#Credit repair tips

[catsmenow]

The Fastest Way to Repair Your Credit

Check your credit report for errors The first step to repairing your credit is to check your credit report for errors. Errors can occur, and they can negatively impact your credit score. You're entitled to a free credit report every year from each of the three credit bureaus. Review each report for inaccuracies and dispute any errors you find.

Pay off your credit card balances Credit card balances can significantly impact your credit score, particularly if you're using a large percentage of your available credit. Paying off your balances or reducing your credit utilization rate can improve your score quickly.

Become an authorized user If you have a family member or friend with good credit, ask them to add you as an authorized user on their credit card. Being an authorized user can help you establish a credit history and improve your score.

Use a credit repair service Credit repair services can help you identify errors on your credit report, dispute inaccuracies, and negotiate with creditors to remove negative information from your report. However, be cautious of scams and do your research before choosing a credit repair service.

Make payments on time Paying your bills on time is crucial to improving your credit score. Late payments can have a significant negative impact on your credit, so make sure you pay all of your bills on time.

[myhomeingeorgia]

Need to repair your credit? Here are some helpful tips to boost your credit score. - My HOME in GEORGIA | Coldwell Banker Realty is affiliated with Guaranteed Rate Affinity Call or text us at 678-622-2693 for help with your real estate endeavors Now.

[stevedidier]

(via https://youtube.com/watch?v=fjOMJTdHlio&si=XIxhVry-8Z4KBtvt)

[femmefatalevibe]

Hi Femme!

Hope your day is going well! Just a quick financial question: how can I save up while paying off credit debt (🙃) and paying bills off?

I’m working but I’m only getting paid $15 ! And I’m also planning on saving for moving out. But I feel like it’s impossible. I want to build up a good savings account but I’m new at it as well.

Thank you!

Hi love! This is a vague question as I have no clue as to how much you make per month, what your monthly expenses are, the debt you've accrued, or the interest rate & terms of your credit card debt. Here are my general tips, but please note that I'm in no way a professional. Please contact a CPA for personalized, expert information on how to move forward with your financial life. Some high-level tips are below:

Track your income & expenses. Know exactly how much money is coming in and going out every month, so you know how much of your income is going towards your monthly expenses.

Do an audit of your expenses. See how much of your expenses are essential purchases. Without rent or utilities, I would imagine these are quite low (I don't know if you pay for any food at home, though).

Know exactly how much debt you're in and the interest rate of all of your debts.

Determine how much of your monthly income goes towards these essential expenses. Subtract this number from your post-tax income. Multiply this number by 3 to 6. This is the emergency fund savings you need in case any unforeseen expenses/job loss occurs. Use this information to determine your debt payment and savings timeline. Personally, I believe you should have at least a month of savings available for use before committing to paying off existing debt. This way, you don't accumulate more debt in the process of trying to get out of the debt you've already accrued.

Create a timeline with a self-assigned monthly payment plan to pay down your debts. When it comes to consumer debt, I believe outside of a small 3-month emergency fund, it is best to be as aggressive as possible to pay it down, especially if you're living at home.

For your savings, I HIGHLY recommend putting this money in a high-yield savings account.

Hope this helps. Best of luck xx

[legalnewcreditfile212]

How to Build Business Credit for Your New Business

Key Takeaways

Building business credit is crucial for securing loans, obtaining better financing terms, and enhancing your business's financial health and reputation.

Building that creditworthiness begins with personal and business financial separation. This safeguard protects your personal assets and ensures that you stay on the path to developing a robust, stand-alone credit profile.

Registering your business, obtaining an EIN, opening a dedicated bank account, and acquiring a D-U-N-S number are essential first steps in building business credit.

Making payments to supplier, vendors, and other creditors on time is important. They assist you in developing a strong credit history and improving your credit scores gradually.

Manage business credit cards responsibly to build your credit history. Maintain low credit utilization, automate payments, and choose the best card to earn rewards for even greater effect.

Keep an eye on your business credit reports. Correct any errors as soon as possible to avoid harming your credit profile and missing out on opportunities for growth down the road.

Building business credit for a startup goes beyond just separating personal and business expenses. For starters, establish your business as a separate entity, like an LLC or corporation.

Second, get your Employer Identification Number (EIN). The first step in building your credit profile is to separate your business and personal finances by opening a business checking account.

Afterward, get a business credit card. Settle all your business bills on time and maintain a low credit utilization ratio.

To further build your credit profile, work with vendors and suppliers who report your payment history to the bureaus. Establishing a strong credit history can open the door to higher quality financing, lower interest rates, and increased cash flow.

In this ultimate guide, we’ll walk through each step, empowering your business to build a solid credit foundation for future growth.

Why Build Business Credit?

Creating and maintaining positive business credit is key to your company’s short-term and long-term financial success. It opens the door to greater financing opportunities for your business.

It further improves your credibility with lenders and suppliers alike, positioning your business for long-term growth. By learning why business credit matters, you’ll be able to build a strong base for your future achievements.

Access Better Financing Options

Establishing strong business credit allows access to hundreds of other types of financing and credit. With good business credit, you can access larger business lines of credit, term loans, and even equipment financing.

Lenders are more willing to offer lower interest rates to businesses with established credit profiles. They benefit from lower business loan terms than those with no or bad credit.

For example, let’s say a business has great credit and only has to pay a 5% interest rate per year. In comparison, a second business may fail and face interest above 10%.

Better business credit means higher borrowing limits, essential when expanding your business or in times of cash flow shortages. Statistics show over 60% of businesses seek financing for operating expenses, and a solid credit profile significantly improves approval chances.

Establish Financial Independence

Keeping personal and business finances distinct is an important step when it comes to establishing business credit. A vibrant business credit profile leads to fewer requirements for personal guarantees, shielding your individual wealth.

For instance, instead of using personal credit to secure a $50,000 loan, your business can stand as its own guarantee. This independence not only protects your personal assets, it provides your business with increased freedom to reinvest in ways that will drive future growth.

Secure Favorable Supplier Terms

Vendors routinely extend more favorable payment terms, as in net-30 or net-60, to companies that have established strong business credit. These terms allow you to stretch cash flow and maintain liquidity.

Business credit gives you additional time to pay for materials after your customers have paid their invoices. Better terms not only improve relationships with suppliers and lead to a healthy track record of credit use productivity.

Build Long-Term Business Value

A strong credit profile increases your business’s overall value, making it more enticing to potential investors and buyers. It sends a message of trustworthiness and financial stability, both of which are crucial to developing a positive reputation in the market.

Protecting solid credit and making sure growth opportunities stay within reach fuels long-term success.

How Business Structure Impacts Credit

Determining the best business structure for your situation is an important first step to building a strong business credit score for your startup. Your business’s legal structure can affect potential creditworthiness, personal liability, and lender perception of your business’s operations. Understanding how these factors influence your business credit report and overall business credit history empowers you to choose what’s best for your needs.

Sole Proprietorship Considerations

If you’re operating as a sole proprietor, your business and personal finances are one in the same. This structure creates a barrier to developing independent business credit, since lenders generally look to your personal credit track record.

Personal liability is the biggest risk of all, as you are personally liable for all of your business debt. Without such protection, if you default on a loan, creditors can pursue your personal assets. This means everything you own, including your home and savings.

