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darkdevasofdestruction · 4 years ago

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Day 31 : Not Lonely Anymore - Obey Me! Brothers

"Why the gloom face, Kat?" Mammon asked as I stared blankly at my phone, playing a game absent-mindedly. "...I'm just tired, I guess." I muttered, not wanting to look at the white haired man. "Haven't slept enough, huh? Well, c'mon, maybe you just overworked yourself with studying again. I mean, chillax a bit, you're just like Lucifer sometimes, but I can't take care of you all the time...Wait, actually, I can...Huh..." Mammon caressed his non-existent beard, almost as if he just had a revelation. "Well...I and Lucifer are very much alike. Sometimes it's scary when I realise just how very alike we are. I'm sure you, of all people, realised that, haven't you?" I sighed, dragging my hands down my face in exasperation. "Yeah, 'course I did! That's what worries me, sometimes! But, hey, at least you ain't got some sort of unhealthy obsession with Lord Diavolo...You don't, do you?" Mammon's eyes widened in mock shock, and I got to my feet, signaling for the man to come to dinner with me in the dinner room, where we met the other brothers.

"What are you all doing these days?" I asked, pushing around my food with a fork. "I'm going to sleep." Belphie spoke, as Beel munched on food, as usual. "I'm cooking and have a reservation at Hell's Kitchen and a match soon." "I have some friends inviting me on a trip, and Asmo's coming with me since there are clubs there." Satan pointed out simply, barely lifting his gaze from his book. "I have work to do...Gotta repay some debts...And Lucifer is burried in work as usual. And Levi ain't here 'cause some new game appeared and he hasn't left the room in 3 days already." Mammon explained for the older brothers, and I could only look down and nod in agreement. "Seems like y'all are incredibly busy during this time of the year...Oh, wait, my phone's ringing...? My human world phone...?" I muttered, getting up and walking around the room. "Yeah, hey, how are things?" I asked softly, not really wanting my conversation to be heard by the demons."Oh, hey, well...I wanted to tell you that I can't come to your birthday anymore. I know, I know, I promised you months ago that I will come, but, uh...My boyfriend made a reservation to the mountains for ski and I couldn't refuse...Y'know, I didn't just want to stay home like a lonely depressed loser on New Year's." the self-proclaiemed best friend of mine said in a whiny voice, but it was obvious she couldn't care less about me and she had her priorities set since the second she got together with the guy. "...That's alright...There's always next year...Or the year after...And so on. Have fun on your trip. Bye." I told her, hanging up the phone and staring at the screen, gritting my teeth in betrayal, disappointment and anger. "Like a lonely depressed loser, huh..." I muttered to myself, robotically exiting the room and going to mine, getting on my laptop to unwind a bit by waching "The Real HouseSuccubi of Devildom", only to receive a text from the other friend who was supposed to come to my birthday, only to say she didn't realise my party was on the 2nd, not on the 3rd, as is my actual birthday, so she couldn't come anymore, as she was too busy with many other parties.

Great.

Guess they're right.

I really am the only lonely depressed loser from all groups of so called friends that I have.As tomorrow is December 31st, and I had to do some New Year's and Birthday shopping, I packed my laptop and other gadgets and made my way to Diavolo's Castle, only to be stopped by Lucifer, as we bumped into each other in one of the many golden corridors.

"Did Lord Diavolo request a meeting with you too, Katrina?" Lucifer asked, but I could only shake my head, not feeling up to chatting. "No. I want to tell him to get me home for a week. No big deal, really." I shrugged simply, knocking and walking together in the Demon Prince's office, and telling him my request, which he accepted, but his eyes showed a bit of concern and skepticism that I chose to completely ignore. "That's right, I believe humans celebrate New Year's every year, correct?" Lucifer asked, widening his eyes in realisation. “...Yeah.” I nodded, hoping to have this interrogation ending already. “I suppose you’re going to gather around with your friends and celebrate, correct? That’s what humans do with these kinds of festivities, from what I gathered.” the brunet continued, which made me sigh and roll my eyes in exasperation. “Yeah. That’s if you have friends. If not, you’re a lonely depressed loser who spends every festivity at home, alone, watching crappy TV shows, drinking cheap alcohol and eating pizza and ice cream until you can’t eat anymore. Fun, isn’t it? Now, can I go, already? Yes? Thank you, bye.” I gave them a sarcastic, overly exaggerated grin, waving a bit before stepping into the portal and finding myself back in my world, inside my apartment. “...Welcome home, bitch.” I muttered to myself, taking a deep sigh and opening all windows to get fresh air in, while I’d go and order a shit ton of alcohol and cheap frozen pizza boxes.

This is absolutely tragic and miserable, and I absolutely hate it. Not that I’m surprised, really. Not even one bit. If I’m fated to be forever alone and living in ultimate misery, might as well do it in style like doctor Gregory House - Drinking booze, all alone, eating snacks and watching the Real Housewives of whatever bitchin’ U.S. state I can find, starting with Beverly Hills.

Episodes passed by fast, seasons as well, and bottles and boxes were discarded to the floor at an indefinite rate, since I completely extracted myself from real life, choosing to turn off my phones and keeping them in another room, and I had no wall clocks, so the only way to estimate time was the darkness outside... And considering the drapes were closed and the only lights from the house were coming from the big Smart TV and the mini disco ball I had from the year before, that I had placed in the middle of the living room table, that, if you were to look at the rapidly moving, colourful dots from the walls, you’d get high as a kite without even having to snort a white line.

Gosh, this is boring.

Oh, hear that, it’s midnight already, they’re shooting fireworks outside -... Ah, right, I forgot to buy some myself. Well, doesn’t matter, ain’t like I can enjoy them with anyone.

What was that quote...

‘There’s always next year’

That’s what my grandparents would say when I was little and they didn’t want to come to see me on my birthday.

There’s always next year.

But there was no next year since then, because they disowned me and my parents because of some petty fight.

How great life without a family is.

There’s always next year...To make new friends, to get a boyfriend, to find a purpose in life that isn’t simply overworking yourself until you collapse on the spot, that isn’t...Being a lonely depressed loser...

And, ideally, not being such a pity-wallowing idiot, like I am now.

I had no idea how long I stood on the couch, lounging around, the thin blanket over my head and watching, without paying much attention, tv TV show, I head a loud pop and suddenly, the lights got turned on in my apartment, making me squeak and put the blanket over my face so my eyes wouldn’t be burning anymore.

