#estate liquidation services

[probateexpertsnj]

Unlocking the Value: How Probate Real Estate Services Simplify Property Transitions

Introduction to Probate Real Estate Services

Probate real estate services play an instrumental role in the complex landscape of estate management. These services are designed to facilitate property transitions when the legal process of probate is triggered. The intricacies involved often necessitate the expertise of a certified probate expert, ensuring seamless navigation through legal, financial, and logistical challenges. Whether you’re managing a family estate or acting as an executor, the value of these services cannot be overstated.

The Role of a Certified Probate Expert

A certified probate expert is your guide through the intricate maze of probate law and property management. With their specialized knowledge, they handle the complexities of transferring ownership, dealing with creditors, and liquidating assets. Their role extends beyond paperwork, as they ensure the legalities are fully understood, keeping you informed every step of the way. Relying on a certified probate expert reduces the burden of handling these sensitive affairs on your own.

Why Property Valuation is Essential During Probate

When dealing with probate real estate, understanding the accurate value of a property is crucial. The property valuation services provided by professionals ensure that the estate is assessed in line with market conditions. Accurate property valuation is vital for equitable asset distribution, whether you're dividing assets among heirs or preparing the estate for sale. Without proper valuation, disputes could arise, complicating the probate process.

Discover more about property valuation services.

The Vital Role of a Real Estate Attorney

Navigating the legal intricacies of property transfer in probate requires the skill and precision of a real estate attorney. These legal professionals ensure all transactions comply with state regulations, avoiding potential legal pitfalls. Their expertise is indispensable when addressing issues such as ownership disputes, title concerns, and property liens. With the assistance of a real estate attorney, the transfer of real estate is handled smoothly, and potential litigation is often averted.

More about real estate attorneys.

Estate Litigation Attorney: Resolving Conflicts

Despite best intentions, probate can often lead to disputes among heirs and beneficiaries. An estate litigation attorney becomes essential in these scenarios. Whether the dispute involves the validity of a will, mismanagement of assets, or disagreements about property division, an estate litigation attorney steps in to mediate and resolve conflicts. Their role ensures the process remains equitable and legal, preventing drawn-out battles that can drain estate resources.

For more on , visit estate litigation attorneys.

Streamlining Asset Distribution with Estate Liquidation Services

At the heart of probate real estate services is the liquidation of assets. Estate liquidation services allow for a methodical and professional sale of the estate's tangible and intangible assets. These services take the pressure off the family, ensuring that the assets are sold for the best possible price. Whether it’s an antique collection, furniture, or property, estate liquidation allows for a quick and efficient conversion of assets into liquid cash.

For further details on, explore estate liquidation services.

The Necessity of Winterization Services for Vacant Properties

During probate, properties often sit unoccupied for extended periods. Winterization services ensure that these vacant properties are safeguarded against harsh weather conditions, preventing damage to plumbing systems and structural integrity. Frozen pipes, leaks, and mold can severely reduce a property’s value if left unchecked. Winterization services provide peace of mind, preserving the estate’s value while probate proceedings unfold.

Protect your property with winterization services.

Probate Real Estate: When to Involve an Estate Probate Attorney

In complex cases involving property transitions, the need for an estate probate attorney becomes undeniable. These legal professionals manage the probate court’s requirements and ensure that all estate assets are appropriately managed, debts are settled, and properties are legally transferred to heirs or sold. An estate probate attorney ensures compliance with state-specific probate laws, streamlining the process while mitigating the risk of errors.

Learn more about the expertise of an estate probate attorney.

How Probate Services NJ Simplify Estate Transitions

Probate Services NJ offers a comprehensive approach to handling estate transitions, from managing legal paperwork to property valuation. They coordinate with certified probate experts, real estate attorneys, and liquidation professionals to ensure that all aspects of the estate are managed efficiently. Probate Services NJ takes the complexity out of the process, offering peace of mind during an emotionally challenging time. Their holistic services make them an invaluable partner in the probate process.

Discover the full range of Probate Services NJ.

Key Considerations When Selling Probate Real Estate

Selling probate real estate comes with its own set of challenges. From preparing the home for sale to navigating the probate court’s requirements, the process can be daunting. Engaging probate real estate services early on simplifies the process, ensuring the property is marketed effectively and sold at a fair market price. Additionally, having a certified probate expert on hand ensures all legal protocols are followed, preventing delays in the sale.

Probate Real Estate Services: Reducing the Burden on Executors

For executors, managing a deceased person’s estate is an overwhelming task, especially when real estate is involved. Probate real estate services offer a way to reduce the burden, handling everything from property maintenance to sale. With a comprehensive team of experts, including estate attorneys, certified probate experts, and valuation professionals, executors are supported through every phase of the transition, making the process less stressful and more efficient.

Conclusion: Simplifying Complex Property Transitions

The process of managing probate real estate can be both legally complex and emotionally taxing. However, probate real estate services provide a structured and effective way to simplify the transition. From accurate property valuation to expert legal guidance, each step of the process is managed with care and precision. Whether you’re an executor or a beneficiary, engaging with probate real estate services ensures that property transitions are handled efficiently and with the utmost professionalism.

[jerryantiques]

Maximizing Your Success with Estate Sales in New Jersey

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on navigating the world of estate sale NJ! As estate liquidators based in the vibrant state of New Jersey, we understand the intricacies and nuances involved in orchestrating successful estate sales liquidation events. Whether you're a seasoned investor or a first-time attendee, our expertise and dedication to excellence ensure that your experience with estate liquidation services is nothing short of exceptional.

Understanding Estate Sales

What Are Estate Sales?

Estate sales NJ are unique events where the possessions of a home are sold off, typically due to major life events such as a death, relocation, or downsizing. These sales offer a diverse array of items, ranging from furniture and antiques to collectibles and household goods.

The Role of Estate Liquidators

Estate liquidators play a crucial role in facilitating the smooth execution of estate sales liquidation. They are experts in pricing items, marketing the sale, managing logistics, and maximizing profits for the estate.

Key Factors for Success

Strategic Planning

Successful estate liquidators NJ sales require meticulous planning and organization. From setting a date to sorting and staging items, every aspect must be carefully coordinated to ensure a seamless experience for buyers and sellers alike.

Effective Marketing

Utilizing various channels such as social media, email newsletters, and local advertisements is essential for attracting a diverse pool of buyers to your estate sale NJ. Our team employs cutting-edge marketing strategies to generate buzz and drive foot traffic to your event.

Professional Presentation

First impressions are crucial for estate liquidators New Jersey. By investing in professional staging and presentation, you can elevate the perceived value of your items and entice buyers to make purchases.

Our Commitment to Excellence

We pride ourselves on delivering unparalleled service and results to our clients. With years of experience in the industry, we have established ourselves as leaders in the field of estate liquidation sales. Our dedicated team works tirelessly to exceed your expectations and ensure a successful outcome for your estate sale.

[estateinventoryservices]

Efficient Estate Clean Out Services

Our efficient estate cleanout services offer a streamlined process with expert guidance. Our experienced team handles sorting, organizing, and proper disposal of items, including hazardous materials. Maximize asset recovery as we identify valuable items for potential sale or auction. Trust us to ease the burden and stress of estate cleanouts with professionalism and care.

[intelisync]

2024 Tokenization Boom: A New Era for Real-World Assets

In 2024, the landscape of real-world asset (RWA) tokenization is experiencing a transformative shift, marking a significant milestone in the financial industry. Tokenization converts physical assets like real estate, commodities, and art into digital tokens on a blockchain, enhancing liquidity, accessibility, transparency, and security. This revolutionary technology makes high-value assets more accessible to a broader range of investors. As we explore the current state and future prospects of tokenization, it is clear that this technology is set to reshape the global financial ecosystem significantly.

Tokenization is predicted to be a multi-trillion-dollar opportunity by 2030, with market estimates suggesting it could reach up to $16 trillion. The United States is leading this revolution, followed by countries like Singapore, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, India, and Luxembourg.

The total value locked in tokenized assets has surged to $10.53 billion, with major financial institutions launching tokenized investment products. This signals a major inflection point for the industry, underscoring the significant role tokenization will play in the future of finance.

The benefits of tokenization are extensive. It allows for fractional ownership, increasing liquidity and enabling investors to buy and sell portions of an asset. This democratizes investment opportunities and bridges the gap between traditional and digital financial markets. Tokenization also reduces transaction costs by eliminating intermediaries and automating processes through smart contracts.

