#Final Clean Up Bakersfield
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-> CH. 1: THE PETRICHOR OF DUST-STORMS
synopsis: you and logan take on both the weather of the divide and three unsuspecting ghosts.
word count: 1.6k
ships: Keegan Russ/Reader, Ghosts team & Reader
notes: if anyone would like for me to start a taglist, feel free to ask âȘ (also there is a teaser/prologue, so read that before reading this! otherwise you'll probably be confused lol)
WHY DOES EVIL WEAR A FACE SO FAMILIAR? MASTERLIST
Sometimes, itâs easy to forget that humans, at their cores, are little more than untamed beasts â some more wild than others.Â
When you and Logan were separated, each put in isolation so that the torturers could begin their work on you, you both were reduced to primal instincts. Higher motor functions were a waste. Both you and Loganâs amygdalas were cranked into overdrive, overpowering any other brain function and making you both aggressive animals â ones that bite and snarl and bleed.
Rorke was the one to make you both kneel, to push on the backs of you and Loganâs necks and threaten you both with collars. The Federation broke you both, and Rorke built you back up in his very own image. That image is neither clean nor godly, but itâs his image nonetheless.
He molded you both into beasts of anger â anger towards the Ghosts. You want to take from them what they took from you, from Logan: a chance at a normal life. In this life, you want them to suffer. You want all of them to die in fear and in pain. You want to have your revenge. Against Elias â against Keegan. You want to call it your own, to make your anger godâs anger. You want to watch through the iron sights of your pistol as they cower like dumb animals.
You want to be the one to deliver the killing blow. The chance to kill Elias was taken from you, and you wonât miss such an opportunity with Keegan.Â
The man is always on your mind, like how Elias plagued Rorke, how Hesh plagues Logan. And your obsessive thoughts have borne a speculation â the gaping wound cut into the earth must be hiding him. This was only further confirmed by information the Federation was able to acquire and decode. Three of the Ghosts are heading out for Death Valley.
When the Federation invaded Texas, they worked their way up Route 45 until they reached Dallas. They took Fort Worth, a city just barely to the west of Dallas, and marched along US-20 until it merged with US-10 and onward. They followed the highways, taking Las Cruces, New Mexico, Tucson and Phoenix in Arizona, and finally ending when they secured Los Angeles, California (but only with reinforcements from Tijuana, because LA didnât go down without a fight).Â
But Death Valley, that blight upon California, remains relatively untouched. Every now and again, it becomes a demonâs home and is renamed to âThe Divide.â Terrible storms, containing both sand and lightning but no rain, rip entire companies apart. But those companies are ordinary soldiers â the Ghosts are not ordinary soldiers. Neither are the Ghost hunters.Â
And so, with the recent acquisition of Bakersfield, California, it only makes sense that the Ghosts would be on the frontline near Death Valley.Â
The tops of Danteâs View Peak provide some refuge from the heat trapped in the lower parts of the dried-up basin. Itâs the middle of September, so the temperatures up here are in the mid-eighties. Youâre just glad youâre not in the actual valley â itâs over a hundred down there.Â
From up here, you can easily see over Badwater, and all the way out over to its adjacent basin. Heat haze obscures your vision, but with your binoculars, you can easily see as three figures move by the east shore of the basin, some distance away from Badwater Road. Theyâre dressed lightly, with loose-fitting but all-covering clothing. Keffiyehs cover their heads and most of their faces. Their packs look heavy, adorned with military-type gear and automatic rifles slung across their chests. A few yards away is a doorless Jeep, supposedly their way of coming into the valley.
You take your binoculars away from your face. âLooks like⊠four klicks out.â
Logan grunts, gesturing for the binoculars. You hand them over, and he brings them up to his eyes. He adjusts the focus wheel and finds the men through the lenses.Â
SEE, Logan signs. THREE?
âYeah,â you say. âI didnât see anyone else. And I doubt the valley could hide another man from me.â
Logan shifts how heâs kneeling as he takes the binoculars away from his face, crushing locoweed beneath his boot. You find yourself faintly wondering if watering them with blood would throw off their blooming season, given how little water theyâre used to. You find yourself not really caring.Â
Instead, you take off your pack and lay it on the ground. Once youâve double-checked everything, you start to assemble the Lynx sniper rifle youâve been carrying for the entirety of this assignment. Once you affix the suppressor, you prop up the bipod close to the edge of the lookout.Â
You lay on your stomach and set the recoil pad against your inner shoulder, trying to ignore the rocks digging into your front. When you look through the scope, all you see is the pseudo-barren sands of the valley. You feel Logan pull on the material of your shirt, prompting you to aim a little more left.Â
You see the menâs feet first, then you move so you can see their entire bodies. Theyâre talking, gesturing at the water in the basin â possibly arguing whether the water is worth the risk of drinking. You wouldnât be surprised, given the weather.Â
You click your radio on. âThis is Resol-Dos. Weâve found the suspected trio. Requesting permission to engage.â
âNice of you to finally fuckinâ check in, kid,â Rorkeâs voice comes through the radio and into your earpiece. âPermission granted.â
âFiring. Standby,â you say, your voice flat. You put your finger back in the pistol grip and breathe in, then out.Â
You squeeze the trigger, and the bullet rips through the leftmost manâs throat, spraying his companions with blood. He clutches at his neck as heâs thrown backwards. The other two men react immediately, grabbing their guns and looking for the source of the crack of gunfire.
You donât give them the time to find you. Another bullet is fired, and digs into the man in the middle, finding a home in his chest. You fire another round, and he collapses.Â
The last man standing fires aimlessly, hoping to hit something. Heâs panicking (righteously so), and heâs swiveling his head around as he tries to find the glint of your scope. You fire, and he stumbles back, clutching his gut as he continues firing. You silence him with a bullet to the chest.
You pull away from the scope after a second and click your radio on. âSuspected trio has just been taken down. Requesting permission to confirm kills.â
Rorkeâs voice comes through the radio and into your earpiece again. âYeah, go ahead.â
You sit up and start disassembling the rifle. âCheck your guns. Weâre going down to check the bodies.â
Logan pulls the clip out of his Bizon and confirms that thereâs no issues as you pack up. The only evidence both of you leave behind are crushed flowers and five spent bullet casings.Â
Itâs an hour-long hike down to the Badwater bodies. They havenât moved, which⊠is to be expected. All three of them are laying in a mass puddle of blood.Â
âGo check the Jeep,â you tell Logan. âIâm gonna check the bodies.â
You kneel by the leftmost man. His blood is clotted, but still stains his keffiyeh from when the wound was fresh. You pull the fabric down. You grab his chin and move his face side-to-side. You donât recognize him.Â
You stand and check the other bodies. You donât recognize any of them.Â
âLogan,â you call. âCome check these.â
Logan grunts and moves over, his eyes flitting over the dead menâs faces. He shakes his head.
âFucking seriously?â You mumble under your breath. You click your radio on. âBodies are not Ghosts. Repeat, no Ghosts have been eliminated.â
âThe info was bad?!â Rorke shouts, peaking the audio. âChrist! Someoneâs gonna get their ass handed to âem. Take pictures and get back to base.â
âUnderstood.â You click your radio off. âLo, find the car keys. Rorke says to take pictures.â
Logan kneels and begins rifling through the menâs pockets and packs as you pull out a compact camera. You line up the shot and take a few pictures â one of the corpses, one of each of the menâs faces, and one of their packs and their gear.Â
After a minute, Logan holds up a ring of car keys, jingling them. You hum in response, pocketing your camera before heading for the Jeep. He hops in the driverâs seat while you get in the passengerâs side, setting your pack at your feet.Â
You set your foot on the edge of the Jeep where the door would normally be and check behind you. Logan starts the car and puts it in drive as you continue looking.
He taps your arm, then draws two fingers across your skin, silently asking whatâs wrong. You sigh. âJust checking weâre not being followed. Itâs a wide-open valley, after all. And those gunshots wouldâve been heard by anyone around.â
Logan takes a deep breath and rests his hand on the steering wheel again. He manages to creak out, âStorm.â
âYeah. I can smell it, too,â you say. You adjust yourself so that youâre sitting in your seat properly, facing ahead. âMake tracks. We have a mole to find.â
Somethingâs on the horizon. Itâs not just the ozone of the storm you can smell â somethingâs going to happen. Something big⊠something bigger and more terrible than the storms of The Divide.
#riptide writes đ#why does evil wear a face so familiar?#keegan russ x reader#keegan p russ x reader#keegan russ#cod keegan#keegan p russ#call of duty ghosts#cod ghosts#cod keegan russ#cod#cod x reader#cod x you#call of duty x reader#call of duty keegan#call of duty x you#keegan russ x you#keegan x reader#keegan cod ghosts#cod ghosts x reader#cod x male reader#keegan russ x male reader#keegan p russ x male reader#keegan x you#keegan russ x gn reader#keegan p russ x you#cod x gn reader#cod ghosts x male reader
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Bad Days: Herman Kozik x Reader (feat: Alexander 'Tig' Trager)
Tagging: @darqchilddaydreamz @proceduralpassion @im-just-a-mississippi-girl @words-and-seeds @danzer8705 @yourwinchesterbros @mysoulisasunflower
Kozik is on a run to Bakersfield when he finally picks up the messages. When he pulls into the rest stop and checks his phone, he sees seven missed calls. Five from his brother and two from a number he doesnât recognise. When he listens to his voicemail his heart freezes in his chest, it feels like he canât fucking breath because heâs taken back to that place six months ago when you held his hand and told him you had cancer, he swore he felt his spirit leave his body in that moment and he has the same feeling again as he stands beside his bike listening to a message from the hospital up in Sonora.
He canât vocalise whatâs happening, but his distress is evident. Itâs Tig that takes the phone from his hand, Kozik looks at him with agonising fucking eyes as he listens to the messages one after the other. Jax is the one that tells him to go, when Tig informs him of whatâs going on. Theyâll make the run without him.
When he gets to the hospital, heâs frantic, his brother meets him at the entrance and explains that what happened. Heâd found you unconscious in the kitchen, blood streaming form a gash in your head when heâd returned from grocery shopping.
Kozik knows whatâs happened, itâs day three after your most recent and hopefully last round of chemo. The worst fucking day because itâs when all the side effects hit. Nate was supposed to stay in with you, make sure you didnât overexert yourself, because his girl, even cancer canât keep her down. Youâre a law unto yourself.
It turns into a fight, one where Nate tells him to go fuck himself, because he didnât sign up to put his life on hold to take care of you every time Kozik decides to take off with his motorcycle club because he canât handle being around you. Kozik doesnât correct him, he doesnât tell him that the reason heâs not home as much as he wants to be is because heâs earning to pay your medical bills, so theyâre not hanging over your fucking head when youâre trying to recuperate. He wants you to have access to the best care you can, because he wants you to survive this, because he canât imagine a life without you. He should be there, he fucking knows he should, he wants to be, but he needs to provide too.
It's late when Tig shows up, Kozik doesnât expect it. Things have been fraught between the two of them since Missy, itâs been the reason Tig wonât let him patch in despite the fact he fucking needs to in order to stay in the area, in order to be with you.
âHow is she?â He asks quietly as Kozik looks up from his clasped hands. His gaze strays to you, bandage over your left temple from where you hit the corner of the table on your way down. Youâve been in a deep sleep over the past couple of hours, a side effect of the poison thatâs running through your system.
âConcussed.â Kozik tells him. âTheyâre keeping her in for observation, the chemo, it can complicate things. They wanna make sure sheâs doing ok before they release her.â
âHow bad?â Tig asks softly.
Kozik shakes his head, his eyes fucking burning because this is the first time, heâs talked to anyone but Nate about any of this. No one in the club knows his reality, he tries to keep his two worlds separate, he doesnât want the shit he does to taint you, to ruin the relationship the two of you have.
âThey caught it early.â He tells the other man. âShe had an op a couple of months ago, the chemotherapy is just to clean up anything thatâs left over. The problem is it makes her so fucking sick, and she hates it, she tries to do the stuff sheâs used to doing and Iâm not there to stop her.â
âAlrightâŠâ Tig says, clasping Kozikâs shoulder tightly. For a moment thereâs a flash of what they used to be, brothers in arms, comrades, someone the other could rely on. âDo you need to take some time?â
Kozik swallows hard against the well of emotion in his chest. He doesnât know what the fuck he should do right now. He needs to be here; he needs to earn. Heâs torn between the two because either choice means heâs failing you in some way. He runs his hands over his face.
âI donât know what the fuck I need right now.â He says honestly.
