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cdntrustee · 2 years

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MORTGAGE FRAUD IN CANADA: CANADIAN BANKRUPTCY CAN'T RELEASE YOU FROM A CORRUPT DEBT YOU CREATED

MORTGAGE FRAUD IN CANADA: CANADIAN BANKRUPTCY CAN’T RELEASE YOU FROM A CORRUPT DEBT YOU CREATED

Mortgage fraud: What everyone needs to know There are 2 kinds of mortgage fraud. One is usually associated with identity theft. Someone steals your identity and has enough of your personal information to make a mortgage loan application and get approved for a mortgage loan registered against your property. They take the money and don’t make any mortgage payments. The mortgage quickly goes into…

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myspcae · 8 months

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Exploring the Compelling Advantages of Investing in Physical Gold Bars and Coins

Gold holds its position as the supreme choice among precious metals for investment in India. This preference is anchored in the enduring allure and prestige of this precious metal, reinforced by its exceptional liquidity and its role as a safeguard against inflation. Gold has unquestionably earned its reputation as one of the most highly sought-after investment options available. Its versatility, spanning from exquisite jewelry to coins, bars, gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs), gold funds, and sovereign gold bond schemes, underscores its universal appeal and adaptability as a potent investment avenue.

Irrespective of one's income level, the magnetism of physical gold remains robust as a secure and potentially lucrative asset that warrants thoughtful consideration for investment. When it comes to purchasing or selling gold, you can rely on reputable gold buyers and sellers in Kolkata, such as Rahul Refinery.

Protection Against Inflation Risk

In the expansive economic landscape of India, the specter of long-term inflation casts a formidable shadow over cash-based investments. To guard against this risk, allocating a portion of savings to gold can serve as an effective countermeasure. A meticulous examination of gold's consistent outperformance of inflation rates over time, accessible through online platforms, provides concrete evidence of its effectiveness as an inflation hedge.

Securing Future Savings

Strategically earmarking a portion of one's regular income for future needs remains a pivotal financial endeavor. Unlike other investment avenues like real estate or fixed deposits, channeling resources into physical gold promises enduring and stable returns over time. Opting for NABL-certified and quality-guaranteed gold coins not only ensures a prudent investment choice but also bolsters confidence in its authenticity.

Convenience in Transactions

The appeal of investing in gold bars and coins is further accentuated by the convenience of procurement through platforms like Rahul Refinery. Online avenues provide access to NABL-certified products, complete with comprehensive documentation for future reference. Additionally, the ease of selling gold through local traders during periods of favorable prices underscores the fluidity of such investments.

Minimal Maintenance Requirements

One distinctive facet of gold investment lies in its remarkably low-maintenance nature over the years. This sets it apart from other investment vehicles that demand ongoing upkeep. Gold can be securely stored within a locker for extended periods without necessitating regular attention, amplifying its allure.

Price Stability and Resilience

Historical data underscores the intrinsic resilience of gold prices. Instances of prolonged price declines are overshadowed by robust rebounds, particularly during times of financial upheaval. This phenomenon underscores gold's reputation as a haven, contributing to its long-term price stability.

Seamlessly Passing on Generational Wealth

Gold investments are imbued with a rich tradition in India - that of passing on wealth to successive generations. This cherished practice, which often manifests during significant life events such as weddings, underscores gold's enduring legacy as a treasured asset.

Collateral for Loans

Physical gold assets hold inherent liquidity, making them a viable collateral option for securing prompt loans from reputable banks and financial institutions.

Diversification for Balanced Portfolios

Despite the allure of returns presented by stock markets and real estate, they are accompanied by substantial long-term risks. Integrating gold into an investment portfolio can effectively diversify risk, leveraging its tendency for more stable rates.

Assurance of Secure Investments

Comparative analysis of historical rates highlights the enduring security gold investments offer for the future. Their ability to maintain value in the market over extended periods serves as a testament to their reliability.

Long-term Value Preservation

Unlike other assets subject to depreciation over time, gold assets stand resolute. Their value remains impervious to the ravages of age, ensuring favorable returns and long-term financial security.

For those seeking to invest, personalized gold and silver coins from trusted gold and silver sellers like Rahul Refinery promise transparency, substantiated by NABL certifications and other industry accreditations. Leveraging cutting-edge Swiss technology, our products epitomize excellence. Embark on the journey of acquiring customized coins for personal or corporate purposes by initiating your order with us.

#gold buyer #gold seller #sliver of straw #gold

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mfi-miami · 11 months

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Former Lawyer And Bank Director Faces 125 Years In Prison

Former Lawyer And Bank Director Mendel Zilberberg Faces 125 Years In Prison For $1.5 Million Straw Deal Scam Mendel Zilberberg A former lawyer who ran a Manhattan bank faces 125 years in federal prison. A federal jury convicted Mendel Zilberberg for engaging a straw buyer for a $1.5 million fraudulent loan scam. The scam led to the collapse of Park Avenue Bank. The jurors convicted…

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#bank fraud #banking #banks #debt #foreclosures #lending fraud #liens #Mendel Zilberberg #mendel zilberberg guilty #mortgage fraud #mortgages #New York lawyers #real estate #straw buyer fraud #Straw buyers #straw deal scam #straw deal schemes #straw deals

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andromedism · 2 months

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eventual iasip plotline where mac and dennis decide to move out on their own - they’re in their late 40s, they’ve been living together for over two decades, they both blame each other for how little progress they’ve made toward their life goals (or maybe mac just put a red sock in the wash with dennis’ white shirts, and that’s the final straw). whatever the case, they both want out.

they need to find two suckers to take over their lease, but how? it’s impossible to find a good realtor in south philly…

enter vic vinegar and hugh honey.

each time mac and dennis show the apartment, something goes wrong, something breaks - a light fixture falls from the ceiling, mac’s room is completely made up of inflatable furniture (turns out he never got rid of it all from the “inflates”scheme), dennis’ spooky escape room mechanism goes off. vic and hugh try to make up for the chaos by being charming; holding hands, telling personal anecdotes, trying to woo prospective buyers with their rich gay lore.

and in the process, somehow, impossibly, dennis falls back in love with spending time with mac; playing pretend with him; scheming with him. and mac, who has all but given up on his pursuit of dennis, is clueless.

until the final scene of the episode when, in a last ditch desperate effort to lock in some new tenants, dennis grabs mac by the cheeks and kisses him so hard he nearly breaks his nose.

partners in real estate, and as of season 17, partners in life.

#thank u to the two people who read my posts for letting me get that out of my system #macdennis #mac mcdonald #dennis reynolds #it’s always sunny #iasip #iasip s17 #it’s always sunny in philadelphia

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askagamedev · 9 months

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About Unity these past few days

A lot of people have asked me about Unity and their strange new per-install charges policy that they rolled out on September 12th, 2023. I wanted to give them at least 24 hours before I posted my take on it - let the dust settle a bit so I could get a chance to read the new policy properly and all that. First, however, I think we need to take a step back and get a wider perspective. Unity Software Inc. is in some serious financial trouble. Here are their operating numbers from 2019 to 2023.

The blue line here is how much money they take in and the red line is the amount of money they are spending each year. You may notice that they are spending significantly more money year over year than they earn. In fact, over the past 12 months alone (August 2022 to August 2023), Unity Software Inc. has lost almost $1 billion.

In 2022, Unity spent four times as much money as they did in 2019. If they had managed to keep costs at double their spending in 2019, they still would have earned $243 million in profit. Instead, they lost $882 million in 2022.

Where does all of this cost come from? In any software company like Unity, the vast vast majority of costs comes from employee salaries. And we can directly see it in Unity's number of employees:

Unity Software Inc. more than tripled its headcount from 2019 to 2022, and it did all of this hiring during the pandemic while competing with many many other developers all trying to hire from the same pool. I don't work for Unity, but I was in the market and I had lots of recruiters trying to recruit me during that time.

In short, Unity is suffering from the same miscalculation that Embracer Group did, that EA did, that Activision-Blizzard did, that Square-Enix did, and just about everybody else in the tech industry - they misjudged the good times at the beginning of the pandemic, overspent hiring people thinking the good times would last, and are now scrambling to figure out how to survive. The difference is that Unity was getting all of their operating money from Venture Capitalists (VCs) hoping that they would eventually become profitable, but VC money has all but dried up because it's become much more expensive to borrow money over the past two years.

