#bathroom refit

[jorichingsuk]

Details Presentation Bancey Group Ltd

At Bancey Construction, we turn dreams into reality, building homes with precision, care, and expertise. As a family-run outfit, we take pride in the work we do, and given that we provide a free quote for the work as well as a FREE.

Bath Road SN13 8AE Box

+44 1225 743754

info@banceybathrooms.co.uk

[generalrefurbslondon]

How to ensure your kitchen remodel adds value to your home

A well-planned kitchen remodel can significantly boost your home’s value, making it one of the best investments for homeowners. However, achieving a return on this investment requires thoughtful planning and smart choices. Here are some expert tips to ensure your kitchen remodel adds value to your home.

1. Layout and flow

Efficient flow ensures your kitchen is easy to navigate and enjoyable to use, which buyers find appealing. Aim for the "work triangle" rule, where the fridge, stove, and sink are easily accessible to one another. A functional layout also makes cooking and cleaning easier, adding practical value to the space.

2. Invest in quality materials

Quality materials not only look better but also last longer. Focus on durable countertops, solid cabinetry, and high-grade flooring. Engineered quartz countertops, for example, are both resilient and stylish, while soft-close cabinets bring that premium touch that buyers appreciate.

3. Focus on energy efficiency

Energy-efficient appliances and lighting appeal to environmentally-conscious buyers and help lower utility bills. Choose appliances with ENERGY STAR ratings, and consider installing LED lighting throughout the space.

4. Choose neutral, timeless design elements

Trendy designs date quickly. Choose neutral colours - whites, greys, or beiges - which have broad appeal and allow future homeowners to envision the space as their own. Timeless materials like subway tiles or classic shaker cabinets can ensure the kitchen feels stylish for years to come.

5. Add ample storage

Buyers love storage, especially in the kitchen. Consider pull-out shelves, deep drawers for pots and pans, and built-in solutions for maximum efficiency. Kitchen islands with built-in storage are a great way to add space without compromising on style.

6. Improve lighting

Lighting can dramatically change the feel of a kitchen. Ensure there’s a combination of task lighting, ambient lighting, and accent lighting to create a welcoming, functional space. Under-cabinet lighting can make food prep easier, while pendant lights over an island add a designer touch.

7. Smart kitchens

Modern buyers appreciate technology. Consider adding a few smart kitchen features. Touchless faucets, smart lighting and WiFi-enabled appliances make the kitchen feel more contemporary. These additions are relatively low-cost and enhance the appeal.

Are you considering a refurb? Chat to General Refurbs, London’s trusted refurbishment company. General Refurbs is a specialist, multi trade team with over 15 years’ experience covering a range of renovation and contracting services, including plumbing and electrical, windows and door installations, bathroom and kitchen design and installation, roofing, flooring and decorating.

With a focus on quality materials and craftsmanship, and ensuring a seamless customer journey, we bring years of expertise to each project, offering tailored solutions that combine functionality with style. We don’t just do one job, we build lasting relationships and our customers return time and again. Work with us and you will see why!

For a free quote, or to discuss your ideas, please contact us—we’d love to help make your dream space a reality. info@generalrefurbs.com

[remodelindiana06]

From rain showers to steam rooms: Customizing your bathroom wet area for your needs

The bathroom wet area is an essential part of any home, where we spend a considerable amount of time each day. From taking a quick shower to a relaxing soak in the bathtub, our bathroom needs to be customized to our needs and preferences. Looking for a bathroom remodel near me? In this article, we will explore various ways to customize your bathroom wet area to create a space that suits your unique needs.

Rain showers: If you are someone who loves a spa-like experience, rain showers are an excellent option to consider. Rain showers come in various shapes and sizes, and they provide a gentle and relaxing flow of water that resembles rainfall. They are often mounted on the ceiling to provide a luxurious and immersive experience. Rain showers can be an excellent addition to a bathroom that has a modern and minimalist design, as they add a touch of elegance and sophistication to the space.

Steam rooms: Steam rooms are an excellent option for those who want to experience the benefits of steam therapy in the comfort of their own home. Steam rooms provide a relaxing and soothing environment, and they are known to improve blood circulation, ease muscle tension, and promote relaxation. They also help to open up your pores and cleanse your skin, leaving you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Steam rooms can be installed in your bathroom, and they come in various sizes and shapes to fit your needs and preferences.

Jacuzzi tubs: Jacuzzi tubs are a popular option for those who love to take long soaks in the tub. Jacuzzi tubs come with built-in jets that provide a massage-like experience, and they are known to provide therapeutic benefits. They can help to relieve muscle tension, improve circulation, and promote relaxation. Jacuzzi tubs are available in various sizes and shapes, and they can be customized to fit your bathroom's design and style.

Bench seating: If you have a large bathroom, you can consider adding bench seating to your wet area. Bench seating provides a comfortable place to sit and relax while you take a shower or a bath. It can also be used as a storage space for towels and other bathroom essentials. 

Multiple showerheads: If you have a large family or enjoy taking showers with your partner, you can consider installing multiple showerheads in your bathroom. Multiple showerheads provide a more efficient and convenient way to take a shower, as everyone can have their showerhead and control the water flow and temperature. Multiple showerheads can be installed in various configurations, such as a wall-mounted panel or a ceiling-mounted system.

Water-resistant speakers: If you love to listen to music or podcasts while you take a shower or a bath, you can consider installing water-resistant speakers in your bathroom. Water-resistant speakers are designed to withstand moisture and humidity, and they provide excellent sound quality. They can be connected to your smartphone or other devices via Bluetooth, and they can be controlled with a remote or an app.

In conclusion, customizing your bathroom wet area is an excellent way to create a space that suits your needs and preferences. Whether you prefer rain showers, steam rooms, Jacuzzi tubs, bench seating, multiple showerheads, or water-resistant speakers, there are many options available to you. Contact Us: Website: https://bathsrus.com/indianapolis/ Address: 5701-Fortune Cir S # G, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46241, USA. Phone: (463)265-0060 Visit Our Socials:

Bath R Us YouTube

Bath R Us Pinterest

Bath R Us Tumblr

[7116811219]

belated hospital update: surgery went well, and i have been refitted with a working heart. been in the transplantee ward for a while now. got my own room and bathroom which is nice. and in a few weeks ill be home if nothing goes wrong.

[ladylilithprime]

Day 16: Falling

IT WAS NOT the sensation of weightlessness that unnerved Castiel, not the way it did for his human friends. As an angel, he was quite used to feeling weightless, being unbeholden to physical constraints when in his true form. In fact, it was the feeling of weightedness, of being subject to the inexorable pull of gravity with the certainty of a very sudden and painful landing that had Castiel's entire being seizing up in fear.

A hole in the roof. Nothing too difficult or arduous to repair, merely the annoyance of having to go about it in the usual human manner because it was visibly noticeable on the outside of the building. Castiel had offered to repair it himself anyway to spare Dean having to contend with his... unease with heights, and to avoid pulling Sam away from unboxing the most recent shipment of Bobby's old books from Jody to add to the Bunker library. He would undoubtedly be drawn into the sorting and cataloguing of books eventually as Sam trusted him far more than he did Dean when it came to the treasured manuscripts, but that first unboxing and sifting through to see what Jody had chosen to send this time was Sam's to enjoy while Castiel and Dean dealt with the repairs to the house.

