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drifting-pieces-blog-blog · 2 years

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What We Believe - Part 1

Part three to the “What We Are” series.

‘What We See’ starts here.

‘What We Do’ starts here.

Summary: The discovery that Khonshu is back hits hard for a system that is still trying to learn to trust one another, let alone live with one another. Some old wounds get ripped open and Trust is a word filled with pain.

Warnings: I don't know. You watched the show. All of that. (emotional damage and discussion of self harm/suicide/mild violence)

Pairing: The trio are all friends here. Layla saves the day.

Word count: 3292

Part 1: Steven plays detective to try to figure out what Marc has been up to. An old friend calls and Steven starts to put together the bigger picture of Marc’s life. Jake takes up an old job, but it isn’t so easy to clean up the mess now that more people are involved.

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The black out had been sudden. Almost brutal. He hadn’t seen it coming and it reminded him of the old days when they would fight over the body.

He hadn’t even been allowed to observe from a distance. It had been a total shut down and Steven hated it.

When he finally came to, he could sense that some time had gone by, but not how much.

“Marc?” Steven instinctively called out, but there was no answer. “Jake?” Again, no answer.

“Bollocks.” Steven took stock of himself. He was on the floor. A floor. He wasn’t really sure what floor. It was cold and rough. It was dark and the only light he could make out was a dim light coming from under a door off to the side.

Steven got up and immediately banged his head into a low hanging light. “Nhu.” He stood still and tried to take stock of himself. Nothing felt broken. No unusual pains or wounds. His hands felt a little stiff. Maybe a little sore. His mouth also tasted like the inside of a whisky bottle. “Great. Went out on a little binge, did we?”

He patted his pockets down hoping for a phone. “Keys. Wallet. Phone! Yes! Progress! We have a….Bollocks.” It was dead.

“Okay. I’m in a room. There is a light. There must be a light switch. Just gotta carefully-Ow.” He banged into something in front of him. “Carefully find the-Ow. The wall. Gotta be a-Ow-switch here somewhere…”

His hand found a cord of some sort with a switch. He clicked it and the room flooded with a harsh yellow light.

“Marc!” Steven tried again. “Why the hell are we sleeping in your storage unit?”

There was the old cot, the military grade trunk, and the containers of old weapons and supplies that Marc refused to get rid of or move into the flat.

When no answer came, he looked around for any clues as to Marc’s thought process. His duffel bag was back and it was open. “Okay. Foreign money. That’s a check. Old passport out. We appear to have been going somewhere. That really narrows it down.”

Steven looked around till he found a portable charger and plugged the phone in. “Where were you going, Marc?”

He waited just long enough for the phone to hold a charge then flipped it open. Two missed calls. One from Layla and one from someone listed as Duchamp. No messages. He searched the outbound calls. Three to Duchamp.

Steven hesitated. Was this Duchamp fellow from Marc’s mercenary days? Did Marc still have friends? Marc never mentioned any friends.

He clicked the name and let it ring.

“Hello? Marc?” A thick french accent called out. “Do you still need a pass to Cairo?”

Steven slouched. “Cairo? Really?”

There was silence on the other side of the phone for a moment. “Marc?” The voice was cautious.

“Yeah, Sorry.” Steven shook his head. “Marc is…Out. I don’t think he’s going to be going to Cairo. Thank you.”

The voice took a slow breath. “Is this Steven?”

That gave Steven a jolt. “How do you know my name?”

The voice laughed. “I have not spoken with you in a long time. I’m Jean-Paul!”

Steven frowned. “I’m sorry I still don’t understand.”

“Ah, you don’t remember me. It is fine. You probably thought it was a strange dream. Marc doesn’t even know. Tell me, is Marc alright?”

“Yeah.” Steven was still confused. “I think he drank a bottle. He might be out for a bit. Why was he going to Cairo?”

Jean-Paul made a sound. “He didn’t say. Nothing coherent. He might have had two bottles. He used to go on wild benders after our jobs. Utterly trashed like a man trying to drown in liquor. I don’t blame him. I was not much better.”

“Fantastic.” Steven let the disappointment come through. “Glad to know he copes so well.”

“We all cope in different ways.” Jean-Paul laughed. “Hey, maybe once he’s sorted out there in London, I can stop by. I would like to catch up sometime. See how the good life is treating us for a change. Would be nice to see you too.”

“Yeah alright.” Steven didn’t know how to handle this man from Marc’s past. Was he supposed to be careful? Was he dangerous? Did he know about them? He seemed to think he knew who Steven was…

“Don’t worry, I will call ahead. Marc does not like surprises.” Jean-Paul chuckled to himself. “Hey, how is the other friend? I’m afraid I never got his name… Very serious fellow. I only met him a couple of times. He saved my life once.”

Steven felt his heart beat race. “Jake. His name is Jake Lockley. He’s fine I assume. This is really embarrassing but I just woke up and I’m not really sure what’s going on but I need to figure out why we were going to Cairo…”

Jean-Paul let out a long meandering sigh. “I understand. Marc calls me up after all this time. I had started to think he was dead. He asks if I still fly. I have my own plane now thanks to our last job together. Legit. No more fresh blood. Only old blood and bad dreams left of those days. He says he’s got some bird to take care of and wants to go to Cairo. I thought he was talking about a lady, but he started going on about the pyramid.”

“Marc you twit.” Steven put a hand to his forehead. “Alright. I get it. Thank you, Jean-Paul.”

“No problem, Steven. If you need anything, let me know. Tell Marc to call me. Maybe not when he just needs a plane.” Jean-Paul laughed. “And call me Frenchie, okay?”

“Frenchie?” Steven suddenly pictured a man with a silly mustache sitting under the night sky smoking a cigarette and crying.

“Good luck, Mon amie.” Frenchie hung up.

Steven set the phone back down to charge. “It wasn’t a dream…”

Years ago he had dreamed of finding the crying man who spoke distraught French to him. He had called him Frenchie and sat with him for what felt like several hours until the man had calmed enough to tell him in broken English what was wrong.

“The world is filled with so much and all we do is war. Why is this all I can do? Why am I so good at killing? How broken we must be to be good at this?” The man had wiped his eyes and looked up at him. “I tell myself we only do this because we are on the right side. There is no right side. We shouldn’t be here.”

Steven had done his best to comfort him, but the night had faded and he had woken up in his own bed with only faded images.

He wondered now how many dreams had been real. Dreams he had forgotten or dreams he thought were too fanciful to be real.

Steven looked around the storage unit with new eyes. This was all Marc. Parts of himself that he kept separate from everyone else. Parts he kept locked up and in crates and didn’t share.

He zipped up the duffel bag and slowly walked to the hard cot without any blankets. Did he sleep here often? Steven’s flat had always been just a short bus ride away, why would he sleep here?

He looked up at the crates. He had always assumed they were full of weapons. He pictured boxes of ammo, guns, knives, and various other tools used to cause harm.

Steven moved to one and placed a hand on the lid. Frowning, he cracked it open.