To tackle these hurdles, first and foremost, establish a separate business bank account. Using a business credit card will further ensure you develop a more discernible financial identity. Remember this—without a legal fence, you can’t establish strong business credit.

LLC and Corporation Advantages

When you form an LLC or corporation, you’re establishing a distinct legal entity. This gives your business the opportunity to create its own credit history.

These business structures protect owners from personal liability matters so their assets remain secure. For example, if an LLC goes into debt, creditors can’t go after the owner’s personal assets.

Formal collaboration structures increase credibility and can put you in consideration for advantageous funding opportunities. Because of this, lenders may perceive corporations to be more secure, leading to lower interest rates or higher credit limits.

Having this clear division makes it easier to monitor credit utilization, ensuring that the total never goes over the 30% mark to prevent score drops.

Choosing the Right Structure

When choosing a business structure, it’s important to balance the desire for liability protection, taxation implications, and long-term capital funding requirements.

LLCs can provide more tax flexibility, while corporations might attract larger investors. Consider questions such as, “Does my business require legal protections?” and “What funding sources do I anticipate?

Thoughtful planning ensures your business structure supports credit growth effectively.

Initial Steps to Establish Credit

Building credit for your business starts with establishing a solid foundation that promotes good business credit scores. By taking these initial steps, you can create a positive business credit history that lays the groundwork for a strong credit reputation with your business, essential for future credit applications.

1. Officially Register Your Business

Setting up your business with the proper registrations and authorities is one of the most important steps to establishing credit. Decide on the right structure – an LLC, LLP or corporation – that separates personal assets from business liabilities.

This separation adds to your credibility and lets your business start building its own credit score. Keep all registration paperwork current. Lenders and vendors frequently seek verifiable proof of credibility so be sure to keep all registration paperwork current.

The importance of registration cannot be overstated. A registered business is more likely to win favorable credit terms, as it indicates credibility and seriousness to potential creditors.

2. Obtain an EIN (Employer Identification Number)

An EIN from the IRS serves to help you establish business credit, among other things. It’s kind of like how a Social Security Number works to identify people.

The process is quick and completely free, which is why it’s such an important first step. Have the EIN on any bank or credit applications, financial transactions, and tax filings to reinforce your business identity.

Maintaining the same EIN allows for consistent and accurate credit tracking.

3. Open a Dedicated Business Bank Account

Once you create a business account and separate personal and corporate finances, it’s easier to track business-related expenses and income. It’s one of the most important steps in establishing creditworthiness and trust with lenders and creditors.

Choose a business checking account. Look for features such as low or no fees, online banking services, and integration with accounting programs.

Separate Personal and Business Finances

Establishing firm, consistent boundaries between personal and business finances is crucial for developing a strong business credit score. This practice not only keeps your financial history organized and simplifies tax time but also protects your personal liability while enhancing your business credit report with reputable business credit agencies.

Avoid Commingling Funds

Combining personal and business finances increases the likelihood of bookkeeping mistakes, tax complications, and even legal trouble. Paying for business purchases on a personal credit card or debit card creates extra complexity to track down expenses. It complicates the ability to prove one’s deductions in an audit.

Mixing funds together further muddies the waters of financial reporting, turning your business’s true performance into a guessing game. To prevent this, it’s crucial to establish a clear divide—start by getting a separate business checking account and applying for a dedicated business credit card for all business purchases.

This strategy can help you save time and simplify managing your finances with clear recordkeeping.

Establish Independent Credit Profile

Building a distinct credit profile for your business underlines the credibility of your business as a lender with increased borrowing options. Begin by applying for an Employer Identification Number (EIN), and registering with major credit bureaus such as Dun & Bradstreet.

You’ll use your EIN when filing your taxes and when you apply for business credit cards or loans. An independent credit profile allows you to build a strong credit history, increasing your chances of securing funding for growth without relying on personal credit.

Protect Personal Assets

By selecting a structure such as an LLC or corporation, you keep personal liability separate from business liabilities. Business Use Only Exception Avoid personal guarantees as a general matter.

They jeopardize your personal credit if your business experiences any financial trouble. Having a separate credit profile protects your assets and your future financial stability.

Establish Vendor Credit and Net-30 Accounts

You can read more about maximizing your business credit building process through vendor credit and net-30 accounts HERE. These agreements allow you to purchase products or services today and pay for them in 30 days. This strategy gives you both flexibility and a way to establish your business credit.

To get the most out of this approach, focus on foundational strategies first. These practices will further establish your credit profile and nurture your financial development.

Find Suppliers Offering Net-30 Terms

In particular, working with suppliers that extend net-30 terms gives the cash flow management benefit paired with the credit-building benefit. With usage of trade credit over $50 billion a year among small businesses, this practice is not new.

Net-30 terms allow you to obtain inventory or services without an immediate cash outflow, providing your business the flexibility needed to grow. In order to approve these terms, your business needs a minimum of 30 days in operation.

Furthermore, you’ll need to keep a high credit score and fulfill the detailed requirements demanded by vendors. Develop solid relationships with vendors by maintaining open lines of communication. Consistent reliable transactions can increase your likelihood of negotiating terms that are more favorable to your business.

Make Timely Payments Consistently

Just like personal credit, timely payments are key to maintaining a strong positive credit history. They protect you from incurring penalties that may negatively impact your business credit score.

Because reports to credit bureaus can take up to 60 days before appearing, making on-time payments consistently is key. Budgeting thoroughly and establishing processes for automated payments can ensure you never miss a due date.

Late or missed payments damage your credit rating. They penalize your future payment reputation and hurt your credibility with your vendors, increasing difficulty entering into favorable terms in the future.

Leverage Vendor Credit for Growth

Vendor credit is the unsung power behind scaling operations. By delaying payments with vendor credit, you’re free to direct cash toward other important areas of growth, like marketing or new equipment.

Companies that utilize trade credit are better able to maintain cash flow and have more capacity to take on clients. For example, Wise Business Plan saw an unprecedented 20% growth in their first year alone.

Regularly paying their credit-builders on time signals that they should continue to be valuable partners on your path to expansion.

Use Business Credit Cards Wisely

When used responsibly, business credit cards are a great tool to build your business credit history and successfully track specified expenses. When used intelligently, they can significantly improve your cash flow. Fuel your growth by choosing the right corporate credit card. Always pay your balances down and on time to create a positive business credit profile.

Select the Right Card for Your Needs

Choosing the right business credit card requires careful evaluation of your business needs. Look at estimated interest rates, annual fees, and fees to transfer balances before signing on the dotted line. Cards that offer rewards like cashback, travel perks, etc. Increase the value.

Earning 1% or more on office supplies or other expenses can lower your costs significantly. Maximize value by aligning card features with your business spending habits. For example, if you have a majority of your expenses on supplies, look for a card that provides bonus points on those types of purchases.

To have the potential benefits flow into your business credit profile, make sure the card reports to business credit bureaus such as Experian or Equifax.

Keep Credit Utilization Low

Keeping a credit utilization ratio under 30% of your available credit is key to preserving your credit score. Second, pay off all card balances in full each month to avoid interest charges and prevent debt from accumulating.

Connect your card with accounting software to maintain a difference between personal and professional expenditures, while monitoring spending patterns. Check statements often to catch unexpected fees or changes to terms related to rewards programs.