As a result, the Unity executives are likely grasping at straws in hopes of saving a sinking ship. This wild and decidedly senseless pricing plan is their (seemingly-desperate) attempt to juice their revenues. It really makes very little sense from the developer perspective, which is what makes the whole thing reek of desperation. That isn't greed talking, it's survival. My guess is that Unity is currently desperately looking for a buyer to save them and doing whatever they can to buy themselves some more runway. They already announced layoffs back in May, but I suspect they'll probably have to announce some really big layoffs (e.g. 40-50%) soon. Unity Software Inc. is living on borrowed time and they know it.

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#the business of video games #unity 3d #business business business #where the money goes #financial things

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friendlylocalwhumper · 2 months

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“This one… was difficult. Quick to obey, if you make the consequences for failure clear. But not eager. For example…”

A single fingertip starts at the nape of his neck, trailing down his spine. Muscles twitch under the thick scarring across Major’s back as he instinctively flinches down and only manages to wrench his arms farther up. Kept on his knees, thighs pressed tightly to his ribcage, head hanging and arms forced high behind his back to keep him locked in this position that makes his body feel like it’s on fire… the once-proud healer whines breathlessly. Defeated, he allows the touch to slide back up toward his shoulders and push down until he wheezes faintly. Chains clink somewhere overhead with his tremors.

“Ah, I see,” Says the new person. A buyer? Some freak who wants a pet? Major has no idea. No one tells him anything here. He doesn’t get to know anything here. Barely gets to earn one more day of being alive, with every act of obedience. “He’s not leaning into it, is he? Could you get him there?”

Tears well up in Major’s eyes and threaten to drip to the floor. He’s not fucking crying, he just… doesn’t want to fucking imagine how he could end up. What he could be trained to act like.

The trailing fingers are replaced by a wide, warm hand across the back of his neck. Despite how it makes his arms creak and twitch, Major cowers down to press his knees harder into his ribs, breaths coming shallower with every futile attempt to escape the crushing warmth. As fingers slide up into his hair, burrowing under bleached straw to find the softer, grown out brown waves against his scalp, Major tries to rise before he can be yanked upward. The chain linked to his iron collar clinks in protest, but relief washes over him anyway as the owner of the hand hums in approval.

“We could get him there.”

taglist: @morning-star-whump, @lthrboy, @apokolyps, @paperprinxe

#whump #drabble #mine #captivity #torture #stress position #conditioning #slavery tw #dehumanization #major #major is a really shitty guy but i don't think he deserves THIS

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treefory · 3 months

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Wambus’s find

801 words

The setting sun’s warm light lit up wambus’s small garden. He dusted off the dirt on his paws as he had just finished planting his last seedling. He stood up straight and stretched his back.

Soon his eyes laid on his neighbor, Gramble, who was tending to his “little ones”. When the other grumpus noticed the other, he scoffed at him and went back to putting a hat on a plump red strabby.

“Typical Gramble…” wambus said to himself. It was strange having your only sauce buyer hate you, And it was awkward having him ask for more sauce after an argument. Honestly it was getting tiring fighting all the time. Triffany just wanted them to make up already, maybe that was one of the reasons she wasn’t around as often.

But just because his yard work was done doesn’t mean he was done working for the day. He had left behind some equipment in garden grove when he moved back to town. It wasn’t anything too important but it would be nice to have them back.

— — —

Back at his old garden everything had been torn up. His scarecrow version of himself had been knocked down and sauce plants trampled. Tough upset, Wambus said nothing and just chewed his straw. It wasn’t even what he was here for anyways.

Behind his pen, hidden in the bushes was an old shovel. Sure it was just a shovel, but he would’ve hated to lose it. After he had it in his paw he dusted it off and turned back around. But when he did he saw the bush next to his garden move.

“Probably just a shishkabug, But they never come up here.” He mumbled to himself. “Doesn’t matter. I guess I could eat.” He put down the shovel and stood over the bush. He watched for any sign of the snak coming out. Without his net he’d have to be fast and strike at the slightest movement

When the snak poked its head out Wambus leaned over the bush and struck-

“Strabby! S-st-Strabby!”

“What in tarnation?” Wambus said as he held up the white strabby as It wiggled and squirmed in his paws “you ain’t no darn shishkabug!”

The two stared at each other “well I haven’t had a white strabby in a while .” He shrugged as he opened his mouth to swallow it whole.

“Oh wamby, when will you and Gramble make up?” Triffany’s words echoed in his head.

he stopped and looked at the strabby in front of him. “Hmf, I don’t think Gramble has a white strabby yet. I guess you could be a gift of sorts. Maybe put us on better terms.”

“Strabby…”

Wambus stuffed the strabby under his hat. “Hush.” He picked up his shovel and made his way back to snaxburg.

— — —

By the time he got back to town the sun had finished setting and everyone was asleep. He stood on the cliff that sat over Snaxburg. “Guess yer goin’ off s the donation box.” He said as he fixed his hat. “Would’ve liked to give it to em in person.”

He made his way down to his house when his eyes caught a familiar orange grumpus sneaking around Gramble’s barn. “Gramble should be asleep by now…” she whispered

“Is he now?” Wambus said gruffly

“OH DARLING!” Wiggle yelped as she turned to face him “oh it’s just you wambus…”

“Mhm… why you up this late?”

“Oh uhhh… just saying good night to my muse. So why are YOU up this late???”

He gestured to the shovel in his paw “Bringn’ some equipment back home,” then pulled the white strabby from his hat. “n’ leavin’ a donation.”

Wiggle gasped “a donation?! I thought you hated Gramble and his delectable snaks!”

Wambus shrugged “Tryin’ to hate him less n’ I think Triffany would like it.” He walked over to the donation box “Night.”

“WAIT!!” Wiggle called out

Wambus pulled the strabby away from the box. “There a problem?”

“Uh… yes. I think Gramble would like it if it was given to him in person! Hand me that delicious strabby and I’ll give it to him. I’ll be sure to tell him it was from you.” She said with a wide smile

“Alright,” he handed her the snak “as long as it gets to him, I don’t mind”

“Trust me Wambus, you're doing the right thing!” She said as she stared at quivering snak, she licked her lips as she did.

And with that wambus made his way back to his hut. He dropped the shovel off we’re he kept the rest of his supplies, took off his hat and vest then laid down in bed. He wrapped his arms around Triffany who was already fast asleep.

Hopefully tomorrow things will be nicer between him and Gramble… hopefully.

#bugsnax #art #digital art #digital illustration #procreate #cute #fandom #bugsnax wambus #wambus troubleham #bugsnax fanfic #fanfic #bugsnax gramble #gramble gigglefunny #bugsnax wiggle #wiggle wigglebottom

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talesofedo · 3 months

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Image and text from this page.

Throughout the Edo Period, Japan was largely closed off from the rest of the world, relying solely on its limited domestic resources. As a result of this, reuse and recycling were a natural part of life with almost all daily items experiencing multiple life cycles. At the forefront of this 250-year period of sustainability were professions that centered around repairing and repurposing everyday goods and materials, giving new life to items that would today end up in landfills. In his book, “Just Enough,” Azby Brown introduces a number of the professions that led to this period of sustainability and we’ve listed some of our favorites below.

Tinkers

Tinkers were local craftsmen who repaired damaged pots and kettles. Often found carrying portable forges and bellows on their backs, they used scrap metal to repair holes and cracks that would otherwise render these essential household items useless.

Scrap metal dealers would purchase unrepairable items from tinkers and exchange candies and toys with local kids for nails and other usable metal scraps they found while playing.

Paper lantern and umbrella repairmen

While most umbrellas in modern-day Tokyo are quickly lost or broken and disposed of, the raw materials that made Edo Period umbrellas often saw multiple lives with umbrella repairmen carving out a fairly lucrative niche for themselves.

These repairmen would buy used umbrellas, assign a price based on the condition of the bamboo frame then disassemble, repair and resell them to new buyers.

Discarded materials, such as the waterproof oiled paper would pass onto local butchers for wrapping fish and miso.

With umbrellas and paper lanterns sharing essentially the same materials, umbrella repairmen would also cross over into the realm of lantern repair and often sub-contract this work out to low-level samurai.

Used clothes dealers

If you thought Shimokitazawa was overrun with used clothing dealers these days, Brown says there were as many as 4,000 of them in Edo.

