Consumer Behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 5

Consumer Behaviour - Essay Example the report is limited to the discussion and analysis of psychological and consumer environment factors and their impact of consumer purchasing decision of Red Bull energy drink. The case study of Richey & Michaels (2001) has been used to study the various marketing activities and strategies of Red Bull. In consideration to the consumer behaviour models and theories, the marketing practices of Red Bull have been discussed. In the first section, the consumer decision process has been discussed. In the second section, the impact of psychological core factors on consumer decision process has been studied and in the last section, the impact of consumer environment factor on consumer decision process has been discussed. As shown by Schiffman & Kanuk in the model of Consumer Decision Making, the three steps are very important in decision making process. These steps shape the psychological core factors of consumers, which directly influence the decision of the consumer; therefore, the three steps are very important for the companies to influence the consumer behaviour. A consumer recognises a need when he faces a problem. For example, the need for a drink may arise when an athlete has exhausted after playing a game, a spectator in the audience is lacking energy to fully participate in the concert, a truck driver is staying at the rest area on highway after long driving, a working person is back home from office, a student is lacking energy to keep a pace in studies etc. Out of the two states of consumers for problem recognition including actual state or desired state, the need for a drink will be the desired state of the consumer. After recognising the need, the repurchase research beings, if the consumer perceives that purchasing or consuming a particular product can satisfy his need. In most of the decision making process, the consumer recalls his past experiences however, when the consumer does not have any prior experience, he may need to conduct an extensive

Electronic and Mobile commerce Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Electronic and Mobile commerce - Assignment Example The company has also expanded its menu to include fruits, smoothies, wraps, fish, salads and seasoned fries. This company adheres to B2C model of business. The corporation offers affiliation and franchise to local people who adhere to company‘s rules and regulation  of  all aspects  to the business.   The customers can get service through directly visiting the store. The customer can order and eat there itself or get a takeaway meal. The second method is dialing toll-free number and order meal for  the door-step delivery.  As the corporation is considering a new avenue of business, that is online, it needs to create a comprehensive business strategy to get success in this venture. Creation of a  new  business strategy for  new  medium of communication is not so easy as it includes  a lot of  investment in various parts of business and new strategies.  As the proposed investment is big, it is necessary to estimate the rate of returns and increase in business sales. This issue can be resolved by commissioning market research for  the Internet  and mobile survey of the existing customer group.   As the market report is very positive, the company decides to implement electronic and mobile commerce in form of easy to access user-friendly interactive website and mobile app from  where the customers can choose food items from menu and order for  doorstep delivery.   There are  a lot of  online  tools that helps to publicize the  McDonalds  online  order services such as social networking sites,  photo-sharing  sites, blog sites.  These sites  offer  free  services,  and company can maintain close relationship among  the members of the sites and can easily update them about  fresh services, schemes,  brand new  food items  on  the menu.   Today, Smartphone  is  becoming very common as most of the people prefer to purchase them for both business and pleasure. With Smartphone app., the customers can easily order from

Evolution of Supply Chain Management

Evolution of Supply Chain Management Over the past 40 years, the traditional purchasing and logistics functions have evolved into a wider strategic approach to materials and distribution management known as SCM. This chapter will review the SCM evolution over the past decades and the factors that have influenced this evolution. 1.2 Supply chain management evolution After Second World War there was a high need to increase production, the most part of the world was suffering from hunger. The world entered in the Productivism era, most manufacturers gave priority to mass production to minimize unit production cost as the primary operations strategy. This was the first stage of the creation of economies of scale. However, these years 1950s and 1960s the concept of supply chain management was unknown. During these years new product development was slow and counted only in firms own technology and capacity. Inventory cushioned bottleneck operations in order to maintain a balanced line low, resulting in huge investment in work in process (WIP) inventory (Tan, 2001). Logistics cost were high as well. At a national level in the USA and UK, they accounted respectively for 15% and 16% of gross national product (Ballou 2007). Furthermore, issues concern with purchasing was neglected by managers at that time, since purchasing was considered as a service to production (Famer, 1997). As mentioned above increasing production was the main objective of this period, little emphasis was on cooperative and strategic buyer supplier partnership. According to Tan (2001), Sharing technology and expertise with customers or suppliers was considered too risky and unacceptable. Tan 2001 argues that, in the 1970s, managers become aware of the huge WIP on manufacturing cost, new product development, quality, and delivery time. One of the factors of this increased awareness was the introduction of Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP). The focus in this period changed; it is not just increase production through spreading the fixed cost to a bigger output (economies of scale), rather, to increase performance. The introduction of IT (MRP) in planning the resources of the firm proofs this. During the 1980s and 1990s, firms deal with increased demands for better, faster, cheaper logistical service. As a result, many manufacturers outsourced logistics activities and their focus transferred to core competencies (Daugherty, 2011). According to Daugherty (2011), the outside specialist presented an economically viable means of achieving productivity and efficiency. Therefore, many manufactures went more for a relationship oriented approach with their supplier and customer. They understood the benefits of cooperative relationship with the other firms in the different chain levels (Stank at al, 1999). Stank at al (1999), show in their paper some of the advantages and benefits that this cooperative relationship had: synergy gain through shared expertise and resources, better planning and support, exchange