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[ajengineeringandhomeinspections]

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[rasengineeringpa]

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[orcinus-veterinarius]

Hiya! Would you be willing to explain why keeping captive right whales is completely nonviable, as you mentioned? I’m fascinated, but the adhd simply will not let me parse scientific papers.

That's a fantastic question! While it would be wonderful if captive breeding were a viable option for this critically endangered species, it just isn't possible under any realistic conditions.

For starters, their size. Orcas are the largest mammals successfully held in captivity, and we all know how difficult (and controversial) that is, with only a very small handful of facilities ever pulling it off with any semblance of success. Tilikum, the largest captive orca (although I believe that record has since been overtaken by a male in China), was 22.5 feet (6.9 meters) long and weighed 12,500 pounds (5,700 kg). Most other orcas in human care, particularly the females, are considerably smaller. Compare that to a northern right whale. Even the smallest adults are over 40 feet long—double Tilikum's length—and weigh 88,000 pounds (40,000 kg)—seven times his weight—while the biggest specimens on record reached up to 61 feet (18.5 m) and an incredible 234,000 pounds (106,000 kg).

A tank for an animal that size would be far beyond anything we have the ability to engineer and maintain. Think of how deep it would have to be for the whale to even turn around! The water pressure would be astronomical, wreaking havoc on the building materials even if it were possible to build the structure. And remember—someone has to dive to clean it! Our theoretical right whale habitat would have to be a sea pen, but even the 100-acre facilities proposed with orcas in mind are nowhere near deep enough. While right whales are considered to inhabit "coastal" waters, they do not live right up by the shoreline, like certain orca ecotypes and other small delphinids. They are a pelagic species, designed to live out in the open water column, as are all baleen whales. So, the pen would have to be a floating habitat miles out into the open water (think of an offshore oil rig), with netting sturdy enough to not be destroyed by a 50 ton whale and long enough to extend hundreds of feet to the ocean floor. We're talking probably thousands of square miles of netting, that would have to be routinely inspected for safety and upkeep. So, you would probably need a submersible, since no human can dive that deep. On top of that, it would be difficult to find such a larger stretch of ocean in their habitat without shipping lanes, underwater noise, or pollution. And let's just forget about the logistics of staffing that place—or worse, funding.

Additionally, we wouldn't be able to feed them by tossing fish into their mouth like with dolphins. Northern right whales feed on tiny crustaceans and zooplankton, cruising along and filtering the creatures from the water with their baleen. Assuming our right whale keepers were somehow able to acquire the insane amount of food the whale requires (potentially over 5000 pounds of zooplankton a day), it would need to be scattered throughout the massive habitat to facilitate feeding. I imagine this would probably look something like the way Georgia Aquarium feeds their whale sharks from a little boat, although on a much larger scale. And since the food obviously can't be kept alive, we would need to develop someway of delivering the daily vitamins that are lost in the freezing process—and to keep hundreds of tons of krill frozen on a floating kitchen in the middle of the ocean.

Of course, the ultimate goal of this project would be to breed northern right whales... that means we need to take everything we just talked about and double it, at a bare minimum. For the breeding program to be successful, it would need a whole lot more than just two whales. And unfortunately, even if we lived in world with magical floating thousand-acre sea pens, unlimited krill, and endless money... we still don't know if it would even work. Right whale breeding habits are poorly understood, with the whales mating in cold northern waters before migrating 1,000 miles south to calve. Despite our best theoretical efforts, these migratory patterns could very well be necessary for successful reproduction.

Thank you again for the ask! This was actually a lot of fun to think about! If you want to read about JJ, the only baleen whale ever successfully housed in (temporary) human care, you can find an article and pictures here.

[quickdeaths]

@more-than-a-princess

In the days following the hospital incident with Togami, Shinobu had been deeply sure that Sonia Nevermind would want little more to do with her. It had been been their own selfish, short-sighted actions that had led to her stay on Jabberwock Island, for however long that would be, becoming less pleasant and more difficult, after all. And yet, despite that regrettable day, things had settled into a kind of routine. In the mornings, Shinobu made tea for Sonia and Miss Tsumiki, and spent some time in Sonia's room. In the afternoons, she worked as usual, assisting where she could, and in the evenings, she worked on cleaning and fixing up Sonia's cabin.

There were worse routines, and even after Sonia had been discharged, there was a sense of rhythm and structure to her day that hadn't always been there. That Sonia didn't find her presence loathsome was a welcome surprise, and one that Shinobu hoped not to take for granted. At the same time, it seemed Future Foundation had tried to forget Sonia, given how she'd be leaving on an accelerated timeline, and her classmates were often busy or working their own traumas out. Shinobu knew, intimately, that she was not the person who Sonia Nevermind most wished to spend time with, of course. If there was any comfort, peace, or companionship to be offered, though, she'd endeavor to offer it.

She imagined that the sun was close to setting, if it hadn't already, though the oppressive grey of the sky filled with dark, ominous clouds made it hard to tell. The weather had been awful - by the standards of people who judged rain as 'awful' - all day, and seemed to show no signs of letting up. It was a rarity, apparently, on an island like this, so out of the way of the typical storm paths, and yet even the walk to Sonia's cabin some hours earlier had been accompanied by cool, stinging rain, howling winds, and the distant, angry rumblings of thunder.

Her blazer hung over the shower curtain beside a towel that she'd used to dry off, while the patter of rain against the windows had only intensified since she'd come inside. Were they sensible, Shinobu would have moved to leave some while ago, but their blazer hadn't dried, and they'd yet to finish their tea, and they imagined that the golf cart drove poorly in wet sand, and thus Sonia likely hadn't left the house, and so perhaps she was lonely, and a host of other reasons compelled her to recalculate her schedule to allow for only a few minutes more, again and again.

"Mm," Shinobu murmured to herself, taking her blazer and inspecting it as though it would stay dry for even a moment outside. "Well that's good, at least." Holding it beneath her arm, she looked to Sonia, seated on her bed, crutches laid against the wall. "I enjoyed our evening, so I regret cutting it short, Miss Nevermind, but it doesn't appear as though the storm is going to end anytime soon. It's for the best that I leave for my lodgings now, rather than face the possibility that it might get worse." Indeed, with her diminished constitution, too much time in the cold would fare poorly for her health regardless, but if the wind picked up any further, it might be enough to topple her over.

Not that she intended, of course, to leave Sonia empty-handed. "Some of the engineers gave me their assurances about the island's generators, so hopefully there won't be any loss of power even on this side of the island." With a gentle hand, they gestured to the backpack they'd brought, laid near Sonia's bed for easy access without needing to stand. "If any lights go out, though, there are extra light bulbs, as well as a flashlight and spare batteries if the worst does come to pass."

Truthfully, she would like to impose upon Sonia a little while longer, but that wasn't her place, and Anzu would likely shatter her eardrums if she did. Thunder boomed outside, prompting from the archer a hum as she thought. Yes, she'd already stayed far too long, and would pay for it one way or another. Sonia would be quite alright, she thought, red eyes giving one last glance across the cabin's interior. There were books upon her nightstand from the previous day's trip to the library, and a stack of DVDs beside the widescreen television standing atop a table across from the bed. It didn't compare, they imagined, to the nicer one that had been sent over for her, but surely even the more-modest installations from the Future Foundation hotel were better than nothing.

Yes, Sonia would be fine, so there was no reason to demand more of her time when they're already been lucky enough to receive any of it. "There are snacks in the bag as well, should you get hungry. Nothing that requires any amount of cooking or preparation, since I imagined you'd not want to be on your feet." Or, potentially burn the cabin down, though Shinobu kept quiet about Sonia's kitchen inadequacies, unsure of if that was something she was supposed not to know. "And there's a first aid kit, as well." A number of things, really, perhaps too many.

The sound of rain crashing against glass had only gotten louder in the time she'd spoke. This truly was a wretched storm. "Hopefully you should have no need of my bag, but it's there in the event you require it." Working in the cabin while Sonia had been in the hospital had exacerbated the chipping of the black polish that Sonia applied for her - the point at which Shinobu had decided to take it off - but her hands looked so bare now, she noticed, as she picked up her small bag of tools and personal effects. She must have become used to them, even in such a short time. "Before I go, though, Miss Nevermind," she said, turning to look at Sonia as she lingered by the door, "is there anything else I can do for you before I leave?"

[the-hilda-librarians-wife]

Sketchbook Week Day 6 - Feast For The Eyes

Summary: Johanna is a cake artist who makes the most beautiful cakes in town. One day, she meets a new client who sounds a lot less certain about what she wants than she would have liked to be. And not just about her cake order, unfortunately.

Notes: Written for the @sketchbookweek day 6 prompt - Artist

Though tbh at one point this begins sounding like it was written for sun/moon. I promise it wasn’t, idk what happened (jk I do know. I got carried away by the fact that I dyed the docs in which I wrote this a pastel yellow and the symbolism and association got away from me)

Read it on ao3

They say you eat with your eyes first.

The saying had never made a lot of sense to Kaisa, to whom a frozen meal was the extent of her abilities in the kitchen. Food was just a way to keep her body up and moving, an obligation for when her hands started shaking and she felt grumpy all of sudden. If she stretched it, she could even go as far as saying that it was an excuse to spend time with the people she loved.

But this. This wasn’t food. Not like Kaisa knew it.

This was art.

The cake shop had been recommended to her by her wedding planner, and now she hadn’t a clue how she hadn’t heard about it before. Just looking at the showcase from the sidewalk had her gasping, and walking inside made her actually scared she’d damage some of those cakes just by existing near them. Kaisa was surrounded by piping work that flourished into almost realistic flowers, carved modelling chocolate figures that could very well have been found inside a toy store, tempered chocolate sculptures she was certain an engineer would have a hard time making. That was to say nothing of the colours, the drawings, the rice paper details, and the sheer height of some of the cakes she was looking at.

Yes, this would be it. Their cake would have to come from this shop, because Kaisa was sure nobody else would be able to do a better job of it. Whatever she ordered would be the best, and that was just perfect because the best was exactly what her bride deserved.

Adeline was already being put through the hardship of marrying her, after all.

The last drop for Kaisa was when she saw a cake that simply acted as if gravity was a mere detail it could ignore, with it’s icing covered in perfectly piped flowers and weeds and a watering can on top of it raining down ‘water’ upon the garden of buttercream, like it was being held by an invisible hand.

