Sunday, May 24, 2020
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
The Traits of Mark Anthony - 945 Words
Mark Antony has been portrayed as a loyal friend, a hero, an adulterer, and a drug addict. That represents a wide range of attributes for a single man to inherit. Did Mark Antony really possess all of these traits? Mark Antony was a much simpler man than his portrayal. Mark Antony embodied a stereotypical jock. Brutus stated Antonyââ¬â¢s propensity ââ¬Å"to sports, to wildness and much companyâ⬠(II.i.196). Mark Antony participated in the race of Lupercal, an equestrian race in which athletes participated during a Roman festival. ââ¬Å"Wildnessâ⬠could have alluded to Antonyââ¬â¢s gambling habits, and ââ¬Å"much companyâ⬠could reference Antonyââ¬â¢s inability to confine himself to one woman (II.i.196). In spite of Antonyââ¬â¢s faithlessness toward his wife, he held extreme loyalty to Caesar. Antony became very emotional about the death of Caesar. He strove to create the illusion of friendship with Caesarââ¬â¢s murderers in order to make them feel comfortable; Antony wanted them to let their guard down so it would be easier to help Caesarââ¬â¢s spirit, which was ââ¬Å"ranging for revengeâ⬠(III.i.285). He spoke to them as if he sympathized with their cause and strived to make them feel comfortable. However, they fled the city while he conveyed his speech to the plebeians at Caesarââ¬â¢s funeral. Antony exhibited popularity in Rome, so the plebeians respected his opinion. The funeral speech convinced the plebeians of his cause and allowed him to set his plan in motion. After the funeral, he did everythingShow MoreRelatedCompare and Contrast Brutus and Macbeth1485 Words à |à 6 Pageshis friend and soon to be emperor, Julius Caesar. Macbeth is also a play about a noble and trusted man named Macbeth, who through his strong ambition for power led him to murder his king and dear friend, Duncan. These characters have many similar traits and yet an equal amount of differences. Shakespeare carefully carves th e idea of desire for power, strong ambition, and erratic honor into the heroes, Brutus and Macbeth, adding to their ultimate tragic ending. The first idea and comparison betweenRead MoreJulius Caesar and Other Shakespearian Tragedies810 Words à |à 3 PagesBrutus to join the conspirators because he ââ¬Å"loved Rome moreâ⬠(3.2.23-24) and in his heart he believed he would be doing the people a great favor. Another one of Brutusââ¬â¢s great mistakes was allowing Mark Anthony to speak after him at Caesars funeral. Cassius warns Brutus that it is a mistake to trust Anthony. However, Brutus replies ââ¬Å"By your pardon; / I will myself into the pulpit first, / And show the reason of our Caesars death: / What Antony shall speak, I will protest / He speaks by leave and byRead MoreEssay on The Striding Apis Bull826 Words à |à 4 Pagesin the next life.â⬠In another Egyptian myth it was said that an Apis Bull was born of a virgin cow that was impregnated by Ptah. ââ¬Å"The Bull could be recognized by a peculiar white mark on his neck, a rump that resembled the wings of a hawk, and a scarab like hump under his tongue. He had to have twenty-nine marks; the most important being a rich black coat intermingled with white patterns, and a triangle blaze on his forehead. Once the he was chosen he was brought to Memphis where he was enthronedRead MoreSelf-Monitoring Effects on Self-Esteem1260 Words à |à 6 Pagesthose who are low self monitored are more contented about one self and dont need other people to prove it more. In the article by Weieter in 1997 different information were given regarding self-monitoring. High and low self monitors have certain trait that is distinct to each of them . High self monitors are really conscious about expressions, self presentation, physical attributes. On the other hand people who are low self monitored are more likely to look internally. Low monitors are more concernedRead MoreExodus Code And The Gate Keepers1683 Words à |à 7 PagesThe 21st century marks the start of a new millennium were technology is at the center of everything that is anything, where a vast majority of our population can carry computers in their pockets. As well as how constant advancements in every field, from space exploration all the way down to something as primal as farming, are being made. Truly the human race is at the top of its game. And itââ¬â¢s because knowledge and its understanding is valued through out our society. This statement can be seen throughoutRead MoreInfluence Of A Great Philosopher And The Metaphysic Of Divine Providence1162 Words à |à 5 Pagesand under the dictatorship of Gaius Julius Caesar. Cicero returned to the republic government after the late Julius Caesar death Cicero became an enemy to Mark Anthony. After a power struggle Cicero