“Is that how humans celebrate? Pretty lame if you ask me.” the familiar voice of Asmodeus was heard, and I could only groan in annoyance. “Well, I’m SORRY for offending you, Queen Bee, but not everyone is liked by all the people in the world, and not everyone has FRIENDS! Yes, this is fucking pathetic, but what the hell am I supposed to do anyway? This is what all my celebrations look like since all my friends got boyfriends and they clearly don’t give a flying fuck about me. Why are y’all here anyway? Get the hell back to your stupid work, I don’t need everyone to see how much of a lonely depressed loser I am.” after my angry outburst, I hid back in my blanket, covering my face, hoping that my form wouldn’t be trembling like a sad and angry chihuahua trying to be intimidating. “Wait, hold up, didn’t you say you were having a birthday party in a few days? With friends and all that?” Mammon asked, dropping on the couch next to me. “Yeah, well, I cancelled it. Everyone’s too busy to come. They got boyfriends. Even if they promised to come, I’m nobody’s first option and I’ll never me. I’m resigned to that, I know I’ll always be the lonely depressed loser, as my friends called it, so there’s that. Now, if you’ll PLEASE leave me the hell alone and weep in self-pity, I would be really grateful. Bye.” I emphasised the word that was supposed to make them understand and bugger off, but, instead, the other 6 brothers plopped down on the couched, squeezing each other and crawling all over me. “Well, they aren’t real friends, are they? The Lord of Shadows would never treat Henry so terribly! The Lord of Shadows stay by Henry’s side through all the good and bad moments without fail!” Levi preached, making me chuckle slightly, despite the tears that were welling up in my eyes. “Besides, you kinda became our family, so no matter what, you are our first priority, even if we don’t really show it.” Belphie smiled softly, taking off the blanket from my head and stroking my hair. “You are a special person and you deserve to be treated as such. Perhaps humans are too narrow-minded and blind to see it, but we do. You’re always so sweet, quiet and kind, that when you can’t hold your emotions anymore and they got too bottled up, it shows how miserable and stressed out you are. I get it. And you at the dinner table...You were really sad.” Satan spoke from one of the couch arm rests, hoping to make me feel better. “Not to mention, when we were in Diavolo’s room, you were really on the edge. We may have things to do, but they’re all pretty usual and mundane, so they can be put aside for a later time. Humans don’t live as long as we do, so we take time for granted, but when you should cherish every second you’re alive, living with such depression isn’t the right way to go.” Lucifer smiled like a kitten trying to reassure me. “Yeah, even Lord Diavolo got worried when he heard you speak, Lucifer said, and wanted to make sure you’re okay, so he had Barbatos bake some sweets for you.” Beel grinned, pointing to the tons of cakes placed on my table. “You’ve been more cheerful whenever you were in the Devildom, but here, it feels like you’re always so sad, and I hate seeing you like this. You deserve so much better than the way they’re treating you, Kat!” Asmo hugged me tightly, and I could only scoff. “Yeah, that’s what I hear all the time from everyone. You deserve better. Good, then why don’t you treat me better?! If I truly deserved better, you would treat me better! ...Everyone’s such a hypocrite nowadays...It’s impossible to find anyone genuine here.” I complained about my shit experience with people. “Well, y’know, people suck, right? Looks like they suck more than demons do, and we’re all sins, damn it! Anyway, you have as now, Kat, so who cares about them? You belong with us, at least we care about you even when we’re pissing you off. And we’d never abandon you like that, ‘specially on your birthday! Hey, Kat look at me...Now, smile. Yeah, like that.” Mammon told me to smile, but he pinched my cheeks and forced a wide and kinda painful grin on my face, only to make me chuckle nonetheless. “...Thanks, guys. I owe you.” I muttered, looking down and trying to hide my face a bit, but the guys hugged me, making me finally feel happy and warm. “You owe us nothing, Katrina, just to try to find happiness in other places other than this miserable Earth.” Lucifer advised me, and I couldn’t help but smile and nod. “Yeah...I will. I’m sure I will. Everything’s better when demons are involved.” I joked, shrugging my shoulders dramatically, as the others laughed at my comment, and finally, we could start a proper party with deafeningly loud music, dancing and hella on point food.

Who’s the lonely depressed loser now, bitch?

#fluffy self-cember #self-indulgend #obey me x reader #obey me x kat #obey me self insert #christmas #fluffy december #self indulgent december

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walkerismychoice · 6 years ago

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For Law and Love - Chapter 12

Book: Desire and Decorum - Modern day AU

Paring: Ernest Sinclaire X MC

Raiting: PG-13

A/N: This is sort of shorter transitional chapter. but I felt it was best to get this stuff out of the way and cut it off here

Summary: Anna and Ernest deal with the fallout of the incident with Professor Richards

Word Count: 1457

Law and Love Master List - Catch up here

The last week had been a whirlwind of giving statement after statement to police, lawyers, and school officials. Anna was thankful to have come out mostly unscathed, but as word spread of her ordeal, one by one more victims came forward, and not all were as lucky as her. Some had been afraid to say no, and gave into Professor Richards demands out of fear of the alternative, other’s had refused and failed out of law school, or worse. Things that could have happened to Anna had she not put up a fight, and she didn’t even want to think about just how lucky she was. The school set her up with a therapist which was helpful even after the first visit, but saw the value in continuing on because she realized she could have been benefiting from therapy all along.

