#Even if you 'own' your house you still pay land taxes. If you don't pay those taxes you lose your land and house.

[diabolocracy]

Something I've noticed while watching boobtubers like Rev and the like: a lot of their userbase in the comments bitch about leftists as if we're the ones coming for their waifus...

As if the conservatives behind 2025 wouldn't gleefully ban their animes as 'pornography'?

Like, puh-leez. The anti v. proship malarkey spans all political isles.

There are unhinged anti leftists and there are unhinged anti rightoids (most of the not-terminally-online alt-right would fall under that category--again, see Project 2025. Yes, there are much more pressing issues in that document than anime waifus and fictional content, but anime waifus and a good chunk of fictional content would still be banned for being 'immoral,' so~).

And--well, most of the proship-aligned persons I see tend to fall under the purview of "liberal, at worst." The grand majority of the people I'm moots with on main are leftists, socialists, and commies, and they're largely pro-kink, pro-fiction, anti-censorship.

Like, for the most part, we're not the ones responsible for the big ol' hammer of puritanism coming down on the vidya games or anything else, for that matter.

(Liberals, though... Yeah, fine, they tend to promote tokenism under the guise of diversity and tend to go on those funny little moral crusades almost as much as staunch conservatives--I see them throwing around the term "degenerate" almost as much too, in some online spaces--but it only proves the adage "scratch a lib and a fash bleeds" blah blah.)

[northwest-cryptid]

Alright time to check out this Elin game everyone's been telling me about.

Hmm...

Huh...

So I'm a snail, my title is The Wizard; my name is Bosta who's gender is ??? and is the offspring of a Proud Man (Mother) and Bored Little Girl (Father) I am 8cm. (all of this was randomized)

For Class I picked Archer because my title is The Wizard... no one will expect me to shoot them.

Okay so right out the gate they want me to claim land... and the game won't let me go anywhere or do anything until I do, so I guess I'm a land owning snail now... I have a few skills like Meditate, Self Harm (which I don't think we'll be using???), as well as riding animals, and apparently praying? Though uh apparently I am a faithless snail because:

I have recruited a bear? Can I ride my bear?

My bear has become a horse.

TAXES?! I HAVE TO PAY TAXES?! I'M A SNAIL!

Sorry my bear wants... a salad?

I got killed by a tree slime.

So uh... this game is great. Okay time to roll a new character, who've we got this this time?

Oh fuck.

Uh okay, Geoff learned Ice Arrow in his sleep, and also Blood Touch?

Yea I'd expect as much from Geoff "The Killer" to be fair. Geoff is surviving better than the Snail did, we're on day 5 and I have a small grass house along with a fishing pole and I've made some money. I also keep dreaming about blood?

But hey good news is we're making money, if you're willing to look past the fact our latest exports have been Skin, Hearts, and various bones/body parts. Listen Geoff is living up to his title, are we REALLY going to fault him for that?

oh okay yea we're uh... we're doing that.

Sorry what, one of my townsfolk is in debt now because of fraud? And I'm supposed to pay that off? My guy, I'm Geoff The Killer, what do you want me to do about that? I'm not Geoff The Guy Who Pays Off Your Debt!

I RECRUITED A GUY AND HE SELLS SNAILS?!

and then I read a scroll that spawned in a random old man who's following me around now. No idea why, but uh, hopefully he can take some aggro for me because I'm supposed to explore a cave soon and I don't even have a weapon yet.

Oh the good news is I learned how to make a trash can now, somehow. Geoff keeps learning shit in his sleep. Okay we're actually exploring a bit now, we've left our land for the first time and our bear almost died (yea Geoff has a bear as well.) Hermit Crabs have really high defense apparently. I'm dumping stat points into Evasion for our boi Geoff The Killer. Which seems to be paying off. I have yet to get taxes though, and food is still hard to come by.

Unfortunately even a goose counts as Formidable to us; and I think that says a lot about just how weak Geoff actually is. He's not doing much The Killing of anything just yet. I mean...

We encountered the Hermit Crab again:

WE GOT THE BASTARD.

Oh fuck lads, they're onto us...

A GIANT SQUIRREL KILLED MY BEAR?! Well at least we're getting good enough at fishing to actually catch fish. That's a fairly reliable food source.

Good news! I have revived the bear cub, bad news, the bastard is BACK.

We took so long fighting that my items shipped. Help.

Bullshit! I'm going to Geoff The Kill them for this. As you know Geoff is an Evasion based character, we've been dumping points into dodge.

But I really did mean an Evasion based character, in every way. That's right bay-bee we're committing tax evasion. I have found the people responsible for the taxes...

Now I just need to remove the problem of taxes. You see it's very simple.

I just need to Geoff The Kill them.

I did it. I saved the city. Now the town is without a Mayor, without a Mayor they can't possibly send taxes right?

[alsjeblieft-zeg]

080 of 2024

a survey for adults

Created by scarintheblue

do you watch or listen to the news?

Rarely. They're always depressing.

what will you do with your tax refund?

How did you know, I'm one of the few people in this country who get a tax return. Probably somewhere in September.

other than your car or your house, what is your priciest worldly posession?

Probably my laptop.

do you have children? if so, how many? if not, do you want them?

No, I don't. At least not on my own. I don't want kids, one stepson is enough.

where do you stand on the state of the national economy?

Hehe, Belgian economy. I'm not gonna say anything lol.

do you think that we should have gone to war with iraq?

No, it's not our war.

how do you feel about the current wire-tap issue?

What is that even?

do you have insurance? is it more of a help, or a hindrance?

In my country, health insurance is mandatory, so yeah, obviously I have it. It's always help, it saved me from huge debt when I landed in the hospital.

are you a college graduate? if so, has it made a difference in your career?

Yeah, I am. It made it easier to get my job since I'm an electrical engineer.

what would you rather be doing right now?

Going to the Polish shop for food.

do you go to church?

Not for prayer as such, but I like to visit churches to find peace.

are you religious or spiritual?

I'm agnostic, I'm looking for answers.

do you feel that you were raised without religion?

Not at all. My parents are both religious, even though they were raised in two different Christian religions.

how do you feel about being an american?

Thankfully I'm not American and I've never been.

what world issues concern you the most?

War in Ukraine.

how do you feel about same sex marriage?

I'm in same sex marriage, here's your answer.

do you think that a woman can be an effective president?

Look at Finland, they made it.

who do you think is most responsible for "the way you turned out?" why?

It's just life and its events. Everything that happens shapes us in some way.

do you feel differently about love and sex now than you did at 17?

Nah. I've never been interested much.

what does it mean to you to committ?

To stay loyal to the one I love. Pretty easy.

how important are the arts?

Pretty important to some. Every profession is valuable and brings something.

are you a registered voter? did you vote in 04? will you vote in 08?

Damn this survey is old. In my country, voting is mandatory so yeah, I'm a registered voter and I do vote.

would you ever join the military? why or why not?

I've been thinking about it, but I'm not allowed for medical reasons.

do you use algebra in your daily life?

Doesn't everyone? Even for simple things like paying the bills and counting money.

what is the most important thing in your life?

Health and family, and of course our cat.

what is the biggest problem in your life?

Poor health. Chronic illness and physical disability.

do you have a guilt complex?

I do, more than it's healthy.

how many people do you know who are in debt?

A lot. But I personally try to avoid it at any cost.

are you happy with your life as it is?

Generally yes, but I still have my moments.

how upset did these questions make you?

Not at all. I'm an adult, after all.

[murraylawfirm]

Revocable vs. Irrevocable Trusts Which is Suitable for Your Oklahoma Estate

If you are reading this, you may be thinking about your future or the future of someone you love. Maybe you have questions about how to protect what you own and make sure it gets to the right people after you're gone. You might be feeling confused, worried, or even overwhelmed. That is very normal. Planning for what happens to your property and money is a big decision, and it's okay to feel uncertain.

At our law firm, we understand these feelings. You're not alone, and you don't have to figure everything out by yourself. One of the most common things people in Oklahoma ask about is the difference between revocable and irrevocable trusts. These two types of trusts can help you manage your estate, but they work in different ways. This blog will help you understand what they are, how they work, and which one might be right for you.

Understanding What a Trust Is

A trust is a legal tool that helps manage your money, property, and other belongings. Think of it like a special box where you can place your house, bank accounts, land, and more. You choose someone to take care of that box, called a trustee. That trustee follows your instructions for how and when to give what’s inside the box to the people you choose, called beneficiaries.

Trusts help make sure that your loved ones get what you want them to have without going through a court process called probate. They can also help keep things private and protect your property from certain risks.

What a Revocable Trust Does

A revocable trust is a trust that you can change or cancel at any time while you are still alive. That means you stay in control. You can move things in or out of the trust, change who gets what, or even get rid of the trust completely if you want to.

People in Oklahoma like revocable trusts because they are flexible. If your life changes – maybe you get married, have kids, lose someone close to you, or gain new property – you can easily update your trust to match your new wishes.

