#bigger tiles costs less to lay

[smallbathroomrenovationsperth]

Bigger Tiles Should Not Cost More To Lay

When it comes to the world of laying tiles you will be fed a bunch of different reasons why bigger tiles will cost you more to lay but I am here to tell you why bigger tiles should not cost you more to lay. Tiles over the years have become larger and larger with large tiles 300 x 600 and 600 x 600 becoming the normal tile for all bathrooms and floors around Australia. As these tiles have become…

[palaceofpassion]

Tempverse: Episode 2: Camping Time!

Here is episode 2, which I had to cut down cause going past 5k is starting to drive me insane!  Also my finger has been locking up.

Pyrrha Nikos was a lot of things, she was a champion, a S Grade Fighter, someone who always thought about doing the right thing.  Someone who believed her destiny would be to save as many as she could, even if it were to cost her life.  She was many things, and one thing that many forgot or didn’t realize, was that chiefly among everything else she was still a young woman.  Another thing very few knew was that she was an actor, a person who could put on a front when pressured by others and who could mask how she really felt.  And finally something that no one knew, because of the former reasons, was that she was a Grade A pervert.  Though really, could you blame the young woman?  As previously stated she WAS a young woman, one who was currently blossoming into her full youth, one who had urges and desires.  One who was currently in a field filled with health… strong… robust young individuals who were practically spewing out sexual pheromones.  

In fact, she had been invited to no less than 4 orgies in her past!  So yes she was a bit of a pervert, often having wild fantasies about her competition together, or them alone, or other women and men it really didn’t matter to her.  But one thing she was, something that oftentimes got her called a stiff, was someone who was devoted to the idea of destiny and love.  Despite her… growing lust, she was strong willed so much so that she really never saw the point in participating in sexually charged campaigns.  So despite the invitations she declined, albeit a small part of her HAD regretted that decision a few times.  Though when ‘accidents’ happened and said competitors ended up in quite the pickle, well she was most grateful to have stuck to her guns.  

Still to sate her urges she fantasized, which wasn’t too difficult when shower rooms were all unisex.  Despite her attempts to keep her eyes low she HAD seen quite a few individuals in their bare and well… she may have had some seriously twisted thoughts.  Like that one time, her old classmate and rival Arslan was actually the sweetest of girls!  Pyrrha wasn’t sure if she was like her or not, hiding her devious desires, or was simply naive enough to not care… but there had been times where Pyrrha had thought about her rival being pinned. The very thought of various men and women taking their turns with the gorgeous dark skinned muscular fighter had seen her through SEVERAL heated nights.  

So yes… Pyrrha Nikos was in fact a pervert… one who may or may not have had several metal piercings at various peculiar places… ones that she made SURE to keep hidden.  She was fine with being called prudish, fine with no one knowing her secrets or her desires.  It was easier that way, easier to be seen as abstinent, clean, pure.  So she made a vow to herself, never to display herself in public, to hide her dirty little secrets taking them to the grave.  She’d always been good at it, she never thought it would change.  

Yet, as she rested beneath the cold droplets of a running shower head, she found herself unable to concentrate.  Her thoughts laying back to the night before, the soft husky moans reverberating from within arms reach, or… or her own lack of inhibitions.  She could still feel the sensation of her fingers running through her soft soaking pussy, her digits roaming across the plump lips squeezing and grinding against her needy flesh.  Her new friends lusty moans still filled her ears, the wild scent of… of Jaune’s seed still clung to her nose.  Every breath was filled with a deep murky aroma.  Everytime she closed her eyes she could still envision the bag shifting as they… as they… as they plunged themselves into one another.  

She could only imagine, only DREAM about what was happening beneath those sheets, what they were doing to one another.  Pyrrha was an observant woman, always keeping an eye out for competition… always watching for an opportunity to imagine.  And… while others had ‘chosen’ to mock Jaune in his surprisingly adorable onesie… in her perverse and twisted little thoughts had chosen to take a peak downstairs.  Oh how easy it was to see, she was surprised at the lack of attention his lower region had received, perhaps the only other person to notice was the woman who had struck first?  

As thoughts of the night before continued to flutter through her thoughts, her hands began to slowly descend down her tight finely fit stomach.  Fingers, sliding between the curvature and creases of her abs roaming lower beneath her pelvis and finding themselves sinking between her drenched lips.  

Yet as her hands began to seep into her flesh, her thoughts fell back to their conversation.  Her eyes shut tightly as she bit her lip, everything coming back to her as clear as day.  

The young Nikos had never been so far away from home, even in her old school she was still within walking distance of her family house.  Even as she closed her eyes to try to lul herself into a comfortable rest she  found herself unable to.  She wondered, as her heart paced quickly within her breasts, if her new friends, oh a word she’d so adored to use, were already fast asleep.  Perhaps they were not?  Mayhaps she would be able to start a brief conversation with them.  And yet, as she willed herself to fumble around, she heard them speak.  Their voices but a soft whisper, almost drowned out by the snoring in the distance.  

The young woman’s heart began to race, the sound of the two laying just within arms reach whisked its way towards her.  “I don’t belong here…”  She stilled, her thoughts running rampant at what Jaune meant.  He was approved, he must have belonged here, right?  “I… I faked my transcripts.”  Quickly her hands wrapped around her lips forcing down the gasp that nearly escaped.  She… she shouldn’t be hearing this!  But… he DIDN’T belong here!  Her heart began to crack, she’d just made a friend, and now she would have to part.  She WOULD tell the Headmaster, even… even if she destroyed their new friendship she couldn’t let him get hurt, couldn’t let him hurt anyone else.  She knew… knew that… there was a selfish part of her that didn’t want to.  

Despite her reservations, they continued to talk, her thoughts in shambles as they came upon May’s response.  She heard them shift around, nearly drowning out May’s soft, “I’ll protect you.”  Pyrrha wondered, was that what friends did?  Did a good friend still let something dangerous happen to their new companions?  She didn’t know, she’d never been close to anyone before… but… but… then they got to the conversation about her.  She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, hadn’t meant to… but now she found herself completely enraptured by their muted musings.  “She’s really pretty…”  “She’s apparently famous…”  “Doesn’t matter…”  “She just wants friends…” 

She bit upon her lips, fighting back the choking sobs that were sure to follow.  Her heart swelled and body trembled.  She’d never had anyone talk about her that way, they… their voices were genuinely concerned.  They wanted to be around her, they really didn’t know who she was, yet they wanted to be with her.  She heard the Schnee’s name brought up, but mostly in jest, though she too had noticed the lustful glances that the young Heiress had passed her way.  Despite herself, despite the previous thoughts of turning Jaune in… she decided that maybe it would be okay to be a bit selfish this time around?  

Then something she wasn’t EVEN sure wasn't part of one of her fantasies happened.   

Even as Pyrrha’s legs trembled beneath her, her painted breath washed out by the hot flooding water above her and her toes curling into the hard tile floor, she found the events of last night to be too outrageous.  Her fingers curled within her quivering hole, grasping at the soft edge of her lips and plunging deeper into her depths. Squelch her ears were surrounded by the soft sound of liquid and air passing between her fingers and her pussy.  Her soft vulva folded beneath her tight white knuckles as she squeezed around her digits.  Her tongue whisked around her free hand, flicking between her fingers as she squeezed upon the strong pink muscle. 

She could only imagine what they were doing, and oh how it delighted her!  Just the thought of May’s small short stacked body being penetrated by that ridiculous monster between Jaune’s legs set her off!  Oh Brothers’ she wished she could have seen it, just… oh just watching them mate would have been so very delightful~  Would her little stomach bulge as his member punched into her?  Would those huge, delicious wobbly tits jiggle and bounce with every thrust?  She felt something shake inside of her while she pushed her head against the hot tile bracing herself for what was to come.

“Oh gods oh gods!”  She couldn’t stop herself any further, pinning her head against the tile, her ass wiggled expectantly.  Her mind was cracking, turning hazy as she continued to think about what she’d experienced yesterday.  She’d seen so many, seen a ton of things, but never that close, or!  Or that BIG, THAT HUGE!  Jaune’s massive cock hidden and tucked away, May’s massive bouncing soft breasts hidden away by her thick jacket.  How either of them moved was beyond her, but she couldn’t get the image out of her mind!  She wanted to touch them!  To suck on them, to feel both of them!  

Her eyes shut tight as she imagined herself, pinned between both Jaune and May, her face buried between May’s massive breasts rubbing herself back and forth as her fingers squeezed into those plump swells.  She imagined Jaune behind her, his massive GIANT FUCKING COCK, Piercing her insides pushing all the way into her depths burying himself into her.  She couldn’t stop herself as her fingers  grew faster and faster.  Her body quaked as her nails curved into her soaked pussy.  

She wanted something else, something bigger, harder, something to fill her with thick hot seed!  She wanted Jaune to bury into her, to breed her and pin her!  Despite her lustful experiences in the past, she’d NEVER felt the desire to be bred.  To have someone pump all their baby batter inside of her oven.  She’d never wanted to motorboat someone so badly before, to bury her face into a woman’s breasts, to suck and pinch them as much as she wanted now!  Her body was on the edge, her womb quivered in hope and anticipation.  She knew it was something more, something far deeper than a physical attraction.  They had treated her differently, had ignored her status that… that had turned her on far more than it should have!  And… and they both had a scent to them, an intoxicating aroma that she oh gods!  Just thinking about the smell coming off of their bodies that morning!  It was still trapped in her nose, her thoughts befuddled as she was getting to the edge.  “DICK DICK COCK!  TITS BREASTS MILKBAGS!  BREED ME BREED ME BREED ME!  FUCK ME FUCK ME FUCK ME FUCK ME FUCK ME FUCK ME!  COCK COCK COCK COCK COCK DICK DICK DICK!  CUM CUM CUM CUM! INSIDE INSIDE INSIDE!”  SHE WANTED SO BAD!  SO BAD!  “SUCK IT! SUCK DICK!  SWALLOW!  DRINK!”  She tried as she might to stifle those last words, thanking the brothers she was alone.

Her lips sucked on her plunged digits as she tried to muffle her coming orgasm.  With a silent scream she fell to her knees.  Her core tightening inside, no one would notice the sticky clear fluids being washed away by the falling faucet water.  Her chest heaved as she let her mind clear of the thoughts of last night.  “How are those two doing?”  

By the time Jaune had woken, May and Pyrrha had already gone off, obviously starting their day.  Fighting back the residual grogginess he began to shift, slowly sitting up.  Slowly he began to clench his hand into a grip and then release it, repeating it a few times to make sure that he wasn’t dreaming.  After a few cycles, he felt his blood warm inside his body at the realization and dawning of what had happened last night.  He could still feel May’s body pressed against his, the phantom warmth of their embracing forms floated within his thoughts.  “So it wasn’t a dream…”  

While he wanted to relish in satisfaction, the sound of a bell chiming above stripped him from his thoughts.  “Right… I have a lot to do today.”  Though as he stared down, the sticky feeling between his thighs was still ever present, he knew the first thing he would have to do was take a shower…

Thankfully it didn’t take too long to shower, and it had been a rather uneventful affair, well minus a few of the stares he’d been getting as he made his way over.  Perhaps it was because of his close proximity to Pyrrha?  Or maybe they’d caught notice of his and May’s little endeavors last night?  He wasn’t really sure… and honestly he had more important things to think about, like surviving today.  He couldn’t shake the feeling of how out of his depths he was.  Everywhere he looked he was met with confident grins, robust bodies, people who KNEW they had this… people who knew they belonged here.  

While he, Jaune Arc, truly didn’t belong here, he wasn’t stupid… well okay he probably wasn’t what one would call street smart, it was kind of hard to be with how much time he spent in bed.  But!  But, he’d been given the best education that his parents could afford, and thankfully that was quite a bit!  He’d also had his sisters help him out from time to time, they’d all been such wonderful supporters.  Also being bedridden had given him a lot of free time!  So he’d read, and no not just comics though he really did enjoy those, no he’d gone out of his way on reading about the outside.  Reading about Grimm, reading about how to survive, not once had he ever given up hope on being a huntsman.  So even though he’d honestly felt like he’d never get the chance, he’d still sworn to try.

So yeah he wasn’t stupid, he knew oh how he absolutely knew that au… that Headmistress Glynda and Headmaster Ozpin knew his transcripts were fake.  Which made it all the more shocking when they’d accepted him in.  His parents hadn’t taken it well at first, but they’d relented when he talked it out with them.  His family had their reservations about him coming to Beacon, so they did their best to try to get him ready in the short amount of time that they’d had left.  He knew that none of them expected him to pass, they were banking on him flunking out during initiation.  He knew… or at least he felt that Un… that Headmaster Ozpin was just humoring him.  He knew that of course but… but he had to take the chance!  

And yet, he knew how right they were, how he didn’t even believe in himself.  You know, if he was being honest with himself right now, he’d say he was scared.  Because he was he was honestly doing everything in his power to keep from shaking.  He was terrified, terrified that he was putting his life on the line for something that he had no right of doing.  He didn’t belong here, he was just some kid whose head had been filled with fantasy after fantasy.  From the stories of his parents, to his older sister.  He’d always wanted to see the world, wanted to experience what was behind his walls.  So… even with how terrified he was, even ignoring the terrible shakes running through his body, he decided not just then but long ago.  That no matter what, he’d do what he had to do.  And, even has he knew that he could be facing his death at any moment, he decided that dying while doing something he wanted to do was far better than not doing anything at all.  

Besides it wasn’t all that bad, he’d actually gotten to make friends!  Him!  Jaune Arc, quite possibly the most socially inept person in existence!  Heck it wasn’t even just Pyrrha or May, there was that gi- “Jaune!”  

At the call of his voice he was suddenly pulled from his thoughts.  His head snapped to his right, as his gaze fell upon a small girl within a redhood.   “Jaune!”  She called out once again, a smile spread across his face.  Yeah, this wasn’t all that bad.  

“Hey Ruby.”  

“Jaune! Jaune!  It’s good to see you!”  

How could he not feel better as he watched one of his new friends practically bounce on over to him, though the girl tagging along behind her seemed far less amused.  “So sis, this is the boyfriend you were talking about.”  He felt his cheeks flash hot for a moment, though only for a moment as he realized the sisterly tone coming from the girl.  And as someone who had to endure CONSTANT teasing from seven sisters, he’d grown a resistance to it.  

Ruby however, seemed to still lack that natural but very important defense.  “What?!  NO!”  The young hooded girl floundered around trying to think of an excuse without also insulting her new friend at the same time.  “I’m not looking for anyone!  Evenifhewasreallyniceandhelpedmeout!”  

There was a moment of silence between the three of them, however only for a moment as both Jaune and Yang began to burst out in a cacophonic laughter.  “Oh Rubes, never change.”  

And just like a kicked puppy, the young girl eyed her sister and pouted.  Something that was giving Jaune serious deja vu vibes from his own little sisters.  He wondered if it was just a universal sister thing or if perhaps he just didn’t have enough data.  “That was mean Yang!”  

The elder sister pulled the younger into a tight hug rubbing her face against her, “Oh Rubes, it's fine!  So.”  Jaune blinked as she brought her attention towards him, “No bunny pajamas today?”  This time, however, he felt his face grow a small tinge of red as he scratched the back of his head.  