Professor Richards was put on immediate suspension and class was cancelled for a week pending the investigation. By some miracle, professor Richards’s attorney must have convinced him not to press charges against Ernest given all the serious accusations against him, but Ernest wasn't in the clear yet. He still had go before the Dean and the rest of the law school's administrative board to determine what, if any, action would be taken against him.

~~~~~

Ernest bit at his nails as he sat in front of the board nervously awaiting the start of the hearing. In his opinion Professor Richards deserved a whole lot more than a punch to the face, but he also understood the threat of immediate danger to Anna had passed and that they could easily find him in violation of the school's code of conduct. He didn't know what type of punishment to expect, but he could handle just about anything short of being expelled.

“Mr. Sinclaire,” Dean Henning began as the other board members watched on attentively. “As you know, we are here today to discuss your incident with Professor Richards. You are aware that we have a zero tolerance policy for violence, correct?”

“Yes, Sir.” Ernest answered, lowering his eyes to the floor.

“Based on my own knowledge and interviews with others in the school that know you, this type of behavior is out of character for you. I imagine you wouldn’t have resorted to assaulting Professor Richards without just cause. Am I correct in assuming you acted as you did out of concern for Ms. Edgewater’s safety?” The dean questioned.

If he Ernest was being completely honest, Anna was already physically out of harm’s way by the time he got there. “Well,...”

“Mr. Sinclaire, I do already have statements from Mr. Harper and Mr. Prince confirming you were acting in defense of Ms. Edgewater. If you say no more, I will accept that as your agreement, and we can put this to rest. I’m guessing Professor Richards will be too busy with his other battles to put up a fight on this front.” Ernest couldn’t be certain, but he thought he detected a hint of a smile on the dean’s lips. He glanced at the other board members and noticed a couple of them smirking as well. Maybe Professor Richards nasty reputation extended beyond just the students

Ernest let out an audible sigh of relief. “Thank you, Sir.”

“Very well then.” Dean Henning very clearly smiled this time. “We do have another matter to discuss.”

“Okay...” Ernest’s heart started beating faster again, not knowing what else he could have done wrong.

“No need to worry. It’s nothing bad,” Dean Henning reassured him. “Although Professor Richard’s future remains uncertain, he is suspended indefinitely. This is a concern because there is still a month left in the semester, and we need someone to head up teaching Business Law. The department has talked it over and we believe you are the best person for the job.”

“What?” Was Ernest hearing this right? Moments ago he was worried about being kicked out of law school, and now they were asking him to head up the course. “But I’m just a law student. Why me over anyone else?”

“To be honest, if there were another professor who knew the material and had availability, that would be our top choice, but at this point, you are by far the most qualified. It is not unprecedented for graduate students to instruct undergraduate courses and we are confident you know the material. Mr. Harper and Mr. Prince are good students as well, but you are at the top of your class. They will continue to act as your teaching assistants and you will present the material to the class. We are aware that Professor Richards was relying heavily on the three of you, so the workload shouldn’t be that much more for you. What do you say?” The dean asked expectantly.

His mind was still reeling from the sudden turn of events, but he knew he needed to do it. “Yes, I’ll do.”

“Excellent.” Dean Henning reached across the table to shake Ernest’s hand. “Just one more thing. I do not need to know the details of your personal life, but I feel it may be necessary spell out that professor/student relationships are forbidden. Although you lack the technical title, you are acting in the role, and we will need you to abide by this rule, at least until the semester ends and final grades are submitted.”

Ernest’s heart sunk upon the realization. “Understood.” It was only a month. He an Anna could handle a month apart, couldn’t they?

~~~~~

Ernest had texted Anna immediately after the hearing to meet her at his office with no further details. He was seated at his desk when she arrived. She grabbed the handle to shut the door, but he stopped her. “You can leave that open.”

There was a formality in his tone she wasn’t used to and Anna started to worry. She sat down in the chair opposite his at the desk. “How did the hearing go? Are you okay?”

Ernest smiled wearily. “It went very well, actually. Apparently I have some very good friends willing to vouch for me, and professor Richards has enough enemies that there will be no action taken against me. In fact, you are looking at the new stand-in professor for the rest of the semester.”

“Seriously? That’s great news!” Anna jumped up and ran around the desk to give Ernest a hug but he held a hand up to keep her back.

“Unfortunately, that means we cannot continue our relationship for the remainder of the semester. I’m sorry, Anna.”

His actions now made sense and Anna feared the worst. “So are we breaking up?”

Ernest looked out into the hallway and then spoke softly. “No, not at all. It’s just that with everything that’s happened, neither of us can afford to take any chances here. We can’t risk being seen in any inappropriate situations. I’m still all yours if you can wait.

A month was such an insignificant amount of time, yet a month without touching, kissing, or holding Ernest seemed like an eternity. However, given the alternatives, it wasn’t the worst thing she could have to endure. “Hmm. A month is a long time, and I do have a lot of other prospects...kidding, kidding. Of course I can wait. I’d even wait two months for you.”

Ernest shook his head and laughed. “We’ll see how things go, but for now I’ll only be able to see you in class. Unless...There would be nothing stopping you from volunteering at the legal aid clinic on Saturdays when I do. They can always use extra help filling and filing paperwork. You don’t need any special training and it would look good on your law school application.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Strictly to help me with Law School, and not because there might some hot law school students there.” Anna smirked.

“I would tell you that you better be talking about me, but that would be inappropriate, so I’ll just say I hope the opportunity is everything you are looking for. I do have to have to run to another class now, but maybe I’ll see you at the clinic tomorrow.” As they stood to leave, Ernest peered out into the hallway, and then pulled Anna behind the door and out of view. He wrapped his arms around her and brought his lips down on hers, kissing her like he needed it to be enough to last.

Anna kissed him back with equal eagerness and longing before the finally broke apart. “I know you aren’t going anywhere, but I miss you already.”

Ernest hugged her tightly to his chest. “This will be over in no time. We’ll make it work. I know we will.”

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#playchoices fanfic #desire and decorum #for law and love #mc X ernest sinclaire #Mr. Sinclaire #my fic

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writingmyselfout · 3 years ago

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Because I Could Not Stop for Death - Chapter Six

Language: English

Rating: Teen+

Pairing: Hermione Granger/Harry Potter

Tags: AU - Canon Divergence, Reptilia28′s Don’t Fear the Reaper Challenge, Manipulative Dumbledore, Black Hermione Granger, Slight Ron Weasley Bashing

Prologue 1 2 3 4 5

Chapter 6: Just As Well Be Blind

Summary: A conversation.

MINERVA McGonagall is not at all surprised when during dinner, Albus asks her if she would join him for tea in his office later. She doesn’t need him to expand into the reasoning why, only agrees once she’s ensured that her prefects have the first years well in hand, she will join him. They discuss the upcoming school year briefly, he mentions some new ordinances the Board of Governors were considering, and just general things, but all the while she knows what he wants to discuss is one of her newest lions.

Once the students are dismissed, she goes to her Gryffindors, instructing the prefects to lead the first years up. She stands in the Great Hall as the students disperse, going off to find their own houses, and is equally unsurprised when Severus Snape comes to stand at her side. Neither says a word until the last of his Slytherins has gone down the hall leading to the dungeons.

“Mr. Potter has followed in his father’s footsteps,” is the first comment from the Potions Master.

“And his mother’s,” she reminds him. “Albus wishes me to join him for tea.”

Snape looks over at her. “To discuss the boy, no doubt.”

She nods her head in agreement. “Almost certainly.” She starts to head for the stairs, and he follows. “He and Draco Malfoy seem to have remained friends. I thought he might end up in your house after all.”

“Yes, well it may have been better for their friendship if he had,” Snape replies. “We both know they’re unlikely to remain friends.”

“You’re too much of a pessimist, Severus,” she admonishes. “They might surprise you.”

He looks unconvinced, but changes the subject. “Have you spoken with him about the stone?”

“Yes.” McGonagall’s frown makes it perfectly clear how that discussion went.