When you pass away, the trust becomes final, and the trustee you picked will follow your instructions. Your loved ones won’t have to go through probate court, which can take time and cost money. Everything will be handled more smoothly.

What an Irrevocable Trust Does

An irrevocable trust is different. Once you create it, you usually can’t change it or take anything back. You give up control of the things you put inside the trust, and the trustee is the one who manages it. This might sound scary, but it comes with some important benefits.

People often choose irrevocable trusts to protect their property from lawsuits, taxes, or certain long-term care costs. For example, if you think you might need Medicaid in the future to help pay for a nursing home, having an irrevocable trust may help you qualify without losing your home or savings.

In Oklahoma, many families use irrevocable trusts to protect what they own and make sure their children or grandchildren are cared for, even if tough times come.

How to Know Which Trust is Right for You

The best trust for you depends on your needs, your goals, and what you want to protect. If you want to stay in control and have the ability to make changes as life moves forward, a revocable trust might work best. It gives you freedom and helps your family avoid court when you pass away.

If you are more concerned about protecting your property from taxes, debts, or the high cost of long-term care, an irrevocable trust might be better. Even though you give up control, you gain strong protection for your property.

It also depends on your age, your health, and what kind of property you have. Some people even use both types of trusts for different reasons.

Common Questions People Ask

People often ask if they can just write a will instead of setting up a trust. Wills are useful, but they don’t avoid probate. Trusts help things stay private and move faster after you’re gone.

Another question is whether you need a lawyer to set up a trust. While you can find forms online, those don’t always follow Oklahoma laws exactly or match your unique situation. If something is written the wrong way, it could cause trouble later on for your family.

People also worry about whether they will lose their house or money if they put them into a trust. With a revocable trust, you keep control. With an irrevocable trust, it depends on the rules you set. That’s why it’s important to think through the details carefully with someone who understands Oklahoma law.

Why Trusts Are Growing in Popularity in Oklahoma

Oklahoma families are choosing trusts more often because they want to avoid court costs, delays, and family conflicts. They also want to protect their loved ones and keep things simple when they pass away. With more people living longer and owning more types of property, trusts are a smart way to make sure everything is handled the right way.

Farmers, ranchers, small business owners, retirees, and growing families all use trusts to help plan for the future. Whether you have a large estate or just a few important things, a trust can help bring peace of mind.

What Happens If You Don’t Have a Trust

If you don’t have a trust or a will, the state of Oklahoma will decide who gets your things when you pass away. That might not match what you want. It can also cause disagreements between family members and lead to long court delays.

Without a trust, your loved ones might also face high court fees, taxes, or lose important assets like the family home. Taking time to plan now can help avoid all that stress later.

How Trusts Protect Children and Grandchildren

If you have young children or grandchildren, trusts can help make sure they are taken care of. You can choose when they get money or property and how it should be used. For example, you can say that they only get money for school, a home, or starting a business.

Trusts can also keep money safe if your child goes through a divorce or struggles with debt. That way, the things you worked hard for stay in the family and are used in the way you planned.

When Is the Right Time to Make a Trust

There is no perfect time, but sooner is better. Life is full of changes, and having a trust in place can make a big difference if something unexpected happens. Whether you’re getting older, having a child, buying property, or thinking about retirement, it’s a smart time to plan.

Many people wait until something goes wrong. But planning ahead means you’re in control, and your family won’t have to guess what you wanted. It also gives you peace of mind knowing your wishes are written down clearly.

Why Talking With a Lawyer Helps

Making the right kind of trust takes careful thought. You want to make sure it follows the law, does what you want, and protects the people you care about. Every family is different, and every trust should be made to fit just right.

Talking with someone who knows how Oklahoma law works can help you feel more confident. You can ask questions, explain your worries, and get advice that makes sense for your life.

Let’s Help You Get Started

If you are thinking about creating a trust or just want to understand your options, we are here to listen. You may feel unsure, and that’s okay. We will walk you through each step and help you feel comfortable with the choices you make. You deserve to feel secure about your future and the future of your loved ones.

The right trust can protect your family, your property, and your peace of mind. Let’s talk about what works best for your situation and help you build a strong plan. Reach out to us at Murray Law Firm today, and let’s start working together on something that brings you clarity and comfort.

[a-god-in-ruins-rises]

oh cool, land value tax. so i get the privilege of buying land, and then the state charges me rent on it until i die? srsly can you explain how a land value tax is fair? if i own land outright why should i owe the government ongoing payments? doesn’t that undermine the idea of real ownership?

yeah i don't understand the outrage.

a land-value tax is like....literally the fairest tax i can think of. you didn't create the land. the gods did. you're just...occupying it. and yeah, it is a privilege. a privilege provided to you by the state. without the state to protect and enforce your claim, you wouldn't own that land in any meaningful sense.

any value the land itself has — location, soil, access to markets or culture, good weather, etc. — mostly comes from the community around it, not from your labor. so that's why a land value tax is fair. you aren’t being taxed for owning your improvements, just for monopolizing a piece of earth that gets its value naturally and socially.

because land value is created by nature/society, the rent of land should go back to society. otherwise, you get private landowners sitting around collecting money bc they own a spot near a busy city center or a nice river crossing, even though they did nothing to earn that benefit. you still own your house or whatever (as much as you ever have), and you aren't taxed on improvements or production, only on the passive unearned benefit of sitting on a chunk of of naturally/socially-created value.

lvt aligns property rights with actual merit. you keep what you earn, you pay for what you passively monopolize. this actually strengthens ownership in a way because the system as it exists currently rewards parasitism. if you get a hot piece of real estate you can sit on your ass and rake in wealth while workers and businesses get taxed to death. lvt says: you wanna sit on valuable land? then pony up your share of the value you’re extracting by keeping everyone else off it. plus, because you can't just hoard land for speculation, land prices crash to the actual value of improvements. buying land gets cheaper for actual users (not rentiers).

[lunarsilkscreen]

Things I wasn't told about Generational Wealth;

Generational Wealth requires the input from *generations* in order to create. As they say; it takes a village.

You really shouldn't have children if you can't understand this one simple concept. The elder generations create the floor for the younger generations.

Some people are so relatable or skilled, that they become overnight celebrities or millionaires. And literally every [Idol] in the world's whole business model is creating a family for those who don't have one.

Sure; some of them are in it for the music, but come on. That's exactly how the parasocial business model works. Not that I'm blaming them; obviously they've found a way to sell a product that fulfills a demand.

But it walks a line that precariously extracts wealth from people who could instead of generational Wealth. It's not their fault, it's legislated.

The point of currency is that you pass it around your little town, amongst yourselves, and fulfill each other's needs.

As an old timey farmer and a blacksmith; the black smith gives money to the farmer for their food who in turn gives the money to the black smith for improved tools.

In older times, these two might even be brothers.

Now, you could skip that step entirely, but, you could also have other family members. A town cook, a distillery, a carpenter, and on and on and on.

But as we grow those little niche family systems go away. It's why the Amish do what the Amish do. They can keep their wealth to their insular group, and use currency to just interact with the rest of the country.

So, instead of that wealth staying in your family, today; it goes somewhere else. Before; you might pay your parents rent because you'd end up with their land *anyway*. And that wealth stays in your family.

But today; you pay that rent to somebody else's family. And that wealth doesn't stay with *you* OR *your* family.

If you have to pay rent to house yourself, your family, pay for food, AND pay for repairs. (SUPPOSE YOU LIVE IN A TRAILER.) All of that wealth leaves *your* hands to goto somebody else's table.

Why do the wealthy stay wealthy? Because they've kept that system where they can trade their wealth around as if it were a small insular community, and on *top* of that; they extract wealth from communities for their own personal gain.

And this is why Billionaires are un-ethical no matter how you slice it. That wealth extraction was created by a completely necessary business, that did *so much better* than a small community could do amongst themselves, that it's become the business model.

And there's no choice but to use this service that extracts wealth from communities, because there *isn't* a better option.

When your children are being pushed out of their homes to build their *own life* you're literally giving up on generational Wealth. When you treat them as slaves; you're giving up on your ability to generate income for your family, and still give up on generational Wealth.

That wealth doesn't stay with your family; and instead gets scatter to pay *other people's* taxes.

Who then complain about how much tax they have to pay *because* THEY PAY SO MUCH OF THE WEALTH THEY EXTRACT FROM PEOPLE WHO EARNED IT.

That's the current business model, it's why we have a housing crisis, it's why we have a jobs market crisis, it's literally the source of most of the problems right now.

Ducking great. Now I've given conservatives a realistic rational argument for the nuclear family.

[shoujoboy-restart]

> They require the labor of others, which can never be guaranteed without forced labor (i.e. slavery).

> Government collects taxes from millions of people

> Government calculates how much it cost to run a operation from resources necessary to employment of people to manage said resources

> Government uses taxes to fund and pay people

> EQUAL TO SLAVERYYYYY

The crushing majority of people asking of their government to expand their pulbic services aren't asking for people to be forced in labor, quite the opposite they want more opportunities for jobs and societal developed the free market isn't creating because a rat race for financial survival is more profitable.

