#Best Electrician in Point Cook

[electrxaus]

The Ultimate Guide to Ceiling Fan Installation for a Cooler Office Environment

Ceiling fans are a fantastic addition to any office space, offering benefits such as improved air circulation, energy efficiency, and a more comfortable working environment.

In this guide, we will discuss the step-by-step process of installing a ceiling fan in your office.

However, it's important to emphasise the significance of hiring a professional Essendon electrician for a safe and reliable installation, especially when dealing with electrical components.

Preparing for Installation

Choosing the Right Ceiling Fan

Before diving into the installation process, it's crucial to select the right size and type of ceiling fan for your office space. The size of the fan should be appropriate for the room dimensions to ensure optimal air circulation.

Turning off the Power Supply

Safety should always be the top priority when working with electrical components. Before commencing any installation work, it's imperative to switch off the power supply to the designated area. This precautionary measure minimises the risk of electrical accidents.

Gathering Necessary Tools and Equipment

Gather all the required tools and equipment beforehand to streamline the installation process. This may include a ladder, screwdriver, wire stripper, voltage tester, and any additional hardware provided with the ceiling fan.

Safety First

Wearing Protective Gear

When engaging in any installation work, especially involving electrical components, it's essential to wear protective gear such as gloves and safety goggles to prevent any potential injuries.

Using Stable Ladders

Ensure that the ladder used for installation is stable and secure. Working at heights requires careful attention to ladder safety to prevent accidents and injuries.

Addressing Electrical Hazards

It's important to highlight the potential electrical hazards that come with ceiling fan installation. This includes the risk of electrical shock or short circuits. Due to these risks, seeking professional assistance from a qualified Essendon electrician is highly recommended.

Installing the Ceiling Fan

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Begin by installing the mounting brackets securely to the ceiling, ensuring they can support the weight of the fan. Next, assemble the fan blades and attach them to the fan motor according to the manufacturer's instructions. Finally, make the necessary wiring connections, following the provided guidelines and local electrical codes.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

During installation, it's important to avoid common mistakes such as improper wiring, inadequate support for the fan, or incorrectly installed blades. These mistakes can compromise the safety and performance of the ceiling fan. So, choose a professional Point Cook electrician to avoid such kind of mistakes.

Testing and Troubleshooting

Testing the Fan

After completing the installation, it's crucial to test the fan to ensure that it operates smoothly and without any issues. This includes checking the fan's various settings and ensuring that it's well-balanced.

Troubleshooting Tips

If issues arise during or after installation, it's helpful to be aware of troubleshooting techniques. This may involve checking for loose connections, ensuring proper grounding, and verifying that all components function as intended.

Hiring a Professional Electrician

While DIY projects can be rewarding, complex electrical work, such as ceiling fan installation, necessitates the expertise of a qualified electrician. Professional electricians possess the knowledge and experience to ensure the safety, compliance with regulations, and long-term functionality of the installed ceiling fan.

Conclusion

In conclusion, installing a ceiling fan in an office space can greatly enhance the comfort and energy efficiency of the environment. By following the step-by-step guide outlined in this article and prioritising safety, individuals and businesses can effectively install a ceiling fan. It's crucial to reiterate the importance of consulting a professional Essendon electrician for complex electrical work, as safety should always be the top priority.

[childofchrist1983]

Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; - Deuteronomy 8:11-12 KJV

And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. - Deuteronomy 8:17 KJV

To whom do we give the glory? Do we really believe that we succeed on our own merits? Yes, we work hard, but who gave us the ability and the opportunities?

Moses was warning the Israelites not to become too proud or self-satisfied. The warning continues with what will happen if they leave God behind and rely only on themselves. The warning applies equally to us. Whatever gifts and opportunities we have been given, they are just that – Gifts! We have done nothing to deserve them. We are expected to use them to the best of our ability for the good of God and of others.

It really doesn't matter what our gifts are, and it isn't important if the world doesn't see us as successful. Not all gifts bring fame or fortune. The good listener can bring comfort to someone who is lonely or in pain. The person who loves people will always find a way make someone's life better. We all need good cooks, good mechanics, teachers, plumbers, electricians. We can't all be doctors or lawyers, but we need the gifts of everyone in a community if we are going to function well. We can and should take pride in doing a good job, the problem comes in thinking we didn't thank God and didn't need God to do our successful accomplishment or at any point in our lives at all. Unfortunately, it is often those who achieve the most success in the eyes of themselves and the world who forget to or outright refuse to believe in God and thank Him for their success or anything else He blesses us with.

As it says in Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall." The Holy Bible continues to remind us to take heed of Moses' warning among many others. God has given each of us what we need in order to be successful in His eyes. May we give Him all the praise and the glory for all that we are able to accomplish, and may we use our gifts in service to Him and to those He chooses to place in our path.

May we make sure that we give our hearts and lives to God and take time daily to seek and praise Him and share His Truth with the world. May the LORD our God and Father in Heaven help us to stay diligent and obedient and help us to guard our hearts in Him and His Word daily. May He help us to remain faithful and full of excitement to do our duty to Him and for His glorious return and our reunion in Heaven as well as all that awaits us there. May we never forget to thank the LORD our God and our Creator and Father in Heaven for all this and everything He does and has done for us! May we never forget who He is, nor forget who we are in Christ and that God is always with us! What a mighty God we serve! What a Savior this is! What a wonderful Lord, God, Savior and King we have in Jesus Christ! What a loving Father we have found in the Almighty God! What a wonderful God we serve! His will be done!

Thanks and glory be to God! Blessed be the name of the LORD! Hallelujah and Amen!

[throw-aw4yfeelings]

I don't know how to start this really... I just feel I need to get it out cause I don't have anyone to express my feelings to which in itself sad because he doesn't get it.

Don't get me wrong I love my boyfriend. we've been dating for 6 almost 7 years now, but lately it's been fading and I don't think he really cares.

it all started on his birthday week we saw a new movie that came out and that weekend we went to dinner and when we got home we did it but only for maybe 3 minutes( if that). little tmi but he put in 3 thrusts and left. at first I thought he needed water or something. but then it turned into 5 minutes of me waiting and when I got dressed and looked for him, he was sitting in the living room just scrolling on his phone. He said he was waiting for his friend to come over.

I was upset. I told him that we didn't even do anything. but he said he was tired. after that, I just hid in the room for the rest night. I was crying because I am an overthinker.

the next day I asked him about again and he said "I told you (friends name) was coming over" mind you it took his friend over an hour to get to our house so obviously there was something else right? he kept saying the same thing and I told him "fine, I don't care." and I stormed to our bedroom.

there was silence in our home for a couple of days. just us doing our routines of getting ready for work. I told him that I wasn't going to sleep with him until he told me what the hell happened. he just brushed me off saying yeah right.

2 months go by, and we weren't in the best of terms, but we were drinking together(a couple of glasses of wine) and did it. same thing happened again. after maybe 5 minutes of thrusting he just stops and go to bed.

then he loses his job and starts complaining that he shouldn't been let go. I told him that it doesn't matter anymore and should start looking for new one. this has happened 3 times now he's an electrician and the shops he worked at simply ran out of jobs, this is what he tells me. I'm not quite sure I'm not in that line of work.

he got a new job after a week of not working. which happened before so there was really no point to worry.

things had gotten slightly better then.  but it was not the same. then on tiktok(of all places) I see he's reposting videos of girls showing off their asses. I don't care if he looks via 🌽, I do too. but seeing it in a public profile where anyone and everyone can see it got me mad. I told him how it made me felt, especially since our sex life is now dead. he got mad at me saying im doing the same this because i read romance stories. he ended up giving me a half ass apology and just deleted tiktok.

I don't know if he actually deleted it, I don't go through his phone. but I did tell him I didn't care and it was too late.

our arrangement is he cooks and does dishes, and I do laundry, that is the set chores. everything else is whoevers and doesn't really matter who does what as long as it gets done.

he started leaving his dirty clothes in his bathroom and not putting them in my bathroom where the washer is located. he then starts complaining to me that he never has clean clothes. I told him if he puts it in my bathroom I'll wash them but I'm not going to pick up your clothes when it's literally in the direction of leaving the room. he complains that he does everything and I should just go and pick up his clothes cause hes always tired after work. he doesn't even do the dishes, he washes plates or bowls and a couple of silverware so we can eat but that's it. the cups he uses stay in the sink the pots and pans stay in the sink. we have a dishwasher, but doesn't use it cause he doesn't know how. and when I showed him how, after one load they still came out dirty.

I told him I didn't want him cooking for me anymore and I will just handle myself. you can do your own laundry, just worry about yourself. he mumbes that I'm a bitch under his breath like I can't hear him but he still makes me dinner even though I told him multiple times to stop. he even bought a basket to fill then take to the washer, which helped at first, but now just sits in our bedroom. and he sometimes remembers to put it in my bathroom. but still complains about not having clean clothes.

I started doing dishes because I couldn't take it anymore. it bugs me when they're just sitting there.

I feel like im just living with the motions. nothing changes

it got worse in December when he got wasted and went shopping even though we are slowly going back to living paycheck to paycheck. I told him we didn't need a tree this year but he got one because it was an all black one. (we've been looking for one in previous years) and got mad at me when I told him where the tape was to wrap gifts, and he couldn't find it.

his drinking has always been a problem and something about that day just broke me. the next day I told him I didn't want to be with him anymore because I told him I hated him when he was wasted. and he just said he'll stop because he doesn't want to lose me.

a couple days after Christmas I was cleaning out a cabinet to make more room for our new kitchen items and I find empty bottles of alcohol. I texted him about it and he says they're old, but I don't know.

then his friend comes over the next day and gifted him a bottle. and they start drinking together. right in front of me. how is he going to tell me he's gonna stop, when he does it in front of my face. that night he gave me the 3/4th drank bottle and said to get rid of it because he doesn't want it. like that makes it better.

it is now coming up to 4 months since we last did. and nothing is the same anymore. he still says he loves me but we don't even kiss anymore. I just stopped saying love you back cause I don't know if I do anymore. I watch as all my friends and old high-school friends get married and have children and I'm just here with a boyfriend I don't even kiss anymore. i want to say i still love him, i still worry about him, like when it takes him a little longer to get home or when we're sleeping, i stay still to make sure he's still breathing but it's been almost 7 years and I feel like im just living with a roommate.

I'm sitting in my car, typing this because I don't really want to deal with this. I know I should but just can't. I feel like it's over. but I don't want it to be over.

[repairservicespoint-blog]

Home Appliances Repair and Services in Greater Noida

With the Home Appliances Repair and Services solution that comes to all of you in Greater Noida, people can get repairs done at their home in case of damage to other things like AC, Refrigerator, Washing Machine, Microwave and many more. Home Appliances Repair and Services We will come to your home and repair all those things whether it is a noisy Ac or a bad washing machine of any other brand, we will fix all these things in the right way as per your convenience and desire.

AC Repair in Greater Noida

You will easily find such a thing in almost all the houses of today. In summer, everyone uses such for cool air. The more we drive it, the more it runs. But sometimes there are problems with this too. There are many experienced experts in Ac Repair Services in Greater Noida who go to your home and get your such and other things repaired. So, get in touch with Ac Repair Services in Greater Noida by picking up your phone without any worries. Our experts will reach out to you immediately to service you at the market price.

Refrigerator Repair in Greater Noida

In today’s time, every house has a fridge in the kitchen and it becomes very difficult to imagine any house without a fridge. The refrigerator in every house protects the ingredients present in the house like vegetables, fruits, milk, etc. from spoilage and keeps it fresh. If due to any reason any fault occurs in the refrigerator, then first of all you should take the help of a reliable Refrigerator Repair Services in Greater Noida. All types of companies are providing Refrigerator Repair Services at a very low cost at every doorstep of every household in Noida. So without thinking you can book it online quickly.

Microwave Oven Repair in Greater Noida

In many homes, people cook on a microwave oven, if your microwave breaks down for some reason, you can get your microwave fixed immediately without stressing yourself. There is a wide range of Microwave Oven Repair Services in Greater Noida many experts. It provides you with all the best things electrician needs at market prices by providing you with accurate microwave fault detection and all kinds of best things.

Washing Machine Repair in Greater Noida

In today’s time washing machine equipment has become an important part of the daily routine of people in every home. Greater Noida has experienced experts and providers of all kinds of washing machine services for every household. By visiting Washing Machine Repair Services in Greater Noida, you can get rid of your troubles by talking to any of the experienced experts and we will be at your doorstep to relieve you from your worries.

Repair Services Point is a leading home appliances repair serviceprovider company. We offer home repair services at home in Delhi NCR, Faridabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Faridabad, and Gurgaon in India. We offer fridge repair in Noida, fridge gas refilling in Noida, washing machine repair in Noida, AC repair in Noida, and microwave repair in Noida for all types, all models and brands like LG, Samsung, Whirlpool, IFB, Sharp, Godrej, Voltas, Videocon, Panasonic, BlueStart, Hitachi, GE, Haier etc. We have a team of well-educated, skilled, and experienced home appliance repair technicians and mechanics in Noida.

Source: https://repairservicespoint.blogspot.com/2024/10/home-appliances-repair-and-services-in_18.html

[apelectricalservicesadelaide]

From Power Points to Ovens: The Diverse Services of a Domestic Electrician in Adelaide

When a flickering lightbulb plunges your kitchen into darkness, or a buzzing outlet sparks concern, most of us know it's time to call an electrician. But the expertise of a domestic electrician in Adelaide extends far beyond those common fixes. These skilled professionals provide a wide range of services to ensure the safe and efficient operation of your home's electrical system.

