#document scanning software

[pdqdocs]

Why You Should Buy Document Management Software: Unlocking the Benefits of PDQ Docs

In today’s fast-paced business environment, managing documents efficiently is crucial for maintaining productivity and ensuring seamless operations. With businesses generating large volumes of documents daily, relying on traditional methods of file storage is no longer viable. To streamline document management processes, companies are turning to software solutions, and one of the most effective tools available is PDQ Docs.

The Need for Document Management Software

Manual document storage and organization methods often lead to inefficiencies, errors, and wasted time. Searching through physical files or disorganized digital folders can significantly slow down your work processes. Here comes the role of document management software. By providing a centralized system for storing, accessing, and sharing files, PDQ Docs helps businesses overcome the limitations of traditional document management.

Key Features of PDQ Docs

PDQ Docs offers a range of features designed to simplify and enhance document management. One of its standout features is its powerful search functionality. Users can quickly find documents using keywords or filters, eliminating the frustration of digging through stacks of paperwork or folders. Additionally, PDQ Docs enables easy version control, so businesses can track document revisions and ensure that the most up-to-date versions are always in use.

Security is another key benefit when you buy document management software like PDQ Docs. It incorporates encryption protocols to protect sensitive data, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access critical documents. Whether you're dealing with confidential contracts or financial reports, PDQ Docs provides peace of mind by safeguarding your business’s information.

Moreover, PDQ Docs supports collaboration among teams. Multiple users can access and work on the same document simultaneously, making it ideal for companies with remote or hybrid teams. The software also offers integration with other business tools, creating a seamless workflow across various platforms.

How PDQ Docs Enhances Business Efficiency

Time is a valuable asset of any organization. By investing in PDQ Docs, businesses can reclaim countless hours previously spent managing and searching for documents. Hence, buy document management software since it’s automated filing and organization features ensure that all documents are stored correctly the first time, minimizing the need for manual data entry.

Moreover, PDQ Docs simplifies compliance management. For industries that must adhere to specific regulatory standards, such as healthcare or finance, the software offers tools to help track document audits and maintain accurate records. This reduces the risk of compliance violations and the fines associated with them.

Conclusion: Making the Smart Choice to Buy PDQ Docs

The decision to buy document management software is a game-changer for any business looking to optimize its operations. PDQ Docs offers a robust, user-friendly solution that not only streamlines document storage but also improves security, collaboration, and efficiency. Whether you’re a small business or a large corporation, PDQ Docs can help transform the way your team manages documents. By investing in this innovative software, you’re setting your business up for long-term success, reducing costs, and improving overall productivity.

[sleepy-stitches]

printers are mankinds greatest mistake

[demonic-intervention]

shoutout to all the people who create open source software for everyday tasks that doesn't have "AI features" or sells my data and then put that software online for free. I hope you have a great day.

[thearbstudio]

Why UAE Contractors Are Turning to 4D BIM for Smarter Project Management

 Among the current technology reworking the enterprise is 4D BIM in Construction UAE a powerful innovation that adds the size of time to traditional three-D Building Information Modeling.

[the960writers]

Do you think it's a good idea to try and get away from Google Docs when it comes to writing? I really can't afford any other fancy program to write my drafts in, and it honestly seems like the easiest - not to mention, most convenient - program to use to share my manuscript with beta readers. I could use advice on this matter because I keep seeing things across the net about it being a bad place to work on writing, but I have no idea what to turn to to make things easy for me and my future beta readers.

This is such a good question. Thank you.

So, a little backstory. Ever since Google removed their motto "do no evil" they have gone down the rather predictable path of all big players of the rot economy: putting profits over user experience.

A little while back, there was rumor that Google trains AI with the content of google docs, then they said they don't really, they only scan the content and do nothing with it, and then they started blocking access to documents with sexy images. Do we believe that Google has our own best interest at heart? That's something everyone has to decide for themselves.

Back then, I made a post with alternatives for Google Docs, you can find it here, also check the reblogs for more options:

Now, is it a good idea to switch from google docs? I think it is, but I'm also not consistent with it. As you mentioned, it seems to be the easiest to share writing with beta readers, and I also still often use it for fanfiction.

But there are alternatives, and they require very little adjustment in the process. Let me give you two free options.

Ellipsus is webbased, meaning you can write in it in the browser on any device. They have sharing, specifically for beta reading, and an export function for AO3.

Reedsy (marketplace around everything self-publishing) has an editor. It is webbased, and they also have an option for sharing with beta readers. This software is aimed at book type-setting and exporting but it works just fine for copying to web.

Personally, I'm currently switching everything to LibreOffice (also free!) files in some cloud connected folder. I used to do a lot of mobile writing on my phone with a bluetooth keyboard but currently, I'm taking my laptop everywhere so LibreOffice works great for me. If I have to use my phone or tablet for some lightweight mobile writing, on vacation for instance, I can still use something webbased.

So, I hope I gave you some interesting options. Do I think it's a good idea to make us less dependent on Google? Yes, I do. I don't trust them.

We have alternatives, and they cost us nothing more than a little adjustment.

~ barbex

[ama2024]

https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/reports/117103-global-document-scanning-software-market

Document Scanning Software Market to explore excellent development deals

Advance Market Analytics released a new market study on Global Document Scanning Software Market Research report which presents a complete assessment of the Market and contains a future trend, current growth factors, attentive opinions, facts, and industry validated market data. The research study provides estimates for Global Document Scanning Software Forecast till 2029*.

Document scanning software is a tool designed to replace the physical scanner, with the ability to capture a document and upload it directly to the platform. It is very essential as it allows routine document scanning needs for different sectors including, education, insurance, organizations, and so on. The documents cand be saved in a list of formats including PDF, JPEG, or TIFF, in addition, it also offers the ability to manage and store documents. Increasing demand from all the sectors and for personal use also the document scanning software is booming in the world.

Key Players included in the Research Coverage of Document Scanning Software Market are:

ChronoScan Capture (Spain), HelpSystems (United States), Ambir Technology (United States), Docufree (United States), Asta Systems (Hong Kong), Orpalis (France), Capture Components (United States), Thomson Reuters (United States), Doo (Germany), PaperSave (United States), Intsig (China), Kdan Mobile Software (Taiwan), ABBYY (United States), PaperSave (United States,

What's Trending in Market: Emergence for Saas-Based Document Capture Softwarer

Challenges: Key Competition Between The Providers

Opportunities: Growing inclination towards adoption of cloud computing technology is fueling industry expansion and creating the growth opportunities

Market Growth Drivers: Increasing Demand from  Different Industry including, Education, Health Care is a key Driving Factor of Growth

Increasing Demand from  Different Industry including, Education, Health Care is a key Driving Factor of Growth

The Global Document Scanning Software Market segments and Market Data Break Down by Application (IT & telecommunication, BFSI, Retail, Healthcare, Government, Education, Others.), Deployment Mode (On-premise, Cloud-based), Software Subscription (Monthly, Annual), Version (Basic, Advance), OS Support (Android, IoS, Windows, Others), End User (Large Enterprises, SMEs)

Get inside Scoop of the report, request for free sample @: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/117103-global-document-scanning-software-market

To comprehend Global Document Scanning Software market dynamics in the world mainly, the worldwide Document Scanning Software market is analyzed across major global regions. AMA also provides customized specific regional and country-level reports for the following areas.

• North America: United States, Canada, and Mexico.

• South & Central America: Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Brazil.

• Middle East & Africa: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Turkey, Egypt and South Africa.

• Europe: United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands and Russia.

• Asia-Pacific: India, China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia.

[nnctales]

Exploring the Diverse Landscape of BIM Software in Construction: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction: In the ever-evolving field of construction, Building Information Modeling (BIM) has emerged as a transformative technology that revolutionizes the way buildings are designed, constructed, and managed. BIM software plays a pivotal role in enhancing collaboration, improving efficiency, and minimizing errors throughout the construction process. This article delves into the various…

[pippin-pippout]

For those following the SAG and WGA strikes there’s new shit a-brewing, this time targeting background actors (aka extras).

Some may know that one of the issues SAG is fighting is that studios want to take virtual scans of background actors and use them in perpetuity (meaning forever) without any additional compensation to those background actors. So you would just see a bunch of AI generated humans in future movies based off of a background actor that worked one day.

This is already shitty because working as an extra for 3 days on a union set (if you receive a union voucher each day) is one of the main ways to qualify for SAG eligibility. This means that a lot of actors working background do not yet have union protection and likely do not have an agent or manager to protect them. Disney has already allegedly told background actors to do this on the set of Wanda Vision: https://www.avclub.com/wandavision-background-actors-say-disney-scanned-them-1850709900

Here’s where it's worse.

There is one main company that supplies background actors for major union and non union productions. Central Casting. They love to brag about their very long influence in the industry - in old movies dating back to the 40s you can hear jokes about hiring extras from Central Casting.

Central Casting has been including an electronic document for all actors in their database to sign as part of onboarding. Signing it gives Central Casting the right to use your images, your videos, and YOUR LIKENESS in perpetuity, forever. They would OWN your likeness. Instead of it being a studio supplying the AI background actors, it would be Central Casting instead.

Receiving any work from Central Casting in the future is conditional upon signing it. No signature = no extra work = no extra income for union actors trying to make health insurance minimums, no union extra work for pre-SAG members.

SAG already reached out to Central Casting to tell them to stop. Central Casting refused.

Edit to say: this is not new. It’s part of actors onboarding and is called the Photo, Image, and Video Release. It’s phrased to sound like you are just giving them permission to use your image and video for CC’s website and promotional purposes. But the actual language is much broader. It's only recently being brought up as a point for discussion because some casting directors (who are generally supportive of the strike) started pointing it out.

