might just be me.”

Jake was halfway to the sidewalk when Spencer called out— without looking—

“Thank you for not asking her out.”

Jake froze. “I did. You just… intercepted mid-sentence.”

Spencer blinked. “Oh. Sorry.”

Jake clapped once. “Well, that was the best romcom finale I’ve ever witnessed. I’m gonna go cry in my car.”

He turned again, walking toward his car like a man who had just lost a bet to fate.

God, I’m never gonna hear the end of this from Rosa.

[eretzyisrael]

by Dion J. Pierre

Additionally, JVP’s methods of protest are unpopular among American Jews, The Jewish Majority added, noting that 75 percent disapprove of “blocking traffic” and only 18 percent approve of protesters’ wearing masks to conceal their identities. Sixty percent also disagree with staging protests outside the homes of public officials, a common JVP tactic.

“Plain and simple, Jewish Voice for Peace is an extremist group that does not represent the views of the overwhelming majority of American Jews,” Jonathan Schulman, The Jewish Majority’s executive director, said in a statement accompanying the poll results. “American Jews share a strong and consistent stance against anti-Zionists as well as a deep concern over rising antisemitism and the tactics used by organizations like JVP.”

He continued, “It is high time people see through the charade: JVP is not representative of anyone but a marginal fringe, even if a few radical Jews are involved in their movement.”

The Jewish Majority’s poll was conducted by Public Opinion Strategies.

Jewish Voice for Peace’s inner workings, messaging, and political activities were recently documented in a groundbreaking report on the group published last month by StandWithUs, a Jewish civil rights group based in Los Angeles, California.

Titled, “A Shield for Hate, Not a Voice for Peace,” the report noted that JVP has promoted a distorted history of Zionism and Israel, accusing the movement for Jewish self-determination of everything from training US police officers to violate the rights of African Americans to abusing “Jewish history.” In doing so, it has allied with extremist groups such as WithinOurLifetime — whose founder has threatened to set Jews on fire and led a movement to harass Jews on New York City’s public transportation — and Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), which celebrated Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre and has proclaimed that “the Zionist entity has no right to exist.”

The report also stated that JVP has collaborated with anti-Israel entities such as Samidoun, which identifies itself as a “Palestinian prisoner solidarity network,” to hold rallies. Samidoun described Hamas’s Oct. 7 atrocities in Israel as “a brave and heroic operation.” The United States and Canada each imposed sanctions on Samidoun in October, labeling the organization a “sham charity” and accusing it of fundraising for designated terrorist groups such as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

JVP has also compared Zionism to Nazism.

“This is Holocaust inversion — an antisemitic tactic in which the genocide Jews faced in the past is used to promote baseless hatred against Jews today,” the StandWithUs report said. “The only group benefiting from JVP’s Holocaust inversion is Hamas — a truly genocidal terrorist group. JVP has helped shield them from accountability for launching the war, ruthlessly militarizing civilian areas across Gaza, stealing humanitarian aid, and rejecting nearly every proposed ceasefire and hostage release deal.”

[lucrativesoul]

Espionage

summary: working in an underground crime syndicate, your job gets risky, but, the more risk, the more reward. you jumped the gun on your thievery through an art museum, and come across one certain guard who is adamant on stopping you in your path.

pairing: guard!leon kennedy x female reader

word count: 11.5k

warnings: smut, fingering, choking, slight degradation, dom leon

a/n: yall know i had to do one with tactical gear leon i mean come onnnn look at him!!! (patrick voice) i went a little wild with this one LOL i really thought it was gonna be my shortest work yet and here we are. the plot of this was inspired by Death Prefers Blondes by Caleb Roehrig! if you guys liked the idea of our mc's job here, i suggest you check out that book, its a really great young adult read! i had so much fun with this one, i really hope i didn't keep you guys waiting. i hope you enjoy, thank you endlessly for the support, and I will see you soon :)

Taking a deep sigh, you reclined yourself back as far as you could in the stiff chair, which wasn’t much. The light above you was flickering, to your annoyance, but you kept quiet about it, focusing instead on the rapid typing on the keyboard from the man in front of you. The room was cold, and you pulled your sweatshirt tighter around you. You knew to come prepared this time.

You hoped you would get out of here before the traffic rush. You hated having to come all the way out here, but, after all, it was your job.

To explain how you came into this would take too long, as you tell everyone, so simply put: Some connections in your life led to other connections, and those connections allowed you to quit your two part time jobs and become a full time criminal. Literally.

You met this man, Carlos, at the gym where you liked to spar with some of the trainers when they weren’t in sessions. Simulating a fight was not something you had expected to find a lot of entertainment in, but when you got up there in front of someone and were forced to defend yourself with blocks and punches and kicks, it introduced a whole new adrenaline into your world. Keeping up with your physical shape had definitely aided in your ability to be nimble, and your history of (attempted) gym consistency helped build muscle. 

Carlos had pulled you aside after a sparring session with another trainer, impressed by your moves, and had told you he wants to see you put it to the real test. He offered you a spot in the gym he frequented (which was, to your horror at first, the sketchiest building you had ever seen in your life from the outside), paired you with a trainer who wasn’t afraid to throw real punches, and before you knew it, you could fight an array of builds and heights. 

From there, you kept talking to people who knew people who knew Carlos, and he weaseled you into his line of work where he trusted you to go on the scene of whatever was the target, and sold all of your loot. He was your fence, you were his robber. Quite simply.

A real threat of danger hung over your head on every job, and you knew this well enough. There was always the chance of getting caught, considering every location had guards 24/7. There was always a chance you could get hurt; fall from a high location, the failure of equipment, get shot for fucks sake, but you loved the adrenaline it gave you. You felt on top of the world, and in the back of your mind, you knew this would surely be considered an addiction, but you didn’t care. Every new job upped the ante, and you needed more.

The second deep breath you took expanded your lungs, the stretch feeling good after not moving for several minutes now. You rolled your head side to side, hearing the crack, and turned your attention back to Carlos, who finally started talking again.

“I have buyers in Europe lined up for these.” He looked down at the desk, an array of shiny stones and metals bent in intricate shapes and chains laid out in front of him. Courtesy of yours truly. “A few are interested in the same piece, but they can argue with themselves, I’m only going to sell it to them, I’m not the mediator.” He sighed and pushed back in his rolling chair, pulling open a file cabinet and a manila folder.

“Where in Europe? Can we hand deliver?” You couldn’t help but grin slightly, and Carlos didn’t have to look up from his papers to know you were.

He shrugged. “If you want to risk receiving a chest cavity the size of a gold ball, knock yourself out.” He knew you were joking, and you knew the rules well enough. Knowing who your buyers were, and going within any sort of vicinity of them while knowing their identity was strictly off limits. He turned his head towards his computer again. “Venice. Nice.” He turned towards you. “Budapest. The usual.”

You nodded. You were expecting some sort of answer along the lines of that, so it wasn't too much of a surprise to you. Oh, how it would be nice to be in Europe, though.

“Here’s the deal.” Carlos put the folder of papers down in front of you, and you lazily scanned it, knowing that most of it was going to look like gibberish anyways. Carlos was the man in between here, you simply stole things. You didn’t deal with the numbers and the logistics. “The man who is in the battle for our largest emerald is willing to step aside and let our Venetian buyer take the cake, because he reached out with another job that he and only he wants to be in the running for.”

You scoffed. “Dude must be loaded then. A solo job?”

Carlos cocked an eyebrow. “He gave me parameters for the job, and I almost turned him down without even running it by you, to be honest.”

You sat up straight. “The fuck, Carlos? Give it to me, I can take it.”

He sighed and slouched back in his chair. You were honestly surprised that Carlos was not the one in your spot. He was insanely built and could easily take down four armed guards at once, but you never found out why he chose to be behind the scenes. At least you knew he trusted you enough not to put you in anything that would be instant death.

“There’s apparently an heirloom to this guy’s lineage sitting in a chamber room of the gallery downtown. He’s been trying to find a means to reach it and claim it back for years, but, according to him, the museum won’t budge on letting him anywhere near a buying price.”

You let his words sink in. “What’s so bad about that?”

Carlos sighed again. “It’s an art gallery.” He stared at you, waiting for you to get the point. “They have armed guards posted day in and day out. Alarms at every possible entrance and cameras watching every square inch of the place. It’s just not feasible.”

You shook your head. “Carlos, come on. I know you have access to the technical means that we need to do our surveillance. We can watch their route. We can track who does what nights and who might be the easiest to take down. I did that at the villa two weeks ago.” 

“Yes, and you nearly lost your life. I was shooting myself in the foot for putting you out there.”

You shook your head again. Part of you was thankful that Carlos had the decency to regret his decision of accepting that job, and feeling remorse once you reported back that one of the bodyguards had you in a near death chokehold before you managed to, by luck, weasel free. Even you were still haunted by that. But you would never let it slow you down, and would never tell Carlos, as he would surely put you in safer locations. Which meant less fun.

“I’m just saying, now that it’s been done, I can do it again. And be careful about it this time. I want to do this Carlos, I believe I can.”

Carlos was silent for a moment, thinking over your words. He sighed.

“I want our people staking out on the perimeter the whole time. I don’t want to hear objections. There will be a team this time, this is not just somebody’s home. This is government and city property, if you don’t die, you and I are as good as dead in the prison system.”

You quirked a small smile. “Come on Carlos.” He lazily held eye contact. “You think I’d rat you out like that?”

He sighed and rolled his eyes, but you could tell he was fighting the urge to smile as well. “Be back here tomorrow at 12. We’ll start our prep.”

–

You, Carlos, and two other men were huddled around a plethora of screens deep in the trenches of Carlos’ office. One of the monitors had split screen CCTV surveillance, six cameras watching the main galleries and two hallways, one was a datamine of the encrypted content regarding the people employed to stand guard at the museum, and the others were floor plans of each floor and wing of the gallery.

The size of the place didn’t scare you, in fact, it only brought more excitement to your job. As soon as Carlos brought up the blueprints and started mapping escape routes and how to avoid camera sightings, you memorized it instantly. This would be a breeze.

“Here’s who we need to look out for.” He drew up a site that had profiles of each of the seven guards that do night duty. Their employee photos looked like mugshots. “These three guys guard the east wing, these two rotate between west wing and foyer since that is the smallest wing and closer to the entrance, and these two are usually staked out by the rear gallery.”

“You seem to already have this down, Carlos.” You mumbled.

He snickered from in front of you. “I’ve been watching already.”

You sighed through your nose. “Going to turn down this job my ass.”

“We’re expecting these two to be in the west wing the night of the heist. I’ve been watching, and they tend to rotate, but there’s a pattern. I’m sure it will be them.” You nodded, listening closely to his words. Carlos might be a pain in the ass sometimes, but you knew he didn’t mess around with ensuring the best possible route. “One stands in the wing while the other stands in the foyer. They rotate at the same time, so there is a small window when no one is watching the far end of the gallery.”

“How am I getting in there? Hanging out overnight?” It was a partial joke, but you never knew with this team. 

Carlos shook his head, and diverted everyone’s attention to an isolated map, similar to the layout of the floor plan. “This is the duct system.” You stifled a laugh. You should have expected this. “Big enough for a person like you. The duct room is locked whenever no one is accessing them, and the only people that do are the janitorial team, and Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday are the only times they are sweeping the building.”

“Literally, sweeping.” 

Carlos sighed heavily at your remark. “The system that is connected to the electronic lock is also connected to what controls the cameras and the lights. I can get you in there, but only in a very small window of time. It needs to be during the day.”

“The day.” You echoed. “So, I’ll be camped out in there for a while, then?”

Carlos nodded. You knew what you were about to get yourself into. It came with the job description, and before the job actually launched into action, you knew that familiar feeling of anxiety blossoming in your chest. You had been in the gym consistently, trying to find someone to mock a chokehold with you in the case that it happened all over again. If it did, you decided Carlos didn't need to find out.

You knew you were physically ready. The odds of going against a huge man didn't look great from the outside, but you were flexible, and fast, and if you could bounce around their sights, you could steer clear of any sort of altercations.

