#and cons are busy and people get so annoying and its warm and loud | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

allandoflimbo · 4 years ago

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Bad Guy

Summary: You experience another night out in your new hometown. One that has you reaching for a drink, and maybe ending with a certain someone between your legs.

Warnings: Drinking, cursing, and (mild, well for me) fucking.

A/N: This is a submisstion for @amanda-teaches 2k Writer + Reader Challenge. My prompt was “Everyone keeps telling me you’re the bad guy.” This was really fun to write. Thank you for letting me participate in this! And I hope you really enjoy this one. :) It’s pretty light hearted. As most of you know, I will no longer post my writing on Tumblr, i’ll just be sticking to my other platforms now. If you wanna check me out i’ll be on AO3, mostly. This is my final closing. :)

The night was turning crisp, a heavy contrast to what it had been that afternoon.

It had been humid and overbearingly hot; too scorching for a late August summer.

It was around six o’clock when the temperature had dropped a sudden ten degrees. Now it was pleasant, and those that had hidden away all day in their air conditioned homes, finally decided to venture out into the cooling air.

There was an intense misconception about New York City that not many understood, not until they experienced it first hand, at least.

Sure, it was beautiful in its bright lights and air that seemed to ooze hope for everyone’s future. It gave off a vibe that made you admit, that yeah, it kind of was like the movies.

Except that it wasn’t.

From afar, it was quite the spectacular, but as you narrowed down and took a closer look, you’d see it for what it really was.

The brownstone buildings that housed the speakeasies and restaurants on the ground floor; they were beautiful, surly.

So were the homes across the streets, with their lights still on.

The streets, they were nice too.

People stood all around, greeting new friends and old ones, talking about which place they would go to next or which bar.

You liked the village. It had its pros and cons, but at the end of the day, you were glad you settled for that fifteen hundred dollar studio on the first floor.

It had a nice view of the deli and the prestigious restaurant across the street, and it was a brownstone.

Yeah, all of that was really nice.

Except when you took a closer look and realized that even the prettiest of things had its faults.

Those streets filled with smiles and laughter also had trash bags piled up every ten feet and on every corner.

Those restaurants and speakeasies - the brownstones were older so the walls outside the building were washed out, aged.

The air also had a strange, but yet addicting, smell.

It was a mixture of all the restaurants around mixed with booze.

The stairs that led down into the restaurant entrances were old and rusted.

The ATMs that lounged outside each one - because that’s right, most of them only take fucking cash - six out of ten of them were always out of service and served as nothing but mediocre décor next to the window.

Heavy graffiti lined their sides.

The doors to the restaurants were older, too. Some of them never even closed properly or were too damn heavy.

And your apartment...it was perfect.

You’d have to settle into become a minimalist to even fit your bed inside.

The flooring was also old and scratched and the walls needed a new paint job. But it wasn’t too bad. It could’ve been worst.

But you loved it.

You loved the feeling of the city around you, and you loved how you had made your new friends so easily after moving in from your old home in little ole’ Ohio.

You loved going to bed being able to hear the life outside, the laughters and sound of people making new memories and falling in love.

And those restaurants and speakeasies that looked flawed up close, they were anything but inside.

The owners were always so imaginative. The lighting was always warm, there were always people inside enjoying life and the food- in every single one of them.

Because, that’s right, all their food were good food.

New York City was beautifully flawed.

It was just what you were looking for.

You think this to yourself for the hundredth time since you moved here as you walk down the street towards a new bar you hadn’t been to yet.

You pass by locals as well as tourists and it’s nice.

You’re about to cross the street when you see a couple getting out of their little apartment.

Your heart warms as you see the man take the girl’s hand in his, both of them giggling as they prepare for a night out of making memories.

You feel your phone vibrate as you arrive to the other side of the intersection.

You hear a car horn in the distant and a nice summer breeze blow in through your hair.

You open your lock screen.

Nat

You here yet?

You quickly type away a message while also trying to avoid walking into others coming in the opposite direction as you.

You hold tighter onto your bag as it bumps into a girl, your small heels clacking beneath your feet.

You open your map to see the distance of the location and then reply back to her.

I’m a block away.

You see it from where you’re standing and it had it a decent sized line to get inside.

Budapëis

It read in white letters on the blackout windows.

You sped up a bit as you got closer, your excitement growing in your belly.

It doesn’t take much longer after you’ve been in line to realize it was actually moving pretty quickly.

A larger and dark man greets you at the entrance and you hand him your ID which he quickly scans. He gives it back to you and you thank him.

Inside the bar was loud. The people chatted away happily and the music thrummed in your bones. It was also very dark, the only light being the orange glows of the candles on some of the tables and the dimmed warm lights hanging above.

You watched as the cute male bartenders worked proficiently and sync, but also making sense to make small talk with each client as much as they could over the loud noise.

A girl says excuse me but still manages to nudge into you.

Spinning your head around, you realize there are no more seats left to sit and it makes sense why half of the people were all standing around and huddled like cattle.

Oh boy.

You feel a tug on your arm and you spin around to see Nat holding a Martini in her right hand, her left arm going in for an immediate hug.

“You made it!” She says.

“Of course!” You hope she can hear you.

She pulls away and tugs you towards her, “Come on, we’re all in the back.”

You let her lead you to the “back” which is really just a small space in the corner of the bar.

You immediately recognize Steve, Sam, and Wanda from afar.

“Oh, hey, you made it!” Steve yells, grabbing you in a tight hug.

“Hey, Y/N” “Oh, hey.” Sam and Wanda greet you.

“Hi, sorry I took a bit long. I was doing laundry.”

“Ha.” Sam snorts out loud, “come on you need a drink.” He adds.

“I will, I will —“ you dart your eyes to his own cup and point, “what’s that?”

“New York sour. Tastes like shit. Wanna try?” He says way too excitedly.

“Sure.” He hands you his glass and you take a sip.

You barely have the tip of the glass all the way out of your mouth when a body hits you on your side, making you stumble.

The drink doesn’t spill crazily, but it’s enough to get on your hand and to leave it sticky, leaving you annoyed.

You’re also not too fond of the face full of hair you just got and the elbow that keeps nudging into the side of your rips.

You stumble a few centimeters to the left, because seriously, it’s not like you have an option right now.

You look over to the girl who is now laughing and talking exceptionally loud with Nat and all your friends.

Did they really not see that?

But you wouldn’t blame them, there was barely any light in the place anyway.

If it weren’t for Sam reaching over the girl’s head to grab your glass, you’d be certain he had forgotten all about you.

You hand it back, cringing as you try not to elbow the girl in the face.

Sure, she was rude, but you weren’t going to return that sentiment.

“What’d you think, Y/N?” Sam shouts to you.

It’s then, finally, when the girl looks over at you.

She was drop dead gorgeous. At least 5’9. Her hair was a natural light brown and her eyes a piercing green.

Clearly a model trying to make it big in the city.

Her face is emotionless at first but then she attempts a smile.

You feel awkward under her gaze, awaiting an apology when Sam pulls you around.

“Come on, lets get ya something good.” He says, dragging you the bar.

You follow him until you’re at the side of the counter closest to when you first came in.

You sigh, already dreading this night, when you overhear Sam ordering two shots of tequila and two lemons.

“Me and you, y/l/n.” He says, taking the glass from the cute bartender.

Sam hands you the shot and you both countdown together before taking it simultaneously.

You chase it with the lemon, and okay yeah, you feel a little bit better.

“Glad we finally got ya out to a real bar.” Sam smiles.

You shrug.

“It’s been a while. Been busy trying to work, book places.”

“Oh, yeah, what is it that you do again?”

“I’m a singer, Sam. Whole reason I came from Ohio. Hello?”

He shoots you an infectious grin.

“I know, I’m just messing with you.”

You sigh.

Sometimes you did feel like people forgot though, especially in a city with 8 million other people trying to reach the same dream as you.

You hang around your friends for a bit longer, finally, finally getting the opportunity to wish Nat a happy birthday.

It must’ve been about an hour now later and you’re glad that one girl was gone.

Whoever she was.

“Is Bucky still coming?” Sam asks randomly out loud.

“He said he would get here as soon as he was done with his shift.” Steve mumbles, looking down at his phone, a glass filled with amber alcohol in his other hand.

“Shocked he’s taking so long. Wonder if he knows Aubrey is here.” Sam says.

“He’s an ass. And a whore. He knows.” Nat screams over to the guys.

You look over at Nat and Wanda and you see them already out of it giggling while looking at some guys’ Instagram feed.

“I’m gonna get another drink.” You announce.

“Hell yeah you are, y/l/n!” Sam yells with a wink.

Steve elbows him in the side.

“Stop peer pressuring her.” He says.

“I’m not, she just needs to let loose—“ he voice fades as you walk away.

You sigh, suddenly feeling exhausted. You contemplated ordering some fries or maybe mozzarella sticks.

You fold your arms onto the cold counter, waiting for the bartender to give you his full attention.

It takes a bit with the amount of people he’s serving along with the other bartender.

Finally he looks over at you and he smiles bright.

God, so cute.

You lean your head on your hand.

“Hi, can I have a gin and tonic?”

He taps the table top.

“Sure thing.” You watch his arms flexing as he makes your drink.

Mmm.

He slides it to you with a wink.

“You on a tab?”

You tell him Nat’s name and everything necessary and he nods.

You sip your drink, letting the music drown and numb you along with the alcohol. Your finger trails the condensation on the glass gingerly.

“Hey, man.”

A soothing voice comes up next to you, greeting the bartender.

The bartender’s face lights up.

“No, way. Finally out of his damn shell.” The bartender greets him with a over hand handshake.

You slide over to the side a bit, giving them some space.

The man next to you orders a drink, giving the bartender his card and requesting a tab.

You feel the heat of his presence as he leans on his own arms over the counter right next to you, and you can’t help smelling the delicious smell of cologne wafting off his body.

You don’t know if it’s the alcohol but you feel yourself biting on your bottom lip, and sticking your ass in the air, still dragging your hand up and down the glass.

But this time on purpose.

It doesn’t work.

You look over to take a look at the man in question and you swoon.

His dark brown hair was begging to be pulled and he had the softest of scruff on his face.

He wore a black leather jacket and jeans and shoes that looked way too expensive.

You drag your eyes back up his body to see a smirk, and fuck, he’s looking straight at you.

Those eyes. They were so blue.

You blush faintly, turning back to your glass and taking another sip.

You know he’s still there, eyes stilling lingering on you.

He takes his drink and then clears his throat.

You’re expecting him to say something when he leaves.

Your smile fades and you feel a weird emptiness. Rejection?

No that couldn’t be it.

You’re finishing your drink when your eyes drift back up to your friends.

Sam, Steve, Wanda, and Nat are all smiling.

But then Steve is smiling more and the commotion is even bigger as they spin around.

You perk a brow as you watch the man that was just next to you a few moments ago greet your friends.

Was that Bucky? The infamous asshole?

He was beautiful.

Of course he was.

You try to compose yourself before walking back over to your friends.

Sam looks at you disappointed, eyes darting to your empty hands.

“I thought you were getting a drink.”

“I already drunk it, dumbass.”

“Why drink there, drink here.”

You chuckle, your eyes darting to Bucky briefly who eyes you for a moment making a connection.

His friends were your friends too.

There was something strange the entire time, about the connection in the air between you two.

It must’ve been the alcohol. He was way out of your league.

But you didn’t understand the asshole your friends were talking about. Well, not that you really knew him that much anyway.

As you pretend to be intrigued in your conversation with Nat and Wanda, yours was actually focused on Bucky.

It’s like you both are playing a playful game of who can catch the other looking first.

You find yourself licking your lip...twirling your hair around your finger…

You swear he’s staring at your finger.

God, what was happening to you?

“Hey, babe!”

You heart Plummets into your stomach as you see the same girl from before (the one who spilled the drink on you) wrapping her arms around Bucky’s neck and oh yeah, she’s definitely sticking her tongue down his throat.

You feel your heart in your stomach and the strong taste of the gin in your mouth.

He pulls away with a moan and a slight grimace.

“Hey, Aubrey. What are you doing here?”

His hands go to her arms, prying her off of him.

“I came with a few friends and ran into yours. You haven’t been answering any of my messages.”

“Yeah, we broke up, remember?”

Everyone’s attention is now to Bucky and Aubrey as they watch their interaction.

“But come on, just one more night, one more good fuck for all times sake.”

A heavy snicker leaves your throat, but you quickly try to disguise it by pretending to wipe your mouth.

The girl’s head spins towards you and she peaking a brow at you.

She quickly ignores you and turns back to Bucky.

“Come on, Bucky.”

Bucky looks over it.

“Aubrey, Aubrey stop.” He says seriously.

She pulls back from him and they stare at each other for a moment longer before she scoffs and spins on her heel.

You turn away from the scene, suddenly needing another drink or at least some fresh air.

You settle for the latter, telling your friends you’d be right back.

You settle to lean back against the brick wall of the bar, taking in the sweet smell of a summer night.

The contrast of the silence outside felt amazing your ears, and the small amount of alcohol in your system only made it better.

You cursed yourself for being a horny little freak. But you chuckle to yourself as you pull out your phone. You couldn’t help that you needed physical attention.

You’re skimming through your emails when you feel someone next to you. You look up to see Bucky, his left shoulder leaning on the wall right next to you.

You find yourself smiling at his little smirk and you bite your bottom lip, looking away.

“You were trying to get my attention so bad before, and now you don’t want to talk?” He asks playfully.

You shake your head, but you still have a smile on your face.

You feel your cheeks grow hot.

“Wow, seriously?” “Am I wrong?”

You think about your answer as you continue to look through your emails, except at this point you were just trying to look like you were.

“No, but that was before I realized who you were.”

His smiled slides off slowly.

“What do you mean?”

You finally decide to put your phone away and you spin around to look at him, now face to face.

The look in his eyes are intense and you find yourself blushing. You knew all these things about him, but yet he had this aura about him, almost like everyone else was wrong.

Your eyes dart from his eyes and to his lips.

“Everyone keeps telling me you’re the bad guy.” You say quietly.

When he doesn’t say anything, you look back up until your eyes meet.

“Are they wrong?” He asks.

Your perk a brow at his answer.

“I—I don’t know.”

He chuckles.

“Exactly.”

You nod, pushing yourself off the wall. You take a deep breath, looking at the people on the street.

“It’s getting late, I should get going.”

Bucky nods, still not moving from his spot.

“Okay, yeah.”

You stay glued to where you are, your eyes darting back to his.

“Yeah.” You repeat back.

You watch as the tip of his tongue licks his lips. You feel the heat in your core and you feel the heavy beating in your chest.

“Do you live close by?” He asks huskily, looking over your shoulder.

____

You don’t know how it happened, but one minute he had you up against the public hallway wall of your apartment building - where literally anyone could see you - and the next he was pushing your jeans passed down your hips in your living room.

You groaned as your lips connected again, and as you pulled on his hair again.

He cursed into your lips as he cupped your center, feeling how wet you already were for him.

You whimpered as he rubbed small circles over your clit, before finally inserting his finger deep inside of you.

He pushed you down onto your bed, his left hand still fucking you. You lifted your left leg onto the bed and he groaned into your mouth as he quickened the pace of his hand.

You threw your head back, moaning.

You felt your desire quickly dissipate as he pulled away from you.

Bucky chuckled at your whine, but your disappointment was short lived as your watched him pull his shirt and jeans off.

You did the same with your own top and then your bra.

He was on you in a hot second, capturing your lips in a long kiss that had your toes curling against your blanket.

When he pulled away you were captivated by how delicious he looked. You also couldn’t help but swoon at the look he had in his eyes.

Endearment? You weren’t sure.

Your fingers trail over the side of his face as he continues to stare down at you.

“I’m not the bad guy,” he kisses you. He slides into you with a grunt, “I swear, I’m not him.” He kisses you again.

Your hook your left leg over his hip, pulling him in deeper into your hot core.

You pull away from his mouth, your left hand going down to his stomach.

“Fuck. Fuck.” You pant heavily. It felt too good too fast and you know he felt it too as he stretched his forearms on either side of your head.

A long whimper leaves his lips as he sets a faster pace, fucking you into your bed.

He almost looses it completely when he feels you reaching down to rub at your clit, your fingers hitting the base of his cock and his little hairs.

You feel your pussy tightening around him and you know you’re so damn close.

“Yeah, come on, baby. That’s it.” He coaxes you, panting desperately into the crook of your neck.

You feel the fire burning in the pit of your tummy and you know that with a few more thrusts and a few more rubs on your clit that you were done for.

The sounds in your little apartment were filthy. You could hear his hips snapping against yours and both of your groans.

He slowed down his pace as you felt yourself come undone.

“Shit, I’m cumming.” You tell him through gritted teeth, your face only millimeters from his.

He has a wicked smirk on his face and some of his sweaty strands of hair stick to his forehead.

“Me too, fuck, I’m cumming, too.” He says.

You scream as you pulse around his hard cock, not missing the way his own eyes squeeze together, a strong grunt leaving his mouth.

His hips slow down to a stop and when you open your eyes again, he’s already staring down at you.

“Nice to meet you, Bucky.” You say, running your hand through his hair.

Bucky chuckles as he leans forward to leave a kiss on your collarbone.

#bucky x reader #bucky barnes #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes smut #bucky barnes x you #bucky x oc #marvel fanfiction #mcu fanfiction #captain American fanfiction #bucky barnes fanfic #bad guy #2k challenge #allandoflimbo #alandoflimbo #my fics

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garageprojectmotorcycles · 4 years ago

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A Step in the Right Direction

The instruments said I had 7km of range left. This was going to be a problem as home was 9km away. The last 2km was downhill so maybe I would make it to the top of the hill and roll down. Setting off from Scarborough Beach in mode 1, which limited me to a top speed of 60kmh, I quickly became a mobile chicane for the traffic behind me on West Coast Highway. Flicking it to mode 2 upped my top speed to 80kmh but it'd reduce my range even further but at least I wouldn’t be a hood ornament for a Hot Rod doing bog laps of the coast road. I made the decision to remain alive and push the bike as I selected mode 2 and accelerated up to 80kmh, turning off into Trigg, a distance of 1km. According to the instruments, I had 4km of range left. I was optimistically hoping that the bikes computer would give me a false reading and keep a little bit in reserve but any hope of that faded when the instrument went from 4km left to 2km left in one foul swoop. I was still 5km from home. 2km became 1km and then as it hit 0 range the throttle became non responsive to which I instinctively started swerving left to right trying to swish the fuel around hoping it’d find a bit more. Electricity doesn’t swish about a battery apparently.

The Super Soco TC Max is a step up in performance from the Super Soco TS which is an alternative to small capacity scooters with its motor in the rear hub. With international flights a distant memory, there isn’t much to do running Himalayan Heroes so I arranged an extended test ride with MotoMax. I picked it up and headed into Leederville to meet up with mates on their ICE motorcycles. The smallest capacity was a 750cc twin so I'd need a head start if I was going to keep up on our regular Fast Friday ride. The starting procedure is easy, press the unlock button on the remote, press the power button on the tank with the side stand up and then hit the start button which is in the usual position at your right thumb. While my mates fiddled with keys, fuel taps, finding neutral and annoying the outdoor diners on the café strip as they revved their noisy dinosaurs to warm them up, I Marcel Marceau'd away into the night. Pulling up at the lights, they started revving for a traffic light drag race. I did the same and bunny hopped into the middle of the intersection…ooops. When the lights turned green, I was with them all the way for the first 4m and then they were gone. The TC Max is not the Tesla Roadster of electric bikes, taking 7 seconds to get to 60kmh. It’s about the same as a Honda Grom but while the Grom will sound like Cardi B with a $10 loud hailer from the Reject Store, the Super Soco is like an elevator fart.

The TC Max is incredibly thin and at only 100kg it was a breeze to flick between traffic and get to the front at the lights. Unlike the Super Soco TS, the motor in the TC Max is where normal motorcycles have them (and for the owners of Harleys, the answer is not “in pieces”). With no gears, your left foot has nothing to do, however your left hand is still busy as the front brake lever is where the clutch lever usually resides. The right foot also has nothing to do as the rear foot brake lever is removed and in its place is a linked front and rear brake lever at the right hand. It takes some time to get used to it but I found that I rarely used the left hand lever. I did grab it twice, once when I nearly Crutchlow’d a 90 degree left hand corner and the other when the lights changed on me while I was daydreaming I was on a MotoE bike. Brakes are good, acceleration is adequate for its intended purpose, handling is spot on and I got nods from all types of riders so it certainly looks the part.

So, is it a replacement for a motorcycle? Not its close though. It’s a replacement for a scooter or as a 2nd bike if your daily total commute is less than 70km and you don’t need to go over 80km/h. I rode the bike as I would normally on a Fast Friday ride with lots of full throttle and I made it 58km from a full charge. If I had left it on Mode 1, I would have gotten 140km before needing a charge with the top speed limited to 60kmh. Mode 2 is 90km range and limited to 80kmh which is where I would leave it until I needed to overtake a bicycle. That's when I'd flick it into mode 3 which gives you 70km range with a 95kmh top speed. You can switch between modes on the go so it’s easy enough to manage your range. Interestingly, the different modes don’t affect acceleration, only the top speed. When driving my car and the fuel gauge hits empty, I know I still have 50km of range left, when the light comes on, I have 35km left and when it starts flashing it’s time to park it in the driveway and let my wife sort it out on her way to work. Like in a car, one would quickly get used to what the numbers on the clock really mean.

