#best dry fire training systems

[technicallyhappyarcade]

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[bunnymoon-phase]

Been chatting a bit with @wyervan and was particularly inspired by something about they said about the hot springs int he cave system that their Krampus Moon lived in UwU

EDIT: I should probably remember to mention this is slightly suggestive in nature!

“Are you coming in or not?”

You blink at the goat-man, glancing down at the water beneath him for only half a second before you remember yourself and look up again. Not that “up” helps very much—Moon is smirking at you, relaxed, his arms resting on either side of the pool. The coarse fur of his body sticks to him, wet, and steam rises from his body as much as it does the hot spring. His head tilts to the side, studying you, smug—you cross your arms and turn away. “Definitely not.”

Moon makes a noise low in his throat, something amused, and the sloshing of water follows. “Stubborn.”

You’re about to say something about pots and kettles when the sight of his discarded pants, folded neatly beside the edge of the pool and a cluster of ribboned bells, derails your train of thought. It was only a suspicion before but the evidence is right in front of you now, speeding your heartbeat. You glance at him, surprised, and see that he’s actually shifted closer to you. “Are you... wearing anything in there?”

His tail, de-belled, swishes across the surface of the water. “Do you wear clothes in the bath?”

Your face, still chilled from the cold outside, flares with warmth. You twist your head to the side so quickly that your neck pops, and fix your gaze on a specific spot on the cave wall where the jutting rock casts a cat-like shape in shadow that ripples in the firelight. You definitely weren’t getting into the water now—even if it seemed like a nice idea to your perpetually aching back. In fact, you definitely weren’t even more tempted to get in after finding out he was naked! How ridiculous would that be? Moon was a creature easily twice your height if he stood up straight—even if his waist and hips were narrow enough to seem closer to that of a normal human, his other proportions were dramatically oversized. Like his hands, large enough to wrap around you entirely!

…you weren’t doing a good job of making any part of the scenario you were presented with less appealing.

More of the silky sound of moving water, accompanied by Moon’s rolling, purring rasp. “Silly ideas of modesty. You humans always forget that you’re still just animals.”

You have to bite the inside of your cheek to keep from answering that you have never been as keenly aware of the animal within you as you were at that exact moment.

Before you can think of a response that doesn’t expose you like a ripped pair of jeans, Moon’s hand encompasses your waist just as you had envisioned a moment before and you found yourself tilting and falling and suddenly very warm and very wet. Moon had pulled you into the hot spring, clothes and all.

You gape at the cackling creature as he sinks chin-deep into the water, looking very self satisfied, and grab him by the horn with a sopping mitten.

“Asshole!” you accuse, and watch his grin only widen. “I don't have anything else to wear! My clothes are going to freeze to my skin!”

“They won’t,” Moon tosses his head, effortlessly breaking your grip on his horn and casting your hand aside. “Fire.”

The flames from the fireplace glitter in his dark eyes, mirroring the heat you feel in your own cheeks. You could lay your clothes by the fire to dry them, true, but you’d… have to take them off, for that.

Your internal battle is short lived. There really isn’t an alternative.

“Fine,” you spit, then soften. “Turn around?”

Moon, obliging your uncharacteristic timidity, turns 180 degrees to allow you your privacy. You strip your clothing off while still in the water, ringing then out as best you can and draining the wetness into the pool. You debate leaving your underwear on, but the risk of your damp drawers freezing to your ass the next time you leave the cave is not one you want to take. You only hop out of the pool long enough to run your clothes to the fireplace and lay them out in front of it, the steamy, warm air of the cave chilly to your slick, reddened skin.

A glance at Moon as you scurry back into the warmth of the hot spring reveals that he hasn’t peeked, still facing away from you, resting his chin on folded arms atop the edge of the pool, eyes closed. His face is the picture of blissful relaxation, and looking at him so content only emphasizes the relief of slipping back into the heat yourself.

He, perhaps, had a point about the whole “hot spring” business. But like hell were you going to admit that now that he’d soaked your clothes.

You splash his face spitefully. “Bastard.”

He only opens one eye, expression slipping from tranquility to mild irritation. “Brat.”

Despite the warmth of the spring, a shiver runs through you, and you turn resolutely away from him again as you are reminded that you are both naked, and in very close proximity.

Moon takes advantage of your distraction, splashing you with a bigger wave that hits your face and hair. He’s grinning when you glare at him, and cackles when your attempt to get him back results in a piddly baby-sized wave. Smug son of a bitch.

[tiny-maus-boots]

Darkest of Nights pt 23

A/N: Hi yes I'm still here. Despite a hospital stay, a month without running water, a promotion, training deadlines and now a septic system failure. I'm so sorry it's been so long between updates but...life, am i right? oof.

As always thank you to @chloes-yellow-cup for still doing the thing for me and supporting me. And thank you to @kimmania for always looking for ways to give me time to breathe...and create. And thank you readers! You are so patient and i'm grateful for your support. Happy Monday! Aubrey

“That is impossible! I will have no part of this sham attempt to gain our consent to drain us dry for her own gain!”

Aubrey could feel Beca sigh heavily beside her. It was so very human and yet she could relate to the weariness in it. This conversation was as tedious as watching a corpse rot and her fingers twitched with the effort to keep from reaching out to throttle someone. 

Chloe seemed to sense her growing impatience and took a step forward to allow Beca to take a step back out of the line of fire. It was an effortless transition like a graceful dance move and Aubrey felt herself smile fondly at it.

“Okay, while I understand your fear, let's not forget that Beca has already done this once before with Aubrey. She healed her from sun damage.”

“That is not the same thing! Athan was cursed by someone long dead.” The vampire speaking turned to face Beca directly, accusation and mistrust plainly written across their features. “Do not promise that which you can not deliver, Necromancer. Athan means nothing to you, his pain and suffering are not whims for you to play at power with.”

“Lady, I can’t tell you how little I’m playing here.”

Beca was bored and Aubrey couldn’t blame her. But her tone caused the vampire to snarl and step forward aggressively. It was all for show, she knew, but despite her best efforts to contain her ire, Aubrey could feel the angles of her face sharpening as her monstrous visage threatened to reveal her true feelings. Vampires had a long history of showing disrespect to people she loved and she was unwilling to accept it any longer. 

“Enough of this. There will never be words of assurance to ease our fears, nor can there be. What you intend will drain us. You say not fully but that is the word of a curarva dii moartit, and the that is worth less than dog shit.” 

There was no sharp intake of breath, silence simply dropped over them like a suffocating cloak. No one dared to move for fear of drawing Aubrey’s attention to them. 

She strode forward a few steps and scanned the small group of dissenters. More than she had expected had agreed to allow Beca to attempt to help Athan, all that had gathered here were the few holdouts too afraid or too prejudiced to accept help when they most desperately needed it.

A few of them flinched back at her proximity but many were bold enough to meet her gaze. Too many of them. They had forgotten who she was and that they should be afraid of her. Aubrey’s voice breathed out in a tightly controlled whisper, the coldness of it enough to make the large room that much more frigid.

“What did you call her?”

Beca herself was only aware of the swift change in their behavior but she had no real understanding of the insult thrown at her. She reached out to the blonde but Aubrey was in no mood to be restrained this time. Nor would they respect her rule if she did not enforce it in the only way they could currently understand. There would be a time for a gentle hand in their leadership but now was not that time. She shook off Beca's light grip and pinned the vampire that has spoken with a deliberate stare.

The woman visibly fought the urge to lower her head in the face of Aubrey’s pitiless gaze and raised her chin a hair higher as a show of rebellion. Her face was unfamiliar to the blonde and she realized that nearly all the vampires in the room were strangers.  She didn't know any of their names or lineage.

“I called her what she is. Death Whore and you are nothing more than her puppet. You’ve been corrupted, you and Chloe both. You’re already under her control and see it not!”

Rage suffused their connection, in part from Chloe she knew but the fire within was primarily hers. Her face shifted with a painfully slow transition. And painful it was each and every time her horns pierced through her flesh. She let the woman see exactly what she was, let the knowledge and horror of it sink in before she shot a clawed hand out to clamp around her throat. It was no effort to fling her like a ragdoll across the room. None at all.

She was strong, she knew, but never had she been quite that fast or quite that powerful. Aubrey didn’t hesitate to press the advantage and leapt on the woman’s prone form before anyone had a chance to intervene. Not that any of the vampires would while she rained down fist after fist and claw after raking claw on the woman without pause. She didn’t stop until Beca’s frantic plea broke through the crunch of bone pulverizing under her blows and the spatter of cold blood hitting her face.

“Whoa whoa whoa…Bree please!”  

Aubrey stopped and turned her head to look directly at Beca.

”I will not allow disrespect, Beca. You wish to begin a new way but now you see why the old ways stand. Respect is earned with fear among vampires. This one held no fear, and thus no respect.” 

Beca hesitated as she sifted through what she knew of vampires and their politics and Aubrey appreciated that she hadn’t outright undermined her. She knew what it must look like to a human. How monstrous she must appear. Aubrey held Beca's gaze and let her see it all in it's horrifying, horned, blood splattered glory.

“Well it’s not like I love being called a whore, but is anyone going to really respect you going all grrr breaking her face for the sake of a necromancer?”

”No but they will fear me enough to respect you.” 

“I see.”

Aubrey tried to read the play of emotions across the smaller woman’s face. Beca sighed and shook her head sadly as she realized that Aubrey had needed to make a point. She brought herself closer to the pair and looked down at Aubrey. The necromancer reached out and gently caressed her cheek. The soothing coolness of Beca’s magic washed over her and her demon face melted away. 

“I think I get it. You’ve got no choice but to be hard sometimes to make a point. I get that and it’s okay, as long as you’re willing to be soft to make a point too.” 

Beca didn’t have to ask her out loud. She knew what was wanted of her. Aubrey looked down at the badly beaten vampire under her then back to Beca and nodded. The small woman smiled at her and leaned in for a soft kiss. Aubrey gave into it and the draw of power that was pulled from her with it. 

Beca leaned away only far enough to touch foreheads. “Thank you.”

Aubrey nudged Beca’s nose with her own and moved back so the necromancer could lean over the brutalized vampire. A wealth of compassion blossomed in her dark blue eyes despite the way she had been treated. It did not go unnoticed by those assembled.

”For what it’s worth I’m sorry. Not that Aubrey kicked the shit out of you. I think you know you kinda deserved that, but I’m sorry it’s come to this between us. Too many years of violence and mistrust to get past with mere words.”

The necromancer reached down and caressed the woman’s face with as gentle a hand as she had used on Aubrey. And despite her grave injuries the woman still feebly attempted to scoot away.

