#Is carpet cheaper than other flooring?

[carpetrepair01]

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[chillian-murphy]

Let Your Big Brother Take Care of You

SUMMARY: While visiting your stepbrother at college, you have a hard time falling asleep after some drunken mishaps. He helps you out.

WORD COUNT: 2.7k

WARNINGS/ADDITIONAL INFO: Smut 🔞, dubcon, stepcest, intoxication, fingering, comfort sex kinda??, gratuitous mention of Taco Bell

Beta read by @sasybanana

Actually visiting with your step-brother had been the last thing on your mind when you told your parents that you would be visiting him this weekend. Sure, you got along fine, but you barely knew each other and it felt like he was moving out for college as soon as your families joined. Instead, you were hellbent on finding the best partying and hooking up opportunities his film school had to offer. Framing it as a sisterly visit and a chance to learn about campus life was purely an excuse to convince your parents to let you travel on your own, which they seemed to buy as you were headed off to school yourself next year. Besides, Neil had an off campus apartment you could crash at, which would be cheaper than a hotel.

He greeted you with a hug as you entered and set your stuff down, instantly being assaulted by the scent of unwashed laundry and old weed smoke. Still, it was comfortable enough, and was a nice taste of freedom from your mom’s house.

“So, my baby sister wants to visit me for the weekend, for reasons not at all related to my school’s reputation as a party campus?” He smirked as you situated yourself.

“Of course! Just like how my big brother spends all the money he gets from our parents on textbooks and tuition.” you shot back.

“Touché. Well, whatever trouble you’re determined to get into, fuck, I dunno, be smart about it. Use condoms, don’t get drugged. Don’t drink so much that you puke, or at least, try to puke somewhere other than carpet.”

“Wow… so caring.” you rolled your eyes as you headed to the bathroom to get ready for the evening. You snatched a flyer off of a phone pole for a house party, and the directions you got off google said it was only a few blocks away. As soon as you had your heels and your lashes on, you were off.

**********************************************************************************

Stumbling back to Neil’s apartment with your heels in your hand, the night had been a bust. You finished too many mystery drinks too fast and ended up puking in the lap of the one guy who was interested in you, locked yourself in the bathroom to cry for the better part of an hour, and bolted for the door as soon as you pulled yourself together. Thank fuck Neil had the first apartment on the first floor, otherwise you might not have been able to find it in your impaired state.

The door was unlocked, and Neil hadn’t moved from his place on the couch in the hours that you had been gone, presumably wrapped up in whatever it is that he does in his spare time (Watch movies? Play video games? Jerk off? You really didn’t know). This was fine, you really didn’t need him noticing you at the moment. You tried to enter quietly, but tripped over yourself as you moved.

“Holy shit, are you okay?”

Neil rushed over to you to make sure you weren’t hurt. Unable to form words, you started crying again when you met his gaze, big fat mascara tears rolling down your cheeks. Even as he helped you to stand, you wobbled on your way up and had to lean on him for support.

“How much did you have to drink?”

“Dunno… a lot.” It was true, you had chugged whatever you were handed and helped yourself to a variety of half-finished cups that were abandoned by their owners. You had never drank this much before, and had no idea how much was too much until it was too late.

“Shit, um, let’s get you to the bed. The room is yours tonight, don’t worry about it. Do you think you can walk that far?” There was genuine concern in his tone, even if he was a bit panicked and clueless. He looped an arm around your waist and guided you as best he could to the tiny room. Your flop onto the twin bed wasn’t exactly graceful, but landing on a mattress was about a thousand times more comfortable than landing on the floor.

As soon as Neil turned to leave, you began fighting your way out of your tight, itchy dress. Unfortunately, the zipper was stuck (damn cheap clothing) and the garment was too fitted to pull over your head. Refusing to spend any more time stuck in scratchy fabric hell (Seriously, Forever 21, who sells unlined sequined dresses?), you continued wrestling with the zipper and wiggling to find a better angle until you rolled off the bed and landed with a thud. Not knowing what else to do, you shouted for your stepbrother.

The worried look on his face quickly turned into an eye roll as he entered the room and saw you on the floor again.

“So are you like… determined to spend the whole night down there? Undeniably attracted to shitty carpeting? Horny for the floor?” Having a laugh at your drunken expense might not have been the nicest thing for Neil to do, but you were being such a handful tonight.

“I can’t get my dress off,” you sheepishly mumbled as you avoided his gaze. “The zipper’s stuck and I need your help.”

“Hey, hey, it’s fine.” Neil soothed as he knelt down to meet you on the floor. “If anything, I’m flattered… Usually I have to buy a girl dinner before she even thinks of asking me to undress her.”

You shot him an unamused glare, but nonetheless turned and leaned towards him so he could reach the zipper. His touch was warm and gentle as he fiddled with the impossibly tiny hook-and-eye clasp atop the zipper, one hand gently pressed against your upper back to steady you while the other went to work. Before you knew it, the dress slackened and you were able to free yourself from its confines, modesty be damned.

“A tiny little dress and no bra? You really were planning to have fun tonight.” You were still turned away from Neil and couldn’t see his face, but you could hear the grin in his voice.

“It has built-in cups, pervert!” you huffed as you rushed to cover yourself. You groped around for a t-shirt or something before remembering that you were in an unfamiliar room and not at home. “Get out, I just wanna sleep.”

“That doesn’t explain the little lacy panties, though.” Neil let his eyes trail over you before tossing you one of his own shirts. It was true, you had gone out partying with the hope of hooking up as quickly and anonymously as possible, but you weren’t going to admit that. All you wanted was to gain a little sexual experience of your own before heading out to college, but now the only boy to see you naked was your weird stepbrother. “And I’m not leaving you alone tonight. You can’t even stand and I’ve had to help you up twice. You’re too much of a mess to be alone.”

He helped you onto the bed again, only this time he climbed in behind you after hitting the light. The bed was small enough that there was almost no choice but to snuggle up to him, using his shoulder as a pillow. As weird as the whole situation was, it felt nice having him there, like a grounding tether against the spinning sensation in your head.

“For what it’s worth, I thought you looked really cute tonight. Before all the puking and crying and falling, I mean.” He chuckled softly and pressed a kiss to the top of your head. As sweet as the gesture was, you couldn’t ignore the growing gurgle in your stomach.

“Neil… I want Taco Bell.”

“I’ll buy you all the Taco Bell in the world tomorrow if you settle down and go to sleep.”

“Okay…” you buried your face into the crook between Neil’s neck and shoulder as he pulled you closer and idly rubbed your back. You couldn’t help but moan softly at the sensation, which Neil tried his hardest to ignore.

Had you been a little more awake or a little more sober, you might’ve noticed the hitch in Neil’s breath as his hand trailed up and down your back, or the way his hand soon opened into a flat palm and started exploring lower, dangerously close to the waistband of your panties. Instead, you continued to lay silently, dozing off as his hand inched lower.

Eventually, his hand made its way to your ass and cupped the supple flesh. Feeling emboldened by your lack of response, Neil began to squeeze and knead. This made you squirm away, but in doing so, you were met with the perfect amount of friction as your clothed pussy rubbed against Neil’s thigh. Neither of you had realized just how closely you were snuggled together until now, when it dawned on you both what was happening.

Part of you panicked, part of you realizing that this was wrong through your drunken haze, but another part of you only cared that you were being touched, and it felt pleasurable. That was the whole reason you made this trip, right? you rationalized to yourself as you attempted to grind against your stepbrother’s thigh a second time. 

Instead of being met with the delicious friction, you felt Neil shift beneath you. Did you fuck this up? Were you just imagining his hand on your ass? But before you could worry any further, he was rolling you onto your back with his thick, firm leg pressing between your thighs and spreading them, and the unmistakable poking of his erection against the spot where your hip met your belly. He pushed his thigh against you, inviting you to grind it.

“Is this what my horny little sister needs? Can’t fall asleep without coming?” His voice was low and husky, in equal parts from being half asleep and his obvious arousal. You were starting to transition from drunk to hungover, feeling more drowsy and dizzy than anything else, and the most you could answer with was a pathetic little whimper as he nudged you.

You rubbed yourself against him as best you could, unable to find just the right angle from the new position you were placed in. In a fit of frustration, you tried pushing Neil off of you so you could rub yourself with your hand, but he was deceptively strong and had you pinned.

“Neeeeeeeeeiiiillllll” you whined, once again wondering if this was all a mistake, maybe you should just try to fall asleep and forget this ever happened. Forget the whole night ever happened. Change your name, move across the country, and never talk to anyone who witnessed tonight ever again.

“Shhhh, it’s alright, just lie there and let your big brother take care of you.”

Just lying there was about all you could do as Neil snaked one of arms between your legs, stroking your folds through your panties a bit aimlessly before gathering the courage to reach beneath the cloth and explore further. After a bit of awkward poking around, he found your clit and began circling it gently with his fingertips, eliciting another whimper, this time of pleasure.

“See? I know exactly what you need. M’gonna play with your little pussy until you relax and fall asleep, like a good girl.” His fingers began teasing your slit, tracing up and down its length without daring to breach inside. It never would have occurred to you that Neil would know his way around pussy, he never brought any girls home when he lived with you. He must’ve gotten a lot of practice after moving out, because the way his fingers were just barely ghosting over you was driving you crazy in a way you couldn’t understand. You wanted him to stop, you wanted him to continue exactly what he was doing, you wanted him to start giving you more. All you knew was that you wanted him, and for him to keep touching you.

As if he could read your mind, he spread your innermost lips and plunged two of his fingers inside. The stretch was sudden, but not at all unwelcome. You were wet enough for him to thrust his fingers in and out of you easily, spreading your slick wherever he touched. As soon as he began alternating between fucking you on his fingers and roughly toying with your clit, you started seeing stars.

“You like that? You like me finger fucking your tight little pussy? I wish I could see it, I bet it's all pink and cute, like your nipples. I bet you’ve never even taken a cock before."

Too drunk, too horny, and too tired to form words, the most you could do was shyly squeak in affirmation.

“Next time I’ll have you bounce on my cock so I can watch your face as you come. Or maybe I’ll eat you out so I can really get to see how cute your pussy is. Or maybe you’ll just want to pay back the favor I’m doing you now and suck me off.”

Next time? You hadn’t considered something like this happening again, or even the fact that you’d have to see him again. In mixed company. With your parents around. Would he fuck you in your childhood bedroom while everyone else was downstairs cooking dinner? Or would he keep your liaisons a dirty little secret that only happened away from home?

You didn’t care. You were coming from your stepbrother’s touch, in your stepbrother’s bed, far away from anyone else you knew. You felt your stomach tighten and your toes involuntarily curl, much stronger than you ever felt sneakily rubbing yourself in the shower. Thank fuck you were in a dark room, because you swore you could feel your face going all stupid.

You must not have realized how much you were panting and clenching around his fingers, because Neil seemed to know exactly how close you were and began whispering in your ear, encouraging you to come. You could barely register what he was saying, you were so lost in the sensation of his breath on your neck and his hand on your cunt.

Your orgasm finally took hold, and you could hear yourself babbling in pleasure but had no idea what you were saying, if you were even forming coherent words, as the pleasure ripped through your body like an electric shock. After the initial burst, you felt your body relax in a way you didn’t know was possible, releasing tension you didn’t even know you were holding. You swore you could feel yourself melting through the mattress before realizing that no, that was just sweat.

Noticing that you were lying there like a limp noodle and no longer squirming and moaning, Neil rolled off of you, withdrawing his hand from your panties. His fingers were completely soaked with your wetness, and while his initial instinct was to wipe them off on his shirt, roll over, and go to sleep, he couldn’t ignore the fact that he was rock hard. In a stroke of genius that would soon lead to literal stroking, he realized he had the perfect lube on hand.

He shoved his drenched hand down his boxers and began tugging his desperate member, softly grunting in rhythm with his pumping fist. Part of you felt bad that you weren’t helping, you had kinda forgotten that Neil was a complete person with desires of his own and not just a machine to get you off, but you were cozy and half asleep and he seemed to be handling the situation well enough on his own. At least, well enough that he was coming all over the front of his shirt.

He carefully pulled his soiled shirt over his head and wiped off his hand and what was left of his mess before tossing it on the floor and reaching for the blanket that had been kicked to the bottom of the bed amidst all the excitement. You felt yourself being tucked in as you gently dozed off, snuggling into Neil’s side as soon as he laid down beside you.

Yeah, you were going to visit your step brother a lot more often now.

[borninwinter81]

Library tour - Pratchett and Gaiman focused with some honourable mentions

Of course I've constantly had full bookshelves since I was a child, but I'd always wanted a room I could properly call a library. The house my husband and I now live in has 3 bedrooms, so as we're child free we've each taken one of the spare rooms to do with as we wish.

The majority of the furniture you see is thrifted (aside from the bookcases) and it was self decorated with a lot of cut corners-for example I decided instead of proper flooring it would be cheaper just to pull up the carpet and varnish the actual boards.

