#legal dispute management

[aiolegalservices]

Pre-Action Protocols, Expert Evidence, and Alternative Dispute Resolution: A Guide to Efficient Legal Dispute Management

  Paragraph 6 of the Pre-action Conduct of all proceedings confirms that if a relevant pre-action protocol exists, parties are required to follow it before initiating legal action. This ensures that both sides take certain preliminary steps, such as sharing information and exploring potential settlements, to possibly resolve the dispute without court intervention. If no specific protocol applies,…

[jentlemahae]

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[qldprobatelawyers]

Probate Lawyers

At QLD Estate Lawyers, we have a team of experienced probate lawyers on hand and ready to answer all your questions. As a commonly used term during estate administration is it important you understand and what it means. Our expert and friendly Probate Lawyers are here to guide you through this difficult time and ensure you are well informed during the proceedings.

[lawofficeofryansshipp]

Understanding Florida Statute 723.002: A Guide for Mobile Home Park Owners

Understanding Florida Statute 723.002 As a Florida mobile home park owner or property manager of a mobile home park, you’re likely familiar with the complexities of managing tenancies. One of the most important laws you need to understand is Florida Statute 723.002, which governs the application of Chapter 723, Florida’s law on Mobile Home Lot Tenancies. This statute outlines when Chapter 723…

[andrewjbernhard]

Navigating Declaratory Judgments for Condo Associations and HOAs: Milestone Reports and 40-Year Certifications in Florida

Attention Condo Associations Florida! New regulations, managing milestone reports, and 40-year certifications is daunting. This post dives deep into how declaratory judgments can be a crucial tool in ensuring compliance and resolving disputes. #Milestone

For Condominium Associations and Homeowners’ Associations (HOAs) in Florida, maintaining compliance with state regulations and ensuring proper management of community properties can be complex. Among the critical responsibilities are performing milestone reports and 40-year certifications, which are essential for the safety and upkeep of aging buildings. In cases where there is uncertainty about…

[hospitalitybussines]

Top Managed Network Services Companies

The dynamic landscape of IT infrastructure and services has fore fronted the need to provide flexible external support to achieve business objectives. Process standardization assisted by low-cost labor to drive innovation and value transition guides the managed network services in generating organizational growth. Managed network services streamline the chain of operations linked to security, network administration, and data backup, enabling the companies to achieve the benchmark of digital transformation.

Decentralization of IT services across the industries post-pandemic has called for backing remote workstations through managed network services. Hybrid working infrastructure and adoption of cloud management services have poised the upward growth curve procured through managed network services.

[miaarley]

Settling Scores in the Blockchain Age: Web3 Arbitration & Mediation Explained

Introduction

Web3, a blockchain-based decentralized internet, has recently emerged, revealing many new possibilities. From play-to-earn games and virtual land ownership in the metaverse to the flourishing NFT market, Web3 is a digital frontier filled with possibility. Nevertheless, arguments are bound to arise due to venturing into uncharted territory.

As in the real world, disagreements might emerge in the Web3 environment. Finding your way through disputes involving stolen NFTs, virtual land purchases that don't work, or play-to-earn games that break the contract can be overwhelming. Fortunately, conventional legal action isn't your sole choice. Web3 arbitration and mediation are two of the creative dispute resolution options offered by Web3.

Extending Beyond the Jury System

In Web3 mediation and arbitration, the previous rules are null and void. Envision a system that encourages openness, immutability (the ability to not alter records), and community involvement. That's the essence of Web3 conflict resolution. Here's what sets it apart:

Smart Contract Law

Gone are the days of lengthy contracts. In Web3, the terms of agreements can be encoded within smart contracts – self-executing algorithms on the blockchain. These contracts can automate certain aspects of conflict resolution, like commencing mediation or releasing monies held in escrow upon a settlement.

Decentralized Arbitrators

Ditch the expensive judicial battles and exorbitant lawyer expenses. Web3 arbitration leverages a pool of validated community members or even AI-powered algorithms to act as arbitrators. This assures a neutral and maybe faster resolution compared to regular courts.

Tokenized Incentives

Web3 thrives on a collaborative spirit. Participation in the arbitration process might be motivated via crypto tokens, rewarding people who contribute to fair and efficient dispute settlements.

The Benefits of Web3 Dispute Resolution

Web3 arbitration offers a variety of advantages over older methods:

Cost-Effective

Web3 arbitration is supposed to be a more cheap approach to resolving conflicts. By taking out intermediaries like lawyers and court expenses, the procedure becomes much cheaper.

