#and not one consultation with a wardrobe worker

[beskarfrog]

The most difficult part of being in a relationship with Obi-Wan was navigating all the nat-born courting rituals outside of Cody's awareness. Given that most Jedi didn't go in for that sort of thing, it hadn't been covered in Cody's training.

Despite living together, Cody knew they had yet to go on a 'date.' Work piled up for both of them in the month after the war ended. However, Cody's research told him that Obi-Wan's invitation to dinner and a walk in Coruscant's arboretum that night meant they would tick that box soon.

The problem began when Cody's secretary started gossiping with one of the Coruscant guards. Sitting at his desk, he could hear the pair chattering in the hall. The guard was lamenting her limited wardrobe and that she had nothing to wear for her upcoming date. That set the wheels in Cody's head turning. Clothes weren't something that he thought about often, other than their usefulness in concealing a weapon. He still mostly wore his blacks and dress grays - though he had taken to borrowing Obi-Wan's robes on cold rainy evenings.

Cody frowned at the datapad in his hands. The romance holos that Rex had forced him to watch on shore leave last year flashed through his mind. His perfect memory recalled a detailed montage about picking a date outfit in each holofilm. He sighed, leaning back in his chair. Another nat-born ritual catching him off guard.

Not one to be defeated by a surprise attack, Cody did what he was born to do. He researched, analyzed, and planned an offensive maneuver accordingly. The holonet turned out some useful results.

After work, he took his list of holosite articles to the nearest department store, one he knew Fox frequented regularly. On encountering the barrage of fabrics and colors, he quickly consulted his references.

Hot Trends in Coruscant's Spring Fashion: What You Need to Know

Venator or Corellian Freighter? Your Body Type and the Clothes that Work for You

Cute Looks for All Types of After Dinner Activities

Dating a Co-Worker? Outfits to Drive Them Wild In and Out of the Office

He wasn't sure he was the target demographic for any of these articles, but they helped. He tried on a dozen different outfits, the store attendant helping him sort through the clothing combinations. Some things were too itchy. Others were impractical if they ended up in a combat situation. Still others seemed ugly, even to Cody's limited understanding.

After much deliberation, Cody settled on something comfortable, reasonably priced, and recommended by the majority of his source articles. The attendant even complimented him on his choices. Feeling a strange mixture of confident and nervous, Cody took his spoils home to change.

The only thing left was to gauge the tactical success of his plan based on Obi-Wan's reaction.

[accidentally-in-fictional-love]

omg may I pretty please request 😚and🎵??

Meet Me At The Faire - Hank/Reader

Warnings: Gender-neutral reader, no use of Y/N, unending cuteness, bit of self-confidence issues, fluff.

Wordcount: 15086

Summary: When your rent unexpectedly is raised and you need to make ends meet before your new hours at work kick in, you find a lot more than what you were looking for when you start up a temporary job at the local Ren Faire.

Notes: I started writing this immediately after the last one, even did a lot that first day, but then things kicked in again and between finishing LtF, getting sleep, and both jobs it's taken me all month to finish OTL which is a shame, since this is probably the biggest Hank fic out there and I've really wanted to share it with you this whole time. I adore how much he loves music, like look at that gif, it's cute enough to make a person cry. I loved getting the chance to write this much for him, and even though it's been a long while by now, I hope you see this and enjoy, anon 💗💗💗

This was the only song in my mind when writing the ending, give it a listen if you want the full effect of the finale.

Renaissance Faire worker wasn't your first choice of summer jobs when your rent increased and you couldn't get enough hours, but it certainly was a fun one you were quick to discover. You'd been to them before, school trips as a kid with everyone going their own ways and eyeing up the cool things their allowance couldn't afford. The light had gone from your eyes as you got older and lost interest without the childish wonder of knights and princesses and giant pickles on sticks in place of rent and jobs and bills to pay.

You were all grown up now, and this was the only real job that didn't require you to write up a 20 page resume just for a few extra bucks to keep a roof over your head until you found something more permanent. Your boss was kind and understood the struggles, so, when summer was over, you'd be grabbing up an extra shift or two from another employee who was getting promoted soon, add a few more hours to your current shifts while the rest was handed out to others who'd be there as long as you, it all depended on what he could shift around. You just need to do this first in the meantime, save up before the change took place, prepare for the strain it’d put on on once it all kicked in; it was the best you could do without finding a second full-time job, so once you were approved you hopped into your car and took a visit to the nearest thrift store.

One wardrobe you could donate to charity in two months later and you were ready to step back into the Renaissance Era for a few hours every weekend, the first step in your rent being secured once more now underway; you'd been planning on moving anyways, the extra money would come in handy so this wouldn't have to happen again under the cruel greediness of your current landlord. Satisfied and ready to act, you pulled into the staff lot for the first time, a small badge flashed to the security officer with a bright smile when the nostalgia hit you and hard. All the sights, the delicious smells, it made you feel like a kid again the moment you stepped through the doorway - a tall wall surrounded the area, wooden stakes on the inside and brick on the outside to keep products and property safe as well as immersion - your eyes instantly taking everything in before you could consult your map.

You were stationed at one of the many merchandise stalls situated around the compound, yours in the entertainment area with different shows all around. You got to listen to them depending on which side you focused on, music to the left, jousting to the right, and a rotation of plays ahead, the others were too far to pick out. You preferred the music or the plays, jousting was mostly just yelling after all, and you found the hours flying by as you quickly got used to the life; you ended up sticking to the leftmost stall in the row of three, that selection of merch tended to go the fastest so the extra help was appreciated instead of you being tossed between all three.

Instead of one person doing it all, you were now there to handle the various toys your specific stall sold, knights and wizards and other ‘boyish’ things, your neighbour being plushies of different types from armoured stallions to dragons, the final stall dealing in princesses and other pretty ‘girlish’ things, so each one could be stuffed as full as possible with everything that fell within and around the subjects. While your co-worker handled the money with hands so fast the line was never kept waiting, it didn't take long for you to get used to where everything was no matter which item it was, even the small things stacked in boxes behind the counters, and even though it wasn't the type of work you were used to, you found yourself really looking forward to the weekend even after only two days.

You were so excited in fact you nearly went shopping again to vary your outfits a bit, but you only had eight weeks of this, it was an unnecessary expense considering you planned on donating it all at the end.

Weekend #2 had you packing a lunch, your wallet was straining enough until your paycheck came in so the less temptations from those Faire foods the better, and when your break finally came around to took your paper bag and grabbed a seat at the current play a little ways down the worn dirt path. You stuck to the back so you could get away with eating your modern food, and you were halfway through your sandwich when you found you knew this scene; you tried to recall if you'd already gotten used to it when a line stuck out to you, this was familiar, and you ran the line over and over in your head until it hit you.

‘Star Wars!’ you exclaimed to yourself in recognition, the family ahead of yourself looking back to glare before turning back to the stage.

‘Took you this long?’ someone asked from your left, and you jumped and nearly dropped your food in surprise. ‘Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you, you're just… that's my seat,’ the stranger whispered to you, and you looked back to check for a sign only to make him laugh. ‘I usually sit back here on my breaks, everyone else would rather gather in one of the staff tents and grab some pizza than head to the food courtyard or pack anything themselves, you must be new.’

‘I am, yeah, just started last week,’ you replied, your sandwich started to be put away when he motioned for you to continue, no need to skip your food just because he was there, ‘you been here long?’

‘Yeah, for quite a few years now,’ he told you with his own lunch coming out, his in a worn bag to sell the immersion, he was a pro. ‘My mom got me this job so it'd get me outta the house for the summer, but it was so much fun I decided to stay for the whole year and just never left, what about you?’ He took out a sub on fresh bread, it really fit in more than your sliced bread, and when he took a drink it was from a wooden flask, was he a time traveller? ‘Ha, it's just glued on and painted, my friend works at a stall that makes things so I kinda picked it up on the way with him, so if I need to eat at my own I don't stand out too much.’

‘Smart, I just have a tumbler,’ you grinned, yours covered in stickers of things you liked, and while no one noticed it at your first job, it certainly stood out here. ‘I'm just on for the summer, getting a little emergency money,’ you replied honestly after you finished another bite.

‘Bills?’

‘Rent increase.’

‘Ouch, know how that feels, got so bad at my old place I had to move back in with my mom while I found a new one,’ he winced for you, and while you thought he might complain about that he didn't seem embarrassed about the situation. ‘I'm in a better place now, it's not as big, but my mom likes having her office back. I could give you the address if you want? Not to invite you over or anything, just in case you wanted to consider the building.’

He turned away from you to blush, which he failed at hiding behind a big bite of sandwich and a long gulp from his drink; it was cute, usually people would keep the invitation to their apartment open, even as a joke if the flirting didn't land, but he didn't, he just wanted to help out. It was refreshing to see, so you didn't point out the obvious joke in favour of keeping things light. ‘Glad you were able to find one, apartment hunting always takes it outta me,’ you wished him, which he agreed with. ‘But I've still got two months to search, my lease is up in September when the increase kicks in, so I want to be ready before then.’

‘A friend of mine is really good at finding places, he found me mine, I can get him to look again for you?’ he asked easily, so friendly that he didn't catch how forward he was being in such a genuine way that he stumbled his next words. ‘Or I can just give you the address to mine, whatever you'd like.’

He was too cute for it to be an extension of his immersion, like the flask. ‘Thanks, but I've already started looking and have a couple places in mind, I'll figure things out,’ you laughed quietly so you wouldn't disturb the family ahead of you again, your words drowned out by the audience gasping loudly. ‘They did a good job with this one, do they do other sci-fi movies as old timey adaptations?’ you wondered aloud as you watched along with everyone else a moment, now that you knew what the source was it was interesting to see how they interpreted the sets and costumes, your eyes so focused that you almost missed the way his own were focused entirely on you.

He looked away fast when you turned back to him, his eyes on the ground. ‘Uh, not always sci-fi, but those ones tend to fill the seats the most compared to other modern stuff, as long as it isn't already, y'know, “old timey”,’ he let you know with a small shrug, King Vader being threatened on stage with a proper sword instead of a lightsaber.

‘You must’ve seen a lot of these shows to know what works, do you also work in this section?’ you asked in genuine curiosity, and he watched the actors boast their voices and wave their swords around a moment before longingly shaking his head. 

‘I'm not much of an actor,’ he smiled almost sadly, a wistfulness to him now as his eyes followed their movements; you expected him to say more but he never did, his phone then coming out of his pocket and revealing a lockscreen of him with three others huddling close together for the photo, as well as the time, the only break in his immersion. ‘Darn, I gotta get back, but it was fun talking to you, uh, I never caught your name?’ You gave it to him, and he smiled away the wistfulness again at the sound of it. ‘I'm Hank, it was nice to meet you.’

He shook your hand, and his grip was just as gentle as his smile. ‘Same to you, I'd better get back too, those overpriced plastic swords aren't gunna sell themselves,’ you joked as you both gathered up your unfinished lunches. He chuckled to himself and then he was gone, weaving through the crowds coming in to catch the ending last second so he could make it back to wherever he was stationed in time. You watched him go until you lost him, and made a mental note to stop by the bakery for your shift tomorrow.

You put a bit more effort into your lunch for Sunday, waking up a little earlier than usual to stock your brown paper bag with foods that wouldn't clash centuries with your outfit. It was fun to do so, to put in the effort because you wanted to, not because Management was asking you to, and you figured this must be what he felt when he did the same. You briefly wondered if he was doing the same, you didn't know his shift length, but if he liked the place enough for it to be his permanent job you guessed that he also had one of the all day shifts, not because he had to, but because he wanted to.

It was strange, you'd only just met but somehow he stuck in your mind all night, not exactly a blossoming crush, but somehow still just as powerful in your desire to know more; he was a pro, and while, a month ago, you wouldn't have thought twice about some Renaissance Faire Professional, now he had you constantly wondering if you'd see him again today. The thought made you eager to get to work before opening to explore, see if you could find where he was stationed, maybe become more acquainted with the park outside of your route and section out of pure curiosity. You pulled into the lot, dropped off your belongings apart from your phone - for emergencies only and stuffed into your deep pocket - and your lunch so you wouldn't have to make the long trek back and waste time, and did just so, taking your time while everyone else did some last minute rehearsals, stall setups, fed the animals, all the fun things the people outside didn't see before they stepped back in time.

You traveled the well worn paths weathered from thousands of feet just from the past week alone, getting very acquainted indeed with every other stall and show until you reached familiar ground, and with a bit of time to spare you decided to drop off your lunch and check out a little more past your radius when you heard it; it was soft, a tune played over a phone speaker and muffled by the sounds of everyone else, but not nearly enough to be fully drowned out. You followed the sound, an even softer voice reaching your ears the closer you got, something drawing you to it as you entered the music section, several stalls hosting musical instruments for the kids and fun adults to try out. There was also another walled off stage at the end for the band and other musical acts to rotate through instead of plays and actors, the walls high and thick so the sounds wouldn't clash too much with the stalls and become distracting for both sides. It was bigger than you thought, a lot of them still empty since tuning wasn't needed or was already done so their owners were free to walk around and take their time.

The sound was getting stronger, from one of the stalls near the theater, your eyes scanning every which way until your ears locked in on it to your left, to the furthest booth before you crossed over into the theater where the band was practicing first. You wanted to call out but decided against it, just listening to the soft voice sing along to showtunes instead of more old timey covers like everyone else, your brain scrambling to pick out the name when suddenly it stopped. The quiet made you stumble and try and find it again, but the band was now sharing a stage with the a cappella group and helping them with their pitch, your mysterious singer vanished into thin air. You frowned, they hadn't been bad, their voice soft but still strong enough to show off at least a casual love for singing, but when everyone started to head for their stalls you had to chalk it down to stage fright and race back before the doors opened.

You didn't see him until your lunch was nearly over that day, that week's play more recognizable as Star Wars as you ate your sandwich alone, but you had no time to talk between catching just a glimpse of him heading for the opposite side of the theater, maybe he wasn't in the mood to talk.

Weekend #3 was a lot more enjoyable, Hank surprising you at your stall right before the park opened with a much more friendly hello. Your smile brightened before you could stop it after the cold shoulder, and he didn't miss the way it also cooled when your initial happiness at seeing him again started to fade. ‘Sorry for not joining you last weekend, I had a bit of a cold coming on and I didn't want to risk spreading it by being too close to anyone, I actually had to break immersion and mask up before heading home,’ he apologized before you could say anything, ‘my stallmate wasn't too happy about handling the rush without me.’

‘Kinda irresponsible to come in while sick,’ you said as you continued restocking the displays for the day, with summer break starting and kids more ready to come in, certain toys were selling out faster than others you quickly had to learn.

‘I know, I just- I like this place so much, I thought I could power through,’ he winced so sheepishly that you couldn't possibly be mad at him. ‘But I'm feeling better this week! No more mask.’

You looked him over, saw that he did look like he had a healthy glow to him, or perhaps it was just the way the morning sun was filtering through the decorational trees of the compound and shining down on him. ‘You still should've told me,’ you grumbled just to see him wince again, ‘I could've brought you some soup or something.’

His resulting smile was brighter than the sun. ‘I will next time, this place has some excellent homemade soup down in the food courtyard, it's second to none,’ he grinned widely at you, the feeling spreading before you knew it. ‘You should really try it sometime, have you gotten anything from here yet?’

‘Pickle on a stick, of course,’ you joked as you stood with an armful of merch, but his giggle caught you so off guard you nearly dropped it all. ‘That section does smell damn good though when the wind’s just right and it reaches over here, even with all those horses in the way, how do you stand it?’