I spend more time in here than I do in our living room 😁

Gaiman stuff. Sandman alongside some Alan Moore, Preacher, Hellblazer, my signed copy of The Crow and one volume of Sin City. Two copies each of Ocean (one illustrated), and American Gods (original and authors preferred text). And of course one of my copies of Good Omens. Plus you can see the novelisation of Pan's Labyrinth sitting next to Neverwhere. Del Toro is another favourite fantasist of mine.

Pratchett stuff. Complete Discworld of course, and I'm slowly increasing my non Discworld Pratchett collection, my second copy of GO, the Paul Kidby illustrated edition (makes sense to have one living with the Gaiman books and the other with Pratchett). Soul Music and Hogfather are both signed, I met Pterry when I was 14 on the Hogfather signing tour.

The crocheted toy was actually from a pattern for a mimic I made (pattern by Complicated Knots on YouTube), but it's luggage-y enough that I put it with the Discworld books, Rob Wilkins' biography of Pterry, and a Librarian to look after everything, make sure the books don't get rowdy and take care of the L-space. I've had him since I was 18.

Specifically Good Omens stuff: a pair of felt plushies a friend made for me after S1 was released (@diedarlingsuk on Instagram), a pair of drawings I bought from a very talented 15 year old artist at a tiny comic con also after S1, (I'd credit her but I've no idea of her name or if she has an online presence), the script book, the TV companion, and an art book by the wonderful @mistysblueboxstuff, who I'm sure most of the fandom know and love. This contains all her GO art from S1 and S2.

Honourable mention stuff - I put above that I love Del Toro, so I've got to share the Angel of Death from Hellboy 2 as its one of my favourite things in this room. And its an angel, so that's kinda linked.

Made for me by another friend from clay on a doll's body and the wings on wire frames (@sids_workshop on Instagram).

Finally the Complete William Blake illuminated works, a guidebook to a Blake exhibition I went to, and Gustav Dore illustrated copies of Dante, Milton, Coleridge, Tennyson and Poe. I am a huge poetry nerd, and I think many GO fans would find a lot to interest them in some of these, particularly Blake and Milton.

I could go on, there's tons of other stuff I'd like to include but this post is fairly massive already and I wanted to try and stick to my theme.

[iceman-soup]

request!

sorry if you've done this already, but what would Ghost and Soap's first leave together look like? could be sfw or nsfw, everything is up to you

yes yes yesss this is sfw because my descriptive brain took over, also autistic ghost supremacy 🫶🫶

ghost x soap

Simon wasn't ready to meet Johnny's family yet. Hell, they'd only been dating five or so months before deciding to stick with each other on leave, and by that point it was far too stressful and overwhelming to think about meeting a whole bunch of new people to mask around and make good impressions. Ghost needed the time off to re-regulate, and honestly, Soap wasn't up to introducing a boyfriend he had barely warned his mother about beforehand.

So instead the two taxi'd over to Manchester from the airport, arriving at a tiny, cheap flat with even cheaper security cameras dotted on each outside wall and above the front door. "Enough of a deterrent, even if half don't work," explains Simon, seeing Johnny looking around curiously. He unlocks the door and pushes it open an inch, baited breath for a couple of moments as he appears to listen for anything unusual, before opening the door properly, flicking on the warm overhead lights and pulling Soap in by the hand, who gazes at the inside of his flat whilst Ghost locks the door again.

"Dinnae take you for an interior designer, Lt," John grins, glancing at the taller man before going back to admiring the space. It's dusty, sure, but otherwise not quite as awful as expected, and although cramped, holds a feeling of comfort and rest. The two are standing in the kitchen, cupboards naked oak wood and counters hand-painted daffodil yellow, the honey-coloured floor tiles chipped but superglued back together. The image of Si sitting cross-legged on the ground fixing them fills Soap's mind, his heart fluttering at how domestic his lieutenant suddenly seems.

There isn't a wall between the kitchen and living room, and Johnny takes that opportunity to wonder straight through, taking note of a comfy-looking secondhand sofa to cuddle up on together later. An old TV with a jumble of cables is stood upon a coffee table, which simultaneously doubles as an actual coffee table, evident by a few mismatched coasters with just as many water marks as the surface they're supposed to be protecting. Splintering wood in the tried-to-be-aesthetic bare floorboards are covered by a granny rug which contrasts the baby blue walls surprisingly well. Two doors lead off from the living room, and Ghost walks over to the first one, opening it to show the other.

"Bathroom," he comments as if it isn't obvious. There's nothing extraordinary about it, but Soap does notice his unwavering loyalty here and on base to his very specific shower products - of course. He nods and they move on, entering the fourth room. Si hovers at the doorway whilst Johnny wanders inside, taking in the bedroom.

Most of the space is taken up by a double bed pressed up in the far corner, white paint on the metal frame missing in spots, showing its age. The bedding is black with little bone prints patterning it, soft cotton and all matching. Shoved next to the bed is a chest of drawers, one of the handles missing and replaced with a nail bashed into the wood. Hung up precariously on the picture rail over it is Simon's formal uniform - clearly unused for years due to his skilful avoidance of social events. Again, the floor is stripped of carpet (the bedroom in slightly safer condition than in the living room) and the walls are painted, this time a pale pink and dotted with glow-in-the-dark plastic stars.

"Never got them as a kid," Ghost mutters, gesturing to the stars and then the general soft colours of his flat. He shuffles awkwardly on his feet, avoiding eye contact - and subsequently his boyfriend's loving smile too. "You want something to eat? I don't have anything," he adds quickly.

"We can go doon to the chippy?" John suggests, walking over to kiss him tenderly. "Or if you don't feel like seein' people, I could order us something." The taller man nods at the second option, then proceeds to wrap his arms around Soap's waist, burying his face into the crook of his neck and pressing his lips to the skin, simply savouring his warm embrace.

"I love you, Johnny. I'm happy you're here."

The next few days go by far too quick for either's liking. They're spent with long mornings just laying in bed, doing fuck all on their phones in the oddest cuddle positions known; alternatively, smothering each other in hugs and kisses until they have to give them attention until they're satisfied. Time is spent plodding around the flat, wearing pyjama trousers and fluffy socks and with blankets draped over their bare shoulders.

Meals are cooked with very little skill but a whole lot of try, so at least that's something. Neither go out much; just to the shops when they need something or one night to get fish and chips from the good place across the street. They eat sitting on the countertop or the sofa, watching some shitshow with a laugh track that winds Simon up.

Evenings involve making out during conversation, quietly murmuring and laughing between kisses, chests pressed together so their hearts can talk directly. Ghost realises he's never felt so safe and content on leave before this one night when they're lying in bed, a dim lamp the only light in the room as he runs his fingers through Soap's hair, now slightly curly from growing out whilst not on base. It's quiet, but not in the lonely, terrifying way it usually is when he's alone in the flat, left to his own thoughts for however long between deployments.

Maybe, just maybe, leave will become something that he doesn't dread anymore. And perhaps next time - he thinks, pressing a kiss to his boyfriend's forehead and flicking off the lamp - it might be nice to meet Johnny's family.

[sowoozoo-7]

Love, Lust & Litigation | Ch 6 (JJK, KNJ)

Pairing: Jungkook x Fem Reader x Namjoon

Genre: lawyer!AU, coworkers to lovers, slow burn, eventual smut

Rating: PG-13 (whole fic M, minors DNI)

Warnings: alcohol consumption, swearing

Word Count: 4k

A/N: Happy New Year everyone! This chapter has been a long time coming. Hope you enjoy~~

mlist | ch 1 | ch 2 | ch 3 | ch 4 | ch 5 | interlude | ch 6 | ch 7 | epilogue

The whirring of the hotel elevator reverberates through your head as you, Namjoon, and Jungkook ride up to your floor. You landed, finally, in another city after what should have been a direct, three-hour flight turned into a thirty-six hour travel nightmare. You were supposed to arrive on Saturday night and have all of Sunday to prepare for a week’s-worth of depositions. It’s your first class-action suit and you wanted to be fully prepared for Monday morning, but thanks to the reroutes, thunderstorms, and airplane malfunctions, every moment you spend with your eyes open is another moment without sleep. 

The firm booked a three room suite for the trip, for strategizing purposes, apparently. You suspect it was just cheaper, but at this point, you would take anything that has a bed. 

Namjoon sags against the wall of the elevator. Jungkook, the traitor, can fall asleep anywhere and managed to get some rest on the plane, but even he’s clutching the handle of his luggage for dear life. A headache that started at the beginning of your last flight pounds behind your eyes. You’re ready to wash the smell of airplane out of your hair and you desperately need to brush your teeth. Sweet, crisp hotel linen is in your future and it’s the only thing keeping you going. 

Before you left for the trip, you had the idea to sneak into Jungkook's room if the opportunity presented itself. Things have been going well with your maybe-boyfriend. You're still not sure what you are, and you're not in any hurry to define anything, especially since you blush like an idiot schoolgirl with a crush every time you see Namjoon. Namjoon, whom you have seen more in the past thirty six hours than you have in the last month. Endless meetings have kept him out of the office. Still, every time you see him, you can't help but notice Jungkook's eyes tracking him too. Things felt a little awkward at the airport as you waited for your flight, the conversation stilted, hesitant.

The elevator dings, and the door opens. Not that can spare more than a passing thought to all of that now. Your legs feel like lead, and you send up a quick prayer that the room isn’t in the furthest corner of the hotel, and that the keycard works once you get there. If the keycard doesn’t work, you may just curl up in a ball on the hallway carpet. 

Namjoon waves the keycard in front of the reader a few doors down from the elevator. It beeps green and you sigh in relief as the door opens to a kitchenette and a small living area. 

At first, you think you’re seeing things, that you’re just too tired to see the other bedroom doors branching off from the living room. That if you rub your eyes enough, two more rooms will materialize. Because this can’t be right. You get closer to the door to investigate, Namjoon and Jungkook behind you. 

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” 

Yeah, no. When all you wished for was a bed, you didn’t mean one singular bed. 

You’re the first to take action, locating the room phone and dialing reception. It doesn’t take long to confirm your worst fears. There was a mistake in your booking and thanks to conventions and concerts in town, the hotel has no other available rooms for the night. 

“So you’re saying there’s nowhere else for us to stay.” 

“The couch in the living room should be a pull-out couch?” At least the receptionist sounds appropriately apologetic on the other end of the line. 

You gesture to the couch, but as Jungkook tries to remove the cushions, they stay firmly attached to the base. 

You sigh into the receiver. “It’s not a pull out couch.” 

“All our couches are supposed to be pull-out couches,” she says in dismay. 

“Maybe this one sprouted legs and switched places with a regular couch.” You wince as the words come out of your mouth. It’s not her fault, you try to remind yourself. Don’t shoot the messenger.

“I do apologize ma’am. Normally, I would be able to resolve this issue but we don’t have any other rooms available…”

The poor girl sounds like she’s about to burst into tears. You can’t help sighing once more into the receiver. “I understand, but I expect this issue will be resolved in the morning? A three bedroom suite for the duration of our stay.” 

“Yes, ma’am. Understood, ma’am.”

The click of the phone into the receiver echoes through the quiet room. When you look up at Jungkook and Namjoon, they look back at you with dumbfounded expressions. 

“You’re mean when you’re cranky,” says Jungkook. 

You don’t have the energy to send a glare his way. 

“So, what do we do?” asks Namjoon. 

It’s clear none of you can think straight, not after all the regional airports and middle seat economy seats. No one moves. Your headache goes from pounding to piercing, and you pinch your nose to help you think. 

The clock on the bedside table ticks over to three a.m. You have had enough.

“Okay, here’s what we’re going to do. We have—shit—five hours before we have to be out the door. We’re all exhausted, we all need sleep. This is king size bed. There’s plenty of space for all three of us.” 

A look of panic comes over Namjoon’s face. “I’m sleeping on the couch.” 

You let out a bark of a laugh. “I can’t even stretch my legs out on that thing.” 

“I have to, it’s—“ 

“Go sit on the couch Namjoon, see if you can stretch your legs out.” 

He does. It’s almost comical how hard he tries to stuff himself into a comfortable position.

“See? We’re only getting a few hours of sleep, so we’re all gonna do this on a comfy bed. You know how important this meeting is tomorrow. If it doesn’t go well, all our prep will be for nothing.”

They still look dubious. You feel delirious with exhaustion. 

“Look, we’ll do this. It’ll be me, then Jungkook, then Namjoon.” You gesture to the bed, indicating where each person will sleep. “There’s plenty of room, we don’t even have to touch each other.” 

Jungkook nods along, but Namjoon makes a choked sound. “But you guys are dating.”

You and Jungkook share a look. Even thinking about doing anything remotely intimate is exhausting. Jungkook looks like he can barely keep his eyes open.

