#a little worried that adding too many stripes would be overwhelming but also like. it's already overwhelming lmao might as well double down

[journeyman-tier-fibercraft]

Been doing slow progress on shawl 15. It started as the Stephen West 2023 knitalong but honestly at this point the only thing similar is some shaping and all of 20 rows of the repeat.

I decided to just keep knitting out and so far I'm. Somewhat satisfied? I think I shouldn't have reversed the color order of the outmost garter stitch sections now that I'm looking at it but what's done is done. I certainly like it a lot more than if I had followed the official pattern. I'm going to finish out this mesh section and then finish doing the same to the other side and see how much yarn I have left.

[angryschnauzer]

Castle Under The Stars

Summary: You always worry when its a full moon and your husband is away on assignment, but this full moon is different as he comes home to be with you. Will it be for good? And just how much fun can two werewolves get up to during the full moon when they have a child to look after?

A continuation of Moonlight On The Sand

Pairing: Werewolf Captain Syverson x Werewolf Female Reader

Warnings: NSFW, 18+, Oral Sex, Outdoor Sex, Werewolves, Breeding, Breeding Kink.

Typos are free range and organic, allowed to run wild and free. I do not operate a tag list but if you follow @angryschnauzerwrites​ and put that blog onto notifications, you’ll get an alert each time i post something new. Past works can also be found there.

Castle Under The Stars

You stepped out onto the back porch and propped the door open with a boot, the warm summer's breeze blowing softly at the net curtains on the kitchen windows, bringing in the scent of the roses in from the garden. Wiping your hands on your apron before hanging it on the little hook by the door, you grabbed your garden shears and flower basket, and headed out with bare feet onto the cool grass. The windows of your cabin all stood open, allowing the warm breeze to flow through the house, but also so you could hear if your little one cried from his nursery.

Quietly you stood and let the breeze push your light skirt against your legs as you carefully selected roses from the overloaded bushes. Small clouds skidded across the night sky, and for a moment you turned your face to feel the soft moonlight on your skin. The reflection of the sun's rays on its surface from orbit made your skin prickle, as if someone was pouring champagne over your limbs, but that was as far as your transformation would go, with the exception of the ring of fire in your irises.

You had been Sixteen when you had been turned. On a geology camping field trip, nature had literally callen and as you’d been in the bushes relieving yourself that’s when the lupine had got you. It took a few months to realise what had happened, and it was only when your monthly period bleed coincided with a full moon did you turn. With irregular cycles through your teens and early twenties, you probably only turned twice, maybe three times a year, but eventually you got used to it.

It had however been a bit of a shock to your new husband, Sy, when you had turned for the first time. He’d knocked you up on the first day he met you, so it took a good 11 months before your cycle had come back, two months after the birth of your precious baby boy. That first night had been a challenge; dealing with a newborn whilst both parents were howling at the moon, however you were thankful that Edith who lived in the cabin down the lane knew of these things, and upon hearing the howling had rushed over in her nightgown. 

Since then Edith had been like a surrogate mother and grandmother, as it turned out her late husband had the lupine tendencies too. Your deployment had ended whilst you were on maternity leave and you’d chosen to leave the Army entirely rather than take a desk job. Sy was special ops and in the middle of another deployment, but you had no idea when that would finish because of the nature of his assignment. Looking up at the moon you wondered where he was, hoping he was coping with the full moon and his monthly transformation. You weren’t ashamed to admit you actually really enjoyed when he was at home for a full moon; he was even more attentive and the sex was mind blowing. Standard sex with Sy left you bow legged and exhausted, but with the added power of the moon… well, it was out of this world and you’d had orgasms so strong you’d actually passed out a couple of times. 

The sounds of the occasional truck on the highway a couple of hundred feet away sporadically filled the night, and you thought about that time Sy had driven out to the lake with you and you’d spent the night fucking under the moonlight in the flatbed which he’d covered with blankets and throw pillows. You’d been seven months pregnant but good god it was some of the best sex you’d ever had. 

As you shifted to reach a particularly large rose you could feel your panties stick to you, just the thought of Sy was making you wet and ready. You wished you knew when he would be home, taking matters into your own hands wasn’t nearly as satisfying as the real thing from the man you loved.

Just then you heard a pair of owls hooting in the distance, a truck on the highway honking its horn, so you didn’t notice the sound of tyres on the long grassy driveway that ran up the hill to the cabin. Humming to yourself you were running your fingertips over the soft petals of a trailing white rose when the first hint of his scent reached you on the wind. It made you stop and doubt yourself, before it hit again and you felt the heat in the pit of your stomach bloom. Dropping the basket and shears on the grass you ran to the front of the cabin, the breeze catching at your skirts before you finally saw him, standing at the open gate to the garden, his large duffel hanging from his shoulder, the fire in his eyes as he finally saw you.

“Sy!”

He let the bag drop to the floor as you ran into his arms, launching yourself at him, your legs were wrapped around his thick waist as you kissed him. His deep laugh as you peppered his face with soft kisses, the tears of happiness rolling down your cheeks;

“I’m here Darlin’” he practically growled, and that’s when you remembered the moon.

Pulling back you looked him in the eyes, the golden ring of fire matching your own, and as he took long strides across the grass you felt the coupling connection again, just like that first night in the desert. 

He set you down on the lawn, laying you softly on the grass as he pressed open mouthed kisses down your neck. Grasping the front of your dress he let out a growl as he ripped the garment clean in two, humming his appreciation at your swollen breasts where you were still breastfeeding and soft belly, before your soaked panties met the same fate as your dress. His lips continued their path down your body, until he reached the apex of your thighs and inhaled deeply, his eyes shining bright in the moonlight before he dived in and licked a wide stripe through your soaked folds. There under the soft caress of the moon’s rays your lupine husband pulled the first of many orgasms from your body that night, surrounded by the wild calls of nature and the overwhelming scent of the roses. 

-

Sitting at the kitchen table, the morning sunlight streamed in through the windows as you flipped the pancakes on the skillet, smiling as you watched your two boys have breakfast. Michael sat in his high chair, babbling away as Sy seemingly understood every word of gibberish that came from his son’s lips. 

Sliding the pancakes onto a plate, you set it down on the table before you felt a strong arm around your waist and Sy pulled you across his lap, his massive hands smoothing over your bare thighs where all you wore were panties and his t-shirt;

“Steady there Darlin, making me want more than just pancakes for breakfast if you’re walkin’ around in just this”

Just then there was a knock at the screen door, all three of you turning to see Edith smiling and waving from the other side;

“Edith! Come in girl, been looking forward to seeing ya!” Sy called out, a huge grin on his face that got even bigger when he spied the basket she was carrying covered in a red and white checkered napkin.

You reluctantly climbed off your husband's lap, excusing yourself to quickly grab your robe as Sy and Edith talked;

“Big Sy, i knew it was your truck that rumbled past my cabin last night”

“Was indeed, home with my girl and my little man” he paused as Edith set the basket onto the table; “Those aren’t….?”

“They sure are” she pulled the napkin up and underneath were her famous peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies.

Sy quickly pulled one from the basket and snapped it in two, handing half to Michael who happily chewed on the freshly baked treat.

“Hmmmnnnn, Edith, i could get used to these”

“You staying this time Sy?”

“I sure am Edith”

“Does she know?”

“Nope, wanna surprise her later”

“Moon’ll be up again tonight, you want me to watch Mikey?”

Just then you walked into the room, catching the last of the conversation;

“Are you sure?”

Edith stood and smiled, rubbing a finger over Michael’s chubby little cheek;

“Absolutely, why don’t I drop by after he’s had his supper?”

-

Setting Edith up with everything she would need for an evening of watching Jeopardy as your son slept peacefully in his crib, you grabbed the picnic basket and blanket and gave Michael a kiss, before stepping out into the night air. Sy had already taken off, with the moon rising before sundown he got antsy, but he would meet you at the lake. He’d set everything up ready, and just told you to drive his truck down, he’d set off on foot earlier, wanting to burn some energy in the calmness of nature.

The truck's tyres crunched on the gravel as you parked up, the lake a still mirror for the pink purple skyline as the sun set behind the mountains in the distance. But none of those were what you were looking at, no, what drew your attention was your husband quietly sitting on a rock at the shoreline, his boots resting beside him as he let his feet cool in the waters. With your sandals left in the truck you walked across the soft sand before reaching the shoreline, sitting beside him as he wrapped his big arm around your shoulders.

“Sy, what are you thinking about?”

He looked at you, his smile warm as his eyes shone amber in the low light;

“Lots of things Darlin… how lucky i am to have you in my life, how i don’t think i could have coped with what happened if it hadn’t been for you”

“Oh Sy…” your eyes watered; “I love you so much”

“I love you too Darlin. You and Mikey are my world…” he paused, poignantly; “There’s something else i wanna tell ya Darlin…”

For a moment you heart sank, dreading what he was going to say;

“Sy…”

“Ya know how Walt’s construction business is expanding and he needs a new site manager?”

“What?” whatever you were expecting, it wasn’t that

“Well, i got a surprise…” he pulled you onto his lap, his hands resting on your ass; “I’m done with the Army”

“No! You’d better not be fibbing…” your eyes were full to the brim, nervous tears threatening to spill

“Not fibbing… i’m done. Wanted to keep it a surprise until i knew for sure that the assignment was completed”

Crying happy tears you wrapped your arms around your husbands shoulders, burying your face in his neck as you sobbed joyfully that he wasn’t going away again. 

When you had finally settled down and Sy had reassured you for the 10th time that it was definitely true, he was definitely staying home for good, the pair of you stood and started to walk along the shore of the lake barefoot, the warm sand beneath your feet as you clasped your hand around his.

The gentle sound of the water coupled with the feel of your skin touching his calmed Sy, even though the moon was out high above the pair of you, he didn’t feel the need to turn, the sense of utter contentment a balm on his soul. As you had rounded the lake he stumbled on a pebble, and in turn a giggle escaped your lips. Steadying himself he smirked and kicked at the water, splashing you a little as you let out a shriek at the cool water hitting your warm skin. Retaliating you splashed him a little more than you were expecting, soaking one side of his cargo shorts and he paused and looked at you with a feral smile spreading across his lips;

“Oh, now you’re in for it Darlin…”

Your legs carried you as you ran through the surf, knowing Sy would eventually catch you, yet the thrill was in the chase. You could hear his heavy footfalls gaining on you, but you had the advantage of being light on your feet and made a sharp turn into the woodland, the soft grass beneath your feet dry and coarse. You realised he wasn’t behind you and you slowed, turning to try and figure out where he went, when suddenly he emerged from the bushes, his eyes glowing amber in the darkness and he tackled you to the ground, yet somehow managed to turn your bodies so you were on top of him;

“Gotcha!”

He pulled you down so he could kiss you, turning your bodies until he was on top, shifting his knees so he could nestle between your thighs. Your skirt had rucked up in the tussle, and the harsh brush of his shorts against the soft skin of your thighs had your hips bucking up against him, eager for friction as your arousal grew. With the quick fumbling of eager hands you were both soon naked, Sy kneeling between your spread thighs to take in the sight of you, your nipples hard and your arousal a sheen between your legs. Grabbing your hips he pulled you up his thighs, your back arched and your shoulders still on the ground as he thrust into you, spearing your flesh with his own and you both let out a howl of pleasure. 

Sy couldn’t tear his gaze away from where your bodies were joined, watching each time he pulled out and saw your juices glistening on his shaft, or how your cunt stretched open as he pushed this fat dick back into you, parting your walls and you cried out in pleasure. He fucked you like the feral beast he was, claiming his mate and catching the tell tale scent that drove him wild;

“Fuck, you’re ripe… gonna breed you and give you another pup. Thought i caught the scent last night but now i know for sure… can’t wait to see your belly round and your tits even fuller…”

He drove into your fertile body, feeling you cum around him yet he pounded through your orgasm knowing your cervix would be wide open now that you had cum and ready to take his seed. You were whimpering in his grasp, desperate for more but overwhelmed at the same time; 

“Sy… please… please put a baby in me…”

“Almost… there… Darlin’...” he grunted through thrusts, before his body went rigid and he threw his head back, filling your womb with pump after pump of his thick seed, a broad smile on his face as he even held you in place knowing that gravity would help get every last drop of cum through your cervix and flood your fertile ground. 

When he had finally finished coming he carefully settled the two of you onto the soft grass, holding you tight as your bodies were still joined, knowing that he would stay hard for another two or three goes. By the time he would be finished your bodies would be battered and bruised from the intensity of your lovemaking, yet the power of the moon would ensure by morning you would be healed, no outwardly visible signs that the feral carnality of the nights pleasures left behind, even if it meant you’d be sitting down tenderly on a cushion for the following 48 hours. 

It was well into the early hours when the pair of you finally limped back to Sy’s truck, resting your head on his shoulder as he carefully drove home, the moon having set early thanks to its cycle. 

When you arrived back at the cabin Edith was having a cigarette on the porch, the baby monitor resting on the rail next to her;

“Got it outta your systems?” she grinned as she took one last drag before crushing it in a plant pot of sand that sat at the doorway. 

“For tonight” Sy smirked as he carried you bridal style up the steps of the porch; “Can we book ya for tomorrow night too?”

“Sure thing Big Sy, but you’ll owe me”

“I’ll come fix the drainpipe around your porch once the full moon has passed”

“Deal… you’re a good-un” the old woman smiled as she grabbed her keys and slid the baby monitor into your lap as you quietly snoozed in your husbands arms; “It’ll be a girl this time”

Sy’s eyes went wide;

“How do you…?”

“I just know Sweetheart… my husband wasn’t the only one that’d turn ya’know…”

Sy held you as he watched the old woman make her way down the grassy lane to her cabin;

“She’s full o’ surprises is that one…” he looked down at you and pressed a kiss to your cheek, before catching the screen door with his booted foot; “Lets get you to bed for some rest… gotta recharge for tomorrow night… maybe make it twins…”

You shifted in his grasp;

“That’s not how it works” you mumbled sleepily, a smile on your face, but the truth was neither of you knew how it worked when you were lupine… really, anything could happen.

[tallstars-rewrite]

Chapter 36

chapter list / previous / next

“So what is it you call them again?” Talltail’s eyes narrowed skeptically.

“They’re called cars, so I’ve been told.” Jake replied. 

They were crouched a fox-length away from a bright red shiny monster sitting quietly in front of a twoleg den.

“Is it dead?” Talltail asked, instinctively keeping his voice quiet as if he half expected the thing to roar to life any moment.

“I don’t even think they’re alive. At least, it certainly doesn’t smell alive. All I know is when housefolk gets inside one, they start moving”

“Hm.” Talltail kicked a small pebble at it. Nothing. Jake was right about that, they certainly didn’t smell like any living thing. “And what about the lights in their eyes? It’s not fire, but there are lights like that all over the twoleg places.”

“I dunno, housefolk are just good at making light that isn’t hot I guess. Between us, I think their eyesight in the dark is awful.”

“So you don’t even know how twolegs make the things they do?”

“Not really,” Jake shrugged. “But do you understand exactly how plants grow or how birds can fly?”

“Well...no, they just do. I suppose...you sort of have a point.” Talltail admitted. “But I still don’t trust these things. They sound like monsters to me. Let’s keep going, I don’t like looking at it’s eyes, even if they aren’t alive.”

They walked through gardens, keeping to the grass and sparse trees alongside the hard stone Thunderpaths and trails. As the dusky sky turned to a pale gray dawn, they saw twolegs every so often, and many of them paused to look at the two cats walking side by side. Talltail didn’t like going past them, but after narrowly escaping another aggressive group of strays, and a lost dog, Jake eventually convinced Talltail that twolegs were the lesser of the two evils. So, daylight travel it was.

“Just don’t make eye contact,” Jake said. “They’re slow, so even if they want to pet us, we can just run and they’ll give up.”

“They just try petting every animal that walks by!?” Talltail hissed.

“Well some of them, if they can.”

Talltail snorted. The absolute arrogance of assuming that because a couple cats liked them, that meant every cat wanted to be their friend. I don’t try to groom every cat I walk by because that would be weird, Talltail thought with an irritated twitch of his tail. But he was quickly finding most twolegs weren’t necessarily the ruthless predators he’d imagined them to be in his youth. They were, however, incredibly annoying.

But on the brighter side, he’d found that he really had started to get used to the sounds of the town, even though it was still overwhelming. They had to duck behind a house every now and again when a particularly loud string of monsters passed.

“We’re almost there,” Jake assured him. “I’m...mostly sure of it. When we were on the roof, I got a better idea of where we were. The alley cats chased us in the wrong direction, but we should be able to get there without crossing anyone's territory.”

After only a couple more turns down the stone path, Jake raised his tail. “Ah! There it is!” he exclaimed. “See those tall trees up ahead? I’m sure that’s where the park is.”

“Is this ‘park’ actually...safe?” Talltail asked as they grew closer. In the distance, he knew the pines that bordered ShadowClan’s territory were close. There was a ring of twoleg dens blocking it, but such a forested area would surely house prey to some cat.

“Well, twolegs walk through it with their dogs, but they have them on leashes. Don’t worry, I know not all dogs are like Dusty. I won’t make you get slobbered by any more of them,” Jake added quickly when he saw Talltail’s alarm.

“I appreciate that,” Talltail said with a shudder.

The park was a large area with sparse patches of woods and bushes surrounded by large grassy fields. Not the fields Talltail was used to, but very short soft grass that would be impossible to hide in, and most of it stank of stale dog scent. Talltail thought he would be able to relax once they’d reached a more natural familiar area, but even this place felt very...off compared to the woodland and fields he knew. Like the plants and trees were all too...neat.

“Well, it’s still better than the town,” Talltail sighed. “But where to start looking…”

“What exactly are you planning on doing when you find them?” Jake asked with a sideways glance.

“Uh...” Talltail paused. He hadn’t been thinking of it in detail, he’d just been repeatedly telling himself that he’d figure it out when he got there. “I’ll... figure it out when I get there?” he said.

“You don’t want to fight all of them do you?” Jake’s eyes were round with concern.

“No, of course not.” Talltail for the first time felt a stab of guilt for the visitors when he thought of Mole, Reena, and her parents. They had been so kind. Reena had even been his friend for a while. They wouldn’t think so kindly of him after this, but their feelings couldn’t be at the front of his mind. They were protecting a bad cat. Sparrow didn’t even care about the others as much as Hen, he’d practically said so himself. If Talltail could just get Sparrow away from the others somehow, they wouldn’t have to get involved at all.

While he was thinking, Jake had gotten distracted and was looking up at a massive oak tree with long hanging branches splaying out. He had an eager light in his eyes, like a kit hunting a drifting feather.

“We could…get higher? Maybe if we got high up we could see if there are any cats around, or even the pond we’re looking for. I bet you could see the whole area from up there, and the branches are low enough to jump to.”

Talltail looked doubtfully up at the tree. WindClan had keener eyes than most cats, but his nose was still better for searching. Maybe Jake had other motives.

But It’s not as if we’re running out of time. If they’ve hung around for this long, they’ll hang around longer… Talltail thought. He shrugged. “Sure, why not?”

Jake looked back at him, “You don’t think it’s too dangerous?”

“Well...maybe it’s risky, but less dangerous than what we’ve already done. It’s not as if I’ll let you fall.”

Jake’s plumy red tail flicked high, his vibrant eyes glowing with a mischievous excitement. “Bet I can get up it faster."