Beca shook her head sadly and pressed a hand gently to the vampire’s chest. She and Chloe inhaled deeply as Beca pushed their combined energies into a broken vessel. It filled the other vampire and reformed the broken flesh and bones of her face in a slow roll of muscle and skin smoothing over the sharp planes of her skeletal structure. 

“And this beating you got? Understand that it was Aubrey showing restraint. You could be so much deader by now if she didn’t care to give you a chance to make up for being a dickbag.”

Beca gazed over at Aubrey and an understanding passed between them. Yes. It could have been so much worse. She could have ended the woman and all others would have fallen in line after. But a beating even without Beca’s help would have healed eventually. However humiliated she would have been, she would still be alive to bear it.

The vampire gasped in a breath when Beca eased her power back and stepped away. She turned to the others standing around watching and raised her hands palms up before letting them drop. 

“Think about it. If you agree to help tell Chloe’s folks. But think fast, we’ve got other shit to do before the Great Clans get here. Or the Blood Guard.”

Beca turned on a heel and Aubrey and Chloe followed her out of the great hall. Aubrey could feel the smile stretch wide across her face. Their mate stopped just outside the door and looked back at the group of vampires. 

“If neither of us are willing to change, what the hell are we even doing here? If this is what it takes to earn respect are we any better the stupid Council?”

Beca shook her head in exasperation one last time and Aubrey held out her hand. The necromancer took it and kissed her knuckles as they padded toward their quarters. 

“Thank you. I know you probably could have ripped her head off and played basketball with it.”

Aubrey raised a shoulder in a shrug. She wasn't entirely sure what basketball was but she felt certain she could have easily torn the woman’s head from her body with no more effort than tearing parchment.

“She is frightened and angry  and more the fool for it. But being foolish alone should not be cause for death when a lesson will do. They will not disrespect you or Chloe ever again.”

Beca smiled at her and gave a half nod. 

“My hero. Of course there's nothing saying any of that made a difference. That lady vamp for sure hates me.”

Chloe chuckled and slid her hand into Beca’s free one. Her sweet smile lit her face with an ethereal glow and the necromancer stumbled over her feet for a second. Aubrey could relate, Chloe just had that kind of effect on people.

“You didn't see their faces when you healed Olivia. It made a difference, we just need to give them a minute. And anyway, we should get ready to meet the Great Clans, they'll be here soon and we look…eh.”

Beca looked down at herself then the two vampires at her side. 

“What's wrong with my outfit?”

“Oh baby, that's not an outfit. We can do better.”

“Huh. Got anything in black?”

"Oh Beca, you don't understand what you're getting into..."

Aubrey laughed but stifled it quickly when Chloe cut her bright eyes her way. The redhead raised a brow and eyed Aubrey’s attire critically.

“What are you laughing at, you could use some styling too.”

Aubrey's mouth opened at that and Beca laughed. 

“Chlo…if you wanted to get us naked you just had to ask.”

“Oh good, we should probably go do that now. But we better hurry, no telling who will knock on our door again.”

“Please don't let it be your dad. I don't think either of us are ready to look each other in the eye yet.” 

[mayhem-neverending]

The Big Bad Wolf

Part XVII

Word Count: 2,632

Warnings: cannon violence, cursing

Obito and Hina slept peacefully while you shivered against the bitter chill. The night was dark; clouds covering the light from the waxing moon and the otherwise bountiful sky of stars. The clattering of your teeth and your muscles taut against your frame kept you from falling to sleep, but also tired you further. Your lids would fall every so often, only to be lifted again by a gush of northerly wind. 

You steeled yourself against it, wishing for fire, but more importantly, debating whether the tiny use of chakra to circulate heat through your system would be worth the risk. You reached your gloved hands and pulled out a small wrist watch you had forgotten about. It was almost half-past five. You inhaled the icy air through your numb nose, a steadying breath. You reminded yourself to be patient; less than an hour was left before it was reasonable to pull them from their slumber.

You thought of Hikaru while you waited. He was probably warm and cozy, tucked into a bed with your mom, considering it was now the weekend. You hoped beyond hope that he was alright for Kakashi, and you hoped Kakashi hadn’t been overwhelmed. A two-year-old is difficult, such a headstrong one especially. You imagined Hikaru had probably given him a run for his money more than once, and the delightful thought cut through your haze of crankiness. 

You held onto it for a few moments while the cold did its best to drag you back down. That tugging brought you into a flurry of thoughts about Hina’s child. You thought about the two little ones playing side by side, creating mischief, just as the two of you had done. It occurred to you then that you hadn’t asked Hina what its name would be. An ugly feeling curled in your gut, accompanied by the pained expression your cousin could not hide when it flashed over the blankness. 

This should be a time of celebration for her. She should be receiving baby clothes, toys, all the essentials while eating cake and joyously laughing with her family and friends. She should be whispering to her husband in the corner, giggling and sharing looks of love that you could have never fathomed for yourself. Looks that reminded you of how wondrous and magical and full of grace the world could be when you saw them at their wedding, hiding their conversations behind half full champagne flutes in the candlelight. 

A tear froze early in its tracks along your cheek. It wasn’t fair. You could be grateful all you wanted for her getting the chance to experience love of fairy tales, but it wouldn’t cancel out the sorrow. She deserved to live and love and raise her baby with a father and a family that chose her so wholly. Her child deserved to know their father, and would have been made not just better, but brilliant by the warmth of their love. 

You grit your teeth and angrily wiped at that frozen tear while others made their escape. In the midst of your angry thoughts, a calm voice emerged and reminded you: The only thing you can do is bring her home and be there by her side with as much love as you can spare. 

Shuffling entered your train of thought and you managed to dry your face before the tent unzipped. It was still almost pitch black, so you couldn’t tell very well who it was until they called your name. 

“Hina? What are you doing up?”

“I’m ready to keep going,” she croaked. 

“Are you sure? We have a few more minutes before I planned to wake you,” you replied, attempting to make out her features.

“No, let’s go. I don’t want to be out here any longer than I have to,” her sentence was punctuated by the tent zipper moving even further up. 

“Okay, then, let’s get this show on the road,”

…

Your group passed through the town you had stopped in early enough that not much commotion was in the streets. You were grateful to make it through without the call of the vendors as you passed by their empty stalls. Hina was heavy on her feet, too, no matter how much she tried not to show it. It wasn’t just her feet concerning you, though. It was a dangerous game to be walking so much so close to her due date, especially with the stress she had been through. 

You didn’t mention anything to her, though. Instead, you kept a watchful eye on her while she waddled along the main road. It had been decided between you and Obito that you would travel down that road all the way back. There was no chance she was making it through the heavy snowfall that you were reapproaching, so the two of you kept on guard, passing people every so often as the day began to wear on. 

At some point you also took a bag from Obito. He kept insisting that he was fine, but you could see his discomfort in the gentle downturn of his lips. So, the three of you traveled closer and closer to the border. The closer you got, the more you wished you were already home. The quiet from your companions left your mind unoccupied, but you struggled to break the silence unless it was for a short stop to rest. 

You finally passed the border sometime in the afternoon, and you couldn’t have been more overjoyed to put Akujia behind you. The three of you stopped for a dinner break, maybe an hour or two after. Obito had spotted a rabbit off the side of the trail, and before you two could blink, he skillfully captured it just out of your line of sight. He came back into view with it, proclaiming that he was finally going to be eating some real food for dinner. 

It left you with a silly grin, even as Hina gagged at the process of skinning it and putting it on a stick while you built the fire. She looked between your expression and his. He had puffed himself out at the chest and kept glancing over at you out of the corner of his eye while he worked. She tilted her head to the side with curiosity, but her lips stayed sealed. 

The three of you ate in peace, not minding the greasiness of the animal and truly relishing in having something hot in your bellies after being in the cold for so long. You sat in a semicircle, with Hina on one side and Obito on the other. She hardly glanced at him, though she hardly looked at you, either. She was in better spirits, but she seemed to be in a lot of discomfort. 

“I’m ready to have this thing out of me,” she groaned, leaning back and placing a hand on her massive belly.

You huffed a laugh. “Now don’t go saying things like that. We have another whole day to go before that thing is allowed to come out,” 

She gave you a half smile. “Still, he’s awful heavy,”

She paused for a moment. “Who’s going to deliver him?”

You blinked. You had completely forgotten about that bit. She looked at you expectantly, and you frantically wracked your brain. “Well… anyone at the hospital should do just fine, unless you had someone in mind?”

“Oh, I thought you’d do it,”

“Me?”

“You were trained in the medical field,” she stated matter-of-factly. 

“Sure, but I’ve never delivered a baby,” you raised a brow.

“I want you to be the one to do it. I trust you more than anyone,” she asserted resolutely.

You looked at Obito as if he could offer help. “I think you’d be a good fit for that job, actually,”

Your jaw dropped at his statement. “What?”

He nodded thoughtfully and glanced at Hina, who shot him a small, grateful smile. He returned the gesture, if a little unsurely. 

“If that's..” you faltered. “If that’s what you want, of course I’ll do it,”

“Good.” She stood slowly and wiped her hands on her long coat. You two followed suit, and you were back on the road before you had truly rested. 

The next stop didn’t come until after dark, when Hina almost couldn’t keep going. Her feet had started to drag and she looked positively miserable. You set up the tent and she slipped in much like the night before, passing out before properly getting comfortable. Obito took the first watch again, so, being exhausted yourself, you said a quick ‘goodnight’ and went to sleep.

You were awoken sometime later by commotion outside of the tent. At first, it sounded like several pairs of boots in the snow, then it amplified into crashes, grunts and shouts. You reacted after the first shout when your adrenaline kicked in and plunged out of the opening of the tent, a kunai in hand.

There were five or six men in black all attacking Obito, who was deflecting their attacks and attempting to push them back from the vicinity of the tent. Kakashi’s command to not kill unless necessary came to mind as you joined the fray. 

A man to your left spotted you first, and you met him head on. He had a thick dagger in hand, and it glinted in the moonlight as he swiped at you. He was slow, though, and you were able to dodge his attack easily, taking a calculated dive to slash at his femoral artery. You made your mark, sliding beneath his legs in his overly wide stance. 

He howled in pain and fell forward to the ground. You had no chance to look at him, because another attacker was on you without a moment’s notice. This one was thinner, likely someone who could match your speed better. His blond hair flowed eerily behind in the moonlight when he lunged at you. He was using a katana, and narrowly missed your right arm. 

He laughed cruelly as he swung again, his accomplices' voices mingling with his own as you could make out a crude taunt thrown at Obito. You could tell he was holding back, only pushing them away instead of taking them out. This would be child’s play to him if he were giving it his all. 

“Gonna do something, little girl? I’ll kill you and that Zen’in bastard, no matter what you think is going to happen. I’ll slice it right out of that bitch’s belly,” 

You snarled at him and made your move, catching his blade by feigning a lean to the left and moving right, effectively catching your blade on his exposed neck. But it wasn’t quite deep enough and you moved back, just out of his range. He swung wildly at you, one hand on his bleeding neck.