It should have been simple. The ladder was old, but still sturdy and stable when leaned against the outer wall. Dean had been gone ten minutes, having called up to Castiel that he was going into town for more caulk to continue refitting the bathrooms, which had left Castiel alone to clear the damaged shingles and rotted, broken wood, then cut replacement wood sections to nail in place before he could lay down new shingles over the patch. The wood pieces fit neatly into the space cleared for them, nails going in with the steady strikes from the hammer with carefully measured force. Simple. Uncomplicated.

He was on the ladder climbing back down to get a fresh tube of sealant to go over the nails when the pack of new shingles shifted and slid down the roof to hit the left edge of the ladder. The jolt was enough to shock Castiel off balance, wobbling dangerously until the shingles slid again and the ladder tilted and tipped. For one breathless moment, barely a millisecond, he felt that blissfully familiar weightlessness that transcended physicality.... and then it came, in inexorable pull of gravity wrapping around him and dragging him down, down, faster than he could react, too fast, he was burning, everything was burning--

His back hit a firm surface much softer than the hard ground he was expecting, the impact still driving the breath out of him even as he heard an echoed grunt behind his head. Warm, solid arms wrapped around his chest and held him even as he and his rescuer rocked back a step before Castiel could get his feet under him. The ladder, now unencumbered by his weight and flailing, dropped back into place against the side of the house with a muted clang that made Castiel flinch and the arms around him tighten their hold.

"Steady there, angel," a warm and much beloved voice murmured by his ear. "I gotcha. Quite a fall, huh?"

"Yes," Castiel rasped, breathing deeply and finally relaxing enough to sink back into Sam's embrace. "Not so terrible as the last one. A much softer landing, too."

"Happy to be of service," Sam chuckled, the teasing tone belying the very real care and concern beneath the words, care that Castiel could still feel through every point where their bodies connected and the way Sam had yet to even attempt to let him go. "Thought Dean was supposed to be helping you out here."

"He went into town for more caulk," Castiel explained, sighing softly when Sam made a disagreeable noise. "I am alright, Sam. This fall was--" ....terrifying.... "--distressing, but it would not have injured me. And I am grateful that you were here to catch me anyway, though I am surprised to see you so soon."

"Missed you," Sam said with a shrug Castiel could feel. "Aaaand it turns out Bobby had a collection of books in Enochian that Jody sent our way this box. Figured you might want a crack at them, make sure my rusty translations aren't too terrible."

"None of that," Castiel admonished gently, reaching back to flick Sam's right ear. "And I would be happy to assist with the books once the roof is fixed."

"Need a hand?" Sam asked, his hold on Castiel loosening in apparent preparation for the angel to pull away. Castiel used the opportunity to turn in the embrace instead and wrap his own arms around Sam's torso.

"I would appreciate the assistance," he murmured, tilting his head back and smiling into the kiss when Sam took the nonverbal invitation to connect their lips together. He rather thought he would not mind falling, or Falling, again and again, if Sam Winchester was there to catch him every time.

[gallifreyinstituteforlearning]

Hi, I'm the human who got trapped inside a TARDIS.

Thank you for the help, I managed to open the interior doors a few days ago and went looking for the owner. No luck, but I found a swimming pool, a huge library, kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, science labs, entertainment rooms and what seems to be a huge park?

I don't know how on Earth something like this can even exist, but I guess there's all the time in the world to learn while waiting for rescue. I'm worried about the pilot though; isn't there a way to locate them, given how advanced this craft is?

Hi there, trapped human! Let's address your concerns about the pilot.

How to locate a TARDIS pilot

Do not attempt to operate the TARDIS flight controls without being absolutely sure it is safe. On earlier models, use of the console without a Symbiotic Nucleus may result in injury or a very slow and painful death.

Note: Most of the systems are in Gallifreyan. TARDISes do not tend to translate Gallifreyan, so you may not be able to read them.

Here are some methods you can try:

📡 Stattenheim Remote Teleport Control: Look for a small black disc stored in a transparent dome on the console. If properly calibrated, pressing this button may immediately transport you to the pilot. If it's not there, the pilot has taken it, or the TARDIS doesn't have the Mark X refit.

⏪ Fast Return Switch: This will return the TARDIS to an approximate time and location near where it last landed. It's clearly labelled on the console. Turn it clockwise to operate. [Use with caution]

📍 Locate the Doctor: Some models may have this feature. It is activated by pressing a button on the console labelled 'LTD' (your TARDIS may have another personalised variation). The Visual Display Unit will show the pilot's relative position on a map.

🧬 Passenger Adoption Scanning Terminal (PAST): This system registers and protects passengers. Due to how it works, if you’re registered, the pilot is likely still on board.

👥 Internal Monitor: A Mark II TARDIS can detect the number of sapient life forms onboard and display it on the Internal Monitor.

💻 The Scanner: The Scanner can locate the pilot's biodata within a two-mile radius outside the TARDIS. Some pilots have a preprogrammed switch by the scanner that will instantly display their pilot's location, but this is a modified feature.

🎤 Voice Interaction: Try speaking to the TARDIS. Some models respond to vocal commands for minor systems. If the TARDIS doesn’t respond, your voice print registration is required.

🔍 Artron Telepathic Radiation: If you find another Time Lord, they can scan for the pilot's ‘thumbprints’ left by their symbiotic nuclei to identify them.

🛠️ Cloister Room: This room contains telepathic circuits to communicate with the pilot, possibly providing an audiovisual link. It's accessible via a shortcut in the Secondary Control Room. Be cautious, as this room may have minor effects on your nervous system.

��� Extreme Emergency Lever: Crew members can use this lever to lock onto a pilot drifting in space and materialise around them.

🗝️ TARDIS Key: Use a key to locate anyone processed by the PAST (such as other crew members). Mix their blood with saline solution, coat the key, and suspend it in clear oil. The oxidised blood particles will 'point' in their direction.

🧠 Memory Store: Stores memories of TARDIS occupants, including audio-visual recordings of the Control Room. Useful to identify the pilot and the last time they were there.

💉 Medical Bay: The Automatic Diagnostic Terminal usually uses the pilot's avatar to communicate. You may be able to ask the avatar their identity, although responses may be limited.

If you need to take emergency action:

There is an 🚪Emergency Door located in the Power Stacks Room, leading outside. The 🚨 Fail-Safe Switch locks the TARDIS onto the nearest habitable environment, creating emergency doors. The 🆘 Emergency Emergency System (so emergent they named it twice) creates a wormhole to the nearest habitable planet. This is one way only, so there is no return to the TARDIS afterwards.

💀 Pilot Death & TARDIS Adoption

Usually, emergency systems will try to lock onto the pilot. If this is not happening, the pilot may have died without regeneration. TARDISes will normally go into a period of mourning following the death of their pilot, possibly involving a loss of power or shut down of many systems.

