#Direct Tax Collections | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

batboyblog · 1 year ago

Text

Things Biden and the Democrats did, this week #16

April 26-May 3 2024

President Biden announced $3 billion to help replace lead pipes in the drinking water system. Millions of Americans get their drinking water through lead pipes, which are toxic, no level of lead exposure is safe. This problem disproportionately affects people of color and low income communities. This first investment of a planned $15 billion will replace 1.7 million lead pipe lines. The Biden Administration plans to replace all lead pipes in the country by the end of the decade.

President Biden canceled the student debt of 317,000 former students of a fraudulent for-profit college system. The Art Institutes was a for-profit system of dozens of schools offering degrees in video-game design and other arts. After years of legal troubles around misleading students and falsifying data the last AI schools closed abruptly without warning in September last year. This adds to the $29 billion in debt for 1.7 borrowers who wee mislead and defrauded by their schools which the Biden Administration has done, and a total debt relief for 4.6 million borrowers so far under Biden.

President Biden expanded two California national monuments protecting thousands of acres of land. The two national monuments are the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument and the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, which are being expanded by 120,000 acres. The new protections cover lands of cultural and religious importance to a number of California based native communities. This expansion was first proposed by then Senator Kamala Harris in 2018 as part of a wide ranging plan to expand and protect public land in California. This expansion is part of the Administration's goals to protect, conserve, and restore at least 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030.

The Department of Transportation announced new rules that will require car manufacturers to install automatic braking systems in new cars. Starting in 2029 all new cars will be required to have systems to detect pedestrians and automatically apply the breaks in an emergency. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration projects this new rule will save 360 lives every year and prevent at least 24,000 injuries annually.

The IRS announced plans to ramp up audits on the wealthiest Americans. The IRS plans on increasing its audit rate on taxpayers who make over $10 million a year. After decades of Republicans in Congress cutting IRS funding to protect wealthy tax cheats the Biden Administration passed $80 billion for tougher enforcement on the wealthy. The IRS has been able to collect just in one year $500 Million in undisputed but unpaid back taxes from wealthy households, and shows a rise of $31 billion from audits in the 2023 tax year. The IRS also announced its free direct file pilot program was a smashing success. The program allowed tax payers across 12 states to file directly for free with the IRS over the internet. The IRS announced that 140,000 tax payers were able to use it over their target of 100,000, they estimated it saved $5.6 million in tax prep fees, over 90% of users were happy with the webpage and reported it quicker and easier than companies like H&R Block. the IRS plans to bring direct file nationwide next year.

The Department of Interior announced plans for new off shore wind power. The two new sites, off the coast of Oregon and in the Gulf of Maine, would together generate 18 gigawatts of totally clean energy, enough to power 6 million homes.

The Biden Administration announced new rules to finally allow DACA recipients to be covered by Obamacare. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is an Obama era policy that allows people brought to the United States as children without legal status to remain and to legally work. However for years DACA recipients have not been able to get health coverage through the Obamacare Health Care Marketplace. This rule change will bring health coverage to at least 100,000 uninsured people.

The Department of Health and Human Services finalized rules that require LGBTQ+ and Intersex minors in the foster care system be placed in supportive and affirming homes.

The Senate confirmed Georgia Alexakis to a life time federal judgeship in Illinois. This brings the total number of federal judges appointed by President Biden to 194. For the first time in history the majority of a President's nominees to the federal bench have not been white men.

#Thanks Biden #Joe Biden #student loans #loan forgiveness #lead poisoning #clean water #DACA #health care #LGBT rights #queer kids #taxes #tax the rich

5K notes · View notes

peanutheaddd · 2 months ago

Text

NEW PEANOR AU YYYYAAAAYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! dm DIVINE LIBERATION AU!!!!!!!!! deets below cut as always

im gonna preface by saying idk anything about the christianity lore and im not all too interested in learning it either. i was a christian for much of the early years of my life and i dont care much to go back to that era LMFAO most of this au is js using christian imagery bc the christians lwk ate so hard w their religious imagery . neon genesis evangelion type beat . anwyays moving on.

a bit obvious but i gotta start my lore dump somewhere. dm is a priest in this au and petey is a demon

petey is a fallen angel . as in he was born an angel but he was expelled from heaven

in this au there is corruption in the heaven and hell system . god is dead type beat. but not rlly . maybe dormant? maybe god has lost faith in humankind and has gone into hibernation? god cannot exist without faith smth smth Aaanyways.

that being said petey only got expelled from heaven for reasons almost entirely out of his control. he is still graces son and im thinking grace got involved in some anti heaven stuff bc yk heavens system was becoming more and more fucked up . so i reckon when they found out they executed her and as they were in the process of executing her petey tried to protect her but obvs he couldnt be he was a kid. so they executed her and expelled petey for being a traitor . this all happens when peteys like the human equivalent of 12-14 years old maturity wise

anwyays that being said lil petey is an angel. considering when petey was his age he was still an angel . i will go more into lp later

petey is sorta in denial about falling at first bc hes scared but eventually he just leans into the demon thing bc he feels helpless (parallel to canon petey) and just causes a shit ton of trouble. his causing trouble is a way of protecting himself Essentially

eventually he causes a little Too much trouble and he gets turned into a powerless imp by the higher up demons . hes doomed to stay in that form unless hes able to corrupt a priest whos been causing a lot of trouble for the demons . Guess who this priest is.

dms accident with knight still happened (probs happened as a result of one of peteys Funny Doings but not as a direct result.) and dm copes with it by seeing it as a holy act of salvation or wahtnot. like he was saved by gods blessing and by knights sacrifice. half of this is bullshit since as i said god is in a hibernation state. so it was really just All knight. but anyways

knight was a priest before this and its the only life that dms ever known so he kinda just continues with it . he is lwk a better priest than knight was (he got a lot of secondhand religious education just from being around knight so much and hes smarter than knight) so the church just lets him take knights place essentially.

dm is just more calm and collected in this au as well . he found out pretty early on that him being too energetic got knight into trouble which made him sad so he learned to control himself a bit . there was also the threat of him being taken away from knight if he acted out too much which was the worst case scenario for him so , yeah another incentive to behave himself .

anwysays a lot of petey and dms interactions initially are pretty lighthearted . book1 and 2 core. its js petey annoying the hell out of him and dm trying to ignore him LMFAOOOOO this is how petey gets the genius idea to try and summon a clone so he can be more effective in bothering dm . this is how lil petey is created LMFAAOAOOOOO

for this au peteys denial about being related to lp in any way shape or form is waaaayyy worse bc he still has a Lot of trauma from when he was in his angelic state . and he doesnt wanna associate with angels or heaven in any capacity . so even looking at lp is hard for him.

peteys still able to go into his full demon state, but only for brief periods of time . its also super physically taxing so he has to be really careful about it or else he could abruptly change back into his imp form when hes in the middle of danger

eventually petey "corrupts" dm as in dm just acts like a Human (this is also a criticism on the inhumane standards placed on people and how oftentimes humans are shamed for acting like Humans because theyre being held to some holy standard for the promise of a perfect afterlife . using christianity as a proxy for this since christianity is the shining example of doing this a lot) . im thinking its him going against an angel or holy figure to protect petey and/or lil petey

im thinking the overarching plot of this story is intimately tied to lil petey. the plot starts off with petey trying to corrupt lil petey and turn him into a demon so that he can have a little minion .

this attempt to corrupt lp continues even after petey starts to see him more as his son because then hes like well if im a demon then my son should also be a demon . hes also starting to get scsred of what heaven might do if they find out about him . bc as far as peteys aware once heaven gets wind of lil peteys existence theyd either execute him for being an anomoly or just take him away to raise him in heaven since hes an angel. both scenarios are likely (knowing heaven) and its also literlaly the worst thing that could possibly happen. so he slike okay if i just turn lp into a demon then theres no reason for heaven to take him away .

