#training on embedded industry

[emblogicsblog]

Project Based Training in System Programming

Project Based Training in System Programming is a hands-on approach that equips students with practical skills in the field, particularly for those aiming to excel in embedded systems and related areas. At our training institute in Delhi, we offer a structured 6-week industrial training program designed specifically for B.Tech students. This training provides both foundational knowledge and advanced skills in system programming, making it ideal for individuals aspiring to work in industries that rely heavily on embedded systems, including automotive, telecommunications, and consumer electronics.

Our training program emphasizes individual and industry-oriented projects to give students a real-world understanding of embedded systems. Through these projects, students work on developing skills in microcontroller programming, real-time operating systems, hardware interfacing, and system design. This practical focus ensures that participants are well-prepared to meet industry requirements, as they gain hands-on experience with the tools and techniques used by professionals.

The program is organized into a step-by-step learning path. Starting with basic embedded concepts, students progress through coding in C/C++, debugging, and working with microcontrollers like ARM and AVR. They also learn about Linux-based embedded systems, which are widely used in industry. Each module is accompanied by a relevant project that reinforces learning and builds students’ confidence in applying their skills to solve complex, real-world problems.

By the end of the training, students have a solid understanding of system programming and will gain a project portfolio to showcase their abilities to prospective employers. Our experienced trainers and well-equipped labs make this training highly effective and impactful. With a focus on practical knowledge and industry relevance, this 6-week training program is an excellent pathway for B.Tech students to step confidently into the embedded systems industry.

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[neuailabs]

Driving Innovation: Automotive Embedded Courses at NeuAI Labs

Accelerate your career with our Automotive Embedded Courses. Gain hands-on experience and unlock opportunities in the dynamic automotive industry, powered by NeuAI Labs.

[daddyjackfrost]

Wanna Be Yours ; B. Barnes

Secrets I have held in my heart are harder to hide than I thought

Pairing: Avengers!Bucky x Avengers!F!Reader 

Synopsis: Bucky’s been in love with you for longer than he’ll admit. But when a moment of clarity after a misunderstanding on his part cracks the tension between you wide open, he finally gets to show you just how much.

Warnings: Fluff, minor angst, minor hurt/comfort, bucky yearns like a mf, brief misunderstandings, insecurities, friends to lovers, ft. the avengers & friends, sam being sam, minor jealousy, pining, SMUT, minor romanogers (not sorry), cursing, Bucky’s sort of shy and awkward (at first), praise kink, dirty talk, unprotected sex, MDNI, pussy pronouns, mutual obsession, kissing, switch energy, soft!dom bucky, begging, gentle possessiveness, religious imagery, oral (f and m rec), riding / WC: 7.7k

A/N: Thank you so much for this request! This was meant to be short…a drabble…but then I started to listen to Hozier and well…yeah. Title inspired by I wanna Be Yours by Arctic Monkeys. Reblogs & Comments appreciated!

Bucky doesn’t think he’s ever met someone like you.

He’s told himself it’s because you’re kind. Because you don’t flinch when he walks into a room, because you laugh at all his dry one-liners, because you bring him coffee without asking and leave notes that say “don’t forget to eat after training” like it’s the most natural thing in the world.  

But, the truth is, he likes the way you exist. The way you fill space with warmth without trying. The way you somehow make him feel like he’s part of this new world, that he can exist here too. 

With you. 

He doesn’t know when it started—not exactly. 

There wasn’t a single moment where the light shifted or the heavens parted. No slow-motion entrance, no dramatic realization. 

But somewhere between your half-sleepy smiles over morning coffee and the way you laugh at his dry sarcasm like it’s the best thing you've heard all day—he fell.

Hard.  

Somewhere between the early morning training sessions and the late night chamomile tea, his heart grew, both in size and fonder, and it became an innate feeling—the love—the want. It became embedded into his bones, in his DNA. Like it was the most natural thing in the world. 

And maybe it was always going to happen. Maybe it was inevitable. Because you’re the only one who never looked at him like a ghost of something broken, like he still had to search far and wide for the man he became. You don’t flinch when his fingers twitch or treat him like a ticking time bomb, or a relic, or worse—an object of pity. 

You treat him like he’s just…Bucky. Someone who deserves kindness, a friend. 

You bring his favourite kind of bagels without asking. You mock his grumpy scowls and tease him into smiling. You sit with him in silence and don’t try to fix the quiet. You seem to enjoy it with him—understand.

You once fell asleep with your head on his shoulder during a movie night, and he thought he might die from how carefully he held his breath, afraid of waking you. 

He wants you—so badly it aches.

But he’s never said anything, never dared. Not when being your friend already feels like more than he deserves. 

He gets to see you every day and that should be enough—it never is.

Tony announces it during a briefing: an Avengers Gala. Hosted at the Tower. Black tie. Heroes and allies from across the globe. Sponsored by Stark Industries and curated, of course, by Pepper. 

Bucky half listens, frowning, until you perk up beside him.

“Oh, fancy,” you murmur, nuding him with your elbow, capturing his attention, though it had always been yours. “You gonna wear a tux, Barnes?” 

He smirks faintly, something easy and familiar and yours. “Only if it comes with a hidden holster.” 

You snort, hiding part of your face when Pepper’s eyes meet yours. “As if you need a hidden holster to hide a gun. Don’t you have three somewhere on you right now?”

Bucky shrugs, lips lifting into something brighter, simply because you’re right. “Guilty.” 

You roll your eyes and blink innocently at Pepper, pretending that your attention isn’t on the man beside you. Bucky’s eyes soften into something stupid and he leans further back in the chair, pressing his arm against yours. 

You giggle and lean in close to whisper something snarky about Tony’s need for dramatics, and he feels your breath against his neck—he swallows hard. 

You turn back to the front, eyes falling on the screen, none the wiser. 

Bucky spends the rest of the meeting barely hearing a thing. 

Later that night, after you bid him goodnight, he lingers by the window of the communal lounge, half-lost in thought as city lights blur beyond the glass. 

Steve finds him like that—arms folded, jaw tense, quiet in the way only Steve knows means he’s thinking about you—something beautiful yet horrid about himself. 

“You should ask her,” Steve says softly. 

Bucky exhales, having heard Steve’s light footsteps and seeing his reflection. “It’s not that simple.” 

Steve shrugs, stepping up beside him. “Sure it is. You like her. She likes you.” 

Bucky exhales louder. “She doesn’t—”

“She does,” Steve interrupts, nuding Bucky with his shoulder. “Trust me.”

Bucky huffs a tired laugh. He would trust Steve with his life—with more, but not with this. Not when his blonde friend couldn’t see Natasha’s feelings for him. “And what? Ruin this? She’s the best thing in my life. If she says no—” 

“She won’t.” Steve gives him a look, one Bucky thinks he wore many, many years ago, back when he would Steve in alleys. “You think she touches everyone like that? Laughs like that?” 

Steve crosses his arms, raises an eyebrow. “Do you honestly think she looks at anyone else the way she looks at you?” 

Bucky doesn’t answer, just shoves Steve back with his shoulder lightly. Part of him wants to believe it, like there’s a world where you like him—love him, the way he loves you. Wants to care for him the way he wants to care for you. 

But, the other part of him, the one that often wins, is scared—scared he’ll ruin everything, that he might see the flicker of pity in your eyes. The last thing Bucky wants is for you to think that his feelings for you, his honest adoration for you comes from anything except his care, his heart. 

He loves you, but you were his friend first. He’ll always be your friend, even if he aches for more.

Steve lays a hand on his shoulder, something warm and solid. “Even if I’m wrong, I don’t think you have anything to worry about, Buck. A few weeks, and it’ll be past you.” 

Bucky hums like he agrees, but he’s not sure. He doesn’t want to put you in an uncomfortable position, or feel like you aren’t safe with him. Because he cares—so much. He’d rather live in silence and the brief touches then make you feel like your friendship isn’t enough for him.

Because, God, it is. It’s everything to him, a root in his heart that’s grown into branches and leaves.

Still, that night, he lies awake for hours, hand resting over his chest, heart thudding too loudly. 

I’ll ask her tomorrow, he thinks. I will. 

He almost does. 

He finds you in the lounge the next evening, curled up with a book and a half-drunk coffee. You’re wearing one of those soft hoodies that always make you look impossibly cozy, socked feet tucked beneath you. 

He steels himself, breathes in deeply—thinks back to the lines he said over and over to himself in his bedroom. 

Then he hears it. 

“I don’t even have a date for this thing,” you’re saying to Sam, voice light and faintly exasperated. There’s something there, something familiar, something he hears in his own voice sometimes when he talks about you but he can’t register it, can’t pinpoint it. 

You shut your book with a dramatic sigh. “Honestly? I’m kinda glad. No one to impress, no pressure.”

Sam snorts and swats your feet away, pretending to shuffle back when you inch your toes closer to him. “I’ll take you.” 

You raise a brow, legs stretched weirdly. “You?” 

Sam grins, lets out a quiet laugh. “No need to look so surprised.” He shrugs, “Come on. Low expectations. No romance. Plus, I look good in a suit.” 

You tilt your head, hum thoughtfully. Sam spreads his arm, putting himself on display. “Deal. You’re my date.” 

You clink mugs, laughing. 

Bucky stops in his tracks, his stomach twists and he can’t breathe. 

He doesn’t hear the teasing edge, he hasn’t been good at noticing these things. He doesn’t see the subtle glance Sam casts toward the hallway, like he knows Bucky’s there. Doesn’t realize this is Sam’s own way of pushing him. 

No—he just hears the words. You’re my date. 

And something in him goes quiet. 

It’s quick, the way everything inside him shuts down and he almost sags against the wall. Like the wind has been knocked out of him. He’s breathing hard—but at least he’s breathing. He shuffles back, quietly, hiding in the shadows. 

He’s fine—he would have been fine if you had said no to him, if you had told him that someone else had asked—but Sam?

Momentarily, very briefly, something akin to anger—jealousy—flickers in his chest, loud and bright and instantly, it's put out, dies quickly until the ashes spread across his chest. He hears you laugh, soft, carefree, and his heart settles. 

He’d do anything for you, for that laugh. 

Bucky swallows the lump in his throat, the jealousy he’d never admit to and the question on his lips and turns, walks down the hall and tosses the single rose into the trash.

He gets you flowers often, whatever he passes by on his runs that he thinks you would like, might brighten your floor, but he’s never gotten you roses. 

It was a line he drew for himself. 

He glances at the folded rose and sighs. 

The line gets thicker. 

The gala is a blur of silk and glass and lights that glitter like champagne bubbles. 

Every year, Bucky swears that Pepper has outdone herself. And every year, she proves that she’ll always have more up her sleeve. 

Bucky wears a classic black tux. His hairs slicked back, neat, and beard trimmed. He looks sharp, clean, polished. But inside, he feels like he’s unraveling. 

Because you walk in and you look—

“Jesus,” he breathes, barely audible. 

You’re radiant, glowing and beautiful—perfect. Your dress, a deep purple, hugs you in all the right places, glittering like stardust with every step. He tries to think back to you mentioning the dress at all, but all he can remember is the way you winked at him. 

Your smile could bring a man to his knees. 

He knows, because he’s halfway there, legs weak. And all he can think is, I was going to ask her. 

I could have had this. 

He looks away, blinks a few times to remind himself of his place. If he’s caught gawking at you—well, he knows what would happen. 

He keeps to the shadows most of the night, nursing a glass of whiskey, tucked into the quiet corners. He mingles briefly, making sure to be polite, to be seen. Tony put a lot of effort into this, made sure that it curated to all of them, the least he could do was make his appreciation shown. 

But you? You’re a firecracker on the floor, bright and loud and so fucking radiant. Laughing, twirling, dancing with Clint, with Nat, with whoever grabs your hand. You’re drinking and smiling—magnetic. 

But your eyes—they’re fleeting, looking for something, someone. 

Bucky can’t look away. 

Until you find him. 

You corner him outside on the balcony, where the air is cool and quieter and he can breathe. 

“There you are,” you say, hand on your hip. “Avoiding me?” 

Bucky’s throat goes dry. He’s leaning on the railing and tilts his head towards you, resisting the urge to turn completely. “No. Just needed some air.” 

He can’t look at you—not your eyes or your dress or your smile. It’s blinding, too much. He just needs one day—one day and he’ll be fine, one day and his heart will settle, make peace with you and Sam. 

You take a step closer, head tilting in that curious way that always makes his heart soften. 

His eyes flick up. There it is—that sharp breath he always seems to take when he sees you.

You smile at him softly, lay your hands on the railing next to his. “Dance with me.” 

He blinks. Then, slowly, pushes himself off the railing, turns his whole body to face you properly. The muscles in his face smooth out and his shoulders drop, relaxed. 

“I should be the one asking you that,” he murmurs, so softly, delicate. 

Your grin tugs wider. “So ask me, then.” 

He swallows, eyes flickering between yours before he offers his hand. “May I have this dance?” 

You take it. 

The music is warm, old jazz bleeding through the speakers as bucky pulls you onto the floor. His hand is strong at your back, the other gentle at your waist. He moves like he was born to this—measured, smooth, leading you without hesitation. 

You’re laughing, a bright smile on your lips as your eyes shine. You spin, twirl, your head tilts back as he draws you close. 

“You’re good at this,” you breathe. 

Bucky leans in, lips near your temple. “Used to be the only way to get a girl to notice me.” 

You turn into him, mouth brushing his ear. “Now I know you’re lying. Steve told me you were quite the heartthrob.” 

Bucky laughs, low and deep. Your eyes flutter shut and you hold onto him tighter. He’s so warm, so solid under your hands. Your eyes meet his and you notice that the smile on his lips—while small—is the most genuine one you’ve seen on him tonight. 

“Not anymore,” Bucky says, quietly, his body guiding yours. 

“Debatable,” you answer, giving him an exaggerated glance over. “You clean up nice, Buck.” 

He tilts his head towards you, almost bashful. You breathe out a quiet laugh, soft, but it awakens something in him and he lifts his eyes to meet yours. 

Blue—electric, so deep and filled with so many unspoken things. 

“You look beautiful,” he tells you, earnest and soft. 

People have been complimenting you all night, but you only really cared about one—his. His words settle something in your chest and you smile, gloss shining under the glittering lights. 