of information, and joint problem solving. Another reason that influenced the partnership between supplier buyer was the increased global competition (Tan, 2001). In the 1990s was the introduction of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), this gave a boost to the evolution of the SCM and buyer supplier relationship. Movahedi at al (2009) argues, while the previous IT resource planning systems (e.g. EDI Electronic Data Interchange) used by manufactures were concern mainly with inter organizational integration, ERP systems were mainly concern with intra organizational integration. The evolution continues in the 21st century with the development of more sophisticated IT systems (internet base solution systems) which are concerned for both inter-organizational integration and intra-organizational integration. Moreover, the relationship buyer supplier in this period have gone one-step forward, from normal partnership to long-term relationship and strategic alliances. Manufacturers and retailers now commonly exploit supplier strengths and technology in support of new product development, distribution channels, cost reduction etc (Morgan and Moncz ka, 1995). For example retailers like Tesco use supplier strengths and technology to make own label products which contribute to Tesco overall image. The latest trend of evolution in the supply chain management is the movement towards systems of supplier relations over national boundaries and into other continents (Movahedi at al, 2009). Global Supply Chain Management (GSCM) is the latest concept introduced to the literature of SCM. Now days firms are much bigger than they used to be. They have achieved economies of scale and with the establishment of trade liberalisation policies they are internationalising their businesses to find the lowest sources of inputs and growing markets to sell their products. The concept of SCM is not enough for being efficient and competitive in the new environment that is why new concept and management strategies (i.e. GSCM) are emerging. An Integrated supply chain gives considerable competitive advantage to the individual actors participating in the chain. Now days in the developed economies there is a switch from firm firm competition to chain chain competition (Koh at al, 2007). This last sentence describes best how the supply chain management has evolved over the past decade, by making the different actors in a chain to operate as one big entity. 1.3 Evolution stages of supply chain management By looking at the above evolution history, we can identify some turning points in the concept and philosophy of SCM. Some authors have segmented the evolution of supply chain management into stages (Movahedi at al, 2009; Ballou 2007 ). Movahedi at al, (2009) segmented SCM evolution into three stages: Creation era During the 1980s Integration era During 1990s and continued in the 21st Globalisation era Now days Creation era, starts (1980s) when the buyer supplier understand the benefits that a cooperative relationship offers. In this period we encounter for the first time the term supply chain management. Integration era starts (1990s) when the IT system EDI is replaced by ERP. ERP focus not only in managing the resources of the individual firm but also the resources of the integrated supply chain. Globalisation era, starts with the creation of the trade liberalisation policies and the establishment of institution such as World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international institutions that deal with global/regional trade policies. According to Ballou (2007) SCM is not new, it is a evolution of the purchasing and distribution function. The integration of these two functions has generated what we call SCM. Figure 1 shows the evolution of SCM as described by Ballow (2007). He has segmented the evolution of SCM into three stages. Activity fragmentation 1950s and 1960s Activity integration 1960s to 2000 Supply chain management 2000+ As we can see from the figure, in the first stage the activities (from purchasing row materials to finished product in the shelf of a retailer) are fragmented, there is no integration between them. As a result the cost of finished products (transportation cost, inventory cost etc) are high. In the second stage, there is some integration between the activities but still not fully integrated. The SCM 2000+ is the last stage where all the activities are fully integrated leading to cost reduction, shortening of the new product development process, better flow of information, improved cash flow, faster order fulfilment, improved shelf availability and last but not least increased customer satisfaction. From the SCM literature it comes out that customer satisfaction is one of the key driving factors of supply chain evolution. Figure 1 Supply Chain Evolution Source: Ballow (2007) 1.4 Factors that have affected SCM evolution

Diversity in Video and Computer Games :: Technology Entertainment Essays

Diversity in Video and Computer Games Ever since the Pong and Atari 2600 consoles became commonplace items in the American household in the 1980s, video games have been part of the world culture. One may be challenged to find a college dorm room without at least one (if not all three) â€Å"next generation† video game systems. Yes, video games are common methods of entertainment among college students regardless of race. So it seems logical that, since the games are played by all races, they should have content featuring all races, right? Well, that’s what I’m here to examine. Violence and Gaming Up to this point, the majority of research based on video games was directed toward the two major concepts of gender and violence. The existence of violence in games is not up for debate; from Donkey Kong throwing barrels and Pac-Man eating ghosts during the birth of home gaming, to samurai Samanosuke slicing up demons in Playstation 2’s Onimusha series, violence has been prevalent in gaming. In fact, a study claims that, on average, 89% of video games include violent content (Children Now, 2001).The question is: how does the violence affect young players? There are two rival camps with opposing viewpoints on the matter of media violence. One, and arguably the more vocal of the two, states that violent content is likely to make the viewer/player act out in violent ways. The other claims that violence in games acts as a catharsis, thus preventing violence on the part of the user. Research on this aspect of video games, and in fact all media, has been conducted as long as the technology has been in existence (Dominick, J.R. (1984). Video games, television violence and aggression in teenagers.). As of yet, results have been inconclusive. Gender in Gaming Within the gender-based subset, most research involved the roles of women within the games, or quite possibly the lack thereof. In the often-referenced article â€Å"An examination of violence and gender role portrayals in video games: implications for gender socialization and aggressive behavior,† Tracy Deitz (1998) found the portrayal of women in games to be somewhere between negligible at best, and harmful to the perception of females at the very worst.

