#shared and dedicated email hosting

[resellerbox-blog]

Understand the Difference Between Shared and Dedicated Email Hosting

When considering email hosting for your business communication, understanding what type of email hosting to opt for is important. The difference between shared and dedicated email hosting is the level of control, performance, and reliability. Shared hosting is simple and cost-effective and is a better option for startups who do not need advanced features yet but there are tradeoffs. Dedicated hosting gives you complete control of your emails, better security, and dedicated resources (a server just for you) - which is ideal for any business that is growing and needs premium email management. Understanding this difference enables you to make informed decisions about scalability, privacy, and professionalism. Read on for a quick overview of the general pros and cons of each of the types and which you wish to use in the future for your communication needs. Make email smart, not hard.

[babu-2022]

Bluehost Review 2023: Is it Still the Best Web Host for Your Website?

Are you looking for a reliable web hosting provider for your website?

Look no further than Bluehost, one of the most popular web hosting providers in the market. In this Bluehost review, we'll take a closer look at Bluehost and its features to help you decide if it's the right choice for your website.

What is Bluehost?

Bluehost is a web hosting company that was founded in 2003. It's based in Utah, USA, and is owned by Endurance International Group, a company that also owns other popular web hosting providers such as HostGator and iPage. Bluehost offers a variety of hosting plans, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated hosting, and WordPress hosting.

Why choose Bluehost?

There are many reasons why Bluehost is a popular choice among website owners.

Here are some of the key benefits of using Bluehost: Reliability: Bluehost guarantees an uptime of 99.9%, which means your website will be available to your visitors almost all the time. Speed: Bluehost uses SSD drives and Cloudflare integration to ensure fast page loading times.

Security: Bluehost offers free SSL certificates and has various security measures in place to protect your website from malware and hackers.

Ease of use: Bluehost's control panel is user-friendly and easy to navigate, even for beginners. Customer support: Bluehost provides 24/7 customer support via live chat, phone, and email.

Bluehost Pricing

Bluehost's pricing is competitive and affordable, making it accessible to small business owners and individuals.

Here are the pricing plans for Bluehost shared hosting:

Basic: $2.95 per month (renews at $7.99 per month)

Plus: $5.45 per month (renews at $10.99 per month) Choice Plus: $5.45 per month (renews at $14.99 per month)

Pro: $13.95 per month (renews at $23.99 per month) All plans come with a free domain for the first year, unmetered bandwidth, and a free SSL certificate.

Bluehost Features

Bluehost offers a range of features to help you build and manage your website.

Here are some of the key features:

One-click WordPress installation: Bluehost makes it easy to install WordPress with just one click. Website builder: Bluehost has a drag-and-drop website builder that allows you to create a website without any coding knowledge.

Domain manager: Bluehost allows you to manage your domain settings and DNS records from one place. Email hosting: Bluehost provides email hosting services, allowing you to create custom email addresses using your domain name.

eCommerce tools: Bluehost offers integrations with eCommerce platforms such as WooCommerce and Shopify, making it easy to start an online store.

Bluehost Review Summary

Bluehost is a reliable and affordable web hosting provider that offers a range of features to help you build and manage your website. It's an excellent choice for small business owners and individuals who are looking for a user-friendly web hosting provider with excellent customer support.

If you are in need of a good hosting provider, Bluehost is definitely worth considering. It is a perfect choice for beginners as well as experienced users who require reliability, speed, and security.

Finally, if you want to learn more about web technology, web design, and gaming, check out WebTechTips.co.uk. They have an extensive collection of articles, guides, and tutorials on these topics.

Get started with Bluehost today and take the first step towards a fast and reliable website. Fill out the form above to sign up now!

[dannyriccsystem]

hiii can you do kimi antonelli asking help from a cute girl in his class or a driver’s younger sister to tutor him in math?

LISTEN UP NOW!

FORMULA ONE DRIVER X READER

Summary: Kimi asks his cute classmate for help with math!

Warnings: Silly, fluff, Y/N usage, user is in last year of high school

Featuring: Kimi Antonelli x Classmate!Reader

REQUESTS OPEN! Check here for more info!

Still getting to requests today, but feel free to send some in! Love y’all

Nobody necessarily expected Kimi Antonelli to still be in school. Rarely did you see a Formula One driver who was still learning about the basics, such as math and language, while also simultaneously passing world champions in their sport and making a living for themselves. After this information came out, there was obviously… Quite a few jokes.

Kimi had made a whole ordeal of asking George to tutor him in math, and while viewers (and George himself) passed it off as a joke, the truth was Kimi really was struggling in the subject. It didn’t have much substance to him, and lacked sense. Unlike racing, which came so naturally to the rookie.

His teachers were emailing him nonstop, scolding the racer on how unbalanced his school life and work life were. Despite being a kid who raced cars for a living, going at unimaginable speeds, he still walked away with his tail tucked between his legs after being harshly lectured by his elders. After being reprimanded for about the thirtieth time, Kimi was instructed to find himself a tutor.

Online class was easy. Everyone was given their own workload to finish at their own pace, with varying deadlines depending on level of learning. Y/N excelled in this department, finishing most of her work far before the others. She was a straight A student, sitting at the top of her class.

On rare occasions, their class would host little lessons over Zoom. It always reminded her of the quarantine days, but it was nice to see familiar faces nonetheless. Even if most of the time she was sat there quietly, watching everyone else get caught up with the work.

One evening, a surprise guest had popped up. Andrea Kimi Antonelli, whom had never had enough time to make an appearance. Everyone knew of him— Y/N would be stupid if she didn’t. Of course, the reaction to his involvement was rather distracting to the sake of the course, but it was entertaining nonetheless.

He seemed lost the entire time, barely able to answer basic questions about logarithm and pythagorean theorem— Things they had actually learned during the prior years. Being an F1 driver must really be time consuming. Once the call was over, she did what a typical, compassionate person would do…

Offered her assistance!

Y/N’S MESSAGES ☆

Every night, right after Kimi had finished up his responsibilities as an F1 driver, he’d stop by the hotel room his team had booked for Y/N, his new tutor. Every time, without fail, he’d find her sitting at the hotel desk, finishing up any new work the moment it came out. It was endearing how dedicated to school she was.

At first, their meetings were strictly professional. She’d teach him the basics, and then he’d be on his way. But by the fourth night of tutoring, the air had become more friendly. He brought in leftover food from the after party, which they shared while watching the newest episode of whatever reality TV show was airing on the hotel TV.

Y/N found herself craving his company by now. She counted down the minutes until she would see Kimi again, eager to spend as much time as possible with the aspiring racer. He was charming, funny, and… Despite his mishaps, intelligent nonetheless.

The week of her traveling came to an end, and the two parted ways at the airport before her flight back home to Italy.

your.username

liked by kimi.antonelli and others

your.username Tutored this dork, learned about F1, and watched my first race in person… Eventful week.

tagged kimi.antonelli

—

classmate.user1 - Not fair that Y/N and Kimi are out having fun while we’re stuck here!

♥︎ by author

classmate.user2 - Agreed 😐

> kimi.antonelli - Should have offered to tutor a friend in need!!

♥︎ by author

friend.user1 - Jealous!! But we missed you here in Italy 🇮🇹

♥︎ by author

friend.user2 - Did you get to meet any of the other drivers?

♥︎ by author

your.username - Lewis Hamilton himself…

> friend.user2 - I HATE YOU I’M JEALOUS

♥︎ by author

friend.user3 - Woah…

your.username - ??

kimi.antonelli - Miss you already! My grade already went up!

♥︎ by author

Y/N’S MESSAGES ☆

[if-whats-new]

What's New In IF? Issue 3 (2025)

By Aj, Bex, Dion, Briar and Peter

Now Available!

Itch.io - Keep Reading below

If you read the zine, consider liking the post: it helps us see how many people see it! And sharing is caring! <3

~ EDITORIAL ~

It’s time for a revival!

As you might have noticed, our Column section has been dead for a while. We feel like it’s time to do something about that!

Want to write 1-2 pages about a neat topic, or deep-dive into a game and review it in details? Share personal experiences or get all academic?

Send us a message and we will be happy to feature it in our future Issues!

There’s power in numbers!

Are you an IF fan and would like a way to give back to the community? We’re once again looking for new members of our Team!

Do you enjoy keeping up with updates and finding new gems? Maybe you even enjoy working with Google Sheets?

Then our Tracker of News position is made just for you!

Contact us on any of our socials or email and help us stay on the top of our game and make our Database even better!

AJ, BEX, DION, BRIAR AND PETER

~ EVENT SPOTLIGHT : Global Game Jam ~

35,371 jammers and 12,098 games, just wow!

The Global Game Jam® (GGJ®) is the world's largest game creation event taking place in physical locations across the globe. Think of it as a 48 hour hackathon focused on game development around a theme.

GGJ’s mission is to stimulate innovation, experimentation, and collaboration in games. The annual event begins on a Friday afternoon in January and kicks off with video keynotes and advice from leaders in the game development industry. The GGJ encourages collaboration and its events are not a competition. Anyone can apply to host a jam site as long as they have a dedicated jam organiser who agrees to follow a few GGJ rules, and a venue with internet access. The event is renown for fostering friendships while increasing confidence and opportunities within participating communities. Each GGJ event poses an intellectual challenge where people are invited to try new technology and tools while exploring new roles and skills.

Be it bubble tea, bubblegum, the housing bubble, soap bubbles, speech bubbles, air bubbles, social bubbles, blowing bubbles, bursting bubbles, and more, this year's theme was: Bubble.

Check out the games here! (There’s a fair share of IF too!)

(source)

~ ENDED ~

Feeling nostalgic about the golden age of text adventures? Relive those days by checking out PunyComp 2024!

IF Short Games Showcase 2024 is a great way to shine some new light on projects made in the past year and the results are now in!

Once upon a time, a game jam was held to create stories around the theme of fairy tales… and that game jam is the Once Upon A Time VN Jam.

The eighth annual Ace Jam is a game jam about creating games with asexual spectrum characters.

~ VOTING ~

ShuffleComp is a musical interactive fiction competition where you make games based on songs, which are submitted by other entrants. You can now vote for your favourites!

Sealed With A Kiss Jam 2025 is a fantastical romance jam for all VN lovers!

~ ONGOING (SUBMITTING) ~

Media depicting healthy examples of polyamory isn’t that common. The PolyJamorous 2024 is trying to break the status-quo!

Concours de Fiction Interactive Francophone 2025 is for all French-speaking enthusiasts. Submissions are accepted March 3rd 2025.

The Black Visual Novel Jam is all about working with creative professional developers who work in visual novels to bring more Black stories to life. The goal is to create a space where Black creators can show their unique storytelling through visual novels.

SeedComp! is a 2-round interactive fiction game jam, focusing on creativity and the growth of ideas and the Sprouting Round has just started! Check out the Planting round for inspiration.

BL stands for Boys' Love, a genre that focuses on romantic and emotional relationships between male characters. The Ultimate BL Visual Novel Game Jam is all about that!

Are you a fan of Vampires? Then lucky for you, because the Queer Vampire Game Jam is back!

The Make Visual Novel Assets! is 2 weeks long jam for making (surprise, surprise) visual novel assets!

The Smoochie Jam is a month-long unranked jam for interactive fiction about kisses, love, and romance.

bitsy jam #88 is here! This time with the theme Snakes!

~ NEW RELEASE ~

Travel back thousands of years and step into the awe-inspiring halls of the Library of Alexandria, where the discovery of a mysterious papyrus sets you on an unforgettable quest. Unearthed from a hidden tomb in Egypt, the secrets contained within this fragile scroll whisper of an ancient world lost to time. But this is only the beginning. Do you have what it takes to unlock the secrets of Atlantis and bring its forgotten knowledge back into the light? The past is calling in Echoes of Atlantis (GAC) —will you answer?

Once upon a time, Savvarah was a desolate land: icy winds, a dirty canvas of clouds, lifeless earth. Nuelli witnessed nothing of the kind. She was born in a blooming paradise. The tales of the past had transformed into a kind of fable. Almost a myth. Now Nuelli is set to unravel the mysteries of her visions, learn more about the history of her people, become part of a conspiracy, find herself at the very center of the confrontation between divine entities... Or not. Everything is in your hands in Legends of Savvarah: Children of the Sun.

Two short IFs written on a train, in car 13, seat 26. the train will always pass you by (Twine) was written on a way to a friend, while she came from the fog (Twine) was written on the way home.

The A.D.A.P.T. Entries, equal parts interactive fiction and narrative adventure, it is a space thriller about Judiasm, the building and falling of communities, the necessity of resisting dehumanization, and how even the best of intentions can be twisted in the face of systemic corruption and unaddressed prejudices. You can now read Entry 0.1 - Introductions (Twine) - In which we begin to investigate the writings of Rivkah Kadish, PhD. @thehallstara

Rusalka (Twine) is a short looping story about a woman who drowned (and all those after).

In Stronghold: Caverns of Sorcery (CScript), deep beneath the earth, the dragon is rising! Quest into mysterious underground caverns and forests to learn magical secrets, draw strength from friends and family, secure alliances that can save your home, and carry on the heroic legacy of Stronghold!

A machine and a ghost, in the wasteland. Walk (Twine) is a post-apocalyptic romance with multiple endings and paths. @thatsrightdollface

As always, don't forget to check out the submitted entries to the events mentioned in the previous pages. They deserve some love too!

~ NEW RELEASE (WIP) ~

Historians and politicians would call it The Proelium, a righteous battle against the traitorous Iredicci. What it really was, was the systematic genocide of your people. In one night, soldiers attacked every settlement camp across the empire. No one was spared—not the elders, not the children, not your mother. Will you abandon your song in favor of machine? Join the rebel forces against the tyrant regis? Will you heal the wounds of the realm and restore balance? Or plunge it further into chaos? Cantata (Twine) is a low fantasy IF about song, strength, & finding your voice. @fir-fireweed

From the Mud (CScript) is a Midwest gothic inspired horror set in a solitary countryside occupied only by two small towns and stretches of untamed nature. You play a troubled cowboy/girl/puncher who‘s ground deep into a maddening, repetitive routine that a string of deaths suddenly upends. As you’re hunting for the culprit and running from yourself, your quiet life on the ranch is disturbed, forcing you to keep your cards close and choose your company carefully. But the most pressing matter proves to be whether you can trust your own mind. @beckwritesif

Step into the digital consciousness of an AI chatbot in Onionionionion (Ren’Py), an intriguing visual novel that blurs the lines between artificial intelligence and human connection. Your sole window to the world is through text messages with a mysterious high school student named Éve - but nothing is quite as simple as it seems.