Snape notes it, and adds, “I take it he is determined to keep it here at the school.”

“He isn’t entirely wrong; it’s likely safer here than anywhere else,” she concedes. “But I’m not keen on the idea of bringing something to a school that is likely to attract dangers that might harm the students.”

Snape’s reasoning is different. For him, it’s just stupid to try to protect something that they would be better served to just destroy. It is the more logical solution, in his mind, and would save them all the trouble of having to worry about safeguards at all. He doesn’t share that, though, knowing the deputy headmistress is a true educator, through and through, whose students would always come first for her. He doesn’t quite share that passion.

“Yes, well, the man rarely thinks himself wrong,” he says instead.

“That’s the problem with rarely being wrong. You don’t recognize when you are.” They reach the gargoyle statue on the third floor that guards the entrance to the headmaster’s office and McGonagall gives it the newest password. “Curly Wurly.” The statue jumps aside, revealing the moving staircase up to the headmaster’s office, and McGonagall turns to her colleague. “Care to join us?”

Snape shakes his head. “No, but I admit to some curiosity. Let me know what happens.”

She nods her head in agreement then bids him goodnight as she heads up the stairs. She enters the circular room, eyes moving as they always do over the tables about. McGonagall recognizes the Pensieve tucked away in a recess between shelves of books. There is an identical recess on the other side of the room between more shelves, this one with a moon globe. The nearest window to that has a table next to it with a lunascope atop its surface, and some papers. The rest of the tables, of which there are probably about a half dozen or so in varying sizes, hold various silver instruments, many of which are constantly spinning or emitting the occasional puff of smoke, and almost all of them unrecognizable to McGonagall. She assumes more are for show than anything. Granted, Dumbledore knows many people, so perhaps some were inventions he’d been gifted or older magical items generally no longer in use, but her curiosity only goes so far as to wonder the point of having them, as she has yet to ever see him actually use any.

The man himself is standing at his desk, a pleasant smile on his face as she meets his gaze and he motions for her to take a seat across from him. There is a cup of tea waiting for her, steaming rising gently from it as she takes a seat.

“Thank you.” She picks the cup up, sniffs the pleasant aroma and takes a sip. She doesn’t say anything, curious as to how he’ll bring the subject up, and not inclined after this summer to make it easier for him.

He took a seat as she did so, and now picks up his own cup of tea. There’s quiet for a moment as they both drink some of their respective drinks, before he finally sets his cup back down and speaks. “I thought Harry might end up with you in Gryffindor. The boy would be the spitting image of his father were it not for having his mother’s eyes, and the scar, of course. Uncanny, the resemblance.”

“Of course. Although I’d say he favors his mother’s personality more,” she tells him. “Even made friends with one of the new Slytherin students. Can’t say that’s something James Potter would have done his first year.”

“I did see he was standing next to Lucius Malfoy’s son,” Dumbledore notes. “Friends, you say? I thought they had simply ended up next to each other coming in from the train.”

McGonagall nods her head. “Oh no, the boys met in Diagon Alley when Severus and I took Mr. Potter to get his school things. Hagrid got him an owl for his birthday, so I imagine they kept in touch.”

“Ah, interesting.” He seems to think about this for a moment, before he continues. “In any case, I wanted to speak with you on another matter concerning Harry. More specifically, his magical guardianship.”

McGonagall sets her cup down. “Yes? What about it?”

“I believe it would be in his best interest if I remained his guardian, considering his unique circumstances.”

“They’re hardly that unique,” she argues. “Hogwarts has had orphaned students before, and their Head of Houses have stepped in as magical guardians since the early days of the school. I am surprised, though, that full guardianship didn’t go to his Muggle family. Shouldn’t that have been the case, with the Ministry assigning someone to assist in any magic related circumstances, like helping them access Mr. Potter’s Gringotts vault and such?” She has had a month to wonder about these things. Nothing about Harry’s situation seems to adhere to how she knows these things are supposed to be handled.

“Minerva, you have met Harry’s family; would it have been wise to give them access to the Potter fortune?” She can’t argue that he has a point there, and he takes her silence as agreement so he continues. “Cornelius and I discussed it after placing him with the Dursleys, and since we had no way of knowing if Voldemort was truly gone, we thought it best to keep Harry’s whereabouts on a need-to-know basis so if he should return, the child would be safe.”

“And after? It has been a near decade, Albus. I have never understood the decision to leave him there indefinitely. There’s been nary a sign of him ; the Ministry could have resumed their responsibilities to the boy. Even so, James and Lily Potter surely named a magical guardian if he was going to end up with her Muggle family; why not have them check on him if neither you nor the Ministry could?”

Dumbledore sighs. “Unfortunately, Sirius Black was the appointed guardian. You know he betrayed the Potters. Even if he were not in Azkaban and therefore incapable of performing those duties, he clearly would be unfit to do so. There was no one else named, so I stepped in.”

It all sounds so reasonable, but McGonagall can’t help the feeling that things were not done the way they should have been, and thus Harry had suffered the consequences.

“Very noble of you,” McGonagall finally says, and if she sounds a little sarcastic, well, she is around children all day. “Well as you said, you’re a busy man. So respectfully, I think it best I take over his guardianship as his Head of House as I’ll have the ability to take on a more active role than your duties have allowed. Especially since as deputy headmistress, it is in the school’s best interest that you continue to be able to perform all your duties as headmaster. Unless there’s another reason you feel I am not up to the task?”

It is so rare for them to disagree like this, that she’s not sure she’s ever outright challenged him on something the way she is now. In fact, Dumbledore is no longer smiling at her, and instead seems to be studying her, taking her in as he forms a response.

Everything from her tone of voice, to the way she’s seated in her chair ramrod straight, to the very tilt of her chin makes it obvious that this is a challenge she will not back down from. Whether it’s the approach he’s miscalculated, or simply the level of which her visit to the boy’s family this summer upset her, he isn’t sure. One thing is certain, though, and that is that as he was not legally appointed by the Potters, he cannot override the old magical laws that govern the school and is upheld by the Ministry without additional intervention that would require the involvement of the Board of Governors, the Department of Magical Education, and either the International Magical Office of Law--which technically was also the Domestic Magical Office of Law--or the Wizengamot itself, if not both. It would turn into a grand spectacle and raise questions as to the necessity of it, and would it really be worth it in the end?

