#and also i signed up for my first credit card but the interest rates are really high which i didn’t realize. and i can’t log into the bank a

[pepprs]

mutuals i got myself into a situation so sticky i don’t even know how to describe it (edit: *describes it* lol). please send thoughts of successful escape my way lol

[redshift-13]

An excellently written article. A few snippets:

President Milei began his assault on the Argentine state immediately upon taking office last December. Right before Christmas, he signed a “megadecree,” or omnibus executive order, that deregulated significant parts of the economy. It reduced severance compensations and transferred workers from union-assigned health care to a voluntary system; lifted ceilings on rent, credit card interests, land tenure, and private health insurance plans; pushed the privatization of state-owned companies (“All government companies should close down,” Milei has explained); paved the way for unregulated international fishing, indiscriminate mining, and unsupervised tactical burning of forests. On December 29 he sent Congress a sweeping “ley ómnibus” with 664 articles. One of them would grant him emergency executive powers, allowing him to unilaterally rule on fiscal and pension matters for up to two years, without Congressional approval. In some three months Milei has also closed or weakened the ministries of education, labor, human rights, women, and the environment.

...

Disinvestment in social support leads to a perverse populist conclusion: social spending itself is the problem, not that the spending isn't high enough.

It's a common criticism, justified in my view, that conservative voters often vote against their own self-interest. (I don't mean to imply by contrast that voting for the Dems is a panacea by any means.) In Strangers in Their Own Land - Anger and Mourning on the American Right, Arlie Russell Hochschild examines specific individual cases of working and middle class voters who, despite living in a polluted environment with high cancer rates, nevertheless arrive at the conclusion that we have to abolish the Environmental Protection Agency.

Through a combination of cynical intuition and programmatic dishonesty to hide their actual motives, Republicans routinely propose cuts to, among other things, Social Security and Medicare, in the hope that voters will blame these programs for being insufficient, forget that the insufficiency has actual perpetrators, and will then be amenable to free market "solutions."

A similar or identical logic seems to be at work in Argentina, and with predictable results:

Voters also became increasingly ambivalent about the benefits of the welfare state as its effectiveness dwindled. For most of the second half of the twentieth century, Argentina’s literacy rate was close to 95 percent, supported by a massive public education system. Today, for every hundred students who enter public primary school, only forty-six graduate passing the Pruebas Aprender—a standardized test in mathematics and Spanish. Just half make it to the end of high school, and a paltry sixteen pass the version of the test designed for that stage. Public hospitals were once the gems of the Argentine welfare state. As the middle and upper-middle classes absconded to the private system, however, the quality of care declined. Today half of lower-income patients have not visited a doctor in a year; those who do face waits two or three times longer than those in the private health care system. “Most of those funding public goods have abandoned them a long time ago,” the sociologists Javier Auyero and Sofia Servián have argued. “Those who use them feel them broken and shattered.”

...

The libertarian "free market" inevitably requires a great deal of coercion and the abrogation of basic rights. So, it's not surprising that a kind of moral inversion appears, a political transubstantiation where actual sources of oppression are transformed into victims, and the efforts to alleviate immiseration are vilified.

Even as he rails against the political caste, Milei has been careful to support the military. His vice president, Victoria Villarruel, is the granddaughter, daughter, and niece of members of the armed forces. Her uncle, the intelligence officer Ernesto Villarruel, worked at the clandestine detention center El Vesubio during the military dictatorship. Villarruel herself has set up the Center for Legal Studies on Terrorism and its Victims, which called for the release of many military figures imprisoned for torture, assassinations, and kidnappings. It’s an intervention that effectively redefines human rights. Villarruel presents “urban crime, state negligence or corruption, and traffic accidents” as human rights violations on par with the military’s crimes, Verónica Torras, executive director of the human rights organization Memoria Abierta, told me. “At the same time…[the government] moves towards an increasing criminalization of social and economic rights.”

Much more at the link (unfortunately behind a paywall).

[bitcoinsiders]

Bitcoin Mining – Buy Low Mine High

Meanwhile, I have been active in the crypto industry for over 10 years, and one aspect of Bitcoin that has always fascinated me is mining. Bitcoin mining is the backbone of the network, where machines solve complex calculations in search of new Bitcoins. Bitcoin mining is the process of creating new bitcoins and verifying transactions on the Bitcoin network. At the end of the article, you will find more technical explanations about mining, but I don't want to bore everyone with that. During my crypto career, mining has come across my path several times as an option to invest in or get more involved with. However, it never became concrete due to significant drawbacks such as: - Expensive electricity. - Noise and heat. - High investment costs, as there is more to it than just miners. - Maintenance and equipment monitoring. Afterward, I explored the phenomenon of cloud mining, but in 70% of cases, it's a scam, and in the other 30% of cases, it's too expensive and not profitable. These companies are also not resilient during a bear market because they finance mining machines themselves and rent out hashrate (computational power). They buy machines with the risk of a Bitcoin price drop and don't earn enough during a bear market. Explanation of Cloud mining: Cloud mining is a service where individuals rent computing power from companies to mine cryptocurrencies on their behalf. They don't need to own or manage the hardware themselves. The cloud mining provider handles the mining operations and distributes rewards to participants based on their rented computing power. It's a way for people to mine cryptocurrencies without the need for expensive equipment or technical expertise. When that option was ruled out, there were fewer and fewer mining options left. But in reality, I also want to do something with it through the crypto guide. Recently, through an acquaintance, I met someone who offers the solution I was looking for. That person is Mitchell Weijerman from Epic Mining. He offers the opportunity to purchase mining equipment through Epic Mining, which you buy in bulk with him and other customers at a favorable rate. Through Epic Mining, you buy a Bitcoin miner that is shipped to you, and within 6-8 weeks, it starts mining for you with an electricity rate of 5.5 cents, including hosting, security, and maintenance (even more). You receive a monthly invoice with this 0.052 Euro (0.055 USD) per KWH based on what your mining equipment has consumed. This can also be done quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. However, your profits are paid out daily, and you can accumulate Bitcoin and pay the costs later and, in the best-case scenario, pay with fiat money (credit card) or another method and leave the Bitcoin untouched. This way, you can accumulate Bitcoin inexpensively for when the price 'explodes,' which traditionally happens 7 months after a halving. This can be a mega-interesting earning model if you believe in price increases. Mitchell came up with the nice quote, "Buy low, mine high." This refers to buying machines at a low cost, keeping the costs as low as possible, and maximizing profits during a bull market. Sign up for the Bitcoin Mining Q&A that is hosted on the 17th of january 2024 at 7pm: BlackRock and Bitcoin Mining: A Sustainable Combination? BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, has recently announced that it is adding Bitcoin mining to its portfolio. Why has BlackRock made this decision, and what are the benefits of this strategy? BlackRock sees Bitcoin mining as a good investment for several reasons. First, BlackRock believes in the future of Bitcoin as an alternative to traditional currencies and as a hedge against inflation. By investing in Bitcoin mining, BlackRock can increase its exposure to the crypto market and profit from the rising demand for Bitcoins. Second, BlackRock sees Bitcoin mining as an opportunity to become more sustainable. BlackRock has committed to reducing its ecological footprint and supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy. Bitcoin mining can contribute to this by using renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy, or hydropower. BlackRock can thus reduce its electricity costs while simultaneously contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions. Therefore, BlackRock has discovered that Bitcoin mining is a good investment, both financially and ecologically. Bitcoin mining allows BlackRock to benefit from the growing crypto market and achieve its sustainability goals. BlackRock is a major shareholder in 4 of the 5 largest Bitcoin mining companies. How Does Epic Mining Achieve Such "Super-Low" Rates? By mining in favorable areas abroad near various hydro dams for cheap and green energy. In addition, they are situated in a mining facility where over 80,000 devices are located, which is about 5% of the total global mining. This results in extremely low rates due to the joint procurement of all facilities with other mining farms. Benefits of Mining via Epic Mining: - No noise or heat. - Low energy rates. - Purchasing only Bitcoin miners. - No maintenance. - No headaches. - Everything is taken care of for you. All you have to do is watch your wealth grow and pay the electricity bill once every 1, 3, or 6 months. Why Mine Instead of Buying Bitcoin? You should see it like this: With Bitcoin mining, you can produce Bitcoin below the production cost. The higher the price of Bitcoin becomes, the more profit you can realize because your production costs are below the market value. So, if you believe that Bitcoin will reach 100k or 200k in the next 2, 3, 4 years, then Bitcoin mining becomes exponentially more interesting than buying Bitcoin. As the price of Bitcoin rises, the costs to buy it also increase. Meanwhile, with mining, you can produce them below the market price. That's the game that's played with mining. What Is the Bitcoin Price Based On? Factors that increase demand for Bitcoin: - The failure of the traditional financial system. - There is more and better education available. - Network effects. - Bitcoin is the best-performing asset of the decade/ever. - Countries are buying Bitcoin. - Companies are adding Bitcoin to their treasuries. - Large investment funds are buying Bitcoin. Factors that make Bitcoin scarcer: - The new supply of Bitcoin is halved every four years (halvings). - Holders are not selling but buying. - Large mining companies have better access to financing, so they no longer need to sell their BTC to fund their operations. As demand increases and supply becomes scarcer, this can mean only one thing in my opinion. In my opinion, it can only mean one thing: the price will rise! What traditionally happens after a halving? - After the market crashed in 2010, the price of Bitcoin skyrocketed by 11,645%. - After the market crashed in 2014, the price of Bitcoin increased by 7,382%. - After the market crashed in 2017, the price of Bitcoin rose by 1,991%. Sign up for the Bitcoin Mining Q&A that is hosted on the 17th of january 2024 at 7pm: Earnings Calculation Example: Of course, we all want to know what it can ultimately yield. These are examples based on the Bitcoin price. The total profit is per machine after 4 years, taking the halving into account. Make your own calculation with this spreadsheet by changing the number of machines and the spreadsheet will do the rest. Scenario 1 is live price (current price) and the others are everything up until 150k BTC. In-depth explanation of Bitcoin mining. Bitcoin mining is the process of creating new bitcoins and verifying transactions on the Bitcoin network. It is a crucial part of the cryptocurrency's infrastructure. Bitcoin operates on a decentralized network, meaning there is no central authority controlling the currency. Instead, transactions are verified by a network of computers (nodes) spread across the world. Miners are participants in this network who use specialized hardware and software to solve complex mathematical problems and validate transactions. Here is a simplified explanation of the mining process: - Transaction Verification: When someone initiates a Bitcoin transaction, it is broadcast to the network. Miners collect these transactions into blocks. - Hashing: Miners compete to solve a mathematical puzzle known as a cryptographic hashing function by repeatedly guessing a specific value (nonce) until the desired outcome is achieved. The hashing process converts the block of transactions into a unique string called a hash. The computational power of miners plays a role in increasing their chances of finding the correct nonce and solving the puzzle. - Proof of Work: The successful miner who solves the puzzle broadcasts the newly mined block to the network. Other miners then verify the validity of the block and its transactions. - Block Addition: Once the block is verified, it is added to the existing blockchain, creating a permanent and immutable record of transactions. Miners receive a reward for their work in the form of newly minted bitcoins and transaction fees from the transactions in the block. It's important to note that the mining process becomes progressively more challenging over time due to the design of the Bitcoin network, which adjusts the difficulty of the mathematical puzzle to ensure that new blocks are added approximately every 10 minutes, regardless of the total computing power of the network. Bitcoin mining requires significant computing power and electricity. Therefore, specialized hardware called ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits) is often used to mine bitcoins efficiently. Additionally, mining farms with numerous ASICs are often set up in locations with cheap electricity to maximize profitability. Overall, Bitcoin mining plays a vital role in securing the Bitcoin network, verifying transactions, and introducing new bitcoins into circulation. Bitcoin mining is divided among various companies that manage mining pools, which are groups of miners who share their computing power and distribute rewards. - Foundry USA: Based in the United States, with 30% of the network's hash rate. Foundry USA is a subsidiary of Foundry Digital, a company that provides equipment financing and advisory services for mining to institutional investors and enterprises. - Antpool: Based in China, with 23% of the network's hash rate. Antpool is owned by Bitmain, one of the largest manufacturers of Bitcoin mining hardware and chips. - F2Pool: Also based in China, with 18% of the network's hash rate. F2Pool is one of the oldest Bitcoin mining pools, established in 2013. - Poolin: Another Chinese pool, with 12% of the network's hash rate. Poolin was founded in 2017 by former Bitmain employees. - Slush Pool: Based in the Czech Republic, with 7% of the network's hash rate. Slush Pool is the first Bitcoin mining pool, launched in 2010. These five pools account for approximately 90% of the total Bitcoin mining power, meaning they have a significant influence on the security and decentralization of the network. Do you want to know all the ins and outs of the man behind EPIC Mining? Check out this personal interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbocnSXTi5I It is a Dutch interview but there are subtitels in English Read the full article