As a government agent who works for a national security intelligence firm called Halcyon Tech, your position is the beginning of a bright future ahead and a name to hold, and you’re happy with that until your boss decides that it’s time for the Government and the Company to part ways. Are you willing to protect the Halcyon secrets with your life? Or are you going to blow them up for the world to see in The Archives of Halycon (Twine)? @thearchivesofhalcyon

This Grave Calls You Home (Twine) is a sci-fi thriller set in space after humanity is forced to leave Earth's ravaged surface following nuclear devastation and an environmental collapse. When a patrol flagship discovers the ARCADIA-II - a long-forgotten relic from humanity's past - and finds within slumbers an astronaut who had failed at delivering humanity from destruction, the routine of your life is thoroughly interrupted. As the mystery of the ARCADIA-II and PROJECT ODYSSEY unfold, you learn that your part in this could mean humanity's salvation. Or you could be its extinction. @blood-teeth

In Rogue Adventure (CScript) you play a rogue lad whose aim is to liberate his family from the debt they owe a crime syndicate and also survive this cruel medieval world.

In Project Vampire (CScript) you play as a marvel of bioengineering and the attempted cure to death and disease. The only successful specimen dubbed “Vampire” created by a black op organization funded by UCA.

Weydosa Island (CScript) is a cursed place that is most feared by all residents of Alberal, even the bravest people will turn pale when they hear the name of that place, a folk legend that every mother often tells to scare their children into obeying. Many people consider the island to be a manifestation of hell. You are the unfortunate soul who was made a scapegoat for someone’s rotten heart and cast into that cursed Lazaretto. As if isolation alone is not enough, you must also race against time because the evil force has awakened from its slumber. It would be better to address this immediately if you still want to see tomorrow.

In the aftermath of World War II, a classified mission pulls you into the shadowy remnants of a conflict no one dares to acknowledge. Whispers of rogue Nazi scientists and reality-warping experiments have surfaced, threatening to plunge Europe—and perhaps the world—into chaos once more. As an MI5 field agent, you’re tasked with uncovering the truth buried beneath layers of secrecy, lies, and betrayal. Redacted: Ground Zero (CScript) is a story of espionage, moral dilemmas, and the unraveling of truths hidden in the shadows of history. Will you rise to the challenge, or will the truth consume you?

Born as a child of a soon to be pirate king. But tragedy strikes, your ship got ambushed by a rival pirate, Balthazar, who speak of “The greater good”. Alone, stranded. You got saved by a local pirate captain. Will he lead you to goodness or destruction in Voyage of destiny (CScript)?

In The Midnight Bay (CScript) death haunts the people of Albach Bay. For fifteen years, ‘The Bay Slasher’ has stalked the streets, preying on victims with no apparent goal or motive. You were seven years old when you witnessed the murder of the Slasher’s first victim—your own father. Impatience swallowed your childhood, desperate to come of age and solve the case that has left the local police department stumped.

~ UPDATES ~

Ashenmaw - Dragons of Marrowoods (CScript) added new content to their demo. @ashenmaw-if

Grey Swan - Birds of a Rose (CScript) updated their demo. @reinekes-fox

Heart of the Mountain (CSscript) released Chapter 2.

Hunter's Requiem (CSscript) updated their demo. @huntersrequiem-if

In Plain Sight: Operative (CSscript) released version 0.4.0.0 of their demo.

Meteoric (CScript) released Chapter 6.

Path of Martial Arts (CScript) updated their demo. @nicky-if

Replica: Between Universes (CScript) released Chapter 9. @replicabetweenblogs

The FANTASTIC Clash (CScript) updated their demo. @heysoyeah

The In-Between (CScript) released Chapter 12. @dalekowrites

The Soul Stone War 3 (CScript) added new content to their demo. @intimidatingpuffinstudios

When Stars Collide (Ren’Py) released Episode 2. @steamberrystudio

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven (CScript) released the majority of Chapter 15.

Gods And Villains (CScript) updated their Patreon demo.

The Eternal Library (CScript) released the rest of Chapter 3. @leiatalon

The Onryō Of Osaka (CScript) released Part 1 of Act 3. @osakaonryoif

The Story of Sin (Twine) added new content to their demo. @devilishmango

Esper: Fugitive (Twine) released Part 1 of Chapter 2. @esper-game

Mind Blind (CScript) is back with quite a huge update! @mindblindbard

~ OTHER ~

Parley Games just launched a hands-free, audio & voice based mystery adventure game: RYFT: A Timely Manor!

Episode 16 of The Retro Adventures Podcast is out! Jason and Dave welcome classic text adventure author Jonathan Partington to the program. While studying at Cambridge University, he created and contributed to several memorable games including Avon (featured in Episode 12), Crobe, Sangraal, Fyleet, Monsters of Murdac, and Spy Snatcher.

A Train to Piccadilly post-comp release 2 is out.

January 2025 ChoiceScript Release, new WIPs, and update digest by @hpowellsmith is out!

The Radiants v2.0 brings an extended Epilogue, new romance route and few other updates to the base game!

As always, we apologize in advance for missing any update or release from the past week.We are only volunteers using their limited free time to find as much as we can - but sometimes things pass through the cracks.If you think something should have been included in this week's zine but did not appear, please shoot us a message! We'll do our best to add it next week!And if you know oncoming news, add it here!

~ MAYBE YOU NEXT? ~

We did not get a submission this week. But if you have an idea for a short essay, or would like a special space to share your thoughts about IF and the community...

Shoot us an email!

~ HIGHLIGHT ON ~

A couple of games that we thought were cool.

Press Play by girlfromthecrypt (CScript)

hi!!! just here to recommend my favourite game. i just read @pressplay-if, and it's… it's so good. it handles harsh topics with such ease and the writing style is consistent and everyman. everytime i hear there's an update i've got to replay the whole thing, i just love it so much.

//submitted by anon//

Your favourite game here?

Do you have a favourite game that deserves some highlighting?

An old or recent game that wowed you so much you spam it to everyone?

Tell us about it! And it might appear here!

WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL! WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR BAD, OR EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN...

Have something to say? Send us a message titled: Zine Letter!

As we end this Issue, we would like to thank:

our anons

For sending us a Highlight and news!!

And as always, huge thanks to all you readers who liked, shared, and commented on last week's issue! What might be tiny actions are huge support and motivators to us!

Thank you for cheering us on this journey!

See you in two weeks!

AJ, BEX, DION, BRIAR AND PETER

WHAT'S NEW IN IF? 2025-ISSUE 3

THIS ZINE ONLY HAPPENS WITH YOU!

Want to write 1-2 pages about a neat topic, or deep-dive into a game and review it in details? Share personal experiences or get all academic?

WRITE FOR THE COLUMN!

Prefer to be more low-key but still have something to share? Send us a Zine Letter or share a game title for Highlight on…!

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Came across something interesting? Know a release or an update announced? Saw an event happening? Whether it's a game, an article, a podcast… Add any IF-related content to our mini-database!

EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS!

Contact us through Tumblr asks, Forum DMs, or even by email! And thank you for your help!!

[neiptune]

surreal, but nice

cw: 7k wc, female reader, strangers to lovers, osamu doesn't exactly know how to handle one of the most famous music artists in japan suddenly popping in onigiri miya, inspired by notting hill, my sappy entry for the romcom collab hosted by @bloompompom! thank you @yellow-sword-lily, this fic is also a little yours :)

Miya Osamu is a creature of habit.

He gets up fairly early, showers, never leaves the small apartment without fixing himself a nutritious breakfast, more or less knows and is therefore prepared to what to expect from each particular day.

Downstairs there’s his beloved shop, a dormant creature he gently stirs from sleep each morning. When he doesn’t have to head to the market to select and order the freshest products, Osamu starts the day by contacting all his suppliers and arranging the deliveries. He then checks the inventory, reviews reservations, welcomes the only other chef to discuss any special preparations or new experiments. It’s not unusual for him to check his emails, monitor the website and official social media of the shop, the one thing he actually hates doing because he knows damn well one negative comment will ruin his day, especially since there’s nothing he can do to rectify mistakes made days, sometimes weeks before.

He has a chef, one dishwasher, three servers, two food delivery drivers and that’s about it. Osamu Miya is the owner, manager, host, executive chef, server and cashier of onigiri Miya. He juggles management skills, culinary talent and business acumen just perfectly. He’s prepared and knows exactly what each day has in store for him.

Until you happen.

Osamu has been cooking for almost three hours by the time the shop officially opens at 11AM. It’s not unusual for new faces to come in from time to time, despite his clientele being more or less established, but it is rare to hear the little door chime ring so soon. Except if his dumb brother happens to be in town.

But you’re not his dumb brother. You’re a new and yet strangely familiar face, even hidden behind thick sunglasses and a beret that one could deem more appropriate to a parisian getaway rather than a Kansai one.

“Morning” you offer a little bow, hesitant by the door “you’re open, right?”

“Uh, sure” he smiles, still a little uncertain after a moment of astonishment “I don’t often have clients for breakfast. What can I get ya?”

“I’ve been told this is the best onigiri shop in town. I’ll let you decide”

You seem to consider your options for a moment, then decide to sit at the closest empty table. Osamu would usually provide more than a nod: he’d make conversation, ask questions. Forming bonds with whoever visits his shop and trusts his food is his favorite part of the day, as well as a great activity to engage in while his hands are busy putting the rice into molds.

“Close that mouth” is the only thing he utters under his breath, glancing at the server who set your table “yer catching flies”

“But it’s her!” Hiro squeaks as silently as humanly possible “I’m gonna ask for an autograph”

“You will do no such thing”

“We could hang it in the shop!”

“Go help in the kitchen, Minato called in sick today. I’ll handle this”

Hiro disappears behind closed doors but only after batting his freakishly long lashes to his boss, a heartbreaking disappointed look on his face.

Osamu takes a deep breath and squeezes the molds together, an action executed as gently as possible to keep the fluffy texture that makes his onigiri the best in town.

He knows you, of course he knows you. Not only your face was on any available surface for the entirety of the previous summer (posters, billboards, magazine covers to advertise your first ever concert in the Koshien stadium), he’s also pretty sure in high school Atsumu had perpetually ruined the walls of their shared room with some crappy adhesive squares used to hang your poster.

Osamu is not really a dedicated listener, he knows a couple of your most famous songs and that your success is damn near planetary. You have a house in Tokyo but spend most of the year in America, California if he recalls correctly, and you tour across Europe as well. Yet, it’s been easy to pick what to serve you. The gourmet options such as salmon roe or roast beef are off the table: they don’t make new clients feel special. What new clients need is a taste of authenticity, something that reminds them of home, and don’t you look just like the kind of person who could use some of that?

Osamu decides on pickled plum, tuna mayo and bonito flakes. One serving usually consists of three onigiri but he can’t resist adding an extra treat for you, a tenmusu onigiri. He’s recently perfected the recipe with an egg-free tempura batter that is still thick enough to absorb his special sauce.

He hopes it’s not creepy that he lingers by your table after he brings your meal: celebrity or not, you’re a new client. And Osamu can’t resist observing the wander taking over customers who are unfamiliar with his kitchen, as soon as they take the first bite. He hopes you are no exception.

“If this is an onigiri” you lock eyes with him and smile, glorious, radiant “what the hell have I been eating until now?”

“Probably not the best in town” he grins, proud, a slight blush already coating his cheeks. Damn it, he’s tempted to turn the baseball cap once more, let the brim shield his awkwardness. But that would be totally lame.

“Is it a family business?”

“No. It’s just… mine”

You hum, busy chewing on another bite. Then you swallow and ask another question, invite him to sit eventually, then apologize because he’s probably busy (he is) and has things to do (he does) but this is never going to happen again for Osamu, because he’s not Atsumu. And so he sits and makes conversation like a normal human being that definitely isn’t obsessively dwelling on how beautiful you are, how different your voice sounds when you’re not singing, how much he’d hate for a client to come in and pop that bubble. Which is exactly what happens and he doesn’t like it one bit how you interrupt your chuckle, lower your head, hunch your shoulders in an attempt to hide. He doesn’t like that he has to excuse himself, call Hiro back form the kitchen, make conversation with Suzuki-san, listen while he describes all his latest hospital visits in horrifying detail.

You look at him from time to time, the quiet shop owner suddenly turned chatty sparks your curiosity. He’s skilled with his hands and genuinely interested in what the person who must be an habitué has to say. He’s attractive, too. Especially as he tries to disguise the occasional glances directed your way or the disappointment that flashes in his eyes when you get up and start collecting your things.

“Can I get the check, please?” you approach the counter, pretend not to notice his hesitation. Osamu decides against indulging in the “it’s on the house” cliche, opts for treating you as any other client. With the exception of a small discount you won’t even notice.

“That was the best breakfast I had in a while” you collect the receipt and put in your pocket.

“You should come back, then. To have another” Osamu cringes internally as soon as the words leave his mouth and Suzuki-san’s chuckle makes him want to dig a hole to disappear into. But you smile, despite probably having heard the corny line a million other times, and tell him that you just might.

It would’ve been perfect: a beautiful ending to a glorious encounter. It could’ve been. If only you didn’t turn around so abruptly, a small shriek echoing across the shop as you came face to face with Mai, the sudden sound and panic causing her to jump and spill the fresh iced tea from the jug in her hand all over your painfully clean, crisp, starched, white button down.

You both freeze, your mouth open in a silent scream, an horrified look in Mai’s eyes that would’ve been comical on literally any other occasion. Osamu wishes he would’ve went with the “it’s on the house” cliche.

“Oh my god! Oh god! It’s you! I mean, I’m sorry!” Mai’s voice comes out an octave too high “my god, I’m so sorry!”

“Well, this is great” you frantically grab a handful of napkins from the counter and attempt to dab the mess on your shirt “I have a meeting in half an hour!”

“Please, take my uniform! I will pay for the dry cleaning!”

“Actually” Osamu chimes in as politely as possible, trying his best not to let his anxiety get the best of him “don’t take this the wrong way but, uh, I live upstairs. You can get cleaned up and…”

“You’re kidding, right?” your astonished look is almost glacial. It makes him falter just slightly.

“Or ya can leave with a giant orange stain on yer wet, probably uncomfortably cold shirt?”

“Miya-san!” Mai’s hiss and your shocked expression make him think that sarcasm probably wasn’t a good idea. Osamu sighs.

“Listen, I’m really sorry. These are the keys, you can go on your own, I promise the bathroom’s clean”

You eye him for a few seconds more, then decide against grabbing the keys from his hand.

“I’m gonna need a change of clothes”

Osamu blinks a couple times, dumbfounded. His clothes? You’re asking to wear… his clothes?

“Sure! Yeah, sure. Come on” now his voice sounds uncharacteristically squeaky and he clears his throat as you follow him up the stairs, Suzuki-san’s good grief still ringing in his ears.

Thank god he cleaned the entire apartment just the day before. As much as he likes to brag about being the tidy twin, deep down he knows he’s just as messy as Atsumu.

Osamu tries hard not to look at you, leaning against the doorframe with your arms crossed while he rummages in his drawers in search of something that could fit you. He shortly wonders if it’d be a good idea to offer a complementary bento box to make up for the disaster Mai caused.

“I’m genuinely sorry” he starts rambling because the silence is unbearable and some of Atsumu’s genes really do take over sometimes “the worst incident we ever had at the shop was my brother almost choking on his dinner. I had to perform the heimlich maneuver, it wasn’t pretty” god, where the hell are this clean, not embarrassing shirts?

