#and “watched” the rest with the browser window minimized

[iamthedancing]

warning to to my fellow photosensitives: last night's game changer episode (deja vu) is amazing but is also full of flashing lights

please be careful and "watch" by just listening to the audio/give this one a skip/take care in whatever way makes the most sense for you and your situation!

[dollerinna]

WOULD YOU LIKE AN ALMOND JOY .ᐣ

( black noir x gn!crime analyst reader )

summary: after a long day of work, you try to unwind by watching your comfort show, but your solitude is interrupted by yet another visit from noir, who seems to be finding more and more excuses to spend time with you… (includes a C.AI bot as part 2 below!)

wordcount: 2k

tags: brief mention of NSFW pop-up ads, nerdy n’ socially awkward reader, noir’s disdain for almond joys but he makes up for it at the end <3

It had been a long day at the crime analytics office in Vought. As the sun began to set, exhaustion crept over you after reviewing incident report after report. Your eyes strained from the blue glare of your computer screen. You knew you had promised your boss you would organize the ever-growing database, but the tiny voice of procrastination was pleading for rest before your overworked brain turned into a pile of mush.

Rather than more paperwork—you, being the slacker of all slackers in this department, decided a well-deserved break was in order. And what better way to recharge than turning off the noggin and filling it with good ol’ fashioned mindless entertainment?

With a few tired clicks of your mouse, you booted up your go-to streaming site, which was none other than 123movies. Scrolling through the options, your cursor hovered over the play button of your favorite trashy drama. The kind of cheesy, perfectly predictable melodrama spun from the worst of amateur YA plots. It was practically comfort food for your fatigued mind, just what you needed to loosen up after the mental marathon that was this long day.

As the opening credits began to roll, your computer began to whir and hiss like an overtaxed engine, emitting gusts of unusually hot air from the vents. Suddenly, its screen slowed to a sluggish crawl, cluttered with a barrage of not-so-savory pop-up ads. Barely a minute in, the pixels already scrambled to form images better to left unseen—half naked women in risqué yet tacky mermaid-like attire, claiming they were ‘just around the corner and ready for a good aquatic fuck.’

First of all, what the absolute living hell is an “aquatic fuck”??

Did you even want to know? And most importantly, what happened to the ad blocker you installed just the other day? Judging by the contents, you had a sneaking suspicion that slimy, sea-dwelling degenerate, The Deep, had tampered with your computer… yet again.

“For the love of-… what’s with all these pop-up ads?” you muttered under your breath as excessively explicit ads crowded out the episode. Your eyes darted furtively around the room to check for wandering glances, hoping against hope that none of your coworkers had noticed the unwanted filth invading your screen. Heart pounding, you squeezed your chair closer to your monitor into a makeshift barricade, shielding the display as best you could while hastily clicking away at the intrusive ads.

As you hurriedly closed the remaining windows, an ominous shadow fell across the screen. Dreading what—or who—might be behind you, you slowly swiveled your chair around to find Black Noir's stoic stare boring into your own.

You stifled a yelp as you instinctively clutched the armrests, catching yourself on the edge of your seat before an ungainly spill to the floor. Noir had a way of materializing without warning, and it never failed to unnerve.

“N-Noir!” you managed, inwardly cringing as your voice broke on his name. “Fancy seeing you in these parts. I was just taking a quick break and y’know- stretching ‘em brain cells.” You tried for a lighthearted chuckle, but it emerged as more of a strained squeak that faded into an anxious hum.

With a jerky flurry of clicks and the browser minimized from view, whatever dignity you still retained disappearing along with it. All that did remain was you praying to the heavens above that he hadn't noticed its questionable contents (even if he most definitely had and simply chose not to comment)

When Noir offered no response, you of course charmingly barreled ahead in your frazzled daze. “But anyways, s-sorry about that… how uh, can I help you today?” your words tumbled out in a breathless rush, punctuated by a shrill laugh you hoped disguised the mortification simmering beneath.

Noir cocked his head, observing you with that same silent intensity. You fidgeted, hands twisting in knotted discomfort, the heat in your ears now engulfing your entire face. Was it the invasive pop-ups that had you squirming in your seat? Or the fact he could snuff out your existence faster than you can say “workers’ comp”?

Either way, beneath the weight of his stare, you already felt as if you were some peculiar, freakish creature pinned for study, rather than some bumbling employee just trying to unwind and watch their comfort show.

And to him, you indeed were a fascinating, bizarre little human.

Mercifully, Noir chose to extend a folder toward you, putting an end to your somewhat pathetic withering. You accepted it with a wordless nod, nearly sagging in your chair as tension drained from your shoulders.

Whirling towards the familiar clutter of your desk once more, you pretended absorption in the folder’s material, hoping this signaled Noir’s leave. After all, has anyone seen the state of you? It certainly wasn’t a flattering one. Yet from the corner of your eye, you detected no movement, no receding footsteps—his shadowy form remained statuesquely in place.

Believe it or not, this has been becoming a thing, a growing habit of late—and a suspicious one at that. Lately his breaks had grown longer, minutes lengthening to quarters of an hour, all spent hovering at your desk as you worked. However, his focus was solely on watching and observing you. He never exhibited a hint of thought or motive for his reason there, only leaving you with questions that seemed to multiply by each and every visit.

Noir, on the other hand, was somehow utterly convinced that you and him were two peas in a tightly-knit pod. He swore you two were best of buds for life—even if "life" so far had only amounted to the past two weeks' worth of half-hour stretches where he silently observed your work from the corner.

Ironically, you didn’t have the slightest inkling of how he really felt. Instead, you always assumed that he, like most supes, regarded you as little more than a puny mortal—a fragile, near-useless sack of flesh and bones whose skull he was one misstep away from caving in with bare hands.

But nope, Noir was simply here to bless you, the nerdy but cute crime analyst, with his presence—his rather… unsettling presence.

The familiar hush settled as you reluctantly returned focus to the task at hand. Hocus-pocus-focus, you chanted mentally, peeling away the last shreds of stray thoughts to tap into the zone of productivity. Unfurling the dossier Noir provided, you began sifting through documents for insight on his purpose in approaching you. Meanwhile, a flick of movement in the edge of your vision revealed Noir's attention veer off course, the almond joy perched beside your keyboard capturing his notice.

You tensed, hocus-pocus-focus breaking, all too aware of past disappearances of snacks in these briefings. Sure enough, his hand drifted noiselessly toward the candy bar, no doubt spurred by ingrained impulse to dispose of it per his usual custom. But you'd grown wise to his methods by now.

Not again, you sighed inwardly, snatching the almond joy and cradling it protectively as if it were your dear, beloved child.

Noir made no move to withdraw, palm outstretched expectantly. You frowned, struggling to keep frustration at bay. "Please, come on- not this time!.. It's my last one for the day." Brows pinching, your tone threatened to rise before steadying with a slow and calm inhale. No use losing composure over candy, no matter the principle. So all you could do was peer beseechingly at Noir in silent appeal, legs jittering restlessly under your desk in building apprehension.

Unfortunately, you found no signs of leniency in his obscured face—only his hand beckoning relentlessly for the almond joy. You plea was once again met with stony resolve, as if he was internally distressed by the mere presence of it. What was he? Deathly allergic to almond joys or something?

With a resigned breath, you delivered the almond joy towards Noir's waiting glove, unable to hide the disappointment dimming your features. Your lips curled into a slight pout, gaze sinking heavy into your lap at being parted from the treat. Though Noir was never one for words, it really didn’t take a rocket scientist to see you felt bullied into submission by his demands. At the end of the day, what power did a measly analyst like yourself hold against one of the Seven? As your fingers uncurled, releasing the candy into Noir's grasp, you couldn't help but feel a bit put upon, even if that wasn’t his intention at all.

Noir was well aware of the upset feelings his request had caused, so in an attempt to remedy the situation, his arm was sent in a backwards reach for the notepad he often used to communicate. However, he found himself at a loss as words eluded him, his thoughts swirling in frustrating circles of “What should I even say?”—muddled and incoherent. For a moment he stared at you, mask betraying no emotion as he grappled to find the right words, despite the prick of guilt nibbling at his conscience. Then, lacking any better option, he simply tossed the offending candy into the trash, perhaps with more force than intended.

Clearly, socializing was not Noir’s strong suit.

With no further acknowledgment, Noir spun on his heel and marched away. You watched his retreating, rigid form with discomfort clenching your insides, eyes falling onto the lonely candy discarded in the trash, its colorful wrapper mocking your current disheartened state.

Wearily, you turned away from the almond joy, redirecting your attention toward the computer as a means to divert your now soured mood. Maximizing the browser, you hoped that your planned show may have had time to load during the interaction. But upon inspecting the screen, you found the video remained stubbornly stalled, stuck on buffering dots and refusing to roll despite the minutes passed.

Just. Peachy.

One (super)human encounter had sucked the very life source out of your dog-tired body, and now this. It was really shaping up to be one of those days.

Thoroughly worn out, you gently laid your head down onto the desk, pillowing it against the crook of your folded arms as eyelids slid shut. All you craved was to simply sleep away the remaining time until you could finally escape this wretched shift and retreat to the sanctuary of your home sweet home.

─────────────────

As your shift wound down to its end, you were finally stirring from your slumber. Rubbing the sleep from your bleary eyes, your blurred vision sharpened to show your colleagues had long since departed while you were snoozing away.

Rising and squaring your shoulders, you began to gather your belongings in preparation to leave as well. Once you had collected everything and lifted to your feet, something in the far corner of your desk caught your eye. Approaching for a closer look in the dim lighting, the fuzzy outline gradually came into focus—a cluttered collection of Hershey's Kisses, their jumbled placement grouped to form the shape of a heart.

You blinked in bewilderment, rubbing your eyes once more to ensure you weren't imagining things. Stepping closer, you spotted a sticky note nestled within the heart of chocolates, scrawled upon in a crude, blocky hand. At first, you assumed it was some silly prank from one of your coworkers, but you knew you recognized the handwriting anywhere—it was Noir's.

Gingerly, you plucked the sticky note from the desk, lifting it to your line of sight to read the message. “Kisses taste better than almond joys…Sorry.” you read softly, your voice trailing off as confusion crept in.

Designed as a very apparent flirty gesture, the intent behind the note and chocolates still managed to whoosh straight over your head. As always seemed the case, even the most painfully obvious social cues could so easily evade your understanding—this proving no exception.

You slipped the sticky note into your pocket, then selected a foil-wrapped Kiss from the pile. Gently rolling the chocolate between your fingers, you unwrapped it and popped one into your mouth. You took time to savor its light cream filling beneath a smooth outer shell, face crinkling in thought and head tilting as you considered your verdict. “Eh… I’d beg to differ.” you mused with a shrug, slinging your bag over your shoulder as you took your leave from the office.

-------☆-------

Pssst- likes, comments, and reblogs are greatly appreciated in this household and keep me motivated! <3

-------☆-------

a C.AI bot as your very own part 2 where you thank Noir the following day:

a/n: saw somewhere that kisses don’t contain nuts but then I also saw someone else say they actually do??? So let’s just pretend the kisses Noir chose are completely nut-free for the sake of the plot 😭

also, the reader is very much based off Anika if it wasn’t obvious enough haha! She’s so y/n coded 😤💗

♡ divider credits: @/ianrkives

[thatesqcrush]

Fall From Grace, Pt. 9

Bryan Kneef x Reader. Fandom: The Good Fight. Reference: S4, E.4, “The Gang is Satirized and Doesn’t Like It.” CW: Angst, language, fluff. AN: Our lovely REE was on The Good Fight for all of 3 minutes so I am taking lots of liberties. I am obsessed with the anti-Barba. He was just delicious.

WC: 2313

Six months.

It had been six months since you moved to the East Coast and enjoyed all that NYC had to offer. However fast paced Chicago seemed to be, New York City moved just a little bit faster.

You had crammed a bagel with an obscene amount of cream cheese in your mouth when a plethora of emails with electronic case filings came through your inbox. You switched gears and began associating the files with the respective cases when one in particular caused you to freeze.

STR Laurie

Bryan Kneef, Esq.

233 South Wacker Drive, Suite 8000

Chicago, IL 60606-6448

Attorneys for Defendants

APPEARANCE OF COUNSEL

LIBERTY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY,

HOLBROOK SECURITIES LLC (Defendants)

 V.

 Allison Kensington (Plaintiff)

Pearson Specter

Civil Action No. 10-cv-3752

TO THE CLERK OF THE COURT AND ALL PARTIES OF RECORD:  PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the undersigned is admitted to practice in this court, and hereby enters an appearance as counsel in this case for defendants. Please serve all papers related to this action on the undersigned.

By: Bryan Kneef

STR Laurie

BKneef@STRLaurie.com

Attorneys for Defendants

 You swallowed the half-chewed bagel, grimacing as it scraped your throat as it went down.

“Motherfucker!” You swore loudly, slamming your hand on your desk.

“Am I interrupting?”

You jumped in your seat. You looked up and found yourself face to face with Rachel, who was standing in your doorway.  

You felt your cheeks grow hot in embarrassment. “Oh, uh…”  

“Safe to say you saw the notice of appearance.” Rachel remarked, her brow cocked.  

You nodded. “Yup.” You smacked your lips on the end of the P, emphasizing it.

“I wanted to know if you still wanted in on the case.” Rachel sat in the chair in front of you, her arms crossed.  You had been at the firm maybe two weeks tops before you spilled everything to Rachel about Bryan.  

“Yes, I do.” You replied. “And before you ask me if I'm tough enough to be in there, I want you to know that I am tough enough.”

“That's not what I wanted to ask.” Rachel replied. “I want to know if you think it will rattle him.”  

“Frankly, I think it was purposefully done.” You sighed. “Is there a deposition?”

 “Of course there is. Monday.”

--

The week surprisingly went quickly, and Monday came before you knew it. You looked over your appearance in the mirror. Suddenly your go-to pantsuit and button down didn’t cut it anymore. You hemmed and hawed in front of your closet and settled on a crisp white top and a muted grey pencil skirt. You popped the collar slightly and rolled up your sleeves. 

Your mind flew to the memories of what happened whenever you did wear pencil skirt – somehow it’d end up over your hips or by your ankles with Bryan bringing you to the height of pleasure. You pinned your hair up and kept your makeup minimal, with the exception of a bold lip. 

Your heels clacked against the pavement of the city’s sidewalk as you approached Pearson Specter. And sure enough, Bryan was in front of the building, pacing while on the phone.  

You ducked your head hoping that he wouldn’t notice you. But curiosity got the best of you and you looked over your shoulder as you entered through the revolving door. Your eyes met Bryan’s as he pivoted while on the phone. You quickly turned and hurried into the building.

---

Bryan walked down the hall of the firm after being directed to the conference room.  He was anxious to see you. He knew he was playing with fire being here in New York. When the case fell in his lap, he knew he had to see it through and maybe, just maybe, see you. He missed you immensely. Truth be told, no other woman had ever gotten to him like you did. Through the glass, he noticed you setting up and his pulse quickened. Bryan rapped on the door before swinging the door open.

“Good morning.” You clipped. ‘Shit. Stay strong’ you thought to yourself as you drank him in. You nearly forgot how good he looked in his three piece suit. His gaze was smoldering and you shifted uncomfortably in your stance.

“Y/N.” Bryan greeted, with a small smile. “You look well.” 

“How’s everyone in Chicago?” You replied, ignoring his compliment as you stapled some paper together.  

“Good. You’re remembered fondly.” Bryan replied.

“I mean, can’t say I am surprised.” You retorted, as you finished organizing the conference table. “I’ll be sitting in on the depo, just so you know.”

“You think being in the room is going to keep me from doing my job?” Bryan asked, his brows furrowed.

You pointed at Bryan and then at yourself. “Aren’t I the reason you even signed on counsel?”

“Liberty Life is my client. Of course, I had to show up.” Bryan replied.

“So what – you figured you’d orchestrate this stunt and then –” 

“I didn’t orchestrate shit.” Bryan sighed, irritated. “I am doing my job.”

You cocked your head and leaned over the table slightly. “Is this a joke?” 

Bryan walked around to where you were standing. He was dangerously close to you and your eyes met his. “I miss you. Can’t we just talk?” 

You stood silently, racking your brain as to what to say. “About what? Us? What is there to say? Our relationship…” 

You moved to push back some hair when Bryan noticed the sparkling bracelet on your wrist. “You are wearing it.” 

You looked at the tennis bracelet. “Oh. Yes. It’s beautiful. Thank you. It was very generous of you.” 

Bryan reached for your hand and at the same time, Rachel entered the room. “Am I interrupting?” 

Bryan shirked back his hand. “No. Just catching up. Reminding Y/N that Chicago has better hot dogs. And that we should have never let her go.”

 ---

The deposition was grueling, lasting a few hours. Bryan was relentless in his questioning. As he fired his questions, your mind was transported back to the case you first helped him with and how you got to watch him in court.  Your whatever it was, with Bryan was complicated and was tempestuous. Deep down though, you still had deep feelings for Bryan. You spent your first month in New York crying your eyes out, wondering if you had made a mistake leaving.

You escorted your client out and then returned to gather the rest of your belongings. You paused before entering the conference room again, watching Rachel and Bryan speak. They shook hands and you wondered what that was about.  

Finally you took a breath and entered. “Everything okay?”

Rachel smiled. “I think we’ll be settling. Bryan has made a very generous offer.  

You smiled. “That’s great. I am happy to hear that.” While you were happy for your client, you were disappointed because you knew that Bryan would be leaving town. You groaned inwardly, hating how Bryan caused such a mix bag of feelings within you. 

“Walk me out?” Bryan asked. 

“Sure.” You blurted out, not even giving it so much as a second thought.

The walk to the elevator bank was silent. Finally, Bryan spoke. “Can we go out to dinner?”  

You raised a brow and sucked in a breath. “That … sounds sincere.” You searched Bryan’s eyes and realized he was indeed being genuine. “Okay.”

“Is your number the same?” Bryan asked and you nodded. “I’ll text you the details. I’ll see you tonight.” Bryan replied as the elevator dinged, signaling its arrival.

You bid Bryan adieu and went back to your office. Despite the piles of work on your desk, you found yourself distracted. You couldn’t focus one bit. Your mind kept going back to the events prior. You kept checking your phone to see if Bryan had texted you.

Groaning, you took your phone and threw it into your drawer. You opened a new browser window and were just about to throw yourself completely into your work when your phone buzzed loudly from inside your drawer.

It was Bryan. Reservations made at The River Cafe. 7pm.

You texted back. See you then.

You threw your phone back in the drawer and dropped your head into your hands. “What have I gotten myself into?” You wondered out loud. You knew you were playing with fire and that there was a real possibility of getting burned, but you looked forward to the date.

“It’s two people sharing a dinner. Nothing more. You got this.” You muttered to yourself. Part of you knew it was a lie. Part of you figured if you said it enough times, you’d believe it.

--

You left work an hour early to get ready. The River Café was situated right on the East River, just a hair south of the base of the Brooklyn Bridge. You knew you needed enough time to get back to your apartment in Chelsea and then all the way down to Brooklyn. You decided to wear a cream-colored tulip hem skirt and a black lace deep v-neck blouse. The material of the blouse was quite thin and you decided to forego a bra to avoid lines. You knew your outfit was dangerous with Bryan. Simultaneously, you wanted Bryan to eat his heart out and maybe tempt fate so you could get dicked down.

You left your hair loose, just curling it slightly to make loose waves. You kept your makeup the same, just touching up your liner and lipstick. A spritz of perfume and a change of shoes to heeled strappy sandals and you were well on your way.  

Your stomach lurched as the cab sped downtown to the restaurant. You watched as the city flew by in a blur and subconsciously you played with your tennis bracelet. The cab came to a stop and you found yourself in front of the restaurant. 

Bryan was at the bar and the corner of his lips turned up into a devilish smile as you approached. Bryan wore dark jeans, a white button down and a matching navy suit jacket. The restaurant is gorgeous and the wafts of the various smells of food made your stomach rumble. 

“You look gorgeous.” Bryan complimented as he embraced you into a hug.

“Thank you. You look great yourself.” You replied. You inhaled his cologne and emotions flooded you. ‘Relax.’ You commanded to yourself.

 “I took the liberty of ordering you a glass of Malbec.” Bryan replied.

 “You remembered.” You smiled as the bartender came over with a glass.

 “Of course I did.” Bryan replied. “It’s your favorite.”

“The Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino for the lady, and an Old Fashioned for the gentleman.”