Environmental Studies Essays – Global Warming

Cautions: Global Heating!The air quality of our ambiance has been in drastic alterations in the past century. Industrial revolution has cause major injury to our environment. Pollution, dumping toxic wastes into our ocean, and let go ofing harmful gases and sprays into the ambiance. These are some of the cause of planetary warming so unsafe in the universe ‘s environment. We should take more action towards planetary heating before it ‘s excessively late. What is Global warming? Global warming refers to an mean addition in the Earth ‘s temperature, which in bend causes alterations in clime ( Global ) . Population growing, deforestation, and pollution have increased by a big border from 20, 40, or even a hundred old ages ago. Since the Industrial Revolution, machines have changed the manner life we lived. Before the Industrial Revolution, human activity released really few gases into the ambiance, but now through population growing, fossil fuel combustion, and deforestation, we are impacting the mixture of gases in the ambiance ( Global ) . It is imperative that we, the people, take action on our deceasing environment, for the hereafter of our childs and coevalss to come. Unless stairss are taken to halt this patterned advance of events, and even in malice of such stairss, the huge bulk of the grounds shows that the Earth will go on to turn heater, with widespread and even ruinous consequences. How did we happen out what was the cause of planetary heating? After making some research, I learned that planetary heating is created by the nursery consequence: The nursery consequence is the rise in temperature that the Earth experiences because certain gases in the ambiance ( H2O vapour, C dioxide, azotic oxide, and methane, for illustration ) trap energy from the Sun. Without these gases, heat would get away back into infinite and Earth ‘s mean temperature would be about 60 F colder. Because of how they warm our universe, these gases are referred to as nursery gases ( Global ) . Make you cognize what a nursery is? Have you of all time seen houses with a little glass house in the backyard merely for workss? Well these glass houses besides known as a nursery. They are meant for workss to last through the winter clip by pin downing heat within the house. Since, Earth ‘s ambiance is really much like the nursery theoretical account, energy from the Sun passes through our ambiance where energy is absorbed by the air, H2O, and workss. Once absorbed, the energy so releases itself back into the ambiance and so releases into infinite. Without the nursery consequence, our clime could be black because the ambiance regulates our clime. It could raise or take down the temperatures, misbalancing nature. Even though the nursery consequence is good for the environment, it could besides be bad. Since the ambiance is filled with pollution, the energy re-releasing back into infinite sometimes gets trapped by the ambiance and warms up the Earth ‘s clime. Pollution is one of the largest jobs in today ‘s environment. By breathing harmful gases such as C dioxide which are chiefly released from autos and power workss, harmful gases will construct up into the ambiance. The harmful effects of gas build up in the ambiance and can increase the temperature of the Earth which could jeopardize workss, cause wild conditions forms, or alter land formations ( Global ) . There are many ways to increase the effects of planetary heating such as taint, wastes, or deforestation. One of the largest manufacturers of pollution is power workss. Harmonizing to the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) , turning on the telecasting, utilizing the washer/dryer, or even turning on a visible radiation can assist take to more nursery gases since they use electricity which originate from power workss. The exhausts of power workss are created from the combustion of dodo fuels which are released into the ambiance. What is fossil fuel? Harmonizing to the Greenhouse Effect article, fossil fuel originated from workss. Plants take C dioxide from the air. When the works dies, the remains are buried in the dirt. After 1000s and 1000s of old ages, the C dioxide is transformed into a coal or oil which is fossil fuel. The General Accounting Office survey forecasts a 42 per centum rush in electricity production over the following two decennaries that will hike U.S. power workss ‘ C dioxide emanations by 35 per centum and quicksilver emanations by 9 per centum ( Eaton ) . Si nce the population of the universe is turning each twenty-four hours ; people are traveling to utilize more power which would make more fossil fuels being burned up and more power workss being built to suit the rate of the population. Even though there are no innovations to do fossil fuel exhausts to be more friendl to the environment, there are other options to cut back on firing fossil fuels. By conserving power, we can cut back on electricity which could assist by firing less fossil fuel. Part of the job could be solved by change overing these workss to fire cleaner natural gas ( Overview ) . There are other options to bring forth energy that do n't come from power workss such as solar and weave energy. Solar energy is known to utilize solar panels to garner energy from a heat beginning such as the Sun. This energy is gathered and stored in a level panel where it is stored until the energy is consumed. Unlike Solar energy, there is another manner to garner energy from our environment. Wind-power energy gathers energy from the air current. Have you of all time driven in the main road and seen these big white fans on the top of a hill? Well, those fans are wind conservers. They act the same as solar but by the ai r current. The sum of energy additions depending on the velocity of the air current. In other words, the faster it goes, the more energy is gathered. Technological progresss have brought the cost of electricity generated by the air current down by 82 per centum since 1981 ( Overview ) . Today, the mean individual normally drives himself/herself to work, go, traveling or dropping person away at school, yet do they cognize how much injury it can do merely to make an errand? With 1000000s of autos goaded each twenty-four hours, many harmful toxins are released from the autos exhaust. The sum of gases released can do harmful effects to the environment and to wellness. Like power workss, autos are merely little versions of power workss, but with so many of them being driven, it could be worse than power workss. The exhausts of these autos can take to take a breathing jobs chiefly for older people since their lungs are normally weaker. Organophosphate insect powders, such as diazinon, disulfoton, azinphos-methyl, and fonofos, are used widely in agribusiness and in family applications as pesticides. Over 25,000 trade names of pesticides are available in the United States, and their usage is monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) . The release of the