If you're finding systems are not shut down but have increasing suspicions the pilot may have died, this could be because:

The TARDIS has already gone through its period of mourning;

It has reactivated at your presence, hoping to establish a link with you;

It didn't really like its pilot very much.

It's not unheard of for humans to forge a bond with the TARDIS, especially if it's been left alone for some time. The TARDIS might be adopting you as its new caretaker, which would explain the access you've been granted. Some clues:

🎁 TARDISes sometimes leave gifts to welcome new arrivals. Look around for anything unusual or out of place.

💭 If you feel any strong intuitive pushes or thoughts, it might be the TARDIS trying to communicate with you.

🔑 If you're finding you have access to a lot of the TARDIS (including intricate systems), the TARDIS definitely likes you.

🏫 So ...

To locate the pilot or other crew members, try any of the procedures outlined above. Be sure to familiarise yourself with the main areas and secure access to food, water, and other necessities. The TARDIS can help—look for glowing arrows or symbols on the walls. These can lead you to important areas. Remember, the TARDIS is a complex and sentient machine. If it has adopted you, it will do its best to keep you safe, and it has a plethora of effective automated defences to achieve this.

Related:

Do we have any info on TARDIS biology?: Overview of TARDIS biological aspects.

Factoid: What's the link between a Time Lord and their TARDIS?

Can a non-Gallifreyan benefit from a symbiotic bond with a TARDIS?: Non-Gallifreyan symbiosis with a TARDIS.

Hope that helped! 😃

Any purple text is educated guesswork or theoretical. More content ... →📫Got a question? | 📚Complete list of Q+A and factoids →😆Jokes |🩻Biology |🗨️Language |🕰️Throwbacks |🤓Facts →🫀Gallifreyan Anatomy and Physiology Guide (pending) →⚕️Gallifreyan Emergency Medicine Guides →📝Source list (WIP) →📜Masterpost If you're finding your happy place in this part of the internet, feel free to buy a coffee to help keep our exhausted human conscious. She works full-time in medicine and is so very tired😴

[writing-is-a-martial-art]

I have a splitting migraine again so I reinvent sex but better

Let me paint you a picture. A room, small enough to be a bedroom, refitted to house nothing but tools for one’s body - a mini gym. It’s raining outside. My vision is drifting into an avant-grade kaleidoscope mess of shadows upon shadows. It’s raining outside and I turn off the light. It’s raining outside and I left my phone in the bathroom. I am nothing but nobody in this moment / I am nothing but my body in this moment. It’s raining outside and seeing how I’m alone here I take off my shirt and binder, leave myself to become and be. See, this is pleasure. I do pull-ups and listen to my breath fill the room. I do push-ups and push my body to the edge of pain. I do sit-ups and meanwhile the pain in my arms melts into fire that fills my being, warmth and warmth and warmth. There is a man in the gym opposite me, half-ghost in the reflection of a room filled only with the light entering from the window outside (it is dark. the streetlight is inventing its own kind of sun). I cannot see his face but I can see the shape of his chest, maybe because I look at his chest far more than I do at his face, worry its shape in my mind like a cavity. In this moment he is ghost-movement and I am all there has ever been, fire and iron and breath. I only say one word in this room: six. under my breath, bench-pressing. Six. Not much, hardly half-way through. Already in my mind I have half a poem about how this could be a religion, if I put my mind to it. in the darkness my body does not betray me. I lie on my back and forget my hurt, other than the fire, I forget that the man in the mirror looks like anything but what he should be. There is no should be here, this is all absurd symphony, this is all perfection. In the dark my breath fills the room, and it sounds more than enough like a man’s. 

[runwayrunway]

No. 15 - PSA (Pacific Southwest Airlines)

Thank you to @lobstersinmyhouse for requesting PSA! And, in all honesty, this is exactly my feelings too. Pack it up, post over.

...okay, no. I am going to write a post, but I make no secret of loving PSA's airplanes. After all, one is even my icon.

image: Piergiuliano Chesi

There was never an airline like it before PSA sprang up in 1949, and there has never been an airline like it since. Decades after its demise I still feel a real sense of grief about the fact that it's gone. Pacific Southwest Airlines hasn't existed for longer than its entire time in operation and it mostly only operated in a single state, but it remains one of the most beloved airlines ever to exist. I'm certainly far from immune to catching their smile. So I'm very, very excited to cover the iconic grinningbirds, one of the best-known airline liveries of all time even 40 years after the regional carrier which wore it ceased existing.

PSA officially stands for Pacific Southwest Airlines. Unofficially, it was the Poor Sailor's Airline. According to a button they put out, it was this.

image: psa-history.org

But really, it can stand for anything you want. I think it stands for Pretty Smiling Airplanes.

You see, PSA's marketing leaned into the fun and casual as much as it was possible for an airline to do. They called themselves "The World's Friendliest Airline". Their branding was all bright, colorful, delightful. One aspect of it is particularly well known.

image: Piergiuliano Chesi

The name "grinningbird" is literal. PSA's fleet was lovingly painted with massive smiles directly under their noses. Their advertisements encouraged people to "catch our smile" across the state of California.

A preserved DC-3 in original Pacific Southwest livery

PSA was started as a single leased DC-3 hopping from San Diego to Oakland. Apparently their ticket office was literally a refitted military surplus latrine where they weighed passenger baggage on a bathroom scale. When they expanded with DC-4s they painted rectangles around the windows to make them look more like DC-6s. This was in 1955. And then, by the early 60s, they were taking off.

A pre-smile PSA Electra. The L-188 Electra is, of course, my favorite jet plane. image: Jon Proctor

It was in the 60s that their planes stopped saying 'Pacific Southwest Airlines' and started just being PSA, and it was in the 60s when they caught their smiles. This was the point when PSA became PSA, transforming from just another intrastate airline in the pre-deregulation era to a turning point in aviation history.

a 1972 promotional button image: psa-history.org

While the smiley faces are the most significant historical fact about PSA, also notable is the fact that they were the first low-cost carrier in history. Although PSA's routes were limited to Southern California, they charged $9.99 for a ticket other airlines would charge $13.50 or $22.05 for - and keep in mind that in today's money that's a difference of hundreds of dollars. Free of federal fare taxes and operating frequently, PSA grew at an intense pace with its new fleet of Lockheed L-188 Electras.

I love the L-188 Electra (not to be confused with the earlier L-10 Electra best known for Amelia Earhart reasons). Although Lockheed has long since moved over to exclusively making weapons for killing people, back when they were in the civil airliner market they made the most incredible planes which somehow ended up commercially flopping time after time. The Electra, for instance, was all but killed immediately by two early crashes caused by a sneaky design flaw. These were fixed, but the type's reputation had already been sullied. (Interestingly, similar early design flaws with far less prompt responses failed to kill either the DC-6 or the DC-10, despite the latter causing the deadliest crash in history at the time and the former having had the serious potential to give us a timeline where the President of the United States was killed because his presidential transport had a design flaw which encouraged going up in flames midair.) Ironically, the Electra is actually an insanely reliable and sturdy plane, and the example pictured is still in service as an air tanker under the registration C-GZCF, still doing her thing at just 63 years young. (Another Electra in Air Spray's fleet is a similar age but also survived being bisected across the belly by her own detached propeller, and she literally flew two days ago. These planes are on a level only shared with Nokia cell phones, especially for their size.)