With new clothes being unaffordable for the average family, when it came time to update the wardrobe, old garments would be washed and taken to a dealer to be exchanged for refurbished items at a small fee.

These dealers would take apart kimono, dye them and reassemble them for resale, a task made easier due to the way kimono are designed.

As clothes would begin to wear out, they found new life as aprons, diapers, pouches, cloths and eventually kindling before becoming ash which would also be repurposed.

Barrel repairers and recyclers

If you knew your way around a bamboo barrel hoop in the Edo Period you could make a steady living for yourself repairing the various types of shoyu, sake, miso or vinegar barrels found in the average home.

The more experienced itinerant barrel hoop makers could also find work as barrel recyclers, a specialized craft that saved reusable barrels and casks from early disposal.

After collection, recyclers would inspect, grade, refurbish and resell them onto brewers and liquor shops who would choose from new, new-looking, slightly used or worn barrels depending on their intended use.

Ashmen

Most daily items in the Edo Period were made from burnable plant-based materials such as wood, bamboo, straw and cotton.

Rather than have worn-out rope, sandals, hats, raincoats or baskets end up in landfill, these items could be burnt to provide heat and turned to ash, which is where the ashman comes in.

Rather than discarding of ash, households and businesses such as public baths would collect their ash and sell it to local ashmen.

With ash from straw and cotton cloth containing large amounts of potassium, it was in high demand as an additive for fertilizer or for use in ceramics, dyes or sake production which created a lucrative business for motivated ashmen.

#shared #history notes #historical notes #history reference #historical reference #history research #historical research #Edo period #sustainability #recycling #article

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winterpower98 · 5 months

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Last adoptables of the year!

General rules:

First come first serve.

Do not claim unless you have the full amount asked for.

Payment must be sent 24 hours after claiming the adopt, otherwise it’ll be open again.

Payment only through PayPal.

No refunds if the buyer changes their mind after paying.

Prices are fixed and cannot be bargained.

It is under my discretion to either accept or deny a claim.

After buying, the owner:

Can change the design as they want.

Must credit me for the character at least once (no need to credit me every time the character is used).

Can give/trade with another artist for another adopt.

Can’t be sold to other buyers.

Cardinal: OPEN (15€)

Grinch: OPEN (15€)

Straw: SOLD to @purplecatghostposts

Krampus: SOLD to @greatgaspiads

#adoptables #adopts #character adoptables #seasonal adoptables #character design #deer #raindeer #anthro #digital art #sai #winterpower98

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cliff-montgomery · 4 months

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The Thorny Problem of Straw Purchases in U.S. Gun Law

by Cliff Montgomery - Feb. 15th, 2024

Yesterday’s mass shooting at a parade intended to celebrate the Kansas City Chiefs’ recent Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49s once again reminds us of the need for serious gun laws and gun law reform.

On February 9th, two short reviews on current federal gun laws were released by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). The CRS refers to itself as a “ non-partisan shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress.” In short, it prepares concise, easy-to understand reports on matters of the moment to members of the U.S. and their affiliated staff members.

We will cover those two short studies for our readers. Tonight, we look at the report Gun Control: Straw Purchase and Gun Trafficking Provisions in Public Law 117-159, better known as the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

Straw purchases are defined by the study as “illegal firearms transactions in which a person serves as a middleman by posing as the transferee, but is actually acquiring the firearm for another person.”

Below, we offer readers most of the central statements found in the CRS report:

“On June 25, 2022, President Joe Biden signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA; S. 2938; P.L. 117-159). This law includes the Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act, provisions of which amend the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA, 18 U.S.C. §§921 et seq.) to more explicitly prohibit straw purchases and illegal gun trafficking. Related provisions expand federal law enforcement investigative authorities.

Federal Firearms Law

“The GCA is the principal statute regulating interstate firearms commerce in the United States. The purpose of the GCA is to assist federal, state, and local law enforcement in ongoing efforts to reduce violent crime.

“Congress constructed the GCA to allow state and local governments to regulate firearms more strictly within their own borders, so long as state law does not conflict with federal law or violate constitutional provisions.

“Hence, one condition of a federal firearms license for gun dealers, which permits the holder to engage in interstate firearms commerce, is that the licensee must comply with both federal and state law.

“Also, under the GCA there are several classes of persons prohibited from shipping, transporting, receiving, or possessing firearms or ammunition (e.g., convicted felons, fugitives, unlawful drug users). It was and remains unlawful under the GCA for any person to transfer knowingly a firearm or ammunition to a prohibited person (18 U.S.C. §922(d)). Violations are punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

“The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is the principal agency that administers and enforces the GCA, as well as the 1934 National Firearms Act (NFA, 26 U.S.C. §§5801 et seq.).

“The NFA further regulates certain firearms deemed to be especially dangerous (e.g., machine guns, short-barreled shotguns) by taxing all aspects of the making and transfer of such weapons and requiring their registration with the Attorney General.

Straw Purchase Provision

“Straw purchases are illegal firearms transactions in which a person serves as a middleman by posing as the transferee, but is actually acquiring the firearm for another person.

“As discussed below, straw purchases are unlawful under two existing laws. Prosecutions under those provisions have been characterized by some as mere paperwork violations and, hence, inadequate in terms of deterring unlawful gun trafficking.

“P.L. 117-159 amends the GCA with a new provision, 18 U.S.C. §932, to prohibit any person from knowingly purchasing or conspiring to purchase any firearm for, on behalf of, or at the request or demand of any other persons if the purchaser knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the actual buyer

is a person prohibited from being transferred a firearm under 18 U.S.C. §922(d);

plans to use, carry, possess, or sell (dispose of) the firearm(s) in furtherance of a felony, federal crime of terrorism, or drug trafficking crime; or

plans to sell or otherwise dispose of the firearm(s) to a person who would meet any of the conditions described above.

“Violations are punishable by a fine and up to 15 years’ imprisonment. Violations made by a person knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that any firearm involved will be used to commit a felony, federal crime of terrorism, or drug trafficking crime are punishable by a fine and up to 25 years’ imprisonment.

Gun Trafficking Provision

“Gun trafficking entails the movement or diversion of firearms from legal to illegal channels of commerce in violation of the GCA. P.L. 117-159 amends the GCA with a new provision, 18 U.S.C. §933, to prohibit any person from shipping, transporting, causing to be shipped or transported, or otherwise disposing of any firearm to another person with the knowledge or reasonable cause to believe that the transferee’s use, carrying, or possession would constitute a felony.

“It would also prohibit the receipt of such firearm if the transferee knows or has reasonable cause to believe that receiving it would constitute a felony. Attempts and conspiracies to violate these provisions are proscribed as well. Violations are punishable by a fine and up to 15 years’ imprisonment. […]

GCA Interstate Transfer Prohibitions

“The GCA generally prohibits anyone who is not a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) from acquiring a firearm from an out-of-state source. [But] Interstate transfers among unlicensed persons may be facilitated through an FFL in the state where the transferee resides. […]

GCA Record-keeping and Straw Purchases

“Under the GCA (18 U.S.C. §926), Congress authorized a decentralized system of record-keeping allowing ATF to trace a firearm’s chain of commerce, from manufacturer or importer to dealer, and to the first retail purchaser of record. FFLs must maintain certain records, including ATF Forms 4473, on transfers to non-FFLs as well as a parallel acquisition/disposition log.

“As part of a firearms transaction, both the FFL and purchaser must truthfully fill out and sign the ATF Form 4473. The FFL must verify the purchaser’s name, date of birth, and other information by examining government-issued identification (e.g., driver’s license). The purchaser attests on Form 4473 that he or she is not a prohibited person and is the actual transferee/buyer. […]

“[However,] straw purchases are not easily detected because they only become apparent when the straw purchase is revealed by a subsequent transfer to a prohibited person.

Other GCA Gun Trafficking Prohibitions

“According to ATF, gun trafficking often entails an unlawful flow of firearms from jurisdictions with less restrictive firearms laws to jurisdictions with more restrictive firearms laws, both domestically and internationally.

“Such unlawful activities can include, but are not limited to, the following:

straw purchasers or straw purchasing rings in violation of the provisions described above;

persons engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license in violation of 18 U.S.C. §921(a)(1)(A), punishable by up to 5 years’ imprisonment;

corrupt FFLs dealing off-the-books in an attempt to escape federal regulation in violation of 18 U.S.C. §922(b)(5), punishable by up to 5 years’ imprisonment; and

trafficking in stolen firearms in violation of 18 U.S.C. §922(j), punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

“Under current law, offenders could potentially be charged with multiple offenses under both the preexisting GCA provisions such as those discussed above and 18 U.S.C. §§932 and 933.

