#hashing storage class

[unconventional-lawnchair]

In The Wake of Us {Chapter Two}

Barty Crouch Jr. x Reader

WC: 4461

Masterlist

Summary: The reader, Draco, Luna, and Hermione attempt to steal ingredients for the memory draught potion. An interesting conversation with Snape only lends to infuriate you further.

<--Prev/Next-->

The start of the next day was drastically easier than before. The smell of toast and eggs wafted through the air of the Great Hall, mingling with the distant rustle of owls delivering the daily post. You sat at the Gryffindor table, hunched over with Hermione, Luna, and Draco, the four of you tucked into a cozy cluster as you picked at your plates, murmuring in low voices.

“Alright.” Hermione said softly, her quill scratching against a piece of parchment as she jotted down notes. “We’ll need powdered asphodel root, crushed florafolimor, and fresh belladonna for the base of the potion. Those are all in the potions storage cabinet.”

Draco thinned his lips, leaning back lazily as he speared a piece of toast with his fork. “Snape’s cabinet, you mean. You do realize he probably has it warded to high heaven after what happened with the Weasley twins?”

Hermione grimaced. “That’s why we’re making a plan, Malfoy. We can’t just waltz in there and expect it to be easy.”

“Relax, Granger,” Draco chuckled, waving his hands up in defense. “I’ll handle the wards. You just worry about grabbing the ingredients before we get caught.”

Luna, seated across from you, was idly twirling her spoon in a cup of tea. “I think the belladonna will be the trickiest,” she mused. “It’s very temperamental, you know. It likes to hide in the shadows.”

Hermione paused mid-scribble, giving Luna an incredulous look. “What are you talking about? It’s an ingredient, not a sentient plant.”

Luna smiled serenely. “Oh, it’s very sentient. You just have to approach it with kindness.”

Draco snorted, shaking his head. “Right. I’ll be sure to say ‘please’ while I’m nicking it.”

You couldn’t help but snort out a laugh, the sound drawing the attention of a few nearby students. Leaning closer to the table, you gestured to Hermione’s notes, “Okay, so Draco handles the wards, Hermione gets the ingredients, and Luna… charms the belladonna, I suppose. What’s my job?”

Draco raised a brow, his smirk turning sly. “Distraction, obviously. You’re the golden girl- no one’s going to suspect you.”

You groaned, resting your forehead on your hand. “Perfect. I’ll just bat my eyelashes at Snape and hope for the best.”

“You’re the one who said you wanted answers,” Hermione sighed, her tone softening as she nudged your arm. “This is our best shot. We can’t brew the memory draught without those ingredients.”

You nodded, taking a deep breath. “Alright. After Potions, we’ll slip back in and get what we need. Quick and quiet.”

As the four of you continued hashing out the details, you didn’t notice Harry approaching until he was right beside the table.

“Morning,” Harry said lightly, his tone cheerful but tinged with curiosity as he glanced at the parchment spread across the table. “What are you lot whispering about?”

The group stiffened almost imperceptibly. Hermione quickly flipped the parchment over, pretending it was nothing more than notes for class. “Oh, just going over Potions for today,” she said smoothly, her voice light and casual. “You know Snape- he’ll tear us apart if we’re not prepared. And after the success from her last class,” Hermione gestured vaguely in your direction. “We are seeing what else she might know.”

Harry’s eyes lingered on the parchment for a moment longer before shifting to you. His smile softened as he sidled up beside you, effortlessly squeezing between you and the other students beside you. His shoulder brushed yours, and the warmth of his presence made your heart warm. You couldn't remember the last time you spent true time alone with Harry. “You alright? You seemed… off yesterday. Not like you to go total zombie on us.”

You forced a smile, your stomach twisting with guilt. “I’m fine, Harry. Just tired. Our N.E.W.T.s are coming up, and I guess I’ve been pushing myself too hard.”

His brow furrowed, skepticism flickering across his face. “Are you sure? You can tell me if something’s wrong.”

Across the table, Draco shifted in his seat, his expression tightening with barely veiled irritation, like he was begging you to just be honest. Luna continued stirring her tea as if she hadn’t noticed the tension, while Hermione darted a nervous glance between you and Harry, clearly calculating the best way to diffuse the situation.

“I’m sure,” you reassured him quickly, your voice firmer than you intended. “It’s nothing, really.”

Harry’s concern didn’t waver. He glanced at the flipped parchment beside Hermione, then back to you. “It doesn’t seem like nothing,” he whispered, his tone gentle but insistent. “If something’s bothering you, I want to help.”

You hesitated, the knot in your stomach tightening. Harry’s green eyes held yours prisoner as he insisted, his hands folding together. “It’s just… I’ve got a lot on my mind, that’s all,” you insisted again, this time placing your hand on his arm and giving him your best, albeit small, smile. “I promise I’ll talk to you if it’s something serious.”

Harry studied you for a moment, his gaze softening but not entirely free of doubt. “Alright,” he relented, though his voice held the weight of worry. “But you know I’m here, yeah? Always.”

Your smile wavered for a moment before you nodded. “I know, Harry. And I appreciate it.”

He leaned back slightly, the tension in his shoulders easing as he gave you one of his rare, genuine smiles. “Good. Because you’re rubbish at hiding things from me, you know.”

“I’m not that bad,” you countered, your voice tinged with forced levity, though the guilt gnawed at you.

“Oh, you are.” He teased, the corners of his mouth tugging upwards. “Don’t think I don’t notice. Just because I’m busy doesn’t mean I don’t see things.” He exaggerated as he pulled down his lower eyelids, earning an amused laugh from you.

Draco cleared his throat pointedly, his silver eyes narrowing slightly as he interrupted. “Speaking of distractions, Potter, shouldn’t you be focusing on Quidditch practice? I hear the Gryffindor team could use all the help they can get.”

Harry turned to Draco with a mock glare, though the corner of his mouth twitched with amusement. “I’ll see you on the field then, Malfoy. Let’s hope you can keep up.”

Draco smirked lazily, his voice dripping with mockery. “Oh, I’ll do more than keep up. You might even learn something.”

Harry turned back to you, his smile softening again. His green eyes lingered on yours, and the playful banter faded from his tone. “Let me know if you want to talk,” he said softly. “I mean it.”

“I will,” you promised, your voice barely above a whisper. Lying to him felt heavier than ever.

As Harry straightened up, he cast one last glance at the group before heading off toward the end of the table. The moment he was out of earshot, Draco let out a low whistle.

“Well, that was subtle,” he drawled, his tone thick with sarcasm. “Practically bleeding concern, isn’t he?”

You glared at him, though there was no real malice in it. “Lay off, Draco. He’s just worried.”

“Worried or suspicious?” Draco quipped, leaning back in his seat with a smirk.

“Both,” Hermione muttered, her gaze still fixed on the parchment she’d been furiously scribbling on. “And he’s not wrong. You were acting strange yesterday. Now we’re acting strange today.”

Luna, who had been quietly watching the exchange, finally spoke, her voice as airy as ever. “He’s worried because he loves you. It’s a different kind of love than the one you’re searching for, but it’s real all the same.”

Her words hit you like a wave, leaving you momentarily breathless. Draco and Hermione both looked at her, their brows furrowing in unison.

“Luna,” Hermione began carefully. “What are you talking about?”

Luna didn’t answer, instead tilting her head and gazing at you with a quiet intensity. Her eyes seemed to see through you. It made your chest tighten, the weight of her words settling deep inside you. It made your throat dry.

“Can we focus, please?” you asked softly, your voice cracking slightly. “We don’t have much time to figure this out.”

Hermione nodded, her expression softening as she returned to the parchment. Draco watched you for a moment longer, his smirk fading into something quieter as he finally leaned forward.

“Fine. But you’d better be ready to pull off this little heist of yours, Golden Girl.” He quipped, his tone lighter than before. “I don’t fancy getting detention for your little mystery.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t help the small smile tugging at your lips. “I’ll try not to get us caught.”

“Good,” Draco smiled. “Because if Snape catches us, I’m blaming you.”

The four of you laughed quietly, the tension easing as you returned to your whispered planning. But as you went over the details, you couldn’t shake the lingering weight of Harry’s concern or the echo of Luna’s words in your mind.