Central Casting is owned by Entertainment Partners which is also a giant software conglomerate and owns a lot of the software used to organize background casting and pay actors. https://www.ep.com/company/about-us/

[marticoresims]

USEFUL SOFTWARE FOR THE SIMS 2

This is a list of programs that will make your life easier if you're an avid Sims 2 player. Click on program titles to get download links.

SimPE The most known software for The Sims 2 that lets you edit package files. You can do basic stuff like rename a Sim, change family name, edit Sims' genetics as well as edit/create mods. Don't use if you have no idea what you're doing, watch a tutorial first or back up your neighborhood beforehand in case you mess something up! The newest version also has a terrain editor.

Sims2Pack Clean Installer The best program for installing downloaded lots and Sims. Those don't just go into Downloads, you need to install them!

Hood Checker This program checks neighborhood references and can clean out ones that are broken. Also useful for bringing back lost graves (it's still good to have NoUnlinkOnDelete).

HCDU Plus The Hack Conflict Detector Utility lets you scan your Downloads folder to check if you have any mods that edit the same aspect of the game, so can potentially be in conflict. Also useful to navigate which mods load first (load order is important for some mods to work).

What Caused This When you have 'testingcheats' on, the game gives you error messages if there's something going on. Not all of them mean there's a serious problem, but What Caused This can help you navigate what the source is. Upload the log file (Documents/EA/TS2/Logs) in the program, give it your Downloads folder and it will scan it to look for the culprit. Might give you straighforward information on which mod conflict caused the issue or that you lack Smarter EP Check for a mod that requires it.

The Compressorizer You can compress your Downloads to take up less space.

Delphy's Download Organiser You can filter your files to a certain category, scan for orphans (files that don't fully work if other files are missing, such as meshes), duplicates, and clean up your Downloads folder in an easier way than trying to track it inside the folder manually.

Outfit Organiser You downloaded CC clothes that the creator marked as outerwear but you think they don't fit in that category? With this program you can quickly change that! It's also doable in SimPE, but Outfit Organiser is a lot easier to use.

CPack Editor If you want to make plastic surgery genetic, there's no need to do it manually in SimPE, especially if it's more than one Sim. In CPack Editor, you just choose your neighborhood's folder, run the program, and it changes ALL surgery faces in that neighborhood to genetic!

Lot Adjuster This program lets you edit already existing lots. If you want a smaller or bigger lot than possible in-game, you can do it here! Also great for creating pavilions or row houses that are all separate lots, as you can get rid of the 2-tile border separating buildings by making the lots smaller and copying them.

Lifespan Builder A simple online tool by Lazy Duchess that lets you make your own custom lifespan without SimPE! You just put the numbers in and download a ready mod. Note: the number in game files is always 1 day shorter than it shows in the Sim's age bar, so example: if you want the toddler stage to be 5 days in-game (as in, it shows "5 days away" after growing up from a baby), you need to put in 4.

[gremlynn-draws]

do you have any tips for scanning traditional drawings with color/what scanner do you use, if any?

ohhhh thats a really good question! In my experience it's usually better to use a scanner that is /just/ a scanner. Ones that come in the 2-1 printers are usually designed to scan paper documents. Not art. So the dpi of your scans will generally be lower and if you use paper with a lot of tooth (ie cold press watercolor paper) it's going struggle to get a hi-res scan. This is because unlike printer paper not all of it's surface is pressed against the glass in the same way due to the texture. (if that makes sense) I use an "Epson Perfection V600 Photo" scanner. I bought it around 2017 when I remember it being cheaper. I knew I had to get a good scanner to make prints to sell at events. I saw it was recommended on a blog and that was run by a watercolor artist that had test scans from different scanners. When I search "best art scanners" online I see some people who say the Epson V39 works just fine for art. It's also much cheaper than the V600. But I would recommend just doing some research first on your own. Maybe you prefer a bigger scanner. Maybe you dont need something to scan at a super high DPI and want to save money. It's always good to look for options.

The minimum DPI for a high resolution print is 300. Anything below that is usually just used for images being posted on internet for the sake of loading speeds. Anything above 300 is pretty extra in most case scenarios. So, the second half to scanning artwork is color correction on some sort of software. Most of the time you'll find that your scanned drawing on the computer looks different from the physical piece in color or contrast between values. It's usually because the scanner blasts the drawing with a lot of light to scan it. For this I personally use Photoshop as I already pay for adobe to do freelance work and its the industry standard blah blah blah. Keep in mind that electronic images you scan can either be in CMYK or RGB color profiles. CMYK is recommended for color accuracy in printing. RGB has a wider range of colors and is for any image being displayed digitally. A program like Photoshop can be used to switch an image between the two. I know i just typed a lot but I hope its helpful as a jumping off point at least! Good luck!

[pdqdocs]

Unlock Efficiency with PDQ Docs: The Ultimate Document Management Software

In today’s fast-paced world, the way we manage and store documents has evolved dramatically. With businesses and individuals handling vast amounts of information daily, having an effective system for managing documents is no longer a luxury but a necessity. PDQ Docs, the ultimate document management software, offers a comprehensive solution to help you organize, secure, and access your documents effortlessly. This innovative software is designed to streamline document handling, saving time and enhancing productivity for businesses of all sizes.

 The Power of PDQ Docs in Document Management

PDQ Docs stands out as the ultimate document management software because it offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface that makes it easy to store, retrieve, and share documents. Gone are the days of sifting through endless paper files or wasting time searching through disorganized digital folders. PDQ Docs allows users to create a centralized digital storage system where all documents can be safely stored and quickly accessed with just a few clicks.

This software is equipped with powerful search functionality, ensuring that finding the right document is a breeze. No more frustrating searches through a clutter of files—PDQ Docs’ advanced search options allow users to locate any document in seconds, boosting efficiency and reducing downtime.

 Effortless Integration with Your Existing Workflow

Integrating a new software solution into your existing business processes can often be a challenging task. However, PDQ Docs makes this transition as seamless as possible. Designed to integrate easily with a variety of other tools, PDQ Docs can work in harmony with the systems you already use, such as project management software, CRM tools, and cloud storage platforms.

This level of integration means you don't have to completely overhaul your existing workflow to take advantage of PDQ Docs' powerful document management features. Instead, you can effortlessly incorporate the software into your current processes, enhancing efficiency without disrupting the way your business operates.

 A Scalable Solution for Growing Businesses

Growing businesses witness different document management requirements. PDQ Docs is designed with scalability in mind, making it the ultimate document management software  for businesses of all sizes. Whether you're a small startup or a large enterprise, PDQ Docs can grow with you, offering flexible storage options and additional features that cater to the evolving needs of your organization.

The software’s scalable design ensures that it remains a valuable asset as your document management requirements expand, allowing you to continue working efficiently without worrying about outgrowing the system.

 Conclusion

PDQ Docs stands as the ultimate document management software, providing businesses and individuals with a robust, secure, and efficient solution for organizing and accessing documents. With features like secure storage, advanced search functionality, seamless collaboration, and easy integration with existing systems, PDQ Docs is the key to unlocking greater productivity and simplifying document management. Whether you're looking to streamline your business operations or enhance team collaboration, PDQ Docs is the answer to managing your documents with ease and confidence.

[mckitterick]

She Won. They Didn't Just Change the Machines. They Rewired the Election. How Leonard Leo's 2021 sale of an electronics firm enabled tech giants to subvert the 2024 election.

Everyone knows how the Republicans interfered in the 2024 US elections through voter interference and voter-roll manipulation, which in itself could have changed the outcomes of the elections. What's coming to light now reveals that indeed those occupying the White House, at least, are not those who won the election.

Here's how they did it.

(full story is replicated here below the read-more: X)

She Won

The missing votes uncovered in Smart Elections’ legal case in Rockland County, New York, are just the tip of the iceberg—an iceberg that extends across the swing states and into Texas.

On Monday, an investigator’s story finally hit the news cycle: Pro V&V, one of only two federally accredited testing labs, approved sweeping last-minute updates to ES&S voting machines in the months leading up to the 2024 election—without independent testing, public disclosure, or full certification review.

These changes were labeled “de minimis”—a term meant for trivial tweaks. But they touched ballot scanners, altered reporting software, and modified audit files—yet were all rubber-stamped with no oversight.

That revelation is a shock to the public.

But for those who’ve been digging into the bizarre election data since November, this isn’t the headline—it’s the final piece to the puzzle. While Pro V&V was quietly updating equipment in plain sight, a parallel operation was unfolding behind the curtain—between tech giants and Donald Trump.

And it started with a long forgotten sale.

A Power Cord Becomes a Backdoor

In March 2021, Leonard Leo—the judicial kingmaker behind the modern conservative legal machine—sold a quiet Chicago company by the name of Tripp Lite for $1.65 billion. The buyer: Eaton Corporation, a global power infrastructure conglomerate that just happened to have a partnership with Peter Thiel’s Palantir.

To most, Tripp Lite was just a hardware brand—battery backups, surge protectors, power strips. But in America’s elections, Tripp Lite devices were something else entirely.

They are physically connected to ES&S central tabulators and Electionware servers, and Dominion tabulators and central servers across the country. And they aren’t dumb devices. They are smart UPS units—programmable, updatable, and capable of communicating directly with the election system via USB, serial port, or Ethernet.

ES&S systems, including central tabulators and Electionware servers, rely on Tripp Lite UPS devices. ES&S’s Electionware suite runs on Windows OS, which automatically trusts connected UPS hardware.

If Eaton pushed an update to those UPS units, it could have gained root-level access to the host tabulation environment—without ever modifying certified election software.

