#how much does a bookkeeping business make

[jessica-larson]

Drive financial excellence with our Bookkeeping Business Plan—a strategic blend of meticulous expertise, advanced technology, and client-focused solutions. Join us in reshaping financial management, where precision meets personalized service for lasting success.

[abbysimsfun]

Sims In Bloom: Generation 2 Pt. 115 (Getting Cozy With New Friends?)

The events of this post occurred after New Year's Eve at the Salty Paw (Generation 2 Pts. 106 and 107).

After an eventful holiday season, Heather Nesbitt phoned her youngest sister on New Year's Day. Hazel checked the call display and forced a smile. "Hey Big Sis, what are you up to?"

"Hey, Little Dandelion. Just watching the Holiday Yule Log on repeat (totally autonomously) before I do some bookkeeping for the clinic. Helps me focus, and they haven't taken it off the air yet this year. How are you doing?"

"Pretty awful," Hazel admitted. "I'm sorry we just left without saying goodbye last night. We were too busy giving each other the cold shoulder all the way back to Henford."

"Don't apologize. I'm glad you got home safely, but I know things between you aren't okay. I think we all hoped things would get better after you talked on Winterfest Day."

"We didn't really talk. We skated and went home and just didn't fight for a few days."

Heather frowned. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Hazel shook her head. "Not right now. I want to have a nap and then get out of the house for the night. It's weird being here surrounded by her family all the time. I feel like her mother and brother are constantly judging me."

"They love Nicola like we love you," Heather said. "But she shouldn't talk to you like she does. You don't deserve it. I'm willing to bet that a lot of what she's going through isn't even really about you."

Hazel sighed. "I just make it all worse."

Heather loved her baby sister and would always support her, but she never would have advised Hazel's next move.

To end a New Year's Day where Hazel spent as much time avoiding Nicola and her family as possible, she found herself drinking screwdrivers at the pub that night. She was alone, again, until she met Suri Romeo and flirted over drinks until well after midnight.

When the pub closed, they continued with a stroll along the River Bagley. The place near the village green, which had earlier that day been packed with locals for the annual Polar Bear Swim, was devoid of any lamplights, but Hazel could still make out Suri's smile in the light of the moon. "Are you happily married, Hazel?"

She didn't want to answer and pulled Suri in for a kiss. It felt electric - nothing like the kisses she shared with her wife. Not now, and maybe not ever.

But she thought of Nicola back home, probably asleep and snoring a little. Her wedding vows meant she wasn't supposed to do this, and she pulled away with a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry," she said. "My wife."

Suri nodded with an understanding smile. "I'm living with my grandparents at their farm in Old New Henford. Call me when you figure out some things."

But Hazel called Suri long before she had anything "figured out," inviting her to the first Finchwick Fair of the new year. "I have to be there with Mayor Varner, but it's really a great opportunity for you to live like a true Henford local," she told Suri, and they met outside the village green on a sunny winter afternoon.

"Did your wife not want to be here?" Suri wondered.

"She's grading papers and the Finchwick Fair isn't really her thing. She loves gardening, but she hasn't done much of it lately." Nicola recalled the woman she used to know with some regret before quickly brushing it away and returning her focus to Suri. "Here, I saw this video that made me think of you. It's a cat, but he's a chef. It's called ChefCat!"

They were interrupted by friendly Mayor Varner, who was happy to meet anyone in his town at any time. "Hello there! I'd never miss a new face!"

"Mayor Varner, this is Suri Romeo. She's just moved to town to learn to be a great chef from her grandmother, Clara Bjergsen."

"Ah! The Bjergsens are wonderful citizens! And your grandmother's baked goods are the reason I'm out of shape."

Suri smiled. "Hopefully one day I'll be just as good as she is."

"You'll have a wonderful mentor. Welcome to town, Miss Romeo!" He turned to a starry-eyed Nicola. "How are those new year's reports coming, Hazel?"

"I should be done this week, sir. It's a lot of information to put together."

He frowned. They both knew he'd expected those reports on his desk last week, but the work was a drag, and he'd given her too many previous extensions. She forced a smile for her boss.

When it got a little cooler, Hazel and Suri went inside the pub to warm up. They danced to some holiday music still playing on the in-house stereo, before Hazel pulled a sprig of mistletoe from the ceiling. "Laura must've forgotten to take this down with the rest of the Winterfest decorations," she mused, but she held it playfully over her head anyway. Suri laughed, leaning in to kiss her quickly on the lips.

Hazel glanced around. The bar was mostly empty with most patrons enjoying the fair outside, but they knew they shouldn't be spotted doing what they were doing.

They continued to see one another in secret, hanging out at the community garden in Old New Henford to get to know one another. Suri told Hazel about life growing up in an apartment in San Myshuno with her parents and brothers, and about visits to Henford to see her grandparents and aunts every summer. She even told her about her mother's cousin Olivia, who was a basketball star at Foxbury Institute.

Hazel was happy to talk about her family - her parents, her sisters, her brother, all her in-laws and nieces and nephews - but not her wife. And she knew her friendship with Suri was dangerous. She wanted Suri all to herself and didn't want her wife to know anything about her.

As the snow melted beneath her jacket, Hazel would cloudgaze (even in Henford's mild, sunny winter climate) and imagine herself with Suri. Not Nicola.

She knew marriage counseling was the best course of action, but when she looked at Nicola, she didn't want to do it. When Suri entered her life, she could finally admit to herself what she'd tried to mask for years. Hazel was no longer attracted to her objectively beautiful wife, and no amount of counseling would bring her feelings back.

She grew increasingly careless in her time spent with Suri. She told Suri she wanted out, but conversations with Nicola these days always ended in tears. She didn't tell anyone what was going on because she knew they'd tell her to be better. To talk to Nicola, to end things with Suri before they went too far, to be a bigger person. She'd lost her will to care about any of it.

On Sportsball Sunday, Hazel wanted to go to the Gnome's Arms to watch the game. River had invited her to her childhood home, but Suri would be at the pub. She was getting ready to go when her girlfriend surprised her at home in the Bramblewood.

"What are you doing here? I was just leaving."

"I came to tell you my little cousin Jada heard at school that you and I are seeing each other."

Hazel froze. If kids at school were talking about Mrs. Moody-Nesbitt's wife having an affair, then... Sure enough, Nicola met them in the yard with a churlish grin.

"Oh good! You're both here, so I only need to get mad once before I forget either of you and leave while Hazel packs her things."

Hazel was quiet, letting Nicola unleash a torrent of disappointment at her affair. "It kills me Hazel. I wanted a family with you. It's all we talked about for years, but then I lost my dad and you cheated. And I found out at work, which is so embarrassing! My schedule was never the problem when it came to counseling. I worked the same schedule every day, I came home - you're the one who always had somewhere else to be."

Hazel was defeated and ready to leave, and she apologized for embarrassing her. "I shouldn't have been with Suri behind your back, but what are we really salvaging anymore, Nic? I'm sorry."

Nicola scowled. "Oh, you're done? Hazel, I already got the divorce papers from the courthouse. Sign them and get out of my house."

Though Nicola put on a confident facade while she took the initiative to end their union, they both left the marriage with regrets. They could have tried harder, if they were really meant to be. But more than anything, they could have waited to get married. Maybe then they'd never have married at all, and their differences wouldn't have been so hard to take.

And now, with the sunny weather betraying their broken hearts, Hazel Nesbitt and Nicola Moody-McMillan had shared their last cozy celebrations together.

How would each move on from here? ->

<- Previous Chapter | Gen 2 Start | Gen 2.1 Summary

Gen 1 Start | Gen 1 Summary

The answers to that question! Nicola's next chapter begins here as a contestant on Dating Deanna, a reality TV series debuting in January by @changingplumbob, where dozens of contestants will compete for the heart of beautiful bachelorette Deanna York.

Hazel lives with the Nesbitt-Gordons for now, so we'll follow her story with Heather and her crew in Sims In Bloom!

This was hardly cozy, but I've written a couple surprise bonus posts for tomorrow/my Christmas Day that are much more fun, and they finish off the reward event with a lot less angst and drama!

NOTE: For the record, I believe in working on a marriage, but Hazel and Nicola's compatibility was awful once Lovestruck patched in. They truly grew apart, not at all together, and didn't have enough desire to put in the work to save their short-lived marriage. Then Hazel met Suri and they were flirty and got along so much better, so I figured she and Nicola might both be happier without each other and they divorced.

While Hazel has a potential someone, I was trying to think about what to do with Nicola when Dating Deanna was announced. I thought this was perfect because now I don't have to plot her next chapter, and if she doesn't win Deanna's heart she'll return with new lore and backstory to write for.

I know she has few fans these days and that's fine! But when she's with the right person and not cheated on (entering a bachelorette competition could really test her), Nicola will put in the work. She's too good and family oriented not to. Hazel, on the other hand, should possibly reckon with why she chose to cheat and not leave...

[sl-newsie]

American Woman (Thomas Shelby x American OC) Ch. 22: Nonexistent Normal

The next few days bring a feeling of rushed anticipation. The familiar atmosphere in the kitchen hits me like a slap in the face. 

“Strange” is all I can comment on as people bustle around the office, hands full of documents and betting papers.

“What did you expect when you came back?” Finn asks from behind me.

“I’m not sure. Maybe a sliver of happiness. But the only one I see with any amount of happiness is you, Finn. This expansion doesn’t seem to be pleasing anyone but Thomas.”

He clears his throat and I turn to face him. Two years has done its work on Finn. His child-like face is still there but his eyes have grown with the deep ambition of a young man. 

“I missed the lessons. I really did.”

“Aw,” I smile and give him a quick hug. “I promise as soon as I carry out whatever Thomas has planned for me, I will schedule more. Speaking of which, where is Thomas?”

Hurried footsteps echo through the hall and we turn to see a woman hastily throwing on her coat as she heads for the door. There’s no question about her business here. We both know it. Thomas’ door opens and he steps out in a clean suit. Finn now decides to wander off to the parlor, leaving us alone.

“Still gallivanting with ladies of the night?” I taunt slightly.

“You still think I’m a good man after all these years?” Thomas lightly argues back as he approaches me in the kitchen.

“I do, Thomas Shelby.”

This surprises him. Thomas’ eyes search me for any hesitation, as if he was expecting me to scold his sinful behavior. It is disappointing to see him still turning to whores to keep him happy, especially after his ordeal with Grace.

“I will admit that this type of sin is no business of mine, but it’s your life. Just remember that your actions will have consequences.”

Why does he have to look at me like that? My words seem to fly right over his head but he’s still looking at me. 

“Verena! Come help me with these!” Polly yells from the office.

I give Thomas a shrug. “Duty calls. Anything you’ve got on the docket for me today?”

Thomas, still with the same look, shakes his head. “No. We’ll sort out the tough work first, then you lot can come in with the paperwork.”