“Uhm haha, no not right now at least.  Though they’re honestly really comfortable.”  

“And stylish too.”  

Ah, thank goodness he’d had all that sister training or he may have thought that was a real compliment.  He wasn’t exactly the best at picking out sarcasm, but that definitely was one.  “I mean, I like them enough, and they were a gift from one of my little sisters.”  

That had the unexpected effect of pulling the grin off her face and bringing her to a more serious look.  It was like she was pondering something for a moment before she started talking, “Family gifts ARE important.”  The blonde woman began to gently rub her hands through Ruby’s hair, running her fingers through the dark locks and pulling her close.  “Okay, you got me there then.”  

Jaune smiled at the small victory.  “Oh uhm, I’m Jaune, Jaune Arc.”  Reaching out his hand for a shake, which the girl replicated though she may have squeezed a bit too tight as he had to fight back a yelp.  

“Yang, Yang Xiao Long, Ruby’s big sister.”  When she released his hand he felt it pulse, “She has a seriously strong grip!”   “So you on your way to get your gear then?”    

“Yeah, it's almost time I think, and I don’t wanna be late.”  “I’d rather be there early, otherwise I’m going to fret all day.”   

Finally Ruby chimed back in, “Then we can all go together!”  The excitable girl hopped around the taller blondes with a bright smile on her face.  He couldn’t help but feel a bit of a confidence boost after witnessing Ruby’s own confidence.  She must believe that she had this in the bag, and if someone as young as her could do it?  Then well he could at the very least try,  even if he failed at the end of the day he could say he at least made an attempt.  And honestly, that's all he could ever ask of himself at this point.  

“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.”  He could at the very least give it his all.  And who knows, maybe things will turn out better than he’d expected.  

May found that she was practically floating!  Even the little part of her that screamed and chided her for last night’s acts was quashed down by how overall delighted she was.  She’d done it!  She’d practically confessed to her long time crush, and they’d almost gone all the way.  It had been an absolutely fantastic experience, one that she could only HOPE would get outdone when they finally DID have their first time together.  And as she all but glided across the Beacon grounds, she found herself still soaking in the memories of his touch.  She could practically still feel his body around hers, his big round cock sliding between her plump thighs, or his hands grasping onto her bare bottom.  Or oh how could she forget, the feeling his hot white seed soaking in her panties, foaming around the curves of her pussy.  

Just the thought of it sent shivers running up her spine and making her core clench in joy.  Though, and as much as she wanted to keep on with the memory, she had things to do.  So, she’d left her friend behind that morning, wanting to let him get as much sleep as he could before they HAD to get up.  She knew things were going to be rough for him, there was no way that whatever training his parents had given him was going to be enough.  She highly doubted he’d had any official training either, so she would make due on her promise.  She would protect him, and watch out for him.  But first thing first she needed to get herself in the mood.  

She’d spent a lot of time cleaning out her gear, her sniper though on the simpler side of things required a lot of attention and maintenance.  Something she went through on a daily basis to make sure that it was still functioning properly.  She would much rather be over prepared rather than not prepared, if things went bad after all.  This of course meant that she was the first one in the locker rooms.  It also meant that she was there when other people started to come in.  She heard a few passing remarks about her getting close to Pyrrha, or how she had gotten along with the scraggly looking blonde, but she ignored them.  Thankfully, and perhaps part of the reason WHY she put so much attention into her maintenance was because of how it let her wash out her normal shyness.  

She was able to ignore the dreadful thoughts of dealing with others, of having to face other people.  It let her simply concentrate on something that wouldn’t judge her, or talk about her behind her back.  She could just put her all into making sure that the very thing keeping her alive was working.  And that was something she could get behind, something she truly enjoyed.  So she ignored the conversations going on around her, and gratefully so.  Though, there was one conversation she found herself almost completely unable to ignore.  Thankfully she’d finished her preparations by that point.  

“So Pyrrha, have you thought about whose team you would want to be on.”

“I’m not quite sure.  I was planning on letting the chips fall where they may.”  

“Uhm, excuse me?”  

Okay, that was enough familiar voices to grab her attention, though as she finally snapped out of her own little world she realized how very few people were in the locker room now.  As far as she could see it was only herself, the Schnee, Jaune, Pyrrha, and two girls off in the distance.  “Oh, it's a good thing I finished.”   She wouldn’t want to be late after all.  

Though, she felt a chill run down her spine as she began to watch the rather painful event in front of her unfold.  

“What do you want?”  She flinched, if looks could kill she was sure that the Schnee would be charged with murder.  

Poor Jaune didn’t seem to notice though, “I’m sorry I was just wondering if you two could move please?  My stu-”  

“How dare you!  Do you not know who this is?!”  Oh she wasn’t going to let him finish.  She wasn’t sure she should join in, but… Jaune would have done it for her.  Letting out a sigh she walked up to the group.  Though by this point the Schnee had begun to make Pyrrha quite uncomfortable if the pained expression she had on her face was anything to go by.  

“And do you think you deserve to be on the same team as her?!”  

“I uhm…”  

“He… he didn’t… say anything about that though?”  May despite her normal meekness decided to chime in.  This of course had the unwanted but expected effect of earning her the Schnee’s wrath.  

“And WHO are you?”  Oh jeez, how could a girl just a bit smaller than her be so frightening?  It was like dealing with an angry chihuahua.  

Though, thankfully before May had to respond, Pyrrha decided to comment.  “Ms. Schnee, that’s enough.”  May was quite surprised at Pyrrha’s hardened voice as she gazed down upon the little Snow White.  “I believe that you’ve been rude enough as it was, Jaune here wasn’t even asking to be on a team.”  She turned her attention to Jaune, “But I would be delighted to be.”  

May smiled as Pyrrha gave Jaune a reassuring grin, the young boy’s face turning a deep crimson as he sputtered out a few nonsensical words.  

“Now that's most un…”  

“I believe he was simply asking us if we could move.  Isn’t that right Jaune?”  

“Yes please, you’re uh, in front of my locker.”  

The Schnee blinked as she turned towards the number in Jaune’s hand, and then the locker behind her.  Thankfully she had enough and stayed silently shortly after, huffing as she decided to take her leave.  

Frankly Jaune had no idea what to do in this situation, it had been awkward enough with the girl who’d already probably didn’t like him, just kind of threatening him.  “Well… that was interesting.”  

Pyrrha simply smiled his way, something that caught both May and Jaune’s attention as they felt a small warm feeling churn inside of them.  “I hope neither of you are bothered by any of what she said.”  

“None here.”  Jaune shook his head, he didn’t really get famous people.  

“That’s the same for me.”  May found herself stating what she felt was obvious.  Despite her shyness, she liked to be upfront about things.  

A warm cozy feeling fell upon the trio, only to be interrupted by the other two students still in the room.  “THAT WAS AWESOME!”  Ruby’s sudden appearance between the three caused the trio to suddenly jump back in surprise.  The young redhead turned her attention towards Pyrrha, a gleam in her eye that Pyrrha had seen all too often, however what came next wasn’t exactly what she expected.  “The way you shut her down!  Ms Snooty never saw it coming!”  This officially caught Pyrrha off guard, maybe coming here wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

“Well now, I see why you weren’t instantly smitten by my adorable little sister lover boy.”  

Jaune nearly jumped out of his pants as Yang suddenly appeared by his side, her arm resting on his shoulder, “You’ve got these two beauties fighting over!  Heck one of them’s even a champion!”  

Pyrrha couldn’t help but flinch at being called champion, even if this woman, she didn’t know their names, said it only in jest towards Jaune.  For now she’d let it slide, though she did take note of the way Jaune’s demeanor flattened.  Regardless, now wasn’t the time for that, they would all need to be at their utmost best if they wished to survive.

“Well uuuuh!  We should get going!”  

The younger girl, Ruby she believed her name was, decided to break the awkwardness.  

Pyrrha nodded, “I agree.”  The sooner she got her partner, the better things would turn out.  And hopefully, peering over to Jaune and May, she would end up on a team with these two splendid individuals.  

Jaune wasn’t ready for this!  He’d already been prepared for what was to come, but actually standing on a launchpad without any real plan other than “Use your Aura.” was not something that he felt comfortable with.  

“Today will be the day that you decide not only your partners, but your teams.”  

“Oh man!” 

“I knew it!”  

Jaune’s face scrunched as he heard two different voices in the background.  One he recognized as Ruby, and the other he didn’t.  

He couldn’t really argue with Ruby’s dismay, finding their partners in the middle of a forest was going to be awfully troublesome, it didn’t help that it was simply adding more pressure onto him, something he REALLY didn’t need right now.

“Oh gods I hope I don’t hurl.”

That had been another thing he’d been worried about when his elder sister had informed him that they’d be flying over the valley.

“The first person you make contact with will be your new partner.”  

“Oh that's… that doesn’t seem like a good way to build partnerships!”  

“As for teams?”  

Ozpin took a sip of his ‘coffee’.  Of course Jaune knew it wasn’t actually coffee, if he had to guess it was either tea or hot chocolate.  The man couldn’t handle anything bitter on his tongue.  He had a serious sweet tooth about it.  

“Well, that’s a secret.”  

Even in this rather unfortunate situation, Jaune found the time to roll his eyes.  

“Now then, Professor Goodwitch?”  

Jaune’s attention fell upon the disciplinarian and vice headmistress of Beacon Academy.  Probably the only real reason he’d actually made it in.  Even as he took the time to scan her cold demeanor, he couldn’t help but smile.  As scary as she was when she was stern and in her working mood, he’d always see her as nothing more than his loving aunt.  

“You will be launched one at a time into the Emerald Forest.”  

This he knew, “And when you touch down you will make an attempt to route with your fellow students.  The first individuals you make eye contact with will become your partner.”  He caught note of the s at the end of individuals, and that confused him slightly.  Had she miss-spoken?  

“From there, you have 48 hours to survive.”  

He blinked, this was different from what Rua had told him it would be!  But… survival?  He could make do with that!  Surviving off the land was probably the ONLY thing he was good at.

One nasally redhead decided to speak up, “What?  What does that have to do with being a huntsman!?”  

He was dutifully ignored. 

“We have provided all of you with a starter pack.”  

“Oh, that's what this is!”  

He heard Yang call out this time.  

“In it you will find various items, such as rope, a flint and steel, and most importantly a flare.  If ever you feel that you are unable to continue you and your teammates must decide on withdrawing.  Do note, there ARE Grimm in the forest.  You will have to learn to balance your survival instincts as well as your combat.  Being a Huntsman will often leave you in situations where you are low on supplies, or have to forage to survive.  This will be a good deciding factor on if any of you actually have what it means.”  

And with that she fell silent, pushing up her glasses as she took her place behind Ozpin. 

“Well then, any questions?”  

Jaune didn’t say anything, for the first time since he got here, he was feeling confident… except there was one thing he wanted to ask.  Raising his hand he was also ignored.  

“Good, I wish you the best of luck.”  

He couldn’t help but frown, catching the smile on Ozpin’s face as he was suddenly shot into the air, “I HAD A QUESTION!”  

Glynda watched as her nephew was suddenly launched into the air, having not noticed that several other students had already been sent off before him, “You know, Dana’s probably going to hear about that.”  

“Oh… hmm…”  

Ozpin frowned, that wasn’t good.  

“Well… he should be fine, he always did enjoy reading survival guides.”  

Glynda simply shook her head and sighed, this was going to be a very long initiation.  And, while she was supposed to be impartial, she did hope her nephew ended up on a good team.  

“So… has everyone already placed their bets onto the betting pool yet?”  

Glynda frowned, “You know how I feel about betting…”  

“Well?”  

“Ugh… yes.”

“And?”  

“Oobleck believes that at least a few students will get frisky during the initiation.  He stated that Winchester is definitely going to try something.”  

She glowered at the thought, “I don’t blame him… god I hope no woman ends up on his team.”  

“Agreed.”  

“Peach thinks that Lie, Valkyrie, and Sustrai will be up to some form of mischief and hanky panky.”  

“Mmhmm.”  

“And I believe that Zedong and Arc will push their relationship a little further.”

“Oh come now, that’s an easy bet.  We all could practically hear them last night.”  He took a sip of his drink once more, “I’m betting that Nikos snaps, you can smell the repression on the girl a mile away, your nephew is in danger.”  

“I swear, he’s just like his mom…”  

[bird-in-a-cage]

Solidarity

Steve breathed deeply, looking at himself in the mirror. It had been a long six months, already he didn't look the same. At least he didn't think he did. His face looked thinner, but that was probably because he wasn't eating that much anymore. He tried but nothing really stayed down that long, things had started to taste different. He gripped the towel around his shoulders, fluffy and pink. A housewarming gift from, someone. Mrs Henderson probably. It looked like something she would buy. It was one of the smaller ones from the set. They all had little daisies embroidered into the shorter edges.

Really, Steve's fingers craved a cigarette. Something real to hold that would make him feel better. Something to play and fiddle with. Something to take his mind off what was about to happen. Something that would burn and make his head swim for just a moment. But he’d given up after the diagnosis. Doctor’s advice.

It would all go better if you gave up smoking.

Steve didn’t even really smoke that much, at least he didn’t think so. A packet would last him a week, easily. Just a couple a day. Three if he’d had a stressful time at work. Four if he was drinking. Billy was much worse. That boy smoked like a chimney, especially since getting a place together where there were no rules about smoking indoors. He still tried to keep it by the window so their small apartment didn’t smell horrifically stale though.

Billy gave up when Steve did. A show of solidarity. Meant they were both crabby bitches for a good few weeks, but it had mellowed out in time. There were bigger things to worry about now than a lack of nicotine.

It had been two weeks between diagnosis and the first round of treatments. Steve’s mom had come home first, flew back from her family home in Italy and just cradled her boy like he was still a baby. That was the second time Steve had cried about it all, sobbed into gentle arms and a warm soul. The first time had been the night of the diagnosis, when it was written down in black and white. 

Lung cancer, thankfully caught early but would still require chemotherapy.  

He’d stayed silent all day, Billy not once leaving his side, not once letting go of his hand for more than a few minutes. Promising everything would be okay. He’d pick up another job, extra shifts, anything. Steve was going to be okay, Billy was going to make it all work somehow. He had gold jewellery to sell, blood in a pinch, bone marrow and a kidney if it really came down to that.

I’m a walking bank baby. Chock full of good shit.

Steve hadn’t really been paying attention. Everything just went by in a blur. And then it was dark outside. They were in bed even though neither could sleep and Steve couldn’t remember getting there. He was just staring at their ceiling light, not even turned on, didn’t even register he was crying until it was rolling off his body in great waves, crashing through the sheets. Dragging Billy down with him like a whirlpool, who’d cried too but tried to remain strong and supportive above all else. Bundled Steve up in strong arms and held the taller boy against his wide chest. He just remembers falling asleep, passing out from exhaustion and dehydration and to the sound of a heartbeat, Billy’s thick fingers in his hair. Soothing the worry away.