“Thank you, Bucky.” 

He swallows, steps in line with you. His eyes glance around the room once and he frowns. 

“Where’s your date?”

You raise an eyebrow and scrunch up your nose in thought. “Date? What Date—Oh. You mean Sam?” 

Bucky’s jaw tightens and he nods, looks away when your eyes search his. You find what you’re looking for and duck your head to hide your smile, biting your bottom lip. 

You lift your head and meet his stormy eyes, a gentle smile on your lips. “He wasn’t really my date. We just came together. He immediately disappeared.” 

You look away, search the crowd until your eyes land on Sam’s familiar figure and the beautiful woman he’s flirting with. You laugh quietly, shake your head at his antics. 

Bucky’s staring at you like you’ve just stabbed him in the back.

You both sway in time, the world shrinking until it’s only the two of you. 

You lean in, pressing close. “I wish you’d asked me to the gala.” 

Your words were nothing more than a whisper, quiet, melting into the music and noise, but they were honest. As soon as Tony had introduced the idea, your heart had been set on going with Bucky. He looked at you once during the debrief—like he was trying to imprint you into memory—it gave you hope, something light and soft igniting in your chest. 

But then hours passed, a day. It was approaching fast and you had slowly made peace with the idea that he wasn’t going to ask, that he didn’t see you the way you saw him—whole, permanent—a part of your DNA. 

So, when Sam asked, you said yes. Simply to have someone there, an arm to hold.

But you had looked for Bucky all night, saved the best dance for him. 

It didn’t stop the want, though—it burned behind your fingertips, deep behind your eyes. So you let it slip, the quiet admission. “I was hoping you would.” 

His heart stops and he tenses—eyes wide. 

Before he can respond, someone whisks you away—Steve, grinning as he twirls you into the next number. 

Bucky stands there, stunned. He knows how he looks—gaping, eyes wide, heart stuttering wildly. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Peter look over, concerned. He waves away the concern and walks off the dance floor, finds a seat he knows is taken, and readjusts his tie. 

Everything inside him feels tight, like his own fist is closing around his organs. Your words ring in his ears and he has half a mind to pour some water in his ear, just to drown out your voice. 

He watches as you dance with Steve, bright smile on both your faces. A drink appears in front of his face and he grabs it, mutters a quick thanks and tips it back, enjoying the burn, if just to get his mind off what he could have had if he had just not been a coward.

Sam finds him a few moments later, sipping something sweet with a mint leaf. He takes the seat next to him, leans back. 

“You looked good out there,” he says, nodding toward the dance floor. 

Bucky glances down at his empty glass before he places it on the table. “Why’d you ask her?” 

Sam shrugs, his smirk softening. “Figured if I make you jealous enough, you’d finally make a move.” 

Bucky tips his head back and squeezes his eyes shut. Of course, he thinks. It was such a Sam idea, so childish and filmy. Suddenly, Peter’s look makes more sense. He huffs, throws him an annoyed look. 

“I was going to. I had it all planned out. Then, well…” 

Sam slowly nods, smile twisting into understanding.

“She said yes to me.” 

“Yeah.” Bucky doesn’t mean to sound so defeated, he just can’t help it. In the grand scheme of things, it’s not even a big deal. He knows—now—that Sam has no romantic interest in you and you didn’t seem to have any for him. 

But, like most things of the heart often do, it felt like the end of the world. Like his life would have been so much better if he had walked in with you, his arm supporting you—his cologne surrounding you. 

“Why didn’t you ask her sooner, Buck?” Sam’s voice is quiet as he leans in a bit, wanting to hear the answer over the music. 

Bucky almost rolls his eyes but catches himself at the last second. Instead, he twists his fingers together. “We only found out about the gala the day before and it took me hours to build up the nerve.” 

Bucky swallows and Sam tries to hide his amusement. He loves seeing ex-assassin Bucky Barnes being bashful, almost shy. 

“I like her,” Bucky admits, quietly, like it wasn’t written on his heart and on his fucking sleeve. “So much. I didn’t wanna rush and ruin everything.” 

Sam goes quiet, smiling softly. “Is that why I saw a rose in the trash?” 

Normally, Bucky would have made some stupid comment about Sam going through the trash, but all he could do was sigh, pinch the bridge of his nose. 

Sam’s eyes flick up, behind Bucky, and his smile widens into a grin, eyes bright with something akin to pride and amusement. 

“Well, seems like you have a lot going on,” Sam offers, quickly. He pushes himself up, grabs two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and hands them to Bucky. Bucky stares up at him, half confused and half annoyed—a look Sam is quite familiar with. 

“Hi, Y/n.” Sam wiggles his fingers at you and briskly walks away, gets lost in the crowd, leaving Bucky with his spine straight. 

Before Bucky can turn around, or book it across the dance floor, you walk from behind him to Sam’s chair and take a seat. Bucky’s staring at you like a deer caught in headlights, eyes wide. A mixture of warmth and love, soft and heavy, fills your body and your lips curl into something secretive. 

You gently take the glass from his hands and stare at him, admiring. You let the silence settle between you both, build into something welcoming before you lightly clink your glasses together. 

While you bring it to your lips, Bucky simply sets it beside him, staring at you like you might disappear any second and he rather just take you in. 

Eyes on him, you place the glass next to his, heart warm and butterflies in your stomach as you slowly stand. Everything inside you almost melts when he instinctively leans closer, hand hovering in case you need him. 

You step forward, lean in close, your breath brushing Bucky’s ear. “Can I have one last dance?” 

He doesn’t even think, just nods. He stands up slowly, lets you lead him back onto the floor. 

This time, the music is slow, intimate. No twirls, just you, in his arms, your cheek against his chest. The hand on his shoulder now rests at his neck and his fingers curl around your waist, his thumb brushing skin. 

He feels your lips near his ear, almost collapsing from the sensation alone. 

“Do you like me, Bucky?” 

Bucky’s throat bobs and his fingers curl into your skin tighter, almost like he could will the answer out of his body. Over your shoulder, Steve and Sam both gave him a thumb’s up before turning. 

Bucky clears his throat and pulls you closer. Your eyes lift to meet his and he slowly nods.

“Yes,” he tells you, quietly. “I do.” 

It wasn’t just like—it was love. He knew it was. He hadn’t felt it before but he knew it, like a stranger you saw often enough to recognize. But he didn’t want to scare you, push you away. 

Bucky was familiar with your smiles, the way you brighten when you’re happy, but it was nothing compared to now—nothing compares to the way you were glowing as he sways you, the way your eyes shine and your smile—oh, your smile, it was so soft and so loving. 

“Me too,” you tell him, just as quiet. “So much.”  

His heart slams and a shiver runs up his spine. He blinks at you slowly, lips parting. You lean back, eyes shining, wanting to take this moment in its entirety. 

Inside, everything is warm and burning. The way he holds you, like you’re something precious has your mind reeling and all you want is to hold him, for him to touch you and smile at you the way you ache for. 

Then—he smiles at you. 

It’s beautiful. Heart-breaking. 

Utterly devastating as it lights up his face, smooths out all the crevices and worries in his face. 

He pulls you flush against him and you giggle, something soft and airy but it lights Bucky up in a way you’ve never seen before. Your fingers brush the hair at his nape, nails scratching his skin. 

You lean forward, press your lips to the edge of his jaw. His eyes flutter shut and a deep rumble escapes him. The fire in your belly burns brighter and the need inside you cracks alive and all you see is him. 

“Take me home.” 

You barely recognize your own voice. The want—something you keep hidden, locked away for months or years—you hardly remember—has been pulled to the surface. 

Bucky stares, breathless. He doesn’t even know if the music is still playing because all he can see and hear is you. Everything else fades to the back and his neck is warm but he’s so happy—confused, but all warm inside. 

Your smile turns slightly wicked, the slight alcohol and confidence burns through your veins. 

“You gonna make me beg, Buck?” 

Oh, he’s in for it. 

His voice is low, a rasp, barely hanging on. “Ask nicely.” 

You laugh, bright and beautiful. 

The Bucky you know, quiet, warm, confident, is staring back at you with a small smile, heat and want and love dancing in his eyes. 

“Please, Bucky,” you whisper, teasing. “Take me home.” 

He takes your hand and leads you out, without looking back. 

The elevator doors close with a soft chime. 

The silence settles—electric. 

You’re still holding his hand—the metal one, cool and solid, familiar. 

Bucky stands opposite you—broad, strong, flushed from dancing. His chest rises and falls like he’s just run ten blocks, suit tight across his shoulders. You lean back against the mirrored wall, flushed, breathless, heart still pounding from that last dance. 

Your eyes lift to meet his. 

He’s on you in a second, hands gripping your waist, mouth slanting over yours with desperate, open-mouthed hunger. It’s not gentle, or soft. It’s heat and need and years of unspoken want bursting at the seams. 

He kisses like a man who’s been starving for you, like he’s trying to memorize your mouth with his tongue. You moan into him. His tongue slides against yours, and he groans like he’s tasting something forbidden.

He kisses with desperation. With reverence. With a low, guttural sound in the back of his throat as your hips slot against his.

You break the kiss with a gasp. “Bucky—”

He dips to your throat, tongue licking into the space just below your jaw.

“Christ,” he breathes. “You’re killin’ me.”

“Good,” you pant, fingers curling into his jacket. “You deserve it. For making me wait this long.”

Your hands fist in the lapels of his tux, pulling him closer, closer, like there still isn’t enough of him touching you. He groans into your mouth when you bite his lips, his fingers digging into the meat of your thighs.

“Fuck—” he breathes. “You taste so good.” 

You gasp as his metal hand slides beneath your dress, gripping your thigh and hoisting you up like you weigh nothing. You wrap your legs around his waist, dress riding high, and thank God for the slit.

“Been wantin’ to do this for so fucking long,” he rasps against your throat, kissing, biting, sucking bruisses into your skin. “Didn’t think I could—didn’t think you’d want me—” 

“I do,” you whisper, dazed, fingers in his hair. “God, Bucky, I want you—” 

“And you’ll have me,” he kisses your neck, the skin below your ear. “You said please,” he pants, “and I listen when you ask.”

The elevator dings. The doors slide open.

He doesn’t put you down.

Your back hits the wall just outside the elevator, on his floor. He pins you there with his body, mouths at your neck like he hasn’t enough, like he’s been starving. 

You drag your fingers through his hair, tugging, pressing your chest flush against his. 

“I wanted you,” you whisper, losing your mind. “All night. I kept looking for you—” 

His voice is hoarse, Brooklyn accent thick and strong. “I was tryin’ not to fuckin’ look at you. Drove me insane.” 

You arch into him, gasping when his hips grind into yours. You can feel the thick press of him through his slacks, rubbing against the soaked lace between your legs. 

“Fuck,” you moan. “Bucky—please—” 

“I got you, sweetheart,” he whispers,  kissing your collarbone as he moves through the space blindly, holding you tight against him. “You’re mine tonight and forever. All fuckin’ mine.” 

He lays you down on the couch gently, like you’re something sacred and precious—and you are. 

Then he sinks to his knees in front of you, hands warm and pressing into your thighs as he drags them down your legs, eyes aflame. 

You barely have time to blink before he’s pulling your legs over his shoulders and pushing your dress higher, higher, until your thighs are bare and open and trembling. 

He stares at your panties—dark with wetness, delicate against your skin. His thumb rubs circles into your skin, like he can’t help but touch you, but remind you that you’re safe—loved. 

“Pretty little thing,” he murmurs, thumb stroking the damp lace. You gasp, legs trying to shut. His hands, big and warm, hold you open with little force, like he can command your body by sheer will. “Can I take ‘em off?”

You nod, breathlessly. All your dreams, fantasies you’d had but kept to yourself, were coming true. “Yes, Yes—please—” 

Bucky slides them down your legs, kissing your skin as he goes. His heart is about to jump out of his fucking chest and go barraling down the tower. He can hardly believe he’s on his knees—nose almost pressing into your cunt—can barely remember the gala itself. 

He spreads your thighs wide and groans—low and deep, almost painful. 

Bucky tried to be a gentleman, tried to be the good boy his mama raised, but some nights, when his hand wrapped around his cock, all he could picture was your pussy—how soft and beautiful it must have looked, how he’d make her drip for him.

The real thing didn’t even measure. He can’t believe he thought his imagination could do her any justice. 

“Fuck me,” he breathes, eyes wide and shiny. “You’re so wet. Fuckin’ dripping, baby.” 

“Only for you,” you whisper. 

There’s something warm in your voice that makes him look up, into your hooded eyes. You smile, nothing but love and promise on your face. It’s like you're telling him that you know—know he’s thought about you, that you want him as bad as he wants you, that you want everything he has to offer. 

His eyes are blazing, chest heaving. 

The curve of his smile presses against your skin as he presses soft, open mouthed kisses to your thighs. You barely notice his trailing hand until it lands on your ass and he squeezes hard. You yelp at the feeling and jerk forward, his other hand steadies you easily. There’s laughter in your breath as you breathe out, eyes fluttering shut. 

Bucky licks a harsh stripe of your core, holds you down as you writhe under him. He presses his face closer to your cunt as his tongue licks and suckles, laps up all your juices. The sweetness, the unique taste of you has his eyes rolling back and he knows he’ll never taste anything that would compare.

The sounds of slurping and his lips smacking around your clit make your legs shake as you try to breathe. He tilts his head further, pushes his tongue deeper within you and you moan, broken and obscene. 

He curls the tip of his tongue upwards and you almost scream, tears falling down your cheeks at the pleasure.

“Yes, yes,” you chant, words falling from your lips like praise.

Lifting his eyes, Bucky hums at the sight of your pleasure, the way the tears fall prettily down your cheeks. One of his hands slides up your body, just to feel you, but before he could bring it back towards him, you grab it with a tight grip and settle it around your throat. 

He groans into your folds and your legs shake. Needing more, you begin moving your hips feverishly against his face, grinding down on him. Bucky moans into cunt as you smear all your slick over his face, his chin dripping with drool and arousal. 

“Bucky—oh my god—fuck—”

He grunts, and the sound vibrates through you.

“Could do this forever,” he pants.