[thekreditlab]

What Should You Know Before Signing Up For Credit Counselling Services?

If you’re struggling with overwhelming debts, it can be tempting to turn to credit counselling services, which offer to help you pay off your loans and bills in exchange for a small fee upfront. But before you sign up, you must know exactly what the credit counselling service offers and what they expect from you in return. Here are some questions you should ask yourself and the credit counsellor before agreeing to any contract or making any payments. If your credit counselling service answers yes to all of these questions, then it may be worth your while!

The Different Types Of Debt

There are two types of debt that people often confuse. First, there is unsecured debt, which includes things like your credit cards and personal loans. Second, there is a secured debt, which includes things like mortgages and car payments. Secured debts have a lien on the property that serves as collateral in case of default. Unsecured debts do not have this protection and usually carry a higher interest rate due to the risk taken by the creditor. However, secured debts also have a disadvantage in that the lender may seize assets if payments are missed or delayed.

A general rule when it comes to securing debt is The more assets you have at stake with an organization, the more likely they will be reluctant to cut off access or take over your account.

Secured debts also involve monthly mortgage payments and monthly car loan payments whereas unsecured debts don’t. The

best thing would be to pay off one type of debt at a time rather than paying down both at once since it can lead to extra stress on yourself financially with reduced monthly income

How Long Does It Take To Get Out Of Debt?

The most common mistake people make when they are trying to get out of debt is that they don’t try and they give up. Debt takes a while to get rid of and it can take years, but if you plan to keep at it, there’s always a chance.

The other thing people often do is stop paying attention after a few months of working on their debt problem. If you’re going to be successful, the best thing is to stay consistent and stay on top of things so that your creditors don’t catch up with you again. One way to help yourself in this process is to have an emergency fund set up in case something unexpected happens. With an emergency fund, you’ll be able to save money and use those funds towards any emergencies without worrying about having enough money in your checking account.

Who Is The Company Helping Me Out And What Do They Charge?

The company that is helping me out is the The Kredit Lab for Credit Counselling and they charge, I can get an annual membership if I want to pay monthly instead of just one time like right now. They also give me access to a personal counsellor who will work with me on how to keep on top of my debt and make sure it doesn’t grow any more than it has to. It’s going to be hard but with this help, I think I’ll have a better chance of getting back on my feet again.

The Benefits Of Enrolling In A Credit Program

There are many benefits to enrolling in a credit counselling program. Programs can help people who have fallen behind on their bills or are facing foreclosure. Counsellors will work with clients to create a budget, help them set realistic goals, and encourage saving money. There is no cost to enroll in a program and enrollment is not an indication of bankruptcy. It is important to understand that there are two types of debt management programs: non-profit and commercial.

It’s also important to understand that just because a counsellor recommends that you file for bankruptcy doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the right decision for your financial situation. You should make sure that it’s best for your individual needs by consulting an attorney first.

The Drawbacks Of Enrolling In A Credit Counselling Program

In addition to the high cost, there is also a possibility that enrolling in a program can lead to more debt because some programs offer debt consolidation. There is also the possibility of entering into a cycle of debt as credit counsellors often recommend taking out loans. The process of getting out of debt can be long and difficult which is why it’s important not to sign up without understanding the consequences.

I recommend that you call (469) 454-8017 to talk our certified The Kredit Lab. Then, you can decide.

Contact Us:

Address - 17350 State Hwy 249 Ste.220 # 9684 Houston, TX 77064

Email - helpmekreditlab@gmail.com

Phone - (817) 264-6554 

Fax - (866) 458-1711

Website -  The Kredit Lab

Blog - What Should You Know Before Signing Up For Credit Counselling Services?

[pyrolitheus]

Some financial literacy tips since nobody taught us millennials anything about that (at least, not here in the USA) and since I don't have kids I don't know if Gen Z is getting the same holes in their basic life knowledge...anyway, this is incomplete, plz feel free to add to it: CREDIT SCORE/CREDIT RATING This is a made up bullshit meter that someone decided to formalize in the late 1980s. Your credit score is one of the biggest factors that determines your eligibility for loans and other things. Even if you are approved to buy that house or car or sign that lease or whatever, a bad credit score means you pay a higher interest rate, and a good credit score means you pay a lower interest rate. Why do I call it bullshit? If you have never used credit, then you have no credit, and it is considered the same way a bad credit score is considered. You have to build credit to get those sweet low interest rates.

The other reason it's bullshit is credit checks. If you want to open a credit card or get a loan or whatever, lenders/etc. will do a credit check as part of the process. Some ridiculous person somewhere decided that credit checks should lower credit scores. It's temporary, but until it wears off it's super annoying. Luckily several credit checks in a short period of time is considered evidence that you are "shopping around" and do not collectively stack against your credit score, but if they aren't close together they do stack. (Note that there are different kinds of credit checks, some of which do not hurt your credit score.) But the bottom line is you need to build credit and protect your credit score if you want to be approved for loans and pay lower interest rates on them when you buy things like cars and homes and so on. If you think you're so poor you'll never be able to afford such things I certainly won't argue with you, I'll just point out that I was able to rent a place that my income wouldn't have qualified me for because of my stellar credit score. CREDIT CARDS

When used responsibly, a credit card is a great way to build credit. I opened mine when I was 18 or 19, and used it responsibly, slowly building credit until now I'm at the point where sometimes my fantastic credit score is enough for a landlord to rent to me without me providing income information.

The "minimum payment" is not actually the minimum you should pay, it's just the minimum the credit company requires for you to keep your card open. If you only pay the minimum instead of the full balance due, it will hurt your credit rating, and you will be charged interest. You need to pay the full amount down to $0 every bill.

Treat your credit card like a middle manager between you and your bank account. Do not spend more on your card than you can immediately pay in full.

Try to spend less than 3% of your credit limit at any given time. It's okay to go over that for big purchases as long as you then go online in a couple days when the charge clears ("clears" = "goes through the system and displays on your account") and immediately pay the balance down to $0. The higher the % of the credit limit you use, the worse your credit score will be even if you're paying your balance back down to $0 on time every month. Is this ridiculous? Yes. It is also how things work (for now; credit scores didn't even exist until relatively recently in American history).

NEVER sign up for a credit card that has an annual fee. Some of them will advertise that there is no fee and in very small text say something like "for the first X months." There are a ton of free credit cards out there, there is no need to pay someone to spend your own money. Credit card companies make their profit off of the people who don't pay their full balance down to $0 each bill and just pay the "minimum balance" and interest on the rest instead.

One of the factors that affects credit is the average length of open credit lines (longer = better). So once you open a card, never close it. Sometimes they close cards for inactivity so if you decide you don't like a card, just keep it in the bottom of your sock drawer or something and use it a couple of times of year so they don't close it on you.

Note that applying for a credit card requires a credit check, which will affect your credit score even if you aren't approved for the card. It's worth checking the fine print to be sure you're only applying for cards you actually qualify for. BUDGETING: ONE TIME MONEY VERSUS ONGOING One-time money is something like getting money for your birthday, or buying one item once. Ongoing income is something like a regular paycheck, and a regular cost is something like paying rent or a phone bill. Always use ongoing income to pay for ongoing costs whenever possible. Putting one-time money against an ongoing cost is something you can do as an emergency measure, but it isn't a sustainable long term budgeting plan. RETIREMENT The younger you are when you start saving for retirement, the more likely you are to be able to retire. It doesn't even have to be a lot. Over the course of 2 years of a part time job, I put $10/month ($240 total) into investments inside a retirement account and ended up with over $1000 because of how investment interest works. This money will grow exponentially on its own, but it would be $0 if I didn't take the initiative to set up an account. Learn about the retirement options available to you through your work and your credit union. If you are having trouble figuring out retirement options, talk to the financial advisor at your bank or credit union. For credit unions, this is almost always free. Like any consultant, they can make mistakes, so be sure to think carefully about what they tell you and then make your own choices. BANKS VERSUS CREDIT UNIONS Banks are for profit, while credit unions are not. They offer all the same services, but credit unions will be cheaper over all because they have fewer fees and the fees they do have are lower. I cannot think of a single good reason for an American to use a bank instead of a credit union with the possible exception of international banks sometimes being better for people who travel a lot. Check into the credit unions in your area and read reviews before picking one. Ask around if you know anyone who uses the credit union you are interested in - sometimes there are referral programs and you can both get some free $$ if your friend refers you to their credit union.