was executed being an enemy to the state by the second Triumvirate in 43 BC. As an ancient leader Cicero successful leadership and background trait promoted great abilities. Cicero was a Roman philosopher, orator, politician theorist, consul, lawyer, and a Constitutionalist. In addition, the interconnectionRead MoreElizabeth Cady Stanton : Traits Of The Classic Feminist1089 Words à |à 5 PagesOn the other hand, Elizabeth Cady Stanton exemplifies the traits of the classic feminist. Despite her great accomplishments, Stanton came from a rather humble background that provided her with substantial support in the search for equality. Stanton was the first woman to run for election to Congress and the fou nder of the organized women s movement in the United States (Infobase Learning). Stanton was born on November 12, 1815 in Johnstown, New York. Her parents were Margaret Livingston Cady andRead MoreEssay on Sociology 111 Quiz 13498 Words à |à 14 Pages During his career Anthony has worked as a juvenile police officer, corrections counselor in a state prison, and as the executive director of an urban redevelopment program. In view of this, which description best describes Anthonys career path? C. Anthony has been an applied sociologist Question 9 of 25 1.0 Points Mark views society as a system of interrelated parts, while John views society as composed of groups competing for scarce resources. Mark would be considered aRead MoreAn Investigation Of The Psychopath1417 Words à |à 6 PagesSociopath and the Psychopath in American Literature and Film Chances are youââ¬â¢re acquainted with a sociopathic character; youââ¬â¢ve probably read a book, watched a film or watched a television show that displays a character with sociopathic personality traits and have grown to enjoy following them through their story. Itââ¬â¢s not uncommon; theyââ¬â¢re charismatic, manipulative, powerful, and have an extremely different personality than most people. Theyââ¬â¢re charming and entertaining to watch, so itââ¬â¢s no wonderRead MoreThe Role Of Industrialisation, The Modern State And Ethnicity1627 Words à |à 7 PagesOne of the most interesting, and sometimes most frustrating, traits of the phenomenon of nationalism and the nation is the fact that it has no single, clear definition for the subject upon which all authorities in the field agree. From what a nation is to what kindles the flame of nationalism that gives birth to them, every scholar to pick up the pen on the topic has their own view and their own answers to the va rious questions. This essay will be looking at some of those views and examining the
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Succubus on Top CHAPTER 11 Free Essays
string(212) " were still deeply engrossed with their own wares, so I inconspicuously slipped into the dressing-room line, hoping to be in and out before either of them could investigate what sweet, innocent Tabitha was into\." When I went inside to relay this to Bastien a few minutes later, he took Danaââ¬â¢s presence on the proposed shopping trip much better than I had. ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s fantastic! More time for ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"So help me, if you say ââ¬Ëreconnaissance,ââ¬â¢ Iââ¬â¢m going to smack you. Iââ¬â¢m only in this for the clothes. We will write a custom essay sample on Succubus on Top CHAPTER 11 or any similar topic only for you Order Now â⬠ââ¬Å"Fair enough. But this is a golden opportunity, and you know it. You can feel her out. Put in a good word for me, maybe. Something. Anything. I need this. But,â⬠he added, ââ¬Å"donââ¬â¢t do it at the cost of beingâ⬠¦detrimental.â⬠ââ¬Å"Give me some credit here, all right? I understand the situationââ¬â¢s gravity. Iââ¬â¢ll help you.â⬠His roguish smile lit up his face, or rather, Mitchââ¬â¢s face, which was kind of weird. ââ¬Å"While youââ¬â¢re at it, maybe you can brush up on your female bonding.â⬠ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s that supposed to mean?â⬠ââ¬Å"Do a count of all your closest friends someday. I donââ¬â¢t think you like female competition.â⬠I made a face at him just as Jody and Dana showed up. They took me to some astonishing shopping nexus a couple of miles away. I couldnââ¬â¢t believe that much retail space could be crammed indoors. We had a few enclosed shopping centers in Seattle, but nothing like this. Browsing stores with Dana was about as horrible as I could have imagined. She eyed scantily dressed teenagers askance and spoke to a black saleswoman like an underling. Still, despite my distaste, I remembered my duty and attempted friendliness. Over and over, I tried to bolster Bastienââ¬â¢s reputation. ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s so into what your groupââ¬â¢s doing. Heââ¬â¢d like to get more involved. Maybe you could come talk to him about it sometime.