#invoice without tax

[setupfilling]

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[loojii]

Design adopts! More info underneath the line ~ You can message me if you're interested :D

≡ ADOPTS STATUS ≡ 🔴 ADOPT 1 > SOLD on DA 🔴 ADOPT 2 > SOLD on DA 🔴 ADOPT 3 > SOLD on DA

≡ EACH ADOPT CAN BE SOLD FOR THE FOLLOWING PRICES ≡ OPTION 1 58,08$ USD (incl tax) 48$ USD (excl tax) includes ➔ Bust design shown above OPTION 2 175,45 $ USD (incl tax)  145$ USD (excl tax) includes ➔ Bust design shown above ➔ a half body drawing of the design (buyer can give wishes for half body design) OPTION 3 260,15$ USD (incl tax) 215$ USD (excl tax) includes ➔ Bust design shown above ➔ a full body drawing of the design (buyer can give wishes for full body design)

NEW!! OPTION 4 217,80$ USD (incl tax) 180$ USD (excl tax) includes ➔ Bust design shown above ➔ a full body drawing IN CHIBI STYLE of the design (buyer can give wishes for full body design) ---- Options 3, 4 and 2 have priority when there are multiple people interested!

Holds only available for options 3, 4 and 2! Once bought you can do whatever you want with the design. I'll send you the proper files after the payment, which is a higher resolution of the design without the watermarks, text and background Payment is done through PayPal invoice (Price is incl taxes)

[seat-safety-switch]

Every so often, I hear constituents complaining about me. They march on my palatial strip-mall office and demand reforms. They ask when I'm up for re-election. Folks, I'm here to tell you that you didn't elect me at all. I'm not actually a real-ass politician. Come inside, it's cold, and let me explain. Christophyr, fire up the Mr. Coffee, these sons of bitches deserve a decent brew after what their actual politicians are putting them through.

It all started a couple years ago, on a night much like tonight, when I noticed that big corporations are really sloppy with how they pay their invoices. A friend of mine was skimming tons of money off the Mercurial Office Supply Corporation by simply showing up and asking to be paid for plumbing work he didn't do. Stood to reason, maybe they'd be sloppy with how they'd pay their bribes too. I noticed that they gave a lot of money to the local re-election campaign, so I decided to run for office too.

Now, running for office is expensive. That's part of how they keep the common man out of it. You've gotta get all those signatures, take all those meetings, give all those speeches. Don't have time for that, because I'm busy playing with remote-controlled cars in the parking lot behind this office most of the time (Helen cheats, don't trust her to not cork a battery pack,) and the rest of the time I'm calling big-business donors and asking for re-election funds. You wouldn't believe how easy it is: just prattle off some low-tax nonsense, talk about "innovation," and mention that you sure would like them to send you ten thousand dollars. Then they do it, without even checking if you're actually a sitting politician.

Now, is it fraud? No. Politicians write the rules, and if they were going to jail just because they did a little thing like "take money from shady mega-corporations and then not do what they want," then every single one of them would be in jail. Nobody is ever really happy with what they buy with the corrupt blood money, but they throw it at the thirsty politicos just in case it helps tilt things just a little bit in their favour. Lots of gambling problems in the C-suite, I'm telling you. And it's not even really a lie. I really do need that money to run for re-election: I'm the treasurer of the local small town's parent-teacher association, and competition is fierce. Nobody ever asks what my actual position is before handing over the cash, for some reason.

I hope this has been educational for all of you in the enraged, violent mob that is tweaked about some other politician's horse hockey, of which I have no control or knowledge. Please enjoy the rest of your coffees in the parking lot.

Actually. One last thing before you all leave. We've got this election coming up, and getting some small-dollar donations from all of you will really secure my grassroots bona fides. Why, you wouldn't want to be giving that money to my opponent, who will probably torture and maim your children. Whoever that opponent is, I don't have time to read the newspaper anymore. Christophyr, pass out the collection basket.

[herinsectreflection]

I do love the way that Cordy is so obviously just running Angel Investigations all the time. She's doing budgets, chasing invoices, she's making calls, she's getting things signed that need signed. She's not just important for the visions - she's doing the actual on-the-ground things required to allow AI to function as an actual business as well as a journey towards cosmic redemption.

She's so set in this role that by the end of the first series she can just hand Angel things and he signs them without a thought. Because she's running this company. To paraphrase Anya - without her, Angel would in fact be a scared old man staring at a quarterly tax return and wetting himself.

[sybaritick]

Custom Plushie, Costume, and Fursuit Part Commissions: Details for 2025!

General Notes

All work is about $20/hour plus materials. This is what I've found to be the best balance between "pricing things in a range people can actually afford and will buy" and "paying myself enough to be worth it to do." Yes, I make more hourly at my day job(s), and here that money has to cover self-employment taxes and other expenses too unlike a regular job. But this is something I do because I love it.

Prices listed below are without shipping. Shipping within the US is usually $10 or less; international is usually about $25 unfortunately.

I take payment via PayPal-- I will send you an invoice!

You can contact me about a commission right here in a Tumblr message, on Discord at @\sybaritick, or via mousetoothcreations.etsy.com.

If you'd like to see reviews or testimonials there are a ton available on Etsy (hundreds!) and I have a 4.9-star average rating there (tl;dr I am not going to take your money and run.)

Standard turnaround time is four weeks. If for some reason it would be different from that (long queue, complicated project, etc), I will let you know before you pay for anything!

Plushies!

these are now newly open for commissions! yaaay! For that reason, they are cheaper than they should be. Commission me now before I have more experience and start charging more.

Humanoid plushies like Labrys (top left), Zefira (top right), and Haley (rabbit-girl in the first photoset) start at $150 (with higher prices being for more details, clothing, unusual stuff that needs customization, etc)! Ask/show the character and I will give you a quote.

Animal and creature plushies (bottom row, dragon and cow in the first photoset) are a wider range. A simple beanie plush, like the handsy mouse or the beanie babirusa, starts at about $100, while something more complex like the pig or cow would run you $150, more similar to the humanoids. Something wild like the giant dragon (which is about 5 and a half feet long!! it's awesome) would be about $300, would be totally willing to do it again though just ask for more details!

Fursuit Head Bases

The classic. I've done over a hundred of these commissions! Above are some of the class of 2024. Carved from upholstery foam for you to turn into your own fursuit. They are $130 for just the base itself or $150 if you would like me to do custom eyes as well. :)

Fursuit Parts and Miscellanea

Rodent tails start at $60. Simple one-color minky ones are $60, two-color fur and minky is $70, and extras like the watermelon seeds or patches will bring it to $80-100.

Fleece ear hats are $40 for simple ones (no stripes/spots/markings on them): easy to make and I do any species and color you like! More complex ones like the cat with the tabby head pattern in the middle are $60.

Fluffy hooves are $150.

Anything else you are potentially interested in, including species I haven't mentioned: ask and I will likely be open to it. I enjoy trying new things!

OK, that's all. I'll probably make this my pinned for a bit!

[tellmeallaboutit]

knock knock (Raphael x F!Player)

Chapter 6, In Which You Try To Look Away (It's Harder Than You Thought)

AO3

by the way, I saw today an art on twitter which is extremely Raul-coded

I am not a murderer, you thought as you ordered the ATM to give you another two hundred euros.

Even if I am, that guy deserved it, you thought as you re-inserted the card to give you two hundred more (damn those limits per withdrawal).

Even if he didn’t (and he did), nobody is going to miss him, and his fiancee will move on to the next lawyer in Oliver Peoples glasses soon enough, and besides, people die in freak accidents all the time. 

Even if they don’t, well, if every death wish resulted in an actual death, humanity would be long extinct and that wouldn't be your fault, would it now?

With that comforting thought, you pocketed the last of your ten thousand euro goal, tired from having to repeat the same task for almost an entire hour. Anything can happen, Raphael could cut off access to his account on a whim, but cold hard cash was something you could hold onto even if you fell from his grace.

"Ms. Berger," came a voice on your phone with a strong French accent the moment you picked up. It was Raphael’s banker, Francois-something, who gave you the PIN in the first place. “Would it be easier if we delivered cash directly to you? Your withdrawals keep triggering our petty theft alerts."

"Oh no, thank you," you replied, trying your best not to sound like a petty thief. "I have enough for now... I think."

“As you wish,” came his slow reply.

"But uh... could you help me make two bank transfers?" You asked after a pause. "One to my mother, Franziska Berger… (how much how much how much?) ten thousand euro, I’ll send you the details… and one for the stray cats shelter... (how much how much how much?)… five thousand euro?"

Too much? How do you quantify the cost of accidentally-on-purpose getting some useless yuppie run over by a bus in terms of absolving your sins? 

Five thousand felt somewhat stingy.

“The stray cats?” The banker repeated back at you as though questioning whether this was some sort of coded drug deal.

“Yes,” You replied firmly. “They do incredible work. Ah! The kids cancer foundation, too. Five thousand. No, ten".

That seemed about right for the guy’s life.

"Ah, you meant charity. Of course," Francois replied, relief and amusement in his tone. "Lovely, great for the ESG rating. Make sure to get an invoice for the tax refund."

It didn’t quite sit well with you to use stray cats and kids for tax refunds, but you still said yes and stashed the money deep down the rucksack. You got a bit of cash for now (soon you will go for more, because who knows), but it’s still not an income source. 

What could be? Should you ask Raphael to buy an apartment in your name, or two? You could rent it. Or a company? Tenebris, for instance. Just imagine their gobsmacked faces - especially after they gave you the boot without even a severance package.

That was a delicious thought.

You let it simmer as you sat down in an tourist-trappy Italian restaurant in the city centre, just about to order an Aperol Spritz when your phone began to ring again. You are in high demand these days.

"Anya!" Your mum gasped on the other end of the line. “I saw you on TV!"

Sure, the accident was all over the news channels. Some blurred out the dead body better than others did. You would bet your last cent that the unedited version got more views.

"Yeah, gruesome," you grimaced.

"Gruesome? Why? Ah, you mean the guy. Well, that happens all the time; they really give driving licences to anyone these days. I do hope the driver rots in prison for what he did to this poor young man. Anyway, no. I called to say, I saw you and Raul on the news”.

She managed to infuse an uncanny amount of innuendo into the last sentence.

“Raul is such a handsome man, Anya”, she sighed wistfully. “Quite the catch you got there, huh?”

There we go again. 

“What, way out of my league?”, you joked dryly. “I’ve been told that”.

“Oh, no, what nonsense! You are such a pretty girl!” Your mother protested. “More importantly, a good-hearted girl raised right; I am glad there still are decent men who still appreciate that. Did you meet Raul for a lunch?”

“Oh no,” You replied nonchalantly. "We actually… ah, we actually went to a church. He introduced me to his pastor."