That paragraph became about the Lockheed L-188 Electra. I did not mean for it to be, but I am leaving it in, because I love this plane. Looks great with the smile, too. The roundness of the nose gives the distinct appearance of something like a teddy bear snout.

From this point things only grew quicker. PSA continued to be PSA, acquiring more aircraft to fly more passengers. They did expand routes eventually, and once the 1978 Deregulation Act allowed they flew to some other states and even Mexico. Despite this, they remained an icon in their home state, and are often called "the unofficial flag carrier of California".

PSA stewardesses. I can't find an original source for either of these pictures, which have been widely spread without context or credit - although significant effort has been made to archive PSA's promotional content, a lot of it is, sadly, free-floating orphaned bits.

PSA's stewardesses wore bright pink and orange uniforms of miniskirts, hot pants, and go-go boots. They were encouraged to joke around with passengers, and so were the pilots. Other airlines at the time were still only slowly losing the unapproachable aura they had cultivated of stiff, sterile luxury and gravitas. PSA would get you where you needed to go without any fuss and they'd charge you half as much for it. And they weren't sloppy, either. Despite their low fares, PSA was incredibly safe, having one fatal accident in a span of time where American Airlines had 16, and even though nostalgia is obviously a factor I've only ever heard glowingly positive accounts of PSA, its service, and its staff.

image: Bill Larkins

PSA's fleet was...eclectic. Though they operated a few very popular models, like the Boeing 727 and McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series, a lot of their offerings were somewhat uncommon. The plane in my profile picture is one of their two L-1011 TriStars, another of Lockheed's underappreciated airliners and by far the most advanced wide-body aircraft of its time. PSA was unique in that it operated a jumbo jet, their "Mother Grinningbird", on a route that was not just domestic, but intrastate. They also apparently operated a single Bell 206 helicopter, which I can find no additional clarification on. Lastly, they flew one of the oddest airliners ever built in both function and appearance, the British Aerospace 146.

Just your regular high-wing jet. No thrust reversers necessary. Western-made but rocking the Il-76 wing anhedral. Super quiet because the powerplants are based off what you'd put on a helicopter. Seats less people than a 737-200 - six-across layout for maximum discomfort - and flies exclusively puddle jumps...yeah, I think four sounds like the right number of engines. image: Ted Quackenbush

Across all these planes, they found a livery that worked and they kept going with it. The reason this post is so long is to give context to just how important this livery is. The grinningbirds were what started low-cost carriers, paving the way for the silly names of jetBlue airplanes in a future its founders couldn't even have imagined. The shift to approachability over prestige in airline marketing was PSA's lasting gift to aviation, as were the low fares and the knowledge that a 'budget' airline didn't have to be dodgy or unpleasant - they just had to charge less than TWA and Western.

image: Piergiuliano Chesi

PSA's colorscheme was incredibly vibrant. The red and orange colors feel warm and tropical, complementing the California sunshine in which these planes spent their time. Earlier liveries also had a shocking hot pink shade above both, though it was eventually painted over due to issues with paint fading - I think the livery is vastly improved with its presence, but I suppose needs must. Despite the airline serving commuters more than vacationers it puts one in mind of things like beaches and ice cream stands - warm, high-energy things. The sorts of things one might smile about, if they like those things. I hate those things, but these planes make me like the idea of them, because they're just so darn happy to take me there!

The design of the fuselage is incredibly bold despite not using much more paint than any other airline of the day. While the striking colors definitely contribute to the overall look being more than the sum of its parts, I think there's also a few bits of clever design that really elevate the design of the plane.

The tail has a design almost like an inverse hockey-stick. Instead of following the cheatlines for maximum sleekness it chooses to diverge from it, creating a sharp angle that keeps the aerodynamic feeling while feeling fresh from similar designs of the time. By having the thin line from the tail trailing down towards the fuselage it prevents the block of empty space on a regular hockey-stick livery, where the forward portion of the empennage is fully unpainted, and creates a feeling of continuous color and excitement while keeping some staccato punch.

Similarly subtle yet effective are the stripes themselves. They aren't of an equal width - rather, the red stripe is thinner than the orange one, and in planes with the additional pink stripe this one is even wider. It feels a lot more dynamic than simple even-width stripes, feeling almost as if you can see the colors start to mix into each other. The 'mixing' feeling is helped by the fact that the cheatlines wrap under the nose instead of simply ending where they meet. The small painted white line under the main colored ones, above the unpainted metal of the underbelly, creates basically an extra two stripes for the price of one despite being so subtle many people probably didn't notice it.

On its own, the design of the bodies of PSA planes is already good, but it practically ceases to matter when you get to the face.

The way the top line of color wraps around the back of the cockpit windows makes it look almost like the plane is wearing sunglasses. And then there's the little painted black nose and, of course, the huge ear-to-ear grin. I don't really know what else to say about this because it's all been said time and time again.

I genuinely don't know how else to express it. PSA's livery was gorgeous and it was perfect for PSA. In all honesty, I don't think it's possible to improve it at all. My one slight criticism is that the actual PSA wordmark, though designed well, is a bit small and out of the way, but to be totally honest it's barely necessary. You see the smile and you know exactly who that plane is flying for.

PSA gets a PSA+.

So what happened to PSA, if they were so successful? Did an economic shift catch them off-guard? Did some demographic evolution rob them of their old customer-base? Did a change of management result in a new owner running the airline into the ground? Did it have anything to do with the fact that the one time they were involved in an accident it spent eight months as the deadliest crash in US history?

Nope. They got bought out by USAir because they wanted more routes on the West Coast.

Yeah. That's the story. Neither a bang nor a whimper. They left one morning and didn't come back. That was the end of PSA, the first-ever low-cost carrier, California's most beloved airline, and one of the best-designed liveries in airline history if not the very best.

There is, however, one final twist. USAir eventually was sucked into the gaping maw of American Airlines. With this merger American Airlines also inherited the rights to PSA's IP. In classic fashion, they created a wholly-owned subsidiary by the name of PSA Airlines, just to make sure nobody else could get the trademark.

Under the iron fist of first US Airways (USAir's eventual rebrand) and later American Airlines, we were allowed one last grinningbird - an Airbus A319-100 registered N742PS. It's strange, seeing the PSA livery on a model of airplane they never operated. It's a rare example of the design on airframes that have that rather distinct 'default' modern empennage, all sharp and tall with no t-tail or third engine. The implementation could take some notes and the colors look bizarrely plastic, but I will never stop loving her no matter how much they take from her. How could I not, with that smile?

