#Chief of Staff to CEO

[telugutimesdigimedia]

Good news for Zomato.. in different categories

Good news for the unemployed is food delivery company Zomato. The company's CEO Deepinder Goyal announced that 800 people will be hired in various departments. Goyal said that new people will be hired for the jobs of Chief of Staff to CEO, Generalist, Growth Manager, Product Owner, Software Development Engineer. There are 800 vacancies in these five departments. Tag people with matching skills here.

[secretstalks]

Flipkart Executive Appointment joins Swiggy Instamart as CEO

As Swiggy gears up for its public market debut, the company has appointed Amitesh Jha, formerly a senior vice president at Flipkart, as the new CEO of its quick-commerce division, Instamart. This announcement came via an email from co-founder and group CEO Sriharsha Majety to employees.

Phani Kishan Addepalli, who previously led Instamart, will now head Swiggy’s central growth team, focusing on initiatives such as the subscription service, Swiggy One. Additionally, Addepalli will serve as Chief of Staff to Majety. Majety highlighted that under Addepalli's leadership, Instamart has made significant strides in enhancing consumer experience and profitability.

In the same communication, Majety also announced the departure of Swiggy’s Chief Growth and Marketing Officer, Ashwath Swaminathan. Swaminathan, who joined from Hindustan Unilever earlier this year, managed the brands and consumer insights team, which will now report directly to Majety.

READ MORE

[pucksandpower]

Charles Leclerc x CEO!Reader - Social Media AU

Formula 1 News: Everything We Know About Arnault Racing So Far

The team is owned by LVMH, the world’s leading luxury goods company, and is named after the prominent Arnault family, which includes LVMH’s chief operating officer Y/N Arnault, wife of Charles Leclerc. Y/N is the youngest daughter of Bernard Arnault, the world’s richest man, and is said to be his favored successor.

They are expected to benefit from the extensive resources and expertise of LVMH which boasts a diverse portfolio of luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Moët & Chandon, TAG Heuer, and Tiffany & Co. These assets could potentially provide Arnault Racing with a competitive edge on and off the track in a sport heavily reliant on business dealings.

As with any new team, Arnault Racing will face numerous challenges including building a strong technical staff, securing talented drivers, and establishing partnerships with sponsors and suppliers. However, the backing of LVMH’s vast resources and the Arnault family’s commitment to success bode well for their prospects.

While no official announcement has been made regarding Charles Leclerc’s involvement with Arnault Racing, his familial connection to the team coupled with his recent decision to step away from Scuderia Ferrari has fueled rumors and heightened interest in whether he will be part of Arnault Racing’s driver lineup … (Read more)

Press Conference of Arnault Racing CEO, Y/N Arnault, and Team Principal, Sebastian Vettel

REPORT Arnault Racing snags Adrian Newey: CEO Y/N Arnault says “whatever arbitrary figure you have in your head, triple it and that’s how much we offered him” (Aug 2023)

NEWS Red Bull loses LVMH-owned sponsor TAG Heuer as entry of Arnault Racing brings new conflict of interest (Dec 2023)

UPDATE A weekend of team bonding on the beach after the car launch? Charles Leclerc and Mick Schumacher talk about flourishing environment at Arnault Racing (Feb 2024)

FEATURE What to expect from Arnault Racing — data from preseason testing explained (Feb 2024)

REPORT Podiums and points: a strong start to the season for newcomers Arnault Racing (Mar 2024)

FEATURE The Prince that was promised: Charles Leclerc triumphs in Monaco (May 2024)

UPDATE Who are the ‘losers’ and ‘winners’ halfway through the season? Arnault closes in on Red Bull as Ferrari falls behind (Jul 2024)

FEATURE What could have been — Arnault’s Charles Leclerc tops the podium in Monza as Tifosi look on (Sep 2024)

NEWS Red Bull’s reign continues as Arnault brings home historic P2 in both the Drivers’ and Contructors’ championship during debut season (Nov 2024)

REPORT Arnault promises more competitive 2025 season following already impressive first year on the grid (Jan 2025)

“We find ourselves at the edge of our seats here in Abu Dhabi. It all comes down to this final lap of the season and the battle for the World Championship has reached its peak! Charles Leclerc of Arnault and Max Verstappen of Red Bull are locked in a fierce duel for the ultimate prize.”

“This is the moment every racing fan has been waiting for. The atmosphere here is electric and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Leclerc and Verstappen have been pushing the absolute limits of their cars and their skills throughout this intense race.”

“They certainly have. Both drivers have showcased their exceptional talent and determination all season long. It’s a clash of titans, and now, as they approach the final corners, it’s do-or-die time.”

“Leclerc has been holding onto the lead for the majority of this race but Verstappen is focused in his pursuit. The Dutchman is determined to wrestle this championship away from Leclerc’s grasp.”

“The tension is palpable here as they enter the final sector. Leclerc seems to be holding his ground but Verstappen is right on his tail, looking for the slightest opportunity to strike!”

“This is nail-biting stuff. The championship hangs in the balance as they approach the final turn. Leclerc takes a defensive line but Verstappen moves to the inside. He’s desperately trying to overtake!”

“Verstappen is side-by-side with Leclerc! They’re wheel-to-wheel! What an incredible battle! They both accelerate out of the corner …”

“They’re neck and neck! It’s an all-out sprint to the checkered flag. Who will emerge victorious?”

“Leclerc finds another gear! He edges ahead of Verstappen!”

“It’s a photo finish! They cross the line. And ... it’s Charles Leclerc! Charles Leclerc has done it! Charles Leclerc is the World Champion!”

“What an incredible end to the season. Charles Leclerc and Arnault Racing have taken the championship title in a heart-stopping finale!”

“This is the stuff of legends. Leclerc has proven himself a champion through and through today. The emotion in the Arnault Racing garage is indescribable!”

“What an amazing moment for Leclerc and his team. This race will be remembered for years to come. Congratulations to Charles Leclerc! Congratulations to Arnault Racing!”

y/narnault

Liked by charles_leclerc, arnaultracing, and 938,572 others

y/narnault ✨ Abu Dhabi, 2017 ✨

A chance encounter in the paddock with a hotshot young driver sent us both sprawling to the ground and ignited a spark that changed our lives forever. Our love story began in Yas Marina as Charles celebrated the end of the season after winning the F2 championship. Little did we know that this would be the start of a remarkable journey, both on and off the track

Fast forward to ...

✨ Abu Dhabi, 2025 ✨

As the CEO of Arnault Racing, it fills my heart with immense pride to witness our immensely talented driver win a much deserved World Drivers' Championship. As the wife of Charles Leclerc, it makes me even prouder to see the most amazing person I know finally be granted the fruit of his labors. There has been no sweeter feeling than chasing our dreams hand-in-hand

Eight years later, in Yas Marina once again, our journey came full circle. Our love, like a well-oiled machine, has only grown stronger with each challenge we faced. Working together as a team, we transformed dreams into reality and surpassed every limit. The joy of victory, the adrenaline of the race — it all pales in comparison to the love and support we share

To our extraordinary team at Arnault Racing, thank you for your relentless commitment and tireless efforts. Each one of you has played a vital role in making history this season and we truly could not have done it without you

Charles, my champion, you continue to inspire me every day with your talent, dedication, and resilient spirit. The road here has not always been easy but I am thankful for every obstacle we faced because they made us grow as people and as partners in both love and racing. We have weathered the storms and celebrated the triumphs. The countless hours of hard work, sacrifice, and pouring over data for so long that we forgot the cookies burning in the oven brought us to this extraordinary moment of victory. But beyond the increasingly crowded trophy cases and roaring crowds, it is our love that always shines the brightest. No matter where we may have placed in the standings, I was always content in knowing that we are P1 on the podium of life — and now we stand on top of both together

This chapter is just beginning. There are still many races left to win, many trophies left to raise, and many championships left to clinch

View all 2,614 comments

charles_leclerc From the moment we met, you have seen me not just as a driver or public figure but as a person with hopes, dreams, and flaws. You have been there for me through the setbacks and the victories and your faith in me never has wavered. Your belief in me pushed me to be the best version of myself and I will spend the rest of our lives eternally grateful for being sent such an angel. Our victories are not only measured by the number of trophies or the applause of the crowds but in the quiet moments we get to bask in the life we built together. Our love has always been the beacon that guides me, even in the darkest of times. It is the constant reminder that no matter where we stand in the standings, we have each other to lean on. I have no doubt that it is because of you that I stand here today. You are my pillar of strength, my constant motivation, and my rock. Without your love and support, none of this would have been possible. Thank you, mon amour, for believing in me, for supporting me, and for always standing by my side. It is fate that brought us together and destiny that irreversibly wove our hearts into one

f1wagupdates you two are singlehandedly keeping my belief in true love alive

formulanone how are they still in the honeymoon phase after eight years together and i can’t even get a text back?

arnaultracing there are power couples and then there is THE power couple 🤩

GQ France: An Interview with 2025 Formula 1 World Champion Charles Leclerc

charles_leclerc and y/narnault

Liked by arnaultracing, pierregasly, and 1,854,632 others

charles_leclerc Baby Leclerc will make their F1 debut in August 🍼

View all 3,927 comments

pierregasly hmmm i wonder what happened a little over nine months before the due date?

mickschumacher no wonder we couldn’t find them during the championship party 😳

arnaultracing a championship baby for our champions 🏆

lovelyleclerc oh to be reincarnated as their baby

leclercbabe it’s really getting gifted godly genes, money, and talent 😭

princecharles is it bad that i’m jealous of a baby that hasn’t even been born yet?

[thedensworld]

Let me | C.Sc

Pairing: Ceo!Seungcheol x reader

Genre: angst, fluff, office romance

Summary: Seungcheol has known your for a long time and has been very grateful of your dedication as his worker. It was supposed to be just like that.

Seungcheol spotted you at the bus stop on that rainy evening, your clothes soaked through from the downpour. His instinct urged him to offer you a warm ride after what must have been a long day, but he stifled the impulse, convincing himself it was too late for a U-turn. Earlier, he'd overheard a conversation among his staff. Seokmin had generously offered a lift to whoever needed it, knowing full well you usually relied on the bus. Seungcheol sensed Seokmin's subtle invitation, but before you could even consider it, the seats in his car were quickly filled by eager colleagues.

"Y/n usually takes the bus, right?" one of the staff asked, and you shook your head, dismissing any concern. "I think I'll just take a cab. Don't worry about me."

Guilt gnawed at Seungcheol's insides as he contemplated his decision. He made a snap judgment, making a U-turn back to the bus stop, but you were nowhere to be found. You must have caught the bus already. With a heavy heart, Seungcheol returned home, the weight of missed opportunity and regret lingering in his mind.

Seungcheol's advertisement company had humble beginnings with just four employees. As the founder and Chief Officer, he led the charge, with Seungkwan handling PR, and you and Mingyu comprising the design team. Despite knowing you for nearly five years, Seungcheol realized he'd hardly exchanged more than professional pleasantries with you.

That rainy evening at the bus stop lingered in his mind, your image soaked by the relentless downpour. Even though it was just a passing moment, he couldn't shake the memory.

"She's sick, finally taking a day off," Mingyu informed Seungcheol when he inquired about your whereabouts that day.

"Sick?" Seungcheol's concern flickered. The thought of you unwell tugged at his conscience, adding another layer to his already heavy heart.

Mingyu nodded solemnly, a sigh escaping his lips before he handed Seungcheol another draft for the upcoming project. It was the design you were supposed to handle, but now you were at home, resting.

"This," Mingyu gestured to the draft, "she wants me to make sure you confirm it by today. Let me know if there's anything to revise, she said she'll do it today."

Seungcheol's expression tightened at the thought of you working even while sick. He shook his head, disliking the idea of you pushing yourself when you needed rest. "Do you know where she lives?" he asked, a sense of urgency creeping into his voice.

Seungcheol stood in front of your door, a sense of urgency gripping him as he clutched a portion of porridge and a pack of medicine in his hands. He couldn't fathom how he had ended up here, but the need to ensure your well-being drove him forward. With each press of the doorbell, the weight of his worry grew heavier. Ten seconds passed, then twenty, then a minute, yet there was no response. Frustration etched across his features as he pushed the doorbell again, the sound echoing through the silence of the hallway.

As he waited, a barrage of questions flooded his mind. "Are you okay?" he wondered, his concern evident in the furrow of his brow. Desperation urged him to try the door passcode pad, his fingers tapping out random combinations in a futile attempt to gain entry. Disappointment washed over him as each attempt proved unsuccessful, but a glimmer of relief emerged when he realized you hadn't used the most obvious combination.

