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starsarefire824 · 8 months

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Byler Fic Recs

I haven't posted some fic recs in a while so I thought I would!

Here are some ones I love:

In Undertow (M) by olliecoddle (@souverian-are-we): This is my favorite thing I'm reading right now. It's. Just. So. Good.

The Wheeler’s lakehouse was a two-story wooden building with white siding and blue shutters on each of the little windows. It sat on the edge of a large blue-green lake, a long backyard full of tall tufted grass that ended in a wooden dock extending out over the water. Will had been to the Wheeler’s lakehouse twice as a child, once when he was eight and again when he was sixteen. Now, he was twenty-nine and pulling up to the long driveway of the house in his beaten-up Ford Escort, his stomach in nervous knots that he was trying to calm with a half-full can of ginger ale.

or, four months after one byers/wheeler couple breaks up, another gets married. and, of course, will and mike are both the best men. and, of course, there is a plot to get them back together. nothing goes to plan.

one soft infested summer (M) by wheelersboy (@lucasvenkman)" The Stoned Byler to ever be stoned. And it's sexy and emotional and just delicious summer vibes. And I'll forever be thankful for the Director's Cut. 😉

The Party spend their last summer before college together at Summerfest in Milwaukee. Oh yeah, and they're stoners.

My Teeth In Your Neck (T) by @foodiewithdahoodie: Boarding school, sexual tension, and fencing. It's dope.

Mike and Will used to be friends. Best friends! But after one fight they couldn't come back from during the summer, they haven't spoken to each other since. The only time they cross paths is on the piste, with epee swords brandished, as fencing rivals for their opposing boarding schools - Hawkins High vs Lenora Hills Prep. This year is no different, except it kind of is. Something pulls them together and this time they can't escape it. Because there's no Mike without Will and there's no Will without Mike. Simple as that.

the strawberries are dying (T) by @eggowls Rated T: the world needs more historical au Byler fics, and this one is perfect. Beautifully written and an interesting premise. I have to catch up on this one.

At the height of the stock market crash, the Wheelers are the richest family in Roane County and in need of domestic servants to fulfill their estate's needs. In a bout of desperation, they end up hiring the Byers family, much to everyone’s (except Nancy’s, who has a crush on Jonathan) chagrin.

However, in the midst of it all, two outcasted young boys from completely different lives find a light in each other. And—slowly—their lives begin to intertwine to the point of no return.

need, lie, mean, cry (T) by @willow-lark: a good shorty fic with lots of angst!

Nobody needs Mike Wheeler. He probably wouldn't be so mad about it if Will hadn't lied and made him think otherwise.

Let's Go Crazy Together (but not like this) (M) by Julia_Skysong: Byler hate each other and end up sharing a room at rehab. It's awkward. I'm only halfway through, but I'm loving it.

Anger, fear, trauma, grief. One turned to alcohol. One turned to drugs. Now, somehow, they've ended up sharing a room at the same mental hospital. Will and Mike are stuck, forced to work through their issues together, for better or for worse.

things i can't say (T) by @chiquitablanquita. Switched notebook trope, my beloved. I really liked the writing here.

Will’s sketches contain a confession: he’s in love with his best friend. Unfortunately, his best friend’s journal looks a lot like his sketchbook.

If You Stay (M) by Flurryofstarz. A The Proposal AU, Byler edition. It's fucking cute. Impatiently awaiting an update.

Faced with the threat of deportation, career-oriented Mike Wheeler says he's engaged to his hapless assistant, Will Byers. Will commits to the lie while imposing a few conditions of his own. With a skeptical immigration official waiting for them to slip up, the two must work together to fool their friends and families into believing that their once-strained relationship has since evolved into true love.

But what happens when they start to believe the lie too?

Or, the fic inspired by the enemies-to-lovers rom-com, The Proposal (2009).

he could be a bee to a blossom (E) by anonymous: I loooveed the writing. Truly a Tragedy that it's anonymous.

Mike reached down and grabbed something. He was seated on the edge of the bed, curled towards him with his knee resting near Will’s pillow. He had a carton of freshly washed and cut fruit in his hand. “I already went to the grocery store and got, like, a million things. We could probably shelter in place here for a month and a half.”

Mike said it in a way that was not remotely sexy, but it still made something in Will’s stomach heat. He almost felt like purring, kneading his hands into the mattress with satisfaction. [My alpha got that for me. My alpha is making sure I’m healthy and hydrated. My alpha is taking such good care of me.]

A record scratch went off in Will’s head. Christ alive, Mike was NOT his alpha.

(A/B/O AU… And they were roommates!)

Be mine through the Hawkinspocalypse (and I'll be yours forever) (E) by TikaWayward: I love this whole series. It's unique and sexy and well written.

Mike was long. Long frame extended in a stretch. Long limbs shaking from exhaustion. Long fingers clenched around ripped sheets. Long hair damp with sweat, sticking to his long pale nape and freckled shoulders. Even his back seemed long as he tensed. Will had to commit this view to memory, engrave it in his mind forever. Even if it was the only time they ever shared such intimacy, even if Mike had only asked him for help because he was there, familiar, convenient, and they needed his heat to stop as soon as possible. There are goddamned monsters out there Will, I can’t be in heat right now, I can’t! He needed to revere this moment.

Mike truly was the most beautiful creature Will had laid his eyes on. __________________________________________________________________

Or Mike presents as an omega in the middle of his patrol with Will in a monster infested forest.

The Best Ever Death Metal Band Out of Hawkins (M) by olliecoddle (@souverian-are-we): uhmmmmm, I'm obsessed with this. Rock star angsty Byler.

Will had the same pre-show ritual before every gig he ever performed. About twenty minutes before he had to go on stage, he would lock himself in any confined space he could find. In a bathroom stall, his dressing room, the maintenance closet, he would turn off the lights and hide for a few minutes. Today, though, it was five minutes before he had to go on stage, the clock ticking down, and he had spent the last half hour wandering around the venue looking for Mike Wheeler.

Will needed to talk to him.

or, the party has a band. will and mike make out on stage. for the bit, of course. it causes problems.

I’m a Wreck (Without You Here) (M) by @talkingtothelights. I'm only on the first chapter but it's so heartbreaking and emotional. Good shit.

Mike has been living 2,200 miles away from his family and hometown for the past fourteen years. He rarely visits, but when he receives heartbreaking news, he’s forced to return home for a funeral. It’s in this unfortunate chapter of life that Mike must come to terms with the consequences of abruptly running away from home and perhaps reconnect with the one person he’s tried his damnedest to forget about.

not strong enough to be your man (T) by @perexcri. The prose is fucking beautiful. I really enjoyed this one.

He swallows down a flurry of all the things he wants to say – every moment and untold truth and aching thought that’s bruised his mind for years – but it comes out so plain, so stark and oddly-jagged in the silence following the lighting, taking up space where thunder should be:

“I meant it, Will. You’re not an inconvenience.”

Will shakes his head and turns.

Mike wants to feel like he's meaningful, like he's an active part of his own life - worthwhile.

It's a good thing Will needs him now more than ever.

Right?

Make Believe (E) by FlurryofStarz. One of all time favorites. Amazing slow burn and super interesting a/b/o dynamics. Mike centric. I cannot wait until the plot point I think is going to happen is revealed. 👀

There's absolutely no way to know what a person will present as ahead of time, but Mike's never been more certain about something in his life. Will Byers is going to be an Omega--a male Omega--and the second that happens, he'll lose everything. Some knothead Alpha like Troy or James will claim him as their own and no one will be able to stop them. Luckily, the Party has a plan. It might be complicated and unconventional. It might not even be legal, but it's something and that's all Will really needs. Something. And Mike's more than willing to try it if it means saving Will.

But what if Will isn't the one who needs saving?

*** if you’re listed here and want to be tagged let ms know!

#byler #byler fanfic rec #fic recs #will byers #mike wheeler #stranger things #if youre in the mood for some good shit.

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navimumbainavigator · 6 months

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Culinary Delights of Navi Mumbai: A Foodie's Guide to Street Eats and Gourmet Treats

Navi Mumbai, the well-planned satellite twin city across Mumbai harbor, promises gourmands not just efficient infrastructure but also culinary adventures galore. From street food hawkers dishing out chaat and vada pav with localized twists to stand-alone restaurants offering global cuisines, Navi Mumbai is a food lover's paradise waiting to be explored.

Street Food of Navi Mumbai

Street food is the best introduction to any new city and Navi Mumbaikars have adapted Mumbai favorites like pani puri, bhel and sandwiches to suit local palates.

Vashi Station

The bustling lanes around Vashi station offer quick bites for daily commuters from morning to night. Grab a steaming cup of cutting chai or try out the Vashi pav bhaji with a dollop of butter and sprinkle of lemon for a burst of flavors.Vashi Station Street FoodSpicy local street food like vada pav is popular in Navi Mumbai

Other popular snacks doing the rounds are Misal Pav, an assortment of spicy curried lentils on bread and Sabudana Vada, crisp fritters made from tapioca.