“That is the furthest thing from my mind, but if you’re worried, you can be in the middle.” 

He opens his mouth to protest again, but you put up a hand. “I don’t care what order we sleep in. I’m taking this edge, but I’m gonna shower first.” 

Showering is a sweet relief, and the warmth of the water eases your tired muscles. As you come out of the bathroom in a cloud of steam, you don’t even have it in you to be self-conscious about being in your pajamas around Namjoon, or to get all swoony about sleeping next to him. You start dozing off as soon as you tuck yourself between the covers, eyes heavy and mind tired. The sounds of the guys getting ready for bed sound distant to your ears. You don’t feel the dip in the bed as Namjoon gets in next to you, your dreams already swirling with depositions and settlements. 

“I had to share a bed with my colleagues. This is unacceptable.” 

The receptionist, a different one from the one you talked to on the phone, glances over to Namjoon and Jungkook and fails to cover a smirk. Infuriatingly, they look refreshed and handsome as ever. You tried your best to look presentable, but it’s like you can feel the lack of sleep hanging in bags under your eyes. No amount of concealer could hide that. 

“I am so sorry. That must have been an awkward night.” 

“Don’t give me that look. I barely got any sleep.” 

She lets out a strangled giggle.

“And not because of that either. They both snore like grandpas who need CPAP machines. Will the suite be ready for us by this afternoon, or not?” 

There’s a slow heartbeat beneath your ear, and it’s dragging you up to consciousness. 

Your mouth feels like cotton and just thinking that thought feels like someone reached into your head and squeezed your brain. How much did you drink last night? 

You don’t want to be awake right now. You don’t even know if it’s worth it to be alive right now.

Maybe if you close your eyes even tighter, you can convince yourself you’re not awake. You snuggle in closer and try to will yourself back to sleep.

A thought floats slowly to the surface. Your arm is wrapped around a waist, but it is not the enviably tiny waist you're used to.

You don’t panic, not at first. 

You crack open an eye only to squeeze it shut again. Morning sunlight streams in from the open window, sending a piercing pain through your head.

But… was that…? 

You look again, squinting against the brightness. Yes, confirmed. That is Jungkook’s tattooed arm draped across the same torso you’re clinging onto. You lift your head, blearily seeing that the has his head tucked into a neck. And that neck is attached to… 

Now you’re wide awake, your stomach flipping in surprise. 

How the hell did you end up sleeping on top of Namjoon? 

You poke Jungkook’s arm and you want to strangle him when he makes a bothered, mumbled noise and burrows his head deeper into Namjoon’s neck. The movement makes him stir, a deep grumble going through his chest. You feel it more than hear it. Your stomach does a funny flop again. 

Several things happen at once: 

1) Jungkook opens his eyes and freezes when he sees it’s not you he’s cuddling. 

2) Namjoon wakes up and clocks that you and Jungkook are sprawled on top of him. “This has to be a dream,” he mutters, the sound vibrating through his chest. 

3) You realize the funny feeling in your stomach isn’t because of Namjoon’s morning voice. 

No, your stomach feels funny because you had one too many cocktails the night before. And several glasses of champagne. Stumbling back to the hotel room with Namjoon and Jungkook, who were just as shitfaced as you. You all tumbled in through the door together and — 

Fuck. 

You’re about to puke up the contents of your stomach. You bolt upright, pushing past the tight embrace of Namjoon’s arms around you. The only thing more mortifying than waking up as one of the slices of bread in a Namjoon sandwich would be to throw up all over the glorious sandwich. You make it to the bathroom, barely.

As you’re decanting the contents of your stomach, flashes of the day before come back to you. The claimants settling before noon on Tuesday. Celebratory cocktails for happy hour. Ordering too much sushi. A second round at a karaoke bar. Pulling Jungkook and Namjoon by their ties to your bedroom. 

The rumble of deep voices comes from your bedroom as you hug the porcelain bowl. You’re never having alcohol again, you decide. 

Once your stomach settles, you pull yourself to your feet. Your reflection in the mirror startles you. You look like shit, your hair knotted and tangled, mascara smudged under your eyes. The thought of Jungkook—let alone Namjoon—seeing you like this makes you want to heave again. 

Wait, no. You do have to heave again. 

It takes twenty minutes for you to be sure that your stomach won’t rebel again, and for you to wash your face and brush your teeth. Your hair, you decide, is a lost cause. You pull on a robe before leaving the bathroom, because even if you made a mistake and slept on your boss in your undies, you sure as hell don’t want to parade around without pants. 

Namjoon and Jungkook sit on opposite sides of the bed when you come out of the bathroom, two feet of space between them. Jungkook looks like a dream, because life is unfair, and he always looks like a dream. Namjoon, mere mortal, looks like someone that just woke up after a night of drinking, face a little puffy, and hair sleep-mussed. They’re in similar states of undress as you, in undershirts and boxers. 

Namjoon notices you first, but Jungkook speaks first.

”Are you okay?” 

His voice is hoarse. He always goes too hard at karaoke. 

“I’ve been worse,” you say, voice croaky from all the karaoke and all the puking. You clear your throat and try again. “I can’t remember when, but this is surely not the worst. Um, how are you guys doing?” 

Jungkook looks down at his hands, his gaze flitting to Namjoon. 

Namjoon scrubs his hands over his face and takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry,” he says, his deep morning voice sending shivers down your spine. “I don’t know what happened.” 

“We drank too much is what happened,” says Jungkook under his breath. 

Namjoon shakes his head. “Drinking is never an excuse. It wasn’t appropriate.”

You sink into an armchair in the corner of the room. “I’m pretty sure it was me who dragged both of you in here.”

“‘A win calls for a cuddle.’” Jungkook imitates you in a high voice. 

If you had a pillow and the energy, you would chuck it at him. 

A little crease appears between Namjoon’s brows as he frowns. “Still…” 

“I need an aspirin if we’re going to keep talking about this,” you say. Your gut is a jumble of embarrassment, satisfaction, and yearning, and combined with the queasiness, you want to hit pause on this conversation. It takes you a second to muster up the energy to heave yourself off the armchair, but you get up, somehow, and go to your suitcase to take out the bottle of painkillers you always carry with you. “Want one?” 

They both nod, looking as miserable as you feel. 

You make your way to the kitchen to get yourself a glass of water. They follow you like little ducklings, copying you as you swallow down the medicine and several gulps of water. It brings sweet relief to your scratchy throat. You want to chug the entire glass, but the water sloshes around in your empty stomach, making you feel a little sick. The clink of the glass on the counter shoots through your brain. You climb onto the barstools by the kitchen counter and rest your head on the counter, the cool marble soothing. Your headache starts to fade a little, but not by much. 

“I’m sorry,” says Namjoon into the silence.

“Stop apologizing,” you say into the counter, words muffled. “If anyone should be sorry, it’s me.” You hope the words sound sincere coming out of your mouth, but a voice inside of you keeps repeating that you don’t regret it at all. Not when you can still feel the warmth of him beneath you, the tight squeeze of his arms around you, too. 

He shakes his head. “It wasn’t appropriate. I’ll report myself to HR when we return to the office.” 

You sit up, room swaying a bit. Jungkook stands against the counter, worrying his lip ring with his teeth. Namjoon grips his water glass so tightly you fear he’s going to break it. 

“Did something beyond sleeping happen, and I’m not remembering?”

A look of panic comes over Namjoon’s face. “I don’t think so.” 

Jungkook shakes his head. “No.” 

“Okay, then. We’re all adults here. I wasn’t touched in a way I didn’t want to be touched.” You try not to cringe as the half-confession slips from your lips. “Did you feel uncomfortable Namjoon?” 

“No, but that’s not the point.” Your stomach does a funny flip and this time it is because of him. He doesn’t regret last night. “I’m your boss, and there’s a power im—“

“Jungkook,” you say, turning to him. “Were you touched in a way that you didn’t want to be touched?” He shakes his head. “Were you in a situation you didn’t want to be in?” He shakes his head again. 

Something shifts in the silence that follows. Everything has been all but said, and you’re left feeling unbalanced. Or maybe that’s just the alcohol still talking. The throbbing behind your eyes makes it hard to think straight. 

“There you go.” You put your head back on the countertop, unable to look at either of them directly. 

“Still—“ Namjoon starts. 

You hold up a hand without raising you read. “Stop beating yourself up about it. The worst thing we did was sleep in the same bed together. It’s not like this is the first time, anyway.” 

Someone chokes on water. You keep your eyes closed, waiting for the painkillers to kick in. 

No one says anything for a while. 

Just as you’re about to fall asleep hunched over the counter, Jungkook’s quiet voice jars you back to reality. 

“What’s the plan now?” 

“What do you mean?” comes Namjoon’s response. 

“We’re supposed to be here all week for these depositions, but now that they’ve settled…” 

“I’ll check with the firm.” 

You hear movement in the kitchen, clothes rustling, glasses being placed down. When you muster the energy to sit up, only Jungkook remains. He looks lost in thought, staring into space. 

“I’m gonna shower.” 

He only gives you a grunt in response, eyes focused on another plane of existence.

You stand under the spray until your skin is red and wrinkly. When you come out, the sight of the rumpled bed reminds you of how warm and tight Namjoon’s embrace as around you, how right it felt to be with the two of them in the same space. You want to wail, because you got a taste of the impossibilities you’ve been dreaming of. It would have been best to leave it to your imagination. Why did you have to give in to your drunk impulses? 

You pull on the closest comfy clothes that look clean and go to sit in the living room. Jungkook, also freshly showered, sits on the sofa, scrolling aimlessly on his phone. The way he’s looking through his feed, you can tell he’s not processing what he’s seeing. You slump down next to him and rest your head on his shoulder, closing your eyes. He takes his hand in yours, thumb tracing slow circles on the back of your hand. The repetitive motion almost puts you to sleep. 

“Oh.” 

You open your eyes to see Namjoon in the doorway, looking at you two on the couch as if he walked in on something forbidden. He starts to back out of the living room. You sit up, and take your hand back. Or maybe Jungkook takes his hand away; you’re not really sure.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt—“

“No, you aren’t. We were waiting for you,” says Jungkook. 

You feel like all the air has been sucked out of the room. Namjoon looks like a deer caught in the headlights, not knowing whether to run away or come closer. The three of you are standing on a knife’s edge, waiting for something to tip you to one side or the other.

“Did you get in touch with the firm?” clarifies Jungkook. 

Air fills the room again, and you slump back into the couch, winded. Back to pretending like everything is okay, then. Like nothing has changed between the three of you.

Namjoon clears his throat. “Yeah, we’re staying as planned.” 

It’s Friday night, and the three of you are outside of the hotel waiting for a cab. Namjoon made a reservation on Yoongi’s recommendation for a trendy new restaurant that just opened. The cold, February air has a bite to it, and you pull your coat tighter around you. 

The world felt askew all of Wednesday and Thursday, as if you were on a ship permanently tilted by waves.  Work kept your mind off things, for the most part. As soon as Namjoon made the call Wednesday morning, Jimin and Hoseok got to work and scheduled a full afternoons of meetings for the remainder of your time on your trip. When you weren’t in meetings, you were in your room, sitting cross-legged on your bed as you answered emails and drafted briefs. 

During your free time, you had to remind yourself to act normally around Namjoon, as if acting normal was the only thing keeping everything from careening out of control. Every time you looked at Namjoon, he was either turning his gaze away from you, or looking at Jungkook with a sad expression on his face. Jungkook, on the other hand... you were worried he would chew off his lip piercing with how much he fiddled with it as he worked. 

Though by Friday morning, things felt like they settled down, with normal, easy banter between the three of you. It felt like a relief to laugh, and not feel on edge. You’re looking forward to going back home, to settling back into your normal routine. 

“Oh hey,” says Jungkook as he checks his phone, “it’s Valentine’s Day.” 

“Is it?” Your breath puffs out in a small cloud and you try to suppress a shiver. The longer the car takes to arrive, the more you’re regretting sacrificing warmth for fashion. You’re wearing your warm winter coat, but your legs are bare under your dress. 

Jungkook wraps an arm around your shoulders and rubs your arms to warm you up. He whispers into your ear, “Will you be my Valentine?”

Even though he whispered it, you see Namjoon stiffen out of the corner of your eye. 

You scoff and push Jungkook away, rolling your eyes, in an attempt to clear the tension. “It’s a stupid capitalist construct.” 

“C’mon, I’ll buy you discount chocolate tomorrow.” He pouts and gives you puppy dog eyes. 

Had you been alone, you would have made him beg for it. With Namjoon present, though, you want to kill Jungkook for acting like this.

Thankfully, the cab pulls up before he can do anything else. 

“Okay, but only because no one else is going to put up with your annoying ass.”

Luckily, there’s no more talk of Valentines on the way to the restaurant. You worry a bit if you’re going to be surrounded by lovey-dovey couples and if that will make the whole evening even more awkward, but unlike other places, there’s no red hearts plastered everywhere, no romantic candlelit tables with pink confetti. 

