#POD Automation Tool

[designmindsstudio]

Save Time & Sell More with BulkMockify’s Automated Mockups

Editable Name Coloring Pages – Perfect for Gifts!

Boost your Etsy sales with professional mockups created in minutes using BulkMockify. Simplify your workflow and grow your business!

[bulkmockify]

Create product bundles faster with BulkMockify!

Sellers on So Fontsy & Creative Fabrica, make your listings shine! BulkMockify allows you to create high-quality mockups for t-shirts, tote bags, and drinkware in just minutes, making your shop look more professional.

[subliprintpalace]

Turn Your PNG & Sublimation Files into Eye-Catching Listings

Your designs deserve the best product images! Let BulkMockify help. Easily create mockups for hoodies, tumblers, and mugs, so you can focus on designing while your shop looks professional on Etsy and beyond.

[bonny-kookoo]

Jungkook

Re:Birth | Re:Start [Part 1]

He's just a vulture, searching for scraps to survive, when he finds more than he could've ever thought of finding. This could turn his whole life around- but oh no...

Tags/Warnings: Post apocalypse AU, Alien AU, Alien!Jungkook, Human!Reader, Angst, Fluff, Adult Themes, mild Violence and Blood, mentions of death, sci-fi, romance

Wordcount: 5.7k Words

There is no taglist for this fic.

-> Masterlist

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━.~°👽°~.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

“Everything that’s in it is yours.”

That was what he was told when he bought the pile of scrap, all of it junk from ages ago still valuable to someone like him. He trades this stuff after all- a member of the ‘Vultures’, a group of people who take on trash to pick out the most vaulable parts of it all. This time, Jungkook got his hands on something special- an old abandoned rescue ship back from when earth first fell to nuclear weapons. That was hundreds of years ago by now, planet completely abandoned and only inhabited by intergalactic clean-up troops trying their best to save whats left of it all.

Opening the once automated sliding doors in the back is tough, but Jungkook makes do with some of the equipment and knowledge from years of experience, eventually finding his way inside. It’s small for someone like him, but probably spacious enough for a good amount of humans, which this was made for after all. The lights don’t work, and he doesn’t really expect them to- but what does surprise him is the still glowing red emergency lights further in the distance, down a small hallway kind of way.

The moment he reaches a door that’s sealed heavily, he’s a bit stunned. It’s known that humans have made a certain type of energy preserving system to keep ships like these going for hundreds of years, but many if not most of them all either crashed, or opened early on other planets during their great escape from earth centuries ago. And with the rather short lifespan of humans, there’s as of now no record of a surviving full blood human on any of the planets of this solar system.

Aex 3 is Jungkook’s home planet- he never had to adjust to anything here. He was born here, and most likely, he’ll spend his dying years here too, whenever that happens.

As he tries to find a way into the large bunker-like room, he has to think of what he might find. Most likely corpses he will have to report to the government so they can be disposed of in a proper manner considering that research on humans is still going on, and its also not like he hasn’t seen a dead body before. He’s well aquainted with rotting flesh and decay, after all, that’s what he’s living off of in a way. But he can’t say that he likes it- not at all. He’d love to avoid the sight and smell, if possible.

When the doorlock hisses at the strength he uses to pry it open with a metal tool he keeps around for cases like this, he know he’s close to finally opening it. But what he’s met with once he’s finally in, squeezing through a rather tight opening since the door has rusted so badly to the floor that it just can’t open any further, leaves him stunned yet again.

It’s cold in here, and most of all dark, if not for a few pity lights still glowing, although some are flickering on their last breaths. He instantly puts on a facemask just in case there's anything dangerous in the air- just as a safety measure. Many of the to him familiar cryo-chambers are fogged, empty, leaking or partially opened- and the smell is familiar too, flesh of the poor souls who never made it out alive still faintly in the air. The humans once inside the pods died long ago, long enough to only leave mostly bone and clothing behind, but what Jungkook’s glowing eyes keep their attention to, is a single cryo-pod, small digital panel still active, though it’s covered in dust.

He’s walking closer, because if that think is still working, he might have a chance at recovering those energy cells humans used back in the day still intact. That would fetch him a fortune, for sure- there's rich collectors of these things on his planet, and on others close by.

Though, his hand stutters the moment he removes dust- because the information on the panel cannot possibly be correct.

It displays a name first, and then a year and a date. He assumes this must be your date of birth- which is so long ago he’s sure his own lineage wasn’t even created yet. He’s born a species of alien-human connection, after all; a species created from very early attempts at specially modifying human DNA to make them more capable of intergalactic travel. It was considered failed at first, but after generations, Jungkook’s species has become stronger, healthier, taller and most of all- exactly what they aimed for.

There is no planet he couldn’t survive on. His body is capable of adapting to the most unfriendly environments.

It simply took time- and humans are said to have been terribly impatient.

He slides his finger over the panel, sucessfully swiping to another set of information, most of it telling him that the system is still active, still running. But there’s also other info that causes his warm-blooded body to cool down signitatively.

‘Starting SYSTEM_STOP:HIBERNATION-EXIT'

“Wait, no no no no-” He panics, tapping away at the screen until he manages to somehow not have the whole thing unfreeze on him, leaving him breathless for a good moment or two. With an unsure hand, he wipes at the glass front, to uncover a soft, red light inside, and most of all-

A body. And it’s most certainly not dead-

It’s a full-blood human.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━.~°👽°~.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

It’s been two days.

Two days since he found you in there, still kept in your little pod, still completely unaware of what’s going on around you.

Do you dream? According to a friend of his who researches humans, you could be, but apparently the chances of that are very low due to your brain being kept at a stage of being not active. Jungkook faces a very bad situation here, because technically, he should absolutely report this to his local research office- but he’s also sitting on an amount of money that could change his life forever.

No more scrap metal. No more sleeping in his small apartment that’s falling apart. No more fighting on the streets over pitiful amounts of change.

He sighs as he sits down close to your pod, opening a bag of snacks for himself as he looks over at the clear top. Your eyes are closed, and you seem to be in a very good shape. If he was to calculate correctly, you were about his age when you left earth and got put into this thing- and yet, you look to be very small compared to modern day human-descendants and most species of humanoid beings. He himself is a little above average, sure- but that’s besides the point.

If you woke up now, you’d probably be traumatized.

Namjoon, his friend who studies humans, had told him once that humans can die from emotional trauma alone. Their own immune system can just one day riot against its own host and kill it from the insides. And DNA can mutate from nothing all of a sudden and create tumors that burden the body so much it cannot continue normal function.

Humans are so frail. Should he just.. Do you a favor?

Your family, your friends, everything you knew is gone after all. You’re alone, a sole survivor, and once the institute gets a whiff of your existence, you’ll probably be kept like a laboratory animal in a sterile environment for testing and research. It’s fucked up- but Jungkook isn’t a murderer.

The next day, when he’s back again, he watches you once more- taking you in for a moment, mesmerized by the simple fact that you are existing. The odds of this are so incredibly small that it fascinates him to no ends. He’s asked Namjoon about some stuff last night over drinks, and apparently, most humans who exited the hibernation protocol all lack any memories. They have basic knowledge of functions, they can speak and they know how to balance and have basic reflexes- but they all have to re-learn more complicated tasks like tying shoes, or even how to calculate and tell time. So maybe, if you were to wake up, the trauma wouldn’t be so bad?

Jungkook is conflicted. The price you’d fetch for him would be astronomical. He’d be set for life, and some. It’s just a call. Or even just a text to namjoon.

He’s killed a guy before. Shot him right in the chest for having attempted to sell his own kid on the streets, and Jungkook felt not a single drop of remorse. And yet, he can’t do this. He can’t just be the same as everyone else.

You don’t deserve this.

But do you deserve to live like this too?

You’ll never have a normal life, not at all. You’ll either have to be on the run forever, or set yourself into the laboratories- both options aren’t ideal. Jungkook scratches his head for a moment, before he sighs, and slides one of his hands over his face in agony. This issue isn’t letting him sleep for a second. What’s he supposed to do?

Can he trust namjoon enough to file him in on this?