In Dominion’s Democracy Suite 5.17, the drivers for these UPS units are listed as “optional”—meaning they can be updated remotely without triggering certification requirements or oversight. Optional means unregulated. Unregulated means invisible. And invisible means perfect for infiltration.

Enter the ballot scrubbing platform BallotProof. Co-created by Ethan Shaotran, a longtime employee of Elon Musk and current DOGE employee, BallotProof was pitched as a transparency solution—an app to “verify” scanned ballot images and support election integrity.

With Palantir's AI controlling the backend, and BallotProof cleaning the front, only one thing was missing: the signal to go live.

September 2024: Eaton and Musk Make It Official

Then came the final public breadcrumb:In September 2024, Eaton formally partnered with Elon Musk.

The stated purpose? A vague, forward-looking collaboration focused on “grid resilience” and “next-generation communications.”

But buried in the partnership documents was this line:

“Exploring integration with Starlink's emerging low-orbit DTC infrastructure for secure operational continuity.”

The Activation: Starlink Goes Direct-to-Cell

That signal came on October 30, 2024—just days before the election, Musk activated 265 brand new low Earth orbit (LEO) V2 Mini satellites, each equipped with Direct-to-Cell (DTC) technology capable of processing, routing, and manipulating real-time data, including voting data, through his satellite network.

DTC doesn’t require routers, towers, or a traditional SIM. It connects directly from satellite to any compatible device—including embedded modems in “air-gapped” voting systems, smart UPS units, or unsecured auxiliary hardware.

From that moment on:

Commands could be sent from orbit

Patch delivery became invisible to domestic monitors

Compromised devices could be triggered remotely

This groundbreaking project that should have taken two-plus years to build, was completed in just under ten months.

Elon Musk boasts endlessly about everything he’s launching, building, buying—or even just thinking about—whether it’s real or not. But he pulls off one of the largest and fastest technological feats in modern day history… and says nothing? One might think that was kind of… “weird.”

According to New York Times reporting, on October 5—just before Starlink’s DTC activation—Musk texted a confidant:

“I’m feeling more optimistic after tonight. Tomorrow we unleash the anomaly in the matrix.”

Then, an hour later:

“This isn’t something on the chessboard, so they’ll be quite surprised. ‘Lasers’ from space.”

It read like a riddle. In hindsight, it was a blueprint.

The Outcome

Data that makes no statistical sense. A clean sweep in all seven swing states.

The fall of the Blue Wall. Eighty-eight counties flipped red—not one flipped blue.

Every victory landed just under the threshold that would trigger an automatic recount. Donald Trump outperformed expectations in down-ballot races with margins never before seen—while Kamala Harris simultaneously underperformed in those exact same areas.

If one were to accept these results at face value—Donald Trump, a 34-count convicted felon, supposedly outperformed Ronald Reagan. According to the co-founder of the Election Truth Alliance:

“These anomalies didn’t happen nationwide. They didn’t even happen across all voting methods—this just doesn’t reflect human voting behavior.”

They were concentrated.

Targeted.

Specific to swing states and Texas—and specific to Election Day voting.

And the supposed explanation? “Her policies were unpopular.” Let’s think this through logically. We’re supposed to believe that in all the battleground states, Democratic voters were so disillusioned by Vice President Harris’s platform that they voted blue down ballot—but flipped to Trump at the top of the ticket?

Not in early voting.

Not by mail.

With exception to Nevada, only on Election Day.

And only after a certain threshold of ballots had been cast—where VP Harris’s numbers begin to diverge from her own party, and Trump’s suddenly begin to surge. As President Biden would say, “C’mon, man.”

In the world of election data analysis, there’s a term for that: vote-flipping algorithm.

And of course, Donald Trump himself:

He spent a year telling his followers he didn’t need their votes—at one point stating,

“…in four years, you don't have to vote again. We'll have it fixed so good, you're not gonna have to vote.”

____

They almost got away with the coup. The fact that they still occupy the White House and control most of the US government will make removing them and replacing them with the rightful President Harris a very difficult task.

But for this nation to survive, and for the world to not fall further into chaos due to this "administration," we must rid ourselves of the pretender and his minions and controllers once and for all.

[shiyorin]

I know it's a big ask but can you make a part 4 of the rogal dorn and imperial fists slice of life fic where they now have a construction company?

Slice of life with Rogal Dorn (and Imperial Fists)

It's a sequel to this one. Of course I'm too lazy to write it seriously, but here's basically what happens next if you're curious.

I used the biggest Deus ex machina 乁⁠[⁠ ⁠◕⁠ ⁠ᴥ⁠ ⁠◕⁠ ⁠]⁠ㄏ

Summary: A strange encounter solved 99% your problems

You dragged your feet up the concrete steps to the county administrative building, a manila folder of hopeless paperwork clutched in your hand. The morning sun beat down mercilessly, matching your mood as you prepared for another futile battle with bureaucracy. Three months of housing five enormous amnesiac men with a fortress-building obsession had drained not just your bank account but your spirit.

Inside, the fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as you approached the counter labeled "Permits and Zoning." The same clerk who'd rejected your paperwork twice before glanced up, recognition and something like pity crossing his face.

"You again?"

You nodded, sliding your folder across the counter. "I've filled out the retroactive permit applications. Again."

The clerk - Barry, according to his name tag, thumbed through the documents with the weariness of someone who'd seen it all. "You're still missing the structural engineering certification. And these contractor credentials…" He trailed off, shaking his head.

"They're legitimate," you lied, knowing full well that Vladimir had drawn up the credentials himself using design software and a printer at the local library.

Barry didn't even bother arguing. "Look, between us, you should probably just hire a lawyer at this point. The fines are only going to increase, and with the property tax reassessment."

"I know," you interrupted, not wanting to hear it again. The numbers kept you awake at night, an ever-growing mountain of debt that threatened to consume everything.

Barry was about to say something else when his eyes focused on something behind you, widening slightly. You turned to see what had caught his attention.

A man stood in the center of the government building lobby, radiating an authority that seemed to bend the very air around him. He was tall, taller than Rogal, and imposing, with broad shoulders and a face that somehow appeared both youthful and ancient simultaneously. His hair was dark, long with a high forehead, and his eyes… there was something about his eyes that made it difficult to maintain eye contact.

More striking than the man himself was his entourage, at least six men of extraordinary size, large as Rogal and his companions. They wore fitted dark suits that barely contained their muscular frames, standing at attention with military precision, scanning the room continuously like bodyguards.

"Who's that?" you whispered to Barry, whose mouth had fallen slightly open.

"No idea," he murmured. "But the big guys with him just walked past security without anyone stopping them."

The mysterious man's gaze swept the lobby, pausing briefly on each occupant before moving on. When his eyes met yours, a jolt ran through you, like static electricity but deeper, resonating somewhere behind your breastbone. His expression changed, surprise, then interest, then something like amusement.

He began walking directly toward you.

You resisted the urge to flee as the man approached, his entourage moving with him in perfect formation. Up close, his presence was even more overwhelming, like standing next to a high-voltage power line.

"You," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle for someone so imposing, "are experiencing an unusual housing situation."

It wasn't a question. You blinked, momentarily speechless.

"Me what?" you finally managed.

The man smiled, the expression transforming his severe features into something almost warm. "My apologies. That was abrupt. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Neoth. And you, residing at that quaint suburban home, are currently hosting five rather distinctive individuals with a penchant for unauthorized construction."

Barry was staring openly now, paperwork forgotten. You felt a cold sweat breaking out along your spine.

"How do you know that?" you asked, trying to keep your voice steady.

Neoth made a dismissive gesture. "Information is easy to acquire when one knows where to look. Your situation has created quite the administrative ripple. Building code violations, HOA complaints, tax reassessments." He glanced at the folder on the counter. "And now, desperate attempts to legitimize what cannot be easily explained."

One of the suited giants leaned down to whisper something in Neoth's ear. He nodded slightly before returning his attention to you.

"I believe we should continue this conversation somewhere more private. Would you join me for coffee?"

Every warning bell in your mind was ringing. This man knew too much, appeared too suddenly, and radiated too much unnatural charisma. But curiosity, and the faint hope that somehow this stranger might offer a solution to your impossible situation, overrode your caution.

"Fine," you agreed, gathering your useless paperwork. "But just coffee."

Barry watched with wide eyes as you left with the mysterious man and his intimidating entourage.

The coffee shop across from the administrative building emptied quickly after Neoth and his companions entered. The six massive bodyguards positioned themselves strategically around the space, their presence making the small café feel even more cramped. You sat across from Neoth at a corner table, cradling a latte you hadn't ordered but which somehow contained exactly the right amount of caramel.

"I'll be direct," Neoth said, not touching his own coffee. "I can solve your problems with your houseguests."

You narrowed your eyes. "What problems?"

"Please," Neoth smiled again, the expression not quite reaching his eyes. "The five enormous men living in your home without legal identity. The unauthorized fortifications they've constructed. The mounting fines and tax burdens. The 'Imperial Fists Construction' enterprise operating without proper licensing."

You felt the blood drain from your face. He knew everything, details you hadn't shared with anyone.

"What are you? FBI? Immigration?" you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

Neoth laughed, a sound like distant thunder. "Nothing so mundane. Let's say I'm a private citizen with particular interests and abundant resources."

"And why would you be interested in my situation?"

"Those men," Neoth leaned forward slightly, "are important to me. Their presence here is… unexpected, but not unwelcome."

Your fingers tightened around your coffee cup. "You know who they are."