âO.K.â Tig says, reaching into his jacket and withdrawing an envelop before handing it to Kozik. âYour cut from today.â
Kozikâs eyebrows furrow as he feels the weight of the cash hidden within the confines of the paper.
âBut I didnât make the run.â
Tig shrugs his shoulders.
âIt doesnât matter. Just take a couple of days and spend some time with your girl, Iâll square it with Jax.â
âItâs your take, isnât it?â he tries to shove it back into Tigâs hands but the other man steps back holding his palms up to prevent it. âI canâtâŠâ
âYea, you can.â Tig asserts forcefully before gesturing at the bed. âYour girl needs you and you donât need to worry about the medical bills hanging over your head.â
Kozik looks back at you.
The woman he loves, the woman who needs him. His beautiful, strong girl whose doing her best to kick cancerâs ass, even if it means sheâs doing most of the work on her own.
âThank you, brother.â Kozik says, it comes out fractured, his voice breaking as he uses the back of his hand to wipe at the moisture from underneath his eyes. Â âYou have no idea how much this means to me, to the both of us.â
Love Kozik? Donât miss any of his stories by joining the taglist here.
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Top Construction Cleaning Services in Bakersfield
Completing a construction project, whether for a new home or office, or even for a renovation to an existing establishment, is a major accomplishment. However, the final stageâcleaning up the construction siteâis crucial to making the space truly shine. Opting for professional construction cleaning services in Bakersfield ensures that a newly built or renovated property is immaculate and ready for use.
Significance of Professional Construction Cleaning:
Any kind of building job results in a mess of leftover materials, dust, and garbage. This is where a professional Construction cleaning Bakersfield come into play. These services are a must to keep your establishment up-to-date and excellent as these services are designed to manage the specific challenges associated with post-construction cleanups, ensuring that the space is hygienic, and the area is welcoming and safe for residents.
What to Expect from Construction Cleaning Services?
Construction cleaning involves several key tasks that go beyond regular cleaning:
Removal of Debris: After construction, there are often remnants of building materials, packaging, and other debris. Professional cleaning services are capable to tackle efficiently remove all of this waste, leaving the site clear and tidy.
Dust and Dirt Elimination: Construction dust can settle on every surface, including walls, floors, and fixtures. Therefore, the expert cleaners use such equipment and techniques that work beyond standard cleaning tools and methods to eliminate dust and dirt ensuring that each space is spotless.
Detail Cleaning: In detail cleaning, professional cleaners for construction in Bakersfield include; windows, fixtures, and other details that may have been overlooked during the initial or standard cleaning. Making sure these components are polished improves the space's appeal as a whole.
Benefits of Hiring Construction Cleaning Services in Bakersfield
Choosing the professional construction cleaning services provides several benefits:
Enhanced Aesthetic Appeal: A thorough cleanup by expert Construction cleaning Bakersfield ensures that the properties look their best. This is especially important if someoneâs preparing the space for occupancy or a grand opening.
Healthier Environment: Debris and dust can harm human health as well as lower indoor air quality. Professional cleaners ensure to eliminate such contaminants, creating a healthier environment.
Time and Cost Efficiency: Handling post-construction cleaning by DIY or by hiring a non-professional can be time-consuming and labor-intensive without getting that expected result. Whereas, hiring experts allows you to focus on other important tasks while ensuring that the cleanup is done efficiently and effectively.
Professionalsâ Approach to Construction Cleaning
To guarantee excellent outcomes, Bakersfield construction cleaning services employ a methodical approach:
Initial Assessment: A thorough inspection of the site is conducted to identify the specific cleaning needs. This facilitates the cleaning process's effective organization.
Comprehensive Cleaning: Using specialized tools and cleaning agents, the team tackles all areas affected by construction. This entails dusting surfaces, sanitizing flooring, and making sure that all debris is removed.
Final Touches: The final step involves detailed cleaning of fixtures and surfaces to ensure everything is spotless and presentable.
Why Choose Construction Cleaning Services in Bakersfield?
Opting for Construction cleaning Bakersfield by professionalsâ guarantees that your property will be cleaned to the highest standards. With advanced techniques and experienced staff, these services ensure a thorough cleanup that enhances both the functionality and appearance of your space.
When it comes to completing a construction project, a professional cleanup is an integral part to achieve a polished and inviting space. Construction cleaning services in Bakersfield offer the expertise and efficiency needed to handle post-construction messes, ensuring both old and new properties are ready for use. By choosing these services, you can enjoy a cleaner, healthier, and more appealing environment, making the transition from construction to occupation seamless and stress-free.
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Hire Bathroom Remodeling Bakersfield Experts To Confidently Make The Right Choices
Are you not happy with the bathroom, because it is too old or you have just shifted in your new house, where bathroom is not like you want? Whatever reason you may have for not liking your bathroom, donât get disheartened as now you have the best option to renovate the same.
Consider the best company which must have great knowledge and experience in renovating bathroom and kitchen. Working with such professionals wonât only bless you with the best bathroom or kitchen, but at the same time you can expect all functionalities that you want. These professionals only believe to offer high quality services as well as ensure to provide after delivery services, thus, consider them and invest in your bathroom and kitchen remodelling work without any hassle. For your bathroom, consider Bathroom Remodeling Bakersfield experts, who will always be there at your service and ensure to offer you the most amazing designs. If you really want the bestest bathroom for you, always hold the hands of the experts without worrying about the money. They wonât only give you the super quality work, but at the same time ensure to finish your work on time so that you can use your bathroom as soon as possible. Working with them means no mess at all as they are quite professional and ensure to work without raising unnecessary voice and creating a mess. If there is a mess, they make sure to clean everything before leaving your property. It must be noted that remodeling your bathroom is the perfect way to transform it into the oasis and sanctuary. This will surely be so satisfying and all your guests will love having such amazing space that you have created by using your own imagination. If you always dream to have the best bathroom for you, this is highly possible by hiring so responsible and talented General Contractor Bakersfield. Hire them and they will be upgrading everything based on your budget, choice and requirements. Â Professionals are always the best as they do everything for you from updating its look and feel to adding storage and improving accessibility. This means, you wonât only get so attractive and beautiful bathroom only, but get super functional bathroom will help you in many ways. Once you get the final product, you will find your bathroom is now beyond bathing and cleaning. So, have the best service and get ready to chill in your bathroom that will give you so luxurious and absolutely perfect time. Your this initiative wonât only give you the worldâs best bathroom, but at the same time get ready to improve your homeâs value.
Yes, remodeling your bathroom, kitchen and other rooms is a practical investment that can benefit you and your entire family. So, always go with well-knowledgeable and skilled team of remodelers, and get ready to have any kind of room as you want. Searching for the best solutions on Bathroom Remodeling Bakersfield can be easier for you, if you check up all the posts and reference website provided by the author. Must follow and grab great ideas.
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How to Set Up the Makeup Vanity Like a Makeup Artist
Your wedding day is one of the biggest events in your life, and looking your best is crucial. You want to ensure that your makeup is perfect, which means having the right space to get ready. Setting up a makeup vanity for your wedding day can make all the difference. Here are some tips from the best makeup artist in Bakersfield on creating the perfect space.

Choose the Right Lighting
Lighting is crucial for perfect makeup application. You can have patchy makeup or an uneven complexion if you need the right lighting. You should set up your makeup vanity near a window with plenty of natural light. If that's impossible, invest in good quality light bulbs with a high CRI (color rendering index) rating. It will ensure that your makeup looks true to life and is not skewed by poor lighting.
Have the Right Storage
A cluttered vanity can make it difficult to find what you need and can make the overall process much more stressful. Invest in good quality storage solutions like clear plastic drawers or acrylic organizers. It will allow you to easily see everything you need and keep it at arm's reach.
Keep it Clean
Cleanliness is key when it comes to makeup application. It will help you avoid germs and bacteria that can cause breakouts or skin irritation. Also, make sure that you clean your brushes regularly to keep them in good condition. Ensure your vanity is clean and hygienic before you start getting ready.
Invest in Good Quality Products
âMakeup is an investment," says the best makeup artist in Bakersfield. You want to ensure you're using high-quality products that will last all day and look great in photos. Please consult with your makeup artist to find out what products they recommend, and invest in some key pieces like a good primer, foundation, and lipstick.
Don't Forget the Extras
Finally, remember the extras that can make the process more enjoyable. Invest in a comfortable chair or stool, add a fresh bouquet, or play some of your favorite music to help you relax and enjoy the process.
Why Brides need makeup vanityÂ
On her wedding day, every bride wants to look her best. A well-equipped makeup vanity can help achieve the perfect look. A good makeup vanity will provide a comfortable and well-lit space for the bride to get ready and enough storage space for all her essential beauty products and tools.
A makeup vanity like the best makeup artist in Bakersfield also allows the bride to control her lighting while getting ready. It is important for makeup application as different lighting can affect the overall look. A vanity mirror with built-in lighting also allows the bride to apply makeup in the same lighting conditions as the event will take place.
Why Booking a professional makeup artist is an essential aspect of wedding planning.
Professional and the best makeup artists in weddings offer their expertise, knowledge, and skill in creating the perfect wedding look for the bride. They provide various services, including hair styling, airbrush makeup, eyelash application, and eyebrow grooming.Â
Booking a makeup artist for your wedding can also give you peace of mind. A professional makeup artist will be experienced in creating long-lasting makeup looks that will withstand the heat, humidity, and tears on your wedding day. It means you won't have to worry about touch-ups or smudging, allowing you to relax and enjoy your special day fully.
In conclusion, booking the best makeup artist in Bakersfield, Wow Brows Studio, for your wedding is an essential aspect that should be considered. It will give you peace of mind and a flawless appearance and ensure you look your best on your special day.Â
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Flooring Store Bakersfield For Grabbing The Most Wonderful Tiles
When we talk about tiles, they have unmatched natural beauty which cannot be replaced by other types of stones. They just look perfect and can be installed anywhere you want from the floors to the walls, countertops, roofs, balconies, and other external areas. When you are building or renovating homes, it is highly necessary to look for the best tiles as this can easily transform your space. Such beautiful tiles will make your home look beautiful, neat and clean and completely phenomenal. Also, your home will become quite durable and strong. It is said that tiles are very durable and can last for many years without much proper maintenance, hence installing the same can help in saving a lot. These tiles are resistant to scratches, stains, along with wear and tear, which means you donât need to worry about anything at all. Nothing will happen with your tiles and your home will look intact- so good and beautiful. As these tiles are super durable, hence this quality is making them an ideal choice for all sorts of properties. Are you specifically looking for Countertop Store Bakersfield? Here is the best source will offer you a wide range of countertop tiles that you will love to install. They are so good, easy to clean, and come with a perfect finish. Invest in a perfect one and you will find these tiles are easy to clean and maintain. Additionally, they are resistant to spills, stains, and water damage, thus these are so perfect for kitchens as well as for the bathrooms. At the right source, you will get tiles, which are not only durable, but they are also aesthetically pleasing. As you will get so many options- different colors, patterns, styles, variety of shapes, sizes, allowing homeowners to create unique and visually appealing designs. At the best Flooring Store Bakersfield, you can easily be able to pick the best kind of tiles, which can also be used to create intricate patterns and designs that add value to any room. Also, you will get amazed to know that these tiles have natural insulating properties, which means it will keep a home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. So what are you waiting for? If you really want to make your home looks super cool and beautiful and would like to give a customized touch to any particular room, just go with the best tiles and get perfect results. If you are unable to find right kind of tiles, not to worry, just talk to the experts at the suggested website and they will help you to finalizing the best one. So, hit the store today and you will be happy to have so ultimate, modern and beautiful designs will transform your home completely. Searching for the best solutions on Countertop Store Bakersfield can be easier for you, if you check up all the posts and reference website provided by the author. Must follow and grab great ideas.
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The Advantages of Specialized Final Clean Services Bakersfield `

Has your business undergone a major renovation or your home a new remodel? Youâre now left with the rubble, dust, and dirt that you simply cannot clean on your own.
The best option is to hire final clean services Bakersfield businesses and residential properties can rely on. Final clean or construction cleanup offers a multitude of advantages including efficient services, specialized equipment, and a crew dedicated to safe management of your property.
Letâs take a closer look at the reasons to call a final clean service.
What is a Final Clean?
Final clean services are provided for homes and businesses where some form of building work, installations, and removals are performed. New plumbing, electrical wiring, and framework installations can leave a fair amount of dust and material behind. Final cleaning helps remove the dirt and grit and restore these areas to its original, clean condition. All excess materials are removed and the bathroom, living room, or kitchen restored.
