#goodwill developers

[navimumbairealestate]

Goodwill Wisteria: Elevating Luxury Living in Vashi, Navi Mumbai

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Unrivalled Sky Residences

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Luxury Tower Amenities

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Experience Elevated Living at Goodwill Wisteria

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[iwritenarrativesandstuff]

Hi! I just stumbled onto your blog and saw that you do analogies! And I’ve just been dying to talk about this lol,

I’ve always wanted to talk about Dazai and Akutagawa, and how Dazai ignoring him and never actually apologizing to him is actually helping him in some sick way.

think about it this way, Dazai knows that Akutagawa wants his approval, he needs his approval, even if Dazai abused him.

Dazai knows that if he were to give Akutagawa the attention and approval he wants Akutagawa is going to continue to see Dazai as his savior, however if Dazai continues to ignore him and purposely puts the tiger guy(I can’t spell his name 💔) in front of him multiple times akutagawa is going to eventually have character development and growth and eventually he’s going to grow out of Dazai, In a way Dazai is helping him, because of the strong attachment Akutagawa has to Dazai is a weakness, it’s a weakness that has no place in the port mafia. im sure there’s more to back up this claim but still.

or I’m just talking out of my ass and Dazai just uses him for his selfish purposes(most likely)

thank you for listening to my Ted talk 😓

Hi anon! Thank you for inviting me to your Ted talk!

The Dazai and Akutagawa dynamic is one of the more complicated dynamics in BSD, and certainly one of the hardest to discuss. There are a lot of facets that I couldn't possibly cover all in one post, so I'll just address the question you brought up: Is Dazai, in his own twisted way, trying to help Akutagawa?

Well... I think, sort of, yes. But calling it "help" is generous.

BSD has a running theme of abuse narratives that sit on this uncomfortable fence - neither particularly apologetic nor condemning of them, but simply showing the characters' complicated reactions as they are. Personally, it's something I appreciate as a reader. Atsushi's struggle against the ghost of the orphanage director is one of my favourite parts of the story. The director is dead, but Atsushi spent much of the early story acting specifically to prove him wrong - as if to measure his life's worth against the words he'd been assaulted with. He knows the orphanage director was needlessly cruel and does not forgive him, but he also learns the reason why he did it. He hates him, but he's still allowed to have messy feelings of grief for the man who was the closest thing he ever had to a caregiver.

These narratives crop up again and again. The Orphanage Director and Atsushi. Akutagawa and Kyouka. Kouyou and Kyouka. In all of these, the through line is the initial intent: each one of the people who enacted these cruelties intended to help. However, they're limited and blinded by the cruelties they themselves underwent. As such, they do what they think is best without any regard for whether that is actually what the other person needs. The Orphanage Director thought he was toughening Atsushi up to prepare for the outside world. Kouyou thought she could shield Kyouka in the shadows since her experience was that having hope and losing it is worse than having none at all.

Akutagawa tried to help Kyouka too, in his own way, by emulating what he thought Dazai wanted from him - he tried to forcibly fashion her into a weapon, into someone strong, because that's the only way he thought her life could have meaning.

But the Dazai and Akutagawa dynamic, though it bears similarities to many of these, is much more complex. For one, Akutagawa misinterpreted what Dazai wanted from him. He thought if he fashioned himself into a strong enough weapon, he could prove his worth and be acknowledged. But that's not the case. Here's a few passages from Dark Era:

Dazai wasn't trying to make a sharper blade, he was trying to make him more well-rounded - to learn to shield as well as attack. All this for the purpose of making a new Double Black to face off against Fyodor's plans. Note that it is Atsushi with the claws - the weapon - and Akutagawa as the reinforcer and shield in their team ups.

So, is that it? He just wanted a powerful duo?

There's a little more to it. In the Heartless Cur, which describes their first meeting, we have this pivotal moment:

It's the question which runs through the entire series, and it's the question through which our characters all struggle with. What reason is there to live in a cruel world? How best to navigate it?

Dazai at this point doesn't have the faintest clue. It's blind leading the blind. Dazai says he can give him a reason while being unable to deliver in any reasonable way, but I don't think he was necessarily lying - not out of goodwill or anything like that, but because Dazai has always been invested in observing people's convictions to live and the reasons they come to. He's invested in the human struggle.

But at this point in his life, his attempts to warp and control Akutagawa are met with failure, because he does not impart any good reason to Akutagawa why he should value anything. Even though he recognized that a more patient approach like one Odasaku would take might work, he dismisses it for himself because "righteousness doesn't take" to him. Again, we see this ongoing commonality of people doing what they think is best for another while actually acting on their own biased viewpoints, as opposed to really seeing what is best for the person in their charge.

So, while the idea that Dazai wanted to help Akutagawa by putting him in contact with Atsushi is nice... I believe it is and has always been more strategic than anything. Moreover, Dazai has this weird moment of pettiness where he does the exact same thing to Akutagawa by comparing him with Odasaku.

It's not really "help" so much as it is "hey why don't you go interact with this person I know who values life, maybe you'll learn something"... instead of, you know, actually helping him find things to value. And Akutagawa's later interactions with Atsushi are a continuation of his initial plan to create a new powerful partnership - which is a strategic choice first and foremost. But it can't be overlooked that the only way sskk would work well together is if they come to understand each other - and that sort of necessarily involves them both coming to some kind of reason.

So, in carrying on with similar patterns from other dynamics, and in his intent for the duo, I do honestly think that Dazai wants Akutagawa to find his reason. As always, Dazai has multiple explanations for his actions, and honestly, I do think one such explanation is that Atsushi and Akutagawa would be able to help each other. I don't know that I would call this Dazai "helping", per se, but it is a form of investment.

[wahoo-stomp]

I spent five years coming up with unique ways to photograph the same group of plushies to help tell a story.

You don't need AI to help you be creative, you're just being lazy and want brain chemicals without doing any of the work or respecting the people who put time and effort into it.

[fnafandfriends]

The good news is I’m roughly outlining the plot beats for the protagonist swap security breech thing.

Bad news is I’m realizing for Gregory’s side to be more interesting I’ll have to pull back on the “gregory just has a good time” thing. He is still objectively in less danger than he would be in his og universe but about halfway in something’s gotta give.

Better news is I got my angle. I’m going to write the Emma in cannon side as more of my take on cannon security breech, like I decided to work with it as it was released and not making my own plot ahead of time. It just gives me less of a headache.

[see-arcane]

Mina's incredible (and underrated) detective prowess would be very useful I bet. Put her on the helm Integra, Van Helsing praised her brains as being above everyone's including himself for a reason.

I honestly can't guess what the chemistry between Integra and Mina would be. Integra doesn't really click with me as a classically heroic character, for all that she does focus on saving humanity from the undead via Alucard and her forces, being the Boss Lady etc etc. She's miles away from being as insidious as an Amanda Waller, but...

The hotel. The fucking hotel will never leave me.