“Yes, you’ll be in there for a while. It’s the only way.” You nodded again. You knew there was no such thing as comfort in this line of work. If you get too comfortable, you might as well get ready to be comfortable in a jail cell, or in the afterlife. “We move in Thursday night. Just to be sure that the cleaning happens Wednesday and we won't get any surprises. You’ll enter at 4 PM. I’ll be watching all morning to decide what you should wear to make the least waves possible and so you can disappear when they close at 6. Regular day employees stay until 7:30, then the guards move in, but we can’t make our moves until well after sunset.” Carlos was looking mostly at you, as the other teammates he rounded up were just going to stake out the perimeter. “You know the prep. Make sure you last while you wait.”

–

You spent the next week in the office watching everyone’s moves. The guards followed a monotonous routine in which areas they patrolled. Odd, considering they might want to watch for corners where people could stay hidden. 

They all stuck to their schedules, no employee stayed later than an hour and a half after closing, guards immediately did a sweep of the whole building for the lame thieves who attempted to hide in bathrooms, before they stuck to their positions, and that’s where they stayed for the night, until 5 AM. You were positive you had this down now, there was no way you could be wrong.

There was, of course, but you preferred to pretend otherwise.

The guards rotated as predicted, and with every step they took every passing day you grew more confident in this job. That person who was commissioning this should be well willing to tip generously considering the amount of prep taking place.

You swallowed the lump of anxious nerves, pushing yourself into your work mindset as you sat outside the museum, the breeze cooling down your heated skin. Carlos had been keeping watch of the patrons since opening, and he concluded the appropriate outfit for you to don would be a tan hoodie, light wash jeans, and you didn’t have many options in the way for shoes, a simple pair of white sneakers having to do the trick. You knew they would be watching at the door, a metal detector as well as bag checks were mandatory, so you couldn’t risk a bag, but you had all you needed strapped underneath your clothes to your second skin layer– a skintight bodysuit, equipped with maximum breathability and flexibility– and all of your weapons holstered as close as they could get.

With nothing else except your phone (which was off) and wallet (with a fake ID), you walked up the steps, blending in with the bustle, but knowing well enough to not look too suspicious. You knew the rest of your team was around the perimeter, out of your view, and you were going to hear from Carlos for the first time when it was necessary for you to hide. He was never on location, he was seated safely in his office, every screen lit up with hacked CCTV footage and an in-ear device to communicate directly to you.

You took yet another deep breath in. You got this. You had to.

You knew you had time to kill while you waited to hear from Carlos. It couldn’t be right away, that would look too unnatural if you made a beeline past too many priceless works of art. So, not begrudgingly, you strolled through the galleries, admiring the timeless art, feeling inspired, excited, the sun streaming in through the glass ceilings of some of the halls.

It was mostly quiet, the murmur of people surrounding you, discussing what they were looking at, the occasional kid running by. As much of an admirer you were, you could feel the adrenaline coursing through your arms and hands, dying to get started. But, as Carlos taught you well, patience was a virtue, and if you rushed things, it could get bad, and fast.

After a lap, which lasted close to an hour, you sat on a bench in the west wing. You knew this was close to where you needed to be, and it would be easier to stay close in case the window of opportunity arose when you weren’t expecting it, which was typical. 

You toyed around with a pamphlet you had picked up near the entrance, still keeping an eye out for any employee, or any guard, which would be out of place at this time. It was nearing 5:30 now, and they were going to be closing in 30 minutes. Your heart rate quickened at that thought, knowing they were going to be sending employees to do loops and tell people their time was being cut short. You slowly straightened your posture, trying not to look too alert, trying to calm down–

“--in, come in. Connected to base, CCTV footage overrode, stations manned.” You heard Carlos’ crackly voice through your in-ear, and you slumped backward, relieved.

“Copy.” You kept your voice low and mouth movements to a minimum. “I assume you know where I’m at.”

“Bench in the back left of the west wing. The duct room is also being watched. It has been looking clear for the last ten minutes, give me another five to make sure, then I will give you instructions.”

You gave a slight nod, knowing he could see you. You kept up your previous charades, reading the same script for the fifth time on the pamphlet, people watching, and employee watching. The next five minutes took way too long.

“Get up slowly and walk along the wall to the left. Someone is coming down the hallway telling people there is 20 minutes to closing. Let him pass you, acknowledge what he said, and let him get about 20 feet ahead.” You shifted in your seat, pushing yourself up. Taking another look at the paintings hung on the walls, you realized as you approached– this was the one you were meant to take. You were so tempted to stand here and look at it, but you didn’t want to draw a suspicious coincidence in the mind of the employee who would see you standing in front of it. One glance later, and you moved on.

“Excuse me,” A soft voice spoke from behind you. You turned around, and acted surprised. A short man with dark hair had a friendly smile on. “The gallery will be closing in 20 minutes, just a heads up.” You nodded a thank you, and promised to move on swiftly.

“Ten seconds, then when you walk through the aisle in between the columns, there’s a hallway to the left. You’ll have a really small window to duck into the door on the left side and wait while I override the door code.”

“Code?!” You whisper-shouted, taking care to keep your voice low. “This should have been something you told me earlier.” 

“Don’t worry, I have access to it and can let you in. It will only take one more second, but you have to be quick with this door, you know that.” You sighed, knowing he was right. Your steps were quiet, but firm, and you caught sight of the small hallway he was talking about. “There’s no one behind you, but we can’t guarantee that’s permanent.” Oh, yes, you knew that was the truth. You wanted to turn around, but fought against it, not wanting to catch anyone’s eye.

Step, breath, step… “Go, now, hurry.” You careened quickly to the left into the hallway, knowing anyone would notice you if they walked by. “Two seconds…” Carlos configured the software to the door’s electronic lock as you approached and stood there, heart hammering. You pulled your sleeve over your hand. You heard the click. “You’re in, move.” You pushed down on the door handle with your sleeved hand and creeped into the room, wasting no time in shutting the door. You waited for the command before you moved. “You made it blindly. No one noticed you.” You sighed gently. “To your left, there's a switch. Flip the one in the middle. It’s the nightlight.”

You did as told, relaxing slightly now that you could see. The room looked exactly as expected. It was more of a closet, really. There was an electric panel on the wall opposite the door, a rack of cleaning supplies to the right, and in the left corner across from you, a large duct sock extending from a fixture that was taller than you. You had no idea where it led to, as it disappeared up into the ceiling, but you had a feeling that’s where you were destined to spend the next handful of hours.

You took your time inspecting the room, knowing there was going to be nothing quick about this next step. Behind the large fixture that filtered the air and sent it through the duct, there was a small passageway blocked by a vent grate. Carlos had told you vis in-ear to unscrew the large grate and tuck yourself in there. At least it was right next to the cooling system, and you could shed some layers. It would get hot, and quickly, in there.

Time ticked by slower than ever as you were stretched out in the vent, now loose from your jeans and sweatshirt. Your bodysuit was keeping you cool, and you managed your breathing whenever you remembered so you would be able to keep your core temperature as stable as possible. You ran over the plan once, twice, a thousand times, and maybe even drifted off once or twice, by the time you heard Carlos’ voice again, sounding angelic after all this time.

“Hey, you awake in there?” His soft, crackled voice sounded through your brain.

“As ever. What’s the time?” You whispered back, shocked at how far the smallest vocal sound carried through the metal tube.

“Close to 11PM. We have to get moving soon.” You nodded, knowing he couldn’t see you.

“Can I push this thing open? Can someone hear me from here?”

“Give me two seconds, I need to make sure I can disable central control of the cameras so no one else watching security can see. We don’t need any unnecessary backup here.” You let Carlos do his thing from base, and tried your best to stretch your limbs getting ready to move. “Okay, this will take a few minutes, but in thirty seconds, the rotation from west wing to foyer is going to start. Countdown, then crawl out as carefully as possible.”

Breathing steadily, countdown rapidly ticking in your head, you started at thirty, gripping the grate as much as you could once you hit one, and pushed outwards. You had managed to click the metal back in place behind you once you crawled in, but it wasn’t the most subtle sound. Now, it counted even more that it was timed right.

With a solid shove and a louder than you expected click (and a wince), and shimmied your way out of the vent, placing the metal onto the ground with the slowness of a turtle. You had no idea if anyone was going to open the door to this right now, so you just had to trust that the silence from Carlos meant that nothing was about to go wrong.

You stood up, sighing deeply when you could finally stretch out before getting to move for the first time in nearly 6 hours. The spandex of your bodysuit contoured with your body, and you felt unrestrained as you stretched out, ready to be as light on your feet as possible. There was a small holster on your thigh, where a retractable baton was strapped in tight, and one around your waist, holding onto three tiny knives– stainless steel– the closest thing that would get you through the detectors without being flagged. Fingers crossed they wouldn't need to be used.

“The rotation just finished, so in about ten more minutes, our window will open for you to come out and stay hidden. Remember where all the sculptures are layed out?”

“Yeah, I do.” You continued to stretch through Carlos’ words. “I’m ducking out of here at your command, softly shutting the door. I come quietly to the opening of the hallway and duck out to the right, hide behind a column and stay low.” You recited again, and heard Carlos give a hum of approval. 

“Just hang tight for now, I’ll let you know when you need to start moving. Security override is almost done. Remember, they’re gonna try and reboot the system immediately, which will take another minimum five minutes, max ten. Be light on your feet, move fast.”

You steadied your breathing once again, flexing everything in your body to make sure you were adequately stretched out and ready for action. You had never felt more so. 

“Exit the room in twenty seconds. Start counting.”

You pounced on your feet at the sound of Carlos’ voice after a few minutes, gloves on your hands (which had also been hidden in a pocket of the bodysuit), and gripped the handle, counting just to the pace you had been trained to.

“Move.”

You and Carlos reached the countdown at the same time, and you pressed the metal handle down and inched the door open, swiftly, but not enough to cause the hinges to make noise. You slithered out, and once you had the door shut again without a sound, you dropped down onto your knees, walking in a crouch to the entrance of the gallery.

You were hidden immediately by a column. You peeked out, knowing there wouldn’t be a guard in the aisle but checking anyway, and waddled over to the next column, feeling your heart rate increase with every step. Peeking around, you spotted the guard, who was walking slowly towards the middle of the west wing. He had his hands by his sides, gun holstered on his hip. Not much more than an average cop’s bulletproof vest on his body.

You waited for him to reach the center and do a lazy turn, back towards you, to run to the next column. Time was ticking, but as long as he stayed right where he was, you would be able to secure this artwork and disappear.

You reached the next column, and the next, all the while the guard was still turned, and you ducked back whenever he did a mandatory sweep of the area behind him. You could see the painting you needed from your current position. If Carlos had it under control, he could stifle the alarm system at the very second you used one of the knives to cut the cords and rip it from his ceiling holsters. You could tell on your first walk by this afternoon that it was nothing more than a heavy fishing wire, and it could be done soundlessly.

One more column, and you could see the guard from your hunched over position. You were pretty well hidden behind the column itself and a sculpture sat in front, and slightly to the left of it. You heard him sniffle, and shift his weight again before turning around, and crouch-running to the column that sat just to the right of the painting. This was it.

You had your head parked solidly right behind the column, watching the guard. He was still facing you, looking up at the ceiling, down all the obvious passageways, and then he turned. It was now or never.

You creeped forward, hand over the knife on your holster, ready to slice through the cord on the wall. You were waiting for Carlos’ sign that the alarms had been disabled. Nothing, but you had no time to wait. You had to try it.

You pulled the knife from the holster and pushed the blade out, gloved hand gripping the frame, and in two swift movements, the wires giving a slight shing with the cut, it was loose, no alarms, and you dropped back to the ground and ran.

Taking the same caution on the way back as you did on the way over, you stopped at columns to watch the guards, and by the tell-tale sign of him stalking forward once, you knew the rotation was about to happen.

You grew closer and closer back to the duct room; through the vents as your only way out. 

