#supply chain management degree

[socialc1imb]

look at what I finally received today

My diploma :)

[mitsde123]

Unlock Your Career Potential with an Online PGDBA in Operations Management

In today’s fast-paced business world, operations management plays a crucial role in the success of any organization. The backbone keeps companies running smoothly, efficiently, and profitably. If you want to advance your career or shift into this dynamic field, an online PGDBA in Operations Management could be your ticket to success.

[lloydbba]

Supply Chain Management equips students with expertise in logistics, operations, and procurement. The program blends theoretical knowledge with practical experiences through internships, industry projects, and workshops, preparing graduates for dynamic careers in supply chain and operations management.

[manavrachnaonlinedegreecourses]

Future-Proof Your Career with Online MBA Specialization

Having specialized knowledge is essential for succeeding in today's fast-paced and competitive business environment. Manav Rachna Online provides advanced online MBA degree programs to assist professionals in gaining expertise in international business, logistics, and supply chain management. These particular programs are created to provide students with the most up-to-date industry knowledge, abilities, and tactics to succeed in their professional lives. Let's examine these programs more closely and discover how they can assist you in propelling your career to greater levels.

The Significance of Online MBA Programs

The business world is changing quickly, and globalization is a significant factor in shaping industries all over the world. Pursuing an online MBA is a flexible way for professionals to improve their skills while managing work and personal commitments. Manav Rachna Online is dedicated to providing high-quality online education, ensuring that students receive a comprehensive and convenient learning experience with a real impact.

Online MBA in International Business:

The online MBA in International Business at Manav Rachna is tailored to prepare students for the complexities of global commerce. The curriculum covers international trade, cross-cultural management, global finance, and strategic planning. Students gain insights into emerging markets and multinational operations, providing a holistic understanding of international business dynamics.

Industry-Relevant Skills

The program emphasizes practical skills such as market analysis, international marketing strategies, and negotiation tactics. Students learn to navigate cultural nuances and legal frameworks across borders, preparing them to excel in diverse international business environments.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the online MBA in International Business are equipped to pursue roles such as international business development manager, global marketing strategist, supply chain manager, or export-import specialist. The program opens doors to exciting career opportunities in multinational corporations, government agencies, and international trade organizations.

Online MBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management: Streamlining Global Operations

Comprehensive Curriculum

The online MBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management focuses on optimizing supply chain operations for efficiency and profitability. Students delve into topics such as inventory management, transportation logistics, supply chain analytics, and sustainability practices. The program equips students with the skills needed to address real-world logistics challenges.

Practical Applications

Manav Rachna's emphasis on practical learning ensures that students gain hands-on experience through case studies, simulations, and industry projects. They develop critical problem-solving abilities and learn to leverage technology to streamline supply chain processes.

Career Advancement

Graduates of the online MBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management are prepared for roles such as logistics manager, operations director, procurement specialist, or supply chain analyst. The program equips students with the expertise to drive efficiency and innovation in global supply chain networks.

Why Choose Manav Rachna Online?

Flexibility and Convenience

Manav Rachna's online MBA programs are designed to accommodate the schedules of working professionals. The flexible learning format allows students to study anytime, anywhere, without compromising on quality.

Expert Faculty and Industry Connections

Students benefit from the guidance of experienced faculty members with extensive industry knowledge. Manav Rachna fosters connections with industry leaders, providing students with networking opportunities and insights into current trends.

UGC-Approved Accreditation

Manav Rachna Online's MBA programs are approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC), ensuring that students receive a recognized and respected qualification.

Conclusion:

Whether you aspire to lead international business ventures or optimize global supply chains, Manav Rachna's online MBA programs in International Business and Logistics and Supply Chain Management offer the expertise you need to excel. Embark on a transformative educational journey and unlock new career opportunities in the dynamic world of business.

Explore Manav Rachna Online's specialized MBA programs today and take the next step towards achieving your professional goals in international business and logistics. Empower yourself with industry-relevant skills and propel your career to new heights with Manav Rachna's innovative online learning platform.

[eduspiral]

Top 3 Private Universities to Study Logistics & Supply Chain Management in Malaysia

Study Logistics Management & Supply Chain Management at Malaysia’s Best Private Universities In a Logistics Management degree at a top private university in Malaysia, students will develop specialist skills in logistics and supply chain management or enhance your critical understanding about the engineering, urban planning, and business management of transport. Students will gain skills in…

[astrone-college]

Excelling in Supply Chain Management Degree Programs at Astrone College

Astrone College stands at the forefront of preparing future supply chain management degree programs. With a curriculum blending theory and real-world application, students gain a deep understanding of logistics, procurement, inventory management, and distribution strategies. Expert faculty, seasoned in the industry, guide students in honing analytical and problem-solving skills, preparing them to tackle complex supply chain challenges. The college's state-of-the-art facilities and partnerships with leading companies offer invaluable experiential learning opportunities, ensuring graduates are job-ready. Whether pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree, Astrone College equips students with the knowledge and expertise to thrive in the dynamic and ever-evolving world of supply chain management.

[sharks-mind]

Logistics and supply chain management degree have been around for a while. Have you ever wondered whose job it is to organize the deliveries of goods and resources to businesses?

[praveenm1379]

Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Online MBA in Logistics And Supply Chain Management.