“Hey, Obito!” you called mid jump.

“Yeah!?” His kunai clanged loudly with an opposing one.

You backed up so you were closer, both of you catty-corner and facing toward your attackers. “Kill ‘em,”

“Are you sure? Kakashi said-”

“I’m making a judgment call on-”

One of them cackled. “No one’s dying but you three,”

That’s when Obito let his blade arc wide. You plunged your own into the gut of your attacker. A nasty gurgling gasp escaped him before he fell. You spun around to see the attackers’ bodies fall to the ground with resounding thumps, one after one. 

When the last one was down, Obito turned to you, breathing heavily with blood stained hands. Despite his state, you could see his eyes shining under the moonlight. 

“Fuck,” he breathed.

“We need to leave, now,” you said hurriedly. 

The tent unzipped and Hina poked her head out, tears streaming down her pale face. Shakily, she asked, “Are you okay?”

Your eyes met and you inhaled sharply. She looked around at the dead men and back at you, fear marring her beautiful face.

“Dammit! We’re across the border, so all the bags are going in a scroll, I don’t give a fuck. Obito, can you carry her? We’ve gotta get out of here,”

Obito was staring at the bright blood on his hands, and you could see a tremor run through them. He didn’t hear you, it seemed, so you instead turned to Hina. “Get your coat back on and come stand out here,”

She disappeared back into the tent and you followed behind her, hauling the baggage out and opening your backpack. You rifled through until you found a spare sealing scroll. With haste, you piled the bags on top of it and signed above it. They disappeared and you shoved the scroll back in your backpack. You slung it over your shoulder and walked over to Obito where he was standing stock still next to the mass of bodies. 

“Are you okay?” you asked in a low, urgent tone.

He glanced from his hands to you and back. Scratchily, he choked out, “I don’t- I don’t know,”

“I’m sorry, but we don’t have the time. More could be on the way,” 

In a swift movement, you used your water style jutsu to wash the blood from his hands. He blinked in surprise and looked at you, his senses returning to him. “But Kakashi said-”

“Let’s go, please,” you nearly pleaded now. 

It only took a half second for him to nod in understanding, and he walked over to a shivering Hina. Whether it be from the cold or the dead, you weren’t sure, but you weren’t going to stick around and find out. You had to move, and fast.

He swept her up in his arms. “What about your tent?”

You glanced at it and back at him. “Not important,”

You nodded at each other and jumped up into the thick trees. You could see Hina clinging for dear life as the two of you flew between the overgrown branches in the dark, but you didn’t dare look further behind you than that. 

She would continue to cling to him for the hours you fled from the scene and back to the Hidden Leaf. The sun came up after a long time, but you did not stop. Breakfast came and went, and so did lunch, but not once did you stop. Only safe in the forest surrounding your home did you even consider slowing down. But even then, you and Obito silently agreed not to stop. 

Hina slept in his arms while the two of you kept pace. Obito didn’t even act like he was tired of carrying her as his home came into view and his speed renewed. All either of you could feel was relief, and a distinct need to make it. He worked through it, arms and shoulders tight as the two of you stepped up to the barrier and finally crossed through. 

You opened the unlocked door to his home so that they could come in and shut it behind him. Obito grunted as he placed a still sleeping Hina on the sunken couch, and you went to the counter in the familiar kitchen where your phone was. You turned it on, your exhausted body slumping against the cabinets and onto your bottom while you waited for the lock screen to load. Obito came up next to you and followed suit, leaning heavily against you.

“We made it,” he uttered under his breath.

“Thank Kami. We made it,” You made eye contact with him, and pulled him into a loose hug with the last dregs of your strength. 

Still in his lap, you unlocked your phone. You leaned against his broad chest and clicked the call button. It only rang once before a familiar voice answered, relief already leaking into his tone.

“Hello?”

“We’re home,”

Part XVIII

Tag List: @mostlyunsure, @humongousdreamlandbear, @ichaichahatake, @mandy-yeager, @detectivestucks

[moonslittlestar]

Reminiscing

“You made a pact with a Devil?!” Hunter's voice shook in anger, his fist clenched tight by his side. Wyll has never seen him so mad before, as teens both boys were fairly level headed and any anger that tried to raise in them was swiftly taken out on training dummies in the courtyard.

“I..” Wyll’s eyes drifted to the ground, his weight shifting from one leg to the other, “What else was I to do? Let that beast destroy the city?! Kill thousands of innocents?! What would you have me do?” He finally barked back.

The air around them stirred, the moon was high in the sky and the river beside the bank they sat on glistened under its light. Behind them, the distant sound of a crackling fire and muffled snores from the others that traveled with them. It was late, and the glasses of wine were almost empty.

Hunter examined Wyll's face; he'd aged, they both had… there were new scars that weren't there before, and the bags under his eyes told tales of many sleepless nights. Despite all his differences, he was still Wyll, the same Wyll he'd trained for 6 years with, fought side by side during a great many battles, the same Wyll that stood by his side when everything went to shit with his twin sister Willow and the same Wyll that he once believed could be his soulmate… “I… don't know” Hunter sighed, finally replying after a paused silence; what could Wyll have done?

“Hunter, the city was going to be torn apart. I did what I had to to keep Baldur's Gate safe” Wyll's voice was soft, calm and reassuring, “I don't regret my choices.”

“You left, for me?” Wyll asked, confused. “What of your sister?” Wyll couldn't help but feel guilty; Hunter had joined the Flaming Fists as a young boy, his dream to one day get to a place where he'd be able to help fix the system and help his sister. For so many years Wyll had watched Hunter push himself to the point of exhaustion just to become the best. They'd spar in the training grounds every night, helping each other with their swordsmanship. Those days where Hunter would collapse mid session, it was all for Willow. Leaving couldn't have been an easy choice for him to make. Wyll joined Hunter in emptying his cup in a swift swig.

Hunter gulped down the last of his arabellan dry and wiped his hand over his lips, his eyes focused on Wyll's fingers around the neck of his chalice. “I left the Fists.” His voice was flat and tired, like all emotion had been drained from him.

“But your dream? I don't understand? You were so close to becoming a Marshal?”

“After the battle… things became… weird?” Hunter paused again, “You vanished Wyll. No one would tell me if you were alive or dead!” His voice cracked. Hunter squeezed his eyes shut, forcing a tear back, “How can someone go from being so admired by everyone to suddenly no one acknowledging they ever existed?” The words were bitter in his mouth, his knuckles turned white. Wyll sat beside him unable to say anything to console his friend, instead he eyed the last of the wine in his chalice as he rocked it back and forth. “I demanded answers, that upset your father… said I was ‘overstepping’ and ‘meddling where I shouldn't’… So… I left…” Hunter unclenched his fist and wiggled his fingers before taking it in his other hand and rubbing his knuckles, “to look for you…” his voice trailed off, the tips of his pointed ears turning red.

“Shortly after you disappeared, I started hearing rumors that she'd joined the Temple of Bhaal…” Hunter's voice was small, a sadness etched into his words from the weight of guilt and failure. “I was a fool to think I could save her…” he continued, so quietly that he may as well have been talking to himself.

“You can't blame yourself for her path,” Wyll tried to reassure Hunter, placing his hand gently on Hunter's cold, clasped fingers, and squeezed. Wyll's touch was warm and welcomed; under his hand Hunter's fingers ached. “It's a little late now, I know, but for what it's worth; I am sorry. I should have taken you with me.” Wyll scanned Hunter's face, who's eyes refused to meet him. “That I do regret.” Wyll's hand still gently placed over Hunter's, “After I made the pact, I was forced to leave. I tried to explain things to my father but, well you know how stubborn he can be.” Wyll chuckled to himself, “I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree,” he smiled slightly as he rubbed one of his new found horns with his free hand. “You stopped me doing a terrible thing today,” he sighed, looking behind them to the campsite of sleeping bodies. “To think I was such a fool! Mizora said I'd be fighting demons, fiends and the heartless, not innocent Tieflings!”

“There was no way for you to know, if it wasn't for these damn tadpoles…” Hunter thought back on the vision they shared with Karlach. A moment of silence washed over them as they contemplated the outcome of the day. Karlach’s life had been spared but at a cost; Wyll's horns curved around his head, a visible reminder of his actions.

“More wine?” Hunter asked, breaking the silence that floated around them, Wyll nodded and handed Hunter his cup. “You make quite the handsome devil,” Hunter giggled as he walked back over with two topped up chalices.

“I can't tell if you're joking or being serious.” Wyll took the chalice from Hunter, their fingers softly brushing past each other as the cup was passed between them. Hunter smiled to himself and returned to his spot next to Wyll, “Have I ever lied to you?” He smirked, “Actually on second thought don't answer that!”

“I do recall a time where you insisted that the clear liquid in your flask was water… oh and that time you said that that one feral cat just happened to follow you into the dorms… and what about the time-”

“Ok, ok! Sheesh” Hunter laughed, “Do you really need to remember such trivial things?” Wyll chuckled lightly.

“It's good to see you again, would have been nicer under better circumstances though” Wyll's smile was soft and sincere.

[whirligig-girl]

Railroader doesn't allow you to customize the liveries of steam engines yet... but if it did, this is how i'd like to run my three engines.