Yes, the order went directly against 'soldiers of the enemy,' but those soldiers had been lied to about who and what they were charging into. Which was obvious even without being a fly on the wall to know their higher-ups had fed them some BS to march them into death and win their own power grab from Millennium. She didn't tell Alucard to 'make it quick' or even just to 'neutralize.' She told him to search and destroy. Folding to Alucard's egging and negging to seem like a Worthy War Commander in the grand scheme~ of the plot

She's not heartless, exactly, but she is arctic and surprisingly quick to breeze past the loss of lives that aren't under her direct care/command. While she might respect Mina's abilities and investigative skills--I wouldn't be surprised if Mina could intuit Millennium's endgame well before the climax could happen--Integra inherited none of her ancestor's warm regard, supposing Abraham van Hel(l)sing had any of the original's tenderness in him (50/50 considering this takes place in aggro horror territory). We can't even say if this universe's Mina played any big role in cornering Dracula; she might just have been a targeted damsel.

All that said, I think Integra would see Mina as another time-displaced bleeding heart with a few useful skills, same as Jonathan. Someone to be an ally at best, a liability at worst. So I don't see her handing over any reins or offering to be co-girlbosses any time soon :c

[chronurgy]

I actually do like the trailer as a "meet the gang" trailer, I think it's fun and quirky in a good way. But it never should have been the launch trailer, and it was a massive marketing screw up to make it one

[bwhitex]

Merry Christmas!

This festive season, as we gather to celebrate warmth, generosity, and good cheer, and ready ourselves for the holiday tomorrow. It's the perfect moment to reflect on a gift that isn't found under the tree: the enduring gift of virtue. Rooted in ancient Greek philosophy, the ideals of moral excellence have traveled through time, inviting us to ponder—what does it truly mean to be virtuous in today's world? Let's unwrap this timeless question together, exploring how the virtues of old can illuminate the path to a more compassionate and upright life amidst the modern holiday bustle.

As we deck the halls and unwrap the gifts, have we considered the greatest present of all a life adorned with virtue? How might the spirit of this season inspire us to embody the ancient wisdom of Greek philosophers in our modern world? Firstly, would one define exactly what virtue means anyways? Below I have developed an equation to explain and define just that:

Virtue = (Wisdom + Courage + Temperance + Justice) Compassion

This equation literally read virtue is wisdom, courage, temperance and justice all maximized compassion. The concept of virtue is indeed intriguing and multifaceted. At its core, the question arises: Can one lead a virtuous life while being secular? To unravel this, we must consider the core virtues that are universally esteemed.

Foremost, wisdom in essence guides people like moral compass and informs our choices. Alongside wisdom, courage is indispensable, for it empowers us to resist vices, which are often the path of least resistance. The prevalence of vice is evident in human society, reflecting our inherent imperfections. It is perhaps our recognition of these flaws that leads us to conceive of deities ideals of perfection beyond our mortal capacities.

Temperance, too, is vital, for it is the very measure that allows us to moderate our impulses and strive towards these higher ideals. In envisioning divine beings as 'not human,' we implicitly acknowledge this aspiration towards a transcendence of our baser nature.

Justice is another pillar of virtue, going beyond mere fairness to encompass the active pursuit of what is morally right. But the essence of virtue does not rest solely on wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice. These qualities reach their fullest expression through compassion—a force that amplifies and extends virtue beyond the self to the broader realm of external and internal human interaction.

In essence, to be virtuously secular is to embrace these universal values wisdom, courage, temperance, justice, and compassion not as divine edicts but as intrinsic components of human excellence and ethical living. Whenever mathematical notation, an equation has a symbol outside "()" but not in "[]" denotes an operation or function indicating multiplication, function application, or acts as a modifier or qualifier, which prescribes the method in which all elements within the "()" will be processed. Thus, it's not merely sufficient to possess wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice; the manner in which these virtues are expressed and enacted in societal interactions must be deeply infused with compassion. Within every methodology lies an inherent commitment to function, necessitating a duty to act and often a self-sacrificing element dedicated to generating desired outcomes.

The Atomic Meanings

In considering the etymological and philosophical underpinnings of virtue, we must acknowledge the intricate tapestry woven from the ancient threads of wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice, all amplified by compassion. The Greek origins of these terms provide a nuanced understanding that transcends their simple translations, embedding within them a rich history of philosophical thought. But each word used in my equation are actually composed of atomic values, and we should examine the roots, know what all the true oppositional forces and relational factors would be in the case of Virtue. The roots, are Greek of course, and we should know what these borrowed words meant first its original use, so we can understand fully the boundaries of what is meant.

Wisdom = deep understandings (Σophia) + discursive thought (Διάνοια) + comprehension of interconnectivity (Σύνεσις), + practical application (Φρόνησις)

Starting with the embodiment of Wisdom. Wisdom, in its most atomic form, it represents the sum deep understandings (Σophia), discursive thought (Διάνοια), comprehension of interconnectivity (Σύνεσις), and practical application (Φρόνησις). One would need know about more than thing, have reason and by that know the steps of how they got to their “knowing about more than one thing”, which means to analyze thing they know. Not only would they would the ability analyze, they’d need to be quick at it, then apply those knowledge systems with prudence. So precisely by aiming them at something useful and with boundaries. This multifaceted construct suggests that true wisdom is not merely about knowing facts but also involves the ability to think critically, understand complex systems, and apply knowledge judiciously in the real world. Wisdom is thus a dynamic interplay between intellect and action, theory and practice, knowledge and its purposeful utilization.

Courage = Ability (Ἀνδρεία (Andreia) + enduranceὙπομονή (Hypomone) + progress Προκοπή (Prokope) + disclosure Ἀλήθεια (Aletheia))

Now, to embody courage. Here, with all its atomic meaning next to it, this equation reads that courage is the sum of ability, endurance, progress and disclosure.

This Greek word (Ἀνδρεία) actually is a Greek word means “man”, and since females pick winners, the truest and smallest component for what this word actually means, is ability. Men are able, that’s what makes the whole species of humanity right now so centered around males, and also why matriarchal systems exist. It’s cause men, they are able, and they win. Courage encompasses more than mere ability though; it includes having an interest towards what is challenging, one must have the feeling of interest to face challenges, so endurance (Ἀνδρεία), and if one does that a natural outcome will be the feelings of joy and sadness towards their challenges. I say that because one may find interest in his challenges, sure joy will come from just our ability of looking problems straight in the face, there will be also be sadness, not just when we see well, we have a problem, and the ego processes it’s awareness in being vulnerable no. Sadness comes from hierarchy of value, realizing ability is ranked, most able is better, but also from a feeling of longing towards the whole struggle being over. There fore one must think of their reasons to suffer while able, thus the resilience towards hardships or possessing endurance (Ὑπομονή), matters.

To embody courage though we can’t as humans just embody all that, no one must commit. Have this sense of duty to the dedication to personal growth, or progress (Προκοπή). To embody the true meaning of Courage own would need all that and posses also a commitment to honest disclosure(Ἀλήθεια), of all that.

This robust virtue is not about reckless risk-taking but rather the cultivation of a steadfast character that can withstand adversity, pursue constant self-improvement, and remain anchored in honesty and authenticity.