Since high utilization negatively impacts your credit, aim to pay down balances to keep your business profile healthy.

Automate Payments to Avoid Delays

Automation saves you precious time managing payments, while automatically ensuring your bills get paid on time, avoiding costly late fees and penalties. With tools such as accounting software or banking apps, it’s simpler than ever to automate payments.

Keep an eye on automation to nip any issues in the bud and avoid damaging your credit score. Consistently paying on time helps build your creditworthiness.

Monitor and Maintain Your Credit

Developing robust business credit isn’t a one-and-done effort—it’s an active pursuit and ongoing responsibility. By maintaining a regular check-up on and maintenance of your credit, you can proactively avoid common financial pitfalls and set your world up for successful, long-term prosperity.

Here are some proactive ways you can monitor and maintain your business credit.

Regularly Check Your Business Credit Reports

Monitoring your business credit reports at least once a quarter can help you catch any inaccuracies or outdated information before it becomes an issue. Mistakes, like erroneous payment records or late metals, can worsen your credit score.

By monitoring reports regularly, you are able to catch and correct potential problems before they become bigger issues. Focus on reports from the major business credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and Dun & Bradstreet.

Understanding the data in these reports, like payment history, credit utilization, and public records, will give you a clear picture of your credit health.

Dispute Any Inaccuracies Promptly

If you do identify mistakes on your credit reports, dispute them right away. Begin by reaching out to the credit bureau in question, supplying any and all documentation needed to prove your case.

If one of your reports shows a late payment that you made on time, get on it! Share your bank statements or receipts to demonstrate evidence. Always document everything in case you need to involve higher-ups.

Taking action quickly will protect your credit score and your business’s financial reputation.

Track Your Credit Score Over Time

Keeping an eye on your credit score trends can help inform all your financial moves. Take advantage of services such as Nav or CreditSignal to monitor your score and get notified whenever something affects it.

Having a consistent score indicates you are doing something right, like paying your balances in full each month and keeping your personal and business finances distinct. Knowing what is most important, such as payment history and credit mix, will keep your profile strong.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Building business credit is essential for long-term growth, yet many small business owners face challenges that could easily be avoided with the right strategies for managing their business credit report and ensuring a strong business credit score.

Ignoring Business Credit Early On

Failing to build business credit when your business is young means you’ll likely miss out on viable financing opportunities down the line. Without a solid credit profile, you may face higher interest rates or limited access to funding when you need it most.

Building business credit early on helps you secure more favorable terms on loans and lines of credit, providing your business with increased financial flexibility. If you don’t act early, you may miss out on opportunities to create a solid, positive credit history.

It can take years to repair your credit if serious issues arise. Open accounts with vendors that report to credit bureaus—one of the first moves rookie businesses fail to make on their quest for good credit.

Mixing Personal and Business Finances

Mixing personal and business finances can make the process of building credit more complex and increase your risk for no reason. It can completely damage your personal credit score.

Making any late payments will damage your score even further. Maintain a strong separation. Maintain this line of separation by establishing a standalone company checking account and utilizing a business credit card.

Keeping separate financial identities makes your bookkeeping much easier. It helps with correct reporting to credit agencies, so there’s less risk of errors or crossed wires on accounts.

Missing Payments and Damaging Credit

Payments of business bills occurring late or being missed altogether will hit your business credit score hard. This often leads to increased interest rates, penalties, and difficulties in securing future funding.

You can use budgeting software and automated reminders to help you keep track of what payment obligation is coming due when. Just keep in mind that lenders often don’t release UCC filings when you’ve paid off the loan, so it’s important to regularly monitor your credit report.

Make sure all debts are accounted for to keep a clean profile.

How Long Does It Take?

Establishing business credit is a long-term endeavor that involves knowing what to do and how to do it the right way, over time. Although each timeline is different, knowing what stages are involved and what factors are in your control will lead to more informed expectations.

Here’s an overview of what to expect and how to make credit building work for you.

Short-Term Strategies (0-3 Months)

In those first few months, assume you’re in the relationship-building phase. Registering your business, gaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN), and creating a business bank account are all important steps in this process.

These simple steps not only create your business as a separate legal entity, it is imperative on your path to building credit. Engaging with vendors who report to the business credit bureaus can further establish a nascent credit history.

Additionally, suppliers such as Uline and Grainger are known for extending trade credit to nascent businesses. This allows you to establish a rudimentary credit score after only 3 to 6 months.

Mid-Term Strategies (3-6 Months)

As your business credit begins to take shape, you can expand credit options by opening business credit cards or establishing more vendor accounts. Consistent payment practices are essential during this period, as on-time payments significantly impact your credit profile.

Many businesses see their first credit scores within this timeframe, providing a benchmark to evaluate progress.

Long-Term Strategies (6+ Months)

Once you reach six months, the focus shifts to keeping excellent credit as the goal. Check your credit reports often and try to use less than 30% of available credit at all times.

A strong credit profile increases access to bigger loans on more favorable terms for your business. This is difficult to accomplish without very disciplined stewardship for a period of 1 - 2 years.

Factors Affecting Timeline

How quickly business credit can be established depends on a number of factors, including business credit payment history, business type and entity structure, and business owner financial diligence.

Companies that leverage vendors that report to the credit bureaus tend to experience quicker turnaround times.

Conclusion

Developing business credit is a long-term process, but the benefits make it well worth it. Healthy credit helps your business access larger amounts of capital, realize cost savings through lower interest rates, and pursue new opportunities for growth. Fundamentally, you should keep your personal and business finances completely separated. Make timely payments to your vendors and lenders, and stay on top of your credit reports with these tips for continuing success as a business. Better to make smart decisions from the get-go than to find yourself facing a more daunting problem down the road.

Begin with either vendor accounts or a small-business credit card and make on-time payments a habit. Make long-term gains, not short-term solutions. Each action improves your standing with lenders and fortifies your business’s credit profile.

Don’t wait, start building your business’s future today. Put credit at the forefront, and see your passion and commitment open doors to tremendous pathways.

[kids-worldfun]

Credit Repair Simplified: Practical Steps to Elevate Your Credit Score

Understanding and improving your credit score may seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Setting a clear plan and taking pragmatic steps can boost your score and enhance your financial well-being. Here is a straightforward guide that can assist in the credit repair process. Understanding Your Credit Report Acquire Your Credit Report Begin by obtaining free copies of your credit reports…

[theyayadiamond]

Interview with Author and Financial Advisor Brian Zuniga

https://www.brianzuniga.com/

Greetings! My name is Brian Zuniga, and I am the author of the successful books “The Modern Saver” & “The Modern Investor." Like many of us, I have read many financial books, have gone to tons of seminars, and have watched many financial YouTubers & TikTok influencers. The amount of financial information out there is overwhelming, and it is very difficult to determine what is accurate and what isn’t. My expertise lies in being able to break down complex financial concepts into understandable and most importantly, actionable pieces. Rather than just tell you what to do, I will teach you how to develop your own impeccable judgement. Truth is, as great as some financial advice is, it is rarely customized to the individual. After all, I am not you and you’re not me. I will teach you how to create your own financial blueprint that caters to your own financial goals & dreams. My course introduces an overview of crucial financial concepts that will help you immediately. My books will then expand on your newly obtained knowledge and will dive deeper into the financial concepts so you can expedite your financial success even further. I’m beyond excited and grateful for the opportunity to a part of your journey and can’t wait to hear your success stories! ⚡ VidChapter AI generated these chapters, try it out https://vidchapter.com/?affiliate=yayadiamond Recommended podcast platform get 10% off: https://podopshost.com/register/?ref=yaya

[stevedidier]

5 Credit Repair Secrets the Credit Bureaus DON'T Want You To Know!

[paradisehomepros]

Your credit score helps lenders see how you've handled debt in the past; the higher your score, the lower the interest rate on your mortgage might be. So, as you can imagine, it's good to raise your score in preparation for applying for a loan.