((semi unrelated but this is a parallel to canon to me. this is js my personal headcanon but i think peteys so obsessed eith having lil petey turn out evil in the earlier parts of the series because for him acting evil was a self defense tactic. its a way to protect himself. so by having lil petey act evil hes essentially teaching him how to protect himself in the only way he knows how . when he was rejected by the world and left all alone he was able to stay alive by being a criminal. and past the nonchalant "u have to be evil just because" facade i truly do think it was . again petey subconsciously teaching lp to protect himself in the way that protected HIM from the world. so yeah ))

i think petey probs doesnt tell dm about any of this because dm is a priest . petey fully believes that if dm finds out about lil petey being his son and thus being technically disconnected from the heaven system he would try to alert heaven about it through some mortal means . so for a lot of the earlier parts of the plot dm thinks that lp is a little angel who just kinda comes down to earth from time to time . hes totally unaware that he and petey are related . yes they look almost the same but an angel and a demon being related is totally unprecedented . so he doesnt even consider it

petey also makes sure that lil petey keeps his mouth shut about them being related by telling him that if dm ever finds out that hes his dad then he might never see him again .

but what petey fails to realize is that dms loyalty doesnt lie with the church . it lies with knight . his loyalty is far removed from any kind of institution . so when he evtnually does find out (i reckon through some way out of peteys control) and petey basicaly begs him not to tell heaven because of systematic issues and the possibility of lp getting executed dm immediately agrees. at this point hes close enough to lp and petey by extension that hes willing to forgo his loyalty to the church which only really existed because of knight in the first place . everything he had done religion wise up until this point was bc of knight . so if hes asked to choose between what knight might have wanted vs the real tangible being that is begging him not to tell heaven then he is going to choose the real tangible being . thats his family dawg.

essentially for dm the real living thing happenign in his world is infinitely more important than the moral system that hes been taught .

plot basically then goes to heaven finding out and sending angels to try and find lp as petey and dm get up to shenanigans to hide him . i reckon hell also gets involved in it . heaven and hell are "opposites" but theyre hand in hand when it comes to their shit polarized system . and lil petey as an angel being petey the demons son goes against this system and undermines their power . so both heaven and hell arent all too happy about it .

the climax is the event where dm is "corrupted" like i mentioned above . i reckon this is the event that brings god out of hibernation . smth smth free will smth smth complete and total rejection of heaven by one of its servants for a holy purpose smth smth . you feel me ? and i reckon the angels are abt to finish them off or smth and god is like HEY. STOP THAT. 👎👎👎👎

petey does not become an angel again at the end of the plot. dm does not become an angel or a demon or anything like that . he just stays a mortal being. and he still stays loyal to religion in knights memory despite being friendly with a demon, despite defying the church for said demon. the whole point is that this polarization of identity bullshit is stupid when humanity is so diverse . theres nuance snd complexity and its literlaly impossible to categorize people into discrete identities. thats not how it works

i reckon dm doesnt stay a priest just because that would require adhering to their standards which dm does not fuck with . so he probs just goes and finds some other job while staying religious. smth smth religion is not inherently evil its only the way that its used by hateful people

holy fuck this might be one of the longest lore dumps ive ever done about an au. god bles. LMFAOOOOOOOOO

#dm divine liberation au #my art

421 notes · View notes

blueiscoool · 5 months ago

Text

1,900-Year-Old Papyrus Records Roman Tax Fraud Trial

The Greek document details a court case in ancient Palestine involving tax fraud and provides insight into trial preparations in the Roman Empire

Back in 2014, a researcher from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem rediscovered an ancient papyrus while organizing a storeroom in the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Dead Sea Scrolls Unit. Once found in the Judean Desert, the document’s script had previously been classified as Nabataean—an ancient Aramaic language—but papyrus expert Hannah Cotton knew better.

“When I saw it marked ‘Nabataean,’ I exclaimed, ‘It’s Greek to me!’” the researcher says in a statement by the university.

Cotton and a team of experts spent the next decade deciphering the 133-line text, and their findings were recently published in the journal Tyche. Turns out, the document is the longest Greek papyrus ever found in the Judean Desert, and its newly translated content is particularly unique: a Roman lawyer’s detailed notes about the trial of two men accused of tax fraud.

“This is the best-documented Roman court case from Judaea, apart from the trial of Jesus,” says study coauthor Avner Ecker, a historian at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in the statement.

Per the study, the papyrus was likely written on the “eve of the Bar Kokhba Revolt,” a second-century Jewish uprising against Roman rule. The Roman Empire had colonized Judea—the southern part of ancient Palestine—some 200 years earlier. By 132 C.E., various Roman incursions upon Jewish life, including bans on religious practices, had taken their toll: The dwindling population of Jews in Palestine revolted. The rebellion, led by a man named Bar Kokhba, was crushed by the Romans in 135 C.E., and Jews were subsequently banned from Jerusalem.

The newly translated papyrus was written after Roman Emperor Hadrian’s visit to Judea around 130 C.E. and before the Bar Kokhba Revolt, per the study. It details Rome’s case against two individuals—Gadalias and Saulos—accused of forging documentation about selling and freeing slaves to bypass paying Roman taxes.

“Forgery and tax fraud carried severe penalties under Roman law, including hard labor or even capital punishment,” says study coauthor Anna Dolganov, a papyrus expert at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, in the statement.

The papyrus was written in “vibrant and direct” language by a strategizing prosecutor, advising another lawyer about pieces of evidence and anticipating objections, per the statement. The document also contains a “rapidly drafted transcript of the judicial hearing itself.”

As Dolganov says in the statement, “This papyrus is extraordinary because it provides direct insight into trial preparations in this part of the Roman Empire.”

Significant portions of the document are missing, making conclusions about the trial’s participants difficult to draw. Still, the researchers write that the prosecutors were likely “functionaries of the Roman fiscal administration” and suggest the defendants were Jews. The papyrus also makes mention of “an informer who denounced the defendants to Roman authorities.”

As Live Science’s Kristina Killgrove writes, the papyrus sheds light on the long-debated question of whether or not ancient Jewish people owned slaves. The document mentions that Saulos’ family owns multiple slaves, but whether those enslaved people were Jewish is unclear.

The trial’s location and the case’s outcome also remain mysterious. Per the study, proceedings may have been interrupted by the Bar Kokhba Revolt. Somehow, this papyrus ended up among a collection of documents stored in caves in the Judean Desert—the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were rediscovered in the mid-20th century.

As study coauthor Fritz Mitthof, a historian at the University of Vienna, says in the statement, the papyrus showcases the Romans’ governmental reach: They regulated private transactions even in remote regions of their empire.

By Sonja Anderson.

#1900-Year-Old Papyrus Records Roman Tax Fraud Trial #Hebrew University of Jerusalem #greek papyrus #Roman Emperor Hadrian #Bar Kokhba #Dead Sea Scrolls #ancient artifacts #archeology #archeolgst #history #history news #ancient history #ancient culture #ancient civilizations #roman history #roman empire #Ancient Greek #ancient israel

276 notes · View notes

blackpearlblast · 1 year ago

Text

(all slides have alt text)

Visit the Tax Resistance Collective's linktree here.

