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ohmygodshesinsane · 7 months ago

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Drop-Off | A Jily Micro-Oops

James Potter takes Lily Evans home, and wants to make something clear.

words: 1941 | for @jilymicro-oops | april prompt 22: ridiculous

sequel to unlicensed

read on ao3 or under the cut

“Hilarious, Potter. Left again.” James made a face and did as she said, playing it off like a laugh, still barely able to believe that she was in his car, in his proximity, breathing the same air as him.

“It’s like a rollercoaster.”

“It should be shut down.”

“Oi.” He jabbed his pinkie finger at the indicator and nudged it up, though the street was deserted. The blinker click-click-clicked, and a cat watched him from the top of a faded brick letterbox, tail flicking.

These roads were unfamiliar. They nestled together only a few blocks from the beach, but they were distinct from the shiny rows of glassy mid-rises, with their acai shops and coastal boutiques tucked beneath sprawling apartments. Sad single-storey brick homes dominated the little suburb of Cokeworth, gutters wonky, red-tile roofs slumping in the blunted sunlight. A leather lounge teetered on the curb, its peeling seats and flaking arms praying for a good home. James’s foot hovered on the brake, idling them along.

“Your joint’s around here?” he asked, frowning. In all his daydreams, he had never imagined Lily Evans living here. None of these places had room for the Beauty-and-the-Beast library her good grades demanded, or a pool for her to lay by in summer’s heights. No old ladies fidgeted, waiting for a reckless do-gooder to escort them across the street. A dog barked through the missing panes of a grey-wood fence.

“Nah,” Evans said, shrugging hard. “Just thought we’d take the scenic route.” She rapped her knuckles on the window. “Entertained?”

James swallowed. Touchy. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, cruising along, squashing down the sinking feeling that her sharp little remarks always wrought. She was just some girl in his class. She wasn’t Lizzie – Lizzie, who would be coming round later to ‘study for Chem’ in the media room, Lizzie who James had just invited to Pete’s birthday, Lizzie from the netball team, Lizzie who he reckoned he might properly ask out soon. Lizzie, not Lily.

Sure, some girl he’d liked when he was thirteen was sitting in the front seat, dark red hair pulled back in the swish of a ponytail, one knee slung over the other at the edge of her regulation black skirt, but it was whatever. She shifted, and her maroon jumper rose with the arch of her back and the stretch of her arms, revealing a swathe of the white cotton blouse beneath. Tiny gold hoop things glinted in her ears, and the light caught the flecks of forest in the emeralds of her gaze –

“Bump!” As Evans shouted, the car hit it, and the car hiked awkwardly over the raised crossing. “Jesus, again. It’s not GTA.”

“GTA’s not allowed in my house,” James answered flippantly. “It’s offensive to women.”

Evans guffawed; in the corner of his vision (because he really was trying to focus on the road now), she folded her arms indignantly, cheeks red. Bugger. Truth be told, he couldn’t say precisely why he had offered up his vaguely-illicit chauffeur service when he’d seen Snape stalk off without her. Evans had working legs – no, James wasn’t going to think about them, moving on – and was capable of walking herself home without that idiot hanging around. His eyes sharpened, raking down the sides of the street, as if the git might materialise. But in any case, it wouldn’t be dark for hours. Evans could have got herself home no worries. The words had just flung out of James’s mouth before he could think, and then he’d nearly keeled over with shock when she’d accepted, and so – here they sat.

Maybe the guilt from lunchtime had crept in. James had copped a week of detentions and a call home, but Lily had been hauled into McGonagall’s office, despite being innocent in the whole matter. She hadn’t destroyed Snape’s project. That fucker deserved it. James’s knuckles whitened around the wheel. Where the hell did he get off, talking to her that way? And now the whole school was muttering about prissy prefect Lily Evans getting a talking-to, and she’d not done a thing wrong – she was the one who had been wronged. His fingers itched for Snape’s throat. Half of James wanted to chuck a u-turn and speed back until he found the sulky little Slytherin, and then he could land one right in the middle of his stupid, petulant, ugly –

“Are you kidding?” Oh, shit. James was doing fifteen over. Not that Evans’s eyes were on the speedo – she grinned at him, mirth sparkling, and his heart somersaulted. “You don’t play GTA because you’re such a feminist?”

James made a rude hand gesture, swerving a little as he looked back at her. He scrambled to correct it.

“I am a feminist,” he said, a little offended. “Mum banned it besides. She goes mental whenever Sirius sticks the girly pictures up. Bad for body image. And what would Lizzy think, if I spent all my time murdering hookers and dealing drugs? In real life, sure, it’s street cred and money, but online that’s just depressing.” That wasn’t an exact summary of why he avoided it, but he wasn’t about to imitate a video essay. He watched too many of those. Really, though, Lara Croft has gone through the wringer! He’d nodded along with the Youtuber’s words while Sirius killed cultists on their Xbox.

Evans’s eyes narrowed. “Next right, and it’s two from the end on the left,” she said off-handedly, gaze still roaming across the planes of his face. He slowed, waiting for a car to pass before he made the turn. “I don’t know if I believe you.”

“Believe me?” James took the gap and lurched down the cul-de-sac. “I mean it, Evans. Street cred is everything. If I was a loser, I wouldn’t be a Marauder, would I?”

She rolled her eyes. “You are a loser. Nobody who’s actually cool gives themselves such stupid nicknames. It’s not like you’re a band.”

“We’ve considered it.”