“Shut up!” She whispered to herself as she inspected the cake much closer than she probably should, trying to find the structure that was holding it up for the sake of her own sanity, but to no avail. Her soul damn nearly jumped out of her body when she heard someone chuckle behind her. She’d been so enthralled by the cakes that the thought to check if there was anyone by the counter hadn’t even occurred to her.

Kaisa jumped away from the cake - it felt like being caught red handed even if she had just been looking - and turned in the direction the chuckle had come from. It had indeed come from behind the glass counter, inside of which there were even more cake models. A woman stood there, gazing at her with amusement twinkling in her eyes. Mortifyingly, Kaisa’s first instinct was to say something extremely rude like ‘get out of here!’. She didn’t, of course, but she was beginning to feel like she’d stepped into some sort of cake wonderland. There was no way that woman was real. With her kind warm eyes and perfect auburn curls, skin rosy and peppered with the odd freckle, apron smeared with icing and buttercream of different colours making her look like a walking rainbow. Not to mention that her height made Kaisa feel small, not like a mouse or a bug but more like a queen’s loyal subject.

There was no way this woman was real. She looked more like a fairy, or maybe an angel than like a human being. And yet, she fit perfectly inside the cake shop, like she was the ultimate creation inside of it.

“Like what you see?” The woman asked with a smile, and of course, of course, her voice sounded like honey and warm chocolate ganache. Kaisa would deny it to her grave, but she blushed deeply at the question, terrified for a couple of mortifying seconds that she’d been caught staring at the woman’s beauty - while on the hunt for a wedding cake, of all things - before realising that she’d been looking at the cakes.

“Oh, yes!” She amended as quickly as she could, knowing that the moments of stretched silence weren’t ideal and that she’d been at fault for letting them exist at all. “These are - I’d say impressive, but that doesn't even begin to cover it. Like, wow. I can screw up a box mix cake, so you can imagine what looking at these feels like to me.”

It seemed to have been enough to remedy her awkwardness, because the angel at the counter smiled at her. Encouraged, Kaisa continued, stepping closer since she supposed it was generally what you did when you had to talk to another person. Even if that meant feeling the effect of that so very warm gaze even more strongly. Certainly that was why her face was heating up.

“Seriously, I have no idea how come I had never heard about this place before. Though it probably has something to do with never leaving my house.” She was fully aware that she was rambling by now, but the angel’s smile never dimmed. “My compliments to the chef, or whatever it is I’m supposed to say. Tell them that if they decided to credit their talent to some divine miracle I’d be more inclined to become religious, or something.”

At that, the other woman threw her head back and laughed, and fuck Kaisa had been right. She hadn’t been to church since she was very young, but that had to be what a heavenly choir sounded like. There was a single beam of direct sunshine making it through the trees on the sidewalk and the cakes in the showcase, and it hit the angel across the face making her brown irises shine with golden specks. Kaisa was reasonably sure she wasn’t making it out of this cake shop alive.

Except she was, because she was in love with someone else. That was enough for her. It should be enough for her.

“Message delivered.” Said the angel with a quirk to her lips. Kaisa blinked.

“What, this quickly?”

When a raised eyebrow was all the answer she got, Kaisa entertained the possibility of melting into a puddle of goo. Slamming her forehead on the glass counter also felt like a viable option, though she could see the merits in simply running away as well.

“Ugh, sorry. I’m not generally this much of a mess.” A lie, clearly, but the angel didn’t need to know that. “It’s just nerves, I guess. So you’re the owner of this shop?”

Extending one hand towards Kaisa, the woman smiled again, and she’d have to stop that, she’d really have to stop that because otherwise Kaisa might just drop her heart by her feet. There was flour and some other colourful smudges on her hand, but the librarian paid it no mind as she took the handshake.

“Yes, I am! I’m Johanna, it’s a pleasure to meet you. How can I help?”

“I need a cake.”

She was proud of herself for not saying something like ‘the pleasure is all mine’ (no way she’d be able to make herself sound not so bizarrely sincere saying that) and to even be able to speak at all after getting a name for the angel. Johanna. It was fitting. Warm. Reminded her of apple picking in the autumn. She was not, however, proud that she’d told the cake baker, in a cake shop that she needed a cake. It reminded her of all the patrons who had ever come to her to say they needed a book (in the library, to the librarian) and had earned an eye roll from her. Johanna, however, only nodded.

“Just to eat, or decorated as well?”

It surprised Kaisa that there was even a choice. She would never have thought to offend the woman’s artistic skills by just wanting to eat one of her cakes.

“Decorated, I suppose. It’s for, uh, it’s for my wedding.”

There was a long pause. Johanna’s smile seemed frozen for a second, and then it widened into a grin. Happy for her, of course she was. Why would a stranger feel at all disappointed that she was getting married? Or, an even better question, why would Kaisa care?

“Oh, congratulations! I suppose you’ll want a custom design, then?”

Will she? Kaisa had no idea, she just knew she’d been put on cake duty and was trying to do a moderately decent job of it. She was willing to trust absolutely anything the woman in front of her told her about it, though, so she just nodded.

“Yep. That’s about right. We’ll have about fifty guests, I guess.” Not that Kaisa even knew that many people. She’d invited her mother, sister, and best friend. Also her bosses, even if they sucked. Best to not let them know she hated them, and all that. The rest of them were all Adeline’s, seeing as her extended family all kept in contact with each other and their community was actually knit very tightly. Kaisa was happy for her, of course, but she didn’t really look forward to an evening of being introduced to people whose names she’d forget not a minute later. “I know that and our favourite cake flavours. I was hoping you’d be able to help me with the rest of the details.”

Though she’d almost been expecting to be called an idiot and told to come back when she had a clue about what she wanted, Johanna merely nodded. “Alright! Well, generally for custom designs I like to sit down with my clients for us to come up with the cake together. If that’s fine by you, you could come back - tomorrow, maybe? - and we could go over some ideas. I’m afraid I can’t be of help right now since one of my employees had an emergency so I’ve been having to double as a cashier today.”

“Oh, no worries.” I’ll see her tomorrow too! “That’s understandable.”

Johanna flashed her a grateful smile. “Why don’t you take our catalogue with some of the cakes we’ve made? Maybe it’ll help you know what you would - and wouldn’t - like.”

After she accepted the offer, Johanna crouched down and rose back up holding a small booklet that looked just a little worse for the wear. Kaisa thanked her for her time and wished her good luck getting through her short staffed day, and left with an appointment for tomorrow morning while decidedly not thinking about how she’d felt like she’d been hit by a jolt of electricity when their fingers brushed when she took the booklet.

…......

Kaisa let herself plop down on the couch of her dim one bedroom apartment. Technically, she’d been living at Adeline’s for a couple of weeks now. Most of her stuff was there already. But she hadn’t been able to make herself put her flat up for sale. Adele never questioned it, of course. Sweetheart that she was, she wouldn’t poke at Kaisa for something that brought her comfort, especially since that thing was the first home she bought for herself. Still, Kaisa felt the need to rationalise it. To tell herself she was waiting for a good opportunity. That maybe they’d find an use for a flat even though her future wife had her own house. That it was simply a fruit of her resistance to change that made her cling to the place she’d lived in for the better part of a decade. She rationalised if, because she was running from what she knew to be the truth.

That she was having second thoughts, that some part of her wished she’d never moved out at all.

It was far too early for this, Kaisa thought with a groan. This kind of doom thought pattern was reserved exclusively for after nine p.m. and the sun wasn’t even down, yet. She dragged herself around, making groaning sounds worthy of a low budget zombie movie, and forced herself into the shower. Any hopes of the hot water helping her to feel anything that wasn’t hollow were washed away alongside the dirt of the day (and flour, and buttercream), and she stepped out of her stall with her skin red from the heat.

Some of her comfort items had remained at the apartment, vestiges of a moment of sudden genius and self awareness when she’d been packing her stuff. She’d known she’d be back, and she’d known she’d be back when she needed those things the most. So Kaisa put on her fluffiest, worn down pyjamas and grabbed some of her plushies, dropping them by the couch on her way to the kitchen. After brewing herself a hibiscus tea, which she brought along to the living room, it was finally dark outside. So not yet nine, but late enough to feel sorry about herself, she supposed.

It used to be so much easier. She loved Adeline, she genuinely did. The woman had been her closest friend (considering Kaisa’s other friend and her antisocial tendencies, she’d really been Kaisa’s best option) for years, since they were studying Library Sciences together. They’d been by each other’s side all throughout the process of getting their first jobs, Kaisa at the municipal library and Adeline as a city hall archivist. It had been her arms that had held her through the hardest spots of her life, and her smile that she’d been faced with whenever she had good news.

Adeline was the funniest person she knew. The woman was kind and patient without a fault, and her excitement could light up entire cities. She was trustworthy, reliable, and understanding. Kaisa had absolutely no qualms whatsoever about the fact that she wanted her nearby her entire life.

So why did she feel like she was walking towards her execution?

She’d been the one to pop the question. She had kneeled before Adeline during a dinner at her favourite restaurant and asked if she’d have her hand. Yet now she counted the days with looming dread. The fluttery feeling in her belly weren’t butterflies, and she had no idea what to do about it.

Adeline was perfect. But since the reality of til death do us part had begun sinking in, Kaisa had begun to wonder if she was right for her.

Dating was one thing. They were young, still, and dating someone you don’t really have chemistry with was normal. To be expected, really. You tell yourself that either it will show up, or that you’ll both eventually find someone whose edges fit yours perfectly. But they were getting older, slowly but surely, and Kaisa couldn’t think of a single good reason to leave such a good woman, and neither did she want to put off an event she wanted to happen in her life, so why not? It had seemed not only like a good idea, but like a logical progression. It should not be eating away at her heart like it was.

Kaisa feels rotten for it. She was lucky enough to have found such an amazing person who actually puts up with her. It was beyond selfish to expect some sort of chemistry as well. She didn’t even know what that was, or what she’d been expecting. That whole sparks flying and heart stopping thing only happened in movies and fanfiction (heavens knew she’d written and read her fair share). Love in the real world was a choice. One she’d keep making every day until one day, hopefully, she actually deserved to be called Adeline’s wife.

The cake store’s booklet all but glared at her from where she’d left it at the coffee table. Like a fool drinking water to stop themselves from drowning, she picked it up.

…......