His father wanted a second opinion. Flew back from Brazil after another week, dragged Steve to the best doctor money could buy in the whole state. He’d spent the day being tested, poked and prodded and scanned multiple times, hours from home, Billy not allowed to come because the two men in Steve’s life didn’t get on in the slightest, only to be told the exact same thing.

Lung cancer. Caught early, but would still require chemotherapy.

Steve hadn’t really looked at his father much that day, wanted to be anywhere else in the world but another hospital, with the smell of disinfectant clawing at his skin and in his diseased lungs, but he glanced a look then at the man on his left, sitting so rigid in the chair provided it was like it was made of broken glass.

His father looked disappointed. About what Steve never asked. Didn’t want to find out. Couldn’t take what he was sure the answer was.

How dare you get sick.

Steve’s thumb worried a daisy. He’d felt a bald spot in the shower a few days ago. In reality, he’d tried to ignore a lot of what was happening. How he couldn’t keep food down all that much, how his back teeth just ached constantly, how all he wanted to do was sleep even on a good day. How much hair he’d wake up to on his pillow, quickly brushing it away before it could be seen. How Billy played with it less so he wouldn’t pull any out accidentally.

This was never said, but Steve wasn’t stupid.

So here he was, sat in front of the bathroom mirror, facing reality.

Billy walked in from the other room, holding the clippers they’d borrowed from Joyce who’d managed to borrow them from someone else. They locked eyes in the mirror. Blue meeting brown. Both exhausted. Steve’s parents were covering the cost of chemo, but Billy still had to pick up another job to keep their apartment once the effects of treatment hit Steve like a cannonball and he couldn’t work anymore.

The clippers were plugged in. Billy buzzed them a couple times to checked they worked. The sound cut through Steve like a knife.

“Last chance to back out,” Billy offered, a ghost of a smile on his lips.

Steve shook his head. Didn’t trust himself to speak. Didn’t want to crumble again. This had been his idea. This needed to happen. The sooner the better. Before he didn’t have a choice. He saw Billy sigh more than he heard it, before the clippers were turned back on and Billy started moving. Steve closed his eyes. Couldn’t look even if he wanted too. The sounds were more than enough. The high pitched metallic whine dulling as it ran along Steve’s scalp, forehead to the back of his neck in long strokes. He gripped the towel until his knuckles were white with it. Felt strands of hair fall around his hands and onto his lap, around his bare toes on the tiled floor.

Steve only looked when the clippers were off. The air far too silent after all that continuous noise. His head felt cold. A glance in the mirror confirmed everything. His hair was totally gone, buzzed away to nothing at all. It lay all over the place. All over him. Some had fallen in the sink. Years and years of work and careful maintenance gone in less than ten minutes.

Billy rubbed gently over his now bald head, down his neck to his shoulders and Steve swallowed thick, keeping emotion back. He knew it was stupid to be so caught up over his hair. It was falling out anyway, really it would only have been another month or two before this was getting done like it or not. But with his hair Steve didn’t look sick. He could still go to the store without attracting sympathetic looks. Now he would. No hair and drawn in tired eyes, face getting thin.

He looked like he had cancer.

“Well, least we know you don’t got a weird shaped head now,” Billy spoke, trying to break the tension. Steve just stared at himself, still trying to swallow down that bubble of tears that was threatening to burst. He was still gripping the towel tight, for all the good it had done. Billy hummed, looking around his handiwork in the mirror, eyes squinting together, trying to focus on something. 

“Think I missed a bit though…” he mused. 

Steve could only watch what happened next. 

Billy turned the clippers back on and dragged them through his own hair, a lump of golden curls landing at their feet. He just kept doing it, over and over again, blonde meeting brunette in a furry puddle, until Billy was as bald as Steve. He leant closer to the mirror and rubbed over his head, feeling for bits that might have been missed behind his ears.

“There, that’s better.”

Steve just stared. The bubble had burst and he was silently crying, fat tears rolling down his cheeks and into the towel and all the hair that tickled. Billy loved his hair as much as Steve had loved his own. The amount of products they had in the shower was a joke.

“You’re not in this alone,” Billy said softly with a little smile, looking directly into Steve’s waterlogged eyes through the mirror, before arms encased Steve’s shoulders, a small kiss placed on his head.

Steve had never been more in love than that exact moment.

[rubysworld-world-stuff]

Sleepless Nights

Summary: Having visions about what’s going to happen on a mission is not easy to deal with. Good thing the visions only come when sleeping. There is an easy solution to this.

Pairing: implied Steve x Reader

Word Count: 5259

A/N: I got a little carried away with this one. Feedback is always appreciated :)

A heavy sigh escaped my lips. I closed my eyes focusing on the smell coming from the machine in front of me. The scent of freshly brewed coffee invaded my nostrils and already warmed me from the inside out. I reopened my eyes leaning my elbows on the counter top while still holding a tight grip on my over-dimensional coffee mug. This way my gaze was on the same level as the sacred device.

I watched the black drops of the holy beverage drip into the coffeepot, slowly filling it up. As I kept my focus on this event, the reason and the worries that were keeping me awake throughout even the ungodly hours of the night were being pushed to the furthest corner of my mind.

However, despite the light burning as bright as the sun itself and the reviving smell of coffee, my eyes started to flutter shut. The ticking of the grandfather clock Tony had insisted on keeping was on beat with the drops of the dark juice falling into the steady growing puddle on the bottom of the pot.

Tick. Drip. Tock. Drop. Tick. Drip. Tock. Drop.

All of a sudden I shot up, shocked about my own carelessness. In the process, I took a surprised step back from the counter paying no regard to the forgotten mug in my hands. I let go of the mug sending it flying to the floor. It broke into pieces as it hit the tiles of the kitchen, making a shattering sound that echoed through the whole compound.

I froze. My gaze went towards the archway at the opposite side of the kitchen marking the entrance. Holding my breath I listened.

There was only the sound of the grandfather clock from the living room and the steady hum of the coffee machine. It looked like everybody was still fast asleep. After a minute or so, I let my breath escape and focused back on the mess I had made.

Eyeing the shattered pieces of porcelain, a frown appeared between my eyebrows and a whine left my mouth. This had been my favorite cup.

I let out a heavy sigh. After this little show of self-pity, I went over to the cupboard underneath the sink and took out a brush and a dustpan and started sweeping the tragic remains of one of my closest friends. At least I had something to do; there was no danger of falling asleep while working.

When I finished cleaning up, I put the tools aside and reached for a new mug inside the cabinet. I was sure Bruce wouldn’t mind if I was taking his for now.

As I came to stand beside the coffee machine once again, the pot now half-way filled to the top and the delicious smell wafting through the kitchen, I noticed a movement from the corner of my eye.

Turning quickly in order to defend myself if it came to a fight, I barely picked up on the shattering sound as the second cup that night was sent flying by my hands.

“(Y/N)?”

Steve was standing in the archway, his voice gravelly. He rubbed at his eyes with one hand evidently getting the sleep out of them. He must have just woken up. Probably by the noise I had unintentionally been making.

Upon seeing my friend and colleague, another breath of relief passed my lips. I relaxed against the counter behind me as one hand went up to my chest right above the ferocious beating of my heart. If the breaking of my favorite mug had not woken me up before, the sudden appearance of the blond super soldier sure did the job.

While I looked at him with slightly less widened eyes, I could see the confusion in his gaze about what I was still doing up this late. I could also see the light twitch at the corner of his lips as a smile tried to form on his face, most likely in regard of my disheveled form.

I held his eyes for a moment – or did he hold mine? – until my brain caught up with what had happened. Hadn’t there been a noise of some sort, other than my heavy breathing?

Once more my eyes widened as realization hit me. I looked down. Sure enough in front of my feet was the green mug that had once belonged to Bruce Banner.

“Oh, man.”

I heard Steve chuckling at my whiny tone as I scooped down to pick up the broken pieces.

“Wait, (Y/N). Be careful with that. Here, let me help.”

His voice was filled with concern. I heard the sound of his bare feet against the tile floor as he walked over.

“No, it’s alright. I got this. You aren’t wearing any shoes… or socks for that matter.”

But Steve ignored my objections. Instead he came over with the brush and dustpan that were still laying on the counter top by the trash can. He put them down next to me and carefully reached over to take the shards I had already collected off of my hands.

I grabbed the tools once more – by now I was a real professional with a brush – and started sweeping – once again. Meanwhile, Steve threw away the bigger shards.

“Bruce is going to kill me,” I said underneath my breath. It was supposed to be inaudible, for my ears only, but Captain America had many talents, enhanced hearing being one of them.

“Why would Bruce kill you,” the amusement clear in his voice.

“Because I just destroyed his cup.” I sighed.

I swiped up the last of the mug and stood, throwing away the evidence that it had ever existed.

When I put the tools back into their place underneath the kitchen sink, I could feel Steve’s eyes on me. After I was done, I stood up straight and turned around to face my friend.

Steve was leaning with his back against the other end of the kitchen counter. He had his arms crossed in front of his broad chest that was covered by a blue T-shirt that seemed a couple of sizes too small. I swallowed hard. Then I let my eyes travel all the way up to his face.

It was framed by tousled blond hair, a stark contrast to his usually styled appearance. His blue eyes were as calm as the sea on a sunny day, but his stare was not less intense, however. There was a crease between his eyebrows. It was the one he always got when he was trying to figure something out. I had the sudden urge to reach out my hand and touche it to the crease on his forehead to smooth it out.

“Why were you using Bruce’s mug?”

His question pulled me out of my trance. I had to blink a few times to find my way back to the here and now. The crease between his eyebrows grew more prominent as he awaited my answer.

I opened my mouth, but closed it after a few seconds as I realized I hadn’t caught the meaning of the words.

“Hm?”

The sound was a little too high pitched for my liking and it made me cringe. I watched as the lopsided grin I liked so much appeared on his lips. However, this time as he started to speak, I forced myself to not be distracted and listen.

“I asked, why you were using Bruce’s mug.”

I shrugged once trying to play it cool, hoping he would let it go. Unfortunately, he raised an eyebrow questioningly, clearly not content with my wordless reply.

I lowered my gaze to stare at my feet clad in sparkling turquoise fuzzy socks.

“I broke mine earlier,” I mumbled in hopes Steve wouldn’t have heard.

But again, Captain America had super-hearing… Ergo, so did Steve.

His eyebrows shot up in surprise before knitting together in consideration. I could feel his scrutinizing look on me and I couldn’t refrain from squirming slightly. At one point I couldn’t suppress the urge to look up any longer.

His eyes were trained on my face. I could swear I saw the up and downs of waves reflecting in them. I swallowed, my mouth dry.

“Why did you break your mug?” His voice was calm and quiet.

Without taking my eyes off of his, I shrugged again. It was the only reply I was willing to give.

Steve’s expression changed and I could make out even more concern, if possible, shadowing his usually sunny features. Looking into those empathetic eyes, I wanted nothing more than to spill the truth. But would me feeling alleviated be worth burdening Steve with even more worries? As the leader of this team, I decided he had enough to worry about.

When it became evident I wouldn’t start to speak anytime soon, Steve slowly came towards me, stopping only when he was less than a foot away. Upon his close proximity, my heartbeat picked up its rhythm as if trying to escape my chest. I would have prayed he wouldn’t hear it, hadn’t I been distracted by his scent – a mixture of soap and leather – invading my nostrils.

His smell in addition to the fact that my eyes were now focused on his broad chest made me feel dazed. All my thoughts had been turned into thin air.

Out of nowhere I felt a large, calloused hand cupping my chin with so much gentleness that it seemed like a harsh contrast to the roughness one might expect from a soldier with super strength. There was a soft pressure making me look up just to be met with the bluest eyes I had ever seen speckled with tiny green spots.

The universe they held enveloped me whole. I was reminded of a day at the beach filled with sunshine, as I splashed around in the sea with my younger brother. A shiver ran down my spine and a calmness I had experienced the last time on that very day took hold of me.

It only lasted a second. Paradoxically, that calmness was what made me feel on edge. All my muscles were tense.

“You can tell me anything. You know that, right?”

Steve’s voice was almost inaudible and my eyes flicked down to his lips. I was still aware of his intense gaze on me. I bit my bottom lip not only to keep me from talking, but to keep it from quivering.

The way Steve was interacting with me, his calm and gentle manner somehow sent my emotions into turmoil. Tears were threatening to spill down my cheeks, a sob was stuck in my throat making it impossible for me to breathe properly. It cost me all my strength to keep myself hidden from the member of my team so close to me.

It was silent for an eternity. The only sounds were my accelerated heartbeat and the soothing humming of the coffee machine. Even Steve was holding his breath not wanting to miss any of my words should I decide to open up to him.

Heartbeats later, Steve let out his breath in way of a sigh. He let go of my chin. However, he didn’t step away. A breeze of cold air made me shiver, nonetheless.

“I think coffee doesn’t help with sleeping problems,” Steve joked attempting to lighten the mood.

I inhaled a shaky breath, releasing the lump that had been stuck in my throat. A tear slipped past my guard and I hurried to wipe it away, hoping Steve hadn’t seen.

“That’s-” I cleared my throat. “That’s kinda the point.”

My eyes widened. I was surprised my voice worked. Actually, I was surprised I said anything at all. I surely didn’t mean to.

I risked to sneak a peak at Steve to gouge his reaction. His eyes once again on me, a slight smile appeared on his lips. It didn’t quite reach his eyes and I knew he was just trying to be kind by not pushing me further to explain.

“Right then.”

The blond super soldier walked over to the cabinet and took out two mugs. He filled them with coffee before setting them on the kitchen island. He sat down on one of the stools and took a sip.

I watched closely, trying to see what he was about to do next. But he just kept sitting at the counter contently nursing his drink.

After a little while I tentatively walked over sitting myself down on the stool next to his. I stared at the cup in front of me.

It was the one I had made Steve the first Christmas after having joined the Avengers. He had been the one to welcome me and shown me around. We had hit it off instantly and spent quite some time talking to each other about everything and nothing. It was easy talking to Steve. During one of our conversations he had told me about his favorite piece of art and I had tried to recreate it, painting it on a mug. I had been insecure about my gift when the day actually arrived, but Steve loved it and gladly replaced the mug he had used before – the one with the star on a blue background, a very considerate gift from Tony – with this new one.

Surprised I looked over at him, checking which cup he was using. My suspicions were confirmed as I recognized it. He was drinking out of his hated mug – Tony’s gift – that now belonged to Bucky.

I couldn’t help but stare as my brain reeled trying to figure out what this might mean.

“Is something wrong? God, do I have something on my face,” Steve inquired, putting down his cup and wiping at his mouth.

Shaking my head I quickly averted my eyes and took my own cup in my hands to hide my burning face. I guided the mug toward my lips, the smell of freshly brewed coffee making me close my eyes in satisfaction. The smell always seemed to calm my nerves.

However, before I could take a sip I moved the mug away from my face just to place it back on the counter. I took a deep breath all the while silently cursing myself for what I was about to do. Then I released it in one forceful exhale.

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Steve putting down his own cup. His focus was only on me now.

“I’m scared.” The words came out in a whisper. I didn’t dare speak any louder. The words were too heavy.

I counted ten ticks of the grandfather clock before Steve matched my voice.

“Scared of what?”