Temperance = Moderation (Σωφροσύνη (Sophrosyne) + self mastery Ἐγκράτεια (Enkrateia) + gentle disposition Πραΰτης (Prautes) + sensible Φρόνιμος (Phronimos)

This equation literaty reads that Temperance is the sum of moderation, self mastery, gentle deposition, and sensible. To fully embody Temperance one is never just one thing, but middle, moderate (Σωφροσύνη), to do that one must also posses ability to apply limits to self, or self mastery (Ἐγκράτεια). They would also need to posses qualities of gentleness (Πραΰτης), and posses a practical form of sensibility (Φρόνιμος). Meaning the It is a virtue that calls for balance, self-discipline, and a gentle demeanor, coupled with their own reasons to navigate life's practical matters, with a degree resistance. Resistances here, one needs only to feel disgusted, fear, anxiety and anger with self, to resist an impulse and indulgence. A sensitivity to that but preference for feeling more joy, sadness and interest, matters in order to embody the balance and self limits necessary for true temperance. This equilibrium enables individuals to control their impulses and desires, leading to a harmonious and measured life.

Justice = Fairness (Δίκη (Dike) + Ἰσότης (Isotes) Universal + Rule Νόμος (Nomos) + Direct Εὐθύς (Euthus)

This equation reads, Justice is fair, universal, direct and rule. The full embodiment of Justice, as a virtue, is rooted in fairness (Δίκη). It also means means one must embody equality, and equality has both symmetrical and complimentary balances of which are universal (Ἰσότης). It means to be honesty or direct (Εὐθύς), and these are rules (Νόμος) in which one would self govern or laws in which to live by.

To embody justice one must have fair, universal, direct and rules. Direct rules, are active, but universal and fair principle that seeks to ensure that every individual is treated fairly and that society maintains a balance where rights and responsibilities are respected. Justice is not a passive state but a dynamic pursuit that requires vigilance and a commitment to upholding what is right and lawful, both in personal conduct and within the broader societal context.

Compassion = sensitivity to suffering (Συμπάθεια (Sympatheia) + supportive disposition Εὔνοια (Eunoia) + unconditional warmth Ἀγάπη (Agape) + sense of duty Φιλανθρωπία (Philanthropia)

This equation literally reads, compassion is the sum of sensitivity to suffering, supportive disposition, unconditional warmth, and a sense of duty. As a method, and amplifier of virtue, Compassion, is a profound synthesis of empathy, the emotinal and cognitive sensitivity to suffering(Συμπάθεια) of others. To fully embody it, use it as a method it must also be an act of goodwill, therefore one must posses a supportive disposition(Εὔνοια), which by the way, may not always be warm. But one must have an unconditional positive regard (Ἀγάπη), and a sense of duty or commitment to deliver on that (Φιλανθρωπία). The method of using compassion elevates the other virtues by adding a dimension of deep connection to humanity, an unwavering positive regard for others, and a drive to act benevolently. Compassion underscores that the practice of virtue is not solely for personal edification but is intrinsically linked to the well-being of others and the fabric of society.

Conclusion

This framework, deeply rooted in the philosophical and etymological origins, presents virtue not as a static quality but as an active engagement with life's complexities. Itacknowledges the multifaceted nature of human excellence, integrating both individual qualities and social responsibilities in a manner that is both timeless and profoundly relevant. Understanding virtue in this way requires a recognition of its composite parts, each with its own history and depth, coming together to form a whole that guides behavior and shapes character.

In classical Greek philosophy, virtues are complex constructs made up of various interrelated attributes that collectively define one's ethical and moral stature. Wisdom (Σοφία) in the Greek tradition is a composite of intellectual virtues, emphasizing not only knowledge but also the ability to apply that knowledge prudently and ethically (Aristotle, 1984). Courage (Ἀνδρεία) is understood as the capacity to face challenges and endure difficulties while maintaining moral integrity, a concept extensively explored in Aristotle's "Nicomachean Ethics" (Aristotle, 1984). Temperance (Σωφροσύνη) is portrayed as a balance between excess and deficiency, regulating one's desires and actions in accordance with reason (Plato, 2004). Justice (Δίκη) is a multifaceted virtue that involves fairness, respect for equality (Ἰσότης), and adherence to both the spirit and the letter of the law (Νόμος), a theme central to Plato's "Republic" (Plato, 2004). Compassion (Συμπάθεια) in Greek philosophy is less explicitly defined but is related to concepts of empathy and kindness toward others, which can be inferred from the general humanistic spirit of the Greek ethical tradition (Nussbaum, 1996). These virtues, deeply rooted in Greek thought, offer a framework for personal and social ethics that have enduring relevance.

The philosophical bedrock laid by ancient Greece serves as an enduring foundation for Western thought, stretching across oceans to shape our lives in the Americas. During the festive season of Christmas, when the dichotomy of "naughty" versus "nice" takes center stage, and the concepts of virtue and vice become part of the holiday narrative, it's a fitting time for reflection. This season's dichotomous labels are more than just tools for managing behavior; they echo age-old ethical teachings that trace back to classical antiquity. By encouraging children to be "nice," we're invoking the essence of Greek virtues—kindness, generosity, and truthfulness. This Christmas, let it be an opportunity for us to delve into the profound meanings behind these words. May we guide the young not simply with the notions of reward or punishment, but with the deeper understanding of what it means to cultivate a good character—reflecting the wisdom of a civilization that, though distant in time and space, still profoundly influences our own.

References:

Aristotle. (1984). The Complete Works of Aristotle: The Revised Oxford Translation (J. Barnes, Ed.). Princeton University Press.

Nussbaum, M. C. (1996). Compassion: The Basic Social Emotion. *Social Philosophy and Policy, 13*(1), 27-58. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0265052500001515

Plato. (2004). Republic (C.D.C. Reeve, Trans.). Hackett Publishing Company, Inc.

[inyourdreampoetry]

Summer Camp (Short Story)

Enjoy a thrilling short story about one man’s journey to discover a dark secret plaguing the small town of Appleton. Children continue to go missing and no one knows why and who is doing the heinous acts. Derek, a college drop-out, finds a mysterious item at Goodwill that leads him closer to solving a 60 year old mystery. Summer Camp (Short Story by Jesse McDaniel)

[navimumbairealestate]

Buy 3, 3.5, & 4.5 BHK Flats in Vashi, Navi Mumbai | Goodwill Wisteria

Discover luxury living at Goodwill Wisteria, Navi Mumbai's premier residential complex on Palm Beach Road. Choose from 3, 3.5, and 4.5 BHK sky residences offering stunning views and indulgent amenities. With spacious sundecks and a lavish clubhouse, elevate your lifestyle amidst 30+ e-deck amenities. Your dream home awaits in this prestigious address.

Visit: https://www.goodwilldevelopers.com/wisteria.php

[reasonsforhope]

"In a gesture of goodwill and neighborliness, Indian officials transferred 88 ambulances to Sri Lanka counterparts back in 2016.

Now, ten years on, this gift has turned out to be a lifesaving one for 1.5 million Sri Lankans who have ridden and received urgent care in the back of those ambulances and the ones added to the fleet in the following years.

At the time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over the ambulances and Sri Lanka was able to launch the nation’s first national emergency service—equivalent to our 911 or Britain’s 999.

“Today, the fleet size of ambulances has grown to 322. It is used to provide free emergency transportation services to the whole country day and night,” Sri Lankan Minister of Health and Media Nalinda Jayatissa told Modi in a communication last Saturday.