Unfortunately, in April of this year she was re-painted to a standard American Airlines livery. Although the Allegheny and Piedmont heritage liveries were removed at the same time, I almost don't even notice their absence because of the loss of our very last holdout from a much more colorful time and place. Part of me feels a sort of ripping-the-bandaid-off relief at it. American Airlines shouldn't get to parade around the skin of a much better livery worn by a much better airline. That isn't theirs; they didn't earn it. And there's no way to rebuild PSA now that times have changed and the industry is unrecognizable from the days when a ticket from San Diego to Burbank cost $9.99. All the same, the loss of yet another smile hurts. There's no way it wouldn't. And at the end of the day it makes me feel a little dead inside just imagining the mindset of the American Airlines executive who walked by her in the hangar and instead of smiling back gave the order to paint her white. And that day, the sky got a little less colorful and a lot sadder.

Maybe, in a strange sense, the way it happened is better. Nobody ran PSA into the ground. They did not cause some sort of reputation-ruining accident through willful negligence. Their customer service did not decline until they were widely grumbled about. They didn't die infamous for poor safety and loose morals like Pan Am, or splitting at the seams and betraying their reputation like Chalk's Ocean Airways. No, I don't think an organic shriveled going-under would have held any more dignity than this. I think the ending PSA got is as graceful as the ending to something like PSA could be. There is no end to the glory days which forces itself into our memories. There is no decline. No sunset to fly off into. There is a loss to mourn, but no accompanying moment to curse. Lost at sea, ship never found, nothing to imply a terrible fate; all we know is the poor sailors aren't here anymore.

Maybe it's not universally known to people who aren't interested in subjects that bring them close to it, but to those of us who love planes PSA is truly special. Its quiet apotheosis has made it synonymous with the very best an airline could be. The joy of a time where a regular person could finally afford their first plane ticket and be greeted by colorful people who talk to them like friends, where even the planes are smiling, is encoded into the DNA of PSA's remnants, into every anecdote told by an aging former stewardess and into every Polaroid taken of one of those smiling planes parked on a sunny California tarmac. It was there, and then it was a distant echo of warm breezes and idle chatter that feels almost close enough to reach out and touch. PSA never died. One day it was flying passengers to their destinations, planes smiling their same smiles. The next day it was fond memory, already graduated to the distant sunny shores of nostalgia.

[mountaindmned]

WELCOME HOME (childhood teaser)

during the final wade through the water, Mike made some offhand comment about Jack's living quarters in the Sanitarium. As the last S&R helicopter faded into the dawning grey sky, Jack already knew his next project.

Something to keep busy. Something to keep the loneliness at bay.

He wandered to that old path he knew by heart, even with ten years of overgrowth. Put the machete to use. A few saplings grew in that stone-lined path. Plenty of stones washed away as snow or winds battered the mountain.

An old log cabin. Chain link fence twisted around lodgepole pines. The door stuck shut, too many years of wood freezing and thawing. He wedged it open with his shoulder.

The entry still held a knee high pile of boots. The rubber had rotted with age. He picked through them with his own boot, knelt to grab a pair that fit him.

The kitchen window and sink faced west, towards sunset. The bathroom was off to the left. Three bedrooms were full of six bunk beds. Jack had stripped the beds a few years ago. No use wasting good supplies.

Except for the heavy leather jacket. That stayed in its honored place in the old recliner next to the fireplace. He'd have to check the chimney before he started the fire. Warmed the place up.

He started a fire in the wood stove. Put the kettle on. Some Chinese tea he'd stolen from the Washingtons before the whole place exploded.

He could take apart the bunk beds. Burn them. But that felt like burning all the memories too.

A bunch of handmade mugs cluttered the cabinets. Some were lumpy clay, others more carefully shaped. A few handcarved wooden bowls, spoons, plates.

He picked one with JACK signed into the handle in a teen's awkward scrawl.

Took the tea into the northern bedroom. Finally took his flamethrower off. The bedroom was dusty. A poster of The Thing & Alien were opposite the wide window with heavy wool curtains. The bare bunk beds were carved with symbols of flames, the prey, different signatures. A repeated motif across all six beds: a flame surrounded by a zigzagged spiral. Simplistic, easy to carve into skin or wood alike.

Jack ran his finger over the symbol. Slurped at his tea.

He'd turn this place into something alive again. It would certainly be warmer than the nuthouse. The prey could stay in their cages, he could make daily checks. The dogs could sleep by the fireplace, just like Socks had.

He'd drag the fiddle, washboard, accordion, banjo, and drum back over from the Sanitarium. Refit the drum head here at the stove. The accordion would be a lost cause. Maybe the banjo could be saved.

Never should have let them stay outside in those temperatures. But he'd wanted something of home. Even after shutting the door and walking away from his life after he buried the old man, he'd still wanted something to remember all this by. Damn if he ever played it. Hardly even touched his own damn fiddle.

Sentimentality won out just this once. A few treks in the next early morning, an afternoon supply run to check in on Loretta at the general store.

The fiddle was in his lap in front of the roaring fireplace. The two dogs snored on the freshly beaten rug. There was soup brewing on the fireplace over Mark's old cast iron pot.

He'd have to go into town, steal some new strings and rosin. Maybe a new bow. But it could be done.

There would be music in this house again.

[i-write-boop-spoops]

Leon with a wheelchair-user! S/O headcanons!

on mobile again (on the bus this time so slay) so apologies if formatting is weird!

thanks so much to the person who requested this! you were a great help ! and apologies for the wait omg

features gn! reader and leon being a good bf!

disclaimer: i am not a wheelchair user nor have any mobility-related issues (i am disabled though, one of those cheeky visually impaired girlies 🦯) so as always, if i have made a mistake, please don't hesitate to reach out and i'll get it sorted!

One thing about Leon

Is that he's strong

So fit

And so willing to give a hand

So if you ever need to take break from rolling your wheels yourself

He's so ready and willing to push you about

In fact, whenever you're out together, he always offers to push your wheelchair right away

It's very sweet, how caring he is, but also how respectful he is when you decline

He'll carry you too

No problem at all

Bridal-style, (te)piggyback, over his shoulder firefighter-style

Whatever you prefer!

It comes in handy when you're in a place that's not very accessible

Or, you just want your big strong man to lift you up like you’re nothing

If you ever need him to help you stand, you know he's got you

You feel so secure and safe in his arms!

This also goes if you ever need support when walking

Gets his car refitted to make it more accessible for you

now you have no excuse, you have to ride in the carizard

Renovates his place too

He plans to wake up next to you for the rest of his life, it's the least he can do

Being the champion’s S/O has a ton of perks

You get invited to exclusive events, get TONS of free stuff, be the most envied person in the region

You find people are more likely to go and above and betond for you

Not because you require accomodations though don’t be silly

But because your boyfriend is the unbeatable champuon

It’s not the best reason for your needs being met

You’ll take what Ws you can get honestly

Lee, by the nature of his career

And really, by his kind and generous personality

Does a lot of charity work

Even working with wheelchair-user related charities before you two ever met

But being with you, seeing your day-to-day. witnessing how inaccessible the world can be

In ways he would have never considered

Really upped his contribution to these charities

He's tryna give you the best life he can

Trying to provide that for others in your situation seems only the right thing to do, especially considering his position

Has a wheelchair patch on his cape to show support during his matches

Luckily Wyndon Stadium is state-of-art

In terms of everything - accessibility included!