Your mother sucked in an audible gasp like she'd won some kind of maternal lottery.

“His pastor, already? I am so happy for you, sweetie.”, she finally managed to say. “This is like a fairy tale come true”.

Yeah, a Grimm one.

“Sort of”, you chuckled. '“By the way, you will receive a bank transfer soon, ten thousand euro, don’t be afraid. It’s… well, take care of your health, okay? Get a decent dentist this time, a private one”.

“Where do you have the money from? Is it his?”, your mum suddenly sobered up. “Anya, what on earth is he paying you money for? I hope you are not doing anything… anything…”

"No," you cut her off and licked your lips, recalling the last thing that passed between them. “Mom, please! It's not his money, it's my company’s – long story.”

One that you haven't come up with yet.

Besides, if Raphael was giving you ten thousand dollars (thirty-five thousand in total with your other expenses for the day) for one blowjob, then you definitely had a successful career, just not in the field you had planned on.

“Okay,” your mum replied. “But still...you don’t need to...why don’t you buy some nice dresses instead? What on earth was that t-shirt you were wearing to a church?"

“I am hanging up”, You threatened half-heartedly.

You didn’t. You listened in the background to the story of how your mum’s school friend called her to say she saw “her Anya” with a very handsome man on the TV, nonplussed by the fact there was a scattered corpse in the background. 

In the meanwhile, you opened Google on your phone. 

You didn’t fancy doing that before - annoyed by that fake persona Raphael had created. But since he obviously put that much effort in it, it’s worth looking up what he had been up to and for how long.

Nothing good, for sure.

"…Raul D'Avergni, managing partner of an international law firm, inherited the private equity conglomerate, Avernus Capital. This transition was precipitated by the unexpected and tragic passing of his father..."

"…By December 2024, D'Avergni's high-profile liaison with Isabelle Arnaud, actress and socialite, had unceremoniously ended..."

No. Who? No. You didn’t need any ex-girlfriends.

"…Ms. Arnaud levied abuse accusations against Mr. D'Avergni…”

Oh, no…

“…she retracted her claims within a mere twenty hours and ensued a public apology for any harm inflicted upon D’Avergni’s reputation..."

Hmm.

"…her psychiatrist intervened on her behalf. Evidently, Arnaud was grappling with severe mental health issues that led her to make unfounded allegations..."

Raul likes them crazy, they said? Or makes them crazy?

"…Ms. Arnaud now resides in a high-end medical institution in Monaco, focusing on her mental health issues..."

What did Isabelle look like, you wondered, as your mum finished her talk and wished you a good day. You typed her name into the search bar, holding your breath in anticipation as you half-expected to see Hope's face staring back at you.

The woman clinging to Raphael's arm at some fancy film premiere bore no resemblance.

Your stomach sank as if it had plunged into the depths of hell.

She was exactly the type of woman Raphael should have on his elbow; a timeless beauty, but something more Renaissance like, the kind of faces humankind seemed to have stopped producing. She was in her mid-twenties, as well, but… hell, you could not hold a candle to that. Few could. 

Not even the Tavs. She resembled her namesake, Isabelle Adjani, in her youth, maybe even better.

The pictures showed her laughing and looking deeply in love while gazing up at Raphael, while he offered only a very formal smile to the camera. So not Hope then. Nothing like their story. She was in love, he wasn’t. 

Good.

Later snaps by paparazzi painted a different picture: a gaunt woman hidden behind oversized sunglasses and swallowed up by her hoodie, clutching to her coffee cup. 

With a swift click, you banished Isabelle from your screen and plunged further into Raphael's (Raul’s) life story.

You found a photo of Raphael in his twenties (yes, just like the Tumblr post you hated, and no, you wouldn't have fucked him at that age), caught up in a minor scandal in Sankt Moritz (apparently his fraternity brother had pissed on the Swiss flag), more gossip, his philanthropic affairs for local theatres and art galleries, numerous articles praising his professional achievements, and interviews with Lawyer and WSJ and the like. There was mention of a brief marriage and divorce in his early thirties, but when you tried to Google the woman's name, nothing came up.

The whole thing left a sour taste in your mouth. This was someone's real life story, not a fictional character. Raphael wasn't just some wealthy corporate jerk; he was a half-devil from Avernus, which was infinitely better and more sympathetic.

You were well aware that Raphael wasn't exactly a good guy. But he had his rules; he had to have his rules. As for the whole thing with Hope though... What exactly was she? An idea? A person? The fandom barely discussed her, and what little they did, you didn't like; all horrible takes, every single one.

The whole plot felt half-baked.

Anyway, what seeing Isabelle did motivate you to do was to take a real stroll down the city's most expensive boutique street.

Now, the first thing you bought was not because you wanted or needed anything, but because Raphael expected you to. You were not much of a materialist anyway; you were ideologically opposed to consumerism. These things were overpriced, generally not worth it and, on a larger scale, represented everything that was wrong with society.

You decided to enter a Valentino store out of curiosity, as you had never been inside one before. The saleswoman's disdainful look at your T-shirt motivates you to buy a black dress with a white collar, not necessarily because you liked it, but because you want to prove that you can afford it, despite the price tag of two thousand euros. 

Well, you liked it a little. The wool and silk blend was great to touch.

The details of the rest of the shopping trip became a bit hazy. You had your reasons; the consort of an Archdevil Supreme had to look really nice. If you couldn't be as pretty as Isabelle, you could at least dress as well as she did. So you started with some nice blouses and trousers, and a (just one) jacket. With that, you needed shoes. With shoes, of course, you needed a bag. Now that you had a bag (you closed your eyes as the price flashed at the till), you needed some jewellery (you needed to see what all the fuss about Tiffany's was about). And, of course, you needed make-up. 

At each shop, the sales assistants smiled wider and wider as you piled more and more bags onto your arms. By the seventh stop, it felt like their smiles were entering uncanny valley territory. 

Eventually, the banker would call you, right? But when exactly would that be? You tried to find out, but failed. It had to be over forty thousand.

The thought made you dizzy. In one day you had spent your entire year's salary. Now all you could do was hope that Raphael wouldn't make you work off the debt somehow. Unless it was the kind of work your mother suspected you were already doing for him.

You came out of the last shop with five bags and the feeling that you were a very shitty socialist. Since you couldn't carry any more, the shopping concierge (apparently it's a real job) offered to store the bags until your driver picked you up, and just as you were about to say which bloody driver, whom do you take me for, you remembered that you actually had one.

"Mrs Berger," the receptionist said cheerfully the moment she saw you in the door. "Nice to see you again! How can I help you? Oh, yes. The driver, of course. Yes, of course, let me put you through to Mr D'Avergni's personal assistant".

Oh, it's Mrs Berger and my pleasure? They were wondering if the rumours about you wanting the guy to be run over by a bus were already out there. The personal assistant's name was Camilla, her voice was the embodiment of professionalism, and she was the one who could take you to the driver, who was there in no time.

His name was Yuri and he was more talkative than you would have liked. Gruff, huge, way too big for the car he was driving (any vehicle known to man would be too small for him), with a deep booming voice and the face of someone who had spent half his life behind bars.

"Have you seen that poor bastard? All over the main road," he remarked as he passed the street cleaners. "Probably too busy fiddling with his phone to keep an eye out."

"Mghgm," you offered. 

"So, are we stopping by your place first, Miss Berger? Boss said you wanted to get some things first. Are you moving in?"

"Am I?" You ask, surprised by the news yourself, and then think to yourself: "Why not?”

Why the hell not.

****

You didn't waste any time. With a tidy suitcase in tow, you were out the door of your apartment before Yuri could get too bored. You packed the essentials - toothbrush, laptop, documents - and a few other things that suddenly felt crucial to your life.

Out the car window you watched the cityscape change from urban jungle to manicured suburbia and finally to a small gated community. The driver talked politics (he had exactly the kind of convictions you'd expect), then about how amazing Raul was (and how extremely open-minded he was to give an ex-con a job), before returning to politics. 

You didn't ask what crime Yuri did his time for. 

You knew it was Raphael's house the moment you saw it through the car window. Who else would live in such a place? Not a house, that's too boring a term; a villa, all intricate stonework, marble and terracotta, such a flamboyant display of wealth that it should have been taxed just to exist. 

Only a devil or a mafia don would call such grandeur home. So much, too much, theatrical to the point of grotesqueness; no real person could possibly live like this. You couldn't help but wonder if Raphael had been influenced by the films he had seen - perhaps he had developed a taste for modern cinema.

He must have liked The Godfather.

This place. The fountains, the statues (classical, Roman, as if sculpted by the ghost of Michelangelo), the gardens. You wondered how many souls it took to keep this whole thing running.

The gates opened and the car drove you into an underground car park that was already very busy and very Italian: Ferraris, Maseratis, Lamborghinis. You counted; eight. Who needed eight cars? Not even one for each day of the week. 

The lift took you up; Yuri left your shopping bags and suitcase in the foyer and said goodbye.

You'd never set foot in such a house before; the closest you'd ever come was drooling over Sotheby's property listings.

Why would anyone need all this space? For just one person? It was at least six hundred square metres; and the guest and service house looked like another two hundred. The kitchen and dining area was three times the size of your apartment.

You could play golf here.

For what it's worth, the villa didn't remind you of the House of Hope. Firstly, it was completely empty; the servants, if they were in there, managed to make themselves invisible. Second, it lacked the baroque, replaced by the dolce vita and flair of a Lake Como residence. Thirdly, there were no self-portraits, not even pictures, nothing to suggest that the man who lived here had a face, a history, let alone a family.

The first floor was devoted to entertaining guests: the kitchen, the dining room, the library, the ballroom (you guessed this kind of rooms used to be called ballrooms, he even had a piano in it). The second floor was half-locked, except for the master bedroom (the bed easily could accommodate two orthons and a cambion sandwiched between them) and the dressing room. 

There was also a basement - the entrance blocked by a number lock. You considered trying the PIN combination, but decided you didn't want to snoop down there... well, you wanted to snoop very badly, but you didn't want to face the possible consequences. Unless they resembled those in his private club.

So you roamed both floors twice before staking claim to your new sleeping quarters in the master bedroom by putting your suitcase down there. You checked everything else in the room: Raphael's bedside glasses, his choice of books (predictably, Machiavelli, but not The Prince, another book you had never heard of called Mandragola), even his dark silk pyjamas, which lay on the chaise awaiting their owner's return. You open his drawer: hand lotion, velvet sleeping mask, lubricant, two opera tickets (Götterdammerung) from about a month ago... 

Then curiosity led you to look under his bed, where he indeed had something stored: a large black storage box.

Oh, you just had to have a look. 

Just to get an idea of what’s on the evening programme.