Anyway... sentient locomotives are probably technically employees of the railroad rather than equipment, right? In railroader, the self-driving feature of the engines results in the engine getting a paycheck. So here's some excerpts from their job interviews. (they're not very good at job interviews)

interviewer: "Tell me about yourself." Trinity: "I'm a G-16 Mogul built 1906 by Baldwin with a two-six-oh wheel arrangement and a tractive effort of sixteen thousand pounds. I weigh eighty two thousand pounds and have a factor of adhesion of, ohh, four point five, four point six. Clayton: "I consider myself something of an academic. Of course an engine can't go to school, but I try to keep an eye out for the latest happenings in the world of science and technology. Faith: "I was built for speed and power, so despite these little wheels I am a pacific, and like any pacific, I can do passenger trains just fine. But I have no problem with freight either.

interviewer: "Where do you see yourself in five years?" Trinity: "Switching cars n' hauling freight." Clayton: "Oh god. Have you even seen the way things are going in this country? I mean, it could be worse, I could live in england, but in five years I wouldn't be surprised if I've been… erm, uh, i mean, I have every INTENT on making it past seventy, maybe even beyond. And I don't just mean as a museum piece." Faith: "I don't know. I seem to find my way all around the country these days. Things used to be so predictable, but now, it's just shuffling from one job to another. I try my best, but things keep going wrong…

interviewer: "What are your strengths?" Trinity: "Haven't we been through this? I told you my tractive effort is 16 thousand pounds. And yes, that IS plenty enough. I do NOT struggle to output that tractive effort. Clayton: "I'd say my best strength is my adaptability. I was built for express runs on the west coast, but here I am 60 years later hauling mostly freight on the shortline. I enjoy the intellectual stimulation of shunting just as much as the wind buffeting my face on a good long passenger journey." Faith: "Well you know. I'd probably say my best strength is my strength. Speed is nice, but power is what really gets you out of trouble."

interviewer: "Describe your work style." Trinity: "Well, you first. Describe your rule book. I go by the book whenever I can. And I will push the book to its limits to get things done efficiently, but I will do it by the book." Clayton: "I don't like to rush myself. Once I'm on the mainline I can make up for lost time, but I try to be sure to take care and be methodical with how I work in the yard." Faith: "How does the rhyme go? Safety first and tonnage last? That's the kind of thing management likes to hear right?"

interviewer: "what motivates you?" Trinity: "What a dumb question what do you mean what motivates me. If I have fire in my firebox and a good head of steam I'm going to need to put that steam somewhere. I don't need 'motivation' to work. I just do it." Clayton: "if i do not find a way to make myself useful my tender will run dry and my boiler will freeze and i will be left to rot on a siding somewhere. Haha. I love the current economic system we all live under sooo much!" (interviewer: [writes "marxist ten-wheeler" in notes.]) Faith: "I guess deep down I just want someone to be proud of me? I want someone to look at me go by and think 'wow! she's doing such a good job.' and then I want them to tell me that I'm doing a good job. Please."

interviewer: "Are you a team player?" Trinity: "What, you mean like, am I a multiple unit?" Clayton: "Yes. I think I bring out the best in everyone I work with." Faith: "Well, sometimes it's hard to get to know the other engines, and sometimes I think they don't like me very much. But I'll pull any train even if it has another engine on it too, if that's what you mean?"

interviewer: "Are you willing to work overtime?" Trinity: "The question is, do you have a crew willing to crew me overtime. That's usually the thing that holds me back." Clayton: "Hahaa… yeahh… totally…" Faith: [long pause.] "i do work… over… time… like the job doesn't get done instantly. It. You know it uh. It takes… time… So I do it over… time…"

interviewer: "What are your salary expectations?" Trinity: "Just the coal and water is fine." Clayton: "Well I'm a locomotive with about 60 years of experience so I expect to be paid an engineer's wage of $25 per day." Faith: "I expect a… salary… and know what that is…"

interviewer: "how do you handle stress?" Trinity: "Are you. Asking about my frames. Do I look like a damn twig to you? I can handle tension and compression just fine." Clayton: "Well popping my safety valve usually helps but I have other coping skills like counting the ties and rocking my reverser back and forth." Faith: "I usually just repress it and pretend everything is fine. I'm really good with passengers."

interviewer: "What is your dream job?" Trinity: "shortline railroad locomotive. I love my job." Clayton: "Movie star. The glamor, the recognition, the celebrities, oh it would be so thrilling!" Faith: "Well as long as it's not repetitive logging trips day in and day out, anything works for me."

interviewer: "Why do you want this job?" Trinity: "Your railroad has lots of industries still connected to it, and I think it would be fun." Clayton: "I feel like we've already been over this. If I don't have a job I will rust and decay." Faith: "Hoping for a source of stability finally, and the Class Is don't have that anymore."

interviwer: "Why should we hire you?" Trinity: "Because you'll be hard pressed to find a locomotive with a better work ethic." Clayton: "Because you'll want an adaptable, intelligent, experienced locomotive who can get herself out of trouble better than these new engines can." Faith: "Because I am truly the best of both worlds."

[crystalelemental]

The full writeup of Y is happening soon because I wrote notes earlier about it so it's basically ready to go. But to write a little about the team, this was a fun one.

I decided to run with some pre-evolutions, with the idea that Super Training would let them statistically keep up with the way fully evolved Pokemon worked in previous generations. Guess what. It fucking worked. I'll have the bigger breakdown in the full post, but because you transition from at best around 100 EVs in the core stats to 252 in your main two, your pre-evolutions here feel a lot more powerful than they could in prior generations.

My final team was Braixen, Carbink, Emolga, Spritzee, Gourgeist, and Cryogonal. I had other pre-evos like Fletchling and Wartortle, but the Eviolite issue rose pretty hard. I didn't want to have for infinite Eviolite. I did, however, hack infinite Everstone so I didn't have to keep mashing the fucking B button to prevent evolution. We desperately need a better system. We had a better system in Legends Arceus, but Scarlet and Violet decided to suck.

Carbink was hilariously MVP. Fairy and Rock really trashes a lot of Team Flare, and the Reflect/Light Screen support was hysterical at times. Emolga was really fun once it learned Acrobatics. Extremely powerful, handled basically all the Sky Battles which was great, but I do feel like I spread its EVs wrong. I went 200 Atk/Sp Atk and 112 Spd. I figured even offenses was positive. But realistically, I should've full invested Sp Atk, because it barely missed a OHKO on Discharge against Siebold and did not dodge the Stone Edge. Spritzee was great fun with Eviolite + Calm Mind/Draining Kiss. Absolute monster. Gourgeist was also really good. I got the Small form, went Atk/Spd, and Seed Bomb/Phantom Force/Leech Seed/Will-o-Wisp was great. Big fan.

Braixen was okay, but rolled Sassy nature which still hurt even with max Spd EV investment. Turns out, natures can still hurt you. A Meowstic I tried running with Impish had similar issues, dealing insufficient damage for a truly strong performance.

Then there's Cryogonal. Cryogonal was in a weird position, because statistically, Cryogonal's already good. So I debated not using Super Training and letting it do whatever. But...I did fold and gave it full investment, which...I feel like might have been too much. Cryogonal wound up being a cannon...that also had Hidden Power Fire. So like. 3/4 of the E4 could be handled with Ice Beam/Freeze Dry/HP Fire.

This was a pretty fun one. I loved getting to use pre-evolutions and Carbink. Really attached to this level of shenanigans.

[afanofmanyhats]

Before I start publishing my fanfic, I thought I'd share my notes and headcanons on the Toa Mangai with y'all to help get us situated. I don't have any MOCs built yet, but I'm planning on playing around in Stud.io soon. Eventually I'll be making everyone with real pieces in the far, far future.

Sidenote: in order to figure out how to make eleven characters all feel distinct from each other (especially four Toa of Ice), I decided to base them off of the D&D 5e classes, with the exception of Sorcerer and Warlock, as those wouldn't fit as well into the power system of BIONICLE.

Lhikan, Toa of Fire: Fighter, Hau and Fire Greatswords

Design: Metru red, black, and old gold. Average height and build.

Background: Lhikan lived in a Ta-Matoran within the Northern Continent, working as a Crafter. He specialized in Kanoka disks, hoping to give his fellow Matoran a means of defending themselves. He and his fellow workers ended up being targeted by some unscrupulous Vortixx that tried to make them produce only for them, and when Lhikan made a stand, the Vortixx tried to make an example of him by attempting to throw him into a vat of molten protodermis. Toa Dume was able to rescue him and drive off the Vortixx, and made a note of the Ta-Matoran’s bravery. Millennia later, when Dume retired to become the Turaga of Metru Nui, he returned to Lhikan and gave him a Toa Stone before sending him off to an Order of Toa for training. Lhikan’s time with the Order of Toa was all too brief, as only a few years into his training, their fortress in the Axal Mountains was attacked by Frostelus. Lhikan was ordered to leave with the Makoki Stone against his will by the fortress’ commander, but when he couldn’t locate the object, Lhikan had to flee alone. He wandered alone, half-hoping to perish in the harsh landscape of the Axals before Fau found him nearly frozen. She rescued him from his sorry state, and the two began traveling together, assisting Matoran and eventually being joined by other Toa, forming the Toa Aki.

Personality: Lhikan is, in a word, driven. Driven by his sense of duty to the Matoran and his fellow Toa, driven by his guilt over leaving his Order behind, driven by a need to be the best Toa he can be. His dry sense of humor, tactical mind, and valorous attitude make him a popular leader with his fellow Toa.

Nidhiki, Toa of Air: Rogue, Volitak and Air Scythe

Design: Metru green, dark grey, and silver. Average height with light build.

Background: Nidhiki was a Scout as a Matoran in the Tren Krom Peninsula. He was an expert at moving through its dense jungles and rocky canyons, which kept him alive through many close calls. He became a Toa when his village’s previous protector, a Bo-Toa named Lanekh, was wounded beyond full recovery. Nidhiki had helped Lanekh in his final confrontation with a fully-organic monster of Tren Krom's creation, so Nidhiki was Lanekh’s top pick for his successor. With the aid of his Volitak, Nidhiki became a master of stealth, but took up the habit of spending long spans of time away from his village to scout out potential threats. This came back to bite him when he left for a week to follow a beast only to find a relatively safe route out from his village's isolated position. He returned to find his village ravaged from a monster attack, with only a couple of survivors remaining. Distraught, Nidhiki took the survivors to safety through the discovered path and settled in a port, where he encountered Lhikan, Fau, and Tuyet. With nothing left to tie him down to the Tren Krom Peninsula, Nidhiki leapt at the chance to join a group and leave his homeland behind.

Personality: Nidhiki has an impulsive temperament countered by his need to survive. The traumatic environment of his homeland has made him wary of most people, and he keeps his fellow Toa at arm’s length. Nevertheless, he still wants to be seen as a hero, and to protect the Matoran.

Tuyet, Toa of Water: Barbarian, Hamaki (Mask of Intangibility) and Barbed Broadsword

Design: Trans dark blue, Metru blue, and gunmetal grey. Tall with bulky build.

Background: Tuyet comes from Galiki, a small island several miles to the north-west of the Northern Continent. As a Matoran she worked as a Fisher, and took great pride in her work. She worked alongside her friend Mara under the leadership of Turaga Zes, who unbeknownst to her community had been exiled from the Southern Continent for killing an enemy. When a pod of Takea sharks attacked while the Matoran were at sea, Mara was killed rescuing Tuyet. Tuyet avenged her friend by killing every shark with a net and a harpoon, but was heavily injured herself. Zes gave Tuyet a Toa Stone to keep her from dying, and took the novice under her wing. She trained Tuyet to use her powers lethally, eventually divulging the existence of the Nui Stone in the hope that one day Tuyet would return to the land Zes came from and take vengeance on her enemies. Tuyet, however, was forming her own plans. When she felt she had received enough training from Zes, she slipped away from Galiki with the Nui Stone one night, heading for the Northern Continent. There, she met Lhikan and Fau, and ended up joining them in an attempt to get away from her past.

Personality: Tuyet is zealous in her devotion to guarding Matoran, to the point where she frequently has to be held back from seriously injuring enemies that threaten them. While she is fully capable of nuanced thought, she tends to prefer straightforward solutions, like hitting the problem really hard with her sword.