â⬠Fortunately for ââ¬Å"Mitch,â⬠these comments did elicit a warm response from her. Yes, sheââ¬â¢d be happy to give Mitch some one-on-one time. Anything for the cause. How nice that he cared. Truly, he was a smart and compassionate man. Blah, blah, blah. She always enjoyed spending time with him. Yet, despite this fleeting progress, her demeanor remained stiff, and her attention always shifted back to me. She peppered me with all sorts of questions, as if she were specifically probing for some key piece of information. She wanted to know what I did for a living. How close Bastien and I were. Where my ââ¬Å"relationshipâ⬠with Seth was going. What my take on the CPFV was. What my values ââ¬â race, sexual orientation, etc. ââ¬â were. I felt like I was being grilled, but she pushed on in that honeyed voice of hers. Despite her aloofness, she always managed to sound friendly and nonthreatening. I could see why she so enthralled her fans. This isnââ¬â¢t just curiosity, I realized. She doesnââ¬â¢t trust me. Dana knew something was going on with Bastien and me, and now she was trying to figure it out. That was probably why he wasnââ¬â¢t really getting anywhere; she was on to him. True, she probably didnââ¬â¢t suspect a covert plan featuring an incubus, but Iââ¬â¢m sure she had her share of more mundane enemies. She was on guard for such things, hence her skepticism about our cover stories. Bastien had no idea what heââ¬â¢d gotten us into. So, I worked hard to maintain our innocence, answering her queries as best I could. My usual charm still wasnââ¬â¢t working on her here, but I performed better than in previous encounters ââ¬â except for the questions about Seth. The reality with him was weird enough without having to live another version of it via Tabitha Hunter, and I found myself stuttering and blushing when she brought him up. When Dana left us at the Christian Dior counter of Nordstrom to go look for slips, I nearly sagged in relief. ââ¬Å"What about this one?â⬠Jody held out a tester of pale pink lip gloss that would look great on Tabitha, less so on Georgina. I opened it and studied the color. ââ¬Å"Too light. Besides, itââ¬â¢d probably come off with one sip of something.â⬠She gave me a mischievous grin. ââ¬Å"Or in other activities.â⬠I rewarded her with a look of mock astonishment. It wasnââ¬â¢t hard to do; she was full of surprises, it seemed. Fun ones. ââ¬Å"Why, Jody. Here I thought you were a respectable married woman.â⬠ââ¬Å"Are you kidding? Marriage only makes you less respectable. Gives you a lot of time to invent new things.â⬠Grinning back, I swapped the pink lip gloss for a red one. ââ¬Å"Better not let Dana hear you talking like that. I got the third degree about my boyfriend, as it is.â⬠Jodyââ¬â¢s mirth dimmed a bit, though she held her smile. ââ¬Å"It may feel like the third degree, but sheââ¬â¢s just curious about you, thatââ¬â¢s all.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, I guess. No other reason, I suppose.â⬠Best not to mention my theory that Dana suspected Bastien and me of duplicity. To my surprise, Jody looked back down at the eye shadow display, pointedly avoiding my eyes. I was reminded of that day in the yard when Iââ¬â¢d had the sense she wanted to tell me something about Dana. Something bad. ââ¬Å"Jody,â⬠I murmured, setting down the lip gloss, ââ¬Å"what is it? Whatââ¬â¢s wrong?â⬠She shook her head. ââ¬Å"Nothing. Forget about it.â⬠Dana returned just then, and the moment was gone. ââ¬Å"They donââ¬â¢t have what I need. Letââ¬â¢s check Victoriaââ¬â¢s Secret.â⬠I perked up. That was the best thing Iââ¬â¢d heard ail day, aside from another possible insight from Jody. We entered what had to be one of my top five favorite stores. We split up, Jody going to pajamas and Dana looking for some slip that would undoubtedly match that god-awful underwear of hers. As for me, I promptly sought outrisquelingerie sets ââ¬â once Iââ¬â¢d ascertained the other two women were occupied. No way was I having a repeat of the swimsuit incident. Unfortunately, the store had a more outstanding selection than usual, and what Iââ¬â¢d intended to be a mere browse turned into a full-fledged mission when I found a few sets I simply had to try on. Dana and Jody were still deeply engrossed with their own wares, so I inconspicuously slipped into the dressing-room line, hoping to be in and out before either of them could investigate what sweet, innocent Tabitha was into. You read "Succubus on Top CHAPTER 11" in category "Essay examples" I had just made it to the head of the line when both of them squeezed in next to me. ââ¬Å"What a crowd,â⬠Jody said. ââ¬Å"Mind if we just share your room? Theyââ¬â¢re huge here.