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ladylofspades · 3 years

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This story takes place in the events of OPERATION: I.N.T.E.R.V.I.E.W.S.

A Codename: Kids Next Door story.

Those not familiar with the movie Codename: Kids Next Door: Operation ZERO and series episode Operation I.N.T.E.R.V.I.E.W.S, please be warned of spoilers ahead.

One day and twelve hundred hours.

That much time -- though short -- has passed since the fall of Father and the disappearance of the Delightful Children from Down the Lane. Just as such time has passed since Nigel Uno was informed of his place as the Earth's representative in the Galactic Kids Next Door.

Amidst the overall victory of the kid organization, crimes against children by tyrannous adults didn't seem to seize. Every day, kid operatives scatter from respective treehouses or home bases to the destination of their missions.

One such mission was that of Sector TW, in a public park.

Hiding in one of the trees were Numbuhs 32 and 34, both armed with their customized S.P.L.A.N.K.E.R.s and protective headgears. What felt like hours to the two operatives was, in fact, thirty minutes precisely; and yet, there had been no sign or any communication with the twin operatives and their tactics operative, making their waiting time feel more than a day.

It's been hours since we last heard from Numbuh 37, thought Numbuh 34 to herself, watching her teammate replacing old batteries for the talkie with the new. It isn't like her to just go off the radar like that.

"Numbuh 37! Do you read me!" Numbuh 32 called out, thumb pressing the button of his talkie, earning a static noise after releasing the button. The leader of Sector TW let out an impatient groan.

"No luck. Her comms might be off." Numbuh 34 sighed in frustration, removing her headgear just to wipe off the perspiration on her forehead before putting her headgear back.

Panting from both walkie-talkies sounded off, prompting the two operatives to pull their talkies out.

"This is Numbuh 35B to Sector Leader. Guys copy?"

"This is Sector Leader. Any updates?" Numbuh 32 replied, with Numbuh 34 sighing in relief.

"Yeahp! We found Numbuh 37 in an abandoned treehouse a few blocks down --"

"-- but we need backup." Numbuh 35A interrupted, before a pouting Numbuh 35B scooted beside him and both simultaneously added, "Medical backup."

A beat dropped. Numbuhs 32 and 34 looked at each other with frowns of concern, before the former held the talkie near his lips. "Alright, we'll request a dispatch immediately. Can you tell us the exact address, if any?"

As instructed, the twins indicated their location to Numbuh 32 and 34, with the latter jotting down the address. After a quick once over from the twins, the sector leader looked to Numbuh 34, who responded with a thumb-up.

"Copy that. Let's meet at the med bay. Great job, you two."

The talkie let out a static. == some time later ==

The twin operatives fidgeted their fingers while they waited, until they heard running footsteps heading towards them. Hands on their weapons, they simultaneously looked at the source and found disheveled Numbuhs 32 and 34.

"We came as fast as we can," Numbuh 34 panted, hand resting on the wall for support.

"Any updates?" Numbuh 32 asked, taking deep breaths after meters of running. He frowned in concern as the twins both shook their heads.

"She hasn't woken up yet --" Numbuh 35A replied.

"-- but we're told that results will be here soon. They told us to wait until she does." Numbuh 35B concluded. Both of their teammates nodded in understanding before they settled in the chairs next to the twins.

"I heard what happened to... them." Numbuh 32 started. "Were there any--?"

The twins sadly shook their heads, as they said their replies one after the other.

"It's a pretty deep hole --"

"-- so there's no way they all could've survived."

Numbuh 32 crossed his arms in deep thought, while Numbuh 34 had her face buried in her hands.

== somewhere the void ==

White.

White everywhere.

Nothing beyond the horizon, if there's any horizon at all.

Not even a speck in the distance.

Nothing but endless, blinding white.

That is, until Numbuh 37 bowed her head, her hands now becoming more opaque and clear. She slowly lifted her hands to her eyes, nose cheeks, lips... everything seemed to be alright, save for a bandage wrapped around her head.

One hesitant step forward, then the other, she continued to wander into the white void, searching for any opening, door or sign that can lead her away from the whiteness.

When her foot landed on the ground one more time, the scene began to shift before her.

Wh-What's going on?

The white earth below her disappeared, causing her to float in the air. And the scene before her made her eyes widen. Her heart beating rapidly against her ribs.

It was an amusement park in ruins. Then and there, she spotted them. Descending down water slide were her best friend Nigel Uno and, to her horror, the Delightful Children from Down the Lane. They were facing off in a life-or-death fray in that log cart, until Nigel backed away.

Tears started to form in the corners of her eyes.

No... No...

Helplessness filled within her, as she watched the whole thing unfold.

The Delightful Children are --- NOOOOOOOOOO

Her hand reached out desperately, but she felt as if something was pulling her back, preventing her from going forward.

She frantically struggled against the invisible bonds holding her, as she watched what became the cruel, irreversible fate of the Delightful Children from Down the Lane.

Nigel hung onto the signage for support, as he watched his enemies fall continuously, their screams echoing in the abyss below.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Numbuh 37 shrieked and wailed, her limbs struggled in many directions. Tears continuously gushed out from her eyes. Nose unceasingly ran. Her shoulders shook furiously. Her hands slowly lifted up to cover her face.

In her wasted, strangled voice, she cried, "GET ME OUT! THIS IS NOT REAL! THEY CAN'T BE GONE. THEY CAN'T BE!"

She buried her face in her hands -- and for the first time in her life, feeling not giving a care to what becomes of her.

They can't be gone.

I promised that I'd find a cure.

I promised that I'd help all of you get back to normal.

I promised.

I... promised...

The scene reverted back to the white void.

Body curled up on the floor, face buried in her hands, Numbuh 37 continuously wept until they were soft sobs.

"T?" Sounded a hesitant male voice.

It's one of their voices! ... but she doesn't want to hear it.

"Numbuh 37?" A stern-sounding and concerned female voice called out.

She can't let their voices echo in her mind now. Not when they are --

"Sis, how long are you gonna stay curled up like this?"

She felt a hand on her shoulder, causing her body to stiffen.

That touch...

She recognized it all too well. And the one who would give warm touches and hugs like that would be --

"D-David?"

Numbuh 37 slowly moved her hands away from her face until her the blinding light greeted her, causing her to flinch with a hiss. Her eyelids opened slowly until she was face-to-face with blurred figures slowly becoming more lucid. Tears continued to flow as her eyes panned and absorbed their appearances individually.

The matching dark berets bearing an inverted red triangle with the letter Z. The mission attire with a mix of military and samurai influences. And their wearers?

A short, blond boy with an air of firm leadership. With his recognizable carrot nunchaku, he's clearly proficient in the art of Karate.

A tall, golden blonde girl with a firm but kind aura about her. By how she held her umbrella, she has an air of a disciplined swordswoma -- swordsgirl.

A dark skinned boy that radiated a fun-loving soul. With a playful air to him combined with his boxing gloves, he's the type who can shift from fun-loving to dangerous when needed be.

A plump, brunette pig-tailed girl with a fun, big sister-like air. And, judging by her weapon of choice, with an experience in the culinary arts.

Then the one who touched her shoulder.

The very person who taught everything she needed to know.

The very individual who loved her dearly ever since she was born.

The very person who inspired her to become a Kids Next Door operative.

*plip plip*

That tall brunet boy sporting his favorite red turtleneck and military attire before he and his team disappeared. Resting beside him was his trusty eraser-tipped spear.

His emerald green eyes stared into Numbuh 37's, tears slowly forming at the corners. Right after he nodded slowly, in an instant, the young girl lunged at him with a tight hug-- a hug that the boy yearningly returned.

"I missed you," she cried into his turtleneck, before she looked at him with a couple of sniffs and a teary smile, "so much."

A pair of lips kissed her forehead before holding her once again, not letting her go. Patting her head lovingly, David replied, "As do I, sis." He gently tucked strands of hair from her face, smiling at her tenderly. "As do I."

"When can we get a turn?" The dark-skinned boy called out in a playful tone. The rest of the quintet, save for David, all looked at him with pouts. David held his sister tighter.

"Way t'ruin an emotional moment, Lenny," the tall brunet boy pouted. Lenny gave a hearty laugh.

"Sorry, man," Lenny chuckled, wiping a tear from his eye, "but you're not the only one who misses her, y'know."

David looked to everyone, who all nodded in agreement. With a defeated sigh, he releases Numbuh 37, who walked over to Lenny.

"Your bro's STILL real greedy about you," Lenny playfully pouted at the girl before giving her a tight hug. "A stingy dude till the very end."

Save for David, the blond boy and the two girls muffled their laughter, covering their mouths with their hands.

"Ohmigosh! Finally got to make you laugh, Bruce! FINALLY!" Lenny pointed at the blond boy, who cleared his throat after.

"What's that supposed to mean? You think I can't get a good laugh?"

"You've been too proper your whole life to laugh at all, dude."

"I can have a good laugh," Bruce retorted, facing away from him with a huff and crossed arms. "You just didn't get a chance to see it." This earned a laugh from Lenny.

"Give our leader a good ol' hug, will ya, T?" Lenny gently elbowed the girl, signaling her to go to him.

"I... have grown taller now?" She hesitantly said, fidgeting her finger.

*recorder scratched*

Clearing his throat, amidst the muffled laughter among his teammates, Bruce turned to Numbuh 37, unimpressed. "Yes, you clearly did," before he made a soft chuckle. "About time, Tania."

Numbuh 37 (nickname Tania) lunged at him with a hug, which he stiffened at first before reciprocating the hug with a couple of pats on her back.

"Nice to see you again, T," he whispered, earning himself some small giggles.

Tania looked at him with her cheerful smile -- the same smile he remembered all too well all those years ago. "Nice to see you again too, Bruce."

"OOOkay, my turn~" The pigtailed girl grabbed Tania away from Bruce, much to the latter's dismay. She inhaled then exhaled heavily, a sign that she was going to ask an important question. "How are the lollipops, T?"

"Really?" The blonde haired girl raised a brow, crossing her arms and tapping her foot in disbelief. "This is our chance to talk to her properly, and that's what you wanted to ask her, Constance?"

"As if you've something else just as important to ask her, Ashley," Constance said with her tongue stuck out, earning a 'Hmph!' from the blonde-haired girl. "So, how were they?"

"They're... tasteless," Tania deadpanned, but was surprised to hear laughter from Constance. "W-Wait, you're not mad?"

"Why should I be?" The pigtailed girl laughed, taking off her glasses to wipe her eyes before putting it back. "It's made of water and some preservatives to keep 'em intact. Adding flavors to it will just destroy the lollipop's purpose, y'know."

Constance circled around, looking at Tania from head to toe. "And it did work!" She clapped.

Both of them heard someone clear their throat, and turned to Ashley. Constance moved aside, and gestured Tania to the blonde-haired girl.

"Tell me you kept your regime like I told you before," Ashley started, "because if you didn't--"

"I did... senpai~" Tania beamed, making Ashley feel flustered by how she was addressed. But the blonde girl knew that it wasn't wrong. "Years pass, and still keeping true to what you taught me."

Ashley placed a hand on Tania's shoulder and gave a small smile, before pulling the latter into a hug. "That's a relief."

"Ash, you done?" Lenny called out.

"You always have to -- Lenny, what's happening to you?"

Everyone turned to the dark-skinned boy who was slowly dissolving away. And he wasn't alone.

Bruce closed his eyes in understanding and let out a sigh. "I think... we have accomplished our last mission." Everyone in Sector Z nodded in sad agreement, then turned to the wide-eyed Tania.

"Last group hug?" Lenny raised his remaining hand, his voice slightly shaking.

Without hesitation, Tania lunged onto Lenny, followed by Bruce, Constance, Ashley and David. The group didn't budge and remained that way, tears falling down their cheeks with few sniffs.

"I guess I'm goin' first," Lenny scratched the back of his head. "T, don't stay too uptight and learn to chill every once in a while, 'kay? Don't be too much of a stick in the mud, like our stick in the mud leader over here." He gestured a thumb pointing at Bruce, who seemed to be fuming in irritation. "See ya guys. Numbuh 0.4 signing off." With a final salute and a teary smile, Lenny dissolved into nothingness.

Tania felt a pat on her back, for her to face Constance. "Don't starve yourself and eat lots AND LOTS of good food, alright?" The latter instructed with a doting finger. "And don't leave for missions with an empty stomach. I remember you doin' that before, so don't do it again, got it?" With a nod from the younger girl, Constance knew that it was finally okay to leave. "Better keep boxer boy company." She added with a laugh before she looked at them with a teary smile and her own final salute. "Numbuh 0.5, signing off."

Ashley bumped elbows with Tania before placing a hand on her shoulder. "T, just remember this: the past doesn't define who you are." She quirked a small smile. "It's the choices you make. I mean," she looked to the last remaining members of Sector Z before turning her attention to Tania, "most people in your position would've chosen to quit. And yet, you decided to still join, even risk your life in missions just to find the cure... even if it's all for naught." Ashley rested her forehead on Tania's. "You're one of the noblest people I know. Follow your instinct and it'll lead you to where you're meant to be -- may it be with the Kids Next Door or not." Taking a step back and with a final salute, "Numbuh 0.3," she inhaled, while keeping herself composed, "signing off."

"Ashley took the words out of my mouth," Bruce walked over to Tania, placing a hand on her arm. "But..." He inhaled deeply before turning to her. "Don't be afraid to fight for what's right. Lead others when no one else can... I'm sorry." Eyes widened in shock, Tania watched the fearless leader of Sector Z... sniffle and sob quietly. Hesitantly she embraced him tightly, with Bruce returning it. "I'll miss this the most. These hugs." He whispered in her ear, before parting from her. "Ever since the beginning, I knew you have great potential to be an operative -- going as far as going against Father or us." He flinched at the last word, before he shook his head. "Never forget the true mission of the Kids Next Door, Numbuh 37. No matter what." With a firm salute and a few sniffs, he concluded, "Numbuh 0.1, signing off."

As she watched Bruce dissolve, Tania didn't turn to the last person with her.

"Sis, I don't have much time left," David gently urged her, "please, look at me." He earned a shake of the head. With a sigh, he walked over to her, just for his sister to move the other way. "I seriously don't have time."

"That's why I don't want to face you!" She cried out before her legs gave in. "Y-You'll... You'll leave me... for good!" She turned to him with a tear-stained face and runny red nose. "I'm so scared that when you say your last words, you'll disappear like everyone else! Not just that..." David did his very best to stay composed amidst the thoughts of the irreversible fate awaiting him. "I didn't get to find a cure that can turn all of you back to normal. And then Nigel, he... he just let you..." She wailed at the mention of her best friend's name.

Strong arms wrapped around her in a gentleness she missed for more than a decade, and will miss from this moment on. All she could do now was snuggle into the warmth that will never comfort her from now on. Tania inhaled the scent of peppermint on her brother's turtleneck, her head resting on his chest. The tall brunet boy inhaled the strawberry scent on his sister's hair, while rubbing her back.

No words were exchanged that time. It wasn't necessary.

David gently rocked her while humming the lullaby he used to sing to her when she was a baby. He rested his head on top of hers and planted a long kiss, as she finally wrapped her arms around his torso.

As soon as she felt him dissolve away, Tania shut her eyes firmly, wrapped her arms around him in the tightest she could.

"Please don't leave me! PLEASE!" She begged, and all she got were a few sniffs and a silent sob. "PLEASE DON'T GO!"

He remained silent amidst her begging, until he finally spoke in a shaky voice. "I love you, Tania. I've loved you even before Mom gave birth to you. My precious little sister... my little Niah..."

Her wailing prevented her to say anything else. But he saw right through her -- her last unspoken message. Her hands tightly gripping his shirt, her head resting on his chest then looked up straight at him with glistening eyes... he let out a teary smile and a nod, before his own shoulders shook as he struggled to tighten his hold around her.. even when he knew it was futile.

Her legs gave as soon as she found that all she could hug was air.

#codename knd #david knd #constance knd #bruce knd #codename kids next door #knd oc #writing for fun #fanfic

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heavenlymisa · 4 years

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could we maybe get some first date hcs with,,, todoroki, bakugo, and kaminari?

an; of course!!! ty for the headcannon, anon!!! enjoy!!

now that im looking back at this- i just now realized that i confused karminari for kirishima- ill make a seperate headcannon for him! sorry for the confusion!

shoto todoroki, katsuki bakugou, and eijiro kirishima x female reader (seperate)

.・。.・゜✭・.・✭・゜・。.

masterlist

.・。.・゜✭・.・✭・゜・。.

