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Best Countries for Offshore Company Formation in 2023

Offshore company registration refers to the process of establishing a legal entity in a country or jurisdiction other than the one in which the company operates or is headquartered.
These offshore jurisdictions are typically known for their low tax rates, relaxed regulations, and high levels of confidentiality and privacy. Offshore company registration has gained popularity among businesses for a variety of reasons, including tax optimization, asset protection, and increased privacy. In the second part of this blog, we will explore the best countries for offshore company formation in 2023.
Anguilla
When it comes to establishing an Best Offshore Company formation service, Anguilla has emerged as a highly desirable destination. This beautiful Caribbean island offers a range of benefits and advantages that make it an attractive option for individuals and businesses seeking to register an offshore company
Registering an offshore company in Anguilla can provide entrepreneurs with significant advantages, including tax benefits, asset protection, and privacy. Let’s delve into the numerous advantages of choosing Anguilla as the jurisdiction for your offshore company.
Best Country To Set Up An Offshore Company Register :
How to Register an Offshore Company in Anguilla?
Step 1: Choose a company nameThe first step in registering an offshore company in Anguilla is to choose a unique company name that is not already registered in the jurisdiction. The name should not be similar to any existing Anguillan company and should comply with the relevant regulations. It's advisable to conduct a name search to ensure availability.
Step 2: Engage a Registered AgentTo register an offshore company in Anguilla, it is mandatory to engage a registered agent licensed by the Anguillan Financial Services Commission (FSC). A registered agent will assist you in navigating the registration process, ensuring compliance with local regulations, and acting as a liaison between your company and the authorities. Step 3: Determine the Company StructureAnguilla offers various company structures for offshore businesses, including companies limited by shares (Ltd.), companies limited by guarantee (Guarantee Ltd.), and limited duration companies (LLC). Choose the most suitable structure based on your specific needs, considering factors like liability protection, ownership, and operational flexibility.
Step 4: Prepare the Required DocumentationTo register an offshore company in Anguilla, you will need to gather and prepare the necessary documentation. This typically includes:
Articles of Incorporation:This document outlines the company's regulations and internal workings. Memorandum of Association:It provides details about the company's purpose, structure, and activities. Consent of Directors and Officers:The consent of all directors and officers should be obtained and documented. Declaration of Compliance:This document certifies that the company meets all legal requirements. Step 5: Submit the Application to the Registrar of CompaniesOnce you have prepared the required documentation, you will need to submit the application to the Registrar of Companies in Anguilla. Your registered agent will assist you in submitting the application along with the necessary fees. Step 6: Pay the Required FeesAs part of the registration process, you will need to pay the requisite fees to the Anguillan authorities. The fees will vary based on the type of company and the services provided by your registered agent. Step 7: Obtain a Certificate of IncorporationUpon successful completion of the registration process and payment of the fees, you will receive a Certificate of Incorporation from the Registrar of Companies. This document serves as legal proof of the existence of your offshore company in Anguilla. Step 8: Fulfill Ongoing Compliance RequirementsAfter the registration process is complete, you must fulfill the ongoing compliance requirements for your Anguillan offshore company. This may include annual filings, maintaining proper accounting records, and adhering to any other obligations outlined by the Anguillan authorities.
In Conclusion, registering an Offshore company registration can provide entrepreneurs with significant advantages, including tax benefits, asset protection, and privacy. By following the step-by-step guide outlined above, you can successfully navigate the process of registering an offshore company in Anguilla. Remember to consult with a registered agent or legal professional to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. With the right guidance, you can establish a thriving offshore company in Anguilla and reap the benefits it offers.
Benefits of Registering an Offshore Company in Anguilla
Privacy and ConfidentialityAnguilla is renowned for its strong commitment to privacy and confidentiality. The jurisdiction has strict laws in place to protect the privacy of individuals and businesses. When you register an Offshore Company in Anguilla, you can enjoy enhanced privacy protection, ensuring that your personal and financial information remains secure and confidential. Tax AdvantagesOne of the primary reasons individuals and businesses opt to register an offshore company is to enjoy tax advantages. Anguilla offers a favorable tax environment for offshore entities. There are no income taxes, capital gains taxes, inheritance taxes, or wealth taxes imposed on offshore companies registered in Anguilla. This allows you to retain a larger portion of your profits and optimize your tax planning strategies. Easy Company FormationAnguilla boasts a streamlined and efficient company formation process. Setting up an offshore company in Anguilla is relatively straightforward and requires minimal bureaucracy. The jurisdiction offers user-friendly procedures and a supportive regulatory framework, making it hassle-free for individuals and businesses to establish their offshore entities. Asset Protection:Asset protection is a crucial consideration for many individuals and businesses. Registering an offshore company in Anguilla provides a layer of protection for your assets. The jurisdiction's legislation is designed to safeguard your assets from potential legal threats, creditors, and lawsuits. By establishing an offshore company in Anguilla, you can mitigate risks and shield your assets effectively. Flexibility and Operational Ease:Anguilla offers significant flexibility and operational ease for offshore companies. There are no requirements for minimum capitalization, and you have the freedom to structure your company according to your specific needs. Additionally, there is no mandatory requirement for annual general meetings or the disclosure of beneficial owners, further enhancing the operational ease and convenience of running an offshore entity in Anguilla. Proximity to North America and Europe:Anguilla's strategic location in the Caribbean region provides easy access to both North American and European markets. This proximity makes it an ideal choice for businesses looking to expand globally and establish a presence in these lucrative markets. The well-developed infrastructure and connectivity of the island further facilitate trade and communication with international partners. Professional Support and Services:Anguilla has a well-established network of professional service providers, including lawyers, accountants, and company formation agents, who specialize in assisting with the registration and ongoing management of offshore companies. These experienced professionals can provide expert guidance, ensuring compliance with local regulations and maximizing the benefits of your offshore company.
Panama
Panama is renowned for being a favorable jurisdiction for offshore company formation due to its strategic location, robust economy, and attractive tax regulations. Setting up an offshore company in Panama can offer numerous benefits, such as tax optimization, asset protection, and enhanced privacy.
Panama has gained a reputation as one of the most attractive jurisdictions in the world. Known for its business-friendly environment, and strategic location, Panama offers numerous benefits for individuals and businesses seeking to establish an offshore company. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of registering an offshore company in Panama.
How to Register an Offshore Company in Panama?
Step 1: Choose a company nameThe first step in registering an offshore company in Panama is selecting a unique company name that is not already registered. The chosen name should not be similar to any existing Panamanian company and must comply with the regulations set by the Public Registry of Panama. Step 2: Engage a Registered AgentTo register an offshore company in Panama, it is mandatory to engage the services of a registered agent. A registered agent will facilitate the registration process, assist with the necessary documentation, and act as a liaison between your company and the Panamanian authorities. Step 3: Determine the Company StructurePanama offers several company structures for offshore businesses, including Private Interest Foundations (PIFs) and International Business Corporations (IBCs). Consider the advantages and characteristics of each structure to determine the most suitable option based on your business objectives and needs. Step 4: Prepare the Required DocumentationTo register an offshore company in Panama, you will need to gather and prepare the necessary documentation. The typical documentation includes: Articles of Incorporation: This document outlines the company's purpose, share capital, and internal regulations. Certificate of Good Standing: If incorporating a company that already exists, you may need to provide a certificate of good standing from the jurisdiction where the company is currently registered Passport Copies and Proof of Address: Provide passport copies and proof of address for all directors, officers, and shareholders. Notarized Power of Attorney: This document authorizes your registered agent to act on your behalf during the registration process. Step 5: Submit the Application to the Public Registry of PanamaOnce you have prepared the necessary documentation, your registered agent will submit the application to the Public Registry of Panama. The application includes the company's Articles of Incorporation, along with the required fees and supporting documents. Step 6: Pay the Required FeesAs part of the registration process, you will need to pay the applicable fees to the Public Registry of Panama. The fees vary depending on the type of company and the services provided by your registered agent. Step 7: Obtain the Certificate of IncorporationUpon successful completion of the registration process and payment of the fees, you will receive a Certificate of Incorporation from the Public Registry of Panama. This certificate serves as legal proof of your offshore company's existence in Panama. Step 8: Fulfill Ongoing Compliance RequirementsAfter registering your offshore company in Panama, it is crucial to comply with ongoing obligations and requirements. This includes maintaining proper accounting records, filing annual tax returns, and adhering to any other obligations outlined by the Panamanian authorities.
In Conclusion, registering an offshore company in Panama can provide entrepreneurs with significant advantages, including tax benefits, asset protection, and enhanced privacy. By following the step-by-step guide outlined above and working with a reputable registered agent, you can successfully navigate the process of registering an offshore company in Panama.
It is essential to consult with legal and tax professionals to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. With the right guidance, you can establish a successful offshore company in Panama and capitalize on the benefits it offers.
Benefits of Registering an Offshore Company in Panama
Favorable Tax EnvironmentOne of the key advantages of registering an offshore company in Panama is the favorable tax environment it offers. Panama operates on a territorial tax system, which means that offshore companies are only taxed on income derived from Panamanian sources. Income generated outside of Panama is exempt from local taxation, providing significant tax planning opportunities and potential tax savings for businesses. Asset ProtectionPanama offers robust asset protection laws that make it an ideal jurisdiction for individuals seeking to safeguard their assets. By registering an offshore company in Panama, you can separate your personal assets from those of your company, reducing the risk of personal liability. The country's legal framework provides strong asset protection, making it more challenging for creditors or litigants to seize assets held within your offshore company. Privacy and ConfidentialityPanama has strict laws and regulations in place to protect the privacy and confidentiality of individuals and businesses. The country's corporate laws ensure that the identities of beneficial owners, directors, and shareholders remain confidential and are not part of the public record. This level of privacy protection is highly sought after and provides individuals and businesses with peace of mind. Simplified Company Formation ProcessSetting up an offshore company in Panama is relatively simple and straightforward. The process involves minimal bureaucracy and paperwork compared to other jurisdictions. The government has streamlined the company formation procedures, allowing for quick and efficient registration. This enables entrepreneurs and businesses to establish their offshore entities with ease and start operating swiftly. Political and Economic StabilityPanama has long been regarded as a politically and economically stable country. It boasts a robust economy, a well-developed banking system, and a favorable business climate. The country's stable political environment ensures a secure and predictable investment climate, attracting businesses and entrepreneurs from around the world. Strategic Geographical LocationSituated at the crossroads of the Americas, Panama enjoys a strategic geographical location. It serves as a vital international trade and logistics hub, connecting North and South America. This strategic position provides businesses with easy access to markets in both continents, making Panama an ideal base for expanding into the Americas. International Banking and Financial ServicesPanama is home to a thriving banking and financial sector. The country has a well-established reputation as an international financial center, offering a wide range of banking services, including asset management, private banking, and offshore banking. Access to reputable and internationally recognized financial institutions can enhance the credibility and operational capabilities of your offshore company.
British Virgin Islands
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) has long been recognized as one of the premier offshore jurisdictions for company registration. Known for its favorable tax laws, robust legal framework, and business-friendly environment. The BVI offers numerous benefits for individuals and businesses seeking to establish an offshore company.
In this guide, we will delve into the advantages of choosing the British Virgin Islands as the jurisdiction for your offshore company.
How to Register an Offshore Company in the British Virgin Islands?
Step 1: Engage a Registered AgentTo register an offshore company in the BVI, it is mandatory to engage the services of a registered agent. A registered agent will guide you through the registration process, assist with the required documentation, and act as a liaison between your company and the BVI Financial Services Commission. Step 2: Choose a Company NameThe next step is to select a unique company name that is not already in use. The chosen name should comply with the regulations set by the BVI Registrar of Corporate Affairs and should not be misleading or similar to existing companies in the jurisdiction. Step 3: Determine the Company StructureThe BVI offers various company structures for offshore businesses, with the most common being the BVI Business Company (BVIBC). Consider the company structure that best suits your business objectives, taking into account factors such as liability protection, ownership flexibility, and ease of administration. Step 4: Prepare the Required DocumentationTo register an offshore company in the BVI, you will need to gather and prepare the necessary documentation, including: Memorandum and Articles of Association: These documents outline the company's purpose, activities, and internal regulations. Consent Forms: Obtain consent forms from all directors, officers, and shareholders, confirming their agreement to act in their respective roles. Registered Office Address: Provide a registered office address in the BVI where the company's official correspondence will be sent. Identity Documents: Submit certified copies of passports or other identity documents for all directors, officers, and shareholders. Step 5: Submit the Application to the BVI Financial Services CommissionOnce the required documentation is prepared, your registered agent will submit the application to the BVI Financial Services Commission. The application should include the necessary forms, fees, and supporting documents. Step 6: Pay the Required FeesAs part of the registration process, you will need to pay the applicable fees to the BVI Financial Services Commission. The fees vary depending on the type of company and the services provided by your registered agent. Step 7: Obtain the Certificate of IncorporationUpon successful completion of the registration process and payment of the fees, you will receive a Certificate of Incorporation from the BVI Financial Services Commission. This certificate serves as legal proof of your offshore company's existence in the British Virgin Islands. Step 8: Fulfill Ongoing Compliance RequirementsAfter registering your offshore company in the BVI, it is important to fulfill the ongoing compliance requirements. This includes maintaining proper accounting records, filing annual returns, and adhering to any other obligations outlined by the BVI authorities.
In Conclusion, registering an offshore company in the British Virgin Islands can offer significant advantages for entrepreneurs, including tax benefits, asset protection, and confidentiality. By following the step-by-step guide outlined above and working with a reputable registered agent, you can successfully navigate the process of registering an offshore company in the BVI.
It is essential to seek advice from legal and tax professionals to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. With the right guidance, you can establish a successful offshore company in the British Virgin Islands and enjoy the benefits it offers.