“I remember Remus on the clarinet at the ANZAC assembly; please stop considering it.”

The brakes screeched; James stopped halfway down the lane, head whipping around. Evans clapped her hands over her mouth, cheeks flaming.

“Oh my god,” she said, irises as wide as starbursts. “Shit. Oh my god. That was a horrible thing to say.”

Electricity crackled from the top of his head to the tips of his fingers; had Lily Evans really just said that? Laughter burst from his lips, chest aching, stomach spasming as he gasped for air. Perfect prefect Evans thought Remus was shit at clarinet. Of everything today, that was the strangest.

“No,” Evans said, “shut up, don’t laugh – I didn’t mean that –”

“You did, though,” James gasped, eyes swimming with tears. Her red hair swirled into the air like tendrils of smoke, in the blur of his vision.

“It was a mistake,” she insisted. “I meant…”

“That Remus’s performances make you envy the deaf?”

Evans whacked him lightly on the arm. James lost his breath. The warmth of her touch burned like embers in a hearth, long after her fleeting fingers knotted together, far from his skin.

“He’s your mate,” she accused. “Shouldn’t you be defending his honour?”

James’s tongue poked at the fleshy inside of his cheek. “He works hard, he’s a laugh, he keeps us on track… sort of. I’ll defend that. But honesty is my policy, Evans. Sirius and I have fantasised about throwing that bloody thing in the creek.”

“So we have the same fantasies,” Evans grumbled. “Fantastic.”

His nails left crescent moons on the leather of the wheel. Probably not, he thought. Definitely not.

“The truth comes out in your mistakes, Evans. When your guard’s down.” He lifted his foot, rolling the little way down the rest of the street. She inhaled - the change of tone in his voice had been clearer than he'd intended.

“When people are angry, they say things they don’t mean.” He pulled up outside the second house from the end. This one was timber rather than brick, older than the others, raised on a brick platform. Low shrubs and strangled flowers lined the concrete path from the curb, and further down, gravel tracks rolled down the side of the house and out the back. Rickety stairs led up to the front door, the security screen rusted and faded. Yellow curtains hung in the windows. An old wooden chair waited on the porch, beneath two hand-painted signs – one welcoming all, and a second warning off ‘Jehovers’. Bits of hose littered the front garden. The red-lidded bin bulged with black rubbish bags. Evans shifted, turning her body as if to block the view of the house out the passenger window. The colour leeched from her face; her eyes were luminous. She tugged at the collar of her school jumper.

“I don’t know if I agree with you,” James said frankly, shifting the car into ‘park’ and pulling the handbrake. Evans’s hand rested on the handle of the door.

“I fight with my sister all the time,” Evans said. “I don’t really hate her.”

“Not now,” James said, “but in that moment… I don’t know. Maybe. It’s a feeling, not a resolution. I don’t think you say anything you haven’t felt before. Anger doesn’t make you a different person, you know? It just sort of… sharpens bits.”

The door opened, and Evans scooped up her backpack, halfway out the car.

“Thanks,” she said sharply. “For the ride.”

“Evans –”

“Thank you.”

James unclicked his belt, climbing over the gearbox. He caught the door as it swung shut, opening it again.

“Evans!” She stilled with her back to him, standing on the browning grass, bag hanging by one strap. James took a deep breath. “Evans, you have to know that – that word doesn’t just slip out.”

She whirled around, face hard, eyes wet. “It’s not really up to you to decide what I have to know, actually, Potter.” But she was listening to him. He ran his fingers through his hair, the gearstick digging into his stomach as he leaned across. He looked like an idiot, probably. He didn’t care.

“You deserve better,” he said. Evans flinched. Her lips curled cruelly.

“What, someone like you? I heard what you said to him. You’re not any better –”

“I didn’t call him that –”

“He’s been my friend since I was seven, Potter.” Her face crumpled; she turned her face to the sky, eyes shut. “You don’t get it. You could never get it. He’s the one that knows.” An angry arm flicked at the street. “I bet your bedroom’s air-conditioned.”

James frowned. “Yeah,” he said, flummoxed – what did that have to do with anything? “I mean – not me. I didn’t mean me. We would never… but not Snape. You deserve better than him. You have more than two options, you know.”

Slowly, she looked down at him. Trails shone on he cheeks. James pushed himself up on his hands, awkwardly manoeuvring back to his seat. Her mouth moved wordlessly; she rubbed her face, wiping the tears.

“Please don’t tell Remus what I said,” she said quietly.

“I won’t,” James said. “I promise.”

Evans smiled tightly, and then the door swung shut. James took a shuddering breath, watching as she crossed the grass and slumped up the stairs, shoving a key into the door and letting herself in. His mind churned. What didn’t he get? What didn’t he understand? The answer was beyond his reach, tantalising. He pressed his forehead to the wheel, sighing.

Lily Evans always left him with questions. He didn’t mind that. He just wished he knew how to find the answers.