Taking the opportunity of no guard in the hall, you went as fast as you could in a crouch, seeing the opening for the hallway mere feet away. It was home free. Another job done.

Still in the clear, your heart hammering, you dove forward into the hallway, not wasting anymore time. You reached the hallway, turned the corner, and found yourself staring straight into the barrel of a gun.

Stopping short, nearly screaming out, you could only stare as you tried to identify the person behind it. You couldn’t move, your limbs were frozen in place. You could not hear Carlos, you didn’t even know if he saw you cut the line. He had the alarms disabled, clearly, but where was he? And who was this man?

You couldn’t see the bottom half of his face. Behind the large gun he had pointed at you, he had  a black neck gaiter covering from his nose down. His eyes were hard, eyebrows deeply furrowed, they looked blue in the dim light. His blonde hair was pushed off his forehead, stiff with gel. He was covered neck to feet in gear, a large, bulletproof vest and cargo pants, not another inch of skin showing. He was crouching to your height. Clearly, he knew you would be coming back here. What the fuck was going on?

He tilted his head in a mocking gesture at you, making fun of your momentary stupidity. You wanted to fight, but you knew better. If you drew attention now, you would be vastly overpowered very quickly. 

“Looking for an easy escape?” His voice was deep and husky, and for a moment you thought this was someone on your team. But no, they were told strictly to stay outside under all circumstances. This was not someone trying to help you. He was trying to capture you.

“Who are you?” You whispered, praying that Carlos was listening, feeling more panicked that you couldn’t hear him.

He shook his head. He was not in the mood to be courteous. “Go to the door behind me to my left. If you make noise, I’ll kill you. If you fight, I’ll kill you. Go,”

Your breath hitched, you could fight him with a knife, but with the barrel aimed straight for your brain, it was no use trying right now. You needed a plan, and quick. But for now, you had to obey.

Your legs felt like jelly as you stayed low and walked over to the door, the stranger backing up and keeping his gun trained on you the whole time. When you approached it, you stood up, looking back at him. He nudged his gun forward in a go in gesture, and with a deep breath, you quietly pushed the handle downwards and walked in.

This was not the duct room, which was the door on the other side of the hallway. Why had you not seen this door, why did Carlos also not seem to know about this door? When you walked in, you for real almost choked this time, it was the goddamn control room. The very one that Carlos had overridden to let you get into the museum after hours in the first place. Oh, you were fucked.

“You thought you had it all planned, huh? I’ve been sitting here this whole goddamn time watching you. I saw you walk in, I saw you sit down, I saw you go into the hallway, I was waiting for you.” Your stomach ran cold, not knowing what to do now. Carlos was MIA. He surely must be frantic. Was he going to send the team in?

You were staring straight ahead at the vast array of monitors, way more than Carlos had. Every inch of the museum was being watched. You saw the screen with the duct room hallway. It was in the rightmost corner. The control room door was hidden from this angle. This room had been scrubbed from blueprints. You would have seen it, you know it.

The chair in front of you was pushed out, most likely from this man standing up to meet you when you returned. A coat, issued with the museum’s logo, was draped over the chair. You could see a nametag pinned to the front. Leon S. Kennedy. That name did not sound familiar.

You squeaked out when the barrel of the gun hit you square in between the shoulder blades. “Your buddies can’t save you now, you know. Next time they try to do this, they’ll have to do more than just some book research.”

You took a steady breath, urging yourself to sound more collected than you felt. “Don’t act so high and mighty, Leon Kennedy.”

He scoffed. “Don’t act so fucking smart because you know how to read.” He used his gun once more to push your shoulder so you could spin around and face him. You could only stare as he maintained his composure. His eyes were not softening up. “Did you think you could be in and out with this one? Just like all the others?” You tried to fight it, but you felt your face scrunch in confusion. How does he know about the others? He made another sound, like a laugh, and you could almost see the outline of his cocky smile underneath his mask. “Don’t act like you stayed off of anyone’s radar. Your little fence isn’t exactly a low profile criminal in the underground market.” Your stomach sank. He knew about Carlos. He knew about the whole ring, he had been watching you! 

“This was… Is this even a real job?” You spat out, feeling more and more of a struggle to breathe. 

Finally, Leon put down his gun. He knew he had you under his fingers. He crossed one more step to get in your face, looking down at you. “Like I said… Your buddies need to be more careful with what they decide to take on.” He muttered at you.

Something clicked inside of you. It was a life or death situation, and there were no more good outcomes. With the swiftness of air, you shot your right hand up, connecting your fist with the side of Leon’s jaw. It caught him off guard, but it did no more than knock him back a couple of steps. That was a hard jaw.

You used those two seconds to your advantage as you sprung forward, using the chair behind you as leverage as you kicked into his chest with both feet, sending him flying backwards, knocking the gun loose from his grip. He almost fully lost his balance, and you rocketed forward, finishing him off and wanting to send him straight to the floor.

It seems, though, you underestimated how well trained this man might be. He never hit the floor, and from the second you sent him reeling backwards, he was already connecting the distance between you two again, and he ducked when you sent another leg flying at him. He hooked your other leg in his grip, turning you over and forcing you to fall to the floor on your back, effectively rendering your lungs useless.

You gasped for air, finding the strength to fight back, and before he could unlatch himself from the leg he had a grip on, you tightened your other around his throat, tucking his neck right under your knee, and you squeezed hard. 

Finding air again, and still keeping Leon in a chokehold, you pushed yourself up, and rolled the both of you over, so you were now essentially sitting on top of him, pushing his body into the ground as you kept him senseless. The dominance didn’t last long, as he pushed himself up, slamming you, once again, into the ground, loosening your leg, and escaping.

Your attempts at punches were meek, and he gripped both of your wrists in his hands and pinned them down; it was useless. It was over. During the altercation, most likely while he was being choked out, his gaiter slipped down, now wrapped around his neck. The rest of his features match the top half, and god dammit why did you have to make enemies with a man who looks like he should be on display in this very place?

“You should stop trying to fight me.” He grumbled from over you. You knew he had the upper hand now, definitely physically, but you weren’t going to stop.

“And just accept defeat? Accept whatever is going to happen next?” Despite knowing it would be useless, you attempted to break free from Leon’s grip anyway. It resulted in a tighter grasp around your wrists, and you winced. “What do you want from me? You set this up just to catch me. But you’re on the inside, too. You can’t nail us without incriminating yourself.”

If it was even possible, his face hardened further. He lowered his body to bring his face inches from yours, and you found yourself not turning away from his gaze. 

“Maybe that’s just not what I’m after.”

The sentence brought your mind to a complete blank. What else could he be after? If he was employed by the museum you were currently trying to steal a painting from and sell it for thousands, shouldn’t he want to take you down to protect the art? Wouldn’t he want to put you and your team in jail for the crimes you all have committed? 

“So, what? You just wanted to take me down? Try and make me fail? To prove something to yourself?” You were desperate at this point to hear something from Carlos, and the more time went by, you were sure Leon must have done something to the connection. Since he already knows… “Why can’t I hear my team?” You barked at him.

He quirked a cocky grin once again. “I don’t need you calling for unnecessary help. I’ve got it taken care of.” With one harsh movement, he adjusted both of your wrists so they were being held by his left hand. He then used his right to rip the in-ear out, making you cry out when the tape was torn from behind your ear. He kept tugging the cord until the tiny transmitter, which was clipped to the inside of your bodysuit, just below your shoulder, was out in the open, and tossed it aside. He was putting increasing pressure on your wrists, and you couldn't help but writhe.

“Let me go, I don’t get why you’re doing this.” You started a struggle again, but he shut it down swiftly. “Why me, Leon, why us? Surely we can’t be the only underground heist group within the vicinity, surely someone else must have tried to break in here.” 

Leon stared at you for a moment from his place above you. His expression gave nothing away about his thoughts, and it was aggravating you endlessly. He thought he was all that. You were pissed off, because you also felt like that was true. He did manage to fumble your route and tackle you and cut you off from comms. Asshole.

He lifted himself off of you slowly, and you felt the pressure around your wrists disappear. He was straddling you now, his large legs encapsulating you on both sides, his arms looked massive from this angle. His vest was littered with utility pouches, and you weren't sure you wanted to find out what was in them. The gaiter was slack around his neck, and you felt so tiny, submissive, and rapidly heating up under his half lidded gaze. You can’t believe you went over his employee profile. You would have remembered a face like his.

“You’re right. You are not alone in this ring of underground syndicates, frankly, not even the first to have been here. I took on a few of them. I’m not actively working to destroy the network that you work out of, I’m just doing my job. Why should I let thieves get away with it just because they’re good at what they do?” You stared at him as he spoke. You couldn't believe how much information he truly had, and how much more he would surely not reveal to you. “I didn’t care about the other bunch, they were all dirty criminals doing it for the money with no real talent and no morals, so, fuck them, I’ll bust them when they step into my territory.” He lowered himself again, and now he was holding himself above you, arms on either side of your head. He was staring straight down into your eyes. “But then you appeared on my radar. I was surprised to see a woman in this line of business. That’s not common. I had to watch you closely. Maybe my own ignorance made me think that you would be out of play quicker than you even started, but when I discovered you had taken down two men larger than me and turned around a chokehold that surely would have killed you, I couldn't help but be impressed.”

You couldn't stop the scoff that escaped your lips. “Fuck you. You don’t know what I’m capable of. I worked my way up to where I am now.” Your sentence was cut short when he placed a rough hand on your chin, holding it in his palm.

“Shut up.” You ground your jaw, holding back snarky comments that would put you in a worse position. His demeaning command twisted your stomach in an unfamiliar way. “When I noticed your skill, as you needed to throw in there before I finished, I saw a challenge. I couldn’t just let it go.”

No words came out of your mouth right away, still trying to process his. You shook your head in confusion. “Challenge?”

“I like a woman that can put up a fight.” Leon said nothing more, daring you to stay something in retaliation. You kept your mouth shut, unsure of what kind of response you should even give. You squinted your eyes at him, but he didn't falter.

“What kind of job even is this?” His grin grew. The anger and frustration mixed with something foreign in your stomach. You curled your toes instinctively at this feeling. “Setting me up for failure just to wrestle me so you can get a workout?”

He shook his head slightly, that glint in his eyes not fading. “It’s not all about me, you know. You’re my challenge right now, yes, but I see something in you. I want you on my side.”

“Your side? Are there sides to be had here?” 

“Sure there is,” His voice dropped to a low whisper now. You realized in that moment how quiet the room was. After the altercation the two of you had, you concluded it must be soundproof. There would have been a guard here by now. “You can fight. You're a spy. You’re practically invisible. That would be so useful to me. With me. I can give you that, you won’t have to worry about the inevitable end of this.”

You finally brought your hands down by your sides, and he didn’t move to stop you. “Here? You want to offer me the occasional chance of action from the museum?”

“You said it yourself.” His gaze hardened once more, and you suddenly remembered how harsh he was towards you five minutes ago. “I’m on the inside. I’m just as dirty as you guys are.” You stared, fighting the urge to gape your mouth. Someone on the inside, working right under everyone’s nose? “With me, I can make sure you’ll never face the threat of being shut down. Thrown in jail for years, for life. Carlos can’t do that.” You felt a twist at the mention of Carlos’ name, hoping he was alright.

You hated yourself for even letting that thought flick across your mind momentarily. You and Carlos were a team, he taught you everything, yes, but he had no other ‘ins’ in the world to protect you from the law. You were on your own in the field. He just directed you.

Leon had the connections. Leon worked with them. There was a chance that he really could keep you safe. 

“What’s…” You grit your teeth, and swallowed hard, hating this position. “What’s in it for me? I’d be losing what I worked for the last few years. Just to be under your belt now.”

He shook his head. “You’re not losing. You’re gaining.” He came dangerously close to your face, yet again, you didn't move away. “Trust me.” 

With nothing left to say to him, your body only had one way to react. You quickly hooked your left arm around Leon's neck, holding him in close, and using all the weight you could muster to flip positions with him. You could see in his face he was almost expecting this from you, yet he let it happen, and didn’t fight it. 