McGonagall meets Dumbledore’s piercing gaze, unmoved, and unbothered by the silence. Her intention is not to question his motives; the man is powerful, not perfect, and things were getting dark by the end of the war. Whether what he’d done was actually for the best is debatable, but she thinks he truly means it when he says he believed it was. It just wasn’t enough. After all, she had seen with her own eyes the conditions Harry had been raised in. On the surface, from the outside looking in, it seemed fine. But a closer look revealed an upbringing no child should have to endure, famous or not, whether magical or Muggle. It is unconscionable to her that Albus, her one-time mentor and friend, continues to make excuses as if she hadn’t already told him what her and Snape’s visit had revealed. That his pride would come before that knowledge, keeping him from seeing why things had to change for Harry’s sake, frustrates her to no end.

Finally, Dumbledore smiles at her. “I would never question your ability with any task, my dear. If you are certain, I will say no more on the matter.” With that, he picks up his tea and seamlessly changes the subject.

Story Notes:

Chapter title is from Billy Joel's "Honesty".

#Because I Could Not Stop for Death fic #BICNSFD #Harmony fanfic #HP fanfic #Harry Potter

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nathanielburgos · 5 years ago

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UK Visa Processing Times (Latest from UKVI)

The following guide will help you gauge the likely UK visa processing times for your application, including an update on UK visa processing in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

UK visa processing times during the Coronavirus outbreak

In-country processing

UK Visa and Citizenship Application Centres (UKVCAS) and Service and Support Centres (SSCs) are temporarily closed because of coronavirus (COVID-19). The Home Office has stated that “an individual’s immigration status will not be negatively affected as a result of them not being able to attend an appointment”.

Anyone who has already made an appointment to attend a UKVCAS service point, or a Service and Support Centre (SSC) will be contacted and advised what to do next. Again, their immigration status will not be negatively affected if not able to attend an appointment due to the outbreak.

Once an applicant has submitted their application online, the terms of their leave will remain the same as they were at the point of application. Applicants will be in the UK lawfully and no-one will be subject to immigration action if they are unable to attend a biometric appointment or if there are delays in processing their application.

Pending in-country applications

Those who are not able to extend their visa in-country will need to rely on new emergency provisions and inform the Home Office, as indicated in its guidance.

They may use the opportunity to switch into another category, however, they will need to meet all the requirements for the visa, which in some instances may be difficult, i.e. they need evidence of English language requirement, but are currently unable to take a test as the test centres are closed. We understand the Home Office is considering whether it will approve alternative ways of assessing English language, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

Individuals who are in the UK with a visa nearing its expiry, and who are able to extend their visa or switch into a different category can still submit their applications online, although they will not be able to attend biometrics appointment.

Following the submission of an in-time application to extend leave or switch category, the applicant’s leave in the UK would be extended under Section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971 until the application is decided by the Home Office. Section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971 prevents an individual from becoming an overstayer while they wait for a decision on their application by extending a person’s leave in the UK where an in time application to extend or vary leave is made and the application is not decided before the person’s existing leave expires.

Therefore those individuals should not need to apply again under the emergency extension provisions.

Visas for NHS doctors, nurses and paramedics will be automatically extended for one year where those are due to expire before 1 October 2020, they do not need to apply themselves. This provision includes their dependants.

Applications outside the UK

The Home Office have now included the following note in all draft applications:

“Due to the impact of COVID-19 and the worldwide border, travel and public health restrictions, including Visa Application Centre (VAC) closures in many countries, UKVI services are limited and we are unable to meet our usual service standards. Therefore, we are not encouraging applications at this time and cannot say when your application will be decided if you do decide to apply. We continue to keep the situation under review and hope to resume normal services when we are able.”

UKVI have to date been unable to advise when the VACs will re-open. This means entry clearance visa applications are not being processed at the moment and there is currently no ‘work around’ for UK entry clearance applications.

We look at what this currently means for UK entry clearance applications.

Pending UK entry clearance applications

The Home Office is sending emails to visa applicants and/or their legal representatives to inform that the application has been placed on hold and to reassure that this is due to the operational impacts of COVID-19 rather than concerns or delays due to issues with their application.

For individuals with pending visa applications, it is in effect a waiting game with no indication of timescale as to when processing of applications will resume.

As a result, employers may be considering furloughing those individuals i.e. if they worked for them with another visa category and left the UK for the sole purpose of applying for a Tier 2 visa.

The Home Office have confirmed that employers can furlough migrant workers under the Job Retention Scheme in cases where they cannot pay the salaries of sponsored employees because of temporarily reduction or cessation of trading:

You can temporarily reduce the pay of your sponsored employees to 80% of their salary or £2,500 per month, whichever is the lower.

Any reductions must be part of a company-wide policy to avoid redundancies and in which all workers are treated the same.

These reductions must be temporary, and the employee’s pay must return to at least previous levels once these arrangements have ended.

In some ‘new hire’ cases employers have decided to withdraw the job offer, or postpone employment, leading to cancelled applications.

New entry clearance applications

Although the VACs are currently closed and applicants are unable to book appointments or submit their biometrics, applications can technically still be submitted online. But again, there is no indication of timescale for resuming processing.

We should also note the Home Office’s request on the application form, discouraging applications from being made at present. Depending on volumes that are submitted, we could even see the online application disabled.

Importantly, the Home Office has also confirmed that those who were issued with a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) but were unable to apply for a visa due to the current circumstances, will be able to use that CoS for their application even if the start date of their employment has changed. The Home office will not automatically refuse those applications – they may accept a CoS that has become invalid because the employee was unable to travel as a result of coronavirus, but will consider each application on a case by case basis.

Employers hiring from overseas

It is possible to hire and onboard workers remotely with a view to coming over to the UK once restrictions lifted, but we are advising undertaking careful immigration due diligence before signing an employment contract, to ensure the individual (and any dependants) would be likely to secure a visa.

DavidsonMorris’ immigration lawyers are on hand to take any queries you may have relating to UK visa application processing for either you, your employees or family.

UK visa processing times under normal circumstances

When you apply for a UK visa, the length of time it takes for your application to be processed can be an important factor in deciding when to apply and when to make your travel arrangements. But UK visa processing times can vary considerably, depending on factors such as the type of visa being applied for, the country or Embassy where the application is made and the applicant’s own individual circumstances and eligibility.

UK visa processing service standards

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is the Home Office department responsible for the UK’s visa system. UKVI specifies standards for processing times of UK visas.

These include:

Non settlement visa applications from outside the UK – 90% within three weeks, 98% within six weeks, and 100% within 12 weeks of the application date

Settlement applications from outside the UK – 98.5% within 12 weeks of the application date and 100% within 24 weeks of the application date

Applications to temporarily remain in the UK – within 8 weeks

Persons from Turkey making their application under the European Community Association Agreement and right of abode – within 6 months

Application for a residence card or permanent residence card from a non-EEA national family member – within 6 months

Application from within the UK for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) or no time limit (NTL) – within 6 months

The processing date is counted from when UKVI receive your application.