‘I don't, I usually grab something to go with my sandwich,’ he admitted without hesitation, ‘why don't we go down today? It'll be busy, but they know me, another one of my friends works there, so I might be able to sneak us around back and grab something good.’

‘Didn't know I was befriending a delinquent,’ you fake gasped, Hank rubbing the back of his neck with a small blush.

‘I like to think of myself as a Robin Hood type, at least when I'm here, I'm more of a ranger when I'm out there,’ he smiled softly, like he was in on a joke you weren't. ‘Although… I do want… nevermind, it's silly.’

You raised an eyebrow at him, your interest piqued. ‘You want?’ you encouraged him to finish, but things were picking up, the gates would open soon, and he needed to return to his own stall. 

‘Maybe next time,’ he offered as he walked away, but he didn't sound very convinced himself as he disappeared into the thin crowd of employees walking around.

You didn't see him again until lunch, Hank sneaking you away from your stall to lead you to the courtyard dedicated entirely to food, as promised. He was already out of breath when he got to you, like he'd run your way the second he was able to, and you just smiled and let him catch his breath as he got you to hurry before the lines took over and you ran out of time. The courtyard was filled with a proper set of buildings, some like food trucks and one big indoor eating area for rainy days. He was leading you to one of the smaller stalls, one that specialized in soups and stews that paired perfectly with their neighbouring stall of fresh breads and other baked goods, the smells of everything hitting you so hard your pitiful sandwich in your lunch bag would never compare.

‘Here, grab us a table, I'll order around back,’ he whispered so the customers waiting patiently in line wouldn't overhear, but you shook your head, you wanted to check out the menu for your first time. He didn't rush you even though you had a time limit, everything looking so good that you had to give in and take his word for it.

‘Chicken noodle, you've got me craving it now,’ you gave in, and he nodded before fully embodying a sneaky Robin Hood and heading around back where he wouldn't be seen. You chuckled and found a thankfully empty table, it was by the garbage bins but that just meant no one would be begging for your seat anytime soon, and you waited admittedly impatiently for him to return with each second the smells made you hungrier. When he returned you felt ravenous at the sight of two large bowls with slices of fresh bread to go with them, his cheeks lighting again at how excited you must've looked, and he went to sit next to you before catching himself and moving to the seat opposite of you.

‘Here you are, freshly made,’ he announced with a flourish when he put the bowl down in front of you, but nerves got the better of him immediately and forced him to hurry up and sit down. ‘I texted them early so they could set some aside from the new batch, I had a feeling you might go with the chicken noodle.’

‘It did come highly recommended,’ you reminded him with a grin, and when you picked up your spoon you couldn't help but close your eyes and breathe in the delicious aroma. It'd been a while since you'd had homemade soup like this, the canned variety was easiest and cheapest to get if you were in the mood, and the first spoonful was like heaven reincarnated into food form. You dipped the bread next and it was so fresh the crust crunched under your teeth. You didn't mean to but you moaned at the tastes, Hank laughing behind his hand at your reaction, and you could tell he was also trying to hide his smug smile at being so right. ‘Okay, you were right, this is amazing.’

‘Toldja, you'll want to come here every weekend now,’ he teased, but you both frowned at the thought of your chances to enjoy this soup as an employee being limited, you were already almost halfway through them. ‘Would… would it be okay if I as- if we ate here again tomorrow?’ he mumbled almost to himself he was so nervous of your answer, and you reached across the table to rest your hand over his to get him to look up.

‘Only if we get to try a new menu tomorrow, then the next weekend, and the next,’ you compromised like this was troublesome, when in reality you wanted nothing more than that, and when he caught on that you wanted to spend so much time with him his eyes lit up so bright you had to wonder if the sun was coming out from the clouds over your heads.

‘It's a da- deal,’ he stuttered, and you let him have that one with a grin of your own as you stole his bread and took a big bite before he could stop you.

The rest of the day flew by after you rushed back to your stalls, your stomach full of soup and making you contentedly full while you finished out the rest of your busy shift. Your feet ached and your back was screaming from all the standing and bending over but you didn't even notice the aches until you got home and flopped onto your couch. You were really enjoying this, you already had been but thanks to him you couldn't wait for your next shift to start so you could hang out again. The thought made you sit up until a particularly painful twinge made you flinch, it not stopping your train of thought as you wondered to yourself, why are we only hanging out at work if I'm enjoying this so much?

You hadn't thought about it before, but if you were this ready to work on Sunday because of a single man then maybe there was something more going on here, something you should be paying attention to. It felt a bit too soon, but you'd missed him while he was out sick, and his presence made a fun job even more fun, so maybe you should see where this went? You didn't want to get ahead of yourself or anything, but it seemed like he was also interested, if you did say so yourself, so you made the decision to test the waters tomorrow over lunch, maybe by asking him to one of the shows while you ate instead of sitting by the garbage. If that went well then maybe you could try something outside of the compound, see if you were compatible for more than just when you were professionally cosplaying as Renaissance workers, and you ate the sandwich you'd made for lunch as your dinner while still in your ‘uniform’, a big smile on your face the whole while.

Because of this decision your heart raced while you drove to work the next day, extra early so you had time to find out where he worked and could meet him for once, and you had an almost giddy skip to your step as you traversed the compound, your mental map getting stronger and stronger with each shift. You reached your crossroads as the starting point and headed in the direction you always saw him go, but when you didn't see him on the main path, and you knew he wasn't in the actor section based on your first conversation, you doubled back and headed into the music section to see if he was there. It was quiet again while the main shows practiced and tuned on the main stage beyond the walls, and you peeked into every stall before music reached your ears: showtunes.

The mysterious singer was here, and you stuck to the walls and listened for them, a soft voice chiming in while its owner got ready while no one was around. You made sure to keep out of sight, channeling your own inner Robin Hood and upping your Sneak Factor all the way to 10 to satisfy your curiosity, you could bail once you knew who the voice belonged to, and you tracked it down to the final stall right next to the wall. The singer hadn't heard you coming over the various noises this time, and you crouched down until your knees were almost hitting the dirt in order to take a peek when you heard them turn away from you based on the sound getting muffled; your eyes widened when you saw who was singing softly to himself, his usually sweet voice even sweeter when you could put his voice to the notes, and your heart pounded as Hank smiled to himself and finished his song.

‘If you will meet me in St. Louis, Louis, meet me at the fair,’ he sang gently, his eyes on the musical-based merchandise he was sorting, your own mouth opening to join in when he suddenly stopped like he could feel your eyes on him; he stood up straight and moved to turn and catch you, your head sinking back down as fast as you could, his footsteps telling you to move. You muddied your hands and knees as you crawled in the dirt to escape his eyes, he obviously didn't want to get caught and you didn't want to stop any potential dates before you could even ask him out, your breath held hard and your movements thankfully hidden over the noise when he leaned out over the wooden counter to look around.

You were safe and so was his secret, although why he didn't want anyone to know he could sing was a surprise to you with how good he was, although you could certainly understand stage fright when he acted like he did off of any stage. Still, even if you wouldn't catch him off guard and potentially embarrass him, you couldn't let this slide, not when you kind of wanted to hear him again, but you didn't feel like sitting in the dirt to do it. You frowned to yourself, this was a tough one, but you'd already made up your mind to see if this could go any further, you were on the shore of the waters you were metaphorically testing at that very moment, you just needed to make sure the splash that would come from this wouldn't be big enough to rock the boat and send you overboard.

Okay, you might've gone a bit overboard just with the metaphor, but Hank did mean a lot to you already, and you took the back way out of the section to get out of there before he decided to search more thoroughly.

It was extra busy for a Sunday since it was so nice out after the rain that plagued the town all night long, and you actually needed to make a run to get more swords of every kind before the kids threw a fit. The stall was fine without you, they were also all pros after all, but you did really need to hurry as fast as you could before any complaints were lodged, the warehouse in the very center of the compound so everyone could get to it. You hadn't been in there yet, everything else was too alluring, but thankfully you did know where it was so you wouldn't get lost, and before you could run in you were stopped by one of the managers.

You could tell that was who was calling to you based on his outfit, managers always wore ‘richer’ looking clothes when they had to be outside, an indication of their both real life and fictional statuses, and you gave the warehouse a glance before rushing over. ‘What is it?’ you asked as politely as you could, the man flipping through a barely disguised clipboard until he found the page he was looking for.

‘We’ve been hearing great things about how well you’re settling in here, you’re the one who’s only on til September, right?’ he confirmed, and you nodded. ‘It says here that you’re only doing part-time shifts, but the summers are always busy for us, and Urith has been telling us every weekend how much she appreciates your help; would you be interested in upping the rest of your hours to full-time, starting today? We’ll update your payroll for today before it goes out, or we can tack it onto the next, whichever you prefer.’

You could hardly believe your luck, getting to double your money would be a lifesaver for the move, and you could only nod in total agreement. ‘Yes, absolutely, thank you so much for the opportunity,’ you finally got yourself to say as he wrote it down, and he tapped the page and gave you a nod of his own as he turned to walk away.

‘You’re here til closing for the next five weeks, then,’ he let you know, a sentence that would’ve given you nightmares at your first job, the words only bringing you joy as you grinned wide and headed for the warehouse. You only had to show off your empty basket for another employee to unlock the door for you, your feet quickly carrying you inside so you could fill up your extra large basket with the desired products. There were containers upon containers of merch, spare outfits and other costume pieces, decorations, and food, as well as a million other things that the workers would need in a pinch. It was a little intimidating to stand in front of it all, but the kids needed you, and you quickly found the section dedicated to products when you ran into someone.

‘Sorry! I'm so sorry, I- You run out too?’ you blurted out in a panic before you saw that it was Hank, his own basket in hand.

‘Yeah, it's crazy out there today,’ he winced as he thought about the pandemonium waiting for him, which made you do the same, but getting to see him for just this brief moment was enough to let you focus again. ‘My stall is fine, but the guys next to us ran out of plastic flutes, so I offered to grab him some,’ he explained as he looked for what he was searching for, the box in question up high and just within his reach. He set his basket down and stood on his tiptoes to get it, your eyes drawn to the way his costume lifted up just enough to become untucked from his pants and show off a little bit of hip and stomach; you quickly looked away and focused on your own search, one of your own boxes also up high just to your luck, and this one unfortunately not within your reach.

Once the rest of the swords were stacked in a way that wouldn’t poke you, you needed to grab a ladder in order to get up to the most desired ones, you didn't want to distract him while he loaded up, and you climbed the few rungs in order to get your preciously needed toys. You were used to the weight of the packed up merch, so that wasn't a surprise, but the way it threw you off balance that high up and made you wobble, that's where the surprise lay; you let out a yelp as the ladder tilted back before you could correct it, you were going down, so much for that second month of double pay, when you felt hands catch you before you could hit the ground or the shelves behind you. 

Hank cradled your head to his chest as he stumbled to the floor with you in his arms, the ladder clattering to the ground with a loud series of bangs that filled the room all the way up to the ceiling; he was protecting you from any damage of the fall, and this close you could smell his deodorant hidden under the smells of the heat and Faire. It was enough to make your heart race, you'd never noticed before outside surrounded by people, but in here you could tell that he smelled good, and you nuzzled into the crook of his neck as he worriedly checked you over to make sure you weren't hurt.

‘Are you okay? I should've spotted you, I'm so sorry, you could've really hurt yourself,’ he panicked above you, but you were perfectly fine thanks to his quick thinking, and you let him know it as you backed up and pretended like your cheeks were red because of the scare.

‘I'm good, thank you, you caught me in time, maybe you are the Robin Hood type after all,’ you joked as you straightened yourself up, your words now making him blush once he was sure you really were fine. He let out a nervously small laugh as he retrieved your box for you and helped you load up the remaining space in your basket, but when it all proved to be heavier than his flutes he offered to switch.

‘You're on the way, I don't mind,’ he blushed without looking at you, and you couldn't say no in light of what he's just done for you, your hero.

‘If you're okay with it,’ you conceded immediately just to see him smile at being able to do this for you. ‘I think this might cut into our lunch with how hectic it is out there, would you want to- I mean, you don't have to, but I'd like to treat you for all this, I might've had to make a serious trip to the medical tent if I'd done this alone,’ you tried, testing those waters to see if he'd take the bait, and you got your answer right away when his eyes lit up.

‘Really? We can just meet up for lunch next weekend, you don't have to cancel any plans for me,’ he offered to give you an out, but you wouldn't take it, you were on a mission here after all.

‘I've got nothing going on, why don't you meet me at the café by my place Friday night and we'll go from there?’ You said it as nonchalantly as you could, you didn't want to scare him away after all, and he fumbled around with his own basket for a moment, passing it between his hands before reaching out to take yours so you could switch.

‘Do you want me to dress up so you recognize me out there in modern times?’ he joked with a small smile shot to the ground just in case it didn't land, but of course it did, that was why you were doing this after all. You handed over your heavy basket and took his, felt the way the wicker was still warm from his hands, and you made sure he saw your smile as you started to back up towards the door.

‘It's a date.’ He choked on air with a nervous laugh, you had to be joking, and you took pity on him and laughed as well. ‘I'll give you my number after closing, don't want everyone out there seeing technology after all,’ you grinned, relishing in your success as you rejoined the rest of your small world, the two of you hurrying back before the era-appropriate torches and pitchforks were pulled out in response to their toys not being available. You kept close to him through the crowds, your free hand held over the basket to make sure nothing was snatched when you weren't looking, and it honestly felt pretty on brand when the children without coins eyed your wares; absolutely not, you wouldn't get fired over this, but there were more dangers out there, one of them being the still muddy ground your gripless shoes were currently trampling, and when you stumbled and nearly dropped everything you lost him for a second. ‘Hank, wait!’ you called out to him even though you were heading in the same direction, everyone's eyes on you as you quickly brushed off the dirt and packed his flutes back into his basket.

You were falling behind, you couldn't let him go back without these, but the crowd was thick and no one paid any mind to you as you fought to gather the stragglers up before they could be stepped on or stolen. You swore to yourself and stood, everything accounted for but he was gone, you'd gotten turned around because he'd been leading, where were you? You were lost in your panic, he was going to have to go back again for more or even get in trouble because of you, how could you do this to him? You felt overwhelmed as the faces blurred, if you'd just handled your own basket he'd be fine, you needed to get to him, you needed to-

A hand shot out of the crowd and latched onto your sleeve, Hank coming into view and pulling you to him with surprising strength, and you blushed into his chest before he was guarding you and leading the way again. He didn't say anything, he was used to the rush and was concentrating on getting back, and he led you to the back of your stall and kept you out of sight so you could catch your breath. ‘I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I thought you were right behind me,’ he apologized profusely like it was his fault, and you set down his basket on the ground before pulling him into a hug.

‘Thought I was a goner out there, thanks, Robin Hood,’ you mumbled into his shoulder, and you felt him shiver before his hands came up to pat you on the back.

‘It was nothing,’ he breathed into the side of your head, and you smiled but didn't call him out on it when you heard him faintly smell your hair before he caught himself. You got him back while you were that close again, now that you were back outside he mostly just smelled like the outdoors again, with the fading scent of detergent still clinging to his clothes, but there was that something else there underneath it all; a bit of soap, maybe deodorant, maybe even it was just him, and you caught yourself before you could try again to figure it out, save it for after the date. ‘I gotta get back, thanks so much for walking with me, sorry it was too busy to talk,’ he quickly said as he bent down to pick up his flutes, and you noticed a few of them still had dirt on them.