With a newfound determination, Seungcheol tapped out a sequence that had been etched into his memory—the company anniversary date. The click of the door unlocking caught him off guard, a mix of surprise and relief flooding his senses. Stepping inside, he was greeted by the familiar surroundings of your home, yet the absence of your presence only heightened his concern.

"Y/n..." Seungcheol called out, his voice laced with concern, but there was no reply. He navigated through the dimly lit hallway of your apartment, his heart pounding with each step. Upon reaching your bedroom, a sense of familiarity guided his movements as he set the items on your kitchen island before peeking inside.

The sight that met his eyes sent a jolt of alarm through him. There you were, lying weakly on your bed, cocooned in blankets, with the glow of the bedside lamp casting a soft light upon your form. Your labored breathing and flushed cheeks spoke volumes, confirming his fears. Without a moment's hesitation, Seungcheol approached you, his hand reaching out to touch your forehead, which burned with fever.

Calling out your name urgently, he watched as your eyes fluttered open, struggling to focus. "S—Seungcheol?" you rasped, your voice devoid of its usual formality, he thought it was a sign of your weakened state.

"Are you okay, Y/n? You're burning. Let me take you to the hospital," Seungcheol urged, his voice tinged with worry as he moved to assist you. But before he could make a move, your hand caught his wrist, halting him in his tracks.

"Seungcheol, is that you?" you asked, your voice betraying a sense of urgency. Your eyes darted around the room, searching for answers. "How could you get inside? How—do you remember?" you questioned, your grip on his wrist tightening as you struggled to make sense of the situation.

Sungcheol's brow furrowed in confusion. "I don't understand. What do you mean?" he inquired, his concern deepening as he tried to comprehend your words.

Your hand suddenly released his wrist and moved to your hair, your expression clouded with confusion. Seungcheol watched helplessly as you whispered to yourself, questioning whether you were dreaming or hallucinating. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on him as he realized the severity of your condition.

Seungcheol's confusion only deepened as you pulled your comforters tightly around you, shaking your head in disbelief. "This must not be real. It could be because of the medicine," you muttered to yourself, your arms wrapping around your body in a protective gesture.

"Hey, it's me..." Seungcheol called out to you, his voice gentle yet firm. Your teary eyes met his, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still.

Seungcheol watched in awe as you approached him, your trembling hands reaching up to cup his cheeks. "You're home..." you whispered, tears now streaming down your cheeks. His heart clenched at the sight of your vulnerability, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he leaned into your touch, the warmth of your hands against his skin grounding him in reality.

As your sobs intensified, Seungcheol felt a wave of emotions wash over him. Your house, your voice, your touch—all felt strangely familiar, yet he couldn't shake the feeling of disorientation that lingered in the back of his mind. What was happening to him?

"You're finally home..." you sobbed, burying your face in his chest as tears continued to fall unchecked. "You remember home," you whispered between sobs, your words echoing in the silence of the room.

What is happening?

*

Mingyu sat opposite Seungcheol, his expression grave as he prepared to deliver an explanation for the events of the previous night. Seungcheol's gaze bore into him, demanding answers, as he struggled to make sense of the familiarity of his surroundings.

"What's this?" Seungcheol gestured toward the house, a sense of unease creeping over him.

Mingyu lowered his head, a gesture of apology evident in his posture. "I didn't expect you to come here," he admitted, his voice tinged with regret. Seungcheol's mind raced with questions, but before he could voice them, Mingyu diverted the conversation to your condition.

"She's being treated at the hospital. It was stress and exhaustion," Seungcheol explained. Mingyu's eyes avoiding Seungcheol's penetrating gaze. It struck Seungcheol as odd, considering Mingyu's usual propensity for defiance.

"Okay..." Seungcheol began, his tone clipped as he struggled to contain his frustration. Mingyu's heavy sigh only added to his growing sense of unease. "She's gonna hate me for this," Mingyu muttered, a hint of guilt in his voice.

Seungcheol's scowl deepened at the implication that Mingyu was withholding information from him, information that could potentially impact his life. As Mingyu continued, dropping a bombshell that left Seungcheol reeling.

"You lost your memory two years ago," Mingyu revealed, prompting Seungcheol to nod in acknowledgment. Memories of the car accident flashed through his mind, a reminder of the near-death experience that had robbed him of his past.

But Mingyu wasn't finished. "And you...you were engaged to her," he stated matter-of-factly, leaving Seungcheol dumbfounded.

"What?" Seungcheol's voice was laced with disbelief as Mingyu confirmed his status as your fiancé.

Mingyu nodded solemnly. "Yes, you two were engaged before the accident. You had been in a secret relationship for a long time and decided to get married. But then...you lost your memory," he explained, the weight of the revelation hanging heavily in the air.

Seungcheol felt as if the ground had shifted beneath him, the revelation hitting him like a ton of bricks. His mind struggled to grasp the enormity of what Mingyu had just disclosed. Engaged? Secret relationship? Marriage plans? It all seemed so surreal, like a plot from a melodramatic movie.

His gaze shifted to Mingyu, searching for any sign of deception or jest, but all he found was sincerity mirrored in Mingyu's eyes. This was real. This was his reality, whether he remembered it or not.

A myriad of emotions surged through Seungcheol—confusion, disbelief, and a twinge of fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of what he might discover about his past and his relationship with you.

"How...how could I not remember any of this?" Seungcheol's voice trembled with uncertainty, his mind racing to piece together fragments of memories that refused to surface.

Mingyu sighed heavily, his expression one of empathy mixed with regret. "The accident...it took everything from you," he replied softly. "But we've been trying to help you remember, to piece together the fragments of your past. It's just...it's not easy.".

Mingyu bypassed the entrance to your room and instead led Seungcheol to a different door down the hallway. Seungcheol's confusion deepened as Mingyu turned the doorknob and gestured for him to enter.

"What's this?" Seungcheol questioned, his voice betraying his confusion as he stepped into the room.

Mingyu's expression softened as he followed Seungcheol inside. "This used to be your room," he explained, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "Both of you shared this space before...before the accident," he added, his words heavy with unspoken emotion.

Seungcheol's eyes roamed the room, taking in the familiar surroundings—the cozy bed, the shelves lined with books, the photographs adorning the walls. Despite not remembering, there was a sense of comfort and belonging that washed over him, like a distant echo of a life he once knew.

"You two were happy here," Mingyu continued, his voice quiet as he gazed around the room. "You had plans, dreams...a future together," he said, his words tinged with sadness.

Seungcheol's heart ached at the thought of the life he couldn't remember, the memories that remained just out of reach. He longed to feel that sense of belonging again, to reclaim the love and happiness that had once filled this room.

"I'll give you some time alone," Mingyu said softly, placing a reassuring hand on Seungcheol's shoulder before quietly slipping out of the room.

Alone in the room that held fragments of a life he couldn't recall, Seungcheol closed his eyes and let himself sink into the memories that lingered in the air. Despite the uncertainty of his past, one thing remained clear—he would do whatever it took to reclaim the love and happiness that had once filled this room, and to find his way back to you.

As Seungcheol's gaze swept over the room, it landed on the vanity table, where a glint of light caught his eye. There, nestled among the trinkets and baubles, lay a simple yet elegant ring. His breath caught in his throat as he reached out, his fingers trembling as they closed around the familiar metal.

With a sense of trepidation, Seungcheol slid the ring onto his finger, feeling the weight of it settle against his skin. Instantly, a rush of familiarity washed over him, like a wave crashing against the shore of his fractured memories.

Tears welled up in Seungcheol's eyes as he stared at the ring, his vision blurred by the overwhelming emotions coursing through him. It was as if this simple band held the key to unlocking the mysteries of his past, a tangible reminder of the love and commitment he couldn't remember.

He traced the intricate design with his fingertips, each curve and groove sparking a distant echo of a life he once knew. Despite the gaps in his memory, there was no denying the depth of emotion tied to this ring, to the life he shared with you.

Seungcheol bowed his head, tears streaming down his face unchecked. In that moment, surrounded by the echoes of a life he couldn't remember, he made a silent vow—to reclaim his memories, to rediscover the love that had once filled his heart, and to find his way back to you, no matter the obstacles that lay ahead.

*

As Seungcheol observed your presence in the office, a sense of gratitude and concern mingled within him. He couldn't pinpoint exactly when he started noticing you, but he appreciated your hard work as a member of his design staff. However, there was something about you that troubled him—the subtle aura of melancholy that seemed to follow you like a shadow.

Seungcheol often found himself analyzing your habits, noting how you stayed late in the office long after everyone else had left. He couldn't help but worry as he observed you taking the same bus home every night, your expression tinged with a sense of weariness that tugged at his heartstrings.

Despite his best efforts to lift your spirits, Seungcheol couldn't shake the feeling that you carried a heavy burden on your shoulders. He wanted nothing more than to see you smile, to banish the clouds of sadness that seemed to linger around you.

With that in mind, Seungcheol decided to surprise you with a small gesture of kindness—he bought flowers for your team's designated room, hoping to brighten your day. But his well-intentioned gesture backfired when he discovered that you were allergic to flowers.

Seungcheol couldn't help but curse himself for not knowing such a basic detail about you. He had wanted to bring a ray of light into your life, but instead, he had inadvertently caused you discomfort.

Determined to make it up to you, Seungcheol resolved to find another way to lift your spirits, to show you that you were valued and appreciated. Despite the setback, his determination to bring a smile to your face burned brighter than ever before.

As Seungcheol's concern for you grew, he couldn't help but notice the rapport you shared with Mingyu. You seemed to have a closeness that bordered on familiarity, and Seungcheol found himself feeling an unexpected pang of jealousy.

He watched as you and Mingyu exchanged knowing glances, shared inside jokes, and collaborated effortlessly on projects. While he knew that Mingyu was a trusted colleague and friend, Seungcheol couldn't shake the feeling that you were too close, that perhaps there was more to your relationship than met the eye.

The sight of you laughing at one of Mingyu's jokes or leaning in close to discuss a project sent a twinge of unease through Seungcheol's heart. Despite his best efforts to rationalize his feelings, Seungcheol couldn't shake the nagging sense of insecurity that gnawed at him. He found himself scrutinizing your interactions with Mingyu, searching for any sign that his fears were justified.

"You're going home?" Seungcheol heard Mingyu ask you as you were on your way to call it a day. He caught a glimpse of you nodding excitedly.

"A big day?" Mingyu inquired, and you stopped while scrolling on your phone to show the taller guy something.

Mingyu gasped and looked at you while you laughed. Seungcheol watched both of you conversing with ease, observing if he had misread Mingyu and your relationship as colleagues.

"Want me to drive you home?" Mingyu offered, but you shook your head.

You waved goodbye to Mingyu before saying, "The bus is coming. Don't wanna miss it! Bye..."

*

Seungcheol's footsteps echoed softly as he approached the bus stop near the hospital. His heart quickened with each step, anticipation mingling with worry. Mingyu's message had left him scrambling, his mind racing with concern for you. He knew he had to find you, to make sure you were alright.

And there you were, sitting alone, a solitary figure amidst the bustle of the city. Relief washed over Seungcheol as he took in the sight of you, but it was quickly replaced by surprise when he noticed the weariness etched into your features.

"Seungcheol..." Your voice was barely above a whisper, and he could see the surprise mirrored in your eyes as you looked up at him.

"I'm here," he said softly, his heart aching at the sight of you looking so small and fragile. Mingyu's words echoed in his mind, reminding him of why he was here.

"Let's go home, I'll drive you," Seungcheol offered, reaching out to take your hand. But you recoiled, pulling away from him, and his heart sank.

He searched your eyes for answers, confusion swirling within him. Why were you pulling away from him? Didn't you know how much he cared about you, how much he wanted to take care of you?

But your response only deepened the mystery. "I can't," you mumbled, and Seungcheol felt a knot form in his stomach at your words.

"Why not?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern. "I'm the one driving."

"Still..." Your voice trailed off, and Seungcheol could see the turmoil in your eyes. There was something you weren't telling him, something weighing heavily on your mind.

As the bus approached, you rose from your seat, and Seungcheol quietly followed suit, taking the seat beside you. The journey to your apartment passed swiftly, the familiar route bringing a sense of comfort despite the tension between you.

Seungcheol couldn't shake the feeling that there was something deeper at play here, something he couldn't quite grasp. The realization dawned on him as you both walked to your apartment building. It wasn't just about the time saved by taking the bus; there was a deeper fear lurking within you, a fear of being in a car, even a cab. It all clicked into place—the reason behind your drenched state that night, your insistence on taking the bus.