[awesomeforever]

[ad_1] The number one question I get asked as a small business start-up coach is: Where do I get start-up cash? I'm always glad when my clients ask me this question. If they are asking this question, it is a sure sign that they are serious about taking financial responsibility for start it. Not All Money Is the Same There are two types of start-up financing: debt and equity. Consider what type is right for you. Debt Financing is the use of borrowed money to finance a business. Any money you borrow is considered debt financing. Sources of debt financing loans are many and varied: banks, savings and loans, credit unions, commercial finance companies, and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are the most common. Loans from family and friends are also considered debt financing, even when there is no interest attached. Debt financing loans are relatively small and short in term and are awarded based on your guarantee of repayment from your personal assets and equity. Debt financing is often the financial strategy of choice for the start-up stage of businesses. Equity financing is any form of financing that is based on the equity of your business. In this type of financing, the financial institution provides money in return for a share of your business's profits. This essentially means that you will be selling a portion of your company in order to receive funds. Venture capitalist firms, business angels, and other professional equity funding firms are the standard sources for equity financing. Handled correctly, loans from friends and family could be considered a source of non-professional equity funding. Equity financing involves stock options, and is usually a larger, longer-term investment than debt financing. Because of this, equity financing is more often considered in the growth stage of businesses. 7 Main Sources of Funding for Small Business Start-ups 1. You Investors are more willing to invest in your start-up when they see that you have put your own money on the line. So the first place to look for money when starting up a business is your own pocket. Personal Assets According to the SBA, 57% of entrepreneurs dip into personal or family savings to pay for their company's launch. If you decide to use your own money, don't use it all. This will protect you from eating Ramen noodles for the rest of your life, give you great experience in borrowing money, and build your business credit. A Job There's no reason why you can't get an outside job to fund your start-up. In fact, most people do. This will ensure that there will never be a time when you are without money coming in and will help take most of the stress and risk out of starting up. Credit Cards If you are going to use plastic, shop around for the lowest interest rate available. 2. Friends and Family Money from friends and family is the most common source of non-professional funding for small business start-ups. Here, the biggest advantage is the same as the biggest disadvantage: You know these people. Unspoken needs and attachments to outcome may cause stress that would warrant steering away from this type of funding. 3. Angel Investors An angel investor is someone who invests in a business venture, providing capital for start-up or expansion. Angels are affluent individuals, often entrepreneurs themselves, who make high-risk investments with new companies for the hope of high rates of return on their money. They are often the first investors in a company, adding value through their contacts and expertise. Unlike venture capitalists, angels typically do not pool money in a professionally-managed fund. Rather, angel investors often organize themselves in angel networks or angel groups to share research and pool investment capital. 4. Business Partners There are two kinds of partners to consider for your business: silent and working. A silent partner is someone who contributes capital for a portion of the business, yet is generally not involved in the operation of the business.

A working partner is someone who contributes not only capital for a portion of the business but also skills and labor in day-to-day operations. 5. Commercial Loans If you are launching a new business, chances are good that there will be a commercial bank loan somewhere in your future. However, most commercial loans go to small businesses that are already showing a profitable track record. Banks finance 12% of all small business start-ups, according to a recent SBA study. Banks consider financing individuals with a solid credit history, related entrepreneurial experience, and collateral (real estate and equipment). Banks require a formal business plan. They also take into consideration whether you are investing your own money in your start-up before giving you a loan. 6. Seed Funding Firms Seed funding firms, also called incubators, are designed to encourage entrepreneurship and nurture business ideas or new technologies to help them become attractive to venture capitalists. An incubator typically provides physical space and some or all of these services: meeting areas, office space, equipment, secretarial services, accounting services, research libraries, legal services, and technical services. Incubators involve a mix of advice, service and support to help new businesses develop and grow. 7. Venture Capital Funds Venture capital is a type of private equity funding typically provided to new growth businesses by professional, institutionally backed outside investors. Venture capitalist firms are actual companies. However, they invest other people's money and much larger amounts of it (several million dollars) than seed funding firms. This type of equity investment usually is best suited for rapidly growing companies that require a lot of capital or start-up companies with a strong business plan. [ad_2] Source by Susan L Reid

[credithelpindia]

How to Improve Credit Score After Default?

A good CIBIL score plays a major role in determining how fast you can get the financing and the interest rate of the same. Before providing a loan, the lenders in India check the CIBIL score of the person to understand the repayment history and see if he is genuine enough to make the payments on time. Thus, when planning to make a big purchase, you must look at your credit report to analyze the score and see if you are eligible for the same. But if you have defaulted on a loan in the past, and it has resulted in a low CIBIL score, then you must know there are certain things you can do to get back that good CIBIL score. It would be helpful if you avoid looking for how can I improve CIBIL after default and read the guide ahead to get a better understanding.

1. Regular Repayments

Making timely payment of the due amount is extremely important. It is seen as a financially responsible behaviour that can have a positive impact on the lender who will check your CIBIL score to provide you with financing.

2. Timely Pay the Outstanding Credit

When you search for how to improve the CIBIL score after default, you will find the strategy everywhere. Correct management is quite essential for a person to understand and adopt. The individual must make the payment of the dues on time. Remember, an increase in the balance on the credit card can result in a lower CIBIL score.

3. Maintain the Credit Utilization Ratio

It is essential that the person maintains a credit utilization ratio between 25% and 30%. When the ratio goes up, it indicates that the person is spending most of the income making the payment of the debt, which will reduce the credit score.

4. Keep an Eye on the Credit Report

You must keep a check on your credit report. After all, this will ensure there is no issue in the credit report. You must be able to check the credit report every 6 months to rectify any issues so everything is clear in the lender's mind. As there are some errors that can reduce the CIBIL score, you must take measures to maintain the report.

5. Never Indicate the Risk

The credit model is designed to identify the early signs and risks in the borrower's profile. For instance, non-payment of credit cards or revolving credit as a first-time borrower or the credit profile of the borrower. Besides, they can be other changes like cash advances which can show a negative CIBIL score. It would be helpful to keep an eye on your spending and credit usage to avoid such risk factors.

6. Avoid Applying For Multiple Credit Lines

An online search for how I can improve my CIBIL score after default will help you understand the risks of multiple credit lines. Getting a new credit line will increase your credit limit. However, this also puts each account for a hard inquiry on the credit report. This means a hard inquiry will be concerning. The credit profile will show how much risk is there to offering you the financing. When you have got multiple hard inquiries in a short period, then it can have a negative impact on your CIBIL score. Besides, it can also lead to financing rejections.

7. Be Patient

You must understand that the CIBIL score gets better over time. It is a long process. So it will require time to improve. It would be helpful if you stay patient and keep on monitoring your credit report and the spending pattern credit lines and ensure timely payments to have a good CIBIL score over time. This will help increase your score and will also assure you have better creditworthiness.

Conclusion

When you look online for how to increase CIBIL score after default, you will find many strategies that can provide you with the ease to boost your credit score but remember the process is long. So you need to stay consistent. Timely payment and managing credit are extremely important to see a positive change. Make sure that you are aware of your credit score and that you keep an eye on it to avoid any complicated situations and ensure your creditworthiness is high.

Source: https://credithelpindia.com/how-to-improve-credit-score-after-default 

[formeryelpers]

Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt, 125 E Anaheim St., Unit l, Wilmington, CA 90744

Fro-yo girl here. This was my first time in Wilmington, which is near the Port of Los Angeles. Interesting area, somewhat scary. The violent crime rate (murder, assault) is twice the national average. Tutti Frutti is in a strip mall with Tommy’s and the parking lot is confusing. You can’t enter it one way and part of it is only for Tommy’s.

Tutti Frutti has been open for a 11 years and it’s the only froyo shop in Wilmington. When I walked inside, relieved to be indoors, a strong odor hit me. It didn’t smell appetizing. It smelled like dried fish? The employee must have been having lunch in the back.

The shop looked cute and clean – there was a wall set up for Instagram photos and a cute neon sign that said Hella Open. There are 12 self-serve froyo flavors a day, toppings (canned and fresh fruit, nuts, cereal, lots of candy, coconut, cookies, cheesecake, popping boba, cookie dough, mochi, jellies, Mexican candies) and sauces for $0.60/oz. From the signs, they serve Tutti Frutti yogurt, Dannon YoCream and Dole. I noticed most of the fresh fruit looked unripe.

Froyo flavors of the day:

Cotton candy

Pomegranate

Cookies & cream

Pistachio

Chocolate gelato

Vanilla gelato

Dole whip pineapple

Mango

Watermelon sorbet

NSA strawberry

Premium tart: Liked it – quite flavorful, thick and smooth, tangy sweet, a tad icier than optimal

NY cheesecake

They also have churros, acai bowls and bubble waffles. There’s a credit card surcharge of $0.35 cents. They had a small shrine set up (to honor their ancestors, I presume). When they first opened, they charged $0.25/oz. They have a variety of cup sizes and no Tutti Frutti fruit spoons.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

3 out of 5 stars

By Lolia S.

[bankingmike]

TymeBank Launches New Conversational Education Service to Support Customers During COVID-19

Johannesburg, South Africa, 02 June 2020

TymeBank announced that it has launched a new financial literacy educational service to help its EveryDay accountholders navigate their financial lives amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. The new service, powered by United States-headquartered Juntos Global’s Conversational Account Management (CAM) platform, engages TymeBank customers in interactive SMS messaging. Accountholders receive financial literacy tips, advice, and reminders, and are encouraged to ask questions and share their experiences for customized learning and support.

Within the first month of the program’s launch, more than 25 percent of accountholders offered the service had already engaged with it, sending an average of five text message replies during this time period. To date, customers have focused their learning on budgeting, saving, and access to credit in addition to learning more about TymeBank’s online and mobile banking capabilities to avoid non-essential in-person activities during South Africa’s COVID-19 response.