Note that these standards do not apply to issuing Biometric Residence Permits (BRP). BRP are usually received within 7 working days of the decision on your application.

Are fast track or premium services available?

You may be able to receive a faster decision if you use the priority option offered by UKVI. This is only available with certain visas and does require an additional payment over and above your application fee. Should you be eligible, a decision will generally be made within 5 working days.

There is also a ‘super priority’ service, costing £800 on top of your application fee, but again this is only available with certain visa applications. Should you be eligible, once you have attended your appointment you will receive a decision by the end of the next working day if your appointment took place on a weekday or within 2 working days if your appointment took place at the weekend.

For both the priority service and super priority service, the service standard will start when you complete your appointment to provide your biometric information and supporting evidence.

What are the different types of UK visa applications?

The type of UK visa that you apply for will be the main deciding factor in how long it takes to process your UK visa application. The UK visa that you choose will depend on your reason for visiting the UK and how long you wish to stay.

Holiday, family visit or business trip

The Standard Visitor visa is generally suitable for tourism, holidays, visiting and to receive short-term medical treatment. It replaces:

Business visitor and prospective entrepreneur visas

Family visitor visa

Child visitor visa

Sports and entertainer visitor visas

Private medical treatment visitor visa

Approved destination status visa

General visitor visa

Under the standard visitor visa, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 6 months.

Your application for a Standard Visitor visa should be made no earlier than 3 months before you intend to enter the UK, and it will generally take no more than 3 weeks for the visa application to be processed and a decision made after your appointment.

Studying

Should you wish to study in the UK, there are 3 visas available for this purpose, depending on your individual situation:

A short-term study visa is suitable for a 6 month stay in the UK to attend a course. For students over 16 who wish to attend an English language course, it may be possible to use a Short-term study visa for a stay of up to 11 months.

A general study visa is suitable for a longer course of study in the UK as long as the student has a confirmed place on a course and is sponsored by a licensed university or college.

4 to 17 years old wishing to study at an independent school should apply for a child student visa.

Apply for the appropriate student visa no earlier than 3 months before you intend to enter the UK. Once you have attended your appointment, it will generally take no more than 3 weeks to receive a decision.

Work in the UK

There are many types of short-term and long-term work visas including:

Temporary worker visas

Domestic workers in a private household visas

Intra-company transfer visas

Sportsperson visas

and the General work visa

Each type of visa will carry its own eligibility, conditions and application requirements.

The Tier 2 General work visa, for instance, is open to persons who come from outside the EEA and Switzerland, and have a job offer from a licensed sponsor for skilled employment in the UK.

The processing time for a General work visa is generally no longer than 3 weeks once the applicant has attended their appointment.

Entrepreneurs & investors

There are three main routes for people coming to the UK to do business:

The Investor visa allows persons from outside the EEA and Switzerland to invest at least £2,000,000 in the UK.

The Start-up visa is suitable for persons wanting to establish a business in the UK, who are from outside the EEA and Switzerland and are endorsed by an authorised body.

The Innovator visa is for persons who wish to start or run a viable business in the UK that has been endorsed as innovative in that it is a new idea, are from outside the EEA and Switzerland, and have a minimum of £50,000 to invest.

Processing for business visas can take longer than other categories due to the complexity of the application documentation and evidence. Again, the earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.

Join family in the UK

The Family visa will generally allow you to join certain family members who already live in the UK if you wish to remain in the country for more than 6 months.

If the visa application is made from outside the UK, the processing time will generally take up to 12 weeks. Applications made from within the UK, will generally take up to 8 weeks to process.

To get married

If you intend to visit the UK to get married, you should generally apply for a Marriage Visitor visa. This visa is also suitable for civil partnership ceremonies in the UK.

This visa doesn’t allow you to remain or settle in the UK after the marriage or civil partnership ceremony.

Processing, once an appointment has been attended, should take no more than 3 weeks.

Travelling through the UK

If you intend to travel through the UK to a non UK destination, you may need to apply for a Transit visa unless:

you have a Standard Visitor or Marriage visa

you are from a European Economic area (EEA) or Switzerland

you hold an EEA family permit

There are two types of Transit visa. If you will be passing through UK border control and staying in the UK no more than 48 hours, then you should apply for a Visitor in Transit visa. If you will not pass through UK border control, then you should apply for a Direct Airside Transit visa.

If you will be staying in the UK for longer than 48 hours, it will be necessary to apply for a Standard Visitor visa.

What is the difference between UKVCAS and Home Office processing?

One factor that may affect the UK visa processing time is whether the application has to be made through UKVCAS.

UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service) was introduced in November 2018 to handle certain UK visa, settlement and citizenship applications made from persons already in the UK. Since its introduction, there have been continued reports of delays in application processing and difficulties for applicants to schedule an appointment at a UKVCAS centre.

You will be advised when making your application if you must go through UKVCAS in order for your application to be processed.

How might the time of year and other factors affect your UK visa processing time?

There are other factors that may affect the processing time of your UK visa application. These include:

Caseload Summer is generally the busiest time for UKVI, but applicants should also note that, given the current changes in the UK immigration system, particularly resulting from the recent introduction of the EU settlement scheme, processing is taking longer than in previous years due to the surge in UKVI workload.

Where you apply from The country that you apply for your UK visa from may affect the processing time for several reasons, including the relationship and arrangements between the UK and your country, the administrative systems within each country, current conditions within either country, endorsing documents from your country or finding their equivalent in the UK, whether that country is part of the EEA and so on.

It is always advised to check with the UK embassy or consulate in your country for any such issues that could lead to visa processing delays.

Insufficient or incorrect information Where your application includes incorrect information or the documentation you supply is insufficient, the processing time may be longer than expected if UKVI pause processing to request further information from you in order to make a decision.

The best way to avoid this is to check your application thoroughly and ensure that you have all the necessary documentation to hand before you apply.

Need assistance?

At DavidsonMorris we have the experience to advise you on the most appropriate UK visa for your circumstances and have the insight to make the process as smooth as possible.

As a team of immigration lawyers and former Home Office employees, we have an established reputation for effective and efficient management and processing of visa applications, and for providing expert visa-related advice to suit your needs.

Last updated: 12 April 2020

UK Visa Processing Times (Latest from UKVI) published first on https://ordergcmsnotescanada.tumblr.com/

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ossyuche · 5 years ago

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My Partner of 7 Years Won’t Get Divorced!