#jily #jilymicrofics #jilymicroops #lily evans #james potter #hp #fanfic

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rreskk · 1 year ago

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GTA V HEADCANONS: Being in a romantic relationship with them First bullet point: pros and cons Second bullet point: sex life third bullet point: how they treat you

Michael De Santa ->

-Michael is a fairly romantic guy; plenty of dinners at restaurants, loves to gift, movie dates (home and cinema). If you respect and engage with his passions, he’ll be a model boyfriend. Having someone admire who he really is (or who he wants to be) helps him mentally. However, Michael doesn’t necessary have the correct communication skills, leading to some mishaps and arguments, but the majority of the time, he forgives and forgets. Nevertheless, with the bad record of loyalty, it doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll cheat… But if something was off-putting in the relationship, he may find himself drunkenly with someone else (and yes, he probably won’t tell you unless he’s having a drunk meltdown). -Sex is an important factor in your relationship with him. Michael may be a private and detached guy, but if you are in a relationship, he likes to be intimate and actually find some joy in it. He isn’t addicted to sex, nor does he crave it – he prefers the “heat of the moment” kind of thing, just losing himself in the passion without regrets or guilts. He also prefers keeping it simple (sorry kinky people), he wants the feeling to be mutually pleasurable and warm, the simple bed-setting with candles and music. -Michael treats you with respect and dignity. He’s the classic “after you, beautiful” and “you look amazing today” gentleman. He’s never too much, nor is he too little. Michael is great at treating you with a balance of independence but also love. This may differ due to his proneness to keeping secrets and important mistakes away from you, and he will feel guilty about it, but his approval of you respecting his privacy increases (earning yourself more dinner dates and gifts).

Trevor Philips ->

-Being on the good side of Trevor is an overall pro. He’s extremely loyal and being in a relationship would result in him involving himself in every ounce of your life. He’s not exactly romantic in the sense of dates and acts of service, he prefers emotional bondage and quality time. He’s super clingy and will take offence if you favour privacy over him. Trevor’s need of emotional attachment and trust differs when he doesn’t know everything about you.. However, he'd never willingly replace you so easily (so you wouldn’t have to worry about him finding support in someone else). While he doesn’t lack communication, he communicates too much. Trevor overcomplicates simple errors and faults into seeming like the relationship is riddled with distrust and disloyalty. You’d have to be careful and ensure you explain your boundaries closely, but lovingly. He’s a sensitive guy. (Not to mention the drugs either…). -Expect sex every day. Trevor’s favour of quality time includes sex and physical touch. He needs sex in the relationship, it helps bring the bond and trust further (but also the fun). Being intimate and physical is his favourite part about your relationship. He loves experimenting with you (including kinks), and discovering different ways to make you both find enjoyment – even if it’s something utterly disgusting or weird, Trevor doesn’t care. He craves and needs you every second of the day. You’d have to be warned beforehand as his sex drive is inhumanly high, and he’ll most likely do anything to get it on with you. -Trevor may occasionally find himself involved too much, so your independence lacks. Nevertheless, Trevor’s drug habits does indifferent how he treats you. When he’s high, drunk; he’s more pro-active and therefore, will treat you physically and quite desperately (constantly touching you, gets more impatient when you decline his affection). When he’s sober, he’s more mellow and will treat you more sincerely and respectfully (a lot more compliments and less physical attention – though he still loves touching you, just more passionately). He’s quite a handful but he pays it off by his constant efforts to comment how “sexy” or “beautiful” you are.

Franklin Clinton ->

-Out of the GTA V characters, he’s probably the most “husband material”. Franklin is easily the best in relationships. He’s super knowledgeable in stability, so he’ll often use good communication whenever the relationship differs. He’s quite romantic and will love to treat you whenever he gets the chance. However, Franklin does usually think for himself (which is healthy, but it may restrain the relationship). He’s extremely logically and will decide for his own sakes. This may include sacrificing some aspects of the relationship to focus on something else. He’s extremely in-tune with what stability looks like to him, that he forgets to understand that it’s a two-person job. This can result in being emotionally unavailable and occasionally detached and cold. -Franklin likes regular sex, maybe not every day, but most weeks. He likes feeling physical and intimate. He thinks it relieves any tension built up in the relationship, so he prefers being sexually active with you to help keep the balance and stability. Nevertheless, he isn’t willing to experiment as much during sex. Franklin prefers keeping the intimacy lowkey and simple. If you both find enjoyment, then it’s fine, he thinks there is no need to change or switch up. -He’s very polite and loving with his treatment to you. Franklin treats you like an equal, like he’s dating to marry. He’s very inclusive and personal with his affections and he likes surprising you on dates and some occasional gifts. However, he is still considerate of your preferences. Franklin has a close ear for your likes and dislikes, taking that to his advantage to make sure you are treated with the upmost respect and dignity. You’re a person to treasure, and he makes sure he shows it.

Dave Norton ->

-Quite similar to Franklin. Dave’s upmost determination is to ensure the relationship itself is promising and stable. He’s a business man, so his skill in communication and problem-solving helps the relationship to thrive. Dave is usually very fair and honest. However, his habits of falling into a corrupt state of mind (and constantly covering secrets) may affect his skills in keeping your bondage close. He’ll maybe slip and cause a mishap of trust, not using his communication skills to the best. Dave constantly seems like he’s hiding something, even when he isn’t. This would cause a distasteful line in the relationship and because he’s used to buying his way out, he can’t when it’s a personal connection. -Dave’s known to be tired and, well, quite reserved. His sex life doesn’t have to be anything exciting. By all means, he doesn’t particularly need sex to keep himself content, but he’ll happily do it if you wanted to. With a low sex drive, it’s passionate when it happens. Dave (as well as the others) does not wish to use any certain excitement or experiments to change it up. He’s happy enough having a bed, maybe music (depends on his mood). -Unconsciously, he treats you like a business partner (with everyone else). Dave is a bit awkward when it comes to words of affirmation and physical touch. He likes to kiss your cheek every now and then but he’s not used to being so personal. While he may compliment your looks and hold your hand, there’s nothing more to make it a special connection. Dave’s been through all this anyway so you understand why he’s hesitant.