None of you noticed how Harry glanced at you all from across the hall. Or how he lingered there, even as the rest of his teammates rose to leave for practice.

~~~

The hum of activity in the hallways served as a backdrop to your group as you made your way to Potions class. The weight of the plan hung in the air, unspoken but palpable. You glanced at Hermione, who clutched her notes tightly, her brow furrowed in concentration. Draco walked slightly ahead, hands tucked into his robes, exuding a nonchalance that didn’t fool you in the slightest. Luna drifted alongside you, her steps light as if she were gliding, her gaze occasionally flicking to the shadows with that dreamy but knowing expression.

By the time you reached the dungeons, the chill of the stone walls seeped through your robes. The familiar scent of brewed ingredients hit you as you stepped inside the classroom, the low murmur of students settling into their seats filling the space. Snape was already at the front, his dark eyes sweeping over the class with his usual scowl.

You slipped into a seat next to Hermione, Draco directly behind you, and Luna to the side. Despite the anxieties, you couldn’t help but glance at where Luna sat. Harry's seat. Looking up at the door, you caught sight of Harry entering with Ron and Ginny. His eyes flickered over to you, his lips twitching slightly as he noted the change, but he said nothing, allowing Ginny to pull him toward seats at the far side of the room.

Snape began his lecture on advanced Draughts of Living Death, his voice low and commanding, but your mind was elsewhere. Every now and then, you risked a glance at the others. Hermione scribbled notes with obsessive precision, Draco twirled his quill with a smug, casual air, and Luna’s quill moved in lazy loops over her parchment, her eyes occasionally drifting toward the jars on Snape’s desk.

The class dragged on. Seconds felt like minutes as Snape’s sharp gaze swept the room, each pass landing momentarily on you. Though it was routine, every glance sent your heart skipping. You knew he had no reason to suspect anything- not yet- but it did little to calm your nerves.

Finally, the lesson ended. Snape assigned the class an essay on potion clarity, and as students began filing out, your group lingered, exchanging subtle glances.

“Now,” Hermione whispered as the last student exited.

Draco straightened, his smirk sharpening into a look of determination. “You sure about this, Granger?”

“Positive,” Hermione muttered, glancing toward the door to ensure it had fully shut behind Snape. “He usually checks his office during each class, but we can’t risk him coming back early.”

Luna moved toward the storage cabinet without a word, her movements so natural it almost looked like she belonged there. You followed, your heart pounding as Draco pulled out his wand and began muttering a series of counter-charms. The faint shimmer of wards dissipated with a soft hum, and Hermione smiled faintly, impressed despite herself.

“Impressive,” she murmured, stepping forward to open the cabinet. Inside, shelves upon shelves of neatly labeled jars gleamed in the dim light.

Hermione scanned the labels, muttering under her breath as she located the powdered asphodel and florafolimor. “Luna, the belladonna-”

“I’ve got it,” Luna said softly, her hand hovering over a small glass jar tucked in the shadows. She smiled at it, her fingers brushing the surface lightly before lifting it out with care.

“And you-”

“Distraction, yeah…” You muttered, biting your cheek.

You squared your shoulders and walked with feigned confidence toward Snape’s office. If there was one thing you could count on, it was his need to assert his superiority through sharp remarks. It would give Hermione, Draco, and Luna the time they needed- hopefully.

Reaching the door, you gave it a light knock. Snape’s gruff voice called out from inside.

“Enter.”

Pushing the door open, you found him seated at his desk, his quill scratching against parchment. He didn’t look up at first, his dark eyes fixed on the paper before him, though the weight of his attention was unmistakable.

“Miss {L/N}. To what do I owe the pleasure of your intrusion?” His voice was as dry as ever.

You hesitated for half a beat before forcing yourself to adopt your most polite tone. “Professor, I had a few questions about the Draught of Living Death. I didn’t want to leave class earlier without asking.”

Snape finally looked up, his expression unreadable but his gaze piercing. “How unlike you to seek clarification. I was under the impression you preferred to muddle through and hope for the best.”

You forced a sheepish smile. “I just want to make sure I understand the finer points of the brewing process. It seems… delicate.”

“Delicate,” Snape echoed, his voice heavy with skepticism. He set his quill down, folding his hands as he studied you. “Hardly the word I’d use. Continue.”

You launched into a carefully prepared line of questioning about ingredient preparation, doing your best to sound genuinely curious. “I was wondering.” You began hesitantly, “about the timing of adding asphodel root to the base. Does it need to steep for the full eight minutes, or would seven suffice to maintain the balance?”

Snape’s quill stilled mid-stroke. Slowly, he lifted his gaze from the parchment, his dark eyes locking onto yours with an intensity that sent a shiver down your spine. “Seven minutes,” he repeated, his voice low and deliberate. “And what, pray tell, leads you to believe that deviating from the established procedure would yield acceptable results?”

You hesitated, feigning a sheepish laugh. “I didn’t mean to imply deviation, Professor. I just thought… perhaps the reaction might stabilize sooner if the ingredients are particularly fresh.”

Snape’s lips curled into a faint sneer, though there was a flicker of something unreadable in his gaze. “Fresh ingredients are no excuse for shortcuts, Miss {L/N}. The idea that potioneering can be improved by clever guesswork is-”

He stopped abruptly, his expression tightening as though catching himself. You saw a faint shift in his features, a shadow of something; regret, perhaps? Before his voice turned cold again. “...a notion better left to amateurs.”

You felt your palms grow clammy under his gaze, but you pressed on. “It wasn’t guesswork, Professor. I may have read about a similar adjustment in an old potions journal- something about reducing reaction time in draught bases.”

Snape’s brow arched, his dark eyes narrowing further. “A potions journal, you say. And this mysterious author, whose work you have so diligently failed to cite?”

“I… don’t recall the name.” You lied, trying to keep your voice even. “It was tucked away in the restricted section, and the notes were... incomplete.”

“The restricted section,” Snape repeated, his tone sharp and cutting. “Convenient. Tell me, Miss {L/N}, why would a student of your… abilities suddenly develop an interest in obscure texts on potioneering? It’s hardly the kind of endeavor that suits your usual inclinations. I suspected your first few months of your sixth year would be spent on something closer to practical magics.”

Jerk.

Your jaw tightened at his words, the weight of his insinuation pressing down on you. “I just wanted to understand more.” You spoke carefully. “Potions are precise, and I thought learning a little extra wouldn’t hurt.”

Snape leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled under his chin as he regarded you with a mix of scrutiny and something far deeper. “Precision,” he murmured, his tone softer but no less sharp. “A rare quality in most students, and yet you claim it as your newfound aspiration. Tell me, what exactly are you trying to accomplish?”

The question hung in the air like a blade. His voice carried an undertone you couldn’t place, a weight that seemed to stretch beyond the walls of this room. “I’m not trying to accomplish anything, Professor,” you replied, forcing yourself to meet his gaze. “I just don’t want to make mistakes.”

Snape exhaled slowly, his expression darkening. For a moment, his gaze flickered to the cauldron on his desk, and you swore you saw the faintest trace of something in his eyes- an old, unspoken memory.

“‘Mistakes,’” He repeated softly, almost to himself. “It is a noble goal to avoid them. But tell me, Miss {L/N}, what do you know of the consequences of precision?”

You hesitated, unsure of where he was leading. “I know that even small errors can be disastrous.”

Snape’s lips twitched, a faint and bitter smile ghosting across his face. “True. But precision,” he continued, his voice quieter now, “can also trap you. It demands exactness, inflexibility. One wrong step, one second too late… and even the most careful efforts can lead to ruin.”

His words struck a chord in you, though you couldn’t quite understand why. He leaned forward, his sharp gaze softening for a fraction of a second. “Does it ever strike you as curious, Miss {L/N}, how much of a person can be revealed by their interest in a cauldron?”

You frowned slightly. “I’m not sure I follow.”

Snape’s expression flickered again, and this time, his voice carried a weight of old grief. Like you could feel his tone deep within your own chest. “There was a student I knew once- an irritating perfectionist who thought he could master the world through potions. He believed precision could solve anything, that each ingredient had a purpose, and that purpose could always be controlled.” His eyes darkened further. “He learned, eventually, that some things cannot be bottled, no matter how carefully one tries.”

A chill ran through you as he continued, his gaze boring into yours like he was searching for something just beyond your reach. “And you,” he said softly, “have that same look about you. The same restlessness. The same hunger for answers.”

You opened your mouth, but no words came. There was something in his voice, something raw and vulnerable, that caught you off guard. You almost felt sympathetic for your scheme now. “Who was he?”

Snape’s eyes flickered with a mix of anger and sadness, as though the memory pained him more than he would admit. “Someone you would do good to leave behind,” he said curtly, leaning back in his chair. “Now, if you’re finished with your charade of curiosity, I suggest you leave before you embarrass yourself further.”

The dismissal was sharp, but there was a tremor in his voice that lingered. As you turned to go, he spoke again, his tone quieter. “Miss {L/N}. Do you-”

Before he could finish, a faint crash echoed from the classroom. Your blood ran cold as Snape’s expression darkened, his head snapping toward the sound.

“What was that?” He demanded, rising from his chair in a single, fluid motion.

You scrambled for an excuse, stepping forward as if to block his path. “Probably Peeves, Professor. He’s been causing trouble in the dungeons all week.”

Snape’s gaze bored into you, skepticism radiating from him. “Peeves does not tamper with my storage cabinets,” he said coldly, brushing past you with a swish of his robes.

The sight that greeted you in the classroom froze you in place. Hermione clutched a jar of florafolimor, her face pale. Draco stood by the open cabinet, wand raised defensively, and Luna held the jar of belladonna like it was a fragile treasure. And there before them, a scattered jar of moonstone dust coating the floors in their pearlescent hue.

“What,” Snape hissed, his voice venomous, “Do you think you are doing?”

The room seemed to hold its breath as Hermione stammered, “P-Professor Snape, we-”

“Spare me your excuses, Miss Granger,” Snape snapped, his gaze sweeping over the group before settling on you. “And you, Miss {L/N}, how very typical of you to involve yourself in foolishness.”

You swallowed hard, your mind scrambling for an answer. But before you could speak, Snape dismissed the others with a flick of his hand, eyeing the ingredients as if they had personally offended him.

“Go. Now.”

Hermione hesitated, but Draco nudged her toward the door. Luna lingered for a moment, giving you a small, reassuring smile before following the others out.

As the door clicked shut, Snape turned back to you, his expression unreadable. For a long moment, he said nothing, his gaze heavy.

“You’re a good kid, Miss {L/N},” He started at last, his voice softer than you’d ever heard it. You'd never expect a compliment from Snape of all people. “Too good to be meddling with things you don’t understand.”

The words hit you, the unexpected gentleness catching you off guard. You opened your mouth, but he cut you off.

“Tell me. Are you familiar with the myth of Pleiades?” He asked suddenly, his tone almost casual. His dark eyes watched you intently, searching for something in your reaction.

You hesitated at the unexpected question, furrowing your brow as you searched your memory. “The Pleiades? The star cluster, right? Seven sisters… something about them being chased by a hunter? Orion?”

Snape’s lips twitched, a shadow of what might have been a smirk. “Adequate, though simplified. The Pleiades were the daughters of Atlas, their fates bound by their father’s eternal burden. Each of them immortalized as stars, forever out of reach, yet always visible.” He stepped closer, his tone taking on a peculiar weight, as though the words themselves were more than just a myth. “Does that story resonate with you at all?”

You blinked, feeling a strange pang of familiarity at his words, though you couldn’t quite place why. “Not really,” you admitted softly. “Why?”

Snape studied you carefully, his dark gaze unwavering, and for a fleeting moment, he seemed almost... uncertain. “No reason,” he said, but the tightness in his voice betrayed him. He turned away, pacing toward the cabinet with deliberate slowness. “I find it curious,” he continued, his tone back to its usual cutting sharpness, “that one might be drawn to something so distant. Something they can never touch.”

Your chest tightened at his words, though you couldn’t explain why. “Are we still talking about the stars?” you asked hesitantly.

Snape stopped in his tracks, his back to you, his hands clasped behind him. “Perhaps.” His voice was low, almost a whisper, and you thought you caught the faintest hint of melancholy in it. “Or perhaps we’re talking about memories. About the weight of knowing something once and losing it.”

You swallowed hard, the knot in your stomach tightening. “You… you know, don’t you?” The words tumbled out before you could stop them. “About me. About what’s missing.”

Snape turned to face you, his expression carefully controlled, but his eyes held a depth you’d never seen before. “What I know, Miss {L/N}, is irrelevant. What matters is that you understand the dangers of meddling with forces beyond your grasp.”

“That’s not an answer,” You countered, your voice trembling. “You’re avoiding the question.”

Snape’s jaw tightened, his gaze hardening. “You are not entitled to answers,” he said firmly. “Not yet. But I will say this: there are reasons some memories remain buried. Reasons beyond your comprehension.”

The words stung, but they only fueled your determination. “Then why bring up the Pleiades? Why ask me if it resonates if you didn’t want me to think about it?”

For a moment, Snape looked as though he might argue, but then his shoulders slumped ever so slightly, and he let out a quiet sigh. “Because,” he said softly, his voice almost gentle, “sometimes the stars remind us of what we’ve lost. And sometimes, if we look closely enough, they remind us of what we still have.”

The cryptic answer left you reeling, your mind racing with half-formed questions and fragmented memories. But before you could press him further, Snape straightened, his usual cold mask snapping back into place.

“That will be all, Miss {L/N}. Leave. And if you value the fleeting trust I’ve shown, stay out of my cabinet.”

“That's not fair, Professor.” You snapped, tears gathering in your eyes. Frustration seeping through every part of your being. “I deserve to-”

“I have been nothing if not fair tonight, Vix!”

You both stared at each other in shock, just blinking at each other as your breath quickened.

“Who-”

“I could have you expelled. Attempting to steal from me, especially such expensive ingredients? I am sending you back to your dorms. Asking you, now, to leave it to lay.”

You hesitated, searching his face for any hint of vulnerability, but he had already turned away, his attention fixed on his desk. With a heavy heart, you nodded and made your way to the door.

Just as your hand touched the handle, Snape’s voice stopped you. “Miss {L/N}.”

You turned back, finding him watching you with an expression you couldn’t quite decipher. Almost sorry for raising his voice. “Sometimes,” he said quietly, “Choices you don't remember making.. they have the best possible outcome.”

His words followed you as you stepped into the corridor, the weight of the conversation pressing down on your chest like a stone. You didn’t know what he was hiding, but you were certain of one thing: whatever it was, it was tied to the stars, to the past, and to something he wasn’t ready to share.

And somehow, deep down, you knew the Pleiades were more than just a story. They were a clue.

You did your best not to be overwhelmed. But there was an anger- bubbling in your chest as you made it back to the Gryffindor commons. Not caring to go to your next classes, not now. Even if Professor Remus was your favorite lesson of the day, you needed air. You needed a breath.

Taglist: @bmyva1entine @edb954 @juniorlore @milunalupin @ailoda @ellipsisspelled @nessielovesfood @yannew

[natusvincere]

Bloodbound Alliance, Pt. 2 || Jade and Vic

TIMING: Following Bloodbound alliance pt. 1 LOCATION: Storage room. PARTIES: @natusvincere & @highoctanegem SUMMARY: Jade and Vic find the time to hash out some differences. CONTENT WARNING: Medical blood (only references to part 1). Head trauma.

Recap of part 1: Jade shows up at a warehouse to investigate what shady things a clan of vampires is allegedly getting up to. Vic is also there, because she wants to leave behind her old perceptions of undead and is looking to make more friends. She heard good things about the folks hanging out there! Except, there wasn't much of a plan from either of them going into this. They end up working together to get inside despite their different purposes. Once they succeed, they go inside and leave their weapons behind, going around a very maze-y place looking for 'the main event'. Before they can reach it, Jade spots an open door, so obviously she goes to investigate, Vic tagging along. What she sees inside is not good, humans are hurt, and convinces her that action is needed immediately. Unfortunately, Vic has drawn the wrong kind of attention, so a group of vampires comes down to capture them. The two fight the vampires and when it looks like things are going well and they'll get to escape unscathed, Jade gets knocked unconscious. Vic is faced with a disadvantage in numbers, so she fares a similar fate. The pair are brought elsewhere, because they seem to be valuable to the clan…