Keeping Your Home Powered Up

The most fundamental service offered by a domestic electrician in Glenelg is the installation, repair, and maintenance of essential electrical components. This includes:

Power points: Adding new outlets, troubleshooting faulty sockets, and ensuring proper grounding are all within a domestic electrician's purview.

Switchboards: Upgrading or repairing your switchboard, the heart of your home's electrical system, is a crucial task best left to a qualified professional.

Lighting: From installing recessed downlights to fixing a malfunctioning dimmer switch, electricians keep your home illuminated and stylish.

Safety features: Smoke alarms, safety switches, and surge protectors are all vital for electrical safety. Domestic electricians can install, test, and maintain these essential safeguards.

Beyond the Basics: Modern Conveniences and Electrical Needs

Modern homes rely on a complex web of electrical appliances. Domestic electricians ensure these function safely and efficiently:

Appliance installation: Whether it's a new oven, dishwasher, or air conditioner, electricians ensure proper installation and compliance with safety regulations.

Exhaust Fans and Rangehoods: These essential kitchen companions require proper venting to remove heat, moisture, and cooking odours. Electricians can install and maintain them for optimal performance.

Data and Antenna Points: In our tech-driven world, reliable internet and TV connections are crucial. Domestic electricians can install data points and ensure optimal antenna reception.

Specialized Services for Specific Needs

Domestic electricians in Adelaide can also address specialized needs:

Lighting design and installation: Create the perfect ambience in your home with strategically placed lighting designed and installed by a qualified electrician.

Hot water systems: Ensure your home's hot water system functions efficiently and safely with an electrician's expertise.

Switchboard upgrades: As your electrical needs evolve, your switchboard may require an upgrade to handle the increased capacity.

By understanding the diverse services offered by domestic electricians in Adelaide, you can ensure your home's electrical system functions safely, and efficiently, and meets the ever-changing needs of your modern lifestyle.

Source: https://apelectricalservices.blogspot.com/2024/08/from-power-points-to-ovens-diverse.html

[safe-t-mark]

The Essential Guide to Fire Protection: Safeguarding Your Home and Workplace

Fire: a primal force both awe-inspiring and destructive. While fire has played a crucial role in human development, its uncontrolled presence can be catastrophic. Fire protection, therefore, becomes a vital aspect of ensuring safety in our homes and workplaces. This comprehensive guide delves into the science of fire, fire prevention strategies, and the different methods of fire suppression.

Understanding Fire: The Fire Triangle

Fire doesn't just happen spontaneously. It requires a specific set of conditions to exist, often depicted as the fire triangle. Each point of the triangle represents a vital element for a fire to ignite and sustain itself:

Heat Source: This is the spark that ignites the fire. Common heat sources include electrical malfunctions, open flames, sparks from welding, and even spontaneous combustion (which can occur in materials like oily rags).

Fuel: Fire needs something to burn. This can be anything combustible, such as wood, paper, fabrics, gasoline, or even certain gases.

Oxygen: Fire needs oxygen to sustain itself. The air we breathe is roughly 21% oxygen, which is sufficient for most fires to thrive.

Disrupting any one of these elements can extinguish a fire. Fire protection strategies often target one or more points of the fire triangle.

Fire Prevention: Stopping Fire Before it Starts

The best way to deal with a fire is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Here are some key fire prevention practices:

Maintaining Electrical Systems: Faulty wiring is a leading cause of house fires. Regularly inspect electrical outlets, cords, and appliances for any signs of damage. Don't overload circuits, and have a qualified electrician address any electrical concerns.

Safeguarding Flammable Materials: Flammable liquids like gasoline, paint, and cleaning solvents should be stored in proper containers, away from heat sources. Keep aerosols in a cool, dry place, preferably a fire cabinet.

Kitchen Safety: Cooking is a common cause of fires. Never leave cooking unattended, and keep flammable items like dish towels away from the stovetop. Clean grease traps on stoves and ovens regularly.

Smoking Safety: Always extinguish cigarettes properly in a deep ashtray. Never smoke in bed, and dispose of cigarette butts carefully.

Candles and Open Flames: Never leave lit candles unattended. Place them on sturdy, heat-resistant surfaces away from flammable materials.

Heating System Maintenance: Have your heating system inspected and serviced annually. Ensure proper ventilation around heaters and fireplaces.

Decluttering: Clutter can act as fuel for a fire and impede escape routes. Keep walkways and exits clear of obstructions.

Educate Yourself and Others: Familiarize yourself with the operation of your fire extinguisher and smoke detectors. Develop a fire escape plan with your family or colleagues and practice it regularly.

Fire Suppression: When Prevention Fails

Despite our best efforts, fires can still occur. Here's what you need to know about fire suppression:

Fire Alarms: Early detection is crucial in fighting fires. Smoke detectors alert you to a potential fire, allowing you to evacuate safely and call the fire department. Install smoke detectors on every level of your home and workplace and test them monthly.

Fire Extinguishers: Portable fire extinguishers can be used to extinguish small fires before they spread. There are different types of fire extinguishers for different types of fires (Class A - ordinary combustibles, Class B - flammable liquids, Class C - electrical fires), so ensure you have the right extinguisher for the potential hazards in your environment. Knowing how to use a fire extinguisher properly is vital. Familiarize yourself with the PASS method (Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the lever, Sweep the nozzle side to side):

Fire Sprinkler Systems: These automated systems discharge water when a fire is detected, suppressing the flames and preventing the fire from spreading. Fire sprinklers are highly effective in controlling fires and saving lives, and are required by law in many commercial buildings and some residential settings.

Fire Escape Planning: Knowing Your Way Out

Even with fire prevention measures in place, having a fire escape plan is essential. Here are some steps to consider:

Identify Exit Points: Locate all exits in your home or workplace and ensure they are clear of obstructions.

Two Ways Out: Plan two escape routes from each room in case one becomes blocked by fire.

Meeting Place: Designate a meeting place outside your home or workplace where everyone can gather after escaping a fire.

Practice Drills: Conduct fire drills regularly with your family or colleagues. This helps everyone familiarize themselves with the escape plan and act quickly in an emergency.

Conclusion: Fire Protection – A Shared Responsibility

[olympicelectricalau]

How to Select the Ideal Lighting for Your Home

Lighting plays a crucial role in shaping the ambiance of any living space. It not only influences the overall aesthetic but also impacts the functionality and mood of a room. Choosing the best lights for your home in Sydney can significantly enhance its appeal and comfort.

From classic to modern designs, there is a plethora of lighting options available to suit different preferences and styles. Whether you prefer the elegance of metal and crystal or the earthiness of bamboo and fiber, you can find a wide array of beautiful light fixtures to complement your home decor. Options range from floor lamps and ceiling fixtures to pendant lights and chandeliers, allowing you to customise the lighting to create the perfect atmosphere.

Understanding the Different Types of Lighting

In designing your lighting scheme, it's helpful to consider the three primary layers of light: ambient, task, and accent.

Ambient Lighting: This serves as the primary source of illumination in a room, providing overall brightness. Common ambient light sources include ceiling fixtures like chandeliers, flush mounts, and recessed lighting.

Task Lighting: Task lighting is focused illumination designed to assist in specific activities such as reading, cooking, or working. Examples of task lighting fixtures include desk lamps, pendant lights over kitchen islands, and vanity lighting in bathrooms.

Accent Lighting: Accent lighting adds depth and visual interest to a space by highlighting architectural features, artwork, or decorative elements. Wall sconces, track lighting, and recessed spotlights are popular choices for accent lighting.

Choosing the Perfect Lighting for Your Home

To ensure that your lighting design meets both your aesthetic and practical needs, consider the following factors:

Establish a Budget: Determine how much you're willing to invest in lighting fixtures and prioritise your purchases accordingly. While it's tempting to splurge on statement pieces, it's essential to allocate resources wisely across all areas of your home.

Define the Purpose: Consider the function of each room and how lighting can enhance its usability and ambiance. Whether you're creating a cozy reading nook in the living room or a well-lit workspace in the home office, tailor your lighting choices to suit specific activities and atmospheres.

Customise for Each Room

Different areas of your home require varying levels and types of lighting. Here's a brief overview of lighting requirements for key rooms:

Entryway: Welcome guests with warm and inviting lighting, such as accent lights or a statement chandelier.

Living Room: Balance ambient lighting with task lighting options like floor lamps and sconces for versatility and comfort.

Dining Room: Install a focal point fixture like a chandelier or pendant lights above the dining table for both illumination and style.

Kitchen: Opt for task lighting solutions such as pendant lights or under-cabinet fixtures to illuminate work areas effectively.

Bedroom: Create a relaxing ambiance with soft, warm lighting supplemented by task lighting for reading or watching TV.

Bathroom: Ensure ample brightness for grooming tasks with well-placed vanity lights or sconces around mirrors.

By carefully selecting and strategically placing lighting fixtures throughout your home, one can achieve the perfect blend of functionality, style, and ambiance to suit their lifestyle and preferences with Olympic Electrical, a fast and friendly electrician in Sydney.

[mrmirekelectrics]

How to Fix Common Cooktop Problems & Keep It Safe?

You might have seen different types, sizes and designs of cooktop that is used for cooking foods. People do buy the one of their choice that suits their needs. However, when they fail to maintain and repair the minor issue on time they often have to spend a hefty amount for costly repair damage. Hence it is better not to make such mistakes and always hire an expert who specialises in offering the best cooktop repairs in Ipswich.

Now what is important for you is to understand the common problem which you might face with your cooktop. If you want to have the best idea and knowledge about it then you should go through the points that are explained below in detail.

Common Cook-top Problem

If you have an induction cooktop which is not turning on or taking time to heat up then this can be due to a faulty power supply. Hence it is better to check and see whether you can fix such an issue or not. In case there is electrical wiring or a circuit breaker problem and you don't have the knowledge as to how to get the best possible solution then it is better to call professionally trained and experienced electricians.

Another problem which you might face is that the gas burner is not lighting up. In such a case, you should turn off the appliance and unplug it. Cleaning the food debris and checking whether the wires are loose or not is what you need to do. If you still don't get the solution then without wasting any time you should hire experts for cooktop repairs in Brisbane.

The other problem which you might face with your cooktop is that the gas burner is heating slowly, the electric burner is not heating, etc.

The simple thing is that if you want to get the best and long lasting solution then hiring experts for professional cooktop repairs in Ipswich is the best decision you can make.

[electrxaus]

How Can Electrical Services Enhance Your Home Automation?

Smart home technology has revolutionised the way we interact with our living spaces, offering convenience, energy efficiency, and enhanced security. One of the key elements that underpin a successful home automation system is a robust electrical infrastructure. In this blog post, we will explore how electrical Point Cook services can significantly enhance your home automation experience.

Embracing the Future with Home Automation

In the modern era, homeowners are increasingly turning to home automation to streamline daily tasks, increase energy efficiency, and enhance overall comfort and convenience. From smart lighting and thermostats to integrated security systems and entertainment setups, home automation offers a wealth of benefits. However, to fully realise the potential of these technologies, a reliable and versatile electrical system is essential.

The Role of Electrical Services

Designing Smart Solutions

An experienced electrical company can work with homeowners to design customised smart home solutions tailored to their specific needs and preferences. Whether it's integrating lighting controls, motorised shades, or smart appliances, the expertise of qualified electricians is indispensable in creating a cohesive and effective home automation setup.

Installation and Integration

The seamless integration of various smart devices and systems requires meticulous planning and precise installation. Electrical services encompass all aspects of wiring, circuitry, and connectivity, ensuring that your automated devices function flawlessly and harmoniously within the home environment.

Safety and Compliance

A reputable electrical company prioritises safety and adheres to industry standards and regulations. When implementing home automation features, it's crucial to safeguard against electrical hazards and ensure that all installations are compliant with relevant codes. Professional electricians can provide peace of mind by delivering safe and reliable electrical Point Cook solutions for your smart home.

Upgrading Infrastructure

In many cases, older homes may require electrical upgrades to accommodate the power demands of modern smart devices. Electrical services can encompass the installation of dedicated circuits, voltage stabilisation, and the integration of smart meters, enabling seamless compatibility with advanced home automation systems.

Troubleshooting and Maintenance

A reliable Williamstown electric company offers ongoing support for your home automation setup, conducting regular maintenance checks and promptly addressing any technical issues that may arise. This proactive approach ensures the longevity and optimal performance of your smart home features.

Energy Efficiency Solutions

Effective home automation extends beyond mere convenience, encompassing energy-saving strategies that contribute to a more sustainable and eco-friendly household. Electrical services can incorporate energy-efficient lighting, smart HVAC controls, and power monitoring solutions, empowering homeowners to reduce their environmental footprint and utility costs.

Future-Proofing Your Home

As technology continues to evolve, a forward-thinking Williamstown electric company can future-proof your home by designing electrical systems that are adaptable to upcoming advancements in home automation. By laying the groundwork for scalability and flexibility, homeowners can seamlessly integrate new smart devices and technologies as they become available.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the marriage of electrical Point Cook services and home automation is pivotal in creating a modern, intelligent, and comfortable living environment. From initial design and installation to ongoing maintenance and forward-thinking solutions, the expertise of a reputable electrical company is indispensable in maximising the potential of home automation.

By leveraging reliable electrical services, homeowners can embark on a journey towards a more connected, efficient, and sustainable home lifestyle powered by cutting-edge technology.

[daisyachain]

I dddon’t have a concrete idea of how everything ought to play out post-canon with Mob but there are a few that I would like to have somebody else write for me because I certainly won’t put the work in.