‘Yeah, sorry I kinda dropped a few, I wish I could go help you clean them up but I'm stuck here,’ you frowned, and he opened his mouth to say something before closing it again; now that was a curious one, but he just brushed a bit of the dirt off and gave a shrug.

‘I'll just set them aside for tomorrow, I doubt we'll sell out again today and I always get here early,’ he reassured you, which did help a little.

‘Maybe I'll call in sick, stop by here and help you then,’ you joked as he turned to leave in the direction of the music section, and again he looked like he wanted to say something but didn't. That was fine, you still had to go from co-workers to whatever came next, there was no rush, but when you went to slip through the curtain to get back inside your stall, he cleared his throat to get your attention.

‘I-I wouldn't object to it if you did,’ he mumbled sheepishly, his eyes on the ground again, and before you could continue your stallmate, Urith, peeked through to tell you to hurry; when you looked back he was gone again, you couldn't blame him for that, and for once you found yourself excited for Friday for more reasons than just the weekend coming the next day.

Thankfully the rest of the day eventually gave way to the usual flow instead of LA-Style Rush Hour, and you did indeed manage to give him the address of the café near your place on your way to your car. He had to wait for the bus, thankfully this place had its own stop due to being a big tourist area, and when you found out you couldn't help the question from naturally coming out. ‘I could give you a ride, y'know, I don't mind it,’ you offered, Hank draping a custom backpack over his shoulder even though he didn't have to go this far, the patrons would never see it, although he had changed his shoes into sneakers instead, and his cloak was exchanged for a hoodie.

‘I wouldn't wanna impose,’ he tried but there was no imposition at all, and he'd fought and failed to hide his smile all the way to where you parked. ‘Thanks for this, I've got a bus pass but I just can't work on my license right now, too busy, although I do have my eyes on this older model that's been around for a while at the dealership,’ he explained to you as you both hopped into the front seat, a quick tossing of trash to the back lighting your cheeks even though he didn't seem to care. ‘It's a 2011, and I know it's a bit more than just old by now, but it's been my dream car for years, ever since- sorry, I didn't mean to ramble.’

Your eyes shot to him so fast you almost ran a red. ‘I didn't think you were rambling, c’mon, tell me why it's still your dream car,’ you encouraged him, and he played with a tear over the knee of his pants with a shrug.

‘Just saw it in a movie once, thought it was cool, that's all,’ he gave you, and you frowned at the weirdness filling the car. ‘Hey, I know that you wanna thank me, but we don't have to meet up for it, I'm just happy you're okay,’ he suddenly said, the light still red above you even though no one was around.

‘I wanna meet up, in fact, let's do dinner, okay? Right now, I mean you're here, I'm here, we don't even have to get changed, I doubt anyone would care,’ you pitched to him, Hank sinking into his seat instead of looking excited again. ‘Or we don't have to, I just thought-’

‘You're really kind, you know that?’ he told you almost to himself it was so quiet, your hand gripping the wheel hard. ‘I know I take it too seriously, not everyone loves working there but I do, but I live for this stuff, and I don't- I don't want you to look at me differently when you figure out…’

‘When I figure out?’

He pulled at the tear until you could see skin under the fraying threads. ‘When you figure out that it's not an act, that I'm just a big loser who loves Ren Faires and Star Wars and getting to wear this stuff, I… ha, I still can't believe you talk to me in there when you're so outta my league.’

This was something you didn't expect, and since no one was coming you didn't step on the gas when the light changed. ‘Hank,’ you said as you turned in your seat, his eyes refusing to meet yours, ‘I think you might’ve spent too much time in there, because if you seriously think I'm out of your league, then you’ve gotta be living in a fantasy,’ you corrected him, his lips pursing in embarrassment. ‘I mean it, I chose to work there too you know, I keep going all out on my outfits because this is fun, and getting to meet you has been great, getting to see you every weekend has made everything okay when the rest of the week I'm honestly stressed out of my mind because if I can't pull this off, if my budgeting was wrong, then I could end up evicted by next month if I can’t find a new place.’ 

He finally turned to look at you at your shared vulnerability, and you just barely avoided being honked at when the light turned red again and forced the car coming up behind you to wait.

‘I know we haven't known each other that long, but I want you to know me better, alright? And I want to know you better too, but I just really want you to know that I asked you out because I-

‘You asked me out?’ he interrupted, your mouth closing in surprise as you just stared at each other. You stared for so long that the light turned again, and you received a very angry honk before the people behind you sped on by when you still didn't move. Even with them screaming expletives through their windows you didn't move, Hank's eyes wide and his face bright red as he remained frozen until he looked away in a panic. ‘What? Ca-can you blame me? I'm not exactly Prince Charming around the Faire,’ he muttered to himself, all curled up in his costume in your car, a bit of immersion broken as he picked at the hole again; your hand shot forward to stop him, rest on his over his knees, and he stared at the contact until your laugh drew his attention.

‘No, you're not,’ you simply said, his eyes downturned again, ‘you're Robin Hood.’

His chest puffed up with the big breath he took at that, you were nothing but as genuine as he was so there was no need to tease or lie, and he could see it in your eyes. You kept holding his hand, your heart pounding as you remained stopped at the light, and just when you saw him start to lean in you heard more tires pull up beside you. ‘Need any hel- Hank, what're you doing now?’ came a man's voice from your window, and you turned to see not another angry stranger but a cop, Hank's face crumbling in embarrassment as he gave the older man a small wave.

‘Hey dad…’

After a quick conversation that ended with your car finally going on green and you not receiving a ticket thanks to your company and the hopeful look in his father’s eyes at the sight of you, the two of you sped off down the road towards his place when he told you to take a left. You did as you were told, the silence more comfortable as he went to pick at the hole and stopped himself, his hand placed in between the two of you instead. He waited, purposefully not looking as his fingers lightly twitched in anticipation, and you smiled and let go of the wheel in order to take his hand instead.

You could feel his excitement in the small action, your smile sticking all the way not to an apartment building, but to a small bar instead, a place you'd driven by before but never actually gone in. You turned to look at him in confusion, you could've sworn the windows above the place led to the owner's house, not apartments, but he just flashed you a smile of his own before exiting and car and shutting the door. That was even more confusing, wasn't he even going to say goodbye after that, and you went to leave when he tapped on your door and motioned for you to follow. You did as you were told, your windows raised and the engine shut off as you followed him inside, and what greeted you were some vaguely familiar faces already gathered around a table while someone sang badly on the small stage in the corner, although they didn't seem to care because they were having fun.

‘You asked me out, right? I thought we could come here,’ he finally let you know, and your heart soared as you nodded and grabbed a seat with him at the table. ‘You've probably already met them, but these are my friends, we all got the job together; Bruce’s the one who hooked us up for lunch, Gary’s the one who builds stuff and helped me with my flask, and Paul is all the way over with the games, he’s running this huge interactive campaign for everyone to drop in on again for the summer,’ he said as he introduced the other men there, names finally going to faces as they told you all went into a bit more detail about their own jobs. It turned out they'd been friends for well over 10 years, so when the job openings had come up they'd been fast to apply together, all of them getting in thanks to the harsh demand of the need for staff.

All the while he watched you as you listened, you could see him do it out of the corner of your eye, his attention especially on you when it was brought up that they ran their own campaign together, which you didn't get until they explained it was Dungeons and Dragons. You laughed in surprise, that definitely made sense, and you held his hand under the table when you asked them how that all worked. His smile glowed as he took over, he was so passionate about all of it, and when he told you all about his chosen class as a ranger, everyone laughed and started to tease while you smiled in confusion.

‘He says a ranger, but we all know he wants to be a bard,’ Bruce teased, your eyes going to Hank when you figured out what that meant.

‘You know I don't,’ he tried to say but they wouldn't listen, they were too full of beer and good food to not want to embarrass their friend in front of you. 

‘Yeah yeah, get up on that stage and say otherwise,’ Gary urged him, and when he wouldn't go they went themselves and started up a very loud rendition of Don't Rain on My Parade. Their voices echoed around the bar, some people laughing, some joining in thanks to their enthusiasm, Hank just staring at the table and playing with his fries while his friends had fun without him.

‘Why don't you go up? I don't know this one, but I can pick something I like for the next one, if you need some incentive,’ you tempted him, Hank looking to the stage and shaking his head.

‘Told you I'm not much of a singer,’ he mumbled, the memory coming to you and making you shake your head.

‘You said you weren't much of an actor,’ you corrected him quickly.

‘Not much of a singer either.’

‘Well, neither am I, but I'll go up if you do.’ You didn't want to push him, but you could tell he did want to go even if he was shy, and for a moment it looked like he might when he shook his head and sank back into his seat.

‘Not much of a singer,’ he repeated softly to himself, and he stayed true to his word and remained in his seat even when his friends invited you up for the next song, which you did indeed get to pick. You sang just for him even though your voice shook something awful, you weren't much of a karaoke person at all, but when he looked up at you, his eyes only on you, you felt like you could get a bit used to it as you closed your eyes and belted out the long note even though your voice cracked. Everyone applauded your own enthusiasm either way, a few whistles even thrown your way over your costume, but it was especially his friends who cheered beside you for going for it, and you were panting and sweating when it was over. All four of you took a deep bow before returning to the table, a couple coming up next to try it out since you warmed it up for them, and Hank gave you a glass of water as soon as you were sat back down.

‘Never done that before,’ you breathed with red cheeks and sweat beading on your forehead from the nerves and the lights, ‘it was more fun than I thought, but I honestly felt like I might throw up for a second there.’

Hank just admired you in front of everyone for a moment before he remembered to speak. ‘You were pretty good,’ he blurted out much too fast, his friends nudging each other and trying to keep their chuckles under control.

‘Thanks, but I heard that crack at the end, I'm just glad we weren't at work, I feel like it might've been pretty on point for everyone to suddenly be carrying tomatoes at singing that bad,’ you laughed while rubbing at your warm neck, Hank shaking his head and moving his chair closer to yours.

‘I wouldn't let them,’ he swore to you, the seriousness in his voice telling you that even in your joke he'd protect you from hecklers. Again he caught himself and backed up, and you held his hand and waited for the couple to finish before nodding in the direction of the stage.

‘Wanna go up with me?’ you asked one more time, you wouldn't ask again if he said no, you wouldn't push him, and he looked at the stage before shaking his head, that was that.

‘No, but… do you wanna get outta here?’ he whispered instead, your hand still in his as he tossed down some money for the food and drink before leading you back to your car when you said yes.

You drove for about an hour before he told you the way to his place, just aimlessly driving all over town and talking the whole time without any friends to insert their comments into everything he said; they didn't do it to be malicious, but it was clear they thought him being on a date at his age was adorable, and as such couldn't help themselves, they were just that close by now. Still, it was nice to have it just be you again, and he talked so easily when it was only you to listen as intently as you did. You almost didn't want the night to end, but it was getting late, the both of you needed a proper dinner and it seemed like he wasn't ready to invite you in for pizza or anything, so when you finally reached his place you took a moment to remember the address and really look at the building.

It was pretty big and well kept, and he leaned over to your side of the car to point up through your door at the topmost windows. ‘That one's me,’ he said with a smile, his face very close to yours, ‘those three windows right there, the units are decently priced but they're also pretty big, I even got a second bedroom, but I mostly just fill it with…’ He finally noticed your closeness, his eyes going wide again before his entire face softened. ‘My collections,’ he finished, his eyes on your lips, ‘I've got a bunch in there, ton of figurines, few spaceships I built, Legos, records…’

‘You have a record player?’ you whispered back, both of your voices so low because of the distance.

‘Yeah, it was my dad's, you just met him.’ He swallowed, his eyes still on you, the distance starting to close when he hesitated. ‘Sorry, I haven't- I mean, I guess I'll see you next weekend?’ he backed out before he could finish his thought, the hopeful pounding in your heart slowing as the disappointment took over.

‘Yeah, see you Saturday,’ you gave in, Hank returning to his seat and reaching for the door when he hesitated again; you froze when he spun back around and leaned in with his eyes shut tight, his nervously chapped lips thanks to worrying teeth pressing a kiss to your cheek.

‘Bye,’ he whispered breathlessly like it was the best kiss he'd ever had, your hand crossing the gap and pulling him right back over for a proper kiss before he could get too far. It was chaste but it was still nice, he was older than you but you could tell he hadn't dated much based on the way he let out a surprised whimper when you licked at his bottom lip to be let in, and you chuckled against his mouth and decided to go easy on him, for now.

‘Bye,’ you said right back, Hank now very breathless as he nodded and scrambled out of the car. He crossed the street when the light traffic eased up, his hand held high to wave to you all the way to his door, and you waited until he was inside before heading home, a huge smile on your face to match his.

So much for making a ripple, you were ready to dive right in.

Next Saturday couldn't come faster, your paycheck freshly deposited and your first month on the job completing over the next two days more than enough reason to celebrate because you were about to find out if this extra cash would be enough to make up the rest of your rent no matter which new place you went with. Your math couldn't be wrong using the new amount as a basis, you'd done it so many times that just looking at numbers was enough to give you a headache for the entire day afterwards, which sucked considering you mostly worked register at your first job, but still you went over it one more time with your first two paychecks spread out in front of you. This was it, rent was due on Monday but you had more than enough to cover it and put away the rest, things would still be a bit tight but you could do this for just another month until your new hours kicked in and set you up for the move.

Just another month.

You felt almost sad at the reminder that the Faire was supposed to be a temporary thing, instead of spending your weekend giving merch to kids and eating homemade food with Hank you'd have to start picking up those extra shifts at your first job, the one that would tip the scales from tight back to fine because the hours were longer and pay was higher, even though it might kill you. You’d just gotten the confirmation that you’d be working all weekend as well as adding on a few hours each day of the week once the new schedule kicked in, and instead of being happy about it, you already just felt tired; instead of easy 10AM mornings stretching into date-ready 7PM nights, you’d be stuck going from 7 to 10, a crueler and longer weekend set of shifts just to continue to make ends meet.

You almost didn't want that despite the money that would be coming in, you were going to miss how fun your weekends were even though you were working them now and had limited free time, but you honestly barely noticed between it all. No, you knew you didn't want that, there was no doubt about it, but your lease would be up soon and you hadn’t had any time to tour any of the places you’d bookmarked, not to mention you couldn't just give your hours back up after everything your boss was pulling together for you, you needed to go through with this, you had no choice.

You felt a little melancholy as you drove in to work, your good mood replaced by the fact that you were now aware of the countdown, of the fact that in one month from now you'd be heading into your other job instead of here. You'd have to donate your costume as planned, you wouldn't need to make stops for fresh bread to keep up the act, you wouldn't get to hear the plays across from you, the music beside you, walk down to get good food and enjoy the company of the man you were seriously crushing on, even if he didn't completely believe it. You didn't want to, you didn't want to trade these walks to your stall to walking to the register, from giving out merch to ringing up food, from making emergency trips to the warehouse to restocking endless shelves.

It sucked, you'd asked for it and it fucking sucked, and you kicked at your stall because no one was around to see it yet. It hurt, it was solid wood after all, and you hissed and hopped on one foot before slumping against the side and resisting the temptation to slide down into the dirt; you couldn't live off this, Hank could because this was his full-time job and his rent was secure, but you couldn't because your apartment was just too expensive to live in anymore, it was this or get back to that hunt for someplace new, set up some meetings and pick whatever was cheapest before you ran out of time.