“You taste so good—so sweet—gonna make you cum on my fuckin’ tongue—”

Your sweet scent and taste overwhelm his mind and he begins losing it, ruts against the edge of the sofa like a schoolboy, his lips latch onto your clit as he pushes himself closer to your dripping cunt, nose rubbing deliciously against your bud as he slides his tongue in and out of you. 

“James,” you cry, eyes barely open as you watch him suck you dry. The hand on your throat slides down to yours and he threads your fingers together and squeezes once, twice, thrice, before your legs pulse erratically and your walls clench around his tongue.

“I’m so close, baby.” 

Bucky’s brain short-circuits at your words, at the term, and he spreads you open wider and licks at you harsher, licking long strips as he teases your clit with his nose. 

“Cum, sweetheart,” he edges, lulling you closer to your orgasm. He needs this as bad as you do. “Cum all over my face, Y/n.” 

His words are enough to break you and your vision blurs as you moan, your stomach coils and recoils as your orgasm washes over you like cold water, soaks him completely. 

Bucky continues to push his tongue into your gushing pussy, lips coaxing all your juices down his throat, making you throw your head back as you arch into him. He licks and sucks harshly, even as you mumble incoherently about it being too much. 

When he pulls away, face covered in your slick, he smiles. Your whole body trembles and you lift your head just in time to watch him coat his fingers in your juices before he plops his fingers into his mouth and sucks. 

He looks so pleased, so completely, irrevocably and ardently in love with you. 

“Jesus Christ,” you gasp, pussy fluttering. “Where the hell did you learn that?”

He grins—messy, flushed, lips shiny with your cum.

“You think I wasn’t dreamin’ about this? Every fuckin’ night?”

He lifts you easily, arms secure beneath your thighs and back. You melt into him, still dazed, as he carries you into his bedroom.

Just before he lays you down, you grip his shoulders.

“Wait,” you murmur, breath hitching. “Let me.” You unwrap your legs from around him but his hold on you stays tight, keeping you close. 

You push him until he stumbles back, landing on the bed with a grunt. He stares up at you, dazed. 

You climb into his lap, straddling him. Your dress is in bunches, and you remind yourself to apologize to Nat…she probably won’t want it back. 

Bucky tries to touch your hips, tries to breathe, but you grab his wrists and pin them to the bed. You’ve been in this position before, but it was in the training room, briefly, before he flipped you over. Now you know why. 

His breath catches when you press down on him, your wet cunt dragging across his hard bulge. 

“Hands to yourself,” your words are soft, teasing. 

He groans, tips his head back. “You’re killin’ me, sweetheart—” 

You push yourself off him and start to strip. The straps of your dress slide off your shoulders slowly. You shimmy it down your body, piece by piece, letting it fall until you’re completely naked in front of him. 

He stares like you’ve knocked the breath from his lungs, like he’d follow you anywhere—take a bite of the apple simply because you looked at him. 

He’s been cast from heaven but he doesn’t mind, because Eden stands in front of him, beautiful and soft and looking at him—like he’s worthy of it. 

“Holy fuck,” he breathes out, groaning at the sight of you. 

Grinning, you twirl for him. There’s scars on your skin, burns and patchy stitching, but you don’t care. You never really have and with the way Bucky’s looking at you, like you’re his salvation, you can’t help but move closer. 

“You like?” 

It’s a bizarre question, because you can see how much he likes it—how beautiful you are to him. But, still, because he’s always been sweet, he smiles something soft and nods, fingers twitching like he might reach out.

“You’re beautiful. Absolutely stunnin’.” 

You giggle and slide onto his lap again, kiss his throat and then move lower, kissing down his chest as you begin undoing his shirt. Bucky’s hands stay at his side, curling into fists because all he wants to do is touch.

You pull off his tie, undo the buttons slowly—torturously—and push the fabric open to reveal his bare chest. You’ve seen him shirtless a few times but every time, it knocks the wind out of you. 

Broad, defined, and hard. 

You kiss every inch. 

His abs flex as you drag your mouth down to his waistband, slowly getting to your knees. You undo his belt and pants slowly, hand grazing his cock through the fabric. 

He’s so hard—big—straining, leaking. 

You free him and his cock slaps against his stomach, thick and heavy and beautiful. It’s everything you thought it would be and more. 

“My God,” you almost whine. “No wonder you’ve got such an ego.” 

He laughs—then gasps when you kiss his inner thigh—close, so close. 

You kiss and bite his skin, etching your name into his skin so the ghost of your lips can live on. Once you’re satisfied, you lift your eyes and almost gasp at the way his cock was leaking, his tip red and veiny. Mesmerized, you lean forward and shift your eyes to his, finding nothing but darkness staring back at you. His blue eyes, the ones you love so dearly, have been replaced by something predatory, almost possessive. 

Still, you could see the softness threaded into the crinkles of his skin, the way he refuses to move, to touch you, until you make it clear that you want him to. You rest your cheek against his inner thigh and smile up at him. 

“I like you, Bucky.” Your voice is low, a mere brush of air against his skin, but he hears you. You need him to know—that this is more than lust for you, that it’s for life. “You gonna let me show you how much?”

Not trusting his voice, he simply nods. You blink up at him, unmoving. Swallowing the lust that claws in his throat, Bucky tilts his head forward. “Yes,” he breathes out. “Whatever you want.” 

Bucky barely had enough time to cry out your name before you lick a long stripe from his base to his tip, circling your tongue around him once before you repeat the action once more. All his empty words die in his throat as he releases a shaky breath at the feeling of your warm mouth taking him in completely. 

Pressing your tongue flat against the underside of his cock, you taste the salty taste of his sweat and precum. It takes over your senses and you shift forward, circling your tongue around his tip. Pooling some spit on your tongue, you let it drip down his length as you wrap your hand around him, pressing soft kisses to his tip. 

Bucky groans, breathing heavier as his legs spasm around you. He moans out your name and you look up to the sight of his eyes screwed shut, head thrown back. His chest rises rapidly and he looks so beautiful, a thin layer of sweat glistening on his forehead, hair brushed back and unruly. 

“Oh, fuck,” he moans, his voice cracking as you push him further down your throat, ignoring the burn because he tastes addictive, sounds sweeter than anything you’ve ever heard. 

You hollow your cheeks, spit dripping down your throat as you work him with your mouth, humming when he hits the back of your throat. 

“Fuck—baby—” His voice breaks, raspy. “That’s it—that’s so fuckin’ good—” His thighs tremble and his abs clench. 

He twitches in your mouth and you push him deeper, practically begging. Before he can cum—

He pulls you off, voice and body wrecked. He pants, cock standing straight and leaking and harder than it’s ever been. 

“Wanna cum inside you,” he whimpers, pulling you off the floor and into his arms. “Wanna feel you, Y/n, baby—please.” 

You’re nodding, still reeling from the emptiness in your mouth. You straddle him again and he surges forward, captures your lips in a hot, messy kiss. It’s all teeth and lips and his hands are everywhere on you. 

As he kisses you senseless, you reach between your legs and guide him to your entrance, hissing into his mouth when his tip drags between your folds. 

The satisfying tightening and burn of his veins against your gummy walls make you both moan in unison, your body falling limp into his as you sink down completely, the base of his cock hitting your core. The stretch feels amazing, so good, and all you can do is tuck your face into the crook of his neck, biting back a sob. 

His hands grip your hips, jaw slack. He can’t breathe—can barely think with your pussy wrapped around him, warm and tight and so perfect. 

“Fuck—you feel so fuckin’ good—so tight—” 

He nips at your jaw, tongue dragging across your skin as you roll your hips, bracing your hands on his chest. You feel so full, leaking all over his lap. You press a soft kiss to his neck and his hips jerks upwards, filling you to the brim, his tip reaching parts of you only he could. 

You part your lips to say something, anything, but he interrupts you by crashing his lips against yours, swallowing your gasp greedily. His lips move roughly against yours, so perfect, as one of his hands slide down to your ass, gripping tightly as he moves his hips against yours. 

He kisses down your body, pressing wet, open mouth kisses to the skin between your breasts, licking and sucking, tongue brushing against your nipples. 

You were a mess above him, head thrown back and eyes sewn shut, incoherent mumbles and whimpers leaving your lips as you pull and scrape his hair and the nape of his neck. 

He twitches inside you, against your sensitive walls and you almost cry out. As if sensing your distraught, one of his hands grip your waist protectively and he presses a soft kiss to the side of your head. 

You slowly move, sliding him in and out of your pussy. His hold on your waist helps lift you up and down, guiding you to a delicious pace. His hands slide from your waist to your ass, resting there. 

Bucky throws his head back when you begin jumping on his cock, his balls slapping against your cunt. You grip his shoulders and he can feel his skin break as you dig your nails into his skin, the creak of his bed loud as the room fills with your mixed moans. 

You slow down, press down on his length to catch your breath. Grinding on his laps, his cock brushes against all your sweet spots, stretches your walls with a delicious burn. You wiggle around on his cock and Bucky’s eyes fly open and he stares at you with a heavy gaze. 

He sits up straighter, wraps his arms around you and kisses your throat. “Can’t—fuck.” He thrusts his hips up, almost animally. “Gotta have you—” 

Holding you close, he flips you onto your back and thrusts. 

You gasp as he drives into you, pressing you into the mattress. He grips onto your hips and pulls you towards him, flush against his pelvis as he rocks his hips forward, fucking his cock into you.

Back arched, you moan when his hand travels to your throat and he holds you firmly beneath him, tilting your head backwards as he applies just the right amount of pressure to your jugular veins, making you lightheaded as he slides in and out of you at a bruising pace. 

He smiles when you whimper, teeth grazing the side of your throat as he bites down, pressing your hips flush against his pelvis, the tip of his cock brushing against your cervix, making you see stars. 

His hand cups your jaw and his mouth claims yours, softer, despite the rough and messy pace of his hips. He kisses you slowly, traces his devotion into your gums. 

“I love you,” he whispers, like he couldn’t help it. “I love you.”

Your heart stutters and you wrap your arms around his neck—tighter. You kiss his nose, the edge of his lips, before his lips.

“I love you too.” 

It was inevitable, you think. You were always going to fall in love with him. There was so much to love. 

He groans like he’s about to lose it, like your words have single-handedly freed him from all of his crimes and sins. 

“Gonna cum,” he rasps. 

“Inside,” you whine, begging. “Cum inside me—please, Buck.” 

His hips stutter and he practically growls. “Fuck—my pretty girl. Gonna cum inside you,” he moans. “Fill you up—want it to stay—wanna make you—”

“Yes, yes,” you pant, his cock filling you to the brim. 

You clench around him, vision going white as you gush around him and he shudders, hips stuttering as he spills inside you with a broken moan of your name. 

He thrusts through it, panting, pressing kisses to your cheek, your neck, your lips. 

Once he’s sure he’s emptied himself completely inside you, he slows his pace and presses kisses all over your face, slowly halting the movement of his hips. You fall into a slump underneath him and he wraps his arms around you tightly, body pressing against yours, mumbling quietly to you.

“Sweetheart,” he whispered after a moment. 

You hum, eyes too tired and droopy to open. He rubs your stomach soothingly, tries to ground you before he moves. “Are you okay, Y/n? Do you need anything?” 

Slowly, you shake your head and open your eyes. He’s staring back at you with so much love in his eyes, nothing but softness and concern bright in his eyes. He nudges his nose against yours and you smile, cracking his chest open. 

“Just you,” you whisper, finger curling into his dog tags as you pull him in for a kiss. 

He laughs into your mouth but kisses you with the same fervor you kiss him with. Gently, Bucky pulls out of your sopping cunt and you both bite back a hiss. He shifts his weight and maneuvers his body until you’re laying in his arms, your chest pressing against his, legs intertwined. 

He knows he has to clean you up, get you a glass of water and maybe something to eat, but your eyes flutter shut and your hand rests on his heart so he puts it off, knows you need him more. 

He runs his hands along your arms and then your shoulders, pressing into your skin occasionally to remind you that he’s right here—for good. You snuggle into him, press a kiss to a scar above his heart. 

He strokes your spine with trembling fingers, his heart full and warm and content. 

“You’re mine now,” he whispers, voice rough and soft and questioning. 

You lift your eyes to meet his and kiss his jaw. “Was always yours.” 

He smiles—small, awestruck. 

“You’re still my best friend,” he says, quietly. Like he needs you to know. 

“And you’re mine,” you respond, just as quiet. 

He presses his lips to your forehead, holds you tight against him. 

It’s all he’s ever wanted—to be yours. In every way. 

[dredgesnails]

I love to imagine the magic mountain bases all actually existing completely separately from each other in completely different time periods (almost), despite being physically in the same location.

In the ancient world, pyramids are constructed at the base of a huge volcano to honor the dead and worship old gods. A wide path leads to an entrance into the volcano, far enough in that the heat gets dangerous. Inside, sacrifices are made to the gods, to their king, offerings given up for the benefit of them all. The king is kind and forgiving, loyal to his people, asking for little and giving as much as he can. The gods however, are cruel, and all civilisations must fall eventually. For this one it's after a great eruption, one that shakes the earth with all the fury of the gods, that the pyramids become abandoned, left alone for centuries to erode. Over time new life grows, and thick jungles begin to hide the pyramids from view, until eventually, they’ve become a part of the natural landscape. Venture far enough in, however, and you might find remnants of the ancient civilisation: old writing in a language no one knows anymore, praises given to their old king; the remnants of ancient weapons and armour; the shapes of people who once lived forever preserved in ash and pumice.

~

It's the start of the industrial revolution, and rumours start spreading of an eclectic man and his steamrail full of exotic animals from across the globe. He’s a travelling zoo, of sorts, appearing in the strangest of places (as long as there's a railway line, he'll be there), areas it logically shouldn't be able to reach. He’s got all sorts of animals, from dolphins and turtles to strange, mysterious beasts. Where does he keep them all when they're not on the train? Some say he doesn't exist. others insist he does, that he lives underneath a mountain no one dares to visit. It's an active volcano, they say, dangerous to go near. If anyone dared to explore they might stumble upon the largest, most diverse collection of animals they've ever seen, and, most bizarrely, a large steam locomotive that runs on its own railway track, seemingly on a loop through the volcano itself. The tunnel is so dark the train disappears into it entirely. a young exploration group decide to find out for themselves, years later, and at first they think there's nothing there, until one of them stumbles upon the obvious remnants of a railway line, no longer in use but not so old that it's started to break down. Maybe he did exist after all...