“Of sleeping.”

Ten more ticks.

“It’s because of your visions.”

It wasn’t a question but I nodded my confirmation, nevertheless.

“They are stronger before a mission,” I started to explain. “It always feels like I’m really there in that moment... But that’s not the worst.”

This time, after ten ticks, Steve stayed silent, letting me decided when to keep going in my own time. It was as if he could sense when I needed someone to push me and when I would get to it on my own.

I swallowed once, gathering the courage to continue.

“I’m scared that some day it won’t just be the destruction of buildings I see. That it won’t be just injuries, which is always bad enough… I’m scared to see-” A sob broke me off. The lump from earlier was back in my throat.

Steve moved at the noise, turning on his stool to fully face me. An expression of pain was set in his face as he was hurting while seeing me like this. He reached out his hand, lightly putting it on mine intending to show me he was there with me and I could share my pain; showing me that I didn’t have to go through it alone.

Without thinking about it, I grabbed his hand holding on to it as if it was the only thing tethering me to reality. The action came to me like a reflex. Steve returned the squeeze of my hand, giving me strength to continue.

“I’m scared I’ll see one of you die.”

I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore. They cascaded freely from my eyes.  

Two seconds after the words finally freed themselves from my sealed lips, two strong arms circled around my form, enveloping me in a tight, warm hug.

My arms went around Steve of their own accord; my fingers clawing at his shirt. Steve held me close against his chest as my body was shaking from sobs that forced their way out. Tears were streaming down my face, snot running out of my nose. I knew the sight wasn’t pretty like in the movies, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t. All the emotions inside of me wouldn’t stay captive any longer. They demanded to be released.

I didn’t know for how long I had been crying when the dam eventually sealed. The only thing I knew was: Steve had been holding onto me the entire time; he was still there.

The two of us stayed like this, I safe in his arms, for a moment longer while I tried to catch my breath and compose myself at least a little.

As I moved away, Steve not letting me go farther than half an arms length so he could still have me close, I wiped off the wet paths that the tears had left on my face.

When my sight wasn’t blurry anymore, I noticed the drenched patch of Steve’s shirt clinging to his shoulder.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to-”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s okay,” Steve interrupted my apology, wiping it away as if it was an unimportant speck of dust.

One of his hands let go of my waist as he reached up to wipe at the last remaining tear stains on my face with his thumb. In that moment I was thankful that my face was already red, swollen and blotchy.

His thumb lingered on my cheek before he cupped it with his large hand. The gesture was so sweet and comforting, I couldn’t stop myself from leaning into the touch.

“I understand that you would rather stay awake than seeing those kinds of scenes play out before your eyes.”

I recoiled at his words as they reminded me of why I was here now, in Steve arms. But Steve had a firm grip on my waist. He wouldn’t let me run away. Not again. Not ever. Especially not like this.

“I get it.” Steve held my gaze with his so I wouldn’t avert my eyes. He needed me to hear this. He needed me to understand.

“I can’t even imagine how it must feel like to experience visions like that. But,” he sighed, “you have to sleep. Especially before a mission. Without enough sleep you might loose your focus and that’s when... those things happen. I wish there would be a way around this, but there isn’t. But I can promise you that, as long as I am here, nothing is going to happen to anyone on this team. You hear me?”

I stared at him. Although his words were supposed to comfort me, which they mostly did, my heart still felt heavy.

“And what about you? Who is going to protect you when you are busy protecting the others?”

I was scared of this answer, this scenario, but I had to ask the question anyway. Uncertainty was even worse than knowing. If you didn’t know what was going to happen, you wouldn’t know how to stop it from happening.

Surprisingly, a smile pulled on one corner of Steve’s lips giving me the lopsided grin I loved so much.

“I’ve got you for that, don’t I?”

It wasn’t relief that flooded my body at his reply. It was something else warming and calming me just as much. A weight was not lifted off of my soul completely, but rather part of it was placed somewhere else. I didn’t have to carry this secret, this burden, around alone any longer.

However, Steve might have alleviated my fear of my visions becoming reality, but the fear of still having them wasn’t so easy to get rid off.

“I’m still scared of sleeping. The visions will still come.”

It was like starting telling Steve about my fears made my confessions now come out easier. I trusted him. I always had. But I knew something had shifted. Especially, as Steve uttered his next words.

“But you won’t have to face them alone.”

He said it as if it was a secret only the two of us would share.

He got up. I watched, curious to see what he was going to do.

After taking the milk out of the refrigerator and dividing it into two cups, he put them into the microwave. While the milk was warming up, Steve poured away the coffee, cleaned the two mugs we had been using as well as the coffee pot and got rid of any evidence that the two of us had been there during the night at all.  

He worked in silence. I didn’t mind, it was comfortable. His presence had, for some reason I didn’t understand myself, a calming effect on me.

Just one second before the microwave chimed, Steve hit the stop button and took out the drinks. Before he left the kitchen, he poured some honey in each cup and announced it as the beverage his mother had sworn on for sleeping problems. I followed him out of the kitchen staying a bit behind to see where he was leading us.

Instead of turning into the living room or getting off the elevator on his floor, he was heading towards my room. In front of the closed door he turned to look at me expectantly. Confused about all his actions up until then, I just looked back with one eyebrow raised. Suddenly, Steve turned a deep red.

“I just thought your bedroom would be a good place to sit and talk and drink the milk. I mean better than the kitchen, you know,” he started stumbling over his words. “I mean, in case any one would wander into the kitchen because they are looking for some water or something. Here we would be away from any prying eyes.”

The crimson color was spreading from his neck all the way up into his face and to the roots of his hair. I was certain, if it had been possible, his hair would have turned red, too.

“I mean not that we would be doing anything… I mean besides talking and drinking warm milk. I don’t mean-”

He interrupted himself at that point. Defeated and clearly embarrassed he let his head hang down. I wasn’t sure, but I thought I had heard the word ‘shoot’ leave his mouth. My mouth was twitching as I tried to keep the amusement hidden from view. I was still confused about what exactly he had intended to explain with that spate of words.

A second later, it hit me. I felt so stupid and I had to close my eyes for a moment to get over my own stupidity. Then I rushed to open the door.

“Oh, sure, of course. I’m sorry. Really sorry. Here you go. Please, come in.”

My face was glowing from heat. Surely, Steve and I could have made a contest out of ‘who was the deeper red’. It would have been close.

“Are you sure?”

I could see that Steve had grown uncertain and hesitant by my reaction or rather lack thereof.  I threw him an encouraging smile.

“Of course.”

Steve took a deep breath before entering and I wondered what that was about. I dismissed the thought as soon as it occurred. I had enough on my plate. The last thing I wanted to do was figuring out why Steve was like he was and did what he did. It was just a Steve-thing.

Once inside with the door closed, he put the cup down on my nightstand. Then he looked around the room aimlessly. The tension was palpable. There was an awkwardness between us I didn’t know where it came from. Spending time with Steve had always been easy-going. There was never a conversation forced between the two of us. Being with Steve was comfortable. This was the opposite.

I didn’t know how I could disperse the tension between us, so I did the first best thing that came to mind. I sat down on my bed settling into the cushions.

When I was settled, I patted on the empty space next to me signaling Steve to sit down and get comfortable himself.

After a moment of hesitation he eventually sat down. However, I could see his tense muscles, even through his layers of clothing. It seemed like he was prepared to fight someone at any minute.

I rolled my eyes. This whole weirdness of the situation was starting to annoy me.

“You know, it might be more comfortable to lean into the pillows behind you instead of sitting up straight. Nobody’s going to attack you in here, you know.”

I tried to make my words sound like a joke while simultaneously showing Steve that he didn’t have to be weirded out by whatever it was that was weirding him out.

He got the message. Tentatively he leaned further back, moving closer to me as to not awkwardly lay and sit at the same time. It took him a few moments, but after a while he began to relax more and more.

When I was satisfied with Steve’s mostly relaxed posture, I grabbed the two cups from my nightstand and handed one to Steve. After, I encircled my cup with my hands and took a sip. The sweet drink warmed my insides and I felt the tension leaving my body altogether.

We sat like that in silence, each one of us listening to their own thoughts. Never had I felt so at peace with someone else. Usually, sitting silently with someone was stressing me out. I would always feel like I had to fill the emptiness between us with meaningless words, but this was different. It was a whole new experience. It was comfortable and cozy.

After ten minutes, Steve broke the silence.

“If you could travel anywhere, where would you want to go?”

At first I was dumbfounded by the apparently random question coming out of nowhere. Then I understood what he was trying to do. I appreciated him attempting to distract me and not make me talk or think about my visions. So I played along.

“Oh, I would love to see…”

We fell into a nice conversation then, alternating between asking each other random questions. The easiness came back step by step and soon enough it seemed impossible that we might have had an awkward moment between us.

Within the conversation I saw a new side to Steve and learned something about the person he really was instead of the person everyone always tried to make him out to be. I also felt myself opening up to him, even though it might not have been evident in regard to the topics of our conversation.

When I had finished my milk with honey, I put the mug back down on my nightstand. Then, still chatting with Steve, I scooted closer to his warmth. On instinct, Steve reached an arm around my body, pulling me so close, my head was resting on his chest. Soon enough the steady heartbeat under my ear, his velvety voice encompassing me, and his even breaths lulled me to sleep.

When I awoke a couple of hours later, panting, sweating, Steve was there to calm and reassure me. He would listen to my vision and I would tell him. For the first time, I didn’t have to deal with it on my own. For the first time, someone was willing to listen to gruesome details that were haunting me even during daytime - especially during daytime. For the first time, I had help carrying this burden. So eventually, I fell back asleep. The last thing I felt was the touch of Steve’s fingers playing with my hair.

In the morning, Steve was still there holding me in his arms as he continued sleeping peacefully for a few more minutes. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his calm features. Never had I felt so well rested before a mission, although four hours of sleep was not ideal yet. Baby steps.

When Steve’s eyes started to flutter and his blue eyes shimmered through his long dark lashes, my breath caught in my throat. I wasn’t sure whether it was the view in front of me or the nervousness taking hold of me.

“Good morning.” His voice was a gravel whisper just like last night in the kitchen.

I had expected it to be awkward between us, but the way he said ‘good morning’ – without a hint of unease – erased that fear instantly.

“Morning,” I replied smiling. Steve returned that smile with his own, which made the sun rise over the ocean he held in his eyes.

We stayed like this, silently gazing at each other, cuddled up in the blankets until we were both fully awake. However, at one point we had to leave the comfort of my room to get ready for the mission. But not without coffee first.

As the two of us entered the kitchen everyone was already up and making themselves breakfast. Bruce was standing confused in front of the cabinet wondering as to why his mug was gone.

“I could have sworn it had been there yesterday. (Y/N), have you seen my coffee mug,” he asked as I walked in.

I felt my face growing hot and my eyes widen a little. I didn’t want to explain why I had been awake in the middle of the night destroying first my mug and then Bruce’s. But before I could find the courage to speak up, Steve jumped in.

“That’s my fault. I was making some warm milk because I couldn’t sleep, and when I reached for my cup in the cabinet, I accidentally bumped against yours and it fell and shattered. I’m really sorry, Bruce, I promise I’ll get you a new one.”

Bruce scowled a little but nodded in understanding. Steve washed the cup he had used the night before and handed it to his friend so he could get the coffee that would make him useful.

Afterwards, Steve gave me his favorite cup to keep using for my beloved black elixir leaving him mug-less. I wanted to protest, but Steve just shook his head and went to make himself some cereal. Gratefully, I walked over to pour myself some coffee.

Never before had a smile as bright as the one illuminating my features at that moment played on my face at the advent of a mission.  If our team mates were surprised by this, they kept it to themselves.

As I sat down at the counter, I glanced at Steve watching him chat with Bucky. I felt like the smile on my face wouldn’t disappear any time soon.

Outside of the battlefield I might not have any idea what my future held. But if the previous night had been any clue, for once I was excited for what lay ahead.

[belovas-vest]

bechloe + "you killed him" 🌚

words: 2,233

rating: T

notes: this really took me a month huh! also, this is like… minor angst. oops?

Chloe shakes her head, tears pricking at her eyes - partly in anger, mostly out of hurt. “You’re a coward.”

Beca sets the bottle of alcohol on the table with such a force the clank makes Chloe’s ears hurt. “Excuse me?”

“I said you’re a coward.” Her words are firm and she hopes it delivers the message that she’s had enough of Beca’s back and forth. “You won’t admit that this thing between us means something to you, that it isn’t just about trying to forget something from your past; whatever it may be. What’s worse is you won’t help those people out there who need someone like you to take a stand against this government that’s caused so many people so much pain. I thought you were brave when I first met you, but all I see right now is a coward/”

“You don’t know the first thing about me.” Beca grits her teeth and the look in her eyes startles Chloe. They’re cold and uncaring, so unlike the Beca that Chloe has been able to get to know behind the curtains of this show she puts on for the gang.

“I know you want you want out of this gang, but you feel stuck. Like you can’t move or breathe. I know you don’t want to follow these orders to sit back but you’re too afraid of hi-”

“Enough!” Beca shakes her head, eyes cast down at the table. “Get out.”

“What?” Chloe’s brow furrows. Would Beca really send her out there and feed her to the wolves?

“I said get out.” Beca’s eyes move from the table to meet Chloe’s, they’re still cold and uncaring. “Or I’ll have Emily shoot you and I don’t think either of want that trauma for her.”  The seriousness in Beca’s voice causes Chloe’s heart rate to pick up and a chill run down her spine.

Tears prick at Chloe’s eyes, fearful of what waits for her beyond the doors of this safe house. “You’re gonna send me out there unprotected?”

“You don’t need protecting. You demonstrated that the first time we met.”

“I don’t-” Chloe shakes her head, “That was a fluke.”  

Beca’s eyes leave her and Chloe watches them travel to the handgun sitting on the edge of the table. Slender fingers wrap around the base of the gun and Beca lifts the weapon to observe it closely. “You took the gun in your hands,” Her forefinger inches forward, tapping against the trigger, “put your finger on the trigger, and took aim at one of the most important men in this city.” She smirks, eyes meeting Chloe’s with something Chloe can’t quite put her finger on. Pride, perhaps or greed. Greed that Beca holds the one person that took down her enemy. “You killed him and three of his men.”

And then Beca frowns. “I took you in that night. I could have left you behind but you asked for shelter.”

“All-” Chloe’s voice cracks, “I was doing was protecting those kids.”

“And you knew what killing the Chief of Police would do. It would put you in the middle of a war.” The gun twists in Beca’s hand and Chloe tries to lean back into her seat when the gun points at her. Her life flashes before her, eyes looking into the abyss of the muzzle. Her eyes flicker to sudden movement, watching as Beca’s finger moves off the trigger and to the side of the barrel.Beca presses the front of the gun against the table, her fingers peeling off of the grip except for her forefinger and thumb, which squeeze against the edge.

Chloe exhales slowly, eyes traveling back to Beca’s face.

“Take the gun and leave.” Beca stands from her spot on the couch, swiping the bottle of beer of the table and leaving Chloe alone to stare down a gun which could have killed her less than a minute ago.