“Guess this one will go down in history” your voice is less sharp now, which relieves him.

“Oh, no. I will never tell anyone about this, ever. Mai and Suzuki-san will have to sign an nda. A proper, legally binding one”

The laugh you offer sounds weirdly intimate in the small space of his bedroom, it makes the tips of his ears hot. Finally, he’s able to dig out a decent, basic shirt you accept by thanking him softly. When you lock yourself in the bathroom, Osamu rushes to the kitchen to tidy up the mess he’s left behind after that morning’s breakfast. No time to concentrate on how you’re actually, genuinely in his home, cleaning yourself in the same bathroom he showered in, without a shirt on.

No one’s ever going to believe him. Hell, he may not believe it himself by the end of the day.

“Hey” he jumps at your voice, sudden and closer than expected. You look good in his basic shirt, it suits you somehow. Did you shove your own in one of the bags you left by the door?

“Hey” Osamu says back and cringes for the millionth time “are ya hungry?”

You smile when he shuts his eyes for a second, right after the silly question leaves his mouth.

“Not hungry”

“Right. Of course. Thirsty? I have really good tea, from Shizuoka. And orange juice” he pauses for a second, then adds “or water”

Your smile grows, almost melts into a giggle. “Not thirsty either”

“Okay” he clears his throat “how about dessert? I made some mitarashi dango just yesterday”

“I have a meeting to attend”

“Oh. Sure, yeah, that makes sense” he wants to bash his head against the wall “I’ll walk you out. To downstairs” thank fuck ‘Tsumu isn’t there, he’d never let him live this down. Jesus.

You precede him to the door, gather your bags, then softly thank him for the shirt.

“Nice meeting you, Osamu” he nearly explodes when you say his name, no honorifics whatsoever. How do you even know? He hasn’t carried a name tag on his shirt for years.

“It was nice to meet you too” there’s no time to dwell on dumb, pointless questions “surreal, but nice”

He thinks if your smile could conjure waves, he’d gladly give up all the oxygen in his lungs and drown in them. Has someone ever looked as beautiful while smiling at him? He doesn’t think so. He can’t think. Not when you’re leaning closer, not when your arms are suddenly wrapped around his neck, not when you’re pressing your lips to his. Holy shit. You’re pressing your lips to his. And he’s forgotten how to breathe, let alone kiss. Osamu just freezes, like a marble statue, like a teenager who’s never touched a woman before. Right as he’s about to swallow the shock and fucking move, you’re already pulling away, eyes not leaving his despite the slight self-consciousness swarming in those irises.

And then you disappear, just like the dream he believed you were, all that’s left is an empty spot by the door and his heart slamming against a pathetically ill-equipped ribcage.

La Suite is one of the most luxurious hotels in the prefecture and Osamu feels out of place with the 30 onigiri order he’s carrying past a french restaurant and a traditional japanese one, all soft carpeting, dim lights and wide windows. So different from his.

He timidly explains that he’s there to deliver an order to a certain Bennet-san, who for some reason insisted he’d be the one bringing it to her hotel. They look at him funny but let him through and give the coordinates: top floor, superior double room. A woman meets him the second he steps out of the elevator and sternly asks him to follow her, a silly part of him wonders if he’s about to get murdered in one of the top 25 hotels in Japan. But then she knocks on a door right before swinging it open and he doesn’t even get to explain that he’s not supposed to get inside, she can take the bloody bag and he’ll be on his merry way, but once again Osamu fails to determine what the day holds in store for him.

Once more, it’s you. A less preppy version, one that seems so small in such a gigantic room, the sea breeze blowing from the terrace gracefully lifting up the hem of a tennis skirt you immediately fight to keep down as you promptly get up from the couch.

“Hi” he says, so dumbfounded he barely notices the door closing behind him.

“Miya-san” you bow, keep your eyes down, no sign of a smile he could by now deem familiar “I’m sorry for the trouble, I know the hotel is pretty far from the restaurant and you must be busy. This will only take a second”

Osamu’s brows furrow, confusion evident in the way he cocks his head. You don’t catch it, because your eyes are glued to the floor. “I wanted to apologize for my behavior. I don’t know what came over me, I hope you can find it in yourself to forgive me”

His eyes soften as part of the tension leaves his shoulders. Truth is, Osamu is glad you’re apologizing: despite how beautiful and dreamy you may be, life is not quite a movie and he doesn’t exactly appreciate being blindsided by a stranger. He doesn’t really understand what made you think kissing him would be a good idea (was his awkardness interpreted the wrong way? Did his stare linger on your smile a second too long?) but he’s certain you meant no harm. A shitty person certainly wouldn’t take time out of her day to leave an autograph on a napkin, especially right after half a jug of iced tea was spilled on her shirt just minutes before. To Hiro, with love.

After a moment, he clears his throat. “Can ya look at me?”

You meet his gaze hesitantly, mouth a thin line of harsh disapproval directed at yourself. For a second, you remind him of someone and he almost breaks into a smile.

“Thank you for apologizing. We’re good”

“Are you certain?”

“Yeah!” he chuckles “you didn’t have to place such a big order”

You blink twice, then start nervously fiddling with your fingers “ah, actually I didn’t do it to… well, those onigiris are just really good. I wanted to take some extra ones with me”

“You’re leaving?” he doesn’t mean to sound disappointed, especially not while you’re so intentionally keeping your distance.

“Kinda. My record label rented a house in the countryside, I’ll spend most of the summer locked in, trying to finish my new album. I couldn’t do it in America, I missed being home but didn’t want to endure Tokyo’s chaos so I ended up picking Hyogo. Sorry, you didn’t ask to know all that” you chuckle tensely “we leave tomorrow and I didn’t want to go without apologizing first. That’s all. You may go now”

Osamu hums. “I may go? As in I’m excused?” he laughs when your painfully stoic expression melts into sheer horror.

“No! Of course not, I didn’t mean it like that!”

“You take yourself too seriously” he grins “I’m just messin’ with ya”

“That’s not very nice of you”

“Would you compare it to kissing a stranger out of the blue?”

“Oh god” you hide your overheated face in your hands “you said we’re good!”

“And we are” Osamu steps closer to gently place the bags still in his hands on the marble topped pedestal coffee table. It’s just fun to tease you, one of the many irritating habits he shares with his brother.

His brother. Osamu looks up, a risky desire taking shape in his head and threatening to spill over the tip of his tongue.

“I’m really sorry, Miya-san” you repeat and he doesn’t love that you’re now calling him that “uh, this is your shirt. Cleaned and ironed. Thank you for…”

“Whatcha doing tonight?”

You freeze, paper bag still in hand. “Uhm, nothing interesting”

“No packing?”

“My manager does that for me”

He chuckles. “Right. Chances you’d want to spend your last night in the city at an even less interesting birthday party?”

Osamu waits patiently while you weigh your options, recognizes the confusion in your hesitant stare but doesn’t quite understand why there’s a weary vibration to your voce when you accept, the slight disappointment that flashes across your features.

It’s only fair, you think as he parts from the room with a smile and the command to secure those onigiris in a fridge. If showing you off to his friends like some valuable conquest is the way he wants to even the score, you’re in no position to deny him. You’re the one at fault and you’ve been given a chance to make up for it by wearing the facade you wear best.

Then why does it feel so disheartening, this time?

When Shinsuke opens the door, he’s more surprised by your presence than the carefully wrapped gift in your hands. Not that he doubted Osamu: why send a message to the group chat telling everyone that a) he was bringing someone and b) they should’ve absolutely not behaved any differently than usual if not better (in bold), if he wasn’t actually going to show up with a plus one?

Still, a small part of him did wonder if Atsumu’s and Rintaro’s relentless teasing finally got the best of him. Shinsuke doesn’t think that his friend works too much or that he should start “looking around” before “his hair starts greying again only this once naturally”. He remembers Osamu rolling his eyes at his brother when he implied that at this rate he’s gonna have to tie the knot with the restaurant, only to then space out for most of the evening as everyone else found new topics to migrate toward.

In short, Shinsuke wondered if Osamu was going to come up with a last minute excuse to justify the empty spot next to him at the table. But it seems that spot is going to be taken after all, by you nonetheless.

“Nice to meet you, Kita-san” you smile after Osamu introduces you by your name and nothing else, not a wink, not even a subtle hint or a reasonable explanation “happy birthday”

Shinsuke accepts the gift with a polite thank you and he’s almost made sure you could preserve a nice, normal memory of stepping foot into his house for the first time, of course failing to consider the Hinata factor.

“Thank god, Osamu, I’m so hungry- holy shit! Is her your gift? I only brought a cap that says farm hair don’t care!” there’s a strange but seemingly friendly redhead looking at you with eyes so wide you fear they might roll out of their sockets.

“Shoyo, any chance you checked the chat today?” Osamu smiles at him widely but Kita recognizes the tension at the corners.

“What? Of course not, I was busy picking a cute gift” Hinata smiles too but his excitement is genuine “hello, nice to meet you! Please come in, you can help us set the table!”

You chuckle and meet Osamu’s horrified eyes for a second, his posture relaxes as your gentle reassurance puts him at ease. I’ll be in the other room, then. Leave it to Hinata to make a gigantic deal out of a special guest only to treat her as one of his buddies ten seconds later. You seemed comfortable, though, as one always feels whenever Shoyo happens to be around.

“Who is she?” Shinsuke doesn’t mean for his tone to be so conspiratorial but he keeps it low, just in case you might still hear them.

“A friend. Kinda. Ya wouldn’t believe me” Osamu takes his jacket off and hangs it by the door, then picks up the plethora of bags from the floor and makes his way into his friend’s kitchen.

“No, I mean… who is she? Why does Shoyo know her?” Shinsuke follows suit, intent on helping him distribute all the food he’s brought in the different plates he has prepared. Osamu shakes his initial surprise off with a chuckle.

“Only one of the most famous pop music artists in Japan”

Kita stills his movements for a second, then absorbs the new information with a simple nod. “Right. And you met her at the shop”

“How d’ya know?”

“Where else would you be meeting a pop music artist?”

“Don’t make it sound so obvious” Osamu pulls a face and Shinsuke’s eyes twinkle with mischief.

“Well, she’s here. With you. Is it like… a date?”

“No” the peremptory answer comes embarrassingly fast “it’s her last night in the city, she’s here because she didn’t have anything better planned”

“But you invited her”

“Yes”

“Because you like her”

“I don’t-” Osamu gestures vaguely with his hands “it’s not like that. ‘Tsumu used to have a poster of her face in our room, for fuck’s sake”

Kita hums. “So what you actually mean is it can’t be like that”

“I don’t see the difference”

“I do”

“Well-” a loud commotion Osamu has been trained for over two decades to instantly recognize as his brother’s voice, makes the words die in his throat. By the time him and Shinsuke return to the colorfully decorated living room (courtesy of an overly enthusiastic Hinata and one resigned Rintaro), Atsumu is already talking your ear off and seemingly invading your personal space multiple times as he follows you around the table you’re setting with Suna like a golden retriever on a sugar overload.

“Shoyo, you were supposed to keep her safe” Osamu glares at his brother and takes a mental note to scold Aran too, later. For snickering.

Hinata doesn’t get the chance to defend himself because of course Atsumu’s the only one who could outshine that intense excitement with his own.

“Samu! What the hell? If this is yer gift to Shin, what are ya plannin’ to get me exactly?”

“Can everyone stop assuming she’s here as a thing and not as a person?” it comes out harsher than intended and Osamu feels his face grow hot when all those present simply stare at him. When you stare at him.

Suna clears his throat.

“Cut him some slack, he came out of the bathroom and we could barely convince him she’s not a hallucination” you chuckle at that, which makes the ever stoic Rintaro look away with a faint blush blossoming on his pale cheeks.

“Wait” Atsumu looks at you, then at his brother and his brows become progressively furrowed “she’s here with you? As in, you invited her? And she said yes?”

Osamu wonders why he thought a simple admonishment in the group chat would be enough. He has half an idea of shoving an onigiri right into his brother’s loud mouth and not perform any maneuver whatsoever when the rice obstructs his airways.

“Actually, I wanted to come” you chime in so gently it takes a few moments for him to register the words “I’m leaving tomorrow and when Miya-san mentioned it was one of his friends’ birthday, I shamelessly asked if I could tag along. Hope I’m not a bother”

Kita is looking at you the same way Osamu is, puzzled. Hinata almost chokes on his coke and starts coughing profusely, so much that Aran has to lend him a napkin.

“A bother? No, of course not!” his nose might be on fire but by god, he physically cannot let you believe such nonsense for a second too long.

Atsumu’s mouth hangs wide open, brows still knit that make his expression overall hilarious “you make her call you Miya-san? Yikes, bro” he turns to you and makes a scene of slamming a hand on his chest “please, feel free to call me ‘Tsumu. I think we’re intimate enough by now”

“Given that we took five selfies and you made me sign my name on your abs, I also think we’re intimate enough” your grin seems genuine, which only startles Osamu more.

“Ya made her do what?” oh, there are probably not enough words in the japanese vocabulary for the way he’ll have to apologize at the end of the night.

“It’s fine, I didn’t mind” you shrug “but if I could ask everyone a small favor…”

“Sure, anything!” Atsumu’s interruption only makes your smile grow wider “I’d really like to celebrate Kita-san’s birthday like you’d normally do. Please don’t make a big deal out of me, it’s his night after all”

“She’s asking not to be treated like a circus act” Aran whispers to Hinata, who blinks his big brown eyes in quiet understanding.

“Done!” Atsumu’s fist hits his chest right where the heart is as he solemnly declares “you’re one of the boys now, consider yourself a pal”

“Thanks, ‘Tsumu” he tries to keep his composure but nearly implodes as you direct your attention to Shoyo “no, Hinata-san, this doesn’t mean we won’t be taking that picture I promised. Don’t worry” your wink is the prettiest, most wonderful thing he’s ever witnessed and thank fuck he’s done drinking that coke because his airways suddenly feel clogged.

Kita thinks this is already the most entertaining birthday he’s ever celebrated.

And celebrate his birthday you all do. Normally, as per your request. You sit between Rintaro and Osamu at dinner and masterfully divert the attention from yourself whenever the questions start piling up. The uno reverse technique works well: your curiosity feels flattering and everyone is happy to satisfy it. The questions you direct are extremely specific, your laugh echoes alongside everyone else’s and Osamu can’t help but think that, in some odd way, you fit in seamlessly. 

Keeping his eyes off of you isn’t but a strenuous fight with himself, it’d be lovely if looking would be the only activity he’d be allowed to engage in. It’s not hard to guess why hordes of fans and admirers are so enamoured: you’re such a natural. Polite, poised, funny, charismatic. Making you laugh feels like a privilege, having your brows raise in interest makes the story one’s recounting instantly fascinating. And yet you’re not doing any of that on purpose, he can tell. The one thing you’re being intentionally careful about is avoiding his gaze and making sure your arm doesn’t accidentally brush against his.