“Wow! What great advice,” said one responder. “I really like the way TymeBank communicates and also shares advice with its customers.” Another replied, “I feel confident that you are going to help me. Thank you very much. I trust you.”

In the face of the generational challenge posed by COVID-19, TymeBank remains committed to its mission to help South Africans achieve their full financial potential. To that end, TymeBank has made its SendMoney service 100% free for a specific period of time and maintained its market-leading interest rate on its GoalSave savings product despite reductions in interest rates by the Reserve Bank, which saw other banks reducing the rate at which their clients can save.

Juntos’ CAM platform further advances TymeBank’ financial inclusion goals by carrying thousands of simultaneous conversations with bank accountholders such as this recent example:

TymeBank: Welcome! To start, tell us about your current budgeting practice.

User: I dont know… because [this is] my first account of my life

TymeBank: Thanks! To help you create an effective budget that is easy to maintain, we'll send one

simple tip each week for you to try.

User: Ok thank you a lot and I appreciate that because it means a lot to me

“We’re here for our customers,” said Tauriq Keraan, CEO of TymeBank. “Our partnership with Juntos allows us to support our customers by providing educational tools that will improve their financial journeys, and therefore their lives. With the Juntos Conversational Account Management platform, we can personalize the way we deliver essential banking to our customers, at scale, to match this difficult moment. We’ve seen extraordinary engagement with the service so far and are excited to keep the conversations with our customers going.”

TymeBank is South Africa’s first digital bank, with over 1.75 million customers signed up since its launch in February 2019. Using just a cellphone and South African ID number, a customer can open an account and receive a personalized debit card in three minutes. Juntos’ CAM platform then engages TymeBank customers in ongoing, two-way messaging conversations that build trust and confidence in the account.

“In today’s COVID-19 environment, Conversational Account Management is giving banks the means to communicate directly with every customer in two-way conversations that are both personal and scalable,” said Juntos CEO Ben Knelman. “People need that support now more than ever. We’re thrilled to partner with TymeBank to bring that capability to its customers.”

About TymeBank

TymeBank is currently one of the world’s fastest-growing digital banks, with more than 4.3 million customers acquired since launching in February 2019. The bank is founded on simplicity, transparency and affordability and is designed to make digital banking accessible and affordable to all South Africans across the economic spectrum.

TymeBank is majority owned by Dr Patrice Motsepe’s African Rainbow Capital (‘ARC’). Recent investors include Tencent, internet and technology company based in China, and CDC Group, the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor. Other investors are UK based Apis Growth Fund II (‘Apis’), a fintech private equity fund based in the UK, JG Summit Holdings (JG Summit) a Philippines based conglomerate owned by the Gokongwei family, African Fig Tree (AFT), a ring-fenced vehicle established by the founders along with key individuals, and the Ethos AI Fund.

TymeBank is a member of the Tyme Group of companies with headquarters in Singapore. TymeBank and its sister company, Tyme, recently raised US$180 million, which is being deployed to enable growth both locally in South Africa and in the Philippines. TymeBank is currently one of the world’s fastest-growing digital banks, with more than 5 million customers acquired since launching in February 2019. The bank is founded on simplicity, transparency and affordability and is designed to make digital banking accessible and affordable to all South Africans across the economic spectrum.

TymeBank is a digital bank, that enables people to open a bank account onlineand provides low fee personal and business banking, internet banking, savings account, money transfer, medical aid, credit cardand Cell phone bankingproducts.  In addition to offering market-leading interest rates, the bankalso provides customers with digital payment facilities for airtime, dataand prepaid electricity.

TymeBank is majority owned by Dr Patrice Motsepe’s African Rainbow Capital (‘ARC’). Recent investors include Tencent, internet and technology company based in China, and CDC Group, the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor. Other investors are UK based Apis Growth Fund II (‘Apis’), a fintech private equity fund based in the UK, JG Summit Holdings (JG Summit) a Philippines based conglomerate owned by the Gokongwei family, African Fig Tree (AFT), a ring-fenced vehicle established by the founders along with key individuals, and the Ethos AI Fund.

TymeBank is a member of the Tyme Group of companies with headquarters in Singapore. TymeBank and its sister company, Tyme, recently raised US$180 million, which is being deployed to enable growth both locally in South Africa and in the Philippines.

For more information visit www.TymeBank.co.za or visit a TymeBank kiosk in over 500 Pick n Pay and Boxer stores nationwide.

About Juntos Global

Financial Institutions around the world use the Juntos Conversational Account Management (CAM) platform to proactively engage their customers at scale. Juntos combines advanced technology with human intelligence to create engaging, one-to-one, long-term conversations with consumers in high-impact digital channels like WhatsApp, SMS, and Facebook Messenger. Banks across 4 continents have used Juntos to power Conversational Account Management with millions of customers in 26 languages, driving increased uptake and retention of financial products. The Juntos mission is to build enduring and trusted relationships between banks and their customers to make financial services simpler, warmer, and more successful. Learn more at https://juntosglobal.com.

[grandluxcredit]

Don’t Let Your Credit Score Define You

If you’re reading this article, chances are good that you’ve had trouble in the past with your credit score and your finances in general. Some people may have told you that your poor credit is ruining your life and preventing you from having the things you want in life. Although it can feel like that at times, this simply isn’t true! When you have bad credit, it just means that you might have to work harder than others to get what you want out of life, but there are still plenty of options available to help you improve your financial situation and get back on track.

Why Does Your Credit Score Matter?

To understand why credit scores matter, you first need to understand what they represent. Every time you make a purchase with a credit card or loan money from a bank, your transaction is recorded in your credit history, and those activities affect your score. Lenders look at that history and decide whether to give you loans or charge higher interest rates. It’s very difficult to start building good credit if you have bad credit because lenders can be extremely cautious about issuing loans for people with little-to-no financial history. However, bad credit doesn’t have to hold you back. If you work on improving yourcredit score over time by making smart financial decisions, it will eventually reflect positively on your life by helping you borrow more easily and saving you money on interest. The longer it takes for your situation to improve—or even worsen—the harder it is to get back on track. That’s why it’s so important not to ignore these warning signs! Everyone should take before their credit score starts weighing too heavily on their future.

How Can I Repair My Bad Credit?

If you’re not sure how to repair your bad credit, know that it can take time—perhaps several months or longer. But first, think about what caused your credit score to fall in the first place. For instance, did you lose a job? Were you swamped with medical bills? Did you have an emergency that put all of your accounts into disarray? If so, chances are good that once you work through those things, your score will improve. Don’t worry if it doesn’t happen overnight—and don’t get discouraged if it takes more than a year for everything to straighten out. It happens; just keep at it and you’ll be on track to having a higher credit score before long.

What is a Good Credit Score?

There are many different methods for determining credit scores, so don’t get too hung up on numbers. Just remember that 650 is about average, but anything in excess of 700 is considered good. If you’re trying to achieve a score in that range, keep your credit cards balanced and try not to borrow more than 50% of your overall limit. Also, always make sure that all of your bills are paid by their due dates—missing payments will hurt your score tremendously. Achieving a great credit score takes time and requires some discipline, but it’s definitely worth it. Good luck! Not Having a Credit Card? How Can I Build My Credit? This might seem like an obvious answer, but pay off any credit card debt as soon as possible. As long as there is still outstanding debt attached to your name, creditors won’t consider you very trustworthy and won’t extend additional lines of credit.

What is a Good Credit Score?

Chances are you’ve been rejected for a loan before, and if that’s ever happened to you, it can be tempting to become discouraged. Before giving up on your credit score, however, there are a few things you should know.

First of all, it pays to understand how lenders assess your financial standing and what they see when they check your credit report. For starters, just because one lender denied you doesn’t mean no other lenders will as well—your situation might just require a different approach from those previously tried.

Second of all, a bad credit score doesn’t have to doom you to years of interest payments and bill-paying hell. When you need a solution, turn to Better Budget Financial today. We specialize in helping people get back on their feet so they can move forward with confidence. Our team has more than many years of experience helping clients get approved for loans; we even guarantee our services or your money back! If you want personalized service and more freedom in your financial future, call us today at 888-766-2919 or visit us grandluxcredit.com.

Contact Us:

Address - 13100 Wortham Center Drive, 3RD FL, Houston, 77065

Email - info@grandluxcredit.com

Phone - (888) 766-2919

Website - Grand Lux Credit

Blog -  Don’t Let Your Credit Score Define You

[abbeyandolivier]

SHOULD I SELL MY HOME?

Are you thinking about selling your house? Do you keep wondering if now is the right time? After all, those four walls are full of so much history, not to mention all of your belongings. In many ways, your house is the most valuable thing you possess.

The choice of selling your house now or later is not easy and it can even be a bit emotional. For most people, moving is a big deal.

The housing market is unclear right now, which is only made worse by recent news reports. You likely wonder whether you should sell your home right away or wait a year or more.

It’s a positive sign that you’re asking these questions. Rather than caving to the noise around you, you’re considering your scenario. Selling your house is a major decision in any case.  Homeowners are usually nervous about selling because selling at the correct time can improve both your financial situation and way of life and selling your house at the wrong time can cause you to lose money on your investment and leave you with regret for many years.

Housing market analysts anticipate a year of escalating property prices and persistently high demand in 2022. The housing shortage will probably persist after a busy year with many of eager buyers and few houses for sale, though it will gradually lessen. Although there is still a high demand for homes, there aren’t as many of them on the market as there once were in many Montreal areas. As a result, it is still a seller’s market, which is advantageous for homeowners who decide to sell now.

You have a few options if you’re debating whether to sell your home: you can list it soon to capitalize on the current demand, you can wait to see how interest rates and inflation develop in relation to housing (though doing so may result in missed opportunities), or you can decide to remain in your present home for the years ahead.

Below we’ll discuss a few of the different reasons you should or shouldn’t sell your property now. We’ll discuss equity, financing, debt and all of the emotional parts of selling your home and whether selling is for you or not.

YOU SHOULD SELL IF

You have the necessary funds to buy

Most people who sell their homes quickly buy new or even better ones. However, if it was your first time buying a property and you didn’t have all your financial details in order, you likely discovered a few things the hard way. Anything that may go wrong will likely do so. especially when your entire paycheck goes toward your mortgage. Be a wise consumer of real estate the next time around by putting those lessons to good use!