Jayatissa said that national statistics report that 2.44 million people have received care in these ambulances for things like cardiac arrest, stroke, and road accidents. 65% of these were in the “golden hour” where medical care within a few minutes can make the difference between life and death immediately.

“That is nearly 1.5 million lives saved up to now due to your generosity, and continues to save lives in Sri Lanka,” Jayatissa said.

Sri Lanka ranks well above other South Asian countries in the Human Development Index with an index score of 0.750, and out of 142 countries surveyed by the World Economic Forum, Sri Lanka cracked the top-third in terms of health industry. That was in 2011, before the ambulance donations arrived.

More modern estimates keep Sri Lanka ahead of other South Asian economies for health industry development, and the island has eradicated several infectious diseases ahead of established targets. Its life expectancy of 75.5 years at birth is 10% higher than the world average, and the country is ranked number 5 on the World Giving Index which ranks charitable behavior and gestures among the population."

-via Good News Network

[actually-factually-anonymous]

This also plays into another angle of why it's so ridiculous for Marinette to go along with Gabriel's wishes: she has no reason to have even a sliver of goodwill to appease the old abuser.

People have made comparisons to the first Raimi Spiderman film where Peter went along with Norman's last request, and how that was a personal sacrifice on his part that was ostensibly for Harry's benefit: and the situations here are the same. This is of course a defense of Marinette/her choice- and it's a not a good one.

Even back then, if you care to go through the aged interwebs you'll find people mocking the needless choice- even if it provided thematic weight to the first Spiderman film and seemed to embody the idea of personal heroism. It was entirely unnecessary and caused hardship for the sake of a murderous, selfish old man whose saving grace was that he may have been too mentally ill to be considered fully culpable. Furthermore the choice to indulge Norman not only snowballs into more needless grief across the next two films and inspires Peter's once-best-friend into murderously loathing Spiderman, it results in Harry's eventual downfall into the same spiral as his father- a disaster could have been halted outright if Peter had told the truth in the first place, or even years after.

Making a comparison to this does not benefit Marinette. You might as well call "Adreinette" as unsinkable as the Titanic.

But even then, Peter's decision in that film is leagues more understandable than Marinette's. Because Peter and Norman had a good personal relationship.

Throughout the film, Norman had become something of a father-figure to Peter. He'd been someone he could aspire to be like, as a successful scientist and businessman who brought himself and his family out of poverty. There was a bond there of genuine fondness and respect.

Marinette and Gabriel by comparison had nothing of the sort, despite Marinette supposedly wanting to be designer like Gabriel. There were one or two episodes earlier in the series that indicated that she and Gabriel could develop a mentor-mentee relationship ala Peter and Norman, and from their character profiles it seems a hilariously obvious path to take for pathos. But it was never followed up.

Instead Gabriel and Marinette barely interact outside the mask, and Season Five spent what little time they had together setting them up as having little more than contempt for one another.

Gabriel has done nothing to deserve Marinette's complicity. She has no stake in his legacy. She has no friendship or goodwill with him.

She has no connection with him besides Adrien, the very boy he abused and she sees was kept in a White Room to control him.

And yet, despite having no connection to him beyond "Boyfriend's bad father" and "Literally Monarch", she indulges his last wishes in the worst way possible and frames him as a hero to the city and world (can't forget the near-nuclear war!) he terrorized.

One thing I feel we don't talk about enough is that aside from sidelining the one character it actually affects, Marinette's involvement with the Agreste plot doesn't even do anything for her character.

What makes the Adrien-Gabriel showdown interesting is the specific way it challenges both of them—Adrien to embrace the healthy destruction his Miraculous represents by cutting a toxic person out of his life, and Gabriel to put his money where his mouth is and actually listen to the people he thinks he's protecting. Marinette and Gabriel challenge each other to... what, exactly? Their only connections are fashion and Adrien.

[vaspider]

Hey spider, I’ve been by your tumblr several times in the last day to help keep myself grounded. I wanted to say thanks and pass along my own thoughts to others checking in.

This fucking sucks and I hate it. But this moment feels very different to me than 2016. Not that I feel *great* about weathering the next four+ years, but, I’m not collapsing in despair either.

Fact is we survived four years of this, we had four years of relative “peace,” and it’s back into the shitstorm. The situation is different, more dire, yes, but we’re also different, too. We survived and we have lessons to glean from that to apply to our future.

Your job, if that frame is helpful for you, is to look at what you can offer your community and start cultivating opportunities to help other people. 

Are you strong? I helped an older gentleman recycle heavy boxes of papers (by heaving them into a dumpster for him) and that lit up my MONTH.

Can you do dishes? There is an elder in your community who could use the help (and the company!).

Do you not go to church, on Sundays or otherwise? There may be a hospice center that needs volunteers to stay with patients while their people are at Sunday services.

Do you have a car and some time? Maybe you can do pickups for food banks or other types of food rescue work.

Do you know spreadsheets? Hoo boy. Everybody needs somebody who can do spreadsheets.

These are ideas of where you might start. But the real work is to cultivate relationships of goodwill and good faith with others in your community. Start talking to organizations, look for people who are already embedded, doing good work. Look for role models, people who connect: people to other people, people to resources. Don’t be afraid to speak up when you need help, yourself – strong relationships are reciprocal. People need each other *so badly,* and in ways our culture does not equip us to understand.

Show up where and when you can and be ready to hold the hands of others. It’s going to be hard, but you can develop the skills and the relationships to make it through.

thanks again, spider.

This is good advice.

One thing I heard today that cracked me up - I was listening to Gianmarco Soresi's podcast today, and he has Brennan Lee Mulligan on this episode. Brennan was talking about how he ran a load of diapers over to Rekha at one point bc she was collecting stuff for LA wildfires aid, and when he got home, his wife, Izzy, was sitting at her computer and going through Zillow and researching rental listings and reporting listings to the authorities who are breaking CA rent control laws. (In CA, there are limits to how much you can raise the rent on a unit at one time/within a certain period of time.)

Like... that's a thing that she could do while she was sitting at her computer being at home with the baby while Brennan ran an errand that did measurable good in the world. Reporting predatory landlords does real, measurable good.

What's important is not that you're doing the most good or the most important good. What's important is that you Find Something To Do That Helps and you Do That Thing.

[iron-sparrow]

I shouldn't be surprised that people are sharing AI-generated images and videos of the ongoing fires in and around LA. How fucked.

As I mentioned in my recent reblog, please remind people around you not to spread misinformation. Get your updates from Watch Duty or CAL FIRE. I also find national sources to be lacking, so I'd recommend checking local sources like LAist instead.

@archaiclumina also shared an article from ABC News Australia breaking down SoCal weather events like the Santa Ana winds, the increasingly devastating wildfires, and the role climate change has played.

Thankfully, the current admin has approved FEMA assistance already, as the other side is busy attacking a lesbian fire chief, Crowley, and the state governor, Newsom.

Don't be misled. We are here because of greed, and the billionaires who hoard basic resources will see the world burn and all of us bled dry before they develop an ounce of goodwill (see: the Resnicks, wealthiest farmers in the US). No matter which billionaire is yapping or what they're saying, do not forget that billionaires are not on our side.