Sudden light makes him snap his face towards where you’re still in hibernation however as the panel seems to malfunction for a good second or two, causing him distress. The light inside your pod are now off as well, putting you in complete darkness- and he doesn’t know what posesses him as he taps and swipes once more, frantically trying to find a single setting to activate. And then-

‘Starting SYSTEM_STOP:HIBERNATION-EXIT'

This time, he lets it happen, steps a bit aside just in case, even though he doesn’t know what might happen now. Maybe you’re dying in there, or maybe this is simply the course of nature in a way? He doesn’t know, as the pod hisses and clicks, something sounding as if it snaps apart or breaks, worrying him. After a good little while of this, there’s silence, lock on the clear top clicking, but never opening.

Should he take a look? It won’t hurt, right?

The small panel is now dark, and as the inside of the pod foggs up, Jungkook realizes that it might just be stuck- hands of his forcing the acrylic glass upwards until it finally opens with a painful cracking sound of the hinges protesting against his aggression.

It’s silent, again.

He can’t hear anything out of the ordinary, if anything he hears even less noise than usual with the ventilation of the system and the flickering lights finally having given up by now. As he looks inside, he notices just how.. Clean everything is still where you’re laying, looking like you are simply asleep. But what concerns him is the fact that, while one touch offers him the knowledge of your body temperature rising and heart beating again, you’re yet to gain consciousness.

Jungkook knows next to nothing about human health. Why would he?

So, minutes later, he’s guarding the tight squeeze at the entrance to the room you’re in, Namjoon looking at him with suspicion and crossed arms. “You have to swear first.” Jungkook almost growls threateningly, holding out his hand.

“I swear I’ll report nothing.” His friend replies, before he hooks his ring finger around Jungkook’s, and pulls till there is a quiet crack- a way of proving that he means his ‘promise’.

“Okay.” Jungkook sighs deeply, panic still present in his bones as he lets his friend into the chamber.

“Wow. This is all incredibly preserved..” Namjoon says, already distracted by the remains of a human with mummified flesh still present, when Jungkook makes an almost growling sound to get his friend’s attention. “Right. What do you have there?” He asks, walking closer- before his eyes widen, and his steps become longer, quicker, like he can’t get closer fast enough. “That is..! Is she alive?!” He gasps, frantically looking around before he steps around the pod for a better angle to look at you.

“Yes? No?” Jungkook struggles. “I don’t know. The whole thing.. Made weird noises and I think the system gave up, so I made it exit the hibernation stuff-” Jungkook explains, while Namjoon puts his glasses on.

“She was still in hibernation when you found her?” He asks, and Jungkook nods. “That is.. So she just exited.. I- Jungkook, I would’ve brought more equipment if I had known-” He mumbles to himself as he seems to gently turn you a little in the cushioned bed you’re in, specifically designed to move and tilt to not cause any pressure on the body over time. “She’s a bit cold I believe.. And considering that no one has ever survived in these pods for so long, there might be damage to either internal organs or her brain..” He says, before he steps back. “Either way, she can’t stay here.”

“Oh wow I would’ve never guessed.” Jungkook sarcastically responds, rolling his eyes before he looks around. “How do we get her out of here without anyone noticing?” He asks, as he picks up a blanket. “Can we just.. Wrap her up and I don’t know.. Maybe say she’s a friend from Vinos? They’re pretty short people too..” He tries to come up, and Namjoon seems unconfident.

“I’m not sure what the dust might do to her skin, since she has been kept in isolation for so long, and she might not react well to the environment here..” He thinks, when Jungkook looks at him urgently. “..but you’re right. Yes, lets.. But be careful.”

“I’m always careful-” Jungkook complains almost childishly, though he hesitates a bit at approaching you with the blanket, a little worried now.

“Let me do it-” Namjoon tries, but Jungkook shakes his head, and carefully moves you into a sitting position, where your body leans heavily against his own, a form of physical contact he’s not quite used to, especially from the opposite sex. “Care-”

“I am careful.” He huffs, as he makes sure to wrap the blanket around you as best as he can, before he scoops you up to carry you. “Alright, lets get out of here then.”

Namjoon seems a bit hesitant at first, torn between staying and leaving-

But ultimately, he chooses the last option, and leaves behind Jungkook.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━.~°👽°~.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

“Alright I made sure it’s not connected to any of the servers anymore, so now I just have to-” Namjoon begins, as Jungkook jumps up to your defense at the sight of the needle. “-Jungkook, I have to take at least some blood to make some research as to her current state.” He reassures his friend, who only reluctantly sits down again. Somehow, with you being unable to really do anything, let alone consent, Jungkook feels incredibly protective.

He knows he wouldn’t like someone poking around on and inside him either while he was unconscious.

But Namjoon is right- there's no real other way to check up on you other than this- so he lets his friend continue, tests soon bringing in results as you’re hours later asleep on a mattress Jungkook usually sleeps on in his home. Namjoon had brought his equipment along with him, fearing that his own home that’s paid for by the research institute might be too dangerous for you to reside in.

While Namjoon is busy looking at the results in Jungkook’s little open kitchen a bit further away, Jungkook himself is busy thinking about what life will look like for you, if you survive. Somehow, you remind him of himself when he was born- tellings of his mother reminiscing about how he had been born underneath the open skies, with no place to call home, and no guarantee of survival. He ultimately did simply because she took him in as her own- but if it was any different, he wouldn’t exist today.

How will your life play out now?

In a way, he believes this might be the universe giving him a chance to pay back that second chance at life he’d been given so many years ago. Maybe now, he can be that person to pick you up and help you gain your footing in the world. He might not be the best person considering his job and own struggles- but he surely wants to try.

Because all other options just don’t sound right.

“It seems like she has an infection currently.. Her white blood cells are elevated.” Namjoon says as he walks closer with a digital tablet containing all the information from the tests he made. “Her kidneys don’t seem to work properly.”

“Does that mean she will die?” Jungkook worries, and Namjoon sighs.

“No, and if she does it won’t be from a mere kidney infection, at least not in the stage she’s in.” He explains. “Her temperature is a bit high and when she wakes up she will definitely feel uncomfortable, but nothing that can’t be treated with standard antibiotics.” He says.

“Antibiotics?” Jungkook cringes. “That’s.. Ancient medicine.” He says, and Namjoon nods.

“She’s technically ancient too, Jungkook.”

Right.

“So, when will she wake up?” Jungkook wonders, as Namjoon measures your heartrate with a small electronic device close by to keep him constantly updated.

“Probably in the next few hours. Her body is slowly adjusting to the change in her environment, that’ll take some time.” He says, and Jungkook is a bit reassured by the clear calm attitude his friend has while making sure to keep an eye on your vitals.

“Namjoon?” Jungkook asks, as his friend looks up at him. “I’m.. Glad you’re here.”

“Well, you should be.” Namjoon proudly smiles, happily accepting that praise when you suddenly squeeze close your eyes, the first sign of life you gave until now. Jungkook is instantly sitting up, standing somewhat over you as Namjoon pushes him back with a hand on his chest. “Give her space. We don’t know how she’ll react.” He says calmly, as Jungkook worriedly watches you slowly wake up.

It visibly takes you a while to open your eyes, but when you do, it’s like Jungkook is caught up in a moment of timelessness.

It’s tough to explain- the second your eyes meet, he’s caught off guard like an animal staring right at it’s biggest predator, unsure what is about to happen now. He’s not fearful of you, absolutely not- but he’s frozen in place, and it only takes a moment until he realizes what’s happening.

“Well, at least she won’t have issues finding someone to look after her.” Namjoon says, having noticed from the way Jungkook’s pupils dilated to the slight parting of his friend’s lips, that he’s clearly just imprinted on you. It’s common for his age and species after all- and it’s also not very surprising, considering that he has a good amount of human DNA in him that survived all those centuries.

“I- uh, wait, no..” Jungkook stumbles over his words, as he clears his throat, and shakes his head. “I can’t. I don’t have any funds to really feed another person, and neither can she live here-”

“We’ll take his step by step. For now, this is where she’ll stay.” Namjoon decides, before he walks closer to you. “Hm. Do you understand what I’m saying?” He asks you, and you look at him for a moment, visibly turning a little unsure and even fearful of the situation.

You.. Kind of understand them. But it’s like they’re speaking with an incredibly strong accent that makes it tough to really pull apart the words and their meaning if they speak fast.

“We are friends.” Namjoon explains, as Jungkook walks closer. “This- that’s Jungkook. I’m Namjoon. And you?” He wonders, as you think for a good while, causing the older alien to worry that you might not understand common language.

After all, from what he knows, humans used to have many very much different languages in which they used to communicate in, before the interplanetary counsil decided on a single language to be spoken and taught to everyone. So maybe you weren’t taught universal language?

