#Louvre Windows for security

[shuttermanuk]

Here at ShutterMan, we are a shutter company offering shutter products such as fitted interior window shutters, plantation shutters, white shutters, shutter installation, solid panel shutters, shutters for patio doors, home security shutters, wooden shutters, PVC waterproof shutters, and made to measure wooden shutters to clients throughout Uckfield and the surrounding areas of East Sussex.

Please call us today if you require additional information about our shutter products. We're always on hand to take your call, answer any questions and deal with any enquiries you may have.

Website: https://shutterman.uk/

Address: 33 Scarletts Close, Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 2BA

Phone Number: 01825760722

Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 09:00 AM - 06:00 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM - 02:00 PM Sunday: Closed

Contact Mail: office@shutterman.uk

[windowanddoorinstallation]

Louvre Windows in Sydney for Fresh Air and Modern Elegance

While getting a new property constructed or during property renovation, people often ignore the importance of windows in every room. They play a crucial role in the overall functionality of the spaces and the entire property. For example, they help with proper ventilation and ensure that adequate light enters the property. The most prevalent version is the Louvre windows in Sydney, and they come with different features, perks and advantages, and we have discussed some in this write-up.

They Are Attractive and Popular

The main reason why people opt for louvre windows for homes and offices is that they are lovely and popular. They are often used as a decor option in Australian properties, and it is a fact that they can suit different styles of properties very easily.

They Are Known For Better Energy Efficiency

One more reason why louvre windows services are preferred is that they make properties more energy-efficient. Studies tell that they reduce domestic energy consumption significantly and act impressively as a practical alternative to fans and lights in laundry rooms and bathrooms. They can keep the interiors well-ventilated, cool and fresh, and you don't have to use artificial cooling and lighting solutions.

Enjoy Constant Airflow

With louvre windows, homes can be made more airy and fresher, as the design allows more and more cool breeze to enter into the property. This ensures highly effective ventilation, consistent air flow, reduced humidity, and reduced chances of germ growth inside the home.

High-Level Privacy

If you want more privacy, you can go with louvre windows in Sydney. The design shuts down the blades entirely and ensures that outsiders never get to see anything inside your home. The material also provides high-level privacy, as timber, aluminium, or frosted glass can be used for slats.

Enhance the Overall Aesthetic Appeal

These windows also act impressively to enhance the property's overall aesthetic appeal and give a different look to interiors and designs. They are available in various materials, colours and styles, and there is an opportunity to choose the looks that complement the home and increase its resale value.

Easy To Maintain

The efforts related to cleaning these louvre windows in Sydney are next to zero, and this is yet another reason why they are incredibly popular. Every individual slat can be accessed easily to clean from both slides. Also, if damaged, replacing the slats with the new ones is very easy.

[indoorrollershutters]

Are Roller Shutters Secure?

When you think of security, external shutters are probably not the first thing you will think of. However, they are an effective deterrent to burglars and have many more benefits than you can think of.

The best way to protect your property from burglars is to secure all of your doors and windows. Using a security camera can reduce the chances of a potential house break-in, but they alone are not enough. Installing roller shutters will reinforce your doors and windows, making your home harder to break into.

You should invest in a quality motorized system to automatically open and close your shutters.

A motorized automated system works best on heavy doors. Activating it with a button press is an easy way to ensure that your shutters stay locked and out of reach. Likewise, you can purchase a mobile application that allows you to control your shutters from afar.

Security exterior shutters are also ideal for commercial buildings, warehouses and garages. They are also an excellent wall-to-wall deterrent. With the right installation, they can even serve as a safe window in the event of a fire.

While roller shutters can be a strong deterrent, they are not without their flaws. Some people try to cut them, while others use brute force to get inside. In general, the most difficult way to break into a roller shutter is by using a special power tool. If yours is not made of high-quality material, you can end up with a broken product.

This is why it is important to source your roller shutters from reliable companies. QLD Roller Shutters have been building and installing roller shutters in Southeast Queensland for over 25 years. We custom design all roller shutters and focus on speedy service for timely delivery and installation.

Contact QLD Roller Shutters today to get a quote. https://www.qldrollershutters.com.au

[im-robins-bitch]

Paris is beautiful, but seeing Robin prance around Paris with a beret on her head and a cheesy smile on her face? Now that is a religious experience. 

Robin Buckley had a bucket list of things she wanted to do while she was in the city of love and as her dutiful girlfriend you planned on crossing off every single one while you were here.  

Taking photos of her posing bashfully next to the seine. 

Holding hands as you walk through various markets. 

Admiring the stained glass of Notre Dame and wondering if you could afford to have stained glass windows in your home or even some gargoyles.  

Feeding each other macaroons and trying to guess each flavour. 

Suggesting you put a love lock on the Pont Des Arts Bridge, but Robin spends 10 minutes explaining why it’s bad for the bridge. She also doesn’t want someone to cut off her lock and possibly jinx your relationship, but she keeps that reason to herself. 

You’ll walk around the Louvre Museum and every so often you’ll turn from a painting to ask her something and find her already looking at you adoringly. Every time she directs you to a painting she likes in particular she’ll always whisper in your ear after that it still isn’t as beautiful as you. 

After a whirlwind of sightseeing, you’ll both settle down for a picnic in one of the less busy parks, giving your feet some time to recover. Chocolate strawberries, fluffy pastries and some ice-cream helps you both recover your strength. 

Imagine Robins's face, warm from the sun, staring down at you while you rest your head in her lap, playing with her fingers while she tries to lick the melted chocolate from her lips. 

That night you’d walk around the town, seeing Paris lit up in the night. 

The day before you’d have to head home you’d go to the Eiffel Tower, kissing your girlfriend at the top like you’re in a movie. 

It was the last thing on Robin’s bucket list and the only thing that was on yours. There was one thing you wanted to do in Paris, and that was propose to your girlfriend on top of that tower. 

You’d turn around. You claim you want a proper look at the view, but really you're looking for the ring you’ve hidden in your pocket. It was a hard time smuggling that through security without Robin noticing, but it was all going to be worth it when you proposed to her in the city of her dreams. 

The speech is on the tip of your tongue as you go over the words in your head again and again. 

“Robin,” You would mumble, trying to work up the courage, but when you spin around to see her Robin is already on her knees, a velvet box held open to you with a ring between the cushions. 

“There was one more thing on my Paris bucket list”

Masterlist

[timchalamet-devoted]

Trip to the "City of Love" (Part 2)

A/N: Finally finished!!! Right, I hope you enjoy the second part ( I tried to keep it as romantic as I could) while I go work on the third part 🚶‍♀️

Summary: In which you and Timmy spend your first night in the "City of Love"

Pairing: fem reader x Timothèe

Warnings: I wouldn't really say there are any, apart from a second mention of alcohol.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Part 1 ~ Part 3 ~ Masterlist

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Your phone was in your hand the moment you landed. Every pretty street, cafe, building, and extraordinary landmark; you wanted to capture it all so that even when you would leave, the reminiscence of the city will stay with you forever. It took your breath away, throughout the entire duration of your car ride to your hotel, all you could do was stare out the window, unable to tear your eyes away. The night cityscape flashed before your eyes, as the car raced through the streets. You felt overwhelmed, you wanted to do everything, see everything, have it all, feeling as though there wasn't enough time.

On the backseat beside you, Timothée gazed at you, smiling at how you admired the view.