The charging is a little more complicated than it needs to be. On an electric car, you plug it in and a few hours later its charged. On the TC Max, you turn the key and lift the seat, lift the tank cover, take out the glovebox tray, flick the battery lead clip off, pull the battery lead off and then plug the lead from the charger into the battery. All up it take about 30 seconds but it could be easier. At least you don’t have to ride around looking for a petrol station, waiting behind Karen who hasn't worked out that the petrol pump hose is long enough to reach the other side of the car, remove your gloves and helmet, choose your octane, get your hands covered in corona virus, run the gauntlet in the rain across the oily petrol station forecourt into the bright lights of overpriced junk food and phone chargers. You then stand in line behind grandpa who can’t remember his PIN and Wayno who orders a packet of Winnie Blues, a diet coke and a sausage roll that has been sitting there since last week before finally making it to the counter to be asked for the one loyalty card that you don’t have, all the while hoping there is enough money in your account.

While we have become accustomed to the inconveniences of ICE vehicles (refuelling, maintenance, noise and emissions), our grandkids will not fathom why we didn’t see the light earlier. The Italian manufacturer of the motorcycles used in the MotoE races – Energica, already sell a motorcycle that has hypercar acceleration, a top speed that I have never achieved and a range that is further than the vast majority of bikes. It’s not cheap of course but its early days and that will come will with time.

The TC Max is very popular with the electric motorcycle crowd, less so in the ICE motorcycle forums but I suspect that has more to do with expectations than reality. The future is bright for those that like to customise their ride, as there have already been people tinkering with the ECU to increase acceleration, top speed, continuous and momentary draw as well as regenerative braking.

While I might not have made it to the top of the hill and I might have given the TC Max a lift home on a trailer and I might have had the piss taken out of me all night by my mates, I’m excited about the future of electric motorcycles. The Super Soco TC Max is a step in the right direction.

Pros

Not having to refuel

Sound of Silence

Looks great

50c for a full charge

Cons

Limited to commuting

A little too appliance like

Can measure acceleration with a sundial

#MotoMax #TC Max #Super Soco #Electric Motorcycle #PCR #Perth Cafe Racers #Leederville #Scarborough #SuperSoco #Super Soco TC Max #Motorcycle

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space-blue · 4 years ago

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The Last Ingredient

A little bell peels in the air somewhere, comes muffled to our ears and makes me smile. It is proof that time still flows, that soon we'll return indoors, where breathing through your nose doesn't trigger a gagging reflex.

"Rachar, do you think the weather was a selling point when they decided to build our prison here?" I ask, panting.

"Totally. I can see the ad, 'atmosphere of the 6th circle of Hell, hot, humid, and thick as pudding.'"

I stare up at the ever shifting pattern of lush and exotic leaves, criss-crossing above our heads in a breeze we can see but never quite feel. Rachar, halfway through his thirty years sentence, jest as he might, is much more acclimatised than I ever wish to become.

"Don't you need my help for gathering more ingredients, Ira? I quite enjoy the rush of danger from those errands."

"No. No more errands," I say, "I only need one last ingredient, and..." I make a fluttering motion with my hand, mimic myself flying away. Free. "Soon now."

This news makes my friend stir and sit up. After three years of secretly brewing this potion, he must have thought me all talk.

"What is it, this last ingredient?"

I make a face up at him, peering into the eyes smouldering behind his own little jungle of tangled hair.

"It's something I'm not sure I can get."

"For real? But you've been so keen on escaping this whole time... Well, maybe it's for the best. Considered what they'd do to you if they catch you. I kinda like you, you know. I'd rather not see that done to you. No one gets out of here unless their time is up."

I don't know if it's respect or pity I feel surging in me when he speaks like this, him who won't rebel, won't try to escape. Who sits day after day in this green hell of a place, knowing there will be endless tomorrows made of the same infernal heat, the same corrosive dullness, the same absence of freedom. Making it out doesn't even matter. Trying is my only way to remain sane. I can't relate to his defeatism and meek acceptance. Not that it's easy to ever relate to Rachar, who was done in for running the biggest, most lethal cartel of drugs for were-animals Europe had ever seen, and killing, in his werebear form, five of the special-ops werewolves that were sent to arrest him. A sleek piece of remorseless trash, though a decent fellow one-on-one.

"Ira, you're growling."

"Sorry, mind wandered."

Rachar laughs, pats my hair with a hand monstrous enough to crush my skull in a squeeze. "Think of the future. When you finish brewing that potion of yours and pull a Shawshank over the eyes of Erikson and the crew."

"Don't go talking so loud, naming names and mentioning potions!" I sit up, unnerved. "The break is almost over."

"Ease up Ira, I'd know if anyone were around. I wouldn't let them lock you down with the bloodies either."

"Aye, like you could help it if they decided to."

Which is not the real problem. To determine the strength of new inmate magi, the prison's surgeons test the glands that secrete magica, always found in the armpits and throat. That test labelled me as a mere C-class magus, hardly a trouble to handle here. In comparison, A-class magi, like blood witches, are near impossible to catch alive. Meaning the handful of them we have in the basement make my werebear-druglord friend look like a philanthropist. They're kept with their hands in wet casts so they can't sharpen spelling tools, their teeth in moulds to keep them from biting themselves bloody. Not enviable. But people like me, with a little known organ tucked away behind the stomach, who can brew potions in their own bodies–potion being the romantic name for a magical bile–are extremely rare, and impossible to safely detain. A-class treatment wouldn't cut it. So long as I'm fed, I can always brew something annoying or even lethal to my handlers. S-class, maybe? As in Straight-to-firing-squad-class.

"Surely Erikson wouldn't let them take you away. The man is fond of you."

"Brewers are thought extinct since the mid 20th century. They'd probably dissect me, Rachar. Officers would not care for my being some guardian's pet prisoner."

"Eurk–well, I won't talk so... What's that last ingredient anyway?" His hand flies up before I can answer. "Speaking of the Devil," he mutters.

"Rachar, Ira, you two deaf? Didn't hear the second bell?"

The Devil indeed.

"Ah, Erikson. We were busy exchanging news, so much has happened since yesterday after all."

"You crazies shouldn't even be allowed to meet."

"Crazy? Nonsense, I'm a lamb."

"And I'm perfectly conscious of my actions."

"That just makes you a horrible person, Rachar."

Back in the cool bliss of air-con, I nod to him, a discrete salute I mean as an adieu, his looks are worried, but he tips me an invisible hat before turning away. So long, crazy friend. Up the stairs now, and following Erikson. Like every evening, my aisle is a mess of supernatural creatures and their supernatural gaolers, but I only have eyes for mine.

Erikson. I watch his blond head, his shoulders shifting under his miraculously crisp white shirt–what spell does the man use to keep them dry, I still wonder. By habit, I match his steps. Hateful habit, that makes my face relax, almost smile for him when he looks my way. Too long he's been my mindful captor. The man answering my calls, opening my door. The hand feeding me, the hand swiping me little things, when no one watches. He's a decent guy under the rough persona one needs to work in this jail, and I'm neck deep in Stockholm syndrome.

Erickson, for three years blind to my careful plotting. I hid it all from him, always playing the nice, reasonable lass, caught up in troubles bigger than her. Not the weirdo woman bargaining favours at every turn to obtain samples of hair, skin, blood, fabrics, spices... Stealing food, making some rot, pre-digesting others for the desired effects. Anything that might contain the ingredients my gut craves to continue its infernal distillation. Behind his broad back I've licked the walls of my cell, scratching my tongue over the lead paint till I nearly poisoned myself. It's an organic, messy trade. For three years I've brewed this concoction. Haltingly, with no known recipe, brought forth by my instinct and my need to escape, disappear, melt through walls–any will do so long as I get far away. Where Erikson won't be tearing at my mind, brushing my heart with the very fingers that turn the key in the lock of my cage.

"Ira, you're growling."

"Funny, that's the second time I've been told today." I pace down my little cell and back up to him.

"What is making you so tense?" he asks, leaning against the bars to talk with me.

Erikson. My last ingredient.

"Some internal turmoil over something I need but struggle to obtain."

"That's the point of jails."

"Aye, but smuggling doesn't usually get a magus in jail."

"You were smuggling human flesh!"

I shrug, give him a sad grin. "How would I have known? It was spelled."

He smiles back at me, a show of dimples. "Save it for the judges. Your appeal won't be delayed forever."

Erikson, who believes me when I lie. I step closer, curl my fingers around the cold steel bars. Looking up at him, I whisper, "will you miss me, when I'm gone?"

He frowns. Is it hatred, or love, festering in my pounding chest, that makes me flush and quiver as I wait for his answer?

"I'd like that; missing you. If it means you're acquitted."

The idea of missing him makes my mind trip over itself.

"I think I'd miss you too," I surprise myself saying, "but I don't think I'd like that at all."

I dive in the grey pools of his eyes, so close, like full moons pulling at the tides of my emotions. Erikson murmurs my name like a warning, but doesn't move. I'm on the tip of my toes and my fingers rubbing against the wondrous white shirt and the warm flesh behind it. His breath smells like mints and beer and magica. His lips are hot, firm but hesitant, like a cliched first kiss. His fingers are trailing my jaws, scorching my skin.

In one strong bite his blood comes gushing into my mouth. He cries, rending my heart–part free woman, part betrayer. I swallow my feelings along with coppery blood. There is a burning sensation in my guts as the last ingredient creates a chain reaction. The world dissipates in clouds of matter around me. Erikson's hands reach out but pass right through me. Through my victorious smile and my farewell nod like through a gentle wind.

I'm immaterial.

I'm free.

~~ August 2016 – Theme : Potion and elixirs

#original work #original story #competition #fantasy #magic

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stellalux-universe · 5 years ago

Text

Starry Eyes

It's rare that Tommy and Nikki get the whole apartment to themselves, no Vince, no parties, no typical rockstar shit. Just them and Nikki plans to take full advantage of that all night long.

I'm terrible at summaries guys, seriously.

This is dedicated to the lovely @the--blackdahlia, who may have mentioned something about wanting a fic where Nikki just took his time taking Tommy apart all night so long ago that she probably doesn't even remember mentioning it ~I'm sorry, it takes me forever to write anything!~

Anyway, I decided to make this a follow up to Piece of Your Action so this is set in that same universe but you don't have to read one to understand the other.

Also, I have never written slow tender sex and let me just say that it is hard as hell to write and I'm still not sure that I like how it turned out but it was good practice. Keep in mind, this NSFW af people.

Also, as usual, editing? What editing?

Hope you enjoy!

Nikki knows that people are constantly surprised by his and Tommy’s relationship.

Not the fact that they’re together, no. He’s pretty sure the entire glam metal scene sighed a collective sigh of relief that reverberated through the entire music business when they finally stopped pining and just admitted that they were idiots who definitely liked each other as way more than bandmates and friends. Two years of them being longing, annoying, frustrated morons was definitely more than enough.

No, no one was shocked when they became a couple, anyone with eyes could see their feelings for each other plain as day even if they couldn’t themselves. But people were surprised by what kind of couple they were.

Nikki gets it. They were the Terror Twins, still are. They’re wild, chaotic, they drink too much, they definitely probably do too much coke when they party, they destroy property, and get into bar fights nearly every week. Thing was, that used to be all Nikki could get. That used to be his way to be close to Tommy so that’s all there was. When Tommy had wrapped his arms around Nikki’s neck that one night six months ago, tipsy off of too much whiskey and kissed him, it had changed everything.

Nikki had him now. Tommy was his just as much as he completely belonged to Tommy, and Nikki was going to cherish every fucking moment they had. He couldn’t help but wrap Tommy in his arms whenever he could, couldn’t stop himself from pulling the drummer into his lap and pressing kisses along his shoulders, calling the younger man his baby and angel and princess. He can see the expression on people’s faces, the look of shock over just how fucking soft he gets for Tommy.

He really couldn’t give a fuck about what they think.

Tommy warms him in a way that Nikki had only ever read about in books or heard about from shitty, unrealistic movies. Every time he smiles, or pushes his way into Nikki’s arms, the bassist feels one of the many deep, dark wounds inside of him close up and heal, his drummer’s love a balm for his beaten, battered soul.

Right now was the perfect example.

It was just them tonight, a rarity this early in the evening but for once, they hadn’t felt like going out after rehearsal. Vince had taken off nearly as soon as they had wrapped up in the studio, nothing but a wave and a yelled out ‘no fucking on the couch’ as he left and Mick had been feeling tired and a bit sore so he had gone to his own place to pass out and hopefully regain some energy.

After they had gotten home they had toyed briefly with maybe going out but it was winter in Los Angeles and the minute that the first pitter-patters of rain started beating down on their windows, Nikki knew they weren’t going anywhere.

That’s how he ended up here, on his back on their beat up old couch with Tommy curled up against him, head resting on his chest under a threadbare old blanket and watching some b-flick horror movie marathon on the small television that Vince had conned from an ex-girlfriend.

He hears and feels Tommy giggle when one of the characters in the movie gets cornered by the monster after running into the basement, the sound moving through Nikki and painting a smile on his face that he couldn’t have wiped off if he tried.

“His face, dude, he’s so surprised! Like, what did he expect when he ran into the fucking basement in the dark with a monster on the loose?” Tommy is laughing into his chest, fingertips of one hand absentmindedly playing with a lock of Nikki’s hair.

“Fucking moron.” Nikki agrees with a snicker of his own as he refocuses on the movie and not the man in his arms. It lasts all of a minute before his eyes are moving back to the mess of dyed black waves that is Tommy’s hair in front of him and his arms tighten around the drummer’s slender waist.

Tommy hums contently as Nikki presses his face to the top of his head to bury his nose in his curls, “You’re not even watching baby, I thought you wanted to see this.”

“I am watching.” Nikki argues without moving from his position. Tommy’s hair smells like coconut from the shower he took when they got home, more of an attempt to get warm than to get clean.

Tommy snorts in disbelief even as he nuzzles into Nikki’s chest. He brings one hand up to point at the tv and asks, “Then what’s the name of that character?”

Nikki doesn’t even look at the television, “Sandra.”

Tommy’s body shakes in laughter and it makes Nikki’s lips curl in a smile again, pride settling in his chest that he had made Tommy laugh like that, “Yeah Nik, HIS name is Sandra.”

Nikki laughs too before they quiet down, Tommy going back to watching the movie and Nikki back to watching Tommy.

He was so beautiful, Nikki had always thought so from the first day he had set eyes on him when he still drummed for Suite 19 and Nikki was still with London. How could he have known then that the skinny kid who looked no older than seventeen would be everything he had ever wanted and more? That he would quiet the terrible voices that whispered in his head about what a failure he was with loud bubbly chatter and more physical affection than Nikki had ever received in the combined total of his life?

He couldn’t have, so maybe it wasn’t love at first sight but it was love at second sight and that was still pretty damn miraculous if you asked Nikki because he knew that he was gone for Tommy just minutes into their first conversation at that shitty little diner after his last show with London.

Nikki slides a hand to creep up under his t-shirt that Tommy is wearing. He loves when Tommy wears his shirts, Tommy may be just a bit taller than him but he is just so damn slender, Nikki’s clothes always hang loose off of his narrower shoulders and expose his collarbones in a way that shouldn’t be so distractingly sexy considering Nikki sees his lover in skin tight leather and fishnets on a regular basis. But it is and Nikki prescribes it to his own possessive nature, something about Tommy in his clothing satisfying a primal urge to lay claim to his boyfriend.

He rests his hand on the warm smooth skin of Tommy’s lower back and lights up inside at the shiver he gets when he starts rubbing his thumb back and forth over the dip that his spine makes.

Tommy shifts against him and Nikki almost stops his petting but Tommy whines and the bassist continues his motions as Tommy speaks again, “I bet you’d do well in a horror movie baby, you’d definitely survive I think.”

“You think so?” Nikki murmurs, lips pressing kisses into Tommy’s hair.

“Mmm-hmm. You’d be the hero left at the end, alive after kicking some monster ass.”

Nikki laughs before smiling deviously, “You’d die in like the first ten minutes.”

“HEY!” Tommy twists in his hold and moves to straddle Nikki’s hips, face full of a mock offended expression and Nikki’s hands rest on his thighs like they were pulled there by magnets.

The lights are off in their apartment but the glow from the black and white movie on the television is enough to light Tommy up. Nikki is sentimental enough right now to momentarily think that’s because light is just drawn to Tommy, no matter the source it reaches out to bathe the younger man in its glow, as if it can sense Tommy’s own light inside of him.

“I’ll have you know Sixx that I would last until at least half way through.” Tommy says with indignation coloring his voice.

Nikki smiles wide again as he looks up at the drummer, “So even you admit you wouldn’t survive.”

Tommy sighs sadly, “Yeah, I’d die. I would be the tragic death that no one wants but pushes the hero to survive. You know, if I didn’t die doing something fucking stupid first.”

Nikki smiles as Tommy chuckles at himself a little bit, “Nah, you’d live babe.”

The drummer leans forward, hands on Nikki’s chest to support himself and the way the t-shirt he’s wearing slips to one side and nearly falls off of his shoulder, his curls slipping to frame his face just so, big brown eyes sparkling in the light of the television, it all combines together to create Nikki’s own personal vision of heaven.

“Even I know I’d die Nik but thanks for the support.” Tommy grins and leans down to rub his nose against Nikki’s in a small affectionate gesture and Nikki is sure that he doesn’t know just how much little things like that make his heart beat out of his chest, fill him with a warmth that is so contrasting to his previous chill that it’s almost painful as it spreads through him.

Tommy has always done things like that though. Even before they finally got together, even when they had just met and were still getting to know each other. The drummer is a physically affectionate person in general and he’s always hugging and touching people but he was always just so soft with Nikki. He was constantly cuddling into Nikki’s side and laying his head on Nikki’s shoulder and pressing a kiss to his cheek, almost as if he could sense how little Nikki had been touched like that in the past and made it his personal mission to remedy that.

It used to drive him crazy back when they still hadn’t admitted their feelings to each other. Because Nikki was sure that those little touches meant so much more to him than they did to Tommy. Now though, they drive him crazy in a different way.

Tommy backs away just a little bit, still only a few inches away from him and Nikki knows that he must be looking at Tommy with his ‘forever’ eyes. That’s what Tommy calls them, says that sometimes Nikki will look at him like he’s planning their next one hundred years together. He always knows when he’s looking at Tommy like that because Tommy gets this answering softness in his own gaze.

Nikki raises a hand off of Tommy’s thighs to cup the side of his face, fingers pushing into the curls slightly to keep them back, smiling softly when Tommy presses into his touch, “You wouldn’t die babe, because I’d never let anything happen to you. That monster can kiss my ass.”

The smile that slowly spreads across Tommy’s face absolutely takes Nikki’s breath away. How many lyrics has that smile inspired him to write? How many songs that will probably never make it to the public but that he hums to Tommy in bed were inspired by that expression? Nikki could make more platinum records than any artist in history, he could play to the biggest crowd in the world, could make it into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame, but he would never be as proud as when he puts that look on Tommy’s face.

He uses the hand on Tommy’s cheek to pull him forward and presses their lips together in a short, sweet kiss. Nikki feels Tommy’s quiet gasp against him before the drummer is breaking their kiss to run his lips against Nikki’s jaw.

“My hero.” Tommy breathes out against his skin as Nikki drags his other hand over Tommy’s hip and underneath his shirt to pet at the soft warm skin of his waist.

“I’m hardly a hero, angel.” Nikki means it. The things that he’s done in his life hardly qualified him for such a position. There’s a darkness in him, maybe it was always there or maybe it was planted by his childhood, watered and grown by the early events of his life but whatever the case, Nikki can’t even begin to see himself in such a light.

“You are to me Nik, leather and chains and tattoos and all. My punk hero.” Tommy says it so earnestly, staring into his eyes with that tender expression that makes Nikki understand what Tommy means by ‘forever eyes’.

Nikki pulls him in for another kiss, firmer this time but still slow, just a press of their mouths against each other until he sneaks his tongue out to lick gently at Tommy’s bottom lip. The drummer opens up for him immediately, without hesitation, and Nikki reaches his tongue inside Tommy’s mouth to taste him. He could never get tired of this, of the way Tommy feels under his hands, under his mouth, could never tire of the taste of him on his tongue.

He feels a subtle tremor move through Tommy’s body as he curls his tongue around the younger man’s and he hears the whine that Tommy makes high in his throat. They have so many speeds to their relationship and when they fuck, both typically favoring the type of all-out throw down where they both lose control nowadays. Nikki knows that Tommy loves it when Nikki dominates him, when he fucks him hard and fast and barely gives him any time to recover before wrecking him all over again but he knows his lover so well. He knows that Tommy might love to get ruined, but nothing gets Tommy whining faster than when Nikki takes him apart slowly and that’s what Nikki wants right now. He wants the drummer falling apart under him in a way that makes Tommy feel every ounce of love that Nikki possesses for him.

Nikki moves the hand he has on Tommy’s face to sweep back and cradle the back of his head, fingers twisting in his curls, keeping him steady as he sits up so that Tommy is seated in his lap, not once breaking the contact of their lips as he continues to map out the drummer’s mouth. Tommy is whining louder for him now and when Nikki pulls back to catch his breath, the sound becomes unmuffled and it has Nikki surging forward to press kisses up and down the column of Tommy’s throat as the drummer buries his hands in Nikki’s hair.

“I love you Tommy,” Nikki breathes out against the skin of Tommy’s neck, determined to kiss every square inch of his body before the night is over, “Love you so fucking much angel, you got no idea.”

Tommy slides his hands from Nikki’s hair down to smooth over his neck and shoulders before cupping his bassist’s face in both hands and kissing him again, “I love you too Nik, god I love you baby.”