A folded uniform sat on top. Pressed and forgotten. A picture of a group of soldiers lay next to it. He recognized Frenchie next to a young Marc, both smiling and with arms draped over guns. Another man in the picture had been burned out.

Steven closed the lid. These were not his memories to wade through. Perhaps Marc came here to try to find answers.

“Cairo… You were really going to Cairo?” He looked up at his reflection in the wall. It moved with him much to his disappointment. “I hope you can hear me in there. We are not going to Cairo. That isn’t how we are going to get rid of the bird.”

Steven grabbed the phone and decided to head home. Maybe by the time he got there Marc or Jake would wake up enough to fill him in on what all he’d missed.

Once outside he was about to head to the bus stop when he noticed Jake’s car parked across three parking spots out front. “Jake?”

The silence was starting to make him worry. He had spent so long living alone in his head that he felt silly missing the shared space. Yet there was a comfort he had fallen into with knowing someone was there. Knowing his best friend was always there. Knowing someone was there to jump in when he was tired or didn’t want to be there.

He patted his pocket and pulled out the keys. “Jake, I’m going to have to drive your car.” He warned and felt a level of rising anxiety. He still didn’t have his license. Driving for his life down a mountain road with people shooting at you was vastly different from obeying the law and paying attention to every detail and space around you.

Steven opened the door and got in. He looked around, clutching the keys to his chest tightly.

This was not his space. This was Jake’s space.

It was different from the first time he had seen it. Jake was fronting more. He was out longer. He was making a life for himself a little at a time, and he was starting with the space he loved most.

An old coffee cup sat in the cup holder and the car smelled of old coffee. An air freshener in the shape of a tree hung from the rearview mirror, making the car also vaguely smell of something vanilla. A pair of gloves were folded neatly on the dash. On closer inspection he found them to have little crescent moons on the knuckles.

“Gift from our favorite bird maybe?” Steven frowned and looked over at the glove box. He popped it open and saw a spare cap, a pack of travel tissues, hand sanitizer, and a tire pressure gauge. On the floor of the passenger seat sat a medical kit. A large and heavy truncheon was wedged between the seat and the center console. It looked a bit more brutal than the fancy metal poles he had gotten in his own special suite.

He would not look in the trunk. He didn’t want to disturb any memories or personal items that might be hidden away in there. Jake still refused to bring his items into their flat, just as Marc did.

Steven buckled up and slid the keys into place, giving them a gentle turn.

The radio came on, making Steven yelp as it blasted out a soulful song in Spanish. He fumbled for the volume and turned it down. He took a slow breath to calm his thumping heart.

“Nice. Hearing damage not a concern, huh?” He shifted in his seat, feeling a natural groove that fit him well, but still somehow felt wrong.

He adjusted the mirror a little. He sat lower than Jake did. Something that Marc was always correcting when he would stretch out their spines and listen to the crackle when he woke up in the morning.

“Ten and two.” He placed his hands on the wheel and put the car in drive. “Let’s do this. I got this. How hard can it be?”

He pulled the car out and instantly stalled it. “Oh Bollocks.”

He restarted and eased the gas. Out into the road and picking up a little then stalled again. “Shit. Uh. Sorry. So sorry.” He started it again and waggled the gear shift, hearing it grind angrily. “Right. Shift and wait… Shit!” Stalled.

Someone honked behind him and Steven slammed his foot into the gas and mysterious third pedal while he tried to restart, making the car gurgle quite angrily. “I’m sorry! Sorry!” He waved at the person behind him. “Go around! Go around!”

“Oye, Steven?” A tired sounding Jake called out. “¿Qué estás haciendo?”

“What?” Steven tried to shove the shift stick into two and the car lurched then stalled again. “I don’t know what I’m doing! How do you get the shift and gas and break and stick and wheel all at once! Oh!” Someone honked again.

“No no no no.” Jake blinked around in confusion as Steven panicked and forced the switch. “What are you doing? Where are we going?”

“Home!” Steven yelled as the car behind them honked again. “ I want to go home!”

Jake held up his hand and made a rude gesture to the car behind them. “Hey pendejo! Mierda…”

Jake moved so fluidly as he made the needed adjustments and pulled the car back over to the side of the road. “Steven? What is going on?”

Steven sighed loudly. “I wish I knew, Jake. I woke up in Marc’s storage locker. The last thing I remember is…Khonshu! Oh that big stupid bloody bird! I should have known he was using tricky language! Both of us. Of course he said both. He knew there was three! When I get my hands on that-”

“Steven, please.” Jake waved a hand and rubbed his temple. He had a pounding headache. Jake smacked his lips and sighed. “Everything tastes like bad decisions and sadness. Marc forced us both out.”

“Can he do that?” Steven nervously watched Jake look his car over. Jake reached under the seat and relaxed to find the gun still in place.

“He used to shut you out all the time. Not easy to do when you are expecting it, but if he was triggered that badly…” Jake sat back in his seat and ran his hands over the steering wheel, feeling the texture under his fingers. It was grounding and calming to him. “He has never forced me out before. I didn’t think he could…”

“Bit big headed, isn’t it?” Steven made a face. “We’re all vulnerable, aren’t we? I think so. None of us are more powerful than the other. Maybe sometimes we have an upper hand in certain situations, but even those can fail. Remember when you ate the pepper and I popped in? I don’t think my mouth has ever been in so much pain before.”

Jake rolled his eyes but shrugged. “So Marc freaked out and what? Went on a bender?”

“I don’t even know what day this is, mate.” Steven sounded dismayed. “He was trying to go to Cairo so he could, I don’t know, beat up Khonshu? Who knows what he was thinking. He was calling Frenchie for a ride! Frenchie is this, erm, French man? Old friend of Marc’s I think.”

“Frenchie? Really?” Jake perked up. “Good man. Aye, this is not good. I can’t believe he blacked us out. He isn’t supposed to do that. I… This is what I am good at. I keep him from doing these things!”

“What? Going on benders and trying to beat up old Egyptian gods?” Steven laughed. “I don’t think either of us can stop him from that if he really wants to. He’s very stubborn.”

“No.” Jake sighed and checked his pockets to take stock of his situation. He pulled out the phone and checked the call logs. “From hurting himself.”

“He’d never do that.” Steven was taken back. “Not like that. He’s past that. You know, in the temple when he…. You know.”

Jake didn’t answer. He instead dialed Layla. “Let me do the talking.”

“Do you think he’s seen her? He wouldn’t try to divorce her again, would he?” Steven felt his anxiety rise and he reached out for the phone.

“Hello?” Layla sounded a bit on edge. “Marc? Is that you?”

“Let me.” Jake gritted his teeth and gripped the steering wheel tightly with his free hand. “Steven let me! Hermanito let go!”

Steven released control in surprise. He didn’t know much Spanish but he had studied Latin a bit and was in search of a good beginning Spanish book. “Little?” Steven crossed his arms and grumbled. “Pretty sure I’m older than you, mate.”

“Layla?” Jake breathed out. “It’s Jake.”

“Are you alright?” Layla sounded concerned. “What on earth is going on with you guys?”

