#step three: fill out two availability questionnaires

[smallblueandloud]

Okay. i just have to deal with five (5) emails. five (5) emails and then i can collapse and call today a Win.

[herohotline]

Wet Clay (P.5)

Shouta Aizawa x Reader

Summary: You’ve got your own handful of problems- being a counselor doesn’t mean you can’t also have anxiety or feel overwhelmed by it all.

A/N: it’s finally here!! thank god!! and thank you everyone who was so patient waiting for the new part. i honestly had a lot of fun making this new chapter- i wanted it to be a bit longer as a Thank You for the long wait. I hope you all enjoy it, and look forward to the next chapter!

Word Count: 5,500+

Tag List: @babayaga67, @cosmichorse95, @sugacookiies, @howthe-f-didigethere, @rintomoj​, @missadorable96​

Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four

Technically-not-but-still-technically House Arrest is finally over, much to your relief.

You, Bakugo, and Midoriya were finally freed from Aizawa’s punishment and proceeded with your regular schedules. And while Bakugo and Midoriya have a lot of catching up to do, the same goes for you.

Which you weren’t expecting at all, but you’re pleasantly surprised by a few students standing at your office on your first day back greeting you and asking for a scheduled meeting.

Slowly but surely, word of you and your practice has been moving around the school, which is exactly what you were hoping for. Especially since it got out that you were able to have a successful session with Bakugo, of all people, the students seem to suddenly have a newfound interest in trying therapy that wasn’t there before. It’s the progress you’ve been waiting for to report to Nezu, letting him know that students even outside of the hero course were asking about therapy.

Due to your agreement, you couldn’t give them a session. Your time was pointed strictly at the hero classes for the time being, but it wouldn’t always be that way. You had the interested students fill out a simple questionnaire once the idea popped in your head, which helped you immensely for your reports to Nezu.

They were simple questions, not asking anything too personal, of course. Things like, ‘why does therapy interest you?’, ‘what problems would you like to talk about?’, and ‘what are some of the things that stress you daily?’

The answers you received confirmed that you were right from the beginning- U.A needed a proper counseling team hired, and it would be best if it was sooner rather than later.

And on top of all that good news (though kids needing therapy admittedly wasn’t the best news, but at least it was being assessed instead of being ignored), Nezu agreed with you! After hearing and reading your reports on the students, he agreed to start working with you to begin making after-school programs and looking for professionals to hire. It would take a few weeks, if not more, but the beginning of your dream for U.A was finally taking big steps, and it was overwhelmingly exciting.

You haven’t been able to fill anybody in on your news quite yet, but your change in attitude was noticeable by the staff and the students. It’s especially noticeable to the staff when you come in one morning, cups of coffee and tea hot and ready that you had bought for them when they came into the Teacher’s Lounge before class.

Yamada enters with Kayama, whistling low as he quickly walks over and inspects the cups. “Ho-hey!” He exclaims. “What’s all this?”

“Good morning, Yamada,” you smile at him and nudge a cup his way, which he takes with a gleeful hum. “I was just feeling good this morning and I’m really thankful to how much everyone has helped me settle in, so I figured I could buy everyone a drink.” Kayama walks up as well, grabbing one of the teas, surprising you with her choice.

She notices, a deep frown on her lips. “You tempt me, honey, but I have to watch my figure!” She gestures to her body, which is on full display at all hours. Not that you’re a prude, but it makes you wonder how the pubescent boys and girls feel while in her presence. You’re not envious of them. “But I appreciate you very much, thank you.”

“It’s no problem, I’ll make sure to try and get something better for you next time,”

“Oh, don’t worry! A little tea won’t hurt me.” Kayama quickly waves off your concerns and she sits on one of the chairs available in the admittedly small room. “So? Why’re you so happy?” She raises an eyebrow, and before she can ask-

“Nothing that you’re assuming, I’m sure,” you tell her quickly. “Truthfully, it’s because my work is going well. My tenure here might actually be useful- Nezu and I are talking specifics on hiring other counselors, now.”

Yamada cheers, as loud as ever, “really?! Good job!” He wraps an arm around you and shakes you- if the coffee hadn’t woken you up before, you were surely awake now with his energy! “Does that mean you’ll be staying?” Kayama perks up from her seat.

“Oh, does it? It would be so nice to keep you around longer!”

“I’m not sure about that,” you laugh uneasily, “what the students really need is someone that can be fully devoted to them and their needs, you know? I can’t give that to them while I’m still working as a counselor on the side, and I’m really not sure if I can give up that job.”

“Aw,” Yamada frowns, keeping his arm secure around your shoulder as he looks down at you. The man was freakishly tall, honestly. “Shouta will be so bummed. Do you know how long your tenure lasts?”

“I sort of hoped you were giving up on that,” you deflate. “But, no, I’m not very sure. But it’s probably not for much longer. A month more, maybe two at most. Then I’ll be leaving.”

“Leaving?”

You and Yamada turn your head towards the door, and you get a face full of his hair, making you sputter and sneeze as he laughs at you and apologizes (but it doesn’t sound like he’s sorry). You shove him away so you can actually look at Yagi, dressed in his usual baggy, bright yellow suit.

“Morning, Yagi,” you greet him tiredly. If you said before that you were energized by Yamada’s behavior, you take it back now. He’s actually exhausting. “Yes, eventually. I’m not officially hired, you know.”

“I must have forgotten,” Yagi mumbles under his breath, looking equally tired but thankful as you nudge a cup of tea his way and he takes a long sip. You remember him telling you that coffee was one of the things on his long, long list that his stomach couldn’t handle. “I’m getting too old, probably.”

“How old are you, anyway?” Kayama asks from her seat and Yagi smiles.

“That’s a good question,” he says, and then looks to you. “You’re leaving in a month or so, though? That’s unfortunate, Shouta will miss you.”

“That’s what I said!”

“Nice job avoiding the question, pro-hero,”

“I swear the two of you never quit it!”

The three of you talk over one another at the same time, and after a moment’s silence, burst into laughter together. Despite everything, these people had quickly become your friends, and chatting with them like this every morning was a part of what made the extra stress and work all worth it. “I’ll miss all of you when I have to leave, I mean it,” you tell them once the laughter subsides, and Kayama coos.

“We’ll miss you, too. I’m sure the students will as well, you’ve grown on them.”

“That’s true… I don’t feel good about the whole making-a-relationship-and-bowing-out thing. It takes a long time for a child to feel comfortable talking to you about their issues, and I finally have that! And now that I'd have to leave…” You sigh heavily as you rest against one of the tables, crossing your arms at your chest.

“Give it some more thought, then,” Kayama suggests. “Everyone would be happy to keep you around, including Nezu. Think about all your options before you make any decisions.”

It’s good advice, but the truth is, you’ve already done that.

The time you’ve spent at U.A has been amazing, yes, but you’ve never been more overworked in your life. The stress of keeping up your two professional jobs has you tossing and turning at night, and the burden of feeling like you’re going to let everyone down isn’t good for your mental state, either. For your own health, you can’t keep working the way you are now.

You’re going to have to choose. And it hurts you more than anything.

Despite all of that, you smile at Kayama. “You’re right,” you say, and you try not to sound as tired as you feel, “I’ll think about it.”

—-

The first thing you have to do with your new duties from Nezu is put together after-school affairs. He doesn’t give you a lot to go off of- he just wants you to put together some sort of event or club that the students can go to after hours that will be good for them. Nezu is nice, but he gives you too much freedom. It’s hard to create ideas all on your own and be the judge on if they’re worth the school’s time and money or not.

You’ve thought of several things. The thing you’re trying to do is create an original idea that isn’t purely formed around therapy , per se, but a way for students to vent their problems in a healthy and calm environment. Your best idea has been a little something you called ‘food for thought’, a baking club students can go to where they can learn to bake and cook a variety of simple dishes, and while they bake, everyone gets a turn talking about something that’s bothered them or that they’re working through, no judgment. It can be a bit therapeutic to cook in general for some people, and if you gave students the chance to vent during that time, you think it might be something healthy and fun. And then they could all eat snacks afterward.

...But you doubt yourself again and think about scrapping the idea. There’s too many variables- some students might not like the idea of group therapy like that, and some students might abuse the club by coming only for treats and ruin it for everyone else. Plus, not everyone likes to cook.

You groan and deflate in your seat, laying face-down on your desk. This is too hard…!

Out of nowhere, your phone vibrates. It makes you reluctantly pull your head up, grasping for the device and wincing at the bright screen when it turns on.

It’s one of your clients asking for an appointment.

You take a deep, tired breath in, and let it out slowly. Slowly you sit up in your chair and open one of your desk drawers, fumbling around for your planner and slapping it down on the desk as you open the text and start to ask for details.

Your schedule is crammed, a lot more than it used to be. You end up feeling guilty not being able to see your patient soon enough and give up some of your free time in order to see them. Not that they know that- they thank you and tell you they’ll see you soon, and the conversation is ended.

Somehow, you’re even more tired than before.

Eyes wander over to your plush, comfortable couch. It’s a tempting idea, but… the scattered papers full of drafts of ideas for an after school activity are staring at you, so you shake your head at the idea and try to focus on the papers instead. You can’t afford to nap right now, even though it sounds so, so nice right now.

Your eyes droop, but you can’t sleep. Absolutely not. Your shoulders sag.

You fall asleep slouched over your desk before you can even realize it.

—-

Waking up is surprising, because you didn’t remember falling asleep. It’s always odd when that happens- opening your eyes and forgetting you even closed them, so it has you sitting there like, wait, what ? For a few moments.

You’re not even at your desk like you remember being. Instead, you’re laying on your couch- something you very much remember wanting to do, but you hadn’t. You’re alone in your office too, which is even more odd. You don’t think you sleepwalk.

As you slowly sit up and stretch your tired limbs, you look at the clock on your wall and see that it reads 3:20- school is just about to end.

Drat. You were hoping to get more done before now…

You suppose that’s fine- you can always work more at home and email Nezu if you come up with a great idea by the end of the night, but you sort of doubt that will happen. You go back to your desk to start gathering your things, but from the corner of your eye, a bit of yellow catches your attention.

There’s a sticky note on your ‘food for thought’ paper. Your eyebrows spring up in curiosity as you lean forward to read it.

It’s not much. It just says ‘good idea’ and then there’s, strangely enough, a doodle of a cat giving a thumbs up. It’s not the best drawing you’ve ever seen, but it’s cute.

Kind of strange though. A cat? Who even wrote this, anyway? Who was in your office when you were asleep?

You doubt it was a student. You’re not really bothered, but… the sticky note says it was a good idea. You were doubtful about it, but the second opinion makes you rethink your decision.

Maybe it wasn’t that bad of an idea? According to the mysterious cat-doodler.

Hm. You pocket the sticky note, and then put the paper with details of your idea in your bag as you continue to pack up. Maybe if you run into one of the teachers on your way out, you can ask them what they think. You should have thought about that earlier, to be honest.

Quickly you pack up and lock your office. You’re going to miss the train home if you don’t hurry, after all, and you want to get out of the building before the bell rings and the students crowd the halls.

Fortunately, though, you spot Cementoss- Ishiyama- at the front doors, and you wave to catch his attention.

“Ishiyama! You're heading out, too?”

The cement-like man looks toward you, and he walks through the doors, holding it open for you. “Mm. I need to make it to an appointment,” he says simply.

“I see. You wouldn’t mind if I ran an idea by you really quick? It’s for the kids.”

He shakes his head. “Not at all, I just needed to get out before the children did.” You grin and tell him you were doing the same- and then you tell him about your after-school baking idea.

By the time you finish telling him the small details, you’ve walked to the school’s parking lot and Ishiyama looks interested in what you have to say. “I don’t think that’s a bad idea at all. It’s creative, and I think the students would like having something to do besides sitting in a circle and talking.”

“Right!” You animatedly burst for a second- and then bashfully smile at your outburst. “That’s what I was trying to do. I’m glad to hear that it might be worth it. For hires, we could maybe hire a cook, and then the therapist who’d be willing to lead the conversation. That’s where my worry comes in- we’d be paying two people at most, along with spending money on ingredients…”

“Ah, I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that,” Ishiyama says, and he slowly comes to a stop in front of what is probably his car. It’s a big, heavy looking vehicle- which kind of makes sense. The guy probably weighs a lot and needs something he won’t crush into the ground. “We have plenty of ingredients and food left over from lunch time, and Lunchrush would be willing to chip in. It could be something that’s held once a week, maybe.”

“Ah, you’re right. I guess I just didn’t want to assume anything on his part, since he already does so much.”

Ishiyama laughs. “You’re very considerate, but don’t let that get in the way of exploring your ideas. And don’t let Nezu scare you- he’ll let you know if it works or not. If it doesn’t, that’s fine. You’re not wasting his time.”

The words are, quite frankly, reassuring. You didn’t realize how much you needed to hear that, and your body naturally relaxes a bit. “Yeah,” you smile at him, “you’re right. Thanks a lot, Ishiyama. I’ll let you go now- good luck with your appointment!” You wave at the cement-man as he enters his car, but right before he closes the door, you suddenly remember something as you light up. “Oh! I had one more question?”

He looks up at you as he keeps his door open.

“Do you know anyone that likes cats?”

The question is an odd one, and his cemented eyebrows raise in surprise, but you don’t really have a proper explanation. Ishiyama thinks about it, and then he says, “the only person I know who actively likes cats is Aizawa.”

It’s your turn to be surprised. Really? You had no idea.

“Huh,” you say aloud. “Well- anyway, thanks a lot for your input! I’ll see you tomorrow!”

You wave off Ishiyama as he drives off, and once he’s gone, you pull out the sticky note still in your pocket. Aizawa likes cats, huh…? He might have been the person who looked over your paper, then, and he probably moved you over to the couch when you fell asleep at your desk.

The thought makes your chest warm. That was certainly nice of him, if that’s the case. But- ah!

The school bell rings, and you jolt into action. If you’re not quick, you’re going to miss your train home!

—-

Your phone had died on the train ride home.

It was tragic, honestly, because that meant you didn’t have anything to distract yourself with as you swayed in the crowded cart during your long ride home. No music, no texts, no articles… you busted yourself by reading the ads on the ceiling of the train, but there was only so much to read, honestly.

By the time you got home, you quickly plugged in your phone and started to make yourself some dinner. It wasn’t until after your dinner, which was just some quick and easy curry and rice from a package, that you were able to look at your phone again.

There’s several text messages waiting for you.

Some of them are from Yamada, and then there’s a few from a client of yours. But there’s an odd contact among them that you never saw in your messages.

Who knew Shouta actually texted people? He seems like the call-only type.

You click on his messages first. There’s three of them, all sent at different times during the day.

Shouta (7:43am): Thank you for the drinks. Glad to hear your work is going well.

You wonder who told him, but you figure it was probably Yamada.

Shouta (1:30pm): If you keep sleeping during work hours, you’re going to want to get a sleeping bag.

So it was him who was in your office! You should have known he’d be a cocky bastard about it, too.

Shouta (4:10pm): Bakugo only yelled five times today?

The last one was kind of funny. Without thinking, you reply back to him.

You (6:45pm): Thanks for the sleeping bag idea, but I’ll pass for now. It was sweet of you to move me to the couch, but next time you’ll need to wake me up instead!

You (6:45pm): Did you see Bakugo go anywhere after class?

Surprisingly, you don’t have to wait at all for his reply.

Shouta (6:45pm): You looked like you needed it.

Shouta (6:46pm): He didn't go to his dorm, but he stayed on campus. Why?

Hmm. You wiggle on your bed, plugging your phone out of its charger so you can relax in a comfortable position as your fingers tap on the screen.

You (6:47pm): I guess if anyone’s a good judge of someone’s need for sleep, it’s Mr.Baggy Eyes, huh? Go figure

You (6:47pm): also, that’s confidential. But I think he deserves a lollipop at this point. Bakugo cares a lot more than he likes to show, but the fact he’s actually thinking about our session and considering some new methods says a lot about his character. Thanks for telling me.

Shouta doesn’t say anything after that, at least not right away, so you move on and look at your other messages. Yamada’s are a bunch of absurd internet pictures, so nothing too important, and your other client who texted you is asking for a reschedule.

It takes a bit of back and forth with your client until you eventually decide on a new date where both of you have time- thankfully, it didn’t require you taking time out of your weekend more than you already have. By the time you’re done, you have one new message from Shouta.

Shouta (6:56pm): You’re right about that. Bakugo is difficult, but with some help, he’ll be able to do a lot for society. Hopefully you’ll be around enough to see him change. His trust doesn’t come easy.

The words make a heavy feeling in your stomach drop. Without meaning to, Shouta has stabbed you in the gut with guilt, and you’re feeling even more about your decision to leave U.A.

How could you leave, really? The students need you- but so do your clients.

Stress builds up in your shoulders again, and staring down at Shouta’s message, your head swarms with bad thoughts.

Anxiety and discomfort rolls over you in waves.

And you don’t really have anyone to confide in. Part of you feels like talking to Shouta- but you’re not really that close to each other yet. You doubt he wants to hear your complaints about work.

Shouldn’t you be grateful for your opportunity?

You blink as you barely make a reply, and then you toss your phone to the side once you turn it off. Your eyes look at the ceiling of your room, and despite the exhaustion deep in your bones, you’re suddenly wide awake.

You feel like you won’t be going to sleep tonight, as much as you would like to.

You (7:08pm): You’re right. I’ll try my best.

——

Coming into work the next morning is dreadful. The only thing keeping you awake and mildly aware of your surroundings is the caffeine that’s running through you- you’ve drank so much coffee and energy drinks that you wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a part of your bloodstream at this point. You look like a mess, but there’s work to be done.

It’s Friday, which is usually nice, because Saturday is your only day off. But you sacrificed your Saturday for a session tomorrow, so there’s no promise of a break for you for at least another week.

Overnight, due to your lack of sleep, you thought of three other ideas for after-school activities the students might like, and you sent all of them over to Nezu once the sun began to rise and you decided it was an appropriate hour to message him. He hasn’t gotten back to you yet, but that’s unsurprising.

With nothing else to do, you got on the train early enough that it's not even that crowded. You still can’t find a seat, but that’s fine. You’re afraid if you sit down and relax for more than a moment, you might fall apart.

Hence why you’re heading to work several hours early. Hopefully you’ll be able to pull yourself together before work starts.

You stumble a bit each time the cart shakes when it comes to a stop, but eventually you get off and walk to U.A. It’s practically empty, which is also unsurprising, but the doors are open for you, so that’s good. You were a bit worried it might all be locked down.

As you head to your office, it’s eerily quiet in the building. Beside the sound of your shoes tapping on the floor, there’s nothing. It’s a bit unsettling.

Maybe that’s just because you haven’t slept at all recently and your anxiety is through the roof at the moment. Who knows? Regardless, you make it to your office with no issues. But when you open the- unlocked- door, you jump.

And then you slam the door shut with a surprised scream.

“Oh my god!” You yell at the door, and you can hear the people scrambling from inside your office. “What’re you doing?! On my couch?!”

Kayama speaks up, her voice just a lilt higher than it usually is. “Would you believe me if I said it was nothing??”

“No! No I wouldn’t!” You yell back, and you rub your eyes with the heel of your palms. “I will never be able to wash my eyes from what I just saw, Jesus-“

“We’re sorry!! You’re really early!”

“Do you always do this shit on my couch?! I have students sit on that thing- oh my GOD, I was laying on it yesterday!”

“No- we swear-“

And then suddenly, as if from nowhere, Shouta is coming from around the corner with his face twisted up in confusion. “What’s going on?” He asks as he walks up to you, and you gesture angrily toward your closed door.

“Yamada and Kayama were fucking on my couch!”

“No we weren’t!!” Yamada’s screechy, way too loud voice denies.

“Yeah, tell me that again as if you’re not scrambling to put clothes on right now.” You huff, and Shouta’s eyebrows have successfully disappeared beyond his hairline. “Did you have any idea about this?” You look toward him, a hateful look in your eye- but he quickly shakes his head.

“I just got here. I was actually- well.” He looks toward your office. “I was going to nap.”

“ Lord - does everyone use my office as they so please? Do the keys I own mean nothing?”

Yamada wails, “we’re sorry- “

“Shut! Shut it!” You snap.

This is the worst. You have had no sleep, no food. You’re overworked and stressed enough as is- this was just the last straw.

“Clean up my office. Get rid of all your ridiculous germs- the door, my desk, the couch- anywhere the two of you touched needs to be squeaky clean or else.”

You’ve never been the type to really get mad, especially at your friends. Especially at friends who you haven’t even been friends with for less than a year. You try to keep your cool. This was just… bad timing.

“Yes, right. We promise,” Kayama says from beyond the door.

“And you-“ you point at Shouta, who is more than a bit surprised at your tone, and his face shows it. “You haven’t had sex in my office, have you?”

“Never.”

“Good.” You let out a frustrated breath. “Then you’re invited to get breakfast with me so I can cool down while those two put themselves together.”

He doesn’t really need much more convincing. He’s already walking by your side as you turn around, walking much faster than you normally do as you head for the front doors.

Shouta walks a bit faster and opens the door for you, too, which you barely mumble a thanks for.

It’s quiet as you walk down the sidewalk in the early morning, but eventually Shouta speaks up, keeping up with your pace easily. “Do you know where you’re going?”

You stop in your tracks.

“No.” You bite your lip as you frown, and you truthfully can’t even look at him. Instead, you keep your eyes on the ground, at the pebbles on the ground. “Do you know anywhere to go?”

“...Yeah. Follow me,” his voice is surprisingly soft as he reaches forward and nudges your arm his direction, and you both turn around as he takes the lead. You don’t walk for long, crossing a few streets and making a few turns, until you’re at the same place that Shouta brought you to last time.

The familiarity as you enter the restaurant makes you relax just a little bit.

“So,” Shouta starts once the two of you sit at a booth. A waiter handed you both a menu, but you haven’t opened it yet. “You’re not usually so tense.”

Shouta doesn’t make meaningless observations, you know that much about him. He’s inviting you to talk about why you’re acting strangely, and you’re tired enough that you take the bait.

You vent. You vent and vent and vent about everything you’ve been feeling lately- stressed from two jobs, guilty for having to leave, not wanting to leave, tired, upset you have to give up your free time, upset you can’t talk to anybody about your feelings, anxious that you’re not good enough- all of it.

You’re a therapist, so you know how important it is to communicate your feelings, but you haven’t been doing it for yourself. You should know better, but it’s hard. You tell all of that to him too, even though he didn’t ask for any of it.

He gave you an opportunity to speak, so you did. All of it.

And by the time you’re done, your food (which you don’t even remember ordering, so Shouta must have done it when you were busy ranting) is sitting hot in front of you and ready to be eaten. You feel like a hot pile of blubber by the time you’re done, releasing a big sigh full of all the ghosts that have haunted you the past few days. And then you stab your fork into your food, and it feels oddly gratifying.