It is the crown jewel of Galar after all

Ramps, lifts, automatic doors. multiple accessible bathrooms, specialized viewing areas for wheelchair users

Accessible showers too ;)

Even the VIP area is wheelchair-friendly!

Though you tend to watch from his locker room instead

So you can give your champ a big ol'smooch after his match

Occasionally idotic interviewers praise him for how “brave” and “inspiring” he is for openly dating a disabled peron

Of course, he’s quick to shut that kind of ignorant, condescending shit down

He won’t let anyone talk about you that way

The media, his fans, even people you know

It really grinds his gears – even more since he knows he can’t get angry in public

Naturally, he’s  your biggest cheerleader

He is always there to encourage you 

To give you that support when you're struggling with something

He's careful not to push too far though

After all, it's your body, your limits 

You know yourself and what you can do in that moment more than he ever can

But still, you value his encouragement and belief in you

Even if it's just for a confidence boost!

Whatever you do

Don't let him even think about decorating your wheelchair

You've seen how he dresses and his car - there's no way it can go well

[elbiotipo]

More details about the ANCE Johann Sebastian Mastropiero, the dear ship of our heroes Beto, Ragua, Suisini and probably some more.

An HA-116 "Barrilete" class ship. Built by Haedo Astronáutica as a strategic multi-role transport, with production massively ramped during the Machine War to supply remote outposts. Widely licensed and appreciated by its rugged nature, there are thousands still on service, many on civilian hands.

Looks like a mix of the Space Shuttle and the Ilyushin Il-76, but in a retro space opera style (sleek yet all "burned" from lots and lots of atmospheric reentries). The size is about of a C-17 Globemaster, with some more crew space.

The engines are fusion rockets working on as of-yet undiscovered tech, but commonplace by the future of the setting (not more complex than modern jet engines). Once in space, to enter FTL, it docks with a drive ring in orbit (common for this kind of ships)

Full travel time for a standard mission, is about 3-5 days until you need refuelling. It all depends of course where and how you want to go but that's about the max without dangerously stretching it.

It takes off and lands from any kind of airfield, even unpaved ones; in fact, this is what the ship was designed for, to deliver any kind of cargo to any place, no matter how remote. As long as there's some kind of flatish surface, it can land and take off.

The interior is very, very cramped. It has 4 cabins for crew and 8 for passengers (with 16 seats/beds), but they are standard "pod" designs, roughy 2x2m; you get your own pod with two acceleration couches, a TV, a hilariously tiny bathroom, and that's it. Think a capsule hotel with some more space. It's not for luxury travel.

No artificial gravity either. Travel is relatively short so you don't have to worry that much about muscle degradation, but there might be some gym equipment stored around.

The cargo bay is the most spacious place, because that's what's the ship's for. It can fit up to 6 shipping containers or equivalent cargo (depends what's in).

When it's empty, it's fun to hang out there (not like there's much space in the ship)

Like I said, outside it's decorated in a fileteado style, with celeste, silver and red, the colors of the Esteloplatense Confederation. It might have some details reminding old Rioplatenses buses and trucks..

Inside, of course, it feels cozy. Beto, of course, has some malvón flowers, a estamptita of San Carlos de los Astronautas, a Mary statue and a crucifix (everything helps) and a flag of River Plate on the cockpit.

Beto's pod cabin is full of whatever memories and stuff he finds on his travels (all safely stored of course). Suisini's pod is basically a sun-room with crystals for focusing different wavelenghts of light, it kinda has a hippie vibe. Ragua has a bathtub, and she finds it depressingly tacky compared to what she's used to.

Now as for its service story (no dates, assumes all this happens around 600-700 years After Gagarin):

Built for the Machine War, served for years (on the command of Beto's grandfather) on many supply missions in the counterspin front, mostly supplying bases and building sensor outposts, but also in a few hostile landing missions.

Returned to the Confederation Astral Prefecture, served as a reserve transport ship for a few more years.

Refitted for civilian service and sold in an auction of surplus military equipment

Bought by a group of former pilots, including Beto's grandpa, who started a transport cooperative. Refitted and put to work once again.

After a crash, it languishes in an hangar at Aerolito for a few more years.

Beto takes a loan, repairs it and rejoin the coop, and it flies once again.

It should be roughly 40-50 years old. And still flying...

[starflungwaddledee]

hello. i see that you haven't made any posts for a while, how have things been going?

hello! little bewildered by this and not sure if it's like... a robot maybe? because here's my tally of posts for the last four days, not including reblogs or replies to other people's artwork and only 100% my own posts, between the 22nd-27th of november:

asks answered: 27 and many ask answers were 5-10 paragraphs long. sketches: 4 full colour illustrations: 4.5 one with animated aspects and two with full backgrounds + rendering

that works out at an average of 6.75 asks and 2.1 pieces of art a day over those four days. not sure how many more posts i should be making, but damn!?! 😂😂 and i thought i was churning this shit out pretty fast lmao

anyway, all that said i have actually been quite busy this last week. we've just had our rotting bathroom demolished and we're currently reflooring/refitting in there which is an expensive nightmare, and my birthday (not to mention the festive season) is fast approaching. so i've been fairly exhausted, and maybe that's come across in my work somehow? 😅👍

[fandoms-in-law]

Stories Chapter 5

chapter 1 chapter 2 chapter 3 chapter 4

Summary: In which Steve takes a few friends paint shopping and makes an awkward comment to try ensuring 2 know he's a safe space

authors note is added at the end

/\/\

"So let me get this right," Robin started, clearly ready to rant as Steve led her, Eddie and Will into the home decoration store. "You scoff and let both me and Eddie go through subtly bringing redecorating up to you, act like it all has to be theoretical and are now, not a week later, taking not just us but Will off to get paints and see how much redoing your bathroom might cost? Why Will? And when did you tell him anything about this when we said no kids involved?"

Steve shrugged at her. "I need him to help with a couple rooms. He's just getting the tiny pots of paint and all I've decided on is the bathroom and colours I'd like the rooms to be. Also you two decided to do it that way because you knew I'm just as likely to try making my house fit your tastes as I am to let the kids take over if they try to."

"It's my turn to be Steve's favourite anyway. Dustin and Max keep refusing to let anyone else have the chance." Will agreed.

Eddie grinned,nodding at the statement before nudging Steve. "Come on then. Tell us why Will is oh so essential to your home redesign? What can't the three of us achieve?"

"A decent looking mural. I've asked him to do two and his sketches after I tried describing my idea when I called the Byers last night look awesome already." He explained easily.

That gets him a frown and Eddie reaching for his bag, forgetting it was left in Steve's car. "I'll show you that I could do that later." He states instead.

The other three all pause at that before Steve smiles widely. "Better idea. I'll commission you to do a painting I can get framed to replace the one in the dining room. I know you've been covering my parents portrait up every time you're around. Work with Will if you want ideas of what will work since one of the murals is opposite it."

Robin smiled at him now, her teasing annoyance over the redecorating plans going differently than she expected forgotten in curiosity over what he'd chosen. "Come on, give us the list of colours we're looking for. I know you have one if you did this planning without us." she nudged his shoulder. "And I want to see what you decided."

