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unboxpayroll · 6 days

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Best Payroll and HR Software Company in India

In today’s fast-paced corporate world, efficient management of HR and payroll functions has become a critical requirement for businesses, regardless of their size. Human Resource Management Systems (HRMS) and Payroll Software have drastically evolved, offering end-to-end solutions that are not only efficient but also cost-effective. One of the standout companies in this space is Unbox Payroll, which has rapidly grown into one of the best payroll and HR software companies in India. This article delves into what makes Unbox Payroll stand out in a competitive market and why it should be your go-to choice for payroll and HR management.

Understanding the Importance of Payroll and HR Software

Payroll and HR software play a pivotal role in streamlining various HR functions, from recruitment to payroll processing, compliance management, employee data tracking, and much more. The right payroll and HR solution helps organizations save time, reduce errors, and ensure compliance with statutory regulations like Provident Fund (PF), Employees’ State Insurance (ESI), and tax filings. Especially in a country like India, where labor laws and regulations can be complex, having a comprehensive payroll and HR software is crucial.

Why Choose Unbox Payroll?

Unbox Payroll has made a name for itself by offering a fully integrated HR and payroll software solution tailored to meet the specific needs of Indian businesses. Whether you are a small business or a large enterprise, Unbox Payroll offers a suite of features that ensures seamless HR operations. Below are some reasons why Unbox Payroll stands out from the competition:

1. Comprehensive Payroll Management

Managing payroll manually can lead to errors and inefficiencies, especially when dealing with large employee bases. Unbox Payroll provides automated payroll solutions that calculate salaries, deductions, bonuses, and other components accurately. It can handle multiple salary structures and ensures that all calculations adhere to Indian payroll compliance requirements.

2. Employee Self-Service (ESS) Portal

A standout feature of Unbox Payroll is its Employee Self-Service (ESS) portal. This portal allows employees to access their payslips, tax details, leave balances, and other essential HR information on the go. It reduces the administrative burden on HR departments and empowers employees by giving them greater transparency over their financial and employment information.

3. Attendance and Leave Management

Unbox Payroll simplifies attendance and leave management with its integrated solution. Employees can mark their attendance, request leaves, and view their leave balance directly through the software. The software integrates seamlessly with biometric attendance systems and ensures that leave policies are adhered to across the organization.

4. Compliance and Statutory Reports

One of the biggest challenges for Indian businesses is ensuring compliance with ever-changing tax and labor laws. Unbox Payroll ensures that businesses stay compliant by automating PF, ESI, and TDS calculations and generating statutory reports that meet government standards. This helps avoid legal penalties and ensures smooth operations.

5. Customization and Scalability

Unbox Payroll is fully customizable to meet the unique needs of your business. Whether you have 10 employees or 10,000, the software can be scaled accordingly. The platform is flexible and can be integrated with other ERP systems or third-party applications, making it a versatile solution for businesses of any size.

6. Robust Analytics and Reporting

Data is crucial for making informed decisions in any organization. Unbox Payroll offers powerful analytics and reporting tools that provide insights into employee performance, payroll trends, attendance, and more. These reports can be customized to meet specific business needs and help managers make data-driven decisions.

7. Cloud-Based Solution

With cloud-based solutions becoming the norm, Unbox Payroll offers cloud-based HR and payroll software that is accessible from anywhere, anytime. This ensures greater flexibility, data security, and ease of use for employees and HR departments. The cloud platform also ensures that businesses can access the latest software updates without any downtime.

Features of Unbox Payroll That Make it the Best Payroll and HR Software Company in India

Unbox Payroll has distinguished itself by offering a suite of innovative features that address the specific challenges faced by Indian businesses. Some of the key features include:

1. Multi-Language Support

India is a diverse country with employees speaking various languages. Unbox Payroll offers multi-language support, making it accessible to a broader range of employees, regardless of their linguistic background.

2. Automatic Tax Calculations

One of the biggest pain points for businesses is keeping up with tax regulations. Unbox Payroll automates tax calculations based on the latest income tax slabs and rules. The software also assists employees in planning their taxes by providing details about their tax liabilities and potential deductions.

3. Mobile Accessibility

With the increasing reliance on smartphones, Unbox Payroll offers a mobile app that allows both employees and managers to access their HR and payroll details from their phones. Whether it’s checking payslips or approving leave requests, the app makes it easy to manage day-to-day operations on the go.

4. Seamless Integration with Other Systems

Unbox Payroll can integrate seamlessly with other HRMS or accounting software that a business may already be using. This reduces the complexity of migrating to a new system and ensures that all systems are synchronized for optimal performance.

5. Data Security and Privacy

In the age of digital transformation, data security is paramount. Unbox Payroll ensures that all employee data, payroll records, and compliance reports are stored securely using encryption technologies. The platform adheres to GDPR and Indian data protection laws, offering peace of mind to businesses.

Benefits of Using Unbox Payroll for Your Business

Choosing Unbox Payroll comes with several benefits, making it one of the top payroll and HR software companies in India. Let’s explore these benefits in more detail:

1. Time-Saving and Efficiency

Manual payroll processing can be a time-consuming and error-prone task. Unbox Payroll automates the entire process, from payroll calculations to generating payslips and filing taxes, saving valuable time and resources.

2. Improved Employee Satisfaction

By offering employees transparency through the ESS portal and ensuring timely and accurate payroll processing, Unbox Payroll improves employee satisfaction. Employees are more likely to stay engaged and productive when they have clarity on their salaries, leaves, and benefits.

3. Compliance with Indian Laws

Non-compliance with labor laws and tax regulations can lead to hefty fines and penalties. Unbox Payroll’s built-in compliance features ensure that your business stays compliant with all Indian laws, avoiding legal issues and financial loss.

4. Scalability for Growing Businesses

As businesses grow, their HR and payroll needs evolve. Unbox Payroll’s scalability ensures that the software grows with your business, allowing you to add more employees, features, and functionalities as needed.

5. Cost-Effectiveness

Many businesses are hesitant to invest in payroll and HR software due to concerns about cost. However, Unbox Payroll offers affordable pricing plans that provide excellent value for money. The cost savings from automation, improved efficiency, and compliance far outweigh the initial investment.

Why Unbox Payroll is the Future of HR and Payroll Management in India

With the rapid digital transformation taking place in India, businesses are seeking advanced, reliable, and scalable solutions for their HR and payroll needs. Unbox Payroll stands out by offering a cloud-based, fully integrated HR and payroll platform that is specifically designed for the Indian market.

The software’s ability to handle complex payroll structures, compliance with Indian laws, and integration with other systems makes it a top choice for companies looking to improve their HR operations. The user-friendly interface, multi-language support, and robust mobile application only add to its appeal.

Moreover, Unbox Payroll’s commitment to continuous innovation and customer support ensures that businesses always have access to the latest features and tools. This makes it a forward-thinking choice for companies looking to stay ahead of the competition.

Conclusion: Unbox Payroll — The Best Payroll and HR Software Company in India

In a competitive market where efficiency, accuracy, and compliance are key to success, Unbox Payroll has emerged as one of the best payroll and HR software companies in India. With its wide range of features, easy-to-use interface, and commitment to staying ahead of industry trends, it is an ideal choice for businesses of all sizes.

Whether you are looking to simplify your payroll process, ensure compliance with Indian regulations, or empower your employees with self-service tools, Unbox Payroll has a solution that fits your needs. By choosing Unbox Payroll, you are investing in the future of your business’s HR and payroll management.

If you are ready to take your payroll and HR operations to the next level, Unbox Payroll is the perfect partner for your business.

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people2profit · 16 days

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pacehr · 1 year

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Top recruitment consultancy in India

In the fast-paced corporate landscape of Delhi NCR, finding the right talent to drive your organization's growth can be a daunting task. This is where the expertise of a top-notch recruitment consultancy comes into play, and Pace HR Consulting stands out as a prominent player in this realm. With a proven track record of matching businesses with their ideal candidates, Pace HR Consulting has established itself as the go-to partner for efficient and effective recruitment solutions.

The Essence of Recruitment Excellence

Recruitment isn't just about filling positions; it's about strategically aligning talent with an organization's goals and values. Pace HR Consulting, a leading recruitment consultancy in Delhi NCR, understands this essence. With a team of seasoned professionals who possess a keen understanding of diverse industries and their specific requirements, Pace HR Consulting ensures that every candidate recommended is not only qualified but also resonates with the company's culture and aspirations.

Navigating the Talent Landscape

The talent landscape is ever-evolving, with new skills and roles emerging regularly. Pace HR Consulting prides itself on staying ahead of the curve. Their team's comprehensive market research and industry insights enable them to anticipate talent trends and identify the skill sets that will shape the future. This proactive approach ensures that clients are presented with candidates who are not just apt for today's demands but are also equipped to drive innovation and growth tomorrow.

Tailored Solutions for Diverse Needs

No two organizations are alike, and neither are their recruitment needs. Whether you're a startup looking for a dynamic team or an established corporation seeking specialized professionals, Pace HR Consulting has the flexibility to cater to your unique requirements. Their personalized approach means that they take the time to understand your company's DNA, enabling them to match candidates not only based on skills but also on how seamlessly they integrate into your work culture.

Commitment Beyond Placements

Pace HR Consulting's dedication to their clients doesn't end with candidate placements. They believe in building lasting relationships by providing post-placement support and guidance. Their team follows up to ensure that both employers and candidates are experiencing a symbiotic relationship, fostering long-term success for all parties involved.

Technology-Driven Efficiency

In today's digital age, recruitment is evolving at a rapid pace, and technology plays a pivotal role. Pace HR Consulting embraces innovative tools and platforms that enhance the recruitment process. From AI-driven candidate searches to streamlined communication channels, their technological prowess ensures that the entire journey, from initial outreach to final onboarding, is seamless and efficient.

Pace HR Consulting: Pioneering Excellence

Pace HR Consulting's commitment to excellence, unwavering integrity, and the ability to deliver on promises has catapulted them to the forefront of the recruitment consultancy landscape in Delhi NCR. Their impressive track record, customer testimonials, and industry accolades speak volumes about their dedication to client success and candidate satisfaction.

In a region as competitive as Delhi NCR, where talent acquisition can make or break an organization's growth trajectory, having a reliable partner like Pace HR Consulting becomes invaluable. Their ability to identify, attract, and retain the right talent not only saves time and resources but also sets the stage for sustainable success.

In conclusion, Pace HR Consulting has rightfully earned its reputation as the top recruitment consultancy in Delhi NCR. Their blend of expertise, commitment, and innovation positions them as a strategic partner in the journey of building dynamic and effective teams that drive businesses forward. Whether you're an employer seeking top-tier talent or a professional looking to unlock new career opportunities, Pace HR Consulting is your catalyst for success in the vibrant landscape of Delhi NCR.

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egcdeath · 3 months

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making a racket

pairing: patrick zweig x reader

warnings: social media au, dates aren’t really relevant but are there for formatting purposes, mentions of a sex tape but nothing explicit, drama, no use of y/n, usernames are random, grammar isn’t the best because it’s social media, angst, fluff, more drama, twitter, gossip websites, reddit, text messages, emails, deuxmoi, so many headlines.

summary: as a celebrity, you often can’t control the narrative. you find that out the hard way when you enter a relationship with an infamous retired tennis player.

word count: 5k

author’s note: this fic was inspired by this request and was so fun to write! also, i apologize in advance if i somehow tagged you because of your username!!!

key: DM = deuxmoi (a celebrity gossip account on instagram)

CDAN = crazy days and nights (a website with blind items)

blind items = basically a riddle for celebrity gossip

EGOT = Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony Awards

🎾 future EGOT winner updates - @popculturelvr9

UPDATE: today thee tennis princess herself followed retired tennis player patrick zweig. he has not yet followed her back.

[alt text: screenshot of mother following patrick zweig on instagram]

6:07 PM 8/12/22 From Earth

cleo - @filmsn0b

@popculturelvr9 could it be for that new biopic abt the tennis player?

6:08 PM 8/12/22 From Earth

🎾 future EGOT winner updates - @popculturelvr9

@filmsn0b god i hope so. it’s about time she brought home an oscar.

6:08 PM 8/12/22 From Earth

🎬🎾 - @lalalanding

@popculturelvr9 @filmsn0b it’s not a biopic fyi but that makes sense. they just started production a few days ago so he’s prob helping her learn how to play

6:10 PM 8/12/22 From Earth

🎾 future EGOT winner updates - @popculturelvr9

@lalalanding @filmsn0b like i said….. the Oscars are not ready for her.

6:10 PM 8/12/22 From Earth

——

tara 🦋🐬 - @profhater

GUYS you will never guess who i just met

10:30 PM 8/22/22 From Earth

🎬🎾 - @lalalanding

@profhater who?