Benefits of Registering an Offshore Company in the British Virgin Islands
Tax AdvantagesOne of the key benefits of registering an offshore company in the BVI is the favorable tax environment. The jurisdiction does not impose taxes on offshore companies' profits, capital gains, dividends, or inheritance. This means that your offshore company can benefit from significant tax savings and optimization of your global tax planning strategies. Privacy and ConfidentialityThe British Virgin Islands places a strong emphasis on privacy and confidentiality. The jurisdiction has strict laws and regulations in place to protect the identities of company directors, shareholders, and beneficial owners. Registering an offshore company in the BVI allows you to maintain confidentiality, as these details are not available to the public. Asset ProtectionThe BVI offers robust asset protection laws, making it an attractive destination for individuals seeking to safeguard their assets. By establishing an offshore company in the BVI, you can separate your personal assets from those held within the company. This separation reduces the risk of personal liability and provides a layer of protection against potential lawsuits or creditors. Simple and Efficient Company FormationSetting up an offshore company in the BVI is a relatively straightforward process. The jurisdiction has a well-established company formation framework, with streamlined procedures and minimal bureaucracy. This allows for quick and efficient registration, enabling you to establish your offshore entity promptly and start conducting business. Flexibility and Operational EaseThe BVI provides considerable flexibility and operational ease for offshore companies. There are no requirements for minimum capitalization, and you have the freedom to structure your company according to your specific needs. Additionally, the BVI allows for the appointment of corporate directors and offers simplified reporting requirements, making it convenient to run your offshore company. International Recognition and CredibilityThe British Virgin Islands has gained international recognition as a reputable offshore jurisdiction. The jurisdiction's legal system is based on English common law, providing familiarity and credibility to international investors and business partners. This recognition enhances your offshore company's reputation and instills confidence in your stakeholders. Professional Service ProvidersThe BVI has a well-developed network of professional service providers, including lawyers, accountants, and corporate service providers, who specialize in assisting with the registration and ongoing management of offshore companies. These experienced professionals can provide expert guidance, ensuring compliance with local regulations and optimizing the benefits of your offshore company.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Piptan offshore company registration can offer significant benefits to businesses seeking to optimize their tax liabilities, protect their assets, and increase their privacy. However, this process also carries several risks and challenges that businesses must carefully consider before pursuing offshore registration. Regulatory compliance, reputation risks, legal and financial risks, tax risks, and operational risks are among the most significant challenges associated with Best Offshore Company formation service. Businesses must ensure that they comply with all relevant laws and regulations, carefully manage their reputation, mitigate legal and financial risks, carefully evaluate tax implications, and effectively manage their offshore operations to successfully navigate these challenges. Despite these challenges, many businesses have successfully established offshore companies and taken advantage of the benefits associated with this process. However, businesses must carefully evaluate the potential benefits and challenges of offshore company registration and seek professional advice to ensure that they make informed decisions. Overall, Offshore Company Registration online can be a complex and challenging process, but with careful planning and execution, businesses can successfully navigate these challenges and reap the benefits of offshore company registration.
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Napoleonville [Chapter 9: Clarence House]

Series Summary: The year is 1988. The town is Napoleonville, Louisiana. You are a small business owner in need of some stress relief. Aemond is a stranger with a taste for domination. But as his secrets are revealed, this casual arrangement becomes something more volatile than either of you could have ever imagined.
Chapter Warnings: Language, sexual content (18+ readers only), dom/sub dynamics, smoking, drinking, drugs, Adventures with Aegon (ft. Sunfyre the Ferret), Willis Warning, infidelity, kids, parenthood, and no more hints for you, start reading!!!
Word Count: 8.9k.
Link to chapter list (and all my writing): HERE.
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Only 1 chapter left!!! 🥰🧁
He returns in an afternoon of inescapable golden sunlight, hot and muggy, bumble bees and ladybugs wheeling lazily above tall grass, cumulus clouds like tufts of cotton in a sky the color of Aemond’s eye. You hear him talking to Cadi—she’s out in the front yard making mud pies, earth for sugar and sprinkles of stray pelican feathers—and then the weight of his footsteps on the sinking, sloping porch. He opens the door, never locked, and walks through the living room into the kitchen. From behind, his arms circle around your waist; and you’ve missed him so much—dreaming of waves and storms, chains and blood—that you have nothing for him but softness, gentle smiles and a voice hushed with relief.
“How was Norway?” you ask as you roll out dough on the counter. You’re making a buttermilk pie.
“Fine,” Aemond says, resting his chin on your shoulder. But he sounds tired, low.
You turn around to look at him, raising your fingertips to his unscarred right cheek; he won’t tolerate you touching the left. You leave a dusting of flour across his skin like snow, which you have never seen in person and likely never will. The air conditioner is humming. The little pink Panasonic boombox is playing Africa by Toto. “Did something happen?”
“I just missed you.” Then he brightens. “But I was greeted by some very welcome news when I got back to the house this morning.” He’s wearing his neon teal duffle bag. He drops it to the floor and unzips it; inside you glimpse several Nintendo game cartridges, presumably for Cadi. And you think: I’m always here making things, he’s always bringing them from far away. Aemond takes two small dark blue booklets out of a pocket in the inner lining of the duffle bag and gives them to you. On the front of each is embossed in gold lettering, along with an emblem of a bald eagle: Passport, United States of America.
“…Aemond?!”
“There’s one for you and one for Cadi. I submitted the forms a month ago, but even with expedited processing it took this long. Ridiculous. What does the government do all day besides hunt down social programs to defund?”
“But…but…” You open one of the booklets. A photograph of your own face gazes back at you, serious and serene, taken against the white wall of your bedroom before you knew about Aemond being a Targaryen, or Christabel, or Amir’s exodus to San Franscisco, or the profound futility of everything, it seems. “How…?”
“I took the pictures, obviously. The rest was easy enough to find. You store birth certificates and social security cards the same place where you keep the business records that Amir showed me. Typically people have to go to a passport agency in person, but Criston and I have ways around that. Your signature might have been forged on the applications…but I suspect you won’t be filing any police reports.” Aemond grins, pleased with himself. “I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“It’s definitely surprising.” You stare down at the passports, amazed. “Aemond…this is a lot. But you already know that.”
“The whole time I was gone, I was wishing you could be there too. And now I can take you anywhere.”
Your heart is pounding, helpless childlike exhilaration. “Where are we going?”
“Clarence House in London.”
London: it’s another world, a distant planet, a constellation whose name you don’t know, the lost city of Atlantis.“Clarence House? Is that a hotel?”
“It’s a royal residence,” Aemond says, amused. “It’s officially the home of the Queen Mother, but the whole family goes to Balmoral in Scotland every summer, and while they’re gone they often rent out one wing to guests, not just anyone, trusted people like distant cousins or longtime, aristocratic friends. And the Targaryens…”
“You’re marrying Christabel, and she’s nobility. So you’re basically nobility now too.”
“Yes,” Aemond admits, a little guiltily, perhaps. “But you’re the person I’m inviting.”
“And Cadi.”
Now he’s genuinely puzzled. “Of course. We couldn’t leave her behind.”
Maybe I can handle this. Maybe I can make this work.
And you climb onto your tiptoes to circle your arms around the back of his neck, embracing him, thanking him, thinking: Christabel will have his ring, his last name, his family’s mansion, his acquiescent kiss at the altar of the Chapel of Saint Honoratus of Amiens…but I have what he’s made of, dreams, soul, bones in the abyss of an ocean of blood. Maybe that’s enough.
Maybe.
~~~~~~~~~~
First class, cheerful stewardesses, an array of magazines purchased from a gift shop in New Orleans International Airport: the National Enquirer and Food & Wine for you, The Face and Smithsonian for Aemond, and National Geographic Kids and Zoobooks for Cadi. The Zoobooks animal this month is the eagle, how quintessentially American. You are served antipasto Italiano, shrimp cocktail, Perrier, and champagne (Cadi gets a Shirley Temple) over the Atlantic Ocean. Aemond shows you and Cadi how to chew gum to pop your ears as the pressure builds to pain. When there is turbulence and he leans in close to tell you everything is fine, Aemond smells like Wrigley’s Doublemint, cologne, Marlboro cigarettes like the logo on his red and white jacket. You press your palm to the cool window, and clouds float by through the gaps between your fingers. The world is older than anything you could fathom; the world is brand new.
There is a black limousine waiting outside Terminal 3 of Heathrow Airport. The driver gets out to load the sparse luggage: Aemond’s teal duffle bag, a frayed and battered rolling suitcase that you borrowed from your mother, a Super Mario Bros. backpack that you found for Cadi at Kmart. Aemond doesn’t have much time to spare, only 4 days, practically a long weekend; but it feels like an eternity stretches out in front of you as the limousine zooms through the narrow, winding streets of downtown London, Starship’s We Built This City piping from the radio. You have never had more than a few uninterrupted hours with Aemond before. Now you will have a hundred.
The London air is cool, grey, misty; fresh rainwater bleeds into puddles, dark pools of mirrorlike reflections. With the windows rolled down and clean slate-colored air unfurling in your lungs, Aemond points to the landmarks you pass: Gunnersbury Park, Chiswick House and its gardens, cathedrals, museums, shopping districts, centuries-old cemeteries, stations of the London Underground, the River Thames, Hyde Park, the Ritz Hotel, Buckingham Palace, Saint James’ Palace, and at last Clarence House. It is a boxy white four-story townhouse with columns at the entranceway that remind you of the Targaryens’ estate on the shore of Lake Verret, the beautiful yet temporary home they call The Last Desire.
Aemond says that the entire first floor will be yours for the duration of your stay. There is the Lancaster Room, red and gold, and the Morning Room of creams and weak watery blue. There is the Library, the Dining Room, and the vibrantly pink Horse Corridor named for its ample equine paintings and sculptures; Cadi immediately proclaims this to be the best part of the house. She lingers in the hallway examining the art pieces as you and Aemond proceed to the Garden Room, which looks out upon a sea of lavender and shrubs meticulously shaped into a maze no higher than your waist. It has a golden harp and a grand piano, and a vast bed large enough for at least five people, in your estimation. I wonder if Aemond has ever tried that, you think distractedly. I wonder if there are temptations I can’t satisfy for him.
“You and Cadi can have this room,” Aemond says. He keeps wincing and bringing his hand up to the left side of his face; you doubt he’s even aware of it. “I’ll sleep on one of the couches.” Of course he will; Cadi thinks you’re just friends, and she’s aware he’s getting married to someone else. He knew exactly what it would mean when he bought a passport for her. “Queen Elizabeth and her husband Philip lived here before she ascended to the throne. They loved it so much that at first they refused to move to Buckingham Palace, which is the traditional residence of the reigning monarch. But their insolence was worn down. No one gets to break the rules.”
I shouldn’t be in this place, you keep thinking as you gaze around at the portraits on the wall, the stiff unnatural photographs of royals, the vases, the chandeliers, the fireplaces, the plush intricate rugs, the garden on the other side of the windows. People like me don’t belong here. “Aemond, are you alright?”
“It’s my eye,” he confesses with an uneasy, apologetic smirk. “Sometimes flights…the altitude changes…it aggravates the nerve damage. It’s like needles in my skull. But I’ll be okay.”
“You fly a lot for work, don’t you?” You hurt yourself for Viserys, in body and soul.
“I do,” he agrees. He unzips his duffle bag and produces a bottle of Percocet. “Why do you think I carry these around?”
“Take one,” you say. “Lie down, rest. Cadi and I can entertain ourselves for a few hours.”
He’s relieved, he’s grateful. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. You can even borrow the bed.”
“Back between your sheets, huh?” Aemond says, in pain but smiling through it. He draws a semicircle from the part in your hair down to your chin, a weightless sweep of his fingertips like a kind breeze. “You are incurable. You can’t resist me.”
“I have my own scheme in mind.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.” You grab the front of his Marlboro jacket, appropriate for the overcast London weather. He belongs here, this house, this city, this way of life. He wasn’t made for the primordial heat of the swamplands. You fold into him, close enough to tease, to quicken his heartbeat and momentarily clear the wounded furrows from his brow. “I want my pillows to smell like you. I want to breathe you in all night. It’s how I sleep best.”
“I’ll try not to disappoint,” Aemond says, a little stunned; but he’s elated too. For a moment, you’ve distracted him from his suffering entirely. “I’ll roll around all over them. I will mar the bedding irrevocably, the Queen Mother will never invite me back.” And he watches as you leave, his gaze transfixed and meditative and—more than anything else—hopeful.
“Hey, honey,” you say when you find Cadi in the Horse Corridor, poking a 100-year-old oil painting that she is definitely not supposed to be touching. “Let’s go explore and grab some dinner. Aemond isn’t feeling great, but we’ll hang out with him later.”
“Is it his face?”
You are startled. She knows so much. “Yeah, actually, it is.”
“He showed me,” Cadi says casually, still peering up at the horse; and you remember the day when he took her out to the front yard after she said she wished you were more like her friends’ mothers. “He even let me touch it. Radical, right? It’s so gross, but super cool too.”
Aemond couldn’t stand for me to see how he was maimed, but he forced himself to endure it for Cadi. “What did he tell you?”
“That I should appreciate having a good mom, because not all parents treat their kids right. He said his dad let his eye get crushed. And he told me he’d bet $1 million that you’d snap someone’s neck if they hurt me like that.”
You reach out to skim your fingers through her dark disheveled hair, smiling faintly, fondly. Cadi doesn’t seem to mind. “He wasn’t wrong.”
“Can we get fish and chips?”
“Totally. I have 50 British pounds in my wallet, I assume that’s enough for dinner.”
“Wow! How much is 50 pounds in dollars?”
“I have no idea,” you say. “Let’s go spend them.”
~~~~~~~~~~
In the evenings, you, Cadi, and Aemond gather around the television in the Lancaster Room and help yourself to the extensive VHS collection stocked for guests. You let Cadi pick: Raiders Of The Lost Ark, The Terminator, Firestarter, the Karate Kid, Aliens. You make popcorn in the extravagant kitchen in the basement of Clarence House and the three of you devour bowlfuls of it as you giggle on the couch, engulfed with throw pillows and playfully kicking at each other beneath the blankets. One night at Cadi’s request you bake Betty Crocker’s Party Rainbow Chip cupcakes with mix purchased at a Tesco down the street; on another you make hot chocolate to sip from antique tea cups. Each day, Aemond has new destinations picked out to tour. You ride the Underground like true Londoners to the Hampton Court Palace, the British Museum, Westminster Abbey, the Natural History Museum, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge, the National Gallery, the Kew Gardens, Imperial College where Aemond received the petroleum engineering degree he never wanted.
As he shows you the classrooms where he attended lectures and seminars—you aren’t sure what the difference is, though you can sense that there is one—Aemond doesn’t talk about math or oil drilling. Instead, he tells you and Cadi about the people he learned about in the history classes he managed to slip into his exacting schedule like splinters into flesh: Sir Harold Gillies who pioneered plastic surgery in his treatment of World War I veterans, Phillis Wheatley who was enslaved as a child and became a renowned poet and abolitionist, Boudicca who led a rebellion against the Roman invaders and upon her defeat succumbed to some tragic, enigmatic doom. Aemond loves stories like this, you can see the light that sparks into the crystalline blue of his right eye. There is nothing he deems more heroic than people who took circumstances beyond their control and made something worthwhile out of them.
The night before the flight back to New Orleans, you’re staring at the crown molding of the Garden Room as Cadi snores softly from the other end of the massive bed and silvery moonlight covers the world. You can’t stop your thoughts from roiling like the North Sea; you can’t stop thinking about desks and chairs and books and clever blue-blooded girls jotting down in their notebooks not cake orders but mathematical equations or dates of conquest. When you breathe in the smoke and cologne Aemond left on your pillows, it tastes dark and forbidden. You climb out of the bed, roomy Bob Dylan t-shirt, pink cotton shorts, hair loose and wild, bare feet.