As you reached your door, Seungcheol couldn't hold back any longer. "Are you scared because of me? Being in a car?" he asked, his voice tinged with regret.

You stopped in your tracks, your body tense, but your head nodded in confirmation. Seungcheol's heart sank at the admission, a wave of guilt washing over him. "I'm sorry I don't remember anything, but don't be like this," he pleaded softly, hoping you would understand.

You finally turned to face him, and for the first time, your voice held a hint of defiance. "Like what?" you challenged, your eyes searching his for answers.

Seungcheol was taken aback by your sudden assertiveness, but he gathered himself, his hands slipping into his pockets as he met your gaze. "Like... this," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper, his heart heavy with the weight of his own shortcomings.

You sighed heavily, turning your body to open your door, the weight of the conversation settling heavily between you and Seungcheol. "Go home, Seungcheol," you said, your voice tinged with a mixture of exhaustion and resignation.

But before you could step inside, Seungcheol took a hesitant step forward, his words pleading for understanding. "You said this is my home."

Your heart ached at his words, the truth in them impossible to ignore. But you stood your ground, facing him with a quiet resolve. "Don't be like this, Seungcheol," you whispered, your voice barely audible above the hum of the city around you. "Just because you found out everything doesn't mean it all comes back the same."

There was a raw honesty in your words, a vulnerability that laid bare the complexities of your emotions. And as you stood there, facing each other in the fading light of the evening, you both knew that some wounds ran too deep to be healed by mere understanding.

Seungcheol's heart sank further at your words, the weight of your pain heavy upon him. He reached out, wanting to erase the hurt etched in your expression, but hesitated, unsure if his touch would offer solace or only deepen the wounds.

For a moment, silence hung thick between you, the only sound the gentle rustle of leaves in the evening breeze. Then, with a heavy sigh, Seungcheol stepped back, his gaze never leaving yours. "I understand," he murmured, his voice laced with regret. "I'll go."

*

Seungcheol's steps to his office were slow, his heart heavy knowing you were not on the same floor as him this week. The staff were buzzing with questions about your absence, as it was the first time you had ever taken leave. Your absence had created a noticeable gap in the working atmosphere. However, Mingyu managed to handle the situation excellently by delegating all the work to the staff and explaining that you were on vacation.

"So, calling Y/n is prohibited this week," Mingyu announced to all the staff during the morning briefing.

Seungcheol buried himself in work, the meetings and paperwork serving as a distraction from a truth that was slowly dawning on him. Even after a week, all the relevance are still seemed impossible. But the inexplicable attraction he had felt towards you suddenly made sense; they were memories of feelings he couldn't deny, even after two years of forgetting you.

He sighed deeply as he leaned back in his chair, feeling a wave of frustration wash over him. Mingyu usually juggled two roles: being a key member of the design team and acting as Seungcheol's secretary, handling emails and scheduling. But with you gone, Mingyu had to take over all your responsibilities, leaving Seungcheol to manage his own emails and appointments. Once again, he found himself overwhelmed and more than a little distracted.

Seungcheol didn't know how he suddenly found himself standing in front of your door after office hours. The last time he was here was two days ago, and since then, the guilt had been gnawing at him. He rang your bell, hoping against hope that you would open the door with a welcoming smile. But there was no response, even after his fifth ring.

He was about to give up and step into the elevator when he saw your figure standing inside. So, you had been outside.

You looked surprised by his presence, immediately stepping out of the elevator and asking, "What are you doing in front of my place?"

"I haven't seen you in the office for almost a week. I'm your boss, Y/n," Seungcheol replied, trying to sound reasonable.

You opened your passcode lock and entered your home. Without waiting for your permission, Seungcheol pushed the door and followed you inside, protesting about your attitude toward 'your boss.'

"I'm packing. That's why I couldn't come to work these past two days."

Seungcheol's brow furrowed. "You're moving?" he asked, noticing a frame with a photo of the two of you placed inside a box, ready to be packed.

"There's no reason for me to stay with all of this," you sighed, opening the tape and sealing the open boxes lying on the floor.

Seungcheol's heart sank, feeling oddly betrayed by your pessimism. "You don't want to fight for us anymore?" he asked, as if he wasn't the one who had forgotten everything about you.

You stopped and dropped everything from your hands. "Everyone has limits, Seungcheol, and I've hit mine," you said, turning to face him, your arms crossed defiantly.

"How about me? It's not fair for me to just find out about our relationship and then lose it again," Seungcheol argued, challenging your resolve.

Your face shifted slightly, your eyes betraying a hint of vulnerability as you tried to maintain your composure. "I don't care about you, Seungcheol. I've been dealing with this alone for two years. You deal with it yourself!"

Seungcheol grabbed your arm and turned you to face him again. "Then why did you stay these two years? Why didn't you leave me right after the accident? Why did you stay?"

You held his gaze for a moment before looking away. "Because I thought there was hope. But there isn't. So I'm deciding to stop now."

"Why? Are you embarrassed that I found out?" Seungcheol asked, and you fell silent. "Is it that embarrassing for you that I found out everything?"

"Isn't this a good start for me? Wouldn't it help me recover my memories if I knew the truth? Not with all the subtle signs you gave me through your designs, referencing places we had been."

Seungcheol raised your left hand and showed the ring around your finger. "You wore this, showing everyone you were engaged while I had no idea you were engaged to me. Did you want me to remember through that?"

His voice rose unconsciously as he spoke, but you remained stoic. The silence between you was thick with unresolved tension and unspoken emotions..

"Then, should I do this?" you asked, reaching up to cup his cheeks and pulling him into a kiss.

Seungcheol tensed at first, but then he responded with equal fervor. When he felt you beginning to loosen the kiss, he immediately grabbed the nape of your neck, pulling you closer, not letting you step back even an inch. His other hand found your waist, pulling your body firmly against his.

As you broke the kiss to catch your breath, Seungcheol couldn't help but notice how beautiful you looked, breathless and flushed from his kiss. He pinned you to the wall, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind your ear before whispering, "I like you, Y/n. I mean, even after I forgot you, the feeling was still there."

Without waiting for a response, he crashed his lips back onto yours, this time with even more passion. His hands began to roam the contours of your body, slipping under your top to touch your bare skin. You whimpered, and the sound made Seungcheol ache to be closer, deeper.

"You're so beautiful..." he whispered in between kisses, his voice husky with desire.

"S—Seungcheol..." you gasped.

"Stop calling me that. Call me by the pet name you used to," he murmured, his lips trailing down your neckline and shoulder.

"Yeobo..." you breathed.

A smile spread across Seungcheol's face as he began to pull your top off, unclasping anything that covered you. "Do you want this?" he asked seriously, looking into your eyes as if he hadn't just been worshipping your body with his kisses.

You nodded fervently, pulling him into another kiss. Seungcheol quickly unbuttoned his shirt and pants, then tapped your thigh, motioning for you to jump on him. The kiss never stopped as he carried you to a room Mingyu had mentioned, the room where you two had shared so many memories. He was relieved to see it still felt familiar, untouched by time.

"There's no stopping after this, Y/n," Seungcheol warned, his voice filled with a mix of desire and seriousness.

You nodded again, more eagerly this time, and with that, Seungcheol began to touch you, closer and deeperdeeper.

*

It was midnight, and Seungcheol lay awake, watching you sleep in his arms. His eyes couldn't stop tracing the contours of your face, and his mind couldn't stop grappling with how all of this had happened.

How could he have lost all his memories of you after the car accident two years ago? Why did he have to find out about this now and not earlier?

You moved in your sleep, your eyes fluttering open. He kissed your forehead as you looked at him and smiled. A wave of guilt washed over him as he realized that, even after spending the night with you in your shared room, he still couldn't remember anything.

"Hey," you whispered, your voice soft and sleepy. "Can't sleep?"

He sighed, his fingers gently brushing through your hair. "I'm sorry, Y/n. I want to remember. I really do. But everything still feels like a blank slate."

You reached up to cup his cheek, your touch tender and reassuring. "It's okay, Seungcheol. I know it's not your fault."

"But it feels wrong," he admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. "I should remember us, our past, everything we've been through. And yet, it's like trying to grasp at smoke."

You shifted closer, your warmth a small comfort against the cold uncertainty that plagued him. "We'll figure it out together. One step at a time."

Seungcheol nodded, though the guilt remained. He wanted to hold on to the hope you offered, to believe that somehow, they could rebuild what was lost. But for now, he could only focus on the present, on the feel of you in his arms, and the love that still lingered between you, even if the memories did not.

"Do you remember the car accident?" you asked him in a whisper. Seungcheol shook his head. "I only remember waking up after days."

You nodded, understanding. "I still remember it," you suddenly said, stopping Seungcheol's breath.

"You... you were there? You were also there?" he asked, and you nodded. Your hand ran from his forehead to his temple and down to his neck, as if you were painting something on him.

"We were bleeding. You were bleeding. There was so much blood, and you were unconscious. I remember I couldn't move. I just watched you bleeding after a truck collided with our car."

Seungcheol watched you close your eyes, suffering from the memory. He held you closer, whispering that he was okay now and that he was with you.

"It happened after the company anniversary, which was also our anniversary. We argued while you were driving. I still remember that before we started the car, I refused to wear my seatbelt, but you put it on for me. I could have died that night."

Seungcheol listened intently as you recounted everything you remembered about the accident two years ago. Your anniversary, which was also the company anniversary, and the number combination you used for your door passcode. The grip of your hand on the sheets around you two was powerful, as if you regretted surviving or still had the memory buried deep inside.

"What were we arguing about?" Seungcheol asked.

You shook your head. "I don't want to tell you. It kept us apart for two years."

Seungcheol's hand went to your back, rubbing it softly as he assured you that knowing might help him remember. "Please, it might help me."

"You found out that I had helped you secure company investors and clients through my father," you finally said.

Seungcheol's expression softened as he absorbed the information. "And that upset me?"

You nodded. "You felt it undermined your efforts and achievements. You were angry that I had intervened without telling you."

Seungcheol sighed, the pieces slowly coming together. "I see... I'm sorry. I must have hurt you a lot."

You shook your head, tears welling up in your eyes. "No, Seungcheol, I was the one who was wrong. I must have hurt you so much while we were together that you forgot everything about me. I've spent these two years reflecting on our relationship, on all the mistakes I made."

He opened his mouth to protest, but you continued, your voice trembling. "I intervened because I thought I was helping, but I didn't consider how it would make you feel. I was too focused on my own way of supporting you. And that wasn't fair to you."

Seungcheol's grip on you tightened, but he remained silent, letting you speak.

"I've thought about all the times I might have hurt you, all the ways I could have been better. And I've wondered if maybe I deserved to be forgotten," you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper. "Maybe losing your memory of me was a way for you to start over without the pain I caused you."

Seungcheol shook his head vehemently. "No, Y/n, don't say that. It wasn't your fault. It was an accident. You didn't deserve any of this."

"But it happened," you said, your eyes searching his. "And now, here we are, trying to piece together something that was shattered. I just want you to know that I'm sorry for everything. For not being the partner you needed me to be."

He cupped your face in his hands, wiping away your tears with his thumbs. "We both made mistakes. But we have a chance now to learn from them, to grow together. I don't want to lose you again."

You nodded, your heart aching with a mix of sorrow and hope. "I don't want to lose you either."

Seungcheol kissed your forehead, his lips lingering there as he whispered, "Let me take care of everything from now on."

*

Mingyu visited you at the hospital, his expression weighted with guilt as he confessed that he had spilled everything to Seungcheol the day before—your relationship, engagement, and even the life plans that had been erased from Seungcheol's memory.

You looked at Mingyu, panic rising in your chest. "Mingyu, you shouldn't have told him everything."

He hesitated, his eyes conflicted. "I thought he needed to know the truth, Y/n. He deserves to remember."

Tears welled up in your eyes. "You can't tell him... You can't tell him about us planning to get married because I was pregnant. And... and that we lost the baby in the accident."

Mingyu's expression softened with understanding. "Why? Why keep that from him? He has a right to know."

Taking a deep breath, you tried to steady yourself. "Because I love him, Mingyu. I love him so much that I don't want him to carry that guilt. He's already lost his memory of us. I don't want him to blame himself for something he couldn't control."

Mingyu nodded slowly, torn between respecting your wishes and wanting Seungcheol to have the complete truth. "But Y/n..."

"No, Mingyu," you interrupted firmly, wiping away tears. "Promise me you won't tell him about the baby. Let him live his life without that burden."