But then you meekly utter your name, and Namjoon sighs in relief.

“Good. Very good, thank you.” He says, as Jungkook adjusts your blanket when he notices you shivering. “Can you sit up?” Namjoon wonders, and you do, slowly, with the help of Jungkook’s hand on your back- the researcher quickly moving to check you over a little more, just to be sure.

You just let it happen, instead looking around the rather dark and small apartment for a moment.

You have no idea where you came from- only having some faint memories of putting on a very standardized set of clothes and laying down in a very cold bed? You don’t quite remember what exactly it was, but you do know that you went to sleep in there- last sight that of someone with a facemask tapping on a digital panel, before you went to sleep. And then?

Darkness. There’s nothing else.

You don’t really feel frightened by those two people any longer as you take a proper look around and at them both, curiously watching the way Namjoon seems to lift your arms to test your reflexes and strength. Jungkook next to you keeps an eye on things, and for some reason, that makes you feel protected.

You lean into him a little while Namjoon seems to talk about something incredibly complicated, way too fast for you to really understand it- but Jungkook appears to understand, so you’re not worried about anything for the moment.

After all, you also don’t know that your life didn’t just begin again-

But that it just got a whole lot more complicated.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━.~°👽°~.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

“There. That should be more comfortable.” Jungkook offers, having finalized his task of putting another mattress down onto the floor next to where he usually sleeps.

You now have your own blankets, pillows and mattress- after just a few days, Jungkook has quite clearly decided to keep you around, and make your situation a permanent one. He’s learned a few things about humans and their health from Namjoon who had to go back to the institute in order to not have them get any suspicions.

Jungkook has, since then, begun to dig through the rest of the thing for valuables- wrecking the open pod as well just to make sure that the government officials won’t look too much into things once they pick up the other remains.

“Where do you.. Go?” You ask Jungkook, as he sits down on his own bed next to where you sit. He seems to have equally a bit of trouble understanding you properly, but he tries hard, and you appreciate that. “like, during the day. Where do you go?” You ask, and at that he seems to understand.

“I take apart things, and sell the most valuable parts.” he explains. “Uh.. Like..” He takes a box of screws and tools. “I take this, see?” He says, before he takes out the tools of the tiny metal box, putting them into their own spots. “And then I sell everything. This for ten, this for fifteen, and so on.” He attempts to explain, and you perk up at that, nodding.

“I see!” You say, making him smile almost shyly at seeing you happy. He carefully puts everything back into the box before putting it away, when he hears your stomach growling, causing him to look at you with wide eyes for a second before he realizes that you probably haven’t eaten anything today.

“Oh! I don’t.. Have anything here you can eat.” He mumbles a bit disappointed, before he looks around.

Should he do this? He probably shouldn’t, but he could always just pass you off as a someone born on Vinos. And to be fair, everyone would absolutely believe that considering that you do fit them mostly. Not quite, but mostly.

But oddities define the norm, as they say.

“To be fair, you do need clothes too.. You can’t keep wearing mine.” He says, before he gets up. “Come on, I’ll carry you since you don’t have shoes yet.” He offers, and you accept that, letting him carry you on his back with his hands steadying your legs at your thighs on his sides, while your arms are over his shoulders. It’s your first time outside, and Jungkook doesn’t really think about it for a good moment, until you seem to hide in the crook of his neck. “Oh- right, the sun must be really bright.. I forgot. Sorry.” He says, as he hurries to walk in the shadows of the buildings as to not have you burn into a crisp on his back.

He wonders what the weather was like on earth before it got poisoned. Was it nice? What was nature like? Or the cities?

What was your life like before all of this?

“Alright- in here you can walk, the floors are relatively clean. Let’s get you some shoes..” He mumbles, as he leads you around with a hand on your upper back right between your shoulders, as he looks for anything that might fit you.

You don't remember where you came from, and neither do you remember if you've always lived here. Everything looks foreign but also familiar to you, as if the world you're currently in has shifted just enough to be different, but not enough to become strange. You struggle to read most signs and labels, but you also realize that you don't have to be able to do so, as Jungkook walks around a corner with a pair of shoes for you to try on.

“They should technically fit? I don't really have a good eye for sizes..” he mumbles, as he watches you slip into the shoes that fit surprisingly well. There's a bit of room there for thicker socks if the weather gets colder, so you'll be able to wear these in any kind of weather.

Wait. Do the seasons even change here?

“You like them?” Jungkook asks, and you nod, because you genuinely do. When he walks to pay for them, you instantly put them on near the exit of the store while Jungkook pays for them at the counter, where a young lady with silver strands in her hair takes his money to count and then nod. When he walks towards you, you kind of feel like the canine creature outside the store tied to a lamppost by its owner just seconds ago, seeing your person again. There's a strange mix of relief and happiness when he takes your hand to walk through the town with you, the man looking around for what you think might be something to eat.

He finds it, after some walking. Though he hesitates to enter.

“Is it dangerous?” you ask, having to repeat your question as he leans down to hear you better over the sound of talking people, honking vehicles and construction work nearby. He shakes his head- though it doesn't convince you.

“its not dangerous, no. I just.. don't know if you can eat any of what they offer.” He explains, before he walks inside. “lets see.. you can surely eat something we get for children…” the tall man mumbles to himself, before he orders something. The hood of his sweater has been pulled over your head this entire time as if to hide you- and you can see some other people, shorter than you, wear clothes in a similar way. One of those people waves at you with an odd gesture that catches you off guard- but you try and repeat it the best you can, causing the small table to erupt into laughter of endearment.

Someone walks closer, stands next to jungkook. He instantly holds onto your hand.

“A fellow Vinoson. Didn't think you'd be that kind of guy, Jungkook.” The young man seems to joke, making Jungkook laugh as he squeezes your hand a little.

“ah, what can I say? I guess you were right when you said you can't resist their charm sometimes.” He says, and you’re not quite sure what he's hinting at. But you also trust him- so maybe this is simply for the best to play along, as you push yourself into Jungkook's side a little like you've seen another couple do earlier when you entered.

“ah, well she seems to be charmed by you just the same.” The man nods, before he nods to you. “Do you by chance have any cobalt-capsules in your stock?” he asks, and Jungkook agrees with a head-gesture.

“actually, I do. But i'll have to raise my usual prices a bit these days, since the quality is high for these, and you rarely get them in that state anymore.” Jungkook says while waiting for his order of food to arrive. “they're all between 70% and 85%. Got them checked at Yoongi's.” he proudly says, clearly confident in his tone.

“My, that sounds indeed like a rare gem you found there. How much for five?” the man asks, and Jungkook picks up his order of food in the silver lined paper bag, before he turns fully towards his apparent costumer.

“1.4 Kay. I gotta feed two mouths these days, hope you understand.” Jungkook appears to joke- though that glimmer in his eyes tells you that he's genuinely serious with the price, almost hopeful.

“you now what?” the man says, before he nods to you. "Alright.” The man agrees. “Though only for a chance to meet your child, once its there. I cannot imagine what a Vinoson and a Humanoid would create.” He jokes, making Jungkook cringe a little as he nods however.

“deal. Though, that might take a while.”

Back at home, now with the food in front of you, and the thick long sweater-poncho kind of situation off of your body, you take your first bites of food. “according to the notes left by Namjoon, local produce and oil should be fine for you to consume.” He offers as reassurance. “So this has no meat in it. I'll do some research later- or you can have a tiny bit of mine, and see how you do?” he asks, and you nod at that, causing him to laugh. “did you even understand me, or are you just agreeing to anything?” he jokes, but you shake your head.

“no, I understand.” You answer, almost a bit offended. “I just.. you talk fast sometimes. Then I struggle.” You explain to him, and he nods.

“i'll keep that in mind then.”

Later during the rest of the early day, he turns on the radio- while you still struggle to somewhat understand the fast speech especially with the occasional static cutting the announcer off, you listen to it.

“-have come to the conclusion that the remaining human bacteria in the cryo-pod found at Ainum-Square last week, have simply been remains that were well preserved due to the system's battery system still being intact. Researchers have also examined the other human remains at the site, and told ACS-Station that the passengers of that flight most likely died shortly after impact due to pressure changes and lack of oxygen.”

You listen to it still, when Jungkook walks up behind you, clearly curious, but also hesitant.

Do you remember those passengers? Or do you not?

“I'm human too, right?” you ask Jungkook, who nods. “And you're a.. humanoid?” you ask, making him nod, though he shrugs his shoulders.