Bryan thanked the bartender, tipping him generously. You barely managed a sip when the hostess came over and seated you both at a table overlooking the East River – providing a clear shot of the Brooklyn Bridge. The view is breathtaking and you find yourself captivated by Bryan once more – all of the inner guards you had in place crumbled.

You both easily catch up over the last few months and dinner goes by quickly. Dessert is brought out and as you lick chocolate mousse off the spoon, you become acutely aware of Bryan’s lustful gaze on you. You give him a bashful look and you put the spoon down. Bryan paid for dinner while you excused yourself to the bathroom to freshen up.

The weather was warm and the breeze was inviting so you decided to walk along the Brooklyn Bridge back towards Manhattan. The tips of Bryan’s fingers grazed yours and the feeling is electric. The second time your fingers grazed his, they interlock and you hold hands the rest of the way until you get to the midpoint of the bridge. 

You take in the view of Manhattan ahead. Bryan stood next to you, also taking in the view. 

His hand traced concentric circles on your back and you involuntarily shivered. Bryan tilted your chin towards him. “I—I had a really nice time tonight.” You reply and you are surprised by how genuinely you mean it.

Bryan’s gaze lowered to your lips and instinctively you parted them. People on the bridge walk by but your oblivious to anyone else around you but Bryan. He pulled you flush against him. Instinctively, your arms wrapped around his neck. Bryan’s lips ghosted yours and then he paused. You both breathed in each other’s air and finally you gave in, colliding your lips against his.  His kisses taste like the mousse you shared and the cocktails he had had during dinner. His tongue swirled against yours. Arousal shot to your core. A hand slipped up the slope of your side and somehow, discreetly, Bryan cupped your breast. His thumb ran over a hardened nipple and you let out a quiet moan. Finally you pull away breathless. Your lipstick was smeared and you could see evidence of it on Bryan’s lips. “Bryan we can’t do this.”

Bryan’s brows knit together and jaw tightened. He pulled away from you and faced the view of Manhattan. “Why? Because we’re on the opposite sides of a case now? I settled.”  

You don’t reply and you could feel your eyes brimming with tears.  

“I still love you. I haven’t stopped loving you. I know I hurt you. And I have apologized.” Bryan replied, his voice clipped.

“I know you have.” You replied. Your voice cracks and you kick yourself inwardly.

“Then what is it?”  

“I’m afraid.” You admitted. “I am scared you’re going to hurt me again.”

“I will do whatever it takes.” Bryan replied. “It won’t be easy since you decided to move to the wrong city.” He adds with a slight sneer.  

You laughed haughtily, rolling your eyes. “I wouldn’t have had to move if you just treated me like a human and not as if I were disposable.”  

“I told you I didn’t do the girlfriend thing. And then things got complicated. And I fucked up. It was all fucked. I…” Bryan paused. “I said I was sorry for fucks sake Y/N.”

You knew he was baring his soul. You turn back to him, and cup his bearded cheek. “Okay.”

“Okay?” Bryan furrowed his brow once more. “What the fuck does that mean? Does that mean you and I...” 

You nodded slowly. “We’ll try again. Because the truth is that I still love you too. And we owe it to at least really try. No more hiding anything to anyone.”

Bryan pulled you into a kiss once more. The kiss was with such intensity, it left your breathless. 

“Now would be the time for you to show me your bedroom.” Bryan growled in your ear.  

You smile. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

TBC.

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[theawkwardterrier]

The Shops on Shield Street

Steggy Week 2k20, day 4 Prompt: AUs and crossover

Summary: Running a small business is already hard enough without someone trying to sabotage things.

AO3 link here. Thanks to @steggyfanevents​ for organizing!

The first time Peggy visits Steve’s shop is the day he opens.

Working just down the street, she’s spent the past few months watching the renovations at what had been most recently been a short-lived scented candle business. When the new signs and awnings had gone up naming it as Shield Street Books, she’d been further intrigued; she’s seen various stores come and go through the space, but a bookshop is new. Now, on her lunch break, she takes the opportunity to go visit.

She looks over the front windows first: the right-hand side is filled with buzzy new releases and bestsellers for adults, the left with books for younger readers. The windows themselves are painted with a colorful but subtle border of books on the right, while the left side features lovely illustrations of Wild Things marauding across the bottom, a mockingjay pin hidden along the side, a Little Prince floating among the stars at the top, and a web reading “Some Pig” in the corner. The chalk sign reads “Grand opening” on one side and “Ask us about our events!” on the other.

Peggy is cautiously optimistic as she steps in, a cheerful little bell jingling as she does. The space isn’t cavernous but it’s large enough, and the high ceilings, big front windows, light wood flooring and shelves, and friendly gray-green walls make it seem more open. The checkout is easily visible, a chalkboard wall above it featuring a listing of upcoming book club meetings, a coffee and cookies social series, and a reading by a local poet (Peggy supposes that you have to be a bit more established to start getting better-known names).

The front area has all the typical souvenirs everyone around here sells - magnets, mugs, pens, postcards - along with fancier or more specifically bookish things like scarves, tote bags, and book weights which seem to be attracting some good attention. A few people are looking at the cookbooks and coffee table books lining the walls and stacked on tables nearby, and she can see browsers in the labeled aisles spanning out into the main area of the store: mystery, biography and memoir, young adult, politics, each with an appropriate, particularly-styled illustration. A sign pointing downstairs advertises a used book area, as well as a gallery and event space. She breathes in the scent of fresh wood and words on paper, officially impressed.

She is examining a table just before the aisles which is covered with a display of staff favorites when a voice behind her says, “I love that one.”

Turning with the copy of My Favorite Thing Is Monsters still in hand, she encounters the man who until now she’s only seen at a distance, occasionally ducking in and out of the store while it was under construction. He’s tall and blond, with broad shoulders beneath his heather gray T-shirt, plain except for a small, oddly-rendered sketch of a pale turquoise bird in side profile and showing one large eye. She tries not to let on how distracted she is by the hint of a darkly-inked tattoo peeking out from the bottom of his sleeve; his blue eyes are watching her clearly from behind a pair of thick-framed glasses.

“I’m sorry?” she asks politely, trying not to let on that she’s slightly lost the thread of how things started.

“That’s a great book. I love it,” he offers, shrugging awkward shoulders although his smile is still lovely and genuine. “Although it’s not too surprising seeing as I’m most of the staff here, so the table’s pretty much stacked with books I love.”

“You must be the new owner then,” Peggy says, putting out a hand. “Congratulations. I’m Peggy Carter. I run Top Shelf Tea and Coffee up the street.”

“Steve Rogers, good to meet you." He shakes with her, then gestures to the book she’s still holding in her other hand. “Are you browsing for yourself, or just over here to check out the new neighbors?”

“I think I can do both quite handily,” she says, smiling back at him. “Though I don’t typically read graphic novels. Perhaps you can recommend something else?”

Nothing precisely shifts about his posture, but she suddenly has the sense that he’s more settled on his heels, focused even more intently on her. “What do you typically read?”

“Very little, of late,” she admits, making a bit of a face. “I used to read quite a bit of mystery - Gothic, classics, noir, Agatha Christie, Tana French, and my favorites were those where you get suspense and a good story but a good sentence too. But with everything on my plate, I’m lucky if I can get through a half chapter before I go to sleep.”

“Sure.” He crosses his arms, which does nice things for his muscles, as well as showing off an extra sneaking bit of his tattoo. Watching him think, she has the sudden feeling that she’s in very good hands. And, when he rings up a collection of P.D. James short stories and one originally published in Swedish called An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good (“With your schedule, it might be easier to enjoy a little section over a night or two rather than trying to force yourself to make it through a hefty novel”) along with a copy of Dorothy B. Hughes’s In a Lonely Place that he’d tracked down in the used book section (“It’s not long, and it’s dark, smart, psychological noir”) it seems she’s right.

Peggy is not behind the counter when Steve shows up at her shop the next day, but she comes out from the back when she recognizes his voice ordering the house blend coffee.

“I had expected you to have more of an opinion than that,” she teases as she walks through from the kitchen with a tray of fresh scones to load into the display case and finds him waiting to pick up his drink. He’s come in past the commuter crush and before the lunch rush, but even with Peggy’s staff working quickly and efficiently as usual there’s enough of a wait to guarantee a moment to chat. “I certainly anticipated your drink of choice would be something with minimal fuss, but I would have guessed at something with a bit more imagination at least.”

He laughs. “I’m just trying to get the lay of the land here, and the house blend is how I know what kind of joint you’re running here.” Rose places a cup labeled “Steve!” on the counter, smiling at him before she twirls away again. He picks it up, takes in the steam rising through the lid, smiling as he does. “It smells good. But when you name your place ‘Top Shelf,’ you have some pretty high expectations to meet,” he warns, smile still flickering around his mouth.

“Don’t worry.” She leans over the counter toward him. “The expectations are exactly where I want them.”

His eyes widen after the first sip and he takes a second before he’s even swallowed. “You were right. You don’t have anything to worry about.”

“I know,” she says plainly. “And my true expertise is with the tea. Try the Irish blend next time you’re here, or a cinnamon rooibos latte if you’re feeling adventurous.”

His eyes smile over the top of the cup and he takes another sip. “I guess I’ll have to keep coming back with so much to try.”

“I suppose you will,” she says, trying to sound friendly but casual when she adds, “And I’ve finished two of the stories in the P.D. James, so I might have to come back for more recommendations soon.”

“I’ll look forward to it,” he tells her. This time, even with the clamor of people waiting behind him or skirting huffily around to pick up drinks, he isn’t smiling, he’s grinning.

By the time Steve drops in one afternoon eight months later, he is a very familiar sight. Daniel wraps one of the enormous seasonal apple-cinnamon muffins as soon as he walks through the door then waits for him to order a drink - the staff knows that while Steve certainly has favorites on the drinks menu, he changes between them often enough to keep things interesting. (He always orders a muffin, though: apple-cinnamon in autumn, blueberry the rest of the year.)

Usually they don’t have time for lengthy chats during the day considering the crowds at Top Shelf and the customers and part-timers waiting for Steve to return over at Shield Street, but today when Peggy comes out to say a brief hello, she finds Steve sitting at one of the tables. The small tilt of his head as their eyes meet is enough for her to slide the proposal she’s reading about switching dairy providers into her pocket and walk over to sit with him. The little two-seater he’s picked is away from the large front windows, and she seats herself in the comfortable leather armchair across from him with a feeling of relative privacy.

“Is something wrong?” she asks. Steve’s doing well enough as far as she knows: Shield Street seems often to buzz with foot traffic and they’ve been promoting their online store, there is a solid slate of events and programs including the coffee and cookies socials for which he sources the refreshments from Top Shelf, there was a lovely recent write-up in the local paper, and he’s even been able to hire a full time employee other than himself. Still, she knows entirely too well that the life of a small business owner can be somewhat exacting and stressful. Small mistakes in ordering stock or taking on a bit too much can be enormously costly, and even when you’ve done everything correctly, factors outside your control can conspire against you without much of anything to serve as protection. Steve’s tense expression mirrors the way she sometimes felt in the first few years after she’d opened - and still does today, if she’s being honest.

He sips his tea slowly, and she can tell it’s not because he’s finally remembering her advice about allowing the flavors to settle.

“There was a guy in at the store this afternoon,” he says finally. “Stuck around a long time, looked in every corner, and then didn’t buy anything. But I overheard him on the phone when I was coming over here.” He looks up at her, eyes somewhere between hard and stricken. “Peggy, I think he’s from Hydra.”

The common wisdom is that the largest threat to small businesses are superstores and online giants, the franchises of the world which can spring up on every corner or be available at a moment’s notice, backed by large pools of money that leave them free to take risks and undercut other vendors, offering brand recognition to customers across large areas without being tied by communal or ethical bonds to any of the places they land.

Hydra, a business conglomerate few had actually heard of, took the pushback against big chains and used that for its own ends. Rather than focusing on any single industry, or even establishing Hydra brand all-in-one stores, their model was to sweep in to buy various local businesses and keep their original names, or to establish seemingly innocuous storefronts without any stated connection to Hydra. But while people thought they were shopping locally and supporting their own neighbors, helping to maintain healthy competition and a diversity of business, mass-produced goods would slowly replace the higher quality ones, workplace regulations would be flouted while employees were scared into silence by the power of the corporate owners, and money would flow out of communities and into Hydra’s distant and ever-deepening pockets. Steve and Peggy kept their finger on the pulse of the small business world, and they had read stories online, often later hastily retracted or swiftly vanished, stories of small towns and cities across the country where, within a few years, whole streets full of businesses that seemed to be independently-run and community-owned were actually just cheery facades under one corporate umbrella.

And now Hydra was here. Peggy thought about the shops between her business and Steve’s: the florist, the hardware store, the brewpub, the rare family-owned pharmacy, the ice cream parlor which is part of a beloved local chain, the independent movie theater, the places on other streets in their town which sold toys and art supplies and comics and shoes.

Behind her, the door opens. A squat, balding man enters, grandfatherly dapper with a suit, a bow tie, round glasses, all undercut by the coldness in his gaze. He looks around at what Peggy has built - the scattered tables and cozily diverse seating options from armchairs to stools to window seats, the carefully hung plants, the racks of magazines and stacks of available books which Steve has selected for her, the displays of art by students from the nearby universities, her talented staff, and of course her carefully curated menu - and writes something brief in a small notebook. He steps up to the counter to order.

“That’s him,” she says to Steve, barely a question. “That’s who you saw.” He nods, looking down into his mug, fingers tight around the solid pottery. Peggy remembers picking out these cups, sorting through dozens of listings until she found the exact ones she wanted: an entire range of colors, big enough for a good serving size and for wrapping hands around, but not awkward to sip at.

“If it is them,” she says, knuckles clenching beneath the table, “we won’t let them win.”

Steve looks up at her; the smile on his face is wan, not up to the usual brightness she looks forward to, but it’s the first one she’s seen at all from him today. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

The man approaches Steve first, introducing himself as Arnim Zola. He’s done his homework, knows about the finances of the shop and about Steve’s personal finances as well, from the loans he’s taken out to the fact that his mother had barely anything to leave him when she died.

“You’re a smart businessman, Mr. Rogers, I have seen that quite well. Though you might have good growth now, who knows what tomorrow might bring? Selling now and taking the money which comes with the offer, that is the smart business decision.”

And Steve, for whom courtesy is not second nature but first, has trouble turning him down with a “no thank you,” rather than a “piss off.”

Zola seems to hear it anyway, but he overcomes the spasm of anger with a smile. “I will be happy to speak to you later, if anything happens to change your mind. As I said, there is quite a lot of unreliability in business ownership.”

A pipe bursts in the back of the store that night, even though they’d all been replaced as part of the renovation. A good chunk of inventory gets soaked. Peggy walks past the next morning to find Steve putting the less damaged material out on a rack to sell at a steep discount. He tells her what happened with barely concealed fury in his throat. They hadn’t heard about Hydra deliberately driving owners to sell, but neither of them is exactly surprised.

Peggy goes to work for the next few days with her head full of rage and incipient plans. When Zola comes to request a meeting and make his case later in the week, she turns him down so sweetly that it takes a minute for him to understand that it had even happened.

She’s never had Steve over to her little flat above Stewart’s Sandwich Spot, but after a few days of working across the empty tables of Top Shelf or cramming into Steve’s office after they’ve locked up for the night, she invites him to join her.

“I had concerns about pests and odors when I first came,” she says as they climb the narrow back stairs single-file, “but I’ll have lived here five years this January and haven’t had a problem with either. In fact, waking up to the scent of their fresh bread every day is quite the bonus.”

“Plus you can pick up dinner on your way in.” Steve’s voice behind her is teasing, though accurate, as he’s currently holding the bag with the food they’d bought three minutes ago: a Tipsy Texan for her and his Peter Paul Ruben along with several orders of the fries which Peggy promises are outstanding.

She’s right. The agreed-upon brief break for sandwiches spirals into experimentation as to which of the various dipping options is the best for the french fries, then into conversation about places they’ve traveled and the best foods they ate there. Peggy backpacked a bit after university, and still tries to take a bit of vacation when she can. Steve, she finds out for the first time, was in the army and was deployed several times.

“The guys I went over with, we all came home,” he says quietly. They’ve gotten into the wine at this point. “We all got these together.” He stretches down the collar of his shirt enough for her to see some very nice muscles as well as a tattoo: concentric red and white circles with a blue center marked by a star. The outermost circle reads “107th Regiment.”

“What is the one on your arm?” she asks before she can stop herself. He chuckles and lifts his sleeve where she can now see the words clearly inked in black around his bicep: “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit,” ended by an ellipses trailing from black to gray to white.

“My mom used to read Tolkien out loud at bedtime,” he explains. “And I still think about the way that one sentence opened up a whole world, a whole life, for me.”

She pours a touch more into her glass, shifting her feet up onto the sofa beside herself. “You’ve always loved reading, then?”

“Yeah. Back when I was growing up, if I wasn’t really sick, I was just getting through being sick or getting started being sick again. All that time in bed, I needed a lot to read; I was always going through the big stack of books next to my bed, or listening to some audiobook on my old Discman. When I was doing okay, I used to go talk to the librarians, and I was around so much that eventually I started volunteering there.”

He chews through one of the last remaining fries, cold now. “When I got discharged, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with myself. All I could think of was how good books made me feel, how important they were for me, how I could help put them in the hands of others. And then one day I was walking by, saw the For Sale sign on the space, noticed that the street sign said Shield, and just knew.” He shrugs. “There are small business loans aimed at vets, and my friend Bucky went into construction after we came back, helped me put the place together the way I wanted it.”

“And all that starting with one little hobbit,” she says with a smile. She pushes her hair back, feeling flushed and a bit young.

He leans against the back of the couch. “How about you? What made you decide to open Top Shelf?”

“Spite,” she answers promptly, making him laugh. “It’s entirely true. I wish I could tell you some sweet story about my grandmother bringing me to a tea shop every Saturday back when I was a girl, but I wouldn’t lie to you. The fact of it is that my mother accepted my coming to university in the States, but as I was finishing my degree, she became quite adamant about my doing graduate work to enter into law or finance. I had little interest in either, and didn’t want simply to put in the investment because she was forcing me.

“At the same time, I had a part-time job at a coffee shop where the owner was the worst sort of boss: constantly critical without any actual suggestions for improvement or true understanding of daily operations, unwilling to make necessary changes or updates, over- and under-scheduling the staff at a whim. Finally I told him that in one day I could have the place running better than he ever could, at which point he started fuming that doing his job was harder than I could imagine, and fired me. By that evening, when my mother called once more to have a ‘little chat about my future,’ I told her that I had started a business plan and would be opening a tea and coffee shop as soon as possible.”

“How did she take it?” His voice is softer. Somehow they’ve moved closer together on the sofa. With his arm draped along the back, his fingertips graze the gauzy sleeve of her blouse.

“She shouted at me, hung up, and refused to speak to me for several days, but that just gave me time to become more confident and knowledgeable by the time she called next.”

“And you succeeded.”

“I did.” She stops herself from leaning into him the way that she wants to. She might get a bright rush hearing his voice at the counter during the day, might drop by his shop for a new book even while she already has several still waiting at home, might relish this extra time to discover the thoughtful, generous, opinionated details of him of which she’s seen captivating hints over the past months, but they have a purpose here. She clears her throat, steadies herself. “I succeeded, and I mean to keep what I’ve made.”

It’s after midnight when Steve finally goes home. She tries to tell herself that it’s a shame that they didn’t really have a chance to work on their strategy, but when it means that they come back to her house the next night, and go to his the night after, she can’t be truly upset.

As a business owner and a town resident of over half a decade, Peggy has been to a council meeting or two in her time. But she prepares for tonight with special attention, leaving the shop early enough to take a longer than usual shower. She chooses a recently purchased top - navy with silver and pale blue detailing, a flattering silhouette, and a modest V-neck - and adds makeup with more than her usual care. She finishes with her usual scarlet lip and, taking in the finished product, nods firmly, picks up her bag, and goes to meet Steve.

He arrives at nearly the same time, and they take seats together in the center of the town hall meeting room.

“A good turnout,” Peggy says quietly, glancing around. “And look who’s here as well.”

Zola sits in the back of the room, quietly taking things in. She suspects that keeping abreast of town news is a part of his job. Hopefully he will be earning his salary tonight.

Most of the agenda is spent on the typical dull dealings: a proposal to change the language on parking citations is taken up and passed, followed by a bit of a tussle over the budget, then it’s on to a rousing discussion about recent changes to state alcohol legislation and the impact on local restaurants. At least the recognition ceremony for two teenagers who rescued a man drowning in the nearby lake is touching and breaks the monotony.