As regulatory frameworks evolve and technology advances, tokenization is set to revolutionize the financial industry. Intelisync provides cutting-edge RWA tokenization services to help you navigate and capitalize on this financial Learn more....

[journeyinorderusa]

Website: https://www.journeyinorder.com

Address: Wheaton, Illinois, USA

Journey In Order specializes in professional organizing services, particularly catering to seniors and estate clearouts. Founded by Christie Klingl, the company offers empathy and compassion in its tailored approach. Key services include downsizing, staging homes for resale, assisting with long-distance moves, and providing senior move management. Their team, including Liz Pearson and Cassie Capp, focuses on no-judgement support, environmentally friendly practices, and extensive pre- and post-move assistance.

Yelp : https://www.yelp.com/biz/journey-in-order-wheaton

Keywords: home staging near me senior move management decluttering near me relocation services for seniors downsizing services organizing help near me downsizing services near me local professional organizers professional organizing near me home staging for resale estate clearout assistance professional organizing solutions long distance move coordination environmentally friendly decluttering personalized downsizing plans compassionate move support efficient estate liquidation tailored senior relocation services stress free organizing experience expert home organizing senior friendly moving assistance comprehensive estate sorting move management for seniors decluttering and organizing help sustainable home clearing senior move planning expertise streamlined downsizing solutions estate liquidation specialists proven senior relocation methods sustainable organizing practices effective home staging strategies coordinated long distance moves environmentally conscious decluttering customized downsizing approaches supportive move assistance expert estate sorting services thoughtful senior move coordination professional decluttering help eco friendly downsizing options home organizing mastery assistance with senior friendly moves estate liquidation efficiency organized downsizing plans resale ready home staging long distance move coordination experts green decluttering solutions personalized downsizing assistance caring move support for seniors efficient estate liquidation services senior relocation tailored solutions stress free downsizing experience home organizing expertise compassionate senior move assistance sustainable estate sorting local professional organizing services downsizing services wheaton estate clearout assistance naperville senior move management wheaton professional organizing solutions naperville home staging wheaton long distance move coordination naperville decluttering wheaton personalized downsizing plans naperville senior friendly moving assistance wheaton estate sorting naperville move management wheaton organizing help naperville sustainable home clearing wheaton professional organizers naperville senior move planning wheaton downsizing services in wheaton estate clearout naperville move management in wheaton professional organizers in naperville senior move planning in wheaton estate clearout assistance near me senior move management near me long distance move coordination near me personalized downsizing near me senior friendly moving assistance near me estate sorting near me move management near me sustainable home clearing near me local professional organizers near me senior move planning near me downsizing services near wheaton estate clearout near naperville move management near wheaton professional organizers near naperville senior move planning near wheaton

[rapidflowflex]

KIRBY

WELCOME TO KIRBY'S ESTATE SALES, Kirby and his team of qualified professionals can assist you through all stages of Estate Liquidation and Clean Out services. Our full-service, turn-key company provides estate sales (organizing, staging, pricing, on-site management of sales, and removal of items after the sale) as well as item appraisals and complete clean.

[dejavuestateliquidator]

Deja Vu Estate Liquidators: Premier Estate Sales Services in Florida

Discover the premier estate sales services in Florida with Deja Vu Estate Liquidators. Our experienced team specializes in maximizing the value of your estate through strategic planning, expert pricing, and effective marketing. Visit here: - https://www.dejavuestateliquidators.com/services/estate-sales/

[estatemax]

100 or so, Angi's (List) and BBB Maryland Real Client Reviews of EstateMAX Services

PODCAST https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeeWOjIciFXuKiyb-tZMjLeG8hxCHU_TX If you’re reading this it might imply you are in the market for an estate sale company. To be more detailed for you, to bore you to death with our great reputation… here is every review EstateMAX has ever been awarded with, to date. It’s hard work. I’ll take every positive word ever…

[wwaheoh]

“Oops! You killed someone!” Victoria Housekeeping x gnReader, Angst + Comfort (Platonic)

Corin Wickes, Von Lycaon (+ Ellen Joe, + Alexandrina Sebastiane)

c/w: contains written depictions of graphic injury, blood, death, and shock (mental).

a/n: with a game with people using chainsaws, guns, guns that shoot black holes, and swords, i dont think hollow raiders are 100% safe. put ellen and alexandrina seperate since they’re not really major players in this

As part of Victoria Housekeeping, your duty was to fulfill the orders of the Master, usually cleaning, guest service, and attending to the needs of the house. However Victoria Housekeeping also had a sort of open secret, with each member having high Ether Aptitude as well as being trained in combat, they also acted as guards to the Master and their estate. Usually it was general defense, to make sure no one breaks in or any guests get any unruly ideas and stash valuables into their coat or bag. Other times it was against Ethereals, enemies born from the Hollows whenever they were stationed within.

However this was the first time Hollow Raiders had been an issue, usually keeping away- either with much bigger scores that an abandoned building in the Hollow, but this specific building was home to a millionaire, having been evacuated due to the spontaneous expansion of a new Hollow Zone. Leading to an eager group of Raiders to break in.

It had been something you were prepared for, weapon in hand and your team close by. Miss Rina had notified everyone about the incoming Raiders, with the others rounding close to your location- being the main entry point that the Hollow Raiders were predicted to enter through.

Clashing against the large group, steel hit steel, yelling and screams as bodies were thrown several feet away and knocked out. It was feeling like a cakewalk, having been taught by some of the best in the business, it was all just following through what you had been trained for.

At least it was until one of the remaining Hollow Raiders attacked you from behind as you were catching your breath- a mistake, Mister Lycaon always tried to drill into everyone’s heads that the danger should not be deemed as passed until there were no enemies around and the rest of the team had arrived to back you up.

You fell to the ground, hitting the marble underneath with a thump- dazed as you attempted to gain your bearings. Strong hands wrapped themselves around your throat, the pressure putting your brain back into alert mode. Your vision refocused onto a cracked helmet, the image of a Hollow Raider logo shining down on you- unable to move with their weight holding you down. Attempting to pry their hands off- several desperate attempts before realizing it was in vain. Darkness crawled from the edge of your vision as you breathing quickened but became more shallow with the pressure on your airway.

As you desperately looked for the others or something to give you even a few more seconds, you felt an object at the edge of your fingertips. Tapping it closer, you grabbed onto it- something sturdy, the weapon they dropped on the ground before going in to choke you. Harsh grip, you turned as much as you can, swinging your arm and hitting them with the object you grabbed as hard as you could.

Crushing through the glass of the helmet, Hollow Raiders often worse, the weapon hit your target. It was a lot softer than you imagined, as if it was dug deep into something.

Liquid spurted out, splashing blots onto the ground. Their grip on your neck loosened nearly immediately.

Warmth trickled onto your face. The weight of the Hollow Raider that had previously been crushing you fell to the side, limp- and now unmoving.

The world was quiet. Only faintly could you hear a familiar voice yelling before quickly taking out and chasing away the remaining Raiders.

The weapon handle was still in your grip, a worn plastic grip attached to a long steel blade. It was covered in red. Underneath you and the Hollow Raider was a puddle of the same red. The pristine whites of your uniform dyed red, black a shade darker.

Then the world became loud.

Corin had been the first to find you, being stationed closest, she charged in after quickly locking in on the enemies. Chainsaw revving to life, she spun forward, slashing at the Hollow Raiders with the battle cry of, “Ahh! Ge~et awa~ay!!” Blood spewed out- injuries that would definitely hurt but nothing fatal- or atleast with medical attention. It was one of the only good things she could recognize, having been taught how to expertly take out enemies without outright killing them, despite the very real threat her- and every one of their weapons brought.

Finally chasing out the rest of the enemies, she turned to look back at you, “Are you-” she stopped, seeing you with a lost look in your eyes. A look she recognized- having seen it on herself and Ellen before. “O-oh no, uhm,” She quickly stopped her weapon and approached, trying not to just wait for someone else to arrive out of fear of messing up helping you- but still apprehensive due to those very same thoughts.

Gently she came closer, remembering what Lycaon and Rina had done for her when she had undergone the same situation. Remembering what she had nearly done wrong with Ellen before Lycaon stepped in.

“Are you hurt?” “...” She looked you over, not seeing any blood coming out of you. “Can you hear me?” You nod. “It’s not your fault- you did what you had to do.” You stare at her, flashes of the corpse beside you flashing before you. “O-okay, uhm, Mister Lycaon and everyone should be here soon.” You perked up at the mention of the others- with everyone else here and no alive active enemies, you’ll be safe. “What happened was something bad. It makes sense for you to be scared.”