pesticide can do kids or people, if inhaled, to do malfunctions in their immune system because it mutants their cells. To assist the environment, engineering can be really helpful in diminishing the nursery consequence that is blighting our environment. While there is no engineering to take C02 from a auto ‘s fumes, we can do them foul less by doing them more fuel efficient ( Overview ) . Making autos that are fuel efficient can cut back on fuels being used by autos. Hybrid autos ( Gas/Electric Cars ) are being created that Lashkar-e-Taiba you go over 800 stat mis before a fill up for fuel. Newer engineering is leting autos to run further by utilizing less gas by switching the engine between electricity and gas. If we are to do any advancement in decelerating planetary heating, we must do our autos go further on a gallon of gas ( Overview ) . Wastes are another big job in our environment and a helper of planetary heating. Sometimes anti-environmental groups shit wastes into lakes and oceans where they could pollute an country and misbalance the ecosystem. This can do a job because wastes could let go of risky stuffs that could be radioactive or really harmful that can do people to be ill. Yet, do the people know what the consequence of this waste can do make to the environment? As a Norman Myers said, if we do n't watch what we do with our resources and what we do to our environment, our resources will shortly be depleted which will do a immense struggle throughout the universe. Make you cognize where your rubbish is being dumped everyday? If you say in a landfill, you are right. A landfill is where your rubbish is processed and compacted and stored. Yet what does the construct up of landfill have to make with planetary heating? The rubbish that we send to landfills produces a nursery gas called methane. It is a merchandise of decomposition of organic affair and of the carbonisation of coal. Methane is one of the nursery gas chemical compounds. Methane is besides produced by the animate beings we raise for dairy and meat merchandises and when we take coal out of the land ( Global ) . Like power workss and autos, rubbish can be really risky in the physique up of the nursery consequence. Since rubbish and wastes are acquiring overcrowded in landfills it could take to problem in the close hereafter. Runing out of room to hive away our wastes, there are ways of shortening the burden of rubbish by recycling. Recycling is the procedure of recycling waste to do new stuff. Even though the public thinks recycling is good, it can besides be bad. The usage of sewerage sludge as a fertiliser poses a more important lead menace to the land than did the usage of leaded gasolene. All sewerage sludges contain elevated concentrations of lead due to the nature of the intervention procedure†¦ Lead is a extremely toxic and cumulative ( Stauber 108 ) . Recycling wastes to make fertiliser on workss can harm husbandmans and ruin agribusiness. The stuff in these wastes is really harmful because it could be contaminated with unnatural substances. Land spreading of sewerage sludge is non a true ‘disposal ‘ method, but instead serves merely to reassign the pollutants in the sludge from the intervention works to the dirt, air and land H2O of the disposal site ( Stauber 109 ) . Destroying nature can besides shorten the life span of the Earth. Deforestation, the procedure of cutting down trees could upset the ecosystem or the environment. Harmonizing to the EPA, The projected 2C ( 3.6F ) heating could switch the ideal scope for many North American wood species by about 300 kilometers ( 200 myocardial infarction. ) to the North ( EPA ) . Since trees remove C dioxide from the air, cutting down the trees would merely ensue in clime alterations. If the clime alterations easy plenty, warmer temperatures may enable the trees to colonise north into countries that are presently excessively cold, at about the same rate as southern countries became excessively hot and dry for the species to last ( EPA ) . Due to deforestation and planetary heating, the displacement of clime alteration dries up the dirt which would be impossible to turn anything. This is how comeuppances are created. The per centum of the universe ‘s workss threatened with extinction is much larg er than normally believed, and could be every bit high as 47 per centum if tropical species are included, research workers said ( Study ) . How can we assist halt the people who are cutting down the trees? By making the antonym, seting trees would assist the environment since it removes C dioxide, a nursery gas. At the rate of seting one tree is about the same rate of 1000s of trees being cut down. Regulating tree cutting companies would decelerate down the procedure of deforestation but it is still a job because wood is really high in demand for lodging and building. How is nature keeping up against planetary heating? The effects of planetary heating have destroyed 1000s of places by inundations, created new diseases, and have left 100s homeless to the violent disorder of awkward conditions forms. Global warming effects do non merely alter the temperatures ; they can take to the alteration of conditions forms and the rise of sea degrees. Lay waste toing floodsjust some of 526 important natural catastrophes in the first nine months of the yearripped through parts of Europe, China, India, Nepal, and Bangladesh this twelvemonth, killing 1000s of people and go forthing 1000000s more homeless. Even though some states might acquire positive effects such as helping against drouths, other states would acquire effects from planetary heating ( UN ) . The alteration of conditions forms can be really black to nature and the sea since it alters the ecosystem. By altering the ecosystem, animate beings and flora are pushed out of their home ground and into a different location. Wild life is n't able to accommodate to the new environment easy because they would n't cognize where to garner nutrient or struggles with other species. Weather forms can make tsunamis ( big tidal moving ridges ) which would crash into coastal parts making erodings. Sea degrees are lifting due to the rise of temperature due to planetary heating. Sea degree may lift between several inches and every bit much as 3 pess during the following century ( EPA ) . Due to the thaw of glaciers, H2O is lifting from the ocean which is saltwater and it can distribute or deluge inland endangering workss and animate beings. If we do non assist the environment now, our planet wo n't be in the close hereafter. It is of import that the people understand that harming the planet to a grade can do the extinction of the Earth. Rise of temperature, alteration in conditions forms, toxic wastes skulking in our air, we are vulnerable. If we want to last on this planet in the hereafter, we must move now before it is excessively late. Stairss need to be taken to cut back and decelerate down planetary heating until newer engineering can change and to assist the length of service of our universe.