Jade’s head was throbbing in a way it hadn’t since the Fall of 2013. Except, she was positive she hadn’t attended any college parties recently. So why, did it feel like something had split her head? Which actually, she knew exactly what that felt like, so for once she wasn’t being hyperbolic. (And nope, she wasn’t expanding on that in this particular episode). She blinked, sluggish, her eyelids resisting the effort and actually, she almost wanted to give in to that heaviness. Nap a little longer. And then she could get back to like, homework, or class or whatever was scheduled next. Why did the back of her head feel sticky?

Wait.

But didn’t she graduate like, six or seven years ago? Wasn’t she cruising the country with Roxie recently? Nope, wait a little longer. Didn’t Regan come back from Ireland a few weeks ago? Ooooh… was she waking up from a sex injury? (It would’ve been a good way to go, if that was the case. No doubt, no doubt). 

She willed her eyes open, just cause she had to make sure Regan knew she was up for round… what was it? That she only needed a beat, but the blurriness before her eyes gave way to… welp, definitely not the cabin. Huh. And Regan was also, definitely not around (she couldn’t smell her, what a crime). So she was back to being super confused. But then she felt a presence behind, a hard shoulder against hers. Jade tried to crane her neck to get a better look, but something restricted her free movement. 

Zip ties. (What?) Alright. Okay, The recap was finally ready to roll, and everything flashbacked so fast it almost made her dizzy. (It could totally be the headache’s fault, also). Crap. The warehouse, the vampires, the human blood bags. The dim-lit room she was currently stuck in. Fu…dge. She almost had those goons before she got knocked out, didn’t she? Even Penny was like, kicking a little butt, she thought they had it in the bag.

Except… Penny. That’s who she felt against her back. Captured, the both of them. So humiliating. Jade squirmed, trying to stir the other woman awake. If there was someone who would hate to be trapped with her, it would be Penny. So maybe, this wasn’t so bad. If only for the pettiness of it all. Ignoring her pain, Jade jumped straight to assessing their situation. If they hadn’t been killed yet, then they were a little bit important, right? (To the plot, always, but she meant like… for this particular clan). So they should take advantage of that and free themselves and then like… make a run for it. (She would head back to that room, with the two men being used as drinks for the night. And Penny could… do whatever she felt like doing) (Maybe in the scuffle she’d get staked… whoopsie!). 

She nudged Penny’s shoulder some more, finally waking her up from her beauty sleep. “Hi girly… So, guess what?” 

—

Vic had forgotten sleep.  Sweet, restful bliss, away from the world’s judgment and noise.  How long had it been since she actually slept- not just meditated or thought or stared at the ceiling until she counted every crack she saw there 100 times? But then- sleep never came without nightmares, not even when she was still alive, and the throbbing in her head told her this wouldn’t be any different.  Hadn’t she just recovered from a ton of injuries?  But, despite the threat of nightmares, she still didn’t want to succumb to waking up, not if the voice that was gnawing in the back of her mind was real.  It was like the worst, most annoying alarm. Worse than those cheery tunes, or even a foghorn. Perhaps a wake-up call from Jade was the nightmare in itself.  Why was Baby Bloodworth in her bedroom, anyway?

Maybe she could put Jade in a sleeper hold, shut her up for just a bit longer while the thoughts in her head sorted themselves out.  Yea, that would be nice.  Except Vic could barely move her hands and the realization that they were bound made her head shoot up, confused.  Suddenly, the events of their evening came flooding back to her, and Vic instinctively looked around the room they were in for a way out.  “How long have we been out?  I need to get back to R-...”

She stopped herself, rolling her eyes.  Jade still didn’t know either of their real names, and she preferred to keep it that way.  Especially when it came to Rosie.  As soon as the initial panic about her daughter washed through her, she was greeted with an undeniable scent behind her.  She forced her eyes closed to will away the temptation.  Should she tell Jade she was bleeding, or just let the unspoken linger between them? It must have been obvious to Jade, right?

“I guess that you’ve found a way to get us out of here, because I can’t think of another reason you would possibly think it appropriate to call me ‘girly’ in a situation like this.”  Her head ached, and she let it fall forward in frustration at the hopelessness she felt.    “I’m assuming your hands are bound too?”

—

Jade didn’t know who Penny had to get back to, but her brain was fully operational (eh…) by the time the other woman rolled that mysterious ‘r’. So did Penny have a partner too? Probably like, a husband. One of those who were never around but provided all the money. And wait, didn’t she mention something about a husband that time in the park? Right, yup, yup. The math was mathing. Vic had to get back to R…yan. And little Sammy too, obviously. Which, wasn’t it weird that Penny would first mention her guy and not her literal baby? But okay. She would've loved to get to the bottom of that ‘r’ mystery, but they had like… some other important things to get to. 

It was so funny that Jade couldn’t see Penny’s face, but still heard her eye roll. She stifled her laugh, just in case there was like, someone guarding the door. And she knew her laugh had a way of waking up creatures within a mile radius. So ya know, caution. She was so good at that, it was almost her middle name. (Who cared if she was currently captured with a vampire by her side?) “Well, it’s not like you’d let me call you babe, would you?” she argued, still twisting her neck trying to get a better look at Penny. The back of her head throbbed, reminding Jade of why, now that she had the whole picture. That one vampire knocked her out with a blow on the head. Was she bleeding? It felt like that. And it was a good thing that Penny probably hated her enough not to snack on her. Besides the whole, tasting a little rank for vampires. Sometimes, luck was really on her side.

“Yup. They tied us up,” Jade sighed, nonchalantly. In a display of great maturity, she held off from joking about the restraints. Penny might murder her on the spot if she did. And she kinda didn’t wanna get murdered. Not by the goons keeping them captive, nor the Karen trapped with her. She looked focused on her wrists, tied behind her back, trying to wiggle some space in them. They weren’t the normal kind of ties. Cause both of them could’ve gotten out of them with their enhanced strength, right? These were super tight, but she felt a little opening where she could insert a knife. She went over her remaining weapons in her head. She probably had the blade in the sole of her boots. And her stake, stashed… yup, she felt it. It was a pretty empty inventory, but maybe there was a way for them to escape before the big baddies came in to “talk” to them. 

“I’ll think of something,” she reassured Penny. (Not that… she didn’t care whatever emotions Penny was going through, she just felt like saying it. That was all). “But hey, if we’re alive… not that you… I mean, if they haven’t,” she whistled, to represent the slice of a knife, “it’s cause we’re still relevant somehow. They were… they mentioned a leak. We’re probably not the only ones trying to infiltrate this place,” and for good reason! She clicked her tongue, “why were you even here. Don’t you have like, a kid to protect from… all of this?” it was the most serious she’d heard her own voice sound in a long, long while. She felt no desire to access her endless supply of jokes with a human life on the line.

—

“Let’s get one thing straight.  You don’t call me anything.  That way we won’t have any confusion.”  At this point, Vic wasn’t even sure that Jade was aware she was given a pseudonym (probably not, if their conversations online were any giveaway). But it felt disingenuous to be asked to be called Penny, even though she definitely didn’t care about being disingenuous to a Bloodworth.  

Despite her activities as of late, Vic wasn’t exactly used to being in situations like this.  That was probably why Jade’s reassurance that she’d find them a way out felt sort of comforting, because a hoodlum like her definitely got into all sorts of shenanigans.  Of course she’d be able to find a way out, it was probably like riding a bike to her at this point.  But then, something Jade said brought a pit to her stomach, one that had been worming its way in since the weird looks from the crowd as they were walking in.  She’d been trying to ignore it, because it was easier than facing the inevitable, but now, with more time to think on what might be going on, she was thinking of the inkling of a possibility more and more.  “That’s actually… Our… my relevance to them worries me.”

At Jade’s question, Vic felt an anger rise through her chest, quicker than she anticipated.  She didn’t get to mention Rosie.  She didn’t get to question anything when it came to her child, because she knew nothing. “Who exactly do you think you are?  You think you just get to ask about her? You think you can make up nicknames for her and suddenly you know her?” It wasn’t lost to Vic that in Jade’s mind, Sammy had been the only thing she called her, but the ire she felt didn’t let her care.  “Mind your own goddamn business, Jade.” Jade had mentioned Rosie plenty of times before, on the internet, when they met at the park, but none of those mentions stung more than this.  Was there a worry, somewhere deep down, that Jade was right?  Because really, what was she doing here, trying to become friends with beings she had known up until three years ago were monsters?  How could she think involving herself with a group of them would have been a good idea?  Especially after what happened at the Keep?  Was her journey to self-redemption putting her child in danger in the long run?

—

As far as anger aimed at her this was like, expected. Warranted even. (Like it was growing up too, right?). Maybe one day Jade would like, sit down and really dig into why that reaction aimed at her rarely fazed her, but today wasn’t the day. Cause she had priorities. Plus, Penny was probably planning her murder and stuff. Maybe that would be incentive enough to get out of those ties. But anyway, this wasn’t about Penny, she could get killed for all she cared. (Honestly like, these vampires might do a better job than she could at this point). It wasn’t even about Jade, even. Or well, it was like twenty five percent about her, cause all things were. But it was mostly about the fact that she could never just mind her business, especially when there was a little girl in the middle of it.  

“I thought,” she began in a quiet voice, coaxing Penny to keep this contained. “I thought a woman who ran with her kid to safety the second a slayer was near would…” she exhaled, weird allergies prickling her nose. Was it so strange to imagine (or hope, really) that Penny might have been a better mom than this? Her head was really starting to hurt now, and she didn’t think it was cause of the blow. “I don’t get it, this. You, undead with a child. But… it’s not like I couldn’t see you loved Sammy that day in the park…” she had seen it, cause she used to yearn for that kinda look day and night. Or maybe, it had all been projection? “I thought it was real,” it still could be real, by the way Penny jumped to defend her baby’s privacy, but…

Again, Jade didn’t think she cared about the Penny of it all, cause that was a whole mess she hadn’t dealt with yet. This was about a kid’s main emotional support, and how reckless it was put that in jeopardy for what, cool vampire friends? “A little girl would want her mommy to come home safe, wouldn’t she?” She didn’t know. Those were the kind of scenarios that remained part of her imagination, instead of being her lived experience. She didn’t wanna think about her mom. But something stirred in her belly (the taco she had before coming here, probably. Nothing more).

She figured she was once that kid tossing anxiously in bed too, hunter juice making it extra hard to feel sleepy, waiting to hear the front door open each night Ruby went out to hunt. Only being able to close her eyes once she heard that click. Or sometimes, when her belly or her chest were bad enough, she’d sneak out downstairs to catch a glimpse of her eldest sister. (She was rarely covered in blood. Cause she was like, an actual beast of a slayer) (But also, what if she made sure to come back clean cause she knew her baby sister was waiting for her at home?).

And like, she hated being attacked by random memories she’d shoved so deep into the messy compartments of her mind. Why now? What about Penny’s actions could’ve possibly triggered it? 

Her point was, if Jade (unwanted Bloodworth spawn), had been enough for Ruby to make sure she wasn’t traumatized at a young age (at least in that front) (not that she was…anyway), wasn’t Sammy enough for Penny to wanna be the most careful person in the world? Wasn’t that little girl enough to wanna return home safe each night? Jade knew that guilt-tripping moms was like, so rude. Cause all of them, or well, most of them, tried their best. Nope, she wasn’t here to do that. (In fact, she couldn’t do what she was here for, since she was tied and all). But well, she was gonna be a little bit judgy. So she took the brunt of Penny simmering guilt, once she had she said her peace.

She didn’t think she wanted to linger too long on personal stuff anyway, cause like… one of those beefy vampires would come back and they would’ve had to be untied by then. “What did you mean… when you said you were worried about your relevance? Did you like, try to give ‘em citations for jaywalking or loitering or something?” Why would a murderous clan care that much about the picture perfect of a suburban mom. She had to be like, squeaky clean, right?

—

There was something strange rising within Vic at the words coming from Jade.  The feeling was deep and uncomfortable, something like a mix of guilt, shame, and stubborn pride.  Jade’s voice was low, in a way that almost felt taunting, and Vic felt her fists tense behind her, surely turning her knuckles white.  She slammed her feet down, a loud thump emanating from them.  She hated the feeling of being tied down, especially now, as her motherhood came into question… as her love for her daughter was made to seem like it was all for show.  Suddenly she whipped around, an impressive feat when her hands were still zip tied behind her.  

“It is real”, she insisted, unexpected tears pricking at the corner of her eyes.  Jade was playing a dangerous game, one she probably didn’t even realize, for these very thoughts had been plaguing at the inner workings of ’s nightmares ever since the moment Rosie was placed in her arms.  She knew, then, that a monster like her wasn’t capable of love, even if Rosie’s birth parents couldn’t see that at the time.  There was always a worry, then, that her selfishness was what decided to keep her, not the inability of other options that Vic had explored for months.  And even as Vic grew to realize that her species was not as inherently evil as she’d spent nearly three centuries believing, there was always a worry that some true nature might one day rear its head.  The most optimistic parts of her knew everything with parenting Rosie felt right, and fateful, and pure, but the most innate parts of her wondered when her nature would ruin it all.  

She heard the pop of the ziptie before her back before she even realized she had been pulling her hands apart in frustration and anger, dying to escape.  It was all she could do to stop herself from putting her hands around Jade’s neck, ending Jade’s outpouring of Vic’s own worst fears for good  (she would of, too, if she didn’t know they were probably being watched at every angle by their captors.  She kept her hands safely behind her back, for now).  “It’s easy to assume what I was doing here is incredibly wreckless when you think all vampires are a monolith of evil.  Trust me, I know exactly how you feel.  And how idiotically daft that point of view is.”

She wanted to scoff at Jade’s perception of who she was, but she realized the vibe she gave off since Rosie came into her life was exactly the opposite of beforehand.  As if citations for jaywalking was the worst she could do.  “Not quite.  It’s actually more likely that I betrayed their clan for money.”  She let the confession linger between them for a moment before she looked out the small window, trying to remember if any one of those vampires seemed even remotely familiar.  

—

Penny wasn’t too pleased with her assumptions, but at least Jade brought up like, an honest reaction out of her by questioning the love for her little girl. Or well, it felt honest anyway. (What could she know about honest motherly love, amirite?) “Okay…” she accepted, in an uncharacteristically small voice. What else was she supposed to say? That she had a funny way of showing it? Probably, but that opened a different can of worms and it didn’t change the fact that Jade knew Penny was being for realsies. They could sit there and point fingers at each other (metaphorically, cause their hands were tied), but it didn’t change the fact that they were stuck in some crappy storage room and they had to think about an escape plan. 

If something popped behind her, Jade didn’t register it, too busy rebutting Penny’s words. (Right, so much for coming up with an escape plan). “Evil and dangerous are two different things,” she pointed out, cause still, no matter what people thought of her, she firmly believed they were two different things. Maybe some vampires were both (like the ones currently keeping them captive), but all of them had the potential to be dangerous, whether they wanted it or not. And…UGH. She hated Van just a bit for planting the annoying seed in her head, but if she looked at it from the other perspective, wasn’t she also dangerous without meaning to be evil? (Some might even disagree on the second part! But she knew her heart). Penny talked like she understood what was going through her mind, which was all kinds of hilarious. Why would a vampire side with a hunter’s perspective? She was like, a little curious though. (Nosy, always nosy). “And, what…you can’t say trust me and not spill a nugget or two of lore.”