[femmefatalevibe]

for the other anon: bitchesgetriches is an excellent blog with a lot of great personal finance advice and guides to things like paying off credit card debt on a low budget 💜

Thank you, love! Posting for visibility xx

[legalnewcreditfile212]

Business Credit For Your New Business!

Check our resources at: https://legalnewcreditfile.com/ for more!

[britannicaes]

Credit Score Improvement Tips: Your Guide to Boosting Credit Scores Fast

Learn effective strategies to boost your credit score quickly. This beginner's guide provides insights into credit scores, tips for improvement, and answers to FAQs. Take control of your financial future now!

Read more >>

[steddieas-shegoes]

Modern AU where Eddie is a tech repair person at an apple store in Chicago while he tries to make it big with his band and Steve is a spoiled rich kid who is trying to cover up that he's been using his macbook to film for his OnlyFans or something similar and he needs that shit wiped.

Eddie is as professional as he can be, but can't help but be amused at Steve being worried that he's gonna see everything.

S: seriously, just wipe everything. nothing has to be saved. don't even look through each file. just start over. E: okay sure. but you know you could just buy a new laptop. S: my dad checks my credit card statements. E: okay, so tell him you bought it for a friend or something. S: just. can you wipe it? E: yeah i can.

Eddie doesn't let him know that he already has seen everything because of course he subscribes to S.H. and often leaves him bigger tips than he can afford. He doesn't even know why Steve does it since he's apparently rich, or his dad is.

It only takes a few hours to wipe it, and Eddie's grateful he managed to help Steve instead of his coworker who is a certified Creep ™️ who absolutely would have made sure to watch as many of the videos as he could first.

He calls Steve and leaves a message for him that it's done, but doesn't hear back and Steve doesn't come by. He does the same thing again the next day, and the day after that, starting to grow concerned.

He goes so far as to check Steve's OF page, just to see if there's an update, but sees it's been shut down, like it never existed.

He finally caves, does the most unprofessional thing he's ever done, and texts Steve's number from his own phone.

This is Eddie from the apple store. Your laptop's ready. Just want you to know after 30 days we usually get rid of unclaimed items.

There's no response.

But two days later, Steve comes into the store wearing sunglasses and a hat, clearly trying to hide.

When he takes off the sunglasses to sign everything, Eddie sees a healing black eye and swollen nose.

He isn't stupid.

And he suddenly feels extremely protective over him.

E: did your dad find out? S: find out what? E: about your online job? S: how do you know? E: I wasn't gonna say anything, and I swear everything got wiped without anyone including myself seeing, but I do subscribe to you and I recognized you when you came in. S, already having a panic attack: shit no. this is bad. okay you can't say anything about this to anyone. please. E: I wouldn't, I won't. but your dad found out didn't he? he did this to you? S: *nods* E: you safe now? S: *shrugs* E: need a place to stay? S: i've been saving. that's why i did this in the first place. so i can pay rent somewhere. E: I have a second bedroom at my place that just opened up. up to you.

And of course Steve takes it because he's desperate, and doesn't have real world experience with a lot of strangers, but has a good feeling about this.

Eddie finds that Steve is a very typical rich kid; ignorant to a lot of the world's struggles, but not an asshole despite his bitchy attitude sometimes coming out, thinks money can fix everything until Eddie shows him that apologies and a cuddle on the couch can be better.

Steve is so touch starved, he doesn't even realize the way he always folds into Eddie's side when they're just relaxing and watching a movie, or how he always lets his hand brush against his side or hand when Eddie gets home from work. Eddie helps him look for a job, and they find that he loves working at a daycare even though the money isn't that great.

They fall in love so easily, neither of them actually realize it happens until Steve comes home after a very long day before the Christmas holidays, covered in paint stains from crafts with the kids, and Eddie just welcomes him home with a kiss.

[munson-blurbs]

Living After Midnight (Failed Rockstar!Eddie x Motel Worker!Reader)

♫ Summary: Eddie lowered his guard during a late night conversation, revealing crucial details about his past. But was it enough for you to reciprocate? (4.3k words)

♫ CW: slowburn, strangers-to-lovers, angst, drug use, parental conflict, poverty, homelessness, brief mention of neglect, brief mention of sex work, eventual smut (18+ only, minors DNI)

♫ Divider credit to @hellfire--cult

chapter four: show me yours, i'll show you mine

If convincing Eddie to take the job wasn’t enough of a struggle, you still had to explain the situation to your parents.

Hi Mom and Dad, I invited a guest to help fix up the motel. The same one who stole a blanket–but don’t worry, I got it back. Oh, and he’ll be staying here for free.

They were understandably taken aback by your decision, especially without consulting them first, but you’d mustered up a strong argument: Eddie was young, he was easy to get along with, and he showed a basic sense of personal responsibility. Not to mention that the place could certainly use the repairs; peeling wallpaper was just the tip of the iceberg. Lightbulbs needed to be replaced, carpets needed to be scrubbed, and the outside of the building desperately needed to be power washed. 

“Plus, summer break doesn’t start for another few weeks,” you hastily added. “We won’t need to worry about renting out Eddie’s room until then.”

Mom arched an eyebrow at the newfound ascription—not room four, but Eddie’s room—but said nothing, only looking at your father for his seal of approval. 

He breathed out, long and low, trying to do the calculations in his head. Your heart flip-flopped when his gaze dropped to the ground, his signature move when he was about to tell you no. 

“If he doesn’t help out, he can’t afford to stay here anyway. It’s not like we’re losing money if he keeps the room for a bit.” You winced at the slight whine in your voice, the opposite of the infallible exterior you’d wanted to present. 

Dad laughed, not unkindly, but belittlement panged in your chest nonetheless. “Except for the water, air conditioning, and electricity he uses,” he pointed out, ticking off each item on his fingers. “Unless he plans to only sit in the dark, sweat, and never shower.” He sighed as unmistakable disappointment weaved into your eyes and filled them with tears. 

Now you’d have to tell Eddie that the offer was off the table, that he was shit out of luck, that you’d let him down. You never should’ve opened your big mouth in the first place. Captain Save-the-World, except you only ever made things worse. If you wore a cape, it would get snagged on tree branches each time you tried to fly.

“You have a good heart,” Mom spoke up, trying to nurse your wounded feelings, “but kindness doesn’t pay the bills.” She glanced at Dad again, her mouth set in a straight line. “Maybe we can discuss this further.”

You fought to ignore the hope that bloomed from her words, but the corners of your mouth turned upwards before you could rein it in. “Thank you,” you murmured, offering them both a grateful smile. 