You get distracted by the good food in front of you and by the end of the main course, you forget about the tense atmosphere of the beginning of the night. A couple of drinks and everything gets right back to normal, the alcohol softening the edges of all the emotions you’ve been feeling. It finally feels like you’re at ease, like the three of you can go without blushing every time you make eye contact. It feels normal, instead of illicit, when Jungkook slips his hand onto your thigh under the table.

You’re laughing at a story Namjoon is telling about his first trial out of school, embarrassing in the moment, but hilarious in hindsight.

“Hey, hey, if it isn’t Rap Monster!” 

“Oh no.” Namjoon cringes as he twists to see who called out. 

Rap Monster? You try not to laugh as you exchange confused looks with Jungkook. 

“Who’s that?” asks Jungkook. 

“My past,” says Namjoon with a rueful smile. He gets up to greet the newcomer, a lean brunette with all the attitude of a carefree frat boy. 

“Hey man, how’s it going?” The man extends a hand out in a handshake.

“Hey Jackson. All good man.” Namjoon takes it and pulls him into a one-armed hug. “These are my colleagues.” He introduces you and Jungkook. “This guy was my freshman year roommate in college and we went to law school together.” 

“Oh, the stories I could tell…”

“Please tell us about Rap Monster,” you say. 

Jackson lets out a loud laugh. “Believe it or not, Namjoon was an underground rapper back in the day.” 

“No way.” 

“You never mentioned that!” says Jungkook. 

“With a name like Rap Monster, I’d like to leave that in my past.” 

“I’ll send you a link on YouTube,” says Jackson in a stage whisper, winking dramatically. He turns to Namjoon. “You should have told me you were in town for work! We haven’t caught up in ages.” 

“Big case. Took up all my spare brainpower, you know?” 

“Last big case, then? Rumor mill says you’re moving on.” 

You go cold. Namjoon’s eyes go wide, and he tries to get Jackson to stop talking, but Jackson keeps talking, unaware. You and Jungkook look at each other, then back at Namjoon, who looks like he’s watching a train wreck in slow motion. 

“What’s that all about, bro? Jumping ship just as we all thought you were about to make partner at Bang & Associates.” 

“You’re leaving?” 

A/N 2: Sorry for the cliffhanger 😘 Next installment coming soon, I promise! I'd love to hear from you if you have any comments!

©sowoozoo-7 2024

Please do not copy or repost. I do not crosspost anywhere else.

[samcrosfaith]

SKIN AND BONES 𝟎𝟖| 𝖆 𝖕𝖎𝖊𝖈𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝖕𝖆𝖘𝖙

warning; physical and sexual abuse [not detailed] in this chapter!

With a quiet hum, Tessa followed the slim blonde through the premises of the porn studio where Lyla worked. Tessa entered the building with different expectations and was pleasantly surprised.

It was clean, renovated in a fairly modern way, the directors behind the camera spoke respectfully to the actors in front of the camera, the sight of which took some getting used to. Tessa couldn't help but dare to glance sideways, examining the various sets with curiosity.

Two women were working on one set. A head full of bleach-blonde hair was stuck between a redhead's legs, her lips parted as one fake moan after another fell from her bright red lips. Another moan also came from the other side, not really sounding more genuine than the redhead's.

A question that Tessa had always asked herself was how men, or women, could find something so fake and unrealistic so attractive. It was obvious that no one on set was really seriously excited and horny, everyone was just doing their job and by doing that they seemed surprisingly comfortable. Which spoke for the porn studio.

If employees felt humiliated or mistreated, they wouldn't appear as relaxed and comfortable.

"And here is the photo shoot area", Lyla explained, her sweet, friendly voice catching Tessa's attention. "I know, it's taking some getting used to seeing all thisᅳ but I have a feeling you'd fit in well here."

With a small smile planted on her lips, Tessa's warm brown eyes landed on the enthusiastic blonde. "It's not as strange as I thought it would beᅳ I imagined it would be way worse and, above all, cheaper. It doesn't even smell like pussy in here", she added with a chuckle.

"Most people do imagine it much worse", Lyla winked amused, folding her hands in front of her petite body. "And some studios are exactly thatᅳ cheap and sometimes vulgar, and definitely smelling like cheap pussy. But here everyone is treated with respect and we all make sure it stays clean."

"I can see that, really." Glancing around the huge room that had once served as a warehouse, Tessa finally made a decision. "I think I can imagine working here. I guess I'll have to talk to the boss about that, right?"

"Girl, really? That would be great." Grinning from ear to ear, Lyla hooked her arm with Tessa's and led her straight up a few steps and down a long hallway until she finally knocked on a door. "It's me, Lyla. I have the new girl I told you about with me."

Tessa felt her heartbeat in her throat, her palms sweaty as she waited for an answer from the other side of the doorᅳ which came a moment later. A friendly 'Come in' encouraged Lyla to open the door and just a second later Tessa was dragged into the room.

And the sight almost overwhelmed her.

Dark red carpet was now under her feet, not like the light vinyl flooring in the other rooms. Two walls facing each other were painted the same dark red while the other two were covered in a dark shade of gray. Flashy, oversized gold picture frames hung in a row on the walls, with smaller ones underneath. All of them framed porn magazine covers or awards.

Scantily clad to naked women could be seen on every poster, the oldest picture was probably from the early 80's and the newest looked quite modern, probably from the same year as they were now. Tessa had to admit that every single photo was well taken and looked pretty good and classy for a porn magazineᅳ which was just as unexpected as the rest Tessa had seen so far.

"You must be Tessa." A slender but not exactly tall man, maybe a head taller than her, held his hand out to Tessa after he walked around his table and strolled over to her, a magazine-ready smile on his aging face. "I'm Gregor Malachi, the boss and contact person here."

He didn't seem like one of those typical sleazy porn producers either. More like a salesman who really wanted to sell a product.

"Hi, nice to meet you", she said smiling as she held out her hand, gritting her teeth as the man's handshake was stronger than expected. "I heard you’re looking for a model."

"Right", the man confirmed with a hum before he looked at Lyla, extending his hand towards the door. "Will you give us a moment alone?"

Lyla flashed Tessa a questioning look, just to see if the younger woman was comfortable staying alone with Gregor. After she gave her a curt nod, Lyla left the room with a squeeze of Tessa's arm and closed the door behind her.

"Sit down." Gregor took a seat behind his desk again, which was surprisingly tidy, and Tessa discovered a family photo on it.

"You got a nice family", she remarked honestly, pointing at the photo. "I have a son too, just younger."

"Oh, they are, thank you." Gregor replied, a proud expression on his face as he took a quick look at the picture himself before studying Tessa. "Do you really want the job? As a mother, I mean. Many women are afraid that their children will have to face the consequences from it later."

A soft sigh fell from Tessa's lips, a tight-lipped smile playing around it. "Of course I'm worried about that, and that's why I have a few questions before I make a decision."

More than just one factor played a decisive role here. She also had to constantly think about the fact that Happy wasn't really enthusiastic about the job. Since their little argument two days ago they hadn't talked muchᅳ not at all actually.

But it was her life, and they weren't a couple or anything like that. Sure, she couldn't deny that she liked himᅳ and that she wanted to get to know more of him. But she needed a job, preferably a well-paying one if she wanted to afford an apartment and day care.

"Of course, you can ask whatever you wantᅳ I'll try to answer everything", Gregor replied openly, his hands folded on the dark wooden table. "What are your questions, Tessa?"

Slightly nervous, Tessa ran her delicate fingers through her black hair, taking a breath. "Uh, so, will the photos be published everywhere or just on certain pornographic websites? And would I be employed or would I be paid per shoot? And how many would that be per month?"

As Tessa spoke, the man across from her nodded repeatedly to show her that he was listening and showing interest in her questions. While doing so he opened a drawer of his desk and slid a small stack of papers over the surface of the table, the papers held together at one corner with a paper clip.

"This is the contract, everything you need to know is in it, which I'll explain to you in a minute. You don't have to make the decision immediately and you have enough time to read the contract at homeᅳ but I need a decision by the end of the week", he told her, his expression filled with friendly seriousness. "To your questions; the photos are only published on websites that are specifically looking for such pictures. In some cases, the photos are also used for Covers, which means that your face ends up in various magazines in which our studio is mentioned. And yes , these magazines can then be bought in every store. You would be permanently employed and get a fixed salary every month because you will have weekly shoots. You will be well booked, trust me. You definitely won't get bored."

Tessa relaxed a little as Gregor gave her an encouraging smile before continuing. "The pay is good, you don't have to worry about that. You'll  be able to get your son everything he wants. Above all, the three thousand is just your starting salary, it can quickly get higher."

As uncomfortable as it made Tessa, she couldn't resist asking a question because of her skepticism. "What do I have to do? I mean, there has to be a catch, right?"

"Why would there be a catch?" With a certain amount of amusement, Gregor's brow shot up, his hands now folded under his chin, which he rested on them. "Afraid you'll have to sleep your way up? Not here, not in my studio, Tessa. I'm a professional businessman and not a pimp. The harder you work, the better the payᅳ it's that simple. I treat my employees with respect."

"No, I, uh, I didn't mean it like that at all", Tessa almost stuttered, her cheeks red from embarrassment at having accused the man in front of her of such a thing. "I just want to be careful and not end up regretting my decision."

"You won't", Gregor assured her, his tone serious and extremely professional as he adjusted his tie. "I like that you're scepticalᅳ in this industry that's important. Look, think about it. For me, I would definitely give you a chance. You're really pretty, and youngᅳ the perfect model for our studio. "

It felt good to hear such things and it boosted Tessa's self-confidence immensely. There were moments when the Laney woman felt anything but pretty or attractiveᅳ but she also had moments when she was confident. Until now, most people have only ever used her, which can really weaken someone's confidence.

It was all the nicer to hear things like thatᅳ even if Gregor probably said that to most women.

"I mean, that all sounds pretty good", she said with a hum, scanning the first page of the contract with a quick look. "And I really don't have to make my movies?"

"No." Gregor's answer came quickly, but there was still something regretful in his tone. "I would love to have you as a porn actress too, I only have one dark-haired girl so far. And you would be a breath of fresh air. The gothic style sells wellᅳ it has something beautifully wicked and at the same time something macabre that many people are into", he stopped talking for a moment, tapping the tip of his index finger against his lips. "So if you ever want to get into the porn film business, let me know."

"Iᅳ" Tessa paused, biting her bottom lip in slight embarrassment as she dropped her eyes, feeling a little overwhelmed with the whole situation. A part of her was curious. Should she give it a try? Or was it better not to?

"So, so pretty", Gregor's tone held a gentle sternness, almost sounding like a teacher carefully checking his student's work while he pinched Tessa's chin between his index finger and thumb to lift her head again. With a charming smile he looked into two nervous eyes. "Think about itᅳ I wouldn't hesitate for a second and give you another contract. The pay would be significantly higher."

Now a feeling of discomfort crept into Tessa, which caused her to pull her head back decisively to shake off the producer's hand. She cleared her throat quietly as Gregor leaned back while flashing her a small smirk. "I'll let you know as soon as I've made a decision.

"Do that", Gregor nodded, charming as always. "And don't take too much timeᅳ lots of girls want the job."

"I won't", Tessa assured before standing up, pulling her lace top a little further over her exposed skin before clutching the contract in her hand. "It was nice to meet you, Gregor."

"I can say the same, Tessa", he placed extra emphasis on her name, which flowed from his tongue as he shot her another wink. "I hope I'll hear from you."

A small plastic smile was all Tessa could manage before she left the office and jogged down the stairs, flashing Lyla a smile. The blonde waved and shouted that she would call later, but Lyla was busy on a set and didn't have time to talk at the moment.

Which was fine, Tessa didn't feel like talking at the moment anywayᅳ first she wanted to head home and spend time with Sawyer before she would read through the contract and making a decision.

ᚔ

With the contract and her cell in one hand, Tessa balances herself towards the door with two full shopping bags, a groan of annoyance  coming from her when she couldn't find the key she had just used to lock her old BMW.

However, the search was over when the door in front of her opened and Happy's hands reached for the two bags after greeting her with a quiet grunt.

"Hey." Surprised that he was here and not Maria, she followed the grim-looking man into the kitchen and chewed on the inside of her cheek. "I didn't know you were here. Where's Maria? And Sawyer?"

"It's my house, remember?" From the corner of his eye, Happy glanced at the dark-haired girl, making sure if there was anything wrong with her, if she was okay. "Ma had to go to the ER, she didn't feel good. How was your job interview?"

"I know, and I'm glad you're here. The last two days have been pretty quiet without you", she said honestly, placing her contract and phone on the table before her eyes widened with concern. "What, why? Was watching Sawyer too exhausting for her?"