Shoto Todoroki

⤷ he would ask the girls (execpt for you) what to do for a first date. you two have been dating for 1 month, but never had a first date because of school.

⤷ after hours of planning, stressing, and switching up the plan, he figures out what to do.

⤷ rollerskating rink.

⤷ he’s never been to one, but the girls were talking about what you like to do and rollerskating was the first thing that popped up (sorry if that isnt your favorite thing to do 🥺)

⤷ after figuring out what to do, he texts you to meet him in the common area afterschool after you change out of your school clothes. of course you said okay, but you were skeptical about this.

⤷ the next day, afterschool, you got dressed into a white graphic tee and a black skirt. you checked yourself in the mirror that in your dorm, went downstairs, and waited in the common area.

⤷ you waiting on him for about 5 minutes until you heard him behind you.

⤷ “sorry to keep you waiting. i couldn’t pick out what to wear.”

⤷ you turned around and was met with todoroki in a black turtleneck and black jeans. if you didn’t die the first time you saw im, you have officially died now. sorry, i don’t make the rules.

⤷ “you look beautiful.”

⤷ nevermind, you died now.

⤷ you thanked him and returned the compliment. he nodded his head, grabbed your hand, and he lead you out the door of the dorms.

⤷ “so... where are we going..?”

⤷ “you’ll find out.” he said with a smirk. f u c k

⤷ after 15 minutes of walking and small talk, you two finally made it to the skating rink. you two went inside and saw all of the strobe lights flashing everywhere and people skating.

⤷ you hugged todoroki and thanked him tremendously for taking you here. he of course hugged back and said ‘you’re welcome.’

⤷ todoroki went and paid for the general commission and two pairs of roller-skates (with endeavor’s debit card. make his pockets hurt😋). you two put on your roller-skates and went to the rink.

⤷ well, more like you went to the rink, todo was struggling to stand up. you went back to him and helped his to the rink. he thanked you and attempted to skate

⤷ keyword- attempted.

⤷ he busted his ass.

⤷ you snickered to yourself and attempted to help him up.

⤷ key word- attempted.

⤷ you busted YOUR ass.

⤷ now you both are on the floor looking like boo-boo the fool 😔👊🏽

⤷ but its okay! you two eventually got up and you helped todoroki with skating. he quickly learned how to skate and was skating like a pro on the rink.

⤷ you two raced and todoroki won majority of the time, but you were happy that you could teach your boyfriend something.

⤷ you grabbed todoroki’s hands and started to skate backwards while he skated forwards. oh god he loved when you did that.

⤷after you two were tired, the both of you went back to the dorms to be met with the 1-A girls pestering about the date.

⤷ you told them that you would tell them later because you were really tired, and they understood!

⤷ so you two and todoroki both took a shower (separately) and mysteriously not really ended up sleeping in todoroki’s room.

⤷ everyone was surprised when you and todoroki walked out of his room together.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✭・゜・。.

katsuki bakugou

⤷ i think kirishima would bully bakugou into taking you on a date when you two hit 2 weeks.

⤷ “i think bakubro is scared of taking dear old n/n on a daattee~”

⤷ “scared!?! i’ll shOW YOU SCARED-“

⤷ he snatches you from your room and drags you downstairs. literally everyone is watching you being dragged by bakugou and not doing anything.

⤷ “yall hear sum...”

⤷ “hm.. might be the wind.”

⤷ bakugou ignores your pleas and cries of him kidnapping you until you two make it on the train.

⤷ you two sit down on the train and bakugou covers your mouth before you even have the chance to talk.

⤷ “im taking you on a date, nerd. dont get too cocky.”

⤷ you pulled his hand down a little whispered, “where?” 🥺

⤷ “you’ll see! just.. shut up..” he looked away with the ᴛɪɴᴇsᴛ blush on his face. you decided to not pester him with it, so you just lay your head on his shoulders and closed your eyes.

⤷ holy fuck, he loves that.

⤷ when the train stopped, he grabbed your hand and walked out of the train. you two were walking for a good bit until you two stopped at.....

⤷ a carnival!

⤷ your eyes lit up as you looked at the bright lights, tents, and the P R I Z E S

⤷ you went behind bakugou, wrapped your arms around his waist, and buried the side of your head to his back.

⤷ “thank you thank you thank you THANK YOU!!”

⤷ bakugou patted your hands and hummed.

⤷ “alright loser,” he unwrapped your arms, guided you in front of him, rested his head on your shoulder, and wrapped his arms around your torso. “lets not waste my time. i got shit to do.”

⤷ you giggled as you both walked inside of the carnival.

⤷ you both first went to get some food. you got a funnel cake while bakugou got a hot and spicy turkey leg 😳

⤷ he kept on sticking it in your face and you kept on running away while he was hot on your trail, waving the turkey leg around 😔

⤷ after you two were done eating, you two played games!!

⤷ he won you many prizes 🥺 including an ugly ass bear that you B EG GED him to throw away.

⤷ he forces you to keep it 😔

⤷ on the plus side, you got a v cute panda bear ! you named him suki 💕

⤷ after that, you two went to the photo booth!!

⤷ he tried to back away from it, but you shoved him into the photo booth.

⤷ i wish i could draw so i didnt have to describe the poses

⤷ first picturee!!! : you made a peace sign and smiled while bakugou was in the back with his hands folded.

⤷ second picturee!!! : you and bakugou were both staring at each other

⤷ third pictureee!!! : your finger was stuck in between bakugou’s neck and head (youre tickling his neck 🤪👊🏽) while he has a smile on his face

⤷ fourth picturee!!! : he was staring at you while you had a cheeky grin on your face. #noregrets ✨

⤷ you two got out and you quickly grabbed the two print outs before bakugou even had the chance to rip them to shreds.

⤷ he stared at you for a little bit and snatch one from your hand.

⤷ the amount of ST RE S S you were under when he snatched it from you 😐

⤷ he stared at the pictures for a couple of seconds and shoved it in his pocket while grumbling about something and walking away from you

⤷ you smiled and ran up to him. you swear for a faint second he had a smirk on his face. oh well 🤪

⤷ when you came back, the bakusquad stared at you two.

⤷ bats eyelashes BLA N K S T A R E 👁👄👁

⤷ but mina completely took you away from bakugou and shoved you into the hallway.

⤷ “soo... how was it??”

⤷ you thought for a second before replying.

⤷ “best first date ever.”

.・。.・゜✭・.・✭・゜・。.

eijiro kirishima

⤷ baby boy already had this day planned since he first SAW YOU

⤷ not tryna be on some yandere stuff but LOOK AT YOU!!

⤷ how could he NOT think about you!!

⤷ anyways, on the weekend, kirishima knocks at your door.

⤷ you answer it and he grabs both of your shoulders.

⤷ “are you free right now?”

⤷ “ye-“

⤷ congratulations, you are officially being dragged away by kirishima.

⤷ you decided not to question his frantic tactics and just let him lead you.

⤷ lmaooo yolo bitches 🤪

⤷ you guys have been running around town until you two arrived at a.....

⤷ arcadee!!!!!

⤷ he literally DRAGGED you in and got a shit ton of tokens.

⤷ “y/n, come on!! unless you feel like getting beat today!”

⤷ “ohh... this is war...”

⤷ and thus the war between y/n and kirishima started <3

⤷ you two played lots of games in the arcade and even ate some snacks as a mini truce.

⤷ you two were racing on the motorcycle next.

⤷ you got on the motorcycle and look to your right, waiting on kirishima.

⤷ then you felt a body behind you and hands wrap around your torso.

⤷ you jumped and looked back to be met with your dopey boyfriend having a big grin on his face.

⤷ “i was thinking that we could do this together.” 🥺

⤷ “if we’re doing this together, youre driving.”

⤷ diDNT HAVE TO TELL HIM TWICE.

⤷ he jumped up to the front and grabbed on to the handles. you wrapped your arms around his waist and rested your head on his shoulder.

⤷ holy fuck he loves you.

⤷ he let you choose all of the motorcycle styles, the person, and the location. what a manly thing to do 🥺

⤷ “i should get a motorcycle when i get my license!”

⤷ he crashed into a tree.

⤷ he completely ignores it.

⤷ but at the end he does get first place soo... 😎 yolo

⤷ but little do you know... he was recording you two!

⤷ he’s glad he did because he loved to look over to his phone and see you concentrating on the screen 🥺

⤷ he cant believe you’re his wtf.

⤷ anyways, when the competition was over, you were the winner by 14 points!! (kiri probably let you win but whatever 🤪)

⤷ you two decided to save up your points for the next time you come.

⤷ going back to the dorm was a peaceful walk. you two walked, hand in hand, and basked in each others presence. <3

.・。.・゜✭・.・✭・゜・。.

taglists!!

𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑠 <3

@wasting-away-on-the-internet

𝑏𝑎𝑘𝑢𝑔𝑜𝑢’𝑠 𝑏𝑎𝑘𝑢ℎ𝑜𝑒𝑠

𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑏𝑜𝑦’𝑠 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠

let me know if you want to be apart of the taglist!! <3

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hesloaded · 3 years

Text

roleplay/fake. krp oc. n/sfw. tw: dark and mature themes. all profile information remains undisclosed unless plotted otherwise. faceclaim: ㅋㅏㅇㅣ written by rae.

code name: BULLET. birth name: 김 지 원 / kim jiwon. birthdate: 1994.12.21. birth place: seoul, south korea. korean age: 28. zodiac: sagittarius sun.

occupation: independent hitman, sniper. skillset: tactical shooting & combat (experienced with carbines, shot/handguns, sniper/rifles, machines under extreme circumstances. & hand-to-hand), boxing, krav maga, filipino stick/knife fighting. first aid.

weight: 76kg. height: 182cm. physique: fit. lean overall. languages: fluent korean, english. conversational japanese, mandarin, russian. religion: none. hails from a christian background. tattoos: example > arm sleeves, chest, back, and on his left hip to thigh. description of some pieces below;

nunc illas promite vires (now put forth that strength, in latin), in thick font, a vertical line on the left of his side, stops above the hipbone.

Buddha on the inner bicep of his left arm sleeve.

a gun on his right hip.

a large dagger on his left upper-wrist, the tip of it’s blade reaching for his middle finger.

‘i deeply belong to myself’, horizontally arcing down his left hipbone.

other mods: pierced ears, all basic holes and hooped silver rings. main earring holes are both gauged at 3mm, though he doesn’t wear them often anymore as he currently prefers earrings. sexual orientation: n/a.

Jiwon had been born with a well polished silver spoon in his mouth, which had remained wedged there until the day he’d personally witnessed his father’s murder. Their wealth had been abundant, but abundance did not always equal lawful, and Jiwon so happened to learn that the hard way. His father had been dabbling with the underworld for many years, and thus put him and his family’s life on the line since the very first contract he’d ever signed with the dons, the chiefs and the clans. After crossing certain boundaries of such dangerous people, as consequence, the father’s life had been taken away from him right in front of his only son, and the son had since been left in abandon while growing up with that gruesome memory, which never seemed to leave room for other nightmares in the night.

Quickly, the silver spoon grew rusted. Their family name had plummeted below the surface of the social class, and Jiwon had been forced into the other end of the spectrum without much time to grieve, or to adjust to his reality. They were suddenly dirt poor, as everything they once had was taken away from them upon the findings of his father’s illegal dwellings, and there was nothing they could say, or do about it. Jiwon, 15, and his younger sister, 7, getting by alongside their sickly mother on scraps and pity. Before they knew it, the hospital bills began to pile up in the drawers, court debt left behind by the father too much to handle, as well as basic expenses like food, education and rent.

At 17, Jiwon had voluntarily dropped out of school and decided he’d simply leave home, never to return again until he’d found a job that allowed him stable income. Enough cash to at least sustain his mother, and his younger sister. But there was also something else carried in the back of his mind, something poisonous that lead him astray along the way. He’d started with simple jobs in convenience stores, food delivery, the odd job here and there that could add at least an extra won for the month. But the greedier he got, the odder did the jobs as well. As if this was a sort of calling in his blood, he'd ended up at the edge of an industry where his late father had once been before. Maybe out of grief, and surely for revenge.

He knew he could never go back to the day after he had come across a certain individual he knows nothing of in present, who’d introduced him to a variety of "temp" jobs; mostly hands off at first, to prove he were trusty enough, before he’d graduated into the hands on part of the lifestyle where he’d learn how to fight, throw a knife, and shoot a gun. Professionally groomed by a veteran towards serious temporary positions and better money, by sparring until he were caked in bruises and blood, and shooting empty beer cans by the beach waves (trained in Jeju). And sooner than he'd thought, beer cans became human beings.

His initial aim was never to fall too deeply into dangerous affairs that had gotten his father killed in the first place, but there was something about it that was much too seductive to ignore, much too thrilling to escape- and so by the age of 19, Jiwon was engrossed. And he was really good.

He began working with the man who’d basically recruited him after seeing the talent and hunger for something dark in his eyes, and through him discovered some parts to the puzzle of what had lead his father to such a cruel fate some years ago. Then after reaching a certain point in his investigation and a number of paychecks (which he often sent home to his family rather than keeping all to himself), and with the (forced) help of a mysterious woman he’d met named Kim Yuna, Jiwon had disappeared. Gone to lay low (and train more/hone other skills) in Auckland, New Zealand, and had come back shortly after turning 22, to put his research and skillset into practice.

This is when he had come to surpass his father’s footsteps; solidified his place in the underworld, established as an independent hitman after finally reaching and murdering his father’s killer. Spilling the rage and thirst for blood that had slowly welled up inside him over the years. Known as Bullet, and despite his young age, wanted and feared simultaneously.

location: established in seoul, south korea; works worldwide. direct address: undisclosed. license: LvL 1, general korean license. drives a harley davidson motorcycle, his car a revamped vintage ford mustang. pets: none. takes care of stray cats in his neighborhood. relationship status: n/a. family: mother (alive), younger sister (alive), father (deceased). had severed ties with them and doesn’t talk about them.

hobbies: cooking. reading. sports (lifting, boxing). watching movies. gaming. optimist or pessimist?: neutral. introvert or extrovert?: introverted extrovert. "describe yourself": well-rounded. intelligent. versatile. worthy. surprising. creative. best-shot. "describe jiwon": precise. observant. intimidating. unpredictable. humorous. aggressive. cross. dreams/goals: learn how to properly wield a japanese sword, going drifting with his car in tokyo, sandboarding in the desert dunes, visiting the stray cats in italy.

— being an independent assassin would mean that his business exists sans any form of contract to whatever company or illegal organization at all. a lot of these do exist both in South Korea and overseas, but Jiwon is strict about steering very clear from all attempts of recruitment made his way. signing his life away with blood is something he never plans to do, unlike his father had.

— the underworld's presence also lingers within certain hotels, bars, offices and theatres; as well as underground establishments like boxing ranges and clubs of all natures. simply because people like him are everywhere, though only few of them could ever compete.

— his associates range broadly from Triad bosses to ballerinas, and everything else in between. police chiefs, escorts, seasoned veterans, boxers, racers, butchers, hotel managers. all associates of his, and the below surface's, of course.

— he values taking care of himself very highly, as it contributes to his work at times it matters. when he'd first gotten into working within the industry as a rookie, he could be often found doing small missions like escorting, as he'd been recognized to be visually appealing, and taught to wield it as though he were holding a sharp blade.

— he'd lived and trained in a secluded countryside farm in Jeju island for nearly four years, before packings his bags and disappearing to Auckland in the midst of night.

— owns too many pairs of sneakers, belts, button ups and turtlenecks. he's an expressive dresser; usually loves wearing pieces that stand out or glitter. his closets consist mainly of blacks, reds and whites, some greys, blues, purples, and plaid. when it comes to accessories, he will try it all but prefers simple rings and thick necklaces. finally, his cologne selection ranges broadly of fresh, pine and woody scents.

— surprisingly loves babies and kids. might or might not suffer from perpetual baby fever.

— believes in consequential punishment, global warming, ghosts or spirits, and aliens. the usual.

— not very keen on haircuts. enjoys dyeing his hair. sometimes find his many tattoos burdensome as he regularly has to cover up for the casual public (though he doesn’t try much anymore, really).