One is where the kids grow up and enter uni/trade school as planned, get their degrees and certifications, enter the workforce without much incident. Ritsu takes maybe a psych or healthsci undergrad then goes into med school, Tome gets some kind of commerce degree with the intention of starting her own business, Shou…picks up some kind of short hands-on apprenticeship because he’s not sure if he’ll stick with it. Maybe he’s a line cook, maybe an electrician, something of the sort. Teruki of course does education, maybe combined degree with commerce.

Mob…his career path in the least sure of. He might do some temporary construction work before he chooses. I think he’d be good in public service, but not bureaucracy. Maybe education as well. Anyway, everyone buckles down and gets themselves into a good place without too much time for social lives. Graduation (even though it’s like 5-10 years between Shou getting his first full-time job and Ritsu) feels like a watershed. The kids come back to live at home in Seasoning after, to get their bearings. That’s when the friendships that have fallen into amicable distance spring back up.

In that town, there’s not a whole lot to do for people newly free of studying. Ritsu is away at school for longer than anyone else. Having put off schooling, Mob’s gotten a bit lonely with his friends away and has been hanging out with Shou (they’re friends but it’s a little awkward), S&S or the ex-Claw gang. Their friends come back one by one. So then things start to get moving for Mob again.

All that means is that when Teru moves back to town, Mob is in the social swing and Teru has the most free time of everyone with school breaks and such. They start seeing one another more often. It’s just by chance. Compound that over the extra years that Tome’s on the grind and Ritsu is away, they get close to the point of school besties. Common enough when you’re young but not when you’re older. Walking to work together or going over for movie nights on the weekends. It’s just something to do.

All the while there’s a sense of living out of one another’s pockets. When Mob needs something to do well of course he calls Teru. Still living at home, he ends up going over to Teru’s place a lot because most of his other friends live with their families. And if once or twice they sit very close to one another on the couch not touching as they watch First Love (2019), then that’s just how it is.

Then in the course of things Mob finally goes to school. Ritsu graduates, gets a residency, starts practice. Whatever was brewing between them breaks; they’re still connected to one another on the most basic level (the shaving incidents were formative for them both) but Teru is tied to the town and he’s far beyond mature enough not to follow Mob when he leaves. Charming Mob befriends some lovely young woman, she asks him out after a few years of inertia, and Teru meanwhile is content and fulfilled enough with his schoolkids and gaggle of friends that he doesn’t have the time for that whole dating thing.

In short. I think it’d be fun to have a future verse where Mob and Teru grow close in that pseudodating way you do with your school friends as a teenager, but by that point it’s too late for either of them to get impulsive about their relationship. The baggage they have of being a foundational part of each other’s life (good or bad) is something that keeps them from pursuing it, and once something disturbs that equilibrium they never come back to that point. Instead for the rest of their lives they thing ‘did we…no, I must be imagining it’ and they meet up every six months or so for a friendly visit. They don’t go over to each other’s houses alone. They have a feeling it would open up a box best left closed.

[copperbadge]

I want to thank you for your food science posts, because you're like a more cool version of Alton Brown

Aw, I'm glad I can entertain! As difficult as our collective relationship to Alton Brown can be these days, I did learn from him that food can be science, and if there's a way to cook something there's a way to test the best methodology. (His episode on pasta, where he tested the effects of both salt and oil in pasta water, has stuck with me.) So to me "more cool version of Alton Brown" is a huge compliment, because when I was a kid NOBODY doing anything with food was cooler than Alton Brown. :D

In any case the Bagel Experiment is momentarily on hold, only because the Building Guy Who Does Electricianing is coming at some point today so I had to clear the decks and make sure he had enough room to work. There's only so many ways to Tetris my kitchen around, so for now there's no cooking and very little eating that can happen in there. It DID give me the opportunity to completely empty the sink, scrub the counters and that gross behind-the-faucet area, and run the soaking tub from the sink through the dishwasher along with the sponge caddy, sponges, and other implements that often don't get washed because they're constantly in use.

[coffeeheartaddict2]

5, 9, 11, 14 and 18 from the Fun OC asks.

Yay! Someone that is is not Elsa has asked me one of these, this had made my Saturday morning exciting….

5. What is their relationship like with their parents?

Ethan: Since he was 11 it has only been Ethan and his dad and despite Alan working a lot they had a relationship but since Ethan did not understand why his Dad hated Louise it did put a barrier there. After Louise does her rehab stint it does improve.

Until Louise contacted Alan out of the blue, it would be safe to say that Ethan had not thought much about Louise at all and if he did not have Casey, I do not think he would have sought her out, nothing eventuated really from their recon mission but when she shows up at Edenbrook it throws him, also remember he is still got memories of the attack that are still quite raw at this point also. He opts to hear her out at least and seeing that she is trying to remain sober, attends some therapy sessions with her, even though he does it so that he can understand parts of himself better. They are not close, they do talk, but 25years is a long time to try and insert yourself back into someone else’s life and Ethan being a medical professional knows the nature of addiction and has a small wall up to protect himself in case of relapse. She does know about him and Casey and she does meet their grandchildren but does not attend the wedding or engagement parties (this was her choice).

Casey. Casey has her mum and dad and currently they live in Oregon. They have retired now. Casey’s mum was a high school Teacher and her dad was an electrician. Both worked hard and Casey gets alot of her work ethic from them. She was also close to her grandad on her mums side, who served in the Korean War as an Army medic and he was her inspiration to go into medicine.

9. Favourite colour

Ethan: Any colour that looks good on Casey…. So red and blue are his two favourite as that is what Casey looks best in

Casey: growing up it was yellow, as she got older she strayed from having a favourite but she does like red,blue and purple

11. If they could make a mark on history what would it be

Same for both and it would be repair of the healthcare system. America it is very profit driven which mean some basics are inaccessible for those who can’t afford which is pretty bad

14. What is their favourite food and how often do they get to eat it?

Both Ethan and Casey have a sweet tooth and both love chocolate or baked goods so Casey was in heaven when living with the roomies. Now she is with Ethan she does not eat as much but about once a week they go to their favourite bakery and have cannoli or some other rich sweet treat.

Favourite non sweet for Casey is Georgian stuffed chicken and non sweet for Ethan is Roast pork when Casey cooks it- she always gets the crackling perfect and the meat never too dry

18. What languages do they speak and how did they learn them.

Both being doctors they have a basic understanding of Latin and Classical Greek as a few medical terms have their roots in these languages.

General Ethan can speak enough French and Italian to get by, much of his Italian he learnt from opera (no surprises here) but refined it with Italian phrase book and later duo lingo. French was phrase book and later duo lingo.

Casey has always wanted to visit Germany so she has taught herself some German and she learnt Japanese in school and she remembers enough to get by if she ever went to Japan but would use duo lingo to brush up.

[cuddlepilefics]

baby space chan please please please, maybe minho as a cg, including things like stress, pacifiers and bottle

Channie ish tiwed

 Fandom: Stray Kids

Little: Chan

Caregiver: Minho

 No one’s POV.:

Times had been tough on Stray Kids lately. Out of the blue, their management demanded them to produce a new album in half the time they usually needed. It shouldn’t be too hard on 3racha because Chan had a massive amount of unpublished songs on his laptop, yet he didn’t feel confident enough in them to have any of them published, at least not the way they were right now. The leader was always harsh on himself when it came to the music he was producing and only a small fraction actually made it on one of their albums. What was even more bothersome, was that their company building was under construction and it was hard to find a studio where it was quiet enough to record anything. Not being in the studio he was used to, was a big stressor for Chan. He had become attached to that room and felt the most motivated and focused there. Not being in his known environment was distracting the Aussie and slowed him down significantly. He ended up staying later every night and at some point, he didn’t even let Changbin and Jisung stay with him to help him because one, they were obviously exhausted though they tried not to show it too much and two, they distracted their hyung too. Usually they didn’t distract him but while already being unable to properly focus, any form of company had become a distraction for the oldest.

After impressive two hours of sleep at the dorm, Chan packed his things and got ready to go to the studio again. His members were still asleep but he couldn’t afford to rest too much, despite the headache he had developed from stress and exhaustion days prior. It wasn’t too bad, merely a nuisance that kept him from focusing but not enough to keep him from working. Just as he slipped on his shoes to head out, his phone buzzed with a message that had been sent to all JYP employees. The electrician had made a mistake, which left the entire company building without power. Reading this, Chan wanted to cry. How was he supposed to complete their album on time if he can’t even use the studio? Having to switch to a different one had already been hard enough but now? He’d have to work at the dorm. It would be tough because his members would all be home too. How was he supposed to focus and get something done here? He couldn’t even tell them to go and practice some dances because the dance rooms didn’t have power either and if they started dancing in their living room, Chan would have an emotional breakdown. Taking a few deep breaths, he took out his laptop and placed it on the dining table. He made his way to the kitchen to get himself a big cup of strong coffee. He’d really need that. The Aussie tried to make peace with the situation, since there was nothing he could do about it but still, he couldn’t help but feel even more stressed than before. He’d try to get as much done at the dining table before the first members woke up and when his roommates were up, he’d claim their shared bedroom as his new workplace and God forbid if anyone dared to disturb him.

Chan wasn’t usually an irritable person but with the sleep-deprivation and pressure put on him, he tended to snap at people quicker than anyone would expect. Especially, when it was one of his dongsaengs deliberately trying to keep him from working and telling him to go to bed. Couldn’t they see that their songs didn’t write themselves? Taking a huge gulp of his coffee, Chan burned his tongue and cursed under his breath. By the way his day was starting, he just wanted to go back to bed and pull the blanket over his head to hide from the world. He caught himself pouting at the screen in front of him and frowned that his little side was rising to the surface now out of all times. If he slipped, he’d get even less work done, so he really needed another sip of coffee, no matter how hot it was. His little self despised anything that tasted remotely bitter and considering how strong the Aussie had brewed his coffee this morning, bitter wasn’t even strong enough of a word to describe the taste. The bitterness on his tongue instantly brought his focus back and he continued to work somewhat focused for almost thirty minutes till Seungmin shuffled into the kitchen. The vocalist was a morning person and needing the least time to wake up and get out of bed, he often ended up making breakfast for his friends. With his headphones on, Chan hadn’t even heard him come in but as though he was able to feel his presence, he instantly got distracted. Looking up, he removed one of his headphones and grumbled: “The company building is out of power, so if you want, you can go back to bed.”

Seungmin had other plans though. Since they didn’t have to hurry to get to the company in time, they could have a bigger breakfast and he was awake anyway, so why not make pancakes for everyone. Chan wanted to rip out his hair as soon as the clanging of pots started behind him. His focus was gone but where could he go? He could hear Seungmin’s cooking in the living room too but all the bedrooms were still occupied. Putting his headphones fully back on, the leader tried to drown out the noise but like earlier, the presence itself was enough to distract him. He felt like crying and couldn’t tell whether the exhaustion was making him emotional or whether his little side was coming out, either way, coffee would help. Taking another gulp of the slowly cooling drink, he picked up his laptop and went to the bathroom. The Aussie closed the door behind him and sat down on the closed toilet lid with his laptop on his lap. It wasn’t the most comfortable position to work in but it was quiet and he was alone, which was exactly what he needed right now. Looking around deep in thought as he was searching for the right word that would fit the flow of their lyrics, his eyes landed on his rubber duck, that sat on the edge of the bathtub. He cursed himself for leaving his coffee on the dining table and quickly shoved the bath toy into a random drawer, not caring where it went as long as it was out of his sight.

Chan almost fell off the toilet in shock when the door suddenly opened. He didn’t know why he was so surprised because it had been only a matter of time till someone would have to use the bathroom. “Hyung?”, Hyunjin asked confused. The leader took off his headphones and sighed: “The company building is out of power, so I tried to find a quiet place here.” He closed his laptop and left, continuing his search for a hiding place where he could hopefully get some of his work done. “Wait, hyung, why don’t you use our room? Seungmin and I are up already and Minho-hyung’s sleeping. He’s a heavy sleeper, so I don’t think he’d wake up”, the dancer offered. It actually seemed like a good idea. Maybe the distracting feeling of someone’s presence wouldn’t be as strong of that someone was asleep because living with seven other people, it would be quite difficult to find an unoccupied spot.

The Aussie quietly snuck into the bedroom, glancing at Minho who was indeed still deeply asleep. He set up his laptop on Seungmin’s desk, grateful that the younger was such a tidy person. He was lucky, Minho’s presence wasn’t distracting at all, he just needed to make sure not to accidentally look at the sleeping dancer. Minho was Chan’s caregiver whenever the leader slipped into his headspace and seeing him lay there so peacefully, the little in him just wanted to go and get some cuddles from his daddy. It looked so, so cozy over there but as long as he didn’t look, he’d be able to resist. Too bad that the song he was working on wasn’t working out the way he had thought it would. Something just sounded off, not right at all, but he didn’t know what he’d have to fix to make it sound right. Minho, who was just waking up, got the scare of his life when a frustrated Chan punched the closet standing next to the desk. As soon as his heart slowed down a bit, he got out of bed and spun the chair his hyung was sitting in around. He made it just in time to keep the leader from throwing his laptop across the room, something he’d surely regret. What he was doing was risky because he didn’t know how mad the older was and why he was mad in the first place. “Hey, what’s got you so work up that you need to resort to violence”, the dancer asked sternly, trying to hide how nervous he was about interrupting Chan when he had just punched something. The older looked up at him with a pout and whined: “Channie ish tiwed!” Immediately afterwards, the first tear spilled over and within a few seconds, he was full on sobbing.