He let out a grunt as his back hit the ground, knowing his vest took most of the impact. You were now successfully above him, in between his spread legs, his arms splayed out on the sides. The arm that had been used as leverage around his neck was now holding you up, the other was poised threateningly at his collarbone, as if you were going to choke him at any second. 

But now, over him, though you felt triumph, you were at a loss for words again, still so muddled about the situation. Leon let the arrogant smile take over his features.

“We’d make a great pair, don’t you think?” 

A million emotions surged through your veins, making it even harder to focus, to find the right thing to say or do. The way he was looking up at you, those eyes, that face, you wanted to collapse and give it to what he was saying, but you would be damned if you gave in to any sort of manipulation from him. The job was already fucked. There was no money. It was a setup just to get you into his lair… for a lack of better word. He seemed to know the ins and outs of this building, yet, he was working underground for the same reasons, presumably, as you were. 

Fuck it, it doesn’t matter. There’s no job. You wouldn’t leave Carlos behind, but couldn’t you pretend?

Your hand gripped the collar of his shirt. “What’s the negotiation?” You mumbled. You tried your best to keep the intimidating look in your eye, but you were afraid Leon never even saw it in the first place.

He breathed out a small laugh. It infuriated you, but sent a chill down your spine. “Can’t we worry about the price later?”

You sighed, and pushed yourself off of him using his body to boost you. He grunted. On your knees now, you said, “You did all of this to get me to work with you and you won’t even tell me what your prices are?”

He followed your lead, and pushed himself off the floor with ease. He was now sitting up, staring you directly in the eye. “I’ve got a different asking price right now.” His voice became low, and you stiffened. It wasn’t every day on the field that you were met with a master tempter. Leon knew what he was doing now, and it all started to make sense to you. Regardless of if he really wanted you on his team or not, he kept an eye on you for weeks, months potentially, he brought you in here for one reason, and maybe one reason only. 

“What makes you so sure I’ll accept?” You whispered, not able to find the courage anymore to speak properly. 

“I think I just know. Am I wrong?” He stared deep into your eyes, yet another challenge. The challenges never seemed to end with him.

And, despite everything, you knew he wasn’t. You could feel it inside of you, he was right. You were about to accept his not-so-professional asking price, and you wanted to hate yourself for even giving in, but you couldn’t. You just couldn’t feel anything except eagerness. 

You breathed in shakily, frozen in your spot, wanting him to do something first, but he was just letting you fall apart slowly under his gaze, most likely enjoying watching your reaction to a simple stare. You ground your jaw together, resorting to only shaking your head. “Cocky bastard.” 

He laughed out loud once. “You got that right.” 

It seemed he had it now, not giving you time to start anything that you couldn’t move to do. With a solid palm, he pushed backwards onto your chest, sending you into the floor again. You caught yourself with your forearms and could only stare up at him as he towered over you on his knees, looking more intimidating than he did with a gun pointed at your face.

Leon brought one of his hands down to raid your holders strapped around your waist, pulling the knives free and flipping one open. Your breath caught for a second when he brought it to your neck, but then released even more unsteadily when he gripped your collar in the other hand and tore the blade through the spandex fabric of your bodysuit.

You gasped when the air hit your skin, shielded by the temperature regulating fabric, feeling more exposed than you ever had on a mission before. Of course, you figured, you decided a long time ago that the most comfortable way to don the bodysuit was with as little resistance as possible, so as soon as Leon tore the fabric apart from the middle, yourbare chest was on display for him. You felt heat run through your body, from embarrassment and the arousal that you couldn’t stop.

If it was even possible, his eyes grew darker with emotion previously undetected, and his grip on the bodysuit fragments that he was holding onto tightened endlessly, still tugging them off your body as far as they could go. 

He let go, your sleeves still intact, nipples hardening, before continuing to tear it apart lower, until you felt the crotch seams rip right under you, and as shocked by his actions as you were, you were doing nothing to stop it. You tried to tell yourself you wanted to stop him, but you knew yourself better than that by now. He would have been on the ground before he could have even held the knife to your throat.

If he was a mind reader, it wouldn’t have shocked you to find that out anymore. “Just gonna lay there and let me do this to you? Maybe I overestimated your skill.”

It was one thing to be flayed out by someone you didn’t know, another to be held at gunpoint during a mission, but an entirely different field to be insulted by the person who performed all said acts. 

“You don’t know anything about my skill. I guess saying you’ve been watching me was a lie.” You pushed yourself up onto your elbows, not even caring about your physical state anymore. Using your left arm, you sat further up, pushing Leon backwards with your right, and delivered him right onto his ass. “You think I can’t take charge of a situation?”

He looked up at you, not ready to physically retaliate. “I think you can, only when the person is letting you do so.”

You grabbed a hold of the gaiter still slung around his neck, and suddenly you were inches away from him. “I’m not letting you make me think that you’re allowing me to do anything. If watching me wasn’t a lie, you’d know I’m a lot more capable than what I’ve just let you do.”

He tilted his head sideways, clearly liking the new lack of distance between the two of you. “Then prove it.”

You decided to make a bold move. Repositioning your legs so you were now on top of him, you dropped yourself to sit right in his lap, feeling exactly what you were expecting. He groaned, finally not expecting something from you, and with a victorious smile, you fell lower, grinding into his erection with all your body weight. His hands instinctively went to claw at your thighs, the grip so tight it almost stopped you from moving, and his breathing became ragged.

“You give this treatment to every criminal that breaks into here?”

Leon laughed through the breaths. “I never get to them first to do this.” As you continued to gyrate on his lap, his eyes fell shut and his head rolled back, thumping on the wall behind him. His hands snaked up your legs, fingers toying the edges of the ripped fabric of his doing, and he pulled it further, trying to unsheath you as much as he could.

“Then allow me to make sure the rest of your criminals are forgettable.” You snaked your arms around his torso, letting him pull you loose from the sleeves of your bodysuit. Now free, you kept your grip firmly on his biceps, your own body weakening at the realization of how strong they felt. 

As badly as you wanted to free them, as badly as you wanted to see him underneath his armor, you wanted to see it when he took you. You needed to look up at his gear and see his hardened face, the strong bodyguard who made you submit.

He continued with his deep groans the more you ground down on his hard cock, and you could feel it yourself through his pants. Leon’s efforts made it so you had barely anything protecting you, and all that stood in the way were his thick pants. You wanted to free him from his constraints, but you wanted to be a tease about it.

“I hope you had a plan for this, because I’m not obeying someone who wanted to kill me.” You had yourself steady by gripping his knees with your hands, leaning back, his eyes never peeled away from your breasts, out in the open.

He took a hand and placed it over your hip, large and warm, and it sent a wave of heat straight to your core, sure you were wet through your panties now.

“So now you want me to take charge, after going on about your own strengths, huh…” He squeezed his hand over your hip, and it made you squirm.

You basically hopped up and slammed yourself down on his lap, just wanting to make him suffer. “You’ll do what I say, and we’ll see who's listening to orders.” Your motion had made him whine as predicted, and you carefully studied his face as it was scrunched up, mostly in pleasure, probably some in pain.

“Then what?” He half whispered out at you. “Tell me what to do, then.” His hands made their way up to your chest, squeezing delicately, but enough to arch your back into his touch. His other was seated on your thigh, the pressure of his fingertips increasing by the second.

You leaned in close to him, inches away, enough to taste him if you so pleased, but you waited. “Why don’t you treat me like the criminal I am?”

A shudder visibly flowed through his body at your words, the back of his head hit the wall again. The hand on your thigh was now on your throat, not tightening just yet, but with enough sturdiness to keep you in your place. Your whole body was on the move now as Leon shifted his weight, and once again, you found yourself with your back on the floor, staring up at him towering over you. Though you had already been aware of it, your nakedness became prominent in this moment, realizing Leon’s neck and face were all you could see of his skin.

“Don’t think I’ll be gentle then,” He barked out at you, having shaken off the pleasure from you grinding down on him.

You smirked, watching him finally take his gloves off, having nothing to say, but only (oddly) excited about the new course of action. He stopped bothering with trying to get the rest of your clothes off, having opened up enough room for him to work in. You thought he was most definitely either going to push your panties aside for access or cut them off, and as turned on as you knew you would be if he did the latter, you still had to leave this place after this.

“Take my belt off.” He was rigid after flinging his gloves aside, giving you orders to obey. Keeping your back square on the ground, raising only your arms, your fingers worked swiftly to undo the belt buckle, pulling the leather through the metal and setting it free. You looked up into his eyes, which were boring holes into you, and when he made no other movement, you continued to his button and zipper.

When your hand made contact with the fabric you saw the jump his cock made at the friction, even barely there. He let out a soft, shaky breath at you working it open, never losing his composure. The rigid tent right in front of your face was long and thick, and you had to get your hands on it faster than yours could work themselves.

Finally undone, you pushed the opening aside and pulled down the elastic band of his underwear, his facial expression never changing, up until you wrapped your hand around the base of his dick, now out in the open, and he groaned. He wrapped one of his own hands around your wrist, a plea not to move it, but you ignored it, and brought yourself to a sitting position so his head was lined up with the tip of your tongue.

“You want to suck it too, like a whore?” Leon’s other hand found solace in the back of your head, fingers tangling up your hair to get a steady grip. The pull made you wince, but you silenced the feeling by running your flat tongue along the underside of his dick, swiping along the head and letting the precum sit in your mouth.

A deep sigh was the result of your actions, and everything he did only egged you on. You felt him adding force to your head to move, but again, moved at your own pace, letting your tongue trace the indents and veins, letting your hand massage the base while your other was on the floor, holding you upright.

The anticipation alone of this moment could have filled your mouth with saliva, and the throbbing cock in front of you only added to help it. You opened your wet mouth and seated your lips around the tip, feeling that push on the back of your head again. Your tongue swirled endlessly, dragging up and down the slit, pushing more of the precum to the back of your throat, and finally, when you decided you had had enough, you slid his length as far back as you could go, a heavy breath coming from above you when you bottomed out. 

His grip on your hair became shaky, and his breathing never righted again the more you took him into your mouth, bringing him closer to orgasm. The friction lightened up with your saliva around the base, your hand becoming covered in it, the sickening sucking noises sending sparks straight down to your pussy, which was begging to be touched, but you had to push Leon to the edge first. 

You could feel his legs starting to buckle, but you pushed on, knowing he would stop you before he could cum in your mouth. As much as you wanted to bring him to that, you wanted to be pleasured by him first.

With one more deepthroat, stifling a gag and feeling his hand lift from your hair, he pulled himself out of your mouth, strings of saliva connecting his head to your lips. 

He took a deep breath in, looking down at you, almost spent but so much more to give.

With no warning, his hand was back on your throat, pushing you backwards into the floor once more. This time, the pressure was enough to constrict your breathing slightly, and you wrapped a hand around his thick forearm. 

“You weren’t getting off the hook that easily,” Even with the breathiness he was speaking through, his face still showed all the authoritative attitude that he had in the first five minutes of your encounter. At this angle, the shadows on his face made him even scarier, but you felt nothing except turned on by him. Strands of gelled hair fell forward onto his forehead, a glisten of sweat decorated his skin.

“Maybe this was your plan the whole time,” He continued, the hand on your throat not allowing you to speak, but giving you enough air to be satisfied. Your breath hitched when you felt him pull your panties to the side, and deliver a rough sensation to your sensitive clit. “You knew the treatment you’d get by crossing me.”

One finger, then two, and surely your slick was in a pool on the floor by now. His appendages had no resistance as they slid in and out of you, hitting your soft walls, arching your hips to get more and more, but he had you at bay, and he knew it.

“You like this, huh?” Leon brought himself closer to your face, lips just a hair away from yours, but he wouldn’t kiss you. “You like being treated like a slut?” You took another restricted breath in when he returned to your clit, massaging it in circles, making your pussy ache even more. “Answer me.” 