Faster Resolutions

No more waiting years for a court date. Web3 arbitration can expedite the process, offering swifter solutions. Disputes might be resolved in weeks or even days.

Transparency and Immutability

The entire arbitration procedure is recorded on the blockchain, a tamper-proof public ledger. This promotes transparency for all parties involved and removes the danger of records being manipulated.

Community-Driven

Web3 arbitration uses the power of the metaverse community to resolve conflicts fairly. Disputes are decided by individuals familiar with the special protocols and conventions of the Web3 area.

Web3 Mediation

While arbitration entails a binding decision given by an arbiter, Web3 mediation offers a more collaborative approach. A neutral third party, the mediator, encourages conversation between the opposing parties, directing them toward a mutually accepted conclusion. This strategy can be particularly effective for preserving relationships among the close-knit Web3 groups.

The Future of Web3 Dispute Resolution

Web3 dispute resolution is still in its fledgling phases, but it holds great promise for the future of the decentralized web. As Web3 continues to improve, we can expect to see significant advancements in:

Standardization of Rules

Developing clear and defined rules for Web3 arbitration and mediation will create a more predictable and efficient framework for dispute resolution.

Integration with DAOs

Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) – community-run entities on the blockchain – can significantly develop and implement dispute resolution procedures within their ecosystems.

Development of Specialized Platforms

Dedicated web3 online arbitration and mediation systems are emerging, offering faster processes and user-friendly interfaces for settling disputes inside the Web3 environment.

Conclusion

Web3 dispute resolution promises a paradigm shift from the existing judicial system. With its focus on speed, affordability, transparency, and community involvement, it gives a compelling alternative for settling scores in the blockchain age. As Web3 continues to expand, web3 online arbitration and mediation services are positioned to become the go-to solutions for resolving conflicts within this fascinating new frontier.

[dc-probate-attorney]

Four More Ways to Stop Inheritance Theft in Your Family

In our previous post, we talked about some ways you can prevent inheritance theft in your family. Since there are so many ways this type of theft can occur, the steps to take to prevent this from happening can vary. If you have a strained relationship with a parent or live a long distance away, it can be difficult to get access to many of the documents we mentioned in our previous post. There are…

[deception-united]

Worldbuilding: Questions to Consider

Government & authority:

Types of government: What type of government exists (monarchy, democracy, theocracy, etc.)? Is it centralised or decentralised?

Leadership: Who holds power and how is it acquired (inheritance, election, divine right, conquest)?

Law enforcement: Who enforces the laws (military, police, magical entities)?

Legal system: How are laws made, interpreted, and enforced? Are there courts, judges, or councils?

Laws:

Criminal laws: What constitutes a crime? What are the punishments?

Civil laws: How are disputes between individuals resolved?

Cultural norms: How do customs and traditions influence the laws?

Magic/supernatural: Are there laws governing the use of magic or interaction with supernatural beings?

Social structure:

Class/status: How is society divided (nobility, commoners, slaves)? Are there caste systems or social mobility?

Rights & freedoms: What rights do individuals have (speech, religion, property)?

Discrimination: Are there laws that protect or discriminate against certain groups (race, gender, species, culture)?

Economy & trade:

Currency: What is used as currency? Is it standardised?

Trade laws: Are there regulations on trade, tariffs, or embargoes?

Property laws: How is ownership determined and transferred? Are there inheritance laws?

Religion/belief systems:

Religious authority: What role does religion play in governance? Are religious leaders also political leaders?

Freedom of religion: Are citizens free to practice different religions? If not, which are taboo?

Holy laws: Are there laws based on religious texts or teachings?

Military & defense:

Standing army: Is there a professional military or a militia? Who serves, and how are they recruited?

War & peace: What are the laws regarding war, peace treaties, and diplomacy?

Weapons: Are there restrictions or laws regarding weapons for civilians? What is used as a weapon? Who has access to them?

Technology & magic:

Technological advancements: How advanced is the technology (medieval, steampunk, futuristic, etc.)?

Magical laws: Are there regulations on the use of magic, magical creatures, or artifacts?

Innovation & research: How are inventors and researchers treated? Are there laws protecting intellectual property?

Environmental/resource management:

Natural resources: How are resources like water, minerals, and forests managed and protected, if at all?