Also food and housing being guaranteed rights isn't inherently or exclusively about public services providing it and it can actually protect people's property rights and uphold multi billion agricultural business to actually provide food for the country they are in instead of making billions of tons of soil and corn.

> You don't. You are more than welcome to grow/gather/hunt your own food and build a house using your own materials.

Many states have century old and still enacted upon anti-foraging laws many which were made to starve Native Americans, which is what happens when access to food isn't a guaranteed constitutional right.

Billions of acres of the USA are actually privately owned by multiple companies, majority big oil, so instead of unproductive land being used for farming, housing and any other sort of development it's being left inept until the USA wins their stupid long game of having the last reserve of oil on earth, and theres many a cases of people who built homes on said private land unaware of it for years, and while in any other country were housing is a human right they actually have a right to it because of the ineptitude of the land owner, in the USA they get their property taken told to destroy it or leave to be demolished so the owner of land can stay being inept and unproductive, hell, it happens in cities were residential building are sold and people are evicted without a lick of compensation or help and without means to enter the housing market again because of the absurd prices of today even to rent, and that happens because access to housing isn't a guaranteed right.

> In contrast, what you are actually complaining about is that you do not feel it is fair that you must provide sufficient value to others to fulfill your needs

Dude thinks a family being outbidded by the millions for a residential property from international companies that don't even have to actually develop anything or paying 1k of rent for a sardine can with zero contributions to loan elegibility is normal and healthy fucking lol

> and the only way that you perceive being able to do that is through what you describe as "wage slavery".

Yeah because the average salary barely pays rent which again doesn't help credit score or loan elegibility together with 50% of the USA population having private healthcare debt also waiting away at a average pay check, even if the average person somehow built their own home they won't even have a right to have most likely or be lucky to not live in a anti-foraging state, one sickness or broken bone and they will be indebted for the rest of their life.

> Yes, that capitalism believes people should have to earn the fruits of others' labors to fulfill their living needs

Huh, you sure? because thousands of people with "useful degrees" applying for thousands of jobs sure don't seem to be having the opportunity "to earn the fruits of others labors", people with medical degree are out here having to flip burgers to make ends meet, where the fuck is the labor people are supposed to be earning exactly?

> opposed to alternatives of taking the fruits of others' labors through force.

Again with the thinking people taxes being used to develop society is somehow equal to slavery thing, that's very weird babe.

> They don't. They "earn" it through providing you compensation.

Wage theft, severance holding, people in decades long legal battle and even class action suits to get said severance or benefits and good ol sweatshopping and work analogous to slavery not real I guess lol

I'm sure the felons and prisoners being enslaved by constitutional definition of the 13th love being compensate in cents per hour.and can't wait to be released to be discriminated and not be able to apply to jobs for the same corporations that enslaved them in prison.

> If it does not meet your own determined threshold, then you wouldn't continue providing your labor willingly.

> just go to a other job if you want better pay!

> the previous job calls, literally or figuratively, all of their "competitors" so they don't pay a cent above your current salary and benefits

And again, corporations literally by constitutional definition constantly employ actual slavery to gain profits, together with being able to control the market and take away actual choice and alternatives from the market because competition and alternatives are socially profitable not at all financially.

And please don't cry corporatism or whatever new term y'all came with "ITS NOT REAL CAPITALISM BECAUSE IT HURT MY FEEFEES", i do not take the term it seriously in the slightest and I find it to be a catch all excuse boogeyman term for when the lack of regulations capitalists, liberals and their ilk push for are enacted and results in the bad scenarios their opponents predicted would happen, is your sides version of "BUT IT WASNT REAL COMMUNISM" validated trought astroturfing alone.

I get that Karl Marx based his research and methodology on object materialism, but ignoring real life barricades and situations like a economic life coach telling people they can just make 100 bucks of investiment on a MLM into a million dollars without any real, tangible and selling clients isn't the anti-communism slay you think it is.

"Why isn't food and housing a guaranteed right?"

They require the labor of others, which can never be guaranteed without forced labor (i.e. slavery).

"What do you mean I have to tie myself to wage slavery to house myself, etc?"

You don't. You are more than welcome to grow/gather/hunt your own food and build a house using your own materials. In contrast, what you are actually complaining about is that you do not feel it is fair that you must provide sufficient value to others to fulfill your needs and the only way that you perceive being able to do that is through what you describe as "wage slavery".

"The phrase "earn a living" says everything you need to know about end stage capitalism"

Yes, that capitalism believes people should have to earn the fruits of others' labors to fulfill their living needs, opposed to alternatives of taking the fruits of others' labors through force.

INB4: "Then why does my boss take the fruits of my labor?"

They don't. They "earn" it through providing you compensation. If it does not meet your own determined threshold, then you wouldn't continue providing your labor willingly.

[megansaber]

How To Survive a Season of Unemployment

8/16/2023

Exactly three months ago, I worked my last shift at the corporate company I had been at for over two years. What started as my dream job in 2020 inevitably became a job I was forced into when the team I was on was completely removed from the company and I was placed in a role I didn't want as a means of saving me from being laid off. I'll spare the details.

I was determined to quit, but like anyone else in their right mind, I was worried about how I would financially afford not having a regular paycheck. I didn't have money saved up but I knew I couldn't stay working a job every single day that I was unhappy with. I preach every day to live with intention, like every day could be your last, because one day, that will be true and none of us get to control that, and oftentimes it comes sooner than we anticipated.

So how have I made money to survive the last three months without a job while also still being able to travel and live my best life everday?

Here are my life hacks for quitting your day job and living your best life, even if it's only for a short amount of time.

Airbnb. I live alone in a three-bedroom house and I don't always have friends staying with me. I figured I could utilize the extra space by listing a room on Airbnb for additional income. I did this back in 2015 and had an overall positive experience so I figured it couldn't hurt to do it again. I knew the money that Airbnb brings in and I don't mind sharing my space with others, so I listed the room and bookings immediately came in. Over the entire summer, my space was booked about 95% of the time, bringing in $2k-$2.2/MO. Sadly, by my own wrongdoings, I didn't get the required permit from the city of Nashville and had to recently turn off my listing for AN ENTIRE YEAR, until July 2024.

Unemployment Checks. No shame here, I pay my taxes and can use a little help when necessary. While I personally made the decision to quit my last job, I did throw out the idea to the company about them laying me off instead of quitting for the sole purpose of being able to file for unemployment. Crazy, right? No one thought I was going to be able to pull that one off, even myself. But you will never know if you don't ask, so I asked and I received. Unemployment check amounts are laughable, but something is better than nothing, and I was bringing in $1175/MO with them. No ego, amigo here. I'll take whatever help I can get.

Cash out on PTO. Simple enough, I cashed out on three weeks of PTO I hadn't used from my company. That amounted to 1.5 paychecks, which is almost a full month's pay.

Severance Checks. Okay, admittedly, one of the perks of being laid off from my last company was the severance they were providing for those that lost their jobs. It was one entire full month's pay. Truly a freaking blessing, because I know a lot of companies would not do this for their employees. This severance check helped IMMENSELY. Again, I lucked out by asking my company to lay me off as opposed to me quitting, and I believe the only reason they let me do this is because my role was eliminated from the company and I was placed in a role I was not hired to do from the start.

Brand deals. Over the last three months, I researched ways that I could make money on brands that I already used at home. This has been, and still is, the slowest burn as far as making money goes. I was making short reels on Instagram for $6-$20/reel using the Kale app. Outside of Kale, I found Cohley, where you can apply to briefs to shoot video content, product reviews, or photo content for brands, which has been way more effective. I just landed my first real brand shoot for $300! Other (free) brand deal sites outside of Kale and Cohley that I've had luck with are Influee and Popular Pays. You can also join Shopify Collabs, get free or discounted products sent to you, and post about them on your socials using your affiliate links!

Sell random shit around your house. I remember right before I listed my space on Airbnb, I changed all the doorknobs in my house and now I had three basic doorknobs I didn't need. I told my friend I was going to list them on FB Marketplace and he laughed at me. Two months later, once I had already forgotten about them, someone reached out and asked to buy them. Sold! Do this with everything in your house that you don't need. This obviously isn't going to pay your rent/mortgage or car payment, but as I say, any money is good money.

There you have it! I genuinely did not have money saved up when I quit my job but I knew the universe was going to provide for me in the ways I needed. Yes, I had to put in a little bit of work. Yes, I had to share my home with strangers for the summer (some guests turned into lifelong friends). Yes, some of the money came easy.

At the end of the day, I 100% knew I'd be okay if I just took that chance of leaving and just seeing what happens. The world is one big energetic field, and you get what you give.

If you are in the same boat that I was in three months ago but you have excuses under the sun of why you can't leave that job you hate, that is the energy you're going to receive. However, if you shift that mindset, similarly, you will still receive, just in better ways:). Positive energy attracts positive energy, and it goes both ways.

Someone once said the quote, "Whatever you think you can do, you're right." I don't even know if that's the actual quote or who said it, and I am not going to look it up, but if you truly believe that you can or cannot quit your job and live your dream life, even for a short amount of time, you're right! So...