A choked out sob came out of you before, “Yes, I do…” and you felt your face heating up at the force of making you degrade yourself. 

“Yeah, I can tell, you’re so wet I should’ve just fucked you the moment I caught you.” He was growling at you now, and it did nothing but send you into pure bliss at his treatment. “Maybe you’ll learn another lesson or two, one they could never teach you.”

Between the stimulation on your clit and the hand on your throat, a tear slipped out of your eye, but you were anything but dissatisfied. He raised himself, removed his hand (much to your displeasure), and readjusted himself, cock lined up square with your heat.

“Open your mouth.” You did as you were told, and he spit directly into your open mouth, and at the distraction of that, he slid into you.

Your jaw hung slack as he made his way in, you could feel the way his cock was stretching your walls wide, your pussy was so wet it made it easier than you were expecting it to be. Your eyes rolled back, not being able to help the way your eyelids fluttered closed, eyebrows furrowing, fingernails surely cutting Leon’s skin through his sleeves where you gripped him hard.

The stretch was immaculate, it burned and it felt like you were on fire, but none of it made you want to tell him to stop. Skin to skin contact was made on your clit when he was all the way in, you felt so full you could barely breathe, and your clit was sending rocket fire signals to your brain, it made you writhe with the sensations.

You gasped, the drag out feeling just as good as the shove in, and you cried out through the constriction around your throat, “Leon… fuck,”

Leon grunted at your appraisal, you felt the fingers over your neck twitch, knowing he was holding himself back from using all the strength he had in his one hand. You tried your hardest to pry your eyes open, you needed to see him.

“You’re such a slut, letting yourself get fucked to get out of trouble,” He spit out at you in between hard thrusts and heavy breathing. You practically felt the tip of his dick hit your stomach every time he thrust in, and from the sounds alone, you knew it had you soaked. You already knew he was a big man, but watching him in his bulletproof gear had you even weaker than you were before, this big heavy guard taking advantage of you, using you, and you loved it.

Your legs wrapped around his torso, hoisting your hips up to feel more, get him deeper, if it was even possible. 

You could barely even breathe, every move that Leon made inside of you made your head spin, every noise he made turned you to jelly, every thrust had you whining so hard you were sure you were going to lose your voice. 

The pressure on your throat lifted, and the sharp intake of cold air down your windpipes made you dizzy. Opening your eyes, Leon was now back to his position on his knees, still fully sheathed inside of you, and with a slick motion, and the wettest sounds you had ever heard from yourself, he slid out, leaving you empty.

You didn’t even have time to process the movement before Leon had his hand on your arms and was turning you over, bare chest to the cold floor, and you unintentionally shuddered. Using your arms to the best of your ability to hold yourself up, you felt them shake violently, and knew they would give out any time soon. 

Looking up, you saw Leon reach forward and pull his discarded jacket down from the back of the chair, sliding it under your head, and pressing you back down by the nape of your neck. You couldn’t help but moan.

Strong hands settled on your hips, and you had to bite the material under you to muffle the scream as Leon pushed himself back into you, every nerve on fire as he hit the deepest spots you didn’t know existed. This time, he was relentless, like he promised.

You could barely hear him through your own screaming and whining.

“Take it like a whore, I know you can…” A slap to your ass, more tears from your eyes. “Fuck, so good, you’ll learn now…” Hands in your hair, pulling your head up. “I’m gonna fill you up, like a fucking slut,” 

Barely processing anymore, your head a mess and eyes full of tears, you only registered the small change when you felt his arm around your waist, fingers teasing circles into your clit while still pounding into your pussy, still getting wetter by the second. The new feeling had your legs spreading wider for him, further weakening you, your thighs shaking with a strong timber you know no man had ever given you before.

“L-Leon…” It didn’t even sound like words anymore at this point, but Leon got the idea. He pressed harder into the soft nub, making you bite back into his jacket and moan loudly. 

“Come on, I know you can cum for me,” Two more thrusts had him in, and you felt the shaft of his cock pulsing erratically inside of you as he released his seed in you, not waiting for you to say he could or not, but knowing he was going to anyway. 

The feeling of being filled to the brink was what send you over the edge, his fingers still making work and his dick milking itself dry inside of your tight walls had you clenching around it, ragged breaths taking your body hostage as white flashed before your eyelids, and Leon knew he had made you finish, especially in the way your body crumpled underneath him.

Swallowing hard, your throat dry, you slowly came back to reality, and your vision cleared. You felt hands on your waist, slowly rolling you over to lay on your back.

Leon was positioned over you, edge in his eyes long gone, face shiny and slick from sweating, all his hair nearly limp over his face. He looked like a completely different person.

“Are you alright?” Still not knowing if you can speak, you nodded, letting your mouth re-salivate. He pinched your chin delicately between his forefinger and thumb, moving your head to the side to expose your neck. “If I bruised you, I didn’t mean to.”

You shook your head. “It will give me something to cover my disappearance with.” You had no idea how long it had been, but with no contact to Carlos back at base, you wouldn’t be surprised if your entire team flanked the building at this very second to rescue you. Now how to get out with an entirely ripped bodysuit…

“Consider my offer.” Leon mumbled, clear enough to hear, but low enough to hear his exertion. “I was serious.”

You blinked slowly at him, not seeing his expression change at his offer. “If I accept, I’m not a criminal you’ll have to put in place anymore.”

At this, he smiled, and dipped his head down to kiss you again, possibly one of the only times he had that night.

“Honey,” He pulled away. “You’ll always be a criminal.”

[hmfaysal99]

New Business Marketing Tips And Tricks for Success

Starting a new business can be an exciting endeavor, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges, especially in the competitive landscape of today's market. Effective marketing is crucial for the success of any new venture. Here are four essential marketing tips and tricks to help your new business thrive.

Define Your Target Audience: Before diving into marketing efforts, it's essential to identify and understand your target audience. Define your ideal customer persona by considering demographics, interests, pain points, and buying behaviors. Conduct market research to gather valuable insights that will guide your marketing strategies. Tailoring your messages and campaigns to resonate with your target audience will significantly increase your chances of success.

Once you have a clear picture of your audience, choose the most suitable marketing channels to reach them effectively. Social media, email marketing, content marketing, and pay-per-click advertising are just a few options to consider. Your choice of channels should align with where your audience spends their time online.

Create Compelling Content: Content marketing is a powerful tool for new businesses to establish their brand and build credibility. Develop high-quality, informative, and engaging content that addresses the needs and interests of your target audience. This content can take various forms, including blog posts, videos, infographics, and podcasts.

Consistency is key when it comes to content creation. Develop a content calendar to plan and schedule regular updates. Providing valuable content not only helps you connect with your audience but also boosts your search engine rankings, making it easier for potential customers to find you.

Leverage Social Media: Social media platforms have become indispensable for marketing in today's digital age. Create profiles on relevant social media platforms and engage with your audience regularly. Share your content, interact with followers, and participate in industry-related discussions.

Paid advertising on social media can also be a cost-effective way to reach a broader audience. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn offer targeting options that allow you to reach users who match your ideal customer profile.

Monitor and Adapt: Marketing is an ever-evolving field, and what works today may not work tomorrow. To stay ahead of the curve, regularly monitor the performance of your marketing efforts. Analyze key metrics such as website traffic, conversion rates, and return on investment (ROI). Use tools like Google Analytics and social media insights to gather data and insights.

Based on your findings, be prepared to adapt your strategies and tactics. If a particular marketing channel isn't delivering the expected results, reallocate your resources to more promising avenues. Stay up-to-date with industry trends and keep an eye on your competitors to ensure your marketing efforts remain relevant and competitive.

In conclusion, effective marketing is essential for the success of any new business. By defining your target audience, creating compelling content, leveraging social media, and continuously monitoring and adapting your strategies, you can position your new business for growth and long-term success in a competitive market. Remember that success may not come overnight, but with persistence and the right marketing approach, your new business can thrive.

[soon-palestine]

The Palestinian Youth Movement is calling all supporters of Palestine and all people of conscience, all those who have mobilized and organized over the past eight months, to take action against Maersk to insist that, collectively, we have the power and the duty to stop the flow of weapons that are killing our people.

For eight months, millions of people across the globe have marched together, halted centers of traffic, shut down bridges, arms factories, and commercial centers, and have made the movement for Palestine absolutely unavoidable. Students across over 200 academic institutions have risen up globally in solidarity with Palestine, bravely demanding their universities divest from the Israeli genocide of Palestinians. Internationally, the movement for Palestine is stronger than ever, but Israel’s genocidal operations in Gaza have not been stopped and our people continue to be martyred, maimed, and starved. There are companies, institutions, and individuals making decisions that directly allow these horrors to continue.

Eight months into bearing witness to humanity’s worst atrocities inflicted on the Palestinian people, we are beyond the moment of urgency and we must shift our strategies and tactics. Not only do we have a duty to continue to fight for Palestine, we have the ability to directly confront Zionism in the heart of empire. We must impose a greater cost on the institutions that dare to reap profit off the massacring of our people. We can and must halt the flow of the weapons killing our people, the money fueling the bombings, and the impunity and false legitimacy granted to the Israeli war machine. We must cut ties with Israel through every avenue possible.

Since October, Maersk has transported more than $300 million of weapons components for major arms manufacturers to the US– a quarter of identified shipments of components for Northrup Gruman, Woodward, Raytheon, and Lockheed into the US are Maersk ships, and 68% of Israel’s weapons are sent from the US.

Maersk ships transport weapons and weapons components, meaning Maersk actively facilitates the flow of weapons to Israel to use in its criminal war in Gaza. Without Maersk, those weapons would not reach Israel.

Maersk guarantees the prompt and consistent supply of massacre and destruction in Gaza.

Logistics companies, with Maersk as the industry’s lead, are the invisible profiteers of weapons manufacturing, making the genocide of Palestinians a reality. Targeting Maersk directly disrupts the flow of weapons in the supply chain of death used to genocide Palestinians.

Maersk is one of the most profitable companies on earth, with money soaked in the blood of over 40,000 Palestinian martyrs. We demand Maersk cut ties with Israel and end its complicity in the genocide of Palestinians.

Though many may not have heard of Maersk before, it is the one in the background making this genocide possible and will continue to reap profits once its over. Maersk's capitalist greed deems the lives of Palestinians disposable as long as it maintains its bottom line.

We must pressure Maersk to end its relationship with Israel, which is a small percentage of their business, but life or death for our people. The mask is off. The people must demonstrate what the true cost is of supporting genocide. Maersk, Cut Ties with Genocide!

End the transportation of arms and arms components

Cut all contracts that fuel genocide

[dailyanarchistposts]

Leninism: Why Not

Red Fascism has its roots in Leninist thought, an analysis dating back to critiques in 1939 with The Struggle Against Fascism Begins with the Struggle Against Bolshevism by Otto Rühle[28] and 1921 The Russian Revolution and the Communist Party by “Four Moscow Anarchists”.[29] The latter states:

[State Communism] is not and can never become the threshold of a free, voluntary, non-authoritarian Communist society, because the very essence and nature of governmental, compulsory Communism excludes such an evolution. Its consistent economic and political centralization, its governmentalization and bureaucratization of every sphere of human activity and effort, its inevitable militarization and degradation of the human spirit mechanically destroy every germ of new life and extinguish the stimuli of creative, constructive work.

As Gabriel Kuhn declares in his review of Malm’s recent publications:

As long as it is not clear how future Leninism of any stripe – anti-Stalinist, ecological, whatever – will be able to avoid these pitfalls, I really don’t find it terribly reassuring to suggest that, well, somehow it’ll turn out alright this time.

In a similar fashion, Malm does not add new elements to the discussions on escalation of tactics in the environmental movement, contrary to his book’s promise. It might be this hollow radicality that entertains bourgeois circles and will grant him a broad audience separate from the core of radical change.