Kaisa showed up at the cake shop the following day, this time with an appointment and an actual idea of what she’d like. The cakes were no less impressive at a second glance, so it took her a second to orient herself once inside the baking paradise and realise that the face behind the counter was a new one.

“Hello!” Chirped the man, tall and lean with brown skin and long, slick, almost greyish black hair. “How may I help you?”

The unexpectedness of having to deal with someone other than who she’d come here to see gave her pause for a few seconds. The man was kind, though, and his face was carefully blank as he waited for Kaisa to gather her bearings. Eventually, she managed.

“I’m here to see Johanna?” She sounded way less certain than someone who had scheduled a meeting should. “She’s going to help me with a cake.”

The man raised his eyebrows in understanding, and gestured for her to come behind the counter. “Oh, she told me to expect you! Kaisa, is it?”

She nodded.

“Well, I’m Raven. Nice to meet you, miss, she’s waiting for you in the resting room. Past this door to the right.”

Following his instructions, Kaisa allowed herself further inside the bakery, past a wooden door that opened up two other options: forward into what was clearly the kitchen, since the double doors that guarded it didn’t go all the way up to the ceiling nor all the way down to the floor, allowing Kaisa a peep of the warm colours inside, and of the tops of towering stacked cakes. That, combined with the scent of clover and cinnamon and the clatter of pans was explanation enough. The other option was the one she’d been instructed to take, and she did, knocking on the door to the left, white paint peeling slightly at the bottom, before poking her head inside.

True to Raven’s word, Johanna was indeed inside and sitting at a wooden table. She opened a radiant smile to Kaisa as soon as her mind processed who she was seeing, and immediately got up to greet her properly.

Which was warmly, apparently. Everything Johanna did was so bright that Kaisa half wondered if the way her skin was feeling hot in her presence was just the beginning of a first degree burn. The baker got her to sit down on one of the other softly worn down chairs at the table, which made Kaisa realise just how homey their resting room was. There was a couch, also somewhat worn, and a couple of shelves with folders and recipe books. Pictures all around the walls, as well, a few showcasing cakes, but most of them being just Johanna with her staff. Two stood out as being the bigger ones; one of those seemed to be the shop’s opening day, a selfie that caught both the bakery’s front and the smiling faces of Johanna, Raven, and another man she hadn’t yet seen (but had heard his rattling about in the kitchen), with curly dark brown hair falling over most of his face and covering his features. The other one was a portrait of a single person. A young girl, blue hair tied back in pigtails, gap toothed and wearing a brown sweater that was entirely too big for her. She was looking at the camera - or, more likely, whoever had been behind it - with adoration.

“My daughter.” The baker said when she noticed Kaisa staring at the picture, and the librarian hastily turned to her to apologise for prying, but didn’t even get so as she was instantly faced with Johanna’s proud smile. “She’s at a friend’s house right now, but you could have caught her. She likes hanging around bothering Tontu or asking Raven questions.”

Kaisa tried to return her smile, but it was virtually impossible to do so, at least when you were her. The lopsided thing she offered could never have the thousands-of-gigawatts-generating power that Johanna’s had.

“She looks lovely.” Kaisa said, knowing in her bones that no one who had been raised by the woman in front of her could be anything but. Her heart squeezed a bit as she thought about a young person following her mother and friends around, all bright curiosity and eager gasps.

Adeline didn’t want children. They’d had this conversation, of course, and Adeline had stated that fact without any doubt whatsoever, and Kaisa had stuttered and assured her that the same went for her. And it did. Kaisa knew she wasn’t competent enough to be trusted with a child. It was fine. There was no reason to be acting weird about it.

“So-” Johanna said after thanking her and narrowly avoiding going on a rant about her daughter’s virtues to the new client, producing a notebook out of thin air. “Tell me, what do you have in mind?”

Not even trying to pretend she knew what she was talking about, Kaisa began listing off her ideas in the hope that Johanna’s expert mind could shift them into something doable. Even that was made harder by the fact that the angel kept staring at her throughout the entire explanation, though. She’d have had an easier time if her gaze had shifted to the notebook at least once, but it must be her modus operandi to give her clients her full attention, at least for that first part.

By the end, what they had was an idea about the flavours (tiers of chocolate and coffee for Kaisa, and others of almond and milk cream for Adeline), the decision of not having a shorter cake that was actually to eat and a taller cake that was just for show and simply decorating the smaller one, and that said decoration should include stuff that was reminiscent of the two of them.

What said “stuff” included, however, was a much harder question to answer. One which luckily Johanna seemed experienced in since she expertly stopped Kaisa from spiralling into a panic about not knowing what could even be said about her and her fiancee.

“What are you two like? Personality wise, I mean.” She prompted gently, and thinking about that was a lot more straightforward than trying to come up with symbols that represented them. That Kaisa could do.

“Oh, Adele’s intelligent and sweet.” She said with ease. Listing Adeline’s merits came as easy to her as reciting a poem. For all her anxiety, there were few people she’d even dare to compare to her bride. “She has so much energy, and for someone so nerdy and with supposedly boring interests, she has a ton of friends. Suppose she’s just likeable like that. Enjoys going out with them, being outdoors. I’m-” a miserable, lonely bastard. “- more introverted. I only really talk to a handful of people, and she’s one of them. She doesn’t tire me like most people do.”

Johanna had been watching her throughout her explanation, her smile growing bigger. She had one of those smiles that made her eyes look smaller when it pulled up her cheeks.

“Oh, you’re like the sun and the moon!”

The affirmation gave Kaisa a stop. It made sense, didn’t it? Yet the more she thought about it, the less it seemed to fit. It wasn’t that… well matched between them, she supposed. Which was just as well, she didn’t need that sort of thing. Sure, Adeline was a ray of sunshine, but for some reason, it felt wrong to give a meaning like that to what they had. Like it could put too much pressure on their bond and make it break when it couldn’t live up to the expectation.

Maybe they were a sun and a moon, but Kaisa didn’t feel like they belonged in the same system. She didn’t feel like they even belonged in the same galaxy.

Which was fine. They were the best of friends. They worked well together. No ill aligned stars made a single difference when it came to that. They were fine.

“I don’t think I’m romantic enough to go making these associations.” She answered at last, because explaining what was actually going on inside her head to the poor baker was not within the realm of possibility.

“You never know! The right person might awaken a side of you that you never knew existed.” She cooed, her smile turning compassionate. “But if it’s worth anything, I don’t go out much, either. Not many friends, other than Tontu and Raven.”

She blinked. It was worth something. A lot, really. Though she insisted she’d outgrown those insecurities, it still felt like a personal failure that her social life was virtually non-existent. But if Johanna was in the same situation, maybe she’d missed a memo and having few friends and staying home was what cool people were doing these days.

“What, you? Really?” She couldn’t hide the surprise in her voice. “I would have guessed you had a line of people waiting to get to listen to you.”

Dial it down, her mind screamed at her, her mouth snapping shut as she processed how inappropriate she’d just been. That’s way too fucking much.

The angel blushed, making Kaisa worried she’d made her uncomfortable for a moment. If that was the case, she’d simply be left no choice other than to drown herself in the nearest body of water, unfortunately. No forgiveness for hurting a divine being, she supposed. But then the woman opened up a different type of smile, one that spoke of gratefulness and shyness at the same time, timid and leaning more to one side than the other.

It was just as beautiful in Kaisa’s eyes.

“Not many people think a single mother is the height of fun, I’m afraid.”

Kaisa’s heart skipped a beat when that sunk in.

Oh.

“Their loss.” In a rare moment of clarity, Kaisa just stated that and shrugged. She hadn’t a lot of experience with that sort of situation, but she figured that Johanna must have received far too much pity and fake sympathy which she didn’t need. Kaisa wasn’t going to add to that.

She didn’t catch the way Johanna stared at her in something akin to awe for a split second, but she did notice it when the baker made her attempt to get back on track, shaking her head and putting on her best customer service voice once more.

“Anyhow. Maybe we could focus on what you have in common, then!”

Kaisa sagged against her chair. “Well, we both like books-”

…......

Kaisa goes straight to her mother’s, after that, because it’s Saturday and she doesn’t have another excuse to not go back to Adeline’s house. It should be their house, now, but it didn’t feel like it. And she knew she’d only feel tainted if she dared to go in, look at her bright eyes and accept whatever she’d suggest as a way to pass their time, after having spent the better part of two hours pining over another woman. So she goes to Tildy instead, because the elderly’s sharp mind and quick tongue wouldn’t make her feel any better at all, not in the state she was in, but at least it wouldn’t be unfair to Adele.

It went as well as could be expected. Tildy had been cooking dinner when she arrived, and since Frida was busy with homework in her room, Kaisa put herself at her service without even having to be asked. Not that she knew what she was doing in the kitchen, that much we’ve established already, but following instructions (after decoding what Tildy meant, that is) was something she was well versed in.

That meant, of course, that she was more than close enough to her mother for her to pick up on her unease. That was made even easier by the fact that Tildy had been (literally) staring into her soul for the past few months, ever since she’d announced her plans to ask for Adeline’s hand. It confused Kaisa to no end. Her mother had always seemed to like Adele, since they were friends and also when they became girlfriends, and that much didn’t seem to have changed. Yet, at every chance, she hinted at something Kaisa truly didn’t understand.

It was off putting, after an entire life of understanding Tildy’s idiosyncrasies and oddities, to not catch the one that was aimed at her.

“Still haven’t changed your mind about a bachelorette’s, I suppose?” She asked when the quiche she’d been making was finally in the oven, after having tried to pry out of Kaisa why she looked so downcast and if everything was fine for nearly an hour.

The librarian chuckled mirthlessly. “Oh, yeah. Me, my mother, my middle school aged sister, and a hyperactive weather reporter. Great party, that would be.”

Giving her a stern look that at least partly tried to convey ’I’m very fun at parties’ (which Kaisa didn’t doubt, but she truly was the only one in the list that was), Tildy scolded her. “Darling, don’t patronise yourself. You have many other friends you could invite.”

That made Kaisa openly snort, letting herself fall down to the same familiar couch where she used to read when she was a teenager.

“Such as?”

For the first time in known history, Tildy did not have an answer to that.

Kaisa went home after dinner. Her home, the little apartment that still smells like tea and lavender instead of peonies and vanilla and makes her feel incredibly lonely. She listens to cliche romance songs, and doesn’t think about her bride.