Wait a minute…

You whipped out your phone and typed in Hank's address, your eyes scanning the screen as you swiped and scrolled and clicked until you found what you wanted. This was crazy, he knew you'd been looking but you couldn't possibly consider this, right? You knew you shouldn't, but he had offered up the place as an option, and you bookmarked a page to wait with the others with a hopeful grin as you started to rework your math.

It ended up being pretty slow for a Saturday, something big was going on in the city so everyone was flocking to it, and as such you didn't have to sneak around back to get some food as Hank nervously escorted you towards the delicious smells of lunch. ‘It's a big thing, I heard some TV show is being filmed in town so everyone keeps trying to catch a glimpse of the actors,’ he informed you when you grabbed your table, today's menu consisting of a meat sandwich absolutely stuffed with the good stuff, the meats being cut and cooked and filling the area with aromas that made your mouth water even more; you nearly drooled all over your sandwich as you took a bite of it, and that fresh bread really tied it all together again with a satisfied moan as you chewed.

‘Why don't we try too? I don't think I've ever met a celebrity before, what're their names?’ you asked around your ambitiously large bite of food, Hank thinking to himself before giving in and taking out his phone, no one was paying attention to you two anyway.

‘Some guy named Tod was mentioned as a lead, I think I recognize his face from something, but maybe I know his last name from someone else,’ he figured before flipping his phone around so you could see, and sure enough he looked familiar but you couldn't place from where, the picture that of a handsome man with blonde hair down to his shoulders caught behind the scenes with another man you almost recognized standing beside him. 

‘His friend looks familiar too, it'd be rude to walk up to them and ask what else they've been in, though,’ you scoffed at yourself for considering it instead of just looking them up when Hank put away his phone and waited almost expectantly across from you. ‘...What?’

‘It's just that… you've been here a month, and you've only got one left, so I thought…’ he mumbled mostly to himself before an extravagant cupcake was placed in front of you, a tiny dragon made of icing carefully piped on top with little sprinkle spikes sticking out of its back all the way to its tail. ‘Don't worry about paying me back or anything, it's a gift, but I wouldn't mind a bit of tail…’

You reached across the table and pulled him into another kiss, your dragon almost getting smushed between you as Hank flailed over the very public display of affection in front of Bruce. The man didn't seem to mind though, and he laughed himself all the way back to the stand now that his task was over. When your thank you was successfully delivered you sat back again, your gift safe between your bodies as he turned into a very realistic Hank Puppet with how still he was, his face even brighter red than the weekend before. You picked up the cupcake and held it out for him to claim the tail, his eyes going down to it before he did just that with shaking hands, green icing smeared around his mouth when he was done. You laughed and took your own bite of mostly icing, a bit of sprinkles, and a sliver of cupcake, and when he saw the mess left behind his laugh matched your own.

You spent the rest of your break wanting to go around to his side of the table as you took turns eating the treat along with your lunch, napkins and phone cameras called for thanks to how much they'd layered on, although having Hank nervously try to wipe the icing off the tip of your nose for you was a lot nicer than holding up your screen so you could use it like a mirror. You didn't want this to end, there had to be something you could do, you decided as you walked back to your stall with him, his hand linked with yours not just to keep you from getting lost in the crowd this time. 

Maybe you could do both, take the Saturday there doing whatever they needed since it’d be busier and more warranted, and keep the Sunday here; it'd keep things tight but maybe your math might come through, and you made up your mind to at least ask about it, see if you could fill up your weekdays even more in return, maybe next weekend after seeing what could be done on Monday. You couldn't just give this up, not when you'd already come out of it halfway with a very very possible boyfriend, maybe you'd even be able to work in the music section along with him, and when you reached your stall you held on a little tighter and pulled him back towards you when he tried to leave with only a small smile.

‘I'd still like to do dinner with you,’ you let him know, his hopeful smile growing like he'd somehow been thinking you didn't despite all the signs you were throwing his way. ‘Maybe not this weekend, I've got some things to do, but how about next weekend after our shifts?’

‘I can do that,’ he grinned eagerly like you were about to go right now, your hand in his keeping him from sprinting to his locker so he could gather his things. You chuckled and licked your thumb so you could rub away a pesky smudge of green still remaining on the corner of his mouth, his eyes shutting tight at the motion, and when it was over he looked like he could run a mile. ‘I've gotta get back, would you wanna meet up again? Like, to drive me home? You don't have to, I still have my bus pass-’

‘I'd love to, tomorrow too, and the weekend after that,’ you smiled before kissing him goodbye, the two of you parting when a child saw your display and laughed about it with his friends. Hank frowned with pursed lips that made him look positively adorable, and finally you let him go before any more children could bully the two of you. You waved him goodbye, his form disappearing in the crowd, and you practically floated your way into the stall only to be met with gossip, but not about you.

‘I heard he's been trying to- hey, finally, can you work on that box please? We're almost out again,’ Urith asked as soon as she saw you, the demand for more plastic swords and wands and staffs strong again today.

‘I don't think he'll go, he's all talk, like, he's performing at a Ren Faire, that's not gunna get him on the show when he doesn't even know the plot,’ your neighbour, Jaeden, continued while you tore open the box and restocked the baskets, the kids on the other side of the shelves pointing to what they wanted until their parents conceded.

‘That's what I'm saying, but that's just what I heard, that's what Niki told me,’ Urith replied before tending to the line with a smile, the gossip on pause until things calmed again. ‘Anyway, I really don't think there's room for a singer in whatever that show is doing, doesn't matter if he can bring the rest of the band or not, cause Niki's not skipping work to sing unless she knows it's a sure thing.’

‘What’s happening?’ you asked as you stuffed the box into the hidden trash bin now that it wouldn't be seen, the two turning to you.

‘You know Dani from over in Music? The tall one with the green and blue hair he has to hide under that awful wig while he's on stage? He thinks he's gunna get his and Niki's band in that show that's filming here for the next few weeks,’ she told you, and you tried to think back but you hadn't gotten to spend any real time around the music section apart from your snooping. ‘I'm telling you it's not gunna happen though, he might be older, but it's Niki's band, and she takes this shit too seriously to ditch for an audition she can't even confirm is real or not.’

‘He tried yesterday, I heard he came in late, he just might get one,’ Jaeden spoke up after helping a customer, your stallmate shaking her head.

‘Trust me, if they're filming they're not looking for random rock bands to appear in the background,’ she insisted, the conversation going on without you as you started to space out and think of Hank; the show itself was still a mystery, all that'd been released was a bit of the cast thanks to the local news covering it, and it was silly to think he'd want to follow in this guy's footsteps, but you couldn't help but daydream about seeing him sing on the big screen, to take the band's audition for himself. Definitely silly when he wouldn't even sing if he thought someone was listening, but you couldn't help but go back to it throughout the day seeing as he was on your mind already.

The rest of the day passed by before you knew it, but then again it always did in this place in a good way, and you gathered up your things and met up with Hank in the parking lot again. If dating him meant getting to see his happy smile once you came into view you definitely couldn't let this job expire without trying everything you could first, and he pushed his longish bangs behind his ear before eagerly wrapping his arms around your waist in a twirling hug. ‘Sorry!’ he apologized when you yelped in surprise, his hands flying off of you and held up by his chest as he leapt apart from you again while you steadied your footing the moment you were back on solid ground. ‘I don't know why I did that!’

‘It couldn't be because you missed me?’ you offered innocently, your hips swaying to the side and letting him know that you weren't mad, and he slowly lowered his hands as he chewed at his lip.

‘Maybe…’

He was fucking adorable. You couldn't let this go, and you hugged him right back before dragging him over to your car when the two of you got in the way of someone else trying to go home for the night. You dropped him off on time tonight, you had a lot to prepare for come Monday, but not before stealing a proper kiss goodbye, no misses this time. You went over your math again while still in costume, crunching the numbers over and over while adjusting your budget for everything else, and after about a half hour of working you finally ended up with enough money for both rent, bills, and groceries, you could still make this work once you could put your new plan into action.

You didn't have to leave the Faire.

You went back the next day in much higher spirits, it would suck to live on such a tight budget if the second part of the plan fell through, but it'd be worth it to be able to stay here, your heart flying as everyone else tiredly said hello and got everything ready for the day. They were completely oblivious to your joy about staying there, to them it was just a job, but this place felt special to you now, a getaway from real life in the same way he probably saw it. You dropped off your modern things and made your way to your stall, a comfortable quietness filling the air as everyone set up on time, the sounds of the acts practicing and the bands warming up sounding off all around you.

You already planned on treating Hank while you still could, you'd have to go back to packing lunches until you could get your weekday hours extended, and even though the thought made you terribly tired you already couldn't wait to see the look on his face when you'd be able to take him to the places he wanted to share with you, and vice versa. There was something so soft about him that drew you in, something so different from the other people you'd met, and you already couldn't wait to meet him for lunch.

Your mind was on what you'd say to your boss come tomorrow, there was still time to give your new hours away to someone else on either Saturday or Sunday if need be, and you wondered just how many you could do in a week until you could free both days back up until your spacing out got you in trouble. You tried not to think about it, it was no good to you to get fired now, but as soon as it was time for your break you eagerly waited for Hank to come pick you up as it were, the two of you always walking to get food together without fail.

When he didn't show you became worried, maybe he was sick again or it was so busy he couldn't escape to eat, and you were about to go see which one it was when your neighbour returned from his own break. ‘He did it, he actually went and did it, it's chaos over there,’ he hissed to the two of you, your eyes widening in realization before you took off; you hurried for the music section, a bunch of annoyed patrons talking amongst themselves as disappointed kids and scathing teens left the arena, the stage absolutely silent for once ahead of you. You made your way to Hank's stall but he wasn't there, a quick question about where he was finally bringing you inside the one place you'd had yet to visit.

People were in their seats and waiting, but a lot of them were on their phones, the stage very much empty and telling you that Dani had taken the band and gone off to audition after all. That left a lot of disappointed customers and the rest of the section unable to fill the space thanks to his ambition - or complete lack of awareness for everyone left behind in his absence, more rather - the other acts resting up so they wouldn't throw out their voices from going hours without a break. Hank was standing with a bunch of them backstage as they tried to figure out what the hell to do, the general consensus you walked up on being that they could just close the place until it was time for the next band to come out, but having someone to go out there and entertain the people already waiting was their main priority so they wouldn't get a mountain of complaints.

‘I'd be less pissed if he'd just called in yesterday if he knew he was gunna try again today,’ someone was attempting not to shout in her exasperation, everyone nodding in agreement, ‘you seriously didn't know he was gunna pull this shit on us today?’

‘Hey, I'm his sister, not his mother, he bailed on me too,’ a woman with blue hair groaned, her own wig held in her hand, that must've been the Niki you'd been hearing about. ‘I can still go out there on my own, I just need a bit of backup-’

‘No, we know you can do it, but all your songs play off having the whole band there, why couldn’t he at least leave one of them with us so you wouldn't be high and dry out here?’ The other woman peeked through the curtain just as Hank noticed you were there, and he flashed you an apologetic smile with a wave for you to come over, guess your lunch date wasn't going to happen for a while today.

‘I can improvise, we can't just leave them out there.’

‘They’re on break, but maybe if I text Theo real fast she can get Hannah to play something on the keyboard-’

‘I'll do it.’ Everyone turned to look at Hank, yourself included, his face resolute in his decision. ‘I can go out there with her, if it's just for one performance until Dani gets back with everyone else, I can do it.’

‘Do you play?’ Niki asked him, her shorter stature having her look up so high to talk to him that it really put his height into perspective.

‘No, but… I- yeah, I can sing,’ he told her confidently, but you could feel the way his hands shook when you touched his arm. ‘If you play something I know, I'll be your backup.’

‘Okay, fine, just get out there and fast, please, before Shoshy notices something is wrong and comes down here,’ the woman begged them as she walked away, her phone out so she could text for more temporary acts to fill the space, and Niki ran off to quickly put on her wig as you circled Hank to look at him.

‘You sure you wanna go out there?’ you asked worried but still supportively, and he honestly looked like he might throw up or pass out as the sweat started to bead, maybe both, his face terribly pale from the nerves.

‘Yeah, I can do it,’ he repeated more to himself than to answer you, and he had only a second to prepare before a fully costumed Niki returned with her guitar and a spare mic.

‘Here's a list of songs I can play,’ she told him while handing over a hastily scribbled piece of paper but he ignored it, he already had a song in mind; he handed it back to her, his finger pointing to one you couldn't make out, and she nodded before rolling her neck and cracking her fingers. ‘Although, let's do this.’

‘Break a leg,’ you whispered before he walked out on stage, and you hurriedly jogged back for the audience to grab a seat, you wouldn't miss this. Everyone was shushing each other as it spread that something was indeed happening even if it wasn't what was scheduled, and Niki gave Hank another look and a nod before music filled the small arena. It was a familiar tune, one you hadn't heard in a long time, and you were sure that if the whole band were there then it might be a wonderful piece, but all they had were her notes drifting through the air. It was peaceful, nostalgic, and she got ready to sing when that beautiful voice you'd heard filled the area instead, he was taking the lead.

‘Are you going to Scarborough Fair?’ he asked, your heart panging and her mouth falling open in surprise at how wonderful he sounded when his voice could surround you so entirely, even if he did shake a little. ‘Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme…’

His song spread, the newness of his presence calling others from the places outside of this bubble, more coming in from the doorway in order to grab a seat.

‘Remember me to one who lives there,’ he sang gently, his voice evening out the more he went, his hands clasped around the mic while Niki strummed confidently beside him with a soft but proud grin, ‘she once was a true love of mine.’

The audience was dead silent all around you, your heart continuing to pound as he went into the second verse, Niki jumping in with the backup vocals without missing a beat. Everyone was enraptured by him, and you couldn't help but also feel proud even though he couldn't even open his eyes to look at the people who were listening so intently. Even a manager you’d never seen before came out to listen, word must’ve gotten to Shoshy after all, and you felt a tremble in your bottom lip when she looked down to type to someone on her phone before watching like she had an idea.

‘Tell her to reap it with a sickle of leather,’ he ordered to his messenger in the song, Niki singing about war in the background, the mixture of their voices so melancholy as he tried to give his lover a chance to win him back with his impossible tasks he knew she’d never accomplish, ‘and gather it all in a bunch of heather, then she’ll be a true love of mine.’ The song was almost over, Niki falling silent again as she got ready to play him out, the world beyond the walls silent just for him as he took in a breath. ‘Are you going to Scarborough Fair? Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. Remember me to one who lives there, she once was a true love of mine… then you’ll be a true love of mine.’

His eyes opened on the last line, Hank finding you at once from across the arena, your breath catching in your throat as Niki finished the song with a lonely solitary note and everything fell silent again. You knew everyone else felt the same, Niki’s band played old songs like this all the time, it’s what they all expected, but no one expected his rendition, the way he sounded, the way you’d memorized it to heart from that first moment you’d heard him. You could hear his soft breaths hit the mic and echo around you like he was standing before you, just inches away, and just when he was about to take the silence and go as validation for why he wasn't much of a singer, the sound of clapping began, everyone standing and applauding in their appreciation.

He froze, Niki used to the attention and grabbing his hand to get him to bow politely, his eyes lighting up and his cheeks turning red as he got the recognition he deserved. It took you a moment to realize you were also clapping, you’d been the one to start it, and you let out a cheer over everyone else that made a streak shine on his cheek in the sunlight as he smiled widely at everyone with an emotionally furrowed expression; you gasped, he was happy, and your hands tingled as you rushed to the stage. You reached up as high as you could, Hank approaching the edge to see what you wanted, and you just pulled him down to his knees in surprise, his eyes wet and wide as you kissed him in front of everyone.