Direct links to the three QR codes in slide 6:

https://nwtrcc.org/war-tax-resistance-resources/pamphlets/

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bv6_WUGIA2ckcrD72SYLUZheOH3p6IjE/view?usp=sharing

https://www.warresisters.org/war-tax-resistance

#free palestine #tax resistance #war tax resistance #tax resistance collective

924 notes · View notes

serpentface · 5 months ago

Text

Wardin provincial tax magistrate on the annual Apomalo Tlinya (phrase close in meaning to 'journey of the late (autumn) sun'), which is a tax collection tour.

His station is marked by his white cloak, royal blue belt, gullfeather khattanocuy, the ability to bear a sword, and a scroll containing documents stamped with the Usoma's seal confirming his identity and authority. He does not travel alone, but is accompanied by a large retinue of scribes, soldiers, advisors, and servants.

All citizens have tax obligations regardless of class, and these are owed primarily in grain and livestock. This is based in this internal economy being predominantly a barter system (with its coin currency having direct value as precious metals and serving as a means of establishing fixed values for various trade goods) and heavily reliant on agricultural goods. It is significantly more difficult to evade or cheat on taxes when what you owe can be established by sight, measured in hard to miss livestock and fields of crops.

As such, taxes are collected via annual tours in which these magistrates (personally appointed by the Usoma and collecting in his name) tour their lands in person. The Apomalo Tlinya serves multiple purposes. It is primarily a method of collecting tax, but also doubles as a way to assess a province's agricultural wealth and well-being as a whole and to take an official census of the population.

This routine act of taxation has been integrated into official religious practice, being looped in with the bounty of the harvest season and thanksgiving to the face Inyamache for having provided the necessary long summer sunlight as the days grow shorter. The actual Apomalo Tlinya begins upon the official celebrations of the New Maize day in each capital city (usually observed on a separate day at the actual end of the harvest for each village), where the festival ends with the tax party leaving the city in procession. The magistrate always ceremonially rides a red bull khait, bearing a solar disk framed by royal dual-viper insignia on its horns. The bull's journey is compared to the ideal seasonal behavior of the sun, generating new life out of rain-fertile earth and then 'dying' after the harvest to allow for the rains to come. Villages who host the Apomalo Tlinya entourage each night experience a fringe benefit via permission to introduce any receptive mares to the bull and possibly get some (very valuable) calves out of it. The bull will be sacrificed at the end of the journey in a final act of thanksgiving, in hopes this offering will help ensure the next year is bountiful.

The attempted veneer of solar thanksgiving and harvest cheer aside, the Apomalo Tlinya visit is enjoyed by just about no one (except for perhaps the people lucky enough to get a pretty khait calf out of it), as it entails the personal loss of some of this aforementioned harvest. Nobility owe SUBSTANTIALLY higher taxes than commoners (given that they are considered to Own the majority of the crops/livestock, which is only Tended by their land's peasants), though the actual tax burden is proportionately steeper on the peasantry (whose tax obligations will come primarily out of their allotted share of the harvest, and/or any livestock they raise on the side). Taxes don't tend to be outright devastating in years with average crop yields, but an already bad year can be made ruinous by this visit. The timing also coincides with seasonal harvest festivities. A few unlucky villages every year may have their New Maize feast day interrupted by the sound of horns and a small legion of white-clad taxmen bearing down to collect.

Each province has only one tax magistrate, making this a lengthy and logistically complicated undertaking. It begins at the end of the harvest season (late summer), and the rounds may not finish until early winter. While it might be easier to divide these duties among a greater number of less-powerful officials, this allows taxation to remain Relatively centralized and performed by trusted appointees (often friends or relatives of the Usoma himself). This has had side effects of these officials becoming especially powerful individuals within each province, with very little checks in place to prevent corruption (beyond hope for sustained loyalty, often reinforced with special privileges and favors). Flagrant abuse of this system is rare, but more unpopular magistrates are commonly suspected to leverage additional off-the-books taxes for their own personal gain.

#I have a longer draft post about the tax system (also tributary system) tax evasion etc but it's not finished because I'm bad at #economics and need time to verify that it's not insane/stupid before I post it #Side note Hibrides was originally going to be married to the Son of one of these guys and didn't partly due to her father #pitying her Immense distress at the notion (he was creepy and his vibes were terrible) and largely because said official was embroiled #in the early stage of a scandal after leveraging a prized stud khait from a lesser nobleman with tax debt and keeping it for #himself/was probably doing things like this on the regular/was a known drunk and gambling addict who had made routine scenes #getting into fights at the Erubinnos city games. The potential groom probably had no involvement with this and it would be #ostensibly a more secure and prosperous arrangement but the dad was enough of a tinderbox of a person that it was like #Eh maybe the unaccomplished nobody son of a RESPECTED public figure/personal colleague is adequate #(there was economic motivation there too it was just the 2nd and lesser of two main options) (All things considered her situation #is Probably better the way it is)#imperial wardin

173 notes · View notes

honeykaes · 1 year ago

Text

inside/out

wriothesley x convict!reader II 2.6k

warning: smut, 18+ content, minors do not interact, afab!reader with no set pronouns, convict!reader, fingering, squirting, marking, biting, piercings, rough sex, hate sex, office sex, semi-public sex, unprotected sex, creampie, you and wriothesley are exes, angst, degradation, domestic disputes, set in fontaine before the traveler comes, fontaine plot points references, discussions of legal systems and injustice, mention of drugs, discussion of murder, open ending for interpretation, unedited

synopsis: you swore that you would leave the fortress of meropide when your sentence was done. And when you do, your relationship with wriothesley sours as your two break up. Five years later, you're shocked to end up right back in the iron prison where he’s there waiting for you.

The world seemed so distant to you. The whispering throughout sounded as if it were an untuned violin as they lapped up the drama they so desperately craved in their lives. The Oratrice Mécanique D'analyse Cardinale clicked in the irritating orchestra about to come up with its verdict.

The lawyer next to you fumbled with his papers with a look of shame and defeat in his eyes. Out of everyone in this room, you felt for him. He would surely bounce back with the next chum in your position.

The loud smacking of a cane caused the whispering to dissipate as you finally lifted your head up to witness the Iudeux of Fontaine.His eyes seemed heavy with sorrow. This wasn’t the first time you had witnessed this expression directed at you. Your eyes flickered to your God, Furina yawning as she whispered something to herself in her boredom.

You can’t help feeling irked at her expression; at all of their expressions.

Why were these people allowed to judge you?

The only answer you could find was justice was only for the privileged lucky, and you clearly had run out of it.

The contraption glowed, as Neuvillette collected your sentence.

“Under Article D of the Fontainian Code of Law, you are found guilty of fraud. Under Article J of Fontainian Law, you are found guilty of tax evasion…” he rambled on as you bit your lip.

It seemed that the rumors were right, after all. Most people who come out of the Fortress of Meropide find themselves right back in.

”And finally you are guilty of 1st degree murder of your former business partner, Henry Maugham. As a result, you will be serving a life sentence at the Fortress of Meropide,” Neuvillette announced.

You couldn’t help chuckling, covering your mouth from the cruel smile on your face. The whispering sparked once more, heavy eyes judging every movement you made. You finally lifted your hand away, smiling at the judge, but your eyes remained cold on Neuvillette’s somber ones

”Glad to see you never change, Monsieur."