With that, he crouched and leapt, hooking his claws into the lowest branch and hoisting himself all the way up with an agility Talltail hadn’t expected from such a stocky cat. Talltail bunched his muscles and jumped up after him, and his paws touched the branch without requiring him to scramble the rest of the way. Keeping his momentum, he jumped again to the next nearest branch up.

He got so caught up in the challenge, Talltail was almost on the fourth branch before he remembered he’d never actually climbed a tall tree in his entire life. He made the mistake of looking down, and the ground below felt dizzyingly far, even though it didn’t feel like he’d gone very high.

“What’s wrong? I’ll be napping at the top before you get there!” Jake called. Great StarClan, how had he gotten three branches above him? 

Talltail looked up. “You know uh...there’s not really many trees like this on the moor.”

“Then this’ll be good practice! Every cat should know how to climb trees!”

“What am I, ThunderClan?” Talltail grumbled. Staring up while newly aware of the drop below him, he felt significantly less confident with his leaps. “Er, Jake?”

“Yeah?”

“How did you get up there exactly?”

“Climbed.”

“Alright, yes, but be more specific.”

“You’re half way up! How did you get to where you are?” the ginger tom flashed him a cheeky grin.

“Dumb luck? I don’t trust my paws! Can’t you tell me where you put yours?”

“Well, I trust your paws, and you should too! Just keep your eyes on where you want to be.”

Swallowing his doubt, Talltail balanced himself with his tail and found it a reliable weight as ever as he leapt. Jake stopped past the halfway point up the massive tree. The branches were separated enough that they could see the whole area around them, but too thin to climb further. For a moment Talltail could almost pretend he wasn’t surrounded on all sides by twolegs with their bizarre dens and contraptions. The call of alarmed birds disturbed from their perching was a welcome sound blocking out the distant rumble of crossing Thunderpaths. He had learned his lesson about looking down and carefully lay himself on the branch to catch his breath. 

Jake lay across from him, and looked thoughtfully at Talltail’s paws. “Huh,” he said, “I didn’t expect you to have duller claws than me.” He flexed his small needle sharp claws and scraped them on the branch. 

“They’re not as sharp, but they're a lot sturdier.” Talltail flexed a paw. “And those wounds are harder to close,” he added with a wink.

But it was true his claws didn’t hook into the bark as deep as he would like. He usually only needed them to grip soft earth while running, or digging.

“How high up do you think a cat can jump from without getting hurt?” Jake asked abruptly, gazing below at the dizzying drop with an amused twitch of his whiskers. He looked like he was enjoying himself somehow.

Talltail glared at him. “Do not ask me that right now.”

Jake snorted with laughter which petered into a quiet purr of contentment as the sun dripped through the branches and danced over his fur. He really did have the brightest orange pelt Talltail had ever seen. The sun caught the ginger and it glowed like the warm fire Jake’s twoleg kept in their home, the vivid stripes swirling along his tufted flanks broken up where the fur was longest. Talltail had never spent so much time trying to memorize all the details of a cat's face. It was odd, the little leap of happiness he felt fluttering around in his heart. Sometimes he caught his breath and it skipped in a way he couldn’t recall ever feeling before when looking at a cat. That’s...weird. Am I getting sick?

He scarcely realized he was staring when he noticed Jake was also looking intently at his face as well. 

Talltail blinked at him. “What is it?”

Jake stretched out and touched his nose to Talltail’s cheek. “Thanks for humoring me. I’m glad you’ve let me come with you this long,” he purred.

“I wouldn’t say I’m humoring you, I wouldn’t even have gotten here without you,” Talltail replied. His ears twitched as he tried to hide the fur prickling on the nape of his neck and the warm blush rushing under his pelt from the unexpected touch. What in StarClan is wrong with me? I think the height is making me light headed.

“I mean with this climb,” Jake laughed. “My friends would have said it was fluff-brained or dangerous and told me to stop messing around. Not that I blame them, we are really high up.”

“Don’t remind me,” Talltail gulped. “I just want to enjoy the view and pretend the ground is nearby. Don’t you have friends who do this with you?”

“They’ll come on long walks with me. I like Quince and Nutmeg, but they don’t always understand me. Sometimes I just feel...this pull to do something different, like in my gut, and I have to do it. Like I see a faraway place from my roof and I think ‘what does everything look like from there?’ And I so desperately want to go there and see.”

Talltail nodded, his whiskers twitching in amusement. It was similar to that excitable longing to dash to the horizon he felt when he was young. It had been a long time since he’d dwelled on it.

Jake continued, “I can’t live my whole life every day eating, sleeping, grooming, even though I like it. I feel like...there’s something else out there, and I’ll be restless until I find out what it is. That’s why I was so glad to meet you again... I love my friends and neighbors, well-- most of them, Tyr can get stuffed. But sometimes I worry I’m annoying them with my fancies.”

Talltail blinked at Jake in surprise. “I can’t imagine any cat finding you annoying.”

Jake snorted. “Oh Talltail, you haven’t been around me long enough! Driving cats up the walls is a talent of mine.”

“Well you’ve certainly driven me up a tree, so there’s that. No other cat would be able to do that.” Talltail rested his chin on his paws. The sun felt so nice warming the dark fur on his back, he’d forgotten all about scanning the area for other cats. 

Jake stretched and inched his forepaws on either side of Talltail. “I’m glad I know you,” he purred.

Talltail was a little caught off guard. “Thanks.” 

“You’re welcome.”

“Well…. I’m...glad I know you too?” 

They sat there in the branches passively grooming each other's ears, and Talltail listened to the breeze whisk through his fur. It wasn’t the familiar winds he grew up with, but he swore he could almost smell the moor carried on them from far away. Before the homesickness could creep up on him again, Jake yawned and stretched.

“Ok, we’ve stalled long enough, we should probably get down now.”

“Right, erm, down.” Talltail still wasn’t brave enough to look.

“Don’t worry, it’s not as if I’ll let you fall. Promise.” Jake winked.

“Are you going to catch me?” Talltail snorted. “I probably weigh as much as you do.”

“I could carry you if I had to! It’s not all fluff under here.”

 Talltail was still doubtful of that, but Jake’s confidence in the whole situation was at least easing his nerves a little.

“I climb trees like this all the time, it’s much easier than it looks. Surely you won’t have too much trouble balancing with that tail of yours.”

Talltail swayed on his paws as he, unfortunately, finally glanced down at the dizzying drop through the branches. Oh stars… He kept his eyes firmly on Jake’s tail and paws, one branch at a time, flinching with each tentative jump, but after some coaxing and at least one instance of Jake grabbing his scruff to steady them, Talltail at last landed down onto safe grass again. He still trembled a bit even as he flexed his claws into the soft earth 

“See, that wasn’t so bad!” Jake chirped.

“Says you, I can't believe you put yourself through that all the time.”

“The height is kind of a rush though, isn’t it?”

“If by rush, you mean vividly imagining the air rushing by me as I plummet to my death? Then yes, absolutely.”

“Aw I bet you could climb all sorts of things if you set your mind to it!” Jake grinned at him.

“I prefer to use my tail for steering my turns,” Talltail retorted. “WindClan are not the climbers of the forest. An old clanmate of mine, Aspenfall, took to climbing better than the rest of us, but he was still pretty bad at it.”

“You really do all have such funny names don’t you?” Jake replied. “Who else is there?”

“What, in my whole clan? well...my mentor was called Dawnstripe. I’m sure I’ve told you about Briarpaw, he’s the one training to be a medicine cat. I had a friend called Ryewhisker as well, and Fawnleap and Lilywhisker...” He listed off several more names as Jake stared. Talltail of course still knew everyone by heart.

“That’s so many cats, how do you keep track of them all?”

“That’s not even half of them! They’re your family, of course you come to know them over time.” He remembered how overwhelmed he had been as a kit, trying to learn the names of all his clanmates. They had been so patient with him.

“So how do you get your names anyhow?” Jake asked. “I heard a rumor your get a cool name when you killed your first enemy”

Talltail purred in laughter. “No, not quite. Our names are much more than that. They’re special to us, you get it when you’ve completed your training and officially become a warrior. No murder required. The first name given to you by your parents represents your roots. Your parents give you your colors and physical traits, so them choosing your first name is to honor them and the life you’ve been given. It’s usually a name referencing something from the world around us, to represent our connection to the area we are born in. Our territory is part of us after all, as important as our clanmates. It’s where you’ll spend your whole life.” Well...it’s where you’re supposed to spend your whole life, he thought with a twinge of guilt.

Jake nodded, “That's simple enough. What about the last part?”

“That’s the important part. It represents a small part of the warrior you become, what you're best known for. Some are more abstract than others. Your mentor, the leader, and the medicine cat discuss with each other about your progress over the course of your training to decide what name you're called to have.”

“That’s so cool! My name doesn’t mean anything, I wish I could earn a cool badge like that. But...What about you? Your first name is Tall, that’s not really a thing like the other names you told me.”

Talltail nodded. “My name is old. In the early times of the clans, you had no name at all until you proved you could survive to adulthood. Back then, if you got a name, it always referenced the most noticeable physical trait about you rather than anything else, so cats could tell you apart on sight. Except for the legendary warriors of course, who were named for their renowned feats, but most cats couldn’t hope to be that special. There was only one meaning to their names, rather than two separate meanings. So my name was planned ahead, a traditional one to honor the cats that survived in those hard times. That’s why my father chose it for me. I guess my tail was freakishly long back then too.” 

“You didn’t get to earn a last name yourself? That doesn’t seem as fun.” Jake said.

“It’s not all about fun! Besides, no name can perfectly represent everything about you. Getting a warrior name is always an honor regardless of what it is. Besides, it is pretty notable isn’t it?” he purred, wapping Jake with his tail for good measure.

Jake sneezed as the fur tickled his nose. “Yeah, I could see you from a mile away with that thing.”

After a bit more aimless wandering, they finally paused for a moment to rest. Jake rolled in the grass, getting burs and twigs and grass shreds stuck in his tufty orange pelt. He looked a bit like a hedgehog.

“You're going to end up dragging the whole park along with you if you keep that up,” Talltail chuckled. 

“Maybe I want to take some back with me. Also I like smelling like grass! It’s nice. You always smell like moor grass.”

Talltail didn’t know how that could be. It had been so long since he’d been home, the moor couldn’t possibly still be sticking to him. But maybe it was harder to get rid of than he thought. 

Jake interrupted his thoughts again. “What would my name be if I was in a clan?”

Talltail snorted. “Your name? I have no idea, it’s not something you can just slap on a cat!”

“Well how do cats who join the clan get named? Does that ever happen?”

“We’ve never had an outsider join in my time but...I think the leader chooses? Even then, I can’t possibly imagine what skills you would prove over the course of training.”

“Well let’s say you’re leader, what would you call me? Just if you had to guess?”

Talltail hummed in thought, looking Jake over as he beamed back at him patiently. He had the goofiest gleeful look on his face, Talltail stifled a purr “Oh I don’t know...Perhaps Flameface.”

Jake laughed at that. “Flameface? That’s a name? That sounds so silly!”

“It’s not silly at all! It’s a perfectly fine name. No sillier than Jake, your name is nonsense! It sounds like the noise you make when you hack up a furball. It only sounds silly to you because you don’t know what it means.”

“Ok, ok that’s fair. What’s it mean?”

“Flame is pretty self explanatory. You are the brightest orange cat I’ve ever seen. And I guess I associate it with you now because your twoleg’s den was the first place I ever saw real fire.”

“I like ‘Flame.’ That part’s cool. But...what, does my face look like it’s on fire?”

“No, no it’s not always that literal. Well, maybe it is a little. Some names are for cats who are good at many different things, but master of nothing in particular.”

“What? I could be a master at something!”

“It’s not a bad thing at all!” Talltail purred. “In fact, those are some of the most reliable cats. ‘Face’ is just a variation on referencing your appearance. I think it’s often given to cats who are thought to be particularly attractive in some way or another. I can’t remember what the idea was exactly. Like their face draws attention or...lights up the area? Metaphorically of course. It’s a little sappy.”

“Ohhh...” Jake was silent for a moment in thought. “You think I’m attractive?”

“What?”

“Wow, no cats ever called me that before!”

Talltail’s pelt felt hot as he sat up. “Y-you’re thinking too hard about it, I’m trying to be objective. I only thought of it because--I just mean you’re distracting. But...In a good way.”

“I’m distracting?”

“Well, I don’t mean--I meant like, eye-catching, because of--have you looked at yourself when the sunlight hits your fur? It--No, oh for StarClan’s sake, hold on, I’m explaining this poorly. Stop looking at me like that, the point is that’s the closest guess I can manage. It might not be accurate.”

Jake grinned up at him, “I like that name.”

“...Good. It’s past sunhigh now, so we should start looking,” Talltail mewed quickly, already to his feet, hoping his fur wasn’t noticeably bristling in embarrassment. 

Jake trotted after him, his tail held up high. “So, what would your name be if you earned a normal one, do you think?” he asked, a new note of amusement in his voice that Talltail was trying very hard to ignore.

“I don’t know, Jake.”

“‘Cause I think you could be a ‘face’ cat too, you’re the most distracting thing I've ever seen in my life”

“We are burning daylight here, Jake.”

“Ok, but think about it.”

Talltail would probably think about it for the rest of the day, thanks.

chapter list / previous / next

[mytwistedhome]

“The Alchemist” ❤️❓

A very old request that I’ve finally finished for @rainebowkitty​ !! 

It took me a while because it required a bit of research (of which I really enjoyed doing!)

This little drabble involves Riddle and... another Disney character (leaving the name out in this intro because you don’t really need to know who it is to be able to understand this story >u< ) 

Summary: During his alchemy class, Riddle Rosehearts gets paired with a strange, magic-less student that he's never noticed before. This student seems to know quite a lot about the subject, but his bizarre ideas tend to stray from the rules that Riddle is used to.

I think that the reason why this particular story took me so long to complete was because the subject of alchemy was quite intimidating to me •́  ‿ ,•̀ Even after weeks of having the basic plot written and taking many notes on the actual science of alchemy, I still always hesitated to complete this. Every day, I would try to write just a little bit, but I always ended up cowering away because all the different little parts of the science seemed overwhelming and, again, intimidating. I've never before procrastinated this much or run away from subjects of my own writing, so this was quite a new experience for me... I wish I could've gotten this done much faster, but I think this entire writing process helped me to face a fear I didn't even know I had--a fear of writing about science/scientific topics! It might be silly, but that's really the way I felt while writing this: afraid to delve too deep into the subject.

Still, I am very happy that this is finally done! I only hope that I served justice to this ancient science 💗 Kitty, I very much hope that you enjoyed your two favs together!!!

Okay!!! I'm gonna stop being annoying now

Riddle stood in the midday class with his back turned to his alchemy professor, easily slipping the buttons through the holes of his lab coat as Divus gave his greetings and instruction. His voice was clear and loud, reciting his usual classroom demands of always taking full precautions, ensuring safety, and arriving prepared. Always, it was these same rules, yet they were just a little bit different each day to suit whatever the current project may be.

But, on this day, Divus added to his instruction, "And, boys! Make sure you pair with a NEW partner today."

Riddle turned his head to stare at his professor and froze in place, absolutely dismayed. Crewel was asking them to switch partners? A brand new partner? All of a sudden?

How very strange that was, for wasn't it better to keep with the same partners? So that the two are familiar with each other and can work their best together? This switching of partners was truly, very odd, and it seemed just the thing that Professor Crewel would be against, for he was always the most sensible in keeping to rules and the traditional order of things. But, who was Riddle to argue or question the one in charge of the classroom?

He turned his head away once more and smoothed over the small wrinkles in his coat as the clean, clear goggles slipped over his eyes. It seemed the others in his class were just as confused as he, for they stumbled about awkwardly in search of a friendly-looking acquaintance of whom they were unfamiliar with. Riddle breathed out a huff and narrowed his eyes, a bit annoyed to have to deal with the uncertainty and the bother of finding a "brand new" partner. He turned around and looked, himself, for a person that seemed amiable and new, and to his luck, he was able to spot someone standing at one of the large, wide cauldrons of whom he was sure he hadn't ever worked with before.

He slowly approached where the other boy stood with his back to him. He was hurriedly flipping through the pages of several different books that were spread over the long desk just beside the pot of which they were to work. He had dark hair of an impressive volume and seemed rather intriguing in the way he went about his work. Riddle tilted his head slightly, watching with curiosity and interest as the boy worked quick to search what he was looking for, before he said in warm greeting, "Hello.. I don't believe I've worked with you before."

The boy went still upon hearing Riddle's voice, and he turned himself around to acquaint the unfamiliar classmate as he pushed the round goggles he wore over his head. "Hello!" he said with a nod, "I could work with you, if that's what we must do." There was clear enthusiasm in his voice before he turned his head once more to focus back on whatever he may have been searching for.

Riddle blinked several times in bewilderment. He had never even seen this student, let alone worked with him before. In alarm, he stared to get a better look at this stranger. His dark hair was accentuated by a teal stripe that ran down the center--a unique trait that Riddle had never noticed in a student before. He also had a soft, summer, sun-kissed shine to his complexion, which flattered and glowed upon his warm and freckled face, making him even more unrecognizable to Riddle.

Divus then gave further commands to the class, telling them that their goal was to make a particular potion. Riddle payed close attention to the details of the instruction, but all the while, he could not help but think in the back of his mind upon how strange his partner seemed to be. And, then, with the brief lecture over, he turned his attention again to that unknown student. "I'm sorry, but what is your name?" his voice was soft and polite with an ease in his eyes, "I don't believe I've payed much notice to you in this class before, and I'm sorry for that."

"Oh! Uh, I...." he dragged that last syllable out, much to Riddle's distaste, as he rummaged with the ingredients spread before the cauldron, "I only just began coming to this school. Not that long ago, really, so it makes sense if you didn't know. And--I'm Varian, by the way."

"You just began coming here?" Riddle said with alarm as his head tilted with even more interest than before, "A new student on the middle of the school year... And just like that? That isn't a typical thing here. How did it happen?"

Varian gritted his teeth and briefly glanced off to the side in attempt to avoid the question, "It's a... rea~lly long story. Don't worry about it."

Riddle looked at him with skepticism in his gaze. How odd it was to have a student transfer in the middle of the school year. As far as he knew, it was incredibly uncommon in NRC, for it meant that they would miss the welcome ceremony and so many other lessons and meetings that were essential in their learning.

But, again, who was he to argue with the way the school was run? Perhaps Crowley had a very special reason to allow this student entrance in the middle of the year.

Riddle took a small step to better observe what Varian was doing. All around on his side of the desk, there were sketches of obscure symbols that appeared unrelated to their project at hand, along with notebooks opened to pages of quotes that were beautiful poetically, yet seemingly unintelligent. How strange, how strange That one word kept repeating in Riddle's head, and he grew slightly skeptical of the student standing beside him.

Riddle pulled his head away and pressed his lips together as he began looking over the ingredients, chemicals, and metals that were laid out neatly upon the long desk, but his attention was seized once more by Varian who immediately grabbed two beakers of melted medals and mixed them carefully with one another.

"Just a touch of sulfur, and some more iron for the base...The iron brings forth the energy of Mars, so we'll have a fiery and quick result for this potion!" Varian was getting more and more excited as he explained the steps, and he seemed to talk more to himself than to Riddle. But, he soon took a breath in woeful thought as he continued with the mixture. "I really wish we had access to use gold in this lab. I guess it's understandable that we aren't allowed, but it isn't fair! Gold, after all, represents the sun, and the sun is connected to a princess I've been honored to become well-acquainted with--"

"Varian!" Riddle let out loudly, cutting him off after having had enough of his mindless chattering, "What are you even doing with all of those metals and chemicals?"