According to experts, an MBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management is a completely new and emerging area. While the MBA degree is growing in popularity, so are the opportunities, incomes, and applications. Furthermore, the MBA is the most sought-after degree since it covers so many disciplines. It also helps candidates achieve various prestigious employment with excellent compensation packages.

While there are other advantages to earning an MBA, the following are the primary reasons to pursue an MBA:

Improved communication

Strategic thinking

Higher-income

Excellent job opportunities

Opportunities for learning new skills and gaining extensive knowledge

 Logistics and Supply Chain Management, like any other MBA degree, has a few appealing benefits.

This post will provide you with an in-depth look at an Online MBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. You will learn about the curriculum, future scopes, and employment opportunities as we investigate this program. Let's get this party started.

 What is Logistics and Supply Chain Management?

The underlying concept of logistics has changed dramatically since 1960. It began as a military-specific practice and later extended to a variety of industries. Logistics is today defined by experts as the purchase, sorting, and transportation of diverse resources. This strategy focuses on offering the right quantity of resources at the right time and place without sacrificing quality.

Supply chain management, on the other hand, is a modern approach to evaluating production and distribution systems. This contributes to ensuring corporate profitability. It also intends to optimize the production and distribution processes to cut down on resource waste. As a result, a company's profit margins and sales skyrocket.

 Why Should You Choose MBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management?

Learners who seek an MBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management get extensive knowledge in a range of fields. They include the development of services and products, as well as their distribution, management, and optimization. And, while summarising this program's broad curriculum is tough, here is a sneak peek.

 Syllabus of MBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management

The logistics and supply chain management curriculum comprise the following topics:

 Demand Planning and Forecasting

Learners can get several skills that will assist them in comprehending, tracking, and monitoring various market movements. As a consequence, corporations gain a competitive edge.

 This MBA program component will effectively enable you to detect new trends and apply them to businesses. Analytical abilities can help in analyzing product demand and anticipating market demands over time. So, with sufficient demand insight, you may get a cost-effective competitive advantage over competitors.

 Strategic Planning and Supply Chain Management

Supply chain management and strategic planning are typically linked. Furthermore, the purpose of this MBA program is to assist students in recognizing their worth inside a given business organization. Once you understand the networks, you will understand the need for strategic planning and supply chain management.

 Logistics and Distribution Optimisation

A logistics manager's goal is to ensure that services and products reach the market within the time limit given. As a result, employing various strategies assists in the timely delivery of goods and services. Managers will also learn how to optimize different logistics and distribution duties.

 Advanced Sourcing Strategies

Logistics and supply chain managers are in charge of ensuring that the resources required to create items are available in adequate numbers. This MBA program module teaches managers how to source effectively. It also enables them to access, move, and store various goods conveniently.

 Source, Make, and Move Strategies

This MBA program curriculum teaches students how to access and organize a variety of resources efficiently. You will learn a variety of applications and software that will aid in resource acquisition and organization.

 What are the Eligibility Criteria for Online Masters in Logistics and Supply Chain Management?

The minimum eligibility requirements for this MBA program vary by university. However, the majority of institutions have adopted the following fundamental qualifying conditions:

Learners must be a graduate

Learners must not have backlogs in any subject whatsoever

Learners must have a minimum score of 45% in a Bachelor’s degree

There is a 5% moderation for SC/ST candidates. So, their minimum score must be at least 40%.

 Reasons to Pursue Online MBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Without a question, an MBA is in high demand. Salaries, placement rates, and application submissions are all increasing. When pursuing an online MBA in logistics and supply chain management, it is vital to have a clear aim and conscience. Failing may be done on purpose to demotivate and disappoint you.

Some of the reasons why you might consider obtaining an MBA in logistics and supply chain management are as follows:

It effectively assists learners in developing a thorough grasp of both national and worldwide markets.

It enables students to get an in-depth understanding of logistics and supply chain functions.

It enables students to play an important role in product development and delivery.

There are significant work prospects related to logistics and supply chain management.

It actively aids in enhancing the productivity and efficiency of learners.

It permits learners to be akin to supply chain management concepts and varied logistics for company implementation.

There are increased possibilities of earning a competitive wage package.

Eliminates significant delays in work competition.

It enables students to have a deeper and more complete grasp of modern logistics and supply chain management trends.

 Career Options for Online MBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management

You will have a myriad of work choices after getting your MBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Among the main tasks are:

Procurement Manager

Supply Chain Manager

Procurement Officer

Purchasing Manager

Marketing Executive

Logistics Manager

Supply Chain Consultant, etc.

 To Conclude

An Online MBA Degree Program in Logistics and Supply Chain Management has several applications in every industry. If you want to get a practical understanding of the subject, you might enroll in various certification courses.

 Vignan Online (Deemed-to-be-University) provides some of the Best Logistics and Supply Chain Management Certification Programs. These programs can help you obtain appropriate skills, information, and understanding.

 For More Details, Visit Our Website: https://vignanonline.com/online-mba-logistics-and-supply-chain-management-degree

[probablyasocialecologist]

The story of palm oil is difficult to tell because responsibility for its horrors is slippery. Who should be held accountable for environmental destruction, the abuse of migrant workers, the theft of Indigenous lands, the murder of activists or the annihilation of whole species? Local landowners and plantation managers point to pressures from above while corporations plead ignorance or helplessness for what happens deep in the jungle. Governments claim to be trying to encourage best practices without endangering a major source of economic growth and international competitiveness. Transnational buyers, including prestigious and brand-sensitive corporations, point the finger at their suppliers and note (with some degree of honesty) the near-impossibility of monitoring their entire supply chain while still providing affordable products to consumers and satisfying shareholders.