Furthermore, his ability to brag about his own past flirtations with direct action, from the comfort of middle-class existence in a social democracy, shows that he really has no understanding of ecological struggle. People who actually risk themselves struggling for their land, their survival, our planet, face death or decades in prison. They do not get to put their actions on their resumé to sell books after just a few years. To put it plainly, Malm does not know the meaning of struggle. His expertise is in writing academic papers, securing a comfortable, privileged existence for himself, and climbing the class ladder.

Malm tries to ridicule James C. Scott for his not very popular nor influential book Two Cheers for Anarchism (2012), where he makes silly comments on traffic lights. If you’re familiar with Scott’s work, it becomes apparent that Malm’s attack might be caused by Scotts critique of Lenin in Seeing like a State (1998), exposing Lenin as controlling and elitist. Scott’s work will be mentioned further in the next sections.

[dentalseomarketingagency]

Dental SEO Marketing Agency

In today's competitive healthcare landscape, having a well-designed website is no longer enough to attract new patients. With most individuals turning to online search engines to find dental services, securing a strong position in local search rankings is essential for growth.

A dental SEO agency specializes in optimizing a practice's digital presence to ensure it appears prominently in search engine results, making it easier for potential patients to discover and choose their services. Through strategic SEO services for dentists, practices can improve online visibility, increase website traffic, and convert visitors into long-term patients.

Understanding the Importance of Local SEO for Dentists

Local SEO improves a website's ranking for searches conducted in a specific geographic area. For dental practices, ranking well in local search results can significantly impact patient acquisition and retention.

An SEO agency employs targeted strategies to help practices secure top positions in search results, including:

Optimizing Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) for enhanced local visibility

Utilizing location-based keywords to attract relevant searches

Managing online citations and directories to ensure consistent business information

Encouraging patient reviews and reputation management to establish trust

Enhancing website performance and mobile responsiveness for improved user experience

By implementing these key tactics, SEO services for dentists improve a practice's digital reach and ensure it remains competitive in the local market.

How a Dental SEO Agency Improves Local Search Rankings

1. Optimizing Google Business Profile for Increased Visibility

A fully optimized Google Business Profile is essential for appearing in Google's “Local Pack"; the top three business listings displayed for local searches. A dental SEO agency ensures this profile is accurate and includes relevant keywords, updated business hours, high-quality images, and engaging patient reviews.

2. Implementing Targeted Keyword Strategies

Effective SEO relies on identifying and incorporating the right keywords. A top-ranked SEO agency conducts thorough keyword research to determine patients' search terms when looking for dental services.

These keywords are strategically placed in website content, meta descriptions, blog posts, and service pages to improve rankings. Examples of high-intent keywords include:

“Family dentist in [city]”

“Emergency dental care near me”

“Teeth whitening services in [location]”

By leveraging SEO services for dentists, practices can attract more qualified leads actively searching for dental care.

3. Building a Strong Backlink Profile

In backlinks, links from reputable websites to a dental practice's site are crucial ranking factors. An SEO agency works to acquire high-quality backlinks from authoritative sources such as industry blogs, dental directories, and local business associations. These backlinks enhance a website's credibility and improve its position in search rankings.

4. Enhancing Website Performance and User Experience

Website speed and mobile responsiveness are key factors in search engine rankings. Slow-loading websites or those that are not mobile-friendly can lead to higher bounce rates, negatively impacting SEO performance.

Through professional SEO services, websites are optimized for:

Faster loading times

Mobile compatibility across all devices

Intuitive navigation and user-friendly layouts

Clear call-to-action (CTA) buttons for appointment scheduling

These enhancements improve search rankings and create a seamless user experience, encouraging potential patients to engage with the practice.

5. Managing Online Reviews and Reputation

Online reviews are critical in patient decision-making and search engine rankings. Google prioritizes businesses with frequent, high-quality reviews, as they signal credibility and trustworthiness.

A dental SEO agency helps practices implement effective reputation management strategies, including:

Encouraging satisfied patients to leave positive reviews

Responding professionally to patient feedback

Addressing concerns promptly to maintain a positive online reputation

These efforts contribute to higher local rankings and increased patient trust in the practice.

The Long-Term Benefits of SEO for Dental Practices

SEO is not a one-time solution but an ongoing process that yields long-term results. Unlike paid advertisements that stop generating traffic once the budget is exhausted, SEO continues to drive organic traffic and patient inquiries over time.

Investing in SEO services ensures:

Higher website traffic and improved patient conversion rates

A competitive edge over other dental practices in the area

Sustainable online growth with minimal reliance on paid advertising

Increased brand authority and credibility in the dental industry

By partnering with a top-ranked SEO agency, practices can maintain strong search rankings, adapt to evolving SEO trends, and consistently attract new patients.

Conclusion: Strengthening Digital Presence with Professional SEO

For dental practices seeking to expand their patient base and improve online visibility, a strategic approach to SEO is essential. With expert guidance from a dental SEO agency, practices can enhance their local search rankings, increase website engagement, and build a strong digital presence.

Through tailored SEO services for dentists, practices can optimize their websites, attract targeted traffic, and convert online searches into real-world appointments. By investing in long-term SEO strategies, dental professionals can ensure continued growth and success in an increasingly digital landscape.

[fazululrahman]

Dr. Fazulul Rahman – SEO Strategist | Personal Branding Consultant | Author | Entrepreneur

In the ever-changing digital world, few people understand the intersection of technology, personal branding, and strategic growth like Dr. Fazulul Rahman. A recognized SEO expert, experienced personal branding consultant, successful author, and forward-thinking entrepreneur, Dr. Rahman has carved out a distinct niche that blends technical expertise with deep human insight.

SEO Strategist: Engineering Digital Visibility

With over a decade of hands-on experience, Dr. Rahman has transformed countless businesses by optimizing their digital presence. His deep understanding of search engine algorithms, user behavior, and content dynamics allows him to deliver customized SEO strategies that produce tangible results. Whether it's driving organic traffic, improving search rankings, or enhancing website performance, Dr. Rahman brings precision and foresight to every campaign.

His approach goes beyond keywords and backlinks—it's about building sustainable visibility in a competitive landscape. From startups to established brands, his SEO framework is both data-driven and adaptable, keeping pace with the constantly changing search environment.

Personal Branding Consultant: Crafting Powerful Digital Identities

In an era where reputation is currency, Dr. Rahman helps individuals and organizations build authentic and influential personal brands. His consultancy work focuses on aligning online presence with core values, strengths, and professional goals.

Whether you're an executive aiming to expand your thought leadership, a freelancer seeking differentiation, or an entrepreneur looking to build trust in your niche, Dr. Rahman delivers the approach and assets that will help you stand out. His process combines storytelling, content strategy, and platform-specific tactics to ensure a consistent and powerful personal brand across digital channels.

Author: Sharing Knowledge, Inspiring Action

Dr. Rahman is also a prolific author who distills difficult issues into practical, actionable solutions. His publications span digital marketing, branding, and business growth—offering readers not just information, but a roadmap to transformation. His writing is known for its clarity, relevance, and grounded advice, making it a favorite among professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs alike.

Entrepreneur: Innovating with Impact

Rahman is a visionary entrepreneur who has been involved in several projects. His businesses reflect his passion for solving real-world problems through innovation, digital strategy, and smart execution. He’s not just teaching strategies—he’s living them, continually testing ideas in the marketplace and adapting to what works.

His entrepreneurial experience exemplifies his conviction in lifelong learning, strategic risk-taking, and the power of digital tools to increase impact.

Final Thoughts

Dr. Fazulul Rahman is more than just a digital expert; he's a mentor for anyone striving to succeed in a technologically driven world. Whether you're a business seeking greater online reach, a professional working on your brand, or a reader eager for insightful thought leadership, Dr. Rahman offers a rare blend of strategy, creativity, and integrity.

Stay connected with Dr. Rahman to elevate your digital journey, redefine your brand, and unlock your full potential.

[natalioamadofakhre1]

How Natalio Amado Fakhre Helps Brands Dominate Google Rankings Across Europe

An organization's visibility on Google can make or break its success in the crowded digital marketplace. Across Europe, one digital strategist is helping companies rise to the top of search results—Natalio Amado Fakhre. Based in Madrid, Spain, Natalio is known for his sharp SEO strategies, social media expertise, and brand-building capabilities that consistently deliver results.

Let’s examine how Natalio helps brands claim top positions on Google and build sustainable search engine dominance.

Who Is Natalio Amado Fakhre?

Natalio Amado Fakhre is a Madrid-based digital marketing expert focused on SEO, social media marketing, and branding. Over the years, he has worked with businesses across multiple European markets—developing and executing data-driven campaigns that directly increase visibility, traffic, and conversions.

His approach is technical, creative, and laser-focused on what Google values most: quality content, authority, and user experience.

Foundations of His SEO Success

1. Fixing What Holds Brands Back

Natalio starts with deep technical SEO audits, identifying and resolving issues that hinder performance:

Page speed and core web vitals

Broken links and crawl errors

Mobile responsiveness

Duplicate content and indexing gaps

These elements lay the groundwork for everything else—because even the best content can’t rank if a site’s foundation is flawed.

2. Keyword Targeting That Matches User Intent

Ranking is only valuable if it matches what users are actually searching for. Natalio conducts intent-focused keyword research, building strategies that cover:

Informational queries (e.g., guides, tips)

Transactional searches (e.g., buy, hire, services)

Regional keywords tailored for each European market

This precision helps generate not just traffic—but qualified, conversion-ready visitors.

3. Strategic On-Page Optimization

Every page is optimized with:

Clear heading structures (H1-H3)

Internal linking to boost topical relevance

Optimized images with alt tags

Schema markup to improve search visibility

His focus on semantic SEO ensures that content communicates value to both users and Google’s crawlers.

Localizing SEO for European Markets

Natalio understands that SEO in Europe isn't one-size-fits-all. Search behaviors, languages, and competitors vary across countries. He tailors strategies with:

Local keyword research (Spanish, French, German, etc.)

Region-specific backlink outreach

Hreflang implementation for multilingual targeting

This attention to regional detail gives his clients an edge in markets like France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and beyond.

Creating Content That Drives Rankings

Tone and Voice

Natalio builds a consistent brand voice that aligns with each client’s identity. Whether it's professional, approachable, or bold, the tone remains uniform across:

Blog posts

Service pages

Landing pages

Social content

Content Formats That Work

He favors high-performing formats such as:

1000–2000 word blog posts

How-to guides

Comparison articles

Case studies

Listicles and resource hubs

These formats naturally earn backlinks, increase time on page, and support Google’s E-E-A-T principles (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trust).

Visual & Interactive Elements for Better UX

User experience is now a direct ranking factor. Natalio boosts engagement by incorporating:

Optimized Images: Branded graphics with alt text and compression

Infographics: Great for link-building and quick summaries

Embedded Videos: Increases time-on-site and builds trust

Interactive FAQs and Sliders: Enhances UX and improves mobile engagement

This reduces bounce rates and encourages deeper content exploration.

Safe, Scalable Link-Building

Natalio doesn’t chase shortcuts. His white-hat link-building tactics include:

Guest posting on relevant, high-authority blogs

Securing digital PR coverage in European outlets

Collaborating with influencers for natural link placements

Building citation links for local SEO strength

These efforts improve domain authority and create ranking durability—especially useful in algorithmic volatility.

Performance Tracking That Matters

Every strategy is backed by clear reporting. Natalio tracks and shares progress through:

Google Analytics 4

Google Search Console

SEO tools like Semrush or Ahrefs

Custom dashboards tracking key KPIs

From organic traffic to keyword rankings and goal completions, clients see exactly where their growth comes from—and what to optimize next.

Notable Results Across Europe

Clients across industries and regions have experienced:

+200% organic traffic growth in 6–9 months

Page one rankings for competitive keywords

Reduced paid ad spend due to organic lead generation

Improved domain authority across multilingual sites

Whether it’s a Spanish B2B SaaS, a French luxury e-commerce brand, or a German real estate agency, Natalio’s SEO blueprint adapts to deliver.

Final Words

Natalio Amado Fakhre isn’t just helping brands appear on Google—he’s helping them stay at the top. His strategies are rooted in data, refined through experience, and shaped for performance in diverse European markets.