~

In the late 1800s, a small fishing community establishes itself by the mountain. Electricity is new, and with the new machines and motors available to them the community quickly grows into a small village. Something is wrong, though. The rocks embedded in the mountain appear to resemble a skull more and more by the day, water streaming from one eye socket as though it’s crying. Underground passages and tunnels are found by the new residents, all leading to strange chambers. There's something in the water. A young man, one of the first in the village, disappears for a month, and when he returns, he's changed. He insists the ocean speaks to him, to everyone through him. He fishes for hours, days, weeks on end. When his madness begins infecting others, most gain the sense to stay away from him, but not everyone does. There's something in the water.

By the mid 1920s, the small fishing village is still standing, although most of the residents from four decades ago have since left. A young woman, traveling alone in her tiny fishing boat, docks at the village in need of repairs. What was meant to be a one night stay turns into days, then weeks, then months, as she begins to notice strange happenings in the village. A local artist has locked himself in his house, gone mad from something he found in the ocean. A scientist is experimenting with strange materials, and sometimes at night strange noises come from her house. There's something in the water. An older man speaks in tongues, driven mad by the sea. There's something in the water. The young fisher sees him occasionally, staring through her, unseeing. She's begun dreaming of ancient monsters in the depths of the water below her, reaching their long arms out and crushing her and everyone else. When she looks into the sea she can't see anything. It’s just inky blackness.

(No one knows how the village gets destroyed. One day it's here, and the next it's turned to rubble, razed to the ground by forces beyond human perception. It appears no one survived, but strangely, there's no trace of the small fishing boat the young woman had arrived in, nor of her body, and if anyone stopped for long enough in the wrecked city they might hear mumbling at night from underground, the mad ramblings of a man who has seen too much.)

~

Magic mountain row thrives in the early 2000s. They’ve beaten the Y2K bug (it really wasn't that much of a problem, anyway), business is booming at all the independent stores, and the local economy is better than ever. It doesn’t matter that not many people want to live here because new tech keeps Big Ron busy, and Willie Jr is old enough to start working at his father's shop, preparing himself to take over the business. The safe storage containers are always a little open, but nothing ever really goes missing, because no new people means everyone knows everyone. A young boy visits his neighbours for the last time before he leaves with his family; his dad's got a better job somewhere far away and they have to leave now, and besides it’s safer not to live by a barely-dormant volcano (it’s not as cool, though). His new neighbourhood has a lot more kids his age, but he can't help but miss the eccentric nature of his old neighbours. He returns to his childhood home twenty years later to find it empty. Most of magic mountain row is empty now, actually. There are a few places still open: Big Ron refuses to close up shop because Willie Jr, who has taken over the business now that his father's passed, still needs his help from time to time. Anyone still living here is merely clinging to a past they remember so fondly they can't adapt for the future. They're happy, though. They’re happy to remain here until it's their time to go.

~

In the not-so-distant future, a dense city is formed on the mountain. It started out as a smaller town, with traditional architecture and shrines dotted around the place, but as technology advanced and society progressed it grew and evolved into towering skyscrapers, holographic billboards, a rail system that winds through buildings and above streets. Elements of the past still remain - lush gardens lined with cherry blossom trees, the old shrines and temples still standing, a mark of the city's history and longevity. The city stands the longest, weathers the strongest storms, grows and evolves and changes, but all must come to an end, eventually. A rumbling in the earth, a once-dormant volcano waking from its slumber. They have the tech to know it's coming, now, so they all flee before it can hit. Only one man stays behind. This is his city. This is his home. He built this entire place from the ground up, and he’s not going to leave it behind. He makes his way to one of the shrines. Praying to his goddess, he leaves her one final offering, and when the ash settles all trace of him is gone.

~

The apocalypse happens in a future beyond our reckoning. A city lies, abandoned by most, on top of the ruins of civilisations that came before. Once a lively hub of activity and tech and innovation, the city has become a ghost town, occupied only by the artificial intelligences that had driven humanity out. They wander aimlessly, mimicking the behaviours of the humans they used to watch and help, protecting the inner core of their city that keeps everything, including themselves, alive. The humans reside elsewhere, in a bunker resembling the old world, with more vegetation and life than the city had despite being hidden underground. The city’s architects reassure everyone that they’ll be able to return someday soon. The one who designed the robots, a man more cyber than human by this point, just needs to fix a few issues with their programming. He doesn’t want to destroy them but he might have to. His partner, who designed most of the city, will need to commence repairs before anyone can live in the city again. So they leave, vowing to fix the city so that everyone can return to society. No one knows they will never return.

[mezzy-1]

Hi! Yes! I’m the ask! I’m very excited hehe. The 4 agents I chose for: Iso, Jett, Sage and Deadlock. If I had to describe the reader’s personality they’d be like private/reserved sort of very calm and an experienced fighter, reader could be fighting against the selected agents (sort of like how you did Nomad and their recruitment? I really like Nomad btw).

I unfortunately wasn’t able to find Acheron’s exact capabilities but I did decide on a basis for the reader’s abilities (Ice or snow) also I did find a few clips for reference:

https://youtu.be/l1Yw8r4F9W0?si=K-SiYUsK6Qi-v0dD

https://youtu.be/G2xiqsEoFDQ?si=R4VNy-oS_2fQ84qB

COLD RECEPTION // (VALORANT X READER)

Reader Profile//  SNOWFALL

Your status as a radiant made you stand out in the world, and your abilities terrified those around you.  The Scions of the Hourglass made a deal with you, they would train and care for you and you’d help maintain their secrecy.  Abandoning your lonely existence, you became a master of your ability over ice and did work for the Scions.  Soon, you began to doubt your allies and were assigned a Valorant agent to kill as a final test of loyalty.  

ISO 

There was a stillness in the air, brought on by a combination of the night and the cold that blew through the streets of a desolate industrial district

You waited outside with binoculars trained on the sidewalks, waiting for your target.  Deciding that your stakeout was taking too long, you looked over the dossier again

Li Zhao Yu, aka. Iso, defected from the Scions months ago to join an organization called Valorant.  His skills rivaled yours, and his power over radianite was strong too

The picture included didn’t match up with the face of a hardened killer though

Below you spotted something purple flash from the windows of an abandoned factory.  You narrowed your eyes and watched for more

Iso was locked in combat with a number of radiants.  If it wasn’t for the dossier you would've been shocked at how dangerous he was

He dropped each of the radiants one by one.  All the while, he maintained an air of calmness with each shot

He exited the building carrying some strange triangular device.  He put his finger to his ear and muttered something to an unknown receiver

Realizing he was calling in some kind of extraction, you put your plan into action and activated your radiance

Wind began to swirl around as frost collected on broken windows.  You pulled your knife from its sheath and let ice collect along the blade

Swinging the blade, you launched the collected frost towards Iso.  Your careful aim drove the ice spear into his shoulder

Leaping from your vantage point, you jumped from the building and slid down to street level.  You readed a pistol as you got to Iso

“You shouldn’t have left us,” you said, cocking the action back on your gun.  “People like you are one of a kind.”

“If you’re with the Scions, then don’t waste my time.  I work with Valorant now, and I washed my hands of those monsters.”

“They aren’t monsters, they saved me!  I was nothing before they came and trained me!”

“I read some files on you, Y/N.  You were missing for years and turned into a weapon for them.  They fear you, they only want to control you and use your power.”

“Is that what you think?  Is that why you left for some bullshit organization that pretends to care about you?  The Scions are my family now, and I won’t disappoint them.”

“Valorant would take care of you if you decide to come with me.  We can avoid this fight if you stand down.”

“I’d rather die than be a traitor like you.”

“...fine Y/N.  What happens now is on you.”  Iso grabbed the ice embedded in his shoulder and threw it to the ground

Taking your chance to shoot, you suddenly found yourself on the defensive.  Iso had reached for his Sheriff while removing the ice

Bullets almost reached your head as you took cover and blocked out the area with a sudden freezing mist

You heard a window break and ran after the sound, finding yourself inside an abandoned machine shop

With your first steps in, a bullet ricocheted off the wall behind you and sparks danced from the impact

As you moved farther in, more shots came from the darkness.  Iso was tired, injured, and had to hide

“Good.” you thought.  You began dropping the temperature around you while placing your knife in its sheath and charging it with cold

Iso’s breath was now visible from the frigid air.  He was hidden behind a hydraulic press and breathing quietly

You pulled the knife slowly from the sheath, letting ice condense onto it and extending it into a long icy blade

Silently, you moved about the shop.  Your footsteps were quiet from the stealth training you endured

As you moved towards Iso, violet hexagons crept underneath you and made contact.  You fell into the floor and were dropped into some strange realm

The dossier missed the fact that Iso could do this, because you were quickly disoriented by the rush of purple

“Y/N this is your last chance to stand down.  I’m not here to kill you, I want to leave that part of me in the past with the Scions.” echoed throughout the space

Iso appeared in front of you and you charged forwards with your blade, directly for his neck.  You sliced and crescent of frozen air spun towards his throat

He raised his hand and conjured a wall in front of him.  The ice slammed into the hardened tiles as you continued with your attack

Iso turned his wrist and pulled the trigger once.  The bullet went right for your head, and by closing the distance you were in even more danger

Suddenly you were back in the shop and Iso was in front of you

“Dui Bu Qi” he whispered before the world went dark around you

You awoke in a room lit by a single light and restrained in a chair.  Your head was sore and the room was almost spinning

“You’re finally up Y/N.  Hao de, we can finally talk.”

“I have nothing to say to you, just kill me because I won’t tell you anything about the Scions!” you spat back

“I already have all the information I could ever want on them.  I don't need you to betray them for me.”

“You’re one to talk about betraying the Scions.”

“They won’t come to save you, now that they know you’ve been captured.  If anything they’ll either try and kill you or assume you’re dead.”

“No!  They’ll come for me, they’ll make you pay for taking me prisoner!”

“You were sent to kill me when I defected.”

Iso’s truth buried itself in a growing pit of despair in your stomach.  It was so obvious they would save you but something in you began to pull at that conviction

Tears streaked down your face and turned to snowflakes as they fell.  The realization that you would never have your life in order finally fell on you

A warm hand found its way onto your shoulder.  Iso’s palm met yours despite the freezing cold temperature

“Bie ku Y/N.  Don’t worry I know it looks lonely but you won’t be walking away from them alone.  I’m here for you if you need to talk.”

“They were everything to me, but they…they’d kill me just like they’d kill anyone.  Did I ever mean anything to them at all?” you asked already knowing the answer

“It doesn’t help to think of them right now, what matters is that Valorant will care about you.  We aren’t here to kill or control, we just want to do right.” 

You looked up and in your state your power began to escape.  You began to grow colder and shivered slightly

Iso took his hand off of you and began to unzip his jacket

He draped it over your shoulders

“Y/N, you’re freezing.”

“It happens when I’m worried, I think I’ll be fine.”  you tried to avert your eyes but couldn’t pull them from Iso

“Are you saying you want to join Valorant then?”  Iso leaned in towards you

“I don’t have anywhere else to go, but you’ve been so patient with me.  I feel horrible for what I tried to do, but you’re being kind and I want to repay that somehow.” 

“I’ll talk to my higher ups and get you a room at the HQ.  While we wait, we should find a way to keep you warm.  Do you drink tea?”

“Sure, what kind do you have?” 

Having tea with Iso was the first of many moments you shared with the assassin.  Both of you had your respective pasts entwined, but that only brought you closer

Eventually it became a routine, meeting with Iso and just talking for hours on end about whatever you both thought

Months later, you realized that Valorant had become a second home for you.  It was all thanks to Iso

[fandomnerd9602]

The Gold Scarab

Jenny Kord x Male Reader

For @deafeningsharkslimeempath

How does one even begin to explain where you’ve been for the last two years? For you, Y/N L/N, proud cousin of Jamie Reyes, you were fighting crime with your girlfriend Jenny Kord.

Jamie had yet to graduate from Gotham Law while you were off playing superhero. Jenny worked as your gal in the chair, helping out you and the Scarab with support.

It was fun, no real qualms since the scarab could heal your wounds. Khaji G, as you found out, is a very reliable armor and friend.

You found yourself relaxing on the top of the Daily Planet, just shooting the breeze with the AI embedded in your back.

“So tomorrow we’re heading back to Palmera City.” You sigh.

“Jamie returning home?” Khaji asks in her robotic tone.

“Yep.” You answer, “it’s good cover for us to head back and investigate Kord Industries”

“Jenny doesn’t know?”

“She’d worry if we were helping her investigate her aunt. Something about you and the power blah blah blah”

“You love her so you’re going to disobey her?”

“It’s called reading between the lines, Khaji. Or something like that.”

The two of you powered up and took off into the night sky, heading to Palmera City.

Seeing your tios, tias and abuelita and the cousins you practically call your hermano and hermana.

Speaking of which, you were the first to welcome Jamie when he stepped off the plane.

“Jamie!” You hugged him tightly. He hugged you right back.

“Y/N good seeing you cuz”

What you didn’t see or feel was that Khaji was scanning Jamie and sending a signal to the very scarab that Jenny was trying to save.

“Potential scarab host acquired” The blue scarab sent in response.

“The two men of the hour” your uncle Rudy laughs as he sees you and Jamie walking to the rest of the family.

You spent the next few months going back and forth between Palmera City and your duty as the Gold Scarab.

Using your job as a hero for hire, you were able to send some money to the Reyes clan, helping them to keep the lights on at their homestead.

And then came the Blue Beetle. Your Khaji G just had to send Jamie as a potential host for Khaji D, the Blue Scarab.

You tried to intercept the scarab from Jenny. “What?! I told you to stay out of Palmera City!” Jenny practically screamed at you as you saved her from her hotel room that fateful night.

“And let those goons hurt you?!” You almost screamed back. “Where’s the Blue Scarab?”

“I gave it to Jamie,” Jenny explains.

“Wait what?”

Boom! a blue blur zooms past you and Jenny.

“Blue scarab spotted. Host: Jamie Reyes”

“What?! How?!” You ask.

“He seemed like a good host. Recommend.”