She kept wiggling her wrist, finding a little bit of space, but not enough for anything, really. Plus, there was still the fact that they were behind her back, so she couldn’t exactly see what was going on. And her head… oh, it was pounding so hard now. She wished she could close her eyes a bit and just take a little nap. Would that be so bad? Penny distracted her from all that with some vital info about why she suspected she was relevant to this clan. Jade’s eyebrows shot up (her head went ouch). Well, well, well… “Oh. That’s totally juicy,” she agreed with a smirk, realizing that they were definitely in a pickle now. They wouldn’t be able to pass as two innocent ladies stumbling into the wrong place. “There’s more to you than meets the eye then, huh?” So like, did she scam vampires to save for Sammy’s college fund or something? She admired that. Did that mean, paired with her other comments, that she was against vampires? So what, was this infiltration her trying to stop what they were doing? Suddenly, Penny was a lot more interesting.

Jade hoped she dumped as much helpful info on her as quickly as she could, cause she was pretty sure there were footsteps approaching outside. 

—

Jade backed down, and Vic nodded, satisfied.  It was better for everyone when Jade minded her own goddamned business, herself included, apparently.  But there she was, digging again.  This time, Jade’s questions didn’t feel judgemental, not like the ones she was asking about Rosie.  Plus, there was less shame built around what she was about to divulge, maybe because there was a small part of her that still believed in it all.  “You know the majority of us didn’t ask to be turned”, she started, shaking her head.  How could she tactfully explain without making herself vulnerable?  “My whole life felt like a prison, from maybe even before I can remember, and I was so ready for release, from… well, from the world”. The confession felt embarrassing to say out loud, because someone like Jade was not meant to know the deep down, secret parts of her.  “And then I was turned and ushered into a prison even worse than before.  You heard stories about monsters, you know?  Stealing people away in the middle of the night and draining them of their life for fun, but you don’t understand the thoughts that go through your head when you’re desperate to feed, or what it looks like when someone actually enjoys someone else’s misery.”

Vic knew the words she was saying were only confirming what Jade thought to be true about vampires, but she needed her to know just how much she understood.  “My sire was not kind.”  There was nothing else to say on the matter, because it was a simple fact.  “...and through her teachings I knew what evil creatures vampires were.  Myself included.  There was nothing to describe them except as a monstrosity.”  It was still hard, even now, for Vic to refer to vampires as ‘us’.

She watched Jade, curious how she was reacting to this new information, knowing it might be a shock.  These days, most people saw Vic as a curmudgeon, stay at home mother.  And maybe she liked it that way, because what she was before was much worse.  “I spent about 10 years under my Sire’s thumb before I decided to do something to make the world a better place. After I ��got rid of her…”, she wondered, briefly and ridiculously, if Jade might think that bit of information was cool, “...I spent the next 200 years or so charming vampires and then selling them out to slayers.  It’s how I met your sister, actually.  I don’t know if she even knew I was one of them.”  That, for some reason, made her chuckle, despite the guilt she felt about all the damage she’d done now.  “But then I arrived in Wicked’s Rest.  And this town has a weird fucking way of making you question everything you’ve ever believed, doesn’t it?”

—

Of course Jade knew nobody asked to be turned (but maybe there was a niche for that kinda people), like duh… it was one of the first lessons Onyx ever imparted. Literally the 101. No human deserved the fate of unlife. And they shouldn’t be judged for what they’d done in order to survive. Mercy. It should always be about mercy. She’d grown up with acute sympathy for the horrors undead endured in their transformation and the ways the beast slowly peeled away what made them human, what made them safe. To be reduced to a monster that only craved blood and couldn’t be reasoned with? Jade always felt super bad about it. So obviously, why wouldn’t she want to help those who suffered? Her family could do it. They’d been doing it for decades and decades. Preventing others from falling into the curse of unlife. So, despite what she may or may not be feeling about the Bloodworth approach (the jury was still out), she knew culling would always be needed. Protecting humankind would never be out of the equation. 

Jade sympathized with the human Penny was before all of this, wondering how crappy life could’ve been for her to wish… if she was born centuries ago, then probably pretty stinky. Like, probably Taco bell didn’t exist back then. Or indoor plumbing. And it sounded like she’d gone through a bit of self-hate journey too, the way lots of undead did. She got that too (or maybe she thought she did. At this point, nothing fell in line with what she was taught at a young age). The words coming out of Penny’s mouth were laced with a hatred she rarely heard verbalized. Jade had seen it, in the eyes of those that turned to dust with the swipe of her stake. She’d made a habit of forgiving those who’d committed atrocities before her weapon halted their second chance at life. (Cause it was her duty, right? Cause, despite everything, undead didn’t deserve to go hating themselves). 

The mention of a sire brought Metzli into her mind (and that whole mess with Chuy), but thankfully only for a beat, cause Penny’s tea was piping hot and she couldn’t be focusing on other unrelated stuff (there were enough mental tabs already opened, like the one playing Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting). About three things Jade was absolutely positive. First, Penny was a vampire. Second, she killed her sire. And third, she sold vampire secrets and boned her sister. Whew. That last one felt like a sucker punch. (And not the underrated Snyder gem from 2011). She bristled, cause welp, she wished she could erase the part about her sister from her memory, but if she had been able to turn around she would’ve regarded Penny with a proud look over the rest. “Okay, I’m not gonna pretend like you snitching on vampires wasn’t cool, I mean… it probably made our jobs way easier. So thank you” What changed? She didn’t ask cause… Sammy happened, so everything changed. For some, a child’s love was worth changing your ways. For some, a child's love could break centuries of tragedy and horrors.

Penny’s final question felt like a prompt, though. Like sure, why don’t we make our potentially last minutes on earth a super introspective affair? No thanksies. Regrets? Zero. None. (MMA came to mind) (Not mixed martial arts; Monty, Mack, Ariadne). She’d never questioned anything she’d ever believed in, not until… forget it. So she was not down for this lore-dropping session, as much as her nosy butt was gobbling all the juicy nuggets Penny offered. Plus, they had to focus on how Penny’s actions kinda put them in a super bad position with their captors. The footsteps continued echoing closer and closer, until a sharp twist of the knob revealed a brand new foe. He looked far less human than any other vampire they stumbled into so far, and he had all of the vibes of a true villain. Pale skin with a gray hue that was two months away from growing scales, and eyes sunken so deep Regan would’ve loved how much he resembled a cadaver. A shiver would’ve run up her spine if she was the kinda person who experienced fear, but it didn’t, cause she wasn’t. Instead, she pressed her back closer to Penny’s, evaluating their situation. 

“Vic Larsson. A traitor of your caliber... crawling back for forgiveness?” Um, Jade’s eyebrows pinched together in confusion. Did they grab the wrong person? Penny’s twin or something? “Or is it intel you’re after? You always find yourself within the right crow…” he sneered, barely casting a glance at Jade. And she was starting to feel a little bit like a secondary character in her own story. “Haven’t you filled your pockets selling our kind to slayer scum enough to last you a few lifetimes?”

The math was… She was pretty sure she got the wrong exercise, but she was working it out anyway. Penny was Vic. Super clever to go with a false name, if she said so herself. The vampire boss dragged a metallic chair toward them and took a seat. “Was it you, who sold our secrets to the highest bidder at that trashy hunter bar?” A leak. Right… they mentioned a leak earlier. So like, did they suspect Penny slash… Vic was to blame? Wait! Was Jade literally here cause of a wrong place wrong time type of thingy? Could she claim innocence then? She was literally just vibing right now, but the vampire had it for Penny, a long, yucky finger tracing the lady’s cheek to taunt her. “It’s time you finally understand that betrayal of your proportions has consequences”. 

—

Vic was straying off topic, because what she really wanted to was to make one thing clear to Jade, who was probably going to find what she was about to say totally counter to all that she’d revealed before.  “We didn’t ask to be turned.  But that doesn’t mean we should have to die for it.”  And Jade definitely would have answered, too.  This might have been a huge aha moment for Baby Bloodworth, the kind that took Vic nearly 7 years in Wicked’s Rest to come too, but before her epiphany could arise, their captors did.

Her full name (her real name, the one that Jade hadn’t yet associated her with) sent a particular kind of pit to her stomach, especially when accompanied with such a familiar voice.  And suddenly, everything started to come flooding back.  Vic, when she had just arrived in Wicked’s Rest, had a particularly easy time gathering information from this clan, so much so that she had heard how many of them had fallen victim to slayers thanks to her information, she’d walked around town with a proud smile for nearly a month afterwards.  Now, after nearly 10 years, their deaths were just a drop in the bucket to the ocean of guilt Vic was carrying around.  It was no wonder that she’d forgotten about them.

But it was no wonder those who were left remembered her.

But as the information came back into focus, a million thoughts were running through Vic’s head.  She’d found the clan herself, in a much smaller location, after overhearing conversations at the slayer bar she was working at.  She’d been welcomed in fairly quickly by a group of misfits who thought she was their friend.  The leader, Simon, she was remembering, had sired a few of them, but the rest had come from all around to admire his viciousness.  He was not good, not for anyone, and there was no doubt that those under his thumb feared him.  He liked to walk around with a stake hanging from his belt, ending someone’s afterlife at a moment’s notice just for inconveniencing him.  Her eyes flashed to it now, his fear tactic clearly unchanged.  When she sold their information at the bar, he was meant to be the main target, but Simon managed to get away with a few stragglers.  Vic had never heard about them again, so she assumed they’d migrated somewhere far away with their tails between their legs and a lesson about humanity, but she was realizing now they had been taking up the time to once again grow in numbers… and in brutality.  Even more alarming than the memory of the stories, though, was this: 

When she’d first been invited to the clan, she’d given a fake last name.  She knew so, because she made a habit out of it after some dicey situations back in Europe using her real one. But Simon came in, confident as ever, and called her Vic Larsson.  If he knew her real last name, that meant that they had been studying her.  And if they were studying her, then there was no chance they didn’t know about Rosie.

She didn’t let her face change as she processed all of this information.  Instead, she stared ahead, stoic as ever, like she’d trained herself to do for years.  Behind her back, she wrung her fingers together, twisting and pulling to stop herself from showing even a trace of emotion. She stared ahead even as Simon’s disgusting finger traced her cheek, willing herself not to pull away and back towards Jade.  Simon was a powerful figure, one who was used to people cowering to him, so her assumed apathy must have pissed him off.  “Of course, if you’re not ready to atone for your sins, we could always send for the little one to come and join us, couldn’t we?”

Vic’s eyes shot to Simon’s, wild and enraged, and he smirked, pleased with himself.  “Ahh, yes.  I think that will do just fine, won’t it?  What was her name again?  Ros-?” 

Simon didn’t get a chance to finish. With a yell, Vic yanked the ,metal chair out from under him, effectively sending him toppling to the floor without a moment’s notice.  She held the chair in the air, climbing on top of Simon and whacking him over the head with it a few times.  She didn’t have much power over him other than surprise, so she used it to her advantage.  Vic could hear herself grunting, uttering threats in both Swedish and English, but she sounded more like a wild animal.  From behind the door, she could hear his followers clamoring to get inside.  Just as the door opened and they came barreling in, she reached for his stake, now strewn on the floor, ripped it from his belt, and stabbed it right through Simon’s heart..  

He turned to dust beneath her in a flash, but before she had time to celebrate, she was being attacked from all sides by the others who’d poured into the room.  At first, she felt like she was effectively fighting them off- a whack thrown to her right, or a well placed kick to her left, but it didn’t take long for them to overpower her.  She scratched at their faces and pushed at their chests, but it was becoming clear rather quickly that she could not fight them all.

—

Jade was positive she had just witnessed one of those, ‘top ten displays of the indomitable human spirit’ or whatever. Like the ones where the adrenaline rush hits so hard it makes people stop cars, fight a bear, or leap Olympic levels distances to save someone. She had been piecing the rest of the puzzle (Mr. Vampire and Penny went way back, and not only that, he had tabs on her kid) (Who was also not called Sammy, apparently) when all of a sudden, Penny pounced on him like a wild animal, clattering to the ground like something that came out of Animal Geographic. She went full mama bear on him, but not only that, she had her WWE routine locked in, bursting with that metallic chair that was only missing John’s Cena’s intro to make the real deal. Jade was pretty sure none of this would've happened if he hadn’t brought up her child. And like, she had questioned how deeply Penny or, um, Vic could love her child like five minutes ago, but this? Just unaltered rage fueled by love? Yup, she knew this. She’d felt this, not too long ago, and she knew there was nothing and no one who could rival that kinda energy. (She would’ve murdered Regan’s granny, if she’d ever been given the chance).

As if it wasn’t already clear that Penny was not a suburban mommy cosplaying as a Karen, she had to go on and maul the guy. She was as deadly as the rest of her kind, and she handled her enemy like he was a wuss who just turned yesterday and not a dude two meals away from sitting at the elder table. If Jade were a person who knew when to feel fear (or well, if she hadn’t desensitized herself to the point where nothing scared her), this would’ve been it. She watched Penny climb on top of the vampire, howling threats in a different language that she didn’t get but actually did get, in a way, by the grit in her tone, and then snapping him into dust in the blink of an eye. Thanos got nothing on her. Geez. Jade was shook for longer than it was wise. Cause another flock of vampires was quickly approaching and she couldn’t be tied when they came. The problem was, she had nothing to cut her ties with. And Penny was a little too busy with the incoming group to give her a hand and untie her. So… should she try going all hulk on it? It seemed to have worked with Penny…

The vampires barrelled in while she was trying to snap the ties, sparing basically one look at her before pouncing on Penny. Jade stopped fussing, and got thinking instead. Couldn’t she just… get away with this? Like, she had zero stakes (haha) in this after all. It was Penny the goons were after. Penny would be dealt with, Jade could play dumb and pretend she had no clue what was going on. And return another time to tackle the big fish frying downstairs. Cause right now, only one of them looked totally guilty of what they were being accused of. 

Jade couldn’t make peace with that plan though, as sour as her relationship with Penny was. Cause there was a kid involved. A little girl, waiting for her mommy to come home safe and sound. And little girls? Oh, they loved their mothers in the most visceral of ways. Even when said mothers couldn't love them in return. Little Sammy was lucky hers was willing to fight tooth and nails to get back to her. And Jade couldn’t be the person who took that from Sammy forever, even as ugly jealousy simmered in her chest. (She couldn’t stop herself from realizing she had been that person before) (How many Sammys had been left waiting for their loved ones before Jade turned them into dust?) (Wasn’t that a little sick and twisted?) She’d vowed to protect humankind, right? Tonight, at least, that looked like defending one vampire with everything she had.

Fine. Fine. She would deal with the moral conundrum later, provided they made it out. 

Somewhere in the scuffle, Vic had lost the stake and it had rolled on the floor. Jade dragged her butt toward it, concealing it behind her, ready for grasp once she got out of her ties. “Help!” She cried out at the vampire closest to her, who had a very obvious blade poking out of the sheath on his belt. He looked like a lackey, anyway. Cause the big guns were all up in Vic’s business. And she was being a total girl boss about it, but that wasn’t gonna last long. When she got his attention, Jade pouted. “She like, went totally crazy… I told her not to go all stabby! I thought she was cool with you guys,” she scooted on the floor, a demanding look on her face. “I don’t wanna be stuck with this crazy chick. If you wanna murder me, fine. But can you do it in a different room? Somewhere with a better vibe, please? You kinda owe me after hitting me in the head for her crimes.” The vampire had no clue what to do with her, it was a little funny (if Vic’s pained groans weren’t totally distracting she would’ve had more fun with it), but he leaned down to help her stand either way. And when he did? The epic fighting music finally blasted in her head. 