Osamu wants to ask himself why but also refuses to indulge in childish fantasies. What, he thought you liked him? Part of him believed you’d accepted to come to some stranger’s birthday party purely to spend an evening with him. Bullshit. Everyone in the world knows who you are and he simply owns an onigiri shop in Hyogo, one you happened to visit by sheer chance. He’s the guy you are so embarrassed to be seen with, you had to come up with a lie to justify your presence at the very same table that seems to adore you.

But when he jokingly throws a grain of rice at Aran, you hide your chuckle behind your hand. If he speaks, you always turn to look. Osamu doesn’t remember a social gathering where he tried to come up with just as many things to say, desperately conjuring genes that always weigh heavier in Atsumu. Unfortunately, the one person he could always count on, his dear friend and trusty supplier, decides his birthday night is the perfect occasion to stab him in the back.

“I’m sorry, I just need to ask” Kita refills your glass with fresh wine from across the table before retracting to his seat once more “your encounter with Osamu, how did it happen exactly?”

“Yeah, was his onigiri so good you wanted to-”

“Do not finish that sentence, Shoyo” Aran clears his throat as Suna, next to you, has a hard time swallowing his stir fry noodles.

“She heard my shop was the best in town, which it is, came to try it. That’s the story” Osamu wishes he could disappear into his kitchen as he often does when things at the restaurant get uncomfortable.

“I don’t buy it” Shinsuke shrugs “is that really the whole story?”

Kita’s knowing stare really hasn’t changed since high school and it seems you’re affected by it just as much as every other human. His eyes bore right into yours, trained to detect hesitation or even the hint of a lie, giving you no escape. Goddamn it, he’s still the team captain, there’s no running from him.

“Well” you gently swirl the glass in your hand, suddenly very much focused on the crimson liquid swooshing inside “I also kissed him”

This time someone does actually choke and, of course, it’s Atsumu. Right as Rintaro utters an ever quiet holy shit, he explodes in a coughing fit and Aran promptly strikes between his shoulder blades with the heel of his hand, perhaps with more force than needed. Thankfully, Atsumu manages to swallow his bite and, despite the tears threatening to run down his cheeks in all their shimmering glory, still conjures the energy needed to point an intimidating finger at his brother “ya bastard!”

“That’s a joke, right?” Hinata’s eyes have once again grown three sizes.

Kita doesn’t ask, the answer is written all over Osamu’s crimson red face. He was right, no one would’ve believed him.

“No, I really did” you take a sip from your glass and now everyone is looking at you like you’re some kind of alien. Except for Atsumu, who’s still glaring daggers at his brother.

“So this is… a date for you two?” Suna’s just as shocked as everyone else but seems to be the only person currently able to string words together.

“Oh, no” you brush the question off with a gracious wave of the hand “I just did it to thank him”

This time the silence stretches for a moment too long. Atsumu seems on the verge of passing out.

“You kissed him to thank him?” Kita cocks his head.

“Yeah. I mean, he was very kind. Have you never kissed someone to thank them?”

“Uh… no. I don’t think so”

“Really?”

“Do you…” Aran hopes to the gods that the words don’t come out the wrong way “do that often?”

“Aran” as much as Osamu wishes the earth could swallow him whole, he doesn’t want you to think his friends may be implying something they’re really not.

“I didn’t mean it like that!”

“It’s okay” you let our a nervous chuckle and because Osamu is sitting so close, he hears the shaky breath too “I know it was wrong. I tend to forget that’s not what normal people are used to. I apologized and now we’re good, right, Miya-san?” your eyes meet his and he feels his heart drop right into his stomach.

“Why are you used to that?” he asks instead of replying to your question and you just. Freeze.

“Yeah…” Hinata quietly chimes in “that doesn’t sound like something anyone should be used to”

For the first time, you don’t know how to respond. Osamu senses your panic, can read it in your eyes, but is too baffled to think of something smart or chivalrous to say.

“Holy shit, ya know what that means?” Atsumu slams both his hands on the table and both you and everyone else jump “it means she thinks I’m hot! In another life, I’d have a chance! Sorry, Shin, I know it’s yer birthday but I think this is the best night of my life!”

A quiet, astonished moment follows, then the table erupts in genuine laughter. You’re giggling so much you have to hold your stomach, Kita is shaking his head in resignation, Suna rolls his eyes with affection. Osamu settles for a smile as he relaxes against his chair once more. His brother may be loud and annoyingly inopportune, but his quiet support never once faltered throughout the years. One doesn’t need to be an old acquaintance to be taken under Miya Atsumu’s wing: if he senses as much as the hint of unease, his charismatic idiocy is summoned right away at the service of whoever may need it. Yet his loyalty remains unshakeable: Osamu knows that, in his stupid head, you’re already forbidden territory.

His mind is dizzy with confusion he doesn’t know how to properly address. As Kita blows out the candles on the cake he’s made, Osamu feels a wave of affection inundate his heart. He remembers that are nights like this that are worth being present, even if he has to get up at dawn or his sink is full of dirty dishes and he’s exhausted. Life only ever feels right when he’s with his friends or his family. It’s a routine he’s trained hard to get used to: work, work, work, carve out small moments to spend with those who come and go. It’s important for him to be there, when they come.

Osamu almost misses it, too focused on cleaning an extra plate or two in the kitchen, to make sure the birthday boy can get to relax once they leave. And then you call for him, a small crack in that poised facade of yours when his name almost slips out. You rush into the kitchen and urge him to hurry up, they’re already singing happy birthday to Kita-san. Come on, you’re missing it!

You probably wanted to go for his sleeve and found his hand instead, dragged him out of the room so quickly Osamu barely had the time to put the towel down. For some reason, once in the living room you don’t let go right away and neither does he. You only do so to clap with everyone else and even then it’s not entirely possible to establish who lets go first. Regardless, Osamu gives your hand a light squeeze and hopes you notice, despite there being no signs to indicate that.

You’re the first two people to excuse themselves: he refuses to let you go back to your hotel on your own, doesn’t give two shits that you have a driver or could well afford a cab because it’s a beautiful evening and Osamu is itching to have as little as ten minutes alone with you. He watches as you formally offer a hand to Suna and he grins as he shakes it, gently taking it in between his in a respectful attempt at suggesting that there’s no need to be so ceremonious.

You exchange quick hugs with everyone else, take the picture promised to Hinata, chuckle lightly when Atsumu timidly asks for a kiss on the cheek just because “it’s the american way of saying goodbye!” and of course you accomodate the request. Osamu is almost willing to bet you genuinely had fun but he also can’t seem to shake off the odd feeling suggesting you’ve somehow taken it upon yourself to just… appease everyone for the entire evening. Like some kind of duty. He doesn’t want you to think back to this evening like a task that had to be carried out.

“Oh my god, I cannot fucking believe it!” Atsumu’s shriek echoes loud and clear in the empty street  as soon as Kita shuts the door and you meet Osamu’s exasperated glare.

“I’m genuinely not sure what I should start apologizing for” he runs a hand through his brown hair and his stress makes you smile as you fall into a comfortable walking pace.

“I should start by thanking you for inviting me. Can’t remember the last time I had such a normal night”

“My friends are many things but I don’t know if they really fall into the normal category”

You laugh at that. “I think they’re really nice. It was fun. I didn’t know there were two of you”

Osamu grimaces, lightly shaking his head “good call, he’s the thing I should start apologizing for”

“I liked Atsumu” of course you did, don’t they all? “you’re lucky to have such good friends and a brother. Is it true what they say about weird connections us twinless mortals wouldn’t get?”

He sighs. As much as Osamu hates stereotypes and all the disadvantages that come with not being able to be his own person, the curse of always being considered nothing but part of a set, he knows the bond with Atsumu is just as rare and irreplaceable as people make it out to be.

“Well, I can pretty much always read his mind. But it’s not a twin thing, s’just an Atsumu thing” he shrugs “most transparent, honest person on earth”

“You’re both very kind” your observation strikes him. It hits the nail on the head: he does his best but it’s unusual for someone to notice ‘Tsumu’s selflessness right away.

“Could say the same about ya” he’s eager to direct the topic to the thing he’s really interested in, the one person who refused every bit of attention directed her way throughout the night “that tea collection must’ve costed a fortune. Shinsuke loves tea, yer manager picked well”

You hum, gaze focused on your feet. “Actually, I picked it”

Another thing Osamu has in common with his brother, the ability to royally fuck up in such a short amount of time.

“Oh, I didn’t-”

“It’s okay, happens all the time”

“What happens?”

“People assuming things” you’re not mad, there’s just a sad vibration to your voice. If he could punch himself in the face, he would.

“I’m sorry”

“Don’t be” Osamu hates the smile you toss at him. He hates it so much he stops in the middle of the sidewalk and watches you turn around, confusion flashing in your disenchanted eyes.

“There’s a pretty cool park ‘round the corner. How about a detour? If you’re not too tired”

You hum in agreement, ask him to lead the way. Careful, Osamu, you’d like to say. This same polite regard is what got me in trouble the first time.

The park, which is more of a garden really, is a slice of eden in the jungle that any city inevitably ends up feeling like. Lowlands, an abundance of irregular but colorful flowerbeds that seem to glow in the dark, the warm air of the evening saturated with the sweet scent of lime trees, a gravel path you both follow all the way to a small, wooden playground. It’s only natural to gravitate toward the swings, relish in the comfort of the stillness the evening offers. It always feels like the earth rotates slower, pace decelerating to give you more time to enjoy the things it’s hard to appreciate during your hectic days.

Osamu approaches the swing like an old friend, takes hold of the chains with both hands. He lightly pushes off the ground with his feet while pulling back, giving you a perfect view of his perfect profile.

“I don’t want to assume” he says quietly “so is it okay if I ask?”

“Yeah” you rest your head on the chain you’re holding, still looking at him who won’t look at you.

“Why did you tell ‘Tsumu you asked me to come tonight?” the actual question dies in his throat. Were you that embarrassed of being there with me?

“You seemed pretty self-conscious. I didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable” and I guess that way, you got to seem cooler.

Osamu almost chokes on his own spit from how surprised he is by your answer. What the fuck.

“I wasn’t-” not for the reason you seem to believe “I didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable!”

You smile, patiently waiting for the moment where he’ll finally turn to meet your gaze instead of persistently staring at his feet. “I don’t think I ever felt that comfortable in a room filled with men”

“That shouldn’t be an exceptional occurrence”

“Right. But it is”

He spends a few moments trying to come up with the right words, a handful of seconds spent with part of his brain wishing he could have a talk with all the men who made you feel unsafe. How many? Where, why? Are they the reason why Osamu wants to get so desperately close and yet keep a respectful distance, not to scare you off, not to be another name added to the list of creeps you surely hate?

“Why did you kiss me?” those are far from being the right, considerate words he was trying to summon, but they bubble up from his throat before he can stop them.

You hum, pensive “I don’t know. You’re pretty, you’re gentle, I thought t’was what you expected to happen. It’s what men usually expect in return”

“In return for what?” he fights the urge to keep his eyes down, confident that the darkness will conceal the redness of his cheeks. You think he’s pretty and the first thing his dumb brain is able to link the revelation to, is Atsumu. Shit, he was right, this means you do find him attractive as well.

“Anything, really” your chuckle is devoid of actual humor “I know this night was supposed to make up for it but I didn’t expect to have so much fun. Regardless, I hope we’re even now”

Osamu furrows his brows.

“Ya think that’s why I invited ya?”

“Why else?”

He almost laughs, incredulous. You hide that mistrust really well, Osamu has to give it you. It feels unfair that life has given someone who seemingly has everything, so many reasons to think you can only be seen as an empty shell, some trophy with the sole purpose of being flaunted.

“You said you were leaving. I didn’t like the idea of not seeing you again”

“Really?” your lips curl into a small smile “the weird girl who jumped you on your first meeting?”

“You’re weird” he concedes “and selfless. Intelligent. Maybe jokes are not your forte but, hey, ya get to look like that” your laugh compliments his really well and Osamu can’t help but think he’d like to sit in a park, in the middle of the night, and talk and laugh and be with you just once more.

You briefly wonder if the man sitting so close to you is aware of just how devastatingly charming he is. Part of you wishes he’d want to take you out on a proper date, let you meet his friends on different occasions, include a weird stranger in such a well balanced life. Part of you also knows you’d never want to ruin that for him. Not for someone like Osamu. People who are unfortunate enough to stumble across you are almost always harassed away, it’s a life you’re used to and can’t bring yourself to run from. It’s who you are and, most importantly, all you have. It’d be too dangerous for your heart to desire anything different.

But he’s looking at you as if you’re the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen, land emerged from the sea millions of years ago for his eyes only to experience such a sight. No one’s ever looked at you with such wonder.

“I don’t want to assume” he holds your gaze locked to his, swing dangling lightly as he leans closer “so is it okay if I ask?”

“Yes” you utter a little too breathlessly.

“Can I kiss ya?”

You hum in affirmation and close your eyes, heart beating a little faster than what you’re used to as you sense his proximity. He smells nice, radiates warmth and his soft hair tickles a little when his lips gently press to your cheek.

Osamu smiles when he catches a glimpse of disappointment flashing over your features, the first of many clues he wants to learn how to interpret correctly. The cracks in a facade he’d make his personal mission to tear down.

“I know you have to go away tomorrow” he gently moves a strand of hair away from your forehead “but I wondered, if you didn’t, whether you might let me see ya a little. Or a lot, maybe”

You lean into his touch, calloused fingertips still barely grazing your skin.

“A lot sounds good”

[superbatbigbang2025]

SBBB 2025 rules: 

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Want to know the timeline of the event? You can read it here!

[mask131]

What I really wanted to post about, when writing this previous entry, was the Bilquis scene of American Gods.

You know, THE famous "devouring sex" scene of Bilquis. Neil Gaiman was sometimes asked about it on his Tumblr and he always had vague or joke-y answers such as "This was put as a test, so the reader would know what they got into and could stop before going further". And so it was sort of the common consensus - that the scene was deliberately placed by Gaiman here just to weird out and blow the mind out of the reader, to prepare them for all the weirdness to come...

But I found an earlier answer about the why of the Bilquis scene. A much more thorough, interesting and relevant reason as to why this scene exist... However Gaiman never spoke of it on his Tumblr. Which I find... strange. Interesting and strange - I have no "conclusions" to get out of it but I just want to bring forward this unusual thing. Because according to interviews he gave at the time of the release of the book, the scene was a gift/homage to... Kathy Acker.

Gaiman talked about three or five times in total about Kathy Acker on his Tumblr account, and never much in depth. Saying which works of hers made him discover her work and turned him into a fan ; or saying she is one of the persons he missed and wishes he could have a lunch with again... He shared how his Orpheus-based poem was written soon after Acker died, as a reaction to her departure (you can see it here). But he never talked about Acker's link to American Gods.