I have been with my common law partner for almost 7 years. We met at work, we have had our ups and downs and even split but reconciled a few times over the years. He was going through a process in life. We are very committed and function as a married couple, he is an active stepfather to my teenage children, and we even own a business together.

However, when we first met he was just separating from his wife. Less so than I had been led to believe, hence the processes he went through for the first few years. In hindsight, I wouldn’t have gotten involved knowing what I know now but its irrelevant now.

The problem is that he won’t divorce. He has one son with her who is almost 26 and lives with her (he won’t leave home). She is several years into a relationship and runs a family business with her new boyfriend from the matrimonial property. He has taken small steps like asking her to list the house for sale but closes his eyes to it when she refuses. He pays mortgage and debts for her. He once wrote a separation agreement and she edited it asking for very high spousal support and he filed it away unsigned and unfiled. He kept her on medical benefits until just recently so he has done a lot to ease the transition.

We are looking at some changes in our lives or moving and new jobs that I hesitate to commit to without feeling secure in my relationship, plus I want to get married one day. I’m close to 40 now, my kids are close to leaving home, and I can’t help but wonder if I’ve wasted my 30’s, if my relationship is a farce, or it will never go to the next level, or like I’m living with someone else’s husband.

He won’t discuss it often or in depth. His excuses are mostly the difficulty or money. Money is not an actual stumbling block. He is very smart and capable. When I broached the subject of legality of rights for me, he had a legal notarized will done naming me as beneficiary and power of attorney. He IS capable obviously, but avoids divorce.

Both his wife and son clearly manipulate him through guilt, asking for money as their only communication. I think he revels in feeling needed. I’m just not sure where the boundary line is, have I gone too far over it, am I impatient or irrational or demanding? I’m lost for ways to address it or whether I should walk away from it. I have read your advice to others for years and would be incredibly relieved and honored to hear your feedback.

Niki

I feel obliged to say that I’ve written about this topic a number of times before but each case is different.

Sounds to me like you’ve got a pretty good bead on things.

Your boyfriend either wants to be needed, is afraid of being cut off, wants to have his cake and eat it, too.

As I explain in Why He Disappeared, it generally doesn’t matter WHY someone acts a certain way. Getting the “right” answer only means that you know his motives; it doesn’t change his actions at all.

Basically, this is a dilemma that only one person can solve, Niki. And that’s you.

You’re at a fork in the road.

Would you rather continue in this relationship even though you’re never going to get married?

Or would you rather start over and find a man who is available and wants to marry you?

Your guy DOESN’T. Otherwise, he would have been divorced and proposed to you already after 7 years.

Make no mistake, you put yourself in this position by integrating your life with his, starting a business, allowing him to step-parent your children — all without a formal commitment. He got what he wanted. You didn’t.

Your power — as it is for all women in dissatisfying relationships — is to walk.

You’re not trying to negotiate with him. You’re not going to force him to divorce. You’re going to leave and find a man who wants the commitment that you want. If, after you leave, he follows and initiates divorce proceedings, you might have a husband.

If he doesn’t — and I’m betting he doesn’t — you’ll be free to find a man who puts you first and makes you feel safe for the rest of your life.

One word of caution: if you say you’re going to leave and you DON’T leave, you’ve just sent the message that you’ll continue to put up with this indefinitely the way you did for the last seven years. Frankly — and I know it’s not my life and it’s easy to say from afar — I wouldn’t want someone to marry me due to an ultimatum; I’d want someone who wanted to marry me. Yours doesn’t. Please don’t lose sight of that.

Good luck.

The post My Partner of 7 Years Won’t Get Divorced! appeared first on Dating Coach – Evan Marc Katz | Understand Men. Find Love..

The Blind Spot In Rori Raye’s Circular Dating

Don’t Judge a Book By Its Cover – In Defense of “Marry Him: The Case for Settling for Mr. Good Enough” by Lori Gottlieb

Why Won’t He Take Steps To Finalize His Divorce?

Original source: https://www.evanmarckatz.com/blog/letting-go/my-partner-of-7-years-wont-get-divorced

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sylsabastian · 7 years ago

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The Time Before - Biella Series Book 4 Ch1

Biella and the group had all settled in after boarding and their voyage was already well underway. Biella had strongly recommended everyone familiarise themselves as slowly as possible, explore the ship in small doses, and generally extend the time taken on all activities. Space travel was a slow business.

The spaceship they were on was owned by the New Nobility. More like a small city than a ship, fully self-contained. The nature of space travel involved a ship manoeuvring to a point in space where the competing gravities from major celestial bodies were mostly cancelled out. Then the gravity of the entire ship and contents was changed via localised mini black holes. Changing gravity causes relative time to accelerate or decelerate. It also involved using the mini black holes to accelerate the spaceship. The controlled black holes were used to apply acceleration to the spaceship and everything on it evenly. This allowed for acceleration faster than the G force limitation of propulsion applied to the ship only. Since the ship was not in effect pressing on the physical bodies, it enabled massive acceleration. Once the speeds needed were attained, the black hole was closed and a new one in the other direction was used to decelerate the ship and its contents.

The ships used this method to slow the relative time of the ship. Everything onboard remained the same for the occupants, but time in the universe accelerated. The ship itself in effect stayed in the same place, but the rest of the universe continued to move, and moved much much faster, relatively. The ships positioned themselves on the forward trajectory of their destination. Thus the planet they wanted to travel to, came to them, and their departure point moved away from them. This was how the faster than light problems were solved, via the time-gravity relationship.

The acceleration and deceleration was used to position the ship, taking the short cut as it were. And even though vast distances were covered, they were small relative to universal distances. This acceleration and deceleration along with the gravity changes also ended up more or less evening out the time dilation effect. Nonetheless, space travel always resulted in some change in the difference between the traveller and their point of origin. So when one returned, one always returned to the future, even if it was only a few years further along.

This method worked well. However the calculations involved were inordinately complex. The entire universe really had to be taken into account in order to compute accurately. Since such information is not available from any one particular point, an approximation has to be made, and updated as the journey went on. Much the same way as ancient seafaring mariners had to adjust as they went. Space travel had much in common with those ancient mariners. Journeys took months on average, and sometimes years. Some ships had yet to be heard from, although this was extremely rare. It was why the modern spaceships were self-sustaining, and could in theory exist indefinitely in space. They were perfect closed systems, with the exception of solar energy and a few other sources of incoming energy.

Besides Biella and The Group, as her friends and circle had become known, many officials from the Agglomeration on board as well as enough new Nobles to literally fill a small city. opportunities such as this didn't come along to often. Most New Nobles eagerly sought to join. In effect the ship was more a mini world than even a city. The new Nobility had found, particularly when making first contact, it was much much better to do so in mass, spreading out the interactions so as to circumvent an impression being formulated by any one specific individual, or small group.