Demand more from the wealthy. Demand more from the government.

If you all know anyone who is in need of resources because of the ongoing fires, please check out Mutual Aid LA Network or @/mutualaidla on socials.

The official COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES website also has lists of shelters for people and animals, as well as important alerts.

For folks who'd like to donate money, consider the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation.

In times of crisis, we can only truly rely on each other.

[3liza]

here's what I've learned to never pay full price for, because people are giving these items away for free or almost free on Craigslist, Nextdoor, Facebook, at Goodwill, and on eBay (which has a local pickup section) in every sufficiently populated location in the USA.

cost of acquiring these items ranges from "carrying it home from the sidewalk" to "getting a friend with a car to help you pick it up" which is the same amount of effort as going to IKEA for worse quality that costs more, with the notable exception of it being a pain in the ass to coordinate with craigslist sellers, and you often have to wait and watch for what you want to actually show up. it took me about a year to find an acceptable gamer chair left out on the sidewalk, for example. but they cost $100+ new, so I chose to wait.

a lot of this stuff is the kind of thing you don't necessarily intend to keep, just to use in transitional housing or until you can afford a better one.

1. printers of any kind. basic office inkjets are free. ink is easily refillable or has generic ink cartridges way cheaper than brand name for any inkjet up to about 2015, not sure how difficult the newer smart printers are to hack but there's no reason to own a newer one because printing technology has not improved since about 2005. you want a color laser for making zines and wheatpastes? it's on Craigslist RN and someone's mom is desperate to get rid of it

2. bedframes

3. desks

4. tables

5. chairs

6. bookshelves, nice oak bookshelves that don't bend like al dente spaghetti when you put books on them, are rotting on sidewalks rn because they didn't fit in someone's house. go get them

7. scanners. I find a working scanner by a dumpster at least once a quarter, and I don't pick them up because I already have one that I picked up from a dumpster years ago

8. hot tubs. everyone thinks they want a hot tub and that the maintenance and upkeep will be worth it, and they are wrong. Craigslist.

9. sofas, with the caveat that if you are in a bedbug region like New York State you need to be very confident in your bedbug screening skills

10. quality leather shoes. these last forever and are expensive new. eBay is best for these

11. plates, glassware, silverware. all of these are able to be sterilized to whatever standard you feel comfortable with but if you eat in restaurants you've already put a fork in your mouth that hundreds of people have drooled on so try not to fool yourself

12. televisions and computer monitors

13. houseplants. similar to the bedbug warning above, you need to screen these for pests like fungus gnats and mealybugs

14. dressers, wardrobes, china hutches, cabinets, chests of drawers, etc

15. mirrors

16. clothes hangers

17. moving boxes

18. mattresses to a certain extent. I don't like secondhand used mattresses but unstained, unused mattresses are surprisingly common, especially since the foam mail order mattress boom started and people keep getting told by the mattress companies to just get rid of/keep any mattresses they want to return for flaws or wrong sizes or whatever. bedbug warning on this obviously

19. sheets and towels. you gotta launder them obviously

20. basic clothing, especially for kids. normie type clothing is so numerous people often just throw them away because they can't get anyone to take them

21. kitchenware like cooking utensils and pots n pans. don't use chipped or scratched Teflon/nonstick if you can help it. everyone needs one basic steel chef knife, which can be sharpened and maintained indefinitely. people throw these away CONSTANTLY

22. household consumables like laundry soap and dish soap. people often accidentally buy the wrong brand, scent, or develop allergies and want to get rid of extra

23. pet supplies like collars, leashes, dog crates, litter boxes, litter itself, dog beds, toys, carriers, etc

24. medical equipment of all kinds. people who take care of all kinds of patients end up with tons of leftover, sealed, miscellaneous stuff when that person recovers or dies, and they often give it away. adult diapers, hospital beds, IV stands, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, fracture boots and splints, knee braces, canes, catheter packs, ice packs, heat packs, sterile paper sheeting, gauze, slings, over-the-door stretching and rehab pulleys, mattress protectors, etc

25. washers and dryers, both the basic household cube type and the small twin tub or rock tumbler type. people upgrade these when the old ones are still working, just squeaky or a little weird or sometimes just old

26. vacuum cleaners. secondhand ones are sort of icky but you can get rid of the ickiness by wiping them down with a rag and isopropyl alcohol inside and out. use an exacto or utility knife to slice off the hair and string wrapped around the roller. buy a new filter on Amazon. people throw away vacuums that work perfectly all the time because they don't actually know how to clean them out or do maintenance. bedbug and pet hair warning obviously

27. microwaves

28. refrigerators

30. lamps

31. any kind of exercise equipment including stationary bikes, ellipticals and weights/weight benches

32. any kind of piano. there's a grand on my local Craigslist for free rn

33. scrap wood and lumber

34. pallets

35. wood shipping crates

36. newborn, toddler and baby equipment like breast milk pumps and storage, bottles, bottle racks, diapers, etc. anything a little guy will grow out of fast will end up being given away

37. air conditioners, humidifiers and dehumidifiers. these will be most numerous during their respective off seasons

list updated 2/13/24 based on recent Craigslist trawling

38. jars, both canning type jars and clean food jars like from pickled or jelly bought at the store

39. rugs. most of my rugs are sidewalk finds. rugs will almost always be dirty. a decent consumer grade rug cleaner costs under $100, it's cheaper to just buy one if you have the space to store it. flushing the scavenged rug with soap, hot water, vinegar, alcohol, etc will clean almost anything but huge bedbug and allergen warning on this item

[sowerpatch]

terms of play [chapter 1 - the expansion play]

Paige Bueckers x Azzi Fudd

Summary: Azzi Fudd built the Golden Valkyries on a dare, but drafting Paige Bueckers was all strategy. Fresh off an NCAA title, Paige is everything the team needs—and everything Azzi shouldn’t want.

Officially, it’s all business. Unofficially, it’s glances that linger too long and touches that mean too much.

Author's note: this is an AU where Azzi owns the Golden State Valkyries and drafts Paige. Azzi's family are all original characters. Also, Azzi is three years older than Paige.

*CHAPTER LIST HERE*

Chapter Summary: After a challenge at a family dinner, billionaire real estate property developer Azzi Fudd decides to start a WNBA expansion team. With a sharp team behind her and a clear vision, she builds the Golden State Valkyries in San Francisco. As the 2025 draft approaches, all signs point to one player—UConn’s Paige Bueckers. While Paige dominates the court, Azzi quietly prepares a franchise that’s not just ready to win—but built with her in mind.

Fudd Private Estate, Northern California. August 2023. 

Dinner was almost done, the last of the grilled sea bass cleared, the conversation slipping into its usual rhythm of real estate forecasts and international zoning headaches. Out on the terrace, string lights blinked above marble columns, glowing like fireflies. Inside, the table gleamed—mahogany polished to a perfect shine, linen napkins folded into neat triangles. 

Azzi sat between her mother and her older brother, Trey. Legs crossed, watching the slow swirl of wine in her glass. She had been quiet most of the evening, letting her brothers talk over each other the way they always did when the market was up and their egos were sharper than usual. 