He is outside pacing around the sundial in the center of the garden, puffing on a Marlboro cigarette and pondering the full moon. “Can’t sleep?” Aemond asks, exhaling smoke as he glances over at you.
“You must think I’m stupid.”
“What?” He stops pacing. “Why?”
“Imperial College,” you say. “And the sorts of people who go to places like that. You must have known a lot of women who could recite Shakespear and name all the kings of England, all of Jupiter’s moons. Things I never learned. Things that I have no use for. I don’t write books or design machines or study the secrets of the universe. I bake cupcakes.”
“And they’re brilliant,” Aemond says, smiling. “I don’t think you’re stupid.”
“No?”
“No,” Aemond insists. “I think that if you’d been born where I was, you would have done far more with it.”
“Aemond…” You walk across the wet cobblestones to meet him by the sundial. It’s been raining again. The night air is chilly, foggy, painting you with goosebumps. “You still have time to become who you want to be.”
“No. I don’t.”
It’s coming from somewhere, distant but still audible, a parked car or a nearby building: Kyrie by Mr. Mister. Aemond chuckles, flicks the end of his cigarette into the lavender bushes—surely against the rules—and takes your hands in his.
“I remember this,” he says as he dances with you slowly, clumsily; you don’t know the steps. Still, you don’t want him to stop. “In your kitchen.”
He remembers everything. “Right before we went to Olive Garden for the first time.”
He sighs, pretending to be exasperated. “Of course that’s the part you committed to memory.”
“I’ve held onto a few other details too.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Like how small the back seat of your Audi Quattro is.”
“A limousine would be far more comfortable. I should invest in one.”
You laugh as he twirls you and you trip over your own feet; he pulls you upright before you can fall to the slick cobblestones. And you think: This is real. No matter what happens between him and anyone else, what we have is safe and extraordinary and real.
“I’m glad you’re here, Cupcake,” Aemond murmurs through your hair, holding you without seeking more. “You and Cadi.”
You want him again, or you’re so close to wanting him that the line is less of a boundary than a quagmire, indistinct edges and quicksand that can drag you down to drown in it. “I never knew that this was possible. Thank you, Aemond.”
“It can be like this all the time.”
Not all the time, you think, knowing that there will always be Jade Dragon, the Targaryens, the stock market, the world, the past and the future, Christabel. But some of it.
Is that enough?
~~~~~~~~~~
Willis agreed to you and Aemond taking Cadi out of the country on one condition: that you return her to him the second you arrive back in Napoleonville. It’s late Tuesday afternoon when the plane’s wheels hit the runway and squeal to a halt. Aemond has left his red Audi in the Park-and-Ride lot. You collect the car and soar west on Route 10 into the red-gold horizon, chasing the setting sun.
“Daddy!” Cadi bellows when she throws open the front door of the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office, waving his gift bag excitedly. Inside is a refrigerator magnet, several packages of McVitie’s Digestives in different flavors, and a miniature red-coated Queen’s Guard to keep on his desk, perpetually covered with disorganized papers and crumbs from innumerable desserts. From her poster on the wall, Heather Locklear simpers at you. At the center of the dartboard, poor Tommy Lee is impaled in four different places.
“Comment ca va, cherie?!” Willis opens his arms to hug Cadi when she barrels into him. He guffaws, his eyes are shiny; he has missed her. “Ya had a real good time, I reckon?”
“It was totally tubular. But I’m glad I’m home now. Can I get a horse? His name is Patches and I love him.”
“Huh? What the hell ya need a horse for?” He peeks around Cadi to look at you, a curious blue gaze beneath the thick dark bangs of his mullet. “What’s she talkin’ ‘bout, sugar?”
Beside you, Aemond groans irritably. Then you hear a voice from one of the holding cells, almost always empty: “Hey, cake lady.”
“Aegon?!” you and Aemond say at once, and sure enough, when you check the last holding cell there he is: unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt, blue shorts, rainbow flip flops, hair like he’s been in a hurricane, a new eyebrow piercing.
Aemond asks Willis: “What did he do?”
Willis picks up a clipboard from his cluttered desk and begins reading. “Possession with intent to distribute cocaine—”
“I told you, I wasn’t distributing anything! It was for me!”
“Aegon, shut up,” Aemond pleads.
“Possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of methamphetamine less than 28 grams, operatin’ a vehicle while intoxicated, possession of MDMA, possession of alcoholic beverages in a motor vehicle, operatin’ a vehicle with a suspended license, resistin’ an officer…” Willis flips the page. “Speedin’, reckless drivin’, disturbin’ the peace while in an intoxicated condition, possession with intent to distribute Xanax, theft—”
“What the hell did you steal?!” Aemond demands.
“Burritos. I forgot my wallet at home.” Now Aegon is indignant. “But I saidI’d get them back! They didn’t need to call anybody about it!”
“Aegon, Taco Bell does not offer payment plans!”
“I can release him to ya, I guess,” Willis tells Aemond in a slow drawl.
“I really appreciate that. I’m so sorry about him, I’m absolutely mortified, I’ll pay whatever fines you want—”
“Wait, no,” Aegon says, panicked. His hands are gripped around the iron bars. “I don’t want to leave.”
Aemond stares at him. “You’re asking to stay in jail…?”
“I can’t go home. Stephanie’s there.”
“Of course she’s there. You knew she was flying in for the wedding.”
“Please let me stay here until she goes back to Monaco.”
“Definitely not. How’s everything else?”
“There’s something wrong with one of the Lake Verret rigs. Viserys mentioned a…a…I don’t remember, a dirt dump or something.”
“A mud pump?!”
“Yeah! That’s it. That’s what he said. It exploded.”
“Fuck,” Aemond hisses, then remembers that Cadi’s still there. She gives him a sly grin. You messed up, she means. Aemond looks to you, apologetic, disappointed. “I’m going to have to drop you off and then head straight home. There are messes to be mopped up.”
“No,” Aegon moans as Willis unlocks the holding cell and then wrestles him out of it when Aegon resists. “No, I’m a felon! I’m a danger to the public!”
“Don’t,” Aemond snaps, and this time his brother listens.
You say goodbye to Cadi—she barely notices—but as you go to follow Aemond and Aegon out of the Sheriff’s Office, she has a question. “Aemond?”
He stops. “Yeah, Cadi?”
“Can I go to the wedding?”
“Weddin’?!” Willis exclaims. “Already?!”
“Not mine,” you say.
“You really want to go?” Aemond asks Cadi with some reticence. But he seems to be considering it.
“Well, yeah. Mom said she and Amir are going. You’ll be there. Lots of cake will be there. And I’ve never been to a wedding before. I want to see what it’s like.”
Aemond turns to you, then to Willis, searching for permission. “It’s alright with me,” Willis says. “As long as someone there is keepin’ an eye on her.”
“It’s your choice,” you tell Cadi. “If you’re interested, I have no objections. But you have to be nice to Christabel.”
“Christabel?!” Willis says.
“That’s Aemond’s fiancée.” And there is a collective uncomfortable silence: Willis nodding slowly as he squints at you, Cadi chewing on her thumbnail, Aemond looking down at his Adidas sneakers, Aegon staring vacuously at the Heather Locklear poster on the wall.
With Aegon squeezed into the back seat, Aemond drops you off at the home Cadi calls the Fall-Down House. The new house hasn’t closed yet, but probably will in the next week. The adolescent gator is sunbathing in the last of the daylight in one corner of the yard; you can hear the pink Panasonic boombox inside playing Another One Bites The Dust.
“Ho, you’re back!” Amir cries, jubilant. He hugs you energetically, staining you with the flour on his hands; he’s been watching the bakery while you’ve been gone and keeping every cent of the profits in recognition of his labor, as agreed upon. “How was London?”
You give him his souvenir: a purple t-shirt with Princess Diana’s face on it. “Rainy. Wonderful.”
“Did you have any kinky sex in the royal grandma’s bed?”
“No,” you say, laughing. “But it was…I don’t know how to describe it. Calm. Normal. Easy. Like we could live that way forever.”
“So you’ve decided to be his Camilla.”
“Some moments I have. Other times I haven’t. But more and more, I just…” You try to decide what you mean. “The thought of giving him up feels impossible. And Christabel…they’re so distant with each other, so disconnected, so platonic. Their relationship doesn’t feel real. Maybe I can ignore it. Maybe this is the best I can hope for.”
Amir pushes his tortoiseshell glasses up the bridge of his nose and raises an eyebrow. “It might feel more real in three days.”
The rehearsal dinner is on Friday; the wedding is only 24 hours later.
~~~~~~~~~~
“You really should consider writing a cookbook, dear,” Alicent says from where she sits across from you. The dining room table is covered with flickering pink candles, bouquets of wildflowers, drinks garnished with cotton candy and Pop Rocks. Balloons bump against the ceilings, their long ribbons streaming down like the tentacles of a jellyfish. The stereo is thumping out Caught Up In You by 38 Special. Everything is pink and red: the colors of love. Yet just like at the engagement party, no one is talking about the couple getting married tomorrow. You could almost forget that there’s going to be a wedding. That makes it easier; and if denial is the terrain you live on now, so be it. That is far less agonizing than the alternative.
“Oh, no,” you demur, taking a sip of a cotton candy cocktail. You exchange a glance with Aemond, sitting several seats down from his mother. He is in a suit—black and white, fitted, faultless—and smiling, proud of you. “A book?! I couldn’t. Not in a million years.” I never even finished high school English.
“But all of my friends from home are captivated by your recipes, darling, and it would be so much easier if I could simply send them a copy of a cookbook rather than trying to describe every dish to them! Please consider it. Do you promise?”
“That I’ll think about it? Not too taxing a commitment. I suppose so.”
“Good,” Alicent chirps, then turns to whisper something to Criston, who drapes an arm briefly across her shoulders and gives her a reassuring little embrace. Amir is chatting with Aemond about San Franscisco. Christabel is talking to Helaena, who has been forced into a voluminous, magenta taffeta dress that she clearly despises; her chameleon Dreamfyre lurches around the table, occasionally stealing tastes of people’s food. Daeron, with Tessarion perched on the back of his chair, is trying to discuss something called seismic testing results with Viserys but getting ignored. Viserys is deep in conversation with Christabel’s father, the marquess, a large loud man whose booming voice drowns out everyone else. The two of them seem delighted, celebratory, very much in their own world. Their schemes have come at last to fruition. Christabel has several younger sisters in attendance—her bridesmaids—but no mother. You gather from pieces of dialogue you’ve overheard that her mother died when she was a child, a terrible and irreparable loss. Otto is so bored he’s flipping through a picture book about Kiribati. Aegon’s wife, Princess Stephanie of Monaco, is a headstrong, charismatic, and rather critical woman with short dark hair. She notifies Aegon each and every time he fails her, which happens frequently: You’re using the wrong fork. You missed a button on your shirt. You haven’t fucked me properly in over two years. You didn’t send flowers to my grandma’s funeral. This is evidently Aegon’s worst nightmare; he has disappeared upstairs in an effort to escape her.
Dinner is finished, and dessert has been brought by the servants. It turned out more like a crepe cake than a Napoleon cake—the layers of puff pastry didn’t want to fluff up as much as they should have—but no one seems to notice. This time, you and Amir knew the dress code expectations. You are both wearing black to fade into the backdrop like shadows, like distant memories. You are invited guests, but you are also locals, inferiors, recipients of charity.
“Where’s Aegon?” Helaena says. “He has to try this cake, it’s delicious! The cherry jam cuts the heaviness of the cream and pastry dough and makes it a perfect dessert for summer! And the color is delightful! It looks just like blood!”
“Where the hell is he?” Viserys demands, looking around, twisting in his chair. “It’s his brother’s rehearsal dinner, for Christ’s sake. One night of this importance and he can’t handle it? I swear to God, if he’s snorting or smoking anything up there I’ll have him committed to an institution—”
“I’ll find him,” you offer as you stand from the table. You have to visit the bathroom anyway, too many glitzy pink cocktails; two birds, one stone. You depart from the table and Aemond’s gaze follows you, a low heat that is building towards incineration, a baiting promise of dark euphoria that you can no longer pretend you don’t want desperately, defenselessly. Christabel gives you a sweet little wave. She is dripping in gold—dress, heels, jewelry—and seems happier tonight, more self-assured. Perhaps with the wedding so close, her trepidation concerning Aemond’s commitment has evaporated. Surely it is too late to call off the ceremony now. Tonight they feast, tomorrow they recite their vows, and then…
But no, you don’t think about the honeymoon. You will not allow yourself to. It can’t exist to you, and that is how you’ll survive this. Christabel will be in one universe, you in another, two timelines that never cross like something out of Star Trek. And the way she and Aemond interact is so impersonal, so untactile, that it is not so difficult to treat anything beyond chaste pecks on cheeks as an impossibility.
At the top of the staircase, Vhagar is lurking. She wags her long twiglike tail when she sees you and licks the knuckles of your left hand. You give her a pat on the head—and then several more when she whines as you try to leave—then at last she lopes off down the hallway.
Aegon is exactly where you’d assumed he’d be. He’s in his bedroom hunched over his computer and hammering furiously at the keyboard. There’s white powder on his fingers and in his thin mustache. On the screen, bizarrely, is what appears to be neon green grass and an ox-drawn wagon like the ones from the pioneer days. Sunfyre the ferret is stretched out across the bed napping, his angular face resting on his paws.
Aegon whirls around to face you. He is wearing a lime green satin suit but has forgotten to put on a shirt under it. “What? What? What do you want? I’m playing Oregon Trail. I have dysentery.”
“You have what…? Never mind, it’s not important. You need to come downstairs and eat some dessert. People are wondering where you are.”
“I’m busy.”
“If you don’t make an appearance on your own, Viserys will come looking for you. Also there are some Cap’n Crunch treats I left on the kitchen counter that you might be interested in.”
“Consider me tempted. I’ll be down momentarily.”
“You better be,” you tell Aegon, then retrace your steps back to the kitchen. Amir and Christabel are both there getting cans of Pepsi from the fridge and making very cumbersome small talk…or perhaps only Amir thinks it is that much of a burden. Christabel is chattering blithely away about different types of wildflowers. He gives you a look like Oh thank God, an excuse to escape and wastes no time heading back to the dining room.
“Did you notice what’s playing now?” he asks you just before he vanishes, then points towards the stereo in the grand foyer. You listen; it’s Money For Nothing by Dire Straits. “You think they know this song is about class warfare?”
“You should tell them,” you joke.
“Yeah, if I want to end up on Unsolved Mysteries.” Then Amir is gone.
“How are you doing?” you ask Christabel to be polite. You open the refrigerator and start hunting for your own can of Pepsi. “Excited? Nervous? You seem a little more relaxed than the last time I saw you. Are the wedding jitters finally dissipating?”