10:32 PM 8/22/22 From Earth

tara 🦋🐬 - @profhater

see for yourself

[alt text: me with the queen herself AHHHH]

10:32 PM 8/22/22 From Earth

🎬🎾 - @lalalanding

@profhater @popculturelvr9 LOOK

10:34 PM 8/22/22 From Earth

🎾 future EGOT winner updates - @popculturelvr9

@lalalanding @profhater OMG

10:42 PM 8/22/22 From Earth

🎾 future EGOT winner updates - @popculturelvr9

@lalalanding @profhater what did she say to you?

10:42 PM 8/22/22 From Earth

tara 🦋🐬 - @profhater

@popculturelvr9 @lalalanding i told her i loved her work then made some random guy she was with take the picture lol

10:55 PM 8/22/22 From Earth

🎾 future EGOT winner updates - @popculturelvr9

@profhater @lalalanding ugh i wish i was you

10:42 PM 8/22/22 From Earth

----

@deuxmoi - 9/13/22

SPOTTED

let’s see what your favorite celebs have been up to since last week

hi! i served (no pun intended) that former tennis player patrick zweig and that one actress from that one dramedy show that swept the award circuit last year at the country club i work at this weekend. they were super nice and tipped very generously! idk if they’re dating but they were definitely wearing matching outfits.

not the first time we’ve

heard she’s a good tipper

—-

@deuxmoi - 9/25/22

Sent via form submission from Deuxmoi

Pseudonyms, please: COURTING her

Email: [email protected]

Subject: award darling and no one’s darling

Message: i work on the set of the production for a very highly anticipated movie for next summer and a leading actress and her “personal trainer” have been getting awfully cozy. we’ve caught him leaving her trailer a number of times. he definitely doesn’t fit her sweet girl persona.

——

Blind Item #13

This newly critically acclaimed TV actress has had her head in the clouds lately. After various reports of spotting her making quite a Racket with a consulting crew member, her publicist has been scrambling to put out fires and advising her to move on, but she insists on seeing him.

Someone call HR.

October 3, 2022

——

r/Fauxmoi

u/aintnodiva

I know it’s not from DM but does anyone know who this might be?

[alt text: Screenshot of Oct. 3, 2022’s Blind Item #13 from CDAN]

⬆3 ⬇

u/sinkingships212

Racket makes me think of tennis, tennis makes me think of that one upcoming movie, so I’m gonna guess Patrick Zweig is involved somehow.

⬆15 ⬇

u/aintnodiva

No wayyy is he with the lead actress then?

⬆5 ⬇

u/sinkingships212

I doubt it. Their vibes seem totally mismatched lmao. Besides, she’s in too good of a place in her career to be with a guy whose dick pics are one Google search away.

⬆8 ⬇

u/teaspilllllt

did anyone else see that submission to DM a few weeks ago about the production for that movie? it basically said the same thing

⬆3 ⬇

u/sinkingships212

I forgot about that. It’s probably just speculation then.

⬆6 ⬇

——

🎾 future EGOT winner updates - @popculturelvr9

UPDATE: it looks like the tennis movie has wrapped! this is queen leaving the set today

[alt text: paparazzi picture of a beautiful gorgeous radiant woman getting into her ride tonight]

9:45 PM 10/15/22 From Earth

🌸💐🌺 - @floraflorals

@popculturelvr she looks so sad omg who hurt her 😭

9:46 PM 10/15/22 From Earth

🎾 future EGOT winner updates - @popculturelvr9

@floraflorals idk who did but i need to fight them

9:47 PM 10/15/22 From Earth

🎾🎬 - @lalalanding

@popculturelvr9 @floraflorals girl probably patrick zweig

9:47 PM 10/15/22 From Earth

🌸💐🌺 - @floraflorals

@lalalanding ew

9:51 PM 10/15/22 From Earth

🎾 future EGOT winner updates - @popculturelvr9

@floraflorals @lalalanding she’s probably just sad to be wrapping honestly

9:52 PM 10/15/22 From Earth

🎾🎬 - @lalalanding

@popculturelvr9 @floraflorals i still blame That Man

9:53 PM 10/15/22 From Earth

----

Blind Item #7

This highly anticipated movie featuring a highly in-demand prestige actress had a particular crew consultant stay far longer than what was necessary. From consultant, to trainer, to fuckbuddy? With production wrapping, these coworkers are not so sure where they stand.

Someone should’ve intervened months ago.

November 16, 2022

—--

Blind Item #4

The holidays are coming around, and this couple who are more like a double still don’t know where they stand. Maybe asking someone allergic to commitment to come to Thanksgiving was a mistake.

November 24, 2022

—-

Instagram

@finstalice: holiday photodump!

1 hour ago

@spammmacy: i’m dead why was that tennis guy at your thanksgiving 💀

45 minutes ago

@finstalice: @spammmacy lololol a friend brought him over for friendsgiving

40 minutes ago

@spammmacy: did he do any tennis tricks for yall

37 minutes ago

@finstalice: @spammmacy ik ur joking but after a few drinks he literally did. u should’ve seen the girl who brought him 😭 she was so embarrassed but went right back to smooching him after

33 minutes ago

@spammmacy: how did she not get the ick

31 minutes ago

@finstalice: @spammmacy love is a mysterious thing

22 minutes ago

——

The Independent

December 13, 2022

Former tennis star Patrick Zweig and up-and-coming actress cozy up at intimate dinner

On Friday, the pair grabbed Italian at a notoriously hard-to-get-into restaurant. The couple shared dishes and drinks and seemed to be enjoying each other’s company.

Zweig, 29, recently retired after a season that ended in injury. His retirement came after a series of scandals, most notably being a risqué leak of his camera roll.

At 29 herself, she is coming off the heels of a very busy award season. Taking home her first Best Actress Emmy and BAFTA awards, she also recently received her second ensemble cast award.

The two seem to be an interesting pair, having finished wrapping a movie they were both working on in late October. The unlikely friendship comes on the heels of murmurs about a potential relationship.

“They’ve been enjoying their newfound friendship. It's rare for her to find someone with similar life experiences that she can genuinely bond with,” an insider told us.

We have to wonder what they discussed over dinner.

——

Buzzfeed

January 1, 2023

Cheers to the New Year! 5 Celebrity NYE Parties You Wish You Attended.

1.Forget Kim Kardashian—If you weren’t at this rising star’s NYE party, you weren’t living!

Attendees included fellow co-stars from her critically acclaimed show, cast and crew from her recently wrapped tennis-themed film, and Patrick Zweig, who she’s been spotted with a number of times. Are they our newest OTP? Vote for your favorite speculated couple in this poll here.

——

Daily Mail

January 14, 2023

Method Acting? Two-time Emmy winner laughs with friends at Australian Open.

The television star, who hasn’t shown interest in the sport prior to her casting in her upcoming film, appeared to be relaxed and laid back with friends. Former tennis professional and new tennis consultant, Patrick Zweig, appeared to explain the ins and outs to her. The pair seemed particularly close as they shared concessions and laughter.

Her team declined to comment.

——

🎾 future EGOT winner updates - @popculturelvr9

UPDATE: mother was spotted looking absolutely splendiferous at the Australian Open today.

[alt text: queen with some of her friends and that tennis guy]

10:45 AM 1/14/23 From Earth

🎾🎬 - @lalalanding

@popculturelvr9 awww she’s so cute

10:47 AM 1/14/23 From Earth

sage ❄️ - @sagingthetl

@lalalanding @popculturelvr9 and of course he’s just there

10:48 AM 1/14/23 From Earth

💐 - @zweignatorrr

@sagingthetl @lalalanding @popculturelvr9 can we please just be honest with ourselves and acknowledge that they’re together lol

10:51 AM 1/14/23 From Earth

sage ❄️ - @sagingthetl

@zweignatorrr @lalalanding @popculturelvr9 i mean yeah obviously they are but i don’t like him

10:55 AM 1/14/23 From Earth

🎾 future EGOT winner updates - @popculturelvr9

@sagingthetl fair but you have to admit they’re a cute couple

10:55 AM 1/14/23 From Earth

sage ❄️ - @sagingthetl

@popculturelvr9 no i don’t

10:56 AM 1/14/23 From Earth

——

r/TennisGossip

u/makearacquet

AITA for shipping Patrick Zweig and that actress???

I just saw a very convincing timeline on Tumblr. They’ve been distracting me at the Open. Kinda cute if they’re actually dating. Really weird if they’re just friends.

⬆-45 ⬇

u/backhandedd

YTA for not posting about the actual Aus Open during the Aus Open.

⬆48 ⬇

——

TMZ EXCLUSIVE: PATRICK ZWEIG AND MYSTERY GIRL SPOTTED GETTING FRISKY IN ALLEYWAY

January 15, 2023

Looks like today's Australian Open winners weren’t the only ones who got lucky.

TMZ obtained an exclusive photo of retired tennis player Patrick Zweig getting hot and bothered in Australia. Though we haven’t identified his mystery woman, there’s speculation around the woman being former fling and fellow retired player Tashi Duncan, who was also spotted at the Open, or a new coworker, who Zweig was spotted sitting next to yesterday.

Zweig’s team declined to comment.

—-

Professional Mess Cleaner: Hello?

Professional Mess Maker: hi what’s up??

Professional Mess Cleaner: Don’t even what’s up me right now.

Professional Mess Cleaner: Are you serious?

Professional Mess Maker: yes lol what’s wrong

Professional Mess Cleaner: tmz.com/patrick-zweig-and-mystery-girl-spotted-getting-frisky-in-alleyway/02948289339

Professional Mess Cleaner: THIS IS WHAT’S WRONG!!!!!

Professional Mess Maker: shittttt

Professional Mess Cleaner: Is that all you have to say for yourself!!!???

Professional Mess Cleaner: I hope for both of our sakes that your stupid boyfriend is cheating on you.

Professional Mess Maker: rude

Professional Mess Cleaner: I’m going to fistfight you.

Professional Mess Cleaner: You’re lucky none of these pictures show your face because it definitely shows his hand up your skirt.

Professional Mess Cleaner: You couldn’t wait a few hours to go somewhere private?????

Professional Mess Maker: i told him we should wait.

Professional Mess Cleaner: TELL HIM HARDER NEXT TIME

Professional Mess Maker: sorry :,(

Professional Mess Maker: patrick says he’s sorry too

Professional Mess Cleaner: Apology not accepted. Especially not his.

Professional Mess Cleaner: What happened to being an easy client??? Are you getting your rebellious phase now??? Are you gonna be doing drugs on the front page of TMZ next week???

Professional Mess Maker: obviously not????

Professional Mess Cleaner: This week then??

Professional Mess Maker: i am not on drugs!!!!!

Professional Mess Cleaner: I wouldn’t know by the way you’ve been acting lately!!!

Professional Mess Maker: you can’t even tell who he’s making out with pls unclench

Professional Mess Cleaner: Please share who else it would be. So someone else’s publicist can deal with it.

Professional Mess Cleaner: And if you tell me to unclench again I will quit right this minute and let you deal with this yourself.

Professional Mess Maker: the article does mention tashi duncan by name but not me

Professional Mess Maker: but you’re so right i’m so sorry we will do better next time 😇

Professional Mess Cleaner: You better, or there won’t be a next time.

Professional Mess Cleaner: I’m serious.

——

🎾 future EGOT winner updates - @popculturelvr9

UNOFFICIAL UPDATE: this is definitely them making out lol

[alt text: patrick zweig making out with we know who]

10:51 AM 1/15/23 From Earth

ZWEIGNATORS - @zweignationupdates

@popculturelvr9 how romantic

10:53 AM 1/15/23 From Earth

💐 - @zweignatorrr

@popculturelvr that’s so invasive pls delete

10:58 AM 1/15/23 From Earth

—

@deuxmoi - 1/28/23

Sent via form submission from Deuxmoi

Pseudonyms, please: ace

Email: [email protected]

Subject: DEUCE

Message: this athlete and actress have been giving it their all to stay away from each other. they’re both pap magnets which is a nightmare for people trying to keep their relationship secret! we’ll see if they make it to valentine’s day.

—-

@deuxmoi - 2/14/23

SPOTTED - V-DAY EDITION

let’s see what your favorite celebs have been up to since last week

i saw patrick zweig in trader joe’s buying a bunch of flowers and chocolates.

anon pls

chivalry is not dead

—-

Blind Item #9

This newly critically acclaimed actress has run into some conflict with her otherwise smooth sailing secret relationship. He’s tired of staying quiet and she’s not ready to come forward. She really believes that bringing him as her plus-one to this major award show will heal all wounds. Only time will tell.

March 13, 2023

—

Buzzfeed

March 21, 2023

Our Top 20 Best and Worst Dressed at the 2023 Oscars

Not everyone can be a winner in this prestigious award show. Not everyone can be a winner when it comes to outfits, either.