“Since P.L. 117-159 went into effect on October 31, 2023, 250 defendants have been charged with gun trafficking, including 80 charged with violating the law’s straw purchase provision.

“In January 2024, the National Shooting Sports Foundation—an industry trade group for the firearms industry—noted that the ATF has yet to implement two parts of P.L. 117-159: ‘Firearm Handler Background Checks’ (FHCs) and instant point-of-sale background checks when an FFL buys from a private individual.

“The former would allow FFLs to use the NICS to background check FFL employees and has been in regulatory review since September 26, 2023. The latter would allow FFLs to instantly identify if a weapon is stolen at the point of sale by authorizing importers, manufacturers, and dealers of firearms to access records of stolen firearms in the National Crime Information Center; it has been in the interim final rule stage since May 17, 2023.”

#political news #politics #gun control #gun laws #gun violence

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memphisnovels · 8 months

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Evermore

Chapter 17. Let the light in

Previous chapter

Masterlist

I hope you enjoy <3

pairing: Pietro Maximoff x OFC

warnings: canon-typical violence, torture, injuries, Pietro and Nadia being Pietro and Nadia, arguing, confessions...

Bright white lights blinded me with every blink, causing me to shut my eyes tightly. A pounding ache set into the side of my head as I became conscious. My hand shot to my head a low groan coming from my very dry throat as I pressed against the spot the pain was coming from. A soft hand closed around my forearm, causing me to open my eyes fully. Anna stood at my bedside and Natasha sat on the end of the bed, both gazing at me with tender looks. I rubbed at my head, glancing around the room. It looked like we were in the med bay back at the compound. “What happened.” I managed to get out.

“Someone warned Tara you were coming.”

I hummed, coughing shortly after. Anna moved a cup of water with a straw toward my lips. I gulped down as much of the liquid as I could. “Yeah, she knew who I was, I don’t know about what else though. We were trying to get our intel from the hotel but then there was a car and…” I moved up right quickly.

“Pietro! Where is he? Is he alright?” I tried to pull at the chords attached to me, but Nat stopped me.

“He’s fine, Nads, worried about you but fine. He said something about a fruit doughnut or something.”

“Plum dumplings.” I muttered, settling back into the pillows behind me.

Anna and Natasha shared a look before turning back to me. “Right, well, you did a good job, we’ve got what we need.”

“The intel, it was in the hotel room, someone needs to go get it.”

“We already did, don’t worry, luckily only we knew where you two were staying, Maria Hill went and cleared the hotel as soon as we got the call that you were injured. We recovered everything.”

I sighed in relief at Natasha’s words. “One of the guys who tried to attack us in Amsterdam, he was Hydra.” Both the women beside me sighed.

Anna rubbed a hand over her face. “I should’ve known they’d be involved. They’re probably one of the potential buyers.” She sat beside me once more, reaching into her bag and pulling out a little brown plastic pot, chocolate pudding. My spirits lifted instantly. I grabbed the container from her and tore the lid off, digging in ravenously. “Hmm, I suspected even a nasty concussion wouldn’t stop you from devouring that.”

“You really are a saint!” I spoke around a mouth full of the chocolate delicacy.

Nat snorted, watching me intently. “Those things are so gross, but I love you and I’m really glad that you’re okay, so I won’t judge.”

“These are the nectar of the gods, and they just give them out for free in hospitals. Insanity.” Both Anna and Natasha laughed at me, but I ignored their teasing, cleaning the pot completely. When it was finished, I set it aside, sighing contentedly. “So, what do we do now?”

“You do nothing. We’ll handle this, all you need to focus on is resting.” Anna said.

I shook my head, sitting upright. “What? No, I’m fine!” Before either of them could argue I continued. “I know I always say that, but I really am this time, it was just a concussion. It hurts a little still, but I’ll be good to go by tomorrow. You can’t change my mine I’m seeing this mission through.”

“You’re actually admitting to being in pain?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, whatever. I’m really okay, let me finish this.”

They very reluctantly agreed, only after checking approximately a hundred times with the doctor to make sure I was actually okay. I agreed to spend the day resting and recuperating and that sealed the deal for me. Tara was heading to Morrocco to finalize her sale and hand over what Tony had referred to as the backdoor to the internet. Nat and I would fly out late tonight to stop the sale and hand ser over to the authorities. Each of the Avengers had been to see me after I was released from the medical wing, Cap and Sam had caught me on my way back to my room, Vision had walked through my wall to say he was happy that I was recovering, chilling really. Tony had brought me some food earlier as well, giving me some story about how he’d accidentally made too much when he was preparing his lunch, as if he normally cooks for himself anyway. I’d let him get away with his lies, scoffing the food down the second he left. After I’d eaten and had painkillers all but forced down my throat by Anna, I made my way to Pietro’s room. Wanda was leaving just as I arrived at the door.

“Oh sorry… I just…” I shook my head at my ridiculous stuttering. A kind smile spread across her lips.

“You look okay.” She shut her eyes tightly, her smile turning sheepish. “What I mean to say is that you look like you’re feeling better, I’m glad.”

I nodded at her. “I figured.” It wasn’t mean, wasn’t cold or angry like I had always been with her before this moment. I still wasn’t sure how I felt about her, but she hadn’t been exactly wicked and terrible in the months she’d been here. In fact, after our little tiff, she’d stayed away from me like I asked. She’d respected me, and I appreciated that, so in return I could be nice. Even if it felt strange.

“He really is a stubborn ass sometimes, I’m sure you know that by now.” She spoke up, gesturing toward the door behind her. “He’s so worries, hasn’t stopped asking about you… but he’s too pigheaded to be up front about it.”

“Is he okay?”

Her smile brightened. “He’s fine, a little banged up but still just as annoying.”

A laugh filled the air between us and with some shock I realized it was me. Despite myself, and despite our tenuous relationship I’d laughed at what she said. I swallowed the laughter quickly, glancing at her and offering a tight-lipped smile. “Do you mind if I…” I gestured toward the door. She moved instantly out of the way nodding fervently. “Just to check he’s still alive and update him on the mission, that’s all.” Wanda positively beamed at me.

“Of course.” With that she turned and wandered off down the hallway.

The door felt daunting as I stared it down, I wasn’t sure what to say, things were pretty complicated between us right now. Nonetheless I knocked, resting my head against the surface as I awaited a reply. “Come in.” He called soon after.

He sat more upright the second I entered, pushing himself to sit straighter before me. His leg was in a bandage and surrounded by some sort of non-enclosed cast, I was assuming it was just for the three days or so it would take his enhancement to heal him. “Hi.” I murmured, stopping by the end of his bed.

“Hi.”

“How are you doing?” I asked.

He scanned my body. “Fine. You?”

“Fine.” He nodded at my words, falling silent once more. I fiddled with my fingers, glancing around the room for something to look at that wasn’t him. It was then that I realized I’d never actually been in here before, it wasn’t what I expected. Dark grey and blue furniture as well as a few bits and pieces lying around, a soccer ball in the corner, some books strewn across his nightstand and a line of sneakers peeking out from the open door to his closet. “Agent Hill recovered our intel from the hotel, whoever sold us out didn’t have all the details apparently, so at least there’s that.”

He nodded. “Good. That’s good.”

“It is.”

He looked down at his lap. “So, what now? It’s over?”

“Well, she’s still planning to sell her files so I’m going after her to stop that from happening.”

“Okay so what we wait a few days for me to heal then we’ll go finish this?”

I shook my head at him, confusion no doubt evident on my face. “No, you should just rest, let your body recover, Nat will come with me to Morrocco to stop Janssen.” The room turned glacial in an instant, or perhaps it was just the icy glare Pietro set me with.

“It’s just a few days, probably less, I heal fast.”

“Pietro you said it yourself, you don’t heal that fast. In a few days Hydra could have those files, I won’t let that happen.” I tucked a strand of hair behind my head, the headache beginning to set in again. “It’s not a big deal, you’re hurt right now, Nat and I can finish this off while you heal up.”

“Why does it not surprise me that you’d cut me out of the mission the first chance you get?”