Start by carefully examining your assets. It’s a strong indication that you’re financially stable enough to buy a home once more if you’ve paid off all of your non-mortgage debt and have three to six months’ worth of expenses set up.

With the money you’ll make from the sale, you can settle all of your debt

In fact, people do this. Many people have sold their homes in order to pay off all of their debt. Although quite extreme, if done correctly, it can actually be a wise financial decision.

Here’s how to decide when to sell your home in order to pay off your debt:

You have enough capital to pay off both your current mortgage and your debt, which includes anything from credit cards to auto loans to medical bills to personal loans to education loans.

Second, the proceeds from the sale of your home will be sufficient to cover the cost of a new home.

You’re mentally prepared to sell

If your finances indicate that you are ready to go forward, that’s good! However, just because the figures indicate that you should sell your home doesn’t mean that now is the time to do so. Remember that selling your house can also be an emotional process. Ask yourself this question for a moment before putting the “For Sale” sign in the front yard: Am I really ready?

Do I have the time and energy to prepare my house for potential buyers?

Am I intent on keeping it prepared to present for a number of weeks or months?

Am I prepared to learn why prospects think my home needs work?

Am I prepared for straightforward—and perhaps difficult—negotiations about the asking price for my house?

Am I prepared to leave the home where my family has spent many happy times?

You need to move

It’s still achievable to sell your house and get a new one if you need to move for whatever reason. If you’ve recently been fired, you might be concerned about how you’ll be able to keep up with your mortgage payments. Selling can be a solution in this case.

Lack of inventory can help your home sell if you live in a market where home sales are moving quickly, particularly if your property is priced below the neighborhood entry-level range.

YOU SHOULD WAIT TO SELL IF

You’re nervous about finding your next house

A strong seller’s market comes with the condition that you as a seller can find it difficult to find a new home. Knowing there might not be much to buy could really discourage an existing homeowner from selling.

You may broaden your searches to include new construction homes, but development is being slowed down by supply chain concerns, labor shortages, and red tape related to zoning and permissions.

You’re not sure that you’re able to afford a new home

Early on in the Covid-19 pandemic, worries about being able to afford a home were more likely to be accompanied by employment instability because businesses were finding it difficult to adjust to the economic impact of the global health crisis and were frequently experiencing pay cuts, layoffs, and furloughs across Canada and all over the world.

However, today, if you’re concerned about being able to afford your next home, it’s more likely related to the housing market’s constantly increasing costs, the scarcity of new properties for sale in the market, or possible equity issues with your current home. If you believe the time isn’t right to sell your house, don’t be hesitant to wait.

There is no need to worry about what might occur in the future; although real estate cycles and price levels may occur, buyers, mortgage lenders, and builders are currently making wise choices in preparation for a secure future.

You recently refinanced your property

There’s no reason to think about selling your house any time soon if you’re one of the countless homeowners who just refinanced. Hopefully, the reduced monthly payments from your refinanced mortgage have eased your financial difficulties.

CONCLUSION

There is no guarantee that selling will be beneficial for you in the long run, of course. Take your time considering whether you should sell, and before setting your home’s price, research the neighborhood housing market with your real estate agent.

Selling your home is a personal decision. You should do whatever feels right to you.

[rapcreditt]

Credit Counselling In NJ – Get Your Financial Life Back On Track

Many individuals have been seeking qualified credit Counselling in NJ as of late, partially due to the recession and overall credit crunch, which has affected millions of Americans. If you’re one of those who have found yourself in this position, fear not! There are steps you can take to get your financial life back on track and also ensure that you’re able to meet your needs in the future and beyond.

The Ins And Outs Of Credit Counselling

One option is credit counselling, which can help you get your finances back on track. The first step is choosing a credit counselling agency. These agencies typically charge low monthly fees and negotiate with creditors to create a manageable payment plan for those facing debt issues. Before signing up, though, do your research to ensure that you’re signing up with an accredited agency and one that doesn’t have any shady practices—some agencies give clients more high-interest credit cards as a quick fix instead of working through their debt problems.

The Benefits Of Credit Counselling

If you’re looking for credit Counselling in NJ, know that it can help you. Credit Counselling is a service offered by certified credit Counsellor who are trained to help people improve their financial situation. While some people come to Counsellor for other reasons (such as bankruptcy or foreclosure), if your finances are out of control and causing you stress, then credit Counselling is worth consideration. For example, when an individual engages in credit Counselling, they may also benefit from debt management. Debt management allows consumers to pay off all their debts with one monthly payment at a lower interest rate.

In addition, many creditors will forgive outstanding balances after a certain period has passed under these circumstances. This means that consumers will have less money going towards interest payments each month which allows them to put more money towards paying down principal balances sooner. The result is individuals will be able to pay off debts faster than they would have otherwise been able to do so without credit Counselling services. With more disposable income at hand, individuals may find themselves better able to afford necessities such as food and shelter which were previously unaffordable due to high levels of debt payments before seeking help through credit Counselling services.

When Is A Good Time To Contact A Credit Counsellor?

Credit Counsellor are happy to help you at any point in your credit Counselling journey, which is why it’s a good idea to seek them out as soon as possible. They have experience working with individuals who have many different types of issues and can meet with you one-on-one for a personal consultation. Contact us today for credit Counselling in New Jersey; there’s no better time than now!

Finding The Right Credit Counsellor For You

It can be difficult to find a credit counsellor, especially if you’re not sure where to look. A professional credit counsellor can help you understand your current situation and take the necessary steps to get your finances back on track.

How Does A Debt Management Program Work?

When you are struggling with high levels of debt, it can seem impossible to make your payments. However, there is a great solution available if you seek credit Counselling in New Jersey. Through a debt management program, your creditors agree to lower your monthly payments to an affordable amount based on what you can afford. This allows you to focus more money toward repaying your debt instead of paying excessive interest rates and finance charges.

What Happens If I Don't Comply With My Credit Counsellor?

While you do not need to comply with your credit counsellor, it is important to understand that failure to do so could lead to your situation deteriorating. Credit Counsellor help individuals who are having financial problems get their finances back on track. However, if you refuse to follow their plan, likely, your situation will just worsen over time. For example, suppose you’re not making any payments towards your debts and have ignored numerous calls from creditors. What happens when a collection agency sues you? Will a judge view your decision as wilful? It may be too late for apologies at that point. Do yourself a favour and work with credit Counselling in NJ as soon as possible.

How Long Does It Take To Rebuild Credit Score?

Credit counselling, sometimes called credit advisory or credit help, is a service that provides professional guidance and support for those looking to recover from bad credit and start fresh. When you choose credit Counselling NJ as your source of assistance to rebuild your financial life, you’ll have access to free tools and tips specifically tailored to help you achieve financial freedom and peace of mind. There are many steps required to restore damaged credit; however, with a little time, dedication, and effort—plus some expert advice—you’ll be well on your way to build your credit score. This can be accomplished through.

Contact Us:

Address - One Gateway Center Suite 2600 Newark, NJ 07102

Email - Info@rapfinancial.com

Phone - (866)-890-7277

Website - Rap Credit

Blog - Credit Counselling In NJ – Get Your Financial Life Back On Track

[lale-txt]

Hi Lale !! I hope you're having a wonderful day !

May I request some Crocodile,Katakuri or Denjiro (you can choose which one inspire you the most !) headcanons with a S/O who writes and draw comics and are overly passionate about it please ?

Thanks for opening your requests and good luck for all the writings ! 💗

hi Aco, my dear! i hope you're having a wonderful day yourself! thank you so much for your request, ahh i loved it (even more because i love your writing & doodles so much). i'm so glad i can finally write something for you, it was about time! i've written for all of them since headcanons come easy to me, hehe. hope you enjoy your favorite men!

🎨 Crocodile, Katakuri & Denjiro with a s/o who is passionate about writing and drawing comics

Crocodile

Crocodile is a busy man, but he still makes time during his day for you

he invites you to sit on his lap at his desk, wrapping your arms around you as you pull out your notebook and flip through the pages

he'd be very interested in your progress, always pointing out little details in your work that he liked and thinking out loud to get your creative juices flowing if you're stuck with an idea

you would get your own space at his desk to keep him company while he is busy doing his Evil Organization Business™ as usual

on his day off he would take you stationery shopping BIG STYLE

his browser search history at this point is things like "best art store on grand line", "art supplies free shipping to hidden headquarters", "best pen and paper for writing", "best books for art references FIVE STAR RATING ONLY"

so yeah, he did find the best art supplies store on the Grand Line just for you and would take you there, keeping it a surprise until you get there

"go wild, y/n. it's all on me." (pulls out his dozen golden credit cards)

he would smirk a bit while he watched you strolling through the store, touching everything, holding things up for an approving nod, testing different pens... you were in heaven and that made him beyond happy

Katakuri

he first noticed your passion for drawing when you started doodling on a napkin as you shared some donuts and cake one afternoon

Katakuri would watch you draw the perfect still life and secretly slips it in his pocket when you play if down as if it was just some random doodle, nothing special

this napkin gets sealed and locked away into a shrine dedicated to you

he is super supportive of your art!

Katakuri isn't the type to be pushy and demand to see your works, but would rather patiently wait until you open up and feel comfortable with inviting him into your creative space

you could just hand him the drafts of your comic and he would lay down on the floor, legs crossed, flipping through the pages, taking in every detail

and just like that he would be even more in love with you and the worlds you created on paper, just silently pulling you into his arms after he finished reading the whole thing and mumbling sweet words of admiration

from this point on he is invested, always happy when you show him something new of your work

he would also offer to be your assistant if you wanted, helping you out where he could so you can fully focus on your art and leave the dirty work to him

once you get published, he would either buy your work from every bookstore on the Grand Line or rearrange their shop window so it's promoting you (no one would dare to object the huge ass man that just bursted in for decorations and left without a single word)

Denjiro

Denjiro is very invested in your art, it caught him the second you showed him your work for the first time

he could spend hours flipping through your notebooks (if you let him), lying on his side with his head resting on one arm, his kimono loosely open, forgetting everything around him as he gets absorbed in your art

he would also offer to model for you in case you need some drawing references (don't let that chance slip...)

would be over the MOON if you draw him something, insisting that you sign it with a personal note on the back for him only

he would frame it and hang it above his bed which is fitting since you're the last thing on his mind anyway before he falls asleep (and we know he falls asleep often)

he also would offer to proofread your work if you wanted that, being overly excited when you announced that you wrote a new chapter

and the utter betrayal on his face when you leave him with a cliffhanger

Denjiro would definitely try and use his charm to draw out some information on the next chapter from you

kissing your neck, his hands wandering over your body, pulling you into his lap... then whispering "what happens next, y/n. i need to know." into your ear

and groaning in frustration when you shut him up with a kiss, but you could still feel him smiling against your lips

[rayofsunas]

s/o goes on a mission with them.