Seawoods and Nerul

Seawoods and Nerul stretch out towards the serene Palm Beach shoreline but the food stalls here are all about spice and flavors.

Indulge in Chinese Bhel, a variation of the puffed rice snack tossed with Indo-Chinese sauces or sample Tawa Pav dripping with red chutney and crispy veggies. The area also has its share of Tibetan food joints serving steaming momos just like in Mumbai.

Belapur

In Belapur near the railway station, keep an eye out for mobile carts selling ice-golas, colorful ices topped with sweet and tangy syrups to beat the heat. Belapur is also famous for its flavorful Misal Pav topped generously with farsan (savory crunchy bits).Iconic Eateries of Navi Mumbai

Beyond street food, Navi Mumbai has a thriving culinary landscape dotted with restaurants renowned for their comforting Maharashtrian fare, North Indian flavors and even global cuisines.

Prakash Shakahari Upahar Kendra

No discussion of Navi Mumbaikar food is complete without this legendary eatery serving satvik (vegetarian) Maharashtrian thalis (platter) since 1987.Prakash ShakahariPrakash Shakahari serves Maharashtrian vegetarian thalis

With over 100 dishes on offer combining unique flavors and spices, a meal at Prakash transports you to the heart of Maharashtra. Favorites include missal, sabudana vada, kanda poha and the glorious puran poli, which are sweet flatbreads stuffed with chana dal and jaggery.

Punjab Grill

The award-winning Punjab Grill brings the flavors of tandoori cuisine and North Indian delicacies to Navi Mumbai's discerning foodies. Sink your teeth into flavourful kebabs, biryanis and curries with options for vegetarian and non-vegetarian diners.Punjab GrillPunjab Grill is renowned for its North Indian cuisineThe velvety dal makhini, smoky paneer tikka and melt-in-the-mouth gulab jamun are must-try items on the menu.

Effingut Brewerkz

For fans of craft beer and experimental drinks, Effingut Brewerkz located near Palm Beach offers artisanal brews and modern global fare.Effingut BrewerkzEffingut Brewerkz serves craft beer and experimental cocktails

Choose from wheat beers, Indian pale ales and ciders along with quirky cocktails like bacon-infused whiskey sours and ginger-lemongrass mojitos. European favorites like risotto, pastas and stone-baked pizzas pair beautifully with the drinks.

Navi Mumbai's Foodie Neighborhoods

Like Mumbai, Navi Mumbai also has certain neighborhoods renowned as food lover's havens whether you are looking for quick bites or leisurely meals.Kharghar

The family-friendly neighborhood of Kharghar has over 50 restaurants offering cuisine from across India and fast food joints for kids. Hunger pangs are easily satisfied at Kharghar with favorites like piping hot pani puri, creamy kulfi falooda and chaat items like dahi puri and bhel.Vashi is home to Navi Mumbai's biggest food court the Raghunath Market housing over 20 stalls and quick service restaurants. The market stalls dish out chaat, Chinese, South Indian snacks and beverages to cater to the area's office crowd.Belapur near the CBD is the place to enjoy a relaxed meal at Navi Mumbai's many fine-dining restaurants. From authentic seafood to Japanese sushi, Italian pastas and modern Indian cuisine, the options are endless for memorable meals.

Palm Beach Road

The Palm Beach Road is lined with bars, lounges and high-end dining spaces for folks looking to unwind by the seaside. The alfresco restaurants here are perfect to enjoy the sunset views and sea breeze over drinks and global fare be it Mexican, Lebanese or Thai.Food Trails for the Intrepid ExplorerWhile Navi Mumbai is not lacking in food options, there are still many hidden gems waiting to be discovered by intrepid foodies beyond the usual haunts.

Local Fish Markets

Make your way to the bustling fish and vegetable markets of Navi Mumbai early in the morning to experience local culture and grab the catch of the day. The vendors are happy to suggest authentic recipes for the seafood you pick or cook it right there on makeshift grills.Irani CafesSample Navi Mumbai's old world Irani cafe culture at places like Lucky Restaurant in Nerul dishing out bun maska, mawa cakes and chai. Irani cafes with their vintage charm are keepers of the city's food traditions.

Street Cart Crawls

Go off the beaten path and beyond commercial streets on a street food trail covering little known carts and stalls. You never know what culinary wonders you might discover taking the road less travelled!

The planned city of Navi Mumbai has developed a thriving food culture from roadside chaat to experimental fine dining drawing inspiration from its parent city Mumbai while retaining its own distinct flavor. Food here is a window into the city's culture, enterprise and the residents' legendary love for eating out. As Navi Mumbai expands further, one can expect its cuisine to also mature, adapt global influences and continue delighting foodies.

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brianmillerstuff · 9 months

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Ginger ale market was registered at USD 2.48 Billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 6.7 Billion by 2028, with a CAGR of 6.9%

#Ginger ale Market

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corrianderleaf · 10 months

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A Guide to Soft Drinks: Explore Different Types and Flavors

What do we mean by a soft drink?

A soft drink is sweet, carbonated water with an artificial flavour added to it. It also contains caffeine, colorings, preservatives, and other ingredients to make it tasty. Soft drinks are called ‘soft’ because they contain less than 0.5% of alcohol. It comes in a variety of flavors, such as cola, lime, orange, ginger ale, and so on.

Introduction of Soft Drinks in Market

Before India got its independence in 1947, a British chemist named Henry Rogers had set up the first soda plant in the year 1837. It produced carbonated water, commonly known as club soda. Later on, there were other brands in the market selling flavour-infused carbonated water, namely Pallonji, Ardeshi, Duke, Goli Soda, Banta, and so on.

In 1949, Parle launched India’s first ever soft drink, called Gluco-Cola, which was later changed to Pale-Cola. Later on, due to trademark issues with Coca-Cola, which was already a worldwide brand, Parle had to shut down its soft drink, “Parle Cola”. Two years later, it launched ‘Gold Spot’, an orange-based soda drink.

Then came the leading market giants, Coca-Cola and Pepsi, to grab a share, in which Coca-Cola was the clear winner, due to which Pepsi had to exit the Indian market. Taking this opportunity, Parle launched its lemon soft drink, “Limca,” which did well in the market.

In the 1970s, Coca-Cola faced political pressure from the Indian government, due to which it exited the Indian market. The public already loved the taste of Coca-cola, taking the opportunity of which Pure Drinks launched “Campa Cola”.On the other hand, Parle also saw this opportunity to launch a cola drink given the low level of competition and thus launched “Thumbs Up”. “Thumbs Up” being a hit made Parle a market giant in the late 80s.

Currently, India is strewn with a plethora of soft drink brands of various flavours. Let’s discuss them one by one.

Read More: Low Calorie Indian Food Options for a Balanced and Healthy Diet

How many types of soft drinks are available at the moment?

Given the huge population of India, soft drinks are a go-to thirst-satisfying element. The top 10 most popular and common soft drinks available in India are:

1. Thumbs Up

Thumbs Up is currently one of the most popular soft drink brands in India, loved by almost everyone. It is a cola drink that was later bought and re-launched by Coca-Cola.

2. Sprite

Coca-Cola launched its lemon soda drink to compete with Limca and 7 Up and emerged more successful than those.

Visit our site to read more: https://corrianderleaf.com/breaking-down-the-soft-drink-types-flavors/

#drinks #soft drink

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floridaprelaw-blog · 11 months

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The Legal Battle of Flo Rida versus Celsius Holdings, Inc.

By Theodros Fekade, University of Miami Class of 2024

July 24, 2023

Flo Rida, who is legally known as Tramar Lacel Dillard, rose to global prominence with his 2007 breakthrough hit "Low," which spent multiple weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 and achieved Diamond certification by the RIAA. Following Flo Rida's 2007 accomplishments, he has released numerous captivating songs that resulted in sales of over 80 million records worldwide, cementing him as one of the world’s top-selling music talents. Flo Rida’s massive popularity is evident through his vast social media following, with over 900,000 followers on Instagram, over 4 million on Twitter, and over 15 million on Facebook, along with an impressive 4 billion music video views on YouTube.

Originating in Sweden around 2004, Celsius is a highly acclaimed vegan energy drink designed to invigorate daily performance. The Celsius drink is devoid of carbohydrates and enriched with various vitamins and natural ingredients, including green tea and ginger. According to Celsius, the fitness energy drink is also proven to boost metabolism and facilitate body fat burning. (Celsius Holdings, Inc.) With its prestige as a prominent player in the $100 billion worldwide energy drink market, PepsiCo acquired an 8.5% stake that totaled the vast sum of $550 million. (Vanjani)

Observing Flo Rida's immense critical acclaim in the music industry and his significant influence on social media platforms, Celsius forged an endorsement partnership with the artist. The partnership deal entailed that Flo Rida would be a brand ambassador for Celsius in exchange for a substantial number of shares and bonuses contingent on sales performance. (Dellato) As a brand ambassador, Flo Rida had the pivotal role of galvanizing Celsius products to remarkable development and expansion that ultimately led to exponential growth in product revenues and the attraction of numerous investors. (Strong Arm Productions USA, Inc. et al. v. Celsius Holdings, Inc.) In 2018, Flo Rida's music video for the song "Hola" showcased a party atmosphere of individuals drinking Celsius that garnered a staggering 137 million viewers. In 2019, a notable music artist, Doja Cat, directly referred to Celsius in an interview as "Flo Rida’s drink.” (Haroun) The senior management at Celsius acknowledged that their collaboration with Flo Rida had effectively introduced their energy drink to the hundreds of millions of potential customers who follow Flo Rida’s music.