He reached over, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. You spun your head around, breaking out into a wide grin before leaning over and capturing his lips in yours. Your hand was soon at the back of his neck, softly tugging on his soft curls. When you pulled away, the smiles on your faces only grew. You felt so much love at that moment, holding him in your arms, about to explore this beloved city together.

~~~~~~~

The room was flooded with the first rays of sunlight, casting a heavenly glow on your boy. Your eyes were met with his divine features and messy curls, behind him the Eiffel Tower was visible through the doors of the balcony. You allowed yourself to dwell on the moment, feeling completely content beside him. His hand rested on your waist, hugging you closer to his frame, warmth radiating from his body. You were soon met with his open eyes, staring right back at you. They seemed to sparkle, as a light blush coated his skin.

You moved to cup his face in your hands, thumb stroking his soft skin.

As you arrived during the late evening, the two of you were too drained yesterday, and so had to wait till morning. However, now nothing stood between you and this dream of a city just outside your windows.

Your mind was racing with all the possible places you could visit and the things you could do, heart thumping just at the idea.

Although you had a rough idea of places you wanted to visit, you had no particular order or schedule, so you were free to do whatever your hearts desired.

This newfound liberty excited you like nothing else.

You and Timmy agreed that the Louvre would be first on your agenda, especially since it would be good to arrive there early before the crowds started pouring in.

After scouting a small patisserie just by your hotel, you grabbed a pastry and a cup of coffee each before calling a taxi to drive you to the gallery.

Once there, no one could pull you away. You were utterly awestruck. Hallway after hallway, you skipped from room to room, each one seemingly even more beautiful than the last.

"I wonder what's in this hall" You muttered, following a rather large group of people into a room that was packed to the absolute max.

After noticing the increased number of security guards, it didn't take long for your eyes to land on the one and only Mona Lisa. There it was. This legendary piece right before you. You waited your turn patiently, before asking a nearby stranger to take a picture of you and Timothée.

He wrapped an arm around your shoulders, leaning into you so that you could place your head on his shoulder. Your smiles were bright as ever.

Walking out of the museum, you felt like dancing. You were engulfed in this feeling of pure joy and carefreeness. Enjoying the luxury of time, that you came about very rarely, you Timmy decided to just wander around the city, without a map or any particular destination in mind, just explore where your heart pulled you.

You walked by the river bank, the air cool from the body of water, ruffling your hair slightly. A soft crackle of leaves sounded beneath your shoes, as you and Timothée talked quietly, walking further down the Seine river. You made a short pit stop for Ice cream before continuing last the Notre-dame de Paris, standing grand among the trees.

At one point, a particularly large group of your fans recognized you two. You hadn't noticed them ( to this day you weren't sure how) as they crept behind you, sneaking photos of you as you walked along the streets and exchanged kisses under the Parisian bridges. When one of you finally caught sight of the cunning group, it took one wide-eyed glance between you two before you were running hand in hand in the opposite direction, laughing uncontrollably.

As time went on, your legs were growing tired, but the festivities were not over yet. As the sun began to set over the horizon, you and Timmy made your way back to the hotel to change into your evening attire. As the only thing you planned, you had a reservation awaiting you in one of the most expensive restaurants in the city. You were hesitant about the idea at first, however, Timmy insisted to treat you.

The most beautiful of gowns was layed on the bed; a shimmering black dress that fell to ankles. It was lined with golden detailing and hugged your figure perfectly. You paired it with marching heels and diamond earrings, feeling like a million-dollar jem.

At the sight of you, Timothée's jaw dropped. His eyes roamed your body, trying to memorize every inch, finally coming up to meet yours. No words were required, you could feel the love he felt for you.

You admired him in return. Somehow, he managed to match your dress, looking his usual stunning.

The restaurant sat on a low hill, with a magnificent patio, adorned with grape vines and surrounded by a large variety of fruit trees, producing a lovely sweet scent.

From the restaurant, the Eiffel Tower could be seen clear as day, now shimmering with thousands of tiny lights.

Timothée and you were shown to your table, at the edge closest to the Tower, and menus were displayed before you.

You took your time looking over the menu, asking Timothée for help translating a dish every now and then.

While waiting for your starters, Timmy insisted to take a couple of pictures of you in front of the Tower. You agreed, posing for the camera, your smile iridescent and bright.

The food was absolutely divine, carefully prepared, and plated beautifully. To say you enjoyed it would be an understatement.

At last, it was time for the highlight of your evening: climbing the tower itself.

You made your way through the gardens that led it, fingers brushing the soft flower petals.

The closer you got, the more wonders truck you were. It stretched before you into the night sky, glittering and magnificent.

Once at the top, you couldn't belive the sight before you. Timmy stood beside you, his arm safely wrapped around your waist, head resting on you shoulder, occasionally angling his head to place a loving kiss upon your neck.

The wind whipped up the edges of your dress slightly, stray stands of hair slipping into your face.

The city sparkled below, life still visible on the busy streets despite the late hours of the night.

A glass of champagne in your hand

Your eyes were on the city but his were on you.

You inhaled the night air, closing your eyes at the thought that you were finally here, in the city of love, in Paris, at the top of the Eiffel Tower with your lover. Your Timmy.

[selmasemlan]

A trip to France

Summary: A trip to Paris with the troublesome trio, leaders to, you guessed it, trouble.

Pairing: Marcel Gerard x Luna Salvatore (OFC), Stiles Stilinski x Luna (platonic), Isaac Lahey x Luna (platonic)

Author note: This is one of the longest fics I have ever written, but here it is.

Warning: mention of violence, mention of mental manipulation (magic)

Word count: 3168

Series Masterlist

A trip to France

Luna, Stiles, and Isaac found themselves in Paris, a city bustling with life and history, a stark contrast to the eerie quiet of Beacon Hills they had left behind. The trip was a much-needed escape after the harrowing events involving the nogitsune. For Luna especially, it was a chance to breathe freely, away from the shadows that had haunted her.

Securing permission to travel without adult supervision had been a challenge of epic proportions. Stiles, always the persuasive talker, had to debate with his skeptical dad, Noah, while Luna and Isaac pleaded their case to Stefan and Damon Salvatore. Arguments about safety, responsibility, and the necessity of this trip echoed through the Salvatore mansion until finally, with solemn promises to stay together and watch over each other, the adults relented. They hoped that a change of scenery might offer healing and respite for the young trio.

The first few days in Paris were nothing short of magical. Luna, with her keen eye for fashion, was mesmerized by the elegant Parisian style. She spent hours sketching designs in her notebook, inspired by the haute couture she glimpsed in boutique windows along the Champs-Élysées. Stiles, the eternal history enthusiast, soaked in every detail about the city’s past as they explored museums and iconic landmarks like the Louvre and Notre-Dame. Isaac, quieter than usual but visibly trying to move forward from Allison’s tragic death, found solace in the beauty of the Seine River and the stunning architecture that seemed to whisper tales of centuries gone by.

One sunny afternoon, they found themselves sitting at a charming café near the Eiffel Tower. The aroma of freshly baked croissants and strong coffee wafted through the air as Luna flipped through a magazine, her fingers tracing over the latest trends in Parisian fashion.

"This city is incredible," Luna sighed contentedly, glancing up at the wrought-iron tables scattered under colorful umbrellas. "I feel like I could spend a lifetime just exploring the fashion here."

Stiles, sipping his café au lait, nodded enthusiastically. "And the history! Did you know the Eiffel Tower was originally intended to be a temporary structure? It was built for the 1889 World's Fair."

Isaac, stirring his espresso thoughtfully, looked up with a faint smile. "It's hard to believe so much has happened in this city. It's like every corner holds a different story."

Their conversation drifted lazily as they savored the peaceful moment, the weight of recent events momentarily lifted. Paris seemed to weave its spell around them, offering a fleeting sense of normalcy and joy amid their shared sorrow.

As dusk settled over the city, casting a golden glow over the cobbled streets, they made their way back to the hotel, their hearts lighter than they had been in weeks. Little did they know, their Parisian adventure was about to take an unexpected turn that would test their bonds of friendship and resilience like never before.

One evening in Paris, Luna, Stiles, and Isaac found themselves lured by the city's vibrant nightlife to a trendy club nestled in the heart of Montmartre. The air buzzed with pulsating beats and swirling lights, a stark contrast to the tranquility of their daytime explorations. Luna, caught up in the music and the electric atmosphere, moved with a grace that drew admiring glances from the crowd.

Amidst the sea of dancers and the rhythmic thump of bass, Luna felt a pair of eyes fixed on her. She turned subtly, her curiosity piqued, to find a tall, enigmatic figure observing her from across the room. His gaze was intense, unnerving even from a distance, sending a shiver down her spine.

As the night progressed, Luna found herself on the crowded dance floor, losing herself in the music's hypnotic rhythm. Yet, the spell was abruptly shattered when she was rudely bumped into by a group of locals, their laughter tinged with alcohol-fueled arrogance. One of them, emboldened by liquid courage, sneered at Luna, his words dripping with disdain.

"Look at this girl, pretending to be something she's not," the man jeered, his voice loud enough to attract unwanted attention. "Probably some poor Moroccan trying to play dress-up."

Luna's jaw clenched, her eyes narrowing with restrained fury. Years of composure and resilience were tested in that moment. She could feel the heat rising, the urge to retaliate clawing at her throat. But she knew better than to dignify ignorance with a response.

Stiles, ever observant of his friend's moods, noticed the tension in Luna's stance. He exchanged a quick glance with Isaac, who had been keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. Sensing trouble brewing, Stiles moved to Luna's side, his voice low but urgent.

"Luna, let's get out of here," Stiles suggested, concern etched on his face. "It's not worth it."

Isaac, his expression tight with restrained anger, nodded in agreement. "They're not worth your time, Luna. Let's go."

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Luna nodded reluctantly. She turned to leave the dance floor, her steps deliberate yet tinged with a simmering frustration. But before she could make her way through the crowd, chaos erupted in the club.

Shouts and crashing sounds echoed through the room as a scuffle broke out nearby. Luna instinctively glanced over, her heart sinking at the sight of fists flying and glasses shattering. The situation escalated quickly, drawing the attention of security guards who rushed to intervene.

Amidst the commotion, Luna caught sight of the mysterious man from earlier. He moved with an effortless grace through the chaos, his presence commanding attention. In moments, he deftly subdued the instigators, his movements swift and precise. The club fell into an uneasy quiet as the troublemakers were escorted out.

Feeling a mixture of relief and unease, Luna retreated to a quieter corner of the club, her mind racing with conflicting emotions. Her encounter with the rude locals had left a bitter taste, overshadowing what had started as a carefree evening.

Later that night, back at their hotel, Luna sat cross-legged on her bed, her laptop open before her. With a deep breath, she initiated a video call with Marcel, the charismatic vampire from New Orleans she had befriended during a previous encounter.

The screen flickered to life, and Marcel's familiar face appeared, a warm smile spreading across his features. "Luna! How's Paris treating you?" he greeted warmly, his voice tinged with genuine interest.

Luna couldn't help but smile at Marcel's infectious enthusiasm. "Hey Marcel," she replied, her voice tinged with a hint of excitement. "You won't believe what happened to me tonight."

As Luna recounted the evening's events, Marcel's expression shifted from curiosity to concern. He listened intently as she described the altercation and the mysterious man who had intervened.

"Luna, be careful," Marcel cautioned, his brow furrowing slightly. "Paris can be unpredictable, especially at night. If you encounter trouble, don't hesitate to call me."

Luna nodded appreciatively, touched by Marcel's concern. "Thanks, Marcel. I'll keep that in mind," she assured him, her mind already racing with thoughts of how to navigate the complexities of their unexpected encounter.

With a final wave, Marcel bid her goodnight, and Luna closed her laptop, her thoughts swirling with questions and uncertainties. Beside her, Stiles and Isaac sat on the edge of their own beds, their expressions mirroring her mix of curiosity and apprehension.

Isaac and Luna exchanged uncertain glances, silently weighing their options. Before they could decide, Luna's phone buzzed with a message notification. Her heart skipped a beat as she glanced at the screen, seeing Marcel's name.