A/n: so, as you may or may not have seen by my recent “updates” I’m obsessed with genshin, and I’m pretty sure for one day I played for a solid 5 hours- my eyes hurt pls. but I did miss writing, I’ve just been unmotivated and busy with college stuff (mainly stressing, I haven’t even started my essay yet shh). n e ways, here’s an update, I hope this quenches your thirst 🙊

Summary: s/o goes on a mission with them. 

Parings: Kaeya/Reader, Diluc/Reader, Xiao/Reader, Scaramouche/Reader (all with a fem reader)

Warnings: crack, swearing, worrying Teyvat bois

Word count: 1.7k

Kaeya

when you’re assigned to be on a mission just the two of you, you assume he’s happy, and don’t get me wrong, he totally is!

usually you’re never on missions together, deciding it was better that way because you both get distracted (you realized after marrying, space was always nice too, space was healthy)

though the decision mainly came about because you two good around a lot... and other things 😏

no but deep down he’s worried when you go on this mission together, it’s been a while since the two of you have, a little too long, and the nerves came back

he’s always worried whenever you go on missions, and sure he’ll always be there to protect you when he’s with you (not that you need it) but anything can happen

sure taking out a bunch of Hilichurls was deemed easy, especially together, but he still worried

he never said a word about it though, he’d always keep a watchful eye on you (he does have a reputation to keep after all)

“Ya know, you did well today.” You said plopping down beside your husband, using your pyro ability to light the twigs and leaves in front of you.

“Of course I did,” he boasted, eye lighting up in the dark of the night. “What kind of Knight would I be if I hadn’t, babe.”

You groaned in annoyance, this was the ever so haughty husband you knew.

“Please, I could’ve easily wiped your ass if it weren’t for the fact that we haven’t been paired together in a while; I forgot about your skill.” You teased. The cryo user glared at you.

“Skill? Surely, I have more than one.” He snipped teasingly. Your head shook, feigning innocence. “Are you sure?” A hum sounded in your throat. “I couldn’t tell... Maybe if you hadn’t been staring holes into me every time I used my sword, I could see your progression.”

Kaeya visibly tensed, but he tried to make it go unnoticed, you saw his shoulders raise slightly. 

“Hmm?” You laughed wholeheartedly. 

“Don’t ‘hmm’ me, mister.”

Despite having been caught, a grin spread across his face, he was enjoying your teasing tonight it seemed.

“There’s a reason we don’t go on missions together, but, I did have fun with you today, despite the worrying part.”

Diluc

um, the ever so stoic and emotionless fire boy is WORRIED AF

and he accidentally lets it show

he’s totally fine if you’re only going against a few low-rank Hilichurls and Slime, but against any of the Hypostasis’s, he’s worried for your wellbeing (after a few days of trying to beat one of the Hypostasis’s I finally did, APPLAUD ME PLS, I was crying)

the very first mission you went on together, the job was done quickly and without much trouble, but before and after, he would not stop asking you if you would like to be escorted back to the Knights headquarters

he said it was his duty to protect any and every Mondstadt Citizen

you knew he was also just particularly worried about you

despite being worried, he is happy you’re here, though wishes it were under different circumstances other than battle 

he rarely sees you, so it’s a nice change to be placed on a mission together instead of alone, you missed each others company

BUT HE’S STILL WORRIED

“I’m a Knight of Favonius, I don’t particularly need to be escorted back, I appreciate your concern though.” Poor Diluc, the face he made looked like pure defeat, you used the Knight of Favonius card on him. And yes, you were capable, but he did know a certain Knights of Favonius Captain who he loathed a little too much,

“That’s why I’m worried.”

You scoffed at his jab, though it didn’t necessarily hurt too much.  

“Please, I can handle myself. We’re not all like Captain Kaeya, but even then give him some credit!”

“I know you’re more than capable but-”

”No buts! Let me do what I know how, please. Or else I could slip up, and then actually put myself in danger.”

“Okay...” You nodded, sending a soft thanks to your lover's way, but he just stared at you before muttering, “But let me escort you back to Mondstadt.”

👁 👄 👁

“I’m sorry, did you hear a word I just said?”

“I see your skills darling, but-” He paused, noticing how your arms folded across your chest. You were annoyed. “I’d much prefer if you took care of the greatest battle of all; Kaeya.”

“Kaeya does not need my assistance.”

“He’s probably in a ditch somewhere, and it would be much appreciated by Jean if we did not leave him to rot there,” Diluc explained. 

You had seen Kaeya earlier, and yes although he usually frequented the bars and whatnot, he was surprisingly sober. He hadn’t promised he would stay that way, but it would take hours for said man to get completely drunk to the point where he was immobile. You had only left Mondstadt four hours ago. 

“Amber can find him. She did last time,” He watched in disbelief as you sauntered off towards the hill in front of you, dead set on continuing your mission. “Come on I see an Electro Hypostasis ahead.”

“Also, you could’ve just said you were worried about me, instead of trying to send me back home! Kaeya is fine, worrywart.”

Xiao

it’s not that he’s worried about you and it’s not that he shouldn’t be worried either 

he can be both given the right moment

the only reason he doesn’t want you going with him is because he claims he focuses better on missions alone

you could understand where he was coming from, but you would’ve liked to have gone with him when he first left

you mentioned going on a mission with him in Liyue the night before he locked you in your Liyue Harbor Guesthouse room 

you were still asleep when he’d snuck out and had found a note in the sheets where he’d previously been sleeping hours ago

it read, went on a quick mission, be back soon. - Xiao

...one of the cleaning ladies had come to your rescue after seeing various lounge chairs from the hallway stacked and pushed against the door (she was supposed to clean the room that morning after having seen Xiao leaving, figuring it was empty to begin cleaning)

she was shocked to see you hurriedly throwing your shoes on and grabbing your spear, confused obviously

she’d asked if you were being held against your will or if you were in danger, but you’d dashed off before you could give her an answer

eventually after asking a few Liyue Harbor Merchants, you were able to get a rough estimate as to where your boyfriend went

when you finally caught up to him, out of breath, he was somewhat shocked to see you

“Hey!” You called after the ancient man, watching with glee as he turned around with wide eyes. “Locking me in the room seriously?”

“I didn’t think you’d catch up. I left hours ago.”

“I thought so too. But one of the Merchants gave me a shortcut to your destination.”

“Interesting.” He said, hand going to his chin in thought. 

“That’s it? That’s all you have to say?!” 

“Interesting.” You mocked 

He stared blankly, without a doubt the gears working in his brain, spinning and ticking at an unbelievable rate. 

“No, one more thing... How did you get out of the room? I barricaded it.” 

👁 👄 👁

Scaramouche

you better be someone who can handle yourself, and you probably are, or else he would not be able to stand being with you romantically AT ALL

he’s had you practice with him, just to show him what you’re capable of, before he ever allowed you to travel with him

after deeming you a worthy opponent, he decided you would fair well with him

he would’ve never allowed you to come if he knew you’d be a burden, slow him, or get hurt

after you proved yourself, he does not doubt you so he’s not going to be worried at all

he’s only worried if you start slowing him down, then he’ll think you’re incompetent to be traveling together

if you slow him down, you’re being sent home, no questions asked

though because he does love you, you receive a bit of a less severe punishment for doing something wrong on a mission

he may ask you once or twice to keep up with him, or take your enemies out without less hesitation, but that’s if he feels particularly generous, most of the times he’s harsh and will not tolerate your mistakes, no chances given

fortunately for you, he felt extremely generous today

It was truly evident that you were slowly pissing off the sixth Harbinger and he was losing his patience with you. Yet you continued flirting with him to get a rise out of said man (yeah, same); he often reacted, and you enjoyed it when he did. You liked seeing him react and appear differently than always being so uptight and mean.

It was a common belief that he often traveled with a young woman, who had Pyro for a vision, and she was strong but often loved to distract and tease her fellow Harbinger. You were not so surprisingly, that young woman.

“Keep up, I won’t ask you again.” 

Today, you were on a mission together which wasn’t rare, but your other mission was to piss him off as much as you could. So, you purposely walked behind him, very slow. Pretending to take in the chilly scenery of Snezhnaya, although you had seen it thousands of times, acting as if it was something new. 

“You said that the last two times.” You said, cheerfully laughing to yourself when you heard him growl lowly. He didn’t pay any mind to your retort but began showing more signs that he was aggravated.

He hissed, “There’s not much to admire, you can barely see.” Yes, he was right, he’d caught onto your antics very fast, but that didn’t matter.

“As I said, if you keep slowing me down, I’ll continue without you.” Your eyes rolled. Would he?

“Leaving a member of the Harbinger behind wouldn’t be very honorary, but if I must, I will.”

A pout took shape on your lips. “Please, you wouldn’t leave your lovely girlfriend out here to freeze would you?”

“You have pyro abilities, you would fair just fine.”

“Hmm... I suppose so, but I���d get lonely.” 

“Then be quiet and walk faster.”

1.13.21, rayofsunas

[decswekilldebt]

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[becausethathappens]

Spare Change

4k - college - Link is furious, so Rhett tries to calm him down.

For @peachworthy​ and anyone else who thinks swearing is hot.

-

Link is mad.

Link is pacing.

Rhett tries to help.

“Why don’t you just scream into a pillow, like you always do?” Rhett offers.

“I did that!” Link cries. He makes a show of going over and doing it again. Rhett can’t help his instinct to recoil at seeing his friend yell like that. 

Link’s car has been towed. Link can’t go on a date with the girl he’s been trying to court all week. 

On top of that: Link doesn’t have a credit card (all he’s got is cash) and it says right on the tow sign they don’t deal in it. Somehow Link missed the whole thing, the first time around, when he parked wrong or whatever. But now going to have to borrow his Mama’s card just to get the truck out of impound. 