Tough work? What kind of expansion is this anyway? Or by words or by force?

“Verena!”

“Coming, Polly!”

I hurry past the handsome gangster into the bustling office. People are pouring into place bets and Polly’s swamped with counting cash. The Romanian woman grunts in annoyment as soon as I join her.

“Talk talk talk! If you want to chat so much with Thomas then go on a date. Time to work!”

My head jerks to look at her once I process her rushed words. “Haha. We’re just catching up.”

“Yeah. Right.” Polly drolls sarcastically. “Catch up after we’ve handled this mess.”

Back to work it is. Customers pile in one after the other. I lose track of how many times I pass through the safe. What I do notice is the pile of money inside growing bigger and bigger. Thomas wasn’t kidding in his letters. Profit has been good.

“Alright, time to clock out.” Polly locks the door and collapses into a chair. 

“Already? Wha-? Oh!” I gape at the clock. “It’s already five!”

“That’s how it’s been,” Polly grunts. “I might have Thomas make you the new bookkeeper since he’s so keen on finding a new one.”

Oh. That was Grace’s job. He still hasn’t found a replacement. 

An ember of hope ignites in me. If I really want to stay here maybe I can convince Thomas to promote me. Something concrete that will prove to father that I have an official job and will keep them off my back.

Finn walks through the door and notices our tired state. 

“Where have you been?” Polly asks.

“Helping John pack the car.”

My head perks up. “Car? They left already?”

Finn shakes his head and points to where he’s just come from. “Not yet, but they’re about to. Now’s the time for any goodbyes.”

My exhaustion vanishes and I sprint out the door despite Polly’s callings. Sure enough the older Shelby brothers are gathered around their car ready to depart. But where’s Thomas?

“Hello, gentleman. Off to a new adventure?”

“If we can quit from arguing for five minutes,” Arthur grunts.

“Oi, Steenstra! You don’t need to do that,” John rejects when he sees me helping to pack a few bags. “They’re too heavy.”

“Are you saying I’m weak?” I joke and lift up the bags anyway.

“‘S just that you’re not the sturdiest ox of the group- Ow!”

John rubs the spot where I just punched his shoulder. He complains and Arthur can’t stop laughing.

“Call me that one more time and I will literally punch you in the nose,” I warn lightly. “I’m not a strong ox, no. But I am a fierce tiger.”

John scoffs and shrugs the threat off. “You don’t have the guts to- ah!”

I get him in a headlock and soon he’s bent over. “Need I remind you that I am American?”

“Alright alright, I give in!” John gasps and flinches away. “Jesus, Verena! What happened to you?”

I smirk proudly at his arrogance. “That’s what happens when I spend an entire month with my brothers.”

“I was on my way to step in but I see you’ve got it covered.”

I look behind me and see Thomas approaching. Another fine suit as usual. He seems to be in good spirits. I hope it lasts at least for a day. He looks between John and I with an amused smirk.

“Just get in the fucking car, John.”

“Good morning, Thomas. New car?”

John goes to sit in the back while Arthur taunts him. Thomas walks up beside me and lays a hand across the shining metal.

“Business has been good. Why not use the profits?”

“You should be proud,” I praise. “Have fun on your holiday. Polly’s going to miss you.”

“And you?” Thomas asks with slight interest.

His question holds layers of hidden hope. Does he want me to stay? I want to stay. I just got here.

“I’ve been gone two years. What’s a few more days? Besides from what I hear, you lot deserve a vacation. London sounds exciting.”

“At least we can drink legally, love. Though no doubt it’ll be just as hectic as your American speakeasies.”

“Haha, very funny.” I smirk and put my hands on my hips. “Be careful. Right, then. Cheerio, you wild gangsters.”

Thomas gives a salute and climbed in with his brothers. The engine spurs to life and the car begins gliding down the road.

“Right! Peaky Blinders are going on fucking holiday!” Arthur cheers.

“Sit down, you mad bastard!” John pushes him down.

Never a dull moment with this lot. Once they’re out of sight I hear footsteps from behind. It’s Finn.

“Are they gone?”

I nod. “Just left. What say you about a walk along the Cut and a catching-up chat? After all, I've hardly seen you outside of family meetings since I got back.”

He nods eagerly and we start off towards the river. Finn might have grown too but he’s still the same kind boy I remember.

“Do they still fight all the time?” I ask softly.

“They’ve calmed down a bit but Arthur’s head still strays from time to time.” Finn pauses. “How’s things in America?”

“In my case, terrible. My father’s been under lots of stress because of the new Eighteenth Amendment. Now we’re relying more on bootlegging, which is today's topic. The term came into general use in the American Midwest in the 1880s to represent the practice of traders concealing flasks of illegal liquor in their boot tops when they went to trade with Native Americans. Now my father runs a speakeasy. It’s called that because of how low you have to speak the password to gain access. It’s also called a blind pig or gin joint, but speakeasy sounds more classy in my opinion.”

Finn keeps nodding along. “Thanks for this. It’s… Nice to get away from the office. I want to run the family business but at the same time I don’t want to always obsess over it. Like Tommy does. Is that bad?”

Poor Finn. It’s come to the fact that the only way to gain his family’s respect is to strive in their world of treachery and killing. Polly once believed that he could grow up to be a normal man. But when you’re a Shelby no one knows the meaning of normal.

“In a way, I understand. My family’s trying to either fix me up with any businessman they can find or get me employed in our own brewery.” I stop walking to get Finn to look at me. “Family is important. But they can also let you down. You know that, Finn. If you’re doing something that doesn’t seem right, don’t question yourself. Ask God.  Above all else, His word is what matters.”

Finn gives a satisfied hum and looks away at the murky waters below. “If God is so righteous, why does He allow misery? Why did my mum have to die? Why did my brothers have to go to war? Why do we have to keep up this madness with the Blinders?”

All good questions. Ones that no mortal will ever have the answer to. It breaks my heart to see Finn’s innocence being swallowed up by these mobsters.

“I mean, even if Sabini wasn’t posing a threat-”

My breath hitches and my panicked eyes meet his. “Dear Lord. Sabini…”

Finn frowns at my reaction. “You’ve heard of him?”

On the East Coast Sabini isn't a name that's thrown around without concern. They have connections. And the Italians are not on good terms with the Irish.

“There are rumors even in Brooklyn,” I answer slowly. “Finn, why on Earth would you lot be involved with him?”

He shrugs. “Donno. Only overheard Tommy muttering to himself.”

I point a scolding finger. “Finn, you are a good boy. No eavesdropping on people even when they’re conversing with themselves. As for Sabini… I will ask him about it later. Let’s get back to our walk.”

Days tick by. I help Polly with more chores. Go on walks with Finn. It feels like nothing’s changed. Can it stay like this? I know it’s not a perfect world but it’s a comfortable one. I’m not the one killing or lying. But when I talk to the Blinder boys who do it almost seems like they’re normal people too.

“So you’re really from America?” A Blinder named Harry asks as we lounge in the office.

“Hasn’t Thomas told you?” I ask back.

He shakes his head and runs a hand through his hair. “No. Mr. Shelby doesn’t like us asking too many questions. We were only told to keep guard on you.”

“Oh well, isn't that sweet,” I mutter. A babysitter. “Just how dangerous has Small Heath gotten?”

“Don’t hold your breath, love.”

Footsteps echo throughout the hall and Thomas struts towards his office door. Why is his coat all dusty? How is he back already? Does a holiday for them last only a few days?

I get up from my chair and slowly approach. “Back so soon?” 

“Yes.”

Time to bite the bullet. “And you’re looking for a new secretary?”

“Already found one,” he replies and pours some whiskey into a glass on his desk. “Lizzy.”

Disappointment stings hard. Lizzie? A prostitute acting as a secretary? Granted the Shelbys have known her far longer so her trust must be stronger. But I’m disappointed nonetheless.

“I thought she…?”

Thomas downs his drink and gives a nod. “I changed that. I need someone who can look the other way, and I’m afraid you care too much.”

Ouch. 

“And what about Sabini?” 

The gangster’s eyes flash with warning but I push on. He’s not leaving me in the dark. He puffs out his chest and attempts to back me out of the room but I stand firm.

“Finn overheard the name and told me. That won’t go away, Thomas.”

That hardened stare makes my blood run cold. I’ve been met on the downside of Thomas’ anger only on a few occasions but this time it’s different. No words, no shouting. Just those unblinking blue eyes ordering me to stand down. So this is his secret of taming the Peaky Blinders.

“I can handle it.”

I set my jaw straight. He’s mad if he thinks this won’t end with bloodshed. I put a hand on my hip and point to the main office. “What about Polly? Ada? There are more ways he can hurt you besides pulling a gun to your head.”

Thomas sets down the glass and puts both hands on my shoulders. In an unspoken battle we glare back and forth, morals against pride. 

“I can handle it,” he repeats. “‘S not for you to stress over, love. Our family is stronger than him. Shelby Company Limited will persevere without any problems from Sabini.”

I want to believe him. But something deep down makes me consider something darker.

[unluckiestmember]

Hi! I would like to make a request. Jinx, Vi, Caitlyn, Silco, Viktor and Jayce x Female!Paranormal Researcher!Reader. Reader explores something that defies any logical explanation. Simply put, she goes to different places to find at least some otherworldly activity, to fix the presence of a ghost, etc. Thank you very much!

Coming right up!

Arcane X Female Paranormal Researcher! Reader

Characters: Jinx, Vi, Caitlyn, Viktor, Silco, Sevika, Licker and Jayce.

Tags: Supportive girlfriend, supportive boyfriend, protective girlfriend, protective boyfriend, worrywart, ghost hunting, Jinx being Jinx, soft lovers and fluff.

Warning: None. SFW.

A/N: Sorry I've been gone for so long but like my mom said, can't cry over spilled milk. I plan to get some requests done over the week so let's start strong!

Jinx

“Alrighty, toots! Ready for our next spot? I got the bombs, my guns, flashlight-. Okay, they can phase through all that, but you can never be too careless right?! Let’s go catch some ghosts!”

When you told Jinx that you were a Paranormal Researcher, she was honestly thrilled. When it came to the supernatural, she found herself intrigued by the possibility of the undead and unusual activities that could happen in Zaun, let alone Runeterra. So it came as no surprise that she decided to make herself your right hand partner in uncovering paranormal activity.

For the most part, she’s a valuable asset on the field with her equipment and off the field in the form of research. This Loose Cannon has no issue walking into the darkest depths if it meant you could uncover otherworldly phenomena. Just keep an eye out for her always trying to capture something or someone and claim it to be supernatural. She’s so sure she has a collection of ghosts in her hideout after a few stakeouts with you, but you’re positive she’s only caught one.