“that's the broad term. In reality, there's different humanoid races. I was born here on Aex, so i'm technically an H3. The third Humanoid species to inhabit a planet.” He explains. “take it as.. every humanoid started from humans, right? And then they kind of.. began travelling. Some stayed on Cepheid, and became very resistent to the harsh climate and hot temperatures. They're H1. H2 are the ones that eventually populated Chronos 16, those are really sensitive to light, but they can endure freezing climates. Have a weirdly arrogant attitude though..” Jungkook mumbles. “and then, well, H3 are people like me, who were born here on Aex. We grow a bit taller, our bodies can adapt to changes in atmospheric pressure and we have more.. I guess, complex social behavior?” he wonders. “huh, but I'm rambling. You probably didn't understand half of it.” He sighs with a smile, though you shake your head.

“so.. where are the original humanoids then?” you ask.

“they're on earth, mostly. Helping in the cleanup efforts after the nuclear disaster of 2245.” He explains.

“and.. humans?”

Jungkook grows silent for a moment, before he turns a little to you, as if to invite you for something you're not sure of. “Most of them.. died during the disaster, or from the health effects of exposure. Many fled to neighboring planets, and eventually.. well, they got scared to be wiped out entirely, I guess? So they began to try and enhance their DNA to create stronger and more resistant generations. It.. took them too long though. They got impatient, and abandoned the project after not even a century.” He says.

“So, no humans are alive anymore?” you ask, making him laugh.

“they are. In my DNA, and many of the other Humanoids.” He offers kindly. “and, well, in you. A pure human, so to say.” He offers.

It takes you a moment to take all of it in, really think about it and process that information. What Jungkook is saying is that the project never failed- but simply took too long for any human to ever see the results it brought. You're the last of your kind, possibly.

“Why did you.. say I was from Vinos?” you ask, and he sighs.

“because.. a lot of human history got lost in the disaster. And a lot of it, no one can read.” He explains. “I’m.. worried. About what the research institute might do if they knew you existed.” He simply says.

“will you.. can I stay here?” you ask. “for now?”

And jungkook nods, with a kind smile.

“of course.” He says, putting a gentle hand onto your head.

“I’ll try my best to keep you safe.”

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━.~°👽°~.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

[post-itpenny]

Swimming Chapter 3: Hoping

In which Ryley makes some very unfortunate discoveries...

Thank you to everyone who has been reading and enjoying this story so far. A huge thank you to my bestie @clownsgobeepbeep for their continuous support and encouragement. <3

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

After the monster attack at the Aurora, Ryley was determined never to leave his lifepod again. Though, by morning he was hungry enough to recognize this as a poor decision.

It wasn’t as hard as he was afraid it would be to catch the strange v-shaped fish (Boomerang Fish he would later decide to name them in the PDA Catalog). The ones with large eyes (Peepers) were slightly trickier, but he could chase the little fish towards the rocks and corner them easily enough. The lung-shaped ones disturbed him somewhat. But, upon experimentally throwing one in the fabricator, he realized their value as a source of water and decided there were worse things to digest than a weird-shaped fish. So, as a rather terrible joke he would admit, he named them Bladder-Fish.

He spent the day collecting anything that seemed useful and went through two med kits thanks to his discovery of a small cavefish that exploded. But, he persevered and eventually could fabricate a scanner. Ryley set out again to scavenge what he could and, by the end of the day, he had scrounged up enough materials to fabricate a repair tool and simple survival knife.

He felt accomplished, and as he finished soldering together the last wire on the radio, Ryley found himself feeling more at peace. It was good to keep busy, he realized. Staying busy meant he didn’t have time for being afraid. He was a member of the Aurora Maintenence Team after all. He was supposed to fix things, he was supposed to be able to solve problems, he was supposed to always be busy. In a weird way, surviving in an alien ocean was no different. Or, at least rationalizing it as being no different certainly helped.

Ryley flicked the radio’s switch on and jumped in fright as multiple messages began to come through.

“Radio online. Broadcasting emergency distress signal."

"This is Life Pod 3, up-loading our coordinates…”

“This is Ozzy from the Cafeteria. What the hell guys!”

"This is Aurora. Distress signal received. Rescue operation will be dispatched to your location in 9...9...9..."

“This is an automated distress signal from Life Pod 9. Sensors indicate passenger is unresponsive…”

“This is Life Pod 4! We’ve landed close to the Aurora, flotation devices active, but we got some big-old fish in the water with us and I don’t know how long we’re going to last-“

The radio shut off with a pop of sparks and smoke. Overwhelmed with the flood of messages.

Ryley fumbled with his PDA, hoping it had cataloged the coordinates. It had, for most of them. But, with the exception of the messages sent by his own radio, next to each one was an additional tag-

Message sent thirty-six hours ago.

He sat at the bottom of his lifepod, baffled as he stumbled through the math. It had been over twenty-four hours since he first awoke. But, based on his guesswork, this meant he had been unconscious for twelve hours before that.

He thought about the message from Life Pod 4. He knew exactly what fish they were talking about. How close had he been to them? Could he even do anything to help?

He had to try.

Ryley double-checked the messages. Life Pod 3 didn’t seem that far from his location. Rereading their message it looked like they had a sea glide. Maybe they could use it to outswim whatever that thing near the Aurora was and get to Life Pod 4.

He was apprehensive about leaving the safety of his pod considering the sun already set. But he hoped that if the water stayed shallow then hopefully it would be too dangerous a swim.

Ryley climbed out the bottom hatch, his eyes taking a moment to adjust to the water, before nearly letting out all his air in a gasp.

The reef he had landed in was quite lovely in the daytime. But at night it had become ethereal. The various flora and fauna glowed gently in the warm currents. It gave him a little flicker of courage as he set off towards the life pod…

Ryley found Life Pod 3 where the reef gave way to an exotic-looking kelp forest, which was lit up by the strange, glowing seed pods that they grew. 

The lights were out on Life Pod 3, and as he circled the structure he discovered a large hole ripped into the side.

His heart dropped, and he raced inside clinging to the thinnest of hopes that somehow finding someone alive-

But there was nothing. No person, not even a body. Only the warped remains of what he assumed was a sea glide and a still functioning PDA. Its screen was a spider web of cracks. But its black box function seemed to still be active, which was how Ryley learned of Life Pod 3’s fatal mistake of trying to modify a sea glide to carry two people.

He wanted to scream. They weren’t even that far from the surface! They had been too afraid of whatever was outside-

But what had been outside the pod? Why were there no remains?

Rylee’s stomach lurched, and he threw himself out of the pod and frantically swam to the surface where he promptly vomited what little contents his stomach had.

Why were there no remains?

Did that mean something ate-

-Something bit his ankle, and a scream managed to rip itself out of his throat before he landed a kick on a strange, alligator-like creature which left with an agitated shake of its head.

He was slow in his swim back to his life pod. His ankle stinging and his stomach still twisting itself in knots. He encountered two more of the creatures that had bit him, both easy to out-maneuver. These things were dangerous no doubt. But easy to outswim even without a sea glide. How could the people of Life Pod 3 make such a mistake?

Yet, as he entered the reef. Ryley swore he heard a strange, electronic screech way off in the distance, and he had to wonder if it was something else that made the people of Life Pod 3 afraid to go outside.

[qqchurch]

the NLD being originally a medical device that's now an all-purpose tool that can even play fulldive VRMMOs is pretty nuts ngl

Kou the shoulder fairy... and IRL Freya/Hijiri with the scar from that time...

cars still exist in this future, but they're now largely automated so they're like one step away from being trains

you better get used to it, girl 💀

this has been a slow burn thing since the focus was on the game so far, but Kou did mention about this school being her first choice allll the way back before she got into the pod, and also where the twins busted their asses to follow her

the reveal that it's a Rich Kid School is pretty funny, ngl, or the fact that Kou is like, loaded but also lived normally, sorta

[rthidden]

Notebook LM Notes: Pod-cast Away

Google's rolling out the AI welcome mat with Notebook LM, an AI tool that transforms your documents into podcast gold.

Who knew your reports had voiceover potential?

Why it matters

AI isn't just a Silicon Valley buzzword—it's a tool small businesses can use to boost creativity and efficiency.

Google’s Notebook LM shows that automation can create content, not just organize it.

With AI, your business can reach new audiences without needing a recording studio or sound booth.

By the numbers

35% of companies are weaving AI into daily operations, according to IBM's 2023 report.