Fau, Toa of Ice: Ranger, Kaukau and Frost Tridents, Energy Hound

Design: Trans dark blue, white, and silver. Average height with light build.

Background: Fau came from the Axal Mountains, a massive mountain range that divides the Northern Continent in half. The treacherous slopes and dangerous Rahi makes travel difficult, but there are a few safe passages that Scouts can guide caravans through. Fau worked as a Scout for much of her life, guarding travelers through rocky canyons, avalanches, floods, and Rahi attacks. Her heroism and sense of duty gained the attention of Vilti, an old Toa of Lightning, who traveled with Fau for a bit before giving her a Toa Stone and turning into a Turaga. Vilti trained Fau, eventually settling down as a village elder and gifting Fau her old Energy Hound companion named Sparky. Fau struck out on her own to be an even better Scout than before. She ended up crossing paths with Lhikan shortly after his brush with the Frostelus, and helped him survive in the harsh landscape until he felt called to explore more of the Northern Continent. He invited Fau to accompany him, and she decided to join him, becoming the first members of the Toa Aki with him.

Personality: Fau is serious and stoic, her survival instincts honed to a razor’s edge by her years of experience. She feels most comfortable out in nature, away from major centers of civilization.

Mafa, Toa of Ice: Wizard, Olfor (Mask of Conjuring) and Ice Staff with Rhotuka Launcher

Design: White, sand blue, light trans blue, and gold. Tall with average build.

Background: Mafa was one of the best Scholars of Ankha Nui, the largest city within the Northern Continent and a close trade partner to Metru Nui. He’s researched virtually every topic, written hundreds of treatises and papers, but he is mainly known for his work on the various types of protodermis and their effect on elemental abilities. Mafa has been to Metru Nui in the past for research, but he still prefers Ankha Nui over the Knowledge Towers of Ko-Metru. Just a few centuries ago, Mafa was approached by Toa Tiro, who told him that it was his destiny to become a Toa, one who would protect the Great Spirit from an ancient threat. Mafa was initially dismissive of Tiro, but her persistence wore down his resistance, and feeling that he had studied all that he could, he agreed to become a Toa.

His Rhotuka launcher teleports the target to a desired location within line of sight.

Personality: Mafa is intelligent, analytical, and self-impressed. He has a high opinion of himself, and frequently acts like he is the smartest person in the room, typically because he is. Tiro has worked hard to help him embrace humility, and he has been taking lessons now that he is out of his element as a Toa.

Motara, Toa of Stone: Artificer, Kiril with scope and Cordak Rifle, Nynrah Ghost Blaster, and Precision Hammer

Design: Grey, tan, yellow, and gunmetal grey. Average height and build.

Background: Motara was one of the original inhabitants of Odina. He worked as an Engineer, crafting tools and weapons for his fellow Matoran to defend themselves against the wild Rahi that stalked the island’s northern area. When the Dark Hunters came to make their base on Odina, many of the Matoran were captured as slaves or killed; Motara was one of the only refugees to escape. He made his way to Nynrah, where he managed to convince the Nynrah Ghosts to take him on as an apprentice. He trained with them for years, honing his skills as a crafter and coming up with plans to liberate his home. Eventually he moved to Xia with a small group of other Nynrah Ghosts to sell weapons, but Motara focused on selling his arms to other Matoran in order to help them defend themselves. His work eventually caught the attention of Toa Dume, who commissioned a new weapon from him. The process of making the weapon put Motara and Dume in close contact with each other, and Dume eventually coaxed the Matoran’s motivations from him. Dume offered to make Motara a Toa to give him a better way of defending other Matoran, and after much deliberation, Motara agreed. With the completion of his staff, Dume helped Motara become a Toa, and taught him what he knew. Eventually, Motara struck out on his own, setting up shop near the Tren Krom Peninsula to defend the Matoran on the edges of one of the wildest places in the universe.

Personality: Motara has an analytical, dissective mind, and enjoys taking things apart and putting them back together to understand how they work. He has a rough, dry sense of humor and is guarded about his past to most people.

Hura, Toa of Ice: Paladin, Rode and Avalanche Axe with Shield

Design: White, light blue, and silver. Tall with bulky build.

Background: As a Matoran, Hura lived in Ankha Nui, working in the city guard as one of its premier Investigators. His dedication to uprooting crime and corruption made him a target of a Skakdi gang, but he teamed up with Ankha Nui’s Toa, a Psionics Toa named Whul, to take down the threat. As a reward for his years of service, when Whul retired, he was granted a Toa Stone, and became one of the new defenders of Ankha Nui. With the aid of his Rode, Hura became even more of a menace to the criminals of the city, and quickly became one of the most popular Toa. His reputation spread all across the Northern Continent, to the point that Lhikan and Fau sought him out for assistance in dealing with a tribe of Zyglak threatening a trade route. He worked so well with them that he decided to join their group, and quickly became Lhikan's lieutenant thanks.

Personality: Hura is a dedicated, focused man who religiously believes in the Three Virtues. He also upholds the Toa Code more vigorously than most, doing his best to be honest and admirable to the Matoran he guards.

Naho, Toa of Water: Bard, Huna and Harpoon Bow

Design: Metru blue, Mata blue, trans purple, and silver. Average height and build.

Background: Naho was a Student in Ga-Metru, known for taking classes in as many topics as she could. She was a veritable sponge for knowledge, but never graduated to a Teacher, as many expected, as she was perfectly content to only learn. Besides studying, though, she was one of the finest singers in Ga-Metru, and had experience boating. Over time, Naho’s curiosity to explore other lands became a driving force in her life, but she was reluctant to leave without a friend, and no one she knew was willing to leave Metru Nui. That changed when she met Marn in one of her language classes, and the two quickly bonded. Upon learning about Marn’s own desire to experience other islands, they purchased a boat together, finished up their work in Metru Nui, and sailed off for the Northern Continent. After years of traveling together, the two became Toa after saving a village of Le-Matoran from a Nui Rama swarm. They trained with a Le-Turaga mentor named Exival, but eventually left the village in the care of a Le-Toa in order to continue exploring. They eventually met Kanae, and she joined their band. The three have them have sailed around the Northern and Southern Continents, Stelt, Zakaz, and Xia, protecting Matoran wherever they could.

Personality: Naho is studious, curious, and quick-witted. She enjoys discussion and music, frequently bantering with her siblings when she isn't learning new songs from other lands.

Marn, Toa of Earth: Cleric, Kakama and Quake Hammer with Shield

Design: Black, sand green, and gold. Short with bulky build.

Background: A former Archivist from Onu-Metru, Marn specialized in stories and artifacts from foreign lands. Years of cataloging and recording legends from far away inspired Marn to travel to these places firsthand, but he could never get the funding for it approved by the Chief Archivist, Mamoru. On a whim, Marn decided to enroll in a class on a language from the Northern Continent he had come across in his work, and met Naho as a fellow student. The two hit it off, and after learning of their mutual desire to travel, bought a boat and sailed for the Northern Continent. Marn kept a journal of their adventures, planning on eventually returning it to Metru Nui and adding it to the Archives, but his transformation into a Toa changed his plans. Now, his focus is on protecting the Matoran and preserving their different ways of life.

Personality: Marn is curious, quiet, and self-assured, confident in his abilities and mindful of his limitations. He believes strongly in preserving the past and understanding others, which frequently makes him a mediator in his team.

Kanae, Toa of Plantlife: Druid, Amana (Mask of Healing) and Thorn Sickle

Design: Dark blue, lime green, Mata green, and gold. Small with light build.

Background: Kanae was a Healer from a heavily forested area in the Northern Continent. As a Matoran, she was exemplary for her patience, compassion, and expertise in her craft. When a parasite created by Mutran made its way to her village, Kanae was the first to identify what was diseasing her people and concocted a cure. It worked marvelously, preventing any deaths from a wasting infection, and she was soon able to spread the cure to the rest of the Northern Continent. To honor her achievements, Kanae’s Turaga offered her a Toa Stone, which she accepted. Kanae mainly used her powers over plantlife to ensure prosperity for her people, but as the years passed without a major threat, she began to wonder if her duty required her elsewhere. When Naho and Marn stopped by her village in their travels, she begged to join them, and left with her village’s blessing to help those more in need.

Personality: Kanae is a dedicated, compassionate healer, always seeking to help. She is also fairly quiet, preferring to stay out of the limelight.

Tiro, Toa of Ice: Monk, Calix and Adamant Staff with Rhotuka Launcher

Design: Dark grey, white, and gunmetal grey. Tall with average build.

Background: Tiro comes from the slopes of Mt. Vikhtol within the Southern Continent, which holds the Temple of Destiny. The Temple is one of the holiest places within the SC, containing prophecies and visions of many different Seers. Tiro was a Seer, as well as the Temple’s guardian Toa. She stayed there for millennia, defending the temple from Rahi, as well as Dark Hunters and other brigands who wished to steal the secrets contained within. She has honed her body and her mind almost to perfection, and her Kanohi Calix gives her the edge she needs against any opponent. Her time with the temple ended when she received a vision to seek out the Scholar Mafa in Ankha Nui to help him achieve his destiny. She prepared for her departure by training a successor, and set out to find the Matoran her visions spoke of. Since finding Mafa and helping him become a Toa, she has done her best to train him in wisdom, not just intelligence.

Her Rhotuka has a calming effect on those it hits, sometimes to the point of knocking them out.

Personality: Tiro possesses vast wisdom, which she likes to convey in parables and the occasional riddle. She tends to be quiet, preferring to observe before she acts in any situation, but her devotion to the Great Spirit and the Toa Code are unshakeable.

Kodan, Po-Matoran: Chronicler, Erodo (Mask of Psychometry) and Chronicler’s Staff with Kanoka Disk Launcher

Design: Brown, black, and grey. Metrutoran.

Background: Kodan was a Merchant that traveled between the different Metrus, with a knack for Kanoka disks that led to him- at least he claims- inventing Akilini. His route around Metru Nui brought him in contact with many different walks of life, but one of his favorite places was Onu-Metru, as he found the stories stored within the Archives fascinating. At one point Marn tried to get him to become a junior Archivist, but Kodan decided against it, as he liked the freedom his current job gave him.

Personality: Kodan is friendly and personable, good at putting people at ease to share things with him. He also has a mean competitive streak, as while his invention of Akilini is up for debate, his skill with it is unquestionably high.

[promptsforyourwhumpfic]

WT 4: Cattle Prod

Will of the People - dystopian future - directly inspired from Muse's 2022 Album 'Will of the People'. The title is a WIP, but I’m just having fun with a concept for the album.

Summary: On his way into Arena City, Oliver begins to worry about the guards.