“They are,” she says, and when you glance back at her she is wearing a bashful sort of smile. It’s not an expression you can read. You resume digging through the refrigerator for a can of Pepsi; Amir and Christabel might have taken the last ones.
“That’s good,” you say noncommittally, hoping she’ll leave. But Christabel doesn’t leave. She seems to have something she needs to say. Just as you spy a lone can of Pepsi at the very back of the refrigerator and lean in to grab it, she proceeds to unburden herself.
“Well, you know, I was so concerned about me and Aemond before. I had no conviction that he especially liked me, and we never had anything to talk about, and he was so dreadfully undemonstrative…I was just beside myself, truly. I didn’t know what to do. But I feel much better about everything now. Norway was so good for us.”
Norway?
You close the refrigerator, your ice-cold Pepsi can clutched in your hand. You’re going cold all over. Slowly, you turn towards Christabel, glittering in her gold dress.
Norway???
“He took you on the North Sea trip.” You hear the words, but it doesn’t feel like you’ve said them. They sound flat and dazed.
“It’s a bit of a secret,” Christabel says; and again, her smile has no cruelty or sharp awareness in it, but her cheeks are pink. She’s blushing. What does she have to be embarrassed about? “My father doesn’t know. He wouldn’t approve. But I just felt…I felt ready, you know? I’m sure you understand what I mean. You aren’t so clinical and aloof about everything. I had to know if Aemond and I really had something between us before we got married.”
“You felt…ready?” Ready for what? Ready for WHAT, Christabel?
“I asked Aemond to take me with him. I begged, actually.” She giggles. “I won’t try to be proud about it! And finally he said yes. We stayed at a lovely hotel in Bergen, and during the day he would have to fly by helicopter out to the rigs, but at night…”
You’re staring blankly at her. You can’t believe what you think she’s going to say. Surely it must be something else, anything else—
“It wasn’t my plan to ever be intimate with a man before marriage, but sometimes…things change. Minds change, circumstances change. And I knew I wanted it. And it went so well! Now what do I have to be nervous about? All the uncertainties are resolved. Now we just sign the paperwork and start our lives together.”
He took her to Norway.
He slept with her in Norway.
“I hope it was just as good for him,” Christabel muses, a compulsive sort of oversharing. But she has had a few cocktails and she thinks you’re nonjudgemental and there’s probably not a single other soul she feels she can be truthful with…so why not the girl who got knocked up at prom and had a baby at seventeen? Surely she’s in no position to judge. “It’ll be even better once we can…you know. When we’re officially trying for a baby and there’s no need to worry about any precautions. I want Aemond to enjoy himself as much as possible. I want to be a good wife to him.”
You feel dizzy; you feel violently ill. And now you see everything: Aemond kissing her with his mouth open and ravenous, his hands between her legs, his hips pressed to hers, peeling off her clothes and learning how to make her moan, make her wet, make her come, and you think of how careful he must have been with her, a girl with no past, no ex-husband, no childbirth that nearly killed her, no stretchmarks and no baggage, just a smooth pristine rivulet of flesh that was so pure and uncontaminated it was weightless, and you can hear—though you don’t want to, though it feels like it will kill you—how tender he was, how encouraging, not a dominant who drinks down fantasies like a vampire sustained by blood but just a man, and a man who has at last found a woman he doesn’t need to grab, bite, bruise, handcuff to a bedpost to feel satisfied with.
He took her to Norway and he never told me.
You are saying something, and Christabel is nodding appreciatively, accepting the sage wisdom of a tarnished life. Your words don’t matter. They are folktales and charms, the croaks of bullfrogs, the whispers of the wind through Spanish moss, the Morse code of ripples in the water of the bayou. You are a novelty and your counsel is a souvenir; one day when she is living in California or Argentina or Australia or Alaska or her ancestral castle back in the U.K., Christabel will tell Aemond’s children: Once I met a nice single mom from Napoleonville Louisiana, and she told me to follow my heart and not let anyone shame me for wanting to be close with my soon-to-be husband.
Vhagar trots into the kitchen and begins nudging her massive head against Christabel’s bare knees. “Hi, big girl!” Christabel coos as she pets the blue merle Great Dane, clearly accustomed to this. “Who’s a giant gorgeous girl? You are!”
What did I expect? I knew they were getting married. I knew they were going to sleep together.
Yes, you knew it, but you hadn’t felt it, and now you have.
I can’t do this, you realize. I thought I could but I can’t.
“Christabel?” Alicent is calling like a windchime. “Darling, there are just a few more things we have to discuss before tomorrow, will you come back to the table please?”
“On my way!” Christabel replies obediently, and she gives you a quick, impulsive hug before vanishing.
I’m going to be sick. I’m going to have a heart attack. I’m going to drop dead right in the middle of this fucking kitchen.
Leaving your can of Pepsi forgotten on the countertop, you escape to the living room and then out the French doors into the garden. You run past the pool all the way to the pond full of multicolored fish you once hadn’t known were koi. You drop to your knees, then lie down on the cold cobblestones, and when it hits you again—Aemond touching her, Aemond loving her—you rupture into sobs that are breathless and shuddering. You try to stifle the noise with your palms; you clasp them over your mouth and smother your wails. It feels like you’re being ripped apart; it feels like you’re in labor, but there is no end, no consolation of a new life, no point at which your body chooses whether you live or die. It is only a razored wheel that turns in you again and again and again, shredding muscle and splitting bones.
There is a hand on your shoulder; someone is patting it awkwardly. You look up to see Aegon standing there. “Sorry,” he says. “You look…not good.”
“I’m really not good. I’m fucking terrible.” Your face is soaked and stinging with tears, your voice is strangled.
“Do you want some coke?”
“No, Aegon.”
“Do you want a ride home?”
“From you? Yeah, for sure, getting impaled by a stop sign would be a great next move for me.”
“I’m totally fine to drive.”
“Can you just pull Amir aside without anyone else noticing and tell him to say his goodbyes and then meet me in the driveway, please? He drove me here. I need him to take me home.”
“Okay,” Aegon says, and then: “Thanks for the Cap’n Crunch Treats. Thanks for remembering something I like and caring enough to bring more. No one really does that around here.” And he’s gone before you can think of a reply.
To get to the driveway without going though the house, you climb over a 5-foot wrought iron fence swarmed with rosebushes and ivy, no easy feat in a black Kmart dress and matching ballet flats. You acquire a dozen shallow gashes on your hands and forearms, but make it to the Ford Escort just in time for Amir to meet you under the full, cloudless moon, tossing his car keys from one hand to the other.
“What did—?” Then he sees your face. He gasps, knowing how bad it is. He’s never seen you like this. He didn’t know it was possible for you to look like this. He unlocks the Ford Escort and joins you inside, turning the key in the ignition. “What the fuck did Aemond do to you?!”
“I have to go home. It’s over, it’s over, I can’t do this.”
Amir is spinning out of the driveway. “Did he hurt you, did he—?!”
“He fucked Christabel in Norway,” you say, sobbing uncontrollably. “And I know I have no right to be jealous, I know we don’t have a conventional relationship, I thought I could handle this but I can’t. I can’t stop picturing him with her, and hearing it, and I…I…I don’t understand why this hurts so goddamn bad.”
“Babe,” Amir says gently, a palm on your trembling thigh. “You’re in love with him. That’s why.”
“This is killing me,” you whisper. You’re shaking all over. You feel like you’re battling for every breath.
Your best friend—your only friend—is quiet for a long time. “Don’t go tomorrow,” Amir finally says. “You don’t need to see the wedding. You shouldn’t put yourself through that. I’ll go, I can handle the cake alone, especially if Cadi’s with me to help with carrying plates and stuff.”
You don’t say anything. You stare out the nightscape window and mop tears from your face with McDonald’s napkins you find in Amir’s glovebox.
“Did you hear me? I don’t think you should go to the wedding tomorrow.”
“I won’t,” you agree hoarsely. “I can’t watch them have my wedding.”
“Willis is dropping Cadi off in the morning, right? I’ll pick her and the cake up from your house and bring her back when it’s over. You can tell her whatever you want…you have another cake order to work on, you’re sick, you’re injured, your mom needs a ride to the doctor, whatever.”
“Okay,” you whimper.
“Hey, look at me.”
You do, sniffling, shivering, in agony.
“You don’t deserve this. You deserve better than this.”
I don’t think I do. I think if I did, it would have happened by now. But you know Amir will not accept this answer. “Okay,” you say again, trying to make yourself believe it.
In the gravel driveway of your sinking house, Amir asks if you want him to say. You tell him no, you want to be alone, you have to think, you have to plan. Really, you just don’t want anyone to see you this shattered. It’s humiliating, it’s like you’re an animal, like something less than human needing to licks its wounds in a dark place. You walk into the Fall-Down House and flip on the kitchen light, artificial yellow luminance. You don’t start the air conditioner. You don’t touch the Panasonic boombox. You stand there mindlessly in the sounds of the bayou: cicada screams, owl hoots, the far-away hissing of gators. The wedding cake is in the refrigerator, banana bread, cream cheese frosting, a kaleidoscope of wildflowers painted by Amir’s expert hand. He’s leaving. Aemond’s leaving. Everyone is leaving.
There are tires crunching on gravel in the driveway, there are footsteps on the sloping porch. He is able to yank the door open because you never lock it. He blows in like a storm that kills.
“What the hell happened?!” Aemond shouts. “Why did you leave?! You didn’t even have the decency to say goodbye to me—”
“You took her to Norway.”
Aemond’s face goes from furious to lost. “Why would she tell you that?”
Not That’s not true, not Let me explain, not It didn’t mean anything. Your stomach sinks, a basket full of stones. “Because she thinks I’m her friend.”
“It wasn’t…” Aemond sighs. “It was a last-minute thing, and it was her idea. She really, really wanted to go to Norway, and I figured…you know…what’s the difference between the wedding night and a few weeks before it? So yeah, it happened—”
“Oh God,” you whisper, starting to sob again.
“And then I came home to your house, to your doorstep, because I missed you the entire time. The entire time, every hour, every minute, and there are no exceptions, okay, are you listening to me? I took her to Norway because I had to. I took you and Cadi to Clarence House because I wanted to. What I do with her is a reflex, an obligation, I’m on autopilot, I’m thinking of you to get myself hard, I don’t know how else to express to you how completely different these situation are in every single goddamn way.”
“She said it was good,” you say huskily, tears snaking down your cheeks that are raw from trying to dab them dry.
“Of course it was good for her!” Aemond flings back. “I’ve had a lot of casual sex, I know how to make women come, it’s a math equation, it doesn’t mean we’re soulmates!”
“I know I have no claim to you, but I…” You gaze out the kitchen window, dark and still, nothing to see but stars and lighting bugs. “I can’t do this.”
Aemond asks, kindly now: “What do you want?”
I want to not have to beg you to choose me. “I want this to be over.”
“No,” he says, panicking. “No you don’t.”
“I do.”
“You’re going to give this up as soon as it gets painful? I’m not worth fighting for, what I can do for you and Cadi isn’t worth a little pain? Because I’m no stranger to it either. You think I’m not hurting, you think nothing ever keeps me awake at night?”
“You could leave your prison any time you want to. But instead you built a brand new one around me.”
“You don’t understand what the kind of responsibility I’m beholden to feels like.”
“Yeah, a town named after Napoleon is the right place for you,” you seethe, enraged. “You’ve felt so fucking small your whole life that now you’re starving for what it tastes like to be in control. But I can’t let you destroy me. I can’t let my daughter grow up watching me settle for less than I need from a man. She’ll learn to live the same way.”
“I can’t believe you’re doing this.”
“Aemond,” you say, and you wait until he looks at you. “Do you really want children?”
When he answers, his voice frayed and his right eye misty. “I love Cadi.”
“That’s not what I asked. Do you want children of your own with Christabel?”
“I have to,” he says, miserable.
“No,” you plead. “You cannot have a baby with that girl. You can’t, Aemond. You are going to ruin so many lives, not just your own.”
“I have to,” he says again.
“Then get out. Viserys owns you, and Viserys wouldn’t want you here. He would want you back at the mansion impregnating your child bride.”
“She’s a legal adult, she’s 19, and she wants me, she begs for me, I’m not twisting her arm—”
“Then go!” you roar, striking him hard, both palms to his chest. Aemond doesn’t budge. “Get out, go home, go have kids you won’t give a fuck about just like Viserys never cared about you. Go repeat the cycle all over again. I’m done. I can’t be a part of it.”
“I won’t be like him,” Aemond swears.
“You will be. You already are.” You shove him again, but still, Aemond doesn’t move. You know what he’s waiting for, you know the right word to say. But you can’t get it to launch from your lips; it catches in your throat like a blade through the windpipe. “Get out!”
Your fingers hook into the lapels of his black suit jacket and stay there; you can’t let go. You’re both breathing heavily; you can hear it, you can feel the heat in the air. You keep his jacket gripped in your hands, he can move no closer, no farther away. When he leans into you, you breathe in his smoke and cologne; when his hands cradle your face, you feel the benevolent power that once gave you peace.
I want him. I need him. Not forever, no, I understand that’s not possible. But just for right now.
You look up at him and Aemond kisses you, his lips and tongue claiming you like untouched land; he puts down roots, he slits the jugulars of trespassers.
Here. Now.
You drag him down with you. When you drop to the floor, you strike the back of your skull against the scuffed, sloping wood and bite back a yelp.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Aemond says, though it isn’t his fault; he reaches for your head and cushions it with his right hand. “Are you okay?”
“I’m okay.” You’re tearing open his white shirt; tiny translucent buttons go flying in every direction. Your palms glide over his chest, up to his throat, to his jaw, to knot in his hair. He reaches beneath your dress to slide off your panties, then buries his fingers between your legs. You moan helplessly, needfully, spreading your thighs wider for him. No man has ever been able to do this to you before: to make you forget everything, to make you feel—if only for a moment—beloved, worthy, chosen. He’s kissing you like he knows this is the last time. You’re touching the left side of his face and he doesn’t even notice, he won’t realize until later that there was a time when he was cured.
Aemond pulls his wallet out of the pocket of his suit pants, flips it open, and roots through it until he finds a condom. He starts to rip it open, moving with desperate speed, dire impatience.
“No, don’t,” you say. “Please don’t. I want all of you.” And I won’t get another chance.
He exhales in deep, ecstatic relief; he wants it too. You’re soaked, you’re ready, you’re aching for him like mending bones. He eases himself into you, gasping, and you are stunned by how good it feels already, how close you are, every rope of nerves and muscle glimmering with an opening heat that builds higher and higher, the reverse of a tornado finally touching down on earth. His hands are linked with yours and pinned to the floor above your head; he’s kissing you, he’s moaning into you, he thrusts deeper and harder when you beg him to do it.