Although Celsius had impeccable success after Flo Rida’s endorsement, Flo Rida accused Celsius of mishandling the exact compensation that he was entitled to receive from the contract. This improper handling of compensation prompted Flo Rida to file a lawsuit in the 17th Judicial Circuit of Florida that cited multiple infractions, including breach of contract and unjust enrichment. The lawsuit filed by Flo Rida alleges that Celsius agreed to allocate rights to common stock, some of which were meant to be distributed at the contract’s inception, while additional shares would be issued upon the achievement of designated target sale benchmarks. Despite the evident agreement being ratified, the filed lawsuit asserts that one of the benchmarks in the contract was satisfactorily met unbeknownst to Flo Rida. Analogously, the lawsuit alleges that initial royalties were paid by Celsius, but the corporation failed to provide additional royalties that were owed to Flo Rida after the target number of products sold was satisfied. Similarly, the lawsuit accuses Celsius of utilizing Flo Rida’s name, image, and likeness to unjustly enrich themselves through co-branded products and Flo Rida’s marketing in his brand ambassador role. (Strong Arm Productions USA, Inc. et al. v. Celsius Holdings, Inc.)

In the 17th Judicial Circuit of Florida, Flo Rida was awarded a vast sum of $82,640,450 in damages following an exhaustive and scrupulous jury trial. Elated by the jury’s decision, Flo Rida proceeded to launch his own energy drink that is aiming to surpass Celsius in terms of health benefits. Flo Rida proclaimed that due to the fact that he inculcated the rise of Celsius from obscurity to notoriety, he is confident in his ability to replicate the success of Celsius and bolster his financial portfolio through his new entrepreneurial endeavor. (Lane)

Ensuring the contentment of brand ambassadors has perpetually posed a challenge for corporations that strive to substantially elevate their financial sustainability. When engaging with celebrities, corporations must recognize that the business and legal landscape is transitioning towards a transparent stock compensation system. Ignoring this evolving environment may leave corporations vulnerable to being outperformed in marketing efforts by more adaptable and innovative competitors who have embraced the industry's evolution.

______________________________________________________________

Celsius Holdings, Inc. About Celsius. April 2004. 22 July 2023.

Dellato, Marisa. Rapper Flo Rida Wins $82 Million In Lawsuit Against Celsius Energy Drinks. 18 January 2023. 22 July 2023.

Haroun, Amzi. Rapper Flo Rida accused Celsius — which Doja Cat called 'Flo Rida's energy drink' — of stiffing him on stock options and bonuses. 5 January 2023. 22 July 2023.

Lane, Barnaby. Rapper Flo Rida awarded $82.6 million after winning lawsuit against energy drink company Celsius. 13 March 2023. 22 July 2023.

Strong Arm Productions USA, Inc. et al. v. Celsius Holdings, Inc. No. CACE-21-008997. The 17th Judicial Circuit of Florida. 4 May 2021.

Vanjani, Karishma. PepsiCo Invests $550 Million in Fitness Energy Drink Company Celsius. Wall Street Likes the Deal. 1 August 2022. 22 July 2023.

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gmr2 · 11 months

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samsat902ab · 1 year

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digitalmarketing786786 · 1 year

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marets-trends · 2 years

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Ginger Ale market size is forecast to reach $3.2 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period 2021-2026.

#ginger ale marketsize ginger ale market price #Ginger Ale Market share

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pressreleasestrendsz · 2 years

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#ginger ale market price ginger ale market size ginger ale market share

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marketinsightshare · 2 years

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Ginger Ale Market Size Forecast to Reach $3.2 Billion by 2026

Ginger Ale market size is forecast to reach $3.2 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period 2021-2026. Ginger Ale is a carbonated soft drink with ginger root being its primary ingredient. It has other constituents to impart flavor artificially namely sugar, lime and lemon. Increasing demand of Ginger Ale is also being used as a home remedy for relief from cough and cold, motion sickness and digestive disturbances like constipation due to its presence of probiotics, is driving the growth of the market. Ginger ale has a very unique flavor to it which ranges from mild to strong. This is the reason it is used progressively in many alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, for instance, ginger beer. This is set to further enhance the overall market development of the Ginger Ale Market for the period 2021-2026.

Ginger Ale Market Segment Analysis – By Type

Golden Ginger Ale segment held the largest share in the Ginger Ale Market in 2020 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR 4.4 % during the forecast period 2021-2026. This is attributed to the wide spectrum of health benefits associated with the consumption of golden ginger ale. Consumers have been using golden ginger ale to get relief from a lot of ailments like migraine and inflammation. Additionally, it contains a lot of antioxidants and helps to lower blood pressure, thereby reducing risks of heart attacks. The Dry Ginger Ale comparatively has a milder flavour and a pale color and is rapidly gaining traction across food and beverages industry because of its mixability in various alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Dry Ginger Ale are estimated to register the higher CAGR over the period 2021-2026.

Request for Sample Report @ https://www.industryarc.com/pdfdownload.php?id=17831

Report Price: $ 4500 (Single User License)

Ginger Ale Market Segment Analysis – By Distribution Channel

Convenience Stores held the largest share in the Ginger Ale Market in 2020 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.0% during the forecast period 2021-2026. This is owing to the increasing number of consumers preferring to buy from curated ginger ale retails where they feel they get to have proper human interaction regarding the product they are interested as well as their responses are heard. However, supermarkets/hypermarkets have the potential to offer a wide range of products from various companies under one roof. This makes the entire buying experience of consumers easy and convenient. Supermarkets/Hypermarkets are estimated to register the higher CAGR over the period 2021-2026.

Ginger Ale Market Segment Analysis – By Geography

North America dominated the Ginger Ale Market with a major share of 33.8% in 2020. This is attributed to the huge consumer base for ginger ale throughout this region. Every household across North America consumes some or the other form of soda, most of which is ginger ale. Additionally, most of the key market players of the industry are concentrated in this region making it the largest production house of ginger ale. All these factors are propelling the growth of the market in this region.

However, Asia Pacific is estimated to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period 2021-2026 owing to the increasing ability of the growing awareness of consumers regarding the health benefits associated with the inclusion of ginger ale in their routine. The inclination towards low-calories drinks throughout this region is another factor which is driving the growth of the market in this region.

Ginger Ale Market Drivers

Increasing consumption of low calorie drinks

There has been a growing consumer awareness regarding consumption of low-calorie drinks across all the major economies because of which there is a growing incidence in the inclusion of ginger ale in their diet. Ginger ale is often mixed with artificial sweeteners which reduces its calorie count, thereby making the drink tasty and nutritionally balanced at the same time. Thus, increasing the growth of the Ginger Ale Market during the forecast period 2021-2026.

Availability of a wide variety of flavors

Ginger root and sugar which are the main constituents of ginger ale are often mixed with a variety of other ingredients in order to add flavors and diversify the taste ranges of the drink. Ginger ale is also consumed in the form of beer flavor and is called ginger beer, which acts as a substitute for alcoholic drinks. It is mixed with ingredients like corn syrup, lemon, lime, simple syrup and others by consumers in order to customize their drinks accordingly. Thus, increasing the growth of the Ginger Ale Market during the forecast period 2021-2026.

Inquiry Before Buying @ https://www.industryarc.com/reports/request-quote?id=17831

Ginger Ale Market Challenges

Over consumption leads to calcium depletion in the body

There are a handful factors that are set to impede the growth of the Ginger Ale Market and there are the concerns regarding the excessive usage of artificial ingredients and added sugar which leads to diabetes and heart ailments. Over consumption of soda and soft drinks also cause a calcium dip in the body which is also set to hinder the growth of the market during the forecast period 2021-2026.

Ginger Ale Market Landscape

Product launches, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and R&D activities are key strategies adopted by players in the Ginger Ale Market. In 2020, the Ginger Ale Market share is consolidated by the top ten players present in the market. The Ginger Ale Market, top 10 companies are Canada Dry, Bruce Cost Fresh, Blenheim Bottling Company, Boylan Bottling Co., and Buffalo Rock Company among others.

Key Takeaways

North America dominated the Ginger Ale Market in 2020 owing to the wide consumption of ginger ale across households couple with an ever growing consumer base. The Ginger Ale market scope for different regions will be provided in the final report.

Increasing preference of consumers towards low-calorie drinks coupled with the growing awareness regarding healthy benefits of ginger ale are likely to aid the market growth of the Ginger Ale Market report.

Detailed analysis of the Strength, Weakness, and Opportunities of the prominent players operating in the market will be Ginger Ale Market report.