Jake hesitated. He always fumbled his words when around Layla. He could be smooth with anyone else, but she always brought the heat to his cheeks. “That’s why we are calling you, Hermosa.”

Layla sighed. “Are you in trouble?”

Jake frowned to himself. He only seemed to call Layla when there was a problem. He only spoke with her when there was conflict. Maybe it would be nice to one day call her and have her not automatically assume there was peril. “How long has it been since you spoke with Marc? Steven and I are a little… out of sorts.”

“He called me yesterday.” Layla made a frustrated sigh. “Left a long incoherent voicemail for me. He sounded absolutely tanked and kept saying he had failed. Something about fate and destruction.”

“Fantastic.” Jake tapped a finger on the wheel. “Mierda.”

“You two don’t know what he’s been doing?” Layla sounded puzzled. “Not even Steven?”

“We aren’t everywhere all of the time!” Jake snapped. “I’m not some omnipotent problem solver! Especially not if he’s mad at me! I can’t believe that absolute piece of-”

“Layla!” Steven cut in quickly. “I’m so sorry, Love. He didn’t mean to be cross with you. Oh my god he would never yell at you.”

“No, Steven, I’m sorry. Tell Jake I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to assume… Just you and Marc seemed so…fluid. I just didn’t think Marc could freeze you out.” Layla sighed.

Steven winced as he heard Jake angrily going off in what he could only assume was a wide range of Spanish curses. “Yeah, he says it’s fine.”

“So… Where is Marc? Is he okay? I haven’t heard him this upset in a while.” She paused. “Did he find out about… you know… Jake’s bird problem?”

“You mean Khonshu.” Steven stared out the window, doing his best to hold on as the Spanish curses only got more involved. “You knew about Khonshu?”

His disappointment was palpable.

Layla was quiet. “I did. It was between Jake and I.”

“You’re keeping secrets with Jake now?” Steven couldn’t help but feel a little crushed. Maybe even a little jealous.

Jake took back the phone. “Khonshu showed up and set Marc off. That’s the last that we remember. I’m on damage control. I just wanted to make sure that you were okay and he didn’t… do anything.”

“I’m fine. Jake, you don’t have to be damage control. Marc is a big boy. He can fix his own mistakes. If he calls me in a drunken stupor, I can handle it.” Layla was firm but gentle.

“No, Hermosa. I can’t let him hurt himself.” Jake grabbed his gloves. “You don’t know what he can do like I do. I will fix this. It is my mistake.”

“Jake...” Layla started to protest.

“I am the one that accepted Khonshu’s offer. I will fix it.” Jake adjusted the rear view mirror back into place. “Thank you, Layla. I am sorry.”

He hung up and put the car back into drive. He did his absolute best to ignore the sad sulking eyes that watched him from the side mirror. “I will fix this.”

#Moon Knight #Moon Knight fic #Marc Spector #Steven Grant #Jake Lockley #Layla El Faouly #Marc needs a hug always #Jake just wants to punch him on the arm while calling him sport #Steven wants to make them all wear a getalong shirt #Steven needs to learn how to drive #Stick shift is hard

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daydreamgoddess14 · 11 months

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Home Time

MASTERLIST

11 hours on a bus back from Amsterdam is a long time.

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They'd cycled through a number of crowd favourites - Three Little Birds, followed by Sweet Caroline, Livin on a Prayer and a stellar duet of Starman by Rebecca and Piggy Stardust... Once they'd left the city, Ted stood to address the bus.

"First rule on my bus, same as the outbound journey - only number ones on the bus. No number twos, no negotiation. If anyone toots on the bus, they find their own way home." Nods and murmurs sounded throughout. "We have a journey time of about 11 hours ahead of us, first stop is Ghent after lunch, then we plow on to Calais for the boat at 4.30 this afternoon. We should be back in Richmond by 8pm. Where I expect you all to go straight to bed. We have lunch on board, kindly picked up by Will and Higgyboy. What's my snack rule fellas?"

"Share snacks, Coach"

"That's right, you will share those fizzy sour haribos I like so much - especially with me. You wanna sleep? Fine by me, I'll stick a DNR on you-"

"DND" Beard interrupted

"Oh right, yeah, course. No need for DNRs, I'd happily resuscitate any one of you guys, no fear there! You don't wanna sleep, we've got card decks, Uno, and some other games. Also - book swap! I finished a very exciting cozy murder mystery involving a baking club this morning, if anyone wants to give it a whirl. Lookin' at you Royster. Other than that, relax, rest and I'll catch up with y'all in a bit."

"Thanks Coach" various voices spoke up. Once Ted was seated again, Higgins made his way down the coach aisle with a takeaway cup which he popped down in front of Rebecca.

"Leslie you wonderful man. How did you know?"

"Didn’t see you at the hotel breakfast, and I was picking up lunch for everyone anyway. It is coffee though, I'm afraid."

"I'll survive, thank you. So much." Rebecca smiled warmly. "How was your evening of jazz?"

"Oh it was excellent, young Will enjoyed it too. Isn't it a lovely city?"

"I saw less of it than I expected to be honest." Rebecca gave a small shrug. Try as he might, Ted was struggling to avoid eavesdropping, fortunately Rebecca didn't offer any further information. "Could you order me a new phone please? Do you think we could have one at the club for tomorrow morning?" Higgins pulled his phone out of his pocket and started an online basket,

"Of course, shouldn't be a problem. Did you want the new model, and in pink?"

"Yes please, that would be perfect. I'm afraid mine is in the bottom of the canal. Can we access my account remotely to forward any calls?"

"Yes, yes, calls only though - messages don't get retrieved until you get your new phone?"

Rebecca caught Ted's eye and smirked.

"That's not a problem, I'm sure I can get caught up on those tomorrow. Ted, would you mind putting a message on the group chat to let everyone know I'm incommunicado please?"

"Sure thing boss, betcha those little fishes wish they had thumbs for textin!"

After a couple of hours on some team admin, Ted checking ferry tickets, Rebecca checking passports and passing the takeout coffee across the table for him to share until the dregs were too cold to drink. Ted moved towards the front of the bus where he leaned down to speak with Will. Between them, they reached into the overhead lockers and started pulling out boxes and bags of sandwiches with cured deli meats, cheese and salad. Bags of salty crisps came next, and then a selection of bottled soft drinks. Far from the heavily curated super healthy menus they were used to, their comfort lunch was well received. Ted stayed down the front of the bus, taking Will's seat so he could talk with Trent.

"Good night, Trent?"

"Most enjoyable thanks Ted. A very welcoming city."

"That's great to hear, good to have you with us."

"I've said it before, the team is on a remarkable journey. It's a privilege to be alongside." Ted gripped Trent's shoulder in gratitude before taking an open rubbish bag up the aisle to collect the lunch wrappers.

He paused between Isaac and Dani,

"You boys doing OK? It was a pleasant surprise to see you all at breakfast this morning."

"We stayed in, Coach. Did something you'd be proud of, I think." Isaac's smile grew.

"Coach, we had a pillow fight. It was the most glorious and wholesome experience for me, I felt like I was in a sorority girls movie" Dani beamed.