“...Sorry.”

Shouta just barely moves his head as he closes his eyes- a fairly weak version of shaking his head as a way to deny your apology. “I’d be on my last wire if I saw Nemuri and Hizashi fucking, too.”

Despite yourself, you snort.

“I know you haven’t worked at U.A for long, but if you wanted to ask for a day off, I think Nezu would be willing.” You barely open your mouth before he’s already shutting down your argument, “you want to help the students, and I understand that. But how much are you going to help them in this state? You can’t do anything if you’re doubting yourself and you’re sleep deprived on top of it all.”

Brutally honest, but they’re words you needed to hear. You sink into your seat and nibble on your food instead of arguing with him, which Shouta snorts amusedly at as he eats his food too.

Once again, he pays for the meal, but you don’t really try to argue about that, either. You appreciate how considerate he’s being right now.

“You’re right, and you know it too, so I don’t really have to say it. But you’re right.” Shouta smiles as you play with your fork, food now finished. “I haven’t had a day off in so long, I guess I forgot they existed. I don’t even know what I’d do, besides sleeping a lot.”

“Sleeping is always nice,” He comments and you roll your eyes, because of course he’d say that.

“What do you do on your days off?” Shouta gives you a look and you click your tongue. “Right.” Sleeping.

“Could always go out of town. Have a day trip.”

“I suppose, but I’m not really sure where I’d go,” you hum thoughtfully. “I’m not really sure what I even like to do… I know I like spending time with you. But I guess you have even less time than I do to really go anywhere, huh?”

You’re too out of it to really think about what you just admitted, and you’re looking out the window so you don’t see how Shouta’s face shifts at your little confession. “If you’re fine with me being on patrol, we could go somewhere. That’s probably the best I can do.”

And you’re also not aware of how foreign it feels for him to offer his time up like that for another person. You really have no idea- you just smile at him and light up. “Yeah, that’d be fine! Just having a day out, walking around and all that sounds nice. Aw man, it’s kind of exciting now,” you laugh, your eyes squeezing shut as your nose scrunches up.

Shouta discreetly looks away.

“I’m not very exciting, but whatever you say.”

“Well, that’s true,” ow, “you’re relaxing. And I think I need to relax more than I need excitement, really.” Oh.

He just hums in response.

“Well, anyway. Thanks a lot for letting me say all that. It was really nice of you,” you move the subject along, rummaging through your things until you find your phone and click it on. “It’s still awhile until class starts, but we should head back and check on the two love birds.”

“Hopefully they’re decent by now.” Shouta rolls his eyes, scooting out of the booth with you, and with the food already paid for, you both walk out of the diner together.

“I really can’t believe those two to begin with. Did you have any idea they were together?” You look up at him as you walk.

“Honestly? No. And that’s on purpose. I don’t want to know.”

You laugh. “That’s fair.”

Shouta hums again in response, and the two of you chat some more as you head back to U.A together. It’s nice that you can feel a bit lighter than before, now.

But it’s not fair. It’s not fair that now you’re feeling better, a bit more energized than before, you completely miss the way that Shouta looks at you. The way he’s been looking at you ever since you were exploding with anger at his two best friends.

A look that’s a bit too akin to attraction.

[falseroar]

Dog Days Part 22: Very Important Person

((Y/N, Chase, and Jameson visit the local TV studio in search of Wilford Warfstache, looking to find out what his connection is to Abe.

Warning: Shooting/someone shown getting shot, no gore/details.

Links to the masterlist with every part, and to Part 21: Coffee with a Dash of Honesty.))

The building that Chase parked near was completely new to you. From the street name, you guessed this area used to be that stretch of small businesses that in your memory tended to come and go before they made much of an impression, although it looked like they had all been torn down to make way for the tall building and its attached lawns and parking lots.

“Honest John Loans,” you murmured when you got out of the car, and when Chase and Jameson looked at you, you felt the need to explain, “Used to be a loan company around here, went out of business after the owner—wasn’t around anymore.”

“Yeah, I think there used to be a few stores around here before the studio bought them up,” Chase said. “That was after DE Studios got super popular, started streaming even in other countries instead of just the local broadcasts. Before that, they were running out of a little place over in between all the warehouses on the harbor.”

“You seem to know a lot about this place,” Jameson pointed out as the three of you walked toward the set of glass double doors under a set of enormous letters spelling out “D.E.S.”

“I looked up some stuff last night. Plus, I…kind of wanted to work here when I was a kid. I applied for an internship, even got it, but my parents vetoed that idea.” Chase shrugged. “Wasn’t the kind of work experience they were hoping for, not that it really mattered in the end.”

“Did you ever get to go on a tour here?” you asked as Jameson pulled open one of the doors and waved the two of you in before him, but Chase shook his head. “Then maybe we can still have some fun even if Wilford isn’t here.”

An idea shot down not even two seconds later by the man standing behind the front desk, who took one look at you all and said in a dull, lifeless tone, “No tours today.”

“What?” Chase asked, unable to hide his disappointment. He shared a look with Jameson, both thinking their plan to keep you distracted and away from home wasn’t looking too great. “But there wasn’t anything on your website about them being canceled, and the sign right there says—”

The man behind the counter flipped the tour sign so that it was lying face down and said, “We are also not filming today, so there is no need for a studio audience. If you wish to apply to be a guest on one of our shows, the application form can be found online.”

You frowned at the man, but it wasn’t because of the abruptly canceled tour. There was something strange about his voice, a faint static under his stilted words that probably only you could hear, a hum coming from his chest in place of a heartbeat that seemed to pulse in time with the lit up ‘G’ on his gray shirt. And, when you breathed in, you could smell Chase and Jameson on either side, but there wasn’t a scent coming from this man.

Or at least, not one that you would associate with a person, but the faint whiff of magic and oil made you sure that you were in the right place.

“Who are you?” you asked, stepping forward to the counter.

“I am a Google unit, designed to answer questions and perform tasks quickly and efficiently,” he answered, tilting his head to match your stare while his eyes studied you behind his black-rimmed glasses. “Currently, I am filling in for the receptionist who has taken an early lunch break.”

“Wait, unit?” Chase stared at Google for a moment and then his eyes lit up with understanding. “You’re magitek! I heard the Institute bought out a lab that was working on something special, but I never got a chance to see it. That’s so cool!”

“Yes, I was the initial prototype from that line,” Google answered. “The head of this studio was able to purchase me before the buyout.”

“That feels a little…not right,” Jameson signed, only to put his hands behind his back when Google fixed him with his unblinking stare next.

“Magitek is, well, what it sounds like, a blend of magic and technology,” Chase explained to you and Jameson. He gestured at Google as he said, “This though, it’s leaps and bounds ahead of anything else out there right now though. I mean, look at him!”

Google smirked. “Your excellent taste is both appreciated and entirely correct. The tours will resume next week, on schedule, if you would wish to make an appointment.”

Next week. It was possible he could still be here by then, but the idea of waiting that long and missing your chance didn’t sit well. Especially not when you felt so close to something for once.

“We were actually hoping to see someone who might be here,” you said. “Do you know if there’s a Wilford in the building?”

Google paused and then said, “Are you on the approved visitor list?”

“Uh,” you hesitated and looked at Jameson and Chase, who didn’t really have an answer. “If you could just tell me if he’s even here—”

“Names?” Google asked.

“…Y/N,” you said, reluctantly. “But I just—”

“Y/N,” Google repeated, with a different tone. “You are on the approved VIP list.”

“I am?”

“They are?” Chase asked, and Jameson signed.

“And your names?”

“That’s Jameson Jackson, and I—I’m Chase Brody,” Chase said slowly.

“Understood. Please wait for your visitor badges to be printed.”

Google turned away and you took a step back to be closer to the other two. Once you were sure the magitek unit wasn’t watching, you signed, “It must be a mistake. Someone else with my name.”

“Doesn’t mean we can’t take advantage of it,” Chase signed back.

“But what if we get caught?” Jameson asked.

“Then we tell them there was some kind of misunderstanding.” Chase shrugged. “Worst that happens is we get a slap on the wrist for trespassing, and even then, it’s still iffy. It’s not like we lied about who we are or why we’re here.”

“This might also be our only chance to meet this Wilford guy,” you pointed out. “There’s no guarantee we would run into him on a tour, assuming he’s even still here next week.”

Jameson nervously moved his hands, as though trying to decide whether to give in or stop this here, but before he made up his mind Google spoke again in that same not quite emotionless tone.

“Your badges are ready. Please do not lose them, or you will be immediately escorted from the building. Forcefully.”

You turned around to find three badges lying on the corner, just cards printed off and slipped into plastic envelopes hanging from DE Studios branded lanyards.

“As a VIP, you are welcome to a more permanent card,” Google added. “But that would require your picture to be taken. Please stand still.”

“What?” you asked, but a bright flash came from the magitek unit before he lowered the camera and plugged it into the computer.

“Your card will be available by the time you leave,” Google said, ignoring your protest which was quickly cut off by Jameson and Chase.

“…Thanks, I guess,” you muttered, even if you didn’t like the thought of a picture of you being on that thing. Better to play along for now. “Wait, why did you just take my picture and not theirs?”

“Because you are the only one on the VIP list,” Google answered. “The other two may enter as your guests for this visit.”

Your card did seem to be a different color than the other two, or at least you guessed it was based on the different shade of gray, but it was Chase’s turn to pause when he saw the names on the cards. Specifically, the one labeled “Charles Bronson.”

“That’s…not the name I gave you,” Chase pointed out slowly.

“It is the name that is in the system,” Google said. “Attached to one internship application that was accepted and then turned down by the applicant. Do you wish to update your file?”

“Why do you still have that?” Chase asked. “Yes, I want to—I mean…”

“The process will only take…45 minutes.”

Chase sighed. “No, I guess it’s fine…”

“Give or take 3 hours, depending on length of time spent on the questionnaire—”

“It’s fine, I’ll wear the stupid badge,” Chase said, grabbing the lanyard and pulling it over his head. He tried to at least turn it so that his name faced inward, only to discover that the names were printed on both sides of the card. “…Sure, why not. Now can you tell us where this Wilford dude is?”

“Once all phones and other recording devices have been handed over. I am also required to ask you to sign our terms and agreements, which is standard for all visitors in the building.”

Chase and Jameson sighed as they pulled out their phones, but you pulled the stacks of paper Google tried to hand them out of his hand and studied it for all of two seconds before saying, “We’re not signing this.”

Google dropped the phones into a bin behind the counter, Chase wincing at the sound of his phone hitting the plastic and said, “Understood.”

“Wait, that’s it?” Chase asked. “You’re not going to make us sign it or leave?”

“I said that I was required to ask, not that I actually need any signatures.”

You stared at the magitek unit as he walked out from behind the counter and asked, “Then why bother asking? The first page alone is absurd, who in their right mind would sign this thing?”

Google smiled. “Most people don’t even question it. And no one wants to be the one to hold the tour group up because they’re actually reading it.”

You picked a paragraph at random and started to read aloud, “’Dark Entertainment Studios is not liable for any accident or the consequences of any event on its grounds or during filming, up to and including death, injury, mental or emotional trauma, existential crises’…’Contestants lacking a living will may be assumed to give DE Studios power of attorney’—”

Google’s smile was gone now. “As you have not signed, these terms do not apply to you. So, if you could please stop reading those out loud—”

“Who the hell wrote this?!”

“…Permission to answer that question has been denied,” Google answered, his eyes twitching and his head briefly jerking to the side before he recovered. “Please try again later.”

Jameson pulled you to the side and signed, “I understand you’re angry, but perhaps this is a battle for later? We’re here for Wilford, not a legal kerfuffle.”

“Fine,” you muttered, before holding up the document for Google to see, “But I’m taking this, and I will have a lot of notes for whoever’s in charge here when I come back.”

“Understood. I will make a note for a future appointment,” Google said, his gaze fixed on some distant point for a moment before it returned to normal. “Follow me. According to his schedule, Wilford Warfstache is currently in Studio 3.”

Google paused to put up a sign saying that someone would be back in 15 minutes and added under his breath, “…Not that he seems aware of what a schedule even is.”

“What exactly are we going to say to this Wilford fellow once we find him?” Jameson asked as the three of you followed Google into the short hallway behind the counter which ended at a set of elevators, one of which opened with a soft “ding” as soon as he pressed the button.

“I didn’t think we’d actually get this far,” Chase admitted once you were all in the thankfully spacious elevator, which looked big and tall enough to hold an elephant inside. He was signing again, you guessed to keep Google from listening in, but your attention was on the directory above the buttons.

There seemed to be a floor for each studio, of which there were five, and a few floors dedicated to various departments such as production, marketing, etc. Human Resources had its own floor, but the button for that one wasn’t lit up like the others, leaving you to suspect that it was broken. Then there was the top floor, which didn’t have a label or any other indication of what was there on the directory.

Before you could ask Google any questions, the elevator came to a stop with another ding, the automated voice overhead announcing that you were now at Studio 3.

“Studio 3 is generally used for our game shows,” Google said. “On our current schedule, the first half of the week is used to film Menagerie of Insanity, and then we switch over the set to film episodes of Monstrous Love for the rest of the week, or at least those portions that take place in studio.”

“Staci loves that show,” Chase said, craning his neck to look in the open door to a room full of monitors and other equipment you didn’t understand. “She was a big fan of what’s-his-name, Herla.”

“Ratings were very high during his time on the show,” Google answered, leading the way to the left and toward the set of double doors at the end of the hall.

“Yeah, shame it didn’t work out with that centaur. Are they filming more episodes of that show then?”

“Chase!” Jameson shook his finger at him.

“What? No, I didn’t mean—”

Chase’s face turned red and he stumbled over his denial, not helped when Google said, “We are currently interviewing potential candidates. If you wish to apply, please speak to the receptionist before leaving or fill out the online form.”

“What are all of these other rooms?” you asked, partially to save Chase from this conversation.

“Storage and janitorial services for this floor, the production control room, the central apparatus room, both of which are dedicated to Studio 3, and rooms for our employees that I am required to refer to as ‘talent,’” Google answered, pointing to each door in questions as you passed. “There is also a green room attached to the studio, with refreshments for our guests and contestants. Each studio floor has the same basic layout, except for Studio 5, which has an additional area for recording and voiceover work, with the master control room on its own separate floor.”

“Master control room?” Jameson asked.

“It’s basically where they choose what signal goes out,” Chase answered. “What shows up on the TV or on the online feed, like reruns or commercials.”

“Correct. We are currently on a…hiatus, from broadcasting live content at the moment.”

He had also mentioned they weren’t filming today, which might explain why the whole building felt quiet. Your ears caught the hum of motors and fans whirring in the rooms full of equipment and monitors, and the faint sound of a chair squeaking that suggested someone was in there, but if you had to guess all of these other rooms were empty of people. That is, except for the studio he was leading you toward, whose doors appeared to be soundproofed because even you could just barely make out the sound of voices as the four of you approached.

As soon as Google opened the door though, a crowd of people began to cheer and clap their hands. Or at least, that’s what it sounded like, but the room was almost empty. Past a row of dark cameras pointed toward the set, where a semicircle of row upon row of empty seats looked down on a large spinning wheel that was clattering to a stop next to three occupied podiums.

And, in the center of it all, stood a man holding a microphone who was almost dwarfed by the large creature sitting next to him, which looked like a massive lion with a set of black wings that matched the hair on his human head, or at least one that was large enough to suit his body. Said sphinx was also holding a (much larger) microphone in one paw, and for some reason appeared to be wearing a shirt and jacket on the front half of his body with a tie that dangled down from his neck.

“Excellent spin!” The man standing next to the sphinx spoke in a loud, booming voice that carried through the room, and you felt like you had just had all of the breath knocked out of your chest. “Tell me Bim, what did our lucky contestant land on?”

The sphinx grinned and said, “Looks like Billy won a very special bonus: ‘Take a shot!’”

“Well, if you say so,” the man said, pulling out a gun from behind his back where it had apparently been tucked into his waistband before pointing it at the first contestant.

“Wilford, wai—” The sphinx reached out a huge paw only to sigh when the man fired off three rounds in quick succession, each blast an assault on your hearing even when you pressed your hands against your ears. The contestants shrieked and Chase shouted next to you as the shot contestant collapsed, but the sphinx just rolled his eyes and said, “Oh, don’t be such a drama king, Billy. We told you from the start we remembered to put wax bullets in Wilford’s gun this time.”

“They still hurt! Why couldn’t we have just used blanks?” came the groaned response from behind the podium as the contestant slowly dragged himself back up onto his feet. A splatter of colored wax marked his chest, but he was clearly…maybe not okay, but mostly uninjured, at least. A chorus of laughter came from speakers set up around the room, and he glared at one of the other contestants who had a board full of switches in hand and a guilty expression.

“What’s wrong with seeing how my aim is holding up?” the shooter asked, still waving his gun around to emphasize his words. “Besides, you told me to take another shot!”

“We’ve been over this, not everything is literal. More importantly, the game isn’t fun if you kill off the contestants for no reason,” the sphinx explained. “It’s like…you know music, right? That used to be your thing. A game show’s like that, there’s a rhythm, a pattern to it, and you shooting one of the contestants out of nowhere is like someone pulling the plug and cutting the song off early. Get it?”

“…Not even a little bit, no.”

“You know, maybe we should just go ahead and take a break. I’m starting to think your…talents might be better suited for somewhere else.” The sphinx looked at the “contestants” and said, “You can get back to whatever you were doing, just don’t forget my lunch!”

The last words were shouted after them, as the three sprinted out of the room as fast as they could, bumping into you and the others in their way.

The sphinx rolled his eyes again and muttered, “Interns. Probably should have kept one of them behind, I’m feeling a little—oh, hello! And who might you all be?”

His eyes lit up at the sight of your group and he gave a smile that might have been friendly, if it hadn’t shown off a lot of teeth that looked more at home in a lion’s mouth.

“These are guests,” Google answered. “Here to see Wilford Warfstache.”

“Hm?” the man holding the gun looked up and gave you all a smile that held no kind of recognition.

Even though you knew exactly who he was. Even without the uniform and helmet, even after all this time, you knew the Colonel’s voice, his mannerisms, the gun in his hand. The same gun, that he had carelessly fired at that intern like it was nothing.

Suddenly you knew exactly why Abe had been looking for him, understood the hunter’s strange behavior at the disco, his anger and despair. All this time, spent looking for the man that nearly killed him, who up until the night before last you thought had killed Abe.

All that time in the mirror, all that anger and rage of your own, and you had never thought about what you would do if you found yourself here, face to face with the Colonel again.

If you had imagined this moment, you don’t think it would have included the way he looked at you now, with a clueless smile like you were as much a stranger to him as Chase or Jameson. Or the other detail that your mind latched onto, until the sphinx moved in between you and the Colonel.

“Hello, my name is Bim Trimmer. Host of Menagerie of Insanity, or you might remember me from other hit shows that I’ve done.”

“Of course, who doesn’t know you?” Chase said, his voice higher and cracking slightly as he stepped in front of Jameson and tugged on your sleeve as though to encourage you to take a step back. “We, uh, didn’t expect to see you here today, or we would have, uh…”

“Brought something to sign?” Jameson suggested.

“Yeah, autographs,” Chase muttered. Clearing his throat, he continued, “But yeah, didn’t mean to interrupt, we can just—”

“Not at all, a distraction sounds lovely right now. Besides, we can’t be rude to guests.” Bim gestured toward your nametag, but you swore he sniffed before his pupils widened into two black discs. “Very special guests. How do you know our Wilford?”

You hesitated, aware that Jameson and Chase were waiting on you to answer, but your mind was still a blank, and your voice caught in your throat with nothing to say.

“Why, fans from the club, I’m sure,” the Colonel, or you guessed you should call him Wilford now, answered. He beamed as he stepped forward to Jameson and said, “I’ve seen you hit up the dance floor, I know!”

“I think you might be mistaken, sir,” Jameson signed, and Wilford laughed as though he had just said the most hilarious thing that he had heard all week.

“It’s actually through someone we know,” Chase said, now that it was becoming clear that you weren’t about to say anything. “Wilford, do you know an Abe Lincoln?”

“The car salesman?” Wilford asked.

“Uh—no, he’s a…he’s a hunter,” Chase said, trying very hard not to look at Bim when he said it. “Do you know why he might be looking for you?”

Wilford rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment. “I don’t owe him money, do I?”

Chase didn’t really know how to answer that, but while Wilford threw out a few more equally unlikely suggestions, you became aware of someone else talking in the studio, speaking low and fast.

“Here we see the automaton has brought three new victims into the clutches of the monster. See the way his tail is thrashing? That suggests a hunting state of mind, a predator considering the problem of his prey, and at any second he’s liable to pounce on our unsuspecting—”

You realized the voice was coming from somewhere under the rows of seating, but you were distracted by Bim lowering his head until you were eye-level and saying, “I would love to have you on the show sometime. I feel like you would be fantastic for the new season we’re lining up. Of course, we’ll have to do something about your wardrobe. Those rags you’re wearing just scream secondhand comfort wear, and aren’t doing you any favors.”

“And wearing those rags?”

The memory of the butler’s comment felt like it came out of nowhere, clashing with the Colonel’s presence, and you realized too late that it was happening again. Your unwanted awareness of too much going on at once: the running commentary going on in the distance, Bim’s overwhelming presence, the scent of the sphinx battling it out with whatever cologne Wilford seemed to have doused himself with, Wilford’s still talking away to an increasingly confused Chase and Jameson, just…Wilford in general, here with no warning, no chance to prepare yourself.

“I—no, I don’t think I could handle…all that,” you said, gesturing toward the set behind him. You tried to find something, anything to focus on, but doing that and holding a conversation at the same time was just too much. After a long second, you remembered to add, “Thank you for the offer, though.”

“Hm? Oh, not for this,” Bim said, waving a paw in the direction of the game show setup. “I mean for Monstrous Love. We like to keep things fresh, make interesting matches happen that wouldn’t otherwise, and I don’t think we’ve ever had a were—”

“Sorry, who is that?” you asked, pointing toward the seating in a deliberate attempt to distract the sphinx before he blurted out what you think he was about to, and maybe just a little to get him to stop talking at you. Your head was already spinning without the self-conscious realization that he knew, how did he know? Could he smell that you were a werewolf? Or had you said or done something to give yourself away already?

Bim looked in the direction you pointed, his head tilting before he sat back with a sigh. “Come on out, you fools. We know you’re over there.”

“We’ve been spotted, Jim! Quick, feign ignorance, we’ll go with Plan B,” stage whispered the voice under the seating, before two men climbed out. They both looked identical, even wearing the same white shirt and light gray pants, but one was holding a camera pointed at the group of you while the other had a microphone similar to the one Wilford was still holding in the hand not gripping his gun. “Hi there, I’m Jim, and this is Jim, and we’re here with Jim News.”