Max Haiven, Palm Oil: The Grease of Empire

[mallgothyamaguchi]

what haikyuu characters would major in at My College™ -secondary characters edition!-

i’m having a lot of fun with this :) i’m kind of just doing main side characters and ones i have a good idea for, but if you have a request, feel free to send a reply or ask!

oikawa - …spanish major with latin american & caribbean studies minor. sue me

iwaizumi - easy easy easy mr. iwaizumi hajime (27) athletic trainer is pre-med track biology major and i stand by that

kenma - easy this kid is computer science to a t, but he also minors in business administration (influence of kuroo)

kuroo - business administration with minors in chemistry (can’t disappoint everyone’s fanon career for him as a chemist) and media & communications (he is a sports promoter after all)

fukunaga - look did i just put him in here to say that he’d be part of one of the many comedy groups on my campus? yes absolutely. theater major.

bokuto - not even furudate knows what he went to college for, so i get to go a little crazy with this one. i like to believe he’s on the education track and majoring in english & creative writing. he’d be everyone’s favorite english teacher in high school.

akaashi - similar path as bokuto major in english & creative writing, with the complementary english literatures major or minor

konoha - hehe public health and chemistry major, looking to get his graduate degree in medical leadership (my pharmaceutical boy) he will also most likely go to pharmacology school post-grad

ushijima - he’s the rare student with only one major and one major only: environmental science.

tendou - hot take, but a chemistry major with a theater minor

semi - he is a musician, so i will give him our music major, but he is also a civil servant (yall ignore that a lot), so i give him political science or political economy & public policy

aone - physical science major with either a project management or supply chain management accelerated program worked in

futakuchi - there’s definitely sustainability studies in there, but interestingly, i’d also add physics

koganegawa - i’d say physical science major as part of the dual degree engineering program, adding in the innovation and entrepreneurship minor

kita - most definitely an environmental science and sustainability studies major with a religion studies minor :) (yes i know he specifically says he doesn’t really believe in the gods, but i can’t help but associate him with religion…) i think he’d also be interested in my college’s abroad trip to japan, which focuses on ecology and religion in japan (i really want to go on this trip…)

osamu - easy. business administration.

atsumu - maybe an interesting take, but i’d say psychology. the amount of psychological warfare he tries to use i think is enough explanation.

that’s all for now! let me know if there are more characters you’d like to know about ! i’m having a lot of fun with this so please send in requests 🙏

[thebunnyslibrary]

In The Woods Somewhere

summary. You go into the woods to take some photos...but find him instead

characters. Vampire!Bucky x Reader

word count. 4.8k

warnings. Dub!Con, Manipulation, Kidnapping, Stockholm-ish, mentions of violence/blood.

BunBun's Spoop-tober Collection Masterlist / Main Masterlist

Finally, your big break. You were finally getting the chance to publish a collection of your photos of haunted locations around New England with a real publishing company. Your final location was an abandoned church in the woods; thought to have been used by an early group of colonizers until it and the nearby settlement had been abandoned. No one knew for sure what had happened. Perhaps the colonizers had moved on? Maybe they were wiped out by plague? There was even a dark story of a minister who had started murdering villagers that were “unclean;” allegedly filling the church pews with corpses with slashed and bloody necks. Doing research on places before you took photos was one of your favorite parts; gathering information for the captions and essays you wrote to go with the photos.

After your parents had died while you were in college, it had left you feeling empty and directionless for some time. Then, after finally finishing your degree, you decided to use the money your parents had left you to buy a van and photograph the world.

You’d been working as a traveling photographer for a while now, doing gigs like weddings and events. You’d also managed to self-publish a few books and tried to sell your photos and art where you could. It wasn’t much but it kept you in gas money and beef jerky. You’d been all over North America and a few parts of South America. You were hoping to go international for a follow up book if this one was a success.

You pulled up to the walking trail that led into the forest. You had about an hour’s hike into the woods; knowing getting the shots at sunset would create perfect photos. You shrugged on your backpack with your supplies and with your camera case hand, headed off. The trees were washed in the golden hue of fall, starting to shed their leaves in preparation for their long winter sleep. A slight chill hung in the air but after 3 months of heat and humidity you were ready to be cold for a little bit.

Sometimes you listened to music when you hiked but today you’d decided to relish in the sounds of the forest.. Bird calls echoing off the trees, the rustling of the trail as you walked, squirrels and other small critters gathering their own winter supplies. A flock of geese calling out as they flew in v formation overhead and you quickly snapped a picture. Traveling and photography had given you an entirely deeper appreciation for nature and it’s beauty. An hour later, you stepped into the clearing where the church was set.

It was a small chapel, probably only fit to hold 10 or 15 people.  Most of the eastern wall had crumbled while the others were still partially there. Only one or two (maybe one and a half) benches were left; but you weren’t too sure about actually sitting on them. Still completely intact though, was the Archway that must’ve bene the entrance. Above it, was a bell; likely used to let the nearby colonizers know that church was starting. But on the bell was an inscription that could no longer be read. The language appeared to be Latin, but the words had been lost to time. You were raising your camera to take a picture, when a soft voice startled you

“Hi.” You turned suddenly and you were staring into crystal blue eyes. You jumped back but kept your eyes fixated on his. A man, maybe a little older than you had been standing right behind you.