Handcuffs, the real kind, the police kind, metal ones. The thought of all the women (and men) who might have been bound with them, as jealous as it made you feel, was titillating. A whip and a crop. Yes, that works for you. And what's this? Butt plugs? Only if they were still sealed in their original packaging (you were not into that kind of hand-me-downs) and way smaller. A chastity belt? Well, that's... intriguing, but probably not in your first month together. A hook? That can stay where it is.

At least nothing too extreme like needles or enemas or any of the other disgusting things you sometimes saw on weird porn sites.

Underneath all that, toys and accessories, lay another plain black box. Oh, a box in a box. Something was written on it.. 

GOOD EVENING CURIOUS LITTLE MOUSE

"Good evening," you said as you opened the lid.

Then promptly closed it again.

"No," you said. "No, no, no. It was just a fic I read and liked, I was very horny, but it's not really my thing. No, thank you. Just because I didn't have a father doesn't mean I have daddy issues. I don't care about the guy, he never cared about me, end of story".

You took a deep breath before opening the box again, hoping that the items inside had disappeared. 

But to your dismay, they were still there: a velvet collar adorned with "Daddy's Little Mouse" in shimmering gold thread, a headband with mouse ears, red lace cobweb-thin lingerie and a tail-butt plug (thankfully still in its original packaging and on the smaller side). The tail was furry and tipped with white, so you must have been a dormouse.

All of the toys were top quality, handmade, and incredibly vulgar. Well, no surprise, having seen what Haarlep was wearing in his house.

You closed the box shut again.

"I'd rather cook us something to eat," you suggested, getting up. "Some pasta. I bet you like pasta?"

You definitely liked pasta and hoped that Raul (Raphael, Raphael) would not have you hanged on the hooks and tortured for your very non-Italian interpretation. You hoped in vain, because he chimed in and tried to stop you from committing a crime:

"Working late. Don't bother with dinner. Take some time to relax and enjoy yourself. R".

As you descended the stairs, ignoring his text, you wondered - did he ever cook? Or was his kitchen just for show, with the real work done in the servants' quarters (do they still call them quarters?).

You forgot that question the moment you saw what was lying on the marble kitchen counter.

The same box you had left upstairs, still with 

GOOD EVENING DISOBEDIENT LITTLE MOUSE 

on it. 

You blinked and took two large steps back. 

The box seemed to crawl forward in response.

You shrieked; this was a bit too much. Raphael's presence, the supernaturality of it, had been subtle before; now it was becoming a bit performative.

"I got your hint," you said, your voice a shaky laugh. "Don't scare me, please. Please."

The box stayed where it was, but it radiated an energy of impatience, as if it might jump at you if you neglected it any longer.

“Fine,” you conceded, coming a bit closer. “A little romance would’ve been nice but…”

"Setting romantic atmosphere," a cheerful female voice said.

who the fuck who the fuck who the fuck

Alexa. 

Fucking smart home systems. The lights dimmed to a soft orange glow, the heavy curtains closed with a soft whoosh and a familiar tune echoed off the walls, the ballroom piano playing in the distance:

I put a spell on you

Because you're mine

The melody was familiar and so was the voice behind it - smooth, silky and oh so captivating (the adjectives you would use to describe it could fill many romance novels). A deep, rich baritone. You chuckled - had Raphael discovered blues? It suited him. 

You know I cannot stand it

You running around

You loved his interpretation of the song. It felt so intimate, him singing to you, so... very, very special. Your fear vanished in an instant; you poured yourself a glass of wine and took a luxurious sip.

"I'll put these on for you," you laughed, putting all the flirt you ever had in this laugh. "But don't expect me to call you 'Daddy'."

There was no protest; Raphael was too busy singing, pouring his entire soul into it. You made yourself busy too; stripping. You weren't very skilled (any skilled), but the thrill of being watched by him awakened something in you. You caught your reflection in the mirror and damn, you were hot. 

Shrugging off your shirt and sliding down your plain black briefs, you swayed your hips at your reflection as the wine worked its magic on your mind. For once in your life, you felt genuinely attractive; he made you feel genuinely attractive. The sexiest you'd ever been. 

Slipping into the silky red lace lingerie he had chosen for you (splurged on, because it was a La Perla) - you fastened the collar around your neck. A long golden chain dangled from it, wrapped twice around the hook and cascaded down your back. Then you put the mouse ears - not cartoonish, not Minnie Mouse ones, but real fur and incredibly lifelike - on your head like a headband. 

You looked like...well, precisely what your mother suspected you were doing to pay the bills. But at least high-end. Very high-end. The only thing worse than being an escort is being a cheap one.

But there was one more item left in the box.

"Ehh," you said at the sight of the mouse tail, especially the part that was meant to be inserted. "I'm going to need... I'm going to the bedroom."

It had been ages since your last foray into such play; back when you were with that boyfriend who constantly pestered you about anal and found it somehow arousing to "accidentally" (sure, mate) poke you and mumble an insincere "oops, wrong hole". 

You didn't stick around much longer after that.

Stretched out on Raphael's sumptuous bed, you slicked up everything - the plug, your pussy, your arse - with copious amounts of lube. First, some warming. So you began to rub yourself, two fingers finding their familiar way to your clit. You couldn't shake the crawling feeling of being watched, every inch of your body scrutinised by unseen eyes.

"Raphael," you called out into the empty room, desperate for some form of interaction or response. "I would love it if you would join me... or say something pleasant”.

Now would be the perfect time to call me a good girl.

But there was no response, just an eerie silence in the room. Feeling too naked and too slutty, you pulled the blanket over you, a makeshift barrier between you and his eyes. Under the fortification, tucking the tail in seemed less daunting.

Before you could get down to business, there was a jerk at the blanket, which fell to the cold floor, leaving you bare again. Then another tug on the chain attached to your collar, pulling you closer to the bedpost.

"I'm sorry," you gasped breathlessly, both hands instinctively reaching for your collar. "I won't hide."

The chain didn’t let go, making a point out of a slight pressure around your neck. Taking a deep breath, you focused on the task at hand, stroking your clit as you guided the plug inside you. 

You told yourself to relax and take it slow; just imagine it's Haarlep. How many times had you dreamed of being squeezed and stretched between the two of them? It was always Haarlep who took you from behind; it just seemed more their style.

The plug slid in deeper. It didn't hurt, and the little discomfort it caused added to the excitement. 

Damn, this is so dirty. 

"It's in," you said as the plug settled inside you. "All the way in. What's next?"

The words were barely out of your mouth when the golden chain, suddenly a snake-like lasso, wrapped tightly around your wrists.

Pulled them towards the bedpost, stretched out and bound tightly to either side. Fear gripped you and you clenched around the plug, pulling your knees tight together.

Tightly. Very tight. A little too tight. You tried to wriggle, the metal biting your skin; you could move your hips a little, but no more. 

You couldn't get out yourself, which was not good news when you were alone (well, almost) in a very big house. Your mind immediately thought of that girl in Gerald's Game.

"Raphael?" you asked. “It’s not that kind of game, is it? It’s a nice game? Can we play a nice game?”

He did not answer, but you heard footsteps. Footsteps coming down the long corridor. Confident, quick and very purposeful.

Stay calm, stay calm, it's him, it's him, who else could it be? Haarlep? The orthon? The driver? 

The door swung open.

It was Raphael, and he was visibly surprised to see you in this state, which was absolute bullshit considering he was responsible for tying you to this very bed. 

"Well, I'll be damned," he said, covering the distance to the bed in two strides. "What a welcome home surprise, piccola." 

Raphael gave you a lecherous, wet-lipped smile and knelt on the bed between your legs. There was something boyish about it, an expression you'd never seen in the game, as if he'd just found his first bike under the Christmas tree.

You searched for “piccola” earlier today: “baby” or “little girl” in Italian. 

"I'm not going to call you Daddy," you repeated, and Raphael shook his head and laughed, not seeming at all horrified at the thought (and he should be).

"I have some compelling evidence to the contrary, Daddy's little mouse," he teased, his fingers playing with your collar. 

"Anything but Daddy," you pleaded. "That's just... demeaning."

Weirdly incestual, too. You haven’t even seen the guy, not a photo, not a… (don’t think of him why the fuck would you think of the old bastard now).

“This is the whole appeal of it, is it not?”, he said. “How would you prefer to address me then?"

Raphael? Something told you that telling him that would make him very angry, and you weren't exactly in a position to want an angry man on top of you. Raul? No, that name just felt completely wrong and made you feel like you were in a Spanish soap opera. 

Raphael began to unbutton his shirt one button at a time, revealing a white undershirt, which he then took off. 

His physique was impressive for a man of his age; not those bodybuilder abs from bg3 but a well-toned body shaped by workouts and diets, which seemed to be very much at odds with his indulgent ways. Rough brown hair spread across his chest and lower abdomen against honey-tanned skin. Every inch of him seemed so put together, so perfectly groomed.

"Master," you finally decided (there was this one fanfic…) as you spread your legs wider in an invitation. 

"Master?" Raphael seemed amused, his fingers tracing the lace of your bra, teasing your hardened nipples through the fabric. "Such flattery. So this makes you my slave girl? Tied up and ready for me to use as I please?"

Reading Raphael say such things was one thing, but hearing him actually say them in real life made you feel embarrassed. It was a bit, ugh... 

“You get flustered easily for someone who waited for me dressed like this, little mouse,” Raphael raised an eyebrow at your see-through lace. “Topolina." 

He wrinkled his nose and laughed, as if the word was funnier in Italian, and poked the tips of your mouse ears. You wanted him so badly that your lips caught his as he came closer and you pushed your tongue into his mouth. He kissed your back, his hands moving up and down your body. 

"How the hell did you manage..." he mused aloud as he studied your bound wrists.

His fingers ventured between your legs, and the moment he stumbled upon your tail, his whole body twitched with excitement, his breath catching in his throat as he traced the soft fur to reach the base of the plug. 

The playful gleam in his eyes was replaced by an intense, wild desire.

"Merda," he breathed out. "Look at that. Aren't you a dirty little girl?"

You cringed at how pornographic the line sounded (his suddenly much thicker Italian accent didn't help), but Raphael seemed to find it excruciatingly erotic.

In one swift motion, he lunged forward and forced your legs apart, his hands pulling your knees towards your chest, folding you in until your muscles screamed in protest at the stretch. 

Without warning, he thrust deep inside of you. You gasped in surprise; no preliminaries, no foreplay, no taking it slowly, just raging, explosive lust.

Fortunately, your own fingers had done their job earlier, so despite the brutal force of his first thrust, pleasure surged through you, along with a sharp twinge of friction as his cock rubbed against the toy lodged inside you.

He seemed to relish the sensation and so did you. 

Your eyes fluttered shut as your body arched beneath him; stretched and pinned by his weight, trapped, surrendering to the relentless pounding that followed - raw and invasive and yet so fulfilling.