â⬠I felt the blood drain from my face as I tried to think up some reason to decline. An idea for a contagious, flesh-eating disease was forming in my mind when the sales associate ushered us into a room that was indeed more than big enough to hold the three of us. Dana only had two skirt slips to try on, and she pulled off her slacks with unconcerned efficiency. I winced upon seeing the granny panties again. Meanwhile, Jody tried on a set of cute flannel pajamas. When I made no moves of any kind, Dana asked me if I was all right. Swallowing, I slowly began removing my clothing. She watched with narrowed eyes. The first bra and panty set I tried on was made of ivory lace decorated with black bows. The second consisted of deep magenta satin and was cut so racily it was barely a few scraps of fabric. When I got to the third one ââ¬â sheer black mesh decorated with embroidered pink flowers ââ¬â I wanted to die. Jody and Dana had finished and were waiting for me. Jodyââ¬â¢s face was pleasant and casual. Dana maintained a look of neutrality, but still radiated disapproval. Great. I could feel myself blushing furiously. Bastien would kill me if he found out Iââ¬â¢d not only damaged the wholesome image, Iââ¬â¢d completely destroyed it. While Dana stayed stone-faced, Jody cocked her head at me curiously. ââ¬Å"I think you have the wrong bra size, Tabitha. They all look too big.â⬠Of course they were too big. Tabitha Hunter didnââ¬â¢t wear a 34C. Georgina Kincaid did. Iââ¬â¢d intended to shape-shift to my preferred body when I was alone in here. ââ¬Å"Oh,â⬠I said stupidly, feeling like the whore Dana thought I was. Make that a dumb whore. ââ¬Å"Well. I lost some weight recently.â⬠I tried on the last one ââ¬â red with glittering silver flowers ââ¬â and even in the wrong size, it was stunning. ââ¬Å"That looks great,â⬠Jody said, echoing my thoughts. ââ¬Å"I wish I was brave enough to wear something like that.â⬠Dana studied me thoroughly. ââ¬Å"That bra offers no support whatsoever. It has no purpose.â⬠ââ¬Å"She doesnââ¬â¢t need the support. Besides, thatââ¬â¢s the point. It doesnââ¬â¢t have to be functional. She just wants to be pretty.â⬠ââ¬Å"Pretty for who? And why? She isnââ¬â¢t married.â⬠ââ¬Å"So what? Itââ¬â¢s none of our business.â⬠Dana glared daggers at the other woman. ââ¬Å"None of our business? Humanity is our business.â⬠She must have read Dickens recently. Icy silence filled our little room. I felt invisible, regardless of the fact that I was half naked. ââ¬Å"Hey guys? Maybe we should go. Iââ¬â¢ll just take this off.â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠said Jody sternly, eyes locked with Danaââ¬â¢s in a battle of wills. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s beautiful, Tabitha. You have nothing to be ashamed of.â⬠ââ¬Å"She is beautiful,â⬠concurred Dana smoothly, ââ¬Å"but that outfit would be better suited to a married woman.â⬠Her tone suggested that even that was questionable. I was on the verge of just leaving the room as is, but seeing Jody defy Dana like that kindled something warm and fuzzy inside of me. Bastien would kill me, but I couldnââ¬â¢t keep myself from joining the fight. ââ¬Å"You know,â⬠I remarked to Dana, making sure she noticed my blatant examination of my backside, ââ¬Å"if thatââ¬â¢s the case, then maybe you should try this one on. Itââ¬â¢s just your color. Kind of Christmasy too. Iââ¬â¢d love to see it on you. And I bet Bill would really dig it. ââ¬Å" Dana just stared at me, biting her lip again as she held my challenging gaze. She looked like she might snap back but instead simply pursed those lips together in a hard, straight line. Without another word, she left the dressing room, door banging loudly behind her. Jody stood there uncertainly for a moment. ââ¬Å"It looks great,â⬠she reiterated before following Dana out. By myself, I decided I might as well use the alone time to shape-shift and try on the lingerie in the body theyââ¬â¢d been intended for. As expected, they looked pretty hot, so I bought them all. I figured I deserved to salvage something from this disaster. ââ¬Å"So howââ¬â¢d it go?â⬠asked Bastien when Jody and Dana dropped me off at his place later on. ââ¬Å"Fine,â⬠I said, having already stuffed the illicit purchases in my car, lest they raise questions from him. ââ¬Å"Just fine. Wellâ⬠¦sort of.â⬠I told him about Danaââ¬â¢s interrogation and my theory that she might suspect us of something insidious, even if it wasnââ¬â¢t what we actually planned. His face grew grimmer and grimmer as I spoke, and I knew he thought I had a point. When I finished, I leaned my head against his shoulder, hating to see him so miserable. ââ¬Å"Hey, donââ¬â¢t worry. Weââ¬â¢ll get through this. I mean, look on the bright side: Dana and I did a lot of bonding today. I think we had a realâ⬠¦breakthrough.