Environmental laws: Are there protections for the environment? How are they enforced? Are there consequences for violations?

Cultural & ethical considerations:

Cultural diversity: How does the law accommodate or suppress cultural diversity?

Ethics: What are the ethical foundations of the laws? Are there philosophical or moral principles that underpin them?

Traditions vs. change: Does the society balance tradition with progress? How?

Happy writing ❤

Previous | Next

[silvermountaingirl]

Locus Magazine's September update on the Neil Gaiman allegations

"CORRECTIONS (on page 4) In our August 2024 story regarding recent allegations against Neil Gaiman, we erroneously described Tortoise Media (which broke the news) as a tabloid; we apologize for the mischaracterization. Tortoise Media is a British news website founded in 2018

MORE GAIMAN ALLEGATIONS (on pages 72-3) We reported last month on two women who accused author Neil Gaiman of sexual assault. Since then, three more women have come forward with allegations. Two of them spoke on the Tortoise Media podcast Master: The Allegations Against Neil Gaiman. Caroline Wallner lived on Gaiman’s property in Woodstock NY from 2014 to 2021, and says that she felt pressured to have sex with him in order to maintain her living situation; she further alleges that when she stopped responding to requests for explicit photos and videos, Gaiman’s business manager told her she had to move out by December 2021. Wallner says Gaiman paid her $275,000 that month in exchange for signing an NDA that ‘‘disputes and denies that Wallner has sustained any losses, damages, or injuries for which Gaiman is legally responsible.’’ Wallner chose to come forward after hearing the earlier allegations.

The second woman on the podcast, Julia Hobsbawm, says Gaiman made ‘‘an aggressive, unwanted pass’’ at her in 1986, when she was 22 and Gaiman was 25, after which she cut off contact.

Two other women reportedly declined to be interviewed for the podcast but provided messages and ‘‘corroborating evidence’’ pointing to a pattern of behavior on Gaiman’s part. Details are here: www.tortoisemedia.com/2024/08/01/exclusive-two-more-women-accuse-neil-gaiman-of-sexual-assault-and-abuse/

The other accuser, using the name Claire, appeared on a different podcast, Am I Broken: Survivor Stories. She claims that she was a fan of Gaiman and met him at a book event in 2012, subsequently entering into a ten-month in-person and long-distance relationship that allegedly included unwanted interactions such as a kiss, groping, phone sex, and pressure to have sex. She described feeling ‘‘gross’’ but going along with the kiss because ‘‘it was Neil Gaiman.’’ She claims Gaiman said, ‘‘I’m a very wealthy man, and I’m used to getting what I want.’’ She also said Gaiman claimed she initiated the contact, and that he blamed his autism for failing to properly read her body language. The podcast is here: amibroken.buzzsprout.com/763742/15488615-s4-ep2-claire-i-ignored-it-and-i-believed-him-because-he-s-the-storyteller-neil-gaiman.

Gaiman has declined to comment publicly on the allegations."

[osmanthusoolong]

“The lack of heat was just one of the tenants' many complaints.

Records filed in court by the tenants show that last year, the apartment building's property managers forbade tenants from receiving parcel or food deliveries to their units, sought to evict tenants who refused to take down bird netting protecting their balconies from pigeons and banned Halloween trick-or-treating inside the building. The company also filed eviction notices against 21 tenants who had window-mounted air conditioners, saying the appliances put the building's old electrical wiring at risk of fire.

That November day, the tenants held up cardboard signs and took turns speaking from a megaphone. After about 30 minutes, they dispersed to place flyers on windshields and signposts.

"Tenants will not be pushed out of their homes," read the flyers they were posting. "Tenants… demand that [landlord] Anne DeMelo put an end to the harassment and do the repairs they have requested."

Two months later, they were all served legal papers.”

…

“Tenants in many Canadian cities can face a litany of hardships in dealing with landlords: renovictions, steep rent increases, maintenance requests that go unheeded. But now some landlords have turned to a new tactic — suing their tenants for defamation when disputes hit the boiling point.”

…

“Anoop Majithia's company, Plan A Real Estate, took over a low-rise residential building in the city's West End in the spring. Many existing tenants were on high alert owing to his reputation: Plan A was once fined $10,000 by the provincial housing ministry for violating a law 152 times, was found to have acted in bad faith in trying to evict a tenant and has faced more than one accusation of posting photos in rental ads that don't match the apartments tenants end up getting.”