— he absolutely despises being lied to, have his skills doubted, being suspected, accused unjustly and seeing entitled pride in other people. it might sound obvious, but it’s all particular triggers for anger and hostility in him.

— can’t keep promises. a bit lackluster when it comes to romance. prefers relationships without titles, and sometimes emotions. but when he does fall, he falls hard enough to break bones.

— he wants to look into going to live in japan for a while in the future, to study kenjutsu, and acquiring a japanese katana of his own.

— he has a habit of getting new tattoos whenever he’s out of the country. or when he’s stressed—he refuses to destress with smoking.

— despite his job and the occasional requirement to travel overseas to rigorous tasks and obscure locations, or stay in Seoul apartments; living off scrap for months in both predicaments, he’s still a homebody. Appreciates when he can return home and sleep with a corn-chip in his mouth.

— his home is prepared for any kind of assault at any hour of the day, carrying hidden weapons hiding in plain sight.

— collects silencers/suppressors simply because he enjoys using them on his firearms.

#ㄱㅈㅇ

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is-it-art-tho · 3 years

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Summary: Dick Grayson is having a hard time and Bruce is there to help.

Dick dragged himself into his apartment, shedding his coat, keys, and shoes on his stiff beeline to the bathroom. In the shower, he dangled his head under the stream, the heat cranked until it nearly burned, and willed the muscles in his back and shoulders to relax, his heart and breathing to slow.

When he got out, his phone was about to vibrate off the edge of the sink, the screen packed with a flurry of unread messages that were still coming in. A quick glance at the names was enough for him to know what they all said, or have a pretty good guess, at least. Barbara, Tim, Damian. He ignored them all, shutting it off and leaving it behind as he wandered into his bedroom, leaving small puddles on the hardwood in his wake.

He pulled on a faded cross-country hoodie and joggers in the dark, and the clothes clung to his wet skin as he tossed a hesitant glance toward his bed.

The type of exhaustion he felt now was the type that clings to bones, that no amount of sleep can touch. Which was just as well, since sleep had not been kind to him these past few days.

At times it was elusive, leaving Dick watching for hours as his curtains faded from navy blue to pale gray with the sunrise. Other times it was a violent, painful thing that forced him upright in bed, gasping and disoriented, his room smelling eerily of burnt furniture and ash, and his ears echoing with screams and sirens.

He had no way of knowing what type of night this would be, but he was in no rush to find out.

Pushing damp hair out of his eyes, he headed for the kitchen instead. He wasn’t hungry or even really thirsty, but his hands went for his standard late-night fair all the same. He filled the coffeemaker with water and flipped it on, letting the machine’s quiet whirr fill the silence as he grabbed a bowl from the counter and filled it with cereal.

Typically, he would go through this process on autopilot, his mind on a million other things, but tonight his movements were careful and intentional in a way that took all of his concentration to maintain. He had the overwhelming urge to run or break something, to do anything other than sit quietly in a room and stare at food he had no intention to touch, and he knew himself well enough to know that if he wasn’t careful right now, he would find himself back in his bedroom exchanging his pajamas for the black and blue suit tucked in the back of his closet and hitting the streets. But after the events earlier tonight, he knew that was probably the last place he should be right now.

The coffee machine beeped, and Dick moved the full mug out of the way as he muttered to the open air, “Want one?”

The presence he’d felt across the room stirred, and he glanced over his shoulder in time to see the silhouette by the window step further into the living room.

“You won’t be able to sleep.”

“It’s decaf.” Dick’s voice was flat. Without waiting for either acceptance or rejection of the offer, he added more water to the machine, packed in new grounds, and prepared another cup. He watched the dark liquid fill the mug as footsteps behind him crossed from the carpeted living room to the kitchen tile, followed by the gentle scrape of a chair.

When he turned back around, Bruce was sitting, waiting for him. He wasn’t in the cape and cowl, instead still dressed as he had been back at the manor a few hours earlier – a dark mock turtleneck and gray slacks. Dick wondered idly if Bruce had come through the window dressed this way or if he’d simply picked the lock at the door. Either option felt incredibly incongruous with the clean ensemble. If he hadn’t felt so off, he might’ve laughed.

Dick took the seat across from him, and Bruce’s eyes tracked his movements carefully. The younger man was suddenly hyperaware of the bruises and scabs forming along the knuckles of his right hand, left purposely unattended, and the way his fingers were twitching restlessly.

“How is he?” Dick asked after a few long minutes of silence.

“His lip stopped bleeding after a while,” Bruce explained calmly. “He stopped cursing a while after that.”

The dull pain in Dick’s knuckles flared with the memory of Jason’s jaw, hard and sharp like he had punched a brick wall. He was fairly certain he’d fractured a bone or two in his hand – the punch had been sloppy, overly emotional – but he’d decided to let the ache sit there, heavy and throbbing without the temper of a painkiller.

“It was my fault,” Dick conceded. “I didn’t… I overreacted. I must’ve had a little too much to drink or something.” He hadn’t actually had anything to drink at all, but it felt like the easiest excuse in the moment. “I’ll apologize the next time I see him.”

Again, there was silence as Bruce, apparently unsatisfied with this response, simply waited. It was the same tactic Dick had watched him use during interrogations, but in those situations usually someone was dangling a few stories off the ground and the silence was ominous. Here, there was none of that foreboding air. Just an empty sort of waiting.

“It won’t happen again,” Dick added drily. He wasn’t entirely sure this was true. Even now he wished he could be hitting something, something hard enough to tear the skin on his knuckles and send painful reverberations up his arms and into his shoulders. He wanted to hurt. He wanted a pain sharp enough to pull his attention away from the gaping chasm in the center of his chest.

Almost reflexively, he clenched his injured hand into a tight fist and relished the quick agony.

“What I’m trying to understand is why it happened at all,” Bruce said.

“I told you I was just buzzed. It’s not a big deal.”

“You weren’t.” Bruce’s tone was matter of fact rather than accusatory. It felt like an accusation anyway.

Dick studied him with growing annoyance. “What were you keeping tabs on me or something?”

“I’ve seen you buzzed enough times to know what it looks like. You weren’t drunk, Dick. You were wired. On edge. You have been for a few days now.” Bruce rested his forearms on the table, leaning forward as if to get a better look at him.

Dick noted his leg bouncing under the table and stilled it. The sudden stillness made his entire body feel uncomfortable and he shifted awkwardly in his chair.

“I’m fine,” he said, a little too brusquely. “Just need to get some sleep.”

“Have you been having trouble with that lately?”

Dick’s teeth clanked together in his mouth. He rose to pour his untouched cereal into the garbage disposal and let the blades run longer than necessary to grind up the soggy flakes. When he turned it off, the sudden silence pressed against his ears like a physical weight.

“How are the Donovans?” Bruce asked.

The question was soft, so soft that Dick almost didn’t catch it. But he did, and the jittery, violent energy that had been crackling just beneath his skin vanished like air being sucked out of a balloon. He suddenly felt impossibly hollow, like the slightest breeze could topple him, and he welcomed the sharp pain that had exploded in his right hand as he gripped the edge of the sink. It served as another means of grounding him, anchoring him here.

“How?” Dick murmured.

“Barbara.”

Babs. Of course.

She was the only one Dick had told anything to, and even she had only gotten the barest threads of information. She knew only that there had been a housefire, that a child had died.

“You’ve been checking up on them at their new apartment.”

Dick didn’t even bother asking how Bruce could have possibly known this.

“I couldn’t find him,” he explained, staring, without seeing, at a small puddle of milk in the sink left over from the drained cereal. At the same time, he was trying to stop smelling smoke, to stop feeling the weight of a limp child in his arms and hearing a mother’s screams.

Behind him, Bruce did not move from his spot at the table; he did not speak. Dick was oddly grateful for this. For time.

“I looked everywhere, but I just couldn’t find him,” Dick continued, and his voice was flat again, empty like it was echoing out from a tomb. “When I did, it was too late. He was in a crawlspace behind his bed. He was eight. Kyle. Kyle Donovan.”

There was a long silence as Dick stood and trembled with tension, then finally Bruce said, “I’m sorry.”

Dick glanced over his shoulder, half-expecting to find an even, almost disinterested stare and instead he found Bruce’s face a mask of empathy. Like most of Bruce’s expressions, this one wasn’t dramatic. His mouth wasn’t twisted into a frown and his cheeks weren’t glistening with tears, but it was there in his eyes.

And Dick knew that the empathy there was misguided, based on a false assumption that he was struggling to grapple with the loss, that he was mourning. How could he explain how wrong this was?

I’m not mourning. I’m nothing.

After Dick had emerged from the burning building with Kyle in his arms, he’d carefully, wordlessly set the limp boy on a gurney and watched EMTs dive into CPR that he knew wouldn’t work. Mrs. Donovan had been screaming, her shrieks battling with the wail of incoming fire engines, and he’d locked eyes with Mr. Donovan. The man’s soot-covered face had glowed in the light of the flames, and Dick had heard himself offer a too-stiff apology that the man was clearly too shaken to process. And he’d left then, disappearing easily into the shadows amidst the chaos, and arrived back in his apartment still reeking with the uniquely sharp scent of burnt carpeting and furniture and insulation.

And he’d stood in his living room in the dark and waited for something, anything to come. Some semblance of normal emotion, of feeling. He’d grasped for it desperately like a child trying to catch dandelion seeds on a windy day, but he’d come away with nothing. So, he’d showered and gone to bed still smelling of housefire and watched his curtains until morning. And with each passing day since then he’d grown more and more agitated with himself, with his lack of feeling, and eventually that frustration had transformed him into the short-fused terror he’d been all day, culminating in an unwarranted haymaker and a likely-broken hand.

This wasn’t the first time Dick had suspected that something was wrong with him. After his parents had been killed, adults had tiptoed around him for weeks, treated him like a volcano on the verge of eruption, like a glass teetering on the edge of a table. He’d realized afterwards that they had been waiting for him to breakdown, to dissolve into a weeping heap. It would have been an understandable reaction, especially for a kid, but the moment had never come.

Even at the funeral he hadn’t shed a single tear. Back then he’d been called “brave” and “strong.” He’d been congratulated for his composure and he’d taken some solace in that. Perhaps his reaction or lack thereof wasn’t a symptom of a deeper issue. Maybe it was a sign of his fortitude. He’d tucked those fears away then, content never to explore them again.

Then Kyle Donovan happened, and Dick once again felt utterly dead inside.

Empty. The internal silence that made him think of vast, barren spaces; of sand blowing across endless dunes and the cracked, frozen wasteland of the Arctic.

And this confirmed what he had quietly feared all along. That somehow, somewhere along the way something deep and vital inside of him had broken. As if a whole part of his brain – the one responsible for grief – had simply stopped working. Or perhaps it had shriveled slowly over time, unnoticed and choked by neglect like a plant left to wilt in a corner.

There was a time when Dick had thought himself lucky. After the things he’d lived through, he ought to be more damaged, but he’d managed to grow into a fairly well-adjusted member of society. He’d taken pride in that fact, relished it. Gotham had done its worst and he’d escaped unscathed.

To realize now that he’d been wrong, that Gotham had in fact crushed something precious inside of him, was a blow he wasn’t sure he could come back from.

So now as he stood in his kitchen thinking about a child he had failed to save, and struggling even to shed a tear, he found Bruce’s expression, his open but misguided display of empathy, to be like the twisting of a knife.

Suddenly Dick realized Bruce was speaking, a steady rumble in the quiet.

Dick blinked. “What?”

“I said you should sit down.”

Dick sat and stared at the old yellow table between them. It had a sort of retro, 70s aesthetic. The floral pattern in the decorative plastic covering was faded, the petals resembling abstract squiggles more than anything else.

“What’s wrong with me?” he asked quietly. “These things happen and I just… I don’t feel them anymore. I don’t know if I ever did.” His voice hitched then, perhaps betraying his words, and suddenly his vision blurred with tears. “What’s wrong with me?” he asked again.

“We all process grief differently,” Bruce said. “It’s not a matter of right or wrong.”

“But what if I’m not processing it? Babs thinks I’m upset about the kid, I bet you did, too. But that’s the problem. I’m not upset – at least, not like I know I should be. I feel like a goddamn sociopath.” Dick balled his fists in his hair, his elbows braced on the table.

“It’s like I go through life most of the time and I feel normal. I get happy, I get annoyed, I get sad. But when major things happen, like someone dying, I just… I don’t know. It’s like I shut down. I’m just empty. Like I’m physically incapable of feeling beyond a certain point.”

Dick was really crying now, tears streaming down his face and dripping off the tip of his nose, but he didn’t know why because deep inside, his dominant feeling was still an absence of feeling. A painful, gaping abyss.

“Sometimes,” Dick whispered, “sometimes I think – I think I shouldn’t even be here. I should be in Arkham with the rest of the–”

Suddenly there was a hand on his shoulder. Bruce had switched seats so that they were sitting almost side by side. Dick hadn’t even noticed.

“You’re not,” Bruce said, cutting him off. His voice was not hard, but stern, and he held Dick’s gaze as he spoke, his words crisp and intentional as if willing Dick to hear each syllable clearly. “You do not belong in Arkham. You are not broken.”

And suddenly the outburst that hadn’t come when Dick was orphaned or after the housefire, the one that he had begun to accept as being beyond the scope of his emotional capacity, crashed into him like a tidal wave. And decades of grief and pain rushed in to fill the void that had lived in the center of his being for far too long.

It filled him like a physical thing, pushing against the inside of his ribs and chest and threatening to burst through.

Dick dropped his face into his hands as a sob wrenched itself from his throat, as his body convulsed with the force of them. And in the darkness of his closed eyes, he saw it all in sharp relief – every moment he’d absorbed as a child and into adulthood, every crippling tragedy that he’d unconsciously chosen to repress, to crush into a manageable size and pitch into some far-flung corner of himself. Those moments – those pebbles of memory – towered over him now, forming an immense mountain of suffering that he now had to scale.

And he understood now, perhaps for the first time, why he had never done this before; why his subconscious – and maybe it wasn’t so subconscious, after all – had chosen to avoid this part of himself. It was because this was too much, far too much for any one person to climb and come out on the other side whole.

This, Dick was certain, truly would break him. What he had experienced in his life, the things he had seen, were the sort of uniquely awful things that demand to be left in dark corners and tucked into locked drawers, lest they take everything from you.

He was only vaguely aware of the strong, yet gentle arms wrapping around him, pulling him in and holding him as he tipped towards hyperventilation.

“I want you to breathe with me,” Bruce instructed. The older man took a few long slow breaths, waiting for Dick to match his rhythm. Dick’s head rose and fell against Bruce’s chest, and after a while it started to work. Dick felt himself calming, if only slightly.

“You are not broken,” Bruce said again, his chest rumbling against Dick’s ear. “And you’re not alone.”

And when Dick pulled back, he saw it in Bruce’s eyes. A profound and gut-wrenching understanding, their mutual experiences with tragedy and loss resonating on a frequency most are fortunate enough not to understand.

And he realized that Bruce had his own impossible mountain to scale and that he had been scaling it for most of his life. A slow, clumsy process that involved just as much time slipping backwards as it did inching back up. And as if for the first time, Dick noticed the deep grooves in Bruce’s face, the lines and old scars that he now suspected had just as much to do with Bruce’s inner battles as his external ones.

“I’m here,” Bruce promised. “I’m right here with you. I won’t let you go.”

And Dick knew what he meant. I won’t let you become like so many of the monsters we stop every night. I won’t let you disappear into the darkness.

“How do you keep going?” Dick asked, his eyes on the table. After a lengthy pause, he looked up.

Bruce’s gaze was distant as if he were genuinely searching for an adequate response and struggling to find one. Finally, he said, “You decide that the alternative is unacceptable.”

Dick considered this. It wasn’t a warm and fuzzy answer; things rarely were where Bruce was concerned. But even so, it fit somehow. It made sense to him.

He nodded then sighed, and the sigh turned into a yawn. Without thinking, he rubbed his eye with his bad hand and cursed quietly.

Bruce rose, retrieved an ice pack from the freezer, and returned to the table where he laid it gently over Dick’s knuckles. “I know I taught you to punch better than that,” he said.

Dick’s mouth twitched into a rueful grin. “I decked Jason in the middle of your dinner party and it’s my form you’re upset about?”