All this and he still has to cancel on his date tonight.

“I didn’t even see a line!” he yells again, recounting the events that have unfolded. “How am I supposed to take their word for it without a picture, either! And like I said, if you can’t see the line, how are you gonna know when you’ve crossed it?!” he decries.

They’ve towed his car because he parked outside the student residential boundary lines on the main street. Everyone knows this is how the city of Raleigh makes most it’s coin. Shoving parking tickets on unsuspecting co-eds.

Link never thought they’d tow his freaking car, though.

Well, his truck. To be specific.

He feels stifled, cornered, and hot. Very hot. His skin is boiling, red and he wants to punch the pillow he’s just released after screaming into it. 

His only permanent means of escape.

At least, unless he borrows Rhett's car.

“I can’t believe they wouldn’t even give me a warning! Or wait five minutes! I was only in rec center for ten minutes picking up freakin’ — these freakin’ things,” Link spits the words as he picks up and tosses the flowers back down on his desk.

They’re rumpled, now, with his tense hold and actions. Rhett gets up and fidgets with them, trying to smooth the foliage back into the nice shape it started in.

“Link, it’s okay, Lindsey is gonna understand,” Rhett explains.

“It’s not — it’s — there’s — why’s it always —  I’M SO MAD!” Link ends with, apoplectic and beyond any other way to articulate it.

“That’s okay!” Rhett tells him, since he has every right to be upset. 

“I...! Ughhhh!”  He walks over and bangs his right Reebok heel against the closet door once for good measure.

It makes a noisy sound as it bends at the overhead slide hinge that keeps it on track. Link kicks it again, seeming pleased with the audible response from the wood bending and cracking loudly in the room, like a smack to the face.

“Link!” Rhett reprimands, sure that they’ll be in trouble with their resident advisor for damaging property if Link keeps it up. 

“I’m sorry, I just! I just wanna — ‘s just been one thing after another, this year!” Link growls, continuing his pacing and returning to the wooden door again. “I’m just so — so — ARRGH!” Link fumes and before Rhett can jump up to intervene, he watches his friend punch the door.

“FFF—reak! Dang it!” Link screams.

Rhett watches, eyes wide.

“Shit!” Link yells as it hits. It gives with a loud, snap-crack and Rhett’s mouth makes a perfect “o” in reaction. 

Link’s hand goes to his mouth catching his own language. “Shit!” he cries again like he can’t stop, muffled by his hand. 

Afterwards, he’s panting and Rhett is left standing to the side staring in a bit of awe. He didn’t know Link had that in him, to be honest. “Shit, there’s a hole!” Link exclaims.

Their eyes both guiltily dart to the half-filled swear jar on Link’s desk. Usually he’s the one keeping after Rhett for saying “Hell!” or “Damn!”

Although Rhett’s said all the bad words, at some point or another, it is unlike either of them to spew out a ton of foul language in a string as Link has. 

“Swear jar?” Rhett says, mostly in question. He can tell Link’s much madder than the other times they’ve punished each other for cursing. His willingness to let it go is rife in his tone, but Link shakes his head, madder at himself for having swore and willing to pay the price.

He saunters over to his backpack and finds his wallet. “No, no, I earned it.” He tsks himself as he pulls out a few singles and strides over to the jar, tipping them in.

“You overpaid, there, bo,” Rhett advises, watching the bills settle. It was a quarter a word and Link put in three dollars. 

“‘S for the door,” Links says, shrugging. “I don’t know what the Hell I ‘s thinkin’!”

He closes his eyes. “And for that Hell, too,” he adds. “And that one!” He throws his hands up. “ARRgh!”

“Link!” Rhett yells as he slots another single dollar bill, adding to the overpayment, but cushioning the extra curses all the same. “Link, it’s — you — it’s fine!”

“It’s not fine!” Link yells. “I’m screwed. And now I’m cursing like a sailor watchin’ my favorite football team lose the playoffs!”

Rhett makes a face. “What, we talkin’ the Army-Navy game, or what?”

“Damn it, Rhett!” Link snarls. Then he closes his eyes and makes a face at his own words. “Damn it, Rhett!” He paces around, throwing his hands back around, gesticulating. “I feel like I’m trapped in some sick dirty mouth loop!”

“That sounds… why does that sound worse than the cursing?” Rhett says, joking. “Maybe you should add another dollar?”

Link sighs, dramatically, and does so. 

“Link, I was — you don’t have to actually — Link, it’s okay!” Rhett stammers out, eyes bright. He comes at Link with his hand out, like he’s asking to be heard out. “You had a horrible day, you should be allowed to vent a little!”

“Vent a little?!” Link shoots back. “I put a hole in the door!”

“Yeah, okay, maybe that wasn’t your finest moment, but you’re pissed!” Rhett explains. “I get it!”

Link throws his hands up as if to say, at least there’s that and not much else.

“You should get a pass.”

“A pass?” Link questions.

“Yeah, just for tonight.” Rhett puts his hands on his hips. “You already paid for a week’s worth of curses with my exchange rate,” Rhett jokes. 

Rhett didn’t curse much, but all the other money in the jar was his. Link’s never so much as taken the Lord’s name in vain before.

Link spares a sidelong glance and hustles back over to his backpack to return his wallet. 

“Go ahead, man, you’ve earned it. Blow off some steam!” Rhett advises.

“So, you just want me to start cursing?” Link asks, joking with a touch of condescension. “Like some — some degenerate?”

“Degenerate?” Rhett asks, laughing. “Who said anything about being a degenerate?”

“That’s who curses, Rhett!”

Rhett looks Link over and decides to try and get his mind off what’s eating him by messing with him. His favorite pastime. 

“You should say the ‘F’ word, Link,” Rhett urges, suddenly, overcome with the desire to corrupt Link. He’s a bit ashamed of it, but another side of him insists that it would be hilarious to see Link snap and start saying filthy things, even for just one night. 

Hearing him say Shit! is enough to get Rhett interested in hearing more.

Link frowns. “Fornicate?”

Rhett smirks. “Yeah, but the bad version.”

Link’s eyes go wide. “Rhett!” he puts a hand to his chest, finally settling on a posture that indicates he’s nearly at his wit’s end. Rhett beams at him. 

This is as much about teasing Link to take a night off being Mr. Perfect as it is about Rhett noticing that Link screaming Shit! also did a lot to calm him down. If he curses more, maybe he’ll feel better altogether. Plus, as established, Rhett found it hilarious to watch unfold.

In his opinion, it’s certainly worth a shot.

“C’mon, Link — let one rip!” Rhett teases and Link’s brows furrow.

Unfortunately, Rhett’s efforts to cheer him up are doing the opposite for his mood in the meantime. Link looks actively annoyed at the supposition.

“Will you please — ? We’ve established I’m having a terrible enough night as it is and I don’t need your added bull —” Link stops, then goes silent off at Rhett’s delighted expression.

“My what?” Rhett teases more. “My bullshit?”

Link’s eyes flick to the jar. Rhett makes a show of grabbing a quarter from his laundry money holder on his own desk and walking over to put it in the jar. 

“Yeah, that,” Link bullies. 

“Well, too dang bad, Link,” Rhett says, splaying his arms wide and taking in that Link is at least partly distracted from his terrible night, even while he spoke of it. “Rules are that so long as I pay up, I’m fine.”

Link huffs.

“This is —” Link starts, voice rising again in agitation.

“Uh, huh,” Rhett encourages.

“You’re such a —” Link begins and ends. Rhett’s eyebrows and eyes both dart up then turn crooked, waiting for any addition to that comment, but it never arrives.

Link starts pacing again, faster, back and forth between the dorm beds and their door. 

Rhett merely nods, waiting for more.

Finally, something in Link stops him in his tracks. Whether it’s the constant grinning nods from Rhett to egg him on, the long itinerary of Bad Things that keep on Happening, or just that Link is filled with an urge to punch the closet door again and he knows he can’t do that. 

So, he snaps, “IT IS BULLSHIT!” full volume at Rhett.

Rhett’s head nods even more swiftly, taking a deeper path up and down, like he’s bobbing over steady waves to stay afloat.

“IT’S ALL BULLSHIT!” Link repeats at the same charged decibel.

Rhett still nods more, as if to tell him to elaborate further, but Link’s anger stagnates his thinking. He just wants to keep screaming that, so he does. “IT’S ALL SUCH BULLSHIT!”

“Yeah, it is!” Rhett calls back at him, like he’s cheering him on in the stands.

“And you?!” Rhett puts a hand on his own chest as if to answer silently who me? Link’s, fired up again and pointing in Rhett’s direction. “You don’t get to have fun with this, you’re — you’re just as bad!”

“YEAH! I AM!” Rhett calls out, uncaring about being thrown into the mix as well.

“When you drove us to the rec center last weekend, we double-parked with our hazards on and took twice as long!”

Rhett exclaims, “We did!” in agreement.

“ASSHOLE!” Link yells at him.

Rhett nods. 

Link tears his fingers through his hair, overwhelmed at how out of hand his words have gotten, so quickly. His eyes stray back to the swear jar where he knows he has at least a few words to go. Disturbing though the thought, he considers also that he has more money in his wallet. 

He knows how far he’s strayed, already, from that change in priorities alone. When he looks back at Rhett, who is still giddy, waiting for him to say more, he gives up. 

“Fuck,” he mutters, in absolution.

Rhett gasps. 

He’s been waiting for Link to say that, most of all, and is shocked by how quickly they’ve arrived there. Hearing it spoken so casually, on top of it all.

“Fuck,” Link repeats again, in surprise that the word actually tumbled out of his mouth so smoothly.

“I don’t even think I’ve ever hardly thought that word before, let alone said it, now I can’t f — fuck, now I can’t stop!” Link growls at Rhett, furious at his role in what feels like a downfall.

Rhett is still aghast. His mind racing. 

He’s been waiting for the delivery and is amazed to hear Link actually do it. His mind has been picturing this as a funny joke, but Link is just standing there, mad, yelling fuck, again and again, accusatory. Rightly so. 

Rhett knows he drove Link to this, in part for his own amusement, but it doesn’t feel funny at all anymore. His cheeks feel warm.

Link’s face reddens further at Rhett’s lack of response. 