Best

9. This beautiful gown, which was worn by the talented Emmy winner, was only made better by the help of friend Patrick Zweig, who helped fix the train a number of times on the red carpet.

—

🎾 future EGOT winner updates - @popculturelvr9

UPDATE: THE QUEEN HAS ARRIVED AT CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

[alt text: mother looking resplendent while getting out of a car]

10:51 AM 5/15/23 From Earth

tara 🦋🐬 - @profhater

@popculturelvr9 she’s glowing!!!!!

11:00 AM 5/15/23 From Earth

🎬🎾 - @lalalanding

@popculturelvr9 i can’t wait for the first reviews of her movie

11:00 AM 5/15/23 From Earth

🎾 future EGOT winner updates - @popculturelvr9

@lalalanding they’re saying this is gonna get her the oscar and i’m not even being delusional

[alt text: a review posted on instagram that says “she’s a powerhouse in this film and is arguably the emotional core of it. her performance is subtle, but moving. her physicality and delivery is like nothing i’ve ever seen before. definitely a contender for next year’s oscars.” the post was liked by her mom, her stylist, that tennis player, and thousands of others. ]

9:05 PM 5/15/23 From Earth

💐 - @zweignatorrr

@popculturelvr awww patrick is so cute for liking! such a supportive bf 🥹

9:38 PM 5/15/23 From Earth

🎬🎾 - @lalalanding

@popculturelvr9 @zweignatorrr we don’t care about that man

9:44 PM 5/15/23 From Earth

—-

@deuxmoi - 7/19/23

Sent via form submission from Deuxmoi

Pseudonyms, please: double fault

Email: [email protected]

Subject: pen pals

Message: this athlete-actress couple whose relationship is an open secret are very sad to be parting ways. she’s going on a month long press tour and he’s staying behind. they have plans to meet up at a few locations, but she’d rather be with him than promoting her movie that’s getting SERIOUS oscar buzz.

—-

From: Gone Fishing ([email protected]) June 22

To: FishersPrice ([email protected])

CC: BaitnSwitch ([email protected])

Subject: How many strokes?

Price & Bait,

Remember how we logged into that tennis guy Patrick Zweig’s iCloud? More specifically, how he wasn’t able to fully kick us out??

You’d never guess what we just found.

Regards,

Fishy

From: FishersPrice ([email protected]) June 22

To: GoneFishing ([email protected]), BaitnSwitch ([email protected])

Subject: RE: How many strokes?

Please share.

Thanks,

Price

From: Gone Fishing ([email protected]) June 22

To: FishersPrice ([email protected]), BaitnSwitch ([email protected])

Subject: RE: How many strokes?

📎 TAPE

See attached.

Regards,

Fishy

From: FishersPrice ([email protected]) June 22

To: GoneFishing ([email protected]), BaitnSwitch ([email protected])

Subject: RE: How many strokes?

Fuck. We’re gonna be millionaires.

Thanks,

Price

——

TMZ

June 23, 2023

TMZ EXCLUSIVE: PATRICK ZWEIG SEX TAPE LEAKED… AGAIN!

Someone hasn’t learned his lesson.

The lengthy video also features a two-time Emmy award winning actress, although it didn’t seem like she was doing much acting (unless she’s better than we thought.)

The pair briefly talk and giggle before getting straight to business. The video is as sweet as it is hot— and though they’ve insisted they’re just friends, their breathy love confessions say otherwise.

Both parties declined to comment.

—--

ZWEIGNATORS - @zweignationupdates

was not expecting to see patrick’s racket on my tl first thing in the morning but ok. good morning i guess.

9:34 AM 6/23/23 From Earth

nasty girl - @matchmyfreqk

@zweignationupdates sorry but like…... link

9:36 AM 6/23/23 From Earth

ZWEIGNATORS - @zweignationupdates

@matchmyfreqk check dms

9:40 AM 6/23/23 From Earth

nasty girl - @matchmyfreqk

@zweignationupdates why was that kinda beautiful

10:25 AM 6/23/23 From Earth

ZWEIGNATORS - @zweignationupdates

@matchmyfreqk that’s what i said! like the hand holding?? the love yous?? when he said he was gonna miss her?? i didn’t realize it was like that for them

10:36 AM 6/23/23 From Earth

—-

CLOSED - @popculturelvr9

not an update but please don’t send us or ask us to talk about the tape. it’s a gross violation of privacy and it is honestly none of our business.

11:23 AM 6/23/23 From Earth

CLOSED - @popculturelvr9

@popculturelvr9 if you bring it up you will be blocked btw!

11:23 AM 6/23/23 From Earth

🎾🎬 - @lalalanded

@popculturelvr9 i swear it’s my whole timeline rn. i feel so bad for her

11:26 AM 6/23/23 From Earth

CLOSED - @popculturelvr9

@lalalanded for it to happen right before the press tour is so bad. sending so many good vibes her way

11:26 AM 6/23/23 From Earth

🎾🎬 - @lalalanded

@popculturelvr9 i’m sure it’ll blow over soon

11:28 AM 6/23/23 From Earth

—-

r/TennisGossip

🔴HOT TOPICS

The tape. Let’s talk about it.

u/sinkingships

Is it really any of our business? Stuff like this happens all the time and as far as sex scandals go this one’s quite tame

⬆-2 ⬇

u/Tennisfan233445

Upvote if that was one of the hottest things you’ve ever watched. Downvote if you’re a liar.

⬆564⬇

u/NothingbuttNet

if this showbiz thing doesn’t work out i think they have a solid backup plan 👀

⬆339⬇

——

Your Fav Femininity Coach - @putmeincoach

This tape is a perfect example of why I always tell my clients not to mess with men who are above them. Super promising career down the drain over some guy.

12:02 PM 6/24/23 From Earth

User 16363627919 - @user16363627919

@putmeincoach Obviously you don’t know what you’re talking about Patrick Zweig is a fucking tennis legend and that girl is nothing.

12:34 PM 6/24/23 From Earth

🎾🎬 - @lalalanded

@putmeincoach @user16363627919 NOTHING???? how many prestigious awards do YOU have, User 16363627919?? i don’t think they give awards out for being a misogynistic loser

12:44 PM 6/24/23 From Earth

🎾🎬 - @lalalanded

@putmeincoach this is such a dramatic take lol everyone’s gonna forget about this in a week when something else happens

12:44 PM 6/24/23 From Earth

Your Fav Femininity Coach - @putmeincoach

@lalalanded We’ll have to see. Still, you shouldn’t settle for someone who makes you act out of character like this

1:08 PM 6/24/23 From Earth

🎾🎬 - @lalalanded

@putmeincoach do you know her personally? not everything is so black and white and obviously they both consented and thought this would be private.

1:41 PM 6/24/23 From Earth

—-

@deuxmoi - 6/25/23

Sent via form submission from Deuxmoi

Pseudonyms, please: breakup

Email: [email protected]

Subject: Cumming and Going

Message: Apparently, this former tennis star and actress are going their separate ways after an intimate video leaked. She’s worried about the damage it might do to her career and her ability to be taken seriously. He just wants her to be happy. Her publicist has been letting interviewers know that there will be no questions answered about the tape, but this will not be a fun press tour for her.

——

Blind Item #2

The damage has already been done for this athlete-actress pair. Still, she insists on suffering through a break up on top of this scandal.

June 28, 2023

——

Blind Item #8

This retired athlete has received countless offers from the adult film industry in the last week. This scandal is somehow even more humiliating than his last five. He says he doesn’t care, but he does. A lot.

June 28, 2023

——

Blind Item #11

She’s losing brand deals and partnerships left and right. If she makes it through the next week alive, let alone through her press tour, it’ll be a major miracle.

June 28, 2023

——

DailyMail

June 30, 2023

Full of Regret: Actress spotted leaving her apartment with red-rimmed eyes

Just days after a scandalous tape was leaked, we’re receiving our first sign of life from the actress.

According to insider DoorDash drivers, she has been a very frequent customer as of late, ordering comfort food and pints of ice cream and leaving very generous tips.

She seemed to be waiting for the storm to blow over before reentering the public, but with her and her partner’s name trending on Twitter for the past several days, it seems unlikely that it’ll happen any time soon.

——

Professional Mess Cleaner: Just checking in. How are you feeling today?

Professional Mess Maker: even worse than yesterday

Professional Mess Maker: i want to say something but i don’t know what

Professional Mess Cleaner: The gossip cycle has already started to move on, but if you really want to say something, I can draft up a response.

Professional Mess Cleaner: The ball’s in your court ❤️

Professional Mess Maker: no more mention of balls please

Professional Mess Cleaner: Sorry. Got it.

Professional Mess Maker: maybe you can just say something about not letting my own decisions impact the cast and crew who worked really hard to make the film happen

Professional Mess Maker: speaking of which, have you heard from patrick?

Professional Mess Cleaner: Do you want the truth or to protect your peace?

Professional Mess Maker: things can’t get any worse just give it to me straight

Professional Mess Cleaner: I hear from him every few hours. He wants to know how you’re feeling.

Professional Mess Cleaner: And if you’ll take him back.

Professional Mess Maker: ugh

Professional Mess Cleaner: You know you don’t have to be separated if you don’t want to. The cat’s already out of the bag. A united front might be better for this kind of thing anyway.

Professional Mess Cleaner: I know how much you care about him. You don’t have to go through this alone.

Professional Mess Maker: i’m not alone though <3

Professional Mess Cleaner: You know that isn’t what I mean.

Professional Mess Cleaner: He loves you. You should reach out to him.

Professional Mess Maker: i will

Professional Mess Maker: eventually

——

Blind Item #6

Rumor has it that this pair, who were previously attached at the hip, haven’t said more than a few words to each other in months. That doesn’t mean the feelings stopped being there.

September 15, 2023

——

DailyMail

September 27, 2023

Tension at the world premiere?

This weekend marked the world premiere of a film that has been generating a lot of Oscar buzz. The first reviews have been mostly positive, despite the very large elephant in the room.

The average onlooker couldn’t help but notice the physical distance between Zweig and the principal actress in the film during the premiere. Despite both being there, neither were photographed together throughout the entire event. The distance feels particularly charged, considering the pair made a movie of their own not too long ago.

——

DailyMail

October 10, 2023

PATRICK’S NEW DOUBLES PARTNER?

Late this Thursday, Patrick Zweig was spotted leaving an intimate dinner with a female friend. This is the first time he’s been spotted since the leak of his now notorious sex tape. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention that the woman he was spotted having a romantic dinner with was not the same woman from the tape.

At least she knows what she’s in for.

——

DailyMail

October 12, 2023

Actress spotted on a date with ex-boyfriend

On Wednesday, the pair were seen holding hands as they walked through the park.

She has not been spotted with her ex-boyfriend, who she starred in her prestige dramedy television with, for almost two years. Are these two getting back together? Or simply making amends?

——

@deuxmoi - 10/15/23

Sent via form submission from Deuxmoi

Pseudonyms, please: rebounder

Email: [email protected]

Subject: kiss and make up already!

Message: this broken-up couple, who have been making headlines for the most innocuous things following a rather romantic scandal, very obviously miss each other. their friends know it, their coworkers know it, even their ‘rebounds’ know it. they think the other person is better off without them in their life, but that’s simply not true.

——

@deuxmoi - 11/8/23

Sent via form submission from Deuxmoi

Pseudonyms, please: love

Email: [email protected]

Subject: podcast

Message: i’m friends with a friend who knows the editor of a certain podcast that’s having a very highly anticipated guest do a tell-all about a scandal very soon. here are some of the things she addresses:

there’s nothing wrong with consenting adults doing consenting adult things—but you still need to be cautious

it’s nice to have some things for yourself but when you’re a public figure you don’t always get that

and finally…. she regrets how things played out in her relationship.

this should be a good episode.

——

Blind Item #17

This DIY Filmmaker couple are FINALLY reconciling. They won’t be making any more home movies together anytime soon, but it seems like they’re picking right up where they left off.

November 16, 2023

——

Buzzfeed

December 5, 2023

Top 5 Dates to go on in New York City, According to our Favorite Celebs

3. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Following a major scandal and radio silence on the status of their relationship, these two were finally seen together in public at this garden. They both looked genuinely happy for the first time in months. If these two can make their rocky relationship work during a date like this, you can too.

——

oscar campaign era - @popculturelvr9

UPDATE: GUESS WHO MADE THE OSCARS SHORTLISTTTTTTTTTT

6:35 PM 12/22/23 From Earth

oscar campaign era - @popculturelvr9

UPDATE: the happy couple were spotted wearing matching ugly christmas sweaters today! i suspect they’re going to the annual christmas party she mentioned on Fallon. i hope they party hard and celebrate her making the shortlist!

8:21 PM 12/22/23 From Earth

sage ❄️ - @sagingthetl

@popculturelvr9 ngl he’s growing on me!