There are also cleaning services that are performed for large scale renovations and building works. Where dust is covering the surfaces including fixtures such as light fittings and door handles, a team with the necessary products will wipe the walls and fixtures and scrub the floors that are covered in dirt. The goal is to clear the dirt and any areas covered in dust that could cause a slip or fall.
It is also difficult to clean the red dust from bricks that can also stain newly tiled walls, floors, doors and fixtures. Special maintenance services help remove the dust and dirt so you can move into a clean space and you wonât be concerned about spreading the dirt to other rooms.
Final Cleans for Rented Homes
Many landlords and property managers call on final cleaning services to prepare apartments and new homes to rent for future tenants. This includes the removal of trash, cleaning windows, scrubbings floors, and shining fixtures and appliances. Rooms are left fragrant and inviting for a future tenant.
With so many options provided by final clean services Bakersfield clients will have the beauty and the integrity of the property restored. A cleaning crew dedicated to restoring the hygiene of your interiors will provide a quotation for homes and businesses. Final cleans are an important part of maintaining the safety and the value of properties. No matter your maintenance requirements, speak to a trusted and an experienced cleaning company so you donât have to do it yourself.
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Final Clean Up Bakersfield
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More Rodeo AU!
sick fic, snippet thing, @lec743 if finished it
Ok, so you may have been bucked off your horse. No big deal. Happens to the best of âem. Just last week Sun got his ass bucked by that dappled mare. Perfectly normal, average thing to happen. Everything is fine. Didnât matter that youâd been on a long ride to Bakersfield and that you were miles from anything and the darkening of the sky wasnât because of the late hour.Â
Fine, fine, everything is fine. Fritter knew his own way home. Horses. Stupid flighty disasters. Daisy wasnât even here, so it was just you you needed to worry about. Hopefully the coming rain would keep the racoons and possums away from the chickens and the sheep could get back in the barn and survive one rainy night with the doors open. There might be some extra clean up tomorrow if the wind got bad but everyone should be fine. Fritter would probably be stopped and led to a farm anyway, the saddle has tags on it.
So you pick up your feet and head in the direction of the road, leg still aching from the break and not used to walking again. County Z is somewhere off to the east, find that and you take it almost all the way home. You might have been cutting through tractor roads and fence rows with Fritter but the road would be safer than the badger hole sage land.Â
âWell feet, start walking.â and you set off into the gloom.Â
Damn. Youâd been walking for a while. You almost wish Daisy was here after all. Just for the company. It was getting darker and darker on the horizon, the rain much too still. It would start pouring any minute. The afternoon sun undercut by the clouds. The wind picked up suddenly, nearly taking your wide brimmed hat off your head.
âJust keep walking. Little rain never hurt anyone.â
You keep walking down the road, holding your hat down occasionally even with its string pulled tight against your chin the wind threatens to snatch it away. The wind pulls harshly at your clothes, noticeably colder than the rest of the air. There's a crack of thunder and all at once the sky breaks above you, and it pours.
The rain is cold. And you're soaked through within moments. The rain is so heavy and the wind blows so harshly that it's hard to see. The rain stabs and stings as you're pelted. It feels like the wind is going to knock you off your feet.Â
You know you should stop, but the rain isn't letting up and probably won't any time soon. The ground can't soak the water up fast enough. In some spots the water swallows up your ankles and splashes up past your knees.
It's a miserable time. You stumble into the ditch more than once, barely able to see, but pretty sure you're still on the road. Whether you're going the right way anymore is something else entirely. You finally come to a crop of trees and decide to stop. It's not like you're actually getting anywhere. You really really hope someone picked up Fritter and that he didn't get himself in a badger hole.
You sit on the muddy ground to rest, it's not like your clothes can get much worse off. You're wet and surprisingly cold. Leaning against the scratching bark of the osage orange isn't nice but it's slightly better than slogging through the torrent of rain and mud. You know you should keep moving bad there's no telling how far you have to go or how turned around you got in the rain. You tuck your chin and bundle yourself up as much as you can. Certainly closing your eyes to rest and wait for clearer skies won't hurt.
When you open your eyes it's daylight. Your still wet and uncomfortable but your burning up. You stumble up to stand besides the tree. It's not raining anymore. Everything shines, sunlight reflecting off all the water. You need to get home.
Once back on the road you start to shuffle your way home. Sore and aching from sleeping outside in the rain. Your pace hasn't really quickened now that the rain has stopped and you've still got work to do when you get home.Â
You walk and walk until you realize that the road youre on isn't County Z. You don't know where you are. As you're looking around, trying to get your bearings the rumbling of a car distracts your foggy mind. The sheriff's car is coming down the road.Â
The lights come on and then he's stopping right beside your soaked form. He leans over to roll over the window down.
"Kid, do you have any idea what a fuss you've caused?!"
"Fuss?"Â
"Those two idiots found your dumb horse out in the rain and practically demanded I call in the national guard to look for you! I told em that damn dunderheaded horse probably just got out after a ride. They've been looking for you all night and day! Do you have any idea- hey, hey kid are you alright?"
You sway a bit. Everything is hazy.
"Ya know sheriff, I don't feel so good."
"Were you out in the damn rain all night? What happened?"
"Fritter bucked me."
"Shit." He puts the car in park and comes around the side. The next thing you know you're off down the road in the back seat of the cruiser.Â
You think you'll learn your head on the window for a moment and the next thing you know you're waking up in front of your house. You blink slowly and try to open the door but it's pulling away from you.Â
"Do you have any idea how terrifying it was to find your horse on his own and then come to you gone and everything is disarray?"
Moon is inches from your face, he's got you by the shoulders and he's crouching on the ground.
"You took your eyebrows off."Â
He huffs before he takes you out of the car, hoisting you up in his arms. The sheriff is following you into the house.
"Alright boys, we got 'em, so if you think you've got this, then I'm going back to the station and call my deputy back."
"We've got it from here sheriff."
"What?!" The call comes from further in the house. "The sheriff can't go back until we-" Sun rounds the corner. "Oh! Short stack, thank god! Where were you what happened? Fritter was all alone trying to get back in the paddock."
You blink slowly at the yellow animatronic. Your moving kind of slow right now, not entirely sure what's going on. You are sure of one thing though.
"I'm not short. Why do you have your eyebrows on and he doesn't?" When you go to point at Moon you end up slapping him in the face.Â
"I think it's a fever. Seems they spent all night out in the rain. They were a little out of it when I picked them up too." You hear the sheriff's voice.
"When did sheriff McElroy get here?"
"We've got it from here sheriff, is there anything you need from us?" Sun is ushering the sheriff out as Moon brings you further in the house.
"No no, I'm sure I'll see you all around town. You take good care of them."
"Come on darling," Moon jostles you higher in his grasp "time for a bath." You start whining and kicking.
Moon drops you in your room after taking your boots, telling you to get some pajamas. You give him your hat too but it's not on your head or hanging off your back, it seems you've lost it on your little adventure.Â
Moon comes back and takes you to the bathroom. He's drawn a bath and laid out towels. The air is thick and warm, you get distracted watching the steam curl in the air.
"Do not fall asleep in here. Do you understand?"
You nod your head and he holds your shoulders for a moment longer before slipping out the door.
The water is warm, so warm it makes your toes feel like they're freezing. It burns as you lower yourself into the steaming water but once you're in the bath is like heaven. You wash yourself as best you can, trying to continue to move to stay awake in the too warm bath.Â
Getting out draws attention to your aching muscles. Your teeth chatter as you dry and dress. Once done you leave your bathroom and find Moon standing guard.
"What are you doing?"
"Making sure you don't fall asleep and drown?"Â
"Most drownings are silent."
"Why do you know that?"
"I dunno."
"Okay darling let's get you fed and into bed, you can hopefully sleep off this fever." Before you can say anything else Moon has scooped you up and is carrying you downstairs.
"You're still not wearing your eyebrows." You gripe at him.
"Why the preoccupation?"
"I've tried giving you gifts and those are the only one you've liked." You're falling asleep in his arms. You think he's talking to you. Everything is too warm but your shivering and your head is fuzzy, so you just wrap your arms around his neck.
The next several minutes are a blur of too warm hands and conversation you can't follow. You eat soup even though it tastes funny, sour on the edges and does nothing to soothe the ache in your throat. But someone is insisting you eat and even when you push the food away it's brought back to your lips by hands not your own. So you eat and drink ginger ale and nibble on crackers. You're much warmer now and so tired, you start to nod off at the table.
You get bundled up again and brought up stairs. You could tell that much at least. It had been so long since anyone had carried you anywhere. You hold the person carrying you tighter, mumbling, trying to apologize. If dad's carrying you upstairs you must've stayed out really late. You try to apologize for losing track of time again as he lays you down. He must be mad, you've fallen asleep in the barn before, he doesn't like it. But he smoothes your hair down, pulling your covers up before he leaves. You hope he's not too mad at you.
When you wake up its well past noon. Which is not good. You throw the blankets off and try to rush downstairs but dizziness and an uneasy stomach cause you to stumble and sit back down on the bed.
Your head hurts and your joints are aching. You remember sitting down to rest and the sheriff's car but after that everything is fuzzy. You remember bathing but not much else. You wonder how you managed to not hurt yourself in your fevered state. It doesn't really matter, you have work to do.
You make it halfway down the hallway before you hear the clattering downstairs. At first your frightened of someone in the house with you in this state but then you realize it must be uncle Ollie or Norma Gene who took care of you and they're still here. Then someone is stomping their way up the stairs.
"Oh darling, you're awake!" Moon is the one that appears on the landing. "Come on, our Sunny boy is making breakfast." He picks you up without waiting for a response, your head swims a little.
"What are you doing here?"
"Yeah, you had quite the fever yesterday. What do you remember?"
"Sheriff's car, I took a bath, not much else."
"What about before?"
"Oh, Fritter bucked me on the way back from Bakersfield. Then it started storming."
"Sheriff said he found you walking north on W." The wrong way. Like the completely wrong way.Â
"I must've gotten more turned around in the storm than I thought." Maybe you had been walking for longer too. In the dark in the rain you hadn't known for sure what road you'd ended up on. Moon sets you down at the kitchen table. Daisy comes up and shoves her face in your lap, whole body moving with the force of her wagging tail. "Oh hey girl, don't worry I'm alright."
"Well you will be once you eat and rest a bit more! Though it does seem your fevers broken!" Sun turns from the stove, sleeves rolled up, wearing an apron, holding a spatula.Â
"I'm fine, I've slept enough there's work I need-"
"Oh hush." Sun sets a bowl of creamy oatmeal in front of you and a tall glass of orange juice. Not something you usually have in the house. "We took care of everything, all the animals are fed and let out, Fritter got brushed and I took care of your saddle, we fed Daisy here, you just need to relax."
"You gave us quite the scare you know." Moon pulls out a chair to sit next to you. Sun starts cleaning dishes. You look between the two of them.
"I was gone less than a day." Sun glances over his shoulder from the sink. "I didn't even think anyone would notice I was gone." You stir your oatmeal before shaking your head and starting to eat.
"How could we not notice our favorite clown missing?" Moon says as he cups your neck, rubbing the base of your skull with his thumb. Between Moon and the warm oatmeal youâre nodding off again fairly quickly, head still a little fuzzy from the fever, throat still a little sore. You don't protest when one of the boys picks you up to tuck you in again. Tomorrow you might feel bad that they're having to take care of you again but right now it's nice to be cared for. To not have to look after yourself for once. You sink into the pillows and don't notice when Sun kisses your forehead.
#rodeo au#fnaf daycare attendant#fnaf sun and moon#fnaf y/n#sick fic#longer than intended#lol#gonna rework later prob
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We Interrupt This Program
M/n= Male NameÂ
Bold- Means its on a tv screen.Â
GIF Not mine
Word count: 2,932
âNo, I can't leave Monica.â âmom? It's ok, I can stay with grandma andâŠâ âI can't leaveâ âmaybe I'll build a spaceship. I wanna be an aircraft pilot.â âwhen they were handing out kids they gave her the toughest one. Lieutenant trouble.â Monica wakes up breathing heavily and hearing crashing and people screaming as she makes her way towards the door and walks out. âExcuse meâŠ.â âthey're all coming back. We don't have the capacityâ the doctor tells her
âExcuse me. I'm looking for a patient. In room 104âŠâ she asks a nurse âwho, my wife? Do you have a phone?â ânoâ âi have to call my wife.â she makes her way towards the front desk âwatch outâ she bumps into a man, they both fall backwards grunting âlet me help you. Are you ok? You ok?â âI got him. I got him.â âAre you ok?â she asks as she gets up groaning. She turns to the lady in the front desk.