“And finally,” Chester Phillips, the head of the council, grumbles. He’s clearly very much past ready to adjourn. “We have an item put forward by Peggy Carter and Steve Rogers. An item very recently put forward,” he adds, shooting a glance at Peggy. The official deadline for getting onto the agenda is 24 hours in advance, but Peggy knows that the secretary, Miriam Fry, usually prints and posts things a bit early. While their proposal came in just under the deadline, the agenda had already been publicized; Peggy wanted as much of an element of surprise as she could muster to avoid sabotage.

“Good evening.” Peggy starts them off. “As many of you know, I own Top Shelf Tea and Coffee on Shield Street. I’ve been so pleased by the welcome the town has given to myself and my shop over the past several years, and I wanted to come forward tonight to raise awareness of something which has been recently affecting our local business community.”

She knows her points well after running through them with Steve for the last few nights. Without referencing notes, she smoothly and carefully explains Hydra’s background and the way their business model has caused trouble for other communities. The articles she references, entered conscientiously into the record, might be smaller pieces, but they are from reputable and reliable news outlets; Bruce Banner, the reference librarian, had helped them put together the resources with that in mind.

“Mr. Rogers and myself have received offers to purchase our businesses. We would also request that that council hear from others who have also been under recent pressure to sell.” Peggy gestures over her shoulder, where a good-sized part of the assembled crowd is standing, ready to come forward.

“Before we get to that, is there an actual proposal attached to all of this?” Alexander Pierce asks. He’s a popular, long-serving council member, distinguished and seemingly considerate, but there’s a strange hint of ice in his voice, in the blue-gray of his eyes, that makes Peggy suspect who exactly put the town on Hydra’s radar and why they seemed so certain that they would be able to work with impunity.

“Our proposal is a council resolution simply acknowledging the remarks made here today,” Steve says, the words not loud but quite firm. “It isn’t the council’s responsibility or within their authority to prevent private sales between willing parties, but we want to make certain that everyone in this town knows the coercive measures Hydra has taken in the past and will almost certainly take in the future in order to gain and maintain control of local businesses.”

He takes a breath, pushing up his glasses reflexively before he speaks. “I opened my store more recently than Ms. Carter did hers, but I’ve also felt lucky to have been able to support and be supported by this community over the past months. Moving here and opening my business has given me something I never thought I would find.” His gaze moves, for just a moment, from the council in front of them, to Peggy, who is watching from beside him. Their eyes meet so quickly she nearly wonders whether it even happened before he turns back to conclude, “I have no intention of giving up my business. And we want everyone to know that we are willing to continue fighting for however long we have to.”

“Now I—” Pierce started, but Nick Fury, a council member who rarely speaks and who Peggy knows always gets his coffee first thing in the morning to avoid running into anyone trying to discuss council issues, leans forward so his microphone picks up his words clearly.

“I’d actually like to hear from our fellow citizens, Alex,” he says, and nods for the first speaker to go ahead.

The comments last for a long while. Some people speak only briefly about being approached by Zola or other Hydra representatives, bombarded with testimonials from business owners from other towns who sold to Hydra in the past. Others have lengthy (and well documented, Peggy made sure of that) stories of escalating problems and harassment: health or building code inspectors being called and finding minor or suddenly appearing violations, delayed shipments from previously reliable vendors, spontaneous problems with heating or cooling systems.

Someone from the local paper always covers council meetings, and she’s sitting in the front row scribbling away for what will undoubtedly be a far different article than usual. But news travels fast, and as the hours march onward, more and more of their fellow townspeople squeeze into the meeting room to hear things for themselves.

Steve and Peggy expected it, but as the last of the business owners moves aside, they trade a glance seeing Arnim Zola step up to the podium.

“In my capacity as a representative of Hydra, I would like to officially demand that minutes and records of this meeting be restricted pending a defamation lawsuit which the corporation will be bringing,” he says, eyes flashing behind his glasses. The words are so practiced that Peggy feels her suspicions about the fight against Hydra in other places nearly confirmed.

“Those are a matter of public record,” Mrs. Fry says sternly. Peggy smiles. They don’t always see eye to eye, but she knew that Miriam could be relied upon to protect the integrity of the process.

Fury adds laconically, “And it will be a little difficult to put the genie back in the bottle.” He looks over everyone’s heads to the back of the room, and raises his voice to ask, “Live stream still running smoothly, Stark?”

Tony Stark, the teenaged son of the municipal head of IT, barely looks up from his phone as he gives a thumbs up. “Directly on the town website, YouTube, and Twitter, plus a few backup sites I’ve set up just in case. And I’ve been live-tweeting the whole time. First council meeting that’s ever been even close to interesting enough for me to even want to do that.” He leans back in his chair, feet up on the table and fingers typing rapidly.

The calculation is clear across Zola’s face. Leaning into the aisle so he can hear her, Peggy says quietly, “If you still manage to convince someone to sell, there’s little we can do to stop you. But you can see the town turning against the idea of you, and any of the usual tricks you try to pull will only make it worse. I doubt you’d ever be able to make a success of things here. I would cut your losses now, Mr. Zola. Everyone knows who and what you are. You can’t hide in the shadows anymore.”

Zola leaves before the resolution passes. Although they keep an eye out for him over the next weeks, they don’t see a sign of him again.

They have the other business owners over for a drink down in the event space at Steve’s shop. It was already late when the meeting finally adjourned, and it is even later once the last person - Thor, who owns the Norseman brewpub and is still laughing heartily at a story told by Luis from the electronics repair store - closes the door behind him.

“I wanted to tell Sam to take the morning off,” Steve says as they tidy things up, “but I have the feeling we’ll be even busier than usual tomorrow.”

Peggy smiles, collecting the empty bottles in a paper bag for recycling. “I think he’ll forgive you when he sees it reflected in his paycheck.”

Steve glances over the used book shelves, making sure they’re all orderly, switching a few around to keep things alphabetized. “If this keeps up, maybe I can have Nat and Wanda full time soon.” With one last glance at the shelf, he goes over and drops tiredly into one of the chairs that they have yet to fold and put away. There are plenty of other places to sit, but Peggy comes and turns a chair so she’s facing him. Their knees are nearly touching.

“I hadn’t realized quite how tense I was until the weight was removed tonight,” she says softly, just for him. “And while I know that we should stay alert and that complacency works against us, it will be such a delight to go into the shop tomorrow without feeling as if ruin was coming up on the horizon.”

“You deserve that,” Steve says, and somewhere over their work together, they’ve become comfortable enough that he already has her hand in his and she didn’t even notice until just now. “And even if they regroup fast, we’ll have a day or two to catch our breath before we start putting out resources for other communities dealing with Hydra.”

That familiar determination is back in his voice, and she realizes that so much of him is familiar now. She knows that his glasses are the last hint of the poor health which plagued him growing up, has seen pictures of his mother and recognizes where he inherited his fair hair and strong features. She has seen his tattoos and knows what he wanted to memorialize on his skin.

Looking him over, she sees that sometime after the meeting he has changed into a T-shirt that she recognizes.

“That was what you were wearing the day we met,” she says. “What made you choose it for your opening?”

He glances down. “It’s the Pigeon, from the Mo Willems series. Popular picture books, ” he explains. “I know that I can be a little intimidating for the kids, and I wanted something that would be familiar and friendly, something we could talk about together so they could get to know me and wouldn’t be as nervous.”

It’s such a simple answer, so unsurprising and considerate and right, so Steve. She frees her fingers from his so she can hold his face in her hands.

“You’re a very dear man,” she informs him, and presses her mouth to his.

Quite a while later, as Steve finally turns the lights off in his shop, finally put to rights, he asks, “Are you free again tomorrow night? I’d like to take you out somewhere that doesn’t serve sandwiches.”

“I won’t mention it at Stewart’s.” She tucks herself under his arm as they step into the cool of the street and he turns to lock up.

He laughs. “They don’t have to worry much. I’m sure we’ll be back.”

“I’m certain we will, though perhaps Thai for tomorrow,” she says thoughtfully as they walk. “But come to the shop sometime earlier, will you?” A grin is growing on her face. “I have some ideas I want to discuss about unseating Mr. Pierce at the next election that I’m not sure are proper date conversation.”

“My definition of date conversation is whatever you want to talk about,” he says, his voice never anything but honest. “But sure, I’ll come by tomorrow. I can’t get through the day without your latest matcha concoction, and I want to hear what you have planned for Pierce.” His grin is growing to match hers. “Whatever it is, I wouldn’t bet against us.”

[permanentcrossfics]

Rumorbound // h.s.

“Did she send you something?”

“‘Course she did,” he mumbled. “Isn’t that what she always does?”

“What’d they say?” You slid your hand over the back of his neck and rolled your fingers. Instantly, he groaned, and his shoulders relaxed some as you kneaded the tension out.

“Don’t do that,” he said, head swaying. “Know it makes me sing like it’s m’job or somethin’.”

You dropped a hard kiss to the top of his head and wrapped him up tightly, and he squeezed your arm three times. “What’d they say?” you repeated. This time, he opened a minimized browser window on his computer, and the headline blown up to nearly fill the page left you breathless.

“Oh….”

“Yeah,” he said, minimizing the window again. “Didn’t want to tell you, cause I didn’t want you to panic. Can tell your parents not to worry and that it’s all for clicks — s’what I told Mum.”

“You did?” you asked and he barked a laugh.

“Unless there’s something you’re hiding from me,” he said. “Think I’d know f’you were pregnant, though. Not like I don’t sleep with you every night.” 

A lump rose in your throat and you again swallowed back rising nausea, palms tangibly sweaty, and you slid your hand from his neck to his shoulder.

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You’ve got no idea how terrifying this one is. It’s like... yeah. You’ve waited nearly three years to see something new for them, so I hope this satisfies at least a little bit of it. Happy reading to all, and thank you so much for waiting three whole years for it. xx

Whatever it was, it must’ve been bad. Really, really bad.

Harry had been pouring cereal for your son when his phone had trilled on the countertop and he’d reached around you to pick it up.

“Who is it?” you’d asked. It was Sunday, and both you and your son had a claim to his undivided attention until 8:00 at night when he’d eventually have to review his strategy for the week. His rule, not yours — when you’d grilled him about it after the first few times you’d noticed a pattern, he’d mumbled about how you and his son deserved a block of time where you could depend on him, barring hell or high water, and he fought tooth and nail to stick to that with only the occasional swerve.

“Mum.”

He’d held his phone out, squinting, eyes flying back and forth across the screen, and the corners of his mouth had turned down a little more each time.

“What?” you’d asked, picking up the milk before your son could tip too much into his bowl. Harry’s jaw had ticked, square in a hard, dangerous way that clashed with his otherwise soft appearance. None of you had made it out of your pajamas, and his hair was wound high on his head, a little frizzy at the crown. “Love?” you’d prodded when still he didn’t answer.

His phone had clattered to the counter when he set it down, and you’d jumped in your seat.

“Nothing,” he’d said in a way that didn’t sound at all like nothing. “Just some shit they think they can talk about.”

“Harry!” You’d looked at your son who was staring at his father with wide eyes, and Harry had pinched the bridge of his nose before rubbing the heels of his palms into his eyes.

“Sorry,” he’d said gruffly. “Eat your breakfast. M’sorry,” he’d repeated, kissing your head and resting a hand on his son’s. “Let’s just have a nice day.”

He’d probably had about three bites of his toast, though, before he was clearing his plate and excusing himself.

“Why does Daddy get to leave the table?” your son had asked,

“Because Daddy,” Harry had said, dishes clanking in the sink, “needs to make a phone call.” He’d squeezed his son’s shoulders and kissed the top of his head before ruffling his hair. “Back in a minute,” he’d said to you and you’d nodded, looking over your shoulder when he made his way to his office, phone in hand.

A minute had passed, and then ten, and when you and your son were both finished, you’d cleared the dishes and helped him wash them, taking another swipe over the plates and bowls with a sponge to get the spots he’d missed.

“Daddy’s supposed to dry,” your son had said when you’d swapped your sponge for a towel.

“Daddy’s busy right now,” you’d said. “Go and get your homework.”

“But I--” Your son had blinked at you mournfully. “I wanted to read my book!”

“Check that it’s done and then you can read,” you’d said. “Off you go, thank you.”

When he’d stomped off, you’d taken a deep breath and swallowed back the queasy feeling threatening to rise before slipping towards the office, and it was there you found him now. He was at his desk, hunched, typing furiously on his phone, and you hesitated, leaning on the doorframe before knocking on it gently.

“Harry?”

“What?” He didn’t look at you and you frowned, pushing away to come up close behind his chair.

“What’s going on?”

He sighed, putting his phone down in front of his keyboard, and he rubbed his face.

“It’s nothing,” he said behind his hands. “Just not summat I feel like having Mum email me about.”

“Did she send you something?”

“‘Course she did,” he mumbled. “Isn’t that what she always does?”

“What’d they say?”

You slid your hand over the back of his neck and rolled your fingers. Instantly, he groaned, and his shoulders relaxed some as you kneaded the tension out.

“Don’t do that,” he said, head swaying. “Know it makes me sing like it’s m’job or somethin’’.”

You dropped a hard kiss to the top of his head and wrapped him up tightly, and he squeezed your arm three times.

“What’d they say?” you repeated. This time, he opened a minimized browser window on his computer, and the headline blown up to nearly fill the page left you breathless.

“Oh….”

“Yeah,” he said, minimizing the window again. “Didn’t want to tell you, cause I didn’t want you to panic. Can tell your parents not to worry and that it’s all for clicks — s’what I told Mum.”

“You did?” you asked and he barked a laugh.

“Unless there’s something you’re hiding from me,” he said. “Think I’d know f’you were pregnant, though. Not like I don’t sleep with you every night.”

A lump rose in your throat and you again swallowed back rising nausea, palms tangibly sweaty, and you slid your hand from his neck to his shoulder

“She asked, you know?” he said. “If it was true?”

With a headline like that, you’d have been more surprised if she hadn’t batted an eye.

“And what did you say?”

Harry chuckled again. “What do you think I said?” he asked.

“No?”

“That,” he nodded, “and I might’ve snapped about them being bonkers. Said we’re not in the place for that, and she should guess as much instead of poking me on a Sunday.”

Oh.

“Not ready for what?” you asked, heart in your throat.

Harry twisted in your arms and looked up at you, and you stood up slightly to look at him properly. “For a baby,” he said, clear green eyes flickering across your face. “Are we? Just got things settled, didn’t we? Be nice to have some time just us. Don’t you think?”

He didn’t want another baby — not what he’d said, but all you could hear, and you held your breath, speechless, when he stood with a groan and wrapped you in a hug. You pressed your nose to his shoulder and stared over it into the distance while he buried his against your hair and inhaled deeply, ears ringing and stomach turning. “Sorry I was a dick before,” he said.

Wordlessly, you nodded.

“Come on.” He kissed your temple. “I’ll get back to this later. Let’s go have a good morning.”

Except it wasn’t a good morning. It was the very worst possible morning — day, afternoon, evening and night — you could’ve imagined, and it would be for a long time.

He thought you weren’t in a place for a baby, and all you could think of was the stick that’d turned blue weeks ago and that’d paralyzed you but left butterflies in your stomach to match the single one inked onto his.

You’d meant to tell him, well and truly, it was just… you’d wanted a plan. It should’ve been more special than it was the first time around. The last time — the first time — you were pregnant, you’d been overwhelmed. You’d cried telling him, and not out of joy, but because you’d been terrified neither of you could handle it and that it would be disappointing when he was knee deep in album preparations. He’d had a career, and it was still so young — you couldn’t take him away from it to ask him to be a father, and you had your own plans, too. When you’d busted out crying, he’d taken you to bed and gotten you tucked in before crawling in with you, and it wasn’t until you woke up to his face in your neck that he was able to confess he was unbearably happy. Maybe the timing was a little shit (and maybe now you both knew why), but he was going to be a dad.

Now, you thought, you were fucked. Whether the rumor mill had spun the wheel and this was the next headline they’d pieced together in a game of hangman or they’d gotten a bullseye some other way, you couldn’t know. But now he knew without knowing, and it hadn’t come from you. Admitting it to him while he was foaming at the mouth wasn’t exactly how you’d imagined telling him — in fact, you couldn’t imagine it at all, and that’d been the problem, hadn’t it? You couldn’t imagine telling him. If you could, you’d have done it already, because you’d have known how.

And now he’d told you that you weren’t in the right place for a baby and he wanted you to himself for a little. Nice, in theory, and if he’d told you that two months ago, you’d have been on the same page. As it was, you’d ruin his vision this time for sure, and where the rational part of your brain said he’d be thrilled for a baby, the less-so portion agonized even watching him read to your son for the better part of the morning.

“One more,” your son said calmly from his father’s lap, book open wide in front of both of them.

“Said that three chapters ago, didn’t you?” Harry mumbled, turning the page anyway and flashing a grin at you. The most patient man there was, but would he be when he had to juggle a young child and a baby with different needs?

“I think I’m going to go for a walk,” you said, unfolding your legs and standing from the couch. Harry looked at you, the ghost of his grin still on his face.

“Where to?” he asked.

“Not sure,” you said, running your hands over your neck. “Just going to get out.”

“You feel alright?” Gone was humor, and his eyes bore into you with such intense scrutiny that you almost believed he was the Superman your son had dubbed him.

“Fine,” you said. “Just think it’s a nice day—“ Harry’s eyes flicked to the window being pelted with rain behind you— “and I want to stretch my legs.”

“Do you want company?”

You shook your head. “Stay here,” you said. “Finish the story.”

Not ten minutes later, you were dressed in jogging bottoms and a jumper, and you tugged your shoes on by the backs of the heels.

“When will you be back?” Harry asked.

“Not sure,” you said. “Have my phone, though, and the keys.”

“Don’t be gone too long,” he said when you leaned down to kiss him.

“Won’t be.”

“Love me?”

You took a deep breath and nodded. For a man who’d avoided saying it back for who knew how long after you’d come home from hospital, he certainly wasn’t shy about demanding it now. “Know I do.”

You could feel his eyes on you all the way to the door, but you didn’t look back, because if you did, you’d crack.

***

The last time you’d gotten pregnant you’d come here, too. You weren’t sure it would do the trick this time, or that your reception would be as warm, but if there was anyone who knew, or who had once known, the insides of both your heads….

Even unsmiling, Gemma was still less intimidating than her mother. Maybe because you remembered when you and he were first getting involved and Gemma had been openly and skeptically critical where Anne had been all smiles to try to make you at ease. The Senior Styles Sibling’s sullen and surly stare was old hat for you.

“Hey,” you said when she opened the door.

Gemma nodded, dark hair curtaining her face, eyes bright — in contrast only if not color — but no less intimidating underneath her strong brows. “Do you want to come in?”

The house was warm and you kicked your trainers off, the canvas soaked through to the socks.

“Made you a cup of tea,” she said. “It’s in the living room.”

“Thanks.”

You stepped around a cat and bent to run your hand over their tail on your way to the couch.

“Thank you for seeing me,” you said, settling into the plush cushions.

“Figured for something like my brother knocking you up again I should make the time.”

Gemma held a steaming cup out to you, but you froze.

“What? I—“

“You said you needed some advice,” she said. “We haven’t spoken since you shacked up with him again, and the last time you needed advice, you were either pregnant or thought you were.” She shrugged. “Plus, Mum nearly burst my eardrum with her hysterics.”

You stared and Gemma nodded towards the cup.

“It’s not got any caffeine in it,” she said. “Figured you’d want to save your allowance for when you’re desperate. And I’m going to burn my hand off if you don’t take it soon, so—“

You grabbed it from her and held the handle gingerly, inhaling the peppermint scent wafting through the air.

“So,” Gemma said, sitting back. An offended meow interrupted followed by her cat springing onto her lap, and the animal settled after kneading their mama’s thighs a few times. “What’s he done now?”

Half a beat passed. “He said we aren’t in a place for a baby.”

“Are you?”

“Whether we are or aren’t, there is one.” You swallowed back a lump in your throat.

“Does he know?”

“Wasn’t keen on telling him when he all but said he didn’t want one.”

Gemma fixes you with a look over her cup. “That’s not true.”

“He said—“

“You swore he wouldn’t want one last time, either,” Gemma said. “And he was the happiest he could be when you told him.”

“He said he wanted time just the two of us,” you said. “Think a baby might throw a wrench in  those gears.”

“He’s got nine months to prepare,” she said. “That’s nine months of time, and then after that, boom, baby.”

You took a deep breath and regretted it instantly when the peppermint fumes burned your nose and your stomach curled.

“Do you really think that man would be upset if you said you were giving him another child?” she asked. “He loves babies. He loves his babies more than anything.”