8:25 PM 12/22/23 From Earth

oscar campaign era - @popculturelvr9

@sagingthetl i agree!

8: PM 12/22/23 From Earth

—

Blind Item #4

This athlete-actress couple have had quite the year. It’s only fitting that he proposed to her at the end of it. Expect to see more pictures of her hiding her hand in her pocket.

January 1, 2024

—

@deuxmoi - 1/2/24

SPOTTED - NEW YEAR EDITION

let’s see what your favorite celebs have been up to since last week

I served Patrick Zweig and his actress girlfriend at the diner I work at yesterday. They both looked very hungover and I’m 97% sure I saw her wearing an engagement ring. They were very sweet and left us a really big tip.

—

r/TennisGossip

u/makearacquet

Has anyone checked up on Patrick Zweig and his girlfriend? I haven’t heard anything about them in kinda a while

⬆13 ⬇

u/topspinbackspin

It’s so funny you say this. I have a friend who works for the production side of one of those really big entertainment magazines who does those roundtable for actors who are in talks for receiving awards. His girlfriend was just in one, and my friend told me that he was there and super supportive the whole time. Like, bringing her coffee the way she likes it, hyping her up during the photoshoot, and everything in between. Obviously we saw the worst of them a few months back, but they’re a pretty cute couple. I also heard somewhere that they’re engaged? But I don’t know if I believe it.

⬆36⬇

—-

oscar campaign era - @popculturelvr9

i’m shaking in my boots for the best actress announcement.

10:45 PM 3/20/24 From Earth

🎾🎬 - @lalalanded

@popculturelvr idk i feel it in my bones she’s gonna win.

10:45 PM 3/20/24 From Earth

oscar campaign era - @popculturelvr9

OMFG

10:55 PM 3/20/24 From Earth

🎾🎬 - @lalalanded

OH MY GOD

10:55 PM 3/20/24 From Earth

cleo - @filmsn0b

NO WAY

10:55 PM 3/20/24 From Earth

sage ❄️ - @sagingthetl

I KNEW IT LETS GO

10:55 PM 3/20/24 From Earth

tara 🦋🐬 - @profhater

IM SHAKING

10:55 PM 3/20/24 From Earth

oscar campaign era - @popculturelvr9

SHES OFFICIALLY AN OSCAR WINNER I FANT BREATHE

10:55 PM 3/20/24 From Earth

sage ❄️ - @sagingthetl

AWWWW THE KISS THEY LOVE EACH OTHER SM

10:56 PM 3/20/24 From Earth

oscar campaign era - @popculturelvr9

i’m sorry i literally cannot process anything rn did she just say thank you to her FIANCÉ

10:57 PM 3/20/24 From Earth

oscar campaign era - @popculturelvr9

guys this is way too much. 2 awards left for her EGOT AND she’s engaged??2?3):7.8 i’m malfunctioning

10:58 PM 3/20/24 From Earth

oscar campaign era - @popculturelvr9

who would’ve thought that a random instagram mutual follow would get us here. omfg. i love love.

10:59 PM 3/20/24 From Earth

#patrick zweig x reader #patrick zweig #patrick zweig x you #patrick zweig imagine #art donaldson #art donaldson x reader #challengers #challengers fanfic #josh o'connor x reader #challengers fanfiction #patrick zweig fanfic

281 notes · View notes

kaibacorpintern · 2 years

Text

tips and tricks on writing the kaibacorp environment

yes, this is pedantic. but more than that, YES i love small background details that lend a greater sense of accuracy and structure to a fictional world. this is not a complete or exhaustive list. (you are, of course, free to ignore and do whatever you want.)

Kaiba Corporation does not have "clients" - Kaiba doesn't do project work for hire; he's not an attorney or a consultant or an architect, he doesn't do billable hours. his meetings are most likely with his investors or business partners like Pegasus, with his board or c-suite executives (e.g., his chief technology officer, his chief legal officer, his chief human resources officer, etc.), various departmental meetings he might find interesting, and so on. Kaiba Corporation does have customers (the people who BUY the duel disk)/consumers (the people who USE the duel disk) but people who go to Kaiba Land will probably be referred to as visitors or guests. his primary responsibility, as the CEO of a publicly-traded corporation, is creating (financial) value for his shareholders and investors. (whether or not he gives a fuck about this responsibility is up to you.) .

Unless it's something he is responsible for, like quarterly earnings calls and shareholder calls, Kaiba doesn't have to finish or work on reports; he has very few deadlines he himself has to meet; he is not reviewing anything except the most important documents. Even then, as the CEO/president, someone is probably writing the most important documents FOR him and then handing it over for him to present or read off later - which he might revise/adjust as he likes. Kaiba's workdays most likely consist mainly of meetings where people report on how things are going to him, setting business strategy with the c-suite, meeting with the more heavy-hitting investors (for the drama: 'we will withdraw our investments unless you do X,') and writing a bajillion emails. .

Kaiba and Mokuba do not do any hiring or interviewing except for c-suite positions, because those are the people they work with most directly every day, and the people they most need to know are capable, qualified, and competent. they are way too busy to sit down with each one of the 38783 entry-level candidates Kaiba Corp combs through every day. for positions like their executive assistants or chief of staff, who might manage day-to-day schedules and do things like order lunch, an HR manager narrows the field to several qualified candidates and THEN Kaiba would make the final decision on who he wants to hire. .

No one is getting past the front desk at a place like Kaiba Corp without an appointment or a badge. Any given visitor X has to check in at the front desk - the front desk receptionist will look them up in the appointment register, give them a badge, and then let them through. For the c-suite level, or anywhere Kaiba takes his most important/official meetings (like his own office), there might be a second lobby/second desk controlling access. .

Some important dates on Kaiba's and Mokuba's calendars, when the pressure is on and they might be working much harder than usual (for the stress and the drama): - end of quarter/EOQ (4x a year) - end of fiscal year/EOFY. may not be aligned with calendar year - for example, the end of fiscal year might be march 30 - quarterly earnings call (4x a year) - yearly earnings call. Kaiba himself, or someone very high up, like a c-suite exec or a VP, will lead these calls - for things like duel disks, the months leading up to the holiday retail season (when they're preparing for greater demand on consumer product goods) and the holiday retail season itself - for things like Kaiba Land, the summer vacation season, but largely dependent on where their parks ARE (southern california when the weather is nice year-round? tokyo when you have colder weather in the winter and slightly lower attendance? etc.) .

VERY IMPORTANT: Kaiba has an office minifridge. imagine whatever you want in here. his executive assistants or office managers will keep this well-stocked. .

Kaiba, or Mokuba, might lead the quarterly "all-hands meeting" - which is an internal meeting for all employees. for a place like kaibacorp, which KT said has ~2,000 employees, this might be held in a large hall/auditorium. things that might happen at the all-hands meeting: hiring updates (we hired 300 new people in the EMEA region), new mission statements, reiteration of core company values, sharing the company's progress on various OKRs/objectives & key results or key targets (duel disk 2.0 released this year to great acclaim and we made 34.5 billion dollars! suck it nintendo!), public (and potentially anonymous) question-and-answer session at the end, where Kaiba or Mokuba might field employee questions. .

Kaiba or Mokuba might also be responsible for a weekly or monthly all-staff email keeping the entire company apprised of announcements, new partnerships, new business ventures, progress on whatever, new investments, etc. again, someone else (like a marketing manager) might write this for them and send it over for their review/adjustments, but the email officially comes from them. i personally like to imagine Kaiba writes some absolutely bonkers staff emails

#intern memo #this is not to say 'YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG' but instead 'if you want kaibacorp to feel real and accurate this may help'#enjoy. i welcome any additions or polite and friendly corrections

943 notes · View notes

ablupen · 1 year

Text

I Completed Lessons 1-10. Here's what happened, and the ending I got.

Alright! After about 15 hr 23 min total of F2P playing, I've completed all 10 lessons with all main stories/episodes watched. Granted, anything past lesson 4 isn't full S completed anymore, and I am very broke, but eh.

Anyways, here's some pictures of how it's going:

And now some more thoughts and summaries, including stuff I didn't say in my last post.

The boss levels are basically beating up the boys... Well, uh, if you're mad at one of the seven, go play their boss level, ig?

Solomon's cooking is so bad it caused Henry 1.0 to rapidly polymorph temporarily into random things

Henry 1.0 was originally huge. Levi befriended the snake when both of them were hiding from Satan

Henry 1.0 became regular snake sized bc Sol shrank him 😐 This means the shrink spell wore off, apparently.

The building that you and Sol share is called Cocytus Hall. I wonder where this building would be present day..? Did it get recycled?

Newly-demon brothers are being discriminated

Cerberus was obtained bc of a rumor that anyone who tames it becomes Ruler of the Underworld.

Mammon rallies everyone behind Luci's back to find and tame Cerberus

On the way there, we discover that we can still summon the brothers (We summon Beel to eat a magically growing pile of apples)

Apprehension attempt on Cerberus did not succeed. Luci saves everyone and tames Cerberus. Someone leaks these news and this is how the seven brothers become the seven rulers.

We become one of the three core founding members of RAD lmao

Somehow we get caught in a dream(?) with Levi in the TSL world. Levi does not know TSL at this point in time. Anyways, he summons Lotan at the end of it, who apparently actually appeared in real life, flooded the room, and then left.

Fuck i forgot when this happened so I'll just leave it here, but: Satan turned everyone except you and Lucifer into Chihuahuas. Including himself. Thankfully, the spell had a limit so it didn't last long

Angels enter the scene! For RAD consultation.

Apparently at some point the bottom of Asmo's bathtub becomes a portal.

Solomon is a fucking bastard and pushes everyone into the bathtub. You choose if you go in by your own will or if he also pushes you.

It leads to the Celestial Realm??? No lol jk, it's actually inside a very familiar looking labyrinth and y'all are being chased by a giant spider, fuck.

Solomon remakes pact with Asmo to distract spider.

Solomon then summons Barbatos

Unfortunately at some point he pissed Barbs off so he's ticked off by this summon. Barbs teleports the spider away and Sol uses his pact to force him to make a portal back home, but Barbs gets mad and later TELEPORTS HIM TO A DRAGON'S DEN LMAO

dw he's alright! He returns next lesson with a dragon egg.

Bad news! Diavolo and Barbatos realize you're human and not a demon after... What/when is this? 6-7 lessons? Yeah. Anyways, Dia tells you that you should pack up bc he's sending you back to the human world. You're another distraction, so to eliminate some stress, you're being deported, sorry. This is not a good thing.

Mammon and crew - except Luci obviously take on a ghost hunting job at the tome place idk I forgot the spelling

Mammon gets fucking possessed by a human ghost named Adam after you read his name off of a tomestone bc it was written in a human language.

Adam says that a demon killed him with consent many years ago bc Adam was trying to look for his lover but their dead

In case it wasn't obvious, that you.

Also, the demon knew you'd have the Ring of Light on you still. Anyways, Adam tells you that the demon's name/alias was Nightbringer. Guys, it's a fucking name drop!!!

You manage to open the gates for Adam by slurping up some of the brothers' powers and by the powers of the ring

Next day, you get a letter telling you to meet Dia concerning your expulsion, which Sol comes with you to try and change Dia's mind.

Suddenly, Belphegor basically kicks open the doors to demand that Beel be released. Apparently, he's been jailed. Shit, isn't that a parallel or what, huh?

Apparently, he suddenly got out of control and rampaged. Dia manages to pin him down and get him into a cell with sheer strength alone, but later escapes in the next lesson after you confront Luci and Belphegor who had a spat.

You, Luci, and Belphie get blamed for causing all of this 🥴 Especially by Barbs. Anyways, using your magic siphoning ability from your future pacts and the Ring of Light, you knock Beel out. Lesson 10 ends with you revealing that you're human and Dia and everyone wondering who tf you are to have this kind of power.

That was a lie. The very last scene was actually Satan and Simeon watching a cat that you introduced to Satan before you left with Luci and Belphie and discover the rampaging Beel. "Do you think MC will come back before the cat wakes up?" "I hope so."

Context for the quotes on the Nightbringer site:

Lucifer; "My pride hurt my brothers": I actually don't remember this one. I don't even know if my choices led up to this one. Will maybe revisit everything tomorrow or sum

Mammon; "We chose to follow Lucifer here. We all had reasons for doin' what we did.": This is from when Mammon is trying to convince the other brothers to join him in his search for Cerberus. He's tired of being discriminated, and doesn't regret his choice.

Leviathan; "I never wanted to come to this awful place, to begin with!": When Diavolo meets with the brothers concerning plans for RAD and about possibly making an announcement to show the brothers'presence, Levi is against this. He doesn't want the attention.

Satan; "I can barely stand being around them. It's torture.": Obviously, "them" are his "brothers". I can assume when he says this, but I think I can guess when it is. It was probably after he stormed off once the others discuss what the Celestial Realm was like. He's never seen that place, and he can't relate to the other brothers.