You sat there, heartbeat ringing in your ears as you struggled not to think about the corpse beside you. The corpse beside you. There was a corpse next to you. Their blood was on you. The scent of iron-

“You sit here and we’ll wait for the others. What do you want to do?” “I… want to wait for Mister Lycaon…” “He'll be here soon, it'll all be okay."

And true to her word, the others rounded the corner, prepared to fight. However, quickly Mister Lycaon and Miss Alexandrina assessed what was going on and rushed forward. Nodding to Corin, Mister Lycaon took charge, kneeling in front of you. Corin went to Ellen to inform her of your situation. Alexandrina watched over you, sending Anastella and Drusilla to do a perimeter check. At the sight of them all, you finally broke. It felt as if your whole body crashed and you fully awoke again, tears welling up as you jumped to embrace Mister Lycaon. You were safe. He softly embraced you back, warm muscular body like a shield against anyone outside of Victoria Housekeeping to approach.

“You’re okay, we’re here now.”

[jerryantiques]

Estate Sale Services Albuquerque Actual Estate Estate Sales Full Estate Liquidation Services

Estate sales will typically be held over a two or three day interval, depending on the size and contents of the home. In many ways, an internet estate sale or auction works very like the offline, in-person model. But as a substitute of the bidding happening Estate Liquidation Services Montclair in your house or at an public sale home, it’s hosted totally online. Inherited a house full of stuff, or you’re the executor of an estate, a web-based estate sale or public sale may help simplify the method of getting rid of things.

We also develop a personal net web page for each consumer to realize most results. We will function and show every little estate liquidation services thing in a method that can internet you essentially the most money attainable. Learn more about Personal Property Managers from our current News Stories.

That means that getting it carried out properly and respectfully the primary time is extremely important. Legacy Auction Group & Realty estate sales services might help you thru this course of. Hiring an skilled estate sale skilled might help alleviate the burden and stress of attempting to arrange estate sales liquidation an estate sale by yourself. Let’s take a glance at tips on how to hire a trustworthy estate sale firm. Before the rise of the web, you would wish to hold estate sales in particular person. Usually, you would rent a professional liquidator, who would take up to 50% of the sales proceeds.

Tables, desk coverings, show instances, and lighting are brought in when necessary. On sale day, the company supplies a crew of experienced employees. Golden’s provides you essentially the most comprehensive liquidation services; this extensive spectrum of choices permits us to not only liquidate your estate, but liquidate it at the most worth. A liquidation sale is a kind estate liquidation service of public sale by which property is sold off by the proprietor, often as part of an estate plan. The goal of a liquidation sale is to sell off as much property as potential rapidly and at a decreased price in order that the proceeds can be used to pay off debts or other bills.

Typically, estate sale services do not cost a flat or hourly payment. Estate sale services could make the method of selling one’s house and belongings easier and faster, however it isn't the proper selection for everybody. We created this information to assist you better understand estate sales services and their costs, benefits, and disadvantages. We additionally present steering on deciding on an estate sale company to guarantee you work with a dependable and trustworthy service. In addition to our in-person enterprise liquidation services, Grasons Co. additionally offers reside on-line sales.

[estateinventoryservices]

Efficient Estate Inventory Services: Estate Clean Out, Estate Auctions & Real Estate Assistance

Explore Estate Inventory Services for efficient Estate Clean Out, successful Estate Auctions, and expert Real Estate Agent assistance in Loveland. Simplify the process of managing estates with professional guidance and comprehensive support from seasoned professionals. Visit now to experience seamless estate solutions.

[thrawns-babygirl]

Here’s a Crosshair request for you if you’d like!

I’m a sucker for the undercover-at-a-gala trope so what if you’re a Jedi shadow (like Quinlan Vos) who works with the Bad Batch once and awhile, and you’re in an established relationship with Crosshair. There’s a separatist gala you need to infiltrate and Crosshair goes as your date. While you two are sneaking around the venue, you have to hide in the nearest room that turns out to be a bedroom and Crosshair has ideas 😏 thank you! Love your writing!!

ANON!!! I AM SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG!!!! I have literally no idea why i struggled with this ask for what? over a month??? I must have deleted a combined like 3k words for this over the time i was trying to write it. But i would not let it beat me, i had to finish this ask for u for waiting so patiently.

also its like, a bingo card of every trope for this trope so i apologies for how uninspired this is lmao

Side note, I am very sick at the moment and on a lot of painkillers, so like, I proof read this but please let me know of any glaring issues or mistakes because I'm not of this world currently.

Rating: E (18+) Warnings: Unprotected PiV, Creampie, Clothed Sex Word Count: 1700+

Masterlist

Walking through the elegant halls of a senator’s estate on Scipio you can’t help but gawk at the splendour of it all. The insane amount of money one must have to own a home like this simply baffles you as you walk arm in arm with your date for the night through the ornate halls.

Some leaked intel let the republic know that some unscrupulous things were to go down tonight within these halls, and you don’t doubt the accuracy of that information given the amount of high ranking members of the Banking Clan you have seen engaging in hushed conversations in hidden alcoves of the grandiose estate.

Your partner turns to look down at you and you can’t help but blush under his gaze. Crosshair was always a handsome man, but seeing him clad entirely in a fine, black suit was a whole new level of desirable. A service droid passes you, stopping long enough for the two of you to grab a flute of what appeared to be more bubbles than liquid before continuing on its way through the winding halls of the building.

“You look absolutely ravishing tonight mesh’la” Crosshair whispers, breath fanning over your ear as you take a sip of your no doubt pricey beverage. You couldn’t find it in you to disagree with him, black silks hugged your frame, accentuating your figure in all the best ways, something your jedi robes were absolutely not designed for. While you did feel naked without your lightsaber, you understood the necessity of remaining entirely undetectable. You smile up at him, noting the make-up that has covered his trademark tattoo, his slicked back hair and absolutely dazzling smile.

When the moment called for it, Crosshair could reluctantly play the part of suave, chatty businessperson which honestly surprised you at first. He was absolutely the least talkative member of the squad by a mile, all short replies and clipped words, so when this mission was assigned to the Batch you were shocked that they had all immediately turned their attention to Crosshair.

“He’s the most arrogant, thus will fit in perfectly with the typical crowd at one of these types of functions” Tech had said, earning himself a smack on the back of the head from the Sniper, “among other reasons, Hunter looks too much like a regular clone, I am needed to extrapolate the data that you acquire and Wrecker is… Wrecker” Tech adjusts his goggles before continuing “It would also look out of place for one of us to go alone, and you two already have, um, chemistry, for lack of a better term”

He wasn’t wrong about that; you and Crosshair hadn’t exactly put a label on anything yet, but everyone knew there was something there.

Finally, after a few hours of simply wandering the halls you find your target, a simply unassuming Muun that has been implicated in embezzling funds and using it to pad separatist pockets. He was speaking in hushed whispers with a human male before the man passed him a small, innocuous looking data stick before parting ways with a polite nod.

Your time to shine.

You leave Crosshair’s side, giving his hand a quick squeeze as you go, before sauntering over to the target and ‘accidently’ spilling the contents of your flute, onto his silk robes. Stuttering and apologising you begin patting him down, slipping your hand into his pocket and retrieving the data stick as he shoved you away, telling you he was going to send you the bill for getting the stains out of his clothes. “This is pure shimmersilk you know!” he yelled at you as you made your hasty exit, apologising profusely as you retreat towards where Crosshair was waiting, arms crossed as he leaned against a marble pillar, a slight smile tugging at his lips.

“You got it doll?” he whispers, wrapping a long arm around your waste as he begins leading your further into the throng of people and towards the exit. “Of course” you reply, sinking further into his side. Hopefully the two of you would make it out before he even noticed it was missing.

Your hopes were dashed as you heard a panicked “Hey! Wait!” coming from behind you.

Crosshair grabs your arm, pulling you into the nearest unlocked room before softly closing and locking the door. Both of you hold your breath, listening to the sound of approaching and then thankfully retreating footsteps. It doesn’t seem like anyone saw you, but you still wait together in silence before turning the light on to look at the room you have found yourselves in for the foreseeable future.