â⬠I knew doubts still plagued him, but he had cheered up by the time we ââ¬â no longer as Mitch and Tabitha ââ¬â arrived back in Seattle later that day. We picked up Seth on the way to Peterââ¬â¢s apartment, promptly ensuring that neither man spoke to me for the rest of the car ride. Once again, Jerome chose not to grace us with his presence, but everyone else had turned out for more good food and poker: Peter, Cody, Hugh, and Carter. Carter seemed quietly intrigued by Sethââ¬â¢s presence while the others greeted him like a long-lost brother. Considering how often he came up in conversation among us, I think the other immortals regarded him as one of our inner circle already. He stuck close to me for most of the night, but turned out to be a pretty damned good poker player. I think his quiet, placid nature fooled others into forgetting he was there. Amusingly, he seemed pretty pleased about his winnings too, albeit in a mild, Seth sort of way. It made me happy to see this side of him, happier still to know he was enjoying himself with my friends. I didnââ¬â¢t really know what side of me he saw that night. My friends sure didnââ¬â¢t pull any punches when it came to teasing me about my various idiosyncrasies, and Bastien seemed to think it was Memory Lane Night. He kept telling all sorts of stones from my past, trying to lure me into inside jokes no one else knew about. I stayed away from that path as much as possible without offending him. My priority was still making things work with Seth, and as I held his hand all night and only gave polite smiles to Bastien, I think it became clear to the incubus where my loyalties lay. He didnââ¬â¢t seem too thrilled. Halfway through the game, I received a joint call from Mei and Grace. ââ¬Å"Hello, Georgina,â⬠said Grace. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s us,â⬠said Mei. ââ¬Å"Did you find out anything?â⬠ââ¬Å"No matches,â⬠Mei told me. ââ¬Å"Oh.â⬠So much for that avenue. ââ¬Å"But that may not mean much,â⬠said Grace. ââ¬Å"We always miss some.â⬠ââ¬Å"And it doesnââ¬â¢t really matter,â⬠said Mei. ââ¬Å"Theyââ¬â¢re not a problem if they donââ¬â¢t meddle in our affairs.â⬠ââ¬Å"And most donââ¬â¢t?â⬠I had run into countless immortals over the years, from all sorts of cultures and powers, but I had not paid much attention to how they operated with each other in a political sense. I had always been content to worry about my job and my job alone, safe in the knowledge that the authorities I answered to wielded enough power to deal with anyone else. ââ¬Å"Most donââ¬â¢t,â⬠the demonesses agreed in unison. The poker players regarded me curiously when I hung up. ââ¬Å"Who was that?â⬠asked Peter. ââ¬Å"Grace and Mei.â⬠Hugh made a face. ââ¬Å"Ack. The crazy-bitch-dyke twins.â⬠ââ¬Å"Hey, thatââ¬â¢s uncalled for. Theyââ¬â¢ve been very helpful.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah? Well, just wait,â⬠he warned. ââ¬Å"Next thing you know, theyââ¬â¢ll be wanting to cut your hair and dress you in black too. ââ¬Å" Cody smiled at my outrage. ââ¬Å"Why do I get the feeling thereââ¬â¢s another illicit Georgina investigation afoot?â⬠ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s not so illicit.â⬠ââ¬Å"Illicit enough,â⬠remarked Bastien with a yawn. ââ¬Å"You and your mortals.â⬠He pocketed the money he had left, downed his bourbon, and thanked Peter again for another fabulous evening. ââ¬Å"Leaving so soon?â⬠I asked. ââ¬Å"Off to find fairer company. No offense to you, Fleur .â⬠He leaned down to me and brushed a kiss over my lips that lingered a breath too long for friendship. ââ¬Å"Good night.â⬠His departure spurred a new round of the Bastien Fan Club as they all speculated what sexual escapade he was about to embark on now. ââ¬Å"How does he do it?â⬠asked Peter. ââ¬Å"I wish I was that good,â⬠added Cody. ââ¬Å"Hey,â⬠I complained, ââ¬Å"pursuing women isnââ¬â¢t any harder than men. Sometimes itââ¬â¢s easier. ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"That guyââ¬â¢s amazing.â⬠Hugh acted like I hadnââ¬â¢t even spoken. â⬠Going after a new one tonight when heââ¬â¢s still sporting a glow that canââ¬â¢t even be a day old. I wish I got lucky that often.â⬠Seth didnââ¬â¢t like to speak much with this group ââ¬â or any group for that matter ââ¬â but like my other friends, he was in awe of the incubus. Hughââ¬â¢s comment especially piqued his interest. ââ¬Å"What do you mean by ââ¬Ëglow?ââ¬â¢ Like an afterglow?â⬠Hugh grinned at him. ââ¬Å"Sort ofâ⬠¦you must know what Iââ¬â¢m talking about. The post-sex thing? The glamour?â⬠ââ¬Å"Whose deal is it?â⬠I asked sharply, not liking the conversationââ¬â¢s new direction. Seth turned thoughtful. ââ¬Å"Well, then it is like an afterglow. I mean, everyone sort of has something like that after sex.