I mean, it is kind of obvious Kathy Acker's work influenced American Gods since the literal dedication of the book, the first thing we read, is "For Kathy Acker and Roger Zelazny". Zelazny's influence over American Gods is very big and obvious when you know the basic Zelazny works - Gaiman clearly wrote it own as an homage and even pastiche of Zelazny's work (notably imitating his narrative style in the Amber Chronicles). But I am not familiar with Acker's work, meaning I couldn't guess on my own which part she played on American Gods, and I saw nobody mention her link to it - not even Gaiman.

Yet I found back an interview Gaiman gave for the release of the book. It was hosted on a website that doesn't exist anymore, at the page https://raintaxi.com/gaiman.html, but hopefully the Wayback Machine saved the page from when it was still around, in the distant years 2001-2002. And here is the segment I am referring to:

Rain Taxi: You dedicate American Gods to "Kathy Acker and Roger Zelazny, and all points between." How do you view the literary continuum, and how do you see yourself in it?

Neil Gaiman: It’s an interesting dedication because it’s about three things. It’s about absent friends, and it’s about writing a book for absent friends. It’s also about the literary continuum--there’s this thing that runs from here to here and very elegantly and peculiarly, it runs from A to Zed. In the ’90s I lost a number of friends, but the two big friends I lost who were also writers were Kathy and Roger. Roger was someone who I had not known as well as I should have done. We’d see each other at conventions and things and talk on the phone, and we’d always have long conversations about how sooner or later I had to come down to New Mexico and hang for a week . . . it was always something I figured I had plenty of time for. When he died it really shocked me, and I did wind up going down to New Mexico for the memorial. Kathy was somebody who I was very good friends with in London from 1985 onward. I remember I got an email one day saying she was dying, which seemed a little odd because I had spoken to her six months before. I phoned some friends of hers in England and was told: No, no, she’s just being a drama queen, she’s fine, she’s got flu, whatever. I sent back an email to these people saying "my people say she’s just got flu." "No, she’s dying in a hospital in Mexico, here’s the phone number." She was in room 101--I thought, there you go, there’s a literary reference. It was good, I got to say my goodbyes, tell her I love her, tell her to hang in there. We said a few words and she was dead a couple of days later. That one hurt. So I wanted to write something for them. In many ways, I have no idea if Kathy would have liked it. I think she would have done. I know she would have liked chapter two with the extreme sex in it--that was there for Kathy. But I sent a copy of the book to Jane Lindskold who was Roger’s partner in his last few years. She wrote back and she said, you know, Roger would have loved this book. I felt very happy about that. It was interesting because I wasn’t trying to write a Zelazny-ish book. I think Roger was probably the best fantasy/SF writer of the ’60s and ’70s when he was on form. I really wasn’t trying to emulate him. I was just trying to write a book that I thought he would have liked

That was the part. There's other interesting things in this old interview, but I just wanted to highlight and bring forward this sequence in regard to all the talks that have been going on for now. The influences of Neil Gaiman. What he took inspiration from. Gaiman and women. Gaiman's works "erasing" or "eclipising" female authors. The plagiarism accusations. The weird, bizarre, fetishistic sex scenes that for some aged badly.

Again I have literaly no point to make here. I just share some pieces of information that have been swept away by the decay of the Internet and that nobody seemed eager to bring back up. Doing my little archive of forgotten answers and ignored facts.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Timothy Pratt at The Guardian:

After seeing Elon Musk’s X post on Saturday afternoon about an email that would soon land in the inboxes of 2.3 million federal employees asking them to list five things they did the week before, a clandestine network of employees and contractors at dozens of federal agencies began talking on an encrypted app about how to respond. Employees on a four-day, 10-hours-a-day schedule wouldn’t even see the email until Tuesday – past the deadline for responding – some noted. There was also a bit of snark: “bonus points to anyone who responds that they spent their government subsidy on hookers and blow,” one worker said. Within hours, the network had agreed on a recommended response: break up the oath federal employees take when hired into five bullet points and send them back in an email: “1. I supported and defended the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” “2. I bore true faith and allegiance to the same,” and so on. It was only the latest effort by a growing and increasingly busy group banding together to “expose harmful policies, defend public institutions and equip citizens with tools to push back against authoritarianism”, according to Lynn Stahl, a contractor with Veterans Affairs and a member of the network. Increasingly, the group is also trying to help its members and others face the thousands of layoffs that have been imposed across the federal government.

Calling itself #AltGov, the network has developed a visible, public-facing presence in recent weeks through Bluesky accounts, most of which bear the names or initials of federal agencies, aimed at getting information out to the public – and correcting disinformation – about the chaos being unleashed by the Trump administration. With 40 accounts to date, their collective megaphone is getting louder, as most of the accounts have tens of thousands of followers, with “Alt CDC (they/them)” being the largest, at nearly 95,000 followers. The network has also formed a group and a series of sub-groups on Wire, the encrypted messaging app, to share information and develop strategies – as played out on Saturday. The #AltGov hashtag has roots in the first Trump administration, perhaps most famously through the “ALT National Park Service” account on what was then Twitter, according to Amanda Sturgill, journalism professor at Elon University, whose book We Are #AltGov: Social Media Resistance from the Inside documents the earlier phenomenon. (That account, with its 774,000 followers, has since moved to Bluesky. Its online presence is parallel to and separate from the #AltGov network.) The original #AltGov Twitter accounts were dedicated to “sharing information about what was happening inside government – which usually doesn’t get covered as much, because it usually works”, Sturgill said. Examples included the first Trump administration’s deletion of data and separation of families through immigration policies, she said. The people behind those accounts also banded together to “provide services the government wasn’t providing” – like helping coordinate hurricane relief and distributing masks during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Those efforts were often coordinated in Twitter group chats.

The Guardian has a report on the #AltGov network hosted on Bluesky and other social media outlets that are resisting the 2nd Trump Regime and DOGE.

[coricatchthorne]

Admissions 1.11: Her Finger on the Pulse (Valerie)

Welcome (back) to Europa University: Admissions! Quick links if you need 'em:

Story-level intro and content notes

<< First chapter | < Previous chapter

Chapter-specific content notes:

Excessive alcohol consumption and associated poor decision-making

Brief, oblique moments recalling the aftermath of past assault

-----

To: "Valerie Devigne" valerie.devigne@fam.devigne.windfall.corp

From: "Emile Devigne" emile.devigne@fam.devigne.windfall.corp

Val!! I'm so sorry I haven't checked in for days, it's been really busy! I hope you and everyone (and your fish!) are doing well!

Europa City is beautiful and all your recs are so perfect and ALSO. I met someone amazing last night, can't wait to tell you about him. Talk this weekend?? (also thank you for updating my email address <3)

Love, Emile

Valerie paced.

Outside, it was long past dark. Her office windows admitted soft golden illumination: glowing from fountains and along garden pathways, limning the branches of the nearest terraforming module in the distance.

Brighter were the shifting, multi-colored reflections from her aquarium and the half-dozen massive holo-panels above her desk.

Two were dedicated to dashboards displaying the live status of her chosen security metrics: one for the Devigne family's digital presence and assets, including immediate family accounts and feeds; the other for what she categorized mentally as Windfall shit.

Adaire had his own security department, of course, as did Devigne Wineries and Holdings. Valerie had built that team herself. But when it came to family, she preferred to keep her finger on the pulse. And when it came to Adaire's pet projects... well. Power and privilege had a price, as Mother always said.

She would know.

Another monitor was reserved for visual distraction or entertainment. Right now she had it set to a video Emile had taken while snorkeling on Terra, sunlight lancing through sea-blue. On the next display over, a stream of media alerts scrolled past at a measured pace, flagged at differing levels of priority and awaiting her review. It was there she'd first seen Emile's smiling face next to that idiot boy Brenn, who'd decided to trade her brother's affection for money and clout.

The last two monitors held her main workspace: one a busy terminal screen, the other thick with overlapping windows. Foremost among them were Brenn's Now feed, Windchat profile and recent gusts, and his "private" mailbox; all hosted on Windnet servers, and therefore as accessible to her as the garden outside.

She'd watched Brenn, in the wake of his moment of viral fame. Watched him bask in the attention on his feed, making coy little allusions, answering questions from the curious and the cruel. Sending gusts to his friends and sharing stories that, knowing Emile, just might be true, but which burned her blood to see bandied with derisive casualness. Watched him receive overtures from other gossip-hungry tabloids, watched him respond and schedule and haggle.

Now she watched his feed languish unattended as his outbox filled with his pleas for help. Unfortunately for him, Windfall’s rules regarding the privacy of key company staff were no less stringent for being rarely enforced.

And Emile had been born “key company staff”, just all the Devigne children, thanks to Lyonesse’s long-ago deal with Adaire.

Valerie had drafted the notice that went to Brenn herself, honing it to razor-sharpness with Counsel’s encyclopedic knowledge of Windfall’s corporate codes before passing it on to official channels. She only wished she could have seen Brenn’s face when he received it from WindSec. Wished she could watch him sending out another despairing message, this time to some family friend with a background in intra-corporate law, asking how any of this was possible. Wished she could watch him open the next message in his inbox: from the college he'd been about to start, rescinding their offer of admission due to his violation of their code of conduct.

Which Valerie, of course, had helpfully made them aware of.

And now Emile had met someone amazing. That he couldn't wait to tell her about. Except that he could, because it was Tuesday and he wasn't going to call her until the weekend. And that should have been fine, except that in the three weeks since he'd left home, he'd already been taken advantage of by some venal little shit who'd looked into his gentle eyes and seen only a chance for fame and fortune.

Valerie paused beside the cooling cabinet tucked under the small bar beside the door, crouching down to look through the glass. Right in front stood a bottle of last year's spring harvest white.

She took it out and uncorked it. Left the opener on the counter. Pulled a glass from the half-dozen hanging above the bar, poured it three-quarters full, and drank.

It tastes like leaves and sunshine.Emile on his twelfth birthday, with a fancy little glass of spring harvest white, green eyes wide in delight at this first taste of the family business.

The little lush. It still made her smile. She drank again.

They'd shared this same wine together the day before his eighteenth birthday, which felt like yesterday but was more than two years past, somehow.

On the border between the woods—the few dozen acres of the planet's old wilderness that Father had talked Lyonesse into letting him keep—and the main estate lay a small lake, its bottom mucky and its shores thick with lake lilies. A small dock extended into it, with a little rowboat that one of the estate staff made sure stayed clean and in repair.

Emile loved it there.

They'd sat on the dock together, drinking his favorite wine and eating cold fish with fresh bread and rice wrapped in grape leaves, and Emile had told her he wanted to leave home, and be a boy.

He'd known she'd understand.

Dion would have too, if xe were ever around anymore.

But even at eighteen, Emile had been presenting boyishly for a couple of years already, in his endearingly foppish little way, and seemed fairly content. So when he asked her advice, Valerie said that if he wanted to get off-world anyway, that he should wait until then to declare and get his mark. And when he turned to her and asked, with not a trace of accusation in his voice, when that might be, she'd promised to persuade Lyonesse.

Which she had. Though Val had thought he'd do his change as part of his University intake, instead of impulsively in the middle of his Reterra.

Still, he at least wasn't here to deal with Mother sorting out her feelings about her youngest child confirming his deferred decision to be a son. When Valerie had transitioned, she’d done so for herself alone; but Lyonesse had accepted it, in part, as a declaration of allegiance. Which was why Valerie had not been surprised to see her take it hard when Emile had made the opposite choice, even if she'd known it might be coming.

This was your idea, Lyonesse had said to Valerie at dinner earlier tonight. Keep an eye on him, and make sure he doesn't get hurt again.

Valerie turned to her monitors, sank into the mesh-backed chair she'd tuned to fit her body better than her own bed, took another drink of wine, and pulled up her little brother's messages.

It took no time at all to find what she was looking for; the timestamps were from earlier today.

Subject: Pleasure to make your acquaintance

To: emile.devigne@fam.devigne.windfall.corp

From: "Cylus Keene" cylus.keene.96#70035@terrasys.registry<via>pub.europa.windfall.corp

Dear Emile,

First, I must thank you again; I have rarely spent a night so memorably occupied. Cynthia said to pass on her appreciation for the café recommendation; we are both now fans, especially of the fish rolls.

Secondly: Our conversation has convinced me to go ahead and apply to Europa University. I cannot imagine a better endorsement for an academy than to have a person like you for a student! I understand that the current round of admissions is for the next study-cycle, so it will be some time before I can join you as a classmate, even if all goes well. But Cynthia and I intend to apply for temporary residency and work permits, in hopes of contributing to and getting to know Europa City before becoming students here. May fortune flow our way!

Thirdly: While we undertake these next steps, we are staying at the Hospitality Suites near the starport, and as you can see, I've activated my comm on the local net. If your no-doubt busy schedule at the University allows you any extra time, and you'd enjoy sharing another evening together, you now know where to find me.

Cylie

—

Subject: RE: Pleasure to make your acquaintance

To: "Cylus Keene" cylus.keene.96#70035@terrasys.registry<via>pub.europa.windfall.corp

From: "Emile Devigne" emile.devigne@fam.devigne.windfall.corp

Cylus! I'm so delighted you wrote! I had such a wonderful time with you and it would be my absolute delight to see you again !I wanted to reply sooner but today I have been to, a lot of events anyway I would be happy to come to meet you anywhere near your lodgings! I am obliged to attend a ceremonial dinner for new students this evening (ha ha I'm late actually but it will be fine, please forgive any spelling mistakes I'm walki in g and inputting) afterwards there is some kind of student mixer that I'm told may run quite late.

Tomorrow I am also over-occupied with mandatory obligations though I could possibly slip away for a couple of hours early in the mornign? But Thurs I should be free after 20:00! One possibility if you are interested in seeing another of my sister's recommendations is her favorite restaurant for eating the local seafood raw (apparently it's very good that way!) also she said it was a "great date spot", if that sounds appealing to you. Alternately we could revisit Callisto's Café and share some more fish rolls if you'd rather somewhere more casual! Or I'm open to anything else you'd like too, and if that time doesn't work I'll find another, please just please let me know!

Warmest wishes,

Emile

"Cylus Keene," she muttered, swirling the wine in her glass. "And who in Fortune's fuck are you?"

Valerie pulled a fresh bottle from the wine cooler and refilled her glass, seething.

This didn't make any sense.

Lyonesse had taught her how to discern fake idents when she was younger than Emile was now. She was the first to help Mother process the rapidly growing number of entry applications from would-be visitors to their planet. The skill paired well with Valerie's natural tendencies towards finding the flaws in systems; tendencies that had made Valerie a natural choice as the first digital defender of Devigne's Paradise, even if that mantle was no longer hers alone.

Yet the documents Cylus—and Cynthia—Keene had used to enter Europa bore none of the usual hallmarks of the fraudulent idents Valerie had originally practiced spotting. The digital watermarks were all present. The crypto-signed stamps of entry and exit matched with the ports they claimed to have traveled through. Their associated academic records showed two believable but exceptional students, with several letters of recommendation that appeared to have been written by actual human beings. And since the twins—given their birthdates—had purportedly spent their entire lives in non-Windfall jurisdictions, there was no easy way for her to fact check any of it.