Mingyu sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping in resignation. "Okay, I promise. I won't say anything about the baby."

You exhaled in relief, grateful that Mingyu understood your decision, even if it weighed heavily on him. "Thank you, Mingyu."

He gave you a sad smile. "I just want what's best for both of you, Y/n. Seungcheol deserves to be happy."

"And he will be," you whispered, though your heart ached with the weight of the secrets you carried. "He will be."

[sayruq]

The most senior IDF commander dismissed for his role in the drone strike which killed seven aid workers in Gaza is a settler who signed an open letter in January calling for the territory to be deprived of aid, The Telegraph can reveal. A senior British lawyer said its contents – including a call for a “siege” of Gaza City – should be considered by the Israeli authorities investigating the killings. Col (Res) Nochi Mandel, the chief of staff of the Nahal Infantry Brigade, was one of two officers dismissed last week following the incident in which three vehicles belonging to the charity World Central Kitchen (WCK) were attacked by drones, killing all those inside, including three Britons. An investigation by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) characterised the strikes as a “grave mistake” but concluded there was no intentional harm. “Those who approved the strike were convinced that they were targeting armed Hamas operatives and not WCK employees,” it said.

The investigation into Col Mandel and his colleagues was led by retired Maj Gen Yoav Har-Even, president and CEO of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, sparking claims of bias. The IDF is one of Rafael’s biggest buyers. The company, which sells nearly half of its arms to Israeli clients, makes the ‘Spike missiles’ which are reported to have been used to kill the aid workers. “We demand the creation of an independent commission to investigate the killings of our WCK colleagues”, said WCK in the wake of the IDF report last week. “The IDF cannot credibly investigate its own failure in Gaza”.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Madeline Ashby’s ‘Glass Houses’

I'm coming to BURNING MAN! On TUESDAY (Aug 27) at 1PM, I'm giving a talk called "DISENSHITTIFY OR DIE!" at PALENQUE NORTE (7&E). On WEDNESDAY (Aug 28) at NOON, I'm doing a "Talking Caterpillar" Q&A at LIMINAL LABS (830&C).

Glass Houses – published today by Tor Books – is Madeline Ashby's terrifying technothriller: it's an internet-of-things haunted house story that perfectly captures (and skewers) toxic tech culture while also running a savage whodunnit plot that'll keep you guessing to the end:

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780765382924/glasshouses

Kristen is the "Chief Emotional Manager" for Wuv, a hot startup that has defined the new field of "affective computing," which is when a computer tells you what everyone else around you is really feeling, based on the unsuppressible tells emitted by their bodies, voices and gadgets.

"Chief Emotional Manager" is just a cutesy tech euphemism for "chief of staff." The only person whose emotions Kristen really manages is Sumter William, the boyish billionaire CEO and founder of Wuv. Sumter hired Kirsten because they share a key developmental trait: both were orphaned at an early age and had to raise themselves in a media spotlight.

Both Sumter and Kristen had been in the spotlight even before their parents' death, though. Sumter was the focus of the intense attention that the children of celebrity billionaires always come in for. Kristen, though, was thrust into the spotlight by her parents: her prepper cryptocurrency hustling father, and her tradwife mother, whose livestreams of Kristen's childhoods involved letting the audience vote everything from whether she'd get dessert after dinner to whether her mother should give her bangs.

Kristen's parents died the most Extremely Online death imaginable: a cryptocurrency price-spike sent her father's mining rigs into overdrive, and when they burst into flame, the IoT house system failed to alert him until it was too late. The fire left Kristen both alone and horribly burned, with scars over much of her body.

Managing Sumter through Wuv's tumultuous launch is hard work for Kristen, but at last, it's paid off. The company has been acquired, making Kristen – and all her coworkers on the founding core team – into instant millionaires. They're flying to a lavish celebration in an autonomous plane that Sumter chartered when the action begins: the plane has a malfunction and crashes into a desert island, killing all but ten of the Wuvvies.

As the survivors explore the island, they discover only one sign of human habitation: a huge, brutalist, featureless black glass house, which initially rebuffs all their efforts to enter it. But once they gain entry, they discover that the house is even harder to leave.

This is the setup for a haunted house story where the house seems to be an unknown billionaire prepper's IoT house of horrors. As the survivors of the crash suffer horrible injuries and deaths on the island, the remaining Wuvvies bolt themselves inside, setting up a locked-room whodunnit that runs in parallel.

This is a fantastic dramatic engine for Ashby's specialty: extremely pointed techno-criticism. The ensuing chapters, which flip back and forth between the story of Wuv's rise and rise to a top tech company, and the company's surviving staff being terrorized on a paradisaical tropical aisle, flesh out Ashby's speculation and the critique it embodies.

For example, there's the political culture of Ashby's future America. Wuv are a Canadian company, headquartered in Toronto, and we gradually come to understand that Canada is the beneficiary of an exodus of tech companies from the US following a kind of soft Christian Dominionist takeover (Kristen and Sumter often have to wrangle rules about whether women are allowed to enter the USA in the company of men they aren't married to and who aren't their brothers or fathers).

The flashbacks to this America are beautifully and subtly drawn, especially the scenes in Vegas, which manages to still be Vegas, even amidst a kind national, legally mandated Handmaid's Tale LARP. Ashby uses her futuristic speculation to illuminate the present, that standing wave where the past is becoming the future. Like everything in the shadows of a haunted house tale, this stuff will make the hair on the back of your neck stand on end.

I'm a big Madeline Ashby fan. I have the honor of having published her first story, when I was co-editing one of the Tesseracts anthologies of Canadian SF. I've read and really enjoyed every one of her books, but this one feels like a step-change in Ashby's career, a leveling up to something even more haunting and brilliant than her impressive back-catalog.

Madeline and I will be live at Chevalier's Books in LA on Aug 16 as part of her Glass Houses tour:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/book-talk-madeline-ashbys-glass-houses-tickets-965286486867

Community voting for SXSW is live! If you wanna hear RIDA QADRI and me talk about how GIG WORKERS can DISENSHITTIFY their jobs with INTEROPERABILITY, VOTE FOR THIS ONE!

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/08/13/influencers/#affective-computing

[vanwolffen]

You know what's the irony here, and what I hate about the strikes situation?

Supposedly, Netflix is operating under a lot of debt, which kinda makes sense, they need a lot of operation costs and infrastructure and they take loans to pay the production of each series. That part tracks.

Streaming is a service, not a product.

In a normal setting, you would be getting paid by the subscribers to watch a series that someone else produced. Paying the producer for the rights and pocketing the rest. The producer would be responsible of paying the writers and actors their share.

And the writers and actors pay their agents and respective unions (and staff in the case of famous actors).

That is the promise of Reagans infamous "Trickle down economics". Big companies make millions that trickle down to the local markets.

But then again.

Under the excuse of loss, this services and producers are not paying taxes. They are not paying Writers and Actors and they pay the VFX crews and the rest of the staff pennies on the dollar because they say they cannot afford it.

But somehow they have enough to pay the CEOs, CFOs, other "Chiefs", and the board, and big stockholders, millions of dollars.

How can they "operate on loss" and yet earn those 10 million, hundred million dollars in their paychecks?

There is no reinvestment on the company, there is no improvement of service.

People keep canceling their subscription because their favorite shows are not renewed. Or they are all thrown in that one week/month so there is no reason to pay for the whole three months that a "season" should last.

So they say they have to raise their prices because they are not making money.

And they claim they don't have the money to market the movies or series they produce. So people don't even know when they are released unless you are already a fan. They don't get new audience.

Regular people don't get to know what is there to watch, new series buried down the doomscrolling, or on the watchlists. Or they end up watching Friends for the 100th time.

They claim there is no money for new stuff but they pay hundreds of millions for The Office, Friends or the new Marvel movie...

And yet.

How much of those hundreds of millions end up in the hands of the people that made them?

The Netflix CEOs make together around 75million annually.

While the people that actually put Netflix on the map, actors and writers like the cast of Orange is the New Black make literal pennies.

Where is the austerity and loss for those people? Why do their paychecks keep on rising?

And not only netflix.

How come Warner-Discovery can pay their CEO millions on bonuses, when they supposedly are operating at a loss and not paying taxes because of that?

How come they can just choose to take shows out of platforms, raise praises, refuse payment to the actors and writers, yet there is enough money to be pay them?

How come Disney can only pay theVFX artist so little when they make billions of dollars in selling licenses and merchandise? Meanwhile Bob Iger makes millions and is literally wishing the people working for him to starve to death while on strike?

[phantoms-world-and-more]

I like the feral Casper High students trope. So Danny is a senior in High School and his job as a hero is not really needed any more. Amity Park is much more at peace with ghost now. Something happens to Vlad (maybe he fades, decides to go on a very extended vacation to find himself outside his obsession with Maddie, gets locked up by Walker, etc). Danny inherits Vlad's billion dollar company. At first he doesn't want it but then he starts thinking about starting a space program. He can't be a NASA astronaut due to his ghost side not passing normal health levels. But if its his company then he can make the rules and get to go to space. He doesn't want to run the company just focus on his space stuff so he gets his classmates in on running the company. Paulina and Star become the CEO and COO. Valarie is Chief of security with Kwan and Dash as her right and left hand. Tucker is head of R&D, with Sam in charge of charity work. He even gets some ghost to work for him, Lunch Lady is in charge of the staff cafeteria, Techinus is in charge of cyber security and Box ghost is head of shipping. So you have a bunch of 17-18 years olds running a billion dollar company and they are bulldozing the completion with how competent they are.

I love this

[renaultmograine]

Blizzard co-founder Mike Morhaime left Blizzard because he was reportedly tired of fighting with former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick, according to those who worked closely with him, the two leaders having butted heads for years regarding the future of Blizzard.

New details about Morhaime's 2018 departure and Blizzard's contentious relationship with Activision come via an excerpt from Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier's upcoming book Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment , which releases on October 8 (the same day Blizzard's first expansion for Diablo 4, Vessel of Hatred, launches).

For years, Morhaime attempted to keep Activision, which acquired Blizzard in 2007, at bay. That goal of keeping Blizzard insulated from outside Activision pressure became harder in 2013 when Blizzard canceled project Titan, an FPS MMO that had been intended to be the next World of Warcraft, according to Schreier.

After the project's cancellation, which cost Blizzard around $80 million, Kotick and Activision began to assert more control over Blizzard, including pushing Blizzard to hire a chief financial officer, Armin Zerza, to keep costs in check. Zerza just "kept talking about how to make as much money as possible," according to one former employee, and at one point suggested axing Blizzard's annual BlizzCon fan convention, confused as to why a project with such low profit margins was allowed to exist, according to Schreier's sources. Blizzard announced this year there would not be a BlizzCon 2024.

Morhaime continued to battle Kotick in the following years, defending Blizzard's need for customer service employees and the studio's cinematics team. Following a meeting of Activision, Blizzard, and King leaders focused around the theme of "One ABK," Morhaime feared Blizzard was losing its independence, according to Schreier. He wrote a lengthy email to Kotick in response, stating he believed "preserving Blizzard's culture and magic" was a necessity in order to attract and retain "the best creative talent in the world." He additionally said that it had been "increasingly hard for me to provide Blizzard leadership and staff confidence that Blizzard has a stable future."

In 2017, Morhaime submitted a resignation letter, but was persuaded at the time by Kotick and others to take it back. Following the One ABK meeting in the spring of 2018, Morhaime formally announced his departure that October, saying it was time for someone else to lead.

Blizzard's story would of course continue, but without the man that Schreier said many Blizzard staff worshiped. Morhaime went on in 2020 to found a new game studio and publisher, Dreamhaven. Blizzard, meanwhile, in 2021 found itself embroiled in controversy following an explosive state of California lawsuit that accused Activision Blizzard of systemic sexual misconduct and discrimination, eventually settling with the state in 2023 to the tune of $54 million. Morhaime said in a statement addressing the lawsuit that he was "ashamed."

"To the Blizzard women who experienced any of these things, I am extremely sorry that I failed you," Morhaime said.

In the wake of the lawsuit, Microsoft bought Activision Blizzard for $69 billion, with Kotick stepping down as Activision Blizzard CEO in December 2023.

[grits-galraisedinthesouth]

John Kettler: Chief of The unSUCCESSFULS Invisible Staff

John Kettler is out after only three (3) months on the job. No sympathy for anyone who partners with these two (2) bullies. You're either too lazy to read a book or maybe you like to help bullies.