“It was sloppy. He should’ve been able to dodge it.” Bruce’s expression was even, but there was a joking lilt in his tone that Dick imagined most people would miss. Then, more seriously, “I want you to come back with me. Stay at the manor for a while.”

A few years ago, this might have sounded like an order, but now Dick could have sworn it sounded almost like a plea. Bruce’s gaze was fixed on the ice pack, his brows scrunched ever so slightly.

“Bruce,” Dick gasped, “are you inviting me to a sleepover?”

He was already feeling more like himself. Not necessarily better – to be honest, Dick was fairly certain he wouldn’t feel better for quite a while – but he could see a way out now that he hadn’t been able to see before, and it left him with a spark of hope.

Dick was satisfied by the long-suffering sigh he got in response.

“Isn’t Jason staying with you for a few days?” he continued. “He might not want me around much right now.”

“He’ll live.” Bruce rose and Dick followed suit, keeping the pack pressed into his hand.

“I’m more worried about myself,” Dick muttered. “Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask – how did you get in here? You didn’t climb in through the window dressed like that did you?”

Bruce tossed a devious grin over his shoulder but said nothing as he headed for the door.

“Wait, did you?” Dick asked, suddenly desperate. “Did you?”

#dick grayson whump #whump #batman fic #batman fanfic #batman fanfiction #bruce wayne #dick grayson #hurt/comfort #No Comfort in the Shade

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cardboard-moon · 6 years

Text

40 Things You Never Wanted To Know About Me

You probably already know me decently well or else you wouldn’t be reading this, so instead of rehashing the basic (boring) “getting to know me” questions I dug a little deeper and asked myself about what’s really important. Here is the result: 40 Things You Never Wanted To Know About Me. Enjoy!

1. What Parks and Rec character am I?

While I could argue for almost everyone on the show I’m probably most like Ben Wyatt: a white, brunette, and sad man who eats soup alone on a park bench (minus his love of math and rollerskate kink)

2: Top 5 books?

To Kill a Mockingbird, The Secret History, A Prayer for Owen Meany, The Help, 11/22/63

3: Top 5 movies?

Chinatown, Star Wars, Rear Window, National Treasure (nick cage can be good in small doses ok) and Nancy Drew (2007)

4: Top 5 shows?

Parks and Rec, B99, That 70′s Show, Mad Men, Arrested Development

5: Top 10 most iconic vines?

1) Chris is that a weed/Mary is that a police

2) Hi My Name is Trey I have A Basketball Game Tomorrow

3) Rebecca It’s Not What You Think

4) The one where the girl is just hitting elmo with a baseball bat

5) Anything Kermit but esp. the one where he falls off the building

6) You Know This Boy Got His Free Taco

7) 2 Bros Chillin in the Hot Tub

8) Waelcom to my Keeetchen we have bananis and avocadis

9) Whoever Threw That Paper Your Mom’s A Hoe

10) i spilled lipstick in your valentino bag (yOU SPILLED WHAHULAUG LIPSTICK IN MY VALENTINE WHITE BAG)

6: Where do I see myself in 21 years?

One of my dreams in life is to marry the heir to a prestigious winery out in wine country. I have a vision of myself at 39, waking up at 10 AM on a tuesday and standing on my private balcony in my state-of-the-art spanish stucco villa. i am drinking a chardonnay despite the early hour whilst i observe my grape empire in my silk negligee. the only event planned for the day is a portrait sitting for my rottweilers (4 of them), for which i have arranged spaces in the family’s private art gallery. i am aging well despite the harsh california sun and my partner and i have a trip to tuscany planned for the fall. it’s a charmed life and i never tire of eating grapes

7: Top 5 favorite cryptids

1) Nessie (Nessie is a true lady I believe in her)

2) Mothman (not real)/ el chupacabra (possibly real)

3) the kraken (definitely real)

4) Bigfoot (not real but a legend anyways)

5) the yeti (real only in russia)

8: Do I Believe in Ghosts

It’s a complicated topic and of course we will likely never know for sure but the short answer is yes. in my opinion though, what ghosts are is the important question: are they really the dead coming back to haunt the earth? are they just manifestations of energy that the mind interprets into recognizable shapes? hallucinations? or is it wish fulfillment and the reduction of tensions on a heavy conscience? our brains are capable of powerful things, but it begs the question as to whether if a human desperately wants something to be true does the human mind have the power to make it true? c. s. lewis mentioned once that he never understood the ghost debate since, given that ghosts are real, they have no real power over us or anything interesting to say. but i believe that just goes to show how the mystery is far often more important than the solution.

9: Best/Worst Month of the Year

Best: May/November (spring/fall in full swing, holidays, time off school, great atmosphere) Worst: August (too dang hot & start of school)

10: What is one of my embarrassing secrets

I didn’t learn how to tie my shoes until I was nine (velcro ftw)

11: What is my Dream Date

We go cryptid hunting in the woods and have a picnic in the dark; you supply dogs for entertainment and guardianship purposes, i supply drinks and the cryptozoological myths we are chasing. Afterwards we get gelato

12: Top 3 Presidents

(this is based solely on arbitrary opinion not policies) 1) Barry Obama 2) Lincoln 3) Millard Fillmore (his name is funny)

Honorable mention: jimmy carter (he was the only noncorrupt man in office for like 30 years before barry)

13: Top 3 Vice Presidents

1) John Adams, if nothing else but for the drama this man caused 2) Walter Mondale 3) the big boy JB

Honorable Mention: Nichard Rixon

14: Top 3 Secretaries of State

1) Madeline Albright 2) Henry Clay 3) Elihu P. Washburn

(note: secretaries of state have the funniest names, like Hamilton Fish (1869-1877) rest easy Mr. Fish)

15: Worst Activity they make you do in middle school PE

Middle school P.E. is the worst in general but I’m going to say either grading you on your shotput skills (?) or BMI (??) or just the tuesday run in general (luther kids know)

16: Top 4 Worst Scents

1) Washing a knife covered in peanut butter 2) Really cheap perfume that they sell in checkout lines at convenience stores 3) Olives 4) organic deodorant

17: Top 7 Conspiracy Theories

1) The Denver Airport is an underground military fallout shelter designed to protect the 1% from nuclear warfare

2) A Roman pope adjusted the Gregorian calendar so that his reign would fall on 1000 AD so we’re actually living in the year 1783

3) Paul McCartney is dead and was replaced prior to the Seargant Pepper album by a lookalike named Billy Shears

4) The state of Wyoming is a myth

5) Avril Lavigne died and was replaced back in the early 00’s

6) The Titanic sank because too many people went back in time to prevent it from sinking

7) Not to be cliche George Bush and the military-industrial complex orchestrated the 9/11 attacks (jet fuel can’t melt steel beams and all that)

18: Inside jokes with myself

I’m not usually a “gamer” but every year without fail someone introduces me to a game exactly at finals time and I get hooked and it ruins my gpa and study habits. This year it’s Stardew Valley, last year it was Dream Daddy and the year before that it was undertale and I blame Jojo for absolutely all of it bc they are usually the instigator. Anyway, every year I joke with myself about what game will derail my grades this year

19: Top 5 Worst Tactile Sensations

1) Putting tights or leggings on wet, hairy legs post-shower

2) Running fingernails along cardboard

3) Sweating in a turtleneck

4) Having wet, salty hair after swimming that drips down onto your back and makes the top of your shirt damp

5) Reaching into a bag of grapes and only finding really soft, slimy ones

20: Best Cat I’ve ever encountered

One time my friend and I were leaving Romancing the Bean and walking back to her car and the fattest, fluffiest, softest ginger cat I’ve ever seen came trotting up to us and flopped over at our feet. He was such a good boy!!! And so friendly with strangers!! He was very well groomed and just wanted some love, and whenever we stopped petting him he would jump up onto our legs and leave little wet paw prints everywhere, I wanted to kidnap him

21: Best dog I’ve ever encountered

All of them

22: Best squirrel I’ve ever encountered

My dad has befriended a squirrel named Nutty that likes to sneak into his office when the door’s open and steals peanuts. if the door is closed he’ll bang on it and scream until we acknowledge him

23: If I were a furry what would my fursona be

I do not know because I am not a furry. HOWEVER someone who is well-versed in furry matters told me once that I would be one of those long, nervous dogs like a greyhound maybe and tbh I could see it

24: Favorite/Least Favorite Disneyland Rides

My favorite has always been haunted mansion, except for the halloween season when it’s nightmare before christmas and then it’s thunder mountain. I just love the outside atmosphere of the house bc I’m a slut for that southern gothic architecture style. Worst is splash mountain because there’s no seatbelt and LOGICALLY i know I don’t need one but it doesn’t stop me from having a panic attack every time I get on and we go up the big hill as I worry about being flung from the toboggan across the park

25: Least favorite restaurant within 10 mile radius of my house

I live over by Porto’s so I am #blessed to be surrounded by some really dope food. However there is a hipster place a couple of blocks over in Toluca Lake that only serves bizarre food like fried chicken in maple syrup with waffle fries and it’s surprisingly bland, so the lack of taste combines with how expensive it is probably makes it the worst (it’s also forgettable bc I can’t even remember its name)

26: Rank of JBHS history department according to how good of a parent they would be

9.Mr. Bixler - I have never had this man so I can’t say shit. NA/10

8. Ms. Snowden - I’ve never had her either but I’ve heard enough about her between Burroughs and Luther to know that this woman is kind of scary, intimidating and uptight, all things I personally do not desire in a parent. 2/10

7. Mr. Hatch - I love Scott Hatch but he is a tremendous mess of a man. Judging by his wife’s instagram photos his idea of parenting is taking naps while cuddling his children and letting his wife do the rest of the hard work. Plus he seems like the type to be too wrapped up in his own melodrama and too busy hangin out with his best friend Edward Frankenbush playing Xbox to pay much attention to his kids. However, he did skip the first day of school to take his daughter to kindergarten so he gets points for that. 4/10

6. Mr. Lee - Mr. Lee is a very respectable guy who seems like he does a very good job providing for his family. He’s ranked as middle of the road because he’s a naturally private person so I can’t speak to his parenting tactics or personality much, however the few stories he shared about his daughter were very cute and he does the typical teacher/parent things like making her his screensaver on his computer. Overall, a very quality dad and man, 6.5/10

5. Mr. Fitz - Kyle Fitzgerald is similarly a mess of a man, but the difference between him and Scott Hatch is that he seems to make an investment in his kid. He always talks about current events in terms of what idiocy his poor daughter will have to put up with which shows his devotion to her well-being and survival in a confusing world. Also he brought her in to go swimming once while I was working at Verdugo and I got to see them having a great time on the splash pad and it warmed my heart. Great dad 7/10

4. Mr. Piper - Richard Piper is such a good father but in a detached way. He loves talking about his son and wife just as much as he loves talking about planes. The real kicker? When he talks about taking his son ON planes and geeking out over history together. He also asked all of his classes for people looking for tutoring work when his son was struggling in math which is so cute. Good guy Rick gets an 8/10.

2. (tie) Mr. Frankenbush and Ms. Hacker - Ed and Jan are both beautiful people. I know Ms. Hacker is #divisive but I personally am a big fan and would die to have her guidance in my daily life. She’s always interested in what’s going on in people’s lives and sure she’s definitely chaotic but it’s a loving chaos that’s only looking to help other people. I’ve not had the pleasure of having Mr. Frankenbush but he always is hanging out with his son Joey and they love coming to the Burroughs pool and playing water polo together; they spend a lot of time together since his wife works so much and they have such a buddy friendship. Both of these lovely people are super devoted and invested in the youth and would make great parents. 9/10

1. Mr. Clark - A god. We don’t deserve this man and I can’t sing his praises enough. Were were all lucky enough to be Greg’s children I don’t think evil would exist in the world. 11/10

27: Worst book I read for school

Hands down Tale of Two Cities since it’s the only one I’ve never finished. Dickens just doesn’t do it for me I guess plus I get really tired of the one dimensional characters and how much he romanticizes Lucy

28: Favorite little-known tidbit of history

When Richard Nixon went to Soviet Russia as Eisenhower’s VP during the cold war his secret service agents detected higher than usual amounts of radiation coming from Nixon’s hotel room, so they started talking loudly about it bc they knew the Soviets had planted buds and were listening. Within like an hour the radiation had vanished and they never heard anything about it again so man Soviet’s ain’t sly

29: 5 Places in Burbank That Are Definitely Haunted

1. Coral Cafe for obvious reasons, look up the ghost on youtube

2. The View seems like it would have some kind of el chupacabra-esque creature prowling around, maybe a mountain lion hybrid

3. Fry’s Electronics

4. The abandoned train station under the bridge

5. The LA river by the equestrian center

30: Rank of all the AP classes i took in order of entertainment value

9) AP Bio: I liked bio but the class wasn’t very entertaining. There’s not a lot of humor in bacteria and cells, and Mr. Van Loo is much more of a calming than a humorous and chaotic presence, so overall it takes the hit as the least entertaining class.

8) AP Stats: Math is similarly not very entertaining, but Mrs. Hollingshed’s erratic personality gives it the edge over Bio. Definitely more humorous than expected of a math class.

7) AP Econ: I bombed econ and business/money isn’t very entertaining but Jan Hacker made it so thanks to her chaos (love her though).

6) AP Euro: European history is incredibly iconic because, spoiler alert, Europeans are idiots and historically speaking everything that can go wrong, will go wrong. I just wish I remember it since I think idiot sophomore Lily slept through most of the class so needless to say I didn’t soak up much of the entertainment value. If it were up to me I’d take it over again and maybe stay awake this time.

5) AP Lit: Lit was just as much challenging and intimidating as it was entertaining, so it balances out. Mrs. Caluya is notably iconic and the books we read were all pretty interesting so it gets a high vote from me.

3) (tie) Gov/APUSH: History is always entertaining in my eyes since people do stupid things out of pettiness. These two tie for different reasons: Mr. Piper is a great teacher and that mock trial we did for the industrial age was great, but the subject was also extremely entertaining overall. I loved reading about how John Adams made making fun of him illegal. Gov was mostly just entertaining because of Mr. Hatch and how salty his is about the government. His sarcastic comments about how corrupt everything is gave life to an otherwise pretty lifeless subject.

2) AP Lang: aka the class with no curriculum, or the Kuglen Hour. I love Mr. Kuglen so much and he is responsible for 99% of the amusement in the class. I somehow learned how to be a better writer by listening to him complain about Trump and everything else under the sun for an hour every day so it was well worth it. Also who doesn’t like a class where you read Dave Sedaris for homework?

1) AP Psych: Without question, this is the epitome of entertainment. Psychology is just a mishmash of people trying to figure out why humans are as stupid as we are and why we do dumb things. Add in all the iconic psychologists and history and a class led by salty Mr. Hatch and you have a recipe for an entertaining year.

31: Top 5 Iconic JBHS teachers that I NEVER had (no particular order)

Mr. Peebles: A quirky man who I would have loved were I any good at math whatsoever

Mr. Arakelian: Band kids hate him but the stories I hear are so frickin iconic that I wish I could be an honorary band kid for a day and see the horror firsthand. If you have Arakelian stories please send them my way I’d love to hear about your pain

Mr. Frankenbush: A sad boi who everyone should get to experience and I regret never having.

Dr. Madooglu: He was so kind to me after the failed anti-trump lunchtime protest last year and he didn’t even know me. I wish I could’ve experienced him as a teacher.

Mr. Clark: The man, the myth, the legend

32: List of some iconic swim horror stories

Charlie breaking his hand after he lost a race and punched the gutter as hard as he could

Some idiot JV boys smearing poop all over the Burbank High locker room

The entire JV team getting Burroughs swim banned from Islands

Me almost passing out at the Los Amigos meet last year after I didn’t eat or sleep all day

Everyone always feigning illness or injury to get out of swimming the 4x100 relay

Getting in trouble for watching boys volleyball practice instead of doing the weight room sets

Every. Single. 5AM morning practice before school.