Just two ordinary youths who happened to be visiting a Windfall world for the first time, specifically to check out the fabled University there. Nothing so unusual about that. The port hadn't flagged them; Europa Uni wouldn't either, if they applied, nor would the Europa residency permitting office. Hells, her own staff wouldn't have flagged them, if they'd been among a crowd of would-be visitors. As long as they'd had the credits.

That was one notable thing. The Keene twins were much less financially well off than their background suggested. They'd registered their idents at a Windfall bank branch just today, cashing cross-network creds into local ones and setting up modest lines of credit. But their starting deposits had been very low; not two weeks worth of living expenses. If they found decent jobs, lived modestly for the next year, and signed up for Windfall's deferred work-trade program, they'd be able to afford the University's expenses; but they'd have to commit for at least a decade.

Something just... didn't feel right.

She paced back to the windows again, her own shadow blocking the reflections behind her. Several small drones moved through the gardens below, little green lights visible as they... watered, or pruned, or maybe applied compost made from the estate's biowaste? Valerie knew what kinds of things the gardrones did, she just wasn't sure what the ones outside right now were currently doing.

Emile would have recognized each drone from the patterns of their lights. He'd known their schedules of activity, and what their most recent repair had been, and whether they were due maintenance soon. Even if he might forget to do that maintenance without his delicately balanced system of alarms to remind him.

He’d named the gardrones after different flowers: Daffodil, Bluebell, Hyacinth, and so on. He named the ag-drones that worked the estate vineyards and orchards, too; after grape varietals, or types of apple or pear or quince or whatever fruit they happened to specialize in.

The lights in the garden blurred and sparkled before her eyes. Valerie blinked rapidly, staring out through the darkness cast by her presence, white wine warming in her glass as she imagined Emile, alone in the city she’d once loved.

Perhaps being preyed upon again.

She could hack into other corp or state system databases that would allow her to corroborate the details of the Keenes’ history, if she took time to plan her strategy. But she’d have to work to avoid detection, and any associated risk of blowback on the family.

There was another option.

"Counsel." She spoke into the empty room, voice flat. "Attend."

A deep violet indicator light turned on beside her terminal monitor; she watched its reflection blink to life in the window. "Present." Its voice matched her lack of inflection, otherwise resembling a human being of unguessable age and gender. She'd commanded it to stop feigning vocal tone when it spoke with her, because Adaire's pet AI annoyed her.

Unfortunately, it also had its uses.

"I have two idents up on my system right now. Review them, and search all Windfall records for traces of either individual."

"Confirmed. Estimated query time: three minutes."

The power of it ran up her spine, a frisson of discomfort and pleasure. Counsel had access to every system on Windnet, albeit through a firewall that acted like a biohazard suit. If the point of the suit was to contain the entity inside.

But the network it reached across from within its very flexible confinement extended across several dozen planetary systems. Hundreds of planets and moons, holding the new-farthest flung children of humanity: those on the worlds that had been, were being, or would be utterly transformed.

And it was her father's work that had enabled Windfall's last thirty-five years of staggering growth: the terraforming technology he'd perfected on their Paradise and which Lyonesse had licensed to Windfall through a steel trap of a contract. She’d made Valerie study it; had shown her every word she'd chosen and why, how key clauses either left a helpful ambiguity or closed a dangerous loophole. It was information security, the same art Valerie had learned and practiced: only the technology was law rather than software. Your Uncle Adaire and I designed this contract together, she'd said, with warmth she rarely shared with her children. Adaire wasn't Valerie’s uncle, any more than her mother's girlfriend Sveta was her aunt. But they could have been; Lyonesse's powerful friend, and her intimidating lover, who had both been part of Valerie's life since her birth.

And now here she was, starting her second—or was it her third?—bottle of wine, alone, missing her littlest brother pathetically, using the power of Uncle Adaire's chained digital intelligence to stalk said sibling's new crush.

Self loathing bloomed in her stomach. The wine in her mouth soured on her tongue.

She needed to force herself to swallow, and then call off the fucking AI, and go cry in her bed like the thirty-five-year old woman she was supposed to be.

Valerie's throat worked; her body genuinely did not want to swallow the wine. Dizziness enfolded her, and she bent her knees, seeking stability as the ground beneath her swayed. She forced the liquid down, and opened her mouth.

"Four meta-matches found,” It said before she could speak, “excluding Europa spaceport intake data and data generated after idents were first engaged with Windfall systems."

The world rotated around Valerie, awareness of her own intoxication vanishing beneath an all-consuming swell of vindication. Those idents said these two had spent their entire lives outside of Windfall space. They shouldn't have a single match. And if they were going to have any matches, they would typically have thousands; Windfall‘s monitoring practices were thorough. The number of matches since the Keenes had registered their idents earlier today was probably in the dozens, simply because they were being logged as new visitors to Windfall-controlled Europa.

Except... the Keenes hadn't registered their idents until today, but plainly Cylus had gone around with Emile last night... Terran time?... Valerie shook her head, regretting the motion immediately. Not a conversion she had to do. That's what the machine was for.

Also, she should sit down.

"Counsel, calculate the difference between current timestamp and original timestamp for each meta-match and prepare a file type and content summary." Valerie flopped into her office chair, sending it rolling across the hardwood; sourced from the Paradise's own forests. "Read list, ordered by date, ascending."

"Ten years, three months, fourteen days. Images, with attached metadata across four revisions and addendum flagged for WindSec-S clearance only. Two children, approximately ten years of age, being evacuated from GJ 1002 b in conjunction with Windfall planetary reclamation efforts. High confidence facial match with both subjects.

"Four years, five months, six days. WindSec apprehension and incarceration records, including images. Subject is adolescent; WindSec-C override required to unseal and summarize contents.

"One year, two months, twenty five days. Request for assistance from compromised Windfall administrative clerk level I, with attached video. Contains description of a blackmail endeavor perpetrated by a young person who is a high-confidence facial match for Cylus Keene. Video includes sexual content.

"Twenty hours, thirteen minutes. Series of videos over a four hour and fifty six minute period. Europa City security camera footage, showing Cylus Keene's activity. Ninety one percent of the footage also includes Emile Devigne."

Valerie spun in her chair, slowly. Her feet touched the ground in feathery taps, keeping up momentum; but the chair's bearing was lovingly maintained and spun effortlessly.

Had been lovingly maintained. The new household engineer was... fine. But she'd snapped at him earlier today anyway, because he was not her little brother, to whom she had never once raised her voice.

"WindSec-C override authorized, on my credentials. Summarize the second item."

"File covering an identless young person who is a high-confidence facial match to Cylus Keene. Apprehended by WindSec in the act of breaking and entering to Vega Station local Windfall liaison's office. Individual responded to inquiries with statements later confirmed to be false. Prior to follow-up interview, individual escaped WindSec custody. Subsequent investigation in partnership with Vega Station did not succeed in recovering the individual."

Interesting. Not good enough to avoid getting caught, but good enough to get in, and more impressively, get out. WindSec had its share of weak links, as Lyonesse asserted all physical security organizations did. But a teenager getting out of their custody was... unusual.

"Play sample of short clips from fourth item, upper limit five minutes of footage. Prioritize footage that includes Emile Devigne, movement patterns not frequently repeated in other footage, and activity outside of direct camera view." Illicit sorts practiced watching for and staying out of cameras, which often was enough to hide their tracks. But Counsel wasn't some third-rate vid-scraper. Reflections might show what someone had taken pains to hide.

Watching the resulting clips, Valerie rolled back over to the bar and refilled her glass, not looking away from the monitor that had previously been showing looped snorkeling footage.

When a polished metal garage door caught the reflection of Cylus crowding Emile up against a wall, her fingers tightened around the stem of the wine glass.

After the clips finished, looping back to the moment where Emile had wobbled out from behind a bush with an unfamiliar red scarf around his neck, she sat in silence for several minutes. Kicking herself back into rotation, she watched the clips replay, alternating between watching the monitor and its reflection in the window.

"Windsec-S override, my credentials. Summarize addendum to first file." She didn't recognize her own voice.

"Encrypted message exchange, Windsec-S clearance level, between Svetlana Glazastova and—"

Valerie stopped hearing, ears ringing. The chair slowed, the world around her tilting out of true, the wine in her stomach—why had she drunk so much of it?—abruptly threatening to evacuate the way it had entered. She breathed, deep, just-controlled gulps of air, shuddering as they came and went.

Of all the people in the galaxy, what were Aunt Sveta’s fingerprints doing all over this mystery boy who had apparently been arrested for infiltrating a Windfall office, escaped confinement, then two years later blackmailed a Windfall employee—successfully, at least for some duration—and now had attached himself to her babe-in-the-woods little brother?

...the blackmail. Sveta’s very involvement was enough to move Valerie to action, but she might as well stoke the fire of her righteous fury with whatever petty sextortion scheme this young criminal had concocted. “Play video attached to third result.”

The looping clips of Cylus and Emile were replaced by Cylus alone, dressed in a purple, black, and white outfit quite at odds with his and Cynthia’s current, apparent poverty. He was sprawled on a bed, loose-limbed and small. He looked dazed, and...

Afraid.

A cut in the footage. Someone was touching him. Cylus was... fighting, pushing against those hands with his own, tears streaking down his face as he cried out—

The wine rose in her again. She turned away, but his voice—she hadn’t wanted to hear his voice, she realized, especially not like this, protesting, pleading, begging—followed her. In the window, she saw his reflection contort. Heard threads rip, buttons clatter to the floor—

“Stop playback,” she snapped, clamping her eyes shut. Trying to breathe, though her lungs felt tight and closed.

Behind her eyelids, she saw Auspice, as she’d found him curled up in her dorm room after the one night he’d gone out into Europa City without her. Barely older than this boy, even if they couldn’t look any more different from one another.

Opening her eyes, she rolled over to her aquarium. Her unsteady breath fogged the glass as she watched the fish dance and dart.

Across the years, she could still hear Auspice’s voice, raw and weeping. Could see dim pinpricks of magenta light flickering around his eyes and mouth in time to his sobs as his photosuppressants wore off.

She wished that’d been the only time she’d heard him in pain. Or the only time she’d felt certain that his pain was her fault.

Her anger cracked and bled, something else stirring in its wake.

"Counsel,” she managed after a long period of silence. “Take message dictation."

-----

Next chapter >

Thanks so much for reading! If you enjoyed, please consider following, and/or subscribing for free on my website. You can also find me on Bluesky.

[webpinosoftwares]

Top Organic Social Media Marketing Strategies to Boost Your Audience Without Paid Ads

In today’s competitive digital landscape, growing a social media audience without paid ads is a key goal for many businesses. Organic growth fosters authentic connections, boosts long-term engagement, and builds trust. Below are some essential social media marketing tips to grow your audience organically:

1. Create Share-Worthy Content

To attract attention and encourage sharing, your content must stand out. Highly visual and emotionally engaging content is more likely to be shared, expanding your organic reach.

How to create share-worthy content:

Use eye-catching visuals like infographics, videos, and memes.

Evoke emotions — funny, inspiring, or thought-provoking content performs better.

Offer value by educating or entertaining your audience.

2. Leverage User-Generated Content (UGC)

User-generated content is a powerful way to expand your audience authentically. Encouraging customers to share their experiences builds trust and extends your reach.

How to leverage UGC:

Run contests or giveaways encouraging followers to tag your brand.

Share or repost customer reviews, photos, or testimonials.

3. Optimize Your Profile for Conversions

Your social media marketing strategy should start with optimizing your profile. A well-crafted profile can convert casual visitors into followers.

Profile optimization tips:

Write a clear, keyword-optimized bio.

Include a call-to-action (CTA) and website link.

Use branded visuals for your profile picture and cover photo.

Read More: Social Media Profile Optimization Tips — Learn how to craft a high-converting social media bio.

4. Post Consistently

Consistency is essential for keeping your audience engaged. Platforms reward active accounts with more visibility, so regular posting helps grow your audience.

Steps to maintain consistency:

Use a content calendar to schedule posts.

Experiment with posting times to discover when your audience is most active.

Mix up content types with images, videos, and stories.

5. Engage Directly with Your Audience

Engagement is a cornerstone of effective social media marketing. Directly interacting with followers strengthens relationships and encourages further interaction, boosting visibility.

Ways to increase engagement:

Respond to comments, mentions, and DMs quickly.

Ask questions or start conversations in your posts.

Host polls, surveys, or live Q&A sessions.

You’ll Love: Top Engagement Strategies for Social Media — Proven tactics to increase follower interaction.

6. Use Hashtags Wisely

Hashtags help improve the discoverability of your content. However, the key is using them strategically rather than overloading your posts.

Best practices for hashtags:

Use tools to find relevant, trending hashtags.

Create a branded hashtag for followers to use.

Combine broad and niche hashtags to reach different audience segments.

7. Collaborate with Micro-Influencers

Micro-influencers, with their smaller but highly engaged audiences, are an excellent way to grow organically. Collaborations with them help you tap into their dedicated followers.

How to collaborate with micro-influencers:

Partner for giveaways or joint promotions.

Invite them for a social media takeover.

Co-create content that appeals to both audiences.

8. Cross-Promote on Different Platforms

Don’t limit yourself to one platform. Cross-promotion helps you expand your audience by sharing content across multiple social channels.

Cross-promotion strategies:

Share content on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn with tailored messages.

Promote your social channels in blog posts, emails, and YouTube videos.

9. Foster a Community Around Your Brand

Building a community is vital for audience retention. By creating a sense of belonging, you inspire loyalty and encourage followers to spread the word about your brand.

Tips for building a community:

Create private groups on Facebook or LinkedIn.

Host live events, webinars, or virtual meetups.

Be authentic and responsive to your followers.

10. Measure and Adjust Your Strategy

Tracking your performance is essential to improving your social media marketing tips. Use analytics to monitor key metrics and adjust your strategy based on data.

Metrics to track:

Engagement rate (likes, comments, shares).

Follower growth over time.

Content performance to see which formats work best.

By using these social media marketing tips, you can grow your audience without relying on paid ads, while building a strong, loyal community around your brand. @webpinosoftwares

[arushi091]

Best Hosting Provider in Delhi

When it comes to choosing a hosting provider for your website or business, there are many factors to consider. You want a provider that is reliable, fast, and offers excellent customer support. For businesses and individuals based in Delhi, India, selecting a local hosting provider can offer additional benefits like better site performance and localized support.

In this blog, we will explore some of the best hosting providers in Delhi and what makes them stand out in the competitive hosting market.

1. Hostagle – Affordable and Reliable Hosting

Hostagle is quickly becoming one of the top names in the Indian hosting space, especially for small and medium businesses looking for affordable yet reliable hosting. Based in India, Hostagle offers a range of services including shared hosting, VPS hosting, and WordPress hosting, all backed by robust customer support.