"Joshua lives with his wife in Santa Barbara, CA and holds an MBA from Clemson University with an emphasis on Entrepreneurship and Innovation."¹

Richard Eden for Daily Mail: When the Duke of Sussex appointed Josh Kettler as his grandly titled chief of staff earlier this year, it was said that he was the perfect man to 'guide' Harry 'through his next phase'. However, the Daily Mail understands that Mr Kettler has suddenly quit his job after scarcely three months, amid much intrigue. Josh Kettler is no longer working for them,' a source in California told this newspaper today. The timing is a particular blow to Harry and his wife Meghan as Mr Kettler would have been expected to accompany them on their 'quasi-royal tour' of Colombia, which kicks off this week."

The total number the Sussexes have lost since they married in 2018 is said to be at least 18, with nine or more having left since they moved to California in 2020.

Mr Kettler was seen entering St Paul's Cathedral with the duke for the anniversary service, which was attended by figures including Harry's uncle, Earl Spencer, but no other members of the Royal Family.

Later that month, Mr Kettler was a key figure on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's three-day 'tour' of Nigeria and was by Harry's side as he met government officials in the West African country. His role on the visit was said to be a foretaste of what he would achieve in the future.

Prince Harry and Meghan with Mr Kettler (circled) by their side. His role on the visit was said to be a foretaste of what he would achieve in the future.

¹Bio: "Joshua Kettler is an experienced executive accelerator, organizer, and confidant. Seasoned in guiding C-suite functions, critical cross-functional program management, high-level strategy development, and board of directors / investor relationship management. Focused on bringing unparalleled products and experiences to customers while working in lockstep with leaders, executing on their vision.

Joshua spent the better part of a decade with Patagonia, a leader in outdoor apparel, serving as a trusted resource and right hand to the Vice President of Global Sales and Customer Experience. He helped direct all revenue driving strategies and operations worldwide, spanning seven major markets and $1B+ in yearly revenue. His efforts included managing the organization's workflow, prioritization, and oversight of regional GMs, while providing input on critical decisions including distribution strategy, customer touch points, internal and external communication, organizational structure, and personnel matters.

In 2021, Joshua shifted is focus to start up ventures, becoming Chief of Staff to the CEO of Better Place Forests and most recently joining Cognixion as Chief of Staff and Head of Strategic Partnerships, helping to accelerate and support the transformative AR / BCI company.

Joshua is an avid trail runner and skier, and a steadfast supporter of conservation and the environment. Joshua lives with his wife in Santa Barbara, CA and holds an MBA from Clemson University with an emphasis on Entrepreneurship and Innovation."

[topzsun]

SOMETHING ABOUT YOU

── ♡ KAFKA OGURO

if there was anything that annoyed kafka more than you, it was nosy scandalmongers. unfortunately, he has to deal with both of you, all at once. you, on the other hand, enjoy having fun when the opportunity lands on your lap. unfortunately, you underestimate kafka's ability to worm his way into people's hearts.

The disbelief laugh that leaves you is wobbly and hoarse, and it’s only upon Kafka Oguro’s unimpressed stare that you dutifully shut your mouth.

“You can’t be serious,” You stammer, dropping your flimsy plastic fork into the box of cheesy fries (paid by Kafka, which you now realise was a means to butter you up). The sigh that escapes his lips is heavy and exhausted, and he drops his chin into the palm of his hand.

“Unfortunately not,” He slides his phone across the table, and you look over at the dimly lit screen, choking at the headlines that read.

“Ward 0 mayor rumoured to be in a relationship.”

“CEO of HAMA Tours spotted leaving with mystery lover.”

“Oguro Kafka in committed romance.”

You suck in your teeth sharply, muttering a “yikes” as he draws back his device. Despite your mild pity, your curiosity takes centre stage and you waste no time in interjecting your thoughts within the lull of awkward silence.

“That sucks but… I’m not sure why you invited me here just to tell me this?” You raised a valid question. While the local fast food joint was no fine dining, you and Kafka weren’t exactly friendly enough for him to unload his concerns onto you in a casual setting. He was your quasi-boss! You’d go as far as to believe he didn’t even like you much, considering his austere disposition whenever you entered a room. You probably would have already been packing up your office if it wasn’t for the fact that it was the Chief who had hired you.

Your suspicions about Kafka’s intent began to arise, and you realised too late what was going on when his observant eyes met yours.

“This nonsense began when the Chief and I had gone out for dinner together. Because of my lack of spatial awareness, I wasn’t aware that the lead editor of the famous gossip magazine ‘Paramour Monthly’ had been close by our table…” He fishes for something in his messenger bag, pulling out a rolled-up paper. Vibrant hues of purple and pink flood the parchment, the iconic colour scheme of the magazine, and a blurry photo of two figures is printed on the front page. However, with Momiji’s standard grey jacket and Kafka’s distinct violet hair, it was unmistakable to you that it was them sitting in a booth together.

While usually this type of idle chatter could have gone easily ignored, a magazine as famous as Paramour Monthly could cause enough stir that HAMA Tours’ operations could be disturbed as scandal-mongering fans will hunt for the mystery babe. No doubt this news would be disturbing Momiji as well…

“I don’t have any intent of making the Chief have to deal with this ridiculousness. If I could, I’d take the burden on myself entirely. However, that’s not possible,” He clears his throat, and when he looks you straight in the eye, you realise you have stuck your foot into a quagmire the minute you accepted his invitation.

“I’d like to ask if you can take on the role of being my… secret significant other.”

You drop your milkshake onto the plush vinyl of the sofa.

After having to repeatedly apologise to the flustered and tired staff of the food court, Kafka takes the awkward walk back to the office as an opportunity to elaborate on his new grand plan.

The gist is that for a long-term bonus in your salary, you will be his mystery lover until the excitement dies down, in which you both will fake an amicable separation and continue business as usual. In his own words, you were also his last option, seeing as you were the only one he knew who had no reputation at stake here. Upon the promise of the bribe, you had cheered up significantly to this ordeal. Kafka, on the other hand, was the one who looked the most reproachful.

“Should I call you something trendy like ‘babe’, or would something more traditional like ‘sweetheart’ work better?” You ask, and the look he sends you is scathing.

“None of them,” He answers curtly, and you sigh, disparaged.

“You don’t get how this whole fake dating thing works, do you?” When he meets your inquisitive gaze with a blank stare, that’s all the answer you need. You feel a tickle in your stomach as you puff out your chest exaggeratedly.

“Allow me to give you a crash course on the inner workings of this timeless troupe called—” Your lurch backwards when Kafka closes the entrance door behind him, barely missing your nose by a breath’s hair. All you see is his disappearing back as you yell behind him about how that was no way for him to treat his pseudo-significant other.

(i)

“They’re right,” Momiji says piteously, and Kafka’s shoulders droop in disappointment. “Nobody would believe it if you guys act like that in public.”

The Chief, upon being filled with both gratitude and shame, had offered to lend a helping hand to see this farce to success. Today was the day to discuss the boundaries and codes of conduct necessary to allow the public to believe you two were a professional but loving couple.

(Kafka’s stomach churns at the notion, despite it being his novelty idea.)

“We’re going to have to hold hands and be corny, so you’re going to have to get used to it, Kafka,” You state squarely, and his childhood friend nods in agreement, much to his growing displeasure.

“We’ll eventually have to use pet names.”

“Yup, that’s right!”

“And we might have to kiss and stuff.”

“Exa–Wait, isn’t that a little too far!?” Momiji gapes at you while you, shameless, sit firmly as if you are manning a fort. Kafka sighs.

“Do you see why I’m reluctant?” He points out and this time her tired gaze sweeps over to him.

“Kafka, you’re the one who asked them.”

Perhaps her growing exhaustion at dealing with the both of you got to her because Momiji made a half-hearted excuse of having to check up on EV3NS before swiftly departing the solemn conference room. This leaves you and Kafka at your lonesome, staring each other down with shared annoyance.

“I don’t get it. I’m trying to make this work,” For my salary.

“We don’t need to go overboard in selling the act. I’ll look ridiculous,” In front of Momiji.

After an intense moment of staring each other down, you’re the first to give in.

“Fine. We’ll keep it as down-low as possible, but you have to start being more of a gentleman to me,” You warn, closing the lid of your laptop and grabbing your warming carbonated drink. You are visibly disquieted, much to his confusion, even as you lift your backpack over your shoulders and make your way to the door.

“I don’t understand why you’re disappointed,” Kafka questions behind you, and you pause with your hand situated around the door handle, rooted in place. If Kafka had been any less observant, he would have missed your lips' slight tremble.

“Because you’d be my first boyfriend, even if a fake one,” You quickly shut the door before he could get a word in, the only sound in the room being the quiet whirring of the air conditioner. For the first time, you’re the one who leaves the purple-haired man flustered.

(ii)

Much to your surprise, Kafka lived up to his end of the agreement.

For the past two months, you’ve grown familiar with the feeling of Kafka’s hand around yours, and the scent of peppermint from his minty cologne. While at first, any type of touching had been reserved solely for passing publicists and fans, eventually, you barely realised that you were in the habit of grabbing onto him whenever you were excited or happy. Likewise, it skips your attention how he doesn’t shove you away, or that his eyes soften at the corners whenever you aren’t looking.

He had even begun doing unnecessary things, like texting you ‘good morning’ and ‘goodnight’ despite his packed itinerary, and bringing you thoughtful gifts and souvenirs whenever he left the comfort of HAMA. He had even booked a lavish dinner at a famous restaurant on your birthday, paired with a large bouquet delivered to your room.

There were no cameras, no nosy editors, and no extra eyes to bear witness to his vocal affection. It came with the unsettling realisation and a pounding heart that you liked Kafka, and it brought along a wave of dread and a permanent lump stuck in your throat.

When you start pulling away, you miss the fact that you’re not the only one who has been gutted by new realisations and uncomfortable feelings.

Kafka Oguro, despite his stinging attitude, never truly disliked you. You had annoyed him, sure, and he knows you were purposeful in the way you push buttons. He’s met people like you before, who are terrified of being veracious, that they’d happily play the role of a fool if it meant people laughed with them rather than at them. Thus, he harmonised with you by being your straight man, armed with biting retorts and lacklustre reactions.

Now that he thinks about it, perhaps he’s given you enough reason to believe he held animosity against you. He regrets it enough when you confessed he’d be your first relationship, even if it were only a guise. He had tried his best to make it up to you by masquerading as the ideal boyfriend, letting you hold onto his arm whenever you walked together, and letting you call him by whatever cheesy name that crossed your mind.

Until he realised that he had long since stopped acting. Kafka can’t pinpoint the exact moment when he had begun carefully picking out gifts for you, excited for your reaction, or when his heart began skipping a few beats whenever he spies you in a crowded room. You had a personalised ringtone on his phone. Momiji started pointing out that he doesn’t sit still until you respond to his texts. He had started requesting Sakujiro to reserve the breakfast muffins you like because, by the time you usually arrive at the cafeteria, they are gone. Thoughts of you completely rule his mind, and he’s not stupid enough not to know what this means for him.

In the safety of your respective covers, you and Kafka lay in bed, equally dreading the expiry date of this relationship.

(iii)

You blink, and it is New Year’s Eve.

HAMA Tours’ office is decorated with festive lights, colourful streamers and the wafting smell of delicious food. The ward mayors and employees alike are in higher spirits, exchanging excitable conversation and rambunctious antics. For once, it is you who stands silently amongst the sea of bodies, smiling wildly whenever anyone’s eyes land on you, but there is an unmistakable tremble in your hands that nurse a cup of juice.

Of course, it’s he who notices first, and you barely realise the tug on your arm until your drink is stolen from your hands and you meet the electric stare of Kafka.

“Can I steal you for a moment?” He asks with a small smile, and you smartly nod as you let yourself be drawn along by Kafka’s hand around your wrist. You don’t realise his destination until you are standing beside him as he unlocks the door to the building’s rooftop.

The chilly breeze hits your face, but you count yourself lucky for wearing extra layers. This doesn’t stop Kafka from unwrapping the scarf around his next, gently fixing it over you despite your frequent protests.

“You’ll get sick!” You counter and he doesn’t respond, plopping himself onto a bench decorating the deserted space. He pats the empty spot next to him and you have no choice but to comply with his demands. He tilts his head back and you apprehensively copy him, eyeing the inky sky glowing with starlight. He doesn’t speak, the silence only occasionally interrupted by the muffled noises inside the building and the usual ambience of nighttime city life. When you glance at him from the corner of your eyes, you hate how you can’t decipher the look on his face, regardless of how utterly beautiful you find him under the moonlight.