People called you a ‘bleeding heart,’ teasing you about your constant attempts to solve problems beyond a reasonable scope. At last year’s Thanksgiving dinner, your uncle had informed you—unprompted—that he would never vote for you for President because “you’d just give all my money to the poor.”

While your parents were more realistic with their goals than you were, they did their best to encourage your compassionate spirit; there was no doubt that you got your sense of morality from them. After deliberating on Eddie’s fate for a few hours, they had finally relented—with one stipulation. 

“Your mother and I are not going to supervise him, so he’ll have to work night shifts with you,” Dad had said sternly. 

“Really?” You clapped your hands in celebration. “Thank you! I mean, um, Eddie thanks you.”

Dad gave your shoulders a quick squeeze; it was his version of you’re welcome. “Yeah, well.” He played it cool, keeping his tone breezy. “It’ll be good practice for when you take over the place.”

You’d nodded in response, your insides twisting in a clashing mix of excitement and shame. Eddie wouldn’t have to live on the street, but it required you to continue lying to your parents. 

I’ll tell them the truth once Eddie finds a real job and gets his own place. I can only handle one crisis at a time. 

That was how you’d found yourself spending your Tuesday evening with Eddie Munson. The motel was otherwise empty, save for your parents, a middle-aged trucker in room 7, and Phyllis in her usual digs.

You and Dad had spent the end of his shift covering the floor with giant flimsy drop cloths. They hadn’t been used in years, evidenced by the thin layer of dust that coated them when you’d dug them out from the back of the supply closet. You’d tried your best to shake it all off but instead sent yourself into a sneezing fit. 

Eddie sauntered into the lobby at a quarter after ten. Gray sweatpants sagged at his waist, the drawstring noticeably missing from the elastic band, and his white cotton undershirt had a tan stain that spread across his left pec. 

“Coffee,” he explained with a shrug, rolling a hair tie off of his wrist and pulling his curls into a messy bun at the nape of his neck. He looked at you blankly and waited for you to instruct him, but you had already dove into your schoolwork. “Um, is there a ladder? Tools?” He pursed his lips and scanned the room with indifference.

“Oh! Right, yeah.” You could have smacked yourself for not having everything set up for him. “We don’t have a ladder per se, but this step stool should work fine.” You pulled it out from behind the desk along with a scoring tool, a spray bottle filled with a vinegar and water solution, and a putty knife. “I also grabbed the clock radio from my room if you wanted to listen to some music. Might help pass the time.”

Eddie nodded, watching carefully as you switched the radio on and tuned the dial to a Top 40 station. He shook his head the moment the electric beat of Haddaway’s “What is Love” played through the tinny speakers.

“Absolutely not,” he said with a scoff, dropping the supplies right where he stood, footsteps heavy even with the cloth underneath him. Without another word, he spun the knob past the static until the sound of an electric guitar crackled through. He bobbed his head a few times, finding the rhythm. “This’ll do.” 

“Not a Eurodance fan?”

His back was turned to you as he returned to the task at hand which left him unable to see the sarcastic smirk you sported. “Fuck no.” He stepped up on the tool and began cutting into the old wallpaper, puffing out an irritated laugh. “I can’t believe—scratch—you voluntarily—scratch—listen to that–scratch–shit.” His biceps flexed with each flick of the blade in a consistent rhythm. 

Drumming your fingernails on the desk, you twirled your pen in your free hand as you reread your own handwriting. You’d stayed at the library and filled notebook pages with bullet points about early childhood development until a squirrely librarian kicked you out at closing time. The choppy sentence fragments begged to be fleshed out into a fully-formed essay, but you couldn’t bring yourself to focus.

Write words. Make edits. Add a comma. Do something, anything, dammit.

Almost an hour passed without you making an iota of progress on your paper. The words swam on the page until they just looked like inky squiggles with no real meaning, your brain blank as if you’d never written anything in your life. Cool air tickled your nose as you exhaled through your lips. Why couldn’t you just concentrate?

“It’s this music,” you muttered to yourself, too low for your company to hear. Your temples throbbed with frustration, and you reached over and snapped back to the previous station. 

Eddie’s head whipped around at the sudden change, frowning when he heard pop music instead of the metal that had just been playing. “Seriously?” He leaned one hand on the wall and threw the other up in exasperation. 

“Yes, seriously,” you bit back, teeth clenched in annoyance. “I can’t focus on my writing with that on.”

Eddie grumbled something unintelligible but went back to work, the scratching serving as a strange backdrop to the song. 

Janet Jackson faded out to a too-chipper deejay. “You folks know what time it is!” His voice reminded you of old-school toothpaste commercials, over-exaggerated and unnaturally polished. “That’s right; it’s time for Rad or Retch—where I play a song from a new artist, and you call in and let me know whether you think it’s rad or if it makes you wanna retch!” 

Eddie rolled his eyes, adding an exasperated “Jesus H. Christ,” under his breath. 

“This one’s called ‘Watch Me Leave’ by Death’s Echo, a grunge group from—”

The announcement came to an abrupt end as Eddie nearly leaped from the stool to the desk and yanked the plug out of its socket. The two-pronged head hit the floor with a soft thud. 

“Hey!” Your eyes widened in confusion and then disbelief, flickering over to where he stood. You expected him to wear a scowl that matched your own; instead, he looked like he’d just taken a knife to the gut, and you took a step back. “Whoa, you okay?”

Eddie tensed the moment he detected your sympathetic tone, shoulders pinched and jaw rigid. “‘M fine.” He pressed the heel of his left hand atop his right knuckles until they cracked. “Sorry.” He bent down and gently plugged the cord back into the wall, but you immediately flicked the power button to the off-position. 

It was silent for a full minute, save for the scorer against the wall and the scratch of pen on paper. When Eddie finally spoke, his voice was so soft that you barely heard it.

“That was my band.”

Confusion creased your brows. You set down your pen and stole a glance at him. His body remained facing the wall, but he was no longer working, hands lamely at his sides. “What?”

“Death’s Echo was, uh,” he shook a rogue curl from his eyes, “that was my band.”

“Oh.” Awkwardness seeped into the room and filled every crevice as you wracked your brain for a suitable response. “But…not anymore?”

Eddie clicked his tongue. “Nope.” The p sound popped softly as though signaling the discussion’s end, but there was a pregnant pause before he started removing the wallpaper again.

“Why not?” The question sprang from your tongue, curiosity getting the best of you.

A hesitant chuckle accompanied his sigh. “I thought you didn't make small talk with strangers.” He climbed back on the step stool and ripped off a strip of paper.

“I thought we weren’t strangers anymore,” you quipped back, not missing the smile that ghosted his lips.

“Fair enough.” Eddie conceded easily, not at all angry to be proven wrong. He bit the inside of his cheek and stared up at the yellow-tinged lighting overhead before slicing into the wallpaper. “Sometimes you think you want something, but it turns out to be a steaming pile of horseshit.” The last word was punctuated by a grunt, and the last panel of wallpaper fluttered to the ground. “That’s the music industry in a nutshell.”

You nodded in agreement despite an obvious lack of knowledge.