Steve Haines ->

-Being romantic with a guy so charismatically narcistic, he’s quite husband-material (surprisingly). He’s a good leader and will often guide your relationship when meeting the same ambitions, which would be settling down or getting more serious. However, he’ll constantly want your life to revolve around him. Steve automatically believes that he’s your saviour. Even though you are much more intelligent and capable than him, you’d have to pretend he was better in order for you to go without a night of arguing. -Your sex life with Steve is quite erotic and sensual. He’s a pleasing guy. You’d both have sex many times a week as he likes the physical momentum, but he also has a secret spot when seeing you cry in pleasure. Nevertheless, he’d happily experiment in the bedroom if you wanted to. He’d need some guidance occasionally but when he gets the hang of it, he’s very good. He believes sex is good for the relationship. Arguments occur a lot, and sex resolves the tension. -Steve would accidentally treat you like a high-school girlfriend. He’d pretend to be all tough when you see him with business partners, then he’d pretend to be all soft alone. If you used a pet name around him whenever he’s working, Steve would probably dismiss this and act as though you were joking. However, he does feel bad for doing this. When you are alone, he’ll apologise and treat you with utter respect. That once cocky behaviour would be gone whenever he steps foot into the house, alone, with you.

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eowynstwin · 2 years ago

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What do you think Soap's relationship dynamic is like with the others in the COD universe?

In general I think he gets along with everyone—we see in his very first scene that he’s friendly with the nameless marines they take to Al Mazrah, and from there on he is always making an effort to interact with everyone he encounters.

He respects Price immensely (as evidenced by a dialogue option during Alone, no less). I suspect Soap interacts with Price a little less casually than he does with anyone else in the 141; like Gaz, he’s a junior officer, has not been serving as long, and has a lot to live up to in terms of the captain’s reputation. That’s not to say he won’t take the piss out of Price when the opportunity strikes (being cunty to each other is, again, a Scottish love language), but he won’t look for an opportunity.

Of course he and Ghost get along very well. After Mexico, they probably orbit around each other a lot. You don’t go through something like that together without becoming friends or fuckbuddies. The two of them can be caught playing cards, working out, and eating together very regularly. Soap is definitely the first one to visit Simon’s home when they’re both on leave. The drabness probably horrifies him.

And Gaz is definitely his friend. They’re close in age, about the same in experience, and there is of course a friendly little rivalry going on between them, seeded by their competing test scores and fed by lighthearted machismo. I think Soap is well known to the Garrick family not long after he and Gaz are recruited into the 141, and Soap’s mom and Gaz’s probably even trade baby photos. If Ghost isn’t around, Soap will look for Gaz to hang out with.

He definitely is still in contact with Rudy. Based on my headcanon about Soap’s ethnicity, I think Soap is very happy to connect with someone with whom he can share a common culture. They email back and forth, and I think when free time magically aligns they’ll group up online to play GTA or something. Rudy and Soap speak to each other in mixed Spanish and English, with more Spanish making it into Soap’s vocabulary after every conversation.

And Soap definitely wishes he could interact with Alejandro more, but that man is a force of nature with zero free time. Soap admires Alejo deeply, holding him in high regard for his dedication to his service. It is a different kind of respect than he has for Price; Price is present, solid, a pillar of support and advice that Soap can have comfortable faith in. Alejandro, though, is almost mythical in stature, his deeds made all the more legend by his inability to stand still long enough to insist upon their mundanity. Soap’s standards for himself have been set higher after fighting alongside Alejandro Vargas.

Bonus: Laswell secretly scares the shit out of Soap, but he will never admit it. CIA spooks are so anathema to Soap’s boisterous, exuberant personality that he never knows how to react to them, so he tries to simply stay out of their way.

#answered #soap #john soap mactavish

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renovationscertified · 1 month ago

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Top Painting Solutions for a Stunning Home Transformation in the GTA

You don't need to renovate an entire house to make it a transformed home. Paint can work wonders in freshening up your interior spaces. Whether you're selling, beautifying an already beautiful house, or just making changes, the right painting solution can dramatically improve how your house looks and feels. Let the GTA professional painting service turn your home transformation into an amazing, long-lasting masterpiece.

We discuss in this blog the top ranked painting solutions that can change your house and explain why hiring professionals in GTA is the way to go for an absolutely perfect finish.

1. Best Interior Painting Solutions: Set the Right Mood

Interior house colors could create an atmosphere in the rooms, which can have an effect on what their owners think about them. Color combinations can either make rooms feel cozy and spacious or just warm and welcoming. Among the best interior painting solutions are:

Neutral Colors for a Long Lasting Aesthetic: White, beige, and grey are so light and versatile in shade that they can work with almost any decor. They especially work well in small rooms, as they open up a space and make it seem larger.

Strong Accent Walls: For a more dramatic appearance, bold-colored accent walls in deep blue or rich green can add personality without overwhelming the space. Or try a bright pop of yellow.

Texture and Finishes: To achieve a more glamorous look, textured paint finishes like matte, satin, or eggshell will add depth and level the space, resulting in a modern, sophisticated ambiance.