“Are you going to tell me something cheesy that the moon looks beautiful tonight?” You attempt to tease but lack the usual vibrance in your voice. You know this when Kafka finally turns to look at you, and he doesn’t look pleased.

“Why are you upset?” You reel back at his question, and unconsciously your hands begin to fiddle with the loose threads of your winter coat.

“Why would you think that?” You divert, shifting to create more distance between you and him. This does little to deter him because he leans closer to you with narrowed eyes. It’s how he gets when he realises he’s caught someone hook, line and sinker.

“You’ve been distant. I know you enough to pick up on that,” He hesitates before his fingertips graze yours. It takes all the strength you can muster to ignore his hurt expression when you yank back your hand.

“How much longer are you going to drag this along? It’s been long enough that nobody cares anymore. So why do you—” You descent into stammers, your chest seizing up as you keep your eyes on anywhere but him. “Why do you keep doing romantic things for me? Buying me stuff, always trying to talk to me, always asking how I’m doing… are you really that cruel that you don’t realise what it’s doing to me?”

You drop your face into your hands, feeling tears well up at the corner of your eyes. You couldn’t bear to see the look on Kafka’s face right now. He’s likely disgusted, or angered by you ruining his carefully thought-out efforts in maintaining this guise. Is he going to walk back inside, or tell you it’s over?

You feel warm hands circle your wrist, and you weakly let him tug your hands away from your face. He looks up at you from where he sits crouched on the tiled floor, and you feel your heart lurch in your throat because has Kafka ever looked at you with so much adoration before?

“I don’t want it to end,” He confesses quietly, enough that his voice could be drowned out by the passing wind. He lifts the back of your hand to his lips, pressing a sweet kiss to your knuckles. He smiles up at you, the affection mixed with a hint of mischief when he catches sight of your bewildered visage. “If you’d want me, I’d like to be your boyfriend. Genuinely, this time.”

He’s given no time to react before you throw your arms around him, leaning into him as he falls back on his tailbone. The position is awkward and uncomfortable, but the both of you could care less as his arms envelop your waist and you litter kisses to his face. Fireworks erupt in the sky, colouring the sky with luminescence as he finally seals the deal with his lips pressed against yours.

[thefirstknife]

New article with more details (from Jason Schreier who first broke the story). If you can't see it, I'll copy the whole text under read more.

About 100 employees were laid off in total (8%) and one of the main reasons listed is "underperformance," "sharp drop in popularity" and "poor reception of Lightfall."

So you know when for the last year and a half content creators have been shitting and pissing on the game as a full-time job and the amount of negativity and ragebait content became the only thing to make content about for them? Well they certainly won't take the blame, but I will let it be known. These people either don't understand the influence they have or they do and they're doing it on purpose, and I don't know which of these two options is worse, but I am 100% confident that their campaign of rage and hate contributed to this.

You don't base your entire community around constantly hating everything about the only game you play (despite clearly not enjoying it anymore) and somehow avoid galvanising thousands and thousands of people into perceiving the game negatively. Imagine being employees who have barely worked there for 2 years and the only community reception they've seen is 24/7 hate train for their work and then they get fired because of "poor reception" and "drop in popularity." How can they not take that personally? I am absolutely devastated for these people who delievered a banger product and who were met with an unrelenting barrage of toxic gamer children which ended up having more sway over their boss than them.

Which brings me to the next bit and that's FUCK THE CEO. He is now my mortal enemy #1. I am projecting psychic blasts directly into his brain. What an absolute spineless coward who is more willing to bow down to fucking gamers than to protect his own employees. This is absolutely rage inducing because this has happened before. From the article from 2021 about the toxic culture at Bungie:

Reading this shit from the new article absolutely fucking sent me into blind rage because I immediately remembered this. Another instance of employees suffering because of comments on reddit. And because of toxic players. And proof that leadership is not protecting employees and is instead siding with players.

Match made in heaven. Asshole gamer content creators and asshole CEOs, all of whom sit at home on piles of money made from someone else's labour. I hope they all explode. None of the people that worked on this game deserve this.

Another article with an infuriating comment from the CEO:

In an internal town hall meeting addressing a Monday round of layoffs that impacted multiple departments, Bungie CEO Pete Parsons allegedly told remaining employees that the company had kept “the right people” to continue work on Destiny 2.

"Kept the right people." Really. Veteran composers weren't the right people? Die!

Bloomberg article in full:

Bungie’s decision to cut an estimated 100 jobs from its staff of about 1,200 followed dire management warnings earlier this month of a sharp drop in the popularity of its flagship video game Destiny 2. Just two weeks ago, executives at the Sony-owned game developer told employees that revenue was running 45% below projections for the year, according to people who attended the meeting. Chief Executive Officer Pete Parsons pinned the big miss on weak player retention for Destiny 2, which has faced a poor reception since the release of its latest expansion, Lightfall. The next expansion, The Final Shape, was getting good — not great feedback — and management told those present that they planned to push back the release to June 2024 from February, according the people, who asked not to be identified because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly. The additional time would give developers a chance to improve the product. In the meantime, Parsons told staff Bungie would be cutting costs, such as for travel, as well as implementing salary and hiring freezes, the people said. Everyone would have to work together to weather the storm, he said, leaving employees feeling determined to do whatever was needed to get revenue back up. But on Monday morning the news got worse: Dozens of staffers woke up to mysterious 15-minute meetings that had been placed on their calendars, which they soon learned were part of a mass layoff. Bungie laid off around 8% of its employees, according to documentation reviewed by Bloomberg. Bungie didn’t respond to requests for comment. Employees who were let go will receive at least three months of severance and three months of Bungie-paid COBRA health insurance, although other benefits, such as expense reimbursements, ended Monday, sending some staff racing to submit their receipts. Laid-off staffers will also receive prorated bonuses, although those who were on a vesting schedule following Sony Group Corp.’s acquisition of Bungie in January 2022 will lose any shares that weren’t vested as of next month. The layoffs are part of a larger money-saving initiative at Sony’s PlayStation unit, which has also cut employees at studios such as Naughty Dog, Media Molecule and its San Mateo office. TD Cowen analyst Doug Creutz wrote in a report Monday that “events over the last few days lead us to believe that PlayStation is undergoing a restructuring.” PlayStation president Jim Ryan announced last month that he plans to resign. Many of the layoffs at Bungie affected the company’s support departments, such as community management and publishing. Remaining Bungie staff were informed that some of those areas will be outsourced moving forward.

[anarchywoofwoof]

whenever someone wants to start blabbering about how damaging shoplifting and theft is to a business, particularly a place like Walmart, Target or nearly any big box retail establishment, be sure to look up the company's annual revenue.

and when you start playing out the numbers, it gets absolutely fucking absurd real fast.

for example, let's use Walmart.

the CEO of Walmart - Doug McMillon - his net worth is $280 million.

this is a person who made $24.1 million in fiscal 2023 alone.

that's about 933x the median salary of a Walmart employee.

let's have some more fun with numbers, shall we?

if you used only the ceo's salary of $24.1 million per year here's what you could buy in (men's) clothes from Walmart!

300,000 Hanes Men's ComfortSoft Crewneck T-Shirt - Pack Of 5 ($20)

500,000 Athletic Works Men's Crew Socks - Pack of 12 ($11)

250,000 George Men's Cotton Stretch Regular Leg Boxer Briefs - Pack of 6 ($20)

250,000 George Regular Fit Jeans - 1 pair ($13)

250,000 George Men's 38mm Single Loop Casual Belt - 1 belt ($7)

150,000 Athletic Works Men's Banded Jogger Slip-on - 1 pair ($15)

and he would still have $350,000 left over!

mind you - this is only the CEO!

Walmart CFO (Chief Financial Officer) John David Rainey made $39,725,601 during the same time period.

Walmart Chief Technology and Development Officer Suresh Kumar made $16,107,812 during the same time period.

Sam's Club President & CEO Kathryn McLay made $11,934,475 during the same time period.

Walmart President & CEO of Walmart International Judith McKenna made $13,526,160 during the same time period.

collectively, Walmart's Executive Staff was compensated to the tune of $120,900,000 during fiscal 2023.

so you know those numbers up there? all of those clothes that you can now commonly find locked behind glass at your local Walmart that you could buy with the CEO's annual salary?

multiply those figures by five, and now you have what you could buy with ONE YEAR of all of the Walmart executives' pay combined.

that's enough to give everyone in the City of Chicago, IL two free t-shirts.

the name of the game is greed. this is one corporation - albeit a huge one. and just one single solitary fiscal year of earnings.

extrapolate this across 5-10 years. could you imagine the untold number of lives we could change if these executives agreed to forego their insane salaries for a short period of time? it would almost certainly not cause them any undue struggle because of the sheer amount of wealth and resources they have.

it'll never happen, but don't let anyone convince you that it has to be this way. we are being gaslit by people with more money than we will ever see in many lifetimes so that they can live a life of luxury unseen by 90% of the population. stop letting them pull the wool over your eyes and call it what it is: pure, unadulterated greed.

[sweetandscarlet]

inches in between us

• tension in between us •

warnings: 18+, stripper!reader (23), rich business lady!wanda (32), smut, fingering, dirty talk, degradation, mommy kink, fluff, basically porn with little to no plot. minors DNI.

words: 5k

wanda’s foot tapped on the floor of her car as she waited with bated breath and anticipation bubbling at the surface. she had left the house of harkness mere moments before and was sitting patiently waiting for your exit.

you didn’t even need to explain to wanda that customers and dancers fraternising was against the rules, it was something she had mulled over in her head multiple times during the last few days.

so, as you both giggled with hushed tones when leaving the booth; wanda whispered hotly in your ear that she’d park down the street and would wait for you.

you smiled at her with a nod of understanding and waltzed over to the bar, through the staff door and into the office where she knew agatha would be.

even with the cars heating switched on, wanda could see the faint breath of cold air leave her lips as she stared out of her slightly fogged up window, and finally, after a few short minutes, she saw your figure fade closer into view as you walked towards her.

wanda turned and faced the road ahead of her as the familiar feeling of butterflies swarmed in her stomach upon seeing the reflection of your face in her side-view mirror. it was a sensation she couldn’t dwell on though, as the passenger door soon opened and you quickly rushed yourself into the car to sit down.

“i’m sorry if i took so long,” you huffed out as you situated your bag in between your feet on the car floor. “i made some lie up about not feeling well and agatha insisted she should take me to the hospital so i had to talk her down and insist that i just needed to rest”

wanda chuckled at that, the sound making your heart beat spike slightly. “how cunning of you”

“such a bad girl, i know” you laughed with a scoff, turning your head to face the older woman beside you. “although, i blame you. my reputation precedes me and one night with you has that going down the drain”

wanda faux gasps at that as she turns the keys in her ignition, the sound of her car engine coming to life with a raw. “that’s slander to the maximoff name, y/n”

your eyebrows knit together in confusion as wanda’s foot steps down on the gas and the car begins to roll forward. the name conscious in your mind as familiarity teeters on the edge of your tongue.

“maximo- wait as in maximoff industries?”

wanda glances at you with a smile and then back to the road as she drives, humming a yes to you in response.

“please don’t tell me i’m in a car with the ceo of a multi-billion dollar company” you say with a sigh, embarrassment seeping in as you sink in your seat.

“not yet,” wanda replies with a wink. “my brother doesn’t want to take over the company so when my dad eventually steps down, i’ll go from chief operating officer to the big boss. i’m quite excited, if i’m being honest”

wanda glances over to your small demeanour and then back to the road. she can’t help the laugh that escapes her lips. “what’s wrong? is that a problem?”

“no, no it’s- not at all, it’s just.. are you sure you want to be seen with someone like me?”

wanda whips her head to you, her eyebrows knitting together. “what do you mean someone like you?”

“have you forgotten how we met?” you retort before signalling the redhead to focus her attention back on the road. “if anyone finds out-“

“no one will find out, y/n. plus, what does it matter?”

you subconsciously roll your eyes at the question even though you know she’s speaking the truth to some degree. “i guess you’re right, i just.. i don’t know, my job isn’t exactly the most accepted out there”

you watch as wanda moves a hand from the hand break and over to one of your jean clad thighs. you try not to focus too much on this being the first time wanda’s touched you, instead you let yourself relax under her touch.

“those people are just jealous you make more money than them, i wouldn’t let your pretty head worry too much about it”

you snigger at that, a grin creeping on your lips as your gaze stays focused on the redhead. “not as much as you apparently”

wanda turns, shooting you a playful look before squeezing gently on your thigh. “oh shush, i’m quite a humble woman”

your head faces forward as you look out onto the road that eventually fades to stone as the car bumps over every cobble. you glance around and realise you hadn’t really paid attention to the journey as trees and darkness surround the car, the only light source illuminating from the headlights and confusion quickly settles in.