He reached out and took hold of the beaker that his partner held in his left hand, vigilant enough as to not disturb the dangerous mixtures, but harsh enough to cause a drop of the pinkish liquid to fizz onto the table.

"Woah be careful with that..!" Varian said frantically, trying to steady all the beakers that could cause a mess.

"What have you made?" Riddle's eyes were fixated in a glare, yet his voice wavered with fascination as he asked the question.

"Oh," Varian smiled with excitement and straightened his back, and he cleared his throat, preparing to deliver a recitation of all he created in a matter of minutes, "That's still just sulfur with an iron base, but the sulfur also works as a primer. You know... the 'spirit of life'. I also added a bit of mercury to better blend the high concentrations with the low ones, which also aids in connected the high and low energies. And, of course, I added a touch of salt as well, just as another primer."

"I see..." was all Riddle said in quiet response. He knew of the three primers and their functions in the mixtures--every student learned that at some point or another in the class. But, as for the other symbolic and rather spiritual things mentioned by Varian, he had never heard of them before, and he wasn't sure if he should believe them now.

Varian only continued, "It's unfair that we can't use gold or silver. I'd complain if I wasn't so new to this school." Getting excited again, he seemed to be talking mainly to himself once more, "Gold is the sun! And the sun is willpower, inner ability and inner strength! It's deeply connected to the heart and the heat of the body... It ignites passion and life! And it's connected to vision, too. But, silver probably has even more use than gold does. It's connected to the moon and creation... but in formulas, it helps the metals grow more quickly and aids in their blending."

The scowl on Riddle's face deepened, and his small nose wrinkled every slightly in skepticism and suspicion, yet that typically unsavory expression looked oddly beautiful over his fair face, and so Varian payed him no mind. Instead, he kept up on speaking, though this time it was less of a ramble. "We should probably go through the first couple steps together, shouldn't we?" he asked with a kind smile. "The first thing would be to go through the operation of calcination. You know, heating things to purify the metal and cancel out any toxins. But, I trust this lab, so it's fine to skip that step. Next would be dissolution, like... using water to dissolve bits of the metal into rust at the edges. It usually works as another purifier, as the water brings in life. But it really isn't that important, is it? Let's skip that one! Then, that brings us to the operation of separation. Specifically, separating the components of the dissolution... But if we don't do the dissolution, there really is no point. It's basically isolating the rust and the different elements of the metals by filtering them carefully and then discarding the bad materials. That always seems to tedious to me. I doubt there's anything very bad that could sabotage our results, anyway. I don't think it's necessary; it'll only eat up our time. We should skip that as well--"

"Varian!" Riddle's patience was reaching its brim. His anger ripped through his voice, causing Varian to flinch back and widen his eyes. "We shouldn't skip anything! There's an order for a reason!"

"Okay, okay," Varian said with a timid smile in attempt to ease his partner's nerves. "But trust me, we should just go ahead a proceed with the fourth operation. Conjunction. It's basically the re-combination of the components that should have been separated in the previous step. But, combining the metals is basically what I've been doing so far, so it's like we're ahead. All we need is potassium nitrate. I promise! It's like a short cut." Varian said, looking to Riddle with pleading eyes in hopes of convincing him.

"Alchemy is a discipline," Riddle said sternly, though his voice was now kept soft, "There are rules and a direction you must follow. Every step involves a precise measurement, and unless you adhere to the order set in place, you will never achieve a good result!"

"Well, yes, you're... kind of right."

Riddle stepped back, blinking in disbelief. Kind of right? Who did he think he was? An alchemy expert? Someone so profound that he could skip around on the steps? Riddle's anger was building up inside, heart racing, blood boiling. His face was heating up, just about to burst--

And, then, Varian quickly drew from the cauldron a small sample of the potion they were to create. It was small bit, but it was perfect. Made with such quick ease, and filling up half of the beaker. It was quite impressive to have achieved such a wonderful result in such little time, and noticing this, Riddle slowly calmed.

"Hey... Relax, okay? It's really not something to stress over," Varian reassured with a confident chuckle and a mocking role of his eyes that went undetected by Riddle.

Riddle pressed his lips together before softening his expression and letting out a sigh, easing himself of the tension and excitement, yet also ashamed now for having gotten so angry before. Maybe, perhaps, he could trust this kid to do what he seemed so passionate about.

yes... drew the pic because I wanted the two of them together but, obviously, there are none that exist, so I had to create my own with my very slim art skill. I was originally going to have it at the top, but I am NOT confident enough in my doodling to do that lmao

[neo-couture]

everything

Winwin was lying on his bed, conflicted. He’d overheard some of the boys talking about you and it got him thinking. He was a chronic over thinker, he’ll admit, but this was… different. It was something he was genuinely worried about because it involved you.

He’d overheard some of the members – Yuta, Johnny, and Lucas, he thinks – talking after they thought you and him had left for your date. Winwin went back for his jacket, but stopped in the hall when he heard their voices.

“Did you see her today? She looked fucking hot. Took all I had not to say something.” “She always looks hot.” “Wish I would’ve asked her out before Winwin because fuck.” “I know. Why do think I ask Winwin so many questions? I wanna know what it’s like to be with her, to be honest. I mean, I’d never do it, obviously, but what I wouldn’t give to fuck her, you know? Even just once. He’s so secretive though. But I guess I would be too, if I had someone like Y/N.” “Yeah. I just hope he fucks her good every day. Multiple times a day even.” Laughter. “A woman like that? She deserves the fucking best.”

Winwin rushed out without his jacket, not wanting to hear anymore of the conversation. You were waiting for him outside and frowned when he came out.

“You alright? And where’s your jacket?” you asked. He froze on the top step, gawking at you. Lips painted red, long, dark hair flowing down your back, and your bright eyes glittering like stars. He was looking at you in a new light; you were of course always beautiful to him but he hadn’t really considered that others felt that exact way about you. Sure, he knew guys looked at you but he hadn’t thought of the possibility of someone taking you away from him, and he wondered if he had been taking you for granted. Suddenly it hit him, really hit him, that you could literally have any guy you wanted, and that terrified him.

“Uh, yeah. And couldn’t find it, it’s fine.” You cocked your head and blinked, confused. He rushed to your side, arm around your waist to tug you down the path. “Let’s just go to dinner.”

--

A few days later, you both returned home after another dinner date. Winwin laid you down on his bed, hiked your dress up, and crawled between your legs. Was he making you feel as good as he could? Were you really your happiest with him? Would you be happier with someone else? Yuta, maybe? Or Johnny?

He was too in his head as he licked and sucked at your core. You tugged at his hair, urging him to look at you.

“Winwin, baby, are you alright? You’ve been off the past few days. You can tell me what’s going on. And if you don’t want to do this tonight, that’s totally fine. You know I’d understand, right?” Winwin felt a surge of affection for you, which only deepened his insecurities. He loved you so much and only wanted the best for you, but what if he wasn’t the best?

He crawled up next to you and curled his hands under his chin. You turned to face him and stroked his cheek lovingly.

“Am I- am I enough for you? Like, do I make you happy? Really happy?” Taken aback, you blinked and then frowned.

“Of course, you make me so happy. Why are you asking me that?”

“It’s just,” Winwin paused, licking his lips. “I love you so much, you know that right? And I want you to be happy, the happiest, because you deserve that. And I just- I don’t know if I’m good enough for you as a boyfriend, like with taking you on dates and you know, in bed and stuff. I just want you to have the best because that’s what you deserve.” He trailed off as he finished his sentence, avoiding eye contact with you.

You gave him a sad smile, before pulling him in for a deep kiss. “Baby, you are the best. I love you. I don’t want or need anyone else, you are more than enough for me and always will be. And as for the sex stuff, you definitely don’t have anything to worry about there.” You chuckled. Winwin laughed with you, but still looked uncertain, gnawing on his lip. “What can I do to make you believe me?” Winwin shrugged, and you sighed. “Well, how about I tell you as we go, kay? Get back down there and eat me out like I know you can.”

Winwin laughed and returned to his spot between your legs. He held your thighs as he licked a fat stripe against your core, lapping up your juices. He sucked at your clit, causing your hips to buck and you moaned loudly, fingers tangling in his hair. Knowing what you liked at this point, he slipped his tongue into your entrance, fucking you with it. You rolled your hips against his tongue while your free hand gripped the sheets tightly. Although he was thoroughly enjoying seeing you like this, a wave of insecurity washed over him and a little voice in his head told him you were just acting this way to make him feel better.

He pulled his tongue out and looked at you. You groaned in annoyance and shot him a questioning gaze. “Am I- is this good?”

“Oh my fucking god, Winwin, yes, it is fucking amazing. Please don’t stop or you’re gonna make me cry.” At this, Winwin chuckled, feeling better, and resumed fucking you with his tongue. He soon added a finger, and then another, fucking you until you were biting down on your hand, tears streaming down your face. Winwin felt a surge of confidence at this.

“Okay, okay. Get up here and fuck me please.” You grabbed at him and Winwin allowed himself to be pulled into your embrace. You littered his face with kisses in an attempt to encourage and reassure him.

Kissing your neck, he lined himself up with your entrance before pushing in slowly, careful not to hurt you. You let out a low groan as he bottomed out, clawing at his back. He kissed down your neck and reached for your hands as he always did. He may not always be verbally expressive with his emotions, but he always made small gestures, like holding your hands during sex, to show you. Your heart ached, both because you loved Winwin and also because it hurt you to see him doubt himself so much. All you wanted was for him to be happy, too.

You weren’t always verbally expressive either, it was one of the things you and Winwin bonded over, but you made sure to say what you were feeling. Telling him it felt good, that he always fucked you right, that his cock hit you in all the right places. Things you’d always thought but didn’t always say. You noticed, much to your delight, that Winwin seemed to become more confident as he went, and you wondered to yourself if maybe he had a bit of a thing for being praised. You smirked at this realization and made a mental note to make it a regular practice of yours.

“Oh fuck, that’s good,” you moaned after a particularly hard thrust.

“Is it?” he muttered in your ear.

“Yeah, yeah, baby, it’s so fucking good.” He picked up his pace, hand trailing down to your clit. “Fuck! God, that’s amazing. Don’t stop, don’t stop.”

Winwin rubbed at your clit, relishing in the fact that your thighs began to tremble where they were clenched around his waist. Tears fell from your eyes, down your cheeks, and for the second time that night, Winwin was completely taken aback by your beauty. Your eyes shone with tears and your hair was fanned out around you, messy but so perfect. Your lipstick had come off during dinner and all that was left was a red stain which had become darker from you biting them. He watched you as you closed your eyes, face contorted with pleasure. Your tears stuck to your lashes and your mouth dropped open in silent gasps and moans. He wondered to himself just how he got so lucky, and how much better his life had been since you became a part of it.

He captured your lips in a kiss, trying to convey as much love as he could. He wasn’t the best at expressing himself, but he wanted to be better. For you.

“Do I really make you happy?” he whispered into your ear.

You sniffled and kissed his cheek. “Yes, you really do. So happy. I’m happiest when I’m with you.”

He held you tighter, and buried his face in your neck. Tears trickled down his own cheeks and he kissed your neck softly, overwhelmed with emotion.

It wasn’t long until you both finished, a tearful, tangled mess. Winwin didn’t let go of you after, nuzzling into your neck. You smiled, running your hands up and down his sides. Sighing contently, you rested your cheek on the top of his head.

“Do you believe me now?” you asked. Winwin hummed, smiling widely, and kissed your jaw.

“You know, I may need more convincing.”

[totally-incorrect-theatre-quotes]

Not the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (fanfic)

Lydia prepares to celebrate her first Christmas without her mother. 

This..this is pretty angsty but also fluffy? It has a happy ending I swear.

Lydia had never been one of those people that were obsessed with Christmas and the Christman season. She didn’t dislike the holiday by any means, but it wasn’t her favorite, nobody in her family got super into it besides her uber-religious grandparents. Her mom and dad would take her to church on Christmas eve with the rest of the extended family but the rest of the holiday with filled with littler traditions they came up with as a family. As Lydia got older she learned that her mom didn’t have the most loving and affectionate family growing up and that’s why she tried to hard to get everything right for Lydia. She would make her own traditions and set her own standards, she was creating a family that not only supported Lydia growing up but made up for the crappy childhood Emily had. The Santa lie was quickly dropped when a seven-year-old Lydia displayed disgust at the prospect of this strange man with questionable business ethics sneaking into her house in the middle of the night, but the family still had their own unique way of making the holiday special. 

Emily died in the middle of December the previous year, she had been sick for almost two years by that point and her body couldn’t fight anymore. She slipped away on the eighteenth of December and everything had been such a blur of emotions and funeral preparations and a parade of semi sympathetic family members that Christmas was thrown to the wayside. Charles still tried to get a smile out of his broken-hearted daughter but the feeble attempts to recreate the old traditions did nothing but further upset Lydia who spent the day locked in her room sobbing as she stared at photographs and in the mirror at her newly short and black hair wondering if she was even worthy enough to look like her mother. Though that day was technically her first Christmas without her mom it had been such a blur that she hadn’t even had time to process the loss. As the days grew closer this year it started to dawn on her that she would never run downstairs again to find her parents sitting down on the couch in their living room in front of their chaotically decorated tree, she’d never see her mom bury her face in her mug when Lydia went to open the present that her parents said she wouldn’t be getting, she’d never spend another Christmas morning having a gingerbread house decorating contest, she’d never have another Christmas eve where her parents would still have her leave out milk and cookies for Santa even though Lydia was much too old for Santa. Sure she had lots to distract her from her all-consuming thoughts with everyone in the house and celebrating Hanukkah with Wendy, but nothing could change the fact that on Christmas Eve Lydia was sitting alone on her bed, clutching a photograph from many Christmas’s ago in her shaking hands, unsure if she wanted to cry, scream, or throw the picture frame at the wall and watch the glass shatter around on the floor. 

The whole month had been an emotional rollercoaster for her bouncing from having a panic attack at school, to the isolating loneliness that came with the anniversary of Emily’s death, to the heartwarming celebration of a new culture when she spent the first night of Hanukkah with Wendy and her family, and now the numbness she was overwhelmed with now. It was a strange sensation to be overwhelmed with numbness, it somehow both felt like everything and nothing at all. Filled with so many conflicting emotions that they all canceled each other out, leaving her feeling empty inside. There were so many other months that had less going on, Lydia couldn’t help but feel as though she was being punished with her mother’s death occurring right before Christmas. She knew that was a stupid thing to be annoyed by but now every single Christmas or Hanukkah from this point forward would always compete with the sadness Lydia felt when she thought about the loss of her mother. December Eighteenth. Every holiday would feel as though it was missing something, no matter how many people she added, no matter the friends she made or the family she found. Nothing would replace the hole where Emily Deetz once existed. 

Though her therapist told her that keeping all these feelings boxed up inside of her was not good for her mental health she didn’t want to ruin anyone else’s holiday. The Maitland’s seemed so excited to have people to buy presents for, Delia was big into decorating, and though he was never crazy about it when she was little even her dad was getting into the Christmas spirit, making Lydia groan whenever he would kiss Delia underneath the mistletoe. The only person Lydia could pretend the holiday didn’t exist with was Beetlejuice, but now even with the day getting closer, he was constantly asking Lydia questions about Christmas. They were often stupid and funny questions so they were a welcome distraction but tonight she was alone. Everyone was sleeping or pretending to sleep in the Maitland’s case. She knew they were just upstairs in the attic and she could spend the night with them is she wanted to, but she couldn’t bring herself to get up. Even her cats noticed the difference in her demeanor, the usually distant Kraken was snuggled up with her on one side, and the always cuddly Cation on the other. 

The clock on her dresser glowed midnight, and though she was exhausted she slid out of bed and went back over to the pile of presents she had accumulated in her room for all the family members. She remembered how happy she was at the beginning of the month, spending hours online and out shopping with Wendy trying to find the perfect presents for the wonderful people she got to call her family. She didn’t make a ton of money babysitting Skye but she wanted to splurge on them, they had done so much for her in the past few months, she wanted to let them know how much she appreciated it. She ran her fingers on the nicely curled bows and perfectly wrapped gifts knowing that she had to admit defeat and ask Barbara and Delia for help. It worked out really well because she didn’t want them to know what she got them so she just had the other person wrap it. One present she wrapped for herself though, and she debated on if she was going to put it under the tree. Her mother couldn’t open it anyway, she wasn’t exactly sure why she spent her money on it but she couldn’t get rid of this nagging feeling in her heart until she had a gift for Emily. She told her therapist how stupid it made her feel, and while she knew her family wouldn’t tease her for it she still worried they would think the same thing she was. It was dumb, she was dumb for doing it, she...she shook her head and went back to her bed just wishing the holiday was over already and she could move on with her life.  

She eventually passed out around two in the morning and woke up around ten in the morning. Christmas morning was a lot more casual now that Lydia was older, no more running downstairs at seven in the morning to see if Santa had come, it was now whenever Lydia rolled out of bed. She stood in the mirror ruffling her hair, noting that her blonde roots were starting to show and she was going to have to decide if she was going to go back to being blonde or dye her hair again. She straightened out her fuzzy pajamas and carried the armload of presents down the stairs to find the whole family hanging around the living room, Delia, her dad, and the Maitland’s talking about dinner that night and making sure there were kosher options for Wendy, though she wasn’t super strict about it. Beetlejuice was nursing some eggnog and glaring at her cat.  While she was staring at her family, they hadn’t yet noticed she was standing behind them, Lydia decided that she wasn’t going to completely ruin her holiday by lamenting over things she couldn’t change. No matter how hard she wished it, nothing would change the family that the holidays would never have her mother in them again. Blinking away a tear in her eye she greeted everyone warmly and joined them around the Christmas tree.

���Merry Christmas Lydia!” Barbara wrapped her in a warm hug, Barbara was practically bouncing up and down in excitement to give Lydia her present. Charles grumbled a little teasingly because he also wanted to give Lydia her present, but knowing Barbara he let her go first. Lydia tore through the cat pattern wrapping paper and revealed a beautiful hand-painted portrait of her two cats. She couldn’t hold back a grin and she threw herself into a tight hug with the ghost profusely thanking her and how much she loved it. She got everything right from Cation’s grey and green eyes to Kraken’s cheeky smile. While it wasn’t a contest she didn’t know if anything could quite beat that, and it seemed like Barbara knew it because she was beaming. 

Next, her father handed her a small package, and a larger package all wrapped in spare silver paper that Lydia had used for Wendy’s Hanukkah present, he smiled when handing it to her and said, “Open the small one first, I wasn’t sure if it’s your style but I hope you like it.”

Lydia carefully ripped the wrapping and opened the jewelry box to see a heart-shaped pendant with pink, white, and orange stripes. Lydia leaned her head against her father’s chest, “Aw dad thank you so much! I love it!”

“I know you have a lot of the rainbow pride things, and I wasn’t sure if you had any of the lesbian pride flag.” He blushed, “I know there’s a lot of controversy over the flag so I hope I got the right one.”