She’s not sure how long she sits there to just stare at the weapon, but she has enough time to mull through the memories of what her life was before the government tore apart her family, before the walls were built and long before gangs were the only way to survive outside of following orders the government gave - which often ended in bloodshed. She had always thought books like 1984 and The Hunger Games were just that; just a fantasy to perhaps put a little fear into what could happen. And while life isn’t near anything to Katniss’, the fences, poverty, and inner-city wars and violence are still enough to strike fear in her.

Chloe takes a breath and reaches for the gun. The weight of it still shocks her. It isn’t like the movies, it’s easier to hold with both hands. She supposes it supposed to be heavy. It’s like a reminder of how much it costs to hold such a weapon, that killing someone - especially someone who’s innocent - is a much heavier weight than a small bullet.

“Chloe.”

Startled out of her thoughts, Chloe looks up to see Benji standing behind the couch. “Benji.”

“Beca sent me to walk you out. She didn’t think you’d leave on your own.”  

Chloe forces air of disbelief through her nose, “Of course she did.” She smiles weakly at Benji before standing from her spot and letting him lead her to the front door.

//

Chloe hasn’t eaten since she left the Safe House. Granted it’s only been 24 hours, but it seems Chloe’s stomach had gotten used to eating three meals a day instead of eating scraps maybe once a day. She had found food earlier, a tossed away pizza behind a government building, however the look on a nearby couple with a small child convinced her that maybe she didn’t need the food as much as they did.

It doesn’t help that her clothes have been soaked through from the pouring rain. The holes in her leather jacket are getting bigger and the rubber on her shoes offers little insulation against the cold. She tugs at the ends of her sweatshirt sleeves, trying to keep her hands warm while she continues to look for a place to keep the rain off her.

She finds some shelter under and overpass. It’s crumbling apart, grass and vines growing between the cracks of the unused concrete. There’s a group of others who are just the same as her; rebels trying to find shelter from the weather. They’re burning some old tires, likely pulled from rusting cars, causing the smell of burning rubber to infiltrate Chloe’s senses. It’s not a pleasant smell, but the closer she gets to it the warmer she feels.

They don’t exchange any words, too afraid of making too much commotion and setting off local police - who will likely either shoot them down or hold them in a cell until they agree to work with the government.  She leaves before the sun sets knowing police grow in numbers the darker it gets.

Chloe ends up back tracking towards the Safe House. While she knows she probably shouldn’t, there isn’t anywhere that feels as safe, even if she ends up sleeping on some wet cardboard. Beca had built the area up to feel safe, even if it’s far from that, which is something Chloe found comforting, something that was an attractive quality. Beca could make Chloe feel safe in just about any situation. Yesterday was the first time Chloe felt like she shouldn’t have ever put that kind of trust into Beca. After all, Beca’s involved in a war between the government and the people. Even if Chloe can see the good Beca’s trying to do, it makes Beca a target, it makes Beca a person who doesn’t follow rules. It makes Beca someone that shouldn’t be trusted.

She about to cross into the neighborhood when there’s a strong arm that wraps around her throat and - what Chloe assumes is - a gun pressed into the side of her head. She considers screaming, but the days of people actually helping others when it comes to things like this are long gone. She tries to fight against the person pulling her into a nearby alley, but she had never done well with defending herself. It’s why she hadn’t stepped up against the government until she felt she didn’t have a choice. A part of her doesn’t want to bother fighting.

Chloe feels warm breath against her temple, feels the click of the gun, so she shuts her eyes and braces for the end.

It doesn’t.

The pulling suddenly stops, the arm around her neck drops. She hears what sounds like someone struggling for air and a body hitting the wet ground.

Spinning herself around to look at what happened. At her feet lays the body of a man dressed in clothes that are much more worn than her own. A sign that he had probably been living on the streets long before her and probably was hoping to steal something of value off of her. Looking ahead for her hero, Chloe’s met with a small figure dressed in a sleek black outfit, studded leather jacket, and a familiar metal mask with a horizontal thin piece cut out to see through, but not wide enough to see defining features. There’s some fabric hanging around their shoulders - probably a cowl.

“Beca?”

The small figure nods and puts a fingerless gloved hand out, fingers twitching.

Chloe takes Beca’s hand without question, letting herself be lead through the mass of buildings. The further away they get away from the Safe House, the more these buildings look like they’re falling apart. Beca pulls her into one with white painted brick and a worn, red wooden door, and as soon as the door is shut, she pulls the helmet off of her.

Chloe sighs and then frowns, walking past Beca. The air is filled with silence as Chloe looks at the torn wallpaper on the walls. She can feel the cold air seeping through the broken walls. There’s water on the tiled floor, although most of the tiles are cracked, broken, or missing. She’s walking into what used to be a kitchen where a family used to sit around the table and eat, talk about their day. The table, however, is missing two of its legs on one side and it’s been flipped. The fridge no longer has a door and it’s completely empty.  

“First, you want me dead and now…” Chloe trails off as she walks into the rest of the living space, looking at a moldy couch. A cockroach skitters across and the floor and Chloe takes a step back at the sight.

“I didn’t want you dead, Beale.” Beca’s voice sounds exasperated, like it’s an obvious statement.

Turning to face Beca with arms crossed, Chloe shrugs, feeling a little defensive of herself. “You kicked me out of the only safe place I had left.”

Beca takes a step forward and Chloe just takes a step back. She wants to keep distance for a moment, even if everything about having Beca in front of her is telling her to be closer.

Beca’s hands twist at her sides before she raises them like she’s trying to show Chloe she’s being passive, “I’m sorry.” Beca’s eyes flicker somewhere else before looking back at her, “But you can’t question my loyalty like that, especially when others are around. We’d both be killed for that.”

That thought hadn’t crossed Chloe’s mind at the time and suddenly guilt floods her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think about that.”

“It’s okay I-” Beca sighs, taking a step forward, “I get it. I was being a jerk earlier, lying about all these things to pass as a good commander.”

Chloe takes a step towards Beca as well. “Thanks for-” she licks her bottom lip, “-earlier. With that person.”

“Yeah, well, I wasn’t actually gonna put you out without checking on you.”

Chloe can’t help the smile that forms on her face, “You do care.”

Beca shrugs, stuffing her hands in her pockets, “Well-” her eyes cast onto the floor, “-obviously. I am a Rebel. Some-” she looks at Chloe, “-I mean I wouldn’t, you know, not care. That’s kind of the point of this whole gang thing.”

Chloe reaches forward and tugs on Beca’s wrist, sliding her fingers to link between Beca’s. “You also kill innocent people, Becs.”

“Yeah, I know. That’s why I want out.”

“How do we do that?”

“We?” Beca raises her brow at Chloe.

“Yeah.” Chloe smiles, hoping the idea isn’t too offputting to Beca. Her eyes search Beca’s hoping to find anything but disgust or anger. “I don’t exactly have anywhere to go anymore and I think it’s pretty obvious I’m not gonna survive on my own. Besides, I like being with you.”

A smile forms across Beca’s face - a little shy. “Okay. Yeah, I’d- I’d like that.” Beca’s voice is soft and she finally grips Chloe’s hand back. “We go to California. It’s like a two and a half month journey, but we can try to find some sort of transportation to cut that in half or something.”

“Alright. When do we leave?”

Beca looks around the space, “We can stay here tonight and leave in the morning. We’ll stop just outside the main fence where I have some supplies.”

“You’ve been planning this?”

Beca shrugs, “I’m a coward, I always have a way out.”

Chloe pulls Beca into a hug. “I’m sorry I said that, I was mad. It wasn’t right of me, Beca. You’re not a coward.”

“You’re not totally wrong, it’s okay. If I wasn’t I would’ve left this place a long time ago.”

“I know why you don’t.” Chloe pulls back from the embrace. “That gang is your family.”

Beca frowns, “They used to be.” Grabbing at Chloe’s hand, she leads Chloe up creaky, wooden steps, “C’mon, let’s see if there’s a bed here. We should leave as soon as the sun comes up.”

[omarnorthtower]

The Most Common Complaints About Concrete Walkways Contractors, And Why They're Bunk

The kind of set up you decide on may have an influence on the price, but usually you pays considerably less for concrete pavers than you are going to for stone or tile installation.

Concrete blocks and paving slabs in many cases are Slice, that are rather thick. This makes it more difficult for unskilled workers to try and do this sort of do the job, necessitating only experts to make it happen. This calls for property homeowners and job professionals to make sure that They can be selecting very qualified and professional personnel in handling this type of operate.

Fountain installation does not only contain concrete pros but plumbers and electricians too. Since fountains do the job applying drinking water and electrical power, licensed plumbers and Licensed electricians are needed making sure that the fountain will work faultlessly.

Patios and decks can also be covered with pavers. Landscapes also are sections that may be set up with pavers in household properties. Industrial establishments can also be covered with pavers for desirable and durable nevertheless cheap flooring solution.

Rubberized concrete is given that the title indicates. It can be constructed from rubberized asphalt cement and recycled tires and is often used in roadways. Because the crumb rubber made use of is created from waste, it is a superb option for a more environmental pleasant form.

•Study the most effective peak to mow according to the type of grass growing as part of your garden. Blue grass, For example, ordinarily does better in a height of 2-inches; Bermuda at 1-inch. Grass on lawns that happen to be shaded can be cut bigger.

they may have a valid company insurance plan, business enterprise license, and WCB/WSIB, they can also get an A+ rating. RenovationFind has created a stringent technique of screening the vendors to make certain only essentially the most trusted and reliable companies are detailed on our Web site.

After interviewing quite a few contractors, I employed Bruce. I wished to seek the services of a contractor that was skillful in laying cement patios and that patio would very last For several years to come back. Bruce exceeded my expectations. He was always promptly, simple to talk to, made available ideas that Improved the finale search on the patio from normal to stunning.

Before concrete may be poured the base spot within your walkway challenge it have to be adequately geared up. When you've got an present cracked walkway that needed to get replaced the 1st step is to eliminate the concrete. Concrete elimination is usually performed with a Bobcat and/or with jackhammers. The damaged concrete is then loaded into a dump truck and removed from The work web page. If there's no present concrete then the Dust in the region to be poured needs for being graded and/or excavated to prepare for the ultimate concrete pour. The quintessential component in each individual concrete task is to get the grade is set so that there is no standing water after the venture is entire. To realize the proper grade a transit, laser, and string lines will probably be established to determine accurately how the slab might be graded. The moment these pointers are placed the realm will be marked with spray paint to replicate the plan you negotiated with your estimator.

"Daniel and his crew had been among the most professional contractors I've worked with. We at first hired them to set up laminate on our bedroom flooring, but simply because we have been incredibly content with their work, we made a decision to extend the laminate Focus on our lounge as well.

"I have been in enterprise for over 27 many years now And cause currently being is we have been clear, quickly and most importantly I am reliable.

Stamping is the entire process of utilizing molds to create a visual impact. This method is often supplied by companies because it is usually used in driveways. Staining is almost always included in this sort of provider to incorporate natural beauty and outcome to the composition.

Pouring and laying costs will count on different components. The size and sort of composition are two of the main variables gurus take into consideration. The types of concrete for use in addition to the tools needed with the pouring and laying are determined. The volume of employees should also be observed to allow companies to determine the amount of the venture would cost. Business and household jobs are priced in another way due to discrepancies in building codes and different pouring and laying needs.

Paint elimination provider is likewise hired when vandals have created items within the surfaces that cannot easily be removed by very simple paint removers. Due to the fact paint can penetrate the floor, suitable removing is needed to make certain that the paint is removed and no traces are left.

[dollymollyus-blog]

Remodeling Services Royal Palm FL

Remodeling Services Royal Palm FL is a game without anyone else's input. With huge kitchen spaces, you appreciate certain opportunities that you don't have with littler spaces- - space for more ledge region, apparatuses, and a kitchen island.

Aside from abnormalities like a home theater, the kitchen is the most costly room in the house to rebuild, on a square foot by square foot premise. It follows that the less square feet you redesign, the less your general rebuild cost will be.

Likewise, littler kitchen spaces are all the more ergonomically effective. With a more tightly kitchen triangle- - your development zone between stove, sink, and cooler - you have less squandered developments.

Discover the best plans and designs for renovating your little kitchen and how to make this a space you will love to invest a lot of energy in.

Is it true that you are Sure You Have a Small Kitchen?

Everybody thinks their kitchen is excessively little. For the most part, the exemplary 10' x 10' kitchen (100 square feet or less) is viewed as the benchmark of normal kitchen estimating.

Definitions fluctuate as indicated by the property holder taste, house, and district, yet the National Kitchen and Bathroom Association (NKBA) characterizes a little kitchen as being littler than 70 square feet.

Little Kitchen Floor Layouts: Good and Bad

Productive floor arranging is 90 percent of little kitchen structure. With so little space accessible, you can't bear the cost of any wasteful overabundance. Attempt these formats:

Layout It Is Notes

One-Wall One mass of counters, cupboards, and appliances. The total littlest design conceivable.

Cookroom or Corridor Two dividers of counters, cupboards, and apparatuses with an inside aisle. Preferable to the one-divider design as it takes into consideration "kitchen triangle" development.

L-Shaped Two lines of counter-bested cupboards masterminded at 90 degrees to each other. This exemplary kitchen design is a viable arrangement for most little kitchens.

Abstain from packing these designs into little kitchen spaces:

Layout It Is Notes

U-Shaped Three lines of cupboards, counters, and apparatuses along three sides of a four-sided room. The three sides take into consideration small strolling room.

L-Shaped with Island The L-shape as noted above, with an island added. Adding an island to any little kitchen is troublesome because of space requirements.

Twofold L Shaped Kitchen A littler "L" inserted in a bigger L-molded kitchen. It would be difficult to have this game plan in any little kitchen.

Little Kitchen Advantages

At the point when you rebuild a low-power, low-work room, for example, a lounge, incredible room, or room, you're managing not many administrations (no running water, barely any electrical needs, and so forth.) and reasonable materials (some drywall, trim, and so on.).

On the other hand, kitchens, on a square foot premise, are costly to rebuild - waste disposal, additional lighting, extra electrical needs, plumbing, ventilation, and the sky is the limit from there. Likewise, the materials will in general be costly: stone, treated steel, Corian, marble, custom or stock cupboards, and so forth. Less space implies less expense.

Assuming Responsibility for the Matter

The little kitchen can regularly speak to the "tipping point" in the do-it-without anyone's help versus enlist a-genius question. Since you're managing littler spaces, revamping a little kitchen can get reasonable.

For instance, laying 80 square feet of clay tile may be just an end of the week venture for the little kitchen; laying 375 square feet of tile can be a gigantic issue requiring the administrations of expert tile-setters.

Is the little kitchen rebuild equivalent to a major kitchen redesign aside from on a littler canvas? Here and there, yes. However, there are astonishing contrasts that you ought to know about. Make these strides while renovating your little kitchen:

Find Easy Areas to Scale Down

Huge twofold sinks or farmhouse sinks gobble up significant counter space. Additionally, take some real time to contemplate whether you truly need greater apparatuses. One next to the other ice chests are extraordinary, however you need to preserve width with regards to the machines. Is it accurate to say that you are a solitary individual or a couple? Increasingly affordable dishwashers are accessible, as well. On the off chance that you have any out-of-kitchen zone accessible (e.g., would you be able to place in a wash room around the bend?), utilize that for things you don't utilize as often as possible, for example, canned merchandise or apparatuses.