Violet “Vi”

“Hey, babe. Going out hunting again for ‘the unknown’? Haha, no no, I’m not trying to make fun of you. Need company?”

So Vi is not as believing in the supernatural of Runeterra. But that doesn’t mean she believes in some phenomena. When you told her about your occupation, she found it interesting to say the least. At first, she kind of made sure her job and your job never mixed. But after you would come back home all dirty or even injured, this brute decided to make it her secondary job to explore supernatural areas with you.

With time, she saw it more as a hobby and even became interested in a few cases you two picked up. When she’s not playing enforcer or relaxing with you at home, she’ll be quick to come with you to find ghosts or paranormal activities. Unlike you, she’s not going to lose sleep over it or go over the top in regards to researching how to soothe ghosts, but if you need help, she’s right beside you. The only big con is that she will be quick to cancel an expedition if it meant you would be extremely hurt physically or mentally.

Caitlyn Kiramman

“Why do you have your journal and your backpack?... Oh. Another hunt?... Okay. What are we trying to do now?”

When it comes to the paranormal, Caitlyn can be a half full kind of person one day, and half empty the next. She’s never been that interested in the supernatural, even as a kid, but after the kind of missions she’s gone on during her years as a beginning enforcer, she started to believe a little. She finds your research to be kind of cute, since your drive reminds her of her own when doing investigations.

Don’t expect Caitlyn to join you on the field often though. Because of her busy job and the lack of energy she has some days, the most she can do for you is paperwork and research on your targets. Every blue moon she will join you on the field to help find ghosts and supernatural beings. Though don’t count on it. Unless you’re out super late or missing for a day, she’s solely your bookkeeper and secretary.

Silco

“Off to find something out of the ordinary? Alright then, don’t go without Sevika or Licker.”

So Silco does not believe in supernatural and paranormal events. He’s a straight cut man that only believes in technology and science. You told him you were a paranormal researcher and I kid you not, he laughed at first. No matter how much you tell him about your job, he will only see it as a mere hobby. That being said, that doesn’t change how deep down a worrywart he can be.

Whenever you say you’re going on a search, he will not let you go unless you are accompanied by one of his men. He’s fine with your ‘line of work’ as long as you are safe. Silco isn’t going to help you, but if you guys have a small talk about something you discovered, he’s all ears. Besides, there could be something to all the weird things that happen in Zaun. And if Jinx believes it, there could be some groundwork to all this paranormal stuff happening. But it will take a VERY LONG time to convince him.

Viktor

“Love! Wait! Before you go, I want you to have this. It’s to help lure some ghosts in your direction if any are in the area. It’s still in the prototype stages, but it should be helpful enough.”

Surprisingly, Viktor believes in the supernatural! Even if he is a scientist and focuses most of his time on researching ways to improve technologically, it doesn’t mean he thinks everything is solely logical. How would that explain alchemists or things suddenly disappearing one day? How would it even explain some material and beings around Runeterra that shouldn’t exist based on logic?

He immediately became your partner in crime when you told him you were a paranormal researcher. Similar to Caitlyn, he doesn’t go out on the field as often when you go searching, but he will create contraptions that can assist you on your travels. To add, he is also a cheerleader, pushing you on to find ghosts and continue to do the thing that you love. As long as you come home smiling and okay, he has your back one hundred percent.

Jayce Talis

“Going out again? I’m about to head out too- I’ll see you when I get back, okay? Be careful out there.”

Jayce is a scaredy cat. Man will talk a lot about progress and being strong willed but as soon as he sees something moving at night that shouldn’t move, he’s screaming bloody murder. He likes to proclaim he doesn’t believe in ghosts for a man who believes in magic. Runes and crystals that produce electricity? Yeah, that makes sense. Spirits of the dead? Nope, that’s going too far.

Luckily, he doesn’t ridicule you for being a paranormal researcher and even asks you questions about your findings, but don’t expect him to extend a helping hand that much. He’s more concerned about the progress of Piltover to go ghost hunting with you. But it could be for the best. With how many times you have seen him nearly jump out of his skin while watching horror movies, you can only imagine how he would be on an expedition with you. He supports you, and that’s what really matters in the end.

Arcane Requests are open!

Likes and retweets are always appreciated! I love you all, stay hydrated and have a good day! <3

[mariacallous]

Trump Media & Technology Group, the Truth Social parent company majority-owned by former president Donald Trump, filed a document with the Securities and Exchange Commission this morning that helpfully details all of the ways Trump himself poses a threat to the company and its shareholders. While the company generated just over $4 million in revenue in 2023, Trump Media’s valuation has fluctuated wildly since going public in March, at one point reaching more than $7 billion. As of this morning, the company was valued at $3.7 billion. Trump Media has become a meme stock, where the stock price is governed more by vibes than traditional financial performance.

The SEC document filed by Trump Media this morning, which announced the public stock offering of 21.5 million shares, also detailed the company’s “risk factors.” These statements are standard for publicly traded companies, and usually include anything from macroeconomic headwinds to worst-case scenarios like earthquakes or terrorist attacks. The filing does include several risk factors that aren’t directly related to Trump, including competition from other social media companies, deficiencies in bookkeeping and accounting, and data privacy laws. And the company has faced multiple lawsuits from early employees of the company, who argue they deserve more shares.

But an entire section is dedicated to Trump-associated risks, making Truth Social’s risk factors unique because they cast Trump’s role as chief promoter and majority shareholder as a threat to the company’s success.

“TMTG may be subject to greater risks than typical social media platforms because of the focus of its offerings and the involvement of President Donald J. Trump,” the company said in the SEC filing. “These risks include active discouragement of users, harassment of advertisers or content providers, increased risk of hacking of TMTG’s platform, lesser need for Truth Social if First Amendment speech is not suppressed, criticism of Truth Social for its moderation practices, and increased stockholder suits.”

Here’s how Trump Media says Trump himself could threaten the company:

Trump’s Legal Issues

Trump Media noted that if Trump “were to discontinue his relationship with TMTG due to death, disability, criminal conviction, incarceration, or any other reason, or limit his involvement with TMTG due to his ongoing candidacy for political office, TMTG would be significantly disadvantaged.”

Trump’s History of Bankruptcy

“Entities associated with President Donald J. Trump have filed for bankruptcy protection in the past,” the company said in the filing, which noted that the Trump Taj Mahal, Trump Plaza, the Trump Castle, the Plaza Hotel, and Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc. had all previously filed for bankruptcy.

“While all of the foregoing were in different businesses than TMTG, there can be no guarantee that TMTG’s performance will exceed the performance of those entities,” the filing said.

Other Companies Refusing to Work With Truth Social

“To date, several potential third-party partners have expressed an unwillingness or reluctance to work on TMTG’s products or provide services for reasons including TMTG’s connection with President Donald J. Trump,” the filing stated.

Trump’s Use of Other Platforms

The company warned that if Trump stopped using Truth Social, its business would be adversely affected.

Trump has an agreement to post all content he deems as “nonpolitical” to Truth Social first, and must wait six hours before posting it on any website. But Trump, as a political candidate, may be able to argue that anything he posts is political content, meaning the company doesn’t have much power if he wants to start tweeting again.

“Consequently, TMTG may lack any meaningful remedy if President Donald J. Trump minimizes his use of Truth Social,” the filing states.

Politically Motivated Hackers

Trump’s involvement makes the company a prime target for hackers, according to the filing.

“TMTG believes that it is a particularly attractive target for such breaches and attacks, including from nation states and highly sophisticated, state-sponsored, or otherwise well-funded actors,” the company said in the filing. “And TMTG may experience heightened risk from time to time as a result of geopolitical events.”

Trump’s Self-Interest

Trump, who owns 57.6 percent of Trump Media, could steer the company to his benefit in a way that might not align with other Trump Media investors.

“President Donald J. Trump will, as a controlling stockholder, be entitled to vote his shares in his own interests, which may not always be in the interests of TMTG’s stockholders generally,” the filing says.

[thekimspoblog]

Some clarification on the FotD series.

A fan complained that the plot of my "Fantasy of the Day" series for the BCS/McWexler fandom was really hard to follow. And that's... not their fault at all; the plot is hard to follow because there really isn't one singular plot.

The Premise: The first thing that you need to understand, is that the FotDs are just fluff-n-angst snippets I pull out of a proverbial hat. Usually, I come up with the idea for a scene which would look cool, and fill out the details of the backstory later. So if one of the stories in my posts comes across as vague or self-contradictory, that's why; I'm making it up as I go. And usually instead of better explaining a premise, I'll just move onto another one.

The Setting: Season 1 of my "Slippin' Kimmy" fanfic has a more set-in-stone story arc: In a single sentence, Kim joins a cult. Season 1 is set in rural Wyoming between the fall of 2016 and the spring of 2017, but most of the FotDs are set anytime between 2017 and Kim's eventual death. I have no strong opinions yet for what should happen in Season 2, and so the FotDs are all just spitball ideas for plots which might happen. It's a running gag how frequently Kim is forced to uproot her life and move to a new city, so an FotD might be set anywhere in the world.

The Main Character: Kim has been promoted to the occupation of "fixer" in the Breaking Bad universe. Her updated business card reads "Wexler-McGill: Image Consulting", but her services run the gauntlet of: off-the-record legal advice, schmoozing politicians and business people, orchestrating media circuses and publicity stunts, hiring hacktivists, delivering mysterious packages, laundering money, bookkeeping for philanthropic organizations, bodyguard work, P.I. work, sabotaging weapons manufacturing facilities, organizing protests, smuggling Mifepristone and Estradiol into red states, renovating and flipping failing shopping malls and entertainment venues, and much more miscellaneous espionage. Assassinations are a line which Kim will never cross willfully, but she is frequently caught in the crossfire when white-collar criminals try to take eachother out.

The Romantic Lead: Jimmy's story is over, but he's not willing to ever leave her, so he has no choice but to come along for the ride. He's finally living the dream of going into business with his wife, and he joins her on roughly half her adventures, but at this point excitement is something he could take or leave. He takes pride in playing the role of the homemaker, and his love for his children often motivates him to be the voice of caution. He supports and agrees with Kim's so-called "Revolution" - the subversion of unjust laws, the redistribution of wealth, the sabotaging of hate-groups - but whenever the heat gets too hot, he will make the tough but pragmatic decision for one or both of them to go into hiding again. Kim is wearing some golden plot-armor in this story, but Jimmy's mortality looms over almost every FotD. Not only does Jimmy simply want to make the most of how ever much time he has left, but there is a palpable threat that sooner or later he will be stuffed into a freezer for the sake of creating drama for Kim. If they could have it their way, they'd explore the cosmos forever as a pair of ageless trickster gods, but the spouses both know that in all likelihood she will outlive him.