With that silent agreement, the trio huddled together in the dimly lit hotel room, their minds racing with questions and uncertainties about the mysterious man who had intervened in Luna's night. Little did they know, their encounter with the enigmatic figure was just the beginning of an unexpected adventure in the city of lights.

The day after the chaotic night at the club, Luna sat alone at a cozy Parisian café, nursing a cappuccino as she tried to process the surreal events of the previous evening. The news on her phone flashed with shocking headlines—two men found dead after a nightclub altercation. Luna's heart raced as she recognized their faces from the altercation. The reality of witnessing death up close unsettled her deeply.

Lost in her thoughts, Luna was startled when a familiar figure slid into the seat opposite her. Lucien Castle, the enigmatic man from the club, smirked as he leaned back, exuding an air of casual confidence that set her on edge. His presence was both unsettling and magnetic.

"Bonjour, mademoiselle," Lucien greeted with a voice as smooth as silk, his accent dripping with charm. "Quite a night we had, wouldn't you say?"

Luna's eyes narrowed slightly, her guard instinctively rising in the face of his unapologetic arrogance. "Quite," she replied coolly, though her voice betrayed a hint of unease.

Lucien chuckled softly, a glint of amusement dancing in his eyes as he leaned closer, his gaze locking onto hers. "You never told me your name," he remarked casually, his tone suggestive.

Luna hesitated, her mind racing with caution and uncertainty. "Luna," she finally offered, her voice steady despite the tumultuous emotions swirling within her.

"A beautiful name for a beautiful woman," Lucien complimented smoothly, his charm oozing effortlessly. "Tell me, Luna, what brings you to Paris?"

Luna sighed inwardly, steeling herself against his charm offensive. "Just a getaway with friends," she replied vaguely, keeping her responses guarded.

Lucien's smile widened, his interest clearly piqued. "Ah, friends," he mused, his gaze flickering momentarily with curiosity. "And what about romance? Surely a woman as captivating as you must have a special someone."

Luna's pulse quickened as she sensed his approach, her composure faltering for a brief moment. "I do," she confessed quietly, her eyes meeting his with unwavering honesty. "I'm in a happy and committed relationship."

Lucien's demeanor shifted imperceptibly, a fleeting shadow crossing his features before he masked it with practiced ease. "Yet, here we are," he remarked lightly, his tone teasing yet probing. "You can't deny the attraction between us, Luna."

Frustrated by his persistence and still reeling from the horrors of the previous night, Luna felt a surge of defiance rising within her. "Except for the fact that I just mentioned being in a happy, healthy relationship," she retorted, her voice tinged with unexpected boldness, "you're in love with another girl and you use other girls to try to forget about her."

The words hung in the air, creating a tense silence that seemed to echo in the bustling café. Luna realized the weight of what she had just revealed. Her powers, heightened by recent events, had inadvertently allowed her to sense Lucien's thoughts and emotions. The revelation struck a nerve, unsettling both Lucien and herself.

Lucien's expression darkened momentarily, a flicker of something dangerous glinting in his eyes before he swiftly regained his composure. "You're quite perceptive," he replied smoothly, though his tone carried an edge of caution.

Before Lucien could say more, Luna rose gracefully from her seat, her gaze meeting his with a mix of resolve and uncertainty. "Good day," she said firmly, her tone indicating the conversation was over.

With that, Luna turned and briskly walked away from the table, leaving Lucien to ponder her words. She could feel his eyes on her back as she navigated through the café patrons and out into the bustling streets of Paris. The encounter had left her with a whirlwind of conflicting emotions and questions, but for now, she needed to retreat and collect her thoughts.

Back at the hotel room she shared with Stiles and Isaac, Luna recounted the unsettling encounter with Lucien. "He´s here!," she began, her voice betraying a mixture of frustration and apprehension. She proceeded to recount the eerie exchange with Lucien Castle, unsure of what implications it might have for their time in Paris.

"We need a plan," Stiles declared, breaking the tense silence that had settled over the room.

Isaac nodded in agreement, his voice firm. "We can't ignore what happened tonight. That guy, whoever he is, seemed... different."

Luna, her thoughts still reeling, rubbed her temples wearily. "I know. But what can we do? We can't just avoid him forever."

Stiles glanced between his friends, his mind racing with possibilities. "Maybe we should reach out to someone who knows more about these... supernatural things," he suggested tentatively, eyes settling on Luna.

Luna hesitated, considering their options carefully. "We could... but who?" she mused aloud, her gaze flickering to the laptop where Marcel's face had just vanished from the screen.

Isaac leaned forward, a determined gleam in his eyes. "What about Damon and Stefan? They've dealt with vampires before. They might have some insight."

Luna shook her head adamantly, a hint of worry creasing her brow. "No, we can't involve them. They'll never let us travel alone again if they find out."

Stiles sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Then who? Bonnie, maybe? She could help.”

Luna just shakes her head, “She will tell Damon”

Stiles looks confused and Isaac explains, “Theyre a thing…kind of”

Isaac suggested Klaus, given Klaus's reputation and experience as an Original vampire.

"Klaus?" Luna hesitated, her mind racing through the potential consequences of involving someone so powerful and unpredictable. "Are you sure about this, Isaac? Klaus is... well, he's Klaus."

Isaac nodded. "We don't have a lot of options, Luna. If anyone can help us, it's him."

Taking a deep breath, Luna eventually dialed Klaus's number. The phone rang a few times, each ring amplifying her anxiety, before the familiar, smooth yet dangerous voice answered.

"Luna Salvatore," Klaus drawled, curiosity evident in his tone. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Luna cleared her throat, trying to keep her voice steady. "Klaus, I need your help. It's about Lucien."

There was a brief pause before Klaus responded, his interest clearly piqued. "Lucien Castle? My first sire? What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into, Luna?"

"It's a long story," Luna said quickly. "But I need to erase his memory of me. It's urgent."

Klaus chuckled softly. "Erasing memories, is it? That's quite the task. Hold on, I have just the person who might be able to assist you."

There was a rustling sound on the other end of the line before a new voice came on—Kol Mikaelson, Klaus's brother, known for his expertise in magic.

"Luna," Kol greeted, his tone light and teasing. "What kind of mischief have you been up to?"

Luna sighed in relief. "Kol, I need to erase Lucien's memory of me. Can you help?"

Kol's tone turned serious. "Erasing memories is a tricky business, Luna. You can do it, but it requires utmost precision. One wrong detail, one slip, and the consequences could be dire. You might fail entirely, or worse, cause irreversible damage."

Luna swallowed hard, the weight of Kol's warning sinking in. "I understand. But I don't have a choice. I need to do this."

"Very well," Kol replied. "Just remember, be precise. Leave nothing to chance."

"I will. Thank you, Kol," Luna said, determination replacing her anxiety. She ended the call, her mind racing with the instructions and warnings.

Isaac and Stiles watched her expectantly. "Well?" Stiles asked.

Luna took a deep breath. "Kol said I can do it, but it has to be precise. One mistake and it could all go wrong."

"Then let's make sure you don't make any mistakes," Isaac said firmly, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We'll get through this together."

Armed with a plan, they tracked down Lucien at another club the following night. The club pulsed with music and energy, a stark contrast to Luna’s racing thoughts. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves, and made her way towards Lucien. Stiles and Isaac positioned themselves strategically within the crowd, their eyes never leaving Luna.

Lucien noticed her approach, his interest piqued. "Back for more, Luna?" he asked, a smirk playing on his lips.

Luna forced a smile, hiding her anxiety. "I just couldn't resist the allure of this place. Mind if I join you?"

Lucien gestured to the seat beside him, his eyes glittering with curiosity. "By all means. Tell me, what brings you back to my company?"

Following Kol's instructions, Luna began to weave her tale. "I was just thinking about our last conversation," she said carefully. "It's funny, I feel like we've known each other for ages. Sometimes I forget the details of how we met."

Lucien leaned in, intrigued. "Oh? And how did we meet, exactly?"

Luna’s heart pounded, but she kept her voice steady. "It was at that little café, remember? You were sitting alone, looking out of place, and I thought I'd keep you company."

Lucien’s brow furrowed slightly. "Was it? I seem to recall it differently."

Luna laughed lightly, subtly guiding the conversation. "You know how memories can be. They get jumbled. But what's important is the present, right?"

As she spoke, she channeled the magic Kol had taught her, carefully weaving her words to alter Lucien’s memories. Each sentence was deliberate, designed to erase her presence from his mind without raising his suspicions.

The minutes dragged on, feeling like hours. Luna’s pulse raced with each calculated word, her concentration unwavering. She saw Lucien’s expression shift imperceptibly, the sharp focus in his eyes dulling as the magic took hold.

Lucien blinked, a moment of confusion passing over his features. "Strange, I could’ve sworn we met under different circumstances," he muttered.

Luna forced another smile, sensing success. "Memories are funny like that," she said softly. "Well, I should get going. It was nice chatting with you."

Lucien nodded absently, his mind already elsewhere. "Until next time, then."

Luna turned and walked away, her legs feeling like jelly. She quickly found Stiles and Isaac, who had been watching anxiously.

"Did it work?" Isaac asked, his voice low and tense.

"I think so," Luna replied, her relief palpable. "He didn’t seem to remember anything."

They left the club cautiously optimistic, though the weight of uncertainty still lingered. The bustling streets of Paris felt more chaotic than ever, the night air thick with the promise of both danger and adventure.

As they walked back to their hotel, Luna couldn’t shake the feeling that their summer in Paris was about to get a lot more complicated. The city’s lights sparkled around them, but beneath the surface, shadows loomed.

"Here's to hoping for a quieter day tomorrow," Stiles quipped, trying to lighten the mood.

Isaac chuckled. "Yeah, because that ever happens with us."

Luna smiled, though her mind was already racing with thoughts of what might come next. "Let’s just get some rest. We’ll deal with whatever happens when it happens."

Back in their hotel room, they collapsed onto their beds, the events of the night swirling in their minds. They knew their troubles with Lucien Castle might not be over, but for now, they celebrated a small victory in the heart of Paris.

[nerdprincess73]

So, everyone arguing that the Mona Lisa couldn't have burned like that in Glass Onion-- she's wood, she's paper, yada yada.

She's been acclimating in a hydrogen rich environment for who knows how long. Might as well have soaked her in gasoline. If the people are breathing, there's enough oxygen to burn, and there's plenty of fuel.

I'm thinking about what happens if she didn't burn. If she made it back to the Louvre.

The Mona Lisa is incredibly unstable. She's painted on wood, and that has caused cracks--so she's in a temperature and humidity controlled case. And has been for decades.

If she's out in the open, on an island in the middle of the Aegean.... She's never going to be the same regardless.

Not to mention the comparative instability of the paint. Da Vinci was constantly mixing up experimental paints, and he used them on his works. Mona Lisa is many many many layers of thin layers of not-always-compatible paints.

Salt air--wonderful for skin and hair, and lungs with our weird saltwater bodies, but terrible for preservation of art or artifacts. It can spell trouble for modern paints--with predictable behaviors and aging, if improperly cared for--canvas reacts to the environment, and can be damaged if stretched while too warm, or sag if stretched too cold.

For La Giaconda? With her wooden base, and fine layers of paint, which aren't evenly adhered to one another, and the varnishing that has been applied to her--she's going to warp. Badly. And unevenly. Because the front is sealed (a couple times, with modern sealants), but the back isn't, so it won't absorb moisture evenly. And that's going to cause separation between layers of paint.

In the Louvre, her case has a circulation system in it that is constantly moving the air and maintaining temperature and humidity.

Now she's in a partially enclosed case, which is open to the air. And that would be bad, anyway, in any environment, but particularly if you're talking about an environment with the potential for variation that a modern building in a humid climate risks.

Windows open, door open, temp and humidity are way up. Everything closed? Climate control is on--temp and humidity go way down.

And then you throw into that an opening and closing security glass, which means potentially, you could trap very humid air in there with the painting, and then the room could renormalize, before you reopen the case, and then she's going through multiple cycles of expanding and contracting--potentially to fairly extreme degrees.

She's never going to be the same.

And it won't be instant. Because while there will be certain effects that will have already taken place, but long term, this will be another layer to the complexity in her preservation. Has she absorbed salt, and how that will effect the way she absorbs humidity in the future, how will that effect attempts at restoration--mostly, they've used watercolor to do touch-ups--to remove any salt that has been deposited, they would have to do a very very careful wash, and would require them to redo any watercolor restoration.