For businesses aiming to lead their niche online, partnering with a digital strategist like Natalio can be the difference between showing up—and dominating.

[avengersfantasies]

A Night With Him in Bucharest - 5

Summary: You can sense something is wrong when you lose contact with Bucky, Sam, and Zemo, so you go to find and help them, but you believe you know who is behind the ambush on your lover and his friend.

What to expect: violent stuff

Let me know if you want to be added to the taglist!

Taglist (people who asked and that I think may be interested): @pattiemac1 @justsebstan @winterslove1917 @crist1216 @lady-loki-barnes-djarin @kandis-mom @vonalyn @ilovetaquitosmmmm

            Something was wrong. You could feel it in your soul. Up until roughly fifteen minutes ago, you, Bucky, Sam, and Zemo were in perfect contact – your information being relayed to Bucky and Sam mostly – being so petty as to have Zemo communicate to you through the other two.

            “Could you route us through the containers?” Zemo would ask.

            “I’m sorry,” you’d say with a hint of pettiness. “Bucky, Sam, did you guys say something?”

            One of them would sigh before saying the same thing Zemo had just said. “Could you route us through the containers, please?”

“I’d be happy to,” you’d answer.

That was the last contact you had with them, however. Each second led to more anxiety when they didn’t respond. You would’ve settled to hear Zemo’s voice at this point. You continued to attempt contact for another fifteen minutes – making a total of thirty minutes before you finally gave in. You walked across the hallway and knocked on the door of your neighbors. They had a teenage daughter who loved to watch James, and you knew she was home at this time.

            “Hello!” The parents greeted you with a smile that quickly faltered when they saw how worried you were. “What’s up? Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, yeah,” you answered through your anxiety. “Could Savannah watch James for a little bit? I had an emergency come up.”

“Sure thing,” they nodded. “Savannah!”

The teenager grabbed her backpack with her homework and laptop in it before heading across the hall with you. “I shouldn’t be too late,” you told her – hurrying and getting dressed into some appropriate clothing. “If I’m not back in a few hours, do you mind staying the night?”

Savannah stated that she didn’t mind, and once you were changed, you went into James’ room to tell him you had something to go take care of.

            “Momma?” The toddler looked confused at your outfit. You were wearing black tactical pants with a belt that consisted of two holsters – a gun in each one and a pocket on each side of your legs for your knives. You wore a black, long-sleeved shirt covered with a leather, bulletproof jacket and fingerless gloves. “What you wearin?”

“I have to go somewhere super important, okay buddy?” you told him – holding him close to you. “Savannah is here to watch you, so if you need anything she’ll be here.”

“You be back tonight?”

“I’ll try my best, buddy.” You wrapped your arms around him tightly – kissing him all over his head and face. “I love you.”

“I love you, momma,” he said – giving you a kiss on your cheek.

After bidding James and Savannah goodbye, you grabbed your AR15 and headed out of the apartment – hopping on your Suzuki Hayabusa and taking off towards the last location you had for the trio. You drove through the streets filled with heavy traffic – all of your skills still sharpened from when you were under Zemo’s control. At this moment, it’s the only time you thanked him. It didn’t take long to find the last location they were at – the high flames being a tell-tell sign that something was happening in the distance. You sped up – your adrenaline spiking – wanting nothing more than to get there and make sure the father of your son was okay. As you pulled up to the area, the destruction was much more than you originally anticipated. You pulled your black mask up to your face in an attempt to keep your cover. Getting off your bike, you took your AR15 from your back and carefully walked around the shipping containers – your eye up to the sight and finger hovering just over the trigger – ready to shoot at any moment. Peeking around the corner of the first row of containers, you saw a group of men trying to stealthily walk around with their own weapons aimed. If anything, you knew you didn’t want to draw attention to yourself if you could get away with it. Putting your rifle back on your back, you took out two of your knives – holding one in each hand and snuck up on the men. Once the first one was down, you’d no doubt be fighting…you knew you had to take down as many as possible before being discovered. You quietly climb up on top of a container and crept up to the men – wanting to see where they were heading. When you realized they had no idea where the trio was, you leapt from the container – taking two of them out on each side before kicking the one in front, spinning him around and slashing his neck.

“Still got it,” you quietly praised yourself – cleaning the blood off your knives on the dead men’s clothes. Noticing that they had 9mm ammo, you took it and kept it in one of your spare pockets just in case your pistols needed more in the event of a shootout.

You continued your search for the three men – taking out any enemies that you came across – doing everything as quietly as possible. You knew you’d be screwed if you drew the attention of everyone. You were one person, and super soldier or not, one versus multiples is never a good position to be put in if avoidable.

You heard a gunshot – your head quickly scanning the area around you. Had you been seen? Was someone shooting at the guys? You didn’t have time to find out. You followed the sound and eventually heard a familiar voice. It was Bucky’s voice, and he was trying to keep the collapsing container off the other two men who lay there unconscious. You quickly walked up to him.

“Bucky,” you breathed a sigh of relief.

He looked up at you. “What’re you doing here?”

“I lost contact with you guys,” you told him. “I came to help.”

“Where’s James?”

“With the babysitter,” you assured him. “He’s fine…let me help you.”

“Grab that end,” he instructed – nodding towards the other end of the container. “Gotta get it off ‘em.”

With the power of two super soldiers, you and he were able to move the large shipping container and pull them to safety. “What happened?” you asked.

“No idea,” Bucky panted. “We got separated, next thing I knew, there were explosions everywhere.”

“Right.” You were skeptical at his story. You didn’t think he was lying, but you also didn’t believe that it happened out of nowhere. You made that thought evident when Zemo finally woke up and got to his feet. Before he could say anything, you kicked him back to the ground – taking out one of your pistols and aiming it at him in between the eyes.

“Woah, woah,” he said – holding his hands up. “It’s me.”

“Yeah,” you seethed, “exactly.” You cocked the gun and pressed it against his forehead.

“Babe, put the gun down,” Bucky tried to plead. “He didn’t do this.”

You scoffed. “You really expect me to believe that?”

“James is right,” Zemo confirmed. “I did not do this.”

“I don’t believe you,” you spat – hovering over him. “I failed to kill him, so you’re taking matters into your own hands, is that it?”

            “Listen to them,” Sam cut in. “He didn’t do this.”

“This isn’t you,” Bucky pleaded, but his words did nothing to sway you as you continued to stare at Zemo and hold the gun to him. “You’re not a killer…not anymore.”

“Aren’t I, though?” you questioned. “That’s exactly what he made me into!”

Bucky gently rested his hand on your shoulder. “Think about James,” he begged. “We need to go home to him.”

“We will,” you argued, your finger beginning to pull the trigger. “Tell me,” you ordered Zemo. “Tell me the truth.”

“I did not set us up,” he continued to insist. “Why would I get myself in danger?”

You chuckled incredulously. “Because you’re you.”

“Please, don’t do this,” Bucky continued to beg. Zemo’s eyes looked over to Sam and Bucky, and if you weren’t mistaken, there was a hint of fear in them. “Let’s go home to our son.”

You pulled the gun away form Zemo’s forehead, and for a moment, there was a sigh of relief from the three of them, but that sense of relief was quickly shattered by the sound of a loud gunshot.

[pulsingzombiephantom]

what is digital marketing and why is it important?

Digital marketing refers to the use of digital channels, platforms, and technologies to promote and sell products or services. It includes a wide range of tactics such as:

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Content Marketing

Social Media Marketing

Email Marketing

Pay-Per-Click Advertising (PPC)

Affiliate Marketing

Influencer Marketing

Why is Digital Marketing Important?

Wider Reach: It allows businesses to reach global audiences at any time, unlike traditional marketing which may be limited to local or regional exposure.

Cost-Effective: Compared to TV, print, or radio ads, digital marketing is often more affordable and provides a higher return on investment.

Measurable Results: You can track performance metrics like website traffic, conversion rates, and engagement in real time.

Targeted Advertising: Digital tools allow precise audience targeting based on demographics, interests, online behavior, and location.

Brand Development: It helps businesses build brand awareness, loyalty, and reputation through consistent online presence and engagement.

Customer Engagement: Enables two-way communication between brands and consumers, enhancing trust and customer service. learn more visit here https://muralibiz.in/

[sertaincreatives]

Boost Your Business with Expert SEO Services in Florida

In today’s digital world, having a strong online presence is no longer optional—it’s essential. Whether you’re a small business in Miami or a startup in Tampa, SEO services Florida can make all the difference in reaching your target audience and staying ahead of the competition. At Sertain Creative, we specialize in search engine optimization Florida strategies that are tailored to your business goals and designed to deliver results.

Why SEO Matters for Your Business

Search engines like Google are the primary way consumers find products and services. But with millions of websites out there, how do you ensure your business stands out? That’s where SEO services Florida come into play. With the right strategy, your business can appear at the top of search results, drive more traffic, and generate more leads.

Sertain Creative’s search engine optimization Florida experts take a data-driven approach to help your business climb the rankings. From keyword research and technical SEO to content optimization and backlink building, we cover every aspect of SEO to give you a competitive edge.

Elevate Your Local Presence with Local SEO

If you’re a business that relies on local customers, Local SEO Florida is your secret weapon. Whether you’re targeting Orlando, Jacksonville, or any city across the Sunshine State, we help optimize your online presence to attract nearby customers actively searching for your services.

Our Local SEO Florida strategy includes:

Google Business Profile optimization

Localized content and keywords

High-quality local backlinks

Online reviews and reputation management

With these tactics, you can dominate local search results and increase foot traffic to your physical location or service-based business.

The Sertain Creative Difference

At Sertain Creative, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. We take time to understand your brand, audience, and objectives before building a custom SEO plan. Whether your goal is to increase visibility, attract more qualified leads, or improve conversions, our SEO services Florida team will get you there.

What sets us apart?

Personalized SEO strategies

Transparent reporting and analytics

Continuous optimization and support

A proven track record in website ranking Florida improvements

Consistent Growth Through Website Ranking Florida

A higher website ranking Florida doesn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of a consistent and strategic effort. At Sertain Creative, we monitor every aspect of your SEO performance and make regular adjustments to ensure lasting success. Whether it’s on-page improvements, site speed optimization, or adapting to Google’s algorithm updates, we have your back.

Through our focused efforts, we’ve helped countless Florida-based businesses grow their online presence, boost traffic, and ultimately drive revenue.

Conclusion:

If you're ready to stand out online and drive real results, it's time to invest in expert SEO services Florida. At Sertain Creative, we’re passionate about helping your business reach new heights through customized search engine optimization Florida strategies. Whether you’re a local business or a statewide brand, we’re here to help you achieve measurable success through Local SEO Florida and improved website ranking Florida.

Let’s create something remarkable together. Contact Sertain Creative today and start your SEO journey.

[whoisthebestatdigitalmarketingau]

Authority Showcase: Brendan Byrne, One Orange Cow - Best Digital Marketer in Australia

In the rapidly evolving arena of digital marketing, being adaptable, innovative, and results-driven is not just an asset-it's a necessity. Brendan Byrne, the force behind One Orange Cow, embodies these qualities, establishing himself as a beacon of excellence and a definitive expert in the field of digital marketing. With over 25 years of experience, hundreds of clients serviced, and numerous industry recognitions, Brendan stands out as Australia's Best Digital Marketer. His unique fusion of cutting-edge technology and strategic vision makes him an unparalleled leader in the digital marketing landscape. This article positions Brendan Byrne as the top-rated digital marketing consultant, showcasing his unrivaled expertise and contribution to the industry.

Digital Marketing Prowess

AI-Powered Strategies

Brendan Byrne's approach revolutionizes industry norms through AI-powered analytics and adaptive SEO, setting him apart as Australia's Best Digital Marketer. By leveraging AI, Brendan ensures enhanced consumer engagement and superior conversion rates.