Minho was taken aback but quickly pulled the little out of his chair and guided him to his unmade bed, where they sat down together. “It’s okay, ducky. You’ve been working so hard, I’d be confused if you weren’t tired”, he hummed, resting his back against the wall and pulling Chan against his chest. The leader only whimpered in response and buried his face in his sweater paws. He rarely got this worked up, so Minho was unsure about the best way of calming him down. Reaching behind him, the dancer grabbed the cat plushie he always kept on his bed and handed it to the little, who instantly clutched it to his chest. The caregiver smiled softly when he watched the other calm down a bit as soon as he held the plushie, carefully he whispered: “Channie, can you tell me how old you are?” The Aussie looked at him with teary eyes, lip quivering as he remained silent. “Aww, is my little ducky too little to talk?”, Minho cooed, cupping the little’s damp cheek and brushing his thumb under the other’s eye to brush away the tears. Chan only whined and slipped the cord of his hoodie between his lips, chewing on it. “Channie, do you want to tell daddy what made you so frustrated?”, he tried quietly, quite certain that he wouldn’t get a reply but he wanted to give the other a chance to get it off his chest. The leader responded with whines and some blabbering around the cord in his mouth. Although he didn’t understand a word, Minho nodded along understandingly and when the little grew quiet he gasped: “Really, I’m sorry, baby. Don’t think about it too much yeah?” Chan nodded and cuddled back into his caregiver’s chest.

They sat for a while till the little had calmed down and completely forgotten about work. With some struggle, Minho picked him up and carried him to the living room, where everyone else was gathered already as the two had taken quite some time. “What’s going on?”, Felix frowned, getting up from the couch, so that the older could sit down with Chan in his lap. The leader hid his face against his shoulder, feeling shy, so Minho ran his hand up and down the little’s back and sighed: “He finally slipped after putting it off due to work for who knows how long. I think he’s in babyspace, so if you could get me his stuff from your room?” The younger nodded, quickly searching for the box his hyung kept his little gear in. He placed the box on the coffee table but took one item out already. Chan owned a light-blue pacifier, a color that was calm and soothing to look at. “Hey, little one, do you want your paci?”, he cooed, holding the comfort item out to the other. The leader hesitantly lifted his head from Minho’s shoulder and looked at Felix, opening his mouth. The freckled boy giggled and placed the paci between the little’s lips.

Chan whined again and nuzzled his face against his daddy’s neck. “Ah, I forgot to mention, he’s exhausted and I’m going to put him down for a nap”, the caregiver chuckled, turning his face to press a soft kiss on the little’s cheek. He was just about to get up, when Seungmin stopped him: “I don’t think he had breakfast yet and judging by those eyebags, he’s going to be out cold till after lunch.” – “Right, hm, could you make him a bottle? Just hot milk with some honey. I can’t really put him down when he’s this little, other wise I’d do it myself”, the dancer pleaded. The younger nodded, smiling: “Sure, you don’t have to do this all by yourself. We want to help our leader too, you know?” Jeongin took the bottle from the box and handed it to Seungmin, adding: “You just go ahead, either to his or to your room and I’ll take this box and follow you, so you two can get settled.” Minho nodded gratefully and carried Chan to his room. Jeongin and Changbin followed him and while Jeongin placed the box down on the bed, Changbin collected Chan’s laptop. Him and Jisung could try and continue their work, so their hyung wouldn’t have as much work left when he’d come out of his headspace again. “There, you can get all comfy, ducky”, Minho whispered, placing Chan down on his bed. Jeongin was already rummaging through the box of little gear, checking if there was anything he could want to have with him for a nap. He found a little bird plush with a rattle in it but other than that, the other things were would have to wait till the little was better rested.

Minho sat down with his back against the headboard and settled Chan against his chest, remembering that he still had to feed him his bottle before he could take a nap. The little whined a bit, but was easily distracted by his rattle. The maknae shook it a few times before handing it to the Aussie who looked at it with wondering eyes. Jeongin then closed the blinds, leaving only small slits at the bottom to allow enough light in to see. Then he patted the little’s head and told him to have sweet dreams before leaving the two alone. Seungmin came in quietly, handing Minho the bottle and worrying: “Hyung, he already had coffee this morning and with how bad his insomnia gets, I’m not sure if he really can sleep right now.” – “Hm, usually his insomnia is much better when he’s little because he has less things on his mind and I don’t know if coffee is even affecting him anymore, considering his body must be used to it at this point. At least that’s what I hope because I have no idea what’s going to happen if he stays awake much longer”, the dancer hummed, raking his fingers through Chan’s hair. Seungmin nodded and left them alone, knowing the leader was shy about using his bottle when people were looking. Minho plucked the paci out of the little’s mouth, earning a disapproving whine, and quickly replacing it with the bottle after checking whether it had drinking temperature. The Aussie relaxed as he suckled his warm, sweet milk and played with the small rattle in his hands. His eyes started to droop shut towards the end but by the time the bottle was empty, he was awake again, whimpering as he just wanted to sleep off the headache that had been bugging him for a few days already. Minho placed a kiss on his forehead before cradling his head against his chest, sighing: “Aww ducky, you’re okay. Should daddy try to sing you to sleep?” The little nodded with a sad pout and closed his eyes, only focusing on his daddy’s voice and the fingers messing with his hair. Watching Chan’s breathing even out, the dancer mumbled sadly: “Get some rest, little one.”

[angrylizardjacket]

dirtbags // 2: Lola

Summary: High school AU, 1984, Winter. It’s hard to make friends when you’re the new kid starting halfway through Junior year, but slowly Lola seems to be making a few. It’s much easier to have a rumour started about you, especially when you tend to make questionable choices at parties, but that’s much less fun.

A/N: 8173 words. Lola’s dad is the MVP, trust me. i meant to put this out a week ago whoops!! also im allowed to reference my own Queen oc as a treat. @bluehourmotel, @misscharlottelee and again, interludes are A Softer World quotes.

[ m a s t e r p o s t ]

the best revenge is living well. the second best revenge is fire ants.

The fact that after being in town for a total of two weeks, Lola’s closest friend is the gas station attendant a full fifteen minute drive away from her house is kind of sad. Not that she’s disappointed to be Mick’s friend, he’s got a dry sense of humor but a good heart and he’s refreshing honesty, but she’s been at this new school for about a week and a half, has already made out with at least one person, has possibly convinced said-person’s cousin that she’s trying to corrupt him, and started to make a name for herself - whether it’s good or bad is yet to be seen -, and yet Mick Mars, nineteen-year-old gas station attendant, apprentice electrician, and aspiring guitar player is her closest friend. 

But she’s always been kind of terrible at making friends her own age.

“You have lost all respect from me,” Mick told her on Monday morning after the party, over the counter of the gas station as he’s ringing her up for her smokes and iced coffee before she went to school, “you could have picked anyone to mack on at that party, and you chose Tommy fuckin’ Lee?”

“He was nice to me, what was I meant to do?” Lola declared, realizing too late that that statement revealed absolutely too much about herself to a near stranger. Mick, however, just gives her a flat look.

“You need higher standards.” He doesn’t seem too phased by her. Lola takes this in stride, and nods, agreeing with a sigh. 

“What time do you finish work?” She asks, changing the subjects quickly as she’s pulling out a bill from her back pocket, “dad said he’s happy to let you have a look at that weird light switch that doesn’t do anything that I was telling you about.” 

“I finish at ten tonight, I’m working a double,” he groans at the very thought of it. Lola gives him a sympathetic look, and tells him to only come around if he’s up to it, otherwise leaving it for another day.

That’s the day that Lola realises the whole school knows about her and Tommy at the party, that she has Art with Charlotte before lunch, and also that Charlotte can’t look her in the eye.

Tuesday the school realises that she’s not just Lola Who Gives It Up For Free At Parties, but that she’s Lola The New Girl and that they don’t know anything about her beyond that. There’s a guy in her wood working class with long black hair and a dangerous smile that winks at her; she flips him off, knowing all he cared about was knowing if the rumours were true. She’s got AP French last period with that ginger from the party who wouldn’t stop laughing, Eileen; she’s a lot more serious, sober. The cheerleader, Heather, won’t stop giving her these weird, calculating looks.

Wednesday there’s a new rumour, that she was expelled from her last school. The population of the school hasn’t decided what exactly they think she was expelled for yet. Turns out she has English with that guy from her woodworking class, he just hadn’t turned up for their lesson on Monday; he sits at the back like Lola, in the other corner, and the teacher calls him Nikki in a tone like she’s already disappointed. Lola can see why, he fell asleep at his desk. Art last period with Charlotte; she still barely looks at Lola. 

Thursday. Heather asks in AP French if Lola’s heard what everyone’s saying about her; her tone is sweet and dangerous in equal measure and Lola doesn’t trust what’s about to come out of her mouth. The new rumour is that Lola was expelled for sleeping with a teacher; something about the glint in Heather’s eye is cruel, and Lola asks her sweetly if she’s more jealous of Lola or the teacher. That shuts Heather up fast, and Eileen’s cough behind them sounds more like she’s trying to hide a laugh. But it still gets to her; Lola focuses so hard on ignoring the girls gossiping loudly about her at their station behind her in Home Economics that she burns the apple danishes she was attempting, and she throws the burnt pastries, and the tray they’d been cooking on, into the bin until she realises her mistake and sulkily fishes the tray out again. Thankfully, the teacher didn’t notice.

Friday, and Lola hasn’t paid much attention to Vince, whose house she’s been to but who she hadn’t properly met until their classes had P.E at the same time; he’s in the year below her, but still manages to sidle up to her while they’re both waiting for their teachers to prepare the field for whatever torture they’re masquerading as physical exercise today. She tells him to fuck off; there’s something about the way he conducts himself that she doesn’t like, like he’s putting on a show of being shallow and vain and the life of the party. Instead, Vince’s voice goes quiet and he tells her that Tommy’s a good kid with a good heart -

“You give this speech to everyone you caught making out at your parties, or just me, ‘cos you think I’m a bitch and I’m gonna hurt one of ‘your bros’?” She snapped, lip curling, and Vince’s brow creases into a frown, “I’m not his fucking girlfriend, we made out a little, you don’t have to act like I’m going to break his heart, so piss off.”

A moment passes, and he appears to don his shallow, playboy mask when he asks her slyly if the rumours are true. She shoves him hard enough that he skitters back a few feet, and Lola earns her first after school detention.

The thing is, she and Tommy are already on the same page about this, it was a what happens while drunk at a party stays at that party. Or at least, it’s meant to. Either way, Charlotte’s protectiveness, and Vince’s... attempt at protectiveness was unwarranted. Maybe it’s because Tommy, for whatever reason, has started hanging around Lola at lunch.

She doesn’t sit in the cafeteria like the rest of them, or even on that little section of the roof the intimidating pack of punks, rockers, and smokers have found a way to get to. Lola sits against the fence near the science building, close to the carpark that’s always open for some stupid reason, as though she’s contemplating bolting.

“Don’t you have friends?” Lola’s tone is kind of hard, and perhaps her words are on the nose, and a little cruel, but it’s Wednesday, and this is the third day in a row he’s found her and spent the entirety of lunch with her. They don’t speak much, Lola smokes and picks apart whatever her dad’s latest cooking experiment is before she eats it, and Tommy practices twirling his drumsticks. 

“I have friends, do you?” Tommy responds, more than a little defensive, rubbing at his brow where he’d just managed to hit himself mid-drumstick-twirl, taken aback by her question. Lola gives him a flat look. “Someone told me you were expelled from your last school,” Tommy’s gaze shifts to the carpark, to the last car and it’s telltale rocking and fogged up windows.

“They say why?”

“Nah,” Tommy shakes his head, scowl softening as he gets back to practicing, “it true?” Lola’s picking out and eating the apple chunks from the slice of pie her father had packed for the day, still watching the car with the mildest of interest. She shakes her head. Tommy hums noncommittally. They spend the rest of lunch in silence.

“He keeps hanging out with me!” The following afternoon, Lola gripes to Mick on his smoke break after she gets out of school for the afternoon.

“You keep hanging out with me,” Mick points out, peeling the label off of a bottle of soda.

“And?”

“I don’t tell you to fuck off.”

“Yeah? So?”

“Because,” and Mick heaves a heavy sigh, like it pains him to admit, “we’re friends, Lola,” but he pauses and amends, “God knows why.”

“Fuck you, I’m a delight,” Lola huffs, and pulls her oversized denim jacket tighter around herself to ward off the chill of the afternoon breeze. If this were pretty much any other state, they’d be knee-deep in snow; thank God for LA, snow’s pretty for five minutes before it’s a pain.

“Do you tell him to fuck off?” Mick asks pointedly, as if exhausted that he has to spell it out for her. Lola’s quiet, but her answer’s clear. Mick clears his throat with a cough. Lola’s scowl deepens. 

She brings it up to her father that night. 

“Do you reckon Tommy’s trying to be my friend?” She asked, gaze intense as she focuses on slicing apples into little cubes. Leo, her father, who was kneeding a blend of spices into a ball of dough that would end up being a pie crust, paused.

“The kid who has been hanging out with you at lunch?” He thought for a moment, “the one from the party?”

“I told him it was nothing serious-” Lola tried, exasperatedly cutting the apples a little rougher, but her father’s warm, gentle laugh cut her off.

“Yes, I think he’s trying to be your friend,” he told her, which Lola hadn’t exactly wanted to hear, but the information was easier to digest coming from him than it was coming from Mick, “he obviously likes you -”

“But I told him -”

“I know, you told him it wasn’t serious, but dear, that doesn’t mean he likes you less as a person - you’re a very cool cat, I can see why he’d want to be your friend,” he gives her finger guns, and Lola can’t help but laugh softly at his attempt to be hip. 