“Oh! Uh…hi!” you said, blinking and taking more of him in now. Dressed in a black jacket over a fitting gray tee-shirt, dark jeans clinging to his legs, and silver rings adorned most of his fingers on his right hand. His left hand was hidden by a leather glove. His hair was pulled back in a man bun and a single ruby on a black chain hung from his left ear.

                “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you. I was just coming up the trail and I called out to you.” His voice was soft, with a hint of an eastern European accent, making a slight shiver go through you.

                “Sorry, I suppose I didn’t hear you.”

                “No worries, I’m James. But my friends call me Bucky” He reached out his hand for yours, taking it and telling him your own name. “I’m surprised to see someone else this far out in the woods.

“I’m here to take pictures.” You explained. “It’s a beautiful structure…what’s left of it anyways.”

“How interesting.” He said. “Are you a professional?”

“Well, sort of. I’m actually just finishing my first collection to be published. ‘New England’s Haunts and Its Future.’ I’m including the church with a piece on New England puritanism and its effects on today’s bigotries.”

He smirked. “I like it. I’ll have to make sure I order a copy of your book.” You both laughed. “You know the old England had some haunts too. All of Europe, in fact. Plenty of old spooky castles. You should definitely see them.”

“If my book goes well maybe.”

“Have you ever had your work in a gallery?” he asked.

                “Unfortunately, no. I’ve had my art displayed in some cafes here and there, but not much else.”

                “Pity, you seem passionate about your work, it must be nice.”

                “I’d call it nice, maybe good.” You beamed. “I’d actually like to get a few shots in, if you don’t mind. I can talk a little while I work though.” There was something about him. He unnerved you, if only slightly. But you also didn’t want him to leave. You wanted him to stay with you.

The two of you walked through the archway to stand on the overgrown stone floor, flowers and dandelions peeking through the cracks. As you walked up what used to be aisle and could almost make out where the other pews had been. Maybe it was the sunset, maybe It was your imagination, but along the floor, the stones seemed eerily stained red.

                Again, Bucky’s closeness startled you, but this time, you seemed frozen to the floor.

“You know, darling. There’s one thing I’d love. Could you take a picture of me under the archway? It would make for a great dating profile picture.” He winked at you. And you felt your face warm up.

“Sure, why not.” You focused your camera on him and his eyes seemed to flash red at you. You gasped before snapping the button, but only cursed and brushed it off as red eye-syndrome. You took one more picture and this time, it seemed normal. You pulled it away and waited as the picture loaded. Your book would hopefully lead to some newer equipment. Bucky stood behind you suddenly, but again you were frozen to place; only this time with his chest firmly against his back.

As the picture loaded on the screen, your stomach dropped. The picture was empty. the archway was still in there. But Bucky wasn’t.

You turned around and his smile was downright predatory. Revealing two pearly white fangs. But his eyes, they were bright crimson red.

                “That’s…. those can’t be real…your eyes, your teeth…” you said, feeling your heart drop into your stomach

                “Oh, my darling. They are ALL too real…little girls like you should know better than to go out after sunset.” You should be running, fighting back, anything. But you can’t. You’re staring into his deep red eyes and you can’t move. “No, printsessa. I can’t have you running away. Not when you smell so delightful.” His arms wrapped slowly around your waist, pulling you closer to you. “Not to mention how beautiful you are. You are exactly what I’ve been searching for.” He whispered in your ear. Before you could blink, you felt a sharp pain in your neck and the world went dark.

You awoke in a soft bed, softer than anything you’d felt before. A bed, but you’d been… Oh fuck… You shot upright quickly as you remembered what happened. What greeted you was a dimly lit room. A wall of immense windows letting the moonlight stream in while a fire roared in the fireplace. Low lamp light gave let you see to see immense bookshelves lining the rest of walls. You started to panic. That freak had knocked you out, now you were in some cabin somewhere. You were still wearing the same clothes, but you had no clue where you were.

                “My my, finally awake. I suppose I did drink a bit more than necessary. But I just couldn’t help myself. You were just absolutely delicious.” You looked and saw Bucky. He’d been sitting by the fire until he stood up and moved towards the bed. You could see he was wearing black t-shirt and sweatpants, but what you hadn’t seen before…was his metal arm. His hand had been covered by the glove, but now you could see the moonlight glinting off it. You caught yourself staring and remembered what had happened last time you’d stared at him.

                “What did you do to me you sicko?” You lowered your eyes to the floor, trying to move out of the bed without tripping. You heard him chuckle.

“What’s wrong baby doll, you don’t wanna to look at me? “

“No! I just wanna go home. Please.” You tried to be strong but you were trembling as you tried to keep your eyes low enough. You desperately searched for anything sharp or heavy, settling on the lamp and reaching to pick it up, but before you could, you found yourself pinned face down on the bed, your arms trapped behind you. You struggled against him, but he hardly moved. His voice in your ear.

                “Poor little bunny. You know what really happened. Or do you need a reminder?” You felt something scrape against your neck. Fangs.             