…......

For some reason, which she suspects has a lot to do with character flaws she can’t even name, Kaisa shows up at the cake shop again a few days later. She reasoned with herself that checking in on the cake’s progress was a reasonable enough excuse, even if she didn’t think she’d have the gall to just straight up ask Johanna to see what had been done so far. With her complete lack of skill in tone regulation, it would be all too easy to sound pushy if she did so.

No explanations were necessary, however. When she arrived, she didn’t come face to face with Raven, on his own in that part of the shop like she thought she would since she figured that must be his job. Instead, Raven was there, but he was looking anxiously at where Johanna and the other man she hadn’t yet personally met were carefully setting down a cake that was at least a metre high. As soon as she caught sight of what was happening, she held her breath just like all the others were doing, and a collective sigh of relief was heard when the cake was balanced perfectly on top of the stand.

“See? Told you it could hold.”

“You’re a madwoman, Johanna.”

“I appreciate the trust, Tontu.”

Raven cleared his throat loudly, causing the bickering bakers to turn to him, only to then look at Kaisa when he pointed at her and mouthed ‘client!’

The blush on Johanna’s face was entirely a result of the effort of carrying such an enormous cake, she was sure.

“Kaisa!” The woman squeaked happily. “I was just thinking about you!”

Fatal blow. Many dead, hundreds hurt, et cetera et cetera. Kaisa looked around as if anyone was going to offer her a script or at least a couple of options of what to say in that situation. Nobody was so kind, though, so she was left scrambling for something normal to say.

“You… were?” Nailed it.

“Yes!” Johanna brushed her hands against each other, making specks of powdered sugar fall to the floor. Tontu walked away to the back of the shop mumbling about cleaning the floor and something else that Kaisa didn’t get. “We were experimenting on a new pastry, and it’s your favourite flavours. A croissant with cocoa in the batter and a tiramisu inspired filling.”

Kaisa must really be a sight to behold, standing uselessly around with a huge question mark on her forehead. Johanna simply kept staring at her with that same kindness, while Raven began looking like he was pretending to not be in the same room.

“Wait, you bake?” Realising the downright idiotic question that was, she immediately amended. “I mean, beyond cakes?”

“We do!” Johanna chirped with a flourish of her hand that, Kaisa realised, was meant to point at a glass showcase in which she had never realised there were not cakes, but many different pastries. Which also brought her attention to the fact that there were chairs and tables inside the shop, which would make no sense if it were only a place to order cake in.

She really was fucking stupid, huh.

Though truth be told, she probably deserved some credit. Everybody’s vision blurred around the edges when they were staring directly at the sun. Kaisa opted for the easy way out: awful humour.

“Damn, you can decorate, you can actually bake tasty stuff, is there anything you can’t do?”

Johanna put her hands on her hips, and deadpanned with a completely straight face.

“Simple maths.”

Kaisa had no other option than to throw her head back and laugh.

“Fair enough. I’m quite useless at it too.” She admitted, thinking about how she’d been asking Victoria for help with her taxes - resulting in her having to trust that the woman wasn’t making her commit fraud, a huge risk to take - ever since she began having to pay them. “And I don’t even have the excuse of being an artist to make up for it.”

The baker’s eyes were twinkling when she looked back at her, a smile dancing on her lips. “You’re far too kind. They’re just cakes.”

As if anyone could ever be ‘far too kind’ to her. All the goodwill one could offer this woman wouldn’t be enough. An angel like her could only ever deserve more. “They’re masterpieces. You’ll do well not to insult them like that when they can hear you, it might decrease the morale around here.”

Johanna choked back a laugh, making Kaisa marvel at how her horrendous sense of humour apparently… hit its mark with this woman, somehow. Heavens knew she must be way too clever to actually think Kaisa was funny. Some traitorous brain cell offered her the thought that Adele only laughed out of politeness and affection most times, an ‘oh, Kaisa, you’re so silly’ type of sentiment. She quickly cut that synapse short.

Unexpectedly, as soon as she stopped laughing Johanna pulled up the chair that was closest to her.

“Sit down. I’ll get you one of them to taste.”

“Oh, that’s really too kind-”

“No, I insist.” The gentle tone still somehow left no room for arguing. Kaisa had the alarming realisation that she’d do anything this woman told her to. “It was, after all, inspired by your order. Just fair that you get to approve of it.”

“Oh?” Kaisa lifted her eyebrows playfully. “And what guarantees you that I’ll approve of it?”

When Johanna passed by her on her way to the other side of the counter, they couldn’t tell who was to blame for the back of their hands brushing against each other.

“Oh, you will.”

Kaisa shouldn’t have accepted the courtesy. She shouldn’t have sat down to eat it and compliment the pastry. She shouldn’t have been so glad when Johanna sat down in front of her. She shouldn’t have spent the better part of three hours talking to the woman, then. And if she did, she shouldn’t have kept noticing how extremely kind she was, and smart, and funny, and how they played off of each other in a way that made her think they’d never run out of things to talk about. And when she got up to leave, she shouldn’t have felt tempted to hug Johanna goodbye, or to brush a stray curl away from her face.

She shouldn’t. But she did anyway.

…......

Kaisa went back to the house, after all. Not their house, not her house, not even Adeline’s house. She’d taken to thinking about it as just that, the house, a miserable thing that belonged to no one and was only there to remind her of how ungrateful she was.

But that was just Kaisa, wasn’t it? Life could be a bed of roses and she’d still find a way to complain about the thorns.

Adele had been there, gentle and sweet as ever. They’d ordered in and watched a movie, and didn’t even pretend to argue over which to pick, knowing the point wasn’t really what they were watching so much as passing the time. Come morning, they had waffles for breakfast - Adeline could moderately cook - and discussed the book they’d both just finished reading.

‘Discussed’ might not be the appropriate word, however, for the conversation that involved essentially just agreeing with each other’s opinions. It hardly lasted fifteen minutes.

Which was good. It was fine. This sort of lining up of opinions meant there would hardly ever be any major disagreements in their married life.

So why was Kaisa now organising the romance books as if the tomes had personally offended her?

Ah, well. It was because they were full of drivel, of course. Ridiculous notions about there only being one way to do love right, about something as silly as destine being more important in a relationship then effort. They were pathetic. And maybe the fact that she’d read so many of them when younger was the reason why she now felt so unsure about a perfectly fine marriage.

Which she’d asked for.

One book escaped her clutches when she’d been holding it on top of the ladder, falling down with a thump to the ground; Kaisa bit her fist to stop herself from screaming in frustration. She climbed down hastily, part of her mind figuring that falling down and breaking her neck would be an easy way out of everything, to pick up the copy of Wuthering Heights.

The book had fallen cover down on the floor, falling open with the collision. The page it was in still had the pencil underlying of an uneducated borrower on one paragraph, dragging Kaisa’s eyes to it.

“He shall never know I love him: and that, not because he’s handsome, but because he’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made out of, his and mine are the same.”

Kaisa closed the book and shoved it in the nearest open spot, messing up the entire shelf’s organisation.

…......

The bakery’s phone number had sent Kaisa a message to let her know her order was ready to be picked up. It made her spend the entire rest of her day with a heavy heart she couldn’t explain, like this last visit was more binding than the walk down the altar would be. She was told she could arrive after leaving the library, even if it would already be after hours according to their schedule.

She almost hoped to find no one there, so she could postpone this even if just one more day. No such luck. The lights inside were dim enough that no one would mistake it for open, but bright enough to make out the shape of Johanna, sitting by herself at one of the tables with her focus on a sketchbook she was doodling on. When Kaisa rapped her knuckles on the glass door, she immediately looked up and got up with a smile to unlock the door.

The baker took her inside the kitchen, this time, which Kaisa held as an honour. Certainly she wouldn’t have been allowed into the space where all of Johanna’s passion blossomed if she hadn’t somehow proven herself trustworthy.

“You must really love what you do-” Kaisa mused out loud, not even bothering to pretend to only be there for her cake as she looked around openly at the space. “-to be this good at it.”

To her surprise, when she stopped admiring how much more of an art atelier than a kitchen the place looked and turned back to Johanna, the baker was looking at her. Or staring, more like. Her gaze was so intense that Kaisa had the impression she could physically feel it on her skin.

Which was silly, of course. But if she was helpless to do anything but step closer, well. Did anyone ever blame the planets for orbiting around the sun?

“It was a sort of therapy for me, at first.” Johanna admitted, guiding Kaisa’s gaze to a workbench that seemed to exclusively have realistic cakes which used mimicking techniques to pass for other foods and objects. “I began when I was a teenager and not in the best spot. I took to baking whenever I felt stressed.”

The woman hugged her own middle, staring down at her cakes even as Kaisa walked to her side, as if she was cold. Which Kaisa thought was insane. No one so warm should be capable of ever even feeling chilly.

“And, well, when you do something so often, you inevitably get good at it, I suppose.”

Kaisa didn’t know what to make of her forlorn voice. “You go to great lengths to avoid admitting you’re just plain great at what you do. I’ve been cooking for myself for years and I’m still a fire hazard in the kitchen. It’s not a linear logic.”

Johanna’s only reaction was a quick, forced quirk upwards of the left corner of her lip, but Kaisa couldn’t see it. She continued speaking, because anything was better than this feeling that Johanna was sad and because she knew it would be her last chance to talk to this woman. After the wedding, she wouldn’t be able to come back there. Not ever. It just wouldn't be fair. Not being able to avoid falling for someone when she was in a committed relationship was one thing. Allowing those feelings to develop was entirely another.

“It’s better than what I do when I get anxious.” She remarked. “One of these days I’m going to run out of fix-it fanfic to read.”

The way Johanna suddenly looked at her and blinked with a confused face made her fear that she was about to have to explain what fanfiction was to another adult, but then she let her eyes fall shut and laughed genuinely, and yes, that was much better, even if she was laughing at her.

Though, for some reason, Kaisa didn’t think she was.

“At least your coping mechanism doesn’t get your blood sugar levels dangerously high.”

“No, but it fucks up my sleeping schedule, so it’s kind of a pyrrhic victory, isn’t it?”

One auburn eyebrow was lifted. “What, like you can’t stop and pick it up again the next day?”

“When I’m halfway through a hundred thousand word slow burn and having to make it past the angst part of it? Absolutely not. Would you leave a cake overnight in the oven?”