The global AI market's set to quadruple from $86.9 billion in 2022 to $407 billion by 2027 (MarketsandMarkets, 2022).

63% of AI enthusiasts claim it feeds productivity like caffeine on a Monday morning (PwC, 2023).

What they're saying

"AI is probably the most important thing humanity has ever worked on. I think of it as something more profound than electricity or fire," muses Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google.

Use it to spark, expand, and distribute knowledge, and you just might agree with the guy.

The plot twist

Notebook LM takes prompt engineering to the next level with smart delimiters.

Translation? It keeps your content sharp, focused, and as relevant as a meme in your group chat.

No technical wizardry required!

The bottom line

Google’s Notebook LM makes AI-fueled content creation as breezy as an afternoon siesta.

It’s time to hit record and let your documents do the talking.

[adil-elkarroumi]

Merch Dominator is a software tool designed for print-on-demand (POD) and merchandising businesses. It assists users in researching profitable niches, analyzing competition, and optimizing product listings for platforms like Merch by Amazon. The tool offers keyword research to improve product visibility and may include basic design features for creating or modifying custom designs. With automation capabilities, repetitive tasks such as uploading designs and managing listings can be streamlined. Additionally, Merch Dominator provides performance analytics to track sales and revenue, aiding sellers in evaluating the success of their products and strategies. It aims to empower users with valuable data and tools to make informed decisions and thrive in the POD market. check it by this link : https://merchdominator.com/pricing?ref=zje3ntvw

[studiopod]

Why On-Location Headshots Are Perfect for Busy Professionals?

In the age of digital presence and remote networking, a professional headshot is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether you're a corporate executive, a startup founder, a consultant, or a creative freelancer, your headshot often forms the first impression others have of you. But here’s the dilemma: between meetings, deadlines, and personal commitments, who has the time to book a traditional studio session?

Enter on-location headshots —a modern, stress-free solution designed specifically for busy professionals. With services like Studio Pod, you can now get high-quality, studio-grade headshots without ever stepping foot into a traditional photography studio.

In this article, we’ll explore why on-location headshots are gaining popularity and why they’re the perfect choice for professionals who want convenience without compromising quality.

1. Convenience Without the Commute

One of the biggest advantages of on-location headshots is the convenience. Traditional headshot photography requires finding a reputable studio, traveling to the location, dealing with parking, and waiting for your appointment. This can easily eat up a couple of hours of your day—something most professionals don’t have to spare.

With on-location services like Studio Pod, the studio comes to you. Whether it's your office, co-working space, conference, or home, the entire process is designed to fit seamlessly into your schedule. You don’t have to waste time commuting or adjusting your day around a photoshoot. Just walk up to the pod, follow the guided prompts, and walk away with polished, professional results.

2. Ideal for Company-Wide or Team Sessions

Managing headshots for a whole team can be a logistical nightmare. Booking individual studio sessions for employees can be time-consuming and inconsistent. Different lighting, backgrounds, and photographers often lead to a lack of uniformity across team photos.

On-location headshots solve this problem efficiently. With services like Studio Pod’s self-serve photo pod, companies can arrange for multiple employees to get professional headshots in one go—all in the same location and under the same setup. This ensures brand consistency while saving time and money.

It’s an ideal solution for:

Company rebrands

New employee onboarding

Team photo refreshes

Conference or trade show booths

3. No Photographer? No Problem.

One of the most innovative aspects of Studio Pod is that you don’t need a photographer on site. The smart headshot pod is fully automated and equipped with studio lighting, camera gear, and AI technology to guide users through the process.

It’s perfect for people who feel awkward in front of a camera or prefer privacy. There’s no one watching, directing, or rushing you. You control the pace, review your photos in real-time, and retake them if needed.

This self-guided process helps users feel more relaxed, which naturally leads to better, more authentic photos.

4. High-Quality Results Without the Studio

A common misconception is that studio environments are the only way to get high-quality headshots. While traditional studios offer professional lighting and controlled conditions, modern technology now makes it possible to replicate those settings on-site.

Studio Pod’s headshot stations are equipped with professional lighting, flattering camera angles, and intuitive interfaces to ensure every shot meets studio standards. Whether you're taking a headshot for your LinkedIn profile, company directory, or personal website, you’ll receive crisp, well-lit images that make you look your best.

The best part? You don’t need to wait days for edits. You can often receive your photos the same day—ready for download and use.

5. Tailored to Today’s Professionals

Busy professionals need tools that work with their lives, not against them. On-location headshots are built with that philosophy in mind. Whether you’re:

A lawyer prepping for a speaking engagement

A real estate agent refreshing your marketing material

A remote worker updating your Zoom profile picture

A startup founder preparing your pitch deck

You need a headshot that reflects your brand, personality, and professionalism. On-location headshots allow you to get that without rearranging your entire week.

6. Boosting Personal Branding and Trust

Your headshot is often the first image someone sees when they Google your name, connect with you on LinkedIn, or visit your company’s website. It plays a crucial role in your personal brand.

A high-quality headshot communicates:

Professionalism

Attention to detail

Approachability

Confidence

On the other hand, a poorly lit selfie or outdated photo can send the wrong message. With on-location headshots, there’s no excuse for not looking your best. You can update your image quickly and effectively, making sure you’re putting your best face forward in every digital interaction.

7. Cost-Effective for Teams and Individuals

While professional photography often comes with a high price tag, especially for team sessions or customized shoots, on-location solutions like Studio Pod provide a more cost-effective alternative.

You don’t need to pay for a studio rental, photographer fees, editing, or transportation. With a flat fee or bundled pricing, on-location headshots offer predictable costs with high return on investment—especially when used for marketing, recruitment, or brand-building.

And because Studio Pod can serve multiple people in a short time frame, it’s even more economical for businesses needing consistent, professional images across their team.

8. Ready for Today’s Hybrid Work World

We live in a world where more people are working remotely, attending virtual meetings, and building careers from anywhere. The traditional idea of visiting a brick-and-mortar photo studio just doesn’t align with this new way of working.

On-location headshots are inherently flexible and mobile. Whether you’re at a coworking space in Austin, a corporate office in New York, or working from your home office in San Diego, you can access a professional photo setup without altering your workflow.

And with the rise of events, pop-up offices, and hybrid teams, portable headshot solutions like Studio Pod are perfectly suited to meet today’s professional needs.

9. A Modern Solution That Feels Effortless

The true magic of on-location headshots isn’t just the quality—it’s the ease of the experience. Busy professionals already juggle countless responsibilities. Booking a photoshoot shouldn’t feel like one more complicated task.

Studio Pod eliminates the stress by offering:

Easy scheduling

Instant photo previews

Fast delivery of final images

No need to coordinate with a photographer

It’s professional photography—reimagined for your lifestyle.

Final Thoughts

Gone are the days when professional headshots meant long studio sessions, awkward poses, and days of waiting. With on-location headshot solutions like Studio Pod, busy professionals can now access high-quality, brand-ready images on their terms—fast, flexible, and hassle-free.

Whether you're refreshing your personal brand, updating your team's images, or preparing for a big opportunity, on-location headshots make it easier than ever to look polished and professional in every interaction.

Ready to Get Started?

📸 Book your on-location headshot session today at thestudiopod.com 🚀 Save time. Look your best. Get studio-quality headshots—on your schedule.

[designmindsstudio]

Make Your Etsy Store Stand Out with Professional Mockups

Perfect for sublimation artists, BulkMockify automates mockup creation for tumblers, mugs, and more. Ready to make your workflow easier?

[bulkmockify]

Make your Etsy store stand out with professional images!

[subliprintpalace]

Tired of Making Mockups? BulkMockify Does It for You

[hawkstack]

Master Advanced OpenShift Operations with Red Hat DO380

In today’s dynamic DevOps landscape, container orchestration platforms like OpenShift have become the backbone of modern enterprise applications. For professionals looking to deepen their expertise in managing OpenShift clusters at scale, Red Hat OpenShift Administration III: Scaling Deployments in the Enterprise (DO380) is a game-changing course.

🎯 What is DO380?

The DO380 course is designed for experienced OpenShift administrators and site reliability engineers (SREs) who want to extend their knowledge beyond basic operations. It focuses on day-2 administration tasks in Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.12 and above, including automation, performance tuning, security, and cluster scaling.