He let out a muffled noise as everyone gazed upon how much you cared for him, the only reason it ended faster than you wanted thanks to needing to get the next act out, this wasn't the performance everyone had come to see. You smiled up at him as he handed the mic back to Niki and hopped down to join you, but before you could grab some lunch with him before your breaks were up, he was stopped in the doorway. ‘I think we need to have a talk,’ Shoshy grinned at him, his pulse pounding under your grip, and you gave his hand a squeeze before letting go.

‘We can talk about it tonight,’ you whispered as the stage was prepared for who you guessed was Hannah when a keyboard was carried out, and he had no choice but to nod and accept your goodbye kiss to the cheek before he was taken away, his rhapsodic tears wetting your lips. You got lunch by yourself, your adrenaline still racing at being able to see him like that, this really was a magical place and you didn’t want to leave, especially if they were talking about what you thought they were talking about. You couldn’t wait to hear the news, your stomach actually getting upset with how worked up you were, and therefore how fast you ate, and you ended up needing to ditch your stall to lay down before you threw up all over the plastic swords.

It wasn't a super great ending to the performance, but you certainly felt better, and when you got word to head home without him from Gary to get ready for ‘something special’, his number finally given to you by him, you couldn’t help but speed all the way home to change. Your phone felt so heavy and light at the same time in your pocket, your steps skipping up each stair; tonight was cause for celebration indeed and you were going to dress up properly, let him see the real you now that he’d shown everyone the real him. You were in the middle of turning the key in the lock when you noticed the rent note, thanks for the reminder, and you grabbed it and headed inside to go over it again when you froze in growing dread.

It wasn't a reminder, it was a correction, the landlord had gotten his own math wrong - gotten greedy with everyone agreeing to the raise even reluctantly - and had increased your current bill from $1250 all the way up to $1700, claiming that it would go towards fixing the building up and adding new amenities. The math you’d been pouring over for weeks only went up to $1400, you couldn’t possibly afford to stay here with that big of an increase, even if you found a way to cut back on all of you spending, including food and canceling every single subscription you still had, it wouldn’t be enough, the Faire just wouldn’t pay enough on those hours.

You rushed to your computer and booted it up, every single page of available apartments that you’d been bookmarking opened and rechecked, and one by one you saw each place go off the market, even the place in Hank’s building, you’d waited too long. This was your only option if nothing else opened within your $1400 budget, there was nowhere else to go because you’d kept hoping the apartments would always be there while you waited on your hours to be approved, and now that they had been without you going back to the hunt, you’d driven yourself into a corner. Your plan to keep one day a week couldn’t satisfy the greed any longer, even your full hours at your first job couldn’t cover it all unless you started at opening and went all the way to closing every single day just like you feared and worse, 7 days of 15 hour shifts just to keep a roof over your head and feed yourself.

You couldn’t stay at the Faire.

[solacescastleglow]

Things I've Been Loving Recently (in no particular order)

writing (& worldbuilding for) fanfiction

the moon <3

omelettes with cheese

dinosaur time (eating spinach by the handful)

buying secondhand books

oil pulling

my shul/local chabad's dinners

looking at pictures of evgeny shwartz as felix yusupov on pinterest

chatting with new people

penguin little black classics in my pockets when i go out

how much it's been raining recently

record shopping with my sibling

pho from the vietnamese restaurant next to the secondhand bookshop

left right goodnight! by bears in trees

pickled onions

the australian voting system (preferential voting my beloved)

wearing pyjama pants under my regular pants

reading ancient classics

my employment consultant (thank u razan!!)

getting on jobseeker pension

my mama (happy mother's day!)

the ____ with mama memes

going on walks with my dad/sibling

one direction (i should have kissed you is a banger don't @ me)

vegetarian chili mac and cheese

the (still working) 1970s gas heater my dad found

living in the area i live in, i'm literally so lucky

my kitty cat, sweet little baby boy

the fact that my dad said my face is getting more square on t

the weather getting colder

studying ancient greek

the two triplets who volunteer at the shul (platonically)

organising our home library

listening to reddit stories while i do other things

papenathy (they live in my head rent free)

water

how cool the people in my area dress

being gendered masculinely by strangers

little bit of bottom growth who said that?

my visual timer

chamomile tea, all time favourite drink ilysm

post blocker on xkit

arm day for strength training

randomly telling myself 'drop and give me 10 bicycles'

the hunger games (original trilogy)

how much better i'm getting at communicating, especially via email

being able to choose between my cane, one crutch, two crutches, or nothing and not suffering severe consequences

bringing my cuddling pillow and blanket downstairs to sit on the sofa

daydreaming that i'm a professor giving a lecture while i write my assignments

my professor who lets us make up a creative project instead of essays

sebastian castellio/hating on jean calvin

fragrantica

hearing the kid next door practicing piano

seeing weird shaped dogs in the park

classical records

showers

the harmonising in shabbat services

the fact that i go to a barber now (the haircut itself, however...)

coles' bakery section

mother's day lunch at a random middle eastern restaurant in a suburb of the town my grandparents live in (literally so good)

sitting on the front steps while dad gardens

smoked paprika

exploring the local high street

friendly retail workers (g-d's strongest soldiers i swear)

the local architecture style

when things i bought years ago suddenly become useful again

my dressing gown

self love (cough cough) (thank you t for giving me my libido back)

the $300 1920s version of mrs beeton's household management i finally saved up enough to buy

financial responsibility

ritalin + lorazepam

my 'going out station' (place i put my keys etc)

having enough in my emergency fund that i don't need to save anymore unless i want to

my notion set up

my allergies randomly going away

therapy

the mottled sunlight in the back garden

growing the fuck up

that time i managed to pick around mushrooms in a dish without crying

my 2015 laptop that still works fine

my motorola phone (it has a headphone jack!!!)

donna tartt lore

making super niche memes

wilfred owen poems

when my dad and i trade our poetry

dusting powder

dry brushing

afternoon tea with my family

scented candles

cooking

chicken salt on hot chips

my great grandpa's harris tweed jacket that fits me perfectly

mint slice biscuits (now that i can have mint)

getting to use my winter wardrobe

how bad the liberals (our conservative party) lost the election

pope memes

the fact i'm graduating this year!!!

scent layering

wholegrain sourdough bread

the fact that i have so many good things in my life <333

[hxhhasmysoul]

i'm not into roleplay and yet i had to roleplay a karen for a few hours this evening to write a stern letter to a furniture company that sold me furniture that is made without taking the furniture making principles into consideration and literally dangerous.

my family of course is like it's my fault i didn't expect a furniture factory to sell stuff that is not structurally sound, and after i consulted a couple of wood workers and they explained to me how such furniture should be made, and i told that to my fam, my whole fam acts like they'd know that before, and of course they wouldn't have been taken for a ride like my stupid ass... because why was i buying furniture in the first place without being an expert in furniture making... i'm just so done, it's so fun to have bad luck and an abusive family to rub it in..

i cried half the weekend, the one i wasn't chronically online about jjk. honestly the cursed cat always drops that kind of chapter when i most need it, when i'm so fucking stressed i can only forget about when i'm elbows deep in meta mess. praise be the cursed cat.

anyway i'm now literally afraid to buy furniture online, i was recommended one guy who's an artisan woodworker and i will ask him for a wardrobe, however much he will ask for it. because i can;t live scared to open then closet to get dress, lest the fucking thing falls down on me :/ and no i can't get a built in one, the one room i have is very strange and you can't really make something built in in it, it'd look atrocious and also feel very suffocating, my previous furniture was almost like a built in closet, it was huge like that, just not fully modular, and it was making me hate the room so fucking much.

sorry for the vent. at least i found a new big desk, so in 2 weeks to amonth i will be able to put my pc and speakers on it instead of a folded out plastic garden table... also maybe the bed will come in 2 weeks so i won't have to sleep on the couch my nieces broke...

[grandeurelite1]

Grandeur Elite: Redefining Spaces as a Leading Interior Design Studio in Rajarajeshwari Nagar 

In a fast-evolving neighborhood like Rajarajeshwari Nagar, style and functionality go hand in hand. With increasing demand for bespoke interiors, Grandeur Elite has emerged as a premier interior design studio in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, known for blending creativity with comfort. Whether you're revamping your home or designing a productive office space, Grandeur Elite provides tailor-made interior solutions that match your lifestyle and budget. 

Why Rajarajeshwari Nagar? 

RAJARAJESHWARI NAGAR has emerged as an attractive areaway for both contemporary homebuyers and commercial organizations. The fact that it is located in close vicinity to Mysore Road, the Global Village Tech Park, and well-furnished residential colonies makes it a dream destination of individuals, who value convenience as well as beauty. Grandeur Elite has strategically established its interior design studio in Rajarajeshwari Nagar to cater to this growing and discerning audience. 

Whether it is luxury apartments or independent villas, new startups or well-established offices, the demand for smart, personalized interiors is reaching a record figure and Grandeur Elite with its clarity and passion is meeting the demand with utmost care.   

Home Interior Designers in Rajarajeshwari Nagar: The Grandeur Elite Approach 

A house is not a place; it is an experience. Grandeur Elite knows that well. As one of the most trusted home interior designers in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, the company offers end-to-end design services that transform ordinary spaces into personalized havens. 

What you want is a Scandinavian minimalist feel or a traditional South Indian, you can have that in Grandeur Elite interiors, it reflects you. All these are carefully designed down to the tiniest details like the custom wardrobes, the modular kitchens, the pooja rooms, false ceilings etc. 

Major services are: 

Two-dimensional and three-dimensional design consultations done fully 

The modular furniture that is designed to fit and may be chosen with a 10-year guarantee 

Interior design solutions on bedrooms, living rooms, and so on based on the themes 

The clients usually commend the Grandeur Elite team due to their transparent way of operation, delivering within the due time and more than promised. Their carpentry and management of vendors is in-house and made them execute easily and efficiently without compromising on quality. 

Office Interior Designers in Rajarajeshwari Nagar: Workspaces That Work 

The high rate of growth of Rajarajeshwari Nagar as a tech and business centre, has made Grandeur Elite spread its wings to the corporate world too. As experienced office interior designers in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, they specialize in creating productive, ergonomic, and aesthetically pleasing work environments. 

Be it a startup office, a co-working place or a high-end business location, Grandeur Elite will make your office a specimen of brand value. Major sections such as an open-plan layout, focus regions, the reception area, conference rooms and breakout lounges are strategically planned in terms of space and equipped with contemporary technology. 

What sets Grandeur Elite apart from other office interior designers in Rajarajeshwari Nagar is their commitment to blending function with creativity. All workplaces are consistent in providing workers with the opportunity to be more productive and attractive with the provision of comfort. 

At Grandeur Elite, we understand that people come first. As such, we have put measures in place so that our clients will love us. We strive to ensure that we make our clients feel like they are just visiting us. 

With a strong presence as an interior design studio in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Grandeur Elite brings together top-notch design thinking, project management, and client servicing. That is what makes them an attractive selection: 

Local Knowledge: A thorough knowledge of the real estate and preference by clients in Rajarajeshwari Nagar 

The versatility of the design: Varieties of minimalism and ethnic richness 

Turnkey: Design, materials, furnish, decor- end to end 

Budget Transparency: Sealed packages designed according to your space and needs 

Post-Delivery: after-sales and materials and finishes warranty 

Final Thoughts 

Rajarajeshwari Nagar is a flourishing suburb of Bengaluru, and as it continues to expand, the demand for smart and elegant interiors keeps increasing. Grandeur Elite is a company that soars tall in achieving dreams of design. Whether you're searching for home interior designers in Rajarajeshwari Nagar or office interior designers in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Grandeur Elite offers everything you need under one roof. 

Partake into future space change only through Grandeur Elite.

[dubaifurnitur]

🛠️ Revamp Your Dubai Home: Couch Repair, Fitted Wardrobes & Stylish Bedroom Curtains

Transforming your home in Dubai doesn't simply mean purchasing new goods, you may want to also breathe new life into your existing possessions and optimize your efficiency. Whether it's revamping a favorite couch, having custom wardrobes installed, or simply refreshing your bedroom with beautiful curtains, the right services can absolutely increase comfort, function and style. Here is how to update your home with the essential upgrades.

🪑 Couch Repair Services in Dubai: Bring Your Sofa Back to Life

Why Couch Repair?

Your sofa is often the centerpiece of your living room, supporting countless moments of relaxation and entertainment. Rather than replacing it, repair services offer:

Cost-effective solutions—upholstery repairs cost far less than new furniture.

Sustainability benefits—repairing reduces waste and environmental impact.

Preserving sentimental value—retain comfort and familiarity while refreshing the look.

Common Couch Repairs

Frame repairs: Fixing loose joints, broken rails, or structural sag.

Spring and cushion restoration: Replacing worn coils or foam for support.

Reupholstery: Updating fabric with new, durable material.

Stain removal and cleaning: Professional deep-cleaning for hygiene and freshness.

What to Look For

Experienced technicians with before/after portfolios.

Quality materials like hardwood frames and high-density foams.

Optional upgrades—stain-resistant fabrics or enhanced cushioning.

Warranty on both labor and materials.

Efficient timeline—some repairs completed within a few days.

🧱 Fitted Wardrobe Design Dubai: Tailored Storage for Every Home

Benefits of Fitted Wardrobes

Fitted wardrobes make the most of your bedroom’s space, offering:

Personalized dimensions: Ideal fit even in awkward nooks or sloped ceilings.

Customized organization: Sections for clothes, shoes, accessories, and more.

Premium aesthetics: Integrated design that complements your décor.

Long-term value: Higher appeal for resale and rental interest.

Design Features to Consider

Door types: Choose from sliding, hinged, bi-fold, or pocket doors.

Material choices: MDF with veneer, high-gloss laminate, or natural wood finishes.

Internal layout: Adjustable shelves, pull-out drawers, valet rods, and shoe racks.

Lighting options: LED strips under shelves or motion-activated lights.

Accessory add-ons: Full-length mirrors, tie racks, and premium handles.

The Design Process

Consultation & measurement

Design proposal with 3D renderings

Material selection

On-site installation by carpentry experts

Final inspection and handover

🛏️ Bedroom Curtains in Dubai: Elegant Window Dressing & Comfort

Dubai Furniture Company offers a comprehensive range of bedroom curtains, including custom, sheer, blackout, and cotton options—ideal for privacy, insulation, and decorative style .

What Makes Their Curtains Stand Out?

Blackout curtains for optimal sleep quality and darkness .

Cotton curtains are valued for their durability and ease of maintenance.

Sheer curtains that provide gentle light while maintaining privacy.

Bespoke designs tailored to your bedroom's aesthetic and dimensions.

Competitive pricing with professional installation options.

Choosing the Right Curtains

Blackout: Ideal for night workers or light-sensitive sleepers—block light and reduce noise.

Thermal/Cotton: Excellent for Dubai’s climate—balancing warmth and ventilation.

Sheer + blackout layering: Flexibility in light control and style.

Eyelet (grommet), pinch-pleat, or rod-pocket styles to match your décor.

Proper installation: Rod bracket placement above the window frame enhances height perception.

Professional Installation Tips

Ensure accurate measurement���curtains should be 1.5–2× window width and typically touch or slightly pool the floor.

Opt for motorized systems when convenience and automation are desired.

Choose high-quality rods and finials for durability and visual consistency.

Request and inspect fabric samples before finalizing.