So, hypothetically, lockdown ends, Mona Lisa is returned to the Louvre, and they find that, oh, despite all the shit this dumbass agreed to to preserve her, he didn't do it, and now, their biggest draw can't go back on display, because there's a salt crust over the entire painting, and her colors are dulled by that (at best. At best, it's cosmetic, and can be totally reversed).

Rather than putting her back on display, safe and sound, for the public to see, she's now go to go through a restoration process before she can be displayed again.

And those have been troublesome in the past.

In the early 1800s, she was cleaned and lacquered, which is now believed to have removed the topmost layer of paint, and dulled her colors.

Now, they'd do their best, obviously, and unless and until she's a pile of rot, Mona Lisa will be around. But this will be a stain on all of their careers. The folks who permitted this would be ruined.

Mona Lisa is a priceless painting. Remember that painting of Jesus that was... restored a few years back and is now a meme? Or last Met Gala when they destroyed Marilyn Monroe's dress? And people were cranky that people cared about the dress all of the sudden?

Imagine that everyone had know about these things before hand. Imagine that everyone had loved them before hand. Imagine that there have been dozens of hit songs written about you, for over a century. Imagine that they were the most famous painting in modern history. Imagine that they were art that people write letters to and make trips specifically to see.

Now, all this is still the case, now--she's gone. Forever. Because they loaned a painting to an idiot with a massive ego for some dollars. But also. It would have been bad for them anyway.

(also, um... there was someone who said in the KO/GO universe, the Mona Lisa is gone, destroyed. True. But also, she's too big. The painting is larger than the real one. Her longer dimension is about two and a half feet, much smaller than she appears in the film. She's the real Mona Lisa for Plot Reasons, and suspension of disbelief means she's the Real Mona Lisa. But yeah, that's not what she'd look like).

[maddieautobot273]

Silk & Cologne (47)

A Miguel O'Hara x OC - link to AO3 (X)

Chapter 47: Slumber - previous chapter (X)

Pairing: Miguel O'Hara x Female OC

Words: 4.1K + words

Warnings: Slight implied sexual content, intimacy, overall fluff and therapy/healthy communication

Summary: Miguel visits Lisa for the night.

/////////

Miguel’s P.O.V. 

Miguel had finished reviewing the mission reports as requested, only to find over a dozen errors in the multiverse monitoring software. It seemed Gabriel had implemented a software update and didn’t tell him about it. Or Miguel was so swamped with the incoming stream of messages from other Spiders that he must have missed it in the flood and didn’t go back to read it even after silently reminding himself to do so. 

Nonetheless, it was enough to get under Miguel’s skin to the point he felt like he was near the verge of snapping. Hunched over, his back muscles tense and throbbing as he took deep breaths, trying to fight off the urge to punch or throw something if something went wrong in the next 10 seconds. No matter how efficiently he worked, something always came up. 

He didn’t want Lisa to see him so tense and agitated after he went the extra mile to initiate a date night. Miguel knew he had to calm himself down, telling himself that Lisa deserved better than how he was acting, so Miguel decided to quickly pop by the training center and work out the stress in his body. He ran laps around the center, followed by a series of pushups, situps, and a few rounds on the punching back for good measure. 

He had managed to get a few sets in, listening to Lisa’s playlist to help himself calm down as he took big, steady breaths as he lifted some weights to end his routine. He finished his last set, setting the weights down, his body covered in sweat as he wiped his head with a cool towel. Footsteps caught his ear, and he was praying that it wasn’t Peter B. with another security report. 

If he sets me off and I gotta do all of this again–! 

“Don’t you need to be somewhere?” Jessica Drew spoke up. 

Prayers answered. 

Miguel glanced over, seeing Drew standing there. One hand on her hip, the other hand gently over her baby bump. But the look she gave Migue through her spider-shades made him question that perhaps he should prefer seeing Peter B. over her. 

“Lisa and I planned for 8. I got time,” He quickly reassured her, gently brushing her off as he grabbed his bag and began to walk away. 

“It’s almost 9, Miguel,” Drew stared at his backside, watching the second his muscles seized up and twitched at her words. 

Oh shock! 

“Thanks, Jess!” Miguel immediately runs off, not giving Jessica a chance to say anything else. 

He runs off to his private room, quickly showering to wash the sweat and gym smell off of him.  Once cleaned, he changed into some casual clothes whilst combing through his messages, finding Gabriel’s contact. Instead of wine, he recommended a champagne bottle, something light, but simple. 

He went for his wine cabinet, finding the champagne bottle. He quickly huffed some breath onto his palm, smelling it. Seemed fine, but he popped a breath mint just in case. 

Miguel typed in the coordinates for Lisa’s dimension, locking on to her apartment on his gizmo. Simultaneously, he opened up a separate chat box window, quickly typing up a message. The chat was labeled, ‘Team Louvre’. 

“At ease for the night team. I can take it from here,” - Miguel 

Miguel didn’t wait for a response before a portal opened before him. Sucking in one more quick breath, he steeled his nerves and jumped through the portal. Traveling through the interdimensional tunnel, he emerged at the otherside, arriving in Lisa’s apartment. 

But something was different. Not quite off, but different. Most of the lights were off or dimmed to a low setting as his sensitive eyes adjusted to the lowly dark room. The blankets Lisa usually kept on the couch had been moved to her bed, the curtain pulled back. There was a scented candle on the coffee table in the living room area, it smelled like. . . lavender? 

Footsteps caught Miguel’s attention as a female figure emerged from the kitchen. Lisa stepped towards him, arms crossed over her chest, wearing comfy sweatpants and a long sleeve shirt. She looked so cute and Miguel wanted nothing more than to hug her tightly and apologize profusely, but he held himself back.

Miguel tried to get a read on her, analyzing the look on her face. A neutral expression, lips in a thin line. She raised a brow towards him. 

Here we go. . . 

“Held up at work?” She asked him, her head tilting slightly to the side. 

Miguel didn’t detect any sign of hurt or tiredness in her voice. A tiny part of him felt relieved, but that was what scared him the most. Sure there could be slip ups here and there when couples first start dating, but this felt like a fumble if anything. 

“Mi Mona Lisa, I’m so sorry I’m late,” He apologized, his gaze pouring into hers. 

“What happened?” Lisa asked him with a calm expression, her arms lowering to her sides. 

“I finished reading the reports, but there were errors in the monitoring system I had to fix that I wasn’t made aware of,” Miguel sighed deeply, doing his best to keep his frustration in check. “By the time I fixed everything, I was tense and agitated I– I didn’t want all that seeping on to you so I went to work out and get it out of my system,”

“As you were doing that, you lost track of time?” She asked him for clarification. 

He nodded softly, relief coursing through him that she had spoken his explanation in much more simple terms. “Yes,”

Please don’t be mad, please don’t be mad, please don’t be mad. . . 

Lisa seemed to stare at him, evaluating him for what felt like unbearable seconds. Until she finally spoke, her voice soft, “Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t getting any sleep?”

Miguel froze, his eyes widening. She wasn’t mad? She wasn’t going to yell or scream at him?

You are in so much trouble young man! Faintly fluttered through his mind. His mothers voice. 

He shuddered briefly at the memory. “You’re not mad. . .?” Miguel’s voice muttered, wandering off. 

“Miguel?” Lisa called out to him, snapping him back to reality. 

His gaze fell upon her sulk expression and his heart nearly shattered. “Lisa, I’m sorry, I know it sounds like an excuse, but I– I didn’t want you to worry,”

Lisa sighed, shaking her head, “Miguel, as I keep gently reminding you,” She steered her gaze back to him, a calm expression on her face. “You can talk to me, you know that,”

“I do know that, I swear,” Miguel insisted heavily, inching a step closer as his grip on the champagne bottle tightened at his side. 

“Then why didn’t you tell me back when I was visiting you in the lab today?” She asked him. “Or the day before?”

Miguel managed several deep, calming breaths to keep his emotions in check. His mind was spiraling. Lisa wasn’t blowing up on him. Not like her, but she was talking to him. 

“You can’t keep hiding things like this, Miguel,” She spoke gently. 

Just like Xina did. . . 

////////

Earth-928 - Nueva York - Babylon Towers - 5 years ago 

Miguel arrived home later than normal that night. After working a long shift at Alchemax, he had stopped by the psych ward to visit his mother, Conchata, with his little brother, Gabriel. As always, Gabriel was the sunshine son that could do no wrong, but Miguel. . .

Well, it was better to not repeat those things. All the words and insults she said, once was enough in Miguel’s mind. But he always came back, for Gabriel’s sake. 

Miguel was tired, exhausted even. He let out a deep sigh as he shut the door behind him. Xina had to be long asleep by now, and didn’t want to risk waking her, or the baby. 

Soft whimpering caught his ear, as Miguel glanced over, peering into the dark living room to see a baby crib, tiny hands beginning to fidget. His lips curled into a soft smile as he set aside his house key card, taking long, quiet steps towards the crib. He peered down at the little body, its bottom half swaddled in a blanket. 

Little baby Gabriela. 

“Hey, sssshh, it’s okay, mija,” Miguel’s voice was a soft whisper as he carefully picked her up in his large, warm, protective hands, “It’s only papa,” - darling

He cuddled her close to his chest, calming her down as he rubbed his hands up and down her small back, humming affectionately. It took a few minutes, but eventually Gabriela stopped whimpering, making soft little noises as her tiny eyes peered up towards Miguel. Miguel smiled softly at her, gently rocking her. 

“It’s okay,” he whispered gently, “Go back to sleep. Wouldn’t want to wake up mama now, would we?”

As if on command, her little eyes started to droop down, her little body snuggling in her blanket as Miguel carefully adjusted it for her. He set her back down in the crib gently, brushing a large finger along her head. Miguel swore he would have melted in a puddle right there and then. 

If not for the sound of footsteps coming from the master bedroom of the penthouse apartment. “I was worried something had happened,”

Miguel’s heart stopped as he turned, taking in the form of the Cantonese woman wearing PJ’s with a silk robe overtop. Her long, silky black hair draped past her shoulders. No matter the time of day, Xina Kwan-O’Hara always looked so angelic to him. 

“Mi amor. . .” Miguel greeted her softly. - my love 

Xina offered Miguel a soft nod, a ghost of a smile on her lips as she walked closer towards him. A hand snaked up his back in a loving manner as the both of them turned to glance down at Gabriela who had fallen back asleep. “Did something happen at work?” She asked. 

“No, everything was fine, just the usual, fixing everybody’s mess,” Miguel answered softly, keeping his gaze locked to the baby. “I was just. . . out with Gabriel tonight. I meant to message you about it, but. . . time got away from me,”

“. . . You two were visiting your mother tonight?” Xina asked him, her hand brushing up to his shoulder. “How is she?”

“Yes, she’s. . . the same as she always is,” Miguel nodded. 

Xina hesitated briefly, before her fingers curled over against the fabric of Miguel’s jacket. “You haven’t told Gabriel yet. . . that you want to take a break from seeing her?”

A wave of shame coursed through Miguel as he curled his fingers into a fist at his side, steering his gaze away from his daughter. His eyes briefly met Xina’s before lowering them to look at the floor. “No. . .”

Xina sighed quietly, muttering a prayer in her native tongue as her hand snaked down his arm, engulfing her fingers around his. “You can’t keep hiding things like this, Miguel,” She spoke gently.

Her voice was calm, but direct. A little blunt. But that’s how Xina was. 

Most days Miguel felt that Xina was his rock, his very conscience if he dared to go so far. It was enough to make Miguel steer his face from the floor to look at her square in the face. Xina was so smart, confident that he hated the idea of making her worry about him. 

“I know, Xina. . .” Miguel’s gaze softened as he gently pulled Xina closer to him, their bodies brushing against one another. 

“We’ve talked about this,” Xina insisted, “You need to talk to Gabriel about setting boundaries for the two of you. I know your protective big brother instincts always kick in when its the three of you,” 

“It’s just. . . she is the light of his world as much as he is hers,” Miguel sighed. “I. . . don’t want to ruin that for him, because a part of me never got that from her,”

“You may not have gotten it from her, and honestly, she’s an adult, she was the parent, she chose to be this way and that’s on her,” Xina\s voice was calm, but her expression stern as she lifted a hand to cup Miguel’s cheek. “But you found that light elsewhere, here, with her,”

She steered her gaze down towards Gabriela’s sleeping form and Miguel smiled. He didn’t remember smiling this much growing up. He loved this feeling, and would fight tooth and nail to keep it. 

“Talk to Gabriel,” Xina instructed with loving authority. “He’s smarter than you let on about what’s been going on between the two of you, and I know you’re smarter than to keep this bottled up. He’ll understand. He’s your brother,”

Miguel took a long deep breath, taking it all in. The place he was standing in, the words that fluttered from Xina’s mouth. When he exhaled, he felt this weight lift from his shoulders and suddenly didn’t feel so stiff anymore. 

“Alright,” he nodded softly. 

“Yes?” Xina raised a brow at the man. 

“I’ll talk to him in the morning,” Miguel went on. 

“Good,” Xina patted him on the cheek before glancing down at Gabriela. “Kiss your daughter goodnight and come get ready for bed,”