The Prodigy: In this spin-off, Jimmy and Kim have two children; Iris and Fille. The oldest child, Iris, is barely even my OC; they are the most obvious answer to the question "What would the McWexler baby be like?". All their best and worst qualities in one precocious brunette imp. Quick-witted and silver-tongued, a born performer with sticky fingers, both figuratively and literally. Iris comes out as non-binary in their preteens and is accepted pretty immediately, but for the record any FotD which refers to Iris as "she/her" is canonically an example of their parents misgendering them because they didn't know any better. While Kim is out doing her adult career of... being the protagonist in an AMC series, Jimmy and Iris spend most days doing their best impressions of Moses Pray and Addie Loggins. Admittedly, Jimmy could be doing more to teach Iris respect for the rules as well, but there's something more sinister going on with the dynamic between Kim and Iris. Kim wants Iris to be prepared for whatever life throws at them, and to a certain extent she wants to see Iris continue her work, and because of that Iris shoulders a heavy burden. Kim is for the most part vindicated; Iris grows up to be a survivor and a forager, even as a drought deals a killing blow to American democracy, and they do follow in their mother's footsteps as best they can, but it's still bitter-sweet.

The Black Sheep in a Family of Wolves: Like I said, the FotDs are just random snippets pulled anywhere from a broad-strokes timeline, and because of that the ages of the children vary wildly. However Fille (pronounced "Philly") is consistently written as being two years younger than Iris, and in many fantasies, the children are between six and four. Even at an early age, not much is known about Fille because she is an introverted child, but as she gets older, this evolves into being a clear foil to Iris. Where Iris will talk your ear off, Fille listens patiently and only speaks up when something is truly wrong. Where Iris will bend the truth just for fun, Fille's silence should never be interpreted as a love for secrets. Iris's moral code is flexible so long as altruism and self-interest overlap; Fille's morality is rigid to the point of being childish, but at least it keeps her out of trouble. Iris loves meat, whereas Fille... honestly, Kim respects Fille's conviction to vegetarianism... but it was a phase Kim went through once upon a time too, and she grew out of it.

The Villain: This is probably where most of the confusion is stemming from. In Season 1 of SK, Caleb Dawson and the Riverton Unitarian Interfaith Church are the antagonists, but by the end of the season, Dawson is dead, his henchwoman Mary is at large, and Kim has taken control of the Church's resources. I haven't quite decided what will become of the loose thread with Mary, but the Church's money and credibility will only last until shorty after Fille is born (2 years). Beyond that point, I don't have any specific Big Bads lined up. Kim will follow the trajectory of getting into bed with shady characters (this time to push an agenda), enjoying working with/for this client for a stint, then eventually having to defeat them in a battle of wits when the alliance goes sour but the villain won't let Kim back out of her contract because she knows too much. Let's face it; this was always Breaking Bad's formula. When it comes to the FotDs, sometimes I'll just steal villains-of-the-week wholecloth from other similar tv shows.

The Vibe: The villains all blur together after a while for Kim. As do the schemes she does, both for and against them. Just like the places she visits: one night she might be seeing opera in Tokyo, the next she and her family have had their assets frozen and are sleeping in their car. One night, they're caretakers of a too-trusting hippy's goat farm, the next she's alone sleeping on the cold cement of some kingpin's dungeon. The point of the FotDs is to juxtapose the opulent world of murder and intrigue with the peace and quiet of the domestic life Kim is trying to defend against all external threats. In her most caricatured form, Kim Wexler is a 90's pantsuit archetype who, by some cosmic mistake, lived to see the 2020's. She's a pragmatist; she knows what she values and she keeps her attention on those things. In "Better Call Saul", she never quite figured out a good work-life balance, but last time around, she had put her faith in institutions which didn't value her time or share her priorities; this time she's only trusting herself to manage the resources. The American Dream may be crumbling, but she is still determined to "have it all".

@somethin-stupid-67 @joshgoodman @slippinximi @richeeduvie

[seospecialistinphilippines]

Why Hiring a Virtual Assistant in the Philippines Can Boost Your Business

Let’s be real: running a business, no matter the size, can be overwhelming. From managing daily tasks to staying on top of big-picture strategies, you often find yourself juggling too much. Ever thought of getting a virtual assistant (VA) to lighten the load? 🤔 If not, now might be the time—especially if you're considering hiring a virtual assistant from the Philippines!

Here's why this decision can be a total game-changer for your business!

💰 Cost-Effective Without Sacrificing Quality

One of the best things about hiring a virtual assistant in the Philippines? You save a ton of money. 💸 In Western countries, hiring staff or freelancers can cost a fortune. But in the Philippines, you can hire highly skilled VAs at much lower rates—think $4 to $12 per hour. 🙌

Why so affordable? The cost of living in the Philippines is lower, allowing VAs to offer competitive rates while delivering high-quality work. Plus, they work remotely, which means no need to pay for extra office space, equipment, or utilities.

Imagine all that extra cash you could save and redirect into marketing, product development, or even just getting a breather! 😅

🌏 Skilled & English-Speaking Pros

If you’re worried about communication barriers, here’s the good news: the Philippines is the third-largest English-speaking country in the world. Most Filipino VAs speak English fluently, which makes collaborating a breeze.

And they’re not just great communicators—they're super skilled too. Whether it’s social media management, digital marketing, bookkeeping, or even graphic design, Filipino VAs are well-educated and have expertise across a wide range of fields. 🎨🖥️📈

Oh, and did I mention how hardworking and reliable they are? With a strong work ethic and a culture that aligns well with Western business values, they’re an absolute asset to any team. 💪

📈 Scale Your Business with Flexibility

Here’s another reason to consider hiring a Filipino VA: flexibility. When your business grows, so does your workload, and VAs make scaling your operations so much easier.

You can hire a VA on a part-time, full-time, or even project-based schedule. Need someone just for a few weeks? Or maybe on a regular basis? No problem! Filipino VAs adapt to your needs without the long-term commitment of hiring full-time, in-house staff.

Bonus: since the Philippines is in a different time zone, you can literally have someone working while you sleep. 😴 Imagine waking up to find all those customer inquiries answered or your social media content already scheduled! 📱💬

If you’re looking for reliable services, check out Rhea Bigcas Virtual Assistant Services. She connects you with top-tier VAs that can support your business 24/7!

💼 Boost Your Productivity, Focus on What Matters

Let’s be honest—who really wants to spend hours on repetitive tasks like managing emails, scheduling appointments, or dealing with data entry? 🙄 By hiring a VA, you can delegate these time-consuming tasks and focus on the real game-changers in your business—like strategy, client relations, and growth.

For example, your VA could handle your social media accounts, ensuring your brand stays active while you concentrate on bigger goals. Or they could manage customer service inquiries, giving you more time to plan and execute business strategies.

With a Filipino VA taking care of the little things, you can focus on the big things. Your productivity will skyrocket! 🚀

FAQs 💡

What kind of tasks can a Filipino VA do? Filipino VAs are versatile. They can help with everything from email management, social media, and bookkeeping to more specialized roles like web development and digital marketing. Seriously, they’ve got it all covered! 💼

How much does it cost to hire a VA from the Philippines? Most Filipino VAs charge between $4 to $12 per hour depending on the task. Pretty affordable, right?

Are Filipino VAs good at English? Absolutely! The Philippines is one of the largest English-speaking countries, so most VAs are fluent and can communicate easily with international clients.

How do I manage productivity with a remote VA? Use tools like Trello, Asana, or Google Workspace to keep everything organized. Plus, regular check-ins and clear communication will keep everyone on the same page. 📅✅

Is it safe to hire a VA from the Philippines? Yes, especially if you vet candidates properly and use secure platforms. Check out services like Rhea Bigcas Virtual Assistant Services for experienced and trustworthy VAs!

Final Thoughts 💭

Hiring a virtual assistant from the Philippines could be the best decision you make for your business. You get access to a skilled, affordable, and English-speaking workforce that helps you save time and money, all while allowing you to scale and focus on what really matters.

Ready to take the leap? 💼 Check out Rhea Bigcas Virtual Assistant Services to find the perfect VA for your business needs!

#VirtualAssistant #BusinessGrowth #Philippines #VA #Outsourcing #SmallBusiness #ProductivityBoost #EntrepreneurLife #ScaleYourBusiness #SaveMoney

[sea-owl]

I dont know much about The Selection so forgive me for the out of context plot but imagine KSP running to find a secret hide out the second they step foot in the castle and run into each other, where they bond over their shared disinterest of the brothers and united in their desire to raise their levels. I can imagine them agreeing to use the Selection to gain popularity without having to marry any of the brothers and hopefully up their levels. But obviously it backfires because their blatant disregard and disinterest of the brothers is what draws said brothers in like 'oooh pretty lady does not like me? SHE'S PERFECT'

And so for the entirety of the Selection (or maybe after months of denying their desires then finally admitting their desires), the ABC Brothers are running around chasing KSP with their tails wagging, and a shared brain cell revved up to the max. All the while their future wives chosen contestants are doing their best hiding, dodging and pushing the other contenders to them in a futile effort to throw the brothers of their trail.

Also, DEFGH are laughing their asses of on the sidelines at the tomfoolery their brothers are making and to up the chaos, half of them are matchmaking while the others are c0ckblocking their brothers (and vice versa) just for funsies.

To be honest, this isn't so far out of the norm from the book. So for some context for those not familiar with the Selection, our main characters meet when America, our female lead, has a panic attack her first night and tries to get out to the garden but they're not allowed outside on their own. The prince, Maxon and our male lead, sees this and demands the guards let her go out, that he'll be with her so it's allowed. She actually kicks Maxon in the groin at one point during this first meeting, and the man still falls in love. They strike up a friendship and a deal that while she's still in the competition, she'll basically be his inside informant. So much potential before Aspen made it messy.

In our au this is how I see it working out.

So Kate, Sophie, and Penelope live in neighboring territories so they travel together to the palace. They talk about their jobs, bookkeeping for Kate, maid for Sophie, and dancing for Penelope. They all shyly admit to one another that they're mainly in this competition to help raise their quality of life within the caste system. They also confide in one another while either chose their prince at random or someone else chose for them.

Kate has an excellent mind for business, and an excellent reputation as a bookkeeper, but due to her being a 4 she can't really rise any higher than where's she at. She relaxes by doing watercolors.

Sophie has a passion for art and finds comfort in it, even though so many look down at he for being a 6. She doesn't really care what she ends up doing after, maybe she'll teach, she's just relieved that she made it this far and automatically now a three.

Penelope dances as a 5, performing with her younger sister Felicity who sets up paintings for Penelope to move the paint around as she dances. Though her real talent is in writing the story she and Felicity does. She is thankful she could consider pursuing it further now that she's a three.