🌟 Integrating All Three Services for a Cohesive Home Upgrade

Step 1: Audit What You Have

Identify sofas with signs of wear, cramped closets, and outdated curtains. Rank them by urgency and impact.

Step 2: Plan Your Budget & Timeline

Balance each component—couch repairs might cost AED 500–1,500+, fitted wardrobes AED 2,000–10,000+, curtains AED 300–2,000+. Obtain multiple quotes and bundle services where possible.

Step 3: Harmonize Design & Materials

Recovered sofas should complement the wardrobe finishes and curtain fabrics.

Choose colors that tie together—warm neutrals, rich wood tones, or bold contrasts.

Step 4: Schedule Efficiently

Start with couch repair, then wardrobe installation, then curtain fitting. This prevents damage and ensures seamless completion.

🏠 Real-Life Makeover Example

Villa in Al Barsha:

Sofa reupholstered with premium linen-look fabric.

Fitted wardrobe in white gloss laminate with integrated lights and mirrors.

Layered blackout and sheer curtains in pale grey.

Results:

Sofa rejuvenated at 30% of replacement cost.

Bedroom visually expanded, well-organized, and clutter-free.

Enhanced ambiance, thermal comfort, and sleep quality with curtains.

Why Choose Local Dubai Specialists?

Expertise in Gulf climate: Materials suited for heat and humidity.

Custom solutions: Tailored service ensures perfect fit and harmonious design.

End-to-end service: From design consultation to aftercare support.

Warranty & Guarantee: Peace of mind with backed workmanship.

✅ Final Tips Before You Begin

Task

Recommendation

Inspect furniture

Address worn frames or fabrics early

Measure precisely

For wardrobes & curtains, accuracy matters

Request samples

Test fabric, laminate, or upholstery colors

Bundle installations

Cost-saving and cohesive outcomes

Quality service

Prioritize providers with verified reviews & portfolios

Let the Dubai Furniture Company Elevate Your Home

From sofa restoration to fitted wardrobe craftsmanship and luxurious bedroom curtains, these upgrades revitalize spaces aesthetically and functionally. Reach out to Dubai Furniture Company today for personalized consultations, expert installation, and a refreshed, comfortable living environment.

[meetyourneat]

Meet Your Neat: Your Trusted Professional Organizer in Atlanta, GA

Is clutter taking over your home or office? Struggling to find the time, energy, or systems to stay organized? Meet Your Neat is here to help. As a leading professional organizer in Atlanta, GA, we specialize in turning chaos into calm—creating clean, functional spaces tailored to your lifestyle or business needs.

Why Choose Meet Your Neat?

At Meet Your Neat, we believe that an organized space leads to a clearer mind and a more productive life. Serving families and businesses throughout the Atlanta area, we offer personalized organizing solutions that make life easier and more enjoyable. Whether you're preparing for a move, overwhelmed by paperwork, or simply tired of cluttered closets, our expert team is ready to help you regain control.

Our Services:

We offer a full range of professional organizing services, each designed to fit your unique needs:

Home Organization: From kitchens and living rooms to garages and pantries, we organize your home room-by-room, ensuring every space works for your family’s lifestyle.

Office Decluttering: Boost productivity and reduce stress by transforming your work environment into an efficient, organized space—ideal for remote workers and small businesses alike.

Closet Makeovers: Say goodbye to messy wardrobes and hello to beautifully organized closets that make getting dressed a breeze.

Moving Support: Moving can be overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. We’ll help you declutter before the move, organize during packing, and set up your new space efficiently and stress-free.

Who We Serve:

Meet Your Neat proudly serves both families and businesses across Atlanta, GA. Whether you’re a busy parent juggling a packed schedule or a small business owner needing better systems, we bring professionalism, creativity, and discretion to every project.

What Makes Us Different?

Customized Solutions: We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. Our approach is tailored to your space, goals, and daily habits.

Judgment-Free Support: We understand that life gets messy. Our job is to help—not to judge.

Professional Experience: With years of hands-on experience, our team knows how to organize efficiently and sustainably.

Local Expertise: Based in Atlanta, GA, we understand the needs of local families and businesses and are proud to serve our community.

Start Fresh with Meet Your Neat

Reclaim your time, space, and peace of mind with Meet Your Neat—your trusted professional organizer in Atlanta, GA. Our expert organizing services are designed to simplify your life and support long-term success at home or in the office.

Contact us today for a free consultation and take the first step toward a more organized, stress-free life.

[wedezine1]

Bedroom Interior Designers in Chitradurga | WeDezine 

When it comes to crafting the perfect retreat in your home, nothing matters more than the expertise of Bedroom Interior Designers. To us, at WeDezine Studio, your bedroom is more than a place to sleep — it’s a personal haven that displays your way of living and who you are. As leading Bedroom Interior Designers in Chitradurga, we are passionate about transforming ordinary bedrooms into serene, stylish, and functional spaces. 

With years of experience in the field, our team of expert Bedroom Interior Designers brings a blend of creativity, functionality, and practicality to every project. For spaces that are simple, rustic or opulent, WeDezine Studio is the place to turn in Chitradurga. 

Why Should You Rely on WeDezine Studio for Bedroom Design? Every customer is different and so is their perfect bedroom. When we begin a project at WeDezine Studio, we ask about your likes, needs and funds available. Redecorating includes finding the right color scheme, making sure the layout matches our needs and buying the right furniture.  

Our interior design process is built on structure but allows us to be flexible. What we achieve is a space that is both visually pleasing and practical enough to make anyone happy in their restful moments. 

Budget Interior Design in Chitradurga  

You don’t have to pay a fortune to get good design. We specialize in Budget Interior Design in Chitradurga, offering creative and affordable solutions without compromising on quality. We want to create beautiful bedrooms that fit within your budget.  

You can count on us at WeDezine Studio for clear prices, individual packages and excellent design at a value price. If you’re setting up a new place or updating your existing one, our smart ways of planning and managing budgets make sure you get the most out of your money.  

We guide you on choosing quality and suitable materials, furniture that uses room well and clever lighting that boosts the bedroom’s attractiveness — fitting your budget. 

Comprehensive Interior Services in Chitradurga  

While bedroom design is one of our key strengths, we offer a full range of interior services in Chitradurga. WeDezine Studio is the place to go for modular kitchens, interior design for living spaces and custom wardrobes.  

We handle all the important parts — designing, choosing materials, checking on site and getting the project done properly. We use highly experienced workers and rely upon suppliers to create interiors that last a long time. It doesn’t matter if the property is a small apartment or a big villa; we offer the same focused service for all projects.  

When you choose WeDezine, you choose a company whose priorities are making great-quality products, delivering them quickly and making customers happy. 

Solutions That Work for Every Family  

What sets us apart from other Bedroom Interior Designers is our commitment to personalization. Each area has a unique character which we design to match each person’s style. Whether you need practical storage furniture for a tight room or a grand design for your bedroom, we tailor it all to fit your needs and requirements. 

 For people interested in helping the environment, we offer eco-friendly and sustainable design choices. Every bedroom we develop is fashionable and thought out for everyday use and lasting comfort. 

Let’s Work on Your Dream Bedroom 

 If you're searching for expert Bedroom Interior Designers who deliver quality, creativity, and affordability, look no further than WeDezine Studio. You can expect us to make your bedroom dreams a reality, regardless of if it’s modern, traditional or a mix, using our passion and skills.  

Explore our interior services in Chitradurga and get started on designing your dream bedroom today. If you would like a complimentary consultation, contact WeDezine Studio and we can design a home you’ll love.

[volcanichologramsatyr]

Mistakes To Avoid When Choosing The Best Laundry And Dry Cleaning Services

Finding trustworthy  laundry and dry cleaning services may save you precious time and maintain our clothes in a perfect condition in our bustling life. Wrong decisions made, however, may bring ruined clothes, lost money, and unnecessary stress. To help you make well-informed decisions about your garment care needs this paper outlines 5 traditional errors that consumers make while choosing a laundry or dry cleaning services.  

Ignoring Reviews and Recommendations

Selecting a service without first reading reviews is one of the worst blunders you can do. Customer reviews provide important information about the caliber, dependability, and customer service of laundromats. Consult with friends, relatives, or coworkers about their experiences, and look up reviews online. A business with a history of bad ratings probably has underlying problems that could influence how they treat your clothing.    

2. Focusing Only on Price

While every person loves to save money, when it comes to choosing the cheapest laundry service without considering quality then it may prove to be an expensive mistake. Low costs may be indicators of the use of toxic chemicals, using shortcuts, or paying less workers. These aspects might lead to the spoiled clothing that one would have to buy, hence, it could turn out to be more expensive than you actually saved. Look for services that are cost-efficient and of a high quality.   

3. Not Checking Their Cleaning Methods and Chemicals

Not all services employ the same techniques or solutions, and different textiles call for different cleaning strategies. Particularly for fragile or specialist pieces, failing to ask about washing methods might lead to damaged clothing. If you care about the environment, ask prospective cleaners about their methods for various textiles and if they use eco-friendly products. In addition to offering specific treatments for stains or fragile materials, competent cleaners will be happy to explain their procedures.   

4. Overlooking Turnaround Time and Convenience

If their response times don't work with your schedule, even the best cleaning service won't satisfy your needs. Inconvenience and annoyance may result from neglecting to verify regular processing times, pickup/delivery choices, and working hours. Verify the turnaround times for both routine cleaning and urgent orders before committing to a service.   

5. Not Clarifying Policies on Lost or Damaged Items

Ignoring a cleaner's policies about misplaced or damaged things is possibly the most dangerous mistake. Although every service should have explicit protocols for dealing with these circumstances, many clients don't inquire about them until issues occur. Inquire directly about a service's damage policy and compensation practices before selecting one. Reputable cleaners usually carry insurance and accept liability for errors that are proven.   

Conclusion

There is more to selecting the  best laundry service dubai  than just picking the nearest or least expensive one. You may establish a rapport with a service that takes good care of your clothing and caters to your individual requirements by avoiding these five typical blunders. Before entrusting a service with your complete wardrobe, do your homework, ask questions, and even try the service out with less expensive items.  

[ethanfernandez]

Week 7: Social Media and Slow Fashion

Surprisingly, social media, which is frequently held responsible for encouraging quick fashion trends, can also support slow fashion. Let's investigate how these platforms are altering the field of fashion.

In the fashion business, slow fashion is a trend that puts sustainability and quality above speed and affordability. This strategy places a strong emphasis on cautious production procedures and treating industry workers fairly. Additionally, slow fashion promotes the use of eco-friendly materials and longer-lasting clothing (Colucci, n.d).

Put an end to fads! Influencers in slow fashion push for wardrobe essentials, restyling existing pieces, and the skill of "making do." Lessons on clothing repair and upcycling give worn-out clothing a fresh lease on life while cutting down on waste.

Materialistic people are constantly seeking for more and, above all, more than others in terms of following, automobiles, clothes, and travel. They are more likely to engage in passive and addictive user behaviour because social media gives them the perfect opportunity to compare themselves to others. In the end, this makes individuals stressed out and results in a terrible quality of life. This negative cycle, which makes materialists unhappy, was discovered through an online poll with over 1,200 respondents (Williams, 2024).

In conclusion, social media is an effective instrument for influencing attitudes and raising awareness. We can learn from, share with, and motivate one another to adopt a more sustainable and conscientious approach to fashion by following slow fashion firms and producers. Therefore, please share, like, and comment on your slow fashion journey. Together, we can change the global fashion industry, one stitch at a time.

References:

Colucci, L “What Is Slow Fashion: The Ultimate Guide - Italian Artisan” n.d., Italian Artisan, accessed 15 May 2024,<https://italianartisan.com/what-is-slow-fashion/>.

Consult, T 2023, Harnessing the Power of Social Platforms to Drive Sustainable Fashion  In recent years, social media platforms have played a significant role in shapi, accessed 15 May 2024,<https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/harnessing-power-social-platforms-drive-sustainable-fashion/>.

Williams, R 2024, How Social Media is Driving Overconsumption and Unhappiness, accessed 15 May 2024, <https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-social-media-driving-overconsumption-unhappiness-ray-williams-zlk8c/>.

[char1ottee]

Sustainable fashion🌱🪡

Sustainable fashion is a term that’s increasingly used (and overused) these days, as we all become ever more aware of the serious environmental impact of our clothes. The industry is responsible for a shocking four to 10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions every year – a figure that can’t be overlooked considering the urgency of the climate crisis we’re facing right now.

But what does sustainable fashion actually mean? In short, it’s an umbrella term for clothes that are created and consumed in a way that can be, quite literally, sustained, while protecting both the environment and those producing garments. That’s why cutting CO2 emissions, addressing overproduction, reducing pollution and waste, supporting biodiversity, and ensuring that garment workers are paid a fair wage and have safe working conditions, are all crucial to the sustainability matrix.

Considering the number of factors involved, there are still too few brands out there currently tackling all of these complex issues, and even those that are will admit that there’s always room for improvement. This means simply shopping for items labelled “sustainable” is not enough; we need to completely rethink our purchasing habits and the way we consume clothes.

Buy less and buy better

It may be a cliche, but the mantra “buy less and buy better” is key when you consider that a staggering 100 billion garments are being produced globally every year. Before making a purchase, sustainability consultancy Eco-Age’s chief strategy officer Harriet Vocking advises that you ask yourself three all-important questions: “What are you buying and why? What do you really need? Will you wear it at least 30 times?”

Invest in sustainable fashion brands

Buying better can also mean supporting designers who are promoting sustainable practices, including the likes of Ahluwalia, Connor Ives and Collina Strada, who all use upcycled textiles in their designs. Narrowing your search for specific items can also help, whether that’s seeking out brands producing activewear more sustainably (such as Girlfriend Collective and Indigo Luna), swimwear (including Stay Wild and Fisch) or denim (Outland Denim and Re/Done).

Shop secondhand and vintage

With secondhand and vintage now increasingly accessible thanks to sites such as The RealReal, Vestiaire Collective and Depop, consider buying pre-loved items when looking to add to your wardrobe. Not only will you extend the life of these garments and reduce the environmental impact of your wardrobe as a result, you can also find one-of-a-kind pieces that no one else will own. Look to the likes of Rihanna and Bella Hadid – both vintage aficionados – for inspiration.

Try renting

Instead of buying a new dress for that wedding or BBQ this summer, it’s now easier than ever to rent something to wear instead. According to one study, an astonishing 50 million garments are bought and worn just once every summer in the UK alone – a dirty habit we need to quickly ditch, given that the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles is burned and landfilled every second.

Avoid greenwashing

As consumers become ever more aware of their environmental footprint, greenwashing – brands using vague, misleading or false claims to suggest it’s more eco-friendly than it actually is – is becoming increasingly prevalent. Look beyond buzzwords such as “sustainable”, “eco-friendly”, “conscious” and “responsible” to see if brands have detailed policies to back up their claims.

Know your materials

Understanding the impact of materials is crucial when it comes to making more sustainable purchases. A good rule of thumb is to avoid virgin synthetics, such as polyester – which makes up 55 per cent of clothes globally – as these are derived from fossil fuels and take years to break down. Not all natural materials are made the same: organic cotton, for example, uses significantly less water than conventional cotton and doesn’t use harmful pesticides.

Be conscious about vegan fashion

While animal-derived materials, such as leather and wool, come with environmental and ethical concerns, vegan alternatives – which are often made from synthetics such as PVC – can also be harmful for our planet. Even plant-based alternatives usually contain a degree of synthetics, although these are likely to improve over time.