“Yes ma’am,” Miguel chuckled with a faint smirk as he brought a hand up to cup XIna’s chin, offering her a soft, loving kiss on the lips. “Remind me again why she can’t still sleep with us?”

“She needs her own space, Miguel,” Xina smirked up at him. “But she knows papa isn’t too far away if she needs him,”

Xina smiled at Miguel’s romantic gesture before walking off back to their shared bedroom. Miguel watched her leave before glancing back down into the crib, snagging one last look at his baby daughter. He carefully lowered his upper body down into the crib, his lips brushing gently on her forehead. 

“Dulces sueños pequeña,” Miguel whispered softly, his voice warm like another blanket being tucked around her. - Sweet dreams little one 

Miguel walked off into their room, immediately pulling his shirt off. He was about to make his way over to the dresser when Xina beckoned him over. “Come’ere,”

“What?” Miguel smirked over at her sitting on the bed with a curious glint in his eyes. 

“It’s not about that, Miguel,” Xina rolled her eyes at the man as he sat at the edge of the bed. “You’re not going to bed when you’re still clearly feeling tense,”

Miguel immediately clued into what Xina was talking about as he turned her back towards her, reaching down to pull off his socks from his feet. “Give me a second to–” But the sentence halted from his lips as she felt Xina’s delicate hands begin to massage his shoulders. 

The soft groan of relaxation that left him was everything Xina could have hoped for. “Now how do you feel?”

The corner of Miguel’s mouth curled into a smile, “A little to the left?”

Xina followed his request as she shifted her hands over as she slowly worked down his back and another sigh of relaxed pleasure fluttered from his throat. 

“What did I do to deserve you?” He asked her, turning his head towards her. 

“Everything and more,” Xina smiled before pressing one more kiss to his lips. “I’ll be here to help you, you know that. Just promise me you’ll put in the effort to take care of yourself, Miguel?”

“. . . I promise,” 

///////

Earth-12128 - New York City - Lisa’s Apartment - Present Day

“Miguel?” Lisa’s voice brought Miguel back to the present as she gently took the champagne bottle from his hand. “We’re partners, right?”

“Yes?” he nodded softly. 

“As partners, we should look out for each other’s well-being, right?” She went on, smiling softly at him. 

“Right . . .?” Miguel answered again, yet more slowly as he drew out the word. 

Where is she going with this? 

“You’ve constantly looked out for me, so, let me do the same for you,” Lisa stated. “You made a promise to me that you’d take better care of yourself, and in turn, I promised I’d make sure that you do just that,”

Miguel’s fingers seemed to twitch as he mustered all the strength he had to not tackle Lisa in a bear crushing hug and kiss her silly. 

What did I do to deserve her? 

“So, change of plans for tonight,” Lisa spoke up as she set the champagne bottle aside, setting it on the kitchen counter. “When was the last time you got a full night's sleep?”

Miguel’s heart began to flutter in his chest, his palms sweating as his eyes glancing around at nothing in particular. “Uh. . . Does it matter?”

“How many, Miguel?” She asked him. 

“. . . 2 days,” He answered after a brief hesitation. 

“And in those two days you haven’t gotten any sort of rest?” Lisa pressed on gently. 

Miguel shook his head, sulking like a child that was about to get reprimanded by their mother. 

Lisa nodded softly, glancing down at the floor, “Alright then,” She returned her gaze to him as Lisa dared one step closer towards him, then slowly another, “So, Miguel, I know you’re a very smart man. What happens when our human bodies don’t get enough sleep?”

Miguel processed the question, the gears of his mind turning with the strength and energy he had left in the day. “Are you genuinely asking or are you quoting Big Bang Theory?”

“Both,” Lisa managed a soft grin before it loosened, “Now answer the question, smart boy,”

Miguel couldn’t stop his cheeks from flushing at the comment, his mind scrambling. “They. . . lose their sensitivity to serotonin and norepinephrine, receiving less signals from the brain,”

“Which then leads to?” Lisa dared another step closer.

“Impaired cognitive function?” Miguel’s cheeks started to burn. 

“That’s exactly right,” Lisa nodded, her head motioning towards the bathroom door. “So, instead of a movie, I’ll hold onto the champagne for another night. You’re going to be a big man, march over there and brush your teeth, and go to bed and spend the night here,”

Wait. . . she’s not mad? She doesn’t sound like she’s mad, does she?

Miguel had a frazzled look on his face, daring to scoff even as he raised a brow at the lady before him. “Seriously?”

“I had the sheets cleaned, pillows fluffed, extra blankets in case you get cold, and scented candles to help soothe the senses,” Lisa smirked, feeling accomplished with her tasks. “I just hope the candle smell isn’t too sensitive,”

There was a playful glint in her eyes as she suddenly smirked up at him. First Miguel was surprised. Now he was scared. 

“You didn’t have to do all this,” As reluctant as he was, Miguel couldn’t help but smile at what Lisa had done. She had done all of this for him. “Can’t we stay up just a little longer?”

“I’m going to count to 3,” She taunted. 

Miguel’s mouth gaped open, his jaw nearly dropping to the floor. “You wouldn’t dare–!”

“Try me,” Lisa grinned. The pair locked eyes, provoking a staring contest as they both waited to see who would crack first.  “. . . 1–”

“You are not–” Miguel gawked at the woman. 

“2–?” Lisa raised her voice an octave as the look in her eyes told him that she wasn’t playing around. 

“Alright, alright, I’m going!” He surrendered, his head and hands shaking with a surprised laughter as he sauntered into the bathroom. 

“Your spare toothbrush is in the cabinet,” There was a hint of a grin on Lisa’s voice as her voice fluttered over the sound of Miguel shutting the door behind him. 

Miguel found everything he needed, brushing his teeth and quickly rinsing off his face. Flicking his finger across the touch screen of his gizmo, his clothes changed into a comfy t-shirt and sweatpants before he stepped out of the bathroom and walked over towards the bedroom. Lisa was already sitting on her side, gently patting her hand on the mattress for him to join her. 

“Come on,” She beckoned him. 

“I don’t need to be told twice,” He teased, grinning at her as he carefully crawled across to the other end, plopping down on his back. 

Lisa pulled back the covers for him as Miguel adjusted himself, tucking his lower body under the sheets. Everything felt warm, and silky smooth. His pillow smelt clean, feeling cool against his skin. It was only then he realized how tired he truly was. 

He contemplated passing out right there and then, but he willed his eyes to stay open. He wanted to see Lisa, talk to her, just be with her. Miguel reached a hand out, his large fingers brushing against her cheek as she reached up and held his hand with her delicate fingers. 

“What did I do to deserve you?” His voice was quiet, soft, and low as he cupped her cheek. 

“Everything. . . and more, Miguel,” Lisa smiled softly at him. 

He smiled softly back at her. Lisa’s body shifted, and at first Miguel thought that she was settling in beside him so they’d both get some sleep. But she scooted over and suddenly straddled in his lap, Miguel’s eyes went wide, his cheeks turning pink. “Lisa, what are you doing?”

“I’m making sure you actually go to sleep and stay that way,” She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to appear authoritative and intimidating as she narrowed her gaze down towards him. “That means no getting up in the middle of the night to sneak in more work, or calls. Just sleep,”

“You’re going to stay there until I do?” he asked her with a curious look in his eyes. “Like, watch me sleep?”

“If that’s what it takes,” Lisa stated. 

The pair seemed to be stuck in an intimidating staring contest for what felt like long minutes. The curious glint stayed in Miguel’s gaze as his smirk slowly grew. He wanted to test Lisa’s claim for himself. 

“Miguel. . .” Lisa’s voice gives off an audible warning drawl.

Miguel tries to sit up, but is stopped short when Lisa quickly stretches her arms out. Her hands grip his shoulders and push him back down. Miguel was genuinely caught by surprise by her strength as she pins him back down to the mattress, the back of Miguel’s head falling into place on the pillow. 

“Miguel O’Hara!” Her lips flickered into a grin, staring down at him as she called him out for his attempted defiance. 

Her long brown hair dangles on the side of her face, and try as he might, Miguel couldn’t hold himself back as his gaze began to linger down. He loved Lisa’s face, her sweet, almost innocent looking gaze, her soft expressions and loving smile. But Miguel would be lying to himself if his mind wasn’t screaming at him to, at least once, admire and appreciate Lisa’s body. 

Elegant curves, a strong form, he couldn’t be more proud of her and the progress she had made since joining the Spider Society. In Miguel’s eyes, Lisa was beautiful inside and out. When his gaze retracted back to her own, and he saw the realization in her eyes of what he had done, there was. .  hesitancy, doubt even as her cheeks flushed, and her grip on his shoulders loosened. 

Was there a part of her that didn’t believe what Miguel saw in her?

Miguel’s expression faltered for a split second. Right now was probably not the correct time to discuss something like that. Tonight was about taking care of him and his health, Lisa had made that very clear. 

“Fine, I’ll get some rest,” Miguel sighed deeply, his body relaxing into the mattress as Lisa’s hands snaked away from his shoulders, across his chest. 

“Good,” Lisa nodded her head. 

Miguel’s smirk was playful as his arm hooked around her back and gently pulled her down. Lisa landed with a soft ‘PLOP’ along Miguel’s chest, her head tucked under his. “Especially now that I have my favourite body pillow,”

His low rumbling laughter caused Lisa’s cheeks to burn as his hand gently stroked along her back. If Miguel was going down, he was taking Lisa down with him. Two could play at this game. 

“Miguel O’Hara, go to sleep!” She ordered, hiding her face in the fabric of his nearly skin tight shirt. 

“Yes, mi Mona Lisa,” Miguel’s voice drawled as his laughter quieted down. 

Miguel reached over with his free hand, grabbing a spare blanket and pulling it over Lisa. He made sure she was snuggly and warm before he kissed the top of her head, holding her close. Slumber took hold of him minutes later and when he breathed in deeply and snored for the first time, Lisa truly relaxed, nuzzling against him completely as sleep overcame her as well. 

//////////

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[czolgosz]

I am asking about the guy who stole the mona lisa !!

ok ^_^ hopefully everything is in order? i skipped around a bit bc i forgot some parts and had to go look them up later, so things were done kind of haphazardly... and jsyk i left a little bit of detail out bc i got tired of writing after a while lol...

vincenzo peruggia was born on october 8, 1881 in dumenza, italy. there, vincenzo learned decorative painting, and at 12 years old, he went to milan and worked as a housepainter.

at the age of 18 he went off to france, which was a popular place for young italians from vincenzo's region to move to, due to the region's poverty. he continued to work as a housepainter there.

also, this will be important later: his father was in debt and vincenzo wanted to help his family (consisting of his father, mother, younger sister, and three younger brothers) financially in any way that he could.

then when he was 20, he moved to paris.

in june 1908, he was drunk and waiting for a train to paris when he saw some children rolling terracotta pipes down the street. he yelled at the children, they ran away, and vincenzo picked up the pipes and dropped one. some people passing by thought he was stealing them bc he's italian and these french people are xenophobic. he was arrested for attempted theft.

around 12am on january 24, 1909, vincenzo exited a bar in the place de la republique. he was approached by a sex worker named abeille kauffman. he allegedly tried to attack her. he was arrested for carrying a weapon and not having his immigration papers, and he was in prison for eight days.

because of these two incidents, he hates the french.

anyway, in paris he continued to work as a housepainter until he fell ill from lead poisoning, which was a very common illness for painters to have. he had to stay at the lariboisière hospital for 15 days. the lead poisoning probably caused some brain damage.

after quitting his dangerous painting job, he worked for a glazing (as in doing stuff with glass) company called gobier.

(also, while working for gobier, his coworkers called him "dirty macaroni" and now he hates the french more.)

two paintings in the louvre were slashed within two months of each other. security at the louvre was considered comically bad. journalists stole art to show just how bad it was. to upgrade security, the louvre got a team of dogs and nightguards and decided to put 1600 of the paintings under glass cases. gobier was the louvre’s official glazier, usually repairing windows and skylights, so they were now the company responsible for this. vincenzo was one of five workers who cut and cleaned the glass for the cases. the work took place november 1909–january 1910 and november 1910–january 1911. while working there, he became familiar with the layout of the museum.

also while working there, vincenzo wondered why all this italian art was in a french museum. so he asked the louvre’s picture framer, pavard, why it was there, but pavard was just smugly like “haha how do you not know??” and wouldn’t tell him. one day, vincenzo found the answer: napoleon had stolen a bunch of italian art and sent it to paris. vincenzo was disgusted, and decided that he wanted to return at least one painting to italy...

once the glass casing job was finished, he left gobier and returned to housepainting.

then, on monday, august 21, 1911, vincenzo decided that today was the day to steal that painting. he woke up at 6am, got dressed in his white louvre worker’s uniform, and left his room in the tenth arrondissement (which had a large italian population btw), which was about two miles from the louvre. at around 7:05am, he arrived at the louvre, which was closed for its weekly cleaning. he entered through the jean goujin entrance and went through the first floor room, up the grand staircase, went left through a hallway, and turned left into the salon carré.