Asmodeus; "I want to return to the Celestial Realm...! I want to be an angel again! The way I used to be... White wings and all!": This is during the weird portal in the bathtub scene. He had tried to move on from the fall, but Simeon's appearance reminds him of what he lost again. He's scared of the fact that he's getting used to his demon self and that he's forgetting what it was like to be an angel.

Beelzebub; "I have a big secret that I've never been able to tell... Not even to Belphie.": I've actually never encountered this one bc I didn't get close to Beel. Has anyone seen this one?

Belphegor; "Who deserves to be punished the most?": After Lucifer temporarily admits defeat and doesn't stand up to Diavolo to let Beel go, Belphegor gets angry. He's scared that he'll lose another sibling. After telling you about Lilith and how stubborn she was, he admits that he doesn't know who to blame: Lilith for breaking the rules, the angels for directly killing her (or was this second one the other brothers for not doing more? I forgot damn), or himself for not protecting Lilith.

Anyways, that's all I can think of rn. Do note though that in Nightbringer, choices apparently actually matter so you may have gotten different results!

#obey me nightbringer #obey me #obey me lucifer #obey me mammon #obey me leviathan #obey me satan #obey me asmodeus #obey me beelzebub #obey me belphegor #obey me diavolo #obey me barbatos #obey me simeon #obey me solomon #obey me main character #obey me side characters #obey me swd

136 notes · View notes

anglophiletraveler · 3 months

Text

In My Life

Chapter 38

Things We Said Today

by Paul McCartney

Chapter 38

Things We Said Today

By Paul McCartney

Are we ready for some twists and turns? A big shout out to Karen Bockius for being there as my beta. My dear friend, one day things will be better. Love to you always!

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

Wednesday morning, Demelza got up early to cook breakfast for Ross before he went to work, something she rarely did during the week, but this was the day that Ross was going to have to speak with Jenny and she thought that she’d start his day off with a good breakfast. Ross came down the stairs surprised to see almost a full English on the table before him.

“Wow, I could smell this up in the shower,” he leaned over and kissed her, “What’s the occasion?”

“Oh well, I know it’s going to be a difficult day for you, so I wanted to give you a good start to the day. It’s not quite a full English,”

“Ahh but close enough, my love, close enough. Thank you so very much. Are you going to join me?”

“I’m going to have some tea, toast and bacon of course,” she smiled.

“Always gotta have bacon. Well you can always pick at mine. I really do appreciate this. And tomorrow is our big shopping day! I’m getting excited about that. Are you?” Ross stuffed a forkful of eggs in his mouth.

Demelza’s eyes peered at Ross over her teacup, “I am actually. A little nervous, maybe. Caroline has made reservations at two shops, and she’s sent links to me of this American television show called, ‘Say Yes To The Dress’. She hopes that will give me an idea of the experience, and apparently there’s a common phrase now because of the show. When the consultant thinks you’ve picked your dress she’ll say something like, ‘Do you say yes to the dress’ and then you are supposed to answer back ‘yes’.”

“What if you don’t like the dress? Do you just say no?” There was the sound of cutlery hitting the plate, Ross was thoroughly enjoying his breakfast.

“I guess. I’ll have to watch the link tonight after you get home,” She snagged a forkful of beans off Ross’s plate. He pretended to try to stab her with his fork. “I start my driving lessons next Monday. I’m actually really excited about that.”

“Brilliant! I'm so proud of you for taking that step on your own. Will you need my car at any point during the lessons?”

Demelza tilted her head in thought, “Mmm shoot, I didn’t ask that question, but I’ll find out. The first couple of days are class instruction which eases my mind a bit. Do you want more tea?”

Ross looked at his watch, “No, I’m good. I need to get going actually.” They both stood up and hugged like they haven’t seen each other in weeks. Ross bent down and put his hands on her face and kissed her a long and slow kiss while Demelza wrapped her arms around his waist, finding their way to his cute behind and gave it a squeeze. Ross giggled at that little squeeze. “Mmmm I would love to continue this but I really have to get going, babe.”

“Oh, alright. Call me after your meeting with Jenny?”

“I will. Try not to worry about it..”

“I love you Ross.”

Ross smiled, “I love you more.”

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

Ross had stopped off in Richard Tonkin’s office before going to his own.

“Ross, come on in.”

Ross closed the door behind him.

“So have you made a decision about Jenny Martin?”

Ross sighed, “Yes, I’d like to give her the choice of working somewhere else in the building, at the same pay rate. I don’t want her to lose her pay. Then if she doesn’t want to do that, then it’s her decision to leave.”

Richard shook his head in agreement, “I think that’s wise. I’ll call HR, and have a meeting set up for this afternoon, end of day.”

“End of day? I hate to sit on this all day.”

“I know, it’s awkward, but that way there won’t be a scene in front of everyone. And if she wants to quit, then she can pack her things without raising any eyebrows. It’s really best for her.”

Ross sighed and put his hands in his pockets, “Alright, I’ll follow your lead on this.”

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

Luckily for Ross it had been a busy day so he didn’t have much time to think about what was going to happen at the end of the day. If he acted strangely, Jenny never seemed to notice or say anything about it. Even during lunch Ross was busy, and Jenny had left the building for lunch with friends. Finally, around 4 o’clock, Jenny received a phone call that she was needed in HR.

She knocked on Ross’s door and opened it, “Ross, I just got a call from HR that they need me to go to their office for some reason, so I’ve shut off my computer and I’m going to head down there, alright?”

He looked her in the eye and couldn’t get a feeling if she suspected anything. But Ross’s stomach was doing flips, “Sure, no problem.” He almost said ‘see you down there’ but he stopped himself just in time.

Jenny went down to HR and checked in at the desk with the assistant. “Just have a seat Jenny, I’ll let Mr. Willis know that you’re here.”

Jenny had barely sat down when she was told to go into the conference room. As soon as she went in, the assistant called Ross to let him know that it was time to come down.

Jenny entered the conference room and shook hands with James Eillis. She noticed that Sharon, Richard Tonkin’s executive assistant, was also in the room.

“Hello Jenny, how are you?” James Ellis said while he shook her hand.

“I’m fine, thank you. Sharon, it’s nice to see you.” Jenny was now incredibly nervous. She thought she was going to throw up at that very minute.

“I’m fine. Jenny, can I get you a tea or a drink of water?” Sharon replied

“Um, some tea would be nice, thank you.”

“Grand. Have a seat and I’ll get it for you.”

Jenny sat down, then Ross came into the conference room. Now she really felt like she was going to throw up. Sharon came back with Jenny’s tea, “Ross would you like something to drink?”

He sat down next to James, “Um, maybe some water. Thank you Sharon.”

Jenny’s eyes were going back and forth between Ross and James Ellis. She had never had any dealings with James Willis, but she had heard stories about him, and not very good ones.

James waited for Sharon to be done with serving everyone and sit down before he began to start speaking. “Jenny, I’m sure that you’re wondering why you’ve been called into this meeting.”

Her eyes were big as saucers, “Yes, I am. Is there a problem with my work?”

“No, not with your work Jenny. Ross and the company have been happy with your work itself, but there is another issue that we feel the need to speak with you about.”

Jenny seemed confused, “I don’t understand.”

James cleared his throat and took a drink of water, “Ross has brought to our attention that you have been overstepping the line between boss and assistant. In particular, with his private life and his engagement with Demelza Carne. Do you understand now, what we’re referring to?”

Jenny had a shocked look on her face. She was stunned that Ross would do this to her, to complain to HR about her! “I don’t understand. We’ve known each other for years and our families have been friends for years. What’s the harm in talking with Ross about his girlfriend?”

James looked at Ross, “Ross would you care to answer that?”

Ross took a deep breath in, “Jenny, our families have been friends for years, which is why I was so happy that I could help you out in getting this job for you. But you’ve become way too personal when it comes to my personal life, especially with Demelza. I’ve tried to talk to you about it and tell you that you’ve crossed the line, but you just wouldn’t stop. It has come to a point where I’ve been worried about what you might do next. I’m sorry, but I felt I had no other recourse but to bring this to the attention of human resources.”

Jenny was hurt, but also furious at what Ross had done, “Ross, I can’t believe that you would do this to me, after everything I’ve done for you! And after everything we’ve been through. All of the work that I’ve done for you.”

“Jenny, I’ve appreciated the work that we have done together, but that’s where it ends. If you ever thought that there was going to be a relationship between the two of us, you are badly mistaken.”

“So what now? Am I being fired?” Jenny asked.

“Jenny, that’s where Human Resources comes in. Ross is giving you a choice. You can either stay on here at the firm, in a different position, or you can leave voluntarily, effective immediately.” James was very impersonal when he gave Jenny her option.

“Oh well, isn’t that just grand. What department would I be working in? Do I get a choice in that?” Jenny asked.

“At the moment, there is only one position in the company that is available, and that would be in accounting. And, per Ross’s instructions, you wouldn’t have a drop in pay, your hourly rate that is.”

Jenny looked Ross in the eye again. His eyes had softened some. “Well, I guess I should be grateful for that at least. When would this new position start?”

“Tomorrow. You would need to pack your things up tonight. Sharon can help you with the move to accounting, and show you where your new desk is.”

Jenny shook her head, “I know absolutely nothing about accounting.”

Sharon spoke up, “You don’t need to. You will be the receptionist for the entire department. It’s actually a very busy position. The last person who had the job couldn’t hack it, but I have a feeling that you’ll do very well there, Jenny.”

Ross was watching Jenny’s face and was trying to read all of the expressions on her face, “I’m really sorry Jenny. I hate that it’s come to this, but I think it’s for the best. And I did insist that you keep your rate of pay and not take a pay cut.”

“Well, I suppose I should thank you for that. So I guess I will be working in accounting. Do I have to start tomorrow? I would like to have a couple of days off to regroup.” Jenny sighed.

James smiled, “I think that’s a good idea Jenny. Today is Wednesday, take the rest of the week off and come back Monday morning ready for a new, fresh start. And let’s hope that you’ve learned from this and won’t let it happen again. Sharon has the paperwork for you to sign about your transfer. Ross, we’re done with you here if you’d like to go now.”

Ross and James stood up and shook hands, “Thank you for your help on this James. Jenny, good luck in accounting. And I really mean that.” Jenny gave him a tight smile and turned around. Ross frowned and left the room. He had locked up his office before he left, so he was in a hurry to leave the building and get the hell out of there.

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

Ross gave Demelza a ring on his way out of the building, “Ross, is it over? How did everything go?”

“Yes, it’s over finally. They made me wait until the end of the day in case she threw a fit or something. I’m leaving work now. Do you have time to go to the pub for something to eat before I drop you off?”

“Um yeah, I think so. By the time you get here I’ll be ready. Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m just out of sorts I guess. I’ll see you in a bit.”

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

Ross and Demelza were sitting in their usual corner booth at The Pub. Ross scooted in next to Demelza on purpose.

“Are we expecting Caroline and Dwight?” Demelza asked.

“No, I just wanted to be close to you so that I can do this,” Ross kissed her neck, “and maybe this,” then he whispered in her ear.

Demelza giggled, “Well if you wanted to do that, we should’ve stayed home!”

“Oh but it’s so much more fun sneaking it in our corner booth!”

“Ross, you are terrible!” then she whispered in his ear, “and I love it!”

The waitress cleared her throat to get their attention when she brought their food, “Here you go. Is there anything else I can get you?” She winked at the couple.

“No thank you Cathy, I think we’re good,” Ross informed their favourite waitress.

Demelza was laughing at the reaction from the waitress, “So, what was Jenny’s reaction?”

“Well, she was quite upset, understandably. She brought up the fact that we had always been friends and talked about personal things. But I brought up how she crossed the line and talked badly about you and our relationship, and that it became more pointed, and even after I had told her that my relationship with you was not to be discussed again, she continuously brought it up and was very mean about it, and became unprofessional about the whole thing. She chose to take the transfer to the accounting department and Sharon was going to help her move her things tonight before she left for the day. So I got the hell out of there.” He took a huge bite of his burger.

“Oh I bet that was awkward,” Demelza was picking at the salad she had ordered. “I still feel bad for her. I hope she likes her new position.”

“Well, it sounds like it’s a busy one. Sharon said that it’s the receptionist for the entire accounting department and that it’s a busy position. So enough talk of Jenny. Did you have time to watch those links that Caroline sent you about wedding dresses?”

“Oh my gosh Ross, yes I did. You’ll have to watch it and let me know what you think,” Demelza was stealing chips off of Ross’s plate.

“Why is that?”

“I don’t know. I’m worried now that I won’t have that special feeling that brides are supposed to have when they are wedding dress shopping and I won’t be able to find the right dress,” Demelza was starting to bite her lip over the thought of what a bride is supposed to feel.