His words were like a punch to the gut. I took a step back almost as if I’d been physically wounded by them. “That’s not what I’m doing… I’m not cutting you out of the mission, you have a broken leg, there’s nothing you can do like this.” He scoffed at me, shaking his head and rolling his eyes. I furrowed my eyebrows at him. My eyes were stinging, and I couldn’t stand it. “That’s really what you think of me? That I’m a heartless monster who doesn’t give a shit about you? That I’m more worried about cutting you out of a mission than stopping a national security threat? You think that I don’t care that you got seriously hurt? Fine. Think whatever you want, Pietro. I have to go.” His face changed instantly at my words.

His voice stopped me as I turned to leave. “No wait, Nadia. I’m sorry, please wait!” I closed my eyes for a moment before turning back to face him with a raised eyebrow. All of the emotions that had been missing from his in that past week were written plain as day across his face. His eyebrows sagged slightly, guilt and hurt present on his features in equal measure. “I just don’t know what is going on – we kiss, and you don’t want to talk about it or acknowledge that anything happened but then you look at me the way you do and you bring me Sokovian desserts to make me feel better and listen to me even when you act like you don’t care and I just don’t get it.”

“Don’t get what?”

“I don’t get what is happening here… between us.”

Running a hand through my hair didn’t soothe me as much as I’d hoped it would. “I agreed to be your friend, Pietro, what more do you want?!”

“I never asked for that!”

A scoff fell from my lips as I crossed my arms over my chest. “Oh, you didn’t ask me to be your friend. Didn’t beg me to be nice to you?”

“No-” He ran a hand through his hair, letting out an exasperated sigh. “That’s not what I meant, I wanted to be your friend but that isn’t all I wanted to be.”

“What are you talking about?”

He shook his head, looking at me the same way he had in the hotel hallway the other night. “I think you know, Nadia.” My heart was pounding against my sternum, so fast I was sure that I was going into cardiac arrest. “It wasn’t a heat of the moment decision for me; it wasn’t whatever you are telling yourself it was. I kissed you because I wanted to.” He swallowed heavily. The look in his eyes made my cheeks burn. “I want to… all of the time.” He continued while I remained silent. “I was cruel to you in Amsterdam and I’m so sorry, I just… it’s really hard to be around you when all I can think about is how badly I want you to tell me you feel the way I do.”

I shook my head at him, looking down at my feet. My eyes were stinging again, and I didn’t know why. I opened my mouth to respond but before I could a familiar voice called out to me.

“Nads, we need to prep before we leave, you ready?” Natasha appeared in Pietro’s doorway, completely oblivious to what he’d just revealed to me.

…

Sweat beaded on my forehead the second I stepped off the plane in Marrakech. The heat here was dry and a shock to my system, yet it was the furthest thing from my mind right now. It had all gone rather quickly, the period between Pietro telling me… what he’d told me and getting on the plane. I hadn’t even had time to formulate a proper response beyond a brief goodbye.

The sale of the Tara’s hard drive was taking place tonight at 6pm in a room at one of the most exclusive hotels in Morocco. We began getting ready as soon as we got to the hotel, hiding weapons on ourselves and testing the equipment. This was supposed to be a simple task, though after the last two missions I wasn’t holding my breath. Anything could happen, I had to be ready for that and I was… Mostly, though, I knew there was a part of me that was distracted, a part of me that was still in New York, standing in Pietro’s room with him.

I want to.

All of the time.

I’d tried to shake it off but the sensation that lived in my stomach seemed unwilling to dissipate. Frustratingly, this feeling didn’t seem content to be yet another item on my growing list of things I could simply ignore. It clawed at me, sung to me, pleaded with me, demanded to be felt by me.

It was that distraction that had allowed them to get the jump on me. The first face I saw was a familiar one, the man from Amsterdam with the Hydra tattoo. I blocked his first hit and the second but the third landed. My body doubled over unwittingly, the moment the impact rippled through my body I knew that there would be a nasty purple bruise where he’d hit. A glance at the brass band over his knuckles explained the extent of the pain. I persevered, throwing expert punches and maneuvering around his hits until I began to feel a little woozy and my vision became blurry. The strange thing about getting injected with things in the heat of a fight is that the adrenaline tends to cover the initial sting of the needle. My hand slapped against the side of my neck entirely too late, each movement so much slower now. Somewhere, someone was shouting my name, but I was out cold before I could process much else.

My body was jostled slightly, prompting me to open my eyes. It was dark and cold here. My vision was still slightly blurred, and the muscles I could feel were like jelly. I thought I might have been in the back of a car, the boot. Consciousness came and went and when I awoke again, I was in a hot, damp room. It took me several moments to realize I was standing, well not really, I was being held up by ropes around my wrists, but the feeling had only just begun to fully set back into my limbs. The rope chaffed my wrists, rubbing them raw.

“Good morning, sleeping beauty.” A familiar voice spoke, waking me up slightly more. Tara stood before me, momentarily appearing as a double. I closed my eyes tightly for a moment. When I reopened them, things were a little clearer, the room I was in was bare, stone walls, a single chair, Tara, and me.

“You know I actually, didn’t think you were that bad at first. I’m beginning to re-evaluate though.”

The woman before me laughed heartily, taking a step toward me. “Guessing friendship is off the table then huh?”

“What the fuck do you even want?”

“Well, it’s not really about what I want, dear Nadia.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Let me guess, it’s what Hydra wants, customer satisfaction is really that important to you?”

“You still don’t get it do you?”

The two men from the café entered the room. I was beginning to. A humorless laugh left me. “For fucks sake, you’re Hydra.”

A deranged smile spread across her lips. “Bravo, finally we are on the same page! I do hope you aren’t too cross with me about all this pretense, it was all a means to an end you see. I hold up my end of the bargain, deliver you on a silver platter, they protect me while I complete the sale. Plus, if Hydra has you it gets you off my case.”

I wasn’t so sure I understood now, wasn’t sure I really wanted to. What did Hydra want from me?

“Where is Natasha?” I asked, ignoring her previous words. Her smile brightened as she placed two small objects on the chair she had previously been seated in, our comms. I yanked on my binds, glowering at Tara. “This really isn’t the right decision, Janssen. I can assure you Hydra is not the winning team you think it is.”

She merely turned her back, addressing the two men now. “Sie gehört ganz dir.”

She’s all yours.

I yanked on the binds again, setting the tattooed man with a glare as he began to approach me. He had buzzed off hair that appeared to have been blonde and a long scar from his forehead down across his left eye. The brass knuckles were still situated over his fingers as he stared me down, a coldness in his gaze that almost rivalled my own. The other man leaned against the wall by the door, locking it after Tara exited. It remained like this for a long while, buzzcut just standing there staring, doorman watching from a distance. “Jesus Christ, are we going to stand here all day or are you going to torture me?”

The metal met my ribs once, twice, three times. I coughed from the impact, the end cutting off into a laugh. “Who taught you to punch? A 6-year-old?” He hit me again and again, I laughed in his face. I learned quickly that the more I ridiculed him the worse the beating got, not that I’d expected different. Even with his particularly hard punches that winded me and bruised my ribs it was still not the worst I’d endured. The next time I got lippy the hit was to my face. Minutes passed, or maybe they were hours. Occasionally buzzcut would let up, taking a break for his own benefit I assumed.

Blood dripped from my lips as my head hung between my shoulders. “Most of the hits had been to my stomach and sides, though I was sure I had a bruise across my cheek and likely a split lip.

“Remind me what the point of this is.” I managed to get out. “Are you trying to get information or something? Because usually step one is asking a question.”

Finally, a response came from the doorman, first a laugh, then words. “We don’t want information from you, Nadia. Well, we do, but that’s not what this is about.” He grabbed ahold of my chin and yanked my head up to face him. He had dark hair and features but was so pale he appeared sickly. “We want to recruit you.” A thick German accent underpinned each of his words.

“Oh okay, so this is just a welcome ceremony or something?” I spat my blood at his feet. “Just showing me what I’m definitely not missing?”

He narrowed his eyes. “No, no, this is merely a test, we just wanted to make sure you were as we remembered.”

I raised a single eyebrow. “Oh, that makes perfect sense. So, the test was a few shitty punches from this idiot? Hydra really has gone soft.”

He smiled at me. “Of course not.” My arms were untied, and I was strapped to the chair in the corner. It was around the time the chair was tilted back and a towel was placed over my face that I clued on.