They're thankfully taken together to the same makeup artist and designer to get them ready for the first day of interviews. They keep talking to one another and thankfully keeps all of them calm, less likely to clam up when the official cameras turns on them. After each girl's interview they are left to their own devices for the day in the shared drawing room where each girl can hang out in, and their official meeting place. They are given out a schedule as well, meal times, one on ones. social events, classes to teach them things such as palace etiquette.

The girls are also happy to find they will be rooming together. Usually each girl gets their own room but since there are triple the contestants this Selection it was decided that one girl from each princes' selection would be rooming together until enough girls were eliminated to spread them each to their own rooms.

With the news, Kate, Sophie, and Penelope made a pact that they would look out for one another so long as they were in the competition. None of them think they'll be here that long, especially when it's time to pick the ten Elites, but they are already planning on some collaborations and friendships for their future. They're basically gonna network for all their worth while they're there.

Unknown to any of the girls the judging of the Selection has already begun. The royal family and the three of the princess' fiancés sat in a private drawing room where they watched each girl from the official and unofficial cameras.

"Well those three have some sense," Eloise laughed as the unofficial cameras picked up on three of the girls' conversation. "They don't want any of you."

"Eloise," Daphne swatted at her sister.

"It is rather interesting," Simon said, speaking to his best friend, Anthony.

"It is indeed," Anthony said.

Notes were being made on each girl, Gregory and Hyacinth would call out if any comments from the public online were of any interest of the girls.

It did not escape the others notice though that the three princes kept their eyes trailing back to a certain camera.

[mvsicinthedvrk]

Was that [MANNY JACINTO]? Oh no no, that was just [DARO NIRULUN], an [ORIGINAL CHARACTER] from [THE GREEN BONE SAGA]. They are [THIRTY FOUR] years old, use [HE/HIM], and [ARE] aware that they are not actually from Washington DC. Too bad they can’t stray from this city for long.

this is niru! more info & potential connections to my green bone oc below!

how long has your character been here?

niru has only been here long enough to barely settle in, so: about a month or so.

what is your character’s job?

he'll be getting a job as an accountant at a law firm, to do bookkeeping and tax advising, mostly.

where has your character been pulled from in their fandom?

he's an oc so this does not particularly matter xoxo

has any magic affected your character?

no.

and any other information you might find useful for us and the other members to know!

his nickname is niru (nirulun, for long)!

he's a mountain clan member, green bone jade-user, around age 34, who-- in d.c. decides to leverage his relative anonymity to try and infiltrate no peak once he realizes they far outnumber the mountain here :) more details on that below.

in terms of family, his dad is born and raised in janloon and his mother is from the uwiwa islands. niru grew up in the fishtown neighborhood in mountain territory, but since niru's not fully kekonese, as he grew up there were certainly some people in the mountain that didn’t trust him/his family/had preconceptions about them, and he would have had to work twice as hard to prove himself. his family would have been very low-ranked in the mountain. they’re not legacy clan members; niru’s father is the first person with their family name to get involved in clan business directly, and his father didn’t get educated/brought up with the intention of being trained for the mountain. so ultimately, niru’s the first one who’s going to raise their standing, because he really has the opportunity to do so. he has two much younger sisters who are just starting their own training, and despite some bumps in the road he’s genuinely trying to pave a smoother path for them to gain some decent status when they graduate. 

niru went to wie lon temple school as a prospective mountain member. he worked as a finger for the mountain for a while, and did show promise, but there was an 'incident' on the job with another mountain clan trainee (someone far more valuable to the clan than he was) that was so severe that he had to be removed from his position. after that, his position in the clan at all was in a little bit of jeopardy, until a mountain higher-up who had previously noticed his skill with numbers offered him a job in the weatherman’s office instead-- a gracious hand extended-- and he would be expected to pay that favor back with ultimate loyalty.

so that's how he ended up being an accountant for the mountain's weatherman office, and resents a little bit that he doesn’t get to be involved with the more action-oriented side of things much after relocating to that job, but he can’t deny that he’s good at what he does. he also dabbles in helping seek out patronages for the mountain, because he can be very persuasive and personable, and can put pressure on people without seeming like he’s pressuring them. he’s pretty calm and logical, and he doesn't necessarily enjoy violence (though he understands its necessity), so ultimately this kind of job suits him far better overall than working for the horn would have (though it should be noted that he still would have made a very loyal, level-headed fist, under different circumstances). 

now in dc, niru’s quick to realize that the number of recognizable no peak members definitely outweighs the mountain, so he’s only left with a couple of options: keep his head down and pretend he knows nothing of the clan system, keep a constant eye out for others from mountain clan, or-- make himself useful, and try to get some information on no peak now that he can potentially leverage later. he will likely pretend he went to kaul du, and try to talk his way into clan business. he’s not exactly the same age as the kauls who are currently aware and wouldn’t have been at school at the same time, so they couldn’t prove him wrong. he’ll have to decide what branch of the clan to try and get into, though he’ll probably land on the business side of things again. even if he will be a mediocre spy, given that lying is not one of his strong points. however, the adrenaline of infiltrating the opposing clan will give him a little excitement that his office life lacked before, and it's something to make himself useful until more of the mountain clan shows up and he can return to the side he's meant to be on, hopefully with some useful intel.

connection ideas below! it should be note that anyone with a green bone fandom muse should definitely hit me up for plotting purposes, but other than that, connections that are open to any fandom include:

a house-mate? he lives in a nicer/semi-upscale neighborhood in a house (thank you to his well-paying job), but he still wouldn't mind cutting costs by sharing space. this should probably be someone also in their 30s.

neighbors/friends who are also newer to town and just figuring out where things are in the city and how things work here, so they can explore a little together

he'd also enjoy having friends who would debate with him. people who always agree with you are boring (to him), but give him friends who have heated discussions that are almost arguments, but then they can walk away from the night and still not hate each other LMAO

i think he probably still works out fairly frequently, though he's not intense about it, so people who are casually active and hit the gym on a regular basis. like for some reason i could definitely see him joining a gym basketball team that meets once a week aldksjfldfs

someone who might remind him personality-wise of one of his younger sisters, who he can be an older-brother figure towards; this could be someone struggling or in need of a friend, who he could give some company or guidance.

romance/ship-wise-- women to casually go out with/one-night-stand situations, or potentially more seriously date if it goes well (he's straight, and 34, as mentioned above).

when he ends up working for no peak in town, he's going to start reaching out to make business connections, so if your muse owns a business and might be interested in negotiating a connection or collaboration with the clan (they can offer protection and services), feel free to hit him up as well.

i think that's it for now but if you have any other ideas, you can let me know.

[apcthetics]

*˖ ⊹ ────────  lore dump.

this is just a little collection of explanations about where my characters currently are physically, emotionally, career-wise, etc. it's mainly for me to keep myself straight with my ideas and their development but uhhh also to make sense if i drop any of it in a post. that's all ! read or don't read at your discretion ! don't matter to me.

*˖ ⊹ ────────  alistair castillo.

i really don’t imagine his life changes much from day to day to be totally honest………. there is nothing new happening in his life he’s still just being a menace upon new york and giving people sick ass tattoos.

*˖ ⊹ ────────  brady ackerman.

he’s been wound up in a lot of different projects and probably running himself into overdraft; busy filming the next season of his show, and also alongside it trying to finish out a manuscript for the next book he’s supposed to be writing, all while flying all over the world in just a handful of weeks. hasn’t touched down in new york for more than a few days in the past 2 months but hey at least he’s successful right. right guys. right. haha. he's not tired at all. don't look at his dark circles for too long. 

*˖ ⊹ ────────  caleb williamson.

christmas is a pretty big time for his little side gig selling rare records online, so that picked up quite a bit even as his music lessons kind of trailed off as kids went off on winter holiday. it’s also just been rly quiet for him because obviously christmas didn’t go very well as family dinners never really go well at the willamson/michaelson house and then luvena has been either away or rotting in her room so there’s not really been much for him to do if levi and trinity arealso preoccupied (with each other? idk i dont god mod 👀. ) he did do a really successful new years eve show i think that he’s proud of but mainly it’s just been his little side hustle and now as lessons are picking back up.

*˖ ⊹ ────────  clementine bailey.

so clem is still in the process/paperwork of buying the diner, all the bank loans and everything like that but she is now effectively in charge of it which has definitely been ! a big deal ! her and loren moved into a new apartment and clem has yet to even unpack most of her boxes because she’s spending a lot of time at the diner going over all the financials and trying to teach herself how to handle the back end of a business instead of just the front half. it’s A Lot and she’s definitely Stressed and crying a lot and everyone has been getting 3am baked thumb print cookies, but don't even worry about her !

*˖ ⊹ ────────  damien clarke.

christmas is always the best but busiest time of year for retail so i imagine damien has been putting in a lot of extra effort to make sure that it’s special !! he did some big holiday toy drives alongside some local charities, but since the christmas rush has kind of fallen off and times are slower he’s now just trying to get through the pile of bookkeeping and administrative stuff that he needs to worry about. i have been playing with the idea of him running a very limited indie comic publishing thing out of the back office of his shop, having started with the one done by him & honey and now kind of expanding to artists who maybe don’t have the funds or ability to afford printing and stuff themselves but………… idk the logistics of that yet so it’s definitely just an idea in his head that’s in the early stages. he’s having fun with it. honestly he's having a great time.

*˖ ⊹ ────────  eli russo.

again i don’t think his daily life has much variation. working security at a show venue a few evenings a week and still coaching the Youth ™ w/ boxing a few days a week… sometimes he does do like 14 hour days which is a bit unfortunate and his schedule is all over the place which is bad for the brain that can barely remember what day it is on a good week but you know!!! his memory has been slightly improving thanks to all of the puzzles & all that stuff!!! so like good for him!!! go off king!! 

*˖ ⊹ ────────  elijah guiterrez.

again i just brought him here so i don’t really think things have been particularly outstanding in his life. just him and carmen doing their little school thing idk. he’s working as a TA in among all the other school stuff he’s doing i suppose.

*˖ ⊹ ────────  esther thomas.

lowkey i think she’s started dropping off from doing auditions all together… like she’s so bored of them, and getting anywhere in the snow and cold is rough, so while she hasn’t admitted it to anyone or even necessarily herself she’s just like. not been looking. kind of giving up on her dream but doesn’t want to admit that because then that means her parents were right. but like really she’s resigned herself to the bartending life. otherwise nothing new.

*˖ ⊹ ────────  grace bao.

she’s been stuck in this hellish domestic civil lawsuit at the moment that’s eating up practically all of her spare time because the judge and the defense are assholes and she has gotten competitive about it, alongside all of her Daughter Responsibilities for her parents and their millions of holiday and new years parties. grace does nothing but work, eat, be miserable at charity dinners, work some more, and maybe sleep right now. that’s her whole social life. 