âExcuse me. I'm looking for a patient in room number 104.â âI don't know what to tell youâ she starts looking around her âMonica?â âoh, Dr. Highland, thank god!â âI can't believe it, where did you go?â âwell, in her room since she came back from the surgery. I mean, I might have fallen asleep, but no longer than 20 minutes. Dr. Highland, where's my mom?â âyour mom, she died honeyâ âwhat? No, no, no, no you're mistaken. My mother...the procedure went well. You said so yourself. Clean margins. Youâre discharging her todayâ
âThe cancer came back.â âOkay, stop, stop. No youre...my mom is Maria Rambeau. Look it up. I mean look it up. Maria Rambeau.â âMonica, I don't understand what's happening, but you need to listen to me Marian died three years ago.â âthree? No. no. noâŠâ âwhich was two years after youâŠâ âafter i what? After what?â âafter you disappeared.â
Monica is walking towards big metal doors. She takes out her keycards but it beeps so she tries again but it beeped again âMaâam? Over here pleaseâ she walked over to him smiling âhi, good morning. I work here. AndâŠâ âif you did, your badge would work, wouldn't it?â âright um⊠I have a meeting withâŠâ âhey. You know who this is?â â..this guyâ âCaptain Monica Rambeau.â âDirector Tyler Haywardâ
âActing Director. You haven't aged a dayâ âand you look old as hellâ Tyler chuckles âcome on, let's catch you up. It's been three weeks and you're the first to report. Cant say I'm surprised captain.â âHow are the numbers for the astronaut training program?â â Dismal. Lost half my personnel in The Blip and half of those remaining have lost their nerve. The program hasn't been the same since you've been up there, Rambeau. We shifted away from manned missions and refocused on robotics, nanotech, AI. Sentient Weapons, like it says on the door.â
âIt also says observation and response on that door, not creationâ âworlds not the same as you left it. Space is now full of unexpected threatsâ âalways was full of threats. And alliesâ âListen, Monica, I just wanna acknowledge the awkwardness of the situation. I know S.W.O.R.D.'s your home. Your mom built this place from the ground up. You grew up here. You should've been here to help name the replacement.â âyou were the obvious choiceâ
âI was the only choice.â âI wasn't gonna say it. Look, Tyler, you know the job you have to do. I'm here to do mine.â âLet's get you back out there.â he takes out his keycard and opens the door to his office. âThe FBI is in a tizzy over missing persons case up in JerseyâŠâ âmissing persons?â âI know. But they have requested use of one of our imaging drones, and I need a chaperone.â
âTyler, drones usually chaperone me.â âi get itâ âlook, if this is because of...you don't have to worry about me. I'm good.â âThere's no easy way to say this, but you're grounded.â Monica chuckles âyou're kidding. For how long? Who whose protocol is this?â âYour mother's. She implemented guidelines in the event vanished personnel ever returned. Look, I know it's a raw deal, but there is one positive takeaway.â âwhat's that?â âshe believed you'd come back. You'd be doing me a big favor with this FBI thing, but if you need more timeâŠâ
âNo. no. I'm good to goâ âexcellent. Keep me updated, captain.â Monica finally arrived at Westview âJames E. Woo, FBIâ âMonica Rambeau, S.W.O.R.D. what's the story here, agent woo?â âI've got a witness setup down the road in Westview, and this morning, it looked like he flew the coop?â âYour missing person is in the witness protection program?â
âI have contacted known associates, relativesâŠâ âand let me guess, none of them have seen him either?â âNo. None of them have ever heard of him. Something seemed hanky to me, so I took the first flight out of Oakland to interface with local law enforcement, which is when I encountered a new wrinkle.â âwhat's that?â âPardon me, Sheriff. Would you mind repeating your claim about Westview to my colleague here?â âno such placeâ âyou're saying the town of Westview, New Jersey, does not exist?â
âIt's what I keep telling your G-man here, but he won't listen.â âI see. and , um, I'm sorry, what town are you from?â âEastviewâ âThank you, Sheriff. I'll reach out if we need any further assistance. I, uh, pulled phone numbers for all the residents. I'm only through the Dâs, but so far I got Diddly Squat.â âSo you can't reach anyone inside and everyone on the outside has some sort of selective amnesia?â
âThis isn't a missing person's case, Captain Rambeau, it's a missing town. Population: 3,892.â âWhy haven't you gone inside to investigate?â âCause it doesn't want me to. You can feel it too, can't you? Nobody's supposed to go in.â Monica walks over to her car and pulls out a drone. âWhat about you?â âMe? Well, I'm from Bakersfield, originally. Growing up, other kids had Michael Jordan posters on their walls, but I had Eliot Ness.â
âNo, no, no, no. I mean, why is it that you have an awareness of Westview? Or me, for that matter? Is it because we are outside of a certain radius, or maybe because we don't have a personal connection?â She looks at the screen but the drone malfunctions. She looks up and it's gone âWait, where'd it go?â âIt was right there.â she walk towards the town but stops as she hears electricity bussing âwhoa..â
âWhat is it?â âsome sort of energy fieldâ âCareful, Rambeau. Captain Rambeau! Watch it. Rambeau! Captain Rambeau! Captain Rambeau!â she sticks her hand in and it pulls her in and she disappears.
24 Hours Later
âHey. What's your field?â âWe're not supposed to talk to each other.â âhmm? Boy scout leader. Got it. And youâ Darcy asked a woman next to the boy scout leader. âNuclear biologyâ âartificial intelligenceâ âastrophysics. We got the full clown car. It means whatever the threat is, S.W.O.R.D. clearly has no idea what they're dealing with.â âI'm a chemical engineerâ âno one caresâ
âAlright grab your gear.â Darcy walks around the S.W.O.R.D. camp. âMs. Lewis?â âDr.Lewisâ âwe have your gear set up inside.â the man walks Darcy inside a tent âthose drones you're sending in, what kind of data are you getting?â âI'm afraid that is highly classified.â âYou can't see anything? FBI, Army. I saw the Air Force Office of Special Investigations out there. Research Lab, Space Command, too. A bona fide, joint, multi-service response. Really looking forward to the commemorative T-shirt. Is there somewhere a lady could get a cup of coffee? You guys look like you might get down with those little pod things. Horrendous for the environmentâŠâ
âMake your assessment, pleaseâ âwhoa⊠I mean, whoa..â âwhat are you getting?â âa colossal amount of CMBRâ âCMâŠâ âCosmic Microwave Background Radiation.â âwe've been told the radiation is within a safe limitâ âuh, it is⊠for nowâ âwait what do you meanâ Darcy shushes the man âthere's are longer wavelength superimposed over the noise hereâ she looks under the desk and struggles to get something âI got itâ
âI need a TV. an old one. Like, not flat.â After a few hours it started raining. âAre you good to go?â Hayward asked an agent âyes, sirâ âthese sewers will take you straight into town. Try to find anything you can on Rambeauâ âcopy thatâ âkeep me updatedâ Hayward says as he walks away. âDirector Hayward, between you, me, and the bedpost, I am not confident about this mission.â âThanks for the feedback, Jimmy. If only my drones were as forthcoming.â
âThere's no reason to suspect the perimeter doesn't extend subterraneous.â âThere's no reason to suspect it does.â Jimmy sighs âWe don't know enough about the nature of the threat to send in another agent when the first is yet to return.â âSomeone must really miss you back in Quantico.â âNo, sir. Softball season's over, sir.â âwhat do we have up?â Hayward asked agent Rodriguez âRadar, sonar, infraredâ âcycle through. Will someone get me a useful visual, dammit?â
Everyone hears a studio audience laughing in the tent âwhat is that?â âCan I see you in the kitchen for a moment, sweetheart?â âWho is doing that?â âWho are those people?â âWhat are you wearing?â âWhy are they here?â âWell, it's our anniversary!â âour anniversary of what?â âWell, if you don't know, I'm not going to tell you!â âis that..â â yeah, it looks like him.â âyou move at the speed of sound and i can make a pen float through the air, who needs to abbreviate?â
âLook , I know it's been a crazy few years on this planet, but he's dead, right? Not blipped, dead.â âexcellent plan. Where's the tenderizerâ âwhat am I looking at? You? What is that? Where's this coming from?â âout thereâ âyou didnât answer the back door. For your upside-down cake. oh hi, Iâ âis it authentic?â âI'm not sure how to answer thatâ âis it happening in real time? Is it recorded, fabricated?â âI don't know. I don't know. And I don't knowâ âwhat do you know?â Hayward said annoyed âMy equipment registered an extremely high level of CMBR. That'sâŠâ
âRelic radiation dating back to the Big Bang.â âYeah, entwined was a broadcast frequency. So I had your goons pick me up a sweet vintage TV. And when I plug this bad boy in, voilĂ , sound and picture.â âDinner is servedâ âSo you're saying the universe created a sitcom starring two Avengers?â Jimmy asked, confused âIt's a working theoryâ âGet me a transport back to headquarters now. Are we recording this?â
âNever stopped.â Darcy says âI need immediate analysis. Now, people. Let's go!â âHeâs a charmer.â âgreat workâ âhey, thanks, maybe I could get that cup of coffee now? Or not. It's cool.â âAwâ Darcy turns to the screen to see you and Vision kissing âAwâ
âFirst and foremost, our main objective is to get any intel on Captain Rambeau, but originally, this case was a missing person, so we're going to start there. We've successfully identified two individuals inside the Westview anomaly. Let's keep going.â Jimmy says as he puts two pictures up of you and Vision. âThis guest is leaving your homeâ âyes, thank you for comingâ âMr. and Mrs. Hart. played by Todd and Sharon Davis.â
âComputational forms. And no one can process the data quite like you do, pal.â âAgent Wooâ âyou're like a walking computer.â âAbilash Tandon is Normâ âHarold Proctor is Jonesâ âwe got Isabel Matsueida cast as Beverlyâ âJohn Collins as Herb.â Darcy gasps, dropping her Noodle cup and calls Jimmy over âReally?â âDoes she seem okay to you?â âWell, she doesn't appear to be harmed in any way, but that is definitely not the boss lady I met yesterday.â
âSo what, deep cover? Monica has to play along?â âWith whom? Or else, what? All right. Brass tacks, Dr. Lewis. What are we looking at here? Is it an alternate reality? Time travel? Some cockamamie social experiment?â âIt's a sitcom. A 1950s sitcom.â âBut why?â
âHey, man, we're working with the same scarcity of intel. But, listen, I do have an idea. So, you've seen that radio in M/nâs kitchen counter, right? The next time he's washing dishes, which, by my count, happens about once an episode, barf, we'll shoot a signal to that little guy. This transmitter will mimic the frequency of the broadcast, and if my theory is right, allow us to speak directly to her. This is totally gonna work. Don't touch that.â
âAgent Woo.â agent Rodrigues hands Jimmy a folder inside the folder there's a colored image of a retro S.W.O.R.D. drone âIs this from the current episode?â âaired about two minutes ago.â âWhat is it?â Darcy asks âwhat does it look like to you?â âlike a retro version of a S.W.OR.D. drone?â âbingoâ âbut how did it change and whyâ âuh, to go with the production designâ âor render it uselessâ
âwhyâd you colorize it?â âI didn'tâ Darcy heads back to the tent. âLet's get this show on the road. Jimmy, you ready?â Darcy asks through an earpiece. âReadyâ âbigger and better every seasonâ âuh, Jimmy, Monica is talking to M/n. she's got a speaking part now.â âwhat is she saying?â âthose jeans are peachy keenâ âshe likes M/nâs jeansâ âwe only have a few hoursâ âM/nâs at some sort of swim club. We've never been here before.â
âIs it the 60âs still?â âuh, uh, M/nâs with another character.â âreal person?â âohh, uh, radio on the side table. start talking.â âM/n. M/n, can you read me over?â âI don't...â âCan he hear me?â âI don't think so, keep trying.â âM/n?â âM/n?â âM/n. Who is doing this to you, M/n? M/n? Can you hear me? I'm here to helpâ âplease give us aâŠâ âpop quiz M/n how does a housewife or in this case househusband get a bloodstain out of white linen?â
âWaitâ âwhat?â âI don't knowâ âby doing it yourselfâ âthat's weirdâ âwhat was?â âNothing, it's over. Mission failureâ âit was worth a try. Good effort, doctor.â âyeah come inâ
Both Jimmy and Darcy are watching you and Vision on TV âdarling, do you think it's time to..â âcall the doctor?â âyeahâ âyes, I do dearâ â1950s, 1960s, and now the '70s. Why does it keep switching time periods? It can't be purely for my enjoyment, can it?â âI cant believe M/n and Vision are having a babyâ âyou want any?â Jimmy chuckles
âHeck, I thought about it for sure. A little Jimmy Woo. Get him a tiny little FBI badge. Oh, you... Chip? Sure.â âyou're doing great. You're doing great. Look at me. Look at me.â âThe jig is upâ you scream. After a few minutes you hear the baby cry âhi, oh, he's perfectâ âwhat a twist.â Darcy says as she's tearing up âWhat? I'm investedâ âhe was killed by Ultron, wasn't he?â âDid she just say the name Ultron? Has that ever happened before? A reference to our reality.â
âNo neverâ âhey I'll take a shift rocking the babiesâ âno I think you should leaveâ âoh, M/n, don't be like thatâ âwho are you?â âM/nâ âwow this is differentâ The Tv cuts and Monica is gone âwhat happened? Where she go?â âgod not againâ Darcy replays the footage back âwho are you?â âM/nâ âthere's nothing here. One second, Monica is standing right there, and the next she isnât. Someone is censoring the broadcast.â
âBut where's Rambeau?â they suddenly both hear the alarm âAlert! Boundary has been breached! Alert! Boundary has been breached!â
Inside Westview
âWho are you?â âI don't..â you walk closer to her âwho are you?â âM/n i'm just your neighbor.â âThen how did you know about Ultron?â you start to see the familiar red glow around your hands âYou're not my neighbor. And you're definitely not my friend. You are a stranger and an outsider. And right now, you are trespassing here. And I want you to leave.â
Your familiar red glow wraps around Monica Sending her back through every wall and fence. You gulp âI⊠IâŠâ you raise your hands and start to fix the hole on the wall as if it never happened. You walk over to your babies hearing them âM/n?â Vision comes in through the door turning back to his synthezoid form âwhere is Geraldine?â âoh she left honey. She had to rush homeâ
You turn around to look at Vision and you gasp making you look down âwhat? What is it? What's wrong?â Vision asks you concerned âUh..â you slowly look up at him and see that he looks normal again âwe don't have to stay here. We could go wherever we wantâ Vision tells you âno, we can't. This is our homeâ you move your hand to crease his cheek and he holds onto your hand âare you useâ
âoh, don't worry darling. I have everything under control.â you walk over and grab Tommy âoh hiâ you turn to Vision smiling âwhat should we watch tonight?â you walk over to the sofa, Vision sits next to you. He puts an arm around you.