2. Exterior Painting Solutions: Making a Big Impression on Your Front Door

Well, after all, it is the outdoor look that people notice right first, hence making it look fresh and maintained will be the key feature to be enhanced in appeal. In the GTA, where the weather can batter home exteriors, the choice of exterior paint solutions is crucial so your house looks great and stands up well to the elements.

Weather-Resistant Paint: High-quality, weather-resistant paint. This paint will last long without easy chipping, cracking, or peeling off in the snow and rain and ultraviolet rays, hence very durable.

Be in Vogue Colour Trends: Neutral shades of charcoal, slate gray, and soft beige are highlighting modern and clean designs for the exterior. For emphasis on a power punch of color, try adding a bold red, navy blue, or even black door to create a great contemporary finish.

Eco-Friendly Paint: As the GTA region becomes more conscious of the environment, homeowners are getting more and more selective about the earth-friendly ways that go easy on the inhabitants as well. For them, eco-friendly, low-VOC paints are the ideal choice, for they are safer to the environment yet carry magnificent durability for any exteriors.

3. Feature Walls: Adding Dimension and Character

A feature wall is an eye-catching feature of any room without overcrowding the space. Feature walls feature greatly as trends in living rooms, dining rooms, and bed rooms. Feature walls can add dimensions to the aesthetic appeal of your home through bold coloration or a textural finish.

Wood or Brick Impressions: The popularity of faux wood and brick-effect paints is very high, as they provide a ruggedly textured look without using actual material. Walls created using this type of paint can give your home an industrial or vintage appearance.

Geometric Patterns: A popular choice used for creating geometric patterns on walls with contrasting colors. This is such a modern, artistic feel for a home office or creative space.

4. Painting the Ceiling - The Fifth Wall

One often forgets the ceiling-it has been referred to as the "fifth wall"-and painting the ceiling in a colour other than standard white can greatly change the atmosphere of a room.

Softening the Vertical Elements: Light shades of blue or soft pastels can make a room feel taller and open up more, creating an airy atmosphere.

Drama Effects : To create an effect that is quite dramatic, a deep contrasting colour can be painted on the ceiling. Creating a warm or intimate ambiance to a space, this effect is most effective where spaces have soaring ceilings.

5. GTA Professional Painting Services

While DIY painting may appear to be frugal, professional painters in the GTA can guarantee a finish that lasts. There are several key advantages that experts provide for homeowners:

Better Preparation Surface preparation is necessary because, without it, the finish will never be smooth and durable. Professional painters handle all of the necessary prep work, such as filling holes, sanding, and priming surfaces.

Professional Quality Tools and Equipment Professional painters utilize the highest grades of paints, brushes, and rollers to achieve resilient and consistent results. Also, due to their access to higher-grade environmental options, they have the capability to work in a more ecologically friendly manner-ideal for an ecologically concerned homeowner.

Time-Efficiency: Painting the whole house is very time-consuming while trying to balance with work, family activities and other daily responsibilities. Professional painters tend to complete a job in the shortest time possible with minimum interference with your daily routine.

Guaranteed Results: Professionals in the GTA offer guarantees for their work. As long as the working conditions are perfect, paint job meets the expectations, and conforms to the high standards that the painting companies have.

6. How to Select a Painting Company in the GTA

Experience, reviews, and portfolios of projects completed are the considerations in the selection of a painting contractor in the GTA. Look for interior and exterior painting companies that can do comprehensive services like color consultation, preparation, and cleanup.

Also, the contractor should ensure that only quality material suitable for GTA climate is used. It's also a wise idea to request for eco-friendly as well as VOC low paint options if the owner of the home wants an environment-friendly home.

Conclusion

The best thing about making it a more glamorous abode is to invest in professional painting solutions. Whether you want its exteriors refreshed or be that cozy inviting interior, the right paint job makes all the difference. To homeowners in the GTA, working with experienced painters ensures that your home remains beautiful, functional, and protected from the elements.

First Step to a Breathtaking Transformation of Your Home through Professional Painting Solutions Specific to Your Needs Today!

#home remodeling #home renovation #home improvement #renovation

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wedelivergravel01 · 6 months ago

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soulscribe786 · 3 months ago

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Waves of Change

August 31, 2024

Overview

In the heart of Toronto, at Sheraton Hotel, in a light breezy summer day, an annual event was hosted by a prominent Muslim social media platform that is committed to dismantling doubts and fostering faith and conviction. Being invited to Sheraton Hotel reminded me of another event I went to many years ago which was a small gathering with exquisite dining and fine foods but it was not that! For those who have been to RIS (Reviving the Islamic Spirit) it was closer to that venue, if not THAT venue. This was a spaced out hall with seating arrangement facing a panel. A walkway with several vendors and an art and photo exhibition. It was a place people across the GTA came to join a gathering to heal hearts, foster faith and conviction, and look for avenues to contribute meaningfully. The gathering had a calm serenity that filled your soul with tranquility, and it was all in all, a peaceful social environment.

The event included speakers, a photo exhibition about Masjid Al Aqsa, an art exhibition and several vendors including organizations delivering humanitarian and medical supplies (Jordon/Egypt), other vendors included social services including support for the homeless at Nisa Foundation that has contributed to sheltering 1, 127, 396 in their 2022 annual report across Canada. Other partner organizations included mental health and domestic abuse services such as Sakeena and Naseeha helpline. It also included a collection of books by various organizations.

I decided to go check this event because this organization wrote several articles including ones comprehensively looking at monotheism, the problem of evil amongst various other topics people often think about in relation to their faith.