“You closed the Charleston deal?” she asked finally, cutting through Trey’s retelling of a boardroom clash. 

Her eldest brother, James, nodded as he dabbed his mouth with a napkin. “We came in two-point-eight billion over the projections. Construction begins in six months.” 

Their father gave a grunt of approval. Their mother hummed and reached for her water. 

Azzi glanced across the table. “And what are you doing with all that extra goodwill, Jimmy?” 

He smirked. “Redeveloping a dying downtown district and renaming the park after myself.” 

Trey laughed. “Philanthropy at its finest.” 

“Speaking of,” James added, turning toward her, “You’ve been busy handing out grants again. New initiative for girls’ sports, right?” 

Azzi nodded. “Three new training facilities. One in Detroit, two in Phoenix. Fully operational by spring.” 

Trey raised his glass in mock toast. “Saving the world, one blueprint at a time.” 

She gave him a sidelong look. “Is there a point coming?” 

“There is,” he said, grinning. “You’re always writing checks. But I’m wondering when you’ll stop funding things and actually build something that isn’t a foundation.” 

“I build all the time.” 

James leaned in, elbows on the table. “We mean something that moves. Something alive. You’ve got the money, the backing, the public image.” 

“Start a team,” Trey said, a little too casually. “Something new. From the ground up. You want to talk about real change in women’s sports? That’s where it happens.” 

Azzi blinked slowly, caught by the shift in tone. “You want me to build a team.” 

Trey shrugged. “Why not?” 

James added, “It’s not like you’re risk-averse. You took on a $600 million flood zone in Miami. A team is a child’s play.” 

“It’s also far outside my scope,” she replied, voice calm. “I don’t follow leagues. I don’t know the system.” 

“You didn’t know how to navigate renewable infrastructure either,” Trey said. “Now you’re advising senators.” 

She exhaled, quiet but thoughtful. Her wine glass hung between her fingers as she stared toward the edge of the terrace, where the hills disappeared into shadows. 

“A team in what league?” 

Trey didn’t hesitate. “WNBA.” 

The name lingered in the air. 

Azzi gave a short laugh. “You’re joking.” 

“We’re not,” James said. “It’s still expanding. They’re opening the door for new franchises. You’d be one of the few female owners, if not the youngest. And your last name doesn’t hurt.” 

Trey grinned. “Besides, you’re the only one of us who’d actually do it well.” 

There was a long pause. Azzi’s eyes stayed fixed on the dark horizon, her thoughts already moving faster than her brothers could see. 

Without looking back, she lifted her glass and took a slow sip, the stem steady between her fingers. 

Trey watched her closely. “So?” 

Azzi didn’t answer right away. Her eyes lingered on the hills beyond the terrace, where the last light was slipping beneath the edge of the vineyard. 

“I never asked for a challenge,” she said, voice low. “But I don’t walk away from one either.” 

James smirked. “That’s not a yes.” 

She gave a faint smile, one that didn’t reach her eyes. “Isn’t it?” 

Their mother let out a quiet sigh, already sensing the shift in air. 

But Azzi was somewhere else entirely. Her mind moved fast and silent, calculating what a new venture would demand. She didn’t know the system, hadn’t followed the structure or rhythm of this world. It would take work, leverage, timing, instinct. 

And still, the idea pulled at her. 

Not because she cared about the game. But because something about it was unclaimed. 

She let the silence stretch, the glass poised just below her lips. 

Then, without another word, she stood and slipped out onto the terrace. 

Inside, her brothers watched her go, unsure if they’d won or simply opened a door she had already planned to walk through. 

- 

Fudd Holdings, New York. September 2023. 

The skyline beyond Azzi’s glass walls was cold steel and soft morning light. The city stirred beneath her, a quiet hum barely reaching the forty-second floor. From here, everything felt still—like the world was waiting for her next move. 

She stood in silence, coffee cooling in her hand, gaze fixed beyond the horizon. Her calendar buzzed every eight minutes, but none of it mattered right now. Not the Zurich call. Not the Dallas rezoning conflict. Not the gala prep in New York. 

The only thing on her desk was a sealed manila folder. Franchise proposal templates. Expansion forecasts. A league dossier annotated in someone else’s hand. 

She hadn’t opened it. 

But she hadn’t thrown it away either. 

Behind her, the door opened without a knock. Only one person in the building had that kind of clearance. 

“You’re either planning to buy a spaceship,” said Nika Mühl, walking in without slowing, “or you’re finally giving in and building that team.” 

Azzi didn’t turn. “Is that what people think?” 

“Well, your brothers certainly do. And you’ve been moody ever since that dinner. I don’t like when you get quiet. You make headlines after.” 

Azzi gave the smallest of smiles, still looking out the window. “You’re dramatic.” 

“I’m Croatian,” Nika replied. “We don’t do subtle.” 

She crossed the room with practiced ease, tablet tucked under one arm, white sneakers a sharp contrast against the black stone floor. Chief Operating Officer of Fudd Holdings by title, but she'd been Azzi's best friend since their freshman year at Harvard. Back when Azzi was the one skipping finance lectures and Nika was the one dragging her back with coffee and tactical guilt. 

Now, Nika handled billion-dollar contracts, kept Azzi’s empire standing, and had a habit of knowing exactly when to walk in without knocking. 

She stopped beside her. “So. Team?” 

Azzi said nothing. 

Nika clicked her tongue. “You do realize it’s not like ordering room service, right? You don’t just build a team. You build a front office. A scouting system. A market presence. A brand. A culture.” 

“That’s why I have you.” 

“Wrong,” Nika said, folding her arms. “You have me because I’m good at telling you when something’s a horrible idea.” 

Azzi finally turned to face her, leaning a shoulder against the window. Her voice was low, almost amused. “And is this one?” 

“I don’t know yet. But I know you. If you’re thinking about it this much, you’re already in. You just haven’t said it.” 

Azzi didn’t reply. 

Nika’s tone shifted. “You’d be the first. The youngest owner. A woman. A woman of color. It’ll rattle every boardroom on both the West and East Coasts. Your face will also land a cover in Time Magazine’s Most Influential People of2023.” 

“Good,” Azzi said softly. 

Nika smirked. “I should’ve known. You’ve already started.” 

Azzi walked to her desk, ignoring the tablet Nika had placed beside the folder. She picked up a plain notepad instead. Paper clean and waiting. 

She wrote one word. 

Then paused. 

There were no names yet. No colors. No city she was ready to claim. Just the shape of something she hadn’t fully spoken aloud. 

She stared at the page for a long moment. 

Nika leaned against the desk. “You know if you do this, you’re going to have to live in the same headlines you usually avoid. Press. Interviews. Every move picked apart.” 

“I don’t mind being watched,” Azzi said, pen still in hand. 

“What about being underestimated?” 

Azzi glanced up at her. “That’s never been my problem.” 

Outside, the clouds had begun to thin. A shaft of light cut through the skyline and landed across the desk. 

Azzi closed the notebook and slid it into the drawer. 

“Can you tell Ines to clear my afternoon?” 

“For what?” Nika asked, already pulling out her phone. 