The Twilight Saga 5: Midnight Sun 18. Stories

I was worried that if I were to divulge the information that she would request that she would decide to never grace me with her presence again. I decided this was the best time to release some of our stories. She hadn't run away yet. I knew I would feel relieved once she knew the truth. â€Å"Carlisle was born in London, in the sixteen-forties, he believes. Time wasn't marked as accurately then, for the common people anyway. It was just before Cromwell's rule, though.† I began. I watched her face carefully for any sign of distress. She showed no emotion. I continued, â€Å"He was the only son of an Anglican pastor. His mother died giving birth to him. His father was an intolerant man. As the Protestants came into power, he was enthusiastic in his persecution of Roman Catholics and other religions. He also believed very strongly in the reality of evil. He led hunts for witches, werewolves†¦and vampires.† Her pulse began picking up at the last word; I continued without pausing, â€Å"When the pastor grew old, he placed his obedient son in charge of his raids. At first Carlisle was a disappointment; he was not quick to accuse, to see demons where they did not exist. But he was persistent, and more clever than his father. He actually discovered a coven of true vampires that lived hidden in the sewers of a city, only coming out by night to hunt. In those days, when monsters were not just myths and legends, that was the way many lived. â€Å"The people gathered their pitchforks and torches, of course,† I laughed in a non humorous way at the thought of a human bringing harm to a vampire. I continued, â€Å"and waited where Carlisle had seen the monsters exit into the street. Eventually one emerged.† I knew I had arrived at the part of the story where I wasn't sure how to proceed. I went on, but kept my voice low, â€Å"He must have been ancient, and weak with hunger. Carlisle heard him call out in Latin to the others when he caught the scent of the mob. He ran through the streets, and Carlisle ?C he was twenty-three and very fast ?C was in the lead of the pursuit. The creature would have easily outrun them, but Carlisle thinks he was too hungry, so he turned and attacked. He fell on Carlisle first, but the others were close behind, and he turned to defend himself. He killed two men, and made off with a third, leaving Carlisle bleeding in the street.† I paused. The images that were in my mind were of the agony that he felt. The pain of the venom breaking through his veins and causing him to burn for days was forefront in my mind. I met Bella's eyes and she was eager for me to continue. â€Å"Carlisle knew what his father would do. The bodies would be burned ?C anything infected by the monster must be destroyed. Carlisle acted instinctively to save his own life. He crawled away from the alley while the mob followed the fiend and his victim. He hid in a cellar, buried himself with rotting potatoes for three days. It's a miracle he was able to keep silent, to stay undiscovered. It was over then, and he realized what he had become.† My eyes had never left Bella's. Most of the color had drained from her face during my story. She didn't know much of the transformation process and I am sure that she was learning some things that she hadn't known before. She was silent and I was worried I had gone too far, â€Å"How are you feeling?† I asked. â€Å"I'm fine,† she said automatically. She hadn't convinced me though. In a nervous gesture, she began biting at her lower lip. She looked like she wanted to say something; she was hesitating. Curiosity was burning in her eyes. She was regaining her color and I was becoming frustrated once again at the silence of her knowing mind. â€Å"I expect you have a few more questions for me.† I guessed. â€Å"A few.† Of course she did, she was always curious; always interested in things she shouldn't be interested in. â€Å"Come on, then,† I smiled, â€Å"I'll show you.† We turned around and I brought her back to Carlisle's office. I'm guessing you want to show her the pictures, Carlisle wondered, â€Å"Come in,† he invited. I slowly pushed the door open. Carlisle was sitting behind his desk in his leather chair. Perfect timing, Carlisle thought, â€Å"What can I do for you?† he asked. Carlisle rose from his seat. He was already aware of what I was up to, but I didn't want Bella to think we were having our normal silent conversations. â€Å"I wanted to show Bella some of our history. Well, your history, actually,† I explained to him. â€Å"We didn't mean to disturb you,† Bella apologized. Silly Bella, I thought. She sure is polite, isn't she? Carlisle smiled, â€Å"Not at all,† he looked at me, â€Å"Where are you going to start?† he asked. I had many stories in mind and I decided I would start out as simple as Carlisle's story could ever be, â€Å"The Waggoner.† I placed my hand on Bella's shoulder. An electric shock rose up my arm and through my body. I knew she felt it too because her heart starting pounding, her pulse racing. Does that always happen? To deny yourself what you crave most when her pulse rises is truly significant in your relationship. You two are truly meant to be together. Carlisle's thoughts continued more to himself. I turned Bella to face an oil painting that was on the wall behind her, ignoring Carlisle. I could tell that she was interested again. â€Å"London in the sixteen-fifties,† I explained. I knew questions must have been racing through her mind. Carlisle walked up behind Bella. His continuous flow of thoughts had stopped, â€Å"The London of my youth,† he added. Bella must not have realized he was behind her because she recoiled at the sound of his voice. I squeezed her hand. â€Å"Will you tell the story?