                “That’s…. you’re not…”

                “Oh, but I am doll. And I don’t think I’ve found anything I’ve ever wanted more in my centuries of living.” He pressed a soft kiss to your cheek. “Your trembling is so adorable baby girl. It makes me want to ravage you until you cry for me.” His hand wandered down to your jeans and your breathing turned shallow. There was an ache deep between your thighs that wanted to call out for him, but you were still scared of what he’d done.

“No, I won’t have my beloved scared of my touch.” He said, gently pressing a kiss to your neck before moving to help you stand up. Your legs were much wobblier and you found yourself leaning against him. You stared at his chest and quietly spoke. “Bucky, please. Where are we?”

“We’re at my cabin. I’d like to show you around; as this is to be your home too. If you promise to behave.” Deep down, you still felt petrified. But an inner voice said that if he had already wanted you dead, you would be. Besides, you hadn’t noticed before, but something about his smell was so enticing to you. Cinnamon and smoke, with a slight…metallic underlay.

                “If…If I go with you willingly…will YOU keep it that way?” you asked, trying to sound firm. You could hear the amusement in his voice.

                “I see my little bunny can stand her ground. No, I will not control you that way like before.” He pressed a kiss to the top of your head. Taking a deep breath, you lifted your head to look at him.  His hair was still pulled back into a loose bun, moonlight casting shadows on his sharp cheekbones led down into full lips. And those eyes. You would never forget the deep red color before he drank from you. Now instead they were crystal pools. As unending as the sky. Like you could stare forever. But you blinked away, acknowledging he had kept his promise. You moved away from him and instead toward the windows.

                “If you are…a vampire…why the windows? I thought you were supposed to avoid natural light.” He chuckled. And walked a normal pace now to stand next to you as you both stared out into the forest.

                “Any creature can be exposed to too much sun. We just have much a lower tolerance limit. I have heavy black out curtains for the day…but I cannot find it in myself to give up this view.” He pointed up towards the stars. You didn’t think you’d ever seen so many. But a rumble of thunder off in the distance caught your attention you saw flashes of lightning. A storm was moving in soon, and you could feel your resolve to escape crumble slightly. Where could you go in a storm?

                “How exactly…did you become…?” you asked, hesitantly, not wanting to upset him and trying to focus on anything other than his closeness. You’d always thought trying to…humanize…your enemy so to speak was supposed to help keep you safe. He smiled.

“A vampire…Well, I would imagine you know how.�� He chuckled and you found yourself chucking as well. “Where Romania is now, I was a simple farmer. Goats mostly. Then one night, a creature attacked our village.” He paused. “Killed my sister. I tried to fight back, and something about that… He changed me instead of killing me. Figured it was some cruel punishment, killing everyone I knew and loved and leaving me alone.” You felt your heart tug. As if sensing your sadness, he turned and shook his head.

“Don’t worry too much about it, I got my revenge. Afterwards I stayed low, kept to myself for a few centuries. Until the world erupted into war. I refused to keep to myself. That’s how I lost my arm. When the Germans found out what I was; they tried to use my powers to make more. They took my arm to see if they could clone me. Then they gave me this one and tried to turn us into a weapon of war. Only their plans backfired. They couldn’t control them. They eventually all killed each other…at least the ones I didn’t kill first.” He was quiet for a moment and you almost started to panic. But he let out a sigh.

“After the war, I settled here. Made my home, invested some wise money, now I have a little peace.” He turned to you. You felt your heart ache for him. “But I have waited so long for something so enticing as you.” He started to move closer, but you still were nervous, taking a step back.

                “Wait uhm... I thought you wanted to show me around.” You reminded him, trying to distract him. He smiled and let out a deep sigh.

                “I suppose I did. Well, you’ve seen the bedroom and its extensive library. But there’s an even bigger one downstairs. Come.” He took your hand with his metal one and led you towards the door. You felt less scared following him now; you still could feel yourself wanting to resist and struggle. But he was holding your hand too tightly.

                As the two of you toured through the large Tudor cabin (mansion, it seemed), you took note of the art on the walls. Beautiful photographs of places around the world; paintings you wanted to stare at for hours; Bucky having to pull you away from a particularly intriguing work from the Harlem Renaissance.  The two of you talked. Bucky had been to many of the places you hoped to go. And some of the ones you’d already been to. It was nice to find someone like yourself, a wanderer.

                “I suppose after my parents died; I just felt a little lost.” You told him “I didn’t have a big family, no siblings, so I just decided to be free. It’d at least be nice to have a home base someday though.” You mused.

                “I can understand. I’ve actually lived on this land for some years, even before what happened to me. It’s actually owned by an Indigenous tribe. I bought it outright around the 1800s when the government tried to push them out, then gave it back to them. I only asked they let me build a small cabin on the outer edges.” Your jaw dropped. “But…do they know…?” You asked, still having trouble believing it for yourself.  He paused and smiled.

                “In my lengthy time, you meet many people who believe many different things. I’ve learned to appreciate many human cultures, and to always show respect where it is deserved. And not to tolerate those who would degrade it.” He said, then kept leading you on, with you following a little bit closer. You two walked into a room you definitely didn’t expect to find. A Kitchen.

                “It was easier to build than to ever explain why there wasn’t one. Plus, I have a supplier who steals blood from some hoity toity government hospital and I need somewhere to keep it cold. You’d be surprised at the amount of blood they keep on reserve for those rich old bastards.” He rolled his eyes and you managed a genuine laugh. “I don’t know I would.” He smiled at you before continuing out of the room, with you following almost eagerly behind. The tour led down one last hallway to a set of double doors.