When coach martin finally figured out how periods work and suddenly we couldn’t use that as an excuse for not swimming anymore

33: What Office Character Would I Be

A mix between Angela, Oscar, and Kelly (we love our dramatic icons)

34: #1 Thing I’d Bring With Me to a Desert Island

Castaway for instructional purposes

35: What Would I call my memoir

Schadenfreude

36: 7 Best Buzzfeed Unsolved Episodes (no particular order)

This is one of my favorite shows so these are my recommendations:

1. 3 Horrifying Cases of Ghosts and Demons - one of the very first and best episodes; a 45-minute special where the Boys investigate the Winchester house in San Francisco, the Island of the Dolls in Mexico, and the Sallie House in Kansas

2. The Strange Disappearance of D. B. Cooper - A man going by the name of Dan Cooper hijacked a plane, demanded money and passage to Mexico, and then at some point jumped out of the plane and was never seen again. To this day no one knows his identity or his fate despite some of the ransom money turning up in a river somewhere.

3. The Haunted Halls of Waverly Hills Hospital - Ryan and Shane explore an abandoned asylum in Pennsylvania and some creepy stuff ensues. One of the best supernatural episodes

4. The Thrilling Gardner Museum Heist - An almost hilarious story (with reenactments!) about a seriously inept security guard and the loss of some of the world’s most beloved paintings. This was one of the first episodes after they started making money and the production quality is off the charts

5. The Scandalous Murder of William Desmond Taylor - Another excellent reenactment story about one of Hollywood’s first and biggest scandals, the suspicious murder of a leading film producer.

6. The Enigmatic Death of the Isdal Woman - A woman’s body was found suspiciously burned in the European wilderness and no one knows who she is or how exactly she was killed. Watch if you like espionage!

7. The Strange Killing of Ken Rex McElroy - An entire town seemingly rose up to murder a douchey, violent pedophile. One of the only episodes that’s actually happy?

37: 6 Things I would Have Changed About High School

1. Definitely would have joined yearbook as soon as I could

2. Wouldn’t have forced myself to swim for all 4 years; if the passion’s gone then you shouldn’t force it. It’s just a sign that you need to move on to better things

3. I would’ve taken more AP’s and maybe tried another stem ap class. I’ve always been self-conscious about how bad I am at math, but I’ve gotten a little better over the years and instead of being too afraid to challenge myself I would’ve liked to see how I could do and prove myself.

4. Worrying less about grades!! I killed myself over my grades for like three years and then I just kind of let myself go. I would have let myself have who knows how many more hours of sleep and taken the L on a couple of assignments; I’m still learning that my health is more important than perfection.

5. Meeting the right people! I wouldn’t have restricted myself to a few friends and would have branched out more by joinng stuff like JSA. It sucks meeting the right people your senior year and realizing that I was hanging out with the wrong people this whole time.

6. Spanish instead of French.

38: What Would I Name My Farm Animals if I had A Farm

I’d definitely name them all after female Shakespearian characters. My cows would be Hippolyta and Titania from Midsummer, my horse would be Desdemona from Othello, my chickens would be Gonereil, Regan, and Cordelia from King Lear and my goat would be named Gertrude from Hamlet

39: Most Useless Talent I Have

I have a really strong internal clock so when I don’t think about it too hard and guess intuitively I can usually predict how much time has passed/what time it is without looking at a clock. It’s really only useful for estimating how much time I wasted standing in the shower staring at the wall

40: Top Regret After Writing This:

Writing this instead of studying for my econ test in seven hours.

Thanks for reading!

#writer's project #thanks jen for assigning this i had fun

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sp4cewaifu · 7 years

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MASS EFFECT OC BIO

【 C H A R I S M A T I C 】【 C R A F T Y 】【 A P A T H E T I C 】

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◢ Name Artem Lykos ◢ Alias(s) Artie; Sparrow ◢ Species Turian ◢ Gender Male ◢ Age Mid/Late Twenties ◢ Class Infiltrator ◢ Career Pilot ◢ Path Paragade ◢ Physical Appearance [X] [X] [X] Bleach white carapace plates and an equally milky pale hide; Artem stands out amongst a crowd,not as a beacon of white but his unique choice of style, preferring his civs over typical Turian armour. The lightweight attire, consists of well-worn leather boots and a pair of equally threadbare khaki green trousers,complimented by a navy blue knitted turtleneck sweater that has been darned so many times it’s difficult to know where the original stitching ends and the patch work starts. His most prized possession his tawny leather Aviator with a soft floofy collar. Artem tends to utilise his beloved jacket like a figurative buffer and more often than not can be found lazily slouched into it like a turtle in it’s shell with talons stuffed into its pockets all the while looking as cool as a cucumber (as the humans say). This oddball Turian, is also a barefaced; don’t pay any heed to the black grease spot down the bridge of his nose; he put it there to throw the alien and some of his less attentive kin. You draw less attention if you slap on some paint on your face and let the masses come to their own conclusions. While missing his right eye most of his young life, adult Artem now sports a fancy high tech cybernetic implant,performing a multitude of useful functions than just providing sight assistance; such things like, scoping, hostile tagging and even combat predictions. Running it to it��s full capacity the artificial white gleam intensifies and turns tactical visor orange giving the Turian a eerie and intimidating aura. ◢ History Artem Lykos is not your typical cliché Turian, that may be because he had never experienced living under the Hierarchy, like most of his kin; he started life in the pipes and tunnels of Omega as a Duct Rat. Artie quickly picked up a multitude of nefarious skills crucial for his survival in a hostile environment, by the time he hit puberty he was deft in a range of roguish prowess, could handle a gun and was minus his right eye. Eventually too large for the Duct system, he was forced to seek another method of protection, which he found in the Blue Suns mercenary group, gifted with deceptive diplomacy Artem charmed himself into their ranks. While joining a gang wasn’t exactly a stable life choice; but for a homeless Duct Rat, the options were as scarce as they were lousy. The Blue Suns presented the sprightly young Turian with new more specialised skills, some of which Artem would have preferred to have gone without; but they were a necessary evil trade-off for the skill he especially craved to have - Piloting. Even as a nestling Artem had been enamoured with the aspiration of flying and took full advantage of any reprieve from the struggle of daily survival, to spend his time in the docking bay watching the incoming and outgoing ships, fantasising he was on them (the ones leaving at least) and eventually becoming bold enough to venture sneaking on the occasional shuttle or cruiser. Realising this dream took dedication, determination and hell of a lot of dirty work in exchange for said skill. But once he mastered it Artem became invaluable to his gang and eventually, even getting talons on a replacement cybernetic eye implant; and with this final addition to his arsenal, the quirky Turian made the leap from a petty criminal to a formidable foe. While having skills did pay bills; what really sets Artem apart from his peers is his charisma, the silver tongued Turian (literally and metaphorically) could charm a Hanar into changing religions. Friends anywhere and everywhere, Artem knows who to prod/beg/borrow/steal from to get what he needs and like any good rogue, he always knows how to make an exit; quietly slinking out the back door before anyone notices he’s gone. As for his entrances; well that was another story…

#mass effect oc #mass effect #turian #turian oc #turian male #artem lykos #artie #oc profile #oc biography #oc bio #open to roleplay #roleplay #open to rp #roleplay with me #roleplay wanted #role play with me #oc

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bleedingcoffee42 · 7 years

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Absent- Part 11

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xxx

The drive to Frenau was uneventful. She drove through a few small towns after dark but for the most part there was very little she could recall from it. Rationally that could be because it was countryside lit by moonlight, or that there was very little reason for her to know what the scenery was on this drive. She had left home to join the academy, boarded the train and never came back. There was no recollection of how things should or would look because she never made this trip. On the other hand, there was no reason to suspect it would look any different than any other rural road in Eastern region. It was that conundrum that kept her awake as she drove. Occasionally Hayate would bark and in his sleep and she'd look over at him, but very little else happened.

When she arrived in Frenau it was the middle of the night and the town was asleep. She pulled into the train station and parked, took off her pant cape to use as a pillow then got in the back seat to try to take a nap. She took off her hair clip and let her hair down for comfort and also decided it was her best look to hide her face when she approached alternative Riza. A stranger was one thing, a stranger coming to your house that looked just like you was another. Come dawn she'd leave and head to the outskirts where the farm where she was born and raised was located. The thoughts of how that meeting would go kept her up and she got very little sleep at all.

Dawn took forever to arrive, as was always the case when you were unable to sleep. She wished she could close her eyes and find out if maybe this was all a bad dream but feared doing so in case it would cause her to lose herself in her own head. What if this journey would simply reset once she let go of the conscious thought required to maintain it? She couldn't allow that, she had no time to lose by starting this over. That was easier said than done as time was ticking by so slowly. As she looked at her watch in the stream of moonlight through the back window, but she wondered if it was moving at the same rate in reality. Had this all elapsed in a matter of minutes or days?

Finally she saw the first light of dawn and got up and out of the car to dress down and try to present herself as less of a threat to the isolated version of Berthold Hawkeye's daughter. She took off her uniform jacket and tossed it on the seat and looked at herself in her turtleneck. She still looked so military, she should have at least taken one of Rebecca's uniform shirts to make her outfit more casual and less tactical. No helping that now.

She opened the front door to let Hayate out so he could pee. He stretched and ran around the other side of the car to go do his business in the bushes leaving her to try and run her hand through her hair to fix it and work herself up to leaving her gun in the car. She knew the other version of her would be armed, probably with a surplus rifle. Those were sold at most hardware stores and cheap. They were more accurate and had a longer range than the old muzzle loader and that would give her the advantage she couldn't ignore. Plus, she always liked guns. Other than books, it was what she would consider a luxury worth working into the budget.

Hayate was finished and came over to look for instruction and she pointed to the car door. He obediently jumped in and she got in and closed the door. The town was coming to life, she could see lights beginning to come on in the upstairs of the stores lining main street and it wouldn't be long before the train station employees showed up for work. It was time to leave and face her greatest fear: herself.

And that was the bitter truth of all this was that she was afraid of what became of her without Roy's intervention in her life. She wanted to believe she was a strong and independent woman, capable of making it on her own without anyone's assistance. She loved Roy and was solidly devoted the the path they had chosen together, but sometimes the chatter of how she obediently followed him everywhere worked it's way under her skin. She had chosen to give him flame alchemy. She had chosen to join the military and protect him. She had chosen to stay by his side as as assistant and put off anything more personal until they accomplished their goals. These were her decisions and he never questioned them, even if she did; even if this vision of his life without her gave her a view of how happy he could be without her.

Maybe she was his weakness and he was her strength. Maybe it wasn't equivalent exchange after all.

She was afraid that when she went to her childhood home she would see that she turned into her father because she didn't have the inspiration to be more than his legacy. Maybe she had feared his alchemy as much as him, maybe that was why she was so quick to give it to someone else and fate bound her to the man she destroyed for trying to take the easy way out. She was so quick to want to be done with that burden, her father's body was barely cold before she decided Roy was going to get what he came for. It seemed to be the best way to close that chapter on her life and move on and for a while she had been happy. Then it all unravelled.

Riza closed her eyes and tried to will herself to just start driving. She had to stop avoiding this meeting. Fear was the worst thing here because this reality was born of her ideas and knowledge and would most certainly make the most of these fears. So she found the courage to drive and leave the town as it came to life for the day and drove a few miles to the dirt driveway that lead to a pile of burnt rubble that had once been her home. She drove up to the house and parked, put her gun in the glove compartment and told Hayate to guard it. Then she got out and set her feet down on the dirt where she had once run barefoot. She left Hayate in the car, not wanting him to run around where there could still be broken glass from windows shattered by the heat as the old house burned. There were also a dog barking in the barn, protecting his owner from the trespasser, she didn't want her pup to complicate issues. He was excited but had been given his task and he sat down to protect the car and the gun even if she could see he wanted to follow her.

She closed the door and walked up a grass covered stone path to where her mother's flower beds used to be and looked at what remained of her house. The rising sun spilled light onto the pile of rubble that was now little more than a foundation and cracked charred roofing slate. Whatever didn't burn up in the fire was probably used for firewood or materials to patch up the barn. She couldn't pry her eyes from it as she tried to mentally reconstruct the home she had known, how it should have been towering above her and bringing back memories of cold winters, drafty windows and a leaking roof, but instead all it was...was missing. She had been gone so long that mentally she just felt like she was in the wrong place, even though there would be no mistaking the layout of the property or the barn situated 250 yards to the southeast.

Riza looked at it one last time and saw the stones of the foundation which outlined where the crawl space used to be, the narrow dirt cavern under the house where she had spent many hours trying to repair rotted joists and plumbing problems. There had been a root cellar as well, though due to the lack of gutters and poor grading it was unusable due to water collecting in it. It made the entire underside of the house smell damp and moldy. It was odd how she could still remember that smell and feeling of being down there so many years later.. Satisfied that those where the only feelings this rubble dredged up, she looked to the barn. She was sure there was someone awaiting her arrival, hoping that she'd turn around and leave.

She thought this would be harder, but the fact that it was missing made things a lot easier. It made sense now why her other self would choose to burn it down instead of salvage or sell it, it wasn't looming over her as she tried to move on with her life. Much like her father used to do, lurk in the corner rotting away and look down on everyone. She understood now why it had to be razed and by her own hand, because it took great strength to destroy something that defined her. A symbol of her past, just like the tattoo on her back. It had to be burned so she didn't have to set her eyes on it again.

She'd waited long enough. It was time to see what life she made for herself or rather what her father made her into.

#fic #absent #royai

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ecotone99 · 4 years

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[RF] Still Contributing

The shopkeeper to the immediate front of the man is explaining the nuances of several handguns like a pharmacist might explain medication differences. His tone has a matter-of-factness that the man is unprepared for as the shopkeeper transfers an empty magazine into the base of one of the pistols and sets it to the side on a red velvet mat, protecting the glass case. The man shifts his weight nervously and sighs at the recently produced options. Not being clear as to whether or not the man is dissatisfied or annoyed, the shopkeeper adjusts his sales tactics. Noticing the man’s hat identifying him as a veteran, he inquires as to which theater of war he saw combat action. The man drools the sounds to form the word Afghanistan and the shopkeeper recoils at the delivery of the syllables. But a reflex in him became engaged as a hammer to the place just below the kneecap is struck to ignite a sense of patriotic duty and service. It is practically hardcoded in the shopkeeper as a wide smile opens a chasm in the Southern portion of his face, as a banner with a yellow ribbon above his head is tacked to the wall circling him like a patriotic halo.

“I should’ve known better. Take a look at these!” the shopkeeper speaks quickly and enthusiastically, moving to his left to gather up a pistol from the second shelf of the glass case, “an American classic! You’ve seen this one.”

The man smiles and asks how much for this current offering. Some offers are given, and various accessorial options are provided to the man for his perusal. Without much deliberation – the man makes it clear that the latest pistol and one box of ammo is his choice.

The shopkeeper then moves to the drawers below the yellow ribbon banner and removes a packet of forms and places it in front of the man prior to the sale of the gun, explaining the forty-eight hours waiting period and background check process necessary for the purchase of a handgun. It is apparent that the man forgot to consider this and takes a moment to decide to begin writing. Annoyed and a bit hot, he adjusts the collar of his turtleneck sweater. The shopkeeper notices some bruising on his throat and starts to inquire but the man says he is no longer interested and says, “I’ll need to check with the wife.”

Some ineffectual statements of understanding are exchanged and evaporate into the perforated ceiling panels, ever providing lost energy to the universe’s entropy. It is a chaos that only the universe may have. The man holds a stride that appears wholly single-minded. He tips his hat low onto his brow and moves out into the biting cold of the North Chicago streets. The neon of the gun store’s sign is reflecting onto the wet and melting snow of the cracking and splitting roadway, resembling a laborer's hands under a running tap. The friction of tires and scurrying feet contributing further to the inevitable collision with entropy and the frozen forever death of reality.

Some passing cars cut the quiet to the bone with the speeding noise of unidentifiable music and the man places a cigarette between his lips and lights it in a short motion with a blow torch. A deep inhale and a soft exhalation of smoke runs to the rear of the man’s shoulders resembling a steam train as he moves steadily in a new direction. As he moves his pace remains steady and uninterested in the destination. Every so often another person may pass in the opposite direction and he does not lift his head or consider his cigarette smoke or the other person. Always passing and never acknowledging – unidentifiable music and a never-ending parade of unknown souls with unknown lives. He is no different as he is unknown to them. He adjusts his collar once more, chafed by the rough stitch of the sweater and his wounds.