"Only so I can have some peace in here: Have some swatches to find. Eddie gets some too and we'll split up to see who finds their colours first. Meet at Will in the tester pots section." He offered them over, not bothering to explain the stars indicating the colours he wanted. It seemed clear enough that neither of his friends would try getting all the colours on a swatch.

...

Steve was last to meet up with them and by the time he did he was muttering under his breath, more frustrated than he would be by an out of the blue demand for a lift from Henderson that could have been mentioned far earlier.

"Were those colours that difficult to find?" Robin began, ready to tease but hesitating so she could check on him.

"The bathroom fitters don't give straight answers and didn't much like me saying I could go to a gay bar and get clearer replies than their hemming." He grumbled. "In good news, I should be able to afford to get the bathroom I want done. In annoying news, I'm going to have to find anywhere but here to do it since they seem to be homophobes as well as missing braincells."

Robin nodded slowly, ignoring Will and Eddie staring as if utterly confused by the sentence Steve just shared. "So you can have your corner tub deep into the floor of your bathroom?"

"That I can. Also either of you know if there actually is a gay bar around? So I can see if anyone there has recommendations for plumbers or bathroom refitting?" Steve continued glancing from Robin to Eddie.

At both of them shaking their heads in disbelief and Robin elbowing him again he dropped the subject with another grin. He'd checked before speaking at all that the area was empty of people other than their group and kept speaking quietly the entire time, but had deliberately mentioned it, trying to confirm he was safe to both Eddie and Will. It had been something he'd thought about recently when Robin mentioned she hadn't come out to anyone other than him and didn't want to just over a crush; that in a place like Hawkins, even with their trauma bonded family, his friends still couldn't be sure everyone was safe and Steve knew that even if he couldn't make everyone prove themselves accepting, he could at least make himself a safe place for others.

Eddie grinned back at him. "Can't say I do, not any that's nearby at least,but we could get recommendations from around the trailer park. I know who's cool already and even if you get overcharged for rich area privilege I bet it'd be cheaper than somewhere like here, looking for the wealthy home renovators, quoted." He offered instead.

"Mum and Hopper probably have some recommendations too." Will quietly spoke up, holding his sketchbook up for Steve to see before pointing out various tester pots in the colours he wanted. "How many of these can I have for the mural?"

...

"Do homes really take this much paint? It looks like there's no way you could ever use all of this." Eddie groaned, looking over the checkout with all the paints they'd collected over it.

Steve shrugged, "Not a clue, but I did check guides on how much a can will cover for the amounts I asked you to get of each colour and as you're all fond of reminding me, my house is big."

"I'm drawing pictures on your walls and then filling the gaps in if you seriously think I can stand just painting a wall in one colour." Eddie warned, grinning to show it was mostly teasing.

He got a laugh in reply. "That's why we've got paint rollers to make it quicker to do, but sure, go wild with it and see if the things you draw can still be spotted after everything is the same colour."

"Hey Dingus, stop chatting and help with putting this all back in the trolley. I swear your brat got a mini pot of every colour in existence." Robin grabbed their attention from where his paints were now being scanned.

"Will isn't a brat. He's an occasionally brutal angel compared to the rest of them, except maybe El." Steve corrected while squeezing past the trolley to help as requested.

...

"So this is actually being made into a home after all these years?" Hopper asked, stood outside of Steve's house only there to drop Will off but smiling and clearly ready to wait and chat if he wasn't about to volunteer to help with the painting.

Steve nodded, "Doesn't seem real, but apparently believing it's my biggest challenge yet."

Most of their group would argue, point to Russians or anything the Upside down had thrown at them to contradict him, but Hop just sighed. "Guess so. Making big changes deliberately instead of letting them happen around you is always tough."

"I did want to ask you something though." Steve hesitated now, knowing Hopper was the best person to ask the thought that had been in his head since he spoke to Jonathan about owning his home, but unsure if it would change anything.

He got a nod encouraging him to continue after a moments silence though. "Is there a way to contact Doctor Owens? The fact I have this place and nobody else seemed to get quite this much doesn't sit right so I want to challenge the unfairness with him."

"I've got a number for him but most of the time he just shows up after everything has gone to shit and been fought back." Hopper admits, moving towards the house. "But for now, let's get at least part of your house properly painted. I bet none of your friends have ever painted a wall in your lives."

Steve grinned at him, "No, but it doesn't seem too hard. We are just aiming for a flat colour, other than Will."

"You'd think so, but I'll show you the knack to it." Hopper grinned, rolling his shoulders and following the noise of voices through to Steve's living room.

...

Having new colours on the walls unnerved Steve. He'd be doing something and then pause wondering why the light was different for a moment before remembering. It felt kind of ridiculous to realise but just repainting the walls changed how the house felt completely.

"What's going on?" Dustin stared at the hallway through to the living room as if something would attack him.

This was the first clue and only possibility that the kids beyond Will would realise Steve owned the house early and he'd mentally been preparing himself to tell the most useful lie in avoiding demands to interfere.

"My parents barged in last week, said this friend of theirs was saying how unfashionable their decor was of the flat they keep in the city so apparently every property including this house needs redecorating urgently." Steve groused. "I'm just hoping it stops with repainting."

"Does that include your room? Cause anything has to be better than that wallpaper." Dustin immediately asks. "Actually, can I see how they've done your room? I need to judge it."

"They haven't done anything to it yet but they will and hell no. You lost any chance to look around when you decided to snoop and invade my privacy when I wasn't even here. You are restricted to the living room alone." Steve countered, unsurprised when he felt someone leaning over his shoulder a moment later. Honestly part of him wanted to show off the changes, and forget about Dustin rooting through his notebooks but Will had started with the mural in his room. If the ruse that this was dictated by his parents was going to continue then none of the other kids could see that. 

Eddie had been in the kitchen with Robin catching up and joking about their dream homes so both had probably heard that Dustin had arrived for Hellfire now. 

"Yes Dusty-buns, a few weeks does not erase the memory of that. Why are you here an hour early anyway?" Eddie cooed, reaching over Steve's shoulder to remain draped on him while messing up Dustin's hair.

"Will keeps mentioning coming round to help Steve with something and I'm his little brother. I should be the one doing all this helping." He glared at them, ready to argue just as much as actually ask what Steve needs help for that he wouldn't be approached about first. 

Steve grinned at that too, shrugging as he headed through to where Hellfire would soon be playing. "Don't think you can, Henderson. The Byers are the experts in art and photography. You're my audio and tech expert and honestly, the sound system I have is already good and the radio works fine."

"So what? You're actually getting a say in what's done?" Dustin scoffed. "That means you need my help even more. Let me see your room a so I can-" 

"Shut up. So you can shut up cause whatever say Steve does or doesn't get in how anything is decorated does not need dictating by you, shithead." Eddie interrupted, pushing off Steve to shove Dustin through to the living room. 