It's a luxurious bedroom, a four-poster bed draped in magnificent silks with more pillows than anyone could possibly need adorning it. Crosshair takes his comm and a small datapad out of his pocket, reaching his hand out to you for you to pass him the datastick before plugging it into the device and comming Tech to let him know he can begin starting the transfer and telling him of your less than ideal situation at the moment. He tells you that Hunter will be there within the next standard hour for extraction but until then you just need to hang tight.

You sit down on the bed, running your hands along the silken sheets before looking back up to Crosshair. His eyes are raking over your form as he placed the datapad down on one of the bedside tables before walking over to you.

“So doll, it seems we have the better part of an hour to keep ourselves occupied…” He trails off, sitting next to you on the bed, one hand finding your thigh while the other softly pushes you back onto the plush surface. “And no one knows we’re in here” his thumb begins soothing circles into your hip as he looms above you, one hand holding himself up as he stares down at you.

“So it seems…” you smile as you use the fact that your legs are still hanging off the bed to your advantage, kicking your heels off before you shimmy further up the bed, until you’re leaning back against the mountain of pillows. Crosshair crawls up the bed after you before his lips meeting yours in a passionate kiss.

“Kark doll, you look so good in this dress, it’s been so kriffing hard keeping my hands off you all night” he mumbles against your lips, calloused hands already working their way underneath your dress towards your panties. You let out a small whimper, the feeling of his rough fingers digging into your flesh making heat pool low in your belly as Crosshair begins placing languid kisses against your neck, working his way down to your collarbone before sucking dark marks into your skin.

The chirping from his comm startles both of you, making you jump before Crosshair angrily grabs the device “What do you want Tech?” he growls out. “I just thought that you would want to know that Hunter will be arriving earlier than expected and to be ready for extraction in the next 30 standard minutes” Tech replies, obviously somewhat irate, not enjoying the tone that his brother is giving him. “Understood” Crosshair replies, turning off the device and throwing it onto the bed before returning his attention back to you.

“Looks like we will have to make this quicker than I wanted, but don’t worry princess, I’ll worship you like you deserve once we get back to base” his fingers begin toying with you over the fabric of your panties while his lips busy themselves against yours once again. His mouth swallows every sound that you make as his skilful fingers rub tight circles against your clit, already bringing you close to the edge with practiced ease.

Your panties are soaked at this point, his assault on your senses overwhelming you as you try to stifle your sounds as not to alert anyone who could potentially be loitering outside the door. His hand leaves you momentarily as he fumbles with the fastenings on his pants, opening them just far enough to free his weeping length.

Pulling your panties to the side, he sinks into you, letting out a breathy groan as he slides into your heat in a single motion. Resting his weight entirely on one hand he brings his other to cover your mouth as he begins an absolutely brutal pace, the layers of your clothing helping to muffle the sounds of him relentlessly driving into you.

You silently thank him for covering your mouth, the way he’s fucking into you would have you screaming for him. You wrap your legs around his waist, bringing him closer to you, trying to get him to go deeper and deeper with every thrust. Your eyes roll into the back of your head as he hits that spot inside you with the head of his cock with every thrust, turning you into a mess with every drag of his hard length through your slick folds.

Lowering his head you can feel his breath fanning over your ear as he whispers filth into your ear “so tight for me kriff… I can feel you choking my cock you’re so close aren’t you?” you nod, staring up at him with wide eyes. He angles his hips, grinding down onto your clit with every thrust as he loses his rhythm, chasing his own release as he feels your walls fluttering around him. “cum for me doll” his whispers have an almost pleading nature to them, like he’s holding himself back from the edge waiting to tumble over the peak with you. A few more deep thrusts pull your orgasm from you, flooding your nerves as pleasure washes over you, causing your walls to clench around him. With a strangled groan against your neck he follows you over the edge, pumping ropes of hot cum inside of you, hips stuttering as his cock throbs.

You’re lying on the bed, Crosshair still sheathed inside you as his comm chirps again “Oh for the love of… Yes?” he slips out of you, tucking himself away as he talks, apparently Hunter is only five standard minutes away so you adjust your panties and swiftly put your heels back on.

Crosshair places a kiss to your temple before you make your escape.

@where-is-my-mind-tho @starborncyare @antishadow2021 @healingskywalker @crosshairlovebot

[rapidflowflex]

KIRBY

WELCOME TO KIRBY'S ESTATE SALES, Kirby and his team of qualified professionals can assist you through all stages of Estate Liquidation and Clean Out services. Our full-service, turn-key company provides estate sales (organizing, staging, pricing, on-site management of sales, and removal of items after the sale) as well as item appraisals and complete clean.

[rugtopper]

HAUNTED BARBERSHOP

By rugtopper

The son becoming the father....it happens quite a lot.

Lawrence Ryan McKay, Jr. had dreaded this day for twelve years. He did not want to deal with anything that had to do with his father, especially his father’s estate. Larry, as his friends called him, had not seen or spoken to his father since the day he and his mother drove out of town after the divorce was final. In truth, Larry really didn’t know his father aside from what his mother had told him. 

Walking around the Town Square waiting for the afternoon funeral gave Larry a lot of time to think. He really wasn’t concentrating on anything in particular when something caught his attention on the other side of the courthouse. Was that old Mr. Cecil standing in front of his barbershop smoking a pipe?  Larry thought to himself. Old Mr. Cecil. Mr. Cecil Hobson. He was old even when Larry was a kid. But, wasn’t Mr. Cecil dead?  Maybe this is his son. Who knows? Suddenly, Mr. Cecil looked up and waved at Larry. Next to dealing with his father’s death, seeing Mr. Cecil was not something Larry wanted to do.

“Why, Young Lawrence, it is good to see you. How are you?” Mr. Cecil asked in his cheerful voice.

Larry reluctantly walked over to the barbershop. “Doing as well as can be expected, thank you for asking. Aren’t you Mr. Cecil’s son?”

“Uh . . . yes. I started working with Dad right after you and your mother left town. Why don’t you come in for a bit? You look like you could do with a trim. No charge.”

“No thanks. I don’t qualify as one of your clients. You see I do have a full head of hair.” Larry was now standing on the sidewalk under the sign that read:

MR. CECIL’S BARBERSHOP

And hair replacement salon

“That’s all right, Lawrence. I do give regular haircuts. Come on, it will only take a few minutes.”

“Oh, all right. I do need a trim. Besides, it is still a couple of hours until the funeral begins.” Larry slowly walked down the steps to the below-street-level entrance.

The bell on the door jingled lightly as Larry walked through the door. The room was pristine, as if time had stood still. The black and white tiled floor looked just as Larry had remembered it. The two giant red leather chairs didn’t seem as big now to a grown-up Larry as they had when he was much younger.  Still, they were over-powering and impressive. There was even a faint odor of aftershave in the air, which Larry really liked. However, the row of old leathery wig stands still lined the shelf behind both chairs. This distressed Larry when he was a kid. His mother always made an issue of how embarrassing it was to have a husband who wore a toupee. As Larry walked further into the room, he noticed the rogue gallery of Hollywood publicity photos still occupying the entire wall across from the chairs. For a moment he just stood there and stared, as he used to do, at the dapper men who wore toupees: Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, David Niven, Leslie Howard, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Charles Boyer, Richardo Montalban, Jimmy Stewart, Lorne Greene . .

.

“Why don’t you have a seat, Lawrence?” Mr. Cecil suggested.

Larry broke out of his semi-trance long enough to back into the huge red-leather chair.

“Now, Lawrence. . ."

“Uh . . .I prefer ‘Larry’ if you don’t mind.” He said very haughtily.

“Oh, okay, sure, Larry. Whatever you say. Now, how about that trim.”

“Well, I might need a trim, but your ‘services’ are not for me. I am fortunate to have a full head of hair. It looks like you inherited your dad’s genes for hair loss and bad toupees.”

“Ah, I see. Well, let’s get started.” Mr. Cecil said this as he quickly threw a cape around Larry, grabbed the water bottle on the counter, and began misting Larry‘s hair.

“Hey, that is interesting. Is that scent ‘cotton candy’?” Larry asked.

“Yeah, the kids really love it. It makes the haircut easier. Just relax and enjoy it.” Mr. Cecil just kept lightly misting Larry’s hair until drops of the liquid began falling on the cape.

Larry just sat there enjoying the fragrance. He was very relaxed, not sleepy, just relaxed. As he continued to breathe in and out, he noticed a wonderful, tingling sensation all over his body. He looked at Mr. Cecil in the mirror. Why did he feel so relaxed and Mr. Cecil look so happy? As Larry kept looking at Mr. Cecil, he noticed that the mist wasn’t even going on his head anymore. Mr. Cecil just kept spraying it in the air. Without even realizing what was happening, the tingling sensation slowly turned into a numbing sensation.