Johanna chuckled and shook her head in a way Kaisa’s battered heart wanted to think of as fondly, and her spirits were immediately lifted at having cheered her up from whatever had been bothering her even if now that meant they’d have to stop talking and actually get to business. Talk about a pyrrhic victory.

Her arms were still around herself, though, which meant that when they walked further into the kitchen for her to show her the cake, Kaisa could barely spare a thought to the jaw droppingly beautiful creation. Not when Johanna was so clearly gripping into her own arms in a way that had to be bruising.

Yet the angel maintained her smile.

She showed her how it had turned out with that perfect customer service voice that Kaisa hated for how robotic it sounded, even if she reminded herself that she was just a customer. They’d agreed on the toppings not being the brides, since that was a tad too cliche for them, but rather it was a modelling chocolate model of the tree under which they’d had their first date. The buttercream was a light orange, Adeline’s favourite colour, with accents of gold leaf in flower shapes. There were other details on the cake, references to books they both enjoyed, to the university they’d gotten their Masters at, but what Kaisa couldn’t stop thinking about, when she did manage to pay attention to the cake, was the obvious care that had been put into every detail.

Kaisa swallowed down a lump in her throat. It did not go away.

When she managed to get out of her own head for long enough to realise that Johanna was probably waiting for a reaction, she opened the brightest grin she could manage - hoping it was not, in fact, a grimace - and sang her honest praises to it. She didn’t know what she’d done wrong, though. Johanna only seemed to grip her own arms tighter.

Though Kaisa offered to help, Johanna carried the cake to the counter in the cake shop on her own. Probably for the best, too, considering Kaisa’s known lack of upper body strength. There, she placed the cake inside a box that was meant for safe carrying.

Kaisa had already paid for half of the cake upfront, and now took the exact sum that had been missing from her pocket. When she lifted it up for Johanna to take, the baker shook her head.

“Don’t.” She said simply, and Kaisa frowned.

“What do you mean, ‘don’t’? Johanna, it's your payment.”

“I know.” The woman opened a smile completely at odds with the sheer sadness in her eyes. “I don’t want it. Consider it a wedding gift.”

Mouth opened to protest, Kaisa found herself at a loss for words as Johanna placed the box on her arms. If Johanna hesitates before letting her take it, then either she doesn’t notice it, or she takes it as the woman wanting to be sure she has a proper grip on her creation and isn’t going to drop it as soon as her hands go away.

Instead of a vehement denial of the gift, Kaisa found herself saying something so corny that she’d cringe whenever she thought back to this moment in the future.

“How can I repay you?”

Johanna’s voice, no matter how much she tried to hide it, was strained when she spoke.

“Be happy. Please.” She blushed when Kaisa actually let out a small gasp at how honest she sounded. “Goodbye, Kaisa.”

As the bride walked away, she couldn’t help but feel she’d be indebted for the rest of her life.

…......

She could not go through with the wedding.

Kaisa was a creature of habit. Of planning. Of sticking to an idea to the world's end once she decided on it. So it was no walk in the park for her to come to that decision.

But she did, because if a situation was dire enough that she couldn’t ignore it, then things were very bad indeed. She hadn’t been able to go back to Adeline’s house after picking the cake up. She’d gone home, cried herself into a truly apathetic state, and scourged ao3 for a nice, long, fix-it fic about star crossed lovers. The first few she clicked on annoyed her, one had no paragraph breaks and another seemed averse to using commas, but eventually she found a well written story that scratched her itch.

She supposed she’d gotten very demanding in her tastes, lately.

She’d woken up sleep deprived and miserable, naturally, which made for as good of a day at the library as you might imagine. A patron asked for a romance book recommendation. She gave them a copy of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and pretended she didn’t hear it when they mumbled that that was a tragedy and not a romance.

Weren’t all love stories?

Back at her apartment, she called her best friend even if just to listen to a voice she knew instead of the same songs on repeat.

“Victoria, you’ve been married for a long time.”

“That I have.”

“How did you know you were in love with her?”

“I started asking myself questions like ‘how do I know I’m in love with her?’”

“Thanks.”

“Don’t thank me.”

By the third day in which she couldn’t bring herself to go back to Adeline’s, her fiancee messaged her, asking if everything was alright.

Kaisa had never been a good liar.

“I’m not sure.” She typed and strangled a sob as she started the next message. “I think I need to talk to you”

Her heart hammering on her chest, she attempted to lie on her side in her bed, facing the wall, and catch some sleep. Meaning she didn’t see it when her screen lit up with an answer.

“Me too.”

…......

The atmosphere was tense when they met up for brunch the next day. It was entirely Kaisa’s fault, though, because Adeleline was being perfectly sweet and Kaisa was just walking around like there was a rain cloud over her head.

“Alfur said that the bakery where you ordered the cake has great pastries! Why don’t we go there?

Kaisa shivered, and looked down to hide her shameful blush. “Better not. It’s too far.”

Theirs was not a conversation to be had over coffee and bagels, though, so they ate - and for a couple of minutes, it was easy and pleasant like it had been for so many years, like Kaisa had gotten her best friend back when she didn’t even know she’d lost her - and then went back to the house. Truth be told, Kaisa’s legs felt so weak as she followed her bride inside that she was proud of herself for making it without collapsing on the floor in a guilty puddle.

She hadn’t done anything wrong. She knew she hadn’t. But she still felt like she’d stabbed a loved one’s back and the loved one was smiling at her nonetheless.

They sat down on the couch, not even pretending there wasn’t an elephant in the room but rather inviting it to step closer and step on their heads, maybe. What were crushed skulls next to a broken heart? Memories of reading together, of watching movies, of talking about their days flooded their minds as they dared themselves to be the bravest they ever were.

“This is hard.” Adeline said, and Kaisa could only nod as she stared with an unfocused gaze at nowhere in specific. “What if we both say what we want to at the count of three?”

That could go terribly wrong. But Kaisa had always been helpless to humour her. So she allowed her to count down the seconds, each accompanied by a stronger beat of Kaisa’s heart, until one came and it flew out of her mouth before she could think twice.

“I can’t go through with the wedding.” They both said, exactly at the same time.

The silence that follows is nothing short of stunned. They turn to look at one another, sporting similarly wide eyes. Except Kaisa’s lips are parted in surprise and Adeline’s are beginning to shape a smile. Something like static is buzzing inside the librarian’s mind.

“Well, this might be a lot easier than I thought.” Her bride chirps. “Why don’t we tackle the ‘whys’ this time?”

Kaisa nodded dumbly, feeling like at any moment people with cameras and microphones would jump from behind the furniture and announce that it was all a prank.

No one did.

And when the countdown was done, they braced themselves for this time dissonant admissions.

“I fell for someone else.” Kaisa said with her eyes shut tight as Adeline breathed out “I’m aromantic.”

When they looked at each other then, Kaisa looked even more floored, and instead of smiling Adeline began to openly laugh, filing the living room with the joyful sound.

“What the fuck?” Kaisa exclaimed, gaping. And then her brain began trying to process the information, and the other woman’s laughter began getting to her and she repeated, this time with mirth and a confused grin. “What the fuck?”

“I'm sorry!” Adeline had to make an effort to stop cackling at their honestly ridiculous predicament, moisture gathering at her eyes for all the right reasons. “I only realised it recently. I mean, I’ve always known, but I think I was avoiding it. And lately I’ve had reasons to try to understand my feelings better. I don’t think I’ll ever feel romantic attraction towards someone. But I’ve come to realise that that’s different from queerplatonic attraction. Which… I do feel for someone.”

Kaisa nodded, listening intently and doing her best to showcase it though her body language as well.

“And I also noticed that that’s slightly different from friendly love. Which is how I feel about you.” Adeline took her hands; they had always been warm and delicate. Now they felt a little bit sweaty, and it made Kaisa relieved to know she wasn’t the only one suffering with nerves. “I know there are aromantic people who marry their friends, or their platonic partners. Whatever form of love brings people together is more than valid, I’d say. But I know it’s not what you signed up for. I know you’re a hopeless romantic, even if you try to deny it. And sure, we work well together because we respect and like each other so much. But I’ll give you honesty, Kaisa, because I care about you and I feel like we’ve been lacking on that front. I don’t think I want to marry you.”

They breathe for a moment, and it’s the most free they’ve felt since they could remember.

“I am so happy for you, Adele.” She’s still a bit stunned, but it’s beginning to make sense. A lot of moments from the course of their relationship were, to be honest. She had gotten the feeling that Adeline had been containing something, that she’d been forcing herself to go along with a plan she didn’t want, but she’d always brushed it away as being her own paranoia about being unlovable. How could Kaisa not be happy? This was her best friend, and she was finally out of her cage. “This must have taken a lot of introspection and certainly a lot of courage. Thank you for telling me. Both for trusting me with this information and for being so honest about it.”

Adeline squeezed her hands. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t trust you with, Kaisa. You’re still the person who I’d have agreed to spend my life with. Being aromantic doesn’t change that.”

She squeezed her hands in return, trying to convey all her feelings of fondness and gratefulness at the same time. It all made sense, then. They weren’t the sun and the moon; there was only one sun in Kaisa’s life and she had made her peace with it at last. Adeline was, truth be told, too sweet to be something as blinding as the sun.

It had been right in front of her the entire time: Adele was the earth. Calming and steady, the only one among them all that could actually hold life. Adeline was safe. She’d always been Kaisa’s anchor, and something told her she’d remain so even after this entire ordeal. She kept Kaisa in orbit with her gentleness, her encouragement, and now, with her bravery.

Kaisa could cry. She must be a weird sight, looking at her (former?) bride with so much open adoration when they’d just admitted to not want each other in that way. Adeline scrunched up her nose in a way that told her she was about to be silly.

“So…” She drawled. “Who’s your girl?”

Kaisa scoffed. “I thought you were my girl”

Adeline laughs again, and how come Kaisa hadn’t realised she’d been doing that so rarely lately? “Come on, Kai. I’m not the one who fell in love with someone else.”

“I know, I know, I’m just… relieved. I thought I was going to lose you.”

With a gentle smile and without letting go of her hands, Adeline bumped their knees together. “You’re never going to lose me, Kaisa. I may not be in love with you, but I do love you. Very much. You’re so special to me and I’m so glad we had the self awareness to talk about this before we could go through with the wedding and it actually got in our way.”