vincenzo had not previously decided to take the mona lisa, but chose it in the moment because it was the smallest painting there. this kind of ruined the whole “returning stolen paintings to italy” thing, because it had been bought by king francis i of france from leonardo da vinci while he was at his court. in france. it had moved around a bit since then, but has been kept in the louvre since 1797.

(the mona lisa was hung between the paintings "mystic marriage of saint catherine" by antonio da correggio and "the allegory of alfonso d'avalos" by titan. not important but just an extra detail...)

something to note: usually, the louvre had 166 guards; on mondays, it only had 12. the salon carré had no guards.

so, vincenzo took the painting off its four metal hooks, quietly walked out of the room and went into a service staircase. he hid the mona lisa behind some copies that had been made of various paintings (students frequently came in to copy paintings) and went to see if the door at the bottom—which would help him make a quick exit of the museum—was unlocked. it was not. he took out a screwdriver and removed the doorknob, but he still couldn’t open the door. he heard someone coming and sat down and tried to look inconspicuous. the person coming down the stairs was a plumber named jules sauvé. jules went to unlock the door, noticed the doorknob was missing, asked vincenzo what that was about, and vincenzo said he didn’t know anything about it. jules went through the door and locked it behind him.

accepting that he couldn’t leave through that door, vincenzo removed the mona lisa’s frame, which probably only took around a minute, and hid the frame behind those painting copies. he wrapped the painting in his smock (part of the uniform), placed it under his arm, and went back the way he entered the museum.

he left the louvre around 7:30am. a shop clerk on his way to work named andre bouquet was across the street and saw him carrying what he thought was a package and also saw him throw something into a ditch—the doorknob.

vincenzo got on a bus and immediately got off, realizing it wouldn’t take him back to his boarding house. instead, he got in a cab and went home.

some guards noticed the painting was missing, but just thought that it had been taken away to be photographed (paintings were often taken to be photographed on mondays. the photographs were to go on postcards and magazines), and didn't pay it much mind.

the next day, the louvre reopened, the mona lisa still wasn't there. around 11am, a guard found the painting's empty frame. the museum was searched, they thought it had to be around there somewhere, that maybe it had been hidden as a joke. but, to be careful, georges aaron bénédite, a curator substituting as the museum director (the actual museum director, théophile homolle, was away on vacation), contacted the prefect of police, louis lépine, who sent a bunch of detectives to go find it. they, of course, couldn't find it.

the theft was immediately international news. the mona lisa had been considered a masterpiece among french art fans since the 1860s, but now it had achieved proper fame, and literally everyone knew about the mona lisa. but the fame wasn't instantaneous—6500 flyers with pictures of the mona lisa were distrubuted so people would know it if they saw it and american newspapers misspelled the name and published photographs of the wrong painting.

a week after the theft, the louvre reopened, and people flooded in to see the empty spot on the wall (franz kafka was one of the people who went there to see it btw).

some famous suspects for the theft included: pablo picasso, bc he was an artist and (unknowingly) had stolen statues from the louvre in his possession; guillaume apollinaire, for similar reasons to picasso; jp morgan, bc he liked art and there was concern in france that american millionaires were buying all the good french paintings; kaiser wilhelm ii, bc france and germany had some pre-ww1 tensions going.

then some fingerprints were discovered on the glass by alphonse bertillon. 257 louvre workers had their fingerprints taken. then the gobier workers who had helped with the glass cases had their fingerprints taken, except for vincenzo, who didn’t show up.

meanwhile, vincenzo is still in paris at his little 9×16 room at 5 rue de l'hôpital st. louis. he first kept the painting on a table in his room covered by a piece of linen, then just had it sitting in his 6×6 closet. while it was just sitting there in the closet, inspector brunet of the sûreté came to interrogate him and quickly determined that he had nothing to do with it.

vincenzo’s life was normal, he just kept painting houses. he didn’t want to go to italy yet—he wanted to let everyone forget about the theft before he returned it so he wouldn’t get arrested.

btw, the whole time he had been in france, vincenzo had sent letters to his parents back in dumenza. after stealing the mona lisa, all his letters mentioned a “fortune” that he would soon have, and that he would share with his family. here we see vincenzo’s actual primary motive: getting money for himself and his family.

anyway. he showed the mona lisa to his best friend vincenzo lancellotti, who was also a housepainter and from the same region of italy. they played music together and ate together and dated women together <- examples of their best friendship activities. in winter of 1911, peruggia let lancellotti hold on to the mona lisa for six weeks while he built a crate with a false bottom to keep the painting in.

peruggia’s (i’m going to return to calling him vincenzo after this) girlfriend, mathilde, saw the crate. she told vincenzo that once they were married, she would get rid of it. but they were never married bc mathilde broke up with him after she found letters from other women in his room, and eventually she left paris permanently.

allegedly, in the summer of 1913, vincenzo went on a trip to london. while there, he went to see the art dealer henry j. duveen and tried to sell the mona lisa. we’ll get back to this later.

btw, people were beginning to think that the mona lisa had been destroyed, it had been years and no one could find it.

then, 28 months after the theft, in late 1913, vincenzo contacted an antiques dealer named alfredo geri, who he had heard about in an italian-language newspaper called the corriere della sera, about selling the painting. he signed his letter to him "leonardo v."

on december 7, 1913, peruggia had a meal at his favorite cafe and gave the waitress a tip of five francs. he announced that he was to be leaving for italy the next day. he told his assembled family and friends that he would be receiving “fortune, glory, and honors.” back in his room, he filled the top part of his mona lisa crate with clothing, tools, and his mandolin, and on december 8, set off on a train to florence. at the border, the crate was checked and the painting wasn’t found.

so alfredo and vincenzo meet. vincenzo offered to sell the mona lisa for 500,000 lire ($2,970,000 today). vincenzo said the painting was back in his room at the hotel he was staying at, the albergo tripoli-italian hotel (since renamed the hotel la gioconda). alfredo persuaded giovanni poggi, director of the uffizi gallery, to come with them (vincenzo specifically wanted the mona lisa to go be kept at the uffizi gallery). they all went up to room 20. vincenzo took everything out of the crate and revealed the painting. giovanni said he wanted to take the painting back to the uffizi gallery to see if it was the real deal. he and a few other experts examined it, and lo and behold, it was!

they then contacted the police and vincenzo was arrested, which he really was not expecting.

meanwhile, the italian people celebrated the mona lisa’s return to italy. it was kept in room 28 of the uffizi gallery. over 30,000 people visited the painting in just four hours; those who couldn’t get into the gallery rioted.

after a week in florence, the mona lisa traveled to rome, where it was handed over to the french ambassador. a good deal of italians wanted it to stay in italy, but y’know napoleon had never actually stolen it so they had no claim.

the mona lisa was exhibited in rome for a bit, then in milan, then it was returned to the louvre on december 31, 1913.

back to vincenzo: vincenzo’s trial began in florence on june 4, 1914. many italians still regarded him as a hero and a patriot. he denied ever trying to sell that painting to that guy in london and was angered by the accusation. his defense went for insanity; dr. paolo amaldi, the psychiatrist who examined him, had declared him "mentally deficient.” however, it’s possible that he lied about this because he supported vincenzo. paolo was a member of the socialist party, and vincenzo was probably some kind of leftist. also, paolo may have sympathized with vincenzo’s dislike of the french due to his (vincenzo’s) experiences as an immigrant worker.

that didn’t really matter though, as vincenzo was sentenced to one year and 15 days in prison. however, his attorneys filed an appeal and he was released after seven months and eight days.

(and remember vincenzo lancellotti? he and his brother, michele, were arrested and subsequently released without charges.)

world war 1 began a few days after vincenzo peruggia’s trial ended, and when he was released vincenzo joined the italian army. he was then captured by the austrians and was a prisoner of war for two years. at the end of the war he couldn’t find work in italy, so he went to paris with his wife annunciata. to avoid being detected by the french government who still hadn't gotten over the whole art theft thing, he adopted his birth name, pietro. they visited the louvre and saw the mona lisa.

also, he had a daughter named celestina. vincenzo died when she was a toddler. she said that her mother had told her to run toward him. she did and he collapsed, dead of a heart attack. also he was holding a tray of champagne & cookies at the time. this was on october 8, 1925, his 44th birthday.

30 years after he was buried, the cemetery needed the plot where he had been buried and what was left of him was moved into an underground locker thing.

and uh. i don't know where to put this but he was 5'3

[titconao3]

All that, and...

Philippe Katerine was naked and painted blue, singing a song entitled 'Naked.' He sang on the catwalk where there also were...

Drag queens. So many drag queens killing it on the drenched catwalk, where voguing, bourrée auvergnate, breakdancing... etc happened. In front of a Last Supper-style setting headed by Barbara Butch, DJ, lesbian and fat-acceptance activist. Honestly, the pouring rain just made it even more Extra.

The metal band, Gojira, interpreted a revolutionary song with an opera singer, in front of the Conciergerie which was a royal palace in the Middle Ages and a prison during the Revolution (and yes, Marie-Antoinette was jailed there), with aristocrats holding their decapitated heads in the windows. And then a ship (the one on the Paris coat of arms: fluctuat nec mergitur!) appeared with a soprano belting it out standing on it. And then red streamers everywhere looking like a giant blood spray. While Gojira kept on shredding

Still not over the mechanical horse. It slapped. Then there was a real horse. It slapped too. So did the armoured person on it. It was, dare i say it, metal af

Palestinian delegation being cheered HARD

Yeah, the poles. Flexible, tall poles with people at the top O_o;;; there were people walking on rope and acrobats everywhere. Ballet dancers on roofs. Pink-clad rugby players and can-can dancers.

Queer and genderqueer polycule flirting in the national library.

La Marseillaise sung from the top of the Grand Palais by Axelle Saint-Cirel.

Dancers on the Notre-Dame scaffolding.

The Olympic flag upside down lol. South Korea mis-announced, not lol (really sorry guys!!!)

PARKOUR OF THE OPERA'S CREED fuck yeah

Athletes waving from Tahiti!

Golden statues of groundbreaking women! Such as: Gisèle! Simone! Olympe! Louise! The other Simone! (whose statue got stuck and didn't emerge, woops)

A piano on fire. Just. A piano on fire. Under the rain. More pianos under the rain, though not on fire.

A breakdancing countertenor, Jakub Józef Orliński!

Skywriting (well, drawing hearts) from the Patrouille de France.

Aya Nakamura being a giant middle finger to all those who yelled that she could not represent France (and to them we say: eat shit)

Sporting legends on a boat with the torch (Carl Lewis. Nadia Comăneci. Rafael Nadal. Serena Williams.)... it didn't look like a smooth ride lol

A deaf dancer who sign-language-danced, Shaheem Sanchez, interpreting Supernature.

Zizou! And near the end, Amélie Mauresmo! Not only a great athlete in her own right, but also someone who came out early in her career (before 2000) and faced a lot of shit about it. She was joined by other athletes, including paralympians, and ran through the deserted Louvre courtyard (with the glass pyramids) and the Tuileries. Then they all met with a 100-year-old olympian and gold medalist Charles Coste in a wheelchair, who then lit judo mega-champion and gentle giant Teddy Riner's torch, as well as the torch of one of the most beautiful runner (it was like she barely touched the ground) ever, Marie-José Pérec.

Oh, that looks like a hot-air balloon. It. It is a hot-air balloon. The flame is carried into the air. So many gorgeous pictures.

The Eiffel tower lightshow went above and beyond, even for an Tower lightshow.

Céline!?

--

It was an insane bet to hold it out in the middle of the city, on boats, all along the Seine (for security reasons as well as organization reasons). But...

It pissed off Elon Musk :D it pissed off all the people you'd like to piss off :DDDDD

Was it perfect? No. Does it erase all the kicking out of homeless people, the money spent there that could have been spent elsewhere, all the criticisms made? No. But all the (ethnic, body, queer...) diversities on display were a big fuck you to far-right and bigoted discourses that have been rising for years and years \o/

I'm french and like many people here, watched the ceremony out of pure spite. Was I surprised? No. Fucking annihilated.

It had EVERYTHING:

- Random kids carrying the flame

- Gays.

- French cancan't

- Furries

- Lady Gaga???

- Craftspeople and public workers

- Bloodshed, cannons and a metal band

- Masked genderless silhouette parkouring their way through the whole mess

- More gays

- Polyamory

- Non-binary dancers and actors

- POC dancers and actors

- Disabled dancers and actors

- Whatever the fuck was going on with those poles

- Lesbian kiss?

- France's most hated rapper singing a song written entirely in slang in front of THE FUCKING INSTITUTE DEDICATED TO THE FRENCH LANGUAGE?