Ross frowned, “I was afraid of something like this. Darlin, don’t forget that it is only a television program that is meant to attract ratings. Don’t let it tell you how you are supposed to feel from trying on wedding dresses.”

“But Ross, I don’t have a lot of time to find the right dress.”

“Demelza, you are too smart for this. Please don’t put this pressure on yourself. Now, if you’re done eating the chips off my plate, are you ready to go? Why did you even order a salad?” He took her hand that was holding a chip from his plate, and kissed it with a smile.

Demelza smirked at Ross, “Because I thought I should eat something healthy for a change.” Ross was laughing now, which made her laugh. “Stooop! Why are you making fun of me!”

“Because love, you never eat salad. I eat more salad than you do,” Ross replied.

Demelza’s smile returned, “Oh I know, I was just thinking that I need to fit in a wedding dress and I should watch my weight. Isn’t that something every bride is supposed to do?”

Ross tilted his head, “My love, you don’t have to watch your weight. You have a lovely figure and I wouldn’t want you to change it at all. Please, don’t stop being yourself just for a wedding dress.”

“Oh now you’re going to make me cry!”

Ross pulled her in for a hug, “Oh baby I didn’t mean to make you cry! I love you just the way you are.” Ross pulled back and wiped her tears. “There. Feel better?”

There was a soft “yes”.

“Right, let’s get you to your lovely cello.”

“Alright, but will you watch the link that Caroline sent after you drop me off, please?”

Ross sighed with exasperation, “Yes, my love, I will watch it. Anything for you.”

Hours later when Ross and Demelza were settled in for the evening, Ross watched the excerpts that Caroline had sent, along with Demelza. Ross was able to get Demelza to relax more by finding humour in the ridiculous prices of some of the gowns, although Ross had thought to himself that he would pay any price for a dress if Demelza wanted it.

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

The next morning, Ross and Demelza were the first to arrive at the bridal shop appointment. They stood looking around the room of wall to wall white. Ross stood awkwardly with his hands in his pockets, “Wow, I don’t know what I was expecting, but I don’t think this was it.” Right away Ross realised that this experience was not going to be like any other shopping spree that he had been part of. It was odd to see all of these dresses on hangers and it was definitely difficult to imagine what they would look like on Demelza.

Ross looked at Demelza perusing, trying to get a feel for what she was thinking, “It’s kind of difficult to picture what any of these dresses will look like on you, don’t you think?”

“I do. It’s kind of strange isn’t it. There are a few dresses on mannequins, that helps a little bit…”

A woman, possibly in her forties, dressed in a tasteful black dress approached the couple, “Good morning! Are you Demelza?”

“Yes, I am, and this is my fiancee Ross,” she shook the consultant's hand.

“Great! My name is Tina, it’s wonderful to meet you. I’m going to be your consultant today, and I’ll be helping you pick out dresses to try on, maybe get a feel for what you’re looking for, and hopefully by the end of the appointment you will have found your wedding dress! I have a corner set up for your entourage to sit and wait while you try on dresses, and a dressing room where we can start hanging up some dresses for you to try on. Is it just the two of you, or are there more coming?”

“Oh, my best friend Caroline and her boyfriend are on their way…”

“Here we are! We’re here! Don’t start without us!” Demelza and Ross smiled at the entrance that Caroline and Dwight made, Caroline handing hugs and kisses out. “Sorry that we’re late, I spilled tea all over me so I had to hurry up and change. Have you picked out dresses already?”

Demelza shook her head, “Oh no, we were just looking around. This is Tina, my consultant. Tina, this is Caroline, my best friend and maid of honour. We’re having the wedding at her uncle’s estate in Cornwall, and this is her boyfriend Dwight. He’s going to be Ross’s best man..”

“Oh that sounds wonderful! Cornwall is such a lovely area. Now if you’d like, I can give you some more time to look at the dresses. Demelza, if you have an idea of what you’re looking for, that might help us narrow our search down. We can look by silhouette, or type of neckline, sleeves or sleeveless, lace, all sorts of aspects of a dress.”

Demelza looked a bit worried, “Oh my. I’m not sure about the silhouette. The only thing that I’m really sure about is,” she looked at Ross.

In a soft voice, Ross added, “Ah Tina, I think the one important thing for Demelza is that her back not be visible for the most part. She has some scars on her back that she doesn’t want people to see. It’s kind of a private matter.”

Tina shook her head in understanding, “Right, that’s good to know. Thank you for telling me. Demelza, if you find a dress that you really love, and the back shows too much, we might be able to add a piece of lace or matching material to the back of the dress. Our seamstresses are excellent, and they can make it look like it was an original part of the gown. Alright?”

Demelza sighed and smiled, “Thank you.”

“Oh you are more than welcome. That is just the kind of thing that we do here all of the time, so no worries! Now let’s get started and have some fun!”

Caroline took off into the racks of dresses like she had a timer that she was racing against. Ross and Dwight looked at each other and just laughed. Another assistant led the men over to their corner of chairs and mirrors and on a cart in front of the chairs was champagne glasses filled with mimosas and plates of scones.

It didn’t take long for Dwight to sit down and make himself comfortable with a glass of the champagne drink and a scone. “I’ll sit here and hold down the fort, Ross. You go shopping!”

Ross laughed at his friend. “Noo I think you should come help pick out a dress with me.”

Dwight waved a hand at Ross, “No, no, I’m fine. You go have fun. I’ll support you while I drink my mimosa.”

“Wanker.” And with that, Ross walked back into a wall of white and ivory.

Demelza and Caroline had their heads together looking at a dress that Caroline had picked out. Demelza was looking at the back of it and noticed that it had a low back to it, so she nixed it.

Ross was looking through a rack of dresses away from Demelza and Caroline and was mumbling something about colour. Tina the consultant heard him and walked over to him, “How are you doing, Ross?”

“Well, I’m not going to pretend that I know what I’m doing here. I’m just basically here to support Demelza… but I had no idea there were so many different shades of white!”

Tina chuckled, “Oh yes, very few dresses are actually pure white. There are some that tend to look more silver under the lights, so most brides shy away from the pure white. But there is winter white, snow white, egg shell, ecru, ivory, cream, and then for the more daring brides, we have nude or other colours like pink or champagne. We even have brides who want a red dress or a black dress. I would think with Demelza’s colouring that she would look beautiful in a soft ivory, or something in that family. But of course, that’s up to her. Have you found a dress for her to try on?”

“No not yet,” Ross answered.

“Well, let me know when you do and I’ll put it in the dressing room.”

“Thank you, oh and Tina!”

“Yes?”

“Don’t worry about the budget. If Demelza says something is too expensive, but it’s really the dress she wants, I’ll pay for it,” Ross informed the consultant.

“Thank you, that’s nice to know.”

It only took another 15 or 20 minutes or so for the dressing room to be full of dresses for Demelza to try on. She sat down with Tina for a quick chat about what she envisions for her wedding and wedding dress. “Well, like I said earlier, the wedding is going to be held in Cornwall at the Penvenan estate. Ross’s mother has breast cancer so we’re kind of in a rush to have the wedding before her surgery in June, so we don’t have long to plan it and find a dress. And I guess it doesn’t help that I’ve never been the girl to dream about her wedding or what her wedding dress will look like. So this is all a bit overwhelming for me, which is the main reason why I’ve asked Ross to be here. His support means a lot to me, and of course he mentioned to you about the scars on my back that I don’t want to be seen at the wedding.”

“Thanks for sharing all of that with me Demelza. Since we don’t have the normal six months for the dress to come in, we will want to stick with samples so that any alterations can be made quickly. Now do you have a preference for which dress you want to try on first?” Tina asked.

Demelza shrugged her shoulders, “Nope, I’m following your lead!”

“Alright, let’s get going!”

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

Caroline, Dwight and Ross were all in their seats enjoying their adult snacks, when Demelza came out of the dressing room in the first dress. She stepped up on the small pedestal to look at herself in the mirror. There was a collective “Ohhh”.

Tina proceeded to describe the dress, “This is a sleeveless, fit and flare silhouette in satin. It’s a very sleek and elegant look with no embellishments except for the back buttons. The back of the dress covers most of the scars, but we could build it up higher to cover all of them.”

Demelza turned around to face her entourage, “What do you think?”

Caroline spoke up first, “It’s beautiful Demelza.”

“It’s kind of plain,” Dwight observed.

Ross cleared his throat, “What do you think, Demelza?”

“Mmm it’s alright. It doesn’t grab me.”

Tina smiled, “Alright, let’s go back to the dressing room.”

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

Tina and Demelza came out with the next gown.

“Lady and gentlemen, we have another fit and flare gown made of lace with a scoop neckline, with a sheer corset bodice. The back is cut somewhat low, and once again we can add lace to that.”

Demelza was looking at the dress and turning around, “I like this one. The way it fits me is nice. What do you guys think?”

“I like that one. You look very nice in it,” Dwight gave his expert advice.

Caroline was smiling, “I like that one as well, Dem.”

“It’s beautiful, love, but can you dance in it?” Ross asked. Everyone chuckled at that.

“I don’t know, come spin me around!” Demelza challenged Ross. He accepted the challenge and got up and grabbed her by the waist and twirled her around. Demelza almost fell, but of course Ross caught her.

“So what do you think, Demelza? Is this a possibility? Or at least a gown similar to this?” Tina asked.

“Yeah, I do like it, but I want to try more.”

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

Next Demelza came out in a sheath dress that looked more like a nightgown with a very deep slit in the front. Everyone gave it a resounding “Nooooo” before she even stepped up on the pedestal.

Ross furrowed his brow, “Who picked that one out? It looked like a slutty nightgown!”

Dwight raised his hand, “That would be me. Sorry. I didn’t think it looked that bad on the hanger!”

Ross and Caroline laughed at Dwight and his choice of dress.

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

Demelza came out in two more dresses, that just didn’t do the trick for her. She was feeling discouraged. She went back to the dressing room with Tina.

Ross got up and started walking around.

“How many dresses has she tried on? I had no idea that this would be so difficult!” Dwight said.

“Mmmm, I think she’s tried on seven dresses,” Caroline replied.

“Seven! That poor girl! Hey where did Ross go?” Dwight turned around to look for Ross.

“I don’t know, he was sitting right there with us,” Caroline was wondering what he was up to.

Ross finally slipped back into his chair.

“Where did you come from?” Caroline questioned him.

“Oh. Nowhere,” Ross took a bite of a scone, “Demelza’s scones are much better than these.”

Caroline put her hand on her hip, “Ross Poldark quit dodging my questions. What have you been up to?”

Ross’s mouth was full of scone so he was using that as an excuse not to answer Caroline.

Caroline sighed and looked at her watch, “I wonder what’s taking so long, I thought Demelza didn’t have any more dresses to try on. We’re supposed to be at the other shop in an hour.”

Tina finally came out without Demelza and looked directly at Ross, “Ross, would you mind going upstairs to look at tuxedos for a bit?”

Ross smiled and gave Tina a wink, “Certainly!” and with that he got up and took the elevator upstairs to the men’s department.

Dwight looked puzzled, “I don’t get it. What’s going on? Why does Ross have to go upstairs?”

Tina smiled, “You’ll see. I’ll be right back with Demelza.” She went back to the dressing room, and then came out with Demelza.

Dwight and Caroline both gasped when they saw her! She came out in a beautiful ball gown with a huge smile on her face. She twirled around once before she stepped up on the pedestal.

Both Dwight and Caroline were staring at her with big smiles on their faces.

“Demelza, you look absolutely beautiful!” Dwight responded.

“Oh Dem, it’s stunning and you look stunning in it!” Caroline was so excited.

Demelza had her hands up to her cheeks, “I can’t believe it! I didn’t think I would want a big ball gown, but I love it! How does the back look?”

Dwight spoke up, “Honestly Dem, you can barely see one scar. I don’t know if anyone would ever notice it.”

“Oh and if you have a veil, it will surely cover it up at the church,” Caroline suggested.

“Well, we do have a matching veil for this gown. Would you like to see it?”

“Yes please!” Demelza was clapping her hands with excitement.

Tina strolled over to the opposite side of the store and came back with the matching veil. She positioned the veil on Demelza’s head and let the rest of the cathedral part of the veil fall delicately over the back of the dress. “Now, this is a beautiful, strapless ballgown with large organza details. The veil has a few of the organza details as well.” Once she had everything in place with the dress and the veil, Demelza turned around to face Caroline and Dwight. They both gasped again at how beautiful their friend looked in the dress.

“Oh Demelza, you look absolutely breathtaking!” Dwight softly said.

Caroline huffed, “That’s what I was going to say Dr. Enys!”

“Seriously Demelza, If Ross doesn’t want to marry you in that dress, I’ll marry you!” Dwight proclaimed! Caroline gave him a smack on his arm.