Oh great. How’s this gonna play out? You find yourself wondering.

“Recommendation: train him”

“Train him?”

“Train who?” Jenny looks at you in confusion.

“You’re gonna love this,” you try to explain.

Whatever the future may hold. For you. For Jamie. For Jenny. For the Khaji programs. You’ll stand together. Family is forever after all.

[clara-the-independent]

Exclusive Interview with Ljudmila Vetrova- Inside Billionaire Nathaniel Thorne's Latest Venture

CLARA: I'm here with my friend Ljudmila Vetrova to talk about the newest venture of reclusive billionaire Nathaniel Thorne- GAMA. Ljudmila, could you let the readers in on the secret- what exactly is this mysterious project about?

LJUDMILA: Sure, Clara! As part of White City's regeneration programme, Nathaniel has teamed up with the Carlise Group to create a cutting-edge medical clinic like no other. Introducing GAMA– a private sanctuary for the discerning, offering not just top-notch medical care and luxurious amenities, but also treatments so innovative they push the envelope of medical science.

CLARA: Wow! Ljudmila, it sounds like GAMA is really taking a proactive approach to healthcare. But can you tell us a bit more about the cutting-edge technology behind this new clinic?

LJUDMILA: Of course! Now, GAMA is not just run by human professionals, it's also aided by an advanced AI system known as KAI – Kronstadt Artificial Intelligence. KAI is the guiding force behind every intricate detail of GAMA, handling everything from calling patients over the PA system to performing complex surgical procedures. Even the doors have a touch of ingenuity, with no keys required- as KAI simply detects the presence of an RFID chip embedded in the clothing of both patients and staff, allowing swift and secure access to the premises. With KAI at the helm, patients and staff alike benefit from streamlined care.

CLARA: A medical AI? That's incredible! I've heard much of the medical technology at GAMA was developed by Kronstadt Industries and the Ether Biotech Corporation, as a cross-disciplinary partnership to create life-saving technology. Is that true?

LJUDMILA: It sure is, Clara! During the COVID-19 pandemic, GAMA even had several departments dedicated to researching the virus, assisting in creating a vaccine with multiple companies. From doctors to nurses and administrative personnel, the team at GAMA is comprised of skilled individuals who are committed to providing the best care possible. All of the GAMA staff are highly educated with advanced degrees and have specialized training in their respective fields.

CLARA: Stunning! Speaking of the GAMA staff, rumors surrounding the hiring of doctors Pavel Frydel and Akane Akenawa have made headlines, with claims that they supposedly transplanted a liver infected with EHV, leading to the unfortunate demise of the patient shortly after. Such allegations might raise questions about the hospital's staff selection process and adherence to medical guidelines and ethical standards. Do you have any comment on these accusations, Ljudmila?

LJUDMILA: Er- well, Clara, the management of GAMA Hospital has vehemently denied all allegations of unethical practices and maintains that they uphold the highest standards of care for all patients. They state that they conduct thorough background checks on all staff members, including doctors, and that any individuals found to be involved in unethical practices are immediately removed from their position. The hospital has a strict code of ethics that all staff must adhere to, and any violations are taken very seriously. In response to the specific claims about the transplant procedure, GAMA states that they are investigating the matter in cooperation with the relevant authorities.

CLARA: Wonderful! I'm afraid that's all we have time for at the moment- lovely chatting with you again, Ljudmila!

@therealharrywatson @artofdeductionbysholmes @johnhwatsonblog

[nandinishenoy]

Niranjan Hiranandani – Nurturing Women’s Leadership In Business And Beyond

Leadership is not just about business acumen—it is about vision, inclusivity, and the ability to uplift those around us. Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani, a stalwart in the real estate industry, has always believed in fostering a leadership culture that empowers individuals regardless of gender. His commitment to inclusivity and meritocracy has been a driving force in encouraging women’s leadership across corporate landscapes and beyond. The women empowerment initiatives by Niranjan Hiranandani have set a benchmark for businesses striving to create an equitable workplace in an era where gender equality is more than just a discussion.

Leadership Through Empowerment

Dr. Hiranandani has consistently advocated for a workplace where talent, dedication, and leadership skills take precedence over gender biases. He believes that empowering women is not just a social responsibility but a business imperative. By creating an ecosystem where women can thrive, he ensures that leadership is based on competence rather than traditional stereotypes.

Women’s Empowerment In The Corporate Landscape

The real estate sector has long been dominated by men, but Niranjan Hiranandani’s role in women's empowerment is changing that narrative. At Hiranandani Group, gender inclusivity is not just a policy—it is embedded in the corporate DNA. Several women hold key leadership positions across various verticals, shaping the future of the organization. The company provides mentorship programs, leadership training, and structured career growth opportunities, ensuring that women have the resources and support needed to succeed.

The Role Of Family Values In Women’s Success

A strong believer in gender equality at home and in the workplace, Dr. Hiranandani attributes much of his perspective on women’s leadership to the foundational values of family support. He recognizes that a woman’s success is deeply linked to an environment that encourages both professional aspirations and personal well-being. By fostering a culture that allows women to balance their careers with their personal lives, he ensures that professional growth does not come at the cost of personal fulfillment.

Beyond Business: Social Initiatives For Women’s Growth

The impact of Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani's leadership and women empowerment extends far beyond boardrooms and corporate offices.  His efforts include supporting women’s education, financial independence, and entrepreneurship through various initiatives. He has been involved in projects that promote financial independence among women, ensuring that they have the tools and resources to build successful careers.

A Future Of Inclusive Leadership

The journey toward gender-balanced corporate leadership is ongoing, and Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani envisions a future where women play an even greater role in shaping industries. He emphasizes the need for organizations to actively support women’s leadership development programs, offering mentorship and growth opportunities. His approach serves as a blueprint for businesses aiming to cultivate an inclusive and diverse corporate landscape.

Conclusion

Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani’s commitment to women’s leadership is a testament to his belief in the power of inclusivity. Through women empowerment initiatives by Niranjan Hiranandani, his impact goes beyond real estate—transforming corporate culture and social structures alike. His leadership in women's empowerment has set a precedent for inclusivity, merit-based growth, and equal opportunities for women in business. As businesses continue to evolve, his approach serves as an inspiring model for a future where leadership truly knows no gender.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How Does Niranjan Hiranandani Promote Gender Equality In The Workplace?

He ensures a meritocratic corporate culture, implements women-centric policies, and provides mentorship opportunities.

2. What Initiatives Has Hiranandani Communities Taken For Women’s Empowerment?

The company supports leadership programs, flexible work policies, and financial independence initiatives for women.

3. How Does Niranjan Hiranandani Support Women Outside Of His Business?

He contributes to education, entrepreneurship, and women-led social initiatives through various partnerships and sponsorships.

4. Why Is Gender Diversity Important In The Real Estate Sector?

Diverse leadership brings innovation, inclusivity, and balanced decision-making to an industry historically dominated by men.

5. How Can Other Businesses Follow Niranjan Hiranandani’s Approach?

By implementing inclusive policies, supporting women’s growth, and fostering mentorship-driven career advancements.

[claudiosuenaga]

Japan, the Paradox of Perfection: The Matrix and the Unsustainable Harmony of Being

Imagine a world where everything works perfectly: trains that are never late, streets impeccably clean, absolute safety, and a society that seems to have achieved the ideal balance. This world exists, in part, in Japan. Yet, at the same time, it carries a shadow that challenges the idea that perfection equates to happiness. This duality leads us to question: is perfection bearable? Or, as in The Matrix, does reality require imperfections to be truly lived?

By Cláudio Tsuyoshi Suenaga, based on his own experiences in Japan

In the movie The Matrix, the machines created a perfect reality for humans, but it was rejected. Humans, unable to accept a world without conflict, needed an imperfect version of reality to make it bearable. This idea resonates deeply when we look at modern Japan. Despite being a model of efficiency and order, the country faces emotional and social crises that reveal cracks in its functional utopia.

Japan, with its low crime rate, impeccable infrastructure, and admirable sense of collectivity, seems like an example of near-perfection. However, this external harmony contrasts with an unsettling internal reality: high suicide rates, a rapidly aging population, and a youth uninterested in starting families. Furthermore, the exploitation of immigrants in factories and precarious jobs exposes a dark side often overlooked in the idealized portrayal of the country.

The production lines of FBC (Factory Bakery Company), known as Fuji Pan, where I worked for many years in Osaka, offer a vivid portrayal of industrial reality. The factory operates uninterrupted, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, divided into two 12-hour shifts. The work is performed standing, under arduous conditions: dirty, repetitive, mechanical, and deeply alienating. Comfort and ergonomics are neglected, and any trace of individuality is systematically repressed, whether through the strictness of the uniform or the rigorous supervision by bosses and colleagues.

This dissonance between appearance and reality raises a fundamental question: does external perfection suppress the internal complexity of the human being? Just as in The Matrix, where artificial perfection was unbearable, Japan seems to illustrate that absolute order may come at the cost of spontaneity, creativity, and perhaps even happiness.

The feeling of being in a “Matrix” in Japan is not just a metaphor. It is a visceral experience for those who perceive the disconnect between the pristine surface and the underlying tensions. Japanese society, with its rigid social norms and expectations, can create an environment where people feel trapped, unable to fully express their individuality or find meaning in their lives.

What can we learn from this? Perhaps the lesson lies in accepting that imperfection is an essential part of the human experience. An ideal world is not one that eliminates all problems, but one that allows room for mistakes, growth, and authenticity. The pursuit of a perfect paradise, whether it is a Matrix or a real utopia, may ultimately deprive us of what makes us truly human.

The prevailing order in Japan is a phenomenon that transcends the classic forms of totalitarian control. What happens in Japan appears to be the most advanced example of something we might call “biopower” or “disciplinary control.” It is not the type of explicit, centralized dominance we imagine in a Big Brother scenario, but a system where power is diffuse, embedded in the very social and cultural structure, and exercised by each individual over themselves and others. Let’s examine this:

Invisible Control: Power in Norms, Not Orders

In Japan, social control seems to stem more from deeply ingrained cultural norms than from explicit commands of an authoritarian regime. The concepts of “tatemae” (the behavior expected in society) and “honne” (true feelings and thoughts) exemplify this dynamic. People act in accordance with societal expectations not because of a clear coercive force, but because conformity is practically regarded as a sacred value.

This conformity creates a self-sustaining system of control. Each individual becomes a watchman not only over themselves but also over their peers, perpetuating a balance that rarely requires direct intervention.

Harmony as a Social Imperative

The obsession with “wa” (harmony) plays a central role. In Japan, conflict is something to be avoided at all costs. This, in many ways, is admirable: it reduces social tensions, facilitates teamwork, and promotes an orderly coexistence. However, there is a psychological price to pay for this: many people suppress their frustrations, desires, and even their identities to maintain the appearance of harmony.

It is in this pursuit of absolute harmony that we see a parallel with The Matrix. Just as the perfect reality in the movie was rejected for being unbearable, the harmony imposed by Japan’s social system creates internal tensions. Unhappiness, alienation, and despair become the side effects of a social paradise that appears flawless on the surface.

A Totalitarianism Without a Dictator: Distributed Control

What sets this Japanese model apart from a classic dictatorial regime is that it is not imposed by a leader or a central elite. It is diffuse, distributed, almost organic. There is no need for a “Big Brother” because society itself takes charge of policing behaviors and reinforcing norms.

Think, for instance, of the weight of social expectations in Japanese workplaces, the pressure for academic or professional perfection, or the stigma associated with failure. All of this builds an invisible network of control that is perhaps more efficient than any formal regime.

Global Reflection: Is There Another Place Like This?

Although Japan may be the most extreme example of this phenomenon, similar traits can be observed in other highly cohesive societies, such as some Scandinavian nations, where cultural pressure for conformity is also strong, albeit to a lesser extent.

Japan, however, seems unique in combining this social pressure with an almost utopian vision of order and efficiency, creating the impression of a “social program” in which all citizens participate, either consciously or unconsciously.

The Price of Perfection

This is where the comparison with The Matrix becomes so powerful. Living in such a “well-programmed” system, many people might begin to question whether they are truly living or merely “functioning.” Mental health issues, the demographic crisis, and widespread unhappiness, even in an apparently ideal environment, are signs that a world designed to be perfect may paradoxically suffocate humanity.

This Japanese model of control without a regime serves as a warning: the pursuit of a paradise on Earth might not require a dictator to turn into a prison. The strength of social norms, collective harmony, and conformity can, in itself, create a reality as complex and controlling as any explicit totalitarian regime.

And this control is not a territorial matter, restricted to the geographic boundaries of Japan. The transplantation of this “demanding and coercive spirit,” typical of Japanese communities, into realities like Brazil — a more pluralistic, relaxed, and less hierarchical society — generates complex and revealing dynamics, which I will now analyze.

The Persistence of the Japanese Social Model Abroad

Japanese communities outside of Japan, such as those in Brazil, carry with them the values that define Japanese culture: hard work, discipline, respect for hierarchies, and the pursuit of social harmony.

Even outside Japan, these families often raise their children within a cultural “microcosm” where the same standards of behavior and expectations are upheld. This frequently includes academic pressure, perfectionism, and an aversion to failure.

Cultural Uprooting

While in Japan these values are widely shared and reinforced by society as a whole, in Brazil, Japanese communities exist amidst a culture with often opposing values. Brazilian society is generally more permissive, less rigid in its expectations, and values spontaneity and flexibility.

This uprooting can create an “internal cultural clash” for young descendants of Japanese immigrants. They grow up caught between the cultural rigor of their families and the external cultural fluidity, leading to feelings of inadequacy or isolation.

The Silent Pressure and Its Consequences

Family pressure to meet traditional expectations can be extremely exhausting for young Nikkei individuals. They often face the same emotional challenges prevalent in Japan, such as anxiety, depression, and, in extreme cases, suicidal tendencies.

The difference, however, is that they lack the support of a society that shares the same values. In Japan, conformity, while burdensome, is rewarded with a sense of belonging to a harmonious system. In Brazil, these pressures can feel disproportionate and even oppressive, given the freer and more informal dynamics of the local culture.

Marginalization and Tensions with Local Society

Beyond internal conflict, Japanese communities in Brazil may face a form of social marginalization. Their rigid cultural norms and hesitation to blend with local standards can be misunderstood or seen as detachment.