You were so looking forward to coming again from his penetration alone. The mere thought made you pull harder on your restraints, craving the delicious pain of being bound. The furry tail must have tickled his balls because he tucked it under you so that it would tease you instead. 

"Cross your ankles behind my back," Raphael rasped into your shoulder as he grazed it with his stubbled chin. "Yes, just like that... now tilt your hips."

You responded with your most submissive “yes, master”, making his cock twitch inside you, and then sifted your hips to better accommodate his pleasure. Wrapped your legs tightly around him, pulling him in deeper, pain-pleasure soaring through you. You sniffed his hair. 

His cologne (worn leather, cherry liqueur, bitter almonds) smelled so good oh so good.

He slid his arms underneath your arse, lifting you towards him at every thrust. 

Raphael said few words after that, grunting and thrusting and thrusting. Something about him was different this time - something very human - from how his sweat-soaked hair stuck to his forehead to his expressions of sheer lust that bordered on comical at times. 

One thing remained the same - the pleasure his pounding brought you, the familiar hooks of approaching orgasm - not any orgasm, the orgasm of being with him, his sharp talons - sinking inches deep into your flesh again. 

fuck does he feel good

rough or tender it just feels so good

his cock his tongue his breath on your neck

You screamed "fuck me", then once again, louder, not caring how obscene you sounded, and bit his shoulder without a second thought. 

The scream that escaped you was higher pitched than you had intended.

do whatever whatever you want whatever you want with me

Raphael's face creased with annoyance as his strong finger pressed into your cheek. "Easy…easy… piccola... I appreciate…. a good performance… not …overacting," he scolded as he went at you harder, pushing you to the point of pain.

hurt me

fuck me fuck me harder

You would have protested at the implication that you were pretending, but you were too busy coming under him, his hand clamped over your mouth before your temporal insanity could drive you to actually call him ‘daddy’.

If he wanted you to why wouldn’t you he is so sweet to you oh so sweet to you

The scream was swallowed by his palm as an orgasm, brutal in its intensity and lightning-fast, ripped through you, whip-snaked it. You greeted your release with a wail, biting into his hand. Raphael paused mid-thrust, apprehensive of how your pussy convulsed around him and your leg spasmed uncontrollably - if this was a performance, you deserved an award.

"You weren't pretending," he panted, awe-struck. "My apologies. You were not".

The realisation frenzied him; he spilled within a minute after, rutting into you with intensity belying his age. Utterly spent, he collapsed on top of you, his breath, cherries and tobacco, warming your throat as his cock softened within you.

"I may have gotten a little carried away," he said, sounding embarrassed and slightly apologetic as he lay down beside you. "But it seems you're more than content."

You eagerly and quickly nodded.

"Are you that... passionate with every man?" He asked as he helped you free your wrists - jealousy creeping into his voice at the mention of that mysterious 'every man'.

You couldn't help but laugh at the question. "No," you replied. "Far from it. You are not just any man. You are anything but."

Raphael let out a sigh of relief and kissed you, making no effort to hide how much your compliment pleased him. 

When you parted, you hopped awkwardly off the bed - the odd gait one adopts when they have a plug in them (no way were you going to remove it in his presence, no way) and cum was trickling down your thighs. 

Shit, the condom. Now you forgot to ask him to wear it.

Would he have?..

Ah, screw it. Google says Plan B is effective for up to 72 hours after unprotected sex, so you'll take it tomorrow - for tonight and last night. You'd never been this careless before, but hell, you'd never murdered people with a mere thought or slept with an Archdevil of Hell.

Raphael was still lying there, basking in the afterglow, when you returned.

"I have to admit, Anya... I'm seriously thinking of proposing," he murmured with such tenderness as you snuggled against him that you wondered if Raphael really was incapable of love.

"That would be quick," you replied, but made it sound like you wouldn't mind at all.

"Quick?" he scoffed. "A man knows what he wants in a woman the moment he sets eyes on her. Unfortunately, there are very few left in your generation."

You smiled, already dreaming of being the Archduchess of Hell, and half-dreaming in general from sheer exhaustion and satisfaction. 

"They lied about you being bad in bed," you murmured as sleep began to take over. "I knew it was all bullshit."

"They?" He asked, his face contorting into a scowl at your sentence. "Who are they? Anya, for God's sake, stop reading those trashy tabloids."

You closed your eyes for a moment. When you half-opened them, you saw him on the balcony outside, in a black silk robe, AirPods in his ears and a cigarette in his mouth. Behind him you could see the smoke and fire of the Avernus mountain ridge, the fireballs cascading down from the sky. Beautiful. 

Raphael gestured with his free hand, aggressively, and you listened a little closer; fortunately he was more than loud.

"...we will bleed them dry if they dare to break our agreement..."

"...they knowingly and willingly accepted our terms, they will choke on the consequences..."

"...all must pay their dues, sooner or later..."

"...an army? We have our own army..."

A yawn escaped your lips as you snuggled deeper into the plush pillows of the massive bed. Everything, except the AirPods, fit perfectly into the image of Archdevil Supreme.

You felt so chosen, so alive, so gloriously alive, and your life had just begun.

"Are you coming soon?" you called out as you tried to think of an appropriate nickname for him - something intimate, but not too cheesy. Darling? Baby? Sweetheart? Love? My favourite devil?

But he beat you to it before you could decide.

"Soon, my love. Rest," he blew you a kiss. With a loud click, he shut the glass door and cut you off from hearing the rest of their conversation. You let out a contented sigh and rolled over onto your side, drifting into a peaceful slumber.

"My love," you said in your sleep. "Raphael called me his love”.

****

The urgent need to go to pee woke you. The time was a mystery, but it must have been late enough for Raphael to have gone to bed too.

He was pressed close to you, his hand cupping your breast. You looked over your shoulder; asleep, peaceful, in buttoned pyjamas, and it was the one moment when he did not look threatening at all; vulnerable, if anything. You kissed him on the cheek and he smiled in his sleep and held you close. 

When you came back from your short (not really, a good thirty metres to the toilet) trip to the bathroom, you snuggled closer to him, preparing to doze off again, and then you heard something.

You listened closer, thinking you had dreamed it first.

Soft, gentle whimpers. You recognised the voice. You didn't know how, but you did. Something childishly cheerful and slightly mad about it.

Oh, no. No. You were happy, spooning with Raphael, and you didn't need this shit right now, especially when things were finally going so well.

Hope, please, you begged.

You got all your happy endings, so many of them, wonderful endings where Raphael was killed by the player and you got to live and your revenge and whatnot. Can I have one too, please? Without you whining and making me feel guilty for something I didn't even do?

"My love," you asked Raphael softly, your fingers tracing idle patterns on his side. "Can you let her go?"

"Mmm," Raphael murmured in his sleep, "Sure, piccola. Whatever you wish for."

You waited for him to act, but he only tightened his grip on the blanket and shifted slightly.

"You have all the hells and the crown and everything (and me). You don't need her anymore," you tried again. 

"Anya, let me sleep," Raphael mumbled into his pillow, away from your voice. You tried to hide from her voice under your pillow as well, but you could still hear the soft, painful moans. 

Ugh. 

They were very, very far away, but still there.

"She's still wailing," you complained, taking him by the shoulder and shaking him a little. "Raphael? Raphael?"

 "Who is wailing?” he groaned in pure frustration, and then made a half-hearted attempt at listening. “Ah, merda, not that bloody bitch again! I swear, I will plug that hole myself!"

You tried to make sense of that sentence and couldn't, but what you did get was that it promised Hope nothing good and sounded vaguely vulgar, which was even worse. 

"Don't hurt Hope," you begged, appalled by his threat. "She doesn't deserve it!"

"I don't deserve it either," Raphael retorted before turning away from you. "Please be quiet."

He should direct this request to his prisoner. 

What had really happened between them? You didn't think his obsession with Hope was sexual because, well, because, for example, he fucked you and you both enjoyed it, so he was definitely into consent, and Hope was more like a metaphor, a concept, a point to be made, and some shitty fucking rushed Act 3 writing.

"You... you didn't hurt her like that, did you? There was some talk... With that boudoir line... It was misinterpreted... right?"

Right. He may be evil, but he is lawful evil. He believed in consent and seduction, not violence. 

"I haven't hurt anyone, what in damnation are you talking about?" he growled through gritted teeth, and you let out a small sigh of relief.  "But if I don't get some rest, I might."

He hadn't hurt Hope. He wouldn't lie. He cannot; devils can deceive, but not outright lie. You read it somewhere.

Okay, he's not going to let her go and he's not going to help you and Hope was certainly not going to shut up. You have to go to her. And say what? Say what? Sorry for your predicament and the centuries of torture, Hope, but could you please be a bit quieter, me and Raphael just had sex and are trying to sleep? 

Let her go? And lose his favour, his credit card and the place next to him in his bed?

Yes, come on. It would be the right thing to do and you would do it. 

Where was she anyway, you wondered as you walked down the stairs. In the cellar? Hanging from the ceiling? You still don't have the key to the cellar. When you reached the ground floor, the kitchen, you realised that the noises were not coming from the cellar - they were coming from outside.

Outside? Did he hang her on a tree on this cold April night? 

You put on his trench coat and slipped into your sneakers. This was so unnecessarily evil, you thought, suddenly feeling much less happy about everything, especially as the pained whimpering got closer. Hardly human, you thought, more like a creature trapped and desperately trying to free itself. 

Yes, definitely more of a creature.

In fact, it reminded you of a dog. You searched the darkness of the night, determined to find it, and there it was: a dachshund wedged between the ground and a large, weathered fence, whimpering into the still night. 

The poor thing must have thought it was quite the burglar, trying to burrow under a hole in the fence to pull through. But it only managed to get itself stuck.

"Oh, poor baby," you said as you approached the dog. "Let's see if we can get you out."

You pulled on the fence to widen the opening and the cub was free.

It licked your hand in gratitude. Dogs love you. All animals do, and it's quite mutual. You had a harder time with people.

There were distant, panicked cries for Steffie somewhere in the distance; the owner was out on a rescue mission. You took the dachshund in your lap and went to meet her.

The woman was in her sixties, dark brown hair, a very aged beauty, and she looked a bit funny in her fur coat and slippers. She had tears in her eyes. Steffie ran to her as soon as she saw her.

"You silly little girl," she scolded the whining, complaining dog in her arms. She had a thick American drawl. "Why do you keep going back to his house? What's so special about him? I told you he was bad news!"

"Is he?" You asked the question when you knew the answer.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she stammered, forcing a smile to her lips. "I didn't mean it like that. You're Raul's new girl, aren't you? Samantha. I live down the road. Sorry about Steffie, she's very... adventurous."

There were exactly three houses on the street, a mile apart each.

"You meant it like that," you said. "If it's about Isabelle, she's apologised and withdrawn her accusations".