It wasn't a question, but Neoth nodded anyway. "I do. And I can provide what they need, legal identity, citizenship documentation, resolution of all outstanding fines and tax issues. I can even provide legitimate business credentials for their construction enterprise."

"In exchange for what?" you asked, suspicion heavy in your voice. "Free cheese only exists in mousetraps."

Something like respect flickered in Neoth's ancient-young eyes. "Perceptive. I merely wish to… reconnect with them. To ensure their wellbeing."

"That's it?" You didn't bother hiding your disbelief. "You'll pay thousands in fines and taxes, create legal identities for five men who don't exist, and set up a legitimate business, just to 'reconnect' with them?"

"The financial considerations are trivial to me," Neoth said with casual arrogance that suggested it was true. "As for the documentation, I have connections that can expedite such matters."

One of the bodyguards shifted slightly, drawing your attention. The man was enormous, golden-haired and impossibly broad-shouldered, his suit custom-tailored to his inhuman physique. There was something familiar about him, about all of them, really, that nagged at your consciousness.

"Why not approach them directly?" you asked, returning your attention to Neoth. "Why come to me?"

Neoth's expression became unreadable. "Our last… interaction was complicated. I believe a mediator would be beneficial."

You sat back, studying the man across from you. Everything about this screamed danger, mysterious benefactors offering too-good-to-be-true solutions always did. But you were drowning in fines and legal threats, with no viable way out.

"Let's say I believe you," you said slowly. "What exactly would this 'reconnection' involve?"

"A meeting. Nothing more." Neoth spread his hands, the gesture somehow both humble and imperial simultaneously. "I would like you to introduce me. To prepare them for my arrival."

"And if they don't want to meet you?"

Something dangerous flashed behind Neoth's eyes, there and gone so quickly you weren't sure you'd seen it at all. "That is their choice. My offer of assistance stands regardless."

The conversation felt surreal, like something from a dream or a particularly strange movie. You found yourself nodding, not quite believing you were agreeing to anything, but unable to see another option.

"Fine. I'll talk to them."

Neoth smiled, satisfied. "Excellent. My associates will handle the paperwork immediately." He produced a business card from nowhere, sliding it across the table. It was blank except for a phone number embossed in gold. "Call this number when you've spoken with them."

As you reached for the card, Neoth's fingers brushed against yours. Another jolt of that strange energy passed between you, stronger this time, leaving you momentarily disoriented.

"One of my men will escort you home," Neoth said, rising from the table. "I look forward to our next meeting."

Before you could protest that you had your own car, one of the giant bodyguards was at your side, gesturing toward the door where a sleek black SUV had appeared at the curb.

The ride home was silent and distinctly uncomfortable. The massive man beside you in the backseat didn't speak, staring straight ahead with military rigidity. You clutched your purse, the strange business card burning a hole in your pocket, wondering if you'd just made a catastrophic mistake.

As you turned onto your street, you noticed the changes immediately. The "observation post" that had caused so much trouble with the HOA was gone, not dismantled, but completely absent, as if it had never existed. The reinforced fence had been replaced by a normal-looking boundary that somehow still radiated sturdiness.

"What happened to…." you began, but stopped as you pulled into your driveway.

Your house looked… normal. The obvious fortifications were gone, replaced by tasteful architectural elements that disguised their defensive nature. It was still recognizably your home, but now it appeared to be an upscale renovation rather than a military installation.

"When did this happen?" you asked the silent bodyguard, who merely opened your door in response.

As you stepped out of the vehicle, you noticed your neighbors across the street watching from their window, expressions curious rather than disapproving for the first time in months. The SUV pulled away as soon as you closed the door, leaving you standing in your driveway, staring at your transformed home.

The house was empty when you entered, the usual sounds of construction and strategic planning absent. A note in Rogal's precise handwriting sat on the kitchen counter: "Searching for you. Communications unanswered. Will return by 18:00."

You checked your phone, finding several missed calls and increasingly concerned text messages from a number you recognized as the prepaid phone you'd given Rogal for emergencies. With a pang of guilt, you realized what had happened, from their perspective, you'd disappeared without explanation, your car still at the county building, no word of your whereabouts.

What had felt like a strange meeting and uncomfortable car ride to you must have seemed like a kidnapping to them.

You sent a quick text: "I'm home. Safe. Long story. See you at 6."

The response was immediate: "Returning now."

You wandered through your house, noting all the subtle changes. The reinforced door frames remained, but now looked like attractive molding. The concrete bunker in the basement had been disguised as a wine cellar. Even the surveillance systems had been integrated so seamlessly into the architecture that they were nearly invisible.

You were still trying to process these changes when the front door burst open with such force that you nearly jumped out of your skin. Rogal entered first, his massive frame filling the doorway, his expression a mixture of relief and lingering concern. Behind him came Sigismund, his hand instinctively resting where a weapon would be if they had any. Alexis and Vladimir followed, both scanning the room with tactical precision, while Halbrecht brought up the rear, closing the door with far more care than Rogal had shown opening it.

"You are unharmed," Rogal stated, though the slight question in his tone betrayed his uncertainty.

"I'm fine," you assured him, suddenly emotional at the realization that these five giant men had been genuinely worried about you. "But something really weird happened today."

"We were concerned when your communications ceased," Sigismund said, his voice tight with what might have been suppressed anxiety. "Your vehicle remained at the administrative building."

"We initiated search patterns," Vladimir added, his massive arms crossed over his chest. "Divided the city into quadrants."

"Systematically," Alexis agreed. "Though with limited success."

"Halbrecht was preparing to access the local surveillance network," Rogal concluded, which explained why the normally reserved giant was carrying a laptop under one arm.

"You were going to hack into security cameras to find me?" you asked, torn between being touched and horrified.

"Technically, it would have been more of a passive monitoring integration," Halbrecht corrected, setting the laptop down. "But yes."

You gestured for them to sit, which they did with their usual careful movements, the furniture creaking slightly under their combined weight. "I need to tell you about what happened, and it's… complicated."

For the next hour, you recounted everything in detail, the meeting with Neoth, his strange offer, the SUV ride home, and the unexplained changes to the house. You described his imposing presence, the way he seemed both young and ancient simultaneously, his bodyguards who reminded you somewhat of them, and the casual way he spoke about resolving problems that had been keeping you awake at night for months.

"He knew everything about us," you emphasized, pacing back and forth in front of them. "Not just the obvious stuff anyone could see from outside, but details nobody should know. He talked about you like he knew you personally."

As you spoke, you noticed their expressions changing. Alexis and Vladimir exchanged meaningful glances, a silent communication passing between them. Sigismund's perpetual frown deepened, his right hand clenching and unclenching rhythmically. Halbrecht grew unusually still, his eyes focused on some middle distance. But it was Rogal's reaction that was most striking, his stoic features shifted through confusion, recognition, and something that might have been awe.

"He gave me this," you continued, pulling out the business card with its golden embossed number. "Said to call when I'd talked to you. And get this, he said all the financial problems are already being handled. The fines, the taxes, everything."

"Father?" Rogal murmured, the word barely audible.

"What?" you asked, startled by the non sequitur.

Rogal didn't elaborate, his gaze distant as if accessing long-buried memories. The others watched him, their own expressions suggesting similar internal struggles.

"The man you described," Sigismund said slowly, "and his… associates. They are familiar."

"You know them?" you pressed, stopping your pacing to stare at each of them in turn.

"Not know," Vladimir corrected "Remember. Partially. Like reflections in disturbed water."

"The modifications to the dwelling," Alexis noted, looking around at the changed interior. "They are consistent with his methods. Elegant solutions that achieve multiple objectives simultaneously."

"Methods?" you repeated. "So you do know him? Is his name really Neoth? And what did you mean by 'Father,' Rogal?"

The five men exchanged glances again, a silent conference you couldn't interpret. Finally, Rogal spoke, his deep voice measured.

"There are… fragments of memory. Unclear. Inconsistent. But his description matches someone of great significance to us."

"He said he wanted to reconnect with you," you told them, remembering Neoth's exact words. "Said your last 'interaction' was complicated."

Another silent exchange of glances. Then, to your surprise, Sigismund rose from his seat and dropped to one knee in front of Rogal, his head bowed.

"If it is him, I will follow your lead, lord," he said formally.

Vladimir and Alexis nodded in agreement, while Halbrecht watched Rogal with intense focus.

"We will meet him," Rogal decided after a moment. "But with caution."

You looked between them, bewildered by this sudden shift in dynamics. "Okay, what the hell is going on? You're acting like this guy is royalty or something."

"Or something," Alexis agreed cryptically.

You sighed in frustration, picking up the business card. "Fine. Keep your secrets. I'll make the call."

The voice that answered was not Neoth's, but it carried the same subtle authority. Arrangements were made for a meeting the following evening. As you hung up, you noticed that Rogal had moved to the window, staring out at the modified exterior of the house.

"The defensive capabilities remain," he observed. "Disguised but not diminished. Perhaps even enhanced."

"Is that good?" you asked.

Rogal nodded slowly. "It suggests genuine understanding of our priorities, adapted to function within local parameters."

The following day passed in a haze of nervous anticipation. You distracted yourself by checking your online banking, gasping aloud when you discovered that all outstanding property tax payments had been made, along with what appeared to be an advance on future assessments. The HOA fines had vanished from their online portal, replaced by a notice of "compliance achieved."

Most shocking of all was the email from the county building department, confirming that all necessary permits had been retroactively approved and the code enforcement case closed. Attached were copies of the permits themselves, bearing official signatures and stamps that looked perfectly legitimate.

"He really did it," you murmured, showing the others. "Everything he promised, at least on paper."

"A demonstration of capabilities," Sigismund noted. "Or a gesture of good faith."

"Or both," Rogal added.