I wonder, do the landlords realize that this response from tenants is in fact the peaceful negotiation that they’ve forced?

No matter, landlords are scum.

@allthecanadianpolitics

[the-final-sif]

Hi! Do you know if there is any reason why the union wouldn't contact Quackity/Quackity Studios directly?

Yes! I believe actually have a decent sense of this! Now, I'll be up front that I am not French, nor am I well versed in french labor unions, but I do think after some research I understand the confusion.

The short answer is because they don't want Quackity to contact the union directly. They want Quackity/the management to talk to the workers involved in the dispute.

The union is willing to be a go-between if need be, but what they actually want is negotiations between QSMP & the actual workers, and more particularly for workers to not be completely ignored for 3 weeks and then fired (what happened to Pomme's admin).

The workers in question have been messaging their management/contacts at qsmp and trying to get any kind of answer to no avail, and what the Solidaires union is doing is placing public pressure onto Quackity/QSMP to actually answer these workers and come to the table with them.

If you actually read the statements put out by the union, this is pretty clear,

(march 13th statement)

To avoid it, we invite Quackity to be proactive by opening a social dialogue with all their workers. A negotiated outcome remains possible: it will need to address monetary demands concerning work already performed and that to come, as well as claims to improve working conditions.

(march 20th)

Last week, we invited Quackity and other Quackity Studios executives to engage in negotiations with their workers. As far as we know, no contact has been attempted, either directly or via us. In fact, most of them saw all their communication media cut off without prior notice nor any further explanation.

If you actually read the call to action, the union is not asking to be contacted directly, although they are willing to refer. They're literally saying "fucking text your workers back and don't leave them on read for 3 weeks". That's what they wanted QSMP to do.

The actual role of the union in situations like this isn't to be directly negotiating contracts but rather offering legal counsel to workers and helping sue for unfair dismissal (something that this union has done to other game dev studios in the past including Ubisoft). They're tackling the unfair working conditions, and part of that is placing public pressure for Quackity to actually respond to the workers. It's up to him to actually reply to workers and make things right, and if he fails to do that, well he gets to get dragged in front of french court to justify his choices.

[fancyfeathers]

Could you do the lawyer of ADA, they deal with Dazai a lot. They managed to get taken by the Guild as a hostage, instead of freaking out they actually relax and treat it like a vacation. Some of the Guild members are confused until ADA calls them to negotiate but Dazai takes over asking about the legal ramifications of a fire he may have caused, but in his defense it was half on fire when he got involved. Fukuzawa grabs the phone off him and requests to speak to Fitzgerald. Instead of tea the lawyer asks for whiskey on rocks.

This has both platonic (children) and romantic (adults) yanderes

You could hear the irritating voice of Dazai from the other end of the the phone, he was so loud despite Fukuzawa having the phone. Fitzgerald sits on the couch across from you, and he even looked annoyed from hearing Dazai’s voice and he’s not even used to it like you. You could hear Fukuzawa’s voice, trying to negotiate with Fitzgerald dispute the chaos in the background. Fitzgerald rubbed his temples before cutting the president off.

“Listen old sport, let me think about your offer and you can call me back once you get a proper handle on your employees.” There was a brief noise on the other end of the line that sounded like yelling but it was cut off by Fitzgerald hanging up. He looked at you and shook his head with that charming smile. “I’ll be honest I don’t know how you deal with that all.”

���It takes the patience of a saint.”

“Then I must be the devil.” He waved over a maid in the room telling her to get him some tea and then he looked at you. “Would you like anything?”

“Whiskey.”

“This early?”

“After that headache I need it.”

Honestly being held captive, if you could call it that, by the Guild, was much better than the in and out of your job at the Armed Detective Agency. You have tried to quit in the past but somehow Dazai would be on the same train you took home, Kenji would run into you at the farmer’s market, or even the siblings at the convenience store by your house which was odd since you lived on the other end of the city that the Agency was on. Those were the milder cases, there were the other times where Kunikida would accidentally run into you in the middle of a job, or when you fell down the stairs in the park and Dr. Yosano just happened to be there. It felt like every misfortune in your life was tied to the agency and they were just pulling you back. Being held hostage was actually nice, sure you had to be under surveillance by some Guild member, normally this was one of two young men, John Steinbeck or Mark Twain, and they were nice enough. But honestly Fitzgerald had you treated very well, not like any other hostage situations you have been in.