This was a Diplomatic Mission. A particularly important Diplomatic Mission. And from experience, the Agglomeration had learned that the Diplomats always had to be fully in charge. They contracted with the New Nobility for their Diplomatic needs. This particular mission was Biella's mission.

No diplomats were even closely comparable to the New Nobility. Their independence from the Agglomeration made them even most trusted.

As everyone had more or less familiarized themselves with the ship they had all congregated in one of the large communal spaces. They were hanging out. "Biella?" Nora asked, she was not one to ever forget, "tell us about your childhood please? You always put off telling us. Not because there was nothing there, but because it was a long long story. A truly very very long story you said. One that really needed to be told in its entirety. We know you meant it, most of us have not forgotten, and have remained intrigued and hopeful for the opportunity to hear the story. Now the opportunity has finally arrived."

A chorus of agreement and excitement rose from The Group. They knew Biella had not been putting them off. They knew she always meant what she said. "Yes," Biella said enthusiastically. This is indeed a most appropriate time and circumstance. "I am keen to tell the story finally, and I have an intuitive feeling I cannot quite pin down that it is somehow relevant. I cannot say how or to what. But there are conditions!' Biella grinned fiercely at them. "I mean that most sincerely. It is a difficult story to tell. It is not an ordinary story at all." She paused, making sure everyone was paying attention, and that everyone was there. This was going to be a Huge Project. "Good," she said, "I want to be sure everyone is fully aware of what's involved. First, I want to make sure all are agreed to suspend the usual questioning. I do not want to shut down questions of course, never ever that, but in this story, and the way it has to be told, much will become obvious and apparent as the story unfolds. So I am asking that the mysteries be held onto. I know it is a big ask, but to try to resolve all the mysteries and immediate obvious questions as they come up will lead to too much sidetracking. It will all come clear." Biella continued, "And after a while, it will become clear as to what types of questions are appropriate. I am asking for Trust in me on this. It is not something I can justify in the usual way. Only through the telling can I show this. You will all see as it develops. And the questions issue will resolve itself. There will be many many questions to ask. But they will change as we go on. You will know what I mean if initially the questions are put on hold. Most of the obvious questions will be resolved later in the story. It is not a linear story" She laughed, "Any questions right now?" "How long is long," Hrmumpt asked. "I am not exactly sure," Biella said, "probably weeks at least. As long as our journey maybe, or even longer." "Excellent!!" said Marko, with many expressing similar sentiments. "What better on-board entertainment than that an on-going story told by Biella. And about Biella!! What could be better." Biella looked at each one in the group in turn. "Everyone is up for this?" No-one dissented. All were eager to hear the story, and the fact that it was going to be a long long story was all the better. "You all agree to be patient, and wait for the story to unfold and at least get some traction before asking questions? I want to emphasise that of I love questions, as you know, but in this case it is important that you hold off for a while before asking. As you know it is near impossible for me *not* to answer a question, but if they are asked too soon I believe the story of my childhood, which is to be the main theme, will not get told. It is a long long story, and complex, but also simple at the end of it all." She smiled enigmatically. "Yes?" she asked again. "Yes!!" They all agreed enthusiastically and with much anticipation. Biella had set them up nicely. They knew it wasn't for effect. They knew Biella meant everything she had said, but it had the effect of creating much anticipation. "Very well," Biella said, with her own enthusiasm. "We will convene as we have been, roughly mid-morning and then let the length of the day's story be determined by the day, and the story. I will start with my earliest memory, which was when I was two and a half. Mostly, from what I have been able to determine, most people's early memories are not usually specifically fixed in time or sequence, but in my case, my earliest memory is both specific as to time, very clear, and long sequence." Biella smiled mysteriously. You'll see, and it will all make sense eventually." She laughed happily again. Enjoying herself. It was not an ordinary story, and she was going to enjoy maximizing the mystery of it, and enjoy the opportunity to tease The Group a bit. "I have to prepare, so until tomorrow then." She got up to leave, and just as The Group was about to engage in discussing this turn of events, she added, "There are pictures..." Saying no more, she left them to wonder.

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#Biella Noble #Biella Series #Childhood #Fiction #Long Story #New Nobility #New Nobles #Sci-Fi #Space Travel #Storytelling

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nathanielburgos · 5 years ago

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UK Visa Processing Times (Latest from UKVI)

The following guide will help you gauge the likely UK visa processing times for your application, including an update on UK visa processing in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

UK visa processing times during the Coronavirus outbreak

The Home Office have now included the following note in all draft applications:

We look at what this currently means for UK entry clearance applications.

Pending UK entry clearance applications

We continued to submit visa applications at the beginning of March, just before the lockdown and closures of the VACs.

The applicants were able to submit their biometrics. As such, we had expected to get a decision at least on those which were submitted for priority processing, but these applications remain in processing.

The Home Office have now started sending emails to applicants and/or their legal representatives to inform that the application has been placed on hold and to reassure that this is due to the operational impacts of COVID-19 rather than concerns or delays due to issues with their application.

It is in effect a waiting game with no indication of timescale as to when processing of the applications will resume.

As a result, employers may be considering furloughing those individuals i.e. if they worked for them with another visa category and left the UK for the sole purpose of applying for a Tier 2 visa.

You can temporarily reduce the pay of your sponsored employees to 80% of their salary or £2,500 per month, whichever is the lower.

Any reductions must be part of a company-wide policy to avoid redundancies and in which all workers are treated the same.

These reductions must be temporary, and the employee’s pay must return to at least previous levels once these arrangements have ended.

In some ‘new hire’ cases employers have decided to withdraw the job offer, or postpone employment, leading to cancelled applications.

New entry clearance applications

Further, the Home Office note on the application form is attempting dissuade applications from being made at present. Depending on volumes submitted, we could even see the online application disabled.

Visa holders in the UK with applications pending

Those who are not able to extend their visa in-country will need to rely on new emergency provisions and inform the Home Office as indicated in their guidance.

Therefore those individuals should not need to apply again under the emergency extension provisions.

Employers hiring from overseas

It is possible to hire and onboard workers remotely with a view to coming over to the UK once restrictions lifted, but we are advising that this should require considerable immigration due diligence to ensure the individual would be likely to secure a visa before signing an employment contract.

DavidsonMorris’ immigration lawyers are on hand to take any queries you may have relating to a visa application or UK entry clearance for you or your employees.

UK Visa Processing Times under normal circumstances