Precisely at 7 PM, a convoy of black vehicles pulled up outside. You watched from the window as Neoth emerged from the center car, flanked by his enormous bodyguards. They moved with coordinated precision, forming a loose perimeter as Neoth approached the front door.

You opened it before he could knock, finding yourself once again in the unsettling presence of this man who radiated authority and ancient wisdom.

He greeted you with a slight nod. "Thank you for arranging this meeting."

"They're waiting in the living room," you replied, stepping aside to let him enter.

Neoth crossed the threshold, his bodyguards remaining outside at a gesture from his hand. He paused in the entryway, surveying the interior modifications with what appeared to be approval.

"Efficient adaptations," he murmured. "Creative use of limited resources."

Then his gaze fixed on the living room entrance, where Rogal now stood, his massive frame nearly filling the doorway. For a long moment, the two men stared at each other, an almost tangible energy crackling between them.

"Rogal Dorn." Neoth said softly, the name carrying weight and history.

"Father." Rogal responded, the word both a statement and a question.

Neoth smiled, a genuine expression that transformed his severe features. "You remember."

"Fragments only," Rogal admitted. "But your presence… stimulates recall."

Neoth nodded, unsurprised. "The same is true for the others?"

"Yes," came Sigismund's voice from within the living room. "Though the memories are… incomplete."

You watched this exchange with growing bewilderment and unease. Father? What did that mean? Neoth appeared younger than Rogal, though something about his eyes suggested far greater age. The air in the room felt charged, like the moment before a lightning strike.

"May I?" Neoth gestured toward the living room.

Rogal stepped aside, allowing him to pass. You followed, curiosity overcoming your caution, though your heart was hammering in your chest.

Inside, the other four men had arranged themselves in what you now recognized as a formal reception formation. As Neoth entered, Sigismund, Vladimir, Alexis and Halbrecht each dropped to one knee, heads bowed in a gesture of unmistakable fealty. 

The display sent a chill down your spine. These five men, who had never shown deference to anyone in all the time you'd known them, were treating this stranger like visiting royalty. Only Rogal maintained his usual bearing, though even he seemed more formal than usual.

Neoth regarded each of them in turn, something like fondness in his expression. "Sigismund. Alexis Polux. Vladimir Pugh. Halbrecht." He named them without hesitation. "My son's most dedicated warriors."

"Your son?" you blurted, unable to contain yourself. "But you're…"

"Older than I appear," Neoth finished for you, amusement in his voice. "Though our relationship is not biological in the traditional sense."

You looked between Neoth and Rogal, suddenly noticing the similarities that had escaped you before, not physical resemblance, but something in their bearing, their presence, the way they occupied space. It was deeply unsettling, like watching pieces of a puzzle rearrange themselves into a picture you couldn't quite grasp.

"I don't understand what's happening," you admitted, your voice smaller than you intended.

"Few would," Neoth assured you. "The full explanation would strain credibility. Suffice it to say that these men are important to me, and their unexpected appearance in your reality is a matter of significant interest."

"Our reality?" you repeated, catching the strange phrasing. A cold knot formed in your stomach.

Neoth smiled enigmatically but didn't elaborate. The kneeling men rose at a subtle gesture from him, arranging themselves around the room with military precision.

"I've taken the liberty of establishing legitimate identities for each of you," Neoth continued, turning his attention back to the five giants. "Citizenship, documentation, all necessary legal frameworks."

He removed a leather portfolio from inside his jacket, handing it to Rogal. "Everything you need is here, including business credentials for 'Imperial Fists Construction & Engineering, LLC.'"

Rogal accepted the portfolio, opening it to reveal meticulously organized documents, passports, Social Security cards, birth certificates, all appearing completely legitimate.

"This seems excessive," Rogal noted, though his tone suggested approval rather than suspicion.

"Hardly," Neoth replied. "It's the minimum required to function effectively in this environment. I've also arranged for proper business licensing, insurance, and contractual templates. The company is fully operational, effective immediately."

"And what do you want in return?" you asked, still waiting for the other shoe to drop, your unease growing by the minute.

Neoth turned to you, those ancient eyes seeing too much. "As I said before, a reconnection. And perhaps, occasionally, access to their particular skills for projects of my own."

"What sort of projects?" You asked, speaking the question clearly on all your minds.

"Nothing that would violate your principles," Neoth assured them. "Primarily construction and security consulting. I have numerous properties that would benefit from your expertise."

It sounded reasonable, but you couldn't shake the feeling that there was much more to this story than anyone was telling you. The strange references to "your reality," the way these men recognized each other despite fragmentary memories, the inexplicable resources Neoth commanded, it all pointed to something far beyond your understanding.

"The company headquarters," Neoth continued, gesturing around him, "can remain here for the time being. I've ensured the zoning permits allow for a home-based business operation. As your enterprise grows, more suitable accommodations can be arranged."

"You have considered all contingencies," Rogal observed.

"It's what I do," Neoth replied simply.

The conversation continued, delving into details of the business structure, potential contracts already lined up (all from Neoth's mysterious associates), and the legal frameworks now protecting both the company and your property. Throughout it all, you felt increasingly disoriented, like you were watching a play where everyone knew their lines except you.

The atmosphere in the room was charged with unspoken significance. Sigismund, Vladimir, Alexis and Halbrecht maintained a formal respect toward Neoth that bordered on reverence. Rogal alone seemed able to engage with Neoth as something approaching an equal, though even he showed deference in subtle ways.

You found yourself retreating to the corner of your own living room, feeling like an intruder in a reunion of beings from another world. Which, based on Neoth's cryptic comments, might not be far from the truth.

As the evening drew to a close, Neoth prepared to leave, his bodyguards still waiting patiently outside. He paused at the door, turning to address them all one final time.

"Your first official contract," he said, handing Rogal a sealed envelope, "requires absolute discretion. The specifics are contained within."

"We will evaluate and execute accordingly." Rogal confirmed, accepting the envelope with his customary seriousness.

Neoth nodded, satisfied, then turned to you. "Thank you for your hospitality, and for providing shelter to my son and his men when they needed it most."

Before you could respond, he was gone, his entourage folding around him as they returned to their vehicles.

"So…." you said into the silence that followed, your voice slightly shaky, "that was weird."

Vladimir actually laughed, a rare sound from the usually stoic giant. "Indeed."

"He called you his son," you said to Rogal, who was examining the envelope with typical thoroughness.

"He did," Rogal confirmed without elaboration.

"And that means…?"

"It means," Sigismund interjected, "that our situation has become simultaneously more clear and more complex."

"Helpful." you muttered.

Alexis approached, holding one of the newly-issued passports. "These appear legitimate in every detail. As do the business credentials."

"So we're official now?" you asked. "Just like that?"

"Apparently so," Halbrecht confirmed, examining the business license with something like pride.

"And our first client is… your father?" you looked at Rogal, still struggling with the concept.

"It would appear so," Rogal agreed, opening the envelope Neoth had given him. His expression shifted as he examined its contents, becoming unreadable even to you, who had grown somewhat accustomed to his subtle moods.

"What is it?" you asked, trying to peek at the documents.

Rogal handed the papers to Sigismund, who studied them briefly before passing them to the others. Each man's reaction was similar, a momentary stillness, followed by an exchange of meaningful glances.

"This is…" Vladimir began.

"Significant," Alexis finished.

"Can I see?" you asked, reaching for the papers.

Rogal hesitated, then handed you a single sheet that appeared to be architectural specifications. You stared at it, baffled. The document was filled with symbols and notations you didn't recognize, interspersed with what looked like mathematical formulas of extraordinary complexity.

"What am I looking at?" you asked, turning the page sideways as if that might help.

"A project of exceptional importance," Rogal said solemnly.

You flipped the page over, finding what appeared to be a location and a handwritten note: "Top Priority. Maximum Security. Absolute Discretion Required."

"This looks like… gibberish," you admitted, handing the paper back. "Is it in code or something?"

"Of a sort." Halbrecht acknowledged. "The specifications are clear to us, however."

"So what is it? A bunker? A bridge? What are we building?"

The five men exchanged glances again, that silent communication that excluded you.

"The nature of the project must remain confidential," Rogal finally said. "Even from you, for the present."

"Wait, what?" you protested. "I'm supposed to be the CEO of this company, according to those papers. How can I not know what we're building?"

"A precaution," Sigismund explained, not unkindly. "Knowledge carries risk."

"Great." you sighed. "A secret project from a mysterious client who might be from another reality, and I don't even get to know what it is. Perfect."

"Your role remains essential," Rogal assured you. "The administrative and logistical functions will require your expertise."

"So I'm just the front person? The one who signs the papers and deals with the bank?"

"For this specific project, yes," Alexis confirmed. "Future contracts will likely be less… sensitive."

You shook your head, trying to process the surreal turn your life had taken. "So we're really doing this? Running a construction company with giant men who might be from another reality, backed by a mysterious benefactor who calls himself your father, building something so secret I'm not allowed to know what it is?"

"An accurate summary," Rogal agreed without irony.

"Perfect," you sighed again. "Just when I thought my life couldn't get any weirder."

Alexis was already examining the business documentation. "The corporate structure lists you as CEO." he noted.

"Yeah, CEO without clearance for our first project," you pointed out. "Some CEO I am."

"You know about functioning in this society," Sigismund pointed out reasonably. "We do not."

"Great. CEO of a company I never asked for, working for a client who might be some kind of interdimensional being, building something I'm not allowed to know about." You laughed despite yourself. "My business degree is finally paying off."

Rogal placed a massive hand on your shoulder, the gesture surprisingly gentle. "We build. We adapt. We fortify. It is what we do."