                “Now my favorite room. My private study.” He opened the doors. A library that could’ve easily fit 10 of your vans with celling high bookshelves stretched before your eyes. A cozy looking couch sat across from either one of the 2 fire places on opposite walls, and a huge bay window revealed the storm had truly arrived. Gone was the moon, here were flashes of lightening and roars of thunder. In front of the windows sat a big mahogany desk. You strode over to the desk, to see out the window and there on his desk was a stack of all of your books. As you looked back towards him you could see on the walls, one of your photographs.

                It was one you’d camped out and waited all night for in the woods. But you’d caught them, a pack of wolves running through the woods under a moonlit sky.

                “I saw it in a little café in Boston and had to have it. I’ve been following you for quite some time. Literally.” He chuckled. “I became enraptured with you. Your pictures moved me. How you always seemed to capture both the joyful and the macabre sides of humanity. That’s why I had to get your book published. So, I bought the publishing company to make it happen” You turned to him in disbelief.

                “Bucky, you…you didn’t…you couldn’t have…”

                “Oh, but yes I did, doll. It’s what you’ve wanted, what you’ve desired.” His voice dropped. He licked his lips and moved closer to you. “And now, my little bunny rabbit. It’s time to take what I have desired for so long.” He grabbed your hand and tugged you back towards the desk, using his strength to lift you up and pin you down on your back, minding your head.

 His confession, his obsession, even with his charming personality, you felt fear flaring up inside you anyways.  “Wait please…” you pleaded, pressing your hand against his chest.

                “No more waiting printsessa. It’s time. I need to satisfy my thirst. And my lust. And I cannot resist the sound of your pulse screaming out for me.” He paused, pressing his hips more against yours. You wanted to resist, wanted to push harder against him, but you couldn’t bring yourself to. Instead, you wanted to bring him closer.

                “No…you gave your word…” you begged, desperately.

                “I did. And I’ve kept that word. I did nothing to control you. I just failed to mention that my natural state is to lure you in. Until you’re caught like a fly in my web and you don’t even realize it.” He purred, trailing kisses down your cheek. “You’re in my home, surrounded by me, breathing me in until slowly and slowly your defenses have lowered, until you don’t even have the strength to push me away.”

                 He was right. You had wanted to resist him but you’d felt it crumbling more and more. Like the walls of that stone church. You were gripping his shirt not to push him away, but wanting to pull him close. Handsome, intelligent, alluring. Your thighs clenched with want.

                “When I first drank your blood, there was a taste of fear that was indescribable. But now I know, lust will make it even sweeter.” He grabbed your hips and lifted you onto the desk. “So beautiful, but so…fragile.” His fleshed hand wrapped around your throat; you could feel the bitemarks as his thumb ran over them. “You know all I’d have to do is squeeze, right? And I’d crush this fragile beautiful throat. You’re so delicate.” His voice was low. You were still afraid, but that fear was streaked with desire. You wanted to give yourself to him, no matter what the cost.

                “Please…Bucky…” you whimpered, not even sure what you were asking for.

                “Please what, baby? Tell me. Tell me you want me to ravage you like the beast that I am. I can smell your pussy; you must be absolutely dripping by now.” You were drowning. And he was oxygen.

                “Yes.” You barely breathed the word out before his lips were on yours. He slowly pushed you to lay down on the desk. You could hear rumbling in your ears. You couldn’t tell if it was the storm, or your heartbeat. But judging by how Bucky was staring down at you, you assumed the latter.

“You’re so excited aren’t you, doll? You want me to fuck you, make you my slut. And I will, you are never leaving me.” He pulling away, making you whine in desperation, but his only response was to growl as he ripped your jeans down, your shoes falling away and leaving only your panties covering your pussy. He knelt between them, putting your legs over his shoulder, and inhaled deeply.

                “Fuck.” He groaned. “You are soaking wet. How long have you been hiding this, huh? Since I first drank your blood, or from when I told you that I am absolutely obsessed with you? What a shameless slut.” His words, that voice, you would listen to him forever if he wanted, anything to get him to touch you. His fingers moved slowly, stroking you over your panties.

                “I’ve dreamed about eating this pussy for so long, and now I’m going to savor every moment.” You tried to buck your hips as he nipped at your thigh, but his silver arm held you firm. In the bright light of the fire, you could see how each of the platelets moved as he gripped you tighter. You looked back down at him between your legs and knew he’d seen you staring.   

                “Someday I’ll show you everything it can do baby. But for now...” He pulled your panties aside and started with soft licks to your clit while two fingers gently worked inside you. His touch was so gentile compared to the monster you’d feared him as. Your soft moan turned into a shriek as the edge of his fang nipped you.

                “I told you, love. Desire will make the blood so much sweeter. I know you want me. Want to be my little snack for all eternity.” His fingers sped up, rubbing that special spot inside you that make you cry out with reckless abandon.

                “Bucky…Bucky…don’t stop…oooh…” you moaned. Your hands clasping for structure and finding none. His tongue resumed its ministrations on your clit, never even giving his words a chance to wash over you as your knees began to shake. You could feel the erratic patterns his tongue was laving on your clit, driving your climax further to its breaking point.