Ask who made your clothes

With the pandemic highlighting the extreme difficulties faced by garment workers around the world, it’s essential that the people who make our clothes are paid a fair wage and have safe working conditions. Seek out brands who openly disclose information about their factories and their policies around wages and working conditions.

Look for scientific targets

To find out if brands are serious about reducing their environmental impact, a good place to start is checking whether they have committed to scientific targets. Brands who have signed up to the Science Based Targets Initiative, for example – which includes Gucci-owner Kering and Burberry – must have goals for reducing CO2 emissions that are in line with the Paris Agreement.

Support brands who have a positive impact

Eco-minded brands, such as Mara Hoffman and Sheep Inc, are starting to consider how fashion can have a positive impact on the environment rather than just reducing its impact. Regenerative agriculture – which involves farming practices such as no-tilling and growing cover crops – is a growing trend within fashion that aims to restore soil health and biodiversity.

Watch out for harmful chemicals

Hidden chemicals that are used to treat our clothes are a serious concern, polluting local waterways and posing a risk to garment workers. Keep an eye out for the Made in Green by OEKO-TEX and Bluesign certifications, which set out requirements for chemical usage during the manufacturing process.

Reduce your water footprint

Given that the production of textiles uses an astonishing 93 billion cubic metres of water annually – the equivalent to 37 million Olympic swimming pools – we should all be more conscious about the water footprint of our clothes. As mentioned previously, organic cotton uses significantly less water than conventional cotton, while the use of low-water dyes also reduces water consumption.

Take care of your clothes

Extending the life of your clothes is key when it comes to lowering the environmental footprint of your garments, and ensuring they don’t end up clogging landfill sites after just one or two wears. Ensure your clothes last as long as possible by not overwashing them (which will also lower your CO2 emissions and water consumption), as well as repairing them instead of throwing them out.

Avoid microplastic pollution

As it’s difficult to avoid synthetics altogether (nylon and elastane are still required in activewear and underwear to get that all-important stretch), washing clothes can release thousands of microplastics into our waterways and oceans, causing harm to marine life that ingest the tiny particles. Luckily, there’s a simple solution: investing in a microplastics filter such as a Guppyfriend washing bag, in which you can put your synthetic garments or a Cora Ball that you put in with your laundry.

Ensure your clothes have a second life

When clearing out your closet, being conscious about how you dispose of your clothes will help stop them from ending up in landfill. Re-selling your clothes or organising a clothes swap is the best way to ensure they’ll have a second life, as well as donating to charities and organisations that are looking for used clothing. For worn-out pieces that can no longer be repaired or reused, look for recycling schemes specifically for those items, where possible.

Circularity is important

There has been a lot of talk about creating a circular fashion industry of late – a system where all garments can be reused, recycled, or returned to the earth (if biodegradable or compostable). While the industry is a long way off becoming fully circular, thinking about whether your clothes can re-enter the system in any of these ways is crucial when it comes to sustainability.

[chloeunitfive]

Sustainable Fashion Tips:

Sustainable fashion is a concept that is becoming more popular (and overused) as we become more aware of the serious environmental impact of our clothing. The industry accounts for four to ten percent of global greenhouse gas emissions each year, a figure that cannot be underestimated given the gravity of the climate crisis we are currently confronting. But what exactly does "sustainable fashion" imply? In a nutshell, it's an umbrella phrase for clothes that are manufactured and used in a way that can be literally sustained, while also safeguarding the environment and those who make them. That is why lowering CO2 emissions, addressing overproduction, minimising pollution and waste, promoting biodiversity, and ensuring that garment workers are paid a fair pay and work in safe circumstances are all critical components of the sustainability matrix. As we grow more aware of the serious environmental impact of our apparel, the concept of sustainable fashion is becoming more popular (and overused). The industry accounts for four to ten percent of global greenhouse gas emissions each year, a quantity that cannot be overestimated given the intensity of the current climate problem. In a word, it's an umbrella term for clothing that is created and utilised in a way that is literally sustainable, while also protecting the environment and people who make it.

Tips:

Buy less and buy better

It may be a cliche, but the phrase "buy less and buy better" is critical when you consider that 100 billion clothing are made globally each year. Harriet Vocking, chief strategy officer at sustainability consultant Eco-Age, advocates asking three crucial questions before making a purchase: "What are you buying and why?" What exactly do you require? "Are you going to wear it at least 30 times?"

Invest in sustainable fashion brands

Buying better can also mean supporting designers who promote environmentally friendly practises, such as Ahluwalia, Connor Ives, and Collina Strada, who all incorporate repurposed textiles in their creations. Narrowing your search for certain items might also assist, whether you're looking for more sustainably produced activewear (such as Girlfriend Collective and Indigo Luna), swimwear (such as Stay Wild and Fisch), or denim (Outland Denim and Re/Done).

Shop secondhand and vintage

With companies like The RealReal, Vestiaire Collective, and Depop making secondhand and vintage clothing more accessible, consider purchasing pre-loved pieces when adding to your collection. Not only will you be extending the life of these items and lowering the environmental impact of your wardrobe, but you will also be able to find one-of-a-kind pieces that no one else will have.

Renting:

Renting something to wear instead of buying additional clothing is now easier than ever. According to one estimate, 50 million clothing are purchased and worn just once every summer in the United Kingdom alone, despite the fact that the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles is burnt and landfilled every second.

Avoid greenwashing

As customers grow more conscious of their environmental impact, greenwashing — companies making ambiguous, misleading, or deceptive claims that they are more eco-friendly than they actually are – is becoming more common. Look beyond buzzwords like "sustainable", "eco-friendly", "conscious", and "responsible" to check if businesses have clear policies to back up their claims.

Know your materials

Understanding the influence of materials is critical when choosing more environmentally friendly selections. Not all natural materials are created equal: organic cotton, for example, consumes far less water than conventional cotton and does not contain any hazardous pesticides. Global Organic Textile Standard (for cotton and wool), Leather Working Group (for leather), and Forest Stewardship Council (for viscose) certifications to ensure the materials used to produce your items have a minimal environmental effect. Recycled materials have a smaller environmental effect than virgin materials, but it's important thinking about whether those fabrics can be recycled again once you're done with them.

Be conscious about vegan fashion

While animal-derived materials, such as leather and wool, raise environmental and ethical problems, vegan substitutes, which are frequently created from synthetics such as PVC, can also be hazardous to the environment. Even plant-based alternatives typically contain some synthetics, but these are expected to improve with time.

Ask who made your clothes

With the epidemic showcasing the terrible hardships faced by garment workers worldwide, it is critical that the people who manufacture our garments be given a decent pay and work in safe circumstances. Seek out brands that freely publish information about their factories, as well as their salary and working conditions standards.

Look for scientific targets

To determine whether a brand is serious about decreasing its environmental effect, look to see if they have committed to scientific objectives. Brands who have signed up to the Science Based Targets Initiative, which includes Gucci owner Kering and Burberry, must have CO2 emission reduction objectives that are in accordance with the Paris Agreement.

Support brands who have a positive impact

Eco-minded brands, such as Mara Hoffman and Sheep Inc, are starting to consider how fashion can have a positive impact on the environment rather than just reducing its impact. Regenerative agriculture – which involves farming practices such as no-tilling and growing cover crops – is a growing trend within fashion that aims to restore soil health and biodiversity.

Watch out for harmful chemicals

Hidden chemicals used to sanitise our clothing are a major worry, damaging local rivers and endangering garment workers. Keep an eye out for the Made in Green by OEKO-TEX and Bluesign certifications, which specify chemical usage limitations during the production process.

Reduce your water footprint

Given that the textile industry consumes an astounding 93 billion cubic metres of water per year - the equivalent of 37 million Olympic swimming pools - we should all be more concerned about the water footprint of our clothing. As previously stated, organic cotton consumes substantially less water than conventional cotton, and the use of low-water colours further minimises water usage.

Take care of your clothes

Extending the life of your clothes is key when it comes to lowering the environmental footprint of your garments, and ensuring they don’t end up clogging landfill sites after just one or two wears. Ensure your clothes last as long as possible by not overwashing them (which will also lower your CO2 emissions and water consumption), as well as repairing them instead of throwing them out.

Avoid microplastic pollution

Washing clothing may discharge millions of microplastics into our streams and seas, causing damage to marine life that ingests the microscopic particles. Fortunately, there is a simple solution: invest in a microplastics filter, such as a Guppyfriend washing bag or a Cora Ball that you can put in with your clothes.

Ensure your clothes have a second life

Being mindful of how you dispose of your clothing while cleaning out your wardrobe will help prevent them from ending up in a landfill. Reselling your clothes or arranging a clothes exchange is the greatest method to guarantee they get a second life, as does contributing to charity and groups that accept worn clothing. Look for recycling programmes designed exclusively for worn-out things that can no longer be repaired or repurposed.

Circularity is important

There has recently been much discussion about developing a circular fashion business - a system in which all items may be reused, recycled, or returned to the environment (if biodegradable or compostable). While the industry is still a long way from becoming entirely circular, considering if your garments may re-enter the system in any of these ways is critical for sustainability.

Havard referencing:

Emily Chan. (2022). 16 Things Everyone Should Know About Sustainable Fashion. [Online]. British Vogue. Last Updated: 18 April 2022. Available at: https://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/article/sustainable-fashion [Accessed 6 November 2023].

[alllstrangeandwonderful]

The Ted Lasso Amsterdam episode is beautiful and sweet and whimsical and romantic and lovely, no question

…but did they really expect us to believe that anything Rebecca wears is dryer-friendly

[xwingsandohs]

‘Haunted Beauty’ | Spencer Reid

prompt: ‘Person A likes to sketch, and B catches them sketching, and asks what they are drawing. Person A had been drawing B, so they stutter out an excuse while slamming their sketchbook closed.’

word count: 2.3k

content warnings?: none. fluff

a/n: this is the beginning of a renaissance where i come back to tumblr. bare with me while i reformat stuff and checkout my recent posts if ya can

When you reach eleven days without being called out to the field for a case, there’s a lull in the BAU that leaves everyone bored and irritable.

Morgan sits at his corner desk twiddling his pen, spinning on his chair and occasionally ripping up small pieces of paper to aim at someone’s (usually Reid’s) head. His aim is terrible, only because the small, rolled-up balls weigh so little, so you can watch with suppressed giggles until Reid finally notices his game. A hit to the head leads to an irritated “Hey!” - While you and Morgan laugh openly.

Morgan walks over to ruffle the messy hair of your colleague and picks up the small mess he’s left on the floor around him- Spencer shuts the small notebook he’d been working in at the disruption.

You spin around on your chair to see Emily not-so-subtly looking for cheap flights on her laptop- one of her favourite ways to guarantee her time-off is approved is by booking the trip before she even puts in the request. There’s no need for the efforts really, Hotch has never denied a PTO request since your jobs are so demanding, though it doesn’t hurt to be sure.

JJ comes up behind Emily waving an empty mug, asking if she wants another coffee too. She nods, groans into a “God, yes please.” - before JJ begins to ask about her vacation plans and where she hopes to go, pointing at her computer.

Coffee sounds like a fantastic idea, so you stand from your chair and do a lazy spin towards Morgan - “Yes please, mama.” - and taking the empty cup from Spencer’s extended hand too before he even gets the chance to ask. You smile at him warmly- and before you even get a chance to lean over and see what he’s been working on, he’s slammed his notebook shut again and said “Actually, I could do with a break too, I’ll join you.”

You nod and shrug acceptingly, and Spencer jogs across to JJ when she shouts to make enough for everyone, and grabs the two mugs from her hand as well. “Thanks, Spence.”

It takes you only a minute to prep the coffee, replacing the filter and dumping in some grounds and Spencer has swooped in to fill up the water jug before you get the chance. You thank him, and watch as he turns to the sink in the small kitchenette, flicks the tap on and watches as the water fills its container.

He’s wearing a comfortable-looking navy cardigan, it’s well-fitting and you’re acutely aware of how he’s allowed his own sense of style to come through in his working wardrobe over his years in the BAU. You allow yourself an indulgent look at your co-worker while his back is to you, grinning slightly as you enjoy the view.

“How’s the case files?” He asks as he finishes loading the machine and presses the button to let the coffee drip. His hands glide in their motions after so long of using the machine most days.

“I finished all my consults, now it’s just an endless pile of cold cases to keep me busy.” You drag out a few vowels as you speak, teetering close to yawning in exasperation but the easy nights at home have kept you well-rested.

“Me too.” He shrugs, gently pushing the tub of sugar closer to the mugs to use when the coffee has finished.

“What are you making notes on?” You ask, and lean your body comfortably against the countertop.

“Notes?” He scrunches his face.

“You’ve been scribbling in your notebook for the past half hour.” “Oh!”

Realisation washes over his face, and you wonder if there’s a reason for his unusually cloudy brain. You laugh just once and raise an eyebrow in confusion at him.

“Nothing in particular, just some musings to keep me busy.” He shrugs.

There’s an old metal tin sitting on the side, some cookies that an agent had made and brought in for everyone to take from. You reach across and open it, looking closely for the biggest one before taking it. You snap it in half and present the biggest piece to the man beside you.

“Thanks.” He utters, before taking an indulgent bite.

“What kind of musings are keeping Dr Reid busy on this fine Thursday afternoon?” You ask with a glint in your eye.

He shrugs, and begins to mumble through his cookie-filled mouth before pausing to actually swallow before he speaks. His action makes you giggle. “I was asked if I’d like to do a guest lecture on profiling for the FBI Academy and I’m not really sure if I want to do it.”

“Why not?” You ask sincerely.

“I think a lot of my stories about the job might change their mind about working here.” He smiles, you both laugh, and then he shakes his head. He’s not wrong. “No, I’m kidding. I’m just not sure if I’m ready for doing something like that alone, I think there’s a lot of pressure for lecturers to be engaging and informative, and I tend to go off on a tangent.”

“I love your tangents.” You reply honestly and with a smile, which he returns appreciatively, and a little rosy in the cheeks. “But I know what you mean, I’m a profiler for a living but I don’t think I could get on a stage and give a good lecture on it.”

“I, um,” He smiles wistfully and nods his head as he speaks, something he frequently does. “I’d love to run my own classes at the Academy or maybe Georgetown one day, but I’m not ready for that kind of responsibility yet.”

He’d be a fantastic professor, you know this. And you’re sure he’d have a lecture full of hopeful psychology fanatics just like you both once were. “Maybe a guest lecture is a good trial run, even if it’s a little out of your comfort zone.”

“Yeah.” He smiles, then begins to pour out the coffees. Each mug is almost identical- white or navy with some variation of the FBI logo on, but somehow he knows who’s is who’s, and leaves enough room for cream in cups that need it. “Which case would you choose?”

“For a guest lecture?” He nods. “Um…”

It’s difficult, while every case is important you know that a balance needs to be found in a case chosen for an Academy lecture- it can’t be too standard, it wouldn’t show off why your jobs are so important or might even struggle to keep the audience interested. But you can’t choose one of your worst cases either, some of them can be particularly heavy even for you all to think back on.

“Maybe the zodiac imitator?” You suggest with a shrug. “You can go through how you deduced it wasn’t the real zodiac, looking for messages in online articles, Garcia going through MENSA records, you could even talk about navigating all the reporters and public attention.”

“Y’know, I was thinking about that one.” He agrees and you tap his arm playfully. “The trainees always enjoy the imitator cases.”

“As much as you can enjoy this kinda thing, right?” You laugh humorlessly. Spencer knows everyone’s coffee preference off by heart, you know that, but it still makes you feel a little hot when he perfects your drink and holds it out to you.