Azzi didn’t answer. She just turned back toward the window, her expression unreadable. 

From this height, the world looked like something she could bend in her hands. And maybe, if she wanted, she would. 

- 

WNBA League Headquarters, Manhattan. November 2023. 

The room smelled faintly of polish and ego. Neutral walls, thick glass table, the kind of chairs designed to keep meetings short. Still, Azzi looked comfortable. Unbothered in black. Her tailored coat hung off the back of her seat, and she hadn’t touched the espresso served when she arrived. 

Across from her sat four executives, each with a pen, a notepad, and a carefully curated expression. 

“This isn’t a typical ownership proposal,” one of them finally said, glancing at the file open in front of him. “You’re young. Unaffiliated. No prior league ties. And no prior team experience.” 

Azzi didn’t blink. “And?” 

The man cleared his throat. “And we’re aware of your success. Real estate. Development. Media. But this is a different ecosystem. A community. It’s built on history. Legacy.” 

“I’m not interested in legacy,” she said, flatly. “I’m interested in evolution.” 

The woman beside him leaned forward slightly. “You’re asking for an expansion license. That’s no small request for a young businesswoman. Why now?” 

Azzi met her eyes without hesitation. “Because you’re leaving value on the table. The interest is there. The numbers are climbing. Your audiences skew younger, more global, more invested than ever. But you’re still thinking like it’s 2003.” 

A beat of silence passed. Someone coughed. 

“I’m not here to collect a trophy franchise,” Azzi continued. “I’m here to build a flagship.” 

The tension in the room shifted. Not relaxed, exactly. But focused. 

They weren’t used to her. She knew that. 

She was the wrong type of billionaire. The kind who didn’t golf. The kind who read quarterly reports at midnight and refused to pretend she cared about playing nice. 

After a pause, the youngest executive spoke. “Your location request. Northern California. That market’s saturated.” 

“Not for women’s sports,” Azzi replied. “And not with the way I’ll brand it.” 

More notes were scribbled. Pages flipped. 

“You understand you’ll be responsible for hiring your own staff. GM. Coaching. Scouting. Facilities.” 

She nodded once. 

“And you’ll have full authority over your roster, should the board approve your inaugural draft position.” 

This time, Azzi didn’t reply. She just tilted her head slightly. Under the table, her phone buzzed once. A message from Nika. 

Top prospect in 2025. Bueckers. UConn. Championship run. Wings circling already. 

She locked the screen without reacting. 

One of the executives leaned back. “This is an aggressive timeline.” 

“I don’t need time,” Azzi said calmly. “I need a green light.” 

They all looked at each other. 

- 

Storrs, Connecticut. January 2024. 

The music hit like a pulse—loud, sticky, layered with bass. Bodies moved in waves around the living room, red cups lifted high, sweat clinging to necklines and the collarbones of people who hadn’t felt the October cold in hours. 

Paige was in the middle of it. 

Couch corner, backward cap, half-finished drink. Her legs draped casually over the side, one arm hooked behind the girl pressed close to her. Brown skin, bright eyes, a messy braid slipping down her shoulder. She laughed at something Paige murmured, then leaned in again. 

Paige smiled—half-cocky, half-distracted. She liked the ones who laughed easily. They didn’t ask for much. 

She didn’t remember this girl’s name. She wasn’t sure she ever got it. 

“You always this smooth?” the girl asked, fingers tracing lazy circles on Paige’s arm. 

“I like to keep my stats up,” Paige replied, letting the line sit between them like smoke. 

The girl grinned and tilted her head. “You’re bad.” 

Paige just raised her cup, took a slow sip, eyes never leaving hers. She didn’t need to try. People came to her like gravity. She played the role well—UConn’s golden girl, the smirk, the ease, the streak of charm that made teammates roll their eyes and strangers ask for photos. 

Across the room, KK Arnold pushed through the crowd like she had somewhere to be—shoulders squared, mouth moving before she even reached the couch. 

“Yo!” she shouted. “Turn that down—hold up, Paige—have you seen this?” 

The girl beside Paige pulled back slightly, frowning. Paige didn’t move. Just raised her eyebrows lazily. 

“I’m kinda busy, KK.” 

“No,” KK insisted, phone shoved halfway into Paige’s face. “You’re gonna want to see this.” 

Paige blinked. “This better be more important than whatever this is,” she said, gesturing vaguely at her lap. 

KK smirked. “It is.” 

She pressed play. 

A talking head. ESPN. Something about the league. Something about movement. Paige barely tuned in until she heard the word: 

“—expansion.” 

That snapped her straight. 

She reached for the phone now, sat up slightly. The girl she’d been entertaining gave a small noise of protest and slipped away, sensing the shift in energy. 

KK kept talking. “It’s not confirmed, but people are saying it’s happening. West Coast maybe. A new team. Just one.” 

“And?” Paige said, watching the loop replay, the headline scroll beneath the anchors. 

“And if it happens,” KK’s eyes were shining with excitement, “whoever they are, they’ll get the first pick in 2025.” 

Paige leaned back, silent now, eyes on the screen but brain already moving. 

She knew what first pick meant. 

She knew what she meant. 

A slow grin spread across her face, lazy and full of something dangerous. 

“Well,” she said, voice smooth, almost a drawl, “guess they better build something worth playing for.” 

KK laughed. “You’re ridiculous.” 

Paige tossed her cup aside, suddenly alive again. “Nah. I’m just real hard to impress.” 

She didn’t know yet who was building that team. Didn’t know where they were, or what they were planning. 

But she knew how expansion worked. 

If they were new, they were going to get first pick. 

And if she kept playing like this, there wasn’t going to be much of a debate. 

Paige let the thought settle as she sank back onto the couch, the music pulsing again through the floorboards. The party moved around her. Someone passed her a refill. Someone else grabbed her hand to pull her into a photo. 

She smiled, easy and practiced. 

Whatever came next, she’d be ready for it. 

She always was. 

- 

Azzi’s condo, San Francisco. February 2024. 

The city never fully slept, but her condo above it felt like it did. Clean lines, quiet corners, light reflecting off glass and steel. The only sound was the low buzz of her laptop fan and the occasional shift of the wind against the windows. Azzi had tuned the rest out. 

She sat barefoot at her desk, blazer thrown over the back of the chair, sleeves rolled past her elbows. A second espresso sat forgotten beside her—still warm, untouched. The hours had slipped without warning, and she hadn’t moved. 

Everything had started simple. 

Staff. Infrastructure. Nika had sent over a thick shortlist—coaching leads, analytics experts, trainers, logistics. All color-coded, with bullet-point histories and compensation expectations. Azzi had flagged a few. Deleted one with a note. Started typing thoughts into a shared doc that Nika would read by morning. 

That should’ve been the end of her night. 

But she had opened another folder. This one labeled Prospects. It wasn’t official. The draft was a year out. Still, Nika had her ear to the ground, and the expected names were already surfacing. 

There were plenty of talents. 

But only one name was bolded in red. 

Paige Bueckers. 

Azzi clicked into the file. Then into the links. And suddenly, she wasn’t reviewing a prospect. She was watching. 