“Oh, for fucks s-” I was cut off by water being poured over me I clenched my fists and attempted to remain calm, steeling my every nerve against the sensation of drowning. It burned and my lungs felt like they were going to burst, it was just as shitty as I remember it being. I tightened my fists as it became more and more unbearable, and the water kept coming.

Finally, there was a reprieve as the towel was removed from my face. I coughed and gasped for air; every fiber of my body strung tightly as I struggled to get the air in. “Reconsidered the offer yet?”

“You made me an offer?”

The towel was replaced, and the water returned. The pattern would continue for well over an hour, a short reprieve upon which the man checked in with me. Eventually he gave it a rest indefinitely, dropping the towel but keeping me strapped to the chair. The water returned soon after though, ice water being dunked over my head. Just like old times. My body was tensed almost painfully, the cold seeping into each of my nerve endings and sending a deep shiver down my spine.

The man grabbed me by the back of the hair, forcing me to look at him. “Join us.”

My body was shivering violently and the slither of light from the window was now gone, prompting me to believe it was nighttime. “No thanks.”

He shook his head at me. “It ends whenever you want it to.”

And just like that I was gone, a blink and I was in a different room, bound to a different chair with something strange on my face.

“It ends whenever you want it to.”

The man in the glassed scribbled on a clipboard, glancing at me occasionally.

“Tell me who you are.”

I felt my lips moving but I couldn’t hear the words that left them. The ballerinas were back, dancing across the screen before me, it was different this time. The music, the outfits. The girl had a feather crown around her head.

When my eyes opened, I was back in the torture room but buzzcut and doorman were long gone. In their place was Tara, sitting across from me. I swallowed heavily, allowing my head to fall back. Every part of my body ached. “Honestly, can’t a girl get a little piece and quiet.”

“Joking until the bitter end, you really are impressive, Nadia.”

I rolled my eyes at her.

“Why are you even here? FOMO?”

She smirked at me. “Well, I just wanted to tell you the good news.” I didn’t dignify her with a response. “My buyer has finally arrived in Morrocco, how fun? I’ve just sent the boys to go begin the meeting.” This was such bullshit, last time I ever fucking help MI6. “Honestly, whatever intel was being fed to you and Natasha was really shitty.”

“Fuck you.” I muttered.

She sighed exasperatedly. “Well, that’s really all I had to say, anyway best be off.” She stood, waving at me tauntingly.

Before she was out of reached, I kicked out and caught her leg with mine, tripped her and using the momentum to kick back of the chair hard, the wood shattering as it hit the concrete ground. I yanked my arms upward, wooden side handing from my binds. Ignoring the immense agony I swung on Tara, easily landing hit after hit. “I told you it was a bad decision.” I said, dragging her to the ground and punching her again.

The sharp, burning pain in my abdomen had me hesitating, Tara and I both looked down, the black and red handle of the screwdriver peeking out from within my body. “Holy shit…” Her mouth fell open. “I’ve never stabbed anyone before. I don’t know why I did that I’m so sorry.” She yanked the object from me causing me to cry out.

“No! You fucking idiot!” I wrapped my leg around hers quickly, sending her tumbling to the ground and punching her. The adrenaline pumping through my veins stopped me from feeling the pain. I knew I needed to make this quick, there was not going to be fight left in me for long. She slipped her hand free, pressing hard into my wounded side to disable me. I yelled as white-hot agony seared through me, falling to beside her. With gritted teeth, I pushed through the pain, grabbing her arm as she tried to escape and twisting it around behind her back pulling her back down so that her back was pressed to my chest. She thrashed as I wrapped my arms around her neck. The pain in my side was so extreme I could feel tears streaming down my cheek, I put further pressure on her carotid artery tightening my legs around her as I felt her begin to fall unconscious. When she went to sleep, I double checked for a pulse, making sure she’d be okay. When I found it I shoved her from me, laying back and letting out a few painful breaths. Finally, I managed to push myself up, grabbing Tara’s arms and dragging her over to the pillar in the corner. The rope I’d been tied with was still laying on the ground for me to restrain her with. When I was sure she wasn’t escaping I threw the file down on her lap and stole the watch from her wrist.

Blood covered my hands, leaving stains on everything I touched. The fabric of my shirt clung to me as a patch of red appeared. Looking down at the time on Tara’s watch, I realized it was 3:45pm, I’d been bleeding freely for at least 3 minutes already. I let my hand fall to my abdomen, grazing over the wound, closing my eyes I thought hard to remember the internal anatomy in an attempt to decipher what she may have hit. I didn’t think the bleeding was rapid enough to have been an artery or my spleen unless it was just a nick. The button up shirt I wore would have to be a good enough bandage for the time being, I slipped it from my shoulders before wrapping it tightly around my stomach. Things became a little blurry about the time I shoved the heavy metal door open to reveal the afternoon sky, there was a mild breeze blowing over the sweat that glistened over my skin.

I stumbled against the side of the car that I’d been brought here in. A bloody handprint was pressed into the light grey of the door. I looked at the watch again, 3:51. There were no keys in the ignition so I began searching the car as quickly as I could, sun visor, glove compartment, center console; nothing. Something gleaming from the floor of the passenger seat caught my attention, a phone. I grabbed it typing in the familiar number, Natasha wouldn’t have her phone so that isn’t the number I dialed.

“Hello.”

“Tony.” I ground out, putting the phone on speaker and navigating into maps.

“Nadia? Are you okay? Where the hell are you? We lost you on the map.”

“I’m fine, sending you some coordinates, it’s where I left Janssen unconscious. I stopped the sale, but you need to get someone out there to grab her. Hydra aren’t the buyers, they’re the sellers, that militia group Anna mentioned, that’s who is actually buying, they’re waiting back at the hotel for Tara, it’s only a matter of time before they come looking for her.”

When the coordinates went through, I began working on hotwiring the car, I needed to get to a hospital sooner rather than later. “It’s all good, Nat’s handing the buyers, but you don’t sound fine, where are you?”

“Just get someone to the coordinates.”

“Yeah, got it MI6 is on their way. What happened to you?”

I finally got the car going and stepped on it, the roads were blurring together as I travelled down them. “She stabbed me with a fucking screwdriver, I’ll be fine I’m going to the hospital now, just make sure they get Tara. Thank you, Tony.”

“Nadia, don’t you dare hang up!” I ended the call before he could continue.

That ringing I knew all too well filled my ears. I gripped the steering wheel tighter, steeling myself and pushing through the weariness. Passing out simply was not an option, I just needed to get to the hospital and everything would be fine. I could feel the strength slipping from me by the minute, but I held on tighter. This wasn’t happening, not like this.

Not when I never got to answer him. Pietro. I wasn’t even really sure what I was going to say to him, but I deserved the chance to say it just like he deserved a response. I was not going to die in this fucking car because of some stupid Hydra bullshit. Typical, even when I’m bleeding out that Sokovian dickhead was still heavy on my mind. I groaned out loud, narrowing my eyes on the road in an attempt to focus my blurry eyes.

It took opening my eyes to even realize that they’d been closed, my shirt was damp I wasn’t sure if it was sweat or blood, maybe both. The car had stopped and there were flashing lights all around, an unfamiliar voice spoke to me. “Miss, can you hear me?” I wanted to nod but I wasn’t sure if I had the energy. The flashing lights came and went, white rooms, needles, bandages, red hair.

“I’m so fucking sick of you seriously.” I heard a soft voice say.

I smiled weakly at Natasha as my eyes focused, a different hospital, the same friend, sister. “Please tell me we did it.”

She laughed tearily. “Yeah. We did it, Nads.”

…

I gave her hand a tight squeeze as we got off the plane.

“I’m fine.” Her glare almost set me alight. I just smiled.

The New York breeze wrapped around me, welcoming me in. Tony was the first person I saw off the plane, he pulled me into a tight hug. “Please don’t remove me limbs from my body, I’m just kind of glad you’re not dead.” I rolled my eyes, patting his back gently, body stiff, nonetheless. He took the bag from my hands wandering off further into the compound.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” My head whipped around at the familiar voice, lips upturning at the look of pure frustration and disbelief written across his features. Suddenly, Nat was nowhere to be found. Pietro took a few steps toward me. “Do you genuinely have a death wish?!” My smile widened. “Honestly, I do not know what your prob-” I yanked him to me, hands finding the sides of his face as our lips joined. Nothing had ever confused me so much but at the same time made so much sense. I didn’t really get it, but at that moment I really didn’t care. It felt just like it had on the balcony, as if each one of my nerves had become a livewire and everything was okay, comfort and chaos all at once but I wasn’t running this time. I leaned my forehead against his when I pulled away, swallowing heavily.