Nikki runs his hands over every plane and curve of Tommy’s body before settling on his hips and lower back, rubbing at the small of his back in a way that spreads heat through Tommy’s hips and makes him moan against the bassist’s lips, grinding down against where he can feel Nikki’s erection through their underwear beneath him. Nikki continues to pet at the warm skin as Tommy rocks his hips softly against him, little moans and gasps escaping his lips until he presses a kiss to Nikki’s ear, “Take me to bed Nik, I want to feel it, wanna feel how much you love me.”

The bassist can’t do anything but obey, wrapping his arms around Tommy’s waist and standing, blanket falling away as the drummer wraps his legs around Nikki’s hips and reconnects them in a kiss. Nikki’s feet take them to their bedroom by muscle memory, his eyes closed to savor the pure feeling of Tommy’s lips against his own, the sounds of his pleasure over the soft rain fall on their windows. They won’t be here for much longer, soon they’ll be picking out a house of their own and Nikki will have to relearn his way through it without the use of his eyes because the thought of separating himself from Tommy for even a moment while they’re like this is unbearable.

For now though he gets them into their room without any issue, not bothering to shut the door since Vince won’t be home tonight. He leans far enough over the bed to gently lay Tommy down before straightening back up and moving to grab a bottle of lube from on top of their dresser and pulling off his shirt and underwear easily, mindful of Tommy’s wanting brown eyes watching him.

He sees Tommy go to follow his lead and grab at the hem of his own shirt so he moves to settle in between Tommy’s legs and grabs the drummer’s hand, setting the lube next to them before taking Tommy’s other hand as well and pressing them both to the bed on either side of his head, dipping down to kiss him deep and devouring.

“Just stay there angel, I’m gonna take care of you.” Nikki presses one more kiss to Tommy’s lips before he sits back on his knees and takes Tommy’s left ankle in his hands, bringing it up to rest on his shoulder and turning his face to kiss at the bone before slowly moving his lips up his calf.

Tommy takes a shuddering breath as he feels Nikki’s lips on him and sighs his name, “N-nikki.”

His tone of voice makes Nikki pause and exhale shakily himself at the raw emotion filling his heart right now, “I’ve got you baby.”

He continues his path and stops to suck at the thin skin behind Tommy’s knee, delighting in the twitch Tommy’s hips make and the whimper he releases before he moves up further to kiss and suck at the soft skin of Tommy’s inner thigh.

“Oh god Nikki, please… please just hurry.” Tommy moans as he squirms and arches in Nikki’s hold.

Nikki places a firm hand on Tommy’s hip to keep him down and still, nipping sharply at a spot on his thigh in reprimand, “Not tonight angel, I’m taking my time tonight.”

Tommy whines as he tries to push closer to Nikki’s mouth but the bassist just moves to the other leg and gives it the same treatment going down. The drummer is trembling by the time Nikki gets down to his right ankle and the bassist would normally take mercy on him at this point but he’s too caught up in Tommy right now to even consider hurrying this along. Instead he just slides his hands back up Tommy’s legs and starts pushing the t-shirt up so he can suck and nibble on Tommy��s hipbones, fingers sneaking under the material to tweak and rub at Tommy’s nipples.

The drummer’s legs are spreading wider automatically and shaking on either side of him, back arched and hips rolling up against nothing as he whimpers and calls out for him so sweetly.

Nikki places a few simple kisses to the skin underneath Tommy’s belly button as he skims his fingertips down his waist until he’s gripping the material of Tommy’s underwear, leaning back to watch as he pulls them away, the drummer’s legs coming back together to let him slip them down before promptly spreading open again once they’re off.

Nikki groans at that, Tommy is always so open, so wanton in bed that it never fails to drive him crazy. Looking at him now, face and shoulders flush, curly hair messy, eyes hooded and dazed as they stare into Nikki’s and long legs spread for him, Nikki swears that he has never seen anything so fucking beautiful.

He lets Tommy pull him down when the drummer’s hands find his shoulders, ducking to kiss him again as he slides his hands underneath Tommy’s body and clutches his close. Tommy wraps his legs around Nikki’s waist again and the bassist hisses when the drummer rolls his hips up against his. He knows what Tommy is trying to do, knows that he’s trying to goad Nikki into going faster, into just fucking him already but Nikki isn’t going to fall for it.

The bassist breaks free of Tommy’s hold and gently turns him over onto his stomach, pushing his shirt up and keeping Tommy’s hips pinned down as he presses his lips to the top of his spine.

“Nikki, nngh, baby, please, you’re killing me.” Tommy whines as Nikki moves his mouth down the length of his back and the older man can’t help but smirk against his skin when a rough suck midway down his spine has Tommy moaning and pushing his ass up against his hold. The further down his back Nikki gets the louder Tommy moans and when he pulls the younger boy’s hips up to settle him on his knees and sucks harshly at the base of his spine above his tailbone Tommy whines so loud and high pitched he surprises even himself.

“I’m getting there angel, gonna make you feel so good Tommy, I promise.” Nikki runs his hands reverently over Tommy’s ass, gripping both cheeks in his hands and spreading him apart delicately. Tommy is panting below him, hands fisted in the sheets of their bed and Nikki moans himself as he leans in to lick over his lover’s entrance.

Tommy lets out a surprised yelp, arches his back and spreads his legs further and the motion sends heat rushing through Nikki’s abdomen, encourages him to lick another wet stripe over the rim before firming his tongue up and slipping it inside.

He loves eating Tommy out, it’s honestly one of his favorite things to do because Tommy responds so beautifully, whatever tenuous control he had before completely leaving him and the high gasping keens he makes drive Nikki insane. Nikki thrusts his tongue in and out of Tommy, making sure to curl it up and rub as hard as he can against the walls of his hole, reveling in the scream Tommy lets out.

Nikki has never had a lover that drove him like this. Before Tommy, sex was purely for his benefit, of course he wanted his partner to feel good but that was secondary to his own pleasure. With Tommy it’s completely flipped. He couldn’t care less if he ends up coming after this, all that matters to him is making Tommy feel as good as he can because seeing Tommy in pleasure, seeing him come because of Nikki is more satisfying than any orgasm he has ever had with anybody else.

Nikki pulls back to catch his breath and watches lustfully as Tommy’s hips squirm in his hold and his entrance clenches around nothing. He leans forward and presses kisses and nips to Tommy’s cheeks as he lets go, reaching out to grab the lube and slicking up his fingers before pressing one inside slowly.

Tommy gives him a satisfied moan and then releases one fist to reach back for him and Nikki bends over to press his chest to his back and threads his fingers through the back of Tommy’s hand, pressing it back down to the mattress and capturing his mouth in a deep kiss, all the while thrusting his finger into him, adding a second slick digit when Tommy starts pushing his hips down onto it.

Tommy breaks their kiss to gasp as Nikki’s two fingers stretch him out and the bassist presses his forehead to Tommy’s temple, the air between them warm from the drummer’s panting breaths and Nikki basks in the intimacy.

“Nikki!” Tommy keens loudly suddenly, eyelids fluttering over those pretty brown eyes that Nikki so adores, hips stuttering and walls clenching around his fingers tightly. Nikki knows that he must have hit Tommy’s prostrate so he keeps that same angle as he drives in again with three fingers this time and Tommy collapses, chest to the bed and face buried in the pillow as he sobs from the pleasure.

Nikki releases Tommy’s hand and carefully tilts his head to the side so he can kiss the drummer’s cheek. He’s painfully hard now, throbbing with need as he feels how tight Tommy is around his fingers, as he watches his lover falling apart beneath him, more drunk off of Tommy’s whines and whimpers than any liquor could get him.

“Nikki, N-nik please, I-i need more, please baby.” Tommy moans as Nikki bites gently at his earlobe, fingers still curling up against that spot that makes his toes curl.

Nikki breathes out a shaky breath, “Tell me what you want baby, I’ll give it to you, always. Give you anything you could ever want Tommy.”

Tommy whimpers again, one hand reaching up behind him to tangle in Nikki’s hair, “You, Nikki, I want you, baby I want you inside me, please.”

Nikki groans, pulling his fingers out and kissing Tommy’s cheek again to soothe him when he whines at the loss of fullness, “Anything for you Tommy.”

The bassist runs his hands down the length of Tommy’s back and grips his hips, turning him onto his back, settling between his legs and sighing when Tommy’s hands find his face. Nikki stares into Tommy’s eyes and sees everything, everything that he never thought that he would have staring back at him. The pure, unconditional love shining in Tommy’s bright brown eyes steals the breath right out of lungs, beckons him in a way that’s impossible for him to resist. He curls one hand into Tommy’s curls as he surges forward to kiss him, his other hand holding on to his cock as he pushes forward into Tommy.

Nikki watches as Tommy tosses his head back, a shuddering moan escaping him as Nikki bottoms out while the bassist rests his weight on his forearms on either side of Tommy, pressing his mouth against the drummer’s throat as he pants and tries to catch his own breath.

Being inside of Tommy is unlike anything else. The pleasure is one thing, Tommy is hot and tight around him, it makes him dizzy with how absolutely good it is, leaves him wanting it all the time. But it’s more than that with his drummer, it’s the idea of them being connected, it’s how Nikki only feels whole when he is a part of Tommy like this, cradled inside of him, home.

Nikki feels Tommy bring his shaking legs up to wrap around his waist and the younger man uses that leverage to roll his hips up, sending Nikki deeper into him and making him gasp out, “Move, Nikki, need you to move now.”

One of Nikki’s hands next to Tommy’s head sinks into his hair and the other travels down his body to grip the outside of his thigh as he pulls out slowly enough to feel every inch of Tommy’s walls around him, pushing back in just as slowly to feel how he opens up to him, groaning as the drummer mewls, hands coming up to clench around Nikki’s back and keep him close.

Nikki rolls his hips languidly between Tommy’s legs, fucking him deep and slow, savoring every gasped moan, every loud cry when Nikki hits his prostrate, every sob when Nikki grinds his hips between thrusts.

He picks up his pace just a little, one arm releasing his grip on Tommy’s thigh to wrap around his lower back and lift his hips so that he’s at a perfect angle to slide right into the spot that makes Tommy see stars.

Tommy moans loud and long, fingertips pressing into the muscle of Nikki’s back and pulling the man on top of him down to press their lips together in what cannot technically be defined as a kiss, both too far gone to do more than pant and moan against each other’s mouth.

A particularly deep thrust has Tommy gasping and clenching even tighter around Nikki’s cock and the bassist hangs his head and grunts as a wave of pure pleasure washes over him, squeezing Tommy’s lower body even closer to him. Tommy’s fingers sink into his hair and card through the strands frantically as he presses kisses to Nikki’s forehead.

“Nikki, oh god… so good baby,” Tommy whimpers against his skin, pushing back against the bassist’s thrusts as well as he can with Nikki’s hold on him, “You love me so good Nik, please don’t stop.”

Nikki breaths sharply through his nose as Tommy talks, his words lighting him on fire like they always do and Nikki wraps his other arm around Tommy’s shoulders tightly, straightening up so he’s kneeling with Tommy held up in his arms and straddling his lap. Gravity drags Tommy down onto his cock and forces him deeper and the feeling of Tommy surrounding him is overwhelming to the point of incoherency as he thrusts up into his drummer, making Tommy throw his head back and wail, rolling his hips down without even thinking about it.

Nikki rests his head against Tommy’s shoulder as he drives into him over and over, mouthing over his sweat slicked skin and barely aware of what he’s saying as he whispers out praises, “My beautiful angel, so sweet baby. Can’t believe you’re mine, absolutely blows me away, are you close baby, shit, I’m so close, you feel so fucking good Tommy.”

Tommy nods desperately as he continues to moan, tears filling his eyes and one sliding down his cheek at the pleasure and emotion overpowering him.

“I’m close, nngh, god I’m close Nik. Wanna come with you, make me come with you, please.” Tommy’s pleas may as well be commands because Nikki is sliding his hand from the drummer’s shoulders to slip between them and grasp Tommy’s cock, jerking him off in time to his thrusts as Tommy cries out, more tears escaping his eyes.

It only take a few slides of Nikki’s hand and another deep thrust inside of him to make Tommy come, the way the drummer’s mouth falls open to whisper Nikki’s name so brokenly and the way his hole contracts around Nikki drags the bassist right along with him. His hands grasp on to Tommy to hold him close, groaning at the bliss that envelops him as he spills his release into him.

Nikki holds on to him as they tremble from the force of their orgasms, pressing kisses to Tommy’s collarbones that are exposed by the shirt he’s still wearing as he listens to the quiet little whimpers Tommy makes with his aftershocks.

He feels Tommy running his hands through his damp hair absentmindedly and sighs when the drummer cradles his head against his shoulder.

“Nikki Sixx, you better not ever fucking leave me because you’ve ruined me for anyone else, Jesus.” Tommy sounds exasperated, but so damn fond and satisfied that Nikki grins.

“Gotta keep you hooked baby, I’m trying to keep you forever here you know.” Nikki leans back, cupping Tommy’s face and rubbing a tear streak away with his thumb.

Tommy smiles, dipping down to kiss him briefly, “I’m never going anywhere Nik, not if I can help it. Except if a monster is after us then I’m out of here because we both know that I would die in no time doing something dumb like throwing a whiskey bottle at it or something.”

They both laugh at that and the movement jolts Tommy in his lap enough to make Nikki moan and start to harden again, the drummer gasping at the feeling of the bassist stretching him as he grows, “Fuck, already Nik?”

Nikki smirks, “I already told you didn’t I baby?”

Tommy yelps as Nikki lays him down and rolls his hips into him, pressing forward to whisper in his ear, “I’m taking my time with you tonight.”

The drummer moans at that, “Forget the monster, you’re definitely going to be the death of me Sixx.”

Nikki laughs giddily before capturing Tommy’s lips is a ravenous kiss, intent on showing his angel how much he loves him for the rest of the night.

#motley crue #motley crue fanfic #terrorcest #terror twins #tommy/nikki #nikki sixx #tommy lee #vince neil #mick mars #just more smut guys #i dont know why youre so surprised #thats literally all i write lol

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brownhardyho · 5 years ago

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Roommates - Part Four (1st half)

Ben X Reader roommate collab series

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

A/N: I’M BAAACK! Y’all I’m so sorry it took me so freaking long to finally write this! Life has been a lil crazy, but I really hope this was worth the wait!

(P.S the reason why I split Part 4 into 2 parts is because it’s been a HOT minute since I wrote a Ben fic and I’m one wordy bitch and have a new found appreciation for suspense. K BAIII)

So this series is the brainchild of mine and @wanderlustandsmut’s shared frustration of Ben muthafuckin Hardy. Honest to God, we basically talk daily about Ben so we took this concept to the next level and decided to write about it! Previous parts have been linked above, hope you all enjoy!

Premise: Ben X Reader are roommates and childhood friends…What happens when their mostly platonic relationship turns sexual??

Warnings: Fluff, a lil smutty goodness

Word Count: 2,234 (she’s long fam)

With the heavy bass of Saweetie’s summer anthem My Type lowly pounding on the walls of you and Ben’s humble abode, you bob your head to the catchy beat as you make your way across your room to get your outfit of the night. The excitement of having a date tonight was strong enough to damper your stay in tendencies, work has kept you very busy recently and Ben had been away for a month doing interviews and attending fashion shows. It had been a couple weeks since you and Ben’s intimate romp on the couch and you had not gotten any since (so to speak). So to say that you were excited to go out tonight was a bit of an understatement.

Even though you hadn’t seen Ben in person for a while, it’s not like you haven’t been in touch. Quite the opposite actually; you both text each other almost everyday, sending each other funny memes and reminders, because that’s obviously what roommates do!

Slipping on your favorite red lacy bralette and thong set, you smooth on your warm coconut scented lotions across your freshly washed body. With the potential of actually getting laid tonight, you were not playing around. Just as you were about to put the new black body con dress, your thoughts were interrupted by the ping alert on your phone. Clicking it on and glancing down at who sent you the message, your face falls into a frown immediately when you read the words:

So sorry to do this, but something came up and I have to cancel on dinner tonight! Let’s take a raincheck?

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” you exasperate out loud, feeling severely annoyed at the situation. You had met this guy on Bumble a few weeks prior, and really hit it off. The guy had pursued you first by initiating the conversation. You both had similar tastes in music and travel and even talked about pet peeves. This guy already knew you had no patience for people that wasted your time so the fact that he pulled this shit on you more than peeved you.

“Boy bye! You are cancelled!” You say to yourself as you delete his number from your phone, not feeling guilty at all for ghosting him. With the slight disruption to your night plans, you turn up the volume of the music and dance your way into the kitchen, your mind set on making brownies, cuz what better way to spend a night in than wearing lingerie, dancing carelessly, while making sweet treats?

The brownie batter was made in record time, with the recipe ingrained into your mind and the sheer determination of living your best life powering the night, you were on a roll and you showed no signs of slowing down.

Balancing the pan with the brownies in your hands, you swayed your hips to the beat of the tempo, squatting lower to the ground to place said pan into the preheated oven. You shut the oven door, singing along to the song, turning around eyes widening in pure surprise.

You are greeted to the sight of Ben, looking especially gorgeous in a pink suit and a white shirt. His blonde hair seemingly longer since you last saw him in person, slightly disheveled from his habit of running his hands through his hair. Despite looking tired, with how busy his travel schedule was, Ben looked absolutely content with finally coming home, especially to a sight he had only dreamt of: you dancing in nothing but lingerie. In his eyes, you embodied all that it means to be devastatingly sexy and cute all at once.

“Holy shit! Ben I almost shat myself!” You shout breathlessly, slapping Ben’s shoulder “A lil announcement would have been nice.”

“Well, hello to you too love,” Ben laughed, his sea foam green eyes quickly tracking over your appearance before settling on your eyes “I thought you had a date tonight?”

“Nooope,” you reply, hopping on the counter and rolling your eyes in annoyance. “He talks me up these paste few weeks and then cancels without even explaining himself! What kind of guy even does that?” you huff, unconsciously pouting your lips and making Ben feel things in the process.

“Clearly, a guy that doesn’t deserve you,” Ben responds, shedding his pink suit jacket, draping it on the kitchen table and making his way over to you, stopping in between your legs. “It’s his loss, love.”

“I know, it’s just frustrating sometimes when a guy knows damn well he isn’t ready and will continue to convince you to waste your time on him!” you rant, venting your frustrations to your blonde best friend.

Ben nods understandingly and comes in for one of his ever famous bear hugs. If there’s one thing about Ben that’s trademark, it’s that he’s a tactile person. Physical touch is basically one of his love languages and not just in a sexual sense. Throughout your long friendship, it wasn’t uncommon for Ben to cuddle next to you on the couch during a movie marathon. And in the reverse, you didn’t hesitate to cuddle next to him and he would gladly wrap his arm around your shoulder.

“Feel better?” Ben mumbles into your hair right before you break away from his warm embrace.

“Much!” you smile, a smirk playing your lips “Now go shower, you stink!”

“Hey now! You can’t blame me, I just got off the plane!” Ben exclaims, lightly smacking your bare thigh. “Movie and brownie sesh?”

“As if you have to ask!” you chuckle, hopping off the counter to check on the brownies. It was tradition for you both to gorge on brownies and watch a movie when Ben came back from long work trips.

Ben turns around and fetches his jacket from the table before making his way to the bathroom. You can’t help but admire the way his arm and back muscles glide under the snug fit of his white tee shirt. As if on cue, Ben calls out, “take a picture it’ll last longer!” before turning around and looking at you from the hallway.

“Oh dear lord, why would I do that now that you’re back home!” you stick your tongue out, silently trying to calm your mind that Ben caught you practically gawking at him. How in the world did he even know?! He was turned away from you for gods sake!

Not too long after, the timer goes off and you retrieve the brownies, basking in the sweet chocolatey aroma that fills the kitchen. You let the brownies cool off while you go off to the living room to pick the movie of the night. My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Can’t go wrong with a classic, you thought to yourself. And it’s been a while since you’ve watched it.

“Ben! These brownies aren’t gonna eat themselves!” you call out, lounging horizontally on the couch, the plate of brownies sitting on your stomach. “I swear to God, you take freaking long showers. It baffles me sometimes that-“ the beginning of your small rant cut short at the sight of a freshly showered Ben, his blonde hair still damp, and his toned chest on display as he was only wearing boxers.

“That what, love?” Ben smirks at you, knowing exactly how his current appearance is affecting you.

“..nothing,” you mumble, feeling the heat rise in your cheeks, pulling yourself up to sit down next to Ben, handing over the plate of brownies.

You both started watching the movie and Ben didn’t tease you during it. Thankfully, the funny and relatable antics of the movie put a pause to the sexual tension and you were both laughing along to the film in no time.

Sighing in content, you place the plate with the small remainder of brownies on the coffee table and settle back to your spot next to Ben. When you turn around to look at your roommate, you can’t help but smile because your eyes are welcomed with the sight of a knocked out Ben, head tipped back, mouth slightly open with soft snores starting to escape. Poor guy, you thought to yourself leaning over his body carefully, as to not wake him, to grab the blanket.

Right as your hand made its way to the soft fabric, Ben let out a groan causing you to lose your balance and fall right on his lap. Luckily, a pillow was atop his lap before, thus providing a cushioned barrier to soften your fall.

“Ooof!” you mumble out, slightly freaking out because of the awkward positioning and the fact that just a pillow currently separates your chest from Ben’s crotch.

“Woah woah,” Ben’s groggy, deep voice interrupts your thoughts “If you wanted me that bad, you could have just said so love!”