He gets up in Rhett’s face and Rhett feels himself start to back up so quickly he nearly stumbles to sit on the bed. He needs to concede this fight because it’s clear there’s a lot more pent up anger than he’s realized inside Link. 

He thinks back to the door and looks around. That did calm him briefly, but surely he can’t just punch the door again. “You should yell,” Rhett ekes out the next best thing. What Link shouted after the punch. “Yell it.”

He means the f-word, still. The way Link is saying it, it feels immoral to be saying it, too.

“FUCK!” Link yells, at his continued badgering, whether it’s in fulfillment of his request or not, Rhett couldn’t say. His body shudders in fear at how loud and direct an outburst that was.

Now, he’s worried their dorm mates are going to think they’re in an all-out fight. Rhett’s eyes scan the bed and he grabs a pillow. “Yell into this,” he offers, handing the pillow over.

Link, still looking annoyed, takes the pillow. He shoves his face against it and screams, “FUCK!” at what must be the very top of his lungs.

Rhett has to brace himself against the top bunk. He’s waiting for the punchline. 

It still hasn’t come.

Link, meanwhile, has pulled his bright red face from the pillow and takes in air in pants, looking over at Rhett. Rhett is sure he’s never looked so tough, so masculine, so — Rhett’s stomach lurches.

He knows that can’t be healthy. To consider any of those traits as a burly or cool, but he’s too concerned with why they’re making his insides tingle to interrogate it much for himself.

He offers to take the pillow back and Link hands it to him. Instead of putting it on the bed, Rhett holds it in his hands. He’s speechless, he thinks, but his head is pounding too hard to know why his mind directs him to his next request. Muscle memory, perhaps. 

Normally, Rhett would wrestle with Link until he got the anger out, but that feels absolutely impossible to initiate right now. With Link this mad, somehow Rhett worries that even being bigger and heavier, Link would find a way to win that match, looking as livid as he does.

 “Um,” Rhett starts, unable to figure out what more to say, now that Link’s gone through all that. He holds up the pillow. “Punch this,” Rhett says, not thinking about the fact that said pillow is still in his grip. He’s more focused on the mental image of sweaty, angry Link punching things again.

It’s what helped him relieve tension before, after all.

So, he pushes the pillow forward again, centering it where Link can take an easy swing in the middle and miss Rhett’s hands entirely, and waits for Link to make a move.

Soon, Link does swing, deftly, landing a soft punch on the object with a huff. Rhett can see some of the tension lock up and release from his shoulders. It’s not gone, but it must be helping. Rhett knows shooting hoops when he’s pissed always did the trick.

Link then punches again, firmer, this time, shouting, “Fuck!” along with his movements.

Then again, then a third and fourth time, until the pillow gives way and flies back towards the chair behind where Rhett stands. “Shit!” Link calls, watching it settle on the desk chair to their right. 

Rhett considers that is likely to keep happening, once Link builds back to that momentum, so he turns back and squares up. He holds a palm out behind another palm. He doesn’t ask, but Link can tell he’s being told to punch into Rhett’s open hand like it’s a boxing or pitching warm-up.

Link pulls back and slams his fist into Rhett’s palm. The taller of the two staggers back, but doesn't flinch. He puts his hand back in the same spot waiting for another. Link gives just as hard again. 

On the third hit, Rhett finally falters. The sting of the punch is too much for him to let on as harmless, when he waves his hands around the air to ease the throb. He grabs a throw blanket and drapes it two or three times around his upper chest, then motions for Link to aim there instead. 

Link gets a good hit in and Rhett is sure this way is going to last even less than his naked hand did, but he has to try to keep at it. Link is so angry, but he looks so good hitting like this, like he could star in a cologne ad or work at Abercrombie & Fitch at the mall. Rhett has to let him get the tension out. 

That’s Rhett’s job as his best friend.

Eventually, the pain is too much and he needs a break. Rhett puts a hand up in pause and sits himself on the bottom bunk and waits for Link to say something. They’re both panting with the same amount of exertion they use when they wrestle, but they still have all their clothes on.

For some reason, Rhett’s mind takes note of that.

He realizes he’s been staring at Link when Link starts to return the gaze. “Why’re you looking at me like that?” Link asks. 

Rhett blushes. “Like what?” He can’t see his face to know.

“Like I’m a sideshow exhibit,” Link tells him, throwing his hands back up in derision. “Or — or, I don’t know a piece of undercooked meat, almost.”

“What?” Rhett asks, blanching.

“Like you’re sizing me up to fight,” Link clarifies. 

Fight — Rhett considers. Quite the opposite. His mind thought Link meant piece of meat — to bite. Which sent a chill up his spine. “I-I wasn’t…”

“You were!” Link says, still crackling with tension. Rhett doesn’t have any part of his body to absorb it, any longer, he feels useless to help.

“Link…” Rhett starts to say, looking up at Link. Link still has an arm on the top bunk but now he’s leaning down a little, friendly but threatening, and Rhett’s insides start to turn over in knots. 

“You want to pound me, admit it!” Link says, impatiently.

“What?!” Rhett replies, stunned.

“You,” Link says, pointing at Rhett. “Want to pound me,” he starts only to stop and point at himself. “It’s clear as day on your face.”

“What?!” Rhett yells at him. 

“You want to pound me, Rhett. You’re so predictable,” Link elaborates, plainly. “Go ahead!”

Rhett’s eyes nearly bug out of his head. “Link, I-I…” Rhett trails off, his face blotchy and drawn.

“C’mon,” Link begs, leaning forward down at Rhett, taunting him. “Hit me!”

Rhett registers his words, understanding finally that he means to physically fight him, not to pound him as in fuck him. In Rhett’s defense, that word has been thrown around pretty casually for the first time ever and he’s racing to keep up with everything Link is doing.

Unfortunately, Rhett comes to this conclusion after he’s already leaned upwards and started kissing Link on the mouth. 

Once he’s there, realizing the grave error he’s made, he breaths a huff of air in humility as he feels Link’s mouth open in turn. Then Link’s tongue darts out to push into his. 

As the wet tip bursts in and out, rapidly, and Rhett contemplates that it’s like Link is still hitting him, in this tiny only-in-his-mouth kind of way. So, maybe Link was right and he did want to pound him but only via the mouth. Since it also felt so good, Rhett starts returning the kiss, rapid pace, and pulling Link closer. 

Link groans under his guidance, but it’s a good groan. Link rests a thigh over each of Rhett’s and sinks back on his knees, sitting over Rhett, as they continue to twist tongues. Rhett doesn’t know what to do with his hands, so he moves them around to Link’s back and they naturally drift towards gripping his ass while he holds him.

Link moans into his mouth at the feeling.

Eventually, Link pulls back, leaning so there’s enough space to speak his shock. 

“Fuck, Rhett,” Link mutters. Rhett feels his dick throb and thrust up towards Link’s lap as he shifts. Rhett’s not sure when he got this hard, but it suddenly feels like he has a steel rod stuffed down his sweats. “What are we doing?” Link breathes out. “Was that — were we just kissin’? What the Hell is going on?” Link questions, desperate and aroused.

Rhett humps up another time and Link keens at the sensation. 

“I think my body just wanted to help relieve the tension of, uh, you know, all that anger and — " Rhett starts to explain, but he’s helpless to the feeling of Link rolling around in his lap and generating even more friction between their overlapping arousal. “Guess it preferred the idea of this over punching you.”

Link rocks his hips and giggles through his own enjoyment as he watches Rhett squirm. “I’m a little biased, but yeah,” Link says, grinding down more. “This does beat a punch in the face, I’ll give you that.”

They’re both panting and rubbing on each other more before Rhett reaches down to touch Link. “Honestly, I think I could —” Link says, grinding with extra effort in a way that makes Rhett feel Link’s erection evidently as it presses against his midsection. He grinds back into that area specifically.

“Yeah, same,” Rhett agrees, circling his hips in time with Link’s.

Nothin’ like some good old dry humping, for what ails ‘ya, he figures. 

Link leans down and either forgetting his initial shock or abandoning it, he captures Rhett’s mouth in another kiss. 

Before long, they start gasping for air from one another’s open mouths while their faces stay pressed together but not kissing, as they grind harder and harder where they sit. 

Rhett reaches a hand down and fondles them both at once, rubbing his sweats against Link’s khakis. Link throws his head back in pleasure. “Feel better?” he asks, hoping this has been as erotic and pleasurable for Link as it has been for him.

“Oh, shit, Rhett, yeah,” Link moans, waist canting in time with Rhett’s motions. While gripping Link’s ass, Rhett’s moved his right hand up his back to steady him with how harsh the kisses are, each time. The hand that moved to Link’s back has stayed under his tank and drifts to his front. Rhett feels around for a nipple and squeezes once when it finds purchase. 

“Oh, fuck, yeah, just like that, oh my God, fuck, FUCK!” Link bellows out, suddenly aware that Rhett is sucking kisses into his jaw and throat as his other hand, the one not on the nipple, still squeezes his ass.

“I’m gonna — I can’t stop — I’m about to,” Link begins several attempts to warn Rhett, but comes before he can finish or Rhett can respond.

Rhett’s eyes go fully wide again, in amazement, feeling Link’s dick throb and spurt laid against his own. It’s enough added heat and friction that he feels his own orgasm begin to crest unexpectedly. He hasn’t come that quick in years. Maybe ever.

Link pants through his come down, but doesn’t move to get off Rhett right away. They both remain still, clutching each other as they sit tangled limb over limb. 

“D-Did we just have sex?” Link asks, mortified, but still draped over Rhett.

“Technically,” Rhett confirms. “But it was non-penetrative, so we’re still good, I think.”

“Oh, okay, yeah,” Link says back, his eyes far off. 

“You sure that’s okay?” Rhett asks, looking for Link to meet his gaze and assure him that is.

He does, but he speaks his mind, to clarify anything not given away by his crooked grin. “No, I was askin’ ‘cause I wanna do it again.”

Rhett’s eyes light up.

“A lot,” Link explains. 

“Fuck,” Rhett moans, softly, brushing a thumb to Link’s lower lip. 

He joins their mouths again.

Link cuts the kiss short, with a hand between them, however, and gives Rhett a stern look. Rhett knows in that moment and any proceeding it, he’ll do anything Link asks of him. 

Rhett’s glazed eyes spin focus to Link’s face again to figure out what that will be this time. Link nods his head towards the half-empty jar on his desk. 

“Pay up.”