“I’m going to be sick,” you whispered, setting the cup down with a thunk and careening off the couch. The toilet was too far, but you made it to the bin in the kitchen just in time, and you coughed and retched, turning up what little you’d managed to choke down from breakfast.

Not seconds later, a hand rubbed your back, and you took deep breaths before warbling, “Don’t know if peppermint agrees with me this time.”

“I’ll toss it,” she said. When you were sure you were done, you straightened up, gulping, and made for the sink.

“Thanks,” you said weakly, turning on the tap. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s ok.”

You rinsed your mouth out, and when you were done, you turned and leaned against the sink.

“I don’t want to ruin it,” you said softly. “I… God, I don’t want to ruin anything for him, I’ve done that enough.”

“What else?”

You looked at her, but Gemma blinked.

“You know what,” you said.

“Maybe.” She shrugged. “Maybe not. Can’t know for sure unless you say it.”

Heart pounding, you met her unflinching gaze, the cool look in her eyes making a chill roll down your spine.

“I walked out on him.”

“You did,” Gemma agreed quietly. “Really fucked him up.”

Heat flooded you and you gripped the edge of the sink. You shouldn’t expect her to miss her chance, however gracious she was being.

“But all he wanted back was you, and he took you back the first chance he got,” she said. “I don’t think there’s a thing you could do that would put him off, and a baby would be the least of it.”

You took a deep breath.

“He’s always wanted more children with you,” she said. “He told me that. Oh, yeah,” she said when you looked at her. “Loads of times. Mostly when he got pissed after his weekends were up. You wouldn’t be ruining anything for him, love.”

Eyes stinging, you struggled to open your mouth with the confidence you’d be comprehensible. “I just… want him to have what he wants,” you said. “Whatever that is.”

“What he wants is you,” Gemma said. “Look. Your hormones are haywire, and you can’t see it, but you’re overreacting. What he wants is his family, and you’re giving him that. So, come on.”

You huffed.

“Rip the bandaid off and tell him. The sooner he knows, the better. He’s only gonna get himself in trouble with the tabloids trying to shut them down in the meantime.”

Staring at a speckled spot on the tile, you whispered, “Missed this.” When you glanced up at her, Gemma’s mouth was set but her forehead was smooth and her brows were uncharacteristically soft.

“Yeah, well….”

You cracked a smile before she went on.

“Meant it when you said you’d always be my sister,” she said. “You fucked up a little, but so did he. If it’s sorted between you both then I’ve not got much more of a leg to stand on, have I?”

“I didn’t want to hurt him,” you said. “I was--”

“I love my brother, but he’s a prick sometimes,” she said. “Mum knows it when she can take her rose-colored glasses off long enough to see it. Anyone could tell he was leaving you too much, I just think….” Gemma shrugged. “No one expected you to go quite so far.”

You plucked the edge of the countertop with your nail and bobbed your head. “Me neither.”

“Just don’t do it again.” For the first time, Gemma’s voice was thick with emotion. “Rat him out to me and I’ll kick his ass. D’rather not lose my sister and my brother again, if you don’t mind.”

Mreow.

You laughed wetly and sniffled, wiping your nose and looking at the cat winding between Gemma’s legs.

“Told you it’s not polite to interrupt.” Gemma bent to scoop them up. “Come on, let’s all of us get something nicer to drink.”

***

The flat was quiet when you returned, and your chest was tight when you wove your way through it in search of him. A quick peek inside your son’s bedroom showed him fast asleep on his bed for his nap, and you backed out to quickly pad down the hallway.

His father was in bed with his laptop propped on his thighs, still in his pajamas, ankles crossed.

“Thought I heard you come in,” he said before looking over the top of the screen, squinting eyes relaxing.

You smiled thinly and unzippd your hoodie before throwing it in the laundry hamper by the dresser.

“Good walk?” he asked and you nodded.

“Was good,” you said. “Had a good talk.”

He arched an eyebrow but you shuffled closer and bent to kiss him. “I’m going to shower,” you said.

The hot spray took the London chill out of your bones, and you kept yourself wrapped in your towel when you returned to the bedroom.

“Did you have a good afternoon?” you asked on your stroll around the foot of the bed.

“Finished the book,” he said. “Don’t think he knew what was happening with it by the end he was so tired.” Harry chuckled and you smiled.

“Think he just likes hearing your voice,” you said.

“Can put a CD on for him….”

“Harry.”

“Maybe get a couple of streams up online. Rack my numbers up some, manipulate the charts….”

You rolled your eyes and he snickered, shutting his laptop while you moisturized your arms and legs.

“Where’d you go?” he asked.

You looked at him and then your fingers again. “Gem’s.”

He was silent, and you knew that was one of the last answers he’d expected.

“Did I do summat?” he asked at last and you shook your head.

“No,” you said. “Just needed to talk to her.”

Harry nodded. “I do that sometimes,” he said, and your heart twinged, the image of him drunkenly droning to his sister about everything he wanted but couldn’t have fresh in your mind. Heaving a sigh, he set his laptop on the bedside table. “Finally got a hold of Jeffrey,” he said. “He’s gonna see what he can do.”

Now or never, right? Well, not never, per se — sooner or later, a bump would make itself known.

“You should call him back.”

Harry cocked his head and you blamed his confusion on the pinched way the words came out. You clearer your throat before looking him head on. “You should call him back,” you said, “and tell him not to do anything.”

It was so quiet that not only could you hear a pin drop, but your son’s tiny tosses and turns in his room down the hall. Harry’s brow furrowed a little deeper with each passing second, and your eyes welled until tears spilled over, heart pounding in your trembling fingertips. His Adam’s apple bobbed and he cleared his throat, but his simple, “Love?” was still gruff and cracked at the end.

You huffed but nodded curtly and he closed his own watery eyes. Hands fisted in the duvet, he took deep breaths, nose and cheeks turning progressively redder.

“Didn’t know how to tell you,” you whispered after a particularly sharp inhale. “And then you said we weren’t in a place….”

He opened his eyes, red to go with the rest of him by that point, and shook his head.

“Dunno if we are or we aren’t, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t—“ his voice broke again and you choked a whimper down. “Did you think I—?”

“Yes,” you whispered, and just like that, the dam broke. The anxiety over telling him had increased tenfold with not knowing how he’d react, and now that you’d told him, the pressure was off, at least proverbially.

The sheets rustled and the bed creaked before he wrapped your shaking shoulders in an embrace. You sobbed into his neck — ugly, sucking sobs that made you cry harder, because you weren’t even that upset, it was just… relief. You were so, so relieved to tell him and that he’d taken it….

Harry cupped the back of your head and rocked you slightly.

“I didn’t want to cry this time….”

Harry shook underneath you, and it was only when you heard his chuckle you realized it was from humor and not emotion.

“It’s not funny!” you wailed.

“Gonna do this to me every time?” he asked. “Know we can never tell any of ‘em, right? ‘Mumma’s nose ran away from how upset she was—’”

“I’m not,” you choked. “I’m not up—”

Your breath hitched and for the first time since your anxiety had gotten the better of you — for the first time since you’d peed on that stick and felt nervous from the idea of telling him — you felt it. Happiness. Pure, unbridled joy, because you were having a baby with the man you loved. The father of your son was going to be the father of your baby, and you couldn’t be more thrilled if you tried.

“We’re having a baby,” you whispered.

Harry squeezed you tighter and kissed the top of your head. “My baby and me,” he murmured and you sniffled. He pressed several more kisses to your hair. “Gotta call off the hunt.”

“Later,” you said into his neck and he nodded.

Just like the first time, he tucked you in bed and crawled in after, arm around your waist and head on your breast. Your son would be up soon, but you were so… so tired.

It was only his gentle kisses to your belly that pulled you from your doze. You cracked your eyes and looked down at the top of his head, bun askew, and watched him pressing ones that were so soft you could barely feel them while he kept one palm spread wide. When you scratched the base of his neck, his eyes snapped to you, and you could see how pink they were and how the tip of his nose matched.

“Can’t ever tell them.” You cleared your throat and smacked your lips. “Daddy’s nose ran away from him.”

Rather than retort, Harry snuffed a laugh, but he nodded, eyes welling. You rubbed the back of his neck and reached for his bicep, and after a few tugs he crawled up your body to sprawl out next to you.

“You’re going to make an amazing dad.” An echo of a conversation from a lifetime ago between the same two people who were somehow entirely different.

“Gonna….” Harry paused. “Gonna be an amazing mum. I wouldn’t… wouldn’t want anyone— anyone else to….”

You turned into him and after searching for his mouth for a moment, you kissed, the first kiss since you told him. You could feel his emotion pouring into you, and you rolled back, pulling him with you, and he tensed above you.

“Is this—?”

“Yeah….” You cradled each cheek with your palm. “Yeah… yes, please….” You exhaled slowly. “Just want to be close for a bit.”

“S’the door locked?” he asked. “Hang on, I’ll….”

He clambered off you and tested the knob before flicking the lock, and when he climbed back in bed with you, you pulled his jumper up, shivering when his warm, bare skin touched yours. His pajamas were next, but even when he was naked, there was no rush. You gulped for air even as he sucked patches of your skin into his mouth. He was everywhere, yet nowhere, and when he finally shifted and pushed inside, you gasped under your breath.

“Ok?” he asked, voice shaking even more than his arms. You nodded and he adjusted again before sinking in with some control. “Shit—!”

Harry trembled, and you stroked the back of his neck. “It’s ok,” you whispered. “I’m ok….”

Gradually, Harry adjusted until he was on his forearms and his chest was against yours as he thrust gently, shallowly. Sweat trickled down your back and between your breasts, and you breathed deeply over his shoulder but kept your legs hooked up high around his waist. This wasn’t sex. This wasn’t, it was…. Making love sounded too dismissive for what this was, but it was the closest you way you could think to describe it when he was actively distracting you from finding anything better.

“You’re amazing,” he mumbled into your shoulder. “Y’like… so amazing.” His breath hitched and he shuddered, slowing to a stop, but there was no telltale wet feeling that followed. Rather than whine, though, you raked your fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck and kissed the shell of his ear. Despite his efforts, he was heavy on top of you, and it was all you could do to keep breathing, but asking him to move off you was a non-option — not now.

When at last he did, though, you rolled with him until you were both on your sides, limbs tangled and his pelvis still pressed tightly against yours after some adjustment. Breathless in a new way, you smiled lightly when he grabbed your wrist and pressed a kiss just inside it and trailed new ones over your palm and fingertips. “M’sorry,” he mumbled, lips pulling at the corners with his quiet laugh. “M’sorry, I c-can’t—”

“I know,” you whispered, breath catching in your throat and corking a joke about how it wasn’t enough you were keeping his bun warm in your oven, but now you had to keep his cock warm, too. “It’s ok.” You pressed your forehead to his and scratched his cheek lightly. “It’s nice just to….” You sighed, eyes fluttering shut. “To be close.”

“Yeah.” Harry closed his eyes, breathing heavily, and his cheek dimpled with his grin. “Shit. We’re havin’ a baby.”

You laughed. “With ten fingers.”

He looked at you then, eyes clear and warm, and in that moment? You didn’t know how you’d ever doubted he’d be anything other than happy. Never had he ever looked at you with so much love you could touch it.

“And ten toes,” he said. “And a baby mouth, and two eyes—” He touched your nose. “And a nose just like their mumma’s.”

“I love you.” Your eyes welled up again, but rather than hide them from shame, you sniffled openly.

“I love you, too,” he said, pulling you closer and running his hand along your back. “I’ll always love you — doesn’t matter what I do or don’t do, what I say or don’t.”

“I know.” You swallowed back a lump in your throat. “I know that now.”

Harry touched your chin. “Not gonna leave you alone in this. I promise. Wouldn’t miss it.”

“Gemma’ll kick your ass if you drive me away again.” You choked on your laugh and he kissed your forehead.

“Don’t doubt it.”

[mimzy-writing-online]

Writing A Blind of Visually Impaired Character: Mannerisms

This post is part of a multi-step guide to writing blind characters, and it’s master post to all parts is linked here: https://mimzy-writing-online.tumblr.com/post/185122795699/writing-a-blind-or-visually-impaired-character

All posts on writing blind characters will be tagged #blindcharacter for you to search on my blog for.

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Disclaimer: I am a very real visually impaired person who has been living with my disability for two years and these are little things I specifically do, little mannerisms that developed because of my blindness

Part Five: Blindisms or Mannerisms that Breathe Life into Your Characters

Biological Things

-My eyes get tired so easily, and when I say tired I mean they start aching and my vision gets even worse as the day progresses. The muscles start to ache and I’ll press or pinch the area around my eyes because of the pain

-Eye strain will cause headaches. When I get eyestrain I have to take off my glasses, stop looking at screens, and just relax for a while in bed until my eyes feel a little better.

-Weather has a huge impact on how I see, and any light sensitive person with a fair amount of remaining vision will probably have the same problem. Light sensitive people will find sunny days much harder, but overcast days can be a little difficult too because the sun tends to diffuse all across the sky through the clouds and the entire sky is bright

-Snow. This isn’t a me thing because I don’t live in this climate and never have to deal with it, but snow days are incredibly disorientating to people with vision issues. It covers any ground land marks you might use to know where you are (sidewalk versus grass versus street)

-Rain puddles are difficult to see and obnoxious to walk through, and your cane just sloshes through them (my mom usually warns me in advance and tells me how to avoid them)

Hobbies and Interests

-We’re actually not bared from many hobbies and activities. There are some very athletic blind people out there who play sports. Molly Burke used to rock climb and teach at a rock climbing gym when she was younger, she also learned to surf at one point. She’s gone bungee jumping and sky diving. There are lots of athletic blind people out there.

-Martial arts is very possible for blind people and certain organizations for the blind teach self defense classes. So, in case any of you were mad at me for saying you shouldn’t write Daredevil, my point is that you shouldn’t give your blind character unrealistic super senses. Your blind character can still kick some ass when needed.

-I play video games. It’s not impossible, although it is very hard for me. I still love it. I personally play Overwatch on PC and I’ve been playing Sims for years

-Reading is something a lot of blind people enjoy, and it’s sometimes described as the blind person’s version of TV, a way for them to see in their minds eyes what they can’t see with TV. So for this reason I have and will continue to tell you to keep your blind readers in mind and not traumatize, kill, assault, or victimize your blind characters for plot.

-We read in different ways. Some only read through audio books, some read through screen readers, some read on their tablets or laptops because they can enlarge font, some read printed books with magnifiers. It all heavily depends on how much sight your character has left and where they like to get their reading material. For example, if you read fanfiction a lot you will probably have to rely on screen readers on your laptops to read to you, but if you like reading published books then you will rely more on audio books.

-We do watch TV and movies, even if we can’t see the screen at all. Some movies and tv shows come with audio description for the blind, and they describe visual details on screen. You have access to lots of examples of this, because Netflix does have audio description for a lot of their shows and movies. Check audio description on your favorite Netflix Original and minimize your browser window to the background to experience movie going the blind way

-We can cook, and sometimes amazingly. Christine Hà is a blind chef who won the third season of master chef and she is amazing. She published her own cookbook too. Some schools for the blind will offer cooking classes as part of their rehabilitation services

-Art. I recommend hopping on google and checking out some blind artists out there. I’m sure you’ll be surprised by a few. There are painters, sculptors, pottery makers, photographers, and many more. My second blind character is learning to draw in school and will over time develop his own cartoonish style of drawing.

-Music. Yeah, I know I said I didn’t want to see the blind music prodigy again, but that’s because I wanted to see you guys come up with your own stories and your own unique characters. There are some wonderful blind musicians and your blind character deciding to learn to play an instrument for the first time during the course of your story would actually be pretty cool.

Theatre. It would be really cool to see some acting blind characters. Doctor Who had Ellie Wallwork, a blind actress play a blind character on their eleventh season. She was amazing and I really loved that episode, it was my favorite in the whole season. (I also adore Jodie Whittaker)

There are so many more hobbies that you can have, even with vision loss. Some might require you to adjust how you do that hobby, but with the right accommodations you can do just about anything really. (Except drive. Please don’t drive.)

Little Enjoyable Things

-Interesting textures. The less your characters see, the more obsessed they get with interesting textures. Hard ceramic mugs with decorative bumps, soft and fluffy blankets, crochet blankets and pillows, tile lines and patterns, any raised surface like slightly raised letters on a book cover, rocks with interesting but not too sharp textures. The more vision loss you have, the more you rely on your hands and your hands become a way of seeing for you.

-I have bought bumpy mugs and soft blankets and textured pillows for exactly this reason. My fingers touched them and just enjoyed the hell out of it.

-Your hands becoming a way for you to see makes you want to touch everything (except faces) Shopping in stores is especially bad because I’m touching everything even though I have quite a bit of sight left.

-There are favorite outfits, purely because what you’re wearing has the comfiest texture

-Soothing sounds and music. I’m not big into ASMR but some people might be. I like quiet background music

-Sometimes I tap my cane on pavement or other hard surfaces just to hear the way it sounds. I can’t echo-locate, most people can’t, but it’s a weird form of sensory

-Loud environments where sounds seem to come from all directions is overwhelming and not enjoyable

Cane Safety Things

-Bring your cane everywhere

-Have a backup cane when travelling long distance in case something goes wrong

-Don’t ever touch my cane. I mean it, don’t! My cane is an extra limb, it is part of my body and I get incredibly nervous when people touch it, especially if I don’t know them well. I only trust a few people to hold my cane with them for even a minute (my mom, maybe my best friend if I’m trying to put on a sweater and can’t hold it the whole time)

-Cane height: your character’s cane should be as tall as their shoulder, at least, or maybe a few inches taller to their chin.

-Because of this I like to lean forward and rest my chin on my cane when I’m bored and waiting for something (like a line)

-In general I just fidget with my cane so much

-You can actually get custom canes. I have a cane with a royal purple tip instead of red. You can get a cane that’s entirely pink or blue or black or whatever. You can add reflective tape to make you more visible.

-Some people prefer long canes that don’t fold, some people prefer folding canes. It’s really a personal decision. I’ve heard long canes are better for tactile feedback because the vibrations when they hit an object or tap the ground are more accurate. I like folding canes because I like storing it away when I don’t need it right away (in class, sitting at a booth in a restaurant, in my backpack) My preference for folding canes goes back to my paranoia of people touching it when I’m not paying attention

-Long canes that don’t fold are not easy to fit into cars and you need to get creative.

Guide Dog Things / Animal Things

-I will include a more serious list about guide dogs in my Part Four about tools and things blind people use to survive (canes, guide dogs, accessibility tools, braille) but for now this is more of a fun list

-I can’t say this from personal experience because I have never had a guide dog, but I’ve had pets and let me tell you, everyone loves spoiling their pets with gifts and hugs and pets

-Soft animals are so fun to pet

-Please tell me when there’s a cat nearby, even if I can’t pet it. I love cats? Wild bunnies too? (I’m super allergic to bunnies, I should never pet them, but I love their existence, they’re so cute)

-Some blind people are not dog people and will not get a guide dog for this reason. They are still valid. People who aren’t dog people are still valid, regardless of ability or disability.

General Safety Things

-Depending on the orientation and mobility skills of your character, they may not feel super comfortable walking out alone, and this comes down to how much training they have, how independent they are, and if they’re generally and anxious person or a self-assured person. Some blind people are great at inner city travel and can do so confidently, others feel less confident (I’m personally not great at crossing busy streets by myself and parking lots are scary to me)

-They may not like bars or nightclubs- this comes down to who your character is. Bars and nightclubs are loud, it’s hard to talk, they’re crowded so using a cane or guide dog isn’t easy or sometimes possible. They’re also poorly lit and if your character has some remaining vision but is night blind, this is especially bad. Because of how preyed upon women are, especially disabled women, your character probably won’t feel safe in a bar or nightclub because they know creeps might target them because they can’t see

-Being blind, you develop this awareness that there are predators out there in the world who see your blindness as something to exploit, that will make you easy to assault or abuse.

NOTE: please don’t use this as an excuse to write a rape as part of your plot. The general consensus of readers has come to the conclusion that using rape as something to further your plot is a terrible thing to do, it is cheap and unoriginal plot development and that you shouldn’t do it. You especially shouldn’t put your blind characters through something traumatic like this. Seriously guys, blind people are coming to your stories because they want to see themselves represented. Seeing themselves victimized will only hurt them. DON’T hurt your readers like that

-Because of this awareness of how vulnerable you can be, you learn to walk in groups and avoid places where predators frequent (bars and nightclubs)

God, this thing is getting long and there are so many other little blindisms that I’ve probably not thought of yet. I will probably make more posts in the future about blindness, including little stories or things I experience.