“You are so so full of yourself Ben!” you exasperate, going on to explain the situation “I didn’t want you to get cold..” your eyes gesture to the blanket that’s still in your hand. His emerald eyes tracked yours and suddenly his hands grasped your body and pulled you on his lap. You settled your arms around his broad shoulders to keep your balance and he settle his arms around your hips in response, his fingers softly teasing at the lace of your panties.

“There, now I won’t get cold. Body heat does more than blanket ever will!” he smiles, his eyes seemingly looking into your soul, as if to reassure you that this won’t change your relationship.

“Hmm,” you sigh, adjusting your position on his lap, consciously testing out the waters of this sexually charged atmosphere. “I missed you, Ben.”

“And I missed you too, peaches,” Ben hums into your neck, reveling in the feeling of your warm body pressed up against his. Even though you were just sitting on his lap, the feeling of you being in his arms felt so damn right, so natural, so effortless.

His soft lips eventually made their way against your jawline and you hummed in delight, shift your hips slowly on top of his lap. It wasn’t too long after that you started to feel him getting hard and you could help but silently scream in your head.

“Already, Ben?” you smirk, tilting his chin up from your neck so you could look at him.

“Love, don’t be so surprised,” Ben explains, his cheeks becoming rosy. “You could be wearing just a burlap sack and I’d be ready to go in a second! You. Are. Stunning.” He emphasizes those last three words with firm kisses to each of your collarbones and the last one smack on your lips. Your lips latch on to his and all is right in the world. He sucks on your lower lip, silently asking permission to deepen the kiss and you happily oblige. This makeout session is getting hotter and hotter by the second, your hands exploring each other’s bodies. No words are exchanged, only actions.

“Oh Ben,” you moan aloud throwing your head back, in return pushing your décolletage closer to his lone of vision. Ben groans in appreciation and dives right in, placing wet kisses all over.

“You are so beautiful, love,” Ben murmurs lowly, his hands trailing down the cur of your hips, settling down on the round globes of your glutes, squeezing them. “Wet already?” he says, as he feels your drenched panties grinding on his hard cock. Truthfully, he just wants to undress already and finally feel your naked core against him.

“Ben, don’t be so surprised,” you laugh, lightly mocking his previous statement. “I was wet the moment I saw you in that pink suit!”

“I should wear it more often then,” he thinks aloud, shifting his hips up to meet yours, causing your eyes to roll back in pleasure.

“Ben, take me to bed please,” you say, letting your desire and emotions out in the open.

A small part of you was advising against this because going all the way with Ben, your best friend and roommate, could change the dynamic between the both of you. But, a bigger part of you and your gut was telling you to take that leap into the unknown, because oh honey, what if it turns out good, amazing even? That was a possibility that you were definitely willing to take that risk.

“Whatever the lady desires,” Ben says softly, his beaming up at you. What you didn’t know yet was that Ben wanted this too. “Wrap your legs around me peaches, I got you.”

With your arms and legs wrapped around this Adonis of a man, Ben walks you both to his room and sets you down gently on his plush bed. You go to take your bra off, but Ben stops you.

“Can I do it, please?” he whispers softly, his eyes pleading with yours.

“Oh yes!” you nod frantically. “Why are you whispering?”

“Because I don’t want this to go away, this all feels like a dream that I don’t want to wake up from,” Ben confesses, and your heart just breaks a little because you’ve never seen him so vulnerable and that’s saying a lot considering that you’ve known him for most of your life.

“Ben, look at me,” you say, bringing his hand to your chest so he can feel how fast your heart is beating. “Feel that? This is real.”

Taglist: @rogershamsandwich @big-deak-energy @rrrogah-tayluhh @hardzzellos @prettylittlegoldfish @queeniebean01@yourebeyondperfect @ramibaby @anikatcmh @shannonlxto@shreyuhhstudies @libita @orchideax @meowmeow230 @devil-in-those-eyes @luvborhap @ixchel-9275 @caborhapch @qweenly

#ben hardy #ben hardy fic #ben hardy smut #ben hardy fanfic #ben hardy fanfiction #ben hardy imagines #ben hardy x reader #ben hardy x you #fic series #ben hardy fluff #Roommates fic #wanderlustandsmut X brownhardyho collab

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susanrdubois69 · 6 years ago

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Best Under Sink Water Filter 2019 – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

If you want to install the best under-sink water filter, this following post is for you. Here we will reveal everything about the top products available on the market. Also, we will discuss the reasons why using this system is necessary for your fresh drinking water. We’re sure that after reading this, you can easily make the right decision about the suitable model for your home.

7 Best Under-sink Water Filter Systems 2019

#1: Home Master TMAFC-ERP Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System – Best Rated

If you need an efficient and durable filter together with a pure-water/waste-water ratio of 1:1, you should consider the Home Master TMAFC-ERP Artesian instantly. Made in the USA with NSF standards, you’re guaranteed to get enough healthy and great-tasting drinking water. Also, this product gets a 5-year warranty if something goes wrong. Although its high price is a BIG problem for those with a limited budget, we’re sure it’s worth every penny. The package of this under-sink water filter includes an RO membrane, filters, a tank for pure water storage, a drain saddle, an adapter, fittings, and even a faucet. All these things are necessary to give you alkaline-free water for the kitchen. And with a modular “all-in-one” design, it prevents biofilms and microorganisms from building up, reducing the leaks. The filters of the TMAFC-ERP system last longer than any traditional RO ones. That means you don’t need to replace it frequently, just once a year or every 2,000 gallons. One more excellent point that we want to mention is the massive 7-stage filtration. The impure water will go through all the filters in the system. Then it’s added calcium and magnesium minerals twice by the Full Contact Technology. That’s why you will get the most refreshing and refined drinking water. And in case you still worry about installing this product, please STOP because it’s quite simple. Make sure you follow the instructions carefully, and the installation process takes only about 50 minutes. But if you’re not sure of your ability, it’s okay to ask for the support of a plumber.

PROS

Gives great-tasting drinking water

Fast flow with the pump

Low ratio of water waste

Easy to install and change filters

A full package with a faucet included

Made in the USA

Long warranty (5 years)

CONS

A bit pricey compared to other products in this list

Some dislike the loud noise from the pump

#2: Woder 10K-Gen3 Ultra High Capacity Direct Connect Water Filtration System – Budget Pick

For the best taste of safe, pure water with the least high price, the Woder 10K-Gen3 is the excellent water filtration system at this time. Thanks to Woder’s unique filtration technology, 99.99% of contaminants will be removed. Relying on that, you will get pure, safe water for your family, instead of bad tastes and odors. As its name suggests, the filtration capacity is up to 10,000 gallons or a minimum of 3 years before replacing. And remember to use only cold water, not warm water or well-water to ensure its durability. Of course, installation is simple. As long as you get enough components and instructions, all will be done under 5 or 10 minutes. When it comes to the flow rate, there are some complaints about its slowness. Although the manufacturer affirms that the water flow rate is 2 gpm, what you get is about 0.8 gpm. Overall, the Woder 10K-Gen3 can give you clean and refreshing drinking water from the tap. With a reasonable price and lots of positive comments from users, you won’t go wrong if the budget is your top consideration.

PROS

Water tastes great, no chlorine

Durable filters

No plumbing required

Simple to install

Affordable price

CONS

Slow flow rate, not as expected

Some find that it doesn’t last up to 3 years as advertised

#3: CuZn UC-200 Under Counter Water Filter – Long Filter Life

One of the significant advantages of using the CuZn UC-200 is its long-lasting filters. This filtration capacity can hold up to 50,000 gallons. That means once you’ve installed it, you can forget it for about five years. Another great thing is the easy installation process. As you can see, this water filter doesn’t need an extra faucet since it connects directly to the sink’s cold-water line. When buying this product, you, of course, get all the necessary parts. One thing to REMEMBER before buying it this unit is that it is larger than you expect. Its dimensions are 4.5 x 4.5 x 15 inches, so make sure to measure your cabinet first. Additionally, the 3-stage filtration process is excellent with KDF-55 media, micro sediment membrane, and catalytic coconut shell carbon steps. So, you can finally say goodbye to contaminants like lead, chlorine, herbicides, mercury, etc. (but not fluoride). Aside from the above, the CuZn UC-200 offers an excellent warranty of 5 years. You can even send it back and get a refund with a 90-day satisfaction guarantee if feeling unsatisfied.

PROS

Extremely durable filters

Super easy to install

Offers a good flow rate of 2 gpm

Reduces bad tastes and smells

Made in the US

Great warranty

CONS

A bit large, cannot fit all pipes

Doesn’t remove fluoride

#4: APEC ROES-PH75 6-Stage Ultra Safe Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filter System – Best for Alkaline Water

APEC, or Advanced Purification Engineering Corp., is a leading manufacturer of reverse osmosis filter systems. And if you’re finding an under-sink RO system that eliminates toxins from your water yet remains essential minerals, the ROES-PH75 6-Stage is what you need. As its name suggests, this unit has 6 different stages to remove 99% of contaminants, bacteria as well as bad tastes and smells. You also guaranteed to drink the water with a high amount of alkalinity thanks to the added pH+ re-mineralizing calcium filter in the sixth stage. The next advantage of this product is the long-lasting filters. If the first three ones need to be replaced every 6 months, the remaining ones can last 2-3 years, even more, depending on the water source. One factor you should consider is the high water waste amount. With a 1:3 ratio, the unit will need to get rid of 3 gallons of water to get 1 gallon of clean water.But the manufacturer explains that this number will give the best contaminant rejection ability. Overall, there are still more great features about this filter that lots of people like. By giving 75 gallons per day, it can always provide enough water for a busy family. And if you worry about installation, we believe you can do it without any problem as long as you follow the guide carefully.

PROS

Remove 99% of any contaminants

Good tasting water from the tap

Long-lasting filters

Holds enough water for a large family

Easy to install

Made in the US

CONS

Some complaints of the high wastewater ratio (3:1)

A bit bulky

#5: APEC Water Systems RO-90 Ultra Safe Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filter System – Best RO System

The Ultimate RO-90 from APEC Water Systems can convert hard water into soft water, meaning this water filtration system can remove impure salts and 99% of harmful contaminants. Equipped with a 5-stage ultra-pure system, this unit purifies water twice as quick as other models. It, of course, provides pure water with good taste for drinking, cooking and even making tea and coffee. The super-effective APEC filters can get rid of barium, chlorine, chemicals, arsenic, heavy metals, and other contaminants. It also ensures water purity when it goes through each stage. In addition to those features, these filters come with a long lifespan. The first 3 ones can last over 12 months while the others can extend more than 3 years. Although you don’t need to worry about the maintenance for a long time, be careful since you might meet some difficulties when replacing the membrane filter housing. Or you might have a high ratio (3:1) like the ROES-PH75 6-Stage. Although you don’t need to worry about the maintenance for a long time, be careful since you might meet some difficulties when replacing the membrane filter housing. Or you might have a high ratio (3:1) like the ROES-PH75 6-Stage. Having been tested and guaranteed by the NSF and certified by WOA gold seal, this filter system provides ultra-safe water purification results. Not only does it keep you and your family healthy but also offers enough pure water all year round with less or no maintenance stress.

PROS

Excellent built quality with amazing filters

Clean drinking water with great tastes

Quiet system

Nice faucet included

Easy to set up (yet some claim that the guide should be in detail)

Minimal maintenance for the filters

CONS

A bit hard to replace the membrane filter

The water-waste ratio is still high to some users

#6: iSpring RCC7AK 6-Stage Superb Taste Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filter System – Best Value

If what you need is a high capacity filter system like the ROES-PH75 6-Stage yet on a budget, why don’t you take a look at the iSpring RCC7AK 6-stage? The 6-stage filtration system consists of 3 pre-filters (sediment and two carbon filters). The next stage is to remove contaminants and let only water molecules pass through while the upcoming filter will polish it. The final stage will restore the alkaline balance to the water before going through the tap. Depending on the quality of water, you might replace the filters a little sooner or later. The most exciting thing is that you can view the sediments removed to know when to replace it. Although there are 98% of the components and tools needed for installation inside the box, this process is complicated. Besides, you need to adjust hoses carefully before making the connections, or leaking might happen. Since this unit needs about 1-3 hours to fill up the tank with purified water, it’s not always available. And this may make some users annoyed. All in all, the RCC7AK 6-stage from iSpring guarantees you’re drinking the best-tasting and purest water.

PROS

Offers purified alkaline water with a good value

Great tasting water

Effectively removes 99% of contaminants

Durable filters, low maintenance for a long time

WQA certified

Automatic shut off after filling up the tank

CONS

Install carefully or might cause leaks

Need to wait until the tank is filled before using

#7: APEC WFS-1000 Super Capacity Premium Quality 3 Stage Under-Sink Water Filter System – Basic Filtration

The last under-sink water filter system in our list is the APEC WFS-1000. It uses a 3-stage filtration process to get rid of chlorine, particles, odors, tastes, dust, and other chemicals. For fluoride and heavy metals or TDS removal, you should consider another model because this unit cannot deal with them. However, most necessary minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium are kept in the water to give you daily nutritional intake. They make the water taste good as well. How about the replacement? These are made in the US and last up to 1 year before needing to be replaced. Be careful that this might vary depending on the quality of water and how much they are used. Unlike other water filters that require some extra parts, this one includes all the equipment you need. It even has pre-drilled holes so that you can mount on the wall effortlessly. Is there anything else? Well, the APEC WFS-1000 comes with JG good-grade tubing (FDA certified) and a 100% lead-free chrome faucet. And it’s indeed a beautiful faucet that adds a touch of class and style to your kitchen.

PROS

Well-built

Simple to install, yet directions can be a bit confusing at first

Great filtration for a reasonable price

Removes tastes and smells well

Stainless-steel faucet, not the plastic

Excellent flow rate

CONS

Not designed for TDS removal

Not suitable for the contaminated water

Benefits of Under-sink Water Filter

No matter which type you choose, these under-sink water filters offer lots of significant advantages to your household. So, it’s not surprising why they have become popular in recent years. Here are what an under-counter water filter can bring to you.

Improve The Water

The chlorine and fluoride are often found within small doses in tap water. And depending on your living place, the tap water may have an unpleasant smell or taste. So, getting a high-quality under-sink water filter will help you fix all these and make you drink more water instead of drinking less.

Make Water Safe and Healthier to Drink

Aside from giving great tastes, this filter can eliminate lots of hazardous contaminants and chemicals from tap water. Also, it adds healthy minerals to improve the quality of your drinking water.

Enhance The Physical Growth of Kids

If you have children, the most important thing is to keep a high-quality source of drinking water. As you know, unhealthy drinking water will prevent the development of your kids and create some unnecessary diseases. Bad tastes might make them drink less than what their bodies need.

Require no Extra Space

As you know, the under-sink water filters are designed to be placed underneath the countertop. So, if you want to save space, they are the best choice.

Easy to Install and Maintain

To some people, establishing an under-counter water filter is too complicated. But it is not. Although it is trickier than setting up a countertop water filter, it requires no plumbing experience. Importantly, maintaining these filters is simpler than that of the countertop ones. All you need to do is to kneel and replace the cartridge under the sink instead of doing this on top of the counter. In the upcoming part, we will guide you through the installation and maintenance of this filter system.

A Wide Range of Different Models

As mentioned above, there are three main types of under-sink water filters. However, depending on the brands, you can search for a variety of models. There are filters with only one basic cartridge while some come with different ones. Some systems cannot only filter the water but also improve its quality by adding essential minerals.

Cost-efficiently

The amount of money an under-sink water filter is going to save you from spending on bottled water is unimaginable. Also, it’s more effective than other kinds of water filters such as freezer filters or faucet filters, though it depends on the quality of the brand and model.

Understanding The Under-sink Water Filter System

After reading about all 7 top products above, could you make your own choice instantly? Perhaps YES or NO, right? But since you’re here, we want to give you the best information so you can buy the best product. Now, let’s discuss something about this efficient system! How many types of under-sink water filter and how each works? As its name suggests, an under-counter water filter is designed to sit under the kitchen counter/sink. And in terms of purification system placement, this system offers the most convenient locations possible and allows you to maintain the water quality. There are three different kinds including simple under-sink filter, conventional under-sink filter, and reverse osmosis filter. Here we will explain each type to help you understand better.

Simple Under-sink Water Filters

The term “simple” mainly comes from how this system is installed, instead of how it works. It will process water from the cold-water line. Then the water will be diverted into a regular faucet. That means no extra one is needed. When filtering a lot of water, it will have a shorter span and need replacements more often. Since it only requires a simple connection to work, it’s easy to install among three types of filters. And that’s why the single under-sink filters are becoming popular, especially among individuals and families in rent houses or apartments.

Conventional Under-sink Water Filters

A conventional filter will be attached to the cold-water line, letting the filtered water go through and get out from a separate faucet. Remember that only the water that reaches the filter will be purified, and the hot and cold water entering the regular faucet will no. Since this system requires an extra faucet for filtered water, it’s a bit tricky to install. Make sure you have an additional hole available on the countertop/sink for the faucet. However, this type of filter will last longer compared to the simple one.

Reverse Osmosis Filters

This filter system uses the reverse osmosis (RO) process to get rid of contaminants from the water. Then the pure water will be distributed through a faucet (often a separate one), and the water with the contaminant will be removed or used for non-drinking purposes. Since the RO membrane is large, it’s often accompanied by different layers of pre-filters to guarantee large pollutants and sediments are drained away from the water. And this makes the RO filter systems one of the most effective non-electronic systems for purifying water. But please REMEMBER that they are a little pricey and hard to install.

Under-sink Vs. Countertop Water Filters

If you are still considering which one to buy between them, follow us now to find the answer. First of all, both water filter systems are described as large filtration devices as compared to showerhead or faucet filters. With high capacity and improved filtration technology, they can purify water to a drinkable level pretty well. Also, they sometimes come with some similar features. For instance, you can find the RO process in both types. So, to give you a more unobstructed view of both units, here are some advantages and disadvantages that you should not miss.

Under-sink Water Filters

PROS

Comes with a good filtration rate

Won’t take up space on the countertops

Do not affect the kitchen’s style

CONS

Much bigger than the countertop filters

Difficult to install

Countertop Water Filters

PROS

Easy to set up, some don’t even need an installation

Small, don’t occupy much space

CONS

Take longer to filter the water

Unstylish, not suitable for modern kitchens

Do you think that an under-counter system is important? If your answer is YES, continue with us to find out some necessary factors before ORDERING one for your home.

Key Factors To Consider Before Buying The Best Under-sink Water Filter (Buying Guide)

When it comes to purchasing a water filter to install underneath your kitchen counter, you will have many options. When looking for a suitable unit, here is what you should notice carefully.

Water Waste: Pure Water Ratio

If what you are looking for is an RO filter, make sure to opt for a low waste vs. pure water ratio. Some traditional RO filters waste a vast amount of water for every gallon of purified water. If the ratio is as high as 5:1, this results in an ascending water bill. However, modern RO filters have addressed this issue. Thanks to new technologies and additional pumps to increase the water pressure, the ratio is often 3:1 or 1:1.

Water Flow Rate

When doing their job, the water filters restrict the water flow. Since some might influence the water flow more than the others, it’s vital to check out the rate before choosing. Usually, a standard kitchen faucet with no filter provides around 2.0gpm. Meanwhile, the lowest flow rate of an under-sink water filter is about 0.2gpm. So, it’s best to get the water filter that delivers no more than 0.5 gallons of filtered per minute.

Operating Water Pressure

Similar to the water flow rate, the operating water pressure is essential as well in case your house doesn’t have a good source of water. The simple under-sink water filter often provides better water pressure than the conventional ones. But the drawback is that the water will spend less time in the filter, allowing contaminants to go through it easily. This will be a BIG issue if your water source is highly contaminated.

Filter Stages

As measured by Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), the more stages a water filter system has, the higher the quality of water it offers. Most of the filters are sediment ones of different sizes, calculated by their capacity to filter out contaminants. But the disadvantage is that the more stages it has, the larger the system and the higher cost for maintenance are.

Reverse Osmosis

Considering another stage, particularly a reverse osmosis membrane, is an excellent idea. It’s because this small micron water filter adds necessary minerals to give you the pure water possible.

Filter Life

The life of the filter is often decided by how much water goes through it over time, not by age. So, try to consider how much water you’re going to use, depending on your household size and demands. The filters with a high degree of filtration tend to be replaced more often.

Cartridge Durability

While some under-sink water filter systems need new filters every 6 months, some only need to be replaced once every 3 or even 5 years. What does it mean? Most of the cartridges operate in the same way. And if a cartridge can filter more water, it’s better built. So, the cartridges that last longer and filter the water more effectively are often made with high-quality parts. But please be aware that although a cartridge might be advertised to last a particular period, it might not reach that. The reason is the quality of the water.

Certifications

When buying a filter system for your house, you need to search for the NSF and WQA certifications to ensure certain standards of effectiveness. The models with these certificates have been proven to be able to get rid of contaminants very well and have high-quality water filters and other parts. REMEMBER that the best water filter systems will be certified by the NSF or WQA.

Physical Size

Some under-counter water filters are much bigger than you’d think. Depending on how much space is available under the sink, it might influence which filtration system is suitable. If your sink has unlimited space, everything will be simple. But if it’s not, you should choose carefully. Additionally, remember that some RO systems often come with a storage tank that might occupy more space.

Installation

If you install this system by yourself, you will save a lot of money by not calling a plumber. And the good news is that most of the products in our review are simple to set up. In case a system includes a dedicated faucet instead of featuring an in-line design, the installation can be a bit hard, yet not too much. You need to drill an additional hole somewhere in the counter if the kitchen sink doesn’t have a spare one. Using the dedicated faucet means you don’t need to purify all the water you use. Only water for being used directly from the tap will be filtered. And this helps to save your time and money in the long run. Most importantly, the filter will last longer.