Over consumption of carbonated water and sugar which are the constituents of ginger ale causes calcium depletion in body which is poised to create the hurdles for the Ginger Ale Market.

Related Reports

A.Cold Pressed Juice Market

https://www.industryarc.com/Report/15521/coldpressed-juice-market.html

B.Kombucha Market

https://www.industryarc.com/Report/16670/kombucha-market.html

For more Food and Beverage Market reports, please click here

#Ginger Ale Market share Ginger Ale Market size Ginger Ale Market forecast Ginger Ale Market analysis

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marketwire · 2 years

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Ginger Ale Market Size Forecast to Reach $3.2 Billion by 2026

Ginger Ale Market Segment Analysis – By Type

Request for Sample Report @ https://www.industryarc.com/pdfdownload.php?id=17831

Report Price: $ 4500 (Single User License)

Ginger Ale Market Segment Analysis – By Distribution Channel

Ginger Ale Market Segment Analysis – By Geography

Ginger Ale Market Drivers

Increasing consumption of low calorie drinks

Availability of a wide variety of flavors

Inquiry Before Buying @ https://www.industryarc.com/reports/request-quote?id=17831

Ginger Ale Market Challenges

Over consumption leads to calcium depletion in the body

Ginger Ale Market Landscape

Key Takeaways

Detailed analysis of the Strength, Weakness, and Opportunities of the prominent players operating in the market will be Ginger Ale Market report.

Over consumption of carbonated water and sugar which are the constituents of ginger ale causes calcium depletion in body which is poised to create the hurdles for the Ginger Ale Market.

Related Reports

A.Cold Pressed Juice Market

https://www.industryarc.com/Report/15521/coldpressed-juice-market.html

B.Kombucha Market

https://www.industryarc.com/Report/16670/kombucha-market.html

For more Food and Beverage Market reports, please click here

#Ginger Ale Market #Ginger Ale Market share #Ginger Ale Market size

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nilannge · 3 years

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𝙃𝘼𝙄𝙆𝙔𝙐𝙐 𝙈𝙀𝙉 𝙒𝙃𝙀𝙉 𝙏𝙃𝙀𝙄𝙍 𝙎/𝙊 𝙄𝙎 𝙎𝙄𝘾𝙆.

𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐎𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐮, 𝐓𝐬𝐮𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐚, 𝐁𝐨𝐤𝐮𝐭𝐨, 𝐊𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐨, & 𝐒𝐚𝐤𝐮𝐬𝐚, 𝐗 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫. (𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭��)

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞:𝐅𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟

𝐖𝐂:220

Osamu: Once he heard that mucus cough he jumped up and hopped into the kitchen. He started preparing chicken noodle soup( or any soup you prefer) and made you favorite tea. But he couldn't remember if you were suppose to drinking tea, orange juice, or ginger ale. So he brought them all when he enter your share bedroom.

Tsukishima: He tells you that you're overreacting, despite the fact that you are hurling in a bucket. He leaves you by yourself in the house. When he comes back his hands is full of every stomach bug medicine that he could find at the local pharmacy.

Bokuto: The reason your sick is from Bokuto. He had a runny nose last week and refuse to take any medicine unless you cuddle with him. He puts a hot rag on your forehead. Then gives you endless cuddles resulting in him getting sick again.

Kuroo: When he went to the store to pick up your medicine then he started freaking out. He was freaking out because he left you in the house sick, alone. He left the market immediately leaving the medicine rushing home to you.

Sakusa: You're never sick with this man. But one time you did cough a little too loud for your own good and he smoother your chest in vicks vapor rub.

#sakusa x y/n #Kuroo #bokuto #tsukishima drabbles #osamu headcanons #haikyuu #drabbles

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walviemort · 3 years

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hurry up and wait

summary: After the events of 6x09, Killian finds himself unexpectedly and rapidly pregnant; from first stirrings to full term in a week. Little does he know, Rumplestiltskin is pulling the strings as a form of revenge, and has full control over how fast—or slow—this pregnancy goes. He'll need to rely on Emma, and all his loved ones, to get through whatever comes next.

a/n: I’M BACK Y’ALL! the muse has overtaken me this week with this story (I’ve so far written 18k in about 7 days, with more to come). Hope you enjoy it and stay tuned!

rated light M / 3k / ao3

It was the final straw. First, the pirate had taken Milah; then he’d helped keep him apart from Bae for so long. And now? Now, he was part of the reason Belle was leaving Rumplestiltskin behind, and had sent their son away. Hook had no idea what it was like to suffer such loss. But the Dark One would see to it that he did.

And he had to admit—the spell he’d found was rather ingenious; something that had come over from the Land of Untold Stories and piqued his interest. And would let him have a bit of fun along the way. Well, fun for him; not so much for Jones.

It was sheer luck that the Savior and her beau broke into his shop that night. Normally, he’d take issue with that; but it merely gave him a chance to enact his revenge.

While the couple was inspecting a sword, Rumple froze them in place with a wave of his hand. From his coat pocket, he pulled a small glass orb; it would let him control the spell and keep an eye on things. And with a few more gestures that resulted in a brief glow coming from the pirate’s midsection (which mirrored in the orb), it was done.

He unfroze them and disappeared into the night, content that he’d finally be getting even with his longtime enemy. Far away from town, he pulled out the orb and peered in to see how things were faring; at the rate it was going, he had at least a few days before anyone figured out what was happening. (Unless he changed that, of course.)

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The next morning, Killian was shocked when the sun was shining through the curtains of the bedroom as he awoke. He was usually one to wake with the sunrise, but given the day they’d had yesterday—not to mention the frantic coming together he and Emma had last night—it was no surprise he’d slept in.

Nor was it that an unease had settled over him. Just because they’d found the weapon meant to kill Emma didn’t mean they’d truly solved anything in regards to her supposed fate. Just the thought of losing her...gods, it turned his stomach.

Quite literally—seconds later, he found himself making a mad dash for their washroom, only to lose what remained of last night’s dinner. It had been quite some time since nerves made him nauseous but he supposed it was warranted; his present sense of apprehension was on level with any he’d felt before heading into battle. He leaned against the wall of the bathroom and took a few measured breaths to help calm him; while it helped his racing heart, it did little to ease his stomach. He’d take it, though.

After rinsing his mouth out, he took his pajama-clad self downstairs to the kitchen, where a quiet display of domesticity lay before him: Emma and Henry, sharing a breakfast of Pop-Tarts and coffee at the table, laughing quietly at some unheard joke. It was so easy, so casual, and quite honestly, all he wanted in the world. It hadn’t been that long since his own resurrection and he’d be damned again if he didn’t fight to hold onto it.

“Killian, are you okay?” Emma asked, finally noticing his entrance. Killian jumped and sniffled at her enquiry, surprised at her query.

He scrubbed a hand along his face and it came back wet—he was crying? Goodness, he was more out of sorts than he thought. “Aye, love; just need to get some food in me,” he shrugged off.

“Well, I made Pop-Tarts,” she joked as he strode into the kitchen, pausing to place a kiss on her temple. “Your favorite,” she drawled sarcastically.

“Perhaps another time,” he tossed back as he grabbed a coffee mug from the counter; a full pot was waiting. But when he reached for it to pour himself a cup, the smell of it turned his stomach yet again; it was all he could do to put it back before he was retching into the sink.

Emma was at his side in an instant, rubbing his back through the thin cotton of his tshirt. “Are you sure you’re alright?” she asked again, concern evident in her tone.

“Apparently not,” he breathed once he was done. “That’s the second time its happened today.”

She put the back of her hand on his forehead in a motherly move that filled him with another odd welling of emotion. Though her brow was furrowed, she assessed that he was “not running a fever, but you do look a bit green around the gills.”

“There’s a stomach bug going around at school,” Henry chimed in. “Maybe it’s that?”

“It could be. You’ve definitely been running yourself thin lately.”

He opened his mouth to protest, but was merely met with another wave of nausea—though there wasn’t anything left to come up.

“Hey kid, can you get yourself to school okay?” she asked over her shoulder while resuming her ministrations on his back.

“Of course.”

“Okay; we’re gonna take a sick day, then.”

He stood straight again. “But Emma—the sword—”

“—Isn’t going anywhere,” she interrupted. “We are BOTH going to go back to bed, take a nap, maybe watch some sitcoms, and order takeout. We need it.”

He couldn’t deny that it sounded divine. “Aye, love; sounds excellent.”

The nausea never quite abated, although bland crackers and ginger ale seemed to help. True to her word, they curled up in bed and intermittently napped during the day; had a few heart-to-hearts about their general emotional states, and maybe had a few intimate moments sprinkled in there.

Unfortunately, the next day saw little change to his illness, but Emma had to handle some sheriff matters and couldn’t stay home. “But I’ll check up on you at lunch, okay?”

“I’m a grown man, love; I can take care of myself.”

“Yeah, but you don’t have to.”

It certainly wasn’t as enjoyable a day as the previous one, but by the end of it, he found the nausea had finally abated. Perhaps Emma was right; a couple days of rest was all he needed to get back into fighting shape. He made plans to meet up with Belle the next day, both for research—and to make sure his friend was doing alright.