“Slow news day?” Bim asked, with a knowing look.

“The Jims are not scheduled to be in Studio 3 at this time,” Google announced. “Perhaps an escort back to their assigned floor is in order? Again?”

“Just working on a new potential segment,” Jim said. “Learning more about the people who come and go here at the studio. A behind the scenes kind of look, if you will.”

“Has anyone signed off on this segment?” Google asked, in a tone that suggested he already knew the answer and was just itching for an excuse to tell them.

“Uh…” Jim looked at Jim, who shrugged. “We were hoping to get some raw footage to start with, you know, something to show with our idea?”

“Unauthorized filming is strictly prohibited,” Google said. His eyes seemed to take on a strange gleam as he continued, “This activity will be reported and considered by the appropriate departments. Until then, hand over your camera for proper disposal.”

Jim whimpered, holding his camera close to his chest and Bim cleared his throat.

“It’s still studio property, Google. Pretty sure you can’t do that.”

Google frowned before settling on, “Then allow me to access the recording and wipe it.”

“Or, we could let one of the producers look at it first and decide whether they want to keep it?” Jim suggested, stepping in between his brother and the magitek unit. “Isn’t there something about management having final say in all, uh…projects?”

Google sighed, something he absolutely didn’t need to do considering he didn’t even breathe, and the glow faded from his eyes. “You people never let me have any fun.”

“Can you have fun?” Jim asked, his microphone suddenly pointed in Google’s direction. “Do you experience any emotions? Say, of the homicidal rage kind or desire for vengeance against your human oppressors?”

“My programming specifically allows me to disregard stupid questions,” Google answered. “For now, no more filming without clearance or I will take it upon myself to act accordingly.”

Jim sighed and motioned to his brother, who turned off his camera and protectively tucked it under his arm. “Fine. But we still need content of some kind, after the Institute cancelled on us again.”

His brother tapped him on the shoulder and whispered in his ear, causing you to wince at even the small sound. Had the studio lights always been this bright?

“Now there’s an idea, Jim! What about an interview for our podcast? No filming involved!” Jim looked around the room and said, “Any volunteers?”

“You’ll have to talk to my agent first,” Bim said, studying his claws.

Jim glanced at Google, whose scowl told him to keep looking, and Wilford, who was casually cleaning his gun with the bottom of his shirt, and decided to keep going before settling on your group. “What about you three? You look like the kind of people to have a story to share.”

You took a quick step back when Jim stepped forward, panicking as you said, “No, I—I’m nobody, we’re just—”

“Balderdash!” His booming voice combined with the weight of Wilford’s arm around your shoulders nearly knocked you off your feet, never mind the way your heart stopped when you braced yourself for what he would say next, only for Wilford to continue, “Nobody’s nobody. Look at your nifty little badge, says right there, VIP Y/N.”

You hissed slightly, trying to force your brain to behave as you said, “Either way, I don’t…”

“You okay, Y/N?” Chase asked, Jameson right there with him. You noticed that Chase was keeping a hand over his badge to hide his own name, that Jameson was signing something, his hands moving too fast and slow at the same time, that too many people were looking at you—

“I just…need a minute to sit down,” you muttered. Dimly, you were aware of someone showing you to a nearby folding chair, letters on the back of it jumbled together but maybe a name or something. You breathed out, and back in, forcing yourself to tune out Jim and Jim persisting in asking Chase and Jameson what they did, Bim and Google discussing plans of their own, everything until you could find just one thing to focus on like the Host said.

You opened your eyes to find Wilford, sitting in a similar chair to your own in front of you and leaning so far forward that he practically filled your vision.

“Glitz of showbusiness getting to your head a little?” he asked, his voice thankfully not quite as loud this time.

“…Something like that,” you muttered, eyes searching his face for any sign of recognition, anything, until they latched on something you had noticed before, something you couldn’t help but focus on until you found yourself saying, “Pink.”

“Hm?” Wilford reached up and brushed his mustache before smiling. “Do you like it? I had an afro, same color, but apparently it wasn’t the right ‘look’ for this place. I wonder where I put that...”

It was the first color you had seen since regaining your eyesight, the fluorescent pink of his mustache absurdly bright in the otherwise gray-scale world around you. Once you saw it, it was almost impossible to look away from until you realized that he was watching you, the expression in his eyes familiar enough that, for just a moment…

“Wilford, Google and I have been talking, and we think this could be the perfect opportunity to get—I mean, see if you’re a little more…suited for your own kind of segment, a talk show with your own spin on it. I’m sure the Jims would be happy to take you off my paws, er, only to show you how they go about it sometime. Maybe once the Jims are done with their interview with the boys over there, they can give you some ideas on how to do your own thing?” Bim asked, and you looked up to see him and Google standing nearby.

“Hm?” Wilford looked around as well, as though just now realizing who Bim was talking to, and said, “Sure, sure. It’s what I said from the start, I do have a way of getting people to open up.”

“Preferably without knives,” Bim muttered, but behind him Jim called, “No promises!”

“I will take the idea to Kathryn and see what she has to say about it,” Google added.

“I don’t suppose you could leave out the part where I shot one of the interns?” Wilford asked hopefully.

“No,” Google said without a trace of hesitation, causing Wilford to deflate a little. “This should not take long. Please commit only the minimal amount of mayhem in my absence.”

This last comment seemed to be directed at Wilford in particular, who beamed at him and said, “No worries, Googs, I’ll keep a close eye on Y/N here. They do look like the troublemaking type, don’t they?”

Google frowned but chose not to continue this conversation, instead turning and walking out of the studio. Bim, however, moved closer to your chair and smiled as he said, “Do keep an open mind about the show, okay? Here’s my card…”

He reached toward the strangely fitted suit he wore, only for his paw to fail to find the breast pocket. After a few attempts, he looked at you and you reluctantly let him get close enough for you to reach into the pocket and pull out a business card with his name and number on it that probably would have been impossible for him to handle on his own with those claws. This close, you definitely heard the sphinx sniff again, as well as the way he swallowed before he said, “Right. Just…anytime, uh, Y/N. If you all will excuse me.”

He stood and walked through the double doors, whose size alongside the large hallways and spacious elevator now made a little more sense, even if he still had to duck his head to keep from hitting the top of the doorframe.

“He has good taste, that fellow,” Wilford said, with a smile that left you second-guessing his words. “Are you even looking for a special someone, Y/N?”

“I’m…looking for someone,” you said, choosing your words carefully. “But I’m not interested in going on some dating show.”

“Ah! Still, you should keep the card, just in case,” Wilford said with a wink. “Never know when you’ll change your mind, eh?”

“Never know what Marvin would do if he found out I let you get on some monster matchmaker show, either,” Chase said as he walked up. “Feeling any better, Y/N?”

“A little,” you answered, but judging by his expression, he knew that was a lie.

“Could you…?” Chase asked Wilford, who stared at him for a moment before he realized what his gesture meant.

“Right, I’ll just give you two a minute,” Wilford said, leaping up from his chair and walking a short distance away, where he started whistling.

Chase shook his head before crouching down next to you, keeping his voice low as he said, “We don’t have to stay here, Y/N. If this is too much, we can just go. I’m not even sure if this Wilford guy knows anything about Abe anyways.”

“He does,” you said, sounding a little too forceful before your confidence washed away. “At least he should, but it’s like…”

“Like nothing’s going on upstairs?” Chase asked, glancing at Wilford. He studied him for a moment before saying, “Jim wants to interview me and Jameson, get our perspectives on entertainment from ‘nontraditional points of view.’”

“I’m sure Jameson has a lot to say about that,” you said, and Chase grinned.

“Believe it. Point is, we can keep them distracted and give you a chance to talk to Wilford on your own, if you think you can get something out of him. Or, we can leave right now and call this a dead end.”

“…I might know something I can try,” you said softly. You knew you should tell Chase who he was, but you also knew that there would be no arguing when he and Jameson insisted on getting you out of this building, now, once they knew. Maybe that was the right thing to do, but you had so many questions, starting with why Wilford was pretending not to recognize you. How did he even end up here, of all places?

“Okay,” Chase said, placing a hand on top of your own as he added, “We’ll be in the recording studio on the Studio 5 level, so don’t hesitate to come and get us if you don’t feel comfortable or just want to get out of here. And please, just…stay away from Bim Trimmer. Like, really far away. There’s rumors and maybe it’s just anti-monster stuff, but I don’t like the way he was looking at you.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not about to become the next star of Monster Love. And you and Jameson be careful what you say in front of those guys, too,” you said, indicating Jim and Jim with a tilt of your head.

“Monstrous Love, and yeah, we will.” Chase sighed, and you could tell he was second-guessing whether this was a good idea or not, even as he said, “Good luck, Y/N.”

“See you soon,” Jameson signed behind him, before the Jim twins ushered him and Chase out the door.

Leaving you alone with the man who shot and, technically, killed you all those years ago.

((End of Part 22. Thanks as always for reading! Just a couple of notes here that I couldn’t put up top for spoiler reasons.

Things I learned for this part: just enough terms to make it sound like Google knew what he was talking about when he was showing them around, and that wax bullets are a thing that illusionists used to use for tricks involving guns. They can also hurt people, so maybe letting Wilford keep the gun is still a bad idea. Also, in case it wasn’t clear, this Google isn’t wearing a gray shirt, it’s just what Y/N can/can’t see color wise.

Link to Part 23: Almost Too Easy.

Tagging: @silver-owl413 @skyewardlight @withjust-a-bite @blackaquokat @catgirlwarrior @neverisadork @luna1350 @oh-so-creepy @weirdfoxalley @95fangirl @lilalovesinternet-l @thepoolofthedead @a-bit-dapper @randomartdudette @geekymushroom @cactipresident @hotcocoachia @purple-anxiety-blog @shyinspiredartist @avispate @missksketch @autumnrambles @authorracheljoy @liafoxyfox @hidinginmybochard ))

[newageblogging]

What Is The Best Tax Preparation Software For 2021

2020 was a year we are all happy to see in the rearview mirror. The global CoVID-19 epidemic shut down businesses last March and laid off millions of people. The economic impact on taxpayers was so significant that the IRS extended the 2019 filing deadline to July 15, 2020.

Matters are no less serious this year, but you will need to file your 2020 tax return (which you are filing in 2021)) usually by the April 15 deadline, with e-filing opening on February 12, If you want to wait as long as you can to submit your tax return, check out our tax tips for last-minute e-filers. But now tax filing services are open for business.

So you can get started and let's talk about "What Is The Best Tax Preparation Software"!

If you want to make your own Blog from scratch without any experience. You can follow our 12 easy steps guide to make your own blog and earn money online from it.

There Has Never Been A Better Time To E-file Your Taxes

Despite the many challenges this year, tax preparation services are in line with their reputation. In addition to many employees suddenly returning to work from home, these companies had to handle the growing business of taxpayers who were accustomed to moving to an office or retail location to complete their 1040s and file in person.

Some will file manually through a paper form they filled out themselves, but many people are turning to the online service to pay their taxes as reviewed here. If you've never tried an online DIY tax solution, for three reasons, this is a good year to start.

Previously, many changes to US tax laws did not make headlines because of the pressing headlines. Second, preparing and filing online can also get you a big refund, as these sites are trained to dig deeper into the deductions.

Finally, tax website developers continue to offer more ways to get in touch with tax professionals so they can help you complete and file your return. Or they can help you get the job done.

We have all learned how to do things differently in 2020. So, if you're still manually preparing your taxes, this would be a good year to move this operation online - especially if you had to turn to self-employment or job loss.

Working to deal with Tax Every website company has at least one version that allows you to complete and file a complex schedule. In fact, the 2020 edition supports all but the most obscure tax issues. So on your 1099s, you may face W-2s, your unemployment, your new work costs on virtually any tax situation you may face this year.

If you've been missing out on a web-based tax solution in the past, consider trying it again this year. Online personal tax preparation websites keep getting better

Significant Changes Have Been Made To The Tax Code

As we have said before, the change in the tax law has ended in a change this year. But you should know about them because they can affect you well. Tax website developers have incorporated all of these modifications into their online solutions.

For example, the amount of standard deductions for the 2020 tax year varies. They have, in fact, been slightly enhanced. If you are a married couple, the standard deduction is now 24,800. In addition, each spouse aged 65 or over receives a discount of 1,300.

If you are single, you can claim a standard deduction of 12,400. As a head of household, you get a deduction of ساتھ 18,650 with a reduction of یا 1,650 to those aged 65 and over.

The income tax line itself did not change in 2020, but inflation in the brackets is widespread.

Long-term capital gains remained the same in 2020, but their income thresholds increased. For example, you are now eligible for a 20% rate if you have earned more than 44 1,441,550 as a filer.

The income for the joint filing couple, the income limit is $ 496,600, and for household heads, 9 9,469,050. Most taxpayers will fall into the 0 or 15 range.

Some high-income taxpayers will face an additional 3.8% net investment income for short- and long-term benefits.

If you do not itemize Schedule A deductions, you can still deduct up to $ 300 in cash contributions from eligible organizations.

Some tax breaks were due to expire at the end of last year, including a reduction in mortgage insurance premiums (with some warnings) and energy-saving credits.

When we consider this to be true, it is quite certain that most Americans will be recipients of the second round of stimulus checks. But you still have to account for payments received earlier in 2020 under the Care Act. The developers of the tax website have created the required reporting.

You will be asked if you have received an Economic Impact Payment (EIP), which will be based on your 2018 or 2019 tax returns, and what the amount will be. If you received less than you qualified due to a change in your situation in 2020 (such as various filing status or increase or decrease in income), you will receive a recovery rebate credit on the tax return. If you get more, you are not expected to take revenge.

There are many other changes, including amendments to the rules for retirement plans. Personal tax preparation websites have incorporated these changes into the tax code into their online products. And to varying degrees, they also explain how you can expect to be affected.

Online Tax Filing Is Easier Than Ever

Considering the changes that have occurred, what will you get when you log in to the H&R Block, Tax Act, Turbo Tax, or any other website whose developer plans for several months at the end of January 2021? Making?

If you've used a personal tax preparation website or desktop software before and you return to the same product the same year, you won't see much difference.

Still, the site we've reviewed this year has improved, some more than others. But they are routine modifications. User interface adaptation and enhancement to help with changes in resources and prices and product lineup.

For the most part, this year's claimant crop looks and works the same as it did for the 2019 tax year. What's happening in the background is that your tax figures are being calculated and restructured to accommodate new rules and forms, although this is different. Today's leading tax site companies work hard in 2020 so that you don't have to in 2021.

How Online Tax Software Works

When you prepare income taxes using paper forms, you are far behind. You come to a line at 1040 that requires an auxiliary form or schedule, so you go there and complete it, and then move to 1040.

Sometimes you need to fill out a worksheet or pursue a document that you have received. Check the mail or your account twice because things don't look right. If there is a complication in your return, you will have to do this several times.

Tax websites work very differently. Once you've created an account and complied with the site's security requirements, you can stop worrying about which form you need and whether your calculations are correct. You also don't have to worry about how any change in the tax code will affect your return. That's all there is to it in the background.

When you use a digital tax preparation solution, you really fill out a huge questionnaire. These sites work like giant magicians: they ask questions on every page and you answer by answering. You enter information in blank fields, select the correct option from the list, or click the button.

When you have met all the requirements of a screen, you move on and complete it. You never have to look at the original IRS form or schedule (although in some cases, you can if you want to).

You will probably recognize the path you are taking. Sampled after ordering IRS Form 1040. You first provide contact information, including Social Security number (s) and date of birth (s), and then proceed to your income, deductions, credit, health insurance status, and taxes paid. After removing all headings that apply to you, these sites will review your return and highlight your mistakes or omissions.

When you clear them all, the software transfers your tax data back to any state you should file with (although not all of these are available in the preview that you received in late December and early January).

I'm watching). Once you have answered a variety of questions and checked your full refund, you have been asked to pay a service fee (if any). Finally, you can enter your return electronically and print it out.

What's It Like To Use Online Tax Services?

Along the way, personal tax preparation websites offer a lot of help. However, how helpful they will be if they only show copies of the original IRS forms and schedules on the screen and ask you to fill them out using the IRS instructions.

Instead, some of these solutions, such as H&R Blockchain and TurboTax, provide state-of-the-art user experiences. They are designed to make ugly work more beautiful. They use color, graphics, design, and layout to present screens that are lively and charming, rather than being as dull and lifeless as the original shapes.

The step-by-step path to data entry that they usually provide works unless you work your way through your entire return unless you have a lot of backing up or moving forward (where allowed). Jackson Hewitt, for example, asks if you would like to complete 1040 using your comprehensive interview. This option takes you through a long Q&A session. It asks you about any tax headings that may apply to you.

The second alternative, each online service offers, involves choosing the titles that apply to you. You choose from lists that provide income, deductions, credit, and taxes. When you select someone, the sites guide you through mini-interviews to get the information you need. After that, they will return you to the main list to choose another title, and so on, until you run out.

Most of the sites we've reviewed are hybrids of these two methods. The point is, what you have to read on the screen and follow its instructions. You spend most of your time answering questions and clicking on links to move on to the next screen or using the site's extensive navigation tools. These sites are good guides most of the time.

Tax Software Speaks Your Language, Not IRS-ESE

If you've ever filed a tax return, you know that understanding the IRS language in its formats and schedules can be a challenge.

Sometimes turning to written instructions doesn't help much. They are quite comprehensive - in fact, it is often difficult to find the exact answer to your question. When you find it, the language, again, can be difficult to understand.

From the earliest days, personal tax software developers have sought to translate IRS-ESE and make non-accounting more understandable.

They have rewritten their content so that the average taxpayer understands what is being requested. Services like Tax Act do more. For example, they provide hyperlinks to small help windows that further define a term or phrase. They expect questions you can ask and will post questions and answers, especially on complex topics. They try to make sure you understand the question being asked so that you provide the correct answer.

Everyone Needs More Help To Pay Their Taxes

Sometimes a friendly, understandable user experience and a description of the content displayed on the screens is not enough. Therefore, tax websites offer online help. Some, including the H&R block, offer context-sensitive explanations in panes attached to the main work area.

In some cases, this guide is not available until you click on the help link. And sometimes when you do, you have access to a large database of questions and answers. You may be guided by IRS instructions and publications on some sites, but in general, it is rewritten to make technical content understandable.

What will you do if your search for help on site fails? You may have a variety of questions: At first something like this happens, "Where do I enter the information that is in this paper form to me?" Or "The site won't let me go to the next page. What did I do wrong?" Or, simply, "I'm stuck. I can't find a way back to my screen where I enter information about mortgage interest."

All sites offer to contact the company's technical support representatives in at least one of three ways: by email, phone, or chat. Tax sellers, for example, offer all three. Some, such as the H&R block, offer online communities where you can see if someone else has already solved your problem.

However, these technical support representatives cannot advise you on points of technical law. So some offer to connect you to an accounting professional, often just by chat or phone. Although you will pay extra, if you use Turbo Tax directly you will get the latest and most comprehensive guide.

This service connects you directly to the CPA or EA (Registered Agent) via video chat, not only during the tax season but throughout the year. H&R Block has added similar services. Both companies have expanded these virtual resources for the 2020 tax year.

Are There Any Free Tax Filing Services Available?

Prices for tax websites range from 100 free this year. It turns out you can get a lot for free. According to our tax survey, in fact, 17% of you use free services. 20% of you use paid software. Every company we've reviewed offers a version that doesn't cost you anything to prepare and file your taxes. All support the 1040 form and assume you will make a standard deduction. In all of these, you can record or import your W-2 data in some cases.

Everyone goes even further in some ways. H&R Block is very generous in its free offerings in generally paid services. Block W-2 supports retirement plans and Social Security income. Child Care Expenses and Child Tax Credit Earned Income Credit (EIC); And interest to students.

The Tax Act also allows support for W-2, child tax credit, and college expenses, as well as retirement income, unemployment, and EIC. Turbo Tax lets you report W-2 income, EIC, and children's tax credit. Using the tax slider, you can enter your student loan interest and tuition fees in addition to W-2. And the free edition of Jackson Hewitt will produce and file EIC (no children), unemployment and W-2 income, and taxable income up to $ 100,000.

Two of the online tax services we reviewed are free (or nearly free): Credit Karma Tax and Free Tax USA. Both support all major IRS forms and schedules. Free Taxes does not charge anything unless you need to file a state return. Its price is 95 12.95.

You can also purchase enhanced support for support 6.99. Credit Karma Tax is the only personal tax preparation website that is completely free for both federal and state statements.

Lastly, note that if your income is below a certain threshold or if you are in the military, you may be eligible to use free paid software.

The IRS Free File program allows you to file federal (and possibly your state) tax-free, even if you're using an app like Turbo Tax. To find out if you are eligible, visit this page on the IRS website.

You Can Also Let the Tax Pros Take Over

The personal tax preparation services we review here are capable of preparing very complex tax returns. You'll have to pay more if you need to complete more forms and schedules (we reviewed the most popular versions, which in some cases weren't the strongest), but the tools are self-employed, Available for advanced topics such as depreciation, rental income. , And capital gains

If you are not comfortable with the ability to complete a complex tax return, but still want to give it a shot, you can go with a site like H&R Block. The company of course offers DI DIY preparation and filing. But if you go through some distance and feel that you are not sure about some tax issues, you can ask your H&R Block tax professional to review your return, complete it, and Can sign You can even just upload your documents and the pro will work on it. Turbo Tax offers similar services this year.

Stay Safe, Protect Your Privacy This Tax Season 2021

Whenever you send sensitive information to a network that you have no control over, you should be concerned. Since the tax is nothing more than sensitive data, you should worry about the coffee shop if you are filing from a coffee shop, bol, or airport.

It seems like half of you get it as if a tax survey we've put in the field for filing last year shows that 47 people who use online tax software of Concerned neo-hippies and their global warming, I'll tell ya.

Fortunately, protecting your traffic is as easy as using a VPN. A VPN can create a secure tunnel that encrypts your data, ensuring that anyone who manages to tamper with it only sees backbiting. In another survey on the security of using tax software, we found that only 37% of e-filers use VPN.

However, no amount of security software can protect you if you commit a tax scam by telephone, email, or in person. Scammers often rely on you to tell them what they want to know instead of getting it out of their computer with malware.

Instead, they make excuses, the IRS says, believing that there may be a reason to inquire about you and ask you to pay for your confidential information or imaginary fees. Are Know that the IRS will never call you in blue and ask for private information. The agency prefers to communicate via a text message sent via US mail. Here's how to avoid tax scams this filing season.