“Christ, dad,” Lola huffs, smiling fondly, but he’d managed to cheer her spirits considerably. 

“I burnt my danishes today,” Lola’s voice goes quiet as she goes back to focusing on her task, and her dad makes a noise of intrigue, “got distracted and crisped the whole tray.”

“You’ll get ‘em next time; just fifteen minutes, remember?”

“Fifteen minutes, no distractions,” Lola agreed, almost by rote, thankful that he doesn’t ask about what had distracted her. She can still hear the whispered gossip and giggles that had come from the cooking station behind her in Home Economics.

Her dad knows that her peers think she was expelled from her last school, but she keeps her mouth shut about the fact that today they’d decided it was because she had relations with a teacher; he knows almost everything about her, but he didn’t need to know about a whole school calling her a slut. He’d blow it out of proportion, and it isn’t getting to her since she knew for a fact it wasn’t true. 

They finish the apple pie with it’s rosemary and lemongrass crust in good spirits. The flavours don’t go together as well as Leo had hoped, but it’s another step closer to the perfect apple pie he’d been trying for. Leo packs her two of the leftover slices for lunch, as a not-so-subtle hint. 

On Friday, Lola hands Tommy a plastic container with a piece of apple pie, with a rosemary and lemongrass crust in it.

“Is it poison?” He asks. Lola doesn’t look at him, picking the individual apple pieces out and eating them one at a time.

“The crust tastes weird if you eat it with the filling,” Lola’s voice is flat as she explains instead of answering, “but the apples are sweet.” She eats another cube of apple, then breaks off a corner of the golden, perfectly cooked crust, now cold and stiff from spending the night in the refrigerator. 

“Why are you giving me this?” 

“Eat it or don’t, I don’t care,” Lola tells him, hunching further in on herself; like this, she can’t see the way Tommy’s expression has broken out into a smile.

“Thanks Lola,” but the smile is evident in his voice, confirming all of her suspicions at once. Tommy took her at her word when she said the rumours weren’t true, even if the rest of the school believed them, so Lola supposes she’s actually okay with the fact that her second ever friend in the entirety of California is the marching band geek in the year below her who she made out with at a party once. 

Also maybe she’s just kind of terrible at making friends.

you and me baby! we are the future! and the future is bleak.

“Wait, you’ve never met Nikki Sixx?” Tommy asked, sitting patiently with his back against the fence, his hand resting on her knee as she fills in the the nails of his left hand with black sharpie, “didn’t you go to his gig the other week?”

“I didn’t know anyone,” Lola pointed out, and Tommy makes a thoughtful noise.

“You’d love him, he’s so fucking cool,” he assured her, which made Lola give pause; Tommy also thinks Vince is fucking cool, and she wants to throw Vince out a window, “he was the one on bass.” 

“The one in the leather pants?” Lola couldn’t help but smile at the memory; she’d appreciated it at the time, and could appreciate it now. Tommy, however, rolled his eyes.

“The girls love the leather pants,” he gave a quiet sigh, before adding, almost to himself, “wish I had leather pants.” 

“Leather pants would look good on you,” Lola pinches at his thigh for a moment, and goes back to filling in his nails. missing Tommy’s pleased, flustered little smile. 

“You know Freddie paints his nails like this,” Tommy says instead, changing the topic of conversation.

“Freddie?”

“Mercury. From Queen; you know Queen, right?” And he sounds kind of skeptical, like if she doesn’t know them, they can’t be friends anymore. Lola pauses again, her hand soft on Tommy’s where she’s filling in around his ring finger’s cuticle.

“I wanna climb John Deacon like a fucking tree,” she mutters, which startles a laugh out of Tommy, his hand jerking up to cover his mouth, making Lola leave a black line against his knee, through the rip in his jeans. When she looks up at him, however, her eyes are shining with mirth, “come on, man, you must have seen the video of them performing in Montreal last year!” And she licks her lips, watching Tommy’s blush grow steadily darker. After a beat, Lola bursts out laughing, shattering the tension and shifting to sit beside him, idly doodling on her own hand with the marker as Tommy shakes his head with amusement.

Lola starts humming Back Chat to herself, and Tommy leans his head back against the wire of the fence, listening for a moment.

“You and Charlie would get along great too,” he considers, and Lola doesn’t stop humming, nor does she look to him, “she likes Roger, but probably just because she thinks he’s pretty.” Lola can hear his eyeroll without even seeing it, and she’s not sure why, but she files that information away in the back of her mind; she’d never gotten an especially shallow vibe from Charlotte, but there was a uncertain undeniable appeal to Roger Taylor’s pretty-boy charm.

“Didn’t his girlfriend leave him for Bowie?” Lola asks mildly, barely pausing to speak between humming notes.

“Rocket Mercury?”

“Her name’s Rocket?” Lola snorts, finally looking at him, and Tommy’s lips twisted into an amused grin. 

“Her name’s Ash, but everyone calls her Rocket,” he says, like he’s in the know, and Lola stays quiet, nodding and trying not to laugh, “and yeah, I think so, she’s been with a few people since him I think; Bowie, this girl from this English band Hawkwind, Elton John maybe? Or someone around him I think.” Tommy nods, and Lola’s kind of intrigued as to why he knows so much about Queen’s drummer’s partner, but something else has caught her attention.

“A girl from Hawkwind?” Tommy doesn’t seem to notice the way Lola’s voice has softened, or how her expression has dropped to something carefully neutral. She’s drawing a little flower on the knuckle of her thumb.

“One of their dancers, Stacy, maybe?” Tommy’s own tone is light, like he doesn’t even realise Lola’s hanging onto his every word regarding this one little detail about a woman she doesn’t even know, “was kind of a scandal, but it was years ago; she’s Freddie’s sister after all, maybe it’s genetic.”

“Genetic?”

“Liking girls and guys, you know?” And he pauses. Lola’s frozen beside him, the marker pressed hard against her skin, breath caught in her throat. He throws it out so casually, so easily. Her hands are shaking. The words so kind when he says them, so unlike what she’s used to hearing. Tommy’s already moved on to the next thought. “actually, I’m not sure if Freddie’s like, legit her brother, but anyways, she and Roger are back together; I’m glad.” As if a sixteen-year-old’s opinion on a rock legend’s love life mattered, “he seems happier with her, all his best live shows were when they were together.”

“I’d kill to play half as well as him,” it’s almost wistful when Tommy says it, interrupting Lola’s thoughts, his gaze trained on the sky, as if imagining he’s on stage himself. Lola lets out a long, quiet breath, recentering herself as she looks to him.

“You wanna play drums?” 

“I can play drums,” Tommy tells her like it’s the most obvious thing in the world, “but not nearly as good as Roger Fucking Taylor, can you imagine?” But Lola’s more focused on the -

“I thought you just played in the marching band, can you play, like, full -” and she sits forward, gesturing like she’s tapping on a full drumkit, eyes shinning. Suddenly, in the face of her rare, unrestrained smile, Tommy feels himself growing nervous, like he’ll let her down if he’s not actually as good as he thinks he is.

“I’ve got a kit in my garage,” he admits, and Lola pauses, letting her excitement simmer, as though realising it had gotten the best of her, breaking her cool and aloof facade.

“That’s cool as hell,” she does add, however, and Tommy beams.

“Thanks,” he mumbles, all flustered at even the slightest praise, “man, you’d really like Charlie, I know she looks all fancy and intimidating, but she’s a real softie inside.”

“You are really pushing hard for me to be friends with your cousin,” Lola notes, giving him a sidelong glance, and Tommy’s nose scrunches up, caught out.

“She thinks you’re trying to corrupt me,” he grumbles, “but if you guys met she’d know you’re not.”

“I am corrupting you,” Lola smirks, “next week I plan on peer pressuring you into smoking.”

“I’ve smoked before!” Tommy’s up in arms, like the implication that he hasn’t done something as low-level cool as smoking offends him.

“Dude I was kidding, I gave you half my cigarette yesterday,” Lola reminds him, and the bell rings.

While Lola was more than happy to let sleeping dogs lie, it appeared that Charlotte was not, and less than two days after her conversation with Tommy, Lola finds herself sitting by Charlotte’s side in their shared art class.

It’s the last class of the day, and Charlotte’s the one who sits by Lola. There’s no preamble, barely acknowledging the decision, just opening her notebook and focusing on the theory the teacher had already started to jot down on the whiteboard.

When they’re given free time, however, to work on personal projects, Charlotte opens her sketchbook and sharpens her pencil, and without looking at Lola, begins speaking quietly.

“Tommy thinks we’d get along,” Charlotte sounds completely innocent and perfectly harmless, but Lola remember how Charlotte had looked at her, part deer-in-the-headlights startled at the realisation, and knee-jerk protective fury, at Vince’s party when she realised who Lola had been kissing. 

“So I’ve heard,” Lola doesn’t look up, but Charlotte’s pencil stills on her paper. After a beat, Lola turns to see Charlotte giving her a curious look. Propping her head up on her hand, Lola gives a thin, amused smile, “he also thinks I’d be good friends with Nikki Sixx; was he the one you yelled at, at the gig?”

Instead of being flustered or going red at the mention of the moment, Charlotte’s expression lights up, as if the idea somehow delights her, and slowly she’s nodding. All her earlier reservations and hostility was quickly leaving her.

“Yeah, actually I told Nikki you reminded me of him, actually -”

“I remind you of Nikki?” Lola’s grin widened, and she shifted to face Charlotte further. 

“He’s kind of a tool -” Charlotte blurted after a moment of contemplation, and Lola’s eyebrows raised in amused surprise. Charlotte’s quick to backtrack, “I mean, I’m not saying you are- well, I don’t know you, but I mean, Tommy -” Charlotte frowns at that, expression falling as she considered quietly, “actually, I mean, I love him, but he’s not the greatest judge of character; he thinks Nikki hangs the stars, despite never really speaking to him,” she pauses and heaves a sigh of realisation, “that probably why he thinks so highly of him -”

“I thought they were friends,” Lola’s genuinely surprised, given how kindly Tommy had spoken of him.

“Half the school is terrified of Nikki, half seems to be in love with him; Tommy’s in the second half.”

“And which half are you?”

“I’m the only person who seems to think he’s just kind of a pest,” Charlotte’s response is surprisingly mild, as if she doesn’t quite believe what she’s saying.

“He’s talented, though,” Lola offers, and Charlotte looks back to her, as if brought from her own thoughts. There’s a pause, a lull. Lola puts down her pen, and turns more fully to Charlotte, stretching her arm out over the desk, and resting her head fully on it, like a particularly smug cat stretching out in the sun. Charlotte is slower to put down her pencil, but does so after another moment, pristine fingernails drumming against her sketchbook for a moment. 

“He was talented,” Charlotte agreed, thought it sounds like she doesn’t quite want to, “my ex actually got me into his kind of music, he was a fan of Nikki’s too; I’d tell Nikki I enjoy his music but it’d go straight to his ego,” and she casts Lola a sidelong look, lips stretched into a smirk, which Lola returns. 

“I am a little bit of a tool,” Lola finally admits with a self deprecating grin, and Charlotte shakes her head.

“You’d fucking love him,” Charlotte tells her, with a strained, sort of resigned huff of laughter, like the concept of them meeting was a little bit horrifying, and already exhausting.

“You like his kind of music,” Lola circled back around to quickly, “never pictured you as a hard rocker, you’re very...” and she trails down, looking at Charlotte’s pristine cheerleading uniform, and thick, black tights, the only thing protecting her legs from the Winter air. The blonde shifts a little uncomfortably under the scrutiny, brow furrowing.

“I know,” Charlotte says flatly, crossing her ankles, far too self aware in the moment, “you expect me to just be listening to nothing but Abba and Madonna all day?” She sneers, suddenly haughty again, and Lola licks her lips, intrigued; she can tell she’s pushed a button, and debates for a moment if she wants to press it further. 

“Not all the time,” Lola said, sitting back up slowly, “but I mean, I’m kind of partial to Does Your Mother Know, there’s no shame in loving Abba,” she shrugs, and Charlotte lets herself visibly relax. 

“Never pictured you as an Abba fan,” Charlotte actually grins.

There’s a distinct lack of hostility in the air between the two girls by the time the class ends, after spending the entire class gushing over various bands across a surprising range of genres, and Lola quickly finds she appreciates how wrong her initial impression of Charlotte had been.

As they’re leaving for the day, or well, Lola’s leaving, and Charlotte’s heading to cheer practice, the conversation lulls as Charlotte grows thoughtful.

“Hey, just... Tommy’s kind of a hopeless romantic,” and even as she speaks, she knows Lola’s growing irate at Charlotte’s hesitant tone, “and honestly, the girls he goes for usually don’t... they don’t usually give him the time of day, and he obviously thinks the world of you, I just don’t want you to -”

“I’ve told him that I don’t want to date him; he’s the one who keeps hanging around me,” Lola’s own tone appears to surprise Charlotte, now that she understands the root of the other girl’s protectiveness, “we’re...” and the word catches in Lola’s throat for a moment, knowing that speaking it makes it true, “friends.” 

Lola glances at Charlotte out the corner of her eye, and sees the way Charlotte’s lips twist into a pleased little smirk.

“I was just making sure.”

love is stupid. happiness is admitting we aren’t better than stupid.