The Melusine officers escorted you down to the Meropide, with only a small sack of clothes you were allowed to bring. From the photos, to the pat downs, it all seemed nostalgic to you. How many familiar faces would you see? You assumed quite a few.

This underwater prison you desperately wanted to escape from in the past, would be your sole future.

Finally finished with orientation, you threw your sack on your assigned bed sitting down, looking down on the steel ground. With the bed squeaking, your roommates whisper, feeling the heavy air as they make their escape and let you have some space.

Just as you sigh, thankful to have the room briefly to yourself to process, credit coupons hovered in your view as you looked up to see a tiny girl. Her long ear twitched in anticipation, ruby eyes gleaming at you, but at the same time, held pity in them.

”It’s nice to see you again. I really thought I wouldn’t have the opportunity once you left five years ago,” she chimed, brushing a bit of her baby blue hair.You looked at the tickets trying to give it back to her silently but she puffed her cheeks and shook her head.

”No! Think about it like this; this is for all the birthdays I missed,” she reasoned. You sighed, moving to massage the headache threatening to form.

-”...Sigwienne…why are you here? I’m sorry but-”

”Don’t apologize!” she interrupted, ears slightly drooping. “I, of all people, knew how much you wanted to get out. I-I’m here because the Duke wanted to see you.”

”No.”

”Please! I thought you wouldn’t be mad at him anymore,” she pleaded as eyes blew wide, pleading.Your gaze grew more bitter:

“So he sent you to soften the blow or some shit,” you grunted. Sigwienne furrowed her eyebrows in disappointment before you clicked your tongue catching your mistake.

”Sorry…language. I know…” you muttered. Your eyes looked up to see a guard at the door, glaring down at you. It seems she was the nice “cop” and if you kept refusing her, he would get involved. You turn back to Sigwienne’s pleading gaze.

”Fine. Lead the way…” you grumbled getting up from your place. Sigwienne smiled, clasping her tiny hand with yours.

”Off we go then!”

The only solace Sigwienne gave was a timid smile, waving as the door to the Duke’s office closed, leaving you with a man you haven’t seen in five years.

Your former boyfriend. Honestly, the man you naively thought you’d have happily ever after with.

He took a sip of tea before sighing, throwing papers on his desk as he leaned into his chair that creaked from the shifting weight. His hair was the same, black with odd streaks of gray hair he always had. He had a few new piercings on his ears though.

”In all these years, I didn’t think I’d see your face again,” he murmured.Your jaw tense and eyes narrowed. His voice seemed as irritating as he’s ever been.

“You think I wanted you to see your sorry ass again, Wriothelsey?” you barked back. -He clicked his tongue, rolling his icy eyes.

“I can see you’re not over our breakup..” he grumbled, drumming his fingers on the desk. You crossed your eyes, looking down with him with all the defiance you could muster up.

”If that’s what you want to call you being a selfish prick, sure,” you replied back.Wriothesley's nostrils flared but he didn’t spout any insults back.

”I thought you said you wanted to change for the better,” he asked, grabbing a file and holding it up. Of course he knew everything. He knew the second you were preparing to dive down to the Meropide.

”I did and I was. As if I wanted to come down here again. You know that out of everyone! But, I forgot something, people are cruel. And now, I’m stuck here for the rest of my life,” you raised your hands out, proclaiming loudly.

”...Just like you wanted.”

”I did not want that and you know it!” he shouted. It seemed his temper had started to reflect out. Tension was thick in the air as you laughed.

”Oh, right. My mistake. No you wanted to stay in this shithole and be the king of it, how could I forget? Your heart only had room for one person—the Meropide— not me!”

He rose from his seat, face beginning to go red in anger.

”Don’t! I’m not playing this game with you! You know how much I loved you. I loved you so much but you knew there’s nothing out there for me.”

Nails dug in your palms hearing his response as your emotions were beginning to get to you.

“Well you would have made something with ME out there!” you yelled, tears beginning to weld in your eyes. You turned away, wiping your tears and shuttered. You felt embarrassed being right in the same position as you were when the two of you first broke up and crying in front of him again after years.

”...I wanted us to build a new life together. Our sentences finished at the same time. You could have left with me, but you didn’t,” you whispered, angrily wiping your face. Silence fell the both of you besides your occasional sniffle and his heavy footsteps walking closer to you.

-”...And I wanted us to build a new life together here. But I wasn’t going to stop you from getting out of the Meropide.”

A frustrated grunt ripped from you as you couldn’t hold your irritation anymore. You marched to him, glaring at his form towering over you.

To your surprise, he leaned down and kissed you. And shocking you both, you kissed him back with just as much fervor.

”Selfish. Blockheaded. Smug dick--” you stammered out among the heated kisses, claiming your lips with every second. Nibbling on your bottom lip, his tongue darted in your parted mouth as you threw your arms around his shoulder. His kiss was of the familiar taste of Earl Grey you remembered he was so fond of.

“Moody, Frustrating, Manipulative asshole,” he grunted back. Article after article of clothing, fell on the floor as you fell onto his couch with a plop. Your hands ran across his firm stomach and chest.You gasped feeling his large palm cup against your sex.

”Still wearing the same underwear I smuggled in for our anniversary. I see you’re still a cheapskate or are you just sentimental?” he grunted in your ear. His finger firmly brushed across your clit, pleasure soon beginning to reverberate throughout your lower form. You groan, hitting his toned thigh.

”Shut the fuck up!”

Wriothesley slid your panties down until they caught on your ankle as his fingers glided along the bare cunt. He rubbed your clit with his calloused thumb.

”I see you still have rough ass hands,” you chimed. Wriothesley rolled his eyes, before chuckling.

”Yet you can’t get enough of them as always” he shot back. Fingers slowly sank inside of you as you threw your head back. His digits curled and stretched you out, tenderly pumping at a decent pace as you squirmed under his touch.

His hips bucked slightly against your thigh where you could feel how hard his cock was, desperately pressed against his gray slacks.He hitched your legs over his broad shoulders as he nibbled your inner thighs—leaving a wake of discolored marks and soft bite marks.

”Fuck! Fuck!”you whined out, hands shooting out to pull his soft hair. Your legs caved in closer to his cheeks as he pumped his faster.

He leaned in, letting his tongue brush against your clit as it was the last thing to push you over. Back arched, fluid spraying from you as he continually lapped at your overstimulated cunt as the liquid made a mess of his face and the couch.

As your body fell, breath heavy from your high, his fingers pulled out of you—walls unconsciously tightening, wishing they would stay. Satisfied with your fucked out expression, he smirked wiping his hand with his chin from your fluids. You narrow your eyes at him, watching him swirl his tongue around cleaning his fingers that were coated in your essence.

”Your face, it’s pissing me off,” you grunted. Wriothesley briefly laughed. Your heart fluttered momentarily. You hated how much you missed it.

“Said the person who squirted on my face. Been a long time hasn’t it, hm?” he teased. You glared before his eyes softened to something genuine.

”..Yeah, me too.”

He sat on his couch, shifting his pants down as his cock slapped on his lower stomach

He stroked his length as it pulsated in his grip. Every once and a while, a wavering moan left his lips. It seemed he had a new piercing too.

A Prince Albert piercing, glinting from the light and precum budding at his flushed tip.You shifted your hips, contemplating if you should go to the next step of someone that was your ex, but seeing him shutter, muffling his mouth and hearing your name was the push you needed.