"Well that sounds pretty dang great! I am proud of you! And it was probably a darn sight less seedy than those sorority movies, Dani."

"For sure Coach, we all kept our clothes on!"

"Hey, that's fantastic! But y'all get naked with whoever you want to, as long as you're in agreement then who the heck cares! I would not stand in the way of true love or male bonding rituals. And I've heard how English folks love a bit of bonding." Ted patted both players on the shoulder before leaning closer to Isaac's ear. "Great job, Captain. Really great job." Isaac nodded solemnly at the praise and sniffed a little at the suddenly dusty bus.

Further on making his way to the back of the bus, Ted stopped again between Roy and Jamie.

"Coach! I taught Roy howta ride a bike! We saw the whole city!"

"Alright Jamie, put it there!" Ted put a hand up for a high five. "Glad you fellas got some time together." Roy growled,

"We're together every fucking day." He looked at Ted, who discreetly nodded towards Jamie, who's eyes had dropped to the floor. "But..." He added, "it's not every day you learn to ride a bike. Or see a windmill. Or see a city like this." Jamie's head snapped up. "Cheers Tartt, you fucking tart. It was a pretty great fucking night in the end" Jamie's smirked, Ted nodded happily at Roy and moved on.

He dropped the rubbish bag into the stairwell of the coach loo and sat in Rebecca's previous seat at the table. She'd moved round to talk to Beard, who was busy showing her Ted's epiphanious notebook.

"Coach Beard has been explaining your method to me."

"Not his method" Beard interrupted, Rebecca slapped his hand.

"I don't care when it was invented and who by, I care that Ted believes in it." Beard rolled his eyes.

"Happy to tell you about it boss. Time for our first stop though so let's get us a coffee and some sugar first. Need to get you some caffeine so my explaining doesn't send you to sleep." Ted smiled at Rebecca as the bus pulled to a halt at a service station. They were about to start getting off the bus when the sound of Dani weeping travelled through the bus.

The field next to the service station was awash with pale pink tulips.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Rebecca marveled at the calibre and quantity of sweet treats being passed up and down the bus, the team never missed her out of the distribution loop - randomly shouting recommendations. She contributed a tray of caramel cookies which had been so well received, they'd earned her a huge cheer.

"Ms W, try these bad boys from Moe - they're so good!" Jamie put a bag of fizzy jelly sweets in front of her and she took a couple. Jamie's face contorted as he took a bite, "Uuugggh they're so sour!" The grimace turned to a grin, "Sooo good!"

"I love the sour ones!" Rebecca took a bit and felt the sour notes hit her tastebuds "Oooh, that's amazing!" Across the table, Ted watched as the team embraced having the boss on the bus with them, Beard was napping across the very back seats so he and Rebecca had a card game in front of them - he was trying to teach her poker. "Ted likes the sour ones too," she passed the bag along to him, "try these."

"That's cos they start out sour and prickly but they suddenly go sweet without you noticing." He grinned at Rebecca, Jamie had turned back to his teammates who were playing some sort of 20 questions game in teams of 3 or 4. "So it's time boss, I'm mentally, spiritually and cosmically prepared for the story of how you lost your phone." Rebecca smiled, the last 5 bus hours with her team had been just as soothing to her soul as the previous night had been.

"I was on the phone to Sassy who was trying to persuade me to take drugs and visit prostitutes-"

"Standard Sassy"

"Standard Sassy. I was stood in a bike lane, stupidly. I just got pushed and prodded right over the barrier on the bridge, straight into the water." Ted's eyes widened,

"Holy smokes boss, why the heck didn't you say sooner? Are you hurt?" she brushed his concern away with a hand wave,

"Just my pride. Anyway, a gentleman on a houseboat rescued me, I was drenched-" She stopped suddenly and shivered. Ted was quick to remove his sweater and pass it over the table.

"and?" He prompted.

"He plied me with wine and food, I slept on his sofa and with no phone and no one I could contact, I just... relaxed. I learned to just... be, I think. Nothing at all against you, or Keeley or Sass, but you've all seen the very worst of me. This stranger hadn't, it felt like a total reset of my brain. I don't need to worry about what Rupert thinks anymore, or how he'd control my every mouthful and movement," she gestured to the sweets, chocolate and coffee cups next to them, "I don't need to care about what my mother thinks. I can just be myself. I just need to relearn who that is." She shrugged. Ted had fallen completely still and silent,

"I'm proud of you, boss. You're finally on the same page as the rest of us. These boys adore you, they'd go to war for you. We all would. Believe me, if you could see you the way we see you, you'd know how loved you are around here." He looked down the aisle at the team laughing and joking together, Rebecca's eyes filled with tears, she let them fall for the first time in a long time - no longer needing to hold the facade of total control, elegance and fortitude. She nodded, unable to speak for a few moments. Something was creeping around the edges of her mind, she looked at Ted with a small smile. His t-shirt was dark for a change, he usually wore white. There was some sort of band name, slogan, album cover. She couldn't see with the way his arms were crossed and leaning on the table.

"Could I borrow a page of your notebook please?" she asked, he passed her the whole thing and a pen. Quietly, she flipped to a blank page and tapped the pen against her lips, thinking with a frown.

"Something on your mind?"

"Just trying to work something out."

"I'm gonna do a check on the boys, I'll leave you to it for a bit."

"Green matchbook," she mumbled before writing it down, followed by the initials S.O. "Shite," she wrote, with J.W alongside, her mind beginning to flow more freely, "drenched," she didn't have initials to add, but wrote 'boat guy'. "What was next?" she muttered. "Thunder and lightning..." Beard snorted in his sleep, she looked across and took in the full Piggy Stardust experience with a grin. There was a lightning bolt on his outfit. She froze immediately and looked down at the book and then around the bus frantically. Ted was coming back from his tour, she could see the t-shirt clearly now. It was an old Springsteen tour shirt with Thunder Road scrawled across the front. Rebecca’s jaw dropped,

"Don't know about you boss, but I was not built to spend eleven hours on a bus." He stretched his arms up to touch the roof of the coach. The t-shirt lifted slightly, exposing a neat line of his stomach. Rebecca’s brain was going into overload, the jumbled, rambling thoughts making no sense and in no particular order.

"Fuck me." She muttered, Ted looked down at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, ordinarily I'd offer to buy dinner first. I don't like to be too presumptuous." Rebecca saw the glint in his eye and felt the heat pool in her stomach. "Our very own Van Damme would like to know if we'll join the guys for a game of poker? I said you were still in training so he suggested we team up." He dropped to her ear level and whispered, "They're playing for M 'n' Ms, the peanut ones."

"I don't like peanuts."