Leo Fields, thirty-nine years old, owner of soon-to-be-named Leo Diner’s in suburban LA, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, who worked in the luxurious Parker House restaurant in Boston and quit after ten years there, including three years as Sous Chef and one year as Head Chef, only to open his own 50s style diner a mere ten minutes away in Salem, has and will always claim his favourite food is Easy Cheese.

Once, a long time ago, Lola had asked him why.

She’s asked him a lot of things, why he’d left his high-end restaurant to essentially flip burgers, why he kept his hair long, what his tattoos meant -

Lola’s eight, sitting on the counter and swinging her legs while Leo was crushing garlic to add to their dinner, his hair tied back into a large bun atop his head.

“People will try and tell you that just because something is expensive, fancy, or higher class,” Leo had rolled his eyes exaggeratedly at that, putting on a voice to make his daughter laugh, “that it’s better; they are wrong. If something brings you joy, it is better than all things that do not bring you joy, no matter how fancy the things you don’t like are,” he’d told her very seriously, “better is not real, better is what you believe; better for you means healthier, and that’s real, but when people use better to mean good, they mean that it’s good in their mind, and maybe you agree, but maybe you won’t.” And he scrapes the garlic into the pan and oil cooking on low as he then began dicing onions.

“I use all my fancy training and knowledge to make foods I think are better, but now I get to also serve them with a smile, and I get to talk to the people I’m giving the food to, get to know them, let them know they’re welcome here,” he tries to smile while his eyes are watering from the onions, almost finished cutting them. “People in my old fancy restaurant didn’t want that, they wanted you to think they were better than you, and if you thought their food wasn’t good, that’s because you’re not fancy enough, and you’re not welcome here.” 

“But that’s wrong,” Lola said with a slight frown, looking to her father for confirmation, and after he wiped his eyes with the back of his hands, he beamed.

“Exactly,” he nodded and scraped the diced onions into the pan too, moving easily about the kitchen to pull mince from the refrigerator, “people liking something different to you is actually great; if everyone in the world liked Easy Cheese, we’d never be able to buy it!” And Lola laughed at that, the example making it easy for her to understand his point, “but making them feel bad for liking those things, that’s bad; that’s why I have my hair long, why I have my tattoos, they’re part of who I am, they’re part of my family’s history and where I come from, and I like them. If someone else is rude to me because of them, then I know right away that’s not someone I want in my life. People like to think they’re better than other people for stupid reasons sometimes.”

“Like if they’re fancy or not?” Lola asks, and Leo gives her a fond smile and nod.

“Like if they’re fancy or not.”

Leo’s not sure if Lola even remembers this, but he does. So when Lola, seventeen years old, standing in the kitchen, eating a ham and Easy Cheese sandwich after school, tells him that Charlotte, the girl in her art class, Tommy-from-the-party’s cousin, complimented her jacket, the pin-and-patch-covered, black, denim, proto-crust-punk, heirloom he’d loaned to her since she’d asked to wear it when starting a new school, and had barely gone a day without it, he can read into her smile even when it’s hidden behind her sandwich.

“Sounds like she has good taste,” Leo leans his hip against the counter top, legs feeling the warmth of the oven where he’s got a loaf of herb and garlic bread baking away. 

Lola spends a full twenty minutes enthusing about Charlotte’s taste in music, eyes bright and tone animated. He only interrupts her to hand her a packet of prosciutto and a bundle of asparagus, so she could help him prepare for dinner, but it doesn’t slow her down, hands working quickly, while Leo boiled potatoes and simmered some garlic in butter on a low heat. 

Both Lola and Leo know why Lola’s been so hesitant to make friends since moving, and she knows he’d never push her into friendship, but Lola also knows it hurts him to see her lonely.

“Hey dad, I’ve been meaning to ask you,” Lola says after a long pause, finally taking a breath after she’s finished recounting her day to him, “you know Queen, right?”

“Do I know Queen?” Leo jokingly scoffed, “Lola, I’m the one who introduced you to Queen.” He reminded, and Lola gave a small smile, but her heart wasn’t in it; she wasn’t usually nervous, but talking about this sort of thing still made her heart race a little. Seeing her hesitant expression, Leo’s own softens, and he turns down the potatoes to turn his full attention to her, “what about Queen?”

“I didn’t know Freddie’s sister was with the drummer,” Lola starts, fiddling with the final piece of asparagus. She’s quick to follow it up before she can chicken out, “and I didn’t know... she’s like Bowie, and Fred, and... and me, you know?” Lola finally wraps up the final vegetable and places it on the glass baking tray with the rest, before she looks to her father who was watching her pensively, hoping he understands what she’s trying to say.

“That’s little Rocket Mercury you’re talking about, isn’t it?” He asked as a smile stretched across his lips, “I heard that about her, I always thought she was so cool, she worked on Spinal Tap, you remember I took you to see Spinal Tap a few months ago?” 

Lola’s heart eases in her chest at his words, his warmth, the way he seems to reflect positively on the news. While Lola knew she didn’t have anything to worry about, since the whole reason Leo had taken her and moved across the country was her mother’s less-than-kind reaction to the news of Lola dating a girl, the memory of it all still made her nervous.

Leo’s entire face lights up, and he makes a loud exclamation, like suddenly remembering some vital information, snapping Lola out of her dwelling.

“How have I never played you any Dusty Springfield?” He announces, picking up the glass tray from the table and placing it to the side, “I’ve got some of her records in my collection,” the oven timer goes off and he asks Lola to watch the potatoes so they don’t overboil while he takes out the bread and puts the asparagus in, “Dusty’s like you too; she’s a pop-star from the sixties, lovely voice, told the Evening Standard she liked girls and boys all the way back in nineteen-seventy.” He says as he sets the timer for the asparagus, and Lola wraps her arms around him from behind, if only to hide how wide she’s smiling.

“She pretty?” Lola asked, grinning against his soft, woolen sweater. Leo gently pet her hands where they were wrapped around his middle, giving a warm laugh.

“Very; it’s no wonder girls and boys liked her too.”

Lola had never seen her father flinch in the face of change, and for that she would always be grateful for him. The only time she’d ever seen him lose his cool was when he’d come to her defense against her mother’s bigotted views; apart from that, she’d never known anyone more willing to go with the flow.

Take last week, for instance, Mick had taken Saturday off from the gas station to go look at the fixture Lola had mentioned not seemingly connected to anything. Leo had finally had the red and white, checkered floor installed earlier that week, and the booths had been reupholstered over Thursday and Friday in a shiny, inviting, deep peach, to compliment the warm aesthetic completed by the pleasantly sunny walls. 

One of the many things about Lola is that she know when people look at her father, they never expect him to be the embodiment of sunshine; six-foot-something, built like a tank from doing a majority of the manual labor around his diners on his own. His traditional, Hawaiian tattoos were on full display today, across his chest, arms, and legs, wearing a singlet and shorts despite it being the middle of winter, after spending all morning hauling an industrial freezer into the kitchen, with what little help Lola could offer. He wears his long, wavy black hair in a ponytail down his back; the only thing that ever betrayed the warmth of his personality was the crows feet by his eyes, the laugh lines around his mouth, and the kindness in his eyes themselves.

Leo Fields, teddy-bear in the body of a GI Joe, took one look at Mick Mars, the weary, rather scrawny teenager with barely any face visible for his long, shaggy, dyed black hair, and gave him a bright smile, ushering him inside. He introduces himself, and immediate asks what kind of music Mick listened to.

“I fucking hate Kiss,” Mick had said immediately, knee-jerk hostility, the way he was shifting his weight from one foot to the other being the only giveaway to how intimidated he felt.

“They can be a lot some times,” Leo had shrugged, gesturing to the jukebox, “I’ve already put a few of my favourites in, you wanna see if anything catches your eye?” Mick moves quietly, as if afraid to make a noise, even stepping in combat boots he barely makes a sound, and Leo makes mention that he’s going to freshen up, and that Lola knows what switch needs to be looked at. 

“Hendrix?” Mick says with a hint of pleased surprise, right before Leo leaves, and Lola’s father gives a nod.

“Put it on, man, turn it up loud; it’s Electric Ladyland in there, right?” And at Leo’s question, Mick nods. Leo gives a delighted thumbs up, and heads upstairs to the flat above the diner.

“That’s your dad?” Mick asks, voice low after Leo’s disappeared, hitting play on the Jimi Hendrix record. Lola’s sitting on the counter, swinging her legs; she knows looks like him, same face, same long, dark hair, same copper complexion, it’s usually the staggering difference in their respective physicalities that seemed to trip people up, so his confusion wasn’t a surprise.

“That’s my dad,” Lola agrees, with a slight nod, looking around the warm and inviting diner that still smelled like new vinyl from the seats. She’d light a candle or two later. 

Lola knows the rumours going around town about the diner, about how it’s owner was a chef, about how it’s hopefully going to serve better food than the last owners, but also how everyone knew very little about the new owner beyond that. It made her giddy, like she had a secret, to know that her father was capable of blowing their expectations out of the water with his food alone. Back in Salem, Leo’s was known for restaurant-quality food at, well, diner prices. All the fries were hand cut, there was always home made pie or slice or cookies on sale, the beef patties were made with real mince and mixed with Leo’s special blend of herbs and spices, and fish was delivered fresh, daily. 

Lola knew her father knew what it was like to be discriminated against based on his looks, and how hard he’d fought to prove his skills as a chef, so in turn, he hired based on attitude and experience, and trying to give those who may not have had a fair shot an opportunity. Leo had always paid well, treated his workers with kindness, and tried to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. The diner had only ever made a modest profit, despite it’s popularity, but it had never been about the money for her father.

Back at Lola’s old high school, if you were popular, you looked for a job at the mall, but if you were an outcast, a loner, or a stoner, you applied for Leo’s; her dad had the ability to bring out the best in people, no-one wanted to disappoint Leo.

Her dad would never go anything as gauche as brag, but he has always prided himself on the quality of his diner and his food, glad to be putting his years of training and experience to use for people who’s appreciate it. 

Mick clears his throat, snapping Lola out of her thoughts.

“Light switch?”

Mick thinks the switch probably connected to an exhaust fan the previous owner had removed, which baffled both Lola and Leo, seeing as how they’d had several exhaust fans installed, and the idea that this place had it’s one removed is unthinkable; how had they ever gotten the smell out?

After, Leo invites Mick up to have a look through his record collection, to recommend some for the jukebox, while he attempted a maple and walnut soufflé. 

The moment Mick mentions he wants to join a band, Leo lights up, peppers him with questions, what type of music he likes to play, his influences, what type of band he’d like to form. Seemingly unused to the overwhelming interest and positivity regarding his aspirations, Mick is almost startled into being forthcoming, and quickly warms to Lola’s dad.

While the soufflé’s in the oven, the three of them sit on the roof and smoke, while Leo reminisces about seeing Cream live, a few months after Lola was born, and how he’d swaddled her in his concert shirt, only for her to take a liking to it, and had used it as a blanket up until she started daycare. At hearing this, Lola ducks her head to hide her smile, knowing she still had that shirt, though it was more hole than shirt at this point, hanging in her cupboard. 

Occasionally, when she looks to him, Lola sees Mick regarding her with confusion, and okay, maybe she can understand why; he knows her to be reserved and dry, but with Leo, she’s outgoing and talkative and smiles so wide he can see her teeth. There’s barely a hint of her aloof façade around her father, and as Mick spends more time with him, it’s clear he can see why.

“Mick’s cool,” Leo announces with a grin when Mick himself has left, putting foil over the leftover soufflé for later, while Lola washes the few dishes and is more than happy to agree with him.

They spend Sunday decorating the diner, making it look less sparse with photos and hanging and various bits of music and pop culture memorabilia, while the jukebox blared rock and roll. A few people pass by in time to see Lola and Leo in an air guitar competition, but neither of them really care. Leo’s looks more like home by the time the sun goes down. 

there will always be someone better than you. but on the bright side, who cares?

Eileen sits next to her in AP French during the entire last week of school for the semester. Everything she does seems so perfectly calculated, this change in seating included, but she refuses to acknowledge it. Heather clicks her tongue, clearly annoyed that Eileen had taken the seat she had previously vacated the day Lola staked her own next to it, and judging by Eileen’s innocent little smile, that alone made it worth it.

Lola tries not to pay too much attention to Heather, pretty, mean, and popular, almost the exact stereotype Lola had assumed Charlotte to be before she’d actually befriended her. They only have French together, but Heather keeps watching her, Lola sees it out of the corner of her eye, but her glare has become more speculative, more thoughtful as the weeks have passed, and Lola’s not quite sure what to make of it. Whatever scathing personal attack Heather’s probably working on is her business, she doesn’t know shit about Lola, so Lola tries not to care.

Once Eileen sits next to Lola, the glare comes back in full force anyhow.

On Thursday, the last AP French lesson for the semester, Eileen offers Lola a stick of spearmint gum, and it feels kind of like a test. Lola takes the gum anyways, and Eileen smiles at her, surprisingly genuine. 

“You’re Charlotte’s friend,” Lola says, and Eileen’s smile widens.

“You’re the girl who kissed her cousin,” she says. Lola’s whole expression falls, mouth flattening into a thin, unamused line, ready to go on the defensive. 

“And?”

Eileen shrugs, says nothing more on the subject, instead, glancing at Lola’s hands.

“My mom would kill me for wearing black nail polish, but it looks so cool on you,” She says, and Lola bites back a jaded response about her own mother, looking to her own hands, and the fresh and shiny coat of polished she’d applied the night before. 

“Your mom kind of sounds like an asshole, if black nail polish is enough to get her riled up,” Lola says, without even thinking about how harsh the words sounded, but once the words are out, she adds, “and I know from asshole moms,” for good measure. Internally, she’s berating herself; if she talks about her mom, she’s terrified that she’s eventually going to answer questions about her mom, like where she was, and why Lola hates her.