”Fuck I missed you inside of me,” you groaned, kissing him. You hovered over his cock lining yourself up before sinking down. His hands found their way to the globe of your ass, grabbing the mounds tightly before you managed to reach his hilt.

”Like old times…” he whispered out, hazy lust gazing over his eyes.

”Just like it…” you moaned.

His pace was relentless as you called out his name. His jaw was clenched, watching your slick dripped down your thighs and his cock as he continued to slam you down on it. Your whole body jumped, as his hips moved up to meet him pulling you down his cock.

”I missed you so fucking much. Your smile. Your voice…fuck your scent. I couldn’t sleep properly for months when you left.” he groaned.

”I-I couldn’t either…fuck! There! Right there!!” you yelled out. HIs cock continued to press against your soft walls, hitting the spot that caused your voice to reach higher and higher, stomach churning as you almost hit your release.

“ ‘Thesley,” you cried out, nails harpooning into his back as you brought him closer to you. Your body shuttered, walls quivering and tightening. He clenched his jaw, having a harder time bouncing you on his cock.

”...I still fucking love you!” Wriothesley grunted, sinking his teeth into your neck. With one final rough thrust— his hips faltered—as thick ropes of cup jet out and inside of you. He slowly thrusted, moving to try to nurse down his high.

You shifted your neck, leaning his chin up before you kissed him once more.

For a second, just for a second, it was like you never left him. That you two were still together.That you were in your early twenties, dumb and in love.

Wriothesley broke the kiss first as your fantasy was briefly shattered. His eyes were soft but clearly searching for something within yours.

“...You still never told me why you are back here,” he replied. You groaned, and rolled your eyes pushing his face away as he grunted. You rose from him, his cum and your slick drooling from your hole before you went to grab your panties and put them back on.

Wriothesley merely sighed, lifting his boxers and pants back on.

”...I was framed,” you admitted, putting your bra on. Just as Wriothesley was about to put his shirt on, he looked up in shock.

”What”

”Out there, I owned a small cute cafe. You know the one I always talked about based on a beloved classic, Les Aventures d’Alice au Pays des Merveilles,” you chuckled to yourself, recalling reading it to Sigwienne with Wriothesley at times.

“ I didn’t have funds. Who would fund an ex-convict, y’know. But I met Henry, the aristocrat who promised my dreams. I thought things were going well until I discovered he had used the business as a front to sell absinthe.” You looked down, finally buttoning your shirt on and looking at Wriothesley’s somber face.

“He tried to kill me, I killed him first.”

Wriothelsey briefly closed his eyes processing the information before buttoning his own shirt.

“..But you know this country more than anyone else. He had power after death, and I was pinned with the crime by his frustrated associates,” you whispered, adjusting your color to hide the marks you knew Wriothesley left.

“I can help. We can catch them and get you back--”

“There’s no point.” you sighed, but smiled. You chuckled humorlessly, walking to the door to his office. You clenched the handle, your back turned to hide your expression.

Your real expression.

”I guess I wasn’t meant to be out there after all."

#genshin impact x reader #genshin impact smut #genshin smut #wriothesley x reader #wriothesley smut #wriothesley imagines #wriothesley scenarios #gi smut #wriothesley angst

883 notes · View notes

insightfultake · 5 months ago

Text

Bridging the Tax Gap: Addressing Middle-Class Tax Evasion in India

India's middle class is vital to the nation's economy. Many express concerns over their substantial income tax burden. Beyond inefficient government services and pervasive corruption, frustration arises from widespread tax evasion within their ranks. While many dutifully pay taxes through transparent channels like cards or UPI, a significant segment remains outside the tax net. This leads to substantial revenue losses for the country...Expand

#Middle-class tax evasion in India #India Income tax compliance #Tax exemptions #Agricultural income tax exemption #Tax net expansion #Direct tax collection #Fiscal policy India #Taxpayer compliance #Government revenue loss #Tax evasion statistics.

0 notes

lisbeth-kk · 4 months ago

Text

As proposed by @fluffbruary, I have made a Valentine's rec list. Now that I've read through it, It seems to have become more of a love letter...

First of all, I want to thank someone special in the Sherlock fandom - the remarkably talented podficcer extraordinaire @podfixx There isn't a day that goes by without that comforting voice weaving its way to my heart and core. Picking a favourite is almost impossible, because every single one is a gem. But, there is one I will promote a little extra on this romantic day.

The Wedding Garments by cwb

Summary: This is the story of a young consulting detective who wants nothing to do with marriage and an army doctor who wants to find true love. It's 2020 post-Brexit England and the British government is encouraging arranged marriages. Candidates meet through state-run agencies and date in hopes of finding love (and tax benefits). Sherlock doesn't need or want a spouse, at least not until John Watson shows up. Hesitant to give in to his more carnal urges because of the way they derail his mind, how will Sherlock progress toward the more intimate aspects of a relationship? The answer lies in a very special wedding gift.

**********************************************************

There are authors and fics out there that get less attention than they deserve. This story is just one example of that. It's utterly sweet and there's a dog! Sherlock's dog. Please, give it some love!

Late Nigh Emergency by consult_this_prick

Summary: Sherlock shows up late one night with his sick dog at the doors of John's veterinarian clinic.

There is a collection on AO3 I want to direct your attention to. It's called Johnlock on Holiday in FTH 2024 The title says it all, really. Perhaps you'll find some holiday tips.

*************************************************************

Of course, you don't won't to miss anything the giants of this fandom has written. (I'm only going to name a few of them)

Kaleidoscope by @totallysilvergirl

The Last Envoy by @calaisreno

John Watson's Big Adventure by @mydogwatson

The Wisteria Tree by @silentauroriamthereal

A Quiet Life by @discordantwords

The Silence Between the Notes by @jbaillier

Lost in a Good Book by @khorazir

To Stand Before the Storm by @arwamachine

***********************************************************

Honourable mentions of writers that never dissapoint:

A Strange Encounter by @holmesianlove

Rache (German for Revenge) by @blogstandbygo

By the Bi by @keirgreeneyes

When the Worst Parts Begins by @thalialunacy

Without Complexities or Pride by @raina-at

White Pony Tattoo by @meetinginsamarra

The Murder of Sir Emory J. Amat by @chriscalledmesweetie

Kinesis by @stellacartography

An Experiment in Ethanol by @the-reading-lemon

Like a Man by @hubblegleeflower

The Gilded Cage by @the-pen-pot

***********************************************************

It wont't do to forget the fantastic artists this fandom is so lucky to be blessed with. Go visit their blog to see their portfolio.

@petite-madame @bluebellofbakerstreet @helloliriels @justanobsessedpan @gooolabatooo @ceruleanmindpalace @nitaelwyart @a-victorian-girl @starrosea

************************************************************

And last, but certainly not least, the fandom's librarian, the keeper of lists for every possible and impossible prompt, AU, trope, etc - Steph @inevitably-johnlocked

*************************************************************

We have a saying where I live: no one mentioned, no one forgotten, and I am certain that I have forgotten many amazing people, but not mentioning anyone would undermine the task completely, so there's that. It is what it is...

Much love to you all!

#fluffbruary 2025 #sherlock fandom #valentine's day #rec lists #fandom love #thanks for reblogging!