Methodically and sadistically, Mr. Cecil put down the mister and slowly leaned into Larry‘s ear and said, “Now, Larry, or should I say ‘Lawrence,’ let’s get one thing quite clear. You will be receiving all of my services today. And, furthermore, you will enjoy them for the rest of your life.”

Larry’s eyes got as wide as saucers. That was the only thing that moved. Larry was totally immobilized. He could not even clear his throat to speak.  Mr. Cecil began to comb Larry’s unruly mane of hair.

“Lawrence, your father was the kindest and dearest of men, and one of my best customers. He was so proud when you were born. It completely devastated him as a young father when he started losing his hair. You were about three at the time. That horrible woman, your mother, gave your father hell everyday of his life. It was a vicious cycle with her. Her constant barbs about his toupee only made him feel like less of a man, which made him unable to perform like a man.”

Larry’s eyes widened at this.

“Yes, Lawrence, that is why you were an only child. Well, him not being to perform only caused him more stress, which caused him to lose more hair. That just brought on more grief from your mother. To add insult to injury, your mother had to start having an affair with her boss at the bank. That nearly killed your father.”

During this short expose, Mr. Cecil had been trimming Larry’s shaggy mop into a respectable, boarding school haircut. “I think we’re ready to start the next phase of your makeover.” Mr. Cecil pulled out the electric clippers from the cabinet, turned it on, and plowed down the center of Larry’s pride and joy. Not one muscle flinched on Larry’s face or body, but his eyes knew the rest of the story.

“Your father loved you so much. Your mother poisoned you to him even before they divorced and the two of you moved away. Your father and I would sit here for hours trying to figure out how to get you away from that woman. Your father and I became very close. He was my best friend. He was more than a friend.”

With that said, Mr.Cecil turned Larry toward the mirror so he could look at the five-o’clock-shadow on the top of his head. “Oh, I am not going to leave it like this. Don’t you worry. You see your dad wanted you to be just like him. I intend on seeing that that happens. This little laser wand is the ticket to the new you.” Mr. Cecil deliberately started burning off each little hair on Larry’s head. “Do you remember the few times you would come here with your dad when you were a kid? Your mother hated it when you came here with him. It was perfectly fine for her to be a slut and screw around with every power-mad man in town, but your dad couldn’t have . . . Well, I guess she didn’t want anyone else to get any from your dad since she wasn’t. Stupid bitch. This is looking really good, if I do so myself. You’ll be ready for your first toupee in just a few minutes, Lawrence. In fact, I have your dad’s first toupee sitting right over there.”

Larry remembered that toupee. His dad was still wearing that toupee when Larry started first grade. He remembered his dad picking him up from school. He didn’t really understand why his dad’s hair looked the way it did and the other kid’s dad’s hair didn’t. His dad’s hair was dark brown, but his toupee was a lighter shade of brown. He remembered asking his mom about it. Boy did that cause all sorts of trouble. He remembered them fighting one time when he in the second grade. He walked into the living room just as his mom ripped off his dad’s toupee. He remembered how old and ashamed and embarrassed his dad looked. His mom just laughed at him and threw the toupee in his face.

“Oh, Lawrence you are going to look so handsome in your toupee just like your father did when he first wore one.” Mr. Cecil turned Larry toward the mirror. Although he was only 24, Larry saw a middle-aged man sitting quite still in the chair. For the first time he really saw just how much he looked like his father. No wonder his mother had thrown him out of the house on his 18th birthday. He looked just the same way his dad did on the day of that shocking fight. That was the first time Larry had ever seen his dad bald. His dad had tried so hard to hide it from him. Mr. Cecil took the toupee off the old leathery wig stand, applied some tape to the tape tabs, and placed the toupee on Larry’s silky-smooth scalp. For the first time since Mr. Cecil had started using the mister, Larry could feel something, but it wasn’t something he wanted to feel.

“Ah. I see you are feeling the side effects of the mist. You see you are going to be just like your dad.” Mr. Cecil slowly combed the toupee into place.  It set apart from Larry’s hair in texture and color just like it had on his dad’s head. “You might as well dump that silly little girlfriend of yours. You’ll never be able to get it up for her or any other girl ever again. Oh, I see that excites you. Gee, I hope you wear boxer shorts like your dad did.” With that, Mr. Cecil removed the cape, freed Larry’s engorged member, and kneeling down proceeded to suck Larry so hard he nearly was yanked from the chair. Larry had never had a blowjob so powerful. When he was all through and not leaving one drop behind, Mr. Cecil zipped Larry’s pants. Larry just sat there staring at the image of his new look. He didn’t even see Mr. Cecil take a small bottle and mist him in the face with it. In seconds, the feeling began to return to his body. Mr. Cecil helped him up and walked him to the door.

As they walked out onto the stoop Mr. Cecil said, “Now, Lawrence, I know you are a bit confused about all of this. I understand. I did all of this because of your father. I know it is what he wanted. Don’t worry. You look great in a toupee, just like your dad did. I also know that you will always wear it. You see, what you had on top will never, ever come back. I saw the look on your face when you saw how bald you were in the mirror. That is just how your dad looked the day your mom embarrassed him by ripping it off in that fight. Yes, I know all about that. You see they were fighting about me. He told her he was going to leave her for me. You probably don’t remember that. But you see Lawrence I didn’t just do all of this for him. The day your mother took you away was a very sad day for your dad. He lost more than just you did on that day. She had let you come here to the barbershop to say goodbye to your dad.  You never even bothered to come into the shop. You stood outside here on the stoop. Your dad and I walked outside to see you. I turned to go back inside to let the two of have a moment alone. Do you remember what happened next, Lawrence?”

Larry did. He always remembered it. He remembered it as if it were yesterday. He was standing on the top step nearest the sidewalk looking down at his dad and Mr. Cecil. Mr. Cecil turned to walk inside. Without thinking, Larry did exactly as his mother had done and grabbed at Mr. Cecil’s toupee.  There in his frightened, twelve-year-old hands was Mr. Cecil’s pewter toupee. Mr. Cecil spun around to grab his toupee, tripped on the bottom step of the stoop, fell, and hit his head. That is all Larry remembers ever happening.

As if awakened from a trance, Larry realized where he was. He turned around to look back at the barbershop. What he saw was a burned-out hovel and a pile of garbage with what looked liked a sign on top. All he could make out was “MR. CECIL’S.”

Larry started walking toward the funeral home. What just happened? Was it all a dream? The autumn wind picked up. As if by instinct, he touched the top of his hair. Then, he knew. It was no dream. It was both a nightmare and a new reality.

THE END

[osric-giroux-ffxiv]

Tense Conversations

Quiet - a rarity, after spending weeks at what had been the Slater estate among the hammering and the sawing, dealing with corralling the workers and the architect and trying to keep everyone on track so that perhaps, perhaps, the barracks would be completed in a timely manner and things could move forward. Every day had been spent among the dust and debris and the evenings spent trying to recover what energy he could and prepare for more of the same the next day,

Until today - the rare reprieve - trusting that Wyland would oversee the construction effort in his place, he’d sent a missive out to one Lord Damien Gray instead.

An effort to perhaps get to know the man possibly doing business with his family, the man previously spending time with his wife’s sister, a man with information that could potentially be useful to their new endeavors with their recently purchased chocobos…or perhaps simply an opportunity to speak with a like minded soul.

Osric checked his timepiece for a moment - dark hair pulled back away from his face, sleeves rolled up to his elbows as they often were when he was home -  before tucking it away into his vest and moving over to the piano nestled within the corner of the sitting room, taking a seat on the bench - fingers moving across ivory keys. An easy way to pass the minutes until his company arrived.

Recently Damien felt as if he were at the beck and call of not only Cordelia Gray, but the whole of House Cress as well. Though there was little mind given to his time spent with Valeria, he was rather shocked that the Southern Cress requested his presence recently, and Vahalia had been silent since the alleged distancing from the drama of House Gray. The missive sent today by Vahalia’s newlywed husband, Osric, would have Damien feeling surprised and curious at the same time. His experiences in life so far had taught Damien the importance of playing his cards close to his chest. While he didn’t seem incredibly motivated to offer services or assistance to House Cress at the present moment, satisfying the curiosity of why they sent for him would have been enough. 