With a pop, the ties flew off her wrist and Jade lunged forward, pushing the vampire to the ground with her palm pressed down his chest, keeping him in position. It felt a little bit like a flopping fish, with her legs tied and all, but anyway, she took the knife from his sheath and stabbed him in the throat, sinking the blade to the hilt. He gargled in pain, blood pouring out of his mouth, while Jade seized the stake behind her. Two beats later the piece of wood struck his heart, a pile of fine dust the only evidence he was ever there. There was no time to take a breather, cause her little trick garnered some attention (as it should). She cut the ties on her ankles and twisted just in time to face the second vampire surging toward her. The stake sank deep in his chest an inch before he could shove her to the ground. The problem was, that dust from his body exploding went up her lungs and mouth, and she choked on it. 

A third vampire took advantage and tackled her. Her eyes were irritated, a blur of tears while her enemy climbed on top of her. She evaded the incoming blade, but it whistled right next to her ear. (Whew, that would’ve resulted in a weird haircut). Her palm hit the other’s wrist, disarming her and using the momentum to roll them over. The woman clawed at Jade’s arms, then her shoulders and finally tried gouging her eyes. Jade managed to avoid the most serious cuts with decent success (it was her face on the line, nothing was more important than that), but tiny little bright stars twinkled before her where the woman had put pressure on before Jade could grab her hands and pin them over her head. She palmed her pockets for the… Oh crap, Vic’s stake had slipped out at some point.    

She still had one, though. Her fingers slipped under her shirt, to the bewilderment of the woman below her, finding the secret fold quickly and pulling out the stake as smoothly as she could without poking herself. (Was it possibly a safety hazard? Maybe) (Was it comfy? No freaking way, but who was laughing now, huh?).

The vampire was laughing a little bit, actually. Jade kinda appreciated the theatrics. “You keep following us around, don’t you?” The vampire spat in a taunting rasp. Huh? Okay, pause. “You won’t be getting out of this one. Should’ve stayed in Roseville where they can bail you out, you little—” And Jade kinda wished in that moment that slaying wasn’t so mechanical, cause her body moved on its own accord, hand already in motion, stake gripped tightly as it sank down between the woman’s ribs before she could finish that sentence. 

She jumped to her feet, shaky for more reasons than the blood dripping down her temple. What did that mean? A blast from the past, obviously, but she had no idea who she just… wait! Vic.

Vic was pinned to the wall with a knife to her throat, needing two whole vampires to reduce her movement (okay, girly!). As much as Jade wanted to sit down and start drawing an L-Word type chart of connections, it was kinda a little inconvenient right now. So she reluctantly put a pin in her own issues to go help… nope, she didn’t wanna finish that sentence. Just cause she was doing it, it didn’t mean she was proud of it, or had the conviction to voice it more than once. Think of Sammy, was the only incentive Jade needed and it was a powerful one. She stepped toward the trio, with a knife in one hand and the stake in the other. It was a good thing Vic was still putting on a show, cause it allowed Jade to slip undetected. The knife slammed forcefully into one of the vampire’s sides, and when he predictably flinched in pain, offering a lot more of his flank to Jade, she struck where she was meant to, reducing the number of active rivals down to one. (And a half. Vic was… She… Something)  

She ducked to avoid the incoming jab from the final vampire, who had to decide between keeping her knife right against Vic’s throat, or using it to kill Jade. Obviously, she ended up going for the cutie with the wooden weapon, cause some people just hated to see her win, but Jade was ready for it. (Head pounding miserably, breath catching every now and then) (But ready for it). This vampire wanted a little more of a fight, she was obviously of higher ranking in whatever hierarchy they had in this warehouse. Jade neutralized the precise swings of the knife, absorbed the hard punches and kicks, looking for an opening to strike. And when she least expected it? Vic came from behind providing a chokehold that turned Jade’s job into a piece of cake. The dust that filled the room might as well feel like confetti for Jade when she plunged her stake one last time.  

She panted, trying and failing to suppress the celebratory smile as she glanced at Vic. Fine, it was a little badass of them. She didn’t have to make a big deal out of it. Not that there was any time to unpack what had just gone down in the storage room, cause the music was still blasting in her head, danger was still right around the corner, literally, steps approaching in a hurry. “Barricade the door,” she heaved, picking up the metallic chair, and pointing at the desk behind them. 

—

Beneath the chaos, Vic couldn’t do more than flail aimlessly.  What had, at first, felt like a fight she was winning was quickly turning into an overwhelming mess of limbs seeking vengeance for her crimes.  She could take one or two people at a time, sure, but six or seven?  There was a moment, small and fleeting, where she almost let them win.  It would be easy to stop fighting, to let them overtake her, to let them think they won (and maybe they should have, because she deserved it).  But then she thought about the ‘puppy’ pancake kit Rosie had picked out, waiting at home for breakfast tomorrow, and the load of laundry in the dryer still waiting to be folded, and the sweet, strong, baby girl that had no one else in the world but her.  There was not another moment of doubt or submission from Vic after that.

Especially not when it seemed like the numbers attacking her were actually dwindling, even if only slightly.  Jade must have done something to warrant her attackers (or said something to warrant them, because boy did she know how to invite annoyance), but not surprisingly, she was handling them with a sort of athletic grace only a trained hunter could manage.  For a moment, Vic’s thoughts flashed back to Rosie, and the slayer blood that flowed through her.  But the badassery, and the fact that less vampires were on her, spurred a new surge of energy within her. 

She felt around on the floor with her free hand, looking for the forgotten stake, the other busy grabbing a vampire’s ponytail from above her and using it to pull his head down hard against the cement. Apparently with enough force to knock the weakling out.  She couldn’t help but grin at the victory as she turned over to stand up.  It would have been cause for celebration, too, if four hands hadn’t grabbed her before she could have and slammed her against the wall, one pressing a knife to her throat. Shit.

Now these vampires, she recognized.  They had been around for a long time, since well before she’d infiltrated their lot, but they weren’t part of the original group she’d manipulated.  Instead, these two always seemed to have it out for her, and were (rightfully) suspicious from the moment she entered Simon’s graces.  The years had not been kind to them.  “If I could remember your names, I’d ask if you’ve heard of this incredible modern invention called skincare”, she spat, her chin rising higher to avoid the sharp coolness of the blade.  In her peripheral vision, she could see Jade overcoming yet another fight, and (after an apparent millisecond of hesitation), walking toward them with an expression Vic didn’t quite recognize.

As they briefly made eye contact, Vic couldn’t help but wonder- was she joining Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum in their revenge quest, or was she coming to save the day?

She figured it wouldn’t hurt to be optimistic for once (what she was about to say would be really embarrassing if she was wrong).

“It’s a shame my buddies didn’t finish the job here all those years ago when they had the chance, but I guess Bad Breath Bertha gets to take care of that now”, she hissed.  And in the knick of time, Jade proved her optimism right (thank GOD), and took down Tweedle Dum faster than she realized who Bad Breath Bertha even was.  With one of her captors dead and the other distracted, Vic used the free moment to look around the room, for an out- or for anything that might grant them one, when she noticed a grate in the corner wall, one that had been hidden by the care she maimed Simon with earlier.

When she looked to tell Jade the good news, she was reminded that they were, in fact, still in a fight, and it didn’t look like Jade was doing too hot either.  Without hesitation (embarrassing), Vic jumped on the vampire’s back, wrapping an arm around his neck and giving Jade an out to finally finish the job.

She hated that her first reaction was to smirk as she and Jade finally looked at each other.  Should they hug?  High five?  Someone really needed to write a book about the proper way to react when your lifelong (okay, 5 months-long) enemy suddenly became the most adept fighting partner you ever had.  

Before Jade’s instructions even came, Vic heard more footsteps trying to cautiously approach them, and she knew instantly what they had to do.   “No”, she said, getting to work on her other task, the one that might actually get them out of there for good.  “You do it”.

She didn’t wait to see if Jade got to work, instead going over to the small grate, yanking at it to no avail.  She looked around the chaos the fight had left behind, spotted a wrench, and whacked the grate as hard as she could, finally watching as it bent to her will (what was this, Half Life?).  She whacked it again and again, until the grate was so warped that she could pull it out easily.  She peaked inside, seeing a vent system with seemingly no end.  But it didn’t smell bad, and she swore she could hear water running on the other end of it.  

Taking the wrench, she went back over to Jade, helping her lift a table and a few more chairs in front of the door, buying them at least a few extra minutes of thugs trying to figure out the best way through.  With a grunt, she forced the wrench between the door handle and the door, an smiled proudly at their work.  “You work fast”, she complimented, then gestured toward their exit.  

“Hope you can swim…” she said.  Truthfully, she had no idea what was waiting for them at the end of the vent… weather it b a disgusting river of waste, a dirty old highway, or even the rest of Jade’s Bloodworth crew.  Anything had to be better than this.  She gestured for Jade to start crawling through, figuring it’d be better if she were in the back, in case the thugs happened to get through and figure out where they went.  The question, though, would be if Jade would go for her plan.

—

It would’ve been so freaking easy to overreact when Penny (Vic, get with the program) told her no. Like, getting snippy with each other was just how their dynamic went. That didn’t change cause Jade kept a few pointy stakes away from her. But she trusted the process, trusted that if Vic said no, it was cause there was another option that would save her life. She trusted the vampire’s survival instinct (which, given she’d lasted a few centuries, it must’ve been a good one) (far better than hers). So when the woman went her own way, Jade turned to the task of barricading the door. She got the chair, then stacked a few boxes on top and around it. All in all, they got lucky it was a storage room. Cause she got as many things as she could against the door. Even the small little decorative cactus on top of the desk. 

Behind her, she could hear Vic struggling with something. Something that required physical strength by the sounds of it. Jade glanced back just once, and spotted Vic whacking something in the corner. Did she find an exit? See? Trust the process. She might dislike Vic just a little less right now, actually. Cause they had a chance to get out, potentially. She didn’t know what was on the other side of the grate, but it had to be better than nothing. Better than being stuck in a storage room letting time pass until another flock of vampires got the best of them. So she continued throwing everything she found at the door. It would take minutes for whoever came around to push it open. A few minutes were all she and Vic needed anyway. 

Something metallic clattered to the ground, and Jade knew Vic had slammed the grate open. Which was further confirmed when Vic rushed to the door and helped her with the table. The wrench was forced into the door handle, adding a few extra seconds to stop the incoming crowd. She was so deep in slayer mode that she didn’t even register Vic’s compliment until a few beats later, when they moved toward the grate. “Well duh, you were… pretty okay out there too, or whatever” she shrugged, hand waving whatever warm moment Vic was trying to launch, cause they were about to be stuck in some sort of small space together for the foreseeable future. She didn’t want things to feel weirder than they should. (She wasn’t fooling anyone anymore. Not even herself, which was… tragic) (But she was knee deep in a life or dead type of quest right now and she didn’t wanna unpack everything she was doing for another vampire).

She peered into the hole, seeing nothing but darkness ahead. And some splish splash very, very far in the distance. Vic was guessing the same thing as her. “I wish I’d know… I would’ve brought my hottest swimsuit,” she sighed dramatically, pausing when she realized Vic wanted her to go first. Jade was not stupid, and again… she couldn’t fool herself anymore. A few months ago (actually, even a few weeks ago) she would’ve joked about how Vic wanted Jade to go first cause that way, she could be the first to face a potential death at the end of the vent. Obviously. Cause Vic was a coward or whatever she would’ve said then. Now though, having seen the other woman fight her own kind to get back to her daughter, she couldn’t see her decision to go last as anything but a protective measure. Which was… ew. So weird, why would… Why did she have to think about this stuff? It was also stupid, anyway. Cause… didn’t Vic’s life have way more meaning than Jade’s? Despite her lack of heartbeat, she was the one with the white picket fence, and cute hallmark life. Zara Larsson’s Symphony probably played in the background too, with the gay dolphins and the rainbows.  

“Fine, don’t stare at my butt, though,” she grumbled with an eyeroll, just as a loud thud came from the other side of the door. Shoot. Jade kneeled and began crawling down the vent. “And put the grate back on, at least it’ll give us another few seconds before they figure it out,” she pointed out, slipping inside with ease. It was hard not to think about worms wiggling their way to freedom. Which made her think of Regan, which spur her on to get back home as fast as she could. They both had something important waiting for them. And, despite what she’d been led to believe her whole life, she thought it was fair that both of them got to have it. (Just this once, for the record. It was called an exception. Her D was still…functioning) (Three exceptions still counted as exceptions, right?). She heard Vic behind her, trying to seal back the vent as best as possible with the whacked grate. Meanwhile, the sounds of struggle from the vampires trying to get in intensified. But that didn’t matter anymore. Jade tasted victory, the soundtrack in her head had skipped forward from fight scene to escape montage. And they were off…To what was probably going to be a super wet landing. But that was alright, that was all good. Jade preferred it that way.

[sohannabarberaesque]

Postcards from Snagglepuss

There's nothing like having the World's Greatest Coffee for (and with) breakfast

LOU MITCHELL'S DINER, CHICAGO: Practically at the eastern end of the legendary Route 66 is a practically legendary diner as is itself something of a Chicago staple for over a century now ... and what makes their coffee the self-proclaimed World's Greatest is:

their grinding each pot fresh from light-roasted whole beans;

their filtering out the water to remove chlorine and other impurities seen as affecting coffee taste;

their having the brewing water at precise temperatures; and

their serving it in glass-lined urns to keep such hot and fresh.

Which explains Lou Mitchell's being such an exceptional place for breakfast in the "old school" manner without getting too tacky or too pretentious, no doubt explaining the lines for service every morning. Thankfully, Huckleberry Hound and yours truly managed to arrive just before the 6 am opening time and managed to get a booth seat facing Jackson Boulevard ... as well as getting an early pot of coffee and a meat lover's hobo omlette (that's your basic omlette with shredded hash brown potatoes mixed in) for myself and a malted pecal waffle for Oh-So-Merry Chuckleberry.

"I just have to admit," Huckleberry remarked, "this is pretty close to our kind of diner." To which yours truly responded, "Pretty much simplistic, unpretentious for the most part ... and having something of a comfort-leaning menu, even!" Which probably didn't stop the queue out on the street noticing us as we were sitting beside a window. Nor, for that matter, finding the likes of the Hair Bear Bunch sitting close by us, also choosing some of Lou Mitchell's legendary breakfast offerings with that legendary coffee.

Asked I to the madcap ursine trio, "How did you manage to come here so early?"

Hair Bear replied, "Square's Invisible Motorcycle--how else?"

Which reminded us that our motorhome was still in winter storage with Crazy Claws back in Wisconsin Dells, and that it might not be a bad idea to get such readied for the road, especially with as much Spring Break ahead and Easter being somewhat early this year.

"Uh, speaking of Easter," remarked Huckleberry, "do you think some class of Easter parade might be in order for us Funtastic types?"

"Unofficially, understandably," I added. "More or less an informal promenade--" (Inspiration struck me here) "How about working in the Cattanooga Cats to host our ur-Easter Parade along the alleys of Gatlinburg's tourist districts, along the Parkway even?"

"I think you have given us a rather fascinating Character Convocation right there and then" was how Huckleberry put it in that laid-back manner of his.

And at any rate, it was felt best to get back over to Wisconsin Dells and get the motorhome back and readied for another summer ... and therewith Union Station provided the answer. But that's for next time.