“wanda.. where are we?” you ask, scepticism heavy in your voice as you speak.

wanda chuckles softly from beside you and gently removes her delicate hand from the warmth of your thigh. she settles it onto the steering wheel and continues to drive. “this is not what it looks like, i promise. my house is not far from here.. see there it is”

you squint your eyes as you focus on a building in the distance and when you inevitably drive closer, your eyes widen.

“holy shit, you live here?!”

wanda laughs as she moves closer until eventually she lifts the hand break and the car comes to a hault.

you stare in amazement at the large home in front of you. the building is modern, with large panes of glass that wrap around it and a white staircase to match the house that leads up to the front door.

“humble my ass.. i feel like i live in a shed compared to this”

wanda rolls her eyes, “behave, i’m sure you have a lovely home, y/n. now, let’s go inside, it’s a lot more warmer there”

before you can reply, wanda opens her door and steps out before swiftly rounding the front of the car and swinging open the passenger door. she reaches her hand out and you look at her for a brief moment before resting your palm on top of hers, your mind instantly swirling with the feel of soft skin against yours.

you step out with a thank you, your voice small as you duck your head.

wanda gives your hand a gentle squeeze before stepping to the side slightly. “i’ll get your bag, darling”

ᗢ

stepping inside wanda’s home has you star struck. your eyes glance around the main room that holds several sofas, a large tv and a fish tank that you joke is bigger than your apartment.

the main room connects to the kitchen where wanda is currently stood behind the marble island. you watch as she pulls out two wine glasses from the cupboard before placing them down and walking over to the refrigerator to pull out a bottle of white wine.

“do you want to watch a movie?.. or a tv show maybe? i have snacks in the pantry if you’re hungry” wanda’s voice comes out more timid than intended as she pours the wine into both glasses, but when your eyes bore into her, wanda’s mind reals from the intensity and she can’t help the falter in her demeanour.

you step closer to the island until you’re facing opposite the redhead before you situate yourself on one of the bar stools. “a movie sounds good, what do you have in mind?”

wanda picks both of the glasses up and walks around the island. she places your filled glass in front of you and you watch as she takes a sip before doing the same with her own glass. your gaze never falters from wanda though as you watch her lick the aftertaste from her lips.

the older woman hums in thought, stepping slightly more into your personal bubble until her hips come into contact with the inside of your knees. “i’m partial to horror but you’re my guest so the choice is yours”

calming silence fills the room as you hold eye contact with wanda, she waits with baited breath as you contemplate for a moment before letting out an exasperated sigh. “i want..”

your eyes flicker down to plump lips before returning upwards to emerald green eyes that soon fade into darkness as her pupils slowly dilate. you raise your hand slightly, your fingertips grazing over the hem of wanda’s suit jacket. “i want this off”

the redhead cocks an eyebrow at that, her eyes piercing into you like a silent challenge. wanda tilts her head slightly and steps an inch closer, letting one hand rest on the side of your waist.

“did you forget your manners when you stepped into my home?”

you roll your eyes at her question and your fingertips move to grip the hem to tug her impossibly closer to you. “no, i just-“

“you just, what?” wanda asks, the corner of her lips upturning into a cruel smirk as she watches you sink just the smallest bit into submission. “if you want something y/n, ask politely for it.. or is that too hard for you to do?”

you sink slightly into your chair as your once confident self gets chipped away little by little the more wanda’s gaze pierces your very soul and her sickly sweet voice invades your ears like a serenade. “no, no i- i’m sorry. can you please take off your jacket?”

wanda steps back slightly as a proud smile itches it’s way onto deliciously plump lips, you watch as she unhooks the two buttons that hold her suit closed and you can’t help the way your thighs clench subconsciously around her waist upon seeing the smooth white t-shirt that lays underneath.

it’s simple and basic, you know that. but, there’s something about the way the shirt is tucked into her pants suit and tightly hugs itself around her chest that makes your mind reel at the small detail.

you watch as wanda lets the jacket fall from her shoulders and down her arms before she slips out of it and places it gently over the island counter. “see? that wasn’t so difficult”

it’s embarrassingly condescending but you can’t help but love the way it makes you feel; the way it makes your insides churn with need and desperation.

you shake your head in response and raise a hand up to rest your palm against the flat of her stomach, wanda’s muscle flex at the sudden touch and you force yourself to bite back a groan.

you feel wanda’s hand trail up from your waist, her fingers grazing slightly over the side of your bra until her movements come to a halt on the cusp of your jawline. she runs her thumb delicately over the soft skin before quickly shifting her hand to grip your chin between her fingertips. “now tell me what else you want”

you gulp dryly, your hand moving to grasp her shirt tightly in your hands. a pathetic attempt to keep yourself grounded as you feel yourself throb harder between your legs at wanda’s dominance. “i want..”

“hmhm, go on..” wanda leans in until you feel her hot breath hitting your mouth and her lips ghost ever so gently against yours. “tell mommy what you want”

the sudden use of wanda’s self-titled name has you surging forward and crashing your lips together in a rough kiss. wanda groans against your mouth as she stumbles backwards slightly from the impact, her free hand falls to your thigh in a harsh grasp while her other remains on your waist.

wanda’s hands remain firm in their placement as she kisses you back, her posture straightening as she regains composure from the immediacy in your exertion. “i just- i..” your words leave your lips in a breathy whisper as you lean further into the kiss. “i want you”

wanda’s tongue licks delicately across your bottom lip and you immediately give her the entrance she so desperately desires insides of your mouth.

the kiss soon turns messy and rushed, only breaking away for a split second for the oxygen you both parlously need before delving back in to once again taste the longing flavour of wine on both of your swollen-kissed lips. hunger radiates from both of you, sweet desperation and a raging fire evident in your chests as you heave with panting breaths.

wanda pulls away first, causing a needy whine to escape you; your body subconsciously follows wanda, your mind begging you to chase after her to satiate the loss you feel when her lips leave you, even if for a moment.

the redheads’ hand moves from your thigh and up to your chest, her palm flat against your sternum that rises and falls as you try to catch your breath. “breathe, baby, breathe”

your eyes flutter open at wanda’s soft purr when she speaks, her words hot against your mouth as they leave her lips in a short beat. you stare in great awe as wanda stands there, equally short-winded and her cheeks flushed bright pink with a hint of your saliva coating her deliciously plump lips.

you utter an apology at your eagerness before breathing in deeply through your nose and exhaling as wanda holds her hand above your beating heart. the hand that was once on your hip now travels upwards to cup one of your cheeks that burns under her touch, “shall we take this somewhere more comfortable?”

wanda’s voice is raspy and low pitched as she speaks; the sound of it drives you wild and instantly makes you bob your head yes at her question.

the redhead chuckles in response before removing her hands from your body and letting one hang delicately in the air for you to take. you quickly do and before you know it wanda’s leading you down a dimly lit hallway, her shoes hitting against the hardwood floor with determination as she turns a corner, until eventually she stops briefly in front of a closed door. she swings it open and motions for you to walk ahead, you quickly obey and step over the threshold and into what you assume to be wanda’s bedroom.

when a light flickers on, your assumption lies true as your eyes land on a neatly made bed that holds two small tables by either side of it before eventually venturing around the rest of the room. you see a walk in closet, a few dressers that hold a couple of frames with people you of course don’t know before finally you eyes fall to a generously sized tv in the corner of the room.

it dawns on you quite quickly that although wanda’s home is beautifully created and constructed, what seems to lack is personality and the general feeling of a home. it makes your heart ache at the realisation, an emotion you’ve quivered to all too well when dealing with the fact of your lonely lifestyle. of course you’ve had a couple of people that cared for you; one in particular mainly being agatha, and although her kindness and compassion towards you will always resonate deeply in your heart, you still were left with a hole in your life. a sensation of nothingness that you couldn’t quite place as you grew more and more into the person you were now.

you continue to dwell on the awareness as your eyes remain on the newly discovered room of wanda’s home. but, all those emotions and thoughts are quickly snatched away when her voice rings next to your ear.

“go sit in the middle of the bed with your back facing me”

the command confuses you and wanda sees it evident in your face as you turn to face her. with a tilt of her head and a muttered, “do it”, you don’t dare to question the intentions of her orders to you; nor do you want to. which is precisely why you keep your lips sealed shut as your legs move on auto-pilot to your destination.

you clamber onto her bed, keeping your head held high and facing towards a bare white wall as you situate yourself in the middle, you shift your body until your legs rest under you in a criss cross position before placing your hands on top of your bent kneecaps.

your ears prick up to the sound of shuffling behind you and it takes everything in you to ignore your natural instinct to turn around and find out what wanda is up to. so as told, you continue to face the wall, your eyes boring into white nihility until it quickly becomes redundant and you turn your attention to your lap to mindlessly count every thread on the hem of your jeans that runs through the inside of your leg.

“you can turn around now,” wanda echoes from behind you, a sultry tone to her voice that has you whipping your head around in such a manner that it caused a giggle to escape the redheads lips. “i thought i’d slip into something more comfortable”

your lips part slightly as you stare hungrily at the older woman just a few feet away from where you sit. she had now ridden her body of the tight suit pants and her white crew top that you absolutely relished and was now adorned in a red satin nightdress and a drop shoulder belted robe to match.

“oh god..” the words left your lips in a breathy mumble as your eyes rake over wanda’s body. taking in the way her breasts sit perfectly behind the nightdress and how soft the skin of her full thighs look. “you look- i mean, it’s just.. there are no words, wanda”

a delighted smirk itches at wanda’s lips as she steps closer towards you, pride beaming from her chest at your star-struck reaction. she saunters over to you, her steps slow as she moves closer and closer until her thighs hit the side of the mattress.

the redhead begins to climb onto the bed, shifting herself until she situates herself in front of you. wanda then raises a hand, letting her thumb gently trail over your bottom lip before speaking. “let’s get you out of these clothes, shall we?”

you nod eagerly, your hands instantly going to the button of your jeans; pulling the hem over and unbuttoning them before turning your attention to the zip. wanda smiles, reluctantly moving her hand away from where it happily resided to help you undress.

the cool air alit goosebumps over your thighs when wanda eventually pulls your pants over your ankles, freeing you from the tight confinement it held you in. the redheads hand smooth up the soft skin of your thighs, relishing in the way your skin feels under her touch for the first time.

she had fantasised of this moment multiple times after your first encounter. how you would react to her touch, how you would feel against her fingertips, how you would sound when her fingers inched their way into you slowly; savouring the way you contracted around her, sucking her into your warm cunt as you whimpered for more.

it made wanda’s head spin and her clit to throb just thinking about it. she cupped your warm cheek and leaned in to give you a chaste kiss before letting her hands reside higher up your body, wanting to remove the last item that stopped her from seeing all of you.

“is this okay?” wanda asked, her voice husky and barley above a whisper as she gently grabs ahold of the hem of your sweater with both hands. “we can stop whenever you want”

your eyes meet hers, a small smile on your face at the softness of her words. “i’m okay, but.. please don’t stop, i need you”

a hand moves to wrap around the wrist of one of wanda’s arms, pulling it away swiftly and moving it downwards to the heat that radiates from your cunt. wanda’s lips part, a low moan rumbling from her throat when the pads of her fingertips come in to contact with the damp spot on your underwear.

“touch me, please”

wanda’s fingers flex subconsciously after you speak and it takes everything in her to not rip away the lacey barrier and bury herself deep inside of you until you cum around her.

“i will, darling. but, first.. this needs to come off” wanda tugs at your sweater and before the redhead could even blink, you let go of her hand and pull the item of clothing over your head in a swift motion, eager to have her touch every part of your skin freely.

wanda tells you to lie down, in which you quickly obey; shuffling yourself backwards until your head hits the soft pillows behind you.

wanda stalks forward like predator following its prey, your heart beats wildly in your chest as you watch her draw closer to you until her body ghosts over yours and your eyes interlock once more. “such a beautiful little girl”

a hint of pink flushes itself onto your cheeks upon hearing the compliment, your brain automatically wanting to cover yourself up under her intense gaze. but, you refrain every instinct and use your left hand to cup the back of wanda’s neck, pulling her in for a hungry kiss that leaves you both breathless.

wanda rolls her hips against yours, her mind screaming at her for some sort of friction to appease her. the action causes you to whimper against wanda’s mouth, the sound quickly dying off as wanda continues to kiss you.

after a few moments, wanda ventures down to the apex of your neck, her tongue swirling against the smooth skin as she presses open mouth kisses there before gently nibbling over the wet patches she leaves.

your back arches itself into her as you weigh your head further into the pillow, giving her more access to freely work on while your hand tangles in thick auburn hair, grasping onto it like a vice.

your voice is shaky as you whimper out how good it feels, causing a smirk to tug at wanda’s lips as she continues her assault against your neck. she eventually ventures down further, her lips working over the skin of your collarbones, the mounds of your breasts before she grows impatient and unhooks your bra before tossing it somewhere where the rest of your clothes reside.

your nipples harden under the cool air, quickly turning to pebbles that wanda instantly wraps her lips around, desperate to have you in her mouth.

a throaty moan escapes you, the grasp in wanda’s hair growing increasingly harder as her tongue flicks over the hardened nub of one of your nipples. the older woman moves her right hand to squeeze the mound of your unattended breast, giving it as much attention as she can before switching to wrap her lips around it.