Follow this blog for more writing advice (and posts about experiencing the blind life)

[seotipsandtricks-me]

Creating eCommerce landing pages can be difficult. While it’s relatively easy to create a focused landing page for a single product or service, it’s difficult to achieve this kind of relevance when you’re promoting an entire range of products. The fact is that product pages tend to perform worse than other types of landing pages.  Source To help solve this problem, eCommerce brands are focusing less on product sales and more on promoting a service around their products and secondary conversion goals that generate leads for nurturing the buying process. Here are 10 of the best eCommerce landing pages out there and what you can learn from them. 1. Pull&Bear What makes this a great landing page? Engagement: By asking users to select “woman” or “man” users are instantly engaging with Pull&Bear. Personalisation: This also starts the personalised experience which continues with cookies stored in the browser and Pull&Bear’s email marketing strategy.Clear offers: Despite having multiple offers on this page, they’re all compelling and differentiated.Money-off deal: That up to 60% sale is going to grab attention.Free delivery over £40: This is always an important offer for eCommerce brands.Layout: Great use of white space in a grid layout that effortlessly adapts into a single column for mobile.Contrast: Strong contrast all over the page and great use of black text on plain white backgrounds. Designing eCommerce landing pages for online clothing brands is a real challenge, especially if you’ve got a wide range of products to promote. Pull&Bear does a great job of condensing its huge stock into a select few categories on a single, highly-compelling landing page. Most of its competitors suffer from bloated landing pages, overloading users with too many offers and products. However, Pull&Bear has stripped this landing page down into core offers while pointing users to more specific product categories, one step at a time. 2. Ermenegildo Zegna What makes this a great landing page? Personalisation: The entire premise of this landing page is to deliver tailored, custom suits.Soft conversions: None of the CTAs are asking users to buy anything; they’re soft conversions for booking appointments and other lead gen strategies to get potential customers on board.Visuals: The imagery shows the kind of product on offer but also demonstrates the customised service being provided around them.Concise messaging: Minimal text makes each message clear and relevant CTAs are present every step of the way.Layout: Full-screen layout allows those background images to make a real impact.Contrast: White text on dark backgrounds and black text against plain white backgrounds make each message stand out. This landing page from Ermenegildo Zegna doesn’t have a single CTA asking visitors to buy anything. Instead, the aim here is to start a truly personalised customer experience that delivers a 100% unique suit for every buyer. There are no product images either. This landing page is selling the service more than the product itself and every CTA encourages visitors to start imagining what their tailored suit will look like. The main conversion goal of this page is for visitors to book an appointment, but there are also CTAs calling for users to look at suit examples for inspiration, choose fabrics or learn more about the company’s fully-customised service. Related content: Check out our landing page services here 3. FabFitFun What makes this a great landing page? Single offer: One conversion goal is repeated multiple times across the page – no distractions.Bold CTAs: Every CTA is bold and attention-grabbing.Compelling images: Great product images and photos of people using them to convey the key benefits.Bright colours: Perfectly suits the branding and helps the black text on white background stand out even more.Icons: The icons on this landing page are informative, making it easy for visitors to understand how the customer journey plays out.Special offers: Clear emphasis on the money-saving aspect of the product and free shipping for US customers.Trust factors: Showing high-profile publications that have covered FabFitFun in the media increases authority and trust. FabFitFun is only promoting the one service with this landing page and this makes it much easier to create a concise message. While there are multiple CTAs on this page, they’re all telling users to do the same thing – to “Get the box”. In an ideal world, you should only have one main offer on each landing page, or one main offer and a secondary follow-up offer (e.g. newsletter signup or coupon), but this isn’t always possible for eCommerce brands. FabFitFun does a great job of explaining the unique nature of its service, thanks to some effective icons, headings and plain text. The rest of the page focuses on showing the product with compelling images of people using the items to demonstrate their key benefits. 4. AXIS What makes this a great landing page? Single offer: Again, there’s only one offer here, but multiple CTAs are placed throughout the page as users scroll down.Practical imagery: Used throughout the page to showcase the product, how it’s used and the benefits compared to other window shades.Clear benefits: AXIS knows what the strengths of its product are and communicates these well with icons and punchy text.Demo video: Demo videos are only a click away for users to see how the product works in more detail.No navigation: AXIS has removed all navigation and aside from converting, the only other action users can make on this page is viewing the demo video.Trust factors: Shows which publications have been talking about its product and uses testimonials from existing customers to establish trust in new prospects. The best takeaway from AXIS’ eCommerce landing page is that it removes all navigation and only allows users to complete a single action. Aside from watching a demo video, users can’t click away from the landing page, which is a really important best practice to follow where you can. Of course, this isn’t always possible for eCommerce brands, but you can apply this to landing pages for seasonal offers, new product ranges or even launching individual products. If you can stick to a single offer and remove all potential distractions, it’s generally a good idea to do so. While AXIS has the advantage of only promoting a single product on this page, there’s a lot of info it needs to get across. It manages to do this with effective images and by focusing on the core benefits. We’ve got another example of icons and brief text at work here, as well as images that display the benefits of buying into AXIS shades. The other key feature of this landing page is its use of trust factors with more press coverage demonstrating the hype around the product and testimonials further down the page. 5. Harry’s What makes this a great landing page? Strong branding: Branding is pretty much everything to this company in an industry dominated by major corporations.Unique offer: Customers are buying into a service, not just a razor, and this key selling point is communicated as soon as users land on the page.Icons: Once again, it’s up to icons and text snippets to explain the unique nature of Harry’s customer experience.Celebrity endorsement: Harry’s uses a celebrity figure likely to be popular with the majority of its target audience.Differentiation: Harry’s makes a strong case for why its razors are better than what you’re used to finding in the supermarket.Value: Harry’s makes it clear you’re going to get a better shave and save money. Harry’s positions itself as the shaving brand for the modern man and the prospect of buying Gillette razors suddenly feels very outdated after scrolling down this landing page. Above all, the product makes a strong case for itself with five German-engineered blades, promising to deliver a close, comfortable shave direct to your door. Every bloke knows German cars are the most reliable so the same thing probably applies to razors, right? Then we’ve got that Harry Kane celebrity endorsement – captain of the English national team and spearhead of its attack. Clearly, Harry’s has defined its target audience and tailored every part of its messaging to resonate with them. 6. Stitch Fix What makes this a great landing page? Personalisation: This landing page starts a highly-personalised shopping experience instead of bombarding users with product listings.Engagement: This results in strong engagement with every click, guiding users closer to the purchase.Problem-solving: Stitch Fix isn’t just selling products here, it’s solving some of the most common problems of buying clothes online.Single offer: Stitch Fix’s business model allows it to promote the service it provides, rather than the individual products customers are going to buy – not only differentiating the brand but also creating a more focused, compelling offer. Stitch Fix offers a personalised online shopping experience, including advice from stylists, recommendations based on your preferences, a try-before-you-buy policy and algorithms that find the best-fitting clothes for you. These selling points bypass some of the biggest barriers to buying clothes online. This unique offer makes it easy for Stitch Fix to create an eCommerce landing page that focuses on its service, rather than simply sending users to a product page. The personalised experience begins with the first click and it never really ends from there. Style advice, product recommendations, feedback requests and the constant promise that Stitch Fix will find better clothes as it learns more about you make this one of the most personalised shopping experiences around – and this is made clear from the moment you land on the page. Related content: Read about our landing pages services here 7. GoPro What makes this a great landing page? Strong visuals: GoPro lets the images do the talking on this landing page by highlighting the challenging conditions its waterproof HERO7 Black camera can operate in.Deal: The company’s money-off deal for trading in old cameras is clearly displayed multiple times on the page.Free shipping: This is made clear right at the top of the page.Money-back guarantee: Also features at the top of the page, helping shoppers feel confident they have nothing to lose by trying the product out.Localised pricing: Geo-targeting means GoPro always shows the price in the local currency, based on user location. If you’re selling individual consumer tech products, then GoPro is a good brand to take notes from when it comes to landing pages. These products are designed to record videos and take images so the company doesn’t waste time or space on text – it shows visitors the key selling points of its cameras through images. Users can learn more about specs and performance but this page focuses on the key benefits of the product and GoPro’s special offers; a trade-in deal, free shipping and a money-back guarantee. 8. CAUSEBOX What makes this a great landing page? Niche target audience: CAUSEBOX targets the conscious consumer by delivering ethical products throughout the year.Emotional messaging: CAUSEBOX is literally telling people they can feel good about looking good by buying products in an industry normally riddled with ethical issues.Value proposition: There’s still a heavy emphasis on the value for money aspect.Visuals: Product images highlight its products and show the ethical aspect of its service.Strong CTAs: CTAs throughout the page are attention-grabbing, compelling and focused towards the same conversion goal.Free shipping: Once again, free shipping is on offer. CAUSEBOX is another service-orientated eCommerce brand; this one is targeting the conscious consumer niche. With 75% of British consumers adopting ethical shopping and eating habits, this is a rapidly growing audience and CAUSEBOX is tapping into the trend. This is constant throughout the messaging on its landing page. The copy plays on the emotional resonance of feeling good about the purchases its customers make and doing something good with their money. CAUSEBOX ticks just about all the boxes in the eCommerce landing page best practice guidebook but the real star of this page is the ethical nature of its USP. 9. Rituals What makes this a great landing page? Branding: Rituals creates the sense of a luxury brand on its landing page, which is otherwise a fairly typical product feed.Differentiation: In a saturated market, Rituals promises to deliver “unique, feminine perfumes”.Product images: Bottle design is clearly an important aspect of Rituals’ products and this is showcased well in its product images.Free gifts: Customers who spend more than £45 get a free gift with their purchase, encouraging shoppers to buy more than one bottle.Special deals: Customers get a special deal for buying three bottles of selected items. Here, Rituals takes on the classic product eCommerce landing page design, which is surprisingly difficult to pull off. With minimal text space available to influence unconvinced visitors, Rituals has to make every word count. The mix of branded imagery and concise text works well in this case, allowing the products themselves to become the focus of the page. This is clearly the priority for Rituals, based on the stylistic designs of its perfume bottles. For this landing page, it’s all about creating and maintaining that luxury brand image and letting the products themselves take centre stage. 10. Samsung What makes this a great landing page? Bold hero section: It’s a simple hero section with minimal text but it grabs attention while showcasing the company’s top product.Strong USP: Samsung makes it clear that the Galaxy S10 is a phone for the future and backs this up with its 5G capabilities.Navigation: Samsung leads with its flagship smartphone and then showcases its other ranges, encouraging visitors to click through for more information.Compelling visuals: High quality product images that highlight the key features of each device range, differentiating them to potential buyers.High contrast: Once again, we’ve got a lot of black and white to achieve high contrast throughout the page. Samsung’s challenge with this eCommerce landing page is to pitch an entire range of smartphones to visitors. The South Korean tech firm doesn’t go all out to get visitors to buy a phone on this page; instead, there’s more of a focus on finding out more information about each device or product range. Only its more premium devices have a “buy now” or “pre-order now” CTA button. The page offers a preview of each device, differentiating them by highlighting their key features and encouraging users to click through for more information about the phone that captures their attention. This approach reduces the weight of clicking through to specific product pages, at which point Samsung is able to target users with more relevant remarketing ads. Any click back from there will take users back to the landing page, not Google. Most of the landing pages we’ve looked at in this article either focus on promoting the service provided around the sale or secondary conversion goals that start the consumer journey. In fact, many of the brands we’ve looked at have built an entire business model around a service that delivers their products in a certain way – for example, the tailored suits from Ermenegildo Zegna, Harry’s razor subscriptions and CAUSEBOX’s ethnical shopping service. The other big trend among these landing pages is their click-through nature. Instead of asking users to buy right away, the goal is to get users to click through to a more relevant page and complete a less demanding conversion goal. This is designed to increase conversion rates and allow these eCommerce brands to nurture leads along the buying process with targeted messages via remarketing and other channels. Need help with your landing pages? We have an awesome team of designers in-house who can create stunning landing pages to wow and convert your website visitors. You can find out more about our landing page services here, or if you’d prefer to chat, just give us a call on 02392 830281. The post 10 of the best eCommerce landing pages appeared first on Vertical Leap.

[havekiddoswilltravel]

Hamilton Musical Review – Wow, Just Wow!

A creative review of Hamilton – by a travel blogging mom.

Burr I’d rather be divisive than indecisive. Drop the niceties.

Hamilton, “A Farmer Refuted”

Watching Hamilton Musical live has been on the top of my personal family bucket list for years. I’ve researched ticket prices many times and was ecstatic when I found out that they would be coming to The Bushnell Center of the Performing Arts in Hartford this December. We are big Bushnell supporters and tend to enjoy a minimum of four shows there each season. I was determined to get tickets. I set reminders on my phone calendar with ticket release dates and went as far as bringing my laptop to the kid’s taekwondo team practice on the morning of the first wave of ticket releases. After 1 hour of refreshing the browser, I scored four reasonable tickets for December 30th. What a perfect Christmas gift for our wanderlust family.

You can write rhymes but you can’t write mine.

Take A Break – Hamilton Musical

 I had taken the kids this summer to watch Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In The Heights (a musical about a Dominican bodega owner in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan) and had prepared them for the music, dancing and writing style that would be depicted in Hamilton. As we only had four tickets, we decided to take our two girls and leave the boys behind this time. One more reason for me to watch it again, because honestly, I can’t get enough.  This is not a review that will be focused on whether Hamilton Musical is historically accurate, appropriate, misrepresented history, left a marginalized group out, minimized the evils of slavery or any other overly serious analysis of Mr. Miranda’s intent in writing this musical. I’m pretty sure that Mr. Miranda did not intend his interpretation of Alexander Hamilton to be an all-inclusive, historically accurate depiction of the founding father. Hamilton is not intended to be all things to all people. I come to this review from the perspective of a history, travel, music, dance, culture and entertainment loving travel blogger, wife and mami of four brown kids whom are exposed to a variety of art and theater. Theater often full of casts, music and culture that does not represent them. For this reason alone, Hamilton rocked. #representationmatters. It’s for the same reason that I was moved to tears by In The Heights musical. Mr. Miranda understands the cultural nuances, references, experiences, dance moves, dictation, beats and music that speak to the deepest parts of my Dominican immigrant soul. Let’s dive in. What I loved about Hamilton and how much I wished that I could get inside the heads of all of the white people sitting around us in Hartford, Connecticut watching this art form. If you were one of them and are willing to share, what were your thoughts?

I am the one thing in life I can control. I am inimitable, I am an original.

Burr, “Wait for It”

 Talk less, smile more. Don’t let them know what you’re against or what you’re for.

Burr – “Aaron Burr, Sir

 -          Lin-Manuel Miranda is puro Latino. I can relate to everything he stands for in a way that at times is difficult for me to explain to my mainland born and raised children. Bringing them to experience Mr. Miranda’s work like In The Heights and Hamilton, provided a window to our shared culture, history and traditions. He’s a Boricua, born in Washington Heights and raised in a prominent Latino community that closely resembles the one that I was raised in. Like me, he came of age in a bilingual, bicultural home, where music, traditions and food were the norm, but were rarely reflected in the mainstream pop culture. Mr. Miranda has succeeded in creating Broadway characters who manage to erase the invisibility that I’ve often felt as a lover of all things art and theater. I got goosebumps as a sat and watched characters who spoke like my family and friends, danced with the same passion, sabor and vigor and shared the same cultural nuances that bring a sense of nostalgia to this Dominican woman.

-          As I sat in the fancy theater watching the opening number, I was left breathless as the realization hit me that I was watching artists in every shade of brown, wearing traditional colonial garb (minus the wigs), telling the story of a forgotten forefather immigrant who rose from nothing, I saw myself. I shared this same story and I was unable to contain the emotions. I could care less (must put my wokeness aside for the sake of entertainment and rest) about whether our founding fathers were white, sexists, racist, slave owning men, I was taken by the artistry of Hamilton and was able to see myself in Mr. Miranda’s delivery in ways that I’m seldom able to. What a beautiful gift to give our young children. For so long, our narrative and stories have been left out of the arts. With Hamilton, Mr. Miranda placed my parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings and friends into the center of the narrative. The bold and unapologetic fashion in which he did so is mind blowing. I lol when Hamilton and Lafayette yelled: “Immigrants, we get the job done.” I was tempted to respond: Asi es. Tu lo sabes. Thank you, Mr. Miranda for allowing me to share this musical with my children and have them see, feel and experience Latinos in a way that is beyond what the main stream media portrays. We know who we are, but it was extremely emotional to have us portrayed outside of the typical narrative of slaves and low-wage workers. Gracias.

We’re finally on the field, we’ve had quite a run. Immigrants: we get the job done.

Hamilton and Lafayette, “Yorktown”

 -          Miranda boldly took on the old minstrel American tradition of black face on stage and reversed it. Oh my goodness, let’s process that one for a minute. I’m cognizant of how this fact and the psychological and social implications of the affect of this when I read negative mainstream reviews of the musical. All of a sudden, those of us usually in the fringes are now put center stage in “The Room Where It Happens” and those usually in the mainstream are left researching, attempting to understand the dictation, body language and music. Wow. That’s genius.

There’s a million things I haven’t done, just you wait

Alexander Hamilton

 Hamilton left me pondering so much about my history, my story and daily life. It was meant to be that our family took in the last show of the year in Hartford on December, 30th. I find myself in a reflective mood during the last week of each year. Since starting my blog 1 ½  years ago, I’ve tried to be consistent in writing, sharing and transparency. Hamilton reminded me of the reasons why I started Have Kiddos Will Travel and it has inspired me to start 2019 “writing like I’m running out of time!”

Why do you write like you’re writing out of time?

Non Stop

 But when you’re gone, who remembers your name? Who keeps your flame?

Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story

 The final song of Hamilton left me inspired to continue my blog as an avenue to share my unique and personal story. Life as a work from home, homeschooling mother of four can be isolating at times. This is the primary reason why I started Have Kiddos Will Travel. The blog allows me to document and write my own narrative and by doing so inspire and relate to other women in similar situations as mine. Blogging is risky, as it can leave one vulnerable to other’s not so kosher intentions. I want full control of my story; the good, the bad and the ugly. It’s mine to tell.

Pin for later:

Below are some of the other favorite lines from Hamilton. Do share yours.

Dying is easy, young man, living is harder.

George Washington – “Right Hand Man

 America, you great unfinished symphony, you sent for me. You let me make a difference. A place where even orphan immigrants can leave their fingerprints and rise up.

Hamilton, The World Was Wide Enough

 Your debts are paid cuz you don’t pay for labor, “We plant seeds in the South. We create.” Yeah, keep ranting. We know who’s really doing the planting.

Alexander Hamilton, Cabinet Battle #1

 I’m just like my country—I’m young, scrappy, and hungry, and I am not throwing away my shot.

Hamilton, “My Shot”

 know that we can win, I know that greatness lies in you. But remember from here on in, history has its eyes on you….

History Has Its Eyes On You

Legacy. What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.

Alexander Hamilton, The World Was Wide Enough

[styomi]

Request: Fever all through the night | Sweet Pea/OC

AN: This… this… I have no defense. Enjoy. My thanks goes out to salty-serpent for the amazing request, though I did take it a bit too literally xD

If you’d like to read more about Ruby and Sweet Pea, check out my Masterlist :)

Info:

Fandom: Riverdale Pairing: Sweet Pea/OC Rating: T Word count: 3147 (I… overdid it… again…) Request: #19 - Kisses in the Dark - While watching a movie - At his place - Sweet Pea initiates it

Continues from the last request: Love me tender, love me sweet, true, long, love me dear

Fever all through the night (this is the song for this damn request!! Urgh epic fit)

“What about you, Ruby?” Toni’s voice pulled Ruby back into reality. Her head shot up from the phone screen, where she’d been eagerly awaiting Mattie’s next message.

“Huh?” Was really the only reply Ruby could give to the question. The purple haired Serpent rolled her eyes, but repeated.

“Fangs and I are going out, Sweet Pea is watching GoT, finally, and Gorgon is bartending,” Toni listed. “What are your plans for the weekend?” Ruby’s eyes weren’t on her friend’s anymore, though. Instead, she was typing away on her phone quickly.

“Sure, GoT sounds good.” The petite girl replied in an absent-minded, airy tone. Toni looked over to Sweet Pea, who seemed to be doing everything but whistling to the side as if he wasn’t the topic of the conversation. Fangs and Gorgon, on the other hand, were anything but subtle, laughing so loudly that a couple of people in the school cafeteria turned and stared.