“You didn’t see that coming?” I murmured, breathless.

His lips curved up into a soft smile, eyes still closed.

#pietro maximoff #pietro marvel #pietro maximoff x ofc #pietro maximoff fanfiction #marvel fanfiction #avengers fanfiction #aaron taylor johnson #aaron taylor johnson fanfiction #aaron taylor johnson smut #aaron taylor johnson x reader #atj smut #marvel avengers #marvel smut #avengers smut #pietro x reader #pietro maximoff x reader #pietro maximoff smut

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alectoperdita · 9 months

Text

What you can't bury

Part 18 of Lure

Rated: E Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters Pairing: Jounouchi Katsuya/Kaiba Seto Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Tags: Alternate Universe - Yakuza, Organized Crime, Internal Conflict, Power Imbalance, Power Dynamics, Gun Violence, Hurt/Comfort, Sex as Coping Mechanism, Unhealthy Relationships, Trauma Bonding, Codependency, Porn with Feelings, Porn With Plot, Explicit Sexual Content, Degradation, Masochism, Impact Play, Asshole Spanking, Anal Sex, Barebacking, Breeding Kink, Sex Toys, Rough Sex, Painful Sex, Mild Painplay, Punishment, Cock & Ball Torture, Mild Breathplay, Come Feeding, Praise Kink, Under-negotiated Kink, Somnophilia, Sexting, Dick Pics, Semi-Public Sex, Workplace Sex

As discontent swells amongst the Aoryu-kai's ranks, those wishing to seize power for themselves emerge. They threaten everything—Kaiba's leadership position, the tiny sliver of peace Jounouchi's managed to carve out for himself, and whatever tenuous bond exists between the two of them.

Will saving Kaiba's hide save Jounouchi too? Or is this finally his chance to escape from under the kumicho's thumb?

Read Chapter 4 on AO3 Series Masterlist

As of late, though, new headaches were piling up: a rash of turf battles with the Sumiyoshi, repeated debt collection failures, and revenue falling across the board for several major establishments. Someone—multiple someones—had become derelict in their duties. Or they were sowing trouble. The missing shipment was the final straw. This was not some under lieutenant overcharging on protection fees and pocketing the difference, or skimming off the top of a bar's till. Roughly 21 million yen worth of weapons—gone. Poof into fucking thin air. He had buyers lined up, but nothing to sell. Just the thought made Seto want to shoot someone.

#series: Lure #puppyshipping #violetshipping #kaijou #yugioh #ygo #my fanfiction #it's back #to fuck nasty in this chapter and every chapter #i've missed them so much! ;;_;;#and we get to be in Kaiba's head for the next few chapters 😈#please accept my attempt to write some crime fiction plot made possible only by mainlining Lives of Omission

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smolcinnamonchipmunk · 4 months

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Adding on to the info dump that you have kindly graced me with, my first though when I heard that Abyss can make drugs out of their venom when diluted and then after reading what relations they would have, or lack of, was that is angel just so happens to stumble upon them making a batch to sell off. Angel could be like peeking into their room (oh yeah this is when they become a member of the hotel officially) and so when Abyss decided that they had enough to sell and goes on break, leaving their room unguarded, I think angel would be the curious soul that he is would check out what bro was cooking.

If Angel found out that it was a drug they made form their venom by just a small test, personally—and you are free to correct me if you want—I believe that Angel would basically try to ask for drugs off of Abyss for free since it’s a nice thing and that’s what the hotel is aiming for and if that doesn’t work he’ll try to pester them (which wouldn’t last long I bet) and if he still gets ‘no’ for an answer, he would try to steal them which made abyss start hiding their batches, getting a lock on their room door or just making the batches outside the hotel and an instant delivery. That’s my personal take tho and I thought it would make for something funny but could be used for some slight bonding or something? However way you wanna go with this.

Secondly, Alistor just picking up Abyss from seemingly out of nowhere was just funny and the image I saw in my head was like him pinching the “scruff” of Abyss as they freeze up, cuz y’know, bro was just picked up no warning. Oh yeah forgot to mention that I can see this happening in both normal sizes as well as their shrunken state which would probably be the most obvious choice hehe. Okay onto what I was not here for cuz I just thought of this right before I was inches away from sending! >:p.

You said that you would be unsure of what could lead to any Vore scenarios because he is chill with Abyss and such, unless he was PISSED. (Based off memory so could be wrong but Anygay-) now I’m not one who knows what abyss is like, like the back of my hand, but form what I do know and a half awake brain the only scenario I see working is that maybe Abyss could be in an annoyed mood from like one buyer that asked for drugs didn’t exactly have any plan to pay in the first place and made it seem like they would pose a threat to their life which they had no intentions to but it was a way to avoid paying and getting a lot of free drugs. This would couse their panic mode to activate slightly and they would shrink (causing rumours to go around about abyss and harming their business since demons can now use that to their advantage) so when they return maybe a little shrunken and in a little pissy mood they could retaliate if Alistor was to like do his usual thing of spooking them or something of the sort which wasn’t too much appreciated and thus the final straw was snapped and maybe an insult or two slipped out, voice slightly raised. Abyss heads back to their room and flopping down onto their bed to just cool off and not even 5 minutes later Alistor comes back to be a bother but something seems a lil off with him (bc bro took that one personally).

Leaving the rest to you (mostly cuz my lesson is gonna start rn. Woo, college ) Anygay hope this helps you at least, go wild with it.

Have a happy day and always stay gay!! That’s my new motto now, Sue me.

- 🌽 anon

Alright, everyone, buckle up for another long response!

I was thinking more like Abyss sold their pure venom to drug makers and dealers rather than making the drug themself, but I'll give them a small drug setup themself for extra cash

As for your Angel Dust idea, the most logical trail in my mind was to have him trying to find a drug stash since he's left them scattered all over the hotel, hoping that the furniture he used to hide his own drugs were still there. Of course, they're not, but he comes across their dilution station (WIP page below)

Abyss honestly wouldn't care if Angel Dust wanted to try some of the drug and would probably offer him a batch for free. They're not super in it for the money and just do it as a way to pass time and stuff. They could probably use their network of buyers to figure out information on people if they ever felt interested in trying to start gathering their own territory. But, given that they were kind of depressed in life, you can imagine the amount of motivation they have, lmao

They're definitely getting a new lock for their room though

Also, the Alastor scruffing them and presenting Abyss to everyone was the idea. But, in my head, he uses his shadow abilities/tentacles to snatch them from wherever they are and just materialize them in front of everyone else. I also have the headcanon that he can nullify other demons abilities somewhat, so they wouldn't be presented shrunk. This also mitigates them trying to calm themself and regrow inside of Alastor, soooo, you know. I feel like he’d occasionally scruff Abyss like he does Nifty

And, your big paragraph is the paragraph that brought up an animatic idea of the potential drug deal. I’m gonna be honest, I’ve thought way too much about everything, haha

Abyss has almost definitely been killed a couple times since falling into Hell. I imagine the majority of demons have been killed at least once since falling, and since we hear Velvette literally say that she “can’t wait for that unlucky bitch to put herself together”, I’m thinking they either regenerate/stitch back together or re-fall depending on how pulverized the body ends up being. As such, they’re not unused to threats. They’re small and have been considered an easy target since first showing up

In the animatic, if I get to it, will be a stand off between a bunch of shark demons (I just like their designs in the show) and Abyss. In it, the sharks are more than happy to try and kill them to get the goods, but it’s basically just a show of how agile/quick Abyss can be on their feet while also using their shrinking to their advantage with part of a banger song in the background. Sort of, like, the stress apathy takes over, you know? They would definitely need to spend a few days in the hotel to destress though, I imagine you never QUITE get used to being killed over and over again

Also, I can’t imagine rumors really holding much stock on their rep? They don’t really have one and try to remain low-key anyways to try not to appear like a threat, and they don’t tell anyone they sell to where they get the ‘pure stuff’ to avoid the potential of other demons attempting to capture them just to use them as a literal cash cow for their venom concentrate. If people want to think of them as weak and an easy pushover because they can shrink, they’re fine with that because that usually means they get left alone unless someone feels like kicking the demon equivalent of a puppy. I also feel like they’re likely to be overlooked a lot despite being bioluminescent

And, I still don’t even know what kind of comment Abyss would realistically make to piss Alastor off (I know he hates being told about or thought of as having less control than he exudes, but Abyss would definitely not really see him as not having a full deck, so to speak), but that won’t stop me from drawing them together. Maybe they asked a bit too much about him because he’s a contradictory fuck who loves people wondering about his deal, but refuses to talk about it to drum up the mystery. Abyss would definitely feed his ego a bit with curious questions

Anyways, that’s all for now! I have a bunch to do if I don’t want more to pile up and leave me in a stressed paralysis

#cinnanswers #cinnart #abyss #safe vore #soft vore #g/t #g/t vore

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ejzah · 2 months

Text

Ain’t It A Kick In The Head, Part 11

***

If Kensi hadn’t seen Deeks bleeding out and barely able to move just a few hours ago, she almost wouldn’t believe it. He moved with the same confident strut as always, giving no hint of any pain as they walked to the meeting point. The tailored suit did go a long way to projecting that image.