There was a pause, and Samantha's perfectly friendly smile cracked a little.

"Well, in that case," she said, before adding with forced cheerfulness, "thank you for looking after Steffie, sweetheart! You take care now."

She tried to walk away, but turned back; she was as curious as her little dog.

"I was walking Steffie when that French girl ran out of his house," she said, unable to resist the urge to gossip. "She was naked and babbling like a lunatic. She had blood on her, too".

"Did she scream something about the devil?" you asked after a pause.

"Devil? No. Not that I speak French," said the woman, making a last attempt to walk away, but failing. "Listen, I have a daughter about your age. And if some guy - ANY guy - tried to put that kind of crap around her neck, I would chop his arms off".

What did she mean? 

The collar. 

She meant the "Daddy's little mouse" collar you still have around your neck. 

Oh, don't kink shame me, you were going to say, but that kind of talk sounds ridiculous in real life. She managed to shame you very badly, so you hid the collar under your trench coat and mumbled, "I put it on myself".

That actually made her look at you again. Steffie looked at you with the same expression. 

Everybody's out to guilt trip you - Hope, the dog (the dog you saved!), the neighbour, the guy who got thrown under the bus, and you've done nothing but enjoy some devil sex.

The woman finally decided it was time to go, muttering "You need Jesus, sweetheart" before she left.

That's your God who kept women in collars and on leashes for centuries, not the Devil, you thought bitterly, and unlike the Devil, he didn't even fuck them. 

Well, only once.

***

You were back in the en-suite bathroom, washing your face in the marble sink.

Who the fuck was this man, really? What the fuck was happening? 

Your hand shot out, yanking open a cabinet door. An array of men's grooming products stared back at you - cologne, razor, facial moisturiser and scrub, deodorant, shaving gel, sleek, expensive bottles. A man took care of his looks.

Another cabinet creaked open under your touch. 

Your eyes darted to the label on the bottle - Risperidon. You had no idea what it was, but you memorised it for a future Google search, repeating it under your breath like a mantra. 

"Are you rummaging through my belongings, nosy little mouse?”

He was dead asleep last time you checked!

You jerked, closing the cupboard and stumbling back to the bathroom sink, gasping for breath. "No," you stammered, turning to find him standing in the doorway. "I mean... yes. I can't sleep. I thought you might have some pills."

His eyes were canny; he didn't swallow your lie and made no pretence of doing so. He bridged the gap and hugged you from behind - frighteningly strong and wanting every ounce of that power to seep into your bones. His strength made you realise just how much of a level 1 human NPC you were.

"You don't have to violate my privacy when I'm not around, Anya," he whispered against your skin as he began to trail soft kisses down your neck. "If there's anything that's bothering you, just ask me directly. I want us to be honest with each other."

What was in the cellar? What kind of work does he do for you? Did he rape Hope? Or was it Haarlep? Where is Haarlep, by the way? Why does Raphael want to play Raul? 

"What happened to Isabelle?" you asked. 

"Ah, I see. Is that why you asked me if I had hurt anyone?" he said. "Is that what the tabloids told you?"

You nodded.

"Isabelle had an addiction," he admitted, the crow’s feet showing themselves. "It spiralled out of control. She had… a bout of psychosis, a mental breakdown. Made false accusations to the press. She's now getting the help she needs, poor girl”.

"Why was she covered in blood?" you pressed, looking at his reflection in the mirror as an infernal light danced in his orange eyes.

For all the fire in them, they seemed icy, impossibly cold for a man who had called you my love less than an hour ago. "How did you come by this information? You seem to know more than one would expect of you, Anya. There are things about you that make me... wonder. I have been giving you the benefit of the doubt, perhaps foolishly."

Your breath caught in your throat. “The neighbour”, you said. “Your neighbour told me”.

The truth you’d spilled slaked him, but only a little. He looked at you, jaw hardened.

"Samantha? I’ll have a word with her. Very well, we were making love when Isabelle had a psychotic episode."

Making love? Really? He did not make love to you.

"She lashed out at me," he continued. "It was my blood, Anya. I would never hurt her or any other woman. Without their consent, that is."

But that couldn't be true, because there was Hope - and many others who owed him, and Raphael might have been many things, but not a liar, and yet here he was, lying right to your face.

He did hurt people. Whether they deserved it, whether they brought onto themselves, that was a different matter, but he did hurt them.

"If you need proof, you can take a look at the psychiatrist's report," he offered coldly. "The authorities got involved... unfortunately."

"I believe you," came your shaky reply. 

You desperately wanted to. 

Raphael’s eyes flickered.

"Trust goes both ways, Anya," he whispered in your ear, running a finger along your collar. "If you do not trust me, then I will be forced to ask some very unpleasant questions myself. Do we understand each other?"

Which questions? He knows everything there is to know about you. He knows your browser history.

“We do”, you said, still looking in the mirror. “Of course we do, my love”.

"Is that so?” he smiled. "I suggest we go to our bed and put that theory to the test."

[dutchlionlover]

GPDA post - financial transparency

okay something I wanted to talk about (because I work in finance and have first hand experience with a sports association) is the lack of transparency regarding the fines. this will probably get long so I'll put it under the cut.

so first of all let's start with how these associations work. they are a non-profit organization, therefore all the money they make should be put back into the association - meaning the owners cannot pay dividends. associations keep themselves afloat by receiving subsidies, by selling marketing and broadcast rights, and from fines and membership fees being paid. generally speaking these associations don't make profit, because they have more expenses than income.

the only financial report I could find of the FIA is the consolidated one which combines the French and the Swiss FIA results (though it does not really go in depth with the notes, and afaik, associations are required to publish their full financial statements publicly, but it might be different under Swiss law, under which the FIA is). the statements are audited, which, in theory, should make sure that everything in the books is accounted for, as for the 2022 and 2023 financial years the auditor issued an unqualified opinion, which means that they've found everything in compliance with the Swiss laws. I find it interesting that it's under Swiss law, but not surprising, considering what kinda money is being kept in Swiss banks. anyway.

fun fact: in 2021 and 2022, the financial result was a staggering 31.2 million EUR and a 15.2 million EUR loss, respectively. compared to that, in 2023 they achieved a 7.1 million EUR income. just based on a quick look, it's not because the operations turned profitable (they just got less loss-making), but because financial results and non-operating results got better. interestingly, non-operating management expenses decreased by 15 million EUR, which is pretty significant imo considering that's what they made in loss the previous year.

now onto the fines. fines should be accounted for between other income, however, other income is just one line on the income statement and I haven't found any breakdown, and I likely won't unless I somehow find the full financial statement and not whatever there's posted on the site. regardless, sadly, if these fines do get paid to members, there is absolutely no way to tell unless it's something extraordinarily obvious. one way I can see these being paid, and even these would be a red flag to me, is through subcontracting or consultancy fees, especially the latter. with these there is not really a good way to tell whether there's been actually a service behind them. auditors should be able to flag these, however I live in a country where there is definitely money being passed through sport associations and they get audited as well, so these might get overlooked, likely intentionally.

sports in general, and from what I've seen motorsports especially are a way to get money from one place to another without being too blatant. the accounting itself can get super messy, if it's paid in cash then it's even harder to trace, even if there's an invoice to go with it, if it's vague enough then the tax and financial authorities cannot find fault in it, and afaik you can make a contractual deal with the Swiss tax authorities regarding taxes (now idk if that applies to associations and companies as well or just to individual people).

in conclusion, I'm glad they called the lack of transparency out because it does damage not only the integrity, but also the reputation of the sport, and if there's any foul play that comes to light later on, it will be a very, very bad look on the FIA.

[everfastfrieght]

Customs Clearance in Shipping by Everfast Freight: Simplifying Global Trade

In today’s interconnected world, international shipping plays a critical role in global trade. However, one of the most challenging aspects of shipping across borders is customs clearance. For businesses and individuals, navigating complex regulations and ensuring smooth customs procedures is essential to avoid delays and additional costs. Everfast Freight, a leader in logistics and freight solutions, offers expert customs clearance services to make global shipping seamless and stress-free.

What is Customs Clearance in Shipping? Customs clearance is the process of ensuring that goods meet all legal requirements before being imported or exported. This involves submitting proper documentation, paying duties and taxes, and complying with various regulations set by customs authorities in both the origin and destination countries.

Without efficient customs clearance, shipments can face delays, fines, or even rejection at borders, disrupting supply chains and impacting businesses.

Why Choose Everfast Freight for Customs Clearance in Shipping?

Expertise in Customs Regulations Everfast Freight’s team of professionals is well-versed in international trade laws and customs requirements. Whether you're shipping goods to Europe, Asia, or the Americas, their expertise ensures compliance with global and local regulations, eliminating potential roadblocks.

End-to-End Documentation Support Preparing accurate and complete documentation is critical for smooth customs clearance. Everfast Freight assists with:

Commercial invoices Bill of lading Packing lists Certificates of origin Other regulatory permits Their meticulous attention to detail ensures that your shipments sail through customs without unnecessary delays.

Cost Efficiency Customs duties, taxes, and handling charges can vary significantly. Everfast Freight provides strategic advice to help reduce costs through duty exemptions, preferential tariffs, and efficient customs processing, maximizing your profitability.

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Key Features of Everfast Freight’s Customs Clearance Services Import and Export Compliance: Comprehensive assistance in adhering to customs laws for both inbound and outbound shipments. Duty Drawback Services: Helping businesses recover duties on re-exported goods. Specialized Handling: Expertise in handling perishable goods, hazardous materials, and oversized shipments. Customs Brokerage: Professional representation to expedite the clearance process. Tariff Classification: Ensuring accurate HS code classification to avoid overpayment of duties. Why Efficient Customs Clearance Matters Delays in customs clearance can result in:

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[attorneythailand]

Representative Office in Thailand

A Representative Office (RO) serves as a non-revenue generating entity that allows foreign companies to establish a legal presence in Thailand without forming a full subsidiary. Governed by the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) and Foreign Business Act (FBA), ROs are ideal for:

Market research and business development

Coordination between headquarters and Thai partners

Quality control for regional suppliers

However, ROs face strict operational limitations—understanding these restrictions is critical before registration.

2. Legal Framework & Key Restrictions

Permissible Activities (Under MOC Notification No. 275)

An RO may only engage in:

Sourcing goods/services for its parent company

Inspecting/controlling quality of products ordered by HQ

Providing advisory support to HQ about Thai market

Disseminating information about new products/services

Reporting business trends to the parent company

Prohibited Activities (That Would Require a Full Company):

Direct sales, invoicing, or revenue generation

Signing contracts on behalf of the parent company

Providing services to third parties

Penalties: Violations can result in fines up to THB 1 million, imprisonment, or forced closure.