Outside of Westview
âMonica, are you okay?â âit's M/n. its all M/nâ
#Marvel x male!reader#Marvel x male reader#WandaVision x male reader#WandaVision x male!reader#Vision x male!reader#Vision x male reader#male!reader#male reader
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girl at home ; andy barber x fem!reader ; 1/3

status â completed series
word count â 4,830 words
warnings â few swear words, a bit of defending jacobs spoilers, not compliant with book/show ending, fluff?? bit of angst???
pairing â andy barber x fem!reader
a/n â lmao i lied this comes first then in a few iâll post the final part of publicâs eye. if someone reads this pls tell me what youd be more interested in, august walker or steve rogers social media au
masterlist | series masterlist
After proving Jacobâs innocence Andy imagined things would have been smooth-sailing from there. He was wrong.
Laurie asked for a divorce; citing how their marriage was built on a lie and that it was time to be truthful to themselves and to Jacob. They both also agreed that it wasnât just working anymore, but on Andyâs part he was more than willing to try harder for it to work, but didn't want to push it. He accepted her wishes and didnât fight for full custody over Jacob â he was more than content with spending weekends and certain holidays with his son. They both moved out of their Newton house and revealed to Andy how they were both relocating to Bakersfield in California; the lawyer being partially surprised with how far they were moving, but ultimately remembered how she had some family members over there.
Before their departure, Andy and Jacob got to bond one last time and somehow their conversation shifted to how the former had no plans of selling the house and moving somewhere else. âDonât you think youâd be too lonely?â
The blunt question did get Andy thinking but he shrugged it off, âMaybe? I just donât see myself living anywhere else, I guess.â
Nodding, the boy looked out the window as the Audi drove by. His eyes scanned a big red sign that read âFor Rentâ and suddenly gave him the idea as he turned to his father, âOr you could put a room up for rent?â
Hitting the brakes smoothly as there was a red light, he turned to his son and looked at him with his eyebrows furrowed, âWhat?âÂ
âGreen light,â Jacob informed and Andy nodded as he released his foot off the brake and continued the way home, âAdvertise my room, or the spare one, for rent. That way, you know, you wonât really be alone.â
Pursing his lips together, Andy thought about it for a while. Would anyone even one to live there? With him? He didnât want to seem like he was rejecting his sonâs idea or make him feel like he was a fool for coming up with that one so he just found himself nodding, âSounds like a great idea, pal.â
And when they were back at home, Jacob insisted he help his dad place an advertisement online for the availability of the spare bedroom across Jacobâs. Even though he thought it was a foolish idea, Andy just went along with it for two reasons â one, he just wanted to go along with what his son wanted and make him somewhat happy. And the second one being he was absolutely positive no one would want to live here.
It was a deal too good to be true; surely there had to be a catch? $500 a month for a room that was fully furnished? Maybe the house was just ugly? Or perhaps the room wasnât really how it was pictured? Either way Y/N found herself messaging the house owner, Andy Barber, and let her know she was interested in checking the place out.
Pulling up in front of the house, Y/N let out a long whistle as she marveled at how the exterior of the house was well-groomed and clean. Exiting her car, she made her way to the front door and rang the doorbell and leaned by one of the columns as she took in the quiet ambiance of the neighborhood. Hearing the door creak upon, she turned around and smiled, âHi! Are you Andy Barber?â
The bearded man was dressed in a simple ragged t-shirt and a pair of sweats; and despite the impression that he had just woken up, she thought that he had this cute boyish charm to him. âYeah thatâs me, you must be Y/N?â He offered his hand out for a shake, one which the girl enthusiastically shook.Â
As they both unclasped their hands Y/N wondered, âIs it a bad time? I can come back later,â Her question had him chuckling and she felt her heart warm with how relaxed he looked as he shook his head, âItâs not a bad time, this is just how I normally look.â
He stepped aside so she could come in and take a tour of the house. As Y/N was being shown around the house, she could not prevent her jaw from dropping from how cozy, elegant, and complete everything looked.
âAnd if you choose to, this is where youâll be staying,â Andy opened the room to the spare bedroom and led her inside and allowed her to take a look around. It had a bed, a dresser and wardrobe, mirror, a reading chair, and a study desk paired with an office chair.
Turning to the man, âSo whatâs the catch?â Her question caught him off guard and folded his arms as he tilted his head to the side, âThe catch?â
She nodded and looked at him as if she had the telepathic abilities to let him know what she was thinking, âYou know, the reason why the rentâs so cheap? Is this house haunted? Do you actually have a rat infestation problem?â
As Andy threw his head back laughing at her suggestions, he couldnât remember the last time he was this carefree. âNo catch,â he explained once he calmed down from laughing and sat down on the reading chair, âNot haunted or rat infestation, really. Just I donât know,â he struggled to look for the right words as he placed his hands on his thighs and rubbed them, âPut a room up for rent just so I wouldnât get lonely.â
Y/N leaned by the office desk that was beside the chair Andy was sitting on as she spoke, âWell I liked the place so much; Iâm guessing that means you wonât have to be alone?â
Looking up at her Andy smiled, âThatâs great then, let me get the spare house key for you.âÂ
âI hope I donât seem too fast or what, but I hope you donât mind if I move my things up already? I have all my belongings in the car.â
Andy nodded, âOh no worries about it, let me help you get your stuff.â
For the next couple of hours, Y/N settled her things around the room. She placed her clothes on the dresser and wardrobe. Settled her pictures and other stationery items on the desk. Attaching the house keys to the keychain she had which contained her keys and skipped her way down the stairs.Â
Seeing how Andy was by his office area she asked, âOh by the way I forgot to ask, are you allergic to something?â
âPlanning to kill me already huh?â He joked as he looked at her pointedly to which she rolled her eyes at, âNo, dummy. I was planning on cooking dinner.â
âNope, not allergic to anything,â he clarified and she smiled and waved goodbye. Looking at her retreating form, Andy shook his head as he took note of how silly his new roommate was. He buried himself with preparing his things for office as Y/N went around to explore her new neighborhoodâs grocery store.
Dozing off in the bedroom, Andy woke up once a savory and aromatic smell hit his nostrils. Rubbing off the sleep in his eyes, he sat up and glanced at the clock on his bedside table and took note of how it was already 5:30 in the evening. Slept longer than I thought I would, he thought to himself as he left the comfort of his bedroom and headed to see the source of the fantastic smell.
Upon reaching the kitchen he was greeted with the sight of Y/N moving around the kitchen, âWhatâs all this commotion about?â
Stopping her movements from stirring the pot, she smiled, âCooking dinner; made carbonara,â she pointed to the pot she was currently attending to, âBaked some garlic bread,â she pointed to the pyrex container which had a few loaves of bread in it, âAnd some chicken tenders as well, because I was craving.â
Nodding, he grabbed a chicken tender and took a bite of it to which she gasped, âAndy! Couldnât even wait a few more minutes!â The taller man could only sheepishly smile with his mouth full of chicken, âSorry âbout that, want me to set the table?â
âPlease do. Oh and I noticed you had a certain beer in the fridge so I hope you donât mind I bought you a pack?â As she mentioned that he did see a new, unopened pack next to the single beer he had left inside the fridge. âThanks for that; red wine your poison?â He inquired since he noticed a wine bottle he surely never bought. Seeing her nod, he asked if she wanted a glass to which she said yes to. In the next few minutes a comfortable silence engulfed them as they both were focused on preparing their first meal together.Â
Once everything was put in place they both sat across each other, Y/N placed her hands under her chin and looked at Andy with an excited look in her eyes, the man raised his brow at her, asking her nonverbally what she was looking at him for. âGo ahead, try it,â she softly encouraged him to which he nodded and swirled his fork around the pasta which the white sauce had already clung into and opened his mouth to taste.
âItâs good,â he complimented her as he swallowed, âBetter than anything Iâve eaten in the past few months.â She clapped her hands and started to eat as well. âI was surprised to see your lack of groceries.â
He waited until his mouth was empty from eating the garlic bread she had before explaining, âDonât really cook a lot; survived off takeout recently.â Despite having her mouth full with a tender, a loud shock was emitted from the woman across and Andy lightly cuckold at how adorable her reaction was.Â
âLucky for you, I love to cook so you wonât be filling yourself up with that junk,â she assured him as she drank from her glass of wine. Setting his fork down he looked at her skeptical, âWhat brings you to Newton anyway?â
Her hands tore the garlic bread as she gulped down her drink, âJust finished college then found a job here so thereâs that.â
âWhich program did you take?â He wondered; not knowing if it was his curiosity about someone living in his house or it was the lawyer in him couldnât help but question everything.
âTook a few years off after high school to know what I really wanted to do; then just took a two year course,â she further explained as she told him which degree she chose. Somehow her answer just had Andy even more interested so he pried, âWhy not get a full degree?â
She shrugged her shoulders, âDidnât want to waste four years of my life.âÂ
âWould four years really be wasted if you spent it studying something youâre interested in?â he retorted back as he took a swig of his beer.
âTouchĂ©,â she acknowledged as she gobbled some pasta, âBut I donât know, I just feel like the time Iâm spending on studying would be better spent if I was actually doing something I want. Get a job I wanna do. Visit every state in the country. Get a house with a pool. You know, just do things that make me happy without having any regretsâ
As she listed off the things she desired in life, a solemn expression graced Andyâs face. Her perspective did make him think about how he lived his own life as well. Perhaps how there were certain choices that did make him happy and somehow there were regrets lingering in his mind. âAnd have you done any of those?â
âWell obviously I donât have a house,â she joked as she waved her hand around Andyâs home, âBut I did get a job here that I think Iâll enjoy, an 8-5 kind,â she paused for a while to gulp down more of the red wine she bought, âWhat about you?â
âWhat about me â he questioned back as he looked at her with furrowed eyebrows. She rolled her eyes jokingly, âWhatâs your story, I guess? What brought you here in Newton?â
Her naivety had him questioning whether or not she knew the whole ordeal that his family went through; but he spared her of the full details, maybe next time or once he felt like he could fully trust her heâd tell her everything. âHad family here with me, but not anymore,â her eyes widened in shock with what he revealed but he was quick to reassure her, âI'm divorced now, ex-wife has full custody of our son. Used to be an assistant district attorney, now Iâm just in private practice for civil litigation cases.â
Somehow, Andy felt a weight unload once he told her about him. Though granted it wasnât the whole thing, but having someone to talk did make him feel lighter, more human. Y/N, on the other hand, felt amazed with how Andy chose to carry on despite what heâs been through. She got the feeling there was more to it than what he let on; and pity was not what she felt but more of feeling happy with how he did not give up and instead keep on going.