106 notes · View notes

zeroinfyblog · 1 year ago

Text

#https://zeroinfy.in/collections/ca-final-direct-tax

0 notes

batboyblog · 9 months ago

Text

Things the Biden-Harris Administration Did This Week #36

September 27-October 4 2024

President Biden and Vice-President Harris have lead the federal response to Hurricane Helene. President Biden's leadership earned praise from the Republican Governors of South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia, as well as the Democratic Governor of North Carolina and local leaders. Thousands of federal workers are on the ground in effected communities having given out to date over 8 million meals, over 7 million letters of water. Both President Biden and Vice-President Harris have been on the ground in resent days meeting with effected families. During her trip to Georgia Vice-President Harris announced that the federal government will reimburse state and local government 100% of the costs from Hurricane Helene.

A strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association that briefly shut down ports on the East Cost and Gulf ended in a tentative deal. Both sides thanked Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg for helping push the deal through. President Biden and Vice-President Harris had expressed solidarity with the works when the strike was announced and President Biden directed Secretary Buttigieg to take the lead in pressuring management to make a deal with the Longshoremen. The ILA got a 62% raise as part of the agreement.

Vice President Harris announced new actions to help those struggling with medical debt. This actions include new standards from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on debt collection. the CFPB plans on requiring debt collectors to confirm debts are valid and accurate before engaging in collection actions. As well as cracking down on debt collectors that collect on debt that is not owed by patients. Other actions included an announcement by the DoD that it was reducing pricing for civilians who get medical treatment at DoD hospitals and a track down on tax-exempt hospitals who are required by law to offer financial assistance but often do not. These steps come after Vice President Harris in June announced plans to remove medical debt from credit scores. Following the Vice President's call to action North Carolina moved forward a plan to eliminate medical debt for 2 million people in the state. President Biden's American Rescue Plan funds have been used by state and local Democrats to eliminate $7 billion dollars in medical debt.

The Department of Transportation announced $62 Billion in infrastructure funding for 2025. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by President Biden this will be $18 billion dollars more than was spent in 2021. The Biden-Harris Admin has helped support over 60,000 infrastructure projects across all 50 states, rebuilding roads and bridges, breaking ground on America's first high speed rail, updating ports and airports, and breaking high speed internet to rural communities.

The Department of Transportation announced $1 Billion dollars of investment in America's passenger rail future. This comes on top of $8.2 billion in investments announced in December 2023. The funds will help expand and modernize intercity passenger rail nationwide.

The Departments of Energy and Agriculture announced a $2.8 billion joint project to bring 100% carbon pollution-free energy to the rural midwest. The DoE is investing $1.5 billion into helping bring the Palisades Nuclear Plant in Michigan back on-line. Shut down in 2022 plans to refit and reopen it to allow the plant to keep generating clean energy till 2051. Once back online the Palisades Nuclear Plant will help stop an anticipated 4.47 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions a year, or 111 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions over its lifetime. The USDA is investing $1.3 billion in two rural electric cooperatives, Wolverine Power Cooperative and Hoosier Energy, which cover rural communities in Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana. This investment will help Wolverine and Hoosier connect to the Palisades Plant, reduce prices for customers, and reduce climate pollution, putting Wolverine Power on the path to be 100 percent carbon-free energy before 2030.

The Treasury and the IRS announced that 30 million Americans, across 24 states will qualify for free direct filing of their taxes in 2025. The IRS says that the average American spends $270 dollars and 13 hours filing their taxes. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, passed by President Biden with Vice President Harris' tie breaking vote, Americans will be able to file their taxes quickly and for free directly with the IRS. Tax payers in Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming will in 2025 be able to use direct file.

The USDA announced $7.7 billion in funding for Climate-Smart Practices on Agricultural Lands. This represents the single biggest investment in these programs in USDA history. Since implementation began in 2023 this conservation assistance has helped over 28,500 farmers and ranchers apply conservation to 361 million acres of land.

The Department of Energy announced $1.5 billion in investments in transmission infrastructure to help ensure our grid is reliable and resilient. This will help support nearly 1,000 miles of new transmission lines across Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. These lines will bring 7,100 MW of new capacity and create 9,000 good paying union jobs. Studies find to keep up with growth and meet our climate goals of carbon free energy the US will need to triple the 2020 transmission capacity by 2050. This is an important step to meeting that goal.

#Thanks Biden #Joe Biden #kamala harris #Politics #US politics #American Politics #climate change #climate action #carolina hurricanes #unions #longshoremen #rail #taxes

1K notes · View notes

witchezandwonderz · 2 months ago

Text

Even the Quiet Burn

Pairing: Sihtric x Reader Word count: 3.5k Sihtric meets a beautifully shy girl Really enjoyed writing this one <3 Master list Prompt List (Requests are open) Tagged list: (If you want to be added or removed, please let me know.) @leftoverp1zza @somebody6468 @cheesesandwichsanto @diorpar @tessakate @miksmom-blog @whitedarkmoonflower @imagines-halfpai

The first time Sihtric saw her, she didn’t speak.

She stood at the edge of the village green, hands wrapped around a bundle of dried herbs, eyes fixed somewhere beyond the horizon. The wind moved her dark hair across her face like drifting smoke, but she didn’t brush it away. She didn’t move at all, she just stood, watching nothing, like someone who had learned long ago to vanish in plain sight.

Sihtric had been sent on a simple mission, one so simple that Uhtred had felt it appropriate to send Sihtric alone. All he had to do was collect taxes from the nearby villagers, however, very quickly into the journey, Sihtric had been stopped and outnumbered by a group of men. He was unsure as to whether they were Saxon, Dane, or either. He didn't care.

Although outnumbered, Sihtric was skilled enough to fight off all men- perhaps six or seven. He was not too badly hurt, but had been stabbed by a blade in his left arm- nothing too harmful, but enough to sting like a bitch.

Hence why he found this village, or settlement, whatever it was. He had never been here before, despite it being not a great distance from where he had been staying.

He dismounted slowly, his hand pressed firm against the wound, his blood warm and sticky beneath his tunic. He sighed, not due to the pain, but due to the inconvenience that lied in how much blood there was. The village didn’t greet him. No one ran to help, no one shouted in alarm. They watched him like prey watches a predator-cautious and still, hoping that he might pass through without trouble.

Only she moved.

Not towards him, no. She moved in the opposite direction, fading back between narrow stone houses, into shadow. She did not see him, for she was so wrapped in her own dark thoughts that she guided her way through life in a most peculiar way.

Sihtric frowned. Something about her-something in the way she moved; elegance clouded her whole being as she walked through the greenery. Her presence lingered even after she’d gone-stuck in his chest like the blade had. She hadn’t looked at him. Hadn’t flinched or stared or crossed herself like the others. Or perhaps she had not seen him, he pondered. If that was the case then she needed to be more aware of her surroundings, especially in this circumstance.

He asked a nearby man where the healer was. He simply shrugged. A woman pointed- without words- toward the woods behind the village.

Toward her.

Of course.

Sihtric rolled his eyes, mumbling a slight thanks to the woman. He could not help but feel like this place was strange.

Shaking away his thoughts, he followed the mysterious woman's trail through the huge trees. He could not help but feel the beauty within the forest that surrounded him; although he spent his days in forests, and surrounded by greenery, it was truly beautiful here- almost magical.

As he walked further, a small hut came into his visions. It was placed right in the centre of an opening in the forest, and quite a significant distance from the village itself. The earth beneath him crunched with each step.