Ways To Install An Under-sink Water Filter

It’s time to learn how to install an under-counter water filter for your home! And the first thing we want to affirm is that the process is not as difficult as you’d think. The level of difficulty only depends on which type of system you’ve bought. But before starting, you need to prepare some necessary tools.

Adjustable wrench

Screwdriver

Utility knife

Teflon tape

½ drill bit and variable speed drink (for dedicated faucet)

The next thing to do is determining the cold-water line. Never choose the warm-water one because it will damage the filter.

How to Install a Direct Connect System?

Switch off the cold-water supply under the kitchen sink and disconnect the main faucet at the same time.

Attach the inlet hose of your assembled system to the water source valve and the outlet hose to the faucet. Use some wraps of Teflon tape if necessary.

Check and tighten any fitting with a wrench.

Continue securing the water filter with screws.

Open the cold-water line and examine for leaks.

Flush the filter before using as per manufacturer instructions.

How to Install The Under-sink Water Filter with a Dedicated Faucet?

Repeat the first step as above.

Then start installing a T-valve onto the cold-water line. But remember that you need to use an extra adapter. If required, you should apply some wraps of Teflon tape.

Start drilling a hole for the additional faucet if necessary and then mount it.

After that, connect the inlet hose of your assembled system to the cold-water line and the outlet hose to the new faucet.

Of course, you must tighten any fitting with a wrench and secure the system with screws.

Turn on the cold-water line and check for any leaks.

And don’t forget to flush the filters as per instructions before using.

In case you’re still not sure how to do it, it’s okay to watch some videos on YouTube. Additionally, some manufacturers show their installation videos on their websites to guide you. Or try to look at this video.

Wrapping Up

You’ve made it to the end. Congratulations. Now, we will help you to pick up the best under-sink water filter from our reviews above. Take a look at the Home Master TMAFC-ERP Artesian again. This product seems to satisfy all your demands such as an excellent water-waste ratio, good warranty, and great filter stages. More importantly, you don’t need to worry about maintaining for a long time. If you still have any question, feel free to ask us! We’re always willing to help you. Related Buyer's Guides:

Best Whole House Water Filters - Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

Best Water Softeners - Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

Best Water Filter Pitchers - Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

Best Water Distillers - Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

Source from AquafilterMag - Feed https://aquafiltermag.com/best-under-sink-water-filter-reviews/ #AquafilterMag #BestWaterFilter Source from Best Water Filter AquafilterMag https://aquafiltermag.blogspot.com/2019/03/best-under-sink-water-filter-2019.html #AquafilterMag #BestWaterFilter

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oneletterwrites · 7 years ago

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Uhh hi?? Yeah can I request some 2p caname(2p America x 2p Canada)? It's my literal OTP and I will love it to the day I die, so please? You don't have to, like I said just a request and I really love your writing!! ✨❤️⭐️

A bad idea?

He can admit it, and be very loud and proud about it, but Allen had a type. Looking back at past flings and old relationships there’s a defining characteristic between everyone he’s been with. Allen likes people who could kick his ass.

There’s just something about the idea that has Allen weak in the knees with that dopey smile on his face. Strong and tough and able to pick him up. Not that it’s too hard being small as he is, but it’s an added bonus to anyone if they can.

So when Lutz invited him to go see some wrestling, Allen couldn’t refuse. Any chance he could get to see muscles in action he would take.

He cackles and follows Lutz through the large crowd. It’s an outside venue surrounded by trees with food shops and t-shirt souvenirs for sale. They end up at the edge of an arena leaning on the wood banisters. The stage is just a hole in the ground deeper than what everyone else stands on with a few feet of space before the banister. Lutz takes a large swig of his beer.

“You’re gunna love this.” Is all warning he gets as two burly men run from two holed out steps on the sides and straight into each other. Allen cheers with the rest of them as the bodies slap to the ground. His eyes are wide with entertainment as they pummel each other as best they can.

He’s actually surprised to see a referee, but they jump into the stage pit once one of them seems to be passed out. He pushes the other bloody man away and then calls a winner. Some of the crowd boos while the other cheers but Allen just smiles, enjoying everything he’s seeing.

He and Lutz watch many more matches. Some end quick and others take so long they actually get to take a mid fight break. They always come away bloody and it makes Allen wonder what he would have to do in order to get put on their shoulders.

“Go Lulu!” Lutz shouts just before one of the matches starts. Allen learned how to tell when a match would start by the rustle of pushing right by the steps. He spies a short angry looking person glare up at Lutz before they vault over the person holding them back to attack their opponent with a speed Allen hadn’t seen before.

“He may be tiny but shit is he ruthless.” Allen snickers at the dreamy way Lutz talks about the other fighter. He cheers along to show support and the small one wins by choke out when they managed to get on their opponent’s back.

The sky is getting darker and more people are crowding them. Allen gives skeptical looks to the wild life crew that appears as well as the guns with what looks to be tranquilizer. Lutz elbows him with a wild smile.

“Main event,” He says like a giddy child. Allen can feel the energy of the people around him and it’s contagious. By the time a large stage light turns on he’s jumping up and down antsy to see what will happen next.

And what happens next makes Allen swoon. Maybe they’re not the biggest of the wrestlers but they are massive in height and build. Long blonde hair that’s covered in dirt is swept into a low pony tail. They are shirtless which on its own would make Allen smirk but the long scratch like scars littering their body has him itching to touch the man.

“I wanna suck your dick!” He shouts out before his mind can tell him it’s a bad idea. A few people laugh while others cheer for the possibility. The wrestler themselves just kind of looks his direction with a deadpan expression and an icy look in their eyes. Allen winks and they turn away from him.

He’s not even upset about the slight rejection. Not when he gets a perfect view of the wrestler rolling back their shoulders and crouching getting ready, something none of the other fighters got to do. It doesn’t take long for Allen to figure out why.

Suddenly as well, the animal control makes sense as a bear is unleashed into the pit. Allen is screaming now. The wrestler dances around the bear as it growls every so often going up on two legs and towering over everything. The scars have a story now.

The wrestler is the first to make a move, charging and getting the animal by the belly. The animal howls and does it’s best to get a grip on them and bite. The wrestler remains persistent as they can with their feet dragging back in the dirt from the force of the animal pushing back against them.

Lutz has to physically pry him off the banister when the wrestler tosses the animal down. Allen is screaming too much to care. He’s never seen anything like this or more attractive.

A squeal breaks free when the wrestler stumbles back from the bear with three long, now bleeding, wounds across their side torso. The bear growls at him, tilting their head almost curiously, and the wrestler ignores the pain to rush in again. Allen might faint for him.

The match ends when the bear whimpers with the wrestler sitting on their back. Applause erupts as both the bear and wrestler are taken out of the pit with care. Allen is shaking at what he just witnessed with no where to put his energy. So he grabs Lutz by the shoulders and almost climbs up him to properly yell in his face.

“That was the coolest thing ever!” The words come out sharper than he means to but he doesn’t care. Lutz pushes him off but laughs. They hang around the arena waiting for people to disperse when a familiar fighter comes up to them.

“Who’s this asshole?” The tiny fighter asks, Lulu is what Lutz called them. Allen smirks at the nickname.

“He’s an old friend, likes seeing people get beat up,” Lutz explains. Lulu gives him an odd expression then sighs in annoyance.

“Follow me you fucks,” Lutz does so gladly, musing and flirting with the fighter, even after they sweep their leg low and knock him down to his back. Allen laughs at him. They follow this Lulu behind some trees where medical tents stand with people working hard on fighter’s health. They patch up open gashes and check eyesight for concussions.

They walk past them all to a tent farther off. Some of the animal control people stand outside. They give Allen skeptical looks as he steps inside.

“Hey Matt,” Lulu says when he enters. Allen however jerks back seeing a bear chilling in the tent, just sitting there like it belongs, tilting its head at Allen like he’s intruding.

“Here’s the dumbass who said he’d suck your dick,” Lulu introduces him. He manages to take in the rest of his surroundings. Vets and control are looking at the bear, checking vitals. People doctors are doing their best to work on the wrestler as he sits plainly on the ground with his head pressed to the bears in a comforting way. He hisses when a doctor presses something to his open injury. The bear whimpers and nudges him.

“I’m fine Kuma,” The wrestler says and ruffles the animal’s face. Finally he looks over. Lutz is already busy bugging Lulu as a doctor looks over his possible injuries though the tiny fighter doesn’t look interested in anything Lutz has to offer. It leaves Allen to smirk happily at the wrestler.

“I could have sworn you and that bear just tried to kill each other,” He approaches carefully. The doctors smile at his statement and he knows he’s wrong about something. The wrestler, Matt, just pushes the bear over and it flops like a giant puppy.

“Kuma would never,” Comes the gruff answer. Allen stands near him watching as the wrestler casually plays with the bear, getting chided to sit still by the doctor wrapping his torso to help the bleeding. Allen scans what exposed skin he can see, that want to touch them growing stronger with every jagged detail.

“Matt! Great show man!” Lutz claps him on the back and Matt groans in pain. He sends a cold glare to Lutz and Allen has to snicker when he backs up in fear. The dude did just wrestle a bear, fighting a person would be no trouble.

The doctors skip out once they know Lulu and Matt are okay and the animal crew has to pull Kuma away from Matt, whining all the way. Lutz is able to pry Lulu away and then its just the two of them. Matt on a low portable cot that’s angled so he can sit up and Allen debating the pros and cons of straddling him while he still can.

In the end he goes closer and kneels with his arms resting on the cot and his head on his arms. Matt gives him a weird look but doesn’t say anything. Allen doesn’t say anything either, just sighs dreamily.

“What is wrong with you?” Matt asks him then. Allen cackles at the question, not sure if he has a good answer. So he doesn’t answer.

“So how’d you and the bear get into this gig?” He sits up a little straighter, inching closer. Matt rolls his eyes.

“I’ve had Kuma since he was a cub,” Is all Matt says by way of explanation. It’s enough for Allen. He stands and casually leans over Matt, undeterred by the odd look he receives in return.

“You look great while fighting,” His tone is flirtatious as anything. Matt narrows his eyes.

“You’re annoying,” He says and a sly smirk crosses Allen’s face.

“Not annoying enough,” Is his counter. He takes the risk and lifts a leg up and over to sit on Matt’s lap. He’s careful of the injuries, placing his hands on safe spots on Matt’s upper chest. He has to repress a shudder at how good the wrestler feels.

“Otherwise you wouldn’t have let me done that,” He raises his eyebrows quick in a ‘gotcha’ fashion. Matt clenches his jaw and Allen could swear the wrestler is fighting off a blush. That or debating throwing Allen off him. Either would be good in his book.

Matt is warm under him, solid with muscles, and Allen feels the indents in his skin where his scars are. He settles in with a mischievous glint in his eyes as Matt brings his hands to Allen’s legs to hold him steady.

“I was serious you know,” He coos. Matt glares without answer though his hands twitch. Allen wonders if he can push the right buttons to get Matt to really grip him. He wiggles just to get a small bit of friction between them.

“I want to suck your dick.” At the crass bold sentence Matt digs his fingers into Allen’s hips with a frustrated blush forming on his cheeks. Allen couldn’t stop the delighted expression that comes over him even if he wanted to. Matt grits his teeth then sighs.

“I’ve got a better idea,” He says huskily and Allen would agree to anything if it meant Matt’s hands would stay on him. And really, Matt’s idea is truly much better.

#2p america #2p canada #2p caname #caname #drabble #anonymous #aw babe ily too #this was fun to write and i hope you enjoy it

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smartalker · 7 years ago

Text

Magpie Bridge [5/10 - Samael]

ENTITLED: Magpie Bridge FANDOM: Mass Effect Andromeda - Reyes/Ryder RATING: M LENGTH: 50k via 10 chapters GENRE: Romance/Sci-Fi/Drama/Humor, in that order SUMMARY: With the Kett subdued and Andromeda’s terraforming system running at full power, Kadara Port swiftly establishes itself as the trade capital of the galaxy. The city’s unique combination of affluence, corruption, and growing power inevitably earns the ire of both the Nexus, and Aya. Under tremendous pressure to disavow a known criminal’s legitimacy, Ryder once again returns to Kadara hoping to broker peace, but the Charlatan wants something very different from her… ALT SUMMARY: Two people fall in love, galaxy breaks.

Ryder returned from her tryst to confront worst-case walk of shame material.

"Hey sister," Scott said.

"Fuck. FUCK!" Ryder whirled away from her twin, but the Tempest's halls were unhelpfully void of any distractions or potential shields. She turned back to Scott, teeth set. "Fuck," she whispered to herself, for good measure.

"Nice hickey."

She couldn't just keep swearing. Ryder cleared her throat, bracing herself for some old-school twin throw down. She had this. There had been a time (once) when she'd been able to beat her brother's ass into submission. Trying to sound like Keema, Ryder asked, "And just why are you concerning yourself with my hickeys, again?"

Scott dropped some serious stank eye. "God you're annoying. Now that you're finally back from your boy's opium den or whatever he's running—"

"Opium den," Ryder repeated, and laughed shrilly. She tried edging towards the Med-Bay. Maybe there was some lightly bruised body part Lexi urgently needed to examine.

Scott, with freakish speed and probably a dose of telepathy, inserted himself into the middle of her escape route. "The Nexus sent me. Tann's bugging out, says if you don't get someone dragged out and locked up he's going to start a trade embargo or something."

Shit. But also, she totally called that bluff. Like Tann had the balls. Except: Addison was also on the Nexus and Ryder wasn't sure she wanted to deal with that phone call.

She groaned. "You know, finding freaky doped up murder cults isn't as easy as it looks on television. Tell them I need more time! We're making headway but it's not exactly like we're in a position where we can go around interviewing known felons because, oops, everyone on this stupid planet was birthed in the, like, the undead Alcatraz of Hell!"

Scott was doing the thing where he started to look uncomfortably similar to their father. Ryder scrunched her nose, her stomach cramping. She hadn't wanted to fight. She could see the reluctance in Scott's face, the guilt that echoed her own. She could still remember his excitement, the first time they'd hunted outlaws on Eos together. Her brother, who'd known her father a thousand times better than she ever had, he'd said, "Dad would have been proud of you."

Somehow, she didn't feel like the sentiment had survived.

"Sara," Scott insisted, voice slowing and lowering. "Really. Are you okay?"

Ryder squirmed. "Fine."

"What happened to your face?"

Her hand twitched up to cover her injuries before she could stop herself. Ryder grimaced. "Okay. I'm sub-fine. But you can tell the Nexus I've got it, it's under control."

Scott shook his head. "Tell them yourself. I'm staying here. You need me."

Ryder went still as her mind raced through the possibilities, the plausible reasons for dismissing Scott, the pros and cons of having him around. Her brother. The one person who remembered what she looked like plastered after eight margaritas, the one person who knew about her cornrow phase, the guy who'd held back her hair when null-gravity training had made her sicker than the plague.

"Okay," she heard herself saying. "No problem. You can get a bunk in my quarters. We'll figure something out that's more permanent later."

Scott, still wearing their father's face, relaxed. He smiled at her, his face shining. "I thought you'd say no," he admitted. "It's going to get better, Sara. You'll see. We'll look out for each other."

Ryder made herself smile back. A forgotten, queasy feeling pushed against her—as unwelcome and unwarranted and nameless as it had been back when, as children, Scott had suddenly grown stronger than her. "I should wash up," she said, instead of everything else.

To begin with, she really did have to wash up. Ryder spent long minutes in the shower, her forehead pressed against the warming tile. "If you have any suggestions, now would be a good time." She mumbled. SAM kept quiet. It figured. Ryder rubbed the warm water over her legs, between her thighs. She was newly bruised, purple memories knocked across her legs. Lexi would say that was a sign of a low iron count.

His hand on her throat, how the pressure increased with a surgeon's precision, how warm her head became the moment she knew she couldn't breathe—

Ryder punched the shower's switch, cutting the water. She'd start with the problems she could solve. "SAM, scan for that Lithium deposit. Nexus satellites only, please."

She dressed as SAM let himself into the satellite's server, feeling pretty sincerely excited at the prospect of returning to her own bed. A few deposits pinged nearby, and she had the coordinates sent to Suvi for further analysis. One night off. Pathfinder was officially off the clock.

Ryder burrowed as deeply as possible into her bed, missing the heavy quilt she'd owned a lifetime ago. The ship hummed gently around her. Now and then a passing crew member's footsteps wandered past. Ryder flipped over. She flipped over again. She should have spent the night with him.

And right on cue, her omni-tool buzzed in a new message. Probably Suvi. Probably Scott. Definitely business related and therefore requiring her immediate attention.

Ryder wiggled from her cocoon, groping around. His letters became lasers, beams in her eyes. She read them over, and over, and over again.

I wish you'd stayed.

In the morning, Ryder gave her orders.

Through a note.

"Really?" Cora hissed. Her hiss was caught by the transmitter, drawn out as a spit of static. "Really. Again."

"No." Ryder said, in her best Pathfinder voice. "I know what you're thinking, and I want you to know, I have simply delegated responsibilities. I thought about calling a meeting, but you all seemed to be sleeping so nicely. Notes are cool. Vintage."

Cora stepped back from the conflict. She let go. She was too disciplined, too proud to whine. A fact that Ryder knew and fully intended to leverage for as long as possible. "Fine." Cora breathed out. "Why am I stuck with your brother while you get to blow things up?"

"You also might get to blow things up," Ryder pointed out. "I trust your judgment around explosives. Not Liam's. But you get me. Anyway, you're the only person I can trust on a bar-recon mission. Everyone else would just get drunk."

Cora seemed to be deeply struggling with something. Finally, she eked out. "First: I don't like the idea of you going somewhere without back-up. But I'm tired of fighting that point. The second thing is, I don't get along with Scott. No offense. But please keep that in mind in the future."

Ryder assumed a mask of benevolent patience. The Nomad, which she had clipping along at over a hundred-fifty kilometers an hour, ricocheted its way down a steep valley. The shaking and crashing were not the best sound effects for serenity. "Cora. No one gets along with Scott. He's like dad. Why do you think I picked you?"

"I'm hanging up," Cora announced, and cut the call. Ryder checked her map. Still fifty kilometers to go. Maybe by then Cora and Scott would be making out. It was possible. There was ample sexual frustration to go round. Now seemed like as good a time as any to stop thinking about her brother kissing people she knew.

Now Liam was calling. Ryder let him through, "What's up?"

"Pathfinder," Liam whispered, "Just because you put Jaal and I on the same team as Vetra, don't think we're happy about things."

"You ain't gotta lie." Ryder drawled. Jaal forced his way into the picture, essentially just seizing and maneuvering Liam by the wrist.

"We are concerned for your safety," Jaal said gravely. "Everyone else has split off with at least one partner to investigate their lithium site. And yet, we have formed a party of three while you operate alone. While I appreciate your consideration for our personal feelings, your security is more important."

"Yeah," Vetra added, from somewhere off-camera. "I'm sure I couldn't possibly imagine how this came to be. The subtle machinations of a Pathfinder. A mind that operates beyond the barriers of convention, species, and basic combat protocols."

Jaal and Liam were now eyeing each other, probably for some hint as to how they might decipher Code: Vetra. Ryder growled as she tore the Nomad through an innocent shrubbery.

"I'm not alone, I have SAM. Besides, this is just a little recon work. If I get a hit, I'll call you in," she lied breezily. "Surely I can handle that much." She could see Liam's face folding itself into a frown, his mouth opening to protest further. Ryder cut him off with a quick, "Sorry, call from Drack!" and switched the line. Twenty kilometers out. Drack's perpetually grim visage filled her screen.

"Are you going to yell at me?" Ryder asked, by way of greeting. Drack, who had incorrectly angled his camera to video his left shoulder, snorted as he made some adjustments.

"No. We Krogan have a long tradition of taking off for a long walk in the desert when the kids start bitching too much. It helps them appreciate you more when you feel like coming back." Drack paused thoughtfully. "Doesn't work as well on the wives."

Ryder suspected many Krogan owed surviving their adolescence thanks to this practice. "Is my brother there?" she whispered. "He's not going to like, bust out from behind you or anything, is he? Did you and Peebee already leave?"

"He isn't here. He was loud. I'm too old for loud. Sent him and Cora off a while back." Drack paused, and the camera began to shake wildly. "Sorry Ryder, hard to cut through this casserole. And I'm not having the sausage one." He took an enormous bite, and chewed thoughtfully. "You doing okay out there? Seen the scans."

"Yeah. Fine." Ryder shrugged. "Just, you know. I think I'm about to go ape shit on a den of drug lords. Should be fun."

Drack grunted approvingly. "If you're going to run away from your brother, at least make it count." Drack paused, then added. "No offense, but he's more strung out than a Turian cadet. I like you better."

Ryder was suddenly a little misty eyed. She blinked rapidly. "Thanks, um. But I'm not running away from my brother," Ryder laughed. She kept laughing. It was hard to stop laughing. "No way. Definitely not."

"Look kid," Drack sighed. "I got no reason to be busting your ass over what you do. Hell, I killed one of my brothers." He paused, then added, "Asshole. Still, it upset my mother. I feel bad about it. The point is, take your space if you need it."

Ryder had already been pretty busy dealing with her affection for the old Krogan. His continued understanding wasn't making it any easier. "Drack. Thanks."