“So, your plans are going on a date with Sweet Pea?” Toni pushed with a smug smile, getting a wild reaction from almost all the occupants of the table. Sweet Pea spit out his water and then tried to save his dignity with a cough. Though, his cheeks were too red for that. Gorgonhead and Fangs, on the other hand, had no qualms about laughing it up. They looked like they were ready to fall off the bench and roll around the floor, by the way they were holding onto one another. Ruby, apparently, was too focused on texting.

“Uh-huh.” She replied absent-mindedly, making Sweet Pea’s expression take on quite an interesting form. Toni, on the other hand, looked more than pleased with herself. Since Ruby and Sweet Pea had gone on their first ‘semi-date’, which had just been the tall biker filling in for FP’s kid, Toni hadn’t gotten any insider info. They’d told her that the movie was fine, that they got wet from the rain and that they both had fun. For anything else, she was very much in the dark. And, Toni hated being in the dark. To top it all off, their stories were a little too perfectly matched. They quoted each other word for word, even when she’d spoken to them separately. Not even Fangs had gotten anything more out of Sweet Pea. So, Toni knew that she needed to get those two on another date. This time, a real one. Not just him filling in or her not knowing that it was a date. And, Game of Thrones sounded like the perfect binge watch for their little rendezvous.

Things between her and Sweet Pea had been odd since their impromptu semi-date which had ended in a kiss. It wasn’t that Ruby was uncomfortable. She had never been uncomfortable around Sweet Pea. They had their own dynamic, a magnetic push and pull, which she very much enjoyed. However, ever since she twisted her fingers in the lapels of his flannel and pulled him down for a kiss, she had been feeling a bit odd. Weird. Like she was outside of their usual push and pull element. Because, it wasn’t just offhanded flirting anymore. At that point, it was definitely something more. Because, he was definitely into her as much as she was into him.

So, learning that she’d agreed to go on a proper date with him, all the while thinking that it would be a group hangout, got Ruby to panic more than a bit. She spent over half an hour with Mattie on the line, picking her outfit. She wanted to be both pretty and casual. Even if it was a date, she didn’t want to look over the top for an evening of binge-watching Game of Thrones at his trailer.

Luckily, Sweet Pea was quite the talker over IM. They’d exchanged over a dozen messages, debating on snacks, drinks and who should bring what. In the end, Ruby was in charge of snacks, which were her specialty. She managed to bake some easy chocolate chip cookies, and bought the rest on her way to Sweet Pea’s trailer. She found the place easily enough, as it was close to Toni’s home. Sweet Pea opened the door before she was done knocking, looking surprised at himself for doing it.

“Hi,” Ruby awkwardly greeted and watched the way he had to gather himself before replying. Good, he was just as nervous as she was.

“Hey,” Sweet Pea’s voice was a bit higher than usual as he welcomed her inside. The trailer was pretty much what Ruby expected. A perfect man cave. There were minimal clothes around, luckily, which didn’t trigger her cleaning impulses. She had a pet peeve about wearing shoes inside or throwing clothes all around that drove her father insane. But, Sweet Pea seemed like he was tidier than Jo. Or, he had at least made an effort for her. “We’re in here. Netflix’s all set up,” then, he smirked at her mischievously and she felt her knees buckle. “I logged into Fangs’ account.”

“Naughty boy,” Ruby teased right back and placed the bags with snacks and the box of cookies on the table in the living area. She saw that Sweet Pea’s laptop was there, as beat up and taped up as she remembered it. Sure enough, there was the Netflix logo on the open browser, Game of Thrones seasons listed. “Where are we starting?” Ruby asked.

“From the beginning, if you don’t mind?” Sweet Pea tossed a few extra pillows onto the couch and brought glasses, along with a few different bottles. He had cola, juice and club soda, as far as she could see. “Fangs and Toni have been raving about me not watching the show, so I finally decided to give in to their nagging.”

“Sure,” Ruby nodded. She shrugged off her jacket and tossed it on the sofa chair in the corner before getting comfortable on the couch. “I’ve seen the show once, fair warning. So, I’ll try not to spoil anything.” Sweet Pea shook his head with a laugh, also plopping down.

“Feel free to squeal or look away. You can’t be worse than Toni.” After a bit more easygoing conversation, mostly concerning who was eating what and who wanted to drink what, Sweet Pea started the first season from episode one. Ruby found herself comfortably pressed against his side, not minding the way his arm casually draped around her shoulders not even halfway through the first episode. Sweet Pea complained about the low volume of the laptop jokingly, telling her to stop chewing the chips so loudly when there was important dialogue. Ruby, on the other hand, enjoyed how expressive he was as he watched the show, sometimes even yelling at the screen for a few chosen stupid decisions. Altogether, it was turning out to be an easy, comfortable date.

Halfway through season one, the two teens started singing along to the theme song in the beginning. It began with Sweet Pea humming it under his breath, and Ruby picking it up. Over the next three episodes, though, they settled into quite a duet while the theme played, laughing at the end. Sweet Pea proclaimed that Khal Drogo was his absolute favorite character, and Ruby didn’t have the heart to deliver the bad news which he would have to face sooner or later. She, on the other hand, admitted that she liked Arya Stark the best, to which she received a biting comment about height. All in all, their night progressed with easy conversation and plenty of hours of straining to hear the show’s dialogue.

“Oh, Gosh!” Ruby pulled away from Sweet Pea’s embrace, hitting the spacebar and stopping the episode in the middle of Littlefinger’s monologue.

“Urgh,” Sweet Pea groaned, turning away from her in order to grab another bag of chips. “If you’re going to pee again, please make it quick. I’m actually curious if they’re gonna kill him.” Ruby’s hand slapped his biceps at the crude comment softly.

“I’m not hitting the bathroom again,” she made a face at him. “It’s just, I remembered that I have earphones in my jacket pocket!” At that, Sweet Pea pushed her towards the other end of the couch, so that she could reach the jacket without getting up.

“C’mon, get them. Seriously, why didn’t you say so earlier? I’ve been straining my ears for the last five hours!” Ruby managed to lean over the arm of the couch, digging out her earphones, and then slither back to the tall biker as she untangled them.

“I forgot, okay?” The girl defended, offering him one earphone and plugging the cord into the laptop. Then, she pressed the spacebar again and actually had to lower the volume a bit so that they wouldn’t go deaf. But, when Ruby settled back into Sweet Pea’s side, with the earphones stretched in between them, she felt a comfortable warmth. Even pulling away in order to get the earphones had been too long without his body heat. With a small smile, Ruby remembered their kiss at the Drive-In and smiled to herself. Just as Sweet Pea offered her the chips bag and she raised her head to ask him about their relationship and what it meant at that point, everything went dark.

“W-what happened?” Ruby whispered, a little shocked. It was pitch black everywhere around her. All that she could feel was Sweet Pea’s body pressed against hers and couch underneath her. The earphone fell out as Sweet Pea moved a bit, hands tapping around in the dark.

“Just a power outage,” the tall biker told her. “We get our fair share of them. Nothing to worry about,” then, his phone screen lit up and Ruby saw the outline of his features in the dark. “Sorry, but my laptop battery sucks.”

“Noticed,” Ruby laughed. The machine had crashed as soon as the power had gone out. “Anything I can do?” Just as Sweet Pea was about to answer they heard giggling and cackling under the window. Familiar giggling and cackling.

“I’m going to murder them.” Sweet Pea spoke in a low, icy tone that promised bodily harm. Ruby’s hands were on his forearms before he could get up and find Fangs and Toni with murderous intentions.

“It’s okay,” she shrugged with a small smile. “They’re just trying to prank us, right?” When Sweet Pea still looked ready to bolt and perhaps grab an ax on the way, she continued. “If we don’t react, they’ll turn it back on, no?”

“Hopefully.” The tall biker finally grumbled and slouched in his seat. Ruby shook her head with a laugh as she took her earphones and rolled them up. Toni and Fangs really could be beyond childish sometimes, she decided. The girl made herself busy by tidying up the little bits of the snacks on the table which she could see under the light coming from Sweet Pea’s phone. When the table was surface was clean, she realized that there was nothing else to do and leaned back into the couch. There was giggling and cackling from under the window again. Ruby smirked, moving closer to Sweet Pea and grabbing his shoulder for purchase in order to reach his ear. He flinched, head whipping around to face her in the dim light of his phone, eyes wide.

“Say,” Ruby whispered, noting how his shoulder muscles instantly relaxed under her hand. “Let’s give them something to talk about?” Sweet Pea stared at her for a few moments, like a deer in headlights, before asking in a low, uncertain tone.

“Give them something to talk about or give them something to talk about?” Ruby shrugged, her hair cascading to the front with the motion. Sweet Pea’s eyes followed the long chocolate waves on their path.

“Former, if you’re uncomfortable with the latter.” The girl told him. Sweet Pea grinned at her.

“Former, because I sure as hell am not doing the later for Fangs’ and Toni’s amusement.” He shot back. Ruby giggled, pushing away from him and grabbing one of the pillows on the couch.

“Fair enough,” she smirked devilishly at him, before the light completely went out, his phone screen going dark. Then, there was a thump, which sounded like a body falling over. But, Sweet Pea felt the pillow hit the back of the couch and quickly caught onto the game. He grabbed his own pillow as Ruby moaned. “Oh, Sweet Pea!” He could barely reign in his laughter as he smacked his own pillow into the back of the couch. “Right there! Oh!” She was loud, unlike the tender quiet Ruby during their kiss and the little bit of snuggling they’d done at the Drive-In. It made Sweet Pea wonder if she was usually vocal during intimate moments. “Oh, God!” Snickering could be heard from underneath the window.

“You like that?” Sweet Pea growled out in a husky tone, having to catch Ruby as she fell over onto him, soundlessly laughing. He could see the outline of her face and those pale eyes in the dark, having a ton of fun. Then again, he was no better. He was doing everything he could to stop himself from laughing. “What else do you want me to do?” There was a gasp from under the window, followed by a thump. Ruby managed to gather herself enough in order to reply.

“Touch me,” she spoke in a fairly loud tone, smacking the pillow against the back of the couch again. “Help me get my shirt off,” Sweet Pea would be lying if he said that the whole charade wasn’t hot. Because, as much fun as he was having giving Fangs and Toni a vocal show, he would’ve loved to experience all of those things for himself. “Pans, pants.” Ruby panted, her lips pulled in a wide smile. Sweet Pea did the only thing he could, he responded with a dirty comment and enjoyed the snickering from under the window.

Soon enough, Ruby and Sweet Pea found themselves standing on top of the couch in the dark, holding hands as she jumped up and down in a slow rhythm, obviously creating the sound of a couple getting busy on the furniture piece. They kept yelling out random dirty phrases, moaning and trying not to laugh when they heard Toni and Fangs start a commentary on their ‘technique’ from under the window. Ruby actually had to stop jumping a few times and physically hold onto Sweet Pea so that she wouldn’t burst into loud laughter. Those were undoubtedly his favorite moments.

Her small fingers would squeeze his forearms and her head would press into his torso, muffled snickering coming from her shaking form. But, Sweet Pea reveled in the way she was completely comfortable in his presence. In the way her body heat transferred to every part of him that she touched, setting his skin on fire, despite the layers of clothing between them. He simply couldn’t wait until they got to that part of their new relationship in reality, and not just in a teasing fantasy.

“Go, go, go!” Sweet Pea heard Toni whisper-yell, undoubtedly pushing Fangs away from their hiding spot. Ruby was still jumping and shaking with laughter and he was still grunting and telling her obscene things when they heard their purple-haired friend say. “Our job here is done.” Then, all the snickering and talking vanished completely. After a few more moments, Ruby stopped jumping and looked at him. Sweet Pea couldn’t help himself. He started laughing loudly and it was like a dam broke. The two dissolved into uncontrollable giggles and cackles, holding onto each other in order to stay upright. Despite all the efforts, the two teens somehow ended up sitting on the couch after a small stumble, Ruby halfway laying on Sweet Pea’s lap.

“That,” she gasped out through her laughter. “Was legen-fucking-dary!” And she was giggling again.

“Yeah,” Sweet Pea gasped out through a chuckle before he realized that he was positively on fire. Everything was so hot. He was too hot. Like he was running a fever or something. But, it wasn’t the kind of fever that hit his head. Instead, it was the kind of fire that lit up everywhere Ruby touched. He slowly stopped laughing and stayed looking at the giggling girl. And, in his moment of realization, Sweet Pea found that Ruby was positively beautiful like that, chuckling uncontrollably in his lap. “Ruby?” He called out, making the girl compose herself a bit and look up at him.

“Yeah?” She asked, mouth still in a smile from all of the giggling. Sweet Pea’s hand came up, dwarfing her face as he pushed some of the wavy hair behind her ear. The darkness suddenly seemed like it was charged with electricity. Ruby’s mouth was open, short gasps coming out from all of the jumping. But, she wasn’t laughing anymore. Instead, her eyes looked like they had laser focus kind of intensity in them. Sweet Pea left his hand on her face, his thumb caressing her cheek gently, watching the way she shuddered and leaned into his palm.

“You’re beautiful.” He wasn’t aware of the words leaving his mouth. And, he certainly wasn’t aware of how breathless he sounded. He was only aware of her, Ruby, in his lap, with those utterly inviting lips popped slightly open in shock. And then, he had his other hand on her face, as well, pulling her in. Before either of them knew it, Sweet Pea was kissing her. Unlike last time, when she’d been shivering and cold, her lips were warm and soft. And, inviting. Very inviting.

The kiss was slow, made even more intimate by the darkness around them and their position on the couch. But, neither teen seemed to be uncomfortable. In fact, Ruby took charge of her position as soon as Sweet Pea deepened the kiss, coming to straddle his lap and pull him in even more, her arms around his waist. She gripped his sides with legs and twisted her fingers into the material of his flannel shirt, holding on for dear life. Then, their kiss came to a slow end, the two separating to breathe.

“Can you do that again?” The breathless, whispered words set a kind of fire in Sweet Pea that made all of their previous teasing moaning and groaning pale in comparison. For a few seconds, he tried to gather himself. Calm down his heart. Get some air into his lungs. But, he realized that it was absolutely futile. Those wide, pale eyes staring at him, waiting, would definitely be his undoing. So, Sweet Pea gave a shaky nod and obliged soundlessly, for once in his life, surrendering to another’s wishes without a fight. His lips came up to meet Ruby’s in a gentle, exploring kiss in total darkness.

And he did the same again, again and again.

Hope that you all enjoyed :D

Here if the taglist (still open): @enticinghell@projectcampbell@sweetscamille@xoxodege@mlvgren@this-is-the-way-it-ends @yerawizardharry99  @dinglemember @pleaseminho @laylaroseeeeeeee@cassieluci @lynniev @heartbeats-wildly and a special tag for @salty-serpent

[mobappdevelopmentcompany]

Top PHP Development Tools to watch out for

Hypertext Preprocessor, commonly known as PHP, happens to be one of the most widely used server-side scripting languages for developing web applications and websites. Renowned names like Facebook and WordPress are powered by PHP. The reasons for its popularity can be attributed to the following goodies PHP offers:

Open-source and easy-to-use

Comprehensive documentation

Multiple ready-to-use scripts

Strong community support

Well-supported frameworks

However, to leverage this technology to the fullest and simplify tasks, PHP developers utilize certain tools that enhance programming efficiency and minimize development errors. PHP development tools provide a conducive IDE (Integrated Development Environment) that enhances the productivity of PHP web development.

The market currently is overflooded with PHP tools. Therefore, it becomes immensely difficult for PHP development teams to pick the perfect set of tools that will fulfill their project needs. This blog enlists the best PHP application development tools along with their offerings. A quick read will help you to choose the most befitting tool for your PHP development project.

Top PHP Software Development Tools

PHPStorm

PHPStorm, created and promoted by JetBrains, is one of the most standard IDEs for PHP developers. It is lightweight, smooth, and speedy. This tool works easily with popular PHP frameworks like Laravel, Symfony, Zend Framework, CakePHP, Yii, etc. as well as with contemporary Content Management Systems like WordPress, Drupal, and Magento. Besides PHP, this tool supports JavaScript, C, C#, Visual Basic, and C++ languages; and platforms such as Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X. This enterprise-grade IDE charges a license price for specialized developers, but is offered for free to students and teachers so that they can start open-source projects. Tech giants like Wikipedia, Yahoo, Cisco, Salesforce, and Expedia possess PHPStorm IDE licenses.

Features:

Code-rearranging, code completion, zero-configuration, and debugging

Support for Native ZenCoding and extension with numerous other handy plugins such as the VimEditor.

Functions:

Provides live editing support for the leading front-end technologies like JavaScript, HTML5, CSS, TypeScript, Sass, CoffeeScript, Stylus, Less, etc.

It supports code refactoring, debugging, and unit testing

Enables a PHP developer to integrate with version control systems, databases, remote deployment, composer, vagrant, rest clients, command-line tools, etc.

Coming to debugging, PHPStorm works with Xdebug and Zend Debugger locally as well as remotely.

Cloud 9

This PHP development tool is an open-source cloud IDE. It offers a development eco-system for PHP and numerous other programming languages like HTML5, JavaScript, C++, C, Python, etc. It supports platforms like Mac OS, Solaris, Linux, etc.

Features:

Code reformatting, real-time language analysis, and tabbed file management.

Availability of a wide range of themes

In-built image editor for cropping, rotating, and resizing images

An in-built terminal that allows one to view the command output from the server.

Integrated debugger for setting a breakpoint

Adjustable panels via drag and drop function

Support for keyboard shortcuts resulting in easy access

Functions:

With Cloud 9, one can write, run and debug the code using any browser. Developers can work from any location using a machine connected to the internet.

It facilitates the creation of serverless apps, allowing the tasks of defining resources, executing serverless applications, and remote debugging.

Its ability to pair programs and track all real-time inputs; enables one to share their development eco-system with peers.

Zend Studio

This commercial PHP IDE supports most of the latest PHP versions, specifically PHP 7, and platforms like Linux, Windows, and OS X. This tool boasts of an instinctive UI and provides most of the latest functionalities that are needed to quicken PHP web development. Zend Studio is being used by high-profile firms like BNP Paribas Credit Suisse, DHL, and Agilent Technologies.

Features:

Support for PHP 7 express migration and effortless integration with the Zend server

A sharp code editor supporting JavaScript, PHP, CSS, and HTML

Speedier performance while indexing, validating, and searching for the PHP code

Support for Git Flow, Docker, and the Eclipse plugin environment

Integration with Z-Ray

Debugging with Zend Debugger and Xdebug

Deployment sustenance including cloud support for Microsoft Azure and Amazon AWS.

Functions:

Enables developers to effortlessly organize the PHP app on more than one server.

Provides developers the flexibility to write and debug the code without having to spare additional effort or time for these tasks.

Provides support for mobile app development at the peak of live PHP applications and server system backend, for simplifying the task of harmonizing the current websites and web apps with mobile-based applications.

Eclipse

Eclipse is a cross-platform PHP editor and one of the top PHP development tools. It is a perfect pick for large-scale PHP projects. It supports multiple languages – C, C++, Ada, ABAP, COBOL, Haskell, Fortran, JavaScript, D, Julia, Java, NATURAL, Ruby, Python, Scheme, Groovy, Erlang, Clojure, Prolong, Lasso, Scala, etc. – and platforms like Linux, Windows, Solaris, and Mac OS.

Features:

It provides one with a ready-made code template and automatically validates the syntax.

It supports code refactoring – enhancing the code’s internal structure.

It enables remote project management

Functions:

Allows one to choose from a wide range of plugins, easing out the tasks of developing and simplifying complex PHP code.

Helps in customizing and extending the IDE for fulfilling project requirements.

Supports GUI as well as non-GUI applications.

Codelobster

Codelobster is an Integrated Development Environment that eases out and modernizes the PHP development processes. Its users do not need to worry about remembering the names of functions, attributes, tags, and arguments; as these are enabled through auto-complete functions. It supports languages like PHP, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS and platforms such as Windows, Linux, Ubuntu, Fedora, Mac OS, Linux, and Mint. Additionally, it offers exceptional plugins that enable it to function smoothly with myriad technologies like Drupal, Joomla, Twig, JQuery, CodeIgniter, Symfony, Node.js, VueJS, AngularJS, Laravel, Magento, BackboneJS, CakePHP, EmberJS, Phalcon, and Yii.

Offerings:

It is an internal, free PHP debugger that enables validating the code locally.

It auto-detects the existing server settings followed by configuring the related files and allowing one to utilize the debugger.

It has the ability to highlight pairs of square brackets and helps in organizing files into the project.