Which truth do you want to live?

[the-firebird69]

I'm really quite sick of it the guys just left the ramble on and on and we don't have any organization they were at each other so we're not stopping them and we should but they're doing is very wrong I heard some of it today and the guy is vulgar as hell I am tired of hearing it. If you don't pay we do it everybody else does and that's why we form the consortium because you're not paying them and they go out and they seize your houses and your money and your assets and your stashes and caches secret or not we see them doing it all the time so we have to get in on it and globally too these lawsuits are happening all over and it's your fault Trump and son there's huge assholes to everybody everyday put up with your stupid face and everybody else's

Bja

I'm not going to put up with it either even though I'm an actual criminal I realize that he's encouraged people to stay out of the underworld I'm going to bring a suit because he's going to get me killed and all my people because of what he's doing and it's not fair this is probably unveiled a secret and still that way and I'm screwed I do understand what I'm saying he had a lot to do with it and Max landed but this guy even ruined back and I want to bring that up in the court there's no way to say it's a huge sleeve balls and they Rose to the top instead of staying at the bottom like s*** stood should it's like this inland algae and the s*** on the inland algae goes up and sticks to it parsley and it ruins the value of the algae and this guy is the s*** I can't believe it I'm saying but Max playing might have worked against me or mine against him instead it's just complete stalemate it's an ugly ugly ugly clan and true Terry cheeseman was doing things and these people all poops not really sure why

I'm bringing a group action against you Trump you can say what you want we found you in the hospitals all over the world and we're suing them too huge lawsuits are going out tomorrow against you massive numbers of people it's armies and armies and armies. And what this a****** Dan is saying it's so bad the guy just runs around saying about everybody it's a huge puke and loser I'll tell you what he's like this monster he's just doesn't stop his stuff doesn't work that well it's a lot of people going after him and they really should I do have to get organized and he said the organization in our realm is someone half hazard it's what will the allow the law will allow and right now he says the territory is going out see you soon and he gets territory and you just take it from him but there's a lot of things that he's doing wrong and I understand what my friend is saying here he says this guy is a tax evader and people are not harping on it and could take tons of area because he didn't pay taxes on squat and the other one is screwed his taxes up and his business is really badly and people can take advantage and they should because they're massive losers who sit on our friend calling him a loser when it's them and they should be made to be seen as to what they are they are humongous losers. And now they're saying the citrus crop is bad and it's not it's only in several areas which is odd it's probably the s*** head. I know for a fact of North the citrus is growing like madness and we're going to see if these idiots own it and we're going to sue them for it if they do seems that they're ruining his crop down here somehow

Tommy f

[andmaybegayer]

I think most americans look at a house as a primary store of wealth because there isn't really anything else available to store wealth in.

If you keep your money in a bank, you are losing single digit percentages of value every year (or double digit last year depending on how you do the math). Stock market investments are dubious on the best of days if you don't already possess the vast quantities of wealth needed to mitigate risk effectively, and most americans alive today have lived through multiple major recessions now, they know exactly how bad those can get. Motor vehicles don't typically last longer than a decade and a half even with the best maintenance possible, and other big ticket items that hold onto value well like businesses or resource rich property are inaccessible to someone who isn't interested in dedicating themselves to maintaining them.

By contrast, a house is something you benefit from very directly by owning, will maintain by virtue of needing to live in it, and are offered a variety of legal protections and insurance options to mitigate much of the risk of ownership. It may not make for an ideal society, but it does make sense from the perspective of someone who would like to try and actually accumulate wealth during their lifetime.

I do get the appeal of homeownership from a flexibility and personal benefit thing, not having to wait for some asshole to tell you you can't hang pictures is great, but I think for every person who values control over their home, there's someone else who just wants a place to live for the next two years.

The faulty instinct is that the house is the valuable part, as noted by that article. Buying a house as a store of value only works if the land it's on goes up in value. Buying land in bumfuck nowhere because you want to buy a house isn't a good idea, and buying land in a valuable area is probably beyond most people who are worried about where to direct their very limited funds.

I'm not as convinced as you about the idea that a modern diversified index fund is worse than landownership (especially for the non-ultra-wealthy) for your median American living in suburbs outside of high-demand city centers. I'm also not sure land is much less resilient to financial crashes, especially if you're still paying off your mortgage on pre-crash pricing.

Any idiot can invest in your basic Vanguard mutual fund without having to save up $25+k on a downpayment, versus what, like $2000 minimum initial investment for Vanguard? I don't know what S&P500 minimums are like. And they strongly tend to beat inflation year on year without the ongoing costs of home maintenance, bubble risk, and risk of just getting a crap location that doesn't improve.

That's to say nothing of significant transaction fees, land and property taxes, and overhead if you ever need to move homes. It's also much easier to continuously siphon off a little money to put into a mutual fund than it is to add money to a house.

Of course, stock prices crash, but that tends to coincide with housing price crashes, and it's harder to weather out a housing price crash with a huge mortgage to pay off than it is to weather leaving your investments to recover, especially if you're dealing with them in the long view. There's definitely certain situations where a house is a sensible investment but I think that's rarely the best reason to buy a house.

[parchmentedpetrichor]

➳it's good to see you again ♡ ☾

in which y/n l/n comes home from a 2 year long mission to subdue the rest of the escaped death eaters and meets her best friend, fred weasley, yet again.

fred weasley x fem!reader

word count: ±1.5k

tw: mentions of scars, nightmares, mentions of the war

drop a follow if you wanna see more of this content!!

my masterlist:D

ft. angelina and george

it's been a long day without you, my friend

and i'll tell you all about it when i see you again

it's good to see you again

y/n was sitting comfortably in the backseat of george's fancy car, earphones plugged in and listening to a song to drown out the sound of angelina and george talking about something they had seen on the news. her head was leaning against the window, her eyes drinking in the familiar view of london in nostalgia. it hurt her that she wasn't the only person who would see the beautiful city she'd known from the very beginning. and she missed it. angelina and george had picked her up from the quarantine centre after she had made a trip to albania for a couple of years with the rest of her auror unit to imprison the remaining death eaters. albania had recently acquired many cases of dragonpox, and so all the unit members had to isolate in a little hotel by the edge of italy. it had been a few weeks since the start of the quarantine and now she was zooming along a british highway, ever so keen to see her friends and family again. and fred. fred was her best friend. they had been since 5th year. perhaps she was harbouring feelings for him, perhaps she wasn't. and here she sat, curled up and watching the views, trying to decipher whether or not he'd be different. he had survived the war just barely. it would be acceptable for him to change. did he still have the millions of freckles dotted along his face? her face flushed just thinking about it. bringing her hands up to her cheeks she shook her head. chile, y/n, he probably has a girlfriend. it's been two years, and he didn't like you two years ago, he won't like you now. the thought alone made her frown. "what's got you blushing and frowning like mad?" angelina looked at her through the mirror in the front of the car. george whispered something in her ear and she giggled. "y/n, is this possibly about a certain fred weasley?" her eyes widened. "nope, not at all." "really? so you were definitely not thinking about the amount of freckles my twin has on his face? hmm?" "no! george, seriously?" she stuck my tongue out at him. "or his ginger hair?" angelina added. "no! you guys are idiots!" she folded her arms. "and she's blushing again," angelina sniggered. "stop!" "it's okay, he blushes about you way more," george laughed, eyes on the road. "stop, stop, stop!!!!!" "it is true." "no it isn't, okay? erm, i don't like him, he doesn't like me. we're best friends. you guys are gross." she resumed looking out the window, shaking her head. they had reached a pretty big house with two levels, with large windows that y/n would absolutely die to have and cute little bricks sticking out. "what? i thought we were going back to my parent's house?" "you wish." "who are we visiting?" "oh just a person i know from work," angelina said with a twinkle in her eyes. "okay. did we bring anything?" "just you," she replied, "me and george are heading back to our place. your stuffs at your parents." george nodded. y/n frowned, "okay." she bounded up to the door and knocked a couple of times. the door opened and she immediately began babbling off a greeting and an introduction without looking at the person. "i'm y/n l/n, and i understand you're from angie's work! it's nice to meet yo-" her eyes were met by chocolate brown ones, framed by so many freckles. fred lived in this place? "it's good to see you again, miss y/n l/n," he grinned and oh my oh my, y/n felt her heart skipping beats all over again. fred was worried when there was silence, but he was pleasantly surprised when he felt arms wrap as much as they could around his waist. true to his nature, his cheeks turned as red as his hair. he breathed in the smell of her hair, the smell of her and oh he had missed her so much. "i missed you a lot," he mumbled, tightening his grip around her, "so so so so so much." "me too, freddie," there that nickname was, and it made him possibly weak at how pretty she was and how pretty her voice was. when she let go, he almost felt empty, and so he snaked an arm around her waist. "your place is so beautiful, freddie!" his secret was that he had bought it hoping that she would