A weight dropped from Kaisa’s heart, as if gravity had been abolished and she was finally free to float. The moon could never lose the earth. But she couldn’t deny that her glow came from the sun, either.

Kaisa swallowed, unable to resist the urge to look away as she blushed with the admission. “The baker. Who I fell for, I mean. But I promise we never-” She rushed to defend herself, even if she didn’t know what from. “I wouldn’t-”

Adeline squeezed her hands again, knowing that would ground her, a perfect gravitational center. “I know, Kaisa. I trust you.”

It was all Kaisa could do not to let herself slide down from the couch all the way down to the floor in sheer relief. Not even in her best dreams could she have imagined that conversation having gone so well. And then her brain picked up on something else from Adeline’s speech.

“You… said you have a crush on someone? A queerplatonic one?”

It filled the librarian with a sadistic sort of glee to see Adeline being the one who turned a shade of beet red this time. She loved it when she wasn’t the one on the spot.

Adeline nodded. “Our wedding planner.” She admitted shyly, making Kaisa lean back on the couch and laugh.

“Alfur? Damn, Adele, at least I didn’t fall for a guy!”

Giving her a playful shove, her (definitely former) bride grinned. “Are you a biphobe, now?”

“Will it make telling everyone we’re calling off the wedding easier if I let you think so?”

Somehow, such a heavy topic didn’t feel like a minefield anymore. It felt like when they were younger and did stupid things just to see if they could get away with it, like writing utter nonsense on their essays to find out if the professor even really read them. It felt like they’d laugh about it, not only in the future, but as soon as each new remark came. It felt easy. It felt like friendship. Adeline giggled again, rolling her eyes fondly.

“Can’t believe you had the gall to suggest we have brunch somewhere just because Alfur recommended, just to then throw around the news that you have a crush on him.”

The archivist gasped and looked at her with completely feigned hurt. “And you had the gall to deny me my pastries because you’re in love with the baker!”

“That’s fair. Guess we really were made for each other. Platonically.” Kaisa smiled softly, already planning on bringing a selection of Johanna’s pastries for Adeline to try as soon as everything was cleared up.

“Does that mean I get my best friend post back?”

“Obviously.”

She punched the air in victory. Whatever the opposite of a pyrrhic one was, this time. Kaisa didn’t think there had ever been a win-win situation in the universe that had been so perfectly aligned. “I’m going to rub it in Victoria's face that she’s been demoted again.”

Kaisa laughed again, allowing a pleasant feeling to unfurl completely on her chest and make her feel giddy with it. They were going to be fine. They were all going to be fine.

“I really do love you, Adele”

“And I, you, Kaisa.” She says as brightly as she grins. “And I’m not ever going to marry you.”

…......

A few days later, Kaisa used her lunch break to take the walk from the library straight to the park in front of Johanna’s bakery.

She thought about going inside, but what the hell was she going to say? Show up during her work hours and say “my wedding was ruined before it even began and it’s all your fault, thank you so much”? That didn’t sound like a normal thing that normal people did - not that she’d know much about that - so she let herself fall to one of the dark green benches, the paint peeling at some places and making bubbles in others.

It was a nice day. Couple of clouds, just enough for the sun to not be hitting her directly. Even the birds were singing nicely. It felt like the perfect set up to go reenact a Hallmark movie, but she knew she was procrastinating. What was the hurry, though? She wasn’t on a timeline anymore. There was no special date looming in her future in which her entire life would change. She was, in fact, back to square one. Back to wondering ‘could anyone ever love me?’ and ‘am I even capable of maintaining a relationship?’

She supposed she’d have her entire life to answer these questions, now.

But before that, she had to make this stop.

Honesty had gotten her this far, after all.

Not that she was making any progress on that front. The relief from knowing she wouldn't have to force herself to do anything combined with her typical fear of failure came together to make a very potent tranquilliser, apparently. She sprawled herself on the bench, resting her head against the back of it, and allowed the rays of the sun to warm her, eyes closed and mind wandering.

When suddenly she felt the heat cease, and light was no longer making it past her eyelids, she opened her eyes to see what the matter was. She’d been expecting a cloud. Her heart began hammering in her chest when what she saw was a different sun.

“Kaisa? Is everything okay?” Johanna asked with her hands twisting in front of herself. That made sense, Kaisa thought. She should have prepared herself for that. She must be quite the image, thrown on some bench in front of Johanna’s workplace. Of course the dear woman would come check in on her.

“Yeah, thank you.” And then, because she quite literally had nothing to lose, she added. “My wedding was called off.”

Johanna blinked, looking around as if she expected to find some explanation to what she’d just been told. Kaisa managed a tired smile, lifting her left hand for her to see for herself that there was no longer a rose gold band in it.

“Oh.” She breathed. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Kaisa said, shrugging. “She's my best friend. We aren’t fit to be anything else. We’re both glad to have decided to abandon ship.”

The cogs in the artist’s mind seemed to be working, and she frowned, something undecipherable flashing in her eyes. “So you’re… happy?”

“I guess I am. Happy to have called it off, sure. Happy to be back at my old apartment. Happy I won’t be getting a hundred new names worth of extended family to memorise.”

Johanna failed to hold back a snort.

“I could be happier, though, I suppose.” Kaisa said with all the recklessness of someone who had just found out that sometimes, when you asked for things, you got them. Who could ever have imagined? “There’s a reason I noticed I couldn’t go through with it, after all.”

She’d never allowed herself to appreciate how beautiful Johanna was. She’d noticed it, of course, much against her will, but she had cut those thoughts short before they could become something to feel guilty about. She didn’t need to anymore. She could let herself be fascinated by how her hair curled perfectly, by the couple of freckles dotting her skin, by her strong looking hands and the rosy bottom lip being bitten down on in her confusion.

“Oh?” She breathed, sounding like she didn’t know what else to do. Kaisa sent a prayer to any deity that could hear and sat up straighter.

“At the risk of making a complete ass of myself, would you like to pop over mine for tea someday? I’ve got this delicious cake by an amazing cake artist just waiting there, and it’s far too big for me to eat on my own.”

The birds sounded awfully loud during the silence between the invitation and her answer. It was the first time Kaisa reached for something she really wanted, telling herself that it wouldn’t matter that she’d lose it eventually, not if the other option was never having it at all. She had no idea if she’d ever manage to strike Johanna’s interest. Much less if she’d manage to keep it, should she be allowed the chance. But if she were, then she had no doubt it would be the most awe inspiring eclipse of her life.

Johanna shifts her weight between her feet. It doesn’t look like she’s going to say no, but judging by her face Kaisa doesn’t really fancy her chances either.

“I have no idea what kind of person you are.” She stated, not at all accusingly. Kaisa shrugged.

“Naturally.”

“But kids are good judges of character.” Kaisa lifts her eyebrow in askance. “And I trust mine. Hilda’s inside the shop. Would you come in and meet her?”

Suddenly feeling that reckless sort of bravery be replaced by giddiness, Kaisa stood up so quickly she was afraid she was going to faint for a second. “May I?”

Johanna nodded, face scrunched up as she attempted not to smile. Kaisa made no such effort.

“If I pass her judgement, will you go out with me?”

With an exhale, Johanna glanced at Kaisa’s hand, debating whether it would be weird to hold it.

“I’m not a very smart person, Kaisa.” There was no time for her to protest against that ridiculous lie before Johanna shook her ground. “I think I’m going out with you either way.”

Johanna was the sun. Kaisa knew that, because she was the moon, and who could ever be a better judge of that than her? But anyone who happened to be passing by them could easily switch them up. Few things had ever shone as strongly as the smile on Kaisa's face.

[chimnsweepme84]

Chimney Sweeper Near Me

When it comes to maintaining a safe and efficient home, the importance of a well-functioning chimney cannot be overstated. Regular chimney cleaning and inspection are essential for preventing chimney fires, ensuring proper ventilation, and maintaining overall home safety. This is where a professional chimney sweeper comes into play. If you're searching for "Chimney Sweeper Near Me," you're likely looking for a trustworthy professional to handle your chimney needs. In this article, we will explore why finding a reliable chimney sweeper is crucial, what to look for in a professional, and how to choose the right service for your home.

The Importance of Chimney Maintenance

A chimney is a critical component of your home’s ventilation system. It allows smoke, gases, and other byproducts of combustion to exit your home safely. Without proper maintenance, a chimney can become clogged with creosote, a highly flammable substance that builds up from burning wood. This can lead to dangerous chimney fires and hazardous conditions within your home.

Regular chimney cleaning and inspection by a qualified chimney sweeper can prevent these risks. A professional will ensure that your chimney is clear of obstructions, that the flue is functioning properly, and that there are no structural issues that could compromise its safety.

What to Look for in a Chimney Sweeper Near Me

Certification and Experience

When searching for a chimney sweeper near you, certification and experience should be top priorities. Look for professionals who are certified by reputable organizations such as the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). Certification ensures that the chimney sweeper has undergone rigorous training and adheres to industry standards.

Experience is equally important. An experienced chimney sweeper will have a better understanding of various chimney systems and potential issues. They can provide more accurate inspections and effective solutions.

Insurance and Liability Coverage

Always choose a chimney sweeper who carries proper insurance and liability coverage. This protects you in case of accidents or damages that may occur during the cleaning process. Verify that the company has both general liability insurance and worker’s compensation insurance to cover any potential risks.

Reputation and Reviews

Check online reviews and ask for recommendations from friends, family, or neighbors. A reputable chimney sweeper will have positive feedback from satisfied customers. Look for reviews that mention professionalism, reliability, and quality of work. Don’t hesitate to ask for references and contact previous clients to get a sense of the company's reputation.

Comprehensive Services

A good chimney sweeper should offer a range of services beyond just cleaning. These can include inspections, repairs, and installations. A comprehensive service provider can address various issues that may arise with your chimney, ensuring that you get all the help you need from a single source.

Transparent Pricing

Before hiring a chimney sweeper, make sure you understand their pricing structure. A reputable professional will provide a clear and detailed estimate of the costs involved. Be cautious of companies that offer unusually low prices, as this may be a red flag for subpar service or hidden fees.

How to Choose the Right Chimney Sweeper Near Me

Research Local Options

Start by compiling a list of chimney sweepers in your area. Use online search engines and local directories to find professionals who are conveniently located. Check their websites for information on services, certifications, and customer reviews.