“It’s perfect dad, I love it.” She hugged him tightly extremely proud of the progress he’s made when it came to her identity. He was always accepting, he never once wavered in his love for her but he had gaps of knowledge when it came to it, but instead of remaining ignorant he was constantly learning and working to support his daughter. She teased him a lot but he really did try very hard to be a good father, and she appreciated everything. She must have been looking at the necklace for too long because her father was eagerly pushing the larger box towards her, she opened it up and was stunned to see the camera she had been begging for all year but her father swore he wasn’t going to be able to get because it was out of stock. She hung the strap around her neck and started taking pictures of everything going on throughout the rest of Christmas morning. Adam got her a set of new tea flavors that she had been wanting to try, Delia got her sweaters for her cats that Lydia instantly put them in and threw a mini photoshoot, and finally Beeteljucie tossed her a present wrapped only in tissue paper and scotch tape. She carefully unwrapped and laughed when she saw he got her “Cards Against Humanity” and fuzzy cat socks. He pretended not to smile when Lydia thanked him announcing he knew all along what to get her because he’s just that intuned to her interests, but secretly he was relieved she liked it. He spent hours trying to figure out what to get his best friend. 

Lydia excitedly gave her presents to everyone: a new paint set for Barbara, a set of crystals for Delia, a model train starter kit for Adam, and a DNA kit for her father because he always talked about wanting to know about where he came from. They were all very thankful and they all lounged around in the torn-up wrapping paper while enjoying each other’s company. Lydia bit back a grimace when her father suggested a gingerbread house decorating contest, but seeing how excited everyone else got she couldn’t bring herself to say no. For the next two hours they kitchen turned from clean to a frosting, sprinkles, and gumdrop disastrous mess. In the end, Lydia’s house came in second just behind Delia’s who shockingly had a very impressive house. Lydia had never known how good her stepmother was at design, while her and her father had decorated the house it was always too outlandish for Lydia’s taste. The gingerbread house looked perfect though, the cookie ceiling had frosting icicle. It broke Lydia’s heart that Beetlejuice started eating it before she got a good photo of it. 

She had been doing a good job of distracting herself, any time she caught herself slipping in her happy facade she threw herself into another mindnumbing task knowing it would keep her mind occupied until Wendy arrived. She was midway cutting up the potatoes for the side dish when there was a knocking at the door. Lydia quickly brushed her hands clean on a dish towel next to her and ran over to the door, almost slipping on the hardwood. She straightened up her red and green Santa hat and opened up the door. Wendy smiled warmly and Lydia pulled her in for a welcoming hug. Charles and Delia greeted Wendy as they walked into the kitchen, Barbara and Adam hugged her, and Beetlejuice shot her finger guns from the distance saying, “Happy holidays Weslie.”

“At least he’s getting closer,” Wendy whispered to Lydia

She simply rolled her eyes, “He knows your name he’s just trying to be a prick and pretend that he doesn’t care about my life. Honestly, the funny part is hearing what W name he’s going to use next to describe you, there’s only so many.”

“Last week I heard him call me Walter when we were talking on the phone.” 

“Yeah that’s just BJ.”

The dinner went smoothly, Lydia felt bad that the traditional Christmas dinner was ham and Wendy couldn’t have it, but they did make a small turkey for her to eat. Once dinner was over they cleaned up the dishes and had a monstrous amount of cookies for dessert. Lydia didn’t realize how into baking Barbara was until the kitchen tables and counters were covered with what must have been hundreds if not a thousand cookies. They were all starting to get stuffed and tired from the long day, everyone was relaxing on the couch, Lydia and Wendy trying to hide the fact that they were holding hands underneath the blankets when Beetlejuice began to loudly and incorrectly sing Christmas carols. The snow was peacefully falling outside the window, making the evening almost as cheesy as a Christmas card. Everything looked so perfect, and Lydia tried to hard to push away the uncomfortableness she felt brewing within her. She wanted so desperately to be happy, to just feel happy, she should be happy. Everyone around her looks so happy, she is surrounded by family, and friends, and loved ones. She thought this should be enough, she should be satisfied. She halfheartedly laughed whenever BJ started screeching the wrong words to “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer” and smiled when he pulled up Wendy from the couch to dance with him and the Maitlands. 

After preparing a large plate of cookies and other goodies for Wendy to take home to her family in exchange for the delicious Hanukkah treats they sent with Lydia the two girls were left alone to say goodbye for the night. It was almost the exact same as it was three nights ago when they were celebrating Hanukkah but this time it was Wendy handing Lydia a small wrapped gift. Opening it carefully she smiled gratefully when she opened another small jewelry box to find a bracelet with charms on it signifying inside jokes they had. They spent a good five minutes just reminiscing in their jokes, Lydia’s personal favorite the serotonin molecule from when she was hanging out at Wendy’s house and said she could really go for some serotonin and Wendy went up to go look for some, forgetting what it actually was. Lydia pulled her girlfriend into a loving hug, leaning her head on the crook between Wendy’s neck and shoulder. 

“Get a room.” Beetlejuice teased, leaning against the doorway, “Ya know doing this kind of stuff in front of your ex-husband isn’t very becoming Lydia. I just want you to know I’m not the jealous type, I don’t care what you do with Winston-”

“Wendy,” Lydia corrected sarcastically, “One, I’m literally a lesbian. Two you died so technically you’re not my ex-husband I’m your widow.  And third, that wedding was a green card thing and YOU KNOW IT!”

Beetlejuice raised his hands up defensively, “I’m joking, I’m joking! You gotta relax kid, I have literally never been interested in you. I’m more interested in Sexy and Babs.”

“Then PLEASE go bother the Maitlands.” Lydia pleaded as she held onto Wendy’s hand while trying to give Beetlejuice a look explaining that she’s trying to have a moment and he’s ruining it. He supposedly got the hint because he went to turn around but not before snapping his fingers and pointing upwards above Lydia and Wendy’s head.

“Looks like mistletoe to me Scarecrow.”

Lydia glanced up and her face tinted pink when she saw the green and red plant hanging above their heads. Wendy snickered, her nose scrunching up like a bunny which Lydia thought was incredibly adorable. She started t stutter out some excuse that they didn’t have to do it, and that Beetlejuice was being an annoying brother figure again, and that mistletoe was stupid in the first place but Wendy was having none of that. She leaned down and gave her a soft kiss on the lips before hugging her goodbye once more and running out to her parents’ car. Lydia stood there with a dumb-happy grin on her face for a solid minute before Beetlejuice reappeared in the room making kissy noises at her. She threw the closest thing within grabbing distance, which unfortunately happened to be one of Delia’s strange rocks. Beetlejuice simply caught it and tossed it around in his hands before telling Lydia to not be so easy to pick on so he doesn’t have to keep bugging her. She rolled her eyes at him again as she walked back into the living room. For the rest of the evening, they sat and watched cheesy Christmas movies and drank hot chocolate, deciding that a new tradition they would adopt would be to guess how much liquor BJ put in the eggnog. Charles took one sip and instantly spit it out it burned of alcohol so much. Beetlejuice tried to sneak some spiked eggnog to Lydia but was stopped almost instantly as literally everyone was watching him and even Lydia refused the absurdly strong drink. 

Everyone had gone to bed around eleven at night, and Beetlejuice went...whereever it is Beetlejuice goes when nobody else is around. Lydia was about to head up to her bedroom and edit some of the photos she had taken in order to keep herself distracted from the growing pit of dread in her stomach. She wished everyone a Merry Christmas and was about to go into her room when her father pulled her aside and gestured for her to follow him into his room. She sat down on his one chair while he went to grab something from the closet. He returned with a nicely done gift bag, stuffed with white and glittery tissue paper and the two handles tied up in a neat bow. 

“Dad you already got me more than everything I wanted, you really didn’t have to.” She smiled sweetly

He fiddled with his hands, taking in a deep breath, “This isn’t from me.”

“Who’s it from?” 

“Your mother. She bought it for you last year before...I don’t know what it is. Remember all those Christmas mornings when I’d have no clue what she got you?” He handed her a card that came with the gift and Lydia stared down shocked to see her mother’s familiar scrawl on the envelope. She always looped her Ls weird, something Lydia had copied into writing her own name, but seeing it again, writing that came from a pen that her mother had held...it was resurfacing all the feelings she had been trying so hard to keep pushed down just for today. She kept repeating to herself in her mind that she was fine, she was okay, her mom was gone, there was nothing she could do about it, don’t cry it’s Christmas, don’t ruin everyone else’s good time, don’t don’t don’t.

She curled her fists into her hair, almost dropping the gift bag onto the floor. Charles pulled Lydia into a hug and everything she had been holding in came flooding out. She started sobbing against her father’s chest, her tiny body shaking with such violence that Charles gripped onto her tighter in an attempt to calm her. She wanted to stop, she wanted to stop crying and just go back to how it had been during the day but she couldn’t help herself. She missed her mother. She missed her mother so much, and it wasn’t fair that she couldn’t see her again. She’d never have another Christmas, or New Years, or Halloween with her. Never. She knew she was soaking her father’s shirt with her tears but he didn’t move away, he just stroked her hair, and told it that it was okay. 

“It’s not okay dad. It’s not okay, it’s not ever going to be okay. She’s dead, she’s never coming back, and this is the last present she ever got me. I tried really hard, I tried really hard to be okay today. Everyone else is so fucking happy and I didn’t want to ruin it for everyone else. I screwed it all up, I’m ruining your day, you tried to do this really nice and sweet thing for me and I’m a goddamn mess!” She gasped out between her hiccuping-sobs 

“Lydia, Lydia sweetheart it’s okay! You’re not ruining anybody’s Christmas. I’m so sorry you felt like you had to keep this all from us because you thought it would upset us. Honey, I’ve been missing her a lot today too. I was holed up in my office all last night flipping through old photo albums of our Christmases wishing we had gotten just one more. That’s when I remembered this present. I packed it away last year, I thought it would be too hard for you back then but I shouldn’t have hidden it from you.”

Lydia sniffled a little, still clutching the present in her hands unsure if she was ready to see what was inside. Lydia set the present down gently on the floor, grabbed her father’s hand and slumped down on his bed. She knew she was getting too big for this, but she really just wanted to be close to someone right now. He laid on his back and she rested her head on his stomach while he gently rubbed the back of her shirt. She was still crying, “I feel so broken. It’s supposed to be the happiest time of the year and the whole month I’ve been a trainwreck with one crisis after another”

“It’s okay for it to not be “the most wonderful time of the year.” a lot of people have struggles around Christmas and this is going to be one of yours. I wish it didn’t have to be, I want so badly for her to still be here with you but we can’t rewind the clock. You don’t have to pretend you’re alright though, it is okay for you to be sad, for you to miss her. We can talk about her, we can still keep her alive in our traditions and everything else.”

She nodded her head, “I know it probably sounds stupid but I got her a present, I know she can’t open it but I got it for her because I couldn’t bring myself not to.”

“It’s not stupid at all honey. It’s incredibly sweet, you should have put in under the tree this morning.”

“Why? There’s nobody to open it.”

“I think it would have made you feel a lot better,” he tried to explain, “I think you would have not been holding all this in all day.”

Lydia thought about it, wondering if all of this could have been avoided if she just talked about it. She was always on her dad’s case for never wanting to talk about things but here she was hiding her feelings from her family. She did it all the time, now that she thought about it. Ever since she moved to Connecticut she had been so preoccupied trying to not ruin the happiness everyone was supposedly experiencing that she just buried down her own problems, only talking about them when they boiled over and she had a breakdown. She laid with her father in a peaceful silence for a few minutes before she sat up and crawled over to where the present was laying. She debated opening it alone but she knew whatever it was it was going to make her cry, she didn’t want to be alone anymore. 

She undid the ribbon and slowly removed the tissue paper. She held the gift in her hands, mesmerized by the object in her hands. It was a snowglobe. When she first pulled it out of the bag she was kind of confused, she had never collected snowglobes but when she turned it around she saw that inside the glass was two photographs of their family. One when Lydia was just a baby, the other a photo they had taken just a few weeks before Emily had died. She grazed her thumb over the glass and showed it to her father who smiled bittersweetly at the gift. She noticed there was a turn-key on the bottom and when she wound it up she couldn’t help but smile when it started to play that song her mother always sang when they were cleaning up. It was strange to hear “Jump in the Line” in a music box tune. She knew there were tears in her eyes but they weren’t as urgent feeling as the ones from just a few minutes ago. It felt alright to cry, she wasn’t exactly sad but she wasn’t happy. It was strange. 

She and her father sat on the bed listening to the snowglobe play it’s tune over and over again while looking at old photos from Christmas’s of long ago and not so long ago. Her dad must have texted Delia because she never came into the bedroom that night, she felt bad about it especially because she was fifteen years old now, she shouldn’t need to fall asleep in her daddy’s room but he assured her that Delia completely understood. She snuggled under his blankets, he kissed her goodnight on her forehead. It did not take long for her dad to fall asleep, his loud snoring quickly filling the room but Lydia didn’t mind. For the first time all day she didn’t have this crippling tension building up in her body, she was relaxed and she knew that her father was right. It was okay if it wasn’t the most wonderful time of the year.

[varricmancer]

Lavellan wearing Iron Bull’s collar locked around his neck? A really masc elf boi.

In case anyone is curious, I messaged the requester about what exactly they wanted, and so we have more domestic dom/sub than outright smut. Of course, everyone has their own rituals and practices when it comes to domestic sub stuff, but this is what went on in my head and what I decided my sweet elf boy needed. Enjoy! (Bifrost, if this isn’t to your liking, feel free to request something else! I’m sure you wanted something like making his crawl or give him a bath, but this scene is what came alive in my head. I might make this a series, eventually. I love writing Bull, so any excuse)

Everything under the cut for safety ;)

The Iron Bull x M!Lavellan || NSFW (but fluff and feels, cuz I’m me) ||  WC

The Inquisitor sighed in relief as he stripped himself of his official trappings, once more becoming just himself - Lavellan the elven man adrift in a world he barely knew without any of his clan to support him. They’d long since stopped responding to him, probably deciding he was no better than a shem at this point. He still sent supplies and reports when he could, but he was feeling more like an outsider to them than ever before. 

The humans were little better, always smiling and bowing as was polite but staring blatantly at his Vallaslin like it would come alive and bite them. They also offered bathing tips like there wasn’t water in the forests. That was one of the nicer comments, of course. 

He was simply…in between. A stray they would occasionally bring out for company before shoving him back in the closet. 

No, that wasn’t fair. Josie and Cassandra have been good to him. The others too, he supposes. He just felt so…alone. Unneeded beyond the wretched mark on his palm. 

He shook his head and went towards his overly large and ostentatious bed, sitting at the edge. He cringes when his tense muscles are stretched a little too far, vowing to visit the healer for a cream soon. He’d been practicing in the yard more and while he’ll never reach say Bull’s physique, he’d still been gaining more muscle and strength than he’d known elves were capable of. Physically, he felt more powerful and skilled than ever before. Mentally - not so much. 

Thinking of The Iron Bull brought a small smile to the elf’s face. He would even go looking for him if he wasn’t so horribly tired from his recent journey. Of course, he couldn’t be sure that the other didn’t have company already. 

That wiped the smile away quickly. 

He scratched his chin as he contemplated the carpet, trying not to think about Bull and the barmaids. Or Bull and that soldier he’d been eyeing up a few months ago. Or Bull and Dorian…something he was pretty sure might have actually happened.

But - there was also Bull and Lavellan. 

Perhaps he was putting too much importance on what were little more than trysts. True, they were quite intense encounters where he literally put his entire body and mind in Bull’s hands, but always brief and he’d never been there when Lavellan had awoken. The Qunari didn’t have the sort of relationships he wanted, after all, and he’d be a fool to think he was enough to change Bull’s mind. 

Suddenly, he heard a soft click as his bedroom door was opened and closed. Though his back was to the door, he knew instantly who it was. He inhaled greedily, the familiar musk of the man mixed with the scents of sword oil and horn balm. It was as if thinking of him was enough to summon him. 

“Hey there, Kadan,” Bull rumbled as he walked towards the bed. “Was waiting for you to come to the tavern with everyone else. Didn’t show so I thought I’d come to you.” 

“Hey, Bull,” he gave a wobbly smile, trying for nonchalance. The Qunari’s eyes narrowed barely a fraction, but enough for Lavellan to know that he was as transparent as glass to the other. 

The Iron Bull stood in front of Lavellan and stared down at him, making him feel small like only he could. He hummed slightly, reaching a massive hand out to trace the scar gracing the elf’s chin. 

“That’s new.” 

“Just another for my growing collection. Revenant,” Lavellan muttered, shrugging his shoulders. 

Bull hummed again, tilting Lavellan’s face up to meet his eyes. 

“So, we talked about me fulfilling your needs.” 

Lavellan gulped as his heart sped up, leaning into Bull’s callused thumb as he softly moved it down from the elf’s chin to his neck, lightly engulfing the entire thing in one hand. 

“And lately I’ve been noticing you needed something. So I got you a present.” 

Lavellan stared in anticipation as Bull’s other hand delved into the pocket of his horrible striped trousers. He was horribly exhausted but still couldn’t help the twitch of interest as his lower half tried to spring to life. 

With Bull it could be anything - cuffs, chains, whips. He tried to think of all the bawdy stories he’d heard over the years, attempting to think of something crazy enough for The Iron Bull. 

A gentle squeeze on his neck brought him back to the present, looking up to see Bull watching him fondly. He was holding up a strip of soft-looking black leather held together with a latch that looked to be made from Lazurite. 

“I originally wanted it pink, but I decided this was more your style,” Bull chuckles, waving the strip in front of the confused elven man. 

“Isn’t that...a collar? Did you get me a dog?” 

Bull laughs loudly, stroking his thumb up Lavellan’s neck. 

“Nah, but we can pretend I got a dog sometime if you want. No, this is for you.”

 “For...me?” 

“Mmmm. See, I realized that I hadn’t made something clear. This collar, should you choose to wear it, means you belong to The Iron Bull,” he said softly, releasing his grip on Lavellan’s neck to settle on the bed next to him and pull the elven man into his lap. 

“It means your home is right here, with me. Your needs are my needs. Your joy is my joy. Your worries are my worries. Your pain is my pain. Your pleasure is mine as well,” he purrs into Lavellan’s ear. 

Lavellan’s heartbeat was going so rapidly he could feel every single beat as he nervously tried to breathe. He had so many questions. Are they in a relationship now? What does this mean for the future? What if he had to leave? It all jumbled together as he simply stuttered out, “Y..Yours?” 

“Mine,” Bull growled. 

Lavellan shivered, fighting the sudden urge to slam the Qunari onto his bed and have his way with him. 

“Will you wear it, Kadan?” 

Again with that word. He keeps intending to ask Bull what it means but he’s almost scared of the answer. 

He nods, and Bull clicks his tongue. 

“Words,” he orders. 

“I’ll wear it,” Lavellan whispers, holding his breath as Bull immediately drapes the leather around his neck, binding the back latch securely. 

Lavellan brought his hand up to caress the leather, his eyes closing in a wave of sudden almost overwhelming relief. He began to feel that slightly fuzziness that sometimes happens when Bull has his way with him - that out of body feeling where he was safe and secure. Nothing could touch him there that The Iron Bull didn’t allow. 

“How’s it feelin’? Good?” Bull murmured teasingly, nosing Lavellan’s hair. 

He knew he was probably sporting a ridiculous dreamy smile, but he did feel good. 

“Yes. I - Bull...this...” he stuttered slightly before squaring his shoulders and looking up at the smug Qunari. 

“Thank you,” he said breathily. Bull’s smirk dimmed to something more genuine as he nodded in acknowledgment. 