“They sign your band,” he continued, aiming the spray bottle nozzle at the wall and pulling the trigger, “and you think it’s because they like you. Or at least your music, your sound, whatever.” He wrinkled his nose as he got an unexpected whiff of the vinegar solution’s pungency. “But you’re really just a front for whatever they want to sell. Which, apparently, is grunge.” 

You had too many questions. They probably referred to record producers or agents or some other bigwigs, you surmised, but what did they do that made Eddie so cynical? 

That was far too loaded to ask, at least in that moment, so you opted for a more humorous follow-up. “You mean it wasn’t all sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll?” you joked, but Eddie didn’t share in your lightheartedness. 

“At the beginning, when we first got signed, yeah.” His brown eyes exuded wistfulness, remembrance of better times. He blinked twice and snapped himself out of it. “We put out a few albums that didn’t completely flop, I guess. And we were the opening act on a couple of tours. Got a good chunk of money in the bank.”

That explained the Calvin Klein underwear he was wearing on that first night. You capped your pen and leaned in, trying not to be overly inquisitive but unable to contain yourself. “So…what happened?” What led you here?

“We get called into a meeting, and we’re all thinking that the label’s gonna tell us we’re headlining, right? Maybe not, like, The Garden, but bigger venues than we usually played. But, uh…” he trailed off and rubbed the tip of his nose with an open palm, “it was an ultimatum: shift from metal to grunge, or get dropped.”

You listened intently as Eddie relayed the ordeal. The label executives had cited the increasing popularity of Nirvana and Pearl Jam along with decreasing interest in heavy metal bands. “Cobain’s selling; Ozzy isn’t,” they’d explained. If Death’s Echo wanted to play to packed arenas and have their music on mainstream radio, they had to adapt to the times.

“I told them we weren’t sellouts and to kiss my ass,” Eddie said to you, huffing out an annoyed breath. “But the rest of the band didn’t give a shit about that; if those suits told them to jump, they’d say ‘how high.’ So, I quit and waited for them to come crawling back.” 

He didn’t elaborate after that. He didn’t need to. Because if they’d done as Eddie had hoped, he wouldn’t be performing manual labor just to live in a struggling motel, basking in the gloominess that he wore like a second skin.

“If you could go back and do it differently, would you?” You grimaced at your own intrusiveness. “Sorry, that was—”

“It’s fine.” Eddie didn’t give an answer right away, his teeth grating against his lower lip. “Y’know, I’d like to say no, but losing your record deal, your apartment, your girlfriend, your so-called ‘friends,’ and every nice thing you own can make a guy kinda cynical.”

Girlfriend?

It was far from the most dire item on that list, but it needled at you. Maybe it was the mental image of Eddie watching everything get taken from him and then adding heartbreak on top of it all. 

“How about you?”

His voice yanked you from your thoughts and had your heart in your throat. “Huh?”

“You. Your whole deal.” He gestured at you with the scraper. “Why you’re always doing homework like a little nerd.” You couldn't detect a note of taunting in his teasing, only playfulness, just as it had been that very first night. 

You scowled for only a second before a smile broke through. “Don’t you have wallpaper to remove?”

Eddie snorted out a laugh. “I see how it is: when it’s my shit, I’m free to talk. But when it’s your shit, I’m a lowly employee.” He held up both hands in mock surrender. “My deepest apologies, Heiress.”

You didn’t bother to argue, choosing instead to pivot to a new subject altogether. “How long does this take, anyway?” Walking out from behind the desk to inspect his work, you ran your finger down the wall. Once you got past the stench of vinegar, he was actually doing a pretty good job.  

“You think you could do better?” He saw your gentle ribbing and upped the ante, holding out the putty scraper as if saying, be my guest.

Plucking it from his grasp, you smirked and chose a spot right at eye level. Challenge accepted. 

Though the glue had softened considerably, removing it still required decent muscle. You put your bodyweight into it and pushed through the resistance, but you only managed to pull off a little bit. 

You heard Eddie laugh through his nose as he stood behind you, watching you struggle. “Harder than it looks, huh?” He ignored your middle finger and stepped a half-inch closer. “Let me help.”

One calloused hand dwarfed yours, his fingers wrapping around where your fist held the scraper. The other found purchase on the bicep of your free arm where your T-shirt’s cuff met skin, stabilizing without entrapping you. You could easily get out of his grasp if you wanted. 

You stayed there. 

He tightened his grip around yours and made short, downward strokes, admittedly taking off far more glue than you had. “There ya go,” he murmured. His breath was warm on your neck, gooseflesh rising when he spoke. You hoped he wouldn’t notice. “Just like that.”

Butterflies beat their wings in your stomach, a result of the unexpected proximity compounded by an unmet need for connection that starkly contrasted the night shift’s normal solitude. A loose tendril of his hair tickled against your ear, and the realization of how close your bodies actually were shattered whatever spell had been cast. 

Eddie pulled away quickly, the air cooling where his hand once rested. Did he also feel that sudden loss of contact, or was it all in your head?

With a shaky breath, you stepped aside and silently returned the tool to him. “Should probably leave this to the expert,” you muttered, forcing nervous laughter. “I have to get back to writing anyway.”

His eyes bored into you as you walked back to the desk, but neither of you said another word. You glanced over at him every so often, noting the perspiration dampening his collar and under his arms as he toiled away at the glue and wished you had a water bottle to offer him.

Maybe next time. 

You got halfway through the first body paragraph when Eddie spoke again.

“You’re really not gonna talk?”

You looked up to see him swipe his forearm along his brows as he shot you a tired grin.

“We just had a whole conversation,” you pointed out, returning your attention to your essay. 

“About me,” he said. He wiped his palms on his pants, leaving behind a sweaty print, and traipsed over to you. “I mean, every time I see you, you’re either going to school or coming back from school or doing work for school…” 

You shrugged, no big deal. “Okay, yeah, I go to school.”

“For what?”

Shit. “Hospitality and hotel management.”

“Really.” Eddie leaned over and snatched up your paper. You reached out to grab it back, but it was too late. The bridge of his nose scrunched as he read the opening paragraph to himself. “Doesn’t look like hospitality to me.” Amusement raised his brows. “Care to explain?”

It was the last thing you wanted to do, but you felt strangely obligated. He’d confided in you, so you should at least moderately indulge him. 

“Fine,” you relented, “I’m studying psychology.” That might have been the first time you’d ever said those words aloud in the motel lobby; it was oddly freeing. 

Eddie nodded and continued to scan the paper. “You wanna be a shrink?”

“Social worker.” 

He let out a low whistle. “That’s a tough gig. Especially if you’re working with kids.” He shook the essay pages for emphasis. 

“Yeah. I know.”

“Right.” He shoved one hand in his pants pocket. “What made you decide to be a social worker?”

You breathed out a laugh. “You want the easy answer or the real one?”

He didn’t hesitate before answering. “Real one. Always.” He returned your essay and rested his un-pocketed hand on the desk. Inquiring eyes beckoned you to continue.

With less trepidation than you’d anticipated, you tell him the story of that fateful day in the summer of 1987, just two years after you’d graduated from high school.

You were still working the afternoon shift, and summer break brought its usual influx of guests. People came and went in blurs of luggage, but there was one particular patron who had made her presence known.

“Hi!”