"No", Happy assured her, grunting as he could see the guilt and worry in Tessa's brown lenses, a sigh slipping past his lips. "She forgot to take her medsᅳ wasn't the first time this happened. She's fine though, I can pick her up later."

"Fuck...I should've paid more attention. Were you watching Sawyer since that happened?" Tessa sighed quietly as her platform boot-covered feet carried her towards Happy, closing the distance between them. She looked up at him uncertainly. "Can we talk, please? I don't want things to be like this between us. Iᅳ", she paused, kneading her fingers nervously.

"Not your fault. And yeah, Sawyer is his room", he told her with a shrug. The muscles in his body tensed as Tessa stood so close in front of him and looked at him with her doe brown eyes, her dark hair covering the sides of her pale face. He himself was trying  to sound gruff, even harsh, trying to hide how much he also had missed her the last two days. "You what?"

What the hell was wrong with him? Why did he care so much what she thought? What she wanted? She was just another woman who complicated things. Or was Tessa different? Hell, of course she was different than any of the Croweaters or sweet butts.

"I missed you", she finally admitted after a moment's hesitation, not sure if he seemed so dismissive because he was still angry or because he was annoyed with her. "I don't want to fight, Happy. Please.."

"Please what?" Suddenly his head snapped around, his face just a few inches away from hers. It was only because of her shoes that they were somewhat at eye level. "Are you the one wanting to work in a fuckin' porn studio or do I, huh?!"

"Why the fuck does this bother you so much?!" She crossed her arms defensively, causing him to back away as if he had been burned himself as her arms slightly brushed against him, confusing her even more. "What's your problem, Happy? I just want to understand!"

"You're not some slut, Tessa! Why don't you understand that?!" Happy's voice grew louder with every word that fell from his lips, the veins in his forehead throbbing.

The young woman's breath hitched, the lump in her throat growing as Happy's patience grew thin. "But Lyla works there tooᅳ and you don't think she's a slut, right?"

Tessa observed Happy's sudden change in behavior with curiosity. Huffing, he ran his hand over his face before perching his hands against the edges of the well-used kitchen counter, his gaze trained out the window above the sink.

"No, she's not", he answered grimly, clearly annoyed that Tessa had a point. "Stillᅳ you don't belong there."

"And why not?" Tessa sighed again, her arms falling to her sides as she walked back to him. This time she leaned against the kitchen counter with more distance to him. "I can't lose Sawyer, Happy. That means I need a jobᅳ one that pays enough. Don't you understand that?"

"You would find something else", the SAA argued stubbornly, his gaze now landing on her. As much as he hated it, he could still understand her. "Is this what you really want? Working in a porn-studio? This job isn't for everyone."

"Maybe", she agreed sensibly. She didn't want to deny the fact at all. "And just because I'm taking this job now doesn't mean I'm going to do this forever. Only until I find something that pays just well."

For a long moment the room was filled with uncomfortable silence, only the muffled sounds Sawyer was making in the other room could be heard. Apparently he hadn't heard their little argument, which Tessa was glad about.

"Are you going to make movies, too?" There was something in Happy's tone that made Tessa's heart beat faster. Was he jealous? Worried? She wasn't sureᅳ but she liked it.

Her features softened, the slightest smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "No, even though I got the offer, I just want to work as a model."

Her answer satisfied him, but he couldn't help but let out a scoff anyway. "Of course you got the offer. That guy would be stupid not to ask a woman like you."

"A woman like me?" Tessa's thin, perfectly shaped eyebrow rose in curiosity. "What do you mean by that?"

"That you're prettyᅳ really pretty. He'd be stupid not to ask you. You got the looks, a character and the talent, that's the fuckin' jackpot", Happy replied with a shrug, being brutally honest, seeing no reason to lie to her. The blush that then crossed her face, apparently that's what his statement did to her, sent a warm feeling through his chest.

What the hell was wrong with him?

"Happyᅳ"

"It's okay," he grunted. This time he closed the distance between them. Knowing that he would only push her away if he forbade her to do things, he had to accept, even if he didn't like it, that she wanted to work as a nude model. "If you want the job, then take it. But if anyone disrespects you, I will show up there."

"I'm sorry", she whispered, her throat dry as the desert as he approached her. "I know it bothers you, and I hate that. But I really need the money."

And there it was againᅳ a moment that felt so real, so raw. The feeling of complete contentment came over her, and also him, again as the scent of Happy's aftershave, the leather of his kutte and his breath filled her nostrilsᅳ that's how close he was.

"I know", Happy rasped, bringing his hand to her cheek when the moment felt right. Then he sighed deeply, knowing he had to tell her the real reason why he was gone the last two days. "Your father is gone, deadᅳ that's the real reason why I haven't been here for two days."

Mike Laney's time had already been limited that day when he laid hands on Happy's mother. The only reason the guy was still on two legs was because of Tessa and Sawyer. Now that Sawyer was back with Tessa, there was no reason for Happy to let the bastard liveᅳ which he had put an end to last night and then returned to Charming.

At first he thought about not telling Tessa, keeping it to himself to spare her the pain she might feelᅳ but she had a right to know. Even though she might hate him for it and see a monster in him.

Startled, she stumbled back a step, her arms wrapped around her own body as she let the news sink in. She knew the day would come, Happy had warned herᅳ and she had no idea that it would hurt her so much when she heard those words.

But here she stood, her eyes filled with tears, her petite body tense as pain ripped through her chest. Just a moment later she burst into tears, collapsing into one of the chairs.

Her sobs and sniffles filled the small room, causing Happy's features to harden again. That wasn't what he wantedᅳ to make her cry. It bothered him more than he thought it would.

"I didn't think it would bother you so much", he grumbled, running a hand over his head. "Why does this affect you so much? Has he ever done anything good for you?"

At his question, Tessa snorted a laugh, shaking her head. "Hell no, I don't even know why I'm crying", she choked out, her breath coming in gasps as she tried to calm down. "Well, onceᅳ there was one time he actually helped me, had my back."

"Yeah? What did he do?" With his arms folded, Happy examined the woman, whose shoulders slumped as another sniffle echoed through the room. It was hard to believe that Michael had one good bone in his body.

"When I found out I was pregnant with Sawyer", she began, her lips formed into a thin line as she thought back to the moment she told Cal about the pregnancy. "My ex freaked outᅳ a complete tantrum. That was probably the scariest moment of my life. For once Mike wasn't an asshole when I came home with a broken nose and bruised ribs. I was still so young, desperate and alone. As much as I despise my dad for what he did to Maria and my mother back then, I will always appreciate how he stood behind me in that moment."

Happy's jaw was tense, the muscles in it twitching as a sense of anger rushed through his body. "What did your ex do?"

To this day, the blood ran cold in Tessa's veins as she thought back to the day when her entire life had suddenly changed.

Flashback 2006 / four, almost five years ago

[In season 5, in which this story takes place, it was

approximately the year 2010. That explains four

years earlier/2006. I hope it makes sense.]

"You..", he said with a low growl, getting in her face. So close his alcohol-infected breath made her feel a wave of nausea. "You're getting an abortion, you hear me, little whore?"

"Fuck no!", Tessa spat as she felt anger rip through her whole body, slamming a protective hand over her not yet existent bump. "This is my baby. I don't give a shit if you want it or notᅳ but I'm keeping it!"

Cal let out a humorless laugh, not amused by the fact she was giving him shit. With a passiv-aggressive wheeze, he slapped her across the face with the back of his hand, causing her head to whip to the side, a grin tugging at his lips as he heard something crack.

As the dark-haired girl winced in pain, bringing a hand up to her burning cheek, feeling warm liquid running down her nose and over her lips, Cal grabbed a fistful of her black hair, pulling her face close to his.

"If you don't get an abortion", he hummed dangerously, his voice dripping with venom as he spoke so low it was only a whisperᅳ a dark, threatening whisper. "I'll fuckin' kill you and that little bastard inside you. You hear me, bitch?"

Tessa's whole body was shaking, filled with anger and disgust, fear flashing in her tear-filled eyes. Her blood-covered, plump lips trembled, unable to hold back a painful sob as his grip got tighter and a metallic taste filled her mouth. She believed him, she believed that he would kill her without giving it a second thought.

So, the only solution that she came up with was to lie, letting him think that he had won this argument. Wincing in pain again as he, out of nowhere, slammed the side of her face into the wall next to them, she nodded quickly. Thank God it was only a dry wall and not one made out of bricks.

"Iᅳ I'll get an abortion, I promise", she cried out,  full on ugly crying at the thought of actually having to get rid of her baby.

She could never. This was her own flesh and blood. Her age didn't matter, the fact that she didn't have much money also didn't matterᅳ she would give birth to that baby and give him or her all the love she had in her.

"You better fuckin' do", Cal huffed, pushing her onto the carpet-covered floor before kicking against her ribs, a sick smile growing on his face as he heard her cry out once again. "Get the fuck up, you're embarrassing yourself. And clean your blood off the damn carpet!"

Rubbing the tip of his nose, Cal crouched down, forcing her head up by her hair again. Shit, something about her crying, the way her Make-Up was running down her face and mix with the blood, made him hard.

"But first you're goin' to give me a blowjob." Pulling her to her knees, he stood up and fiddled with his belt, all while grinning down at the mess on the floor. "And it better be a good one. That's what you women are here for, right?"

Tessa had no choice and she knew it. Only a moment later she was forced to wrap her lips around his rock hard cock while he inflicted even more pain on her with his fist closed around her knotted hair, mercilessly face-fucking her.

This was the scariest and probably most humiliating moment of her lifeᅳ one that she would never forget.

Flashback over

"That's why I don't want CPS to know about Sawyer's dadᅳ because his father is a piece of shit", the Laney woman spat bitterly after she had told Happy the whole story, her chair sliding back as she stood up. "I don't give a shit if I have less moneyᅳ I'd rather die than taking any money from Cal", a hysterical laugh fell over her lips as she paced the room. "Besides, Cal would kill me before he'd have to pay me any money."

"He can try", Happy's menacing voice cut through the air like a knife. He took quick steps towards Tessa, grasping her arm and looking at her with urgency once he had her attention.

Fuck, he felt for the young woman. And he felt an immense rage, the urge to break every single bone in Cal's body for what he did to Tessa. No one, no man in the world, should ever lay hands on a womanᅳ that was something Happy would never accept.

If it were up to him, Cal would be dead in an instant, buried and forgotten. It seemed like he had to make one more person disappear.

"The fucker will never find out about Sawyer. But if he ever finds out about him and wants to hurt you for it, which he shouldn't try, he'll have to get past me first", he assured her firmly, her face now back in his hands as he stared down at her. "You're safe with me, little girl."

New tears gathered in Tessa's brown eyes, a weak nod all she could offer as she stood there with him. Then, when he called her little girl, it was over for herᅳ she now knew what she wanted, what she was craving for.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Here’s a beautiful 1919 Craftsman bungalow that is different, b/c it has very light woods. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, it has 4bd. 3ba. and is listed for $319K. There’s already a sale pending.

The completely enclosed porch is like an extra living space. Original front door and windows. 

See how light it is? I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a Craftsman done in light oak. Lovely brick fireplace and the pattern of the beams is unusual. I’m wondering if it’s been completely renovated.

The living & dining areas are open. Typically, they are open, but separated by half walls with columns and bookshelves. I don’t know what to make of this house. The built-in cabinets under the windows don’t look Craftsman style.

The dining room is off the living room. Usually there’s wainscoting and built-ins in a Craftsman dining room.

The kitchen reno has nice Shaker cabinetry that matches the other wood in the house. The lighting fixtures in the home are Craftsman style, but they all look new.

Desk area in the kitchen plus an extra cabinet that would make a nice coffee bar.

A main fl. bd. that’s been redone by painting the ceiling beams white and adding mirrored closet doors.

The 2nd floor looks completely reno’d, including the bare wood railing.

The original doors and moldings have been painted white.

The built-in closets and drawers painted white are almost invisible in this room. 

The bath is very stark white with an added blue carpet- a remnant piece from another room would be cheaper than tile. Notice that they replaced the vintage door hardware with new reproduction hardware. It matches, and usually original vintage Craftsman hardware is brass.

Finished basement looks like it may have been originally done around the mid-century.

This is interesting. I’ve never seen beams on a drop ceiling. But, there are 2 extra rooms that could be bedrooms.

It’s huge down here. There’s a rec room area with a nice brick wall and heat stove.

Large laundry room and bath.

I can’t tell if this bd. is in the basement or upstairs. It’s a cute little room. 

There’s a large side yard. 

And come spring, there’re some nice gardens around the house.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1020-Franklin-St-Cedar-Falls-IA-50613/76667572_zpid/

[punks-never-die205]

Souled Out

Fem Reader x Demon!Eustass Kid

CW: Blood, religious tones, original creation myth, ritual, violence, dubious consent, 18+

Summary: Ever since your 25th birthday you've stopped getting sick, and your hair has stopped growing. It's harder and harder to connect with your emotions, and while you're flourishing at your job, you realize something is deeply wrong. You're almost 50 now, and still in the body of your 25 year old self. Something has to give, because you can't just write things off as looking young for your age.