Looking around at these five impossible men who had crashed into your life and completely upended it, you felt an unexpected surge of affection mixed with exasperation. They were strange, obsessive, and frequently infuriating, but they were also loyal, dedicated, and in their own way, caring.

"Fine." you conceded. "But you'd better not be building a doomsday device or something in my backyard."

The five men exchanged yet another of those meaningful glances.

"Wait," you said, suddenly alarmed. "You're not actually building a doomsday device, are you?"

"No," Rogal assured you, though the slight hesitation before he spoke did nothing for your peace of mind.

"The specifications are for a defensive structure," Vladimir added, which wasn't nearly as reassuring as he seemed to think.

"With certain… unique properties," Halbrecht said, which was even less comforting.

"I don't want to know," you decided, raising your hands in surrender. "Just don't get us arrested or invaded by the military or whatever."

"Operational security is our highest priority," Sigismund promised solemnly.

Imperial Fists Construction & Engineering, LLC, headquartered in your suburban living room, staffed by giants with fragmentary memories, backed by a man who radiated power like a nuclear reactor and had just casually erased thousands in debt with a wave of his hand, now apparently building something so secret and important that even the company CEO wasn't allowed to know what it was.

[signalcli]

Security, Security… The SSL Story

“We have to get our trust center going IMMEDIATELY!” “YES SIR”, we replied. Pulling aside the IT director, we started discussing what that really meant. One thing led to another, and before we knew it, we found ourselves reminiscing over a few beers…

Rip-off of the 21st Century: How Google Boosted the SSL Industry

Let’s rewind a bit, back to 2010. Dinosaurs weren’t roaming, cars were everywhere — not perfect, sure, but good enough.

Website security was straightforward. Regular websites? Chill, nothing special needed. Websites with logins? SSL was sensible — encrypt usernames and passwords, simple logic. E-commerce sites? Checkout security was a no-brainer. Simpler times indeed — our IT director once casually received over 50,000 credit card details via email (password-protected, naturally!) during a site migration.

Google faced occasional ranking confusion — sites existed as HTTP, HTTPS, www, and non-www versions. A small mess, but manageable and amusing.

Then, suddenly, 2011 arrived. Rumors started swirling: “Google rewards fully HTTPS sites!” Interesting, right? No actual security improvement required, just better SEO rankings and more visitors.

Fast-forward another year: HTTPS became mandatory. Browsers like Chrome began labeling non-HTTPS websites “unsafe,” although security wasn’t the primary reason — more a convenience thing. And certainly not the user’s convenience.

More Encryption, More Resources, More Profits

Encryption — required to support secure communication — isn’t free; it demands additional resources. Additional resources translated into requirements for larger, more expensive servers. Encryption doesn’t merely happen on the server; someone has to decrypt it. While desktops hardly noticed the difference, smartphones certainly did — demanding noticeably more RAM and CPU power. Hardware upgrades surged. SSL certificates became lucrative businesses overnight. Suddenly, free certificates from “letsencrypt” weren’t “good enough.” Companies shelled out money for essentially identical commercial SSL certificates, boosting profits for hosting providers, certificate issuers, and smartphone manufacturers. But wait, there’s more…

New Standards, Same Old Devices

A few years later came newer TLS standards — 1.0 to 1.3. Were newer versions significantly more secure? Only marginally, closing theoretical and academic vulnerabilities never exploited. Yet enforcing standards like TLS 1.2 and 1.3 forced users with older hardware — devices unable to support these new standards — to upgrade unnecessarily, funneling even more profits into the tech industry without boosting real-world security.

Security scanners? Oh god, we absolutely loved those. Our IT director regularly received dozens of panicked emails: “OMG our site is not secure, please help us fix it!” Yet, examining the scan details typically revealed only one “vulnerability”: support for perfectly functioning TLS 1.0. Occasionally, scanners were ordered without proper heads-up, causing our automated security systems to block them immediately. Another flurry of emails followed: “Please unblock our security scanner — it’s unable to scan the website!” But wait — if security was the goal, wasn’t blocking unknown scanners a good thing? “WRONG,” said corporate bosses, demanding immediate unblocking. Logic had officially left the chat…

The Reality of Our Trust Center

This brings us back to our Trust Center dilemma. Our SignalCLI platform’s security rivals Fort Knox. Logging in? Like walking between skyscrapers on a tightrope during a hurricane — fingerprints, selfies, the whole nine yards. Getting information out? Not exactly possible.

Yet, after lengthy debates, we recognized the need for “paperwork security” — documentation and policies designed mainly to appease compliance folks. Welcome to 21st-century security: installing antivirus software on Linux systems — completely unnecessary but required on paper. Bureaucratic security, not practical security.

Now, we’re proud owners of our Trust Center, complete with extensive paperwork that few read but compliance teams adore.

It reminded our IT director of another story, which I’m sure he won’t mind me sharing. A couple of decades ago, he was working for an international company and, wanting to know who he was hiring, insisted on participating in interviews. A candidate walked in, applying for a senior developer position.

“How’s your English?” our IT director asked.

“I have an upper-intermediate level,” the candidate replied confidently, proudly handing over his certificate.

Our IT director (a multilingual guy — and yes, I’m jealous) switched to English: “So, can you continue the interview in English?”

Silence. The candidate couldn’t understand or respond in English. But he had a certificate — that’s the important part, right?

Final Thoughts

Real security matters. Bureaucracy? Not so much.

Still, quite the SSL story, isn’t it?

Be good out there!

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[stillmonsterz]

all i gotta do

for this anon!

pairing: jake x reader

genre: fluff (?), humor (???), smut

summary: it's your first day at work and you're nervous. however, your trainer is going to show you why you were nervous for the wrong reasons. one week with jake sim will either make you quit the job or never leave.

contains: unprotected sex, exhibitionism, swearing, incest mention, PTSD mention, i try to be "funny" and make "jokes"

word count: 4.4k (unproofread)

---

DAY ONE

You stepped inside of your new workplace apprehensively; you hadn’t felt so nervous since your first day of university. Wiping your palms on your pants, you made eye contact with the receptionist and smiled wanly. 

“Hello,” you said, resting your fingertips on the counter. “I’m the new hire. I was wondering where I could find…Jake Sim? He’s supposed to be my…” The term that had been used in the introductory email the company had sent to you eluded you.

“Your buddy,” the receptionist said flatly. “Your Park Corp buddy.”

“Yes. That.”

“Jake Sim is on the fifth floor. I take it you’ll be working in data analysis as well?”

You nodded. “Yes, exactly.”

The receptionist smiled at you, but it belied a certain cold humor. “Good luck.”

“Yeah, you too.” As you walked away, you realized your blunder and squeezed your eyes shut. 

–

The fifth floor of the office building had all of the markings of a corporation attempting to reel in more younger workers. There was a vending machine as soon as you walked in, the cubicles were arranged as part of an open concept floor plan, and the walls were plastered with positive, empty aphorisms. You scanned the area, wondering which of the people hunched over their computers was Jake.

Footsteps echoed behind you, and when you turned around you saw a slight, enthusiastic-looking young man with a shock of shaggy brown hair approaching you. In his hands he held two coffee cups. 

“Hey, newbie,” he said with some affection. “Got you a coffee.”

You took the cup, surprised by his vivacity. “Thank you…”

“Jake,” he finished, holding his hand out. “Jake Sim.”

You shook his hand as firmly as you could and introduced yourself.

“I know,” he said cheerfully. “Don’t worry, I like to do a little stalking before we meet a new hire. Although…” his face grew serious. “You really shouldn’t post such…provocative pictures on your Insta. Someone could get ideas.”

Your face blanched and your fingers gripped the coffee cup. “What?”

Jake’s face broke out into a smile. “Just fuckin’ with you. Sorry, I like to razz all the new hires. Makes me feel big.”

His grin was so wide, you felt compelled to smile too. He nudged you and jerked his thumb in the direction of the cubicles. “Let me show you around, PCB.”

You blinked, then it dawned on you. “Park Corp buddy…?”

“So observant,” Jake said, amused. “Come on.”

You followed him around as he explained where everything was: the copy room, the coffee machine, the water dispenser, the popcorn machine, your cubicle (situated in the middle of the room, to your chagrin), his cubicle (tucked neatly in the corner).

Then he taught you how to use the software. Thanks to your university courses, it wasn’t difficult to learn. Jake’s playful personality also gave way to a maturity that you hadn’t expected. He carefully walked you through the program step by step.

“I’ll leave you these tasks to work on,” he said, pulling up a document he had pre-made. “If you get stuck, just come get me, okay? I’m right in the corner.”

You thanked him for his assistance and started working on the tasks he had given you. It wasn’t challenging, so much as it was tedious. Still, you persevered. 

At least, until you heard him approach you again.

“Hey,” Jake said, sitting beside you. His eyes darted around the room. “You were supposed to come get me.”

“You told me to do that if I needed you,” you replied, somewhat confused.

“Yeah,” Jake said slowly, “in case you feel the overwhelming urge to make Jakey’s day and let him help you with something so he can avoid doing his boring ass work. You don’t even understand the basics of being a PCB, do you?”

“You’re using me,” you said, waving an accusatory finger at him. 

“Can you blame me?” he retorted. “Sometimes I can…I can feel my soul leaking from my pores.”

You giggled, and he squinted at you in mock annoyance. “There’s no way you’re laughing at me,” he said, trying to fight a smile. “I’m dying, turning into a corpse, and you’re laughing.”

You shrugged. “At least you’ll die at the prime of your life.”

Jake’s lips curled into a mischievous smile. “Oh, you think I’m in my prime, huh?”