This PHP development tool displays a popup list comprising variables and constants.

It allows one to hide code blocks that are presently not being used and to collapse the code for viewing it in detail.

Netbeans

Netbeans, packed with a rich set of features is quite popular in the realm of PHP development services. It supports several languages like English, Russian, Japanese, Portuguese, Brazilian, and simplified Chinese. Its recent version is lightweight and speedier, and specifically facilitates building PHP-based Web Applications with the most recent PHP versions. This PHP development tool is apt for large-scale web app development projects and works with the most trending PHP frameworks such as Symfony2, Zend, FuelPHP, CakePHP, Smarty, and WordPress CMS. It supports PHP, HTML5, C, C++, and JavaScript languages and Windows, Linux, MacOS, and Solaris platforms.

Features:

Getter and setter generation, quick fixes, code templates, hints, and refactoring.

Code folding and formatting; rectangular selection

Smart code completion and try/catch code completion

Syntax highlighter

DreamWeaver

This is one of the most popular PHP application software development tools. It assists one in creating, publishing, and managing websites. A website developed using DreamWeaver can be deployed to any web server.

Offerings:

Ability to create dynamic websites that fits the screen sizes of different devices

Availability of ready-to-use layouts for website development and a built-in HTML validator for code validation.

Workspace customization capabilities

Aptana Studio

Aptana Studio is an open-source PHP development tool used to integrate with multiple client-side and server-side web technologies like PHP, CSS3, Python, RoR, HTML5, Ruby, etc. It is a high-performing and productive PHP IDE.

Features:

Supports the most recent HTML5 specifications

Collaborates with peers using actions like pull, push, and merge

IDE customization and Git integration capabilities

The ability to set breakpoints, inspect variables, and control the execution

Functions:

Eases out PHP app development by supporting the debuggers and CLI

Enables programmers to develop and test PHP apps within a single environment

Leverages the flexibilities of Eclipse and also possesses detailed information on the range of support for each element of the popular browsers.

Final Verdict:

I hope this blog has given you clear visibility of the popular PHP tools used for web development and will guide you through selecting the right set of tools for your upcoming project. If you are a start-up or lack technical expertise in PHP application development, it’s advisable to hire an experienced PHP application development company for executing your project.

[elearningskill]

Top Online Learning Tips and Best Practices

If you’re new to online learning, first of all, WELCOME! Learning online is a fantastic way to increase your knowledge and skills in a unique, flexible environment with its own distinct strengths and opportunities. Whether you’re trying online classes for the first time or looking for ways to strengthen your current habits and approaches, there are a few key areas to consider to set yourself up for success and take full advantage of all online learning has to offer.

Learning Strategies

In our modern learning landscape there is vast amounts of content about virtually any topic to watch, read, and listen to, but knowing is different from doing. To get the most out of online learning, make sure you develop new knowledge and skills in a way that you can retain, apply repeatedly, and adapt to new contexts.

Make your learning stick: Take advantage of the established learning science principles of practice, application, and reflection. To ensure your newly learned knowledge and skills stick with you, it’s important to repeatedly practice skills, apply knowledge in different contexts, and reflect on what you have learned, especially as you practice and apply in new settings. A well-designed learning experience will provide you with opportunities to practice, apply, and reflect, but you can reinforce your learning outside of a class by connecting it to your everyday life and work.

Video strategies: For recorded video, pause and write a brief summary of what you have heard in notes every few minutes. For live video, especially if the video is available to watch later, avoid taking notes. Pay attention to what you are hearing and participate in the discussion to help keep your focus. Raise your virtual hand or ask a question in the chat.

Take advantage of video break-out groups: If offered, these live, small group discussions will give you a chance to hear other perspectives or review challenging material as a group.

Self Care

Self-care is important to your successful learning experience. A healthy mind (and body) is a mind ready for learning.

Advocate for your learning needs: Ask for flexible ways of participating in the class that work for you. This is important for learners who require specific accommodations, such as a note taker or extended test time, but is also important for all learners.

Schedule breaks: Get up and walk around, go outside, schedule your distractions, don’t forget to move. Plenty of apps exist to keep you on task and turn off distractions, as well as remind you to get up and take breaks.

Maintain healthy habits: Your brain, like your body, needs rest and exercise. Get sleep, stay hydrated, go outside, eat well.

Time Management

One of the biggest benefits of online learning is flexibility, but too much freedom can pose new challenges. Find ways to structure and optimize your time for when and where you learn best and keep your learning on track.

Track deadlines:  Add important due dates to a calendar so you don’t miss important deadlines.

Minimize distractions: As much as you can, minimize distractions both in your physical environment and your digital environment. Close web browser windows not relevant to your learning, keep the TV off, etc.

Set aside time for learning: This doesn’t mean you need to find four-hour blocks, three days a week. Online learning is designed to be modular and flexible. You may find 15 minutes to watch a short video lecture and write a three-sentence reflection post. But of course, other learning activities will require more time. Be planful and dedicate time to learn as you would to exercise or spending time with friends.

Community and Social Learning

Online learning comes with connections to both world-class professors and a global community of passionate classmates. Find ways to connect with these rich learning communities, from participating in forums to networking with peers.

Keep your instructor informed: Ask your instructor for help when you need it—let them know if you are ill, unable to log on, etc.

Virtually meet and interact with your learning peers: You are not alone! Introduce yourself, answer questions posted by the instructor in the discussion forums, and respond to your peers’ posts.

Create a social network group: In addition to forums, create a distinct space, such as a Facebook group or a WhatsApp chat, for you and your fellow students to connect, share interests, and support each other.

Create virtual study groups: Keep the line open and find ways to connect with your learning peers in small study groups. Video chat apps are a great way to do this.

Give and expect respect: Especially during asynchronous communication like discussion boards and email, it can be easy to misconstrue someone’s meaning. Like you, your peers are real people. Do your part to foster a respectful, supportive community.

Logistics

Last but not least: logistics. Nailing the details of your learning experience can pay back dividends.

Make relevant information easily accessible: Collect the phone numbers, email addresses, and support links for your institution in one place so, if and when you need it, you don’t have to go hunting. For example, who are the TAs for the course and how do you contact them? If you have technical issues, which department do you contact?

Gather your tech: If the course requires video conferencing software, download the app and test well before a live lecture begins. If assignments are uploaded to a cloud service (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox), make sure you have the required account details or access information in advance of a deadline.

Minimize reliance on WiFi: If possible, use an ethernet cable and download course materials to work offline. Many online courses work in mobile, too, but others do not. Have a plan for Internet access.

Always save your work: Save your work locally on your computer and/or in the cloud where you can easily access it. For example, draft essays in a word processing application or in an email to yourself then cut and paste your work into the course LMS (learning management system) to turn in your assignment.

Start Learning

Looking for more strategies for online learning success? Learn about online learning while experiencing it: Enroll  for our online courses, where you’ll dive into some of the most powerful, certified training courses for mechanical, industrial, IT, mining, managerial  and many more  that you can start using right away.

Explore Tata Steel Digie-Shala online courses, We provide “eLearning Programs” designed to help students and professionals to assess their domain expertise, evaluate the knowledge gaps and enhance the skills required to achieve career goals and achieve a sustainable competitive advantage.

[1111ljk]

Request: Name

 Anon Request #1: 6/8/17 

two-shot.

count  ➵ 1,403 words

genre  ➵ angst, fluff, a lil comedy, [WARNING: some cursing in there]

theme ➵  bestfriend!jungkook

characters  ➵ jungkook, you

PART 2

PART 1/2

   Jeon Jungkook. It was a name so familiar to your lips that saying it would be no different to breathing air. It was a name you found comfort in, a name you called at times of trouble, misery, despair, happiness, and all sorts of things. It was also a name you screech at the top of your lungs at seven in the morning at a bus stop. 

   “Jeon, do you even use your new phone for the right reasons?” you hissed, fingers crumpling the collar of his blazer as soon as he was in your reach. You drag him up to the bus, scanning both of your cards (which you kept at all times because Jungkook, that darned boy, could never remember to bring his own shit).

   “Duh,” he answered matter-of-factly, panting as he uses your shoulder for support. “Gotta catch all them Pokemons!”

   You rolled your eyes at his statement, about to head to your usual spot until you felt yourself slightly pushed to the side. He beats you to the window seat this time, focusing his attention on Seoul’s lovely morning sight. Meanwhile, you stood with your arms crossed, a foot tapping against the soft floor of the bus. “Excuse me?”

   Jungkook looks up to you, eyes fluttering as he innocently hums a ‘hm?’.

   “That is my spot.”

   The boy blinks, turning his head to check the headrest. “Don’t see your name written on it.”

    Jeon Jungkook, you almost forgot, was a name that irritated you as much as it comforted you. But instead of arguing for it, you grumpily took a seat next to him, hugging your bag in annoyance. He chuckles in return, a breathy light-hearted one, as he slung his arm around your shoulders. It gave you a good view of him as he focused back on the scenery.

   You never really noticed how good-looking Jungkook really was. That was an understatement. Jungkook was a total definition of a man. He had a jawline that even guys would fawn over, veins in the right place that girls would gladly count(creepy thought though), and big sparkly eyes that you would give in to any time you fought. Jungkook was breathtaking.

   Jeon Jungkook was more than just a name to you. It was more than just a popular example at college that girls threw around when asked about their ideal type. 

   It was the name tag you first read in fifth grade after a couple of guys picked on your for your quirky pigtails. The owner being a chubby classmate of yours who helped you up and told you your pigtails were cute after he pulled both of them and ran. You cried, yes, but he scared away anyone else who made you cry, claiming only he had the right to do so. 

   It was your playdate in sixth grade that your mother had endlessly and excitedly talked about the previous night. You were definitely surprised to see him on the playground with his mom. There was an awkward silence for the first few minutes, until he spoke what you’ve been holding back to say. ‘Aren’t we too old for playdates?’

   It was your first girl friend’s crush and a name she later on hated. Jungkook was notorious in his younger days for being such a heartbreaker. Unfortunately, you were his bestfriend and the target of stickly thin, baby-faced eighth grader girls’ hatred. It was alright. He promised to buy you pancakes every morning.

   It was the caller ID you see every day after school in the ninth grade and up until now. It was ddukbokki on Mondays, kimbap on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and ramen on Thursdays and Fridays.

   It was a name you grew to love and hate at the same time. Jungkook was your bestfriend, your other half, basically your family. It was a name that was like air to you, you were so used to it - yet why did your heart suddenly decide it was okay to skip a beat?

   It had been weeks since you felt that first thump in your heart. Every day, you started to understand why Jungkook was so appealing to the rest of the female population. Sure you knew he had a very nice face, you knew he wasn’t particularly good at books and papers, but he was the star of each and every sports team there was at your institution. Of course, you knew that if he gave enough interest, he would be the class genius as well. Jungkook was a modern prince - courageous, attractive as hell, and most importantly, he was so kind. At least to you. It scared you. It scared you how the reasons were getting clearer and clearer.

   Jungkook always sits next to you whenever a chance is given. Today was one of those days. He slides ever so smoothly to your right poking your cheek as you chugged a glass of milk. “Whatcha doin’, ugly?”

   You roll your eyes, an instinctive response at whatever he says. “What do you want?”

   He let out an overly-dramatic, high-pitched, K-drama laugh. “Watch a movie with me,” he whined.

   “Don’t I always? Like, every Friday?” you raised an eyebrow.

   Jungkook grins, suddenly pouting and poking his index fingers at each other, before clinging at your arm. “I wuv you.”

   Normally, you’d wince, throw something at his face. You’d be repelled by his ugly cutesy act. But there it was again, that thump. Then another, and then it got to the point where your heart was a beating mess. Fuck, you thought.

   He looks up at you, smirking smugly. “Are you blushing?” he coos. “Cute.”

   Then your heart was on overdrive.

   Days had passed since then and now you were at his house, in the lousiest outfit you have ever put together, not really minding it since it was only Jungkook who’d seen you this way. You let yourself feel comfortable on his bed, which was almost like a second bed to you anyways. 

   Waiting for him to come back, you decided to set up the movie on his laptop. To your surprise, he had a password. It was strange. Jungkook was a careless and reckless man. He had no time for such things as passwords. Hell, he’d probably forget his own password. You shrugged it off anyways. You had no idea what his password would be though, but you tried anyways. 

   ironman97

   Wrong.

   ironman

   Wrong.

   You searched through all the possibilities in your head. Jungkook may have put a password but you were sure it was nothing complicated. After all these years, the one thing you really learned about him was that he was not a man who was into complication.

   leejieun97

   Correct.

   What an idiot, you thought. An idiot fanboy. Of course, his love for IU never ceases. You roll your eyes and waited for it to load. He left his Facebook page open and your heart crumbled a little. Everything was the same as you had always seen except for that open chat box beside yours. Jungkook was seeing someone?

   A gasp snapped you out of your ten second misery and, in your panic, you minimized the browser.

   “How did you know my password?” he breathed out, placing a hand over his mouth. 

   “Well, genius, leejieun97?”

   He blushed and threw a chocolate bar at you. “Shut up! IU gives me life.”

   He jumps into the bed, an awkward silence filled you both as you stared at the desktop view. You could feel a tense aura. 

   “So, you saw, huh?” he finally spoke up.

   It took you a second to answer. “Yeah.”

   “I was gonna tell you, I swear,” he tries to apologize, hugging you from behind. You didn’t see why he needed to. It was his life after all.

   You let out a half-hearted chuckle.” Congrats, loser, your ugly ass finally got a girlfriend.”

   “Um, sweetheart, this,” he points to his face. “...is almost as good as your Hyungsik.”

   You blinked. “Okay, coconut head ass lookin bitch.”

   “Excuuuuuuse me?!” he bellowed as he pounced on you to tickle you.

    That was the first time you felt uncomfortable being in the same room with him. For some reason, you wanted to go home, stay in bed all day. You didn’t understand why you hated it, but through out the thrilling scenes of Iron Man where Jungkook gleefully cheered for his favorite superhero, you realized.

   You liked him.

A/N: THIS TOOK SO LONG SOMEONEKILL ME. I FORGOT TO EDIT AND PUBLISH IT. IVE HAD THIS IN MY DRAFTS FOR MONTHS LKFJGLKFD.

[speedyengineerfury]

Noted App For Mac

Bored of note taking in traditional way , so here you can take a look at the latest note -taking method . Here we list out the Best Note taking apps for PC and Smartphone .

At work, you will surely need to note down bullet points or you will need to note important tasks and other activities to be done. Since these days everyone uses computers and android phones, use of pen and paper has been reduced. So, in these computers and smart phones, where can you note down your important work easily? I am sure that you all might have come across various note-taking apps for computers and smart phones. These apps make it easier for you to remember your tasks and responsibilities.

Contents

Take notes wherever you go. When you add your internet accounts to Notes, you can keep your notes with you no matter which device you’re using—so you can save that dream destination on your Mac, then have it handy on your iPad when you’re with your friends. How to add or remove notes accounts. If you want a powerful yet tastefully designed note-taking app, look no further than Bear. Bear is a beautiful app, featuring gorgeous typography and themes. But underneath this are powerful features. Like many writing apps, it supports the lightweight markup language called Markdown.

Take note of everything with Samsung Notes. Write, draw, and highlight in a variety of styles and colors with the S Pen. Add photos and voice memos, and save your notes with searchable tags. And whenever inspiration strikes, simply pop out the S Pen to quickly jot down notes on your locked screen. The simplest way to keep notes All your notes, synced on all your devices. Get Simplenote now for iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux, or in your browser.

1 Best Note taking apps of the year

Best Note taking apps of the year

You will never miss out to complete any work if you have noted all the points in your phone or computer. Now let us see what all note-taking apps are available these days to use in computers and smart phones. The note-taking apps mentioned below are some of the best cross-platform apps that make your work quick.

Now of you ever want to note down anything you don’t have to look for pen and paper use these Best Note-taking apps for Android , iPhone and PC to take easy notes .

Best Note taking apps for Windows

If you want to make quick notes in your windows system you can now do it with the comfort of windows note taking apps .

Quip

Cortana

Simple Note

Microsoft OneNote

Evernote

Sticky Notes

Notepad

Scrble

Read Also : Best free office software for Computer & Smartphone

Best Note taking apps for Mac

Below given is the list of best note taking apps for Mac .

Evernote

Microsoft OneNote

Simple Note

Bear

Google Keep

Zoho

Read Also : Best VPN For the Future

Best Note taking apps for iPhone / iPad – iOS note taking apps

Like the above seen note taking softwares for windows and Mac , here is the list of note taking apps for iOS users .

Apple Notes

Bear

Simple Note

Best Note taking apps for Android

ColorNote

OneNote

Google Keep

EverNote

SimpleNote

LectureNotes

Omni Notes

Finally given above is the exclusive list of note taking apps for Android users .

Read Also : Enable or Disable Superfetch for Windows

Best Sticky Notes App For Mac

Best Note taking apps for Windows , Mac , Android & iPhone / iPad

1) OneNote

OneNote is one of the best note taking apps with a number of features and majority of them are for free. Since OneNote comes from Microsoft, it integrates with Office tools like Ms Word, Excel etc. Thus, the tool becomes more powerful for you to use. In this note-taking app, you can write, type and draw images related to the notes in your own way.

Another advantage of using OneNote is that, you can easily capture an image to add in the notes. You will not have to crop the image and waste your valuable time. OneNote will automatically crop the image you have selected to fit in the notes. Moreover, you can easily take the notes and refer for your future use. OneNote is compatible with both computers and smartphones.

2) EverNote

This is the next note-taking app for your computers and android phones which is very powerful. EverNote can organize all your notes very efficientlyand it has a cloud storage space of 60MB to store your data online. Like OneNote App, you can add images to this note as well. But an extra feature of attaching the pages of a website is also available with EverNote App.

This note-taking app is perfect for students since it can store any kind of data with any size and content. EverNote App is free for anyone to use but it only has a few features and it only provides a few of them to the user.

Read Also : Must Have Smartwatch apps for Android and Apple watches

3) WorkFlowy

Workflowy note-taking app works fully offline and it is also fast. It also gives an instant access to the notes you have saved without searching for it from a number o tabs in your browser. This app is very simple and it only has a very minimal interface. When you are creating a note and if you want to highlight or mark any points that are really important, you can do so with the help of hash tags.

You can zoom in or zoom out the notes to read and also navigating this app is very easy. You can just use the mouse pointer to zoom in and zoom out the notes you have added. With this Workflowy App, you can share the notes with others at your office. You also have the option of hiding the notes and add to archive with just one click.

4) Google Keep

With features like location reminder, alerts on pre-select times, Google Keep is our next choice of note-taking app which is hooked up to Google services. This app is compatible with IOS, Web, Android, Windows and Mac and has card based notes. Like Evernote and Onenote, you can add images along with the notes you jot down.

Notes App For Microsoft Surface Pro

Google Keep App can transcribe the notes you type or write. It has the feature to record even your handwriting. The notes you type will be recorded in the form of messages with its memo feature. You can also synchronize your notes from one device to another with the help of nifty OCR in Google Keep. Apart from these features, you get access to colour codes and attributes to make your notes look unique from the rest.

Read Also : Google Datally App to Control Mobile Data & WiFi Finder

5) Standard Notes

You can access this note-taking app online with widget support and it comes with 100% privacy and AES – 265 encryption. The best highlight of using Standard Note is that you can access the notes you have created 5 years back. Isn’t that great? You can recheck all the important notes again if you require. Standard Notes app is the only one note-taking app which has an end to end privacy. Thus, this app sounds suitable for both office and personal work. Standard notes App is compatible with iOS, Android, Windows, Web and Mac.

To make your notes look more attractive, you get access to different themes that are changeable and it also allows you to add power extensions. You will never have to worry about losing any notes you have made in Standard Notes. This app is encryption protected with a secret key and no one can decrypt the notes. Only thing you have to remember always is the secret key. Without this, no one can retrieve the data.

6) Dropbox Paper

This app is a product of Dropbox in which you can work with your team. Dropbox Paper is another note-taking app that supports themes and is integrated to Dropbox. It also offers great collaboration tools. Usually, everyone uses Dropbox to save files in the cloud storage. The main advantage of using Dropbox Paper is, it gives a flexible workspace for the user to make notes easily.

Samsung Notes App For Mac

This app is very simple since it has a very minimal design aids. You can type your data or copy and paste the link of YouTube or you can even tweet using this Dropbox Paper note-taking app. If you are working in Dropbox as a team or with any of your team member, you can easily make notes with them, share comments and even embed images. For any kind of creative work, this app is one of the best choices. This note-taking app called Dropbox Paper is free to use if you are an account holder of Dropbox.