Holding her glass she raised it, âHereâs to new beginnings and being single then,â she toasted. Smiling, he raised his beer bottle and brought it to touch against her glass, âTo new beginnings and being single.â The two then proceeded to finish the rest of their meal in silence.
The sun was shining bright that Monday morning and Andy woke up early to head down to their basement and do his morning exercise. Thirty minutes into it, he could sense that Y/N had woken up not only due to her footsteps he heard, but also because he could smell something delicious coming from the kitchen.
As he finished his workout, he headed up to his room to take a quick shower and dress up for his work. Granted it might have been too early to do all those but the smell of the food and the company of which heâd be eating breakfast enticed him to do so. Heading down, he was dressed in his full lawyer gear, minus the jacket, and smiled as he saw Y/N eating the rest of her pancakes by the breakfast bar.
âMorning Andy,â she greeted him, âThereâs a fresh pot of coffee if youâd like,â she pointed to where she had just gotten a cup for herself as well. âThank you,â he then moved to get himself a cup and once he did he took note of a plate that had a couple of pancakes, eggs, and bacon.
Pointing to it he accused her, âItâs as if you want me to waste the workout I just did huh.â She threw her head back in laughter at what he said while shaking his head to tell him that it wasnât her intention. Glancing down on her wrist watch she mumbled a soft, âShit,â upon noticing the time. Stacking her mug on the plate she moved to the sink where Andy grabbed the cutlery and utensils from her, âLet me do it and go ahead.â
Placing a hand on his forearm â in which they both felt relaxed and warm at their first touch â she thanked him for doing so and grabbed her bag that she placed on the couch. âGood luck on your first day,â Andy called out as he began munching on his own food. She yelled a quick thanks and see you as she closed the door behind her. Staring down on his plate, he smiled again upon seeing how the food in his plate resembled a smiley face; She really is something, he thought to himself.
The rest of the week flew by and both Andy and Y/N spent the week almost doing everything together. The former would wake up early and get his workout down; and sometime during the 45 minutes heâd spend on the basement the latter would take that time to prepare herself for the day ahead as well as the most important meal for their day. And if there were leftovers from the night before or that she had made too much for breakfast and was able to whip it into something for lunch, then she packed those not only for her, but for Andy as well.
And their routine together did not just stop there it bled into the night as well. Where it was always Y/N who came home first. After taking a bath either sheâd start cooking supper or she would clean around the house a little â she noticed how Andyâs office area was frequently messy and she did her best to fix the mess without being too intrusive about it. She never step foot in his room, wanting him to have his privacy, but from what she could see he kept it organized despite having a few trash here and there, so she didnât really loiter in that area of the house.
In hindsight, Y/N didnât have to cook and clean for Andy. But with how low her rent was she felt that it was only fair to do so. Plus there was a part of her that somehow liked being around him, having someone to talk to about everything and anything they both could think of. There was never really a dull conversation between them.
Friday night arrived and instead of cooking another meal Y/N decided to get a pizza, wings, and another pack of beer for Andy. As she was in the liquor portion of the grocery she bumped into one of their neighbors, Joan RIfkin, whom she also recognized as one of the friends of her workmate.
âY/N, right?â the woman asked as she looked at her with concern. âYeah, thatâs me. We met through Emily, when you helped her get to work,â Y/N recalled, both for her and Joan.
âIs it true that you live with Andy?â her question had Y/N wondering, how the hell did she know that? Despite that thought she nodded, âRoom was cheap so I thought why not?â
Her nervous chuckle could not ease the tension between the two ladies; especially when Joan gave her a stern look as she warned her, âBe careful, okay? The Barberâs caused quite a ruckus and Andy is quite unpredictable.â
As Joan walked away while pushing her cart, Y/N was left confused and conflicted. The new information presented to her, though it was vague, left her puzzled about whether or not it was true. She was also unsure about the need to clarify with Andy what she has just been told.
Once his car was parked in the garage, Andy loosened his tie and entered the house. What greeted him was not the sight of Y/N cooking but her sitting on the couch while scrolling through her phone. Placed in the coffee table was a pizza box, his usual beer, a glass of wine, and box of chicken wings as well as a couple of paper plates.
âDidnât feel like cooking today huh?â he jeered as he placed a hand on his hip, the other hand holding his briefcase for work. Diverting her eyes from her phone to the man in front she grinned at him, âNo, but I felt like having pizza. Maybe we could watch a movie while eating?â
âYeah sure, Iâll go change quickly,â he told her and she nodded. Andy then went up the stairs, taking two steps at a time to do so. Somehow there was this part of him that was incredibly excited at the thought of being physically close with Y/N. but he just shook his head at the thought and claimed that he was just excited to unwind the weekâs stress with food, beer, and a movie.
Heading down after he dressed in more comfortable clothes he asked, âAlright, what are we watching?â Y/N shrugged as she moved to open the box of pizza, âWant a slice?â Andy nodded as he grabbed the remote and thanked her, âYou heard about the hippie who burnt his mouth on the pizza?â
While holding a pizza slice of her own she looked at him and tilted her head to the side, her face being a combination of confusion and curiosity, one that Andy found charming. The bearded man had his face in faux seriousness as he continued, âHe ate it before it was considered cool.â
Upon realizing the joke, Y/N let out a few giggles â real giggles, Any took note. âOkay not gonna lie, that was good,â she took a bite, â Havenât heard that one before.â Saying that made Andy feel proud, somehow his lame dad jokes made this brilliant woman laugh. âYou wanna watch Ferris Bueller's Day Off?â
She nodded at his suggestion, âYeah why not? Havenât watched that in a while.â And so they both began to watch it as they ate and drank.
As they watched the film their occasional laughs were the only sound emitted from the two. As Andy was grabbing for a few slices or chicken wings, he found himself scooting closer beside Y/N, who didnât really mind it and instead found having him close was comforting. The wartm that seeped past his clothed thigh and on to her bare skin as she was only wearing shorts made her feel safe. And somehow Andyâs arm found itself draped across the couch, almost touching Y/Nâs shoulders, his fingers almost touching her. When she did move to drink her wine her skin touched the tips of his fingers rested on her shoulders and Andy who drank some of his beer as well looked alarmed.
âIâm sorry, I can move away if youâd like,â he said as he began to remove his hand from where it was comfortable in her shoulder. âNo, itâs fine,â she assured him a little too quickly, âI mean, I donât really mind. Iâm not the type of person who hates hugging so I donât really mind at all.â
She couldnât prevent herself from physically cringing with what she said and how stupid it must have soounded like; but the man beside her didnât think so based on his eyes crinkled in laughter. His arm then dropped from being on her shoulders and settled itself on her waist and pulled him as close as they could be sitting beside, âWell I hope you wonât mind if I do this then?â
She felt herself flutter with how smooth the man was and just silently assured him by placing her head against his shoulder, both turning their attention back to the movie.
As the end credits rolled, they both were full and were just now finishing up the last of the drinks. Y/N fiddled with her fingers as she had an internal debate about whether or not she should bring up her conversation with Joan earlier.
âYou alright, Y/N?â Andy noticed how her actions might have indicated how she was nervous, a complete opposite to how she was earlier. Setting down his empty bottle on the coffee table, he turned to her and grasped both her hands in his, loving the feel of her soft hands against his calloused ones.
âItâs just, thereâs something I need to ask,â she sighed and looked up at the ceiling as if it would have helped her say it better, âNo, not really ask, but tell you. I don't know.â Her hesitation and uncertainty was something Andy easily sensed and he did his best to calm her down by rubbing their hands together and telling her she could tell him anything.
âSo after work, I headed to the grocery to grab your beer, right? Then I saw Joan there, I donât know her surname though. Anyway, she warned me to be careful of you because youâre unpredictable and that your family had caused a ruckus?â She ended her encounter with the woman by looking up at Andy, and the latter was surprised that there was no disgust in her tone and facial expressions; but more of worry? As if she was worried that rumors were spreading around about him and his family.
He stopped rubbing her hands and instead settled with fiddling with them, âI think itâs best if you found out now,â he began before taking a deep breath, âAlmost two years ago, Ben Rifkin, a fourteen year old boy, died. At the time I was the assistant district attorney and was assigned to investigate. When fingerprints of my son, Jacob, were found in the body everyone assumed he did it.â
âDid he?â Y/N question when she noticed it took Andy sometime to continue with his story. Shaking his head no he picked up where he left off the story, âHe didnât, his fingerprints were there because he just saw the body, panicked and didnât call the police. A man who had a record for groping and stalking kids did it. But Joan, Benâs mom was still convinced that Jacob had something to do with her sonâs death even after it was proved that he didnât.â
âIâm sorry about that Andy, she has no right to name you and your family those things,â Y/N was quick to comfort him. But he only chuckled sadly, âDoes she not?â She could feel that there was more Andy wanted to say so she remained silent, âDuring the trial and investigation, they were fully convinced Jacob did it because of me, of my father.â
He said those three words with so much hate and disdain, âMy estranged father, rather, he raped and killed some student many years ago. Now heâs serving a life sentence for it. They claimed that I had this murder gene and somehow Jacob got it too, hence why he killed Ben.â
After hearing his explanation, Y/N now understood why Joan claimed Andy was unpredictable. She also empathize with the mother who lost her son and understood why she felt this indifference towards the Barbers; but she still believed that maybe Joan would someday accept that the what theyâve been believing â that Jacob had any involvement for her sonâs death â is nothing but mere suspicion that was proved false.
âI mean, I understand why she holds this sort of grudge against you or your family,â Andyâs heart dropped at what Y/N said and loosened his grip on her hands, prepared to hear her say how she wanted to leave his house that somewhat felt like home ever since she came, âBut itâll take time for her to accept the truth and disregard the suspicion she had. I believe in what you say and do think that you are harmless.â
Her statement had Andy looking up from where he was staring at their hands and looked up at her with relief in his face, âWhat?â He could not help but sound meek as he asked so; but he felt the opposite, he felt empowered and invincible upon knowing that there was someone on his side for once.
Deciding to do something risky, Y/N leaned forward to plant a gentle and comforting kiss on Andyâs forehead, âWhat happened to Joanâs son was horrible, yes. But if you say, and an investigation says your son had nothing to do with it, then I believe it. And murder gene? The only thing that a gene can pass down to us is sickness,â she joked, hoping to lighten up the atmosphere and was pleased to see how Andy laughed softly at it,âYouâre not what your father did, okay? The only way to define you is through what you say, think, and do.â
Andy smiled as he stared at her lovingly, âAnd if I think and tell you that youâre such a beautiful person, inside and out, and that it's been great having you here live with me?â She laughed as she rested her cheek against her hand and sassed at him, âIâd call bullshit âcause you probably used that line with your wife.â
He just rolled his eyes as he moved her around so she could comfortably lay her head against his chest as he wrapped his muscular arms around her frame. âWell then Iâm just gonna have to do my best to prove it to you the entire time youâre here then.â
Turning her head so she could face him, âWell jokeâs on you, I plan to be here for quite a long time.â The butterflies in Andyâs stomach then went wild at what she said, but his composure allowed him to answer back with, âI donât mind that at all, honey.â
Laying a kiss on her forehead, he then teased her about the grin she had on her face and two then talked the rest of the night away.
part two
#quietmyfearswith#My writing#andy barber angst#andy barber x reader#andy barber x fem!reader#andy barber fanfic#andy barber x you#andy barber fluff#andy barber smut#defending jacob#defending jacob fanfiction
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Chapter 12: Stone's POV
A/N: Ugh, I keep forgetting to post! Sorry about that. Iâll try to post the next chapter soon. Please like and comment, it keeps me going!
TW for vomiting
They make it to Bakersfield â like four hours â without talking, aside from occasional pleasantries. Stone thinks Eddie might even be asleep at one point, and heâs getting pretty tired himself when Eddie suddenly says, his voice hesitant and awkward, âDid I⊠do something?â
âWhat?â Stone asks in surprise, because heâs been really spaced out and his brain has to catch up. âLike what?â
âI donât know,â Eddie says uncomfortably. âWe were talking and stuff and now itâs⊠never mind.â
âOkay,â Stone says, and he knows heâs being an ass but heâs too tired to care. Eddie turns away and stares out his window and Stone can see in its reflection heâs starting to tear up. He sighs. âEdâŠâ he starts, but canât think of anything else to say. Heâs not mad at Eddie anyway, heâs guilty, but he can hardly say that. âIâm just tired,â he finishes and feels even worse for lying, but Eddie glances over and he looks so relieved Stone canât help but feel a little better.