*˖ ⊹ ────────  jackson ruíz.

construction is fairly seasonal work so while he’s still working he’s not as busy as he usually is, and also it’s winter and everything is depressing, so he’s definitely been deep into hermit “i haven’t seen you in a week” mode. especially with giselle kind of flying out to conferences and stuff there hasn’t been much reason for him to get out of his apartment. he’s in a Depression Era but hey ! it happens ! 

*˖ ⊹ ────────  kal sekh.

i think the news of eren’s diagnosis has had quite an effect on kal, especially having to keep it a secret from everyone and also because she doesn’t want as much support for it as he feels like he should be giving, so he’s slipping a little bit into old habits again and overworking himself into the ground so he doesn’t have to rly stop and think about what’s happening. double shifts and insomnia are back baby !!!!!!!!!

*˖ ⊹ ────────  kas peters.

just came out of a period where he had a few different mural commissions going on all at the same time and he was much busier than he’s usually used to so now he is simply basking in the fact that he doesn’t have to worry about funds broke-ass artist bitch but also that he doesn’t have anything to do. just kind of vibing. fucking around with his art in his room. fucking around w/ gabriella’s emotions. you know how it is. no cares in the world for this guy.

*˖ ⊹ ────────  minji kyung.

around new years she had the opening of her studio !! so she’s been very busy, not really making art but she’s been spending a lot of her time at the gallery/studio. this is a really big change from her because she’s kind of lacked purpose or a project for a really long time that i imagine she’s just really happy and really excited ??? but also probably very daunted because she feels like she doesn’t belong or doesn’t have the skills to do it properly yano. 

*˖ ⊹ ────────  reid baker.

he took a little vacation time off since his work is also pretty seasonal to go back and visit his parents on the farm, but mostly his life has been no different except he’s been shovelling snow off the central park steps instead of just being a glorified gardener. honestly he’s pretty chill he doesn’t have the braincells to be anything except chill.

*˖ ⊹ ────────  sebastián dominguez-herrera.

this bad boy went on tour !!! first it was america, and following that he did a few shows in europe & south america. he’s also been working on his next album in between, but he’s at a bit of a stand still with that one because he isn’t feeling ~ inspired ~ and he’s kind of groggy and thinks he’s sick all the time because all the travelling + the winter that he’s not really used to. drama queen never experienced seasonal depression before and hes getting a little taste of it.

*˖ ⊹ ────────  wren noor.

i think wren is starting to actually reconsider the kinds of things she wants to do with her life and the degree she already has now… i think maybe she’s looking into online courses at other universities where she might be able to finish her masters but also is considering a career change totally… she’s been spending way more time on the roof with her telescope and getting excited about that stuff again as she heals, but definitely is still cautious,,, anyway she's been doing her research.

[hungrydogs-if]

Hi i really like that IF and i actually have a question. Can we have more facts about Nur and Bassir we know one is secretary the other treasurer but nothing else is known like did they also got arrest, they ran away? Also will their be a possibility for MC to take down Vaz (whatever methods) like wouldn't Angel like to arrest a killer while MC will take the willing rival gang members under our protection/ownership? Keno is my New dad change my mind -sarah

sarah, my darling! i had to boot up my laptop to answer this because i have things to say.

let's start with nur and basir. these two are the only two protected by plot armor, so they will always be with you. at least in the beginning; they might choose to leave due to your choices later on. at least they can't die, yay!

now, nur got arrested, but she is perfect with her words and got off without much of an sentence, basically working loopholes and getting off with a slap of the wrist. she does own a legitimate business dealing in bookkeeping, so that helped her a lot. plus lies. she could talk a shark out of biting her in the middle of a chew. she will be your greatest ally, if you play your cards right, but your greatest enemy if you cross her. she'd make a frightening law enforcement officer, come to think of it. she's the most level-headed member of the hdmc for sure, which doesn't take a lot considering how much trauma all these peeps have stacked.

basir is... a character. the only reason he didn't get arrested was because he managed a distraction (the rest of the club going apeshit basically) and just bolted, and has been lying low ever since, working a normal job. he really doesn't pay much attention to 'right and wrong' on societal standards, so he jumps between being a gang member, to holding a normal job by forging qualifications, and gets right back to being a gang member. you know that pink gun gif/meme? that's basically basir in a nutshell, personality wise. funny how a bored bankers makes the best treasurers.

on the subject of angel/vaz arrests. you will be able to take down vaz, eventually, in the later gameplay, the method depending on you choices and which storyline you're following. before that, it wouldn't be that easy because there's no concrete proof that vaz has done anything illegal, only hearsay and circumstantial evidence. there's no paper trail, no cctv footage, and no willing (read also as: living) witnesses. angel did try to pursue it at first, when there were rumors and the former president of 'his' gang died but vaz (or the gang itself, as many say) has superior half of the san maro pd in his pocket, and angel would quickly be told not to pursue anything more. if they didn't have a young child to both protect and provide for, they'd very well continue their investigation in private, but they have no choice but to turn the other cheek. for now.

you will be able to either have vaz arrested, or outright kill him. the águilas rojas will be thankful either way, and it'd solidify a strong alliance between the two clubs. unless you choose to do something else entirely.

believe me, angel would like nothing more than to toss that cretin behind bars for the rest of his life, but the system they work for is crooked beyond salvation.

also keno is everyone's dad, draw up the adoption papers. he will do a little tappy-tap on your head with a book when you're acting up. what could anyone do, throw a punch? can't even reach his face lmao. fella just gonna pick you up like a toddler. i love big literary papa, he can take me to a matinee any day.

[tatiejosie]

28 for Bella

ohohhhhh boy thank u for asking!!!!!

28. Top ten things that you love about your blorbo

• She's so pretty uwu <3 Her heterochromia is a really cool touch to her character design, and I love the punk 90s milf look. I'm using this opportunity to point out that Bella is unusually tall for a woman, but you can rarely notice it because Mandrake is the main Tall Bitch of the film, and there are few other adult humans to compare. I also very much enjoy her looks because she is Very Shaped and as much as I'm looking respectfully, I am most certainly still Looking. She's making it very hard not to look. [The film also never uses her looks to demean her character, but that's just Ghibli for you. Respect women juice has been dranken]

• She shamelessly reclaims her unusual appearance. Messy blue hair, mismatched eyes, pointy nose, massive stature and you won't see a hint of insecurity in this woman. She's glamorous and happily high-maintenance (wears makeup everyday, sharp manicured nails, hair-curlers routine), straying out of mainstream beauty standards whenever she feels like it (vibrant makeup colours, mismatched eyeshadow, bright high-heeled boots, skull earrings). Note the high contrast between the orphanage's matron and Bella. That woman sticks out like a sore thumb but she's oozing with confidence.

• She's not afraid of dirty labour and gross things. Look at her holding the damn slug with her bare hands and putting her entire arm into the gross gunk of her table without an ounce of disgust. She's not some dainty wimp who's afraid of chipping her perfectly manicured nails on the carcass of a roadkill. She's part of the primordial soup and she has no fucks to give.

• She is SO capable and versatile. Non-gentle reminder that Bella Yaga has been single-handedly managing the household; daily chores such as laundry, shopping, cooking (the artbook states that Bella is a great cook), probably cleaning to a certain extent; working on magic and the chores that come with it, foraging and gathering plants, processing the raw materials, preparing the spells and potions; and managing her spell business while maintaining her clientele and deliveries? And that's just the chores thing, but there's the whole bookkeeping aspect of maintaining the household and her business. Clearly Mandrake uses the demons card for any possible task, but she cannot do that, and the end credits show that Mandrake is only starting to learn how to cook! Bella is also the one who drives the car, and she seems to have the skills to repair it as well according to the credits. So yeah TLDR Bella is the housewife, the breadwinner, the Mom Friend, the Beer Dad, the Vodka Aunt, and the most reliable person of the house. We love a multitasking queen

• She's hot-headed and seemingly immune to bullshit - you're not getting away with being a treacherous little bitch without experiencing the Smack Of The Century. She also doesn't seem to be receptive to Earwig's manipulative ass trying to sweet-talk her way into practicing magic; I'm on the fence about the morality of Earwig's controlling behaviour so it's nice to have at least one character who doesn't fall for her bullshit.

• She's officially described as a skilled magician, even to demon standards! She has a whole ass notebook with hand-written spells that she probably crafted herself. And considering that the book looks childishly girly and worn-out, we can assume that she started writing in this notebook when she was a child.

• She's considerate and emotionally intelligent enough to live with and manage an unstable demon. Idk if that really counts as a quality because that's very much a fear response from abusive behaviour but hey, Mandrake loses his shit very easily and she's able to interact with him on a daily basis without dying so that's pretty girlbossy in my book. She seems supportive of him and obviously cares for him and his comfort, even if he's difficult. [Note that in the book, she does fight back when Mandrake assaults her]

• She's one of the queerest characters of the Ghibli pantheon. Excentric and glamorous, skilled beyond classic gender roles. She was ambiguously involved with Earwig's mother and Mandrake. Her husband is the twink of all times. She's the gruff drummer who starts the bar fight and WINS the bar fight, she's the blunt auntie who shittalks your parents with her cigarette hanging off her lip.

• She's a professional drummer and Mandrake thinks she's really skilled. Drumming takes a highly efficient coordination and an incredible sense of rhythm. Drummers are human metronomes with the stamina of a beast - they're the backbone of their band along with the bassist and yet they're always placed in the back of the stage bc otherwise they'll be too noisy and drown out the rest of the band. Managing to be both the brawn who bangs like a caveman, and the galaxy brain who maintains the entire song's tempo. Drummers are the unsung heroes hidden in the dark, carrying the weight of the drumline. That's Bella Yaga for you. /lh

• She still gets flustered when she's shown affection. That's it that's the thing I can't be normal about

Thank you so much for allowing me to be cringe about this specific blorbo, I love Bella very much and I feel that she deserves more love <3

[sl-newsie]

American Woman (Thomas Shelby x American OC) Ch. 3: Admiring Power

The family goes on chatting while I ladle soup into more bowls and pass them out, earning compliments as they dig in. I’m glad to see that they’re starting to accept me, but it’s still limiting since I’m the only one here who’s not a Shelby. I clean up what I can and then sneak off to my room, knowing that I have no reason to invade their family dinner. First I go to do some reading, but remember my only book is still in Finn’s room. All I have left is my Bible and a small embroidery project-

Huff!

I freeze at the new noise coming from outside the window. Cautiously, I creep over and stick my head out. What on Earth…? Oh. There’s a horse outside. But not just any horse. One of the most beautiful horses I’ve ever seen. Tall, black, and sleek.

“Well hello there,” I greet the animal. “Are you alone too? Want some company?” The horse tosses its head. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

Sneaking out the window on my first night of employment might not be my best call, but I have better chances of making friends with this horse right now than I do with my employers. The window’s big enough to slide through, and the alley’s empty so I don’t have to worry about being seen. After I’m out and standing next to the grand animal, I hold out my hand for him to smell. 