“It looks good on you,” he answered softly, then picked Lavellen off his lap and stood the startled elf in front of him. “Should have a bath and get some sleep now. I know you’re exhausted.” 

Lavellan’s eyes rounded in surprise as he watched Bull walk towards the tub to activate the runes. He really meant just a bath and sleep? 

“You don’t want to fuck?” 

Bull chuckled as he added oils to the filling tub, then walked towards Lavellan to help him with his clothes. 

“I always want to fuck. But it’s not what you need right now. After we get some sleep I can give my new pet a bone,” he laughed uproariously at his own humor as he stripped the scoffing elf. Leaving the collar on after the elf gave a strangled cry of protest. 

“Fine. Gonna have to add something to it to make it waterproof if you plan on wearing it all the time, though. I thought you’d only want to wear it during playtime.” 

He lifted Lavellan easily and settled him into the bath, kicking his own things off before sliding in behind him with a satisfied groan. 

“Happy, Kadan?” 

Lavellan nodded and bit his lip, leaning back to finally ask. 

“What does that mean? Kadan?” 

The Iron Bull’s cheeks colored like he might be...blushing? He hummed as he rubbed soap onto the elf’s arms. 

“Kadan. My heart.” 

Lavellan sighed as he settled into the safe embrace of the man behind him, one hand reaching to entwine their fingers and the other to clutch at the collar encircling his neck like a shield. 

“Ma vhenan.” 

[janeykath318]

A Well Built Ship (Captain) (Jim Kirk xDarcy Lewis)

Jim x Darcy

Life in the 23rd century wasn’t too bad, if somewhat strange, Darcy reflected frequently. Technology was vastly improved, there were no money issues, medical knowledge was leaps and bounds better and many societal barriers no longer existed.

It had taken them awhile to adjust to their new reality, but in the end, the four of them who’d made the time jump had started to blend in and thrive. Darcy, Sam, And Bucky had all joined Starfleet in various capacities and Jane was currently sciencing in Space on a research mission. Darcy herself was stationed on the Starbase Yorktown, undergoing some intensive cultural studies to aid her in her diplomatic jobs. She eventually hoped to get a posting on a ship and explore strange new worlds with the rest of them, but for now, she was working on situations such as how to tell when a Tellarite was seriously angry or just complimenting someone. (It could be hard to tell, given how they loved arguing). [[MORE]]

She was meandering along the beautiful walkway, (seriously, the architecture and design were mind-blowing!), when an approaching ship caught her eye.

“Is that what I think it is?” She exclaimed to herself, seeing NCC-1701 emblazoned boldly across the saucer. It was.

“Wow. The USS Enterprise,” she breathed, wondering why no one else seemed remotely excited by the appearance of the famed ship. Sure, ships arriving was a regular occurrence, but the Enterprise had never yet graced them with her regal presence.

“Oh, baby, you are gorgeous,” she muttered, reluctantly tearing her eyes off of the Enterprise. She’d have to hold off her admirations for later, or she’d be late for her next lecture. Turning on her heels, she marched off, plotting how she could get herself an up close visit to the flagship of Starfleet.

Several hours later, Darcy watched as the last stragglers from the Enterprise emerged into Yorktown’s main hub. She scanned the crew to see if their were any potential information sources, but most looked very intent on a goal or were busy in conversation or happy reunions. “Hmm, this could be harder than I thought,” she pondered. “Dang long winded ambassadors!”

Her eyes suddenly fell on a lone gold shirted man standing alone, apart from everyone else, watching the commotion and joy. He had a downright wistful look on his face that tugged on her heart. Ah. Target sighted.

She strode toward him, noting his striking good looks the closer he got. Then she saw his rank stripes and almost stopped.

She was walking right up to a Captain to ask to see his ship! Was she crazy? Maybe, but what did she have to lose? Couldn’t hurt to strike up a friendly conversation. The man looked lonely, after all.

“You look a little lost, Captain? New here?” She asked in a light, slight teasing tone.

“You could say that.” His voice was soft and deep and vivid blue eyes focused on her as he spoke. Darcy’s own eyes widened. Holy crap, the man was gorgeous. She’d seen holo pics of the famous James T. Kirk, but none of them had done him justice. Gulping slightly, she smiled at him in a hospitable manner.

“Well, welcome to the Yorktown, Sir,” she greeted. “I can point you to the nearest kiosk, if you like. I also am an expert on the best cafes and watering holes around here.”

She stopped herself and blushed at her annoying tendency to have her mouth run away from her brain. The last thing she wanted was for him to think she was hitting on him. (Well, Maybe not the LAST thing.)

Captain Kirk smiled at her. “I appreciate that, Lieutenant. This place is a maze to me right now. It’s a but overwhelming after being out in the Black for so long.”

“I would imagine so,” Darcy agreed, trying to restrain her inner fangirl from getting out and betraying her. “Professional. Remain professional. You can do this,” she told herself.

“The nearest directory kiosk is just down that way about fifty meters,” she pointed out to him, indicating the direction with her finger.

“Thanks, Lieutenant....”

“Lewis. Darcy Lewis,” she replied, willingly shaking his hand, perhaps a second too long.

“Jim Kirk,” the captain responded. “Nice to meet you. Are you stationed here?”

“For now,” she answered. “But I’m going to apply for a posting on a Starship once I’ve finished my studies here. Wanna-be diplomats have a lot to master before we’re let loose on the universe.”

“Diplomacy, huh? A much needed skill these days. Goodness knows, I somewhat lack in that area myself.”

Jim grinned a self-deprecating smile and Darcy’s stomach flipped even as she giggled at him. It was no wonder Kirk could charm anyone. One look at those dimples and she’d follow him to the edge of the universe.

“Oh, I’ve heard the stories, Captain,” she assured him. Kirk had a history of getting himself shot at or punched, and even though said incidents had decreased lately, the reputation stuck.

“Of course you have,” he sighed. “Let me assure you, most of them are greatly exaggerated.”

“Really? I wonder if your CMO would agree,” she said with a smirk.

Jim snorted and rubbed his forehead sheepishly.

“Bones gets stressed over a paper cut, so no.”

The wistful look returned to his face and she followed Kirk’s gaze to a cute couple enthusiastically embracing, a small toddler clinging onto her father’s legs.

“Awww. They look happy,” she observed.

“Yep,” he sighed. “They needed this. These deep space missions can be really hard on a crew, especially those with families.”

Darcy nodded. She couldn’t imagine being away from loved ones that long. Good thing she was currently unattached. She wouldn’t be leaving anyone behind to worry about her. On the flip side, their was no one to come home to, which probably explained Kirk’s sad looks.

“I take it you don’t have family nearby?”

“My mom’s in the black and my brother is off planet. Hope you’ve got better luck.”

“Not really,” Darcy shrugged, unable to even begin to explain her time travel and that all her family was likely dead. “But I have a couple of good friends around who are like brothers, so that helps. How long will the Enterprise be here?”

“Don’t know. I’ll find that out once I’ve met with Commodore Paris.” He glanced at the time unit on a nearby screen. “Speaking of which, I need to check in with her. I should probably head over towards the important looking buildings.”

“Of course,” Darcy replied with a smile, trying to think of a way to see him again. Before she could, Jim’s eyes were back on hers.

“Hey, Maybe if you’ve got time in the next couple of days, you could show me one of those great dining spots you mentioned?”

His tone was nothing but friendly, yet with a touch of hope to it that encouraged Darcy.

“I’d be happy to, Captain,” she replied slyly, “On one condition.”

His eyebrow rose.

“What’s That?”

“You give me a tour of your beautiful lady ship,” she decreed boldly. “The Enterprise is incomparable and I have a mighty need for a close up view.” (Of that ass!) Her wicked brain added, all too aware of the fact the Captain was as well built as his ship.

The Captain looked at her with downright awe and decided interest now.

“Wow. Someone who appreciates her. It’s a deal.”

He stuck out his hand again with a wide grin. “Call me Jim.”

Matching his grin with one of her own, Darcy shook it. “And you can call me Darcy. When can we meet?”

[hannahindie]

Intertwined

Characters: Cas x Reader Word Count: 2,513 Warnings: Fluff, Cas being the sweetest thing in the world, and all the smut. Smuuuuut smut, smutty smut. Smut. If you’re wondering what that means, it means if you’re under 18, you best just move right on along. Nothing to see here. A/N: This is my first fic for Smut Appreciation Day 2018. I haven’t smutted this much ever. Between this and the next two installments chock full of appreciation..well, I don’t know. You can thank @escabell for the song inspiration: Intertwined by Dodie. The song is beautiful, and the video in the link is...well, it’s really weird, but awesome in its own right.

Thanks go to my twinny @pinknerdpanda and my dear sweet @amanda-teaches for beta’ing this, and the rest of the smut. It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it. Love you!

As always, tags are at the bottom. If you’d like to be added, please let me know!

Cas has seen many wondrous things in the millenia he has existed. He’s seen men rise from the ashes and dust, watched great civilizations built with magnificent fanfare only to collapse into rubble. He has fought in battles both great and small, seen nations fight together and against each other. He has seen humans grow, and watched them explore, even finding their way to the sky.

He has watched all of this with a kind of awe, a benign curiosity, but nothing, nothing, will compare to watching her sleep.

The light from the rising sun shines through the thin curtains and her skin practically glistens as it catches the minuscule hairs on her arm. He thanks his father for the ability to see such detail, things that the human eye could never perceive, because he wishes they could see her the way he does.

She is warm against him, her feet tangled with his and her hair spread across his chest, and he can see a hundred different shades in the soft strands. There are times he wishes he could also sleep, but, then, in these moments...there was not enough time in the day to fully appreciate every curve, every freckle and scar. His fingers brush along her bare shoulder, barely gliding over her, and he watches as small bumps form, following his touch along her arm.

The sheet has fallen away and is pooled around her waist, exposing the full slope of her breast pressed against him, her chest rising and falling in even breaths as she sleeps. It is mesmerizing, and he isn't sure how long he has been lying there, watching the simple movement. His hand wanders down her arm, to her elbow and back up, then slips over to her breast, his thumb tracing along the pebbled flesh as he goes in gentle circles.

She buries her face closer to his chest, nuzzling against him as she shifts, and he finds a comfort in the movement. Though he normally isn't one to seek out safety in another being, he has found it in her, a shelter from heaven and hell and everything in between. He feels an ache in his chest as he stares down at her, how her long lashes cast shadows on her cheek, and he leans down and gives her a gentle kiss, his lips brushing her eyelid so carefully he almost doesn't touch her.

Her eyes flutter open and she looks up at him sleepily and smiles, “Hi.”

“Hello.”

“What time is it?”

“Just past sunrise.”

“Mmm…” she stretches, rolling over as she arches her back and stretches her arms and legs out. He feasts on the sight, refraining from touching her until he knows she wants him to. Her eyes are shut but she smiles, a small one that turns up the corner of her mouth. “You're staring at me.”  

He smiles back, “Yes, I am.”

She opens one eye and looks at him, her arms over her head, “Is there a reason you're staring at me?”

He rolls over so that he's holding himself above her, hands on either side of her head, but still not touching. “It is my duty to admire the beautiful things my father created.”

She laughs, and he thinks the sound is even more beautiful than the heavenly host. “Smooth, Wings, very smooth.” She grabs his hips and pulls him flush with her, giving him a coy smile. “I think that maybe you have another reason.”

He leans down and kisses along her neck, sweeping her hair out of his way as he moves down and across her collar bone, “I do not know what you are talking about.”

“Mmhmm…sure. So last night doesn't have anything to do with it?”

He tilts his head, his eyes narrowing, “I am not sure I understand.”

She arches her back, pushing against him and biting her lip when she feels him against her. “You mean after months of us dancing around this, you're not wanting more?”

“I would be lying if I said I was not anxious for you to wake.” He kisses her, a gentle brush of his lips against hers. “I have waited my entire existence for something. Since I discovered my own free will, watched humans love each other with reckless abandon, I ached to understand why. And then I met you, and the things that I questioned, the things that did not make sense, suddenly did. If I could lay here, intertwined with you, for the rest of our days, I would accept that fate in an instant.” He kisses her again, deeper this time, his tongue sweeping along her bottom lip and he smiles against her, “I could write novels about how sweet you taste. But, since we do not have eternity to lay here, I think I am going to make the most of it.”

“And how do you plan on doing that?”

His eyes lock with hers and, for a moment, he realizes what it must feel like to be left breathless. “I am going to savor every moment.” He pulls the sheet away from her slowly, letting it drift in soft waves at the foot of the bed, then leans back on his haunches and tilts his head as he stares at her.

“What?”

He grasps her ankles and slides his hands up over her calves, past her thighs, then stops at her hips, his thumbs creating dimples in the soft flesh. He looks up at her, his eyes traveling slowly to meet her gaze, and lets the feeling wash over him; what he realizes is love. He has known a variation of this feeling, recently associating it with how he feels for Dean and Sam, but this is different. This is even more consuming, a fierce, nearly overwhelming need to protect her over everything else, regardless of the consequences.

“I love you.” He whispers it, not positive that she even heard him. He isn't sure if it's too soon, if he has made a mistake in blurting it out. He begins to worry when she just looks at him, wide eyed and silent.

“I love you, too,” she says with a kind of wonder as her eyes search his. He moves up her body, his hands leaving her hips and traveling up her sides and to her breasts. She sighs when he cradles them, gently squeezing before lowering his head and drawing one of her stiff nipples into his mouth.

He swirls his tongue, sucking gently, and he feels her fingers bury in his hair, grasping as she moans quietly at the motion. “Cas…”

He switches sides, kneading her breast gently as he suckles the other one, nipping and tracing his tongue around the pebbled peak. He is trying to take his time, but the sinful sounds coming from her mouth are making it difficult. He releases her with a quiet pop, then moves downward, trailing kisses down the valley between her breasts, down her stomach, and planting small ones on her hips, nipping gently at the soft skin and leaving tiny bruises.

“Cas, please,” she mewls, wiggling her hips in an effort to find some kind of friction.

“I said I intend to savor every moment. Which means I will be taking my time.”

He spreads her legs, grabbing behind her knees so that he can hook them over his shoulders as he lowers himself further. He kisses the insides of her thighs, working his way closer and closer to her mound. Her hips buck up again and he pushes her back down, gripping her tightly as his mouth brushes over her. “We went very quickly last night.” He licks a slow, steady stripe along her folds, using the tip of his tongue to just barely part her entrance before swirling it around her clit. He closes his eyes as he relishes the sweetness of her, her arousal like honey dripping onto his tongue. “I want to learn every part of you, find what gives you the most pleasure.” His tongue moves back down, pushing further inside her as he moves back and forth. He curls his tongue as he pulls out, flicking it against her clit once, twice, three times, before slipping a long digit inside of her.

She groans, gripping the sheets as she tries to control herself. “That’s perfect, don't stop…” she trails off as he adds a second finger and curls them towards himself.

“Tell me what to do, Y/N.” He adds his tongue to his thrusting fingers, sucking her clit between his full lips, flicking it with his tongue.

“Do whatever you want, anything, just do something. Please Cas…”

He pulls away from her, and she whimpers, disappointed in the sudden emptiness she feels. That soon disappears when he slips between her open legs, barely pressing his cock against her entrance. He puts his hands on either side of her head, his lips next to her ear.

“Say my full name.”

“Mmmm...what?”

“I want you to say my full name. Say it.” He pushes a little harder into her and she gasps.

“Castiel…”

He slips inch by tortuous inch, “Say it louder.” He pushes in suddenly and she goes from gripping the sheets to digging her nails into his back.

“Castiel!” she cries out and he stills, letting her adjust to him. It is nearly impossible for him to not just lose control, but he forces himself to move slowly. He pulls out then pushes back in, methodical movements specifically to test what makes her moan, what makes her cry out for more. “Please, move,” she asks with a strangled moan. “I need you to move.”

He does as she asks, moving faster as he reaches down to circle her clit with his thumb. The room is silent aside from breathy moans and skin hitting skin. He can feel her begin to clench around him, and he drops his forehead against hers, “Y/N…”

“Flip me over,” she whispers, her hand against his cheek. “I want...I want you to fuck me from behind.”

He leans into her, then turns his head and kisses her palm. He pulls out, his cock aching to be back inside of her, and flips her over onto her stomach. She lays flat, her arms above her head as she waits for his next move. He pulls her hair away from the back of her neck and moves it over her shoulder, exposing her back. He leans forward and kisses just under her hairline, moving down her spine.

She gives a happy sigh, “That feels good.”

Cas flattens his palms against her back, his thumbs close to the middle, then moves outwards, smoothing them out towards her shoulders before moving back in. He moves down, trailing his hands along as he goes. He wants to feel all of her, wants to memorize what her skin feels like against his, what she tastes like, where every freckle and scar are. His hands move to her hips, digging in as he lifts her ass up and he sits up on his knees.

He lines up with her entrance, then slowly sinks in, “You feel very good.”

She moans and laughs at the same time, “So do you.” Her head drops to the mattress, “So, so good.”

He leans over her, trailing kisses down her back as he moves, dragging along her sensitive walls and drawing out breathy moans as he picks up speed.

He can feel her beginning to flutter around him, and he finally loses control, slamming into her over and over again, practically growling with every thrust.

“Cas, I'm going to come,” she pants out, meeting his thrusts with her own desperate movements.

“Castiel...and you are not going to come just yet. I want us to come together...I want to see your face when it happens.” He pulls out and she wants to weep she is so close. He rolls over onto his back, shifting her so that she is straddling him. Her dripping cunt is resting on his shaft, and she moves up and down it, sliding along it as she grasps her breasts.

“You want me to ride you, Castiel?” He nods, his eyes heavy as he watches her move. She bites her lip, pinching her nipple as she fondles herself, and she can feel his hardness twitching against her, “Do you want to feel how my walls clench around you when I come?”

“Yes, more than anything.”

She reaches down and grasps his cock, hot and straining in her hand, then slowly lowers herself onto it. She hisses at the familiar burn as he slowly disappears inside of her, then begins to bounce up and down, leaning back on her palms as she swirls her hips.

Cas is in awe as he watches her move, her breasts bouncing with each movement, the light sheen of sweat glistening in the morning light, the way her head falls back, her eyes shut and lips parted ever so slightly.

“Cas, I’m so close, please…”

“Not yet. Together, Y/N.”

She opens her eyes and smiles at him wickedly. Without breaking eye contact, she balances herself on one hand, and repositions her free one right above his cock. As she slides up and down, she wraps her hand around him and squeezes tightly, fucking him with her hand and her cunt. Cas’ head tilts back and he swallows thickly, his Adam's apple bobbing. “Look at me, Castiel.”

He looks at her again, and groans when he sees her hand shift from him to her clit, rubbing and swirling around her sensitive bundle of nerves. Her movement spreads her open more, and the sight of his cock sliding in and out of her, the accompanying wet thrusts are too much.

“I am very close, Y/N. So close…” He can feel her tighten around him as her fingers and his dick work her closer to the edge.

She lets out a strangled cry, and her climax pulls Cas along with her. He growls out her name, gripping her hips so tightly as he thrusts into her that he is sure there will be bruises the next day. She collapses on top of him, her head to his chest as he grows soft inside of her. He wraps his arms around her then slowly rolls her off of him. She curls up into his side, nuzzling him.

“Did you learn what you wanted to learn?”

Cas nods, brushing her hair from her sweaty forehead, “I believe I did learn a lot, though I am always ready to further my...education.” He presses a kiss to her forehead, lingering as he tries to memorize everything about this moment.