Chapter 1: Soul Research

Your furniture was in another room, piled on top of your bed, leaving the living room completely devoid of items. You weren’t worried about how it might look to someone if they came in, that mess was going to be the last thing they noticed. You had pulled up the carpet as well, square by square, and tossed it into the spare bathroom you rarely used. Except for a concrete floor and bare painted walls, there was nothing else except for you in the living room.

Well, you, blood, and animal fat, but functionally it was empty.

You had no need for a two-bedroom apartment, but it had the floor space you needed and was cheaper than renting an entire house. If this worked or failed completely, you’d replace the carpet yourself, and if this only mostly worked, you probably wouldn’t have to worry about things like security deposits anyway.

Or your job. You had cashed in all your time off so you wouldn’t have to go back for a couple months, but expecting this to be resolved by then wasn’t part of your plan. You just wanted to survive the next month well enough to return to work at some point after that.

Markings were painted all over the walls, floor, and ceiling in blood. Sigils and scriptures you had found and done your best to verify over the last decade. The culmination of your research and the trials and errors of others. The blood stank, but not enough to bother you, and honestly the smell was less offensive than the sharp acrid stench of paint, so you managed to ignore it easily enough.

You placed the tallow candles you had made in the locations you needed, lighting them after they were set. You had considered beeswax candles, but the trials that had succeeded were clear - everything had to come from something that didn’t survive the harvest. It had to be a proper sacrifice, and not a symbolic one, and you weren’t going to try and eradicate an entire hive of angry bees when you could just buy tallow.

You sat in the middle of the smaller empty circle meant for you and focused on the larger circle in the center of the room. The markings were two-fold, they included your offer and built a barrier between you and what would appear.

Assuming anything wanted to accept.

Assuming anything existed to help.

Shaking your head, you tossed your doubt away, focusing on ritual. You had pointedly decided to cast away your doubts about whether demons actually existed and give yourself to the belief. After all, the reason you were even doing this was because the impossible had happened to you already.

Learning demons were real at this point would simply make for yet another thing you wanted nothing to do with, and yet still had to deal with anyway. Beggars and choosers walked different paths, and you were beyond being able to be choosy. Besides, the blood had been easy enough to get, but you really wanted this to work so you didn’t have to make another set of tallow candles. The consistency was weird, and you didn’t like how it felt on your fingers.

All you needed to do was focus on the words of the offer, sending them through the channels the sigils had connected you to. This was the only part that worried you, not only were all the instructions frustratingly subjective, but you weren’t sure if you could do it. The reason you were even trying this was because you were missing an important part of yourself, and you needed help in retrieving it.

If that missing piece was imperative to “reaching out” or “putting your intent into it”, then you were functionally fucked. You twinged with the faintest frustration and anger, trying to at least hold onto the energy of those emotions and throw them into supposed aether. You wondered if it would make your request sound rude or not and found a small smirk pulling at your usually blank expression at the idea of being rude to a demon.

You might have dust in place of emotions at this point, but time, at least, was something you had in excess. So you didn’t get impatient when nothing happened right away.

After a few long moments, you felt the floor shiver. That, or your legs had twitched from sitting so still for so long. Another shiver and then indisputable proof of the effectiveness of your research. The scripts and sigils of blood were glowing. Enough to overpower the candles in the room, but not so much that you were forced or compelled to look away from the center circle.

A hand broke through the floor, or more accurately it broke through the light reflected off the floor, for the foundation of your apartment room remained unblemished. You had successfully created a door of light using tallow candlelight and blood to summon a demon. You had found a successful recipe in your research and now you were going to learn if it was a good one.

It was like cooking for the desperate and depraved. Step one, preheat your living space to bloody, and once the sun goes down light your animal fat candles and pray to faceless gods. Summoning times may vary, you can use a toothpick to see if it’s done correctly.

The clawed hand was attached to a massive arm, and you were a little concerned that whatever had answered your call would be too big to fit in the living room. But, if the research was right, it shouldn’t be bigger than the circle you provided, and so far, the research had been correct. Even the parts of it that were painfully subjective.

A second hand showed up and both arms descended until they were touching the rim of the circle, bracing against it. There was a strong shudder as something pulled itself through the portal and into your living room. It reminded you of a city worker popping out from a manhole, only this creature was neither a man, nor coming up from a sewer.

Easily almost seven feet tall, and nearly as thick, a human-shaped creature stood in the circle. Dark golden eyes glimmer in the candlelight, and wild red hair, almost like fire crowns the head. Smooth marble white skin, flawless and enticing, flushed pink in places from the blood that rushed under the surface, shimmering as the tallowed flames flickered against it.

If not for the curved horns coming from its head, and the whip-like tail coming off the curve of its chiseled ass, you could have easily mistaken it for a model covered in pale makeup. The creature’s humanity came into question again as those predatory golden eyes settled on you, after it was done taking in the rest of the room. A shiver of dark scales rolls over its skin, settling over its hands and feet and staining the marble look such a deep crimson as to be almost black.

It gives you a toothy grin, dripping in approval, curiosity, and hunger. You look from the eyes to the floor as it crouches down in the circle and practically caresses you with its gaze. Human or not, the height and width weren’t the only thick things on that body.

You were a little concerned this beast had only answered your call for a singular reason, and the anticipation of that reason was rock hard between its thighs.

“You did this right, I’m impressed.” The voice is like rough sex and heavy metal music. It’s like hearing the personification of anger whisper words of love into your ear. It would be intoxicating if you could still be intoxicated, but even objectively it was a good voice.

It puts a claw near the edge of the circle and there’s a hiss as a line of smoke sizzles the tip of its claw. “You didn’t even make a rookie mistake like using your own blood.”

“Pig’s blood,” you answer and see its eyes flicker. “Mixed with sanctified water.”

There’s a low whistle. “You really did it right. I could’ve broken plain blood - human or not - but consecrating it was a wise move.” It takes a moment to admire the work. “Good penmanship too.”

“… Thanks.” You weren’t entirely sure where this conversation was going, but you didn’t want to speak unless spoken to. If you piss it off, it can leave back to where it had come from easily. Nothing in the ritual was designed to imprison it - just to protect you.

A hairless brow arches up and the creature regards you closer. “You know, I’m not complaining, not yet anyway, but you’re seriously calm.” It muses, its eyes taking you in with apt appraisal.

“I’m not a fan of the ones who are ready to piss themselves before I’ve even said boo, but you’re something else. I thought it was shock at first, but your heart rate is steady, and you’re not sweating. You're dressed - another smart move - so maybe you did enough research that you’re truly not surprised, but no amount of books would be enough.”

It leans forward, pushing against the limits of the circle it’s in. There’s no smoke coming from its face, and instead it looks like the circle is trying to stretch to accommodate it. “You’re the first one to do this right in centuries, so no one taught you, and it means you hadn’t seen it before.” The eyes narrow. “Why are you so calm?”

The words didn’t make sense. “Plenty of people have done this successfully. That’s how I was able to research-.”

“Not the right way though. They always make mistakes. If you had made mistakes, little morsel, I’d be taking what I wanted and leaving you without a deal.” It says, shifting its hips suggestively. “You could’ve tried begging me at that point, but all human bodies give out before I’ve been satisfied, and none of you so far are any good at begging properly.”

“I would like to make a deal.” You say evenly, returning the gaze. “In exchange for my body and my soul, I need your help.”

The wicked grin splits its face, and it laughs. “To the point then! Go on little mouse, tell me what it is you want of me, and I’ll decide if your body and soul are payment enough! If it’s entertaining, I may even devour you sweetly at the end of it.” It promises, long twisty tongue licking lasciviously along painted lips. “I don’t have to make it hurt, and if you’re lucky maybe you’ll cry my name with those pretty lips in a way that please me, and then I’ll let you warm my cock sweetly for eternity.”

You hadn’t felt emotions for a long time, but the energy rolling off the beast in front of you was enough to twist your core. Heat and desire pooled in you, but almost as soon as they had burned the feeling was gone. Nothing lingered anymore.

Nothing except anger, and a desire to get what was taken from you.

“Someone - something - stole my soul.” You say, and the barest memories of anger bubble up in you.

“I want it back.”

[darlingflooring]

Comparative Benefits of Epoxy vs. Other Flooring Materials

Index

1. Introduction

2. Cost Comparison: Epoxy vs. Carpet, Tile, Hardwood, Laminate, and LVP

3. Customization Options

4. Durability and Longevity

5. Benefits for Landlords

6. Maintenance and Upkeep

7. Flexibility for Future Changes

8. Aesthetic Appeal

9. Suitability for All Rooms

10. Conclusion

Introduction

Welcome to Darling Flooring’s blog! As the owner of Darling Flooring, I’m thrilled to share why epoxy flooring stands out as a superior choice compared to other common flooring options such as carpet, tile, hardwood, laminate, and luxury vinyl plank (LVP). Whether you’re a homeowner looking to enhance your space or a landlord seeking a practical solution for rental properties, understanding the benefits of epoxy flooring can help you make an informed decision. Let’s dive into the reasons why epoxy might be the perfect choice for your needs.

Cost Comparison: Epoxy vs. Carpet, Tile, Hardwood, Laminate, and LVP

When evaluating flooring options, cost is a crucial factor. Epoxy flooring is often more cost-effective compared to high-end materials like hardwood and extensive tile installations. Carpet may appear cheaper initially, but it requires frequent replacement and cleaning. Laminate and LVP are more affordable but can still fall short in durability compared to epoxy. Overall, while the upfront cost of epoxy may be slightly higher than budget-friendly options, its long-term durability and minimal maintenance needs offer excellent value.

Customization Options

Epoxy flooring offers unparalleled customization compared to traditional flooring systems. With epoxy, you can choose from a variety of colors, finishes, and textures to match your interior design perfectly. Whether you prefer a sleek, modern look or a more textured surface, epoxy can be tailored to fit your style. In contrast, carpet and laminate offer limited design choices, and tile patterns can be restrictive. Epoxy’s flexibility allows for a personalized touch that can enhance the aesthetic appeal of any space.

Durability and Longevity

Durability is one of the standout benefits of epoxy flooring. Unlike carpet, which wears out and stains easily, or hardwood, which can scratch and dent, epoxy provides a tough, long-lasting surface. It’s highly resistant to moisture, stains, and heavy impacts, making it ideal for high-traffic areas and environments prone to spills or heavy use. This level of durability means that epoxy can outlast most other flooring types, making it a wise investment for both residential and commercial spaces.

Benefits for Landlords

For landlords, epoxy flooring offers several advantages. Its durability and ease of maintenance make it a practical choice for rental properties. Epoxy floors are less likely to be damaged by tenants, and they are simple to clean between rentals. Additionally, the low maintenance requirements reduce the frequency of costly repairs and replacements. The long-lasting nature of epoxy ensures that landlords won’t need to replace flooring as often, making it a cost-effective option in the long run.

Maintenance and Upkeep

Epoxy flooring shines when it comes to maintenance. Unlike carpet, which traps dirt and requires regular cleaning, or tile, which can be difficult to grout and clean thoroughly, epoxy floors are incredibly easy to maintain. Regular sweeping and occasional mopping are typically sufficient to keep epoxy floors looking their best. This ease of upkeep contrasts sharply with the more demanding maintenance needs of hardwood and the grouting issues associated with tile.

Flexibility for Future Changes

One of the unique advantages of epoxy flooring is its ability to be covered with other flooring materials if you decide to change your home’s aesthetic. If you choose to install carpet, tile, or any other type of flooring over epoxy, it provides a solid, stable base. This flexibility allows homeowners to update their flooring style without having to remove the existing epoxy, saving money, time and effort.

Aesthetic Appeal

Epoxy flooring is known for its sleek, modern appeal. It can instantly elevate the look of any room with its shiny, smooth finish and customizable designs. Unlike traditional carpet or laminate, which may show wear and tear over time, epoxy maintains its new appearance for years. The reflective nature of epoxy can also brighten up spaces, adding a touch of contemporary elegance.

Suitability for All Rooms

Epoxy flooring excels in various environments, including high-moisture areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and garages. Its resistance to water and stains makes it ideal for these spaces, where other flooring options might struggle. Whether it’s dealing with spills in the kitchen or the demands of a busy bathroom, epoxy stands up to the challenge, offering both functionality and style.

Conclusion

In summary, epoxy flooring offers numerous benefits over traditional options like carpet, tile, hardwood, laminate, and LVP. From cost-effectiveness and customization to durability and low maintenance, epoxy is a versatile and practical choice for both homeowners and landlords. If you’re considering upgrading your flooring, I invite you to reach out to Darling Flooring. Let us help you explore how epoxy can enhance your space and meet your specific needs. Contact us today to see if epoxy flooring is the right fit for you!