"That's a shame, I'll have to keep yours and I'll trade you for something else." He winked and offered his hand. As she took it, she felt something bolt in her heart. Thunder and lightning. That crazy old bint might have been onto something after all.

~~~~~~~~~

Ted had often wondered about couples or friends who could hold entire conversations with their eyes. He and Beard could do it. He and Michelle could not. He was starting to regret his over tired flirtatious behaviour a little while ago because he was now sitting in very close proximity to Rebecca and having a full conversation via eye contact. His eyes which had spent all morning quietly looking at Rebecca. Her legs in those jeans, wearing his sweater, sharing his coffee and snacks, her tired but content smile... He might have been slightly bitten by the love bug, but he thinks they might be better at this than he and Beard. And that's saying something. She sought his approval on her hand of cards, sure, but she was also regarding him with some weird combination of awe, lust, love... and trepidation. And shock. Not shock horror, fortunately. More like revelatory shock. Also a bit of relief. He nearly laughed aloud, that sure was a lot of feelings for one person to be feeling. In reply, she saw humour, confusion and something else she couldn't quite understand.

They were in the coach queue at the ferry port, once boarded, they'd be let off to get food and wander around the boat for an hour. They were all dying to stretch their legs and get some fresh air, the bus was starting to get stuffy and with over a dozen grown men in the bus, there was a distinctly locker room smell going on. They were all starting to flag, curling in on themselves and each other for somewhere to rest their heads. The poker game was over, Rebecca had played well for a novice, but Van Damme dominated the game. He wouldn't take her last 'all in' effort though, and told her to keep her handful of M 'n' Ms which she immediately handed over to Ted. Once the coach was settled in the belly of the ferry, Higgins hopped off to provide tickets and passports. He returned after a while with a weary "We're OK to get off for a bit. We need to be back on the coach twenty minutes before we dock at Dover so let's call it 5.30pm. An hour or freedom before our final furlong."

"I suggest you guys eat? Saves you the job later when we get home, we don't all have a Julie Higgins at home with a hot dinner." Beard offered.

"Buy you a bourbon, Ted?" Rebecca offered. She wasn't sure the bank card that had been in her pocket would still work, but she had others in her unscathed bag.

"As tired as I am, I cannot refuse that offer." He'd made it to the coach door before her and held out a hand to help her on the steep steps, which she gratefully took. She didn't let it go once she was on solid ground. They ordered chips to share, and coffees spiked with bourbon and took them onto the upper deck of the ferry where the sea breeze was fierce but welcomed. Most of the team had had the same idea and were enjoying the cool air of the English Channel. Even when they had the opportunity to be apart, they all wanted to be together, Rebecca marvelled. She nudged Ted and nodded her head towards the group a few rows down from them.

"Looks like Isaac has had his John Keating moment." She smiled, knowing with certainty that he'd get the Dead Poet's Society reference. He put a hand over his heart,

"Oh Captain! My Captain! Are you kiddin' me boss?!" She rolled her eyes,

"Ted! I'm not completely pop culturally illiterate you know." He laughed, handing her the last of the chips. "But something has definitely clicked with them."

"They had a pillowfight last night."

"In a sex club?"

"Nope."

"In a pot bar?"

"Nope. At the hotel. They had a couple of drinks, had a pillowfight, and went to bed. Sam was telling me. They spent so long trying to decide what to do - because they only wanted to do something together - that they ran out of time to actually go out and do something."

"It's sweet that they wanted to be together."

"It is, it bodes well for what Beard and I have planned for next week. Freedom, to move around the pitch fully supporting each other. True and meaningful teamwork."

"Oi fuckers! Back to the bus!" Roy bellowed from the front of the deck.

"Looks like the boss has spoken." Rebecca said with a wry smile.

"Oh you just wait til I tell you what he got up to last night, boss. It's such a doozy, I'm saving it for biscuits with the boss." Ted wiggled his eyebrows and took the empty tray and coffee cup from Rebecca, taking them to the nearest bin and then waiting for her to join him.

Back on the bus, silence had descended. Most were listening to music, waiting TV on their phones, or sleeping. Beard had moved to the front to sit with Trent, leaving plenty of space for Rebecca and Ted to lay across the seats. They lay either side of the table, their heads meeting at the top. They'd been unconsciously connected since she'd gotten on the bus that morning, hardly leaving each others side and sharing everything.

"I'm sorry if I worried you last night." She whispered, turning to lay on her stomach so she could see him better, he did the same making them practically nose to nose.

"Freedom to move around boss. Sounded like you needed it. I'm sorry about the overload of messages. When you actually do see them, I'd just like to remind you that Beard gave me drugged tea. I was probably 'too much Ted'." Rebecca searched his face, she felt like she was truly seeing him.

"I think there might be no such thing as 'too much Ted'."

"Well, Michelle certainly thinks there is."

"She's wrong. Very wrong." Rebecca said firmly. "Rupert thinks women should be seen and not heard, shouldn't run football clubs and shouldn't speak their mind."

"He's wrong. Very wrong." Ted repeated her words softly.

Y'know someone left a bottle of bourbon in my kitchen after my summer barbecue. When I get home, I'm taking a glass to my bath."

"That sounds like the best idea I've heard all day. Save me a spot."

"Of the bourbon or in the bath?" Rebecca asked boldly, quietly.

"Both." He replied with a slight shrug and a knowing smile.

"Do you ever feel like things happen that are purely happening so they can lead you, draw you to something else more important?" Rebecca leaned up on her elbows, angling her body closer toward Ted.

"I sure do boss. We have to go through the mess so we can make progress"

"A work in prog-mess."

"Exactly." He blushed and looked down to where their hands were nearly joined, "Becca... I would really like to kiss you?"

"I would love nothing more, but I do think we probably shouldn't do it on this bus?" Ted lifted his head right up above the table to look down the bus.

"They're all asleep or distracted. No one's gonna know but you and me." He whispered.

"Well in that case, it would be rude not to." She smiled and reached towards him. The terrible angle allowed for the briefest chaste kiss, but it was enough. "Struck by fucking lightning." Rebecca said in awe as the bus pulled into the AFC Richmond carpark, the sun lowering over the training pitch and covering her home in a golden light.

#ted lasso #tedbecca #tedlassoedit #ted lasso s3 #rebecca x ted #rebecca welton #ted lasso fic #ted lasso fanfiction

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mariacallous · 1 year

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Over the past two weeks, Chinese President Xi Jinping has been holding court for visiting European dignitaries. In late March, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was the first European statesman to meet the Chinese leader after his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. French President Emmanuel Macron followed last week together with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The only winner from these visits is Xi. Not only did he not make any concession on any issue vital to European interests, from Russia’s war to economic relations, his European visitors treated Xi to a display of European and transatlantic disunity serving the Chinese leader a major strategic objective on a silver platter and leaving Europe’s China policy in disarray.

It was not supposed to be this way. The plan of European leaders was a good one in theory. They wanted to take advantage of reopening after the end of China’s “zero-COVID” regime and personally press important concerns with Xi, in particular Russia’s war. Macron had invited von der Leyen to join him in Beijing to celebrate European unity and met her for a preparatory lunch in Paris before the trip. The French president clearly seemed to want to signal that he is a more committed European than German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who had embarked on a solo trip to Beijing in November 2022, after rejecting Macron’s offer to go together. Von der Leyen had done her part to signal a determined European approach.