Aemond untangles one hand from yours and reaches low to stroke you. Your fingers find his again and catch him, capture him, bring his hand back to the floor where it can be entwined with yours and his weight can hold it to the scraped wood. “I don’t need it, I’m close. Stay here. Stay with me.”
“I’m here,” he whispers, panting; and the friction of his body against yours overtakes you, and when you come it is blinding, bone-breaking, a whirlpool that traps you for what feels like over a minute, soaring highs punctuated by the illusion of fading over and over again until you think you can’t stand it, and only then does it end, Aemond collapsing on the floor beside you covered in your sweat and your wetness, you feeling the remnants of him bleeding down your bare thighs.
You drag yourself upright—muscles sore in your belly and back and thighs—and roll onto your knees so you can stagger to your feet. You tug on your panties so he doesn’t drip out of you onto the floor. Then you straighten the skirt of your black dress, turn on the little pink Panasonic boombox—it’s a U2 song, Where The Streets Have No Name—and begin washing a muffin tin that was left in the sink.
Aemond stands up and runs a hand through his hair, getting his bearings. He looks down at his pants and fixes his zipper and belt. He tries to close his shirt and then remembers you tore off the buttons. They lie scattered across the floor, useless.
As you scrub the muffin tin, you hear Aemond’s footsteps behind you. His palms begin at the small of your back and then skate around your waist to encircle you.
“Stop,” you tell him; and immediately his hands fall away. Aemond waits for you to say more, but you don’t. You don’t even look at him.
He walks to where the kitchen becomes the living room—you can tell by the creaks in the floor—and again, he waits. After a while he says: “I’ll call you when the new house is ready.”
“No. Have Criston handle it. I don’t ever want to talk to you again.”
“You get that I’m in love with you, right?” Aemond forces out, and when at last you turn to him there is the metallic glistening of tears on his right cheek. “I never feel this way about anyone. I don’t know how to handle it, I didn’t even know it was possible. But it’s true.”
“It’s not enough,” you say simply, and resume scrubbing the muffin tin.
He waits in silence, thirty seconds, a minute, two minutes. Then the door opens and shuts—like the jaws of a beast—and he’s gone.
#aemond targaryen x reader#aemond targaryen#aemond x you#aemond one eye#aemond x reader#aemond#aemond fanfiction#hotd aemond
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Floyd, Kalim: The Way of Water
I was wondering how the artwork would frame the sitting boys, but I guess having Floyd floating there on his butt is fine fjeviwgxkwjwhfoen I don’t know what the alternative would be…
It's nice to learn more about the land boot camp the Octatrio went to; Floyd's vignettes indicate that merpeople need passports and that they went to a zoo as part of the program.
A Tale as Old as Time.
Museums could be such snore fests sometimes. Sure, the place had an entire section dedicated to merpeople history, but it was nothing compared to what the Atlantica Memorial Museum boasted under the sea: the Mermaid Princess's silver comb, a replica of the Sea Witch's cauldron, bones of a sea dragon, a statue of the Sea King...
Here? All they had were some crummy paintings.
Floyd tilted his head back, taking in merman arriving in a dolphin-drawn chariot. He was an older man that sported bushy brows and a grand white beard that flowed in the water, his physique muscular and imposing. There was a regal presence about him, perhaps in how upright he stood, or in the glisten of the crown upon his head or the gauntlets cuffing his wrists. With his trident in hand, it was clear who he was.
The ruler of all the oceans. The waves obeyed his every whim, the sea and all its spoils bowing to his power. He, the Sea King.
Meh, what’s so great about him? So stiff and uptight. It’s be so much better workin’ for the Sea Witch.
Floyd's eyes flickered to the boy next to him, who seemed far more interested in the painting than he was. A steady grin crept onto his face, and he leaned in close.
Floyd pounced, hooking a long arm around Kalim's shoulder and yanking him over. The eel peered down at him, a single golden orb colliding with a pair of garnets. Leering, Floyd jerked his head at the depiction of the Sea King.
"Ne, ne, Otter-chan. What'cha think of this one?"
Any sane person might have been paralyzed with fear encountering Floyd in a dimly lit room, but not Kalim. No, Kalim was not sane at all.
The dorm leader greeted his peer with a smile so wide it could fill the horizon. "Floyd!! I'm so excited I get to see more of your history."
He blinked. "You actually like studying this kinda thing? Are you even any good at it?"
"Nope, not really!!" Kalim confessed (perhaps a little too easily). "I was looking at this painting and going, 'His beard's so impressive!' It reminds me of the one my dad has. I won't remember all the details later, but I'll always remember how cool the Sea King looks."
"It goes in one ear and out the other. Why bother then? Just dedicate your time and energy to stuff that actually interests ya."
"But it does interest me. It's fun learning about where your classmates come from! I heard humans and merpeople weren't always on good terms."
"Yeah. Back when the Sea King still ruled, there were tooons of rules forbidding merpeople from coming into contact with humans." Floyd held up a finger for each one he counted off. "No going to the surface world, no owning human stuff, no exploring shipwrecks... even no music at one point. You'd think Goldfishy wrote the lawbook."
Of course, even if those rules were in place, he would still totally disregard them. No one—not royalty, not his parents—could stop Floyd from venturing into the unknown.
"Whoa, the Sea King sounds like he was super strict and scary! I don't think I could live without music..." Kalim's face dropped. "He looks like such a nice person in the painting though."
Floyd rolled his eyes. "Cuz he lost his wife to a human ship. After that, he got all paranoid, thinking himans and merpeople are too different to coexist. He got especially protective over his daughters. The Sea King had seven of 'm and he breathed down all of their necks.”
"Ooooh!" Kalim didn't even bat an eye at the number (Floyd was sure it paled next to the number of siblings he had running around in his home.) "So the Sea King just wanted to protect his loved ones and make sure nothing sad like that ever happened again. He's a good guy after all!"
He now regarded Floyd with eager, sparkling eyes. "Wow, you know so much about this!! It's crazy thinking about how different things were in the past."
"Duh. It'd be boring if things stayed the same all the time." The eel smirked. He let go of Kalim and stepped back, giving a playful twirl, arms stretching out above him. "Ehehehe! Good thing the Mermaid Princess ended up opening doors for us to come onto land~"
Kalim beamed. "That's right!! She did! We wouldn’t be able to be friends without the Mermaid Princess’s help.”
The word gave Floyd pause, a rock tossed along his path as he brought his foot down upon it, snagging his step. Friend. He didn’t like spoken in that saccharine, trusting tone.
It was sticky and sweet, stuck in his teeth. Like cotton candy residue yet to be washed away by the waves, or sweat accumulated from summer heat. A gross feeling.
“You’re bein’ way too generous with your definitions again,” Floyd groaned, peeling away. “Cut it out, or I’ll get annoyed.”
Kalim (unwisely) laughed. Not at Floyd, but with him. “Oh, hey. When you think about it, we’re not really that different.”
“Mmm? What are you saying now, Otter-chan? Did all the sunbathing finally melt your brain?”
“In the Scalding Sands, waterways are really important. We use them for trade and travel. It’s the same for the Coral Sea. With all that water, it’s convenient for those sorts of things.” Kalim said matter-of-factly. “We’re using those same waterways now. We’re connected by water.”
“A good part of Twisted Wonderland is water,” Floyd pointed out. “You sayin’ everyone can be friends with everyone?”
Kalim nodded eagerly. “The Sea King was probably wrong. Humans and merpeople are actually very similar. I think the Mermaid Princess knew that too, and she wanted to help others recognize it.”
Floyd stared at Kalim, the moment long and hard. He wasn’t irritated anymore, only a little disappointed. Maybe mildly disgusted. “… Otter-chan, you’re so happy it hurts.”
“Thanks!”
“That wasn’t a compliment.” Floyd sighed. The energy and fight had been rapidly drained from in over the course of the short exchange, leaving him as wilted as a salted slug. “Aaaah, whatever. I’m tired of this already. I’m bailing.”
He turned on his heel and made for the exit and into the adjacent room. Already, Floyd could see a platinum frame of the Sorcerer of the Sand in the distance, bony fingers clasping a golden scarab.
“Wait up, I’m come with!” Kalim called after him. “I can teach you about my country’s history too!
That was how water was—always seeking to follow the flow. One body leading straight into another.
Floyd picked up his pace, arms pumping. (No running in the museum? Screw the rules.) Adrenaline deposited into his bloodstream, and he was hit with a rush.
Suddenly excited again, maybe a little interested in what a certain otter had to offer. A game, a chase, a thrill.
This is what he had come to the surface for.
Not rules or restrictions or a royal bossing him about. Not even friendship, as Kalim had suggested. Just fun, plain and simple.
It looked like he was going to get it.
Floyd grinned and shouted back, “Catch me if you can then!!”
And hurled right into the next room over.
Bless the Mermaid Princess.
#twisted wonderland#twst#Kalim Al-Asim#Floyd Leech#twst imagines#disney twisted wonderland#spoilers#something no one asked for#twst scenarios#twisted wonderland imagines#twisted wonderland scenarios#Floyd birthday takeover
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Russia-Ukraine Daily Briefing
🇷🇺 🇺🇦 Morning Briefing:
- Journalist Roshchyna's body missing organs after Russian captivity - Russia intensifies offensive in 4 regions (Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Sumy) - Ukraine orders evacuation from 7 vilages in the east - Notorious Russian hackers behind 2017 ‘Macron leaks,’ France says - Putin is said to demand Ukraine land despite US pressure - EU’s top court orders end to Malta’s ‘golden passport’ program - India replaces Russian MiGs with French Rafales - Russia's largest banks face sharp rise in loan defaults
📨 Daily newsletter: https://russia-ukraine-newsletter.beehiiv.com/
💬 Telegram: https://t.me/russiaukrainedaily Socials: https://linktr.ee/rvps2001
#russia ukraine war#ukraine russia war#ukraine war#russian army#russian war crimes#news#newsletter#russia#ukraine#europe#usa#trump
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Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has started rolling out digital infrastructure for a new golden visa immigration program, according to sources familiar with the matter, public records, and tests conducted by WIRED. The White House has yet to formally announce the initiative, but some US permanent residents and foreign visitors are already being asked if they have applied for a “Trump Card Visa.”
President Donald Trump first floated the idea of creating a $5 million golden visa in February, describing it as a way for wealthy individuals to buy residency in the United States and a pathway to becoming US citizens. How this would work is unclear: Federal law dictates how many permanent residency cards can be issued each year and who can get them, and experts say Congress would need to pass new legislation to raise the cap or change eligibility rules.
DOGE’s involvement in the visa project shows how quickly Musk and his team have expanded their purview. Trump’s initial executive order creating DOGE tasked the group with boosting government productivity by "modernizing federal technology and software.” Less than four months later, DOGE appears to be playing a central role in shaping the American immigration system.
Representatives from DOGE have spent the past several weeks coordinating on the golden visa program with officials from Customs and Border Protection (CBP), US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the State Department, and other agencies, according to sources with knowledge of the meetings. On Musk’s side, the project is being overseen by two high-profile DOGE associates, Marko Elez and Edward Coristine.
One focus area for Musk’s team has been figuring out how to plug current US government systems for verifying travelers and processing immigration applications into what may eventually become a stand-alone website designed specifically for the Trump Card Visa. In late March, DOGE registered the domain trumpcard.gov, according to public records published by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Tests conducted by WIRED show the website has subdomains corresponding to a number of federal agencies and systems, including CBP, the State Department, and the USCIS Electronic Immigration System, the main portal for processing visa paperwork. The subdomains indicate that trumpcard.gov has been connected to digital infrastructure across multiple parts of the federal government.
A reference to the Trump Card Visa has also been added in the live application form for Global Entry, a program run by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that allows preapproved US citizens, green card holders, and travelers from certain countries to enter the US through a fast lane, saving them time at the airport. People who apply for Global Entry with a foreign passport are currently given the option to select if they have “submitted an application for a Trump Card Visa,” tests by WIRED show.
WIRED confirmed that citizens of China, Russia, Ukraine, South Korea, and many other countries are eligible to select the Trump Card Visa option in their Global Entry applications. It appears that only Canadian nationals are excluded; they are directed instead to the existing NEXUS program for prescreened travelers from the US and Canada to speed through customs processing.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
The online application form for Global Entry includes a reference to the “Trump Card Visa.” Photograph: WIRED Staff
During a podcast appearance in March, Trump’s commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, claimed he had already sold 1,000 gold cards. He noted that Trump had estimated they could sell 1 million overall. The idea, Lutnick told the hosts of the All In show, was to allow people to purchase the right to live in the United States and pay taxes only on their income earned in the country.
One of the hosts, Chamath Palihapitiya, relayed a conversation he said he had with Musk about the project: “One of the most difficult parts of it, is, it turns out, all of the CPB infrastructure to do all these checks, it’s like a lot of COBOL mainframes and the amount of technology that has to get rewritten.”
The White House hasn’t clarified whether it believes current immigration law provides the president statutory authority for creating the Trump Card Visa. “It’s not clear what the legal basis is, unless they do something such as have Congress pass a bill through both houses and the president signs it, which is called legislation,” says Stuart Anderson, executive director of the National Foundation for American Policy, a nonpartisan think tank focused on trade and immigration issues.
The current system for issuing permanent residency cards, known as green cards, is governed by laws such as the Immigration Act of 1990, which outline in detail who is eligible to receive green cards and in what numbers. A key aspect of the regulation is that no more than 7 percent of green cards can be given annually to immigrants from any single country.Got a Tip?Are you a current or former government employee who wants to talk about what's happening? We'd like to hear from you. Using a nonwork phone or computer, contact the reporters securely on Signal at louise_matsakis.83 and zoeschiffer.87.
The per-country cap has led to a long backlog for immigrants from countries like India, some of whom have already been waiting for over a decade to receive a green card. The Trump administration hasn’t said whether it intends to permit Trump Card Visa holders to skip this line and receive permanent residency in the US on an accelerated timeline.
The US government has the capacity to dole out roughly 1.1 million permanent resident cards in the current fiscal year, which are divided into categories for family members, workers with advanced skills, and other groups based on precise rules.
Lutnick originally proposed Trump’s gold card as a replacement for one of these categories, known as the EB-5 investor visa, which is perhaps the closest thing the United States currently has to a golden visa.
Created by Congress in 1990, the program currently allows roughly 10,000 foreigners to obtain a green card each year by making a $1.05 million investment in the United States (or $800,000 in rural areas and regions plagued by high unemployment), supporting at least 10 full-time jobs.
When the program was initially crafted, experts say, lawmakers went to great lengths to ensure it wasn’t seen as a pathway for corrupt oligarchs to unfairly buy their way into the United States. Part of that effort was ensuring immigration authorities carefully assess each EB-5 application to verify the investment funds aren’t coming from illegal or unsavory sources.