[jankwritten]

Day two of re-deep cleaning my carpets: I went over each room TWICE and the water was still coming out black. However, I have figured out how to REALLY effectively use the machine now, and got out way more of the stains than I did when I deep cleaned the carpets before Christmas time.

My cousin suggested a cheaper cleaning solution than the name-branded one I’ve been using, which I might investigate after I run out of soap. I’m positive that if I did another sweep of both rooms, I’d still be pulling out huge clumps of nastiness, so the soap I’m using right now is good and all, it’s just expensive.

My other worry is that the carpet feels slightly sticky after cleaning. I’m not sure if I should put some hot water into the machine with no soap and run that over to clean up any residue or what, but right now I’m too tired - I’ve been cleaning this shit for 3 hours.

Right now, I’m just satisfied that instead of huge discolored patches everywhere, there are smaller areas of it in smaller, harder to see places.

I’m a little scared of the big living room, which is the worst in the whole house (aside from my papas room). My littlest cousin, now 17, would camp out in one chair for DAYS out there, and he’s notorious for spilling shit. Just the other day he spilled soda all over the carpet, though he did apologize to me for it because he knew I’d cleaned the carpets semi recently LMAO. Those stains were easy enough to get out, but the ones in the big living room are INSANE. Streaks of orange and bright pink completely caked in, nasty speckly spots from food spills, etc. I shudder at the thought. I’ll try tackling that room on Sunday. I’ll have to move all the furniture out of the way, but my grandparents have been good sports about letting me fuck with everything for the sake of cleaning the house.

(Please note that this carpet hasn’t been cleaned in about 10 years, that it has weathered at least 6 children from infant to teenager, and is in the home of two older folks who can’t vacuum or clean as often as the place needs. Since moving in in 2022, I’ve made it my mission to help make the house cleaner, and I’ve so far succeeded! The kitchen is a nightmare, but some battles I just can’t win LMFAO.

Also please note that glitter is a generational curse and at least 1/4 of the debris I keep pulling out of the carpet is chunky silver glitter. I don’t know how but it is in EVERY inch of the carpet in this house.

Triple note that I am in dire need of moving the furniture out of my room and closet and hitting the carpet in there again now that I know what Horrors lie beyond one imperfect deep clean. My room was originally inhabited by nightmare meth aunt who had mold growing in the windows, burnt a huge hole in the carpet that the old cat used to pee in, had broken mirrors laying on the floor, and left behind various, sticky brown stains all over the carpet that I figured I just wouldn’t be able to get out. I now know how to get them out and by the gods. Will I do that. Sometime. Eventually.)

[plantaffinity]

Energy crisis. Tips that actually keep you warm in your home.

Rugs on your floors. This has been used ever since people started living in houses. Don't underestimate rugs and carpets.

Covering the windows with f.ex blankets or newspapers or anything else. Windows aren't very well isolated, it's just glass so they really cool down the air inside. This is why they had smaller and fewer windows in the past.

Wear warmer clothes. If you're warm, you warm up the space as well.

Close doors (you could isolate them with blankets or newspapers too) between rooms to keep one room warmer than others. This is quite literally why old houses have so many rooms and walls, to keep the heat where they need it to be. Rooms that don't need to be very warm could be cellars, hallways, guest rooms. Prioritize.

If you have a small space and want everywhere to be the same temp, stop closing the doors between the rooms. Some rooms definitely have better or worse heating in the radiators, and that heat might be trapped in a room that you don't need to be that warm, often happens with bathrooms.

After you've cooked using an oven, open the oven door. You can keep it on at a lower heat (if you have a high heat you risk melting plastic buttons or harming other things close to the oven, maybe even causing fires) if you're ready to pay the bills for that electricity, but if you're trying to save money I suggest you turn the oven off before opening it.

Blankets in layers. I usually do a thin one first, then a fluffy/chunky one (the "chunk" works like isolation. Duvets, fluff blankets or crochet blankets work well) and then a big, thick blanket on top. I have no science to back my preference, so you can try other combinations.

Tea lights. They actually warm the space up marginally, but I have no idea if it's worth the money and how many you would need to actually make a difference, so proceed with caution and don't assume it's cheaper, instead do research on it.

Invite people over. Humans are warm, kinda like having a really big tea light. But humans also move around, creating air flow and warming up the air. An alternative would be to invite dogs over but I don't know how that would work, and many dogs have isolated fur so might not warm you up that much (their body heat doesn't escape into the air as much)

Open the door when or after you shower. You'll share the warm air with the rest of the house. A warning though, there might be condensation on your windows, and depending on how cold it is outside this could cause ice to build on your windows so be careful if you do this.

Move around. Clean your house or exercise or do a stretching session or yoga. You'll create warmth and you'll feel warmer, too.

Free space around your radiator. A lot of people have their radiators covered up by a huge sofa, so the radiator warms up the back of the sofa and not much else. Release him from his prison.

Additionally, furniture can also be used as isolation. Place big bulky furniture (like sofas, bookshelves, chests, anything with drawers) against an outer wall or a wall next to a room that's colder.

That's all I have for now, feel free to share your tips as well but I want this to be assembled info that is actually useful, so no "Diy radiator" or whatever. I'd prefer if tips were old methods that humans have used for a very long time that we underestimate nowadays because we live so comfortably without them.

[ivirginus]

Is It Better to Invest in Land or House?

Is It Better to Invest in Land or House?

SEARCH LAND FOR SALE Ever since the pandemic, it has become more difficult for people to purchase real estate, primarily due to rising property prices and competition because of a lack of availability. Still, since real estate tends to keep its value, owning property is more important than ever as inflation rears its ugly head.   If you’re a novice real estate investor, you might need help determining whether to purchase a parcel of land or a home. In addition, find the answer to the most important question: “is it better to invest in land or a house?” and make an informed decision.

Land Is Easier to Maintain

Undeveloped land is far simpler to maintain than houses and has little to no additional upkeep costs. Of course, this does not imply that you should purchase a plot and forget about it, but owning a piece of land is less demanding compared to alternative investments. For instance, if you intend to make some passive income out of your land, do some simple touch-ups to enhance its quality by leveling the uneven ground and removing invasive plants. On the other hand, if you choose to rent out your house, you will need to deal with everything from minor wiring and plumbing problems to extensive remodeling and renovation work. Also, you will be responsible for fixing any issues that inevitably develop over time, such as water damage, peeling paint, scratched flooring, worn-out carpets, and other issues. Moreover, if you’re using the buy-and-hold land investment strategy, you don’t even need to visit the plot of land regularly. Suppose your plot is safe and has a boundary wall. In that case, you only need to check it occasionally to ensure there are no obvious damages like a burst pipeline or illegal encroachments. If everything seems in order, you should simply wait and see the property value appreciate with time.

Plots of Land Have Higher Resale Value

This is one of the most critical points in the “is it better to invest in land or house” debate: land value rises with time, whereas the resale value of houses decreases drastically. Even if you can rent a house or an apartment for a constant cash stream, it will continue losing its value. The market value can depreciate due to the house’s obsolete design, antiquated construction methods, and normal wear and tear. The price of your residential unit can also be negatively impacted by the development of new, contemporary projects in the neighborhood. On the other hand, the value of raw land increases rather quickly. That is particularly true if it is situated in a popular or up-and-coming neighborhood. After all, there will always be a sizable portion of wealthy buyers who favor purchasing acres of land and constructing a bespoke home that meets their needs rather than buying an old house that requires time and money to fix.  So, despite the lack of immediate cash flow, purchasing raw land is a wise decision for people looking to make long-term investments. Moreover, the high resale value will more than make up for the fact that a plot will lie there for a long time without producing any profit.

Land Offers Greater Flexibility

Investment in land offers virtually unlimited possibilities. If building your own house has always been the primary driver behind your real estate purchase, you can do it. Alternatively, you may keep it until its worth increases and sell it to a developer. Some people will even buy a piece of property to keep cattle on and sell it later if they want. You could even develop a rental home on a few acres to make extra money. Land is a very versatile investment because it has so much potential. SEARCH LAND FOR SALE

A Piece of Land Is Cheaper to Buy

Purchasing vacant land is far less expensive than buying a home or an apartment. The reason behind this is simple: when you’re buying a house, you’re essentially paying for two things — the lot and the actual building.  Thus the answer to the question is it better to invest in land or house is straightforward. Additionally, you won’t really be able to customize the home unless you also perform repairs on the site, which may wind up costing you more money than you intended.   On the other hand, the vacant piece of land allows you to plan a desirable floor layout while leaving room for a backyard garden or family gatherings around a bonfire. In other words, when owning land, you are the master of your ship. 

What to Do with Your Land Investment

Once you invest in vacant land, you have numerous options for what to do with it. You could buy and hold onto it and then sell it when its price appreciates. While you wait on its value to increase, you can lease it and earn passive income or actively use it for ranching, farming, or anything else. Another option is to learn the highest and best use of the land and develop it accordingly. If you go down this route, answer the following questions: - Is the planned usage physically attainable? What can and cannot be built can be restricted due to the land’s topography. - Is the proposed use authorized? Zoning regulations may apply. - Does the transaction make sense financially? Analyzing the market is necessary here. You should be aware of the various projects’ construction expenses and their potential for income, such as the rent they might bring in. - What is the land’s optimal use? The ideal course of action can be decided when you have calculated your numbers and comprehended the implications around the land.

Is It Better to Invest in Land or House: Final Thoughts

The land cost has been steadily rising, a trend that’s anticipated to continue. Due to the imbalance between supply and demand, land prices have increased by twice as much as those of other types of property. Therefore, you should invest in vacant land to produce superior profits. When investing in such a long-term, tangible asset, you can hold onto it and do something with it when the time is right. This means that you might have to wait for a longer period of time to make profits, but the good news is that owning land costs much less than owning a house — there are virtually no maintenance costs, and you’ll pay only the property taxes. If you’re ready to become a landowner, contact Discount Lots today — we have a vast selection of off-market listings and offer flexible investment property financing! Looking for Vacant Land? Discount Lots has affordable land for sale across the country. SEARCH LAND FOR SALE Read the full article

[ere-the-sun-rises]

11. Stretch regularly, whetger you exercise or not. It makes your body feel good and makes it easier to sleep.

12. Shower at least every other day. It's a godsend for your mental health.

13. Surround yourself with things you like. I don't care how cringe it may feel - having a space full of things you love that feel like you makes the world a little easier to deal with.

14. Put a plant in whichever rooms you spend the most time in. They don't have to be big or even really pretty, they just need to be there. Greenery matters to your mental health and the routine of watering them is bizarrely serene and calming.

15. Own a multi-headed screwdriver, small hammer, needle nose pliers, slip joint pliers, an exacto knife, wood glue, a putty knife, Polyfilla and electrical tape. Congratulations, you can now fix nearly anything in your house.

16. Screws are better for securing things than nails and Robertson screws (the square-holed ones) are the easiest and most effective to screw in.

17. Marie Kondo's folding method for clothes is really space-effective.

18. Bathmats and floor runners are far, far superior to carpet because you can throw them in the washing machine. If you need full floor coverage, buy an area rug instead.

19. If you can, buy a very good, thick-bottomed stainless steel collection of pots. They will be expensive, but you will never need another pot in your life.

20. Open the windows in your place as often as you can.

21. Have a minimum of two ice packs in your freezer and a heating pad. These are invaluable.

22. It is really worth it to buy the fabric band-aids over the cheaper plastic ones. Everything else being generic or dollar store is fine.

23. You're never too old to enjoy things. You don't become more of an adult because you're joyless - you just become a miserable adult.

24. $1000 is not a lot to make, but it is a lot to spend. Do so wisely.

25. Establish credit score early. The longer you have it running, the better it will be and the easier it will be to get loans for big things like houses or cars.

26. *Ideally* one paycheque should pay your rent/mortgage while the other picks up all the other expenses. Ideally. I know it doesn't always work that way.

27. Try to make older friends at work/school, including senior staff/profs. They'll look out for you and knowing older people is good for you.

28. If someone in your life treats you like shit, get rid of them.

29. Do not stay in a relationship just because "they've done nothing wrong." If you're not getting what you need, just leave. There doesn't have to be a wrong done to break up. And for fuck's sake, do not start fighting with your partner to give yourself an excuse. Be better than that.

30. Children put a lot of strain on finances and relationships. Do not have them if either of those are under significant strain.

31. Your twenties are early years yet. Fuck up, learn from it, and move on. Live your life at your own pace, own who you are, love who you love, dress how you want and be who you want to.

32. Try harder to be kind rather than good. Being good is fine, but being kind is what shows.

33. You don't need a moral justification for disliking someone/thing. You don't have to be an ass about it, but it's really okay to just not like something.

hi any life advice for 21yo

Don't date thirty-year-olds until you are at least 25.