"Whatever. We both know I'm not the one who's stuck playing host," Drack grunted. "I'm hoping Cora's identity feels threatened enough to ice him. Anyway, don't get shot anywhere important. Let me know if you need some backup and I'll meet you out there."

He hung up on her without further niceties, and Ryder spent the rest of her drive in relative silence, contemplating the many merits of her squad mates. She eventually shook herself from her sentimental haze. No time for that. She was less than a kilometer back from the center of her own Lithium deposit – one of three that SAM had picked out, each less than an hour's drive from the Port itself. Ryder had chosen this one because of the punishingly high mountain-face the lithium deposit was embedded into—in her experience, the preferred terrain of peoples trying to remain hidden.

Jaal, Liam and Vetra would hopefully be enjoying the spectacularly scenic waterfall she had sent them to by now.

Pathfinder, we will need to continue further exploration by foot.

She climbed out. "See anything? Smoke signals? Tire marks?"

Overlaying geological surveys with our present map indicates that there is an underground river beginning at the top of this mountain. The river is known to branch in several directions, with its waters emerging above ground at several sites near Kadara Port. Proposal: this river would serve as an excellent natural vehicle for transporting illegal goods, with the additional advantage of having no energy signature.

Ryder considered this. "I have to climb the mountain."

Analysis suggests—

"You're such a bastard." Ryder complained. In truth, the Nomad had nearly taken her to the top already. But the remaining meters up were almost a complete vertical, an obstacle that even her jump jets would likely have her bouncing off of.

It was a good thing no one was around to witness this.

Reyes called her halfway up. Ryder declined a video feed. "Hey."

"What are you doing? Why are you panting like that?"

"I'm—" Ryder desperately clung to what felt like about three blades of grass, both feet kicking over what she felt comfortable describing as a chasm. "—jogging."

"Huh." He moved on. "Listen. I want to do something different. Let's have dinner?"

"What!" Ryder screamed, now throwing herself into a desperate free fall. She collided roughly with the cliff face, and scrambled to find purchase.

"What?" Reyes echoed. He was definitely alarmed. "Turn on your camera."

"Dinner sounds nice," Ryder squeaked. She heaved herself onto the narrow ledge, gasping wetly. This was stupid. She should have taken the waterfall. "Are we going to get a pizza before or after your political enemies literally eat us?"

There was a pause of silence from Reyes. "Did you just spit?"

She definitely had. Adrenaline made her mouth wet. It was just a thing. "No. What time's dinner?"

"I'm not sure, probably as soon as I find out where you are and what you're doing."

Ryder had a pretty strong suspicion he was pulling up a screen that advertised her as a tiny, blinking GPS marker at that very moment. She wondered how exactly he was tracking her. Something on her suit? Could people ingest trackers? She wouldn't put it past him. "What's wrong, can't stay away from me?" She hunched, jets ready, preparing to fling herself into an absurd vertical leap.

Reyes laughed. "I can't, and I don't want to."

Ryder was pretty sure she had never jumped so high. Arms shaking, she hauled herself up inch by painful inch, her struggle made more difficult by trying to muffle her own ragged breathing. "I'm hanging up. Team's checking out those Lithium deposits. I'll have more for you soon." She managed to kick one leg up, hooking her heel over the cliff's edge, then rolled inelegantly forward. Finally. Finally. Dazed with exertion, Ryder let herself simply lie there, gasping.

"Be careful," he said. She was too tired to really listen to him. "I don't want to lose you," he added, and ended the call.

Ryder kept lying there, her muscles reduced to yogurt, as the seconds and minutes ticked past. Finally, finally, she pushed herself up, grinning. He liked her. Did he like her? No, that was stupid. Stupid Ryder.

Upon standing, the most obvious thing of note was probably the landing pad. Ryder stared at it, seething. Those cheaters. The likely well-air conditioned cheaters. Who were also, by the way, nefarious drug chemists and child murderers. Their base, now that she was finally on top of the stupid mountain, was only a short distance away from the landing pad, and clearly visible from her position.

Ryder zipped towards a nearby rock outcropping for some cover, getting ready to radio Peebee and Drack for backup, when a sudden thought made her pause. Because—she hadn't gotten to try out those combat matrices, after all.

She bit her lip, finger literally hovering over the call button. They could be here within an hour. But the base was right there, and—and! She would be able to tell, right away, if taking out the drug ring was enough to change Reyes' future. Somehow, she doubted her crew would be all that thrilled to watch her have another seizure-vision.

They also probably wouldn't be that excited to know that she'd died because she'd gone into a fight without backup.

"Fine," Ryder bargained, either to herself or SAM or Reyes' hypothetical tracker chip. "If there's less than five, I take them on. Five and up, I call in my Krogan."

The universe heard.

Ryder darted between the wind-smoothed rocks, ears pricked, eyes narrowed and fixed on the drug base's windows. She inched nearer, discovering and tucking herself into a choice spot for visibility, for target sighting. Methodically, she began setting up her sniper's rifle, hands moving without thought. She'd done this a thousand, ten thousand times. "Okay," Ryder coached herself. "Step one. We reinstall our psychic combat thing. Step two, we don't have a seizure. Step three, we take out this base. Step four, we get our seer on. SAM, you are on seizure duty. Don't make me replace you with a dog."

SAM immediately began prattling on about how 'the combat matrices were dangerous' and 'her current plan of action seemed extremely ill-advised.' Ryder wanted to roll her eyes except she was trying to be more mature. She settled for some rapid blinking.

Stop that.

"If you don't install them, I'm probably going to get shot," Ryder pointed out. "And die. Also, you do as I say. So do it. Now." Yes, much better. Strong Pathfinder moves.

SAM began doing his uncomfortable mind-rearranging thing. Her omni-tool flashed, and Ryder tapped in her user permissions. Five minutes to reinstall. Faster than she'd expected. Maybe SAM had left a few back doors open for himself. "So walk me through this, how does it work and when should I haul ass to clear the area? Are headaches the only way for me to realize we're about to go under?"

Now that I am more familiar with system diagnostics, I should be able to monitor synchronization rates and give you ample warning before we overload. An attack such as the one you suffered before should be easy to avoid, so long as we are able to distance ourselves from stressors in time. I can uninstall the program if need be. I would advise that all adversaries be eliminated prior to the uninstall.

"Can we film this? I mean, for the documentary. Because I think I'm going to kick some ass." Ryder trilled, and then actually slapped a hand over her own mouth. She was starting to sound like Liam. Or, just, insane.

Program docked.

Ryder checked her guns, then lay flat on the sun-warmed rock, dragging herself forward with her elbows. She mounted the sniper rifle, checking the base's windows through her scope. At least four people inside, two Salarians that wore heavy gas masks, a tweaked out Turian, and a human woman with bold lipstick. Four targets. Just under quota. Ryder zoomed in. "Launch," she ordered.

And then the world dropped out from under her, her ears became speakers that angled inward. She felt her heart beating as she never had before, felt each bone and muscle of her body, that fantastic machine. The woman's lipstick shone with a light—an unnatural light, a purple light, UV? Ryder adjusted the scope. Perfect clarity. Perfect purpose. She didn't see things anymore, so much as she saw the space around them, the narrowed and swelling spaces.

She shot.

The bullet made an satisfying, circular hole through window's glass. Through the Turian's skull, into the woman's thigh, where at last the missile lodged in bone. The Turian went down and the Salarians were already ducked for cover, the woman with the bleeding thigh and the red mouth had drawn her weapon, and—the lights went out. They'd cut power, made it harder for her to pick them out from the darkness, at least at a distance.

Ryder stood.

She pulled up her shields, and simply walked towards the front door. She didn't need to run. They couldn't get away from her. Her legs, in all their power and strength, carried her forward.

"Get the fucking bomb," one of the Salarians was shouting. "Get the fucking bomb!"

The door blew outwards, slamming flat against Ryder's shields, an impromptu ballistic powerful enough to make her stagger, then the woman with the lipstick was there and swinging what looked like a sharpened bone for Ryder's face. Almost dreamily, Ryder pulled her head out of the way, noticing the bone-blade's carvings, the well-smoothed place on its handle that could only have come from years of wear.

The woman's beautiful mouth was opening. She had very light, almost colorless eyes. Ryder's ears rattled with the sound of her own breath, her life.

"Bye," Ryder offered. She reached out and grabbed the woman's wrist. Her thumb dug into a nerve, and the woman's hand flew open, so that the bone-knife went flying away. One of the Salarians was coming out—and that was a Krogan, shit—but later, first—

She shot over the woman's shoulder, catching the Salarian's soft, wet flesh with a spray of buckshot. The Krogan was maneuvering what looked like a small canon, swinging it around to face her, his armor and his body like a wall—indifferent even as she shot him in the face. No time—Ryder kicked the woman's knee, catching the edge of her kneecap and smashing it, and they dropped together so Ryder could lift what remained of the base's door—a heavy thing, at least thirty pounds of warped steel, and even that buckled violently beneath whatever the Krogan was packing. She could hear his weapon charging, the high whine of it—another blast from that thing would end it, would rip through the steel door she hid behind or break whatever body part she used to support it.

"SAM, drones!" Ryder hissed. The woman was screaming, clutching her head. Ryder lobbed a flash grenade and sprinted—no time no time—her eyes closed, her nose stinging with ozone. Two of her fingers were badly jammed, numb and stiff and uncooperative. She dropped the combat drones behind her, anything that could buy her some time, fumbling to swap out shotgun for pistol—she needed precision, not force—

Ryder ducked around the building's corner, hearing her drone detonate, the Krogan's furious roar. She peeked out, snapping off her pistol's safety and aiming—breathe, breathe, breathe—her brother had always been better shot and always, her dad saying the same thing: "You're all over the place, you need to focus, you need to let go of everything else, you need to be empty."

And they hadn't understood, her army friends or her teachers, why she spent so much time at the firing range. Because she was a good shot, she was steady and practiced and not everyone can have perfect eyesight, a little blurriness wasn't the end of the world, her natural endurance would have been wasted on a sharp-shooter anyway, she didn't have to be a sniper—

Flash grenade hadn't worked, hadn't blinded him, the Krogan saw her, he was aiming, he was—

But she wasn't the same person anymore.

Ryder shot. A single, clean crack of a noise. It was almost beautiful.

The Krogan was dead, though still standing, still rocking forward, his body struggling to understand the death of its brain. Ryder stepped. One foot forward, then the other. She expected to feel something, elation or nerves or, just, anything. The cannon slipped from the Krogan's grip, banging loudly on a rock as it fell. The woman with the lipstick was still alive, but sobbing. Ryder bent to pick up the bone-blade and the Krogan finally crumbled, as the woman too surrendered to unconsciousness.

Ryder stepped over the dead Salarian and squinted through the dark lab, fumbling at the walls for lights. Her head was starting to ache, even as the air just to her left rippled, and Ryder dodged—throwing herself deeper into the darkness as the living Salarian tried to bum-rush her. "Cut the shit," she hissed, swinging the bone knife out, and cutting, and there—at last—were the lights.

The other Salarian's hands pressed over his chest's gash, gasping. He panicked as the lights came on, fumbling with the lab's tables for a weapon. He snatched and threw blindly—pencils, vials, half a sandwich, a Bunsen burner—Ryder moved forward, listening to the raspy, frantic gasp of his breath. "Stop," she said quietly. "Sit down."

He froze, still quivering, large eyes darting sideways, up—not a fighter, not even a real scientist, she could see the burn marks and the ink stains on his sleeves. Imperfect, a cook rather than a chemist. His long, thin fingers flattened protectively over the cut she'd given him. "Pathfinder," he managed to squeak out. "I don't want to die."

"Then sit. I need to scan."

"The computer's locked. I'll let you in," the Salarian babbled. "It has everything. All our trials. I didn't think the Nexus would get involved, it's not like we're that important—"

Ryder's hands clenched. Her temples were throbbing, insistent. Empty. She had to be empty. "It's a problem when you start tearing kids into itty bitty pieces. Who knew?"

"We—what? We didn't. I swear, we didn't. Is this about those murders?" He was still babbling as she steered him bodily towards the computer, watched the long, spindly fingers strike the keyboard. She could feel SAM sync up, drain the data, screens and lights flashing wildly, painfully. Ryder closed her eyes, wincing.

"Yeah," she rasped. Not much longer. "Yeah, it's about the murders."

"It wasn't us," the Salarian yelped. "My god. I don't know anything about that. But if you're here—then someone must have been on the drug. PX-92230. I don't know, I didn't even handle the selling. I was quality control."

"How can you be quality control if the product is still evolving?"

The Salarian blinked. "What? It's not." His attention swung away from her, as was often the case with Salarians. He prodded the flesh near his wound, seeming terribly young, almost childlike. "PX-92230 is a mood modifier, a…an antidote. When people begin coming out of stasis, many of them require extensive psychological care. For whatever reason, the centuries of suspended life activity leaves them with an intense, chronic depression. They can treat you for it on the Nexus, but it takes time, and many of us left the Initiative before we could complete treatment."

Ryder could only stare at him, her ears ringing. Leave. She had to leave. "It's not…it's not a party drug?"

"What? No!" The Salarian had nearly yelled in outrage, but now coughed, wincing. "I'll admit we're a knock-off brand, but the effects are the same as what the doctor ordered. We help people. Pathfinder, you can see for yourself. You have our records."

Her hands had started to shake. Ryder hesitated. He could be lying. Or she was missing something, she should—she should burn it, she should burn the whole place to the ground, they'd shot at her—

She stared down at the Salarian, her gut twisting. She hated killing Salarians. They were always so young.

Pathfinder, we need to force uninstall your combat matrices or else risk overload.

"No," Ryder ordered. She turned, and broke into a staggering run. Leave the Salarian. Leave the busted lab. Leave the woman in lipstick, the dead Krogan. They weren't innocent, she told herself. They weren't murdered. "SAM, leave the matrices. Upload all data to the Tempest, have Suvi c-cross reference with the Nexus." She shook her head. Had she just stuttered? Shit.

She kept running, her eyes slitting, something comforting about the even pound of her feet against the ground, the air rushing past her. She threw on her jets, bouncing down the mountain side faster than she should have, faster than she could really control or stop. Her matrices were still running, still nudging her away from a jammed ankle, a smashed spine. She crash-landed against the Nomad, rolling awkwardly into the driver's seat. She slumped forward into the steering wheel, her body still remembering, her body and her vehicle's smart sensors driving her a full fifteen kilometers forward to safety, to desolation.

Ryder fumbled at the car door, rolling out, dropping painfully to her knees. She huddled down. Head: officially zero inches from the ground. Shields: fully functional. Sharp objects: at a safe distance. Armor: very secured.

She focused on Reyes. It was harder to fully picture him than she would have initially guessed. Her mind felt like a camera struggling to focus, so that by the time she'd finished recalling the timbre and roll of his voice, the way he dragged some letters or skipped others or had a way of changing questions into implications—she'd lost herself, given up too much room, so now the mouth that spoke the words she could so perfectly recall became opaque, and overly soft.

It was easier to remember flashes of him than the full picture—the slight squint, his wide shoulders, how he never seemed to face her completely. Despite herself, this incompleteness disturbed her.

Pathfinder, our synchronization levels are rising.

"I know," Ryder mumbled.

Why are you doing this?

The question she definitely did not want to answer.

Children torn to pieces, faces grown from moss, the sick feeling she was learning to associate with plants and wine and debauchery, a sort of sick paranoia, the way he looked at her, his face destroyed by bullets, Keema Dohrgun sitting high upon her throne, the lies, the—

Her head was ringing, and tinny, her ears full of metal. Ryder grit her teeth. She opened herself to fear. Fear of fire, fear of starless space, a void that could overtake people, a void that lived in everyone. Fear: Reyes, too far and too close. Fear: the ground beneath her fingers—a tremor? Footsteps! No.

P-Pathfinder you are approaching critical synchronization levels—

"Let it run," Ryder gritted out. Her face was bloated, bursting. Had she really endured this before? Had she hidden this, from Liam and Jaal? Was she insane? Something scratched away at her peripheral vision, an intrusion, an ill-fated visitor.

Ryder opened her eyes, her body vibrating, her heat pushing out in waves to feel the vast room around her. The Collective's Base. And Keema, sitting on her throne, up above her. Ryder stared up at the other woman, watching her pour, watching her drink. The wine became beautiful, molten ruby as it swallowed the light. It stained the Angara's lips, which were spreading, and smiling, and there was a taste at the back of Ryder's mouth, something thick and bitter—tannins from an old red, the exposure of some dead, crushed vegetable. Plants. Keema wasn't looking at her.

There was something else, too, a kind of roar, a thing that hugged the room's windows. The pressure that is felt upon being stalked by some great predator.

Ryder turned slightly, following Keema's gaze, and there was Reyes—one hand smoothing back his hair, one reaching behind his back, looking for something hidden. He moved so slowly, like a man that had been poured from a honey jar. Her mouth sweetened, just seeing him. She knew, too late, his saunter.

Reyes, his mouth curving up, the space in his eyes opening to allow room for expression, for romance—then vacant, dead, his body collapsing in a slow arc back from her, and laughter—ugly, laughter like a gunshot, like the silence that enters when life has left.

Traitor, Ryder wanted to say, and she turned away from Reyes, his silence. She looked back up to Keema, and the Angara's seat atop power, but Keema's hands were empty. The glass she'd once held was now shattered, and the Angara's rich, complicated smile now deepened, cut like a diamond. She held no weapon. She held no malice.

She was looking into the shadows, the shadows just past Ryder's shoulder. And Ryder realized that she'd been wrong, that Reyes had been shot from behind, he'd never been harmed by Keema at all but now his murderer was just behind her, and the windows, the thing beyond the windows was swelling—

And Ryder turned and she stopped and she saw the gun, the lies, the face of the killer. The room's windows burst inward as a great tide rushed in, drowning them.

And then, she saw nothing, she saw the sound of white noise.

A man's feet, his legs. The man, stooping to lift her, and without meaning to, she began to cry. "You came," she said, and then nothing else.

The thing under her head was alive.

Military training kept Ryder still as she awoke. The thing under her head shifted. Thighs? A familiar smell. Someone's voice, she didn't know them, they were talking about their route up the Corsica valley, a blockage in supply lines…smugglers? Ryder sniffed again.

"You're awake," Reyes' voice spoke. Ryder opened her eyes. He was looking down at her, closing out of whatever he'd been reading on his omni-tool. A lazy swing from an old fan twirled overhead. They were towards the back of an old cargo area, mostly empty, while at least two pilots chatted on the bridge.

"Hi," Ryder managed to whisper.

"Good morning," Reyes replied. Ryder sat up gingerly, wincing in anticipation. She didn't hurt as much as she'd expected. He'd found her somehow (she still suspected a chip) and brought her on one of the Collective's ships, something small and slower than most people would guess. Her armor was lying in a neat pile on the floor near her.

"You're pretty good at finding me. Insert romantic platitude here." Ryder glanced at him hopefully, poking carefully around at her old injuries. Nothing seemed disturbed. Reyes glared.

"You were bleeding from your eyeballs when I found you, you know," he said.

"Ew." Ryder immediately rubbed at her face. No blood. Her eyes stung. "I mean, hardcore, but super gross."

Reyes raised an eyebrow. "So? You've obviously had another seizure, I can only assume either something went wrong with your AI and I should be taking you to a surgeon—or you did it on purpose and I should take you to a psychiatrist."

"It's helpful that Lexi is both," Ryder acknowledged. Reyes was still glaring at her. She shifted her gaze, swallowing. It would be easier to spend time with him if she didn't have to keep up the evasive maneuvers.

"So? Am I still dead in your visions?"

Ryder stared determinedly at the ceiling. "You don't have to sound so flippant about it."

Something flashed across his face. "Yes, then. Obviously. I've heard about your prediction matrix thing from one of your crew. So, what did you see? Who killed me?"

Ryder hesitated. She chewed the inside of her cheek and regarded him, wondering how long it would take for her to learn the trick to lying well. A lock of hair had broken free from the others, and swung now across his brow. Ryder reached up. She smoothed it back in place. She wanted to put everything back, just the way she found it.

"It was you," she admitted. "You did it."

It had been him—walking out of the shadows, old swagger, an echoed memory of the day he'd revealed himself as Charlatan, a pistol in his hand—shiny, silver and antique. A pistol her father had owned, a memento from some family member. It hadn't made it to Andromeda. It was a pistol that could never kill him, only her own idea, her perception of what a pistol should look like. Ryder frowned.

Reyes snorted. "Oh. Well. That makes security pretty easy."

"No—" she began to protest, throat closing. "You don't understand. I don't think it's literal."

But he was rising, brushing himself off. Dismissing her fear. "I've never been the suicidal type." He fixed her with a hard look. "Can you say the same?"

Ryder stumbled to her feet, chasing after him. The cargo ship was unsteady, veering through tight canyons with old, hashed up tech. She had been spoiled by the Tempest. She needed to keep one hand on the wall—or maybe that was her own vertigo? "Reyes, wait!" she insisted. "I was wrong about the drug ring—"

"I know," he interrupted. Why wouldn't he look at her? She stared fixedly at the hard tendons of his neck, where the muscle met his hairline. Right there. She wanted to kiss him right there. But Reyes was still business, still talking. "Your crew's been in touch. Those records you found check out. That base you found was run by criminals, but they're hardly cultists. Your science officers seem to think that the drugs were purchased from the base you found and then modified by the cultists somehow. We've been cross-referencing the buyers while you recovered."

Ryder froze.

Reyes, still angrily striding away from her, took several paces before turning. "What?"

She'd killed them. Not innocent. Deserving murder?

Ryder licked her lips, her heart suddenly pounding. "What about the bodies?"