3. Registration Process: Step-by-Step Requirements

Phase 1: Pre-Registration Documentation

Parent Company Documents (notarized/apostilled):

Certificate of Incorporation

Memorandum & Articles of Association

Board Resolution authorizing RO establishment

Audited financial statements (last 3 years)

Thai Office Requirements:

Lease agreement (registered at Land Department)

List of intended expatriate staff

Phase 2: Ministry of Commerce Approval

Submit Application (Form Kor Tor 1) to MOC’s Business Development Department

Review Period: 30–60 days

Post-Approval: Register at DBD, Revenue Dept., and Social Security Office

Phase 3: Ongoing Compliance

Annual Audit Submission (even with no revenue)

Work Permits: Limited to 5 foreign employees

4. Tax & Financial Considerations

A. Tax Obligations

Corporate Income Tax: 0% (if compliant with RO restrictions)

Withholding Tax: 15% on remittances to HQ classified as "service fees"

VAT: Not applicable (no sales activity)

B. Capital Requirements

Minimum THB 5 million remitted to Thailand within first 3 years

Must maintain THB 2 million in a Thai bank account

C. Audit Requirements

Annual financial statements must be filed by a licensed Thai auditor

Transfer pricing documentation recommended for HQ transactions

5. Representative Office vs. Other Business Structures

CriteriaRepresentative OfficeRegional OfficeLimited CompanyAllowed RevenueNoYes (from affiliates)Yes (full operations)Tax LiabilityNone10% CIT (regional)20% CITCapital RequiredTHB 5MTHB 10MTHB 2M+Work PermitsMax 5No limitNo limit

Key Takeaway: An RO is not a substitute for a trading company—it’s a non-commercial liaison office.

6. Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

A. Accidental Revenue Generation

Risk: Providing consultancy to local firms may be deemed as service income

Solution: Draft activity scope carefully in MOC application

B. Underestimating Compliance Costs

Hidden Fees: Auditor fees (~THB 50k/year), visa renewals, legal retainer

Budget: Minimum THB 1M/year for a compliant RO

C. Visa & Work Permit Issues

Expat Headcount: 5 is the absolute max—plan staffing accordingly

Local Hiring: Must have at least 1 Thai employee per foreign hire

7. When to Upgrade to a Regional/Branch Office

Consider transitioning if you need to: ✔ Generate revenue from affiliate companies ✔ Sign contracts locally ✔ Employ more than 5 foreigners

Upgrade Process: Requires new MOC approval and capital increase.

8. Expert Recommendations

For Market Entry:

Use an RO for 2–3 years to test the market before committing to a full subsidiary

Pair with a Thai distributor for actual sales

For Compliance:

Retain a Thai law firm to audit activities annually

Maintain separate bank accounts for HQ remittances

For Long-Term Strategy:

If scaling, convert to a BOI-promoted company for better incentives

Conclusion: Is a Representative Office Right for You?

A Thai RO offers low-risk market access but demands strict adherence to non-commercial activities. It’s ideal for:

Manufacturers vetting Thai suppliers

Tech firms exploring ASEAN expansion

Service companies needing a local liaison

Final Warning: Misuse can trigger FBA violations—always align activities with MOC approval. For complex cases, consult a Thai corporate lawyer before registration.

[xiakha]

FFXIVWrite 2024 Prompt #10 - Stable

Who is the best and most important Scion of the Seventh Dawn? Is it the Warrior of Light?  As if. Have you seen the way she organizes her finances? No? Exactly. She doesn’t. She doesn’t even remember to check to see if she’s being paid correctly for a job, or if at all. The best god killing machine makes her most important in terms of the function of the Scions, sure, but apologies, even I must concur that she is not the best or the most important. Is it Minfilia? No. Only Thancred nominated her. She’s been gone for years. Oh yes, the Scions are in part her legacy, but to give her credit for all of the accomplishments achieved by the organization so long after her absorption by the Mother Crystal is… unserious to say the least. Might as well give Louisoix the credit. On that note, is it Alphinaud? Gods no. Not even his mother nominated him. Oh yes, Ameliance got to nominate someone too. To most, it isn’t at all obvious why she would be given a say, but those who know understand immediately. Anyway, Alphinaud didn’t receive any nominations. One person got the overwhelming majority of the nominations.  Tataru Taru. As if it could be anyone else.

Some less privy to the internal workings of the Scions, even within the organization, might question this wisdom. Tataru doesn’t fight, she doesn’t go afield. As far as the face, yes, she could arguably be the face of the Scions, as most, if not all, non-martial matters go through her, or at least are eventually reviewed by her. But the best? The most important? Let us list the ways.

First and most importantly, the organization of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn cannot operate without paperwork. In the Seventh Astral Era, how is any organization supposed to do anything without written records and signed forms and certified receipts? It can’t be done. And also, it has to be done right. Was it treachery and the insidious influence of capital that brought down the Crystal Braves? Well. Partially, yes, that was what led most directly to the grand company’s implosion and disbandment, but also, no one was checking invoices and performing audits. Would the members of the Crystal Braves have been so easily lured by the offer of Monetarist money had their salaries been paid on time? Well. Probably, yes. But that’s yet a separate matter completely. Properly done background checks and scheduled training were also things that someone needed to have assigned, but there was no one to lead the effort. Had Tataru not had her hands full extricating the Scions from the Waking Sands to their new home in Mor Dhona in the Rising Stones, fending off the dual terrors of Rowena and Lolorito through the power of burning the midnight oil reading tax law and finding the right paperwork to make them fight one another, perhaps she could have taken a look at the Crystal Braves and actually changed how that organization was run! (And maybe suggesting changes, pointing out errors, and trying to figure out how certain members ended up with that much spending power would have gotten her threatened or killed. To be perfectly frank, Tataru knew better than to meddle in that midden pit.)

Secondly, there could be no Scions of the Seventh Dawn if there were no Coin of the Seventh Dawn. Tied to the slightly more important reality of paperwork is the regulation of cash flow. Oh, the Scions are pretty well funded, all told. Beyond the grants they are given, there are other forms of investment and monetary aid nearly bursting through the doors to demand the Scions attention. And Tataru not only manages all of these sources of funding, but also vets them and keeps tabs on them to make sure they aren’t seeking any undue influence. Take that Alphinaud and his Crystal Braves!  And not only is she filling the coffers, she’s making sure they’re emptying properly too, paying merchants and craftsmen for their services, earmarking salaries, reimbursing her coworkers for their expenses (so long as there is written receipt), and lending out aid when appropriate. Tataru always has had a head for numbers and calculations ever since she was young. She practically ran the lapidary she was apprenticed to, despite her then lack of experience with gem cutting and engraving work. Sure, many of the Scions have an Archon mark, sure. Yet they still rely on Tataru. Urianger could chart the future movement of the stars and calculate the probabilities of a card appearing in a drawn spread while analyzing and interpreting ancient prophecies, and yet he still can’t add up his expense reports correctly. Y’shtola has a habit of sneaking in shoe purchases among her valid expenses, and Tataru sniffs them out every time. Xiao… doesn’t fill out expense reports, so Tataru queries her contacts in the mercantile world for whatever it is that she could gather are legitimately Scion related purchases to compensate Xiao for. It’s often a lost cause, but she does it because she legitimately cares.

Third, Tataru legitimately cares for each and every Scion. Yes! Every single Scion! From Alisae to Wigstan. That’s right, Wigstan. Most don’t even know when Wigstan joined the Scions or what he does beyond standing around in the Waking Sands. Is he still there? Well, Tataru would know! At any rate, she knows and has stock of all of the creature comforts of every Scion. She has the kinds of teas and the preparations for all of the Archons memorized, and every liquor or beer or mixed drink that those Scions who imbibe prefer memorized as well. She knows of everyone’s favorite sweets, baked goods, and confectionaries. She knows who likes a hot bath prepared if they’re headed back from afield, she knows who have want for fluffier pillows or firmer bedding, she knows who is currently shacked up with who and whose preferences will necessitate taking a room further from the rest, and importantly, she is discreet. Nowadays she’s not running around changing sheets and putting out the wash herself, but the retainers and servants know not to pry because she will never tell. A Garlean interrogator or an Inquisitor of the Holy See could not extract any of that information from her. Except maybe if they met for tea and biscuits. She knows well the value of gossip and intrigue after all. Tataru’s first forays into becoming a master craftswoman were after all made in the service of aiding her fellow Scions. The lapidary apprenticeship laid the groundwork, sure, but when Y’shtola came back to the Waking Sands upset that she had thrown a heel right after the Circle of Knowing merged with the Path of the Twelve, Tataru managed to re-affix it. She then read up on how to properly cobble, so when Yda returned with a nasty repair needed on her favorite pair of boots, Tataru knew what to do! She, of course, didn’t just repair shoes like some sort of fairy tale creature, the confections and tea brewing after all came to the forefront quickly, but that was the start of her multidisciplinary set of crafting skills.

And, to keep this rant brief, lastly, the Scions claim to have many, many connections. But in truth, it is Tataru that has all the connections! Who used her network of wives and ladies in waiting to secure the Waking Sands as a Scion Headquarters in the first place? Who chatted up the House of Splendors girls to the point of having an edge on Rowena? Who knows all of the former Doman refugees, including the children? Who has the ear and knows of all the gossip of the sociable and less xenophobic sides of Ishgard, Hingashi, and Sharlayan? Who is currently forging new connections in Thavnair, and taking strides to work with what remains of Garlemald?  Tataru, Tataru, Tataru, Tataru, and Tataru Taru, that’s who! Oh sure, many individual Scions have other connections or deeper connections. Arenvald, for example, has done work and knows many in Ala Mhigo that Tataru would needs rely on his connections in that city-state, but no other Scion casts a wider net. Alphinaud did a neat trick on the linkpearl in the middle of Labyrinthos with the summoning of the entirety of Eorzea and beyond, true, but do you think he was the one that organized the Scion linkshell? Heavens no! If it wasn’t for Tataru, Alphinaud and the other Scions would have been fumbling for how to contact the rest of the Star for bells, and that wouldn’t have made for nearly as dramatic a moment, now would it? If it were not for Tataru serving as the backbone, the heart, the brains, and the tongue of the Scions, the organization would likely have fallen to Ascian scheming, or at least lack of organizational skills, long ago. She is the rock that has anchored the Scions for the entirety of its existence. She is the foundation that the Scions build all of their whimsy and expeditions on. Tataru Taru is utterly and conclusively the best and most important Scion of the Seventh Dawn.

[joshinglis123]

How to Ensure Compliance with ZATCA Phase 2 Requirements

As Saudi Arabia pushes toward a more digitized and transparent tax system, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) continues to roll out significant reforms. One of the most transformative changes has been the implementation of the electronic invoicing system. While Phase 1 marked the beginning of this journey, ZATCA Phase 2 brings a deeper level of integration and regulatory expectations.