“momm- wanda.. please, i need you”

wanda pulls away from your nipple with a loud pop, a cocky smile evident on her lips as she laugh breathlessly. “fuck, you were so close to saying it.. you know you want to, y/n. do it and i’ll give you what you want”

your hips buck upwards at the taunt, your mind swirling with slight humiliation at her words. “god, just- please, mommy. i need you inside”

“say it again” wanda utters, shifting to move up the length of your body until her lips ghost over yours again. “i like hearing you beg.. it’s cute”

a groan leaves your lips; frustration and impatience clearly evident in your demeanour.

wanda trails her hand down from your right breast, over the valley of your stomach, and then the mound above your cunt, until eventually her fingers rest over your underwear. she taps her fingers gently against your covered folds, an easy attempt to get what she wants.

wanda lets a short chuckle when your hips buck at the contact, and just like she expected, you begged once more.

“please fuck me, mommy. please, i’m so wet for you”

wanda raises herself slightly on the arm that isn’t teasing you mercifully and rests her weight on it. your eyes flicker upwards to see a proud smirk displaying on plump lips as she hovers over you. “it’s quite amusing to see you beg, y/n.. considering how sure of yourself you were back at that club. look at you now, desperately trying to hump my hand like a little slut”

you trap your bottom lip in between pearly white teeth, not letting out the moan that’s threatening to escape upon hearing the older woman insult you like you were nothing to her. it made your stomach swirl with arousal and anticipation as you lay underneath her, waiting for her to give you what you need.

“oh my, you weren’t kidding, huh?” wanda asks with a low hum as two of her fingers pull your underwear to the side, her digits instantly coming into contact with the slick wetness that had spread across your lips. “such a messy girl”

you whimper out, your hips raising again when her fingertips glide through your sopping folds, running them up and down your slit; careful to ignore the bundle of nerves that throbbed deliciously at the first touch of her hand.

your back arches slightly when wanda halts her torturous touches and finally dips her fingers into your hole. you instantly suck her in, your warmth tightening around her as you welcome in the intrusion.

“you feel so good, darling” wanda whispers, her hot breath hitting your face as she continues to enter you inch by inch until finally, her palm flattens against your clit. “i must admit, i touched myself to the thought of this the first time we met. how you would feel around my fingers, so warm and inviting. i bet you’d take my cock just as easy”

a strangled moan rips from the back of your throat when wanda experimentally pulls out faintly, only for her to roughly thrust herself back inside, the tips of her fingers pressing against the sweet spot that lay deep inside of you. “fuck, do that again”

wanda smiles at that, repeating the action that draws out another moan from you. “hm, i knew you’d like it rough. if you’re good tonight, i might just make you my own personal little fleshlight. would you like that, slut?”

wanda’s pace picks up, her hard thrusts becoming relentless as her palm continues to press against your clit. you pant heavily against her lips, gasping out a “yes” before using the hand that stayed tangled in red hair to pull her down for a kiss, one that quickly turned hungry in nature and one that wanda happily reciprocated.

your stomach twisted and contracted the more wanda continued to fuck her fingers into you and you knew you’d be close to the edge soon; something wanda quickly picked up on when your walls pulsed and tightened around her digits.

ignoring the pride that buzzed in wanda’s chest, she doubled down on her efforts, her pace growing increasingly faster but still thrusting roughly against your g-spot.

“fuck-“ you gasped out, your eyes squeezing shut at wanda’s change in pace. delicious wet slapping sounds invaded your ears, along with your wanton moans that bounced off of every wall in the room before inevitably making its way back to you. “mommy, you’re gonna make me cum”

wanda relished in the sounds you made, the sweet noises only spurring her on even more as they burned themselves deep in the crevices of her brain. “that’s it pretty girl,” she hummed. “make a sticky mess on mommy’s hand”

your walls constricted wanda’s movements as they tightened around her fingers like a death grip. “so close, so close. i’m-“

your words died in your throat as your orgasm crashed into you like a tidal wave against rocks. you panted and quivered under wanda’s form, your body tensing as you came hard around her fingers.

the older woman watched in dumbfound amazement from above; adoring the way your eyebrows furrowed, the way your mouth hung open and the way her fingers struggled to keep their tempo as you entrapped yourself around them like a vice.

wanda continued her efforts of moving inside of you as she helped you through your orgasm, uttering words of encouragement and praises while your body shook and vibrated under her.

after a few moments passed, your body settled and relaxed into the mattress as you came down from your high. wanda then stilled her movements but made no indication to pull out, her mind savouring the way your walls continued to pulsate and convulse around her in avid aftershocks.

“fuck..” was all you could rasp out as your chest heaved in short and winded breaths.

“are you okay?” wanda asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she spoke against your lips; not wanting to break the barrier of peaceful silence that settled around the both of you as you continued to catch your breath. “was that..”

a soft laugh leaves your lips as you raise a hand to rest against your sweat covered hairline. “wanda i swear to god, are you seriously going to ask if that was good after i almost broke your fingers?”

wanda chortled above you, her laugh echoing in the room at your reply. “no, no. you’re right. now.. i want you to stay there while i get us some water and then when i get back, i want to make you cum with my mouth”

“wait.. but, what about you?”

wanda smiles before pecking you on the cheek, “eager little thing, aren’t you? don’t worry, darling. we have all night”

- ᗢ -

tag list: @smromanoff @karsonromanoff @illfuckingvibes

[darkmaga-returns]

By Monica Showalter

In today's "unexpected" news, the chief executive officer of youth clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch was arrested for sex trafficking.

Surprise, surprise.

According to ABC News:

Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries and two others were arrested Tuesday as part of a criminal sex trafficking investigation by the FBI and federal prosecutors in Brooklyn. Jeffries, his partner Matt Smith and a third man, Jim Jacobson, are accused of operating an international sex trafficking and prostitution business that recruited young men for parties in the U.S. and abroad, according to an indictment. The former retail executive and Smith relied on their vast financial resources, Jeffries' power as the CEO of Abercrombie, and numerous people, including Jacobson and a network of employees, contractors and security professionals, to run a business "that was dedicated to fulfilling their sexual desires and ensuring that their international sex trafficking and prostitution business was kept secret," the indictment alleges. Federal prosecutors said the trio paid dozens of men to travel around the world to engage in sex acts. The indictment mentions 15 alleged victims, identified as John Does #1-15. Jeffries allegedly recruited, hired and paid a slate of household staff to "facilitate and supervise the Sex Events." Jacobson traveled throughout the United States and internationally to recruit and interview men for the so-called sex events. During "tryouts" of potential candidates, Jacobson required that the candidates first engage in sex acts with him, according to prosecutors.

Anyone who's taken a gander at his company's marketing materials or the shops themselves wouldn't be surprised.

I walked into one those stores once in Los Angeles, to buy a niece a gift she wanted, and I was struck by how images were all over of hypersexualized and often naked young men -- on posters, on shopping bags, everywhere, raising questions as to what they were selling if their models weren't wearing anything.

I grimmaced in horror at what marketing to young people was becoming, given that this was a popular teen brand for clothing. And I rued how far that label had fallen. In the 1980s, it had been a prime preppy brand in the days of the Preppy Handbook, where one could buy high quality classic clothing and accessories, mostly for men, but a little bit for women, too. Somewhere in the 1990s, after a bankruptcy, it became child-sex promotion outfit even as it claimed to be a teen outfitter. I found it pervy, creepy. It's sad that no one could say anything, or else be branded a hopeless prude. But if something had been said, maybe the crimes would not have gone on for 20 or 30 years.

Now we learn that any or all of the teenagers featured on that packaging and in those posters could have been a victim of sex trafficking, wanting to be supermodels or movie stars, getting abused in the process, their bodies exploited, looking great on packaging, though, same as young Justin Bieber was, reportedly by the rap star known as Diddy.

[redmyeyes]

That's their closing message.

Are you going to vote for a woman whose laugh they don't like? Or are you going to vote for a guy

who fomented a violent coup attempt after a months long campaign to overturn the 2020 election

undercut the nation's response to a deadly pandemic that spiraled out of control because he tried to cover it up,

lied about its severity,

promoted sham treatments for it,

said we could cure it by injecting disinfectant and shining powerful lights inside the body

and became the first president since Herbert Hoover to oversee a net job loss.

Couldn't figure out how to close an umbrella,

cosplayed as a sanitation worker, even though he almost fell while getting into the truck

and pretended to work at McDonald's, even though he couldn't remember what the fryer was called.

Laughed about firing striking workers with the richest man alive,

bragged about refusing to pay overtime

and said I don't want a poor person running the economy.

Oversaw an increase in corporate profits while manufacturing jobs declined,

presided over an unprecedented spike in crime

while home prices rose by 30%,

the national debt rose by $8 trillion

and the number of Americans without health insurance rose by 3 million.

Tried to rip healthcare away from over 20 million Americans,

but reassured everyone by saying he had concepts of a plan,

told a story about the size of a dead golfer's penis,

regaled Boy Scouts with stories of sexy yacht parties,

humped the American flag not once but multiple times,

told women he would protect them whether they liked it or not,

and would put a man who was investigated for cutting the head off a whale with a chainsaw in charge of vaccines and women's health,

insulted service members,

feuded with Gold Star families

and violated federal law by staging a campaign event at a hallowed military cemetery.

Doctored a weather map with a Sharpie to lie about the path of a hurricane,

threw paper towels at hurricane victims,

hosted a speaker at a rally who called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage,

claimed windmills cause cancer and kill whales,

said you have to flush toilets 15 times.

Called Hannibal Lecter a lovely man,

his National Security Adviser called him a dope,

his Secretary of State called him a moron,

his Chief of Staff called him an idiot and a fascist who said nice things about Hitler and Hitler's generals.

He suggested shooting protesters in the legs to his Secretary of Defense.

He reportedly suggested executing rivals and staffers for leaking information.

The former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff called him a fascist to the core.

He took millions from foreign officials,

including a possible $10 million bribe from Egypt.

His lawyers gave a press conference at a landscaping company.

He lost the popular vote twice,

got impeached twice,

got indicted four times

and was found guilty of 34 felony counts for falsifying business records to pay hush money to a porn star.

He asked a crowd whether they'd rather be electrocuted or eaten by a shark,

he possibly farted and definitely fell asleep in court.

Bragged about overturning Roe v. Wade,

called himself the father of IVF while admitting he didn't know what IVF was,

called the CEO of Apple Tim Apple,

misspelled his wife's name

and his own name,

said Nikki Haley was the Speaker of the House on January 6th.

Claimed the price of bacon goes up because the wind doesn't blow.

Got on Air Force One with toilet paper stuck to his shoe,

became the first president in history to stare directly at an eclipse,

melted down in a presidential debate

where he claimed migrants were eating dogs,

spread lies about the federal government's response to a hurricane that caused FEMA workers to relocate due to threats.

Dances like he's punching a ghost,

held a hate-filled rally at Madison Square Garden,

stole classified documents,

obstructed attempts to get them back,

called climate change a hoax,

proposed tariffs that economists say would increase prices and crater the economy,

halted an equal pay rule for women,

curtailed access to birth control,

picked a running mate who mocked childless cat ladies

and creeped out everyone when he tried to order donuts

and was accused of having sex with a couch,

which he did not do even though he might have.

But he didn't,

but maybe he did.

But he definitely did not. [shrugs]

Said Kamala Harris happened to turn Black,

claimed his crowd on January 6th was bigger than Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream speech,

was banned from doing business in the state of New York for three years,

just recently posed for the single worst photo of any human being that has ever been taken on the face of the fucking planet.

So, you know, it's a toss up.