live with him. he knew she loved beautiful windows and bay windows and balconies. "not as beautiful as you, lovely." and his eyes were graced by her flustered expression, her cheeks tinted the most delightful shade of pink. "but the windows! gosh they're pretty." "wanna live with me?" he dropped the question ever so casually. "are you sure? i've got an apartment set up and all so it's no big deal-" "no. i want you to live with me." "then your wish is my command, i guess. i don't have much stuff though." "that's fine! i knew you would say yes so i got a bedroom ready for you." she hesitated. fred looked at her. "is everything okay?" "i-i don't want you to think that i'm best friends with you because you're rich or whatever and i feel like i'm taking advantage of your richness and it's not right?" "you're not, okay?" she nodded, still hesitating a little bit. "if you really feel bad you can come visit me and george in the shop and do some type of customer service. you'll be paid." "am i paying rent if i live here?" she asked. "no, y/n, i own this place." "don't you pay land tax?" "yeah, but it's not that much." "nope, i'm paying rent or you're not paying me for the shifts i do. or both. take your pick." "i won't pay you for the shifts. is this really a big deal?" "yes it is! it's money and morals. that's a very big deal." "okay, fair." "gimme a list of all my shifts please." "nah, you pop in whenever you can." "okay, when's rush hour?" "hogsmeade weekends and thursdays." ☆ it was night. y/n couldn't sleep at all. she was lying in the insanely boujee king sized bed and the insanely comfortable sheets, and she still couldn't fathom why she couldn't sleep. maybe it was because she always slept with one eye open in albania. habit. so she was just sitting in her bed, looking around the room. she was tired, but she couldn't be untired. and it would be selfish to disturb fred. but he had said his door was always open. so she crept out and made her way through the corridors, finally stopping at a door which she hoped was fred's bedroom. it was half ajar, so she peeked her head around it. he was asleep, a very thin blanket draped carelessly around his body, his ginger hair messy and his chest rising with every peaceful breath he took. his room was big and simple, cluttered in the most fred way. she approached him, tapping him on the shoulder lightly. "freddie??" he opened his eyes drowsily, "mmm?" "i can't sleep." "'ave you tried countin' broomst'cks?" "i can't sleep." "'kay," he pulled her into his bed, wrapping his arms around y/n and tucking most of the gryffindor red blanket under her chin. it smelled like him, "this 'kay?" fred was shirtless. y/n was blushing. "yeah." "mm, have a good night, okay? i'm here, you're safe." y/n nodded, feeling the most comfortable she had in two whole years, cuddling up to his chest as she fell into sleep. sleep. she hadn't properly slept in two whole years. every night would be spent either patrolling or anxiously preparing for the next day. when she did get some shut-eye, it was broken and restless. but her dreams were stopped with visions of terrifying death eaters casting sectumsempra onto the auror unit. she felt the pain she had endured through a long time ago. it left a scar on her back and imprints in her mind. it was impossible to forget. she remembered yelling as she saw another auror drop dead. running, running out of the hellhole of the death eater's base. "y/n, y/n," fred was shaking her awake. she was shaking, tears were running down her face. she fervently apologised to him. "don't say sorry, lovely," he wiped the tears off of her face, "what was your dream about?" "t-the mission, the death eaters w-were cutting people up and they got me." "oh darling, why didn't you tell me this before?" he asked gently, cradling her head to his chest. "it, it comes out at the worst times." "well you're not in albania anymore, okay, love? you're here, in london, and you're safe. you're okay, you're fine." she nodded, "sorry." "don't you dare,

it isn't your fault. sleep, okay? i'll wait for you to go to sleep before i do, yeah?" she nodded. her head fell onto his chest and fred traced gentle patterns on her back, whispering small nothings in her ear. for the first time, it seemed like fred could watch her without repercussions. even with her tear-stained cheeks and wild hair, she was beautiful. and when he had stayed up for hours into the night and morning for this girl, this was when he realised. he would do anything for her. he loved her.

[invisible-goats]

reply to this was a useful reminder that other places don't have this particular brand of silly

it's not property taxes, that comes under council tax, it's much dafter

so, in the uk, someone owns the land your home is on. hopefully it's the same person who owns the house (freehold), but not always. it could belong to an investor, a property developer, fuck it could even belong to the king (leasehold). and that person is owed ground rent

it could be a very small amount that no-one really cares about (sometimes called a peppercorn rent, because it could be paid in peppercorns, because they were valuable. there's actually a place in london that still has to pay the crown nails for ground rent), or it could be a lot. some of the houses i saw when we were looking to buy had a ground rent of £999/year. leasehold houses are cheaper, but also someone else gets a say in what you can do with the land, and might even chuck you out if they want something other than a house there. you only own the building on the land

however, if that builds up enough (over £350), the landowner can bring legal action against the property owner and might even take possession of the property on the land. thankfully they have to give 4 weeks to pay, and we're moving in less than two with a lease (because we're renting the property someone else owns on the rented land) that runs out in 5, but hoo boy this sure is A Situation To Be In

love to learn a month before my lease runs out that my landlord hasn't paid ground rent since 4 years before i moved in

[howlingday]

jaune's from a family of raiders

well not quite he's from a culture that puts a lot of stock in capturing and ransoming off their friends and neighbors from other tribes. think of it like a combat sport only some times you're also stealing cattle and horses.

he's a prince of the high king

well again it's more complicated the kingdoms are like city states they don't exactly legislate or collect taxes all the way out into the wilds. but they do send huntsmen to protect the area and then tax the huntsmen.

jaune's dad just happened to be a huntsman who didn't pay taxes because the area his family had lived in for generations also happened to be outside the control of vale. and lots of people wanna live near the huntsmen who can keep them safe. so he has a position of respect among all the tribes. and jaune is his son

he's also required to have a harem

this one is interesting because it's one of those cultural things that seems weird from the outside but makes more sense when you look at it. men are hard to keep alive without a hospital. even with aura. women are part of a protected group like children and so take less risks in life. leading to there being a ton more women than men. and since technology isn't quite to the level of the kingdoms proper,

well more hands to help maintain a house isn't bad right?

but most of all jaune is a man who only wants to do right by his family, whether that be those from the past, or the woman, or women, that he loves.

and this part needs no further clarification

tldr: au where jaune's part of a tribal community and brings his lover or lovers home to meet the family. how does that go for everyone?

P.S: also sorry for the flowery ask, i felt inspired by something

Ooh, do tell the inspiration!

"Unhand me, you brute!" Jaune sighed as the girl in white screeched and squirmed behind him. "Do you know who I am?! When my family hears of this, they will hang you for this! Do you hear me?"

Jaune kept his focus on the road ahead as he gripped the reigns of Valorie, his mare, glancing left and right occasionally to avoid an ambush. His family might have a hold on the territory, but with his father growing in age, so, too, did that grip loosen. A rival tribe or rogue patrol from the kingdoms would easily snatch up an easy target like the lone swordsman and his latest bride.

"Could you at least tell me where we're going?"

"Home." Jaune answered, not looking back.

"Oh, yes, of course! How could I not know? And where exactly is your home?"

"Just up ahead."

"Uh huh, I see, and what are you going to do once you're home?"

Jaune let out a long sigh as he stretched his shoulders a bit. "Well, drop you off with the others, then have you judged, if there's enough time."

"Judged?" Weiss raised an eyebrow. "Judged for what?"

"Wife material." Weiss blushed and her jaw dropped. "Can you cook; can you clean; are you good with children; can you have children; do you have any family illnesses?" He shrugged. "Routine wedding discussions."

"W-Wedding?!" Ah, and just like that, the shrieking began anew. "You savage! You brute! I refuse to be treated like some stock taken to auction, about to be sold to some pervert noble!"

"You're not being sold to a noble." Jaune smiled and looked back. "Just me." Before she could begin again, Jaune let out a sigh of relief. "Finally, we're home."

It may have only been about a week since Jaune had left, but it felt like forever since his departure from the lands of Arcadia. The valleys and hills were as green and lush as ever, and the summer winds carried the calming scent of flowers across it all. He passed the growing crops, where he saw his sisters, their wives, and some of his own watering and tending to them. They waved to him, and he returned one to them.

"Welcome home, Miss Weiss." The girl marveled at the beauty. She had only heard of such places from her studies in the manor, but to see it in person was something else. Before she could admire it more, however, the mare stopped, jostling her from her focus.

Jaune slid down, then pulled Weiss down as well, carrying her bridal style. He then set her onto her own feet and untied the binds on her wrists and ankles. She lifted her leg, then kicked his shin. He yelped in pain.

"That was for the kidnapping!" She shouted.

"Yeesh! Just a kick?" Weiss turned to see a lilac-eyed blonde woman in fieldwork garments smiling at her. "When he dropped me off, they had to get his old man to get me off of him." She looked past Weiss to Jaune. "You going soft on me, or just your taste in women?"

"And who are you?" Weiss spat. "One of his whores?"

Yang laughed and placed a sweaty, mud-encrusted paw on her delicate shoulder. It felt warm at first, then hot as her grip became tight, and her eyes red. "I dare you to say that again."