He comes inevitably to a corner store and purchases a small bottle of vodka. It is easy for an alcoholic to hide in the winter of the city. Scarves can cover your breath and rosy complexion. It is expected of you – it is understood. It is only linearly regressive to those who may care but out here in the neon melting mirrors of streets, the momentum of life holds no judgment. He is safe to self-destruct. There are examples everywhere and he only adds order to the chaos of it all – the health and wellness of it all, it is cast aside. Out here, he is well supported, nameless, and encouraged, money driving the nighttime economy. A good patriot.

The journey of smoking, drinking, adjusting, and ignoring brings us to an embankment where atop train tracks move in two directions. He stands on the rails, smoking, drinking, adjusting, and considering the direction. From the North, a train appears over the horizon rumbling toward his smoke engulfed body as he remains still. The train’s conductor spots the man and begins to stop the train and blow the horn as loud as possible, hopeful that the man is simply a drunk misunderstanding his location. The man blinks slow and realizes he had only just lit this cigarette and had a bit of vodka left to swig. He walks off the tracks and continues North, stopping at another corner store for more booze.

Smoking, drinking, adjusting, and contributing.

He arrives at the foot of a flight of stairs within a small apartment building with a three-flight walk-up. A woman slips by him with a dog on a leash and says, “oh hey – you’re the guy in 2B. I’m your neighbor, I just moved in.”

The man groans and tosses his empty bottle of vodka to his rear and out into the street. The woman and the dog quickly turn about and hurry up the stairs as the man sways at the foot of them. He ascends clumsily and slowly as a slamming door above him is heard and a lock is turned with a click followed by the sound of a link of the chain being applied to a door guard. He stumbles past her door breathing out, sloppily, “welcome to the building,” but it expels quietly into the hallway with no ears but his to hear it.

He finds his way into his apartment and flicks on the light near the door and leaves it ajar. He scans the room and sees the crumbles of ceiling plaster with the rope lying mockingly near the television set with a kicked over bucket playing dead in the corner of the room. He collapses onto the couch and falls heavily and jealously into sleep.

Maybe tomorrow.

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douglassmiith · 4 years

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7 Habits of Super Successful Business Owners

June 23, 2020 6 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

While every business owner has a unique way of doing things, certain skills and habits are almost a necessity for rising to the top, regardless of industry, product or service.

The habits of successful business owners go beyond a commitment to black turtlenecks, even though many of the world’s most iconic business minds have been notorious for their work uniforms. These habits are more like best practices for life, giving small but strategic advantages that make success a more likely outcome.

The good news is any of us can adopt these habits. The bad news, however, is that you might have to become a morning person.

Related: 12 Small Adjustments That Make the Difference Between Success and Failure in Every Aspect of Your Life

If more success is what you’re looking for, first look at how you run your business. After making any necessary changes, try incorporating one (or more) of these habits to give yourself even more of a competitive edge.

1. Wake up early.

I told you this was coming! But it’s worth it, I promise. Lots of successful people swear by waking up early and the benefits that it affords. That’s because when you give yourself more hours in the day, you don’t only gain more time to get work done, you also gain more time to get everything else done. For example, exercise (which is strongly correlated with success) or even just a relaxing morning routine can allow you to ease into the day instead of rushing out the door.

If you’re used to sleeping in, or if you don’t consider yourself a morning person, try using this simple hack: Put your alarm clock in another room that’s still close enough to hear. That way, you have to get up to turn it off, which will hopefully encourage you to stay up instead of hitting snooze and going back to bed.

2. Hire people who are smarter than you are.

Part of being successful is knowing what you do best — and what you don’t do best. All good business owners to admit they don’t know everything and hire people whose strengths complement their own. If you focus on hiring people who bring to the table skills you don’t, you’ll have coworkers you can rely on when things get tricky, plus lots of helpful learning opportunities.

To ensure you’re delivering on this, create a hiring process that’s effective at vetting candidates and enables your team to decipher which potential new hire will fit with your culture. Make sure you ask the right questions, and if necessary, ask for samples of their work so you can see just how effective they are at what they do.

Related: The Biggest Mistake You Can Make When Hiring for a Job (and How to Fix It)

3. Take an interest in finance.

You probably didn’t go into business for a love of balancing the books, but as a business owner, it’s crucial that you’re always apprised of the financial side of your enterprise. Even if you hire someone to be in charge of the numbers, paying attention to your business’s finances will lower your risk of unwanted surprises. It also ensures you always know where the money’s going and where it’s coming from.

So, be on the lookout for business financial tips that can get you up to speed on ways your company can stay lucrative. By taking an interest in your business’s financials, you’ll be more strategic with your decision-making and gain insight into your most lucrative practices and tactics. Then you can double down on those efforts instead of guessing and wasting money in the long run.

4. Keep track of ideas.

Long before digital notes apps, successful entrepreneurs were carrying around pocket notebooks and pencils to write down ideas as they appeared. You never know when the lightning flash of inspiration is going to strike, and just like lightning, your ideas can be forgotten as quickly as they appear. Write down all ideas, good and bad, and revisit your notes regularly to see what’s worth pursuing.

5. Be open to opportunity.

When the next door opens for you, will you be ready to jump through? Great business owners look for opportunities everywhere, whether that opportunity comes in the form of a new connection, a new idea or a new niche to explore. Keeping an eye out for opportunity means that you’re more likely to notice it when it appears.

Not all opportunities will hit you over the head or present themselves to you on a silver platter. Most require having an open mind and willingness to see things for what they can be instead of what they are.

Related: 5 Tips for Recognizing a Meaningful Business Opportunity When You See One

6. Have a helpful mindset.

Running a business requires taking responsibility for all facets of how that operates, even if you’re not the one on the ground getting the work done. Successful business owners lend help when and where it’s needed, without mind for whether it’s their direct responsibility or not. Being willing to lend a hand shows your employees that you’re committed to their individual success and the success of the business. It also goes a long way toward boosting and sustaining morale.

Even though business leaders are at the top of the chain, they aren’t in a playing field all their own. The best and most successful leaders aren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and put in the hard work.

Related: Helpful Mindset Hacks for a Greater Life

7. Take time for non-work activities.

Hard work is critical for success, but so is balance. That’s why a work hard, play hard attitude is so common among business owners. From volunteering to video gaming, engaging in activities that feed your soul without any direct connection to your business is necessary to prevent burnout and stay motivated. Finding time for hobbies can make you a better entrepreneur. And who knows? You might even find your next great idea in the process.

It’s never too late to adopt new habits. While part of forging success means finding your own best way of doing things, there’s no underestimating the power of the habits listed above for spurring your success even further. Change up your way of doing things even slightly, and you might notice a significant boost in your productivity, your output and your ability to capture insight and inspiration.

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laurelkrugerr · 4 years

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7 Habits of Super Successful Business Owners

June 23, 2020 6 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

While every business owner has a unique way of doing things, certain skills and habits are almost a necessity for rising to the top, regardless of industry, product or service.

The good news is any of us can adopt these habits. The bad news, however, is that you might have to become a morning person.

Related: 12 Small Adjustments That Make the Difference Between Success and Failure in Every Aspect of Your Life

1. Wake up early.

2. Hire people who are smarter than you are.

Related: The Biggest Mistake You Can Make When Hiring for a Job (and How to Fix It)

3. Take an interest in finance.

4. Keep track of ideas.

5. Be open to opportunity.

Related: 5 Tips for Recognizing a Meaningful Business Opportunity When You See One

6. Have a helpful mindset.

Related: Helpful Mindset Hacks for a Greater Life

7. Take time for non-work activities.

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Website Design & SEO Delray Beach by DBL07.co

Delray Beach SEO

source http://www.scpie.org/7-habits-of-super-successful-business-owners/ source https://scpie1.blogspot.com/2020/06/7-habits-of-super-successful-business.html

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riichardwilson · 4 years

Text

7 Habits of Super Successful Business Owners

June 23, 2020 6 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

While every business owner has a unique way of doing things, certain skills and habits are almost a necessity for rising to the top, regardless of industry, product or service.

The good news is any of us can adopt these habits. The bad news, however, is that you might have to become a morning person.

Related: 12 Small Adjustments That Make the Difference Between Success and Failure in Every Aspect of Your Life

1. Wake up early.

2. Hire people who are smarter than you are.

Related: The Biggest Mistake You Can Make When Hiring for a Job (and How to Fix It)

3. Take an interest in finance.

4. Keep track of ideas.

5. Be open to opportunity.

Related: 5 Tips for Recognizing a Meaningful Business Opportunity When You See One

6. Have a helpful mindset.

Related: Helpful Mindset Hacks for a Greater Life

7. Take time for non-work activities.

loading…

Website Design & SEO Delray Beach by DBL07.co

Delray Beach SEO

source http://www.scpie.org/7-habits-of-super-successful-business-owners/ source https://scpie.tumblr.com/post/621768918907895808

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scpie · 4 years

Text

7 Habits of Super Successful Business Owners

June 23, 2020 6 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

While every business owner has a unique way of doing things, certain skills and habits are almost a necessity for rising to the top, regardless of industry, product or service.

The good news is any of us can adopt these habits. The bad news, however, is that you might have to become a morning person.

Related: 12 Small Adjustments That Make the Difference Between Success and Failure in Every Aspect of Your Life

1. Wake up early.

2. Hire people who are smarter than you are.

Related: The Biggest Mistake You Can Make When Hiring for a Job (and How to Fix It)

3. Take an interest in finance.

4. Keep track of ideas.

5. Be open to opportunity.

Related: 5 Tips for Recognizing a Meaningful Business Opportunity When You See One

6. Have a helpful mindset.

Related: Helpful Mindset Hacks for a Greater Life

7. Take time for non-work activities.

loading…

Website Design & SEO Delray Beach by DBL07.co

Delray Beach SEO

source http://www.scpie.org/7-habits-of-super-successful-business-owners/

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cristobalcarpenterblog · 5 years

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Content Draft – RE Marketing – Placester

Unique. Original. Remarkable. It’s difficult to develop real estate marketing ideas day in and day out that meet each of these criteria — especially when you spend much of your time on the road meeting with clients and leads.

Sometimes, however, the best remedy for marketing fatigue is thinking outside the box and identifying ways your primary marketing channels – website, SEO, email marketing, paid advertising and social media content – can differentiate your agency or brokerage from the competition. .

Below, we’ve compiled a list of 17 creative real estate marketing ideas to help promote your agency and generate more leads. Whether you’re just starting or are an experienced realtor looking to attract new clients, this guide will give you the tips and materials needed to build a successful marketing plan.

Since this is such a comprehensive guide, we have broken the marketing ideas into categories. Click the links to jump to a specific section of interest.

Build a Rock Solid Marketing Foundation

17 Outside-The-Box Real Estate Marketing Ideas

90 Actionable Real Estate Marketing Tips (By Category)

Essential Real Estate Marketing Materials

How to Build a Successful Real Estate Marketing Plan

[toc heading_levels=”3″]

Build a Rock Solid Marketing Foundation

The success of your real estate business depends on how well your online marketing funnel attracts new home buyers. 44% of all home buyers and 99% of Millennials go to the Internet first when finding properties for sale. As a realtor, you need a professional website if you expect to increase revenue over time.

Home buyers expect quality as they search for homes and the realtor that best fits their needs. Your website should showcase your property listings, brand and expertise. Tools that help you stand out include:

Branded messaging and images

Responsive design

IDX integration

Blog content

Lead capture landing pages

Area pages

Your brand provides site visitors immediate understanding about who you are, your expertise and how you’re positioned to help them. A responsive realtor website means your pages show perfectly no matter what type of device (desktop, laptop, tablet or cell phone) your prospects use when accessing your content.

IDX stands for Internet Data Exchange. As a member of a multiple listing service (MLS), you gain the ability to pull your listings into your IDX integrated website. High-quality images are key to standing out and providing prospects a clear picture of what life looks like once they purchase a home from you.

Let’s take a look at how to combine your website with innovative real estate marketing methods in order to capture new leads and generate home sales.

17 Outside-The-Box Real Estate Marketing Ideas

1. Publish a local market quiz on your real estate website.

If you’ve ever checked out BuzzFeed before, then you know people like to take quizzes on just about any subject. Test your audience with a short, multiple-choice quiz on something of interest. See if they know things like which famous people grew up in the area and tidbits about your town’s history. The questions or topics can even be created around broader subjects unrelated to your market, like music, movies, or some other facet of pop culture.

If you want to be the ultimate resource for your leads, however, a thought-provoking quiz on the ins and outs of buying or selling a home, like the one below from Kevin Ho and Jonathan McNarry of San Francisco-based Vanguard Properties, could be your ticket to gaining their confidence.

Think of these quick exams as one of those real estate marketing tools to use once in a while — perhaps as part of your email marketing campaign. You could even create a contest around the quiz: Require those who take it to fill out a lead capture form at the end and give the winner a gift card to a local restaurant or cafe.

2. Offer Home Valuations to Capture Seller Leads

Potential sellers want to know how much their home is worth. Integrate a home valuation tool into your website and capture seller leads.

Here is an example of what this might look like on your site:

Once your visitor enters their address, they’re prompted to provide their email address and other information in order to view their home valuation report. After they provide this information, you have a new seller lead to contact.

Even if they refuse to sign up through email, you can follow-up through regular mail because your home valuation software has already captured the physical address.

3. Film an explainer video that goes into detail about your agency.

Differentiate your business from other agents in your market with real estate explainer videos. Don a black turtleneck and explain your services as if you were Steve Jobs (rest in peace). Pretend to be a political candidate and pitch people on why you’re the right person for the job. Heck, even take a page out of the “Arrested Development” playbook and mock those awful 1-800 lawyer commercials.

youtube

These videos are traditionally meant to be serious, as they relay your value proposition and what makes your agency successful and worth hiring. But as noted, personality plays a big role in the decision-making of buyers and sellers, so have some fun while still getting across the info that’s essential for consumers to know about your brand.

4. Provide a complimentary moving truck

This is a unique way to stand out in your local market. Invest in a moving truck with your branding on the side. Offer it to your clients after they purchase or sell their home. Your business benefits from additional branding and advertising every time your clients put the truck to use.

Get creative when clients don’t need your moving truck. Take it to home shows. Park it in parts of town that benefit you with high volumes of vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

5. Answer buyer/seller questions on your blog

An effective way to get ideas for blog content is to identify questions your target market is asking. Two tools help you find these lists of questions:

Answer The Public

People Also Ask

Answer The Public is a free tool that generates a list of questions based on your keyword search. For example, if you type in “los angeles homes”, the questions received from this search may include:

Should I buy a los angeles home?

How much is it to buy a los angeles home?

People Also Ask is a free feature inside a Google search:

A third tool for finding interesting searches to target is a chrome extension called Keywords Everywhere. It gives you related searches (along with estimated search volume) to any Google search:

6. Add some flavor to your real estate video marketing.

Sending an email to your contacts to wish them a happy holiday likely won’t nurture your leads through the sales funnel like blog posts and promotional email messages do. Having said that, getting in the spirit for widely celebrated goings-on locally or nationally can humanize your brand.

Look at what the team at Modern Life Realty and ERA Justin Realty teams accomplished in the following recordings: The former takes a typical video marketing technique and turns it on its head by speaking to the camera with … well … whatever it is the featured gentleman is donning. Meanwhile, the latter hops on the “Call Me Maybe” bandwagon (which has long since been abandoned, but that’s another story) and capitalizes on its 15 minutes of fame.

youtube

Both took a chance, which is what you have to do from time to time with your real estate marketing strategy, as these tactics can often pay big dividends.

On top of these outlandish videos, consider conducting “man-on-the-street” interviews as well. The subjects of these videos don’t have to pertain to your business or even real estate in general. You could ask them philosophical questions, like what the meaning of life is, or ask them for their thoughts on a local college or professional sports team.

7. Develop a blog post or video series highlighting great area restaurants and entertainment.

Though property price, size, style, and features are the top considerations for the modern home buyer, living in a community with plentiful food and entertainment options is an increasingly important factor as well.

Yelp, TripAdvisor, and a wealth of other websites offer up reviews and details about movie theaters, restaurants, and similar businesses. But these portals have an issue: They can take forever to sort through just to find a well-written review or locate the right information. That’s where you, the all-knowing real estate agent, comes into play.

Develop a series of blog posts and/or videos that gives home buyers interested in your market the lowdown on the premier eateries and establishments in your area.