† I wondered. I didn't want to get anything wrong, or put my foot in my mouth. I'm sorry. You will have to explain it to her because I must leave for work. Don't worry, you'll do fine. Carlisle thought. â€Å"I would,† he turned to Bella, â€Å"But I'm actually running a bit late. The hospital called this morning ?C Dr. Snow is taking a sick day. Besides,† his eyes met mine, â€Å"you know the stories as well as I do.† Carlisle had a wide smile across his face. Carlisle gave Bella a warm smile and ducked out of the room. I looked at Bella, nervous about this conversation. I was still waiting for the wailing and screaming. A sickening jolt surged through my stomach at the thought of her leaving. Her eyes were fixed on the painting. â€Å"What happened then?† she asked eagerly while removing her eyes from the painting and meeting my gaze, â€Å"When he realized what had happened to him?† My eyes moved from her face to another painting. She followed my gaze. â€Å"When he knew what he had become,† I said in a low voice, â€Å"he rebelled against it. He tried to destroy himself. But that's not easily done.† â€Å"How?† Bella asked with shock present on her face. I contained a sigh, â€Å"He jumped from great heights,† my voice stoic, â€Å"He tried to drown himself in the ocean†¦but he was young to the new life, and very strong. It is amazing that he was able to resist†¦feeding†¦while he was still so new. The instinct is more powerful then, it takes over everything. But he was so repelled by himself that he had the strength to try to kill himself with starvation,† I explained. I knew at any moment she would comprehend my words and descend the stairs and quickly exit the house. â€Å"Is that possible?† she asked darkly. â€Å"No, there are very few ways we can be killed.† I saw her open her mouth and I rushed to get the words about before she could ask me another question, â€Å"So he grew very hungry, and eventually weak. He strayed as far as he could from the human populace, recognizing that his willpower was weakening, too. For months he wandered by night, seeking the loneliest places, loathing himself â€Å"One night, a herd of deer passed his hiding place. He was so wild with thirst that he attacked without a thought. His strength returned and he realized there was an alternative to being the vile monster he feared. Had he not eaten venison in his former life? Over the next months his new philosophy was born. He could exist without being a demon. He found himself again. â€Å"He began to make better use of his time. He'd always been intelligent, eager to learn. Now he had unlimited time before him. He studied by night, planned by day. He swam to France and ?C† â€Å"He swam to France?† Bella shrieked incredulously. I had to compose my face because I was trying desperately not to laugh at her reaction, â€Å"People swim the Channel all the time, Bella,† I reminded her. She blinked foolishly, â€Å"That's true, I guess,† shock was evident in her eyes still, â€Å"It just sounded funny in that context. Go on.† â€Å"Swimming is easy for us ?C† â€Å"Everything is easy for you,† she interrupted, a little perturbed. I paused, waiting for her to ask another question. The look on her face was very comical. Her mouth hung open a little and her eyes were wide with surprise. She was quick to perceive my obvious reason for hesitating before I continued, â€Å"I won't interrupt again, I promise,† she said with a small smile. I laughed because I knew that she would interrupt again when she hears what I have to say next, â€Å"Because, technically, we don't need to breathe,† I began until Bella burst out, â€Å"You ?C â€Å" â€Å"No, no, you promised,† I laughed because I knew that when she heard this bit of information that her reaction would be exactly what it was now. Her face was screwed up in longing to finish her questioning. I brought my finger to her lip to silence her, â€Å"Do you want to hear the story or not?† She spoke with my finger pressed lightly against her warm lips, â€Å"You can't spring something like that on me, and then expect me not to say anything.† Her voice was mumbled, trying to speak past my silencing finger. I traced my finger down her jaw and stopped at her neck. My stomach did summer-salts when her pulse speed by my touch. I had momentarily forgotten about the story or where we were. It was just Bella and I, together. â€Å"You don't have to breathe?† her eyes were still wide with interested; her question bringing me to the present. â€Å"No,† I answered, instantly nervous that this proclamation would be the thing that scares her away, â€Å"it's not necessary. Just a habit.† I shrugged, showing her how little it really mattered. She dropped her voice, almost conspiratorially, â€Å"How long can you go†¦without breathing?† â€Å"Indefinitely, I suppose; I don't know. It gets a bit uncomfortable ?C being without a sense of smell.† I tried to explain very nonchalantly. â€Å"A bit uncomfortable,† she mirrored. I continued to look at her face. Each expression fluttered across with little time to settle. Her eyebrows pulled together and I wanted to take my thumb and smooth out the complexity lines. Trying to understand her thoughts was like trying to read sign language unknown to humans. A new speculation loomed in my mind. I removed my hand from her, letting the cold return. Something was eating at me from the inside. I was bringing her into this mythical world. Each new revelation bringing her closer to the doom I was prepared to fight. Bella's face grew very grave. She was watching my expressions now, â€Å"What is it?