📌 Key Highlights of DO380

🔹 Advanced Cluster Management Learn how to manage large-scale OpenShift environments using tools like the OpenShift CLI (oc), the web console, and GitOps workflows.

🔹 Performance Tuning Analyze cluster performance metrics and implement tuning configurations to optimize workloads and resource utilization.

🔹 Monitoring & Logging Use the OpenShift monitoring stack and log aggregation tools to troubleshoot issues and maintain visibility into cluster health.

🔹 Security & Compliance Implement advanced security practices, including custom SCCs (Security Context Constraints), Network Policies, and OAuth integrations.

🔹 Cluster Scaling Master techniques to scale infrastructure and applications dynamically using horizontal and vertical pod autoscaling, and custom metrics.

🔹 Backup & Disaster Recovery Explore methods to back up and restore OpenShift components using tools like Velero.

🧠 Who Should Take This Course?

This course is ideal for:

Red Hat Certified System Administrators (RHCSA) and Engineers (RHCE)

Kubernetes administrators

Platform engineers and SREs

DevOps professionals managing OpenShift clusters in production environments

📚 Prerequisites

To get the most out of DO380, learners should have completed:

Red Hat OpenShift Administration I (DO180)

Red Hat OpenShift Administration II (DO280)

Or possess equivalent knowledge and hands-on experience with OpenShift clusters

🏅 Certification Pathway

After completing DO380, you’ll be well-prepared to pursue the Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift Administration and progress toward the prestigious Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA) credential.

📈 Why Choose HawkStack for DO380?

At HawkStack Technologies, we offer:

✅ Certified Red Hat instructors ✅ Hands-on labs and real-world scenarios ✅ Corporate and individual learning paths ✅ Post-training mentoring & support ✅ Flexible batch timings (weekend/weekday)

🚀 Ready to Level Up?

If you're looking to scale your OpenShift expertise and manage enterprise-grade clusters with confidence, DO380 is your next step.

For more details www.hawkstack.com 

[xpressiosystems]

Event Planning Business Software: Boost Your Workflow & Client Experience

When it comes to planning a wedding or any major event, most people picture flowers, food tastings, and dancing. But behind all that glamor is a mountain of logistics. And for those in the business of making these dreams come true, juggling all the moving parts can be overwhelming. That’s why using the right software for wedding planners is no longer optional — it’s essential.

Why You Need Specialized Software

Every wedding or event involves dozens — sometimes hundreds — of details. From the guest list to vendor coordination, it’s a complex puzzle. That’s where software for wedding planners becomes a game-changer. It streamlines communication, tracks progress, stores important documents, and gives you peace of mind. In fact, not having the right tools can slow you down and cause costly errors.

Core Functions of Planning Software

Modern wedding planning software covers a wide array of tasks. You can organize timelines, send reminders, manage RSVPs, track expenses, and more — all in one place. These tools are designed to take the stress out of event logistics and let you focus on creating beautiful, seamless experiences.

A good event planning business software doesn’t just help you organize — it transforms your workflow from chaotic to calm.

Choosing Tools That Fit Your Needs

Not all planners work the same way. Some prefer visual timelines, while others love checklists. That’s why the best software for event planning is customizable. Whether you’re planning one wedding at a time or juggling multiple events, you need tools that support your style.

The best tools also integrate with email, calendar, and payment systems, turning basic Software for planning events into a full-service assistant.

Best Options for Beginners and Experts

There’s something for everyone in the world of planning tools. If you’re just starting out, lightweight platforms like Trello or Notion can serve as entry-level event planners software. For more seasoned professionals, options like Aisle Planner, HoneyBook, or Planning Pod offer robust features tailored for the wedding industry.

Mobile Access and Flexibility

Planning events means you’re rarely at your desk. You need tools that travel with you. Many platforms today are optimized for smartphones and tablets, making them ideal as online event planning software. That way, even during a venue walkthrough or a vendor meeting, you can check updates, adjust timelines, and communicate with clients.

The convenience of Digital wedding planning software means you never miss a beat — wherever you are.

Real-Time Tracking and Automation

Keeping track of every detail manually is exhausting. That’s why tools offering event tracking software have become so valuable. These dashboards give you instant updates on task progress, guest responses, vendor communication, and even payment statuses.

Automation cuts down repetitive tasks, giving you more time to focus on creative and personal touches for your clients.

Cloud Storage and Online Collaboration

The best part about using wedding planning software for wedding planners is that it allows everyone — clients, vendors, and your team — to stay on the same page. Cloud-based platforms ensure that any updates or changes are instantly visible to everyone involved. This reduces miscommunication and improves client satisfaction.

Platforms that qualify as online event & wedding planning software shine in this area, offering real-time collaboration tools and cloud storage.

Scaling from Small to Large Events

Starting out as a small team? No problem. Planning a large corporate event or multi-day wedding? Covered. That’s the magic of scalable planning event software. Whether you’re a solo planner or part of a large team, there’s a platform tailored to your needs and business size.

Software for Venue Managers

While planners juggle timelines and clients, venues have a different set of needs. For them, Event Venue Planning Software is key. These tools manage booking schedules, coordinate with external vendors, and track equipment inventory.

Robust event venue management software also includes floorplan creation, availability calendars, and automated booking confirmations, making them indispensable to any venue business.

Tips for Smarter Software Selection

Here’s how to choose wisely:

Test before you invest: Most platforms offer free trials.

Ask your peers: Word-of-mouth is still powerful.

Look for dedicated support: A good tool comes with good help.

Think long-term: Your software should grow with your business.

Selecting event management planning software is like choosing a business partner — it should work just as hard as you do.

Customization and Templates

Time is precious. Pre-made templates for proposals, schedules, and contracts can save hours of manual work. Most event planning software for wedding planners includes drag-and-drop features or editable forms that let you add your branding and client details.

Customization keeps your workflow personal, professional, and polished.

CRM Integration and Client Management

Combining CRM and planning features into one system means fewer logins and better service. Many tools double as event planning business software, allowing you to nurture client relationships, track inquiries, automate emails, and manage billing — all in one place.

If you’re acting as a wedding coordinator planner, integrated CRM tools make follow-ups and communication seamless and efficient.

Exploring Budget-Friendly Software

Not every powerful tool comes with a heavy price tag. Some software for planning events offer free or affordable plans for small teams. These versions may limit features but are excellent starting points. As your business grows, upgrading becomes a strategic investment.

Whether it’s a subscription-based tool or a pay-once license, budget should never block access to quality software.

Evolving Trends in Planning Tools

Event tech is always evolving. Features like AI-assisted scheduling, automated proposal generation, and virtual event tools are becoming common. Future-forward all in one event planning software now includes chatbots, real-time analytics, and even virtual walkthroughs for venues.

Staying updated ensures you offer your clients the most cutting-edge experience possible.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

In an industry where every second counts, using the right tools can mean the difference between chaos and calm. Whether you’re just starting or looking to scale your services, investing in reliable software for wedding planners is one of the smartest decisions you can make.

FAQs

1. What’s the best wedding planner software for new planners? Aisle Planner and HoneyBook are popular for their simplicity and comprehensive tools that help new planners get organized.

2. Can event planning softwares work for other events too? Yes, most tools designed as software for event planning can be adapted for birthdays, corporate events, and more.

3. What is event tracking software used for in planning? It’s used to monitor every aspect of your event timeline, ensuring no task or detail is missed.

4. Are there any mobile-friendly digital wedding planning software tools? Absolutely. Tools like ClickUp, Planning Pod, and HoneyBook offer full mobile functionality.

5. Is there a difference between online event planning software and desktop versions? Yes. Online event planning software allows for real-time updates and collaboration, while desktop versions may be limited to a single device.

[mycrusadestranger]

🧭 Brand Philosophy: The Free Mind Ethos

At the heart of Free Mind Marketing is an unshakable belief: freedom fuels creativity. This isn't just a brand name — it's a mindset. Free Mind was born from the desire to break away from cookie-cutter campaigns, rigid agency contracts, and outdated thinking. It's built for founders who want more — more growth, more clarity, more control over their destiny.

Core Beliefs:

Growth is strategic, not accidental

Creativity should convert

Agility beats perfection

Collaboration is non-negotiable

Client wins are agency wins

Free Mind isn’t just about delivering KPIs — it’s about building marketing systems that liberate brands, not bind them.

🛫 Onboarding Experience: The First 30 Days

Free Mind’s onboarding process is streamlined, insightful, and structured to get clients moving fast — without chaos.