Contact Multiple Companies

Reach out to several chimney sweepers to get a sense of their customer service and availability. Ask about their certifications, experience, and pricing. This will help you compare different options and make an informed decision.

Schedule an Inspection

Once you have narrowed down your choices, schedule an inspection with the top candidates. This allows you to assess their professionalism, expertise, and approach to customer service. During the inspection, ask questions about their findings and recommended services.

Review the Contract

Before agreeing to any services, carefully review the contract or service agreement. Ensure that it outlines the scope of work, pricing, and any warranties or guarantees. Make sure you understand all terms and conditions before signing.

Conclusion

Finding a reliable chimney sweeper near you is essential for maintaining a safe and functional chimney system. By prioritizing certification, experience, reputation, insurance, and transparent pricing, you can ensure that you choose a professional who will provide high-quality service. Regular chimney maintenance is not just a matter of convenience but a crucial aspect of home safety. Investing in a skilled chimney sweeper will give you peace of mind, knowing that your chimney is in good hands. Don’t wait until problems arise—take proactive steps to protect your home and loved ones by finding a trustworthy chimney sweeper near you today.

[nde12]

Ultrasonic Testing in Pune by Integrated NDE Solution Company: Your Trusted NDT Partner

Introduction

In the modern industrial landscape, ensuring the integrity and safety of materials and components is paramount. Non-destructive testing (NDT) plays a crucial role in maintaining these standards, with ultrasonic testing being one of the most effective and reliable methods. Integrated NDE Solution Company, based in Pune, offers a comprehensive range of ultrasonic testing services that cater to various industries. Whether you are searching for NDT testing near me or require specialized ultrasonic testing services, Integrated NDE Solutions is your go-to partner for all your inspection needs.

The Importance of Ultrasonic Testing in NDT

Ultrasonic testing is a non-invasive inspection technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to detect imperfections or changes in material properties. This method is widely used across industries such as aerospace, automotive, construction, and manufacturing due to its accuracy and ability to provide detailed information about the internal structure of a material.

Integrated NDE Solution Company excels in providing ultrasonic testing services that are critical for ensuring the safety and longevity of various components. From detecting flaws in welds to measuring material thickness, our ultrasonic testing services are designed to meet the highest industry standards.

Why Choose Integrated NDE Solution Company?

When it comes to NDT inspection and ultrasonic testing, choosing the right service provider is crucial. Integrated NDE Solution Company stands out for several reasons:

Expertise in Ultrasonic Testing: Our team of experienced professionals is well-versed in the latest ultrasonic testing techniques, ensuring accurate and reliable results every time.

Advanced Equipment: We use state-of-the-art ultrasonic testing equipment, including ultrasonic thickness testers and specialized ultrasonic NDT devices, to provide precise measurements and detect even the smallest defects.

Comprehensive Services: Whether you need ultrasonic testing in Pune or are looking for ultrasonic testing services near me, we offer a wide range of services tailored to meet the specific needs of each client.

Commitment to Quality: At Integrated NDE Solution Company, quality is our top priority. We adhere to strict industry standards and protocols to ensure that our NDT inspections are of the highest quality.

Applications of Ultrasonic Testing

Ultrasonic testing is versatile and can be applied to a wide range of materials and components. Some of the key applications include:

Weld Inspection: Ultrasonic testing is widely used for inspecting welds to detect flaws such as cracks, voids, and inclusions. This is critical in industries where the integrity of welded joints is paramount, such as in pipeline construction, shipbuilding, and aerospace.

Thickness Measurement: Using an ultrasonic thickness tester, we can accurately measure the thickness of materials, including metals, plastics, and composites. This is essential for determining the remaining life of components and ensuring that they meet the required specifications.

Flaw Detection: Ultrasonic testing is highly effective in detecting internal flaws such as cracks, voids, and inclusions in materials. This helps in preventing catastrophic failures and ensuring the safety of components.

Corrosion Mapping: Ultrasonic testing can be used to map the extent of corrosion in materials, providing valuable information for maintenance and repair decisions.

Ultrasonic Testing in Pune

As a leading provider of ultrasonic testing in Pune, Integrated NDE Solution Company is proud to serve a wide range of industries in the region. Pune is a hub for manufacturing, automotive, and engineering industries, all of which require reliable NDT inspection services to ensure the safety and integrity of their products.

Our ultrasonic testing services in Pune are designed to meet the specific needs of each industry. Whether you are looking for routine inspections or require specialized testing for critical components, our team is equipped to handle it all.

Non-Destructive Testing Near Me

If you are searching for non-destructive testing near me, look no further than Integrated NDE Solution Company. We offer a comprehensive range of NDT services, including ultrasonic testing, that are designed to provide accurate and reliable results.

Our NDT services are available to clients across Pune and the surrounding regions. We understand the importance of timely and efficient inspections, which is why we strive to provide our services with minimal disruption to your operations.

Ultrasonic NDT: A Closer Look

Ultrasonic NDT is a specialized form of non-destructive testing that uses high-frequency sound waves to inspect materials and components. This method is highly effective in detecting internal flaws and measuring material thickness, making it an essential tool for ensuring the safety and integrity of various components.

At Integrated NDE Solution Company, we offer a wide range of ultrasonic NDT services, including:

Flaw Detection: Our ultrasonic NDT services are designed to detect internal flaws in materials, including cracks, voids, and inclusions. This helps in preventing catastrophic failures and ensuring the safety of components.

Thickness Measurement: Using advanced ultrasonic equipment, we can accurately measure the thickness of materials, ensuring that they meet the required specifications.

Weld Inspection: Our ultrasonic NDT services are widely used for inspecting welds to detect flaws and ensure the integrity of welded joints.

Corrosion Mapping: We offer ultrasonic corrosion mapping services to help identify the extent of corrosion in materials, providing valuable information for maintenance and repair decisions.

Ultrasonic Testing Services Near Me

For those in search of ultrasonic testing services near me, Integrated NDE Solution Company offers a comprehensive range of services that are tailored to meet the specific needs of each client. Our team of experienced professionals is equipped with the latest ultrasonic testing equipment, ensuring accurate and reliable results every time.

Whether you need ultrasonic testing for weld inspection, thickness measurement, or flaw detection, our team is here to help. We offer our services to clients across Pune and the surrounding regions, providing timely and efficient inspections that meet the highest industry standards.

The Future of Ultrasonic Testing

As technology continues to evolve, so too does the field of ultrasonic testing. Integrated NDE Solution Company is committed to staying at the forefront of these advancements, continually investing in the latest equipment and training for our team.

One of the key trends in ultrasonic testing is the development of advanced imaging techniques, such as phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) and time-of-flight diffraction (TOFD). These techniques offer higher resolution images and more accurate defect detection, making them invaluable tools for NDT inspections.

In addition, there is a growing trend towards the use of automated ultrasonic testing systems, which can provide faster and more consistent results. At Integrated NDE Solution Company, we are exploring these advancements to ensure that we continue to provide our clients with the most accurate and reliable ultrasonic testing services available.

Conclusion

Ultrasonic testing is a critical component of non-destructive testing, offering accurate and reliable results for a wide range of applications. Whether you are looking for NDT inspection services, ultrasonic testing in Pune, or ultrasonic testing services near me, Integrated NDE Solution Company is your trusted partner for all your NDT needs.

With our expertise, advanced equipment, and commitment to quality, we are well-equipped to handle all your ultrasonic testing requirements. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help ensure the safety and integrity of your materials and components.

[residentialengineer49]

Understanding the Importance of a Structural Engineer Report Near Me

When it comes to ensuring the safety, stability, and integrity of a building, the role of a structural engineer is paramount. One of the essential services provided by these professionals is the structural engineer report. If you've ever found yourself searching for a "structural engineer report near me" you're likely facing concerns about your property's structural health. In this article, we'll explore why a structural engineer report is crucial, what it entails, and how to find a qualified professional nearby.

Why You Need a Structural Engineer Report

Safety Assurance: The primary reason for obtaining a structural engineer report is to ensure the safety of the building's occupants. Structural engineers identify potential hazards and recommend necessary repairs to prevent accidents.

Property Transactions: When buying or selling a property, a structural engineer report can provide peace of mind to both parties. It helps identify any structural issues that may affect the property's value and ensures that all necessary repairs are documented.

Renovation and Remodelling: If you're planning to renovate or remodel your property, a structural engineer report is essential. It assesses the feasibility of your plans and ensures that the proposed changes won't compromise the building's structural integrity.

Insurance Claims: In the event of damage caused by natural disasters or accidents, insurance companies often require a structural engineer report to process claims. This report provides an expert evaluation of the damage and the necessary repairs.

What a Structural Engineer Report Includes

A structural engineer report is a detailed document that covers various aspects of a building's structure. Here's what you can typically expect:

Visual Inspection: The structural engineer will conduct a thorough visual inspection of the property. This includes checking the foundation, walls, roof, and any visible structural elements.

Assessment of Structural Components: The report will detail the condition of key structural components such as beams, columns, and load-bearing walls. The engineer will look for signs of wear, damage, or potential failure.

Identification of Issues: Any structural problems or potential risks will be identified and documented. This can include cracks in the foundation, sagging roofs, or deteriorating materials.

Recommendations: Based on the findings, the report will provide recommendations for necessary repairs or improvements. This may include immediate actions to address critical issues and long-term maintenance suggestions.

Supporting Documentation: The report often includes photographs, diagrams, and calculations to support the findings and recommendations. This comprehensive documentation ensures clarity and helps in planning the necessary repairs.

Finding a Structural Engineer Near You

Searching for a "structural engineer report near me" can yield numerous results, but finding the right professional requires careful consideration. Here are some tips:

Check Credentials: Ensure the structural engineer is licensed and has the necessary qualifications. Membership in professional organisations such as the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) can be a good indicator of their expertise.

Read Reviews: Look for online reviews and testimonials from previous clients. This can give you insights into the engineer's reliability, professionalism, and quality of work.

Ask for Referrals: Reach out to friends, family, or colleagues who have used structural engineering services. Personal referrals can often lead you to trustworthy professionals.

Request a Sample Report: Before hiring, ask the engineer for a sample report. This will help you understand their reporting style and the level of detail they provide.

Compare Quotes: Get quotes from multiple structural engineers. While cost shouldn't be the only factor, comparing quotes can help you find a fair price for the services you need.