“That's good.” She yawns, and drapes her arm over his waist, “I vote we stay in bed all day.”

Cas smiles, leaning his head back on his pillow, “I think that is a very good idea.” She quickly falls asleep again, and Cas keeps a silent watch over her as she dreams.

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[someonefromthere]

Like I promised, there's another part! Though it's not what you wanted, probably, so I'm thinking about adding a few bonus parts here and there to the story. I wanted to expand the plot line, because there are so many ideas about these two in my head that I still want to write down. I mostly focused on The Feelings, so I hope it's not boring or rushed, or anything.

No need to read "red signs" before this, but I highly recommend you to if you want to fully understand the plot line.

This fanfic is also posted on ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/15481596

Warnings: temporary character death

Nines saw his predecessor cry only once, a long time before he’d deviated himself.

Connor and Hank were sent to investigate a crime scene – another homicide involving two humans and an android – leaving RK900 and his partner alone at the station. It was one of the days when everyone took a day off due to the sunny weather, planning to spend it with their families, and as always, the two duos stayed as the only ones. Fowler remained in his closed office, so Nines and Gavin seemed to have the entire bullpen for themselves. It was barely three weeks since RK900 model left CyberLife, and his relationship with detective Reed was improving slowly – very, veryslowly. It was the main reason of the silence that laid between them; the other was Gavin’s state of health. That morning, the man arrived grumpier than ever, with reddened nose and hoarse voice, and a huge headache. A quick scan told the android that his partner caught a cold and it was intact by medicines. Clearly, his human didn’t care much about his health.

RK900 prepared him a hot tea and made him swallow a bitter antibiotic – Gavin did as told, although not without complaints. A next superficial analysis showed that Reed’s body started to actively fight against the cold. His mission was accomplished.

S o f t w a r e   I n s t a b i l i t y

Their comfortable silence was cut off by Connor. RK800 model broke into the station in a rush – he was alone, Lieutenant nowhere to be seen – and though he tried to appear calm, his face and movement betrayed him. The android was shaking and looking around nervously, almost frantically, lips in thin line, hair messy and his brown eyes… glassy. Wet. Full of tears that streaked down his freckled cheeks.

He was crying.

“Are you alright, Connor?” RK900 asked, raising from his seat slowly. He scanned his predecessor, but the results were mostly good.

Stress level: 89%

“What happened, tin can?”

Even Gavin seemed to wear a face of concern. Interesting. The detective straightened his back and threw a glance at the older android. Connor looked at them, suddenly halting in the middle of the room.

“It’s Hank. He was stabbed.”

Stress level: 93%

Gavin stood up immediately, like thunderstruck. “I’m going to tell Fowler. Nines,” with that, he glanced at his partner, tilting his head at Connor, “take care of him. Calm him down or something, you robots have things in common. Use them.”

And he was gone, already in the middle of his way to Captain’s office. Nines’ gaze lingered on him for a while, checking his vitals carefully, before his attention was brought back to the smaller android. Connor had sat at the nearest desk – it appeared to be Anderson’s, of course – and started to wipe the tears off, however it didn’t do much; the fresh ones kept spilling out of his puppy eyes. It was a reminder for RK900, that his predecessor was a deviant for a longer period of time than he’s even been active.

He didn’t know what to do – he’s never been in contact with a crying person, and Connor looked like he needed comfort. It was… difficult to find a fitting reaction.

It took eleven seconds RK900 to put his hand on Connor’s shoulder. “Lieutenant will be fine. He’s a strong man.”

“Yeah, I… I know,” the older android replied, looking away. His gaze stopped at the glass office where Captain Fowler and Reed were having a heated conversation. Nines glanced there, too, to see his partner throwing his hands in the air, wincing, shouting and pointing at them through the wall.

“Then why are you worried about him? He’s in good hands.”

Connor was quiet for a prolonging moment. RK900 came back to staring at him and did a quick scan.

Stress level: 85%

“He’s… my friend. It’s a common thing, among humans, to worry about your friends.”

This made Nines think. He wouldn’t call detective Reed his friend; at least not yet. Their relationship was getting better, yes, but they were far behind Connor and Lieutenant Anderson, and the ease with which they communicated with each other.

“How do you feel about Lieutenant?” Nines chose to distract his predecessor by asking him questions and judging by his stress level – 82% blinked in the corner of RK900’s vision – it was a workable solution.

“I care about him,” the older android said, glassy eyes focused on his fingers. “And I would do anything for him. There’s a word that humans call this feeling, and I think it fits.”

“What is it?”

Connor looked up. “Love. I think I can call it love.”

Stress level: 71%

Nines wanted to search for the answers to the questions that all of a sudden appeared in his code, he was curious what love was, but the bang of the closed door snapped the androids’ attention to the approaching detective. Reed’s cheeks were painted angry red, his face decorated with a troubled frown.

“That fucker wanted a report from you, but I stopped him,” apparently, his words were directed at Connor, yet his eyes followed Nines movement as the android took his hand from RK800’s shoulder. “Told him you’re not feeling good right now.”

“Thank you,” Connor brushed the back of his hand over his face to dry it a bit.

“Not a big deal, plastic.”

Nines’ eyes felt glued to the man as he sat back down and reached for his cup, and to his beautiful grey eyes. A soft smile found its way to the android’s lips.

S o f t w a r e   I n s t a b i l i t y   S o f t w a r e   I n s t a b i l i t y   S o f t w a r-

One day the definition of love appeared before his vision almost without his consent. He probably searched it subconsciously during the analysis he provided on the files that he and Gavin got. Reed was back to work for a week now, his wound was healing quickly and didn’t hurt as much as it used to, and their developing relationship seemed to comfort him more than any medicine he was made to take. Nines was nearly used to catching the little smiles his partner was shooting him from time to time.

a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person

a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection

sexual passion or desire

RK900 felt a blue blush creeping over his cheeks at the last part. They didn’t get far past kissing yet due to Gavin’s injury, but the man’s hands had already wandered below Nines’ waist many times, and the android didn’t feel like stopping them. Gavin’s fingers felt good on his exposed skin, deactivated to show the man his trust, leaving hot trails wherever they landed. System overheating warnings often cluttered his view at those occasions, but he clumsily dragged them off his vision, too busy keeping Reed’s lips occupied with his own.

“Didn’t know androids could blush.”

Nines looked up from a photography of a murdered woman he had been holding to meet Gavin’s amused eyes. Recently, the detective seemed happier than ever – the usual frown was mostly gone from his handsome features, his brows straightened, nose not scrunched anymore. He smiled a lot more, too. Nines liked the thought that he was responsible for it.

“It’s a- It’s a simulation of human blush,” he cleared his throat awkwardly, though there was no need to. He tried to prevent blue from farther spreading all over his cheeks and nose, but he found himself unable to. It seemed like the blush was living its own life. Gavin sent him a smile which could be read as almost sheepish.

“It looks good on you, you know.”

Nines’ LED flashed furious yellow – he caught a glimpse of it in a glassy wall – and the android’s gaze fell down, back to the photo. “Thank you.”

The compliments still felt peculiar as well. There was something in them, something intimate, that always made Nines even more, almost impossibly, flustered. But if Gavin liked it, he didn’t see a reason to try and stop it.

^

The first time Nines said it, he was once again overwhelmed by fear.

He was going to shut down. He felt it, felt life leaving his limbs and flickering lines of code that frantically tried to start working properly again, but couldn’t. He felt the gashing hole where his Thirium pump should be; it laid hundreds of feet away instead, torn from his body and threw with force. His vision was blurred at the edges and filled with fuzzy stripes all over the front, the image of his human partner glimmering. Not complete.

“You’re going to be fine, Nines, you’ll be fine, you hear me?”

The android felt strong hands, trembling hands, around his head, lifting it up and putting on Gavin’s lap gently. One of them came to stroke his hair.

00:00:31

“Gavin.”

He didn’t want to die.

“Yes?”

They were meant to have so much time yet, so many days to spend together. He was going to learn all emotions.

He wanted to know how is it to feel them.

“I want you… to listen.” His voice came out weak and broken, but the look on Gavin’s face was far more than broken.

“I want… I need you to know…”

00:00:14

“I can’t fucking lose you now…” the man whispered, and his tone betrayed him. He was crying. It broke Nines’ heart.

00:00:04

“I love you.”

“Nines-“

He was abruptly wrapped by darkness and silence, and sudden calmness. Everything went quiet.

The touch of his partner’s hands disappeared.

^

He decided that hearing it felt so, so much better.

It was, in actuality, the first thing Nines heard when the words Reactivation completed showed up in his view. His sensors flashed before they started working again, his LED turned yellow, and then blue, and it all felt wonderful.

He was alive.

“I love you, you stupid fucking plastic prick.”

A hand clenched on his shirt yanked him forward and before he had a chance to open his eyes, his lips were crashed by the familiar ones. Gavin’s.

“I thought I fucking lost you for good,” the detective pulled back and his glassy eyes pierced through RK900’s. “You’re a piece of shit.” Another kiss, this time longer and wetter, and full of longing. His tears mixed with Gavin’s on their cheeks, but it was the last thing they cared about.

When Reed pulled back once more time, he was smiling as brightly as the sun. “Don’t do that again. Don’t you ever leave me. Promise me.”

“I promise,” Nines said and sat up on the metal table, wrapped his arms around Gavin’s waist and pulled him closer, and laughed, and laughed, and laughed.

^

A cloud of hot steam poured into the room as Gavin left the bathroom with only a towel around his hips two days later, hair damp. RK900 looked up from an electronic newspaper he’d been holding for over ten minutes and threw a glance at his partner – at the messy strands falling onto his forehead, at his reddened from hot water cheeks, his pink lips and still wet chest, a fresh scar of the size of coin on his side. His gaze stopped on the dangerously low brink of the towel. Gavin noticed.

“Stop staring at me like that,” he said with a laugh, reaching for his phone and sitting on the other side of his bed. Their bed. Nines tilted his head to the side shyly and said nothing, but the electronic device landed on the night closet. The android came closer to his partner, sliding on the soft bedding until his lips reached Reed’s bare shoulder blade.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered into the skin, and Gavin shuddered, the phone suddenly forgotten as the man looked over his shoulder at RK900.

“I’m not a girl. I don’t need pretty words.” His voice trembled a bit, a sigh escaped his throat when Nines sucked gently at his shoulder blade. The android closed his eyes and took an unnecessary breath just to smell his human. Gavin’s scent included a mint shampoo of a certain brand and a maracuja shower gel, and something that only Gavin smelled of.

“I know,” he replied quietly. “I’m just speaking my mind.”

His tongue slid across Reed’s spine to his neck and remained there as he sucked a dark red mark on the side of it. He earned a shy moan, and locked his hands on Gavin’s hips, turning him around and pushing him to the mattress. His partner wrapped his left hand around Nines’ neck, the other making its way to the android’s hair and tugging at it gently. Nines pressed his mouth against Gavin’s right collarbone.

“You’re beautiful,” he repeated, moving to the man’s right shoulder, “handsome,” there came the breastbone, “gorgeous,” the left nipple, his teeth and Gavin’s very low moan, “attractive,” Nines let his tongue slide down to Gavin’s navel slowly. “Mine.” He felt the man’s excitement pressing against his own chest, but ignored it purposely, his fingers grazing over every scar they encountered on Gavin’s stomach, every trace of violence that was done to him, and pain that he experienced. Soon they reached the smallest and newest one – his heart dropped, and the android leaned in to cover it with the softest kiss he was capable of. When he pulled back, his gaze was met with grey eyes.

No words were needed as Gavin brushed Nines’ cheek with his hand, wiping away the little salty droplets that adorned his skin.

^

“Gavin?”

“Yeah?”

“Why do humans get married?”

Gavin turned around to face him in the darkness of his bedroom. Their bedroom. He also winced, displeased by the fact that Nines tore him away from his half-sleep, but RK900 knew that his partner wasn’t mad at him.

“Do androids have so many questions at night? Or is it just you, huh?” Gavin yawned, moving his hand to place it over RK900’s bare pale chest, just where the android’s pump, his heart sat underneath his artificial skin. The android would never admit it, but his human looked adorable like that. All sleepy and messy, and beautifully tousled.

“I heard two women in the park talking about marriage today. I was wondering…”

“They get married because they love each other,” Gavin looked him in the eyes. “They want to be together. It’s like a promise that obliges to death, or at least that’s the main concept. You know, “until death do us part” and that kind of shit. The whole vow and a wedding can actually be fun sometimes though.”

Nines proceeded his words cautiously, absentmindedly stroking the man’s forearm with his fingers.

“Will you marry me?”

“What?”

“Will you marry me?” The android repeated and got drunk of the amount of surprise and love that Gavin’s eyes held. “Will you spend the rest of your life with me?”

“You’re cheesy as all hell, Nines.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

Gavin’s lips, as always, found their way to Nines’, and it felt lovely.

They both could definitely get used to that.

[dnodes18]

7 Tips for Decorating Your Master Bedroom https://ift.tt/2PxivNe

Renovating the master bedroom is everyone’s favorite project, and it doesn’t have to be that difficult! With a little help from The Home Depot, Chelsea Johnson of Making Manzanita took her bedroom from blah to boho and matched her personal style.

We’ve been working on renovating our master bedroom over the last several months. We started this summer with installing new hardwood floors, then we moved on to giving the walls a fun two-tone paint makeover. Lastly, we built a DIY barn door on the doorway to our new master bathroom.

Now, let’s take it back and see where things started before the renovation began.

Whew! Things were in pretty rough condition, right? After the new flooring and paint, the room certainly felt like we were making progress. But it wasn’t until we teamed up with The Home Depot to layer in the decorations, furniture and new bedding that our boho master bedroom really came to life.

There are so many things to consider when you are decorating your master bedroom. After all, this room should be your relaxing oasis at the end of your hectic days, right? That’s a lot of pressure for a room!

I’m going to share some tips for decorating your master bedroom to help simplify things a bit!

Tip #1: Create a mood board

Having a mood board for your master bedroom creates an easy-to-follow design plan for your room’s vibe, so you can buy decor and furniture with confidence. You’ll be shocked how much it helps to see the decor and furniture selections next to each other to make sure you’re going to love everything when it all comes together.

The mood board for your master bedroom should include furniture selections, color scheme, decorative pillows and an area rug. You could also add in some inspiration pictures of bedrooms that you love. You can check out the mood board that I created for our master bedroom here.

Tip #2: Consider room layout when choosing furniture

Before you start scanning homedepot.com looking for your bedroom furniture (and boy do they have TONS to choose from!), be sure you consider the room layout first. It helps to know where the furniture is going to be located so you can double check measurements while you shop.

For instance, in our master bedroom, we knew where the bed was going which helped us choose the right size of rug that was going to cover the bottom half of the bed. I talk more about rug sizes in tip #4 below. I love the pattern that this fun 6×9 boho rug adds to the bedroom.

  We also knew what size dresser would fit well on the wall without being too large and in the way of the door. We are just loving this Sauder Cottage Road 6-Drawer Dresser. It’a perfect in the space.

Lastly, we were aware that we had very limited floor space for the nightstands because we actually have a pretty small master bedroom. We opted to create DIY shelves instead of nightstands with 12-in. boards and forged steel brackets. This gives us the flexibility of sliding something under the shelf on the open floor space if needed (like a dog bed or basket for the throw pillows).

  Tip #3: Choose neutral bedding

I personally think white fluffy bedding is always a good idea. It’s a classic that will never go out of style. It instantly elevates the room and makes it feel bigger and less cluttered, which promotes calmness in the room.

We added a textured white duvet cover and oversized Euro Shams from The Company Store. The bedding texture creates some interest, but it also keeps things clean and simple. The fun boho throw pillows and blanket instantly add a ton of boho character without overwhelming things.

I also love that white and simple bedding allows you to incorporate fun styles and patterns on your sheets. We fell in love with these white and tan stripe set that we found.

  Tip #4: Incorporate an area rug under the bed

One very easy tip when decorating your master bedroom is to add an area rug under the bed. Even if it’s the only thing you do, adding a rug can make a huge difference for the space. An area rug helps anchor the large furniture and adds a ton of style.

If you’re stumped on what size rug to choose to go underneath your bed, this guide from The Home Depot is a great resource. It suggests that you should have about 3-ft. of rug space around the bed. We didn’t have enough room for this in our bedroom, so we opted for a 6×9 boho rug with a fun pattern and tassels. It tucks in nicely under the foot of our bed.

Tip #5: Always always always add curtains

To be completely honest, I was a sceptic about the whole “curtains are necessary” thing. In our last bedroom, we had cellular shades, and I never ended up hanging curtains. I didn’t get what the big deal was. In this bedroom, we do plan on adding cellular shades as well, but now I know that curtains do SO much more for a space rather than just blocking light or adding privacy.

  Curtains add texture and a coziness to the space immediately. Just look at the above picture before we added the curtains to our master bedroom. There’s a huge difference, right?? I love these simple white sheer curtains with this modern black curtain rod. So here’s the deal, if you are sceptical about curtains, just give it a try when you are decorating your master bedroom. It’s not that big of an investment, so there’s not much of a risk here.

Tip #6: Add plants to give life to the room

If you are struggling with what type of decor to add to your master bedroom, the best place to start is with plants! Plants are seriously the easiest thing to add to your decor. Throw a small succulent on the nightstand, add a faux tree in the corner or hang a plant from the ceiling. You’ll be shocked with what a difference it makes!

If you are worried about taking care of real indoor plants, you can really accomplish the same thing with faux plants too! The Home Depot has great options for both real and faux indoor plants!

We just love the hanging plant we added to the corner. It’s called string of bananas, and it looks great in this pot with this black macrame hanger.

Tip #7: Don’t forget about lighting

My last tip for you when decorating your master bedroom is to not forget about the lighting! We had a boring flush mount light in here before, and we swapped it out for this gorgeous light. It immediately added so much character to the room.

Incorporating a 2nd or 3rd light source to the bedroom can also make a huge difference. Ambient lighting can make a room feel so cozy. These budget friendly wall sconces that we added to the bedside are great. I love that these can be incorporated as a plug-in or hardwired. We kept it easy and did the plug-in method and covered the wire with a wire channel.  It’s paintable so it blends right into the wall color.

Decorating your master bedroom to become the relaxing oasis at the end of your crazy days doesn’t have to be hard! Start with a mood board and a general room layout plan so you can shop with confidence. If you’re stuck choosing bedding, go with something classic, like white. Don’t forget to add an area rug, curtains and refreshed lighting to your shopping list. Lastly, sprinkle in plants and greenery throughout to bring life to the space.

By incorporating these tips, we’ve taken our master bedroom from blah to boho. We created the modern boho bedroom of my dreams! It’s a simple and relaxing space that I absolutely love. Thank you so much to The Home Depot for partnering with us on this bedroom makeover!

Find more bedroom ideas and inspiration on the The Home Depot blog.

The post 7 Tips for Decorating Your Master Bedroom appeared first on The Home Depot Blog.

Chelsea Johnson

[jonasjjackson]

7 Tips for Decorating Your Master Bedroom

Renovating the master bedroom is everyone’s favorite project, and it doesn’t have to be that difficult! With a little help from The Home Depot, Chelsea Johnson of Making Manzanita took her bedroom from blah to boho and matched her personal style.