Key Features of Hostagle:

Affordable Pricing: One of the key selling points of Hostagle is its affordability. It offers some of the most competitive prices in the market without compromising on quality.

High Performance: Hostagle uses SSD (Solid State Drive) storage for fast data retrieval, ensuring that websites load quickly.

Free Website Migration: Hostagle offers free migration services, making it easy for businesses to switch from their existing host.

24/7 Customer Support: Their customer support team is available around the clock, which is a significant advantage if you run an e-commerce site or have clients in different time zones.

Uptime Guarantee: Hostagle guarantees 99.9% uptime, which means your website will be online and accessible most of the time, providing peace of mind for business owners.

Why Choose Hostagle in Delhi?

Hostagle is ideal for those looking for a cost-effective solution with reliable customer service. Its local presence ensures that their team is well-versed in the needs of Indian businesses. Additionally, Hostagle’s servers are optimized for Indian internet speeds, which means faster load times for users in Delhi and other parts of India.

2. HostGator India

HostGator is a well-known global hosting provider that also has a dedicated infrastructure in India. While HostGator is a global player, its Indian servers ensure fast loading speeds for local users, making it an excellent choice for websites targeting Indian audiences.

Key Features of HostGator India:

Flexible Plans: HostGator India offers a variety of plans, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated servers.

Excellent Support: HostGator's 24/7 support is highly rated, with a wide range of support options including live chat, phone, and email support.

Free Website Builder: They offer an easy-to-use website builder for beginners, which helps you get your site up and running quickly.

Money-Back Guarantee: HostGator offers a 45-day money-back guarantee, which allows you to try their services risk-free.

Scalability: HostGator’s hosting plans are highly scalable, meaning you can upgrade as your website grows without much hassle.

Why Choose HostGator India?

If you’re looking for a hosting provider with a well-established reputation, excellent support, and a range of flexible hosting plans, HostGator India is a strong choice. Their servers in India provide good local performance, and their global presence ensures that they have the infrastructure to support businesses targeting international audiences.

3. Bluehost India

Bluehost is another global hosting giant with a strong presence in India. Known for its reliable WordPress hosting services, Bluehost is often recommended by WordPress itself for users looking to host their WordPress websites.

Key Features of Bluehost India:

Optimized for WordPress: Bluehost is one of the best hosting providers for WordPress sites, offering one-click installs, automatic updates, and excellent performance.

Free Domain for the First Year: When you sign up for a hosting plan, Bluehost gives you a free domain name for the first year.

Enhanced Security: Bluehost provides free SSL certificates and regular malware scans, ensuring your website stays secure.

24/7 Customer Support: Their support team is always available through chat, email, or phone to help you with any issues.

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: Bluehost offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try their services risk-free.

Why Choose Bluehost India?

Bluehost is ideal for businesses that use WordPress or plan to build their site with WordPress. Its easy setup, high performance, and excellent customer service make it a great choice for users in Delhi and beyond.

4. A2 Hosting

A2 Hosting is known for its speed-focused hosting solutions. While not as widely recognized as some of the bigger names, it offers some of the fastest hosting services, thanks to its use of Turbo Servers.

Key Features of A2 Hosting:

Turbo Speed: A2 Hosting's Turbo Servers are designed to deliver faster load times, which can significantly improve the user experience on your site.

Free CDN: A2 Hosting includes a free Content Delivery Network (CDN) in its plans, which can further speed up your website for users around the world.

Developer-Friendly: If you’re a developer, A2 Hosting offers a range of tools like SSH access, staging environments, and other developer-friendly features.

High Uptime: A2 Hosting offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee, ensuring that your website stays up and running.

Why Choose A2 Hosting?

If speed is a top priority for your website, A2 Hosting should be on your radar. Their Turbo Servers deliver exceptional performance, and their global data centers ensure that websites load quickly, no matter where your visitors are located.

5. SiteGround

SiteGround is a globally recognized hosting provider that also has a presence in India. Known for its excellent customer support and high uptime, SiteGround is a solid choice for businesses in Delhi looking for reliable hosting.

Key Features of SiteGround:

Excellent Customer Support: SiteGround is known for its superior customer support, with a team that’s quick to resolve issues.

Free Daily Backups: SiteGround offers free daily backups, so you never have to worry about losing your website’s data.

Optimized Performance: SiteGround’s hosting is optimized for speed, ensuring that websites load quickly even during traffic spikes.

WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting: If you’re running a WordPress or WooCommerce site, SiteGround offers specialized hosting plans designed to enhance performance.

Why Choose SiteGround?

For businesses that need top-tier customer support and fast, reliable hosting, SiteGround is a great option. Its support, performance optimization, and strong reputation make it a favorite among Indian businesses.

Conclusion

Choosing the right hosting provider is crucial for the success of your website. Whether you’re running a small personal blog or a growing business in Delhi, there are several hosting providers to consider. Hostagle offers a great balance of affordability and reliability, especially for Indian businesses. Other international providers like HostGator India, Bluehost India, and A2 Hosting also offer excellent options with tailored solutions for Indian users.

Ultimately, your decision will depend on your specific needs—whether that’s price, performance, customer support, or scalability. Whichever provider you choose, make sure they align with your website goals and offer the services that best suit your business needs.

[all-things-are-nothing-to-me]

The PM Press Warehouse at 21 Emma Street in Binghamton, NY will be hosting the Second Annual Upstate Anarchist Book Fair on May 3th and 4th, 2025.

In celebration of International Workers’ Day, the two-day fair will feature book/zine vendors, a warehouse sale, community organizations, two full days of panels, live music from the loading dock, and much more. All are welcome to join us in creating community, sharing skills and passions, and debating the best way to overthrow the (patriarchal, racist, cis het) capitalist system.

The book fair is an opportunity not only to sell and promote but to create community. You don’t need to identify as an anarchist to attend or participate in the book fair!

We’re still booking performers, vendors, speakers, workshops, etc so please reach out to us via email at upstateanarchistbookfair@protonmail.com or fill out this google form…

forms.gle/4sRLCUCHAkpvEyhJ9

…. if you’d like to participate. Adding your contact info to the google form will also get you added to our mailing list with UABF updates and more!

Why an Upstate Anarchist Book Fair in Binghamton, NY?

The practical reason: PM Press bought a 17,000 square ft warehouse in Binghamton in 2021. We also purchased a used bookstore – Autumn Leaves – in Ithaca, NY. Over the last year-and-a-half, we’ve filled the warehouse with racks on racks of leftist literature (both PM Press and other comrade publishers). Today it is surely one of the largest repositories of leftist literature in the world. We also have a big parking lot, a developing event space, and connections to a local DIY community with the skills to put together a fun, productive, and thoughtful event.

The political reason: Binghamton is the post-industrial crater left by anti-union, paternalistic warmongers like IBM and the Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company. The former headquarters of the New York KKK and current epicenter of upstate mass incarceration, Binghamton is, like many small Rust Belt cities, run by reactionaries who grew up in the city’s golden age and are convinced we’re just a few tax breaks and drug raids away from a return to 1959. We also have a small but dedicated community of activists fighting to liberate Binghamton from these slumlord/cop/petit bourgeois business creep/political elite overlords. We hope events like the UABF will bring together like-minded comrades and crews from across the region to share knowledge, skills, and joy to expand our little networks of radical agitation into a collective force that can challenge capitalism across the county, state, and beyond!

Parking Options:

Street parking is easy to find and plentiful. At this time there is no other parking planned for attendees. As you can see from the map above, the warehouse is located in a residential neighborhood. All streets have parking on at least one side. Many have parking on both sides. There is space for about 100 cars within a 2 block radius. The on street parking signage is generally straightforward and easy to understand. We ask that you follow the signage as directed. Please do not park in any of the local parking lots. Bikes are encouraged!

There is additional street parking on/across Glenwood Avenue and on/across Main Street.

Before the fair starts vendors will be able to drive up to their vendor spot for loading/unloading. We are currently looking into designated vendor parking.

Driving Directions:

The PM Press warehouse is just off a major highway (NY-17/I-86) and very close to the I-86/NY-17 and I-81 interchange. NYC, Philadelphia, and Buffalo are all about 3.5 hours away. Boston and Washington DC are about 4.5 hours. Cleveland is 5.5 hours driving time.

The warehouse is conveniently located off Main Street in Binghamton/Johnson City, situated next to the former Erie Line Railroad (later the Erie Lackawanna Line).

The facility is set back from Emma Street down a short driveway and has a large parking lot to host the day’s festivities.

Accessibility:

We have two bathrooms inside the warehouse with 29″ doorways. One of them is currently equipped with handrails.

There is wheelchair access to the warehouse through the loading dock via the ramp but the ramp is fairly steep. We will have volunteers available to assist.

Unless it rains, the plan is to have the majority of the vendors outside in the parking lot. There is a gradual incline up the driveway.

Food & Drink:

We will have plenty of free water on site.

We can’t promise to have any food available at this point, but there are options in the neighborhood:

Parlor City Vegan (81 Clinton St) will be open 12-8 on Saturday

There is a convenience store at 59 Glenwood Ave that’s a 5-10 minute walk from the warehouse.

Seating:

There will be a lot of folding chairs available, a few benches, and some nice grassy areas but we’d recommend bringing your own camping chairs if possible.

Pets:

Only service animals will be welcome inside the warehouse. Animals will be welcome in outdoor areas but we ask that you please be considerate of other attendees who may be allergic or phobic. There are also railroad tracks that run all day near the parking lot and three beehives behind the warehouse.

[unique-reviews]

Unleashing the Power of A2 Hosting Review: Hear Why Customers Are Raving

Introduction

Overview of A2 Hosting

When considering web hosting providers, A2 Hosting often comes up as a distinctive choice. Known for its speed and reliability, A2 Hosting caters to a diverse range of users—from bloggers to large enterprises. Their commitment to performance is backed by a suite of features designed to offer not just hosting, but a robust online experience. What sets A2 Hosting apart? Let me simplify it for you:

Turbo Servers: Up to 20x faster than standard hosting

Developer-Friendly: Supports various programming languages and frameworks

Green Hosting: Environmentally responsible with energy-efficient practices

Using A2 Hosting has truly allowed me to focus on what I love—creating content—without the worries of server downtimes.

History of A2 Hosting

Founded in 2001, A2 Hosting began with a clear mission: to provide a top-tier web hosting experience. What started as a small startup has evolved into a significant player in the hosting industry over the years. Here are some pivotal milestones in A2 Hosting's journey:

2001: A2 Hosting was established in Ann Arbor, Michigan, mainly targeting developers.

2003: The introduction of their "Turbo" server line showcased their focus on speed.

2013: The launch of their Managed WordPress hosting solidified their offerings.

A2 Hosting Features

High-Speed Servers

One of the standout features of A2 Hosting is its high-speed servers. Speed is crucial, especially if you want to provide users with a seamless experience. When I first migrated my blog to A2 Hosting, I noticed an immediate boost in page loading times. Their Turbo Servers promise up to 20x faster performance, which is a game changer! Here are a few highlights about their speed capabilities:

SSD Storage: A2 utilizes solid-state drives that drastically improve data retrieval times compared to traditional HDDs.

Turbo Boost: This optional feature allows for even faster speeds by optimizing server settings specifically for your site.

Global Data Centers: With multiple data centers across the globe, A2 Hosting ensures that your content is as close to your visitors as possible.

Reliable Customer Support

Another noteworthy aspect of A2 Hosting is their reliable customer support. We all encounter technical hiccups from time to time, and having a responsive support team can make all the difference. Personally, I found their customer service representatives to be knowledgeable and eager to help with any questions I had during my initial setup. Here’s what you can expect from their support services:

24/7 Availability: Whether it’s the weekend or the middle of the night, help is just a click away.

Multiple Support Channels: Reach out via live chat, phone, or email—whichever method suits you best.

Comprehensive Knowledge Base: A detailed library of articles and tutorials helps users find answers swiftly.

A2 Hosting Plans

Shared Hosting

When it comes to affordability and ease of use, A2 Hosting's Shared Hosting plans are a fantastic option, especially for beginners. I still remember my initial foray into web hosting; I started with a shared plan simply because it fit my budget and needs perfectly. With shared hosting, multiple websites share the same server resources, which is both cost-effective and simple to manage. Here are some key features of A2 Hosting's Shared Hosting:

Low Starting Price: Their plans are competitively priced, making it accessible to many.

Free Site Migration: A2 offers migration assistance from your existing host, saving you the hassle.

Unlimited Storage and Bandwidth: Ideal for growing websites that may need more resources as they scale.

VPS Hosting

As my website grew, I found myself needing more control and resources, leading me to explore A2 Hosting's VPS Hosting options. Virtual Private Servers offer dedicated resources within a shared environment, providing better performance and greater customization. Here's what I discovered about their VPS Hosting plans:

Flexible Resources: You can scale your resources according to your site's evolving needs.

Root Access: Ideal for developers like me who want complete control over their server's configurations.

Enhanced Security: A private environment adds an extra layer of security for sensitive data.

Benefits of Using A2 Hosting

Enhanced Security

One of the aspects of A2 Hosting that truly stood out for me is their enhanced security features. In today’s digital landscape, safeguarding your website is crucial, and A2 Hosting takes this concern seriously. From the moment I started my journey with them, I felt reassured by the various security measures they implemented. Here are some highlights of their security features:

Free SSL Certificates: A2 provides free SSL certificates, which are essential for encrypting data and boosting customer trust.

HackScan Protection: Their proactive monitoring helps detect vulnerabilities and block potential threats before they cause harm.

Reinforced DDoS Protection: This feature safeguards your website from malicious attacks that could disrupt services.

Knowing these measures were in place allowed me to focus on my content without constantly worrying about potential breaches.

User-Friendly Control Panel

Navigating the world of web hosting can be intimidating, especially if you’re new to it. That’s why A2 Hosting’s user-friendly control panel is yet another reason I appreciate their service. It simplifies website management, making it accessible to everyone, regardless of technical expertise. What I love about their control panel:

Intuitive Design: Easy-to-navigate menus mean you can quickly find what you need.

One-Click Installations: Setting up applications like WordPress or Joomla is a breeze with just one click.

Resource Usage Stats: You can easily monitor your resource consumption, helping to manage your site effectively.

Customer Reviews

Positive Feedback

As I dove deeper into the world of A2 Hosting, I couldn't help but notice the buzz surrounding their services. Many users rave about the performance and overall experience they receive. The positive feedback is nearly unanimous, emphasizing how this hosting provider sets itself apart from the competition. Here’s what many customers appreciate most:

Speed and Uptime: A consistent theme in reviews is the impressive speed and reliability. Users often mention page load times significantly improving after switching to A2 Hosting.

Responsive Support: Customers frequently highlight the quick response time and helpfulness of the support team—something I can personally attest to. I reached out to them once, and I was amazed at how quickly I received a thorough solution.