Conclusion

A structural engineer report is an invaluable tool for ensuring the safety and integrity of your property. Whether you're buying, selling, renovating, or dealing with damage, a detailed report from a qualified structural engineer can provide the insights you need to make informed decisions. By following the tips outlined above, you can find a reliable structural engineer near you and secure your property's future. Don't compromise on safety – invest in a structural engineer report today.

[rasengineeringpa]

Learn What the Auditors Do at the Time of Energy Audit

A home or business building's energy efficiency is assessed through an Energy Audit San Francisco. Energy efficiency, expressed simply, is the use of less energy to accomplish the same task. You will receive a comprehensive assessment of your energy efficiency and electricity consumption from the audit.

Phone No. (888) 343-0713

Email: RAS@rascompany.com

Address: 515 E Las Olas Blvd Suite 120, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, USA

[astepintimestructuralengineers]

Structural Engineering Services in USA | Structural Engineers

Structural Engineering’s is providing the best Structural Engineering Services in USA. Our expert engineers have diverse expertise to provide the best resources and deliver designs for a successful project. Get in contact to request a quote.

[managementconsultingnc]

Engineering Firms Thriving in Raleigh, NC

Raleigh, North Carolina, often referred to as the “City of Oaks,” is a vibrant hub for technology, innovation, and business. As the state capital and engineering companies in Raleigh NC boasts a robust economy, a highly educated workforce, and a favorable business climate. Within this dynamic environment, several engineering firms have established themselves and contribute significantly to the city’s growth and development.

1. The Wooten Company

Founded in 1936, The Wooten Company has deep roots in North Carolina. With its headquarters in Raleigh, the firm provides comprehensive engineering, planning, and design services. Their expertise spans transportation, water resources, environmental engineering, and land development. The Wooten Company collaborates with public agencies, private developers, and community organizations to create sustainable solutions that enhance the quality of life for residents.

2. Stonewall Structural Engineering, PLLC

Stonewall Structural Engineering specializes in structural design and inspection services. Their team of skilled engineers works on a wide range of projects, including commercial buildings, residential structures, and historic renovations. Whether it’s designing a new office tower or assessing the stability of an existing bridge, Stonewall ensures safety, functionality, and aesthetic appeal.

3. Tower Engineering Professionals

As the demand for telecommunications infrastructure grows, Tower Engineering Professionals (TEP) plays a crucial role. TEP focuses on the design, analysis, and construction of communication towers, rooftop installations, and distributed antenna systems. Their engineers collaborate with wireless carriers, tower owners, and municipalities to improve connectivity and expand network coverage across Raleigh and beyond.

4. Wetherill Engineering Inc

Wetherill Engineering specializes in transportation planning, roadway design, and bridge engineering. Their team works closely with local and state agencies to improve transportation networks, reduce congestion, and enhance safety. From designing efficient intersections to rehabilitating aging bridges, Wetherill contributes to Raleigh’s mobility and accessibility.

5. Kimley-Horn and Associates

While Kimley-Horn is a national firm, its Raleigh office has a significant impact on the local community. Known for its expertise in civil engineering, land development, and environmental planning, Kimley-Horn collaborates with developers, municipalities, and private clients. Their innovative solutions address urban challenges, such as stormwater management, sustainable site design, and smart growth.

Raleigh, North Carolina, a city known for its vibrant economy and rapid growth, hosts several reputable construction management companies. These firms play a crucial role in overseeing projects, ensuring quality, and delivering successful outcomes. Let’s explore some of the notable construction management companies near me

1. Clancy & Thays Construction

Since 1949, Clancy & Theys has maintained a legacy of excellence in the construction industry. Known for their high standards, collaborative spirit, and innovative use of technology, they offer a wide range of services. From commercial building projects to virtual design and construction, Clancy & Theys has left a significant mark on the Southeastern region.

2. Local Property Management Companies

While not exclusively focused on construction management, local property management companies often collaborate with builders and developers. They handle property maintenance, tenant relations, and financial aspects, contributing to the overall success of real estate projects in Raleigh. Some of the best property management companies in the area can be found through local directories and online platforms.

3. Other Construction Management Firms

Beyond Clancy & Theys, Raleigh hosts several other construction management firms. These companies provide services to owners, developers, banks, attorneys, hospitals, contractors, and insurers on a national basis. Their expertise spans various sectors, including healthcare, hospitality, industrial, and retail. While I don’t have specific names, exploring local directories and industry associations can help you discover additional firms.

Conclusion

Construction management companies in Raleigh, NC are essential contributors to the city’s growth and development. Their commitment to excellence, safety, and collaboration ensures that projects are completed efficiently and to the highest standards. Whether you’re a developer, property owner, or investor, these firms play a vital role in shaping Raleigh’s built environment.

[multifamcont32]

Multifamily General Contractors Near Me

Unlocking the Value of Multifamily General Contractors Near Me

Introduction: In the bustling world of real estate development, efficiency, quality, and timeliness are paramount. Whether you're embarking on a new multifamily construction project or renovating an existing property, the role of a trusted general contractor cannot be overstated. As the demand for multifamily living spaces continues to soar, the need for experienced professionals who can seamlessly manage these complex projects becomes even more crucial. Enter multifamily general contractors—your partners in turning visions into reality. In this article, we'll delve into why partnering with a multifamily general contractor near you can be one of the wisest decisions for your project's success.

The Value of Multifamily General Contractors:

Expertise and Experience: Multifamily construction projects come with their own set of unique challenges and requirements. From zoning regulations to building codes and beyond, navigating these complexities requires a deep understanding of the multifamily landscape. General contractors specializing in multifamily projects bring years of experience and expertise to the table. They've tackled similar projects, know the ins and outs of the industry, and can anticipate potential issues before they arise, ultimately saving you time and money.

Streamlined Project Management: A multifamily general contractor serves as the central hub for your project, coordinating every aspect from start to finish. They work closely with architects, engineers, subcontractors, and suppliers to ensure seamless communication and collaboration throughout the entire construction process. This streamlined approach minimizes delays, prevents miscommunications, and keeps your project on track and within budget.

Quality Assurance: When it comes to multifamily construction, quality is non-negotiable. From structural integrity to aesthetic appeal, every detail matters. Multifamily general contractors are committed to upholding the highest standards of quality craftsmanship. They meticulously oversee every phase of the construction process, conducting regular inspections to ensure that work meets or exceeds industry standards. With a focus on quality assurance, you can rest assured that your multifamily project will stand the test of time.

Cost Efficiency: Contrary to popular belief, hiring a multifamily general contractor can actually save you money in the long run. By leveraging their industry connections and purchasing power, general contractors can secure competitive pricing on materials and subcontractor services. Additionally, their efficient project management techniques minimize costly delays and downtime, optimizing both time and resources. Investing in a skilled general contractor upfront can lead to significant cost savings and a higher return on investment down the line.

Risk Management: Multifamily construction projects inherently involve a certain level of risk. From unforeseen weather delays to supply chain disruptions and beyond, there are numerous factors that can impact project timelines and budgets. Multifamily general contractors are adept at identifying and mitigating these risks before they escalate into costly issues. With their proactive approach to risk management, they provide peace of mind knowing that your project is in capable hands.

Why Choose Buildian Construction: Based in Texas, Buildian Construction stands out as a premier multifamily general contractor committed to excellence in every aspect of the construction process. With a proven track record of delivering exceptional results, Buildian Construction offers the expertise, experience, and dedication needed to bring your multifamily project to fruition. From luxury apartment complexes to affordable housing developments, Buildian Construction has the knowledge and resources to tackle projects of any size and scope. When you partner with Buildian Construction, you're not just hiring a contractor—you're gaining a trusted ally dedicated to your project's success.

Conclusion: In the competitive world of real estate development, the importance of partnering with a multifamily general contractor near you cannot be overstated. From expertise and experience to streamlined project management, quality assurance, cost efficiency, and risk management, multifamily general contractors play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of your project. When it comes to choosing a general contractor for your multifamily construction needs, look no further than Buildian Construction. With their unwavering commitment to excellence, Buildian Construction is poised to bring your vision to life, one brick at a time.

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[oliviajames1122]

Car Service Near Me: Understanding the Importance of Regular Maintenance

Car service near me is an essential aspect of vehicle maintenance that ensures your car remains in optimal condition for safe and efficient driving. From routine check-ups to comprehensive inspections, regular servicing is crucial for prolonging the lifespan of your vehicle and ensuring your safety on the road.

What is a Full Car Service?

A full car service near me, also known as a comprehensive service, involves a thorough inspection of various components of your vehicle to identify any issues and perform necessary maintenance tasks. It typically includes checks and adjustments to essential parts such as the engine, brakes, tires, and fluids.

Benefits of Regular Car Servicing

Regular car servicing offers numerous benefits, including ensuring safety on the road by identifying potential issues before they escalate into major problems. Additionally, it helps extend the lifespan of your vehicle, maintains optimal performance, and saves you money in the long run by preventing costly repairs.

How to Find a Reliable Car Service Near You

Finding a reliable car service near you is essential for quality maintenance and peace of mind. You can start by searching online using search engines or relying on recommendations from friends and family. Additionally, reading reviews and testimonials can help you gauge the reputation of different service providers.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Car Service

When choosing a car service, consider factors such as the reputation and experience of the provider, the range of services offered, pricing, and the quality of customer service. Opt for a service center that prioritizes customer satisfaction and has a track record of delivering excellent results.

Steps Involved in Getting a Full Car Service

The process of getting a full car service typically involves booking an appointment, bringing your vehicle to the service center, undergoing a thorough inspection, and following a comprehensive service checklist. Depending on the findings, maintenance and repair tasks are performed to ensure your vehicle's optimal performance.

Common Services Included in a Full Car Service

A full car service encompasses various tasks, including engine oil change, fluid checks and top-ups, brake inspection and adjustment, tire rotation and alignment, and filter replacements. These services are essential for maintaining the integrity of your vehicle and preventing potential issues.

DIY vs. Professional Car Servicing

While some car owners may opt for DIY servicing to save money, professional car servicing offers several advantages, including expertise, access to specialized tools and equipment, and safety considerations. While DIY tasks can be suitable for minor maintenance, complex issues require professional intervention to ensure proper resolution.

Cost of a Full Car Service

The cost of a full car service varies depending on factors such as the make and model of your vehicle, the extent of the service required, and the service provider's pricing structure. On average, a full car service can range from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars, but the investment is worthwhile considering the long-term benefits.