“You ready?” Deeks asked, looking over his shoulder. Kensi’s apprehension must have shown, because he actually stopped, and took her arm. “Hey, if you think that you can’t pull this off at all, you need to tell me now.”

A part of her wanted to be outraged by his assumption, but she repressed it. Their lives depended on both their abilities to convince the Kaisers they were legitimate buyers.

“I can handle it,” she insisted. “I’ll follow your lead.”

“Remember, we don’t push too hard.”

“In that case, I won’t tell them I have a million dollars on me and more where that came from,” Kensi muttered sarcastically. That got the barest hint of a smile out of him.

While he’d recovered on the couch, Deeks had called Andre, and convinced him to contact Dimitri Kaiser again, and ask for a meeting. Deeks didn’t didn’t like the idea of seeming too desperate and showing their hand, but he truly felt like they had no other choice. After so many months, LAPD wouldn’t take kindly to the operation falling apart. Not to mention his own need to take a drug ring out of circulation.

Kensi stayed close to Deeks’ side as they approached a dark parking lot. A single black Volvo was parked conspicuously in the middle of the lot at an angle. Once they were within five yards of the vehicle, all four doors opened, and four men emerged.

Two of the men stayed back while the other two stepped forward. Kensi noted that the two guards were visibly armed.

“Dimitri, Paul,” Deeks greeted them.

The Kaiser brothers were both tall and incredibly thin. While they weren’t physically imposing, there was something undeniably dangerous about them.

“Mr. Gentry, I’m surprised to see you so soon,” Dimitri Kaiser said, tucking his hands into the pockets of his long coat. He flicked his eyes over Kensi without any change in expression. “I haven’t met your friend before.” He had a soft, slightly raspy voice that made Kensi’s skin crawl.

“This is Bella Mendez,” Deeks answered. “She’s a colleague.”

“I thought you preferred working alone, Max.”

“He made an exception for me,” Kensi spoke up, giving him a cool smile. Dimitri regarded her with distaste while Paul’s expression didn’t change.

“Max, you know I don’t like surprises. I didn’t agree to anyone else coming.”

“Dimitri.” Deeks spread his arms wide. “It hurts that you don’t trust me.”

“You know I don’t trust anyone.” Gesturing with two fingers, he beckoned, and one of the guards came forward. “Check them, Jacob.”

Jacob frisked Deeks first, his search thorough, and based on Deeks’ brief wince, roughly.

“Watch your hands,” she told Jacob when he moved on to her. He winked, a sliding his hands down the outside of her thighs more slowly. She sincerely hoped she got the chance to kick him in his smirking mouth.

“They’re clean, no wires,” Paul said, stepping back.

“You think we’re cops?” Deeks asked with an incredulous and mocking laugh.

“Oh, that’s the last straw,” Kensi huffed, following his lead. “I will not be disrespected in this way.”

“Bella,” Deeks protested softly, turning to face Kensi. He grasped her wrist gently.

“No. We can take our business elsewhere. I told you that this was a terrible idea.”

Deeks gave her the slightest nod of encouragement, and she shook his hand off.

“Ms. Mendez, we do apologize. You understand that people like us need to work with an abundance of caution,” Paul Kaiser interrupted, speaking for the first time.

Kensi tipped her chin up, regarding him for several moments.

“I’m not accustomed to being mauled,” she informed him. “The next person who touches me will find out how skilled I am with a knife.”

Paul leaned back slightly, glancing to Deeks, who shrugged.

“She has many skills. Personally, I wouldn’t test it.”

Paul looked between them for a few more seconds, then unexpectedly, threw his head back, and laughed. Kensk held her ground, hand dropping to the back of her waistband where her gun was concealed, but before she could touch it, she felt Deeks’ fingers just barely brush her arm. Thankfully, Paul didn’t seem to notice her slip.

“I like her,” Paul decided. “She’s unpredictable like you, Max.” Kensi got the sense that he was trying to charm her, and suddenly wished for Dimitri’s emotionless persona again. “Alright, Max, tell us why we needed to meet so quickly.”

“I’ve parted way with some of my business partners,” Deeks explained. “They’re less…adventurous than I am. In order to keep my previous customers happy, I need more supplies. Soon.”

“I see.” Paul turned to glance towards Dimitri. “How much?”

“Triple my last order.”

“We agree, but it will cost you double for the short notice,” Dimitri said.

“Or, you charge the normal price and I promise to use you exclusively,” Deeks suggested. Kensi’s eyes widened slightly, and she willed him to take the deal before they got shot or one of the Kaisers changed their minds. Instead, Deeks stared Paul and Dimitri down with a challenging glint in his eyes.

“Half extra,” Dimitri countered. “Because Paul likes you.” He held out his hand, and after the briefest of hesitations, Deeks shook it, his grip firm.

“You have yourself a deal. Is tomorrow at noon too early?”

“Give us until two. We’ll meet at our usual location. And bring Ms. Mendez with you,” Paul said. He offered Kensi a smile that sent another shiver up her spine, and she glared back. “It’s a pleasure doing business with you as always.”

“You should come to my poker night,” Deeks drawled as Paul and Dimitri turned to leave, shadowed by their two guards.

Only once they were inside the car and pulling away, did Kensi dare to turn her back on them. “You’re insane,” she informed him in a shaky voice.

“Yeah, but you love it about me,” he said nonchalantly. His delivery was ruined by a wince and him suddenly grasping for her arm. “C’mon, let’s get out of here. I think I’m about to bleed through my bandages.”

Kensi shook her head in disbelief as he unsteadily made his way back to their own vehicle.

#ncis la fanfiction #marty deeks #kensi blye #drama #Deeks whump #undercover Deeks #undercover Kensi #ain’t it a kick in the head #part 11 #au

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omegaremix · 11 days

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Spring 2015 Mixtape.

Grimes ft. Blood Diamonds “Go”

La Sera “Break My Heart”

Capital Steez “Last Straw”

Honeyblood “Super Rat”

Happy Meals Apero

Fisherman Remixed

Raveonettes, The “Sisters”

Godspeed You Black Emperor! “Piss Crowns Are Trebled”

Eternal Summers “Together Or Alone”

Dinner “Going Out”

Ye Olde Maids “In The Palms Of God’s Hands”

Death Grips “Inanimate Sensation”

Gateway Drugs “Night Swimming”

18+ “OIXU”

Raveonettes, The “A Hell Below”

Polysick “Barry Talks”

Ronnie Laws “Always There”

Sweet Mixture “House Of Fun And Love”

L.A. Boppers “Saturday”

Pharmakon Bestial Burden

Prurient Pleasure Ground

Tantor “Niederwohren”

Pop Eye “Lazy Haze”

Chocolate Star “Stay With Me”

Disco Ruido! “Prisma”

Soft Moon Deeper

Uniform “Footnote”

Dinner “Say What You Want (Love Is Death)”

Big Youth “Every N*gg*r Is A Star”

Sauveur Mallia “Future Vision”

Metric “The Shade”

MNDR “Lock & Load” (f. Killer Mike)

Uniform “Buyer’s Remorse”

Prurient Frozen Niagara Falls

Steve Moore “Zero-Point Field”

Disco Ruido! “Sol”

Rockwell “Childhood Memories”

Black Lips “Bad Kids”

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