"Yang, stop it!" Weiss and Yang looked to the younger girl running from inside the house. She was a brunette with red tips and silver eyes, and she wore a red apron that she had to roll up to her shins. She futilely tugged on the blonde woman's arm. "Jaune told you not to hurt anyone else!"

She let go, making the girl yelp as she was lifted with her arm. "Aw, c'mon, Rubes, we were just playing!" She then looked to Weiss, her eyes lilac once more. "Ain't that right, Ice Queen?"

"Ice Queen?!" Weiss balked.

"Yang, cut it out, please." Jaune sighed.

"Fine, fine!" Yang turned around, lowering her arm. The smaller girl let go as she walked away. "Besides, the crops won't grow themselves. I'll go be a good workhorse." She stopped to look back and winked. "I expect my carrot tonight, though, sweetheart~."

"Play nice and we'll see." Jaune responded with a smile. With that, Yang chuckled and resumed walking, swaying her hips for a few more yards before jogging back to the field. He looked to the younger girl and smiled. "And how have you been, Ruby?"

She sighed. "Do you mean after you left, or after you came back?"

"Both."

"After you left, I missed you. It was your mom's birthday, but I couldn't afford a present, so I took on her chores for the week, but I didn't expect her chores included chimney cleaning, so now I have soot so far up my nose, I'm still sneezing black. Then I had to tend to the chickens, but they're so vicious, and I swear they can smell weakness, because the rooster jumped me at least six times. Then Zwei needed a bath, but he somehow tricked me into the tub, so I smell like wet dog a little bit. And then I had to bake her cake all on my own, but there were eggshells in it and it came out both burnt and raw somehow, and I just- Argh!" Ruby collapsed into Jaune's torso. "I really missed you."

Jaune held her and kissed the crown of her head. "I missed you, too, Ruby." He stepped back and held a hand outward towards Weiss. "Ruby Rose-Arc, this is Weiss Schnee. She's going to be my newest bride." He looked to Weiss. "Weiss Schnee, this is Ruby Rose-Arc, my second wife. She and Yang will help prepare you for judging."

"It's so nice to meet you!" Ruby swooped in, snatching the other woman's hands in hers. Her smile was wide and bright. "It'll be nice to have another short girl in our home!"

"No!" Weiss yanked her hands away. "I refuse! When my father hears of this, he'll-"

"Oh, that reminds me!" Jaune walked to Valorie and reached into her saddlebag. Weiss grumbled as she watched him pull out a small, burlap sack. "Here, Ruby. This was part of the dowry, but I want you to have it."

Ruby opened the sack and squealed in delight. "Dust crystals!" She hugged the new woman tightly. "You are the bestest bestie a bestie could ever have!"

"What the-?! Where did you get those?!" Weiss shrieked.

"From your father." Ruby ran inside with her new sack. "In exchange for marrying you, we'll allow him to trade through our lands."

"My father would never-!" Jaune gave her a curious look. "I mean, not to one of his own-!" Her voice grew softer. "I thought..."

"Listen," Jaune placed a hand on her shoulder, "if you don't want to marry me, I understand. Most of the others didn't want to, either. But if you give it a few days, you might learn to love it here. You won't go hungry, you'll be well protected, and I promise you'll be loved every day."

"I just... I didn't think I would be treated like this. By my own family."

"I know." Jaune removed his hand. "Would it be okay if I hugged you?"

"I-"

"JAUNEY!" The two saw a young woman bull rush towards Jaune, carrying a dead boar high above her head. Jaune extended his arms out and caught her, spinning in place at least a dozen times. Blood sprayed around, including onto Weiss and the other two as they embraced. When they stopped, Jaune set her down, giving her a butterfly kiss with his nose to hers. "You're home!"

Jaune chuckled. "Yup!" He peered around her and looked to Weiss. "And I brought back someone new."

Nora turned around and gasped as she looked at Weiss. "Oh! My! Dust! You are so small!" She looked to Jaune and waggled her brow. "Be careful you don't break her!" She then laughed. "I'd shake your hand, but, uh, I'm a little busy. I'm Nora Valkyrie-Arc, Jaune's fourth wife."

"Weiss Schnee." Blood dripped from her hair. "And I was just about to leave."

"Aw! Already?! We were gonna make pancakes tomorrow!"

"I was going to make pancakes, Nora." Weiss turned to the male voice and saw a slim man in the doorway, wearing both an apron and a blank expression. "Just like I do every morning for you."

"Renny!" Nora cheered before tossing the trophy to him. "This is my first husband, Lie-Valkyrie Ren!"

Despite his slim figure, the man held the heavy beast with seemingly no trouble. "A pleasure to meet you." He nodded, before turning to head inside.

"Is he also your husband?" Weiss asked. Jaune chuckled nervously. This was going to be a long day, but they both already knew that.

[on-noon]

short story: a Countdown to Magic Prolouge

I look down at my list, check the address. This is the house. Makes sense too, the old houses are the ones with weird taxes, and this definitely looks old. That "no magic allowed inside" sign doesn't seem legal, but I work for the city, not my dad. So it's not my problem.

I knock on the door.

I knock again, louder. There's chatter coming from the inside, so they're definitely home.

It doesn't look warm outside, I should probably get inside soon.

Someone comes behind me.

"What're you doing just standing outside?" the man says

"I knocked the door and was waiting for an answer."

"Who knocks on the door to an inn?" he goes inside, pushing the door open without much care. I follow him.

An inn?

There's a desk in front of the door with a sign on it that reads "wait here to check in." So I wait.

This girl, who couldn't be more than fourteen or sixteen comes and asks "Are you waiting to check in?"

"No, I work for the city, tax collection to be specific, so could I talk to whoever owns this property?"

"That would be my dad, but he's not home yet, he should be back by the time the countdown ends. I also know where all the paperwork is for taxes though, and can pay them if they're due before than," she says.

"The taxes will be due in one and half months, so before the countdown ends, yes. Isn't there an adult here who can handle this? Isn't some watching you?" Hopefully she's not alone, that would probably be child abandonment, and I'd have to go report it to the Mage Society, especially for that long.

"My neighbor's here as the adult, she should be back in a couple hours, but she'd have no idea how to handle any of the tax stuff."

I guess I have to deal with this child now.

"Okay, go get the receipt for when this house– this inn was bought."

"Follow me," she says. "And this house was never sold, so I'm going to show the other paperwork instead."

This building is oddly far out of town for the property to have never been sold. If I remember correctly, this area should have been part of the area where the city sold the land to the first people who built on it. Either that or it was a farm.

"I don't think I've seen this on the list of properties still with their original owner, but I guess I can look at the certificate. I'll have to verify it though, with the city's paperwork."

The rate for the few properties that have never been sold is set so cheap that we have to make sure there are no scammers. And of course we can't just change the laws.

She leads me up a ramp, through a sliding door to a dark room filled with mostly papers, and a few random objects.

She looks at a few different papers, then hands me a box. "That's our sales records for the year."

She goes deeper into the room.

"Wait, I don't need your sales records. I just need the certificate stating this as a never-sold property, along with a family tree or something to show the line of inheritance."

I don't even know how she came up with needing sales records for taxes.

She comes back with another box of papers. "No, we do need the sales records. You must be a different tax collector than normal. Here's the agreement my great-great-whoever made with the city."

I look at the paper. It seems to be a page long legal document. As I read it though, it starts to get interesting. It claims they never joined the city, but to avoid joining the city agreed to pay a portion of their sales in taxes?

How have I never heard of this?

"I'll need to go look through the city's archives, you understand, make sure this claim is legitimate."

I take the streetcar back to the city archives, the site of the old city hall. I don't know where to look for this. Usually I only need to look at the property records. Would this be shown on maps? Maybe if I can find a map of the city from that time.

I thought I knew how to handle anything now. I read through the entire tax code. All of it, all the fraud types and punishments, all the odd historical exceptions from back when they would just change the law if they had a problem.

And the head collector trusted me.

I look at maps of the city from the time, but I can't tell. None of them are at any useful detail, or technically aren't maps of the city limits.

Where would they put the papers showing the growing of the city or whatever?

I thought I was familiar with the city archives, but I have no clue where to look.

I pack up the maps, they aren't useful, and notice some blood on one of them. I look down at my hands. A papercut. Great. And I got blood on the old documents. I flip through the maps, luckily I only got blood on two of the maps.

I go down to the desk, "Eaohg, I was looking through the maps from the times Lathp Hills was added and got a papercut. I accidentally dropped some blood on two maps, it didn't obfuscate any information."

"Okay, thanks for telling me. What were you doing with the maps anyway? Tax collectors usually only care about the property records," she says.

"There's this one weird case, they claim to not be in the city and have some weird agreement. But I don't know where I'd find anything to support that. But how could you make that up? She had even this whole thing about taxes based off of sales?" I say. Hopefully Eaohg will take pity on me and help.

"That would have to be the Weynild's, I think that was mentioned maybe in one of the thousands of other documents in here they're mentioned in. You might find whatever agreement in the Mayor's room, third rack."