It is unfortunate that many organizations have been heavily scrutinized by some organizers and activists. These include NCCM, CJPME, Yaqeen Institute as well as various masajid across the GTA. In my opinion, it is a heartbreaking situation and I personally believe there is always room to do more and listen to, and center Palestinian voices and their demands as they have lived experience, understand nuances, and have loved ones being attacked and murdered in the most cruel way. Nonetheless, it does not seem fair to discredit all the work that is being done due to differences in theological beliefs between conservative and more liberal Muslims, especially around sensitive contested topics when there is a need for urgency.

Omar Suleiman from Yaqeen insititue is ethnically Palestinian and has dedicated a large portion of his time, resources, personal platforms to advocating for the Palestine cause. Dr. Omar Suleiman was one of the speakers at this conference among others including Zaynab Ansari, Bonaa Mohammad, Ibrahim Hindy and several others from the Yaqeen Institute. Partnership vendors included Nisa Homes, UOSSM that delivers medical and humanitarian aid, Seeding Books, and several others.

In this article, I will highlight first share some of the key insights from the panel. The second section will look at different exhibitions. Finally, my conversations with a few attendees at the conference (who will not be named).

A collection of insights

There were various insights during the talk around themes of The State of the Ummah, Gaza Diaries, Anchors of Resilience, The Impact of Charity (ripple effect), Should Young People Really Lead?, A Poem by Bonaa Mohammad, Anchors of Justice, and What Can I do? These insights include:

The people of Gaza have shown remarkable faith and resiliency. People will not miss their prayers and everyone that has visited has given testimonials that the people will have the Qur'an that they will recite to bring their hearts tranquility. The sisters will not remove their hijabs. Their conviction in their faith is remarkable.

The sheer amount of atrocities that they have faced are at an unprecedented scale. The Yemen crisis is one of the worst crisis and this one is 10 times more difficult with people's teeth removed and gums going inward, the spread of infections, hands and limbs that have been severely injured due to bombings including white phosphorous and other cruel measures against civilians including little children

There is a need for strategic organizing

The political and social system is largely corrupt if it can enable such things and not hold perpetrators accountable for gross human rights violations

There is an intergenerational ripple effect that comes from generosity and it is contagious

The brain has this thing about maintaining homeostasis in the body and the mind so it tolerates substances, it sweats if the body is under prolonged heat or stress and unfortunately it does this each time we are exposed to atrocities. Our humanity dies as we become more and more desensitized.

Strong emotions can be channelled effectively through making dua (supplication)

Dua should not be limited to one's own needs, wants, desires but things outside of ourselves as well because you never know which dua is going to get accepted.

It is important to be merciful to the young

Young people in the community often have a lot of zeal and energy but may make mistakes. Their mistakes should not be a reason to crush them completely.

Many people have made huge sacrifies including with their careers due to their advocacy and deep sense of humanity. They need support

It is important to honor elders including aunts and uncles that volunteer their time at the masjid but may have a cultural and generational gap.

Praying witr at night

Having habits that are exclusively between you and Allah swt

Lightening serious situations through laughter/jokes

Do not take the torch and use it to burn everything down.

Do not crush people's spirits because of one mistake

Have youth boards in masjid

Make dua for halal rizq which comes with responsibilities including taqwa (God consciousness), ibadat (prayer), and generosity.

Protect those who do not have power from those who do have power

Justice is the basis of Islamic theology

An umaah that is a witness to makind, a just and balanced umaah

Surah Nisa highlights justice in the family and other ones to justice in the community

Oftentimes, criminals specifically target witnesses including journalists and aid workers because they hold perpetrators accountable.

Important to reawaken global consciounce

Art & Photo Exhibitions

The art exhibitions included calligraphy using woodwork as well as calligraphy canvases. Generically in the form of Arabesque art which is linear, geometic, intricately detailed and involve nature, geometrical shapes as well as calligraphy.

The Photo exhibition included history of masjid Al Aqsa, particularly the dome. I learned that masjid Al Aqsa is not just the golden domed dome but that it is a 'totality of the complex that contains several mosques, domes, prayer benches, fountains'. Furthermore, there is a lot of history including rebuilding it following an earthquake during the rule of the Ottomons as well as different prophets in significat markings including the divine ascension of the Prophet Muhammad (saws), Sulaymans' Dome amongst other historically significant sites.

Conversations with Attendees

Oftentimes, unless I have several deep conversations and have formed a trusting relationship, I usually like to explore places on my own. This removes social conventions, restrictions and expectations and I can take time to explore, do event or travel photography and engage with more people at a deeper level. It also helps create a safer, non judgmental environment.

I ran into a friend and I discussed different things including my engagement on SM, specifically twitter and social media etiquettes.. We also did some generically catching up.

I sat beside a lady during the talk who decided to share an oranges with me. She was really friendly and the kids also kept saying hi to me or smiling at me.

The prayer spaces were generically calm and serene.

Waiting for prayers I sat at a lounge where I talked to a highschooler who had come all the way from Niagra with family who generically engaged with scholastic work from the 60s or earlier periods but thought this speaker would provide insightful point of view.

Conclusion

All in all it was a pretty serene gathering. I found that the talk provided key insights and perspectives. It was also a way to collectively share and address concerns. A couple of people took the shahadah - the testimony of faith and reverted to Islam. The vendors were highly credible organizations that had done a lot of ground-level work in the medical, humanitarian and social service sector. There were interesting books, merchandise (Palestine t-shirts, water bottles etc.). The photo and art exhibitions were very informative. The prayer hall was serene. Most attendees were pretty kind and friendly.