                “Cum for me, darling. Give yourself to me.” His words were your undoing as you screamed his name. Cumming harder than you could have ever imagined possible. And true to his word, his tongue lapped up every drop it could, sucking his fingers clean. You lay against the cool desk, your body burning with desire and you locked eyes with him, not caring to look away. He smiled, showing off his fangs. “Oh, baby girl, between your blood and your pussy, I’ll never go hungry again.”

                Standing up and leaning over to kiss you, you found yourself tugging at his shirt, trying to get his skin on yours again.

                “Bucky please…need you…” you begged.

                “How can I deny such a sweet bunny like you?” He rid himself of his shirt and sweatpants as you followed suit, dropping your panties to the floor. Your eyes widened at the size of his cock. You’d had your fun with toys but he was something else.  You could see pre-cum dribbling down the side and you wanted to close your legs, but Bucky stood between them

                “Don’t look so afraid, doll. I know a good slut like you can take my cock in that pretty pussy.” He rubbed the head of his cock against your slit and you tried to push your hips up. He pinched your thigh, making you squeak. With his spare hand, he gathered your hands in his strong metal one, pinning them above you to the surface of the desk. His cock teased your entrance and you both moaned.

                “You’re mine now, understand. Heart, body, mind.” He kissed from your temple to your ear. “I own you down to your very soul. Forever.” You nodded. He was a vampire. He was obsessed with you. He’d likely hunted you down for weeks. But none of that mattered now. You needed him.

                “Yes, Bucky. I’m yours. You’re mine.” Bucky smiled and pushed his cock into you, slowly; letting you feel the stretch of him filling you up.

                “Yes, darling. I’m yours. Yours to keep satisfied. Yours to use you as a little fuck toy when I need it.” His pace became rougher, fucking you; squeezing your wrists tighter until you yelped. Then he slowed his hips, letting you now revel in the pleasure you felt. He started rubbing at your still sensitive clit, making you clench around him.  He growled deeply and you gasped as his eyes flashed crimson.

                “Oh, baby doll, don’t play with fire if you don’t want to end up burnt.” He said, his voice lower and huskier. You knew he was getting closer to his own release when his pace picked up again. Not as punishing as before, but you felt his lust, his carnality in every thrust. And it only drove you crazier.

                “When you cum, I’m going to drink from you again and you will be bound to me, my mate, my slut, little morsel.

                “Yes…Bucky yes…please…” closer and closer you edged until he let out a low growl.

                “If you don’t cum right now, I have no problem chaining you in my basement and edging you until the next full moon. Now. Cum.” The idea alone sent you over the edge, screaming out as he bit down fiercely on your neck, drinking from you again. He kept fucking you through his own orgasm, but did not drink as much as he did last time. Only just enough to make you light headed. When he finished, you two lay there a few moments, you breathing heavily as Bucky seemed to still above you. As you floated back down, your body seemed to go even more limp.

                “Such a good girl.” Bucky released your wrists, but you didn’t have the strength to move your arms. Instead, he cupped your chin in his hand and kissed you with your blood streaked across his lips. He kissed passionately and deeply, until your toes curled and you knew he meant what he said. 

                Not bothering to remove himself, Bucky helped you wrapped your arms around him and he carried you over to one of the enormous couches by the fire. Grabbing a blanket off the back and swaddling you both. “You’ll have to sleep for a little while now. But when you wake up, you’ll live forever.” His words seeped into your brain, but there was nothing you could do now. You heard him speak again.

“You wanna know the real story behind those people?” Bucky asked and you made a noise of half-committal. “Well, those colonizers weren’t hard to pick off.” In that moment, you were reminded that though he seemed to have a soft spot for you, there were also very, very dark spots. You shuddered, but it was quickly washed away by the feeling of his metal arm, holding you tighter.

“Don’t worry darling,” he purred. “Think of all the beautiful photos you can take in the moonlight.

[brisksunrise]

Because fiddling with alternate universe settings is pretty fun. A drawing featuring Femboy Ben, Charm-Ben, and an assortment of others.

Femboy Ben: Due to glitches suffered during the confrontation with Malware, the Omnitrix has managed to completely alter and shift Ben’s internal chemical and hormonal make-up, resulting in him slowly becoming more and more feminine. He would also unlock access to a variety of new forms that were on the very cute and feminine side, as well as others that should have only been female only. Even several of his original forms would end up a bit more feminine in appearance.

Charm-Ben: Charmcaster succeeded in body-swapping with Ben. However, in the immediate scuffle, the Omnitrix’s AI seemed to go haywire, as if sensing something that it seemed WRONG. It then jumped from Charmcaster in Ben’s body to Ben in Charmcaster’s body. The magical energy that the device would absorb and bond with alongside the DNA would result in it shifting appearances to better acclimate. Both Charmcaster and Ben were stuck in their new bodies, due to a combination of Ben’s lack of magical understanding, and a strange shortage of sea urchin eggs because of both a sudden high demand AND the supply chain unable to keep up due to terrible conditions. 

Goth-Loli Ben: This Ben’s life followed exactly as Femboy Ben’s did. However, the confrontation with Malware led to an accident that caused his Grandpa Max to end up in a coma, who would later pass away. A devastated Ben would eventually utilize his more intelligent aliens to create an improved Omnitrix, and began delving in traveling through alternate timelines and dimensions, where he would, out of some degree of jealousy and coping, begin to tease and mess around with his various alternate selves. He also always looked forward to seeing the Max of those various timelines. Perhaps, for this Ben, he was incapable of accepting the reality of his own scenario.