Music Notes App For Mac

All these above mentioned note-taking apps are compatible with both computers and smart phones. You can use it from anywhere you want. Anybody can use these apps in their computers or in android phones. Read about each app and learn the advantages and disadvantages and choose the best app that suits your need. So, do not wait. Make use of these amazing note-taking apps to make your work easier and hassle-free.

[mitchellbelstead6675]

Parental Control Software Market Investment Opportunity and Projected Huge Growth By 2027

Parental Control Software Market – Introduction

Parental control software allows guardians and parents to monitor the use of smartphones and other smart devices by children. Parental control software is specifically designed to secure and protect children from explicit content, cyberbullying, violence, and extensive use of internet connected smart devices. Parents or guardians can block websites, set screen timing of the devices, and monitor SMS and calls.

Parent control software also helps parents to track the live location of their children for safety. This software is majorly used for social media platforms and internet surfing by children activities without any risk.

Social media platforms are also adopting parental control software to enable parents to track their children’s online activity and track misuse of social media platforms or content.

Use of internet and social media platforms are meant for self-education and to expand the social network. Increasing use of internet and social media platforms by children and teenagers is likely to increase the demand for parental control software during the coming years.

Request A Sample Copy Of The Report https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=77361

Key Drivers of the Parental Control Software Market

Increasing adoption of parental control software by parents to control internet activity and protect their children form cyberbullying is expected to drive the growth of the market. Content broadcasting companies increasing the adoption of parental control software in apps due to the increasing media traffic from teenagers and children is also expected to boost the growth of the parental control software market.

Adoption of parental control software helps to minimize cyberbullying and reduces exposure to unwanted social media content. This is expected to create better business opportunities for providers of parental control software.

Lack of awareness about the software and lack of technological infrastructure in several regions expected to hinder the market

Lack of awareness about parental control software among parents in both urban and rural areas may restrain the growth of the market.

Lack of technological infrastructure for advanced parental control software solutions is also expected to hamper growth of the market.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Parental Control Software Market

Companies are expanding their geographical presence to capture more market share in Asia Pacific due to increasing impact of COVID-19 on business growth. Companies are adopting new business strategies in content broadcasting which creates opportunities for solution providers of parental control software on different internet and social media platforms.

Schools are operating education systems on online platforms due to the lockdown conditions; companies and parents are adopting parental control software to secure the online platform for teenagers. Demand for parental control software solutions is increasing during COVID-19 and also set to increase during the forecast period.

North America to Hold Major Share of the Global Parental Control Software Market

North America holds prominent share of the parental control software market due to increasing adoption of online platforms for education and growing adoption of smart devices among teenagers.

Increasing demand for parental control software among schools and colleges across North America creates business opportunities for major players.

The parental control software market in Asia Pacific and Europe is expected to expand the fastest during the forecast period due to increasing investment by major players to provide the solution across the regions and also due to the increasing number of IT and services companies in Asia Pacific and Europe.

Key Players Operating in the Global Parental Control Software Market

Google, LLC

Google, LLC is a multinational company that develops and provides Internet-based products and services. The company’s core products include Google Search, Maps, Android Platform, Chrome Browser, YouTube, Google Play, Gmail, and smartphones. The company offers parental control software family link for secure the internet browsing and limited the content filtration. Google, LLC offers a range of wireless devices such as wireless chargers, Wi-Fi routers, citizen broadband radio service, Google Daydream View, Google Home, and Chromecast.

AO Kaspersky Lab

Kaspaersky Lab is a global provider of cyber security and software solutions. The company operates its business in 200 countries and has 35 offices in 31 countries. It provides solutions to 270,000 corporate clients. The company provides IT security and effective digital security solutions for large enterprises, SMBs, and consumers.

Other key players operating in the global parental control software market include ATT Inc., Clean Router, Crunchbase Inc., Webroot Inc., D-Link Corporation, McAfee LLC, Content Watch Holdings Inc., T-Mobile USA, Inc., and Safe Kids Inc.

Request For Covid19 Impact Analysis https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=covid19&rep_id=77361

Global Parental Control Software Market: Research ScopeGlobal Parental Control Software Market, by Device Type

Computer & Video Games

Mobiles

Digital Television

Global Parental Control Software Market, by Platform

iOS

Android

Windows

Global Parental Control Software Market, by Deployment

Cloud Based

On-premises

Global Parental Control Software Market, by Application

Residential

Educational Institutes

Global Parental Control Software Market Segmentation, by Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa (MEA)

South America

U.S.

Canada

Mexico

Germany

U.K.

France

Russia

Italy

Spain

Nordic

Rest of Europe

China

India

Japan

Australia

Singapore

Malaysia

South Korea

Rest of Asia Pacific

UAE

Saudi Arabia

South Africa

Rest of Middle East & Africa

Brazil

Rest of South America

This study by TMR is all-encompassing framework of the dynamics of the market. It mainly comprises critical assessment of consumers’ or customers’ journeys, current and emerging avenues, and strategic framework to enable CXOs take effective decisions.

Our key underpinning is the 4-Quadrant Framework EIRS that offers detailed visualization of four elements:

Customer Experience Maps

Insights and Tools based on data-driven research

Actionable Results to meet all the business priorities

Strategic Frameworks to boost the growth journey

The study strives to evaluate the current and future growth prospects, untapped avenues, factors shaping their revenue potential, and demand and consumption patterns in the global market by breaking it into region-wise assessment.

The following regional segments are covered comprehensively:

North America

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America

The Middle East and Africa

The EIRS quadrant framework in the report sums up our wide spectrum of data-driven research and advisory for CXOs to help them make better decisions for their businesses and stay as leaders.

Below is a snapshot of these quadrants.

1. Customer Experience Map

The study offers an in-depth assessment of various customers’ journeys pertinent to the market and its segments. It offers various customer impressions about the products and service use. The analysis takes a closer look at their pain points and fears across various customer touchpoints. The consultation and business intelligence solutions will help interested stakeholders, including CXOs, define customer experience maps tailored to their needs. This will help them aim at boosting customer engagement with their brands.

2. Insights and Tools

The various insights in the study are based on elaborate cycles of primary and secondary research the analysts engage with during the course of research. The analysts and expert advisors at TMR adopt industry-wide, quantitative customer insights tools and market projection methodologies to arrive at results, which makes them reliable. The study not just offers estimations and projections, but also an uncluttered evaluation of these figures on the market dynamics. These insights merge data-driven research framework with qualitative consultations for business owners, CXOs, policy makers, and investors. The insights will also help their customers overcome their fears.

3. Actionable Results

The findings presented in this study by TMR are an indispensable guide for meeting all business priorities, including mission-critical ones. The results when implemented have shown tangible benefits to business stakeholders and industry entities to boost their performance. The results are tailored to fit the individual strategic framework. The study also illustrates some of the recent case studies on solving various problems by companies they faced in their consolidation journey.

4. Strategic Frameworks

The study equips businesses and anyone interested in the market to frame broad strategic frameworks. This has become more important than ever, given the current uncertainty due to COVID-19. The study deliberates on consultations to overcome various such past disruptions and foresees new ones to boost the preparedness. The frameworks help businesses plan their strategic alignments for recovery from such disruptive trends. Further, analysts at TMR helps you break down the complex scenario and bring resiliency in uncertain times.

You May Also Like PRNewswire on https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sake-brewery-industry-to-play-a-positive-role-in-cubitainers-market-growth-from-2020-to-2028-transparency-market-research-301104740.html

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The report sheds light on various aspects and answers pertinent questions on the market. Some of the important ones are:

1. What can be the best investment choices for venturing into new product and service lines?

2. What value propositions should businesses aim at while making new research and development funding?

3. Which regulations will be most helpful for stakeholders to boost their supply chain network?

4. Which regions might see the demand maturing in certain segments in near future?

5. What are the some of the best cost optimization strategies with vendors that some well-entrenched players have gained success with?

6. Which are the key perspectives that the C-suite are leveraging to move businesses to new growth trajectory?

7. Which government regulations might challenge the status of key regional markets?

8. How will the emerging political and economic scenario affect opportunities in key growth areas?

9. What are some of the value-grab opportunities in various segments?

10. What will be the barrier to entry for new players in the market?

[wirelessroutersreviews]

Netgear C7800 Review- Top Quality Cable Modem & Router

The new C7800 is the latest and greatest from Netgear. The company has always been known for making superior networking equipment. In fact, they have a long legacy of almost 20 years since they initially formed back in 1996 and they used that legacy to make top-notch devices for homes as well as companies and large tech firms. Their word is usually as good as it gets.  So, does this mean that the C7800 relives the same kind of legacy? Well, let’s give it a look and find out.

Ultra-High Speed Cable Modem Router

The Netgear C7800 is advertised as a premium modem plus router solution. It’s specifically put out there as a possible replacement option for your cable company’s modem. Netgear promises to give you a better deal by giving you greater performance.It also makes it a point to tell you that you’ll be saving the high equipment rental costs that your ISP slaps on your bill every year. It’s fitted with all the necessary ports and features you would want in a modem.

Netgear C7800 Review Specifications

 To get on the technical side, here are the specifications of the Netgear C7800.

Dimensions: 10.40 x 12.40 x 7.50 in

Weight: 3.15 lbs

Ports: 2x USB 3.0 Port 4x Ethernet Ports (4x LAN), 1x Co Axial Cable Port

Wireless Capabilities: Dual-Band AC3200 Wi-Fi @ 2GHz and 5GHz

Speed: Up to 2 Gbps (Ethernet), Up to 3200 Mbps (Wi-Fi)

C7800 Review

In terms of its design, Netgear hasn’t gone too all out with the C7800. Rather than purposefully going for a sleek or modern look, the modem has been kept fairly clean. And for a good reason too.Since this modem is all about performance and cost-saving, it makes little sense to go for a high-class look. And thankfully, the C7800 steers clear of anything that invokes gaudiness or a non-functional form.

Instead, the design is kept minimal and clean as possible. It has a rectangular form factor with a slim profile. The material is plastic, which is durable enough to sustain a few knocks while also not going for a cheap look.

That’s not to say that the design hasn’t been touched up in places to make it stand out. On the top of the unit, you’ll find a curved wave pattern going through from one side to another. A single red curve highlights the nice contrast of the otherwise glossy black finish.

On the front face, you’ll find the company logo along with all LED switches. These are used for things like power status, WPS, and Wi-Fi. Luckily there aren’t too many to crowd out the router. The rest of your status indicators are shifted off to the sideOn the back, you’ll find your necessary connectivity ports alongside the reset button, power button, and power plug. The back is also where you’ll find four chunky Wi-Fi antennas.And on the underside, you can find mounting holes so you can put your modem up on a wall instead of flat-faced on a desk. However, do bear in mind this can be a bulky router, especially when it weighs 3 lbs. It is certified by Comcast and XFINITY internet for Gig Speeds!

Connectivity

In terms of connectivity, Netgear has managed to fulfill the needs of most people.  There are four-gigabit ethernet ports on the back that can provide speeds of up to 2 Gbps for all your wired devices. This means that you can hook up your desktops to blazing-fast speeds with minimal issues.

For wireless capabilities, you have AC3200 Wi-Fi bundled with this router. This gives you speeds of 3200 Mbps for all your wireless devices. You can easily watch high-quality video streams on your phone, smart TV, or tablet using the C7800.

These options are great enough on their own. But to beef it all up, Netgear has also added in two high-speed USB 3.0 ports on this modem. That gives you the option to connect them to devices that don’t necessarily connect in conventional ways.

Connecting devices over USB is easy and gives you more options than just a computer or your phone. You can hook up a printer for print server capabilities or even stick a USB drive in there for a file server.

Security

In this day and age, keeping your network secure is of the utmost concern. The last thing you want is someone getting a hold of your private network and doing something nefarious with it.  Luckily, the C7800 gives you plenty of options to protect your home network from anything shady.

For wireless security, you have top of the line WEP and WPA/WPA2 protocols for protecting your Wi-Fi networks. This makes it virtually impossible for anyone to hack your Wi-Fi passwords.

You also get WPS capabilities that let you connect to the router without giving out your passwords. You can make guests account on the router that makes it easy to share your network with friends or family without giving out passwords each and every time.

For concerned parents, Netgear has included parental controls right out of the box. This lets them lock down networks and settings from their kids if needed. It can be great for restricting access or keeping them off the Wi-Fi during study hours.

Performance

Performance is worth writing home about on this modem. It offers fast high-speed connections that keep you connected 24/7. Both the wired and wireless connections will offer you blazing fast internet speeds.

The wired gigabit LAN connection will give you up to 2 Gbps speed while the wireless connection will give 3200 Mbps right out the gate. The connection remains rock solid and steady when you’re using and rarely ever dips or drops off.

There are four antennas on this modem that give you that beefy wireless connection. All of the antennas are supported within guilt high gain amplifiers. This boosts the Wi-Fi signal beyond the standard range that you will find in most conventional routers and modems.

In fact, the C7800 gives you 3000 sq ft of full wireless coverage. This is more than suitable for most homes and apartments out there. You can be sure that your connection isn’t going to drop if you move from one part of your house to another.

The combination of speed and range performance makes this modem a very versatile fit. Not only is it great for work applications, but it goes above and beyond that.

One of the biggest reasons people buy the C7800 is for the entertainment capabilities it can offer. With such high-speed wireless internet, you can easily enjoy all your favorite movies and TV shows in UHD 4k without putting any compromise on the quality.

The steady connection ensures that even gaming performance is above par. You can play all your favorite games online without suffering any kind of lag, network jitter, ping issues, or packet loss. You can also watch live streams of your favorite players and even professional sporting events without the network cutting out during the action.

Netgear Support

Netgear has provided extensive support for the C7800. You can be sure that you won’t face any major problems getting this modem up and running out of the box.

Support for all major ISPs is present, so you don’t have to have a specific company for you to use this modem. All major companies like Comcast, Cox, Xfinity, and many more are supported.

That said, there are a few exceptions, such as Spectrum, Verizon, AT&T, CenturyLink, DSL providers, DirecTV, DISH as well as voice bundled services. But for the most part, you won’t face a ton of issues with compatibility.

You won’t any problems with hardware or software compatibility either. You’ll be able to run the modem and its setup utilities with any modern device. Computers with Windows XP, 2000, 7, 8, and 10 are recommended as a minimum. It also works flawlessly with UNIX or MacOS operating systems.

Once its setup, you can access the modem settings page with any device that has a working browser. So even smartphones, smart TVs, game consoles, and other devices should be able to work here.

Pros

Fast network performance on both wired and wireless networks.

Extensive Wi-Fi range

Included USB 3.0 port for print and file server capabilities

Works on most major ISPs in the country

Plenty of Gigabit ethernet ports

Cons

A bit bulky

Not supported on Spectrum, Verizon, AT&T, CenturyLink, DSL providers, DirecTV, and DISH.

In a Nutshell

All in all, this modem provides a solid bundle for those looking to get the best out of their internet connection. It provides the fastest speeds that you could ever think to achieve. It also gives you top-notch security and unmatched range for all your wireless devices.

All this mounts up to be an impressive package for those that want an upgrade over their standard ISP provided modems. With that, you’ll also be saving hundreds of dollars in equipment rental fees every year. That alone makes this is a worthwhile purchase. Looking for other netgear see Netgear N600 review

from Reviewimo https://reviewimo.com/netgear-c7800-review/ from Review IMO https://reviewimo.blogspot.com/2020/06/netgear-c7800-review-top-quality-cable.html

[lawsonwq706-blog]

Is It Time To Talk A Lot More Regarding Cyberflixtv?

Mobile Application Download And Install and also Use Statistics

The simpleness of the makers, which can be a drawback in other markets, has shown a benefit to college districts by lowering training and also upkeep costs. All Chromebooks, other than the first three, boot with the aid of Coreboot, a fast-booting BIOS. Initial equipment partners for Chromebook advancement consisted of Acer, Adobe, Asus, Freescale, Hewlett-Packard (later on HP Inc.), Lenovo, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, Toshiba, Intel, Samsung, as well as Dell.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of mobile apps?

Some free apps generate revenue via in-app purchases or advertising, while others are purchased for a modest price. Even though some apps have made millionaires out of their creators, most app developers will not strike it rich, and the chances of making it big are depressingly small.

Target audience consisted of pupils and new computer system customers, along with homes searching for an additional computer. Chromebooks ship with Google Chrome OS, an operating system that utilizes the Linux kernel as well as the Google Chrome web-browser with an integrated media-player. Making it possible for programmer setting enables the setup of Linux distributions on Chromebooks.

What broadband rate do I need for Netflix?

DoodleLens most likely isn't an Android application you'll use frequently, and we located it a bit hit and miss at identifying our doodles, but when it works it raises a smile, which is all you can actually request for at $1.99/ ₤ 1.89. There more than 100 effects in this Android application, as well as most of them are customizable, ensuring that your problems will not resemble any individual else's. Glitch Laboratory is an image editor packed full of electronic glitch effects.

Apps built for Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry, Symbian can not be utilized on any other platform anticipate on their own. Consequently, a mobile application developed for Android can only be used on an Android gadget.

What is the purpose of apps?

A mobile application is a software program that is designed to run on specific hardware, namely mobile handheld computing devices such as tablets and smartphones. They are the programs that execute when you press an icon on your mobile device, such as an iPad or Android phone.

Naturally, there are countless wallpapers spread out across different apps, yet this set is certainly the most effective Android app for wallpapers. Utilizing Unified Remote, you can from another location wake up your computer from rest using its "Wake cyberflixtv.site/ on LAN" feature. All the needed features of this leading app of 2019 like display keyboard, matching as well as computer mouse, media gamer controls, etc. are available within this application. You can even utilize it to manage a Raspberry Pi or Arduino Yun.

One Of The Most Popular Mobile Games Now.

Strava sustains a variety of running trackers, in addition to Android Use and Apple Watch. A premium membership enhances the formula with filtered leaderboards, the capacity to create exercise objectives and view even more detailed analytics and also more. Rather than having to consistently shuffle in between loads of device-specific applications, you can transform the Google House app right into an all-in-one command facility as well as a true central hub for your wise house. The old-fashioned pen-pal gets a modern take withSlowly, a social application that's intended for a slower, a lot more purposeful messaging experience.

Whether you're seeking flicks or tv programs, finding streaming video is entirely feasible. With that said in mind, right here are the most effective totally free online movie streaming sites to have a look at. And also if you think abundant Hollywood workshops are the just one hurt by illegal streaming, think again. Since malicious software program can infect a computer system just by checking out a website, users are typically uninformed of their data goes to risk. This discrepancy in how the legislation deals with illegal streaming and also downloading has no principled basis.

If you do not want to produce your own, there is an area and collection of various recipes to pick from and also establish. Tasker went stale a little bit in previous years, but considering that brand-new owner João Dias-- manufacturer of the AutoApps plugin suite as well as Tasker's many ardent fan-- took control of, the automation app has actually seen a UI overhaul and also significant updates. With TaskerNet and also boosted export/importing, it's never ever been much easier to share, modify, and produce remarkable profiles and also tasks for Android (as well as past). From Assistant Routines in Google Clock to the substantial expansion of Assistant-compatible clever home gadgets, to the overhaul of aesthetic feedbacks, it has been a hectic year for Google Aide. It seems like a century ago when Android Auto added Google Aide, however that basic enhancement made millions of chauffeurs safer, specifically during these long, frustrating vacation drives.

best cost-free Android apps.

Once done, you can conserve the video clip to your phone's gallery and also share it through Instagram. As health officials urge social distancing worldwide, separated activities like gaming and also other mobile application experiences can be a fantastic means to keep your mind occupied. A few of which have even gone completely free, which in these uncertain financial times can really go a lengthy way.

How many times does someone check their phone a day 2019?

Just over half of children in the United States — 53 percent — now own a smartphone by the age of 11. And 84 percent of teenagers now have their own phones, immersing themselves in a rich and complex world of experiences that adults sometimes need a lot of decoding to understand.

Simulator testing is complimentary, yet setting up on a gadget needs a cost for a designer finalizing trick. AppCode - industrial licenses available.Since 2015, Apple enables mounting the app in your very own gadget without a developer paid membership. As an example, the Google Play Shop and also Amazon's Amazon Appstore are 2 locations where Android customers can download and install mobile applications.

Greet to Android 10.

The individual is frequently the focus of communication with their device, and also the user interface involves parts of both software and hardware. Individual input permits the customers to control a system, and device's outcome enables the system to suggest the effects of the individuals' manipulation. Mobile UI design restrictions consist of minimal focus and type elements, such as a mobile phone's screen size for a customer's hand.