We’ve been working on renovating our master bedroom over the last several months. We started this summer with installing new hardwood floors, then we moved on to giving the walls a fun two-tone paint makeover. Lastly, we built a DIY barn door on the doorway to our new master bathroom.

Now, let’s take it back and see where things started before the renovation began.

Whew! Things were in pretty rough condition, right? After the new flooring and paint, the room certainly felt like we were making progress. But it wasn’t until we teamed up with The Home Depot to layer in the decorations, furniture and new bedding that our boho master bedroom really came to life.

There are so many things to consider when you are decorating your master bedroom. After all, this room should be your relaxing oasis at the end of your hectic days, right? That’s a lot of pressure for a room!

I’m going to share some tips for decorating your master bedroom to help simplify things a bit!

Tip #1: Create a mood board

Having a mood board for your master bedroom creates an easy-to-follow design plan for your room’s vibe, so you can buy decor and furniture with confidence. You’ll be shocked how much it helps to see the decor and furniture selections next to each other to make sure you’re going to love everything when it all comes together.

The mood board for your master bedroom should include furniture selections, color scheme, decorative pillows and an area rug. You could also add in some inspiration pictures of bedrooms that you love. You can check out the mood board that I created for our master bedroom here.

Tip #2: Consider room layout when choosing furniture

Before you start scanning homedepot.com looking for your bedroom furniture (and boy do they have TONS to choose from!), be sure you consider the room layout first. It helps to know where the furniture is going to be located so you can double check measurements while you shop.

For instance, in our master bedroom, we knew where the bed was going which helped us choose the right size of rug that was going to cover the bottom half of the bed. I talk more about rug sizes in tip #4 below. I love the pattern that this fun 6×9 boho rug adds to the bedroom.

  We also knew what size dresser would fit well on the wall without being too large and in the way of the door. We are just loving this Sauder Cottage Road 6-Drawer Dresser. It’a perfect in the space.

Lastly, we were aware that we had very limited floor space for the nightstands because we actually have a pretty small master bedroom. We opted to create DIY shelves instead of nightstands with 12-in. boards and forged steel brackets. This gives us the flexibility of sliding something under the shelf on the open floor space if needed (like a dog bed or basket for the throw pillows).

  Tip #3: Choose neutral bedding

I personally think white fluffy bedding is always a good idea. It’s a classic that will never go out of style. It instantly elevates the room and makes it feel bigger and less cluttered, which promotes calmness in the room.

We added a textured white duvet cover and oversized Euro Shams from The Company Store. The bedding texture creates some interest, but it also keeps things clean and simple. The fun boho throw pillows and blanket instantly add a ton of boho character without overwhelming things.

I also love that white and simple bedding allows you to incorporate fun styles and patterns on your sheets. We fell in love with these white and tan stripe set that we found.

  Tip #4: Incorporate an area rug under the bed

One very easy tip when decorating your master bedroom is to add an area rug under the bed. Even if it’s the only thing you do, adding a rug can make a huge difference for the space. An area rug helps anchor the large furniture and adds a ton of style.

If you’re stumped on what size rug to choose to go underneath your bed, this guide from The Home Depot is a great resource. It suggests that you should have about 3-ft. of rug space around the bed. We didn’t have enough room for this in our bedroom, so we opted for a 6×9 boho rug with a fun pattern and tassels. It tucks in nicely under the foot of our bed.

Tip #5: Always always always add curtains

To be completely honest, I was a sceptic about the whole “curtains are necessary” thing. In our last bedroom, we had cellular shades, and I never ended up hanging curtains. I didn’t get what the big deal was. In this bedroom, we do plan on adding cellular shades as well, but now I know that curtains do SO much more for a space rather than just blocking light or adding privacy.

  Curtains add texture and a coziness to the space immediately. Just look at the above picture before we added the curtains to our master bedroom. There’s a huge difference, right?? I love these simple white sheer curtains with this modern black curtain rod. So here’s the deal, if you are sceptical about curtains, just give it a try when you are decorating your master bedroom. It’s not that big of an investment, so there’s not much of a risk here.

Tip #6: Add plants to give life to the room

If you are struggling with what type of decor to add to your master bedroom, the best place to start is with plants! Plants are seriously the easiest thing to add to your decor. Throw a small succulent on the nightstand, add a faux tree in the corner or hang a plant from the ceiling. You’ll be shocked with what a difference it makes!

If you are worried about taking care of real indoor plants, you can really accomplish the same thing with faux plants too! The Home Depot has great options for both real and faux indoor plants!

We just love the hanging plant we added to the corner. It’s called string of bananas, and it looks great in this pot with this black macrame hanger.

Tip #7: Don’t forget about lighting

My last tip for you when decorating your master bedroom is to not forget about the lighting! We had a boring flush mount light in here before, and we swapped it out for this gorgeous light. It immediately added so much character to the room.

Incorporating a 2nd or 3rd light source to the bedroom can also make a huge difference. Ambient lighting can make a room feel so cozy. These budget friendly wall sconces that we added to the bedside are great. I love that these can be incorporated as a plug-in or hardwired. We kept it easy and did the plug-in method and covered the wire with a wire channel.  It’s paintable so it blends right into the wall color.

Decorating your master bedroom to become the relaxing oasis at the end of your crazy days doesn’t have to be hard! Start with a mood board and a general room layout plan so you can shop with confidence. If you’re stuck choosing bedding, go with something classic, like white. Don’t forget to add an area rug, curtains and refreshed lighting to your shopping list. Lastly, sprinkle in plants and greenery throughout to bring life to the space.

By incorporating these tips, we’ve taken our master bedroom from blah to boho. We created the modern boho bedroom of my dreams! It’s a simple and relaxing space that I absolutely love. Thank you so much to The Home Depot for partnering with us on this bedroom makeover!

Find more bedroom ideas and inspiration on the The Home Depot blog.

The post 7 Tips for Decorating Your Master Bedroom appeared first on The Home Depot Blog.

from Home https://blog.homedepot.com/7-tips-for-decorating-your-master-bedroom/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

[throughhappyeyes-blog]

Superb Ideas To Assist You In Home Improvement What can be said about home improvement? It seems to be a never-ending journey. They also help you keep in shape. Here are some tips to help you make home improvements successfully and without spending too much. Read them before you start a project so you are as successful as possible. You can easily make your ceiling look higher. Paint stripes in the room or add a floor lamp that is tall. Doing this creates the illusion of height. This can even make your room appear bigger and more spacious than it really is. If your old vinyl flooring has a bubble, give it a shot! It's simple to slice into these bubbles to let the air out. This will make the bubble go away. After that, though, you must put in a bit of glue to keep things the way you want them to be. Purchase glue in syringe form for this project. Do not get rid of your doors because they look dirty. The first step is taking them out of their frames so they're easier to sand. You want to strip them down to bare wood. Next, use a roller to paint the door with an oil-based paint. For a new feel, change doorknobs for fancier designs. When buying furniture, stay away from couches, sofas, chairs and recliners with busy upholstery. If you are buying things that have prints, this will stick you in a rut. Purchase furniture in solid, basic colors such as tan, black, blue, brown and green. In this way, you can change accessories frequently for a fresh new look. Add patterns through pillows, blankets and drapes instead. You can use empty 2-liter soda bottles for storage containers. You can see what's inside, be it salt or beans. You can store these on a shelf or in the freezer or fridge. When it's time to use the contents, simply pour out what you need. If an elderly parents live in your home, plan your home improvements or renovations to make their living space safe and easily accessible. One good example of this is a shower stall that can simply be stepped into or rolled into with a shower chair. Other things that can be incorporated include 36-inch doors and grab bars in the bathroom. Add a coat of glaze to bathrooms to give them a vibrant look. New glazing can make a fresh, beautiful bathroom out of one that is currently worn and old. While new floors can be expensive, reglazing your existing tile usually costs less than $500. Glazing your fixtures will up your value and you will save money while doing it. Chandeliers are becoming more and more popular. You can find a stunning focal piece for your dining area for less than five hundred dollars. If you want a chandelier that will stand out, try getting one that puts out 200-400 watts. When you mount a television onto the wall using the appropriate bracket, you can free much much needed floor space. If you follow the directions, it should take no more than a half hour to install. A lot of home renovation projects can be done by yourself. However, if the job is extensive and requires professional experience, then a contractor is necessary. A lot of drywall projects, painting, and repairs on your plumbing can be done by yourself. It is possible to realize great savings by doing work on your own. For a quick makeover for your home, try adding new paneling on your walls. This can make your walls look new quickly and with minimal expense. If you decide at some point that you no longer want the panels, they can be removed easily. When you are looking for people to help you with a home renovation project, have several alternates in mind who can help in case there is any problem. Always be prepared for the worst. That adage applies to home improvement also. Take a little time to prepare for a home improvement project! When painting, for example, you will need to cover all your furniture in that room before starting. Paint can ruin furniture forever if it touches it. Use sheets to cover anything that you don't want damaged. You must not rush through demolition before you start your renovation. You may be tempted to start ripping everything out quickly in an effort to get started on the improving. Tearing the wires from your wall due to negligence is the last thing you want to do. You need to know what you are doing before you tear anything up. It may seem like a great time, smashing into walls. However, you should always inspect your home for any attached electrical wires or other components first. You might find that removing the structure is too expensive. When you are fixing up a house that is to be sold, keep in mind that the appearance of the exterior is of primary importance, and should be addressed prior to dealing with items on the interior of the home. If the appearance of the exterior is unappealing, it can reduce the number of people interested in viewing the property and possibly affect their offer. Big renovation projects such as installing pools or outbuildings may necessitate pulling permits before work may begin. If you do not know which steps you should take before making major changes to your home such as structural changes, it is best to have a professional help you. You should take a good look at your deck before summer arrives. There may be rotten areas in the wood that may need to be replaced. Fix problems with your deck as you also save money in the long run. All of the information presented here may be somewhat overwhelming. Take the time to learn more about the projects you are interested in, and do things one at a time. By breaking big projects down into steps, you will soon overcome your home's shortcomings. Remember that you're the one who fixed everything. When these projects are done, you can relax and enjoy your handiwork with pride.

Your Home Can Be Better - Just Make Some Improvements

Whether you're a newbie or an expert at home improvement, it can be tricky to find the motivation you need for a new project. Luckily there are tips to help you with that in this article.

Make your home look classy and sophisticated by adding an unconventional new addition. Try putting in a wine cellar or a library with some book shelves. These impressive additions will not only please you, but they will substantially increase the value of your home.

Use fans in your home during the summer months in order to be more energy efficient. Ceiling fans can be particularly great at cooling down a room because they improve a room's circulation. Fans help decrease the energy that is spent on the air conditioner. As a result, your electric bill can be decreased.

Replace your standard porch light with a motion sensor porch light, as this will reduce electricity costs. You can still use this type of light manually, and the sensitivity of the sensor can be changed on most motion sensors.

Construction adhesives are great at stopping floor squeaks. You have to work in your crawlspace or in the basement, but it is going to be worth it. Use a caulking gun to apply, and run glue along the side of each floor joist, sealing the sub-floor planks to them.

Ceramic tiles can begin to dull over time. Using a solution made of vinegar and water is safe for most flooring. Pick up a bucket, put the mixture inside, and carefully mop up your flooring. The solution will wash away dirt and grime, leaving your floors clean again.

Try using something unusual as a coffee table in your living room. An old chest or piece of luggage used as a coffee table can double as storage space. To make the "table" look more like a table, throw on some magazine and accessories. You can do some amazing treatments, like throwing on a table cloth with a tea set for a countrified style.

Whenever you hire a handyman, make sure you are on the same page by creating and agreeing to a contract. By making a contract that's firm, you will not have to bother with worrying about being over charged. Without that contract, you may lose lots of money.

Brighten your kitchen up by installing elegant cabinet handles and knobs! To give your kitchen a quick pick me up, simply install new cabinet knobs. Make sure to clean the cabinet doors well, because new knobs or handles on dirty, dingy looking doors detract from the newness of the fixtures. All you have to do is screw the knob on and you're all done.

Most supplies for home improvement projects tend to be items that would be valuable theft targets. You should keep building supplies locked up when you are not working. If the house being worked on is secure you can leave them inside. If the house is not secure, however, rent or lease a storage container to use, instead.

Complete repairs as soon as the problem is noticed. In many cases, when you first notice damage, it's minor enough that you can just forget about it and keep living with it. You don't want to give into this impulse. Your home's systems are all connected together. Damage to one system can quickly spread to all of them. A minor issue can quickly turn into a huge problem if you do not take action.

If you are starting an improvement job in your bathroom or kitchen, turn off your water supply before starting plumbing or fixture work. It may seem obvious but it can be easily overlooked which can be messy or even costly.

Speak with neighbors regarding drainage prior to making any changes to your landscape. Naturally, you want the water to go away from your yard. Although it may be convenient to route the water to your neighbor's property, they are likely to be very unhappy about it. Drainage plans can only be coordinated with proper communication.

Refinish your dining table to update your dining room. While this is a lengthy task, a new finish can make an old table look like new again. Take your time to ensure great results.

Replacing your outlet covers with new ones will add a fresh look to a tired room. The outlet covers can become discolored over time. By replacing those old ones with new ones, your interiors are brightened up a bit, which can result in an overall fresher look.

When you are looking for people to help you with a home renovation project, have several alternates in mind who can help in case there is any problem. People always say "do not ever place all of the eggs you have inside of one basket." This is true in this situation.

You need to be flexible when you undertake home improvement projects. You might want your home improvement project to be finished within the month. That doesn't mean it will be. You may want to spend a certain amount of money, but sometimes you may have to pay a little more. Being flexible is important.

You don't have to just settle for the current paint job within your home. If they do choose their own scheme, they usually settle for something bland and uninspired. Increase the feel and life of your rooms through paint schemes with brilliant colors.

A bathroom can be redecorated easily and cheaply. The best way to get a new look in the bathroom is to get new bathmats, shower curtains, or towels. This gives you an instant bathroom makeover. Plants fresh a bathroom, but be certain to select those that are good in high humidity and do not need a lot of light.

Taking care of home improvements can be overwhelming, no matter what your experience level is. The tips and information in this piece are great for helping you generate ideas and also for getting your house in top shape without tremendous aggravation.

End of lease cleaning melbourne

[ilhadehsoll-blog]

Superb Ideas To Assist You In Home Improvement What can be said about home improvement? It seems to be a never-ending journey. They also help you keep in shape. Here are some tips to help you make home improvements successfully and without spending too much. Read them before you start a project so you are as successful as possible. You can easily make your ceiling look higher. Paint stripes in the room or add a floor lamp that is tall. Doing this creates the illusion of height. This can even make your room appear bigger and more spacious than it really is. If your old vinyl flooring has a bubble, give it a shot! It's simple to slice into these bubbles to let the air out. This will make the bubble go away. After that, though, you must put in a bit of glue to keep things the way you want them to be. Purchase glue in syringe form for this project. Do not get rid of your doors because they look dirty. The first step is taking them out of their frames so they're easier to sand. You want to strip them down to bare wood. Next, use a roller to paint the door with an oil-based paint. For a new feel, change doorknobs for fancier designs. When buying furniture, stay away from couches, sofas, chairs and recliners with busy upholstery. If you are buying things that have prints, this will stick you in a rut. Purchase furniture in solid, basic colors such as tan, black, blue, brown and green. In this way, you can change accessories frequently for a fresh new look. Add patterns through pillows, blankets and drapes instead. You can use empty 2-liter soda bottles for storage containers. You can see what's inside, be it salt or beans. You can store these on a shelf or in the freezer or fridge. When it's time to use the contents, simply pour out what you need. If an elderly parents live in your home, plan your home improvements or renovations to make their living space safe and easily accessible. One good example of this is a shower stall that can simply be stepped into or rolled into with a shower chair. Other things that can be incorporated include 36-inch doors and grab bars in the bathroom. Add a coat of glaze to bathrooms to give them a vibrant look. New glazing can make a fresh, beautiful bathroom out of one that is currently worn and old. While new floors can be expensive, reglazing your existing tile usually costs less than $500. Glazing your fixtures will up your value and you will save money while doing it. Chandeliers are becoming more and more popular. You can find a stunning focal piece for your dining area for less than five hundred dollars. If you want a chandelier that will stand out, try getting one that puts out 200-400 watts. When you mount a television onto the wall using the appropriate bracket, you can free much much needed floor space. If you follow the directions, it should take no more than a half hour to install. A lot of home renovation projects can be done by yourself. However, if the job is extensive and requires professional experience, then a contractor is necessary. A lot of drywall projects, painting, and repairs on your plumbing can be done by yourself. It is possible to realize great savings by doing work on your own. For a quick makeover for your home, try adding new paneling on your walls. This can make your walls look new quickly and with minimal expense. If you decide at some point that you no longer want the panels, they can be removed easily. When you are looking for people to help you with a home renovation project, have several alternates in mind who can help in case there is any problem. Always be prepared for the worst. That adage applies to home improvement also. Take a little time to prepare for a home improvement project! When painting, for example, you will need to cover all your furniture in that room before starting. Paint can ruin furniture forever if it touches it. Use sheets to cover anything that you don't want damaged. You must not rush through demolition before you start your renovation. You may be tempted to start ripping everything out quickly in an effort to get started on the improving. Tearing the wires from your wall due to negligence is the last thing you want to do. You need to know what you are doing before you tear anything up. It may seem like a great time, smashing into walls. However, you should always inspect your home for any attached electrical wires or other components first. You might find that removing the structure is too expensive. When you are fixing up a house that is to be sold, keep in mind that the appearance of the exterior is of primary importance, and should be addressed prior to dealing with items on the interior of the home. If the appearance of the exterior is unappealing, it can reduce the number of people interested in viewing the property and possibly affect their offer. Big renovation projects such as installing pools or outbuildings may necessitate pulling permits before work may begin. If you do not know which steps you should take before making major changes to your home such as structural changes, it is best to have a professional help you. You should take a good look at your deck before summer arrives. There may be rotten areas in the wood that may need to be replaced. Fix problems with your deck as you also save money in the long run. All of the information presented here may be somewhat overwhelming. Take the time to learn more about the projects you are interested in, and do things one at a time. By breaking big projects down into steps, you will soon overcome your home's shortcomings. Remember that you're the one who fixed everything. When these projects are done, you can relax and enjoy your handiwork with pride.

Your Home Can Be Better - Just Make Some Improvements

Whether you're a newbie or an expert at home improvement, it can be tricky to find the motivation you need for a new project. Luckily there are tips to help you with that in this article.

Make your home look classy and sophisticated by adding an unconventional new addition. Try putting in a wine cellar or a library with some book shelves. These impressive additions will not only please you, but they will substantially increase the value of your home.

Use fans in your home during the summer months in order to be more energy efficient. Ceiling fans can be particularly great at cooling down a room because they improve a room's circulation. Fans help decrease the energy that is spent on the air conditioner. As a result, your electric bill can be decreased.

Replace your standard porch light with a motion sensor porch light, as this will reduce electricity costs. You can still use this type of light manually, and the sensitivity of the sensor can be changed on most motion sensors.

Construction adhesives are great at stopping floor squeaks. You have to work in your crawlspace or in the basement, but it is going to be worth it. Use a caulking gun to apply, and run glue along the side of each floor joist, sealing the sub-floor planks to them.

Ceramic tiles can begin to dull over time. Using a solution made of vinegar and water is safe for most flooring. Pick up a bucket, put the mixture inside, and carefully mop up your flooring. The solution will wash away dirt and grime, leaving your floors clean again.