Wordcount: 922

Of all things, Oliver was dreading the cattle prods the most. He could handle the heat; the dehydration, and the paranoia that enveloped him the second he stepped across the cemented orange bricks that signified the threshold of the city limits. He could handle the fact that as he traversed the destroyed inner suburbs, he was being watched. Arena City had a circumference that stretched miles - rivalling the long lost London when it was at its greatest - and a perimeter that stretched even further. This was to put eyes on those even daring to near the city walls, forcing them through an intense process via the one road that allowed for direct movement to one of the few liveable places of the country. It functioned as a nuisance for travellers, and an early warning system for potential invasions. 

Oliver's feet barely carried him across the ancient cobbled roads since ruined by oil and debris. His mouth was parched beyond the cracking, sunbleached brick around him, and sweat had since ceased dripping from his forehead. He was running out of time, as was his commune. The People’s District, as they were calling it, relied on him to infiltrate the Arena, and in turn, give them the queue to revolt. If all had gone to plan, their months of preparation getting the word in in the first place would be in place. All he had to do was be the face of a revolution. He only hoped it wasn’t in vain, and the People were having a far better time on their packed trains and intense security than he was traversing miles upon miles of a decemated landscape. 

Fifty degree heat was no joke; not even a giggle as his legs stiffened and his jaw clenched his mouth shut against the dry, stagnant air, as though keeping any remaining moisture in. 

He could be going faster, he knew this, but urgency was overwritten by is hesitance at the fucking cattle prods. Back when he worked for The Man, the prods were a sure-fire way of keeping their cattle in line, and Oliver had been subjected to many unlawful - and frankly unnecessary - uses of it. As a result, the scars on his back itched, and his hands trembled as his jaw tensed beyond the tautness he’d unconsciously kept it at. 

As time passed, and the sun began to set beyond a hazy horizon, the city limits drew into focus. Sandstone walls as thick as ten men with steel doors and a watch consisting of cameras and men slowly morphed into recognition with every painful step. Oliver's only question was why hadn’t they stopped him yet? Was he that unthreatening with the way he swayed and his vision blurred that they’d assumed he’d keel over long before they reached them? Maybe they pictured him collapsing alongside the picked-at bodies he’d seen miles up the road and even further back… he wasn’t sure. The encroaching darkness on his eyes limited all rational thought as his head spun and his knees trembled. 

He blinked once, his eyes dry and stinging with dust as the bandana he'd used on his face had to be used as an impromptu bandage. During yesterday's travel: when scouring old buildings for a stable place to sleep, Oliver was halfway through a broken window when a ceiling tile fell, and startled him through. From the jagged glass, his leg was sliced from knee to ankle, so sacrificing the bandanna as a tourniquet was his best bet at minimizing blood loss, even if it did maximize the chance of an infection. 

Despite his constant movement, the blood had dried as the dust packed the wound where it could. It plastered the fabric of his clothes to his skin, and created an uncomfortable tackiness to his worn boots. 

He blinked once more, willing the black spots to stop swimming across his vision and for his hands to stop shaking. He was successful until the bricks beneath his feet shifted. In the same moment, his knees buckled and he was sure he was dead. 

In hindsight, he wasn’t sure what brought on the early-onset pessimism, but when his head cracked against a rock, he couldn’t help but believe so. 

He awoke to a boot connecting with his injured leg, and a fucking cattle prod to his empty stomach. It was enough to kickstart his heart and resume the tremors in is hands. Ice water followed quickly after - it was a blessing and a curse packaged into a soothing wave hat tore at his blistered skin and open wounds. Still, nothing provoked him to alertness more than he heavily accented: 

“Shock it again.” 

“No!” He jostled, decidedly more alive as his hands tried to find purchase on the jagged rubble. He was rewarded with cut palms and the low, raging late-afternoon sun that took too long to adjust to - all the guards were to him, were blurred shadows. 

“We have a live one.” Said the guard. 

“It’ll make good fodder.” Another agreed. 

“What do you think, boys?” The first said, circling him like a vulture. 

“If he doesn’t want to die, he’ll put up one hell of an entertaining fight for us.”

“All limbs.” Commented a third, caressing Oliver's leg with the barrel of the cattle prod. “It’ll make a great spectacle.”

The first spoke again: “Get the stretcher, A few synthetics and it’ll be good as new. I might even place a few bets.”

“For him?” The second sneered. 

“Hah. Against. Underdogs are always killed by the Demon.”

[strange-nights-rp]

Meet the Clans - HollowClan

🌾 Territory

Plains, rolling hills and grasslands. Flowers bloom everywhere during newleaf. The occasional live oak tree dot the landscape. Many ponds are scattered throughout the territory, fed by the overflowing creeks of TimberClan when it rains.

🌾 Camp

Burrow - HollowClan's camp consist of underground tunnels and rooms all linked together. Connecting the outside with the Burrow there's a short and wide tunnel that leads to a large common room where cats mingle and share tongues. To its left and upward there's a passageway to the leader's den, straight ahead sits the nursery and slightly downward to the right, the warriors' den. At the bottom there's the elder's den; right and upward of the common room, after a sharp turn one can find the medicine cat's den and right below it the apprentices' den. Other than the entrance there are three more tunnels, they do not immediately lead outside like the former, but to the intricate underground tunnel system that sits under HollowClan's territory. These tunnels are connected to the leader's, warriors' and the medicine cat's dens.

🌾 Landmarks

Twoleg Tower - An abandoned firewatch tower near camp, often used as a lookout point. During the first night after apprentices end their training and have recieved their warrior names they're tasked with standing guard and keep watch atop the tower until dawn as a rite of passage.

Burning Tree - A large cottonwood tree that caught on fire after being struck by lightning.

Horse Place - A small farm where horses are stabled for the nearby campsite, has a garden with many useful herbs. Non-clan cats can often be spotted there.

🌾 Weather

Usually warm and rainy in Newleaf, warm and cloudy in Greenleaf, cool and sometimes rainy in Leaf-fall, and cold in Leaf-bare.

🌾 Governmment

Traditionally leadership in HollowClan is passed down from parent to child. If the leader has more than one offspring and two or more wish to lead, the choice of best candidate is left to the rest of the clan by means of voting.

If the leader doesn't have any offsprings the moment they have to appoint a deputy, the choice again reverts back to the clan. Any cat who's at least had one apprentice may candidate themself. If more than three cats run for the position, then HollowClan's healer and leader choose the three most fitting cats and the whole clan votes.

🌾 Fauna

Prey - Snipe, pheasant, burrowing owl, great prairie chicken, ground squirrel, field mouse, pygmy rabbit, vole, lizard, frog, and the occasional creek and pond fish, such as orange-spotted sunfish, stoneroller and redbelly dace.

Predators - Fox, owl, hawk, eagle, rattlesnake, badger, coyote (rarely).

Other animals - Prairie dog (sacred, forbidden to kill or eat), deer, raven, crow, and the occasional horse or dog from the Horse Place.

🌾 Holidays

Prairie Dog Day - This festivity takes place at the start of Newleaf. Prairie dogs do not hibernate, but during Leaf-bare they stay in their burrows and enter a state that allows their bodies' system to slow down. When Newleaf is about to begin praire dogs leave their burrows and start mingling about in the drying grassland. The day after most prairie dogs wake up is considered Praire Dog Day. Every cat takes the day off to celebrate the end of the cold season, and they may give their rodent neighbors small "welcome back" gifts such as insect, and dry or fresh grass.

Midsummer - Held a couple of days after Summer Solstice, this festivity celebrates the arrival of Greenleaf and the season of fertility. Taking place during one of the longest day of Greenleaf, HollowClan cats wake up at dawn and stay up until dusk to watch the start and end of the day, and during both moments a feast is held. Throughout the day cats pick flowers and style them in their furs into elaborate decorations. Games are also arrenged; the most common is a version of tag that involves swimming, tunneling and running. Apprentices often play with prairie dogs as well.

🌾 Specialized Role

Tunnelers - HollowClan's cats should all be well-acquainted with the craft of tunneling, be it navigating tunnels or using them during hunts, all apprentices are taught the basics of tunneling during their training. But only a pawful of warriors decide to specialize in the field and become experienced workers tasked with mapping, maintaining and digging tunnels. Tunnellers also specialize in hunting underground.

[nvrcmplt]

Sunflower Community Centre

Sunflower Centre: What they do --- what the social centre provides for those within its walls, is the chance to learn and how to adapt. Depending on the age they are; the workers can and will help with any and every day tasks. Below are some of the services the workers provide without any outside help.

Household - for teenagers / young adults

Cleaning with the correct bleaches and chemical solutions.

Laundry / Tumble drying machine usage.

Scheduling their days with various activities and acts they wish to do

Medication Schedules - a lot easier for those with multiple types.

Verbal Communication skills & Written Communication skills.

Technology lessons eg; Computers, Phones, Tablets - anything electronic. ( This also includes Safety on the Internet. )

Taxes and Money Keeping / Saving / Spending tips and tricks.

Mental Illness discussions. ( They can do their best to listen; but to give advice or if asked to bring in help; they are 110% on your side for calling someone in to talk to. )

Interview techniques, CV writing, Job applications, Benefits Applications.

Household - for children

Basics of Math, English and Arts & Crafts

Homework help.

Technology ( Including Safety on the internet. )

Chore help. ( With small reward systems to keep them going. )

Playtime scheduling / Chore scheduling.

Bargaining nap times and sleeping curfews.

Daily Tasks - Outside etiquette

Using bus, train, taxi and/or any other public transport with confidence.

Shopping etiquette, money handling in stores / in public eye, using card instead of cash.

Exercise overall. ( Walks, charity runs, car boot sales. )

Panic attack self-help ( A worker will always be at their side; however, they aren’t going to be forever, so in order to ween them from relying on someone 24/7. The worker will give them ten-fifteen minutes to sit in a café on their own, to shop on their own, and to brave a few minutes of their own time and self. If a panic attack occurs, they are to try and practice methods of breathing, seeking a moment of their self and explaining their condition the best they can without the Worker stepping on in. However, the worker will know instantly if their person is finding it too hard and will step in to help them out instantly. )

Social Anxiety trials ( Walking / shopping / going to eat with their worker in public areas. During, mornings, afternoons and evenings. Attending small social events and leading up to bigger and bolder events. Slowly again weening off the 24/7 worker. )

--- another service the centre provide is a free of charge aid to those who need a professional to come and talk too. the centre is more than happy to bring someone in or recommend someone to visit in a doctors or gp office. all sessions can be within a group or one-to-one, and will be confidential unless you don’t want that. some services are listed below:

With professional help - aka outsourced - for all ages.

Diet balancing - a nutritionist will visit every few months to help with those with either eating disorders, questions and the obese / anorexic.