*************

@warnerbrosentertainment @groovybribri @indigo-corvus @jellystone-enjoyer @ultrakeencollectionbreadfan @iheartgod175 @archive-archives @themineralyoucrave @thebigdingle @thylordshipofbutts @screamingtoosoftly @warnerbros-blog1 @xdiver71 @artistic-octopus @theweekenddigest @funtasticworld @warnerbrosent-blog

[crowninterior]

Transform Your Living Space with the Best Home Interior Designer Near Me

When it comes to creating a beautiful, functional, and comfortable living space, hiring a professional home interior designer is not just a luxury—it's a smart decision. If you’ve been endlessly Googling home interior designer near me your search ends with Crown Interior Studio, Ahmedabad's trusted name in premium home interiors.

🏠 Why You Need a Home Interior Designer Near You

Choosing a local interior designer comes with major benefits:

Easy communication

Quick site visits

Understanding of local style, materials & vendors

Faster execution with better coordination

A nearby designer like Crown Interior Studio allows for more collaborative, personalized, and efficient execution of your dream home project.

🎨 Crown Interior Studio – Making Every Home a Masterpiece

Located at Shop No. 3, Hash Complex, beside Police Line, near Nagri Eye Hospital, I P Mission Compound, Ellisbridge, Ahmedabad, Crown Interior Studio stands out for its creative approach, elegant designs, and client-focused services. Their team believes your home should reflect your personality, lifestyle, and comfort.

📞 Call Now: 099253 18986

💡 Services Tailored for Every Homeowner

Crown Interior Studio offers a wide range of services to make your dream home a reality:

Stylish Living Room & Bedroom Interiors

Modern Modular Kitchens & Storage Solutions

Custom Wardrobe Designs & Space Planning

Unique Wall Treatments & Ceiling Concepts

Ambient Lighting Solutions

Turnkey Execution — from concept to completion

Whether you want a minimalist space or a luxurious theme, Crown Interior Studio brings precision, creativity, and warmth to every project.

🛋️ Designed for You, Delivered Locally

Searching for a “home interior designer near me” shouldn’t mean compromising on quality. Crown Interior Studio combines local expertise with world-class design standards, making sure your home is not just stylish but also highly liveable.

They prioritize:

✔️ Your taste ✔️ Your budget ✔️ Your timeline

📍 Your Dream Home Is Just a Call Away

Stop scrolling and start planning! If you're looking for a home interior designer near me in Ahmedabad who listens, understands, and delivers beyond expectations, Crown Interior Studio is the partner you've been waiting for.

📍 Visit Us: Shop No. 3, Hash Complex, Near Nagri Eye Hospital, Ellisbridge, Ahmedabad 📞 Contact: 099253 18986

[askzenixtechnologies]

Why Laravel Is the Right Choice for Your Next Web Application Project

Choosing the right framework is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when starting a web development project. It influences not just how efficiently your application can be built, but also its long-term maintainability, performance, and scalability. Among the many options available today, Laravel continues to be a preferred choice for developers and businesses alike.

Here’s a closer look at what makes Laravel an ideal framework for modern web applications.

What Is Laravel?

Laravel is an open-source PHP framework designed to make web application development more efficient and enjoyable. Created by Taylor Otwell in 2011, Laravel follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern and offers a range of built-in tools that simplify common development tasks such as routing, authentication, and session management.

Thanks to its clean syntax and powerful feature set, Laravel has become one of the most popular frameworks in the PHP ecosystem.

Key Advantages of Using Laravel

1. Clean and Readable Syntax

Laravel was built with developer productivity in mind. Its clear and elegant syntax makes code easy to write, read, and maintain, which helps streamline the development process and reduces the likelihood of errors.

2. Comprehensive Built-in Features

Laravel provides solutions for many tasks that typically require additional development or third-party tools in other frameworks. From user authentication and data validation to caching, file storage, and session handling — Laravel covers it all, allowing projects to launch faster without compromising on quality.

3. Strong Security Capabilities

Laravel prioritizes security with features that protect against the most common vulnerabilities, including:

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)

SQL Injection

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

Secure password hashing

These built-in protections help safeguard applications and user data from potential threats.

4. Scalability and High Performance

Whether you’re developing a small business website or a large enterprise application, Laravel can scale as your needs grow. It supports tools like job queues, event broadcasting, and caching strategies that help maintain high performance even as your application traffic increases.

5. Rich Ecosystem and Packages

Laravel offers a vast ecosystem of official and community-maintained packages that extend its functionality. Tools like:

Laravel Horizon for managing queue systems

Laravel Nova for building modern admin panels

Laravel Sanctum and Passport for API authentication

These resources allow developers to quickly integrate advanced features and focus on business-specific functionality.

6. Excellent Community Support and Documentation

Laravel is backed by a large, active developer community and extensive official documentation. This makes it easy to find solutions, best practices, and development resources, reducing the time and effort required to troubleshoot issues or learn new features.

7. API-First Capabilities

For applications that rely heavily on external services or need to serve as a backend for mobile and frontend frameworks, Laravel offers seamless API development tools. Its built-in HTTP client and resource classes simplify integrating with third-party APIs and building RESTful services.

When to Consider Laravel for Your Project

Laravel is an ideal framework for projects such as:

Custom business applications

E-commerce websites

SaaS platforms

CRM and ERP systems

Online booking platforms

Real-time applications requiring notifications and data streaming

If your project demands flexibility, security, and the ability to scale efficiently, Laravel provides a reliable and future-proof foundation.

Conclusion

Laravel has earned its reputation as a powerful and versatile framework for a reason. With its clean syntax, extensive features, and strong focus on security and scalability, it’s an excellent choice for businesses aiming to build reliable, modern web applications.

Partnering with an experienced Laravel development company ensures you’ll get the most out of what the framework has to offer — delivering a web solution that’s built to perform and grow alongside your business

[bfitgroup]

Tips For Cracking Amazon, Google, And Microsoft Interviews

A large portion of youths nurtures a dream of cracking an interview at the tech giants of the world, such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, and securing a job there. Do you know the reason behind it? Well, there are a number of reasons that support this and allure the youths towards it, such as career and overall growth, earning potential, work-life balance, salability, effective office culture, availability of innovative technology, and many more.

All these advantages together support the individuals to appear in front of these companies’ hiring team and crack Amazon, Google, and Microsoft interviews. So do you belong to such an area of population who have the same dream? If so, then look at the information given in this blog to know how to crack the interview and secure a dream job there.

Prepare For FAANG Interviews: Follow These Steps For A Successful Hiring

A notice for hiring invites a number of candidates and fills them with an urge to apply for an interview. But things become difficult when it comes to preparing for the interview because with it a lot of stress and confusion come along the way and make it hard to choose the right thing to bring ease. To help you in the preparation, we have mentioned some of the effective strategies that you can follow and prepare for FAANG interviews.

Prepare Technical Aspects

One of the important steps to follow in order to master the strategy of clearing the interview is to prepare the technical aspects, such as data structures and algorithms. Keep a good command of linked lists, arrays, heaps, queues, hash maps, trees, strings, stacks, and graphs. Along with this, keep focus on graph traversal, sorting, sliding window, searching, backtracking, recursion, and dynamic programming. Using LeetCode, Codeforces, InterviewBit, and HackerRank are also good for practice. At last, do practice by solving various kinds of problems.

Learn System Design

It is also very crucial to learn system designs if you are applying for mid or senior-level roles. In order to do so, first start with basics such as sharding, load balancing, CAP theorem, caching, and consistency models. Along with this, you can learn designs such as scalable storage, recommendation systems, URL shortener, and chat apps to enhance the chances of selection. Do not avoid it as it is one of the most crucial tech interview tips for top companies that you can practice before facing the interview panel.

Keep The Command On Low-level Design

Have a good practice of object relationships, class diagrams, and design patterns. Coupled with this, you can also practice use cases such as parking lots, elevator systems, and book readers. This is one of the important tech interview tips for top companies that you should not miss out on anyhow.

Own A Language Perfectly

It is very important to have a good knowledge of any one programming language to crack Amazon, Google, Microsoft interviews, such as Python, C++, Java….

To read more, Visit: https://bfitgroup.in/tips-for-cracking-amazon-google-microsoft-interviews/

[learning-code-ficusoft]

Provide insights into securing Java web and desktop applications.

Securing Java web and desktop applications requires a combination of best practices, security libraries, and frameworks to prevent vulnerabilities like SQL injection, XSS, CSRF, and unauthorized access. Here’s a deep dive into key security measures:

1. Secure Authentication and Authorization

Use Strong Authentication Mechanisms

Implement OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, or SAML for authentication.

Use Spring Security for web applications.

Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for added security.

Example (Spring Security Basic Authentication in Java Web App)java@Configuration @EnableWebSecurity public class SecurityConfig { @Bean public SecurityFilterChain securityFilterChain(HttpSecurity http) throws Exception { http .authorizeHttpRequests(auth -> auth .requestMatchers("/admin/**").hasRole("ADMIN") .anyRequest().authenticated()) .httpBasic(); return http.build(); } }Implement Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Define roles and permissions for users.

Use JWT (JSON Web Tokens) for securing APIs.

Example (Securing API using JWT in Spring Boot)javapublic class JwtUtil { private static final String SECRET_KEY = "secureKey"; public String generateToken(String username) { return Jwts.builder() .setSubject(username) .setIssuedAt(new Date()) .setExpiration(new Date(System.currentTimeMillis() + 1000 * 60 * 60)) .signWith(SignatureAlgorithm.HS256, SECRET_KEY) .compact(); } }

2. Secure Data Storage and Transmission

Use Secure Communication (HTTPS & TLS)

Use TLS 1.2+ for encrypting data in transit.

Enforce HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security).

Encrypt Sensitive Data

Store passwords using bcrypt, PBKDF2, or Argon2.

Use AES-256 for encrypting sensitive data.

Example (Hashing Passwords in Java)javaimport org.mindrot.jbcrypt.BCrypt;public class PasswordSecurity { public static String hashPassword(String password) { return BCrypt.hashpw(password, BCrypt.gensalt(12)); } public static boolean verifyPassword(String password, String hashedPassword) { return BCrypt.checkpw(password, hashedPassword); } }

Use Secure Database Connections

Use parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection.

Disable database user permissions that are not required.

Example (Using Prepared Statements in JDBC)javaPreparedStatement stmt = connection.prepareStatement("SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = ?"); stmt.setString(1, username); ResultSet rs = stmt.executeQuery();

3. Protect Against Common Web Vulnerabilities

Prevent SQL Injection

Always use ORM frameworks (Hibernate, JPA) to manage queries securely.

Mitigate Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

Escape user input in web views using OWASP Java Encoder.

Use Content Security Policy (CSP) headers.

Prevent Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)

Use CSRF tokens in forms.

Enable CSRF protection in Spring Security.

Example (Enabling CSRF Protection in Spring Security)javahttp.csrf().csrfTokenRepository(CookieCsrfTokenRepository.withHttpOnlyFalse());

4. Secure File Uploads and Deserialization

Validate File Uploads

Restrict allowed file types (e.g., only images, PDFs).

Use virus scanning (e.g., ClamAV).

Example (Checking File Type in Java)javaif (!file.getContentType().equals("application/pdf")) { throw new SecurityException("Invalid file type"); }

Avoid Untrusted Deserialization

Use whitelisting for allowed classes.

Prefer JSON over Java serialization.

Example (Disable Unsafe Object Deserialization in Java)javaObjectInputStream ois = new ObjectInputStream(inputStream) { @Override protected Class<?> resolveClass(ObjectStreamClass desc) throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException { throw new InvalidClassException("Deserialization is not allowed"); } };

5. Secure Desktop Java Applications

Use Code Signing

Sign JAR files using Java Keytool to prevent tampering.

shjarsigner -keystore mykeystore.jks -signedjar SecureApp.jar MyApp.jar myaliasRestrict JavaFX/Swing Application Permissions

Use Java Security Manager (deprecated but useful for legacy apps).

Restrict access to file system, network, and system properties.

Encrypt Local Data Storage

Use AES encryption for storing local files.

Example (Encrypting Files with AES in Java)javaCipher cipher = Cipher.getInstance("AES"); cipher.init(Cipher.ENCRYPT_MODE, new SecretKeySpec(key, "AES")); byte[] encrypted = cipher.doFinal(data);

6. Logging and Monitoring for Security

Use Secure Logging Frameworks

Use logback or SLF4J.

Avoid logging sensitive data like passwords.

Monitor for Anomalies

Implement Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS).

Use audit trails and security alerts.

7. Best Practices for Securing Java Applications

✅ Keep dependencies up to date (Use OWASP Dependency Check). ✅ Run security scans (SAST, DAST) using SonarQube, Checkmarx. ✅ Apply the principle of least privilege for database and API access. ✅ Enforce strong password policies (min length, special characters). ✅ Use API Gateway and rate limiting for public-facing APIs.

Conclusion

Securing Java web and desktop applications requires multi-layered security across authentication, data protection, and vulnerability mitigation. By following best practices like strong encryption, secure coding techniques, and continuous monitoring, developers can protect applications against cyber threats.

WEBSITE: https://www.ficusoft.in/core-java-training-in-chennai/

[korshubudemycoursesblog]

Mastering Data Structures Using Python: A Complete Guide

When learning programming, mastering Data Structures Using Python is one of the most critical milestones. Python, known for its simplicity and versatility, is a perfect language to delve into data structures, which form the backbone of efficient algorithms. In this blog, we’ll explore the essential data structures in Python, how to use them, and why they’re so vital in programming.

Why Learn Data Structures Using Python?

1. Simplifies Complex Operations

Python's built-in libraries and clean syntax make implementing data structures intuitive. Whether you’re manipulating arrays or designing trees, Python minimizes complexity.

2. High Demand for Python Programmers

The demand for professionals with expertise in Python for data structures is skyrocketing, especially in fields like data science, artificial intelligence, and software engineering.

3. A Foundation for Problem-Solving

Understanding data structures like lists, stacks, queues, and trees equips you to solve complex computational problems efficiently.

What Are Data Structures?

At their core, data structures are ways of organizing and storing data to perform operations like retrieval, insertion, and deletion efficiently. There are two main types:

Linear Data Structures: Data is stored sequentially (e.g., arrays, linked lists).

Non-Linear Data Structures: Data is stored hierarchically (e.g., trees, graphs).

Python, with its versatile libraries, offers tools to implement both types seamlessly.

Essential Data Structures in Python

1. Lists

One of Python's most versatile data structures, lists are dynamic arrays that can store heterogeneous data types.

Example:

python

Copy code

# Creating a list

fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]

print(fruits[1])  # Output: banana

Features of Lists:

Mutable (elements can be changed).

Supports slicing and iteration.

Used extensively in Python programming for simple data organization.

2. Tuples

Tuples are immutable sequences, often used for fixed collections of items.

Example:

python

Copy code

# Creating a tuple

coordinates = (10, 20)

print(coordinates[0])  # Output: 10

Key Benefits:

Faster than lists due to immutability.

Commonly used in scenarios where data integrity is crucial.

3. Dictionaries

Dictionaries in Python implement hash maps and are perfect for key-value storage.

Example:

python

Copy code

# Creating a dictionary

student = {"name": "John", "age": 22}

print(student["name"])  # Output: John

Why Use Dictionaries?

Quick lookups.

Ideal for scenarios like counting occurrences, storing configurations, etc.

4. Sets

Sets are unordered collections of unique elements, useful for removing duplicates or performing mathematical set operations.

Example:

python

Copy code

# Using sets

numbers = {1, 2, 3, 4, 4}

print(numbers)  # Output: {1, 2, 3, 4}

Applications:

Used in tasks requiring unique data points, such as intersection or union operations.

Advanced Data Structures in Python

1. Stacks

Stacks are linear data structures following the LIFO (Last In, First Out) principle.

Implementation:

python

Copy code

stack = []

stack.append(10)

stack.append(20)

print(stack.pop())  # Output: 20

Use Cases:

Undo operations in text editors.

Browser backtracking functionality.

2. Queues

Queues follow the FIFO (First In, First Out) principle and are used for tasks requiring sequential processing.

Implementation:

python

Copy code

from collections import deque

queue = deque()

queue.append(1)

queue.append(2)

print(queue.popleft())  # Output: 1

Applications:

Customer service simulations.

Process scheduling in operating systems.

3. Linked Lists

Unlike arrays, linked lists store data in nodes connected via pointers.

Types:

Singly Linked Lists

Doubly Linked Lists

Example:

python

Copy code

class Node:

    def __init__(self, data):

        self.data = data

        self.next = None

# Creating nodes

node1 = Node(10)

node2 = Node(20)

node1.next = node2

Benefits:

Efficient insertion and deletion.

Commonly used in dynamic memory allocation.

4. Trees

Trees are hierarchical structures used to represent relationships.

Types:

Binary Trees

Binary Search Trees

Heaps

Example:

python

Copy code

class TreeNode:

    def __init__(self, data):

        self.data = data

        self.left = None

        self.right = None

Applications:

Databases.

Routing algorithms.

5. Graphs

Graphs consist of nodes (vertices) connected by edges.

Representation:

Adjacency List

Adjacency Matrix

Example:

python

Copy code

graph = { 

    "A": ["B", "C"],

    "B": ["A", "D"],

    "C": ["A", "D"],

    "D": ["B", "C"]

}

Applications:

Social networks.

Navigation systems.

Why Python Stands Out for Data Structures

1. Built-In Libraries

Python simplifies data structure implementation with libraries like collections and heapq.

2. Readable Syntax

Beginners and experts alike find Python's syntax intuitive, making learning data structures using Python easier.

3. Versatility

From simple algorithms to complex applications, Python adapts to all.

Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

1. Understanding Concepts

Some learners struggle with abstract concepts like recursion or tree traversal. Watching tutorial videos or practicing coding challenges can help.

2. Memory Management

Efficient use of memory is critical, especially for large-scale data. Python's garbage collection minimizes these issues.

3. Debugging

Using tools like Python’s pdb debugger helps troubleshoot problems effectively.

[analytiqlearning]

Exploring Data Structures with Java: A Comprehensive Guide

Data Structures with Java: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding data structures is crucial for anyone looking to advance in software development. For those interested in mastering Java, data structures form a vital component of their learning journey. This guide dives into the fundamentals of data structures, how they work in Java, and why they’re essential in coding applications.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer, exploring data structures with Java can unlock new opportunities, especially if you're considering a Java class in Pune or a Java course in Pune with placement. With hands-on experience in Java courses in Pune, you’ll develop practical skills that are highly valued by tech companies.

What Are Data Structures?

Data structures are ways of organizing and storing data efficiently so that it can be used effectively. Different data structures offer different ways to handle data, influencing aspects like processing speed and storage requirements. In Java, understanding the appropriate data structure for a specific problem is essential for building optimized and scalable applications.

Data structures are generally divided into:

Linear Data Structures: Arrays, linked lists, stacks, and queues.

Non-linear Data Structures: Trees, graphs, heaps, and hash tables.

With a structured Java course in Pune with placement, you'll dive deeper into each data structure, gaining hands-on experience with real-world scenarios.

Why Are Data Structures Important in Java?

Java is widely recognized for its platform independence, object-oriented features, and extensive libraries. In any Java class in Pune, you’ll learn how data structures enhance Java's capabilities by enabling efficient management of data. Key benefits include:

Faster Execution: Data structures help in reducing the execution time of programs by minimizing data access time.

Efficient Storage: They help in organizing data, allowing programs to function effectively even with large datasets.

Improved Code Quality: Using the right data structure simplifies code and reduces maintenance.

Commonly Used Data Structures in Java

Understanding the commonly used data structures is a fundamental aspect of any Java courses in Pune. Let's look at some widely used data structures in Java and their real-world applications.

1. Arrays

An array is a collection of elements stored in contiguous memory locations. It is one of the simplest data structures and is used to store fixed-size data collections. Arrays are great for storing data like a list of user names or numerical values. In a Java class in Pune, you’ll explore how arrays work and how they can be manipulated in Java.

Example:

int[] numbers = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};

for (int i = 0; i < numbers.length; i++) {

    System.out.println(numbers[i]);

}

2. Linked Lists

Linked lists consist of nodes, where each node contains a data field and a reference to the next node in the sequence. They are flexible in size and allow for efficient insertion and deletion. Java course in Pune with placement programs often focus on linked lists because they form the backbone of more complex data structures.

Example:

class Node {

    int data;

    Node next;

    Node(int d) { data = d; next = null; }

}

3. Stack

A stack is a linear data structure that follows a Last In, First Out (LIFO) order. Java's Stack class offers methods like push and pop for adding and removing elements. Learning stacks in a Java class in Pune helps develop a fundamental understanding of memory management in applications.

Example:

Stack<Integer> stack = new Stack<>();

stack.push(10);

stack.push(20);

System.out.println(stack.pop()); // Output: 20

4. Queue

Queues follow a First In, First Out (FIFO) order. They are commonly used in applications such as customer service systems. In Java courses in Pune, you’ll see how queues help in processing data efficiently, making them ideal for order processing.

Example:

Queue<Integer> queue = new LinkedList<>();

queue.add(10);

queue.add(20);

System.out.println(queue.poll()); // Output: 10

5. Trees

Trees are non-linear data structures, with nodes arranged in a hierarchical manner. Binary trees, binary search trees, and AVL trees are different tree types. They are crucial in data organization, making them a staple topic in any Java course in Pune with placement.

Example:

class TreeNode {

    int data;

    TreeNode left, right;

    public TreeNode(int data) {

        this.data = data;

        left = right = null;

    }

}

6. Graphs

Graphs consist of nodes (vertices) connected by edges. They are useful in real-world applications like social networks, recommendation engines, and mapping. Graphs are often covered in Java classes in Pune, as they require an understanding of advanced data handling and traversal techniques.

7. Hash Tables

Hash tables store data in key-value pairs and offer constant-time data access. Java's HashMap class makes it easy to implement hash tables, which are used in caching, database indexing, and associative arrays. Through Java courses in Pune, you’ll understand hash tables’ critical role in managing large data sets effectively.

Advantages of Learning Data Structures in Java

With demand for skilled developers on the rise, Java courses in Pune have gained traction, especially for their focus on practical implementation and problem-solving skills. Here’s why learning data structures with Java is valuable:

Job Market Demand: Proficiency in data structures and Java opens up numerous job opportunities, particularly in software development, data science, and engineering.

Comprehensive Curriculum: A Java course in Pune with placement often includes in-depth modules on data structures, algorithms, and advanced Java topics. With placement assistance, it becomes easier to land a job right after completing the course.

Hands-On Projects: Many Java classes in Pune emphasize projects that allow students to apply their knowledge of data structures to real-world problems, enhancing practical understanding.

Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills: Data structures improve your ability to design solutions efficiently. This is highly valued in tech interviews, where companies test your logical and analytical skills.

Choosing the Right Java Course in Pune

Choosing the right Java course can make a significant difference in your career trajectory. When looking for a Java course in Pune with placement, consider factors like the course curriculum, industry relevance, and practical exposure. Java classes in Pune that cover comprehensive data structure modules help you stay competitive in the fast-evolving tech field.

Key Highlights of the Best Java Courses in Pune

Experienced Instructors: Learn from seasoned professionals who bring industry insights into the classroom.

Placement Support: Opt for a Java course in Pune with placement to secure career opportunities post-completion.

Project-Based Learning: Ensure the course includes hands-on projects on data structures.

Networking Opportunities: Join a network of peers and professionals, gaining insights and support as you advance in your career.

Conclusion

Data structures are an essential aspect of Java programming, shaping how data is stored, managed, and processed. A comprehensive Java class in Pune will equip you with the theoretical understanding and practical skills needed to apply data structures effectively. Enrolling in a Java course in Pune with placement offers the added advantage of hands-on experience and job assistance, making it an ideal choice for aspiring Java developers.

In summary, understanding data structures is crucial for efficient Java programming. With the right Java courses in Pune, you’ll build a strong foundation in data handling techniques that will serve you well in the software industry. Whether you’re just starting or looking to advance your skills, mastering data structures with Java will undoubtedly enhance your coding capabilities and employability.

[visiondsc]

"Revolutionize Your Business with Digital Signatures: Secure, Fast, and Legally Compliant"

Here's an updated version of the blog with a reference to Vision Enterprises:

The Power of Digital Signatures: Transforming the Way We Do Business

In today’s digital age, efficiency, security, and speed are key to running a successful business. One of the critical tools helping companies streamline their operations is the digital signature. It has revolutionized the way contracts, agreements, and legal documents are managed, providing businesses with a faster and more secure way to authenticate documents. But what exactly is a digital signature, and why is it important for businesses?

What is a Digital Signature?

A digital signature is an electronic form of a signature that provides a secure and convenient way to authenticate the identity of the signer and ensure the integrity of the signed document. It uses cryptographic techniques to bind a digital fingerprint (hash) of a document with the signer’s identity, offering enhanced security over traditional handwritten signatures.

Why Are Digital Signatures Important?

1. Security and Authenticity

Digital signatures provide a higher level of security by encrypting the data and confirming the identity of the signer, ensuring that the document remains tamper-proof. This level of security is crucial for sensitive documents such as contracts, financial agreements, and legal paperwork.

2. Time-Saving and Efficient

With digital signatures, businesses can sign contracts, agreements, and other important documents instantly, regardless of location. Vision Enterprises makes it easy for companies to manage their documents online, helping to eliminate the delays caused by mailing or faxing physical copies.

3. Cost-Effective

Going digital means saving on costs associated with printing, paper, courier services, and storage. By using digital signatures through Vision Enterprises, you can reduce expenses and streamline document handling.

4. Global Acceptance and Legal Compliance

Digital signatures are legally recognized in India under the Information Technology Act 2000, and are accepted globally. This allows businesses to operate confidently across borders. Vision Enterprises helps businesses stay compliant with industry regulations by providing legally valid Digital Signature Certificates (DSCs).

5. Eco-Friendly

By reducing the need for paper and printing, businesses contribute to environmental sustainability. Vision Enterprises supports companies in making the shift to a paperless office, thereby helping reduce their carbon footprint.

Applications of Digital Signatures

Vision Enterprises offers Digital Signature Certificates (DSCs) that are versatile and can be used across various industries, including:

Business Contracts: Streamline signing processes with secure, legally binding digital signatures.

Government Filings: For tasks such as GST registration, Income Tax filings, and e-Tendering, Vision Enterprises provides the necessary DSCs to comply with government requirements.

E-Tendering and Procurement: Companies that submit tenders can benefit from digital signatures by speeding up the bidding process and securing documents online.

Legal Agreements: Ensure legal agreements are signed quickly and securely using Vision Enterprises’ trusted DSC solutions.

How Vision Enterprises Can Help

At Vision Enterprises, we specialize in providing Digital Signature Certificates (DSCs) that meet your business's specific needs. Whether you're looking for Class 3 DSCs for e-tendering, GST, or any other official documentation, we offer expert consultancy and support.

Our services include:

Digital Signature Registration and Renewal

Guidance on choosing the right DSC for your needs

E-Tendering support and digital document management

End-to-end consultancy for government and private sector document submissions

Why Choose Vision Enterprises?

Located in Bhopal, Vision Enterprises is your trusted partner for all things related to digital signatures. With a reputation built on trust and efficiency, our experts ensure that businesses stay ahead of the curve in an increasingly digital world. We offer personalized services, and our team is committed to providing the best solutions for your digital signature needs.

For more information, visit our website www.visiondsc.com or contact us at 9425602647 to get started today.

Conclusion

Digital signatures are transforming how businesses operate by making document handling faster, safer, and more cost-effective. With Vision Enterprises, you get the expertise and support to seamlessly integrate digital signatures into your business, ensuring that you stay ahead in the competitive digital landscape.

This version highlights the role of Vision Enterprises in providing digital signature services while promoting the benefits of digital signatures for businesses.

[darkevilclub]

Understanding Basic Data Types in Solidity: A Simple Guide

Introduction to Solidity and Smart Contracts Solidity is the programming language at the heart of Ethereum's smart contract ecosystem. Smart contracts are self-executing contracts where the terms are written directly into code, offering transparency, immutability, and automation. Let's break down what goes into creating your first smart contract and explore the data types that give these contracts their structure. Your First Solidity Contract: A Closer Look Here's a simple yet illustrative Solidity contract: // SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT pragma solidity ^0.8.0; contract MyFirstContract { uint256 public myNumber; constructor() { myNumber = 10; } function setNumber(uint256 _number) public { myNumber = _number; } function getNumber() public view returns (uint256) { return myNumber; } } Breaking Down the Contract: - Pragma: This line ensures the code compiles with the right version of the Solidity compiler, preventing compatibility issues. - Contract Declaration: Like a class in other languages, a contract encapsulates all the code. - State Variables: myNumber is stored on the blockchain, its value persists across transactions. - Constructor: This function runs once at deployment, setting initial values. - Functions: setNumber changes the state, while getNumber reads from it without altering anything, hence marked view. Solidity Data Types: The Building Blocks Solidity's type system is rich, allowing for precise control over how data is stored and manipulated: - Boolean: bool - The simplest type, either true or false. - Integers: uint for unsigned integers (positive only), with uint256 being common for its balance between range and gas efficiency. int types are for signed integers. - Address: address holds Ethereum addresses, crucial for transactions and contract interactions. - String: For text, although gas costs make them less common for large data. - Bytes: From bytes1 to bytes32 for fixed-length byte arrays, or bytes for dynamic lengths. Useful for raw data. - Arrays: Can be fixed-size or dynamic. They're used for collections of the same type. - Structs: Define custom types, grouping related data together. - Enums: Create a set of named constants, enhancing code readability and reducing errors. - Mappings: mapping(key => value) acts like a dictionary or hash table, allowing for key-value stores. - Function Types: Can be used to pass functions as parameters or return them from functions, adding flexibility. The Importance of Data Location In Solidity, where data is stored affects both functionality and gas costs: - Storage: Permanent data, changes to which are costly in terms of gas but persist across function calls. - Memory: Temporary, exists only during function execution, cheaper but does not persist. - Calldata: A special data location that contains function arguments, only available for external function call parameters, and is read-only. Conclusion: The Power of Solidity Understanding these fundamental elements of Solidity equips you to craft smart contracts that are not only functional but also optimized for the Ethereum ecosystem. From managing simple state changes to complex decentralized applications, the mastery of data types and contract structure forms the bedrock of blockchain development. As you continue to explore Solidity, remember that each line of code carries the potential to automate, secure, and revolutionize traditional processes in this new era of digital agreements. Read the full article

[tpointtech12]