"The bodies?" Reyes echoed. He frowned at her. "What bodies?"

"The chemists. The people at the base. I killed—three of them, maybe four." Stop. Stop. Stop. Ryder took a breath. Even Addison would tell her, these things happened. People made mistakes, even Pathfinders. Let it go and move on. "I just—I just thought, maybe—" she trailed off, clamping her mouth shut. She thought what? That an exception should be made; that acknowledged criminals should be extracted from a lawless land just so they could be buried somewhere else? For what, her own childish sense of guilt? Ryder swallowed. "Nothing. Sorry."

She wanted to put her armor on. With that determination, Ryder turned to leave him. She'd ask the pilots to drop her at their earliest convenience. She'd radio Gil, ask for an extraction—

Reyes caught her wrist. "Hey," he said, more gently than she'd expected. Ryder held perfectly still, focused on making not one single noise. She felt, before he spoke, the slight shift of his grip, a loosening. "I want to surprise you," he said. "Have you played the game where you close your eyes, and someone leads you to a present?"

Ryder sniffed. It was either sniffing or irreversible water damage at this point, and she really didn't want to cry. "What kind of present?"

"A good one," he promised.

She rubbed her face with her sleeve. There were a lot of things she wanted to say, but nothing seemed ready to come out. Instead she closed her eyes, and let him take her hands. She followed him, lurching with the ship, but somehow never stumbling into walls or tripping. After some time had passed and they'd made probably a shorter journey than she would have guessed, he helped her sit. Ryder spread her hands across the cool, flat surface in front of her. "Are we in the kitchen?"

"Yes."

"Are you feeding me?"

"Close."

With her eyes still closed, Ryder laid her face against the countertop. It was cool, soothing against a face that felt so swollen, so damp. She'd absorbed her tears back into herself. She didn't want to think about this anymore. "I can't really cook," she told him. "I guess most people can't anymore. But my dad liked it. That surprises people. When he died I—there was this one thing he would make me on my birthdays. I mean, mine and Scott's. I don't know why he kept making it, it was this…I think it might have been Chinese, this kinda dumpling soup thing. Scott really liked it but I never finished mine. When he died I, um, I had another birthday and I kind of wanted to keep the tradition going. I wanted to make it again, but I couldn't. I don't know what it's called."

The chair across from her scraped back, and Ryder startled upright, her eyes flying open. Reyes froze, his arm outstretched. He'd been just about to press a mug of something brown into her hands. Ryder blushed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to look."

"It's fine," he shrugged her off. She drew the mug to her chest, sniffing. Something with booze. Something with fire, and chocolate. Reyes caught her eye and smiled. "What my father made me. So I'd shut up and sleep."

Ryder started to laugh, and then quickly stopped herself. She sounded awful, like someone about to have a nervous breakdown. "Thanks," she rasped, and took a quick sip. And then a big one. She hadn't realized she'd been freezing.

"Let's stop splitting up," Reyes said. She looked up at him, still clutching her mug. He shrugged. "I mean it. Let's just stop. You're here, I'm here. You can't order me away like you can with everyone else, so at least someone will be around to watch you rampage." He shrugged again, now with an odd, dismissive gesture. "I don't want to fight anymore. You'll do what you want."

She looked down into her mug. "I'd like that."

"Okay."

"My brother probably won't." Ryder muttered, more to herself.

Reyes leaned across the table, face intent. "So what? You're the Pathfinder, not him. I know you want to help people, but you've gotta stop taking their shit. You've earned your title. You've done so much—too much. In fact, I think you should step back. Let people figure things out on their own for once, or at least stop doing everything by yourself."

She finished her spiked hot chocolate. There wasn't anything else left for her to hide behind. "I know, Reyes," she admitted, her voice shrinking. "I know. I get it. I'm tried of it too. But I just…can't. I can't let go yet. I just don't want something bad to happen. I don't want to fail."

"You won't. You can't. You've already succeeded. Look at what you've done."

"I don't want to be—just, you know, some girl with the famous dad who fucked everything up. You know, I—I didn't really want to come to Andromeda. I guess not that much was happening for me in the Milky Way. I was just, you know, normal. I'd just finished school, my military training. I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do next but I—I had friends and, like, a favorite bar. I had things. I wanted adventure but I didn't—I mean, Andromeda's so…so far. There's adventure and then there's…I don't know. I didn't want to leave everything behind. But my dad did. For him, he took off the past like it was nothing, like a…like a shrug." Ryder stopped. She felt uncomfortable, the way he was looking at her. He wasn't smiling. She'd spent so much time wishing he'd take her seriously, only to discover how much harder it became when he actually did. She started speaking to her toes.

"I found out later that there was…some shit going down. Some war I didn't know about. But he didn't tell me. He didn't tell me any of that. He told my brother and me that he'd signed up as Pathfinder for the Andromeda Initiative, and Scott said he'd go, like no hesitation. Plus, mom had just died, so, I—what the hell was I supposed to do? I had to go. I would have followed them anywhere."

Reyes nodded. She could just see the bottom of his chin, the edge of his sympathy. "When I got in the cryo pod, I thought maybe I'd never wake up," she admitted. "I guess lots of people did. Some of them were right. Even then, I followed them."

"I'd say it worked out okay," Reyes said. Her shoulder twitched, rather than shrugged.

"Yeah. I guess." Her dad was dead. Ryder swallowed. "I can't really remember it, honestly. Before. Do you ever feel that way? We haven't even been in Andromeda that long but sometimes…sometimes I wonder if the person I was before just disappeared when I became the Pathfinder. I know that sounds dramatic. Sorry. I didn't mean to be such a bummer."

She couldn't look at him. She'd felt less exposed with his head between her thighs, and she could feel him now as he watched her, the weight of his gaze, the way he saw everything. She wanted to evaporate.

His hand curled around hers, pulling. She let herself hide against him, let him pull her upright. He twirled her slowly around, and when she was at last brave enough to face him, the look on his face was almost gentle.

"Do you remember the first time we did this?" he asked. She rested her cheek on his shoulder as they drifted, now hardly moving. She felt heavy, her body handing loosely from its spine as she swayed with him, puppet-like. Back and forth and back, hypnotic, the swing that was used to put babies to sleep.

"Of course I remember," Ryder murmured. "Why did you think I could forget?"

He held her back, her hip. Not enough. "You're a busy woman. I would never be so arrogant."

"Shut up," Ryder grumbled. They held each other, still gently moving, and she breathed carefully, trying to pull out the smell of his neck. "I thought you were kind of corny." She admitted. "It made me let my guard down. But then I wondered if maybe that was the point, if it was a feint."

"Why, because I did the things you wanted?"

Ryder narrowed her eyes. "Exactly."

Reyes laughed. There was a longer pause than Ryder expected, one full of his indecision. Finally, he said, "It's true. I was corny. I wanted to try being different."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know," he sighed. He pulled her hair tie, dragged it loose. He considered her, for so long she began to blush. "Maybe I should say this makes you look softer. But you know, it doesn't. You're still the same." He brushed a few strands behind her ear. She hadn't known they could feel so sensitive, so nervous. She had thought that she'd feel differently about him once they'd had sex, but that wasn't true. She still didn't know him at all.

"You're always talking about being different. About changing," Ryder noted. She asked, knowing he wouldn't tell her, "Why?"

Sometimes, his eyes looked green. They did now. His head bent, and he kissed her. She would never get used to him. She kissed him back, trying to soak her way inside. She could feel herself coming up short, tripping over some hidden wire. She couldn't tell who or what was responsible anymore, who was to blame, she could only keep trying to force her way through.

"It's because I hate the idea of destiny," he whispered in her ear. "Because if that's true, then what's the fucking point? Why are we even alive? My life was supposed to be something very different. You, too. We became different people, when we came to Andromeda. Nothing was certain. Everything could be chosen. And I want you to choose me, a person you should never have met. Choose me anyway."

Her world, in that second, became they point of a dreidel. The universe could only spin around them, and he was right there at her center, unmoving. Ryder swallowed, her lips parting, because even as her head became perfectly empty, even as something unnamed shook within her, she knew that she had to—she had to say something—

His hand covered her mouth, catching the little noise she had started to make. Reyes was looking down at her, with an unyielding intensity. "Or don't. But stop trying to see the future. Stop believing that there's only one outcome. It'll be okay. And more than that, I don't want to see you hurt like that again. Trust me. We'll find a way. Trust me."

He didn't lower his hand. His palm was warm, a little chapped. He wouldn't let go until she nodded. She didn't want him to let go at all.

She nodded.

#reyes/ryder #reyes vidal #sara ryder #ryder/reyes #femryder #mass effect: andromeda #mass effect andromeda #keema dohrgun #cora harper #scott ryder #nakmor drack

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nochubunny · 8 years ago

Text

Love Yourself | Pt. 1

Genre: Fluff

Pairing: (Personal Trainer) Jimin x Reader

Length: 3.6k

Warnings: M for some language. Don’t read if you’re sensitive about weight issues. Eventual smut not in this chapter.

There was something mesmerizing about having the ability to transform the human body, at least for Jimin it was. Countless of men and women with various shapes and sizes has come to him in hopes of improving their bodies for many reasons. Some to get used to a healthier lifestyle, others to gain muscle, or some to lose weight. His job as a personal trainer had its ups and downs. The worse was whenever a client wanted to quit the training because they couldn’t handle their fitness schedule leaving him without work until he could find another. However, the pros outweighed the cons and what he enjoyed the most was the results. It was extremely satisfying not only for the client, but for him to see that all the hard work had been paid off. He loved the boost of confidence they get once they had reached their goals.

He recently finished the six months training he had with his last client who had a beginning weight of 150 pounds with a height of 5’4” and a BMI of 25.7. She was just slightly overweight but it was something that a change of diet could easily fix. However, she wanted her weight to go down to 120 and to get used to eating healthy. She was a breeze to work with and he could tell she was determined to keep up even though she had a pretty busy schedule herself. The 6 months rolled by quickly and she ended up being 118 pounds with a BMI of 20.3 which was a good balance of body fat and muscle mass. The girl was ecstatic and to celebrate she invited Jimin to a little get together at a nearby club with a few of her other friends.

“Even though you lost more weight than you originally planned, do you really think you should be drinking?” Jimin teased as he grabbed his phone and keys from his desk.

The girl stood by the door of his office and scoffed. “I’m not going to drink Min. I just want to celebrate and maybe dance a bit!”

“I was only kidding Yeon. You know I’ll be there for you baby girl.” He smiled and ruffled her hair as he walked past her and towards the front of his studio since it was time to close. The girl’s face lit up and she followed closely behind as he shut off the lights and went outside.

“I can’t believe time passed by so fast. I really enjoyed the training sessions and I even learned how to cook healthier foods! You really are amazing Jimin and I can’t say it enough.” The girl said as they both now stood in front of the studio. “I’m seriously going to recommend everyone I know to you. Even though you take one client at a time I’m sure your waitlist will be piled up enough to last you years!” She exclaimed and Jimin let out a boyish laugh while rubbing the back of his neck.

“I really appreciate it love, it was a pleasure working with you.” He said while locking the door and he turned to face her with a warm expression. “You’re always welcome to stop by whether it be just to say hi or if you ever need any more guidance.”

“Thanks but about that, I wanted to also let you know that I’m going to be moving to America in a couple of days with my parents. Something about my dad’s business or whatever.” The girl pouted. “I won’t be able to stop by but I will try my best to keep in touch.”

“That’s pretty far from Korea but I’m glad you plan on still keeping in touch.”

“Of course! But look at the time, it’s already almost 7 so I need to go get ready for later. See you at the club Min!” She said as she rushed her way to her car and waved at him once she got in.

Jimin returned the wave and watched as she pulled out of the driveway and onto the busy road before going into his own car.

The club was unusually packed for a Monday night but Jimin didn’t give it more thought as he made his way around the moving sweaty bodies and towards the VIP room Chaeyeon had rented out for the night. He made his way inside and there were at most twenty people inside and they all greeted him warmly. He took his place by Chaeyeon and she stood up to get everyone’s attention.

“I just want to thank you guys for coming today. I’ve told a couple of you guys already, but I wanted the rest of you all to know that in a couple of days I will be moving to America. Luckily just in time I was able to achieve my goal of getting my dream bod thanks to this handsome man right here.” She gestured to Jimin who was smiling sheepishly as people applauded and cheered a bit. “If it wasn’t for him I’d still be moping around eating fried chicken in my room all day. Anyways, this day isn’t just about me but also Jimin. I want you guys to keep him well taken care of tonight and make sure that his shot glass is always full! Let’s get him drunk!” She let out a laugh as Jimin sat there with wide eyes as someone shoved a glass in his hand and it was soon filled with some type of liquor. “Bottoms up!” She said as everyone started downing their own glasses.

Jimin quickly followed after, furrowing his brows as he felt the bitter liquid going down his throat. His shot glass was instantly refilled and he turned to the person who filled it and the random guy simply smiled at him and gestured for Jimin to drink up. A couple of hours later, he already lost count of how many shots he drank. He didn’t really enjoy the club scene because he was the type to enjoy drinking in a quieter and secluded place. The loud club music was a bit irritating but he wanted to look like he enjoyed the party to not ruin the mood. Everyone was dancing and grinding against each other, some making out in the corner of the room. He looked around for Chaeyeon and smirked to himself as he saw her drinking straight from a bottle while dancing with a couple of guys. So much for not drinking tonight. He thought to himself as he downed another shot. The rest of the night was a blur and he somehow made it home that night after hugging Chaeyeon and bidding farewell to her, unsure if he would even see each her again.

Jimin jolted up from his bed as his annoying alarm noise filled the room. His head was throbbing and he cursed himself for drinking way too much knowing he would have to work today. He shifted his body to turn off the alarm and noticed a bottle of water and some aspirin with a note on top of it on his nightstand. He grabbed the note and laughed to himself as read the content.

You’re welcome handsome.

-Drunk Jimin (;

Grinning, he shook his head as he took the pills and drank them with the water. He plopped back down onto his bed and sighed. It usually took a month at most to get a new client but he was hoping he could get one soon. With that he got up to start his morning routine of jogging for 30 minutes and then taking a shower. Once he got out the shower he dried his hair and wrapped a towel around his waist and started brushing his teeth when he heard his phone ringing from in his room. With his toothbrush in mouth he headed into his room and grabbed his phone to see who was calling him. He raised a brow when he saw an unfamiliar number pop up on his screen but he still picked it up and answered.

“Hello, is this Mr. Park Jimin?” An older woman spoke and Jimin was slightly surprised because she sounded like she was in her 40s.

“Yes this is he.” He said as he continued brushing his teeth with his other hand.

“That’s great! I heard that you are now looking for people to train and I am interested in letting my daughter possibly take up that offer if you are willing to take her under your wing.”

His eyes widened and a sense of relief fell over him at the thought of a new client so soon. He took out his toothbrush to reply, “Oh, of course I’m willing to! I would just need to consult with your daughter before anything actually happens though. I have some free time today so if she can stop by my studio later that would be great!”

“That we can do. We should be there in thirty minutes at most. Thank you for the time.”

“No, thank you for your time ma’am. See you soon.”

Once the call ended he walked to the bathroom and rinsed his mouth out. He looked into the mirror with a grin. I guess I didn’t have to wait long at all. He thought to himself as he got ready to head to the studio.

It didn’t take long to make it to his studio and once he got in he saw his coworker, Seokjin, working with his own client. He flashed him a quick thumbs up and headed towards his office towards the back. Once he settled down in his chair he went through some of his mail then he heard a few firm knocks on his door.

“Yes?” He said as he put down the envelope he had in his hand.

“Hey man, there’s an older lady in the front asking for you. She brought along her daughter and that girl seems like a bitch.” Another one of his coworkers, Jungkook laughed from outside of the door. “Hurry up cause I need to get back to my client!”

“Okay I’m coming!” Jimin replied as he hurriedly got up from his seat to head towards the guests. He nodded towards Jungkook who was heading to the equipment room and continued walking. Bitch huh? Hope she’s not too bad because I wouldn’t want to deal with that for months. He finally made it to the front and saw the older lady with a gentle smile on her face and he looked at you whose face was almost literally in your phone he rolled his eyes and stood in front of the older lady.

“Hello, Mr. Park. It’s nice to meet you finally. This is my daughter (y/n).” She gestured to you who was too into what was on the phone screen and elbowed you to get your attention. The lady then gritted her teeth and whispered, “Greet. Him. Now.” And turned to smile back at the patient boy.

You looked up from your phone and at Jimin then back to your phone and muttered a quick, “Hi.”

Jimin tried to hide his irritation at your rude behavior and held out his hand to you. “Nice to meet you (y/n).” You glanced at his hand and slowly brought your own to shake his. He shook it briefly before dropping it to continue talking. “We can go consult in my office. However, it would be nice if it would be just me and (y/n) because these can get really personal if you wouldn’t mind?” He asked your mom and she quickly nodded her head. “Well then, you can just follow me (y/n). Miss Lee, you can take a seat in the waiting area where there’s water and some snacks if you get a bit hungry or anything. My receptionist, Taehyung, will assist you if you need any help. I’ll try not to take too long.” He reassured your mom and she then made her way towards the waiting room.

It was just the two of you in the front lobby and you can hear Jimin moving around. You finally put your phone down and into your pocket as you watched him take a clipboard and a couple of papers from a nearby table and examining them. “One minute (y/n), let me grab something from the printer. I’ll be right back.” You simply nod and he takes off to wherever he needed to be. Once you were alone, you let out a deep breath and took a look at your surroundings to thoroughly examine the place. It was very well kept and bright. The walls were a soft yellow and the floor consisted of beautiful, white marble. Being an architect major with a minor in interior design, you’ve learned to appreciate the little details in buildings. It was your passion and the fact that this place was aesthetically pleasing made your heart happy. You then looked at the mat by your foot that read Meraki[1] Fitness Studio written in intricate lettering and you smiled softly at the name.

“You should smile more often; you look beautiful when you do.” Jimin’s soft voice interrupted your thoughts and you immediately stopped smiling and frowned at him making him raise a brow and smirk. “I’ve got the paperwork ready now. Let’s go over this back in my office.” He says as he pointed towards the back of the shop and started walking, you followed behind him a couple of steps back. You passed by many rooms, a few occupied with some classes and others with just a one-on-one session. You finally made it to a darker room that completely contrasted with the outside. The walls were garnet red and the floor consisted of warmed-tone tiles. To the right was a dark chocolate love seat sofa and in front of it was a small, black coffee topped with some magazines. In the middle of the room was a wooden desk and once you looked up to examine more of the room you saw Jimin looking at you with his face resting on the back of his hand. Once he caught you looking he shot you a warm smile which caught you off guard and caused you too look down as a tinge of blush covered your cheeks.

“Feel free to look around more. You seem to enjoy looking at our interior.” He said watching you from his desk as you were still looking down at the ground in embarrassment. Cute he thought to himself. “If not, come take a seat.” You slowly nodded and sat in front of him.

“So, at first I thought you were a bit rude when you were with your mother but when she’s not around you seem really sweet. Is there a reason why?” He asked, genuinely curious.

You looked up to find his eyes staring directly into yours and you averted your own to look at the wall behind his head. “We don’t really get along quite well…” You softly replied.

“Oh I see. I don’t want to pressure you into telling me exactly why right now, but since you’re my client I want you to become comfortable around me. I hope to hear about it in the future if you’re willing to that is.” You hummed in response and he continued. “Well let’s get this stupid paperwork done with. Ugh, I hate paperwork so much. Don’t you?” He laughed as he grabbed the clipboard. “First of all, what’s your full name?”

“Lee (y/n).”

“Okay, age?”

“21.”

“Really? We’re the same age!” Jimin smiled and his eyes turned into little crescents which caused you to smile back. “Okay now…weight?” He noticed you shift your eyes down again and quickly stated, “Don’t worry (y/n) I will never judge you for your weight. You are already beautiful as is. This is just for our records.”

“…164.”

“Not bad at all. Now how about your height?”

“5 feet 2 inches.”

“Any health illnesses?”

“None that I know of.”

“Okay we’re done with page one. Next up is your schedule. You can fill this out yourself as I go through the next section.” He said as he handed you the sheet of paper with a blank schedule template and a pencil. You quickly scribbled your schedule onto it as he started on another paper. Once you were done you slid the pencil and paper back towards him and he examined it.

“Free Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays after 12 pm…Tuesdays and Thursday after 2 pm. Not too bad. Saturdays and Sundays are free which is good too. I’m guessing you don’t work?”

“Not as of now.”

“More time for me then.” He whispered with a soft smile. “Now it’s about your eating habits. Do you count your calories?”

“Never done that in my life.” You murmured and he couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

“Same here to be honest. I would be surprised if someone said they did. How many times a day do you eat?”

“Just the normal, three times per day and some snacks in between.”

“Are you interested in having a meal plan along with the training? That way I can monitor what you eat too.”

“I don’t really care that much. I guess.”

“Alrighty. Lastly, do you actually agree to all of this or are you being forced to?” He asked as he once again looked into your eyes.

“My mom really wants me to do this so I guess so.”

“No. You definitely don’t need to be start this if you truly don’t want to. I want you to actually be into this. You’re the only person I will be training and I wouldn’t want to force you do things you wouldn’t like.” He stated while looking at you with such a serious gaze that somehow caused you to look back at him.

“I mean; I don’t mind it. I’m kind of overweight so I could use the exercise…” You answered.