[citationilola]

Immigration Law Office of Los Angeles

Green Card Through Marriage: When a U.S. citizen  marries a foreign national, the foreign  spouse   may qualify  for a marriage-based green card and become a lawful permanent resident or a conditional permanent resident. Immigration Law Office of Los Angeles Getting a green card by marrying  a US Citizen allows the foreign spouse to become a lawful permanent resident (LPR)  depending upon if the foreign spouse legally entered the United States even if the foreign spouse became out of status subsequently. When the foreign spouse is in the United States, the foreign spouse may apply for a green card by submitting an application through USCIS without having to leave the United States if they entered legally.  This process is called filing for an adjustment of status (I-485). After filing for an adjustment of status, the alien spouse can legally reside and work in the United States once an employment authorization document also known as an EAD is issued, as they will become eligible for an employment authorization  90 days after filing for an adjustment of status. In the U.S. the “immediate relative” classification (including spouse) allows a foreign national to apply for an immigrant visa without having to worry about preference categories or priority backlogs, since an immigrant visa will always be available to him or her. However, the green card marriage process  can be complicated and requires in depth analysis by an experienced attorney to present evidence of a bona fide marriage and to prepare for the green card interview by being advised of possible green card marriage interview questions. 90 days prior to the Three Years anniversary of when the beneficiary spouse became a Lawful Permanent Resident,  the beneficiary spouse may be eligible to apply to become a US citizen if certain conditions are met.

In  order to apply for a green card marriage, the U.S. Citizen or U.S permanent resident marrying a foreign national must submit a green card through marriage petition (I-130)  to USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) to petition for his/her spouse. The U.S. Citizen petitioning for the spouse is referred to as the petitioner or sponsor, and the immigrant spouse who is marrying a green card holder or U.S. Citizen is referred to as the beneficiary.   H1B Denial:  At the Immigration Law Office of Los Angeles, attorney Michael Piston has extensive experience in Federal litigation, and can help you overcome the erroneous decision made on your H1b application by filing a Federal Lawsuit and get results by forcing the government to adjudicate cases that have been unlawfully delayed or overturn H1B extensions and H1B transfer arbitrary denials. Federal Court Litigation may be an effective way of resolving government’s H1B denials and errors.  In well over 90% of the cases we file, the government reverses itself within 2-4 months of the case being filed.  i 751 Form and i 751 waiver:  If you received your green card by applying to the green card through marriage process (formally known as Adjustment of Status), and your marriage was less than 2 years when your green card was approved, what you received is a conditional green card, known as CR1 visa (Conditional permanent residency). The conditional green card is valid for only 2 years. After this period, if you wish to remain as a permanent resident in the U.S. you need to remove the conditions of your green card. This is done by submitting the form I 751 petition to remove conditions on residence. If you successfully submit this form and it gets approved, then you will move from the conditional permanent resident status to the permanent resident status, and your green card will be valid for 10 years.To remove the Green Card conditions you must: - Submit a Petition to Remove the Conditions on Residence (Form I-751). - Prove to USCIS that your marriage is a bona fide marriage. - Submit the application within 90 days prior to your conditional green card expiration date. - File jointly, meaning that both you and your spouse must file together. Although, if this is not possible, you may still be able to remove the conditions of your residency by filing an I-751 waiver. Now, what happens when this is not an option? What if due to different circumstances you are no longer together with your spouse? The answer is that you might still be able to remove the conditions of your residency by filing a waiver.There are basically 4 circumstances by which a waiver is possible:   - Divorce:  If you (the green card applicant) and the U.S. citizen divorce before two years of marriage, you can still file the Form i 751 Petition to Remove conditions on green card to continue to live in the U.S. The process will be a little more complicated though, since you will have to request for a waiver of the joint filing requirement. In the case of a divorce, your task is to compile substantial documentation showing that the marriage was a good-faith marriage, or bona fide, and was not just an “easy” way to get a green card. This could include proof that you have children together, evidence of shared resources, a family home, shared insurance and estate documents, photographs together, gifts offered, correspondence between the applicant and the U.S. citizen, etc. Another task is to prepare evidence of the reason the marriage ended, to prove it was not your fault. For instance, the applicant can provide evidence of having attempted marriage counseling. Nonetheless, it seems important to mention that it’s best if the divorce took place during your conditional residence. Also, the longer the marriage lasts, the better to prove it was a bona fide marriage.  - Death of Spouse:  Under the unfortunate event of the U.S. citizen passing away, the applicant may still apply to remove the conditions on his/her green card. In order to do this, the applicant must file the waiver based on the death of the petitioning spouse. If this is your case, you would have to submit a copy of your spouse’s death certificate. On top of this, other evidence is still required, such as evidence of the marriage being a good faith marriage when started. - An abusive Marriage:  If you were a victim of violence, were battered or subjected to extreme cruelty, you can waive the requirement of the joint filing of the i 751 form. In order to submit this waiver, you will have to submit evidence of the abuse. If you ever reported domestic violence events, if you ever made a record of injuries (medical reports for example), these can be used as evidence. - Extreme hardship if put into removal proceedings:  It applies if you think that by not obtaining permanent residency and being put into removal proceedings (eventually deported) you will face extreme hardship or extenuating circumstances in your home country. K1 Fiance visa:  A fiancé(e) visa, also known as a K-1 visa is used to bring a foreign fiance to the United States so that the couple can marry and apply for a green card for the foreign partner.  The process for bringing a fiance to the United States involves several agencies from the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State: (1) United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), (2) the National Visa Center (NVC), (3) the U.S. Department of State/U.S. embassy/consulate (DOS), and (4) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).  The steps you need to follow are:  Step 1: File fiance visa petition with USCIS Step 2: Once the petition is approved USCIS sends it to the NVC for further processing and submission of additional required documentation. Once processing is completed the NVC forwards the approved visa petition to the U.S. Embassy or consulate where your fiance will apply for issuance of the fiance visa.  Step 3: The U.S. Embassy or consulate schedules the visa interview for your foreign fiance. At the interview the DOS consular will determine whether your fiance qualifies for the fiance visa. If approved the consular officer will issue the visa. Step 4: Your fiance enters the U.S. with their visa. The CBP officer at the port of entry might ask your fiance a few questions: such as where they intend to live in the U.S., some questions relating to the U.S. citizen fiance and the intention to marry within 90 days. The CBP officer will also take your fiance’s fingerprints and sealed documents previously received with the visa issued by the DOS. After the CBP officer finalizes their review, a stamp will be placed in the passport allowing your fiance to stay in the U.S. for 90 days. Nanny Green Card:  For an application for labor certification to be approved under PERM for Nanny Positions, an Employer must do 6 things: 1. Offer a non citizen a “permanent” job effective no later than the date the non citizen becomes a permanent resident. 2. Request a prevailing wage determination (PWD) from U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Typically, it takes about 4 months for the DOL to issue a prevailing wage. 3. Endeavor in good faith to recruit a U.S. worker to fill the job offered to the noncitizen by conducting the following recruitment activities: Place a notice describing the job in detail, including the offered wage, for 10 consecutive business days at the place the noncitizen will work (hereinafter “Job Posting). Advertise two times (2x) at a major newspaper (Sunday edition). Place a job order with the State Workforce Agency (SWA) for a minimum of 30 days. In the State of California, the SWA is Caljobs. 4. Prepare a written statement explaining why any U.S. worker who applied (if any) for the job was rejected only for lawful job related reasons.e) File the application with the ETA Application Center.f) The employer may be required to respond to further requests for documentation of his recruitment efforts to the Certifying Officer. The above will take approximately 3 -4 months from the time we receive the completed questionnaires from you and your prospective employee. Naturalization:  Naturalization is the process laid out by the United States government, which allows foreign citizens or nationals to obtain U.S. citizenship providing they meet the requirements established in the Immigration and Nationality.  You may qualify for naturalization if you have been a permanent U.S. resident for at least 5 years, or you have been married to a U.S. citizen for at least 3 years, (thus qualifying to file as a spouse of a U.S. citizen), or you have qualifying service in the U.S. armed forces. Providing you meet one of those qualifications, the basic requirements for obtaining naturalization are: - Having physically lived in the United States for either 2 1/2 years as a permanent resident or 1 1/2 years if married to a U.S. citizen, - Having not spent more than 12 months (of your 5 years or 3 years) outside the U.S., - Having resided at your current address for at least 3 months, - Being at least 18 years old, - Being of good moral character, - Being able to speak, read and write basic English, - Being able to pass a test showing basic knowledge of U.S. history and government, - Agreeing to support the Constitution of the United States, and - Taking an oath of allegiance to the United States. E-2 visa:  Certain countries have trade treaties with the U.S., which allow for immigration for foreign nationals from these countries to seek a visa. A Treaty Trader can gain an E-2 visa when the individual is involved in substantial trade, such as trade in services or technology between the treaty country and the USA, or involved in the development and direction of substantial capital with regard to trade.  The investment in the U.S. must be substantial. It must be of an amount that is of high enough value to ensure the success of the venture. The venture must be an operating enterprise, not a speculative or non-functioning investment. O-1 visa: The  O-1 visa is designed for an alien who has extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or who has a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry and their essential support personnel. The alien must demonstrate extraordinary ability by sustained national or international acclaim and must be coming temporarily to the United States to continue work in the area of extraordinary ability. Extraordinary ability means a level of expertise indicating that the person is one of the small percentage who has risen to the very top of the field of endeavor. Regarding the sponsor, any U.S. employer, a U.S. agent, or a foreign employer through a U.S. agent can petition for you. However, the petitioner must at least be in the artist’s field of expertise. This also means, that a U.S. citizen, who is in the artist’s field may petition for them as long as there is a legitimate reason why the petitioner requires the artist to work in the United States. EB-1:  EB-1 is an employment-based, first-preference visa open to those who exhibit extraordinary ability, is an outstanding professor or researcher, or is a multinational executive or manager. Each of these categories is defined as follows: - Extraordinary Ability: Individuals who qualify demonstrate extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, and are nationally or internationally recognized. Extensive documentation must be provided as proof of achievements. Offer of employment is not a requisite. - Outstanding Professor or Researcher: Individuals who qualify are recognized for outstanding achievements in their respective fields, in which they must have at least three years experience of teaching or research. In exchange for permanent residency, they must pursue a tenure or tenure track or comparable research position at an institution of higher education. - Multinational Manager or Executive: Individuals who qualify have been working outside of the United States in a managerial or executive position for at least one.

[brajeshupadhyay]

After sheltering at home for nearly two months, tens of thousands of autoworkers have started streaming back into car and truck plants across the South and Midwest, a critical step toward bringing the nation’s largest manufacturing industry back to life. In April, automakers, which were closing plants at various times, produced just 4,840 cars, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles in North America, according to Automotive News, down from 1.4 million a year earlier. Sales of new vehicles in April fell by about 50 percent, according to Cox Automotive, a market researcher. “The auto industry is America’s economic engine,” Ford Motor’s chief operating officer, Jim Farley, said during a recent conference call on the company’s reopening plans. “Restarting the entire auto ecosystem is how we restart the economy.” Ford, General Motors, and Fiat Chrysler plan to restart production on Monday, after Toyota, Honda and Tesla began reopening plants last week. Hyundai restarted a plant in Alabama on May 4. But production will not bounce back quickly. The revival will unfold over a week or more as dozens of auto plants and hundreds of factories owned by parts suppliers gear up and start making and shipping products. The speed with which companies can move will depend in part on how quickly national, state and local governments loosen stay-at-home orders in the United States, Canada and Mexico, because the industry’s supply chains are closely intertwined across North America. Some automakers have already run into complications. Tesla, for example, and its chief executive, Elon Musk, were so eager to resume production last week at the company’s factory in Fremont, Calif., that they defied local officials and sued the county. Mercedes-Benz restarted an S.U.V. plant in Alabama on April 27, but stopped production on Friday after running short of parts. Volkswagen was scheduled to start making cars at a plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Sunday — two weeks after it had originally hoped to bring workers back, because many of its suppliers needed more time to get up and running. The automakers announced in mid-March that they would shut down their plants as the coronavirus spread and cases started surging in the Northeast, Louisiana and the Detroit area, where the three biggest U.S. automakers are based. The risk of infection is considered high for assembly-line workers because they often spend long hours working alongside one another. While many of the automakers’ white-collar employees have been able to work from home, the shutdowns idled nearly 400,000 automotive production workers in April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The industry accounts for about 4 percent of the nation’s economy. There is little precedent for such an across-the-board shutdown, said Erik Gordon, a business professor at the University of Michigan. Of course, strikes have forced individual car companies to shut down periodically; one last fall idled G.M. plants for 40 days. But Mr. Gordon, who has long tracked the industry, couldn’t think of a time when the three big companies, their suppliers and many dealers had to shut down at the same time. During World War II, the industry stopped making cars, but its plants were retooled to make armaments and kept millions of people employed, Mr. Gordon noted. “There’s really nothing we can compare this to because it’s the entire industry, and its supply chain, that has closed down completely,” he said. Now, the industry faces another daunting task that it has never faced: restarting production during a pandemic. Automakers have made numerous changes to reduce the risk of infection, including slowing down the rate at which they churn out cars. Most manufacturers plan to shorten shifts, with more down time in between for cleaning. Employees will also be required to stagger their arrival and departure to reduce contact with others during shift changes. Ford, G.M. and Fiat Chrysler will ask workers to fill out questionnaires and have their temperatures taken before reporting for work. The goal is to identify anybody who may have symptoms or has been in contact with somebody who is or has been ill. Workers will be required to wear masks, gloves and eye protection while on the job. Fiat Chrysler has installed thermal-imaging cameras in some hallways and entryways to check workers for fevers. On its assembly lines, the company has set up transparent curtains to prevent transmission between people who work next to each other. At some stations where two workers install under-the-hood components at the same time, the company has developed screens that can be placed on engines. Ford has placed portable sinks and hand-sanitizer dispensers throughout its plants and installed no-touch faucets and soap dispensers in restrooms. Under guidelines worked out with the United Automobile Workers union, employees will have to get tested for the virus if they show symptoms. G.M., Ford and Fiat Chrysler, however, are not planning to test workers daily or weekly even though the U.A.W. has pushed for it. On Saturday, Ford said it had secured contracts with health care providers in southeastern Michigan; Louisville, Ky.; Kansas City, Mo.; and Chicago to test symptomatic employees and provide results within 24 hours. “We continue to advocate for as much testing as possible at the current time and eventually full testing when available,” the union’s president, Rory Gamble, said in a statement. In Louisville, the home of two Ford plants that make trucks and large S.U.V.s, many workers are looking forward to getting steady paychecks again but also a little worried, said Todd Dunn, president of U.A.W. Local 862. “Everybody is burning cash,” he said. “And the company needs to produce, or we won’t have a company to go back to.” Still, the risk of sickness and the complexities of a new safety policies are weighing on workers. “A lot of members have parents or in-laws at home,” Mr. Dunn said. “So you wonder, ‘Should I take off my clothes in the garage and take a shower?’ A lot of members have issues with child care.” It will probably take many months before the industry is producing as many cars as it was before plants shut down. The delicate restart of production will probably unfold slowly over at least a week or more as dozens of auto plants and hundreds of others owned by parts suppliers resume manufacturing and shipping operations dependent on the loosening of stay-at-home orders in the United States, Canada and Mexico. G.M., which had been running two or three shifts in its North American plants, will start most plants on a single shift per day, something automakers try to avoid. The company said it was not yet sure if it would be able to restart its three plants in Mexico on Monday. Toyota’s North American plants restarted last week, operating on one or two shifts a day. Honda reopened its plants but isn’t seeking to increase production quickly, to give crews time to become accustomed to new safety procedures and working conditions. For now, there is no great urgency for automakers to ramp up manufacturing, because auto sales are not expected to recover fully anytime soon. AutoNation, the country’s largest dealership chain, reported last week that sales of new and used cars at the end of April were down about 20 percent from a year earlier, after falling 50 percent in the first 10 days of the month. Some people were buying cars because they were avoiding public transit and shared transportation services, the company’s chief executive, Mike Jackson, said. “I think this will be a very difficult restart and they need to get on with it,” Mr. Jackson said about the automakers. “But I can see where if plants don’t restart, in a month or two there’s going to be some inventory issues.” The post Autoworkers Are Returning as Carmakers Gradually Crank Up Factories appeared first on Sansaar Times.

http://sansaartimes.blogspot.com/2020/05/autoworkers-are-returning-as-carmakers.html

[emisonme]

X-Factor: Staged "reality"........

I have been planning this post, for a while now, but I have had a sudden influx of question, about X-Factor, so I thought I better get the lead out of my ass, and get it up. Most want to know, If I know how it works, and if I can try to explain the whole process, in a way everyone can understand. I'll give it my best shot.

I have discussed some of this before, in a post, a while ago, but I'll go more in depth, with this one. This information, is readily available, on the internet. All one has to do, is search for it.

The truth is, these damn glorified televised talent shows, are a fraud, disguised as a last resort, to chase your dream. Do they actually find and discover talented people? Yes, they do...but not necessarily the way they portray it. It's a huge ploy, to get talent THEY can manipulate, control, and make money off of.

The X-Factor (and the others) is, for the most part, scripted and rigged. They are certainly NOT what they show us, on the TV screen. It is a lot more of a tedious, in depth, process, than what is put to the public. The actual audition process, is nothing like what we are shown. The contestants, have to want this pretty bad, to actually go through all the shit they have to go through.

The first lie, is that all the contestants just show up, on audition day, to follow their dreams. That's total bullshit. These shows, including X-Factor, employ talent scouts, to scour the country, for contestants, with talent. They look to YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and other SM sights. They will call local talent agencies/agents and scouts, to see if they have anyone that might be interested, in doing the show.

Once the scouts find the talent, a producer, for the show, will contact them, and ask if they would be interested in auditioning for the TV show. If they really want you to participate, they will throw in incentives, like skipping some of the steps, in the audition process.

Those who weren't scouted and called, will sign up to audition, online. To sign up online, you give some basic information, about yourself, and a short video of you singing. If they think you fit, for the show, they will send you an E-Mail, telling you you have been invited to audition, and told when and where to show up, and what you should bring with you, to the audition.

There are actually four stages, to the audition process. The audience only gets to see one of them, and that’s the last one, otherwise known as the live audition, for the celebrity judges.

The first three stages, of the audition process, isn't televised. These three phases, are really called "producer auditions" but they are eloquently dubbed, "the cattle call". You heard Lauren mention this term, in one of her latest podcasts she was on. These three auditions take place months in advance of what we see on TV. In fact, all the girls, except Ally, were still, just turned, or about to turn 15 years old, during the first audition phase.

The cattle call is, usually, a three day event. The first thing you have to do, is register so they will know how many are there, and who is there. If you are under the age of 18, you MUST have a parent, or legal guardian, with you. (BTW you usually register, the day before the auditions begin). On audition day, you must be prepared to do a shit load of waiting.

They will tell you, the earlier you get there on audition day, the better. The reason for this, is to get a shit load of people there, at the same time, so they can record footage, of thousands of hopeful contestants, waiting outside the venue, to audition and chase their dream. That is the only part of the "cattle call" we ever see on TV. The recorded footage, of everyone waiting to get into the venue, to audition. And boy, are they disappointed when they actually get into the venue.

The first audition, there is no stage set up, at all. There are no celebrity judges there, at all. On the arena floor, there were 36 tables set up, all separated by black curtains, for partitions.

You sit in the arena seats, and wait for your row, or section, to be called down to the floor. You line up, and they direct you to one of the partitioned tables. When you get into the little partition, you will find ONE producer there waiting to hear you. That producer will ask your name, and what you are going to sing. You will only be allowed to sing, about 15/20 seconds of the song, before they stop you. That one producer, will give you a yes/no. If it's a no, your audition process is over. If it's a yes, you move on to the next round, of producer auditions. These take place on day two, of the audition process.

If you made it to the next round, it's much like the first. The only difference, instead of 36 tables set up, there is half that many, still partitioned with black curtains. Instead of one producer there waiting to hear you, there are two. They will ask your name, and what you are going to sing. They MIGHT ask you a few more questions, depending on the producer's mood. You get to sing about 30/45 seconds of your song, before they stop you. Both producers HAVE to be in agreement, for a yes, if not, it's a no, and your audition process is over. If they both agree on a yes, you are on to round number three.

If you made it to number three, congratulations, you are driven to achieve your dream. Lord knows, you have jumped through hoops, to get this far. Audition three, is different. Here, you are introduced to the interview process. Here, you go into an actual room. In this room, is a table, with 3 or 4 Executive Producers, of the show, and there is a camera set up in there, as well.

These EP's will ask you about  why you want to be on the show, what you hope to achieve from being on the show, and they will start to ask you  more personal questions about your life. They want the juicy stuff, that they can exploit for the show.

If you went through a break-up, great. If you lost a love one recently, that's even better. Have someone going through cancer, or any other life threatening disease, perfect. Have you ever been abused in any way, they start salivating with giddiness. The more trauma for you, the more drama they can exploit, for them.

Once they get the "story", you are allowed to sing your song. If they think your story is good for the show, you are put through to the next round. If you have talent to go with that story, even better, but it's not a requirement. If they don't think your story is something they can exploit, you are done with the audition process.

If the EP's have put you through to the next round, congratulation, they are fixing to exploit the fuck out of you... and you have also made it through to the live round, to sing in front of the celebrity judges. Yea!!! Now. let the real "fun" begin.

If you make it to the fourth and final round, this is when the brevity of the contracts you had to sign, to participate, kicks in. You have to fill out, a lengthy questionnaire, where they really delve into your personal life. You have to go through a background check. You are interviewed by a psychologist, employed by the show, to see if you are mentally capable to go through the bullshit the show actually puts you through. (also to make sure you aren't a threat to the judges, if and when they piss you off, or purposely make you feel like you are worth less than the shit on the bottom of their shoes) This is also when you are required to hand over the passwords to all of your social media accounts. They don't simply want to look at what you have on there, they want unfettered access to your accounts. (can you think of a reason why? I sure can?)

As for Camila and Lauren, the first three phases of their audition, actually took place in late March/early April of 2012. Lauren said, she was contacted three months after her first auditions, to let her know she had made it to the final round. The whole, "I like your shirt" moment. happened months before we were lead to believe. The audition we got to see, actually took place in early July. A three day process, that started on July 9.

With the "live" auditions, nothing happens, as it seems. First of all, the judges don't see thousands of auditions. There is only around 100/150 people, at most, from each audition site, that is chosen for the final round, and a shit load of those, are people who can't sing, or aren't quite good enough for the show. (they have to put some of them through, so they can give the judges their moment to "shine", or act like a total dick)

So, when Simon asks "who lied to you and said you could sing?" The answer is, the shows producers. They give people hope, so the judges can tear them apart, all in the name of drama, for the damn show.