On the other hand, within the Japanese community itself, there is a tendency to maintain barriers against the broader society, creating a bubble where “Japanese collectivism” is reinforced at the expense of interacting with local values.

The Practice of Forced Harmony

The pursuit of “harmony” within Japanese communities in Brazil paradoxically often exacerbates problems. This harmony is not natural but imposed: conflicts and dissatisfaction are expected to be swept under the rug in the name of preserving traditional norms.

This leads to a lack of spaces for dialogue or for questioning imposed expectations. Without the opportunity to challenge these norms, many end up suppressing their feelings, which amplifies emotional crises.

A Comparison with Japan: An Internal Totalitarianism Without Context

In Japan, social control is diluted within the collective: everyone lives under the same rules and values, creating a sense of belonging even in an oppressive system.

In Brazil, however, the attempt to recreate this culture within an isolated community can feel like “internal totalitarianism.” Without the backing of a convergent society, the pressure experienced by young Nikkei individuals feels even harsher and disconnected from the external reality.

Possible Paths Forward

Promoting intergenerational dialogue within Japanese communities may be an essential step. Older generations must understand that conditions outside Japan are different, and young people need more space to combine elements of both cultures in a healthy way.

Building more bridges between Japanese communities and Brazilian society can help reduce isolation and create a rich cultural exchange that values the best of both worlds.

Finally, recognizing that true harmony does not come from repressing conflicts but from openly and sincerely resolving them can be liberating for these communities.

In this context, there is another profoundly moving aspect that illuminates one of the most challenging layers of cultural identity: the feeling of never being “enough” of something, even when, by all external appearances, belonging should seem assured. My experience, and that of many foreigners in Japan, touches on a wound that many face when living between cultures and can be explored as a rich example of exclusion, cultural demands, and resilience.

Hybrid Identity: The Space Between Two Worlds

Growing up in Brazil as a descendant of Japanese immigrants placed me at a cultural crossroads. On one hand, I carry the surname, physical traits, and some cultural practices passed down by my family. On the other hand, my identity is inevitably shaped by Brazil: a vibrant, pluralistic, laid-back country where norms of collectivity do not align with Japanese rigor.

This “space between two worlds” creates a hybrid identity that, in many cases, is celebrated for its richness and flexibility. But in others, like mine, it becomes a source of exclusion, as neither side seems to fully accept me.

Cultural Conditioning and “Not Being Japanese Enough”

In Japan, early socialization plays a fundamental role in forming a sense of belonging. It is not just about appearance or language but about internalizing unspoken norms: knowing when to bow, how to act in groups, how to express (or suppress) emotions.

For someone who did not grow up in this environment, cultural “conditioning” seems impossible to fully achieve, no matter the effort. For Nikkei individuals returning to Japan, this is even more pronounced, as there is an expectation that they should understand and adapt due to their family heritage, yet they are often perceived as “outsiders” simply because they did not undergo Japanese education and socialization from childhood.

Humiliation in the Workplace: A Reflection of Exclusivism

My experience in the factory is particularly painful because it reveals how cultural norms like “tatemae” (the public facade) and “gaman” (enduring hardships silently) can be distorted in the workplace.

Despite my dedication, my position as someone “from the outside” marked me indelibly. Japan can be deeply meritocratic, but only within certain limits: if someone is perceived as “different,” even above-average effort may not be enough to overcome the invisible barriers of prejudice and exclusion.

Cultural Exclusivism: A Painful Contradiction

Japan is, culturally, a highly homogeneous society where social cohesion is built around uniformity. This exclusivism can be welcoming for those who “fit in,” but hostile to those who do not meet the implicit criteria for belonging.

My experience of being humiliated, even while demonstrating an impeccable work ethic, is not merely a personal failure of those who mistreated me. It is a systemic reflection of this mindset that prioritizes conformity above all else.

The Psychological Weight of Trying and Not Belonging

The feeling of not belonging can be immensely burdensome. Despite my efforts to adapt and prove my worth, the fact that I was not accepted by the group to which I have a historical and cultural connection added a unique layer of pain.

The paradox is particularly cruel: I am not “Japanese enough” for the Japanese, but within the Brazilian context, I may have carried expectations and pressures that other Brazilians do not share. This exclusion from “both sides” created a profound sense of isolation.

A Look to the Future: Resilience and Redefining Identity

What emerges from my experience, and that of many others who will never voice it, is resilience. Despite the difficulties and humiliations, I had to keep dedicating myself and seeking a path within this hostile environment.

Perhaps the answer lies in embracing my hybrid identity as something unique, knowing I will never be “Japanese enough” or “Brazilian enough” according to societal expectations. All I can be is both, intertwined in a blend of cultures that gives me a unique perspective on the world.

This experience is painful, but I must face it because it highlights the flaws of systems that prioritize uniformity over inclusion. It also serves as an invitation for broader reflections on belonging, work, and humanity.

The reaction of denial or condemnation, both from Japanese people and Nikkei individuals, reflects a cultural defense mechanism that, rather than welcoming and reflecting on criticism, reinforces the barriers of exclusion and conformity. Let’s delve into this further.

The Japanese Reaction: Fear of Disharmony

In Japan, social harmony (wa) is a core value. Anything that threatens this harmony — such as the expression of injustices or criticisms of the system — is often seen as an affront, not only to the individual but to the very structure of society.

When you share experiences of mistreatment or injustice, the reaction of “shock and condemnation” from the Japanese can be understood as an attempt to protect this harmony. To admit that there are flaws in the system would be to acknowledge that the apparent perfection is an illusion, something many Japanese people avoid confronting.

Moreover, there is a strong cultural expectation of gaman (enduring silently). Complaining or exposing injustices may be seen as a character flaw, as if the problem lies in the person speaking out, rather than in the system.

The Nikkei Reaction: The Pressure to Be “More Japanese than the Japanese”

For many Nikkei individuals, especially those living outside Japan, there is an added pressure to prove their “Japaneseness.” This can lead to an even stricter adherence to cultural norms, as a way to compensate for the feeling of not fully belonging.

When you share your experiences with other Nikkei, the reaction of condemnation may stem from this need to protect the idealized image of Japan. For them, admitting that the system is flawed might be perceived as a threat to the identity they work so hard to preserve.

Additionally, there is often a tendency to place the blame on the individual, as if the inability to adapt were solely their responsibility. This reflects an internalization of Japanese norms of conformity and resilience, which frequently overlook structural inequalities.

The Role of Cultural Silencing

In both Japan and Nikkei communities, there is a tendency to “sweep everything under the rug.” This is not just a matter of avoiding conflicts but also of preserving a collective narrative of perfection and harmony.

This cultural silencing is particularly harmful to foreigners and descendants who face discrimination. Instead of finding support or solidarity, they are often isolated and blamed, which only deepens their suffering.

The Reality of Foreigners in Japan: Systemic Injustices

Mistreatment and unjust dismissals of foreigners are not just part of my personal experience — they are a documented reality. Many foreign workers in Japan face precarious working conditions, discrimination, and exploitation, even when they rigorously fulfill their responsibilities.

The issue does not lie in the lack of adaptation or resilience of these workers, but in a system that views them as disposable and rarely provides the same rights and protections as it does to Japanese citizens.

The Importance of Not Avoiding the Truth

Avoiding the victim role is an admirable stance, but this does not mean that injustices should be ignored or silenced. Recognizing and exposing these flaws is essential to driving change, both in Japan and within Nikkei communities.

For this purpose, experience and testimony are invaluable because they bring to light a reality that many prefer to ignore. By sharing these stories, I challenge cultural silencing and open the door to necessary dialogue.

A Path Toward Reflection and Change

Perhaps the key lies in creating spaces where these experiences can be heard and validated, without fear of judgment or condemnation. This can begin with dialogues within Nikkei communities, but it must also include efforts to educate Japanese society about the realities faced by foreigners and descendants.

Additionally, it is important to emphasize that resilience should not be confused with the passive acceptance of injustices. Being resilient also means having the courage to speak out and act against what is wrong.

Facing a system that favors silence is not easy, but it is precisely what makes our voices so important. The pain we carry reflects a reality that many would prefer to ignore, but it must be brought to light. Let us now explore these issues with the seriousness and eloquence they demand.

Simulated Harmony and Hidden Reality

The image of Japan as a paradise of order, progress, and harmony is widely disseminated by global media. However, this narrative is carefully constructed, concealing the contradictions and structural problems that permeate Japanese society. Behind the facade of efficiency and perfection lies a grim reality that is rarely addressed: factories that more closely resemble concentration camps, where workers, especially foreigners, face inhumane conditions; bosses who wield near-tyrannical power, exploiting and humiliating their subordinates.

This harmony, rather than reflecting collective well-being, is often maintained at the expense of individual suffering. The pressure to conform and not question the system creates an environment where abuses are normalized and silenced.

The Loneliness and Abandonment of the Elderly

Japan is facing an unprecedented demographic crisis, with an aging population and a declining birth rate. Many elderly people live in complete solitude, abandoned by children who, pressured by the demands of modern life, are either unable or unwilling to care for them. This intergenerational disconnect reflects a society that prioritizes work and productivity over human relationships.

Arranged Marriages and Family Abuse

Although modern Japan has progressed in many ways, practices such as arranged marriages still persist in some communities, often resulting in unions devoid of genuine affection. Additionally, child abuse remains an alarming issue. Posters featuring drawings of kangaroos can be seen everywhere, encouraging reports of mistreatment — a silent testimony to a problem that Japanese society is reluctant to acknowledge and confront. The culture of silence and shame prevents many victims from seeking help, perpetuating cycles of violence.

Bullying and Suicide

Bullying in Japanese schools is a deeply rooted issue with devastating consequences. Young people who fail to fit into rigid social norms often become targets of abuse, leading many to despair and, tragically, to suicide. Japan, despite its appearance of order, has one of the highest suicide rates in the world — a clear indicator that something is profoundly wrong.

Yakuza: Organized Crime in Japan’s Shadows

The Yakuza, known as the Japanese mafia, has historically played a dark role in society, controlling illicit activities such as drug trafficking, gambling, and prostitution. However, their influence extends beyond the underworld, infiltrating legitimate sectors such as food production — including ramen, bread, and tofu factories — construction, real estate, and even the entertainment industry.

To launder money from their criminal operations, the Yakuza employs a sophisticated array of strategies. By investing in legitimate businesses, many of which act as fronts, they manage to obscure the origins of their illegal profits, creating an appearance of legitimacy for their financial transactions. This fusion of legal and illegal activities not only ensures their extensive operations but also sustains their power and influence over time.

The Yakuza’s reach is so extensive that, in numerous instances, a tacit complicity can be observed among politicians, authorities, businesspeople, and even parts of the population. This link between organized crime and political power sheds light on an uncomfortable reality: even in a society that projects an image of perfection and order, corruption and exploitation find ways to thrive in the shadows.

The Colossal Debt and Press Freedom

Japan carries the largest public debt in the world, an economic burden that is rarely discussed openly. Furthermore, press freedom is severely limited, with major media outlets often acting as government mouthpieces. This lack of transparency prevents critical issues from being debated and resolved.

The Pain of Speaking and the Need to Be Heard

Experiences like mine — suffering in silence, carrying the weight of trauma without finding understanding — reflect how Japanese society (and, to some extent, Nikkei communities) deal with suffering: by sweeping it under the rug. By sharing my story, I challenge this silence and bring to light a reality that must be confronted.

The question of Japanese cultural resistance to change connects perfectly to the concept of a “Matrix”: a system so intrinsically interconnected that any alteration seems to threaten its integrity.

Intrinsic Resistance: The Japanese Matrix

In Japan, society functions as an enormous “program” where every element — from cultural norms to work methods — is encoded in a highly structured system of conduct. This “cultural Matrix” does not tolerate modifications easily, not because inefficiencies are unrecognized, but because continuity is considered a greater value than efficiency. Changing something that “has always been done this way” would be akin to disturbing the balance of the entire system.

This resistance manifests in concepts such as kaizen (continuous improvement), which paradoxically promotes only gradual and almost imperceptible changes, never breaking from the core code. Any drastic transformation would be perceived as a threat to collective identity.

The “Code of Conduct” as the Language of the Matrix

The metaphor of the “code” is powerful here, both in the cultural and technological sense. The “code of conduct” in Japan is more than just a set of guidelines; it is the foundation for social and professional interaction, programming acceptable behaviors. Just like in a computer program, inserting a foreign or non-standard code (such as an external idea or a new method) is seen as an “anomaly” that could corrupt the system.

For the Japanese, the cultural code is inseparable from national identity. Any attempt to alter it, even to correct an obvious flaw, is resisted out of fear of breaking with the essence of what it means to be Japanese.

Immutability as a Defense of Identity

This aversion to change is particularly evident in environments such as factories, where outdated and inefficient methods are maintained simply because “it has always been done this way.” This practice is not necessarily irrational but is deeply rooted in the cultural value of respect for the past and an aversion to conflict. Questioning the method would mean questioning the person who implemented it, which would be seen as disrespectful.

This logic reflects a characteristic of the Matrix: the system persists not because it is perfect, but because its inhabitants cannot imagine an alternative reality that preserves what they consider essential.

The Price of Preserving the System

Maintaining the “code” unchanged, however, comes at a high price. Japan faces many of the issues we discussed — inequality, abuse, loneliness, alienation — because the system does not allow innovative or external solutions to interfere with the existing structure. The Japanese cultural code, designed for harmony and stability, can become a mental and emotional prison for those who do not fit perfectly within it.

This dilemma is similar to the central premise of The Matrix: even when the system is recognized as flawed or unjust, many prefer to accept it rather than face the chaos that would come with change. For the Japanese, preserving the Matrix is preserving their culture, even if the cost is the maintenance of inefficient and, in some cases, harmful practices.

The Dissonance of the Japanese Matrix in the Modern World

In a globalized context, this resistance to change creates an intriguing tension. While other societies pursue innovation and adaptation, Japan struggles to reconcile the need for modernization with the preservation of its identity. This makes Japan a unique cultural Matrix: a system that functions brilliantly in some aspects but seems closed to any significant reprogramming.