If you’re a VAT-registered business in the Kingdom, this guide will help you understand exactly what’s required in Phase 2 and how to stay compliant without unnecessary complications. From understanding core mandates to implementing the right technology and training your staff, we’ll break down everything you need to know.

What Is ZATCA Phase 2?

ZATCA Phase 2 is the second stage of Saudi Arabia’s e-invoicing initiative. While Phase 1, which began in December 2021, focused on the generation of electronic invoices in a standard format, Phase 2 introduces integration with ZATCA’s system through its FATOORA platform.

Under Phase 2, businesses are expected to:

Generate invoices in a predefined XML format

Digitally sign them with a ZATCA-issued cryptographic stamp

Integrate their invoicing systems with ZATCA to transmit and validate invoices in real-time

The primary goal of Phase 2 is to enhance the transparency of commercial transactions, streamline tax enforcement, and reduce instances of fraud.

Who Must Comply?

Phase 2 requirements apply to all VAT-registered businesses operating in Saudi Arabia. However, the implementation is being rolled out in waves. Businesses are notified by ZATCA of their required compliance deadlines, typically with at least six months' notice.

Even if your business hasn't been selected for immediate implementation, it's crucial to prepare ahead of time. Early planning ensures a smoother transition and helps avoid last-minute issues.

Key Requirements for Compliance

Here’s a breakdown of the main technical and operational requirements under Phase 2.

1. Electronic Invoicing Format

Invoices must now be generated in XML format that adheres to ZATCA's technical specifications. These specifications cover:

Mandatory fields (buyer/seller details, invoice items, tax breakdown, etc.)

Invoice types (standard tax invoice for B2B, simplified for B2C)

Structure and tags required in the XML file

2. Digital Signature

Every invoice must be digitally signed using a cryptographic stamp. This stamp must be issued and registered through ZATCA’s portal. The digital signature ensures authenticity and protects against tampering.

3. Integration with ZATCA’s System

You must integrate your e-invoicing software with the FATOORA platform to submit invoices in real-time for validation and clearance. For standard invoices, clearance must be obtained before sharing them with your customers.

4. QR Code and UUID

Simplified invoices must include a QR code to facilitate easy validation, while all invoices should carry a UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) to ensure traceability.

5. Data Archiving

You must retain and archive your e-invoices in a secure digital format for at least six years, in accordance with Saudi tax law. These records must be accessible for audits or verification by ZATCA.

Step-by-Step Guide to Compliance

Meeting the requirements of ZATCA Phase 2 doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Follow these steps to ensure your business stays on track:

Step 1: Assess Your Current System

Evaluate whether your current accounting or invoicing solution can support XML invoice generation, digital signatures, and API integration. If not, consider:

Upgrading your system

Partnering with a ZATCA-certified solution provider

Using cloud-based software with built-in compliance features

Step 2: Understand Your Implementation Timeline

Once ZATCA notifies your business of its compliance date, mark it down and create a preparation plan. Typically, businesses receive at least six months’ notice.

During this time, you’ll need to:

Register with ZATCA’s e-invoicing platform

Complete cryptographic identity requests

Test your system integration

Step 3: Apply for Cryptographic Identity

To digitally sign your invoices, you'll need to register your system with ZATCA and obtain a cryptographic stamp identity. Your software provider or IT team should initiate this via ZATCA's portal.

Once registered, the digital certificate will allow your system to sign every outgoing invoice.

Step 4: Integrate with FATOORA

Using ZATCA’s provided API documentation, integrate your invoicing system with the FATOORA platform. This step enables real-time transmission and validation of e-invoices. Depending on your technical capacity, this may require support from a solution provider.

Make sure the system can:

Communicate securely over APIs

Handle rejected invoices

Log validation feedback

Step 5: Conduct Internal Testing

Use ZATCA’s sandbox environment to simulate invoice generation and transmission. This lets you identify and resolve:

Formatting issues

Signature errors

Connectivity problems

Testing ensures that when you go live, everything operates smoothly.

Step 6: Train Your Team

Compliance isn’t just about systems—it’s also about people. Train your finance, IT, and sales teams on how to:

Create compliant invoices

Troubleshoot validation errors

Understand QR codes and UUIDs

Respond to ZATCA notifications

Clear communication helps avoid user errors that could lead to non-compliance.

Step 7: Monitor and Improve

After implementation, continue to monitor your systems and processes. Track metrics like:

Invoice clearance success rates

Error logs

Feedback from ZATCA

This will help you make ongoing improvements and stay aligned with future regulatory updates.

Choosing the Right Solution Provider

If you don’t have in-house resources to build your own e-invoicing system, consider working with a ZATCA-approved provider. Look for partners that offer:

Pre-certified e-invoicing software

Full API integration with FATOORA

Support for cryptographic signatures

Real-time monitoring dashboards

Technical support and onboarding services

A reliable provider will save time, reduce costs, and minimize the risk of non-compliance.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Failure to comply with ZATCA Phase 2 can result in financial penalties, legal action, or suspension of business activities. Penalties may include:

Fines for missing or incorrect invoice details

Penalties for not transmitting invoices in real-time

Legal scrutiny during audits

Being proactive is the best way to avoid these consequences.

Final Thoughts

As Saudi Arabia advances toward a fully digital economy, ZATCA Phase 2 is a significant milestone. It promotes tax fairness, increases transparency, and helps modernize the way businesses operate.

While the technical requirements may seem complex at first, a step-by-step approach—combined with the right technology and training—can make compliance straightforward. Whether you're preparing now or waiting for your official notification, don’t delay. Start planning early, choose a reliable system, and make sure your entire team is ready.

With proper preparation, compliance isn’t just possible—it’s an opportunity to modernize your business and build lasting trust with your customers and the government.

[loojii]

Designed some boys looking for a home! Message me if you're interested. Prices and info under the cut ~

≡ ADOPTS STATUS ≡

🔴 ADOPT 1 > SOLD on DA

🟢 ADOPT 2 > OPEN

🔴 ADOPT 3 > SOLD on DA

≡ EACH ADOPT CAN BE SOLD FOR THE FOLLOWING PRICES ≡ OPTION 1 58,08$ USD (incl tax) 48$ USD (excl tax) includes ➔ Bust design shown above OPTION 2 175,45 $ USD (incl tax)  145$ USD (excl tax) includes ➔ Bust design shown above ➔ a half body drawing of the design (buyer can give wishes for half body design) OPTION 3 260,15$ USD (incl tax) 215$ USD (excl tax) includes ➔ Bust design shown above ➔ a full body drawing of the design (buyer can give wishes for full body design) ---- Options 3 and 2 have priority when there are multiple people interested!

Holds only available for options 3 and 2! Once bought you can do whatever you want with the design. I'll send you the proper files after the payment, which is a higher resolution of the design without the watermarks, text and background Payment is done through PayPal invoice (Price is incl taxes)

[spacematchinc]

Chicago Real Estate Market: Trends, Opportunities, and What to Expect in 2025

Managing a business involves more than just delivering excellent products and services. Financial management plays a critical role in the success of any business. For many business owners in North Carolina, bookkeeping can become an overwhelming task that diverts attention from core operations. However, outsourcing bookkeeping services can streamline financial processes, save valuable time, and lead to significant cost savings. 

Here's a closer look at how professional bookkeeping services can optimize financial management.

Time Savings: Focus on What Matters

Every business owner understands the importance of time, and bookkeeping tasks can quickly take up valuable hours that could be better spent on growing the business. Managing financial records, categorizing transactions, and reconciling accounts can be complicated and tedious. Outsourcing these tasks to experienced bookkeepers frees up time to focus on strategic goals, customer relations, and other business operations.

By trusting experts with financial duties, owners ensure that these tasks are handled efficiently and accurately. Bookkeepers use specialized tools to organize and maintain financial records, making the process faster and more reliable. As a result, businesses avoid spending time correcting mistakes and can rest assured that financial records are up to date.

Financial Clarity: Informed Decision-Making

Clear, accurate financial data is essential for making informed decisions. Without up-to-date reports, it can be challenging to understand the true state of a business's finances. Professional bookkeeping services provide valuable insights into cash flow, income, and expenses. Business owners gain a clear picture of financial health, which is vital for planning and budgeting.

Regular financial reports, including profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow summaries, help identify trends and highlight areas for improvement. With this knowledge, businesses can adjust strategies, identify opportunities for growth, and make smarter decisions that lead to success. Understanding the numbers simplifies the decision-making process and helps ensure long-term sustainability.

Reducing Costs: Avoiding Errors and Penalties

Handling bookkeeping independently often leads to mistakes—whether it's misclassifying an expense or missing a tax deduction. These errors can result in costly penalties, missed savings, or poor financial decisions. By working with professional bookkeepers in Chicago for real estate, businesses can reduce the risk of errors that could lead to economic setbacks.

Experienced bookkeepers ensure that taxes are filed correctly, transactions are properly recorded, and all necessary deductions are applied. This not only helps avoid penalties but also uncovers potential savings by identifying overlooked deductions or financial inefficiencies. Outsourcing bookkeeping services, therefore, saves money by preventing costly mistakes.

Streamlining Operations: Efficient Financial Management

Bookkeeping involves more than just tracking income and expenses. It also includes managing accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and tax filings. Keeping up with these responsibilities can become overwhelming, especially as a business grows. Professional bookkeeping services automate many of these processes, ensuring they are completed efficiently and on time.

Timely payment of invoices and the smooth processing of payroll help businesses maintain strong relationships with vendors and employees. At the same time, timely billing and collections keep cash flow consistent. By handling these essential tasks, bookkeeping services allow business owners to focus on other aspects of their operations, while the financial side of the business remains in capable hands.

Scalability: Adapting to Business Growth

As businesses grow, so do their financial complexities. Whether it's increasing revenue, adding new employees, or expanding to new markets, the need for more detailed financial management arises. Professional bookkeeping services can scale with a business, providing tailored solutions as needs evolve.

Outsourcing bookkeeping allows businesses to avoid the cost and hassle of hiring additional in-house staff or purchasing expensive software. Bookkeepers can adjust their services to accommodate changing demands, whether it's managing more transactions or overseeing more complex accounting tasks. This scalability ensures that businesses are equipped to handle growth without compromising on financial accuracy.

Data Protection: Safeguarding Financial Information

When it comes to financial data, security is critical. Storing sensitive business information—such as revenue details, tax filings, and payroll records—requires a high level of protection. Professional bookkeeping services use secure systems to ensure that financial records are safely stored and only accessible to authorized personnel.

By employing encryption and secure cloud storage, bookkeepers safeguard against data breaches and fraud. Additionally, regular reconciliations and audits help detect any discrepancies or signs of fraudulent activity, providing an extra layer of protection for the business's financial assets.