...

authors note: No I don't know or remember what I thought Steve spoke with the bathroom dept about, just that the comments online about lesbians being good at home repairs was in my head. The idea that that's how Steve tries to show Eddie and Will he's either an ally or part of the lgbtq+ is now just a scene I love because of its awkwardness

Chapter 6

[envydean]

I'm so glad I was set on orange for my bathroom. It got painted today by the builders as they (finally after 8 long weeks) started the refit!!

It looks beautiful and I cried happy tears when I saw it 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹

[ranger-kellyn]

Getaway Car WIP 4

reading through my nano doc trying to get back into the thought of working on this again. i thought i wasn't going to write another world tournament chapter, but then i realized i could have all kinds of fun exploring the emotional aftermath of letting diantha be a little petty. as a treat. :)c

there is a small skip note towards the bottom bc it's a nanowrimo draft but ¯_(ツ)_/¯ wygd

-- -- -- --

Elesa dragged Burgh with her over to one of the tunnel’s lights, needing better sight to get his mic pack back in place.  A light that was probably out of earshot.  

Diantha knew an opportunity when she saw one.

She could play mind games with the best of psychic specialists.  

“By the way,” she began, keeping her voice casual.  “I’ve been meaning to tell you that your villa in Undella is absolutely stunning.” It certainly wasn’t a lie.  

Caitlin’s head tilted to the side, as if lost in thought.  “Thank you,” she said, tone unreadable to Diantha.  “Forgive me– did I ever rent to you?  It would have slipped my mind if you had a filming company reach out to me,” she continued.  

She might have been fishing for context, but Diantha was going to snag her line with nothing but subtext.  

She shook her head.  “No, Cynthia has had me over quite a bit while we’ve been filming the past few months.  You have impeccable taste,” she said. 

Caitlin hummed, carefully studying her features.  “You’re too kind.” 

“And this is probably a silly compliment, but Cynthia said you had the bathroom remodeled, and it absolutely shows.  Only a tall woman would know to refit it with a bathtub that would be enough to actually soak in.  Practically big enough for two people,” she continued. 

She didn’t miss the way Burgh and Elesa had both stopped talking at their end of the hall.  They were clearly listening in, but she couldn't be bothered to care. 

She also didn’t miss the very subtle raised brows from Caitlin.  “I do try.” 

“And don’t get me started on that bedroom.  The way you can watch both sunrise and sunset– absolutely stunning,” she said, lowering her voice just enough to hopefully keep at least Burgh from overhearing.  “Can’t say I’ve ever had a bad morning waking up in that bed.”  

“The main reason I picked that particular villa,” Caitlin said with an edge to her tone. 

Forgoing any other compliments, Diantha instead aimed straight for her jugular.  The true ace she had been waiting to play.  “In some ways I know Cynthia and I have the film to thank for giving us a chance to be friends, but that lanai of yours.”  She paused, a small shake of her head.  “Can’t tell you how many hours we’ve spent out there just chatting and enjoying one another’s company.   I think I really do have you to thank for our–” It was an intentional pause.  Just long enough to make Caitlin dig her fingers into her arms, smothering any reaction.  “Friendship.” 

“Always happy to help Cynthia branch out,” she said.  

Diantha didn’t have to be a psychic specialist to know she had gotten completely under her skin.  The look of utter disdain–  

In some ways, Diantha had never been so eager to make an enemy for herself…but then again, it wasn’t entirely fair to call Caitlin an enemy.  Enemy would have implied she was even a player in the game– and judging by Cynthia’s own obliviousness to her affections…she wasn’t even a contender.  

“Field’s all set!” the assistant yelled from the back end of the hallway.  

Diantha smiled at Caitlin, in truly what was her best and most well rehearsed shit-eating grin.  “See you on the field, darling!” 

Elesa was quick to catch up to her, pulling her along the underground hallway so they could make their way to the other side of the field.  “Oh my god–” she began once she was sure they were at least out of earshot of Burgh and Caitlin. 

Just as quickly as she had been reveling in the satisfaction of it all, the realization of what exactly she had done crashed over her.  Anxiety clawed up her neck, marring her face and shoulders in hot shame.  

Elesa paid no mind.  “You know– I even fucking had the thought, and I almost even said something to Skyla!”  She said, laughing through talking.  “But then I was like, ‘No, I’m not gonna do that to Diantha! I’m sure she gets enough shit as it is with being accused of dating everyone she goes near’ but like! Oh my god!”  They had finally reached their end of the tunnel, still a few minutes to spare before they would be called onto the field.  

Diantha just hoped that none of the tunnel security cameras captured too much audio. 

“I have never seen anyone actually shut Caitlin down like that before– are you two fucking or what?!” she asked with the biggest grin.  

The heat had yet to leave her face, and she was sure it was showing even though her makeup.  “That was highly unprofessional of me.”  As though she wasn’t literally the champion of another league that was in the same alliance–

Elesa stopped her spiraling in her tracks.  “Oh, uh-uh, shove it!  That was hot!”  She said it so matter of factly, it could only make Diantha laugh.  “And like– look, if I’m being nosey, tell me to back off I’ll get it, no hard feelings– but I wanna be nosey.  Are you two, like, together-together?” she asked.  

Had it been practically anybody other than Elesa, she would have kept her mouth shut.  However, it was Elesa. While not an actress, she was someone who dealt with a similar level of public scrutiny.  Someone who likely understood all the varying ways her hands were tied.  

“We’ve been…” She wasn’t even sure how to really describe it all.  “Casual up to this point, but…” She grimaced.  “That wasn’t exactly a casual reaction, was it?” she asked.  

Elesa snorted a laugh.  “Was gonna say,” she teased. 

Diantha shook her head, crossing her arms.  “We were going to talk about it today, but– then we were asked to join this, and from the moment she called Cynthia to invite her I’ve been worked up, and…” She shook her head again, forcing herself to drop her shoulders to release all the tension that had built up. 

Elesa nodded.  “Hey– look, I get it.  Caitlin isn’t subtle, she’s never been subtle– but it’s also Cynthia.  This isn’t a knock against her at all, but like– it’s Cynthia.  I know I’ve watched people throw themselves at her left and fucking right.  It’s not easy being with someone like that– trust me.  Talk to Skyla.  It’s something we’ve been working with…” 

[fill in rest of convo later]

“I'm warning you now, Elesa– I will be sending out Gardevoir up front,” Diantha said, getting a harder laugh from her.  

“I’m about to start crying– oh my god– I had no clue you were like this! I am living for this!”  She sifted through her poké balls, holding up the green and yellow capsule.  “If you’re going for the petty angle of beating the psychic specialist with a psychic pokémon, then I’m joining you and beating the bug specialist with my own bug!” 

Her Galvantula. 

Diantha grinned.  “See, this is why I’m glad you and I partnered together.  I’m glad I didn’t even have to explain that to you.” 

Elesa pulled her in by the shoulder.  “Let’s kick ass, babe!”

[maverickuk]

Bioshock is an iconic and beautiful game

I've always had a soft spot for Art Deco design and I think these influences must have played a part in choosing the colours and fixtures when I recently had my aging bathroom refitted.

Industrial brass fixtures and deep greens brought to mind Rapture, so it's only fitting that we have a little picture in the room too.