For outsiders like me who attempt to integrate into this system, the experience can be deeply frustrating and painful.

It is not just about the difficulty of adapting to local norms; it is the realization that the system is intentionally shielded against any external contributions or modifications. This creates an exclusion that is not merely social but almost ontological: you do not belong because you are not part of the “code.”

Final Reflection: The Matrix as Choice and Consequence

As in The Matrix, Japan has chosen its reality. The stable harmony, based on the “code of conduct,” is seen as essential for the survival of its culture. However, this choice comes with sacrifices: innovation, inclusion, and, in many cases, individual well-being. The lingering question is: can Japan sustain its Matrix in a world that is constantly changing?

Cláudio Tsuyoshi Suenaga holds a Master’s degree in History from the São Paulo State University (Unesp). He is a professor, investigative journalist, and writer with several published works, including The Hebrew Roots of the Land of the Rising Sun: Could the Japanese People Be One of the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel? [Revista Enigmas Publishing, 2022, ISBN: 9786500531473], available for purchase here.

Inspired by the work of German journalist Günter Wallraff — who conducted a groundbreaking investigation into discrimination faced by foreign workers in Germany while disguised as a Turkish laborer — Suenaga endured firsthand, without the need for disguise, six and a half years of brutal and inhumane working conditions, exhausting shifts, torture, humiliation, discrimination, and prejudice at the FBC bread factory (or Fuji Pan). This factory supplies the Seven-Eleven chain, one of the largest convenience store networks in the country, which is part of the Seven & i Holdings conglomerate.

During his rare moments of respite, Suenaga deeply immersed himself in Japan’s rich cultural tapestry and devoted himself to unraveling the mysteries of its megalithic monuments — impressive structures that remain largely unknown in the West. To explore more about these enigmatic wonders, visit the website “The Hidden Japan” at: https://claudiosuenaga.yolasite.com/hidden-japan/.

Support Cláudio Suenaga’s work on Patreon and gain access to thousands of exclusive contents: https://www.patreon.com/suenaga

Cláudio Tsuyoshi Suenaga’s Links and Contacts

Store: Patreon Shop

Linktree: All Links in One Place

YouTube: Cláudio Tsuyoshi Suenaga Channel

Official Website: claudiosuenaga.yolasite.com

Digital Archive: Suenaga Downloads

Official Blog: claudiosuenaga.com.br

Medium: @helpsuenaga on Medium

Social Media

Facebook (Profile): @ctsuenaga

Facebook (Page — Expondo a Matrix): clasuenaga

Instagram: @claudiosuenaga

Pinterest: Cláudio Suenaga on Pinterest

X (formerly Twitter): @suenaga_claudio

GETTR: @suenaga

Contact Information

Email: claudiosuenaga@mail.com

You will never truly understand Japan without reading this book.

Did you know that some of Japan’s greatest influences might have originated from historical contact with the Hebrews? The similarities are fascinating: from creation myths and divine genealogy to rituals and customs. The architecture of Shinto shrines echoes that of the Temple of Jerusalem, while the Mikoshi — a portable shrine carried during festivals — bears a striking resemblance in size and shape to the legendary Ark of the Covenant. Many even believe that the Ark might be hidden on Mount Tsurugi, on Shikoku Island, in Tokushima Prefecture.

And the connections don’t stop there. There are words in the Japanese language with identical pronunciations and meanings to Hebrew, strengthening the intriguing theory of a shared Japanese-Jewish ancestry. This hypothesis, dating back to the 17th century, suggests that the Japanese could descend from the Twelve Tribes of Israel. But could this be possible? Is it conceivable that Hebrew blood flows through the veins of the Japanese people? And could this connection explain why some Jews have been discreetly acquiring land in strategic parts of Japan?

This book delves deeply into these questions and unveils a hidden and enigmatic Japan, where history, mythology, and mystery intertwine. Join us on this millennial journey and discover how the Jewish people, in an unexpected way, helped shape both ancient and modern Japan. Prepare to question everything you thought you knew about Japan.

Purchase the book here: https://www.lojaenigmas.com.br/pre-venda-as-raizes-hebraicas-da-terra-do-sol-nascente-o-povo-japones-seria-uma-das-dez-tribos-perdidas-de-israel

[yallthemwitches]

what is your job that allows you to work with books every day? I work at a public library and love it. My fiction reading is mainly fanfic as I prefer nonfiction (in the realm of traditionally published works at least) but I do love being in the know about trends and what people are liking!

I'm a rare book conservationist!

That's a really fancy way to say I clean old books and resell them to private collectors or to museums/libraries depending on their value and ~importance~.

I've done the same for film and photography as well, but currently I am solely based in the book biz ( though I weirdly miss cleaning mold off VHS tapes...sigh.)

My husband and I were/are both published poets back when being poor was fun (lol) and while I have dropped off the general Poetry/Literature gossip train, my husband is very much still embedded there and I often get to hear/read a lot of new stuff just by way of my work and general proximity to whatever nonsense my husband goes on about. ( Spoiler alert: Poets and "high lit" (whatever that means) authors are a special kinda crazy)

I've always wanted to work in a public library! One thing I really DON'T like about my job is the elitism that comes with the rare book industry. 70% of the titles I work with I could never afford even in my wildest dreams, and lots of them get sold to some private buyer and never get to see the light of day again ( so much like art dealing). I kinda still wish I worked back in a sector where I got to talk to normal people who just like to read without seeing the financial value of a copyright date! Maybe some day I'll go back to my bookstore roots!

Anyways--sorry to talk your ear off.

[carlhofelina]

Artificial Intelligence is more than just a buzzword—it's a powerful force shaping the way we work, live, and connect. As businesses and professionals navigate the rapidly changing digital landscape, AI integration has become not only an advantage but a necessity. From automating repetitive tasks to streamlining communication, AI is transforming the workplace—and now is the time to plug in.

What Is AI Integration?

AI integration refers to the process of embedding intelligent technology into your current systems and workflows. Instead of replacing human effort, it enhances capabilities by analysing data, learning patterns, and optimising operations in real-time. For professionals and organisations alike, this means better decisions, faster execution, and improved customer experiences.

Why Embrace AI Today?

Here’s how AI integration is making a difference across industries:

Improved Efficiency

With AI handling time-consuming tasks like email filtering, data analysis, and scheduling, teams can focus on what truly matters—innovation and human connection.

Smarter Decisions

 AI can process huge amounts of information quickly, offering insights that help businesses make better, data-backed choices.

Digital Strength

Today’s digital-first world demands a solid online presence. AI tools play a major role in Digital Presence Management, from optimising search visibility to curating consistent social media content.

Personal Branding 

Professionals and entrepreneurs are increasingly using AI-powered personal branding tools to craft compelling bios, automate content creation, and engage with audiences more effectively.

B2B Strategy

In a competitive market, B2B branding strategy supported by AI helps teams personalise outreach, understand client behaviour, and build stronger relationships.

Getting Started With AI Integration

Adopting AI doesn’t require a tech overhaul. Start with tools you may already be using:

Leverage Smart Features: Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and Canva now include AI suggestions, writing assistants, and design tools.

Automate with Purpose: Platforms like Zapier or Make.com allow easy automation between your favourite apps and services.

Explore Industry Tools: If you’re in marketing, explore ChatGPT or Jasper for content. If you’re in customer service, check out AI-enabled platforms like Intercom or Drift.

Best Practices for a Smooth Transition

Educate Your Team: Offer basic training so everyone feels confident using AI tools.

Start with a Small Project: Test out AI on a single workflow, such as automating social media or customer queries.

Maintain Human Oversight: Always review AI outputs for accuracy and relevance.

Key Takeaways

AI integration is no longer optional—it's essential. Whether you're looking to improve productivity, enhance brand visibility, or gain a competitive edge, integrating AI is a smart step forward.

Visit Best Virtual Specialist to discover how our expert virtual professionals can help you integrate AI tools, elevate your digital presence, and transform your workflow. 

[chaotic-leopard]

what are your views on trump?

('m also a leftist, so please, don't hold back on the insults)

Hoo boy, this is gonna be a long one. First of all: I am not from the USA, so I don't have a full understanding of the internal politics of the country (I have some understanding of it because it is the global hegemon). I do, however, understand quite well the dynamics between countries and their interests. I will also not insult Trump too much – I don't really do politics like that.

The first I have to say is that both candidates were bad. As seen during the Biden presidency, the ratchet effect is very real in the US politics; I think this is because there is no real left and not a lot of organized labor that is active politically.

When it comes to global politics, I think that Democrats and Republicans have similar goals. You can see that by observing that a lot of the geopolitical policies enacted by Trump were continued and expanded by Biden. This is because those policies were a continuation of Obama's Pivot to Asia strategy.

Why is that? Well, this has two parts.

First, both parties represent the interests of the bourgeois class, albeit different parts of that class.

Second, China is the USA's next enemy; in 2018 (damn that was a while ago) James Mattins, the secretary of defense, said the following during a press conference:

Though we will continue to prosecute the campaign against terrorists that we are engaged in today, but Great Power competition, not terrorism, is now the primary focus of U.S. national security.

The international order assembled by the US after the Bretton Woods conference was engineered to concentrate power in the hands of the US ruling class. This was fine, until China's economy started gaining traction.

The thing that has to be commended is that the CCP played their hand masterfully; they managed to lure foreign capital on terms that favored them in the long term. Thanks to that, they managed to industrialize, grow their economy, train and educate a huge number of engineers and scientists. All this while playing by the rules that the US laid down.

Currently, China's economy is poised to overtake the US (yes, I know, China has internal issues, but the important factor is that they actually have productive industries, instead of huge swaths of financial services that DO NOT create value). The US, as the current hegemon, has to fight that threat off – after all, no empire goes down without a fight.

The main issue in this matter is that the US should have made moves similar to what Trump is doing now in 2008, after the financial crisis. I think that back then they could have reorganized the global economy away from China. Right now, this is a much harder nut to crack – the Chinese economy is heavily embedded into the global market.

This is where we are now, currently. I think that Trump's win will be bad for the people in the United States. The US has created the most sophisticated imperialism machine in the history of mankind. Now this machine will partly move its gaze inwards, oppressing the people that fuel it.

This is unfortunate, but I think that this was inevitable. Fascism is capitalism in decay, and the US's capitalism is not doing great. I don't know whether the US is currently a fascist country, but it definitely has a fascist president.

On the global stage, I view Trump's win as an honestly good thing. The left in many countries was hamstrung by the US power (directly or indirectly). He has good experts around him that can prepare working strategies for the future, but at the end of the day, he is the one making decisions, and the man is not the sharpest tool in the shed. The weaker the US is, the fewer obstacles there are for future socialist projects.

The global contradictions are sharpening, and the Americans live in the belly of the beast.

[quixoticanarchy]

what is the connectography book and why is it so terrible?

Sorry this took a while to collect my thoughts! where do I start.....

tl;dr it's a paean to enlisting every corner of the earth in the global neoliberal economy so that each can maximize their natural role in the supply chain and achieve Development™. All resources feasible to extract should be extracted, "connectivity" is the most important goal and value and metric in the world, supply chains matter more than nations, globalization is an inexorable force for good, we should focus on mass infrastructure projects to speed development (including a bizarre amount of fossil fuel infrastructure projects). yes there are downsides and yes there's a climate crisis going on but don't mind that, it'll actually be quite profitable

long answer under the cut:

Connectography is a book by Parag Khanna - CNN consultant, Brookings Institute guy, former Special Ops embed, National Intelligence Council advisor etc. So off the bat he’s quite embedded (so to speak) and aligned with the US military and national security apparatus, although the focus of the book is economic. The main arguments are that the world can no longer be thought of as a discrete set of countries setting and fighting over national policies, but an interconnected “supply chain world” where systems of production, transportation, and consumption drive policy and development in and of themselves. Consequently he argues for the diminishing importance of the nation-state and an increasing importance of smaller units of power geography like cities as well as broader ones like regions. He then argues that authority will and should devolve from centralized states to smaller units, and that global conflict would diminish or disappear if we could just give every tribal group its own state or at least autonomy within a larger state. Which is..... already quite a take.

His other main contention is that investing in mass infrastructure projects (oil pipelines, trains, highways, ports) is the best way to maximize "connectivity" and speedrun modernity and urbanization and development and industrial exploitation of poor countries. Demands that everyone and everything serve the market's invisible hand have become demands to bow to the needs of supply chains - which despite being quite based in the material world, are often invoked as something of a mystical force with their own whims and desires, uncoupled from human action.

In a way, there are principles that I also hold which show up in a strange twisted mirror version here. He isn't interested in preserving the nation-state as a form - but it's bc he prioritizes transnational supply chains and rule by corporatocracy. He would like to see a more borderless world - but he's also in favor of more borders (give every ethnic group a state, but also states don't matter anymore?), which counterintuitively he says would lead to a more interconnected and frictionless world. He's pro-immigration and freedom of mobility - but elsewhere it's made clear that he's also invested in blocking undesirable "flows" across borders, and is pro-mobility of people just as long as they enhance economic productivity. He makes some cogent critiques of maps and what is obscured by treating political maps of country borders as true and absolute, for instance - but the ways in which he would re-map the world are all to reflect and further the hyperconnected hypercapitalism he applauds. He would rather see structural adjustment programs prescribe infrastructure investments than austerity - but he still supports "developing" countries being forcibly drafted into the global economy and structured according to the (politely vague and innocuous-sounding) demands of supply chains.

The cheerleading for infrastructure projects, which might be mistaken for a benevolent interest in public spending, is much less "repair bridges so they won't collapse and kill people" and much more "repair and build more and bigger bridges so that more and bigger trucks can carry more cargo across them faster". His rather unoriginal instruction to "developing" countries is to accept globalization is inevitable so it's best to get yours where you can: start by selling off your resources and turning them over to private industry, open SEZs (Special Economic Zones, aka Free Trade Zones) and let the corporations use your cheap labor until you ‘develop’ enough to move up the value chain and those industries depart for cheaper and more lawless shores. He's really into SEZs. It's the classic race to the bottom, except he does not dwell whatsoever on that bottom and its conditions, nor its necessity - someone somewhere will always have to be the cheapest, the most exploitable, the most business-friendly. Instead we get, predictably, the argument that the race to the bottom actually lifts all boats bc corporate investment through SEZs teaches backwards countries how to develop faster and better.