Finding these locales shouldn’t be a problem — simply think of your own favorite places to see a play or grab a bite with friends. Then, write down why you love those places and share your opinions with the world, like Realtor Michelle Calkins does in her blog post series and Realtor David Gonzalez does in the YouTube clip below.

youtube

8. Order unique business cards that stand out.

Business cards will never go out of style. You’ll always have in-person meetings and meet-ups with buyers, sellers, and other industry professionals, meaning it’s vital to have your information on hand to share with them. But a boring card that lists your business name and contact details in the smallest, plainest font won’t be memorable.

Take a risk and order some original business cards few have likely seen before. For instance, take a look at these fine examples featured on ViralNova that take the concept to the next level.

Research the best business card creation services out there and try to find one that offers to develop distinct versions like the one above that will get people to remember you long after your conversation with them ends. It might seem like a small item to focus so much of your attention on, but marketing for real estate agents continues to evolve — and become more competitive — by the day, so seemingly minor touches like this can keep you top-of-mind.

9. Incorporate your pet into some of your real estate listing photos.

Though not every home buyer will care for seeing a cute French bulldog or Grumpy Cat look-alike throughout a property they tour on your real estate website, chances are the occasional photo featuring pets won’t turn off consumers — and may even appeal to the buyers you’re looking for.

Use your pup or cat, or borrow one from a family member or friend, to feature in your listing shots. (Side note: If you somehow convince your canine pal to get in the relaxed pose as the one above, as featured in this Curbed article, you should take up a side business as a dog whisperer).

10. Use Instagram Stories

The key to building your brand on Instagram (and all social media platforms) is to become great at getting your followers to engage with you. Instagram Stories provide you a method for generating engagement and gaining brand recognition in the process.

One way to use Instagram Stories is to run a giveaway or contest. Direct followers to take screenshots as they listen in to your IG Live segment and direct message you those images. Choose a winner and give them something fun or helpful (a free book about qualifying for a loan, for example).

Cross pollinate your social media channels with the above method. Use it with your Facebook Lives or tweets and get your FB and Twitter followers to discover you on Instagram.

11. Devise a fun game to accompany awards shows or televised events

Ever see publications, bloggers, and brands share “drinking games” for events like the Academy Awards and the Super Bowl? Join in and create your own version of a game (of the drinking variety or something different is up to you). You could even create an interactive or printable bingo chart, of sorts, (see The Wall Street Journal’s interactive take below) for people to use during these events and see if your amusing insights and predictions come true. Brand this marketing collateral with your logo to get those who partake in your game to remember where they got it.

12. Post ideas and tips for homeowners, buyers, and sellers in Reddit.

Before you get all flustered wondering how Reddit can help your real estate marketing (or what Reddit even is), just know that the site isn’t simply the “front page of the internet,” as it promotes itself to be. There are endless amounts of “subreddit” forum boards on the site devoted to the most specific topics in the world — including homeownership, home buying, and home selling. Find ones in which people looking to buy or sell properties need sage wisdom and where homeowners are looking for advice regarding their mortgages or tax tips.

13. Create in-depth graphs, guides, charts, or maps.

The best real estate marketing plan includes plenty of graphics — but not just any will do. Taking time to hone your Photoshop skills (or building enough capital to hire a professional graphic designer) will allow you to add striking images, charts, graphs, and other visual elements to your blog and social media posts. When that time comes, ensure your graphics explain something of value to your audience, like the best parts of your local market.

The infographic below is a perfect example of this: Startup Seattle, an organization run by the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development to help foster a great environment for local startups, created this beginner’s guide that explains the current startup landscape in the Emerald City.

You can also be a bit humorous and develop less comprehensive graphics, like the one from Kind of Normal, via its Truth Facts comic. Home buyer and seller jokes may seem corny, but a laugh could lead to more clicks on your website and more leads in your contacts database.

14. Capitalize on the popularity of the latest internet memes.

You may think memes are simply another internet distraction — one that keeps you from completing important tasks, like segmenting real estate leads in your customer relationship management (CRM) database or scheduling meetings with prospective clients. On the contrary, though: Memes offer a (dare we say) fun real estate marketing tactic that is just now taking off with agents and can get some laughs from your audience.

The second you notice that a (politically correct and totally appropriate-for-work) meme is making the rounds online, try to come up with a way to use it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest (like Realtor Paul Fernandez’s board above), or even on your blog. A post titled “10 Feelings All Home Buyers Have During the Process” filled with memes could be your key to connecting with your targeted demographic.

15. Fabricate mock logos for your agency that replicate famous ones.

If you’re a big fan of a particular TV show, incorporate the famous typeface and/or imagery associated with one (or more) of the series with your own real estate logo. Make it timely by sharing an email with your list featuring your new, short-term branding and a message about when the new season premieres. There are several directions you could take this faux-go (get it?), so find a well-known pop culture design or symbol you can play around with for your own real estate marketing. Just be sure not to use it in too many promotional materials (the last thing you want is to get a cease-and-desist from billion-dollar entities).

16. Send Handwritten Notes

You have the opportunity to offer your prospects and clients a unique experience when they open a mailed envelope and discover a handwritten note inside.

Combine this strategy with the home valuation tool mentioned above. Send handwritten notes to any home valuation leads that failed to enter their email address.

17. Create a referral system

(Source)

While you build your online presence and leadflow, don’t forget about getting referrals from happy clients. One of the easiest ways to get referrals is to simply ask. Focus on providing your prospects a smooth transition throughout the entire home buying process and then ask them who they know.

Staying focused on providing ongoing tips and helpful content to email subscribers will foster more referrals. Send periodic content to your clients that provides home owner tips. This high touch follow-up keeps you “top of mind” when past customers hear that friends and family are looking to buy a home.

90 Actionable Real Estate Marketing Tips (By Category)

We just covered some outside-the-box real estate marketing ideas, and in this section we’re going to look at 90 additional real estate marketing tips you can use to drive more traffic and leads into your agency or brokerage.

The marketing tips have been broken down into the categories shown below. Use the jump links to quickly navigate to a section of interest.

Real Estate Branding IdeasReal Estate SEO Tips

Real Estate Advertisement Ideas

Real Estate Social Media Ideas

Real Estate Listing Marketing Ideas

Real Estate Email Ideas

Real Estate Video Marketing Ideas

Offline Real Estate Marketing Ideas

Real Estate Branding Ideas

Develop a strong real estate agent bio and add it to your About Page.

When leads find your brand online, they should be able to get a strong sense of your professional qualifications and personality. Craft a real estate bio that leads will love, detailing your experiences, values, and interests, and put it prominently on the ‘About Me’ page of your website.

Get a professional headshot.

Source: Brendan Bartic

You are your brand, so your personal photograph should exude a friendly demeanor and elevate your brand with a professional look.

Hire a professional photographer who can provide tips on positioning, and who can make sure the final product is crisp and presentable in a variety of formats. If you’re low on funds early in your career, you can also opt to take one on your own that looks professional.

Develop a value proposition.

If you want to be a successful agent, you should not only have unique characteristics that set you apart from the competition, but you should be able to define what those unique features mean to your clients, leads, and community.

A short value proposition should exhibit your value and strengths as an agent. This statement will be reused in your marketing materials again and again.

Prepare a 30-second pitch to use when talking to new leads.

If you created a value proposition (above), you can think of a pitch as something very similar. But how things are read on paper doesn’t necessarily translate well to personal interactions.

In your initial conversations with leads, you should be able to make a brief but powerful statement that conveys you’re a knowledgeable agent who knows the market better than anyone. Once you’ve created your pitch, practice it out loud.

Get some swag printed with your branding.

Brand exposure in your area can help grow your business. Get items like calendars, pens, keychains, and notepads, and have your name, logo, and contact information printed on them to pass out to clients or at local events.

Send a request to clients to review your services online.

A company’s online star rating is the number one factor used by consumers to judge a business.

Online reviews have a prominent presence in search engines, have a large impact on your business’s reputation, and are a major source of lead referrals. Take control of your brand by requesting online reviews from good past clients, and make it easy for them to post in multiple places.

Ask your best former clients for testimonials.

Happy past clients are your best brand ambassadors. Their opinions and feedback on your site will give your brand social clout. Approach some of your best former clients and ask if they would offer feedback for a testimonial. Written is good, but testimonials with photos or video are even better.

Have a unique signature item or look.

Many agents have a distinctive look, whether it’s a color they wear often, a style of dress, a hat, or hairstyle (our VP of Marketing, Seth Price is known for his pink-hued pants). Develop a positive, distinctive factor for your personal brand that is recognizable and memorable.

Bonus Resource: Check out this guide for more real estate branding ideas.

Real Estate Website/Blog Ideas

Create a responsive website with multiple search features.

Online users are diverse: They access websites in a variety of ways (mobile is only increasing by the day), and they want to search for properties in different ways.

Make sure your website is responsive so it can adapt to any device, and that there are varying ways to search so they can seek out the ideal property types for them.

Set up squeeze pages or lead capture forms on your site for lead gen.

Lead capture forms are great ways to secure lead information so you can take communication into your hands. Set up squeeze pages after someone clicks on a property advertisement, or perhaps before someone gets all the information about a property on your site.

Additionally, you should also have optional lead capture forms on each website page for leads interested in getting more information. Forms should ask for name, phone number, email, and have an area where someone can pose a question.

Put your contact information on every page of your website.

With lead generation being one of your top priorities, your contact information shouldn’t be hidden or only on one page of your website. Prominently showcase your contact information on every page to make it easy for leads to reach out.

Include beautiful royalty-free local imagery.

When it comes to building a great online experience for your website visitors, nothing does the job quite as well as local photography. Getting access to royalty-free images can be difficult, but use one of the many online and local resources to get great shots of your local area.

Give leads expense information and calculators.

Most clients have financial questions. Create a document you can give to leads to help them calculate their expenses, before, during, and after a sale.

Use calls to action to increase user engagement.

Most people place calls to action at the end of a blog post, but you should use them in other areas of your site as well:

sidebar prompts to sign up for your newsletters

a homepage area asking folks to get in touch with you

or at the top of lead capture forms so folks can get more information on a property

Effective calls to action include enticing copy that get a user to take action on your site.

Add testimonials to your homepage.

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Once you’ve requested testimonials from your happiest and most vocal clients, showcase them on your homepage to leverage the social proof they provide.

Add social sharing buttons to your site.

Social sharing is a huge part of generating referral traffic and building brand recognition online. This process should be easy for your website visitors so anyone can click them and share your content quickly with minimal effort. Many website themes carry these as standard, or you can opt to install a plugin for your site.

Write and publish content on your blog regularly.

Source: Pixabay

Successful inbound marketing starts with consistent content creation. This enhances your search engine optimization, generates traffic, and gives real value to your clients.

Consistency is crucial in blogging: You should expect to publish between 2–5 blog posts per week on your market, listings, area details, and real estate statistics. See these 101 blog post ideas for inspiration.

Develop guides for buyers and sellers.

Nearly every lead you encounter is going to have lots of questions about buying or selling, which means you’re probably answering similar questions over and over and scrambling to find resources that might help them.

Create your own downloadable or printable guides you can give to leads that include lots of information about processes and expectations.

Vary post types.

Not every piece of content has to be a long-form piece. In fact, most readers love variety. Create a mix of written blogs, ebooks, infographics, videos, photos, lists, etc.

Curate content from other sources to include on your site.

Not every piece of content on your site has to be completely original. Effectively curating content from other sites, crediting the original source, and adding your own perspective makes content creation simple and quick.

Create multiple websites.

While you may already have a real estate website, many successful agents representing large geographic areas or many properties create multiple websites, with each covering specific niche areas of the market so they can target the needs of specific leads.

Use analytics to drive your marketing.

Whether it’s a piece of content that gets high traffic, a listing that gets high time-on-site statistics, or an influx in referrals from a particular blogger, monitor your website analytics and visitor behavior to determine where to focus your marketing.

Bonus Resources:

39 Best Real Estate Website Examples

Custom Landing Pages: The Key to Real Estate Leads

Real Estate Listing Marketing Ideas

Optimize listing pages.

Optimize your listing pages with local keywords, proper address formatting, appropriately sized photos, and the necessary links.

Feature top listings on the home page

Your home page is usually one of the most visited pages on your website. Take advantage of this traffic by offering your best listings here.

Construct great real estate listing copy.

Great writing can make or break a listing’s potential. The bare minimum details won’t do the trick if you want to get the best leads and offers. Write great real estate listing copy with interesting adjectives and descriptions that entice readers.

Make your listings look their best.

Source: Pixabay

Stage properties and hire a professional photographer to capture the best angles of every room.

Dedicate blog posts or landing pages to showcase your listings in detail.

A dedicated post or landing page for a listing can help you build a robust marketing campaign for a property (beyond just the listing page).

Add more in-depth descriptions, photos, video, and information about the area to better pitch the property. In order to attract organic traffic, optimize the post with:

hyper-local keywords

address names

and property type keywords

Share your blog with your network as you would a regular blog post.

Advertise listings in a dedicated newsletter to your leads and clients.

Leverage email’s great ROI by using your newsletter to advertise your listings to clients. Keep your message fairly brief and to-the-point, adding in alluring subject lines and headers, a few striking photos, descriptive detail, and a link to your listing or landing page for the property.

Create video presentations for your listings.

Photos are expected as part of listings, but video can build a fuller experience for your leads and give them a more in-depth perspective on the property. Create professional property videos for priority listings to generate a host of interest.

Post listing information on every social media outlet.

Listings on your website are great, but let your followers know about new featured listings by posting them on each social media site.

Develop listing boards on Pinterest.

Pinterest is a great platform to create mood or informational boards around listings.

Include pictures of your property, scenes and highlights of the area, and general tips and advice for buyers. Be sure to include your contact details and links to the listing page or landing page for the listing.

Bonus resource: Looking for more creative ideas to market your real estate listings? Check out this in-depth guide.

Real Estate Social Media Ideas

Setting up social pages.

Source: Pixabay

Your brand should have a strong presence on social media, as these are a major driver of successful marketing campaigns and referral traffic.

Even if you don’t currently use all of them, it’s good practice to secure usernames on every platform in case you choose to use them later, including Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, SlideShare, Foursquare and Instagram. If possible, use the same account name across all platforms.

Create custom social media bios for each platform.

Every social media site is unique: Their users interact differently and expect different types of personality (think a hilarious video on Facebook versus a career advice article on LinkedIn).

Additionally, each platform gives you different amounts of space to write a bio. Write social media bios that stand out on each platform but still sound consistent across all your social media channels.

Invite friends and family to like your pages or follow you.

Every page starts with zero, so allow your personal network to give your online social brands a boost.

Invite friends, family, colleagues, and past clients to like or follow your professional pages so you can build an immediate following (and so they can see and share what you post).

Add social media retargeting tags to your website

(Source)

Since you know that most visitors to your site won’t convert to customers immediately, it’s important to use retargeting. This also applies to email leads who don’t convert right away.

Retargeting is a method where you place a piece of code, called a pixel, on your web pages. This then allows you to “retarget”, or “remarket” to those people across different social media platforms.

For example, a Facebook pixel on your site allows you to place an ad in front of those visitors the next time they go on Facebook. You can do the same with other channels like Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.

This marketing method lets you re-engage prospects no matter where they go. It builds your brand and creates awareness about your services each time a past site visitor sees your offerings.

Post regularly on each social media platform.

Social media is only as effective as how it’s used.

Successful agents using social media know it takes a consistent posting to build an audience that will engage with you. This means posting almost daily on your core social media sites.

Use our post to learn more about what types of content work best on each social site.

Include social follow buttons on your website.

You should make it more than easy for folks to find and follow your social media accounts. Whether it’s in your header, footer, or sidebar, make sure your icons are prominent on the page.

Showcase your savvy with video.

youtube

Video specials that offer your real estate knowledge, advice to buyers and sellers, or give in-depth previews of listings can deliver a major return on your marketing.

Additionally, optimizing your YouTube videos can increase the SEO of your content.

Get a social media scheduler.

Being an avid poster on social media doesn’t have to mean being glued to your computer every minute of the day. Many posts, like blog posts, announcements, property details, and general advice can be scheduled in advance using automated systems like Hootsuite, Buffer, or Edgar.

Generate slideshows.

Multimedia presentations produced from content on your website can build readership from audiences who prefer visuals to plain text. Publishing slideshows on platforms like SlideShare puts your content in front of potentially thousands of users.