"There’s a whole unit in USCIS filled with economists and national security experts” who review EB-5 applications, says Doug Rand, a former senior adviser at USCIS under the Biden administration. During his time in the government, Rand says, there was so much paperwork associated with EB-5 petitions that the towering stacks of files caused the floor inside USCIS headquarters to sag.
It’s not clear if this same level of scrutiny will be applied to the gold card program. When asked during the February briefing whether a Russian oligarch would be eligible, Trump said “yeah, possibly, hey I know some Russian oligarchs that are very nice people.”
Advocates for the existing EB-5 program say it has mostly been used by ordinary immigrants who saved for years to invest in American real estate developments and other enterprises, and expect to make their money back one day. In other words, it’s not a group of people who can typically afford to pay $5 million for a gold card and never see those funds again.
“Most people who are trying to take advantage of the EB-5 program as a pathway to a green card and citizenship do not have that type of money,” says Brad Sher, chief executive of EB5 Group, an investment firm that specializes in raising money for EB5 real estate projects. “They are mostly working-class people who work hard to save their money, and they're often using a majority of their savings to come up with the investment amounts to take advantage of EB-5.” (Sher adds that he is supportive of Trump’s Gold Card, though he hopes it can coexist alongside the EB-5 visa).
During the initial Oval Office briefing on February 25, Lutnick said the gold card initiative would be launching in about two weeks. During his podcast interview, which came out a month later on March 20, he also claimed the project was right around the corner. “About two weeks from today it goes out,” Lutnick said, slicing his hand through the air for emphasis. Whether it’s actually ready and, if so, when it will be announced, remain unknown.
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1. Structural Framework of the Privilege Visa System
1.1 Legislative Foundations
Established under Royal Thai Police Order No. 327/2557 (2014)
Administered by Thailand Privilege Card Company Limited (TPC), a subsidiary of the Tourism Authority of Thailand
Operates parallel to but distinct from the Elite Visa program
1.2 Program Evolution
2014 Launch: Initial 5-year membership structure
2019 Restructuring: Introduction of tiered benefits system
2023 Enhancements: Digital integration and expanded concierge services
2. Comprehensive Benefit Structure
2.1 Immigration Advantages
Dedicated Immigration Channel: 24/7 access at 8 international airports
Multiple Re-entry Permit: Embedded in visa validity
90-Day Reporting: Optional (can be handled by TPC staff)
2.2 Lifestyle Concierge Services
Real Estate Acquisition Support: Curated property portfolio access
Education Placement: Partnership with 17 international schools
Medical Coordination: Priority at 38 partner hospitals
2.3 Financial Infrastructure
Thai Bank Account: Expedited opening with minimum deposit waiver
Tax Advisory: Complimentary 10-hour annual consultation
Currency Exchange: Preferred rates at Siam Commercial Bank
3. Eligibility & Application Scrutiny
3.1 Vetting Criteria
Financial Health Check:
Liquid assets verification (minimum THB 3M equivalent)
Source of funds audit
Background Clearance:
Interpol database cross-check
Thai security agency review
3.2 Document Requirements
Primary Applicant:
10-year passport history
Certified financial statements
Health insurance (USD 100,000 coverage)
Dependents:
Legalized marriage/birth certificates
Academic records (for student dependents)
3.3 Approval Timeline
StageDurationKey ConsiderationsPreliminary Screening7-10 daysDocument completeness checkFinancial Verification15-20 daysBank confirmation processSecurity Clearance30-45 daysEnhanced for certain nationalitiesFinal Issuance5 daysCard production and delivery
4. Tax & Legal Implications
5.1 Residency Status
Non-Tax Resident: For members spending <180 days/year
Tax Resident: Automatic after 183 days with additional reporting
4.2 Asset Management
Property Ownership: Condo purchases permitted under foreign quota
Investment Vehicles: Access to SET through special foreign investor accounts
4.3 Inheritance Planning
Will Registration: Mandatory for property holdings
Succession Tax: 10% on Thai-situs assets exceeding THB 100M
5. Operational Realities & Limitations
5.1 Practical Constraints
Work Prohibition: No employment rights without separate work permit
Business Activities: Passive investment only
Political Activities: Complete restriction
5.2 Service Level Agreements
Response Times:
Emergency: 30 minutes
Standard: 4 business hours
Guarantees:
Airport processing within 15 minutes
Medical appointment scheduling within 24 hours
6. Comparative Analysis with Competing Programs
ParameterThailand GOLDMalaysia MM2HUAE Golden VisaMinimum StayNone90 days/year1 day every 6 monthsHealthcareTHB 500K annual creditMandatory insurancePremium coverageEducation15% tuition discountLocal school accessInternational optionsPath to PRNoAfter 10 yearsAfter 5 years
7. Strategic Utilization Framework
7.1 Optimal User Profiles
High-Net-Worth Retirees: Age 50+ with global income streams
Global Nomads: Location-independent entrepreneurs
Family Offices: Multi-generational wealth management
7.2 Financial Optimization
Currency Hedging: THB-denominated asset allocation
Tax Year Planning: Residency day counting system
Insurance Structuring: International policy portability
8. Emerging Program Developments
8.1 2024 Enhancements
Digital Nomad Add-on: Remote work endorsement (Q3 rollout)
Crypto Wealth Verification: BTC/ETH acceptance for qualification
Regional Hub Access: Expanded services in Chiang Mai and Phuket
8.2 Pending Regulatory Changes
Family Office Recognition: Special provisions under discussion
Art Import Privileges: Proposed duty-free allowances
Yacht Registration: Streamlined process for members
9. Critical Evaluation & Recommendations
9.1 Value Proposition Assessment
Strengths:
Unmatched concierge infrastructure
Banking and financial access
Healthcare coordination
Weaknesses:
No path to permanent residency
Rigid membership tiers
Limited business activity
9.2 Implementation Checklist
Pre-Application:
6-month financial trail preparation
Dependent document legalization
Active Membership:
Annual benefit utilization audit
Tax residency monitoring
Renewal Planning:
180-day advance evaluation
Tier upgrade analysis
Final Verdict:
The GOLD membership represents Thailand's most sophisticated non-immigrant residency solution for affluent individuals prioritizing lifestyle quality over economic activity rights. While not a pathway to citizenship, its operational advantages and service infrastructure remain unparalleled in Southeast Asia for those meeting the financial thresholds.
#thailand#immigration#thai#visa#visainthailand#thaivisa#thailandvisa#thailandprivilegevisa#privilegevisainthailand#thailandprivilegevisagoldmembership#thaipr#immigrationinthailand#thaiimmigration
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How to Get a Free Government Phone in 2025 – Step-by-Step Guide That Works
Life today runs through your phone: job searches, doctor appointments, school updates, and emergency calls. If you’re struggling to afford one, free government phones exist to keep you connected. This guide explains exactly how to get yours in 2025 – no confusing jargon, just clear steps from start to finish.
Why Free Government Phones Exist
Imagine being unable to call 911 during an emergency, missing a job interview because you couldn’t receive emails, or losing touch with family. That’s the reality for millions of low-income Americans. These programs began decades ago to ensure everyone has access to essential communication. They’re funded through small fees on phone bills – not taxpayer dollars – and serve as a true lifeline for seniors, veterans, families, and people between jobs. You’re not taking a handout; you’re using a service designed for you.

Programs Offering Free Phones in 2025
Two programs exist, but only one reliably offers free phones right now:
Lifeline
The core program providing free smartphones and monthly service.
Includes unlimited talk, text, and 4.5GB–25GB of data (varies by state).
Covers both wireless service and home internet discounts in some cases.
Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
Important Update: As of June 2025, the ACP is paused due to lack of congressional funding.
While it previously offered extra internet discounts, it currently does not provide free phones.
Focus your energy on Lifeline – it’s fully operational and accepting applications.
Who Qualifies for a Free Phone? (2025 Rules)
You likely qualify if anyone in your household participates in federal assistance programs or meets income limits. Let’s break it down:
Qualifying Through Programs (Simplest Path): If you or someone in your home receives benefits like:
Medicaid
SNAP (Food Stamps)
SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
Section 8 Housing or Federal Public Housing Assistance
Veterans Pension or Survivors Pension Benefits ...you automatically meet eligibility requirements. Your benefit letter is your golden ticket.
Qualifying Through Income: If your household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, you qualify. Here’s what that looked like for 2025:
1 person: $15,650 per year or less
2 people: $21,150 per year or less
3 people: $26,650 per year or less
Each additional person: Add $5,500
(Alaska and Hawaii have slightly higher limits – check your state’s exact figures.)
Key Rules to Remember:
One phone per household: Everyone shares one Lifeline benefit.
Active use required: Make at least one call/text every 30 days.
Yearly renewal: You must confirm your eligibility annually.
Documents You’ll Need to Apply
Gather these before starting your application to avoid delays:
Proof of Identity:
Driver’s license, state ID, passport, or birth certificate.
Proof of Eligibility:
Program-based: A current benefit award letter (dated within the last 12 months).
Income-based: Recent tax returns, three consecutive pay stubs, or a Social Security benefits statement.
Proof of Address:
Utility bill, lease agreement, mortgage statement, or official government mail.
Stuck?
Visit your local library: Staff often help with scanning/photocopying documents.
Contact community centers: Many offer free assistance gathering paperwork.
Your Step-by-Step Application Guide
Applying takes 20-45 minutes. Follow these steps:
Find a Reputable Provider:
Start at the official Lifeline website to search providers by zip code.
Major nationwide providers include Assurance Wireless, SafeLink, and Q Link Wireless.
If you prefer guided help, you can also apply for a free government phone through this trusted provider.
Apply Online (Fastest & Easiest):
Go directly to your chosen provider’s website.
Fill out the digital form – you’ll need your full name, address, date of birth, and last 4 digits of your SSN.
Upload photos or scans of your documents right there on the site.
Apply by Mail (If No Internet):
Download and print the Lifeline application form.
Make copies of your documents (never send originals!).
Mail everything to: Lifeline Support Center PO Box 1000 Horseheads, NY 14845
Phone Application (Limited Providers):
Call providers like Assurance Wireless at 1-888-898-4888 to apply verbally.
Wait for Approval & Choose Your Phone:
Most online apps get approved within 24-72 hours. Mail apps take 1-2 weeks.
Once approved, you’ll select your free phone. Some providers let you upgrade for $10-$50.
What Kind of Phone Will You Get?
Real talk: You’ll likely get a new Android smartphone – not a flip phone or refurbished device. Common models include:
TCL 20XE
Samsung Galaxy A03s
Nokia G300
Key features:
4G/5G connectivity
Decent cameras
Preloaded with essential apps (email, maps, contacts)
Can you get an iPhone?
Rare, but possible: Providers like AirTalk Wireless occasionally offer older iPhone models (e.g., iPhone SE, iPhone 7).
Usually requires a small co-pay ($30-$50) and depends on state availability.
Service includes:
Unlimited nationwide talk & text
4.5GB–25GB of monthly data (varies by state/provider)
Free hotspot capability
International calling to select countries
How Long the Whole Process Takes
Approval: 1–4 business days (online) / 7–14 days (mail).
Shipping: 3–7 business days via USPS or FedEx.
Total Timeline: 7–14 days from application to phone-in-hand.
Pro Tip: Save the provider’s customer service number. Call them if your status doesn’t update after 5 days.
How to Spot & Avoid Scams
Scammers prey on people seeking free phones. Protect yourself:
Never pay fees: Legit providers won’t ask for credit cards or upfront payments.
Beware "exclusive offers": Ignore texts/emails claiming you’ve "won" a free iPhone.
Check state availability: If a provider claims to serve your state, verify it on the official Lifeline website.
Guard your SSN: Only share the last 4 digits after you’ve verified the provider’s legitimacy.
Report fraud: Call the Lifeline Fraud Hotline at 1-855-4LL-SCAM (1-855-455-7226).
Where to Apply Safely in 2025
Only use these trusted sources:
Lifeline’s Official Site: The safest starting point.
Major Providers’ Websites:
Assurance Wireless
SafeLink Wireless
Q Link Wireless
StandUp Wireless
Community Partners:
Public libraries
Local nonprofits (e.g., United Way affiliates)
Tribal assistance offices
Don’t Wait – Your Connection Matters
Every day without a phone puts you at a disadvantage – missed job calls, inaccessible telehealth, or being unable to reach loved ones. The process is simpler than it looks: Confirm your eligibility, gather your papers, and apply. Within weeks, you could have a reliable smartphone with free monthly service.
Would you be ready to get started? Apply for a free government phone through this trusted provider or visit the official Lifeline website today. This isn’t charity – it’s a tool you’ve earned. Stay safe, stay connected, and take that first step now.
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Dubai's 10-Year Golden Visa: The Secret Every Smart Investor Is Using in 2025
Are you dreaming of living long-term in the UAE? The UAE Golden Visa is your gateway to a 10-year residency in one of the most powerfull countries in the world. Whether you're an investor, entrepreneur, property owner, or talented professional — the Golden Visa in Dubai offers a golden opportunity to live, work, and thrive in the UAE.
In this post, we’ll walk you through the benefits, eligibility, and how to apply for UAE Golden Visa, especially if you're looking for trusted golden visa services in Dubai.

🌟 What is the UAE Golden Visa?
The UAE Golden Visa is a long-term residency program launched by the UAE government to attract investors, skilled professionals, and entrepreneurs. With the 10 Years UAE Golden Visa, you can enjoy long-term stability, sponsor your family, and even own 100% of your business in the UAE.
Whether you're looking for a Golden Visa in UAE or specifically a Dubai Golden Visa, the process has become more accessible than ever.
🏆 Benefits of the Golden Visa
✔️ 10-Year renewable residency
✔️ No local sponsor required
✔️ 100% business ownership
✔️ Family sponsorship (spouse, children, domestic workers)
✔️ Easy global travel
✔️ Exclusive government benefits
🏗️ Property Golden Visa in Dubai & UAE
Are you a real estate investor? You can qualify for the Property Golden Visa in Dubai by investing in property worth AED 2 million or more. This initiative has made the Golden Visa for Investors an attractive route for expats and property buyers.
Whether you're buying off-plan or ready property, the Property Golden Visa in UAE helps secure your investment and your future.
👨💼 Investor Golden Visa in Dubai
The Investor Golden Visa is perfect for business owners and startup founders. By meeting the capital investment requirement, you can unlock the 10 Years Investor Visa, allowing you to scale your business in the thriving UAE economy.
Looking for expert help? Consider professional Golden Visa services in Dubai to simplify your application process and avoid delays.
🧾 Golden Visa Eligibility: Are You Qualified?