The Ultimate Guide to Java Collection

Java libraries are indispensable tools that streamline development by providing pre-written code for common tasks. "The Ultimate Guide to Java Libraries" explores a myriad of libraries that enhance Java programming, from handling data structures to implementing complex algorithms.

A key feature covered is collections in Java, which offer efficient ways to manage groups of objects, improving code efficiency and readability.

TpointTech is a valuable resource for developers seeking in-depth tutorials and examples on using these libraries effectively. Leveraging these libraries can significantly reduce development time and improve application performance.

Overview of Java Collections

The Java Collections Framework includes interfaces, implementations, and algorithms. The core interfaces include Collection, List, Set, Queue, and Map, each serving different purposes.

Collection Interface: 

The root interface of the framework, representing a group of objects known as elements. It is extended by List, Set, and Queue interfaces.

List Interface: 

An ordered collection that allows duplicate elements. Common implementations are ArrayList, LinkedList, and Vector. Lists are ideal when you need to access elements by their index.

ArrayList: Resizable array implementation, offering constant-time positional access but slower for insertion and deletion.

LinkedList: Doubly-linked list implementation, providing efficient insertion and deletion but slower access time.

Vector: Synchronized version of ArrayList, rarely used due to performance overhead.

Set Interface: 

A collection that does not allow duplicate elements. It models mathematical sets and provides implementations like HashSet, LinkedHashSet, and TreeSet.

HashSet: Uses a hash table for storage, offering constant-time performance for basic operations.

LinkedHashSet: Maintains insertion order, slightly slower than HashSet.

TreeSet: Implements the SortedSet interface, ensuring elements are in ascending order, based on their natural ordering or a specified comparator.

Queue Interface: 

Designed for holding elements prior to processing, typically ordered in a FIFO (first-in-first-out) manner. Common implementations include LinkedList, PriorityQueue, and ArrayDeque.

PriorityQueue: Elements are ordered according to their natural ordering or a provided comparator, useful for creating priority-based tasks.

ArrayDeque: Resizable-array implementation of the Deque interface, providing efficient insertion and deletion from both ends.

Map Interface: 

Represents a collection of key-value pairs, where each key maps to one value. Popular implementations are HashMap, LinkedHashMap, and TreeMap.

HashMap: Provides constant-time performance for basic operations, assuming a good hash function.

LinkedHashMap: Maintains a doubly-linked list of its entries, preserving the order of insertion.

TreeMap: Implements the SortedMap interface, ensuring keys are in ascending order.

Advantages of Java Collections Framework

Reduces Programming Effort: With a set of ready-made data structures and algorithms, JCF eliminates the need for developers to implement complex data structures from scratch.

Increases Program Speed and Quality: Standardized interfaces and optimized implementations ensure high performance and reliability.

Interoperability: Collections can be easily passed across APIs, reducing the complexity of integration.

Ease of Maintenance: Well-documented and widely-used classes make it easier for developers to maintain and enhance code.

Common Algorithms in JCF

Java Collections Framework includes various algorithms to perform routine tasks, such as sorting, searching, and shuffling. These algorithms are static methods in the Collections utility class.

Sorting: Collections.sort(List list), sorts the specified list into ascending order.

Shuffling: Collections.shuffle(List list), randomly permutes the elements in the list.

Searching: Collections.binarySearch(List> list, T key), performs binary search on a sorted list.

Conclusion

The Java Collections Framework is indispensable for any Java developer. It offers a standardized and efficient way to manage groups of objects, making code more robust and maintainable.

By leveraging the various interfaces and implementations, such as lists, sets, queues, and maps, developers can handle data structures effectively.

Understanding collections in Java, as detailed on resources like TpointTech, is crucial for building high-performance applications. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer, mastering Java collections will significantly enhance your programming capabilities.

[sdfgsdrgh]

What To Do With Kief From Weed Grinder

If you're like me, don't you get super pumped whenever you grind up some bud and see that magical green dust - kief!? For cannabis lovers, this is a very precious thingThere are so many cool things you can do with your kief besides smoking it immediately. But now you’re wondering…what the hell should I actually do with all this precious stuff?In this post, I’m going to share my favorite methods for dealing with kief that I’ve learned on social media, and hopefully, you’ll also have a better cannabis experience

What is kief?

While pulverizing your marijuana, these trichomes are inevitably set loose from the buds and then fall into the collector below through the mesh screen of your grinder. That’s kief; this is a finely ground powdery substance that contains anything between fifty to eighty percent THC by volume in comparison with plant matter.However, kief goes beyond its psychoactive characteristics. The trichomes contain a lot of helpful compounds such as CBD, CBN, and many types of terpenes. These substances work hand in hand to result in a Unique Feeling that is highly different from a pure THC “high”.Kief can also be pressed into hash or used for making ultra-refined cannabis extracts and concentrates having even higher THC content.

How do you collect kief from a weed grinder?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KD6ec00gmQFor start, get the best grinder design which has more than one part and also ensure that it has a mesh screen so as to separate kief from ground flowers.The screen's pore size is crucial - you want it to be fine enough to catch those valuable trichomes without letting too much plant material through. A 4-piece grinder with a 60-70 micron screen is an excellent option.When grinding your weed, make sure that you do it softly and gently. We will grind your bud as much as possible in order to produce the maximum amount of kief. Flip your grinder upside down and pulse briefly—don’t turn it into a paste by over-grinding. The finer the grind, the more trichomes are released.Now take off all compartments with leftovers of marijuana and find the screen under them. Can you see this golden sticky substance covering all parts of the netting? That is the stash of kief you are collecting! Take a tiny brush and carefully sweep as usual across its screen, let out kief by knocking on top of the storage container.

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[crowninterior]

Transform Your Space with the Finest Interior Designer in Ahmedabad – Discover the Art of Elegant Living

Looking to redesign your home or office? Tired of dull spaces that don’t reflect your style or functionality needs? If you're searching for a top-rated interior designer in Ahmedabad you’re in the right place.

Meet Crown Interior Studio, a name trusted by homeowners and businesses alike for redefining spaces with creativity, elegance, and precision.

✨ Why Choose an Interior Designer in Ahmedabad?

Hiring a local interior designer offers several advantages:

✅ Local Trends & Preferences: They understand what’s trending in your city.

✅ Quick Site Visits: Smooth communication and timely updates.

✅ Vendor Connections: Easy sourcing of materials, furniture, and accessories.

✅ Budget-Friendly Solutions: Designs tailored to your space and your pocket.

🏠 About Crown Interior Studio

📍 Address: Shop No. 3, Hash Complex, beside Police Line, near Nagri Eye Hospital, I P Mission Compound, Ellisbridge, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380006 📞 Phone: 099253 18986

From conceptualization to final execution, Crown Interior Studio offers a full spectrum of interior services that make your space functional, aesthetic, and uniquely yours.

🛋️ Services Offered

Residential Interiors – Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and balconies that balance comfort and class.

Commercial Spaces – Modern workspaces, offices, and retail environments designed for productivity and brand appeal.

Modular Furniture Solutions – Smart storage, sleek designs, and tailor-made fittings.

Lighting & Decor Consultation – Perfect ambiance, textures, and color schemes for every room.

Turnkey Projects – From 2D planning to 3D design to execution — all handled under one roof.

💬 Why Clients Love Crown Interior Studio

✅ Creative, client-focused design ✅ Transparent pricing and timely execution ✅ Personalized themes and custom layouts ✅ High-quality materials and finishing

Whether it’s a compact apartment, a luxurious bungalow, or a corporate office, Crown Interior Studio transforms your space into something exceptional.

📍 When Searching for “Interior Designer in Ahmedabad,” Choose Experience That Speaks for Itself

Ahmedabad is a city of vibrant culture and rapid urban growth. With evolving lifestyle needs, your interiors should reflect a mix of tradition and modernity. That’s where Crown Interior Studio shines — blending aesthetics and utility in every inch of your space.

📞 Contact Crown Interior Studio Today!

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ORACLE APEX BEST PRATICES

Oracle APEX Best Practices: Building Efficient, Secure, and Maintainable Applications

Oracle APEX (Application Express) is a powerful low-code development platform that lets you rapidly create enterprise-grade web applications. To make the most out of APEX, it’s crucial to follow best practices for performance, security, and long-term maintainability. Here’s a breakdown of key areas:

1. Modular Design and PL/SQL Packages

Modularize Code: Break down large chunks of application logic into smaller, well-defined PL/SQL packages, functions, and procedures. This enhances code reusability and makes your application easier to understand.

Benefits:

Improved code organization

Easier maintenance and updates

Potential performance gains from compiled database logic

2. Smart Use of Bind Variables

Use Bind Variables Wherever Possible: In SQL queries and PL/SQL blocks, use bind variables (:variable_name) to reference session state values.

Why? Using bind variables:

Boosts Performance: Encourages query plan reuse by Oracle, reducing parsing overhead.

Enhances Security: Helps mitigate SQL injection attacks.

3. Declarative First Approach

Leverage Built-In Features: APEX offers a wealth of declarative options (conditions, validations, dynamic actions). Use them whenever possible instead of custom coding.

Advantages:

Faster development time

Easier to maintain logic

Often better performance due to APEX engine optimizations

4. Security Foundations

Protect Against XSS: Sanitize any user-supplied input and escape output to prevent cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities. APEX has built-in utilities to help with this.

Never Store Passwords in Plaintext: Always use appropriate hashing mechanisms for password storage.

Session State Protection: Configure APEX session state protection settings to help prevent session hijacking and other attacks.

Stay Updated: Regularly monitor and apply Oracle APEX security patches.

5. Efficient Page Rendering

Minimize Regions and Items: A cluttered page can impact rendering speed. Use page layouts and display conditions wisely.

Optimize Queries: Ensure all your SQL queries are well-tuned and use indexes correctly.

Choose the Right Report Type: Select the most fitting report type (Classic, Interactive Grid, Interactive Report) for your specific use cases.

6. Maintainability and Code Standards

Naming Conventions: Establish clear naming conventions for pages, components, items, PL/SQL code, etc. This makes your codebase readable and easier to manage for you and your team.

Comments: Add meaningful comments to your code, clearly explaining logic and decisions.

Version Control: Use a version control system (e.g., Git) to track changes, collaborate effectively, and revert if needed.

Additional Tips

Incorporate a Theme Roller: Create custom theme styles using the Theme Roller to streamline application styling

Leverage Universal Theme: Take advantage of the responsive design and broad component library offered by Universal Theme.

Test, Test, Test: Thoroughly test your application throughout development, with an emphasis on edge cases and error handling.

Conclusion

Following these best practices will significantly improve the quality of your Oracle APEX applications. You’ll build applications that are faster, more secure, easier to maintain, and can scale effectively.

You can find more information about  Oracle Apex in this  Oracle Apex Link

Conclusion:

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Java Collections Framework: A Comprehensive Guide

The Java Collection Framework (JCF) is one of the most important features of the Java programming language. It provides a unified framework for representing and managing collections, enabling developers to work more efficiently with data structures. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced Java developer, understanding the Java collection system is important. This comprehensive guide will delve into the basic design and implementation of the Java compilation system, highlighting its importance in modern Java programming. The basics of the Java collections framework At its core, the Java collections in Java with Examples consist of interfaces and classes that define collections. These collections can contain objects and provide functions such as insertion, deletion, and traversal. The main features of JCF include List, Set, and Map. Lists are ordered collections of objects, aggregates are unordered collections without duplicate objects, and maps are key-value pairs. Significant interactions with classes in the Java collection system List Interface: Lists in JCF are implemented by classes like ArrayList and LinkedList. ArrayList provides dynamic arrays, allowing quick access to elements, while LinkedList uses a doubly linked list internally, making insertion and deletion faster Set interfaces: Represent classes such as sets, HashSet and TreeSet, and do not allow duplicate elements. HashSet uses hashing techniques for fast access, while TreeSet maintains objects in sorted order, enabling efficient retrieval. Map Interface: Maps are represented by HashMap and TreeMap. HashMap uses hashing to store key-value pairs and provides a constant-time display for basic processing. TreeMap, on the other hand, maintains elements in a sorted tree structure, enabling operations in logarithmic time. Advantages of Java Collections Framework The concurrent Collections in Java Framework offers several benefits to developers: Re-usability: Pre-implemented classes and interfaces let developers focus on solving specific problems without worrying about downstream data structures Interactivity: Collections in JCF can store object by object, encouraging interactivity and allowing developers to work with multiple data types. Performance: The system is designed to be efficient. The algorithm is implemented in such a way that it is efficient in terms of time and memory consumption. Scalability: JCF supports scalability, allowing developers to handle large amounts of data without worrying about memory limitations. Frequent use of information in the Java collections system Data Storage and Retrieval: Lists, sets, and maps are widely used to store and retrieve data efficiently. Lists are suitable for sorted collections, aggregates for unique elements, and maps for key-value pairs. Algorithm Implementation: Java Collections Framework can be used to implement many algorithms such as search and sort. This simplifies the coding process and reduces the possibility of error. Concurrent control: Classes like ConcurrentHashMap and CopyOnWriteArrayList provide concurrent access to collections, ensuring thread safety in multi-threaded applications. Best practices for Java collections systems with examples 1. List Interface (ArrayList):import java.util.ArrayList;import java.util.List; public class ListExample {public static void main(String args) {List list = new ArrayList(); // Adding elements to the list list.add("Java"); list.add("Python"); list.add("C++"); // Accessing elements using index System.out.println("Element at index 1: " + list.get(1)); // Iterating through the list System.out.println("List elements:"); for (String language : list) { System.out.println(language); } // Removing an element list.remove("Python"); System.out.println("List after removing 'Python': " + list); } } 2. Set Interface (HashSet) import java.util.HashSet;import java.util.Set; public class SetExample {public static void main(String args) {Set set = new HashSet(); // Adding elements to the set set.add("Apple"); set.add("Banana"); set.add("Orange"); // Iterating through the set System.out.println("Set elements:"); for (String fruit : set) { System.out.println(fruit); } // Checking if an element exists System.out.println("Contains 'Apple': " + set.contains("Apple")); // Removing an element set.remove("Banana"); System.out.println("Set after removing 'Banana': " + set); } 3. Map Interface (HashMap):import java.util.HashMap;import java.util.Map; public class MapExample {public static void main(String args) {Map map = new HashMap(); // Adding key-value pairs to the map map.put("Java", 1); map.put("Python", 2); map.put("C++", 3); // Iterating through the map System.out.println("Map elements:"); for (Map.Entry entry : map.entrySet()) { System.out.println(entry.getKey() + ": " + entry.getValue()); } // Checking if a key exists System.out.println("Contains key 'Java': " + map.containsKey("Java")); // Removing a key-value pair map.remove("Python"); System.out.println("Map after removing 'Python': " + map); } Conclusion: In Java programming, the Java collections tutorial framework stands as the cornerstone of efficient data manipulation. Its versatile interfaces and classes empower developers to create complex applications, handling data structures with ease. Understanding the nuances of different types of collections, their functionality, and best practices is important for enabling Java developers aiming to build high-performance, scalable, and error-free applications Java collection concepts has been optimized to enable developers to unlock the full programming capabilities of Java Read the full article