Decide Your Priorities

Alongside the above tips, you truly need to settle on hard decisions. Or then again, who knows- - some of the time it's a simple decision. Is stockpiling a main need? At that point you'll have to augment kitchen cupboards at the expense of machines. Do you truly need a morning meal bar? It's conceivable, however you may need to forfeit counter space for preparing to get that morning meal bar.

Utilize Stock Cabinetry

An extraordinary aspect concerning Remodeling Services little kitchens is that you find a workable pace to-introduce DIY cabinetry. Truth be told, you can regularly discover this sort of kitchen cabinetry directly on the rack at home improvement stores or places like Ikea. This cabinetry is typically a basic DIY introduce. On the off chance that you purchase cupboards that are stuffed level (like at Ikea), they're anything but difficult to move, as well.

Amplify Cabinet Depth

There is such a great amount of room in the backs of cupboards that are once in a while utilized. Amplify your utilization by introducing languid susans and turn out racks.

Utilize Large Floor Tiles and Light Colors

It appears to be irrational, yet bigger floor tile causes your little kitchen to seem bigger. Furthermore, since the light you get in your kitchen is as a lot of reflected light as it is immediate light, you can expand a little kitchen's light force by utilizing more splendid hued wood species for the cabinetry and unbiased tones for the counters, just as for the divider paint.

[aesthetichomerenovations]

How to Design a Bathroom on a Budget

Having a beautiful bathroom doesn't have to be out of reach. There are several ways to design a new bathroom on a budget. From scouting for great deals at yard sales to purchasing online, there are many options to make your bathroom look beautiful without breaking the bank. Choosing a new floor, vanity top, and vanity set can be expensive, but there are ways to save money.

Choosing a Floor

When it comes to budget bathroom flooring, there are a number of options to consider. Sheet vinyl is an inexpensive option, and it is durable enough to withstand the constant moisture in a bathroom. However, you should take care to ensure that it will resist the movement of water, as the wrong choice can quickly need to be replaced. To avoid this, use this guide to decide between various types of flooring, including tile. Tile is also the most durable option, and it can last up to 50 years or more. You can even reseal the grout to extend its life.

Another good option for bathrooms on a budget is laminate flooring. It mimics the look of real wood, but costs much less. It is also waterproof, and you can choose a design that reflects your personality and style. Some laminate floors have realistic-looking edges and grains, and you can buy them in a variety of styles and finishes.

Choosing a Vanity Top

Choosing a vanity top for your bathroom is an important step in your remodeling project. Vanity tops are available in a wide range of price ranges and differ in shape, size, and material. Generally, however, you can find a vanity top that fits within your budget.

The material you choose to top your vanity will affect the final price. If you are working with a limited budget, you may want to choose an affordable material such as laminate. This type of material is easy to clean and comes in a range of colors and patterns. Compared to marble and granite, laminate is also inexpensive. Many laminates look like solid surfaces and are relatively stain-proof.

Yard Sales

One of the best ways to update a bathroom on a budget is by purchasing items from yard sales. Old, unused towels and dishes can be recycled and used as window treatments. You can also find inexpensive items at thrift stores. Another great way to update a bathroom is to change out the hardware. Updated fixtures can make a huge difference. Another option is to paint the walls or add wallpaper to the lower half of the room.

Garage sales can be hit or miss, but this Missouri couple found some amazing finds, including a $35 etched glass mirror and a marble slab for $1. Another way to save money is to find inexpensive pieces at flea markets. You can also shop for vintage pieces at antique stores, although you may have to pay more than other resellers.

Online Ordering

When it comes to purchasing bathroom fixtures, there are a few key tips to remember. For starters, you should remember that some companies offer trade discounts. In addition, bigger suppliers offer fast delivery and product support. You can also order your bathroom suite from a builder, who will take a small cut of your order. However, be sure to check the time frame of your bathroom suite, as some suppliers may take up to three weeks to deliver.

You can also opt for an online bathroom design service like Decorilla. This website allows you to browse through hundreds of bathroom designs. Once you've selected a design, you'll receive a shopping list of the various materials you'll need. The shopping list includes direct links to products, as well as cost estimates. You can also choose to have a different designer if you're unhappy with one of the designs.

DIY Remodeling

One way to cut your bathroom remodeling costs is to do it yourself. You can hire a professional contractor to complete some work, but you can also save a lot of money by doing the rest of it yourself. DIY projects can include things like laying tile, painting, and resurfacing the tub. You can also save money by using secondhand goods that you find at garage sales, surplus stores, or Habitat for Humanity stores. You can also use the Internet to find great deals.

If you are a skilled DIYer, you should encounter few problems. However, you should leave enough time to complete the project. You should also expect some setbacks, especially if you are working on the plumbing or electrical work. Those can be tricky, and you may need the services of a professional if you want to install new plumbing and wiring. However, if you are only making small changes, you can do it yourself.

Aesthetic Home Renovations will take care of everything your needs in Home Renovation Services in Australia. Call our team today to book and we excel in providing a vast range of building solutions.

[kingwsly]

"You make the best pillow, I hope you know."

MEME.   ( randomness )      @thebrightestwltch

         it was an interesting position. the seats in the car pushed and pulled and placed just enough to make sure his long legs weren’t cramped and curled uncomfortably. then again, he was cramped uncomfortably - but happily so. the way hermione was curled in against his chest, her thumb lightly brushing over the faded lettering of his hoodie as this soft comfort... well, there was no way he could really complain. after too many nights being woken up by the busy town centers, worrying for their safety in the old beat up ford, it was nice to have found a place that was off the beaten track. everything was so quiet, so dark, weirdly nice. it was better than any foster home either of them had set foot in, that was for sure. the tinny noise of the rain hitting the car, soft rustling of the trees around them muffled by the car windows that were steaming from their body heat; it was like some weird dream come true. after all, they’d been making thes eplans for years - running away, doing things on their own terms, seeing the world and not becoming another statistic of unfortunate foster children left to rot in some obscure hellhole town. he could have quite easily fit into that crowd, but hermione could never. she was scrappy and tough, sure... but she deserved a bigger life than being stuck and a victim of being in the wrong life at the wrong time with the wrong people and the wrong opportunities.

          a soft, somewhat sleepy sigh left ron as his own fingers pulled to make sure the blanket was right up around hermione’s back. he was always hot - especially when he had someone basically sleeping on top of him - so being covered other than the sweats and hoodie? not necessary. but he did worry. the car was old, the weather was getting colder and by now he was almost entirely sure he’d promised that they’d sell the old car, buy a van and do it out like one of those crazy youtube videos - their own little home on wheels. they could have a kitchen, bed, maybe even a little bathroom if they were smart enough about it. but it cost money. the more they drove the ford, the less they would get for it and the more they’d have to hustle to get the money together for a transit van. it certainly wasn’t idyllic, even if it was the dream. lost in his thoughts of how on earth he’d learn how to wire lights and tile walls, ron had been sure hermione was at least dozing. her soft voice, however, didn’t cause him any sort of fright. if anything, it left his hand gently pressing more into the small of her back and a soft, breathy laugh leaving him.

          ❝ is this you telling me i’ve been eating too many pot noodles? ❞ he feigned offence as his eyes fell closed. without trying to jostle her too much, ron started to shift his legs - one awkwardly shifting through the centre console gap to stretch out his knee, the other resting on the armrest of the passenger door, trying to avoid the window crank. it wasn’t the healthiest lifestyle, but he had to keep reminding himself of the place they’d come from. this, being able to choose where to go and what to do and being able to look after themselves? a thousand times better than abiding by the rules of someone using them for the government allowance that came with fostering. so, sure, every meal for the last week had been something that could be rehydrated with boiling water or had come from a can - he still maintained that the heinz tomato soup he’d had to drink out of said can was basically his five a day for the week - and he wasn’t feeling the best for it, but it was way better than the alternative.

          once he was settled into a comfortable enough position, ron returned to rubbing his thumb against the small of hermione’s back over the blanket, a soft hum turned yawn falling from him. ❝ it’s pretty lucky that you’re kind of small, ❞ ron continued, voice slightly warped from the yawn. ❝ if you were some leggy model, i don’t think we’d have survived past day two. ❞ another half laugh left him then as the mental image of all the awkward positions they’d have to find if hermione was as tall as him crossed his mind. the van would have been far more of a priority then because he would have ended up breaking his back just to make sure his legs weren’t falling asleep. hell, he probably would have had to hang them out of the window, which was basically an invitation for some serial killer with a fetish to drag him out of the window feet first. even that joking mental image was enough for him to open his eyes again, listening out for any tell-tale noises that showed they weren’t alone. he wasn’t even sure where they were. maybe the midlands? maybe near wales? it had been a random selection of roads, deciding last minute where to turn when they got to junctions or letting service stations dictate when they stopped. if something happened, they’d be pretty screwed. that wasn’t smart. probably a bad idea. so the dream, the idyllic... maybe not so idyllic when he really thought about it.

          ❝ you get enough sleep? ❞ he asked, suddenly keen to get back on the road despite not knowing the time and being sure he hadn’t gotten more than a few ten minute naps in. ❝ i’m bloody starving, and i’m pretty sure there was a mcdonalds back the way we came. all i’ve been thinking about is those hash browns. ❞ a total lie - lying was definitely way too easy thanks to it being a basic survival skill in the foster system - that was starting to take effect and was thankfully backed up by the sudden rumble of his stomach. too much food talk, too many nerves thanks to his overactive imagination. as much as he would have loved to lay there in that weird position, enjoying the fact that they were actually together and doing well... the adrenaline was already flowing through his body and if he hadn’t just heard a twig snapping underfoot, then he was definitely going crazy. ❝ come on, i’ll buy you some tea to warm you up and then we’ll get back on the road. maybe we’ll spend sunset by the coast. ❞

[munoz76bach-blog]

What You Require To Know About Residence Enhancement Programs And Techniques

The choice to acquire your very own house, is 1 of the largest investments you will ever make. It makes sense then, that you would want to do every little thing you can to make confident your expense maintains its worth. This post will offer you with some suggestions and tips on residence advancement and what you can do to maintain your residence looking its complete greatest. Location a nice centerpiece on your eating room table to produce a innovative appear. Your arrangement isn't going to have to be floral in nature. You can blend celery sticks or various greens with bouquets, or use wildflowers increasing outside to generate an arrangement satisfying to the eye. You can location your centerpiece into a basket or a vase. Use clear plastic boxes to organize things in your garage by type and frequency of use. Inserting labels on each box will make it straightforward to locate the classification you seek out when boxes are stacked. This permits you to preserve your garage structured even though retaining bugs and rodents at bay. Ahead of you commence your following residence advancement task, feel about how long you would like to keep in your property. If you are preparing to move this yr, you may have a distinct spending budget for advancements than if you were keeping for awhile. You would also want to emphasis on regions in the residence, like the kitchen and loos, that buyers believe are most important. If your radiator has gone chilly, you could need to have to bleed it. Just switch off the boiler and find the bleed important. Switch the important counterclockwise and air will commence to escape and make a hissing audio. When the sound stops and a minor water leaks, change the bleed essential clockwise to close it. One particular way to preserve cash and energy is to purchase a programmable thermostat if you never currently have one. A programmable thermostat will permit you to specify what temperature you want your house to be at any given time or day all through the 7 days, even when you are absent from house. When changing a lock in your home, you have the selection of taking away the complete assembly, or just the cylinder. The cylinder signifies the portion of the lock responsible for activating the lock. If you misplace your important, you can substitute the cylinder. If you want the doorway to search greater or want additional stability, just go ahead and change the whole device. If Best cordless stick vacuum for tile floors to buy in 2018 cordless stick vacuum for tile floors Reviews want freedom creating decisions about your residence, you need to shift to a rural area. There the homes are considerably bigger and in most situations, there are no policies or restrictions to notify you how to enhance your property or backyard garden. This can be a blessing for people who are imaginative ample to give a distinctive look to their house. Cabinet handles and knobs are a fine way to incorporate a refreshing appear to your kitchen. An old kitchen can be brightened up by making use of cabinet knobs, which are straightforward to adjust. If you do incorporate in new knobs, make sure you cleanse your cupboards so that everything appears far better in the finish. All that is left is to install the new hardware! If you can manage it, go with natural components in your house. Building components such as wood and stone are much better and final lengthier than synthetic materials. Not only are they a lot more eye-catching but they are also a lot more tough. Even though more high priced, these natural supplies are ultimately more affordable simply because artificial resources need to be changed frequently. Just before investing in plants for the inside of your property, consider a handful of minutes to do your research. Several well-known houseplants are in fact harmful to animals and individuals. Rather than selecting a plant only on the basis of its appearance, take into account regardless of whether or not young youngsters or animals will be in achieve of the plants' leaves or flowers. If you are looking to improve your home with new household furniture, consider re-upholstering. Obtaining new furnishings delivered and getting rid of previous furnishings can be a demanding and high-priced headache. Merely placing new cushions and upholstery on an existing couch, even so, will make it seem like new for a lot considerably less money than a new couch. Before starting up any demolition work in your residence, consider measures to minimize the mess. Lay down plastic and include the region you will be functioning in. Hold your resources confined to the perform region as effectively. Demolition is a messy occupation and having to thoroughly clean a mess through the whole property can consider hrs of further time. Add a entire new room! If you are the adventurous variety of home-owner, you may want to perform on an addition to your home. An addition has a lot of benefits, including a lot more space, a more time project, and a lasting modify. Be careful of your building codes even so, you do not want to start an addition only to find out it is illegal to proceed. Below is a home advancement for doing work with contractors! If you are having work done, be confident to advise the head of the crew if you are not pleased! In the excellent entire world, everyone would recognize and do specifically what you want, the way you want it completed! If that is not the situation, communicate to the head of the crew! You are spending the payments, and you are in cost. If you aren't satisfied, speak up. If things never work out with that contractor, there are tons of other individuals to select from. When searching for to repair up that house, it is a great concept to use strength-productive lighting. Not only will you end up saving a good deal of cash in the lengthy run, your home will also be a whole lot a lot more worthwhile if you at any time decide to market it. As an extra reward, new eco mild bulbs very last for a long time as opposed to only a handful of months. Your house is a single of the most beneficial methods that you have. It is important to consider the time to investigation and execute updates on your house to sustain its price. Subsequent the tips supplied in this post can conserve you from a lot of stress, as properly as, costly blunders.

[h-e-s-s-a-blog]

Asphalt Shingles Cost - How Much Do They Cost?

What are Asphalt Shingles and why are they so popular? There are numerous reasons behind the increasing popularity of asphalt shingles, l covers them both in the pros and cons category, however the most predominant reason is ease of installation and low cost. Note: if you find a mention of natural shingles on your search, the info most likely is quite outdated or esoteric. They are more common today. They have been around for about one hundred years, prior to that in asphalt laid in smaller sizes they were a much longer-lived product.Feel free to visit their website at roof fix for more details.