“That’s not what I me-,”

“You’re hitting on me,” Jake said, leaning in. He blinked at you like a puppy. 

You leaned away, your cheeks feeling warm. “I’m not.”

“I wouldn’t mind if you were,” he said softly.

You were about to say something else, something intelligent and witty, but one of your new coworkers approached the two of you. 

“Couldn’t wait a day before sexually harassing the newbie, could you?” He was tall, pale, and had a shit-eating grin that could rival Jake’s. Unlike Jake, who was dressed in a blue button-down and slacks, this person wore a suit with a silky black tie.

Jake leaned away from you, balking at the accusation. “I am not sexually harassing her,” Jake said, clutching his heart. “I wasn’t even normal harassing her.”

“He wasn’t,” you chimed in. 

“Don’t cover up for this louse,” Sunghoon said, shaking his head at Jake. “Look at you, corrupting one of our brightest already with your salacious comments. Weren’t you supposed to be writing up a report on the-,”

“You hear this jerkoff?” Jake said, interrupting. “He puts on a little suit and starts using words like ‘louse’ and ‘salacious’, like we’re not in data analysis.”

“I am a data architect,” Sunghoon said, playfully slamming his hand on your desk. “And I will be treated like one, damn it.”

“Quit it,” Jake said, putting his arms around you and hugging you close to him. “You’re scaring my PCB.” 

“Your PCB is going to get PTSD if you keep touching her,” Sunghoon replied drolly, crossing his arms.

Jake grinned. “My PCB is going to get PTSD if I do PDA with her?” 

Sunghoon said, “Good one,” and they laughed and high-fived. You stared at them incredulously, noting that Jake’s arm was still wrapped around your shoulder. 

“Sorry,” you said slowly, “but I’d like to do my work…”

Jake withdrew his arm and tsked under his breath, standing up. “Great going, Sunghoon,” he hissed. “Now she hates you.”

“She hates you, idiot,” Sunghoon retorted as they walked away.

You slumped down in your chair, already feeling exhausted. You worked straight through your lunch break, and as you commuted home you wondered how the rest of your training week would go.

–

DAY TWO 

The next day, you felt a little more equipped to navigate your new job. In your purse, you brought some items with which to decorate your desk.

You came into work early, noting that very few people show up at this time. Perfect. With careful precision, you arranged your new trinkets on your desk; a magnetic calendar for your cubicle wall, a little plush doll, a notebook, a nice mousepad, and a little jar of chocolates. 

As you’re turning your computer on, you heard three male voices approaching your desk. Two of which you recognize. 

“There she is,” you heard Jake say quietly, “isn’t she cute?”

You looked up and waved. There was Jake, wearing a button-up with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Sunghoon, wearing another crisp suit. And a third person wearing an oversized collared shirt with dark blue jeans, looking you up and down. 

“You’re here early,” Jake said cheerfully. “Excited for work?”

“I just wanted to decorate my desk,” you explained, proudly displaying your newly decorated workplace.

The three men politely admired your table. Then Sunghoon nudged the third man in the ribs. He cleared his throat. 

“I’m Heeseung,” he said, awkwardly raising his hand. “Heeseung Lee.”

“Nice to meet you,” you replied, holding your hand out.

You shook hands with him, and Sunghoon snorted. “I didn’t get a handshake from you.”

“You also didn’t introduce yourself to me…”

Sunghoon looked away, the tips of his ears going red. “Right. I suppose that was my folly. Apologies.”

Jake leaned down and whispered, “Isn’t he such a pretentious dick?” in your ear. You suppressed another giggle as you stuck your hand out.

Sunghoon shook it firmly. “Park Sunghoon,” he said with a smile. “Data architect.”

“You told her that already,” Jake said. 

“And I told you to shut up several times, not that you ever listened,” Sunghoon retorted.

You glanced at Heeseung, and he just shrugged at you. “They can’t stop,” he said, glancing between the two of them. “It’s hard-coded into their DNA to be idiots in front of cute girls.”

Jake squinted at Heeseung. “Oh, you think she’s cute? Are you into her or something?”

Heeseung raised his hands in self-defense, backing up. “No, no, not at all.”

You sighed. “Could…could I go ahead and start my work?”

Jake shook his head and stalked away from your table. “She fucking hates you, you know that?” he said, lightly pushing Heeseung. 

Later that day, as you’re packing up to head home, you hear footsteps that were already becoming familiar.

“Hey,” Jake said quietly, “the guys and I were wondering if you wanted to eat with us at lunch tomorrow?”

You blinked up at him. “No kidding?”

“Yeah. We want you to feel welcome here,” he said, resting his hand on your shoulder. 

A smile spread across your face, and you nodded. “Sure. Sounds like it'll be a lot of fun.” Like seeing monkeys in the zoo.

Jake grinned, patting your shoulder. “Awesome! Awesome, awesome.” He paused then, placing his hand in his pocket. “One other thing,” he said slowly. 

“What’s that?” you tilted your head at him.

“Well, you know, you don’t have to dress so formally,” he said, gesturing at your outfit. “Unless you’re trying to be Sunghoon or something. You can dress business casual.”

You looked down at yourself; your outfit was pretty formal and rigid. “All right,” you said, “I’ll be nice and casual tomorrow.”

“Sounds great,” Jake said, biting his lip slightly. 

– 

DAY THREE

Work already felt much more comfortable. Besides the three coworkers you had already met, the rest of the employees ranged from amicable to ambivalent, so you never felt tense. Occasionally, Jake would come over to your desk and look at how you were coming along. Or, as you figured, he was just coming to ogle you. Not that you minded the extra attention. 

When you walked in this morning, dressed in your more casual outfit, his eyes had lingered on you for so long you thought it could be classed as a workplace violation.

“Very nice,” Jake had said approvingly. “Very…casual.”

“I try,” you had said drily, heading to your desk. 

“I’m serious,” he had said, walking with you. “You have, pardon me, a great figure.” 

“That’s not very PC,” Sunghoon had said as he passed by your desk. 

“So, what you’re saying,” Jake had started, and you were already rolling your eyes, “I’m not acting PC with my PCB?”

You had groaned. “Jake…”

“Great going, Sunghoon,” Jake had grumbled, his hands stuffed in his pockets. “You’re the worst, I swear…”

Now you were sitting with them in the break room, where they were locked in what you could only assume was a longstanding debate. 

“I’m saying that it wouldn’t be gay if it was on an island,” Jake protested, “so it wouldn’t even matter, Sunghoon.”

“Okay, but they’d eventually get rescued, so they’d have to live with that,” Sunghoon retorted, gesturing with his sandwich. 

“Yeah, but they don’t know that they’re getting rescued.”

You glanced at Heeseung, who was eating a microwavable meal. “What are they talking about?”

Heeseung leaned into you, whispering as so not to catch their attention. “It’s this stupid hypothetical they came up with,” Heeseung explained. “If there was an island, and a pair of adult siblings were on one end, and a pair of two straight men were on the other end, which pair would hook up first?”

You blinked. “Well, the siblings, right?”

A haunting silence overtook the break room. Heeseung, Jake, and Sunghoon all stared at you, and you got the impression that you had disrupted something sacred, something hallowed.

Sunghoon laughed and pointed at you. “See? See? Your little work wife doesn’t even agree with you. Those siblings would be smashing, right?”

“Well, I g-,”

“All over each other,” Sunghoon continued, making vulgar gestures with his hands. “It’d be like…five hours. Sweaty from the sun. They’d be rolling around, sand in their ass, it’d be carnal. Primal.”

Jake stared at you incredulously. “You really don’t think the straight guys would fuck?”

You shrugged helplessly. “Well, they’re straight, so I mean…”

Jake groaned, throwing his head back dramatically. “Okay. Look. If you were on an island with a sexy ass woman, and she had short nails and everything, and she was fully ready to finger your pussy, you wouldn’t let her smash? Because you were ‘straight’?”

“I mean…no.”

“Nah,” Jake said, waving a baby carrot in your face. “You’re either deluded or you aren’t thinking hard enough. You’d get desperate. You’d be munching so much carpet you’d look like…like…”

“Like a carpet factory,” Heeseung said sarcastically. 

“You’re so fucking unfunny,” Jake replied. “No, you’d look like…”

“Like she’s an interior designer?” Sunghoon offered. 

“Close enough,” Jake said, sighing. “Real dark day when Sunghoon is funnier than you. Do better, Heeseung.”

“Yeah, Heeseung,” you said, “do better.”

Heeseung scoffed. “I thought you were my friend.”

You shrugged. “I wanted to join in.”

Jake clapped you on your back and laughed. “Look at you. Blending in already!”

– 

After lunch you excused yourself and went to the bathroom. When you emerged, Jake was leaning against the wall, playing with his fingers. 

“Hey,” he said, straightening up. “Had a random hypothetical for you.”

“Sure,” you said, crossing your arms. 

“So,” Jake began, his eyes darting around your face, “if you were stuck on a deserted island…”

You groaned. 

“Wait! Wait, wait, wait.” Jake put one hand on your shoulder. “If you were stuck on a deserted island, which of us would you want with you? Me, Sunghoon, or Heeseung?”

You frowned. “Well, you, obviously.”

Jake smiled at you widely, running his fingers through his hair. “Ha, for real?”

“Well, yeah. I know you the best.”

His smile faltered. “Is that really the only reason?”

You frowned, unsure of what to say. “I me-,”

Jake clapped you on the back and snorted. “I was just messing with you,” he said before striding back to his corner cubicle.

–

DAY FOUR 

You consulted your list of tasks. Your last, and most important task, was to type up a data analysis report based off of the information you had been gathering for the past week. Jake said that he would look over it for you later.