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes, but itââ¬â¢s different for an incubus or a succubus,â⬠explained Peter professorially. Unless I was mistaken, he was starting to pick up a British accent. Too much exposure to Bastien. ââ¬Å"In their case, itââ¬â¢s more of a literal glow ââ¬â to other immortals at least. When theyââ¬â¢ve had sex, they take that personââ¬â¢s life. Life force is alluring. To an immortal, a just-laid incubus or succubus will almost ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Glitter,â⬠suggested Cody. ââ¬Å"Or sparkle. And yetâ⬠¦not. Itââ¬â¢s kind of hard to explain. Hasnââ¬â¢t Georgina told you all this?â⬠ââ¬Å"Not this,â⬠said Seth. ââ¬Å"So Iâ⬠¦er, mortals donââ¬â¢t see it?â⬠ââ¬Å"Are we playing or not?â⬠I asked impatiently, raising my voice. Carter caught my eye. ââ¬Å"Not like we do,â⬠continued Peter. ââ¬Å"But they ââ¬â you ââ¬â feel it. Or maybe ââ¬Ësenseââ¬â¢ is a better word. It pulls you in. Itââ¬â¢s very attractive. ââ¬Å" I sunk lower into my seat, trying to decide if anyone would notice if I suddenly turned invisible. I might as well have been since no one was listening to my protests anyway. ââ¬Å"You must have noticed it,â⬠pointed out Hugh, taking a swig of whiskey. ââ¬Å"There must be days when you see Georgina and practically canââ¬â¢t control yourself because of how hot she is. You can only stare. Of course, itââ¬â¢s probably hard to tell the difference since sheââ¬â¢s always so hot, huh?â⬠Everyone except Carter, Seth, and I laughed. I knew the imp had meant that last part as a compliment, but I wanted to throw my gimlet glass at him nonetheless. The hilarity soon died down, and we returned to cards. But the damage was done. Seth and I hardly spoke for the rest of the night, not that anyone ââ¬â save Carter, I suspected ââ¬â even noticed. When Seth and I left, I knew something bad was coming. I dropped him off at his place, and he invited me inside to eat Rocky Road ice cream. He was a big ice cream fan. I should have just turned around and left, but Rocky Road has supernatural powers. Plus, I remembered what Seth and I had discussed after the recent make-out session in bed ââ¬â how we had to communicate about issues, rather than ignore them. I still believed that to be true, but theory and practice were two completely different things. He made up two bowls for us, and we ate the ice cream in silence for a while. When he finished, Seth played with his spoon, not looking at me. ââ¬Å"So,â⬠he asked, ââ¬Å"is it true?â⬠ââ¬Å"Is what true?â⬠Like I didnââ¬â¢t know. ââ¬Å"Come on, donââ¬â¢t make me spell it out,â⬠he said gently. ââ¬Å"I just want to hear your version, thatââ¬â¢s all.â⬠I opened my mouth to speak, to find some way to neutralize all this, but my tongue felt thick and useless. No coherent words formed. ââ¬Å"Is it true?â⬠repeated Seth. When I still didnââ¬â¢t answer, he continued, ââ¬Å"When I see you sometimesâ⬠¦when I see you ââ¬â like that one night ââ¬â and can barely even breathe because you are so beautifulâ⬠¦so beautiful that I can do nothing but act like an idiot, does that mean that youââ¬â¢ve justâ⬠¦slept with someone? But, of course, I donââ¬â¢t actually mean, um, ââ¬Ësleepââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ Damn, this communication thing really did suck. How to cite Succubus on Top CHAPTER 11, Essay examples
Monday, May 4, 2020
Customer Loyalty Marketing Research â⬠Free Samples to Students
Question: Discuss about the Customer Loyalty Marketing Research. Answer: Introduction The report of the hotel chain illustrates the critical analysis of the management decision taken by the senior management of the hotel. The management decision of the hotel is based on the technology and the systems of the company based on the different IT implementation. The report will discuss about the development of the operational aspects of the ten hotel chains such as brand loyalty, continued patronage, customer choice, etc. The usage patterns of ICT in the organization are also discussed in detailed with their potential issues in it. The aim of the restaurant is to increase the strength of the customer base of the hotel chain along with the improved management operations and the goals and objectives of the company. The use of ICT is to gain the competitive advantage of the hotel chain in the market. Recommendations are to be formulated which are based on the aspects of the management decisions as well as technology implementation in the project. The case study consists of the merging of few hotels i.e. ten hotels in a single hotel chain in order to combat the pressure of the market for accommodation purpose of the lower accommodation hotel. However, it can be said that the new hotel chain has different categories of hotel starting from bed breakfast homes to backpacker to luxurious suites. The new hotel chain is known as Stay Together[1]. The aim of the hotel chain is to combat the sales of the websites like hotels.com, booking.com, etc. that are responsible for lesser