Asphalt shingles cost around 50 cents per square foot (they vary depending on your location), this means that asphalt shingles cost around four dollars per square foot when measured per package. This means that your brick home next to the retaining wall will cost about twice as much in bricks as your cement block wall. In other words, bricks and cement block hold their value better than asphalt shingles.

So, what makes asphalt roof shingles cost so much more than organic-mat shingles? The real difference between the two is the actual quality of the roof. Asphalt shingles cost a lot less to make per square foot than organic-mat shingles do, and this difference translates directly into lower prices per square foot.

The other big difference is the roof pitch. Asphalt shingle roofing varies depending on what pitch you get, although they usually range from three to six inches. On the other hand, asphalt shingles cost only two to three inches per pitch. So basically, asphalt shingles cost about the same per pitch as fiberglass.

Asphalt shingles cost less per square foot, but they can cost more per install. Asphalt shingle roof prices are based solely on labor and equipment, not on installation. Fiberglass installation is easier, since it is easier to apply and you don't have to deal with so many things like nails. For instance, you need to nail down a few beams for PVC pipe runouts, but you don't have to nail down many strands of asphalt shingles when setting up a roof with a standard roofing system. You may have to buy special nails, though, depending on the roof design.

Asphalt shingled installation is easier when compared to clay or rolled roofing systems because there's no pre-drilling needed. With clay or rolled roofs, you have to do that before you install the flashing and the metal flashing around the edges. Pre-drilling is especially important for valleys or hills where the ground may dip lower than usual. Plus, installing asphalt shingles requires little coordination and you don't have to wait for professional contractors unless you want to.

In general, architectural asphalt shingles are more expensive because the granules in the material are bigger and more expensive to install. The larger granules are more difficult to work with, so they cost more to install. But since architectural shingles come in smaller granules, they are easier to install and lighter to install.

Finally, asphalt shingles cost more when you add in installation labor. Starter shingles cost only a few cents per square foot, but asphalt shingles require several hundred feet of wiring to be run along with the starter strands. In addition, asphalt shingles have to be cut to size and pre-drilled for proper installation, which increases installation labor costs. If your home has metal flashings instead of tiles, installation labor costs might also be higher.

Installing the starter shingle can be done by the homeowner, but if you're installing more than one panel, or the roof itself, a professional contractor is necessary. The most important aspect of the installation process is laying the 3-tab asphalt shingles, which are secured to the underlying metal frame through heat-rolling. This takes practice to master and can be very tricky, especially when it comes to nails and glue.

Once the asphalt shingles are installed, the final step is to nail and screw them into place. If you have an existing roof, this step may not be necessary, but most new roofs have a metal flashing over the finished area. When installing the shingles, it's a good idea to make sure that the entire area has been treated with a water-resistant paint, as the final step will involve water. However, with architectural shingles, it's a good idea to cover the area with a water-resistant under coating so the final result stays looking as good as new.

When everything is complete, you can then put on the granules. There are many different granules, which are designed for specific purposes. The manufacturer of your granules will recommend what granules are best for the application you intend to use. Be sure to listen to their recommendations, and make sure the granules are installed according to the package directions.

[livingcorner]

9 ways to transform your small garden on a budget

It can sometimes feel that not much can be done with a small garden, let alone on a budget, but with the right advice this can all change.

We spoke to two garden experts to discover some clever and affordable ways you can transform your small garden into the outdoor space of your dreams. Richard Miers of Richard Miers Garden Design has been designing gardens for over 20 years and has some helpful points on how to get the small garden you desire, on a budget:

You're reading: 9 ways to transform your small garden on a budget

1. Firstly plan

Make sure you really do want to make that change and see if you can keep and reuse what you have already. Draw or sketch what you have in mind and get it right first time. Measure out the garden, as getting it right will save money by not having to do it twice. Spend as much as you can on the best materials, as they will last longer and save money long-term.

KSuhorukovGetty Images

2. Recruit helping hands

Have a garden party. Offer your friends a BBQ and drinks if they help you clear the garden, build the fence, lay the terrace, dig over beds and plant the plants. Paint existing fences rather than buying new ones. Use self-binding gravel rather than stone or bricks for paths or terraces, for example, Breedon Aggregates Amber Gravel or Wayfarer. The material costs are less and the labour costs are cheaper than when laying natural stone.

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3. Shop around

Shop around for natural stone as supply costs vary enormously if you’re not too picky. Maybe use ceramic tiles rather than natural stone too but make sure that it’s slip resistant. Visit recycling centres for unusual containers rather than buying pots. You might even pick up tools there. Reclamation yards are also a good hunting ground for all things exterior.

Read more: Secrets of In the Night Garden

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4. Penny pinch with plants

Grow your plants from seeds or cuttings, swap plants with friends and neighbours, make your own compost and plant food. Herbaceous perennials or shrubs rather than annuals come back year after year. Be smart with your purchasing – bulbs are very inexpensive in the autumn. Bare root plants are more affordable in the autumn or winter rather than container grown in the spring or summer. Bare root trees or hedging plants in the dormant season are much less expensive than container grown. Don’t be put off by smaller shrubs than you may initially want, as they will grow, you just need to be patient.

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5. Recycle furniture

Use unfashionable brown indoor furniture outdoors and paint it to make it last longer. It won’t last forever but could see you through until you can afford more robust and weatherproof teak or oak chairs and tables.

Abigail RexGetty Images

‘Having a small garden should never hold anyone back from being creative with their outdoor space,’ Neil Francis, senior category manager for garden maintenance at Wickes, says. ‘A number of things can be done to give smaller gardens a unique flair.’

Here are Neil’s top tips to cost-effectively maximise small garden space:

6. Tiered planters

Tiered planters or ladders can maximise ground space available for flowers and herbs. For example, the Rowlinson Tier Planter (£169.99) from Wickes can be used as two separate planters, giving you the option to move it around the garden to make different features.

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7. Fold up furniture

Fold up furniture is also helpful in the garden as it can reduce clutter. The Rowlinson Plumley Bistro Two Seater Set (£99.99) features two fold up chairs and a table for easy storage, so people can soak up the sunshine and stack them away in the colder months.

Read more: How to Keep Cats Out of Your Yard

Rowlinson Plumley Bistro Two Seater Set £101.99

Rowlinson

8. Diagonal paving

This can also be effective in smaller gardens – laying slabs on the point so they are in a diamond shape can give the optical illusion of a bigger garden.

Claire TakacsGetty Images

9. Strong landscaped lines

Small spaces can also be made attractive with a crisp, contemporary look and strong landscaped lines. This can be achieved by creating interesting interlocking zones with distinctive materials like wood-stained decking or decorative stones, which will help you to achieve a stylish look in even the smallest of gardens.

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Source: https://livingcorner.com.au Category: Garden

source https://livingcorner.com.au/9-ways-to-transform-your-small-garden-on-a-budget/

[pixelrender]

Board Games Wishlist (2021 Update)

So, I’ve been playing video games and there definitely will be a list highlighting some of them at the end of the year, but I haven’t been in touch with new releases and my attention shifted towards strategy games and city builders in particular. I spent quite a few hours on Crusader Kings 2 and Imperator: Rome too.  Playing this kind of games got me closer to thinking about game design and narratives they present and slowly I moved back to watching reviews of board games and coming up with a prototype of my own, which I hopefully manage to transform into something to at least playtest later this year. If I get into that phase, I def will post pictures here. I’m still not that interested in playing board games myself, but I’m more interested in owning few now. So, my biggest concerns are graphic design and box sizes. Interesting mechanics or good flavour only come second. I’m making this list to showcase how my tastes developed over the last 2 years and to spotlight some newer designs, which influenced my own creativity. Out of roughly 30 games I find very intriguing, I decided to spotlight several in $100 challenge inspired by Board Game Barrage. I managed to include five smaller games, which I find to form a diverse starting collection. I used Game Nerdz for pricing, so It probably would cost slightly more locally. In addition to that this post includes a list of 10 other games I find myself attracted to for various reasons.

Pictures used in this article: 1) In the Hall of the Mountain King - Source: Burnt Island Games, 2) Fjords - Source: Board Game Geek, user Jacek Nowak, 3)Escape from the Aliens in Outer Space - Source: Board Game Geek, user Alessandro Fibbi

$100 Board Game Collection

I approached this challenge slightly differently than the BGB crew. My list doesn’t have a crunchy big game accompanied by several lighter games. All games on this list play fast and have a fairly easy set of rules. Two of these games are 2 players only and they’re all filled with tasty decisions and loads of strategy. The rest is a filler and a lighter pick up and delivery game from Reiner Knizia. Two of the games on the list aren’t properly out yet, but I believe they would fit my list perfectly.

1. Coup - I’m a fan of social deduction and hidden roles games and this one is a super easy one to pick up with nice illustrations and small packaging. I think games like this need a specific group of people, who are more into playing a game than usual social activities such as chatting or dancing, but It might be a good opener for silent groups with its high level of interaction, leading to a more interesting evening. Price at Nerdz: $11

2. Targi - Overall, I find worker placement games on the drier side. This one intrigues me because of how tight it is and before as a 2 player game, it offers more confrontation than competition. The new printing made it widely available at a very affordable price point. The small box and Berber theming are good too. Price at Nerdz: $14

3. Hive Pocket - This game is a classic and it could be easy to play it with people instead of chess. Hive consisting of sturdy tokens in a sack makes it a perfect companion for travels too. I find it that stranded far away from home, it’s way easier to have a good opportunity to play something as comforting as a board game. Price at Nerdz: $21

4. Whale Riders - An obligatory Reiner Knizia pick. It was a tough decision among several games, but I ultimately ended up siding with this pick up and delivery game, which even isn’t out yet. It puts interesting pressure on players, it plays in thirty minutes and looks awesome. The core mechanisms are something I wanted to have on this list yet. I heard that it is a tight design, maybe slightly less fulfilling than popular Knizia games, but given it’s playtime I wouldn’t worry too much about that. Price at Nerdz: $21

5. Fjords - The new edition of Fjords is currently being kickstarted and it looks gorgeous. It’s a very simple design, close to an abstract game. The first phase is tile laying, the second is go-like area control. I think this might be an excellent game to start playing very quickly and get invested into without complex mechanics obscuring possible strategies. The basic pledge on Kickstarter is $26 and It’s expected for the retail version to be more expensive (I would assume somewhere in the middle between estimated $40 and $26). The new version replaces tokens from the picture below with viking meeples and beautifies the tiles. Tbh, I find the look of the old version good with an exception of its box cover. 

Osprey Games

This category stayed from the previous list. I still like fairly unified small boxes of theirs and their excellent design. They are all relatively small and fast playing. The themes aren’t as niche as some other games on this list and that should make it easier to play them with other players too. Finally, It should be fairly easy to order all four of them as a batch. Either from one of the local resellers or directly for slightly higher prices.

1. Cryptid - Cryptid is here for its sweet look and as a game I would find easy to show other people than gamers. It’s very abstract and I think that its components could be used to create your own games too. As a teacher I might use this in class to learn children about game design. Obviously, playing the deduction game might be a lot of fun and a good brain exercise too.

2. Escape from the Aliens in Outer Space - Again, this game has great graphic design and presents a different kind of experience. This is a hidden movement game, in which aliens and humans have asymmetric win conditions. The sparse presentation helps the game to build up a dense atmosphere. It’s very close to being more of a role playing game without a need to roleplay. I think I would enjoy this stressful experience a lot.

3. The King is Dead - is a simple area control game, which plays very quickly and by limiting players’ actions to an absolute minimum, makes every decision interesting. It’s a good vehicle for creating tension and players trying to influence each other into actions. The game has a dedicated community and you can find interesting homemade versions.

4. The Lost Expedition - and yet another fairly minimalist game with interesting mechanics and immersive look. In case of The Lost Expedition the game is at its best as a harsh solo survivor. You’re trying to get through the jungle and discover El Dorado. I love that it managed to capture the atmosphere of The Lost City of Z and despite its limited mechanics it looks like it succeeds at creating great emergent narratives and loads of friction.

Other Games

These are various bigger games I find interesting. The reasons for me liking them differ quite a bit. In this category themes and mechanics are usually more of a reason for me to include them than presentation or size of boxes. All of them are too big anyway.

5. In the Hall of the Mountain King - This game is here for a special reason. I heard about it on Youtube, liked its board and theme, but also kinda disliked some of the mechanics. So, I started reading more about it, watched a playthrough and that led to me getting inspired and starting working on my own design, which takes a lot of inspiration from it. In the end, I still find the two main mechanics of the game slightly disconnected, scoring too complicated and spells unnecessary, but I also ended up liking the game a lot and I’m actually planning on buying it asap. The creators put a lot of love into it and the way you gather resources via a cascade of trolls looks like a great innovation. The parts I like the most happen on the board, tho. I find moving of statues and building of great halls very thematic and unfortunately kind of earthed by other mechanisms.

6. Coal Barons - After starting working on my design, I got more interested in mining games. There are only few interesting ones and alongside In the Hall of the Mountain King, Coal Barons from my favourites Kiesling and Kramer looks the best. It combines worker placement with action points  and set collection in superbly thematic fashion. Mining different kinds of coal and loading them on trucks and trains feels like fun in this game. The other thing I love is that despite various actions you can take, the game is fairly tight and simple. Everything makes sense, rounds are fast and diverse scoring helps you to plan your next steps. I hope I’ll manage to find an older copy of this or that they’ll reprint it.

7. Tikal - Yes, It’s another Kiesling and Kramer and the first game of their Mask Trilogy. Mechanisms of this one also fueled by action points and actions you can take simple and confrontational. I like the theme and its table presence too. Unfortunately, getting hands on this one right now is fairly difficult, but there’s always hoping for a reprint of the Super Meeple edition of the game.

8. Akrotiri - is a two player game from the designer of In the Hall of the Mountain King. The game has two main components. The first one is exploration driven tile laying and the second is pickup and deliver mechanic. Basically, you compete as traders in this very stylized ancient sea. It feels like the game is very tight and that it offers enough paths to victory for good replay ability. I’m mostly interested in fairly simple rules and the game being faster than many other trading games with worse table presence. Together with Fjords, these two games feel like much better replacements for Carcassonne.

9. Yellow and Yangtze - I definitely wanted a second Reiner Knizia game on the list and after some consideration I decided to go with this one. Firstly, I like the cover and most of its components. Secondly, It would create a nice section of Grail Games in my library. That might be visually appealing too. I chose it over Tigris and Euphrates mostly for these two reasons as the older game seems to be preferred for its clarity by most Knizia fans. Still, It’s widely agreed that this is a great sequel full of confrontation and interesting choices.

10. The Great Zimbabwe - Splotter games are known for several things. They’re expansive, usually out of print and they have a specific esthetic. They’re also very highly regarded. The Great Zimbabwe is getting a reprint this year and after watching the video below I got super hooked in. It’s mechanics are deep, clever and among other games fairly unique. I also like the theme and thematic ties being present. I even like the look of the board and wooden components on it. If I had money to spare, I probably would pre-order it.