“Well while they pull themselves together I have a proposal for you.” Fitzgerald said as the maid went to get your drinks. “The only real reason you’re here is because that’s the only way I could discuss this with you.”

“Smart, but the legal ramifications of it will be-“

“Extreme, I can deal with that, nothing a bit of money can’t erase.” He cut you off, chuckling under his breath. “You know the dirt of the Armed Detective Agency, if you start working for me I can get you out.”

“You want me to betray the agency?”

“I’ve seen your employment records, you have quit from there multiple times, but have always come back within two weeks. Correct me if I’m wrong but you’re trapped and want to get out.”

He was right, you couldn’t even lie about that. You wanted to get out, the detective agency was only going to be a temporary job while you discussed potential employment with law firms in Yokohama and even Tokyo. Those few weeks turned into months, and those months into years, and not one of those law firms wanted to take you, almost that they were afraid of you. You had your suspicions after Dazai was smiling a little too wide after you received another letter of rejection, but you could never confirm it. Your hands curled into fists, grabbing the fabric of the skirt you were wearing.

“…that’s correct.”

“I thought so, well if you agree to this, you will be free from the agency, I will be sure to get U.S. citizenship for you within the week if you so wish for it, and law firms lined up with jobs for you, or if you’d like you could continue work for the Guild and you could have more money than you would know what to do with.” The maid finally came, setting your drinks on the coffee table between the two of you. Fitzgerald picks up your drink and hands it to you and then his cup of tea and takes a long sip. “You’re free to reject, but if you do you’ll have to deal with the agency again, likely for the rest of your life-”

“Deal.” You never answered faster in your life, if you got away from the agency you would be free to spend your life how you wanted. Fitzgerald smiled, but his eyes had a dangerous glint to them.

“Prove it.”

He wanted dirt, so what could you give them? Kenji, Kunikida, Atsushi, Ranpo, and the Tanizaki siblings had next to nothing on them, The President had his past as an assassin, then Yosano who had a bit of a past in the war, there was Dazai with- actually you wouldn’t dare expose that out of fear for your life. Who was left?

Your stomach sank in realization…

But you couldn’t keep living like this…

“Kyoka Izumi, she used to be in the Port Mafia, she was used as an assassin due to her ability and killed a total of 35 people in 6 months.”

You heard the phone ring again, as if almost on cue with your words. You jumped slightly as if you got caught exposing your deepest darkest secret. You watched as Fitzgerald leaned over and picked up the phone and answered as you sipped on your drink in an attempt to calm your nerves. You could hear Fukuzawa say something on the other end of the line, something about an amount of money but Fitzgerald cut him off.

“There has been some changes to the deal old sport, see it seems Miss (Name) doesn’t want to work for you anymore so I have no use for her a hostage anymore.” You watched as Fitzgerald reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a gun, you felt like you were about to be sick. He did not aim it at you though, just at a wall and he shot it off… he made it seem like you died. “Goodbye.”

You could hear the yelling like last time on the other end of the line as he hung up, only now it was panicked and worried, but no matter how much you tried you couldn’t make out the voice of Dazai, that alone made you scared.

Fitzgerald picked up his tea cup again and raised it up in a toast. “Here to new beings.”

With your mind being elsewhere, both in fear, guilt, and relief, you could only manage a small. “ya.”

You did not know what would happen next but at least now you were free, you had your life back again and that was worth celebrating…

“Welcome to the Guild, Miss (Name).”

[bumblee-stumblee]

By Alex MacDonald

Published date: 6 August 2024 12:27 BST

Last update: 1 day 8 hours ago

Women and children's rights campaigners in Iraq have pushed back at proposals that could enshrine sectarianism in family relationships, hand more power in family matters to clerics and open the door for marriage to be legalised for children as young as nine years old.

The amendments to Law No. 188 of the Personal Status Law of 1959 have been heavily promoted by the Coordination Framework, a coalition of conservative Shia Islamist parties that form the largest bloc in parliament.

The first reading took place on Sunday, following a failed attempt on 24 July that was shelved after some parties objected.

It is only the latest attempt to bring forward amendments to the law, with previous ones being shelved after political outcry.

According to the draft bill, when concluding a marriage contract, a Muslim couple are required to choose either the Sunni or Shia sect to represent in "all matters of personal status".