sale of the hotel rooms. The main aim is to form a single website which will be provided to the customers from where they can book the accommodation and other facilities related to it. The price of the products will be remains same in all seasons except the peak season. The following section discusses about the critical analysis of the management decisions of the hotel chains[2]. Loyalty schemes are used in any businesses that are proven to be beneficial not only in attracting customers but also in order to maintain the loyalty of the customers and residents of hotel who are using the services of the hotel. The loyalty scheme of the hotel chain will be competitive enough in order to use the services of the hotels more than the regular services of the hotel. It can be said that the customer loyalty scheme of the hotel chain is Stay Together Loyalty that will reward its customers with different facilities such as car parking, free nights, airport transfers, etc. The loyalty programs of the hotel chain are structured in terms of the marketing strategies that are formulated for the customers[3]. For instance, customers who are using regular services of the hotels, they are provided with different kinds of customers in the hotel. The loyalty programs of the hotel are formulated in a way so that they can meet the needs of the customers individually. On the other ha nd, it can be said that sometimes the individual schemes of the hotel chains sometimes causes failure in the loyalty schemes of the different types of customers which are not satisfying the expectations of the hotel residents. The good aspect of the loyalty programs of the hotel chains are that it can attract new customers as well as the retention of the existing customers. The marketing techniques are also included in it[4] Free buffet breakfast and dinner In terms of hotel industry, free breakfast and dinner or buffet are common offers that the hoteliers provide to the customers. It can be said that the free buffet or other times of meals are treated as complimentary treatment to the customers. The customers and tourists usually welcome any thing which is free. The senior management of the company decided that will include dinner and breakfast which will be included in the cost of the hotel room charges. The company StayTogether will include this thing in the website in the offers section of the website. It is one of the factors that will increase the customer loyalty of the hotel visitors[5]. The scheme of quality breakfast and meals is responsible for creating a competitive advantage of the hotels in the industry. It is seen that most of the customers search for hotels that have free breakfast or dinner. The customers will not have to go to other places in order to have breakfast and dinner which is irritating sometimes for them. It is seen that the hotels of the company are having more customers due to the complimentary breakfast provided to them. Research has proved the fact that the relationship between the visitors and the management of the hotels also gets increased due to the complementary aspects of breakfast and dinner. However, it is also a fact that this scheme will not affect the customers who are having breakfast or dinner from different exclusive restaurants. They will not be attracted towards this scheme of StayTogether[6]. Rebates are considered as a remarkable decision of the management of the company that has decided by the company in order to increase the customer satisfaction of the hotel chains. Rebate system will encourage the customers in order to book the hotels along with the other transportation facilities of the places. For instance, it can be said that the StayTogether include rebate systems to the customers in terms of the airlines booking. The visitors of the hotel are interested in the transportation of the places that are related with the tours and travels. The rebates are responsible for attracting the visitors of the hotel[7]. The management decision of the company is focusing on the development of mobile app in terms of rebates. The visitors of the webpage are provided with deals and discounts related to the hotel rentals and other services of hotels. Rebates are different for different types of customers. If they are using the website rebates are different. On the other hand, if the customers are using the mobile application then they will be getting different types of deals and offers[8]. This will affect the customer relationship with the hotel chain with the customers. Customer relationship is the important aspect in the hotel industry in order to seek customer retention and relationship. It will help in the different types of Word of Mouth Promotion of the hotel chains. On the other hand, it can be said that the sometimes the customers may not get