Conclusion: Why Bookkeeping Services Are an Investment

Outsourcing bookkeeping may seem like an added expense, but it's an investment that yields significant returns. By entrusting financial management to experts, business owners save valuable time, reduce the risk of costly errors, and gain valuable insights into their financial health. From improving cash flow management to identifying areas for cost savings, professional bookkeeping services help businesses optimize operations and increase profitability.

For businesses in North Carolina, professional bookkeeping is not just a convenience—it's a strategic asset that ensures financial processes are efficient, accurate, and secure. By freeing up time and minimizing costs, bookkeeping services allow businesses to focus on what matters most: achieving long-term success and growth.

To know more about real estate services, visit the website now.

[accntlane]

The Role of Cloud-Based Accounting in Enhancing Small Business Efficiency

In today's fast-paced business environment, cloud-based accounting has become a game-changer for small businesses. It offers real-time financial insights, seamless collaboration, and cost-effective solutions, enabling businesses to optimize their financial operations. As small businesses strive to remain competitive, partnering with a reliable Chartered Accountants Firm like Accounting Lane can help streamline their accounting processes and improve financial decision-making.

Why Cloud-Based Accounting?

Cloud-based accounting provides businesses with a secure, scalable, and efficient way to manage financial data. Unlike traditional accounting methods, cloud-based solutions allow business owners and accountants to access financial records anytime, anywhere. This flexibility ensures that businesses can respond swiftly to financial challenges and opportunities.

Key benefits of cloud-based accounting include:

Real-Time Financial Monitoring – Businesses can track their financial performance in real-time, making it easier to manage cash flow and expenses.

Cost Efficiency – By eliminating the need for expensive hardware and IT infrastructure, businesses can significantly reduce operational costs.

Automation of Repetitive Tasks – Cloud-based accounting software automates invoicing, payroll, and tax calculations, reducing human errors and saving valuable time.

Enhanced Security – Data stored in the cloud is encrypted and backed up, ensuring protection against cyber threats and data loss.

Seamless Collaboration – Multiple users can access financial records simultaneously, enabling efficient teamwork between business owners and accountants.

Enhancing Small Business Efficiency with Cloud-Based Accounting

Small businesses often face resource constraints and financial complexities. Cloud-based Accounting Services For Small Business help simplify financial management by providing accurate, up-to-date reports that aid in strategic decision-making.

By outsourcing bookkeeping and financial reporting to an expert Chartered Accountants Firm, businesses can focus on growth and core operations. Firms like Accounting Lane specialize in providing tailored accounting solutions that ensure compliance, optimize tax planning, and enhance financial efficiency.

How Cloud-Based Accounting Supports Business Growth

Improved Cash Flow Management – Cloud solutions offer real-time cash flow tracking, helping businesses maintain liquidity and plan future investments.

Regulatory Compliance – Cloud accounting platforms are regularly updated to comply with financial regulations, reducing the risk of legal issues.

Data-Driven Decision Making – Business owners can leverage real-time financial insights to make informed strategic decisions.

Scalability – As businesses grow, cloud-based accounting solutions can scale to accommodate increasing financial transactions and reporting needs.

Choosing the Right Accounting Partner

A reputable Chartered Accountants Firm like Accounting Lane plays a crucial role in helping small businesses implement and manage cloud-based accounting. Their expertise ensures accurate financial reporting, regulatory compliance, and efficient tax planning, allowing businesses to operate smoothly without financial hurdles.

By leveraging Accounting Services for Small Business, companies can save time, reduce costs, and improve financial transparency. Cloud-based accounting is not just a trend—it is the future of financial management, ensuring that small businesses stay agile, competitive, and prepared for long-term success.

[assitsbay]

The Role of Technology in Outsourcing Bookkeeping: How Assist Bay Uses Modern Tools for Seamless Integration

In today’s globalized economy, outsourcing bookkeeping services has become a strategic solution for businesses looking to streamline operations, reduce overhead costs, and improve efficiency. Particularly in the UK and the Caribbean, companies are increasingly outsourcing their accounting needs to offshore experts in India. At the heart of this transformation lies the role of technology, which has revolutionized the way businesses integrate with outsourced bookkeeping services. Assist Bay, a leader in providing outsourced bookkeeping solutions, is harnessing modern tools to make this process seamless, efficient, and transparent.

The Growing Trend of Bookkeeping Outsourcing

Outsourcing bookkeeping services is a growing trend, especially in the UK and the Caribbean, where businesses are constantly seeking ways to reduce operational costs while maintaining high-quality financial management. Many businesses in these regions, especially small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), are turning to offshore solutions like those provided by Assist Bay, which is based in India. Outsourcing bookkeeping not only allows companies to access skilled accounting professionals at a fraction of the cost but also ensures that businesses can focus on their core activities while maintaining financial accuracy and compliance with local tax laws.

Why India for Outsourcing Bookkeeping?

India has long been a go-to destination for outsourcing services due to its large pool of skilled professionals, a robust IT infrastructure, and cost-efficiency. Indian bookkeeping experts are well-versed in international accounting standards, including UK GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and Caribbean tax laws, making them a perfect fit for businesses in the UK and the Caribbean.

The Role of Technology in Bookkeeping Outsourcing

As the landscape of outsourcing evolves, so does the technology that supports it. At Assist Bay, modern tools play a crucial role in making bookkeeping outsourcing seamless. Here’s how technology is transforming the process.

Cloud-Based Bookkeeping Software

One of the biggest advancements in the bookkeeping industry has been the shift to cloud-based platforms. Tools like QuickBooks, Xero, and Zoho Books allow real-time access to financial data from anywhere in the world. This enables business owners in the UK and the Caribbean to collaborate effectively with their offshore bookkeeping teams in India. Cloud-based software ensures that all financial data is stored securely, and updates can be made in real-time, reducing the risk of errors. Whether it’s invoicing, payroll, or tax filing, cloud-based bookkeeping tools ensure that everything is up-to-date and accurate.

2. Automation of Repetitive Tasks

Another significant way technology has improved bookkeeping outsourcing is through automation. At Assist Bay, advanced automation tools are used to manage repetitive tasks such as data entry, transaction categorization, and reconciliation. This reduces human error, saves time, and ensures that the team can focus on more strategic tasks, like financial analysis and forecasting. By automating these routine tasks, businesses in the UK and Caribbean can rely on fast, accurate, and consistent bookkeeping services without the worry of manual errors creeping in.

3. Integration with Financial Systems

One of the key benefits of outsourcing bookkeeping to India is the seamless integration with a company’s existing financial systems. Modern tools allow for smooth integration with platforms like ERP systems, CRMs, and other financial applications. Assist Bay leverages APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to connect various software tools, ensuring that data flows effortlessly between systems. This integration ensures that businesses don’t have to deal with fragmented information. They can access consolidated financial data, reports, and analytics from one central location, making decision-making more efficient and informed.

4. Data Security and Compliance

Data security and compliance are top concerns for businesses when outsourcing their bookkeeping. In the UK and the Caribbean, businesses need to ensure that their financial data is protected and compliant with local regulations. Assist Bay employs the latest encryption technologies to safeguard sensitive financial information, ensuring that only authorized personnel have access. Moreover, Assist Bay stays up-to-date with changes in tax laws and accounting standards, ensuring that all bookkeeping practices meet local regulatory requirements. For businesses in the UK, this means adhering to HMRC standards, while for companies in the Caribbean, it involves compliance with local tax laws, which can differ from one island to another.

5. Real-Time Collaboration and Communication Tools

Technology has also improved communication between outsourced bookkeeping teams and businesses. Assist Bay uses collaborative tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom to ensure constant communication and immediate resolution of any issues. This ensures that clients in the UK and the Caribbean are always in the loop and can easily discuss any concerns with their bookkeeping team. Real-time communication tools also allow for faster decision-making and better collaboration on financial reports and business strategies. As a result, businesses can stay agile and responsive in today’s competitive environment.

6. Data Analytics and Reporting

Gone are the days of manual ledger entry and paper-based reporting. With the help of modern tools, Assist Bay provides businesses in the UK and Caribbean with detailed financial analytics and real-time reports. By analysing financial data with AI-powered tools, Assist Bay helps businesses gain valuable insights into their spending habits, cash flow, and profitability. These reports can be customized to suit the specific needs of a business, giving stakeholders the information they need to make informed decisions. Whether it’s forecasting revenue, tracking expenses, or assessing tax liabilities, data-driven insights are now more accessible than ever before.

The Future of Bookkeeping Outsourcing

The future of bookkeeping outsourcing lies in the continued evolution of technology. As cloud computing, automation, and AI become more advanced, the role of technology in outsourcing will only grow. Assist Bay is at the forefront of this change, helping businesses in the UK and the Caribbean seamlessly integrate outsourced bookkeeping services with modern technology. By leveraging cutting-edge tools and maintaining a focus on security, accuracy, and compliance, Assist Bay ensures that businesses can confidently rely on outsourced bookkeeping services without compromising on quality. As the demand for outsourcing grows, businesses in the UK, Caribbean, and beyond will continue to benefit from the efficiency, cost savings, and strategic insights that modern technology offers. Outsourcing bookkeeping services to India is no longer just about saving costs — it’s about gaining a competitive advantage by leveraging the power of technology for smarter, more efficient financial management.

[darkmaga-returns]

President Biden has commuted sentences for 1,499 people and issued 39 pardons. The majority of these commuted sentences were on behalf of people who were placed on home confinement rather than prison during the pandemic years. The people he has chosen to give a second chance seem suspicious.

Dixon, Illinois comptroller Rita Crundwell was found guilty and ADMITTED to funneling $53 million from her city since the 1990s. A career criminal politician, Crundwell opened a bank account in 1990 on behalf of the city of Dixon, but only she had access to the account. Over the decades, Crundwell admitted to transferring money out of that account to her personal accounts. She has admitted to using taxpayer funds to pay her personal credit cards, numerous houses, and personal business expenses included a horse breeding business.

The public servant admitted to created fraudulent invoices to trick Illinois state auditors. Budget deficits were blamed on a shortfall of tax revenues. Her 19-year sentence had already been reduced by eight years and she has been serving the remainder of her sentence on house arrest sine COVID.

“Now, today I anticipate she’s dancing in the streets of Dixon with her commutation, because she just also conned the President of the United States,” said former U.S. Marshal Jason Wojdylo. “This official act undid decades of work.” Wojdylo spent four years on this case and stated the overwhelming nature of her crime made it almost impossible to determine the true amount of stolen funds.

Dixon has delayed infrastructure projects and city officials say it will take decades for the city to recover. Why did Joe Biden pardon this woman who stole from the American public without shame? Considering the 10% for the Big Guy ways of Biden’s own criminal career in politics, he likely sees the $53 million as mere chump change.