On March 30 in Brussels, she gave the boldest speech of any senior European decision-maker yet on how to deal with Xi’s China. The very fact that the EU Commission president chose to invite Berlin-based Merics, Europe’s leading think tank on China that had been put under sanctions by the Chinese party-state in 2021, sent a clear message to Beijing. The speech itself was even clearer. Von der Leyen depicts a China that is “more repressive at home and more assertive abroad” where security and control trump all other concerns and that is quick to use political and economic coercion trying to exploit the very dependencies of other countries on China that it systematically seeks to encourage. She described a country that Xi prepares for a long-term violent “struggle” with the United States and that has the “clear goal” of “systemic change of the international order with China at its center.”

To prove her point, von der Leyen added that the recent “show of friendship in Moscow” says “a thousand words about this new vision for an international order.” No other European leader had ever presented such an accurate dissection of Xi’s agenda. As a European response, von der Leyen outlined an ambitious “de-risking” strategy that puts economic security at the center of the relationship with Beijing and includes an instrument for outbound investment screening in technologically sensitive areas. Just as in 2019 when it introduced the notion of China as a “systemic rival” the EU Commission had again pushed the boundaries of Europe’s China policy. But straight away, China’s EU ambassador, Fu Cong, voiced doubts whether most member states were ready for von der Leyen’s agenda. For him, it sounded like “two people quarrelling with each other,” he told the New York Times, meaning “Europe has not formulated a coherent policy toward China.”

Both Sánchez and Macron worked very hard during their China trips to prove Fu right. In a speech at the Boao Forum, China’s version of Davos, the Spanish prime minister praised China for its belief in “a strong, transparent, and rules-based multilateral system,” directly contradicting what von der Leyen had said about Beijing’s vision for international order.

Given France’s status as a permanent member of the United Nations and Europe’s second-most important economic power, Macron could have offset these remarks by clearly aligning himself von den der Leyen’s de-risking agenda. The French president instead chose to do his utmost to pull the rug from under von der Leyen’s feet during their joint visit in Beijing. Instead of de-risking, Macron firmly stuck to illusions of reciprocity in economic relations with China, as if he learned nothing from the previous instances that he had pursued this approach only to find Beijing did not deliver. On Russia, Macron did not manage to extract any commitments that substantively go beyond the statement against the use of nuclear weapons that Scholz got from Xi in November. That is not surprising given Xi’s determination to stand by Putin’s side to keep Russia as an ally in the struggle against the United States.

But it is not that Macron tried very hard to signal that Beijing’s support for Russia’s war violates a European “core interest,” to use a favorite term of the Chinese Communist Party. Macron brought a 50-strong business delegation, four times the size of Scholz’s delegation in November for which he was criticized. Macron’s delegation included a member of the board of directors of Huawei France and former Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, who is the French equivalent to Gerhard Schröder selling out to both Russian and Chinese interests. That is anything but a signal that because of the support for Russia’s war it is no longer business as usual in EU-China relations.

But it is on Taiwan policy where Macron chose to cause the most damage. When asked in Beijing on the meeting between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Macron coined the heroic formula: “I am neither Taiwan nor the U.S. As a good stoic, I can only deal with what depends on me. One does not have to mix up everything.” That was his only major statement on stability in the Taiwan Strait on the ground in China. It flew in the face of von der Leyen’s statement in Beijing vis-à-vis Xi that “stability in the Taiwan Strait is of paramount importance” and that “threat of use of force to change the status quo is unacceptable.” But Macron was not done yet. Just after the farewell fireworks Macron received before taking off, the People’s Liberation Army started a series of aggressive drills of “sharpening the sword” by encircling Taiwan as a reaction to the meeting between Ing-wen and McCarthy. On the plane ride back, Macron gave an interview to Politico Europe and Les Echos that amounted to a carte blanche for Xi on Taiwan. Macron described Taiwan as a “crisis that is not ours” that Europeans should stay out of and not be “America’s followers.”

The will of the majority of the Taiwanese people, expressed in democratic elections, not to be ruled by Beijing does not feature in his thinking. Despite Xi having made clear his determination to control Taiwan with ever more aggressive acts, Macron seemed to make the United States solely responsible for the ratcheting up of tensions in the Taiwan Strait. Macron seems to foolishly presume that Europe can insulate itself from a war between China, Taiwan, and the United States and therefore does not need to even try to deter Beijing from using force. But a Europe that cannot even deal with a much smaller war on its doorstep without U.S. help has no way of escaping the much larger consequences of a U.S.-China war. He undermines French credibility by going against key G-7 statements on Taiwan (most recently in August 2022) that France signed.

Perhaps most disconcerting is that Macron seems to lack any positive definition of the French national interest and strategic objectives on stability in the Taiwan Strait beyond not simply following the United States. His much-trumpeted approach of France as puissance d’équilibres, or “balancing power,” seems to be one of exclusively balancing against the United States. The irony is that Macron is right that Europe needs to chart its own course on China based on its own interests and invest in its own capabilities to achieve what he calls “European sovereignty.” But by presenting his approach as a purely anti-U.S. agenda, he discredited the “European sovereignty” approach even further in the eyes of many, especially in Central and Eastern Europe who were already skeptical before. A divided Europe only benefits Europe’s enemies.

That is why it is now crucial for Europe to shift to damage control mode. However self-defeating and provocative Macron’s remarks were, there is no point for other European leaders to add fuel to the fire of public debate. Rather, they should calmly restate the key principles on Taiwan outlined in G-7 statements also signed by the EU. At the same time, they should push the debate back to engaging with von der Leyen’s de-risking agenda. A majority of EU members is open to spelling out a “de-risking, not decoupling” agenda with China. Germany plays a key role on fronts. In November, Scholz was clear in the press conference on both Taiwan and human rights, including Xinjiang, not being internal Chinese matters. According to a German diplomat, Scholz delivered an “incredibly clear” message to Xi about the consequences of using force against Taiwan for the bilateral economic relationship. Scholz and Baerbock need to try to get the rest of Europe quietly behind such an agenda of deterrence against Beijing over Taiwan. Scholz himself has used the term “de-risking” vis-à-vis China, although he does not seem to want to move as decisively as von der Leyen on some fronts.

Building a coherent EU China policy on de-risking got much harder after Macron’s dismal China trip. But it is the only way for Europe to assert, in Macron’s term, its “sovereignty.” Baerbock should find ways to publicly back this de-risking agenda as well as the G-7 and EU position on Taiwan during her trip to Beijing. But let us not hold our breath this will impress Xi very much. As long as he can count on Macron as his best ally against a sovereign Europe asserting its interests vis-á-vis an aggressive Beijing, he will simply sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

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icollect2024 · 10 days

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Navigating the World of Debt Collection Software: A Comprehensive Guide

Debt collection software plays a critical role in helping businesses and financial institutions efficiently manage their debt recovery processes. When evaluating which software to invest in, it's essential to prioritize certain features to ensure it meets the organization's specific needs. Automation capabilities are paramount, as they streamline communication with debtors through channels like email, SMS, and voice messaging, while also scheduling follow-up actions and integrating predictive dialers for outbound calls. Compliance management tools are equally crucial to ensure adherence to regulations, with built-in updates and robust security measures safeguarding sensitive data. Integration capabilities are essential for seamless operation alongside existing systems, allowing for smooth workflows and access to additional debtor information. Scalability and customization options ensure the software can grow with the organization and adapt to unique requirements, while robust data analytics and reporting functionalities provide valuable insights for decision-making and strategy optimization. A user-friendly interface enhances usability and adoption among agents and administrators, with mobile accessibility enabling on-the-go management of accounts and communication with debtors. Reliable customer support and comprehensive training resources are also vital for successful implementation and ongoing use. Finally, understanding the cost and pricing structure ensures alignment with budgetary constraints and scalability as debt collection operations expand. By considering these factors, organizations can select debt collection software that optimizes processes, enhances efficiency, and maximizes recovery efforts.