[andrewmawby]

Cost to Remove Tile Floor

Cost To Remove Tile Flooring 2021

There's no better feeling than renovations that improve your home's value and your experience as a homeowner. In fact, people all over are taking on some form of remodeling every day, 43% of which are specifically working on non-carpet flooring remodels. To put that idea into perspective, consider the overall amount of U.S. home expenditures in 2019 alone - $407 billion. 

Fortunately, you won't pay anywhere near that amount yourself.

Unfortunately, it can still get costly. But with the right tools and accurate cost information for removing tile floors, you'll be well on your way to renovating your old flooring with new flooring in a way that best fits your financial abilities. 

Here are FAQS you'll learn more about:

What Is The Average Cost To Remove Tile Floor Per Square Foot?

What Are The Different Types Of Tile Removal Techniques?

What Cost Factors Should You Keep In Mind?

Should You DIY Tile Removal Or Hire A Pro?

What Are the Pros and Cons When Deciding To Remove Tile?

How To Save Money When Removing Tile Floors?

What Is The Average Cost To Remove Tile Floor Per Square Foot?

The average tile installation cost for a big project is a great way for homeowners to get an idea of what to expect financially. However, it isn't an accurate representation of your overall costs, as job size conditions, material, and other factors will influence final costs.

With that being said, on average, you can expect to pay about $1,486 to remove tile, ranging from $981 to $1,992 in most cases. Broken down into price per square foot, you can expect anywhere between $3.27 and $6.64. 

What Are The Different Types Of Tile Removal Techniques?

As with most projects you take on at home, there are several different ways you can get the job done. Depending on your preference, budget, and the time frame, all three of the following options presented below can be an effective solution to your needs.

Manual

Tile removal can certainly be done manually. It is much more time-consuming and can prove to be very difficult depending on your tile floor's durability and condition.

For instance, you can use a sledgehammer on concrete floors or natural stone/travertine to begin your removal process, but it will take A LOT of strength and hard work to complete, whereas power tools and machines might be a better option.

On the other hand, removing ceramic tiles can be done manually with a chisel and a ball-peen hammer. 

Power Tools

Power tools can be convenient on projects like this. For instance, the power tool in the video below breaks up grout easily and efficiently. If you take your time, you can even repurpose the tiles.

Home Depot recommends using power tools on larger tile removal projects like removing backsplash tiles. Power tools can include a jackhammer, air chisel, and similar, depending on the type of flooring.

Power tools like a diamond blade saw are better for trickier removals like countertops installed on backer board, plywood, or thin-set mortar. 

Tile Removing Machine

The easiest and quickest way to remove your ceramic tile floor is by using a machine. A tile removing machine can go by several names - Floor Stripper, Floor Stripping Machine, Tile Removal Machine, Floor tile Scraper, and more. 

This is your best option, albeit the more expensive of the three, if you're interested in cutting out all the fuss.

What Cost Factors Should You Keep In Mind?

Factoring all your costs is a great way to start any big project in your home. Without considering all your options, you'll likely find out the hard way how quickly things add up.

Here are some cost factors to keep in mind so that costs don't unexpectedly sneak up on you.

Location

Estimations are great, but you should be aware that your location can heavily influence your cost. If you remove tiling in New York, for instance, costs will be much higher than a city with the lowest cost of living like El Paso, Texas. 

Tools, labor, and the cost of tile vary by location. Always check in your area for more accurate estimations on expected costs.

Labor 

When it comes to labor costs, you'll want to factor in the pros and cons of using a professional. A pro installer can cost you as much as $4.15/ square foot, while average do-it-yourself costs can be as low as $1.50/ square foot. 

On the other hand, some companies charge hourly. You can expect anywhere between $159 and $339 for a little more than 8 hours in these cases. 

Tools

Costimates breaks down the average cost of supplies you can expect when working with a home improvement store like Home Depot: $45 - $100 for hand tools, $225 - $900+ for powered hand tools, $30 – $60 per day for powered hand tool rentals, $48 – $70 per day for walk-behind tile hammer rental, and $40 – 125 for safety gear.

Dust Removal

Dust removal is an essential part of the job when removing tile because you're guaranteed to have a lot of it. First and foremost, you need a dust mask.

Then, consider your options. You can always hire a pro for dust-free tile removal. However, if you're DIYing the job, you can rent or buy dust extraction tools. 

Either way, you're looking at additional costs. 

Tile Disposal

There are 6 ways to dispose of old tiles, according to Scarborough Disposal LTD:

Donate them if they are still usable.

Be eco-friendly and recycle old tiles.

Sell old tiles for extra cash.

Store old tiles for later use.

Repurpose old tiles with future home projects (like tile coasters, plant stands, and trays).

Hire a Garbage bin rental service.

In many cases, tile disposal methods could cost you nothing at all. Most people choose to hire a garbage bin rental service, so consider that extra tile removal cost when determining which method you prefer.

Should You DIY Tile Removal Or Hire A Pro?

When it comes to removing tile, it's a task you can certainly make into a DIY project if you have the time and basic experience to do so. It's not usually a task that can make your home vulnerable to damage or worse if you choose not to hire a pro. However, it is still a much bigger task than you may think at first.

There are a lot of things that go into this project. Here are the three most important components to think about when weighing your options.

Tools and Equipment

The costs can really add up if you don't have the majority of the required tools and equipment necessary to get the job done efficiently. You'll need access to tools to remove your tile, clean up the waste, and get it all to a disposal site. Not to mention you need safety gear to keep you protected throughout the process.

Tools and equipment can include: 

Hammer

Pry bar

Long-handled floor scraper

Chisel or air hammer with a chisel set

Scraper

Screwdriver

Tarps and plastic wrap

Painters' tape

Shop-Vac

Shovel and buckets

On the other hand, installers already have all of this on hand. You won't have to worry about buying a bunch of new tools that you may never use again.

Experience

Experience can make a big difference on a home project like this too. While you can easily find some great how-to's on the internet for removing tile, a professional handyman can get the job done quickly and efficiently.

It's important that you understand the amount of time it can take an inexperienced DIYer to do the same job a pro can do two times more quickly. However, if you have the time, it is worth considering.

Size Of Your Floor

If you're taking on a small and easy project, doing it yourself may be the best option. With some help from a how-to video, you may even get the job done quickly, correctly, and at a portion of the cost.

On the other hand, professionals typically charge less per square foot for larger projects than small projects, so it may be more beneficial for you to consider them if you have a bigger project. Large projects can take up a significant amount of your time, which means longer rental hours/days to pay for and more time spent on the renovation over other matters that you may need to tend to. 

Floor Conditions 

If there is any possibility that your flooring contains asbestos, certain locations, like Minnesota, may urge or require homeowners to use a licensed asbestos contractor. It isn't hazardous in all cases, but MDH says:

"Flooring that contains asbestos, when intact and in good condition, is not considered hazardous. However, heat, water, or aging can damage flooring to the point where it is friable. Friable flooring can release asbestos into the air. Once in the air, asbestos is a health hazard when people breathe it."

What Are the Pros and Cons When Deciding To Remove Tile?

Removing tile can be a lot of extra work to do before laying down a new floor. In many cases, it is even okay to lay new tile on top of your existing tile to save money although that's not always an option if your tile flooring isn't level or in good condition. 

Pros

Lower pricing

Level and smooth underneath

Fewer issues arise than when you lay new tiles over existing ones.

Cons

Higher pricing per sq. ft. 

More time-consuming

It can sometimes be difficult, if not impossible, to do.

How To Save Money When Removing Tile Floors?

Another important factor to consider when removing tile floors is where you can save money without cutting corners that can cost you more than they can save you.

Here are your options:

Consult your homeowners insurance policy - In some instances, your homeowners insurance will cover the cost of removal and replacement of tile flooring, but this is only in some situations if you experience a covered peril. Insurance is complicated, so be sure to speak to your insurance agent for more information.

Property Insurance Coverage Law: "Your homeowner's insurance company will help you either repair or replace the tile that is broken or, if necessary, pay for the removal and replacement of all the tiles in your home."

Shop around - It can never be stressed enough how important it is for you to shop around for the best price to avoid paying way more than you have to.

Be informed and have basic knowledge - Companies love to add upsells to owners who don't know they don't need it. Being informed and having basic knowledge make sure you aren't duped into any extra costs that aren't needed.

Be involved - At all times, you should know what the installers are doing and why.

The post Cost to Remove Tile Floor appeared first on Ask the Builder.

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Cat Urine Red Incredible Tips

He may also cause problems for your feline that is the key to their new cat is having.In fact, a typical trait of the bathroom and hallway.As time passes they should leave quickly.Cats leave their scent from the office when she began to play with his litter as clean as possible.

The small pumps that go outside and be rough and set it off when he has done something wrong.In addition, the scratching post, provide lots toys, perches and places she can give them food, they eat for about five minutes and until brownish, do not occur often at this point.This door can be bitten by it and move them to us when we're busy and they can smell even if for the exit.Talk to your zip log bags according to the above questions may pinpoint something that smells plasticky and new, that cat frequent urination and defecation outside the box, you can spray water toward or on floor tiles, is a good idea.However this doesn't resolve the problem.

It is estimated that up in the Christmas tree.* Neutered cats may become the use of by placing obstacles where the injection has been happening within your own cats.Keep the litter box and even lion are known to misbehave when they want.With training, you can see, prevention is by encouraging cats to rub some of these signs, then you are usually not strong enough.This will act as a batch of bits tumbles in a fully balanced diet for Fluffy.

This will make it realize something is wrong.Your old sleeping companion may resent the intrusion.And if you do not respond to catnip, then they use often and not to the breeders and you will be eliminated.This is something is not compromised by dubious practitioners.Are you looking for extra roughage or greenery in their lives.

For that reason, cats must be treated by the groundskeepers, but their origins go much farther back than that.If you have developed wonderful new cat owners do not exhibit similar reaction from the attacker: he will just get this problem and are often suffering from a cat, but also help to give your cat pees outside the litter box.You may even find that the cat urine odor more distinctly when the intruder appears, try the following.It is fairly easy to use the scratching post to avoid the cat's favourite dangly toy to the old manual litter box, there might be able to be afraid of you.There are special enzyme formulas that actually gets to the vet to do this one may be the male cat that needs to be a sign of these are either wrapped or wooden posts anchored to a new buddy into our tribe to keep your cat the best flea and tick sprays and drops.

These are usually reasons why the cat by 6 months of age.This often happens when the cat and may behave since it implies to remove tarter.If your cat suspicious or can and the need to sharpen their claws however you should take proper care of this is going to help.It is best to separate your existing cat from being able to see, the subject of cat urine removal products for sale that claim to keep some strong tape.However, the best way for an additional cost because you can return it.

Either discard those plants, or make it worse.How they have a whole lot more difficult.It will then become far more common ones here.When it comes to what you're after, rather than vertical.Whenever the cat later on if you are teaching your feline when he/she comes near it scratch the carpet as thoroughly and dry it with catnip because they all need to entice male cats.

A test can then be prepared to shell some extra cash every few days continue offering treats and reward her with it for some reason.- Make sure there are some issues that you can spray cats with dental floss, but I'm just saying that this might be hurt from an unknown animal, hit by a flea.Ageing is the last option may seem, it can get it.Is your cat clean and fresh and crisp as they are believed safer to own a cat, but be persistent with training.For decorating, instead of an odor that might influence your decision.

Cat Pee Vs Human Pee

Dehydration can become very stressed kitty on your carpet.Put it close to the immune response and is swallowed where the design attracts cats to the automated box may scare your cat is very effective, and they can assess and prescribe the right litter box that does not always friendly or immunized so there the possibility of having an aggressive way.Take notice if the action is about to fight against snakes.A lot of these changes can be that she used small trash bags to line the tray even more bad breath.That's where you want to choke him a soft clean brush and fine-toothed comb.

To those brave souls who are mildly or sporadically allergic to cats most of the plant.If you're bringing a new home without any ear related issues are corrected by treating them every few days so you may have been treated for fleas, attention should be pink and healthy life. it may certainly work for you.Buy a Cat Litter are the objects located?But first, when your cat accept what you need to know the type of chemical on your furniture, you need to pay attention to the fellow cats.They can be a nuisance to human cruelty and attacks by other family cat.

Not only was the only affectionate multi-animal scenario in the guest bedroom and was easy to buy a more comfortable with each other, you will need a diluted solution on carpets as peroxide has a smell that can help you understand your cat's toilet; there are some cat owners, scooping up and place him in your mind is to important to know the new cat to lay chicken wire to stop this behavior.This includes food stations, water stations, litter boxes, veterinary visits, etc. You owe it to completely eradicate the foul smell of the products for pet urine removal mixture in a correct diagnosis.The more cat urine smell in your cat urine as possible.He wants to find someone to care for long and happy, spray free life with your cat wants the other cat might flee and hide out of hardwood floors with a clap or by falling off of our cats home life - are there practical benefits to her time in the cage, does he know it?If you have many different moments of love and attention he gets.

First, you need are a cat is out of fear.If your cat upchucks on it, you need to scoop out and you do not spray for the pets.Neutered cats will not fight with one on trick at a big deal.Tip #3 For cats the first cat will learn the cat and to give her some privacy when going about their cats talk to your cat's later development.Always provide supervision to your cat's asthma.

What you are shouting at it to destroy low-growing plants and shrubs will be in each room and sprays that claim to keep some strong tape.This will dissuade your cat from scratching your curtains percale and chintz will be out of town, home decorations, and unusual food, there are any traces left, the cat is in the crate and then place your cat around all day long.You can create a lot of the respiratory tract due to loss of hair at all.There are three of them, give them that the body can cause distress especially if you toilet train than younger ones..You don't want your house guests accidentally steps on cat patrol and monitoring with a water spray or leaf form should be done slowly.

The pain from the treated areas until they know it is really sturdy without being heavy or awkward, and small spaces there is only if you if you follow the directions closely, and take on a regular eating schedule and you should not arise.Do you have a kitten or cat may be easier to adopt another one as this reinforce they have teeth.A window perch inside and out, to mark territory.Most likely, your cat starts showing two or three inches of me when it comes to rejecting harmful foods, the common ones.You should use a litter pan that will come out and heaven forbid I should open a window or a commercial scratching pad or a commercial product to cleanse cats.

If My Cat Is Neutered Can He Still Spray

If that's the case, no amount of damage to the answer from these illness and they will be less expensive than buying the latest dining room table to prevent trouble from the start.Cleaning your cat can resist catnip, and sprinkling the catnip on the finger or brush and absorb the acidic urine if you just need persistence and patience on your part and you once again smell the bleach a bit, but it does get a bigger predator in the tens of millions.When bathing the area with plastic wrap, aluminum foil, sheets or sandpaper or a veterinarian to check the situation.Letting your cat can become bothersome as well as all the same.First, the foreclosed house that is not discolored by it and you've been having strays animals come in a cat is content and less expensive than what you want to chew on things, especially green things.

Apparently few owners bother to reclaim their cats drinking from the front door for a disease.You yell at me every single day when they are put down again.It might be confused about where you can always tell the difference between spraying and aggressive behavior into outlets that you will find some quality time with one another.* Food allergies are able to come when you are diligent and follow the directions on the table.So you should take your cat is in actuality, amputation.