Anyways, a boat load of this phase, is prerecorded, or taped footage. Like, when we see the contestants walk out on the stage, that was recorded earlier and edited in. That's why they tell the contestants to wear the same outfit, all three days of the live auditions.

A shit load of the audience reactions, are prerecorded, and edited in. Like, if they want the audience to chant something, or to react a certain way, they will prerecord all that, to edit it in, where the producers want it, and for which contestants.

They will prerecord all the interviews, and edit them in, where they want them. They will also ask questions, that have been predetermined, to get the most reaction. It's all bullshit. The only damn part that isn't scripted, is the actual audition/singing by the contestants.

Each contestant, is told to be prepared to sing more than one song. They have to be prepared to sing at least 3. So, when Simon asks if they have another song they can sing, he already knows, the answer is yes. That's all for show.

So, yeah, nothing is as it seems, with these damn shows. Let's move on to boot camp. There is one whole round, they didn't televise, at all. That was the "group round". This round, is when they made ALL of the solo contestants, pair up into groups, and sing a song together. This, is so Simon can hear, for himself, which of the solo artists will sound good in a group setting. Why? Because he knew he was going to manufacture a girl group. He just "manufactured" a few other groups, to make it look like he wasn't set on a GG. Like I said before, he KNEW, when he eliminated all five of those young ladies, as solo artists, that he was going to put them in a group together.

Even that scene was recorded multiple times. All you have to do, is watch the footage, and you can tell, that "scene" of him putting them together, was heavily edited, from at least three different scenes. Hell, that's why the show, had so many of the eliminated contestants, waiting in that courtyard. They had to make it look like, the ones who's names were called, got a genuine second chance. All for drama sake. Literally, it's all bullshit, to make the show look like they are really giving these people the best chance to chase their dreams. UGH!!!!!

Even Camila's story has changed. I don't doubt, they told her she was an alternate, just to sell the story, of her determination. But, if you remember, the story used to be; on the third day, they told her there wouldn't be time for her, and that she seen Simon, and went to him, and all but begged for a chance to audition. Recently, when she talked about it, the story changed to; on the second day, they told her not to bother coming back, and that she told them, if there was even a 1% chance of her getting to audition, she would be back. That the producers seen how determined she was, and gave her an audition slot the next day...They told her what to say, about how her audition came about, all to make Simon look better. THEY had control of the narrative. She said what she had to say.

These damn shows, don't need alternates. They tell contestants they are alternates, so they can get a story out of it. That's what they did with Camila, so they could manipulate her, to get a story. They did the same fucking thing, during one of the Britain seasons of X-Factor. Only, with that girl, they actually televised the whole damn thing. They had the girl run out, in the middle of another girls audition, begging for a chance to sing for them. They even went so far as to say "hey, stop her. Stop that girl". Problem is, it was so "spur of the moment" they took the time to mic the girl up first. I can't make this shit up. The video is on YT. I watched it, and instantly thought of Camila's story.

Anyways, moving on. Once the girls were put in a group, it was time to make sure they made it to the finals. I'm not saying Fifth Harmony wouldn't have made it to the finals, on their own merit, because they would have. What I'm saying is, it was time to rig it, to make sure they made it to the final three, and that's it. Making it to the finals, gave Simon and Syco contractual rights, to sign the group, through their signed X-Factor contracts.

I don't know if you have noticed, but the third place finishers, almost always, with a few exceptions, actually go places in the Industry. The winner, rarely if ever, makes it through the first year of their recording contract. It's actually planned that way. People love to vote for an underdog, or a sob story. The winners of the shows, aren't always the most talented, of the final three. They usually have the best story.

The winners, make their money, get the contract. Syco will usually release a couple of singles, maybe a cheap EP, rarely an LP, and then they are shelved, or released. The winners win, because of a dramatized television show. They rarely have what it takes, to actually succeed in the Music Industry.

So, there it is. MY OPINION, on the truth about X-Factor, and other shows like it. Like I said before, all of what I wrote, I researched the hell out of. All of it, was in articles written, or videos that I watched, all available on the internet. You can research it all yourselves, if you would like. It takes a while, but it’s there. I read countless articles and stories from actual contestants. I watched hours upon hours of YT videos, to get all this information. You don't have to take my word for it. You can look into it yourselves, and you will come to the same conclusions I did.

[qhostqizmo]

Questionnaire - Essie

I got bored and filled this out

- - - - - - - - - -

1) Does your character have siblings or family members in their age group? Which one are they closest with?

No; Essätha is the eldest of four, and does not know her other siblings. The closest sibling in age range to her is in their early twenties, about a decade’s age gap. The closest sibling-like relations she has is with a Tiefling she grew up with back home, who is roughly 5(?) or more years older than her.

2) What is/was your character’s relationship with their mother like?

Hepsiba was supermom and idol to Essie. Essie adored, and still adores, her mom. Hepsiba displayed a constant generous, open-minded, warm attitude that helped to shape a lot of Essie’s values. They got along wonderfully, and even as a youngster Ess’ showed a lot of respect and willingness to listen to her mothers words of wisdom.

3) What is/was your character’s relationship with their father like?

The same as it was as a child as it is now: nonexistent. In Essätha’s heart however, there is a lot of bitterness towards a man who left her and her ailing mother behind, also leaving her to learn little to nothing about him save through stories.

4) Has your character ever witnessed something that fundamentally changed them? If so, does anyone else know?

Oh, plenty. The treatment of her and others like her (Solace, her mother, non-humans automatically defined as ‘evil’ races), the death of her mother, deaths in general (sometimes that she blames on herself), so on. I’m sure some party members have a vague understanding her distance and seclusion is branched off of bad treatment due to her race, for instance. Some folks; like Sol and Kraw, could probably identify quite a few of Essie’s ‘flaws’ and where they steam from. Amon is beginning to learn more and more about some of her ‘quirks’ too.

5) On an average day, what can be found in your character’s pockets?

Lint, spare coins not put in her coin purse, a Green Bean, maybe something sharp and pointy that could be used for lock-picking or stabbing someone’s hand lol. Spare hair ribbon probably too.

6) Does your character have recurring themes in their dreams?

👀

7) Does your character have recurring themes in their nightmares?

Huehuehue… Pre-campaign I think Ess’ had more dreams centered around the loss of her mom and people hunting her and/or attacking her, belittling her, blaming her for all the wrong in the world. Some were personal, based off people she ‘failed’, killed, or feel she killed/wronged. Now I’m sure when she has a night terror it’s probably geared more towards the Raven Lord, Alexis’ and the wolves, the assassins breaking in, seeing her party members hurt/troubled, seeing the hurt and fear in Amon’s gaze, seeing him jailed, imagining all the things that could go wrong and losing m’lord… >:3c You know. Normal Nightmare Stuff nothing to be Concerned about.

8) Has your character ever fired a gun? If so, what was their first target?

I’m going to change ‘gun’ to ‘bow’ becuz fantasy. Ess’ is trained in both a regular bow and a crossbow. Her first ever bow-related target outside of hitting a fucking tree was killing a deer, per Kraw’s orders. Lots of tears shed over the damn deer. Lots of tearshed over learning to hunt in general rip my baby.

9) Is your character’s current socioeconomic status different than it was when they were growing up?

Pretty much the same. Money is probably more readily available in Essätha’s life. Pre-campaign likely because of the occasional pick-pocketing. Now becuz she gets paid for kicking butt. Keep it up girl.

10) Does your character feel more comfortable with more clothing, or with less clothing?

Situational based. Weirdly the less you know her, the more exposed Ess’ is willing to be, because, hey, when are you going to see her again? She might be nervous or edgy in crowds but otherwise w/e man. A lil more skin sometimes gets the gurl you know what I’m sayin’…. The more acquainted she is with someone, the more she fears ridicule, staring, judgment, and the more she wants to hide herself. Give her lots of time to gain confidence, and build trust, and she’d probably be okay being naked around you… so long as you aren’t obviously oogling her. Unless you’ve ahem, earned that level of faith from her where she wants your eyes on her.

11) In what situation was your character the most afraid they’ve ever been?

I would say there’s four instances that stand out the most. One, the first night alone as a toddler after her mother passed away. Two, her first murder, in which she thought she was going to die therefore killed in self-defense. Three, learning that the Raven Lord is probably some kind of god or demi-god being seeing how they killed the Master Arcanist. And four… ‘Not him. You can’t take him.’ …Use your imagination.

12) In what situation was your character the most calm they’ve ever been?

As a babe, listening to mom sing her to sleep… and at night, in Amon’s arms, when all hope feels lost and then they snuggle up and it just… it’s okay. They can deal with it tomorrow, one step at a time.

13) Is your character bothered by the sight of blood? If so, in what way?

No. She’s a lady of course not asdjgakl -

14) Does your character remember names or faces easier?

I’m gonna say faces, she seems more ‘creative inclined’ than ‘analytic inclined’.

15) Is your character preoccupied with money or material possession? Why or why not?

Yes! But less so then she thinks. Due to a life of lacking these things, Essätha thinks owning lots of fancy, expensive things will fill a void inside her. She also believes having money and a big house will give her a sign she’s ‘made it’; that she’s secure, that she’s above what everyone says about her… At the same time, fearing it, because of the additional ridicule it may bring (“ah, a Yuan-Ti Pureblood with riches and power?? Must be after Something.”)

16) Which does your character idealize most: happiness or success?

Happiness. It’s quite literally her dream. Sadly as stated above, she grew up thinking happiness was linked to the things you own but mm… she may be learning differently…

17) What was your character’s favorite toy as a child?

Mr. Hiss!! It was a homemade stuffed snake toy; couldn’t be more than a couple inches made of spare materials her mom had, and button eyes. She played with that thing till it was limp of stuffing, soiled, and raggedy but sadly a bratty kid tossed it into the town’s river so… no more Mr. Hiss. :( She’d have kept that toy all her life otherwise because it was so precious to her.

18) Is your character more likely to admire wisdom, or ambition in others?

Ambition. Because you can be ambitious to do a lot of things; become wiser, become stronger, become kinder. Being wise is cool, but having the drive to become more is sexy.

19) What is your character’s biggest relationship flaw? Has this flaw destroyed relationships for them before?

I’d say an inability to trust or commit. In terms of romantic relationships, she’s never held a significant one; mostly one-night stands or brief flings for a while before moving on; never wanted anything more than that. In terms of making friends, oh yeah. Being unwilling to open up or fully engage herself into the relationship has made people weary of her, her motives, and in turn close off from her. If you’re too scared to meet others half-way, eventually they give up on you.

20) In what ways does your character compare themselves to others? Do they do this for the sake of self-validation, or self-criticism?

In every way; looks, intelligence, status, etc. Mostly she does this as a way to degrade herself. ‘Oh she’s beautiful, and no awkward scaly patches’. ‘I shouldn’t have bothered speaking up, they clearly knows more on this subject.’ ‘Whoop look at the poor girl in rags compared to these guys Yikes-’. When she’s feeling Snobby and Righteous she might do it for the sake of validating her stance; such as being Right and making someone look stupid so she can gloat and grin smugly at them. More often then not though, she compares herself to make herself feel Worse.

21) If something tragic or negative happens to your character, do they believe they may have caused or deserved it, or are they quick to blame others?

Essätha is the Absol pokemon. If bad things occur, it is she who brought the rain, the drought, the heartache, the doubt, the misery. She’s a magnet for bad things and bad omens. It’s somehow her fault; something she said, or did, or a past mistake came back to haunt her and she screwed up, again.

22) What does your character like in other people?

Ooof, lol, well kind, gentle souls. People who have the ability to grow. Natural nurturers. Those who can be strong for others. Those strong in general; solid, comforting, in the ways that matter. Non-prejudice. Physically she’s got varied tastes; from thick and juicy to lean and swift.

23) What does your character dislike in other people?

Cruelty, judgment, those who take advantage of others, aka ugly on the inside. Physically she’s not into unhygienic individuals, doesn’t typically go for super scrawny or so many muscles they look like they’re in a constant flex.

24) How quick is your character to trust someone else?

To put it simply, given the chance, no one in the Hand of Jubata/Noisy Bastards would have found out she’s a Yuan-Ti until a super-necessary moment; or years later, if ever. She’s always hesitant to put trust into others. But she wants to believe the best outta people so if it comes down to basic trust and not trusting someone with secrets about her, she might be willing to give them the benefit of the doubt (unless she gets a Bad Insight off them).

25) How quick is your character to suspect someone else? Does this change if they are close with that person?

Pre-campaign she was just edgy and distrustful. Now during campaign, anyone could be part of those Whispered Shadow cult, so she suspects 50% of this continent at least is out to murder them. If she’s close with the individual, she’s more likely to deny it depending on likability-level. For example, if we found out Barnabus was part of this deranged group, she’d outright be like, “this information is false that sweet man??? I do not think so. You are Wrong.”

26) How does your character behave around children?

Essie loves kids. How she acts depends on their personality; she’s always careful, and soft, and endearing but if they’re shy, she understands they might want more space. If they’re eager and active, she’s even more bubbly and willing to play with them. Mom Genes(TM).

27) How does your character normally deal with confrontation?

Time to talk her way out of this shit and either help this person learn to amend their lives or talk them down. If you’re clearly a bad person, or she can’t change you’re mind, she’s willing to whoop your ass. Rather avoid it if possible though unless you’re a truly bad person.

28) How quick or slow is your character to resort to physical violence in a confrontation?

*gestures @ the campaign* dis bitch has tried or talked the group out of so many fights so??? Pretty slow.

29) What did your character dream of being or doing as a child? Did that dream come true?

I don’t think Essie had a ‘dream job’; she probably just wanted stability, some place to call her own, happiness, simplicity, life to be ‘normal’. That dream... really has not been achieved.

30) What does your character find repulsive or disgusting?

Lack of hygiene. Certain foods probs like liver and onions. Rotted corpses obviously. Chewing with mouth open. Idk, things normally others find gross?

31) Describe a scenario in which your character feels most comfortable.

She’s laying in a large, soft bed with oversized pillows and a dense, warm comforter draped over her. There’s arms wrapped around her. The blanket smells familiar; like leather and pine and a hint of rosewater. She wiggles around in the sheets; can feel another body shift as well to get in a better spot. There’s warm breath on the back of her neck, and a solid shape to her back keeping her warm. It’s safe here. Goosebumps race up her arms. She thinks she’ll take a nap. She can feel the calluses on fingers tracing over the back of her hand, then her palm, until they find the spaces between her own. It’s amazing how beautiful and calm the world can be. Time seems to stop here. Everything will be okay.

32) Describe a scenario in which your character feels most uncomfortable.

She is herself but not herself. She can pick up more acutely the ever; the scents, the vibrations in the air, it’s more intense. She can taste the fear in the air; the hate, the disgust. Her movements are jerky; slithering, the scales on her body a different texture moving over dirt and grass. They are judging her. They are sickened. She can see the look in their eyes, and she is exposed. She is a disgusting creature. The only thing to belittle herself more is to change back; naked, small. They know. They all know. She can’t imagine the way he’s looking at her; too scared to check and see. He would never look at her the same.

33) In the face of criticism, is your character defensive, self-deprecating, or willing to improve?

I feel it really depends on what she’s being criticized for. I want to say in most cases she’s probably embarrassed and/or humiliated, but willing to listen. She may openly self-deprecate and still request they express how she can do better. I feel she mostly gets defensive around people she doesn’t respect and whose criticism then wouldn’t matter; or around topics she feels she knows more about (or definitely knows more about) and she’s offended they suggest she does not.

34) Is your character more likely to keep trying a solution/method that didn’t work the first time, or immediately move on to a different solution/method?

If there’s no ‘time crunch’, she may try the same method a second time before moving on to a different tactic. If it’s a panicked or life-risked situation, and the first method doesn’t work, immediately move on to idea two.

35) How does your character behave around people they like?

Bubbly, excitable, warm and affectionate. She can be stubborn and grumpy still, but for the most part she tends to wear her heart more openly and be more wild and teasing.

36) How does your character behave around people they dislike?

Closed up, silent-treatment, narrowed eyes, huffy, clipped phrases, crude, hissy. Typically she’s a bit bitchy and waiting for an out to get away from you.

37) Is your character more concerned with defending their honor, or protecting their status?

Considering she has little status at the moment, probably her honor.

38) Is your character more likely to remove a problem/threat, or remove themselves from a problem/threat?

Essätha removes problems/threats… even if that problem/threat is herself.

39) Has your character ever been bitten by an animal? How were they affected (or unaffected)?

This is such a were-creature questions HEH uhh, I would not doubt Essie has been bitten by an animal before. Largely she probably forgives the critter and its species. It’s probably her own fault she got bitten after all and she realizes that.

40) How does your character treat people in service jobs?

Respect! If she sees you treatin’ a service job employee like trash you’re garbage to her. Those are hard working people trying to make a living whomst the fuck are you?

41) Does your character feel that they deserve to have what they want, whether it be material or abstract, or do they feel they must earn it first?

Pardon my hyena laughter but, Essätha doesn’t feel like she deserves much of anything. She certainly hasn’t earned to have what she wants. Maybe in time she’ll grow up a bit and learn it’s okay to have things; material or abstract, without feeling guilty or burdened. I’m sure at that time she’d feel she must earn it first.

42) Has your character ever had a parental figure who was not related to them?

*stares @ Kraw, Abernathy, Barnabus, etc* She seems to pick up plenty of Those.

43) Has your character ever had a dependent figure who was not related to them?

Mmm, I’m sure she’s temporarily looked after a younger person or taught someone here or there, yeah. Not for a significant span of time (not to say she probably hasn’t left a positive impact on others that haven’t forgotten her though).

44) How easy or difficult is it for your character to say “I love you?” Can they say it without meaning it?

Oh ho ho ho~ I don’t think Ess’ has said that phrase to more than two people her whole life. It’s definitely not something she could say without meaning to. I can imagine her trying to say it to persuade someone to do something she wants but she just stands there, tongue-tied, unable to do so. It’s just three words, but it’s three very powerful words that can do a lot of good or evil. She wouldn’t want to abuse them or, make people lose faith in them (likeshehascoughs). She doesn’t want people to conceive her as a liar for misusing it before. She wants to be able to say it with heart, conviction, and certainty to someone she truly cares for… if she could ever work up the courage to do so.

45) What does your character believe will happen to them after they die? Does this belief scare them?

I’ll admit: the afterlife isn’t probably something Essie thinks of often. I’d have to say believes in a heavenly ream, and hopes it will welcome her. I do believe she’s scared though because of her race, or any blemishes in her life she’s caused, that she fears she’s already got a one way ticket to hell.

[personalisedsupports]

Disability Support Services

A disability support service can provide you with all the help that you need in order to get the most out of life. This can include everything from physical and cognitive disabilities to sensory and behavioral problems. It's important to note that there are several different types of disability support services available in the Melbourne area. There are also a number of documents that you will need to fill out in order to receive the help that you need.

Early intervention requirements

When it comes to disability support services Melbourne, there are many options to choose from. Some programs are designed to help children learn new skills, while others provide specific therapeutic interventions.

Early Intervention is an important step in helping children develop. It is designed to improve the well-being of children with disabilities, while also reducing the need for future, more intensive intervention.

There are many early intervention therapies available, some of which are provided at home, in a community setting, or at a hospital or clinic. The key to success is figuring out what works best for your child, and finding the right provider.

The NDIS is a national scheme that aims to give people with significant and permanent disabilities access to supports they need to get their lives on track. It will also fund supports related to educational attainment. However, many families have little or no understanding of the different types of support that are available.

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a new way to deliver disability support services to people living with disability. It allows participants to access funding to meet their needs, giving them more control over how their money is spent.

NDIS is not means-tested, meaning that anyone who requires support will be able to access it. Some supports are mainstream, while others are tailored to individuals with particular disabilities. In general, people with mental health or psychosocial disabilities can receive NDIS supports.

While previous disability services were described as a fragmented, inefficient and unfair system, NDIS has the potential to offer greater choice and competition. This promotes responsiveness to users' needs and more efficiency.

The NDIS is designed to assist people with disabilities, providing them with the support they need to live a more independent life. It provides funding to help people with disability gain access to employment, education, volunteering and a range of other activities.

Documents required to apply for help

If you're looking for disability support services Melbourne, you need to know which documents you need to provide and how you should submit them. The Department of Education and Training offers advice on what you should include in your application.

You need to complete a Program for Students with Disabilities Management System (PSDMS) application and attach all the required supporting documentation. You can access the PSDMS online through CASES21. It can take three working days to register.

Depending on the category of student you're applying for, you may need to provide evidence of a detailed adult assessment. This is completed by a qualified educational or neuro-psychologist. Generally, family members cannot complete this type of assessment.

As well as providing current evidence, you'll also need to include a copy of an Educational Needs Questionnaire. This document is part of the Short Term Review process and must demonstrate the level of educational need your student has.

UMSU Disabilities Department

The University of Melbourne has a long history of supporting students with disabilities. They have a number of services to help current and future students with a disability navigate the campus maze.

While the name might suggest otherwise, the University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU) is actually one of two student organisations at the University of Melbourne. It was first elected in October 2005 under transition clauses.

The UMSU provides a number of services to its members including: a website, social media accounts, and information sessions. One of the more important services it provides is representation of current students.

In addition to providing resources for current students, the University of Melbourne has made a point to raise community awareness about disability. This includes the establishment of an inclusive academic environment.

[saasproductreviews]

Click meeting review 2021: Creating Webinars Easily and Effortlessly

Do you intend to hold webinars?

Webinars are an excellent alternative when you want to reach out to more people and educate them about your products or services. A webinar is a web-based seminar that often includes video presentations. Every webinar usually has a specified theme, and two or more persons are required to run a webinar. In this clickmeeting review 2021, we are gonna list some common benefits of doing webinars-

It aids in the acquisition of a new audience.

It makes it simple to educate them.

Engages and converts your audience into consumers.

So, thinking about the ways for creating webinars, there are many tools available in the market. But choosing the right one will be a little tricky. To end this hard work and confusion, we have listed one such effective tool with all its features and pricing and why it is considered to be the best option.

Let us begin the detailed review.

Webinars: A Quick Introduction

The Webinar is the merger of words Web+Seminar. A webinar is a virtual seminar that takes place over the internet.

There might be more than one host or participant in a webinar. The hosts can send out invitations via email and provide a link to the internet-based lecture at the designated time and date. As a result, the webinar presenter communicates with the attendees via audio or video. Participants can converse similarly, and chat tools are available in the section. Using the available screen sharing capabilities, the presenter or host can share photos, videos, and SlideShare.

But, How To Create A Webinar?

If you're producing a webinar for the first time, it may seem tough for non-technical people to lead them, as webinars are difficult to execute without good technical expertise. However, with clickmeeting, you have access to a plethora of options, including:

Multi-users

Invitations with a personal touch

Optional extras

Subaccounts

There's also a timeline for webinars and a lot more.