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

Away in his cabin, Rumplestiltskin glanced at the orb. He’d certainly enjoyed Hook’s being unwell, and was slightly miffed that wouldn’t carry through. But more dramatic things were about to unfold.

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To Killian’s surprise, the following morning found him with an entirely different sensation in his stomach: he was starving. To be expected, he supposed, considering he’d hardly been able to keep down anything the past couple days. He didn’t want to push it, but he needed something—fast.

Emma was still asleep next to him (he’d awoken at his normal time for a change) so he slipped out quietly to head downstairs. His usual breakfast fare wasn’t sounding as good as usual, so he poked around the cupboards to see if anything else caught his eye—and, to his astonishment, it did.

A bit later, when Emma joined him in the kitchen, she paused at what was surely an odd sight. “Seriously?” was all she could muster.

“I believe I may have misjudged these, love,” he said bashfully, biting into his Pop-Tart. It was sweet and flaky and precisely what he’d been craving that morning.

Emma just blinked in surprise. “Well, I hope you saved some for me.”

Killian said nothing as she made her way to what he knew was an empty box. He winced as she sighed. “Well, at least your appetite is back. And I guess we need to go to the store.”

“I’ll head there this evening to stock up.”

“You better.”

Before he headed to the library, he made sure to stop by Granny’s for some tea—and some pastries; it seemed his craving had yet to abate (and he was certain Belle would appreciate some extra treats).

She was understandably morose on his arrival; before they got into any sort of research, he made sure to pull her over to the lone sofa there to have a chat—or, better yet, have a cry; his heart truly broke for his friend. He couldn’t imagine the strength it had taken to send her son away, and he wasn’t quite sure he’d be able to do the same in her position.

As he predicted, though, the treats did help a bit (though he found himself consuming far more of them than he typically would). Their research yielded little, though, so he sent Belle home with the few remaining pastries as he headed to the market—where he was overwhelmed by the Pop-Tart selection. How had he been depriving himself so long? He bought one of each; hopefully that would placate Emma.

He should have also found it odd that he consumed more pizza that night for dinner than he usually would but apparently he was still playing catchup from the previous two days. Neither Emma nor Henry found it odd, so he too remained unconcerned.

His jeans were a bit snug the next morning but he figured he just needed some more time to digest; it wasn’t unusual for a sickness to throw him off like that. But he couldn’t help it if he was hungry still. He tried to keep up his fluids as well, but that didn’t stop him from snacking through the day—or devouring their Chinese takeout that night.

He and Emma were curled up in bed, engaging in some typical evening activities, when she began tracing his side and running her thumbs over his stomach—and, oddly, giggling. “What’s so funny, love?”

“Nothing; you’ve just got a food baby, is all.”

“A what?”

“A food baby,” she said again, patting his (slightly stuffed) belly. “It’s when you eat a lot and it just kind of sits there.” His brow furrowed in consternation—that was the last thing he wanted. She noticed his discomfort, though, as she always did, and laughed again. “Hey, it’s fine—it’s actually pretty cute. It’ll be gone by tomorrow. Now can we get back to what we were doing?”

Well, he could never say no to that, and her words were quickly forgotten in favor of more pleasurable pursuits.

But they came roaring back when his jeans were a bit more tight the next day, and that weight that had settled in his stomach was visible in a slight rounding just behind his navel. Perhaps he was overindulging. He knew it was also a sign of aging (that and the few silvery hairs at his temples) but if he could control it, he’d like to keep his trim form.

He did his best that day to pare back, to only eat at meal times. But come evening, he was starved yet again, and may have polished off the pizza leftovers from the night before. (Thankfully, Emma was working at the station, so he was free of her comments that evening.)

Still...the worry plagued him the next morning when his stomach seemed impossibly larger. There was always a decent chance his eyes were playing tricks on him, but it was still worrying. (As if he didn’t have enough of those.)

He skipped breakfast, instead going for a run about town. His jeans still buttoned, at least, although just barely. Mid-day found him chasing Lost Boys across town, which gave him a reason to avoid lunch. By the time he got back to the station with the miscreants that afternoon, his stomach was gnawing at him and he was a bit lightheaded.

Emma noticed, immediately, of course. “You feeling alright? Is the stomach bug back?”

“No, no,” he assured her, though probably unconvincingly. “I just need some water; I’ll be right back.”

But he’d hardly pulled a glass from the cupboard over the sink when the world began to spin. He tried to grip the counter for stability, but it didn’t help much, and he continued on to the floor. The last thing he heard before the world went black was Emma frantically calling his name.

An indeterminate amount of time later, a steady beeping woke him up. He blinked a few times; they were in the hospital. Bloody hell.

He looked around to get his bearings, and Emma was at the side of the bed, holding his hand. HIs other arm was hooked up to an IV, and he could feel a number of other things stuck to him, monitoring other various things.

What struck him as truly odd, though, was the sensor he could feel on one side of his stomach.

“Emma, what’s…” he started to say, though he was still a bit out of breath—and parched.

She jumped at his voice, clearly lost in thought, but the concern quickly melted to a smile. “Hey, welcome back. What did you get yourself into?”

“My own vanity, I suppose,” he said. “What’s all this I’m hooked up to?”

Emma bit her lip, like she was trying to hold something back. She was clearly nervous about something.

“Love, what’s going on?”

She swallowed, clearly working up the nerve for something. He was confused; if something was wrong with him, she wouldn’t be smiling—but something had her conflicted.

“Well, as you probably figured out, you passed out at the station. Turns out you were dehydrated and running on an empty stomach. But the main reason that’s a problem is—”

“Alright, let’s take a look at that baby!” Doctor Whale’s voice interrupted Emma as he entered the room, pulling a machine with a large screen attached to it.

Baby? What on Earth? “Emma, are you…?” Gods, he couldn’t imagine that he’d ever be blessed enough to have a child with Emma, but if what the doctor was saying was true, then…

“No, I’m not,” she said slowly, but then moved her free hand onto his stomach. “But you, somehow, are.”

He was...he was pregnant? He started laughing. “You’re joking, right?”

Emma just bit her lip and shook her head. He turned to the doctor who just nodded.

“But that...that’s impossible.”

“Believe me, I’ve seen weirder things,” Whale said. “A pregnant man is only, like, fifth on my list. And you’re not even the first one I’ve come across.”

Killian swallowed and stared at his stomach. That...was a babe? It would explain some things—his illness, his cravings, his heightened emotions. Although his understanding of pregnancy was that it took a lot longer for those things to happen than they had to him. And there was still the biggest issue: he was a man. “How?” was all he could say.

Whale just shrugged. “Magic. You’d be surprised how many spells out there exist for this.”

He gave a snort of derision, but let his head fall back against the pillow of his hospital bed. Pregnant. He was with child. By some magical means. Gods, was it even actually a child? And whose was it? The number of questions he had was overwhelming—as if he didn’t have enough to worry about.

“Hey,” Emma said, squeezing his hand and pulling him out of his stream of racing thoughts. “We’ll figure this out.”

He just swallowed and nodded.

“I hate to interrupt this existential crisis, but I do need to take a look inside there to see what’s going on. Mind if I pull up your shirt?”

“Go ahead,” he said in a small voice, squeezing Emma’s hand. “Will it hurt?”

“No, but it’ll be cold,” the doctor answered as he went to work. The man was nothing but clinical as he lifted Killian’s shirt, exposing the gentle curve of his stomach. Looking at it now, Killian could definitely see the resemblance to an expectant mother. He jolted when Whale put the odd, cool substance low on his belly (bloody hell, it was a belly), but then was distracted when the doctor turned on the screen and picked up a wand-like device.

He pressed the instrument against Killian’s skin and moved it back and forth; this must be how Robin had acquired that image from inside Zelena (far less intrusive than he had expected). The image on the screen was a blurry mess for the most part, but eventually a clearer picture began to take shape: the definitive form of an infant.

He and Emma both gasped at the same time. The image on the screen began to move, and he almost swore he could feel the echoing tiny movements within. Whale began to point things out—head, spine, fingers, toes—but Killian just kept staring at the image, in awe: he was going to be a father.

Bloody. Fucking. Hell.

“Now, this is the fun part,” Whale said in a voice that indicated it was anything but. “I can tell how far along the kid is from these pictures, but something tells me the truth is not quite the same. When did you notice things changing with you?”

“Um,” Killian stammered, trying to find his voice again. “It was...5 days ago? Right? That I came down with a stomach bug, but it was gone by the end of the following day. And I’ve been voracious ever since.”

Whale just whistled. “Well, I can’t say I’ve seen one like this, then. Looks like you moved up to number four on my list.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because this fetus is 5 months along.”

“What?” It was Emma’s turn to be incredulous (though how she’d remained calm at all was astonishing to him).

“Yeah, whatever this spell is, it’s accelerated. At the rate it’s gone, you’ll be having this kid in, like, four days.”

Killian could feel his jaw drop, and a glance at Emma showed the same. Four days? That was insane.