“You’re magnificent. I bet you’re one of the Shelby’s horses. But I’m a bit surprised to find a horse like you being kept in this dodgy place. You deserve a wide, green pasture.”

“He has one.”

I nearly jump out of my skin when I hear Thomas’ voice, spinning to find him standing by a door a few feet away.

“Having a midnight rendezvous, are we?”

“N-No, Mr. Shelby. I was settling into my room when this creature asked to chat.”

Thomas raises an eyebrow. “He said that?”

“Well, no… But he does seem awfully friendly. When you’ve grown up in the city your whole life you don’t really get to interact with horses. Is this your horse?”

“Yes,” he states plainly.

“He’s beautiful.”

Thomas looks to see if I’m joking, but is surprised when I’m not. “Thank you. His name is Monaghan Boy, races at Kempton next week. Yesterday I arranged a bit of a magic trick to help him win.”

This surprises me, considering that Thomas seems to be the most bland of the group. “I didn’t take you for a man who believes in magic,” I say as I lean against the alley wall.

“You call it magic, I call it a publicity stunt. When Monaghan Boy wins he’ll gain more popularity and then everyone will bet on ‘im.”

“All profiting towards your business, I’m sure. You seem awfully young to run a bookkeeping business.”

Thomas cocks his head. “And you seem awfully young to be alone. What’s your story, love?”

At first my mind warns me to keep things simple and not to go into detail. No one needs to know my deep family roots, so I’ll keep it simple.

“My name is Verena Nora Steenstra. My father’s Dutch, and my mother’s Irish. All my life I’ve lived in Brooklyn, New York, and of course with my luck the first time we decide to take a vacation is when I get left behind.”

This gives Thomas an intrigued look. “That’s different. I’m sorry to hear that. Will your family come looking for you?”

I chuckle and give a halfhearted shrug. “Who knows. I’m the youngest of five brothers, and they’re always lecturing about how I need to ‘toughen up’ and ‘see the world.’ Maybe they left me here on purpose.”

“Seems harsh.”

“They’re family, I still love them.” I give Thomas a grin. “You’ve very good at interrogating, Mr. Shelby. A real gentleman, letting a woman do all the talking. But if you’re looking for any vital information I can’t help you. My father runs his business water-tight.”

Once again Thomas is fazed by my reaction. “Are all Americans this sassy? You’re much more sophisticated than I pinned you for.”

“Well thank you! I do admit I’m more reserved than some but when the time comes I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty. But enough of me. Could you tell me a bit about how your family business works?”

Thomas suddenly goes stiff and looks around to make sure we’re alone. I don’t know why, but I’m finding myself opening up more to this strange character. He seems lost. Almost as if he can’t seem to figure out what to do with his life. He beckons me closer and I notice he smells faintly of mint, ash, and cigarettes. 

“I’ll tell you the basics, but you need to keep this to yourself. No blabbing to the coppers, is that clear?” He warns.

I nod stiffly. “Crystal.” I’ve known my fair share of keeping family secrets.

“Good. Arthur and Nipper work the books. Nipper’s not as important, Aurthur runs the show.”

“He seems… Nice.”

Thomas chuckles. “If you think that’s nice just wait ‘till you see him drunk.”

“I don’t plan to. And what is it you do, Mr. Shelby?”

Thomas gets a cocky look and steps closer, towering over me as his icy blue eyes seem to peer straight through me. “I think, so they don’t have to. I’m the one who drums up new money and keeps things in order. Such as discovering if new pretty faces like you are a threat.”

I stifle a laugh. “The closest I’d ever get to a threat is if you forced me to. My suggestion: keep your own business out of mine.”

This seems to please Thomas, because he gets a satisfied smile and leans in to whisper: “Good, then we understand each other.” He leans away, leaving me slightly dazed from him being so close. “Someone else you need to stay away from is Freddie Thorne. He’s the BSA union covener, and a communist.”

My eyebrows rise. “Better for me not to even meet him. If my father hears I’ve been involved with a commie he’ll disown me.” 

“Yeah, well, he didn’t used to be like that. If we have anything in common, we both give false hope to the poor. Freddie with his speeches, me with my horses,” Thomas remarks as he strokes Monaghan Boy.

“I can tell you’re very proud of your horses, as you should be. Seeing that black beauty of a beast trot through the street is enough to chill your blood.”

Thomas turns to me with a devilish grin. “You admire my horse?”

“I admire many things, Mr. Shelby.” Such as your suave demeanor and effective use of authority.

Something in Thomas’ eyes seems to flicker, a quick sign of vulnerability. “You know, normally I require that all employees call me that. However, since you’ve been hired to specifically help my brother and not to run the business, you can call me Thomas.”

Alright, what is this man’s angle? Butter me up and get me to spill my family’s secrets? Because I won’t. But that doesn’t mean his charm is going unnoticed. Never once has a man made my heart this light before and I’m hoping it doesn’t show.

“Very well, Thomas. Thank you for trusting me. I know that’s very important coming from you.”

“Sure is, love. Now I think we’d better get back inside before people start looking for you.” Thomas puts a surprisingly gentle hand on my shoulder and guides me to the back door, where I give one last wave to Monaghan Boy before he leads me back to my room.

“My room’s directly next to yours, so keep that in mind the next time you plan on sneaking out,” he warns lightly.

“Believe me, Thomas, you have no fear of me running off in the night. I don’t know where I’d go and probably wouldn’t be able to last one night without getting beaten to a pulp.”

Thomas tips his hat just before he goes to shut my door. “Goodnight, Verena.”

“Goodnight, Thomas.”

Once I’m alone again I quickly dress into my nightgown and turn off the lights, climb into bed and say a grateful prayer for all the help I’ve received today. Just before my heavy eyelids close, my last thought is of the unexpected feelings that Thomas Shelby has awoken inside me…

[sshbpodcast]

Character Spotlight: Quark

By Ames

Do you have the lobes for business? This week, we’re putting our knowledge of the Rules of Acquisition to the test with one of our favorite Ferengi characters: Quark! He really does it all: he tends bar, he runs a profitable casino, he romances ladies who you’d think would be way out of his league, he snarks with a certain gooey chief of security, and he schemes! Boy, does he ever scheme.

The Ferengi overall are a bit of a mixed bag, what with their ultra-capitalist, extremely misogynist society, but Quark proves throughout Deep Space Nine to be a complex and well-written person, full of contradictions and character growth. So read the full contract below and listen to this week’s podcast episode (jump to 55:53) as A Star to Steer Her By takes a seat next to Morn to try to catch the ear of the bartender. Come to Quarks, Quark’s is fun, Come right now, Don’t walk: Run!

[Images © CBS/Paramount]

Best moments

Make him an offer he can’t refuse Ferengi-centered episodes are typically goofball comedies and worth a laugh or five, and “The Nagus” gets us off to a quite funny start. Quark’s performance as Zek’s successor is full of funny little touches, and the allusion to The Godfather with Quark stroking a gilvo as if it were a lapcat is a good joke indeed. Quark would make a fine nagus, I say. And a decent godfather.

Who wears the clothes in this relationship? Quark may start out as a typical Ferengi, but we see glimpses of his development to becoming a better person due to hanging around all these hoomans. In “Rules of Acquisition,” he’s prepared to pay Pel ten bars of latinum to set her up in a new life, and then outthinks the Nagus when she reveals herself as a female. It’s a small step, but a big one for a Ferengi!

Being with you was the happiest time of my life Somehow, Quark is at his best when paired with reciprocating love interests. In “Profit and Loss,” (not to be confused with “Profit and Lace”), he earnestly attempts to get Natima Lang to safety when the Cardassian government is after her for being a dissident. Sure, it starts off one-sided and creepy, but Natima and Quark’s love turns out to be mutual and really sweet!

Behold the power of math! Yet again, we’re highlighting an episode in which Quark is romantically paired with a kickass female and he comes out looking swish! Not only does Quark battle D’Ghor in “The House of Quark,” but he also exposes the fraudulent bookkeeping D’Ghor had done for Grilka’s house. Quark allows Grilka, one of our favorite Klingons, to realize her agency and be her best.

If they want their money back, give it to them? People give Sisko all the credit, being the Emissary and all that, but in “Prophet Motive” we get to see Quark go into the wormhole to talk to the prophets himself! To save Zek from whatever personality rewriting the denizens of the celestial temple had done to him, Quark takes it upon himself to ensure that Rule of Acquisition #10 remains true: Greed is eternal!

The bigger the risk, the bigger the win Quark’s lobes might only be rivaled by his spine, as he demonstrates an absurd amount of bravery when he disarms the bomb that had Kool-Aid Manned into the ship in “Starship Down.” The thrill of gambling with their lives is perfectly captured in the scene and you feel both the relief and exhilaration when Quark and Hanok don’t explode into little bits.

For a minute there I thought you were talking to me as a friend As we said in the Odo post, the relationship between the constable and the barman is one of the best explored in the series. We can read between the lines how much they respect each other but just can’t say it. So when Quark (in his jammies!) goes to Odo when he’s hurting over Kira in “Crossfire” and pretends it’s just for his business ventures, we all know what it really means.

I claim the Right of Proclamation One good episode with Grilka deserves another! When the ever-glorious Grilka comes to Quark seeking financial advice in “Looking for par’Mach in All the Wrong Places,” Quark goes above and beyond to win her favor. He even practices how to fight with a bat’leth and learns some of the basics of Klingon culture, all while remaining true to his Ferengi identity! Qapla’!

Let me pour you another By the time we get deep into the Dominion War, Quark is keen to play both sides, but he does his part for the little resistance band too. In “Behind the Lines,” he slyly gets Damar shitfaced enough to spill all the information he has about taking down the cloaked minefield. Like another good bartender I could name, Quark’s main role is to tend the bar and to listen.

Nobody moves except you Soon afterwards when everything in the resistance is going headlong downhill in “Sacrifice of Angels,” Quark practically single-handedly (okay, with Ziyal’s help) saves the day! He tricks a guard using a hasperat soufflé and then straight up shoots two Jem’Hadar goons and rescues everyone from the brig. If it’s not the first time Quark has deliberately killed, he sure plays it that way.

Ferengi can be just as tough as Klingons Quark’s choice to assemble an all-Ferengi elite squadron to rescue Moogie in “The Magnificent Ferengi” may seem hare-brained (it’s a goofy Ferengi episode, after all), but it also speaks to his pride in what Ferengi can accomplish. There’s also a pure familial love for Moogie that is worth all the latinum in the Nagus’s reward (minus the finder’s fee, of course).