happy with the services of transportation that are offered by the hotel chain in rebates[9]. Social responsibility Corporate social responsibility is the important part of the aspect of the business. The business responsibilities of the hotel chain group are mandatory as it comes under the regulation of the government of the country. It is seen that the hotel chain is contributing 1% of the income of every bill received from the customers. The customers are given an opportunity in order to contribute to the charity provided by the company to the community[10]. The decision taken by the different officials of the senior management of the hotel chain is considered as a master stroke by them in terms of the marketing campaigns of the hotel group. People nowadays are responsible for the contributor of the sustainability aspects in a different way. Companies nowadays promote the element of sustainability in their operational departments of companies in order to attract more customers to it. It can be said that the company has mentioned the impact of the charity donations to the various charity homes[11]. This is an indirect marketing technique used by the group of hotels in order to increase their corporate brand image among the different charity organizations. Apart from that, the visitors of the website are given the choice in order to select their preferred charity organizations while donating their contributions to it. Finally, it has been found that this helps in increasing rate of bookings of the hotel rooms of the different hotels of the hotel chain. It is indirectly helping the company for new customer attraction and retention of the existing visitors of the company[12]. IT and IS issues are more or less same in terms of technical aspect. IT issues refers to Information Technology issues while on the other hand IS issues refers to Information System issues. The issues can be categorized into different categories such as technology compatibility issues, scalability issues, sustainability issues, data conversion issues, employment issues, legal issues, user interface issues, employment issues, etc. The different types of technology compatibility issues are related with the improper development of the website or improper web designing elements in their company websites[13]. The scalability issues is related to the usage if the various technologies of IT and IS within the budget provided to the company. Data conversion loss is a big issue in terms of the hotel chain. It can lead to huge data loss. Data loss can leads to dissatisfaction of the customers in terms of loss of their information from the system. In terms of data conversion, sometimes technical faults can occurs that is also a cause of bad customer relationship management[14]. Apart from that, there are legal issues that the company can face in terms of the patented issues. The company must have to have the patent their technologies and their website so that the rival companies should not copy the technologies as well as other services offered by the company. The technology capability issues are related to the user interface issues of the customers to use the website of the new hotel chain. If the digital marketing and the improper website designing of the company is not done properly, then the user will find problem in using the website for finding different issues of the website. The employability issues are a vital problem for the new hotel chain. The hotel chain has to cut many employees from the office as human skill is replacing into machines which is cost effective[15]. Conclusion It can be concluded that though the group of hotels is planning to form a hotel chain and form a website of their own in order to gain a competitive advantage in the market. The problem is related to the different types of problems faced by the hotel chain while opening the website and incorporating it to the users. There are numerous advantages as well as disadvantages regarding IT and IS issues related to the website development of the company. However, recommendations are to be provided in order to mitigate the issues faced by the hotel chain. Recommendations are to be followed in terms of the different technical issues of the hotel chain. A strong team needs to be recruited by the company. The scalability issues of the company should be solved with a proper budget for the implementation. Human skill is required to control the activities of the technology. The technical faults should be addressed by the digital market team. Different forms of technology related to customer relationship management are to be implemented[16]. References Fakharyan, Meysam, Sadaf Omidvar, Mohammad Reza Khodadadian, Mohammad Reza Jalilvand, and Leila Nasrolahi Vosta. 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