Try using something unusual as a coffee table in your living room. An old chest or piece of luggage used as a coffee table can double as storage space. To make the "table" look more like a table, throw on some magazine and accessories. You can do some amazing treatments, like throwing on a table cloth with a tea set for a countrified style.

Whenever you hire a handyman, make sure you are on the same page by creating and agreeing to a contract. By making a contract that's firm, you will not have to bother with worrying about being over charged. Without that contract, you may lose lots of money.

Brighten your kitchen up by installing elegant cabinet handles and knobs! To give your kitchen a quick pick me up, simply install new cabinet knobs. Make sure to clean the cabinet doors well, because new knobs or handles on dirty, dingy looking doors detract from the newness of the fixtures. All you have to do is screw the knob on and you're all done.

Most supplies for home improvement projects tend to be items that would be valuable theft targets. You should keep building supplies locked up when you are not working. If the house being worked on is secure you can leave them inside. If the house is not secure, however, rent or lease a storage container to use, instead.

Complete repairs as soon as the problem is noticed. In many cases, when you first notice damage, it's minor enough that you can just forget about it and keep living with it. You don't want to give into this impulse. Your home's systems are all connected together. Damage to one system can quickly spread to all of them. A minor issue can quickly turn into a huge problem if you do not take action.

If you are starting an improvement job in your bathroom or kitchen, turn off your water supply before starting plumbing or fixture work. It may seem obvious but it can be easily overlooked which can be messy or even costly.

Speak with neighbors regarding drainage prior to making any changes to your landscape. Naturally, you want the water to go away from your yard. Although it may be convenient to route the water to your neighbor's property, they are likely to be very unhappy about it. Drainage plans can only be coordinated with proper communication.

Refinish your dining table to update your dining room. While this is a lengthy task, a new finish can make an old table look like new again. Take your time to ensure great results.

Replacing your outlet covers with new ones will add a fresh look to a tired room. The outlet covers can become discolored over time. By replacing those old ones with new ones, your interiors are brightened up a bit, which can result in an overall fresher look.

When you are looking for people to help you with a home renovation project, have several alternates in mind who can help in case there is any problem. People always say "do not ever place all of the eggs you have inside of one basket." This is true in this situation.

You need to be flexible when you undertake home improvement projects. You might want your home improvement project to be finished within the month. That doesn't mean it will be. You may want to spend a certain amount of money, but sometimes you may have to pay a little more. Being flexible is important.

You don't have to just settle for the current paint job within your home. If they do choose their own scheme, they usually settle for something bland and uninspired. Increase the feel and life of your rooms through paint schemes with brilliant colors.

A bathroom can be redecorated easily and cheaply. The best way to get a new look in the bathroom is to get new bathmats, shower curtains, or towels. This gives you an instant bathroom makeover. Plants fresh a bathroom, but be certain to select those that are good in high humidity and do not need a lot of light.

Taking care of home improvements can be overwhelming, no matter what your experience level is. The tips and information in this piece are great for helping you generate ideas and also for getting your house in top shape without tremendous aggravation.

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Superb Ideas To Assist You In Home Improvement What can be said about home improvement? It seems to be a never-ending journey. They also help you keep in shape. Here are some tips to help you make home improvements successfully and without spending too much. Read them before you start a project so you are as successful as possible. You can easily make your ceiling look higher. Paint stripes in the room or add a floor lamp that is tall. Doing this creates the illusion of height. This can even make your room appear bigger and more spacious than it really is. If your old vinyl flooring has a bubble, give it a shot! It's simple to slice into these bubbles to let the air out. This will make the bubble go away. After that, though, you must put in a bit of glue to keep things the way you want them to be. Purchase glue in syringe form for this project. Do not get rid of your doors because they look dirty. The first step is taking them out of their frames so they're easier to sand. You want to strip them down to bare wood. Next, use a roller to paint the door with an oil-based paint. For a new feel, change doorknobs for fancier designs. When buying furniture, stay away from couches, sofas, chairs and recliners with busy upholstery. If you are buying things that have prints, this will stick you in a rut. Purchase furniture in solid, basic colors such as tan, black, blue, brown and green. In this way, you can change accessories frequently for a fresh new look. Add patterns through pillows, blankets and drapes instead. You can use empty 2-liter soda bottles for storage containers. You can see what's inside, be it salt or beans. You can store these on a shelf or in the freezer or fridge. When it's time to use the contents, simply pour out what you need. If an elderly parents live in your home, plan your home improvements or renovations to make their living space safe and easily accessible. One good example of this is a shower stall that can simply be stepped into or rolled into with a shower chair. Other things that can be incorporated include 36-inch doors and grab bars in the bathroom. Add a coat of glaze to bathrooms to give them a vibrant look. New glazing can make a fresh, beautiful bathroom out of one that is currently worn and old. While new floors can be expensive, reglazing your existing tile usually costs less than $500. Glazing your fixtures will up your value and you will save money while doing it. Chandeliers are becoming more and more popular. You can find a stunning focal piece for your dining area for less than five hundred dollars. If you want a chandelier that will stand out, try getting one that puts out 200-400 watts. When you mount a television onto the wall using the appropriate bracket, you can free much much needed floor space. If you follow the directions, it should take no more than a half hour to install. A lot of home renovation projects can be done by yourself. However, if the job is extensive and requires professional experience, then a contractor is necessary. A lot of drywall projects, painting, and repairs on your plumbing can be done by yourself. It is possible to realize great savings by doing work on your own. For a quick makeover for your home, try adding new paneling on your walls. This can make your walls look new quickly and with minimal expense. If you decide at some point that you no longer want the panels, they can be removed easily. When you are looking for people to help you with a home renovation project, have several alternates in mind who can help in case there is any problem. Always be prepared for the worst. That adage applies to home improvement also. Take a little time to prepare for a home improvement project! When painting, for example, you will need to cover all your furniture in that room before starting. Paint can ruin furniture forever if it touches it. Use sheets to cover anything that you don't want damaged. You must not rush through demolition before you start your renovation. You may be tempted to start ripping everything out quickly in an effort to get started on the improving. Tearing the wires from your wall due to negligence is the last thing you want to do. You need to know what you are doing before you tear anything up. It may seem like a great time, smashing into walls. However, you should always inspect your home for any attached electrical wires or other components first. You might find that removing the structure is too expensive. When you are fixing up a house that is to be sold, keep in mind that the appearance of the exterior is of primary importance, and should be addressed prior to dealing with items on the interior of the home. If the appearance of the exterior is unappealing, it can reduce the number of people interested in viewing the property and possibly affect their offer. Big renovation projects such as installing pools or outbuildings may necessitate pulling permits before work may begin. If you do not know which steps you should take before making major changes to your home such as structural changes, it is best to have a professional help you. You should take a good look at your deck before summer arrives. There may be rotten areas in the wood that may need to be replaced. Fix problems with your deck as you also save money in the long run. All of the information presented here may be somewhat overwhelming. Take the time to learn more about the projects you are interested in, and do things one at a time. By breaking big projects down into steps, you will soon overcome your home's shortcomings. Remember that you're the one who fixed everything. When these projects are done, you can relax and enjoy your handiwork with pride.

Your Home Can Be Better - Just Make Some Improvements

Whether you're a newbie or an expert at home improvement, it can be tricky to find the motivation you need for a new project. Luckily there are tips to help you with that in this article.

Make your home look classy and sophisticated by adding an unconventional new addition. Try putting in a wine cellar or a library with some book shelves. These impressive additions will not only please you, but they will substantially increase the value of your home.

Use fans in your home during the summer months in order to be more energy efficient. Ceiling fans can be particularly great at cooling down a room because they improve a room's circulation. Fans help decrease the energy that is spent on the air conditioner. As a result, your electric bill can be decreased.

Replace your standard porch light with a motion sensor porch light, as this will reduce electricity costs. You can still use this type of light manually, and the sensitivity of the sensor can be changed on most motion sensors.

Construction adhesives are great at stopping floor squeaks. You have to work in your crawlspace or in the basement, but it is going to be worth it. Use a caulking gun to apply, and run glue along the side of each floor joist, sealing the sub-floor planks to them.

Ceramic tiles can begin to dull over time. Using a solution made of vinegar and water is safe for most flooring. Pick up a bucket, put the mixture inside, and carefully mop up your flooring. The solution will wash away dirt and grime, leaving your floors clean again.

Try using something unusual as a coffee table in your living room. An old chest or piece of luggage used as a coffee table can double as storage space. To make the "table" look more like a table, throw on some magazine and accessories. You can do some amazing treatments, like throwing on a table cloth with a tea set for a countrified style.

Whenever you hire a handyman, make sure you are on the same page by creating and agreeing to a contract. By making a contract that's firm, you will not have to bother with worrying about being over charged. Without that contract, you may lose lots of money.

Brighten your kitchen up by installing elegant cabinet handles and knobs! To give your kitchen a quick pick me up, simply install new cabinet knobs. Make sure to clean the cabinet doors well, because new knobs or handles on dirty, dingy looking doors detract from the newness of the fixtures. All you have to do is screw the knob on and you're all done.

Most supplies for home improvement projects tend to be items that would be valuable theft targets. You should keep building supplies locked up when you are not working. If the house being worked on is secure you can leave them inside. If the house is not secure, however, rent or lease a storage container to use, instead.

Complete repairs as soon as the problem is noticed. In many cases, when you first notice damage, it's minor enough that you can just forget about it and keep living with it. You don't want to give into this impulse. Your home's systems are all connected together. Damage to one system can quickly spread to all of them. A minor issue can quickly turn into a huge problem if you do not take action.

If you are starting an improvement job in your bathroom or kitchen, turn off your water supply before starting plumbing or fixture work. It may seem obvious but it can be easily overlooked which can be messy or even costly.

Speak with neighbors regarding drainage prior to making any changes to your landscape. Naturally, you want the water to go away from your yard. Although it may be convenient to route the water to your neighbor's property, they are likely to be very unhappy about it. Drainage plans can only be coordinated with proper communication.

Refinish your dining table to update your dining room. While this is a lengthy task, a new finish can make an old table look like new again. Take your time to ensure great results.

Replacing your outlet covers with new ones will add a fresh look to a tired room. The outlet covers can become discolored over time. By replacing those old ones with new ones, your interiors are brightened up a bit, which can result in an overall fresher look.

When you are looking for people to help you with a home renovation project, have several alternates in mind who can help in case there is any problem. People always say "do not ever place all of the eggs you have inside of one basket." This is true in this situation.

You need to be flexible when you undertake home improvement projects. You might want your home improvement project to be finished within the month. That doesn't mean it will be. You may want to spend a certain amount of money, but sometimes you may have to pay a little more. Being flexible is important.

You don't have to just settle for the current paint job within your home. If they do choose their own scheme, they usually settle for something bland and uninspired. Increase the feel and life of your rooms through paint schemes with brilliant colors.

A bathroom can be redecorated easily and cheaply. The best way to get a new look in the bathroom is to get new bathmats, shower curtains, or towels. This gives you an instant bathroom makeover. Plants fresh a bathroom, but be certain to select those that are good in high humidity and do not need a lot of light.

Taking care of home improvements can be overwhelming, no matter what your experience level is. The tips and information in this piece are great for helping you generate ideas and also for getting your house in top shape without tremendous aggravation.

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[leranwaltr-blog]

Superb Ideas To Assist You In Home Improvement What can be said about home improvement? It seems to be a never-ending journey. They also help you keep in shape. Here are some tips to help you make home improvements successfully and without spending too much. Read them before you start a project so you are as successful as possible. You can easily make your ceiling look higher. Paint stripes in the room or add a floor lamp that is tall. Doing this creates the illusion of height. This can even make your room appear bigger and more spacious than it really is. If your old vinyl flooring has a bubble, give it a shot! It's simple to slice into these bubbles to let the air out. This will make the bubble go away. After that, though, you must put in a bit of glue to keep things the way you want them to be. Purchase glue in syringe form for this project. Do not get rid of your doors because they look dirty. The first step is taking them out of their frames so they're easier to sand. You want to strip them down to bare wood. Next, use a roller to paint the door with an oil-based paint. For a new feel, change doorknobs for fancier designs. When buying furniture, stay away from couches, sofas, chairs and recliners with busy upholstery. If you are buying things that have prints, this will stick you in a rut. Purchase furniture in solid, basic colors such as tan, black, blue, brown and green. In this way, you can change accessories frequently for a fresh new look. Add patterns through pillows, blankets and drapes instead. You can use empty 2-liter soda bottles for storage containers. You can see what's inside, be it salt or beans. You can store these on a shelf or in the freezer or fridge. When it's time to use the contents, simply pour out what you need. If an elderly parents live in your home, plan your home improvements or renovations to make their living space safe and easily accessible. One good example of this is a shower stall that can simply be stepped into or rolled into with a shower chair. Other things that can be incorporated include 36-inch doors and grab bars in the bathroom. Add a coat of glaze to bathrooms to give them a vibrant look. New glazing can make a fresh, beautiful bathroom out of one that is currently worn and old. While new floors can be expensive, reglazing your existing tile usually costs less than $500. Glazing your fixtures will up your value and you will save money while doing it. Chandeliers are becoming more and more popular. You can find a stunning focal piece for your dining area for less than five hundred dollars. If you want a chandelier that will stand out, try getting one that puts out 200-400 watts. When you mount a television onto the wall using the appropriate bracket, you can free much much needed floor space. If you follow the directions, it should take no more than a half hour to install. A lot of home renovation projects can be done by yourself. However, if the job is extensive and requires professional experience, then a contractor is necessary. A lot of drywall projects, painting, and repairs on your plumbing can be done by yourself. It is possible to realize great savings by doing work on your own. For a quick makeover for your home, try adding new paneling on your walls. This can make your walls look new quickly and with minimal expense. If you decide at some point that you no longer want the panels, they can be removed easily. When you are looking for people to help you with a home renovation project, have several alternates in mind who can help in case there is any problem. Always be prepared for the worst. That adage applies to home improvement also. Take a little time to prepare for a home improvement project! When painting, for example, you will need to cover all your furniture in that room before starting. Paint can ruin furniture forever if it touches it. Use sheets to cover anything that you don't want damaged. You must not rush through demolition before you start your renovation. You may be tempted to start ripping everything out quickly in an effort to get started on the improving. Tearing the wires from your wall due to negligence is the last thing you want to do. You need to know what you are doing before you tear anything up. It may seem like a great time, smashing into walls. However, you should always inspect your home for any attached electrical wires or other components first. You might find that removing the structure is too expensive. When you are fixing up a house that is to be sold, keep in mind that the appearance of the exterior is of primary importance, and should be addressed prior to dealing with items on the interior of the home. If the appearance of the exterior is unappealing, it can reduce the number of people interested in viewing the property and possibly affect their offer. Big renovation projects such as installing pools or outbuildings may necessitate pulling permits before work may begin. If you do not know which steps you should take before making major changes to your home such as structural changes, it is best to have a professional help you. You should take a good look at your deck before summer arrives. There may be rotten areas in the wood that may need to be replaced. Fix problems with your deck as you also save money in the long run. All of the information presented here may be somewhat overwhelming. Take the time to learn more about the projects you are interested in, and do things one at a time. By breaking big projects down into steps, you will soon overcome your home's shortcomings. Remember that you're the one who fixed everything. When these projects are done, you can relax and enjoy your handiwork with pride.

Your Home Can Be Better - Just Make Some Improvements

Whether you're a newbie or an expert at home improvement, it can be tricky to find the motivation you need for a new project. Luckily there are tips to help you with that in this article.

Make your home look classy and sophisticated by adding an unconventional new addition. Try putting in a wine cellar or a library with some book shelves. These impressive additions will not only please you, but they will substantially increase the value of your home.

Use fans in your home during the summer months in order to be more energy efficient. Ceiling fans can be particularly great at cooling down a room because they improve a room's circulation. Fans help decrease the energy that is spent on the air conditioner. As a result, your electric bill can be decreased.

Replace your standard porch light with a motion sensor porch light, as this will reduce electricity costs. You can still use this type of light manually, and the sensitivity of the sensor can be changed on most motion sensors.

Construction adhesives are great at stopping floor squeaks. You have to work in your crawlspace or in the basement, but it is going to be worth it. Use a caulking gun to apply, and run glue along the side of each floor joist, sealing the sub-floor planks to them.

Ceramic tiles can begin to dull over time. Using a solution made of vinegar and water is safe for most flooring. Pick up a bucket, put the mixture inside, and carefully mop up your flooring. The solution will wash away dirt and grime, leaving your floors clean again.

Try using something unusual as a coffee table in your living room. An old chest or piece of luggage used as a coffee table can double as storage space. To make the "table" look more like a table, throw on some magazine and accessories. You can do some amazing treatments, like throwing on a table cloth with a tea set for a countrified style.

Whenever you hire a handyman, make sure you are on the same page by creating and agreeing to a contract. By making a contract that's firm, you will not have to bother with worrying about being over charged. Without that contract, you may lose lots of money.

Brighten your kitchen up by installing elegant cabinet handles and knobs! To give your kitchen a quick pick me up, simply install new cabinet knobs. Make sure to clean the cabinet doors well, because new knobs or handles on dirty, dingy looking doors detract from the newness of the fixtures. All you have to do is screw the knob on and you're all done.

Most supplies for home improvement projects tend to be items that would be valuable theft targets. You should keep building supplies locked up when you are not working. If the house being worked on is secure you can leave them inside. If the house is not secure, however, rent or lease a storage container to use, instead.

Complete repairs as soon as the problem is noticed. In many cases, when you first notice damage, it's minor enough that you can just forget about it and keep living with it. You don't want to give into this impulse. Your home's systems are all connected together. Damage to one system can quickly spread to all of them. A minor issue can quickly turn into a huge problem if you do not take action.

If you are starting an improvement job in your bathroom or kitchen, turn off your water supply before starting plumbing or fixture work. It may seem obvious but it can be easily overlooked which can be messy or even costly.

Speak with neighbors regarding drainage prior to making any changes to your landscape. Naturally, you want the water to go away from your yard. Although it may be convenient to route the water to your neighbor's property, they are likely to be very unhappy about it. Drainage plans can only be coordinated with proper communication.

Refinish your dining table to update your dining room. While this is a lengthy task, a new finish can make an old table look like new again. Take your time to ensure great results.

Replacing your outlet covers with new ones will add a fresh look to a tired room. The outlet covers can become discolored over time. By replacing those old ones with new ones, your interiors are brightened up a bit, which can result in an overall fresher look.

When you are looking for people to help you with a home renovation project, have several alternates in mind who can help in case there is any problem. People always say "do not ever place all of the eggs you have inside of one basket." This is true in this situation.

You need to be flexible when you undertake home improvement projects. You might want your home improvement project to be finished within the month. That doesn't mean it will be. You may want to spend a certain amount of money, but sometimes you may have to pay a little more. Being flexible is important.

You don't have to just settle for the current paint job within your home. If they do choose their own scheme, they usually settle for something bland and uninspired. Increase the feel and life of your rooms through paint schemes with brilliant colors.

A bathroom can be redecorated easily and cheaply. The best way to get a new look in the bathroom is to get new bathmats, shower curtains, or towels. This gives you an instant bathroom makeover. Plants fresh a bathroom, but be certain to select those that are good in high humidity and do not need a lot of light.

Taking care of home improvements can be overwhelming, no matter what your experience level is. The tips and information in this piece are great for helping you generate ideas and also for getting your house in top shape without tremendous aggravation.

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