“Are you sure?” His gaze still strong on you. You simply nodded and he began to write a couple more things onto the papers. “Well, I believe in you as long as you believe in yourself. I’m not going to lie. Changing your eating habits and working out is going to be hard at first but after the first month your body will get used to it. I really look forward to our first session which should be tomorrow. Which is Wednesday at 2 pm. I’m giving you homework too. Once you go home I want you to record what you eat for dinner tonight and whatever you eat before coming to the studio. Don’t leave out a snack either.” He said with an amused face as your face reddened slightly. “Well, this is it. How about I lead you back to the front? Wouldn’t want your mother to wait too long.” He said with a wink as he got up from his seat and you did as well.

He opened the door and guided you to the front with one of his hands resting on the small of your back which caused you to shiver slightly. Once you reached the front your mom’s face brightened at Jimin.

“So will you be training her from now on?” She asked with an overly sweet voice that made you cringe.

Jimin only smiled at the older woman and replied, “Yes, tomorrow at 2 will be our first session.”

“That’s just great! I’m excited for her. I’ve already paid the down payment with Mr. Kim. He’s a charming boy if I must say so myself. Any who, thank you so much Mr. Park.” She said while grabbing his free hand. She let go and turned to face you with a forced smile. “Let’s get going sweetie. You have school tomorrow as well as that session.” And she turned around to head outside.

Both you and Jimin stood there a second before you realized you should get going. As you took a step forward, you felt his hand grip your wrist.

“I forgot to ask you for your number.” He said as you looked at him confused. “You know, for work purposes.” He added as you nodded in realization. He then handed his phone to you so you could type in your name and number. Once you gave it back to him he gave your shoulder a light squeeze. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

“Alright.” You replied as you turned around and headed outside. Once you got into the car your mom eyed you with disgust before looking forward again.

“Look at how low you make this car dip when you get in. So fat. I can’t wait until you look like human being instead of a pig. I hope that Jimin guy works you to the bone.” She said as she started the car. You simply ignored her comment, already used to the verbal abuse that has been going on for years. “I don’t know why I never thought of getting you a personal trainer since your lazy ass doesn’t go to the gym. You better go to each session you hear me?”

You only nodded and stared out of the window to block out the rest of her nagging during the car ride. Once you got home you went straight to your room and lock the door then just climbed onto bed. It was only 11 am now but you already felt drained of energy. You felt your sleepiness start to overtake you when suddenly your phone vibrated and a notification popped up. You grabbed it to see what it was and saw a number you didn’t recognize but from the text you knew who it was from.

I’m looking forward to working with you tomorrow beautiful. :) - Park Jimin

You smiled at the message and saved his number into your phone. I guess it won’t be too bad after all. You thought to yourself.

[1] Meraki – (v.) to do something with soul, creativity, or love; to put something of yourself into your work.

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mozillogames · 8 years ago

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You’ll Be Playing Til Dawn In Horizon Zero Dawn

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Have you ever seen the TV show Walking With dinosaurs? It was an old documentary series about dinosaurs, but thanks to the wonders of Horizon Zero Dawn, you can now walk with dinosaurs! You can hear the whir of their gears and the crackling of their servos. Enjoying the warm embrace of their hard metal plating and watching out for the striking glow of their eyes while hiding from their shoulder mounted orbital death cannons.

While they may not be the dinosaurs you remember, the world of Horizon Zero Dawn is meant to be our own, just one thousand years in the future, also with robot dinosaurs, and the only evidence of our modern day society lives on through ruined skyscrapers and overgrown streets.

One of the best things in this game is just the sombre and chilling world. Seeing familiar objects, but overgrown, empty and ruined can be so haunting at times. You have these new societies that have formed, worshiping various fragments from ancient times and having created simple, yet complicated, weapons. There are bows that fire weird pulse arrows and a futuristic, yet rustic tripwire launcher and setter. The juxtaposition that takes place in this land that’s set in the future, but limited to simple tribalistic clans with complex robotic creatures all set against wooden and stone huts adds to this wonderful and unique aesthetic that I got rather enraptured with.

There’s so much to get lost in in the setting of the world, both various biomes you come across as well as the shocking distance between the cultures and architecture of the different tribes themselves. I just fucking loved the world, alright?

The game itself is an open world adventure, similar in style and scope to The Witcher 3, to some extent. In my place of work someone has likened it to Far Cry Primal numerous times, and that doesn’t begin to explain the game, and is ultimately an insult. In terms of stuff to do, there are a number of bandit camps, collectibles and towers littered around the map, however, they aren’t over numerous and you’re not left playing map clean-up. There are vaguely interesting bits and pieces of lore to be gained from at least two of these map items, with one having a rather extensive story for a certain character, another introducing a peculiar character and quest chain.

The world doesn’t feel empty, it’s full of robotic dinosaurs for crying out loud, littered with herds of automated animals, going about their business, but all just waiting to be engaged with and to engage you and make traveling a genuine peril. Sure, the settlements can be a little hit or miss for the most part, but there is still a plethora of interesting quests that take place in this world that I found myself getting completely lost just in living in this world, forgetting about the main story as I was enraptured with these side quests and characters, experiencing the world itself.

This doesn’t mean the main quest line is anything to scoff at, if anything it becomes one of the strongest parts of the game with some of my favorite elements throughout the entire thing. A number of characters are introduced, most of which are placed a thousand years in the past as you learn the history of this world and the events that led up to its birthing, of sorts. It’s incredible as you rapidly get to know all of these characters and I found myself enamored with their story and interactions with this near impossible task they have to undertake, which you obviously have some idea as to the outcome, as Aloy and the world around her are living proof, but how it came to be, watching that mystery unfold is truly outstanding.

I shan’t delve into the story too strongly, just know it’s very good, the only downfall of it is that the very final encounter of the game is a bit weak, but everything else is wonderful!

The characters themselves are all rather interesting, some are flawed more than others, some lost in their devotion to their various cultures and gods, others are “tainted” by the ways of the ancient ones and become lost in a thirst for knowledge and uncovering ancient technology. Aloy is an odd one in this sense as, as my friend put it, she’s either very progressive in her way of thinking, or stuck incredibly in the past, as she takes to incidents very level headedly, not caring for ancient and arbitrary rites that seem to exist purely to limit people. Never hungry for blood or revenge and lost in the ways of a warrior clan, but also oddly not too soft to not know what she wants and how to get it, and at times it feels like she doesn’t quite fit because of her modern way of going about things, well, modern in our sense, one thousand years in the past in the game’s sense, hence my friend’s “progressive/regressive” comment.

The game is not without some flaw, as the climbing in the game leaves much to be desired. Climbing is only allowed when the game deems it so, and this is rarely. Ledges that are shoulder height are insurmountable, as you’re unable to jump high enough to clear them, but the game doesn’t designate them climbable, so you have to rather frustratedly go a fair distance out of your way just to walk up a simple ledge, even when they’re waist height, just tall enough to prove too high for you to jump up and becomes an impossible hurdle, like some kind of lame man’s high jump. Further frustration is added upon the initiation of these climbing segments, whether it be trying to locate the ledge in the cliff face that allows you to grab it, or if it involves jumping directly onto the damn rope/ledge and the game deciding you’ve approached it entirely wrong and you plummet to your death.

Sadly this is something that happened a few times in my experience, I either missed a jump, trying to zip-line down, having to make a leap of faith that even the most devout would struggle with, only to not grab the rope, that’s well above your head, or it’d be trying to take a simple step from one rock to another, maybe onto a log, and the game doesn’t trigger the climbing system, so you’re left taking a normal, non-magnetized step and plummet into oblivion.

I’ve made it known that one of the things that almost ruined the entire game for me were Glinthawks, an aerial carrion mecha whose only whim is to wobble around the sky, never floating still long enough to be even slightly simple and just buzz overhead, dropping ice cold death over and over. Much like dogs, Aloy should be unable to look up, as the camera doesn’t enjoy the soft pan into the ground, as the environment rapidly obscures your vision. It’s not just the annoying combination of nature and camera that sets these flying devils apart as one of the worst experiences in the game, it’s how they detract from everything else that works so well within Horizon Zero Dawn.

With ground based enemies you can lay traps and wires and easily tie them down to the ground. When another enemy comes into the scene you can see them coming as you’re still looking on their plain, maybe not their direction, but a quick spin around will reveal the angry robot gazelle headed at your spine. With Glinthawks, you’re constantly looking up, peppering the sky with arrows, narrowly missing time after time. The rest of the world disappears and all you see is a mech against the background of the sky, craning your neck up trying to keep a track on such a frustrating menace. The only other thing you’ll see approaching are other birds, to add more stress to your day, so you can easily find yourself suddenly taken down by an agitated mechanical alligator and they’re just not fun. There is another flying enemy in the game, the Stormbirds, but they work far better as an enemy as they’re both larger and also come down to the earth far more frequently, not living life above your head, just out of reach forever flying like some kind of aggravating albatross.

As for the rest of the machines, I think I enjoyed all of them. Every machine had a specific way to deal with them, their own weak points and strategies for getting to them. Every single machine is tough in its own right, and the process of learning how to deal with one is great. Not to mention that just because you know HOW to deal with a Fire Bellowback doesn’t mean it won’t still burn away your identity in a blaze of fire. Using and learning the pros and cons of each bit of kit you pick up pays off and works well as you’ll find yourself cycling through your arsenal frequently to get the specific effect that you require.

Horizon Zero Dawn is an outstanding game that I truly loved. The world itself is so enrapturing that I loved looking at the cities, the architecture and the different clothing that scattered the world. The designs of everything were incredible to the point where I’d genuinely consider having figures of every single machine with their strange mechanical designs, even the Glinthawks, the bastards. I love everything that this game stands for, with it being a AAA game that’s done things differently to everyone else, and it’s so easy to just get lost in the characters and world that I highly recommend the game to everyone and anyone. It starts a little slow, but you can quickly find yourself fall in love with a world of mystery and robot dinosaurs with heavy undertones of remorse and loss in the sombre ruins throughout the world, witnessing the final instants of the civilization we live in today.

(You can also watch me play a little bit of the game here)

#Horizon Zero Dawn #PS4 #Sony #guerrilla games #Open World #Action Adventure #video Review #Game Review #Written Review #Aloy #Mozillo

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goodairgeeks · 6 years ago

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Contact seller for warranty info

Why Choose Essick Air AirCare Products?

Essick Air is the umbrella company that runs AirCare. The parent company was founded in 1939, so it has a lot of experience behind its name and products. The business focuses on a variety of heating and cooling products, including air conditioners, humidifiers, hygrometers (those measure humidity), and more.

With all the technology, research, and development behind the Essick Air name, the company could've continued creating its usual products, but it introduced AirCare, a line of humidifiers that are not only effective, but also attractive. After all, if you're going to have a large humidifier sitting in your house for everyone to see, you want it to look good. No one wants a big box that resembles an ice chest sitting in their living room or hallway.

What's the Difference Between the Various AirCare Humidifiers?

AirCare differs from other humidifiers on the market in that the outside design is just as important as the design inside. Not every humidifier resembles a piece of furniture, but they all come with the innovative inner workings you'd expect from a parent company that understands heating, cooling, and the effect humidity has on the air you breathe.

The various AirCare humidifiers come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and technologies. Here's what you can expect from an AirCare humidifier.

Ultrasonic

Unlike many other manufacturers of humidifiers, AirCare does not focus on ultrasonic technology. An ultrasonic humidifier uses high-frequency sound vibrations against a small metal plate, which causes water molecules to break apart into a fine mist, which is the visible vapor you see emitted from the unit. You can find a handful of units that use ultrasonic technology from AirCare.

The benefit of ultrasonic humidifiers is that they require no filters. They're also much quieter than other types of humidifiers. However, you may notice a fine white dust that collects on all your belongings after using one of these units. That dust, while not harmful, could be annoying. It's just the minerals found in your water. Some people prefer to use filtered or distilled water to prevent having to clean up that dust.

Evaporative

This is the category that AirCare focuses its efforts. Most of AirCare's humidifiers are made with evaporative technology, and that may have something to do with Essick Air's focus on evaporative cooling units. Evaporation is an effective method of creating humidity. A wick or filter soaks up the water you put into a tank, and then a fan blows on it. This creates natural humidity through evaporation. Because these units require a wick, it also acts as a filter, so you shouldn't notice any particles in the air or your belongings. In fact, you won't see the vapor created, either.

An evaporative humidifier may seem as though it requires more maintenance, as the wick or filter will need to be replaced from time to time. But you won't need to use demineralization cartridges and there's no white dust to clean up. Evaporative humidifiers may be less expensive, but they also could be a bit louder because of the fan.

Warm Mist

Traditionally, a warm mist humidifier would also be called a vaporizer. As high-tech and sci-fi as that sounds, it really just refers to the vapor that's created and its typical method of boiling water to create steam. In the case of the warm mist humidifiers made by AirCare, it's actually just ultrasonic technology to create vapor. You'll have the option for warm mist.

The vapor created when you choose the warm mist option isn't actually hot the way it is with a vaporizer. It's probably going to be room temperature, at best. It can be preferable when you use a humidifier during the winter, as it can contribute to a slight temperature change in the room. Largely, though, it makes little difference.

What's Missing?

AirCare does not focus on the traditional vaporizer or impeller humidifiers. The traditional vaporizer that requires water to boil to create steam isn't found in this line of humidifiers at all. Neither can you find an impeller humidifier, in which water is flung through a diffuser to create humidity.

You also won't find many mini humidifiers meant for personal use. AirCare puts its focus on changing the air in whole rooms or houses for the health of everyone in your household. So, AirCare's humidifiers are mostly bigger in size, and slightly more expensive.

The 5 Best AirCare Humidifier Reviews

AirCare MA0800 Evaporative Humidifier

Type: Evaporative

Speeds: 3

Humidistat: Yes

Filter: Yes

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Tank size: 3.6 gallons

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Runtime: 36 hours

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Output: Up to 3,600 sq. ft.

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Warranty: 2 years

When it comes to whole-house humidifiers, like the AirCare MA0800 evaporative humidifier, results may vary. It's a medium-sized unit that's meant to put moisture back into the air you breathe for your whole house. The company claims it can add humidity to a 3,600-square-foot space, but not everyone has the same luck with it. It could work well in your 400-square-foot space, or it could pump out enough moisture for your 1,800-square-foot home.

Not only does this humidifier effectively raise the humidity in your home, it's able to adjust to the humidity in your home, thanks to its built-in humidistat. There's no need for you to guess when it's time to refill the tank, as there's a light to indicate when the humidifier is running low. Plus, there's a light to indicate when it's time to change the filter. You should be able to run this humidifier for up to 36 hours before having to refill it, so it's easy to maintain. There are casters on the bottom of the humidifier, which makes it easy to roll this from one room to another. Although this isn't one of the most decorative humidifiers, it is effective. Also, you might have to deal with a noisy fan when it cranks up to medium or high speed levels.

If you don't care about how a console evaporative humidifier looks, then this could be a good choice for adding moisture to your whole house.

Pros

Effective humidity

Includes humidistat

Automatically adjusts

Indicators for refill, filters

Large tank size

Casters

Cons

Not attractive

Noisy at higher speeds

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Aircare Humidifier 696 400HB

Type: Evaporative

Speeds: 9

Humidistat: Yes

Filter: Yes

Tank size: 5.6 gallons

Runtime: 45 hours

Output: Up to 3,600 sq. ft.

Warranty: 2 years

With nine speeds, this AirCare evaporative humidifier is meant to provide you just the right amount of humidity for your whole house. It comes in a credenza style cabinet with two tones of oak color. You can set the speed of the fan yourself for a little or a lot of moisture, or set it to a specific amount of humidity, and it'll run until it reaches your preferred level. The large tanks hold up to 5.6 gallons of water, which means you shouldn't have to refill them often. When it's time to refill, you'll see an indicator on the digital display, and you can use the included hose to easily fill the dual tanks.

The runtime on this unit is supposed to be nearly a full two days, but many people have reported that even on low, it runs for about 24 hours. It's also rated to add moisture to a home up to 3,600 square feet in size, and it manages to do so, especially if you have this unit located near an air return. The casters on the bottom are hidden and help you to move it where you need it. Like many evaporative humidifiers, this one is loud, but this one might be particularly loud.

If you're looking for a whole-house evaporative humidifier with a traditional credenza style, this could be an ideal pick for you.

Pros

Attractive design

Dual tanks

Adjustable humidistat

Indicators for refills

Large tank size

Casters

Digital display

Cons

Very loud

Runtime may be off

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Essick Air AIRCARE H12-300HB Humidifier

Type: Evaporative

Speeds: 4

Humidistat: Yes

Filter: Yes

Tank size: 5.4 gallons

Runtime: 45 hours

Output: Up to 3,700 sq. ft.

Warranty: 2 years

Seeing as how a humidifier is only as beautiful as one decides it is, this AirCare console-style evaporative humidifier is about as objectively attractive as they come. The natural-looking wood grain looks a bit better than a plastic housing, and it's a unique spin on a clunky appliance. Still, the most important part is whether it's able to produce enough moisture to turn up the humidity in your house. This unit does just that and it manages to do it on the lower speeds, even. There's an adjustable humidistat, so you can set this humidifier to run until it reaches a preferred level of humidity, then it turns off.

You can check the digital display to see what the humidity level is at, whether you need to refill the tank with water, or if filters need to be changed. That's right, it was plural: filters. This humidifier requires you to change out an air filter and a wick, so it could end up being a little pricier to maintain than others on the market. The good news is that this tank doesn't require you to fill it up all that often. It holds up to 5.4 gallons of water, and it has a runtime of 45 hours. Generally, most people have had to refill it every 10 to 20 hours, but that will depend on the relative humidity of your home. Also, this unit is ridiculously loud at the highest levels, so you might want to keep it on low settings so you don't mistake it for an airplane taking off in your home.

If you want a whole-house evaporative humidifier that works well even on low speed settings, this one might work well for you.

Pros

Attractive design

Large tank

Adjustable humidistat

Indicators for refills, filter

Casters

Cons

Very loud

Requires two filters

List Element

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AIRCARE EP9 800 Evaporative Humidifier

Type: Evaporative

Speeds: 9

Humidistat: Yes

Filter: Yes

Tank size: 3.5 gallons

Runtime: 60 hours

Output: Up to 2,400 sq. ft.

Warranty: 2 years

It's hard to imagine a humidifier being an attractive piece of furniture, but the AirCare EP9 800 whole-house pedestal style evaporative humidifier comes as close as possible to that. It's still a bit utilitarian in design, but it tries hard to look pretty. You get most of the same features of any AirCare humidifier, but this one seems to be the most popular choice, and that may have something to do with runtime and size of unit. The unit really isn't that big, and the tank only holds about 3.5 gallons of water, yet it's rated for a 60-hour runtime. Most people said they were lucky to get a full 24 hours out of one tank. Still, compared to smaller units, that's not bad.

There's a digital display that lets you know what the humidity level is sitting at, but many reported that the humidistat on the unit seemed to be off compared to hygrometers they used to compare. The most important part, though, is that this humidifier effectively works for large houses. You can bump up the humidity in a house as large as 2,400 square feet. That may be less than some others, but this unit is also a bit smaller. The biggest issue with this one, overall, is the noise. At the lower levels, it's a little noisy, but set it past the third or fourth (and just don't even try with the ninth) level, it's too loud to deal with.

If you're looking for a relatively attractive, smaller whole-house humidifier, this one may work well for your home.

Pros

Attractive design

Adjustable humidistat

Indicators for refills, filter

Optional remote control

Casters

Cons

Very loud

Humidistat doesn't seem accurate

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Essick Air AIRCARE AUV10AWHT Mini Ultrasonic Humidifier

Type: Ultrasonic

Speeds: Variable

Humidistat: No

Filter: No

Runtime: 12 hours

Output: Up to 360 sq. ft.

Tank size: .33 gallon

Warranty: 1 year

AirCare doesn't put much focus on ultrasonic humidifiers, but this little Aurora model is a miniature version that works well on a bedside table or on your desk at work. It can crank out humidity that you can see. This little unit works well at humidifying the air you breathe personally, and it's rated to work for a space up to 360 square feet, but it's likely going to work best in a smaller space. You might be able to get 12 hours out of this humidifier on one tank, but that's at the lowest setting.

This humidifier can double as a nightlight, and it cycles through various colors, or you can turn the light off, if you'd prefer. The best thing about ultrasonic technology is that it's ultra-quiet. Another benefit: No filters needed. You might want to use a demineralization cartridge, but that's optional to help control the white dust that comes with mineral-laden water. There is a potential for leaks or defective units, so this is a risky choice, and it only has a one-year warranty.

If you need a small humidifier and you'd prefer it work as quietly as possible, this one could be the best choice for you.

Pros

Attractive design

Quiet operation

Allows for essential oils

LED nightlight

Cons

Leaks possible

Short warranty

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The Bottom Line

When it comes to air quality and humidity, AirCare knows a thing or two, or rather, Essick Air does, and through its new line of attractive (mostly) humidifiers, it's trying to add moisture to homes everywhere. Choosing the best AirCare humidifier comes down to personal preference. Looking at every feature, claim by the company, and reviews from customers, it seems the best one to go for, objectively, is the AIRCARE EP9 800 Digital Whole-House Pedestal-Style Evaporative Humidifier.

Yes, it's a smaller unit, but it still puts out an impressive amount of humidity. You won't be able to see the vapor, as its evaporative, but you'll know it's working by checking the digital display. It should run for at least 24 hours, and up to 60 hours, on a single tank of water, which means less maintenance for you. You'll have to change the wick every season, but at least it's only the one filter.

The post A Look at The Best AirCare Humidifier Reviews appeared first on Good Air Geeks.

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