It really filled my soul with knowledge, peace and tranquility. For a moment while a speaker did a talk, I felt a momentary engulfing sorrow, something that I cannot truly understand but for the most part, it was an beautiful and blessed gathering.

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gtahomeservice · 4 months ago

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gillbrother · 3 months ago

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locowolf · 1 year ago

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finished RDR the other day and i have some thoughts.

ofc going in i knew the vibes were different from RDR2, but i still was not prepared for how LONELY it felt. sometimes when i was just riding around the feeling would hit me like a train and make my stomach turn. i think a big reason why it feels this way is the urgency of what john is doing. sure, there’s stranger missions and random events and challenges just like RDR2. but who cares? there’s no time for any of that, john needs to find his old friends. he needs his family back. everything else can wait. i saved most of the stranger missions and everything for jack just to give him something to do (which i will get to later). i’ve always been wicked fascinated by spaghetti westerns so i absolutely loved the lonely vibes btw

i’m pretty sure i’ve said this to literally anyone who will listen (all my friends) but john looks so so sad. angry and so so sad. he looks like he’s perpetually about to burst into tears. all i could think about was young john in RDR2, who was always second to arthur. whose abilities were doubted. who was left to die by the man that raised him. who tried his best to live an honest life. who bought a run down plot of land and built a home to win his family back. john was just trying his best, and only four years later (which does not feel like a long time to me) his family is kidnapped, and he has to work for the government and hunt down his old friends. it’s all just so sad and depressing UGH

speaking of RDR2, i think it’s really interesting how it changes the way players view RDR. i did do the strange man stranger missions, and hearing him mention the woman dutch shot during the blackwater incident was?????? literally mindblowing to me?????? this little remark, both about the woman and the incident, was actually the catalyst for the plot of both games and the disillusionment of dutch in arthur and john?????? also just knowing the past john had with javier, bill, and dutch makes their endings so much sadder (besides bill honestly lol he was always annoying). also also the little things, like returning to beecher’s hope and thinking about charles and uncle building the home with john and getting shitfaced after it was done :)))

i bought the game for my PS3 (because FUCK spending $50 for the same goddamn game) and it was a nostalgic experience. the PS3-era graphics and controls (reminds me of GTA IV) plus playing with the PS3 controller was very very fun! the horse handling still trips me up (again reminds me of GTA IV’s odd driving mechanics) and is probably my least favorite part about the game. i also watched my dad play it all the time when i was like six or seven, so it was cool seeing the things i remembered, like the shootout at fort mercer and how silly the horse breaking looks :3

i wish there were a little bit more references to RDR2 (or i guess it’s the other way round?). just a teeny tiny little bit more fan service. also i wish we saw more of abigail and jack :((( i know the ending is meant to be abrupt but i just love their dynamics so much :(((

and speaking of abrupt!!! the fucking ending!!! i had already seen the last mission (because i love spoiling games for myself), so when that cutscene in the barn started playing i was like ?!?!?!?!?! already?!????? i still don’t know if i love it or hate it. i know it happened so soon because the govt was just using him and could not give two shits about him or his family, “our time has passed, john” or whatever dutch said, not being able to run away from your past, etc. but i just love john so much and wanted him and his family to live happily ever after :(

this brings me to what is, in my opinion, the saddest part of RDR, which is jack. he’s a moody teen who doesn’t really understand the world yet. he has a complicated relationship with his father. he doesn’t want jack to be a gunslinger like him, but he doesn’t want him working for the government, either. he wants jack to be a man but treats him like a boy. jack just wants his father’s approval. him and his mother are kidnapped by the government, not knowing what his father is up to, then is reunited with him a few weeks(?) later. but jack isn’t an idiot and he can put two and two together, and he probably looks up to john for what he did to save his family. john takes him out hunting a few times, he jokes about him and abigail growing old, and things start looking hopeful. jack is finally going to have a chance at a normal life. but then the army shows up, kills uncle, and massacres john. when jack is like fifteen. then his mother dies three years later.

jack is eighteen and alone. no family or friends. i guess he has the macfarlane’s but i doubt jack was close to them. there’s nothing for him. a big empty house, a big empty ranch. and he continues the cycle that john was trying to end. arthur saw the faults in his outlaw ways and convinced john to get out of it, to protect his family and build a life for them, to run and don’t look back. john listened (mostly), but then he was forced to take down the known remaining VDL gang members. even though arthur doesn’t say it to him, i think john understands that revenge is a fool’s game. he understands that the days of the gunslinger are over, and he wants jack to live a better life than he ever had, in the same way arthur wanted john to settle down and marry. but jack is young. i can imagine him seeing what his father did as revenge, even though he was forced into it. but john never got the chance to have the “revenge is a fools’s game and the world is changing” conversation with him. jack watches the government murder his father, who he undoubtedly looked up to. his father who did everything in his power to get his family back. i can only imagine the anger and betrayal he felt for those three years he took care of abigail. him and his teenage brain trying to grapple with it all. then, once he’s an adult and he’s lost everything, he becomes a gunslinger and gets his revenge.