† she asked gently. She brought her hand to my face, trying to comfort me. I felt each pump of her blood. Her hand warmed my cheek to several degrees than my normal temperature. I sighed because I knew that I was inviting her to tempt fate and that I would allow it. â€Å"I keep waiting for it to happen.† I said quietly. â€Å"For what to happen?† she asked urgently. â€Å"I know that at some point, something I tell you or something you see is going to be too much. And then you'll run away from me, screaming as you go,† I pasted a smile across my face, trying to ease the tension building inside me, â€Å"I won't stop you. I want this to happen, because I want you to be safe. And yet, I want to be with you. The two desires are impossible to reconcile†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I kept my eyes fixed on her, waiting for her to agree with me and just leave. There was a long and painful silence before either of us spoke again. â€Å"I'm not running anywhere,† Bella promised with obvious triumph in her voice, like she was looking fate in the eye and taunting it. I remembered the story, and thought that if I continued maybe, just maybe, she would hear something that would scare her away, â€Å"We'll see,† I smiled. Her lips turned down at the corners, a frown forming on her face, â€Å"So, go on ?C Carlisle was swimming to France.† I caught my breath, delighting in the ever present yearning in my stomach. I moved my gaze from her face to another painting deciding to continue, â€Å"Carlisle swam to France,† I repeated, â€Å"and continued on through Europe, to the universities there. By night he studied music, science, medicine ?C and found his calling, his penance, in that, in saving human lives. I can't adequately describe the struggle; it took Carlisle two centuries of torturous effort to prefect his self-control. Now he is all but immune to the scent of human blood, and he is able to do the work he loves without agony. He finds a great deal of peace there, at the hospital†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I trailed off, my thoughts moving in a different direction. I willed myself to be like Carlisle. I wished to have his self control, to never have to second guess my senses. I inhaled; something I used to do to calm myself, but now it brought red hot flames ripping down my throat. I mentally shut out the yearning I had now. I remembered what my purpose was for this conversation. I brought my hand to the painting in front of us, tapping lightly on it. â€Å"He was studying in Italy when he discovered the others there. They were much more civilized and educated than the wraiths of the London sewers.† I said while lightly tracing the figures in the picture; the Volturi. I was so deep in thought, remembering things that Carlisle had seen when a startled laugh burst out of Bella's lips. I turned to see what the matter was; thinking that maybe she finally had lost it. Dawn crossed my face as I realized what she was looking at. It was Carlisle's face in the painting with the Volturi. â€Å"Solimena was greatly inspired by Carlisle's friends. He often painted them as gods,† I laughed at the impossibility that any vampire could ever be a god, â€Å"Aro, Marcus, Caius,† I explained as I pointed each one out to her, â€Å"Nighttime patrons of the arts.† Her eyes darted from the painting to me face, â€Å"What happened to them?† she questioned. Her hand reached up to touch the figures in the painting but her finger never touched. â€Å"They're still there,† I shrugged, â€Å"As they have been for who knows how many millennia. Carlisle stayed with them only for a short time, just a few decades. He greatly admired their civility, their refinement, but they persisted in trying to cure his aversion to ‘his natural food source,' as they called it. They tried to persuade him, and he tried to persuade them, to no avail. At that point, Carlisle decided to try the New World. He dreamed of finding others like himself. He was very lonely, you see. â€Å"He didn't find anyone for a long time. But, as monsters became the stuff of fairy tales, he found he could interact with unsuspecting humans as if he were one of them. He began practicing medicine. But the companionship he craved evaded him; he couldn't risk familiarity. â€Å"When the influenza epidemic hit, he was working nights in a hospital in Chicago. He'd been turning over an idea in his mind for several years, and he had almost decided to act ?C since he couldn't find a companion, he would create one. He wasn't absolutely sure how his own transformation had occurred, so he was hesitant. And he was loath to steal anyone's life the way his had been stolen. It was in that frame of mind that he found me. There was no hope for me; I was left in a ward with the dying. He had nursed my parents, and knew I was alone. He decided to try†¦Ã¢â‚¬  During my story telling, I had visualized everything that Carlisle and I had both witnessed during the few days before and after my transformation. The painful memory was something I rarely thought of these days. I looked out the window, banishing the unpopular imagines from my mind. My chest was swelling at the relief I felt for finally releasing the information that could doom me from ever seeing this delightful creature again. The feeling of happiness that was surging through my body at this moment in time was completely indescribable. I hadn't realized that I would feel like this, too; that knowing she wasn't running, that she was one hundred percent accepting. I returned my gaze to Bella. She looked humble and my lips turned up; an automatic response to her beauty. â€Å"And so we've come full circle,† I finished. â€Å"Have you always stayed with Carlisle, then?