âOkay, thatâs fine,â he says, offering a tiny smile, and Stone nods. âWe donât have to talk then.â
âCool,â Stone says. Silence for a few minutes. Then, âUh, do you maybe want to drive for a while?â He thinks itâs a little rude to ask, but his eyes are actually burning and he keeps thinking there are dark shapes in the road, so maybe itâs safer if Eddie drives anyway.
âYeah, of course,â Eddie says, and Stone pulls over instantly, rubbing his eyes for a minute before he climbs out and walks around to the other side, his legs aching. He pauses to stretch for a moment before he climbs in the passenger seat; Eddieâs already in the driverâs side, waiting.
âAre you doing okay?â Eddie asks cautiously as he pulls out. Stone glances over, frowning.
âYeah, why?â he says, and wonders if maybe Eddieâs asking so heâll ask too. âAre you?â
âYeahâŠ?â Eddie says like itâs a question, seemingly equally confused. âI just meant because youâre pretty quiet, you know.â
âIâm just tired,â Stone says again, resting his head on the headrest. He doesnât bother looking over to see if Eddie believes him â heâs busy trying not to think about Beth on the off chance Eddie can read minds.
âOkay,â Eddie says after a minute. Then he adds in a rush, âJust because Chris is fucked up doesnât mean you canât be.â
âI know,â Stone says, clenching his hands into fists and forcing himself to breathe evenly. âCan we just keep driving, please?â
Maybe Eddie hears something in his voice, because he nods and stops asking questions. Thereâs silence for a long minute and Stone suddenly wishes he was with Andy, a painful ache in his chest that says that Andy would know exactly what to say and how to make him feel better, and all of a sudden he hates Eddie for being Eddie and not Andy, for being necessary.
âWhat?â Eddie says, making him jump, and Stone realizes that heâs glaring.
âNothing,â he says sharply, and goes back to staring out the window. What the fuck is wrong with me? He suddenly feels like he canât control or hold back any of his emotions, and it comes up all at once by throwing up.
Everywhere.
âHoly shit!â Eddie shrieks, slamming on the brakes and nearly going off the road. Stone squeezes his eyes shut, nauseous.
âOh, fuck,â he groans out, looking at his car. Now itâs stained with both Chrisâs blood and his puke.
âOkay, thereâs a gas station up here,â Eddie says through his hand over his mouth. He looks like he might throw up himself. âWe can get some paper towels, we have more clothes in the back ââ He gags violently. âShit.â
âIâm sorry,â Stone says miserably, digging a couple of napkins out of the glovebox and fruitlessly trying to wipe himself off.
âDonât, youâll just rub it in,â Eddie says, a little sharply, and Stone winces and stops. Thatâs the last thing he needs.
âFuck, this is gonna smell for the whole trip now,â he mutters. Eddie wrinkles his nose.
âItâs only a few more hours,â he says weakly, pulling into the gas station. âThey probably have air fresheners or something in there anyway.â
âYeah, true,â Stone mutters, and carefully unbuckles his seatbelt and holds it away from his body. Eddie gets out and goes inside, and after a few minutes returns and opens Stoneâs door, handing him a wad of paper towels.
âOkay, uh, try to step out and wipe your stuff off a little and Iâll get your bag out of the back.â
âCool,â Stone says, because this is actually a nightmare and itâs all he can think of to say. He carefully stands up, shaking the puke off his shirt, and peels it off, wiping himself off with the paper towels. He ditches the shirt â it was pretty old anyway â and pulls off his shoes.
It takes them almost a full hour to clean up the car â and Stone â before they load it up with about ten air fresheners and finally start driving again. Stone stays totally silent, still utterly humiliated, and Eddie is clearly too busy pretending heâs not gagging to carry on a conversation.
âStop,â Stone snaps, suddenly angry. Itâs almost more humiliating for Eddie to pretend itâs not bothering him than to just admit it.
âWhat?â Eddie asks innocently, and Stone glares at him viciously until he sighs. âOkay, itâs not that bad. I just have a weak stomach.â
âJesus,â Stone mutters, not even sure why heâs so upset. Again, he finds himself wishing he was with Andy, and then he feels guilty. Eddieâs fine â heâs just not the right person right now. It suddenly occurs to Stone that Andyâs mom has been calling â he could always ask Eddie to stop again and call her back. Heâs just opening his mouth to tell Eddie to find a place to stop when he remembers theyâre already an hour off track.
âWhat?â Eddie says, looking over. Stone shakes his head. âWhat were you going to say?â
âNothing,â Stone says, and realizes how petulant he sounds. He sighs. âAndyâs mom has been calling me.â
âOh,â Eddie says, still seeming a little confused. âAnd⊠you want to know why?â
âNo, I was just⊠thinking,â Stone says. âOf calling her back, but weâre already off track.â
âYeah,â Eddie says, looking a little guilty, like he was the one who puked everywhere. âI mean, we can stop if you need toâŠâ
âIâm good,â Stone says, like it would be ridiculous not to be. âJust keep driving.â
âOkay,â Eddie says. âUh⊠want to play the questions game again?â
Stone shakes his head, and feels a little guilty at how disappointed Eddie looks â but not disappointed enough to play Twenty Questions with him. He would rather jump off a cliff than talk right now.
Around three, they stop at a gas station and load up on coffee â they still have two hours left to go. Stone is so tired heâs starting to cheer up out of sheer delirium, and Eddieâs clearly had way too much caffeine â theyâre both laughing so hard the car is swerving all over the place, and Stone canât even bring himself to be worried.
âJesus,â he gasps out. âIt can be taken different ways, okay, itâs not ââ
âThatâs what she said!â Eddie nearly screams out, and Stone starts choking again.
âOh my god,â he wheezes out, and Eddie swerves so hard they go into the oncoming lane for a minute, barely missing a passing semi. For a second they stare in horror, and then Eddie takes a giant sip of coffee and Stone cracks up again, and Eddie does too.
âOkay, pull over, pull over,â he croaks out, because his car is in serious danger. Eddie is roaring with laughter, but he somehow guides the car to the shoulder and they sit there for a minute just doubled over, tears streaming down their faces.
âOkay, I think thatâs enough coffee,â Eddie giggles, and Stone picks up the cups and dumps them out the window, making Eddie shriek with laughter again.
âStone,â he chokes out, pounding his knee desperately, and Stone bursts out laughing too. He canât help it.
âOkay, okay,â he says after a minute, calming a little. Eddie is still grinning. âWe gotta start driving again.â
âFine,â Eddie laughs out. âYou wanna drive?â
âSure,â Stone says, hopping out. He shoots Eddie a quick smile as they pass each other and settles into the driverâs seat. âWhere exactly are we going, anyway? Do you still have the map?â
âI think it got puked on,â Eddie says, clearly trying not to laugh again. âItâs okay, once we get into San Diego I can just tell you where to go. Probably.â
âOh, thatâs reassuring,â Stone says sarcastically, but he smiles so Eddie knows heâs joking. âI guess Iâll just keep going the same way, then.â
âSweet,â Eddie says, and Stone instantly starts laughing again.
âYou are such a surfer,â he says, and Eddie laughs a little, embarrassed. Stone elbows him lightly. âCowabunga, duuuude,â he says very sincerely. Eddie just rolls his eyes, smiling. âYou know you love it,â Stone tells him.
âDefinitely,â Eddie says. After a minute his smile fades a little. âHow do you think Chris is doing?â he asks cautiously. Stone sighs.
âAt this time of night, heâs either passed out or blissfully drunk,â he says, and Eddie shoots him a look. Stone frowns. âHeâs fine,â he says seriously. âJeffâs with him, and if heâs not, itâs because heâs fine. So you have nothing to worry about.â
âI know,â Eddie says reluctantly. âI guess I just have to get used to it.â
âDonât worry, youâll get the hang of all this stuff,â Stone says. âAnd despite how people act, youâre not the only transplant. Jeff is from Montana, actually, he hasnât lived here that long.â
âReally?â Eddie says in shock. âEveryoneâs acting like Iâm such an outsider â I mean, not that many people,â he adds quickly, probably noticing how pissed Stone looks. He still canât believe people are being rude to Eddie about that. âItâs just ironic, is all.â
âYeah, itâs stupid,â Stone mutters. âPeople here can be real asses.â
âMost people have been nice so far,â Eddie offers. Stone nods, even though he doubts Eddie is telling the truth.
âThatâs good,â he says. Thereâs silence for a while, and then Stone realizes Eddie is laughing quietly. âWhat?â he asks, glancing over and smiling. Eddie just shakes his head.
âI was just thinking⊠I really couldâve used that coffee,â he laughs, and Stone grins.
âYeah, sorry about that,â he says. âWe can always stop and get some more if you want.â
âNah, itâs fine,â Eddie says. âWeâre already gonna be there really late, anyway.â
âOh, should you call your mom so she knows weâre still coming?â Stone asks. âShe was expecting us at midnight, it might be a little weird to show up at like six in the morning.â
âItâs fine,â Eddie says dismissively, and Stone raises his eyebrows in surprise.
âAre you sure?â he says. âIâd definitely want to know if I were her. And weâre gonna be really late.â
Eddie sighs heavily and Stone glances at him curiously. âThe thing is⊠she doesnât really know Iâm coming,â he says, and starts giggling again.
âWhat?â Stone chokes out. âShe doesnât know weâre coming? Will she even let us stay there?â
âYeah, of course,â Eddie says, but he doesnât sound convinced. âIt was her idea for me to visit him, anyway.â
âSo your plan was just for us to show up in the middle of the night and convince her to let us hang for a few days?â
âWell⊠yeah,â Eddie says, and Stone canât help but laugh too.
âJesus,â is all he can think to say. âWow. This trip is a fucking mess.â
âYeah,â Eddie laughs. âAh, fuck.â
âFuck,â Stone agrees weakly, smiling too. âLetâs get more coffee.â
âCan we afford it?â Eddie says, and they both crack up again.
âNot really,â Stone admits. âWe can just take turns driving and napping.â
âDeal,â Eddie says. Stone shakes his head a little, smiling.
âWhat time does your mom get up, anyway?â he asks. âWill she be up at six, or is it one of those families where six is like the middle of the night?â
âI think she gets up around seven,â Eddie says doubtfully. âSo itâs not like itâll be crazy early. Weâre fine.â
âOkay,â Stone says, although heâs still a little doubtful, especially about his presence â maybe Edâs mom is cool with her son dropping by occasionally, but he doubts she likes him to bring his grungy friends. âAre you sure you donât want to call or something first? Because we still can.â
âStone, itâs like four,â Eddie says with a laugh. âShe really would be mad if I called her right now.â
âOkay, okay,â Stone says reluctantly. âJust donât want to spend the night in my car.â
âToo late for that,â Eddie says, and Stone laughs. âDonât worry, sheâll let us stay. Sheâs very much a mom.â
âI believe you,â Stone says. âYou know, by the time we get there weâll have been up for almost twenty four hours.â
âTrust me, I know,â Eddie says, rubbing his eyes. âI think Iâm gonna let myself sleep for a little while, if you donât mind?â
âNah, itâs fine,â Stone says. He figures talking to Eddie is only making him slightly less drowsy anyway. Eddie nods.
âSweet,â he says again, and Stone hides his smirk. âWake me up when you get too tired and Iâll drive.â
âSweet,â Stone mimics, and Eddie shoots him a dirty look before he settles down and lets his eyes close. Stone turns his focus to the road.
âHey, Eddie,â he says, thoughtfully, and then winces when he remembers Edâs trying to sleep.
âYeah,â Eddie says, opening his eyes just enough to squint at Stone curiously. Stone shakes his head.
âI wanted to talk about somethingâŠâ he starts, but chickens out. âYour momâs not a bitch, right?â
âOnly sometimes,â Eddie says with a half-smile, and closes his eyes again. Stone sighs and settles back into the seat.
Itâs going to be a long drive.
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I wrote a creative essay about my least favorite aunt. Yeet.
Read it if youâd like. Iâm just happy to finally get the damage she caused me mostly dealt with to the point where I feel comfortable writing about it.
Language Barrier
Whenever I speak in German my expressions and hand gestures suddenly become ridiculously animated, like Iâm trying to make up for my lack of vocabulary with a sign language that hasnât been invented yet. One that only I know the meaning of. I flap my hands around like a maniac and point to things I donât know the words for and make broken sentences that sound like a caveman made them as I misgender inanimate objects left and right.