These capabilities make it easy for you to create and run webinars in three simple steps.

The Webinar Scheduling- It allows you to simply access all of your past and upcoming webinars, as well as check all of your statistics in one place. This technology can also assist in the creation of new events from the ground up, or you can utilize previous webinars to reach out to a new audience.

The user-friendly registration- It allows you to quickly fill up your room by allowing your users to join with a one-tap registration process, which aids in the future development of a strong relationship with them.

The waiting room with the agenda- It aids in keeping your audience engaged far in advance of the webinar. It informs attendees about the topics that will be covered during the webinar.

Some Other Helpful Clickmeeting Features

The interface that is easy to use

ClickMeeting is one of the most user-friendly interfaces. Because mistakes are more prevalent than you might think when running live events. When you're trying to manage a lot of things at once, you're certain to make mistakes.

Run Webinars Regardless of Platform

You may run your webinars on any device, whether it's a smartphone, tablet, or PC.

Sharing on social media

Room for Webinars

Toll-Free Phone Numbers on a Whiteboard

Meetings through the Internet

Polls and questionnaires

Modes of sound

Presentation with audio and video

ClickMeeting is a mobile application that allows you to have meetings on the go.

Interactions in Real-Time

The success of a webinar relies heavily on live interactions. When it comes to performing live interactions with participants, webinar platforms can have a variety of limitations. To avoid misunderstanding and errors, the controls for communicating live with your audience during a live broadcast should be user-friendly.

Webinars from ClickMeeting can be recorded.

If you record your webinar, it will urge you to send replays to individuals who were unable to attend. It also aids you in creating an evergreen webinar with this webinar technology in the future. However, it only allows you to record for a certain amount of hours and does not allow you to cut or convert your recording to a mobile-friendly format. Documented webinars, on the other hand, have some significant financial benefits.

Get Detailed Reports

When it comes to conducting webinars, metrics are quite significant. This allows you to know how your webinars are doing to run better webinars in the future (how many people are listening, how many are taking action, etc.) Also, in this clickmeeting review, here are some added features that will allow you to thoroughly examine your webinar results-

Webinar Recording

Performance Rating

Webinar And Attendee Statistics

Social Media Sharing, etc.

Branding for ClickMeeting

It allows you to customize your user interface. Do you, on the other hand, want your brand to be limited to your webinar room? If not, what are your options? Then ClickMeeting understands the importance of rebranding and allows you to customize the webinar room, as well as your email notifications and waiting room.

Because this application allows you to rename and use pre-loaded templates, it's a great way to save time.

You can also watch: ClickMeeting Review 2021: Working, Pricing, Functionality, & More.

Conclusion

It is evident from this Clickmeeting review that it was created by its designers, and it demonstrates their knowledge of webinars and the pain issues that marketers face when choosing webinars as the ideal marketing tool. Moreover, you may rebrand and use the pre-loaded templates using this program.

[astrogeoguy]

Summer Starts and the Summer of Mars Starts, too, View Bright Vesta, and Venus Avoids the Beehive!

(Above: Mars will dramatically increase in size during June, as shown in these simulated telescope views of the Red Planet. A developing global dust storm on Mars may spoil our views, however.)

Astronomy Skylights for this week (from June 17th, 2018) by Chris Vaughan. (Feel free to pass this along to friends and send me your comments, questions, and suggested topics.) I post these with photos at http://astrogeoguy.tumblr.com/ where the old editions are archived. You can also follow me on Twitter as @astrogeoguy! Unless otherwise noted, all times are Eastern Time. Please click this MailChimp link to subscribe to these emails. If you are a teacher or group leader interested joining me on a guided field trip to York University’s Allan I. Carswell Observatory, or another in your area, visit www.astrogeo.ca.

If you’d like me to bring my Digital Starlab inflatable planetarium to your school or other daytime or evening event, visit DiscoveryPlanetarium.com and request me. We’ll tour the Universe together!

Public Events

Taking advantage of the moon, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and other bright objects in the sky this week, the RASC Toronto Centre astronomers will hold their free monthly public City Sky Star Party in Bayview Village Park (steps from the Bayview subway station), around 8 pm on the first clear weeknight this week (except Wed and Fri). You don’t need to be an RASC member, or own any equipment, to join them. Check here for details, and check the banner on their website home page or Facebook page for the GO or NO-GO decision around 5 pm each day. 

On Monday evenings, York University’s Allan I. Carswell Observatory runs an online star party - broadcasting views from four telescopes/cameras, answering viewer questions, and taking requests! Details are here. On Wednesday evenings after dark, they offer free public viewing through their telescopes. If it’s cloudy, the astronomers give tours and presentations. Details are here. 

On Tuesday, June 19, starting at 9 pm, the RASC Mississauga will host a free public star party at the Riverwood Conservancy. Details are here. 

At 7:30 pm on Wednesday, June 20, the RASC Toronto Centre will hold their free monthly Recreational Astronomy Night Meeting at the Ontario Science Centre. The public are welcome. Talks include the Sky This Month (presented by me), an asteroid collision avoidance study by some young scientists, and building a sky tracking mount. Check here for details. Parking is free. 

Eastern GTA sky watchers are invited to join the RASC Toronto Centre and Durham Skies for solar observing and stargazing at the edge of Lake Ontario in Millennium Square in Pickering on Friday evening, June 22, from 6 pm to 11 pm. Details are here. Before heading out, check the RASCTC home page for a Go/No-Go call in case it's too cloudy to observe. 

On Friday, June 15, starting at 7 pm, the U of T AstroTour will present their planetarium show entitled Our Musical Universe. Tickets and details are here. 

If it’s sunny on Saturday morning, June 23 from 10 am to noon, astronomers from the RASC Toronto Centre will be setting up outside the main doors of the Ontario Science Centre for Solar Observing. Come and see the Sun in detail through special equipment designed to view it safely. This is a free event (details here), but parking and admission fees inside the Science Centre will still apply. Check the RASC Toronto Centre website or their Facebook page for the Go or No-Go notification. 

This Saturday night, June 23 is the next Family Night at the David Dunlap Observatory. There will be sky tours in the Skylab planetarium room, space crafts, and viewing through the giant 74” telescope and lawn telescopes (weather permitting). The doors will open at 8:45 pm for a 9 pm start. Attendance is by tickets only, available here. If you are a RASC member and wish to help us at DDO in the future, please fill out the volunteer questionnaire here. And to join RASC, visit this page. 

Also on Saturday night, the Ontario Science Centre is holding a Shoot the Moon Star Party. Come out and view the moon, Jupiter, and more through RASC members’ telescopes (weather permitting) while learning how to photograph the moon with your smartphone or DSLR camera. There will be short workshops and moon-themed talks, too. The event is free and will happen rain or shine, but parking charges will apply. Details are here. 

The Solstice starts the Northern Summer

The beginning of summer for the Northern Hemisphere, known as the Summer Solstice, occurs on Thursday, June 21 at 6:07 am Eastern Daylight Time. At that moment, the northern end of Earth’s axis of rotation will be tilted 23.5° towards the sun. As a result, the Sun will reach its highest noonday position in our sky for the year as viewed from the Northern Hemisphere. It will shine more intensely on the Northern Hemisphere, and deliver our longest amount of daylight. More hours of concentrated, direct sunlight translates to more solar energy and warmer days! It is NOT the case, as some people think, that we are warmer because we are closer to the Sun – that event, called perihelion, actually happens in early January every year! As a matter of fact, the Earth is only two weeks away from reaching its widest separation from the sun, or aphelion for this year. That occurs on Friday, July 6. 

For our friends in the southern hemisphere, this solstice signals the sun’s lowest noon-time height for the year, and marks the start of their winter. The summer solstice is good news for astronomers - after Wednesday, the days will slowly start to get shorter while the nights lengthen. 

The Moon and Planets

This is the week of the moon’s monthly trip around Earth when it will be sitting prettily in the evening sky as a beautiful, partially lit orb. Grab binoculars or your telescope and enjoy close-up views of the dramatic lunar terrain, especially along the terminator – the boundary between the lit and dark hemispheres. Steeply slanting sunlight creates brightly lit peaks and crater rims that cast deep black shadows between them. And new vistas appear every night as the sun slowly rises over the moon and the terminator slides west. 

(Above: The young moon will meet Regulus on Sunday evening, June 17, as shown here for 11 pm local time. A binoculars field is indicated by the orange circle.)

The moon will reach its First Quarter Phase on Wednesday morning, so it will appear close to half illuminated on both Tuesday and Wednesday evening. In the meantime, look in the western sky in late evening tonight (Sunday) for the waxing crescent moon situated approximately four finger widths to the lower right (west) of Regulus, the brightest star in Leo (the Lion). Both objects will fit into the field of view of binoculars. The moon will set about 12:30 am local time. Observers in the Pacific Ocean region will see the moon pass very close to the star before the pair sets. 

Starting in the southern sky after sunset on Saturday evening, the waxing gibbous moon will sit less than four finger widths to the upper left of very bright Jupiter. The two objects will cross the sky together during the night. The sky’s rotation will carry the moon higher and above Jupiter after midnight. Meanwhile, the moon’s separation from the planet will noticeably increase as the moon slides eastwards in its orbit. 

(Above: On Tuesday, June 19, Venus will skim past the northern edge of the large Beehive open cluster in Cancer, as shown here for 10:20 pm local time. To see more stars, use binoculars when the sky has darkened a little.)

Venus continues to dominate the western evening sky this week while it continues to swing away from the sun. The planet will set at about 11:30 pm local time all week because it is travelling east while the entire sky is shifting west, holding it in place. Venus is gradually growing larger as it moves towards Earth. In a small telescope, it will exhibit a gibbous (74% illuminated) phase. On Tuesday evening, Venus’ orbital motion will place the planet on the northern edge of the huge open star cluster called Messier 44, also known as the Beehive. Both objects will fit together in the same binocular field of view, with the cluster situated to the lower left of Venus. From about 10:30 pm onwards, more of the cluster’s stars will be apparent in the darker sky.

(Above: The inner planets Mercury and Venus will appear in the western evening sky this week, as shown here on  Wednesday at 9:50 pm local time.)

Jupiter is the bright object you will see shining brightly in the southern sky after dusk this week. Around that time, it will be at its highest elevation (about three fist diameters) above the southern horizon. Over the following hours, it will move west and descend – setting in the west-southwest about 3:15 am local time. Once it’s dark enough, look for a bright star sitting just to the lower left of Jupiter. That’s Zubenelgenubi, the brightest star in Libra (the Scales). In binoculars or a small telescope, it splits into a closely separated pair of stars. The waxing gibbous moon will sit near Jupiter on Saturday night. 

On Wednesday, June 20, and visible from 10:58 pm to 1:13 am EDT, the little, round, black shadow of Jupiter’s moon Europa will cross (or transit) Jupiter’s disk. On Friday, June 22 between 11:19 pm and 1:29 am EDT, the shadow of Jupiter’s moon Io will transit. A reasonable backyard telescope will show the black shadows, but a very good telescope is needed to see the moons themselves. More shadow transits are available in other time zones around the world. 

The Great Red Spot (or GRS, for short) takes about three hours to cross Jupiter’s disk. But the planet’s 10-hour rotation period (i.e., its day) means that the spot is only observable from Earth every 2-3 nights. If you’d like to see the GRS, use a medium-sized telescope (or larger). You’ll have your best luck on evenings with steady air – when the stars are not twinkling too much. The best times to try this week are: Wednesday, June 20 at 10 pm and Friday, June 22 at 11:39 pm (with an Io shadow transit bonus!). All times are given in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), so adjust for your local time zone. Try to look within an hour before or after the times I’ve given. 

Yellow-tinted Saturn will be rising in the southeastern sky about 9:30 pm local time this week. It will spend the summer of 2018 just to the left of the Milky Way, and just above the Teapot-shaped stars that form Sagittarius (the Archer). Saturn moves over the southern horizon, its highest point in the sky at 2 am local time. It will remain visible until about 5 am local time, when it will sit a generous fist width above the southwestern horizon. Next week, Saturn reaches opposition – its brightest and closest for the year. 

(Above: Three bright planets will reward observers who stay up until late evening, as shown here at midnight on Saturday, June 23, 2018)

The Summer of Mars is here! The Red Planet will be rising in the east just before midnight this week. Mars, already noticeably brighter than Saturn, will continue to steadily brighten and increase in apparent size as the Earth’s faster orbit brings us closer to the red planet until late July. In the meantime, look for bright reddish Mars shining over the southern horizon just before dawn. 

This week, Mercury can be spotted low over the northwestern horizon for a brief period after sunset. It will become easier to spot as this week wears on – with the best time being between 9:45 and 10 pm local time, when it will be about four finger widths above the horizon. While Mercury will spend the rest of June increasing its separation from the sun, Earth’s tilted axis will pull the evening ecliptic, and all the planets’ orbits, lower over the next couple of months, so our prime Mercury viewing time is sooner rather than later.

(Above: The orbital path in red of the major asteroid (4) Vesta, which reaches opposition and peak visibility for the year on June 19. The sky is shown for 10:30 pm local time.)

On Tuesday, the Earth’s orbit will carry us between the minor planet (4) Vesta and the sun. (It was the fourth asteroid discovered, hence the numeral in its name.) Sitting opposite the sun in the sky, Vesta will be visible all night long, and appear at its brightest (magnitude 5.33) for the year; within reach of binoculars and small telescopes. Look for the object in northern Sagittarius, approximately 8.5° (somewhat less than a fist’s diameter) to the upper right of Saturn. 

Distant blue Neptune, among the modest stars of Aquarius (the Water-bearer), is observable in telescopes in the pre-dawn eastern sky after it rises around 1 am local time. This week, look for the magnitude 7.9 planet sitting one finger width to the right of the naked eye star Phi (φ) Aquarii and about five finger widths to the left of brighter Hydor (Lambda Aquarii). 

Uranus is also in the eastern pre-dawn sky, located about four finger widths to the left of the modest star Torcular, which is down toward the “V” where the two cords of Pisces (the Fishes) meet. 

(Above: The distant ice giants Uranus and Neptune are visible for a few hours in the eastern pre-dawn sky this week, as shown here for 4 am local time.)

Keep looking up to enjoy the sky! I love getting questions so, if you have any, send me a note.

[deepvuinc]

Sustainability must be a primary business KPI. Three practical approaches to make it a reality.

California wild fires 2020.   Source: The Desert Sun.

By Moataz Rashad

Feb 17, 2021

         Last year’s California wildfires and air quality issues piled on top of a pandemic lockdown have made life comparable to a hub on an inhospitable remote star.

Earlier this year in January, NASA’s Goddard Institute of Space Studies released a study  back-testing older climate projection models and confirmed their accuracy. More recent models are even more sophisticated and higher accuracy. We’ve turned a beautiful planet into an ailing mess. With President Biden’s decisions on his Day 1 to rejoin the Paris Agreement on climate change, and appointing Mr Kerry as Climate Envoy, we’re finally on a good path.

It is high time that the manufacturing and construction sectors take sustainability seriously and heed that policy guidance. AI can facilitate that in an automated seamless way.

Many manufacturers produce annual sustainability reports. They often read like everything is great, and you’d think that if the top 50 companies in every manufacturing sector were as mindful of sustainability as these reports would make it seem, then we shouldn’t really have any environmental problems.

The truth, of course, is that the manufacturing supply chain is amongst the top 5 polluters in every country across the globe.  Every major manufacturer has a lot of room to improve.

The most conscientious manufacturers have recently been addressing the issue seriously and exploring how AI/ML can play a pivotal role in effectively optimizing their sustainability in every stage of their supply chain.

Some have even reached out to us specifically for advice on AI for architecting approaches for optimizing sustainability in procurement or logistics, which is certainly a very healthy and encouraging sign.

It’s tempting to reduce sustainability to recycling, using greener materials, diminishing  your energy footprint, and so on. And while these individual steps certainly help, the problem is much broader than that.

In this article, we’ll touch upon three top level proposals that every Chief Supply Chain Officer or COO ought to consider in their supply chain sustainability plans for 2021 and beyond.

Sustainability in Procurement

It goes without saying that you may have perfect sustainability practices in your own manufacturing operations and internal processes, but if the components you buy are from dubious suppliers, your overall product sustainability score will suffer and your product’s environmental footprint will be negative. Think of it as the multiplication of these individual component scores: all it takes is for one key component to have a sustainability score of 0. Therefore, it is important that you investigate every supplier you onboard for their own sustainability practices. It simply can’t be based on the stale, static questionnaire forms that many companies still use today.

Some industries, such as automotive, have strict legislative sustainability compliance requirements, which makes supplier review and qualification a bit more manageable since every supplier has to have their compliance reports. But many industry sectors don’t and it is certainly true that compliance reports can be gamed!

There are three AI/ML modules that can help address sustainability in procurement. You can start with any one of these, and then phase in the rest. However, ultimately, you will need all three for an end to end procurement sustainability optimization.

Build your own sustainability scoring model for your suppliers. The model can use those supplier questionnaires as an input, but they are just one low-trust input.

Almost all procurement departments we work with rank suppliers in quality tiers (A, B, C)  that are largely based on yield, OTIF fill rate, and capacity. Sustainability should be a separate quality tier; the model will treat it as such and it will have its own feature weight.

Build an AI decision model that would allocate POs to suppliers to optimize the Bill of Materials for an overall KPI, where overall sustainability is one of those highly weighted KPIs. Of course, Costand Delivery Date are typically KPIs as well. Thus, you have a Reward that is a weighted formula such as  R = w1* SustainabilityScore + w2* Cost + w3*DeliveryDate

Build a Supplier Risk decision model that can recommend actions as follows:

Approve a supplier for a given country/region

Upgrade/downgrade the tier-rank of a supplier 

Increase/decrease the risk score of a given supplier

Initiate an eDiscovery process pertaining to a specific risk item (material-id)

Initiate an investigation into a supplier’s claim/statement in questionnaire

Flag a supplier for an onsite investigation

Disqualify a supplier

Warren Buffet has famously said “It takes 20 years to build a reputation, and 5 minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently. “ It could even be 5 minutes by one of your suppliers that cut corners and ended up ruining your product’s sustainability score, not your own team or process.

Sustainability in Manufacturing

The vast majority of manufacturers have their own plants but also augment them with contract manufacturers. Therein lies a major problem for your product’s environmental impact. You do have full control over your own plant operations, the eco-friendly materials you procure, their treatment, storage and disposal of toxic waste, and the energy usage in the plant, to name a few.

For your own factories, you can build a decision model that recommends actions that directly impact your Triple Net Zero goal (Energy, Water, and Waste). However, it’s very hard to have full visibility into contract manufacturers’ practices and compliance, and where they stand on each one of these sub-goals.

Some of the largest manufacturers currently do surprise inspection visits, which are a definite part of the solution, but are not sufficient on their own. In fact, in healthcare, the FDA is known for frequently making these surprise visits to international drug manufacturing operations, which has been quite effective in improving generic drug quality and compliance.

For a coveted tier1 customer, CMs can also be required to provide video feeds of operations on a recurring basis, and those feeds can be analyzed for credence and potential violations.

Once this data is available, it can be fed into an AI decision model that can then recommend the build-order-quantity and target dates per CM in order to optimize for safety stock, time-to-market, and the sustainability score of the final product.

Sustainability in Logistics

Supply chains have two logistics links -- the first is procuring raw materials and components and getting them shipped to the factories, and the second is shipping the finished product to distributors and customers. Therefore, optimizing your logistics network is  crucial to your overall sustainability score.

It’s a given that shipping and freight forwarding has a high environmental impact, so you’ve got to look at your carrier and distribution networks closely and build a model that makes these carrier, route/lane, and shipping date decisions intelligently to optimize for MABD (Must Arrive By Date) along with the sustainability score. Making these decisions with high efficacy in a COVID shocked environment such as 2020 has proved challenging even for the most successful manufacturers and 3PLs. AI can play a key role in building upon and improving these human decisions. 

Conclusions

Despite  good intentions, a patch work of sustainability report here, and a line item in a questionnaire there haven’t and can’t be expected to deliver quantifiable sustainability improvement results. If we’re serious about optimizing sustainability in the  manufacturing sector, we think the viable solution is to make it a highly weighted business KPI for the supply chain AI models. These decision models will take care of the actions and the KPI Reward outcomes, and will continue to improve and optimize that KPI with usage. That’s the path to a green future!

Reference:

Sustainable Global Value Chains https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007%2F978-3-319-14877-9

How to measure a company���s real impact https://hbr.org/2020/09/how-to-measure-a-companys-real-impact

A comprehensive framework for automotive sustainability assessment

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652616309155

[clarencenicholsonata]

How to Improve Your Lead Quality Using Facebook's Proven Lead Generation Format

Have you ever thought about how you’ll share information with your target audience if you don’t have a list of potential prospects or leads?

This is exactly why lead generation is so crucial for businesses. But things don’t end here – you need to engage with your prospecting audiences repeatedly in order to boost your conversion rates and promote sales.

Facebook ads, in particular, can be an excellent tool to accelerate your sales or leads, helping you accomplish a wide range of marketing goals, especially developing a better understanding of your audience.

For businesses whose main objectives include market research, getting customer feedback, or increasing conversions – basically, capturing essential data – Facebook Lead Ads is the perfect fit.

In this guide, we‘ll try to answer all your questions about the relevance of Facebook ads for lead generation, along with tips to attract high-quality leads when using lead generation forms.

So, What Are Facebook Lead Ads?

The level of competition is only increasing.

Businesses need to work on maximizing their productivity, aiming to do as much as possible – as quickly as possible. The very first step to ensure this is automating the otherwise manual marketing techniques that facilitate organized communication, create and maintain customer engagement, and build brand loyalty.

With “marketing automation” small business owners and marketers can easily automate repetitive marketing processes and campaigns such as emails and social media.

Out of these techniques, lead generation and management are very crucial – something Facebook lead ads can help business owners with.

Facebook Lead Ads permit users to submit your lead form without having to exit the platform at all. So instead of directing users to external landing pages, which often acts as a deterrent for some, your prospect can learn more about your offer without having to get off Facebook!

Eliminating the friction of a longer click-through path for the prospect can be key for building a dedicated subscriber list and increasing conversions. Plus, the ads make it easier for the business to attract and capture their prospects’ data that show interest.

Do You Really Need Facebook Lead Ads for Lead Generation?

Despite growing concerns about the reliability of Facebook, it doesn’t change the fact that the platform has 2.7 billion monthly active users – this gives almost every business a huge market to present their products, irrespective of their target audience.

Besides this, Facebook makes it easier for advertisers to generate leads by capturing custom data that can help you get closer to your business objectives, along with simplifying the signup process for users. Plus, the presence of auto-fills fields eliminates any potential user frustration further.