"Boy." He heard a deep voice call. He stopped in his tracks and swung his head up to look at who it belonged to. Across the green, to his left, he saw a man. Not old, but not young, the man stood with his hand in the air in the hopes of getting Sihtric's attention. Sihtric tightened his hand on the held of his sword, always ready to protect himself if necessary.

The man stepped closer, and Sihtric mimicked his actions cautiously.

"I do not mean to bother you." The man began, Sihtric nodded to signal him to continue, which he obliged, "The healer, the girl, she is quiet, and painfully shy." He explained. Sihtric just kept nodding.

"She is painfully shy," he repeated, "I do not know you, and I do not know your kindness, if any, but please just be patient and gentle with her."

Sihtric was slightly taken aback, not because he had never met a shy girl, no. But because it was extremely rare to find kindness in this world. In fact, he found it quite touching that the girl had someone looking out for her.

"Do you know her well?" Sihtric asked. The man shook his head.

"No, no one does, but we do know that she has led a hard life and came here to escape. We just do not know what she escaped." He gave Sihtric a final nod, and then spun on his heel and disappeared into the trees.

Sihtric still thought that the village was strange.

Still, strange or not, he needed someone to look at his wound before the bleeding got worse. He took one last glance at the spot where the man had disappeared, then turned his attention back to the hut.

It wasn’t much. Weathered wood, moss growing between the stones at its base, a thin column of smoke twisting out from the crooked chimney. A single window, shuttered, and a door that looked like it hadn’t been opened with urgency in years. It looked more like a place forgotten by the world than one someone chose to live in.

He knocked once. No answer. He knocked twice. No answer.

He hesitated, then pushed the door open slowly. It creaked like it resented him. Inside, the air smelled of dried lavender, damp earth, and something sharp- like crushed nettle. The roaring fire meant that the small room was warm, and he liked how it made him feel.

She stood near the far wall, half-turned, one hand resting on a bowl, the other frozen in mid-reach. She had gone still the moment he entered- like a deer caught in the open. Her eyes, wide and dark, locked onto his sword before drifting upward, slowly, to meet his face.

“I—” she began, her voice little more than a whisper.

Sihtric raised one hand slowly, palm open, a peace offering. “I was told you’re the healer.”

Her eyes flicked to the blood soaking his sleeve. Her throat bobbed as she swallowed, then nodded.

“Yes,” she said softly. “I-I can help. Sit, please.”

He moved carefully, so as not to spook her, and lowered himself into the chair that she had gestured towards. She didn’t come closer to begin with. She hovered near her shelves, hands trembling slightly as she gathered bandages and salves. In all honesty, she was very much used to only healing the old men within the peaceful village. She had absolutely no dealings with handsome, muscly men trapsing into her home.

Sihtric watched her. Not in a threatening way-just curious. She didn’t speak like the others. No flattery, no fear disguised as respect. Just… caution. Real caution. And soft eyes, kind eyes.

“What’s your name?” he asked gently.

She hesitated. Looked down. Then, without meeting his gaze, replied, “Y/N”

A pause.

“That’s a pretty name. It suits you.” He said, voice softer now. “I’m Sihtric.”

Her face burned a deep shade of crimson, but luckily, they were so close to the fire that she hoped the flames would disguise the blush. She did not realise, however, that he had in fact noticed. She nodded again. Then, finally, she approached him-barely a breath away. Kneeling beside him, she reached for his arm, her fingers cold as they brushed the soaked fabric. She flinched when his breath hitched from the pain, then glanced up, guilt in her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

He frowned, watching her.

“Don’t be,” he said. “It’s only pain. I’ve felt worse.”

She breathed an awkward little laugh, which made him smile more than he had anticipated.

Her laugh faded as quickly as it came, as if she hadn’t meant to let it slip. She kept her eyes lowered, lashes casting shadows across her cheeks as she carefully peeled back the fabric of his tunic. The blood had dried and clung to the wound like second skin.

“This will sting,” she murmured, barely louder than the crackling fire.

Sihtric nodded. “Go on.”

She worked in silence, save for the soft rustle of linen and the clink of a glass jar being opened. Her hands were quick, efficient-but still shaking, just slightly. Not from lack of skill, but from being near him.

“Are you always this nervous,” he asked, tilting his head a little, “or just around men with swords?”

She blinked, startled, and he almost regretted teasing her-until he saw her lips curve upwards, and then part slightly as she replied, “only the ones that bleed on my floor.”

His brow rose.

A shy smile ghosted across her face. It wasn’t confidence-but it was something. He held still, not wanting to chase it away.

“You should lie down soon,” she said softly. “The salve will make you tired.” She finally looked up at him properly- into his eyes. He used the opportunity wisely, locking his gaze into hers.

“And you?” he asked.

She looked away.

“Will you rest too?” he clarified.

Her brows knit together, like she didn’t quite understand the question. Or perhaps wasn’t used to being asked anything at all.

“I- I don’t sleep well,” she said after a moment. “It’s quiet here, but… quiet doesn’t mean safe.”

That struck something deep in him.

“I know,” he said, voice low. “I’ve slept with a blade under my head for most of my life.”

She looked into his eyes again. A long, uncertain pause passed between them, but something shifted in the silence. Not trust, not yet- something softer.

Sihtric leaned back in the chair, wincing a little.

“Still hurts?” she asked.

“Not as much,” he said. Then smiled faintly. “Not with you here.”

Her eyes widened, and she turned away quickly, pretending to busy herself with putting away the bandages. But he could see her smile, just barely, beneath the curtain of her hair.

Despite the smile, he sighed and cursed himself. He couldn't help but flirt with her. She was beautiful, quiet, delicate and sweet. The women that normally surrounded him were the absolute polar opposite to being quiet, delicate and sweet.

"I don't have anywhere to rest." He said, in the hopes that she would offer her home as a place for recovery.

She did not respond right away, and he watched her as she pondered her thoughts, fiddling with jars and herbs as a distraction. After a few moments, she put a jar down and said, "I do not have much, but you are welcome to stay."

He nodded slowly, but didn’t thank her. Not out of rudeness, but because gratitude would only make it heavier for her. Instead, he said, “I’ll sleep by the fire. No trouble.”

She nodded again, and her hands went back to her jars, though she wasn’t doing anything with them now-just moving them from one place to another. Her mind clearly elsewhere.

That night, she didn’t sleep.

She lay curled on the thin bed in the corner of the hut, facing the wall, but her eyes stayed open long after the fire had burned low. She listened to every shift of his weight, every sigh, every small, unconscious sound. He didn’t snore-thank the gods-but the mere fact of another presence, a man in her home, made sleep merely impossible.

But he never moved toward her. Never touched her things. Never crossed the invisible line she'd drawn with her silence. In fact, sometime deep into the night, when the wind howled outside and the trees groaned, she heard him whisper softly-perhaps not even to her, just into the dark:

“You’re safe.”

And maybe, for the first time in months, she almost believed it.

Two days passed.

He healed quickly-too quickly for her liking, and his.

“You’re well now,” she said, her voice quiet, but firm. “You can go home.”

Sihtric didn’t answer at first. He looked at her from where he sat, legs stretched out before the fire, arm flexing slightly as he tested the bandaged wound again.

She waited. Patiently, politely. The kind of patience you build when you’ve spent too much time hoping people will leave you be.

He sighed through his nose, then slowly rose to his feet.

“Well,” he said, brushing his hands on his tunic, “I suppose it’s time then.”