It was a bloody good thing he was already on a bed, because he fainted again.

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

It wasn’t quite how Rumple figured the news would be discovered, but he was pleased nonetheless at the pirate’s distress. Four days until parenthood was indeed a terrifying prospect.

Imagine if he had even less than that, though...the Dark One cackled in delight and waved his hand over the orb, then hung back to watch the next events unfold.

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hope you liked it! let me know if you want a tag! tagging a few: @sherlockianwhovian @cocohook38 @wyntereyez @jennjenn615 @superadam54 @ashley-knightingale @justsomewhump @teamhook

#cs ff #mpreg #killian mpreg #hurry up and wait #my ff

48 notes · View notes

the-original-b · 3 years

Text

Archangel Chapter 10: Underhanded Practice

Format: Prose / Fiction, multi-entry

Part in Series: 2 of 9 (Previous Chapter | The Beginning)

Word Count: c. 5,400

Summary: Krueger investigates a lead at a popular lounge, uncovering a plot to bring a new drug market to the Branch’s back yard.

Warning(s): blood and gore, violence

Krueger blearily opened his eyes in bed and stared absentmindedly at the ceiling fan as he tried to quiet his mind again. After half an hour, he realized trying to return to sleep was an exercise in futility, so he slid out from under the sheets—careful not to disturb Khai curled up next to him—and quietly made his way to his bathroom to wash up before pulling a hoodie on over track pants to run a few laps around his block.

When he returned home at the crack of dawn, Khai was already dressed in a dark suit and lavender blouse, pouring her coffee into a to-go cup. They shared a quick kiss before she left, and Krueger returned upstairs to retrieve his P30L to start his day at the shooting range out east.

~~~~

Krueger sat at the diner counter later that morning, picking at the remains of his egg white Denver Omelette when the owner Henry Everett brought him a fresh coffee.

“Espresso,” he confirmed, placing it in front of him. “Black with no sugar.”

“Danke, Henry,” Krueger returned. He took the off-white mug by its handle and sipped slowly, savoring the flavor.

Everett leaned over the counter and looked the other man in the eyes. “How are you feeling, Milo?” he asked. “You look unwell.”

Krueger exhaled as he laid the coffee cup back down on the saucer. “I haven’t been sleeping well lately,” he began. “Which of course means Liz hasn’t been sleeping well… a lot on my mind after my last job.”

“Yes, Liz mentioned something like that the other day. Something about a girl in the Rockaways and a den in Patchogue.”

Krueger nodded. “As much as I want to call it an isolated incident, I just can’t shake the feeling that it’s part of something bigger.” He minded his volume as he spoke to Everett. Although the place was his, there were still other parties present that were uninvolved with their shared line of work.

“Would you sleep any better if I said I think you’re right?”

Krueger arched his brow behind the coffee cup.

“Chloe, one of my associates at Pharaohs, might be on to something,” he disclosed. “She thinks somebody may be trying to move some contraband into the Boroughs.”

“Contraband?” Given the nature of their business and the rules set in place by Isaac Hayden, contraband could only mean one thing in this context. “Does Chloe know for sure it’s connected to Patchogue?”

“Nothing concrete yet,” he said, taking Krueger’s plate as a server passed them by. “But she’s got a keen eye for suspicious activity, better than anyone else there.” He carried the plate to a plastic bin by the kitchen and returned to continue. “According to her, the same two individuals would meet at Pharaohs to talk. At the same time each day over the last three days. One of them had a habit of ordering a drink and staring at it until his contact arrived.”

Krueger broke eye contact and slowly sipped his coffee as he considered the information presented. “Could be nothing,” he surmised. “It could be unrelated… or it could be worth looking into,” he concluded, reestablishing eye contact. “I’ll come by Pharaohs tonight. I’m supposed to go out with Liz after she’s done at the Branch today, but I can have her meet me there.”

“I would appreciate that,” Everett said, “thank you. I’ll let Chloe know you’re coming.”

~~~~

A lo-fi hip hop instrumental permeated through the main atrium of the Pharaohs Lounge that evening, providing a relaxed atmosphere in which the patrons enjoyed their hookah and cocktails. They conversed, closed business deals, and flirted in the dim light under the watchful eyes of the Ramesses II, Tutankhamun, Cleopatra, and Hatshepsut immortalized in busts at the four corners of the room.

The bartender, a woman wearing a white button-up shirt that seemed to glow under the spotlight keenly observed the space from behind the bar, and would briefly scan the room between preparing martinis for the servers to bring to the guests.

Krueger walked into the lounge in a black turtle neck sweater, dark washed jeans, and classy casual shoes under his pea coat. He headed straight for the bar and took a seat, interlacing his fingers and resting his hands on the counter.

The bartender returned the bottle opener to the rear right pocket of her jeans and crossed her arms on the countertop, leaning forward. “Anybody ever tell you how cool your eyes are?” She got his attention with a rich, dulcet voice.

Krueger turned to meet her gaze. “Danke—er… Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she returned, smirking playfully. “I don’t think we’ve met,” she added, moving to a spot directly across from him, “but I’ve definitely seen you around before.” She reached across the bar to offer him her hand. “Chloe Zaydan,” she introduced herself. She had warm ivory skin, long dark hair parted down the middle, bright brown eyes, and full lips.

Krueger accepted and shook her hand. “Milo Krueger,” he said. “Happy to make your acquaintance. Mr. Everett speaks highly of you.”

“I would hope so, he and I opened this place together.” She took her hand back after their contact lingered for a little. “Thanks, by the way.”

“For what?”

“For not staring.” Her shirt’s first three buttons were undone, and a good deal of her skin was visible. “Most of the guys here forget where my eyes are once they start drinking.”

“I haven’t started drinking yet.”

“Let’s fix that, shall we?” She straightened up, whipping her hair out of her face with a quick shake of her head. “What’s your poison, Milo Krueger?”

“Water for now,” he said, turning in his chair to scan the tables behind him. “I’m working.”

“Uh huh…” Chloe retrieved a water bottle from the refrigerator under the bar and a pint glass from the freezer. “What do you do, exactly?” She cracked the bottle open and poured its contents into the glass before sliding it over to him then resting her hands on the countertop and leaning forward a little.

“I solve problems, currently, for Mr. Everett’s boss. Before that, I shot people for money; Kommando Spezialkräfte, the Bundeswehr, a few private clients, and my own team once.”

“Not going to lie to you,” she admitted, gesturing her head. “All that registered was Commando.”

Krueger turned back to face her and blinked, then took from his water glass. “Special Forces,” he said. “Now I’m in the private sector.”

“You see? Wasn’t that easier?” She flashed him a coquettish smile.

Krueger chuckled to himself as he drank more water. “I suppose… and you, Chloe Zaydan? What do you do?”

Chloe looked up to take a drink order from one of the servers working the floor behind Krueger. She nodded at the server and turned to gather a few of the ingredients from the wall behind her. “Well,” she began, “officially I’m the head bartender here at Pharaohs. I take care of the staff and make sure the staff take care of the patrons.” She took a rocks glass and a cocktail shaker from the drying rack and placed a single large ice cube into the glass, then cracked a second ice cube into the shaker. Then she opened the half-finished bottles of Redemption rye and Domaine de Canton she retrieved from the wall, poured a full measure of the rye into one side of her jigger, and turned it over to add the whiskey into the shaker as she poured the Domaine de Canton into its other side. She turned it over again to pour the liqueur into the shaker as well.

“It’s thankless work,” she continued as she retrieved pomegranate juice and sour mix from the refrigerator below the bar, “but if I don’t do it, nobody else will.” She poured a half measure of the juice into the shaker along with one and a half measures of sour mix, then covered the container up and shook it vigorously. Once satisfied she tapped the shaker on the bar top to open it and strained the contents over the ice cube in the rocks glass. Finally, she rubbed a thin strip of lemon peel over the rim of the glass and placed it into the finished cocktail before sliding it across the bar to the server with a wink. “Turns out I’m pretty good at it too, so, bonus.”

Krueger nodded. “And unofficially?” he queried.

“I’m Number Two here,” she said plainly. She turned briefly to place jigger and cocktail shaker into the sink to run them under hot water. “Kind of like a general manager but with more authority.” She gave the instruments a quick but thorough clean with a sudsy sponge before rinsing them and returning them to the drying rack. “Some days I have to have our guests escorted from the building, and on the worst of those days I have to be in the room with Henry when Mr. Hayden has a word with those guests.” She turned back around to reestablish eye contact as she dried her hands. “So I guess I solve problems too.”

“Then I take it you know why I’m here this evening.” He lowered his volume.

“Yes, sir,” Chloe said, matching his tone and leaning in a little. “I suspected somebody here is looking to either buy or sell drugs. I know how big a no-no that is with Henry’s boss, so I brought it to his attention. Then I’m guessing Henry called you up to help with that..?”

“That isn’t exactly how it went, but yes… The suspected party,” Krueger said, “is he the younger man seated at the table on my five o-clock?”