“Maybe ‘interested in’ would be a better way to put it.” He corrects himself with a similar chuckle. You nod in agreement.

You both take a small moment to enjoy a sip of your drinks before taking the rest of the mugs to the members of your team- Morgan grins at Reid as he passes his mug, and JJ and Emily thank you when you bring their drinks too.

“What do you think,” JJ calls you by name. “Where would you go for a beach holiday?”

“Beach?” You say and laugh lightly. “Wherever Morgan’s not going.”

They both grin and laugh, and you hear Emily begin to say “Y’know I’ve seen those pictures of Morgan’s Jamaican resort…”

You head back to your own desk, you have Reid right in front of you and Morgan at a table across from you both, it makes for easy conversation and sharing of the sweet treats you bring in when you try to hide them from the rest of the team- more for you that way. Every so often you stop on your way to work and fill up a pick ‘n’ mix, you know by now that Spencer’s favourites are the chocolate jazzles and Morgan loves anything sour.

Emily shouts for Morgan to help her find a holiday destination, so he shakes his head playfully and taps you on the shoulder as he walks past you.

The coffee is perfect as you sip it, just slightly hot, not too sweet and not too strong. You cradle it between two hands as you step past your desk and stop in front of Spencer’s, leaning gently against the table. He looks up at you, mid sip, and raises his eyebrows to ask what you need from him.

“Can I see what you’ve been writing?” You ask innocently, pointing at the small brown book that sits central on his desk. A pen sticks out of the top of it to hold the page he was using, and he seems unusually shocked by your question.

You’re profilers, though Spencer is a surprisingly good liar, you have a feeling he wasn’t pondering a guest lecture for the Academy.

“There’s nothing important in there.” He shakes his head and instinctively goes to pull it out of reach.

“C’mon, Reid!” You giggle, putting your coffee cup down in a space on his desk. “I just wanna know what’s been keeping you occupied. You’ve been scribbling in it all afternoon, so secretively too.”

“I-I’m not-” He pauses, stuttering and puts his own mug down and out of reach before pulling the pen from between the pages of his notebook. He leaves the brown pad where it is. “being secretive, why do you want to see?”

“I’m just curious.” You say, bowing your head in apology. “I didn’t mean to pry, I’ll just leave you to it.”

“N-no, wait,” He stops you, seeing your small change in demeanour and immediately washing with guilt. Your body language changes just slightly, not quite closed off but a little less open and maybe a smidge of your own guilt for possibly upsetting him. He’s not upset, and he certainly does want you to be. “I’m sorry. I-I’m just, um,”

You turn back to him, offering another apologetic look. It’s not necessary, and he holds the notebook tightly in his hand, looking at it while he thinks. “Would you like to see?”

“Only if you want me to.”

“Why not?” He hums, gently passing the small brown book to you. You take it, just as gently, curling a finger into the gap created by the pen to hold the open page.

The brown book is worn on the edges, creased from opening so many times and his recent page is over half way through. You’ve seen him scribble in it frequently, and you’ve seen the way he slips it into his satchel at the end of the day- it’s important to him, you know that.

You open the page and it’s a drawing, a sketch in black biro. You’ve seen some of Reid’s drawings before- wavy lines, shrunken eyes and wiry hair, it’s his own unique style of illustration and you love his hidden passion for it. His drawings have been of imaginary characters, animals, even halloween decorations; they have a haunted aspect to them and you admire his talent for capturing the way he sees the world. This one is adorned with small wavy lines bouncing off the central figure.

“It’s-” This one you recognise, an unhidden smile and the shape of the hair. “-me. You drew me?”

“Um… yeah.” He smiles, but it doesn’t hide his nerves as he shifts in his chair while you look over the lines he’s made.

It’s today, you know the top you’re wearing today and one wiggly line for the chair you’ve been perched on. Your hair is styled as it is today, but you haven’t smiled so brightly today, you haven’t had the reason. That part, you realise, is from his memory. You like that he thinks of you as a happy person- the lines show that too, they add a bright, liveliness to the illustration of you.

There’s small flowers on the page adjacent- lavender, daisies, chrysanthemums, with what you assume is the scientific name underneath. They dot across the page like a printed pattern, but with the handwriting you know of Spencer all around. Underneath the drawing of you, though you’re not sure if it’s meant to describe both pages, it says “Beautiful”.

“Wow, Spence- I mean- Spencer,” You stutter over your words, grinning and feeling flushed at the thought of him spending his afternoon drawing you so dearly. “It’s amazing, you’re really good at art, y’know.”

“Thanks.” He replies sweetly, face unabashedly pink and smiling from ear to ear. “It’s um, really tempting to draw you when you’re sitting right across from me. I wanted to try and capture your smile but my drawings have given you more of a… haunting beauty.”

You don’t know what to say, still smiling and stuttering over nothing at all as you look over to him, to the drawing, then him again. His pride in his work makes his face light up in a way you rarely see on the job. “A-and Spence is fine, if you like.”

“Thanks for letting me see, Spence.” You say, dancing lightly around the last word, an affectionate nickname you know is only reserved for the special few. It feels good to be special to him. “I’ve never been very good at drawing.”

“I don’t think skill matters when you’re passionate about what you’re trying to recreate on the page.” He says with a simple smile, then bites down on his bottom lip to stop it from being too bright.

“You think so?” “Yeah.”

—

a/n: and just for funsies…

[koolades-world]

Obey me! height headcanons

This isn’t revolutionary but I couldn’t stop thinking about this, especially asmo’s. For reference, I’m 5’2 and almost all of my shoes have platforms or are raised in some way because I like pretending I am taller than I actually am 💋 although in this case I think I’m winning for once (please tall people let me know what it’s like, the tallest person in my family is my dad at 5’5)

While I half wanted to make them unnaturally tall but I kept them within human possibility since these were their humans forms

1. Beel

100% the tallest, a beefcake of a man. Perfect for a boost up high, like during hanging up decorations or cleaning. When it’s the twins birthday, it’s a struggle to hang up the decorations. Nobody is as reliable as him. I imagine he’s about 6’3 or 6’4. The best for using scary dog privileges, going anywhere with him guarantees elite treatment. It would be so easy for me to get piggy back rides cause he wouldn’t want to leave me behind

2. Lucifer

He can’t be that far behind. I imagine him at like 6’2. Part of the reason people are scared or HoL is because of his height. Me personally, I’m scared by anyone I have to look right up at and he definitely falls in this category. Lucifer would make me shit my pants. At least Beel isn’t consult scowling and yelling. Would definitely use his height to my advantage, like making him clear a path for my through a crowd or to tell the fast food worker I wanted no pickles on my burger.

3. Levi

I definitely picture him as a taller dude, but nobody can every guess because he has terrible posture and is always staring down. Like, tall Levi is doing something for me. Lanky little gamer guy that no one knew was actually like 5’10 because 95% of the time he’s at home and the other 5% is when he’s playing a game.

4. Belphie

Another one I picture as lanky, but is constantly asleep so people don’t realize. He’s always curled up somewhere. Another sloucher 100%. He still insists on being carried around by Mammon even though he’s taller. Probably 5’9 or 5’10

5. Satan

I feel like he’s the Mr. Average in the height department. He’s the only brother who’s a demon, so it makes sense to me that he’s the most normal. Not that being super tall or short is bad, but he would fit in the most (which is saying a lot). I think he’s about 5’8. Demons are probably tall since it’s harder to intimidate a human if they’re taller than you. Nobody dares to comment on this, though. If they’re not Mc, you’re probably going to die which lucky us!! we are mc

6. Mammon

Short king! Not the shortest but I feel like him being not super tall adds to his appeal as a tsundere. He’s just short and (pretending to be) angry. I think he’s 5’6 or 5’7. He gets made fun of his height by his brothers even though Asmo is shorter. I like to think he also likes shoes that make him taller, it seems very him. he’s just cute ok <33

7. Asmo

He’s not that short but he just happens to be the shortest in their family. I imagine him about 5’6 which is funny to me to think this twink is taller than my father. I’m foaming at the mouth thinking about sharing a wardrobe with him, and if you happen to been a similar height to him, then it’s like you just won the lottery. I’m dying to have a mini fashion show with him 😭 it’s kinda funny to me to think that Asmo, who I personally think is the shortest, is stronger than Beel, who’s universally agreed to be the tallest. Height isn’t everything is what I learned from this

[leiandroid]

otayuri week | day five - workplace au

otabek works the nightshift of a movie store, and yuri is a film and photography student that comes to rent&buy movies.

@otayuriweek22

canons and scenes of this verse discussed at length under the cut >>

as usual, i can't write for shit and bridge ideas to anything cohesive or create dialogue that isn't cringe and unnatural so have this list instead (i need y'all to get the full picture ya know) >>

yuri is a film & photography student (more interested in photography over film, which ended up meaning he has a lacking knowledge of movies and the programme requires him to know and watch a lot of them)

otabek is the night shift worker of the movie store. georgi works the day shifts.

yuri started going there to rent/buy movies. at first he went during the day and had initially asked georgi for suggestions but after his third time coming back with georgi's recommendations, which was another over dramatic and terrible romance, he stopped asking. one day, he was late going home from university so he stopped by the movie place at night and that's when he first met otabek on his night shift.

otabek is a semi-pretentions "film not movies" kind of guy, when he saw the stack of films yuri intended to leave with he didn't say anything, only had a look on his face which yuri straight up asked "what's that look for asshole?" to which otabek said nothing and just rang up the tapes and asked "you buying or renting?"

when he returned the movies the next time it was during the day, and yuri went back to rent movies some nights later after evening classes. this time, when he entered the shop otabek was digging through a box of new arrivals and was stacking them on the shelves. yuri browsed whatever movies were on display til curiosity brought him to the box and he asked otabek if there was anything interesting to watch in there.

otabek, finally puts his largely useless (but in this case, useful to yuri) movie knowledge to action. he rifles through the tapes and hands him a film. yuri looks at it with with pursed lips but takes it anyway "this better be good" he warns. otabek just shrugs. yuri adds 2 other movies to take with him from the new arrivals.

this time yuri intentionally returns at night to catch otabek, he puts the tapes on the counter and says "i liked it" then turns away to go peruse the movies. he comes back with 3, and otabek rings them up as yuri watches with mild interest. then asks if he has another recommendation to which otabek stops what he's doing, bites into the lollipop (cherry) he was sucking on, and chews on it as he goes around the counter and walks towards a specific shelf and grabs a tape off of it and rings it up without consulting or showing it to yuri. yuri rolls his eyes before leaving.

yuri takes notice of several things: otabek has a barbell piercing on his left eyebrow, an eagle tattoo on his neck with the wings wrapping around the sides (the lattice of the kazakhstan flag is a band tattooed around his left upper thigh, but yuri doesn't know of it), and a small hoop earring on his right ear. (the gay ear). (also this is set in the 90s). yuri momentarily wonders if he's gay but immediately dismisses it because otabek seems painfully straight and concludes he probably just didn't know about it. it's more ironic than a rule anyway.

yuri has both ears pierced with black studs. he likes to wear rings on both hands and carries his camera with him everywhere. he develops his own photos, has developed them for a long time. he had a bugdet redroom he made in his wardrobe at home in moscow (with blackout curtains, drilling a hole into the back to put in a bulb he painted red, and lined the floor of it with a basin and enlarger). now he uses the university's lofty development studio and practically lives in it. (they are in st petersburg).

otabek smokes and when he isn't smoking he sucks on lollipops and hard candies, his preferred flavour is cherry but he fucks with cola flavour too. he bites lollipop sticks to shreds through the course of his shifts. he tries to keep it to 2 smoke breaks maximum during his shift. the nights are slow so if he doesn't have that self imposed restriction he could spend the entire night on the curb outside the shop smoking till someone came in.

there are bins of candy and snacks on the counter of the movie store, otabek helps himself to the hard candies and lollipops regularly. he drops in a weekly tenner in the register to cover the cost of what he takes (it doesn't, but he deems it close enough).

weeks pass by in similar fashion, otabek's movie recommendations keep making their way into yuri's purchases, they talk about the movies every time yuri comes back to exchange tapes for new ones. yuri rants about the arthouse movies, deciding he hates the genre. he cites that photography is for telling fragmented stories, movies are for telling complete ones. those pretentious films that tell nothing but drone on and on with useless imagery and jarring soundtracks make him furious with hate. otabek drops in an especially awful film of that genre just to piss yuri off and hear the epic rant that yuri will no doubt have prepared for the next visit.

up until that point, all of their interactions have been in the movie store. one day whilst otabek was driving through the streets on his motorbike, he spots yuri and pulls up to him to say hello. yuri had just finished class and was going to grab a bite to eat and asked otabek if he wanted to come with. they become friends. they hang out frequently.

otabek is a hacker by trade. he learns code and hacking shit and does odd jobs for companies to test their security networks by breaking into them and giving them a rundown on their weaknesses and what they need to lock their shit down better. he lives on energy drinks and cigarettes and thinks working out offsets his unhealthy lifestyle.

a handful of times otabek and yuri go into the backroom to watch a movie together from the pile yuri intends to rent. otabek keeps the door slightly ajar, plus there's a small cctv set up of the store in case a customer walks in whilst they're in there.

otabek discovers two things: one, yuri does not shut the fuck up during a movie, and two, his commentary is hilarious. yuri also discovers two things: one, otabek tastes like candy sweet ashes, and two, the earring was definitely a signal.

EXTRA

some details about the shop itself since they wouldn't leave my head and it's hard to represent it in 1 drawing. the shop in the art looks way more clean and official than it does in my head. in reality it's a more dilapidated back alley shop with shitty lighting, old movie posters and sellotape marks littering the walls. the walls have some stains from previous water damage. it smells of air freshner, dust, and a hint of cigarette smoke.

i'm operating on 0 knowledge of a russia in the mid 90s and just borrowing details from unofficial/pirating dvd stores from my home country, but the place makes copies of movies to sell. original vhs tapes are for rent, whereas copies are sold. the backroom is a work station for downloading movies on shitty dial up and copying vhs tapes. the backroom smells of stale smoke since otabek sometimes smokes in there whilst running the recording machines and downloads, etc. he was hired because he knows how to rip files and find movies and hack his way into movie databases to get new/old/obscure releases.

if they don't carry a movie that a customer wants then they can request it and otabek will click around the internet to find and download it and put it on a tape. in the picture, otabek is holding empty vhs tapes that he plans to record movies on to. the shelves have the legit movie copies, but if you want to buy them, a copy is made and you're given a regular tape with its factory sleeve and the movie title written on the label.

they sell and rent originals of russian movies bc they're not hard to obtain and are in demand, especially ones that star russia's heart throb viktor nikiforov (he is especially popular amongst mothers). christophe and the crispino siblings are actors in this verse.

yuri primarily rents the original movies and comes back to buy copies of ones he really really likes after returning them.

the shop is owned by yakov, georgi works the dayshift, and otabek works the nightshift. yakov mostly leaves them to their own devices bc they do a good job. georgi and otabek think he really should hire one more person so they can have some liberty to switch around their shifts when needed but yakov is a stingy old fuck that does his best to not have money leave his pockets. they are open from 8AM to 12AM. they're one of the more popular movie stores in the area since they carry a lot of western movies that aren't easy to find elsewhere and for so cheap.

10pm to 12am are pretty dead hours which otabek uses for pirating shit. similarly the early hours of the dayshift have light traffic so that's when georgi finishes otabek's work from the night prior.