Gwen 10 and Anodite Ben: As with any Gwen 10 setting, the Gwen in this dimension was the one to gain the Omnitrix, resulting in a rather jealous Ben. During the initial confrontation with Hex, instead of the charm of luck, Ben would instead end up with the charm of telekinesis. Likewise, where as Gwen would have gone on to destroy all the charms, Ben would instead opt to keep them. Unbeknownst to the group, as Ben wore the charms, his body would absorb the magical energies from them. Once Vilgax attacked, in an effort to call upon the magical powers to help and save Gwen, Ben would accidentally ‘overload’ himself and unlock his Anodite heritage. However, due to inexperience, Ben would have trouble changing back into human form. Sometimes he would change back and be a boy, and other times he would end up a girl. Despite that, both he and Gwen would become a very capable duo.

Anodites of this universe are not from an alien planet, but are beings of pure magic hailing from a dimension of magic.

Brenda AKA Oujo-Ben: A female alternate version of Ben hailing from a timeline where the Earth has long since formed connections with the rest of the galaxy, and so seeing aliens was commonplace on the planet. The Tennyson family of this setting amassed a great deal of wealth due to a long history of delving into intergalactic trade and technological advancement, as well as a variety of other fields, such as Brenda’s own father being the creator of Sumo Slammers. Brenda can be rather haughty and high maintenance, but still possesses the desire to help others. Brenda would one day obtain the Omnitrix as she was being held captive for ransom, and the pod burst through the ceiling into her holding room.

Brynlee AKA Science-Ben: Another female alternate version of Ben. This one grew up in a world largely similar to Prime Ben. Brynlee, however, would have an intense interest in science and learning. The unknown fascinated her, and was always seeking to understand more and could absorb knowledge rather quickly. While looking through the closet cupboard on the Rust Bucket one day, Brynlee would find a secret compartment housing a strange ring-like device. It would end up bonding with her, and she would learn from her Grandpa Max that it was something he recently found, but kept in a safe spot until he found the time to figure out more about it.

[gpuzzle]

unfinished farming game rant

getting progressively more and more annoyed at my failure to find a farming game with the autistic attention to detail of something like Factorio and its modding scene

farming seems to fall under one of two paths: the first one is the rural version of racing's rFactor 2 or, being kind to it, Gran Turismo; a gorgeous to look at virtual world that prides itself on realism, and at its best it will have the design and immerse you in that virtual world completely; simulation at its finest

unfortunately, it tends to be just a bunch of brands that make it selling point (real supercars you can't buy! tractors from every licensed brand under the sun!) to an audience devoted to jacking off to leather seats

the other path is the one which is Harvest Moon Again; it's functionally adapting the mechanics from Tokimeki Memorial and every game that followed in its wake into a small, consistent, repeatable series of actions that don't require a ton of complexity; the game is one part small, routine minigames, one part visual novel

both of these are fine experiences - Stardew Valley is lovely and I 100% believe the soothing effect of a Farming Simulator, but still not quite what I look for, and the autism of the Factorio modding scene has yet to divert towards biology

and while Strange Loop Games' Eco has the sufficient level of autism as far as ecosystem management, but it's also a life simulator; due to the game not having any PvP and the inability of a player to specialize in everything, it turns into the kind of game that veers into the same problems of MMORPGs; I'm sure I'd love this game as an option, but I feel it presents kind of danger for me as EVE does

the fundamental gist of the game that I want here is pretty much some degree of supply chain management (the gist of games like the already aforementioned Factorio) with thematics and mechanics centered around farming and the required infrastructure; whether that's wells, pumps and waterworks, the housing for processing whatever you harvest, or just the area of harvesting itself, we can have something in that vein

I mean what's the capstone cycle of early game Factorio, when the game slams headfirst into a difficulty spike wall? acquire copper, iron and coal through electric mining; the coal is then split into two paths, which are feeding the giant boilers that fuel everything and being used as the fuel for the first level processing of copper ore and iron ore; which then are processed in a number of ways and eventually turn into the two main research beakers (automation and logistics) to progress on the tech tree, and keeping a surplus for whatever other things you need (mostly the tower defense aspect)

this sort of gameplay loop can 100% be brought to a farm system; accounting for hydration, for light, for fertilization, the harvesting itself could be automated, etc

with these games, expansion is largely done via tech tree, but we could borrow a leaf from a completely different game - Prison Architect - which structures its short term missions as grants and uses that to fuel its own tech tree and limit to expansion - to push it in that direction

IDK, just spitballing here (for now!)

[bestcadaverinthejujutsumorgue]

imagining a world where geto managed to pull off his cataclysmic new-world-birthed-through-fire type plans—only to have the vague collection of curse users he has managed to convince instantly revolt under him because guess what? plague and famine and the collapse of civilization sucks for everyone and cursed energy means jack in a starvation situation. it’s called cursed energy for a reason, it’s only good for hurting people. you can’t evil energy beam your way into healthy crops when you’ve killed off all the agricultural technicians! japan’s food supply is reliant on global supply chains, and do you know what flounders first under pressure? his baby girls are crepeless and they hate the internet collapsing. none of his evil wizards in his glorious curseless world want to go to trade school or get an engineering degree.