You peered over the desk to find the source of the lively greeting. A young girl, no older than five, stared back at you, syrupy grape stickiness surrounding her lips. The cause was most likely a popsicle, as evidenced by the purple stained stick clenched in her right hand.

“Um, hi,” you said with a smile that was, for the first time in a long while, not encased in customer service insincerity. “What’s your name?” And where did you come from?

Unfazed by your bewilderment, she introduced herself as Izzy and asked you if you wanted to play. “We just have to stay here, or else my mommy will get mad,” she explained with urgency.

You nodded slowly, sorting through the information without raising any alarm. “And where is your mommy?”

Izzy’s hazel eyes darted back towards the hallway. “In our room. She’s with a friend so I can’t go in.” She dropped her voice to what she considered a whisper, but it was still clear as day. “Her friend is a boy.”

Your stomach turned. Of course. Instead of watching her child, this mother was probably shooting up with her boyfriend of the week. 

“I can’t play right now, but you can sit here with me until your mommy and her friend come back out,” you said. “I have paper and pens if you wanna draw.”

This satisfied her, and she plopped down on the floor and patted the spot next to her. That day hadn’t been particularly hectic, so you obliged and sat.

“What’re you gonna draw?” Izzy asked, reaching for a blue pen. You didn’t have time to answer before she proudly announced, “I’m gonna draw a flower. Do you like flowers?”

“Mhm.”

Izzy smiled as she surrounded a circle with swirling loops. “You can draw a flower, too. Maybe a rose. Or a sunflower!”

Her excitement at the latter option was all you needed. “Sunflower it is, Miss Izzy.” You drew a circle of your own and filled it with a cross-hatched pattern, curating pointed-tipped petals around it. 

“D’you have crayons?” she asked, not looking up from her own flower.

You put down your pen and offered a pitying frown. “No, I’m sorry.”

“S’okay. You should get some, though. ‘Cause you can draw prettier flowers with crayons.” 

The two of you stayed on the floor for ten minutes. All the while, she quizzed you on your favorite color, animal, food, and TV show. She was halfway through a heated explanation of why Friend Bear was superior to Share Bear when a frantic voice called out her name. 

“Mommy!” Izzy practically flew into her mother’s arms. You watched as the woman’s entire body sagged in relief, pulling her daughter in close. A man trailed behind her, discreetly zipping up his fly and walking out the front door. 

“Izzy, I told you to sit in the hall and eat your ice pop,” her mom gently scolded, words muffled by her lips being pressed to Izzy’s scalp. 

Izzy scrunched her nose in confusion. “But I finished it.” She pointed at the empty stick, now on the ground where she’d been sitting, as proof. In true childlike fashion, she jumped to a new topic without waiting for the first conversation to conclude. “Mommy, you wanna see what I drawed?”

“Of course, baby.” She easily feigned excitement as Izzy presented her with a series of scribbles that were meant to be various flowers, people, and farm animals. “Wow! I think you’re gonna be an artist one day.”

The little girl continued chatting, blissfully unaware of the panic she’d inadvertently caused. Her mom allowed herself to look away for just a moment to glance at you, mouthing a tiny “thank you” and blinking her tear-filled eyes.

“And…I don’t know,” you lamely supplied as you wrapped up the story. “I guess I realized that I had all of these assumptions, this sort of preconceived notion that this woman was a deadbeat parent, but she obviously loved Izzy more than anything.” You picked at your thumbnail nervously. “No one should have to sell their body for money just to survive. She deserved better than that.” 

Eddie stayed quiet for a moment, absorbing everything you’d thrown at him. “And you wanted to help her,” he finally said.

“Yeah.” You thought back to the way her gaze simultaneously held gratitude and guilt. Her daughter was safe, but she knew that this was not the final time she’d be in this predicament.

The experience had awakened a realization in you: working at the motel was never your dream, but it kept a roof over your head and food in your belly. You weren’t left to navigate the world on your own. Independence was a privilege, not a mandate.

“For what it’s worth,” Eddie broke in, “I think you’ll be a great social worker someday.” He rapped his knuckles on the desk twice and slipped back to the awaiting task; despite insisting that you talked to him while he worked, he hadn’t touched any of the tools while you spoke.

Your smile was a thank you, and you tuned the radio back to the metal station Eddie had chosen earlier. He didn’t say anything else, but you noted the subtle tap of his toe against the drop cloth.

Eddie worked for a few more hours until he’d stripped the wall of all paper and glue. “All right,” he said, balancing the step stool on two fingers. Sleepiness softened his own smile, all lips and no teeth. “Let me know when the new wallpaper comes in. You, uh, know where I live.”

“Will do.” Your thumb absently grazed against the words you’d just written, smudging them. You rubbed at the black ink seeping into your skin, silently chastising your own carelessness. “Good night, Eddie.”

He stretched and scratched at the U-neck of his collar, exposing a sliver of chest hair. 

“Sweet dreams, Heiress.”

--

taglist:

@theintimatewriter @mandyjo8719 @storiesbyrhi @lady-munson @moonmark98 @squidscottjeans @therealbaberuthless @emxxblog @munson-mjstan @loves0phelia @kthomps914 @aysheashea @munsonsbtch @mmunson86 @b-irock @ginasellsbooks @erinekc @the-unforgivenn @dashingdeb16 @micheledawn1975 @yujyujj @eddies-acousticguitar @daisy-munson @kellsck @foreveranexpatsposts @mykuup @chatteringfox @feelinglikeineedlotsofnaps @sapphire4082 @katethetank @sidthedollface2 @eddies-stinky-battle-jacket @mysteris-things @mrsjellymunson @josephquinnsfreckles @the-disaster-in-waiting @eddielowe @hugdealer @rip-quizilla @munson-girl @fishwithtitz @costellation-hunter @cloudroomblog @emsgoodthinkin

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - December 22-28

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles for 50% off this month only! Starting in January, I’ll also be posting 5 extra news links to Patreon each week (for free since they aren’t my work)

1. These countries all scored major wins for LGBTQ+ rights in 2024

“Consensual same-sex activity became legal in Namibia [and Dominica…, c]onversion therapy was banned [in Mexico…, Greenland] made LGBTQ+ discrimination illegal […, and] same-sex adoption and same-sex marriage became legal [in Greece.]”

2. After trial and error, Mexican fishers find key to reforesting a mangrove haven

“So far, the project has planted more than 1.8 million mangroves that have a 92-94% survival rate, Borbón estimated. [… M]angroves can prevent coastal erosion, store carbon and provide a nursery for all kinds of fish and crustacean species.”

3. ‘Britain’s wildlife safari’: baby boom in Norfolk as seal colonies flourish

“More than 1,200 seal pups were born […] in November, and 2,500 more are expected to be born before the breeding season ends in January. […] “Mortality seems to be much lower than in other colonies[….]””

4. Barcelona's metro trains are helping to charge the city's EVs each time they brake.

“[…T]he energy from the underground trains' brakes is used to power the trains and the stations themselves, while the remainder is sent snaking through cables to the surface to power plug-in stations for privately owned vehicles.”

5. Scientists thought this whale could only live for 70 years – turns out it's double that.

“The data [from repeated “photo identification of individual”s] revealed that Southern right whales can live for more than 130 years, with some speculated to reach the grand old age of 150.”