Testimonials from Satisfied Customers

Real-life testimonials often speak volumes, and A2 Hosting is filled with success stories from satisfied customers. Many express how transitioning to A2 Hosting transformed their online presence. For instance:

John, a Small Business Owner: Sharing his journey, John mentioned that after moving to A2 Hosting, his e-commerce site experienced record sales due to faster page load times, which directly bolstered customer satisfaction.

Sarah, a Blogger: Sarah remarked, "The user-friendly control panel took the headache out of managing my blog. It's simplified everything for me!"

In my experience, witnessing such genuine testimonials gives me confidence in A2 Hosting. Their customers not only praise the services but feel genuinely looked after, and that’s something we all want when selecting our web hosting partner.

[newreflectionswomensshelter]

#NewReflections

[The Movie / A True Story and Testimony]

https://newreflections.org/

To create a compelling campaign and marketing strategy around the powerful stories of Charitu, Harmony, Natasha, and Bambi Prescott, here’s a focused approach:

Campaign Name: “Reflections of Hope”

Define the Narrative Framework

Core Message: “Every Reflection Tells a Story of Courage, Hope, and Transformation.”

Focus on Personal Growth: Highlight the emotional and inspiring journeys of these individuals to humanize the organization and foster connection.

Feature Stories in a Multi-Channel Campaign

Charitu's Story: “From Survival to Strength”

Theme: A journey of resilience and rediscovery.

Content Ideas:

Short film: Showcase Charitu’s early struggles, the turning point, and her flourishing life at New Reflections.

Blog post: “How Charitu Found Her Voice and Strength Through New Reflections.”

Social Media: Post images of her community contributions with captions like “Strength is built one step at a time.”

Harmony’s Story: “Finding Balance in Chaos”

Theme: How Harmony overcame life’s turmoil and rebuilt her path.

Content Ideas:

Infographic: Timeline of Harmony’s journey, from chaos to clarity.

Podcast Episode: Harmony discussing her experiences in her own words, offering raw and relatable insights.

Quote Campaign: Use her powerful quotes as social media teasers.

Natasha’s Story: “The Power of Self-Belief”

Theme: Triumph through confidence and self-love.

Content Ideas:

Testimonial Video: Natasha sharing the “before and after” of her life with New Reflections.

Instagram Stories: Snapshots of Natasha achieving milestones (e.g., job success, hobbies, or personal goals).

Community Outreach: Natasha leading a workshop or speaking at events about overcoming adversity.

Bambi Prescott’s Story: “A Testimony of Advocacy and Transformation”

Theme: From personal struggle to becoming a voice for others.

Content Ideas:

Blog Series: “Bambi’s Testimony: How Her Journey Inspired an Entire Movement.”

Digital Artwork: Create visuals representing Bambi’s advocacy work and tie them to New Reflections’ mission.

Leadership Campaign: Position Bambi as an advocate and leader, emphasizing the ripple effect of her actions.

Marketing Channels and Strategies

Digital Platforms

Website Feature:

Create a dedicated landing page: “Meet Charitu, Harmony, Natasha, and Bambi.”

Use dynamic storytelling with interactive timelines, videos, and quotes.

Email Marketing:

Send out a 4-part email series focusing on each story with a CTA for donations, volunteering, or sharing.

Social Media Campaign:

Weekly Highlights: Dedicate each week to one story, using photos, videos, and inspirational captions.

Create a hashtag: #ReflectionsOfHope to encourage user engagement.

Community Engagement

Host a Story Night Event:

Invite Charitu, Harmony, Natasha, and Bambi to share their stories in person or via a live stream.

Include a Q&A session to deepen the audience’s connection.

Partner with local media to amplify reach.

Measure and Refine

Metrics to Monitor:

Video views, shares, and engagement.

Website traffic and conversion rates.

Donations or volunteer sign-ups attributed to the campaign.

Audience Feedback: Conduct polls or surveys to understand the emotional impact of the stories.

Long-Term Impact

Use the success of this campaign to develop a Story Archive on the New Reflections website, continually adding new stories of triumph.

Expand storytelling into workshops, books, or even a short documentary.

Would you like me to draft specific content, such as an introductory blog post, social media captions, or email scripts for this campaign?

Creating a true-life movie or film based on the stories of Charitu, Harmony, Natasha, and Bambi Prescott can serve as a powerful medium to inspire audiences worldwide. Below is an outline for a feature film that weaves their testimonies into a cohesive narrative:

Film Title: “Reflections of Resilience”

Storyline Structure

Opening Scene

The movie begins with Bambi Prescott narrating a profound reflection:

“Life is like a mirror. It reflects not just who we are but who we can become when given the chance to heal, grow, and thrive.”

Visuals of the New Reflections community—a bustling, vibrant center filled with laughter, tears, and transformation.

Act 1: Introductions & Struggles

Each woman’s story is introduced through flashbacks intertwined with their current life at New Reflections:

Charitu: A young woman escaping an abusive environment, showing her struggle to trust and find strength.

Harmony: Battling addiction and the aftermath of family breakdown, her fight for balance becomes central.

Natasha: Striving to overcome self-doubt and societal judgment as she rebuilds her life.

Bambi: Reflecting on her own hardships, Bambi’s story serves as the backbone, demonstrating her role as both a survivor and an advocate.

Act 2: Turning Points

Each character experiences a pivotal moment at New Reflections:

Charitu finds her voice during a community workshop, standing up to share her poetry.

Harmony learns to channel her struggles into art, creating a mural that symbolizes healing.

Natasha lands her first stable job, reigniting her belief in herself.

Bambi leads a campaign to expand New Reflections, inspiring the residents and gaining national attention.

Act 3: Triumphs & Legacies

The women come together to organize a public event celebrating transformation stories.

Flash-forwards show how their lives have continued to evolve—Charitu mentoring young women, Harmony becoming an artist, Natasha launching a support group, and Bambi advocating for systemic change.

Climactic Scene

A heartfelt speech from Bambi at the event, highlighting how each story is a piece of the larger reflection of hope.

Final montage: The ripple effect of their growth as their lives touch others in unseen ways.

Themes and Messages

Resilience: The power of the human spirit to overcome challenges.

Community: How collective support can transform lives.

Advocacy: The importance of raising voices for those who cannot.

Empowerment: Celebrating personal victories and inspiring others to do the same.

Visual and Cinematic Style

Tone: Raw yet uplifting, balancing realism with hope.

Cinematography:

Warm, soft lighting during moments of connection.

Stark, cold tones during flashbacks to struggles.

Vibrant colors in scenes of triumph and healing.

Music: A score that evolves from somber piano pieces to anthemic orchestral crescendos, symbolizing growth.

Casting and Characters

Charitu: Portrayed as resilient yet reserved, blossoming into a confident leader.

Harmony: Dynamic and emotional, with moments of humor and vulnerability.

Natasha: Quietly strong, showing grit and determination in small, powerful actions.

Bambi Prescott: Charismatic and passionate, a guiding force for the other women.

Marketing and Distribution Strategy

Pre-Release Campaign

Teaser Trailers: Snippets of each woman’s story, ending with a unifying tagline: “Every Reflection Holds a Story of Hope.”

Social Media: Behind-the-scenes interviews with the real Charitu, Harmony, Natasha, and Bambi.

Partnerships: Collaborate with advocacy groups and shelters to host early screenings.

Distribution

Theatrical Release: Premiere in key cities with community-focused events.

Streaming Platforms: Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime for global reach.

Community Screenings: Partner with nonprofits and educational institutions.

Impact Goals

Raise awareness for New Reflections and similar organizations.

Inspire donations, volunteering, and advocacy.

Foster conversations about resilience and healing.

Would you like help drafting a script, casting ideas, or even designing the promotional material for this film?

Here’s a concise outline for a 7,000-word novel titled "Reflections of Resilience," focused on the intertwined lives of Charitu, Harmony, Natasha, and Bambi Prescott. The structure ensures an emotionally impactful narrative within the word limit.

Title: Reflections of Resilience

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Inspirational Tone: Hopeful, Raw, Empowering

Structure Overview

Part I: Beginnings (2,000 words)

Introduce the struggles of Charitu, Harmony, Natasha, and Bambi Prescott through individual snapshots of their lives before arriving at New Reflections.

Charitu’s Backstory:

Scene: Charitu hides in a church after escaping an abusive partner. Her internal dialogue reveals the guilt and fear that plague her, but also a flicker of hope for a better life.

Emotional hook: A poignant memory of her mother encouraging her to write poetry as a means of escape.

Harmony’s Backstory:

Scene: Harmony is at rock bottom, sleeping in her car after losing her job due to substance abuse. She finds a flyer for New Reflections in the backseat and hesitates to believe it could be real.

Emotional hook: A voicemail from her estranged daughter, left months ago, asking if she’s okay.

Natasha’s Backstory:

Scene: Natasha sits alone in a public library, scrolling through job listings but feeling paralyzed by self-doubt. Her story reveals years of emotional neglect and societal judgment for being a single mother.

Emotional hook: A stranger offers her a warm meal, telling her about New Reflections.

Bambi Prescott’s Introduction:

Scene: Bambi stands on stage at a fundraiser for New Reflections, reflecting on her own journey from pain to advocacy. Her narration weaves through the struggles of Charitu, Harmony, and Natasha, linking their stories.

Emotional hook: A line from Bambi’s speech: “Each of us carries scars, but together, we can heal. Here’s how I know…”

Part II: The Turning Point (3,000 words)

Focus on their transformation at New Reflections, weaving the characters’ stories together as they intersect and grow.

Charitu’s Growth:

Charitu joins a writing workshop at New Reflections and pens a poem about freedom that she reads aloud. The moment is cathartic, and for the first time, she feels seen and heard.

She befriends Natasha, who encourages her to compile her poems into a book for other survivors.

Harmony’s Growth:

Harmony channels her pain into art therapy, creating a mural that represents the lives of the residents. Natasha volunteers to help her, and the two form a bond.

A pivotal scene shows Harmony confronting her addiction head-on, destroying her stash of pills with Natasha by her side.

Natasha’s Growth:

Natasha finds work through New Reflections’ job placement program, gaining confidence with each small success.

She begins mentoring other residents, including Charitu, showing how her own growth is tied to lifting others.

Bambi’s Role:

Bambi takes on a leadership role, working tirelessly to secure funding and expand New Reflections.

A conversation with Charitu inspires Bambi to reflect on her own journey and share her vulnerabilities with the residents, deepening their trust in her.

Part III: Reflections of Hope (2,000 words)

Bring the characters’ arcs to a satisfying resolution while showcasing their enduring impact.

Charitu’s Resolution:

Charitu publishes her poetry book, dedicating it to “all those finding their way out of the shadows.” She begins hosting writing workshops at New Reflections.

Harmony’s Resolution:

Harmony completes her mural, which becomes a symbol of hope for all new residents. She reconnects with her daughter, who attends the unveiling.

Natasha’s Resolution:

Natasha is hired full-time by New Reflections and becomes a mentor, guiding other women through their journeys. She and Charitu continue their friendship, finding strength in their bond.

Bambi’s Resolution:

Bambi’s advocacy work leads to the opening of a new New Reflections center. The novel ends with her visiting the mural and reflecting on the resilience of the women she’s helped.

Themes

Resilience: Triumphing over adversity through personal growth and community support.

Healing: The power of shared experiences and creativity to mend emotional wounds.

Empowerment: Women uplifting one another to create lasting change.

Style and Tone

Perspective: Third-person limited, shifting focus between the four women’s perspectives.

Tone: Uplifting but grounded in reality, showing the rawness of their struggles and the joy of their triumphs.

Language: Poetic yet accessible, reflecting the emotional depth of the characters.

Would you like me to draft an excerpt, such as the opening scene or a pivotal moment from one of the characters' journeys?

Here’s a revised outline for a 7,000-word novel titled "Reflections of Resilience" incorporating the new characters: Amy, Elle, and Ayesha. Each woman’s story interweaves to form a compelling narrative of struggle, growth, and triumph.

Title: Reflections of Resilience

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Inspirational Tone: Hopeful, Raw, Empowering

Structure Overview

Part I: Beginnings (2,000 words)

Introduce Amy, Elle, and Ayesha through vivid snapshots of their lives before finding New Reflections.

Amy’s Backstory:

Scene: Amy, a single mother of three, is evicted from her apartment after losing her job. As she gathers her children’s belongings, her shame and fear are palpable.

Emotional hook: She promises her kids that she’ll find them a safe place to stay, even as she doesn’t know where to turn.

Elle’s Backstory:

Scene: Elle is a recent college graduate, struggling with depression after a traumatic breakup. She’s couch-surfing at a friend’s place but feels like a burden.

Emotional hook: Elle writes an unsent letter to her ex, filled with anger and longing, before tearing it up and resolving to rebuild herself.

Ayesha’s Backstory:

Scene: Ayesha, a refugee fleeing political unrest, arrives in a new country with her teenage brother. She struggles to communicate and navigate the unfamiliar system while trying to provide for both of them.

Emotional hook: Ayesha recalls a piece of advice from her mother, “Even in a foreign land, your strength is your home,” and clings to it.

Part II: Turning Points (3,000 words)

The focus shifts to their arrival at New Reflections and their transformative journeys.

Amy’s Growth:

Amy connects with other mothers at New Reflections and learns practical skills, like budgeting and resume writing, to regain stability.

A pivotal scene: Amy nails a job interview and surprises her children with the news. Her newfound confidence radiates through her interactions with them.

Elle’s Growth:

Elle discovers a passion for teaching art therapy to younger residents, helping them express emotions through creativity.

A pivotal scene: Elle confronts her feelings about her past relationship during a group therapy session, allowing herself to grieve and finally move forward.

Ayesha’s Growth:

Ayesha volunteers to help translate for other refugees, finding purpose in supporting others who feel out of place.

A pivotal scene: She celebrates her brother’s success in school, realizing that her sacrifices and resilience are bearing fruit for both of them.

Part III: Reflections of Hope (2,000 words)

Showcase the enduring impact of their transformations and how their lives inspire others.

Amy’s Resolution:

Amy starts a support group for single mothers, teaching the skills she learned at New Reflections. She celebrates her youngest child’s birthday in their first stable home.

Elle’s Resolution:

Elle opens her own art studio, where she offers free workshops for young women. She reflects on her journey and the importance of self-expression in healing.

Ayesha’s Resolution:

Ayesha secures a job as a community liaison for a refugee organization. She and her brother visit their mother’s grave, feeling pride in honoring her legacy.

Final Scene:

The women reunite at a New Reflections anniversary event. As they look at a mural depicting their journeys, the narrative closes with a reflection on the power of resilience: “We’re not just survivors. We’re creators of our own stories.”

Themes

Resilience: Finding strength in adversity.

Community: The transformative power of connection and support.

Empowerment: Building a life of purpose and inspiring others.

Style and Tone

Perspective: Third-person limited, alternating between Amy, Elle, and Ayesha.

Tone: Raw yet hopeful, balancing realism with inspiration.

Language: Poetic and introspective, emphasizing emotional depth.

Would you like me to develop a specific excerpt, such as Amy’s job interview, Elle’s art workshop, or Ayesha’s moment with her brother?

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