Join a Twitter discussion (or run your own).

Twitter is a great platform to engage with other professionals or leads. Follow major real estate–related topics by searching relevant hashtags and offer thoughts or pose questions.

You can also host your own Twitter chat, in which case you’ll need to advertise it to your leads via email and social media, letting them know how to engage with you during that time to get their questions answered.

Develop or join groups, and start discussions there to build thought leadership.

Many discussions and coalitions are built within social media groups. Join some to build your network, or create your own to build a resource where you can offer advice.

Run a contest through social media.

Contests can be an effective way to generate leads. Use social media to host a contest, and offer a prize, like a gift card to a local business or a free consultation.

Publish new, original thoughtful articles on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn now allows anyone to create thoughtful articles in their publisher platform. Using this platform can get your thoughts in front of thousands of readers.

Bonus resource: For more information on real estate social media marketing, check out this in-depth guide.

Real Estate Advertisement Ideas

Learn how to set up advertising campaigns.

Whether it’s for search engines or social media, learn the basics of setting goals, understanding pricing, and setting up campaigns.

Develop keyword targets.

Set your targets for both the focused keywords you want to target and the types of customers who would make the most qualified leads. You’ll use this information later when setting up campaigns.

Bonus: Ultimate Guide to Real Estate Keywords (+ 105 Ideas)

Write your advertisement copy.

While the length and scope of your copy will depend on platform, most ads contain a value proposition and call to action. Write these early and give yourself a few options to test against each other.

Choose a vendor to set up campaigns for you.

Setting up, monitoring, and tracking advertising campaigns takes time and lots of advertising savvy.

Agents who want to maximize the impact of their ads should work with a reputable company where they can have a human oversee their campaigns and provide guidance on how they are performing.

Creating an ad budget.

Understand the factors that will impact the investment you should make to get the return you’re hoping for. Then, calculate your PPC ROI based on your budget.

Buy listings on Zillow

Zillow gets over 39 million visitors per month:

Their Zillow Premier Agent program allows you to advertise and show up for local Trulia and Zillow listings. Buy your own listings and take advantage of the traffic already flowing to this massive site.

Use social media.

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Social media advertising can put your message in front of targeted users. Major networks like Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIn offer options to put your message in front of their large audiences.

Develop captivating graphics for ads.

The strongest ads have visual elements to draw users in. Create custom photos or video to pair with your ads and maximize their potential.

Advertise in high-audience newsletters.

There are popular consumer-facing real estate brands that send out regular newsletters. Advertising there can put your ad in front of thousands of readers, but it’s best to go with hyper-local newsletters.

Create a dedicated landing page connected to your ad.

If you want to increase lead generation from your ad, a click should lead to a landing page where you provide more value to your lead (based on the content of the original ad), as well as a lead capture form.

Create custom media around featured properties.

For featured listings, create custom images, graphics, and video to advertise the best aspects of a specific property.

Targeted video advertising of single properties.

Target specific users with YouTube advertising by showcasing captivating video of single properties.

Layer on retargeting across key channels

Identify the social media channels most important to your business and re-engage your warm audience. For example, target non-converting website visitors the next time they visit Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram.

Bonus Resource: The Real Estate Advertising Guide for New Agents

Real Estate SEO

Set up a Google My Business page

Google My Business allows you to manage and control how your real estate business appears in Google Search and Maps listings.

Filling out your NAP (name, address and phone number) profile completely helps you show up properly in Google’s 3-pack map listing:

The reason you want your agency to show up in the 3-pack is because searchers pay attention to the visual aspect of the:

map

ratings

prominent website and directions links

the Call button on mobile devices

Getting your site listed in this top 3 listing area improves your opportunities to attract quality local leads.

Submit site to major aggregators

Much of the information spread throughout the local search ecosystem is handled by the major data aggregators. Localeze, Factual, Acxiom and Infogroup are the four major aggregators that publish local business information to social media, search engines, directories and review websites.

Submitting your information to these aggregators increases your chances that Google and other search engines take your business seriously. You will gain a competitive advantage when you’ve listed your agency correctly, while other local real estate agents and brokers have failed to do so.

Ensure consistent NAP across all online properties

Employ a consistent approach when filling out company information at the major aggregators or directories. A large part to increasing your local search rankings is to ensure that every listing is consistent with the next.

For example, each listing should have your business name, address, phone number and website listed exactly the same. This prevents duplicate listings and avoids confusion as search engine algorithms decide how to rank your business.

More specifically, any online property that lists your NAP is called a citation. Google and Bing consider NAP inconsistencies across citations as a negative search signal. If your business has 3 similar listings inside one directory, for example, search engines don’t know which one is accurate.

This creates doubt within the algorithm regarding how trustworthy the business is. The result is a lower search ranking.

When you consider that Google’s search market share is close to 90%, you want to make sure you do everything possible to increase your presence there:

Source: Statcounter

Set up schema

Schema allows you to mark up elements on your site in a way that helps Google understand what the data means. Through schema markups, you gain the ability to tell Google how to attractively present your information.

For example, take a look at how you can list your upcoming open house directly in the search results and ask yourself about the quality of leadflow that results from this marketing method:

Learn more about schema in our Ultimate Real Estate SEO Guide.

Conduct keyword research

Your real estate marketing campaign should include a comprehensive plan for taking advantage of keyword searches used by future site visitors. There are 3 basic types of real estate keywords to research and use:

Primary (ex, newport beach homes)

Secondary (ex, orange county real estate)

Long-tail (ex, tips for buying real estate in costa mesa)

These areas are further segmented in terms of:

buyer intent (realtor near me, santa ana houses for sale, etc)

type of sale (luxury vs foreclosure)

property type (house vs condo)

location (oceanfront vs lake)

Information gathering stage (do I need a realtor, house buying tips, etc)

Of course, you want to attract qualified prospects looking to buy now. Don’t underestimate the power of attracting site leads who are in the information gathering stage, however. Warm these prospects up, get them to trust you and then benefit when they decide now is the time to start looking to buy their next piece of real estate.

Several tools exist to help you research your next set of real estate keywords:

Ahrefs (paid tool)

Ubersuggest (free tool)

Answer the Public (free tool)

Build local landing pages

A real estate landing page is a single page on your site that allows you to speak to a specific segment of your target market.

For example, if you’re targeting a keyword such as “guide to buying Phoenix real estate”, you’ll get far more leads pointing your visitors to a landing page offering a free guide for buying real estate in Phoenix than pointing them to a generic home page.

Since multiple landing pages causes a 120% increase in leadflow, it’s important to learn how to use the various real estate landing page methods.

Collect reviews on major third party review sites

There is a direct correlation between the number of reviews your agency collects and your local search rankings. In fact, ranking signals account for 15.44% of Google’s local search rankings:

Source: chatmeter.com

Your interaction with reviews is vital. Google states specifically on their Google My Business help page that they not only pay attention to positive reviews when it comes to ranking sites, but that your interaction with reviewers is a factor.

Build local backlinks

Increasing the number of other sites linking to your real estate website will increase your search rankings:

Source: monitorbacklinks.com

The reason for this is that more incoming links to your website improves your domain authority and thus, overall keyword rankings across your entire site.

Bonus resource: The Ultimate Real Estate SEO Guide (with Strategies, Tips & Examples)

Real Estate Email Marketing Ideas

Create an email signature with essential details.

Your email signature should include your full name, phone number, email address, and website address that links directly to your site. Not only is this an easy way to provide your information, it also ensures that if your email is forwarded, the recipient will see all of your brand details as well.

Set up email sign-up forms on your site to grow your recipient list.

You can only get a good return on your investment in email if you have a substantial recipient list. Use on-site sign-up forms with effective calls to action to get readers to sign up.

Set up autoresponders for thank-yous when not immediately available.

Whether it’s late at night or you’re away at a conference, set up autoresponder messages to let clients and leads know you’re not immediately available but that you’ll get back to them as soon as possible.

The same goes for messages to those who download a resource from your site or RSVP to an event.

Construct responsive email templates that look good on every device.

Email templates come in all shapes and sizes, but you should be using a newsletter template with responsive design and clean layout.

Segment your email list.

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If you want to give very personal experiences to your leads, segment your email list based on client personas and needs. Then, target communications with details pertinent to each client.

Personalize emails.

Including a recipient’s name and other details from your interactions can make emails feel more personal and will deepen their trust.

Use storytelling and imagery to increase engagement.

Include effective storytelling elements and videos or images to increase click-through and conversion rates for your emails.

Add social media accounts and share buttons to your emails.

Increase cross-platform engagement by encouraging users to share your email content directly on their social media accounts with share buttons placed in your email. Use a modern template to get these features.

Adapt your email calls to action based on needs.

Use your list segmentation and lead tracking to figure out the best call to action to offer each lead as a next step, whether that’s getting new leads to sign up for your newsletter or getting a client close to sale to download a closing checklist.

Develop an email course for leads.

Your leads are likely facing similar roadblocks or questions. Increase email engagement by offering an exclusive email course to go over various real estate issues, offering a new tip each day or week.

Offline Real Estate Marketing Ideas

Establish partnerships with local area businesses.

Source: Pixabay

Develop relationships with local businesses and request to put your real estate cards or listing information at their desk or bulletin board.

Sponsor local events.

Local events, churches, schools, and sports events are constantly seeking sponsors. Look into fees in exchange for brand advertising on booklets, t-shirts, banners, flyers, etc.

Host free seminars on topics concerning buyers or sellers in your area.

Don’t just offer value to locals when you have a listing on the market. Find areas to host informal sessions to offer your knowledge and advice to locals. Use a sign-in sheet to collect information so you can follow up with attendees after.

Advertise your business and listings in local media.

Advertise your brand in local media like newspapers, magazines, radio, television, etc. to get your messaging in front of local leads.

Take local sponsorships to the next level.

Be creative with local sponsorship opportunities: Sponsor the coffee mugs at your local coffee shop, the golf tee boxes at a golf club, or a stand at your local farmers market.

Run an open house.

Source: Pixabay

Develop open houses where you can interact closely with local leads and provide intimate walk-throughs.

Make sure the house is staged well, and provide lots of snacks, packets about the property, and free swag with your company logo. Collect information via an open house sign-in sheet and follow up with leads the day after your event.

Use custom banners, balloons, and signs to advertise your open house.

Build brand recognition every time you host an open house by providing signage and other extras. Go the extra mile by putting your brand name or logo on them.

Create a physical high-quality mailer.

Mailers can help get listings and your brand in the hands of everyone in your community. Use high-gloss paper and sophisticated design to generate premier real estate mailers for your area.

Write a consistent column for your local media.

A regular column in your local newspaper, magazine, or online blog will help you present your knowledge to a local audience and build recognition in your community. If you’re a better talker, add your thoughts to a regular radio show.

Attend local events and join local meetup groups and associations.

Being a force in your local community means showing up in places where you can build real face-to-face relationships. Use local groups, festivals, or meetings to grow your contact base.

Real Estate Video Marketing Tips and Ideas

Interview happy customers

youtube

Word of mouth recommendations are a powerful way to help prospects understand your value. Take the time to interview past customers and allow their words to do the heavy lifting when it comes to pointing out the advantages of working with you specifically.

Don’t forget to expand your interviews beyond past clients. Interview home inspectors, mortgage brokers, construction company owners and other people you work with throughout the entire process of a home sale.

This is your opportunity to show your prospects the positive way everyone you work with looks upon you.

Shoot video tours of all listings

youtube

Showing is always better than telling. Using listing videos to showcase the properties you have for sale is one of the most effective ways to help prospects see exactly what each property offers them.

This is a way to get prospects motivated to elevate their relationship with you and schedule phone and in-person meetings.

Publish home/buyer educational videos

youtube

Educational videos that offer real estate buyers advice are a way to establish credibility. This is a real estate marketing idea that reveals your expertise and shows prospects how much you’re interested in educating them on the advantages and pitfalls involved with their purchase decisions.

Focus in on mortgage options, how to save for a down payment, tax advantages to owning a home, the importance of home inspections and other similar topics you know your buyers will benefit from learning about.

Record neighborhood community videos

youtube

Create videos that showcase the neighborhood and community atmosphere around the homes you sell. Your prospects want to know they’re moving into a safe area with excellent schools, parks and surrounding neighborhoods.

Showcase other homes, businesses, developments, restaurants, shopping areas and other neighborhood features that help your buyers understand what type of community they’re potentially moving into.

Promote helpful how-to videos

youtube

Use helpful “how-to” video content to teach prospects step-by-step ways to solve challenges or realize important concepts you know they should understand throughout the buying experience.

For example, a how-to video that walks a prospect through the process for selecting their realtor goes a long way in getting them to see you as the perfect choice.

Add videos to email drip series

Don’t forget to include your video content inside your email follow-up sequences. Create a welcome drip series so that new subscribers receive videos along with your written content.

Use the videos discussed above to help subscribers learn about your listings, your community and what past happy clients have to say about working with you.

Use video annotations to drive website traffic

Take advantage of YouTube’s annotations feature to encourage viewers to watch your other videos or to opt-in to your email newsletter.

Promote videos across social media channels

It’s important to combine all of your social media platforms into one synergistic real estate marketing campaign. Avoid the tendency to create videos and use YouTube as the only distribution channel.

Instead, take that content and distribute across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and any other social channel you decide to use inside your marketing efforts.

Bonus resource: Visit our ultimate guide on video marketing for more details on the above techniques.

Real Estate Marketing Plan

It’s not all about tactics. You need to have a solid plan.

WHO are we marketing to?

WHERE do they hang out online?

WHAT message do we use to capture leads?

HOW do we close them?

Set up a simple framework that will drive the entire marketing plan.

Set clear goals

Identify which objectives you’ll work to achieve. Create a plan and understand what types of habits you might need to grow into.

Will you measure the number of sales per month? How many new leads generated each month? Ask yourself which marketing strategy will help you accomplish each goal.

Use activity goals, too. For example, hone in on a specific number of calls to make each day. You’ll experience ups and downs when marketing your real estate business. Measuring activity helps ensure that you’ll continue working hard when results haven’t shown themselves yet.

Identify your target customer

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Marketing always works best when its messaging is focused on a specific segment of your overall market. For example, your marketing will need to speak one way to investors and an entirely different way if your target customers are first time home buyers.

Establish your unique selling proposition

Figuring out your unique selling proposition (USP) identifies how to set yourself apart from other real estate agents.

Ask yourself what makes you unique. What do you bring to the table that they don’t?

Is it your experience?

Your personality?

Your knowledge of the area?

Or something else?

How does your USP provide value to your customers and encourage them to work with you?

Choose marketing channels to reach audience

Decide which marketing channels to use. It’s impossible to find the time to use every social media platform available and optimize each channel effectively. Choose where your time will be used best.

Will you use a website? Will you blog often? Will you use Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or other social media option? Select the marketing channels that make the most sense based on your personality and other skill-sets.

Define a lead nurturing strategy

75% of leads are not ready to buy.

Warm up email leads by periodically sending them information that builds trust and reveals your expertise. Send out new blog posts to your newsletter list. Provide your subscribers with neighborhood updates, real estate market trends, how-to videos, information about how to qualify for a loan, walk-through videos of your latest listings, etc.

Select tools to implement the plan

Make a list of the tools needed to put your real estate marketing plan into action. Determine your email service provider, project management software, event software, website creation software and other brand building tools.

Measure performance

Define precise metrics to measure achievement with. Use goals that easily tell you whether you’ve hit the mark within specific timeframes.

Don’t write, “I will increase my lead flow”.

Instead, create a goal that says, “I will generate 500 new email subscribers in the month of June.” You will know for sure at the end of the month whether 500 new leads were generated or not.

Ready. Set. Market.

As you can see, there are many ways to market your real estate business.

Take your time to identify which strategies make the most sense for you and then create your foundation. Start with the steps that build off of assets you already have in place. For example, if you have a large Facebook following already, look for tips above that help you maximize that audience.

Then, move into other areas that logically build your web presence larger. It’s easy to become overwhelmed. The key is to plan out the long-term strategy and then start implementing that plan step-by-step each week.

Finally, make sure all of your real estate strategies revolve around your website. Your website is your “home” on the Internet. It’s the place where most lead flow and business will come from.

Build your brand. Grow your traffic. Enjoy a steady increase in revenue from your real estate business.

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