Highlights first. Just a few. Crisp cuts, quick angles. UConn’s number five coming off a screen and launching a shot so fluid it made time pause. Behind-the-back passes. A stepback three that broke ankles. That same face again and again in the freeze-frames—focused, fierce, almost glowing. 

Then came the interviews. 

Paige under lights. Paige in locker rooms. Paige on late-night segments, quick with a grin, comfortable in her own skin. Her voice had a cadence Azzi didn’t expect. Confident, but easy. Flirty when she wanted to be, always a little amused with the attention she commanded. 

It was sometime after 2 a.m. when Azzi realized she hadn’t blinked in a while. 

The tabs were everywhere now—articles, game tape, UConn’s media guide, a podcast, a couple of poorly edited fan videos. One browser was open to Paige’s Instagram. There were more selfies than Azzi expected. More snapshots in hoodies, celebrations, dances, teammates wrapping arms around her shoulders. Her smile was wide in nearly all of them. 

There was one video—twenty seconds long—where Paige sat on a locker room bench after a win. Her hair was still damp, socks mismatched. She pointed at the camera, grinning like she knew exactly who was watching. 

“Y’all saw that pass, right?” she said. “I’m just saying MVP energy, don’t lie.” 

Azzi tilted her head at the screen. Then hit replay. 

She didn’t bother counting how many times she watched it. 

The city outside had turned ghost-quiet. Her espresso had gone cold. The time in the corner of her screen read 3:42 a.m. 

Azzi leaned back, the glow of the screen still lingering behind her eyes. The silence of the condo pressed in, heavy with everything left undone. 

This wasn’t about choosing a player. That decision had been obvious. 

Now came the hard part. 

She had to build something that deserved her. 

Not a placeholder roster. Not a name stitched on a jersey. Something real. Cohesive. Ruthless in its intention and sharp enough to match the edge that girl played with. 

Paige Bueckers wouldn’t say it out loud, but Azzi had seen it in every clip, every interview, every still image that refused to soften her. Paige would not play just to exist. She would need to win. To lead. To belong without shrinking.    Not to mention the insane number of her following and fanbase. Paige also influenced people in a way.  

Azzi stood and crossed the room, the city lights curling against the glass. Her reflection was sharp, watching. 

She had money. Influence. Time. 

What she needed now was vision. 

Something Paige would walk into and never want to leave. 

And Azzi would build it. Quietly. Precisely. 

-    Fudd Holdings, New York. March 2024. 

The room was quiet, the kind of quiet that followed focus. Sunlight spilled across the long table, where a half-dozen staff from operations and marketing sat poised, eyes forward. At the head stood Azzi, composed in tailored black, with Nika seated beside her. Ines, her ever-efficient assistant, flanked the opposite side. Amari DeBerry, recently appointed head of marketing, sat near the screen, hands clasped, alert. 

Azzi’s voice carried with clarity and purpose. 

“We’re establishing the franchise in San Francisco,” she said simply. “We’ve secured a long-term venue partnership, and I’ve approved residential development near the arena for housing and accessibility.” 

Murmurs of approval passed around the table. Amari nodded once, already scribbling in a notepad. 

Azzi tapped the remote and the screen behind her lit up. 

“The team name is set. Golden State Valkyries.” 

Another murmur. Nika let out a soft, impressed whistle. 

“Color palette is royal purple, white, black, and gold.” 

That got Nika’s attention. She didn’t speak, not yet, but her brow lifted slightly. Azzi didn’t look at her. 

“The branding team will have mockups by Friday,” Azzi continued. “Uniform concepts by next week. I want a balance of power and elegance. Iconography that’s timeless, not trendy.” 

The presentation slide shifted, revealing clean logo designs, jersey prototypes, and mock courts painted with deep violet and cold metallics. Strong, elegant. Sharp. 

Azzi continued, her gaze unwavering. “The direction is not simply aesthetic. The identity needs to match the face of the franchise.” 

She let the silence stretch, let the weight of her next words land with precision. 

“We’re drafting Paige Bueckers in 2025. And everything we build starts there.” 

The others nodded in agreement, energized, the tension turning to motion. 

“She’s a generational player,” Azzi said. “But more than that, she’s marketable. Composed. Smart. Charismatic. We’re not just acquiring talent. We’re setting the tone for who we are.”    Azzi answered a few questions here and there as she promised to send a copy of the presentation to each and everyone of them.    “We’re moving to the main office in San Francisco by the end of this month. All costs involving the transfer will be compensated and you will all receive an email from Finance and H&R.” Azzi’s tone was firm and final. Then Azzi looked at her Marketing Director. “Amari, I need you to start working on marketing strategies before this year’s WNBA draft. We want to launch the brand and team after the 2024 draft.”    Amari gave her a thumbs up before going back to her notepad. 

The presentation ended, clean and final. Staff offered quiet acknowledgments before rising and filing out.     Nika remained seated. She tilted her head toward the dark screen now dimming in sleep mode. 

“Purple?” she said, tone neutral, almost amused. 

Azzi didn’t look up. “It photographs well.” 

Nika lifted a brow. “So does navy. Or gray.” 

Azzi slid her tablet into her bag. “This feels distinct.” 

Nika leaned forward just slightly, eyes sharp. “It’s her favorite color.” 

Azzi's hand stilled over the zipper. “Is it?” 

“So you’re saying...” Nika 's voice was edged with mischief, “it’s just a branding strategy?” 

Azzi straightened, cool as ever. “It’s a strong visual.” 

Nika gave a soft, knowing smile. “Sure.” 

She didn’t press, but she didn’t need to. The implication hung between them—unspoken, but understood. 

- 

Somewhere in Florida. April 2024. 

The room smelled like last night—cheap beer, perfume, someone else's cigarettes. Paige sat on the edge of the bed, one sock on, shirt in her lap, scrolling through her phone without much urgency. Her head pounded faintly. She didn’t remember the girl's name. She didn’t try. 

The first thing that caught her attention wasn’t a text or a missed call. 

It was a headline. 

Breaking: WNBA Announces New Expansion Team — Golden State Valkyries 

She stilled. 

Logos, teaser clips, renderings of jerseys, arena mock-ups—her feed was full of it. Posts from ESPN, WNBA, Bleacher Report. Everyone had something to say. Some called it ambitious. Some called it overdue. Everyone agreed it was big. 

The name caught her. So did the sharp lines of the branding. There was something bold about it. Fast. Designed to be remembered. 

She kept scrolling, half-dressed, only stopping when KK’s name lit up on her screen. 

She answered. “What.” 

“Girly pop, tell me you’ve seen the news,” KK said, buzzing with energy. 

“I’m looking at it now, bruh.” 

“That’s it. That’s the team. You’re going there.” 

Paige tossed her shirt over her shoulder and reached for her shoes. “That's reach.” 

“Come on,” KK said. “They will draft you for sure! You’re the first pick next year. That team’s yours whether you like it or not.” 

Paige didn’t say anything for a beat. A few more posts flashed past—video edits already throwing her name into fake Valkyrie graphics. Speculation disguised as fact. 

She grabbed her keys off the nightstand and headed for the door. The other girl mumbled something into the pillow. Paige didn’t turn around. 

She stepped out into the morning. The season was already over but the future had a shape now.  

And it had her full attention.