"Weynild? Who's that?" Surely she misinterpreted. That girl couldn't have been mentioned in any of those documents. So maybe she was tricking but based off an existing tax agreement we had with someone else?

"The Weynild's are the family that run the inn in Lathp Hills, but that inn has been around longer than anything else in the area. Longer in fact than when Lathp, whoever they were owned the land. And they show up in a surprising amount of records. It's a whole thing. But yeah, Mayor's room, third rack is where the document you want should be."

I easily find it, once Eaohg told me exactly where it was. A copy of the agreement that girl gave me. So know I have to go back, and look through all those records of sales, calculate five percent of that and collect the taxes. No problem.

Except it's snowing now. And I guess it's late enough I can justify ending my workday now. I take the tram home, also I guess the streetcars over to Lathp Hill aren't enclosed, but these trams are, so I made probably the correct decision. I still want to finish the case, though.

When I get home, my mom's painting. Mountains, like in her hometown.

She only says she was worried about me, did I get frostbite, she saw the snow.

I hold out my hands. "Doesn't seem so. Just a papercut."

She doesn't ask about my job. Eventually Horatio comes home, from wherever he was, and he goes straight to reading his magic theory papers. They're for the level of people who study that stuff, they can't be interesting. And then my dad comes home, late again.

He brings the food, so we set the table and get to dinner.

Horatio talks about his magic theory, what he read in those papers. Dad doesn’t even know what he’s talking about, but he does mention that at the Mage Academy here, they need someone to teach magic theory. He almost outright offers Horatio a job somewhere he’s not even qualified to be a student at yet. Horatio took way too long to pick up on it.

I mention that I found a new weird exception in the tax law.

And no one responds, they just keep eating their dinners.

The next day, I’m the second one to leave, after Horatio. I get to Lathp Hills, and this time I just enter the inn, no awkwardly waiting around.

I quickly find that girl, and she brings me to the sales records. I look through a couple random sheets, make sure all the numbers add up on those, make sure there’s no lowering the count between sheets. I even remember an off statistical rule to try and tell if the numbers are made up.

I didn’t make certain they weren’t scamming, but I checked. And besides, the amount they ended up paying in tax was much higher than probably it would be based on property value.

I leave, and look back at the property, try to guess a value.

They've still got the "no magic allowed inside." Which even if they can somehow get out of paying taxes the normal way, they can’t get out from under the authority of the mages. The sign looks old, but surely it could have been removed in the hundreds of years since the Mage Society took control of the city.

But they’re not in the city, not quite.

Maybe I should tall my dad or someone who works under him.

But then would he care about a weird tax situation?

[ganymedesclock]

a thing about your headcanons that really intrigues me is that, much as Knuckles seems to have originally been done as a contrast or rival to Sonic back in the Genesis days, your take on them has a opposite approach to the responsibility they feel, but done in opposite ways. Sonic runs from responsibility and doesn't want to think about it, while Knuckles feels guilty about NOT being responsible to an extreme, and since people don't often deal with how they're similar, i really like this

Honestly, this is a thread that is not exclusive to Sonic and Knuckles, but actually ties in heavily to a major theme I'm considering and working in Worlds AU.

Basically, "freedom" has always at least nominally been a theme associated with Sonic. It's in his motifs, it's in his attitudes, it's the quality that people tend to envy when they compare themselves to him- whether that's Knuckles who feels bound by fate and obligation, Tails who feels like he might not be enough or can only keep up, Amy who dreads the drudgery of her ordinary life by comparison. Hell, one could say it's even in the many one-off characters who are introduced with Sonic blowing into their life, changing things, inspiring them to grow, and then leaving- Elise, Merlina, Chris Thorndyke, Chip, Shahra.

But it's a theme that's kind of been weakened in the direction that the games took.

In Sonic SatAM, the concept of freedom vs. tyranny was rife in the setting. Robotnik had his boot down on 90% of the world and the remaining pockets are either actively dwindling, or struggling along as best they can through limited resources. All characters are- at any time- in danger of losing specifically their freedom; not their minds, but control of their bodies. And it's a compelling hook.

But the gameverse has very long not been that, and since Sonic Adventure, the world of the games has been very metropolitan. There's a bunch of cities and countries and everybody's going about their daily lives and Eggman's still a wannabe conqueror but he's now become abstracted, a supervillain, who might have this big scheme or that, but- basically until Sonic Forces- we have never had Eggman really decisively in control. And in his absence, there are not really ever any consistent or clear threats to freedom except that, yeah, we guess if we let someone like Solaris or Perfect Chaos or Black Doom run wild long enough that would kill people and then nobody would be free, but... that's an abstract and inelegant way to speak to one of your main center themes.

(and I personally don't like Forces basically trying to reinstate- even if temporarily- the SatAM status quo, even if I think some people like the IDW comics have done interesting things with that, but that's my personal relationship with the character of gameverse Eggman and how I view him distinctly from SatAM Robotnik, as absolutely iconic as the latter is)

I don't think you need an encroaching dystopia per se to make a meaningful discussion out of freedom- I think using the modern gameverse's more colorful, populated world opens up a lot of possibilities for that. So, a major thematic thing I've landed on is that abject tyranny- while the easiest 'threat to freedom' to scan and oppose- and an important one!- is not remotely the only thing that challenges freedom.

A big thing is responsibility.

Responsibility is the thing that most of us sacrifice our freedom to on a daily basis. That may sound dramatic, but it's true; we may have other reasons for it, but we don't just run off somewhere else or go have an adventure or leave our job because we feel responsible to things. And responsibility isn't a bad thing- it's good to feel reliable or trustworthy. If you enjoy your job or your coworkers, you want to do well at it. Having a house is a responsibility, we take care of them. Having a relationship of any kind is a responsibility; so is having kids. If none of us were ever responsible, society would fall apart and we'd all live lonely lives. Moreover, we'd have very little power- ironically a lack of responsibility can lead to a lack of freedom in some regards.

But also, it's very easy to give too much of yourself away and not have any left. I mentioned before that many characters are consistently depicted, across many continuities, idealizing Sonic- because Sonic's free! Sonic doesn't buy groceries or pay taxes or do boring stuff, he certainly isn't stuck in a frustrating or isolating situation, and this can even tie into one of Sonic's major themes- he refuses to be talked into accepting lesser evils.

In Sonic and the Black Knight, Merlina tries to explain to him why she's using Excalibur's scabbard- why she's doing bad things, trying to justify it that she can't just let the kingdom end, even if that means needing to twist it into a horrible place to live- to which she at one point, in frustration, asks if Sonic understands, to which he responds, "No, and I don't want to."

While it's not exactly a perfect moral stance (those don't exist), there is something to be said powerfully for the idea that Sonic as a person has a certain rejection of responsibility as a chain to let bad things happen. He rejects loyalty to a thing that drives you into cruelty.

And this is really interesting, when we consider- specifically in the very first game that featured Shadow and featured him explicitly as a dark antithesis to Sonic- that is exactly what happens to Shadow.

Shadow is not, by default, an amoral person. Pre-trauma, we see that he doesn't want to hurt others, and frankly, as much as "ow the edge" circles (and is somewhat warranted), we can often see that he's standoffish but fairly civil; someone who is dealing with a lot of stresses and problems, but doesn't often relish hurting others unless he's already desperate, frustrated, or looking for an outlet or solution. And in adventure 2, Shadow is led into nearly ending the planet on account of loyalty; to the idea of Maria, to what he believes she asked him to do (and what he believes is owed to the people who killed her)

It's kind of conspicuous that if you think about it, most of Shadow's arcs in various games that focused on him are about questions of what's owed- to him, or to the world. Does he owe a debt to Eggman? Rouge? Black Doom? Gerald? Maria? Does the world owe him a debt of anger and pain to be paid back in vengeance, or, is he the one who owes the world a chance? Does he owe himself a chance? These are questions of Responsibility.

So to bring this back to Sonic and Knuckles, I think that's an interesting context to set them apart, because both of those two definitely have a special relationship with the Chaos Emeralds. Knuckles is the guardian of the shrine that doesn't just have positions for the Master Emerald, but all seven smaller ones as well; and Sonic... well, Sonic consistently and regularly does stuff with the chaos emeralds nobody else does. He transfers super forms to other people, or even awakens them in people who haven't done it before (as implied with Burning Blaze in Sonic Rush). And at least according to Sonic 3&K, his arrival (?) was foretold.

But Sonic... does not feel responsible about the chaos emeralds. If something's happening with them he wants to know but it's about curiosity. When the chaos emeralds are corrupted, tarnished, and lose power, Sonic... juggles them, while he's confused about his own (related) corruption. It's weird, it's concerning, but it's not an obligation. He gets distracted buying ice cream in the same scene.

By contrast, the only time Knuckles feels confident shattering the Master Emerald, it's as an obligation- he has to protect it from Eggman even if it creates more work for himself, and he later freaks out and nearly crashes the shuttle he and others are on when a near-miss scatters the master emerald pieces he's collected across the ARK. I can only imagine half of the plot of Sonic Unleashed would've given Knuckles an ulcer if he'd been around for it. You did what to the Chaos Emeralds, Sonic????