My, what big ears you have Finally, Quark would want to flaunt how he turned out to be right in “The Siege of AR-558” when the standoff with Jem’Hadar soldiers results in massive casualties, including costing Nog his leg. But Quark staunchly protects his nephew and uses his superior Ferengi hearing to detect incoming Jem’Hadar soldiers and blow them away before they can finish Nog off.

—

Worst moments

A contract is a contract is a contract We could really, really, really have done without this detail. Sarda, one of the Dabo girls, reveals in “Captive Pursuit” that Quark has sexual favors written into their contracts. It’s one thing for the Ferengi to be misogynists and kinda sleazy, but it’s a whole other level for him to engage in sexual manipulation, harassment, and assault. And for the writers to play it as a joke!!!

You Ferengi, you think you’re so clever but you’re stupid We gave Bashir a pat on the back the other week when he saved Jadzia’s life in “Invasive Procedures” when Verad and his hired goons kidnapped the Dax symbiont. But remember that it was all Quark’s fault that these worm snatchers got onto the station in the first place! In his greed to make another illicit deal, Quark let them through the docking ring. All for a little latinum.

I’ve been waiting for you Can we all agree that it’s a bad idea for the holodeck to be able to create holo-images of real people because it will always get gross? Geordi did it in “Booby Trap,” Barclay did it in “Hollow Pursuits,” Odo did it in “His Way,” and in “Meridian,” Quark violates Kira’s privacy to create a sex object for that creep Toran and make a little profit, which is a running theme with him.

No nephew of mine is going to disgrace our family name by joining Starfleet The way Quark scorns Nog for wanting to follow his dreams and join Starfleet is also a pretty bad look for the boy’s uncle. First he tries to forbid Nog from applying to Starfleet in “Heart of Stone” and then he rigs up the holodeck to ensure he’ll fail his exams in “Facets.” Quark just comes across as an overstepping asshole when it comes to his nephew in these cases.

Quark’s Treasure, ready to depart Shocking no one, Quark is looking to make another deal in kemocite which he couches in generosity while bringing Nog to Starfleet Academy in “Little Green Men.” And of course this gets them stranded in the past in Area 51 for a while, breaking the Temporal Prime Directive and perpetuating the trope that Quark will put profit over his family members at any cost.

Great Exchequer, take me now! I like to call “Body Parts” “Missed Opportunities: the episode!” When Quark learns he owes his desiccated remains to Brunt, Quark just… gives up on life and plans to get himself killed by Garak. And this is supposed to be a comedy! This is so not in Quark’s character and I lament that we didn’t get an episode of Quark faking his own death, which would be infinitely funnier and better!

Why, Quark? Why did you kill my baby? While most of Quark’s schemes are just typical goofy Ferengi shenanigans you’re meant to roll your eyes at and accept with a snicker, Quark actually sidles up to committing atrocities when he gets into the arms racket in “Business as Usual.” When even Jadzia, who’s the most forgiving of his Ferengi ways, won’t talk to him anymore, you know he’s gone and done wrong.

Oo-mox for Fun and Profit After years of development into a slightly better person, and just when you start thinking “maybe that episode in which Quark put sexual favors in his Dabo girls’ contracts was a fluke,” “Profit and Lace” comes along. The teaser shows Quark asking Aluura to consider giving him oo-mox or he’ll consider firing her. And by the end when he should have learned better, he’s right back at it. VOMIT.

You’re the worst thing that ever happened to the entire Ferengi Alliance Speaking of “Profit and Lace,” there’s more to hate in this deplorable episode. Quark gets into a screaming fight with his mother, blaming her radical feminism as the cause of all their problems with Brunt dethroning Zek as nagus. It’s an ugly fight in an ugly episode, and Quark cruelly goads his own moogie until she has a heart attack, jeopardizing their plan to reinstate Zek. And nearly killing her!

The REST of “Profit and Lace” I’m not done shitting on “Profit and Lace.” It should be obvious why we rated it hands-down the worst episode of Deep Space Nine, and Quark’s depiction of Lumba is at the heart of it. It’s like Quark has never seen a woman before and concocts the most demeaning caricature. The hormones are inexplicable. The walk is atrocious. The whole thing flies in the face of any message of equality the show might otherwise champion, all for the sake of a Ferengi joke.

I loved Jadzia as much as anyone in this room After pining for Jadzia in season six almost as much as Julian, Quark weasels his way onto the mission to get her soul into Sto-vo-kor. Throughout “Shadows and Symbols,” it feels like all he wants is to one-up the grief of the actual widower in the room, Worf.  Quark makes Jadzia’s death all about him and whines that Worf isn’t gracious enough that he’s there being underfoot.

Someone has to speak up and I’ve decided that someone is me As if all the ogling of Jadzia wasn’t enough, poor Ezri gets targeted by Quark once she arrives on the station. Quark butts in and advises her not to get involved with Worf in “Once More Unto the Breach,” and it’s none of his damn business! The scene plays it off like it’s romantic and funny and cute, but it’s all self serving because he fancies her. Ugh, why did only men largely write this show?

—

All bets are final and there will be no reimbursements. That’s it for our Quark chat, but we’ve got more Ferengi characters to spotlight on the way (save me). So make sure you’re following along here, keeping up with our watchthrough of Enterprise over on SoundCloud or wherever you podcast, place your drink order over on Facebook and Twitter, and you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.

[carolineis18]

My contribution as an ABM student to the society

The goal of this strand is to prepare students for college degrees that focus on business and industry, where their future contributions as accountants, entrepreneurs, and business leaders will be crucial to the growth and development of the economy and to the promotion of a sustainable green business. Students will be trained to think logically and scientifically, as well as familiar with the fundamentals of accounting and business and management concepts and principles.

With the ABM Strand, It is possible to pursue a Business Administration degree through the ABM stream. It focuses on imparting to students the fundamentals of project management, marketing, finance, human resources, organizational behavior, and contemporary management trends.

As an ABM student, you must have time management skills, a lengthy patience span, and the ability to concentrate solely on your academics. You will be able to do more exploring and learning about managing your own business in ABM. You'll be well-informed about the type of business to launch and management strategies. ABM addresses more than simply how you will run your company; it also addresses how much you will have to pay, the dangers involved in running a business, and how to make your enterprise profitable. It's difficult to be an ABM student because you will discover the realities of life in this world. Getting rich is among the

The ABM strand in its most fundamental sense refers to the accountancy, business, and management academic programs that concentrate on the foundational concepts in corporate operations, financial management, business management, as well as each and every factor that revolves around those central fields.

The ABM strand can take you on a direct path to careers in accounting and management: sales management, human resources, marketing director, bookkeeper, project officer, accounting, internal auditor.

The ABM strand curriculum opens the avenues for you to gain a more nuanced appreciation of the intrinsic elements that make up the world of accounting and business management courses in the Philippines without having to dive deeper into the specialized complexities of mathematical fields such as algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and others.

The subjects involved in the ABM strand are designed and crafted for you develop the appropriate tools that you are going to utilize all throughout your journey in the corporate world. You should expect to be immersed in studying management and financial accounting along with the business, legal, and organizational contexts that you would be working with as you go along your road in a professional enterprise.

By taking the ABM strand you will be trained to analyze assets, understand everything involved with financial positions, interpret various profitability, and prepare audit accounts.

Accountancy

Studying accountancy does not necessarily entail that you are limited to just being an accountant. You are opening the gate for wonderful careers as an: accounts payable clerk, bookkeeper, chief financial officer, budget analyst, internal auditor, and many others.

Business Administration

You can get on the track to the corporate settings of an administrative assistant, loan officer, community service manager, market research analyst, financial advisor, statistician, etc.

Agribusiness

This generally refers to agriculture-related endeavors that align farmers, distributors, and even consumers with a market system for agricultural products. The Department of Trade and Industry is always in the course of developing the industry of agricultural farming into a thriving business-driven sector.

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Does Smallbiz Need Bookkeepers Or Record Keepers?

Both professional services are considered critical components of any accounting process that contribute to the achievement of any business objective.

Bookkeeping is a component of the accounting process in businesses and other organizations which keeps books or financial transactions, such as income and expenses. On the other hand, the creation, collection, and management of records, particularly those of a business or government nature, is the coverage of recordkeeping.

Bookkeepers vs Record-keepers

Though bookkeepers and record keepers may perform similar work, they definitely have different skill sets. Let us see how their role varies.

Bookkeeper Role

Bookkeepers are in charge of keeping track of financial transactions, making sure that accounts are balanced, and making financial statements. They use accounting software and systems to keep accurate records of purchases, sales, payments, and receipts. 

Bookkeepers also keep track of accounts payable and accounts receivable, manage payroll, and generate financial reports. They make sure that the financial records are correct, up-to-date, and in compliance with the laws and rules that apply.

Record-keeper Role

Record-keepers are responsible for keeping track of all kinds of business transactions, not just financial ones. They make and keep records about vital business records like those pertaining to their employees, customers, and sales.

Record keepers also have the task of organizing and preserving records in a way that makes them easy to locate and obtain when they are needed. To make sure that the records are correct, complete, and protected, they could utilize software to keep track of records or create and manually maintain documents. 

Bookkeeping and Record-Keeping Helping Small Businesses

Prevents Fraud & Mistakes From Happening. Bookkeepers and recordkeepers are both very important to small businesses because they help the owners know how their finances are faring. All financial transactions are recorded correctly and on time. This will help keep fraud from happening and keep small business owners from making mistakes.

Help Organize Financial Records. Bookkeepers and recordkeepers help small business owners organize their financial records and keep track of how much money the business owes to its suppliers and how much money its customers owe the business. Organized financial records are crucial for business growth and expansion.

Making Smart Financial Decisions. They help business owners make smart financial decisions, like where to cut costs or make more money. By looking at their balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements, they can easily see how financially stable the business is. This is important for making budgets for improvement and for filing taxes.

Comply With Tax laws and Rules. These experts offer reliable services that make it easier for small business owners to follow tax laws and rules. It is assumed that employees are paid correctly and on time and that tax laws are followed, so that audits and fines, which can be very expensive and cause a lot of trouble, don’t arise.

Make Financial Processes Easier. They make the process easier for small businesses, which can be helpful for a busy business owner. Keeping track of receipts, invoices, and bank statements on their own can take a lot of time for business owners.  It provides free time for small business owners to take care of other essential tasks like sales, marketing, and customer service.

In Summary!

It can be said that recordkeeping and bookkeeping functions are both valuable assets for any small business and even start-up. These reliable professionals like The Bookkeepers R Us provide expertise, organization, and financial insights, which can help small businesses to succeed and grow.

Bookkeeping and record-keeping expert services will help ensure that financial records are accurate, organized, accessible, and secure so every small business owner can arrive at informed decisions that will definitely give a competitive edge to the business. 

As a business owner, it is our goal to improve sales and increase profit margins. To achieve these you must work with the best bookkeepers and experienced record-keepers today! 

Get started! Call us now!