Chloe peered over his right shoulder to identify the person in question. “Yep, that’s him,” she confirmed. “Nervous Nelly’s been staring at his ginger ale for the better part of the last hour.”

“And his contact?”

“Should be here any second now…” Chloe broke eye contact to scan the room one more time. She straightened up and reached for a mop towel behind her when she spotted him. “Yep,” she confirmed, wiping the bar in front of her. “There he is.” She wiped more of the surface down as she discreetly scanned Nervous Nelly’s contact and relayed her observations to Krueger so he wouldn’t have to blow his cover. “Backpack slung over one shoulder, other hand hooked into his pocket… he just sat down across from Nervous Nelly, and put the backpack on the floor next to him.”

“How good are you at lip reading?”

“Not very…” Chloe returned the mop towel to its hook behind her and turned back around to line a dozen shot glasses up in front of her. “Newcomer’s relaxed enough, laid back in his chair” she continued as she took a bottle of Blue Nectar silver tequila and uncorked it. “His friend on the other hand…” she poured an equal measure into each of the glasses and set the bottle aside as she arranged them on a platter for one of her servers.

“Jiggling knee?” Krueger theorized as he took from his water glass.

“That, rubbing the back of his neck, wringing his hands; basically the picture next to what you’d find in the dictionary if you looked up ‘nervous behavior.’ Plus he keeps looking back this way.” She retrieved the tequila bottle once more and poured one last shot into a glass to send with the server to give to the newcomer, then re-corked the bottle and returned it to the shelf behind her.

“He doesn’t suspect you,” Krueger assured her. “It’s much more likely he can’t take his eyes off you, a beautiful woman serving drinks behind the bar at a lounge in Bayside.”

Chloe smiled and looked away from him, chuckling to herself. “You know, that’s dangerous, flirting with the pretty girl at the bar,” she returned, smirking wryly at him.

“I’m just stating facts, Chloe” he added in jest, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lip. “How you interpret those facts is up to you. Besides,” he continued, “danger is nothing new in my line of work.”

She laughed to herself and shook her head, grinning. “Well, you’re cute,” she admitted, “so I’ll let it slide… just this once.” She broke eye contact with Krueger to watch the man with the backpack and his contact again. “Backpack guy just downed his shot… looks like he enjoyed it.”

“And his friend?”

“Still hasn’t touched his soda… Hold on,” she said. “He just looked over both his shoulders. Looks like he’s reaching into his pocket for something.” Even in the dim light she could see what it was. “An envelope,” she said to him. “He’s handing it over under the table… other guy’s peeling it open, looking inside… he seems satisfied with it.

“Money?”

“Probably,” she continued. “No, definitely. He just slid the backpack over with his foot.”

“Fair trade,” Krueger commented.

“Looks like he’s verifying the purchase…” Chloe watched in silence as the nervous buyer—as discreetly as he could—opened the backpack’s zipper a few inches and reach one hand inside. He seemed to struggle with whatever was inside, then pulled his hand back out and looked over his left shoulder as he brought his fingertips to his mouth. “Taste test,” she finally commented. “Gotta be.”

Krueger nodded. “Then you were right to suspect them. Good instincts.”

“Thanks.” She took her eyes away from them to look at Krueger again. “What happens now?”

“We deliver the buyer to Mr. Everett.”

“Not the seller?”

“No, the seller is just a vector, probably one of a dozen,” he surmised. “A means to an end; at those quantities it’s the buyer looking to create the market here. He’s the one to make an example of.” Krueger stood up from the bar stool and straightened out his coat. “Thank you for the water.” He turned to head to the back of the atrium, toward the stairs to Everett’s office.

Chloe watched him leave, and when he was no longer in her sight she walked over to the wall-mounted phone at the far side of the bar area, picked it up out of its cradle and dialed a three digit extension. “Table six,” she said into the receiver. “Two and a backpack.” Then she hung the phone up and leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, watching the two suspects at their table while three large security guards in black t-shirts and pants wove through the atrium tables and between servers to apprehend them.

The seller, facing the direction they came from, spotted them immediately—he quickly but calmly stood up to make his getaway. The buyer wasn’t so lucky; he was scooped up and lifted clear above the floor in a matter of seconds by one of the guards while the second secured the backpack. The third broke off in pursuit of the seller while the other two took the buyer out of the lounge via the rear exit, away from the other guests who looked on in confusion, but quickly returned to their business after it was done.

Chloe uncrossed her arms and took her place at the bar again, accepting an empty crystal tumbler from one of the servers.

“What was that about?” the server asked her?

“They broke the rules,” she plainly told him. “This one was Blanton’s, right?” she asked, gesturing the empty glass in her hand.

“Uh, yeah. Blanton’s. On the Rocks.”

Each of the two security guards cupped one the buyer’s arms as they hauled him into Everett’s office, his feet dragging on the floor behind him. They placed him into an old chair facing the desk as the third security guard laid the confiscated backpack on Everett’s desktop.

The buyer looked up from his lap at the man seated across from him, wincing between pained breaths as he tried his best to nurse his beaten sides and stomach from his seat.

Everett slowly stood up from his chair and took a few measured steps around his desk to approach the buyer. He towered over the other man, glaring at him from behind the frames of his glasses. “Do you understand why you’re here?” he asked the buyer.

The buyer nodded guiltily. “Yeah,” he spat out.

“Explain to me why I had my staff make an example of you in front of my other guests,” Everett ordered. He removed his glasses one-handed and placed them in the front pocket of his jacket.

“I—I bought drugs,” he stammered.

“Louder.”

“I bought drugs..! I was going to sell them... corner the market,” he admitted, shrinking into himself.

Everett took a slow step toward him, invading his personal space now. “Listen to me,” he said quietly. “You have one advocate in this room.” He gestured Krueger seated quietly to the right. “This conversation was his idea. We have a strict set of rules in place here, and a clearly established set of consequences for those who break them. When I heard the extent to which you and your associate were planning violate those rules…” Everett blinked slowly. “Suffice it to say if it weren’t for the respect and admiration I have for that man and his opinion, I would have handled this differently.”

The buyer sheepishly looked to his left at Krueger.

“Don’t look at him,” Everett growled. “You look at me..!”

He snapped to attention, looking up at Everett again towering over him.

“You will leave this place,” Everett declared. “You will leave behind what you have purchased. And he won’t be able to deliver you from what will happen if I or my associates catch you here again.” Everett’s glare bored into the other, smaller man for all of five seconds in total silence before he finally turned back around toward his seat behind the desk. “This exchange is over.”

The buyer swallowed hard before he looked to his left at Krueger one last time. Then he slowly stood back up and staggered out of the room, abandoning his prize to walk away with his life.

Krueger shot Everett a glance before standing up to follow the buyer out of the office and intercept him on the stairs down to the main floor.

He placed his hand on the buyer’s shoulder to turn him around, then shoved him against the wall once he had his attention. With his other hand he drew and opened a folding knife then pressed its point against the buyer’s waist, just above the belt. “I’m going to ask you two simple questions,” he said. “And I want simple answers…”

The buyer, terrified, nodded in silent compliance.

“Are those Dragon Tears in the other room—?”

“Yeah.” His answer was immediate.

“Who’s your seller?”

“I don’t know him.”

Krueger’s eyes narrowed. He brought the blade up from waist-level and rested its flat side against the buyer’s cheek. “Not a simple answer.”

“I don’t know him, I swear..! I was set up with him.”

Krueger blinked, pulling the knife away. “Who set you up? Who is it that’s looking to corner the market on the Dragon Tears here in New York?”

“Peter Cross,” he blurted out. Despair washed over him immediately after he gave Krueger the name.

Krueger blinked, then after three seconds of silence he released the buyer. He’d seen that expression before—the hopelessness that grows and takes over when a man realizes he just signed his own death warrant. He folded the knife one-handed and slid it back into his pocket. “Go,” he finally said. He stood to the side and let the buyer pass. He wasn’t certain from the distance between them, but he could swear the buyer was crying by the time he made it off the stairs.

He returned to Everett’s office to share what he was told. “He wasn’t acting alone,” he began. “He and the seller were proxies for someone named Peter Cross.”

Everett laced his fingers together atop the desk as he sat back down. “Did he say whether Cross was behind the den in Patchogue as well?”

“No, but I don’t believe in coincidence.” Krueger rested his hands in his coat pockets. “Whoever Peter Cross is, all we can be sure of is that he wants that heroin here for a reason. But until we have more information I feel the best thing to do is to stay vigilant… I’ll run his name by Brandon Desmoulins, see what he can dig up.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Everett agreed. He gestured the backpack full of Dragon Tears. “I’ll get this to Isaac in the morning and let him know you’re investigating Cross. He’ll want confer with us once we have some useful information.”

“Understood.”

“Thank you again for your help Milo,” Everett said, his expression softening again. “Have some fun on your way out,” he said. “On the house.”

Krueger washed his hands in the bathroom. After shutting the faucet off he ran his still-wet fingers through his hair and over his face, then dried his hands and face with paper towels from the dispenser. He inspected his reflection one last time before leaving the restroom to return to his place at the bar.