- Her being accompanied by the National Guard orchestra.

- Gays. SO MANY gays.

- MINIONS???

- Hundreds of top quality instruments getting fucked up by the rain.

- Drag queens, opera dancers, fashion designers and...oh, yeah, Alsace.

- National icon Philippe Katherine but make it blue

- 100 years long horse ride

- Damn that armor's looking fine

- Giant balloon ascending to the sky and...just fucking staying there cause they had nowhere to put it

-Did I tell you about the gays?

Holy fuck.

I'm flabbergasted. I'm bamboozled. I'm lying dead on the ground, holding my last breath.

I mean yes, it was funny. Yes, it was strange. Yes, it gave France a super weird reputation.

BUT DO YOU REALISE THAT THE DESIGN COMMITTEE JUST SAW THE RISE OF OUR EXTREME CONSERVATIVE PARTY AND DECIDED TO THROW A MASSIVE "FUCK YOU" AT THEM???

I think I'm in love. Call me french in training.

[merrychristopherblogs]

Modern Security Shutters: Explore the Range Offered by Trusted Providers

The Essential Protection Your Home Needs

Picture this: you’ve worked hard to create a home that is not only beautiful but also a safe sanctuary for you and your family. Yet, like many homeowners, you may wonder how to enhance that security without compromising the aesthetics of your space. Perhaps you’ve heard about modern security shutters, but with so many options on the market, selecting the right solution can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re looking to deter break-ins, manage indoor temperatures, or reduce noise, security shutters offer a versatile solution to elevate the comfort and safety of your home.

Why Security Shutters Are Essential in Today’s World

In an era where home security has become a growing concern, security shutters provide homeowners with a reliable way to safeguard their property. These shutters are a strong deterrent against break-ins, offering protection against unauthorised entry and damage. Not only do security shutters add a layer of defence, but they also serve as a preventive measure, making homes less vulnerable to threats.

Security shutters are more than just a protective barrier; they are designed with multiple benefits in mind. Modern models offer excellent insulation, helping to regulate indoor temperatures and reduce energy bills. Many models also include noise-dampening features, making them ideal for homeowners in bustling urban areas or near busy roads. This blend of security, comfort, and cost-effectiveness makes them popular among discerning homeowners.

Exploring the Different Types of Security Shutters

Today’s market offers various security shutters to suit different homes, budgets, and needs. Here are some popular types to consider:

Roller Shutters: These versatile shutters roll up and down, offering full coverage when closed and discreet storage when open. They come in various materials, including aluminium and steel, providing homeowners with strong security and aesthetic appeal.

Folding Shutters: Ideal for those seeking flexibility, folding shutters can be extended and folded back when not in use. They are often used for patios or large windows, where adjustable security and visibility are desired.

Transparent Shutters: Transparent security shutters are a fantastic option for those who want protection without sacrificing visibility. Made from polycarbonate, they offer a clear view while being exceptionally durable.

Louvre Shutters: These shutters provide ventilation and light control while offering an additional layer of security. They are perfect for windows that require regular airflow but still need protection from outside elements.

Custom Shutters: Some providers offer customisable solutions, allowing homeowners to choose the material, colour, and design that best suits their property.

Security and Aesthetics: Finding the Perfect Balance

Security shutters are no longer simply functional; they are also stylish additions to a home. Gone are the days when security features clashed with home decor. Today’s shutters are designed to integrate seamlessly with any property's architectural style. Homeowners can choose from various colours, finishes, and designs to find a look that complements their home’s exterior.

This attention to aesthetics makes security shutters a smart choice for any homeowner who values safety and style. With options ranging from sleek, modern finishes to more traditional looks, you can find a security solution that doesn’t detract from your home’s curb appeal.

Energy Efficiency: Adding Comfort and Savings

In addition to offering security, modern shutters contribute to a home’s energy efficiency. During hot summer months, shutters can reduce indoor temperatures by blocking out harsh sunlight, while in winter, they act as an insulating layer, helping retain warmth. This temperature regulation minimises the reliance on heating and cooling systems, leading to lower utility bills.

Motorised shutters can be programmed to automatically open or close based on the temperature outside, providing optimal comfort with minimal effort. This smart functionality is especially useful for homeowners looking to make their homes eco-friendly and cost-effective.

Soundproofing Your Space: The Benefits of Noise Reduction

Noise pollution can be a major disturbance, particularly in urban environments. Security shutters with noise-dampening materials provide an effective solution, creating a quieter, more peaceful living space. Whether it’s traffic noise, construction, or street chatter, noise-reducing shutters can block out most external sounds, giving you a more tranquil environment.

For those who work from home or have young children, security shutters' noise reduction capabilities can be particularly beneficial, creating a serene setting conducive to both work and relaxation.

Convenience with Motorized Options

Motorised shutters are increasingly popular for added convenience. These options allow you to control your shutters remotely with a button or even through voice commands if connected to a home automation system. Motorised shutters are ideal for larger homes, where manually opening and closing each shutter can be time-consuming.

Advanced motorised models can be programmed to respond to sunlight or temperature, offering the ultimate convenience. Homeowners who value smart technology will find motorised shutters a perfect blend of functionality and ease of use.

Finding the Right Provider: What to Look For

When investing in security shutters, selecting a trusted provider is essential. Look for companies with a solid reputation and a track record of delivering high-quality products and services. An established provider will offer various options, from manual to motorised shutters, as well as different materials and finishes. They’ll also provide expert advice, helping you select the best shutter type for your needs.

Professional Installation: Proper installation is crucial for security shutters to function effectively. Experienced providers will ensure that your shutters are securely installed and provide maintenance guidance, ensuring your investment lasts.

Customisation Options: A reputable provider should offer customisation services to help you achieve your shutters' ideal look and functionality. This flexibility allows you to choose shutters that truly complement your home.

Customer Support: Trusted providers understand that their client relationship doesn’t end with installation. They’ll offer ongoing support, including repair services, maintenance advice, and warranty options, ensuring your shutters remain in peak condition.

Rollershutters2u: A Trusted Partner in Security Solutions

Among trusted providers, rollershutters2u stands out for their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. Known for their expertise, rollershutters2u provides a wide array of security shutters, each tailored to meet the specific needs of their clients. Their design team is skilled in creating solutions that are not only secure but also aesthetically pleasing, ensuring that every client finds shutters that blend perfectly with their home’s design.

Rollershutters2u’s range includes manual and motorised options, transparent polycarbonate shutters, and customisable designs, making them a one-stop solution for all your security shutter needs. They take pride in their attention to detail, offering professional installation services that ensure each shutter is installed securely and functions optimally. This commitment to quality and expertise makes rollershutters2u a reliable choice for homeowners looking to enhance their security with style.

Choosing Modern Security Shutters for a Safer, More Stylish Home

Modern security shutters provide a unique combination of safety, comfort, and elegance. With features like noise reduction, energy efficiency, and customisable designs, they are an excellent addition to any home. By partnering with a reputable provider like rollershutters2u, you can feel confident that you’re investing in a solution that will protect and enhance your home for years.

For homeowners ready to take the next step in securing their property, exploring the options offered by trusted providers like rollershutters2u is the key to finding the perfect balance between style and security.

Source URL:

[windowanddoorinstallation]

Explore the Versatility of Louvre Windows with These Benefits

Excellent ventilation capabilities have made louvre windows in Sydney extremely popular. They are also known as jalousie windows and can be identified easily by their horizontal slats. These windows are an excellent choice in tropical and subtropical climates, as ventilation is the priority. Let us quickly understand the significant benefits of louvre windows.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF USING LOUVRE WINDOWS SERVICES?

ENJOY ENHANCED VENTILATION

The first reason behind the immense popularity of louvre windows in Sydney is their ventilation. They are known for facilitating excellent ventilation, and this is why these windows are immensely popular. These windows feature adjustable slats that can be controlled easily to make airflow optimal. This particular feature makes louvre windows an ideal choice for hot and humid climates. These louvre windows ensure that you don't have to rely on air conditioning solutions to keep interiors cool and relaxed.

UNMATCHED FLEXIBILITY

With these louvre windows, homes will experience excellent flexibility, and this is yet another reason for their popularity. According to the experts of louvre windows services, these louvre windows in homes are suitable for rooms of all sizes and types. In other words, these windows can be installed in bedrooms, kitchens, and everywhere in your home as they can serve the diverse needs of the users.

ENHANCED AESTHETIC APPEAL

By using louvre windows, homes can be made more aesthetically appealing and will have a distinctive aesthetic charm. These windows can complement various design elements and are available in several styles, colours and materials. You can be assured that your style and your property's overall architecture will match these louvre windows.

They are a great choice for homeowners looking for windows that can provide excellent ventilation and flexibility. However, privacy is always a concern, and another benefit of louvre windows is that they are straightforward to clean.

EASY TO USE IN COLDER CLIMATES

In most cases, louvre windows are recommended for tropical and subtropical climates, but you can also use them during cold weather conditions with proper insulation. This insulation of louvre windows in Sydney can be enhanced by adding weather stripping to the edges and installing a window film to reduce heat loss.

SECURITY AT ITS BEST

One prominent feature of louvre windows in Sydney is that with these louvre windows, homes can experience enhanced safety and security. You can use these louvre windows with a lock or latch to prevent slats from being opened. Another option recommended by the vendors of louvre windows services is installing security screens, but remember these windows are not recommended at all in areas with high crime rates.

[indoorrollershutters]

Commercial and Residential Roller Shutters

Whether you own a commercial, industrial, or residential property, roller shutters offer the perfect solution for securing your property against thieves, vandals, and other unwanted guests. These devices are effective, inexpensive, and durable.

Roller shutters can be used for several applications, including commercial buildings, schools, warehouses, and garages. They can protect the establishment from unwanted visitors and the elements. Window storm shutters can help protect windows and doors against debris and other hazards.

Aside from the security aspect of these devices, they are also great for reducing noise. They also provide a level of insulation, which can help reduce energy bills. In addition, they have a sleek design, making them more appealing than the traditional wood shutter.

There are two main types of roller shutters: manual and motorized roller shutters. The manual version is usually a thumb-turn opening. They are easy to maintain and repair. On the other hand, motorized roller shutters provide convenience as they can be opened with a simple push of a button.

For the best results, install roller shutters made of steel or aluminium, which are considered to be the most secure materials. These are also resistant to corrosion and impact, making them an ideal choice for a property that is often broken into. They are also available in solid and fire-rated versions.

If you are considering installing a roller shutter on your property, be sure to research your options before you buy. You will also need the right tools and skills to do the job correctly. Choose an installer with positive customer service and after-sales support.

Find the right roller shutter you need for your commercial or residential establishment at QLD Roller Shutters Australia.  https://www.qldrollershutters.com.au

[pvcshutter]

From Classic To Contemporary: Exploring The Best Shutters For Every Style

When it comes to enhancing the aesthetic and functional appeal of your windows, shutters offer a versatile solution that complements various styles and needs. From traditional elegance to modern minimalism, shutters can transform your space while providing practical benefits. This guide will explore different shutter styles and help you choose the best option to suit your home’s décor and functionality requirements.

Understanding the Different Types of Shutters

Shutters come in a variety of styles, each offering distinct benefits and aesthetic appeal. Here are the most popular types:

Plantation Shutters: Known for their wide louvres and classic design, plantation shutters offer excellent light control and privacy. They are a popular choice for both traditional and contemporary interiors, providing a timeless look that complements a range of décor styles.

Roller Shutters: Ideal for modern homes, roller shutters are sleek and functional. They provide enhanced security, insulation, and light control. Available in various materials and colours, they can be customised to match contemporary design preferences.

Shutter Blinds: Combining the functionality of blinds with the classic look of shutters, shutter blinds offer adjustable slats that allow precise control over light and privacy. They are perfect for creating a sophisticated look while maintaining practicality.

Cafe-Style Shutters: These shutters cover only the lower half of the window, offering privacy while allowing natural light to enter from above. They are a great choice for casual, relaxed spaces and can be combined with curtains or other window treatments for added versatility.

Benefits of Shutters

In addition to their aesthetic appeal, shutters offer several practical benefits:

Light Control: Adjustable slats allow precise control over the amount of light entering a room, helping you create the perfect ambiance at any time of day.

Privacy: Shutters provide excellent privacy while allowing natural light to filter through, making them ideal for areas where privacy is a concern.

Energy Efficiency: Shutters can help improve insulation by keeping heat in during winter and blocking out heat during summer. This can lead to energy savings and a more comfortable living environment.

Durability: High-quality shutters are built to last, offering long-term durability and easy maintenance. They resist fading, warping, and damage, ensuring that they remain a stylish and functional addition to your home.

Installation and Maintenance

Proper installation and maintenance are key to ensuring that your shutters perform well and look great over time:

Professional Installation: For the best results, consider professional installation. Proper fitting ensures that your shutters operate smoothly and look seamless with your window frames.

Regular Cleaning: Keep your shutters looking their best by cleaning them regularly. Dusting and occasional wiping with a damp cloth will help maintain their appearance and functionality.

Inspection and Repairs: Periodically check your shutters for any signs of damage or wear. Address any issues promptly to ensure continued performance and longevity.

Conclusion

From classic to contemporary, shutters offer a versatile and stylish solution for enhancing your home’s windows. By choosing the right style to match your décor and considering the practical benefits, you can achieve both aesthetic appeal and functionality. Whether you prefer the timeless elegance of plantation shutters or the sleek design of roller shutters, there is an option to suit every style and need. Investing in quality custom shutters ensures that your windows remain a beautiful and functional feature of your home for years to come.

[myindustrialspecialist]

7th September 2024 Key Insights into Eco Business Park V: Your Gateway to Sustainable Business Growth Discover why Eco Business Park V is the perfect industrial hub for your business. With eco-friendly features, advanced connectivity, and top-tier facilities, it's the future of industrial parks in Klang Valley. Start your investment with MyIndustrialSpecialist. Eco Business Park V: Your Hub for Business Success Eco Business Park V (EBP V) is set to revolutionize the business, commercial, and industrial sectors in the Klang Valley. Offering state-of-the-art facilities, resource-saving features, and eco-friendly practices, this business park is primed to be a hotspot for both national and international investors. Whether you're looking for manufacturing, warehousing, or office space, Eco Business Park V offers a strategic location, modern infrastructure, and a commitment to sustainability. Business Accessibility and Connectivity Located in the northwest region of the Klang Valley, Eco Business Park V enjoys exceptional connectivity. It's well-connected to major highways, ports, and airports, providing seamless access to local and global markets. Businesses based here will benefit from proximity to vital transportation networks, making the movement of goods swift and efficient. The park also provides access to over five million people in Klang Valley, one of Malaysia's most dynamic economic regions. Strategic Location Eco Business Park V is strategically linked to several major highways: Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE) LATAR Expressway New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) DUKE Expressway DASH Expressway West Coast Expressway (WCE) Additionally, it offers excellent connectivity via key routes such as Jalan Kuala Selangor and Jalan Meru Tambahan, ensuring seamless access to and from the park. Nearby Public Amenities Cities: 21 km to Klang, Sungai Buloh, Rawang, and Shah Alam 44 km to Kuala Lumpur Airports and Seaports: 35 km to Port Klang 27 km to Subang International Airport 67 km to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA 1 and KLIA 2) Educational Institutions: Taylor's University Sunway University INTI International University Monash University Hospitals: Columbia Asia Hospital Hospital Shah Alam Sunway Medical Centre Subang Jaya Medical Centre Parks & Clubs: Tasik Puteri Golf & Country Club Saujana Golf & Country Club Templer Park Country Club Eco-Friendly Features and Modern Design Eco Business Park V prides itself on being environmentally conscious, providing businesses with various eco-friendly features that help reduce energy consumption and lower operational costs: Ample green pockets for natural ventilation LED street lamps for energy efficiency Rainwater harvesting systems Heat-reducing aluminium louvres and large windows These features not only reduce your business's environmental impact but also contribute to long-term savings, making it a smart and sustainable choice for any business. Superior Security for Business Efficiency Running your business with peace of mind is vital, and Eco Business Park V offers top-notch security to ensure the safety of both personnel and assets. Its advanced security systems include: A comprehensive Visitor Management System CCTV with 24-hour monitoring Highly trained personnel Additionally, the park features a three-lane entrance and exit system, which separates lanes for owners, visitors, and heavy vehicles. This ensures smooth traffic flow while maintaining a secure environment. Comprehensive Business Support with EcoWorld Eco Business Park V is more than just a location; it’s a complete business ecosystem. Through EcoWorld's proprietary One-Stop Business Solution, companies receive a range of support services that help streamline the setup process: Business Facilitators: Offering assistance in navigating government approvals, from MIDA to EPF and SOCSO.

Business Incubators: Providing pre-move-in facilities for businesses awaiting the completion of their offices or factories. Community Halls: Available for promotional events to boost business visibility. Innovative Flexi-Space Concept Eco Business Park V offers a flexi-space concept that allows businesses to customize units according to their specific needs. Whether it's retail, office, warehousing, or manufacturing space, the design flexibility enables seamless integration of various business operations. Key features include: High ceilings for ventilation and natural lighting Skylights and louvres for energy efficiency Floor loading capacity of 10 kilonewtons per square metre Industrial Park Zones Eco Business Park V is divided into several industrial park zones tailored to various business needs: Central Gate: Customizable 1-acre factory lots. East Gate: Standard built factory units for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). West Gate: Customizable 3-acre factory lots with new launches for warehousing. North Gate: Customizable 1-acre factory lots. South Gate: Customizable 5-acre factory lots, ideal for larger businesses. New Launch: The Rubix Space The Rubix Space is the latest addition to Eco Business Park V, offering state-of-the-art commercial spaces for storage and warehousing, designed to cater to growing industries. Why Choose Eco Business Park V? Eco Business Park V offers businesses a unique combination of accessibility, modern infrastructure, and eco-friendly features, all within a secure environment. With extensive support services and strategic connectivity, it's the ideal hub for businesses looking to thrive in Malaysia’s fast-growing industrial sector. Ready to take your business to the next level? Contact MyIndustrialSpecialist today to explore investment opportunities in Eco Business Park V. Let us help you start your journey toward industrial success in Malaysia!

[roller-shutters-posts]

Roller Shutters vs. Traditional Window Shutters: Which is Better?

When choosing window coverings, homeowners and commercial property managers often debate between roller shutters and traditional window shutters. Both types of shutters offer distinct advantages, but the choice depends on specific needs and preferences. This article compares roller shutters and traditional window shutters to help you determine which option is better for your property.

Roller Shutters: Modern and Multifunctional

**1. Versatility and Functionality

Roller shutters, often praised for their versatility, provide a range of functions beyond traditional aesthetics. Modern roller shutters can be motorised for convenience, allowing for effortless operation with the push of a button. This feature is especially appealing for both residential and commercial properties where ease of use is crucial.

**2. Enhanced Security

One of the standout benefits of roller shutters is their ability to offer high levels of security. Security shutters are designed with robust materials, such as durable aluminium, and advanced locking mechanisms, making them an excellent choice for safeguarding properties against break-ins and vandalism. For both domestic and industrial settings, roller shutters provide an extra layer of protection that traditional shutters often cannot match.

**3. Weather Protection

Roller shutters excel in weather protection. They act as a barrier against harsh weather conditions, including heavy rain, strong winds, and intense sunlight. The durability of quality roller shutters ensures that they can withstand extreme weather, preserving the integrity of windows and reducing potential maintenance issues.

**4. Energy Efficiency

Another advantage of roller shutters is their contribution to energy efficiency. By providing an extra layer of insulation, roller shutters help regulate indoor temperatures, reducing heating and cooling costs. This makes them a practical choice for properties located in areas with extreme temperatures, enhancing comfort while also offering potential savings on energy bills.

**5. Aesthetic Options

Roller shutters come in various designs and finishes, including coated finishes and sleek aluminium options. These design choices allow for customization to complement a property's aesthetic. Whether you're looking for a modern, minimalist look or a more traditional appearance, roller shutters can be tailored to suit your preferences.

**6. Low Maintenance

Durable and resistant to wear and tear, roller shutters require minimal maintenance. A simple routine of cleaning and occasional checks is usually sufficient to keep them in good working order. This low-maintenance aspect is particularly advantageous for busy homeowners and commercial property managers.

Traditional Window Shutters: Classic Charm and Simplicity

**1. Timeless Aesthetic Appeal

Traditional window shutters are celebrated for their classic charm and timeless appeal. Made from materials like wood or faux wood, traditional shutters offer a warm, elegant look that enhances the character of residential and commercial properties. Their aesthetic appeal makes them a popular choice for those seeking to maintain a classic or vintage style.

**2. Privacy and Light Control

Traditional window shutters provide effective privacy and light control. By adjusting the louvres, users can easily control the amount of light entering a room while maintaining privacy. This feature is particularly beneficial for residential settings where maintaining a comfortable indoor environment is a priority.

**3. Durability

While traditional window shutters can be durable, their longevity often depends on the material used. Wooden shutters, for example, require regular maintenance to prevent issues like warping and decay. On the other hand, high-quality faux wood or composite shutters offer improved durability with less upkeep.

**4. Limited Security

Unlike roller shutters, traditional window shutters generally offer limited security. While they can act as a deterrent to some extent, they do not provide the same level of protection against break-ins as roller shutters. For properties where security is a top concern, traditional shutters may fall short in comparison.

**5. Weather Resistance

Traditional shutters may not offer the same level of weather resistance as roller shutters. Wooden shutters, in particular, can be susceptible to damage from extreme weather conditions, necessitating regular maintenance and potentially leading to higher repair costs over time.

**6. Maintenance

Traditional window shutters, especially those made of wood, require more frequent maintenance to keep them looking their best. Regular painting or staining may be needed to protect the wood from the elements and preserve its appearance.

Which is Better?

The choice between roller shutters and traditional window shutters ultimately depends on your priorities. If you value modern functionality, enhanced security, and minimal maintenance, roller shutters may be the better option. Their ability to provide weather protection, energy efficiency, and a variety of aesthetic choices makes them a versatile choice for both residential and commercial properties.

On the other hand, if you prefer classic charm and are willing to invest in regular maintenance, traditional window shutters offer a timeless look that can enhance the character of your property. They excel in providing privacy and light control but may fall short in terms of security and weather resistance compared to roller shutters.

Ultimately, both roller shutters and traditional window shutters have their merits. By considering your specific needs and preferences, you can make an informed decision that enhances the functionality, security, and aesthetic appeal of your property.