(i forgot to get back to the part about saving the side stuff for jack lol. i just feel bad about him being alone so i saved everything for him to do. maybe he can make some fucked up friends or something idk)

i like to imagine jack lives a decent life. maybe sadie or charles reconnects with him. maybe he explores the US and runs into tilly in saint denis. maybe he befriends the macfarlane’s and decides to become a rancher like his father was trying to be.

i think in his early twenties he would be an absolute train wreck, drinking and gambling and letting beecher’s hope fall into disrepair. but he would mature. he finds arthur/john’s old journal tucked away in the attic and thumbs through it one night, reading the passage where arthur tells john to protect his family. and jack thinks he has a chance. he doesn’t have pinkertons or the government breathing down his neck like arthur and john. he’s smart, he has a plot of land, he has a whole life ahead of him. he has a chance. so he cleans up beecher’s hope with the help of the macfarlane’s, he finds a wife, he starts a family, he has an honest living, and he lives happily ever after.

(this has huge fanfic potential tbh)

and my biggest takeaway from the game is: everyone was just trying to live for something. john, bill, javier, dutch, ross, everyone. they were just trying to survive. they were just trying to survive. of course, their survival methods varied greatly, and some were definitely more honorable than others, but in the end, weren’t they all doing the same thing? they were corrupt killers trying to live in a world that hated them. they were fighting for what they believed in. they were trying to make it out on top by any means necessary. all that varied was how they did it.

what a fantastic game. i think i still prefer RDR2 as a whole because i just fucking love collectathons, but RDR is still an amazingly tragic story. i binged-played it in two days.

#this ended up being more than just some thoughts #it just has me in my feels rn #rdr1 #rdr1 spoilers #john marston #jack marston #rdr2 #arthur morgan

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eltoncurtis · 9 months ago

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The Importance of GTA College: Choosing the Right College in the GTA

There are numerous colleges in GTA and it can be truly overwhelming to choose one for potential students. International students who are new find it difficult to choose the right college. GTA is a popular student hub where you will find colleges specializing in various fields of studies and students from all parts of the world. In this short blog, we'll discuss choosing the right college in the GTA and provide practical steps to make this decision easier

Understanding Your Needs

It’s ok to do your research whether you take help from Google or YouTube. But before you start doing that, you should identify your needs like your field of study, personal profile and career goals. Only then you will be able to streamline this process and avoid stucking. Consider both your long-term goals and short-term goals. This self-awareness is important that will guide you in aligning your needs and aspiration when searching colleges in GTA.

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Conduct thorough research on the colleges in GTA to gain insight into their academic programs, faculty expertise, campus facilities, and student support services. Utilize online resources, college websites, and informational sessions to gather comprehensive information about each institution. Pay attention to factors such as accreditation, industry partnerships, and alumni success stories, as they reflect the quality and reputation of the college.

Weighing Practical Considerations

In addition to academic factors, practical considerations such as location, cost, and available resources play a significant role in the college selection process. Evaluate the proximity of colleges to your home or potential accommodation options, as well as transportation accessibility.

Financial considerations, including tuition fees, scholarships, and financial aid opportunities, should be carefully assessed to ensure affordability and minimize student debt. Furthermore, consider the availability of academic support services, career development resources, and extracurricular activities that enrich the college experience.

Making Informed Decisions

Whe you do comprehensive research and have a clear understanding of your goals, you can narrow down the list of preferred colleges in GTA and make informed decisions. You can visit campus and talk to current students and faculties. It will help you gain insights into what college is all about its culture and environment.

Seek guidance from mentors, counselors, and trusted consultants like My Education Experience who can provide valuable perspectives and advice based on their experiences.

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chenneyclaud · 1 year ago

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The Importance of Hiring Professional Pest Control & Wildlife Removal Services

If you live in an environment where dogs, cats, and other domesticated animals are roaming around, there is a possibility of having undomesticated and unwanted animals hanging around your house. Because of this, wildlife removal in the GTA is an essential service because some animals are too wild and it will be wrong for you to handle them by yourself. If you can find good information about companies that offer professional wildlife removal and pest control services like mice and rat removal in Toronto and wasps pest control in Toronto, the best thing is to keep their number on file. If you also live near the woods, it is also possible to see wolves, bears, and other dangerous creatures in plain view near your yard. Regardless of where you live, you may encounter mice, wasps, raccoons, squirrels as well as large reptiles near you. Because of this, you need professional wildlife removal services to protect yourself, your family as well as pets from such threats. You might have never come across a large animal near your home, but perhaps you have observed a beehive or small reptiles in your yard. A professional bees pest control in Toronto can also take care of such issues, this will, however, prevent the possibility of being stung or bitten when you attempt to remove them. Apart from the dangers which are presented by wild animals, they can also harm your home as well as your possessions. This is because some creatures like rats and mice like to nibble on or scratch wood, plants, cement as well as other things which catch their eye. The structural damage caused to your house and the destruction of your garden can occur when the animals invade your surroundings. Do not sit back and let the animals destroy the area around your house and also threaten the safety of your loved ones and pets. A simple call to a professional wildlife removal or rat removal in Toronto should start the process and also eliminate unwanted rats and other wildlife which serve as threats, allowing for a feeling of security from the unwanted wildlife in your neighborhood. Many people are tempted to capture and also remove the creature on their own, but this is not a wise idea unless you have undergone the necessary training and also have experience in the field. You can get hurt in this can of situation and you won’t know the number of animals that are still residing in the house. Remember that gentle creatures can get downright whenever they feel threatened, concerned, or scared. However, a good company will remove the dangerous animals and also look for signs of others nearby. This is why you need to consult wildlife removal to take care of such a dangerous task for you.

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