He traveled alone to the requested meeting point as Laurant and Alain were busy tending to other matters. The usual attire that Damien wore of finely crafted tunics, jackets and trousers were traded for a heavy leather coat that was lined well to keep him insulated in the harsh Ishgardian climate. He wore a thick wool vest and thick leather boots that stopped just below his knee. Clearly he had been engaged in other endeavors than lounging around the estate waiting for such missives. 

The large bird he rode came to an abrupt halt as he approached the large door to the estate and Damien tied the chocobo on the dedicated post before he approached the door. The introductions were made and Damien was led to the room where Osric was present. “A Lord Gray is here to see you,” the attendant spoke up before Damien cleared his throat and offered a curt nod to the man across the room from him.

Fingers paused and Osric offered a nod towards the attendant as he stood up from the piano, adjusting his vest for a moment. “Thank you.” He turned his attention to his guest, with a small bow and a nod. “Lord Gray - thank you for coming. I’d meant to call on you sooner, as after the dinner there’d been some mention of perhaps shared interests, but things have been quite hectic and you look to be quite the busy man yourself.” 

Osric motioned towards two large chairs situated in front of a well stoked fire, one glass already present on the table set between the two chairs with a small amount of amber liquid lining the bottom, a trolley with various drinks and glasses settled nearby. “Please, you’ve traveled all this way - make yourself comfortable. The weather certainly leaves something to be desired this afternoon. Something to drink?”

“Quite busy,” he replied rather cooly as his mead colored hues followed Osric’s gesture. His jaw clenched for a moment as he took another step further into the room. He had paused for another second before he had made his way over to one of the chairs by the fireplace. “I make it a habit to drink among business partners, friends or at parties and I suppose I’m rather curious as to why I’ve been summoned by Lord Cress.” 

His brow lofted slightly as he took a seat in the chair. His posture was relaxed though his tone seemed to be the opposite. In truth, he was curious as to why Osric had wanted to speak with him. It had been some time since the dinner and while he would’ve given grace to the hectic schedules, it did seem rather odd given the information he had been provided by Valeria. “If this is some attempt to discuss Lady Cress’ sister man to man, I can assure you it is unnecessary and would save us both our time. As you noted, our schedules have been quite hectic and my time is better devoted to my endeavors than a lecture on who I keep within my company.” 

“I hadn’t given any thought to your relationship to Valeria, to be quite frank. I was simply looking for an opportunity to have a discussion and get to know you a bit better as the dinner itself was not much of an opportunity due to the amount of cross-talk.” Osric’s eyes narrowed for a brief moment as he watched the other man take his seat. It was one thing to be tense, or perhaps to feel a bit anxious, but to be this terse, this curt…it didn’t bode well for the rest of the afternoon. 

He moved around to take the empty seat, reaching for his glass before leaning back into his chair, dark eyes scanning over the other man, “But as you are an individual that my family is to be doing business with I thought it would be wise to get to know you as an individual. But if you feel that it’s a waste of your time to do so, then you’ve no obligation to remain.” A choice - he lifted his glass and took a small sip, gaze shifting to the amber liquid for just a moment before moving back to his guest once again - Damien could stay or go, ultimately it was up to him, and whatever his choice, it would tell Osric something about the other man either way.

There was a hint of amusement that had shown on the edges of Damien’s features at Osric’s words. “Yes, well, Lady Gray and I don’t seem to be on the best of terms these days.” He’d respond idly as his tongue ran over his lips. He rolled his shoulders as he relaxed back against the chair and moved to fold his arms loosely over his chest. The leather of his jacket creaked with the movement and his fingertips would drum along the broken in material. 

“I wasn’t aware that I had been doing business with your family,” the amber haired man chided. “I was under the impression that Vahalia was away on business and I had personally delivered two well bred falcons to the estate. One for her and one for her sister. I hadn’t received any correspondence further and I was under the impression that the gift was not well received by Vahalia.” 

“May potentially be doing business with, if all aligns, which I understand may or may not work out. It was a bold assumption.” Osric reached out, gently placing his glass back down on the table. “You are correct - my wife is away on business at the moment, though I’m curious as to what makes you think that your gift was not well received. When Vahalia spoke to me of the falcon she was quite impressed with it. She also mentioned that you’ve some passion for chocobos - primarily those of the racing variety.”

He settled his arms against the armrests of the chair. “Indeed, the-,” he paused, brow furrowing for a moment as he searched for the correct word, “- tensions between yourself and Lady Gray were rather apparent at the dinner, that’s true. And whatever situation is ongoing between the two of you is for the two of you to sort out. But certainly you had a life prior to any interactions with Cordelia Gray.”

“The news of your wife being impressed with the raptor is news to me. Only Lady Valeria has expressed her gratitude for the gift.” He’d shrug slightly as his lips pursed and his honey hues regarded the man in the chair next to him. Osric was difficult to read. He didn’t seem as calculating as Vahalia did upon first meeting, but his demeanor and tone was enough for Damien to know that the man knew his capabilities and knew far more than he let on. Vahalia had remarked that there might’ve been some similarities between Damien and Osric during their first meeting, but the auburn haired man was genuinely curious if there was any truth to that statement.

“I’m sure if you were very interested in my life before Cordelia Gray then you could’ve easily asked around for that information, Lord Cress.” Damien commented as a brow lofted slightly. “Though I suppose you’d rather hear it from my lips than the gossip of another.” His brow would resume its normal position as he exhaled slowly. “My brother, Ambrose, was the eldest of the Gray children. He worked under my father to learn the business. My father preferred textiles and Ambrose preferred his gems. There was a rather large gap between myself and Ambrose and so there was little interest in educating me as he had with Ambrose.” There was a shrug as Damien paused to gauge Osric’s demeanor. “That left me with the capability to make my own destiny, I suppose. I took to the stables as a boy where I learned to work with chocobo and horses alike. From there, the interest grew into avians and raptors. Ambrose largely left me up to my own devices if I’m entirely honest. Until he married Cordelia, I lived within the family estate. After he had wed her, Cordelia had requested the estate be for them only and Ambrose had secured me a modest lodging with a small staff.” His throat would clear as he drew in a breath to glance at the crackling fire. “Outside of that, my interests are largely occupied by dueling, jousting and the occasional ball or two.” 

“And my sister-in-law.” Osric lifted a hand, resting his chin against his fist as he regarded the other man, his face neutral as he listened to Damien’s history. “But as has already been stated, we’re not here to discuss Valeria.” 

There was a brief pause as Osric reached forward to collect his glass, taking a sip of his drink and gently setting the glass back down, “So - I’m curious, why chocobos, avians, and raptors - of all of the animals available, those three make for an interesting combination…” He settled back against his chair, eyes locked on the other man, watching him curiously, attentively, fingers drumming against the armrest of his chair. 

Despite the fact that Osric had chimed in that they were not here to talk about Valeria, Damien had still paused for a moment before he spoke. “Your sister in law has my interest, yes, but not for the reasons you or Lady Cress assume, I’m sure. There are not many who understand the plight of the…spare and Valeria does.” 

“You assume a great deal of two individuals who you’ve had limited contact with - and one of whom this is your first conversation. Your knowledge of myself is limited and what I think, or what my wife thinks are your reasons for pursuing Valeria are our own. Your assumptions are yours, and yours alone, Lord Gray. I would also point out that both Lady Cress and myself have had our own hardships and that had things played out differently Vahalia would have been the spare, rather than Valeria - as Valeria is the older twin.” 

“Well the avians and the raptors fall within the same category. They’re just different breeds, of course,” he’d speak casually as he shrugged and then moved to cross his arms across his broad chest. “My father kept several chocobos within the stables at our estate when I was younger and the stablemaster had a son my age. We were friendly and by nature, I had been exposed to chocobos. They have their uses. War, racing and travel. I had taken up the interest in avians and raptors for other interests. I rather enjoyed hunting and the they prove to be skilled hunters if trained correctly.” 

Osric gaze followed the other man’s movements, features neutral. He noted the closed body posture, but chose not to bring it up. “Had you ever trained any yourself? Chocobos? Or the avians or raptors? Is that something that you are still actively engaged in? I had a conversation recently with Valeria in which she mentioned that one of the birds - the one you gifted her, Clotho - I believe was the bird’s name - was trained by you and that you had offered her some suggestions for how to continue to train the bird, correct?”