Tina and Demelza were laughing at the couple. Demelza turned around so she could look at herself in the mirror. Her hands were covering her mouth in amazement when she saw herself. Tears were flowing like the River Thames. Tina handed her some tissues, “What are you thinking about this dress, Demelza?”

“I’m thinking that this is the one. This is my dress! Oh hell, I didn’t even notice how much it costs!”

Dwight spoke up, “Oh Demelza don’t worry about that. Ross gave me strict orders for you not to worry about the price.”

“He told me that as well, love,” Tina reiterated.

Demelza was practically twirling around in this dress. She was so excited, “Well I guess this is the one then.”

“Well love, would you like me to ask the question? Are you saying ‘yes to the dress?’”

Demelza was all smiles, “Yes! I’m saying yes to the dress!” Caroline and Dwight jumped up to give her hugs and kisses. Caroline made sure that she took pictures of it to send to Grace.

“But wait! I have a question?” Caroline blurted out. “Where did this dress come from? Dwight and I didn’t pick it out?”

Tina lifted an eyebrow, “Well, truth be told, Ross found this dress and another ball gown dress, and snuck them to me for Demelza to try on. The other one was not nearly as pretty as this one, so I had Demelza try this one on.”

They all remarked, “Ohhhh” in realisation of what had happened.

“That’s where that wanker went when he left us for a while. That little devil!” Caroline surmised.

“Well, Demelza, I think that just goes to show how much Ross knows you!” Tina stated. “Now, since your wedding is in just a few weeks, I’m going to have our main seamstress come up and start weaving her magic to make sure this dress fits you perfectly. So, why don’t you go back to the dressing room and just hang out there until she finds you. Caroline and Dwight you can go find Ross and hang out with him or maybe you need to leave for another appointment or work?”

Demelza spoke up, “Oh but don’t tell Ross which dress I chose. I want that to be a surprise for him.”

Dwight smiled, “Don’t worry, our lips are sealed. I think we’re just going to see Ross for a second, and then head on out.”

Caroline shrugged, “Yes, I guess there’s nothing we need to hang around for. Congratulations on finding your dress!” She hugged Demelza.

“Caroline before you go will you please take a couple of pictures of me in the dress that I can send to Grace? I want her to feel a part of things as much as possible.”

“Oh yes, good idea. Maybe we can make arrangements to go down to Cornwall and help her pick out a dress?”

“Oh, Caroline, that's a great idea. Thank you so much for all of your help!”

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

Ross was killing time by looking at the various tuxedos in the mens department on the upper level of the bridal shop.

Dwight and Caroline tracked him down. “Ross, are you picking out a tux for the two of us?” Dwight asked.

“Well, I’m not sure if Demelza has something in mind, so I guess I had better discuss it with her. So what brings the two of you up here?”

Caroline smirked at Ross, “As if you didn’t know, you little sneak! Demelza found her dress! So now she’s getting it fitted for her since the wedding is just in a couple of weeks. You know it normally takes 6 to 9 months to get a wedding dress made.”

Ross pretended to be shocked, “She found her dress! That’s brilliant! I’m so happy for her. What does it look like?”

Caroline chuckled, “No you don’t! You’re not getting it out of us which dress she chose. I can’t believe you snuck out and found two more dresses for her to try on behind our backs!”

Ross was laughing pretty hard now, where his head goes back and his mouth is open wide, “Why Caroline whatever do you mean?” Caroline was giving him a dirty look now. “Look, I could tell she was struggling with the dresses that she was trying on, so I just thought I would pick out a couple of dresses for her to try that look completely different from the ones she was trying on. They were both very beautiful and I thought she would look incredible in either one of them.” He looked at Dwight and Caroline, “Soooo am I to surmise that she chose one of the two dresses?”

Dwight was smiling at his best mate, “She most certainly did, and you are correct! She looks absolutely stunning in it, but she has instructed us not to tell you which dress she picked. So don’t try to get it out of us so you can be surprised on the wedding day.”

“I wouldn’t dream of asking which dress she chose. So what are you two doing the rest of the day?” Ross asked.

Dwight stuck his hands in his pockets, “Well, I have the day off, and since we were supposed to go to another bridal shop, I don’t have any plans. What are you going to do Caroline?”

“Well, actually, I was thinking about going back downstairs, and maybe Demelza and I can find a bridesmaid dress for myself when she’s done getting fitted for her dress. I’d like to get that taken care of.”

Caroline’s phone started ringing, “Demelza? What’s going on? Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine. I’m almost done here with the seamstress, so I was wondering if you want to look for your bridesmaid dress. And I thought maybe Ross and Dwight might want to look for their tuxes and get those ordered.”

Caroline waved the guys to stay where they were, “Okay, I’m going to put you on speaker so they can hear you as well. So do you have an idea of what kind of tuxes you want them to wear?”

“Well, black of course, ummm what do you think Ross?” Demelza was having a hard time concentrating with the seamstress still working on her dress.

Ross folded his arms in front of him as he cleared his throat, “Well love, do you want a bow tie or a standard tie? Do you want a waist coat or cumberbun?”

“Ouch!” Demelza screamed. “Sorry! I just got stuck by a pin! Umm bow tie, and a waistcoat. How does that sound? Oh heavens, I hope I didn’t bleed on the dress!”

Ross responded, “Okay Dem, I’m pretty sure that Dwight and I can figure out the tuxes, so you don’t need to worry about it. Caroline is going to head down to help you out and hopefully we’ll be done about the same time. Sound good?”

Demelza sighed, “Yeah sounds good. Thanks love.”

“Dem, I’m going to hang up now and I’ll be down in a minute.” Caroline hung up and looked at the guys, “Do you need me to help you pick out a tux?”

They both looked at her and at the same time said a resounding, “Noooo!”

Dwight looked at Caroline, “Caroline, my love, Ross and I are totally capable of picking out a tux for the wedding. We’ve both worn a tux a billion times so we know what we’re doing. So please go on downstairs and help Demelza.” He gave her a quick kiss and sent her on her way.

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

Forty-five minutes later Dwight and Ross were seated downstairs in the lobby waiting on Demelza and Caroline. Ross kept looking at his watch because he still had to go to work.

Finally the girls revealed themselves, the guys standing up to greet them. Ross leaned over to kiss a smiling Demelza, “Well is everything set with your dress and Caroline’s bridesmaid dress?”

“Yes, they have my measurements, and have stuck me like a pin cushion. I’ve paid for the deposit on my dress. I still need to come back after I find the shoes that I’m going to wear that day. Caroline found a beautiful bridesmaid dress so that’s all sorted. What about you two - did you find a tux?”

Ross was shaking his head yes, “Yes, we did and I even took a picture of them so you could approve.”

Ross showed her the picture on his phone, “Oh yes, I like those! Good job! So, I’m starving. Can we go get something to eat please?”

Ross smiled and looked at his watch, “I still have some time before I have to be at work. Where would you like to go? And I’m not eating Chinese for brunch.”

“I think there’s a place just up the street,” Dwight said, “I think they still serve breakfast.”

“Sounds good. We’ll meet you there,” Ross replied.

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

The two couples had just given their orders to the waitress. There was an air of excitement carried over from the bridal store. Demelza leaned over to give Ross a kiss, which was unusual for her to do. She doesn’t normally do a lot of PDA, but she couldn’t help herself with getting her dress picked out and the tuxes sorted. She looked at Ross with love in her eyes, “Caroline took a picture of me in the dress so that I can send it to your mum.”

“Aww what a great idea! She’ll love that,” Ross answered back.

“Yes, I thought so too. Caroline thought maybe we could go down and help her pick out a dress. Do you think she’d like that?”

“Ahh maybe. Probably depends on how she’s feeling. I can ask dad what he thinks. I need to speak with them about their wedding guest list and see how that’s coming along. Did you decide on if you want some friends from the orchestra to play at the wedding?”

“No, I haven’t, I need to make a decision on that. I’ll put that in my phone as a reminder,” Demelza said.

Dwight smiled at Ross when he saw Caroline bring out her notebook full of lists of things to do, “You need to reserve your wedding cake, and your caterer. Maybe we should make a weekend to go to Cornwall to get some of this stuff done. Oh and Demelza, who is going to walk you down the aisle? They’ll need a tux as well,” Caroline was in her wedding planner mode now and didn’t look up to see Demelza’s face..

That question brought the mood down real quickly. Demelza and Ross both shot their heads up and looked at Caroline, and then at each other. Ross wrapped his arm around Demelza. Dwight looked at the couple and then looked at Caroline. Finally Caroline realised that it had gotten quiet at their table and looked up to see all three looking at her.

Demelza stammered at first. “I… um… I don’t have a fucking clue.” They all knew that Demelza rarely used the F word, so this was serious.

Caroline felt bad about jumping into this conversation. She hadn’t considered how hard this part of the ceremony would be for Demelza. “Well, you don’t have to have anyone walk you down the aisle. You could just walk down by yourself. I’m sorry Demelza, I wasn’t thinking about how hard this part will be for you. If you need to talk about it let me know.”

“Thank you Caroline. I know you didn’t mean any harm. Oh look, our food is here!” Ross kept a close eye on her for the rest of their meal.

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

The two couples had gone their own way for the rest of the day. Ross took Demelza home before he had to go to work for the rest of the day. He shut off the car in the driveway and looked at Demelza. “Well love, how do you feel about today?”

“I was feeling pretty chuffed until Caroline asked who was going to walk me down the aisle. That hit me hard, and it’s not her fault, it’s something I just haven’t thought about. Isn’t that stupid of me!”

“Ross shook his head, no love it’s not stupid at all. I haven’t thought about it either. But you do have a couple of choices so it’s not a horrible thing. You could ask Drake, you could even ask Caroline or Dwight to walk you down. Or you could walk down half way by yourself, and then I could come get you, or you could just walk the whole way down by your beautiful, independent self. Or you could ask my dad even. Just don’t let it stress you out or put a black cloud over the planning. It’s just one small part. Are you happy with your dress?”

That question brought a bright smile to Demelza’s face, “I absolutely love my dress. Thank you for finding it for me!”

Ross leaned in and kissed her lovingly, “You are very welcome. And you are going to look spectacular in, whichever one it is you chose. And I love that you are going to send a picture of it to my mum. I just know that it will bring tears to her eyes.”

“Oh I just want to include her as much as possible. I need to look at my schedule and find a 3-4 day stretch where Caroline and I and hopefully you, can go down there and work on hiring a caterer, and the wedding cake, and the flowers, and find a DJ for dancing. So if you could browse online and check out different style wedding cakes, and what flavours you might like, that will be a big help, right?”

“Yeah I can do that. I’m afraid work will be a little busy now that I don’t have an assistant. I don’t know how that’s all going to come about. I’m assuming that HR will do the hiring. I better get going. I’ll see you tonight, at the stage door! Same time, same bat channel!” Demelza was laughing when she left the car, which made Ross happy. He wanted to leave her on a good note, because he knew that she will probably obsess about who she is going to pick to walk her down the aisle.

Ross quickly rolled down the window and yelled at Demelza, “Hey!”

Demelza turned around and looked back at her betrothed, “What?”

“I love you, Demelza!”

Demelza smiled, “I love you too, Ross!”

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

Ross was trying to concentrate on his way to work on what he needed to accomplish at work. He could work late if he needed to since Demelza will be at the music hall, although that does leave Seamus alone for quite a while. He’ll just see how everything goes once he gets to work. Just then his phone started ringing, he assumed Demelza had forgotten something and was calling him back, “Hi babe did you forget something?”

“Babe? You never called me that when we were together?”

At first Ross couldn’t place the voice, and then it hit him who it was. His eyes got huge. “Elizabeth?”

“Yes, BABE, it’s me.”

“What the fuck do you want Elizabeth?”

“Well that’s a fine greeting for your cousin.”

“Elizabeth, I’m on my way into work and I don’t have time for this, so spit it out.”

“Why are you just going into work now?”

“Because Demelza and I had an appointment this morning if you must know. Now, I’ll say it again. What the fuck do you want?”

“Well, since you’re being so brash, so will I. Why the fuck are you getting married in just six weeks! What on earth are you thinking, Ross? She is so completely wrong for you!”

Ross sighed and was shaking his head, “Elizabeth, in case you’ve forgotten, you cheated on me with my own cousin several years ago. That fact negates any claim you used to have on me. You were the slut that cheated on me! I do not have to tell you a goddamn thing about my life including who I marry, and when we get married.” Just then a car was honking at Ross, “Shit! I just about caused an accident because of you. Elizabeth go fuck yourself and leave me the hell alone! Don’t call me back!”