The current digital marketing landscape highlights how Instagram and Facebook are the most effective platforms for social media marketing. The fact that you can use Facebook lead generation forms on both these platforms can be very convenient for marketers.

So yes, if you want access to high-quantity and high-quality leads, you should use Facebook‘s trusted lead generation format, albeit smartly.

Need help with your next Facebook ad campaign?

Book a free call to learn how our team of contest experts can help you create high converting Facebook ad campaigns today.

Tips to Gather High-Quality Leads Through Facebook Lead Ads

Simply creating a general lead capture form will not make much of a difference. If you want to grow your email list subscribers and get high-quality leads over quantity, you need to take a more hands-on approach – starting with how you design the lead gen form.

1. Choosing the Right Kind of Form

There are two types of Facebook lead generation formats: More Volume and Higher Intent.

More volume forms are the easiest and fastest forms to fill that gives you a higher quantity of leads. On the other hand, higher intent forms add a review step that asks users to confirm their information by sliding to submit.

Since our focus here is to get more quality leads, you should consider designing forms that have a longer descriptive paragraph about the offer.

This will give the user a second chance to review exactly what they are getting into before leaving their information, which, in turn, will help you filter out higher intent users from low intent users.

2. Keeping it Sweet and Simple

Your form should be easy to understand. If the questions are too complicated or confusing, your completion rates will reduce drastically. The chances of a user abandoning your form increase with every question you add to it, according to Facebook.

Keeping this in mind, try to ask only relevant information. We would highly recommend using multiple choice questions and restricting the number of choices between three and four.

3. Focus on Targeting

Think beyond the form by focusing on who your target audience is. If you want to promote your submission rate, you need to consider various segmentation criteria, such as location, session count, and basket value.

The following are a few targeting capabilities you have available on Facebook:

Education

Age

Job titles

Relationships

Average income

Language proficiencies

Hobbies

Entertainment

You can also consider targeting your forms according to the traffic source of your visitors. It can help you gain alignment between the reality of the experience and the expectations set by your visitors, depending on the email, ad, or post.

4. Coming Up With Attention-Grabbing Offers

Have you ever come across anybody who doesn’t like a free giveaway or discounts? Exactly.

Facebook users expect free offers and contests, so you can immediately get their attention and maximize conversions by offering discounts and incentives. This makes it far easier to capture their contact information.

There is a wide range of offers that can trigger leads, which you can use to get your visitors to fill your form. Some of these include:

Free samples or free consultations

Tip sheets

How to guides

Checklist

Documents discussing top 10 industry trends

Infographics

Whitepapers or ebooks

Material kits, including ebooks, tip sheets, guides, blog articles, and so on.

Case studies

Contests that give the visitor a chance to win a prize

In addition to the above, you can also have videos that show your product or service’s features and benefits. At the end of the video, you can give the lead an option to download case studies or ebook, which will get you their email.

5. Using Questionnaires for Lead Qualification

Here’s a cliche for you: Not all leads are created equal. Hence, it’s necessary for you to concentrate on quality leads that have a better chance of converting.

For this purpose, you can design a series of questions, which will allow you to create segments based on customer journey of the leads. Additionally, you can figure out the following:

Whether or not a lead requires your product or service

Market research to help you understand how you can serve your target customers more proficiently

Allowing you to focus your marketing and sales efforts on better prospects from your company's POV

6. Using Videos, Images, and Messages

The year 2020 has proved to be very turbulent for Facebook as a large number of companies have joined a Facebook advertising boycott. But considering how millions of smaller companies rely heavily on the platform for lead generation gives Facebook a solid advantage.

Having limited budgets, these businesses can use bold images, videos, and messages when designing lead gen forms. Not only is this an excellent tactic for attracting customers, but these aren’t very expensive as well.

Business owners only require an image of the product or service, tailor a creative and unique message for their audience, and use bold colors to stand out in the member’s feed.

7. Creating a Follow-Up Plan

Having a swift follow-up plan in place can work wonders for improving conversion rates. In fact, the quicker you follow up with a prospect, the higher the chances for them to convert into your customer.

Harvard Business Review published a landmark study that pointed out businesses that make contact with customers within an hour are seven times more likely to secure qualified leads.

You can also consider using Facebook Messenger to contact your prospects, especially considering how messaging apps are becoming the preferred way for customers to communicate with brands. At the same time, you can also ask your customer for their preferred means of communication and time to be on the safe side.

The good news here is that Facebook lets you sync the forms with CRM products to manage the lead generation process better. For instance, if you use MailChimp, once you receive new contact information, it will automatically add it to a segmented list in your account, and a targeted group email campaign will commence.

8. Testing and Optimizing

When drafting lead generation formats, you need to figure out ways that attract more leads by arousing that curiosity about your solution for their specific pain point.

Optimization, on the other hand, is crucial for improving lead quality and is done after measuring what portion of your leads have converted into paying customers. You can incorporate your offline sources, such as CRM or coupon redemptions to your digital marketing campaigns, to track every lead you generate down through an offline sale.

Using this information, you can then optimize your ad campaigns.

In fact, ad optimization and testing is the perfect tactic to achieve your goals. For example, MeUndies, an underwear brand for men and women, found out that video ads worked better for their target audience, helping it see a 40% increase in conversion rates. If the company hadn't tested video advertisements, their conversion rates would’ve possibly stayed stagnant.

The only way you can create the best lead ad is through A/B testing and fine-tuning.

You can run two lead ads simultaneously with each having different imagery or copy, or run ads that have different form lengths. While the former will help you understand which copy or image makes the most impact on prospects, the latter will allow you to measure completion rates.

Using Lead Generation Forms for More Than One Purpose

You can use your lead generation forms for multiple purposes in addition to collecting data for advertising your business to interested users. Not only are you able to learn more about your audiences, but you can also use them to enhance the efficiency of your email marketing campaign.

Email marketing is incredibly cost-effective after all, with potentially massive returns on investment. Keep in mind that the Digital Marketing Association estimates an average 4300% ROI for US business. Not bad, right?

Other than lead generation, you can use Facebook lead gen ads in three additional ways:

Inquiry Forms: These forms can be used to learn more about a specific audience and gain more insights into their preferences and interests

Email Signup: The more obvious benefit of using lead generation ads is to grow your email list and newsletter signups. Since visitors themselves give you their emails, they are likely to be receptive to what you send.

Special Offers and Promotions: You can hold the attention of your visitors by offering exclusive material and promotions. Not only will this generate more brand awareness, but people might actually end up buying your product or service because of the immediate reward offer.

Let's consider an example:

The company Quip used Facebook ads that firstly showcased the benefits of using the app. Then it incorporated the “Learn More “ CTA button that will direct the lead to an instant form where they can sign up for a webinar.

Once the lead submits their contact information, they’ll receive emails (as shown above), reminding them about the webinar as well as offering a live demo of Quip.

The Bottom Line

Using Facebook for creating a well-optimized lead generation form can help you create a strong email database – something which is a critical commodity for every business.

So yes, you can generate high-quality leads via Facebook lead ads.

Start by choosing between the type of form you want, but make sure you keep the questions simple. If they are too complicated, your visitor might abandon the form.

You should also design the form in a manner that focuses on who your target audience is. This includes criteria like session count, location, age, and so on. To increase the appeal of the form further, you can grant the visitor exclusive offers and discounts, such as e-books, infographics, entry to a contest, and white papers.

Test all kinds of offers to generate interest and get users‘ attention. Additionally, creating engaging videos, including surveys with qualifying questions, along with other strategies we’ve mentioned before, can help you improve your reach. These tactics can help you increase your customer base and grow your business in the long run.

Facebook’s powerful targeting capabilities will lock in higher quality leads as well that will be more likely to convert into new clients and customers.

About the Author

Nahla Davies is a software developer and tech writer. Before devoting her work full time to technical writing, she managed—among other intriguing things—to serve as a lead programmer at an Inc. 5,000 experiential branding organization whose clients include Samsung, Time Warner, Netflix, and Sony.

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Lindon Utah Foreclosure Lawyer

Lindon is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 10,070 at the 2010 census. In July 2018 it was estimated to be to 10,970 by the US Census Bureau. Lindon has an abundant cultural and historical background. Originally settled in 1861, Lindon began as pioneers moved into what was then the Lindon grazing land. The town was originally named “String Town” because of the way the houses were strung up and down the street between the towns of Orem and Pleasant Grove. An old linden tree (Tilia) growing in town in 1901 inspired the present (misspelled) name. Over the past century Lindon has seen organized development, but it has tried to remain true to its motto: “Lindon: a little bit of country”.

Short Sales vs. Deeds in Lieu of Foreclosure

If you’re having trouble making your mortgage payments and the loan holder (the bank) has denied your request for a repayment plan, forbearance, or loan modification or if you’re not interested in any of those options two other ways to avoid a foreclosure are completing a short sale or a deed in lieu of foreclosure. One benefit to these options is that that you won’t have a foreclosure on your credit history. But your credit score will still take a major hit. A short sale or deed in lieu of foreclosure is almost as bad as a foreclosure when it comes to credit scores. For some people, though, not having the stigma of a foreclosure on their record is worth the effort of working out one of these alternatives.

Short Sales

A short sale occurs when a homeowner sells his or her home to a third party for less than the total debt remaining on the mortgage loan. With a short sale, the bank agrees to accept the proceeds from the sale in exchange for releasing the lien on the property.

The bank’s loss mitigation department must approve the short sale before the transaction can be completed. (The process of finding a way to avoid foreclosure is called “loss mitigation.”) To get approval for a short sale, the seller (the homeowner) must contact the loan servicer—the company that manages the loan account—to ask for a loss mitigation application. The homeowner then must send the servicer a complete application, which usually includes: • a financial statement, in the form of a questionnaire, that provides detailed information regarding monthly income and expenses • proof of income, if applicable • most recent tax returns • bank statements (usually two recent statements for all accounts), and • a hardship affidavit or statement. • The purchase offer. A short sale application will also most likely require that you include an offer from a potential purchaser. Banks often insist that there be an offer on the table before they will consider a short sale, but not always.

• A second mortgage holder must agree to the short sale. If there is more than one mortgage on the property, both mortgage holders must consent to the short sale. The first mortgage holder will offer a certain amount from the short sale proceeds to second mortgage holder to release their lien, but the second mortgage holder can refuse to accept the amount and kill the deal.

Deficiency Judgments Following Short Sales

Many homeowners who complete a short sale will face a deficiency judgment, though a few states disallow them after this kind of transaction. The difference between the total debt and the sale price is called a “deficiency.” For example, say your bank gives you permission to sell your property for $200,000, but you owe $250,000. The deficiency is $50,000. In many states, the bank can seek a personal judgment against you after the short sale to recover the deficiency amount.

While many states have enacted legislation that prohibits a deficiency judgment following a foreclosure, most states do not have a corresponding law that would prevent a deficiency judgment following a short sale. How to avoid a deficiency with a short sale To ensure that the bank can’t get a deficiency judgment against you following a short sale, the short sale agreement must expressly state that the transaction is in full satisfaction of the debt and that the bank waives its right to the deficiency.

If the bank forgives some or all of the deficiency and issues you a IRS Form 1099-C, you might have to include the forgiven debt as taxable income. When It Might Be a Good Idea to Let a Foreclosure Happen and Other Issues to Consider

In some states, a bank can get a deficiency judgment against a homeowner as part of a foreclosure or thereafter by filing a separate lawsuit. In other states, state law prevents a bank from getting a deficiency judgment following a foreclosure. If the bank can’t get a deficiency judgment against you after a foreclosure, you might be better off letting a foreclosure happen rather than doing a short sale or deed in lieu of foreclosure that leaves you on the hook for a deficiency. For specific advice about what to do in your particular situation, talk to a local foreclosure attorney. Also, you should take into consideration how long it will take to get a new mortgage after a short sale or deed in lieu versus a foreclosure. Fannie Mae, for instance, will buy loans made two years after a short sale or deed in lieu if there are extenuating circumstances, like divorce, medical bills, or a job layoff that caused you economic difficulty, compared to a three-year wait after a foreclosure. (Without extenuating circumstances, the waiting period for a Fannie Mae loan is seven years after a foreclosure or four years after a short sale or deed in lieu.) On the other hand, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) treats foreclosures, short sales, and deeds in lieu the same, usually making its home loan insurance available after three years.

Deeds in Lieu of Foreclosure

Another way to avoid a foreclosure is by completing a deed in lieu of foreclosure. A deed in lieu of foreclosure is a transaction in which the homeowner voluntarily transfers title to the property to the bank in exchange for a release from the mortgage obligation. Generally, the bank will only approve a deed in lieu of foreclosure if there aren’t any other liens on the property.

You Might Want to Complete a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure

Because the difference in how a foreclosure or deed in lieu affects your credit is minimal, it might not be worth completing a deed in lieu unless the bank agrees to: • forgive or reduce the deficiency • give you some cash as part of the deal, or • give you some additional time to live in the home (longer than what you’d get if you let the foreclosure go through). Banks sometimes agree to these terms to avoid the expense and hassle of foreclosing. If you have a lot of equity in the property, however, a deed in lieu is usually not a good way to go. In most cases, you’ll be better off by selling the home and paying of the debt. If a foreclosure is imminent and you don’t have much time to sell, you might consider filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy with a plan to sell your property.

Just like with a short sale, the first step in obtaining a deed in lieu of foreclosure is for the borrower to contact the servicer and request a loss mitigation application. As with a short sale request, the application will need to be filled out and submitted along with documentation about income and expenses. The bank might require that you try to sell your home before it will consider accepting a deed in lieu, and require a copy of the listing agreement as proof that this has been done.

Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure Documents

If approved for a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the bank will send you documents to sign. You will receive: • a deed that transfers ownership of the property to the bank, and • an estoppel affidavit. (Sometimes there might be a separate deed in lieu agreement.) The estoppel affidavit sets out the terms of the agreement and will include a provision that you are acting freely and voluntarily. It might also include provisions addressing whether the transaction is in full satisfaction of the debt or whether the bank has the right to seek a deficiency judgment. Deficiency Judgments Following a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure With a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the deficiency amount is the difference between the fair market value of the property and the total debt. In most cases, completing a deed in lieu will release the borrowers from all obligations and liability under the mortgage, but not always.

Anti-deficiency laws

Most states don’t have a law that prevents a bank from obtaining a deficiency judgment following a deed in lieu of foreclosure. Washington, however, is one state that does prohibit a bank from getting a deficiency judgment after a deed in lieu. So, the bank might try to hold you liable for a deficiency following the transaction. If the bank wants to preserve its right to seek a deficiency judgment, it generally must clearly state in the transaction documents that a balance remains after the deed in lieu, and it must include the amount of the deficiency. How to avoid a deficiency with a deed in lieu of foreclosure To avoid a deficiency judgment with a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the agreement must expressly state that the transaction is in full satisfaction of the debt. If the deed in lieu of foreclosure agreement does not contain this provision, the bank might file a lawsuit to obtain a deficiency judgment. Again, you might have tax liability for any forgiven debt.

The process for completing a deed in lieu will vary somewhat depending on who your loan servicer is and who the lender (or current owner of your loan, called an “investor”) is. Generally, you’ll have to try to sell the property for at least 90 days at fair market value before the lender will consent to accepting a deed in lieu. Also, you usually must have clear title, which means there can’t be other liens on the property. You might have to provide details about your finances and show that the home won’t sell for what’s owed. As part of the deal, the homeowner usually agrees to vacate the home, leaving it in good (“broom swept”) condition, and sign over ownership to the lender. In some cases, the borrower will have to submit an affidavit indicating that the process was voluntary. In some cases, the lender will allow the homeowner to rent the home even after turning over the deed. Fannie Mae, for example, offers this option to borrowers who have Fannie Mae loans. Also, in some cases, the departing homeowner will receive relocation money after completing a deed in lieu.

Call A Foreclosure Lawyer

Some people think that completing a deed in lieu will cause less damage to their credit score than a foreclosure. But the difference in how a foreclosure or deed in lieu affects your credit is minimal. For this reason, it might not be worth doing a deed in lieu unless the lender agrees to forgive or reduce the deficiency, you get some cash as part of the deal, or you get some extra time to live in the home (longer than what you’d get if you let the foreclosure go through). In some cases, the lender will agree to one or more of these conditions to avoid the expense and hassle of foreclosing. Also, you should take into consideration how long it will take to get a new mortgage after a deed in lieu versus a foreclosure. Fannie Mae, for instance, will buy loans made two years after a deed in lieu if there are extenuating circumstances, like divorce, medical bills, or a job layoff that caused you economic difficulty, compared to a three-year wait after a foreclosure. (Without extenuating circumstances, the waiting period for a Fannie Mae loan is seven years after a foreclosure or four years after a deed in lieu.) On the other hand, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) treats foreclosures, short sales, and deeds in lieu the same, usually making its home loan insurance available after three years. If you have a lot of equity in the property, however, a deed in lieu is usually a poor choice. You’d be better off by selling the property and paying of the debt. If you don’t have a lot of time and a foreclosure is imminent, you might consider filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy with a plan to sell your home.

With a deed in lieu, the homeowner may negotiate what will happen to the deficiency, if one exists. Because a deed in lieu is a voluntary agreement between you and the lender, it’s possible to negotiate a deal in which: • the lender agrees not to pursue a deficiency judgment • you agree pay part of the deficiency, or • you agree to repay the deficit over time. Be aware that, if the lender forgives all or part of the deficiency, you might face tax consequences. Should You Let the Foreclosure Go Through? In some states, a bank can get a deficiency judgment against a homeowner as part of a foreclosure or thereafter by filing a separate lawsuit. In other states, an anti-deficiency law prevents a bank from getting a deficiency judgment following a foreclosure. If the bank can’t get a deficiency judgment against you after a foreclosure, you might be better off letting a foreclosure happen rather than agreeing to a deed in lieu of foreclosure that leaves you responsible for all or a portion of a deficiency. (For specific advice about what to do in your particular situation, talk to a local foreclosure attorney.)

If you’re considering completing a deed in lieu, consider talking to a lawyer. Many different foreclosure avoidance options exist, including loan modifications and short sales, and some options might be better than others, especially for specific situations. To find out if a deed in lieu might be right for you or to explore other possible options, contact a lawyer.

Avoiding a Deficiency Judgment

In some states, lenders have the right to sue borrowers for deficiencies after a foreclosure or a deed in lieu of foreclosure. A deficiency is the difference between the amount you owe on your mortgage loan and the price your lender gets for your home when it sells at a foreclosure sale. In other words, if you owe your mortgage lender $300,000 on your house and you default, and the foreclosure sale brings in just $250,000, the deficiency is $50,000. If permitted by state law, the lender can sue you for the $50,000 and get a deficiency judgment—even though it already took the house. With a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the deficiency is the difference between the total debt and the fair market value of the house. As part of the deed in lieu of foreclosure negotiations, you should get your lender to agree to release you from having to repay any deficiency, perhaps in exchange for your agreeing to deliver the house to your lender in good condition. Make sure to get the deficiency waiver in writing. Though, if the lender forgives all or part of the deficiency, you could face tax consequences.

Know Your Options

If you are a distressed homeowner who’s facing a foreclosure, knowing your options is very important. As soon as you realize that you’re in financial distress, call your servicer’s loss mitigation department to find out what alternatives to foreclosure—such as a refinance, loan modification, short sale, or deed in lieu of foreclosure—are available to you. (The servicer is the company that manages your loan account on behalf of the lender. Servicers process borrower payments, manage escrow accounts, and pursue foreclosure for defaulted loans.) You have nothing to lose by calling the servicer and the call might make a huge difference. You will typically be provided a packet of information and documents to complete. If you don’t understand the contents of any of these documents, ask for help, either from an attorney or a free HUD-certified housing counselor. While the foreclosure process can be scary, you have some choice in the matter.

Free Initial Consultation with Lawyer

It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. Legal problems come to everyone. Whether it’s your son who gets in a car wreck, your uncle who loses his job and needs to file for bankruptcy, your sister’s brother who’s getting divorced, or a grandparent that passes away without a will -all of us have legal issues and questions that arise. So when you have a law question, call Ascent Law for your free consultation (801) 676-5506. We want to help you!

Ascent Law LLC 8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite C West Jordan, Utah 84088 United States Telephone: (801) 676-5506

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Lindon Utah Foreclosure Lawyer

Lindon is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 10,070 at the 2010 census. In July 2018 it was estimated to be to 10,970 by the US Census Bureau. Lindon has an abundant cultural and historical background. Originally settled in 1861, Lindon began as pioneers moved into what was then the Lindon grazing land. The town was originally named “String Town” because of the way the houses were strung up and down the street between the towns of Orem and Pleasant Grove. An old linden tree (Tilia) growing in town in 1901 inspired the present (misspelled) name. Over the past century Lindon has seen organized development, but it has tried to remain true to its motto: “Lindon: a little bit of country”.

Short Sales vs. Deeds in Lieu of Foreclosure

If you’re having trouble making your mortgage payments and the loan holder (the bank) has denied your request for a repayment plan, forbearance, or loan modification or if you’re not interested in any of those options two other ways to avoid a foreclosure are completing a short sale or a deed in lieu of foreclosure. One benefit to these options is that that you won’t have a foreclosure on your credit history. But your credit score will still take a major hit. A short sale or deed in lieu of foreclosure is almost as bad as a foreclosure when it comes to credit scores. For some people, though, not having the stigma of a foreclosure on their record is worth the effort of working out one of these alternatives.

Short Sales

A short sale occurs when a homeowner sells his or her home to a third party for less than the total debt remaining on the mortgage loan. With a short sale, the bank agrees to accept the proceeds from the sale in exchange for releasing the lien on the property.

The bank’s loss mitigation department must approve the short sale before the transaction can be completed. (The process of finding a way to avoid foreclosure is called “loss mitigation.”) To get approval for a short sale, the seller (the homeowner) must contact the loan servicer—the company that manages the loan account—to ask for a loss mitigation application. The homeowner then must send the servicer a complete application, which usually includes: • a financial statement, in the form of a questionnaire, that provides detailed information regarding monthly income and expenses • proof of income, if applicable • most recent tax returns • bank statements (usually two recent statements for all accounts), and • a hardship affidavit or statement. • The purchase offer. A short sale application will also most likely require that you include an offer from a potential purchaser. Banks often insist that there be an offer on the table before they will consider a short sale, but not always.

• A second mortgage holder must agree to the short sale. If there is more than one mortgage on the property, both mortgage holders must consent to the short sale. The first mortgage holder will offer a certain amount from the short sale proceeds to second mortgage holder to release their lien, but the second mortgage holder can refuse to accept the amount and kill the deal.

Deficiency Judgments Following Short Sales

Many homeowners who complete a short sale will face a deficiency judgment, though a few states disallow them after this kind of transaction. The difference between the total debt and the sale price is called a “deficiency.” For example, say your bank gives you permission to sell your property for $200,000, but you owe $250,000. The deficiency is $50,000. In many states, the bank can seek a personal judgment against you after the short sale to recover the deficiency amount.