After spending the better part of your morning working on the report, you leaned back and stretched. Your eyes were starting to hurt from staring at a screen for so long, and you rubbed them.

Jake was next to you before you could react. “Hey,” he said, “how’s the report going?”

“It’s going,” you said, pinching the bridge of your nose.

“Let me see,” Jake said, leaning over you and scrolling through your document. Your breath hitched; he was so close, you could smell his cologne. If you glanced to your right, you would be able to see his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down as he swallowed. 

Jake silently pored over the document, his chest pressed against your back. His hand rested on your shoulder, and you couldn’t tell if he was rubbing it as a subconscious habit or not.

“Looking good so far,” he whispered, and when his hand slid down your arm, you knew it was intentional.

“Anything I need to fix?” you asked, attempting to maintain a semblance of professionalism.

“Hm…” Jake leaned in to you evermore, until he was flush against you. “Nothing I can see. You’re a good worker, aren’t you?”

“I try,” you said quietly. 

“A good little worker bee,” Jake said softly, his lips almost brushing your ear. “Just what I like.”

You dared to turn your head slightly to catch Jake’s gaze, and he smiled at you, that easy-going, smile that hid a wealth of sobriety and determination. He patted your shoulder again and leaned upwards. The loss of his scent and touch bothered you, but you didn’t say a word. 

“I’ll leave you to it now,” Jake said, stretching his wrists out. “Come early tomorrow, okay?”

“Huh? Why?” 

“So I can look over your report one last time before you submit it,” Jake said plainly. “What were you thinking, you naughty little bee?”

“I wasn’t thinking of anything like th-,”

Jake laughed. “I was kidding. You’re so cute when you’re all flustered, though.”

When Jake left, you realized that you had been squeezing your plush doll. You released it and sighed. Then, you continued working on the report. 

–

DAY FIVE 

You strode into the office early. Jake had emailed you through the company’s email, requesting that you arrive on the fifth floor at 7:30 am. Work started at 9:00, so he would have ample time to go over the report with you.

When you entered the floor, you first noted that there were a few workers already there, hunched over their desks. Just a few overachievers…or underachievers, you guessed. 

Jake was waving you over to his cubicle, his hair flopping in his face as he enthusiastically beckoned you. You walked towards him. 

“Come on,” he said, smiling at you playfully despite the early time. “Come sit.”

You went to pull over another chair, but Jake grabbed your wrist. “No, no,” he said with a shake of his hair. “Just sit next to me.” He scooted over in his chair, leaving you with a sliver of space. 

You were already growing accustomed to Jake’s “jokes”, so you sat next to him. Your left leg hung over the side of the chair, the other smushed against Jake’s. 

He smiled at you, then opened your report on his computer. You had sent it to him that night, your heart fluttering even though it was just an email. Just five days at this office was making you as pathetic as Jake and his friends. 

As he scrolled through the document, he kept glancing at you. Eventually, Jake said, “You can’t be comfortable sitting on the chair like that.”

“You’re right,” you said with a sigh. “I’m not.”

“Why not just…sit on my lap?” Jake asked nonchalantly, his lower lip jutting out in a slight pout.

You sighed. “I see the game you’re playing here, Sim.”

“Will you play, my little worker bee?”

A shift of your ass from the small slice of chair to Jake’s lap was your answer to him, and when you leaned against him he smiled. Jake’s hands reached down to encircle your hips. 

“You really are such a good bee,” he said, massaging your hips. 

“I can be even better if you let me,” you replied, your gaze flickering to his plush lips. 

Jake leaned his head against the mesh backing of his swivel chair. Your back was pressed against his chest, and your hands reached behind you to stroke his face. “I’d like to test that theory,” Jake said softly.

You leaned in and kissed him, reveling in the taste of his lips. He followed suit, kissing you enthusiastically. Jake’s hands remained on our hips, but they soon slid to your thighs, squeezing and groping at the soft flesh. Jake swiped his tongue along your bottom lip a few times, and you widened your mouth. His tongue probed past your lips, licking your own tongue.

“So good,” he whispered, briefly breaking the kiss. “You’d never let fuckass Sunghoon do this, right?”

“Jake…”

“Sorry, baby,” Jake said apologetically. “I get territorial. I’m like a wolf.”

“Jake, come on.”

“Awoo,” he said playfully before kissing you again. Your tongues pressed together, swirling around each other. As the kiss deepened, you bit his lower lip before licking the mark. Jake groaned into your mouth.

“Little bee,” he said, pulling away once again. He rested his forehead against yours. “If you’re going to do stuff like that, you’re gonna have to commit to it.”

“I want to commit to it,” you said, leaving wet kisses along his neck. 

Jake groaned and grabbed one of your legs. He brought it over his lap and dragged your hips closer to his crotch. “Now, you’re going to have to be quiet. Can you do that for me?”

“I can be quiet,” you said, resting your hands on his shoulders. 

“Promise? This isn’t a big office,” he said, his voice low and hoarse. “It’d be a shame if someone heard us and you got in trouble. You wouldn’t want that, right?”

“No,” you whispered. As you stared at him, Jake started to unbuckle his belt. When he noticed your gaze, he frowned. 

“Come on, bee,” he said, gesturing at your skirt. “Can’t do everything for you, can I?”

You zipped your skirt down in the back and shifted so you could wriggle yourself out of it. Jake gave you an exasperated glance, so you shimmied your panties down to your thighs.

“And?” he asked impatiently.

“And…what?”

Jake sighed. “Take your tits out, come on.”

The phrase was so vulgar it shocked you, but somehow it was sexy when uttered from Jake’s mouth. The contrast between his disgusting mind and his boyish good looks thrilled you, so you did as he asked. You un-buttoned your shirt down and tugged your bra straps down, revealing your chest. 

Immediately, Jake groped your tits, sighing in pleasure. “Feeling up a pretty girl’s tits early in the morning,” he said, almost reverently. “This is amazing.”

The sensation cause you to moan, and Jake immediately sent you a harsh look. He squeezed one of your breasts, and you suppressed a gasp. “I told you to be quiet, little bee,” he whispered. “You said you could do it.”

“I can,” you murmured. 

“Then show me you can,” Jake replied, still fondling your breasts. He pinched your nipples, squeezed your tits, pushed them together then apart. After a while, he took one of your hands and placed it on his crotch. 

First, you rubbed his hard-on through his slacks, and he bit his lip to avoid moaning. Then you unzipped his pants and pulled out his cock. You were surprised by its girth, as well as the fact that he was already leaking precum. Spitting into your hand, you gathered up some of that precum and used it to stroke his shaft. Jake shuddered and gritted his teeth together. 

“Nice and slow,” he said, his breathing already labored. “Slowly, baby.”

You heeded his order and stroked his cock while he played with your breasts. He hadn’t tired of them; on the contrary, he was transfixed by them. Jake leaned forward and bit one of your breasts hard, sucking at the spot immediately after. “Look at this and think of me,” he whispered before leaving another hickey on your other breast. 

Jake suddenly seemed to remember that he didn’t have much time with you. He took his mouth off of your breast and swatted your hands from his cock. Then he covered your lips with his hand and slowly, painstakingly, guided his cockhead into your dripping, wet pussy. 

You were glad you were being muffled by his hand, because you would not have been able to contain your shivering moans. He shallowly fucked into you, allowing you to get used to his length. When he felt that you were ready, he lifted his hips upwards and slid inside of you completely, letting out a heavy breath.

“Now bounce on it,” Jake whispered into your ear. One hand freely groped your breast, the other was clamped onto your hip. You guessed that he trusted you not to moan now. 

You had never ridden dick before, but you had a general idea of how to do it. You lifted yourself up and down, your pussy enveloping his shaft. The feeling was incredible, and you bit his hand as you worked yourself on his cock. As you did, the swivel chair squeaked due to the movement.

Jake shunted his hips upwards, matching your movements. His hand moved down to your waist, gripping it tightly. “Faster,” he hissed. “Faster, baby.”

Now that you had gotten used to him, you bounced on him faster. Your ass slapped against his strong, muscular thighs, and you knew that there was no way you were being conspicuous. Your pussy made smacking noises as you rode him, and the swivel chair squeaked like it was going to break.

Still, Jake urged you on. “Come on, come on, fucking put that slutty pussy to work,” he said, taking your tits into his mouth. Both of his hands were gripping your hips, pushing him onto his length. “Keep going. Don’t you dare…stop.”

You were reaching your limit, exhaustion seeping into your limbs. Jake lightly pinched your side, and you gasped. “I told you to keep going, baby.”

So you kept going. You swore you could feel him in your womb, that was how far he was pushing you. “Pussy’s gonna be shaped like this dick,” Jake hissed, leaving sloppy kisses all over your chest. “My masterpiece.”

Warmth filled you, all the way to your core, and you knew you were about to burst. “Cover my mouth,” you whispered and Jake immediately placed his hand over your mouth, rutting into you even faster.

“Gonna cum,” Jake grunted, his thrusts growing slower and sloppier. “Gonna fill this sweet pussy up.” With a growl that didn’t dare leave his throat, he fucked his cum into you, his hand still gripping your hip. Slowly, painstakingly, he pulled out of you, and you could see his cum dripping out of you.

He kissed your forehead and uncovered your mouth. “That was so good,” you whispered.

“It’ll be better next time,” Jake said slyly. 

“Oh, yeah?” You started to put your clothes back on, tugging your bra down and buttoning your shirt again. “What makes you so sure?”

Jake leaned into your ear again. “Next time, I’ll get to hear you scream my name.”

You pulled away from him, your eyes widening. 

Jake smiled at you. “Just kidding.”