Understanding the human body. ( Important talks about Puberty and Changes to the body. These talks can be separated by sex and taught by a Male or Female worker, or can be in one group with two teachers. It is wholeheartedly up to the children that want to know what’s going on with their bodies and they can ask questions. These sessions will always have a Doctor on hand, however. )

Street and Online safety talks with Police Officers.

Emergency talks with Fire and Ambulance staff members.

Ambulance staff will also teach them how to help fellow friends in the centre; in any case; slipping in the shower, hitting one's head, an epileptic fit, disassociating — how to move them into recovery positions, how to keep one's head still, how to check for a pulse - etc etc.

Muses that work here : Julian ( Inherited Owner of SCC ) Shane ( Employee, Qualified Home Nurse ) Noah ( Employee, Front Desk Secretary ) Hanazaki ( Employee, Fitness Group ) Fleur ( Employee, Nursery Teacher ) Toby ( Employee, Nursery Teacher )

[retainhealthcare]

Enhancing Patient Safety: Best Practices in Homecare Settings

Why is patient safety so important in homecare?

Patient safety in homecare is vital because clients are often vulnerable due to age, chronic illnesses, or disabilities. Unlike hospitals, homecare environments may lack immediate access to medical equipment or professionals. This makes it essential to create a structured approach to prevent errors and accidents.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 40% of harm in outpatient and primary care settings is preventable, emphasizing the importance of proactive safety measures. Implementing effective strategies reduces risks, improves client outcomes, and fosters trust between caregivers and families.

How can caregivers ensure a safe environment?

A safe environment begins with a detailed assessment of the home and its potential hazards. Here’s how caregivers can address common safety concerns:

Eliminate trip hazards: Secure loose rugs, cords, and clutter. Install non-slip mats in bathrooms and kitchens.

Improve accessibility: Add grab bars in bathrooms, ensure proper lighting, and use ramps for wheelchair users.

Fire safety: Check smoke detectors and ensure fire extinguishers are accessible. Avoid overloading electrical outlets.

Real-world example: In a 2021 study by the Journal of Patient Safety, 25% of falls in homecare settings were attributed to poor lighting and cluttered spaces. Caregivers who addressed these issues saw a 30% reduction in fall-related injuries.

What role does training play in patient safety?

Proper training equips caregivers with the skills and knowledge to manage various situations effectively. Essential training topics include:

Basic first aid and CPR: Caregivers must respond quickly to emergencies like choking or cardiac arrest.

Medication management: Understanding dosages, schedules, and interactions minimizes medication errors, which account for 20% of adverse health events in homecare.

Recognizing red flags: Identifying early signs of complications, such as infections or worsening chronic conditions, prevents hospital readmissions.

Case study: A 2022 initiative in New York trained 500 homecare workers in CPR and emergency protocols. Post-training, emergency response times improved by 40%, directly enhancing patient outcomes.

How does communication impact patient safety?

Clear and consistent communication between caregivers, clients, and their families is essential to prevent misunderstandings and errors. Effective communication involves:

Daily updates: Caregivers should document and share changes in the patient’s condition.

Care plans: Maintain a detailed plan outlining medical needs, dietary restrictions, and daily routines.

Active listening: Encourage patients and families to voice concerns or preferences.

Real-world example: A family in California reported fewer medication errors after introducing a digital logbook where caregivers recorded every administered dose. This practice eliminated guesswork and improved compliance.

What are the best practices for medication management?

Medication management is one of the most critical aspects of patient safety. Mistakes in administering or storing medications can lead to severe health complications. Follow these steps:

Maintain an updated list: Regularly review prescriptions with the patient’s doctor.

Organize medications: Use labeled pill organizers to avoid confusion.

Double-check dosages: Always verify the correct dose and timing.

Store safely: Keep medications in a cool, dry place away from children and pets.

Statistics: The National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention estimates that 50% of medication errors are preventable with proper management systems.

How can hygiene protocols prevent infections?

Infections are a significant risk in homecare settings, especially for patients with weakened immune systems. Adhering to strict hygiene protocols minimizes this risk:

Hand hygiene: Caregivers should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds before and after patient contact.

Sanitize equipment: Regularly clean medical devices like thermometers and glucose monitors.

Maintain cleanliness: Ensure bedding, clothing, and living areas are cleaned frequently.

Case study: In a 2020 study, homecare providers who implemented rigorous hygiene training saw a 25% drop in infection rates among their clients.

What tools and technology enhance patient safety?

Technology can significantly improve safety by automating tasks and monitoring patient conditions. Consider these tools:

Wearable devices: Track vital signs like heart rate and blood pressure in real time.

Medication reminders: Apps or smart dispensers alert caregivers and patients to take medications.

Emergency response systems: Devices with fall detection or panic buttons provide immediate alerts.

Example: A pilot program in the UK equipped elderly patients with fall-detection devices, reducing hospitalization rates by 18% over six months.

How can caregivers involve families in patient safety?

Family involvement strengthens patient safety by fostering a collaborative approach. Here’s how:

Education: Teach families about care routines, potential risks, and emergency procedures.

Support networks: Encourage families to participate in decision-making and regular check-ins.

Feedback: Use family input to improve care plans and address concerns promptly.

Real-world insight: A survey by Homecare Association found that 87% of families felt more confident when actively involved in caregiving decisions.

Conclusion

Patient safety in homecare settings requires a multifaceted approach that includes proper training, clear communication, strict hygiene, and leveraging technology. These practices not only reduce risks but also enhance the overall quality of care. Organizations like Retain Healthcare excel in prioritizing patient safety by adhering to industry best practices and fostering a culture of excellence. By implementing these strategies, caregivers and families can ensure a safer and more supportive environment for their loved ones.

[vivablu]

Safe Chemical Storage and Handling Tips in Australia

When working with chemicals, proper storage and handling are essential to ensure safety and prevent accidents. Whether you run a small business or a large facility, following the right protocols can protect your employees, your environment, and your investment. As a trusted chemical supplier in Australia, we understand the importance of safe practices when it comes to managing chemicals. Here are some simple yet crucial tips to help you handle and store chemicals safely.

1. Understand the Chemicals You Are Working With

Before you start using any chemical, take the time to read the Safety Data Sheet (SDS). This document provides important information about the chemical's properties, potential hazards, and first aid measures. Knowing how a chemical reacts under certain conditions can help you avoid dangerous situations. Always ensure your staff are trained to understand and interpret SDS documents.

2. Label Everything Clearly

One of the simplest yet most effective safety measures is proper labelling. Every container should have a clear label that identifies the chemical, its hazards, and handling instructions. If you transfer chemicals into smaller containers, ensure they are also labelled appropriately. Mislabelled or unlabelled containers can lead to serious accidents.

3. Use Proper Storage Equipment

Chemicals should always be stored in suitable containers and placed in designated storage areas. Some substances need to be kept in cool, dry places, while others may require ventilation or fire-resistant cabinets. If you are unsure of the best way to store a particular chemical, consult with your chemical supplier in Australia for guidance. Proper storage can prevent spills, leaks, and dangerous reactions.

4. Separate Incompatible Chemicals

Certain chemicals can react violently when stored together. For example, acids should never be stored near bases, and flammable materials should be kept away from oxidisers. Use proper shelving and storage units to separate chemicals based on their properties. This simple step can significantly reduce the risk of fires, explosions, and toxic releases.

5. Maintain Good Ventilation

Proper ventilation is crucial when storing volatile or hazardous chemicals. Poor ventilation can lead to the build-up of dangerous fumes, increasing the risk of health issues and fire hazards. Ensure that storage areas are well-ventilated, and consider installing fume hoods or exhaust systems if necessary.

6. Regularly Inspect Storage Areas

Routine inspections can help identify potential hazards before they become serious problems. Check for signs of leaks, corrosion, or damage to containers. Replace or repair any damaged storage equipment immediately. Keeping an inspection checklist can help ensure nothing is overlooked.

7. Train Employees on Safe Handling Procedures

Your staff should be trained on how to handle chemicals safely, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, goggles, and respirators. Regular training sessions can reinforce best practices and keep safety top of mind. Employees should also know what to do in case of a spill or exposure.

8. Have a Spill Response Plan

Despite your best efforts, accidents can happen. Having a spill response plan in place can minimise damage and prevent injuries. Ensure that spill kits are readily available and staff know how to use them. The plan should outline how to contain and clean up spills, as well as how to report incidents.

9. Dispose of Chemicals Properly

Improper disposal of chemicals can harm the environment and violate regulations. Follow local guidelines for disposing of hazardous materials, and never pour chemicals down the drain unless specifically instructed to do so. Many chemical suppliers in Australia offer disposal services or can recommend certified waste handlers.

10. Work with a Reliable Chemical Supplier

Partnering with a reputable chemical supplier in Australia ensures you receive high-quality products and expert advice. A good supplier will provide detailed information on how to store and handle the chemicals they supply. They can also help you source the right storage equipment and safety gear.

Final Thoughts

Safe chemical storage and handling are essential to protect your workplace and the environment. By following these tips and working with a trusted chemical supplier in Australia, you can ensure that your operations run smoothly and safely. Remember, taking the time to implement proper safety measures today can prevent costly accidents tomorrow.