While many states have enacted legislation that prohibits a deficiency judgment following a foreclosure, most states do not have a corresponding law that would prevent a deficiency judgment following a short sale. How to avoid a deficiency with a short sale To ensure that the bank can’t get a deficiency judgment against you following a short sale, the short sale agreement must expressly state that the transaction is in full satisfaction of the debt and that the bank waives its right to the deficiency.

If the bank forgives some or all of the deficiency and issues you a IRS Form 1099-C, you might have to include the forgiven debt as taxable income. When It Might Be a Good Idea to Let a Foreclosure Happen and Other Issues to Consider

In some states, a bank can get a deficiency judgment against a homeowner as part of a foreclosure or thereafter by filing a separate lawsuit. In other states, state law prevents a bank from getting a deficiency judgment following a foreclosure. If the bank can’t get a deficiency judgment against you after a foreclosure, you might be better off letting a foreclosure happen rather than doing a short sale or deed in lieu of foreclosure that leaves you on the hook for a deficiency. For specific advice about what to do in your particular situation, talk to a local foreclosure attorney. Also, you should take into consideration how long it will take to get a new mortgage after a short sale or deed in lieu versus a foreclosure. Fannie Mae, for instance, will buy loans made two years after a short sale or deed in lieu if there are extenuating circumstances, like divorce, medical bills, or a job layoff that caused you economic difficulty, compared to a three-year wait after a foreclosure. (Without extenuating circumstances, the waiting period for a Fannie Mae loan is seven years after a foreclosure or four years after a short sale or deed in lieu.) On the other hand, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) treats foreclosures, short sales, and deeds in lieu the same, usually making its home loan insurance available after three years.

Deeds in Lieu of Foreclosure

Another way to avoid a foreclosure is by completing a deed in lieu of foreclosure. A deed in lieu of foreclosure is a transaction in which the homeowner voluntarily transfers title to the property to the bank in exchange for a release from the mortgage obligation. Generally, the bank will only approve a deed in lieu of foreclosure if there aren’t any other liens on the property.

You Might Want to Complete a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure

Because the difference in how a foreclosure or deed in lieu affects your credit is minimal, it might not be worth completing a deed in lieu unless the bank agrees to: • forgive or reduce the deficiency • give you some cash as part of the deal, or • give you some additional time to live in the home (longer than what you’d get if you let the foreclosure go through). Banks sometimes agree to these terms to avoid the expense and hassle of foreclosing. If you have a lot of equity in the property, however, a deed in lieu is usually not a good way to go. In most cases, you’ll be better off by selling the home and paying of the debt. If a foreclosure is imminent and you don’t have much time to sell, you might consider filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy with a plan to sell your property.

Just like with a short sale, the first step in obtaining a deed in lieu of foreclosure is for the borrower to contact the servicer and request a loss mitigation application. As with a short sale request, the application will need to be filled out and submitted along with documentation about income and expenses. The bank might require that you try to sell your home before it will consider accepting a deed in lieu, and require a copy of the listing agreement as proof that this has been done.

Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure Documents

If approved for a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the bank will send you documents to sign. You will receive: • a deed that transfers ownership of the property to the bank, and • an estoppel affidavit. (Sometimes there might be a separate deed in lieu agreement.) The estoppel affidavit sets out the terms of the agreement and will include a provision that you are acting freely and voluntarily. It might also include provisions addressing whether the transaction is in full satisfaction of the debt or whether the bank has the right to seek a deficiency judgment. Deficiency Judgments Following a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure With a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the deficiency amount is the difference between the fair market value of the property and the total debt. In most cases, completing a deed in lieu will release the borrowers from all obligations and liability under the mortgage, but not always.

Anti-deficiency laws

Most states don’t have a law that prevents a bank from obtaining a deficiency judgment following a deed in lieu of foreclosure. Washington, however, is one state that does prohibit a bank from getting a deficiency judgment after a deed in lieu. So, the bank might try to hold you liable for a deficiency following the transaction. If the bank wants to preserve its right to seek a deficiency judgment, it generally must clearly state in the transaction documents that a balance remains after the deed in lieu, and it must include the amount of the deficiency. How to avoid a deficiency with a deed in lieu of foreclosure To avoid a deficiency judgment with a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the agreement must expressly state that the transaction is in full satisfaction of the debt. If the deed in lieu of foreclosure agreement does not contain this provision, the bank might file a lawsuit to obtain a deficiency judgment. Again, you might have tax liability for any forgiven debt.

The process for completing a deed in lieu will vary somewhat depending on who your loan servicer is and who the lender (or current owner of your loan, called an “investor”) is. Generally, you’ll have to try to sell the property for at least 90 days at fair market value before the lender will consent to accepting a deed in lieu. Also, you usually must have clear title, which means there can’t be other liens on the property. You might have to provide details about your finances and show that the home won’t sell for what’s owed. As part of the deal, the homeowner usually agrees to vacate the home, leaving it in good (“broom swept”) condition, and sign over ownership to the lender. In some cases, the borrower will have to submit an affidavit indicating that the process was voluntary. In some cases, the lender will allow the homeowner to rent the home even after turning over the deed. Fannie Mae, for example, offers this option to borrowers who have Fannie Mae loans. Also, in some cases, the departing homeowner will receive relocation money after completing a deed in lieu.

Call A Foreclosure Lawyer

Some people think that completing a deed in lieu will cause less damage to their credit score than a foreclosure. But the difference in how a foreclosure or deed in lieu affects your credit is minimal. For this reason, it might not be worth doing a deed in lieu unless the lender agrees to forgive or reduce the deficiency, you get some cash as part of the deal, or you get some extra time to live in the home (longer than what you’d get if you let the foreclosure go through). In some cases, the lender will agree to one or more of these conditions to avoid the expense and hassle of foreclosing. Also, you should take into consideration how long it will take to get a new mortgage after a deed in lieu versus a foreclosure. Fannie Mae, for instance, will buy loans made two years after a deed in lieu if there are extenuating circumstances, like divorce, medical bills, or a job layoff that caused you economic difficulty, compared to a three-year wait after a foreclosure. (Without extenuating circumstances, the waiting period for a Fannie Mae loan is seven years after a foreclosure or four years after a deed in lieu.) On the other hand, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) treats foreclosures, short sales, and deeds in lieu the same, usually making its home loan insurance available after three years. If you have a lot of equity in the property, however, a deed in lieu is usually a poor choice. You’d be better off by selling the property and paying of the debt. If you don’t have a lot of time and a foreclosure is imminent, you might consider filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy with a plan to sell your home.

With a deed in lieu, the homeowner may negotiate what will happen to the deficiency, if one exists. Because a deed in lieu is a voluntary agreement between you and the lender, it’s possible to negotiate a deal in which: • the lender agrees not to pursue a deficiency judgment • you agree pay part of the deficiency, or • you agree to repay the deficit over time. Be aware that, if the lender forgives all or part of the deficiency, you might face tax consequences. Should You Let the Foreclosure Go Through? In some states, a bank can get a deficiency judgment against a homeowner as part of a foreclosure or thereafter by filing a separate lawsuit. In other states, an anti-deficiency law prevents a bank from getting a deficiency judgment following a foreclosure. If the bank can’t get a deficiency judgment against you after a foreclosure, you might be better off letting a foreclosure happen rather than agreeing to a deed in lieu of foreclosure that leaves you responsible for all or a portion of a deficiency. (For specific advice about what to do in your particular situation, talk to a local foreclosure attorney.)

If you’re considering completing a deed in lieu, consider talking to a lawyer. Many different foreclosure avoidance options exist, including loan modifications and short sales, and some options might be better than others, especially for specific situations. To find out if a deed in lieu might be right for you or to explore other possible options, contact a lawyer.

Avoiding a Deficiency Judgment

In some states, lenders have the right to sue borrowers for deficiencies after a foreclosure or a deed in lieu of foreclosure. A deficiency is the difference between the amount you owe on your mortgage loan and the price your lender gets for your home when it sells at a foreclosure sale. In other words, if you owe your mortgage lender $300,000 on your house and you default, and the foreclosure sale brings in just $250,000, the deficiency is $50,000. If permitted by state law, the lender can sue you for the $50,000 and get a deficiency judgment—even though it already took the house. With a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the deficiency is the difference between the total debt and the fair market value of the house. As part of the deed in lieu of foreclosure negotiations, you should get your lender to agree to release you from having to repay any deficiency, perhaps in exchange for your agreeing to deliver the house to your lender in good condition. Make sure to get the deficiency waiver in writing. Though, if the lender forgives all or part of the deficiency, you could face tax consequences.

Know Your Options

If you are a distressed homeowner who’s facing a foreclosure, knowing your options is very important. As soon as you realize that you’re in financial distress, call your servicer’s loss mitigation department to find out what alternatives to foreclosure—such as a refinance, loan modification, short sale, or deed in lieu of foreclosure—are available to you. (The servicer is the company that manages your loan account on behalf of the lender. Servicers process borrower payments, manage escrow accounts, and pursue foreclosure for defaulted loans.) You have nothing to lose by calling the servicer and the call might make a huge difference. You will typically be provided a packet of information and documents to complete. If you don’t understand the contents of any of these documents, ask for help, either from an attorney or a free HUD-certified housing counselor. While the foreclosure process can be scary, you have some choice in the matter.

Free Initial Consultation with Lawyer

It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. Legal problems come to everyone. Whether it’s your son who gets in a car wreck, your uncle who loses his job and needs to file for bankruptcy, your sister’s brother who’s getting divorced, or a grandparent that passes away without a will -all of us have legal issues and questions that arise. So when you have a law question, call Ascent Law for your free consultation (801) 676-5506. We want to help you!

Ascent Law LLC 8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite C West Jordan, Utah 84088 United States Telephone: (801) 676-5506

Ascent Law LLC

4.9 stars – based on 67 reviews

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The post Lindon Utah Foreclosure Lawyer first appeared on Michael Anderson.

Source: https://www.ascentlawfirm.com/lindon-utah-foreclosure-lawyer/

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Lindon Utah Foreclosure Lawyer

Lindon is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 10,070 at the 2010 census. In July 2018 it was estimated to be to 10,970 by the US Census Bureau. Lindon has an abundant cultural and historical background. Originally settled in 1861, Lindon began as pioneers moved into what was then the Lindon grazing land. The town was originally named “String Town” because of the way the houses were strung up and down the street between the towns of Orem and Pleasant Grove. An old linden tree (Tilia) growing in town in 1901 inspired the present (misspelled) name. Over the past century Lindon has seen organized development, but it has tried to remain true to its motto: “Lindon: a little bit of country”.

Short Sales vs. Deeds in Lieu of Foreclosure

If you’re having trouble making your mortgage payments and the loan holder (the bank) has denied your request for a repayment plan, forbearance, or loan modification or if you’re not interested in any of those options two other ways to avoid a foreclosure are completing a short sale or a deed in lieu of foreclosure. One benefit to these options is that that you won’t have a foreclosure on your credit history. But your credit score will still take a major hit. A short sale or deed in lieu of foreclosure is almost as bad as a foreclosure when it comes to credit scores. For some people, though, not having the stigma of a foreclosure on their record is worth the effort of working out one of these alternatives.

Short Sales

A short sale occurs when a homeowner sells his or her home to a third party for less than the total debt remaining on the mortgage loan. With a short sale, the bank agrees to accept the proceeds from the sale in exchange for releasing the lien on the property.

The bank’s loss mitigation department must approve the short sale before the transaction can be completed. (The process of finding a way to avoid foreclosure is called “loss mitigation.”) To get approval for a short sale, the seller (the homeowner) must contact the loan servicer—the company that manages the loan account—to ask for a loss mitigation application. The homeowner then must send the servicer a complete application, which usually includes: • a financial statement, in the form of a questionnaire, that provides detailed information regarding monthly income and expenses • proof of income, if applicable • most recent tax returns • bank statements (usually two recent statements for all accounts), and • a hardship affidavit or statement. • The purchase offer. A short sale application will also most likely require that you include an offer from a potential purchaser. Banks often insist that there be an offer on the table before they will consider a short sale, but not always.

• A second mortgage holder must agree to the short sale. If there is more than one mortgage on the property, both mortgage holders must consent to the short sale. The first mortgage holder will offer a certain amount from the short sale proceeds to second mortgage holder to release their lien, but the second mortgage holder can refuse to accept the amount and kill the deal.

Deficiency Judgments Following Short Sales

Many homeowners who complete a short sale will face a deficiency judgment, though a few states disallow them after this kind of transaction. The difference between the total debt and the sale price is called a “deficiency.” For example, say your bank gives you permission to sell your property for $200,000, but you owe $250,000. The deficiency is $50,000. In many states, the bank can seek a personal judgment against you after the short sale to recover the deficiency amount.

While many states have enacted legislation that prohibits a deficiency judgment following a foreclosure, most states do not have a corresponding law that would prevent a deficiency judgment following a short sale. How to avoid a deficiency with a short sale To ensure that the bank can’t get a deficiency judgment against you following a short sale, the short sale agreement must expressly state that the transaction is in full satisfaction of the debt and that the bank waives its right to the deficiency.

If the bank forgives some or all of the deficiency and issues you a IRS Form 1099-C, you might have to include the forgiven debt as taxable income. When It Might Be a Good Idea to Let a Foreclosure Happen and Other Issues to Consider

In some states, a bank can get a deficiency judgment against a homeowner as part of a foreclosure or thereafter by filing a separate lawsuit. In other states, state law prevents a bank from getting a deficiency judgment following a foreclosure. If the bank can’t get a deficiency judgment against you after a foreclosure, you might be better off letting a foreclosure happen rather than doing a short sale or deed in lieu of foreclosure that leaves you on the hook for a deficiency. For specific advice about what to do in your particular situation, talk to a local foreclosure attorney. Also, you should take into consideration how long it will take to get a new mortgage after a short sale or deed in lieu versus a foreclosure. Fannie Mae, for instance, will buy loans made two years after a short sale or deed in lieu if there are extenuating circumstances, like divorce, medical bills, or a job layoff that caused you economic difficulty, compared to a three-year wait after a foreclosure. (Without extenuating circumstances, the waiting period for a Fannie Mae loan is seven years after a foreclosure or four years after a short sale or deed in lieu.) On the other hand, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) treats foreclosures, short sales, and deeds in lieu the same, usually making its home loan insurance available after three years.

Deeds in Lieu of Foreclosure

Another way to avoid a foreclosure is by completing a deed in lieu of foreclosure. A deed in lieu of foreclosure is a transaction in which the homeowner voluntarily transfers title to the property to the bank in exchange for a release from the mortgage obligation. Generally, the bank will only approve a deed in lieu of foreclosure if there aren’t any other liens on the property.

You Might Want to Complete a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure

Because the difference in how a foreclosure or deed in lieu affects your credit is minimal, it might not be worth completing a deed in lieu unless the bank agrees to: • forgive or reduce the deficiency • give you some cash as part of the deal, or • give you some additional time to live in the home (longer than what you’d get if you let the foreclosure go through). Banks sometimes agree to these terms to avoid the expense and hassle of foreclosing. If you have a lot of equity in the property, however, a deed in lieu is usually not a good way to go. In most cases, you’ll be better off by selling the home and paying of the debt. If a foreclosure is imminent and you don’t have much time to sell, you might consider filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy with a plan to sell your property.

Just like with a short sale, the first step in obtaining a deed in lieu of foreclosure is for the borrower to contact the servicer and request a loss mitigation application. As with a short sale request, the application will need to be filled out and submitted along with documentation about income and expenses. The bank might require that you try to sell your home before it will consider accepting a deed in lieu, and require a copy of the listing agreement as proof that this has been done.

Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure Documents

If approved for a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the bank will send you documents to sign. You will receive: • a deed that transfers ownership of the property to the bank, and • an estoppel affidavit. (Sometimes there might be a separate deed in lieu agreement.) The estoppel affidavit sets out the terms of the agreement and will include a provision that you are acting freely and voluntarily. It might also include provisions addressing whether the transaction is in full satisfaction of the debt or whether the bank has the right to seek a deficiency judgment. Deficiency Judgments Following a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure With a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the deficiency amount is the difference between the fair market value of the property and the total debt. In most cases, completing a deed in lieu will release the borrowers from all obligations and liability under the mortgage, but not always.

Anti-deficiency laws

Most states don’t have a law that prevents a bank from obtaining a deficiency judgment following a deed in lieu of foreclosure. Washington, however, is one state that does prohibit a bank from getting a deficiency judgment after a deed in lieu. So, the bank might try to hold you liable for a deficiency following the transaction. If the bank wants to preserve its right to seek a deficiency judgment, it generally must clearly state in the transaction documents that a balance remains after the deed in lieu, and it must include the amount of the deficiency. How to avoid a deficiency with a deed in lieu of foreclosure To avoid a deficiency judgment with a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the agreement must expressly state that the transaction is in full satisfaction of the debt. If the deed in lieu of foreclosure agreement does not contain this provision, the bank might file a lawsuit to obtain a deficiency judgment. Again, you might have tax liability for any forgiven debt.

The process for completing a deed in lieu will vary somewhat depending on who your loan servicer is and who the lender (or current owner of your loan, called an “investor”) is. Generally, you’ll have to try to sell the property for at least 90 days at fair market value before the lender will consent to accepting a deed in lieu. Also, you usually must have clear title, which means there can’t be other liens on the property. You might have to provide details about your finances and show that the home won’t sell for what’s owed. As part of the deal, the homeowner usually agrees to vacate the home, leaving it in good (“broom swept”) condition, and sign over ownership to the lender. In some cases, the borrower will have to submit an affidavit indicating that the process was voluntary. In some cases, the lender will allow the homeowner to rent the home even after turning over the deed. Fannie Mae, for example, offers this option to borrowers who have Fannie Mae loans. Also, in some cases, the departing homeowner will receive relocation money after completing a deed in lieu.

Call A Foreclosure Lawyer

Some people think that completing a deed in lieu will cause less damage to their credit score than a foreclosure. But the difference in how a foreclosure or deed in lieu affects your credit is minimal. For this reason, it might not be worth doing a deed in lieu unless the lender agrees to forgive or reduce the deficiency, you get some cash as part of the deal, or you get some extra time to live in the home (longer than what you’d get if you let the foreclosure go through). In some cases, the lender will agree to one or more of these conditions to avoid the expense and hassle of foreclosing. Also, you should take into consideration how long it will take to get a new mortgage after a deed in lieu versus a foreclosure. Fannie Mae, for instance, will buy loans made two years after a deed in lieu if there are extenuating circumstances, like divorce, medical bills, or a job layoff that caused you economic difficulty, compared to a three-year wait after a foreclosure. (Without extenuating circumstances, the waiting period for a Fannie Mae loan is seven years after a foreclosure or four years after a deed in lieu.) On the other hand, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) treats foreclosures, short sales, and deeds in lieu the same, usually making its home loan insurance available after three years. If you have a lot of equity in the property, however, a deed in lieu is usually a poor choice. You’d be better off by selling the property and paying of the debt. If you don’t have a lot of time and a foreclosure is imminent, you might consider filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy with a plan to sell your home.

With a deed in lieu, the homeowner may negotiate what will happen to the deficiency, if one exists. Because a deed in lieu is a voluntary agreement between you and the lender, it’s possible to negotiate a deal in which: • the lender agrees not to pursue a deficiency judgment • you agree pay part of the deficiency, or • you agree to repay the deficit over time. Be aware that, if the lender forgives all or part of the deficiency, you might face tax consequences. Should You Let the Foreclosure Go Through? In some states, a bank can get a deficiency judgment against a homeowner as part of a foreclosure or thereafter by filing a separate lawsuit. In other states, an anti-deficiency law prevents a bank from getting a deficiency judgment following a foreclosure. If the bank can’t get a deficiency judgment against you after a foreclosure, you might be better off letting a foreclosure happen rather than agreeing to a deed in lieu of foreclosure that leaves you responsible for all or a portion of a deficiency. (For specific advice about what to do in your particular situation, talk to a local foreclosure attorney.)

If you’re considering completing a deed in lieu, consider talking to a lawyer. Many different foreclosure avoidance options exist, including loan modifications and short sales, and some options might be better than others, especially for specific situations. To find out if a deed in lieu might be right for you or to explore other possible options, contact a lawyer.

Avoiding a Deficiency Judgment

In some states, lenders have the right to sue borrowers for deficiencies after a foreclosure or a deed in lieu of foreclosure. A deficiency is the difference between the amount you owe on your mortgage loan and the price your lender gets for your home when it sells at a foreclosure sale. In other words, if you owe your mortgage lender $300,000 on your house and you default, and the foreclosure sale brings in just $250,000, the deficiency is $50,000. If permitted by state law, the lender can sue you for the $50,000 and get a deficiency judgment—even though it already took the house. With a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the deficiency is the difference between the total debt and the fair market value of the house. As part of the deed in lieu of foreclosure negotiations, you should get your lender to agree to release you from having to repay any deficiency, perhaps in exchange for your agreeing to deliver the house to your lender in good condition. Make sure to get the deficiency waiver in writing. Though, if the lender forgives all or part of the deficiency, you could face tax consequences.

Know Your Options

If you are a distressed homeowner who’s facing a foreclosure, knowing your options is very important. As soon as you realize that you’re in financial distress, call your servicer’s loss mitigation department to find out what alternatives to foreclosure—such as a refinance, loan modification, short sale, or deed in lieu of foreclosure—are available to you. (The servicer is the company that manages your loan account on behalf of the lender. Servicers process borrower payments, manage escrow accounts, and pursue foreclosure for defaulted loans.) You have nothing to lose by calling the servicer and the call might make a huge difference. You will typically be provided a packet of information and documents to complete. If you don’t understand the contents of any of these documents, ask for help, either from an attorney or a free HUD-certified housing counselor. While the foreclosure process can be scary, you have some choice in the matter.

Free Initial Consultation with Lawyer

It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. Legal problems come to everyone. Whether it’s your son who gets in a car wreck, your uncle who loses his job and needs to file for bankruptcy, your sister’s brother who’s getting divorced, or a grandparent that passes away without a will -all of us have legal issues and questions that arise. So when you have a law question, call Ascent Law for your free consultation (801) 676-5506. We want to help you!

Ascent Law LLC 8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite C West Jordan, Utah 84088 United States Telephone: (801) 676-5506

Ascent Law LLC

4.9 stars – based on 67 reviews

Recent Posts

Utah Divorce Code 30-3-34

HIPPA Law Lawyers

Payments On Taxes

Staying Safe In Wildfire Season

Wage Garnishment Law

Utah Divorce Code 30-3-34.5

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