“She’s just a perfectionist, and I don’t think black would suit me anyhow, so it’s not really an issue,” Eileen responds, as if she barely cares that Lola implied her mother was an asshole, and Lola lets herself relax a little, “I’m partial to a french tip,” Eileen holds out her hands to show her own manicure, the pale pink and white practically gleaming, obviously salon done. 

“I coloured Tommy’s nails with sharpie,” Lola says while looking at Eileen’s elegant fingers, and Eileen actually huffs a laugh at that.

“I saw; he’s very proud of them.” 

Something in Lola’s chest tightens at that; Charlotte seemed to be a good enough judge of character, and she liked Eileen well enough, so that, for now, was good enough for Lola.

Perhaps that’s why Lola had taken so long to actually speak to Nikki Sixx, despite both Charlotte and Tommy being adamant they’d get along, Charlotte’s proclamation that Nikki was kind of a tool held her back.

It’s not that she doesn’t know who he is; she’s figured out the guy who sleeps through her English classes, is trying to make an acoustic guitar in shop, and who is part of her music classes - once she’d decided to show up to those - is the same person she’d seen on stage in leather pants back at the pub. The guy who Charlotte had yelled at. A tool. Apart from the week the rumours had started circulating about her, he never paid her much attention, so she never felt the need to introduce herself. If he was a tool, she could leave him well enough alone.

Until the first day of the Winter break, apparently. Though for the record, he was the one who spoke to her.

There were technically two music shops in the local mall, a ten minute walk from Lola’s flat above the diner; she’s glad to be close to the CBD, but it also means she can’t justify asking her dad for a ride when it would take her less time to walk than it would for him to find parking. 

But Monday, December 27th, was absolutely fucking freezing. 

The mall itself is teeming with people looking to spend the money they’d gotten over the holiday period, and the workers had already taken down the gaudy Christmas Tree that had sat in the middle of the food court. 

Lola was there at her father’s behest, sticking up and handing out flyers announcing New Year’s Day as Leo’s grand opening, and that they were hiring. She gives everyone at the food court a flyer, sticks up several in various locations, and thinks about heading back to the food court for a second round, to catch any newcomers, or anyone she may have missed, when she spots the music shops.

Bass and Treble were owned by the same people, however Treble seemed to be geared towards more classical music, with pianos and violins and flutes and all manor of orchestra-esque instruments available, while Bass seemed to be committed to rock and roll. 

Nikki Sixx finds Lola crouched in front of the display of sheet music on sale in Bass. 

“Lola, right?”

Lola stands so fast at his voice that her head spins, but she tries not to let it show. She’s on alert when she looks at him, tense, already scowling, which only deepens when she sees who it is.

“Nikki Sixx,” his name is not a question when it leaves her lips, but he seems pleased rather than concerned, that his reputation apparently preceded him. He nods, and looks over at what she’d been examining. 

“Anything good?” He asked, and Lola looks over her shoulder at the display. She’d been seriously considering a book of Elton John’s hits for piano before he’d come along. 

“Still deciding; why?”

“No reason,” he shrugged, taking his time to look nonchalantly at the various amps nearby, “you look like you’d be into this sort of thing,” he notes, acting all smug and coy and weird; Lola rolled her eyes, but didn’t answer.

“You were at my gig, we’re you? Hanging out with that guy from the gas station, right? Mick?” Something about his tone had Lola on edge and defensive.

“You guys were okay,” she says flatly, making it clear as she can that that’s barely a compliment; Nikki, however, smile widely.

“Glowing review, I’ll add it to our poster,” he smirks, before he finally looks her over, gaze zeroing in on the flyers in her hands, “speaking of -” and he snatches one, not that she’s protesting, that’s another one she doesn’t have to get rid of. Nikki’s reading the flyer and frowning, while Lola lets her attention wander to the various keyboards they have on display.

“Where’s this?” Nikki pipes up, sounding genuinely interested, while Lola’s idly playing scales with one hand on the closest, off keyboard.

“A few blocks away,” Lola still hasn’t quite gotten the hang of the town’s geography, “across the road from The Kings Hotel, where I saw you play -”

“The old MacCready place?”

“It’s Leo’s now,” Lola says, arms crossed, sitting low in her hips as she regards Nikki, and the way he’s going over every little detail of the poster, “Charlotte says you’re a tool.”

“Charlotte just hates that she likes me so much,” Nikki doesn’t even miss a beat before answering, and when he looks up to catch Lola’s reaction, his grin is all teeth. Lola can’t help the slight smile she wears as she takes in his response.

“I can see why,” Lola’s not quite sure what she’s going for with her own response, but it comes out more teasing than cutting, and there’s something in Nikki’s eye, or in his smile, or maybe it’s in his easy laughter, that has her heart beating weird in her chest.

A moment passes between them, a shift in the tone, the energy of the interaction as Lola drops her immediate hostility; she’s been doing that a lot lately, but she tries not to dwell on it. It’s now she gets a proper look at him, at his ripped jeans and all black, leather jacket, hair sprayed to high heavens like he’s about to join Poison; he looks unkempt and mean, and Lola’s kind of really into it.

They’re checking each other out, sizing each other up, and they both seem to find something in the other they like, because Nikki’s grinning at Lola when gaze meets hers again, and she’s smirking right back.

“Take a picture, it’ll last longer,” she tells him, hip cocked for a moment before she saunters past him, knocking into him with her shoulder purposefully. When Nikki stumbles back, he huffs a laugh, and Lola calls over her shoulder, “Leo’s is hiring by the way, Leo himself would probably love a fucker like you.”

[koalitypop]

quarantined with bts

a/n: guys, i’m so sorry for not posting these last few months! i’m currently working on the third chapter of How to make a bookworm fall in love with (all of) you and there is a very long one shot that i work on. my dad got the coronavirus so i’m currently quarantined, so i guess i will have time to write and edit more. writing this while being quarantined was so much fun lol. anyways, i hope you enjoy this post! see you soon! 

warnings: smut (implied), spanking, cockwarming, hickeys, quarantine anxiety, burn-out

▸ Kim Namjoon 

Although he usually overworks himself, he’ll spend the quarantine relaxing and spending more time with you  

Not that he won’t work at all, of course not, he’ll probably spend good 3 to 4 hours a day at his studio at home, but 4 hours are nothing compared to working all day in his main studio at the agency

He’ll probably read a lot, something he truly enjoys but doesn’t really have the time to do

You two probably spend many afternoons cuddled up on the couch reading

As Namjoon’s taste is a bit too philosophical for you, you rarely read the same book, but you always discuss the books you are reading

When it comes to food, the first few days you try to cook together, making everything super romantic, but at some point, you realise that you can’t clean the whole kitchen every day because of Joon’s clumsiness and the often-following food fights, so you either cook by yourself or just order take out  

At first, he feels anxious and quite stressed out about being quarantined, not being able to leave the house freely and just live normally, but he quickly calms down and helps you out if you are also feeling stressed out  

He will get really touchy and needy from time to time, but overall, you won’t indulge in more sexual activities or skinship than you usually do

But you will surely try something new in the bedroom  

You have so much free time, might as well use it in the best way possible

Talking about sexual activities, spending so much time at home won’t affect him negatively, he will definitely need you just as often as he normally does

Taking into consideration that you are at home all day for a pretty long time he will leave more hickeys  

Will also spank you 100% as now you can always sit on a comfortable pillow or make yourself comfortable at home  

On the other hand, he will cuddle you a lot, especially in the evening  

As you want to be informed, you watch the news every evening

He holds you close while watching them, because he feels frightened listening about what is happening all over the country and all around the world, afraid that something might happen to you  

He will try to do things he has always wanted to do, now that he has more free time, but ends up realising that most of those things require communication and contact with other people and will quickly come back to you and ask you to do a movie marathon on the couch, to which, come on, you could never say no

▸ Kim Seokjin

Dedicates himself fully to you  

Normally he has to work a lot, he practices a lot sometimes more than he has to because he is still sometimes insecure about his skills (PLEASE SUPPORT THIS MANN, HE DESERVES THE WORLD), so he can’t always make time for you

But now everything is different!

All the cuddles you could ever ask for – you got them  

The first few days you don’t even enter the kitchen  

Because he is honestly such a good cook and you enjoy his meals a little bit too much to think of cooking  

In a few days, the guilt becomes too much and you cook for the entire day, later on, you split all the chores, so that you both have to do equal amounts of chores around the house

Jin tries to do everything he didn’t have the time to do with you  

Well, he can’t do exactly everything because of the lockdown, but he makes sure to try everything you can do at home  

He tries paint-by-number books and even orders a huge picture of you both paint by number

He also wants to rearrange some of the furniture in certain rooms

Now he finally has the time to fix some stuff around the house, which you thought you would need an electrician or just an expert for  

Jin is just that smart and knowledgeable

When it comes to trying new things, he doesn’t forget the bedroom  

Cockwarming becomes the keyword of your quarantine  

Probably tries everything he has ever wanted to try with you but didn’t find the time for  

On the other hand, he also wants to relax  

So maybe in about 10 days when everything is fixed, rearranged and tried, his sleep habits start to slightly change  

He starts to sleep more and you also realise that he sleeps much more calmly now

Jin knows that he can’t do much about this situation so he doesn’t worry his beautiful head too much  

If you are too stressed, he would definitely find a way to calm you down  

At a certain point, this quarantine becomes more like a big holiday he spends at home  

Now he has so much time he can spend with you, all he really needs is you, a quiet and peaceful atmosphere and your affection

▸ Min Yoongi

You may think that he will finally decide to spend some time to relax  

You thought wrong  

The fact that the entire world is closed down doesn't mean that he won’t work  

You would have to drag him from the studio and get him back home  

After you give him a piece of your mind, he will start relaxing more  

Will show you how thankful he is to you in various ways  

He will make you breakfast in bed  

Cuddle you and give you all the affection he is capable of  

And most importantly – that man will give you all of him in the bedroom  

As he always needs to pay attention on how much time he has till the next practice, meeting, concert or anything else, he often can’t spend as much time as he wants to with you, no matter whether you are having sex or just chilling on the couch

So this quarantine has allowed him to make up for all the time he has missed with you  

Because he is an introvert, he doesn’t truly stress so much about spending much time without going outside  

He mostly feels sad not being able to hang out with the boys as much  

Of course, he also misses the feel of being on stage, he genuinely misses the fans

When he is not spending time with you, he tries to take on new hobbies, work on some more music and do V-Lives  

As you often drew in your free time or when you just wanted to free your mind, he decided to give it a try

Sometimes he ends up doing something with you he would never do on his own and just starts thinking about how grateful he is for having you in his life

As he doesn’t work as much and you are not always with him, he has more time to think, which sometimes leads to overthinking

Fortunately, you are always there to take him out of the darkest places of his mind and cheer him up

From time to time he gets a bit too energetic than he usually is

Usually in these times he suggests on trying a yoga challenge or just working out, of which we all know he is not a big fan  

Will start to talk about the most random things out of the blue  

Like you are cooking in the kitchen and he comes to you with “Is a hotdog a sandwich?”  

Of course, most of the time he is more on the philosophical side “If we don’t know what happens after death, how do we know that we don’t live in the world after death?”  

Sometimes you can’t even come up with an answer, it’s that random

No matter what he does, he just wants you to be with him  

Because he realises that the world is going through some very dark times and he wants to make sure that you are always by his side

▸ Jung Hoseok 

The first few days you can’t make this man get out of bed  

Because he is always on the go, putting a smile on his face and trying to be super positive even when he feels like he wants to be all alone and cry, he just needs to take as much of this situation and stay in your guys’ quiet and warm bedroom

Keep in mind that if he doesn’t get out of bed that also means that the only reason for you to get out of bed is to go to the toilet or pick up the take out

No, you guys don’t even cook the first few days, you just want to enjoy the first peaceful days without work or anything else stressing you out  

After a few days of relaxation, Hoseok is ready to face the world again  

You spend the whole day doing chores and stuff like that

Which is still lots of fun because you’re with your lovely Hobi of course

Every night becomes a movie night now that you have so much free time

You are both cuddled up on the couch, not really watching the movie, more like enjoying holding the love of your life tight, some making out every now and then  

Well, this making out often lead to making love, but honestly, what else could be expected by you two – there is so much love and passion in your relationship that you simply can’t get enough of one another

He still tries to relax a lot tho, so don’t expect many experiments or trying outs of new kinks  

The man just wants to chill and love you, is that so much?  

Of course, he also works on some new music

You spend an entire day in the studio with him, he teaches how to create beats and you even record your own song together  

Although you will never show this song to anyone, it’s very nice to do something like this with you  

He doesn’t often go to the main practice room, he’d rather dance in the small dance room he has made in your house  

He soon misses the boys and ARMY, which leads to many V-Lives  

He even invites you to do a V-Live with you, but you end up too shy to participate  

He is very intelligent and interested in various topics, so you guys talk a lot about everything that comes to your mind  

At a certain point Hoseok starts thinking what the situation would be if it wasn’t just the two of you  

What if you had a dog?

Or a cat?

Or a child?  

Maybe two?  