Debt Collection

#debt recovery

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whatsapparchiving · 1 month

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Mobile Archiver Solutions - Organize, Protect, and Access Your Files Anywhere

In today's fast-paced digital world, the need to effectively manage and safeguard mobile communications has become increasingly crucial. With the rise of remote work and the widespread use of mobile devices for business communication, ensuring compliance, security, and accessibility of mobile data has become a top priority for organizations across various industries. This is where mobile archiver solutions step in, offering comprehensive features to organize, protect, and access your files from anywhere.

Organize Your Mobile Communications

One of the key features of mobile archiver solutions is their ability to efficiently organize mobile communications. Whether it's text messages, emails, or call recordings, these solutions provide a centralized platform to store and manage all mobile communications data. By categorizing conversations based on contacts, dates, or keywords, users can easily retrieve relevant information whenever needed, streamlining communication workflows and enhancing productivity.

Protect Your Sensitive Data

Security is paramount when it comes to mobile communications, especially in industries where sensitive information is exchanged regularly. Mobile archiver solutions employ robust encryption methods to safeguard data from unauthorized access and ensure compliance with industry regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and MiFID II. Additionally, features like access controls and audit trails provide administrators with granular control over who can access, modify, or delete archived data, further enhancing data security and integrity.

Capture Mobile Calls with Confidence

For organizations that rely heavily on voice communication, the ability to capture mobile call is essential for compliance, training, and quality assurance purposes. Mobile archiver solutions offer seamless integration with mobile networks, allowing organizations to capture, archive, and analyze mobile calls with ease. Whether it's recording inbound or outbound calls, these solutions ensure that every conversation is securely archived and easily accessible for future reference.

Access Your Files Anywhere, Anytime

Gone are the days of being tied to a physical location to access important files and documents. With mobile archiver solutions, users can access their archived data from anywhere, anytime, using any internet-enabled device. Whether it's a smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer, users can securely access their files on the go, ensuring seamless collaboration and productivity regardless of their location.

In conclusion, mobile archiver solutions offer a comprehensive suite of features to effectively manage, protect, and access mobile communications data. From organizing and securing sensitive information to capturing mobile call monitoring and providing seamless access to archived data, these solutions empower organizations to stay compliant, secure, and productive in today's mobile-centric business environment.

For more information about mobile call monitoring, visit our website at https://www.telemessage.com/

#Capture Mobile Calls #mobile call monitoring

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gventuretech · 23 days

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The FreeSWITCH Dialer is a powerful tool that enables businesses to make outbound calls efficiently. It is built on the FreeSWITCH platform, which offers a modular architecture for customized solutions that can manage voice, video, and data on a single line, supporting communication between PRI and SIP lines. The dial plan is a decision tree that provides routing services to bridge call legs together, execute dial plan applications, and invoke custom scripts that you write. The mod_dialer module is a FreeSWITCH module that allows for making mass calls and sending them to an IVR, message, or whatever. It is designed to meet the needs of businesses that require making mass calls and when connected, send them to an IVR, message, or other destinations. The dialplan is not a scripting language and is not a single entity. Instead, it is a unique, independent method through which you can access information.

#freeswitch #freeswitch dialer #freeswitch software #pbx freeswitch #freeswitch pbx #freeswitch gui #gui for freeswitch

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dialerking070 · 28 days

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What is a dialer service?

A dialer could be a sort of call center dialer software utilized to computerize the dialing of client phone numbers and to effectively record the result of these calls. Dialers can moreover be utilized to broadcast recorded messages through interactive voice response (IVR), thrust notices, and SMS.

Based on whether a client answers the outbound call, a dialer software can course the call to an operator, utilize voice bots for mechanized collection, play a message, or move on to the following number on the list of contacts.

Dialers bring specialist efficiency, call documentation, and client involvement to the table as they spare time, handle call information the way your commerce favors, and conjointly minimize cold exchanges.

Auto dialer

Auto dialer, as the title recommends, is a software dialing system that makes a difference in deals reps execute low-touch but high-volume campaigns, where they have to reach out to as numerous prospects as conceivable. With the sheer number of leads, auto dialer software places synchronous calls to prioritize prospects who choose up the call.

Manual dialing makes sense as it were once you have a restricted number of showcasing or deals qualified leads, with sufficient foundation data approximately them for a personalized approach. But auto dialing is the correct way to go when deals reps need to cold call potential leads on impact campaigns.

Power dialer

Power dialers are moreover called outbound dialers since they are generally utilized by outbound deals groups, who have a tall number of contacts to pitch to. A Power dialer consecutively moves to another caller once the past call is total, unanswered, or active.

Preview dialer

Preview dialers offer assistance call center dialer specialists survey client data through a window when they start or get a phone call. Preview dialers include critical esteem to client benefit groups as the Preview can too offer omnichannel data required to bolster the clients with the full setting.

Predictive dialer

Predictive dialing could be a dialing mode made for businesses that handle a tall contact volume, both inbound and outbound. Predictive dialers get ready a calculation based on call center dialer information patterns such as crest calling times, operator accessibility and workload, and call-taking care times to robotize the dialing intellectuals.

Progressive dialer

The progressive dialer is comparable to a Predictive dialer with the exemption that it dials as it there were one contact per operator at a time. A progressive dialer moves on to another call as it were when the last call is total. Progressive dialers are perfect for B2B outbound calling where drop-offs and call surrender are less.

What does a dialer look like?

Early dialers were pieces of equipment, but these days they're more often than not software-based. Separated from that, the definition of a dialer is very liquid. There are two distinctive categories of the dialer, each of which centers on different regions of execution.

A dialer can offer assistance to a Business and make more phone calls within the same sum of time as one individual typically does, sparing time and cash. It moreover permits them to discover prospects that might not have been accessible sometime recently due to the need for a landline or the toll of cell phone minutes.

In arranging for the dialer to work it must begin to be introduced on the desktop for the dialer to work. After establishment, there's an enactment handle where it may inquire for individual data, such as name, address, and charging subtle elements sometime recently it'll permit you to get to its highlights.

Conclusion

A dialer is an application that naturally dials and calls for a number, and after that conveys each call to a call center dialer specialist. Its work is to mechanize outbound calls. Automated dialing highlights on the contact center software move forward proficiency by interfacing operators straightforwardly with clients when they are free. This implies that specialists do not squander time physically contributing phone numbers and can instead spend more time talking to clients. VICIdial is free of cost installation and a friendly budget