To be eligible for a UAE Golden Visa, you must fall into one of the following categories:
Property owners with a real estate investment of AED 2M+
Entrepreneurs or investors with registered businesses
Doctors, engineers, researchers, or skilled professionals
Outstanding students or graduates
Creative individuals in arts and culture
📝 How to Apply for Golden Visa UAE
Ready to get started? Here’s a simplified process to apply for Golden Visa UAE:
Eligibility Check – Consult with a licensed Golden Visa service in Dubai
Document Preparation – Gather passport, Emirates ID, title deed, etc.
Application Submission – Submit via GDRFA or ICP platforms
Approval & Residency Issuance – Receive your 10 Years UAE Golden Visa
To save time, many people prefer using experts like Intellect Chartered Accountants in Dubai for Golden Visa services for application handling and fast-tracking.
💼 Why Use Golden Visa Services in Dubai?
Navigating visa laws and property regulations can be difficult. That’s why choosing professional Golden Visa services Dubai ensures your application is error-free and aligned with current immigration policies.
🚀 Final Thoughts: Your Golden Future in the UAE
The Dubai Golden Visa is more than just a residency permit – it’s a path to long-term success in a thriving global hub. Whether you're an investor, business owner, or property buyer, the Investor Golden Visa Dubai can open doors to limitless opportunities.
✅ Don’t wait — apply for UAE Golden Visa today and build your future in the UAE.
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The European Court of Justice (ECJ), the EU's highest court in Luxembourg, on Tuesday ordered Malta to end its "golden passport" program, saying it violates European Union law.
"A Member State cannot grant its nationality — and indeed European citizenship — in exchange for predetermined payments or investments," the court wrote in a news release.
"This essentially amounts to rendering the acquisition of nationality a mere commercial transaction," it added.
A Maltese law that fast-tracks the naturalization of foreign investors has long been criticized by anti-corruption advocates and EU officials for facilitating white-collar crime and sanctions evasion.
What are the conditions of the program?
The European Commission lodged a complaint against the 2020 amendment to the Maltese citizenship law, which allowed investors who meet a list of financial requirements to apply for Maltese citizenship after living in the country for 12 months.
The requirements include owning a property worth €700,000 ($798,000) or paying annual rent of at least €16,000, making a substantial contribution to the Maltese government and donating to a non-governmental organization.
Malta "must comply with the Court's judgment without delay," the ECJ said. If the country fails to do so, the European Commission may file another action seeking financial penalties.
What was the reaction of Malta?
The Maltese government said in a statement that it would respect the court's decision while it studied the "legal implications" of the ruling. It defended the program, saying it had brought €1.4 billion euros ($1.6 billion) to the island nation since 2015.
Joseph Muscat, the former prime minister who introduced the program, posted on Facebook that the ruling was "politically motivated" and that Malta's program should be reformed rather than scrapped.
Malta is the only EU country that still has a so-called "golden passport" program, which has been challenged by EU institutions for years. Cyprus ended its citizenship-by-investment scheme in 2020. Bulgaria's parliament voted to end a similar program in 2022.
Transparency advocates welcome the ruling
However, Maltese journalist Matthew Caruana Galizia said the scheme did not benefit Malta. He hailed the ruling as "a win for the people of Malta and for all EU residents who have been unfairly exposed to the whims of money launderers and corrupt criminals buying their way into the EU."
Galizia is the son of Daphne Caruana Galizia, a Maltese journalist who focused on corruption and was killed by a bomb in 2017.
Transparency International also praised the ruling. "Today's judgement confirms that member states cannot commodify EU citizenship and operate reckless golden passport programmes... The ruling stops not only Malta from selling EU citizenship, but will also prevent other member states from doing the same," the organization's chief Maira Martini said.
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NOIR CITY 21
Celebrating its 21st year, NOIR CITY, the largest annual film noir festival in the world, returns to Oakland's Grand Lake Theatre, January 19-28, 2024. FNF president Eddie Muller will present a dozen double bills pairing an English language noir with a similarly themed foreign language film—24 films over 10 days. Whatever the country of origin, there are heists, prison breaks, missing persons, cultural alienation, love triangles, and lots of plain old-fashioned murder.
Muller says this edition "has been tailored to satisfy those folks who love noir filled with the colorful vernacular slang so essential to American and British noir—as well as adventurous viewers intrigued by seeing a familiar story—typically a crime committed for passion or profit—play out in cultures with different values, mores, and styles." Through his programming of NOIR CITY festivals around the nation and his hosting of the popular Noir Alley franchise on Turner Classic Movies, Muller aims to move audiences past the idea that film noir is a strictly American genre.
Joining him this year, as co-programmer and co-host, is acclaimed film scholar Imogen Sara Smith, a familiar commentator on The Criterion Channel streaming service. "Attending NOIR CITY in the Bay Area has been a highlight of my year for over a decade," says Smith, "and I'm thrilled to be joining Eddie as co-host this year. I'm especially excited that the program we've put together will introduce audiences to some rare international titles, alongside Hollywood classics. It's going to be a stellar festival."

Kicking off the collection of rarities is the FNF's most recent restoration — 1952's Argentine film Never Open That Door (No abras nunca esa puerta) — based on two short stories by American master of suspense fiction, Cornell Woolrich. The picture was preserved by the Film Noir Foundation in 2013 and has now been completely restored by the FNF through UCLA Film & Television Archive, thanks in part to a grant from the Golden Globe Foundation (formerly HFPA). Fernando Martín Peña, Argentina's pre-eminent cinephile, will be on hand to introduce the film with Eddie Muller.
Included on the 2024 schedule are English-language rarities such as Black Tuesday (1954), Plunder Road (1957), Across the Bridge (1957), and Strongroom (1962). Little-seen international titles include The Human Beast (France, 1938), Aimless Bullet (South Korea, 1960), Bitter Rice (Italy, 1949), Four Against the World (Mexico, 1950), Zero Focus (Japan, 1961), and Smog (1962), a forgotten surrealist masterpiece by Italian director Franco Rossi freshly restored by UCLA Film & Television Archive. Explore the full line up, buy tickets for individual double features and Passports (All-Access Passes) at the festival website.
GO TO NOIR CITY
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All You Need to Know About NRI Quota Admissions in India
India has rapidly evolved into a global hub for higher education, drawing students worldwide to its esteemed universities and diverse academic offerings. Among the various admission routes available, the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) quota shines as a strategic gateway for students with overseas Indian ties. At the forefront of guiding students through this opportunity is Edusquare Consulting—a trusted name in education consultancy that transforms the complex admission journey into a smooth and empowering experience.
The Edge of the NRI Quota
The NRI quota is a specialized admission category reserved for the children and dependents of Non-Resident Indians. It opens doors to India’s most prestigious institutions, without the intense competition typically seen in general entrance routes. Especially for in-demand programs like medicine, engineering, law, and management, this quota acts as a golden ticket for global Indian students.
More than just an admission advantage, this pathway strengthens India's global education presence by encouraging international Indian talent to return and thrive. While the associated fees are generally higher, the reduced competition and simplified criteria make it a smart investment in your academic future.
Who Qualifies for NRI Quota Admissions?
As emphasized by Edusquare Consulting, understanding eligibility is the first key step. To qualify, candidates typically need to meet the following:
NRI Connection: Applicants must be children or dependents of Indians living abroad for work, business, or long-term residency.
Academic Standards: Applicants must fulfill the course-specific academic criteria (e.g., NEET for medical or JEE Main for engineering).
Valid Documentation: Proof of NRI status (passport, visa, residency papers) and relevant educational records are required for submission.
Why Choose the NRI Quota Route?
Taking the NRI quota path comes with a host of unique advantages:
Less Competitive, More Accessible: Students have a better chance at securing seats with reduced competition.
Admission to Top-Tier Colleges: Gain access to premier institutes like IITs, NITs, AIIMS, and other elite private universities.
Expert Guidance: Edusquare Consulting offers structured support at every step.
Cultural and Academic Enrichment: NRI students reconnect with their roots while earning globally recognized degrees.
Challenges to Be Aware Of
While the NRI quota offers many benefits, students should be mindful of a few considerations:
Higher Tuition Fees: Costs are often steeper than those under general quotas.
Limited Seats: Availability is restricted—early application is essential.
Variable Criteria: Requirements differ across institutions and states, making professional support a smart move.
How Edusquare Consulting Makes the Difference
Navigating the NRI quota can be complex, but not with Edusquare Consulting by your side. Here’s how they simplify and supercharge your admission journey:
Tailored Admission Roadmaps: Strategies built around your academic goals and personal profile.
Flawless Documentation Support: Guidance on preparing and reviewing every submission for smooth processing.
Smart University Selection: Insights on course trends and college openings to help you make informed decisions.
Financial Guidance: Advice on managing fees and exploring available scholarships or discounts.
End-to-End Mentorship: Full-spectrum support, from application to final enrollment.
Your Gateway to Excellence Awaits
The NRI quota offers a unique and powerful opportunity for Indian-origin students abroad to pursue world-class education in India. With Edusquare Consulting’s expert handholding, what might seem like a daunting process becomes an inspiring and successful academic journey.
Start your path to a brighter future—simplify your admission process with Edusquare Consulting today.

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Embark with Confidence: A First-Time Travelers Guide
Introduction:
Embarking on your first backpacking adventure can be an exhilarating experience, filled with new cultures, stunning landscapes, and unforgettable memories. However, to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip, careful planning and preparation are key. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the essential aspects of planning, packing, and navigating your first backpacking journey.
Planning Your Adventure:
Invest in Good Equipment:
The foundation of a successful backpacking trip lies in quality gear. Prioritize a well-fitting backpack and comfortable shoes, as they will be your constant companions on the journey. Purchase Travel Insurance:
While it may seem like an unnecessary expense, investing in travel insurance is crucial for unforeseen circumstances. It provides peace of mind and financial protection in case of emergencies.
Plan Your Budget Carefully:
Creating a detailed budget is vital to avoid financial stress during your travels. Plan expenses meticulously and consider having a financial buffer for unexpected costs.
Brush Up on Safety Tips:
Prioritize safety by researching and understanding safety tips for your destination. Being aware of your surroundings and staying vigilant enhances your overall travel experience.
Talk to Your Bank:
Notify your bank about your travel plans to prevent any issues with your accounts. Additionally, inquire about foreign transaction fees and consider opening an account with a bank that offers favorable terms for international travel.
Consider Camping to Save Money:
Camping can be a cost-effective accommodation option in certain destinations. While it adds to your luggage, the savings might outweigh the inconvenience.
Do a Work Exchange Program:
Immerse yourself in local cultures by participating in work exchange programs. Platforms like Worldpackers offer various volunteering opportunities, providing a unique way to extend your stay and gain cultural experiences.
Consider Traveling During Off-Season:
Off-season travel can offer significant savings, but it's essential to weigh the pros and cons. Be prepared for less favorable weather and potential limitations on seasonal events.
Familiarize Yourself with Your Destination:
Research your destination thoroughly to understand cultural norms, local practices, and potential challenges. Knowing how to navigate haggling, tipping, and appropriate attire contributes to a smoother travel experience.
Packing Time:
Pack Light:
The golden rule of backpacking is to pack light. Test your fully-packed backpack in your daily life to assess its weight and prioritize essentials.
Pack Medicine:
A first-aid kit with essential medicines is crucial for a stress-free trip. Ensure you have an ample supply of any daily medications and familiarize yourself with local pharmacy options. Bring a Journal:
Whether you're an avid journaler or not, having a journal can capture precious moments and serve as a useful tool for jotting down important information.
Have Copies of Important Documents:
Safeguard your trip by making hard and digital copies of crucial documents like passports and visas. This ensures a smoother process in case of loss or theft.
Remember These Useful Items:
A microfiber towel, earplugs, a reasonable amount of toilet paper, duct tape, and a water filter are handy additions to your backpack. Additionally, consider a comfort item for moments of homesickness.
Think Synthetic Materials and Layers for Clothing:
Opt for synthetic clothing for its lightweight and quick-drying properties. Packing layers facilitates adaptation to varying climates without overloading your backpack.
Waterproof Your Backpack:
While backpacks typically come with rain covers, adding an extra layer of protection by lining it with a waterproof bag ensures the safety of your belongings.
Bring a Battery Pack:
A portable battery pack is a lifesaver for keeping your devices charged, especially in situations where access to power may be limited.
Write Down Your Accommodation Address:
Always have the address of your accommodation written down. This precaution becomes invaluable when navigating a new city without access to GPS or Wi-Fi.
Actual Trip:
Wear Bulky Clothing While Traveling:
Save space in your backpack by wearing bulky clothing during travel days. This strategic move maximizes packing efficiency.
Hide Money in Multiple Spots:
Distribute your money across various locations to minimize the risk of losing all your funds in case of theft or loss. A money belt is a prudent investment for added security.
Utilize Hostels with Free Breakfast or Cook for Yourself:
Save on meals by taking advantage of hostels offering free breakfast or equipped kitchens. Volunteering opportunities may also provide chances to cook for yourself.
Talk to Locals:
Locals are invaluable sources of information. Engage with them to gain insights into safe areas, hidden gems, and a deeper understanding of local culture.
Take Care of Yourself:
Prioritize your well-being by maintaining a balance between indulging in local experiences and caring for your health. Ensure you eat well, stay hydrated, and allow time for rest.
Be Flexible:
While it's essential to have a plan, flexibility is key. Keep some days open for spontaneous adventures, extra rest, or unexpected opportunities that may arise.
Be Aware of Free Wi-Fi Spots:
Research locations with free Wi-Fi, such as popular chains like McDonald's or Starbucks. Download city maps when connected to Wi-Fi to navigate offline when needed.
Check In with Family and Friends:
Share your itinerary with trusted friends or family members and establish regular check-ins. This simple practice enhances safety and provides a support system in case of emergencies.
Conclusion:
Embarking on your first backpacking adventure is a thrilling endeavor that requires meticulous planning and thoughtful packing. By investing in quality equipment, prioritizing safety, and staying flexible during your journey, you can ensure a fulfilling and memorable experience. Use these 26 tips as a comprehensive guide to navigate the challenges and embrace the joys of backpacking, creating lasting memories along the way. Safe travels!
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A guide to enhance your business growth
Running a business is akin to navigating a complex maze, and every entrepreneur dreams of not just surviving but thriving. In the Indian business landscape, the government has laid out a golden path for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through a simple yet powerful tool – MSME registration. In this guide, let's explore how this seemingly mundane registration process can be your ticket to unparalleled business growth.
Understanding the MSME Advantage
The Heartbeat of the Economy:
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises collectively form the heartbeat of the Indian economy. From local grocery stores to innovative startups, these businesses contribute not only to economic development but also to job creation, fostering a robust and inclusive growth environment.
Unlocking Financial Avenues:
One of the immediate perks of MSME registration is the access to financial assistance and credit facilities. Financial institutions offer tailored loans at favorable terms, recognizing the importance of these enterprises in driving economic progress.