Das. Das. That. That. This. This.
I can physically feel my brain rewiring itself. I speak like fool. Wrong order spoken are words. Sometimes anxiety make cry me. Social kind.
However, I speak much more German than my uncleâs mother and stepfather speak of English so Iâm forced to use what I can and hope they can understand my thick American accent as we stay with them in Southern Germany. Everyone keeps trying to reassure me that my German is very good, but I canât stop out of order speaking.
Kann ich habe Brot mehr bitte? Can I having bread more please?
I want to crawl into a hole and die.
My grandmother warned me that a person can grow tired of the amount of bread that Germans eat and according to that Bible thing that we both read man cannot live by bread alone. Iâm starting to understand both of those things, eating bread and jam for breakfast yet again because I donât like butter with marmalade and thereâs no cheese left.
The weather, unlike my breakfast or Deutsche Grammatik, is perfect. Slightly cold, sunny and overcast at the same time. The neighborhood that my uncleâs parents live in is beautiful, suburban, on the edge of Schwartzwald, known in English as the Black Forest. I canât remember the name of the town but I do know that we tried to get a brewery tour and my aunt, her twins, and I waited in the van as my uncle talked loudly at somebody in a local dialect until he got out of them that they donât do tours anymore.
We went to a rope climbing course instead. My uncle, tall and skinny, balding, fit, took the twins, boy and girl, skinny like their dad, not taking after their mother, my motherâs sister, and went rope climbing in Schwartzwald.
Iâm stuck talking with my aunt as we stand below the ropes course and Iâm tired of speaking in German so we both take time to find comfort in each otherâs distinctly Californian manner of speaking.
My aunt is a character. Thatâs a polite way to describe her if you donât want to speak ill of someone thatâs not in the room. She wears no makeup except for when sheâs getting her picture taken or going somewhere important and she always looks stressed and tired with her eyes just a little too wide open. Sheâs maybe four inches shorter than me but she has the ability to make me feel like I only come up to her waist. In my mind sheâs always wearing a knee length beige skirt and a green t-shirt even though she owns other articles of clothing than that, including more than 20 pairs of shoes. Her eyes are wide and her hands move in an animated fashion even when she speaks English. When she speaks German she becomes an exaggerated version of herself, perhaps to make up for her thick American accent and occasionally sketchy grammar. She has lived in Switzerland since the 90s and spoken German since the 80s. I once asked her how to tell what a nounâs grammatical gender is. She told me that she had no idea.
I didnât know my mother for very long before she died but my grandmother tells me that when my mom was young, to describe her sister, she quoted a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The one about the little girl with the little curl who when she was good she was very good and when she was bad she was horrid.
My auntâs hair is straight, but other than that the poem describes her very well. Today would be a day she was horrid.
I donât claim to be a perfect human being. I can be a bitch sometimes just like anybody else. The thing is though, my aunt never let me know when I was doing something bitchy like a normal person would. Instead she let me keep on doing it until she was ready to explode. And then she exploded.
Or, no. Not exactly being bitchy. Just doing something that she didnât understand or like. Sheâs a very animated person and her voice goes like
And
Up.
Down.
All the time.
Sheâs very expressive. I, on the other hand, am not that excitable. I smile, yes, I cry, yes, but I try to be stoic. I like being stoic. It feels natural. I donât want to express to everyone around me every time I am excited or upset. In my opinion itâs none of their business. I also tend to express gratitude through actions and gift giving rather than hurting my face and voice smiling and screaming all of the time.
I had thought bringing gifts from America, delivering onto my auntâs family the ever elusive box of grits and Bakersfield candy and trinkets from Disneyland Anaheim would show gratitude. I was under the impression that helping to cook dinner, pack the van, refill the ice trays, take care of the twins, carry the groceries, clean the house, would show how much I loved her. I learned though, in a firestorm under the canopy of dark trees and children riding on zip lines that our love languages didnât translate properly and she thought that my lack of expressiveness meant that I hated her. She was hysterical about it. I then expressed myself by changing into a lovely shade of red and producing saltwater from my eyes.
Climbing hills is a thing you get used to when you spend time in Central Europe. Walking for three or four kilometers isnât such a feat in a valley, where the ground is flat and rarely changes, but in hilly terrain you quickly learn just how long that distance is and how much walking can hurt. Locals take no pity on you because they expect that everyone has those muscles built up in their legs when youâve never had to use your legs like that for long stretches of time before.
Navigating emotion and expectations at home is easy. There is one language being spoken and everyone uses it to tell each other whatâs wrong. When staying with my aunt for long periods of time, however, you start to understand emotional exhaustion. Something that would take half a minute to communicate takes up ten minutes of screaming because she expected you to know everything. A flat crowded city turns into a hilly countryside with no help for miles. You quickly learn how to swear in German because she pushes her husband to screaming as well.
ScheiĂe.
Eventually my uncle finished with the ropes course and pulled me away from her. He gently explained to me in English what we were going to be doing for the next few days. I stopped leaking water from my eyes and tried to remember what had prompted her to start yelling at me but I couldnât figure it out. Another talent she has. Distracting you from linear events.
While I was in Germany there was a terrorist attack in MĂŒnich. Brexit was fresh in everyoneâs minds. My first presidential election would be happening in November. I only understood about half of what was said on the news. My little cousins and their dad took turns translating for me. I had the feeling that I still wasnât getting the whole story.
My aunt and uncle have twins. Test Tube Babies. The girl is the older twin but strangely enough doesnât hold it over her brotherâs head, which would fit perfectly with her personality. The boy takes after his mother in some respects, namely her loud voice.
When we went to Prague we stayed in a campground because thatâs a lot cheaper than a hotel and that family affords a second house because theyâre stingy. Almost every morning it was a struggle to get the boy out of bed. He and his sister were almost ten and he screamed and refused to move. He cried. He was loud. No amount of discipline worked. His sister stood around quietly going about her business, as did I. We did the same thing when her parents got into screaming matches.
Prague is an old city. A busy city. I loved it, even with all of the pay toilets and Czech bluntness. Even when an angry Czech lady smoking a cigarette yelled at me in broken English for not knowing that I had to pay for the restroom. The old castles and cathedrals and statues and just the right amount of dirtiness in the subway more than made up for it.
My aunt payed for me to go look at a museum that she didnât want to look at. She told me to take all the time I wanted as the rest of the family waited outside. I didnât sense any passive aggressiveness that time, so I did. It was a complex that was part of the Prague art museum, a system spread out around the city. The section I walked through by myself was a collection of medieval Roman Catholic art. Stained glass windows, paintings, tapestries. Iâm a Lutheran that lives with atheists, so my experience with Catholic art is mostly non existent. Atheists donât have religious figures to draw and Lutherans are extremely stingy with their images, worried about crossing into the realm of idolatry.
One thing I noticed was that Mary appeared everywhere, even in stories I thought she didnât belong. In some images she stood equal with Jesus, reminding me of a female God. She seemed mature, different from the outcasted teenage mother I had told children about in Sunday School classes. Different from the refugee that had been painted for me in sermons. I wondered what kind of mother this Mary was. I wondered what her Hebrew sounded like. Or, maybe this Mary spoke Czech and the Mary in Germany spoke German and the Mary in the Vatican spoke Latin and the Mary my Catholic friends at home looked to spoke Spanish. Maybe if I prayed to Mary she would speak English. Maybe she would turn out to speak German and would look down at the frantic dancing of my hands, trying to find meaning in it.
But I donât pray to Mary, and neither do my aunt or uncle. I report to them what I saw and my observations about Mary. Namely that she seems to be everywhere. My aunt doesnât quite pick up on the fact that I simply find it interesting and takes it as an invitation to rant about Catholics. I squint at her as we walk back to the subway. Iâm trying to figure out if Iâd somehow been speaking another language. She certainly seems to be. Maybe itâs a generational gap. Maybe itâs just her, but I try to turn the conversation back to a tone of tolerance rather than complaint. A battle I quickly lose.
Later, in a public park in that busy city, my aunt yelled at me and cried because I had been calling her by her first name rather than Aunt. I nearly start leaking again. I shake. I think sheâs speaking English but I donât understand it. I physically step away from her as she accuses me of not seeing her as family. At the bottom of the hill weâre standing on a dog plays fetch with his owner. Neither of them take notice of the screaming middle aged American woman throwing accusations her deceased sisterâs child as her own children zone out and wait for it to be over. No help comes. Nobody translates for me and Google Translate doesnât have a setting for this.
Twenty minutes later she jokes with me as we find a rare but welcome burrito shop. I buy a mango soda imported from Mexico and it softens my homesickness. We eat on the steps of a light rail station. I laugh. The twins laugh and bounce around, talking to each other in a mixture of English, Swiss-German, and high German. The boy takes a bite out of my burrito and thinks the fact I can eat something that spicy makes me the coolest person in the world. My aunt laughs with me. We make plans for when we go to Southern Germany and visit her husband's parents. Thatâs where his dentist is. He needs a bit of work done. Weâll have fun, she promises. We had a good time in Prague. I put the bad times in a shoebox for later and then agree with her.
After she yells at me in Schwartzwald for not showing emotion I go quiet. I put more things in the shoebox Iâve made in my mind to deal with later. I learn that all of them have been eavesdropping on the phone calls Iâve been making to my dad and friends back home. My aunt approaches me about how I complained about the yelling. Iâm suddenly paranoid and wonder if she read some of the postcards I sent out. I watch my words now and put the ones that might set off her fuse in the box. The little house outside of Zurich has started to feel like home when I return to it and Iâm slightly disgusted at that realization. The flowers all make my eyes water and Iâm not given nearly enough allergy pills. I still donât understand what language sheâs speaking. Her words are in English or German, as are mine, but we still donât understand each other.
Currants, especially the red ones, are beautiful fruit. Not easy to find in stores, even in Europe, so youâve gotta pick them yourself. My aunt and uncle have a small city of currant bushes living in their backyard that hugs the bank of the stream that runs through the neighborhood. Theyâre beautiful and inviting, asking you to eat them please, but when you do your face scrunches up at the tartness. I never did care for sour tastes, so I found my own way to make the currants sweet by baking them into scones. At first my aunt was sceptical of my scones but after some reassurance from her kids that they didnât taste like cinnamon she tried them and agreed that I did a good job. They were sweet and went really well with milk or tea. We all enjoyed them very much. Nobody had to translate anything.
Every member of that family gives excellent hugs when you can get them. They share drinks and food with each other, a concept that shocked me at first, but I quickly fell into the rhythm of it with them. They bought me my first beer and took me to Worms, Germany. I loved that place. I got to see one of the first print versions of Lutherâs German translation of the bible. I ate pastries and tea with them at an outdoor cafe. It was cold and wet in the middle of the summer and the cobblestones made it even gloomier. The moving feet on the sidewalk seemed to have a language of its own and the new architecture standing by the old had no words to be translated but told a story nonetheless.
My experience in Europe was like Europe itself. Americans expect it to be shiny and beautiful, and it is, but you also have to pay to use the restroom which leads people to piss in the street. You will also find cigarette machines on almost every corner. There is one right outside my aunt and uncleâs second house. The packages of cigarettes have pictures of black lungs and diseased gums on them. The people smoke anyways. Europeans are people. They have drama, they worry about money, they cry, they abuse, they kick, they scream, they love. All the problems you had in America wonât disappear over there, and in fact you might find some new problems you didnât expect. Like not finding salsa or not knowing how to deal with carnival rides that have no line and are boarded like a much more violent version of musical chairs. And donât expect to practice your target language there either. The people will hear your accent and excitedly try and use you to practice English. And even if you do speak the language, donât expect to understand with everyone. Hand gestures can only go so far.
When I got home I left the German language behind me for the most part. I also slowly cut off most contact with my auntâs family. Six weeks spent putting things in a shoebox and not speaking whatever language my aunt was speaking with English and German words was enough for me. By the time I opened my shoebox a few months later it was rotten, smelly, and leaking. It took over a year to clean it out and itâs still warped and stained, containing whispers of my own desperate language that would never penetrate my auntâs skull or jump over the barrier we had built together.
My rotten shoebox is revolting to look at, and while I was cleaning it parts of the mess got onto the happy memories but thankfully theyâre still there. The cathedrals, the warm hugs, the new foods, and comforting rain are all there. Late nights and early mornings, potato pancakes and beer, museums and trees and the times I could honestly say; Ja, ich bin glĂŒcklich. Yes, I am happy. And thankfully that sentence is easy to translate.
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Final Clean Up Services Bakersfield
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