#dialers #call center #autodialer #powerdialer

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go2market · 1 year

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can be used anywhere, anytime, personalised messaging, effective marketing-becomes more powerful when integrated with voice broadcasting services like Go2Market. Take advantage of this amazing marketing strategy for the smooth functioning of your business.

#voice broadcasting service #automated outbound calling service #obd service #obd services #automated outbound calls #voice sms #voice broadcasting #voice sms service provider #voice call service provider in delhi #voice sms service #outbound dialer service in delhi #obd service provider #voice broadcasting solution #Outbound Voice Messaging #outbound voice messaging campaigns

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voicebrodcasting · 29 days

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Political Call Center Services

Boost your election campaign with voice broadcasting, bulk SMS marketing, missed call alert services and Social Media Marketing from Go2market.

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office24by7seo12 · 1 month

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What are the advantages of Bulk SMS Software for eCommerce?

The booming industry in recent times is digital and eCommerce. The online activity of the users is skyrocketing. The pandemic has further acted as fuel to the fire because people are stuck at home and resort to online shopping to replenish their requirements. SMS is one of the best marketing tools that enable companies to reach their target customers. The demand for bulk SMS software has gone high. Many companies want to avail the benefits of sending bulk SMS to their prospects and customers to increase their ROI.

The SMS software allows sending bulk SMS to multiple phone numbers simultaneously. It is a time-saving concept that allows hitting the audience at the same time. Thousands of SMSs are shipped from the computer that has the bulk SMS software. Office 24By7 is a recognized enterprise in the related field. The company is working in and based out of Hyderabad and offering such services to its esteemed clients without any glitches and hidden costs. The pricing plans are straightforward, and the buyers can opt for the one that suits their business needs.

Let us see the benefits attached with such services:

It is a multi-lingual service, and the buyers can send the SMS to their respective customer data in their preferred language. The SMS software is designed so that thousands of phone numbers can receive the message with a simple click or tap of a finger.

It is a direct form of marketing without any middlemen attached. The companies can hit the target audience directly.

The service allows the customers to avail themselves of the advantage at minimal costs. It acts as a great cost-effective tool of communication with the respective clients.

The company can send SMS to all DND and non-DND mobile numbers with complete ease.

The customer data available in the Excel sheet of the respective enterprise can be used to send the SMS directly. The SMS software enables the action without any hiccups.

Unique and personalized messages can be created for customers with custom field values. The experts in Office 24By7 are pro in handling such requirements of the clients.

It is a great time-saving tool. You can expect to achieve faster results because the customers find texting as a great way to connect.

The SMS software is designed to be compatible with Android and iOS platforms.

Voice SMS

Modern marketers find Voice SMS software useful for increasing the reach of their respective businesses amongst the existing and prospective customers. A large audience is served through the service, and the best part is that the target audience can be hit in their regional language. Hence, the voice SMS software is designed to create a personal touch and thus achieve faster results.

The prices for Bulk Voice SMS are also cost-effective as designed by Office 24By7. Integration with third-party systems like apps, websites, CRM software platforms is real-time, employing HTTP for inbound and outbound voice SMS. The advantages of bulk voice SMS are three-dimensional in terms of multiplying and growing businesses.

#bulk SMS software #Sms software #Voice SMS software #bulk voice SMS #inbound and outbound voice SMS #CRM software

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sinchvoice · 1 month

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Sinch India offers reliable and cost-effective voice call solutions for both businesses and individuals. With Sinch India, you can make and receive high-quality international calls at competitive rates, no matter where you are. The service also offers advanced features such as call forwarding, call recording, and call conferencing to help you maximize the efficiency of your communication.

#voice api #voice call #voice call api

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telemarketingservices1 · 1 month

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Unlocking Growth Potential: The Power of Telemarketing Services

In the ever-evolving landscape of business, where digital marketing strategies often take center stage, the enduring effectiveness of telemarketing services is often overlooked. Yet, for companies seeking to forge meaningful connections with their target audience, drive sales, and foster brand loyalty, telemarketing remains a powerful tool in the marketing arsenal.

Telemarketing services companies play a vital role in helping businesses connect with their customers on a personal level. Unlike impersonal emails or generic advertisements, telemarketing offers a human touch, allowing companies to engage in real-time conversations and tailor their messages to suit individual needs and preferences.

One of the key advantages of telemarketing services is its ability to generate immediate feedback. By directly engaging with prospects over the phone, businesses can gauge customer reactions, address concerns, and gather valuable insights to refine their marketing strategies. This real-time feedback loop enables companies to adapt quickly to changing market dynamics and stay ahead of the competition.

Moreover, telemarketing services excel in lead generation, a critical aspect of any successful marketing campaign. Through targeted calling campaigns, telemarketers can identify and qualify potential leads, ensuring that sales teams focus their efforts on prospects with the highest likelihood of conversion. This precision targeting not only maximizes the efficiency of sales efforts but also minimizes wasted resources on uninterested or unqualified leads.

Additionally, telemarketing services offer unparalleled flexibility and scalability. Whether a company is a small startup or a large enterprise, telemarketing campaigns can be customized to meet specific needs and budgets. From outbound cold calling to inbound customer support, telemarketing services can be tailored to suit various objectives, ensuring that businesses get the most out of their investment.

Another often-overlooked benefit of telemarketing services is their ability to humanize the brand. In an era dominated by digital interactions, a friendly voice on the other end of the line can make all the difference in building trust and credibility with customers. By establishing genuine connections and providing personalized assistance, telemarketers can create lasting impressions that resonate with customers long after the call ends.

Furthermore, telemarketing services can complement and enhance existing marketing efforts. While digital channels such as email and social media play a crucial role in reaching a wide audience, telemarketing adds a personal touch that can help cut through the noise and capture the attention of busy consumers. By integrating telemarketing into a multi-channel marketing strategy, businesses can create a cohesive and impactful brand experience across all touchpoints.

However, to harness the full potential of telemarketing services, companies must prioritize quality and professionalism. A reputable telemarketing services provider will invest in rigorous training programs to ensure that their agents possess the necessary skills and knowledge to represent their clients effectively. Moreover, adherence to ethical standards and compliance with regulations such as the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) are essential to building trust and maintaining brand reputation.

In conclusion, telemarketing services remain a valuable and effective tool for businesses looking to connect with customers, drive sales, and foster brand loyalty. With its ability to provide immediate feedback, generate qualified leads, and humanize the brand, telemarketing offers a unique set of advantages that complement traditional and digital marketing efforts. By partnering with a reputable telemarketing services company, businesses can unlock new growth opportunities and stay ahead in today's competitive marketplace.

#Telemarketingservices #Telemarketingservicescompany #Telemarketingserviceprovider #Telemarketing #bpo services #bpo #call center #call center services #call center support

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