He reached into his inside coat pocket for his cell phone, but paused as he recognized Khai in his seat chatting with Chloe. He got their attention with a little wave. “I was about to call you,” he said to her. “I just finished and was going to ask you to meet me here.”

“Who says I’m here for you?” Khai jested. “I came to see my best friend.”

Krueger paused for a moment, then chuckled to himself. “Of course you two know each other,” he said.

“Yep,” Chloe added. “Sorry about not being up front with that, but I wanted to test you. Liz said so much about you I had to be sure.” She flashed him a smile. “You passed, by the way.”

“Well,” Krueger said as he reclaimed his seat at the bar next to Khai, “if it makes no difference to you I think I’ll have that drink now, Chloe.”

“You bet,” she said, wiping the rim of a square rocks glass dry and placing it in front of him. She looked over at Khai. “What does he like?” she asked her, nodding her head in Krueger’s direction.

“The Old Fashioned at Tillman’s,” she said.

Chloe nodded in approval. “Ah,” she noted. “A man of taste..! Extra credit.” She went into the freezer to retrieve a single large ice cube with an orange peel frozen inside of it and placed it into Krueger’s empty glass. She turned over her shoulder to survey her options for whiskey, lingering on a Woodford Reserve but ultimately selecting a Four Roses Single Barrel over it. She poured enough bourbon into the glass to cover the ice, then reached to her left for a bottle of turbinado syrup to add a pre-determined amount of the sweetener to the whiskey. Then she retrieved a bottle of angostura bitters from underneath the bar and added a few dashes to the mixture, then added a few drops of orange bitters to it as well. Finally she stirred the cocktail in the glass with a bar spoon and, when mixed to her satisfaction she skewered a single cocktail cherry with a stainless steel pick and placed it into the glass beside the ice. “It’s not a perfect recreation,” Chloe noted as she slid the glass toward Krueger, “but it’s close.”

“Liz trusts your judgement,” he said to her, smirking. “That means you get a pass from me.”

“Danke,” she said, returning his expression. She turned her attention to her friend. “And you?”

“Surprise me,” Khai said.

Chloe broke eye contact while she considered Khai’s tastes and preferences. She knew what to make her—she ducked below the bar to retrieve a bottle of ginger beer from the refrigerator and placed it on the countertop when she surfaced again. Krueger and Khai looked on in intrigue as she picked a bottle of premium vodka and a honey liqueur off the shelf behind her and placed them on the counter next to the ginger beer. She turned around one last time to get another rocks glass and cocktail shaker from the drying rack and then got to work. Into her shaker she cracked some ice, then poured an equal measure of vodka and the honey liqueur. She cut a lime in half and squeezed its juice to the shaker, then closed and shook it to combine the ingredients. When she was satisfied she tapped the shaker on the counter’s edge to open it, then set it aside as she reached into the rear pocket of her jeans for her bottle opener to uncap the ginger beer. Finally, she topped the open cocktail shaker with a strainer and poured its contents into the rocks glass one-handed while she poured in the ginger beer with her other hand to nearly fill the glass.

“That your take on a Moscow Mule?” Khai asked.

“Been workshopping this one,” Chloe returned, rubbing a lime wedge on the rim of the glass and garnishing the finished product with it. “And no,” she jested. “Henry never got us copper mugs.”

“Eh, details.” Khai brought the experimental cocktail to her lips and sampled it, then paused, analyzing the flavors at play on her tongue. Her eyes lit up as she raised her brow. “Whoa, that’s good. Wait, hold on..!” She took more from the glass and when she finally pulled it away from her mouth she examined it in her hand. “Okay, that’s actually delicious..! It deserves a spot on the menu for sure..!”

“I’ll put that into the suggestion box,” Chloe said. “You know, as soon as we get one of those,” she joked. She raised the unfinished ginger beer bottle above the countertop and brought it to Krueger’s and Khai’s cocktails. “To friends..!” she said.

~~~~

Peter Cross pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled, seated opposite the other man at a small square table. The other seated person, visibly terrified, tried desperately to control his breathing under a third man in the room with them, clad in dark tactical gear and concealing his face with a Kevlar mask. The masked man was dead silent, his hands resting on the shoulders of the man seated opposite Cross.

“You’re not making a ton of sense, Davey,” Cross said. “So what I need you to do is take a breath—right now, breathe in through your nose,” he gestured breathing deep from his seat to the man seated opposite him in the dark room. “And slowly let it out through your mouth.” He guided the other man through the exercise. “Are we feeling better now?”

Davey, frantic and barely intelligible just a minute ago, took a moment to collect himself. “Yeah,” he lied, briefly looking Cross in the eye again averting his gaze again.

“Good,” Cross’s guided him with honeyed tones. “Now… Start again, from the beginning.”

“I talked to your contact,” he began. “We met up at Pharaohs, every day for the past week, just like you said.”

“He mentioned that. He had to get a feel for you.”

“We talk,” Davey continued. “Until finally, I made the buy today. Just like you said.”

Cross nodded behind his interlaced fingers.

“But then security comes out of nowhere, and before I know it I’m getting the hell kicked out of me in the alley behind Pharaohs…” He tensed up as the masked man’s grip tightened ever so slightly. “Then they bring me back in, sit me down in front of the boss. He tells me I would have been dead if not for his friend.”

“Describe his friend.”

Davey shrugged under the masked man’s hands. “Average height. White guy, brown hair, gray beard—late forties, probably. Had blue eyes… or were they green? Maybe one of each, I don’t remember.”

“Heterochromia,” Cross surmised.

“Hete-what?”

“Differently-colored… go on.”

“They kept the product and cut me loose,” Davey continued. Then his head hung as he recalled what happened next. “Then the boss’s friend pulls me aside, asked me who my supplier was.”

“What did he sound like?”

“Not super deep, average I guess… I thought I heard an accent when he spoke.”

“What did you tell him?”

“Huh?” The masked man adjusted his grip on Davey’s shoulders again, placing them centimeters closer to his neck.

“You said he asked you who your supplier was. What did you say?”

“I told him I didn’t know.”

“Then why’d you mention you gave him my name, earlier?”

“I thought he was gonna kill me if I didn’t give him something..! I didn’t think about what I was saying, I…” he began to tear up under the masked man’s hands. “I’m sorry, Mr. Cross,” Davey entreated. “I’m so, so sorry..!”

“I know you are,” Cross offered, leaning forward in his seat a little. “I do, and I accept your apology… but,” he continued, standing slowly, “it’s not my acceptance you want today, it’s the Viper’s.” He looked up at the masked man standing behind Davey. “Viper, do you accept his apology?”

The Viper said nothing; he loosened his grip on Davey’s shoulders, and even let go completely with his right hand.

Cross shrugged, looking back down at Davey. “Looks like he accepts your apology too,” he said. He turned around and headed toward the door with his hands in his coat pockets.

Davey took a deep breath to calm himself, relieved, just before the Viper retrieved a knife from his belt and ran its blade across his neck, severing his right carotid artery.

The Viper moved his left hand from Davey’s shoulder to under his chin to pull his head back while his right hand held Davey’s arm in place to prevent him from covering his wound and stopping the gushing. He ignored Davey’s muffled gurgles as blood spurted from the gaping neck wound all over the floor and table in front of him.

“However,” Cross said as he paused in his tracks and slowly turned over his shoulder to face Davey again, “I and the Viper can not afford failure, and we do not tolerate it.”

Davey tried to stand as he struggled, eventually freeing his left hand to try and peel the Viper’s away, but his efforts were thwarted by the larger man’s strength—the Viper pulled his head back further and pressed down with his other hand to keep Davey in place.

“We’re at the cusp of something huge,” Cross continued. “Bigger than anything we’ve ever accomplished, and those who would want to stop us are some powerful people. So until we set ourselves up with people powerful enough to destroy them, we have to stay off of their radar.”

Davey’s movements became more sluggish, and his left hand eventually fell from the Viper’s as life escaped him.

“Discretion, my friend,” he concluded. “That’s how we win here.”

Davey finally went limp in the Viper’s arms, and he let the man fall forward onto the table and slide onto the floor to his left. His blood leaked out from the wound as he hit the floor; the Viper, looking down at his victim, didn’t move when the growing puddle reached his boots. The only sounds in the room with them for six whole seconds was the dripping of Davey’s blood off the table onto the floor, and the Viper’s muffled breathing.

Cross exhaled, quickly scanning himself for Davey’s blood before looking back up to address his associate again. “Did you have to make such a mess?” he asked.

The Viper slowly turned his head upward away from Davey’s corpse to look at Cross again, peering through the eye holes of his face shield to meet his gaze.

“Of course you did,” he added sotto voce. “Clean this up,” he continued audibly. “After you’re done here find my seller and take care of him. Then cancel whatever other plans you have for the week.” He turned back around and headed for the door. “If I’m right about what about to happen, we’re gonna need you around to deal with Archangel.”

(Masterlist | Peter Cross | the Viper | Chapter 11)

#fiction #original work #original content #original fiction #prose #short story #creative writing #drama #thriller #action #romance #crime story

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