† she asked. She was constantly asking all the questions that gave everything away about me and nothing about her, â€Å"Almost always,† I replied. I slowly reached out and placed my hand on her waist, exaggerating the movement. I delicately moved her along with me, always remembering how fragile she was. â€Å"Almost?† Bella asked while we were walking down the hall. Crap, I thought. Why was this the one question, of all the questions, to ask? I knew I would give her the answer. The internal argument of her safety still loomed in my mind. She should stay away from me but I loved her and the thought of her leaving caused me physical pain. Pain was something I hadn't felt since before the transformation. Bella brought out all the human aspects of me, including the weakness of pain. I sighed, â€Å"Well, I had a typical bout of rebellious adolescence ?C about ten years after I was†¦born†¦created, whatever you want to call it. I wasn't sold on his life of abstinence, and I resented him for curbing my appetite. So I went off on my own for a time.† I explained. Now, this would be it, the thing that makes her scream in terror. I waited, but, instead of terror she was intrigued. â€Å"Really?† she asked her eyes wide with curiosity. She wasn't frightened? I admitted to killing humans and she was†¦curious. She is so peculiar. That was an understatement. She had lost her mind. We ascended the next set of stairs. I was leading her to my room. I turned and looked at her, â€Å"That doesn't repulse you?† I asked curtly. â€Å"No.† â€Å"Why not?† â€Å"I guess†¦it sounds reasonable,† she said firmly. A laugh escaped my lips as I thought of the absurdity of her answer. Horrified delight sliced through my veins. â€Å"From the time of my new birth,† I replied quietly, â€Å"I had the advantage of knowing what everyone around me was thinking, both human and non-human alike. That's why it took me ten years to defy Carlisle ?C I could read his perfect sincerity, understand exactly why he lived the way he did. â€Å"It took me only a few years to return to Carlisle and recommit to his vision. I thought I would be exempt from the†¦depression†¦that accompanies a conscience. Because I knew the thoughts of my prey, I could pass over the innocent and pursue only the evil. If I followed a murdered down a dark alley where he stalked a young girl ?C if I saved her, then surely I wasn't so terrible.† I watched as she shivered. I continued in my quest to be nothing but honest with her, â€Å"But as time went on, I began to see the monster in my eyes. I couldn't escape the debt of so much human life taken, no matter how justified. And I went back to Carlisle and Esme. They welcomed me back like the prodigal. It was more than I deserved.† I stopped in front of my bedroom door, â€Å"My room,† I told her while opening the door and leading her inside. I watched her as she took in everything. Her eyes flowed rapidly from one side of the room to the other. Her stare lingered on my CD's. â€Å"Good acoustics?† she asked. My good mood was vibrant now. The pain from not knowing today's outcome had subsided. I was radiant with glee. I chuckled and nodded at her question. I decided I would give her an example and turned the stereo on from a remote. When the jazz music began to play she whirled spectacularly in a circle, delight in her eyes at the sound. She stopped and moved over to my collection of music. Her eyes read through several labels, â€Å"How do you have these organized?† she asked in astonishment. I was barely paying attention to her words because I was in complete merriment of how the events unfolded today, â€Å"Ummm, by year, and then by personal preference within that frame,† I answered automatically. She turned around to face me. The whirl wind of her warm aroma hit me like a wrecking ball. I continued to breathe evenly, reveling in the pain. I couldn't shake my new found happiness that was ever present in my being. She wanted me; all of me. Her eyes met mine and she read my face, â€Å"What?† she asked. â€Å"I was prepared to feel†¦relieved. Having you know about everything, not needing to keep secrets from you. But I didn't expect to feel more than that. I like it. It makes me†¦happy.† I shrugged my shoulders, but the jubilance radiated out of me and a smile crept up my face. â€Å"I'm glad,† she replied with a smile. I continued to gaze at her. I tried to read her expressions but they were so swiftly changing since she entered this house. I willed myself once more to read her mind. I tried probing it with mine over and over to no avail. My forehead creased in concentration. â€Å"You are still waiting for the running and the screaming, aren't you?† she wondered. My lips turned up lightly and I nodded. â€Å"I hate to burst your bubble, but you're really not as scary as you think you are. I don't find you scary at all, actually,† she lied silkily. Disbelief was strong in my mind. I raised an eyebrow at this news. A sinister thought raced through my head and before I acted a wide smile spread across my face, â€Å"You really shouldn't have said that,† I laughed. I growled very un-menacingly, brought my lips above my teeth to show them off, and hunkered down. Her eyes grew wide with terror. â€Å"You wouldn't† she shrieked. I let my body recoil as I sprung.