Damien had given Osric a bit of a puzzled look as his head canted ever so slightly to the side. He knew that the man was gauging where Damien stood on these endeavors but still, it was hard not to find the line of questioning amusing. “Of course, Osric.” His tone was matter of fact as if the answer was obvious. “My father’s status and wealth was helpful, of course, but there was no handholding in this endeavors. It’s not as if the Gray’s are known for their work with wildlife.” He paused for a lingering moment to eye Osric’s drink. “When I broke ground, it started with the chocobos. We scouted and sourced them from the forests near Tailfeather. Then came the training. I did meet with and work with individuals who race chocobos for a living, but the training was exclusively between a trio of us. As for the avians and raptors, I trained under a man named Castile. He now works for me and we train the creatures together. I would consider him a mentor of sorts.” Damien paused to draw in a steady breath. “Can I trouble you for that drink now, hm?” 

“If you like - what’s your preference?” The dark-haired man stood, gathering his own glass as he did and moving over towards the trolley. He quickly refilled his glass, setting it aside before turning his attention back towards his guest, waiting for the man’s response. “Had you ever trained any birds that were utilized for battle, rather than for racing? Or have you any knowledge of those who specialize in such training?”

“Gin,” he replied as his arms unfolded and he leaned forward in the chair slightly to watch Osric’s actions. “I’ve trained avians and raptors for hunting and for combat assistance but not chocobos. I have had personal chocobos that have been trained to be familiar with the atmosphere of jousts so there are some basics there for war. Of course things that can be improved upon.” He’d pause for a moment as he pursed his lips. “I’m sure I could ask around within my contacts for someone who has a more specialized knowledge of war training. Though I’m unsure why you are asking me and not exploring your options at Tailfeather.” 

“Neat, or with ice? Do you prefer tonic?” Osric quirked an eyebrow as he reached for the appropriate bottle containing the clear liquid - Vahalia favored the beverage, so there was no shortage of it within the estate. “I’ve intentions of asking about trainers who specialize in such areas in Foundation and in and around Tailfeather, however I thought it might be best to inquire with one who has knowledge of the field first. Even if it’s in a different area, such as racing, I simply thought that you might have heard if  there were particular individuals who might be better well known for their work with birds suited for battle.” 

He removed the lid from the bottle, once again, awaiting the response from the other man. “You mentioned combat assistance for the avians and raptors - could you elaborate further on that? I’ve never seen such a thing in practice.” 

“With ice and tonic, please,” he’d reply as he settled back against the chair. Damien would draw in a steady breath as his gaze shifted from Osric to the fireplace. “I know a good deal of people within Tailfeather so I am quite sure that someone has the knowledge you seek, I’ve just never needed to ask.” He would pause with Osric’s next question before he’d nod. Not that the dark haired man could see it. “More so the raptors than the avians themselves. Their wing span makes them fairly formidable and their talons are deadly. I think it can be particularly useful by a mounted user. It does require someone trained with the raptor however.” 

It only took a moment for Osric to finish preparing the drink as requested, replacing the lid on the bottle and the tonic, setting both aside before offering the glass - filled with clear liquid and ice - to the amber-haired man before moving to his own seat, his refilled glass in his hand. “And the being trained with a raptor - is such training extensive? You mentioned your mentor is currently working for you, as I hadn’t heard of such a thing before, it doesn’t sound like many offer such a service.” He hummed thoughtfully. “You raise the birds yourself, yes?”

Damien had taken the offered glass without a second thought and quickly brought it to his lips to take a lingering drink. The initial coolness of the liquid felt good in his mouth which was promptly followed by the burn of the alcohol down his throat. “It can be,” Damien replied as his tongue ran over his lips to whisk away any liquid that might’ve remained. “There are a multitude of variables. How old is the raptor when learning, how confident is the trainer, are they being primarily trained by someone else or the individual who is handling them, are they wild caught or bred in captivity.” The list went on but Damien stopped himself with another sip of the drink. “There are some that are raised from hatching by myself, Castile or others that work for us but there are still a good amount of species that we don’t breed and must catch them instead.” 

“Complicated, indeed. And is there an extensive market for such birds? It sounds as though you have quite the monopoly on training services for them at present.” He lifted his glass to his lips, taking a small sip with a low hum. “Forgive my curiosity - the training to become a dragoon is, well was - I don’t know what it’s like now, but when I was going through it, it tended to isolate those engaged in the training. Learning about other methods of combat, whether that involved how to train chocobos, or utilizing raptors was simply unheard of. The understanding was most of us were not going to survive long enough for it to matter, so I find this all to be quite informative.”

“The market seems limited to those that can mostly afford the birds. The cost to breed, incubate, hatch and then care for can be quite high. The cost to wild catch can be physically dangerous, can sometimes require lengthy trips and then there’s the necessary training on top. Your basic commoner isn’t sourcing me for assistance.” The amber haired man would pause fo savor the taste of the drink again. “I’ve mostly sold my stock to nobles of enthusiasts I’ve met in Isghard or through racing. While they’ve not spoken about using them for war, the birds are sold on the premise of being hunting companions or messengers.” His lips would purse as he moved to rest the glass on the arm of the chair. “I had wanted to be a dragoon when I was young. Curious how paths change.” 

“So it is, in fact, something of a monopoly, then.” Osric exhaled slowly, one finger tapping the side of his glass for a moment. “To be quite fair - there were quite a few who wanted to be dragoons when the war was still ongoing. There was a certain appeal to the title, the station - it carried with it a certain amount of weight. What it required of you, that is what was never discussed.” He shrugged one shoulder easily, lifting his glass to his lips once again. “But neither here nor there. It’s a different time, and I’m told the order has taken a different direction. I set aside the armor several years ago.”

Damien took another drink of the gin and tonic. He was painfully aware of how the drink had been getting closer and closer to empty but he’d draw in a breath as his tongue rolled over his lips. “I suppose it would be a monopoly then.” Damien replied somewhat absently. He’d never thought of it as more than a passion that he had approached head on. Castile chose to work for Damien and Damien paid him well and perhaps that brought on the loyalty. There was a subtle nod as Osric spoke about his time as a dragoon. “You’ve set the armor aside and now you’re a lord in the Cress family,” there was a coy smirk on the edge of Damien’s lips. “It seems you’ve moved up quite a bit in your station and so I’m still curious about what the Lord Cress wants with me aside from picking my brain about various hobbies.” 

“And I was the heir apparent and then the Lord of the Slater family prior to being the Lord of the Cress family - but once again, that is neither here nor there.” Osric reached out, setting his glass on the small table between the chairs. “Various hobbies were a topic of conversation that seemed to be safe as you seemed less than interested in a conversation when you arrived. As I noted earlier, my goal was simply to try and get to know you as an individual. No more, no less. There is no hidden agenda here, Lord Gray. At least not from my perspective.”

“So it would be a fair assumption to say that you’re not simply out here asking me about chocobos and warbirds because Lady Cress has recently become the owner of several chocobos?” His brow lofted as the words left his lips and he finished the remainder of his glass and placed it down on the the table in between the two of them. “Because if we’re discussing business, then I would hope you know that it is transactional. My knowledge is not free.” 

“I would not assume that it would be. There are very few things in this life that are not transactional. I’m curious as to how you came to know about the recently acquired chocobos, but to answer your question, even had Lady Cress not acquired said birds, I would still be asking out of genuine curiosity.” His head tilted slightly to the side as he leaned back against his chair. “But should you like to make this a business transaction rather than a simple conversation, then so be it.”

“I certainly have my way of knowing about things,” he’d admit with a slight shrug of his shoulders as he leaned back into the chair. His fingertips drummed slightly along the arm of the chair as his gaze lingered on Osric for a little too long. “If it is a simple conversation with nothing expected at the end from either of us, then sure this can absolutely continue as a simple conversation to satiate your genuine curiosities. Should there be a request made of services I offer or am capable of providing, I would request that we not beat around the bush.” 

Osric leaned forward slowly, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands lacing together as he looked across at the amber haired man. “In favor of not beating around the bush, let me be quite clear in this. I’ve an…inkling how you came to hear about the chocobos. Valeria did mention that she had been utilizing her bird to exchange letters. However, I will also note that should more than an exchange of letters be occurring it would cause quite an issue for my wife, as I believe she was quite clear in her expectations for her sister. And those who would want to interact with her sister should understand that my wife is the individual with the final say. Surely I make myself clear, yes?” 