Basically, I think while freedom vs. tyranny is definitely Sonic's brand, you can have a lot more fun and shore up the thematic strength by also factoring in "responsibility" as a secondary theme and this strengthens or illuminates many characters and their arcs.

[boxofbadaddiction]

Build Me Up, Buttercup

George Weasley x Reader

Song Inspired

Warnings: Zilch. Pure Fluff.

Life at the Burrow can get pretty hectic. With so many people running in and out all of the time things can quickly get out of hand. So, fortunately for Mrs Weasley she had so many ready and willing children to lend a hand when necessary.

Okay, maybe 'ready and willing' is a stretch. It's more of a 'whether you like it or not' arrangement if we're being honest. But regardless it gets the jobs done.

Today being no exception, so while Molly and Arthur left for town to run some errands preparing for the new school year, there were a list of chores for her 'happy' helpers; Fred, George, Y/n, Ron, Harry and Ginny, to get done.

Ron and Harry were set the challenge of De-Gnoming the garden, Ginny had a chicken coop to clean, Fred - to his great pleasure - were on laundry duty (though last George saw there weren't much folding going on. More his brother were sprawled out dramatically over a pile of towels groaning loudly), Y/n meanwhile was on kitchen duty and so that left George the very taxing chore of cleaning the attic. Molly were sure to give he and Fred separate jobs knowing full well, left to their own devices, no work would get done - if anything she'd come home to a bigger mess.

George hated the attic, it were so cluttered and stuffy. Not to mention the Ghoul were no help with all the racket he liked to make banging one piece of junk against the other. Thankfully, however, he were nearly finished.

Placing the final box atop the others he'd organised George dusted his hands before resting them on his hips with a tired sigh.

He let his eyes roam the space - damn they had some junk. Although there were a notable improvement thanks to his efforts. All that remained was to dust the, many, cobwebs and sweep the floors.

Looking around the room he noticed the broom and dustpan were nowhere in sight - that's when he remembered y/n had been using them to clean the living room earlier. As he was sure she'd be finished using them by now, he turned to descend the staircase, ducking briefly to avoid an old pan the Ghoul threw in protest of the houses usual quietness, George made his way towards the sitting room.

Passing Fred, whom were not much better off than when he'd started - still groaning, but now upright and reluctantly folding, this brought an amused smile to his twins face until something piqued his curiosity. There were Muggle music coming from the bottom floor.

Y/n, being a half-blood, had introduced the Weasleys to some records from her home on her previous visit and must have put one on to listen to whilst she cleaned.

As he drew nearer the music grew louder and more recognisable. Her record of The Foundations was playing - a favourite of hers George had learned.

As he reached the bottom flight of stairs his eyes scanned the room - y/n had done an excellent job - unfortunately though the object he required were nowhere to be found. Turning to step off the landing George reddied to ask y/n if she were done using it, assuming she'd carried on her good work to the dining room, but he found himself halted by the sight before him.

Y/n were by the sink scrubbing this mornings dishes. But that's not what stopped him in his tracks. She were dancing and singing along to the record as she did so - quite passionately.

George leant against the nearby cabinet as he admired her while she 'performed', so obliviously happy wrapped up in her own little world. He watched the way her hips swayed in time with the beat, the slight bounce in her step as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. How her hair was flowing wildly with each silly head-bang and nod along. He could see the way her face lit up in joy by the faint reflection in the window. His favourite thing by far though was the way she used the scrubbing brush as a microphone as she sang along.

His smile grew as the next song began to play, which he knew she were very fond of, and her enthusiasm seemed to increase ten fold.

Her arms flailed about of their own accord as she danced, singing excitedly, "Why do you build me up, Buttercup, baby, just to let me down?"

It were moments like these George found himself falling for her harder - everytime. When she finally let her walls down and would let herself be truly happy and unashamedly expressive of her real - crazy - self. A side he wished she'd show more.

His relationship with y/n were complicated in a way. They've known each other for years. Grown up in the same small town and had been sorted into the same house at Hogwarts; so naturally she'd always been close with the Weasleys, especially the Twins, and over the years it became blatantly obvious to everyone, even y/n and George, that they'd developed feelings for each other.

They'd just never managed to act on them.

There'd been plenty of moments. Nights spent up late talking by the fire of the common room. Plenty of long walks by the Black Lake. Plenty of midnight snack runs to the kitchens and Butterbeers drank in Hogsmead. Plenty of moments, just never the right one.

A slight chuckle rolled from the back of Georges throat as he watched on and y/ns movements became more energetic and her voice began to carry more over the music

"...worst of all, you never call, baby. When you say you will. But I still-" y/n had spun in place only to be met with the realisation she were no longer alone and that her little concert had an on-looker.

George stood smugly, with arms folded as his tongue slowly came to wet his lips and a wide toothy smile graced his features.

Y/n was frozen like a deer in headlights. Her make shift microphone still held high. Her eyes left his as she drew a heavy breath but simply shrugged and carried on with her karaoke, only now it weren't a show for the dishes - she instead began to serenade George.

She smoothly tossed the scourer from one hand into the other, her dominant one now pointed dramatically at George as she sung,

"I need you! More than anyone, Darling." George raised his eyebrows in mock surprise as if to say 'oh, really?'

"You know I have from the start" her arm that'd been pointing at the redhead was then swiftly cast high into the air, her head falling back with it singing loudly "so, build me up!" George couldn't help the laugh that erupt from his chest at her theatrics watching as she put her hand over her heart, looking back to him with doey-love eyes, a slight shake to her head finishing the chorus' "don't break my heart" in a loving tone.

As the song continued y/n kept on with her awkward dance moves, beckoning for him to join her. He'd genuinely tried to resist - but he could never say no to her.

His hands found hers twisting in time with the music and twirling her just to hear the laugh it brought from her.

Y/n hadn't expected him to join her much less start singing himself but he did and she couldn't be happier.

"Baby, baby, try to find a little time and I'll make you happy" both were laughing loudly as their moves slowly became more comical. George was swaying her about the room, pushing her away in a twirl before pulling her back into his chest (all those lessons for the Yule ball really paying off right now) as he continued to sing y/n jokingly raised the brush for him to sing into as she had, which he did with as much energy and flare as he does anything.

"But I could be the boy you adore, if you'd just let me know...BA-DAH-DAH!" he yelled the last part particularly loud which nearly had y/n falling to her knees in laughter, but George had caught her.

Y/n snatched the 'microphone' back from him as the chorus came back round and sang sweetly to him once again;

"But I love you still. I need you, more than anyone, Darling. You know that I have since the start. So build me up, Buttercup. Baby, don't break my heart."

George didn't know what came over him. Maybe it were because of how unbelievably adorable she looked in this moment. The way hearing her say 'I love you' got his heart racing, beating harder than a drum. Or simply the build up of years of pointless pining for one another, when they both clearly wanted this - all that wasted time in which they could have been together. Whatever the reason; he knew there'd never be a more right moment than this.

Suddenly his hand was finding her waist and pulling her body tight against his while the other came to her cheek. His thumb delicately traced her bottom lip as his fingers slowly moved to caress and rest lovingly by the nape of her neck.

"I'd never" he'd whispered the words so tenderly, with eyes which seemed to hold more love than could be considered possible. Her body all but melted under his touch, eyes dancing frantically back and forth between his trying to anticipate his next move. But it was her word he was waiting for, he wasn't taking this any further unless he was sure she wanted it, and she did. Her gaze flicked briefly to his lips encouragingly.

Georges hand slowly glided across her soft skin, tracing the line of her jaw till reaching her chin, tilting her head up ever-so-slightly as they leaned towards one another. Their eyes fluttered close, lips only just meeting in a feather-light touch that had y/n inhaling shakily at the tingles which had erupted through her spine. Their lips were just about to connect-

A flash of green and loud crash from the fireplace sent them jumping from their skins. Lungs coughing copious amounts of soot which indicated the return of Mr and Mrs Weasley.

"My, the place looks marvellous" Molly beamed, admiring the dining and living areas. "Afternoon, Kids! Keeping busy then I hope?" Arthur greeted smilingly. "Yeah" George answered, "we're just finishing up the dishes." He grinned down to y/n who was determinately focusing on the two adults in attempt to control her nervousness. "Excellent, well don't let us mind you - we'll be out of your hair in a tick" his father spoke as both parents ascended the staircase fussing over the school supplies they'd purchased.

The teens turned their attention to the long since forgotten dishes in the sink. They worked in comfortable silence, y/n scrubbing as George dried. His eye was constantly being pulled to the girl beside him as he noticed how she were trying - and failing - to hide a smile. Playfully he bumped her hip with his own, which finally turned her attention to him once again. She was waiting for him to speak but he never did. Merely smirking down at her with a glance to her lips, a look that completely broke the girls composed facade as she focused back to the task at hand, biting her lip to suppress a giddy smile.

George did the same, but there were no hiding his own wide smile, not even if he wanted to.