The phone rang again so Ross answered it, “Elizabeth I told you…

Suddenly everything in Ross’s world was in slow motion. There were sounds of honking, the screech of tires, then the unmistakable sound of metal crunching. Ross’s head was spinning around before his head hit something and the car finally came to a stop, his body lurched forward into the seatbelt. Then it was so quiet that Ross could hear the blood rushing through his ears, and his own breathing. The smell of burnt rubber permeating the air. Ross raised his hand to his head and found blood. Sharp, striking pains seared through his head. He managed to put a hand to his very painful chest. He tried to look around him, but then his eyes closed.

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

#aidan turner #ross poldark #modernpoldark #poldark #work in progress #six sentence sunday #eleanor tomlinson #demelza carne #demelza poldark

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yourhrmanager · 10 months

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Unlock Success with Free HR Consultation: Gujarat's Leading HR Consultants Offer Expert Guidance

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#free hr consultation #leading hr consultants #hr policies and procedures

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typhoonvash · 7 months

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// Canary Is Not Immune To Plant Bloom Headcanons

while bloom is seasonal, it can happen if around flora that are also in bloom

even if triggered by other flora, it will last a month. sorry canary.

he tries so, so hard to hide it. he.. kinda succeeds... but there are things that he can't hide.

for instance his body temperature rises significantly. enough so that if someone is sleeping next to him or touching him for whatever reason, they'd legitimately think the poor guy's deathly sick. he usually runs so, so cold.

but also usually he can't sleep. too much energy. can't sleep, won't get tired, but this leads to extreme boredom and (likely) shenanigans when he tries to do anything to get his mind off of fking/getting fked

some of this extra energy is given to his partner(s), so they also often dont feel the need for sleep. eventually they gotta though. don't mind the man with bright cyan eyes watching you from the corner of the room, it's normal.

inhuman qualities are enhanced: eyes more glowy, shows teeth more often (smiles, fangies outside lips, etc), faster, stronger, more vines, stronger glowies (harder to control when glowing also)

he um. also tends to get larger and longer when topping.

despite his Extreme Horny it's still only for people close to him. this. made blooms quite often just an inconvenience that he could deal with. having people he is involved with??? well now it's so over for him.

switches between blanketing himself in bed writhing around and pacing and going on MANY walkies. basically just keeps himself moving because it feels like his entire skin's gonna vibrate off his body.

getting what he wants does help, but the general feeling lasts a full month. it just gets weaker after a bit of a marathon. if fked daily, he feels (almost) normal every day! yay!

his taste changes from something akin to peaches (and slick) to a flowery-sweet aromatic flavor. skin, sweat, saliva, the man is practically a sprig of lavender. it may seem great, but the scent is extremely strong. can make it... difficult... to hide. in general.

while his ~*~fluids~*~ (look i'm trying not to trigger any no-no words) normally have an aphrodisiac effect, during bloom it's um. intense. we're talking like, "if you have an erection lasting longer than 4 hrs consult a doctor" levels of intense. it's fine. don't worry about it.

on the bright side, his self-healing is super jacked!

...tends to get very clingy/possessive (not in a toxic way) though. can get whiny even when partner gets up to just. go get food or something.

doesn't do the whole nest building thing. he does just like having pressure on him though—so blankievash, partner just flopping on top of him, hell, even restraints, are favorite things during the month.

because it's so dry on gunsmoke, he ends up static shocking people often. hair also stands on end (just a bit, kind of just looks like his usual hair but slightly messier)

once you get a taste, you crave more. so long as you stay near this idiot, you'll have a thirst that can't really be quenched unless... yeah.

tends to? collect things?? he'll just pick stuff up and bring it to his partner(s) as a gift. some kind of mating ritual.

look basically what i'm saying is that this man's body is a mess and keeping contained is near impossible. also, assuming they are sexually active (are also adults and are interested in sex at all), people in close enough proximity to him will just be inexplicably horny. doesn't have to be for him, isn't an impulse to fuck right then and there; it's just a. "huh weird" kind of "why am i horny this time" sensation.

all of this is by discussion only ofc. there's also the uh, whole reason for blooming, but again. that's a touchy subject and it's SUPER BY DISCUSSION ONLY BECAUSE UuuUUuuuHHh yeah. like i don't mind, but also like. idk. it's touchy. anyway if you read this i'm sorry my man is a little freak.

#[they put canons in his head]#[mortal indulgences; nsfw]#//ooc//

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religion-is-a-mental-illness · 4 months

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By: Ryan Ruffaner

Published: May 21, 2024

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has taken America by storm. It’s in almost every public school, college, corporation, and organization you can imagine, including pharmaceutical companies, entertainment companies, and even the United States Department of Defense.

To its critics, DEI represents an insidious Neo-Marxist virus infecting the culture of the West, one that could spell the doom of democracy, critical thinking, and Enlightenment values, leading to the death of the West and America with it.

To its advocates, it is a clarion call to fight what they believe is the greatest struggle of our era—racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia, along with all other forms of identity-based injustice. It is sword, shield, and holy book in the fight for so-called social justice.

Those less zealous yet still supportive of DEI believe that surface-level diversity, particularly of race, ethnicity, and gender, can lead to positive workplace outcomes, such as better leadership. For example, HR consulting company Zenefits recommends that companies “prioritize hiring executives, directors, managers, and other senior leaders from diverse backgrounds,” which includes factors like “gender, gender identities, ages, abilities and special needs, races, sexual orientations, religious backgrounds and beliefs, cultures, and nationalities.”

But even this more moderate brand of DEI falsely correlates leadership ability with diversity status and runs the risk violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Rather than treating each person as an individual with unique attributes, this brand of DEI relies on dubious claims that a person brings benefits to an organization merely by virtue of possessing certain identity-based characteristics. Supporters of diversity-based initiatives therefore often embrace the same kind of broad generalizations about race, sex, and other identity characteristics that civil rights laws were meant to counteract.

Diversity researchers Alice H. Eagly and Jean Lau Chin are typical of scholars who attempt to justify DEI initiatives based on broad assumptions about identity. In arguing that surface-level diversity leads to better leadership, they say that “leaders and followers from diverse identity groups generally face some degree of pressure to behave like leaders from the majority group” while continuing to “express their own cultures to some extent” and this increases their multicultural competence while explaining some of the challenges that hold minorities back.

These claims rely on two fallacious assumptions that certain characteristics flow necessarily from a person’s identity. First, the authors assume that leaders and followers from “diverse identity groups” feel pressure to behave like the leaders from majority groups because these leaders are from a “majority” group, not because these leaders are in a position of authority that these “diverse” people may want to move into one day. It’s common for people to imitate the behaviors of those they want to be like or those whose benefits they wish to attain. This is why professional speakers study famous speakers and speeches, artists study great artists and art, writers study great writers and writing, and businesspeople study the entrepreneurial strategies of startup titans. We imitate that which we wish to become, and this isn’t necessarily predicated on race or gender.

The second assumption is one that we see far too often: that race and culture go together. Race can be correlated with culture in some cases, but it isn’t all the time. A black man born and raised in Houston, Texas is going to have a very different culture and “lived experience” than a black man born and raised in Ghana or London. A Hispanic woman born and raised in New York City is going to have a very different culture and “lived experience” than a Hispanic woman born and raised in Guatemala or Spain. And a white man born and raised in Nebraska or Oregon is going to have a very different cultural and “lived experience” than a white man born and raised in Sweden, South Africa, or Italy. Race doesn’t always correlate with culture.

Eagly and Chin continue with more broad and unsubstantiated assumptions about identity, saying non-white leaders “may be especially concerned about integrity and justice as they relate to the inclusion and fair treatment of individuals from diverse identity groups.” Although this may sound like a reasonable assumption on the surface, it assumes that these non-white leaders are concerned with inclusion and fairness rather than gaining competence, wealth, power, authority, prestige, or other benefits, let alone that they’ve personally experienced based exclusion and injustice that would make them uniquely sensitive to other minorities’ needs. This assumption also is blind to the fact that there are millions of non-minority people concerned with inclusion and justice for people of “diverse identity groups,” as evidenced by all the white people who fought to abolish slavery and secure civil rights for minorities and continue to fight for “racial justice” and “social justice” today. It is also blind to all the “diverse” people who have committed horrible crimes against other “diverse people,” such as Idi Amin (aka the Butcher of Uganda), Pol Pot, and Mao Zedong, as well as every Hutu who participated in the Tutsi genocide, every non-white person who owned a non-white slave, and every non-white soldier who has ever fought in a civil war against people of the same “diverse” group, to name a few.

Eagly and Chin’s claims include many other unsubstantiated generalizations about identity: that “executives from sexual minority groups might be especially adaptable and therefore embrace change;” that minority leaders may gain certain advantages from their “ability to modify and switch between minority and majority perspectives depending on their immediate cultural context”; that people from minority groups sometimes engage in a “strength-based rhetoric” which may involve “explicit claims that their group’s way of leading is better than those of the heterosexual White man who traditionally have exercised leadership;” and that “individuals belonging to diverse identity groups are often good leaders [because] the experiences that such individuals have had because of their differences from the majority group do confer special qualities.”

All of these claims rely on broad generalizations about beneficial leadership characteristics that supposedly flow from identity. But we have evidence that the surface-level diversity that Eagly, Chin, and others like them are obsessed with does not necessarily contribute to good leadership on its own.

For example, in a rebuttal to Eagly and Chin, University of Maryland researchers Kristen M. Klein and Mo Wang provide four reasons why surface-level diversity does not equate to strong leadership.

First, we shouldn’t assume that just because someone belongs to a certain identity group they’ve automatically been a victim of discrimination.

Second, the diversity leadership fallacy assumes that individuals who have experienced discrimination experience long-term consequences to their well-being, but this is not necessarily true either.

Third, the diversity leadership fallacy assumes that those who have experienced discrimination have integrated these experiences into their life in positive, constructive ways—specifically in ways that improve their leadership abilities—rather than in negative, destructive ways, such as becoming bitter, resentful, or hopeless. And finally, the diversity leadership fallacy assumes that a person’s surface-level characteristics expose them to more character-building adversity than non-surface-level characteristics, such as growing up in a low socioeconomic background or a single-parent household. But of course this mistakenly assumes that a white person from an impoverished single-parent household surrounded by drugs and crime would have faced less character-building adversity than a black woman who grew up in a safe, wealthy community with two loving, supportive parents.

You cannot measure the adversity or discrimination a person has experienced purely by their surface-level characteristics. Further, there is no correlation between a person’s surface-level characteristics and the content of their character, or the competency of their knowledge, skills, and abilities. Those who suggest there is a connection are not destroying negative stereotypes, as they may claim. They are merely switching negative stereotypes to a different identity group and continuing the cycle of ignorance and resentment.

As Klein and Wang point out, “a substantial body of research on deep- and surface-level diversity in the workplace has repeatedly shown that whereas the negative impacts of surface-level diversity decrease over time in workgroups, deep-level similarity (e.g., in values, goal orientations, and personality) consistently predicts positive workplace outcomes (e.g., turnover, job attitudes, team performance).”

While it’s true that some surface-level traits tend to vary with deeper-level qualities—women tend to rank higher on average in the personality trait of agreeableness than men—this doesn’t mean that these traits always vary together, that they have a strong relationship with one another, or that one causes the other. We cannot derive deep-level qualities, such as beliefs, attitudes, values, and skills, from surface-level traits and use these as proxies in employment decisions. Yet this is exactly what many DEI supporters propose.

Hiring and promoting employees, especially for leadership positions, based even in part on surface-level diversity causes enormous harm. Why should employees trust or accept the outcome of a hiring or promotion decision if they know that one of the qualities under scrutiny is an arbitrary characteristic unjustly treated as a competency? Why should people remain committed to an organization if they realize that the trajectory of their future is partially based on surface-level characteristics they can’t change? Would you truly feel valued as a whole, multi-faceted human being if you knew or suspected that your organization assessed your qualifications based on the color of your skin or your sex? And how could you trust the people around you if you knew that they, too, may have been selected because of their surface-level qualities, not their competence?

However well-intentioned DEI initiatives may be, they rely on fundamentally flawed assumptions and broad, unfounded generalizations about identity, which reinforce old negative stereotypes and create new ones. Competence, not identity, should be the primary criteria for hiring, promotion, and leadership, not arbitrary surface-level qualities like race, ethnicity, or gender.

Every time an organization encourages people to divide themselves by these surface-level characteristics, the organization entrenches stereotypical thinking and all but guarantees negative organizational outcomes. We shouldn’t encourage people to shackle themselves to stereotypes and call it liberation. Instead, we should hire and promote people based only on their job-relevant experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics that have real value.

We should train leaders to foster shared organizational values, goals, and attitudes among their subordinates which will contribute to deep-level similarities within their teams and the organization over time. We must look beyond the surface and stop pandering to those who would trap us in outdated thinking wrapped in a shiny new public relations pitch.

#Ryan Ruffaner #diversity equity and inclusion #diversity #equity #inclusion #DEI #DEI must die #DEI bureaucracy

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