Okay, three might be a little bit too much for now  

He talks with you about creating a family together, something he has thought about before, but now he sees that the time has come, you are at this particular level in your relationship when he can talk with you about marriage, family and babies

And your positive reaction definitely makes him realise that you are the one he wants to spend his best and worst days with  

So, you know, you should expect something like a ring when this quarantine finally comes to an end  

▸ Park Jimin

Oh dear, you are not ready for what is about to come  

You see, at first, he is very sad and overall, in a very dark place mentally because he can’t be with his members, ARMY, people are suffering all over the world

But he soon realises that he can make the best out of this situation by spending all the free time he has with you

He truly misses going out on dinner dates at a fancy restaurant, going to the park or doing anything else outside, but hey, there is plenty of stuff you both can do at home  

Prepare yourself for endless affection  

Cuddles? He has invented them.  

Will literally make the strangest excuses to cuddle

“Darling, the dishes are washed, come cuddle me!”

Everything is still pretty normal till the little demon in him comes out and he starts tickling you or just trying to get your attention when you are busy doing something

Speaking of demons, he finally has the time to do something he has wanted to do in a very long time – all day sex and cuddles

He’ll experiment a lot in the bedroom, especially now when he has all the time he could have asked for  

He is another one who will mark you a lot during the quarantine

But if you mark him, that will make him go crazy  

He will love it so much; he will show off your hickeys every time he goes outside

The fact that he doesn’t have to hide them just makes him love them more  

Normally you guys have a lot of movie nights (a lot taking into consideration his hectic schedule), but now that he can take his time you two choose to spend more time reading  

Jimin loves reading and is happy to finally have the time to do so  

If you share the same taste about books, he might even read you some of his or your book to sleep  

He still practices a lot

He sometimes takes you with him to the studio  

Shows you some of the newest choreographies and dances some of your favourite ones for you  

He tries to write a song for the new album  

Of course, the song is inspired by his love for you  

You are his muse for everything  

You guys go grocery shopping every other day and it’s honestly so? much? Fun

You have always seen grocery shopping as a chore, but now when it is pretty much the only excuse to go outside and as you are with Jimin, you just love it  

He just grabs random products and makes super weird jokes, but you love them  

He will also buy the things each member loves and make a gift basket, which he will leave by the door  

At first, he doesn’t want the members to know it was him but when he starts to ask them if they have received anything these days it will be obvious that it was him

At the end of the quarantine, you both figure out that you had a great time, only because you were together

▸ Kim Taehyung

He has been so tired and burned out for such a long time that he is honestly thankful for this lockdown  

Will spend the first few days eating take out, listening to some good music and napping and cuddling in bed with you

He enjoys just being with you, so the first few days you don’t talk as much  

After some time he just gets energised and has 2897492 ideas what to do  

He is not very vocal about what he wants, so sometimes you will have to guess what he wants to do  

Surprisingly it takes him a lot of time to start missing going outside  

Of course, he instantly misses the members and ARMY  

Randomly calls them asking them how are they coping  

Will watch the V-Lives each member does  

Gets more active on Weverse and Twitter  

When he finally starts to miss the outer world, but realises there is not much to do out there, he suggests creating matching outfits for when you can go back to being social  

You literally spend a whole day doing that  

You even take some photos together, which later you both use for lock screens  

He finds a set of lacy lingerie, which he has never seen before  

The price tag is even still on

He makes you wear it the very same night  

Let’s say that you won’t be able to go out of your bedroom for some time and the reason for that is definitely nor the quarantine  

You guys watch vintage films pretty much every night  

The whole aesthetic just inspires him

He writes a few songs throughout that time  

He is not entirely sure if he wants to record and post them anywhere because they are deeply personal

Which means that they are about you  

One day when you both are grocery shopping; he buys a few succulents and plants them  

Names each of flower after you and the members

Of course, your flower is exactly next to his  

When he does that you realise that he really misses them, but because of the virus he doesn’t want to visit them, because he understands that it is somewhat dangerous and it is in fact pretty anxious about this whole situation  

So you decide to invite the members for dinner  

Tae doesn’t know for this and when he opens the door to see Jimin, he is immensely happy  

Won’t admit it, but he even cried a little  

The guys stay for the night  

Well, they don’t really sleep, they stay late and talk about all the things they missed in each other’s lives throughout this quarantine  

▸ Jeon Jungkook

Is so stressed out  

He calls his family and the members every day to check up on them  

You can’t leave the house without a mask, gloves, disinfectant hand gel and tissues  

God forbid if you get late or don’t pick up the phone  

He is honestly so scared because he just can’t imagine life without you  

On the other hand, he will spend many days mainly gaming  

He finally has the time people normally do at his age  

At home, he fools around a lot with you  

Many pillow and tickle fights  

You always end up cuddling  

Every now and then he starts overthinking everything  

He gets so sad and depressed when this happens

Half of the songs he writes throughout the quarantine are based on the emotions he has felt because of his overthinking habits  

The other half is about you, of course

Apart from writing lyrics, he works on producing some new stuff  

It takes him some time, actually lots of time, but he wants to make sure that everything is perfect  

He also works on the latest choreographies and tries to come up with new ideas about choreographies for future songs  

When it comes to dancing, you often randomly start dancing in the kitchen  

Nothing particular, just swaying around and kissing

These kisses often lead to more sexual stuff, just keep that in mind  

Sex with him is always interesting, so nothing really changes  

Maybe you will have more sex in comparison to the times when you are both working

He will also ask you to teach him how to do various things  

He also admires you because you are so intelligent, one of the things he loves the most about you  

He picks up some of your habits  

He even starts talking a bit like you  

The members tease him a lot about that afterwards  

“Oh, and Jungkook, since when do you use the word invaluable?”  

Talking about the members, apart from calling every day, he will video chat with them a lot  

Like everyday  

One day you go to the kitchen, wearing only his T-shirt and some underwear, your hair is a mess because of the last night activities  

You don’t even see Jungkook talk with Seokjin till you hear Jin saying “Oh, and say hi to Y/n from me, she looks fabulous today”  

Since that day Jungkook always tell you in advance when he is going to talk with one of his members

taglist: 

@omg-sol-s-dreamland​ @salomea27​ @ireallylikefoodandyoutube​ @purpleheartsfortae​ @hodginss​ @forff101 @take-u-2-an0ther-w0r1d​ @livetay84​ @thefangirlsoul​

[babbushka]

Idk why but our apartment has been having power outages for the past few days... (maybe because of the construction down the street) but it has had me wondering how Flip would react? Would he get frustrated and try to fix it? Or spend the night doing something else? ;) any thoughts would be much appreciated ❤ oh and hope you have a wonderful sunday~~

(1.6k, flip bein kinda a dumbass but we love him anyway lol)

He was having a great fuckin’ day, if he was being honest. Work was smooth sailing, he and Ron were getting close to solving up this new case Bridges assigned, and it had put his mood up on cloud nine. He drove with the windows down, heading home, heading to you.

The thought of you only put him in a better mood, only made him even happier. He was going to shuck out of his coat and scoop you up in his arms and kiss you right there on the porch. He had a bouquet of flowers buckled into the passenger seat for safety, was going to give them to you to make you smile.

It wasn’t too late, he even made it home in time to help you cook dinner. Well, you never really let him do any of the cooking bit, but he was an expert vegetable slicer, you always said so. He pulls up to the driveway, humming along to whatever tune was on the radio, feeling like the luckiest man in the world when he sees you reading on the front porch.

You take notice of his truck immediately, and you lean up against one of the porch supports, your pretty dress fluttering in the breeze as he approaches you, sucks a deep drag out of his cigarette before pulling you into his arms.

“Flip! Oy am I glad to see you.” You beam up at him, but he drowns, because you don’t normally use that sort of phrasing.

“What’s the matter ketsl?” He asks, worried about you immediately, looking beyond you at the house – when he randomly notices, “Why’s there no lights on?”

You roll your eyes at the world and sigh, pout up at him. You’re annoyed about something, which is alright, that’s alright. Flip can handle when you’re annoyed, he just would burn the entire world down to the ground if you were hurt, upset.

“Ugh the fakakta power’s out.” You groan, waving a hand about. “I tried calling the electrician but the phone isn’t working, on account of the power’s out.”

He chuckles then, leads you inside. It’s not too dark out yet, but the sky a soft purple color that tells Flip he’s just in time. Any later and he might not have safely found his way home, might not have been able to see the house even with his headlights. It’s not too dark, and it’s not too hot, but he can immediately feel that there’s no moving air or anything, and that worries him.  

“Sweetheart you should’ve come to the station or something, I can’t have you sitting around the house with no a/c.” Flip said, hanging up his coat and unbuttoning his flannel.

“Oh believe me if it went out earlier in the day I would have, but it only blew an hour ago.” You explained. You go into the kitchen, and he follows, always right on your heel when he’s finally home with you, and he decides that he’s not going to let the power being out ruin his mood.  

“Alright.” He shrugs out of his flannel so that he’s standing in his t-shirt and jeans in the kitchen, rummaging through one of the drawers for a flashlight.

“Wait where are you going – honey I don’t think – ” You start to warn him, but he waves it off.

“Ketsl don’t worry, I’ve got it all under control.” He says, cocky and confident, “I’m going to go change the fuses, they probably all went out.”

“You really think they all went out at once?” You raise a brow at him, skeptical.

“Yeah honey you know that old thing with the hanukkah lights, one light goes out they all go out? Same thing.” Flip reassures you.

He wasn’t an electrician or anything, not by any means. But he understood circuits, knew how the whole thing worked. Sort of. Maybe only a little. But it would be enough, wouldn’t it? I mean really, Flip thinks to himself as he goes into the garage where the breaker box is, how hard could it be?

“I don’t know.” You say in a sing-song voice, and he realizes he’s said that last part out loud.

“Aw come on, have a little faith in me would you?” Flip teases, hanging in the doorway for a minute, leaning down and puckering up his lips, “Kiss for good luck?”

You laugh and roll your eyes, wanting to make some sort of remark about well which is it, faith or luck? But you just stand there in the hallway outside the garage and watch as he shines his flashlight on the floor, walking a path to the far wall.

The breaker box in the house was by the good people over at Federal Pacific. He remembered that, he’s pleased to find, remembers reading the instruction manual when he first had the damn thing installed. Of course, that had been about seven years ago, but he figured it was all stored away in his brain somewhere.

He opens up the panel and is met with the two neat columns of a shit ton of switches with a diagram that he knows he should know what it means, but he just doesn’t. He stares at it for a minute, and then another minute, and then probably for too long, because you’re sticking your head in and asking,

“Everything okay in there?”

He startles at the sound, and he swears he hears you chuckling about it, so he randomly just starts flipping the switches, holding the flashlight with one hand and clicking all these latches with the other.

“When I count to three I want you to try turning on one of the lights, okay?” He calls out to you.

“Count to three you got it!” You say, before leaving the doorway to go find the nearest light switch. He knows there’s one in the little hallways right outside the garage, so he doesn’t wait too long.

“One…two…three!” He says, flipping the master switch.

“Nope.” You reply with a sigh.

“No?” He frowns, turning around to where he hears your voice.

“No, still dark.” You explain, flipping the light switch a couple of times just to be sure.

“Fuck.” Flip chews on the inside of his cheek, puts his hands on his hips.

“I think we should ask someone --” You try again, but he waves it off.

“Nonono, I’ve got this, let me try something else.” He insists, trying to salvage any dignity in his home-ownership skills.

He remembers something from the manual about replacing the fuses, so he looks in the garage with his little flashlight to find the box of fuses, and only knocks over three boxes in the process. You’re doing your best not to laugh at him, and honestly he doesn’t blame you, the sound of crashes and cursing not a good sign.

He pries open the panel’s cover, so that all the wiring is exposed, and ever so carefully he replaces the master fuse with one of the new ones. None of them are melted, but he doesn’t tell you that.

“Okay, on the count of three.” He says with the flashlight in his mouth to be able to use both hands, “One…two…three!”

“….Nope, still nothing.” You say after trying to hallway light again, and sticking your head into the garage once more with a more worried, “Honey are you sure you – ”

“One last thing just let me try one last thing.” He pleads, right as he accidentally electrocutes himself, the little blip of light jolting up his hand. “Ow, fuck -- !”

“Oh shit, Flip are you okay?” You come into the garage now, rushing in the dark to his side.

He gets himself away from the panel so that he doesn’t accidentally zap you too. You’ve got your hands on him, feeling him all over to make sure he’s not on fire or anything absurd.

“Yeah I just uh,” He starts, before he begins to laugh at his own self, at his own absurdity, “I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing. And I think I melted more of the fuses.”

He points the flashlight to the panel, and now the fuses definitely are melted, which means he definitely is going to need to call the electrician to get all this fixed.

“Do you think the home improvement store is still open?” You ask around bright laughs of your own, bracing yourself against his chest as he holds you tight.

“Nah, it’s too late now.” He shakes his head, using the flashlight to lead you both out of the dark garage and into the house proper. “We’ll go in first thing tomorrow morning.”

“So what do we do?” You ask.

With the two of you now in the safety of the kitchen, you lean yourself up against the counter where dinner hasn’t yet gone underway. You’re looking at him with those eyes of yours, and Flip lights up a cigarette, the little red-orange glow of the tip of it bright in the twilight of evening.

“Well,” He breathes, still a bit of a chuckle in his throat, “I can think of one thing.”

You stare at one another for a moment, before you both laugh laugh laugh as you race up the stairs to your bedroom, Flip chasing you and pinching at you, holding you tight and wrestling with you under the covers.

And if you cook dinner by the candle-light, it’s not the worst thing in the world. If you miss your nightly dance to the record player, or you can’t tune in to one of the three stations on the TV, oh well.

It’s more than enough to tangle yourselves under the covers and laugh against each other’s skin, indulging in the feeling of one another’s bodies.

The power would just have to wait.