6. Rural Power Co-Ops Gain $4.37B in Latest US Clean Energy Funding

“[… A power co-op in Florida] will use its funding of more than $1.3 billion to develop 700 MW of utility-scale solar and battery energy storage projects in rural areas, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 3.5 million tons annually[….]”

7. Fish-friendly dentistry: New method makes oral research non-lethal

“[… T]he researchers successfully performed the procedure on 60 fish with no fatalities. […] "This new approach researchers to track tooth replacement and development [in living] rare species or museum specimens that can't be damaged."”

8. These Brooklyn Homeowners Couldn’t Afford to Go Green. Then Help Arrived

“The program aims to repair and retrofit 70 two- and three-family homes […] in the span of two years. […] EnergyFit staff work as case managers to help homeowners navigate the complicated technical and bureaucratic processes, coordinate with tenants and set them up for further upgrades down the road.”

9. 2024 was a fantastic year for energy storage

“[… California] became the first state to pass 10 gigawatts, back in April. [… In Texas and California,] when extreme weather events hit, batteries were able to shore up the grid and lower energy costs for customers.”

10. Amid concern over microplastics, a Maine company creates a kelp-based laundry pod alternative

“"The slurry we're creating is similar to that of paper milling, and […] with Maine there's a lot of old infrastructure from the paper industry [… which] can be applied to our process here[….]” If all goes to plan, Dirigo Sea Farms' first batch of 10,000 kelp-based laundry pods will be ready for online sales by next spring.”

December 15-21 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[velvetinkkwrites]

A Place in This World is a one shot response to @ekingston's Flash Fic Challenge - four random parameters and 1,000 words max. This is a great writing exercise and I highly recommend giving it a spin (heh).

My prompts: sci-fi | stranded in a different dimension | mutual pining | a flat tire

Thank you to @beca-mitchell for helping me get it to 1,000 words on the nose (I'll take my extra credit, please), and thank you to bff @proudlyunicorn for making me aware of the challenge!

Read it on ao3.

---

Startled, Caitlyn tipped backwards with a frustrated huff as the car rattled in front of her, the force of Vi’s boot in the door nearly caving in the entire driver’s side paneling. 

“What the fuck is this luck?” Vi growled. Caitlyn’s eyes narrowed as she watched Vi drag a hand through her mop of pink hair. “We’re cursed.”

With a scoff, Caitlyn pushed herself out of a shallow puddle, holding tightly to her composure so she might avoid snapping at her partner’s explosive lack of patience. “It’s not a curse,” she retorted, leaning closer to the flat tire that had nearly sent them off the road. “It’s physics.”

The air smelled of metal and something sweeter, like burnt honey. The sky overhead churned in unnatural hues of violet and neon green, the clouds moving like ink in water.

Vi crouched beside her and reached for the shredded tire, half-wrapped fingers brushing against deep scars in the rubber. “Right. Because physics explains a flat tire screwing us over in this nightmare dimension.”

Pink lips scrunched to one side as Caitlyn considered the damage done. She thought maybe they were lucky they’d only lost one tire. “The pressure distribution was already unstable from the last jump, and the terrain here is terrible. This was bound to happen, Vi.”

Vi exhaled – scoffed, more like – and Caitlyn glanced sideways to watch her rest both arms over her knee. “Okay, genius. How do we fix it?”

Caitlyn pushed up her sleeves. “Theoretically? We patch it.”

Vi’s expression went flat, unamused. “I hate when you say theoretically. ”

“Yes, I’m aware.”

“How do we theoretically patch a tire without a repair kit?”

“Still working that part out.”

These sorts of hiccups were often solved by spontaneous ingenuity rather than a well-laid plan, Caitlyn thought, as she rummaged through the items they’d gathered while on this job. A mysterious jarred substance from D-516 seemed promising and Caitlyn grabbed it before making her way around the busted old jalopy – their trusted vehicle for dimension hopping.

She worked in silence, using sand from beneath her feet as an additional component for binding the black goo from D-516. Caitlyn was focused, Vi was restless. The wind picked up, carrying an eerie hum through the strange trees that lined the road – tall, spindly things with luminous blue leaves that pulsed like a heartbeat.

“So,” Vi said, interrupting the wind with her words. “Least favorite dimension of the trip so far. Go.”

Caitlyn didn’t look up. “I wasn’t a fan of D-82,” she replied, content enough to give Vi the distraction she believed she was looking for. “Being swallowed by the ground is not high on my list of priorities this year.”

Vi snorted. “Yeah, that was bad. But my vote has to go to the upside-down city.”

Caitlyn paused, her right hand covered in muck, and looked at Vi with a disconcerted brow. “Upside-down wasn’t the problem. The reason D-1601 was horrible was because you thought punching the ambassador was a good idea.”

The way Vi threw her hands up was just… so very Vi . “He insulted you!”

Was that the reason? They’d scurried out of D-1601 with tails tucked because of something the ambassador had said… about Caitlyn?

She faltered, then regained focus and continued applying the compound to the split tire. “That’s hardly relevant.”

Vi huffed and leaned back on her hands. Caitlyn thought to warn her of the water that seeped through the earth here, but her own arse was damp with it, too. At least any side effects would be enjoyed by both of them together. “Whatever. It’s not my fault you’re impossible to compliment.”

Caitlyn didn’t respond, but her jaw tightened. The flex of it was visible. Her hand slipped along the tire, flinging black goo to the ground near their feet. Vi wasn’t the first to make such a claim – her mother liked to remind her of that, too. In choosing a career path unbefitting her family name, Caitlyn had made herself undesirable . And what was that if not a woman who could not be complimented?

There was nothing to compliment, after all.

A hand at her cheek drew Caitlyn from her deep and derisive thoughts, shoulders flinching as her eyes flew sideways to meet Vi’s. It was Vi’s hand. Vi’s thumb brushing over the high cut of her cheekbone. A smudge? Grease? Goo? Or was Vi just touching her… to touch her?

Caitlyn froze, staring at Vi whose hand remained on her cheek just a second longer. She saw the moment Vi realized what she’d done. It was written in the way those steel blue eyes went wide, and in the speed with which she retracted her hand.

Good thing she did, too. Any longer and Caitlyn was sure she’d have leaned into that gentle touch.

Vi cleared her throat, rubbed at the back of her neck while Caitlyn returned her attention to the tire. “Well,” Caitlyn said, voice too steady to be convincingly natural. “We’re not entirely doomed.”

“That might be the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

Vi stood first, offering her hand. Caitlyn hesitated – she always did – then took it, allowing Vi to pull her up. Her hand was big, entirely too warm – it always was. 

Caitlyn rode shotgun while Vi drove, pouring over a holopad with a list of coordinates for their future destinations. The tire held, Caitlyn’s ingenuity once again proving its worth.

“You ever think about staying somewhere?”

Vi’s gentle question drew Caitlyn from her planing, fingers hovering over the holo as she looked at her partner with consideration.

Vi swallowed. “I mean… one of these places. Just pick a dimension and call it home.”

Bright blue eyes remained on Vi, but Vi’s attention was on the road. “Do you?”

“Sometimes.”

Caitlyn felt that answer in her chest, because Vi had included her in these musings. These dreams of finding a place and making it home – together.

She replied softly. Softer than she probably meant to. “Maybe someday.”