"When a dispute occurs between the spouses regarding the doctrine according to whose provisions the marriage contract was concluded, the contract is deemed to have been concluded in accordance with the husband’s doctrine unless evidence exists to the contrary," reads the draft, which was circulated by a number of Iraqi politicians on social media.

It would also allow figures from "the offices of the Shiite and Sunni endowments" to finalise marriages rather than the courts.

The draft requires Shia and Sunni endowments to submit a "code of legal rulings" to the parliament six months after ratifying the amendments, stipulating the Shia code would be based on "Jaafari jurisprudence".

Although the question of child marriage is not directly addressed in the amendments, previous versions of the bill have been more explicit and legal experts have warned that it could be allowed based on Jaafari jurisprudence.

Many Iraqi marriages are unregistered and conducted by religious figures, making them illegal under the current Iraqi Personal Status Law.

The proposed amendments could see those marriages - 22 percent of which, according to the UN, involve girls under 14 - legitimised by the state.

The 1959 law was passed under the government of Abdul-Karim Qasim, a leftist nationalist who brought in a number of progressive reforms, including increased rights for women.

Since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, however, rightwing political parties in the country have attempted to roll back these rights.

Previous versions of the bill have included rules preventing Muslim men from marrying non-Muslims, the legalisation of marital rape, and banning women from leaving the house without their husband's permission.

The latest version is considerably less explicit, but campaigners fear its passage will allow religious authorities to introduced the rules through their establishment of the Personal Status code.

"These proposed changes to the Personal Status law would have a profoundly negative impact on the rights and wellbeing of women and children in Iraq," said Tamara Amir, CEO of the Iraqi Women's Rights Platform.

She told MEE that unlike previous attempts at passing the reforms, she believed that the current government - led by Coordination Framework member Mohammed Shia al-Sudani - would manage to get it passed, despite Iraqi society being "divided" on the issue.

"They would further entrench gender inequality and put vulnerable individuals at greater risk," she said.

"We urge policymakers to reject these proposals and instead focus on strengthening protections for women and children."

--

From March 2014

May 2014

"The law is based on the principles of the Jaafari school of Shiite religious jurisprudence. It prohibits Muslim men from marrying non-Muslims and lowers the marriage age to 9 for girls and 15 for boys."

--from the above NPR article

[lawofficeofryansshipp]

Martin County Eviction Attorneys | 561.699.0399

Martin County Eviction Lawyers If you’re a property owner in Martin County, Florida, grappling with tenant problems, consider Law Office of Ryan S. Shipp, PLLC for reliable legal support. Our seasoned team specializes in both residential and commercial evictions, adept at handling the nuances of landlord-tenant law and delivering prompt, effective solutions. Why Opt For Shipp Law For Eviction…

[mundivagantsoul]

✩ Bookshopist Moonboys✩

Part 1: Nerds, Dead Trees and Dust

Moon Knight System x Reader

A/N: Hi all! This is my first time posting my writing. I apologies for poor grammar and spelling, my only excuse is daydreaming throughout school when I was was supposed to be learning this stuff. If you have any feedback or comments please let me know, I'd love to hear from you! Hope you enjoy ♡

Warnings: mentions of violence (nature documentaries), coarse language, British lingo?

Word Count: 1K

Masterlist | Next ->

-------------------- ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ ---------------------

Seated in the dim living room light with tea-steamed glasses, a certain chocolate-curled Brit scrolls aimlessly through job adverts until a particular post catches his attention

Full-time bookseller- The Old Town Bookshop

Taking a sip of his Earl Grey, Steven opens the listing, greeted with the classic rhetorical questions and enthusiasm only found in job adverts.

Love books? Are you a passionate reader who wishes to share your enthusiasm for literature with others? Come work at “The Old Town Bookshop”, where you can expand your literary knowledge and create a meaningful career with fellow book lovers!

“Living amongst books isn’t enough for you?” Marc quips from a small mirror placed deliberately on the desk's corner.

“I thought you cared about animals and the environment, and yet here you are, further supporting an industry that indoctrinates the destruction of their homes?” Jake nonchalantly adds from an adjacent mirror, oblivious to the surprised faces of his headmates.

Marc raises a brow, “Since when did you become an animal rights advocate?”

Jake shrugs, gaze subconsciously finding Viejita lazing on the lounge before returning back to Marc. “Dunno. Guess I actually pay attention when Steven puts on his nature documentaries”.

Marc mocks being insulted. “Oh I’m sorry, I just don’t find watching baby antelopes getting mauled to death entertaining”.