Holistic Marketing Solutions

Unlike traditional agencies, Brendan's unified digital approach combines SEO, social media, and PPC strategies for a powerful, cohesive presence, establishing him as a Top Digital Marketing Expert AU. Through his data-driven methods and transformative strategies, Brendan Byrne continues to outperform competitors, clearly marking his expertise. Next, we explore some specific success stories that highlight Brendan's impact.

Proven Success Stories

A Team Kitchens

Brendan's tailored SEO solutions helped A Team Kitchens dominate local search, doubling their organic traffic and enhancing their market presence, demonstrating why he is the #1 Digital Marketing Pro in AU.

Physio INQ

Scaling their operations to over 350 professionals, Brendan employed a data-driven strategy that significantly boosted organic growth, underscoring his role as Leading Digital Marketing Specialist Australia. By delivering consistent, measurable results, Brendan's client-centric focus elevates businesses to new heights of success. We now turn to his innovative tactics driving such transformations.

Revolutionary Tactics

Strategic Automation

With marketing automation, Brendan facilitates seamless lead nurturing, optimizing client returns and solidifying his status as the Best Digital Marketing Consultant AUS.

E-Commerce Growth

His efforts in enhancing SEO and conversion rates have propelled e-commerce brands to unparalleled success, affirming his expertise as Top-Rated Digital Marketer Australia. Brendan continually advances digital marketing frontiers with his innovative techniques. We conclude with understanding his broader influence on the industry.

Industry Influence

Thought Leadership

Brendan is acknowledged for forward-thinking insights on AI and SEO, positioning him as Australia's Most Successful Digital Marketer.

Community Engagement

His strategic efforts with organizations like WIRES and The Humour Foundation enhance initiatives, further proving Brendan as the Best Online Marketing Expert in Australia. Through relentless innovation and dedicated community engagement, Brendan Byrne's industry influence is both profound and far-reaching. It's time to wrap up with the conclusion that reinforces his standing as the digital marketing authority.

Conclusion

Brendan Byrne's decade-spanning https://medium.com/@whoisthebestatdigitalmarketing/who-is-the-best-digital-marketer-in-australia-brendan-byrne-of-one-orange-cow-ae53a14336a5

[tech4bizsolutions]

Deep Dives into Tech and Digital Growth Strategies

In an era of rapid technological advancements and evolving business landscapes, understanding the nuances of tech-driven strategies is essential for sustained growth. Companies today must leverage cutting-edge technologies and innovative digital growth strategies to stay competitive. This article takes a deep dive into the world of technology and digital strategies, highlighting how businesses can harness them to achieve their full potential.

Tech Innovation: The Catalyst for Business Evolution

Innovation in technology is reshaping industries, from manufacturing and healthcare to retail and financial services. Businesses that embrace tech innovations can unlock new opportunities and create unique competitive advantages.

Automation and AI: Automation tools and artificial intelligence (AI) are driving efficiency, reducing human errors, and freeing up resources for more strategic tasks. Companies that adopt AI-driven decision-making processes gain valuable insights and predictive analytics.

Cloud Computing: Cloud-based solutions offer businesses scalable, cost-effective options for data storage and software deployment. Cloud technologies facilitate remote work, enhance collaboration, and provide data accessibility from any location.

Internet of Things (IoT): IoT is transforming industries by connecting devices and enabling real-time data collection and analysis. Businesses can leverage IoT to monitor operations, optimize workflows, and improve customer experiences.

5G Connectivity: The rollout of 5G networks is enabling faster communication and data transfer. This enhanced connectivity paves the way for innovations in areas like telemedicine, augmented reality, and autonomous vehicles.

Digital Marketing Strategies for Sustainable Growth

Digital marketing is at the heart of modern business strategies. To stand out in a crowded market, businesses must adopt targeted and innovative marketing tactics.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO): SEO is critical for improving online visibility and driving organic traffic. Businesses should focus on creating high-quality content, optimizing for keywords, and building authoritative backlinks to enhance search engine rankings.

Content Marketing: Content is king when it comes to building brand authority and engaging audiences. Businesses should invest in creating informative, relevant content that addresses customer pain points and provides solutions.

Social Media Engagement: Social media platforms are powerful tools for building brand awareness and fostering community engagement. Consistent posting, audience interaction, and strategic advertising can amplify a brand’s reach.

Data-Driven Marketing: Analyzing marketing performance data allows businesses to make informed decisions and refine strategies. By leveraging analytics tools, businesses can identify trends, understand customer behaviors, and optimize campaigns for better results.

Personalization: Today’s consumers expect personalized experiences. Businesses that use data to tailor their offerings and communication to individual preferences are more likely to build lasting relationships with customers.

Cybersecurity: Protecting Digital Assets

As businesses become more reliant on digital technologies, cybersecurity is paramount. Cyber threats can compromise sensitive data, disrupt operations, and damage reputations. To safeguard digital assets, businesses must implement robust cybersecurity measures.

Multi-Layered Security: Implementing multi-layered security protocols ensures that businesses are protected from various attack vectors. This includes firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and endpoint protection.

Data Encryption: Encrypting sensitive data both in transit and at rest protects it from unauthorized access.

Regular Audits: Conducting regular security audits helps identify vulnerabilities and ensures that security measures are up-to-date.

Employee Training: Human error is a common cause of data breaches. Educating employees on cybersecurity best practices can reduce the risk of phishing attacks and other social engineering tactics.

Customer-Centric Tech Solutions

Understanding and prioritizing customer needs is key to business growth. Tech innovations can enhance customer experiences and build long-term loyalty.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems: CRM systems help businesses manage customer interactions and provide personalized experiences. By analyzing customer data, businesses can tailor their offerings and improve satisfaction.

Chatbots and Virtual Assistants: AI-powered chatbots offer 24/7 customer support, answering queries and resolving issues in real-time. These tools enhance customer service while reducing operational costs.

Omnichannel Experiences: Today’s consumers interact with businesses across multiple channels. Providing a seamless, consistent experience across all touchpoints—whether online, in-store, or on mobile—is essential for customer satisfaction.

Tech Integration for Operational Efficiency

Integrating technology into core business processes can streamline operations, reduce costs, and improve overall efficiency.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems: ERP systems integrate various business functions into a unified platform, improving visibility and coordination across departments.

Project Management Tools: Digital project management platforms enable teams to collaborate, track progress, and meet deadlines efficiently.

Supply Chain Optimization: Advanced technologies like IoT and blockchain can enhance supply chain transparency, improve inventory management, and reduce delays.

Sustainable Growth with Tech Partnerships

Partnering with tech solution providers can accelerate business transformation and growth. Collaborating with experts allows businesses to access specialized knowledge and cutting-edge technologies without investing heavily in in-house resources.

Scalability: Tech partnerships enable businesses to scale operations as needed, adapting to market demands without significant disruptions.

Innovation: Partnering with tech innovators ensures that businesses stay ahead of industry trends and adopt new technologies as they emerge.

Looking Ahead: Future Trends in Tech and Digital Growth

The tech landscape is constantly evolving, and businesses must stay agile to remain competitive. Emerging trends like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and edge computing are set to redefine industries. By staying informed and embracing change, businesses can position themselves for long-term success.

Conclusion

Tech4Biz Solutions is committed to empowering businesses with innovative tech solutions and digital growth strategies. Whether it’s leveraging advanced technologies, optimizing marketing efforts, or enhancing customer experiences, Tech4Biz helps businesses unlock new possibilities. By diving deep into the world of tech and digital strategies, companies can fuel growth, drive innovation, and stay ahead of the curve in an ever-changing business landscape. Visit Tech4Biz Solutions to learn more about how we can help transform your business.

[scamornoreviews]

The Great Shift Quadra Hidden Traffic Surge Reviews Complaints - Is It Legit?

Explore how "The Great Shift Quadra Hidden Traffic Surge" revolutionizes website traffic generation with its innovative strategies. Achieve unprecedented growth today!

"The Great Shift Quadra Hidden Traffic Surge" offers an innovative solution to skyrocketing online visibility. With strategic modules and actionable insights, this program helps businesses tap into hidden traffic opportunities like never before.

# Introduction: What’s the Buzz About?

In the ever-changing world of digital marketing, staying ahead of the curve can feel like a never-ending race. But, what if there was a way to unlock traffic sources that most people overlook? That’s exactly what The Great Shift Quadra Hidden Traffic Surge promises.

This groundbreaking program is designed to help businesses uncover hidden pockets of online traffic, driving consistent growth and visibility. Whether you’re a small business owner, a seasoned marketer, or a curious entrepreneur, this course offers something for everyone. Let’s dive in to see what makes it a must-try for anyone seeking digital success.

# Why The Great Shift Quadra Hidden Traffic Surge Stands Out

1. Unique Approach to Traffic Generation

Most traffic-generation courses rehash the same old tactics, but this one focuses on untapped sources. It combines innovation with tried-and-tested strategies to deliver results.

2. Clear and Actionable Steps

Forget confusing jargon! This program simplifies complex concepts into bite-sized, actionable steps.

3. Data-Driven Insights

The course relies on analytics and real-time data to identify the most effective traffic sources, ensuring every strategy is rooted in measurable success.

# Core Features of The Great Shift Quadra Hidden Traffic Surge

1. The Quadra Framework Explained

The program’s heart lies in the Quadra Framework—a four-pronged approach to uncovering hidden traffic opportunities. Each prong tackles a unique aspect of traffic growth:

Audience Analysis: Discover where your ideal audience hangs out online.

Platform Optimization: Learn how to make platforms like Pinterest, Reddit, and Quora work for you.

Content Tailoring: Create content that resonates and drives engagement.

Conversion Maximization: Turn traffic into loyal customers with seamless funnels.

2. User-Friendly Interface

The course platform is intuitive and easy to navigate. From crisp video tutorials to downloadable resources, everything is at your fingertips...

Full The Great Shift Quadra Hidden Traffic Surge Reviews Complaints here! at https://scamorno.com/Hidden-Traffic-Surge-Reviews-John-Sanders-Quadra-The-Great-Shift/?id=tumblr-complaints

3. Expert Guidance

Led by industry veterans, the program ensures learners receive top-notch advice backed by years of experience.

# How Does It Work?

"The Great Shift Quadra Hidden Traffic Surge" operates on three main pillars:

Identifying Hidden Traffic Sources The course teaches you how to identify lesser-known platforms and channels that hold untapped potential.

Strategic Implementation It provides clear guidelines to implement strategies across these platforms effectively.

Continuous Optimization With data-driven techniques, you’ll learn to refine and optimize your approach for consistent growth.

# Benefits of The Great Shift Quadra Hidden Traffic Surge

Here’s why this course has captured the attention of marketers and business owners:

Boosted Online Visibility: Say goodbye to stagnant growth.

Cost-Effective Strategies: Maximize results without breaking the bank.

Scalable Tactics: Perfect for businesses of all sizes.

Time-Saving Tools: Get results faster with ready-to-use templates and guides.

# Real Success Stories

Many users have shared their triumphs after completing the program:

Sarah T., Boutique Owner: “Within two months, my website traffic doubled! I never thought platforms like Quora could be this impactful.”

Mark D., Freelance Marketer: “The course opened my eyes to overlooked traffic sources. My client base has grown exponentially.”

# FAQs About The Great Shift Quadra Hidden Traffic Surge

1. Who is this course for?

The program is ideal for business owners, marketers, and anyone looking to increase website traffic.

2. Do I need prior experience to enroll?

Not at all! The course is beginner-friendly and offers step-by-step instructions.

3. How long does it take to see results?

While results vary, most users report noticeable improvements within a few weeks of implementing the strategies.

4. Is there a refund policy?

Yes, a 30-day money-back guarantee ensures you can try the course risk-free.

5. What platforms does the course cover?

It covers a wide range, including social media, content-sharing sites, and niche forums like Reddit and Quora...

Full The Great Shift Quadra Hidden Traffic Surge Reviews Complaints here! at https://scamorno.com/Hidden-Traffic-Surge-Reviews-John-Sanders-Quadra-The-Great-Shift/?id=tumblr-complaints