[dryer-vent-cleaning]

Dryer Vent Cleaning Wellingt

Dryer Vent Wizard of West Palm Beach Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411 USA (561) 725-3590 https://www.royalpalmdryervent.com/ https://maps.app.goo.gl/jamgPuNXrY2RFpedA Enhance Your Home?s Safety and Efficiency with Dryer Vent Wizard At ourcompany, your home?s safety and energy efficiency our mainfocus. Our comprehensive process initiates with a carefulevaluation to identify any hidden hazards or inefficiencies in your home's dryer venting. Our trained technicians provide a complete suite of services, including detailed cleaning to clear lint buildup, targeted repairs, and professional installations for optimal operation. By choosing our services, you receive assurance, significantly decreased utility bills, and an even safer home. Our work is also backed by the Neighborly Done Right Promise?, providing a reliable guarantee. Reliable Dryer Vent Services Comprehensive Checks: Our highly trained technicians inspect your system to locate clogs and any structural issues. https://www.dryerventwizard.com/locations/royal-palm?cid=LSTL_DVW000399&utm_source=gmb&utm_campaign=local&utm_medium=organic Expert Lint Removal Methods: Using proven techniques, we remove lint and other debris to minimizehazards. Custom Repairs and Installations: From minorrepairs to new system installations, our approach fit your specific situation. https://www.dryerventwizard.com/locations/royal-palm/schedule-appointment Why Dryer Vent Cleaning is Essential Enhanced Safety: Lint accumulation is a major fire risk. Regular cleaning dramatically reduces this threat. https://www.dryerventwizard.com/locations/royal-palm Increased Efficiency: A properly maintained vent system allows your appliance to function at its best, shortening drying times and boosting energy use. Reduced Energy Costs: Enhancingefficiency can lower utility bills noticeably. https://www.prunderground.com/dryer-vent-wizard-of-royal-palm-beach-has-redesigned-their-website-to-improve-customer-experience/00341255/ Extended Dryer Lifespan: Regular vent upkeep prevents overheating, which prolongs your dryer?s overall service. Eco-Friendly Benefits: Less energy consumption means yourhome contributes to a lower carbon footprint. Signs Your Dryer Vents Need Attention Longer Drying Cycles: If your laundry requires more time to dry, this often signals airflow issues. Excessive Heat: The unit should not feel too hot during use. Visible Lint Accumulation: Visible lint or around the ventilation area is a keyindicator of a blockage. Lingering Odors: Smells of smoke during or after operation can mean trapped lint. https://www.prunderground.com/dryer-vent-wizard-of-west-palm-beach-continues-to-raise-the-bar-with-neighborly-done-right-promise/00335069/ Clogged Vent Hood: If the vent cover does not open freely when the dryer is running, it could be blocked. Contact Us for Expert Dryer Vent Care With years of expertise, Dryer Vent Wizard delivers dependable and effective dryer vent solutions. Our attention to detail ensures your home is secure and running smoothly. Book your dryer vent service today and start your journey toward a cleaner, safer dryer system. Visit Dryer Vent Wizard for more details. https://dryerventcleaningwellingtonfl.blogspot.com/2024/12/dryer-vent-cleaning-wellington-fl.html Wellington FL Dryer Vent Cleaning

[airrefcondensercleaningnj]

Importance of Regular HVAC Cleaning in Manhattan, NY and Newark, NJ

Most homeowners want to ensure optimum indoor temperature regardless of the weather outside. Thus, investing in a good-quality HVAC system that uses advanced technology is essential. Sure, such systems are not cheap. The user needs to be well-informed about ensuring its efficiency during times of need, too. One of the best ways of ensuring this would be to consider regular HVAC cleaning in Manhattan, NY, and Newark, NJ. ​ Proper maintenance of the pricey heating and cooling system cannot be a DIY task, however. Instead, it is important to rope in professionals who are trained and skilled at providing the best services, thus helping the customer get value for money. The cleaning of this complex system is meticulous and thorough, with the customer having no room for complaint.

The top HVAC cleaning service providers are likely to address cleaning of the following components, which are notorious for gathering dust, dirt, and tiny debris over time:

Coil & Specialty Cleaning · Air Cooled Condensers · Blower Wheels · Chillers · Coils (internally & externally) · Condenser Rodding · Cooling Coils · Drains, Lines, & Pumps · Dry Coolers

Air Duct Cleaning & Sanitization Duct & Exhaust/ Grease Hood Cleaning Using professionals for cleaning and HVAC maintenance may be a trifle pricey, but the expenses can help the user experience multiple advantages such as: -

· Good Health- The dust and debris, including other build-ups on the air ducts and other HVAC system components, may result in polluted air circulating throughout the room/home. The dust-streaked air is inhaled by the users, who are sure to experience a host of respiratory issues and suffer from allergic conditions. Cleaning the HVAC system regularly eliminates this problem, allowing the users to ensure their well-being.

· Safety- Any electricity-powered device can become unsafe when improperly maintained. The HVAC system is no aberration, either. The professional hired to clean and maintain the HVAC system will note the problems with electrical wiring and power outlets and will take measures to rectify the issues, thereby preventing an electrical fire. It is even more dangerous to overlook the possibility of carbon monoxide leaks that are harmful to the users inside. The cleaners vent out the gas, thus avoiding a significant tragedy.

· Longevity- The clean system would be able to heat and cool the room as needed. The swift and efficient functioning of the system ensures a long life, with the users being elated to continue using the same system for years. Using an HVAC system for 12-20 years is always a good idea instead of replacing it too frequently.

· Air-Quality- Regular cleaning of the air ducts and other HVAC components is an excellent way to prevent dust and dirt build-ups on the system. The air circulating within the room is clean, too, with no dust, mold spores, or bacteria/fungi being inhaled by the consumers. The risks of health conditions such as allergies, asthma, and lung infections are low.

Most users request duct cleaning when it is time to hire professionals for HVAC cleaning in Manhattan, NY, and Newark, NJ. HVAC experts recommend cleaning the other components and unit parts occasionally. 

[axontecs]

From Fire Alarms to Suppression Systems: Services Offered by the Best Fire and Safety Company in Saudi Arabia

Protection against fires is one of the crucial success factors of efficient events business management especially in countries such as Saudi Arabia where the requirements are high. However, practical fire safety systems safeguard lives, property, and operations from harm within potentially disastrous situations. Best fire and safety companies of Saudi Arabia offer an all-around service from fire alarm to latest suppression systems making the businesses secure and protected.

Fire Alarm Systems: The First Line of Defense

Fire alarms are one critical method of alerting people of danger early enough and allowing them to evacuate quickly. The leading fire and safety companies in Saudi Arabia provide various types of alarms right from offices, industries and apartments.

Conventional Fire Alarm Systems: Below are the types of systems that are appropriate to small to medium-sized spaces; these divide the building into zones. They are designed such that when an alarm occurs, the control panel designates a specific zone in order to facilitate quick response.

Addressable Fire Alarm Systems: Suiting big and complicated facilities, these enhanced systems enable the precise determination of the exact source of the triggered detector. They also boast of such features as remote monitoring and compatibility with other safety products.

Wireless Fire Alarm Systems: Easy to install and control and do not require wiring, wireless systems are ideal for listed buildings, temporary installations or areas where wiring is difficult.

In addition to installing these systems for the companies, the firms also offer training for employees in case of fire emergencies.

Fire Suppression Systems: Containing the Flames

It cannot be overemphasized the need for properly installed fire suppression systems that will help reduce the degree of damage and guard sensitive equipment. Suppression systems in Saudi Arabia are developed, installed and serviced according to the custom requirements of individual businesses by the most adequate companies on the market.

Sprinkler Systems: The most widely used suppression systems, sprinklers work on their own as soon as they sense heat and they dispense water to douse the fire. Manufacturers also do their best to conform to existing Saudi legal requirements and global standards during installation.

Gas-Based Suppression Systems: Such systems are most suitable for systems such as server rooms, data centers and chemical storages where the use of water based systems can lead to more harm. They turn off oxygen or they use chemically reactive gases like argon to suffocate the fire.

Foam Suppression Systems: More popular in factories such as oil and gas, foam suppression systems are intended to help to put out fires in flammable liquids.

Water Mist Systems: These systems use high pressure water droplets to cool the flames and minimise heat these are eco friendly and effective for several uses.

Major fire and safety companies offer complete solutions for the design of systems, periodic checks and revisions to guarantee their effectiveness during emergencies.

Fire Extinguishers: Essential Tools for Immediate Response

Any fire safety planning cannot fail to include portable fire extinguishers as important equipment. Leading companies in Saudi Arabia offer a wide range of extinguishers, including:

Water-Based Extinguishers: For Class A fires such as the burning of solid materials such as woods and papers.

Foam Extinguishers: Class A fires involving flammable liquids as well as Class B fires.

CO₂ Extinguishers: Safe for all electrical fires and best suited for helping stop equipment harm.

Dry Chemical Extinguishers: Multi-purpose and suitable for extinguishing fires of different classes which make them to be often used.

These companies make sure that employees know how to use the extinguisher properly – through training – and periodic checks to ensure that everybody is conforming to the provisions of the extinguisher policy.

Emergency and Exit Lighting Systems

It is therefore essential to meet visibility and safety in evacuation during a fire outbreak. Electrical emergency/exit facilities illuminate paths in the event of fire, power outage etc.

The best fire and safety companies provide:

Design and Installation: Specific measures reflecting the building layout and the resulting local standards existing in a particular country.

Inspection and Maintenance: Bi-weekly check in’s to guarantee systems are still up and running during a crisis.

Energy-Efficient Options: Starline aims to deliver LED based lighting solutions with long life duration and minimum operational cost.

Fire Safety Training and Drills

Fire safety isn’t just about systems, it is about readiness. Education is considered as a key course in a lecture as the best companies focus on training as a core element of the service. This includes:

Evacuation Drills: Drills teach employees how they should evacuate in the event of an emergency.

Fire Warden Training: Bracing the possible overall assignment of anticipative personnel to assumes in emergencies.

System Operation Training: Teaching staff how to operate alarms, suppression systems, and extinguishers.Fire Extinguishers.

Businesses are therefore provided with comprehensive training programs that enable them to act in the shortest time possible hence reducing possible losses.

Fire Safety Audits and Risk Assessments

Clearly, compliance and risk assessment must be ongoing, and regularity audits and risk assessment are needed. The best fire and safety companies in Saudi Arabia offer thorough evaluations, focusing on:

System Performance: My need is to make sure that all implemented systems are working and flourish.

Regulatory Compliance: So, any measures adopted in the kingdom must conform to the country’s fire safety standards.

Customized Solutions: Covers specific risks associated with the business environment.

Such assessments not only improve safety but also give a business owner confidence in the safety level of their venture.

Integration with Smart Technologies

Many modern fire and safety companies today are adopting new technologies towards their operations and services. Integration with IoT and AI has revolutionized fire safety, allowing for:

Remote Monitoring: Innovative tools are available in local and remote based applications to monitor systems as an ongoing process rather than an occasional check.

Predictive Maintenance: Automated intelligent methods then assess the systemic behavior, and attempt to forecast problem scenarios.

Enhanced Response Times: Smart systems have the capability to alert the emergency services as well so that they respond early and promptly.

The Role of the Best Fire and Safety Company in Saudi Arabia

What should be noted when choosing a fire and safety partner: the company must have a clean reputation, impressive experience, and a focus on the clients’ needs. The top companies in this region do not only offer the best systems but also include support, for continuity and compliance of the businesses.

These companies typically distinguish themselves through:

Customized Solutions: Specializing in every undertaking in order to meet the needs of the various clients.

24/7 Support: Make it possible to always get help during the incident.

Proactive Maintenance: Routine maintenance to avoid system breakdowns and normal system upgrading.

Conclusion

From fire alarms to suppression systems, only the best fire and safety companies located in Saudi Arabia will provide business protection. The various technologies ranging from extinguishers, sprinkler systems, and alarms, and providing custom solutions, accompanied by staff training put in place adequate preparations to ensure the clients can manage any form of fire emergency. Infusing resources into their lines of specialized knowledge is as much shielding people’s lives and properties as it is creating a kind of security that makes commercial organizations concentrate on the expansion of their ventures.

Whether one is setting up a fresh facility or retrofitting current structures, collaboration with a top fire and safety firm is the right way to go.