Having a glass of water for every glass of alcohol will give you a 50% reduction in hangover viciousness.

Bad people will use your willingness to be quiet as a weapon against you. If someone's being awful to you and trusting you'll be quiet to keep from making waves, surprise them.

There is no physical object in the world that is worth as much as your honor.

Honor is not the same as dignity. Retaining one sometimes means leaving the other aside.

Don't have any sex you don't want to have; have as much as you want of the sex that you do, whether that's a lot, a little, or none at all. Nothing you can do to your own body is immoral, unless you're doing it as an act of self-punishment.

Food is morally neutral. You do not have to earn the right to eat calories. Fat and sugar keep your brain from eating itself.

Learning to sit still and breathe--in, in, in, hold, hold, hold, out, out, out, out, out, out--can give you five feet of clear space around yourself in a maelstrom.

Find out how to make three good meals: A comfort meal you can make for just yourself relatively easily, a fancy meal you can use to wow a date, and a meal you can feed a bunch of people. All the other cooking can come later, but you can build a community on those three meals.

If you ever get to the point that things are so bleak you can see no other way forward but to die, make any other choice. If that means leaving everything you own and being a beach bum, or quitting your career, or taking up or leaving a religion, or deciding to bicycle across the country, so be it; living means more chances, dying means everything stops and you don't get to see any more interesting things. As you have not yet seen all the things that can interest you, it is better to live.

[cleaningservicekellyvielle]

Carpet Cleaning Kellyville- Protecting Your Carpets from Stains and Wear

It's a huge investment in any house, providing warmth as well as aesthetic appeal, though very susceptible to staining and dirt as well as wear and tear, especially in those super-hiked trafficked zones. But as any homeowner in Kellyville could rightly attest, keeping carpets at the top of form is always an overwhelming job. The good news, however, is that with the right strategies coupled up with constant professional cleaning of carpets in Kellyville, you can save your carpets and extend its life.

Within this article, we shall talk about how not to harm carpets and what SpotlessOz, the leading carpet cleaning in Kellyville, can do for you to help you achieve sparkling, stain-free carpets.

Vacuum Regularly Reduce Dirt Build-Up Perhaps the most straightforward and effective way to protect your carpets from early wear and tear is through regular vacuuming. Dirt, dust, and other debris fall into the carpet fibers, and if not cleaned, these particles can eventually cut through them. The frequent removal of the particles through vacuuming avoids such grating effects on the fibers, saving carpets from wear.

For heavy-traffic zones like hallways, living rooms, and entryways, vacuum twice a week. For less-trafficked zones, once a week should be enough. Regular vacuuming also makes professional carpet cleaning in Kellyville work better, as during the time between deep cleanings, the carpet will be relatively clean.

Install Rugs and Runners in High-Traffic Zones Area rugs or runners in heavy traffic areas are some of the best ways to protect your carpets from becoming worn out. They can act as a barrier, absorbing much of the dirt and foot traffic that otherwise would wear out your carpets. Not just cheaper, easier to clean and replace than an entire carpet, they also represent a wise investment for homeowners interested in maintaining their flooring.

Placing rugs near entryways, hallways, and living room walkways can help reduce the carpet wear drastically. Furthermore, regular cleaning and replacement of these rugs can ensure that your carpets do not get damaged.

Respond to Spills and Stains Promptly Spills are inevitable, especially for those who have children or pets at home, but what you do afterwards can spell the difference between saving your carpet and getting permanent stains. The fastest way to avoid stains is by being prompt in acting upon spills. It is essential to blot spills immediately once they occur on the carpet. Use a clean cloth or paper towel to blot the spill, and never rub it. Rubbing pushes the liquid deeper into the fibers of the carpet, and it is harder to remove the spill. It may even damage the fibers of the carpet.

Once you have blotted the spill, use a mild carpet cleaner or a solution of water and white vinegar to clean the stain. Red wine, coffee, and ink are some stains that might require professional carpet cleaning in Kellyville since they can be tough.

SpotlessOz stain removal is a service offered as an integral part of carpet cleaning services. By applying the latest technologies and using the most environmentally friendly products, we ensure that even the toughest stains will disappear, leaving the carpets spotless clean.

Implement a "No-Shoes" Policy Indoors A simple way to protect your carpets from dirt, mud, and grime is to enforce a "no-shoes" policy indoors. Shoes contain all forms of outdoors debris-from dust to dirt and the oils which will sometimes cling, which can quickly dirty up carpets and promote early wear.

Encourage family members and visitors to remove their shoes as they enter. Provide indoor slippers or shoes, and have a shoe rack or a basket by the entrance for people to use on entering so that they are reminded not to walk on areas carpeted.

Rotate furniture to prevent indentations. Heavily placed furniture can be quite damaging to the carpets if left for long periods of time as it creates scratches and indents. For this, you should change or rotate your furniture often and distribute the weight of them evenly.

If you see depressions, melt the ice. Place an ice cube on the dented area. As ice melts, fluff the fibers with a spoon or the rim of a fork. This is the simplest trick to keep your carpet from getting dented in the long run.

Professional Carpet Cleaning in Kellyville While regular vacuuming and spot cleaning are crucial, nothing is as beneficial as the deep-cleaning power from professional carpet cleaning. A carpet continues to accumulate dust and allergens over time; household cleaning methods cannot remove all stains and dust from carpets. Professional cleaning is what can revitalize the carpets by reaching into the fibers to trap dirt, bacteria, and allergens; thus your house is left clean and healthier.

We provide high-quality carpet cleaning services in Kellyville, utilizing latest equipment and Eco-friendly products so that your carpets look good as new. Steam cleaning is one of our specializations, not only removing stains but also sanitizing them, which helps kill allergens and bacteria harmful to the quality of indoor air.

Setting up a maintenance schedule for professional cleanings every 6 to 12 months, which applies according to your household, can stretch out the life of your carpet and keep it smelling fresh all year round. More frequent cleanings might be required in high-traffic homes with pets or children.

Use Fabric Protectors for Your Carpets So doing this after having had your carpets professionally cleaned is a great way to protect them from future stains and spills. Fabric protectors work in their application by creating an invisible coating over the carpet fibers, allowing you to more easily clean up spills before they penetrate the surface.

We offer applications of fabric protector as part of carpet cleaning service from us in Kellyville. This also ensures that your carpets get to stay cleaner for longer periods while future spillages are easier to handle. Moisture damage can also be caused to carpets from high humidity. This will lead to molds and mildews that may not only destroy your carpets but also the health of your family. In regions with such humidity levels, ensuring you have a dehumidifier is recommended. Also, when you are hiring professional carpet cleaning services, ensure that you provide proper ventilation that will allow the carpets to dry out completely.

Conclusion: It is a continuous process to protect your carpets from stains and wear, but with regular care and professional help, your carpets are going to look beautiful and last long. Following the above tips—vaccination regularly, immediately addressing spills, and scheduling professional carpet cleaning in Kellyville—you'll be able to maintain a clean, healthy, and inviting home.

At SpotlessOz, we completely believe in providing the best in-class carpet cleaning in Kellyville due to the fact that your carpets become not just clean but free from allergens, bacteria, and tough stains. Eco-friendly products and expert techniques make us homeowners' choice for spotless and long-lasting carpets.

[riseofthedark]

It was spring when you started the search for an apartment. You were going into your final year at college and at this point you were close to drowning in student debt. After careful consideration (one drunk night and a subsequent discussion with your therapist) you decided student housing wasn't worth the price and thus your search began.

Due to unlucky rooming assignments in the past you decided a single room apartment or loft was suited for you to avoid further.....mmmm unfortunate circumstances. Rent, was expensive. No matter where you looked without roommate's, you couldn't afford to live out of student housing. Then you found it.

It was only a 20 minute drive from your school in a 13 story building. While not furnished, utilities were included in the rent and a washer dryer unit was within your apartment. It looked spacious and was only a quarter of the rent anywhere else was looking for. While it sounded sketchy, your friend from in town said it was a good area and with no other good options you applied.

They responded almost immediately and with enthusiasm brought you in to sign the lease. The wallpaper was peeling from the walls and the carpet was worn down to the point where you could almost see the fiber board underneath it. Despite its run down appearance the price of rent was low enough that you could overlook it. Within the next month you were moved in.

To be honest, since you had been living in student housing you owned no furniture but you had enough to buy a mattress and an inflatable couch which served their purposes for now. Your unit was, well interesting to say the least. The cabinets in the kitchen all hung loosely on their hinges and had a nasty habit of slamming throughout the night. The shelves were also on an angle, resulting in the shattering of dishes you had brought with you upon moving in. But, after a quick Target run you had enough plastic dishes to host a church potluck.

You also believed your neighbors dog needs some more training as the howling that dog released at night was loud enough to rattle your windows. Your lights were always flickering and someone loved to thump down the hallways at midnight. Which, for some reason the power always went out at the same time. As this was consistent you made sure to have your phone and computer charged before hand as upon observation power didn't return until 7am. Oddly enough your never saw any of your neighbors even when trying to see who was thumping down the hallway.

But hey, it was still cheaper than anywhere else. Growing up you were always the type of person who loved to do hands on activities. Any crafts you could get your hands on you did. With that you had also joined the tech crew of your high-school's theater club and learned repair sets and how to use power tools. When you went off to college you brought a giant bin of craft supplies and had convinced your parents to get you tools and other building accessories.

This, you realized was to your advantage. As after two weeks of cupboards slamming you were done. The next free day you had the cupboards were disassembled and on your floor. Minus of course, the part attached to your walls. Upon further inspection the previous tenant had adjusted the pegs in each cupboard making the shelves lie at a permanent diagonal. That was an easy fix if not annoying.

The doors on the other hand? Well whoever installed them previously obviously shouldn't have and now you had some work ahead of you. The hinges had been attached with nails hence the hanging and slamming but they were also cut unevenly so even if they were hung correctly they wouldn't shut. The bright side of the unit was that it had a balcony, which you were now covering in saw dust due to sanding down the cupboard doors. At the end of the day though the cupboards were firmly attached and the shelves were no longer attempting to kill your dishes.

You went to bed under the assumption that this would be the end of the cupboard slamming but you were wrong.

You move into a suspiciously low rent apartment, that’s in some disrepair but not enough to account for the price. It turns out the other occupants are all evil supernatural beings. They set out to torment you, but then discover that you have done more to repair the building than the landlords.

[stonerockpavingmasonry]

5 Trends for Upgraded Residential Walkways - Say Yes to An Amazing 2024 Summer

Have you been wondering how you add some extra pizzazz to your outdoors? Residential Walkway Construction Suffolk County is all in trend, highlighting your house like no other. It lets you and your guests access the house in style, like a red carpet to the important areas. It makes a lasting impression on everyone who visits and makes you love your home that much more. Let’s talk about the trendiest Residential homefront for the summer of 2024.

Finding the best walkways for you

Modern Stepping stones

One of the more recent styles, the stepping stones has become very popular among the younger generation. The design involves sleek slabs enhancing the visual appeal of your outdoors. They are easy to maintain and blend beautifully with the natural surroundings. Not only is it aesthetic, but it also provides great functionality. It guides your visitors to where they need to be while protecting the grass from unnecessary footfall.

Brick Pavers

This is an old classic, used for a long time pretty much everywhere. From outdoor flooring to outdoor features, and is immensely popular among those who love a timeless aesthetic. With a plethora of combinations, varying with the brick colors and designs its popularity just keeps on growing. Paver Driveway Installation in Long Island made of brick adds value to your house while maintaining its elegance. Another alternative is an Asphalt driveway which is much cheaper and popular due to its price.

Cobblestone

One of the more old-school styles that are still popular, these designs have been among us for years now. Their style knows and utility knows no limit. They blend in beautifully with the natural elements. Cobblestone has been traditionally used in castles, and don’t be shocked if it gives the same look to your outdoors. It is highly durable as well as versatile in its colors, giving you a variety of options to choose from.

Wood

This naturally occurring material provides a multitude of options to style your outdoors. Custom stoops made from wood are cheaper to install than concrete stoops. Wood has traditionally been used in a variety of designs. They are used in making patios, and wooden decks to go along with your walkway. It is very comfortable to walk on compared to concrete or other materials and is highly recommended.

Concrete

It has been a highly popular choice, due to its inexpensiveness as well as flexibility. Concrete is used in driveways stylish walkways and even pools. They are popularly used because of their durability and inexpensiveness. They are even more popular for Poolscape repair and design. Multiple companies provide these services, along with creating and designing your outdoors for you, giving it an amazing look.

Final Words

Styling your outdoors shows not only your unique taste but also highlights your residence. Walkways have been used for these purposes to impress your guests and you alike. It is not restricted to just walkways. They act as paths to important locations and highlights of your house whether it be your pool or garden. Things you are proud of. With these designs trending it is a great opportunity to show off your house to the world.

For more information visit our Website!