The words caused a sudden pang in her heart; if he left now, she would never see him again. He took one slow step towards the table, where her bundle of sharp tools and a heavy pestle lay, and then, without a hint of hesitation, grabbed the blade’s edge with his bare hand and pulled down as harshly as he could. He cursed as the blade ripped through his skin.

“Sihtric!” she gasped, leaping forward as blood welled instantly across his palm.

He grinned.

Grinned.

It was boyish and smug and so unbelievably intentional that she just stood there, staring, speechless.

"I’m not quite healed after all,” he said casually, holding his hand up for inspection like he hadn’t just sliced it wide open. “That was clumsy, wasn't it?" He smirked.

She blinked at him. Then her lips twitched.

“You absolute idiot.” She said, a rare flash of warmth in her voice, half-scolding, half-laughing, shaking her head.

He liked the sound of it far too much.

She, not so carefully, took his wrist and examined the damage with a small shake of her head. “Why would you do that?”

“I like it here.” He said, with no shame at all

She raised a brow, trying very hard not to smile. “You like bleeding all over my floor?”

“I like you.” His voice softened, dropping just a little lower.

Her hands froze for just a moment.

He felt it-the shift in the air. Her breath hitched in her throat, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, after a pause, she reached for a clean cloth, wrapping his hand again with care.

“You’re ridiculous,” she murmured, her eyes flickering up at him, and then quickly fixating back on his hand.

“Mm,” he hummed. “And yet, here I am. Bleeding, again. In your hut. By choice.”

This time, she didn’t hide her smile. It was small, and reluctant, but real.

“You’ll run out of limbs to injure at this rate,” she warned him.

He leaned a little closer, just enough to brush his shoulder near hers. “Then I’ll just have to start inventing reasons.”

She laughed softly, shaking her head again. A piece of hair had fallen from her loose braid, and was in front of her eyes. Sihtric used this opportunity to test the waters with her. Carefully, he used his index finger of his uninjured hand, and gently moved the hair- staring at her face as he did so.

Her face instantly turned red, and he smiled as it did so. He liked the affect that he had on her. He liked her. A lot. The mere two days that they had spent together meant everything to him. He told her things from his past that he had never told anyone, or simply did not speak of. Equally, hearing his trauma and heartache led her to share the demons of her past.

She didn’t move.

Her eyes flicked up to his, wide, bright and uncertain, but there was something else beneath it. Something curious. Something... unspoken.

Sihtric’s smile softened, no longer teasing. “There you are,” he said quietly.

She blinked. “I don't understand? I have been here the entire time.”

“You. That smile. That blush.” His voice dropped just slightly. “I’ve been chasing it since I walked through that door.”

She didn’t know what to say to that. No one had ever spoken to her like that-not without expectation, not without edge or threat beneath the words. Just simple truth. Disarming truth.

And so, she did the only thing she could think to do-she scowled at him. Or at least, she tried to, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“You’re very full of yourself,” she mumbled, battling with the broad grin that was threatening to give away her true emotions.

Sihtric grinned, leaning back with dramatic ease. “Only because I’ve finally gotten you to speak in full sentences.”

That earned him an elbow to the ribs-gentle, but not undeserved.

“I speak,” she defended.

“Mm, shy little things don’t count,” he teased. “I mean real talking. Like this. With fire in it.”

She looked down again, fiddling with the cloth around his hand, but she didn’t deny it. Not this time.

“I’m not used to this,” she admitted, so quietly he almost didn’t catch it.

“To what?”

Her lips pressed together. Her voice came out in a near-whisper. “To someone being... like you.”

He furrowed his brows, curious, "Like me?"

She blushed again, this time only slightly, sweetly. "Kind, and warm."

Sihtric’s expression shifted, the humour dimming just a little-but the warmth didn’t leave. He tilted his head, voice softer now. “Then let me be the first. And if I’m not the last, I’ll find whoever comes after and make sure they deserve you.”

That startled her. She looked up sharply-but there was no mockery in his face. Just sincerity.

He suddenly shook his head, "I did not mean what I just said."

His words surprised her, and she felt that pang in her heart again. That was, until he continued,

"I want to be the only, I do not want another to come after me."

Her breath caught.

She stared at him, still as stone, his words settling over her like snowfall-soft, but heavy. A weight she didn’t know what to do with.

Sihtric’s gaze didn’t waver. There was nothing teasing in it now, no playful smirk. Just truth. Raw and open and terrifyingly real.

“I don’t say things I don’t mean,” he added, voice lower now, steadier. “But that-what I just said… I meant that more than anything.”

She looked away, almost instinctively, because no one had ever said something like that to her. Not with that kind of certainty. Not with that kind of gentleness. Part of her wished that she could just turn herself invisible- she had wished for this gift her entire life.

Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve, but her voice came, quiet but clear. “You don’t even know me.”

“I know enough,” he said without hesitation. “I know your hands are careful, even when they shake. I know you speak like someone who’s had to hide their voice. I know you sleep lightly, and don’t trust easily. And I know you’ve made me want to stay longer than I should. I know that you are beautiful, and sweet, and kind and delicate.”

That made her look at him again.

“You don’t belong here,” she whispered. “Not in this place. Not with… someone like me.”

Sihtric leaned forward, slow, measured- so she could pull away if she wanted to. But she didn’t.

“I belong wherever you are,” he said.

She stared at him for a long moment, her eyes shimmering in the firelight. Then, without thinking, she reached out-just a small touch, fingertips to his uninjured hand. A moment, a gesture, but for her, it was everything.

He didn’t speak. Didn’t push. Just turned his hand so that her fingers rested against his palm.

Her fingers stayed resting lightly in his palm, neither of them moving, both quietly stunned by the weight of what wasn’t being said.

The fire cast flickering shadows across the room. Her face was calm now, but her eyes still held that guarded storm beneath the surface-years of silence, of learning to shrink herself into corners. Her thoughts were battling- allow herself to be happy, or say no due to her fear. She wasn't sure what to do next.

Sihtric watched her. Not just her face, but the way her breath rose and fell. The way she tilted slightly toward him, even if she didn’t realise it.

He thought of saying something else. Something soft again. Something slow.

But he didn’t.

Instead-without warning, without a word-he leaned forward and kissed her.

It wasn’t a hesitant kiss. It wasn’t gentle in the way she might have expected.

It was sudden. Sure. Like he’d been holding it back for far too long and finally let go. Like it was a last minute, intrusive thought. Which, in all honesty, it was.

Her breath caught. Her fingers twitched in his.

And then, just as Sihtric was about to pull away and apologise, she kissed him back.

When he finally pulled back, he didn’t speak. He only looked at her, breathing a little heavier than before. Waiting for her to retreat. But she didn’t.

Instead, she stood. Quietly. Walked around behind him.

Then, carefully, and extremely shyly, she knelt beside him again, not to tend his wound, but to slip her arms around his side. To rest her head on his shoulder.

Sihtric exhaled softly, the tension in his chest easing. He smiled to himself, excited to finally feel the comforting warmth of her.

He leaned into her, their bodies curling together like puzzle pieces finally falling into place. No more words were needed.

-------------------

Likes, reblogs and comments are very much appreciated :)

Again, my requests are open so feel free to ask. Prompt list is linked at the top if you wish to use that<3

#tlk fandom #the last kingdom #tlk fanfic #last kingdom #sihtric kjartansson #sihtric tlk #sihtric x you #sihtric fic #sihtric x reader #the last kingdom fanfic

69 notes · View notes