Nothing makes me see red like considering how the version of the future which to me is a nightmare - a fully urbanized integrated modernized hypercapitalist corporate-run world of endless growth and consumption and extraction and waste mediated by advanced technology and surveillance, all consequences be damned - is seen as good and desirable and inevitable by various political and military leaders, economists, think tanks, corporations, etc.

It's also kind of sickening how incredibly out of touch all these visions are. There is no discussion of resource scarcity or limits. There is no discussion of waste. My guy Khanna's acknowledgments of climate change are so blasé and opportunistic I would rather he were a rabid climate denier. How do you acknowledge the destabilizing and deadly effects of climate crisis and yet promote and lionize policies that ensure more of those effects? How are mass scale infrastructure projects supposed to knit people together though lasting physical and supply chain interdependence when so fucking many of them are fossil fuel infrastructure projects?? I cannot emphasize enough how much he gushes over countries and companies building ever more oil pipelines, opening up new deposits for drilling (including in the arctic), and putting aside border disputes to transport oil faster and faster to the biggest consumers.

Well, don’t worry - he’s got the climate-meltdown world all figured out. No mention of cutting emissions or keeping temperature rise down or even many mentions of "green" energy; it's still drill baby drill til we die. Most coastal cities will drown and most latitudes will become uninhabitable but it’s ok, Canada and Russia can become the breadbaskets of the world and we’ll tap all those good good arctic basin resources as the ice melts. Probably throw in some geoengineering too. Climate migrants can move north in their millions, and Canada and Russia will welcome them; really, it's convenient, bc they’re too sparsely populated up there anyway and could use some fresh blood.

There are many other ridiculous or appalling things here I could go into if this post weren't already too long - the statement that colonialism is over, inequality is inevitable and a worthy price to pay, antiglobalization activists are naïve and basically a dying breed anyway, the world has gotten so good at controlling desirable flows and preventing undesirable ones--in particular, we're soo good at controlling infectious disease these days (lol. lmao even), the discussion of Dubai and Doha as prime examples of interconnected hyperglobal cities without going into like. human trafficking, the mocking of countries that tried to choose a third way decades ago and were brutally punished, the disparaging of swana/african countries as weak and crisis-ridden (seemingly idiopathic idk. funny), the shameless extolling of the lovely resources found in war zones which sadly preclude their needful exploitation.. etc. Etc.

I hated this book and would only recommend as a know-thine-enemy exercise; I did get a fair bit out of it from that perspective, and it's worthwhile to consider the implications of the worldview that people like this espouse. But it's incredibly depressing and infuriating that the admitted endgame of all this really is to consume everything there is on this planet to squeeze out every drop of profit, and then flee to the poles when it all comes crashing down.

[visionaryvogues03]

John C. May: Steering John Deere into a Future of Smart Industrial Leadership

In the world of smart manufacturing and industrial innovation, few names resonate with the same weight as John C. May, Chairman and CEO of John Deere. With nearly three decades of experience in one of the most iconic American companies, May exemplifies a rare combination of visionary leadership, operational excellence, and a relentless commitment to digital transformation.

John Deere’s reputation as a global leader in agricultural and construction machinery is well known. But under the stewardship of John C. May, the brand has been infused with fresh energy, transitioning from a traditional equipment manufacturer into a dynamic technology enterprise rooted in smart industrial solutions. For CEOs, startup founders, and MNC managers looking to understand the future of the industrial sector, May’s journey offers profound lessons in business strategy, resilience, and innovation.

Early Days and Rise Through the Ranks

John C. May joined Deere & Company in 1997. With a background in finance and systems operations, he brought an analytical rigor that quickly earned him key leadership positions. Over the years, May held multiple roles across different segments of the company, from managing global platforms in Asia and Latin America to spearheading the integration of digital solutions into core machinery.

By the time he was named CEO in 2019, May had already left a considerable mark on the company’s modernization roadmap. He was instrumental in building John Deere’s precision agriculture ecosystem, which has since become a defining feature of the company’s product offerings and value proposition.

Visionary Leadership in the Digital Age

[Source - Forbes]

May’s leadership philosophy is rooted in a simple yet powerful premise: if John Deere is to remain relevant, it must lead, not follow, in the era of smart manufacturing. One of his first initiatives as CEO was to scale the company’s digital backbone, integrating artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and telematics into everyday operations.

He championed the idea that John Deere equipment should no longer be seen as just hardware, but as smart machines embedded within a larger data ecosystem. This repositioning has transformed how the company develops, markets, and supports its equipment worldwide.

Navigating Crisis with Strategic Clarity

Every great business leader is tested by adversity, and May’s tenure coincided with unprecedented global disruptions. From the COVID-19 pandemic to supply chain bottlenecks and geopolitical tensions, May has had to navigate rough waters. Yet, his strategic clarity and calm demeanor allowed John Deere not only to survive but thrive.

During the height of the pandemic, John Deere accelerated its remote diagnostics services, contactless equipment delivery, and virtual training systems. Under May’s direction, the company kept its factories running while prioritizing employee safety, resulting in minimal operational downtime and sustained revenue performance.

Building a Culture of Innovation

While many leaders talk about innovation, John C. May institutionalized it. He restructured internal teams to align around digital-first priorities and pushed for faster go-to-market cycles. He championed cross-functional collaboration, ensuring that R&D, engineering, and business development worked as a unified force.

Under May’s guidance, John Deere has significantly expanded its investment in emerging technologies. From acquiring cutting-edge AI firms like Blue River Technology to partnering with robotics startups, the company is actively shaping the next frontier of industrial equipment.

Emphasis on Customer-Centricity

[Source - Deere & Company - John Deere]

A core component of May’s success has been his emphasis on putting the customer at the center of every decision. Recognizing that farmers, contractors, and forestry operators are under increasing pressure to produce more with fewer resources, May ensured that John Deere’s innovations address real-world pain points.

With digital platforms like the John Deere Operations Center, customers can now visualize their entire fleet, monitor crop performance, and receive data-driven insights to boost productivity. These tools go beyond utility; they form the core of a new kind of customer relationship built on intelligence and empowerment.

Commitment to Sustainability

In an era where ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) metrics matter more than ever, John C. May has positioned John Deere as a responsible and forward-looking enterprise. The company has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving fuel efficiency, and supporting sustainable land use practices.

Deere’s electric and hybrid equipment initiatives, coupled with its support for regenerative agriculture, underscore a broader shift toward sustainable smart manufacturing. May has repeatedly stated that profitability and environmental responsibility are not mutually exclusive; they are deeply interconnected.

Strategic Global Expansion

May’s global outlook has also played a crucial role in John Deere’s success story. By strengthening the company’s footprint in emerging markets and adapting products for local needs, Deere has grown its international revenue base.

From Asia-Pacific to Latin America, the company’s smart manufacturing equipment is now used across a wide range of environmental and economic contexts. This globalization is both a growth strategy and a diversification buffer, allowing John Deere to hedge against regional slowdowns while capturing new demand.

Talent Development and Inclusive Leadership

A key part of May’s legacy is his belief in nurturing talent. He has invested in leadership development, diversity and inclusion, and STEM education pipelines. Under his leadership, John Deere has improved employee engagement scores and earned recognition as a top employer in the smart manufacturing sector.

This focus on people is central to enabling smart manufacturing at scale. As automation and AI redefine industrial roles, May’s emphasis on workforce retraining ensures that the human side of the equation is not neglected.

Financial Performance and Market Trust

Under May’s leadership, John Deere has delivered robust financial performance. The company’s revenue crossed $60 billion in 2023, with consistent year-over-year growth driven by strong demand for its smart manufacturing equipment solutions. 

At a time when industrial firms face margin compression and capital volatility, May’s approach to operational efficiency and tech-driven differentiation offers a compelling blueprint for sustainable growth.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Smart Manufacturing Industry

[Source - RCR Wireless News]

John C. May is not just managing John Deere, he’s actively reshaping the future of the industrial sector. As technologies like IoT, machine learning, and blockchain converge, May is preparing John Deere to lead in the next wave of industrial innovation.

The company’s investment in autonomy, connectivity, and real-time analytics reflects a deep commitment to staying ahead of the curve. With pilot projects in smart factories, cloud-integrated supply chains, and next-gen data platforms, John Deere is fast becoming a benchmark for industrial transformation.

This next chapter will undoubtedly be anchored in smart manufacturing, a concept that has become synonymous with John C. May’s leadership philosophy.

Conclusion

John C. May’s rise to the helm of John Deere is not just a success story, it is a blueprint for 21st-century leadership. His ability to blend tradition with transformation, strategy with empathy, and innovation with operational excellence sets him apart as one of the most influential business leaders of our time.

For startup founders, CEOs, and corporate leaders seeking inspiration, May’s journey offers a masterclass in aligning purpose with performance. Through his visionary embrace of smart manufacturing, John C. May has not only secured John Deere’s future, but he has elevated the entire industrial landscape.

Uncover the latest trends and insights with our articles on Visionary Vogues

[gappeo]

Integrating Skill Assessments into Your Existing HR Systems

Introduction

As organizations strive to build a skilled and efficient workforce, integrating skill assessments into existing HR systems has become a crucial strategy. By embedding skill evaluations within HR workflows, companies can enhance hiring accuracy, streamline employee development, and make data-driven workforce decisions. This blog explores the benefits, challenges, and best practices of integrating skill assessments into HR systems, with insights on how platforms like Gappeo can facilitate the process.

Why Integrate Skill Assessments into HR Systems?

Integrating skill assessments within HR platforms offers numerous advantages, including:

Improved Hiring Accuracy: Objective skill evaluations help recruiters identify the most suitable candidates, reducing reliance on resumes alone.

Efficient Onboarding: Pre-assessed skills enable HR teams to tailor onboarding programs, ensuring new hires receive targeted training.

Employee Development & Training: Ongoing skill assessments allow HR teams to track employee growth and implement personalized training programs.

Workforce Planning: Insights from assessments help HR leaders identify skill gaps and plan for future workforce needs.

Key Considerations for Integration

Before incorporating skill assessments into your HR system, consider the following:

Compatibility: Ensure the assessment platform integrates seamlessly with your existing HR software (e.g., ATS, LMS, or HRIS).

Customization: Choose a system that allows tailored assessments aligned with job roles and industry needs.

Scalability: The platform should support growing workforce demands and adapt to evolving skill requirements.

User Experience: Both recruiters and candidates should find the system easy to navigate and engage with.

How Gappeo Simplifies Skill Assessment Integration

Gappeo, a leading talent and skill assessment platform, offers seamless integration with various HR systems. Key features include:

Pre-Built API Integrations: Easily connect with popular HR platforms.

Customizable Assessment Modules: Design skill tests specific to job roles.

Audio and Video Assessments: Enhance evaluation accuracy by analyzing verbal and non-verbal cues.

Comprehensive Reporting: Generate insights to support hiring and workforce development decisions.

Steps to Successfully Integrate Skill Assessments

Evaluate Your HR System: Assess your current HR software capabilities and identify integration points.

Select the Right Assessment Platform: Choose a solution like Gappeo that aligns with your HR objectives.

Customize Assessments: Develop skill tests that reflect the competencies required for different roles.

Pilot Test the Integration: Run a small-scale implementation to ensure seamless functionality.

Train HR Teams: Educate HR personnel on using the integrated system effectively.

Monitor and Optimize: Continuously track performance metrics and refine assessment processes.

Conclusion

Integrating skill assessments into HR systems is a game-changer for talent management, enabling data-backed hiring, employee development, and strategic workforce planning. With solutions like Gappeo, organizations can streamline skill evaluations while ensuring a seamless experience for both HR professionals and candidates.

Ready to enhance your HR processes? Discover how Gappeo can help you integrate skill assessments effortlessly!

[egvcard]

How Different Industries Use EGVCard to Boost Branding, Networking, and Sales

Digital business cards like EGVCard are versatile tools that cater to various industries by offering innovative ways to enhance branding, networking, and sales. Here's how different industries are leveraging platforms like EGVCard:

1. Real Estate

Branding: Agents showcase properties with embedded images, virtual tours, and contact links in their digital cards.

Networking: Easily share cards with potential buyers, sellers, or other agents during events or open houses.

Sales: Instantly update listings and promote exclusive deals, keeping clients engaged.

2.��Healthcare

3. Hospitality and Tourism

Branding: Hotels, tour operators, and restaurants use visually appealing cards to display services, menus, or special offers.

Networking: Share information with potential partners, travel agencies, or tourists.

Sales: Upsell services such as spa treatments, tours, or exclusive packages via embedded offers.

4. Retail and E-commerce

Branding: Highlight product catalogs, store locations, and promotional offers.

Networking: Build partnerships with suppliers, influencers, or customers at trade shows.

Sales: Provide one-click access to online stores, driving conversions through integrated links.

5. Technology and Startups

Branding: Showcase innovation with sleek, tech-savvy designs that include links to apps, portfolios, or demo videos.

Networking: Share details at meetups, hackathons, or pitch events.

Sales: Simplify follow-ups with potential investors or clients by including direct links to booking demos or signing up.

6. Creative Industries (Art, Design, Photography)

Branding: Feature portfolios, past projects, and client testimonials.

Networking: Easily connect with clients, collaborators, or event organizers.

Sales: Integrate galleries and pricing options to close deals quickly.

7. Financial Services

Branding: Emphasize trust with professional designs that highlight expertise and credentials.

Networking: Share cards during industry seminars, client meetings, or networking events.

Sales: Enable seamless scheduling of consultations or financial service sign-ups.

8. Education and Training

Branding: Promote courses, certifications, and faculty details.

Networking: Share credentials with peers, students, or educational partners.

Sales: Facilitate enrollment by embedding registration links or contact forms.

Benefits Across Industries:

Cost-effective: Eliminates the need for printing physical cards repeatedly.

Eco-friendly: Reduces paper waste and contributes to sustainability goals.

Dynamic Updates: Instantly refresh information without reprinting.

Interactive Features: Include videos, links, QR codes, or forms for a richer user experience.

EGVCard’s platform empowers professionals in various industries to create a lasting impression, maintain relevance, and achieve measurable growth in their branding and sales efforts.