“Of course, you much rather maul people to death yourself”, Jake's voice mimics Marc’s, enticing a scoff from the latter.

“You’re one to talk Mr. I abuse wheelchairs and kidnap patients from psych wards and then murder them in the back of my fancy car”. 

Steven interrupts the dispute before it can get out of hand. 

“Bloody hell, Lads’ shut it! Look, if I’m being honest, I’m not gonna take animal ethics from either of you carnivores”, then adding, “And need I remind you two, you’re the reason we’re in this dire situation”.

It’s true, between Marc, Jake and Khonshu’s shenanigans, they’d managed to lose their only legal job, and unfortunately, being an ancient Egyptian deity’s ‘fist of vengeance’ doesn’t pay well.

Marc begins to grasp at any logic that means they don’t have to work amongst nerds, dead trees and dust. “Well… Jake and I aren’t avid readers, and the job description says we must be ‘passionate readers’”. 

“Well… I’d say with the number of ‘adult’ novels you read, you’d be classified as a passionate reader”. Steven states matter-of-factly, earning a snort from Jake and a finger from Marc.

“Look, capitalism exists, fish need feeding, and it’s either this, working at the laundromat on 6th, or grovelling for my old job back. You pick”.

Sharing a glance, they sigh, “Fine, we’ll work at your nerd hub”.

Triumphantly, Steven opens the application form.

-------------------- ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ ---------------------

A weathered sign inscribed with “The Old Town Bookshop” hangs atop the quaint corner store. Parallel white arches and a broad window decorate its petite structure with morning sunlight reflecting off the seemingly fresh coat of indigo, enriching the buildings' otherwise aged aesthetic.

Breathing out a puff of warm air, Steven adjusts the strap of his shoulder bag, a nervous habit he’d picked up over the years. Peering at the lit window, he opens the door. Greeted by the homely smell of paper and ink, Steven gazes around at the array of books and colours, marvelling at the unexpectedly large floor plan. 

"Like the Tardis". Marc hums from the window reflection whilst Jake observes their surroundings, habitually checking for threats.

Strolling further into the store, a warm pressure rubs itself along his calf. Peering down, Steven’s met with honey eyes and golden fur.

“¿Gatito?” Jake chirps, seemingly forgetting about surveying the area.

The cat meows in return as if replying to Jake’s comment. 

“Great, now we’ll be covered in dust and cat hair”. Marc comments, trying to remain apathetic about their adorable feline coworker.

Kneeing down, Steven scratches the tabby’s head, earning a delightful purr from their new acquaintance. Checking the collar, ‘Dorian’ is engraved on a fish-shaped name tag. 

Dorian huh? Makes sense, you’re a pretty lookin’ fella. Steven observes before returning to the task at hand. 

Following the familiar monotonous sound of a sticker gun, the Brit finds himself walking towards the counter where, surrounded by a pile of new releases, you are busy at work. The boys take in your features, entranced as the morning light caresses your face, highlighting the soft beauty that adorns your profile. Eyes roaming over your features, they notice your slight frown of concentration and inaudible movements of your mouth. 

As Steven approaches the counter, your words become interpretable.

“How are we already getting Christmas and holiday content when it hasn’t even been Halloween yet?” you grumble, condemning whoever decided it was a suitable practice. “I swear if I start hearing Mariah Carey, I’m gonna…”.

Someone clearing their throat interrupts your malicious thoughts. As your head shoots up, you notice the fidgeting man in front of the counter. Shit. How long has he been standing there?  You think, face heating up at the possibility of him witnessing your moral decadence.

“So sorry to bother you love. I’m here for my shift? I was supposed to start today… I’m Steven, by the way”.

The realisation smacks you in the face like a flying stop sign. Crap, it is already 8 o'clock? Internally criticising yourself for losing track of time, you scramble for an apology. “Right- yes, Steven, I’m so sorry, I didn’t realise the time”. Sticking out your hand, you introduce yourself. 

God, your name sounds as beautiful as you look, They simultaneously think.

A warm, calloused hand engulfs your own as Steven rolls your name over his tongue. “All good love happens to the best of us”.

You smile warmly, and suddenly, the prospect of spending 9 hours a day surrounded by nerds, dead trees and dust doesn't seem too bad.

Thank you for reading ♡

Also please go check out the fabulous @viejita-n-co who created Viejita! You’ll find a bunch of fanart and pictures of the boys too ♡