The MSME Registration Journey
A Simpler Path Than You Think:
Contrary to popular belief, the MSME registration process is not a bureaucratic labyrinth. It's a straightforward journey that involves providing essential details about your business, such as PAN, Aadhaar, and other relevant information. Whether you choose the online portal or opt for the traditional route at District Industries Centres, the process is designed to be accessible.
Documents: Your Passport to Opportunities:
The importance of documentation in the registration process cannot be overstated. Your Aadhaar card, PAN card, business address proof, and details of your plant and machinery are the keys that unlock the door to a myriad of government schemes and subsidies.
The MSME Advantage Unveiled
Market Access and Procurement Preferences:
Once you've acquired your MSME registration, you find yourself in a prime position in government procurement. MSMEs are often given preference in government tenders, providing a golden opportunity to secure contracts and expand your market reach.
Technology Upgradation and Subsidies:
In the rapidly evolving business landscape, technology is the differentiator. MSME registration brings with it the chance to upgrade your technology with subsidies for adopting new and advanced processes. This not only boosts efficiency but also enhances your competitiveness.
Navigating the Schemes and Subsidies Landscape
Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS):
At the forefront of government schemes is CLCSS, a game-changer for technology upgradation. It provides capital subsidies to MSMEs, facilitating access to credit for purchasing new machinery and equipment.
Pradhan Mantri Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP):
For those looking to embark on the entrepreneurial journey, PMEGP is the beacon. This credit-linked subsidy program promotes self-employment, creating not just businesses but livelihoods.
Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGMSE):
The fear of collateral is a common hurdle for many small businesses. CGMSE eliminates this barrier by offering collateral-free credit facilities, making it easier for MSMEs to access the capital needed for growth.
Tailoring Your Approach
District Industries Centres (DIC) and National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC):
Think of DIC and NSIC as your business allies. DIC, as a local agency, offers guidance and support, while NSIC provides a range of services from marketing assistance to credit facilitation. Engaging with these institutions can significantly enhance your MSME journey.
Tech and Quality Upgradation Support:
The government's emphasis on quality is evident through schemes like Lean Manufacturing Competitiveness Scheme (LMCS) and Quality Management Standards & Quality Technology Tools (QMS/QTT). These initiatives not only boost competitiveness but also position your business as a paragon of quality in the market.
Export Promotion and Market Development:
Venturing into global markets can seem daunting, but the Market Development Assistance Scheme for MSMEs is a trustworthy companion. It provides financial support for participating in international trade fairs, opening doors to new business horizons.
Overcoming Challenges for Seamless Growth
Lack of Awareness:
One of the challenges MSMEs often face is the lack of awareness about available schemes. Entrepreneurs can overcome this by actively seeking information through government portals, industry associations, and local MSME support cells.
Complex Application Processes:
Cumbersome application procedures can be discouraging, but persistence pays off. Simplifying the application process and seeking assistance from dedicated facilitation services or MSME support agencies can make the journey smoother.
Continuous Evaluation and Adaptation
Performance and Credit Rating Scheme:
Enhancing your creditworthiness is an ongoing process. The Performance and Credit Rating Scheme allows MSMEs to undergo assessments, showcasing financial stability to potential investors and lenders.
Embracing Continuous Improvement:
The business landscape is dynamic, and your approach should be too. Regularly assess the impact of government schemes on your operations, adapt to changes, and stay informed about updates to maximize benefits continually.
Conclusion: Your Journey to Unprecedented Growth
In conclusion, MSME registration in India is not just a formality; it's your gateway to a realm of opportunities. By understanding the classifications, embracing government schemes, and overcoming challenges, you position your business for sustainable growth. The government's commitment to fostering MSMEs is a testament to the integral role these enterprises play in shaping the nation's economic future. So, don't just register – embark on a journey of growth, innovation, and success. The path is laid; it's time to walk it.
Learn more at : https://msme-registration.in/
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Sunday, October 15, 2023
US colleges become flashpoints for protests on both sides of Israel-Hamas war (Reuters) At Columbia University on Thursday, two groups of hundreds of students tensely faced each other in dueling pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations, while university officials blocked public access to the New York City campus as a safety measure. Supporters of Palestinians, many of whom wore face masks to hide their identities, held signs in a grassy area near a library that read "Free Palestine" and "To Exist is to Resist." About 100 feet (30 meters) away, students backing Israel silently held up posters with the faces of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas. Amid the growing conflict, tensions between students on opposite sides of the issue have boiled over on some U.S. college campuses. Statements by student groups supporting Palestinians have prompted outrage and fear among Jews and, in some cases, wider rebuke from public officials and corporations. There have been reports of harassment and assaults of both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian students, deepening grief and putting students of all political stripes on high alert.
Dominica’s Golden Passport (Miami Herald) Dominica is a small country in the Caribbean with an increasingly desirable passport, especially for individuals who are willing to pay big bucks to get a citizenship toehold outside of their country for business, freedom of travel, or tax evasion reasons. A passport from Dominica gets you into most countries visa-free, and given an investment program where a passport can be had for $100,000, some of the country’s newest citizens may not be entirely on the level. An investigation found 7,700 people who purchased passports from Dominica, and they’re such a big business that golden passports alone accounted for 50 percent of Dominica’s government budget.
Ukraine hits Russian navy ships with sea drones (Washington Post) “Experimental” naval drones damaged two Russian military vessels—the Buyan missile carrier and the Pavel Derzhavin patrol boat—over the past two days, Ukrainian intelligence officials said Friday, as Kyiv continued a series of strikes against Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet. The attacks on the Black Sea Fleet, which is based in occupied Crimea, have demonstrated Ukraine’s ability to operate in Kremlin-controlled waters but do not appear to have seriously reduced Moscow’s capabilities.
France is deploying 7,000 troops after a deadly school stabbing by a suspected Islamic radical (AP) France will mobilize up to 7,000 soldiers to increase security around the country after a teacher was fatally stabbed and three other people wounded in a school attack by a former student suspected of Islamic radicalization, the president’s office said Saturday. Counterterrorism authorities are investigating the stabbing, and the suspected assailant and several others are in custody, prosecutors said. The suspect is a Chechen who had attended the school and had been under recent surveillance by intelligence services for radicalization. The government heightened the national threat alert, and President Emmanuel Macron ordered up to 7,000 soldiers deployed by Monday night and until further notice to bolster security and vigilance around France, his office said.
Poland prepares to hold a high-stakes national election (Reuters) Poland holds its parliamentary election on Sunday, with the ruling nationalist Law and Justice party, called PiS, seeking an unprecedented third term in power. Critics say the government has politicized the judiciary, used public media as a propaganda tool and undermined the country's position in the EU. The party says it supports Ukraine in its war against Russia, but not at the expense of Poland’s own interests.
Turkey earthquake: Reconstruction promises and reality (Reuters) Sheltering in a converted shipping container, Ismet Kaplan waits to hear if he's eligible for one of hundreds of thousands of homes President Tayyip Erdogan promised would replace those ruined by modern Turkey's deadliest earthquake in February. Days after the quake and with a national election looming, Erdogan made bold promises. While survivors were still emerging from rubble, he said half the disaster zone would be rebuilt within a year - a total of 319,000 homes. Eight months on, more than a dozen officials, builders and engineers told Reuters that rising construction costs and economic uncertainty have deterred companies from bidding for government reconstruction contracts, making that deadline look hard to reach, especially in the worst-hit areas. With work underway on a fraction of the planned new buildings in the devastated city of Adiyaman, Kaplan fears a long wait together with his disabled wife and other survivors. They are exposed to summer and winter temperatures in the lines of containers set up as temporary housing after the Feb. 6 disaster. "I believe it will take years to move," said Kaplan, whose apartment block collapsed in the quake. His daughter, daughter-in-law and four grandchildren died under falling buildings.
Israeli army to confront resilient foe in anticipated Gaza invasion (Reuters) An Israeli invasion of Gaza will face an enemy that has built a formidable armoury with Iran’s help, dug a vast tunnel network to evade attackers and has shown in past ground wars it can exact a heavier toll on Israeli troops each time. Based on past experience, Israel’s bunker buster bombs and hi-tech Merkava tanks will be up against booby-trapped tunnels, fighters using the underground network to strike and vanish, and a range of Hamas weaponry that includes Russian-made Kornet anti-tank missiles that Israel first reported used in 2010. Hundreds of thousands of reservists are being mobilised by Israel for combat against fighters who one former official in Israel’s Shin Bet security service said could number 20,000. Saleh Al-Arouri, deputy chief of Hamas politburo, told Al Jazeera that before Hamas unleashed its assault on Israel it had a defence plan that was stronger than its attack plan.
Thousands Flee Northern Gaza as Israeli Evacuation Order Stirs Panic (NYT) Panic and chaos gripped the northern Gaza Strip Friday as thousands of people fled south in vehicles piled high with blankets and mattresses along two main roads after the Israeli military ordered a mass evacuation of half of the besieged coastal strip. But rather than finding safety from a feared ground invasion, at least 70 people were killed along the way when Israeli airstrikes hit some of the vehicles fleeing south, according to the Gazan authorities. Some Gaza residents said they feared this could be the start of another permanent mass displacement like the one in 1948, when more than 700,000 Palestinians were expelled or fled their homes in present-day Israel during the war surrounding the nation’s establishment. The majority of Gaza’s population—some 1.7 million of the 2.1 million residents—are among those who were forced to leave their homes in 1948, or are their descendants. In 1948, Palestinians were told they would be allowed to return after a few days or weeks, and they took just a few belongings and the keys to their front doors. But they were never allowed back.
Trapped in Gaza, Palestinian Americans Say They Feel Abandoned (NYT) Duaa Abufares, 24, a psychology student from Clifton, N.J., has been anxiously awaiting word from her father, Fares, each day this week. He had gone back to Gaza to visit relatives in early September. Now, Mr. Abufares, who is a U.S. citizen, is sheltering with relatives amid the sounds of nonstop bombing, and calling his five children back in New Jersey during brief periods when he can access electricity. During a video call with them on Thursday, Mr. Abufares, 50, described seeing the bodies of dozens of women and children killed in an airstrike blocks from his family home. The sudden Hamas attack on Saturday and the subsequent counteroffensive left American citizens stranded in both Israel and Gaza. To assist American citizens who want to leave Israel amid the spiraling security crisis, the Biden administration announced it would begin arranging charter flights to ferry Americans to destinations in Europe starting on Friday. But for American citizens stuck in Gaza, there is no such arrangement. “I feel like I’ve been abandoned by my country,” said Lena Beseiso, 57, who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is caught in Gaza with her husband, two of her daughters and a 10-year-old grandson. “We’re American citizens and we’re not being treated as American citizens.” U.S. officials estimated that 500 to 600 American citizens were in Gaza.
With all eyes on Gaza war, violence is quietly mounting in the West Bank (Washington Post) At least 11 Palestinians were killed by Israeli security forces and dozens injured across the West Bank on Friday, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, as fears rise over mounting violence and instability ahead of an expected Israeli land invasion of Gaza. In scenes rare for the West Bank, Palestinians raised Hamas flags in a solidarity march with Gaza, defying long-standing political divides between the Islamist militant group and the West Bank’s dominant Fatah party. Many in the occupied territory spent the day glued to the news as Israel ordered 1.1 million Gazans under bombardment to evacuate—fueling Palestinian fears of another mass displacement.
Rise in piracy (gCaptain) The ICC International Marine Bureau is reporting a rise in piracy, with 99 incidents of piracy in the first nine months of this year, up from 90 incidents of piracy over the course of 2022. The pirates are pretty good at their jobs, too: The pirates successfully boarded 89 percent of the vessels they targeted, mostly at night. Of those incidents, 21 took place in the Gulf of Guinea, and 33 took place in the Singapore Straits. The latter waterway is a congested and difficult-to-navigate waterway, and obviously being lousy with pirates complicates things even further.
Your Face May Soon Be Your Ticket. Not Everyone Is Smiling. (NYT) You may not have to fumble with your cellphone in the boarding area very much longer. As the travel industry embraces facial recognition technology, phones are beginning to go the way of paper tickets at airports, cruise terminals and theme parks, making checking in more convenient, but raising privacy and security concerns, too. “Before Covid it felt like a future thing,” said Hicham Jaddoud, a professor of hospitality and tourism at the University of Southern California, describing the way contactless transactions have become common since the pandemic. That includes facial recognition, which is “now making its way into daily operations” in the travel industry, Dr. Jaddoud said. Facial recognition systems are already being expanded at some airports. At Miami International, for example, cameras at 12 gates serving international flights match passengers’ faces to the passport photographs they have on file with the airlines, letting passengers at those gates board without showing physical passports or boarding passes. The company installing the systems, SITA, has been contracted to do the same for a number of international gates in 10 other U.S. airports, including Boston Logan International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport. (Passengers can opt out and still present physical documents instead, SITA says.)
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Libro.fm is the counterpart to Bookshop.org. Select a bookstore to support and a small percentage of the sale goes to them. You can use the map to either find your local or search for specific types like queer bookstores, Indigenous owner, neurodivergent owned, and a bunch more.
Cost is basically same as Audible's subscription of $14.95 a month for a credit and you can buy a la carte as well.
But.
BUT
All these are DRM free! You can download and listen on whatever device you want!
(libro.fm also operates worldwide)
To pair with Independent Bookstore Day they're also encouraging you to go to your local PHYSICAL store for a scavenger hunt.
If you can't make it out that day but are still considering switching, libro.fm is also running a sale AND if you grab a subscription using code SWITCH they've give you two additional audiobook credits. This is my store over on libro.fm and I do very much appreciate it. I am a safe area overall, but tough times for queer bookstores. But look at the map for other options!
OKAY, BACK TO INDIE BOOKSTORE DAY
Here's the map of everyone participating. A lot of them have exclusive merch for the day or have one of the Golden Tickets in the store.
A lot of stores are also participating in a bookstore crawl or passport program so if you hit multiple, you may win a prize. Some also have author talks or other activites. Check the map! go do things!
If you hit me up here in Bethel CT, there's another bookstore two blocks away for maximum fun. I'm Rainy Day Paperback 81 Greenwood Ave. Bethel, CT 06801. Greenwood ave is part of Route 302. I'll have one of the Libro.fm tickets hidden somewhere in the store. In a book? behind the opossum paintings? under the giant snake sculpture? Gotta look to find out!
I'll also have free seeds available since I also run a monthly plant swap. Take them home, plant them, bring back the extra sprouts when you realize planting 50 pumpkins was too many.
Bsky post by libro.fm: Tomorrow, a certain online mega-retailer launches a book sale, just days before Indie Bookstore Day on 4/26. This is no coincidence; Bookstore Day is one of the largest revenue drivers for indies.
Indies need our support to thrive & build community spaces for all...mega-retailers do not.
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Fuck Amazon. Go to bookshop.org or better yet, take a little time on Saturday to visit your local indie bookstore.
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