Damien hummed as he leaned forward in his chair. His hands had moved away from the arms of the chair so that they could instead rest along his thighs. “Osric, I’ve not seen Valeria since I personally delivered both falcons to the Cress Estate,” His tone was firm and cold. Perhaps Osric had struck a nerve or maybe Damien had assumed that the man was acting accusatory in nature. “Though it seems that you’ve an issue with Valeria exchanging letters and so I would expect that both birds are promptly packed within their cages and delivered back to the Gray estate.” 

“Should you choose to do so, I imagine Valeria would be most upset. She seemed to be very attached to Clotho. And this isn’t an accusation, Damien, simply a suggestion. You may either choose to heed it or not. I’ve no issue with Valeria exchanging letters with whomever she chooses to. I want nothing but the best for her, she deserves some happiness in her life. She mentioned the companionship of the bird to be most comforting, and if that’s something that you wish to take from her, then I would leave that on your conscience.” He shifted back, his elbows lifting up off of his thighs. “If you say that you have not seen my sister-in-law, then so be it. I will take you at your word until you give me a reason not to.” Though the man’s shift in demeanor alone was enough to make Osric question his answer.

“As I said, should you or your wife take issue with the fact that Valeria has been corresponding with letters, then I ask the birds be returned. If there’s no issue, then the birds may remain.” His eyes narrowed slightly so that he could observe Osric’s demeanor. Despite the fact that Damien was in a place where he felt unfamiliar, he didn’t feel threatened. Words were simply words. “I’ve no desire to harm Valeria. I’ve made that clear to her. Your wife’s…punishment is unwarranted based on rumors spread by a potential business partner. If I had really wished her harm or planned on using her as a pawn, I wouldn’t be wasting my own gil on it. Those birds could’ve brought in plenty.” 

Osric fought back a sigh as his gaze remained on the other man. “It’s not a punishment. As previously discussed, the tension between yourself and Lady Gray was made apparent during the dinner. Vahalia has to look out for the safety of House Cress, first and foremost, as do I…Valeria is part of House Cress. Surely you can understand that. We are not looking to punish Valeria, nor is there any attempt to punish anyone else. But as it seems that things are very much ‘up in the air’ there is a need to make sure that all are taken care of within House Cress. Surely, if you care for Valeria the way you claim to do so, you can see the wisdom in that.” 

“I would also note, Damien, that it’s not ‘wasted gil’ when spending it on those we care for. Or it hasn’t been in my experience.” Osric reached for his glass, downing what remained before setting the empty container down once again.

His gaze averted momentarily to the fire as he chewed absently on the inside of his cheek. “Ah, yes, the ever present need to look out for House Cress while aligning yourself with Cordelia. The woman not only had a hand to play in my brother’s untimely death but has promptly stolen all control of my family’s assets overnight.” He’d draw in a heavy breath as he pushed himself to his feet. “I believe this meeting is concluded, Lord Cress. You and your wife have made your allegiances known to my sister-in-law and it is clear that neither of you have any regard for the means at which you acquire business for your house.” 

“Once again, you make bold assumptions, Lord Gray.” Osric stood, adjusting his vest as his eyes narrowed in the direction of the other man. “I will put the needs of my house above my own, and I will - indeed - always look out for House Cress and its members. But the assumption that I aligned with anyone knowingly who had a hand in the death of your brother is a bold accusation indeed. Perhaps you’d like to lay such an accusation at the feet of my wife as well, or Valeria? As she is part of this house as well. The well-being of the members under our banner is my primary concern. There is unrest within your house, that is clear and we only seek to protect those in our house who may not be able to protect themselves. If you consider it a punishment that we do so, then so be it, you are welcome to your perspective. But do not assume to know my mind or what drives me or my wife, Lord Gray. I trust you can see yourself out. Good day, sir.” 

“Valeria is aware of the accusation and doesn’t agree with her sister’s business practices. Perhaps you should look into that when you see what your house aligns with.” His comment was swift and he had offered Osric one final narrowed gaze before he turned on his heel to exit the room where they had sat.

Collab with @damien-gray-ffxiv

[unpluggedfinancial]

The Slowdown in US Job Growth and Rising Bankruptcies: Implications and Outlook

Recent reports indicate a sharp slowdown in US job growth, with the unemployment rate rising to 4.3%. This trend, coupled with a record high in bankruptcies, signals deeper economic challenges. As the Federal Reserve considers cutting interest rates in September, if not sooner, it's crucial to understand the implications for the economy and personal finance.

The slowdown in job growth reflects a cautious approach by businesses in response to economic uncertainties. This trend, combined with a rising unemployment rate, signals potential difficulties ahead for many individuals seeking employment. Businesses are hesitant to expand their workforce amidst uncertain economic conditions, and technological advances reduce the need for human labor in certain sectors. Increased global competition also leads to cost-cutting measures, including hiring freezes or layoffs.

Bankruptcies have surged to a record high, driven by factors such as persistent inflation, high interest rates, and ongoing supply chain disruptions. Rising costs of goods and services reduce profit margins for businesses and disposable income for consumers. Higher borrowing costs make it more difficult for businesses to finance operations and growth, leading to financial distress. Disruptions in the supply chain can lead to shortages and increased costs, further straining business finances.

In response to these economic challenges, the Federal Reserve is likely to cut interest rates in September to stimulate economic activity. Lowering interest rates can make borrowing cheaper, potentially boosting investment and spending. The anticipated rate cut aims to encourage borrowing by making loans more affordable for businesses and consumers, boosting economic growth by increasing spending and investment, and managing inflation by stimulating economic activity and preventing deflationary pressures.

Amidst these economic uncertainties, Bitcoin presents itself as a hedge against traditional market volatility. Its decentralized nature and limited supply make it an attractive option for preserving value. Bitcoin operates independently of central banks and government policies, providing a hedge against political and economic instability. With a capped supply of 21 million coins, Bitcoin is immune to inflationary pressures caused by excessive money printing. Bitcoin's growing acceptance as a digital store of value makes it a viable alternative to traditional assets like gold.

When the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates, it often acts as a catalyst for Bitcoin's price. Historically, lower interest rates have led to increased liquidity in the financial system, which can drive investment into alternative assets like Bitcoin. Lower interest rates increase the money supply, providing more capital for investment in assets like Bitcoin. With traditional savings and bonds offering lower returns, investors seek higher returns in alternative assets, including cryptocurrencies. As interest rates drop and the money supply increases, concerns about inflation drive investors to assets like Bitcoin that are perceived as inflation-resistant.

For individuals, it is crucial to diversify investments, enhance skills, and stay informed about market trends. Embracing digital currencies like Bitcoin can provide a safeguard against economic downturns and currency devaluation. Spread investments across various asset classes, including stocks, bonds, real estate, and cryptocurrencies, to mitigate risk. Continuously update skills and knowledge to remain competitive in the job market and adapt to changing economic conditions. Regularly monitor economic indicators, market trends, and policy changes to make informed financial decisions.

Additionally, adopting a strategy of Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA) into Bitcoin and buying the dips can be highly beneficial. DCA involves investing a fixed amount of money at regular intervals, regardless of the asset's price. This strategy reduces the impact of market volatility and can lead to a lower average cost per Bitcoin over time. Buying the dips, or purchasing Bitcoin when its price drops, can also enhance returns by taking advantage of temporary price declines.

The combination of slowing job growth, rising bankruptcies, and potential interest rate cuts underscores the need for proactive financial planning. By understanding these trends and exploring alternative investment options like Bitcoin, individuals can better prepare for the economic uncertainties ahead. Embracing strategies like DCA and buying the dips can further enhance financial resilience and long-term growth prospects.

Take Action Towards Financial Independence

If this article has sparked your interest in the transformative potential of Bitcoin, there's so much more to explore! Dive deeper into the world of financial independence and revolutionize your understanding of money by following my blog and subscribing to my YouTube channel.

🌐 Blog: Unplugged Financial Blog Stay updated with insightful articles, detailed analyses, and practical advice on navigating the evolving financial landscape. Learn about the history of money, the flaws in our current financial systems, and how Bitcoin can offer a path to a more secure and independent financial future.

📺 YouTube Channel: Unplugged Financial Subscribe to our YouTube channel for engaging video content that breaks down complex financial topics into easy-to-understand segments. From in-depth discussions on monetary policies to the latest trends in cryptocurrency, our videos will equip you with the knowledge you need to make informed financial decisions.

👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with our latest content. Whether you're a seasoned investor, a curious newcomer, or someone concerned about the future of your financial health, our community is here to support you on your journey to financial independence.