Week-by-Week Breakdown:

Week 1: Deep Dive Discovery

Brand analysis

Funnel audit

Target audience profiling

Platform access setup

Week 2: Strategy Blueprint

Custom funnel mapping

Growth action plan

Content calendar

Creative briefs

Week 3: Build & Test

Ad creatives

Landing pages

Email sequences

A/B test setup

Week 4: Launch & Optimize

Campaign goes live

Daily data monitoring

Retargeting and scaling

Weekly call with performance report

Every new client is assigned a dedicated growth strategist, backed by a creative pod and ad-buying squad. It’s like plugging into a full-stack marketing department without the overhead.

🏙️ Industries Served

Free Mind doesn’t try to serve everyone — instead, it goes deep in sectors where results matter most. Their vertical expertise includes:

🔸 Health & Aesthetics

Clinics, med spas, dental practices

Patient acquisition funnels

WhatsApp booking integration

Multilingual ad campaigns

🔸 E-Commerce & Retail

Fashion, beauty, tech gadgets

Shopify & WooCommerce systems

Retargeting and cart recovery

Influencer campaigns

🔸 Coaching & Education

Personal brands, course creators

High-ticket funnel building

Webinar and evergreen flows

CRM automation

🔸 Real Estate & Property Development

Buyer and investor funnels

Brochure and landing page design

Video storytelling ads

WhatsApp + Email follow-up systems

🔸 Hospitality & Tourism

Hotels, resorts, luxury travel

Booking optimization

Visual branding

Experience-based storytelling

Each industry has its own challenges — and Free Mind brings the right playbook to win.

⚙️ Tools & Tech Stack

Free Mind’s performance is powered by world-class tools, tailored to every phase of the customer journey: 🚀 Growth Phase🛠️ Tools UsedCRM & AutomationHubSpot, HighLevel, ActiveCampaignAds & Media BuyingMeta Ads, Google Ads, TikTok, Snapchat, LinkedInE-CommerceShopify, WooCommerce, Klaviyo, MailchimpAnalytics & ReportingGoogle Analytics, Looker Studio, Triple WhaleFunnel BuildingClickFunnels, Webflow, WordPress, InstapageDesign & CreativeFigma, Canva Pro, Adobe SuiteCommunicationSlack, Notion, Loom, WhatsApp API

This tech suite enables scalable growth, precision reporting, and lightning-fast execution.

🌱 Ethical & Sustainable Marketing Practices

Free Mind is committed to marketing that respects privacy, promotes inclusivity, and supports sustainable growth.

No black-hat tactics

GDPR-compliant campaigns

Culturally sensitive creatives

Eco-friendly partners supported

Client education at every step

They believe that ethical brands grow better, and their work reflects that in tone, targeting, and strategy.

🔮 Vision for the Future

Free Mind Marketing envisions a world where every business — big or small — can scale without selling its soul to inefficient agencies or bloated budgets.

Their next frontier includes:

Launching a creator growth lab for personal brands

Building AI-integrated marketing flows for e-commerce

Hosting masterclasses and growth summits for founders

Expanding deeper into SaaS and health tech

Opening a Dubai-based growth studio for high-end content creation

This is more than a marketing agency — it’s becoming a hub for next-gen growth thinking.

🏁 Final Words: A Trusted Growth Partner for the Brave

If you're ready to go beyond surface-level tactics… If you crave a growth partner, not a vendor… If you want a team that thinks as boldly as you do…

Then it’s time to work with Free Mind Marketing.

They don’t just run ads. They engineer momentum. They design pathways to profit. They free your mind — and grow your brand.

📞 Contact Free Mind Marketing

🌍 Website: https://freemindmarketing.com

📧 Email: hello@freemindmarketing.com

📱 Instagram: @freemind.marketing

🏙️ Location: Dubai, UAE (serving global clients)

[viralkar]

Discover Instagram Influencers That Deliver Real Results

Discover powerful strategies to find the right Instagram influencers who align with your brand, drive engagement, and deliver real results in 2025.

Top Strategies to Discover Instagram Influencers That Drive Results

In 2025, Instagram influencer marketing continues to outperform traditional digital advertising when it comes to engagement, reach, and return on investment (ROI). Brands across industries from e-commerce to tech startups are shifting budgets from static ads to influencer-driven content that feels more authentic, personal, and persuasive.

But here’s the real challenge: how do you find the right Instagram influencers who actually drive conversions, not just vanity metrics like likes and views?

With over 2 billion active users and millions of content creators on Instagram, it takes more than just scrolling through hashtags to develop an impactful influencer marketing strategy. Whether you're launching a product campaign, seeking brand ambassadors, or scaling a user-generated content (UGC) initiative, the key lies in working with creators who truly align with your brand values, resonate with your target audience, and deliver measurable campaign results.

In this blog, we’ll break down the top strategies to discover Instagram influencers who deliver real impact not just followers. We’ll also highlight trusted platforms, tools, and insider techniques to help you streamline your search and build data-driven campaigns.

Pro Tip: Use influencer platforms like ViralKar or Upfluence to identify vetted influencers, access real-time analytics, and manage influencer campaigns at scale.

1. Define Your Ideal Influencer Profile

Before you dive into the discovery process, the most critical first step is to clearly define the type of influencer that fits your brand. Without clarity, even the best tools can lead you to misaligned partnerships that don’t convert.

Ask yourself the following:

What is your brand niche and target audience? Are you in beauty, fitness, tech, travel, food, or sustainability? Knowing this helps narrow your search and align with creators who speak directly to your audience.

Are you looking for micro, macro, or nano influencers?

Nano-influencers (1K–10K followers): Highly niche, authentic, and budget-friendly.

Micro-influencers (10K–100K followers): High engagement, trust, and ROI.

Macro-influencers (100K–1M+): Broad reach and polished content.Learn more about influencer tiers from Influencer Marketing Hub.

What kind of creator best represents your brand? Do you want:

Lifestyle influencers who naturally integrate your product?

Subject matter experts who provide deep knowledge and credibility?

Entertainers who can make your brand go viral?

What are your campaign goals? Are you aiming for:Brand awareness and impressionsApp installs or lead generationSales and conversionsUser-generated content (UGC) to reuse in paid ads

Pro Tip: According to a Later and Fohr study, micro-influencers (10K–100K followers) often outperform larger creators in engagement rate, cost-effectiveness, and audience trust especially in niche markets.

2. Use Advanced Influencer Marketing Platforms

Manually browsing through hashtags and profiles can only take you so far. If you want to scale and succeed in 2025, you need to leverage influencer marketing platforms that provide data-driven insights, automation, and campaign tools to make informed decisions.

Skip the guesswork. Modern tools like ViralKar, Upfluence, and Heepsy are designed to help brands and agencies discover and vet Instagram influencers quickly and efficiently.

Here’s what these platforms typically offer:

Follower authenticity analysis Identify fake followers, bots, or engagement pods to ensure you’re investing in genuine creators.

Audience demographics (age, gender, location, language) Understand exactly who your influencer’s followers are and whether they match your target market.

Engagement rate tracking View average likes, comments, shares, and reach over time to measure content performance and influence.

Niche filters and brand alignment tags Filter by industry (e.g., vegan beauty, home tech, parenting) to find creators whose content fits your brand identity.

Content style and sentiment analysis Review tone, consistency, and past collaborations to avoid influencers who may have brand conflicts or over-promote.

Recommended Tool: ViralKar

ViralKar is an AI-powered influencer marketing platform designed for brands seeking scalable influencer discovery, fraud detection, and ROI tracking. It lets you:

Match with influencers based on campaign goals

Match with influencers based on campaign goals

Analyze past campaign performance

Monitor live results with real-time analytics dashboards

Manage influencer outreach, contracts, and payments all in one place

Looking for a platform with full campaign lifecycle management? ViralKar helps both emerging startups and enterprise brands streamline their Instagram influencer campaigns from start to finish.

3. Leverage Hashtag and Location Search

If you're working with a tight budget or simply want to explore creators without committing to a paid platform, don't overlook the value of Instagram's native search tools. With the right strategy, you can still uncover authentic, high-performing influencers using hashtags, location filters, and manual engagement analysis.

Here’s how to get started with manual Instagram influencer discovery:

Use Niche Hashtags Strategically

Search highly targeted, long-tail hashtags that align with your product or audience. For example:

#CleanBeautyRoutine for skin care influencers

#VeganRecipesDaily for food content creators

#TechReviews2025 for gadget reviewers

#FitnessForMoms for family or wellness niches

Pro Tip: Avoid overly generic tags like #beauty or #fitness. Instead, use niche hashtags with less competition and more specific intent.

➡️ Explore trending hashtags on All Hashtag

Use Location Tags for Local Campaigns

Planning a regional campaign or in-store event? Use Instagram's location search to discover creators nearby.

Search by city or neighborhood (e.g., “Los Angeles”, “Brooklyn”, “Bangalore”)

Tap into posts from local events, stores, or meetups

Ideal for brands in food & beverage, fashion retail, or hospitality

Local influencers often have strong community trust, which can result in higher offline and online conversions.

Analyze Engagement, Not Just Likes

When reviewing potential creators, don’t get distracted by high follower counts. Instead, assess quality engagement by checking for:

Meaningful comments (not just emojis)

Replies from the influencer to their followers

Natural interactions that reflect a genuine connection with their audience

Watch out for accounts with thousands of likes but barely any real conversation this may signal bought engagement or inauthentic activity.

Final Tip: Use Chrome Extensions for Speed If you’re doing manual research often, try free tools like IG Follower Export Tool or IG Analyzer to download data and evaluate engagement quickly.

4. Explore Your Own Followers and Mentions

Sometimes, your next great brand advocate is already in your corner; you just haven’t noticed them yet. One of the most underutilized influencer discovery strategies is tapping into your existing Instagram community.

By exploring who's already engaging with your brand, you can identify authentic creators who genuinely love your products and are more likely to create high-trust, high-converting content.

How to Discover Influencers from Your Own Followers

Check Mentions and Tags Head to your Tagged Photos and Mentions to see who’s already posting about your brand without being paid to do so. These are often genuine brand fans and great UGC creators.

Review Top Fans and Frequent Commenters Take note of users who regularly engage with your posts. If they’re content creators, they may already be organically aligned with your mission and voice.

Use Instagram Stories and Polls Ask your followers to tag you when they post using your product. You can even create a “Brand Rep” application story highlight to make it easy for interested creators to apply for collaborations.

Explore Instagram Insights If you have a business or creator account, go into Insights → Audience → Top Locations and Demographics. You may discover new audience segments or micro-influencers already following you.

Why This Works

These creators are already fans of your brand. Their content comes from authentic experience, not a contract which makes it more trustworthy and engaging. When they post, it feels natural, not transactional.

Plus, working with existing fans often results in:

Lower cost per collaboration

Faster content turnaround

Long-term brand loyalty

Pro Tip: Platforms like ViralKar let you import your Instagram audience data and identify influencers already engaging with your brand saving time and maximizing ROI.

5. Use Influencer Marketplaces to Connect Instantly

When you want to move fast and collaborate with motivated, brand-aligned influencers, influencer marketplaces are a game-changer. These platforms allow creators to pitch to brands directly, or let brands post campaign briefs for instant applications cutting down on time and outreach effort.

Influencer marketplaces are ideal for:

Brands launching product drops, limited-time campaigns, or seasonal offers

Scaling user-generated content (UGC) production quickly

Testing collaborations before committing to long-term partnerships

Popular Instagram Influencer Marketplaces in 2025

Here are a few trusted platforms that help brands and creators connect efficiently:

TRIBE – Perfect for brands seeking high-quality branded UGC, with built-in content licensing for paid use. Creators pitch pre-made content that you can approve and purchase.

Collabstr – A simple, no-fuss marketplace to book influencers on demand. Filter by niche, budget, location, and more. Great for small businesses and startups.

ViralKar – A full-service influencer marketing platform offering campaign briefs, influencer discovery, fraud analysis, real-time reporting, and automated contract + payment management. Especially powerful for Instagram-first campaigns.

Why Marketplaces Matter

Influencer marketplaces simplify the entire workflow so you can:

Post a campaign brief and receive pitches from creators

Filter applicants by engagement rate, audience fit, and past collaborations

Manage contracts, deliverables, and payment in one dashboard

Track performance and ROI with built-in analytics and reporting tools

Pro Tip: If you’re launching a multi-phase campaign, choose a marketplace like ViralKar that offers end-to-end campaign management from influencer sourcing to post-campaign performance analysis.

6. Vet Creators for Authenticity and Performance

In 2025, influencer marketing is no longer just about aesthetics or follower count; it's about credibility, content alignment, and performance-driven partnerships. Before you commit to any collaboration, it’s critical to vet influencers thoroughly to ensure you’re investing in creators who will deliver real ROI not vanity metrics.

Here’s a checklist to help you evaluate Instagram influencers before partnering:

What to Check Before You Collaborate

Engagement Rate A strong engagement rate typically falls between 2% and 5%, depending on follower size. Lower engagement may signal fake followers or low content relevance. 👉 Use Phlanx's Instagram Engagement Calculator for a quick audit.

Audience Quality and Relevance Are their followers real, active, and aligned with your target audience? Look for suspicious spikes in followers or engagement. ⚠️ Watch out for generic comments, repeated emoji-only replies, or sudden surges in like these may signal bot activity.

Content Consistency Review the influencer’s grid and stories. Ask yourself:

Do their aesthetics, tone, and values match your brand?

Is their content professional, engaging, and on-message?

Have they consistently posted over time, or are they inconsistent and sales-driven?

Brand Collaboration History Scan for signs of over-promotion or conflicts of interest:

Are they working with competitors?

Do they promote too many brands, diluting their influence?

Tools for Influencer Vetting

Manually checking these metrics can be time-consuming, which is why using trusted influencer analytics platforms is key. Some top-rated tools include:

ViralKar – AI-powered insights on audience authenticity, engagement trends, and historical brand collaborations. Great for fraud detection and ROI prediction.

Influencity – Offers deep-dive audience reports, fake follower detection, and performance benchmarking across platforms.

HypeAuditor – Known for its fraud detection engine, identifying bots, comment pods, and unengaged audiences.

📊 Final Tip: Don't rely on surface-level stats. A creator with 30K authentic, engaged followers is often more valuable than one with 200K inactive or purchased ones. Quality always beats quantity in influencer marketing.

7. Build Relationships, Not Just Campaigns

Finding the right influencers is just the beginning. The most successful brands in 2025 go beyond one-off promotions; they build long-term partnerships that evolve into brand advocacy. When influencers become true partners, their content feels more authentic, and their audience trust grows with every collaboration.

Think long-term: relationships > transactions.

How to Nurture Influencer Relationships

Instead of focusing on a single sponsored post, consider ongoing, multi-touch collaborations that allow the influencer to tell a story over time. This creates stronger brand recall and fosters deeper audience engagement.

Here are proven formats to build enduring partnerships:

Product Seeding Campaigns Send influencers your product for no-strings-attached reviews or unboxings. If they love it, they’ll naturally post about it sparking authentic user-generated content (UGC).

Sponsored Content Series Work with creators to develop a multi-part campaign (e.g., 3–4 posts over a month) that shows your product in various use cases, building trust and context.

Instagram Lives, Reels, or Takeovers Host co-branded Instagram Lives, let influencers take over your Stories, or collaborate on trending Reels. These formats are high-engagement and algorithm-friendly.

Affiliate or Brand Ambassador Programs Invite top-performing influencers into your ambassador network with perks like commissions, exclusive discounts, or early access. This model incentivizes performance and strengthens loyalty.

Real-World Example

Brands like Gymshark, Daniel Wellington, and Function of Beauty have scaled through long-term influencer partnerships turning creators into face-of-the-brand ambassadors, not just content vendors.

💬 Communication is Key

Treat influencers as collaborators, not contractors

Share creative freedom and co-create briefs

Provide feedback, share results, and celebrate wins

Recognize their value this builds goodwill and long-term alignment

📈 Pro Tip: Use tools like ViralKar to track long-term influencer performance and manage recurring campaigns. You’ll be able to see which partners deliver consistent ROI and scale those relationships.

Final Thoughts

Finding the right Instagram influencers in 2025 isn’t just about follower count, it's about authenticity, alignment, and impact. Whether you’re working with micro-creators or large-scale influencers, use the strategies and tools above to identify the ones who truly drive results for your brand.

Want a shortcut? Platforms like ViralKar help brands discover, vet, and collaborate with top-performing Instagram influencers all in one place.

#findInstagraminfluencers #influencermarketingstrategy #Instagraminfluencerdiscoverytools #bestinfluencerplatforms2025 #microinfluencermarketingtips